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The West Bengal government may have promised to return the Tata Nano project land to farmers in Singur, but experts have voiced doubts over the "ecological and economical viability" of restoring the land to its pre-acquisition status. "The Supreme Court verdict restores the land right of the farmers. But, ecologically converting the land into the cultivable state as it was earlier would not be possible," said A.K. Chakravarti, professor at the Soil and Water Engineering Department at Bidhan Chandra Krishi Viswa Vidyalaya. "As per the apex court order, it would be possible to return the land to peasants but to do so in a cultivable state and restore the earlier topography would be extremely difficult. Yield would not be what cultivators used to get before the acquisition," he said. "In fact, during the development of the land for the Tata Nano project, some water bodies were created to use the soil from them in land filing, as the area had mostly low-lying agricultural land. The water bodies have been retained to ensure additional sources of surface water. From the economic point of view, water bodies of a particular size have more yield than an agricultural land," Chakravarti told IANS. Two days after the Supreme Court quashed the land acquisition for the Tata Motors' small car project by the erstwhile Left Front regime, the present Trinamool Congress government of Mamata Banerjee started the land survey on Friday and said it would complete the process of returning land within the time stipulated by the Supreme Court. On Thursday, Chief Minister Banerjee chaired a high-level emergency meeting at the state secretariat Nabanna to decide on follow-up actions for implementing the judicial order. The state government has announced that all land-losers will get the same plot of land which they owned before the acquisition in 2006. Banerjee also announced that her government would make cultivable whichever plot of land has become uncultivable. "It is a daunting task to convert such land into a cultivable state. Nature of most of the land within the project area has surely changed because the land was acquired 10 years ago and in some parts of the project area, constructions were also carried out," said Abhijit Kumar Nandi, a professor at the Agricultural Economics Department at the Bidhan Chandra Krishi Viswa Vidyalaya. "Developers will have to source top soil from other areas. The major challenge will be to source the top soil which is the most important ingredient for cultivation," Nandi told IANS. "I will be surprised if even half of about 1,000 acres of land acquired for the project can be converted into a properly cultivable state," Nandi said. He also said sourcing of the top soil could lead to a surge in its prices. While it could be sourced by deploying workers under the 100-day work programme, a huge amount of top soil would be required for development of such a large tract of land. "About Rs 15 lakh per acre may have to be pumped in over a period of one-and-a-half years. Then the land has to be left in that state for a year to season it and make it properly cultivable. I don't know whether the investment will be worth it, and what the return on such investment will be," Nandi said while estimating the cost of developing the land. Both experts agreed that "the stipulated time-frame for returning land to farmers and that too in a cultivable state seems to be impossible". The apex court, which delivered its landmark verdict on August 31, has ordered that the land be returned within 12 weeks of receiving the copy of the judgement. Ashis Ghosh, Director of the Centre for Environment and Development, said the top soil -- the first two inches of soil -- and the sub-soil, usually a layer of 12-24 inch (varying from place to place and depending on the condition of the soil nutrient), was destroyed within the project area where construction has taken place. Citing the example of restoration of land at Suri in Birbhum district after the unsuccessful attempt of a coal-bed methane exploration project in 2010, Ghosh said: "In this particular project, British Petroleum did not find the project economically viable. "As per the agreement with land-givers, they restored the land. In this connection we have worked there. Fortunately, after excavation of the plot, the project developers kept the top and sub-soil in the adjacent areas. "It helped to restore the land and we didn't have to source it from other places. We have also restored the nutrition of the land to a large extent by employing our traditional methods. "However, the size of the land that was restored was hardly about three acres and it took more than six months to complete the development," Ghosh added. (Bappaditya Chatterjee can be contacted at bappaditya.c@ians.in) --IANS bdc/ssp/bim/sac ( 820 Words) 2016-09-03-12:45:57 (IANS)
India and Vietnam on Saturday called for peaceful resolution to disputes in South China Sea, and also stressed on the need to reform the United Nations, including expansion of its Security Council, with "enhanced representation" from developing countries. According to a joint statement issued after a meeting between visiting Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his Vietnamese counterpart Nguyen Xuan Phuc, Modi reaffirmed India's interest in promoting defence industry cooperation between the two sides. The statement also referred to a judgment by an international tribunal on July 12 this year, which was on a dispute between China and Philippines over some strategically located reefs and atolls. The judgment is in favour of Philippines and China has rejected it. India and Vietnam, in their joint statement called upon "all states" to resolve dispute through peaceful means. Noting the Award, both sides "reiterated their support for peace, stability, security, safety and freedom of navigation and over flight, and unimpeded commerce, based on the principles of international law, as reflected notably in the UNCLOS (United Nations Convention on the Law of Sea)". "Both sides also called on all states to resolve disputes through peaceful means without threat or use of force and exercise self-restraint in the conduct of activities that could complicate or escalate disputes affecting peace and stability, respect the diplomatic and legal processes, fully observe the Declaration on the Conduct of parties in the South China Sea (DOC) and soon finalize the Code of Conduct (COC)," the joint statement said. This also comes as Prime Minister Modi is visiting China. On the need of reforms in the UN, the statement said: "Both Vietnam and India stressed the need for reform of the United Nations and expansion of the UN Security Council in both the permanent and the non-permanent categories of membership, with enhanced representation from developing countries." The statement said Prime Minister Modi has expressed gratitude for Vietnam's consistent support to India's candidature for permanent membership in a reformed and expanded UNSC. "The Prime Ministers reaffirmed support for each other's candidature for non-permanent membership of the UNSC -- Vietnam for the term 2020-21 and India for the term 2021-22". Modi also reaffirmed India's significant interest in promoting defence industry cooperation between the two sides and committed to provide a new Line of Credit for Vietnam in this area. Both sides welcomed the signing of the contract for Offshore High-speed Patrol Boats between Larsen & Toubro and Vietnam Border Guards utilizing the $100 million Line of Credit for defence procurement extended by India to Vietnam, and also expressed the desire to work together to maintain peace, stability, growth and prosperity "in Asia and beyond". The joint statement also stressed on enhancing bilateral economic engagement asked ministries and agencies on both sides to take "practical measures" to achieve the trade target of $15 billion by 2020. The two Prime Ministers urged leaders of business and industry to explore new business opportunities, and Prime Minister Modi invited Vietnamese companies to take advantage of the various schemes and facilities offered under the 'Make in India' programme. The two sides have identified priority areas for cooperation, which include hydrocarbons, power generation, renewable energy, infrastructure, tourism, textiles, footwear, medical and pharmaceuticals, ICT, electronics, agriculture, agro-products, chemicals, machine tools and other supporting industries. --IANS ao/vd ( 556 Words) 2016-09-03-19:43:56 (IANS)
Despite the teaser showing the duo into heated argument on-screen, the 'Tamasha' actor, in a recent interview with a leading daily, revealed that he had "a lot of fun" working with Khan, reports the Express Tribune.

"He is talented. Hanging out with him, even outside the sets, was so much fun," said Ranbir.

The 33-year-old actor also shared that he has bonded very well with Fawad and now they share a good relationship.

"We struck a good friendship," he said.

Speaking about the rumours about Fawad's screen time being increased in ADHM, Ranbir said, "I hope his part has been increased."

Ranbir earlier also said that he's willing to play a gay man's character after seeing Fawad's role in 'Kapoor & Sons'.

'Ae Dil Hai Mushkil' is slated to release on October 28. (ANI)
Talking to IANS, Dr Bharti Kashyap, Medical Director of the KMEH said: "We are obliged that governor madam announced to donate her eyes so that a blind person can see the world. We express our deep gratitude to the governor."

"We have been organising Run For Vision programme for the last 11 years to create awareness among people of the state to donate their eyes. According to reports, in our country every year 25,000 to 30,000 people suffer from blindness due to cornea related problems. Cornea cannot be purchased and can only be transplanted from one human being to another," she added.

Till now 426 people have donated eyes to KMEH out of which 366 have been transplanted successfully.

Leaders who have announced to donate eyes to KMEH include Congress leader Jairam Ramesh, former Chief Minister and BJP leader Arjun Munda among others.

Speaking on the occasion, the governor said: "Of the 37 million people suffering from blindness in the world 10 million are from India. There is a need to create awareness by organising camps."

--IANS ns/vgu/bg

( 214 Words)

2016-09-03-17:59:57 (IANS)
At the meeting called by Minister for Parliamentary Affairs Ananth Kumar - the itinerary of the visit will be shared with the members, who will also hold discussions on the prospective meetings in Kashmir.

The all-party delegation led by Singh will visit Jammu and Kashmir on September 4 and is expected to meet a cross section of people, individuals and organisations as an effort to restore peace back in the state.

The delegation will have 28 parliamentarians and senior government officials.

The delegation may include Finance Minister Arun Jaitley, Food and Public Distribution Minister Ram Vilas Paswan, Congress leaders Ghulam Nabi Azad, Mallikarjun Kharge as well as opposition leaders like Asaduddin Owaisi of AIMIM.

Curfew has been imposed in the valley ever since the killing of Hizbul Mujahideen commander Burhan Wani on July 8.

The curfew restrictions have been lifted from most of the parts of the Valley after 51 consecutive days raising death toll to 70 due to clashes between security forces and protesters. (ANI)
Leader of Opposition in Karnataka Assembly Jagadish Shettar today suggested Chief Minister Siddaramaiah to hold a discussion with Goa Chief Minister Laxmikant Parsekar as directed by Mahadayi Tribunal regarding the share of water from the river. Addressing mediapersons here, he said that mere writing letter to the Goa Chief Minister will not serve any purpose. Mr Siddarmaiah should hold telephonic talk with him and get his appointment to meet him to find an amicable solution to Kalasa-Banbduri Nala diversion project of Karnataka. He said that 'Goa Government is not an enemy to Karnataka'. They are amenable for discussion and the Chief Minister of Goa has already declared he was ready for discussion. He said that it was better if the Tribunal Chairman Justice J M Panchal asked both the states to find an amicable settlement through bilateral talks before issuing any interim order. He also said that in view of the suggestion from the Tribunal,an opportunity has been provided to Karnataka for solving the contentious issue and Chief Minister of Karnataka should make the best use of it. Regarding the demand for intervention by Prime Minister on this issue, he said that there is no scope for the him to intervene. Since the Tribunal has given an opportunity to have bilateral discussions let both the Chief Ministers hold talks, he added. Mr Shettar alleged that the Congress led Government has been exhibiting non-cooperation about the comprehensive development of Hubballi and Dharwad cities. He said that already a package for solid waste management at a cost of Rs.60 crore has been prepared and six other packages have been submitted to the Government. But the Urban Development Department has so far not given its assent and the packages have been kept in cold storage. The Opposition leader also said that he had brought the matter to the notice of the Urban Development Minister Roshan Beig but to no avail. It was also discussed with the then Urban Development Minister Vinyakuma Sorke. He also alleged discrimination by the State Government towards all these developmental projects as a result of which the twin cities of Hubballi and Dharwad still suffer from getting basic amenities.UNI XC HVB CS 1112 / 1120 -- (UNI) -- C-1-1-DL0275-916822.Xml
A journalist working with a Hindi newspaper has lodged the FIR.

Mann had earlier on Thursday lashed out at the media after he was questioned about his late arrival at the venue of a rally in Bassi Pathana of Fatehgarh Sahib.

The AAP MP, who arrived late at the venue, accused the media of acting like "Badals' sycophants" and asked the scribes to leave the rally venue immediately.

Stating that he knew "the rates of every journalist", Mann said the AAP is good without paid media and needs no coverage from it.

"The journalists take money for writing and ignoring several news stories," he said when asked as to why he arrived late and about the alleged sex scandal involving Delhi's former minister Sandeep Kumar. (ANI)
Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) national executive member Indresh Kumar is on a three-day visit to Thailand as part of the RSS's s renewed global outreach with countries which share cultural similarities with India. Kumar's visit to Thailand marks a significant step towards the propagation of the organisation's ideology and thought process at an international level beginning with Thailand, a nation which shares heritage with India. In an exclusive interview with ANI, Kumar said India and Thailand share very close and historical ties, adding both sides will help each other develop culturally and socially with mutual admiration. "Today's day in Thailand was very busy and purposeful. This morning I met the workers from all 11 branches of the Hindu Swayamsevak Sangh situated in Thailand. During the meeting, we discussed methods to strengthen the relationship between Hindus and Buddhists. Meanwhile, we also talked about the measures to popularise the endeavours made by the Sangh among the Indians residing in the country. At the same time, we also talked about ways to increase our dialogue with the locals here," said Kumar, adding both nations have been and always will be one, as our fundamental DNA is same. The senior RSS functionary also underlined the fact that violence and hatred can be brought to an end and peace can be established worldwide if Buddhism and Sanatan dharma amalgamate along with the rest of the religions, which originated in India. Kumar also stressed the strengthening of cultural, business and security ties between India and Thailand. "While speaking at the chamber of commerce, I said that the main objective of any embassy is to take care of its people in foreign land. It is supposed to behave like the parents take care of their children," he said while commenting on the role of the Indian Diplomatic missions abroad. Kumar during his interaction with the business community in Thailand called upon them to step up trade between culturally similar nations - India and Thailand. He said that cultural outreach must translate into economic opportunities for countries having a common cultural heritage. The RSS, said Kumar, plans to step up its activities in Thailand and will work with local volunteers to serve the society.(ANI)
Ahead of the visit of an all-party delegation to Kashmir Valley tomorrow, Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh today said the government would act on the suggestion of these parties to resolve the Kashmir crisis. After a meeting of these parties here this morning, Mr Singh said, "The all-party delegation will meet different stakeholders in Kashmir and after returning to Delhi, we will sit again and whatever suggestions come, the government will move forward on that." CPI-M General Secretary Sitaram Yechury said there had to be a tangible outcome of the delegation going to Kashmir, as mere phrase mongering would not do. Mr Yechury said there should be a dialogue with all stake holders in the Valley, including the Hurriyat factions. The party had also demanded immediate withdrawal of the use of pellets guns on protestors in the Valley and the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Acts (AFSPA) should be only confined to military areas and its removal from civilian areas. The Home Minister-led all-party delegation, comprising around 30 leaders from over 20 political parties, would interact with Jammu and Kashmir Governor NN Vohra and Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti before meeting the representatives of political parties, trade unions, members of civil society and other delegations there to discuss ways and means of restoring peace in the Valley. Apart from the Home Minister and Minister of State in PMO Jitendra Singh, those who will be part of the all-party delegation include Finance Minister Arun Jaitley, Leader of Opposition in the Rajya Sabha Ghulam Nabi Azad, his Lok Sabha colleague Mallikarjun Kharge, Ambika Soni, Union Minister Ram Vilas Paswan (LJP), JD-U leader Sharad Yadav, CPI-M General Secretary Sitaram Yechury and senior CPI leader D Raja.More UNI XC-RBE RJ SB 1543 -- (UNI) -- C-1-1-DL0427-917136.Xml
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President Pranab Mukherjee and Prime Minister Narendra Modi today condoled the passing away of Islam Karimov, President of the Republic of Uzbekistan. In a condolence message addressed to Mr Nigmatilla Yuldashev, Acting President and Chairman of the Senate of Oliy Majlis of Uzbekistan, Mr Mukherjee said, ''I am deeply grieved to hear of the sad demise of Islam Karimov, President of the Republic of Uzbekistan. I offer my heartfelt condolences to the family members, Government and the people of Uzbekistan. Mr Modi said, ''Late President Karimov was highly regarded in India. During his visit to India in 2011, our bilateral relationship was upgraded to a strategic partnership. Under his leadership, Uzbekistan made tremendous economic and social progress and ensured safety and security for its people. ''I condole the passing away of Uzbekistan President Islam Karimov. May his soul rest in peace,'' he added. Karimov, who died yesterday at the age of 78 after suffering a stroke, will be buried later today in his hometown of Samarkand. Karimov, who served as Uzbekistan's president from the moment it became independent from the Soviet Union, had been in hospital after suffering a stroke. The veteran leader has run the Central Asian nation since 1989 and nearly half of Uzbekistan's 32 million citizens were born, while he was in power.UNI NY RJ SB 1603 -- (UNI) -- C-1-1-DL0099-917093.Xml
According to police sources, over 5000 police personnel will be on security duty in the city to maintain law andorder and guard the idols.

Police have accorded permission to install 2,500 idolsin various parts of the city as part of the celebrations.

This included idols installed by Hindu Munnani and otherHindu outfits.

The police have also identified five places for idols,which would be brought in processions from the city andsuburbs, for immersion in the sea on September 10 and 11, for which tight security arrangements were being made on the Marina beach front.

Apart from local police, armed forces and Tamil Nadu Special Police would also be deployed in security duty.

The police department officials were also conductingawareness meetings for residents, conveying the dos and dont's during the celebrations.

The Tamil Nadu Pollution Control Board have also announced strictly that idols made of clay alone wouldbe allowed for immersion in the sea. UNI GV CS 1648

-- (UNI) -- C-1-1-DL0275-917330.Xml
The President, after attending a defence function at Wellington in Nilgiris district, would arrive inChennai on the evening of September nine.

After an overnight stay, he would review the POP the next day, before leaving for New Delhi.

He would be the third Indian President to review the ceremonial POP after R Venkataraman and PratibhaPatil.

A total of 272 gentlemen and women cadets would pass out from the precincts of OTA and would be inducted into the Army on that day.

Of the 272 cadets, 32 are lady cadets.

OTA was the only one of the three academies in the country where women are trained. Till date, 24,704 Gentlemen cadets and 2,276 lady cadets have been commissioned from OTA. Apart from airport, security would also be beefedup where he was staying and all along his travel route.UNI GV CS 1649

-- (UNI) -- C-1-1-DL0275-917331.Xml
As part of the programme , party workers would visit all house holds, business houses, shops and establishments with leaflets, a statement from the media centre of the National Council said here today.

Senior leaders would inaugurate the programme in different districts, it added.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Central and state ministers and top party leaders would be among 2,000 delegates taking part in the council meet.UNI PCH CS 1633

-- (UNI) -- C-1-1-DL0300-917289.Xml
Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi is very enthused about his proposed 'Deoria to Delhi Kisan yarta' starting from this district from September 6 to launch the party's Mission Uttar Pradesh for 2017 assembly polls. This time Congress will launch an unique programme of Khat Sabha, conceived by poll strategist Prashant Kishor, where Mr Gandhi will interact with farmers in every districts during his month long 'yatra'. "My Deoria to Delhi yatra from September six is a campaign to get the rights of the poor, farmers and labourers in the government funds", Mr Gandhi reacted through his official twitter handle. Meanwhile, according to the first day programme of the Yatra, it will start from Pachaldi Kritpura village in Rudrapur assembly constituency in Daub area at 1030 hours on September six. The assembly seat is presently represented by Congress member Akhilesh Pratap Singh, a close confidant of the Gandhi family. The first khat sabha would be held at Dudhnath Baba Mandir maidan at 1150 hours for over an hour. Later Mr Gandhi will hold a road show on Rudrapur road covering around 2.7 kilometers.Congress vice president will also interact with farmers at Kanchanpur village in Deoria before entering Kushinagar at around 1715 hrs. The yatra will remain in Kushinagar district for about three hours with holding its second khat sabha of the day at Lilawati stadium at 1830 hrs. The yatra will end at Gorakhpur on day one at around 2130 hrs when Mr Gandhi will reach circuit house for night stay. The yatra from Deoria is chosen as the district was native of famous Deoraha Baba, whom the former prime minister Indira Gandhi sought blessings both before 1977 and later in 1980 and won polls by huge margins. Rahul now ambitious to ensure a come back would also seek blessings before kicking off his campaign for next Assembly elections. In these khat meeting around 70 to 80 farmers would sit on the charpoy and Mr Gandhi would interact with them personally by going to their place.UNI MB JW 1604 -- (UNI) -- C-1-1-DL0364-917131.Xml
Newly joined BJP leader Swami Prasad Maurya claimed here today that BJP will form the next government in Uttar Pradesh with full majority after 2017 Assembly elections in the state. While talking to media, Mr Maurya said BJP had a bright future. ''BJP is a party with own policies and ideology. Workers get full respect here in the party. Also, two years achievements of the Centre government are affecting people. Voters of UP consider BJP as strong option,'' he said. Mr Maurya said Samajwadi Party's situation resembled its party leader Azam Khan's statement that SP was a sinking ship. ''SP knows that it is not coming to power again and this is the reason behind frustrating atmosphere in party,'' he said. Mr Maurya said Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) was in a worsened condition as not only the leaders, but also the workers of the party were boycotting the party. "Mayawati will be the only person to remain in the party till time of elections" he added. He claimed that political pundits will be amazed after majority winning of BJP. UNI XC-JDDM MB PR 1746 -- (UNI) -- C-1-1-DL0105-917450.Xml
Puducherry Lt Governor Kiran Bedi today launched `Shramdaan movement` at Seliamedu village in Bahoor community Panchayat limits near here as part of `Swachh Bharat and Swacch Puducherry` programmes. Speaking on the occasion, she called upon the volunteers of the Self Help Groups, NSS, Students and the public to ensure that Puducherry emerged `cleanest and most prosperous`. The Lt Governor said the concept of Shramdaan envisaged keeping the environment clean and for this `everyone should contribute their service as it is their duty and none should shift the responsibility to others`. She planted saplings and also volunteered to remove the garbage in the vicinity of Community Hall. Ms Bedi also told the villagers that they would be given training by the officials as how to segregate the garbage so that organic manure could be produced from out of the waste which could be used for farm lands. The Lt Governor said that if the Union Territory emerged cleanest in the country it would be good for all. As soon as we reached the goal, Prime Minister Narendra Modi would come on a visit to Puducherry in October next year and he would greet each volunteer associated with the Swachh Bharat and Swachch Puducherry programme. She told newsmen later that `shramdaan movement is a regular work and a habit`. She later visited Bahoor and called upon the people to put in their initiatives in tandem with others to realise the dream of `Clean Puducherry`. She worshipped at the sixth century Saivite temple of Moolanathar (maintained by ASI). Welfare Minister M.Kandasamy, Chief Secretary Manoj Parida, Puducherry District Collector and officials of various departments were among those who joined hands with the Lt Governor. Mr Kandasamy said the initiative of Lt Governor was most laudable and motivate others to join hands with the movement to create a clean Puducherry.UNI PAB CS 1721 -- (UNI) -- C-1-1-DL0275-917380.Xml
The woman, allegedly seen in the video, had lodged a complaint against the sacked minister at the Sultanpuri police station earlier today.

Meanwhile, the woman was taken for medical test in the Sanjay Gandhi Hospital.

AAP convenor Arvind Kejriwal earlier on Wednesday announced the decision to sack Kumar after receiving an objectionable CD.

Kejriwal said that he would prefer to forfeit his party but never tolerate corruption and wrongful activities, as the AAP does not believe in hiding flaws of its members.

Commenting on Kumar's "misdeeds", Kejriwal said that his former Cabinet colleague has betrayed the party and the people of Delhi.

Kumar, however, denied the allegations on Thursday and played the Dalit card while claiming that the video was fabricated. (ANI)
A day before an all-party delegation arrives here from Delhi, Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti strongly pitched for talks with separatist leaders for peace in the Kashmir Valley. "The country's political leadership must, without any further delay, reach out and engage all sections of the society including the leaders of the Hurriyat Conference in a productive dialogue process to resolve the issue and make peace a reality in Jammu and Kashmir," Mehbooba said. She was interacting with the people in a south Kashmir village where she had gone to offer condolences to the bereaved family of Mashooq Ahmad Sheikh who was killed in firing by security forces last month. The Chief Minister said it is perhaps for the first time that the issue has been discussed in so many forums and at so many levels during the last two months, including parliament. "The need of the hour is to build on this larger political consensus within the country and initiate tangible measures to address the issue," she said. The chief minister said during her meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi last month she suggested a three-pronged approach including talks with all sections of society, including the separatist leadership and also with Pakistan to put the reconciliation and resolution process back on track. She expressed the hope that the upcoming visit of the all- party delegation to the state would facilitate revival of the much needed peace and resolution process. The Chief Minister said the people have given the present government a mandate to voice their aspirations and seek resolution of the problems. "The same has been reiterated in the government's 'agenda of alliance' wherein it has been made clear that the state government will create conditions to facilitate resolution of all issues and will help initiate a sustained and meaningful dialogue with all the stakeholders." An all-party delegation is visiting the Kashmir Valley on Sunday. It is expected to have talks with cross sections of society there. --IANS sq/sar/bg ( 339 Words) 2016-09-03-18:59:56 (IANS)
In an effort to create strategic petroleum reserves in the country, the government is considering to establish storage capacity of 10.0 MMT which includes 4.4 MMT storage capacity at Chandikhol with an estimated cost of Rs 5,000 crore. In this connection, Secretary, Minister of Petroleum and Natural Gas KD Tripathi, senior officials of Indian Strategic Petroleum Reserves Ltd and Engineers India Limited visited the proposed site near Chandikhol along with the revenue officials of the Odisha government, an official statement said. The aim to establish the storage capacity in Odisha is to make the state, the Energy Gateway of the Eastern and North Eastern Region of India. The government has also created three facilities have been created at Vishakhapatnam, Mangalore and Padur, with a total storage capacity of 5.33 MMT under Phase I storage program. The storage facilities will entail the storage of crude oil in underground rock caverns. While under Phase II storage program, besides Chandikhol the government will also create the storage program at Bikaner in Rajasthan that would entail storage of crude oil in underground rock caverns and underground salt caverns respectively.UNI ASH SB 1924 Govt to invest Rs 5,000 cr for creation of petroleum reserve in Odisha New Delhi, Sep 3 -- (UNI) -- C-1-1-DL0388-917592.Xml
Ahead of Home Minister Rajnath Singh-led all-party delegation's visit to Kashmir Valley tomorrow, the Left parties today demanded immediate withdrawal of AFSPA and Army from civilian areas and a judicial probe into "excesses committed by armed forces against civilians". Addressing a joint press conference, General Secretary of CPI-M Sitaram Yechury and General Secretary of CPI Sudhakar Reddy also asked the government to immediately stop the use of pellet guns and give adequate compensation to all the families, who have lost their members in the violence. Mr Yechury said there should not be a pre-condition for initiating the political dialogue and it must talk with all stakeholders, including the Hurriyat factions as "Without discussion, there cannot be a solution". The Left parties also favoured the starting of India and Pakistan dialogue to settle all long-standing disputes between both the countries. The leaders said the need of the hour was to show solidarity to the people of Kashmir that the whole country was with them. Earlier in the day, Mr Singh chaired a meeting of political parties and discussed the agenda of their interaction with the stakeholders in the Valley. The delegation, comprising around 30 leaders from over 20 political parties, would interact with Jammu and Kashmir Governor NN Vohra and Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti before meeting the representatives of political parties, trade unions, members of civil society and other delegations there to discuss ways and means of restoring peace in the Valley.UNI RBE RJ 1850 -- (UNI) -- C-1-1-DL0427-917613.Xml
Basit Ahmad Ahangar, resident of Vessu village in Anantnag, died during clashes between stone pelting mobs and security forces in the village, police sources said.

Reports said the youth had pellet injuries in his legs and a wound in the head when doctors at a local hospital where he had been taken for treatment declared him dead.

In another incident, mobs also torched the house of a ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) block president in Kund village of Kulgam district where Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti had gone during the day to offer condolences to a father whose son had been killed during the clashes.

Meanwhile, Mehbooba Mufti today wrote letters to separatist Hurriyat leaders inviting them to meet the all party delegation led by Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh arriving here on Sunday.

Reports said she wrote letters to Syed Ali Geelani, Mirwaiz Umer Farooq, Muhammad Yasin Malik, Shabir Ahmad Shah, Bilal Gani Lone, Aga Mehmood, Abbas Ansari, Nayeem Khan, Professor Abdul Gani Bhat, the chief of Jamaat-e-Islami organisation and some others in this regard.

Separatists have already announced boycott of any meeting with the delegation and also appealed to traders, industrialists, civil society members etc not to follow suit.

--IANS sq/vd

( 251 Words)

2016-09-03-20:51:56 (IANS)
Puducherry Lt.Governor Kiran Bedi launched the Cycle Patrol scheme of the Puducherry police to be christened as "Friends of tourists" today. The Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) has donated 50 cycles to the police department under the CSR concept for launching bike patrolling. Given the fact that Puducherry witnesses huge footfalls of tourists, the need for guiding tourists was felt essential. The cycle patrol team have therefore been assigned to be "Friends of Tourists", to guide them to tourist attractions, accommodation,transportation and resolve complaints if any. Sixty police constables were imparted training by the tourism department on the various facets of tourist requirements, according to an official statement here.UNI PAB CS 2014 -- (UNI) -- C-1-1-DL0275-917802.Xml
BJP president Amit Shah today launched a scathing attack on the Samajwadi Party and the Bahujan Samaj Party saying the ''politics of Bua and Bahtija'' has destroyed Uttar Pradesh and there was a dire need for the change of guard in the state. The BJP President also dubbed Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar-led JD (U) and Congress as the `Vote katwa' (vote splitter) parties in UP only to help the Samajwadi Party and the BSP. Addressing the social media volunteers and the regional media officials meet here, Mr Shah said, ''UP had enough of the SP and BSP rule, both these parties perpetuated corrupt regime of the Congress-led UPA at the Centre. Both Akhilesh and Mayawati were not so nave to support the UPA government without any purpose and today both the Congress and the JD(U) were working as `Vote katwa parties to help the SP and the BSP.'' "UP Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav is asking for the performance record of the Narendra Modi government. It's for Akhilesh Yadav to furnish his own record of performance to the people as UP goes to polls in 2017. The BJP will give its record of performance to the people in 2019 Lok Sabha elections,'' said Mr Shah. Accusing the UP Chief Minister of creating obstacles in the implementation of the Centrally sponsored schemes in UP, Mr Shah said, ''out of 80 centrally sponsored schemes as many as 63 are to be implemented by the state government and UP government is creating hurdles in the implementation of those schemes meant for the poor and the downtrodden.'' "India can never be a developed country without the development of UP. For the development of UP its imperative for the BJP to win the assembly election and form the government in UP. The party cadre should apprise the people of the state as to how for their narrow political ends the Samajwadi party government is not implementing the Centrally sponsored schemes for the uplift of the different sections of the society'', said Amit Shah. The IT cell of the BJP with the objective of using the social media to reach voters ahead of the 2017 polls had organised a day long `social media volunteer's meet' here on Saturday. BJP president Amit Shah and Union Minister of State for Commerce and Industry Nirmala Sitharaman addressed the meet. Nirmala Sitharaman made a detailed presentation of the various schemes of the Central government for the different sectors of the economy and social sector. The aim of the meet was to develop a dedicated workforce of volunteers who will popularise the work done by the Modi government. The workforce will use social media to create an atmosphere against Opposition parties. The meet was attended by nearly 8,000 volunteers, During the meet, Amit Shah launched the mobile application and a website of the state BJP unit. Information related to the BJP, like statements and speeches of senior party leaders on different issues and important decisions by the Modi government will be available on the site. The event was held in two sessions at the auditorium in Ram Manohar LohiaLaw University. In the first session, nearly 4,000 office bearers of BJP's IT Vibhag from all 403 constituencies participated. The state BJP leaders also addressed the first session and discussed the strategy and fixed the target for taking the social media campaign to the village level.In the second session, Nirmala Sitharaman made a presentation of the Modi government's work and achievements before the them. A BJP leader said the new volunteers will connect six crore people with the BJP through applications like WhatsApp as well. They will share text, videos, audios regarding works and policies of the NDA government, as well as the BJP's ideologies. Earlier in the day Mr Shah addressed a workshop for the media department office bearers of the state BJP office. The workshop was attended by the state, regional and districts units of the media department. Later Mr Shah also went to the residence of late Lucknow Mayor Dr S C Rai to pay his condolence. Dr Rai died here last week. Meanwhile, SP MLC Madhukar Jaitley accused the BJP president of trying to divert the attention of the people from the failures of the NDA government. "When the people if the country have already given their mandate against the previous UPA government during 2014 elections then why till date BJP leaders are accusing the Congress. It proves that as BJP has no credit of their regime hence they are repeatedly blaming the previous UPA government for everything still now," he alleged. The MLC, also claimed that Mr Yadav government had done much in the power sector by at least doubling the electricity production during past four years.UNI MB CJ AE 2022 -- (UNI) -- C-1-1-DL0400-917860.Xml
Minister of State in the PMO Jitendra Singh today called for promoting 'Public-Private Partnership' (PPP) model in medical research.Addressing the valedictory session of the three-day 'India-Africa Health Sciences Meet' here, Dr Singh suggested setting up units of the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) in private-sector medical colleges and institutions. He said a mutually rewarding mechanism could be worked out, wherein while the private institutions having ICMR or other registered research body units could be rewarded with certain incentives, on the other hand, ICMR would have the advantage of tapping and grooming young medicos with research aptitude. The Conference was attended by Health Ministers from different African countries, leading medical researchers from India & Africa and Director General as well as senior scientists of ICMR.Over the years, Dr Singh said, not only the spectrum of medical research has undergone a change, but the methodology had also changed, a statement said here today. For example, he said, till 1970's and 1980's, the main thrust of research was on communicable diseases like tuberculosis and sexually transmitted diseases, wherein India made a historic contribution by giving to the world some of the most original postulations. However, in the last two decades, the spectrum had shifted to non-communicable diseases and now, the research had to be primarily focused on metabolic diseases like diabetes, with a specific and exclusive Indian perspective, he added. At the same time, he said the methodology had also undergone a change and wherein till 20 years ago, a young scholar had to run from pillar to post in search of references and medical journals, today, the best of reference and research papers from the rest of the world are available on internet. Dr Singh appreciated the India-Africa initiative in the field of health sector and hoped that various research and education groups to be constituted would play a significant role in promoting the understanding of healthcare and research between the African continent and the Indian Sub-continent.UNI RBE RJ AE 2013 -- (UNI) -- C-1-1-DL0427-917845.Xml
Hyderabad Crime Police of Cyberabad have busted the online job fraudsters gang by arresting two accused from Ghaziabad. The gang cheated a person from Kukatpally and 17 others in Cyberabad limits, on the pretext of providing jobs in a Multi National Company to a tune of Rs 18.6 lakh and seized Rs 45,000 in cash from the accused, said Cyberabad Police Commissionrate Joint Commissioner of Police M Stephen Raveendra in a release here today. Based on the complaint lodged by the victim and others, all are residents of cyberabad in February this year and on information provided by the victims, the online job fraudsters gang was busted by the Cyber crime police and arrested the accused Neetu Kumar alias N K Upadhyay alias Sachin Sharma and Krishan Kumar alias Rajesh Kumar, who took a rented premises in Sector-62 in Noida. The accused used to post advertisements on www.quiker.com, www.indeed.com and www.shine.com for positions of Software trainees with Capgemini's Kolkata, Hyderabad, Bengaluru and Chennai campuses. The accused used to send emails with forged offer letters for those who cleared telephonic interviews from the spoofed emailing website www.emkei.cz or www.ananoymousmail.me using ID: offer.in@capgemini . After the offer letter is mailed, Neetu asked the candidates to pay Rs.1,00,000 to 1.20 lakhs-.Police recovered cash of Rs. 45,000, one HP Laptop, 4 mobile phones and cheque books used in the fraud, from the arrested accused. The accused were brought to Hyderabad on Transit Warrant and remanded to judicial custody from Ghaziabad of UP, the release added.UNI KNR CJ -- (UNI) -- C-1-1-DL0400-917924.Xml
''Police seized 44 bags of sugar meant for the public on government subsidized rates,'' a police spokesman here said, adding that the ration dealer in Rajbagh area who was stocking and selling ration illegally was arrested.

The accused has been identified as Onkar Singh of village Bimberwan, Rajbagh of Kathua district.

Police on a tip-off nabbed ration dealer who was involved in the illegal business of hoarding ration and selling the same on profit in market instead of distributing ration among general public.

Police have registered a case and started the investigations.UNI VBH CJ AE 2237

-- (UNI) -- C-1-1-DL0400-918004.Xml
Dutchman Robert Gesink won Stage 14 of the Tour of Spain on Saturday, finishing seven seconds ahead of the field as he returned to form after injury problems earlier in the year.Colombian Nairo Quintana retained the overall leader's red jersey after ending up one minute 47 seconds behind Gesink in the Pyrenees, preserving his 54-second cushion over second-placed Chris Froome as the pair finished together.Quintana's compatriot Johan Esteban Chaves climbed up to third overall after finishing ninth in the 196km journey from Urdax-Dantxarinea to Col d'Aubisque.Froome, bidding to become the first rider in 38 years to win the Tour de France and the Vuelta in the same season, fended off several attacks from Movistar rider Quintana but was unable to make up any ground on the leader.Gesink, who missed the Tour de France through injury after crashing at the Tour of Switzerland, attacked during the punishing high-mountain 21km finish having been part of a 40-man breakaway that pulled clear earlier.Frenchman Kenny Elissonde and Russia's Egor Silin were second and third respectively, seven and nine seconds behind Gesink."I've not had a great season but I'm happy to be back," Lotto NL-Jumbo rider Gesink told reporters. "I had to keep fighting to the last...ultimately it was enough for the victory."Sunday's medium-mountain Stage 15 is a 118.5km ride from Sabinanigo to Sallent de Gallego. The race ends in Madrid on Sept. 11.REUTERS CJ NS2300 -- (Reuters) -- C-1-1-DL0400-918011.Xml
Indian business diaspora hailed Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to Vietnam, hoping that it will further strengthen trade ties between the two countries. "Whenever any leader visits some other country, there is always attention towards it, and that also brings the attention of the business industry. Though 15 years is a long gap, this visit is definitely going to improve the business relationship between the two countries, because today Vietnam is one of the fastest growing economy, and Indian companies should seriously look this market for the growth of trade and investment," Indian Business Chamber in Vietnam chairperson Rajeev Garg told ANI. He said there is huge potential for trade growth between the two countries, but a more focused and structured approach is required if a target of 15 billion dollar is to be reached by 2020. He said products such as agricultural products, raw materials, leather, textile and accessories from India have a lot of potential in Vietnam, and likewise agricultural products, electronics, white marble stone and many other products are also exported to India from Vietnam. Garg added that there should be more ease of operations, and trade barriers should be minimised between the two countries for further growth. He said more attention on Indian business chambers is needed from the Indian side and there should be frequent exchanges between business delegations. "Indian and Indian Chambers in small countries should be given more attention from the Indian side. Besides, there should be more business delegation exchanges between the countries, which will help increase business," he said. TATA Power head in Vietnam Shenbagam Manthiram said a good connectivity and overcoming some cultural barriers will tremendously help improve trade. "There are tremendous opportunities available; be it the power sector, the defence sector and other areas. If connectivity is there between the two countries, the language barrier is broken a bit and the cultural barriers are shaken up, and there is great opportunity," he said. J.V. Ratnam, General Director-cum-Country Manager for Bioseed in Vietnam, said, "India and Vietnam have a good bilateral trade. The Prime Minister's visit will further strengthen areas like agriculture, defence and power, where there can be possibilities of increasing the business." "India has been contributing to the growth of Vietnam. Like in agriculture, we were the first guys to set up the rice research station for them," he added. When asked about how Indians are treated in Vietnam, he said, "Indians are very well respected here may be because of the legacy they carry. They are considered as brothers here. Vietnamese hold Indians in high esteem, because of jobs and business that Indians do here. We have been contributing intellectually as well." He also mentioned that Buddhism is followed in Vietnam so they look at India as a gateway to understanding Buddhism better. Indian Prime Minister Modi, who is on a two-day visit to Vietnam, arrived at the Noi Bai International Airport in Hanoi earlier Friday night. An Indian Prime Minister is visiting Vietnam after a gap of 15 years. He will hold talks with his Vietnamese counterpart Nguyen Xuan Phuc for closer ties in key areas of defence, security, trade and oil exploration. Prime Minister Modi will also meet President Tran Dai Quang. (ANI)
Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who arrived in Vietnamese capital Hanoi last night, will today hold bilateral talks with his Vietnamese counterpart Nguyen Xuan Phuc and will also meet President Tran Dai Quang to deepen ties in key areas of defence, security and trade, oil exploration, solar energy and some other sectors. Besides, Prime Minister Modi will also meet Vietnamese President Tran Dai Quang, Communist Party general secretary Nguyen Phu Trong, National Assembly Chairperson Nguyen Thi Kim Ngan. The Prime Minister will begin his day by paying homage to national heroes and martyrs at their monuments on Saturday morning. Prime Minister Modi, who is the fourth Indian Prime Minister to visit Vietnam during past about 50 years, will be given guard of honour and ceremonial welcome by the Vietnamese Government. Later, both the sides will hold bilateral talks, followed by a banquet lunch hosted by Prime Minister Phuc at International Convention Centre in the honour of Prime Minister Modi. Earlier, upon his arrival in Hanoi, senior government functionaries of the Vietnamese Government and Indian Ambassador P. Harish, along with other officials, welcomed Prime Minister Modi at Nai Bai International Airport. Hundreds of Indian and local schoolchildren waving national flags of both the countries were also present at the airport. In the meantime, extending his greetings to the people of Vietnam on their National Day, before leaving for the two-nation tour, the Prime Minister in a series of posts on his Facebook account said Vietnam is a friendly nation with whom we cherish our relationship. "Today (Friday) evening, I will reach Hanoi in Vietnam, marking the start of a very important visit that will further cement the close bond between India and Vietnam. My Government attaches a high priority to our bilateral relations with Vietnam. The India-Vietnam partnership will benefit Asia and the rest of the world. "During the visit, I will hold extensive discussions with Prime Minister Mr. Nguyen Xuan Phuc. We will review complete spectrum of our bilateral relationship. "I will also meet the President of Vietnam, Mr. Tran Dai Quang, the General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam, Mr. Nguyen Phu Trong; and the Chairperson of the National Assembly of Vietnam, Ms. Nguyen Thi Kim Ngan. "We wish to forge a strong economic relationship with Vietnam that can mutually benefit our citizens. Strengthening the people-to-people ties will also be an my endeavour during the Vietnam visit. "In Vietnam, I will have the opportunity to pay homage to Ho Chi Minh, one of 20th century's tallest leaders. I will lay a wreath at the Monument of National Heroes and Martyrs as well as visit the Quan Su Pagoda." Briefing the media here on Friday, Secretary (East), External Affairs Ministry, Preeti Saran, said: "Vietnam is India's important strategic partner and the visit is aimed at further strengthening bilateral ties, including defence, security and trade. "Vietnam is a central pillar of India's Act East Policy and our priorities for cooperation range in a whole host of areas, including defence and security, trade and investment, maritime cooperation, energy resources, in integrating our self to the ASEAN community and for leveraging our interactions in the regional and international forums," said Saran. "Defence and security cooperation with Vietnam is very robust, which includes counterterrorism, trans-national crimes. Our focus is on capacity building, training, high-level exchanges and more recently defence procurement," she added. Stating that India's bilateral trade with Vietnam has been growing at almost 26 percent per annum in the last few years and today it stands at 7.8 billion dollars, she said, "We have surplus trade with Vietnam to the tune of 2.8 billion dollars. Last time when our leaders met, they agreed to set up a trade target of 15 billion dollars by 2020. And the areas that we focus in our trade relationship are in textile, pharmaceuticals, machinery, IT and other service sectors." The Prime Minister will leave for Hangzhou, China, from Vietnam in the evening on Saturday to attend the G-20 Summit on September 4 and 5. "During the visit, India will take up issues like cross-border mobility of professionals, terror financing, tax evasion and reduction in remittance transaction cost among others," said Secretary (West) Sujata Mehta. She said Prime Minister Modi will be the lead speaker at the session on inclusive and inter connected development. On the sidelines of the Summit, the Prime Minister will have bilateral meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping. It would be the first meeting between Prime Minister Modi and President Jinping after their meeting on the sidelines of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) summit held in Uzbekistan capital Tashkent. "I will visit Hangzhou, China from 3-5 September 2016 for the Annual G-20 Leaders Summit. I will arrive in Hangzhou from Vietnam where I would have concluded an important bilateral visit. "During the G-20 Summit, I will have an opportunity to engage with other world leaders on pressing international priorities and challenges. We will discuss putting the global economy on the track of sustainable steady growth and responding to emerging and entrenched social, security and economic challenges. "India will engage constructively on all the issues before us and work towards finding solutions and taking forward the agenda for a robust, inclusive and sustainable international economic order that uplifts the socio-economic conditions of people across the world, especially those who need it most in developing countries. I look forward to a productive and outcome oriented Summit," said Prime Minister Modi in Facebook post. (ANI)
DAYS ARE LIKE GRASS

By Sue Younger



The third page of Days Are Like Grass ends with six ominous words: Just like that. Your life, ruined

. The sense of foreboding lingers long after those words, dated 1970, have given way to scenes set in the more recent past (2010). On that ill-fated day in 1970, in fact one life was ruined and another, that of baby Claire Bowerman, blighted for the next forty years.

By 2010 Claire is a skilled paediatric surgeon, recently returned to Auckland after many years in England. Claire has returned reluctantly to New Zealand. Although the tragedies in her past still haunt her, outwardly she is tough and in control, and neither she nor her partner, Yossi, and least of all Claires daughter, 15-year-old Roimata, are prepared for the way the cloak of protective secrecy with which Claire has guarded her life begins to unravel. When a patients aunt recognises in Roimata a link to her own extended family, Claire feels her life spiralling out of control. The fierce love that binds Claire, Yossi and Roimata is tested over and over again.

In Days Are Like Grass , Younger explores the intricacies of a dysfunctional family and its accompanying estrangement; unconditional love and loves betrayal; denial, forgiveness and reconciliation. There is all this, along with terrible grief and amazing joy in Days Are Like Grass, and more. Claires family drama is set against her work in Starship Childrens Hospital where there is also suspense, sorrow and inspiration.

Younger has woven an incredible web in the plot and subplots of Days Are Like Grass . With astounding skill, she keeps pulling the threads tighter and drawing the reader deeper and deeper into the dramas and traumas in Claires life. This book is beautifully written. The prose is succinct and punchy  there is no extra padding: like Claire herself, the story is crisp and fast-paced. Although those opening pages were never far from my mind, the mystery wasnt completely solved, in a totally unexpected way, until the very last pages. So no peeping! I was also impressed with the way Younger so cleverly used the second person singular to tell key parts of this story.

I found Days Are Like Grass a truly gripping read. Aucklanders will enjoy the vividly described scenes  some seedy, others gorgeously luxuriant  but this book will delight lovers of the mystery-plus-family-in-crisis genre all over the world. For non-Kiwi readers, a useful glossary of Maori words completes the book.
The Guardian quoted China's official news agency, Xinhua, saying the members of the country's rubber-stamp parliament had voted "to review and ratify" the historic deal.

The announcement came as leaders from the world's 20 biggest economies, the Group of 20 (G20), began to arrive in the Chinese city of Hangzhou for a summit on Sunday and Monday.

Chinese President Xi Jinping and his US counterpart Barack Obama are expected to meet in China ahead of the start of the G20 Summit.

In a landmark deal struck in December, various countries agreed to cut emissions enough to keep the global average rise in temperatures below two centigrade.

The Paris agreement needs to be ratified by 55 countries, representing 55 percent of global emissions, in order to come into effect.

"China and the US together account for about 38 percent of global emissions. So if they ratify the agreement it will bring the Paris agreement entering into force much closer to reality," said Li Shuo, the Beijing-based senior climate policy adviser for Greenpeace East Asia. (ANI)
Prime Minister Narendra Modi today reached Hanoi for a bilateral visit to Vietnam during which he will hold extensive discussions with his counterpart Nguyen Xuan Phuc. From Hanoi, he will make a trip to China's eastern city of Hangzhou where he will attend the annual summit of powerful G-20 grouping. '' Reached Hanoi. This is a special visit & will go a long way in deepening the strong bond between India & Vietnam,'' the Prime Minister tweeted on reaching the Vietnam capital this evening. "My Government attaches a high priority to our bilateral relations with Vietnam. The India-Vietnam partnership will benefit Asia and the rest of the world," the Prime Minister had said prior to his departure. Besides holding discussions with his counterpart Nguyen Xuan Phuc, he will also meet the President of VietnamTran Dai Quang, the General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam Nguyen Phu Trong; and the Chairperson of the National Assembly of Vietnam, Ms. Nguyen Thi Kim Ngan. UNI XC NAZ AKC 0040 -- (UNI) -- C-1-1-DL0432-916640.Xml
Major parties in Brazil's governing coalition pressed the Supreme Court today to overturn a Senate decision allowing former President Dilma Rousseff to remain politically active after her dismissal in an impeachment trial this week.The Senate voted on Wednesday to remove Rousseff from office for manipulating the federal budget to hide the real state of Brazil's ailing economy in the run-up to her 2014 re-election.In an unexpected separate vote, lawmakers spared the leftist leader from an eight-year ban on running for public office or holding any position in government, as provided for in Brazil's constitution."They did a last-minute legal trick and guaranteed the former president's political rights," Senator Jose Medeiros, of the Social Democratic Party, said today. He spoke after filing a request to annul the second vote, which he said was unconstitutional.His motion was joined by another from the Democrats party and the Brazilian Social Democracy Party, two heavyweights in the coalition assembled by the new President Michel Temer, following a similar motion by Green Party Senator Alvaro Dias yesterday.The head of the ruling Brazilian Democratic Movement Party (PMDB), Romero Juca, also condemned on Twitter the Senate's vote separating the matter of Rousseff's ouster from her political rights in the years ahead.Brazil's new President Michel Temer, who was sworn in after Rousseff was dismissed, has played down the twist in her final removal."The Senate made that decision, wrongly or rightly, but the Senate made that decision," Temer said on the sidelines of a business summit in Shanghai ahead of a G20 summit in China.The Senate decision, which garnered support from several members of Temer's fractious PMDB, appeared to reflect unease over whether the doctoring of budget figures that Rousseff was convicted of was truly an impeachable offense.Rousseff herself appealed to the Supreme Court yesterday to annul the decision to oust her, a request that is unlikely to succeed.A reversal of the vote granting her political rights is also seen as improbable since it was allowed by Supreme Court Chief Justice Ricardo Lewandowski, who presided over the impeachment trial in the Senate. REUTERS AKC O105 -- (Reuters) -- C-1-1-DL0432-916643.Xml
China needs to be a more responsible power as it gains global influence and avoid flexing its muscles in disputes with smaller countries over issues like the South China Sea, US President Barack Obama told CNN in an interview to be aired on Sunday."If you sign a treaty that calls for international arbitration around maritime issues, the fact that you're bigger than the Philippines or Vietnam or other countries ... is not a reason for you to go around and flex your muscles," Obama said in excerpts released by CNN. "You've got to abide by international law." REUTERS AKC 0140 -- (Reuters) -- C-1-1-DL0432-916650.Xml
The United Nations Security Council, acting on concerns South Sudan could again fall back into full-scale civil war, arrived in the country today to demand that President Salva Kiir's government stop obstructing UN peacekeepers and cooperate on the deployment of 4,000 more foreign troops or possibly face an arms embargo.The 15-member council agreed last month to consider an arms embargo on South Sudan, the world's newest nation, if UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon reports next yesterday that Kiir's government has not stepped up its efforts to work with the world body."It would be premature to assess whether the level of cooperation is sufficient, but ... it is extremely important for us to convey to the government of South Sudan that time is of the essence," US Ambassador Samantha Power told reporters.The council is due to meet with Kiir and his ministers over the weekend."The international community is extremely frustrated with the obstruction of UN peacekeeping operations that has gone on for too long," said Power, who, along with Senegal, is co-leading the three-day Security Council visit.Fierce fighting in mid-July between troops loyal to Kiir and those backing former Vice President Riek Machar raised fears the five-year old state could slide back into full civil war, prompting the Security Council to approve a regional protection force to ensure peace in Juba.East African regional trade bloc IGAD pushed for the protection force, which will fall under the command of the UN peacekeeping force known as UNMISS."This regional protection force can be very important in enhancing the sense of security and building confidence and in allowing UNMISS to have capacity to go out and about and go beyond the protection of civilian sites," Power said.Since civil war erupted in South Sudan in December 2013, sparked by a longtime political rivalry between Kiir and Machar, UN peacekeepers have been protecting tens of thousands of civilians sheltering at several UN bases around the country. Thousands of people have been killed and millions displaced by the conflict.Kiir and Machar signed a peace deal a year ago, but fighting has persisted and Machar has now fled the country and is in Sudan."We should send a very strong signal that there is unity in the council that the current state of a affairs is a no-go," said Russian Deputy UN Ambassador Petr Iliichev.A senior council diplomat, speaking on condition of anonymity ahead of the trip, said the levels of cooperation needed from the South Sudan to avoid an arms embargo are "nowhere near being met."Iliichev said, however, that Russia - a council veto power - was not comfortable with the idea of imposing an arms embargo."The main problem is not with new weapons coming in. The country is inundated with weapons and nothing is being done on disarmament, demobilization and reintegration," he said.The council will also assess the "ability and willingness" of peacekeepers to protect civilians and aid workers in danger, according to the terms for the trip, seen by Reuters, following accusations that UN troops failed to respond properly to deadly attacks and rapes, most recently in Juba.The United Nations is investigating the accusations."We have a lot of questions about how those attacks can have occurred and why there has been no visible accountability for the perpetrators of those attacks," Power said. REUTERS AKC 0157 -- (Reuters) -- C-1-1-DL0432-916651.Xml
US President Barack Obama will hold a formal meeting with British Prime Minister Theresa May during the G20 summit in China on Sunday, a White House official said.The meeting is their first since May took office in July."The president and the prime minister will discuss a range of bilateral and global issues, and, as close friends and steadfast allies, the United States and United Kingdom continue to enjoy an enduring special relationship," the official said. REUTERS AKC 0252 -- (Reuters) -- C-1-1-DL0432-916657.Xml
The United States is considering further easing or lifting sanctions against Myanmar around the time of a White House visit this month by the country's new leader, Aung San Suu Kyi, US officials told Reuters.President Barack Obama is expected to decide on the extent of the sanctions relief after consultations between Suu Kyi and his administration to gauge how far she wants Washington to go in loosening the screws on Myanmar's still-powerful military.Obama will attend a Group of 20 leaders' summit this weekend in China followed by an East Asia summit in Laos, where Suu Kyi may also be present. She will visit Washington on September 14-15 for meetings with Obama, Vice President Joe Biden, members of the US Congress and business leaders.Suu Kyi, a Nobel Peace Prize laureate and democracy icon, helped persuade the West to impose sanctions during her years as a jailed opposition leader. She is now trying to strike a balance between showing her people the economic rewards of a democratic transition while keeping pressure on the country's generals for further reforms.Obama's historic opening to Myanmar followed by its peaceful transition to an elected civilian-led government is seen as one of his foreign policy achievements. But with less than five months left in office, his administration remains wary of giving up leverage for removing the vestiges of military rule.Suu Kyi's Washington visit would be her first since her National League for Democracy (NLD) party swept into power after November 2015 elections.Ben Rhodes, Obama's deputy national security adviser, met this week with congressional staffers and told them the president was considering reducing sanctions or removing them altogether, several US officials said.The US officials spoke to Reuters this week on condition of anonymity.The White House declined comment.Washington is eager to expand relations with Myanmar to help counteract China's rise in Asia and let US businesses take advantage of the opening of one of the world's last "frontier markets" - fast-growing but less developed emerging economies.MILITARY-RUN ENTERPRISESMost of the remaining US measures restrict business with military-run enterprises, including bans on imports of Myanmar's jade and gemstones, and with black-listed individuals.Obama has already eased some sanctions on Myanmar, formerly known as Burma, several times. This included the removal in May of state-owned banks from the US blacklist and of measures against seven key state-owned timber and mining firms. But many restrictions were renewed for another year."We're looking at things related to trade, investment and commerce, and trying to see what can be done to improve the investment environment in Myanmar," a US government source said of the changes being weighed.These could include adding Myanmar to the Generalized System of Preferences program, which provides duty-free treatment for goods from many poor and developing countries, the sources said.A key question is how far Suu Kyi wants Washington to go in relaxing pressure on the military, which has a strong hand in politics through a military-drafted constitution as well as an economic powerbase."If our bosses are in the room with Aung San Suu Kyi and she says 'I want you to lift all the sanctions,' it is hard to imagine them saying no," a congressional source said, when asked whether members of Congress would go along with lifting US sanctions.Suu Kyi is barred from the presidency by the constitution drafted by the former junta because her two sons are British citizens. She holds the title of foreign minister, but is Myanmar's de facto government leader.She and the NLD have been criticized for not doing enough to help Myanmar's oppressed Rohingya Muslim minority.Some backers of removing sanctions argue that easing Myanmar's international isolation could help improve human rights by boosting the economy.However, Human Rights Watch called yesterday for the US government to keep sanctions in place to deter the military from derailing democratic reforms. REUTERS AKC 0417 -- (Reuters) -- C-1-1-DL0432-916665.Xml
China has lost a "true friend" with the death of Uzbekistan President Islam Karimov, Chinese President Xi Jinping said today in a message of condolence to a country Beijing considers an important partner in its war on terror.Karimov, 78, had served as authoritarian president of ex-Soviet Uzbekistan from the moment it became independent from the Soviet Union. He had been in hospital after suffering a stroke.He will be buried today in his home city of Samarkand.China has long been concerned at links between Islamist militants in Central Asia and those Beijing accuses of promoting separatism in the violence-prone far western region of Xinjiang.Xi, in a message sent to acting President Nigmatilla Yuldoshev and carried by China's Foreign Ministry, said Karimov had made "historic contributions" to the country's development and prosperity."President Karimov dedicated himself over a long period to friendly Sino-Uzbek cooperation and put painstaking efforts into developing an all-round, strategic partnership and increasing the traditional friendship between the two peoples," Xi said."Karimov's unfortunate passing is not only a huge loss to the Uzbek people, but also means the Chinese people have lost a true friend," he added.China wants to continue working hard to consolidate and deepen the two countries' cooperation and friendly relations, Xi said in the brief message.Xi visited Uzbekistan in June, where state media said both nations agreed to deepen their counter-terrorism cooperation, and ensure the safety of pipelines into China from Central Asia which are vital for Chinese energy security.Hundreds of people have been killed over the past few years in resource-rich Xinjiang, strategically located on the borders of central Asia, in unrest between the Muslim Uighur people who call the region home and ethnic majority Han Chinese.The government has blamed the violence on Islamist militants, though rights groups and exiles say anger at Chinese controls on the religion and culture of Uighurs is more to blame for the unrest. China denies any repression in Xinjiang.Uzbekistan is a member of the Chinese and Russia-lead Shanghai Cooperation Organisation security bloc, one of whose key roles is to tackle Islamist violence.Uzbekistan shares a border with Afghanistan and has become a target for Islamist militants. It is also a major cotton exporter and is rich in gold and natural gas.Long criticised by the West and human rights groups, Karimov ruled Uzbekistan from 1989, first as the head of the local Communist Party and then as president of the newly independent republic from 1991 when the Soviet Union collapsed. REUTERS AKC 0640 -- (Reuters) -- C-1-1-DL0432-916676.Xml
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday announced a new Defence Line of Credit for Vietnam of USD five hundred million for facilitating deeper defence cooperation with Vietnam. Prime Minister Modi, while delivering a joint statement with his Vietnamese counterpart Nguyen Xuan Phuc, said Vietnam holds a special place in the hearts of the people of his generation. "The links between our societies go back over 2000 years. The advent of Buddhism from India to Vietnam and the monuments of Vietnam's Hindu Cham temples stand testimony to these bonds. For people of my generation, Vietnam holds a special place in our hearts. The bravery of the Vietnamese people in gaining independence from colonial rule has been a true inspiration. And, your success in national reunification and commitment to nation building reflects the strength of character of your people. We in India have admired your determination, rejoiced in your success and have been with you all along in your national journey," said Prime Minister Modi. He insisted that his conversation with Prime Minister Phuc was extensive and productive and their discussions covered the full range of bilateral and multilateral cooperation. "We have agreed to scale up and strengthen our bilateral engagement. As two important countries in this region, we also feel it necessary to further our ties on regional and international issues of common concern. We agreed to tap into the growing economic opportunities in the region. We also recognized the need to cooperate in responding to emerging regional challenges. Our decision to upgrade our strategic partnership to a comprehensive strategic partnership captures the intent and path of our future cooperation. It will provide a new direction, momentum and substance to our bilateral cooperation. Our common efforts will also contribute to stability, security and prosperity in this region," he said. "We realize that our efforts to bring economic prosperity to our people need to be accompanied by steps to secure them. Prime Minister and I have, therefore, agreed to deepen our defence and security engagement to advance our common interests. The agreement on construction of offshore patrol boats signed earlier today is one of the steps to give concrete shape to our defence engagement. I am also happy to announce a new Defence Line of Credit for Vietnam of US$ Five Hundred million for facilitating deeper defence cooperation. The range of agreements signed just a while ago point to the diversity and depth of our cooperation," he added. Prime Minister Modi further said India and its 1.25 billion people stand ready to be Vietnam's partner and a friend in this journey. "India will be offering a grant of USD five million for the establishment of a Software Park in the Telecommunications University in Nha Trang. The framework agreement on Space cooperation would allow Vietnam to join hands with Indian Space Research Organization to meet its national development objectives," he said. "Enhancing bilateral commercial engagement is also our strategic objective. For this, new trade and business opportunities will be tapped to achieve the trade target of fifteen billion dollars by 2020. I also sought facilitation of ongoing Indian projects and investments in Vietnam. And, have invited Vietnamese companies to take advantage of the various schemes and flagship programmes of my government," he added. Prime Minister Modi insisted that ASEAN is important to India in terms of historical links, geographical proximity cultural ties and the strategic space that both countries share. "It is central to our 'Act East' policy. Under Vietnam's leadership as ASEAN Coordinator for India, we will work towards a strengthened India-ASEAN partnership across all areas," he said. India and Vietnam today inked a dozen of agreements, including protocol on double taxation avoidance agreement, to foster better ties between the two sides. "12 for togetherness! India & Vietnam sign a dozen agreements for further strengthening the Strategic Partnership," tweeted Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) official spokesperson Vikas Swarup. The other agreements signed are cooperation in exploration and use of outer space for peaceful purposes, MoU between BIS and STAMEQ for mutual recognition of standards, contact with L&T for utilization of $100 million LoC for offshore Patrol boats, cooperation in the field of health, celebrating 2017 as 'Year of Friendship'.(ANI)
The two countries also decided to elevate their Strategic Partnership to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership. The two sides signed a total of 12 agreements ranging from cooperation in IT and space to double taxation.

The Indian support for Vietnamese defence came at a time when Vietnam along with other littoral states of the South China Sea are in a state of tense relations with China over territorial rights in these waters.

Mr Modi , in a statement to the media after the talks, said India recognised the need to cooperate in responding to emerging regional challenges.

He, however, did not mention the name of South China Sea.

''Our decision to upgrade our Strategic Partnership to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership captures the intent and path of our future cooperation,'' he said. He stressed that the new dimension to the partnership will provide a new direction, momentum and substance to the bilateral cooperation.

''Our common efforts will also contribute to stability, security and prosperity in this region,'' Mr Modi said.

A fair part of the other agreements signed today are also linked to deepening the two countries' defence and security cooperation.More UNI XC NAZ SV ADG 1303

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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."
"Afternoon meetings begin with a call on Nguyen Thi Kim Ngan, Chairperson of the National Assembly of Vietnam," External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Vikas Swarup tweeted.

Earlier in the day, Modi held delegation-level talks with Vietnamese Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc following which the two sides signed 12 agreements while giving a strong boost to bilateral defence ties.

Modi arrived here on Friday ahead of his visit to China to attend the G-20 Summit to be held on September 4-5.

This is the first bilateral prime ministerial visit from India to Vietnam in 15 years since the visit of then Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee in 2001.

--IANS ab/sac

( 135 Words)

2016-09-03-14:13:56 (IANS)
The United States has joined China to formally ratify the Paris agreement to curb climate-warming emissions, the world's two biggest economies said today, which could help put the pact into force before the end of the year.US President Barack Obama and Chinese President Xi Jinping submitted their plan to join the agreement to UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, who is in China to witness the announcement.Senior Obama adviser Brian Deese said the joint declaration should push other countries to formally join the agreement."The signal of the two large emitters taking this step together and taking it early, far earlier than people had anticipated a year ago, should give confidence to the global communities and to other countries that are working on their climate change plans, that they too can move quickly and will be part of a global effort," Deese told reporters yesterday.India is also poised to join the agreement this year, Deese said, adding that Obama was expected to meet Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi on the sidelines of a Group of 20 nations meeting in Hangzhou, China, this weekend.Obama and Xi committed to cooperate on two other global environmental agreements this year - an amendment to the Montreal Protocol to phase down air-conditioning refrigerants and on a market-based measure to reduce carbon emissions from aviation."Today's announcement is the strongest signal yet that what we agreed in Paris will soon be the law of the land," said Mattlan Zackhras, minister-in-assistance to the president of the Marshall Islands."With the two biggest emitters ready to lead, the transition to a low-emissions, climate-resilient global economy is now irreversible."Saturday's joint statement could spur further ratifications by the likes of Brazil and Canada."We expect a surge of ratifications around the UN Climate week later in September," said Bill Hare, chief executive of Climate Analytics.In Paris last December, nearly 200 countries agreed on a binding global compact to slash greenhouse gases and keep global temperature increases to "well below" 2 degrees Celsius.Experts have said the temperature target is already in danger of being breached, with the UN's weather agency saying 2016 is on course to be the warmest year since records began.'LIGHT SPEED'While 180 countries have now signed the agreement, 55 nations - covering at least 55 percent of global emissions - need to formally ratify the treaty to put it into legal effect.Before China and the United States, 23 nations had ratified - including North Korea - but they collectively accounted for just 1.08 percent of global emissions, according to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change.China represents just over 20 per cent of global emissions while the United States accounting for 17.9 per cent, Russia 7.5 per cent and India 4.1 per cent.The announcement is a major diplomatic achievement for the US president, who ends his term in January.But the ability of the United States to achieve its Paris targets could be affected by the outcome of a federal court hearing this month, in which 27 US states are trying to block the federal Clean Power Plan that slashes CO2 from power plants, the largest source of US greenhouse gas emissions.The US Republican Party Platform has also questioned the legality of the executive order used to ratify the Paris deal, saying it will need the consent of the Senate before it becomes binding.Li Shuo, a climate adviser with Greenpeace, said both China and the United States were determined to put the treaty into force as soon as possible in order to avoid the risk that any new Republican administration would reject it."It now looks like the Paris agreement will enter into force before the end of the year and that will really be light speed compared to almost all other international agreements," he said.US Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton is a strong supporter of the accord, but her Republican counterpart Donald Trump has dismissed man-made climate change as a hoax and says he will abandon the Paris agreement if elected.Countries that ratify the deal will have to wait for three years after it has gone into legal force before they can begin the process of withdrawing from it, according to the agreement signed in Paris.Ratification, however, does not mean the work is over.Alden Meyer, international director of the Union of Concerned Scientists, said the Paris agreement's detailed rules will likely take another year or two to finalise."All countries will need to raise the ambition of their commitments under the agreement if we're to avoid the worst impacts of climate change and reach a goal of net zero global warming emissions by mid-century," Meyer said."But this is an important step forward that reinforces the US and China's continued leadership in building a robust, durable international climate framework." REUTERS JW RAI1521 -- (Reuters) -- C-1-1-DL0364-917154.Xml
Prime Minister Narendra Modi met Communist Party of Vietnam general secretary Nguyen Phu Trong here on Saturday during which they agreed that there should be more exchanges at the people to people level to further strengthen the relationship. "We should increase exchanges between political parties and our Parliaments, also between women leaders and youth," said Trong. Prime Minister Modi also recalled Trong's visit to India in 2013 and expressed confidence that the India-Vietnam relationship would scale new heights under his guidance. Reiterating that India always stood as a friend with Vietnam throughout history, he said that it would be rare to find such a relationship that has lasted for 2,000 years. The Prime Minister also said that areas such as cyber security and information technology would benefit from the creation of a task force and help both sides solve future problems. On his part, Trong agreed that India-Vietnam relations were time tested and durable. He said that he had visited India twice in 2010 and 2013, adding both visits had left a very good impression. He added that the Vietnamese people had never forgotten India's strong support during the country's struggle for independence. "The upgradation of relationship to Comprehensive Strategic Partnership was an indicator of the importance Vietnam attaches to India," he said. He thanked the Prime Minister for India's support to Vietnam's armed forces and agreed that cooperation in cyber security was very important. Trong also called for intensified coordination in regional and multilateral fora and appreciated India's principled position on the South China Sea issue. Prime Minister Modi, who was on a two-day visit to Vietnam, also held delegation-level talks with his Vietnamese counterpart Nguyen Xuan Phuc. Later, he called on Vietnam President Tran Dai Quang at the Presidential Palace here. During the meeting, President Quang said Vietnam fully supports India's Act East Policy and thanked New Delhi for consistent support to socio-economic development of the country. He called for frequent high-level exchanges to further strengthen political trust between the two countries and sought further support from India in investment, education, training and science and technology. During Prime Minister Modi's visit to Vietnam, the two countries inked a dozen of agreements, including protocol on double taxation avoidance agreement, to foster better ties between the two sides. The other agreements signed include cooperation in exploration and use of outer space for peaceful purposes, MoU between BIS and STAMEQ for mutual recognition of standards, contact with L&T for utilization of USD 100 million LoC for offshore Patrol boats, cooperation in the field of health, celebrating 2017 as 'Year of Friendship'. (ANI)
Turkish tanks crossed into northern Syria from Kilis province today and howitzers pounded Islamic State positions in the area, Dogan news agency said, marking Turkey's second incursion in an operation aimed at sweeping militants from its borders.The tanks crossed the frontier near the Turkish village of Cobanbey, the agency said. Cobanbey, is across from Syria's al Rai, which has switched between Islamic State and rebel control in recent months.The area is some 55 kilometres southwest of Jarablus, where last week Turkish-backed Syrian forces launched "Operation Euphrates Shield", Turkey's first major incursion into Syria since the war started five years ago.A Reuters cameraman in the area earlier heard a repeated booming sound and saw plumes of smoke rising from the Syrian side of the border.The United States has voiced concerns about Turkish strikes on Kurdish-aligned groups that Washington has backed in its battle against Islamic State. Germany said it did not want to see a lasting Turkish presence in an already tangled conflict.Turkey has said it has no plans to stay in Syria and simply aims to protect its frontier from the militant group and the Kurdish YPG militia, which it sees as an extension of the outlawed Kurdish PKK group fighting an insurgency on Turkish soil. REUTERS JW RAI1757 -- (Reuters) -- C-1-1-DL0364-917513.Xml
Islam Karimov, president of Uzbekistan for the past quarter of a century, was buried in his home city of Samarkand today, leaving behind a power vacuum in a nation that serves as a bulwark against militant Islam in Central Asia.Karimov, who was 78, died from a stroke. After a funeral rite in Samarkand's ancient Registan square attended by hundreds of men - some of whom were in tears - his body was buried at the city's Shah-i-Zinda cemetery, two attendees told Reuters.Karimov was derided by Western governments as a dictator who violated human rights, but for many people in Uzbekistan, a mainly Muslim ex-Soviet state which borders Afghanistan, he is the only head of state they have ever known.With no obvious successor, Karimov's death has triggered an outpouring of grief, mixed with uncertainty about the future."I still can't believe it happened," said a 39-year-old resident of the capital, Tashkent, who was among thousands who lined the main thoroughfare early on Saturday to watch the funeral cortege pass by en route to Samarkand."I don't know what happens now, I am lost," said the man, who declined to be identified.How the power vacuum is filled in Uzbekistan is of urgent concern to Russia, the United States and China, all powers with interests in the volatile Central Asia region, where Uzbekistan is the most populous state.Central Asia analysts say a small circle of senior officials and Karimov family members will have been meeting behind closed doors to try to agree on anointing a new president.The funeral rites offered clues as to who might be in the running. At the Samarkand ceremony, Prime Minister Shavkat Mirziyoyev, 59, and Finance Minister Rustam Azimov, 57, were allocated spots in the front row, nearest to Karimov's coffin.If the elite fail to agree among themselves on a transition, the resulting instability could be exploited by Islamist militants who in the past have staged violent attacks in Uzbek cities and want to make Uzbekistan part of an Islamic caliphate.Karimov jailed, killed or exiled most of the Islamist fighters inside Uzbekistan. Many have since joined the Taliban in Afghanistan and Islamic State in Iraq and Syria, where they have become battle-hardened.An upsurge in Islamist violence in Uzbekistan would pose a threat to the United States, which is trying to contain the insurgency in Afghanistan, to Russia - home to millions of Uzbek migrant workers - and to China, which worries about Central Asian Islamists making common cause with separatists from its mainly Muslim Uighur ethnic minority.WEEPING DAUGHTERMany people had anticipated that Karimov would be succeeded by his older daughter Gulnara, a businesswoman and pop star, but she fell from favour two years ago and there was no sign of her on Saturday among the family members in the funeral cortge.At Tashkent airport, as the coffin was being loaded onto a plane bound for Samarkand, Karimov's wife, Tatiana, and his younger daughter, Lola Karimova-Tillyaeva, stood at the foot of the aircraft steps. His daughter, dressed all in black, was dabbing her eyes with a white handkerchief.Karimov's death could unleash a new round of jockeying between Russia, the United States and China, which are all trying to bring Central Asia, with its oil and gas reserves and metal ore, into their sphere of influence.In a statement offering his condolences, US President Barack Obama said his country stood with Uzbekistan as it "begins a new chapter in its history".Alexei Pushkov, the pro-Kremlin head of the foreign affairs committee in Russia's parliament, responded on Twitter that Obama was "mistaken if he thinks the new chapter is going to be written in Washington".The most prominent foreign dignitaries at the funeral were Afghan President Ashraf Ghani, Tajikistan's President Imomali Rakhmon and Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev.COST OF STABILITYKarimov was the head of the local Communist party in Uzbekistan when it was still a Soviet republic, and he remained at the helm after the Soviet Union collapsed in 1991.While other newly-independent Soviet republics were convulsed by wars, economic upheaval and political turmoil, life for people in Uzbekistan stayed largely stable, safe and predictable -- a state of affairs that Karimov's supporters touted as his great achievement."The people of Uzbekistan associate the huge achievements of the country since independence with President Karimov's name," a state television anchor, in a black suit and tie, said today in an elegy that was preceded by sombre music.But the stability came at a cost.Elections were held but were not democratic, according to international observers. To ensure Uzbekistan could earn foreign currency from exporting cotton, people -- including children -- were press-ganged into going into the fields to help with the harvest, witnesses have told Reuters.Citing an Islamist threat, Karimov cracked down ruthlessly on anyone deemed to be a religious extremist. Growing a beard or renouncing alcohol was sometimes enough to earn arrest. Rights groups say detainees were tortured.In the Uzbek city of Andizhan in May 2005, security forces killed around 500 mostly unarmed people who had been protesting against local officials, witnesses and rights groups said. Karimov put the death toll at 169 and said his forces had put down an armed uprising.Karimov's own family were not immune from the harsh treatment. In a letter smuggled to a BBC journalist in 2014, Gulnara, the older daughter, alleged she was being held under house arrest by her father's security officials after her family ostracised her. REUTERS JW PM1801 -- (Reuters) -- C-1-1-DL0364-917525.Xml
Mr Modi, this afternoon, left for the Chinese city of Hongzhou to attend the G-20 Summit, to be held there on Sunday and Monday. Besides, he will also have a bilateral meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping.

His final engagement in Hanoi was a call on Nguyen Phu Trong, General Secretary of the Communist Party.

Earlier, he called on President Tran Dai Quang at the Presidential Palace. He also met Nguyen Thi Kim Ngan, Chairperson of the National Assembly.

The Prime Minister today held extensive talks with his Vietnamese counterpart Nguyen Xuan Phuc, following which the two countries signed 12 agreements.

India will help Vietnam with a new Defence Line of Credit of 500 million dollars for shoring up its Defence capabilities, Mr Modi announced here today after the talks.

The two countries also decided to elevate Strategic Partnership to the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership.

The two sides signed a total of 12 agreements, ranging from cooperation in IT and space to double taxation.

The Indian support for Vietnamese defence came at a time, when Vietnam, along with other littoral states of the South China Sea, are in a state of tense relations with China over territorial rights in these waters.UNI XC NAZ RJ 1900

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Two bombs killed at least 12 people and wounded dozens outside a court complex in northwest Pakistan, a rescue official said, hours after militants killed two people in a Christian neighbourhood in the same region.Both attacks were claimed by Jamaat-ur-Ahrar, a breakaway Pakistani Taliban faction believed to be behind some of the past year's deadliest attacks, including last month's bombing of lawyers in the city of Quetta that killed 74 people.The bodies of policemen, lawyers and other civilians were recovered, said Haris Habib, chief rescue officer in the city of Mardan in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province."First there was a small blast followed by a big blast," Habib told Reuters yesterday.The twin attacks in the northwest came one day after Pakistan's army touted the successes of its fight against myriad armed jihadist groups, though a spokesman acknowledged there was still a long way to go.Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif said yesterday's latest bombing would "not shatter our unflinching resolve in our war against terrorism"."These receding elements are showing frustration by attacking our soft targets. They shall not get space to hide in Pakistan," Sharif said in a statement.Jamaat-ur-Ahrar's spokesman, Ehsanullah Ehsan, vowed to stage more attacks in a statement sent to Reuters."We appeal to civilians to remain away from law enforcement installations and these un-Islamic courts. We will target them more," he said.More than 20 people were killed in an attack in December on a government office in Mardan, which was also claimed by Jamaat-ur-Ahrar.ATTACK ON CHRISTIAN AREAEarlier in the day, four gunmen wearing suicide-bomb vests attacked a Christian neighbourhood in the Khyber tribal region, killing at least one security guard and a civilian resident, military officials said.Jamaat-ur-Ahrar, which has targeted Christians in the past, claimed responsibility within hours of the attack.The Islamist group, which briefly declared allegiance to Middle East-based Islamic State in 2014 but recently said it was no longer affiliated with them, also staged the Easter Day attack on Christians in a park in Lahore that killed 72 people including at least 29 children.The attackers exchanged fire with security forces and were killed, the military said.The area is near Warsak Dam, 20 km (12 miles) northwest of Peshawar.The official said the attackers might have been attempting to enter an adjacent security installation by exploiting weaker security arrangements in the residential area.Christians, who number around 2 million in a nation of 190 million people, have been the target of a series of attacks in recent years.SECURITY IMPROVING - BUT SLOWLYJust a day before yesterday's attacks, the chief army spokesman briefed the media on the progress of the military's two-year-old offensive against jihadists in the rugged areas bordering Afghanistan.Lt. General Asim Bajwa released figures showing that terrorist attacks had fallen from a total of 128 in 2013, with 46 of those suicide attacks, to 74 last year, including 17 suicide attacks.He also said authorities had arrested more than 300 people attempting to set up an Islamic State operation in Pakistan. He added that the armed forces had killed 3,500 militants since 2014."There used to be multiple attacks in a day across the country. And we came into (attacks every few) days. And we came into months (between major attacks)," Bajwa said.However, he acknowledged Pakistan still faced a tough fight."I have said our objective is zero tolerance for any terrorist incidents," he said. "We want to get there."Militants operating in Pakistan - including the Afghan and Pakistani Taliban groups, al Qaeda and the Haqqani network - seek to establish strict Islamic rule.Some target the government in Afghanistan and remaining US troops supporting it there, while others are bent on overthrowing Pakistan's civilian government. Still others target Pakistan's regional rival India to the east.The US and others have accused Pakistan of selectively cracking down on militants that attack its own government, while sparing groups that attack in Afghanistan. Pakistan has denied that charge.REUTERS JW PM1819 -- (Reuters) -- C-1-1-DL0364-917558.Xml
Turkey-backed Syrian rebels today launched a new operation against Islamic State near the border which aims to advance eastwards against the jihadists from the town of al-Rai, a rebel commander said."The operations are to work from al-Rai towards the villages that were liberated west of Jarablus," Colonel Ahmed Osman of the Sultan Murad rebel group told Reuters, adding the offensive was backed by Turkey.The offensive would put pressure on Islamic State from both east and west of a stretch of territory it controls along the border between Jarablus and al-Rai. REUTERS JW PM1820 -- (Reuters) -- C-1-1-DL0364-917575.Xml
British Prime Minister Theresa May said Sino-British relations were in a "golden era", as she left on Saturday for the G-20 meeting in China next week.Ahead of talks with President Xi Jinping she said: "This is a golden era for UK-China relations and one of the things I will be doing at the G20 is obviously talking to President Xi about how we can develop the strategic partnership that we have between the UK and China."She added in a statement: "The message for the G20 is that Britain is open for business as a bold, confident, outward-looking country and we will be playing a key role on the world stage. My ambition is that Britain will be a global leader in free trade."REUTERS JW PM1825 -- (Reuters) -- C-1-1-DL0364-917598.Xml
After interactions with monks, Prime Minister Narendra Modi today invited the Vietnamese people to visit India to know the land of Buddha. He visited the Quan Su Pagoda in Hanoi and offered prayers at the Sanctum Sanctorum, where the Prime Minister received a rousing reception by the monks. In talks with the monks, Mr Modi said that he is fortunate to visit the Pagoda and recalled that first President Dr Rajendra Prasad had visited this city in 1959. Noting that links between India and Vietnam were 2000 years old, the Prime Minister said, "While some came to make war, India had come with the message of peace the message of Buddha, which has endured." He said the world must walk on the path of peace, which brings happiness and prosperity. Mr Modi said Buddhism took the sea route from India to Vietnam, and therefore the country has received the purest form of Buddhism. UNI ASH SB 1913 -- (UNI) -- C-1-1-DL0388-917645.Xml
Prime Minister Narendra Modi arrived here this evening on the second leg of his two-nation tour to attend the G-20 Summit that begins tomorrow, with focus on reinvigorating the world economy and reforms of global governance. The Prime Minister will also be holding a bilateral meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping, during which India's membership of the Nuclear Suppliers Group and its concern over the China-Pakistan were expected to be raised prominently. The issue of 46 billion corridor, which passes through Pakistan-occupied Kashmir, has assumed a new dimension with the Prime Minister's reference to Gilgit-Baltistsan, along with Balochistan, in his Independence Day speech, which has worried the Chinese. The issue of Chinese veto on UNSC move for ban on Masood Azahar was among the issues to be raised by India during the meeting. The Chinese side might raise the issue of growing defence ties of India with the US, especially the recently-concluded landmark logistics supply agreement to give mutual access to bases. Meanwhile, China is banking on India's support for its agenda on G-20 as they both share the view that developing countries should be given more weight in financial institutions. Both the countries are also opposing the Western move to change the IPR regime, as they fear it will harm their companies. Besides the issue of curbing terrorism and black money, in which both India and China have high stake, cross border movement of labour would also figure prominently in the meeting of 20 major economies. India's stress would also be on the adoption of such policies, as they would create jobs. Inclusive growth and climate financing, along with global structural reforms, would also be flagged by India prominently. Earlier in the day, the Prime Minister held extensive talks with his Vietnamese counterpart in Hanoi. India will help Vietnam with a new defence Line of Credit of 500 million dollars for shoring up its Defence capabilities, Mr Modi announced here today after his talks with his Vietnamese counterpart Nguyen Xuan Phuc. The two countries also decided to elevate Strategic Partnership to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership. The two countries signed a total of 12 agreements, ranging from cooperation in IT and Space to double taxation. The Indian support for Vietnamese defence came at a time when Vietnam, along with other littoral states of the South China Sea, are in a state of tense relations with China over territorial rights in these waters.UNI XC NAZ RJ 1945 -- (UNI) -- C-1-1-DL0091-917753.Xml
Venezuelan authorities have arrested more than 30 people on Margarita island for heckling President Nicolas Maduro, activists said today, in what appeared to be a rare public confrontation with the unpopular leader.Videos published by activists, purportedly from the Margarita locality of Villa Rosa on Friday night, show scores of people banging pots and pans and jeering the socialist president during a visit to inspect state housing projects.The display of anger followed a vast march in Caracas on Thursday that opposition leaders say has emboldened Maduro's foes after 17 years of socialist rule in the OPEC nation of 30 million people.After Maduro left Villa Rosa, a rundown area known in the past as a pro-government stronghold, intelligence agents moved in, opposition and rights campaigners said."Right now, there are more than 30 people detained ... as a result of the incident in Villa Rosa," Alfredo Romero of Penal Forum rights group said on Twitter.The government has not mentioned the incident, and the Ministry of Information did not immediately respond to requests for comment.Since narrowly winning election to replace Hugo Chavez in 2013, Maduro's popularity has plummeted due to an economic crisis. The opposition say this week's protest drew more than a million people in what appeared to be the biggest such demonstration in more than a decade.Even so, it is extremely unusual to see Maduro openly booed. His public appearances are normally carefully choreographed to show only cheering red-shirted supporters."The people loathe him and last night they made that very clear with the pots-and-pans protest," exulted opposition leader Henrique Capriles, who published three videos of the incident on his Twitter feed.The images could not be independently verified by Reuters.Buoyed by Thursday's self-styled "Takeover of Caracas," the opposition are planning further street actions to demand a recall referendum against Maduro this year.But with the election board dragging out the process and Maduro vowing there will be no such vote in 2016, it is hard to see how the opposition can force it.If a referendum is held next year, and Maduro loses, it would be a Pyrrhic victory for the opposition as his handpicked vice president would take over for the ruling Socialist Party for the remainder of his six-year rule which ends in 2019.The president, whose poll ratings have dropped to just over 20 percent, says the opposition is seeking a coup against him with the connivance of the United States."We defeated hatred, fascism and coupmongers," Maduro said this week, adding that arrests of activists and captures of weapons and explosions show his foes' violent intentions.According to Penal Forum, in addition to the Margarita arrests, more than 90 other people were still in custody after round-ups this week related to Thursday's protest. REUTERS CJ PM2316 -- (Reuters) -- C-1-1-DL0400-918013.Xml
During his stay in Hangzhou, he will also meet with Chinese President Xi Jinping as well as a number of other national leaders participating in the G20 gathering, including Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, British Prime Minister Theresa May and Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi, Xinhua news agency reported.

In addition, he will join Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Xi, Brazilian President Michel Temer and South African President Jacob Zuma for a leaders' meeting of the emerging-market bloc of BRICS.

--IANS lok/

( 122 Words)

2016-09-04-00:53:56 (IANS)
BEIRUT, Sept. 2 (Xinhua) -- The Lebanese judicial investigator issued Friday an indictment in the bombing case in Tripoli, accusing two Syrian intelligence officers of planning the attack, the state-run National News Agency reported.

Judge Alaa al-Khatib indicted two Syrian intelligence officers who supervised the operation. The first is a captain in the Syrian Intelligence Palestine Branch Mohammed Ali Ali and an official in the Political Security Division Nassr Juban, added NNA.

The indictment issued arrest warrants against the suspects and a permanent investigation to uncover the identities of involved senior officials who gave orders and orchestrated the attack.

It added that investigations have shown that the orders originated from a senior security branch in the Syrian Intelligence.

On August 23, 2013, two car bombs exploded outside the al-Taqwa and al-Salam mosques in Tripoli, leaving 45 people dead and more than 800 injured.
MANILA, Sept. 3 (Xinhua) -- Presidential Communications Secretary Martin Andanar told ABSCBN News Channel television interview Saturday morning that President Rodrigo Duterte will push through with his trip to Brunei, Indonesia and Laos where he will attend the Asean summit.

Andanar said that the decision was made after an "emergency meeting" with some Cabinet members, police and military officers in Davao City after the deadly blast in Davao City Friday night that killed 14 and wounded 67 others.

"That's the general assessment that internally, meaning domestically in our country, and also internationally," Andanar said.

A powerful explosion rocked a crowded night market late Friday in Davao City, the hometown of Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte.

The explosion went off around 10:30 p.m. along Roxas Avenue, a place that is converted into a night market. People crowd the street at night to eat in affordable eateries that serve grilled food.

Duterte was in the presidential guesthouse in Panacan village, some 15 kilometers away when the explosion happened, his aides said.

The tough-talking Philippine leader, who had been mayor in the city of 1.2 million people for over 20 years before winning the presidency last May, was expected to go to the site of the incident, officials said.

Andanar said that initial police investigators showed that "the shrapnels came out of an improvised mortar used as an explosive device."

"We are not ruling out the other possibilities until the investigation is done," he said.

Andanar said the police reported to Duterte that at least 14 were killed and 67 were wounded in the Friday's blast.

Duterte has ordered an all out military offensive against the extreme group Abu Sayyaf in retaliation against the killing of 15 government troops in fierce fighting against the group in the south.

Andanar said the attack "is either a reprisal of the terrorists in Jolo, Sulu due to the government's operations or wars against terrorism there or the second possibility could be the reprisal of the drug lords."

Since he assumed the presidency on June 30, about 2,000 people have been killed in the Philippines in its war on drugs. The blast took place amidst reports that there are groups who are out to assassinate Duterte who is now waging bloody war against illicit drugs.

Andanar said Duterte has already ordered the police and military to set up check points all over Davao City.
KIEV, Sept. 2 (Xinhua) -- The Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) said Friday that a ceasefire established in eastern Ukraine on Thursday has led to a decrease in the level of fighting in the region.

"Now, we have already noted a drop in violence, but it is still too early to say if the sides are truly committed to adherence," Alexander Hug, the deputy chief monitor of the OSCE special monitoring mission to Ukraine, told reporters.

He voiced hopes that the conflicting parties will manage to observe the truce, which was established to allow children quietly go to school, as the similar ceasefire deal in 2015 has resulted in a considerable decrease of the hostilities.

Ukrainian military spokesman Andriy Lysenko has confirmed that the ceasefire in eastern regions is generally holding, despite sporadic violations, saying that there were no combat casualties among government soldiers in the past day.

Meanwhile, the press service for the government's military operation said that Ukrainian troops came under 11 attacks in the past 24 hours, in which pro-independence insurgents used small arms and grenade launchers, without deploying heavy weapons.

There were no reports of attacks on the rebel positions or casualties among insurgent soldiers in the past day.

The conflicting parties in eastern Ukraine have renewed their commitments to a comprehensive ceasefire starting Thursday, when the new school year began.

The similar ceasefire deal, which came into the force on Sept. 1, 2015, has led to a notable decrease in the fighting that has killed more than 9,500 people since April 2014.
WINDHOEK, Sept. 2 (Xinhua) -- The Namibian government declared an amnesty Friday to allow all those who have illegal firearms to surrender them to the police.

Namibia Police inspector General Sebastian Ndeitunga told a media briefing in Windhoek that the amnesty will run until Nov. 18.

He said the police and the government are concerned with the proliferation of illegal firearms, ammunition and armaments discovered in recent months countrywide.

According to Ndeitunga, the police confiscated 560 illegal firearms between 2013 and 2015.

"This is of grave concern to the police and government as these dangerous weapons are out there in the public domain, posing an imminent threat to the safety and security of citizens," Ndeitunga said.

All those in possession of illegal firearms, he said, must surrender them to the nearest police officer in charge of any police station and will not be prosecuted.

This is the second time after Namibia attained independence in 1990 that a firearms amnesty has been declared.

In 1992, the government called on all those who had fought in the war on the side of the ruling Swapo Party and the South African Defense Forces to surrender their weapons.
JOHANNESBURG, Sept. 2 (Xinhua) -- South Africa's presidency on Friday distanced itself from Minister of Mineral Resources Mosebenzi Zwane over his statement calling for a judicial inquiry into the move by South African banks to blacklist businesses owned by the Indian Gupta family.

Zwane said on Thursday that the inter-ministerial committee set up by the cabinet to probe why South Africa's banks blacklisted Gupta-owned businesses recommended that a judicial inquiry be set up.

Zwane, who heads the committee, said in a statement that the judicial inquiry should consider the current mandates of the Banking Tribunal and the Banking Ombudsman, consider the current Financial Intelligence Centre Act (FICA) and the Prevention of Combating of Corrupt Activities Act in relation to the banks' conduct, and re-consider South Africa's clearing bank provisions to allow for new banking licences to be issued.

Importantly, the inquiry should look into the establishment of a state bank of South Africa with the possible corporatization of the Post Bank being considered as an option, Zwane said.

He said President Jacob Zuma would have to approve these recommendations.

But the presidency said on Friday that Zwane issued the statement in his personal capacity and not on behalf of the task team or the cabinet.

Zwane does not speak on behalf of the cabinet and the contents of his statement do not reflect the position or views of the cabinet, the presidency or the government, presidential spokesperson Bongani Ngqulunga said.

"The unfortunate contents of the statement and the inconvenience and confusion caused by the issuing thereof are deeply regretted," the spokesperson said.

The presidency wishes to assure the public, the banking sector as well as domestic and international investors of government's unwavering commitment to the letter and spirit of the country's Constitution as well as in the sound fiscal and economic fundamentals that underpin our economy, he said.

The wealthy Gupta family, which allegedly keeps close ties with Zuma, has been under fire for influencing the president in the appointment of cabinet ministers. But the Guptas have denied the accusation, saying the have fallen victim to political struggle in the country.

The exposure prompted South African commercial banks to terminate their business relationships with Gupta-owned businesses in April.

The cabinet later set up the inter-ministerial committee to look into the banks' decision.
FRANKFURT, Sept. 2 (Xinhua) -- The economic transformation in China is an opportunity for both China and Germany, said the chief of the Federation of German Industries (BDI) on Friday.

In a written interview with Xinhua, BDI Director-General Dr. Markus Kerber said, "It offers new opportunities also for German companies leading in environment-friendly and resource-efficient production and automation."

According to Kerber, the BDI carefully observes the structural reforms and the ongoing process of economic transformation taking place in China.

"We appreciate the government's aim to move away from quantitative towards more qualitative and sustainable growth. Reform is the only way forward for China," said Kerber.

Kerber pointed out that the German industry does not share concerns about China's catching-up process in terms of competition from Chinese high-tech companies.

"We have close economic relations with other advanced economies and we believe that a high degree of competition is good for all in the long run, given a level playing field," said Kerber.

The BDI is going to open a branch office in Beijing soon. Kerber explained that the office in Beijing is going to be the second office of BDI outside Europe.

Kerber said it was a natural step, "since China today is one of our most important economic partners."

Kerber elaborated that German industry has become more internationalized in past decades, saying "As a business association we thus increasingly have to represent the interests of our industry on an international level."

Kerber maintained that it is vital for the German industry to be able to get a deeper understanding of the developments in China, noting "We are convinced that more dialogue is to the benefit of both industries, in China and in Germany."

The economic partnership between China and Germany has been very successful over the last decades, Kerber commented, adding "Our close economic partnership is also reflected in the investment ties between us."

Kerber said the BDI appreciated that the Chinese investments in Germany and Europe have been catching up rapidly in recent years.

At the same time, Kerber said the BDI trusted in China that it will open up its own markets accordingly now that Chinese investors increasingly capitalize on the high level of openness in Europe.

With regard to the Belt and Road initiative, Kerber said it has a huge potential as it brings much needed investment to Central Asia.

The setting up of the Asian Infrastructure Development Bank is also a welcomed step that goes hand in hand with the Belt and Road initiative. According to Kerber, connecting China more closely with Europe, Southeast and Central Asia, the Middle East and Africa through infrastructure development and the creation of economic corridors will help boost growth in the coming years and will have a long term effect on economic integration.

It might contribute to more stability in the Middle East in the long run. For realizing the initiative's full potential, a transparent, open and inclusive implementation would be welcomed, he said.
DHAKA, Sept. 2 (Xinhua) -- A most wanted militant was killed as Bangladesh law enforcers on Friday night conducted a raid on a hideout of banned Islamist outfit Jamaatul Mujahideen Bangladesh (JMB) in capital Dhaka.

After police busted the militant hideout, Monirul Islam, counterterrorism unit chief of Bangladesh Police, told journalists that "key JMB trainer Jahangir Alam Murad was killed."

"Murad was on the lawenforcers' most wanted list and he is considered to be a key JMB man," he said.

"He trained the attackers of Dhaka's Spanish cafe and Muslims' Eid venue."

Islam said Murad managed to flee a raid last week in which Tamim Chowdhury, the suspected mastermind of July 1 deadly Dhaka cafe attack, was killed.

Murad was Chowdhury's "second-in-command", he added.

Islam said Murad was the key JMB military trainer.

According to the official, he was known as "Major Murad in JMB".

"Murad died after being hit by bullets during a scuffle that ensued when he tried to flee the police raid," another police official said, adding he stabbed policemen during the scuffling.

According to the official, at least four people including three police officers were injured going to stop him from fleeing.

Policemen cordoned off a building in Dhaka's downtown Rupnagar area at about 9:30 p.m. local time on receipt of information that the militant was hiding there.

In the wake of the two major terror attacks that occurred here, including the July 1 siege staged by militants in advance of the attack, Bangladeshi law enforcers strengthened anti-militant drives recently.

Nine suspected militants were killed as Bangladesh law enforcers later July conducted a raid on a hideout of banned Islamist outfit JMB in capital Dhaka.

JMB carried out a series of bombing attacks in 63 out of the country's 64 districts, including capital Dhaka on Aug. 17, 2005, leaving two people dead and 150 others injured.

Hundreds of JMB leaders and activists were rounded up while six top leaders of the group, including Shaikh Abdur Rahman, were hanged in 2007.

Before the wounds of the July 1 deadly terror attack at a Spanish restaurant in Dhaka, that left 22 people, including 18 foreigners and two police officers dead, had even begun to heal, Bangladesh suffered a fresh blow on July 7 when terrorists attacked Muslims' Eid prayers.

At least four people were killed, including two police officers and one of the attackers, after several explosions and gunfire took place at the entrance of the country's largest Sholakia Eid prayer venue in Kishoreganj district, some 117 km northeast of Dhaka, on the morning of July 7.

Tamim Ahmed Chowdhury, the Bangladeshi-origin Canadian citizen, and a former army major Zia Syed Mohammad Ziaul Haque relortedly were behind many major attacks including that on Holey Artisan Bakery in the elite Gulshan.
BERLIN, Sept. 2 (Xinhua) -- Dozens of Chinese household appliances companies showcased their innovation achievements at Berlin's IFA on Friday.

As the world's leading trade show for consumer electronics and household appliances, IFA has attracted more than 700 Chinese exhibitors this year.

China Household Appliances Academy has presented innovation awards to some Chinese companies to honor them, also to introduce their achievements to the world.

The Academy has held the event at the platform of IFA for eight years.

"Innovation has driven the transition of Chinese household appliances industry. It will enhance the product quality and expand the brand influences," said Ge Fengliang, deputy head of the Academy.

The innovation awards are in categories of technology, product, design and enterprise standard. Annual household appliances brands in 2016 in China have also been released on the scene.

The products of the award winners include TV, refrigerator, washing machine, air conditioner, water heater, gas stove, etc.
BERLIN, Sept. 2 (Xinhua) -- The first global promotional campaign of "Beautiful China, more than pandas" kicked off in Germany's capital city Berlin on Friday.

Organized by China National Tourism Administration, Sichuan Provincial Tourism Development Committee, the event started with a wonderful Chinese Face Changing performance which is unique to Sichuan opera.

More than 150 delegates from tourism industry, cultural circles and the media from China and Germany have attended the ceremony.

Li Jinzao, director of China National Tourism Administration, said tourism markets in China and Germany are large and have highly complementary tourism resources.

"The global promotional campaign of 'Beautiful China, more than pandas' will not only present China's beauty to more foreign tourists, but also will add vitality to deepen bilateral cooperation in tourism," Li added.

Joshen Szech, chairman of the association of independent tourism companies in Germany, who called himself a "big China fan", has been to China quite often, as he said in his speech.

In his eyes, China is a country "full of hospitable and warm-hearted people".

He said, Sichuan is a province that is worth travelling to due to the stunning nature, delicious food and outstanding attractions.

Hao Kangli, director of Sichuan Tourism Development Commission, however showed the guests more specifically Sichuan's natural beauty, cultural history, folk customs and other tourist attractions as well as gourmet highlights under the theme "Sichuan, more than pandas".

This year, Sichuan will also carry out promotional campaigns in Japan, the United States, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Malaysia, Thailand and other countries and regions.
KHARTOUM, Sept. 2 (Xinhua) -- The Sudanese Ministry of Tourism said Friday tourism revenues have increased during the first half of this year to reach over 472 million U.S. dollars.

A report issued by the ministry showed a net increase in the country's tourism amounted to 472 million dollars, 6.9 per cent increase compared with the same period last year.

The report revealed that 376,681 tourists visited the country in the first half of this year, 7.1 per cent increase compared with the same period in 2015.

The Sudanese government is seeking to revitalize domestic tourism manifested in caring about infrastructure and signing a number of agreements on tourism development over the past years.

The Ministry of Tourism has launched a program aimed at Sudanese families and children of different ages to acquaint them with the attractions of the country through energizing domestic tourism in a number of states.
ACCRA, Sept. 2 (Xinhua) -- The upcoming G20 summit in Hangzhou, China, will help create the needed foundation for sustainable and inclusive growth across the world, said a senior Ghanaian official to Xinhua.

Isaac Osei, the Parliamentary Minority spokesman on foreign affairs, said supporting infrastructure development in developing and least developed countries (LCDs) as well as rethinking the way international development financing is governed are key to achieving this goal.

"An area which I believe will engage their attention is how we govern the way international finance institutions work to support development; how we provide a delicate balance between growth and development," he said.

"Also how we create the foundation upon which we can not just grow our countries but also develop our countries in a balanced way; for a shared growth, not just on the level of rhetoric, but which has meaning for the people and for our country," Osei said.

He stressed the need for G20 summit to devise ways of ensuring balanced growth among countries in order to bridge the gap of development across the world.

Osei lauded China for the leadership in global affairs, which he said is clear in the choice of Hangzhou to host the G20 summit.

"You know China calls itself a developing country, but we know that the Chinese have the second largest economy in the world and the rate at which they are growing, they will soon become the most important country in terms of the size of their economy," Osei, who is also a former Ghana Ambassador to the United States.

Osei added that China's hosting of the G20 summit will further demonstrate the country as a major force to reckon with on the global stage.

He underscored the need for African countries to take a cue from China's rise and develop their trade relations aside from their traditional Western partners who are also "looking East."

Osei said he expects the summit to be a success since China is known for great organizational ability and leadership.

"I am sure it will be a very successful summit," he added.
MANAGUA, Sept. 2 (Xinhua) -- Members of the Council of Ministers for Central American Economic Integration (Comieco) met Friday in Managua, Nicaragua to discuss the establishment of a regional free-trade zone and customs union.

Nicaragua's Ministry of Promotion, Industry and Commerce Orlando Solorzano told a press conference that the commerce and economic ministers of Central America were working to resolve details concerning the proposals.

According to the minister, discussions for the two projects have advanced and a number of measures are being finalized, including documentation for cargo transportation, single migration checks at the country of arrival, and zoosanitary and phytosanitary standards, Solorzano added that the ministers signed a strategy to facilitate trade in the region and would issue a joint declaration on economic integration.

Alexander Mora, Costa Rica's minister of foreign trade, added that reaching a free-trade agreement and a regional customs union would mark a major milestone for the region.
SANTIAGO, Sept. 2 (Xinhua) -- Wine is so integral to Chile's economy, industry and culture that it takes three days to celebrate National Wine Day.

With still two days to go before the Sept. 4 date, Chile's President Michelle Bachelet on Friday launched the festivities, presiding over an outdoor food and wine tasting outside the government palace which was attended by some 400 guests.

"Wine is development, but it is also a part of our identity," Bachelet told those gathered at Santiago's Constitution Plaza to celebrate a key national industry that employs more than 100,000 people across the country.

"Chilean wines have more than 500 years of history, ever since this land has generated deep ties with the grapevine," said Bachelet, adding wine-making is "industrial and commercial, but above all (related to) cuisine, culture and heritage."

Chile is the world's fourth leading wine exporter, generating some 1.523 billion U.S. dollars in 2015 from bottled wine exports.

In the past 20 years, national production has boomed, going from 291 million liters in 1995 to 1.114 billion liters this year, 70 percent of which is exported, said the president.

Friday's event, jointly organized by the ministries of the economy, agriculture and culture, featured dishes made with wine, including smoked pork in wine and fish in a coriander-wine sauce.

As part of Sunday's festivities, organizers in the town of Nunoa hope to set a new world record by recruiting some 2,000 wine lovers to take part in the "longest toast relay". The city of Anadia, Portugal last broke the record with 1,233 participants in 2013.

Deputy Economy Minister Natalia Piergentili said the government decided this year to highlight the link between tourism, gastronomy and wine-making.

Some 14 percent of foreigners who travel to Chile from Germany, Canada, Spain, France, Britain and the United States "do so motivated by the national wines, to visit the different vineyards and regions that produce them, and that is something we must strengthen," said Piergentili.

Chile's wine tours "have a lot to offer national and international tourists," she added.

Deputy Agriculture Minister Claudio Ternicier highlighted the growth in wine exports, especially to China and other Asian countries, helping to drive development and job creation in various parts of the country.

Chilean wine exports to China doubled from 2012 to 2015, reaching 165 million dollars, according to figures from Chile's Central Bank, and now rank as the fourth-most popular wine among Chinese consumers, only behind French, Spanish and Australian varieties.
SAN FRANCISCO, Sept. 2 (Xinhua) -- A new study has tried to explain that despite long-term warming across most of the globe, some regions can experience colder than normal temperatures associated with anomalous circulation patterns that drive cold air from Earth's poles to the mid-latitudes.

"Although the occurrence of cold extremes is often used as evidence to dismiss the existence of human-caused global warming, our work shows that the warm West (in the United States), cool East trend is actually consistent with the influence of human activities that have modified Earth's climate in recent decades," said Deepti Singh, a former graduate student at Stanford University who is now at Columbia University's Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory.

Led by Stanford and published in Journal of Geophysical Research Atmospheres, the study, with Singh as lead author, probes the simultaneous occurrence of warm winters in the Western United States and cold winters in the East in recent decades.

"There's this idea that the past few winters were more extreme than usual, particularly since the conditions in the East and West were so different," said Noah Diffenbaugh, an associate professor of Earth system science at the School of Earth, Energy & Environmental Sciences and a senior fellow at the Woods Institute for the Environment of Stanford.

As senior author of the study, Diffenbaugh noted that "looking back at temperature data from the past 35 years, we've found that in fact 2013-2014 and 2014-2015 did have the biggest difference in winter temperature between the East and West."

The study finds that the occurrence and severity of "warm West, cold East" winter events increased significantly between 1980 and 2015, partly because the winter temperature has warmed more in the West than in the East, increasing the odds that warm days in the West coincide with cold days in the East. Along with warming of the West, a "ridge-trough" pattern of high atmospheric pressure in the West and low atmospheric pressure in the East has also been producing greater numbers of winter days on which large areas of the West and East experience extreme temperatures at the same time.

"What we've found is that this particular atmospheric configuration connects the cold extremes in the East to the occurrence of warm extremes in the West," Singh was quoted as saying in a Stanford news release.

As the researchers believe circulation patterns that facilitate such extremes are potentially a response to enhanced warming, the simultaneous occurrence of extreme western warmth and extreme eastern cold will likely decrease if global warming continues through the 21st century, because warming of winters in both the West and East will likely reduce the occurrence of cold winters in the East.

Still, the researchers project that some extremely cold events will still occur even with high levels of global warming. "We can absolutely expect further increases in hot events if global warming continues," Diffenbaugh said. "But our results also highlight how complex climate change can be. We should be prepared for both warm and cold extremes -- sometimes simultaneously -- now and in the future."
Hillary Clinton, the Democratic Party nominee for President of the United States, makes remarks at the 2016 National Association of Black Journalists (NABJ) and National Association of Hispanic Journalists (NAHJ) joint convention at the Washington Marriott Wardman Park Hotel in Washington, DC on Friday, August 5, 2016. Following her prepared remarks, Secretary Clinton took questions from the moderators and from the audience.(Photo Credit: Ron Sachs/CNP/AdMedia)

WASHINGTON, Sept. 2 (Xinhua) -- In what appeared to be a major departure from her previous defense on email practices while serving as the U.S. top diplomat, Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton told FBI investigators in July that she did not ask permission for her private email setup, said an FBI file released on Friday.

In a rare move, the FBI released a 58-page document that included a summary of its interview with Clinton on July 2 on email probe and other details of its investigation into Clinton's use of the private email setup as secretary of state.

According to the interview summary, Clinton told federal investigators that she "did not explicitly request permission to use a private server or email address," contradicting her past public defense that her use of a private email account for business was allowed by the State Department.

In her interview with FBI investigators, Clinton said she believed "everyone at State" knew she had a personal email address, and she did not recall receiving any emails she thought should not be on an unclassified system.

"She relied on State officials to use their judgement when emailing her and could not recall anyone raising concerns with her regarding the sensitivity of the information she received at her email address," said the summary.

Meanwhile, the FBI file cited a 2011 notice to all State employees "sent on Clinton's behalf" that recommended employees not conducting State business via personal email accounts "due to information security concerns."

"Clinton stated she did not recall this specific notice, and she did not recall receiving any guidance from State regarding email policies," said the FBI file.

After a yearlong investigation, the FBI in July recommended no criminal charges against Clinton in its email probe, and the Justice Department then closed the investigation.

While the drop of any criminal charges dispelled a huge legal cloud over her presidential campaign, Clinton's trust deficit with voters only deteriorated.

In his congressional hearing in July, FBI Director James Comey told U.S. lawmakers that the FBI found no basis to conclude that Clinton had lied to the agency. However, he refused to comment on whether Clinton had lied to the public.

"That's a question I'm not qualified to answer. I can speak about what she said to the FBI," said Comey then.

Despite his reluctance to comment on whether Clinton had lied to the public, Comey revealed during that hearing that some of the former U.S. secretary of state's email defenses were false.

During her hearing last October at the House Select Committee on Benghazi, Clinton said there was nothing "marked classified on my emails, either sent or received."

"That's not true," said Comey during the hastily arranged hearing at the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee, two days after he announced the FBI's recommendation of not bringing any criminal charges against Clinton in her email investigation.

"There were a small number of portion markings on, I think, three of the documents," said Comey.

However, Comey later acknowledged that all the three emails were not properly marked, which may lead to the impression that they were not classified.

Moreover, when asked by Trey Gowdy, a Republican member of the committee, whether Clinton's statement that no classified material was transmitted through her private email account to others was true, Comey replied in the negative.

During his announcement of the FBI recommendation of no charges against Clinton in July, Comey in a rare step detailed major findings of the investigation, including the finding of 113 emails which contained classified information at the time they were sent or received through Clinton's private email system.

"Secretary Clinton said she used just one device. Was that true?" Gowdy, who also chaired a congressional panel investigating the 2012 deadly attack on U.S. diplomatic facilities in Benghazi, Libya, asked at one point.

Again, Comey said Clinton's statement was false.

In his later exchange with Gowdy, Comey also confirmed that Clinton's insistence on having turned over all work-related emails and her statement about her lawyers having read the email content individually was not true.

In March 2015, Clinton acknowledged that she had exchanged about 60,000 emails from her private email account during her stint in the Obama administration, among which about half were personal and thus deleted.

All emails were sent and received via a private email server based at Clinton's home.

In response to requests from the State Department, the Clinton camp turned over the other half, roughly 30,000 emails in total, to the State Department in December 2014.

The controversy surrounding Clinton's email practices again burst into public view in August 2015 after the inspector general for the intelligence community revealed that two of the thousands of emails held by Clinton contained top-secret information. The revelation then trigged a federal investigation into whether Clinton had mishandled sensitive information.
RIO DE JANEIRO, Sept. 2 (Xinhua) -- The opening ceremony of the Rio Paralympics will focus less on retelling Brazil's history and more on the "human condition", the show's creative directors said on Friday.

Next Wednesday's extravaganza at the Maracana stadium will last almost three hours, reflecting the motto "everybody has a heart", according to writer Marcelo Paiva, one of the directors.

"The Olympic Games opening ceremony had an obligation to tell Brazil's history and utilize national icons," Paiva told a press conference. "We don't. We are more focused on humanity, on the human condition, on feelings, difficulties, solidarity, love, heart."

That is not to say the ceremony will not include elements of Brazil's national identity, such as Rio's beaches, samba dance and local music.

It will also feature a performance by US snowboarder and Paralympic medallist Amy Purdy.

"Having this opportunity to perform for the whole world, with millions of people watching, is an enormous responsibility," Purdy said. "That's why I'm training so hard."

Paiva said he hoped the ceremony would change perspectives on people with impairments.

"It's a universal message," Paiva said. "A ramp for the disabled could also be for pregnant women, for people who have a broken leg, for prams, for the visually impaired."

He added that the ceremony would begin "spectacularly". "It will evoke emotion, laughs and tears," Paiva said.

Organizers did not disclose the opening ceremony budget, but executive producer Flavio Machado confirmed cuts were made amid Brazil's worst recession in decades.

"Brazilians know how to do more with less," he said. "The budget was enough to do what we wanted to create. It wasn't a problem and it's not going to be an excuse.

"We have worked on a very strong creative concept. We want to provoke the audience to dismantle prejudices against people with deficiencies."

Some 500 professionals, including choreographers and artists, and 2,000 volunteers will be involved in the ceremony. Over 4,000 athletes from 160 countries and regions will take part in the parade.

Organizers said that 4,000 tickets out of a total of 50,000 remained available. The Rio Paralympics will run from September 7 to 18.
BEIJING, Sept. 3 (Xinhua) -- China's top legislature on Saturday ratified the Paris Agreement on climate change, a significant international legal document that outlines post-2020 global climate governance.

Lawmakers voted to adopt "the proposal to review and ratify the Paris Agreement," at the closing meeting of the week-long bimonthly session of the National People's Congress Standing Committee.

The much-anticipate Paris Agreement on climate change is the third document to attempt to address climate change, following the 1992 United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change and the 1997 Kyoto Protocol.
OBE and Learning Outcomes and Assessment are not about education at all; they are about control. Nothing is more seductive to ideologues and to management than the prospect of creating a meaningless "jargon and data storm" to justify or conceal whatever they do. Where does it end? As William S. Burroughs said, "...control can never be a means to any practical end.... It can never be a means to anything but more control...."

Module B

Context and history for social justice efforts in Oregon and at OSU

Build awareness of the history and context of diversity and social justice in Oregon and at OSU.

Recognize that each OSU student brings multiple stories and identities to their OSU experience.

Understand that systemic and local inequities exist and that we all play a role in creating an OSU community that resists and corrects injustice.

"Social justice" is largely a progressive phrase mainly used to tout left-leaning agendas such as environmentalism, socialism, feminism and gay rights. Oregon State would not be the first public university to mandate such a curriculum. At UMass Amherst, students are required to take two "social justice" classes to earn diploma, for example.

SLO theory holds that all learning is observable, which is absurd. Learning is personal, internal, and the result of many complex interactions. Based on declining national test scores, we apparently know progressively less about learning.

SLO theory holds that all learning is measurable. By what and in what units? Some skill acquisition can be measured, but most meaningful learning cannot. I've learned to enjoy poetry, French impressionists, and Bill Evans's piano but how would you measure them?

I can't help but think of Richard Brautigan's poem "15%":

she tries to get things

out of men

that she can't get

because she's not

15% prettier

SLO theory holds that all learning is immediate. In fact, it can take years for a lesson to be fully realized as the student's experience and capacity to understand expand. Thus, SLOs further dumb down education because for SLOs to be testable, they must be what Professor Dillon calls "trivialities."

SLO theory implies that all learning is permanent. Phrased as what the successful student "will be able to do," this notion has the potential for the world's largest consumer lawsuit. To guarantee future performance is nuts. I can tell you what a student did, but I have no knowledge of that student's future.

Educational fads always come with a shelf life; the implacable resistance of reality eventually makes them expire. Usually, the promised educational miracle has done more harm than good.The wreckage is all around us: the Self-Esteem Movement, Students Right to Their Own Language, Whole Language, Whole Math, Multiple Learning Styles, Guide On the Side Not Sage On the Stage, and the educational technology such as videotape, TV, early Internet virtual reality MUDs (multi-user dungeons) and MOOs (multi-object oriented architecture), laptops, clickers, and so on.So I am puzzled by the staying power of Student Learning Outcomes (SLOs) that attempt to quantify and measure student learning so as to constantly improve instruction.SLO ancestor Total Quality Management (TQM) slithered into view during the 1980s and spawned Outcome-Based Education (OBE) in the 1990s. TQM was originally a business management theory that preached constant improvement; OBE was an explicitly educational offshoot of TQM that insisted that college courses must have expressed measurable results.TQM-OBE-SLOs are simply an effort to apply business methods and values to higher education, which is not really or ideally a business. But instead of withering away, pushed hard by accrediting agencies, SLOs' tentacles squeeze higher education tighter and tighter. Arguments by critics have mostly fallen on deaf ears.I published my first anti-SLO tract in 2003, saying that:In this case, Burroughs was right, as accreditors control institutions, and institutions control faculty and curriculum.Yet, I learned early on that the reason no one listens is because we detractors have no powerful allies. SLOs, unfortunately, have always appealed to both political camps, albeit for different reasons.The right sees SLOs as a way to enforce professor accountability, increase "productivity," and get rid of bad teachers and junk courses. The left sees SLOs as a golden opportunity to promote progressivism through ideological outcomes that students must internalize in order to pass.SLOs' potential for indoctrination is clear and present. At a conference a few years ago, I asked SLO advocate, former United States senator, and then-president of the University of Colorado Hank Brown (the man who finally banished Ward Churchill), how to keep SLOs from being co-opted for ideological purposes. He said,For an example of hijacking SLOs, consider Oregon State University. William Nardi, writing at, reports that OSU "is developing an online course centered on `social justice' that new students will soon be required to take." Here are a few of the learning outcomes for the mandatory course Nardi, a student at Roger Williams University, explains:This sort of thing is not what my conservative friends had in mind for SLOs, but with progressives at the controls of higher education, it should have been anticipated.SLOs remain a shiny object for conservatives, liberals, and accreditors because SLO jargon sounds both scientific and corporate. SLO coordinators rhapsodize about "Bloom's Taxonomy," "rubrics," "assessments," and " measurable verbs " while administrators salivate at the sound of "data," "metrics," and "analytics."But as Roland Case, executive director of the Critical Thinking Consortium observes here,Destructive? Just ask Robert Dillon, College of Charleston biology professor currently suspended for not putting SLOs on his syllabus. ( He is suing the school over it .). Dillon bridles at including "trivialities of this sort on my syllabus, as a matter of principle" and feels that acceptable biology "outcomes" such asSLOs' staying power continues to astound me because the theory behind them was so clearly fatally flawed right from the start. Here are a few of the fundamental flaws of SLOs:Basically, SLO theory is less about Benjamin Bloom or learning and more about anti-human conditioning, better suited to Pavlov's dogs and B. F. Skinner's chickens.If the lesson output (test result) fails to measure up, SLO theory says that the fault goes to the teacher whose input is to blame. What happened inside the student, and why, is not even part of the equation.Maybe the time has come for someone to start a new fad: a student accountability movement.
Photo taken on Sept. 2, 2016 shows a LED light show along the Qiantang River in Hangzhou, capital city of east China's Zhejiang Province. The G20 Summit will be held in Hangzhou from Sept. 4 to 5. (Xinhua/Wang Dingchang)

BEIJING, Sept. 3 (Xinhua) -- China, the host of this year's G20 summit, is expected to make all-out effort to present workable remedies to the ailing global economy jointly with other G20 members.

Earlier G20 summits has shown that China is a responsible player in global financial markets, a staunch supporter of free trade, and a champion for developing countries. Here is a glimpse of what China has said at the previous G20 summits:

November 2015, Antalya, Turkey -- Chinese President Xi Jinping proposed that major economies strengthen coordination on macroeconomic policy, facilitate innovation-driven development and build an open world economy.

November 2014, Brisbane, Australia -- Xi said major economies should jointly promote reforms, implement comprehensive growth strategies, and advance the transition of the world economy from cyclical recovery to sustainable growth.

September 2013, St. Petersburg, Russia -- Xi stressed the need to reform the international financial institutions, push for a fair and inclusive international financial system, and increase the representation and voice of developing countries in global economic governance.

June 2012, Los Cabos, Mexico -- Chinese President Hu Jintao said that the G20 members have to continue to uphold the spirit of unity and win-win cooperation, work to secure growth, increase jobs and promote stability.

November 2011, Cannes, France -- Hu put forward a package of proposals urging the world's major economies to work together to promote growth and financial stability.

November 2010, Seoul, South Korea -- Hu underscored promotion of development as a common responsibility for all G20 members, and called for efforts to establish a new and more equitable and more balanced global partnership for development.

June 2010, Toronto, Canada -- Hu introduced China's stance on how to promote the all-round recovery of the global economy and guide the transformation of the G20, and how it helped strengthen macro-economic policy coordination between G20 members.

September 2009, Pittsburgh, the United States -- Hu explained China's position on efforts to push for world economic recovery, reform the international financial system, and achieve balanced and sustainable growth worldwide.

April 2009, London -- Hu called for strengthening macroeconomic policy coordination, advancing reform of the international financial system, and improve financial supervision and regulation. He also introduced China's effective measures in dealing with the financial crisis.

November 2008, Washington -- Hu urged the international community to take all necessary steps to promptly restore market confidence and stop the spread of the financial crisis.
NAY PYI TAW, Sept. 3 (Xinhua) -- Presentation through paper readings group-wise on the third day of Myanmar's 21st Century Panglong Peace Conference on Friday showed some diversity among participants, U Sai Kyaw Nyunt, member of the Conference Convening Committee, told the press at the end of the day's session in Nay Pyi Taw in the evening.

U Sai Kyaw Nyunt is a representative of Shan Nationalities League for Democracy (SNLD).

The open debate also marked a major progress in transparency by making known to the public through all media, he said.

All participants aspired for peace and agreed to establish a democratic federal union. However, some groups suggested the establishment of one that base on racial identity, while some on geographical identity and still some on mixed identity, calling for the emergence of a constitution that represents the system, he said.

However, the military representative group insisted that the 2008 constitution envisioned the federal system, he added.

The free expression of desire by participants help further coordination by stakeholders to find out the answer, which remains a key point towards the success of the conference, participants also concluded.

The 21st Century Panglong Peace Conference of Myanmar, which aims to unite all ethnic nationalities and build a democratic federal union through dialogue, kicked off in Nay Pyi Taw Wednesday.

The four-day historical conference gathered about 1,600 representatives from the government, the parliament, the military, political parties, ethnic armed and non-armed organizations and civil society organizations.
Police personnel inspect the site of an explosion in Davao City, the Philippines, Sept. 3, 2016. (Xinhua Photo)

DAVAO CITY, Philippines, Sept. 3 (Xinhua) -- At least 10 people have been confirmed dead and scores others wounded in an explosion in the hometown of Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte on Friday night, officials said on Saturday, amid fears the toll could further rise.

Aside from the fatalities, some 60 others were rushed to different hospitals following the blast in downtown Davao City, according to presidential spokesperson Ernesto Abella.

The blast of still unknown origin happened as thousands of people were shopping at the night market along Roxas Avenue just across the Catholic-run Ateneo de Davao University around 10:30 p.m. local time, said

Captain Rhyan Batchar, regional army spokesperson.

"An explosion hit in front of the Ateneo de Davao university. There were many fatalities," Batchar told Xinhua by phone.

Duterte was in the presidential guesthouse in Panacan village, some 15 kilometers away when the explosion happened, his aides said.

The tough-talking Philippine leader, who had been mayor in the city with 1.2 million people for over 20 years before winning the presidency in May, was expected to go to the site of the incident, officials said.

Friday's incident was the latest in the southern Philippine city since 2005 when suspected Islamist terrorists set off a bomb in a bus terminal in Ecoland village, killing a child and wounding five others.

Police said they could not yet determine if the latest blast was caused by a bomb and an investigation was now underway.

In 2003, more than 30 people were killed and over 130 others wounded when alleged Muslim insurgents bombed the city's old airport and passenger harbor within a month.

Photo taken on Sept. 2, 2016 shows a police investigator collect evidence next to a dead body lying on the ground, at the site of an explosion at a night market in Davao City, the Philippines. (Xinhua/AFP Photo)
by Xue Lei, Nguon Sovan

PHNOM PENH, Sept. 3 (Xinhua) -- As Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN)-China leaders are scheduled to meet next week in Laos, Cambodia's Commerce Minister Pan Sorasak said Friday that the upgrade of the ASEAN-China Free Trade Area (ACFTA) will provide greater trade and investment liberalization between the two sides.

ASEAN and China signed a framework agreement to establish the mega-free trade area during a summit in Phnom Penh, the capital of Cambodia, in 2002, and the pact came into effect in 2010.

China in 2013 called for an "upgraded version" of the ACFTA, pledging economic and trade cooperation of "a greater scope and higher quality."

In August 2014, ASEAN and China decided to upgrade the ACFTA.

"The upgrade of the ACFTA will further liberalize their trade in goods and services and investment, and strengthen economic cooperation between ASEAN and China," Sorasak said in a written interview with Xinhua.

He said the key motivations of ASEAN in the ACFTA are to access the growing Chinese market on trade in goods and services as well as better investment conditions and to create one of the world's largest trading areas.

"The Chinese market, the fastest growing domestic market in the world, is expected to provide significant export potential for the ASEAN countries," he said.

He said it is undoubtedly a win-win situation, which benefits all kinds of businesses, from manufacturing to the service sector.

China is still the largest trade partner of ASEAN, he said, adding that Chinese statistics showed that trade between China and ASEAN increased 18.5 percent on average in the past 25 years. Trade volume between China and ASEAN amounted to 472.16 billion U.S. dollars in 2015.

Sorasak added that ACFTA provides a lot of advantages to Cambodia. However, Cambodia needs to work harder to improve its competitiveness, quality of products, logistics infrastructure, and upgrade its trade system and institutions.

He said over these years, Cambodia has imported a lot of raw materials for its garment manufacturing industry.

"With the upgrade of ACFTA, Cambodia's export market and capacity will be strengthened, as there will be more opportunities for small and medium enterprises in Cambodia to join regional supply chains, particularly in the fields of agriculture and the agro-industry," he said.

Asked about the progress of negotiations towards the upgrade of the ACFTA, he said that during their meeting in Laos in August, ASEAN economic ministers looked forward to all parties to implement the ACFTA upgrading protocol, which aims to enhance trade and economic relations between ASEAN and China.

He said the ministers also tasked the officials with continuing deliberations on mapping out the detailed work plan for the further liberalization of trade in goods, improvement of product specific rules, and approaches to investment liberalization and protection.
BEIJING, Sept. 3 (Xinhua) -- Chinese President Xi Jinping on Saturday offered his condolence over the death of Uzbek President Islam Karimov, and expressed sympathies on behalf of the Chinese government and people, as well as in his own name.

Karimov died Friday of a stroke at age 78 in the Uzbek capital of Tashkent after 25 years of rule in the Central Asian nation since its independence from the Soviet Union.

In the condolence telegram to Nigmatulla Yuldashev, head of Senate of Uzbekistan's Supreme Assembly, Xi spoke highly of Karimov's historic contributions to the country's independence, development and prosperity, while praising his commitment to the cooperation and the comprehensive strategic partnership between China and Uzbekistan.

Karimov's unfortunate passing is not only a huge loss to the Uzbek people, but also means the Chinese people have lost a true friend, he said.

Xi also said China highly values developing China-Uzbekistan relations and will work together with Uzbekistan to enhance their good-neighborly ties and deepen their mutually-beneficial cooperation for the benefit of the two countries and their peoples.

Under the Uzbek constitution, the presidential duties will pass temporarily to Yuldashev until an election can be held within three months.
HO CHI MINH CITY, Sept. 3 (Xinhua) -- An international food exhibition, the 2016 Vietnam Foodexpo, will be held in Ho Chi Minh City from Nov. 16-19, organizers said Saturday.

Over 300 Vietnamese and foreign companies have so far registered to showcase their products, mainly fruits, veggies, seafood, drinks, coffee, tea, foodstuffs, spices and food processing machines, at more than 500 booths at the four-day expo, said the Trade Promotion Agency under the Vietnamese Ministry of Industry and Trade.

During the Foodexpo, there will be a conference on international food industry, a seminar on promoting investment in food processing industry, a food processing technology exhibition, and an international cooking contest.
The staff from the Philippine National Police (PNP-SOCO) investigate after an explosion at a market in Davao Province, the Philippines, Sept. 3, 2016. At least 10 people have been confirmed dead and scores others wounded in an explosion in the hometown of Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte on Friday night, officials said on Saturday, amid fears the toll could further rise. (Xinhua/STRINGE)

MANILA, Sept. 3 (Xinhua) -- Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte declared Saturday "state of lawlessness" in southern island of Mindanao following a deadly attack allegedly perpetrated by the Abu Sayyaf Group in Davao City.

In an interview with reporters, Duterte said his declaration of state of lawlessness "would require nationwide, well-coordinated efforts of the military and the police."

He clarified that it is not a declaration of martial law.

"I have this duty to protect the country. I have this duty to keep intact the integrity of the nation," the president said.

Death toll from the explosion reached 14, while over 70 were injured.

In a separate statement, Presidential Spokesperson Ernesto Abella said the president's declaration of a state of lawlessness is rooted in Article VII Section 18 of the Constitution.

The declaration is limited such that he can only call out the armed forces to suppress the lawless violence, Abella said, adding that there was no suspension of the writ of habeas corpus.

"It is a different case from the existence of invasion or rebellion. Only if there is invasion or rebellion, and when public safety requires it, can he suspend the writ of habeas corpus or declare martial law," he explained.

According to Interior and Local Government Secretary Mike Sueno, the Abu Sayyaf Group has claimed responsibility for the attack at the Davao night market late Friday night.

Duterte came from Davao City and his daughter and son are the mayor and vice-mayor, respectively, of the city.

Prior to the attack, the military has been conducting intensified operation against the bandits in southern province of Sulu after they beheaded a Filipino hostage.

Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana said he has directed all commands of the Armed Forces of the Philippines "to be on high alert especially in urban centers for possible other terroristic act attempts by this group."

The Eastern Command in Davao city has been directed to assist the Philippine National Police in maintaining peace and order in Davao City and in the apprehension of the perpetrators, he said.

"They will also aid in gathering intelligence information and in conducting investigations to get to the bottom of this unfortunate incident," he added.
HANGZHOU, Sept. 3 (Xinhua) -- Chinese President Xi Jinping on Saturday met with his Argentine counterpart Mauricio Macri ahead of the Group of 20 summit in the eastern Chinese city of Hangzhou.

Xi said, China and Argentina, both major emerging market economies and mutual comprehensive strategic partners, should strengthen exchanges and cooperation in tackling challenges and seeking common development.

He called on the two countries to push for cooperation in trade, investment and finance.

Macri said Argentina is committed to deepening friendship with China and is willing to push for cooperation in energy, economy and trade, investment, quality control, infrastructure and tourism.

Argentina is ready to closely communicate and coordinate with China in global affairs and support China in hosting a successful G20 summit in Hangzhou, Macri said.

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Xinhua Insight: China's Xi injects vitality into G20 mechanism

HANGZHOU, Sept. 2 (Xinhua) -- As leaders of the world's major economies are to gather in Hangzhou, all eyes are on China to see what the economic powerhouse can offer in global governance to revive the world economy.

On Sept. 4-5, President Xi Jinping will host the Group of 20 (G20) summit, which bears the theme of "Toward an Innovative, Invigorated, Interconnected and Inclusive World Economy." Full Story

Interview: China's experience in economic development embodies unique wisdom -- Saudi prince

SHANGHAI, Sept. 2 (Xinhua) -- China's experience in economic development embodies unique wisdom and the world is looking forward to learning from it during the upcoming G20 Summit in Hangzhou, Saudi Prince Turki bin Abdullah bin Abdulaziz Al-Saud told Xinhua here Thursday.
BEIJING, Sept. 3 (Xinhua) -- Li Xiaopeng, former Shanxi governor, has been appointed to minister of transport, according to the decision made by the top legislature on Saturday.

Members of the National People's Congress Standing Committee on Saturday voted to remove Yang Chuantang from this position, replacing him with Li.
BEIJING, Sept. 3 (Xinhua) -- Chinese Premier Li Keqiang on Saturday sent a message of condolence to his Uzbek counterpart Shavkat Mirziyayev over the death of Uzbek President Islam Karimov.

Karimov died Friday of a stroke at age 78 in the Uzbek capital of Tashkent after 25 years of rule in the Central Asian nation since its independence from the Soviet Union.

In the message, Li extended his deep condolence to the Uzbek government and people while expressing sympathy to the families of Karimov.

Karimov, the founder of the Republic of Uzbekistan, has been supported and respected by the Uzbek people, and he has also made great contributions to the friendly ties between China and Uzbekistan, Li said.

Karimov's passing is not only a huge loss to the Uzbek people, but also means that the Chinese people have lost a true friend, Li added.

Stressing that China values the development of China-Uzbekistan ties and cherishes their traditional friendship, Li said China is willing to work together with Uzbekistan to further their bilateral comprehensive strategic partnership.
This was rhetorical analysis of a press release from a politician I am not disclosing, but in the process I got off track, and the essay turned into a rant on people using the phrase "common sense" to justify the ridiculous bills, not just the ridiculous demands of the initial politician.I cannot help but notice a trend in politicians using the adjective "common sense" to advocate for a legislation, typically that of a controversial nature which there is weak evidence to support the need for or its effectiveness. Before anyone plays the bipartisan blame game, statists of both the "left" and "right" engage in this rhetorical tactic, and both should be ridiculed by their constituents for doing so. You can see this description being used in legislation from expanding the PATRIOT Act (or as I like to call it, the Unpatriotic Act) , to gun control However, from the perspective of a writer, I do admire the way this tactic is used. It acts as an insult to the political opponent by declaring that they lack the intellectual competency to effectively govern, while also gaining moral high ground in declaring yourself the arbitrator of wisdom; the person who knew all along that this was the right path, but everyone else was too stupid to notice it until you came along. As well, like always with political factions, the enemy party is the devil. It mimics cult-like behavior in a strange way with followers of these political parties, but that is a story for another day. Of course, that is entirely fallacious thus should not be taken seriously in logical discussions, but a lot of people have no will to be logical.Another reason politicians may use this slogan, I believe, as a means of historical appeal. One document which played a significant role in the American Revolution was entitled "Common Sense" by Thomas Paine. The ironic thing is that, if the politician is intending for historical appeal, most of the time "common sense" is used to describe legislation, said legislation is almost always an expansion of power. Thomas Paine was not a supporter of big governments, he viewed government as a necessary evil, thus would likely be cautious of such expansions. To quote the pamphlet,So if a politician intends to use this historical appeal to sway support for their power grabs, is that not hypocritical of them?By simply declaring your argument as common sense is though you may have attracted more people with a bleeding heart type personality or people who feel self-conscious about their intellect, but you do not make an argument for why it is the appropriate action. Most politicians accompany their so-called "common sense" legislation with reasons, though they may be supported by fallacious claims. However, I commonly see supporters of these legislations not have an argument, instead cite the current year or claiming the legislation to be common sense; neither the current year or a declaration of common sense are arguments.Saying that your new law is common sense has no base to it. You might as well be saying, "this law is super cool;" it lacks substance. But I expect for the politicians who represent me to say something with substance, that is unrealistic I suppose. I guess I will just have to settle with these statists who claim to stand for liberty, but in reality they only do when it looks pretty.Now you may be asking yourselves, "how do I boast about my bill without using stupid slogans." Simple, don't. It is more logical to brag about including number lines on the bill than to cite your bill as "common sense" as a reason for why it should be supported by the public or political opponents.
MANILA, Sept. 3 (Xinhua) -- Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte has decided to cancel his trip to Brunei to focus on the security situation in Davao City where a powerful explosion killed 14 people and wounded almost 70 others on Friday night, Presidential Communications Secretary Martin Andanar announced on Saturday.

Andanar said Duterte will still attend the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) leaders summit and related meetings in Vientiane, Laos next week.

He said he is not sure yet if Duterte will proceed with his trip to Indonesia after the ASEAN summit.
WASHINGTON, Sept. 2 (Xinhua) -- U.S. Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump's rants on illegal immigration has gone so far this time that the Mexican president called him "a real threat" and several of his Hispanic campaign partners are leaving.

Hours after a meeting with Mexican President Pena Nieto on Wednesday, Trump promised a harsh crackdown on illegal, particularly criminal, immigrants in a speech in Phoenix, Arizona state.

Repeating the idea to erect a wall on borders with Mexico, he said he would force the Latin American country to pay for the cost.

Given Trump's previous remarks calling Mexican immigrants rapists and killers, Nieto toughened his stance and branded the U.S. presidential candidate "a real threat" to Mexico in a speech with young people.

Previously, Nieto was criticized for being too soft on Trump for not blasting the later's "insulting" attitude face in face.

Back in the United States, two members of Trump's Hispanic Advisory Council announced their resignation following the nominee's Wednesday speech.

More of Trump's council members threatened to leave. Rumors went viral on the internet that up to 15 of the council's 30 members may quit, according to the British newspaper the The Daily Mail.

"As a compassionate conservative, I am disappointed with the immigration speech," the CEO of the Hispanic-owned computer consulting firm Greater Houston Partnership Massey Villarreal said to U.S.-based Latino news press NBC Latino, adding that he was ready to leave Trump.

Trump said he has softened his position in a radio interview on Thursday, Washington-based news reporter Politico said on its website.

"Look, we do it in a very humane way, and we're going to see with the people that are in the country," he said to the radio host referring to deportation of illegal immigrants.

Politico commented that the Republican nominee's latest comment "amplifies the pick-what-you-want-to-hear nature of his talk on immigration."
HAVANA, Sept. 2 (Xinhua) -- Cuba said it has revised its tax and social security model, with around 1.5 million public employees now having to pay new contributions to the state, according to local media report on Friday.

According to Friday's Cuban daily Granma, public workers making over 500 pesos (about 20 U.S. dollars) a month, will face a new 5 percent social security tax, named the Special Contribution to Social Security (CESS).

Workers making over 2,500 pesos (100 U.S. dollars) a month will pay the CESS and an income tax of between 3-5 percent, known as the Tax on Personal Income (IsIP).

Meisi Bolanos, the deputy finance minister, explained that the taxes would be taken directly from employees' paychecks, starting in September, said the report.

Guillermo Sarmiento, director of the labor and salaries department of the Ministry of Labor and Social Security, added that the CESS would help extend Cuba's social security net, which covers almost 1.7 million pensioners.

After taxes were scrapped following the 1959 revolution, Cuba has recently begun a progressive tax reform, as part of the economic reforms proposed by President Raul Castro.
MOSCOW, Sept. 3 (Xinhua) -- The fact that the G20 summit will be held in China reflects the global recognition of and respect for China's giant economic success, a leading Russian economic expert has said.

"The international community admits that China has become a major economic power, which largely determines the economic development of the whole world," Vyacheslav Kholodkov, head of the International Economic Organizations Department at the Russian Institute for Strategic Studies, told Xinhua.

As the second-largest economy of the world, China has a strong impact over global economic processes, the economist said, adding that the performance of China's stock markets and its import of energy resources exert a powerful influence on world markets.

Kholodkov also expressed the belief that the Western media today have exaggerated and distorted the existing problems with the Chinese economy.

"China's economic success is like a thorn on the side of many Western politicians and journalists, because it shows that there are other more successful models besides the Western liberal economic model," the expert noted.

In his opinion, the current problems plaguing China were those of structural adjustments and shifts in economic development pattern.

If previously China's development had been driven mainly by exports, it is now shifting from export-oriented development model to focusing on domestic demand, Kholodkov said.

Kholodkov saw "nothing dramatic" in such a development, as other countries that experienced similar problems have survived such transitional periods.

China's GDP grew by 6.9 percent last year, a rate to be envied by many countries, according to Kholodkov.

China presents an example for many developing countries, including Russia, which are closely watching China's experiences and following some of its trends in their political practices, he concluded.
Colombian President Juan Manuel Santos delivers a speach in Cartagena de Indias on Sept. 2, 2016. Juan Manuel Santos said on Friday the final peace agreement with the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) would be signed on Sept. 26 in the north coastal city of Cartagena de Indias. (Xinhua/COLPRENSA)

BOGOTA, Sept. 2 (Xinhua) -- Colombian President Juan Manuel Santos announced Friday that the final peace agreement with the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) would be signed on Sept. 26 in the northern coastal city of Cartagena de Indias.

"This may be the most important announcement I make in my life. Peace will be signed on Sept. 26 in Cartagena," said Santos during a public speech in the Caribbean city.

After four years of peace talks in Havana, Cuba, the Colombian government and the FARC finalized their peace agreement on Aug. 24.

It marks an end to the over five-decade long conflict in Colombia, which left over 220,000 dead and millions more displaced.

The next stage of the peace process will come on Oct. 2, when the Colombian people will vote to determine whether they will accept or reject the agreement.

A Gallup poll released on Aug. 16 showed that 67.5 percent of Colombians would vote in favor of the peace deal, and 32.5 percent oppose it.


Chinese President Xi Jinping (R) meets with Italian Prime Minister Matteo Renzi in Hangzhou, capital city of east China's Zhejiang Province, Sept. 3, 2016. (Xinhua/Li Xueren)

HANGZHOU, Sept. 3 (Xinhua) -- Chinese President Xi Jinping met with Italian Prime Minister Matteo Renzi on Saturday and both pledged efforts to strengthen bilateral cooperation.

Xi welcomed Renzi to attend the G20 summit slated for Sunday and Monday, saying China is willing to work with Italy to push forward their comprehensive strategic partnership.

He proposed China and Italy continue to trust and respect each other on issues involving their core interests and major concerns, and deepen exchanges between their governments, legislatures and political parties.
MANILA, Sept. 3 (Xinhua) -- Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte has decided to cancel his trip to Brunei to focus on the security situation in Davao City where a powerful explosion killed 14 people and wounded almost 70 others on Friday night, Presidential Communications Secretary Martin Andanar announced on Saturday.

Andanar said Duterte would push through with his trip to Laos to attend the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) leaders summit and related meetings there next week.

Duterte is also expected to make a working visit to Indonesia after that.

Duterte on Saturday declared "a state of lawlessness," authorizing the military and the police "to run the country."

"It's not martial law, but I am inviting now the Armed Forces of the Philippines, the military and the police, to run the country in accordance with my specifications," Duterte told reporters during a visit to the bomb site shortly before dawn Saturday.

"There will be major checkpoints," Duterte said, but there is no suspension of the writ of habeas corpus.

"I have this duty to protect the country. I have this duty to keep intact the integrity of the nation," he said.

Duterte was in his hometown Davao City when the blast ripped off a crowded strip of the night market shortly after 10:00 p.m. local time Friday.

"Davao is safe, there is no criminality here except terrorism," Duterte said, adding that he still considers the incident a police matter, "not war."

Meanwhile, presidential spokesman Ernesto Abella said in a statement to the media that Duterte "may call out such armed forces to prevent or suppress lawless violence, invasion or rebellion."

Abella urged Filipinos to "remain alert to the activities of those who wish to create chaos."

Philippine National Police Director General Ronald de la Rosa said the police force across the country has been placed on heightened alert.

"We have already declared full alert status effective Friday night to all our regional police offices throughout the country, meaning 100 percent of our personnel should be on stand by status and ready to be deployed to quell the threat," De la Rosa said.

The extremist Abu Sayyaf group has reportedly claimed responsibility for the blast, but De la Rosa said the military and the police are still verifying the authenticity of the report.

Doctors said in televised press conference that many of the injured sustained shrapnel wounds and are in critical condition.
By Xinhua Writers Li Huizi and Zhai Xiang

BEIJING, Sept. 3 (Xinhua) -- China's legislature on Saturday ratified the Paris Agreement on climate change.

Lawmakers voted to adopt "the proposal to review and ratify the Paris Agreement," at the closing meeting of the bimonthly session of the National People's Congress Standing Committee.

The agreement is the third document to attempt to address climate change, following the 1992 United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change and the 1997 Kyoto Protocol.

BIGGER ROLE IN GLOBAL CLIMATE GOVERNANCE

"Ratifying the agreement accords with China's policy of actively dealing with climate change," said the proposal, and addressing climate change will help sustainable development.

Ratification will "advance China's green, low-carbon development and safeguard environmental security," it said.

Ratifying the agreement is in China's interests and will help the country "play a bigger role in global climate governance," according to the proposal.

China signed the Paris Agreement at UN Headquarters in New York on April 22, Earth Day.

Vice Premier Zhang Gaoli, acting for President Xi Jinping, signed the document and announced that China would ratify the pact before the G20 summit in Hangzhou.

On Dec. 12, 2015, after nearly two weeks of talks, 196 parties to the UN conference on climate change in Paris (COP21) reached agreement on holding the average global rise in temperature below 2 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels, and preferably below 1.5 degrees.

It is a major milestone for global climate negotiations, especially after the failed 2009 Copenhagen summit and disputes among countries on their responsibilities.

To fulfill its commitments, China will have to cut carbon emissions per unit of GDP by 60-65 percent by 2030 from 2005 levels, increase non-fossil fuel sources in primary energy consumption to about 20 percent, and peak its carbon emissions by 2030.

These targets are reflected in China's 13th Five-Year Plan (2016-2020).

The Paris Agreement still lacks the support of 55 nations that account for 55 percent of global greenhouse gas emissions. Countries still have one year to ink the agreement as it is open for signatures until April 21, 2017.

ENGENDERING BANDWAGON EFFECT

Joanna Lewis of Georgetown University said in a signed article, "Climate change is the area in which China has shown perhaps the strongest international leadership. As China hosts the G20, we can expect energy and climate to be front and center."

"China seems to be taking a responsible lead to join others in setting the example of implementing steps to limit global warming," Douglas H. Paal, director of Asia Program, Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, told Xinhua.

"It is smart for China to use its hosting of the G20 Summit try to engender a bandwagon effect among the participating countries," he said.

Environmental experts said that concrete commitment by major powers, like China, would increase expectations for an early start to the pact, before the original deadline of 2020.

"I think the Paris Agreement will enter into force very, very soon," said Jeffrey Sachs, director of the Earth Institute at Columbia University.
Chinese President Xi Jinping (R) meets with South African President Jacob Zuma who came to Hangzhou to attend the G20 Summit in Hangzhou, capital city of east China's Zhejiang Province, Sept. 3, 2016. (Xinhua/Li Xueren)

HANGZHOU, Sept. 3 (Xinhua) -- Chinese President Xi Jinping met his South African counterpart Jacob Zuma on Saturday, with the two leaders vowing to strengthen bilateral ties and coordination on multilateral affairs.



Zuma is here to attend the Group of 20 summit on Sunday and Monday.

Xi said China always regards its relations with South Africa in a strategic and long-term way, and is committed to developing the two countries' special relations as comrades and brothers.

China is willing to join South Africa to promote the bilateral ties to reach a new level, Xi told Zuma, adding that the two sides should expand political mutual trust, strengthen exchanges between political parties, governments, legislatures and militaries, and enhance strategic coordination.

The two sides should boost cooperation between local governments, increase investment and employment, and expand cultural exchanges to forge a foundation for people-to-people friendship, the Chinese president said.

Xi stressed the unshakable determination for solidarity, cooperation and win-win deal between China and Africa, and unshakable support for peace and development in Africa.

As both are major developing countries and BRICS members, China is willing to strengthen coordination and cooperation with South Africa in bilateral and multilateral affairs, and advance China-South Africa and China-Africa relations to make new progress, Xi said.

China is also ready to work together with South Africa to push forward BRICS cooperation agenda and make G20 cooperation more fruitful, Xi added.

Zuma said South Africa cherishes its comprehensive strategic partnership with China, adding bilateral relations are growing deeper and wider.

South Africa appreciates China's contribution to Africa's development and China's role in setting interconnective development and UN 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development as topics of the G20 Hangzhou summit.

South Africa is willing to strengthen cooperation with China in the UN, G20, BRICS, Forum on China-Africa Cooperation and other multilateral frameworks, Zuma said.
BUENOS AIRES, Sept. 2 (Xinhua) -- Argentina would greatly benefit from joining the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB), a new institution promoted by China, said an Argentinean economist.

In an interview with Xinhua, Gustavo Girado, director of the Asia & Argentina (A&A) consultancy, said that the AIIB is a privileged platform for economic cooperation to help make the infrastructure along the Belt and Road a reality.

The expert anticipated that Argentina will benefit from future expansions of the AIIB.

"If the AIIB grows internationally as an entity capable of making investments and financing projects among its members on all continents, this could be very beneficial for Argentina, given the extraordinary institutional structure the AIIB is revealing," he added.

He also said that the "idea of an economic belt along the Silk Road has brought a new image to relations with China."

"This Belt will connect -- by land and sea -- Central Asia with Southern Asia and Southeast Asia with Western Asia, allowing these sub-regions to exchange products, complement each other, establish and consolidate Asia's supply chain and value chain and take Asia-Pacific regional cooperation to the next level," Girado said.

The AIIB was created in 2015 to finance infrastructure projects in Asia and to act as a complementary to other institutions such as the World Bank or the Asian Development Bank.

Of the 57 founding members, around 20 are Western countries, including Britain, Germany and France. Canada has just applied to join in the institution in August.

In December, the AIIB President Jin Liqun announced that the bank planned to extend loans of between 10 billion to 15 billion U.S. dollars annually in its first years.
So much of what we think, say and do as individuals, and as people of faith, is grounded in hidden motivations and desires. These unspoken strings attached are heard loud and clear by those we engage with. Here have this food  and take this tract. Let me help you with that  and know that God loves you. I would like to suggest we ground our interactions in the old, but often forgotten, concept of hospitality that simply has no strings attached.

Much of my own life, faith and ministry can be framed in hospitality. As I was entering high school, I moved back to the United States after living much of my formative life in Geneva, Switzerland. Despite always having been a U.S. citizen, I found myself thrust into a community and a culture that was completely foreign to me. While I spoke English, I certainly didnt speak the language of sports, music, TV or of the larger culture. I was a fish out of water and floundered among my peers at school.

I found my community, and my faith, in a local church youth group where individuals extended unconditional hospitality to the stranger in their midst. They bent over backwards to welcome me just as I was. They journeyed with me as I slowly acclimated to American society. I came to understand that this is how God walks with us as we are estranged. This is the God that I now profess.

Hospitality isnt earned. It is given. Its not about the goodness, the worthiness, the similarities or the differences of the person who enters into our midst. Its not motivated by changing or even influencing the stranger. At various points throughout Christian Scripture, hospitality is equated with the unconditional welcoming of the stranger, the foreigner, the alien, the neighbor, the Samaritan, the orphan, the widow, the enemy, and the angels within our midst.

In the ancient Middle Eastern world, the aliens and strangers were in significant peril as they had no guarantee of protection, lodging or sustenance. The practice of hospitality meant graciously receiving the other into community and providing directly for that person's needs. It meant welcome, food, drink, lodging, clothing, protection, gleaning of fields and even inclusion into religious practices.

The ministry that United Campus Ministry provides at MSU Billings is grounded in hospitality. Among our many programs, we have three weekly coffees that intentionally welcome people who may feel like outsiders. Our International, Nontraditional Student, and Rainbow coffee hours, create the time and space for hospitality to be offered. No agenda other than simply being present with others. While lives certainly are impacted and changed by these simple acts of hospitality, that transformation neither motivates nor acts as a barometer for success. Rather, we extend that hospitality simply because that is what we do and who we are.

In Leviticus 19:33-34 the command is made, When a foreigner resides among you in your land, do not mistreat them. The foreigner residing among you must be treated as your native-born. Love them as yourself, for you were foreigners in Egypt. (New International Version)
SINGAPORE, Sept. 3 (Xinhua) -- Singapore's President Tony Tan Keng Yam conveyed condolences over the death of Uzbek President Islam Karimov, said the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in statement on Saturday.

President Tan has written to Nigmatulla Yuldashev, head of Senate of Uzbekistan's Supreme Assembly, said the statement.

President Tan wrote it's "with great sadness" that he received the news of Karimov's death. Tan conveyed the deepest condolences to the family of Karimov, the government and people of Uzbekistan on behalf of the people of Singapore.

"Uzbekistan has lost a leader who led the country in its development and progress for the past twenty-five years since its independence," wrote Tan.

President Tan noted that Karimov also contributed significantly to enhancing the bilateral relations between Singapore and Uzbekistan.
Chinese President Xi Jinping (R) meets with his Turkish counterpart Recep Tayyip Erdogan who came to Hangzhou to attend the G20 Summit in Hangzhou, capital city of east China's Zhejiang Province, Sept. 3, 2016. (Xinhua/Li Tao)

HANGZHOU, Sept. 3 (Xinhua) -- Chinese and Turkish leaders on Saturday agreed to advance cooperation in fields of counter-terrorism, energy and infrastructure during a meeting ahead of the G20 Hangzhou summit.

In the meeting with his Turkish counterpart Recep Tayyip Erdogan, President Xi Jinping said China appreciates Turkey's affirmation that it will never allow any activities that could undermine China's security to take place on Turkish soil.

He called on both sides to adhere to the core issue of political mutual trust, and to achieve more substantial results on anti-terrorism and security cooperation

Both should consider concrete means and projects to link China-proposed Belt and Road initiative with Turkey's development strategy, to achieve substantial progress in cooperation in infrastructure, energy, quarantine and other fields, Xi said.

Erdogan appreciated China's support for Turkey to maintain its national security and social stability. He expressed hopes that the two countries could increase collaboration in investment, energy, infrastructure, aviation, agriculture, tourism and counter-terrorism.

Xi said China is willing to work with Turkey, last year's host of the G20 summit in Antalya, to propel the G20 to play a bigger role in global economic governance.

He noted the good communication Turkey maintained with Chinese authorities on the preparation for the upcoming Hangzhou summit.

Thanks to concerted efforts from both sides, many consensus reached between the two presidents to advance Sino-Turkish ties have been, or are in the process of being implemented, producing gratifying results, Xi said.

Noting that this year marks the 45th anniversary of diplomatic relations between the two countries, Xi said China is willing to work with Turkey to advance their strategic partnership, and holds high expectations for the future of Sino-Turkish ties.

A series of cooperation agreements in energy, inspection and quarantine and other fields were signed after the meeting.

Erdogan is in Hangzhou for the 11th summit of Group of 20 major economies scheduled on Sunday and Monday.




Chinese President Xi Jinping delivers a keynote speech at the Business 20 (B20) summit in Hangzhou, capital of east China's Zhejiang Province, Sept. 3, 2016. (Xinhua/Yao Dawei)

HANGZHOU, Sept. 3 (Xinhua) -- Delivering a keynote speech on Saturday at the Business 20 (B20) summit in Hangzhou, Chinese President Xi Jinping called China's reform and opening-up a great process.

Firstly, it is a process of exploration. There has been no precedent in human history for a country with a population of over 1.3 billion to realize modernization, he said.

Secondly, it is a process of action and hard work. China has been firmly taking economic contruction as the center, he said.

Thirdly, it is a process of common prosperity. Development for the people, by the people and to the benefit of the people -- is the fundamental purpose of China's reform and opening-up and its modernization drive.

Lastly, it is a process during which China has been walking towards the world and the world has been walking to China, said the president.
SINGAPORE, Sept. 3 (Xinhua) -- Singapore condemns the bomb explosion in the Philippines' Davao City on Friday night, said the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in a statement on Saturday.

"We extend our deepest condolences to the bereaved families and wish the injured a speedy recovery," said the statement.

The ministry said there are no reports of any Singaporeans injured or directly affected by the bombing as of now.

The Singapore Embassy in Manila is also in contact with the local authorities on the situation.

The powerful explosion on Friday night has killed 14 people and wounded some 70 others.


Chinese President Xi Jinping (R) meets with Italian Prime Minister Matteo Renzi in Hangzhou, capital city of east China's Zhejiang Province, Sept. 3, 2016. (Xinhua/Li Xueren)

HANGZHOU, Sept. 3 (Xinhua) -- Chinese President Xi Jinping met with Italian Prime Minister Matteo Renzi on Saturday and both pledged efforts to improve bilateral cooperation.

Xi welcomed Renzi's attendance at the G20 summit, on Sunday and Monday, saying China is willing to work with Italy to push forward their comprehensive strategic partnership.

The Chinese president proposed that China and Italy continue to trust and respect each other on issues involving their core interests and major concerns, and deepen exchanges between their governments, legislatures and political parties.

He hoped Italy would be an active participant of China's Belt and Road Initiative.

The two countries shall enhance people-to-people exchanges to deepen their traditional friendship, and strengthen coordination on global and regional affairs to contribute to a new type of international relations that value cooperation and mutual benefit, Xi said.

The two sides shall maintain the good momentum of China-Europe ties by taking concrete measures to realize their partnership for peace, growth, reform and civilization, he said.

Referring to the long history of the friendship between the two nations, Renzi said Italy would like to deepen its cooperation with China in economy and trade, finance, port construction, culture as well as health care.

He said Italy was willing to participate in the Belt and Road construction and wished the G20 summit a great success.
VLADIVOSTOK, Russia, Sept. 3 (Xinhua) -- Russian President Vladimir Putin said here Saturday that the effective integration of Eurasia may be built only on the basis of equal rights of all the Eurasian participants.

"We understand the integration as predictable, long-term rules and openness to cooperation with other countries whether in the East or the West," Putin said at the ongoing Eastern Economic Forum.

At a plenary session themed "Opening up the Russian Far East," Putin said that Russia is ready to study others' proposals attentively and look for the best possible solutions with anyone who is interested in such cooperation.

"This integration network and system of multilateral and bilateral agreements could become the foundation for developing a big Eurasian partnership," said Putin, stressing that such integration must be based on serious joint projects.

The Russian president firstly proposed to develop reliable energy infrastructure, creating an energy super-ring linking Russia, China, South Korea and Japan.

"Second is transport infrastructure and the formation of new, competitive trans-Eurasian and regional transport routes. And, third, is creating a common digital economic space," Putin said.

"We plan to put together a support system for startups on Russky Island, organizing a network of laboratories for collaborative research, and creating a modern business infrastructure, including business and exhibition centers," he said.

The second Eastern Economic Forum opened Friday in the Russian city Vladivostok, with 2,500 guests and investors from 28 countries attending.
Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and Alibaba's chairman Jack Ma launch an official Tmall online shop for Canadian specialities at the headquarter of Alibaba in Hangzhou, capital of east China's Zhejiang Province, Sept. 3, 2016. (Xinhua/Jin Liangkuai)

MOSCOW, Sept. 3 (Xinhua) -- The fact that the G20 summit will be held in China reflects the global recognition of and respect for China's giant economic success, a leading Russian economic expert has said.

"The international community admits that China has become a major economic power, which largely determines the economic development of the whole world," Vyacheslav Kholodkov, head of the International Economic Organizations Department at the Russian Institute for Strategic Studies, told Xinhua.

As the second-largest economy of the world, China has a strong impact over global economic processes, the economist said, adding that the performance of China's stock markets and its import of energy resources exert a powerful influence on world markets.

Kholodkov also expressed the belief that the Western media today have exaggerated and distorted the existing problems with the Chinese economy.

"China's economic success is like a thorn on the side of many Western politicians and journalists, because it shows that there are other more successful models besides the Western liberal economic model," the expert noted.

In his opinion, the current problems plaguing China were those of structural adjustments and shifts in economic development pattern.

If previously China's development had been driven mainly by exports, it is now shifting from export-oriented development model to focusing on domestic demand, Kholodkov said.

Kholodkov saw "nothing dramatic" in such a development, as other countries that experienced similar problems have survived such transitional periods.

China's GDP grew by 6.9 percent last year, a rate to be envied by many countries, according to Kholodkov.

China presents an example for many developing countries, including Russia, which are closely watching China's experiences and following some of its trends in their political practices, he concluded.
BEIJING, Sept. 3 (Xinhua) -- By setting up seven more free trade zones (FTZs), China has demonstrated its resolve to liberalize trade and investment.

The new FTZs in Chongqing, Henan, Hubei, Liaoning, Shaanxi, Sichuan and Zhejiang were announced by commerce minister Gao Hucheng on Wednesday, bringing the total number of FTZs to 11, just three years after the Shanghai FTZ opened for business.

Bai Ming of the Chinese Academy of International Trade and Economic Cooperation sees the announcement as a clear statement of intent ahead of the Hangzhou G20 summit.

"The FTZs will increase access to the Chinese market and substantially improve the business environment for foreign companies," said Bai. "This demonstrates commitment to free trade and investment despite rising protectionism in other parts of the world."

This year, China is the target of 65 new probes and restrictions from overseas, mostly anti-dumping and anti-subsidy cases, a substantial increase from last year.

Last month, Australia rejected China's State Grid's bid for its largest electricity network, citing "national security" concerns. In July, Britain delayed work on a nuclear power station partnership, triggering media speculation that this was also due to "national security."

Despite the setbacks, the new FTZs are proof that China is still committed to opening up, said Bai.

The new FTZs involve both inland provincial regions in the west and coastal areas in the east and northeast, widening the scope of trade and investment. Among the FTZ successes have been the "negative list" specifying investment sectors that are off-limits to foreign investors, and allowing foreign firms to operate under the same investment rules as domestic ones. Replicating theses successes nationwide will greatly benefit foreign businesses, Bai said.

The announcement came as some are concerned over access to the Chinese market. The European Union Chamber of Commerce in China claimed earlier this week that European companies face a "lack of reciprocity." Chinese investment in Europe has increased rapidly while European firms are still heavily restricted in China.

"Chinese outbound investment may be outpacing inbound investment, but that's the result of China's success rather unfair treatment of foreign investment," Bai said. Many developed economies have experienced fast growth in outbound investment, which is a natural process, and China's economy has just reached this stage, he said.

Moreover, China is shifting to greener, quality growth and better market regulation, which require both domestic and foreign firms to adjust their investment strategies, he said, noting that there is abundant evidence of an improved business environment.

In the FTZs in Guangdong, Tianjin and Fujian, inbound direct investment rose by 225 percent, 220 percent and 548 percent year on year, respectively, in the period from their launch in April 2015 to the end of the year, official data show.

In the first seven months of 2016, EU countries' investment in China rose 31.3 percent year on year.

"Italian firms are very optimistic about their development in China, especially in western regions," said Sergio Maffettone, consul-general of Italy in Chongqing, where one of the new FTZs is located.
Chinese President Xi Jinping (R) meets with Chadian President Idriss Deby Itno in Hangzhou, capital city of east China's Zhejiang Province, Sept. 3, 2016. (Xinhua/Li Xueren)

HANGZHOU, Sept. 3 (Xinhua) -- President Xi Jinping met with Chadian President Idriss Deby Itno on Saturday, calling for further China-Chad and China-Africa cooperation.

Deby, on behalf of the African Union, was invited to attend the 11th G20 summit in the eastern Chinese city of Hangzhou.

China supports Africa's positive contribution to global governance and world economic growth, Xi said.

Noting that China and Chad have seen all-round, rapid development of ties in recent years, Xi said China is willing to work with Chad to further advance their friendly cooperative relations and bring more benefits to their peoples.

He called on the two sides to understand and support each other on issues concerning their core interests and major concerns.

Energy cooperation should play a major role in Sino-Chadian collaboration, the Chinese president said, adding that China encourages its businesses to invest in Chad to help the country develop its own capability for independent and sustainable growth.

He also highlighted the importance of peace and security, pledging to help Chad with its capacity building in national defense, peacekeeping, and stability.

Unity and cooperation between China and African countries are a long-term and firm strategic choice for China, Xi said, noting China will continue to act on the principles of sincerity, practical results, affinity and good faith, adopt the right approach to upholding justice, and carry out the ten major plans of China-Africa cooperation.

Efforts will be made to synchronize China's own development with its support for the development of Africa, to help speed up Africa's industrialization and agricultural modernization, and ensure win-win cooperation and common development, he said.

China supports the African Union's important role in Africa's development and integration, and in regional and international affairs, Xi continued.

For his part, Deby appreciated China's constant support for Africa and its win-win and reciprocal cooperation with the continent, as well as its efforts to lead the G20 mechanism to assist in Africa's development.

The relationship between Africa and China, which features mutual understanding and mutual support, is a model for Africa's external relations, he said.

Deby said Chad is willing to strengthen cooperation with China in fields of renewable energy, mineral resources, trade, people's livelihood, healthcare, among others.
TIKRIT, Iraq, Sept. 3 (Xinhua) -- Six people were killed and nine others injured on Saturday in two coordinated explosions in Iraq's northern central province of Salahudin, a provincial security source told Xinhua.

The first attack occurred in the morning when a roadside bomb detonated at a neighborhood inhabited by Shiite Turkomans in the town of Tuz-Khormato, some 190 km northeast of Baghdad, causing no casualties, the source said on condition of anonymity.

But minutes later, a booby-trapped car went off when security forces and civilians gathered at the site of the first blast, leaving six killed and nine others wounded, he said.

The attackers created an initial explosion to attract security forces and civilians, and then set off another blast to cause heavier casualties, a tactic frequently used by insurgent groups, according to the source.

The Iraqi Shiite Turkomans, who mainly live in areas disputed by the Kurds, Arabs and Turkomans, often complain that militant groups attack minority members to displace them. The Kurds want to incorporate these areas into their Kurdistan region, something fiercely opposed by the central government in Baghdad.

Iraq has witnessed worsening violence since the Islamic State (IS) group took control of parts of its northern and western regions in June 2014.

Terrorist acts, violence and armed conflicts killed 691 Iraqis and wounded 1,016 others in August across Iraq, the United Nations Assistance Mission for Iraq said on Thursday.

Many blame the current chronic instability, cycle of violence, and the emergence of extremist groups, such as the IS, on the U.S. that invaded and occupied Iraq in March 2003.


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On Friday evenings, when the first star appears in the sky, hundreds of men, women and children gather at the Wailing Wall, a remnant of the Jewish temple, in Jerusalem to usher in the Sabbath. This is a lovely time of community gathering and rejoicing. The atmosphere is electrified by singing, dancing and praying which goes on way into the night. One is not aware of any wailing!

The Jewish Sabbath is on Saturday; Christians celebrate their Sabbath on Sunday; the holy day for Islam is Friday.

For Jewish people, the temple and Jerusalem have had a long history. This was the land to which Abraham laid claim in 1800 B.C. It was the land to which Moses led the Israelites, carrying the Ark of the Covenant in 1200 B.C. The city of Jerusalem was conquered by King David in 1000 B.C.

David wished to build a house for God, but instead understood that God would build a house for him and his descendants from which a messiah would be born. It was Davids son Solomon who built the first temple in 950 B.C. Of course it was understood that God could not be contained in a house, but a sacred space was created where one felt the presence of the holy.

The central building of the temple housed the Ark of the Covenant as a reminder that God was always in the Israelites midst. Their covenant with God entailed their keeping of the Ten Commandments.

This Holy of Holies was entered only once a year by the high priest on the feast of the Atonement, when the community gathered to atone for their offenses and ask forgiveness of each other. The Holy of Holies was surrounded by the courtyard of the priests who conducted sacrifices and rituals. Sacrifice was important to render service back to God, and to atone for any breach of the covenant that the penitent had made.

There was a courtyard for Jewish men. Then a courtyard for Jewish women. The temple was the center of Jewish worship.

Solomons temple was destroyed by King Nebuchadnezzar in the year 587 B.C., and the Jews taken captive to Babylon (present-day Iraq). A generation later, when the Babylonians were overtaken by the Persians (present-day Iranians), the Jews were set free and allowed to return to Jerusalem.

Under Nehemiah and Ezra, a second temple was re-built in Jerusalem in 516 B.C. This temple was added onto by Herod the Great and was being worked on at the time of Jesus. Construction was not completed until 45 A.D. It was said to be one of the most beautiful buildings in the world.

After the rebellion by the Zealots, this temple was destroyed by the Romans in 70 A.D. All that remained of the temple was the temple mount on which the buildings had stood and the wall which supported it.

All through their history, Jews have taken time off to rest and celebrate Gods creation. It has been said, with elements of truth, that the Jews have kept the Sabbath but the Sabbath also kept the Jews.

Jerusalem and the temple are important to Christians. Jesus had frequented the temple. St. Lukes Gospel tells that he was circumcised in the temple and his family went there for Jewish feasts. As a child, he got lost by his parents and was found in the temple. St. Johns Gospel tells us that he threw the money-changers out of this holy place, noting that it should be a place of prayer and not a den of thieves.

Pilgrims began going to Jerusalem from earliest times. A pilgrim, as distinct from a mere traveler, is one who wishes to get to the center of his faith and so be altered. Many kept journals of their experiences, a hundred which still exist. Because of these journals we know a great deal about how rituals were conducted in Jerusalem.

Today, about four million Christian pilgrims a year head to Israel to renew their faith. The temple mount in Jerusalem is one of the most important sites for Christian pilgrims.

The temple is important to Islam. The prophet never visited Jerusalem, but in a dream he ascended to heaven from the temple mount, and so Jerusalem is the third most holy city for Muslims.

The Dome of the Rock, a magnificent mosque, was built in 691 on the temple mount to commemorate Muhammads ascension. It has been called Jerusalem's most recognizable landmark since the dome is made of gold.

Muslims come to pray at this mosque on the temple mount. Presently only Muslims are allowed to enter the sacred Dome of the Rock, but others have been permitted, depending on the political situation.

Thus, Jerusalem and the Temple are of great import to the three monotheistic religions: Judaism, Christianity and Islam.

The Wailing Wall once supported the temple. It is a place to pray and to reflect. There is much to rejoice about at the Wailing Wall.
Smoke billows from buildings in a northeastern neighbourhood of the Iraqi capital Baghdad where several blasts, including at a weapons storage facility, rocked the area on September 2, 2016 security sources said.(AFP Photo)

TIKRIT, Iraq, Sept. 3 (Xinhua) -- Six people were killed and nine others injured on Saturday in two coordinated explosions in Iraq's northern central province of Salahudin, a provincial security source told Xinhua.

The first attack occurred in the morning when a roadside bomb detonated at a neighborhood inhabited by Shiite Turkomans in the town of Tuz-Khormato, some 190 km northeast of Baghdad, causing no casualties, the source said on condition of anonymity.

But minutes later, a booby-trapped car went off when security forces and civilians gathered at the site of the first blast, leaving six killed and nine others wounded, he said.

The attackers created an initial explosion to attract security forces and civilians, and then set off another blast to cause heavier casualties, a tactic frequently used by insurgent groups, according to the source.

The Iraqi Shiite Turkomans, who mainly live in areas disputed by the Kurds, Arabs and Turkomans, often complain that militant groups attack minority members to displace them. The Kurds want to incorporate these areas into their Kurdistan region, something fiercely opposed by the central government in Baghdad.

Iraq has witnessed worsening violence since the Islamic State (IS) group took control of parts of its northern and western regions in June 2014.

Terrorist acts, violence and armed conflicts killed 691 Iraqis and wounded 1,016 others in August across Iraq, the United Nations Assistance Mission for Iraq said on Thursday.

Many blame the current chronic instability, cycle of violence, and the emergence of extremist groups, such as the IS, on the U.S. that invaded and occupied Iraq in March 2003.
KUALA LUMPUR, Sept. 3 (Xinhua)-- Malaysia's Ministry of Health said on Saturday that they detected possibly the country's first locally-transmitted Zika case in a 61-year-old man in Sabah on the Kalimantan island.

"The ministry is currently investigating the travel history of the patient in the recent period,"said the statement, noting that there is a high possibility that the infection was transmitted locally since the patient has not travelled abroad recently and it was likely he got bitten by an Aedes mosquito carrying Zika.

According to the statement, the man first showed symptoms of a fever on Aug. 27 and sought treatment at local clinic. As his conditions worsened and began to have more symptoms such as muscle aches and diarrhea, he had further treatment at a hospital.

As he was also suffering from other diseases such high blood pressure, cardiovascular problems and chronic kidney disease, his condition was very serious at the hospital, but not due to Zika infection, said the statement.

It added vector control measures have been taken in the residential area and other places visited by the patient.

Given that the virus has been detected in this country, more Zika cases are expected if no precaution measures are taken by the community and the people, said the ministry.

Malaysia confirmed its first Zika case on Thursday in a 58-year-old woman who had visited her daughter in Singapore.
HANGZHOU, Sept. 3 (Xinhua) -- Presidents of China and the United States handed over their countries' instruments of joining the Paris Agreement separately to Secretary-General of the United Nations Ban Ki-moon on Saturday in Hangzhou.

Chinese President Xi Jinping said that climate change concerns the well-being and future of humanity. The Paris Agreement has charted the course for post-2020 global cooperation against climate change, and it indicates that a cooperative, win-win, equitable and fair climate change governance mechanism is being shaped.

The handover of the legal document is a new and solemn commitment of the Chinese government, he said.
HANOI, Sept. 3 (Xinhua) -- Vietnam and India agreed here on Saturday to upgrade their strategic partnership to comprehensive strategic partnership.

The announcement was made by Vietnamese Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc and his Indian counterpart Narendra Modi at a press briefing in Hanoi during Modi's visit to Vietnam.

According to the Indian guest, the upgrading "will provide a new direction, momentum and substance" to bilateral cooperation.

Phuc, for his part, said that the country highlighted the fact that India will help Vietnam in oil and gas exploration and exploitation.

In addition, Vietnam and India put priorities on cooperation in atomic energy, science-technology, education, healthcare, culture, tourism, people-to-people exchange, enhancement of aviation and navigation connectivity, among others.

Ahead of the briefing, Vietnamese and Indian Prime Ministers witnessed the signing of 12 agreements and memorandums of understanding on implementing comprehensive strategic partnership.

Modi is paying an official visit to Vietnam from Friday to Saturday.

The two countries are celebrating the 45th anniversary of establishing diplomatic ties and 10th anniversary of establishment of strategic partnership in 2017.
Photo taken on May 4, 2016 shows an aerial view of Victoria Falls on the border of Zimbabwe and Zambia. While it is neither the highest nor the widest waterfall in the world, it is classified as the largest based on its combined width of 1,708 meters and height of 108 meters, resulting in the world's largest sheet of falling water. (Xinhua/Wu Changwei)

HARARE, Sept. 3 (Xinhua) -- Chinese tourists into Zimbabwe rose by 32 percent in the first half of 2016 after the country relaxed visa controls, an official has said.

Zimbabwe introduced a new visa regime in March this year which now allows nationals from China and 35 other countries to apply for visa on arrival.

Previously, Chinese nationals needed to apply for and obtain visas prior to travelling.

Deputy Chief Secretary in the Office of the President and Cabinet Ray Ndhlukula told a tourism conference earlier this week in the capital Harare that the surge in Chinese tourists was due to the relaxation in visa controls.

He said according to the Zimbabwe Tourism Authority preliminary report up to June 2016, Zimbabwe received 902,435 tourists compared to 930,277 in 2015.

"Although this figure represents a marginal decline in arrivals, what is noteworthy is the increase in Chinese tourists by 32 percent, which in itself is an affirmation of the positive steps taken to revise the visa regime," he said.

Zimbabwe, he said, would thus continue to review the legislative and regulatory environment affecting the tourism sector to boost its growth and competitiveness.

Currently contributing 1 billion U.S. dollars in revenue and 11 percent to Gross Domestic Product from 2 million visitors annually, the Zimbabwe government is targeting the sector to contribute 5 billion dollars in revenue and 15 percent to GDP from 5 million tourist arrivals a year by 2020.

Ndhlukula noted that overpriced tourism products and poor transport infrastructure were among major factors stifling growth of the sector.

He urged tourism players in the country to competitively price their products in order to restore the competitiveness of Zimbabwe as a prime tourist destination.

Zimbabwe boasts of an array of tourist attractions, including the famous Victoria Falls. Enditem




U.S. President Barack Obama arrives for the 11th summit of the Group of 20 (G20) in Hangzhou, capital of east China's Zhejiang Province, Sept. 3, 2016. (Xinhua/Li Xiang) HANGZHOU, China, Sept. 3 (Xinhua) -- U.S. President Barack Obama arrived in this eastern Chinese city on Saturday for the 11th summit of the Group of 20 (G20) major economies. He joined a constellation of national leaders and international organization chiefs who had already arrived for this year's G20 gathering, which is themed "Toward an Innovative, Invigorated, Interconnected and Inclusive World Economy." At the G20 summit, the last for Obama, he will "emphasize the need to continue building on the progress made since 2009 in advancing strong, sustainable and balanced global growth," White House Press Secretary Josh Earnest said in a press briefing prior to the trip. "He will underscore the importance of G20 cooperation and promoting a level playing field and broad-based economic opportunity," he added. In a telephone conversation with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi in early August, U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry said Washington is willing to work together with Beijing to make a success of the G20 Hangzhou summit. On the sidelines of the leaders' meeting of the world's premier platform for international economic cooperation, which is to open Sunday, Obama is also scheduled to meet with his Chinese counterpart, Xi Jinping. China expects the Xi-Obama meeting, their second this year, to bear rich fruit both in bilateral cooperation and in policy coordination within multilateral frameworks, including the G20, Zhu Guangyao, Chinese vice finance minister, said Friday at a press conference. A good example of U.S.-China cooperation is that the two sides "have been able to work effectively together to establish a framework to address climate change," Earnest said at another recent White House press briefing. The progress made by the United States and China "really catalyzed broader international progress on this issue," he added. "Without that kind of progress ... it's difficult to envision the kind of international progress that we've seen on this issue just in the last year or so." Shortly before Obama's arrival, China's top legislature ratified the Paris Agreement in the latest demonstration of Beijing's commitment to fighting climate change. The United States is expected to follow suit. The heads of state of the two largest economies in the world have met on a number of occasions. During their meeting on March 31 on the sidelines of the Nuclear Security Summit in Washington, Xi stressed the importance for China and the United States to be firmly committed to the right direction of building a new model of major-country relations and follow the principles of non-conflict, non-confrontation, mutual respect and win-win cooperation. The Hangzhou meeting, "just as every strategic talk they have held in recent years, will produce a very positive and important influence on China-U.S. bilateral relations," Cui Tiankai, China's ambassador to the United States, said in mid-August. The U.S. president is also scheduled to hold meetings with some other leaders attending the G20 summit, including Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and new British Prime Minister Theresa May. From China, Obama is set to fly to Laos to continue his ongoing Asia trip, which is widely presumed to be his last to the continent as president. There he will meet with Southeast Asian leaders and attend the East Asia Summit. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 1 2 3 4 5 6 7
GAZA, Sept. 3 (Xinhua) -- Egyptian authorities on Saturday opened the Rafah border crossing with the Gaza Strip in both directions for the first time in two months, an official said.

Hisham Edwan, head of the operations at the crossing, told Xinhua that the first bus has already left the Palestinian side and those stranded on the crossing can cross back to Gaza.

The Borders Control Commission run by the Islamic Hamas movement in Gaza said the crossing would be open only on Saturday and Sunday and only for those already registered at the Hamas Interior Ministry and humanitarian cases.

Hundreds of Palestinians gathered in Khan Younis, south of Gaza Strip, to take bus to the crossing.

Deputy Interior Minister Kamel Abu Madi said in a press statement that opening the crossing for only two days is not enough for the registered and humanitarian cases.

Last Tuesday, Egypt opened the borders exceptionally for three days to allow 2,329 Muslim pilgrims to leave Gaza to Saudi Arabia, but did not allow Palestinians to cross back into Gaza.

The last time the crossing was opened in both directions was on June 29 for five days. That was one of four times the borders opened this year.

Gaza's Interior Ministry data says there are over 25,000 humanitarian cases registered for traveling through the border crossing.

The coastal territory, home to some 1.9 million people, has been blockaded by Israel since Islamic Hamas movement seized control of the tiny enclave by force in 2007 after routing troops loyal to Palestinian president Mahmoud Abbas, who now rules the West Bank.

Egypt, which also shares border with Gaza, has been imposing restrictions on opening the Rafah crossing with the enclave after the removal of Islamist President Mohammed Morsi in 2013.
Refugee children from the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) sit in front of a tent provided by United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees at Nakivale Refugee Settlement Camp in the southwestern Ugandan district of Isingiro, on March 20, 2012. (Xinhua/Yuan Qing)

ADJUMANI, Uganda, Sept. 3 (Xinhua) -- When fighting started in South Sudan on July 7, Richard Odego fled to Uganda leaving behind all his assets. All he wanted to do is to save his life and family from the raging war.

Without any border restrictions, Odego crossed into Uganda and is now at Nyumanzi Transit Center waiting to be resettled in a refugee camp.

Like thousands of refugees in Uganda, Odego will be resettled on a piece of land which he will cultivate food instead of entirely depending on relief aid.

It is this open refugee policy that the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) says should be used as a model of refugee management across the global.

Hilary Onek, Uganda's minister for refugees and disaster preparedness, while on a visit with the UNHCR head Filippo Grandi here earlier this week at one of the camps hosting South Sudanese refugees in northern Uganda, said the policy has been remodeled.

Onek said Uganda, supported by the UN and other donor agencies, has started a project dubbed Refugee and Host Population Empowerment (ReHoPE).

The five-year 350 million U.S. dollar project aims at empowering refugees to become self-reliant and reduce their dependence on humanitarian.

Onek said refugees have assets, skills and capabilities that can be tapped to support themselves, and later on, transferred to their countries of origin when they return home.

"We want to turn this human resource into a productive force. When they become productive and even start earning money that will reflect on our economy," he said.

He said the refugees will engage in a number of livelihood strategies, both in agricultural and non- agricultural sectors, in bid for them to be self-reliant.

Former internal refugees start harvesting fish in Dokolo district, northern Uganda, March 11, 2008. (Xinhua/Ronald Ssekandi)

The refugees will be clustered in one area, and the rest of the land will be opened up for mechanized farming. The refugees would then share the proceeds from the farming.

As funding to humanitarian efforts dwindle, experts argue that Uganda's approach would be one of the key alternatives to adopt in refugee management and response in the longer term.

Grandi said learning from Uganda, there are global discussions on how to integrate humanitarian emergency response with long-term development, for the benefit of not only refugees but also their host communities.

He said the ReHoPE project is viable but needs funding.

He said urged the rich countries to also give equal attention to humanitarian crises in Africa and other less developed places.

He said most of the rich countries focus on high profile crises and those near their boundaries.

Grandi said he will front Uganda's refugee policy at the forthcoming UN meeting on refugees and migrants scheduled later this month.

At the end of last year, Uganda was the eighth-largest refugee hosting country in the world. The country hosts over 560,000 refugees and asylum seekers, according to UNHCR figures.

Already in 2016, it has received an estimated 163,000 new arrivals fleeing from war and human rights violations in South Sudan, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Burundi and elsewhere.
HANGZHOU, Sept. 3 (Xinhua) -- Chinese President Xi Jinping met with his U.S. counterpart Barack Obama in the eastern city of Hangzhou on Saturday, on the eve of the G20 summit.

Xi spoke highly of the interactions between the two heads of state, as their previous meetings "all produced important consensus."

In particular, the decision to build a new type of major country relations between China and the United States has led to a series of concrete achievements in bilateral ties, Xi said.

Two-way trade, investment and personnel exchanges are at historical highs, he said, and both countries have worked together in combating climate change, advancing negotiations on a bilateral investment treaty, and establishing a mutual trust mechanism between the two militaries.

Important progress was also made in fighting cyber crimes, coping with the Ebola epidemic in Africa, and facilitating a comprehensive agreement on the Iranian nuclear issue, Xi said.

"All these have showcased the strategic importance and global influence of Sino-U.S. relations," the Chinese president said.
DHAKA, Sept. 3 (Xinhua) -- Bangladesh on Saturday ordered to execute death row war criminal Mir Quasem Ali as the Islamist party leader chose not to seek presidential pardon.

Bangladeshi Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan told journalists on Saturday evening that "The order for his execution has been given as he had not asked for presidential mercy."

Shortly after this formal announcement, family members walked into the Kashimpur Jail on the outskirts of capital Dhaka to meet Ali for the last time as authorities completed preparations to hang the war criminal any time.

Security has been beefed up in and around the jail, where 64-year old Ali has been kept.

Ali, well known as a key financier of Jamaat, is among the top Jamaat leaders who have been tried in two war crimes tribunals which Prime Minister Sheikh Hasian's Bangladesh Awami League-led government formed in 2010 to bring the perpetrators of 1971 to book.

Four Jamaat-e-Islami party leaders -- Motiur Rahman Nizami, Abdul Quader Molla, Muhammad Kamaruzzaman and Ali Ahsan Mohammad Mujahid -- have already been executed for 1971 war crimes.

Apart from them, opposition Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) leader Salaudin Quader Chowdhury was executed on Nov. 22 last year.

Both BNP and Jamaat have described the court as a government "show trial," saying it is a domestic set-up without the oversight or involvement of the United Nations.
Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks is proposing to improve the Big Rock fishing access site on the Boulder River, about five miles south of Big Timber.

The work was prompted by heavy spring flows scouring and eroding the river bank, which left the loop road too close to the Boulder River.

The proposed improvements include: development of two new parking areas to accommodate about three truck/trailer vehicles and four single vehicles; reclamation of the existing loop road adjacent to the riverbank; construction of a new loop road over 120 feet from the riverbank; development of five designated campsites; graveling the pioneered river access for hand launching boats and rafts; reconditioning the existing camp loop road and access road; installation of barrier rock to control vehicle movement; and installation of informational and directional signs.

Public comment will be taken until Sept. 30. Any questions should be directed to Ryan Taynton at 406-633-0081 or Ken Frazer at 247-2961.

To read the completed draft EA log on to http://fwp.mt.gov/news/publicNotices/environmentalAssessments/developmentImprovementsAndEnhancements/pn_0362.html.

Written comments can be sent to: Big Rock FAS Proposed Improvement Project, Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks, 2300 Lake Elmo Drive, Billings, MT 59105.
VLADIVOSTOK, Russia, Sept. 3 (Xinhua) -- Russian President Vladimir Putin said Saturday that he hopes a new oceanarium located on Russky Island will become a center of international cooperation.

"I want to thank President of the Republic of Korea Park Geun-hye and Prime Minister of Japan Shinzo Abe for their participation in the oceanarium opening," Putin said during a tour of the Primorye Oceanarium on the sidelines of an international economic forum.

"I hope that it will become the center of international cooperation," he added.

He said all the information in the oceanarium will be provided not only in the Russian, Chinese and English languages, but also in Japanese and Korean.

The Russian president also said he hoped that the Primorye Oceanarium would become one of the world's largest facilities of its kind.

The oceanarium's main building houses display aquariums with a total capacity of 10,000 cubic meters, themed installations, a 70-meter-long underwater tunnel with a moving track, a dolphinarium, and a dolphin therapy department.

The complex, with a total area of about 35,000 square meters, will include more than 500 species of marine and freshwater animals.

Park and Abe joined 2,500 guests and investors from 28 countries to attend the second Eastern Economic Forum, which opened Friday in the Russian Far Eastern city of Vladivostok.
by Anthi Pazianou

MYTILENE, Greece, Sept. 3 (Xinhua) -- Dimitris Boutris owns a fish tavern in Mytilene, the capital of Lesvos island in Greece. His high expectation in July for attracting more Turkish tourists to his tavern in the summer soon fell apart with the July 15 coup attempt in Turkey, less than 10 km away from the Greek island.

Boutris told Xinhua that his tavern and all the stores of the downtown area were full of Turkish tourists at the beginning of July.

"All the restaurant owners, including myself, thought Turkish visitors would be a good opportunity to outweigh the number of tourists we lost, due to the huge decrease in European flights during the summer,"said Boutris.

Then the coup attempt on July 15 in Turkey changed the whole picture: there was a drop of 22 percent in Turkish tourists arrivals in July and a 41.46 percent drop in August comparing to the same period of 2016.

"I still remember the evening of July 15," said Boutris."All Turkish clients who had filled my tavern, turned their heads to the TV screen staring at the news. Half an hour later the tavern was empty."

Since 2015, more than a million migrants and refugees have arrived to Greece and then moved on to Western Europe, half of whom passing through Lesvos, which has about 85,000 residents.

Yiannis Samiotis, the president of Lesvos travel agents union told Xinhua that "the refugee crisis influenced the local tourism this summer a lot, in spite of the deal between the EU(European Union) and Turkey to stem the influx."

According to the official data of Lesvos airport "Odysseas Elitis", the number of European passengers arrived at Lesvos in July 2016 was 6,841, which is 62.77 percent lower than the same month in 2015.

Samiotis said the coup attempt in Turkey played a major role to this decline in tourism.

According to the local police, 8,836 Turkish tourists visited Lesvos in August, comparing to 15,094 arrivals in the same month of 2015. In July, there were 11,887 turkish visitors to the island while in July 2015 it was 14,403.

"We expected a lot of people from Turkey," Aris Lazaris, the owner of a travel agency told Xinhua. "A Turkish tourist equals to five Europeans in terms of purchase power and this is something extremely satisfactory for the local market," he explained.

Aimilia Voulvouli, assistant professor of social anthropology of Abdulah Gul University, told Xinhua that after the coup attempt "there is a feeling of uncertainty, which of course has financial implications too."
NICOSIA, Sept. 3 (Xinhua) -- A Greek airborne commando who was injured after he jumped out of a burning plane without a parachute in 1974 has died 42 years later as a result of his injuries, a Cypriot government official confirmed on Saturday.

Thanasis Zafiriou, then aged 20, was the only survivor from a crash of a military transport plane that was shot down by friendly fire while that was ferrying assistance to the Cypriot National Guard, which was facing pressure from a much larger Turkish force.

"It was with great distress that we learned about the death of Thanasis at a hospital in Salonica. Doctors told us that the cause of his death was directly related to his 1974 injuries," said Fotis Fotiou, a presidential commissioner in charge of humanitarian affairs.

Zafiriou was 62 when he died on Friday at a Greek military hospital where he was being treated with serious health problems.

His Noratlas transport aircraft was one of 15 that Greece used to send a commando force from Crete to Cyprus in what was described by many as a suicide mission.

They were to land at Nicosia Airport, which was under fire day and night by Turkish troops send to Cyprus on July 20, 1974, in response to a coup a week earlier by the military rulers of Greece.

Some of the planes took fire from National Guard anti-aircraft batteries which had not received notification of the operation and the one in which Zafiriou was caught fire and crashed a short distance from the runaway.
SINGAPORE, Sept. 3 (Xinhua) -- Singapore confirmed 26 new cases of locally transmitted Zika virus infection as of Saturday, said the Ministry of Health (MOH) and National Environment Agency (NEA) in a joint statement.

Saturday's update brought the total number of Zika infections in Singapore to 215. MOH said among these newly reported cases, 24 cases are linked to the Aljunied Crescent/ Sims Drive/ Kallang Way/ Paya Lebar Way cluster. Two cases have no known links to any existing cluster.

The joint statement revealed National Public Health Laboratory has worked with A*STAR's Bioinformatics Institute to complete the sequencing analysis of the Zika virus found in two patients from the Aljunied Crescent/ Sims Drive cluster.

The analysis found that the virus belongs to the Asian lineage and likely evolved from the strain that was already circulating in Southeast Asia. The virus from these two patients was not imported from South America. The research team will release more details shortly.

Meanwhile, NEA has been continuing with vector control operations to control the Aedes mosquito population in Aljunied Crescent / Sims Drive / Paya Lebar Way / Kallang Way. As of Friday, 57 breeding habitats have been detected and destroyed.

Vector control operations and outreach efforts in Bedok North Avenue have also been continuing, said NEA. As of Friday, 26 breeding habitats have been detected and destroyed. Mosquito control measures are ongoing.

The government agency said indoor spraying of insecticides, outdoor fogging and oiling and flushing of drains are continuing in these two cluster areas.

In such areas with active transmission, outdoor fogging and indoor spraying and misting are both necessary because there may be infected by adult mosquitoes in both outdoor and indoor areas that need to be destroyed before they bite and infect more people.

For non-cluster areas, NEA said the most effective mosquito control measure for keeping mosquito population low is still source reduction, through detecting and removing breeding habitats and killing larvae, as it eliminates mosquitoes at the most vulnerable stage of their life cycle.

Community outreach activities over the country are ongoing, according to the joint statement. The government urge all residents to join in the collective efforts in the fight against Zika by doing the 5-step Mozzie Wipeout, removing stagnant water and not littering.
Zhang Dejiang (C back), chairman of the Standing Committee of China's National People's Congress ( NPC ), presides over the closing meeting of the 22nd session of the 12th NPC Standing Committee in Beijing, capital of China, Sept. 3, 2016.(Xinhua/Fan Rujun)

BEIJING, Sept. 3 (Xinhua) -- China's legislature closed its bi-monthly session on Saturday, ratifying the Paris Agreement on climate change and adopting a law on national defense transport.

Zhang Dejiang, chairman of the National People's Congress (NPC) Standing Committee, presided over the closing meeting of the six-day session.

"Ratifying the agreement shows China's sense of responsibility and commitment to dealing with climate change," said Zhang in his speech to the meeting.

The new law on national defense transport regulates the planning, construction, management and use of resources in transportation sectors for national defense.

The lawmakers also approved the piloting of plea bargaining in criminal cases, as part of efforts to find balance in criminal justice decisions.

Four laws regulating inbound investment were revised, with an easing of rules for foreign and Taiwanese investors looking to start businesses in China's mainland.

The legislature passed a bill to ratify an amendment to a tariff concession schedule of the country's World Trade Organization accession protocol, promising to eliminate customs duties on 201 information technology products.

Also on Saturday, members of the NPC Standing Committee voted to appoint Li Xiaopeng, former Shanxi governor, minister of transport.

Li and other three new deputy directors of NPC special committees pledged allegiance to the Constitution at a ceremony after the meeting.
BEIJING, Sept. 3 (Xinhua) -- The State Council is soliciting public opinions for a nationwide inspection on prominent problems in government performance and economic development.

The public can report information or offer suggestions through the central government's website before Sept. 30.

The State Council recently started an inspection to identify issues that have hindered economic growth, supply-side structural reform, innovation-driven development and improvement of people's livelihoods.

By Thursday afternoon, nearly 1,000 suggestions and tip-offs had been received, related to affordable housing projects, environmental protection, private enterprises, and health reform.

On Thursday afternoon, the State Council formed three teams to investigate into major complaints from the public.
BANGKOK, Sept. 3 (Xinhua)-- One man was killed and three people injured when a bomb exploded on the tracks in front of a railway station in the southern Thai province of Pattani on Saturday evening.

The explosion took place around 5:30 p.m. at the Ban Nikhom Khok Pho station, said Pramot Juichuay, a duty-officer at the Khok Pho police station, adding that the bomb was placed on the tracks and exploded when the train passed over it as it passed the station, according to Bangkok Post newspaper.

The force of the explosion blew away half of the last carriage, killed a railway employee who was sitting in the carriage and hurt an employee and a defense volunteer.

The train was on its way from the southern border town of Songkhla at the time of the blast.

Police believe the blast was linked to the southern insurgency that haunted Pattani, Narathiwat and Yala, the three southernmost provinces, for more than 10 years.
Children learn ballet at the Alwanat School of Ballet and Fine Arts in Upper Egypt on Aug. 29. (Xinhua Photo)

MINYA, Egypt, Sept. 3 (Xinhua) -- In a conservative and narrow-minded society where dancing is not an acceptable or a preferable form of art, a group of young people challenged the customs and traditions and launched the first ballet school in Upper Egypt.

Alwanat School of Ballet and Fine Arts, the first of its kind in Upper Egypt, opened in the center of Minya province, some 220 km away from Cairo.

"The name Alwanat, Arabic for 'colors', signals the diversity of people and programs we offer," Marco Adel, the founder of the school, told Xinhua.

Many people at the beginning opposed the idea of a dancing school and claimed that dancing is a form of vice, while others think that it is a waste of time, Adel said.

Upper Egyptians are always depicted in novels and movies as tough, conservative and narrow-minded people on matters of arts and freedom of females.

"Our main problems are finance and the society's rejection of this kind of art," Adel mentioned.

In the past, students had to move to Cairo or Alexandria to join the Higher Institute of Ballet, the Cairo Opera House, or some private schools, which cost real burdens for families.

"I was so happy when I read about the school on Facebook," said Noha Mohamed.

"My daughter, Gigi, was imitating the movements of a ballet dancer on TV, and I feel she will be a professional dancer in the future," she said.

"Ballet is a unique type of art and there is nothing to be ashamed of even in a conservative society. I'm so proud of my daughter," she told Xinhua, adding that girls from Upper Egypt are gifted and they only need a chance to explore their potentials.

"It's a positive initiative to change the way of thinking and to open a new gate for girls to enjoy arts," Nisreen Nabil, another mother told Xinhua, noting that it is a matter of daring to dream and to change.

The school helped her daughter enjoy being a female, and encouraged her to express her feelings and become more elegant, the mother added.

Ten-year-old Sarah Amr was enthusiastic while training with her beautiful black costume. "I adore dancing; it's the dream of my life to be a famous ballet dancer."

"I always ask my mother to take me to the Opera Ballet show when we visit our relatives in Cairo, and Alwanat School finally came to change my province's outlook and the way of thinking about arts," she said.

Alwanat initiative is a non-governmental self-funded organization set up in 2014. It seeks to promote the belief that every person has the right to taste different types of arts and engage in various cultural experiences to build a more open and intellectual personality.

It is not only about dancing. The school also offers sessions on music, painting, sculpture, performing arts, gymnastics, cinematography, photography, and etiquette, Adel pointed out, adding that his eight co-founders share the love of arts.

"It took time until people saw the results and gradually changed their perspectives and judgments," the school's founder added.

The school currently has about 150 students, most of who are girls who are four to 20 years old, Adel added.

The school's fees are affordable and the only criterion for selection of student is a fitness test.

"I believe that Upper Egypt is a very good place to start spreading this art," Adel said.

Adel and his team are dreaming of opening more schools and widening the awareness on ballet dancing.

"We are currently visiting rural villages to discover new talents and working on a film festival, hoping one day we could gain international recognition," he said.
MACAO, Sept. 3 (Xinhua) -- Macao hold the 28th edition of Macao International Fireworks Display Contest on Saturday night, with teams from Thailand and Portugal showing their dazzling fireworks to local people and tourists.

The contest is scheduled to be held above the sea in front of Macau Tower on Sept.3, 10, 15, 24 and Oct. 1. The Mid-Autumn Festival falls on Sept. 15 in 2016, and China's National Day falls on Oct. 1, both of which are important days to celebrate in Macao.

This year's contest has drawn many world-class firework companies from Thailand, Portugal, Britain, Switzerland, China, Japan, South Korea, Italy, Canada and Romania.

In the contest, the fireworks displays are designed to bring out a special theme, including "Pyro Fantasia", "Tribute to Bond", "Mid-Autumn Harmony," "Stars from afar" and "Celebration in the Sky."

Firework industry was one of the backbones of Macao's economy in the early 20th century. The first Macao International Fireworks Display Contest was held in 1989 with five contending teams.
Bottles of wine are seen in a shelf of a restaurant in the city of Santiago, capital of Chile, on June 10, 2015. (Xinhua/Luis Echeverria)

SANTIAGO, Sept. 2 (Xinhua) -- Wine is so integral to Chile's economy, industry and culture that it takes three days to celebrate National Wine Day.

With still two days to go before the Sept. 4 date, Chile's President Michelle Bachelet on Friday launched the festivities, presiding over an outdoor food and wine tasting outside the government palace which was attended by some 400 guests.

"Wine is development, but it is also a part of our identity," Bachelet told those gathered at Santiago's Constitution Plaza to celebrate a key national industry that employs more than 100,000 people across the country.

"Chilean wines have more than 500 years of history, ever since this land has generated deep ties with the grapevine," said Bachelet, adding wine-making is "industrial and commercial, but above all (related to) cuisine, culture and heritage."

Chile is the world's fourth leading wine exporter, generating some 1.523 billion U.S. dollars in 2015 from bottled wine exports.

In the past 20 years, national production has boomed, going from 291 million liters in 1995 to 1.114 billion liters this year, 70 percent of which is exported, said the president.

Friday's event, jointly organized by the ministries of the economy, agriculture and culture, featured dishes made with wine, including smoked pork in wine and fish in a coriander-wine sauce.

As part of Sunday's festivities, organizers in the town of Nunoa hope to set a new world record by recruiting some 2,000 wine lovers to take part in the "longest toast relay". The city of Anadia, Portugal last broke the record with 1,233 participants in 2013.

Image taken on June 12, 2015 shows a pile of oak barrels at the Vina Morande, in the valley of Casablanca, from 70km northwest of Santiago, capital of Chile. (Xinhua/Pedro Mera)

Deputy Economy Minister Natalia Piergentili said the government decided this year to highlight the link between tourism, gastronomy and wine-making.

Some 14 percent of foreigners who travel to Chile from Germany, Canada, Spain, France, Britain and the United States "do so motivated by the national wines, to visit the different vineyards and regions that produce them, and that is something we must strengthen," said Piergentili.

Chile's wine tours "have a lot to offer national and international tourists," she added.

Deputy Agriculture Minister Claudio Ternicier highlighted the growth in wine exports, especially to China and other Asian countries, helping to drive development and job creation in various parts of the country.

Chilean wine exports to China doubled from 2012 to 2015, reaching 165 million dollars, according to figures from Chile's Central Bank, and now rank as the fourth-most popular wine among Chinese consumers, only behind French, Spanish and Australian varieties.
James Goerz has his eye on moose in northeastern Washington.

The University of Montana graduate student is among a small staff in the field every week monitoring moose that were captured and fitted with GPS collars by the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife in the winter of 2013-14.

They're conducting a multi-year study to determine the population dynamics of moose, which are declining in many parts of the country. So far, moose populations appear to be stable or expanding in Washington. The study focuses on deaths and survival of cows and calves.

Six decades ago, virtually no moose were in Washington. The numbers sifting in from Idaho didn't grow large enough for a limited hunting season until 1977.

Goerz served in the Marine Corps for two tours in the Middle East, including one in Iraq, before choosing wildlife biology as the next chapter in his life.

He and a couple of other researchers are monitoring collared moose from just north of Spokane to the Chewelah area.

"I've always been fascinated by wildlife as a hunter and hiker," he said. "This is a dream come true to be a part of this study."

Goerz moves quickly and quietly on trails. His pace does not slow when moving through blowdowns or uphill through thick brush on overgrown skid roads.

He uses an antenna and receiver for signals that lead him close to collared moose, but he still needs to get a visual sighting to see if the moose has a calf and to record other factors.

The largest member of the deer family can be difficult to see even at close range in the dense, brushy forests.

The public can help the researchers by reporting sightings of any moose wearing a collar in northeastern Washington.

"You quickly learn that these moose are all individuals," he said.

One cow has ranged from Mount Spokane northeast across the state line nearly to Sandpoint, Idaho. "In one spurt it covered 40 miles in four days," he said.

Another moose remained for most of a year within a half-mile of where it was collared.

"There is considerable variation in where they go and how far they range, but many stay within a 25- to 50-square-kilometer area throughout the year.

"They just use different parts of that area seasonally  north- or south-facing mountainsides, ephemeral wet areas, and so on."

The researchers are monitoring 36 moose which are collared and transmitting signals. In some cases, the transmitters may not be working or moose have died since they were collared.

Deaths are expected. The researchers track down the carcasses for valuable information.

"We are still collecting a substantial amount of data on habitat use, predation risk and adult-calf survival, but I am personally amazed at how diverse the sources of adult mortality have been thus far in the project," Goerz said.

So far, 15 collared moose have died since the winter of 2013-14. The causes include parasites, malnourishment, predation by mountain lions or wolves, and several in which the cause could not be determined.

Hunting has been the top cause of deaths among the collared moose.

"We have had four radio-collared moose harvested in the last two years which, while modest in magnitude, is our leading single cause of death thus far," Goerz said.

"Researchers look for patterns in our data, but with so few mortalities these last two and a half years and the varied causes, it is difficult to draw conclusions at this point. It will take more time and monitoring to see trends if they indeed are present."

Incidentally, radio-collared moose are legal game for hunters who draw the coveted tags. A moose in the study killed by a hunter is another valuable piece of the data puzzle, he said.

Being out and often sitting quietly in the woods monitoring signals of radio-collared moose opens the researchers to a wide range of wildlife encounters.

"While monitoring a moose and her calf on the backside of Mount Spokane this year, a volunteer and I were very near an adult female mountain lion and her sub-adult offspring," Goerz recalled.

"The youngster became intensely interested in Tommy Williams, the wildlife biology volunteer on the project, and he was able to get a great picture of the young cat.

"We say it nearly every day we are out in the woods: 'You never know what could happen today."

Goerz will wrap up his data collection for his master's thesis at the University of Montana in May, but state Fish and Wildlife staff will continue at least some monitoring of these collared moose after he leaves the study.
VIENTIANE, Sept. 3 (Xinhua) -- News outlets from China, Japan, South Korea and the United States are among those represented among the 1,030 foreign news media personnel due in Laos to cover the upcoming ASEAN summits, 11th East Asia Summit and related meetings, the Lao Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced Saturday.

Details of media contingents were revealed by Ministry of Foreign Affairs Director General of the Press Department, Phonethavy Boutdara, at a press conference held Saturday in the Lao capital.

Among ASEAN member states, news outlets based in Thailand, Vietnam and the Philippines are expected to send the greatest number of reporters, photographers, camera operators and technical staff.

The influx came in contrast to the relatively small number of foreign media with permanent bureau presence in the Lao capital, which includes China's Xinhua News Agency and China Radio International as well as Vietnam Television and Vietnam News Agency.

The announcement regarding news coverage came as the Committee of Permanent Representatives to ASEAN meet in the Lao capital on Saturday ahead of summits involving heads of state and government from 10 ASEAN members as well as their dialogue partners.

Chinese Premier Li Keqiang will meet ASEAN leaders including host chair Lao Prime Minister Thongloun Sisoulith in marking 25th anniversary of dialogue relationship at the 19th ASEAN-China Summit as well as joining leaders of dialogue partners at the 11th East Asia Summit.

The ASEAN summits and related meetings will also see the participation of U.S. President Barack Obama, the first visit by a U.S. president to Laos.
TAIPEI, Sept. 3 (Xinhua) -- Groups of Taiwanese people, including retired military personnel, civil servants and public school teachers, gathered in downtown Taipei on Saturday afternoon to call for respect of their contribution to the island amid discussions of pension reform.

Protesters, including retired army generals and young teachers of public schools, said they took to the streets because they believed the reputation of public sector employees had been damaged by the discussions.

The police said an estimated 117,000 people took part in the demonstration, while the organizers said there were about 250,000 protesters on the streets.

The move marked the first massive demonstration since the island's current leader Tsai Ing-wen took office, according to local authorities.
SINGAPORE, Sept. 3 (Xinhua) -- Singapore's Deputy Prime Minister and Coordinating Minister for National Security Teo Chee Hean on Saturday officially lit up decorative lanterns in the country's Chinatown, which kicked off month-long celebrations for the upcoming Mid-Autumn Festival.

This year's celebration is the first time that the streets of Chinatown were lighted up with LED light lanterns, which makes the Street Light-Up more environmentally-friendly, according to the organizer Kreta Ayer-Kim Seng Citizens' Consultative Committee (KA-KS CCC).

About 900 lanterns have been fitted with LED lights, and this can help to reduce the total amount of electricity used by up to 70 percent. The LED lights, which also shine brighter, can enhance the overall visual effect of the street decorations that themed on "A Sparkling Mid-Autumn Festival @ Chinatown."

This year's dazzling lantern display tells the origin and history of Mid-Autumn Festival. Faculty and students of Nanyang Academy of Fine Arts (NAFA) designed various lanterns featuring the legendary story of Chang'e and Houyi.

Lily Neo, grassroots adviser of KA-KS CCC and also member of the Parliament, said this year's celebration places emphasis on rediscovering the origins and history of Mid-Autumn Festival, which today's generation, especially the younger audience, may have forgotten or lost touch with.

"From the Street Light-Up to various activities, we are delighted to be able to use this platform to meaningfully engage Singaporeans and tourists alike in the festivities and nurture an appreciation of Chinese cultural heritage," said Neo.

The public can enjoy the beauty of these specially designed lanterns until Sept. 30 this year. Visitors can also participate in series of programs and activities such as Heritage Walking Trail, Mass Lantern Walk, as well as Chinatown Mid-Autumn Festival Learning Journey, which is firstly initiated for students.
A Turkish soldiers stands guard in front of the blast scene following a car bomb attack on a police station in the eastern Turkish city of Elazig, on August 18, 2016. (Xinhua/AFP)

ANKARA, Sept. 3 (Xinhua) -- Five soldiers were killed and six others wounded Saturday during a terror attack launched by the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) militants in Turkish southeastern province of Hakkari, Dogan News Agency reported.

The wounded were brought to Hakkari State Hospital for treatment.

Intense clashes were ongoing in Hakkari since a large scale operation was launched Friday against the PKK terrorists in the Cukurca district of the Hakkari province.

Earlier Saturday in Cukurca, an armed clash with the terrorists killed three soldiers and injured 20 others, three of them in critical condition.

Latest casualties brought the total number of Turkish soldiers killed since Friday to 19 amid a surge in violence, in addition to dozens of wounded in the clashes.

The PKK is listed as a terrorist organization by the United States, the European Union and Turkey.
Russian President Vladimir Putin arrives in China's eastern city of Hangzhou to attend the 11th Group of 20 (G20) summit, Sept. 3, 2016. (Xinhua/Xing Guangli)

HANGZHOU, China, Sept. 3 (Xinhua) -- Russian President Vladimir Putin arrived in this eastern city of China on Saturday night, kicking off a tightly scheduled trip headlined by the 11th summit of the Group of 20 (G20) major economies.

During his stay in Hangzhou, he will also meet with Chinese President Xi Jinping as well as a number of other national leaders participating in the G20 gathering, including Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, British Prime Minister Theresa May and Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi.

In addition, he will join Xi, Brazilian President Michel Temer, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and South African President Jacob Zuma for a leaders' meeting of the emerging-market bloc of BRICS.

The latest round of China-Russia high-level interaction is widely seen as a new opportunity for the two neighboring partners to join efforts to further promote the reform of international financial and economic systems.

The longer those reforms are postponed, the higher the risk of new crises and instability is in the world economy, Andrey Kortunov, director general of the Russian International Affairs Council, a Moscow-based foreign policy think tank, told Xinhua earlier.

The China-Russia relationship has long been running at high levels. During their last meeting in Beijing in late June, the two leaders vowed to unswervingly deepen the comprehensive strategic partnership of coordination between the two countries and beef up mutual support and trust.

"We see each other as close allies, so of course we always listen to each other. By this I mean we keep in mind each other's interests," Putin told Xinhua in an exclusive interview in St. Petersburg on June 17.

Meanwhile, bilateral trade has ridden out a rough path, witnessing a 1.8 percent increase in the first half of this year.

"Thanks to efforts by both sides, the China-Russia trade stopped falling in the first half of this year and began to grow," Chinese ambassador to Russia Li Hui said in early August.
TAIPEI, Sept. 3 (Xinhua) -- Groups of Taiwanese people, including retired military personnel, civil servants and public school teachers, gathered in downtown Taipei on Saturday afternoon to call for respect of their contribution to the island amid discussions of pension reform.

Protesters, including retired army generals and young teachers of public schools, said they took to the streets because they believed the reputation of public sector employees had been damaged by the discussions.

The police said an estimated 117,000 people took part in the demonstration, while the organizers said there were about 250,000 protesters on the streets.

The move marked the first massive demonstration since the island's current leader Tsai Ing-wen took office, according to local authorities.

The Action Alliance to Monitor Pension Reforms, which organized the event, said it supported the drive to reform pension system, but opposed the acts of using distorted figures or extreme cases to stir up conflicts among different groups in the society.

The union warned the future of the island would be gloomy if the current administration were not concentrated on shoring up the economy and improving people's livelihoods.

The massive protests followed several small demonstrations staged on the island by civil aviation workers, tour bus drivers and fishermen since May.

Pang Chien-kuo, a professor with Taipei-based Chinese Culture University said the demonstration on Saturday attracted so many participants because the current administration has not breathed new life into the island so far.

"People will continue to take to streets to vent their dissatisfaction if the economy does not grow in a decent speed and the future of the island remains bleak," Pang said.
SAMARKAND, Uzbekistan, Sept. 3 (Xinhua) -- Chinese Vice Premier Zhang Gaoli, special envoy of Chinese President Xi Jinping, attended Saturday the funeral of late Uzbek President Islam Karimov in his home city of Samarkand.

"The Chinese leaders, government and people are deeply grieved at the death of President Karimov. On behalf of Chinese President Xi Jinping, the Chinese government and people, I am extending deep condolences and sincere sympathy to the Uzbek government and people as well as Karimov's relatives," Zhang said at the funeral after laying a wreath in front of Karimov's portrait.

Karimov died Friday at the age of 78 after being hospitalized following a stroke on Aug. 27.

Karimov, founder of the Republic of Uzbekistan and an outstanding leader of the country, enjoyed great respect and love of the Uzbek people, Zhang said.

In the past 25 years, under Karimov's leadership, Uzbekistan has witnessed social stability, economic development, improvement in people's livelihood and international status, with remarkable achievements in a wide range of areas, the Chinese vice premier added.

Karimov was a close friend of the Chinese people and the founder and booster of the China-Uzbekistan relations, Zhang said, adding that the late president has made great contributions to developing bilateral friendship and deepening cooperation between the two countries.

"At this sorrowful moment, the Chinese people firmly stand with the Uzbek people," Zhang said.

The Chinese side believes that the Uzbek people will inherit and carry forward Karimov's unfulfilled wish to make great strides in national construction and revitalization, he said.

In a meeting with Uzbek Prime Minister Shavkat Mirziyoyev on the same day, Zhang said China attaches great importance to its relations with Uzbekistan and will work with it to build a community of common interests and destiny that enjoys equality and mutual benefit and that sticks together through thick and thin.

The China-Uzbekistan relations have developed rapidly since the two countries forged diplomatic ties 24 years ago, Zhang said, recalling Xi's state visit to Uzbekistan in June, during which Xi and Karimov reached consensuses on deepening pragmatic cooperation, promoting common development and upgrading bilateral ties to a comprehensive strategic partnership.

"The fruits yielded in the development of bilateral ties should be cherished by both parties," Zhang said.

While hailing Tashkent for its long-standing firm support for issues concerning Beijing's core interests, Zhang said China will continue to support Uzbekistan in choosing a development path that suits its national conditions.

He said China will work with Uzbekistan to fulfill the agreements signed by both parties, continue to promote the Belt and Road initiative, and enrich the connotations of their all-round strategic partnership by prioritizing economy, trade, energy, production capacity, traffic and security in bilateral cooperation.

Mirziyoyev, who is in charge of the funeral committee, appreciated Beijing for sending a high-level delegation to attend Karimov's funeral.

Uzbekistan attaches great importance to the Uzbekistan-China relations, and will work with China to implement the consensuses reached by the two leaders of the two countries, broaden win-win cooperation and push forward bilateral ties, Mirziyoyev said.
JERUSALEM, Sept. 3 (Xinhua) -- Trains in vast areas of Israel will come to halt from Saturday to Sunday night amidst a political quarrel between Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and the transportation minister.

On Friday, Netanyahu ordered to cancel infrastructure works in the train lines that were planned to be carried out during the weekend. His announcement came shortly before the start of the Shabbat, a day in which religious Jews are commanded to halt all work and rest.

Following his statement, Israel Railways announced that due to the suspension of the infrastructure works, all northbound trains from Tel Aviv, Israel's financial capital, will stop working from Saturday until Sunday night.

Additionally, rails from Tel Aviv to Israel's Ben Gurion international airport will be halted until Sunday morning, and some of the southern lines will be working only partially.

The Times of Israel reported that canceled lines are expected to affect about 70,000 passengers, including thousands of soldiers on mandatory military service who go home for the weekends.

Netanyahu's order came after heavy pressures by his ultra-Orthodox partners in his narrow coalitions. They demanded that the state-owned Israel Railways will be conducted its construction works in accordance with the Jewish law and will avoid carrying out works during Shabbat.

The relations between Netanyahu and Transportation Minister Israel Katz were strained over the last weeks, after Katz promoted moves to limit Netanyahu's powers in the secretariat of the Likud party.

Over the weekend, Netanyahu's office accused Katz of "deliberately attempting to create an unnecessary crisis with the ultra-Orthodox to destabilize the government."
Chinese President Xi Jinping (L), U.S. President Barack Obama (R) and Secretary-General of the United Nations Ban Ki-moon attend the deposit of instruments of joining the Paris Agreement in Hangzhou, capital city of east China's Zhejiang Province, Sept. 3, 2016. (Xinhua/Li Tao)

BERLIN, Sept. 3 (Xinhua) -- By ratifying Paris Agreement, China and the United States open up avenue for the world's sustainable development, and bring the historic global climate deal a big step closer to its entry into force, said United Nations climate chief Patricia Espinosa on Saturday.

"I would like today to thank China and the United States for ratifying this landmark agreement - an agreement on which rests the opportunity for a sustainable future for every nation and every person," said Patricia Espinosa, Executive Secretary of the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC).

Nearly 200 countries clinched the Paris Agreement last year in Paris, agreed to jointly limit global temperature rising well below 2 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels, while pursuing efforts to keep global warming under 1.5 degree Celsius.

"The earlier that Paris Agreement is ratified and implemented in full, the more secure that future will become," Espinosa said in an online statement.

The Paris Agreement have been signed by 180 parties to UNFCCC. However, for the pact to come into effect, it must be ratified by at least 55 parties representing 55 percent of global carbon emissions.

On Saturday, China and the U.S. submitted their ratification documents to the United Nations, bringing the number of countries who have ratified the deal to 26. According to the UN's calculation, these countries emit 39.06 percent of global greenhouse gases.

"Bringing the Paris Agreement into force underlines that the momentum and international solidarity witnessed in 2015 continues into 2016 among big and small nations and among rich and poorer countries," Espinosa said, asking more countries to follow the ratification wave.

Related:

China, U.S. hand over instruments of joining Paris Agreement to Ban Ki-moon

HANGZHOU, Sept. 3 (Xinhua) -- Presidents of China and the United States handed over their countries' instruments of joining the Paris Agreement separately to Secretary-General of the United Nations Ban Ki-moon on Saturday in Hangzhou.

Chinese President Xi Jinping said that climate change concerns the well-being and future of humanity. The Paris Agreement has charted the course for post-2020 global cooperation against climate change, and it indicates that a cooperative, win-win, equitable and fair climate governance mechanism is being shaped. Full story

China Focus: Joint document deposit highlights China, U.S. partnership in climate action

HANGZHOU, Sept. 3 (Xinhua) -- The presidents of China and the United States met with UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon Saturday in Hangzhou to deliver their countries' instruments of joining the Paris climate pact.
Chinese PresidentXi Jinpingdelivers a keynote speech at the Business 20 (B20) summit in Hangzhou, capital of east China's Zhejiang Province, Sept. 3, 2016. (Xinhua/Ma Zhancheng)

HANGZHOU, Sept. 3 (Xinhua) -- President Xi Jinping on Saturday assured global business leaders with a vision that China, having reached a new historical starting point, will integrate itself into a new global growth blueprint.

Despite concerns over China's economic slowdown, Xi said at the Business 20 (B20) summit in the eastern city of Hangzhou that China has the confidence and ability to maintain medium-high rate of growth and deliver more development opportunities to the world while ensuring its own development.

NEW START

After 38 years of reform and opening up, China has come to a new starting point to deepen reform across the board and foster new drivers of economic and social development, adapt its economy to a new normal and transform its growth model, and further integrate itself into the world and open itself wider to the world, according to Xi.

Rapid growth over the past few decades has elevated China to the position of the world's second-largest economy, showering benefits on nations worldwide as well as the country's own people.

But its export-driven and investment-led growth model, which once propelled development, has reached its limits. Emerging problems -- industrial overcapacity, high debt levels and environmental degradation at home and sluggish global demand -- weigh on growth.

Speaking on the eve of a summit of Group of 20 (G20) major economies, Xi said China has the confidence and ability to maintain medium-high rate of growth as the country continues to deepen reform, pursues an innovation-driven development strategy, advances green development, promotes equity and sharing of development outcomes, as well as opens up wider to the outside world.

"China's goal of reform has been set and we will not deviate from it. China will take sure and firm steps in advancing reform and will not slow down its pace," he said.

Though China posted its slowest annual growth in a quarter of century last year, policy makers have refrained from taking any radical stimulus moves. Instead, they have resorted to supply-side reforms to optimize the economic structure, prune industrial overcapacity, slash costs, and boost efficiency.

Those efforts are painful and take time to deliver, but some positive results are beginning to take shape.

The economy is now more balanced, and driven more by consumption than investment. Consumption contributed 73.4 percent to China's economic growth in the first half of 2016, up 13.2 percentage points from the same period last year.

On a new starting point, China's development could chart the course of the world's development as well as the agenda setting of the G20, said Su Ge, president of the China Institute of International Studies.

NEW BLUEPRINT

Xi said China will work with other parties to ensure that the Hangzhou summit comes up with an integrated prescription to address both the symptoms and root causes so that the world economy could move along a path of strong, sustainable, balanced and inclusive growth.

All parties at the summit should work to build an innovative and open world economy to generate new drivers of growth and expand the scope of development, he said.

The world economy should become interconnected and inclusive to forge interactive synergy and strengthen the foundation for win-win outcomes, Xi said.

Against the backdrop of lackluster global economic growth, "we need to innovate our macroeconomic policies and effectively combine fiscal and monetary policies with structural reform policies," Xi said.

With members representing more than 85 percent of global economic output and two-thirds of the world's population, G20 has an undeniable influence on managing the global economy.

The G20, which held its first leaders' summit after the global financial crisis, has played an important role in crisis response.

The G20 has come to "a crucial juncture of development," Xi said.

One of the goals of China's G20 presidency is to enable the G20 to transform from a crisis response mechanism focusing on short-term policies to one of long-term governance that shapes medium- to long-term policies, and solidify its role as the premier forum for international economic governance, he said.

"This year's G20 has, for the first time, put the issue of development front and center of the global macro policy framework," Xi said.

It is also the first time that the G20 makes an action plan for implementing the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, and carries out cooperation to support the industrialization of African countries and least developed countries, he said.

The solutions China offers will help build the G20 a community of common destiny, said Hu Angang, an economist with Tsinghua University.
BISMARCK  Last years economic slowdown in North Dakota didnt put a damper on criminal activity, as the state posted its largest increase in the per-capita crime rate in at least five years and the most homicide deaths in more than two decades, figures released recently show.

Theres really no good news in there except the DUIs are down, Attorney General Wayne Stenehjem said after the annual crime and homicide reports were posted to his offices website.

The per-capita crime rate jumped by 9.8 percent last year  more than double the 4.4 percent increase in 2014  based on the U.S. Census Bureaus estimated population for North Dakota of 756,927.

That compares to a 0.3 percent reduction in the crime rate in 2013 and increases of 8.4 percent in 2012 and 7.8 percent in 2011.

It marks the biggest one-year increase in the states crime rate since oil production began to skyrocket about five years ago, accelerating the states population growth.

The report also marks the second year North Dakota has used the FBIs National Incident-Based Reporting System, allowing for more detailed reporting but also making historical comparisons more difficult.

The system divides offenses into Group A, which includes serious crimes reported against people and property such as homicide, kidnapping, robbery, arson and sex offenses, and Group B, which includes arrests for lesser offenses such as disorderly conduct, driving under the influence and trespassing.

The per-capita crime rate is based on Group A offenses, which increased by 12.4 percent last year, to 48,288 offenses.

That included a 9.5 percent increase in crimes against persons such as murder, rape and assaults, and a 14 percent increase in crimes against property such as burglary, robbery and motor vehicle theft.

The number of crimes against society  among them drug violations and weapons violations  increased by 11.1 percent.

Law enforcement agencies made an additional 1,242 arrests, a 4 percent increase.

The state also saw 21 homicides last year, the most since there were 22 in 1993. The per-capita rate of 2.7 homicides per 100,000 people last year was actually higher in 2012, when there were 20 homicides, resulting in a rate of 2.9 homicides per 100,000 people.

Stenehjem said the only positive note was that DUI arrests decreased again, by 7.1 percent from 6,705 to 6,229, which he attributed to stricter DUI laws passed by the Legislature in 2013. It was the third straight year drunken-driving arrests have fallen.

Weve seen kind of a good, steady drop, he said.

But drug arrests climbed by about 9.6 percent, from 4,000 in 2014 to 4,382 last year, after increases of at least 17 percent in each of the previous two years. Drug arrests have increased by 488 percent in the past 25 years, starting with 745 arrests in 1990, according to data provided by law enforcement agencies across the state and compiled by the Bureau of Criminal Investigation.

Stenehjem said rising drug abuse leads to increases in other crimes such as robberies and thefts as addicts seek funds to support their habits.

Its just a vicious cycle, he said, saying the state needs more public education, adequate and well-trained law enforcement and available and affordable treatment options.

Bismarck Police Chief Dan Donlin said he believes the capital city is still a very safe community, but he noted a huge uptick in property crimes such as burglaries and motor vehicle break-ins and stolen vehicles  many of them crimes of opportunity that could have been prevented.

North Dakota in all is a different community. Were not Minneapolis, but were not the North Dakota of 25, 30 years ago where you can leave your doors unlocked and you know everybody, he said.

Members of the Legislatures Judiciary Committee received a report Thursday from Chief Deputy Attorney General Tom Trenbeath that showed heroin violations nearly doubled last year, from 90 to 177, while marijuana violations increased by 4.1 percent, violations for amphetamines and methamphetamines were up 3.3 percent and the number of cocaine violations jumped from 75 to 100.

Trenbeath cautioned that the stats in the substance abuse and treatment report were already dated.

The trends are growing exponentially in some areas, he said.

Stenehjem did not hold a press conference to present the crime and homicide reports, as he has done in recent years, saying he had planned to wait to present it to the Legislatures Commission on Alternatives to Incarceration at its next meeting Sept. 19.
An Italian filmmaker makes a speech during the China Film Forum held at the 73rd Venice Film Festival in Venice, Italy, Sept. 2, 2016. (Photo courtesy of Venice Days)

VENICE, Sept. 3 (Xinhua) -- The third edition of the China Film Forum took place here at the 73rd Venice Film Festival on Friday, drawing many Chinese and Italian creative professionals of the film industry.

This year, the event especially focused on creative projects linking Europe and China, and on major challenges and opportunities for screenwriters, directors, and producers from both sides.

A wide panel addressed various issues under the theme "How to write in China and Italy", with Italian director and screenwriter Paolo Genovese appealing to both Italian and Chinese colleagues to "dare" in their own projects despite all difficulties.

Author of 10 movies overall, Genovese explained his two most successful films, "Perfect Strangers" in 2016 and "The Immature" in 2011, had also been the most arduous to carry out.

"If an author is truly sure about his project, he will eventually find people to produce his film, even if it deals with a sensitive topic," Genovese told the audience.

"A bigger problem (for Italy) might be reaching movie theatres, for lack of an available distributor."

Among guest speakers was Shu Huan, screenwriter of blockbusters "Lost in Thailand" and "Lost in Hong Kong", who addressed the current situation on China's market.

"The Chinese movie market has been very lively in latest days, and many capitals are flowing in it," Shu told the audience.

"At the same time, we are going through a sort of creativity crisis in terms of stories and scripts," he added.

Other Chinese professionals, such as "Go away Mr. Tumor" screenwriter Yuan Yuan, shared his view that more creative and qualified talents would be needed in China in order to benefit the most from all the financial resources pouring into the movie industry.

Current and future chances of co-operation between Italy and China were, of course, another topic discussed by the various guests.

"For a truly successful artistic cooperation, we need to get to know each other more and more, in terms of culture, language, sense of humour, and sensitive topics for our respective audiences," Italian director and screenwriter Francesco Bruni stressed.

As president of Italy's main audiovisual author association 100 autori, Bruni pledged more opportunities for discussion and views exchange among those people in Italy and China "who conceive cinema."

China seems attracted by Italy's creativity and long cinema tradition, some Italian filmmakers at the forum believe. Many of them are aware of the large opportunities the Chinese market could offer.

"Everything is possible in China, if you have the necessary resolution," director Cristiano Bortone said.

Bortone's movie "Coffee" was the first feature resulting from a co-production agreement Italy and China signed in 2014, and was going to be screened as special event at the Venice Days on Sept. 3.

Other efficient examples of artistic Sino-Italian collaboration were analysed at the forum, such as Italian director Sergio Basso's documentary "The Long March" and "He Hui: The Soprano of the Silk Road", co-produced by Agnese Fontana and Duan Peng.

Venice Days is an independent event that has been taking place alongside the Venice Film Festival since 2004, offering an informal framework to authors, filmmakers, and movie creative talents to exchange views and projects.

This third China Film Forum, which took place at the Villa degli Autori, represented a "centrepiece of Venice Days' International agenda," organizers said.

The event was arranged by Venice Days and Sino-European co-production network Bridging the Dragon along with Doc/it, with China Beijing TV Station (BTV) and Hua Huang as supporting partners.
DHAKA, Sept. 3 (Xinhua) -- Bangladesh has executed another top leader of the Jamaat-e-Islami party, Mir Quasem Ali, for war crimes committed during Bangladesh's 1971 war of independence with Pakistan.

"Ali has been hanged to death (Saturday) at 10:30 p.m. (local time)," superintendent of the Kashimpur Jail on the outskirts of the capital Dhaka told journalists.

Bangladesh Saturday evening ordered to execute death row war criminal Ali as he chose not to seek presidential pardon after losing the final legal battle.
DHAKA, Sept. 3 (Xinhua) -- Bangladesh on Saturday executed another top leader of the Jamaat-e-Islami party, Mir Quasem Ali, for war crimes committed during Bangladesh's 1971 war of independence with Pakistan.

"Ali has been hanged to death (Saturday) at 10:30 p.m. (local time)," Proshanto Kumar Banik, superintendent of Kashimpur Central Jail on the outskirts of the capital Dhaka told journalists at scene.

Bangladesh Saturday evening ordered to execute death row war criminal Ali as he chose not to seek presidential pardon after losing the final legal battle.

Ali, well known as a key financier of Jamaat, was the sixth and one of the most influential opposition figures who have been tried in two war crimes tribunals which Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina's Bangladesh Awami League-led government formed in 2010 to bring perpetrators to book.

On Saturday evening, family members walked into the Kashimpur jail to meet him for one last time as authorities completed preparations to hang the war criminal.

Security has been beefed up in and around the jail, where 64-year-old Ali was kept.

As part of tightened security measures, paramilitary troops have been deployed in the capital to thwart any untoward incident in the wake of the execution.

Bangladesh's apex court on Aug. 30 rejected Ali's final legal appeal against the death sentence given to him by a special tribunal in March 2014.

Ali was convicted of abduction, torture and mass murder as one of the key leader of a pro-Pakistan militia.

Four Jamaat-e-Islami party leaders -- Motiur Rahman Nizami, Abdul Quader Molla, Muhammad Kamaruzzaman and Ali Ahsan Mohammad Mujahid -- have already been executed for 1971 war crimes.

Apart from them, opposition Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) leader Salaudin Quader Chowdhury was executed on Nov. 22 last year.

Both BNP and Jamaat have described the court as a government "show trial," saying it is a domestic set-up without the oversight or involvement of the United Nations.
MOGADISHU, Sept. 3 (Xinhua) -- Four militants of the Islamic State (IS) have been arrested by Somali security forces during operation in the southwestern town of Baidoa.

Mohamed Iska Aflow, Southwest Administration's head of intelligence and security agency, told journalists late on Friday that the group's commander in Bay and Bakool regions is among those arrested alongside his three collaborators.

He said the detained leader was in charge of IS's terror operations in Bay region of southern Somalia.

"Mahad Nuh Sidow, Abdiasis Hassan Mural and Mohamed Sheikh Isak were dispatched to terrorize and carry out bomb attacks in this regional state, we successfully held them and we are displaying them to the media at the moment," Aflow added.

The arrest comes a day after the United States added Abdulkadir Mumin, the Somali IS leader, to the terror list in East Africa.
By Matthew Rusling

WASHINGTON, Sept. 3 (Xinhua) -- With scandals piling up on U.S. Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton, Americans are taking less and less interest in them so that her perceived dishonesty may have little impact on her lead in the campaign.

Clinton's laundry list of scandals is getting longer and longer as she moves closer to Election Day in November. The latest scandal involves allegations that her private charity foundation, the Clinton Foundation, gave high-rolling donors special access to her while she was secretary of state.

The email scandal is also ongoing, in which the former secretary of state used a private email account and private server to conduct official business. Critics accused Clinton of jeopardizing U.S. national security by not using a government-issued and secure email account.

The news website WikiLeaks has also released information showing an allegedly cozy relationship between a nationally known CNN correspondent and the Democratic National Committee, in the form of an email regarding handing the reporter questions to ask on air.

Nevertheless, experts said Clinton is expected to continue her lead in the presidential race against her Republican rival Donald Trump, whose bombastic rhetoric has led to his decline in the polls.

"Barring some major new disclosures, she is likely to remain in the lead. Voters are desensitized to Clinton scandals because there have been so many over the years," Darrell West, vice president and director of governance studies of the Brookings Institution, told Xinhua.

Clinton "can claim that the opposition is out to get her and will turn any minor indiscretion into a major problem. This helps her weather various controversies even when they consume a lot of media attention," West said.

It's also possible that WikiLeaks will release more information on Clinton, but experts said that possibility is already baked into the public's expectations, so additional leaks on Clinton's secrets are unlikely to seriously harm her in the polls.

Most observers assume there will be additional WikiLeaks disclosures that would be embarrassing to Clinton, West said.

But, as much of this information appears to come from Russian hackers, U.S. voters may discount the leaks on the basis that Russia is interfering in American elections and seeking to help its favored candidate, Donald Trump, West said.

Dan Mahaffee, an analyst with the Center for the Study of the Presidency and Congress, told Xinhua that the Wikileaks documents may provide some interesting scandal fodder in the lead up to the elections.

But among moderate voters, Clinton's email scandal can only get so much traction, as it is often overshadowed by concerns about Trump, he said.

Additionally, many Americans are skeptical of WikiLeaks' intentions, as some consider WikiLeaks to be an organization with either a fundamentally anti-American outlook or one with either formal or informal ties to intelligence agencies in Russia, Mahaffee said.
Chinese President Xi Jinping (R) meets with U.S. President Barack Obama, who is here to attend the G20 summit, in Hangzhou, capital city of east China's Zhejiang Province, Sept. 3, 2016. (Xinhua/Pang Xinglei)

HANGZHOU, Sept. 3 (Xinhua) -- As the presidents of the world's two biggest economies concluded their eighth meeting in three years, the breadth and depth of one of the world's most vital relationships are steadily expanding.

Chinese President Xi Jinping and U.S. President Barack Obama, on the eve of the G20 summit in Hangzhou, agreed that the two countries will deepen mutual trust and collaboration, and manage and control their differences in a constructive manner to push forward continuous, sound and stable development of bilateral ties.

Three years ago, the two leaders took a stroll in their shirtsleeves in the Sunnylands estate in California, reaching a historic consensus on a new model of major-power relationship featuring no conflict, no confrontation, mutual respect and win-win cooperation.

The complicated U.S.-China relationship has not always been bathed in sunshine, sometimes it is obscured by storm clouds. This major-power relationship is more than a rhetorical flourish, it is heavy with significance.

Sino-U.S. relations have facilitated numerous notable accords.

While structural and ideological differences remain, business is the bridge that links the two countries. China overtook Canada, the United States' closest neighbor and ally, to become its biggest trading partner in 2015. Chinese investment surged in the United States, and the two are negotiating a bilateral investment treaty, likely to boost business ties to new highs.

Behind the encouraging trade figures are millions of jobs created in both territories that benefit the two peoples.

People-to-people exchanges have been boosted thanks, in part, to the expansion of tourist visas from one year to ten years. The White House estimates that up to 440,000 American jobs will be created by 2021 because of the increased tourism and business spurred by the visa policy.

The two countries have also been active in the brokering of nuclear deals in the Korea Peninsula and Iran, showing them to be staunch forces in the overall protection of regional peace and stability.

However, the Sino-U.S. relationship is not without its thorny issues.

Cyber security, Taiwan and Tibet issues and human rights flare up from time to time, putting strain on the relationship. The South China Sea issue and U.S. deployment of anti-missile system in the Republic of Korea rocked the boat of regional stability.

While there are areas where the two nations may not see eye-to-eye, it is easy to lose sight of the larger arc of progress in the relationship. Both China and the United States have benefited enormously from opening up to and integrating with each other. Both have an enormous stake in each other's economic success.

As Scott Kennedy, deputy director of the Freeman chair in China studies at the Center of Strategic & International Studies, Washington, said that increasing the depth, breadth and frequency of engagement with the Chinese government was an important Obama legacy.

Through phone calls, letters, scripted and unscripted candid talks between the two leaders, the two countries have avoided precipitous decline in their relationship and are moving their vital and complicated ties forward.

More importantly, they have enhanced the way in which they cooperate when they can, and directly address their differences when they can not.

After the two presidents left their historic footprints in Sunnylands, Zhongnanhai and the White House, the two shook hands in Hangzhou where the negotiations for the first China-U.S. joint communique in 1972 was held.

What is past is prologue. Leaders of the two countries had broken the ice and ushered in a new era of bilateral ties. Maximizing cooperation in areas of mutual interest while confronting and managing disagreements is the desirable way for the two very big - but very different countries - to get along.

In this way, they can become a bedrock of global stability and drivers of world peace.
TEHRAN, Sept. 3 (Xinhua) -- Iran supports China's Belt and Road Initiative as the revival of an ancient network of trade routes connecting the east to the west, a senior Iranian official said Saturday.

Ali Akbar Velayati, Head of the Strategic Research Center of Iran's Expediency Council, said Iran will play a crucial role in the new Silk Road plan, with its southeastern port city of Chabahar as a crucial juncture linking land routes to shipping lanes.

Iran and China have been enhancing efforts in recent months to boost cooperation in various areas, he said.

The Belt and Road Initiative, proposed by Chinese President Xi Jinping in 2013, refers to building a Silk Road Economic Belt and the 21st Century Maritime Silk Road, aiming at building a trade and infrastructure network connecting Asia with Europe and Africa along the ancient trade routes.
People of the Miao ethnic group play drums to celebrate autumn harvest in Songtao Miao Ethic Autonomous County, southwest China's Guizhou Province, Sep. 2, 2016. (Xinhua/Long Rong)
Residents of Christiania tear down scores of cannabis-selling stalls in the self-governing community in a bid to close down the infamous drug market in Copenhagen, Denmark, Sept. 2, 2016. The move came after two police officers were shot by a gunman in Christiania during a routine task Wednesday night. The suspected gunman was later shot by police and died from his wounds early Friday. (Xinhua/Shi Shouhe)
When Fred Martin feels the tap, tap of his dog Sadies paw on his shoulder, he knows its time to pull his Honda Gold Wing motorcycle over to the side of the road to let his traveling companion do her thing.

Sadie, a great mastiff and pit bull mix, was one of the star attractions early Saturday morning as about 500 motorcycles staged for the Wing Ding parade in the parking lot at Faith Chapel.

Led by police escort, the parade began promptly at 8:30 a.m. during the final day of the 38th Annual Wing Ding, which drew about 10,000 of the Gold Wing Road Riders Associations 60,000 membership.

I wish I had a penny for everybody whos stopped by to say hi, said Martin, 89, in town along with Sadie from their home in The Villages, Fla. If I did, I wouldnt be around long enough to spend it.

Dressed smartly in canine-sized goggles, a leather cap and a leather jacket for Saturdays parade, Sadie has logged about 10,000 miles in 46 states and most Canadian provinces harnessed in the seat behind Martin. When she takes a nap while riding, she typically lays her head on Martins shoulder.

If I go to the barber, shes just waiting for me to get back, seated dutifully in her spot, Martin said. Shes so laid back that she makes me tired.

Hundreds of cheerful riders arrived at the staging area at 7 a.m., many of them receiving a flag to fly in the parade and enjoying what many members called our family reunion.

Its a commonality of machines, but you develop very close friendships, said Shirley Stephens-Garcia, of Phoenix, who co-founded the association with her first husband, Paul Hildebrand, in 1977. These are people we have known for 20 or 30 years that we only get to see every year or every other year. For me, its a personal pleasure to see so many people turn out early on a Saturday morning.

Everyone has been calling me to say thanks, but really we didnt do anything, said Chuck Bonnett, of Billings, the Montana District director. He praised all the groundwork done by Visit Billings to help the visiting motorcyclists feel at home during their five-day stay, which included not only fun but a number of workshops designed to grow membership and make riding safer. There is a camaraderie to this lifestyle," he said, "that people really like.

As the associations Couple of the Year, itll be the happy duty of Steve and Carolyn Cotton of Edmond, Okla., to travel among the associations chapters speaking and promoting safety and fun.

Like other riders from Oklahoma, the two showed up Saturday morning in matching pink long-sleeved shirts. But unlike their Sooner State colleagues, the Cottons  both retired teachers  also sported matching Couple of the Year medallions and glittering belt buckles. The two had the honor of leading the parade and bearing the Stars and Stripes.

The associations international deputy director, Jack Wagner, also hails from Edmond. Wagners ride, a 2015 GL 1800, sported 850 LED lights. In eight months, hes managed to ride 16,000 miles.

We have trained people in life skills and rider skills this week. We even re-enacted a crash scene, he said.

The training can come in handy, he noted. In October 2015, Wagner was riding not 20 yards away when a woman drove her car into an Oklahoma State University homecoming crowd, killing four spectators and injuring 47 others.

Many of our members jumped right in and helped the first responders, Wagner said.

Asked about his draw to the Gold Wing brand, Wagner ticks off a long list of amenities  all the comforts of home except the air conditioning. That list includes heated grips and seat, a six-speaker sound system and a computer that offers the rider real time weather reports and other useful information.

They start at about $20,000, but by the time you make it yours, it can be $32,000, he said. Other clubs may ride from bar to bar, but we mostly ride from Dairy Queen to Dairy Queen.

As the clock approached the 8:30 a.m. parade start time, Lloyd Glydewell, Great Lakes region director, took a bullhorn to offer some last-minute encouragement to parade participants.

When you pull out, toot your horn, he suggested. We want Billings to know that were here, loud and proud.
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On Aug. 19, Montanas Fish, Wildlife, and Parks took the unprecedented step of closing 183 miles of the Yellowstone River to all forms of recreation.

FWPs decision came in response to a parasitic and highly contagious fish kill largely centered in the Paradise Valley south of Livingston.

While it looks likely that the trout will not be as severely affected as their native cousins, the Rocky Mountain Whitefish, its concerning that the parasite thrives in low, warm water. This summers long, sustained period of arid heat has created the perfect conditions for this disease to proliferate and damage one of Montanas most popular rivers.

This parasite is the clearest example yet of the increasing effects of climate change that threaten the Yellowstones health and its economic engine.

Whether it is the Proliferative Kidney Disease parasite killing the whitefish or the upstream migration of smallmouth bass, the warming of our rivers is impacting all of us. At one point this summer, every major river in southwestern Montana had fishing restrictions due to high water temperatures and low water flows.

It is very difficult to overstate the economic importance of the Yellowstone River to Montanans. Whether a rancher, a farmer, a fishing guide, or a hotel owner, we all depend upon the Yellowstone and have built a vibrant economy that depends upon its environmental health. Our company has had to cancel trips, delay hiring shuttle drivers, stop eating at local restaurants, and stop buying groceries for our customers trips.

As Gov. Steve Bullock knows, Montanans are most effective at solving problems when we work together. Climate change is real, and it is a problem facing all Montanans.

And now it is affecting Montanas $6 billion outdoor economy and the 64,000 jobs it supports.

Montanas agricultural community did not cause this fish kill. Around Livingston, family ranchers with water rights dating back to 1882 do not have enough water to turn on their irrigation equipment. I would urge sportsmen and women to look to family farmers and ranchers as partners, not adversaries, in solving this crisis.

This fall, when politicians are debating the virtues of Montanas recreational opportunities and economy, I urge Montanans to ask about climate change. Ask them why there are now smallmouth bass all the way up to Livingston and why thousands of Rocky Mountain Whitefish are floating belly-up down the Yellowstone?

It is our changing climate and, unless we act quickly, our ranching and tourism economy will suffer even greater losses in the future. It will take all of us  Republicans, Democrats, and Independents to solve this problem. Future generations of Montanans are counting on all of us.
The operator of the Two Rivers Detention facility in Hardin has left town after failing to negotiate a new contract with its main vendor for nine months.

Emerald Correctional Management, which operated the prison, left the facility earlier this year, according to CEO Steve Afeman. The company was working to renegotiate a contract with the Bureau of Indian Affairs to provide inmates.

The prison draws its revenue from contracts that bring inmates to the facility.

On Oct. 31, 2015, the Bureau of Indian Affairs dropped its contract with the prison and pulled the prisoners. There were as many as 250 prisoners at the facility under the contract.

There were no prisoners at the facility by January, and Emerald suspended its operations in late April.

Warden Ken Keller said in April that they were still hoping to negotiate a new contract with the BIA, but the company pulled out soon after that. Afeman said that Keller, the last employee at the prison, left to work at another facility in Texas.

The future of the facility is unclear.

"We'd have loved to stay," Afeman said. "But the BIA has decided that they want to run the facility themselves."

BIA spokeswoman Nedra Darling said in an email said that the agency is "looking at all of our options to ensure we are providing safe and secure correctional services."

She added that it was not her understanding that there are serious talks about the BIA taking over operations.

Afeman said that if the BIA decides to operate the facility, the company would vie for a smaller role in providing programming services.

"We don't want to see this thing go dark," he said. "We spent a lot of money getting it back up."

The Two Rivers facility was opened in 2007. The Two Rivers Authority, an economic development unit of Hardin, issued $27 million in bonds to build it.

The prison sat empty for seven years before Emerald took over. Without revenue, the facility sunk into deep debt. As of June 2015, the bondholders owed $12.4 million in unpaid interest on top of the $27 million bond value, according to an audit of city finances.

The bonds have been in default since 2008.

Under Emerald, the prison generated some revenue from 2014 to 2015. That money was directed to Emerald, according to a city finance audit. The prison still didn't make enough money to pay on its debt.

The bondholders for this project are private, and the agreement stipulates that the city of Hardin has no obligation to the debt. The Two Rivers Authority owns the building.

Jeff McDowell, executive director of the Two Rivers Authority, did not respond to requests for comment.
CHEYENNE, Wyo.  The Northern Arapaho Tribe is applauding a legal settlement that calls for a Fremont County irrigation district and its former manager to restore the channel of the Wind River west of Riverton.

U.S. District Judge Alan B. Johnson of Cheyenne this week approved an agreement that specifies four dikes installed by the LeClair Irrigation District and its former district manager John Hubenka must be removed by the end of the year.

The settlement comes more than 20 years after the federal government first issued civil citations regarding placement of material into the river. Officials say the dikes pushed the Wind River onto lands of the Wind River Indian Reservation. The Northern Arapaho and Eastern Shoshone tribes share the reservation.

"We are pleased about the result that has been achieved here," Northern Arapaho Chairman Dean Goggles said in a prepared release. "Abuses of the Wind River are a violation of tribal sovereignty. We look forward to healing these wounds, and taking a lead role in the restoration of tribal lands."

Johnson's order specifies that the LeClair Irrigation District's insurance company will pay the Northern Arapaho Tribe to cover the cost of removing the largest of four dikes in the river and returning the river to its historic northern channel.

Hubenka must remove three smaller dikes that he built that extend into the river channel. Johnson imposed a $42,500 penalty on Hubenka, but said it will drop to $4,250 if he removes the three dikes by the Dec. 15 deadline.

Hubenka was convicted of criminal violations of the federal Clean Water Act in 2004 for placing materials in the Wind River. In an order two years ago, Johnson wrote that Hubenka had ignored an earlier court order to remove the materials and said Hubenka has, "defiantly thumbed his nose at the law."

Daniel B. Frank, a Cheyenne lawyer representing Hubenka, said Thursday that Hubenka will be happy when the legal matter is resolved and the work completed.

"He's committed to doing what he's agreed to do, and I'm glad that all the other parties to this case have consented to the settlement we devised," Frank said. "And it's about as good as we could do considering the circumstances."

Frank said Hubenka viewed the three smaller dikes that he installed in the river channel as projects to benefit wildlife. He said beavers would add logs to the dikes until high runoff events would clear the material out. "Bad idea," Frank said. "But he thought he was doing a good thing at the time."

Hubenka has lined up a contractor to remove the dikes, Frank said. He said the work will occur under the supervision of the Indian tribes, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.

Hubenka issued an apology to the Northern Arapaho Tribe and pledged not to trespass on reservation lands.

Cheyenne lawyer Harriet Hageman represents the irrigation district. Her office said Thursday she was not available for comment. An attempt to reach a spokesman for the U.S. Attorney's Office in Cheyenne, which represented the federal government in the case, was not immediately successful.
Gopee-Scoon tells NFM, seek out new markets

Gopee-Scoon threw out the challenge to the companys management including NFM Chairman, Nigel Romano and senior executives including members of the board during a tour of its facilities on Tuesday.

The aim of the tour was to gain insight into the companys operational efficiencies and to discuss the managements plans for the companys growth and sustainability.

Romano and the companys Chief Executive Officer, Kelvin Mahabir, responded that in the short to medium term NFM intends to focus on plant efficiency, capacity flexibility and expansion, quality assurance infrastructure and systems, and the improvement of employee working conditions. They said that over the next two years, NFM will pursue the upgrade of its feed mill and raw material storage facilities, modernisation of the dry mix operations, the upgrade and centralisation of its laboratory and research and development facilities, the expansion of its warehousing at Carlsen Field and the improvement of office/ employee facilities.

Gopie-Scoon was accompanied by a team including Frances Seignoret, Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Trade and Industry; NFM directors Joseph Jacob and Sonja Voisin, as well as Dennis Scott, Manager Alliances at the Ministry of Trade and Industry.
Unidentified man found with head bashed in

Newsday understands that three men from the Tunapuna area were hunting for iguanas along the river bank, near Three Pools. At about 11.30 am, while they were near Peas Tree Housing area, they stumbled across the bloated body of the man on his stomach on the eastern bank of the river.

The body was clad in camouflage pants, a grey vest and a pair of white Nike sneakers.

Police and emergency services were alerted, and when officers of the Northern Division cordoned off the scene, they determined that the man may have been bludgeoned to death. Police officers noted that the mans face seemed to be bashed in with a blunt object, and through further investigation of the scene, they discovered a bloody rock near to where the mans body was found.

Police officers are seeking the publics assistance in finding the identity of the man.

Persons with information which could lead to the identity of the deceased is asked to contact 555, 800-TIPS, or the Homicide Bureau in Arouca.
Killer slain by victim

At the Forensic Science Centre in St James yesterday, Lewis sisters, Nakita Mohammed, Shanice Mohammed and Aricka Smith Mohammed, related that his death was the result of years of bullying and targeting.

We were told that the other person, (Marshall) went to kill him (Lewis), said Nakita. But he did not anticipate that my brother was going to fight back. That is how he managed to get the gun from him and shoot him. There were other gunmen there and when they realised that they could not do anything for their partner they went and killed my brother. According to reports police officers of the Port of Spain Division responded to a report of loud explosions being heard at about 11.25 pm on Thursday, at Roget Place in Belmont. When they arrived on the scene, they found Lewis and Marshall lying in pools of blood.

Officers cordoned off the scene and District Medical Officer, Dr Oja, declared the men dead and ordered their bodies removed to the Forensic Science Centre. Police have not yet ascertained a motive for Lewis murder.

Nakita told reporters yesterday that she was awakened by a phone call from a close friend of Lewis who told her of her brothers death.

She said she was the first of the family to know of the murder, despite the fact that the shooting took place a stones throw away from Lewis home. My family heard the gunshots, but never in their wildest dreams did they expect that it would have something to do with him (Lewis), said Nakita. He was miserable when he was growing up, but he was never involved in any gang thing. Just as relatives were coming to terms with the shock of Lewis death, his family was also told that he was previously targeted by gunmen in the area.

The same person that came and called me told me that he had been robbed once and that he had been taken by gunpoint on at least two occasions. Nakita related, He was being targeted, but we would not have known anything. Even if we asked him if things were alright, he would say yes. If anything was bothering him he would not come out and say anything. He never even went to the police because he just was not that kind of person, but he was fed up of being harassed An autopsy revealed that Lewis was shot 14 times, and one of those bullets was to his head.

Newsday attempted to get a response from relatives of Marshall, but they refused to speak to members of the media.

The murder toll now stands at 311
Shot womans relatives call on witnesses to come forward

Denise, 28, was shot in the head when gunmen opened fire on her and her boyfriend, Shamshudeen Mohammed, 31, while they relaxed in the gallery of his Fyzabad home. Denise remains in critical condition in the Intensive Care Unit of the San Fernando General Hospital with no improvement in her condition. Mohammed was shot in the leg and is in stable condition.

A relative of Denise informed Newsday that she is the owner of a food cart by the name of Nalinis Delight that she operates on SM Jaleel Company Road. Her boyfriend, Mohammed, is the owner of a bar in Fyzabad. According to relatives, Mohammed closed his bar last Friday after the landlord of the property raised his rent.
EYE TO EYE

Addressing a news conference at the Office of the Prime Minister in St Clair following a meeting between Government and the Opposition, Rowley was optimistic that both sides have, set the framework for future effective cooperation to deal with crime in TT. He said after 90 minutes of dialogue, Government and Opposition agreed to cooperate more effectively in the Parliament. To this end, Rowley said Government will relinquish chairmanship of the National Security JSC to an Independent Senator, so as to ensure that the political acrimony that may exist between Government and Opposition may not form part of the chairing of this committee. This JSC was chaired in the Tenth Parliament by then Independent Senator Dr Rolph Balgobin. Works and Transport Minister Fitzgerald Hinds is the current chairman of that JSC now in the Eleventh Parliament. Declaring that Government and Opposition must work, in a body of mutual respect and responsibility to better serve the electorate, Rowley said the National Security JSC will literally be, meeting on what the country needs to do...what legislation needs to be addressed...to be created to be amended...where are the disagreements and do that behind closed doors before we come to the Parliament. He said Government has also committed to alert the Opposition about legislation before the Legislative Review Committee and then go forward when legislation takes shape, into committee and then to the Parliament floor. Rowley said there was also consensus on the need for greater resources at the Parliament and Opposition Leaders Office to facilitate more effective passage of legislation.

Indicating many issues discussed yesterday were familiar to both Opposition Leader Kamla Persad-Bissessar and himself, coming from very different perspectives, Rowley said the Opposition was willing for the Indictable Offences Bill to be brought back to Parliament, in order to abolish PIs. He added both sides agreed, the occurrence of the infamous Section 34, prevented this from happening.

Rowley said there is now, some commitment to work on that with dispatch. On PIs, he said the evidence shows that justice is not getting served. On abolition of trials by jury, Rowley said Government and Opposition need to talk further about the way this is to be done.

He stated this must be part of the arsenal in the fight against crime because, the very attack on witnesses by the criminal element has made the use of the jury system and an effective jury pool part of the problem to be solved. While Government and Opposition agree that capital punishment remains the law, they are divergent on its implementation.

He said the Opposition proposed new arrangements for capital punishment but Government is standing by its position that if the current law is interferred with, we open the door for the Privy Council to permanently effectively abolish capital punishment in TT. On anti-gang initiatives, Rowley said Government and Opposition agreed to see whether the existing law, can be salvaged, amended and represented. He also said both sides agreed proper intelligence gathering by the police was an area of absolute effectiveness which has to be there otherwise the police will continue to be largely ineffective. While the meeting was a good opener, the Prime Minister observed, Until we have this collaboration in the Parliament, it will still remain a promise. Underscoring that it is only then, that we will know whether the meeting today has borne any fruit, Rowley concluded by telling reporters, The taste of the pudding would be in the eating in the Parliament.
Freddie takes his final bow

He made this call yesterday at Kissoons funeral service at the Assumption Church, Maraval.

Kissoon, 86, was found dead at his home in Diamond Vale on August 28, and was the founder and director of The Strolling Players.

A small gathering celebrated the life of the late Kissoon in prayer and song as they bid their final goodbyes.

Speaking to the media following the service, Daniel said, I have been suggesting this for the longest while, that The Strolling Players have rented the City Hall Auditorium in Port-of-Spain for more than 50 years.

The building next to City Hall can also be dedicated to him. He continued, I think he would have loved this initiative and I will really love to see this happen. What Freddie has done in this country for drama ...the things he did with drama and the arts for this country is countless. I think he deserves this. His son Richard said although he did not know how he would like his fathers legacy to be honoured, he was happy to know that his father is with his wife.

Meanwhile, Strolling Players member, Pamela Alexis, said the committee will be meeting with family members to see if the late Kissoon left any instructions, suggestions or a nominator to run the group. Alexis said she cried for the first time while delivering the eulogy because she felt his absence and knows it will be a while before they see each other again.

I will like to encourage citizens to follow his legacy, strive for excellence and everything you do give it your all until your life is over. Continue to do the best of your ability, she said.

She also indicated that following a meeting with family members on issues surrounding the group, they will host an event to honour the late Kissoon.
12 years later, Piarco II inquiry still going on

who represents businessman Ishwar Galbaransingh. Though a ceremonial opening for the new law term is scheduled for September 16, Espinet has also penciled in that date for further submissions from another attorney, Edward Fitzgerald QC. Defence lawyers yesterday continued their arguments against the proceedings.

saying there was no case. The Piarco II inquiry is one of several cases in relation to the airport project which have been going on in the courts for decades. In January 2008.

some of the accused persons were committed to stand trial at the High Court in Piarco I by Chief Magistrate Sherman Mc Nicolls. But Mc Nicolls, who died of cancer in 2012, never lived to see this matter tried. To date, there is no word on when the Piarco I matter will be heard in the High Court. A third matter.

called Piarco III, is also understood to be pending in court relating to a different pool of accused persons. Piarco III said to be awaiting adjudication by the Privy Council on a legal question. Meanwhile, over the years some of the accused have died or pleaded guilty in foreign courts. In 2006, Edward Bayley, former chairman of NIPDEC, died in 2006 after a prolonged illness. In the same year.

Americans Eduardo Hillman-Waller and Raul Gutierrez pleaded guilty in United States Federal Court as part of a plea agreement. They have already served out their sentences. Work on the Piarco International Airport started in 1997 and has been the subject of two official inquiries.

one conducted by Justice Lennox Deyalsingh and the second by former Chief Justice Clinton Bernard, which lasted several months. The ongoing charges stemmed from the findings of the Clinton Inquiry. Investigations were conducted by Canadian forensic accountant.

Bob Lindquist and began under former Attorney General Ramesh Lawrence Maharaj and were accelerated under the PNM administration from 2002. The Section 34 fiasco had an impact on the Piarco II inquiry.

which was put on hold as some of the accused persons sought to use the section  which imposed a statute of limitation  to seek their freedom. Their bid failed as legislation was brought to repeal the overarching law that related to the matter. The Privy Council also upheld the Parliaments right to change the law to prevent certain classes of accused persons from applying to court for freedom.
Five homeless as fire ravages house in Tobago

According to Assistant Divisional Fire Officer, David Thomas, officers of the Roxborough Station received the distress call at about 8.25pm.

On arrival, they observed that the upper part of the building, owned by 72 yearold, Marilyn Denoon, was on fire. The fire spread rapidly through the roof and the entire upper part of the building was engulfed in flames. Thomas dismissed reports by villagers that the fire service responded to the fire with a limited water supply.

The fire tender responded with 5,000 litres of water on a 631 appliance, Thomas said.

There was a backup tanker that carried 13,000 litres of water.

It took the response team approximately 20 minutes to get to the scene because of the crowd that flooded the area. Vehicles were poorly parked which posed a challenge for the fire tender. The building materials in the property aided escalation of the blaze.

Also, fire officers who fought the blaze did their best and should not be blamed. Five persons occupied the upper floor, while two people occupied the lower floor which suffered water damage. Three persons were at home at the time of blaze. The structure, which was valued at $2.3 million sustained damage amounting to approximately $800,000.

A preliminary damage assessment was conducted by the Tobago Emergency Management (TEMA) and the Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) technicians.

TEMA along with the Division of Health and Social Services (DHSS) and the Division of Education, Youth Affairs and Sport (DEYAS) are assisting with school supplies along with other essential relief for the affected.

Area representative, Assemblyman Tracy Davidson Celestine, visited the home and promised to assist with relief. The cause of the fire is still unknown.
Processing begins for fisherfolk to get assistance

Fisherfolk from La Brea, Otaheite, and Vessigny were invited to register with the Ministry to begin the process to receive assistance. Over one hundred fisherfolk - fishermen, hustlers, and fish vendors - from La Brea and Vessigny registered on Thursday at the Vessigny Community Centre and those from Otaheite registered at the South Oropouche Community Centre on Friday.

Deputy Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Agriculture, Claudelle McKellar said that money would be distributed on the basis of need.

As such, fisherfolk were made to fill out a registration form detailing their number of dependents, level of household income, and monthly living expenses.

Again, we would like to stress that this financial assistance and not compensation, McKellar noted.

Of course, a household that has, lets say, four children going to school is likely to get more assistance than a household that only has one child. Fish vendors from the Otaheite fishing depot were grateful for the assistance, but feared that the process would be abused just as it had been when State-owned Petrotrin compensated fisherfolk after the oil spills in 2013.

According to the vendors, people not involved in the fishing industry took advantage of the process and accessed monies paid out at the time.

McKellar indicated that they were asking fisherfolk to provide the National IDs, Fishery Registration IDs, and boat engine registration numbers for those who owned boats in order to avoid that kind of abuse. Executives of the various fishing associations were also asked to provide the Ministry with a lists of authentic fisherfolk which would be used to validate those registering.

However, Shastri Cyril, 35, who sells fish in Otaheite observed that fish vendors who had long left the profession due to its physical demand and high levels of financial uncertainty returned yesterday to register for assistance.

He accused Clement Charles, the President of the Otaheite Fish Vendors Association, of adding extra names to the list.

We do not have more than 50 fish vendors in Otaheite, but I see Clement have a list with 85 people. Cyril worried that monies spread too thin would result in authentic fishermen being short-handed.

Charles defended himself saying that the names he provided on the list included vendors who returned to the profession before the appearance of thousands of dead fish in Vessigny and La Brea.

McKellar indicated that after registration, information provided by fisherfolk would be assessed and validated, and money would be distributed in about three weeks
Kamla: Act on low-hanging fruit

She held a news briefing yesterday at her office at Charles Street, Port-of-Spain, after the joint talks, accompanied by Couva North MP Ramona Ramdial, Oropouche East MP Dr Roodal Moonilal, and Opposition Senators Wade Mark, Gerald Hadeed and Gerald Ramdeen.

Asked what low-hanging fruits could be addressed soon, Persad- Bissessar said, More boots on the ground. That could happen tomorrow. Other low-hanging fruits to curb crime are the proper enactment of legislation already passed by Parliament but not yet proclaimed, such as the DNA Act (to boost crime detection), Electronic Monitoring Act (for electronic tagging of suspects) and Administration of Justice Act (to cut preliminary inquiries from trials).

Persad-Bissessar said the Prison Rules enacted in the 1800s can be updated by Government either using legislation drafted by the former United National Congress regime or by crafting their own amendments.

She thanked the Government for agreeing that the Joint Parliament Committee on National Security be chaired by an Independent senator, instead of a Government MP (Works Minister Fitzgerald Hinds) as now obtains.

The change quite rightly means that the Legislatures oversight will not be done by an arm of the Executive, she explained.

Persad-Bissessar urged the Government to fulfil a promise in its past Peoples National Movement (PNM) manifesto to set up a Joint Border Protection Agency to block the import of illicit guns and drugs through TTs porous borders. She also urged the establishment of a counter terrorism centre.

Persad-Bissessar called for municipal police units to be established in all of Trinidads 14 local government corporations and in the Tobago House of Assembly, but complying with the Privy Councils ruling that municipal officers be paid on par with officers of the Police Service.

She touched on three ways the Opposition can help the Government.

Firstly, regarding the naming of a Police Commissioner and the management of the Police Service. She said she could detect frustration in the voice of Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley. Noting these rules were drafted by this PNM Government, she said, I was a bit taken aback by his frustration. Secondly, on the Strategic Services Agency (SSA) Bill, she said that while her Opposition had not voted for it, it had nonetheless been passed by Parliament but it has not yet been proclaimed, alluding that this is another low-hanging fruit.

Thirdly, she said the Opposition will look at any new anti-gang legislation brought by the Government with a view to supporting it.
Govt presents 16 bills to Opposition

Al-Rawi said the meeting also gave Government the opportunity to update the Opposition on matters such as Prison Rules and Electronic Monitoring, all of which in advanced state of physical operation. In outlining the bills presented to the Opposition. Al-Rawi said Government believes many of the laws on the countrys law books do not have the kind of impact into crime they should.

He explained this is why Government feels it is very critical, to go behind the money because it is the money which floats crime. Speaking later during the briefing, Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley said the Opposition has been alerted that Government will need its support to pass the Foreign Account Tax Compliance Act (FATCA) Bill in Parliament.

The bill requires a three-fifths majority for passage and there is September 30 deadline for TT to become FATCA compliant. In terms of low hanging fruit mentioned by Opposition Leader Kamla Persad- Bissessar during the meeting, National Security Minister Edmund Dillon said joint border patrols and joint coastal patrols have been in operation for quite some time. Dillon also said significant progress is behind made towards the establishment of a Joint Border Protection Agency. He said former Police Commissioner James Philbert and former Civil Aviation Director Ramesh Lutchmedial have been part of that exercise.

Dillon also said the National Intelligence Agency which Persad- Bissessar spoke about in the meeting, is serving as a fusion centre under the Strategic Services Agency. He stated the process to recruit a DNA custodian for the Forensic Sciences Centre in St James is underway.

Dillon said the country is engaging the United States and United Kingdom regarding a DNA bank. Recalling that Rowley witnessed the operations of a DNA laboratory at UWIs Mona Campus in Jamaica in July, Dillon said Government would seek to model a facility in TT after that lab.
FARGO  After enduring the blasts of bombs landing within 100 yards of his home in northeastern Syria, after fleeing across the border into Iraq, after spending three years in a refugee camp, Jamal Tmrs family has finally found some peace and stability.

Tmr, his wife and seven children, ages 1 to 12, touched down in Fargo on Aug. 19. They had flown more than 15 hours from Iraq with stops in Amman, Jordan, and Chicago.

The flight over the ocean, that was just kind of endless, Tmr said, speaking Kurdish through a translator. The kids, they were just not patient at all.

With energy to burn, Tmrs children were running down the aisles of the plane. They were very excited for this trip, he said.

It was a life-changing flight for 31-year-old Tmr and his family members, who have become North Dakotas first Syrian refugees. The family is among the 10,000 Syrians that President Barack Obama pledged to admit to the U.S. this year.

In November, after terrorists struck Paris, Obamas pledge received pushback from many politicians, including North Dakota Gov. Jack Dalrymple who was concerned that the United States process of vetting refugees wasnt sufficient to screen out possible terrorists.

At the time, Lutheran Social Services of North Dakota (LSS), the nonprofit group contracted by the federal government to resettle refugees here, said bringing Syrians to the state would not make sense because theres not an existing Syrian community and the refugees would not be reunited with family.

However, Tmrs family is ethnically Kurdish, and they have Kurdish relatives from Iraq who live in Moorhead. Given this fact, LSS says Fargo is a good fit for the Syrian family.

This is a family reunification case, said LSS CEO Jessica Thomasson. We have a strong Kurdish community in Fargo-Moorhead. We have since the early 90s.

The decision of where to place refugees is made by the U.S. State Department, not LSS. And while Thomasson doesnt know for sure, she said she would not be surprised if LSS was asked to resettle more Syrian refugees in North Dakota. But I dont know that we expect it to become a large part of our work, she said.

In a statement, Gov. Jack Dalrymple said his office learned Aug. 31 about the familys arrival, but he did not come out against their placement in Fargo.

We expect and have been assured that all refugees are receiving a thorough background check and health screening prior to settlement, he said.

Something out of control

Tmr said the violence first reached his familys home in Dayrik, Syria, in 2013. There was a lot of bombs that were coming every day, he said. It was something out of control.

Before the war, Tmr worked construction, and life was easy for his family. But once the bombing started, he could not see a future for his children in Syria.

He considered joining the crowds of other Syrians who left for Europe on foot. But he knew making such a trek with his kids would be difficult, so he decided to seek refugee status through the United Nations in Iraq.

Tmrs decision brought him to Fargo, and now his family, too large for one apartment, is living in a pair of two-bedroom units. Accustomed to the desert, he said he enjoys the green space of the citys lawns and parks.

He said hes pleased to be here, though he can see in the eyes of his wife that the experience is trying for her. But he said their relatives have helped ease the transition.

Theres a lot of family visits, he said. They relieve us.

Not even in our mind

Kurds, a people without a nation, are spread between mainly four countries: Iraq, Syria, Iran and Turkey. In the fighting against Islamic State militants, Kurdish forces have been an American ally.

Tmr, whose family is Muslim, said he would love to see a world without the Islamic State. Hopefully, they will vanish very soon, he said.

Asked about the debate over allowing Syrian refugees into the U.S., Tmr said its sad that some people are making the generalization that all Syrians are violent. As Kurds, he said, thats something not even in our mind to hurt somebody, to kill them.

In a statement, U.S. Sen. Heidi Heitkamp showed support for the familys placement in Fargo, noting their ties to a relative in Moorhead who came to the U.S. after aiding U.S. military and government officials in Iraq.

Heitkamp said its a priority for her to identify the holes in the refugee vetting process and that she favors enhanced screening for those entering the country.

The rest of North Dakotas congressional delegation also stressed the need for a strong vetting process. We believe that all refugees need to be fully vetted and have voted for the (American Security Against Foreign Enemies) SAFE Act, which would strengthen the vetting process, Sen. John Hoeven said in a statement.

U.S. Rep. Kevin Cramer was a co-sponsor of the SAFE Act, which has passed the House but not the Senate. In a phone interview, he said hes opposed to Syrian refugees being allowed into the country unless they can meet the standards laid out in the bill.

Cramer said one of the challenges of screening refugees from a war-torn country like Syria is that government data on people is often unavailable. In the absence of such data, he said, one way to vet refugees is through relatives, which appears to be what happened in the case of Tmrs family.
Text of PM Modi statement to media in the joint media briefing with President of Egypt

New Delhi, Sat, 03 Sep 2016 NI Wire

Your Excellency President Abdel Fattah Al Sisi,

Distinguished Ministers and members of the Egyptian and Indian delegations; and,

Friends from the media,

I am delighted to welcome His Excellency Mr. Abdel Fattah Al Sisi, on his first state visit to India. Excellency, you are a man of many achievements, both at home and abroad. 1.25 billion people of India are happy to see you here. Egypt itself is a natural bridge that connects Asia with Africa. Your people are a voice of moderate Islam. And, your nation a factor for regional peace and stability in Africa and the Arab world. Egypt has always championed the cause of developing countries.

Friends,

President and I held extensive discussions on the shape and substance of our partnership. We have agreed on an action oriented agenda to drive our engagements.

An agenda that:

responds to our socio-economic priorities;

promotes trade and investment ties;

secures our societies;

helps build peace and harmony in our region; and

advances our engagement on regional and international issues.

Friends,

In our conversation, President Sisi and I have agreed to build on multiple pillars of our cooperation. We agreed to sustain and strengthen the momentum of high-level political exchanges. We recognized that strong trade and investment linkages are essential for economic prosperity of our societies. We, therefore, agreed that increased flow of goods, services, and capital between our two economieshas to be among our key priorities. To this end, the agreement on cooperation in maritime transport signed today will be an important facilitator. I would also urge our private sector to take the lead in building new business and commercial partnerships between the two countries. To diversify the portfolio of economic engagement, we will also deepen our cooperation in agriculture, skill development, small and medium industry and health sectors.

Friends,

President and I are of one view that growing radicalization, increasing violence and spread of terror pose a real threat not just to our two countries. But, also to nations and communities across regions.

In this context, we agreed to further our defence and security engagement which would aim at:

Expanding defence trade , training and capacity building;

Greater information and operational exchanges to combat terrorism;

Cooperation on emerging challenges of cyber security; and

Working together to fight drug trafficking, transnational crimes and money-laundering.

As two ancient and proud civilizations, with rich cultural heritage, we also decided to facilitate greater people-to-people contacts and cultural exchanges.

Excellency,

India appreciates the good work that Egypt has been doing during its current term on the UN Security Council. Our decision to consult more closely on regional and global issues, both at the U.N. and outside, will benefit our common interests. We agreed that the U.N. Security Council needs to be reformed to reflect the realities of today. We also welcome Egypt's participation at next week's G20 Summit. We believe it will add value and enrich the substance of discussions at G-20.

Your Excellency President Abdel Fattah Al Sisi,

Let me once again extend my warmest welcome to you and your delegation. I wish you and the Egyptian people all success. India stands ready to be a reliable partner in fulfillment of your developmental, economic and security goals.

Thank you.

Thank you very much.

Source: PIB
Speech of the President of India at the banquet hosted in honour of H.E. Mr. Abdel Fattah Al Sisi

New Delhi, Sat, 03 Sep 2016 NI Wire

Banquet Speech of the President of India, Shri Pranab Mukherjee at the banquet hosted in honour of H.E. Mr. Abdel Fattah Al Sisi, the President of the Arab Republic of Egypt on September 2, 2016

1. It gives me great pleasure to extend a warm welcome to you and your distinguished delegation. I had the privilege of receiving you at the Rashtrapati Bhavan not so long ago, last October, when India hosted the Third India-Africa Forum Summit.

2. Your first State Visit to India is indeed a landmark occasion for many reasons: firstly, as close friends, it is but normal for Egypt and India to regularly exchange high level visits. Our peoples represent two of the most ancient civilisations of the human race; since our early contacts centuries ago, our trade as well as cultural and scholarly interactions have flourished. The migration of knowledge and scientific thought between our peoples has, over this long period, shaped our mutual understanding.

3. In the modern era, too, our shared experiences and aspirations bind us. Both our nations have had to struggle to win our freedom from colonial masters. Even as we were engaged in our own political, social and economic development, we gave strength and encouragement to other newly emerging independent states in our regions, we forged solidarity among developing countries, we nourished South-South Cooperation, and we led the Non-Aligned Movement.

4. The high esteem in which our Founding Fathers held each other- Tagore and Shawky, Gandhi and Zaghloul, Nehru and Nasser has inspired our partnership and shaped the way we have collaborated bilaterally and in multilateral fora as two independent nations.

Excellency,

5. The Friendship Treaty that was signed between India and Egypt in 1955 laid the foundation of our partnership. Article 1 of the Treaty provides that "there shall be perpetual peace, friendship and brotherly relations between India and Egypt and between their respective peoples". No wonder it was possible for us to forge fruitful partnerships in areas as varied as defence and culture, agree on preferential arrangements in trade and work together, to our mutual benefit in the field of agriculture and science.

6. Since those early days, the world has changed and our nations have evolved. Todays Egypt is developing fast and India is also on a very positive trajectory of progress and growth. There is a definite confidence in our youth, who are now, more than ever before, flag-bearers of our national spirit and our collective goals. At the same time, as we are only too aware, the challenges that we face have also become more complex. Our respective regions are plagued by the shadowy spectre of radicalism that must be dealt with strongly and unitedly.

Excellency,

7. Your visit is taking place at a time when we both desire to infuse a new momentum into our relations and intensify our co-operation. Our economic engagement has been growing stronger through investments and enhanced trade flows as well as our partnership in a wide range of areas of our common interest. India and Egypt share a convergence on regional and global issues. I am told more and more Egyptians enjoy Bollywood cinema, playing Holi, and practicing Yoga. The 'India by the Nile' annual cultural event has emerged as the largest foreign festival in Egypt and a week-long celebration of the life and work of Nobel-laureate Rabindranath Tagore has been popular with Egyptian scholars and artists alike. India is glad to see the establishment of the Indian Chair at Ain-Shams University in Cairo - the first in the Arab world. We are looking forward to the first ever Egypt on Ganga festival to be held in India next year.

8. New modes of co-operation and collaboration are emerging and new actors are rapidly entering the stage. While we take satisfaction in the state of our relations, we continue to strive to achieve higher milestones. I therefore look forward, Excellency, to our work together to further strengthen our excellent bilateral cooperation.

To emphasise mutuality of our co-operation, I would like to recall the well known Egyptian proverb 

         .

- which I will quote in English There is nothing on this earth more to be prized than true friendship.

9. With these words, I once again welcome you, Mr President, and wish you a very comfortable and fruitful visit to India.



Ladies and Gentlemen,

I request you to join me in raising a toast to:-

 the health and personal well-being of His Excellency, President Abdel Fattah Al Sisi;



 the progress and prosperity of the friendly people of Egypt; and

 the ever closer friendship and cooperation between India and Egypt.

Source: PIB
Press Statement by Prime Minister Modi during his visit to Vietnam (September 03, 2016)

Vietnam, Sat, 03 Sep 2016 NI Wire

Your Excellency Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc,

Members of the media,

Thank you, Excellency, for your warm words of welcome and generous hospitality extended to me and my delegation. Earlier this morning, you made the special gesture of personally showing me Ho Chi Minh's house. Ho Chi Minh was one of the tallest leaders of the twentieth century. Thank you, Excellency, for extending me the privilege. Let me also congratulate the people of Vietnam on their national day that you celebrated yesterday.

Friends,

The links between our societies go back over 2000 years. The advent of Buddhism from India to Vietnam and the monuments of Vietnam's Hindu Cham temples stand testimony to these bonds. For people of my generation, Vietnam holds a special place in our hearts. The bravery of the Vietnamese people in gaining independence from colonial rule has been a true inspiration. And, your success in national reunification and commitment to nation building reflects the strength of character of your people. We in India have admired your determination, rejoiced in your success and have been with you all along in your national journey.

Friends,

My conversation with Prime Minister Phuc has been extensive and productive. Our discussions covered the full range of bilateral and multilateral cooperation. We have agreed to scale up and strengthen our bilateral engagement. As two important countries in this region, we also feel it necessary to further our ties on regional and international issues of common concern. We agreed to tap into the growing economic opportunities in the region. We also recognized the need to cooperate in responding to emerging regional challenges. Our decision to upgrade our Strategic Partnership to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership captures the intent and path of our future cooperation. It will provide a new direction, momentum and substance to our bilateral cooperation. Our common efforts will also contribute to stability, security and prosperity in this region.

Friends,

We realize that our efforts to bring economic prosperity to our people need to be accompanied by steps to secure them. Prime Minister and I have, therefore, agreed to deepen our defence and security engagement to advance our common interests. The agreement on construction of offshore patrol boats signed earlier today is one of the steps to give concrete shape to our defence engagement. I am also happy to announce a new Defence Line of Credit for Vietnam of US$ Five Hundred million for facilitating deeper defence cooperation. The range of agreements signed just a while ago point to the diversity and depth of our cooperation.

Friends,

Vietnam is undergoing rapid development and strong economic growth.

As Vietnam seeks to:

 Empower and enrich its people;

 Modernize its agriculture;

 Encourage entrepreneurship and innovation;

 Strengthen its Science and Technology base;

 Create new institutional capacities for faster economic development; and

 Take steps to build a modern nation.

India and its 1.25 billion people stand ready to be Vietnam's partner and a friend in this journey. Prime Minister and I agreed to take several decisions today to move on the pledge of our partnership. India will be offering a grant of US$5 million for the establishment of a Software Park in the Telecommunications University in Nha Trang. The framework agreement on Space cooperation would allow Vietnam to join hands with Indian Space Research Organization to meet its national development objectives. Enhancing bilateral commercial engagement is also our strategic objective. For this, new trade and business opportunities will be tapped to achieve the trade target of fifteen billion dollars by 2020. I also sought facilitation of ongoing Indian projects and investments in Vietnam. And, have invited Vietnamese companies to take advantage of the various schemes and flagship programmes of my government.

Friends,

The cultural connect between our people is centuries old. We hope for an early establishment and opening of the Indian Cultural Centre in Hanoi. The Archaeological Survey of India can soon start the conservation and restoration work of the Cham monuments at My Son. I am thankful for Vietnam's leadership in facilitating inscription of Nalanda Mahavihara as a UNESCO World Heritage site earlier this year.

Friends,

ASEAN is important to India in terms of historical links, geographical proximity cultural ties and the strategic space that we share. It is central to our 'Act East' policy. Under Vietnam's leadership as ASEAN Coordinator for India, we will work towards a strengthened India-ASEAN partnership across all areas.

Excellency,

You have been a generous and a gracious host. The affection shown by Vietnamese people has touched my heart. We can take satisfaction from the nature and direction of our partnership. At the same time, we must stay focused to keep up the momentum in our ties. I have enjoyed your hospitality. It would be my pleasure to host you and the leadership of Vietnam in India. We look forward to welcoming you in India.

Thank you.

Thank you very much.

Source: PIB
"This is about little people against billionaire corporations. Standing Rock is clearly opposed to the pipeline, and I'm here to celebrate their clarity and their willingness to stand up."

 Jewell James, chief carver of the House of Tears Lummi Nation, who created the totem intended to unite tribes and environmental groups in their stand to protect the Earth. The totem visited the Standing Rock Sioux Reservation this week.

q q q

"The U.S. government is obligated under international law to respect, protect and fulfill the human rights of indigenous people, including the rights to freedom of expression and assembly. It is the legitimate right of people to peacefully express their opinion."

 A letter signed by Amnesty International spokeswoman Margaret Huang to Gov. Jack Dalrymple, the Morton County Sheriff's Department and the North Dakota Highway Patrol seeking the removal of a barricade on Highway 1806.

q q q

"It's what he does. Skip has always been everything at 100 percent. There's no side trails for him; it's either all or none."

 Al Stockert, describing Skip Balzer, who has volunteered for the North Dakota Game and Fish Department for many years. A shooting range has been named the Skip Balzer MacLean Bottoms Shooting Range.

q q q

"Despite the state economic outlook, the capital city is still growing by leaps and bounds. Having an additional 348 kids show up in our classrooms today is about the size of one of our elementary schools. That's a lot of kids to find space for."

 Superintendent Tamara Uselman, on Bismarck Public School growth.

q q q

"You guys are doing amazing things. Almost in no other state in the country could you imagine something where the co-sponsors are the (Greater North Dakota) Chamber of Commerce and the teachers union."

 Ted Dintersmith, an advocate for education reform, who is showing the film "Most Likely to Succeed" in North Dakota.

q q q

"We don't necessarily need bigger houses, we need more houses."

 Simle Middle School Principal Russ Riehl, on the need for more space for Bismarck students.

q q q

"The drug crimes, very often, will reverberate across the crime spectrum, because people trying to get the money to feed their habits will burglarize businesses and houses. Drug usage often results in increasing aggravated assaults and like crimes."

 Attorney General Wayne Stenehjem, on one reason for the increase in crime in 2015.

q q q

"I remember coming in and having 97 percent budgets under Gov. (Ed) Schafer. I think we'll be OK."

 State Auditor Robert Peterson, on the budget cuts being ordered for the state.

q q q

Without Renaissance (zoning), (downtown) Bismarck would be a ghost town.

 Dale Zimmerman, owner of Peacock Alley in Bismarck.

q q q

"I look at it as kind of like you're seeing one side of a story, as the initial report, and then you don't see anything after that. So it's really kind of not fair."

 Gov. Jack Dalrymple, criticizing the state auditors report on the Department of Human Services.

q q q

"I'll tell you right now, I'm counting on the revenue from the Legacy Fund."

 Senate Majority Leader Rich Wardner, R-Dickinson, reflecting a growing trend among legislators.
Text of Banquet Speech by Prime Minister Modi during his visit to Vietnam (September 03, 2016)

Vietnam, Sat, 03 Sep 2016 NI Wire

Excellency Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc,

Distinguished Guests,

Xin Chao

I would like to express my deepest appreciation to the Government of Vietnam and its leadership for the warm welcome extended to me and to the members of my delegation.

Friends,

My visit to Vietnam is to nurture a relationship between our two societies and nations. The linkages between our two countries have deep historical and civilizational roots, going back over two thousand years. These cultural bonds reflect themselves in many ways. Most prominently, in the connect between Buddhism and the monuments of the Hindu Cham civilization. In recent decades, our shared and strong desire for the progress and prosperity of our peoples has shaped our ties. In India, we believe in sharing our knowledge, experiences and expertise with other developing countries. There can be no better example of this than in the success of our multifaceted bilateral cooperation with Vietnam over the last four decades. The Cuu Long Delta Rice Research Institute, is a prime example of the enormous impact of our cooperation. India helped set up the institute in the Mekong Delta, sending agricultural experts and training its faculty in India. Today, Vietnam is the world's third largest rice exporter. We are happy to have partnered with Vietnam in its emergence as a major rice producing and exporting country.

Friends,

As two partners, we must also take advantage of our synergies to jointly face emerging regional challenges, and to exploit new opportunities. It is a matter of great satisfaction that, we have now decided to upgrade our relationship to a "Comprehensive Strategic Partnership". Next year, we will celebrate the forty fifth (45th) anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations and tenth (10th) anniversary of establishment of the Strategic Partnership between our two countries. In a few months from now we will jointly commemorate these milestones.

Friends,

I believe that a strong India-Vietnam partnership would lead to prosperity, development, peace and stability for our people, and in the wider region. Vietnam is a strong pillar of India's Act East Policy. Our bilateral ties are based on strong mutual trust, and understanding, and convergence of views on various regional and international issues.

Excellency, ladies and gentlemen,

It gives me great pleasure to invite you to join me in a toast:

To the health and happiness of His Excellency Mr. Nguyen Xuan Phuc, Prime Minister of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam, and all of you present here;

To the wellbeing and prosperity of the people and leadership of Vietnam; and

To everlasting friendship between India and Vietnam.

Source: PIB
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5G and the Internet of Things are two of the hottest trends on the communications and networking frontier. Heres a quick look at some of the ways in which they are moving forward.

Korean service provider KT (News - Alert) announced that it has successfully concluded a demonstration of NB-IoT technology with the support of Nokia (News - Alert). NB-IoT is part of the 3GPPs Release 13 standard, and one of the ways in which the industry has moved to enable LTE to address the unique needs of IoT applications.





Cat 1 is another LTE (News - Alert) specification addressing IoT. And this week Steve Anderson reported about how Autonet Mobile has selected Cat 1 technology from Sequans to power its Dealer Connect solution. Dealer Connect is a connected car solution that provides real-time monitoring of vehicle health and can notify car owners and dealerships when maintenance is needed and can help schedule appointments. Now, with LTE Cat 1, users of Dealer Connect have the benefit of anytime, anywhere connectivity.

Turning to the subject of 5G, as I reported on Tuesday, there have been various prognostications recently as to when endpoints and network rollouts based on this 4G successor will be available.

Ovum (News - Alert) expects commercial 5G services to appear starting in 2020, and to attract 24 million subscriptions worldwide by the end of the following year. Meanwhile, a Zacks analyst blog expects 5G mobile handsets to be available in Japan and South Korea in 2020 and in Sweden, the UAE, the U.K., and the U.S. the following year.

And, as Anderson wrote yesterday, a new report from Rysavy Research called Mobile Broadband Transformation: LTE to 5G talks about the expectation that 5G will be available by 2020.

However, a brief issued yesterday by consulting and analysis firm IDC suggests that some of these discussions and product rollouts around 5G may be a bit premature given that 5G has yet to be defined. But, as John Delaney, associate vice president of mobility at IDC (News - Alert), noted, that hasnt stopped some network equipment providers from announcing products they describe as 5G solutions or 5G-ready.
Commentaries by western intellectuals, media and government officials continue to hail King Mohammed VI for his speech against radicalism and terrorism.

In a recent commentary on the French Le Point newspaper, French philosopher Bernard-Henri Levy highlights that at a time the west is mired in a sterile burkini debate, King Mohammed VI delivered a speech- on the occasion of the 63rd anniversary of the Revolution of the King and the People- putting Morocco at the forefront of the fight against terrorism and radicalism.

He points out to the farsightedness expressed by King Mohammed VI in his speech on August 20 in which he stood up against terrorism by shoving aside bogus religious claims and reminding the world that suicide and murder are not permitted in Islam.

Levy points to the particularity of the Kings speech, saying that the Monarch has a unique standing that distinguishes him from other heads of state in the region. He notes that the Kings Muslim authority as Commander of the Faithful and his lineal descent of the Prophet Mohammed gives him an edge in bringing the war against radicalism to their own territory by putting them outside the law of humans and God.

He added that Moroccos King addresses the theological root-causes of radicalism and recognizes the link between the misinterpretation of religion and the ideology that feeds terrorism, accordingly he proved the unfoundedness of the terrorists referential framework and dismissed the arguments of radicals by citing verses from the holy Quran that condemn terrorism and the killing of innocents.

The Kings speech was widely echoed by western media in countries with a large Moroccan diaspora, such as France and Belgium where leading papers lauded the call by the Sovereign on Moroccans immigrants to remain faithful to their traditions of tolerance and to be good citizens in the face of the surging amalgams.

Le Monde, Le Figaro and Paris Match shed light on the pertinence and timeliness of the speech where the King calls on the Moroccans living abroad to remain firmly committed to their religious values and to their time-honored traditions as they face up to this phenomenon which has nothing to do with their culture or background. I also urge them to maintain their good reputation, to show forbearance in these trying circumstances, to close ranks and to be, as always, staunch advocates of peace, concord and co-existence in their country of residence.

In the English media outlets, notably the BBC and Forbes, to mention but a few, the message of the Kings speech was described as bold. In this respect, Forbes magazine published an article entitled, Arab King: Terrorists Are Not Muslims And Will Dwell Forever In Hell. It draws a conclusion from the speech saying: We can dry up terrorist support by challenging the religious basis of Islamic extremism, reveal its religious claims as false and remind would-be American and European recruits that there are strict Islamic laws against suicide, murder and injustice.

King Mohammed VI condemnation of terrorism in the strongest terms and his message to Muslims, Christians and Jews to close ranks and form a common front against extremism also received praise from the French and the Belgian governments as well as the EU.

The Kings speech also tackled the central place of Africa in Moroccos foreign policy, the need to boost measures aiming at helping and integrating African migrants as well as the need to foster solidarity with Algeria.
A building damaged by the quake in Pawnee, Oklahoma. Photo: Maureen Wurtz/KTUL/Twitter

A 5.6 magnitude, likely man-made earthquake rocked north-central Oklahoma on Saturday morning, matching the strength of the most powerful earthquake to be recorded in the state back in 2011. No injuries have been reported so far, but the quake was felt in several surrounding states, according to the Associated Press, and as seen above, at least one building was damaged in the town of Pawnee, which was about nine miles southeast of the quakes epicenter.

A barn reportedly caught fire near the epicenter as well:

Closer look at the property being called the epicenter of #Pawnee quake on 342 Rd @KJRH2HD pic.twitter.com/F9ARu8qyol  Ashley Holt (@Ashley_A_Holt) September 3, 2016

The likely culprit for the minute-long quake, as with previous recent quakes in the state, was the injection of wastewater into disposal wells deep in the ground as part of states oil and natural-gas production, and CNN adds that Oklahoma officials are now reviewing such disposal wells near where the earthquake struck. A U.S. Geological Service report released in March warned that Oklahomans faced a 5 to 12 percent chance of experiencing a damaging induced quake this year:

Induced earthquakes are triggered by human activities, with wastewater disposal being the primary cause for recent events in many areas of the [central and eastern U.S.] Wastewater from oil and gas production operations can be disposed of by injecting it into deep underground wells, below aquifers that provide drinking water.

Oklahoma topped the USGSs list of six states at risk for potential hazard from induced seismicity, and noted the increasing frequency of such events:

The central U.S. has undergone the most dramatic increase in seismicity over the past six years. From 1973 to 2008, there was an average of 24 earthquakes of magnitude 3.0 and larger per year. From 2009 to 2015, the rate steadily increased, averaging 318 per year and peaking in 2015 with 1,010 earthquakes. Through mid-March in 2016, there have been 226 earthquakes of magnitude 3.0 and larger in the central U.S. region. To date, the largest earthquake located near several active injection wells was a magnitude 5.6 in 2011 near Prague, Oklahoma.

In other words, when it comes to the frequency of earthquakes, Oklahoma is now worse than California, which sits on an active, natural fault line. To make matters worse, the USGS says that the induced quakes can unsettle the earth in such a way that natural earthquakes are later triggered independently. For a deeper look at the issue, as well as the political, regulatory, and cultural complexities surrounding the oil and gas industry in Oklahoma, check out Rivka Galchens informative New Yorker piece on the subject from last year. One key section:

Although disposal wells have been used for decades, the new dewatering process has led to a dramatic increase in how much water is being disposed of. (In the state, the water used in the initial stage of fracking accounts for less than ten per cent of the water pumped down disposal wells.) In Oklahoma today, an average of about ten barrels of water comes up for every barrel of oil. [Austin Holland, the head seismologist of the Oklahoma Geological Survey,] said, Were talking about billions of barrels, and it has to go somewhere. Todd Halihan, a professor of geology at Oklahoma State University, in Stillwater, told me, Were injecting the equivalent of two Lake HefnersOklahoma Citys four-square-mile reservoirinto the ground each year, and we dont really understand where that water is going.


Gearing up for the release of her comeback album, Utada Hikaru sits down with Yahoo! Japan for her first interview since her hiatus at 2010. She describes the creative process of creating her comeback album both from a general perspective and a track-by-track perspective.



General

- Prior to going on hiatus, she went full-throtle on her musical activities because she knew that her hiatus could last for two to five years.

- Believes that the loss of a mother forces you to grow up, and she wasn't confident in herself since her mother's death until recently.

- Interviewer/writer points out that the album is undoubtedly inspired by her late mother, down to her hairstyle.

- Album covers various events during her hiatus (e.g., mother's death, marriage, becoming a mother)

- Giving Japanese titles to all of her tracks was a very deliberate artistic decision.

- Utada Hikaru also had control over which photographer she worked with for the album cover.

Track by Track

Michi (Road)

- Hikki describes it as a dancable track that condenses her hiatus into a single song.

- The song basically lets her fans know that she's fine.

- Finds the writing process of a song of this nature refreshing.

- Showcases her growth/maturity since her last Japanese album (Heart Station)



Ore no Kanajo (My Girlfriend)

- Her most mature Japanese song to date; described as not a PG-13 song, but a Rated R song.

- Felt that it was taboo to talk about her sex life due to debuting in Japan at a young age.

- Even though she alluded to sex on her English songs/albums, she was never able to directly express it the way she can now.

- Admits that singing about sex in English was a crutch for her to avoid talking about her sex life.

- The song contains French lyrics, and this use of French inspired the album title a single tear drop rolls off of a proud shiina ringo's face .



Hanataba wo Kimi ni (A Boquet for you)

- Was released as a digital single for her official retun from hiatus.

- Positive reception to the song influenced the direction of the album.

- Shares sentiment of international fans' outrage at how difficult it is to see the music video (Official source is restricted to Japan). According to a tweet, even Hikki isn't able to see it at the time of responding to a fan. Said music video can be seen here.



Ningyo (Mermaid; oop, I mistranslated it as "doll" in a previous post. I should pay more attention to the kanji and not the romaji next time.)

- Interviewer considers it a rare song for Utada.

- A simple acoustic song written after Utada Hikaru's mother died.

- Was unsure if she could write music again after her mother's death.

- Inspired to pick up a guitar, and the melody came to her.

- However, the lyrics didn't come to her until she saw the Hanataba wo Kimi ni music video produced by Keiko Tsuji (Paper cutter artist).

Kouya no Ookami (Wolf of the Wilderness)

- Inspired by Steppenwolf, a novel written by German-Swiss writer Herman Hesse.

- The protagonist of the novel deals with his earthly, humanistic nature and his wolf-like, aggressive nature; then, his life changes when he meets a woman opposite of him.

- Noticable breathing sounds in the track; expression through breathing is said to be a reoccurring minor theme in the album.



Sakura Nagashi (Flowing Cherry Blossoms)

- Sentimental requiem for life and its beauty.

- Wrote and composed the song despite being on hiatus due to her apprecation for the Neon Genesis Evangelion movie series.

Sources 1 / 2 / 3


MOONLIGHT is also a devastatingly beautiful love story. to put in the most reductive terms possible, think CAROL by way of Frank Ocean.  david ehrlich (@davidehrlich) September 3, 2016



MOONLIGHT has a third act that's as exquisitely observed, filmed, and acted as anything in years. Stunning  Richard Lawson (@rilaws) September 3, 2016



Moonlight just totally floored me. It's one of the most beautifully made films about being a gay man that I've ever seen #Telluride  Benjamin Lee (@benfraserlee) September 3, 2016



Potent, beautiful filmmaking/script. And holy jeeeeeeezus Naomie Harris (a standout) is a fierce, heartrending force of nature in MOONLIGHT  JASON (@MichaelNotCera) September 3, 2016



MOONLIGHT is one of the best movies of the year. Astonishingly beautiful and intimate. #TellurideFilmFestival  erickohn (@erickohn) September 3, 2016



Moonlight - An exceptional work of cinematic beauty, telling a vital story of humanity. Triptych storytelling done right, immensely moving.  Alex Billington (@firstshowing) September 3, 2016

The PlayList/Gregory Ellwood : Like Brokeback Mountain a decade ago, Moonlight is a piece of art that will transform lives long after it leaves theaters. Those who will be changed by the picture may not see it on the big screen. They may even have to see it in secret. But when they do. Whey they watch Chiron have that first kiss, when he can be himself for just an instance in a world that oppresses him? It will be everything. [A]



Variety/Peter Debruge: Black isnt just a race, community, or color, but one of three names by which a sexually conflicted young South Florida man allows himself to be called in a film thats ultimately about taking control of ones own identity. Thats exactly what Jenkins himself is doing by delivering a film so firmly committed to capturing the black experience, resulting in a socially conscious work of art as essential as it is insightful. A natural extension of his garrulous San Francisco-set debut, Medicine for Melancholy, the directors beautifully nuanced, subtext-rich second feature is no less intellectually engaged, but proves far more trusting in audiences ability to read between the lines.



Hollywood Reporter/David Rooney: The Bottom Line: Glows likes its title... It would be tempting to call Moonlight an instant landmark in queer black cinema, if that didn't imply that the experience it portrays will speak only to a minority audience. Instead, this is a film that will strike plangent chords for anyone who has ever struggled with identity, or to find connections in a lonely world. It announces Jenkins as an important new voice. [Note: Review is incredibly spoiler heavy]



The Wrap/Sam Fragoso: Moonlight is not a public service announcement or a cry for help. It doesnt fetishize Chirons pain, as so many pieces of contemporary American cinema do. Its a humanist film; its about people, and its got a pulse. It presents characters as idiosyncratic, domineering, but mostly fearful  timid creatures ambling through life in the hopes of finding refuge.

Screen Daily/Tim Grierson : An indelible portrait of an imperilled life, Moonlight is quietly devastating in its depiction of masculinity, race, poverty and identity. Writer-director Barry Jenkins builds on the promise of his intimate 2008 romantic drama Medicine For Melancholy to examine a young African-American in danger of being dragged down by the destructive forces around him  and how, by embracing his true self, he may discover contentment. Ambitious in scope but precise in its execution, this deceptively small-scale character piece reverberates with compassion and insight.
Attorneys for the Dakota Access Pipeline have asked state regulators to keep the exact location of the pipeline confidential due to safety concerns.

The company is requesting that the North Dakota Public Service Commission issue an order that restricts access to geographic information system data for the safety of Dakota Access representatives and the public.

The request submitted Thursday does not specifically mention the ongoing protest of the pipeline, but it was filed a day after pipeline opponents bound themselves to equipment at a Dakota Access construction site south of Mandan.

Attorney Lawrence Bender states in the request that the GIS data should qualify for an exemption from North Dakotas open records law.

PSC Chairwoman Julie Fedorchak said staff will review the request and prepare an order for commissioners to consider.

The commission has already denied two requests for the GIS data for the Dakota Access Pipeline, Fedorchak said.

State law provides an exemption from the open records law for critical infrastructure, which the PSC believes applies to the crude oil transmission line. The agency has provided detailed maps of the project but has not released the GIS information, which provides exact coordinates for the pipeline, Fedorchak said.

Its very, very specific technical data about the pipeline route and other construction-related information, she said.

The approach is consistent with how federal pipeline regulators limit access to GIS data for pipelines, Fedorchak said.

One request for the data came from Kathryn Hilton of Mandan, a volunteer community organizer known as the Bakken Resister. The PSC provided Hilton copies of maps that were in the public case docket but not the GIS data.

Hilton said Friday she plans to follow up with another request to the PSC for the information about the pipeline.

We should be able to know where it is and areas where we should use extra caution around (it), she said.

The other request for the information came from the states Department of Emergency Services and the PSC suggested the agency get the information directly from the company, Fedorchak said.

We dont view ourselves as being the gatekeeper for this information for other state agencies, Fedorchak said.
I wish he was attractive.

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that really threw me off, what's going on?

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i change my mind i don't wanna talk about this show

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Jessica Stroup is such a babe.

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She was one of the few good things about the 90210 reboot

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This show looks bland, like the actor.

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I mean, I'm still gonna watch the fuck out of this, but it does not look promising compared to the other 3.

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Aw man I forgot Faramir was in this :(

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Loras is alive

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he ugly af

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it's a no from me

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Why couldn't he shave 

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Should have been Steven Yeun.

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Marvel fucked up on this one. This ugly gremlin.



Only question I got is if Claire's gonna make a cameo or nah?

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Many people are hoping for wind and solar PV to transform grid electricity in a favorable way. Is this really possible? Is it really feasible for intermittent renewables to generate a large share of grid electricity? The answer increasingly looks as if it is, No, the costs are too great, and the return on investment would be way too low. We are already encountering major grid problems, even with low penetrations of intermittent renewable electricity: US, 5.4 percent of 2015 electricity consumption; China, 3.9 percent; Germany, 19.5 percent; Australia, 6.6 percent.

In fact, I have come to the rather astounding conclusion that even if wind turbines and solar PV could be built at zero cost, it would not make sense to continue to add them to the electric grid in the absence of very much better and cheaper electricity storage than we have today. There are too many costs outside building the devices themselves. It is these secondary costs that are problematic. Also, the presence of intermittent electricity disrupts competitive prices, leading to electricity prices that are far too low for other electricity providers, including those providing electricity using nuclear or natural gas. The tiny contribution of wind and solar to grid electricity cannot make up for the loss of more traditional electricity sources due to low prices.

Leaders around the world have demanded that their countries switch to renewable energy, without ever taking a very close look at what the costs and benefits were likely to be. A few simple calculations were made, such as Life Cycle Assessment and Energy Returned on Energy Invested. These calculations miss the fact that the intermittent energy being returned is of very much lower quality than is needed to operate the electric grid. They also miss the point that timing and the cost of capital are very important, as is the impact on the pricing of other energy products. This is basically another example of a problem I wrote about earlier, Overly Simple Energy-Economy Models Give Misleading Answers.

Lets look at some of the issues that we are encountering, as we attempt to add intermittent renewable energy to the electric grid.

Issue 1. Grid issues become a problem at low levels of intermittent electricity penetration.

In 2015, wind and solar PV amounted to only 12.2 percent of total electricity consumed in Hawaii, based on EIA data. Even at this low level, Hawaii is encountering sufficiently serious grid problems that it has needed to stop net metering (giving homeowners credit for the retail cost of electricity, when electricity is sold to the grid) and phase out subsidies.

Figure 1. Hawaii Electricity Production, based on EIA data. Other Disp. electricity is the sum of various other non-intermittent electricity sources, including geothermal and biomass burned as fuel.

Hawaii consists of a chain of islands, so it cannot import electricity from elsewhere. This is what I mean by Generation = Consumption. There is, of course, some transmission line loss with all electrical generation, so generation and consumption are, in fact, slightly different.

The situation is not too different in California. The main difference is that California can import non-intermittent (also called dispatchable) electricity from elsewhere. It is really the ratio of intermittent electricity to total electricity that is important, when it comes to balancing. California is running into grid issues at a similar level of intermittent electricity penetration (wind + solar PV) as Hawaiiabout 12.3 percent of electricity consumed in 2015, compared to 12.2 percent for Hawaii.

Figure 2. California electricity consumption, based on EIA data. Other Disp. is the sum of other non-intermittent sources, including geothermal and biomass burned for electricity generation.

Even with growing wind and solar production, California is increasingly dependent on non-intermittent electricity imported from other states.

Issue 2. The apparent lid on intermittent electricity at 10 percent to 15 percent of total electricity consumption is caused by limits on operating reserves.

Electric grids are set up with operating reserves that allow the electric grid to maintain stability, even if a large unit, such as a nuclear power plant, goes offline. These operating reserves typically handle fluctuations of 10 percent to 15 percent in the electricity supply.

If additional adjustment is needed, it is possible to take some commercial facilities offline, based on agreements offering lower rates for interruptible supply. It is also possible for certain kinds of power plants, particularly hydroelectric and natural gas peaker plants, to ramp production up or down quickly. Combined cycle natural gas plants also provide reasonably fast response.

In theory, changes can be made to the system to allow the system to be more flexible. One such change is adding more long distance transmission, so that the variable electricity can be distributed over a wider area. This way the 10 percent to 15 percent operational reserve cap applies more broadly. Another approach is adding energy storage, so that excess electricity can be stored until needed later. A third approach is using a smart grid to make changes, such as turning off all air conditioners and hot water heaters when electricity supply is inadequate. All of these changes tend to be slow to implement and high in cost, relative to the amount of intermittent electricity that can be added because of their implementation.

Issue 3. When there is no other workaround for excess intermittent electricity, it must be curtailedthat is, dumped rather than added to the grid.

Overproduction without grid capacity was a significant problem in Texas in 2009, causing about 17 percent of wind energy to be curtailed in 2009. At that time, wind energy amounted to about 5.0 percent of Texass total electricity consumption. The problem has mostly been fixed, thanks to a series of grid upgrades allowing wind energy to flow better from western Texas to eastern Texas.

Figure 3. Texas electricity net generation based on EIA data. The Texas grid is separate, so there is no imported or exported electricity.

In 2015, total intermittent electricity from wind and solar amounted to only 10.1 percent of Texas electricity. Solar has never been large enough to be visible on the chartonly 0.1 percent of consumption in 2015. The total amount of intermittent electricity consumed in Texas is only now beginning to reach the likely 10 percent to 15 percent limit of operational reserves. Thus, it is behind Hawaii and California in reaching intermittent electricity limits.

Based on the modeling of the company that oversees the California electric grid, electricity curtailment in California is expected to be significant by 2024, if the 40 percent California Renewable Portfolio Standard (RPS) is followed, and changes are not made to fix the problem.

Issue 4. When all costs are included, including grid costs and indirect costs, such as the need for additional storage, the cost of intermittent renewables tends to be very high.

In Europe, there is at least a reasonable attempt to charge electricity costs back to consumers. In the United States, renewable energy costs are mostly hidden, rather than charged back to consumers. This is easy to do, because their usage is still low.

Euan Mearns finds that in Europe, the greater the proportion of wind and solar electricity included in total generation, the higher electricity prices are for consumers.

Figure 5. Figure by Euan Mearns showing relationship between installed wind + solar capacity and European electricity rates. Source Energy Matters.

The five countries shown in red have all had financial difficulties. High electricity prices may have contributed to their problems.

The United States is not shown on this chart, since it is not part of Europe. If it were, it would be a bit below, and to the right of, Czech Republic and Romania.

Issue 5. The amount that electrical utilities are willing to pay for intermittent electricity is very low.

The big question is, How much value does adding intermittent electricity add to the electrical grid? Clearly, adding intermittent electricity allows a utility to reduce the amount of fossil fuel energy that it might otherwise purchase. In some cases, the addition of solar electricity slightly reduces the amount of new generation needed. This reduction occurs because of the tendency of solar to offer supply when the usage of air conditioners is high on summer afternoons. Of course, in advanced countries, the general tendency of electricity usage is down, thanks to more efficient light bulbs and less usage by computer screens and TV monitors.

At the same time, the addition of intermittent electricity adds a series of other costs:

- Many more hook-ups to generation devices are needed. Homes now need two-way connections, instead of one-way connections. Someone needs to service these connections and check for problems.

- Besides intermittency problems, the mix of active and reactive power may be wrong. The generation sources may cause frequency deviations larger than permitted by regulations.

- More long-distance electricity transmission lines are needed, so that the new electricity can be distributed over a wide enough area that it doesnt cause oversupply problems when little electricity is needed (such as weekends in the spring and fall).

- As electricity is transported over longer distances, there is more loss in transport.

- To mitigate some of these problems, there is a need for electricity storage. This adds two kinds of costs: (1) Cost for the storage device, and (2) Loss of electricity in the process.

- As I will discuss later, intermittent energy tends to lead to very low wholesale electricity prices. Other electricity providers need to be compensated for the effects these low prices cause; otherwise they will leave the market.

To sum up, when intermittent electricity is added to the electric grid, the primary savings are fuel savings. At the same time, significant costs of many different types are added, acting to offset these savings. In fact, it is not even clear that when a comparison is made, the benefits of adding intermittent electricity are greater than the costs involved.

According to the EIAs 2015 Wind Technologies Market Report, the major way intermittent electricity is sold to electric utilities is as part of long term Power Purchase Agreements (PPAs), typically lasting for 20 years. Utilities buy PPAs as a way of hedging against the possibility that natural gas prices will rise in the future. The report indicates that the recent selling price for PPAs is about $25 to $28 per MWh (Figure 6). This is equivalent to 2.5 to 2.8 cents per kWh, which is very inexpensive.

(Click to enlarge)

Figure 6. EIA exhibit showing the median and mean cost of wind PPAs compared to EIAs forecast price of natural gas, from 2015 Wind Technologies Market Report.

In effect, what utilities are trying to do is hedge against rising fuel prices of whatever kind they choose to purchase. They may even be able to afford to make other costly changes, such as more transmission lines and energy storage, so that more intermittent electricity can be accommodated.

Issue 6. When intermittent electricity is sold in competitive electricity markets (as it is in California, Texas, and Europe), it frequently leads to negative wholesale electricity prices. It also shaves the peaks off high prices at times of high demand.

In states and countries that use competitive pricing (rather than utility pricing, used in some states), the wholesale price of electricity price varies from minute to minute, depending on the balance between supply and demand. When there is an excess of intermittent electricity, wholesale prices often become negative. Figure 7 shows a chart by a representative of the company that oversees the California electric grid.

(Click to enlarge)

Figure 7. Exhibit showing problem of negative electricity prices in California, from a presentation at the 2016 EIA Annual Conference.

Clearly, the number of negative price spikes increases, as the proportion of intermittent electricity increases. A similar problem with negative prices has been reported in Texas and in Europe.

When solar energy is included in the mix of intermittent fuels, it also tends to reduce peak afternoon prices. Of course, these minute-by-minute prices dont really flow back to the ultimate consumers, so it doesnt affect their demand. Instead, these low prices simply lead to lower funds available to other electricity producers, most of whom cannot quickly modify electricity generation. Related: Is Elon Musk Taking Advantage Of Solar City Investors?

To illustrate the problem that arises, Figure 8, prepared by consultant Paul-Frederik Bach, shows a comparison of Germanys average wholesale electricity prices (dotted line) with residential electricity prices for a number of European countries. Clearly, wholesale electricity prices have been trending downward, while residential electricity prices have been rising. In fact, if prices for nuclear, natural gas, and coal-fired electricity had been fair prices for these other providers, residential electricity prices would have trended upward even more quickly than shown in the graph!

Figure 8. Residential Electricity Prices in Europe, together with Germany spot wholesale price

Note that the recent average wholesale electricity price is about 30 euros per MWh, which is equivalent to 3.0 cents per kWh. In US dollars this would equate to $36 per MWh, or 3.6 cents per kWh. These prices are higher than prices paid by PPAs for intermittent electricity ($25 to $28 per MWh), but not a whole lot higher.

The problem we encounter is that prices in the $36 MWh range are too low for almost every kind of energy generation. Figure 9 from Bloomberg is from 2013, so is not entirely up to date, but gives an idea of the basic problem.

(Click to enlarge)

Figure 9. Global leveled cost of energy production by Bloomberg.

A price of $36 per MWh is way down at the bottom of the chart, between 0 and 50. Pretty much no energy source can be profitable at such a level. Too much investment is required, relative to the amount of energy produced. We reach a situation where nearly every kind of electricity provider needs subsidies. If they cannot receive subsidies, many of them will close, leaving the market with only a small amount of unreliable intermittent electricity, and little back-up capability.

This same problem with falling wholesale prices, and a need for subsidies for other energy producers, has been noted in California and Texas. The Wall Street Journal ran an article earlier this week about low electricity prices in Texas, without realizing that this was a problem caused by wind energy, not a desirable result!

Issue 7. Other parts of the world are also having problems with intermittent electricity.

Germany is known as a world leader in intermittent electricity generation. Its intermittent generation hit 12.2 percent of total generation in 2012. As you will recall, this is the level where California and Hawaii started to reach grid problems. By 2015, its intermittent electricity amounted to 19.5 percent of total electricity generated.

Figure 10. German electricity generated, based on BP Statistical Review of World Energy 2016.

Needless to say, such high intermittent electricity generation leads to frequent spikes in generation. Germany chose to solve this problem by dumping its excess electricity supply on the European Union electric grid. Poland, Czech Republic, and Netherlands complained to the European Union. As a result, the European Union mandated that from 2017 onward, all European Union countries (not just Germany) can no longer use feed-in tariffs. Doing so provides too much of an advantage to intermittent electricity providers. Instead, EU members must use market-responsive auctioning, known as feed-in premiums. Germany legislated changes that went even beyond the minimum changes required by the European Union. Dorte Fouquet, Director of the European Renewable Energy Federation, says that the German adjustments will decimate the industry.

In Australia, one recent headline was Australia Considers Banning Wind Power Because Its Causing Blackouts. The problem seems to be in South Australia, where the last coal-fired power plants are closing because subsidized wind is leading to low wholesale electricity prices. Australia, as a whole, does not have a high intermittent electricity penetration ratio (6.6 percent of 2015 electricity consumption), but grid limitations mean that South Australia is disproportionately affected. Related: Slashing Dividends: The Only Option Left For Big Oil?

China has halted the approval of new wind turbine installations in North China because it does not have grid capacity to transport intermittent electricity to more populated areas. Also, most of Chinas electricity production is from coal, and it is difficult to use coal to balance with wind and solar because coal-fired plants can only be ramped up slowly. Chinas total use of wind and solar is not very high (3.9 percent of consumption in 2015), but it is already encountering major difficulties in grid integration.

Issue 8. The amount of subsidies provided to intermittent electricity is very high.

The renewable energy program in the United States consists of overlapping local, state, and federal programs. It includes mandates, feed-in tariffs, exemption from taxes, production tax credits, and other devices. This combination of approaches makes it virtually impossible to figure out the amount of the subsidy by adding up the pieces. We are pretty certain, however, that the amount is high. According to the National Wind Watch Organization:

At the federal level, the production or investment tax credit and double-declining accelerated depreciation can pay for two-thirds of a wind power project. Additional state incentives, such as guaranteed markets and exemption from property taxes, can pay for another 10 percent.

If we believe this statement, the developer only pays about 23 percent of the cost of a wind energy project.

The US Energy Information Administration prepared an estimate of certain types of subsidies (those provided by the federal government and targeted particularly at energy) for the year 2013. These amounted to a total of $11.3 billion for wind and solar combined. About 183.3 terawatts of wind and solar energy was sold during 2013, at a wholesale price of about 2.8 cents per kWh, leading to a total selling price of $5.1 billion dollars. If we add the wholesale price of $5.1 billion to the subsidy of $11.3 billion, we get a total of $16.4 billion paid to developers or used in special grid expansion programs. This subsidy amounts to 69 percent of the estimated total cost. Any subsidy from states, or from other government programs, would be in addition to the amount from this calculation.

Paul-Frederik Bach shows a calculation of wind energy subsidies in Denmark, comparing the prices paid under the Public Service Obligation (PSO) system to the market price for wind. His calculations show that both the percentage and dollar amount of subsidies have been rising. In 2015, subsidies amounted to 66 percent of the total PSO cost.

Figure 11. Amount of subsidy for wind energy in Netherlands, as calculated by comparing paid for wind under PSO with market value of wind energy.

In a sense, these calculations do not show the full amount of subsidy. If renewables are to replace fossil fuels, they must pay taxes to governments, just as fossil fuel providers do now. Energy providers are supposed to provide net energy to the system. The way that they share this net energy with governments is by paying taxes of various kindsincome taxes, property taxes, and special taxes associated with extraction. If intermittent renewables are to replace fossil fuels, they need to provide tax revenue as well. Current subsidy calculations dont consider the high taxes paid by fossil fuel providers, and the need to replace these taxes, if governments are to have adequate revenue.

Also, the amount and percentage of required subsidy for intermittent renewables can be expected to rise over time, as more areas exceed the limits of their operating reserves, and need to build long distance transmission to spread intermittent electricity over a larger area. This seems to be happening in Europe now. In 2015, the revenue generated by the wholesale price of intermittent electricity amounted to about 13.1 billion euros, according to my calculations. In order to expand further, policy advisor Daniel Genz with Vattenfall indicates that grids across Europe will need to be upgraded, at a cost of between 100 and 400 billion euros. In other words, grid expenditures will be needed of that amount to between 7.6 and 30.5 times wholesale revenues received from intermittent electricity in 2015. Most of this will likely need to come from additional subsidies, because there is no possibility that the return on this investment can be very high.

There is also the problem of the low profit levels for all of the other electricity providers, when intermittent renewables are allowed to sell their electricity whenever it becomes available. One potential solution is huge subsidies for other providers. Another is buying a lot of energy storage, so that energy from peaks can be saved and used when supply is low. A third solution is requiring that renewable energy providers curtail their production when it is not needed. Any of these solutions is likely to require subsidies.

Conclusion

We already seem to be reaching limits with respect to intermittent electricity supply. The US Energy Information Administration may be reaching the same conclusion. It chose Steve Kean from Kinder Morgan (a pipeline company) as its keynote speaker at its July 2016 Annual Conference. He made the following statements about renewable energy.

(Click to enlarge)

Figure 12. Excerpt from Keynote Address slide at US Energy Administration Conference by Steve Kean of Kinder Morgan.

This view is very similar to mine. Few people have stopped to realize that intermittent electricity isnt worth very much. It may even have negative value, when the cost of all of the adjustments needed to make it useful are considered.

Energy products are very different in quality. Intermittent electricity is of exceptionally low quality. The costs that intermittent electricity impose on the system need to be paid by someone else. This is a huge problem, especially as penetration levels start exceeding the 10 percent to 15 percent level that can be handled by operating reserves, and much more costly adjustments must be made to accommodate this energy. Even if wind turbines and solar panels could be produced for $0, it seems likely that the costs of working around the problems caused by intermittent electricity would be greater than the compensation that can be obtained to fix those problems.

The situation is a little like adding a large number of drunk drivers, or of self-driving cars that dont really work as planned, to a highway system. In theory, other drivers can learn to accommodate them, if enough extra lanes are added, and the concentration of the poorly operating vehicles is kept low enough. But a person needs to understand exactly what the situation is, and understand the cost of all of the adjustments that need to be made, before agreeing to allow the highway system to add more poorly behaving vehicles.

In An Updated Version of the Peak Oil Story, I talked about the fact that instead of oil running out, it is becoming too expensive for our economy to accommodate. The economy does not perform well when the cost of energy products is very high. The situation with new electricity generation is similar. We need electricity products to be well-behaved (not act like drunk drivers) and low in cost, if they are to be successful in growing the economy. If we continue to add large amounts of intermittent electricity to the electric grid without paying attention to these problems, we run the risk of bringing the whole system down.

By Gail Tverberg via Our Finite World

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Following reports of a stroke, a global guessing game has ensued, with observers uncertain as to the status of Uzbekistans president, Islam Karimov. While rumours of his death have been circulated by the opposition, the government has made no announcement one way or the other. Competing claims put Karimovs time of death sometime between last Thursday and Monday. Alternatively, his daughter thanked well-wishers, stating on Wednesday that Karimov was recovering.

The uncertainty surrounding the president is par for the course for Uzbekistan, which Karimov has ruled with the aid of a personality cult since 1989. Consequently, as Uzbekistan seeks to mark 25 years of independence, the countrys celebrations are overshadowed by Karimovs nebulous condition. The country has only known one leader, and as such his demise raises serious questions about the states trajectory and sustainability.

Deirdre Tynan, Central Asia project director for International Crisis Group sums up the situation in which Uzbekistan finds itself: this is a huge test, one that has been anticipated for some time. But if Uzbekistan stumbles, if the transition turns to political chaos, the risk of violent conflict is high; and in a region as fragile as Central Asia, the risk of that spreading is also high.

A post-Karimov Uzbekistan highlights Sino-Russian rivalry

Karimov has long been a major stabilizing force, one that has (for better or worse) kept the country together. While his ill-health is not a surprise, uncertainty does remain concerning the governments succession plans. Rivalries and falling-outs in the ruling family have largely ruled out a direct successor. Instead, the likely candidate is Prime Minister Shavkat Mirziyoyev.

Unlike Karimov, Mirziyoyev is seen as less belligerent, and is favoured by Russia: Moscows diplomats never warmed to the prickly Karimov. Russia hopes that Mirziyoyev will be more pro-Russian, perhaps leading Uzbekistan to re-join the Collective Treaty Security Organization. Russia also hopes that a post-Karimov Uzbekistan would be open to joining the Eurasian Economic Union (EEU). An important element for Russia is the fact that Mirziyoyev enjoys the support of ex-KGB Rustam Innoyatov  the long-serving head of the Internal Security Service. Innoyatovs KGB credentials and Soviet-era training makes him familiar with Russias operating norms, thus facilitating bilateral rapport, especially with fellow ex-KGB agent, Vladimir Putin.

A power vacuum in Uzbekistan would be an opportunity for Russia to re-exert regional influence, influence that has been eroding as China pumps money into Central Asia as part of its New Silk Road initiative. Under Karimov, Uzbekistan has become closely intertwined in Chinese economic and security frameworks. Related: The Biggest Wildcard For Oil Prices Right Now

Uzbekistan joined the Chinese-led Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) in 2001, with Tashkent becoming home to the Regional Anti-Terrorism Structure (RATS), a permanent SCO organ. Created in 2002, RATS is a multilateral security agreement that creates detailed security commitments between SCO member states to combat terrorism, separatism, and extremism.

(Click to enlarge)

RATS, and the SCO in general, provides China with a framework to establish regional norms, providing uniform security protocols which in turn help protect Chinese investments in Central Asia. By hosting RATS, Uzbekistan plays a key role in the SCO. Yet, despite Chinas attempt to foster regional stability, and its concerted efforts to rectify any border disputes with its Central Asian neighbours, problems remain.

Specifically, Uzbekistan continues to contest a 300 kilometer section of its 1,000 kilometer border with fellow SCO member Kyrgyzstan. On Thursday, August 25th, Uzbekistan enforced its claims, detaining four Kyrgyz men, raising tensions with Kyrgyzstan. This has led Kyrgyz president Almazbek Atambayev to order a review of the international border agreements signed by previous governments. This simmering dispute threatens to undermine SCO cohesion as well as endanger regional efforts at cross-border economic integration.

Uzbekistans actions, which coincide with the earliest rumoured reports of Karimovs death, may have been an effort by Tashkent to demonstrate its strength and/or to distract from Karimovs health.

The situation with Kyrgyzstan is further complicated as Uzbekistan is Central Asias most populous country, with its largest military, thus clout within the group, as witnessed by the recent head of state summit in Tashkent on June 23-24, 2016. Related: Venezuelas Oil Output Set To Collapse As 1 Million Take To The Streets

During this meeting, China vowed to upgrade its relations with Uzbekistan to that of comprehensive strategic partnership and celebrated the inauguration of the Qamchiq Tunnel, Central Asias longest railway tunnel  a key Silk Road infrastructure project.

Uzbekistan is also a valuable source of raw materials for China, notably uranium, natural gas and gold (the country has the worlds fourth largest reserves). More importantly, however, is the role Uzbekistan plays in connecting China with LNG suppliers further to the west. Uzbekistan is the linchpin in the Central Asia-China Pipeline: all three lines run through Uzbek territory, as will the fourth (Line D); currently under construction.

(Click to enlarge)

The three existing lines already supply 55 billion cubic meters of natural gas a year to China. This constitutes 20 percent of Chinas annual natural gas consumption. Already the largest LNG network in Central Asia, upon completion, Line D will add another 30 billion cubic meters to annual supply, further increasing Chinas dependence on trans-Uzbek pipelines.

Aside from the billions China has invested in these pipelines, they are also vital to curbing Chinas CO2 emissions, decreasing the reliance on coal and thus reducing pollution  a major source of civil unrest in China. These pipelines are therefore directly linked to Chinese concerns over public order and stability  Beijings paramount considerations.

Any instability, either due to conflict with Kyrgyzstan or due to succession chaos will have Chinas full attention. A potential post-Karimov power vacuum or failed state will not only threaten Chinese economic interests, it could also offer an opportunity for non-state actors.

Uzbekistan and the threat of Islamism

Despite being a majority Muslim nation, Uzbekistan under Karimov continued the USSRs secular policies. Karimovs strict secular leanings, combined with his iron-grip rule led to the emergence of the Islamic Movement of Uzbekistan (IMU). Formed in the 1990s, the original mandate of the IMU was the overthrow of Karimov and the establishment of an Islamic state. Uzbekistan borders Afghanistan, and the IMU has long had cross-border dealings with the Taliban and Al-Qaeda; with Afghan and Uzbek fighters fighting in each others countries.

Karimov was long a fierce opponent of Islamic extremism, using his authoritarian rule to squash Islamist sentiment, and keep the IMU in check. With Karimov out of the picture, the IMU could use his death as a rallying call, seeking to capitalize on the uncertainty in the country. If Uzbekistan falls into a succession crisis, if its security apparatuses are weakened or distracted, the IMU could well re-establish itself as a serious threat. The porous border with Afghanistan only further facilitates the transit of weapons and fighters between the two.

To add further instability into the mix, the leadership of the IMU pledged loyalty to ISIS, with IMU emir Usman Ghasi aligning the group with Daesh in June 2015. This move caused a split in the IMU, with a splinter group retaining the IMU name, and re-affirming its allegiance to the Taliban. Going forward, this split could see pro-ISIS and pro-Taliban factions vie for influence in an unstable Uzbekistan. Since the pro-ISIS faction was defeated by the Taliban after its incursion into Afghanistan, it is likely that it will seek to re-group in Uzbekistan.

Moreover, while most Uzbek Muslims are non-denominational, 18 percent are Sunni: a potential source of support. The death of Karimov and his personality cult also presents an ideological vacuum, one that could be filled by Islamism, especially if the countrys socio-economic situation declines.

The IMUs links to the Taliban could also see the cross-border harbouring of terrorists, creating a situation akin to that found in Pakistans tribal regions. The Afghan-Uzbek border could become a new lawless zone, especially given the U.S-Pakistani push in Waziristan.

IMU leader Usmon Ghazi (second left) pledges loyalty to ISIS

While this scenario would cause anyone to worry, China is especially concerned. Beijing is already paranoid about securing its western borders from insurgents, specifically militant Uighurs in Xinjiang. Indeed, one of the main reasons for the creation of the SCO was Chinas effort to deny Uighur terrorists refuge in Central Asian countries. While the Uighur-Beijing conflict predates the Taliban and ISIS, radicalized Uighurs serve in both organizations.

Due to Chinas experiences with Uighur terrorism, the presence of approximately 500,000 Uighurs in Central Asia, in turn makes the dominant narrative in Chinese Central Asian security relations the cutting of international links between Muslim Uighur separatists in Xinjiang and their kin across Central Asia.

Chinese fears about Islamists  Uighur or otherwise  targeting Chinese interests in Central Asia are not unfounded. Indeed, the Chinese embassy in Kyrgyzstan was bombed on Tuesday, with China identifying the perpetrator as a Uighur extremist.

If Uzbekistan falls into chaos, Islamist Uighurs working with the Taliban could benefit from a porous border and good relations with the IMU, to carry out attacks in Uzbekistan against Chinese Silk Road projects. They need not even come from Xinjiang, as Uzbekistan is home to some 55,000 Uighurs, some of whom may well sympathize with their Xinjiang kin, become radicalized, and carry out attacks against Chinese interests.

Furthermore, twenty-five percent of Uzbekistans 31 million citizens see themselves as enjoying close blood ties with the Uighurs. With billions in investments and 20 percent its of natural gas imports reliant on a stable Uzbekistan, China is extremely vulnerable.

Even if you take the Uighurs out of the equation, such attacks could also be carried out by other groups like the IMU. Seeking to capitalize on Uzbek instability, groups like the IMU could try to undermine the Uzbek government by hurting government pipeline revenues and undermining investor confidence.

It only takes one bomb somewhere along thousands of kilometres of a remote and isolated pipeline to cause major headaches for both Uzbekistan and China. Consequently, the death of Karimov is not merely about the demise of one man, but rather represents the potential spark for several highly dangerous scenarios.

By Jeremy Luedi via Global Risk Insights

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State Rep. Jonathan Brostoff and Jarrett English, a youth organizer and police accountability associate at the ACLU of Wisconsin, were arrested and briefly detained by the Milwaukee Police Department (MPD) in Sherman Park Tuesday night.

"I didnt do anything wrong. Neither did Jarrett," said Brostoff, who was forced to the ground and handcuffed with zip ties by MPD officers, "even though I said I was being totally compliant."

Earlier, officers dispersed a group that had gathered at a memorial for Sylville K. Smith, who was killed by an MPD officer Aug. 13. Eleven individuals were arrested for charges including disorderly conduct and resisting an officer after police said they would not leave the area. Community organizers Frank "Nitty" Sensabaugh and Vaun Mayes were among those arrested; all were subsequently released.

Police did not give a reason for the arrests of Brostoff and English. Eventually, both were released after MPD Inspector Stephen Basting spoke with State Rep. David Bowen, who was also at the scene.

In an email, MPD Sgt. Timothy Gauerke said, "Milwaukee Police are investigating the circumstances surrounding these arrests to ensure proper procedures were followed."

"If I had a different job, they wouldve taken me in," Brostoff said, adding that MPD wanted to detain English but that Brostoff made it clear he would not leave without him. "Just because he has a different job than me doesnt mean he should be arrested  he didnt do anything wrong."

Brostoff, who was in the area to speak with residents, take policy recommendations and help de-escalate a tense situation, said "the focus should not be me." He said this incident should be used as an opportunity to address "the systemic issues that are leading to all of this," including racial disparities in education and economic opportunity, which have resulted in high rates of black male unemployment and incarceration in Milwaukee.

English, who is black, called the experience "confusing," "embarrassing" and "dehumanizing," but said he wasnt worried because he knew people were making calls on his behalf. "I think about the 15-year-old kids, 13-year-old kids who dont have nobody to call  and just how intimidating and how terrifying that must be," he said. "And we know that that happens a lot in Milwaukee."

"This is not happening in a vacuum," Brostoff said. "Theres a larger set of circumstances that should be a constant focus until theyre fixed."

Tensions

Since Smiths death, people have consistently gathered at a memorial erected for him on the south side of West Auer Avenue. Gauerke said police have received complaints from residents about disorderly groups gathering into the late night.

About 9:30 p.m., more than 40 officers had blocked off West Auer Avenue; Sherman Boulevard was blocked off at West Burleigh Street and on the north end by police vehicles, as well. At least 20 officers and five police vehicles patrolled the corner of Auer and North 44th Street as late as 10:45 p.m.

"We got direction from the alderman (Khalif Rainey) that the neighbors have had enough," said Basting. "This has been going on for about two weeks  the memorial, the dope smoking, the loud music, the garbage  on the neighbors porches, taking over the intersection."

Basting added, "Ive got to tell you: I couldnt live there."

Barry Givens, 67, who lives on the corner of Sherman Boulevard and Auer Avenue, said both residents and those visiting the memorial have rights. "I can understand the family [is] grieving, but at some point youve got to consider the residents in the area," he said.

Givens said he was not aware that any residents had made complaints and said he did not call police. Rainey did not respond to multiple requests for comment.

Some residents said they understand that there needs to be peace and that officers are probably afraid for their safety, but that the response of law enforcement can be "over-reactive" and provocative, nonetheless. Givens said he was glad the situation did not escalate.

Basting said MPD would not take the memorial down but that police would "keep a presence in the neighborhood, and hope we get compliance." "Its  this group of kids; its their decision what happens next," he said.

"We know theyve got a hard job," English said, referring to police. "But it cant keep going like this. Theres no way that any of that  more cops, more riot gear and all of that  aint none of that going to solve any of this, period. And if they keep going down this route, its just going to get worse."

English said the recently released preliminary public safety plan that calls for 280 police officers to be hired is, "a disaster before it even begins."

Brostoff said its important to "seriously re-focus our efforts from punitive to preventative." He called for the City of Milwaukee Office of Violence Prevention to receive an "appropriate level of funding."

"Thats the whole idea of prevention," Brostoff said. "By the time it happens, its already too late."


Cattle Feeds, cattle minerals and cattle cubes :: Ark Country Store

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Back during the Presidential primaries, several websites, including The Scratching Post and Rescue Revolution, compiled a list of the candidates, their stance on animal rights issues, their voting records, and their Humane Society Legislative Fund (HSLF) ratings.

Here's what was reported about the two finalists, Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton.





Donald Trump

Since Trump has never served in public office his stance on animal rights isn't easy to compile. There is no recorded information specific to Trump's views on animal rights. However, both of his sons are documented trophy hunters who defended the killing of Cecil the lion in Africa last year. It's known they have traveled to Zimbabwe to shoot, "a variety of animals, including an elephant, a crocodile, a kudu, a civet cat and waterbuck."

After the brothers came under fire for their big game hunts, Trump reportedly told TMZ, "My sons love hunting. They're hunters and they've become good at it. I am not a believer in hunting and I'm surprised they like it."

He did go on record via twitter when the Ringling Brothers Circus announced the end of its elephant performances by saying, "Ringling Brothers is phasing out their elephants. I, for one, will never go again. They probably used the animal rights stuff to reduce costs ' (@realDonaldTrump) March 5, 2015.

Hillary Clinton

While in the Senate, Clinton recorded a score of 100% in both 2005 and 2006 on the HSLF scorecard, plus 75% in 2007, and 83% in 2008 . Clinton did not receive a score from the HSLF while either Secretary of State or First Lady. As a Senator she co-sponsored the following bills:

Senate Bill 311 , a ban on the transport, possession, purchase, and sale of horses to be slaughtered for human consumption. This resolution passed and was made into law in April 2007.

Senate Bill 394 which required the humane euthanasia of livestock too sick or injured to walk, as well as strengthened penalties for violations of the Humane Slaughter law. This eventually passed and was made into law in March 2009.

Senate Bill 261 which would establish felony-level penalties for violations of the federal law on dog fighting, cockfighting, and other types of animal fighting. This bill passed and was signed into law in March 2007.

Senator Clinton abstained from voting at all on Senate Bill 714 , which. If it had passed, would have prohibited the use in research of dogs and cats obtained through random sources, which can include theft of family pets and fraudulent response to "free to good home" ads. This bill did not pass and is still being researched.

She also decided not to sign onto a letter to the Agriculture Appropriations Subcommittee seeking funds for enforcement of the Humane Methods of Slaughter Act, Animal Welfare Act, and federal animal fighting law, as well as for programs to address the needs of animals in disaster areas, and to ease a shortage of veterinarians in rural and inner-city areas through student loan forgiveness. The funds were awarded in 2009.

"The greatness of a nation and its moral progress can be judged by the way its animals are treated." -- Mahatma Gandhi
Reprinted from Media Matters

Joining a long list of concerned media voices, The New York Times' editorial page this week linked up with the Beltway chorus to express alarm over the Clinton Foundation and the "question" it presents for Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton's campaign.

Surveying the well-trampled ground of supposed conflicts of interest and insinuations that Clinton sold State Department access to donors, the Times announced a pressing "need for major changes at the foundation now, before the November election."

As part of its declaration, the newspaper dutifully noted, "'Pay-to-play' charges by Donald Trump have not been proved." But the Times, like so many other lecturing voices, was quite clear in claiming that the Clintons have to address concerns about optics even if that means shutting down their landmark global charity. That's how important it now is for the do-good foundation to be spotless and pure: Optics trump humanitarianism.

Or, there's no proof anybody did anything wrong, therefore drastic actions must be taken to fix the problem.

The meandering foundation story has become a case study for the Beltway media's double standard: holding Clinton to a higher mark that's based on optics, not on facts. Unable to prove misconduct or anything close to it (just ask the AP), the press relies on the comfy confines of "optics" and the "appearance" of conflict to allow them to attack Clinton and the foundation.

For Clinton, it's a can't-win proposition. If the press says the story looks bad, even if there's nothing to suggest it actually is bad, she gets tagged with an optics problem. And because journalists are the only ones handing out the grades, they get to decide how bad it looks.

But the journalism malpractice doesn't end there. It extends to the fact that the press doesn't apply the same visual test to Republican nominee Donald Trump, whose far-flung business dealings would represent an actual, even historic, conflict of interest were he to be elected president.

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My guest today is author and peace journalist, Bob Koehler. Welcome back to OpEdNews, Bob.

Joan Brunwasser: Your recent piece, Reflections on the Anthropocene, ventured into geology, not your usual beat. How come? What drew you in that direction?

Bob Koehler: Hi, Joan. It's great to be dialoguing with you again. And no, geology is not usually a topic I address. But the idea that Planet Earth may have entered a new geological era has been in the news recently. A working panel of geologists, meeting at the recent International Geological Conference in Cape Town, voted unanimously that it's time to declare the planet's transition beyond the Holocene epoch, where we've been since the last ice age, 12,000 years ago. This new era is characterized by changes to what might be called the planet's geological infrastructure, caused by human activity: nuclear testing, the planetary spread of plastics -- all the technological changes that have been leaving their mark on the planet during my lifetime. The geologists mark the beginning of the Anthropocene as the 1950s. My interest in this is hardly scientific. I write about peace. I write about human culture. But this deep shift that we are undergoing, as a planet, is profound and puts, it seems, everything else into perspective. As the geologists put it: Human beings are now in partnership with nature itself, co-creating the infrastructure of the natural world. What does this mean? I decided to wade into the unknown and write about it.

JB: I'm currently reading Timothy Egan's book, The Worst Hard Time: The Untold Story of Those Who Survived the Great American Dust Bowl. It won the National Book Award in 2006 but that's not what I want to talk about. First of all, we don't really learn about the Dust Bowl, our nation's worst natural disaster. The only thing I knew previously was that the Dust Bowl provided the backdrop for The Grapes of Wrath. That's it. But the Dust Bowl actually affected millions of people over a huge geographic area for a decade. The continual drought, followed by catastrophic and terrifying dusters* that literally stripped the farmland bare. After reading your piece, I thought to myself, here's a perfect example of misguided government policies affecting nature on a massive scale. Lands that had been lush for thousands of years were converted in short order to a barren wasteland. So, I respectfully suggest backdating the beginning of the Anthropocene by another two decades. The fact that we as a nation know nothing about it means that we can't learn anything from what happens when we behave out of harmony with nature. What do you think?

BK: What struck me about the concept of the Anthropocene is that it's an official acknowledgement by the world's scientific community that change on a deep and profound scale has occurred: not change caused by some outside force, e.g., a meteor strikes Planet Earth, or change as imagined by religious fantasy, e.g., God sends a flood to punish the human race, but change at that same absolute level -- nothing will ever be the same anymore -- caused by human behavior over a relatively short period of time. The phenomenon of the Dust Bowl is a perfect example of this sort of change. But my interest in learning about it and writing about it is political, social and spiritual, not scientific. If human power is so enormous that it is, in effect, godlike -- we can split the atom, we can blow the planet to smithereens, we can ravage and destroy the soil that nurtures life -- then it's time to link this power not to fear and greed but to our highest selves. I see my role as posing the question: What does this mean?

JB: Okay, question-poser. Can you take us a little farther on this path, please? What does it mean?

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The New York Times has done some great reporting, much with foreign policy implications in an increasingly linked world. They have exposing the expanding Amazon model of micromanagement and grueling work practices, brought sunlight to cozy think tank-corporate alliances, and exposed government surveillance and the Pentagon Papers.

But as of late the Times has become part of what Matt Damon calls our topsy-turvy world. They offer up biased, false foreign policy narratives. Sure much of the media long ago abandoned their raison d'etre, as Rolling Stone's Matt Taibbi describes in " The Summer of the Shill," hilariously explaining how a friend would go to Russian media for news about America and the American media for news about Russia. The Trump-bashing or Hillary-bashing that have obliterated what's left of our news media, he asserts, make the former media (that worked to defeat Sanders' popular politics) an effective arm of the corporate-friendly Democratic party.



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The New York Times' coverage of the past few weeks demonstrates this. They amplified the earlier Clinton campaign's tactics of red baiting to avoid critical foreign policy debates, silencing discussion about party corruption, climate-killing trade, endless war, and exploitative power grabs. Clinton's strong ties to Russia are no longer fair game and neo-McCarthyite blasts of unfavorable stories predominate. Unsurprisingly, these tactics have been broadly condemned from The Intercept's Glenn Greenwald to the Nation magazine.

The latest came on September 1, on an A1 article that provided little support for its assertion: "Wikileaks Disclosures Often Benefit Russia, Our Examination Found -- whether by conviction, convenience or coincidence." Even if one disagrees with Assange's tactics, as many do, one must acknowledge that the truths covered by him and Russian media on corporate priorities and election manipulation were often of strong interest to the public, particularly as the US media failed to do its job. In fact, the article dodges the larger question: why must Clinton's e-mails and foreign and corporate policies clouded by a Red smokescreen? "The End of History" may well be here. But we now see, rather than a natural progression, it requires quelling debate (and more) to advocate for those allied with the free market.

The New York Times' participation in this process is problematic for three reasons. First, as the newspaper of record, it is read by many who fund the dominant parties -- and thus critically shapes the ideology for the tiny ruling elite. Second, on a grassroots level, it aggravates the conditions that made it difficult for Sanders' supporters to vote for Hillary -- distracting from battles of ideas (thus ironically undermining Clinton's support). Lastly, American exceptionalism justifies corporate and military actions that work directly to impoverish global populations and ruin our planet for endless and costly profits. It's trebly ironic that the so-called liberal New York Times would fail to make such connections.

It would be difficult to examine the entire body of recent NYT writing til September 1 that has (or should have had) a foreign policy angle -- particularly so as my technology access and problems worsened as I tried to write this story (a continuation of those that have occurred since I've been writing about the media manipulation and DNC bias in the primary, while apparently being targeted by Democratic-leaning corporations or groups).

Yet even a brief review of recent writing is instructive. The newspaper does little to make sense of the violent politics of today -- their roots in troublesome American alliances and the corporations that benefit from economic and political violence. Forcible imposition of world leaders and unpopular ideas continues to be used to serve the interests of a tiny corporate and government global elite with insufficient sunlight.

Saudi Arabia -- A little over a month ago, 29 pages from a joint Congressional inquiry from a dozen years ago on Saudi Arabian involvement in 9-11 were published. The document, along with others, seemed to tie Saudi government officials to the 15 9-11 Saudi hijackers. The New York Times recently weighed in with a front page and full spread story. Not to illuminate the high cost of the publishing delay that appears key to justifying the regionally and politically destabilizing invasion of Iraq. Not to explore next steps for the US Senate unanimous passage of a bill to make it easier for families of the 9-11 victims to sue the Saudi government, which Obama is expected to veto. Not to describe the history of American arms deals with the Saudis, including the largest ever overall, or the rearming of the nation internationally condemned for its indiscriminate bombing in Yemen. They didn't want to highlight Saudi ties to Clinton who once said, "donors in Saudi Arabia constitute the most significant source of funding to Sunni terrorist groups worldwide": either through her family foundation's links or her campaign chair's brother's provision of public relations as one of many firms doing such work for the nation that leads in beheadings and other human rights abuses. Finally, this didn't prompt an overdue discussion on how to wean ourselves from our oil addiction.

Rather " Saudis and Extremism: Both the Arsonists and the Firefighters" generally lacks critical context and fails to justify our support for the violent regime. It opens with a weak statement that purportedly shows Clinton and Trump think similarly. One has to read about 15 paragraphs down to find the bulk of the hijackers were from there (and to learn that the Saudis supplied more suicide bombers to Iraq and foreign fighters to IS than any other nation). It highlights extremist practices and ideology, and briefly discusses high funding of universities that dissuades research on Wahhabism, and describes the ineffective retraining of religious leaders. The financing and training of muhajadeen, including textbooks that contribute to extremism and terrorism abroad, is explored, although a State Department-funded review of Saudi textbooks finished in 2013 was never published (?!). Not surprisingly the article fails to make case the Saudis are effective "firefighters," to defend their human rights record, to defend our dependence on oil, to defend our arms sales, to defend their war crimes, or to generally defend an ideology of extremism. But the 5000-word article with few conclusions largely unanchored from current politics perhaps achieves exactly what it set out to accomplish -- postponing serious debate on a close alliance.

Puerto Rico -- Democracy Now! and The New York Times both ran stories on Septemberr 1 on the selection of the Puerto Rican control board, an unelected body mirroring those appointed in many cities -- most memorably Flint -- to run the territory for at least 5 years, potentially severely reducing living standards. Democracy Now! ran it as one of a handful of key segments for the day, while the Times buried it deep in their Business section. DN! raised critical issues of democracy and debt, covering protests by hundreds in a gathering of bankers or business executives for a conference I their segment titled, "Protests Erupt in San Juan as Obama Forms Unelected Control Board to Run Puerto Rico." They also covered the $37 billion in debt that is believed to be illegitimate including $1.6 billion in issuance fees and another $1.6 billion in capitalized interest in so-called "scoop and toss" deals, and high average issuance fees of more than 2 percent for Puerto Rico vs. 1 percent for other municipalities. (Barclays even charged Puerto Rico 9 percent for one deal.) In contrast the New York Times story "Puerto Rican Affairs Will be Overseen by Several Experts in Finance and Law" read like an Obama administration press release, ignoring the protests, excessive fees, and questionable debt.

Syria -- Last week, the United States implemented a de-facto, ill-defined "no fly zone" that the Pentagon spokesman refuses to call so: telling the Syrians (and implicitly Russians) they can't fly in places where coalition forces and partnered operations are focused on ISIL. The video exchange with puzzled journalists would have been prime Saturday Night Live material or worthy of a Jon Stewart "Daily Show," no editing needed: he doesn't actually clarify who coalition forces or potential partners are, where those forces are, clarify as to whether those forces would need to be engaging with ISIL at times of targeting, or when this "old" policy took effect.

Of course, a "no fly zone" is a big issue and was indeed the subject of major debate earlier in the Democratic primary: Clinton notably went beyond Obama and Sanders in her support. The prospect has been considered a frightening one: should we not consider the world currently in World War III -- even as many countries bomb Syria -- an interaction prompted by the new/old policy could be a flashpoint for a new World War. Obama was proactively and hopefully awarded the Nobel Peace Prize. Yet he has bombed 7 countries and she's described as even more militaristic -- with her family Foundation and State Department record backing up such an interpretation -- and supports a no-fly zone. The New York Times did not seem to give this press conference or term due consideration.

It may be worth noting here, separately, that Obama seems to have endorsed policies that would keep Clinton as president from being accused of rewarding corporate or government donors (although these might be consistent with his world view.)

He is potentially allowing European Union language in the TTIP trade agreement that could allow $444 billion in annual fossil fuel subsidies in the case of emergency despite G20 commitments for a phase out, signed a GMO bill shelving Vermont and other states' democratically-enacted laws, announced right after the Democratic Convention he is bombing Libya again (restarting "Hillary's War,") and introduced pesticides to fight Zika through a short-circuited process creating potential bee-killing devastation.

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LOS REVOLUCIONARIOS NO TOMAN CACA-COLA No se trata solamente de un capricho, sino de una sana actitud en todos los sentidos. Desde la solidaridad con el pueblo colombiano donde la empresa Caca-Cola ha cometido los mas grandes abusos contra sus trabajadores incluyendo el presunto secuestro y asesinato de los dirigentes del sindicato, hasta la proteccion de la salud de nuestros hijos, enviciados por ese jarabe de cola y azucar, que les produce obesidad prematura. Pensemos tambien los revolucionarios, que ese dinero que gastamos en los refrescos es utilizado por esas empresas para financiar el terrorismo en nuestro pais. Es cierto, no se trata solo de la Caca-Cola, sino tambien de la cerveza, de los cigarrillos y todos esos articulos innecesarios y mas que eso, daninos para nuestra salud. Podriamos incluso pensar en un dia de parada para cada uno de ellos. Es cuestion de irnos organizando. Pero para empezar, que tal si dejamos de comprar Caca-Cola y sus similares?



























Cuando lo extraordinario se vuelve cotidiano...



Discurso del Acto de Grado en Barinas en 12 de Febrero del 2005 Queridos Graduandos:



Mas que un discurso, quiero dirigirles algunas palabras que escribi anoche, despues de visitar en las clinicas, a los estudiantes heridos, a consecuencia de los enfrentamientos con la policia de hace apenas dos dias.



Me ha tocado por razones del destino, ser la persona que les otorgue el titulo que bien merecieron con sus estudios. Y me siento sumamente orgulloso de serlo. Me consta que la Universidad de Los Llanos Occidentales Ezequiel Zamora, a pesar de lo dicho por los enemigos de esta universidad, es una universidad de primera.



No tendremos la mejor planta fisica, en los salones hace calor. En el comedor hace calor. Pero no es en lo material que las cosas deben valorarse. El mayor capital es el ser humano. Y en eso, nuestra UNELLEZ, lo digo con conocimiento de causa, esta sobrada. Los llaneros venezolanos son nobles, valientes, de coraje.



En la UNELLEZ hacen vida, en este momento, aproximadamente 67000 personas. El 97% de ellas son estudiantes. Jovenes que, como Ustedes hasta el dia de hoy, buscan ese titulo, que constata los anos de dedicacion y de estudio.



Los jovenes son el rio de la vida, ustedes graduados deben ser los capitanes de esos barcos que naveguen por el rio de la vida.



Nuestra Patria atraviesa momentos muy dificiles porque decidio dejar de ser esa matrona de edad vetusta y complaciente, para ser joven, rebelde y altanera. Nuestra imagen ya no es la de una acaudalada ricachona mayamera. En nuestro rostro brilla ahora la sonrisa del Che Guevara, con su diente delantero torcido, su pelo largo y su boina con la estrella.



Entender esto, a mi me ha tomado practicamente toda la vida. Tengo 53 anos, y ya perdi mi oportunidad de derramar sangre joven a causa de un ideal.



Ustedes son jovenes, estan en la flor de la vida. No cometan por favor el error de renunciar a su instinto de rebelion. El Che Guevara fue Ministro de a Economia en Cuba. Los billetes y las monedas se adornaban con su rostro. Nada de eso le importo. Primero fue a Angola donde paso un penoso ano de combate. Despues se fue a Bolivia, donde encontro la muerte. El Che era el ultimo que comia, el que cargaba la mochila mas pesada. Siempre se sacrificaba por los demas en un estoicismo que mas parecia fervor religioso que ideologia marxista.



Si quieren un modelo de vida. Ahi lo tienen.



Dije hace unos momentos que el 97% de la poblacion de la UNELLEZ es estudiante. Se imaginan Ustedes la Universidad que podriamos tener si todos los estudiantes tuvieran la abnegacion, la combatividad del Che?



Los momentos que se avecinan van a requerir de una gran unidad del pueblo venezolano. La alternativa de continuar siendo libres o regresar a la pobreza se nos planteara en los proximos dias de forma enmascarada, o quizas peor, desenmascarada, vestida con uniforme de soldado del Imperio.



Por nuestra parte podemos esperar lo mejor. La macroeconomia no podria ir mejor, la justicia social ha mejorado notablemente. Las misiones ocupan un papel muy importante en el pago de dicha justicia social. Aqui en Barinas ya hemos cumplido con dos de las misiones, la mision Robinson y la mision Sucre. No hay analfabetismo y no hay exclusion en la educacion superior, en estas tierras de Zamora.



Pero ay malhaya! Son precisamente estos exitos los que nos hacen mas antipaticos al Imperio. Para ellos, somos inclusive un mal ejemplo que se esta contagiando al resto del continente y cuidado sino al resto del mundo.



Nunca venceremos al Imperio. Estara siempre ahi, acechando. Por lo menos hasta que el mismo no se autodestruya. Porque, sepanlo senores, el neoliberalismo es canibal. Cuando le ataque el hambre, se devorara a si mismo.



Ustedes, queridos graduandos, a partir de hoy pasan a conformar la elite profesional que debe sostener este pais en los proximos cuarenta o cincuenta anos. Anos decisivos para el logro de nuestra libertad y del rescate de nuestra Soberania.



No se dejen comprar. No se dejen corromper. No se dejen gritar. No se dejen pisar. Que nadie les diga que comer, o que vestirse, o que leer. Sean siempre autenticos, rebeldes, contestatarios. Pero eso si, profundamente patriotas, dignos de ser hijos de Bolivar.



Muchas gracias y que Dios los bendiga.





Alguna duda?



Medio siglo de Holocausto Palestino



Oscar Zanartu Nacio en Caracas en 1960. Ha realizado exposiciones individuales en las galerias Minotauro, Clave y San Francisco, y en salas de Coro, estado Falcon, y Puerto Ordaz, estado Bolivar. En Paris su obra ha sido exhibida en el Centro Cultural Tanagra, en la Exposicion Cite Internationale des Arts, en las galerias De Mars y Arver Space, al igual que en la Galeria Municipal Levallois, en Levallois Perret (Francia). En muestras colectivas, su obra se ha expuesto en Belgica, Francia, Estados Unidos y Venezuela; en Caracas intervino en la exposicion "Del genesis a la memoria", 1995, organizada por la Fundacion La Previsora. En 1982 obtuvo el Premio Nacional Critven y en 1990 la Mencion de Honor Jose Antonio Paez, en la Embajada de Venezuela en Paris. En 1991 se le concedio el primer premio de Pintura Itinerante, en Levallois Perret, Francia.



OZ1



OZ2



OZ3



OZ4



Homenaje a Jason Galarraga



La Victoria de Samotracia



Odalisca



Mas fotos de la nevada del pasado agosto 2008



























La Sierra Nevada de Merida



Nuestro precioso Churum Meru



Homenaje a Picasso



Autoretrato



Sabes lo que bebes en una Coca-Cola?

La formula de la Pepsi tiene una diferencia basica con la de la Coca-Cola y es intencional, para evitar el proceso judicial. La diferencia es a proposito, pero suficientemente parecida como para atraer a los consumidores de Coca-Cola que prefieren un gusto diferente con menos sal y azucar.

Mi profesion?

Tuve que aprender quimica, entender todo sobre componentes de gaseosas, conservantes, sales, acidos, cafeina, enlatado, produccion, permisos, aprobaciones y muchas otras cosas. Monte mi propio mini-laboratorio de analisis de productos.

Sal en la Coca Cola?

A patadas. El Cloruro de Sodio no solo refresca sino da mas sed, como para pedir otra gaseosa. Y no resulta desagradable porque la sal mata literalmente la sensibilidad al dulce... del que por cierto tambien tiene mucho: 39 gramos de azucar.

De los 350 gramos de producto liquido, mas del 10% es azucar, o sea que en una lata de Coca-Cola mas de un centimetro y medio es puro azucar en polvo. Aproximadamente tres cucharadas soperas llenas de azucar por lata!!La formula de la Coca Cola es muy sencilla:

Concentrado de azucar quemado caramelo- para dar color oscuro y gusto

Acido fosforito (para darle el sabor acido)

azucar (HFCS-jarabe de maiz de alta fructosa)

Extracto de hojas de la planta de Coca (Africa e India) y otros pocos aromatizantes naturales de otras plantas

Mucha Cafeina

Conservante que puede ser Benzoato de Sodio o Potasio

Dioxido de Carbono en cantidad para sentir freir la lengua cuando se bebe

Sal para dar la sensacion de refrigeracion

El uso del acido fosforito y no del acido citrico como en todas las demas gaseosas, es para dar la sensacion de dientes y boca limpia al beber. El acido fosforito literalmente frie todo y dana el esmalte de los dientes, cosa que el acido citrico lo hace en menor grado.Trate de comprar acido fosforito para ver las mil recomendaciones de seguridad que te dan para su manipulacion (quema el cristalino del ojo, quema la piel, etc...). Esta prohibido usar el acido fosforito en cualquier otra gaseosa; solo la Coca Cola tiene permiso. Porque claro, sin el acido fosforico, la Coca Cola sabria a jabon.El extracto de coca y otras hojas casi no cambia en nada el sabor. Es mas bien un efecto cosmetico. El extracto forma parte de la Coca-Cola porque legalmente tiene que ser asi. Pero sin el, no se nota ninguna diferencia en el gusto, que esta dado basicamente por las cantidades diferentes de azucar, azucar quemada, sales, acidos y conservantes.Sabor a que...? ja, ja, ja.

Aqui en Bartow, sur de Orlando, hay una empresa quimica que produce aromatizantes y esencias para zumos. Envian diariamente camionadas de sales concentradas y esencias para las fabricas de helados, gaseosas, jugos, enlatados y comida colorida y aromatizada.Cuando visite por primera vez la fabrica, pedi ver el deposito de concentrados de frutas, que deberia ser inmenso, especialmente los de naranja, pina, fresa y tantos otros. El encargado me miro, se rio y me llevo a visitar los depositos inmensos... pero de colorantes y componentes quimicos.

Las gaseosa de naranja no contiene naranja.

En los zumos dizque de fresa, hasta los puntitos que quedan en suspension estan hechos de goma (una liga quimica que envuelve un semi-polimero).

Pina, es un popurri de acidos y goma.

La esencia para helado de aguacate usa peroxido de hidrogeno (agua oxigenada) para dar la sensacion espumosa tipica del aguacate.

Bebidas Light?

Quieres saber la cantidad de basura que tiene un refresco 'light'? Yo ni siquiera los uso para destapar mi lavaplatos pues temo que danen los tubos de PVC. Los productos endulzantes 'ligth' tienen una vida media muy corta. Por ejemplo el

Despues de toda mi experiencia con la produccion de bebidas embasadas, puedo afirmar sin dudar un segundo: la mejor bebida es el agua, como tambien los jugos exprimidos de naranja o limon. Nada mas, cero azucar y cero sal.



Publicado por loretahur



En realidad, la formula secreta de la Coca-Cola se puede detallar en 18 segundos en cualquier espectrometro optico, y basicamente la conocen hasta los perros. Lo que ocurre es que no se puede fabricar igual, a no ser que uno disponga de unos cuantos millones de dolares para ganarle la demanda que te metera la Coca-Cola ante la justicia (ellos no perderian).La formula de la Pepsi tiene una diferencia basica con la de la Coca-Cola y es intencional, para evitar el proceso judicial. La diferencia es a proposito, pero suficientemente parecida como para atraer a los consumidores de Coca-Cola que prefieren un gusto diferente con menos sal y azucar.Tuve que aprender quimica, entender todo sobre componentes de gaseosas, conservantes, sales, acidos, cafeina, enlatado, produccion, permisos, aprobaciones y muchas otras cosas. Monte mi propio mini-laboratorio de analisis de productos.A patadas. El Cloruro de Sodio no solo refresca sino da mas sed, como para pedir otra gaseosa. Y no resulta desagradable porque la sal mata literalmente la sensibilidad al dulce... del que por cierto tambien tiene mucho: 39 gramos de azucar.De los 350 gramos de producto liquido, mas del 10% es azucar, o sea que en una lata de Coca-Cola mas de un centimetro y medio es puro azucar en polvo. Aproximadamente tres cucharadas soperas llenas de azucar por lata!!La formula de la Coca Cola es muy sencilla:Concentrado de azucar quemado caramelo- para dar color oscuro y gustoAcido fosforito (para darle el sabor acido)azucar (HFCS-jarabe de maiz de alta fructosa)Extracto de hojas de la planta de Coca (Africa e India) y otros pocos aromatizantes naturales de otras plantasMucha CafeinaConservante que puede ser Benzoato de Sodio o PotasioDioxido de Carbono en cantidad para sentir freir la lengua cuando se bebeSal para dar la sensacion de refrigeracionEl uso del acido fosforito y no del acido citrico como en todas las demas gaseosas, es para dar la sensacion de dientes y boca limpia al beber. El acido fosforito literalmente frie todo y dana el esmalte de los dientes, cosa que el acido citrico lo hace en menor grado.Trate de comprar acido fosforito para ver las mil recomendaciones de seguridad que te dan para su manipulacion (quema el cristalino del ojo, quema la piel, etc...). Esta prohibido usar el acido fosforito en cualquier otra gaseosa; solo la Coca Cola tiene permiso. Porque claro, sin el acido fosforico, la Coca Cola sabria a jabon.El extracto de coca y otras hojas casi no cambia en nada el sabor. Es mas bien un efecto cosmetico. El extracto forma parte de la Coca-Cola porque legalmente tiene que ser asi. Pero sin el, no se nota ninguna diferencia en el gusto, que esta dado basicamente por las cantidades diferentes de azucar, azucar quemada, sales, acidos y conservantes.Sabor a que...? ja, ja, ja.Aqui en Bartow, sur de Orlando, hay una empresa quimica que produce aromatizantes y esencias para zumos. Envian diariamente camionadas de sales concentradas y esencias para las fabricas de helados, gaseosas, jugos, enlatados y comida colorida y aromatizada.Cuando visite por primera vez la fabrica, pedi ver el deposito de concentrados de frutas, que deberia ser inmenso, especialmente los de naranja, pina, fresa y tantos otros. El encargado me miro, se rio y me llevo a visitar los depositos inmensos... pero de colorantes y componentes quimicos.Las gaseosa de naranja no contiene naranja.En los zumos dizque de fresa, hasta los puntitos que quedan en suspension estan hechos de goma (una liga quimica que envuelve un semi-polimero).Pina, es un popurri de acidos y goma.La esencia para helado de aguacate usa peroxido de hidrogeno (agua oxigenada) para dar la sensacion espumosa tipica del aguacate.Quieres saber la cantidad de basura que tiene un refresco 'light'? Yo ni siquiera los uso para destapar mi lavaplatos pues temo que danen los tubos de PVC. Los productos endulzantes 'ligth' tienen una vida media muy corta. Por ejemplo el aspartamo , despues de tres semanas mojado, pasa a tener gusto de trapo viejo sucio.Para evitar eso, se agregan una infinidad de otros productos quimicos, uno para alargar la vida del aspartamo, otro para neutralizar el color, otro para mantener el tercer quimico en suspension porque sino el fondo de la gaseosa quedaria oscuro, otro para evitar la cristalizacion del aspartamo, otro para realzar el sabor, dar mas intensidad al acido citrico o fosforito que perderia su sabor por el efecto de los cuatro productos quimicos iniciales... y asi sucesivamente.Un consejo final !!Despues de toda mi experiencia con la produccion de bebidas embasadas, puedo afirmar sin dudar un segundo: la mejor bebida es el agua, como tambien los jugos exprimidos de naranja o limon. Nada mas, cero azucar y cero sal.Publicado por loretahur

MARGARINA o MANTEQUILLA La margarina fue producida originalmente para engordar a los pavos; cuandolo que hizo en realidad fue matarlos.Las personas que habian puesto el dinero para la investigacion quisieronrecobrarlo asi que empezaron a pensar en una forma de hacerlo.Tenian una sustancia blanca, que no tenia ningun atractivo como comestible,asi que le anadieron el color amarillo, para venderselo a lagente en lugar de la mantequilla.Que tal esa?... Ahora han sacado algunos nuevos sabores para vender mas alos incautos como usted y yo.CONOCE USTED la diferencia entre la margarina y la mantequilla?Siga leyendo hasta el final... porque se pone bastante interesante!Comparacion entre mantequilla y margarina:

1.- Ambas tienen la misma cantidad de calorias.

2.- La mantequilla es ligeramente mas alta en grasas saturadas: 8 gramos,comparada con los 5 gramos que tiene la margarina.

3.- Comer margarina en vez de mantequilla puede aumentar en 53% el riesgo deenfermedades coronarias en las mujeres, de acuerdo con un estudiomedico reciente de la Universidad de Harvard.

4.- Comer mantequilla aumenta la absorcion de gran cantidad de nutrientesque se encuentran en otros alimentos.

5.- La mantequilla provee beneficios nutricionales propios mientras lamargarina tiene solo los que le hayan sido anadidos al fabricarla.

6.- La mantequilla sabe mucho mejor que la margarina y mejora el sabor deotros alimentos.7.- La mantequilla ha existido durante siglos mientras que la margarinatiene menos de 100 anos.

Ahora... sobre la margarina:

1.- Es muy alta en acidos grasos trans. (Si, esos que recien ahora loscientificos descubrieron que son malisimos y los gobiernoscomenzaron a prohibirlos) .

2.- Triple riesgo de enfermedades coronarias.

3.- Aumenta el colesterol total y el LDL (el colesterol malo) y disminuye elHDL (el colesterol bueno).

4.- Aumenta en cinco veces el riesgo de cancer.

5.- Disminuye la calidad de la leche materna.

6.- Disminuye la reaccion inmunologica del organismo.

7.- Disminuye la reaccion a la insulina.

Y he aqui el factor mas inquietante (AQUI ESTA LA PARTE MAS INTERESANTE! ):A la margarina le falta UNA MOLECULA para ser PLASTICO...!!Solo este hecho es suficiente para evitar el uso de la margarina de porvida, y de cualquier otra cosa que sea hidrogenada (esto significaque se le anade hidrogeno, lo cual cambia la estructura molecular de lassubstancias).Usted puede ensayar lo siguiente:Compre un poco de margarina y dejela en el garaje o en un sitio sombreado.Dentro de unos dias notara dos cosas:

* No habra moscas; ni siquiera esos molestos bichos se le acercaran (esto yale debe decir a usted algo).

* No se pudre ni huele mal o diferente porque no tiene valor nutritivo; nadacrece en ella. Ni siquiera los diminutos microorganismos puedencrecer en ella.Por que? Porque es casi plastico!!



No a la guerra, Si a la Paz



Misterios de la ciencia...



Los costos de la guerra



medicos y capitalismo...



Capitalismo...



medicos (2)



Quien educa a nuestros hijos?



Los Medios...



Sin Palabras...



Chistes feministas

- Cual es el problema, Eva?

- Se que me has creado, que me has dado este hermoso jardin, todos estos maravillosos animales y esa serpiente con la que me muero de risa... pero no soy del todo feliz...

- Como es eso, Eva? - replico Dios desde las alturas.

- Me encuentro sola, y ademas estoy harta de comer manzanas...

- Bueno Eva, en tal caso, tengo una solucion... creare un hombre para ti.

- Que es un hombre?

- Un hombre sera una criatura imperfecta, con muchas artimanas. Mentira, hara trampas, sera engreido... vamos, que te va a dar problemas... Pero, va a ser mas fuerte y rapido que tu y le gustara cazar y matar cosas... Tendra un aspecto simple, pero como te estas quejando, le creare de tal forma que satisfaga tus... eh... necesidades fisicas... Y tampoco sera muy listo, y destacara en cosas infantiles como pegarse o dar patadas a un balon... Necesitara tu consejo siempre para actuar cuerdamente.

- Suena bien - dijo Eva, mientras levantaba la ceja ironicamente.

- Cual es el truco?.

- Pues... que lo tendras con una condicion.

- Cual?

- Como te decia, sera chulo, arrogante y muy narcisista... asi que le tendras que hacer creer que le hice a el primero... recuerda... es nuestro secreto... de mujer a mujer.





Por que a los hombres no les puede dar la enfermedad de las vacas locas?  Porque todos son unos cerdos

Un dia, en el Paraiso, Eva llamo a Dios: Tengo un problema.- Cual es el problema, Eva?- Se que me has creado, que me has dado este hermoso jardin, todos estos maravillosos animales y esa serpiente con la que me muero de risa... pero no soy del todo feliz... - Como es eso, Eva? - replico Dios desde las alturas.- Me encuentro sola, y ademas estoy harta de comer manzanas...- Bueno Eva, en tal caso, tengo una solucion... creare un hombre para ti.- Que es un hombre?- Un hombre sera una criatura imperfecta, con muchas artimanas. Mentira, hara trampas, sera engreido... vamos, que te va a dar problemas... Pero, va a ser mas fuerte y rapido que tu y le gustara cazar y matar cosas... Tendra un aspecto simple, pero como te estas quejando, le creare de tal forma que satisfaga tus... eh... necesidades fisicas... Y tampoco sera muy listo, y destacara en cosas infantiles como pegarse o dar patadas a un balon... Necesitara tu consejo siempre para actuar cuerdamente.- Suena bien - dijo Eva, mientras levantaba la ceja ironicamente.- Cual es el truco?.- Pues... que lo tendras con una condicion.- Cual?- Como te decia, sera chulo, arrogante y muy narcisista... asi que le tendras que hacer creer que le hice a el primero... recuerda... es nuestro secreto... de mujer a mujer.Por que a los hombres no les puede dar la enfermedad de las vacas locas?  Porque todos son unos cerdos

Ellas...



Ellas (2)...



Tres venganzas femeninas VENGANZA NUMERO 1

Hoy mi hija cumple 21 anos y estoy muy contento porque es el ultimo pago de pension alimenticia que le doy, asi que llame a mi hijita para que viniera a mi casa y cuando llego le dije:

-Hijita, quiero que lleves este cheque a casa de tu mama y que le digas que: Este es el ultimo maldito cheque que va recibir de mi en todo lo que le queda de su puta vida!!! Quiero que me digas la expresion que pone en su rostro.

Asi que mi hija fue a entregar el cheque. Yo estaba ansioso por saber lo que la bruja tenia que decir y que cara pondria.

Cuando mi hijita entro, le pregunte inmediatamente: -Que fue lo que te dijo tu madre?

-Me dijo que justamente estaba esperando este dia para decirte que no eres mi papa!



VENGANZA NUMERO 2

Un hombre que siempre molestaba a su mujer, paso un dia por la casa de unos amigos para que lo acompanaran al aeropuerto a dejar a su esposa que viajaba a Paris.

A la salida de inmigracion, frente a todo el mundo, el le desea buen viaje y en tono burlon le grita:

- Amor, no te olvides de traerme una hermosa francesita Ja ja ja!!

Ella bajo la cabeza y se embarco muy molesta.

La mujer paso quince dias en Francia.

El marido otra vez pidio a sus amigos que lo acompanasen al aeropuerto a recibirla.

Al verla llegar, lo primero que le grita a toda voz es:

- Y amor me trajiste mi francesita??

- Hice todo lo posible, - contesta ella - ahora solo tenemos que rezar para que nazca nina.



VENGANZA NUMERO 3

El marido, en su lecho de muerte, llama a su mujer. Con voz ronca y ya debil, le dice: - Muy bien, llego mi hora, pero antes quiero hacerte una confesion.

- No, no, tranquilo, tu no debes hacer ningun esfuerzo.

- Pero, mujer, es preciso - insiste el marido - Es preciso morir en paz.

Te quiero confesar algo.

- Esta bien, esta bien. Habla!

- He tenido relaciones con tu hermana, tu mama y tu mejor amiga.

- Lo se, lo se Por eso te envenene, hijo de puta!!!



machismo y cibernetica



Chiste machista La NASA ha enviado al espacio una mision experimental tripulada por dos monos y una mujer.Apenas abandona la atmosfera, se establece comunicacion con Houston.

-Atencion, simio 1, verifique sistemas hidraulicos, controle adecuada presion de los propulsores de arranque. A 60.000 pies disminuya un 25% la velocidad.

El simio hace la sena de OK.

-Atencion, simio 2, nivele al cruzar la estratosfera y active sistemas anticongelantes. No olvide monitorear sistemas de comunicacion e indicadores de presion. Comprendido?.

El simio hace la sena de OK.

-Atencion, Houston llamando a mujer: no se olvide.

-Mujer: Si, si, ya se! -interrumpe enojada- que no me olvide darles de comer a estos monos de mierda y que no se me vaya a ocurrir tocar nada!.



.Spaghetti, Spaghetti, Spaghetti, Spaghetti, Spaghetti.

Un abogado mantiene un romance con su secretaria.Al poco tiempo, esta queda embarazada y el abogado, que no quiere que su esposa se entere, le da a la secretaria una buena suma de dinero y le pide que se vaya a parir a Italia.Esta pregunta: Y como voy a hacerte saber cuando nazca el bebe ? El abogado responde: Para que mi mujer no se entere, tan solo enviame una postal y escribe por detras: Spaghetti. Y no te preocupes mas, que yo me encargare de todos los gastos.

Pasan los meses y una manana la esposa del abogado lo llama al bufete, algo exaltada: Querido, acabo de recibir el correo y hay una postal muy extrana viene desde Italia. La verdad, no entiendo que significa.El abogado, tratando de ocultar sus nervios, contesta:Espera a que llegue a casa, a ver si yo entiendoCuando el hombre llega a casa y lee la postal, cae al suelo fulminado por un infarto.Llega una ambulancia y se lo lleva. Ya en el hospital, el jefe de cardiologia se queda consolando a la esposa y le pregunta cual ha sido el evento que precipito tan masivo ataque cardiaco.

Entonces la esposa saca la postal y se la muestra diciendole: No me explico, doctor; el solamente leyo esta postal. Vea usted mismo lo que trae escrito.Spaghetti, Spaghetti, Spaghetti, Spaghetti, Spaghetti."Tres con salchicha y albondigas y dos con almejas



Gol !!!!



Chistes de Borrachos Entra un borracho a su casa todo manchado con lapiz labial por todos lados hecho un desastre, y la mujer le pregunta:-Hombre que te paso?Y el borracho le responde:-No me vas a creer, me pelee con un payaso!



Este es un borracho que entra en un bar y le dice al camarero:-Me da cinco copas de whisky?Al rato:-Me da cuatro?Al rato:-Me da tres copas?Despues:-Me da dos copas?Luego le dice:-Me da una copa?Y le dice al camarero:-Ves? Cuanto menos bebo, mas borracho estoy!


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ST. JOSEPH, Minn. -- After nearly 30 years of searching, wondering, waiting and hoping, Patty and Jerry Wetterling finally know what happened to their son Jacob.

The Stearns County Sheriffs office confirmed Saturday that the remains of 11-year-old Jacob, missing since 1989, have been found.

Our family is drawing strength from all your love & support, Patty Wetterling posted on Twitter Saturday afternoon. Were struggling with words at this time. Thank you for your hope.

She declined to comment further.

The remains were identified as Wetterlings by the Ramsey County Medical examiner and a forensic odontologist, Stearns County Sheriff John Sanner said in a news release Saturday evening. Additional DNA testing will be performed by the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension. The news release did not say where Wetterlings remains were found.

Law enforcement officials are reviewing new evidence in the Wetterling case and expect to provide more details on the investigation early next week, Sanner said in the release.

The Jacob Wetterling Resource Center posted a statement to its Facebook page Saturday morning: We are in deep grief. We didnt want Jacobs story to end this way.

Our hearts are heavy, but we are being held up by all of the people who have been a part of making Jacobs Hope a light that will never be extinguished, the statement read. It shines on in a different way. We are, and we will continue to be, Jacobs Hope. Jacob, you are loved.

On Oct. 22, 1989, a masked gunman stepped out of the woods on a rural road in St. Joseph, just west of St. Cloud, and took Jacob. He hasnt been seen since.

For months, the case attracted national attention and dominated headlines. How in the world, people wondered, could something like that happen in small-town America?

Authorities last year took another look at the case and were led to Danny Heinrich, a man who had been questioned at the time of Jacobs kidnapping. When Heinrich, 53, of Annandale, was arrested in October on charges of child pornography, law enforcement officials called him a person of interest in Jacobs kidnapping.

Heinrich denied any involvement in Jacobs abduction at the time of his arrest and has not been charged with that crime. He has pleaded not guilty to 25 federal child-pornography charges and is scheduled to go on trial on those counts in October in U.S. District Court in Minneapolis. He had been under increasing scrutiny as authorities have revisited Jacobs abduction and investigated a string of sexual assaults on pre-teen and teen boys near Paynesville, Minn., in the mid- to late 1980s; Jacob was taken less than a mile from his home in St. Joseph, which is about 20 miles from Paynesville.

Support

Hanging outside the Wetterlings home Saturday was the word hope. Beside it, even at midday, the porch lights were burning. They have been on since the night Jacob was abducted.

A bouquet of yellow and white daisies and a pot of yellow peonies were left at the foot of the Wetterlings driveway. About a half-dozen news reporters gathered outside. Several people slowly drove by the house, checking out the scene.

Statements of support for the Wetterlings came from the highest levels throughout the state on Saturday.

For nearly 27 years, Minnesotans have held the Wetterling family in their thoughts and prayers, as they never gave up hope and never stopped searching for their beloved Jacob, Gov. Mark Dayton said. Today, we continue to offer our love and support, as the Wetterling family finally brings their son home to rest.

I hope they will find solace in knowing that they do not stand alone, Dayton said. Jacobs story has touched the lives and hearts of Minnesotans for a generation. Today, I pray for a measure of peace for the Wetterling family and for all Minnesotans touched by this terrible tragedy. And I thank the law enforcement officials and others who never stopped searching for him.

Added Sen. Amy Klobuchar, D-Minn.: Patty Wetterling is a friend and I have seen firsthand her extraordinary advocacy for children and how she has turned her grief into action. The Wetterling family and all who knew and loved Jacob are in our hearts today.

Residents of St. Joseph on Saturday expressed bittersweet relief that the communitys longest-running mystery appeared to be solved.

Im glad they found him. Its affirmation, said Bob Loso, who has been a city council member in St. Joseph since 1990. The town, the people who were here at the time, are glad its over.

At the Holiday Station store on College Avenue North, clerk Jordan Minks, who grew up in St. Joseph, said it seemed there was a sense of grief, but also of closure, at the news.

From what Ive seen, people are more shocked or surprised, he said. Its kind of a relief to find out, but its sad, too.

Alex Swingly, a barista at the Local Blend, a coffee shop on West Minnesota Street in St. Joseph, said the news was the talk of the town.

Right away in the morning, people were coming in to tell us about it, Swingly said. Its been hard to talk about, since nothings really official, but its also hard not to.

Stearns County Commissioner Mark Bromenschenkel, who represents the area, said everybodys thoughts and prayers were with the Wetterlings.

Its got to be a very difficult time for them  whether its true or not  having everything stirred up again, all the emotions, he said. I do hope it is true, and that they can finally get some closure to it.

Court documents filed earlier this summer in the Heinrich case detailed the similarities between Jacobs kidnapping on Oct. 22, 1989; the Jan. 13, 1989, abduction and sexual assault of a 13-year-old Cold Spring, Minn., boy; and a string of sexually motivated assaults of young boys in the Paynesville, Minn., area in the mid- to late 1980s.

It has long been believed that the Cold Spring and Wetterling abductions were likely to have been committed by the same person, according to the memorandum, which was filed in U.S. District Court. The abductions were committed in the same geographic area, involved similarly aged boys, were committed by a lone male suspect and occurred within months of each other.

Retested DNA evidence last year linked Heinrich to the 1989 kidnapping and sexual assault of Jared Scheierl in Cold Spring, nine months before Wetterlings abduction. The Pioneer Press typically doesnt identify victims of sexual assault, but Scheierl has spoken publicly for years about his case. He did not immediately return a phone call seeking comment Saturday.

When law enforcement officials searched Heinrichs Annandale house in July, they found child pornography and photos and videos of young boys. Heinrich was arrested in October and later charged with 25 counts of possessing and receiving child pornography; he pleaded not guilty to those charges in February in U.S. District Court. His jury trial is slated to begin in October in U.S. District Court in Minneapolis.

Heinrich cannot be charged in connection with the Scheierl case because the statute of limitations in place at the time has expired.

Heinrich was questioned in 1989 and 1990 about the disappearance, but authorities say he has denied any involvement.

Restless boys take a trip

Jacob, the second of the Wetterlings four children, was in the sixth grade in October 1989. He liked to play hockey, basketball, soccer and football. He loved to go fishing. He liked to tell jokes. He was happy in school. He was learning to play the trombone. He loved dogs. He wanted to be a veterinarian when he grew up.

He was the type of person that youre immediately drawn to, his best friend, Aaron Larson, told the Pioneer Press in 2009. He was the type of person who recognizes the good in people.

Jacob was riding his bicycle with Aaron and his brother, Trevor, about 9:15 p.m. Oct. 22, 1989, when a masked gunman abducted him from a rural road.

The kidnapping took place on a Sunday night. The kids didnt have school the next day. Patty and Jerry Wetterling at the last minute decided to go to a party in Clearwater. Amy, their oldest child, was at a sleepover, so the couple asked Jacob if he would mind babysitting Trevor, 10, and Carmen, 8. He asked if Aaron could come over.

Trevor later called his parents at the party and asked if the boys could bike and scooter up to the Tom Thumb convenience store to rent a video. Carmen didnt want to go, so the kids  with the Wetterlings OK  arranged for a neighbor girl, Rochelle Jerzak, to come over and baby-sit while they made the trip.

We were restless 11-year-old boys looking for something to do, Larson told the Pioneer Press. It was just a matter of biking two miles  something we did all the time  so biking to the Tom Thumb was not a big deal. It wasnt like it was anything out of the ordinary  to go get a movie at the store, you know. Especially in a smaller town like St. Joe.

The boys wanted to watch Major League, but it wasnt available, so they ended up renting Naked Gun. Larson told the Pioneer Press he has never seen the movie. If it comes on while hes watching TV, he changes the channel, he said.

The boys didnt notice anything or anyone unusual at the store, said Larson, who now lives in Slayton, Minn. It was 9 p.m. on a Sunday night. There was not too much going on.

They were on their way home  Jacob and Trevor on bikes, Aaron on a scooter  when they were accosted about a half-mile from the Wetterling house.

There wasnt any moon. There werent any stars. It was a pitch-black night, Larson said. The first thing that I remember seeing was the flash of a gun.

Stop! I have a gun! the masked man told the boys. He then ordered them to turn off their flashlights.

I think my first reaction was to suppress a laugh because it seemed like a joke  like this was some high-schooler or some kid pulling a prank on us, Larson said. I dont think it hit me that this was a real situation right away.

The man ordered the boys to lie in the ditch facing away from the road. He then told each boy to look at him and state his age.

Trevor was first. Aaron was next. Jacob was last.

He told Trevor to run as fast as he could in the woods, and Dont look back, or Ill shoot you,  Larson said. He said the same thing to me next.

Both boys ran as fast as they could. Larson caught up to Trevor about 100 yards away.

Thats when we both kind of looked back, and there was nobody there, he said.

Impact

Although the kidnapping has generated more than 50,000 leads over the years, the crime remained unsolved and haunted Minnesota law enforcement officers. It spurred new federal laws requiring states to create sex-offender registries.

Patty and Jerry Wetterling founded the Jacob Wetterling Resource Center, which works to help communities and families prevent child exploitation, and Patty Wetterling became a national advocate for children.

Amid our sadness, we remain profoundly grateful for the tireless advocacy and leadership Jacobs family has provided on behalf of our countrys missing and exploited children, Rep. Betty McCollum, D-Minn., said in a statement. With todays heartbreaking news, all of Minnesota grieves with Patty, Jerry, and the entire Wetterling family. At this tragic time, it is my hope that Jacob will finally rest in peace as he is brought home to his family and so many who love him. I know that all Minnesotans and Americans will join me in keeping the Wetterling family in our thoughts and prayers.

Lt. Governor Tina Smith said every Minnesota family has felt the Wetterlings loss.

My own sons were small when Jacob was lost, and for more than two decades, our family and all Minnesota families have hurt, prayed, and hoped alongside the Wetterlings, Smith said in a statement. That pain wont end today. But as the Wetterling family finally brings Jacob home, I hope they will find love and support in the thousands of families, including mine, in Minnesota, who have hurt, hoped, and prayed alongside them. The Wetterling family never stopped searching. We stand in solidarity with the Wetterlings as they seek justice, and peace. We will always keep Jacob in our hearts.
LAKE GEORGE  The twin Chrysler engines rumbled to life in the 33-foot wooden boat, and Jean Hoffman pulled away from the dock on Lake Georges south end. As she edged into the lake, a man on a personal watercraft pulled alongside the boat to ask about it.

Is that one of the original Gar Woods? he asked.

Yes it is, Hoffman replied. Built in 1928.

There are only eight original Gar Woods on Lake George at this point, among the fewer than 500 Hoffman estimates are still in existence.

Hoffman, the former owner of Castaway Marina and part of the local Hoffman family of contractors, owns four in all, including a 22-footer, two 28-footers and the 33-footer she has on the lake this summer, Whooter II. The big one is worth about $250,000, she said.

Those who arent boat aficionados most likely had never heard of Gar Wood before the July 25 boat crash on Lake George that claimed the life of 8-year-old Charlotte McCue. Charlotte and her family were on her grandfathers 28-foot Gar Wood when it was hit from the side by a powerboat that jumped their boat. Charlottes mother was hurt as well.

Hoffman and Raymond Hull, a Chris Craft owner who has his boat on Lake George, believe that the fact that Charlottes grandfather, Robert Knarr, was at the helm of a Gar Wood likely saved the lives of several of those on the boat that night.

It was miraculous the fatality was limited to one and he was able to make it to home port after such a horrendous crash, Hull said.

Warren County Sheriff Bud York agreed that the Gar Woods structure sustained a surprising lack of damage from the force of the collision July 25. The boats sit lower in the water than newer models, though, which may have resulted in the 21-foot boat that has been blamed in the crash crossing over the Gar Wood, he said.

The Gar Wood that Knarr was piloting that night was sold to him by Hoffman, who said she has had a love for the boats since riding one her father had on Schroon Lake as a child. But in addition to the childhood memories the boats bring back, she said there is probably no safer boat on the lake.

Theyre fabulous, she said as she took a reporter for a jaunt Thursday. This boat weighs about 6,200 pounds. It can handle 4-foot waves. There is probably no sturdier boat on the lake.

Years ago, on the St. Johns River in Florida, Hoffman said the boat hit a submerged palm tree, and the craft escaped with nothing but a dinged propeller. A triple-axle trailer is needed to tow it.

She goes in every five years or so for a varnish. Thats about it, Hoffman said.

Hull and Hoffman are longtime members of the Adirondack Chapter of the Antique and Classic Boat Society, which held its annual summer rendezvous on Lake George last week.

Inventor Garfield Wood created the Gar Wood line of boats in the 1920s, designing the mahogany boats to try to break speed records. The name has been kept alive by the Turcotte brothers in Brant Lake, who operate Gar Wood Custom Boats. Hoffman said she was thrilled years ago to spot one at a dock on Lake George years ago with the initials UG on it, learning later that it was a craft that once belonged to Ulysses S. Grant.

The boats are nowhere near the fastest boats on the water these days. Hoffman said her 33-footer is capable of a top speed of 50 mph or so.

Hoffmans Hooter II has been around the world and featured in at least four magazines.

They are really great boats, Hoffman said. What happened with Bob (Knarr) was such a tragedy. He is such a fabulous guy. But the lake is different at night. I can predict what Im going to do, but I have no idea what he (pointing to an oncoming boater) is going to do.
QUEENSBURY  SUNY Adirondack is teaming up with Hudson Headwaters Health Network to help students access health care services.

The college is also studying the feasibility of offering on-site facilities in the future, as well as forming other partnerships.

The health network will work with the community colleges students and staff to educate them about their services, specialties and urgent care and primary care locations. It also will provide periodic on-campus seminars for current and prospective students as well as faculty and staff.

SUNY Adirondack President Kristine Duffy said the partnership grew out of continuing discussions with Hudson Headwaters about how the college can support the health organizations workforce.

Weve been talking about how we can help some of our students who may not be fully covered under health insurance, she said.

Duffy said Hudson Headwaters already uses the colleges nursing simulation laboratory for worker training. That laboratory will be enlarged in construction of the colleges new NSTEM (nursing, science, technology, engineering and math) building.

The college and Hudson Headwaters are also interested in how they can grow the areas local nursing and health care workforce. SUNY Adirondacks nursing department already works with Hudson Headwaters to find clinical experience opportunities for its students.

Its a great way for us to be able to partner with a strong community member. We just want to make sure our students are aware of all the resources available to them, Duffy said.

Dr. John Rugge, chief executive officer of Hudson Headwaters, said the partnership seemed like a natural extension of the close relationship both entities already share. The health organization takes care of SUNY Adirondack faculty and students. And many of the organizations nurses receive training at the campus. There are continuing education requirements for life support training, according to Rugge.

Their students are our staff. Were really embedded with one another, he said.

Hudson Headwaters also approves of the capital project SUNY Adirondack is undertaking and the investment the college is making in a new NSTEM facility.

Rugge said SUNY Adirondack contacted Hudson Headwaters about being what is called an assured source of care.

You can get in and see us if you need to, he said.

Rugge said the goal is to provide information on how students, some of whom may be from out of the area, can access services. People from out of the area may have questions about where to go for a physical or if they are sick.

We want to make it clear who we are and how to find us, he said.

If a student wants to seek out another provider, that is fine too, according to Rugge.

Rugge said he has had very preliminary discussions with Duffy about establishing an on-campus clinic, but there are no immediate plans.

The college has had student housing since 2013, but it does not have an on-campus clinic. Duffy said the college has always made sure its residential students have had access to health care services.

Hudson Headwaters officials also will come to the college and present information to students about health and wellness, according to Duffy. They are still determining the specific topics.
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The team was led by IMF's mission to Ghana, Mr. Joel Toujas-Bernate.

The mission met with President John Dramani Mahama; Finance Minister Seth Terkper; Bank of Ghana Governor Dr. Abdul-Nashiri Issahaku; and other senior officials.

In a statement after the meeting, Mr. Toujas-Bernate said understanding were reached on many issues.

"The discussions focused mainly on updating the macroeconomic projections, firming up the fiscal outlook for 2016, and ascertaining that financial pressures faced by the main State Owned Enterprises (SOEs) in the energy sector will not pose additional risks to the central government budget," he said.

On the amended BoG act, the fund noted:

"Outstanding questions remain with regards to certain elements of the legislations recently passed by Parliament and discussions will continue," the statement said.
The gospel artiste, known for his urban gospel style, died last last month in Accra after a short illness.

Performing on Friday night were Joe, Mettle, Nii Okai, KODA, Teddy, Pastor Hellen Yawson, Bernice Offei and many others.

The concert, according to Mr Mettle, was to celebrate the three decades of Danny Nettey's ministration through his music.

Danny Nettey's three albums were performed at the concert night.

His death shocked the entire country and left the Ghanaian music industry without one of its living legends.

Among his many hits song is I will worship you. He had been working actively on the gospel music scene for over two decades.

Daniel Tetteh Nettey was born on September 19 in Accra. His father was an evangelist and he was the third of six children.

At age six, Danny had already began writing songs and taught himself how to play the piano. He attended Accra Academy where he became the schools music director and the president of the campus Scripture Union.

After school, he joined a gospel group that toured many secondary schools in the country to spread the word of God. His song writing skills had been greatly developed with some of his songs performed at his church.

He released his first album Positive Change in 1995 and a year later another album followed; this time in collaboration with a group called the Pals.

Danny Nettey has traveled extensively in Africa and across the world. He has performed on many high profile stages alongside Bebe Winans, Kirk Franklin, Bishop T. D. Jakes; Israel Houghton, Don Moen, Alvin Slaughter and and Ron Kenoly.

Many of his hit songs also include Metease a (If I live); Sanctify me; Revive us again and God alone
Public Relations Officer of the KMA, Godwin Okuma Nyame of the KMA came up with the comment after the KMA authorities explained the practice is illegal, hence the exercise to remove all those billboards, banners and poster which were mounted.

Read more: Police administration refutes political motives for reshuffles

The advertisers should make sure that they take off any of their dilapidated billboards. Individuals, organisations and institutions should begin removing their flags and posters together with any unlawful advertisement materials themselves, he told TV3.

Mr Okumah Nyame stated that the bye-laws of the KMA enjoin advertisers to obtain permits from the assembly before erecting billboards and hoisting banners in the city.

He disclosed that the advertisers had flouted the directive from the assembly to create problems for road users, motorists and other people in the city.
The Inspector General of Police (IGP), John Kudalor, on Wednesday announced sweeping transfer of officers from the police headquarters and district commands to other command centers.

The transfer has come under criticism from a section of the public, saying it is politically motivated.

The Nima Divisional Police Commander, ACP Nuhu Alhassan Jango has been moved to the Eastern Region as a 2i/c. Supt. Gladys Mpere of the Osu District Command has been reassigned to the Madina District Command. Supt. Victoria Yamoah of the Kwabenya District is now headed to the MTTD, Tarkwa Division in the Western Region to head the department. ACP Peter Gyimah of the Community Policing Unit in the Ashanti Region is heading the Wenchi Divisional Commander. ACP Martin Ayiih of the Adenta Division has been transferred to the Hohoe Divisional Command in the Volta Region.

In November 2015, 29 officers were reassigned, he also transferred 61 officers in January 2016. May 2016, also saw him transfer 80 officers were reassigned in a similar shake-up. Overall the IGP has made 260 changes in his ten-month administration.

However, the Director of Police Public Affairs of the Ghana Police Service, Superintendent Cephas Arthur, has rejected the accusations. According to him, such claims are not cogent.

He said: I reject, I debunk it and I call on people who hear such information to throw them into the dustbin. They are not cogent. They dont make any reason. Then I dont know whether anybody would say that he doesnt know that for the police we do regular transfers. And it is for efficiency seek."

According to him, if it is for the purpose of the election, and the aim is to ensure a peaceful, a successful, a fair and all the positives about the elections and so what?

And I see no reason anybody would want to raise any hue and cry over this."
The application notice is expected in the dailies on Monday, September 5, Director of Public Affairs of the Ghana Police Service, Superintendent Cephas Arthur disclosed in an interview with TV3.

He said: "You know we have various levels of enlistment or recruitment into the service. We have basic recruitment to start from the scratch: Constable and then climb up. Then we have another level of recruitment being graduate enlistment or graduate recruitment. Then we have another one which is for professionals."

He added: 'we are going to have for doctors or medical specialists. Then we also going to have for engineers, auditors, public relation officers, legal officers, people with statistics background, medical psychology, biochemists.'
The Africa Watch Magazine in its latest edition said Akufo-Addo was diagnosed with prostate cancer in June 2013, with a high prostate specific Antigen (PSA) count of 89.9, very much above the 3.72 upper range, it should have been  according to the British doctors.

However, in an interview on Joy FM's Newsfile Saturday, Professor Yaw Adu Gyamfi said the NPP leader is very fit, has no cancer or kidney problem.

"He doesn't have any cancer," he said. "Anyone with cancer as quoted by the magazine would not be able to run around as he[Akufo-Addo] is doing."

The Africa Watch publication further said Akufo-Addo has an acute urinary problem, acute kidney injury and enlarged heart.

In response to that, Prof. Adu-Gyamfi said: "When you have an acute urinary failure, usually you are unable to pass urine, in fact very minimal urine."

"Nana Addo eats everything, drinks water freely wherever he goes. He eats anything that is put before him. He cannot have any kidney problem and he does not."

The NPP has accused the National Democratic Congress (NDC) of being behind the publication.

Akufo-Addo had reacted to the publication saying the cancer propaganda will not work, pointing accusing fingers at the NDC.

The decision by Akufo-Addo's personal doctor to go public with his health record follows a publication by an aggrieved leading member of the Arthur Kennedy, for flagbearers to be examined ahead of the 2016 election.

He said: As a nation which has suffered a Presidential death, we need to ensure that while we trust Presidents when they claim to be in good health, we verify that in fact, they are in good health.

I believe that each President should have an annual exam done jointly by his physician and another designated by the chief physician of 37 Military hospital. After this, the two shall issue a statement affirming that the President is in good health or otherwise."

Meanwhile, the Wellington Hospital mentioned in the report as the hospital the NPP leader often frequent has issued a statement, saying they are bound by law never to release details of their clints to the public.
Many of the things that we are saying, our opponents in the NDC party may say we are making a lot of promises. But I know one thing; Akufo-Addo promises today, tomorrow it is NDCs policy," Akufo-Addo said in a meeting with traditional leaders in the Upper West Region.

He continued: "So there are never empty promises, there are substance to that because our party will continue to bring out ideas for the progress and the development of the Ghanaian people.

The NPP leader is in the Upper West Region to canvass voters ahead of the 2016 after campaigning the Upper East and Northern regions.

His flagship promises such as the 1-district, 1-factory and the 1-village, 1-dam have been criticised by NDC officials as mere promises, urging voters to ignore the NPP leader.

However, the NPP leader said he is not perturbed by the NDC's posture, saying his party is known for 'best ideas."

He said: And that is why all the best ideas of social development in the last decade have all come from the NPP.

"We are going to continue to develop new ideas that will allow the progress of our people to continue. So Im not perturbed when I hear them say we are making promises.

"We are going to make promises that we can deliver on and that will help the people of Ghana.

This is not the first time Akufo-Addo is accusing the NDC of stealing or plagiarising his ideas.

In July, he told party supporters in the US that he will revive the National Health Insurance Scheme which he claims has collapsed.
Speaking on Joy FM's news Newsfile Saturday, Mr Darkwa argued that the motion was properly laid, contrary to the speaker's claims, saying it should have been debated.

He said: "Parliament is the highest institution in this country which is responsible for making laws and imposing taxation and raising matters of national interest.

"That is the highest forum where they can go and debate on such matters. So, at least, the best you can do for the house is that let them have a motion to debate and then agree on that motion because if you look at the numerical strength of the parties there, if the government side is the majority, they will defeat you.

"But at least the opposition would have had their say and the majority would have their way.
She said the petition was to distract the president from pursuing the Better Ghana Agenda which is at the heart of the party's re-election bid.

The Speaker of Parliament Edward Doe Adjaho dismissed the petition on Wednesday, citing constitutional provisions and earlier Supreme Court rulings.

"These are all basically diversionary tactics by the opposition, so we do expect all these things to come up," Mrs Mogtari told Accra-based Class FM. "But in any case, why do we have all these arms and branches of government being asked to work separately from the other? Why do they each have a mandate derived from the 1992 constitution to undertake their responsibilities?

She continued: So you know, as I indicated, we are in a democracy and more than anything else, I believe that there is no [hindrance] on anybodys access to whatever form of the democratic arms of government that you would want to use to seek redress, be it to go to CHRAJ or to go to the Chief Justice.

She also commended the Speaker's ruling, saying he demonstrated leadership in the face of provocation from the minority.
Below is the Minoritys full statementI thank you for the opportunity to move the motion advertised on the order paper, today Thursday, September 1, 2016. The motion which I submitted on behalf of the Minority group in Parliament reads:In respect of this motion a request, signed by an overwhelmingly larger number than the 15% of Members of Parliament as provided for under Article 112 (3) in the 1992 Constitution was submitted to Mr Speaker.The notice for the motion has been duly signed by my humble self on behalf of the group of Members of Parliament as the members proposing the motion as required by Order 79(2). The motion thereafter was duly submitted as provided under Order 79(1).Article 112(3) provides for the Speaker to summon Parliament within seven days after the receipt of the request. Order 38(1) provides further amplification by stating The Speaker shall, pursuant to clause 3 of Article 112 of the Constitution, upon a request of 15% of Members of Parliament, summon a Meeting of Parliament within 7 days after the receipt of the request, except that the meeting shall commence not later than 7 days after the issue of the summons. The combined effect of the two provisions is that, Mr Speaker is required to act within a maximum of 14 days for Parliament to meet in such a circumstance.All the persons involved in this motion have been compliant with the provisions of both the Constitution and the Rules of Procedure of the House, the Standing Orders. That is commendable. Mr Speaker, the antecedent to this motion is a report of the Auditor-General which was submitted to Parliament and which covered this matter.FactsThe facts of the matter as we understand, are the following, that:The Ministry of Foreign Affairs had procured a parcel of land at Ouagadougu to facilitate the construction of a new structure for Ghanas embassy in that Republic.In order to secure the land before construction began a perimeter wall was to be erected. Bids were invited for the construction of the perimeter wall.Ghanas Ambassador to Burkina Faso at the time preselected three (3) bidders for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to award the contract to any of the three that the Ministry deemed fit.The firm of one Mr. Djibril Kanazoe was eventually chosen to construct the wall at a cost of six hundred and fifty-six thousand, two hundred and forty-six United States of America dollars and forty-eight cents (US$656,246.46), the equivalent of about two million and six hundred thousand Ghana Cedis (GHC2,600,000.00).The parcel of land is about four (4) standard plots, i.e. about one (1) acre or 0.4 hectare.The wall which is about two (2) metres high has two (2) security posts. The Managing Director of the successful construction company Mr. Djibril Kanazoe had, until he won the bid to construct the perimeter wall around the parcel of land described, submitted bids for some construction projects earlier in 2010 all of which had been unsuccessful.Mr Kanazoe after his unsuccessful bids got introduced to the then Vice President of Ghana, H.E. John Dramani Mahama by a Ghanaian contractor friend, Mr. Mike Aidoo, Managing Director of Mikado Co. Ltd, a Ghanaian Construction Company. Mr Kanazoe became friends with the then Vice President after the meeting facilitated by Mr. Mike Aidoo.That, at that meeting with the then Vice President, Mr. Kanazoe told the former about his business as a contractor and the fact that he had on occasions submitted bids for contracts on Ghanaian projects but had not been successful.Mr. Kanazoe won the bid to construct the perimeter wall after the friendship with the then Vice President was courted.That, after the friendship had been established the said Djibril Kanazoes company won a second bid, the construction of a section of the Eastern Corridor road, in particular, the Dode Pepeso  Nkwanta road, at a cost of Twenty-five million Euros (25,000,000.00).That, after the payment of the first (1st) tranche of the cost of the construction of the perimeter wall in Ouagadougou, which payment was effected in the last quarter of 2012 the Managing Director of the company that had executed the contract Mr. Kanazoe Djibril procured and donated to his friend the former Vice President, who had then become the President after the transition of President JEA Mills, a Ford Expedition vehicle with chassis number IFMJUIJ58AEB748 and Engine number: E173A1905101.That the said Ford Expedition country vehicle entered Ghana on October 29, 2012 through the Paga entry point (border). That clearance of the vehicle was done at the Tema port on February 13, 2013 by Vision Logistics Ltd a private Clearing House.That the name of the importer of the said vehicle was listed as Sheik Mohammed Ouadrago.That subsequent to the presentation of the said vehicle to the President, H.E. John Dramani Mahama the contractor was chosen to do the following major contract works: a) the Dode-Pepeso-Nkwanta road at a cost of 25million; and b) a 28km portion o the Wa-Hamile road at a cost of Eighty-two million Ghana cedis (GHC82,000,000.00).According to the Hon. Minister for Roads and Highways, the justification for the award of the sole-sourced contract for the 28km stretch of the Wa-Hamile road to Mr. Djibril Kanazoes company was that:that Mr. Kanazoes company had excellently executed the works on the Dode-Pepeso-Nkwanta road and had, accordingly, received high commendation from the President of the Republic at the commissioning of the project in-question upon its completion; That the Wa-Hamile road was very close to Burkina Faso the home country and base of Mr. Kanazoe.ObservationThat within one month after the commissioning of the Dode-Pepeso-Nkwanta road, the road had started to deteriorate and the DCE for the area had admitted to that fact and accordingly informed the Volta Regional Minister.That after the publication of the outcome of a private investigative journalist in respect of the donation of the said Ford Expedition vehicle to the President John Dramani Mahama, various comments have been made by various groups, private citizens as well as activists of various political parties.Some of these comments have sought to indicate that the President conducted himself in a manner which had brought or was likely to bring his office into disrepute, ridicule or contempt; some of the comments attributed plain corruption to the conduct of the President whilst others indicated that the Presidents conduct was in breach of some provisions of the Constitution.Some other comments sought to vindicate the President and saw nothing untoward in the conduct of the President in his acceptance of the donation of the Ford Expedition vehicle, and pointed to an earlier incident in a previous administration involving the donation of a Mercedes Benz saloon to the Presidency.His Excellency the President on at least one occasion has had cause to state that his conduct in that particular incident was above board and that he had nothing to hide. The President on at least one occasion has further stated that if inspite of his declaration there were doubts then the persons who are not satisfied could apply themselves to the relevant constitutional provisions.In spite of the Presidents own denial of any wrong doing, and inspite of the stoic defence mounted by many persons, agents and assigns of the President for the President there are still many Ghanaian who, on virtually daily basis continue to castigate and pour invectives on the President for what they consider as a misconduct.Prayer of motionParliament is the body that is vested with the oversight authority over the Executive in such matters. Article 1(1) of the constitution vests sovereignty in the people of Ghana. Indeed the said article reads: The Sovereignty of Ghana resides in the people of Ghana in whose name and for whose welfare the powers of government are to be exercised in the manner and within the limits laid down in the Constitution.The powers of government are to be exercised for the welfare of the people, the governed, not the government! Parliament is the House that is composed of persons, Members, who represent the people of this country.The Preamble of the constitution is the soul and spirit of the entire constitution. That the preamble which is an encapsulation of the vision and aspirations of the people declares and affirms our commitment to Probity and Accountability, among other things.It has been argued by some people, including some Members of this House, that aspects if this matter that we have raised today have gone before the Commission for Human Rights and Administrative Justice (CHRAJ) and that Parliament should therefore not do anything that may tend to undermine the authority of CHRAJ.The response to this is that the constitution per Article 187(5) makes Parliament the ultimate destination of the reports of the Auditor-General and not CHRAJ.Some have also indicated that if the matter is before the Public Accounts Committee, why not allow the matter to rest before the Committee. Our response is that Article 187(6) fortifies our request to set up an ad-hoc committee.Indeed Article 218(e) of the constitution provides for the report of CHRAJ in the matters to be submitted to the Attorney-General the appointee of the President to deal with the conclusions of CHRAJ. The matter would be dead at birth. That is why Parliament must assume its legitimate role.This motion seeks to invite this House to invoke our powers of oversight to constitute a bi-partisan committee to delve into the matters raised ensuing from which many people in the country have proffered various comments, to establish at the end of its inquiry, whether or not the conduct of H.E. the President is above aboard.If the Presidents conduct is found to be above board the President shall stand vindicated eternally. If, on the other hand, the Presidents conduct is found to be inappropriate, Parliament in its wisdom, within the ambit of the constitution could proffer the relevant recommendation in order that such conduct shall not have further procreation.This is the purpose of this motion. It is not meant to humiliate anybody. It is meant to establish truthfulness in order to broaden and deepen our democratic governance.Mr. Speaker, the members who have appended their signatures to this motion are not unaware of the import of Article 69 which is on the removal of a President: We are not unaware of the fact that Article 69(2) does not call for the summoning of Parliament to debate the matter submitted to the Speaker.We have elected to invoke the general oversight functions of Parliament in this matter in order to elicit a buy-in from the House, if indeed we are purposed not to abdicate our responsibility but to hold fast to our oaths.We are aware of the fact that in the motion on the Offer, Sale and Purchase of Merchant Bank, one of the reasons assigned by colleagues on the other side of the divide was that the Minority group had not consulted the Majority.This motion is aimed at providing the platform at the level of the Committee to be established to be very consultative in the effort to unravel the truth.Mr. Speaker, Article 103(6) of the Constitution and indeed Order 155 of our Standing Orders vests in committees established by Parliament the powers, rights and privileges of the High Court or a Justice of the High Court at a trial for  a) enforcing the attendance of witnesses and examining them on Oath, affirmation or otherwise; b) Compelling the production of documents; and issuing a commission or request to examine witnesses abroad.A committee of Parliament is specifically vested with such authority. An individual Member of Parliament is not clothed with such authority. An individual member could only invoke Article 21(1)(f) which states:All persons shall have the right to information subject to such qualifications, and laws as are necessary in a democratic society.Clearly, if an individual member or a group of Members of Parliament undertake to delve into the issue, to the extent that the individual does not, or the group does not constitute a committee of Parliament, the individual Member or that particular group of Members would not be clothed with the powers of a committee and may therefore neither be able to compel attendance or the production of documents.ConclusionIt is for these reasons why this motion is moved today so that Parliament would be seen to be standing together in the discharge of our oversight responsibilities. Mr. Speaker, I so move.
According to reports, the firm, which recently announced a new set of ambassadors, did so due to the high financial benefits being demanded by the A-list artistes.

The Net News reported that the artistes were displaying signs of discontentment regarding the amount they were being paid by the company, making comparison to their colleagues signed to other telecommunication brands.

A need for the firm to cut down its expenditure is totally understandable, bearing in mind the huge fine placed on it by the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), for non compliance to its regulation.

MTN's newly appointed ambassadors are Praiz (Praise Adejo); Iyanya (Iyanya Mbuk); Chidinma (Chidinma Ekile); Falz (Folarin Falana); Tekno Miles (Augustine Kelechi) and Skales (Raoul Njeng-Njeng).
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In a news report published by Punch News on Saturday, September 3, 2016, the actor denied the story, adding that his belief in God had been the reason for his success.

ALSO READ: Actor threatens to sue female colleague over romance allegations

I never knew I would be successful as an actor; my belief has always been that God should elevate me in my endeavours. I always prayed that God should make me a successful person."

Some people say that I used voodoo or metaphysical powers to be successful. I hear when they say such but I tell everyone that I can never do such."

To clear any doubt about his sincerity concerning the voodoo rumour, the actor swore in front of a crowd at a graduation ceremony held at his acting institute, Odunlade Adekola Drama and Film Production, Abeokuta.

"During the graduation of my students last year, I addressed this issue because it was during that time people were peddling rumours of my demise."

"When the rumour of my death hit town, some people said that I did jazz to be successful. That was why during the graduation of my students last year, I said it in public that if I had ever thought of doing jazz to succeed God should make me lose everything I had ever worked for."

I hear these comments but they do not move me at all. I am a writer, director, producer and an actor. It is normal for people to talk but it has never upset me.

According to the actor, his acting career took shape when he was just a child.
The founder of the organisation, Dr Yakubu Musa, made this known at the inauguration held at the Otaru palace in Auchi, Etsako-West Local Government Area of Edo on Saturday.

He added that those treated would be given free drugs.

``We are collaborating with Shifaah Foundation to organise this one-day programme; we are targeting 500 vulnerable men and women to benefit from this gesture.

``We will also be offering free drugs to patients, `` Musa said.

Musa said the programme was initiated to provide medical treatment and counselling for age-related ailments like diabetes, hypertension, high blood pressure, dental treatment, eye problems and general consultation.

``The motive is to help the indigent people in the rural communities and the poor who cannot afford to seek medical attention, `` he said.

According to him, the decision to embark on free medical care is due to his passion for humanity service and to assist the people of his community, who couldnt access medical care.

``This initiative came up because l should contribute my quota by bringing health closer to my people and creating awareness on the need for them to be healthy.

``So, it is my duty to organise such programme and it is not the first and it is not going to be the last.

``I think my people are happy for it and I am happy as well, `` he said.

The Otaru of Auchi, Haliru Momoh, praised the organisation for the kind gesture and urged the residents to fully participate in the programme to ensure its success.

``I call on the people of the community to take advantage of the exercise and go for regular medical check-ups, if they must live long, `` he said.

One of the beneficiaries, Mrs Aminat Sule, commended the foundation for providing free medical treatment to under-privileged people.

``I came because of eye problem and was treated free of charge. I am very grateful to Yakson and Shifaah Foundation for this gesture.
The Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, Garba Shehu, stated this on Friday, September 2, in an opinion article titled What is President Buhari doing with the economy?

Contrary to the opinions of many prominent Nigerians, including the Emir of Kano, Sanusi Lamido Sanusi, that Buhari should stop blaming Jonathan for Nigeria's current woes, Shehu said the president must not forget the past in order not to make the same mistakes.

ALSO READ: PDP calls for Buhari's resignation over economic recession

He said the future must be built on the foundations of the past.

Shehu said: To avoid repeating the past mistakes, Nigerians must come to terms with what went wrong with the past, how bad things were, what was done wrongly, what the past government should have done before we come to what needs to be done to right those wrongs.

Believe me; episodes from the Jonathan era can fill books, and other possibilities, such as courtroom drama thriller.

The current pain is due to the mismanagement of the past. What Nigeria is currently experiencing was inevitable. This government is simply being honest with the people instead of piling up debts and concealing the truth by pretending all was rosy. This government believes that Nigerians deserve to know the truth.

People stole unbelievable amounts of money. The kind of money some of these ex-officials hold is itself a threat to the security of the state. Since it is not money earned, they feel no pain deploying just anyhow to thwart genuine and well-intentioned government efforts.

Sadly, even that which was not stolen was wasted. Government coffers were left empty, with huge debts unpaid and unrecorded (this government is working to quantify the amount owed). Even the current high food prices can be traced to past deceit.

For example, the previous government purchased fertilisers in 2014, worth N65bn and left the bill unpaid. In 2015, the suppliers could not supply fertilisers which resulted in a low harvest, shortages and high food prices.

This government had to pay off the debt so that the suppliers could begin to supply fertilisers again. Across Nigeria, a green revolution is occurring as Nigerians are going back to the farms, from rice in Kebbi and Ebonyi to Soya and Sesame in Jigawa and Kano. At the same time, Nigerians are looking inwards to identify commercial opportunities from agri-businesses.

Most of our road contractors had not been paid since 2012; many of them had sent their workers away, adding to the unemployment problem. This government has released capital allocations in the last three months that is more than the whole of 2015. In 2015, Nigeria spent a paltry N19bn on roads, in three months we have spent N74bn and we are already releasing more.

In the transport sector in 2015, government spent just N4.2bn; we have spent N26bn, with more to follow. We are starting a concession that will revive our old rail system for freight, whilst we build a new high speed rail system. Moving heavy goods by rail will reduce our transport costs which will reduce food prices and will save our roads from damage from heavy loads. Government will embrace the private sector through PPP, concessions and other collaborations to deliver services and infrastructure efficiently.

The Minister of Finance, Kemi Adeosun, had on July 21, 2016, admitted the claims by the International Monetary Fund that Nigerias economy is in recession.
The President of the Union, Alhaji AbdulHamid Adi, said this in Ilorin on Saturday at a Stakeholders' Forum on Security.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the security meeting was organised at the instance of theIlorin Metro Peace and Security Initiative set up by the union.

Adi said the training was to curb restiveness among youths in the state who he said, could be easily induced to destabilise peace and security.

He said the union was aware of the prevailing unemployment in the state and, therefore, decided to make some efforts to reduce the menace to the barest minimum.

He listed fashion designing, farming, fishery and hairdressing as the vocational training the youth would undergo.

The President said that all thse were geared toward discouraging the youth from lawlessness and violence.

He said the union had commenced collation of forms distributed to the beneficiaries preparatory to the launching of the scheme.

He disclosed that about 40 youths were currently undergoing training at the vocational centres of National Directorate of Employment (NDE) in llorin.

ALSO READ: 120 Plateau youths get vocational skills training

Adi said the training was a collaboration between the union and the NDE.

He said the initiative was a fallout of the 2014 Security Summit that was organised by the union ahead of the 2015 general elections which he said, elicited tension and uncertainty.

Adi added that the union decided to train hundreds of youth owing to expansion of Ilorin city and the influx of people from other states to the ancient city.

Mr Abdullahi Yusuf, the Chairman, Ilorin Metro Peace and Security Initiative, said the meeting was summoned to avert religious unrest in some areas within Ilorin metropolis.
Reacting to the party's call for the resignation of President Muhammadu Buhari over the current economic recession in the country, the minister said Nigeria would not have been in its present depleted state if the immediate past administration did what ought to have been done.

He stated this in Abuja on Friday , September 2, at a forum with the News Agency of Nigeria.

Mohammed said: While we are not going to indulge in blame game, I think we should also be honest enough to admit that we will not have been where we are today if they had done what they ought to do.

For the party to ask the President to resign is just a big joke.

Agreed that Nigeria is not the only country hit by the recession and crash in price of crude, but other countries made savings.

Saudi Arabia today has about $600 billion in reserve and this is by planning and saving for the future, which the past administration failed to do during surplus.

This is not about blaming other administration, but we believe that one should be honest when criticising.

ALSO READ: Mohammed denies saying economy beyond Buharis control
Adeuti emerged with unanimous voice votes after the second aspirant, Mr Gbenga Ojo, withdrew his candidacy when both men were nominated as aspirants for the primary election.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Adeuti, 63, from Idanre Local Government Area, is an economist and marketer with a Masters degree in Business Administration.

In his acceptance speech, Adeuti thanked the party members and the chairman of Congress Committee for finding him worthy to carry the flag of the party in the forthcoming gubernatorial election.

``I will do my best, we all want to work for the development of our state, and I am very happy to lead this famous party; our goal is November 26.

``Ondo is an enlightened State with educated people, so the development of this state is my major project and we shall achieve it together," he said.

Earlier, the State Chairman of LP, Mr Wale Gbakinro, said the primary election was being conducted in line with the article 28, sub-section 3 of the party's constitution.

Gbakinro also said that the primary was conducted with INEC guidelines and directives.

He implored the two aspirants to accept the outcome of the primary as decided by the delegates and exhibit sportsmanship towards each other.

Addressing newsmen, Mrs Ladi Iliya, Chairperson, LP Primary Electoral Committee, urged the candidate to always include women and youths in his programmes as they form majority of the electorate.

ALSO READ: Labour Party flagbearer in Edo disowned by primary election committee

Iliya, also the Deputy National Chairman of the party, said the doors are wide open for any member who defected and wanted to return to the party.

Also addressing newsmen, Mr Gbenga Ojo, said his decision to withdraw his candidacy was based on past experiences.

``I withdrew my candidacy after wide consultation within the party leadership.
According to The Cable, the exercise which peacefully kicked off around 1pm at the at the International Conference Center of The Dome, was almost disrupted when noise of gunshots rented the air.

Those present at the primary - delegates, party officials, and journalists were said to have scampered to safety.

However, amid the pandemonium, security team reportedly surrounded the ballot boxes.

Report said normalcy returned to the venue when it was discovered that the incident was a case of supremacy battle between security agencies.

There are about 3,000 delegates partaking in process.
Ojobo made the call while addressing State House correspondents during the presentation of 30 young Nigerian innovators at the Aso Villa Demo Day on Friday.

He said ICT sector would grow the nations economy into billions of dollars provided a lot of developments could take place.

``What is required therefore now is for the private sector to support government in terms of providing the much-needed funding for these creative Nigerians to take their products to the next level.

``For instance, today Whatsapp is a platform, an App, created by a young man; Google, created by a young man; Facebook, created by a young man, a 32-year-old man.

``The interesting thing there is that ICT has the capacity to buoy up our external reserves if for instance there is a lot in that sector in terms of development.

``The value of Facebook today is about 30 billion dollars, which is really more than our external reserve. And that is just one( high) -tech company.

``So, you can imagine if we have a number of tech companies like that,wouldnt be having the kind of challenge that we are having in terms of foreign exchange.

``So, really what this demonstrates today is that the plan of government in terms of diversification is beginning to take root.

``And through diversification it is very possible for us to quickly get out of recession and have the Nigerian economy begin again, he said.

Ojobo expressed excitement at the presence of the initiator of Facebook, Mark Zuckerberg, saying it demonstrated the seriousness of the event.

According to Ojobo no fewer than 16 million Nigerians are on Facebook with seven million of them daily visitors to the platform.

The NCC spokesman described innovators products being offered to Nigerians as ``unique with the potential to revive the economy if given the opportunity to take their innovations and creativity to greater heights.

Also speaking, the President of the Nigeria Computer Society (NCS), Mr Shola Aderounmu, applauded the federal government for initiating innovation programme.

``The Federal government of Nigeria is doing well.

``I want to encourage the federal government of Nigeria to really encourage especially the local ICT companies to really invest more on this start up because the focus is now to create wealth, build capacity and also to create more jobs in this country.

``So this is the best way for the government to go if eventually we want to solve this problem.

``So it is a great job that the government is trying to do.

``But we need more of this especially from the local ICT companies in Nigeria, he said.

In his remarks, Information Minister Lai Mohammed, stressed the need for Nigerians to support the initiative to move the country from resource-based economy to knowledge-based one.

He said the event was an opportunity to see how technology could be deployed to address issues hitherto seen as intractable.

Mohammed said the technologies would transform the economy with maximum benefits if they are married to the creative industry.
Ekuwem, who is also the former President, Association of Telecommunications of Nigeria (ATCON), disclosed this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos.

He said that according to World Bank report, every 10 per cent increase in broadband infrastructure penetration of a nation, would give a 1.3 per cent increase in Gross Domestic Product.

``One should imagine the multiplier effect when it goes up to 10, 15 per cent and 45 per cent as projected by Nigerian Communications Commission.

``Broadband will bring knowledge to our doorstep, knowledge to be empowered, to take decisions that will lead to productivity and good performance in business, he said.

He urged industry stakeholders within the digital ecosystem to popularise the benefits of broadband so that the public would know the enormous benefits attached to it.

``The moment in Nigeria people irrespective of area of engagement in the national economy see its productivity being boosted with access to broadband, the adoption would be wildfire.

``When broadband is applied, it will provide concept in education, having smart schools, smart laboratory, campuses, workshop, library hospital, surgery and others.

``A surgeon carrying out an operation may want to teleconference with other colleagues to get more contribution on the operating table and this can be possible through broadband connectivity.

``Also a university professor will sit in his office and give lecture to his class without any physical movement, that is the essence of broadband access.

``It will ensure the surveillance of Nigerian geographic space and ensure the protection of lives and property in the country.
Ali was hanged at 10:35 p.m. (1635 GMT), Law Minister Anisul Haq told Reuters, days after Bangladesh's highest court rejected his final appeal against the death sentence.

The execution took place amid a spate of militant attacks in the Muslim-majority nation, the most serious on July 1, when gunmen stormed a cafe in Dhaka's diplomatic quarter and killed 20 hostages, most of them foreigners.

The war crimes tribunal set up by Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in 2010 has sparked violence and been criticised by opposition politicians, who say it is targeting her political foes. The government denies the accusations.

The government has also rejected allegations by human rights groups that the tribunal's proceedings fall short of international standards, and the trials are supported by many Bangladeshis.

Hundreds of people flooded the streets of the capital to cheer the execution.

"We have waited for this day for a long 45 years," said war veteran Akram Hossain. "Justice has finally been done."

Media tycoon Ali is the last of a number of Jamaat leaders to be executed, having been sentenced to death in 2014 by the war crimes tribunal.

Jamaat-e-Islami, which said the charges against Ali were baseless, has called for a half-day strike for Monday in protest. It said Ali had been "hanged unjustifiably as part of the government's conspiracy to make Jamaat-e-Islami a leaderless party."

Ali's family and the party alleged law enforcers abducted his son Mir Ahmed Bin Quasem, a member of his legal defence team, last month. The security forces have said they knew nothing about the matter.

ALSO READ: Islamic State claims responsibility for cafe attack in Bangladesh

Thousands of extra police and border guards were deployed in Dhaka and other major cities. Previous convictions and executions have triggered violence that has killed about 200 people, most of them Islamist party activists, and police.

Since December 2013 four other prominent Jamaat members, including former leader Motiur Rahman Nizami, and a leader of the main opposition party, have been executed for war crimes.
Reacting to the announcement in a statement on Saturday, Solheim said: ``This announcement is hugely important. The leadership of China and the U.S. is crucial to taking the Paris Climate Agreement forward.

``They bring significant additional momentum to keeping global warming less than two degree-Celsius.

``By putting the well-being of our planet at the top of the agenda, the two largest economies in the world are also showing that our economic future is low-carbon and green.

``The fight against climate change remains difficult and urgent, but having heavy-hitters such as China and U.S. on your side is extremely heartening.''.

Chinas state media announced early Saturday that its National Peoples Congress had approved the ratification of the agreement at the closing of a week-long meeting.

A report by the state-run Xinhua news agency highlighted Chinas commitment to confront global warming and play a bigger role in global climate change governance.

Brian Deese, senior advisor to President Barack Obama, said the announcement by Beijing and Washington set a very clear path to help the Paris Climate Agreement to come into effect this year.

In December last year, negotiators from 179 countries and the European Union came out with final details of the Paris Climate Agreement, however, only 23 countries have ratified the accord.

The ratification by two of the worlds biggest emitters is a big step in the right direction as China accounts for 25 per cent of the worlds emissions and the U.S. ; 15 per cent.

The Paris Climate Agreement sets post-2020 goals for countries that aim to cap global warming below two degree-Celsius and calls on signatories to set goals for checking their carbon emissions.
According to most accounts, Nye County officials are prepared to assume the duties of town officials if the Nevada Supreme Court upholds last Novembers ballot question reverting the independent town board into an advisory body.

According to most accounts, Nye County officials are prepared to assume the duties of town officials if the Nevada Supreme Court upholds last Novembers ballot question reverting the independent town board into an advisory body.

The towns legal counsel maintains that county officials failed to follow state law in placing the question on the November 2012 ballot.

Town officials also believe commissioners refused to debate what was the best form of government for the residents of Pahrump.

Shortly after the election, town officials filed a lawsuit seeking an injunction on the action where Judge Robert Lane ruled in favor of the county.

Lanes decision prompted town attorneys to take their case to Nevadas highest court where all parties are now eagerly awaiting a final decision.

Meanwhile, Nye County Commissioner Dan Schinhofen said this week that steps are being taken by the county to assure a smooth transition if the court upholds Lanes ruling.

We have directed staff and they are working on it. We are looking to make sure all bases are covered and all services are covered. We are doing our best not to duplicate and at the same time keep employees employed, he said.

The District 5 commissioner also said its still too early to determine what town positions may be axed as a result of the changeover.

We are not at that point yet. Because we are dealing with peoples lives and livelihood, we dont want to say anything too soon to cause anymore turmoil and we are going to do our best to mitigate that, he said.

Pahrump Town Manager Susan Holecheck said she has been communicating with county officials on the issue and she is prepared to relinquish her duties when and if the time comes.

Holecheck said that not much will change if the board is dissolved into a powerless advisory board.

The town will still be here. Will some jobs need to be at some point and time, consumed or incorporated into current staffing levels? That is for them to decide but I hope that they will be very cognizant of the skills the people that are here are bringing to the table, she said.

As far as the future of her own position, the town manager said she does not know if she will have a job next year.

Selfishly, from my point, I dont know where I am in the picture because I dont know if there will still need to be a town manager or whether that position will become more of a liaison to the county manager. I dont know how that will all work, she said.

Schinhofen, meanwhile, said when the time comes, commissioners will hold a public meeting to inform the community about the transition process.

Schinhofen also made reference to how the county would handle the towns revenues.

Theres been talk that we are going to sweep their revenues and we cant. Its just like Beatty, who has their own property tax, which has to be used in Beatty. The revenues that are generated here will be used here, he said.

Town Board member Dr. Tom Waters said he remains confident that the court will rule in favor of the town by virtue of Nevada law.

He noted that when the ruling will come down is anybodys guess.

We are hoping they will have a decision by the end of this year. I for one think that the town has a very good case and I see no reason why the Supreme Court would not, agree he said.
Greenwood Cemetery StepS reStoration projeCt Thank you Muscatine! One big thank to all of you that purchased bricks or made a cash donation. With your support we were able to match our anonymous matchable $4,000 goal, and our $18,200 matchable grant from the Roy J Carver Charitable Trust. We are ready to start construction as soon as the City of Muscatine gives us the okay! Follow us on Facebook for updates. Dont forget we still need to sell more bricks! Buy A Brick to Support the Restoration of the Greenwood Cemetery Steps! Greenwood Cemetery StepS reStoration projeCt ADDRESS: Built in 1914, the steps saved ten blocks of walking for those who had to commute from West Hill to South End. The restoration of the historic steps will allow the people of Muscatine to use them again. This project is being done by the Friends of the Greenwood Cemetery Steps, a 501(c)(3) non-profit corp. c/o Bob Bromwell, 2414 Lucas St., Muscatine, IA 52761 PHONE: 563-299-0720 EMAIL: rbromwell@machlink.com FACEBOOK: www.facebook.com/ FixTheCemeteryStairs/ 720 Bricks have been sold, but 280 more need to be sold! Every commemorative brick you buy brings the restoration of our communitys historic Cemetery Steps one step closer! Each brick can be engraved with a special dedication to family, friends or pets. The cost is $35. For more details and to order, contact Bob Bromwell at (563) 299-0720 or e-mail rbromwell@machlink.com. You can also purchase the bricks at the Farmers Market in downtown Muscatine on Saturday mornings. G reenwood B r ic k or de r for M Name: ___________________________________________________ Phone: _______________________ Carefully print your lettering/message in the squares below. Use up to fourteen letters per line. Include spaces in the count. Three rows of text is the maximum allowed on the brick. Bricks are $35.00 each and payment must accompany order. Make checks payable to: Friends of Greenwood Cemetary. Please mail to: Robert Bromwell, 2414 Lucas Street, Muscatine, Iowa 52761. Line #1 on brick Line #2 on brick Line #3 on brick Support MuScatine nonprofit eventS CELEBRATING 25 Years #TOGETHER MUSCATINE Please Join Us Thursday, Sept. 22nd Anniversary Celebration 4:30 to 7:30 Open House & Tours 5:30 Presentation 312 Iowa Avenue - in the Gymnasium 563-264-3278, Mcsaiowa.org Mum Sale Tuesday, September 6 9 a.m. - 5 p.m. Main Lobby, Trinity Muscatine Hospital This is a perfect opportunity to get ready for fall while supporting your local hospital! Beautiful Mums, Asters and Green plants! Sponsored by Trinity Muscatine Friends - Proceeds benefits hospital project. EXPLORE HEALTHY LIVING IN YOUR OWN BACKYARD 3rd annual HEALTHY LIVING Festival SAVE THE DATE! SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 24TH HealthyLivingFest.com TheThe Muscatine Journal history of supporting this community andyears, local non-profits. annually to a Quad-City Timeshas hasover beena a175-year leader and advocate for the community for 160 including a We richinvest history of number of localnonprofits. organizations. addition, employees also donate to numerous organizations aimedand at supporting the supporting We In invest moreour than $250,000 each yeartheir in a time number of Quad-City organizations our community wedonate proudlytheir serve, such the Greenwood Cemetery Steps Restoration Project. employees time to as numerous organizations. Quad-City Times is proud to offer to charitable nonprofit organizations TheThe Muscatine Journal is proud to offer this this pagepage to charitable non-profit organizations 501(c)(3) for promoting events or services. 501(c)(3) for promoting events or services. ForFor moremore information on this page, contact Jaime at 563.262.0552 Jaime.Limoges@MuscatineJournal.com information on this page, contact Jennifer oratemail 563.383.2296 or email spotlight@qctimes.com
Being modest in France is a crime.

The burkini is the latest in a long line of Muslim-related-clothing that the French government, which is notoriously known for its bans on Muslim garb, has attempted to ban. The governments last ban was on the burqa  enveloping outer garments worn by women in some Islamic traditions. And who could forget the ban on headscarves worn by women and girls in schools?

Recently, a woman was fined 11 Euros for wearing a simple headscarf and leggings on the beach in Cannes. In another incident, pictures of French police forcing a Muslim woman to remove parts of her burkini clothing in Nice had exploded on the internet. Late in August, a French court overturned the ban.

Ive always been privileged enough to get to choose what I wear  but honestly, though, why should someone be penalized for choosing to cover up? Yes, I do get a few glances and stares at times, but Ive never had to, or even be told to compromise my values.

So, to see a fellow Muslim being forced to go against her will, value and identity was heartbreaking.

The French government claims that the burkini ban was done to protect the value of freedom of expression, which is obviously opposite of its stated goal.

To begin my argument, let me start with a simple fact: Contrary to popular belief, not all Muslim women wear the headscarf or cover up. In fact, for me, its a personal choice. The hijab doesnt oppress or makes me feel less, but it empowers me.

I acknowledge that in some parts of the world, women are not presented the same opportunity to choose for themselves whether to cover in public, but I encourage everyone to stop assuming that all women who cover up are oppressed. Assumptions never do any good, and its expectations such as those that depreciate Muslim woman who do choose to cover up.

Just look at France.

The French claim that the bans were to ensure the "protection of freedom," but to me, the real purpose of the ban is to cover a much darker truth  bigotry and fear.

After all the recent terrorist attacks, notably the 9/11 attacks in the United States, and all the international backlash that came with the attacks, Muslims suddenly had to be accountable for the actions of a few criminals who do not represent the majority.

From my experience, Im constantly on guard, making sure I dont say the wrong words. Im frequently asked if I believe in what terrorists believe, and to some degree, I have gotten used to it. Because the reality is, Muslims have been scrutinized to the very core.

At one point, it doesnt even feel shocking to hear people categorize Muslims as "threatening and dangerous." It almost feels like youre adorning an invisible tag that automatically places you as the other.

I can understand why Muslims or people with Muslim names or those who have Muslim looks are treated with more precaution. I try not to take offense to that; however, I always wonder, where do we draw the fine line between safety and bigotry?

Burkini creator Aheda Zanetti said her product doesnt symbolize Islam  it symbolizes leisure, happiness, fitness and health.

Her summary of the current events unfolding in France made so much sense to me; she said, This (burkini) has given women freedom, and they want to take that freedom away? So who is better, the Taliban or French politicians? They are as bad as each other.

Yes, I agree with her. The French ban of the burkini is akin to the Taliban banning women from, for example, getting an education.

The burkini ban crosses numerous spectrums of biases, from religious to gender, but it gains pace fueled by fear and hate.

Before the burkinis, many Muslim women I know feared going out to the pool or to play a certain sport because they feared being judged or viewed as weird.

But unfortunately for the French, a product that was supposed to provide a sense of equality, protection and integration, is now viewed as an oppressive device meant to keep Muslim women in the past.

Its not. It never has. It never will.
Marwa Genena remembers the little things about the day she became a naturalized U.S. citizen in 2008.

She remembers what she wore, the rainy weather outside and the sound of a dozen or so new Americans singing the "land of the free and the home of the brave."

But that day wasn't always her dream.

Genena, 34, was born in Cairo, Egypt and enjoyed the noise and busyness of the city. She liked being around her family.

"Moving wasn't in my mind at all," she said. "I know a lot of people who would really like to move to America, but that was not my case."

Then, she met Aussama Bazaraa, a Colorado-native who was raised in Egypt. Soon after getting married, they moved to the Quad-Cities in 2003.

"I was so young, and it was hard ... the thought of leaving my parents, my brothers and sisters and friends," Genena said. "Getting through that first year was difficult, emotionally, and I had worries."

She didn't have to worry about the language barrier, however.

Genena studied English at Ain Shams University in Cairo and often works as an Arabic interpreter helping newcomers, mostly refugees, communicate at medical appointments and trips to the grocery store.

"A lot of people go through that phase of feeling alone and scared when they arrive," Genena said. "If you don't speak any English, it adds to that."

Now, Genena, who lives in Bettendorf, is a stay-at-home mom. She has a 15-month-old son and three kids in elementary school. Her husband works at Deere & Co.

It's a new life and new everything that I wouldn't have if I didn't move, she said. "Everything that surprised me was for the better  how people treat you and the respect."

One of her dreams is to write a book about immigrating to America and share what it's like to be Muslim here.

"The questions that people ask me, about my scarf, the way I dress, fasting and praying  they are not offensive, but it shows that people are curious," she said. "I'd rather people ask me and know how it really is than guessing  it is good to be asked."

Another chapter in that book? Talking about how the Quad-Cities became home.

"I used to go back to Egypt and see my family, and it felt like I was going home, and I was just visiting America, she said. "Now, this is my home."

For her, she felt that way long before her citizenship was official.

"To me, it was something on paper," Genena said. "I felt like a citizen long before that."
Sitting at a desk in his Rock Island home, Patrick Noya tells a story from his childhood in the east African nation of Tanzania.

In his village, families supported themselves by subsistence farming and hunting animals for meat. A boy became a man when he killed a vicious animal, alone.

"Then they (the men) say, 'Now you are one of us. Welcome.'"

Noya's vicious animal was an elephant that he killed with an arrow lashed with a poison tip. An elephant can feed many people, so the kill was cause for celebration.

It appeared that Noya, who was about 10 years old, was following in the footsteps of his grandfather, who was a revered hunter.

"That's the life I grew up in," Noya said.

Now 40 years old and the father of three with a fourth expected soon, Noya is worlds away  both metaphorically and literally  from that life.

He is employed as a para-professional at Rock Island High School, where he helps teachers explain subject matter to students from African countries who are not well-versed in English. His language is Swahili, also common to many Rock Island students.

His salary is enough to pay the mortgage on a home in the Broadway historic neighborhood, and his family lives frugally. They cook from scratch, relying on staples such as beans, chicken and goat meat, and they buy in bulk so they are set for months at a time.

Although Noya's immediate and No. 1 priority is to "make sure my kids are utilizing this opportunity (of living in America) to get an education," his vision and dreams extend beyond the walls of his house.

He wants to help fellow Africans succeed. It grieves him to see refugees suffering because they "know not a single word of English."

"They are just stranded," he said of some newcomers. "They know no one."

And it grieves him to see teenagers having such a difficult time with American culture  with fitting in, with learning  that they drop out or get into trouble. The freedom of America "can completely push them off the cliff," Noya said.

"Instead of it becoming their savior, it becomes their destroyer. And their parents are grieving."

To help, Noya founded a nonprofit organization called New Dawn Children and Family Services Inc., which he operates out of his home. He is the only employee, and he works without pay.

"We become like a resource center," he said of the organization. "We helped 34 families this year."

One of his latest success stories was to find a safe, affordable apartment for a woman with six children who had been living in a women's shelter.

With help from Bethany for Children and Families and World Relief, he is able to provide needy families with kitchen appliances, such as microwaves, and basic furnishings, such as beds. He also helps people find jobs.

To help children, he opened a free, state-approved, after-school program in his home for second to eighth graders. Twenty five students are enrolled, and "more people want to come."

He also provides transportation, taking children to and from school for the after-school program. He just bought a used 15-passenger van "on faith" from Bethany.

"There are a lot of kids who need help," he said. "And their parents can't help, because they don't speak English. If they work all day, they are tired. And the kids, if they don't understand, they just get frustrated and go off."

As he talks, one can hear the pounding of hammers and the buzzing of saws as construction workers create an upstairs space for the after-school program, currently held downstairs.

That will free up the downstairs space for a new home day-care center Noya is starting to supplement his income. It is registered for 12 children, including his own.

"I want to push myself," Noya said. "I want to learn and become strong and help."

He has two dreams yet to fulfill: One is to earn his master's degree in international relations.

The second is to create an international charter school in Rock Island that would teach English to anyone of any age who wants to learn.

How he got here

While Noya's grandfather was teaching him to hunt, teachers in the village school were instructing him in reading and writing. He read so much at night by lamplight  the village did not have electricity  that he damaged his eyes. A German missionary priest in the village arranged for him to get glasses, the first anyone in the village had ever seen.

"They looked at me and said, 'What are you wearing?'" he recalled.

Noya was smart and filled with drive. He wanted to continue school, but his family could not afford it.

Eventually, a different missionary priest arranged for him to take an entrance exam at a Jesuit high school in Dar es Salaam, a city of about 4 million people, the largest city in the country and in all of east Africa. He enrolled with the agreement that if he did really well, the Jesuits would consider paying for his schooling, and that is what happened.

"God opened the door for me to go to school," Noya said.

While at the school, he befriended an American Peace Corps worker.

"He became my best friend. He pushed me really hard," Noya said. "We had to memorize 50 English words a day. That's what we did to learn English. There was no time to goof around."

Noya met his wife, Violet, and came to the United States in 2004 on a student visa to study aviation at a school in South Dakota. His Peace Corps friend, now back in the United States, helped him make contacts.

He wanted to come to the U.S. because, "there are no opportunities, no works, no jobs," in Tanzania, he said. "Even people with degrees are on the streets."

When aviation didn't work out, he moved to Peoria to study at Illinois Baptist College.

In time, he got a call from his Peace Corps friend, who by then had become an Anglican priest, serving at Trinity Anglican Church in Rock Island, asking him to come help other refugees.

Small world.
A Rock Island man has been identified by the Iowa State Patrol as a worker killed Thursday after he was struck by a vehicle near Blue Grass.

Willie Nathaniel Holley, 62, of Rock Island, was pronounced dead at Genesis Medical Center-East Rusholme Street, Davenport, according to a crash report posted on the state patrol website. He was employed by Valley Construction, Rock Island.

The driver of the vehicle, Sebon Cordell Reese, 18, of Davenport, and his 1-year-old sister also were taken to the hospital, according to the report. Their conditions were not available Friday.

Trooper Dan Loussaert, public information officer for the state patrol, said charges are pending against Reese. He declined to say what charges he faces.

Around 10:10 a.m. Thursday, the Scott Emergency Communications Center received a report of a reckless driver traveling at a high rate of speed on northbound/eastbound U.S. 61, according to a Scott County Sheriffs Office news release.

Deputy Gina Lieferman was in the area and saw the vehicle, a 2005 Mercury Grand Marquis, driving east at a high rate of speed. She tried to turn around and pull over the vehicle, according to the news release.

The vehicle then entered the construction zone just east of Blue Grass and tried to turn off U.S. 61 at Coonhunters Road and struck Holley before coming to a stop off the pavement.

Further investigation revealed that prior to the crash, Reese came upon vehicles also traveling east and attempted to pass them on the left in the median and lost control of the vehicle.

Blue Grass Fire Department and Medic ambulance were immediately requested at the scene of the crash. Reese was detained without incident.

The accident remains under investigation.

The crew from Valley Construction recently began the process of putting in a turn lane onto Coonhunters Road.

Valley Construction president Greg Hass said Friday that Holleys death was devastating to our employees and the employees that witnessed it.

Our thoughts and prayers are with him and his family, he said.

Hass said he thinks Holley had worked for the company off and on for 10 years.

He described him as a super great, friendly gentleman who was well-liked by his co-workers.

Hass said the company is setting up a memorial fund and has offered to cover funeral expenses for Holleys family. Grief counselors also are available for employees who need it, he said.

At the time of the crash, Reese was on probation in three separate cases in Scott County.

According to court documents:

On May 2, 2015, police responded to Vander Veer Botanical Park in the 2600 block of Harrison Street, Davenport, for a report of criminal mischief.

Reese was seen throwing rocks and debris at random vehicles and motorcycles that were driving on Harrison Street. Several vehicles were damaged. He also was in a group that threw a large piece of cement, which struck a southbound motorcyclist on his helmet.

On Aug. 16, 2015, police came into contact with a 2015 Audi in the 900 block of West 14th Street, Davenport. Police had received a report that the car was stolen.

The driver, later identified as Reese, refused to pull the vehicle over and eluded several marked squad cars. He reached speeds of 65 to 70 mph in a 30-mph zone, traveled off the roadway and disregarded several stop signs.

He crossed over into Illinois and continued to elude police until the car was no longer drivable.

The vehicle had been stolen in Bettendorf two days earlier. Reese removed the license plates and replaced them with drive away plates from a local car dealership. He also attempted to remove two identifying stickers from the rear window of the car.

On Nov. 3, 2015, Reese was operating a Chevrolet Suburban SUV at Caseys General Store, 3700 W. Locust St., Davenport. The car had been stolen from Rock Island.

Reese was seen on store surveillance video getting out of the car and going inside the store. He took chips and a slice of pizza from the display and ran out without paying, according to court documents.

In March, he was given a suspended 15-year prison sentence and placed on three years of probation after pleading guilty to second-degree criminal mischief, first-degree theft, eluding and second-degree theft.

Scott County prosecutors on Friday filed a motion to revoke his probation.

Rock Island County online court records show that Reese was placed on 24 months of probation in June after pleading guilty to a felony retail theft charge.
Hugo Garcias first impression of the United States was of how peaceful and calm it was.

I was living in Mexico City, and it was so busy and compact and everything seemed pushed together, and then my family and I moved to Almonte, California, a suburb of Los Angeles, and everything was so spread out, so quiet and peaceful, relatively speaking, he said.

As the owner and operator of Charleys Philly Steaks in NorthPark Mall, Garcias days are a combination of that hectic pace and more laid-back hours, depending on mealtime rushes and the like. But hearkening back to his origins in this country, hes built his business on the character and backbone he had established from the start  one of hard work, determination, intelligence and a will to succeed.

In 1985, he moved back to Mexico with his family and hated it." In 1993, a year after marrying his wife, Irma, he returned to the U.S. and headed for Rockford, Illinois.

For me, this was home," he said. "This is where my dreams would come true.

But dreams are made real from sweat, smarts and toil, and Garcia put all of those into his goals.

He washed uniforms and did other odd jobs, and he and his wife saved as much money as they could. In 2005, they had saved enough to buy a duplex, which led to buying, renovating and flipping houses.

I was taught that the only way to make money is to have money, and the only way to have money is to save money, so we saved every penny we could, Garcia said.

Through work, his wife met a woman from Laos, and the two began having family nights where they would exchange recipes. One night, the lesson might be in how to make egg rolls. The next night, the focus would switch to making tamales.

Meanwhile, their husbands were getting to know one another and exchanged business philosophies. Garcia's new friend, who owned the Charleys franchise, offered him the opportunity to buy it in 2005.

When I first moved here, I felt like I was swimming against the current, because everyone was accustomed to eating at other places, and I needed to get people to come to us, he said. Its been a long journey, but its been maintaining good quality, good customer service and me being here to overlook everything that has made us successful.

As for his goals, they mostly revolve around seeing his children succeed, as his father had raised him to do so many years ago. His daughter, Nancy, 19, is at University of Iowa, and his son, Hugo, 14, is a freshman at Assumption High School.

I want them to both finish college and follow their own dreams, Garcia said. I started college but didnt finish. Ive done well, but I want them to do even better than me.

Helping other hard-working people achieve their dreams is another of his goals.

I want to make enough where I can help other people, give them a hand up when theyre working hard to achieve their goals, he said. If I won the Lotto tomorrow, I would want to help others.

I want people to realize that they can achieve their dreams, but it takes very hard work, determination and sacrifice to succeed. Nothing is going to be handed to you. You have to have that hunger to make it happen.
Jeno Berta was a 19-year-old Hungarian refugee on his way to Casper, Wyoming, in 1957 when his bus stopped in Davenport.

He never left.

The 79-year-old owner of Jeno's Little Hungary, a bar on North Pine Street, could not be more proud of his adoptive home country even as his heart aches for the one he left behind.

"There was so much hatred," he said.

Born in 1937 in a farm town of 50 families, Berta was a young boy when he witnessed the Nazi persecution of Jews and other disenfranchised groups. They were people who, he said, "never did anything wrong."

Even after the defeat of Nazi Germany in World War II, Hungary remained vulnerable. Berta said the Communist regime of the former Soviet Union occupied his country. All that changed after the Russians took power was the language and the uniforms, he said.

After 11 years of the violent occupation, Berta decided to flee to neighboring Austria with three of his friends. But only Berta and one friend made it across the border, which included barbed wire fence and a guard post every 200 yards.

He said it was hard to leave his homeland and harder still not to tell anyone or to say goodbye.

"I never told my mom or dad, my brother or sister I'm leaving, because I don't want them to worry about it if I'm going to make it or not," he said.

After spending months skipping across central Europe  from one refugee camp to another  Berta eventually reached the United States in March 1957.

"On March 5, America opened its doors  'Jeno, it's all yours,'" he said, recalling the day he arrived in a military camp in New Jersey. Ellis Island had closed a few years prior.

It wasn't until he safely got to the United States that he wrote to his family back home.

Berta became a U.S. citizen five years later, on Sept. 6, 1962. He delights in sharing the significant dates in his life.

He worked about 30 years at Riverside Foundry in Bettendorf and opened his bar in 1989.

Meanwhile, he married an Iowa farmer's daughter, and they raised a son, also named Jeno Berta but with a different middle name, who became a U.S. Army lieutenant colonel and lawyer in Bettendorf.

Berta said he is the "luckiest man in the world." He hopes new immigrants to the United States, especially those escaping violence and hardship, can have the same kind of access to opportunity he has enjoyed.

He said he's been in their shoes.

"You heard about these immigration people coming in and all that," Berta said. "Well, I tell you, I know they talk about the Mexicans and all that. I want to be honest with you. In 1956  Nov. 12  I wish America would have been our neighbor. I did the same thing."
It is safe to say that Vince Thomas has improved the lives of thousands of people since he arrived in the United States in 1954.

From the time he came from India to attend college, first at the University of Charleston, West Virginia, then at Drake University in Des Moines, Thomas has spent the majority of his time in the United States helping others. His current efforts are as an adjunct professor in sociology and social work at Black Hawk College. But he also had a long career as head of Project NOW, a community service organization that offers many kinds of help to those who need it most.

A lot of things have changed since I arrived in the United States, but one thing that has remained the same is that I have tried to be helpful and to help others, Thomas said.

He landed as a teen in New York City from Mumbai, and one thing struck him immediately about America.

(It was) how honest people were, he said. You have this stereotype about New Yorkers being so tough and rude, but that was not my experience at all. The people I encountered, from cab drivers to bellhops to other customer service people, were very honest and helpful and friendly. And a lot of them told me Welcome to the U.S.A.

It was very strange coming here, especially in New York City, and seeing things Id only seen in movies for the first time. Mumbai is not a small city in India by any means, but nothing is like New York.

Thomas learned English growing up, and, not surprisingly, given Indias long standing as a part of the British empire and its pervasive influence on his home country, he spoke it with a British accent.

That was pretty accepted when I was on the East Coast, because so many people have similar accents," he said. "But as I moved towards the center of the country, it stood out more, and eventually I lost the accent. But I think it was a great advantage for me that I already spoke English, and I try to keep that in mind as I help others from other countries to assimilate here. Some of them may be having a difficult time with English, but they speak four other languages, and it can take a while to learn it here.

During the 1950s and 60s, Thomas pursued various careers, working as a journalist, including a stint at the Quad-City Times, and at the Rock Island Public Library helping to establish various outreach programs, before landing at Project NOW in 1972 as a community organizer. While there, he helped implement many programs, including Head Start.

Over the years, Ive always felt I should be devoting myself to helping people, he said. India has received a lot of help from the United States over the years, and I felt I should return the favor. Everyone wants to live the American dream, but for some people, its more of a struggle.

Thomas retired from Project NOW in 2001 and began teaching at Black Hawk, where he remains as an adjunct professor, teaching sociology and social work.

The study of people and the study of helping people, he said.

He also regularly helped new immigrants and refugees get their citizenship, aiding them on the oft-grueling required testing. He also has a history of helping those in danger of foreclosure and eviction, particularly seniors.

At this stage of my life, I just hope to help people, he said.
Ahmad Cheema has become a maestro at the art of medicine while also having a passion for his life and art.

The Davenport gastroenterologist came to the United States in 1997 as part of a team of physicians doing their residency in internal medicine in New York.

I was really awed at the grand scale of everything in New York City, he said. I had gone to King Edward Medical College in Lahord, which is Pakistans second-largest city, but New York was so much bigger. It was incredible. Its wonderful in so many different ways  the architecture, the expanse, the people. It truly is a global village. Its a fascinating place to be.

After three years in the Big Apple, Cheema moved to Chicago for a fellowship at the Loyola Medical School. It was shortly after, while in Seattle doing a presentation with his wife, Tabinda, that he was offered the job that would lead him to the Quad-Cities.

We liked it. It was a nice-sized community," he said. "There were a lot of positives to it, so after my fellowship was over, we moved to the Quad-Cities.

In the 13 years since, Cheema has built a reputation for himself in his field while enjoying the environment and community.

I like it a lot here, and I very much enjoy the job, he said. Being a gastroenterologist is a good mix of being a physician and a surgeon. You get to look into the mysteries of the body and ailments and get to help patients through treating them.

Its a very deeply rewarding experience. As my father said, if you are a good physician, you have the best of both worlds  this one and the one after it. You can have a very comfortable lifestyle, and you are able to make a meaningful difference in peoples lives and touch their lives in a positive way.

And then theres the matter of his other love: art.

I very much enjoy drawing, although up to this point, Ive primarily done so as a hobby, for myself or as gifts for others, Cheema said. I hadnt done it in a while. But when I changed practices in 2012, I started drawing again and have been able to keep doing it, and Ive enjoyed it very much. Its not something that I could necessarily make a living from doing, but I do like it, and Im happy its a part of my life.

His artwork can be seen on his website, ahmadcheema.com.
If youre cruising through eastern Iowa on U.S. 30, your eyes will pop at the enormous eagle and American flag in little Lowden, Iowa. Its 105 feet long, newly painted on the side of the American Legion Lillis-Deerberg Post 366 building by an artistic farmer who is a big-city newspaperman by trade. It is no measly project. After he paints service flags on the other side of the Legion building in the next few weeks, the total cost of the project may run as much as $12,000 or $13,000.

It is a large-scale venture for a legion post that has only 70 members, in this Cedar County town of about 800.

We wanted visitors and residents to appreciate that we are an ambitious, patriotic community, says Larry Mostaert, a do-gooder and adjutant of the Lowden Legion, who got the ball rolling. Larry lives in nearby Clarence, but brought the mural idea to the neighboring town of Lowden.

OBSERVERS have been curious why the farmer-artist, Bryan Caspary, has been in such a hurry. It's simple: He wants to get the art projects finished before beginning to harvest his crops.

"I'm not an artist. Im really not a farmer. Im a newspaperman, says Caspary. I was art director for the Denver Post and the old Rocky Mountain News. I married an inside sales person named Dawn at the Post and she talked me into moving to Iowa and Clarence to help her dad with his 400 acres. He was getting older. So here I am, doing an occasional mural like this while Im farming corn and beans. But I miss newspapering.

Now, he is painting the opposite side of the Post 366 building with flag poles holding nine flowing flags of the service branches and patriotic banners. That will be a lot of work, hand painting the details of insignias, he says. But its an honor to do things like this.

U.S. 30 cuts through the edge of Lowden, 33 miles west of Davenport. The giant eagle and flag painting on the Legion building is about a block off the busy highway and easily located on Main Street. The 100-foot avenue of flags should be finished in about two weeks.

CASPARY USES a sprayer and hand brush and exterior acrylic, the same type of paint used on houses. A seal to protect the art will be used on the walls. A much smaller flag and banners that had decorated the building had faded, but Caspary says this medium should hold bright for many years.

Weve been talking about doing this for a long time, says Bob Rowold, a member of Post 366. Bill Norton, an attorney in Lowden, contributed his services. Mostaert also has been heavily involved. The project received major financial support from a bank and the Community Foundation of Cedar County. Businesses in Cedar and nearby counties have helped and residents have pitched in.

When all is finished by this autumn, a major dedication is planned. Color guards from American Legion posts will be invited to salute the achievement. It shows what a American Legion Post of only 70 members can get done.
Thumbs up to Robby Ortiz hanging tough through a lengthy regulatory process.

Ortiz spent months fighting for a liquor license at West Side Grocery in Davenport. This week, the City Council finally approved Ortiz's application by a 6-4 vote.

The council faced significant public outcry against Ortiz's license, which held up the process. Ortiz even pulled his application at one point.

But, in the end, Ortiz's request was in line with city code. Any government concerned with equitable application of the law had to approve it.

Thumbs down to Iowa's continued draconian treatment of non-violent felons.

Glen Tank, of Waterloo, assumed his rights had been restored in 2012 after walking into a polling station and registering without incident. Now, Tank owes more than $1,500 in fines, fees and surcharges after state officials charged him with election misconduct for casting a ballot.

Iowa's unwillingness to restore rights of felons who've paid their debt is socially damaging and mean-spirited. The charges filed against Tank are just a symptom of Iowa's intolerance for second-chances.

Thumbs up to Art Tate for putting it all out there.

For years, the Davenport Community School District superintendent has undergone his annual review in public. It's a refreshing nod to transparency in a process that's usually cloaked in secrecy and non-disclosure agreements. It also speaks volumes about Tate's confidence.

We appreciate all of it.
Quad-City Times reporter Tara Becker and photographer Jeff Cook did a beautiful job telling Emilys story with compassion and we commend the Quad-City Times for their efforts to raise awareness.

There are two points I need to address. The jail-based Center for Alcohol and Drug Services (CADS) program is a good one. Obviously, we need to do more, but it is a start.

I told Tara I had trouble forming timelines from that period as we talked. My thoughts were often jumbled and disconnected. It was after we bailed Emily out of jail the second time and she began living with us every day again, that we saw the extreme trouble she was in.

We had her committed to the inpatient program at Country Oaks. She spent eight weeks there. I remember one of her counselors saying she was too smart for her own good. She convinced them, us and perhaps herself, that she had the tools to overcome.

One month after being released from rehab, she began hanging out with addicts she met there. It was an awful summer of downward spiraling, disappearances and constant fear. Every siren, every phone ring, left me terrified.

I suggest every parent, family member or friend, who is fearful of your loved ones substance abuse, read Chasing the Scream by Johann Hari. Had I read this enlightening book five years ago, I would have done many things differently.

I should have begun this fight before I lost my daughter. To participate in our mission, visit www.facebook.com/walkwithemily.

Diane Dwyer

Davenport
NATION

Nurses prepare to go on strike

The union representing nurses at five Twin Cities hospitals says a strike will begin Labor Day because contract talks broke down.

The Minnesota Nurses Association and representatives from Allina Health broke off a 22-hour negotiating session early Saturday without reaching agreement.

The nurses say they plan to strike starting Monday. Main issues of the negotiations include health insurance, workplace safety and staffing.

The nurses say progress was made on putting security officers in emergency rooms, but that Allina said nurses' health care plans needed to end before 2020.

Member of Tuskegee Airmen dies

Dabney Montgomery, who served with the all-black Tuskegee Airmen in World War II and marched with Martin Luther King Jr., has died. He was 93.

His goddaughter Marlene Patton said he died of natural causes Saturday morning at a Manhattan hospice care facility. He had lived in Harlem until he entered the facility Sunday night.

Montgomery was awarded the Congressional Gold Medal in 2007.

Patton says the soles of his shoes and the tie he wore on the famous 1965 Selma to Montgomery march with King will be part of the permanent collect at the new National Museum of African American History and Culture in Washington, D.C. when it opens on Sept. 24.

WORLD

Obamas China trip off to bumpy start

If President Barack Obama was hoping for a graceful start to his final trip to Asia as commander in chief, this wasn't it.

A confrontation between a White House aide and a Chinese official, and other diplomatic dust-ups were out in the open from the moment Air Force One landed in Hangzhou, site of an economic summit.

The first sign of trouble: There was no staircase for Obama to exit the plane and descend on the red carpet. Obama used an alternative exit.

On the tarmac, a quarrel broke out between a presidential aide and a Chinese official who demanded the journalists traveling with Obama be prohibited from getting anywhere near him. It was a breach of the tradition observed whenever the American president arrives in a foreign place.

When the White House official insisted the U.S. would set the rules for its own leader, her Chinese counterpart shot back.

"This is our country! This is our airport!" the Chinese official yelled.

Also, a Chinese official tried to keep Obama's national security adviser, Susan Rice, away from her boss.

Rice seemed less than amused by the incident when asked about it by a reporter.

"They did things that weren't anticipated," she said.

15 oil workers are kidnapped

Police say gunmen have kidnapped 15 oil workers near Nigeria's petroleum capital of Port Harcourt in the latest apparent hostage-for-ransom incident.

A police spokesman, Deputy Superintendent Nnamdi Omoni, said Saturday that all the abducted are Nigerians working for the local oil industry service company Nestoil.

He says their bus was hijacked Friday about 60 miles southeast of their office in Port Harcourt.

Jamaica arrests 16 in lottery scam

Sixteen people arrested for allegedly defrauding U.S. citizens will appear in court this month as Jamaican authorities take aim at lottery scam gangs that they blame for much of the island nation's violent crime.

Authorities said in a Friday statement the suspects are accused of defrauding victims of $50,000 between 2011 and 2015 and are scheduled to appear in court on Sept. 14 and Sept. 20.

They were arrested during a series of raids last week in western Jamaica during which authorities confiscated some $3,000 worth of Jamaican currency, computers, mobile telephones, and documents containing personal information of potential scam victims.

The government did not release the suspects' names. It said customs and counter-terrorism and organized crime investigators assisted police during the raids.

The Jamaican scam rings generally prey on elderly people in the United States by coercing money from them after tricking victims into thinking they have won a lottery. Victims are often told they must make a tax payment to collect their winnings.

U.S. officials have said the lottery scams bilk U.S. residents out of some $300 million annually.

Jamaican authorities say clashes between rival scam gangs are behind many of the homicides and other violent crimes in Jamaica, including an October 2015 attack that killed six members of the same family. Police blamed the gang violence on a 20 percent increase in killings last year.
Roving rabbis Mayer Brook and Tzvi Alperowitz stand out in a crowd anywhere they travel in South Dakota. And thats a good thing, because the two young men want people to know theyre here to help.

Brook, 19, and Alperowitz, 20, are orthodox Jews who are volunteers through Roving Rabbis, an international rabbinical student visitation program. Roving Rabbis is a program sponsored by the Jewish outreach organization Chabad. Roving Rabbis sends rabbinical students to parts of the world where Jewish communities are small. The students mission is to encourage, inspire and connect.

Roving Rabbis was created by the late Rabbi Menachem Schneerson, also known as Rebbe, in the 1940s. He was the organizations guiding force for 50 years. Twenty years after his death, Schneersons passion for helping others still inspires students such as Brook and Alperowitz to serve as Roving Rabbis.

Were going to any Jewish person we can to meet them, to reconnect them with their roots. Were getting together as unity, as a family, Brook said. Jews are known as family.  Anyone born Jewish is part of the family.  Each time you meet, its like souls meeting. Its the warmest thing that can happen.

Brook and Alperowitz were assigned to visit South Dakota. The two visited Rapid City Aug. 14 to 17, and are traveling throughout the state this month before returning to their rabbinical studies. Brook has volunteered as a Roving Rabbi twice before, both times in Hungary. This is Alperowitzs first experience as a Roving Rabbi.

Before arriving in South Dakota, the men looked up Jewish synagogues and contacted them to arrange meetings. Brook and Alperowitz were impressed by Rapid Citys Jewish residents. We noticed an incredible, tight-knit community, Alperowitz said. Theyre very strong, very proud of being Jewish.

Brook and Alperowitz also toured the area, looking for any opportunities to connect and interact with people. One of their most memorable encounters occurred at Mount Rushmore with a tourist from California. The man, who is in his 60s, had never had a bar mitzvah, the traditional coming-of-age ceremony for boys. Brook and Alperowitz let the man put on a tefillin  small boxes containing sacred scrolls that are worn during prayer  and they conducted a ceremony on the spot. Then the three posed for a photo in front of Mount Rushmore. Were just family. Were there for each other, Alperowitz said.

Brook, from Brooklyn, N.Y., and Alperowitz, an American whose family lives in Bournemouth, England, found that Jewish life in South Dakota is not without its challenges. Finding kosher food was especially difficult, so the men brought three weeks worth of provisions with them, mostly milk and meat products.

Brook and Alperowitz both enjoyed the people they met here. Weve come to South Dakota to inspire. After visiting Rapid City, we were more inspired, Alperowitz said. Each (Jewish person) is a diamond, so proud of who they are though they are so few in number.

I really think everyones very kind. Everyones patient, nice, Brook said.

Brook and Alperowitz ultimately want to become rabbis, and both say they knew from an early age that was their calling. Both said they are willing to go anywhere in the world there is a Jewish community in need.

The Rebbe always taught us that when you know something, however much you know, you teach. Be there to help another. Whenever you are able to help somebody else in anything, in a social way, in a material way, always be there for the person, Alperowitz said.

While serving as Roving Rabbis, Brock and Alperowitz invite anyone who wants to reconnect with their Jewish roots, or learn more about Jewish faith, history or culture, to contact them. Brock and Alperowitz can be reached at mayer@jewishsd.org.
When Mike Weaver of St. James Episcopal Church thanked sponsors and staff of the South Dakota Delta Dental Caremobile at a lunch last week concluding the mobile clinic's stay in Belle Fourche caring for underserved children, he had one more announcement.

A $2,500 check from the F.L. Clarkson Foundation presented by Clarkson family member Mary Buchholz meant the mobile clinic could return for a third visit this year.

The clinic provides restorative and preventive dental treatment for children who do not have a regular dental home, have not seen a dentist for two years or who have been treated previously by the clinic.

No child is turned away for inability to pay.

St. James has hosted the mobile clinic since 2006, and helped encourage local sponsorship and support for the mobile clinic.

The once a year visits soon grew to twice yearly, and this year will have a third visit.

Weaver said that the church took on the project because their search for a community need they could offer assistance too came back with the same answer from many sources: dental care for children in local families that couldn't afford visits to a local clinic.

Since then the "total retail value" of dental care for Belle Fourche children has approached a half million in dollars.

What's more important, according to Kris Nichols, coordinator for the Delta Dental Caremobile, are the number of children who went to school daily with dental pain.

Nearly half of the late August children treated were repeat patients. That's 25 of 50 on the appointment schedule.

Just the August visit was valued at $26,000 in dental care.

Since 2006, the Belle Fourche visits have cared for 1,019 children, Nichols said, with an average cost per child of $438.

Nichols told local sponsors at the session-end lunch, "We don't want to be a dental home."

But when 66 percent of children cared for came from households with under $20,000 annual income, the clinic not only helps solve health problems caused by tooth problems, it also teaches dental care habits and that there's nothing to be frightened about in a dental chair.

Two of the clinic staff on the August visit have Belle Fourche ties.

Dentist Dennis Mills practiced in the community in 1974 before moving to Deadwood in 1974, and dental assistant Cari Seward and her family lived here a number of years before they moved to Pierre.

Mills told the luncheon group that he had practiced dentistry in the area a long time and saw many friends on his latest visit to Belle Fourche

"When I retired in 2010, I lived on a boat in Florida for a year," he said.

When he looked into moving back to the state, he was asked if he'd be interested in working a Caremobile trip with Delta Dental.

"So I went to Isabel," he said. "I never thought I would be retired and treating kids."
As punishment for reckless shooting, a Rapid City man will have to pay $584 and take a gun-safety course but serve no time in jail.

Austin J. Hier, 22, pleaded guilty Friday to the offense, which came at the heels of a robbery on June 22.

At around 10 p.m. that day, authorities said two men robbed the Circle S convenience store on East Fairmont Boulevard.

Hier, who was in a car outside the store, saw the men crouching toward the store then quickly enter, according to a police report filed at the Pennington County Courthouse. He noticed the men had bandannas covering their faces and one of them was holding a black object.

I think these guys are about to rob this place, Hier told his companion, according to the report.

He reached into the vehicles center console where his friendss .40-caliber pistol was stored. When the suspects came running out, Hier got out of the vehicle. He aimed the gun at them and fired two shots.

At least three people who were chasing the suspects got down after hearing the gunshots, according to police.

Police said they did not receive any report of injuries from the shooting.

Police seized the gun, owned by Hiers friend who has a concealed-weapons permit.

Six weeks after the incident, Hier was charged with reckless discharge of a firearm and arrested. The misdemeanor is punishable by up to 12 months in jail and/or $2,000 in fine.

The Rapid City Police Department said Hier was charged based on various factors. He didnt see the suspects actually brandish a firearm, he did not see what happened inside the store and the suspects never threatened him.

The safe operation of a firearm starts with the responsibility of the person carrying it, said Capt. James Johns, head of the departments Criminal Investigation Division. If you point a weapon at somebody and fire it, you need to be able to clearly illustrate why that person presented a threat to you or somebody else. In this case, firing at the suspects was unwarranted.

At Hiers plea and sentencing hearing Friday afternoon, only his lawyer, Robert Rohl, showed up. Hier had bonded out of jail.

In accordance with Hiers plea agreement with county prosecutors, Magistrate Judge Todd Hyronimus ordered him to take a gun-safety course as well as pay $584, which include a fine and court costs. A sentence of 360 days in jail was suspended.

The prosecutor asked that the gun Hier used be forfeited. The judge declined to rule on that request.

Two men have been charged for the Circle S robbery and are detained at the Pennington County Jail. They fled with $175.97 in cash, police said.
Continuing the trial of a Florence physician facing 400 felony counts for allegedly providing illegal prescriptions to his patients would be a violation of the states right to a fair triall, according to a motion filed Friday.

Dr. Chris Christensen officially requested a years delay to his trial set for October earlier this week.

Christensens new attorney, Josh Van De Wetering of Missoula, said he needed at least that much time to build a defense for his client.

Ravalli County Deputy Attorney Thorin Geist filed his own motion Friday saying a decision to delay the trial for a year would substantially prejudice the states case.

Geist said the state has been working for over a year to bring the matter to trial.

At this point, there are 49 witnesses who either have or will soon receive a subpoena.

Many of the victims in this case have long standing addiction issues, which the State contends is a direct result of the Defendants conduct and prescribing practices, Geist wrote. The risk that a victim may relapse and become unavailable for trial is significant. The interests of justice are not served by permitting the Defendant to reap the benefits of his own delay.

Other witnesses include medical professionals and pharmacists that already had to rearrange their schedules. The state also plans to call law enforcement officers, including two DEA agents who are coming out of retirement to testify.

Locally, the district court clerk has already summoned 450 jurors to fill a pool of 120 potential jurors for the anticipated month-long trial.

Beyond that, Geist said the court ruled on July 25th that Christensen had not acted with diligence in obtaining an attorney.

The District Court has already determined that the Defendant has not acted with diligence in this case, and without a finding of diligence the trial cannot be continued, Geist wrote. The Defendant did not act with haste in retaining an attorney, despite being repeatedly admonished to do so, and he did not appear with counsel until the Preliminary Pretrial Conference on Aug. 24.

Geist said Christensen presented no new arguments or a legal basis for a continuation other than to comment on the complexity of the case.

The argument that he couldnt afford an attorney follows the courts determination that he wasnt indigent and despite that argument, Geist said Christensen has now come up with the money at the last minute.

The Defendant has simply dragged his feet while the State has diligently worked to prepare for trial according to the schedule set by the District Court, Geist wrote.

In his motion, Van de Wetering said Christensen was able to hire him only after relatives of Christensens wife came up with the money to do so. He said Christensen had to borrow money from family and friends to pay his $200,000 bond.

Christensen was arrested in August 2015 after he allegedly provided hundreds of illegal prescriptions to his patients, including two who died from overdoses.

He had been without an attorney since December after the state Public Defenders Office asked to be taken off the case when it was determined Christensen had too much money to qualify for state-funded counsel.

If convicted on all charges, Christensen, 67, faces a prison sentence of up to 388 life terms, plus 135 years and a fine of up to $20 million. He remains free on a $200,000 bond.
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So fight nice, kids.


GENEVA, Sept 3: With war trumping peace efforts in recent weeks in Syria, U.N.-mediated talks sputtered over another missed deadline to resume this past week.

Analysts say patience is waning and prospects for a deal brokered by the United Nations are wearing increasingly thin.

U.N. special envoy Staffan de Mistura, entering his 27th month in the job, on Thursday shrugged off his inability to meet two target dates in August to bring envoys from President Bashar Assad's government and the main opposition back to the table in Geneva.

De Mistura blamed the increasing "militarization" of Syria's crisis for his failure and again deferred to Russia and the United States to lead the way out. "It's not about deadlines, about dates," he said. "It's about realities."

De Mistura, a veteran Swedish-Italian diplomat, has long touted his "three-legged table" approach to helping end a merciless 5-year war: Reducing the violence, boosting humanitarian aid and drawing Assad's state and its enemies into a political process.

But Syria's largest city, Aleppo, is on the cusp of disaster, and a truce that gave beleaguered Syrians a respite early this year is all but dead. U.N.-led humanitarian aid is trickling in but only to the neediest spots. Turkish troops have crossed into Syria after years of staying out.

De Mistura says Assad now has "clearly a strategy" to force local surrenders and evacuations like recent ones by residents of two Damascus suburbs, Daraya and Moadamiyeh, after years of grueling sieges.

De Mistura's Aug. 1 target date for resuming talks that broke up in April passed, then another went by at the end of August.

No longer does he talk about timetables for getting the Syrian sides back to Geneva and is focusing instead on getting the world community more involved. He says he's preparing an unspecified "quite clear political initiative" to present before the U.N. General Assembly this month in New York, to help the assembly "look the Syria problem straight in the eye."

In other words: Back to the international drawing board, just as two important political dates lie on the horizon: votes for U.S. president and U.N. secretary-general.

On Aug. 26, de Mistura briefly dropped in on 12 hours of bilateral of talks in Geneva between U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry and Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov.

In their final newsconference, they referred to de Mistura only once and Kerry canceled plans for a private meeting with him. Kerry did find time for dinner with Geneva's mayor, though.

Critics have accused the U.N. of enabling Assad's government, either by bolstering it with humanitarian aid that goes to his supporters or naively thinking he and his backers will accept a political transition when the war has recently been going their way. U.N. officials say their job is to help all civilians in such war zones, whether in areas Assad controls or outside them.

Analysts acknowledge de Mistura always faced a tough task.

"No one will question Staffan de Mistura's well-intentioned efforts, but one can certainly question the strategy adopted," said Emile Hokayem of the International Institute for Strategic Studies.

Some of de Mistura's questionable assumptions, Hokayem said, include believing that Russia and the U.S. could have sway with key regional players Turkey, Saudi Arabia and Iran, or that Moscow had the leverage or the will to steer Assad toward an accord. He noted how Russia has been both a participant, helping Assad's fight, as well as an arbiter in the war.

"The U.N. is in an extremely difficult place right now ... It largely has relied on the U.S.-Russia track," said Hokayem from Beirut. "It is basically a hostage to battlefield developments, great-power politics and regional preferences."

U.S. and Russian experts worked behind closed doors in Geneva this week on details of a joint plan, and some U.N. diplomats are hoping that Presidents Obama and Putin may provide some direction on Syria from a Group of 20 summit in China this weekend.

Jeffrey Martini, a Middle East expert at the Rand Corp. think tank, says Moscow and Washington's main point of commonality is opposition to the Islamic State group, and until its extremists are quelled, a political process in Syria will be on hold.

Fighting ISIL is the "low-hanging fruit, more than the civil war ... which is much more intractable," Martini said.

Assad's allies Russia and Iran also appear to be hoping to rearrange the chessboard by improving ties between Syria and Turkey, long one of the strongest supporters of the anti-Assad rebels. Turkey's incursion into northern Syria in August to fight Kurdish militias and IS militants showed that Ankara and Damascus have common enemies.

Last week, Turkish and Syrian intelligence officials met secretly in Baghdad, an Iraqi intelligence official told The Associated Press, speaking on condition of anonymity to discuss the meeting.

Lebanese journalist Mohammed Ballout, who has close contacts with Damascus, wrote in the As-Safir newspaper Friday that Putin is trying to put together a meeting between Assad and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan. A Turkish official, speaking on condition he not be named in line with government regulations, denied any such efforts were underway.

De Mistura on Thursday expressed "a strong feeling of outrage and disappointment" because of thenew violence and increasing struggles to get convoys of aid into priority U.N. areas.

"The more we see that happening, the more determined we are in not letting the Syrian people down," he said. "So don't interpret, please, any of those events which are terrible and are sad as an indication that ... we are giving up on the Syrian people and on a solution."

When de Mistura became the U.N. point man on Syria in July 2014, few expected him to work miracles where other seasoned diplomats  former U.N. Secretary-General Kofi Annan and former Algerian Foreign Minister Lakhdar Brahimi  had failed.

This year began somewhat auspiciously. In late 2015, world and regional powers pushed Assad's government and the "moderate" opposition  excluding extremist groups like Islamic State and al-Qaida-linked Nusra Front  to agree to "indirect" talks in Geneva under de Mistura's mediation.

The truce brokered by the U.S. and Russia largely held for weeks, and humanitarian aid that was all but nonexistent last year began flowing.

But each seeming advance fell to pieces.

Talks deadlocked over the issue of Assad's fate. Violence in Syria resumed. De Mistura suspended the talks in April.

The last leg to weaken has been the humanitarian front. After a miserable 2015, the U.N.-led efforts brought aid  food, water, equipment, medicines  to dozens of "besieged" and "hard-to-reach" areas in the first half of this year.

But aid convoys all but ended in late summer because of unrelenting fighting. De Mistura angrily noted in mid-August that convoys in preceding weeks had reached only one area, the Waer neighborhood of Homs  even as airdrops by the U.N. World Food Program continue to government-held areas of eastern Deir el-Zour.

Hokayem said de Mistura should resign "as a 'big bang' and lay it all on the table."

"If, on the mere issue of humanitarian access, nothing significant can happen, then it is time to ask the question: What is this process for?"
Senior Orthopedic Surgeon of Tribhuvan University Teaching Hospital (TUTH), Dr Govinda KC

POKHARA: Senior Orthopedic Surgeon of Tribhuvan University Teaching Hospital (TUTH), Dr Govinda KC has on Saturday warned to stage another hunger strike if the Parliament does not begin a procedure to impeach Commission for the Investigation of Abuse of Authority (CIAA) Chief Lokman Singh Karki.

Dr Govinda KC, who has been continuously staging hunger strikes demanding reforms in medical education sector of the country issued the warning while ddressing a program organized by Solidarity for Dr KC Alliance in Kaski of Pokhara on Saturday.

Expressing his strong dissatisfaction for the government's apathy to respond to his demands, Dr. KC said government seems irresponsible even on its commitment made while inking in the agreement to reform the Nepals medical sector.

While staging his eighth fast-unto-death strike in July, KC had demanded that Chief Commissioner of the CIAA Karki should be impeached for his alleged unprofessional conduct.

Though the government had agreed to fulfill other demands Dr. KC had left the issue considering the situation that a proposal was registered at the Parliament demanding that the House hold discussions on the issue.

Though the Speaker Onsar Garti Magar had repeatedly been expressing commitment, it is not entered in the parliament yet.
Nepali Congress President Sher Bahadur Deuba

Kathmandu, Nepal: Nepali Congress president Sher Bahadur Deuba returned home from his medical trip to Singapore, on Saturday.

Upon his arrival at the Tribhuvan International Airport on Saturday afternoon, Deuba, who is also the former Prime Minister, said the government will move ahead with political consensus and the constitution will also be amended through the consensus.

The government should move ahead with the Constitution amendment in consensus among major political parties, Deuba said while responding to the queries of the media persons. The need of the hour is political consensus, Deuba said.

In a different note, he also mentioned that vacant position of the party will be fulfilled very soon. However, he did not mention the timeframe to fulfill the vacant position.
KATHMANDU, Sept 3: The market is abuzz with recent reports of two incidents making headlines and becoming the talk of the town.

They are Nepali Congress leader Gagan Thapa's elevation in Nepali politics with the appointment as the Health Minister and the increasing trend of influential political leaders and VVIPs including former President Dr Ram Baran Yadav going to foreign countries for expensive medical treatment, draining state coffers.

The two developments are interrelated as well and people have grown to heavily believe that Thapa would go out of his way and dare do something good in health sector that is marred by health mafias lately.

There is a point in the belief that people have in Thapa to carry out reforms in health sector.

When Thapa took over as Health Minister, people especially youths became jubilant.

Their happiness spilled everywhere especially onto social networking sites like Facebook and Twitter while congratulatory messages flooded. Some projected Thapa as national hero or icon and pillar of youth's aspiration while others responded moderately and adopted a wait-and-see approach, saying Thapa would be tested.

Surely, Thapa will be tested as is the trend of Nepali politics. Nepali people hardly believe in political leaders because they talk sweet and make tall promises only to get to power.

Once they hold power they hardly look back at their made promises. This is a trend plaguing Nepali politics for long.

However, the case is different with Thapa given his progressive thought and daring efforts to do something for public good. Thapa is a politician with a progressive vision, who dare speak up for public good regardless of whether it goes against his party's line or principle. For example, he had been advocating for republic before the monarchy was abolished, even at a time when then his party president GP Koirala and some of his seniors were against it. Now he has been pitching for directly elected executive head, something which his own party is strongly opposing.

In general, if a political party leader dares speak up against party leadership regardless of whether it is for public good or not, his or her sustenance within the party is threatened. So was the case with Thapa when he was removed from General Secretary of Nepal Student Union, a sister organization of the Nepali Congress party. Then his party president was GP Koirala. However, such unfortunate incident did not deter him and he continued to fight for good with overwhelming support of mass public, especially the youths.

His image was further built as a rebellious and progressive politician when he led public mass to overthrow monarchy during the 2006 people's movement. Thereafter, he went to become center of attraction and attention of public mass and was elected as NC Central Committee member in NC's 12th General Convention with the highest votes.

Our country is desperately seeking a politician who goes out of his or her way to do something for public good even it means putting his or her position at risk. So Thapa was the best pick at this point of time. He has already pledged to address the demands of Dr Govinda KC, who repeatedly staged strike demanding reforms and ending anomalies in medical education and the health sector. This has also increased hope of the people. It is not that he pledged support to Dr KC after he was appointed the minister. He had been and is advocating for the support of Dr KC before long. To respond to one of the demands of Dr KC, Gagan Thapa had also registered a motion seeking deliberations on impeachment of the Chief of the CIAA.

Meanwhile, in order to curb foreign visits by politicians or VVIPs for medical check-up with money from the state coffers, Thapa said his ministry was working to form a mechanism to check the trend. As for himself, he also went further to say that he in the capacity of a politician or VVIP, would not visit foreign countries for medical check-up during his entire political life.

It is not easy to break the deep-rooted corruption and rule of mafia in medical sector however. Such corruption is being fostered with the backing of political parties, further making it difficult to deal with. So Thapa's road ahead are not that easy as he is sure to confront hurdles in every step, unlike his past as merely a political leader.

He has to serve not only his party cadres and supporters as a minister but entire people and has to become more accountable. However, he has also short time and much more on his table to do.

The people are also mindful that things like development and political system change cannot take place overnight. It involves a long-term process and needs good political system. So under these circumstances, it will be impractical to expect much from Thapa. But what can Thapa do is set an example for other fellow and future political leaders to follow, by doing whatever his previous counterparts failed to do for good in the medical sector. After all, Thapa, who represents youths at large, can also give the impression that youths can think new and carry out reforms once they are provided with the opportunity. RSS
The EU

Google says the EU requires a notice of cookie use (by Google) and says they have posted a notice. I don't see it. If cookies bother you, go elsewhere. If the EU bothers you, emigrate. If you live outside the EU, don't go there.
It was the day after Mothers Day 2016 that Sherrie Brummett went through the scariest experience of her life.
Domaine Buosquet Winery

The entrance to Domaine Bousquet, in the shadow of Argentina's Andes Mountains.

(Submitted)

Editor's note: Latest in an occasional series of interviews with national or international winery owners and/or winermakers.

So what sets apart the wines from Domaine Bousquet, an Argentinian producer and French transplant?

Underground storage at Domaine Bousquet Winery. Its premium wines include a Malbec, abernet and Sauvignon. It also makes a Reserve Merlot, Reserve Malbec and Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon, and a Grand Reserve Malbec and Grand Reserve Chardonnay. You can learn more on the winery's website.

Start with organic wine that's sourced from vines 4,000 feet above sea level, from a region of the country that's unusually cool for growing grapes and possesses unique, chalky soils that more closely associated with Burgundy and Champagne than with Mendoza, where the winery is located.

The Bousquet family hails from the city of Carcassonne, in the South of France, and has four generations of history in making wine.

In 1990, the Bousquet family arrived in the province of Mendoza, Argentina, to investigate the vineyards and wineries with the idea of finding We discovered that the region had unique characteristics including the soil, altitude and terroir. Finding what they considered an idea location for a winery, the family purchased a parcel of land in 1997 relocated from France to the foothills of the Andes.

The 110-hectare parcel is located in the Gualtallary valley in Tupungato, Mendoza, at an altitude of 4,000 feet, making it one of the higher-altitude vineyards in Mendoza and the world. With cool nights and a near constant breeze, the vineyard is located in a region with the idyllic conditions to produce ripe grapes and extraordinary wines, according to its website. Its chalky soils have more in common with Burgundy and Champagne than with Mendoza. Finally, the scenery from the winery, with the mountains in the background, is spectacular.

Another unique characteristic of the region is the low amount of rainfall (approximately 20cm a year). This allows the winery to control the watering of the grapes via a drip-irrigation system. The same water used on the vines is bottled and sold locally, and is one of Argentina's most popular bottled waters. Per the winery's website, "The quality of the water and our ability to control the watering regime assists in producing grapes with a lower pH which in turn produces wonderfully balanced wines with great color.

"The objective of the Bousquet family was to unite our tradition of European wine making with the ideal agricultural conditions in Mendoza. The result of this union are

The Domaine Bouquet campus, looking away from the mountains.

extraordinary wines that boast incredible color, delicious fruity character, good structure with ripe tannins and perfect acid balance. Our young wines age gracefully and continue to receive accolades in the International Wine Press. They can be found in over 50 countries around the world."



Labid Al Ameri, owner of Argentina's leading producer of organic wines - Domaine Bousquet, traveled to New York back in mid-June to talk about the cool-climate revolution taking place in Alto Gualtallary. While we had to pass on that invitation, we did send the owner a list of questions about his wines and the winery and its location. His responses are featured below.

Anne (nee Bousquet) and Labid Al Ameri met 20 years ago while studying in Minnesota, according to a profile that appeared on The Huffington Post's website in June. She came from France and wound up working as an economist in the paper packaging industry. He arrived from Iraq, by way of Spain, and later became a financial trader. But the family business and this opportunity brought them both to the Southern Hemiphere, to this mountainous region of Argentina.

My thanks to account executive Krisna Bharvani, of New York's Colangelo & Partners, for facilitating the interview.



Q, As a consumer, we see the term "organic wine." Why is making them that way so important to you and does it require extra work or a more disciplined regimen, or both?

A, We are dedicated to organic agriculture and production because it benefits the health of the human race, and helps us to protect and sustain the land and the environment for future generations. In fact, we live by the motto, "the better we treat the land, the better the fruit we get in return."

Choosing to be organic is important due to the increasing presence of pesticides we find in the food we eat and in the wines we drink. The accumulation of these chemicals in our body can generate health problems for ourselves and our children in the future.

However, because of the big increase in population and demand for food in the past few years, farmers are using more pesticides and fertilizers.

Q, What are the perceptions regarding grape growing in a cooler climate and a fairly high elevation and why do you feel you've been able to have the success you're having?

We chose the highest altitude land in Mendoza. In the low altitude areas of Mendoza, the summers can be very hot which leads to overripe grapes that are too much on the "jammy" side with little ageing potential. Whereas in France, the climate is cool and produces a lower yield in grapes that are higher in acidity and require more ageing.

High altitude vineyards in Tupungato are the perfect combination between the cooler climate in France and the hot areas in the lower altitude vineyards in Mendoza. We get the sun during the day which creates higher sugar levels and we have a drop in temperature at night which slows down the maturation, which creates freshness and natural acidity. The result is the perfect grape that helps to make the finest wines.

Q, Do you remember the doubts and questions you had when you made the move to Argentina and how long did it take to know you could make this switch so successfully?

We had many doubts for at least the first 5-7 years! After the first harvest, we had good indications but it was too early to see if the vines would produce grapes and ultimately, fine wines. After the 3rd and 4th harvest in 2006-2007 we realized we had struck gold! We produced high end wines that can compete with France and California for a fraction of the cost. On top of that, they are certified organic grapes! We are fortunate that we have such a unique product.

Q, Part A: Was there much of a wine industry in Argentina when you made your move? Part B: What kind of yields do you try and achieve off your vines?

A: Argentina is made of up of mainly Italians and Spanish who are culturally big consumers of wine. Argentineans did not need to export wine for years as they had

Looking back toward the Domaine Bousquet campus and the Andes Mountains.

the highest consumption per capita in the world. In the last 15 years that has changed with the advent of soft drinks and other alcoholic beverages. The consumption has dropped from 80-90 Liters per person a year to 27. Prior to this change in consumption, the Argentinian wine industry focused on the native palate and utilized the old method of oxidized winemaking.

In the last 15 years many international investors have arrived (including ourselves) and this has changed the Argentinian wine industry dramatically. Winemakers from France, Italy, Spain, America (and others) arrived and started purchasing vineyards, planting land and building wineries. This improved the quality of wine significantly as they introduced the modern style of winemaking. Argentina had almost no presence in the market and now it is the 8th largest wine exporter in the world with a 3% share of the global market.

B: About 3-5 tons per acre depending on the product segment.

Q, I think the price of wines from South American countries such as Argentina is helping to move consumers to at least try the wines. In your mind, once they try those wines, what will keep them coming back for more?

Consumers are realizing that wines from Argentina and South America deliver the same quality premium wines as other premium wines throughout the world, but at a better quality price ratio due to the lower production cost.

Q, At least in many parts of this country, Malbec and Syrah are probably foreign grapes still to many wine consumers. How fast is that changing and what qualities most enthuse you about the wines made from both grapes?

Labid Al Ameri

I lived in the USA from 1992-2005 and during this period I found that the average American consumer didn't have access to fine dining and authentic ethnic cuisine. This has all changed dramatically as Americans now have access to a variety of cuisine and high end grocery stores that carry quality organic products.

Q, America has surpassed France as the biggest wine market in the world because of the tendency we see that Americans are eating and drinking better. There has been a shift in consumption towards healthy organic products which are more available now.

Malbec consumption has grown significantly in America in the last few years. It is a quality wine that can be purchased at a reasonable price and has the perfect balance of the fruitiness and softness of Merlot and the structure of Cabernet Sauvignon. This is why it is such an easy "blend" to drink.

A good Syrah is a velvety wine with structure and smoothness. It's excellent in a blend with Malbec or Cabernet and it's equally excellent on its own.

Q, Are there any other grapes that you or others in the country are experimenting with, any up-and-coming Argentinian grapes that figure to expand in popularity in the coming years?

Cabernet Sauvignon is our next best grape. It is a blue chip grape and in Argentina has the style of black and red ripe fruit as opposed to the greenish style found in other parts of the world. Americans love this style of cabernet and we are as

A lineup of a few of Domaine Bousquet wines. Among it most acclaimed is its Reserve Malbec.

successful with it as our Malbec (if not more).

The cool climate areas of Argentina produce extraordinary Chardonnays that are doing well in the American markets and is similar in style to white Burgundy.

Q, I always ask this questions because I write on wines in my region of the world, where so many are just breaking into the industry. What wisdom would you pass along to those who are just starting out growing grapes and making wine?

I would say focus on quality, there is an abundance of wine but not many that are quality wines.

Also, listen to the customer! We have had success in the industry because we participate in consumer tastings and collect feedback. We then use this feedback to improve our wines.
It's still early days, but Peter Brosens and Jessica Woodworth's tag team effort on the rib-tickling mockumentary King of the Belgians could well be one of the finest films of the 73rd Venice Biennale. With great alacrity, this extremely funny movie pictures a world where a Scotsman (Pieter van der Houwen) is hired to make an official documentary about the incumbent King, fictionally transformed into Nicolas III. Or, at least, thats certainly how the scene starts.

Boozey documentarian Duncan Lloyd captures a royal visit to Mini Europe, a quirky Belgian model village that recreates Europes major sights. But a transferal of this model village to Turkey as a symbolic demonstration of the Belgiums commitment to integrating Turks into the European Union soon spirals into an epic voyage of farce. This fantastically ludicrous premise is also continuously heightened by the fact that the kings entourage continually chafes and verbally cudgels the filmmaker into capturing more suitable versions of the king.

An almost laughably unimportant documentary therefore becomes treated with a censoriousness that probably even North Korea would admire, and the result is a mockumentary that verges on the cut-throat brilliance of The Thick of It. Certainly, it falls short of that classic show, but this movie does also do something quite different. Thats because King of the Belgians is actually The Thick of It meets Road Trip, and the consequences prove that the collaboration between the Belgian-born Brosens and the American Woodworth continues on bearing great fruits.

Upon the kings visit to Turkey, things go very wrong and the Wallonians declare independence in a movement aptly named We Are Fed Up. A bizarre solar phenomenon also prevents the diplomatic entourage from swiftly returning home by plane, and what follows is then a real tour de force of inter-European gags that will have some curling up in their seat. The royal collective is also forced to give the Turkish authorities the slip by dressing up like a Balkan womens music group travelling to Bulgaria, and their clownish voyage continues across Europe in a number of guises, often playing with stereotypes, but never in a way that seems particularly malicious.

King of the Belgians is never limited purely to European satire, either. Theres a number of excellently scripted jokes across a wide variety of languages and a healthy amount of carefully edited punch lines. The way this comedy is framed is equally often beautiful -- and how often can you say that about a comedy? The skewed, jerky shots that result all serve to reinforce this idea of a documentary being caught on the run, and every single scene seems to be laid out with absolute precision. Everything on screen has its own place, and every object and character sits in a carefully chosen spot to enhance the film's funny, stuffy atmosphere.

Equally, theres some really great meta-film moments, where your attention is repeatedly and smartly drawn to acts of filming and acting, and to what that means for the person doing those things. Equally, theres some surprisingly deep thoughts in this movie about the constraints and accountabilities that filmmakers are held to when making their work. Beyond that, too, theres some profound points about taking a honest look at the foibles that are so severely affecting Europe at the moment, rather than just sticking to an official line.

In fact, considering it was such a recent event, its quite a marvel how this satire has managed to hit the bulls-eye of the post-Brexitean mood so accurately with its AK-47 of cultural and political gags. King of the Belgians comes highly recommended as a result, and theres a definite hope from this reviewer that it will travel well internationally.
A pedestrian was seriously injured Thursday morning, after he was struck by a driver near San Francisco's Cow Palace.

According to the San Francisco Police Department, the collision occurred at 10 a.m. Thursday, on the 200 block of Santos Street.

Police say that the 36-year-old driver of a car described only as a "sedan," "lost control of his vehicle" and struck a 50-year-old male pedestrian.

The pedestrian, police say, "was then pinned between two vehicles" as a result of the collision, and suffered "serious injury."

A tweet from the San Francisco Fire Department confirms that report, saying that by 10:32, the victim had been transported to the trauma center at San Francisco General Hospital with injuries considered life threatening.

AVOID AREA GENEVA AND SANTOS VEH. Vs PED Life threatening injury to adult male taken to Trauma Center 1032 Hrs pic.twitter.com/twdDEgSWkT  San Francisco Fire (@sffdpio) September 1, 2016

The driver, police say, remained at the scene. No details on if he has been cited was provided by publication time, but police say that he was not arrested at the time of the collision.
That the tech industry is rife with sexism is not a shocker in 2016. That someone would openly admit to discriminating against women while simultaneously pondering the merits of having an in-office stripper party, well, that's still a bit beyond the pale. According to a Reddit post picked up by the Daily Dot, that is exactly what one San Jose tech executive is doing  proving once again that stupidity has no bounds.

Now, an important proviso before we get too deep in the shit here: This was posted to Reddit, and we neither know the company involved nor can be certain that it's not some elaborate troll. However, that being said, it definitely reads as legit.

Here, for posterity, is the post in its entirety:

Hello, I founded a technology company about 5 months ago, and hired a few acquaintances of mine to work on it with me. After we launched our product, we outperformed our sales expectations by a huge margin, which I believe is a call for celebration. I told the guys that they could choose whatever they wanted as celebration on me. They opted to have an office party...with strippers. I found a few agencies that handle that kind of thing, but before I even go there I'd just like to clarify that I wouldn't be in violation of any laws before I go ahead with this. I don't want to get charged with obscenity or promoting lewdness or some bs like that. I live in the city of San Jose, if it is relevant. Its not really an issue of investor funds either, because I funded the venture myself, with money from previous jobs and business ventures. So am I in the clear with this? Are there any potential issues that may arise in regards to police or anything like that, zoning stuff maybe?

But wait, it gets worse. When people responded to his post to point out the obvious  that office strippers probably constitute a hostile work environment  the poster implies that it's all good because none of his 16 employees are women (that men, even those working in tech, might also find strippers at work a no-go doesn't seem to occur to him). And then he takes it a step further.

"Officially: I hire the best candidate for the job," he writes. "Unofficially: unfortunately California is one of the only states that requires paid maternity leave for female employees, making female employees quite a risk for smaller businesses."

And why not really hammer it home just in case anyone was unclear what this self-identified tech executive thinks of hiring women. "Female candidates are usually less qualified for technology and don't come from strong cs backgrounds as often as their male counterparts," he writes. "That combined with California's ridiculous maternity leave laws make female applicants quite undesirable."

Please excuse me while I go scream into a pillow.

As of this time the poster, who goes by "fjfilin," has yet to be identified  making it all the more difficult to avoid his insufferable awfulness. However, the fact that his 17-person company employs no women is probably enough of a red flag. And anyway, as Fusion points out, parental leave in California is a gender-neutral thing  so not only is this exec sexist, but he's also fairly uninformed.

Shocker.

Related: Microsoft Reminds Us What Most Gamers Really Think Of Women At GDC
My Brother! United as One! @e_reid35 A photo posted by colin kaepernick (@kaepernick7) on Sep 3, 2016 at 10:13am PDT



Increasingly politically minded 49er Colin Kaepernick may cause a further problem for the 49ers' season in Santa Clara as the Santa Clara Police Officers Association is now threatening a boycott of Levi's Stadium. As CBS 5 reports, the police union sent a letter to the team Friday saying that Kaepernick's ongoing protest over police brutality and his broad statements about law enforcement "threatened our harmonious working relationship and "If the 49ers organization fails to take action to stop this type of inappropriate behavior it could result in police officers choosing not to work at your facilities."

Kaepernick upped the ante Friday in his protest over racial injustice and police brutality, pledging to give the first $1 million he makes this season to organizations assisting communities most affected by these problems. As ABC 7 reported, the 28-year-old Kaepernick sounds emboldened by the attention he's gotten for refusing to stand for the national anthem, and says he's "actively trying to make a change" and this isn't all talk.

As the Chronicle reports, Kaepernick continued making public statements earlier in the week that were disparaging to law enforcement, such as, "You can become a cop in six months and dont have to have the same amount of training as a cosmetologist. Thats insane. Someone thats holding a curling iron has more education and more training than people that have a gun and are going out on the street to protect us.

Kaepernick also appeared on the field wearing socks depicting cops as pigs in early August.

Typically bombastic San Francisco Police Officers Association President Martin Halloran also responded with a letter to 49ers owner Jed York, calling Kaepernick's comments foolish and saying they showed his naivety and total lack of sensitivity towards police officers."

About 70 Santa Clara officers regular staff Levi's Stadium, and it remains to be seen how real this boycott threat is.

Update: The Santa Clara chief of police, Michael Sellers, tells KOLO-TV that he'll mediate between the police officers' union and the 49ers and try to find a solution.

The Santa Clara Police Union letter to the #49ers, re: #Kaepernick, as 1st reported by @nbcbayarea pic.twitter.com/6obQBGur5p  Ian Cull (@NBCian) September 3, 2016

Previously: 49ers' Kaepernick Will Continue To Sit During National Anthem To 'Stand With The People'
Chinese activist Xing Wangli is in critical condition after his skull was smashed at a detention centre on Saturday, according to US-backed Radio Free Asia (RFA). Local police said that Xing attempted to commit suicide with a paper rope and failed in the process with his head hitting the ground.

Xing, from Henan province, is currently in a coma. The coming 15 days are a critical period, his brother Xing Xi told RFA on Monday.

Xing Xi, however, was doubtful of the explanation and told RFA that according to the people at the detention centre, he couldnt think positively and used cardboard paper to make a rope. He hung from the rooms window and tied it around his neck to hang himself. However, there was only the polices story at the moment, he said.

He also told RFA that when the incident happened on Saturday morning, the police was not there, but there was security camera footage. They are not letting us go into the detention centre, so we cant see it, he said.

Xing Wanglis son, Xing Jian, told RFA that he believed that his father was beaten.

RFA reported that after the family let the public know of Xi Wanglis condition, his wife, Xu Jincui, was followed and his brother was put under house arrest. Xing Xishi, Xing Jians uncle, was also pressured and threatened with jail time. According to Xing Jian, his uncle is currently under house arrest in a hotel.

Patrick Poon, a researcher at Amnesty International, told HKFP that similar incidents of death in custody and torture in custody have been documented by Amnesty International and other human rights organizations before  such as the cases of Li Wangyang, Cao Shunli, Zhang Liumao and Lei Yang  [so] it is worrying that Xing might have been tortured in detention.

He said that Chinese authorities should carry out an independent investigation and added that it was hard to imagine the explanation about Xing allegedly committing suicide with a paper rope in the detention centre.

Why would his family be put under house arrest and tight surveillance if its only simply an suicidal attempt? It all sounds illogical and unconvincing, Poon said.
Dear James: During winter, I feel a breeze coming down the fireplace chimney even with the hearth damper closed. Also, I think raccoons and bats get down in there. Will installing a chimney-top damper help? -- Karl T.

Dear Karl: A fireplace certainly is a pleasant and attractive feature for a home, but it allows many unwanted "things" to enter your home down through the chimney. Cold air and a occasional bat are not uncommon. Raccoons are generally too large to enter your home, but they can drop fleas which end up in the carpeting near the fireplace.

Most fireplaces have a damper in the throat of the chimney just above the firebox. This is designed to keep pests and air leakage out of your home when a fire is not burning and the damper is closed. If installed properly, it can be quite effective when new.

The problem is after it gets old, it no longer seal well. This can be caused by creosote or other deposits where the damper seats in its frame. Also, when one is very old, it can rust through leaving gaps large enough for a bat to squeeze through or fleas to drop through.

It is possible to replace a chimney throat damper, but installing a flue-top damper makes more sense and is a relatively easy do-it-yourself project. A good quality flue-top damper costs between $150 and $300 depending upon the size of the flue opening at the top of the chimney.

There are two basic damper designs. One is a pop-up design and the other is a hinged design. When they are closed, they seal well and definitely keep any animals from entering the chimney. If you have many snowy days, the pop-up style may be better because when it opens, it will not allow snow to slide into the chimney top as may happen with the hinged design.

Both designs include a stainless steel cable, which runs down the chimney into the firebox. This cable is used to open and close the damper. The cable should last many years and can easily be replaced when it wears out. Stainless steel cable is available at hardware stores or boating supply outlets. If the cable breaks, the damper automatically moves to the open position.

Damper kits come with a metal frame which is mounted over the top of the chimney flue. They are spring-loaded, so they open when your release the tension on the stainless steel cable. The pop-up design has diagonal springs which keep it level as it opens.

Most of the flue-top damper manufacturers recommend just gluing the metal damper frame to the top of the flue with high-temperature silicone sealant. This should be adequate to hold it in place, but if you prefer to screw it to the flue with brackets, use stainless steel brackets and screws.

When working with flue tile, keep in mind it is very brittle. Use a tiny masonry drill to make a pilot hole for the bracket screws. Follow this with a 1/4-inch drill bit to finish the holes. Don't over-tighten the screws holding the brackets to the flue.

Apply ample silicone sealant and press the damper frame down into the sealant eliminating all voids. Attach the damper housing to the brackets to secure the damper assembly in place.

Send your questions to Here's How, 6906 Royalgreen Dr., Cincinnati, OH 45244 or visit www.dulley.com.
These days, for many homeowners, bigger isn't always better. Many Americans are opting for minimalism and smaller homes over mega mansions and extravagance. Whether you prefer a small, cozy home over a larger, more cavernous one, are an empty nester or just prefer to live a more minimal lifestyle, downsizing is a current trend not only in real estate, but also in home decor.

HOW TO DOWNSIZE?

Downsizing can mean anything from living surrounded by fewer things to living in a smaller dwelling. Regardless, the approach is the same: Focus on what matters to you most. In many instances people purchase larger homes in which they are only using a part of it. Unused spare bedrooms, empty rooms and underused sections of a home, some may consider wasted space. Downsizing means eliminating waste and paring down.

WHERE TO BEGIN

One of the best starting points in downsizing relates to asking yourself what you need and what matters the most to you.

The following checklist may help as well.

- Purge! Begin by getting rid of the excess.

- Identify. Identify your favorite things, items you are not willing to sell or give away.

- Separate. Separate items you wish to donate or sell from those you wish to keep and store.

- Plan. In the case of downsizing from a larger space to a smaller one, pre-planning is key. Most homeowners make the mistake of believing their smaller space is larger than it is. The result? Transferring too many items from their current home to their new residence.

In planning your downsized space, be sure to decide specifically how you wish to have all spaces within your residence function, carefully select the appropriate pieces and plan on paper how you wish your space to look and feel.

Cathy Hobbs, based in New York City, is an Emmy Award-winning television host and a nationally known interior design and home staging expert with offices in New York City, Boston and Washington, D.C. Contact her at info@cathyhobbs.com <mailto:info@cathyhobbs.com> or visit her website at www.cathyhobbs.com <http://www.cathyhobbs.com>.

Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
Fountains have been around since Roman times. In the ancient world, they were purely functional, employing springs or aqueducts to provide water for drinking, bathing and cleaning to even the smallest villages. Modest, centrally located and fed by gravity, public fountains were the focus of a simple communal existence.

Fountains went upscale when modern plumbing and pumping systems became widespread in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Removed from their utilitarian origins, those burbling pools, jets and waterfalls became status symbols and, in the public sphere, objects of civic pride. Cities from Rome to Kansas City, Mo., are admired and defined by their many public fountains, and the Sunset Strip in Las Vegas was transformed by the Bellagio hotel-casino's spectacular display of rocketing, tumbling water.

Perhaps because of that perceptual shift, one of the biggest misconceptions about fountains is that they're pricey, says Michele Hoolihan, owner of Fantasy Fountains Inc., a 60-year-old business in Newport Beach, Calif. "A lot of people think they can't afford a fountain, but there are models for every budget and every type of home," Hoolihan said.

Another incorrect assumption about fountains is that they're water hogs. Hoolihan countered that it just isn't so. "A lot of the time we can tap into an existing irrigation system to do a water feature." Electricity consumption can be minuscule, too. "You might need just a small pump, and most of the lighting we use is low voltage."

All that cascading water is recirculated, Hoolihan pointed out, so you're not wasting that precious resource. Evaporation is usually not much of an issue, either, she added.

"With many water features, you're dropping water into the ground and recirculating it, so you're not giving it a lot of exposure to the sun."

Those who want to keep their carbon footprint small can shop for a solar-powered fountain. They're convenient, too: You don't have to worry about placing your fountain near a power source.

Solar power is also an excellent way of turning a birdbath into a fountain, which eliminates a potential source for mosquitoes.

"If you have a birdbath, then you already know that the water gets stagnant and is a breeding ground for mosquitoes," says online fountain retailer Soothing Walls. "Constant flowing water will invite birds but is unattractive to insects."

The biggest threat to a residential fountain's well-being, according to Hoolihan, is overzealous maintenance by its owner. Well-intentioned but wrongheaded efforts can lead to disaster. "Some people like to put bleach in the water, thinking that will kill things. The problem is that it corrodes the components, the pumps and jets and nozzles. They can break down quite quickly."

Popular do-it-yourself website eHow suggests algicides as a better alternative to bleach:

"Many algicides are available at pond and pool supply stores that are safe for both the fountain and any animals that may drink from the fountain. These products are as easy to use as bleach products, but they are safer and will not void any warranties."

PLEASING TO THE EAR AS WELL AS THE EYE

When Hoolihan begins a consultation for a project, she first scouts the location.

"I look at it from the overall design perspective. I look at the style of the home. Is it a natural setting? Is the house done in Tuscan style?"

Choosing a site is important. You don't want your fountain to be tucked away in a corner but in a place of pride. In Europe, fountains are often the focal point of intersecting sightlines.

You might want to consider feng shui when placing your fountain; water is an ancient feng shui symbol of wealth and prosperity.

According to feng shui's ancient rules, the best places on your property for a fountain are its eastern portion (the health and family area), southeast (the wealth and money area) and north (the career and life path area).

If you're not a feng shui adherent, here's a more tangible benefit that can be derived from fountains: They're an excellent source of negative ions.

The health effects of negative ions are well-known. A Columbia University study of people affected by seasonal and chronic depression found that negative ion generators were as effective as antidepressants. When negative ions enter the bloodstream, they produce biochemical reactions that increase levels of the mood chemical serotonin, which can help suppress depression and boost energy.

According to Psychology Today magazine, even the sound of water has measurable health benefits.

"In one study, when cancer patients suffering chronic pain were shown a nature video that included 15 minutes of the sounds of ocean waves, waterfalls and splashing creeks, they experienced a 20 to 30 percent reduction in the stress hormones epinephrine and cortisol," the magazine article says.

In another study, teens exposed to the sounds of water fountains at the dentist's office experienced less anxiety.

Of course, the sound of a fountain has more practical uses, too.

Hoolihan recently completed a front yard koi pond project on a busy street in Corona del Mar, Calif.

"We put waterfalls on each side of the koi pond to help hide the street sounds," Hoolihan says.

The length of the water's fall and the depth of the pond receiving it will affect the volume of the sound, Hoolihan says.

If you're worried that a fountain project might be out of your price range, consider going completely DIY. On its website, Sunset magazine shows many attractive options. One impressive example used a few flat stones the size of dinner plates, two large glazed pots, a bucket and a small recirculating pump. The total cost was about $160.

Even if you use a contractor, an in-ground water effect doesn't have to break the bank.

A product called EPDM (ethylene propylene diene terpolymer, an extremely durable synthetic rubber membrane) makes an effective pond liner. It's simpler to alter and more cost-effective than concrete. By using EPDM, "We can come back later and change the style and shape when you have the money to make it bigger or more elaborate," Hoolihan says. "Your fountain and pond can grow and develop as you do."

Visit The Orange County Register (Santa Ana, Calif.) at www.ocregister.com

Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
Student housing -- rental properties located in or close to colleges and universities -- has long been particularly popular with investors. This year it's becoming even more popular.

Buyers include individual students or their families, or large institutional investors who acquire many similar properties. A report on this trend was recently posted by the National Association of Realtors:

"Investors are snatching up more student housing properties than ever before. Indeed, 'Last year was the biggest year ever, investment sales-wise,' Fred Pierce, president and CEO of Pierce Educational Properties, told the National Real Estate Investor. But this year is on pace to be even bigger.

"Investors have purchased more than $3 billion in student housing properties from the start of 2016 through mid-May. That is up from $2.1 billion over the same time period in 2015."

The report pointed out the extent of the current trend.

"Interest in the student housing sector is as high as it's ever been and is increasing," says Doug Opalka, senior managing director for Holliday Fenoglio Fowler.

"One giant deal recently is coming from a partnership of institutional investors -- including the Canada Pension Plan Investment Board, GIC, and The Scion Group -- which is about to close a $1.4 billion deal to buy University House Communities Group Inc. The company owns 13,000 student housing beds.

"That is going to create additional investment sales," says Pierce, adding that big portfolio sales often lead to spin-off transactions.

"Student housing is typically viewed by investors as a stable investment with consistent yields and a sector that tends to be more resistant to any economic downfalls, the National Real Estate Investor reports on the draw."

Questions from readers

Question: Are mortgage rates still declining?

Answer: Yes, at this writing those rates are again dropping a bit. Freddie Mac released the results of its Primary Mortgage Market Survey, showing average fixed mortgage rates moving slightly lower from the previous week, remaining near their all-time record lows.

The 30-year fixed-rate mortgage averaged 3.43 percent with an average 0.5 point for the week ending August 18, 2016, down from last week when it averaged 3.45 percent. A year ago at this time, the 30-year FRM averaged 3.93 percent.

The 15-year FRM this week averaged 2.74 percent with an average 0.5 point, down from last week when it averaged 2.76 percent. A year ago at this time, the 15-year FRM averaged 3.15 percent.

Q: How have home mortgage loans changed in recent years?

A: A study on this subject was made by Zillow Real Estate. Among the key changes they found were as follows:

--Borrowers with low credit scores have virtually disappeared from the market for conventional loans, while those with moderate credit have made a comeback in recent years.

--Condos now make up almost half of new conventional mortgages, and this share is increasing every year.

--During the bubble, some high-credit borrowers used multiple loans to afford more expensive homes, but today the vast majority of homebuyers take out a single mortgage.

Q: What are the downsides of contracting for a reverse mortgage?

A: Its high cost is probably the major downside. After adding all the upfront fees, the cost is usually considerably more than a traditional mortgage.

As home equity is used, fewer assets are available to leave to your heirs. You can still leave the home to your heirs, but they will have to repay the loan balance.

Eligibility for needs-based government programs, such as Medicaid or Supplemental Security Income, may be affected. Consult a benefits specialist.

There you have a few negative points. To learn the positives, view the many commercials on TV sponsored by lenders who are trying to promote sales.

Q: What kind of returns are REITs showing?

A: They are doing quite well. Here's the most recent report from the National Association of Real Estate Investment Trusts:

"Stock exchange-listed U.S. REITs delivered total returns more than double those of the broader equity market in the year through July. For the first seven months of the year, the NAREIT All REITs Index, the broadest benchmark of the listed U.S. REIT industry containing both Equity and Mortgage REITs, delivered an 18.05 percent total return."
Author Mark Matthiessen has very specific rituals for writing.

"I write as soon as I wake up in the morning," he said. "I don't eat anything or drink anything. I just write. If I took time for breakfast, I'm afraid I'd be too distracted."

Matthiessen must know what he's talking about. He's currently writing a series of five books set on a 160-acre family farm in Shelby County, Iowa.

That certainly shouldn't surprise most people since Mathiessen was actually raised on the farm depicted in his series of "Shelby's Creek" novels.

"Shelby's Creek" is available for purchase at Amazon.com, BarnesandNoble.com and other online book sellers.

"A while back, I took a screenwriting course taught by (UCLA Department of Film & Television professor) Lew Hunter," Matthiessen said. "(Hunter) said to write what you know. That advice always stuck with me."

However, Matthiessen had to also rely on research and personal interviews to lend authenticity to "Shelby's Creek," which tells the story of Valentin Schmitz, who leaves the farm belonging to his late parents and grandparents for a job in France during World War II.

It is as an operative with the OSS (a precursor to the CIA) that Valentin discovers a secret revolving around his grandparents.

"I traveled to Europe and actually had the chance to talk to some of the survivors of German concentration camps," he said. "Even though 'Shelby's Creek' is fiction, I needed their stories to accurately depict the time and place."

Which isn't to say Matthiessen (a graduate of Clarke College in Dubuque, Iowa) has ever been at a loss for words. He's written more than 200 articles for various national and international magazines. "Shelby's Creek" is his first novel.

A five-part book series is a pretty ambitious undertaking! What can you tell us about the first novel?

"I felt that I needed to concentrate on character development and prose for the first book. The action will pick up quickly after that."

You said that setting your book in World War II was also very significant. Why is that?

"My parents were of the World War II generation, so I wanted to capture what farm life was like during the time prior to chemicals. Also, it was a more innocent and romantic period of time. You can see that reflected in the type of music people listened to back then. You don't get more romantic than Glenn Miller and his Orchestra."

It sounds like you also enjoy the writings of authors from a prior generation. Is that right?

"Yes, it is. I do enjoy writers like William Faulkner, E.B. White and Ernest Hemingway. (Hemingway's) 'The Snow of Kilimanjaro' contains some of the best prose I've ever read. I think it helps to read classic novels because the rhythm of those books will often help your own writing."
Looking at the world through the eyes of the Web
LOS ANGELES | How difficult is it to play the son of a cartoon superhero?

Its about 1.5 times as hard as regular acting, says Johnny Pemberton, the Rochester, Minn., native who plays Son of Zorn on the new Fox comedy.

Because the series features both live-action and animation, Pemberton often has to shoot scenes in front of green screens  which is really boring  or interact with other actors who have to pretend there are cartoon characters in their midst. Its expensive and time-consuming, he says of the process, but it does allow the producers to approach familiar topics in an unfamiliar way.

In a nutshell: Zorn is the Defender of Zephyria, a bare-chested warrior who has a son with a human ex-wife. Because he doesnt really know his boy Alan, he decides to live in the suburbs and help raise him. Unfortunately, much of his past life keeps coming back  like wolf-bats and arachnobots.

Former Saturday Night Live star Jason Sudeikis provides Zorns voice; Cheryl Hines plays his ex-wife and Tim Meadows is her fiance.

Juggling two worlds is difficult for Zorn, but also complicated for Alan, who doesnt quite know what to make of an animated dad who hails from some world no one understands.

A veteran of several animated series, including Pickle and Peanut (hes Peanut), Pemberton says he never lets down when hes doing voiceovers. It makes me physically exerted doing it, he says. Im always thinking about the world Im in and imagining all this stuff, even when were just sitting still. Its difficult.

The live-action element of Zorn just adds another technical layer.

Sudeikis, meanwhile, isnt on set when those scenes are shot. He literally phones in the performance, letting Pemberton, Hines and Meadows deal with the live-action stuff.

Theyre very simple, Pemberton says of the shows special effects, but they look great. The thing we have to worry about is when Cheryl and Tim get into laughing fits.

The reason? Theres a lot of really weird stuff in the show, stuff that we play normally.

For the 30-something actor, Zorn is right in his wheelhouse. A star of such films as 21 Jump Street, Neighbors 2 and In the Loop, he performs weird standup. Its subversive stuff that plays with music and expectations.

He got into the field after moving from Florida (where he attended Florida State University) to Los Angeles.

The first time I did it, I got a deep sense of satisfaction, Pemberton says. It was something he wanted to do while living in Minnesota but never dared. When you say you want to be a comedian, someone will ask you to prove it and then youre an idiot because its like you think you're funny.

In college, he says, I studied basically nothing, but did a lot of things on the radio.

I got a late start in comedy but it was the only thing that made me happy. A 10-year veteran, he never has tried to categorize that part of his work. Its like trying to describe what a smell is like to someone who has never smelled something. You can do it, but its really difficult.

Playing young isnt as easy as it seems, either. Its good because you can get work, Pemberton says. But its also bad because you have to live in that (age range) even when you dont feel that way.

Stepping out as the Son of Zorn has its challenges, as well. Viewers will get a look at how much of a resemblance he bears to his father and what that entails.

Its going to be interesting to see what people see as opposed to what they know, he adds with a smile.

Son of Zorn airs at 7:30 p.m. Sundays on Fox beginning Sept. 25.
To help discourage teen pregnancy, many students nationally are given lifelike, robot babies that cry throughout the night.

Unlike eggs or plants used to represent babies in some human-development classes, these dolls require feeding, burping and diaper changes. Like real infants, sometimes even that doesnt stop their crying.

The idea is to discourage students from becoming teenage parents by showing them the difficulties of having a child.

But a new study, done with 3,000 teenage girls in Western Australia, suggests that the robot-baby programs may increase pregnancy rather than reduce it.

About half the 3,000 girls took part in Australias Virtual Infant Parenting program, and the rest served as a control group.

Among the students in the program, 17 percent became pregnant at least once before age 20.In the control group, only 11 percent did.

The study comes at a time when the birthrate among teenagers is lower than its been in 20 years.

In the United States, there are about 22 births per 1,000 girls aged 15-19, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. In Australia, there are about 15 births per 1,000 girls aged 15-19.

Still, the study raises questions about whether programs using these robot babies work  here as well as in Australia.

The Australia program was adapted from one in the United States, formerly known as Baby Think It Over and now called RealCare Baby 3. Along with Seattle, area schools districts that use RealCare Baby 3 include Highline, Everett and Kent.

In Australias Virtual Infant Parenting program, which started in the late 1990s, students learn about sexual health, the difficulties of being pregnant and a parent, and how to care for an infant. Like the American program, its intended to prevent teenage pregnancy.

In the American program, students are given dolls that cry and coo, and measure and report how well students cares for them  tracking how long theyre in a car seat, how often theyre changed and whether theyve been shaken or held in a wrong position. That data is transferred to a teacher.

The dolls creator, Realityworks, says more than half the school districts in the country have purchased its products.

The researchers behind the new study (who are from several Australian universities) offer several reasons for why the infant simulators may be ineffective.

The Australian program was directed only at girls, they say, even though boys are also involved in making decisions about relationships and sexual intercourse. They also say that by the time students reach secondary school, they may have made decisions about parenthood, so intervention may not be effective by that time.

The researchers also argue that the girls with the dolls receive attention from their peers and families, reinforcing the positive aspects of being a teen parent and diminishing the negatives.

No infant simulator, irrespective of its cost and programming, can convey the effects of a real child, said Julie Quinlivan, a professor at the University of Notre Dame Australia, in a prepared statement.

In Seattle schools, the RealCare Baby 3 dolls are used in child- and human-development classes and are a small portion of the course, said Susan Grant, who oversees the program districtwide.

Students learn about the stages of human developmental, the history of parenting and different options for careers and families. Unlike the Australian programs, any student can enroll in the classes.

The whole package is important in using these dolls, said Grant, who formerly taught at Ingraham High School. Theyre not just used in isolation, where we say 'take this home and think about being a parent. There is much more to the decision-making process.

Grant said she hasnt yet read the study. And though she doesnt have any data, she said many students have told her that the dolls make them think harder about having children.

The majority of the time students took the doll home, they would come back with phrases like 'Im not ready for this, or 'I didnt have any idea of what parenting was about,"she said. I think they saw the impact that the responsibility has on their own life.

Realityworks, which is based in Wisconsin, said programs like the one in Australia, which is an adaptation of RealCare Baby 3, are not reflective of the programs efficacy nor are they representative of our products offering.

The company said it has received numerous accolades from educators and students for portraying the impacts of having children.
MINNEAPOLIS  It took a while to get to downward-facing dog.

First, the eight men and women at a recent class at Tarana Yoga Studio in Minneapolis engaged in joint warm-ups, circling their wrists three times in each direction.

Next, they carefully moved into standing poses, keeping a chair at the edge of their yoga mats to steady themselves as needed.

Finally, their bodies limber, they tilted their hips back with hands and feet planted on the mat  expertly performing the challenging downward-facing dog pose.

The minutes ticked. No one flinched.

Held twice a week, the experimental class is part of a study being conducted by the University of Minnesota to find out if yoga is an effective tool for managing Parkinsons disease.

Corjena Cheung, a professor at the universitys School of Nursing, said she hopes to build on her previous research examining yogas effects on osteoarthritis. The results of that study were so promising  increased mobility and less fear of falling  that she wanted to explore whether yoga could help with Parkinsons, too.

Yoga is one of the leading alternative therapies used by Americans, according to a National Institutes of Health survey on alternative medicine use.

Cheungs work would add to a growing body of science on the popular practices impact on Parkinsons disease  a degenerative brain disorder involving the nerve cells responsible for voluntary movement. The condition is diagnosed in about 60,000 Americans a year. Tremors, a shuffling walk, muscle stiffness, depression and dementia are among the symptoms.

The focus on yoga as a possible therapy for Parkinsons stems from its gentleness and its emphasis on breathing, strength and flexibility.

A Kansas University Medical Center study found a visible reduction in tremoring and improvement in the steadiness of gait in people who participated in yoga sessions, according to the American Parkinson Disease Association. In her osteoarthritis and yoga study, Cheung found that participants were better able to cope with their symptoms by doing yoga rather than aerobic strength exercises.

Eager volunteers

For this study, she recruited participants through local support groups for people with Parkinsons. It was an easy pitch.

People are very motivated, she said.

There are 20 people involved in the study. Half of them were told to make no change in the way they manage their symptoms. The others are doing yoga. Cheung will measure their stress levels by giving them a blood test and checking for the presence of certain stress hormones. She also will examine their motor functions, checking their range of motion, stride length, balance and gait.

Five yoga experts who had experience teaching yoga to people with physical limitations helped design the hourlong classes, which will go on for six months. Cheung said she suspects that by the end of the experiment, the results will show that yoga improves motor function and reduces stress for people with Parkinsons.

But for now, all she knows for sure is that the participants seem to be enjoying themselves.

The fact that yoga includes both physical as well as the breathing and relaxation piece, I think that has added benefits for people with Parkinsons, she said.

They are suffering from not only the physical limitations. Yoga teaches them how to cope with the disease and work with what they have and build on it.

The classes start out with slow, basic exercises done sitting, standing or lying down. Gradually, the participants build up to more difficult exercises and poses. In addition to the usual yoga props of a mat and block, there are chairs to help maintain balance and small sandbags to help control hand tremors.

They can use the prop to help them get to where the ideal pose is for them, Cheung said, adding that shes heard that some of the people are now doing yoga at home, too.

Exercising optimism

Although the study wont wrap up until December, the participants have reached their own conclusions about yoga therapy.

Jerri Smith is encouraged. The 58-year-old St. Paul, Minnesota, woman is new to yoga but not to Parkinsons. She was diagnosed with the disease six years ago.

She said she agreed to participate in the study because she wanted to see whether yoga would help her symptoms.

Its good to calm my mind down, she said. Also, I have a lot of [muscle] cramps and spasms. My back is really stiff.

After a session last week, she reported that her muscles no longer feel so tight.

Bob McGonigal, 72, balanced on one leg and bent the other to form a Figure 4. He held the pose, standing perfectly still.

Thats called the tree pose,? he said. When we first started, I couldnt do that.

He, too, came to the study in search of alternative ways to manage his Parkinsons. The Bloomington man was diagnosed in 2010 and has tremors in his forearms and upper arms.

Steve Knudsen, 69, of Burnsville, Minnesota, said hes found that his body is more flexible after an hour of yoga. Recently, he left class and noticed that he didnt need to take his medications for Parkinsons for an hour because he felt so good.

There are a lot of possibilities with this, he said.
EL CAJON, Calif.  Nadim Fawzi Jouriyeh took part in a ceremony Sunday in Amman, Jordan, to mark the United States taking in its goal of 10,000 Syrian refugees in a year-old resettlement program.

By Wednesday, the 47-year-old former construction worker and his family were walking grocery aisles, stocking up on roasted chicken, milk and lemons for their new home outside San Diego.

It didn't take long for Jouriyeh, his 42-year-old wife and four children, ages 8 to 14, to feel welcome.

"America is a beautiful country," he said through an Arabic translator at the office of the International Rescue Committee in El Cajon, a San Diego suburb that has drawn Iraqis and, more recently, Syrians fleeing war.

"The way they treat people and the people of America are very nice. ... When you go down the streets, everyone smiles at you. Even if they don't know you, they just smile at you."

San Diego, the nation's eighth-largest city, has received 626 Syrian refugees since Oct. 1, more than any other in the U.S. Many smaller cities have accepted outsized numbers of Syrians, including Erie, Pennsylvania (205); Toledo, Ohio (109); and Boise, Idaho (108).

California and Michigan are neck-and-neck among states for receiving the most Syrian refugees, followed by Arizona, Texas and Illinois. Cities with large numbers include Chicago (469); Glendale, Arizona (384); Troy, Michigan; (325) and Dallas (293).

Refugees are typically assigned to cities where they have family and friends or where there is an established community of immigrants who share their culture, said David Murphy, executive director in San Diego for the International Rescue Committee, one of nine organizations that help refugees settle in the U.S.

In El Cajon, population 100,000, some store signs on Main Street are in Arabic. Merchants, bank tellers and schoolteachers speak the language.

Three decades ago, an Iraqi Chaldean immigrant settled here and the effect "snowballed" into a large Arabic-speaking community, Murphy said. Iraqis have been coming for years, but Syrians are relatively new.

"It's really kind of tough to know how they're going to do. They haven't been here long enough to start businesses or anything like that," Murphy said.

Jouriyeh, who left school after ninth grade in his native Homs to work, fled his war-ravaged city for Jordan in 2014. Daily bombings frightened the children as the Syrian government retook the city. Jouriyeh had to stay indoors for three days straight because it was too dangerous to go to work.

A drive to the Jordanian border that would normally take two hours required three days as the family tried to avoid roadblocks, arrest and crossfire. Jouriyeh said about 80 people were killed in his convoy.

Extensive vetting by the International Organization of Migration and the U.S. State and Homeland Security departments in Jordan led him to San Diego.

The U.S. said it reached its target of resettling 10,000 Syrian refugees in the 2016 fiscal year on Monday, more than a month ahead of schedule and the night Jouriyeh reached San Diego. The U.S. resettlement program focuses on the most vulnerable refugees, including those who are subjected to violence or torture or are sick.

Close to 5 million Syrians have fled since 2011. Most struggle to survive in tough conditions in neighboring countries, including Jordan, which has nearly 660,000 Syrian refugees.

The U.S.'s future role may be tied to politics. Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump said Wednesday that he would suspend arrivals from Syria, portraying them as a potential security threat.

Jouriyeh said his priorities are to find a job, enroll his children in school and find permanent housing. He wouldn't say if he would ever return to Syria.

"We hope our children succeed in education and be able to have a good future here," he said.

Their days are filled with chores like opening a bank account and getting a phone. The International Rescue Committee offers classes on English, job hunting and citizenship.

While grocery shopping Wednesday, a Syrian vendor who arrived in 2010 introduced himself to Jouriyeh and asked about his journey. The strangers chatted pleasantly for a few minutes, then parted ways.
SIOUX CITY | Sioux City police are searching for two men believed to be involved in a Thursday robbery at a laundromat.

Officers responded to a call at 9:08 p.m. at L&K Laundry, 1906 Court St. Victims reported that one of two men involved displayed a handgun. After a brief altercation, the two men fled on foot.

According to a Sioux City Police press release, victims described the suspects as black with their faces covered. One of the suspects appeared to be in his late teens and the other in his early 20s.

The investigation is ongoing, and no other information is being released at this time, police said.

Anyone with information about the case can call the police department at 279-6440 or CrimeStoppers at 258-TIPS.
In his appeal, Gonzales argued misconduct by the prosecutor for saying in his closing statements that Gonzales had lied when he denied being involved in the killing. Gonzales also argued that the jury should have been instructed on whether he could be found guilty of the lesser offense of manslaughter.
SIOUX CITY | More than 100 Dakota Access Pipeline protesters gathered Saturday to spread support and awareness about the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe's fight.

The North Dakota tribe, that is located near the mouth of the Missouri River, filed a federal lawsuit stating the tribe was not consulted over the project to construct the 1,168-mile crude oil pipeline that extends through North Dakota, South Dakota, Iowa and Illinois. They say the government is violating land treaties and the pipeline would pose a threat to the environment as it travels under the Missouri River and other waterways.

"When this pipeline breaksand it willit will destroy (the Missouri River,)" event organizer Daniel Bearshield said Saturday.

Bearshield, of Sioux City, is a member of the Sicangu Lakota and Isanti Dakota tribes and traveled to Standing Rock and organized the event at the Sgt. Floyd River Museum and Welcome Center after he saw the "power and energy" taking place as they protested.

"When I came back to my community I wanted to raise a little bit of awareness... and create an opportunity where we can come together and learn," he said.

The crowd consisted of members from dozens of Native American tribes and the community. The group together prayed, sang, spoke and held signage as they marched across Veterans Memorial Bridge to spread awareness of the pipeline--also referred to as the Bakken Pipeline.

The pipeline is currently under construction, but U.S. District Judge James Boasberg said before issuing his ruling he wanted to absorb both sides of the argument. Proponents say it is the most efficient way for crude oil transportation and will cause an economic boost. He's opinion is expected to be released on Sept. 9.

"People need to be concerned from North Dakota to the Gulf of Mexico, so the message today is we have to come together, native, non-native, it's an issue that will affect all of us," Bearshield added. "We all depend on that river for water, for drinking water, for crops" and animals.

The $3.8 billion pipeline has created eminent domain tensions and protests all across its path.

Last month in Iowa, construction equipment at several construction sites were set on fire, causing more than $1 million in damage. Protest groups in the state denied responsibility.

Demonstrators in Boone, Iowa, and North Dakota have been arrested during protests within the last month.

The Associated Press contributed to this story.
SIOUX CITY | Sioux City residents can enjoy a free meal while taking in some remarks from local politicians Monday afternoon at the city's annual Labor Day picnic.

Put on by the Northwest Iowa Central Labor Council, the event will begin at noon in Sioux City's Riverside Park.

Rick Scott, president of the Northwest Iowa Central Labor Council, said the picnic is a unique opportunity to celebrate the holiday specifically set aside for workers.

For me, its about celebrating our day  the middle classs day," Scott said.

Political speakers this year will include Kim Weaver, a Sheldon Democrat running for the Iowa 4th District congressional seat held by Rep. Steve King, Iowa House District 13 Rep. Chris Hall, D-Sioux City, and Tim Kacena, a retired Sioux City firefighter running as a Democrat to represent Iowa House District 14.

Also speaking will be Ardel Bengston, of South Sioux City, a retired teacher running as a Democrat in northeast Nebraskas 17th District.

The event is free and open to the public. Politicians speak by invitation.
Note: This blog contains affiliate links. Purchases from these links provide a small commission to me at no extra cost to you.
WASHINGTON -- Mark Burns has done well for himself as a Donald Trump surrogate.

The African American pastor, in his Twitter bio, says he "can be seen on CNN, Fox News, MSNBC & Fox Business Network" and provides a link to a Time profile titled "Meet Donald Trump's Top Pastor." He got a speaking slot at the Republican convention, and the Trump campaign has sent out his quotes validating the candidate.

On Monday, this Trump mouthpiece took it upon himself to tweet a cartoon of Hillary Clinton in blackface, holding a sign proclaiming "#@!** THE POLICE" and saying, "I ain't no ways tired of pandering to African-Americans."

In the ensuing (and predictable) backlash, Trump senior adviser Boris Epshteyn tried to disown the surrogate, telling MSNBC's Kristen Welker that Burns "speaks for himself." Burns, unchastened, called in to the same show to defend himself, saying "we're not playing the political PC game to make you feel good." Only hours later did he delete the offending image and tweet: "I want to Apologize for my Twit."

But there's no way to apologize for all of the twits speaking for Trump.

Trump's surrogates are a decidedly B-list group of Trump supporters who argue his case on the airwaves. Though all presidential campaigns have surrogate networks, Trump has a complication: Credentialed conservatives and elected Republicans generally won't defend him. And so the cable news outlets scrape the bottom of the barrel to find people willing to make Trump's case. Little wonder veteran GOP operative Kevin Kellems quit as head of Trump's surrogate operation earlier this summer after less than two weeks on the job.

As Burns was provoking the blackface brouhaha, CNN was dealing with an ethical morass over Trump surrogate Corey Lewandowski, whom CNN put on contract as a commentator after he was ousted as Trump's campaign manager. But it turned out Lewandowski continued to be paid $20,000 a month by the campaign; "severance," the campaign said. Late Monday, ABC News reported that Lewandowski -- still with CNN -- was back to advising Trump, talking to the candidate almost every day and "running the show" at Trump rallies.

Yet Lewandowski is hardly the most exotic animal in Trump's surrogate circus.

Al Baldasaro, a surrogate for Trump on veterans' issues, said in a radio interview that Clinton should be "put in the firing line and shot for treason." He also suggested Khizr Khan, the Gold Star father who spoke at the Democratic convention, is a "Muslim Brotherhood agent."

Surrogate Scottie Nell Hughes, a TV regular, said after Democratic vice-presidential nominee Tim Kaine spoke in Spanish: "I'm hoping I'm not going to have to start kind of brushing up on my 'Dora the Explorer' to understand some of the speeches."

Rudy Giuliani, once revered as "America's mayor," has become a punchline as Trump surrogate for playing doctor on Fox News: "Go online and put down 'Hillary Clinton illness.' Take a look at the videos for yourself."

Surrogate Omarosa Manigault, once a contestant on "The Apprentice," defended violence against demonstrators at Trump events: "You get what's coming to you." Andrew Dean Litinsky, also a former "Apprentice" contestant, defended a 78-year-old Trump supporter who sucker-punched a black protester at a Trump event: "It looks like good exercise."

On CNN, surrogate Jeffrey Lord has distinguished himself by saying the Ku Klux Klan is "a function of the left." After Trump said the U.S.-born judge in a case against him was a "Mexican" whose heritage disqualified him, Lord said those criticizing Trump were the real racists. And young Trump surrogate Kayleigh McEnany cheerfully defended waterboarding as a "bit of discomfort."

Paid mouthpieces for the Trump campaign don't fare a whole lot better. Trump lawyer Michael Cohen last year defended Trump against an old allegation by his first wife by falsely saying "you cannot rape your spouse." Cohen recently became an Internet star when, asked on CNN about Trump's poor poll numbers, he responded repeatedly and nonsensically: "Says who?"

Then there's national spokeswoman (and reality TV star) Katrina Pierson, whose pre-Trump days include 2012 tweets asking if 9/11 was "an inside job" and lamenting that both President Obama's and Mitt Romney's fathers were born abroad. "Any pure breeds left?" she asked.

This month on CNN, she blamed the death of Army Capt. Humayun Khan (Khizr's son) on Obama and Clinton: "It was under Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton that changed the rules of engagement that probably cost his life."

Khan died in 2004, during George W. Bush's first term. But no matter: In Trump's surrogate circus, anything goes.
iStock/Thinkstock(STUART, Fla.) -- Police searching for a Florida man in connection to a battery case discovered that he was using his wanted poster and mug shot from another case as his Facebook profile picture, authorities said.



"Facebook is a great way to communicate and connect with old friends and family," Cpl. Brian Bossio wrote in a post on the Stuart Police Department's Facebook page. "If you are wanted by the police, it's probably not a good idea to use the 'Wanted of the Week' poster of yourself as your profile pic."



Police responded to a call late Monday night about an alleged battery at a house in Stuart, Florida, Bossio told ABC News Friday.



Although the suspect had fled the scene, the alleged victim identified Mack Yearwood, 42, as the suspect and gave the officer an address where Yearwood was staying, police said. The officer passed that information along to his colleagues working the next day, police said.



Police said that as they began to research Yearwood, they discovered that he had two outstanding warrants in Florida, and they came across his Facebook page. Police then arrested Yearwood at his brother's house on Tuesday in connection to those warrants, one of which was issued in Citrus County.



The mug shot he posted on Facebook came from that county. The Citrus County Sheriff's Department did not respond to ABC News' request for comment.



"The patrol guys, to look where he was and for some intelligence, they went to his Facebook page," Bossio said. "They discovered that he used his wanted poster for his Facebook profile."



Bossio added that Yearwood was sleeping at his brother's home when officers arrived and asked an officer to hand him his pants. "When he was putting his jeans on, a bag of weed fell out," Bossio said  resulting in a cannabis possession charge.



Yearwood asked police not to charge him for that, according to the police incident report.



He has not been charged in the recent battery allegation because the case is still under investigation, police said.



It is unclear whether he has obtained a lawyer, and he is being held at the Martin County Jail. He has not entered a plea on the cannabis possession charge.

Copyright  2016, ABC Radio. All rights reserved.


Giving your business a boost doesnt have to be difficult or incredibly time consuming. In fact, there are some essential elements of building successful businesses that can sometimes get overlooked. These suggestions from members of our small business community include some small but important things you can do to boost your business right away.

Include These Essential Features of a Small Business Website

Your small business website serves as the online face of your business. And it can also provide any number of important functions. While each small business website should be different, there are some essential elements that can make them great, like the ones outlined in this post on Techlofy by Prince Kumar.

Entice Customers to Binge Watch Your Product Videos

Videos can really enhance your product pages with additional information, views and storytelling elements. But for them to really work, you need to get customers to actually watch them. This post on the Kissmetrics blog by Shayla Price includes some tips for getting people to binge watch your product videos.

Find a Fundable Startup Market Opportunity

Theres a lot that goes into finding a great startup opportunity. But one of the essential elements of any idea is its ability to get funded. Martin Zwilling of Startup Professionals Musings explains more in this post about finding fundable startup opportunities. And BizSugar members discuss the post further here.

Use a Digital Marketing Strategy to Increase Marketing Impact

A digital marketing strategy can help you keep all of your online and mobile marketing goals organized so that youll be better equipped to actually reach them. For that reason, Erik Newton of the BrightEdge blog suggests that using a digital marketing strategy can increase your marketing impact overall.

Achieve the Ideal State of Marketing

Marketing is an essential part of running any successful business. The actual activities that go into marketing can vary from business to business. But there are some elements you can include to find the ideal state of marketing for your business. Scott Rayden discusses the idea in this Marketing Land post.

Get Mind-Blowing Traffic From Pinterest

Pinterest has been steadily gaining popularity among consumers for a few years now. And that popularity means that it can be a great tool for businesses looking to attract online consumers. This Mostly Blogging post by Janice Wald includes some thoughts on the potential power of Pinterest. And the BizSugar community also weighs in here.

Learn How to Write Effective Web Content

Communicating with your customers online is becoming increasingly important. And content marketing can help you get those messages out effectively. But you need to understand how to write content thats actually effective first. Jireh Gibson shares some tips in this Media Shower post.

Nurture Email Leads in Your Digital Marketing Funnel

Once you gather leads from your website or opt-in forms, you need to have a plan for actually converting those leads into customers. Nurturing leads is a huge part of that, as Mike Gingerich discusses in this post. He also offers tips for how to actually craft your emails.

Get Started With Facebook Instant Articles

Facebook has become such a huge part of how many businesses interact with their customers. So new or changing features like Facebook Instant Articles can have a big impact. In this post, Rebekah Radice explains Facebook Instant Articles and how they can help small businesses. You can also see discussion about the post over on BizSugar.

Take a Weekend Business Break

Hard work is an essential ingredient for any small business. But working hard constantly without ever taking any breaks can be draining and ultimately hurt your business in the long run. In this CorpNet post, Nellie Akalp challenges entrepreneurs to take a break over the long weekend, and explains why that is important.

If youd like to suggest your favorite small business content to be considered for an upcoming community roundup, please send your news tips to: sbtips@gmail.com
The gravity of the existential threat we face from Islamic Jihad is truly of epic proportions. It is essentially a battle pitting free-civilized man against a totalitarian barbarian. What is at stake is the struggle for our very soul - namely who we are and what we represent. The lives that were sacrificed for individual rights and freedoms that we've come to cherish are being chiseled away from right under our noses by the stealth jihadists. And many of us are in denial and totally clueless.



The left's appeasement and pandering to evil is nothing new. What makes their utopian delusions so infuriating and unpardonable is that it is not only they who will have to pay the consequences, and deservedly, so, they are thwarting and undermining our best efforts at resistance and are thus dragging us down in the process as well.







By Peter Lancz,, the head of the Raoul Wallenberg World Campaign Against Racism.
Le Collectif Cheikh Yassine a organise un certain nombre dactivites et de festivites pour les enfants de Gaza sous le theme  La joie des enfants de Gaza pour lAid . Ces activites ont commence le premier jour de lAid et continue jusquau 4eme jour de lAid dans la bande de Gaza.



Plusieurs activites, ont ete organisees parmi lesquelles : des competitions recompensees par des prix, des jeux, des animations et des chants presentes par un groupe ainsi que des distributions de cadeaux et daides financieres.




Thu, 27.10.22 - 11:04

The temperatures will fall in the Murcia Region but the weekend still promises to be warm and sunny Autumn has ye...
If this were a critical war for US vital interests, apologizing for collateral damage on civilians would at least be something, Eland remarked. The United States supporting the predictable indiscriminate and brutal bombing by the Saudi-led coalition is even more misplaced.

The civil war in Yemen was peripheral to US security concerns, Eland pointed out.

The [rebel] Houthis get some assistance from Iran, but even US officials are skeptical that they are controlled by that country [Iran], he noted. Even if they were, their [Irans] control of Yemen is not strategic to the United States.

California State University Professor Emeritus of Political Science Beau Grosscup told Sputnik that US policymakers saw no contradiction between selling bombs to the Saudis that killed civilians in indiscriminate air strikes and expressing their condolences for the victims of those attacks.
MOSCOW (Sputnik)  The NATO-Russia Council was established in 2002 for consultations and cooperation between Moscow and Brussels. Following the deterioration of Russia-NATO relations amid the Ukrainian crisis, the Alliance decided to suspend all practical civilian and military cooperation with Russia. At the same time, the format was not suspended at all, as a number of communication channels within its framework remained open.

The parties to the NRC saw a partial restoration of cooperation, as there were two meetings of the council in April and July.

On Friday, German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier said at a joint press conference with NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg that he was satisfied with the relaunch of the NRC, while the high-ranking NATO official said that the dialogue between the Alliance and Russia was crucial.
A few days later, many girls who supported Kaitlyn came to school without wearing bras. According to media reports, Juvik said that they didnt want to harm anybody. They didnt want to make the administration upset. It was for them [girls without bras].

It was about gender equality and teaching people not to sexualize womens bodies. Were always asked to do things to make guys more comfortable. If my boobs make you uncomfortable, then why are you looking at me in that way? Juvik said.

Her Instagram page Warrior without a bra, attracted tens of thousands of subscribers within just a couple of weeks.

There are now more than 7,000 photos with the hashtag #NoBraNoProblem, showing girls who have stood with Kaitlyn by posting photos of themselves without a bra.

Twitter: @bodhichittakusa

"I want to be able to feel confident in my skin without being shamed for it." #braless pic.twitter.com/4C6ZO1J7xC  No Bra No Problem (@NoBraNoProblem) July 23, 2016

The movement has generated some support as well among Russians. Elena Rydkina took a photo of herself without a bra and wrote on her social media page: If you have small breasts, which does not require support of bras at all, than it is an absolutely useless thing and only interferes with life. Freedom to breasts!

Some other women commented under their pictures saying that, When it is hot, I want to wear a T-shirt without a bra, but with my size it is difficult.

# #nobranoproblem   Taisiya Geraskina (@taisanna_g)  25 2016  3:45 PDT

Back in 1968 a movement which was later called bra burning started across the United States. Radical women protested against the Miss America beauty pageant by throwing away and burning their bras, false eyelashes and other household items for women. The protestors called these items humiliating.

Some women even went as far as calling the bra an instrument of torture. They also tried to emphasize the connection of wearing a bra and breast diseases [due to impaired blood flow].

In Russia there are various reasons why women wear a bra. Some of these reasons are:

I cannot afford to go without a bra to work. There are a lot of men there. When I come in trousers, everyone is looking at my legs and what is above it. It is terrible to imagine what would happen if I go without a bra, Anna 31.

When I abruptly lost 20 kilos, my breasts became ugly: limp, lost shape, turned into two empty pouches with stretch marks. I always wear a bra, even in bed but I dream that one day I can go without it, Ekaterina 28.

I'm kind of naked without a bra. Without it I cannot go out on the street. But I love the moment at the end of the day when I come home and unbutton it. Of course it is some kind of inner clamp. Probably some inner shame that I am a woman, Yulya, 26.

Breasts in Art

In art naked breasts symbolizes freedom [for example a famous painting by Eugene Delacroix's Liberty Leading the People), sacred motherhood [the image of Madonna, nursing a baby] and femininity [image of Venus in paintings of Botticelli, Titian and many others].

Despite the fact that objectification of female body still exists today, what female breasts symbolize today is different for everyone. For some, seeing a woman without a bra is provocation, for others it is seen as an invite to flirt, psychoanalyst Dmitry Olshansky said.

According to the psychoanalyst, the movement against bras is like fighting windmills, it deprives the individual of self-expression. How the person feels in her own body and what her self-worth is and how she feels about her gender identity.

Kaitlyn Juvik on her part received a lot of public attention with her gesture. She said that she had people from as far as UK, France and India contact her. There have been a lot of awful comments sent her way as well, with some calling her a whore and attention seeker.

Despite the hate, Juvik said that she is thankful that the word has gotten out because it shows the double standards that women and girls have to face on daily basis.

This is about ending body shaming. It started with me, but its not about me. Its about women everywhere being able to be comfortable in their own bodies, Juvik told media.
BRATISLAVA (Sputnik)  In July, President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said the country would reinstate the death penalty if the nation demanded it after the failed coup of July 15.

"Remember what happened  tanks tried to roll over people, helicopters shot at them, 240 were killed, people took to the streets and this was their demand. We heard them. But the death penalty is not on the National Assemblys agenda and no decision to reintroduce it has been taken," Celik told reporters in Bratislava, Slovakia.

European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker said in July that the European Unions talks with Turkey on its admission would be stopped the moment Ankara returned the capital punishment.
The group immediately claimed responsibility for the last at a night market, but Duterte stated that investigators are still investigating additional leads including possible involvement by drug cartels.

Refusing to level the blame solely at the feet of the Islamic militants may result in an expansion in the wave of extrajudicial killings by the Duterte regime of alleged drug cartel members  an effort that has led to widespread international condemnation. In the first two months of Dutertes "law and order" presidency, over 2500 people have been killed in the war on drugs in less than eight weeks.

The United States has already condemned Dutertes violent war on drugs that has left thousands dead in a short period of time as counter to human rights norms and democratic practices opening a major diplomatic rift between the two longtime military allies and leaving the Filipino President to question whether to maintain a defense and security relationship with Washington or drift towards Beijing.
ANKARA (Sputnik)  Eighty-two people, including foreign tourists, were rescued, according to the Hurriyet daily. The injured were taken to hospitals with non-life threatening injuries.

The press officer at the Russian Embassy in Turkey told RIA Novosti that a female Russian tourist was among those rescued.

Antalya Governor Munir Karaloglu was cited by the Daily Sabah as saying that coast guards and maritime police officers had been sent to assist in the ongoing rescue operation. According to the outlet, the incident happened due to high winds and heavy rainfall.
MOSCOW (Sputnik)  Capkn was detained earlier this week, when he was at home in the Izmir province. Shortly before, former governor of Istanbul Huseyin Avni Mutlu, who was also accused of having ties to Gulenists, was arrested.

On July 15, the Turkish authorities said that an attempted coup was taking place in the country, which was suppressed the following day. Ankara believes that Gulen and his supporters were seeking to overthrow the current government. The Fethullahist Terrorist Organization/Parallel State Structure, made up of Gulen's supporters, is designated a terrorist organization by Ankara.

Following the coup, thousands of people, mostly officials, legal and educational workers, were detained or dismissed, commonly over alleged ties to Gulen and his organization.
He surmised that Chinas foreign policy is one of expansionism and imperialism where might makes right citing Beijings former Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi out of context who said, "China is a big country and other countries are small countries, and thats a fact."

Cropsey argues in his piece further that China has its own brand of exceptionalism, distinct from American exceptionalism, that is somehow not predicated on the "rule of law" or "accepted norms of international behavior," but rather the countrys power to ignore international law altogether.

The position that he lays out somewhat astoundingly is that of former US Ambassador to the United Nations John Bolton, whose name has been floated as the next Secretary of State, who wrote in a 2000 article that apart from the words expressly laid out in treaties international law does not exist at all because, essentially, it is based on custom and if you violate that custom repeatedly then the customary international law changes.
Ruth Smeeth has explicitly accused divisive Labour chief Jeremy Corbyn of a catastrophic failure in his turning a blind eye to the victimization she has suffered. The death threats aimed at the 37 year-old MP have come amidst a tidal wave of 25,000 abusive social media posts- most of which mention her faith.

Ruth Smeeth is far from the only Jewish female MP being targeted by Labours anti-Semitic under current: Following radical leftist Ken Livingstones anti-Semitic remarks, Luciana Berger MP, another Labour politician, opened up about the vile abuse she has suffered in April 2016. Even the Oxford Students club has been implicated in the intimidation of Labours Jewish members.

Labour MP John Mann has blamed the worrying increase in anti-Semitic attitudes within his party on Corbyns radical values and the extremist Trotskyite agenda that now flourishes under his leadership. It means that for young Jewish women like Ruth Smeeth and Luciana Berger, the myth of the liberal west juxtaposed against a nationalistic Russia and its Brexiteer underlings is nothing more than a cruel joke.

The views expressed in this article are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the official position of Sputnik.
"We have not agreed on anythingThere are offers from the Belarusian side, we have not even made our own offers. Until Belarus pays, I doubt anything can be reached," Dvorkovich said on the sidelines of the Ambrosetti Forum in Italy.

Minsk has been refusing to recognize the debt, saying that the price of $132.77 per 1,000 cubic meters of gas demanded by Moscow is unfair. Russia has stressed that payments must be made in line with the contract.
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About Censored News Censored News is published by Brenda Norrell. Since 2006, Censored News has received more than 20 million pageviews. As a collective of writers, photographers and broadcasters, we publish news of Indigenous Peoples and human rights. Contact publisher Brenda Norrell: brendanorrell@gmail.com

From the publisher Censored News is published by Brenda Norrell, a journalist in Indian country for 40 years. Norrell created Censored News after she was censored and terminated as a staff reporter at Indian Country Today in 2006. She began as a reporter at Navajo Times during the 18 years that she lived on the Navajo Nation. She was a stringer for AP and USA Today and later traveled with the Zapatistas through Mexico. She has been blacklisted by all the mainstream media for 14 years. Contact brendanorrell@gmail.com

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"We adhere to the position that our doors are always open in regard to the issues related to monitoring and coordination of activities, because the market situation is still complicated and it has not stabilized in the last two years taking into consideration the decrease in prices. I think that within the framework of the ministerial meeting, which will be held on the sidelines of the International Energy Forum, we will be able to discuss the situation with the colleagues."

Global oversupply and stagnating demand have caused oil prices to plunge from $115 per barrel in June 2014 to less than $30 per barrel in January 2016. Prices recovered amid Nigeria and Venezuela's output outages and growing demand in May, peaking at over $50 per barrel in early June.
VLADIVOSTOK (Russia), (Sputnik)  Earlier in the day, Rosneft signed an agreement with Hyundai Heavy on the Basic Principles of a Joint Venture for Engineering and Project Management.

"A joint venture with Hyundai Heavy on engineering and production of large-capacity Aframax tankers running on natural gas motor fuel. As you know, it will be a mandatory requirement for tankers to have a propelling system running on gas motor fuel to pass through certain channels and straits," Sechin told reporters at the second Eastern Economic Forum (EEF).

He added that the Russian side would get a control share in the joint venture.
VLADIVOSTOK (Sputnik)  The Russian government is not considering the possibility of a gas pipeline construction under the Black Sea through Bulgaria, Russian Energy Minister Alexander Novak said Saturday.

"There is no ongoing discussion on Bulgaria, there is no [work on] the South Stream project," Novak told reporters at the Eastern Economic Forum.
VLADIVOSTOK (Sputnik)  China's CNPC oil and gas corporation continues to show interest in privatization of Russian Rosneft oil company, Russian Economic Development Minister Alexei Ulyukayev said on Saturday.

"Yes, I think so," Ulyukayev told reporters on the sidelines of the second Eastern Economic Forum (EEF) in Vladivostok, answering the question whether CNPC remained interested in Rosneft privatization.

"A lot [of companies] are interested in the privatization of Rosneft," he added.
NEW DELHI (Sputnik)  The Indian delegation headed by Modi is currently paying a two-day visit to Vietnam. During the visit, the Indian officials are meeting Vietnamese leadership and discussing cooperation between the two states in a wide range of areas, including defense and investments.

"I am also happy to announce a new defense line of credit for Vietnam of $500 million for facilitating deeper defense cooperation," Modi said at a joint press conference with his Vietnamese counterpart Nguyen Xuan Phuc.

He added that the two countries had agreed to enhance their cooperation in the sphere of defense and security.
VLADIVOSTOK (Sputnik)  In particular, the two governments signed an agreement on maritime search and rescue, as well as a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the ministries of industry and trade.

The MoUs have also been signed on bilateral health cooperation in Russia's Far East, and on cooperation on investment projects in the Far East fisheries industry.

The Russian state corporation Roscosmos and the Korea Aerospace Research Institute (KARI) agreed to intensify bilateral cooperation in space activities, another MoU was signed by the Russian Federal Service for State Registration, Cadastre and Cartography and the Korean National Geographic Information Institute.
"First, UOKiK acted as an anti-monopoly agency. Secondly, it explained its decision by local energy companies arguing that the implementation of the Nord Stream-2 project would undermine competition in the energy market," Polish journalist Rafal Zasun told Sputnik.

"Pressure is mounting on Gazprom in post-Soviet states and in the domestic market. The company has faced increased competition in some countries. Ukraine is diversifying its energy suppliers. In addition, Belarus is in talks about discounts on Russian gas," an article in the Swiss daily Neue Zurcher Zeitung read.

At the same time, demand for Russian gas in the European market is increasing. Recently, Gazproms exports to Europe have grown by 30 percent. Europe receives nearly 30 percent of natural gas from Russia.

Nord Stream-2 is a very important project both for European consumers and Gazprom, the article read.

Despite the stoplight decision by the Polish regulator, companies will not quit the project. By the end of the year, the companies are expected to find a new form of their participation in Nord Stream-2, according to the newspaper.

"They [Gazprom and its European partners] will probably be looking for legal loopholes to circumvent the Polish regulators ban, which I dont think is final. To have a better picture of the situation we need to take a better look at EU and Polish legislation," Rafal pointed out.
The latest stage of such exercises, codenamed Saber Strike 2016, was held in June with tank drills in Latvias Adazi military base, located near the capital Riga.

Conducted annually since 2010, the Saber Strike exercise is a set of collaborative military training drills involving US and European forces that is held in multiple locations throughout Lithuania, Estonia, and Latvia.

On Friday Latvian, Estonian and Polish representatives headed to the Czech Republic to take part in NATOs Ample Strike 2016 drills.

Slated to run until September 20, the exercises also involve military units from the US, Canada, Britain, France, Germany, Belgium, the Netherlands, the Czech Republic, Greece, Croatia, Slovenia, Hungary and Finland.

During a recent visit to Riga, US Vice President Joe Biden said that 170 military exercises and other joint events were scheduled for this year alone.

In August, Brigadier General Michael Gschossmann, commander of the ground-based component of the German Air Force, said that the German and Dutch militaries were working to create a joint air and missile defense task force  equipped with Patriot rockets  that will likely see future deployments in Poland or the Baltic states to send a political signal to Russia.

It was against the backdrop of this frenzied military activity that the Lithuanian and Latvian defense ministries complained about the recent snap military drills in Russia which they described as a destabilizing factor and a lack of transparency on the part of Moscow.

Latvian Foreign Minister Edgars Rinkevics went even further describing the large-scale Russian military exercises as muscle flexing and insisted on NATOs permanent military presence in his country.

But with all this NATO military buildup on its borders, Russia has every reason to create a credible deterrence against a possible aggression.
One gentleman stood up on the wall and decided to chant his support for former UKIP party leader Nigel Farage which did not please the majority anti-Brexit camp.

A sea of blue was the dominant visual color on display as people adorned clothing and face paints to represent their affinity to their European counterparts.

Prominent public commentators were present on the day including Owen Jones and UK comic Eddie Izzard.

Many people marching also spoke about the need for the British public to proactively have their voices heard, especially since all the confusion about what the definite plans are for the future of the country.

"We must stay in Europe if we (Britain) stand any chance of a safer, unified future otherwise as we can see here even with the Brexit guys, it will be a case of a very divided, and highly unstable economically Britain!" said one of the young men at the march.

Others were a little more pragmatic about their presence:

"We just want a united Britain, and for a collective European voice. In a democracy we can accept what the majority has voted for, but so much of this was influenced by lies and we don't think the public was well informed. This is why I am here and what many of us feel strongly about. This is also a positive display of democracy in action." said another pro-EU supporter.

Speaking to one of the pro-BREXIT supporters, he told Sputnik on a live Facebook stream:

"The majority of this country voted to leave EU. This is a democracy and that's how a democracy works. These guys are a bunch of cry babies and they need to accept the country's decision and now help it become great again, as an independent country it should be!"

As British parliament convenes for business in the week ahead, it's likely to be an important few weeks and months for Theresa May and her government.

In the meantime, the #MarchForEurope supporters will continue to exercise their right to protest against leaving the EU and the pro-Brexit camp will likely also continue to exercise on the opposite side.
MOSCOW (Sputnik)  Protesters demanded freedom for Abdullah Ocalan, a founding member of the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK), which is banned both in Turkey and Germany, according to the newspaper Frankfurter Allgemeine.

The demonstration, under the motto "Against Dictatorship and Discrimination" was held in place of the international Kurdish culture festival that was canceled last month over security concerns. It was attended by the local diaspora, as well as Kurds from France, Belgium and the Netherlands.
Opinion / Columnist

Sibusisiwe Tshuma is a Zimbabwean human rights activist and MDC-T member based in the UK. She can be reached at ntsikanes@yahoo.com

The National Electoral Reform Agenda (NERA) had planned to lead demonstrations in various provincial capitals on 2nd of September 2016. Following the temporary banning of public demonstration in the nation's capital, Harare, focus had shifted to the Bulawayo demos. Bulawayo being the second largest city was likely to draw a sizeable crowd.The local political heavy weights, Dr Dumiso Dabengwa and Professor Welshman Ncube, from ZAPU and MDC respectively, were ready to lead the march. However, this was not to be as heavily armed anti-riot police officers besieged the gathering point at Lunar Park, sending a clear message that this was a no-go zone. The would-be demonstrators were thus dispersed but not before they were intimidated and harassed.The organisers were planning to meet later at the ZAPU offices to hold a joint press statement of all political formations involved but the state apparatus got wind of it and sent its anti-riot police squad to surround the area. After securing the area, the police then invaded the ZAPU offices and harassed innocent party officials and party supporters who were gathered there. For effect, they were fully clad in combat gear, guns and all. The planned demo fizzled out as expected. Events took a new turn as the organisers challenged the legality of this siege in court and they won the permission to go ahead with the planned peaceful protest. As there was no time left to re-organise the event, this had to be postponed to another day.A pattern is emerging where the courts grant permission to hold peaceful demonstrations while the police continue to stop the meetings taking place. Since both institutions are controlled by Zanu-pf , one wonders why the courts seem to be making some decent decisions supporting planned demonstrations. This is a new development.Could it be that the courts have suddenly freed themselves from political control from the ruling party?Are these the actions of a few stubborn court officials defying orders from Mugabe's government?It is also possible that this is a deliberate ploy to hoodwink the nation and the international community by giving a semblance of respecting the rights of peaceful demonstrators as enshrined in the Zimbabwean constitution and as recognised internationally.If that is the case, then it is working because the courts say yes verbally and in writing while state machinery say no physically by use of excessive force to stop the activities. Mugabe must be laughing his head off as he dupes everyone involved. Still one wonders whether there is now a new beginning of separating the executive from the judiciary. Separation of powers which is unheard of under Mugabe rule could be upon us.Another interesting development is the change in strategy that had been adopted by the organisers by switching to organising demos in multiple cities simultaneously. This was road-tested on the second of September on a small scale. By so doing, it stretches the national resources for managing demonstrations.The police have to make quick decisions where to deploy the bulk of their forces. Both material and human resources currently available cannot deal with multiple national demonstrations done at the same time.This approach is vastly superior to the drip-drip demos of one city one demo at a time. A valuable lesson was learnt as a result of these foiled demos. From now on let us have multiple demos everywhere.NERA has managed to bring political rivals to act together in demanding our constitutional rights and the need to implement agreed electoral reforms in order to ensure free and fair elections come 2018. This approach need to be repeated too. A word of warning to the demonstrators and organisers: this horse is dying and it's kicking. Box clever and we will prevail. Zimbabwe will be free soon.
The issue has become a political one because it is very easy to bank on terrorism and hatred politically. This is what is seen across Europe right now, Shakdam said.

She further said that she personally does not understand the argument for the burqa because the headscarf is a requirement in Islam but the burqa is not an obligation in Islam and it is up to women to decide whether they want to wear it or not.

She further spoke about how the whole burqa issue has more to do with cultural choice than a religious one. According to her, it has been misunderstood by a lot of Europeans who think that it is religious obligation.
"We proceed from the assumption that it would be the worst scenario. Therefore we have strengthened security of the president and other authorities," Vargas said, as quoted by the Paraguayan Interior Ministry on Friday, speaking about the threat of attacks planned by drug mafia.

According to Vargas, drug mafia could also destabilize the situation in country's prisons, where members of Brazil's Primeiro Comando da Capital (PCC) criminal group are taken into custody.
"The impact these restrictive policies have on a woman's ability to pursue a career or make life decisions varies, but is largely dependent on the goodwill of her male guardian. In some cases, men use the authority that the male guardianship system grants them to extort female dependents. Guardians have conditioned their consent for women to work or to travel on her paying him large sums of money," the report said.

While preparing the report, HRW interviewed 61 women whose life experiences were documented in the form of videos posted to social media.

HRW initiated a campaign with the #TogetherToEndMaleGuardianship hashtag. It found widespread response in Saudi Arabia, with over 170,000 tweets in both English and Arabic sharing the negative experiences of women under the domination of male guardianship, as well as demands for equal rights.

A genuine intellectual revolution #TogetherToEndMaleGuardianship
ANKARA (Sputnik)  A total of eight Turkish soldiers and 11 members of the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) have been killed in armed clashes in the southeastern Van province of the country, local authorities said in a statement on Saturday.

"Three officers and five sergeants were killed, eight servicemen were wounded in the Tendurek area in clashes with members of the separatist terrorist organization [PKK] on September 2. 11 militants were killed, an operation involving military aircraft continues," the statement read.

Tensions between Ankara and the Kurds escalated in July 2015 when a ceasefire between Turkey and the PKK collapsed over a series of terrorist attacks, allegedly committed by PKK members.
MOSCOW (Sputnik)  He cited a Twitter message from the US Embassy in Turkey, which said HIMARS systems in Turkey were "in place and in action". This is the latest step in US-Turkish cooperation in the fight against the Daesh militant group, the diplomatic mission said.

"U.S. forces struck ISIL [Daesh] targets near Turkey's border in Syria last night via newly deployed HIMARS system," Brett McGurk tweeted.
In order to enter the Syrian territory, Turkish troops dismantled part of a wall which is currently being built on the border, DHA news agency reported citing military sources.

The Euphrates Shield operation started on August 24 in the northern Syrian city of Jarablus and was backed by a US-led international coalition. At the time, nearly 40 Turkish tanks backed by some 1,000 Syrian rebel forces entered Syria.

In response, Damascus accused Ankara of violating its national sovereignty.

According to the Turkish government, the operation is aimed against Daesh militants and Kurdish forces and will last as long as needed.
As a result, Turkey managed to make a gesture towards the US-led international coalition which is fighting Daesh in Syria and Iraq.

What is more, according to the analyst, Ankara wants to establish a 30-km buffer zone between Turkey and Syria. Thus, the Turkish government plans to weaken the Syrian government led by Bashar Assad.

If Turkish forces stay in Syria for long this could lead to an increased number of terrorist attacks in Turkey.

However, the Turkish government has "nothing to lose" in terms of terror threats and will not stop the operation, according to Rodier.

"President Erdogan has no political opponents in Turkey, and after a failed military coup he is now in the pinnacle of his power. If the number of terrorist attacks in Turkey rises, public support for Erdogan will only grow," he said.

The analyst also commented on the diplomatic consequences of the Turkish invasion in Syria.
(One pimp) used the services of sex workers as leverage when negotiating fees with both sellers and buyers. A night with a sex worker was offered as an extra inducement to sell.

According to a report, Human trafficking is a global problem and one of the worlds most shameful crimes, affecting the lives of millions of people around the world and robbing them of their dignity.

The traffickers deceive women, men and children from all corners of the world and force them into exploitative situations on daily basis.

While organ sales remain public knowledge, the process has become more hidden. Private clinics and analytic labs [where the majority of sellers are matched with buyers] have proliferated, making it increasingly difficult to monitor the treatment of organ recipients and organ sellers, the report read.

When a transplant professional [surgeon] suspects that an organ has been donated illegally there is no legal duty to report this to the relevant authorities. Allegedly the doctors don't want to know anything. They take the money without question.

According to the report there are numerous stakeholders involved in the organ trade, each with different roles, functions and identities that often overlap, i.e. transplant professionals, hospitals, brokers, service providers, law enforcement, etc.

The report comes as support to earlier claims of horrifying organ trafficking practices. In July, the Times newspaper reported that African refugees were being killed for their organs in Egypt if they failed to pay their smugglers.

The Egyptians come equipped to remove the organ and transport it in insulated bags, people smuggler Nouredin Atta told the investigation following his detention, as cited by the Times.

Egypt is known to be a center for migrants and is a transit point for those who want to travel to Europe. Around one in 10 refugees arriving in Italy have sailed via Egypt since the start of 2016, the International Organization for Migration said. The rest went through Libya.
MOSCOW (Sputnik)  The Russia-US brokered ceasefire regime in Syria came into force on February 27. The Jabhat Fatah Al-Sham  formerly known as the al-Nusra Front  and the Daesh militant groups are not part of the agreement.

"The ceasefire has been observed in most provinces of the Syrian Arab Republic. Within last 24 hours, 8 ceasefire violations have been registered in the Damascus (7) and Latakia (1) provinces," the ministry said in a daily bulletin posted on its website.

Total of 548 Settlements Joined Syria Ceasefire
WASHINGTON (Sputnik)  The task order, the release noted, calls for helping JIDA support the US military in preparing for and adapting to battlefield surprises during counter-terrorism and counter-insurgency missions, including anti-IED efforts.

Zel Technologies Inc. (Zel Tech), Hampton, Virginia, has been awarded a $165,272,923 [contract] to provide the Joint Improvised-Threat Defeat Agency (JIDA) with expertise in research, experimental development, and rapid acquisition; [and] development and fielding of counter-threat technologies, the release stated on Friday.

Work will predominantly be performed in Virginia and around Washington, DC, but contractor personnel will also be embedded as needed with globally-deployed US armed forces, the release explained.
Opinion / Columnist

In a veiled sign of admission, Prof Jonathan Moyo yesterday acknowledged that ZanuPF had all but failed to run the country since winning the 2013 elections. Prof J. Moyo, who is the MP for Tsholotsho North and Minister of Higher and Tertiary Education, Science and Technology said this during a question and answer session at a well-attended press club in Bulawayo's royal hotel.Prof J Moyo stated three fundamental reasons why ZanuPF had failed. Two main reasons the reasons he highlighted were the unabated ragging fires of infightings currently dogging ZanuPF. The third factor according to him are the recent waves of demonstrations which he said are being supported indirectly or directly by the western embassies to try and effect regime change through unconstitutional means."From 2013 to 2014 we were consumed with the Mujuru saga. After wards we had a new phase of successionists' issues bedevilling the party even up to today, threatening the stability of ZanuPF. As if that is not enough, we now have the Tajamukas" said Moyo.According to Prof J. Moyo, who spoke as the Tsholotsho North MP, the government of Zimbabwe had a "limited space for expansion and policy implementation" since its election in government in 2013. One of the main causes of the Zim-Asset policy implementation draw back had been the advent or existence of Mujuru factor. Moyo explained that the Mujuru factor seized and paralysed the party and government for a year since 2013 October to 2014 December thereby diverting government from real issues of governance."It became harder and impossible to work for the betterment of the nation under those conditions as there was so much bickering and underhand dealings aimed at removing a democratically elected President Robert Mugabe from power by Mujuru and her Cabal," emphasised Moyo.Professor Moyo pointed out that Mujuru and other expelled members intentionally delayed the implementation of Zim Asset project as per schedule. He accused Dr Mujuru and others of "throwing spanners into the works of government planning just months after President Mugabe had secured a resounding victory in 2013. Instead of developing the country," he explained, "the party was instead seized with internal wrangles."Dr Joyce Mujuru along with other long serving and founding members of ZanuPF such as Cde D. Mutasa, Cde R. Gumbo, former war veteran leader Cde J. Sibanda, amongst others, were unceremoniously kicked out of ZanuPF in 2014 on several frivolous charges of trying to overthrow the nonagenarian President Robert Mugabe. Dr J Mujuru has up to today denied the charges levelled against her. She later formed Zimbabwe People First party which has been a constant and significant voice in the band waggon of opposition parties calling for President Mugabe to step down against a backdrop of a soaring 90% unemployment rate in the country.The second aspect brought to light by Prof Jonathan Moyo was the issue he christened "the successionists issue". Without mentioning names, Prof J Moyo attacked the successionists as divisive power hungry individuals who instead of supporting the President Robert Mugabe were sadly fixated on grabbing power through unorthodox means.He scoffed at the idea that ZanuPF still had any remaining factions since expulsion of Mujuru loyalists. He attributed the apparent so called existence of factions to journalists who "always think in binary terms...Since gamatox had been removed from zanupf, papers were no longer selling. So in order to keep their papers selling, journalists had to come up with new fancy and attractive names for their fictional factions. Names such as G40 and Lacoste."The Lacoste faction has been attributed to being led by VP E.D Mnangagwa. A claim the VP Mnangagwa refutes in the same fashion the former VP Dr J Mujuru refuted the allegations that she led a Gamatox faction. The Generation 40 on the other hand is being said to be led by Prof J Moyo, Hon S Kasukuwere and Hon P Zhuwawo, the nephew to President R Mugabe.Of late the acting Vice President Mnangagwa has come under heavy siege and open humiliation similar to the way Dr J Mujuru was humiliated and subsequently expelled from ZanuPF. VP Mnangagwa is being accused of trying to re-engineer the Tsholotsho declaration of 2004, whose wave saw people like Advocate Jacob Mudenda, Prof J Moyo, Cde J. Sibanda and others being suspended from ZanuPF. Prof J Moyo then, in 2005, went on to contest Tsholotsho North on an independent ticket and won resoundingly. He subsequently lost the Tsholotsho North seat in the 2013 elections to Roselene Sipepa-Nkomo of the MDCT, only to win it back under a ZanuPF ticket in the 2015 by-election following MDCT leader Mr Morgan Tsvangirai's recall of several MPs from Parliament as a result of MDCT internal power struggles.The third factor highlighted by Prof J Moyo was the advent of recent waves of demonstrations country wide that are advocating for, among other things, electoral reforms. Moyo then questioned why the opposition parties had been silent about electoral reformssince 2013 only "to make noise three years later after having drafted and adopted the electoral laws while in Government of National Unity".These waves of demonstrations have incessantly came from political parties who are signatories to National Electoral Reform Agenda (NERA), civic organisations and a new wave of activists termed "the clicktivists". Clicktivists are rightly named so because they are a different crop of activists that expresses their displeasure through social media such as WhatsApp, Twitter or Facebook before taking the demonstrations out to the real world. So far the most prominent clicktivist groups motivated by the Hash Tag movement that have made real life impact have been #ThisFlag #Asisafuni amongst others.Several of these young and brave activists who dared stand up against the authorities have been brutally crushed while some have been incarcerated on puerile cropped up charges ranging from treason to downright criminal nuisance. Of note in Harare is Evan Mawarire, Linda Masarira and others. Linda Masarira is one forgotten victim who has spent over a fortnight behind bars as the state continues to deny her bail. Bulawayo activists who include Mthokozisi Ncube, Alfred Dzirutwe, Robson Tera and Thembelihle Sibanda were arrested, detailed for over 48 hours before being acquitted as state failed to prove its barmy charges against them.These waves of protests have been generally peaceful though some have unfortunately turned violent resulting in looting sprees to which Prof J Moyo condemned in no uncertain terms. The violence has been blamed largely on police interference with the protestors and throwing in of teargas to crowds of peacefully marching citizens thereby causing skirmishes and chaotic scenes largely witnessed in Harare CBD.Prof J Moyo had no kind words for NERA political party signatories. He described of NERA as a futile attempt by weak opposition parties to try and force ZanuPF to "commit political suicide by agreeing to policies that will result in its removal from power". He implore the opposition parties to fight and win the next election to be held by 22 July 2018 and then implement their political suicidal policies. He out rightly rubbished NERA as a desperate attempt by weak and divided opposition trying to find a political survival gas tank. He told the house that ZanuPF was the only coherent party, hence it was not seeking coalitions with any one.Prof J. Moyo went on to blame the French and EU embassies for supporting the demonstrations, meddling in internal affairs of Zimbabwe thereby going against the 1969 Vienna convention resolutions on International Relations and code of conduct for embassies. "Why are these French, Canadian, American and EU ambassadors behaving and commenting like they are opposition parties in Zimbabwe, why?" an irate Moyo asked the packed room of over 70 people from different organisations who attended the press club.On violence that is bedevilling the world of journalism, Prof J Moyo said it was regrettable if such claims were actually happening. He reminded the house that journalism was a professional field, just like teaching, and journalists should act as such. He pointed out that journalists have no business in trying to seek fame by putting their lives on the firing line during skirmishes or demonstrations. He ascribed the recent violence on journalists to the partisan and unprofessional approach some journalists were taking.Several journalist have been arrested despite being accredited, such as Bulawayo freelance photographer Crispen Ndlovu who was arrested Wednesday the 31st of August for taking pictures of riot police beating activist Alfred Dzirutwe. Harare's senior freelancer, Godwin Mangudya, Alpha Media Holdings reporters, Elias Mambo and Richard Chidza, as well as their photographer, Tafadzwa Ufumeli have been subjected to police brutality through arrests and subsequent detention.
The new ballistic missile submarine is designed to "patrol the undersea domain performing a crucial strategic deterrence missions," the analyst noted

The Columbia class, designed by Electric Boat, is said to incorporate the most advanced quieting technologies available. US defense officials have already disclosed two innovative solutions for the new submarines. These include a stern in a shape of an X and electric drive propulsion.

The former will enhance the submarine's maneuverability and make it quieter.

"With the X-stern, the Ohio Replacement will regain some of that maneuverability and, as a side effect, will have improved flow characteristics in the stern area while submerged. This will improve quieting and it simplifies the hydraulic control layout in the engine room," an unnamed US Navy official told the media outlet.
The transmission of the acquisition file to the Prime Minister came as the Ministry of Defense cleared the negotiation committees report to be sent to the Cabinet Committee for Security (CCS) which consists of the Prime Ministers Office, the Ministry of Home Affairs, the Ministry of External Affairs, the Ministry of Finance, and the Ministry of Defense.

The 36 fighter jets are to be acquired for $8.8 billion and include advanced weapon systems modified for the Rafale including the Meteor beyond visual range (BVR) missile adding substantial lethality to the warplane. Initially, the deal was projected to be for $11.2 billion before New Delhi negotiated the price down threatening to walk if the arrangement was too expensive.
To fulfill its obligations, the Lockheed Martin subsidiary has been awarded $135.4 million. That means that each unit under the contract will cost around $5.6 million, roughly four times less than an ordinary complete package Black Hawk that has a price tag of at least $20 million. According to IHS Janes 360, the value of the copters suggests that the additional contracts are to be expected.

At the time of the award, the US Army said it will cover the full value of this deal from its fiscal 2016 other funds. All the works are expected to be carried in Stratford, Connecticut, where Sikorsky is based.
WASHINGTON (Sputnik)  On July 15, elements of the Turkish military attempted a coup to ouster president Recep Tayyip Erdogan. The attempt was suppressed the following day as more than 240 people were killed during and an estimated 2,000 were wounded.

Ankara has accused dissident Muslim cleric Fethullah Gulen, who has lived in the US state of Pennsylvania since 1999, and his followers of playing a key role in the coup.

"We haven't seen a diminishing effect on our security relations. Turkey continues to be a strong NATO ally," Obama stated in an interview with CNN.
Nieto, a largely unpopular leader, stated that he invited Trump to initiate dialogue with a possible next president of the US. But this step was, according to Gutierrez, a grave political mistake, because Nieto did not achieve anything.

If Pena was taking a risk of inviting a lesser of two presidential candidates in the US to meet with him in Mexico he should have demanded a public apology from Trump. In this case this meeting would have made sense.

By badmouthing Mexicans and pledging to arrest every single undocumented person and expel him from the US, Trump follows in the footsteps of such extreme racist politicians as the late Alabama governor George Wallace, who, when confronted with the inevitable success of the Civil Rights Movement, notoriously stated, segregation now, segregation tomorrow and segregation forever."

This is extreme racism to a major part of the working class, many of whom harvest the crops in the breadbasket of the US, La Riva said. Its a strategy to divide-and-conquer the working class, because all the workers are in a severe situation of growing poverty, insecurity, being unable to pay for all the needs to live.

Both guests agreed that Mexican-Americans must take a stand against Trump, adding that a large resistance movement must be triggered to secure the rights of the working class and immigrants.

If Trump continues his line, there has to be mobilization of all Mexicans and all Latinos, La Riva said. A week without Mexicans and this country will shut down. I think we should take what Trump said yesterday as a starting point to fight back.
WASHINGTON (Sputnik)  The two leaders are expected to discuss a range of bilateral and global issues.

"President Obama will meet Prime Minister Theresa May of the United Kingdom on the margins of the G-20 meeting in Hangzhou, China on Sunday, September 4," the official stated.
"A sustained ceasefire and full and unfettered access for the OSCE Special Monitoring Mission are critical to enable the parties to fulfill their commitments under the Minsk agreements," Kirby stated on Friday.

The ceasefire agreement was reached between Ukraines conflicting sides during a Contact Group meeting in August.
The EEF is currently underway on Russky Island near Russia's eastern city of Vladivostok. The forum, which will run through Saturday, is expected to attract some 2,500 participants, from countries including China, Japan, South Korea, India, Vietnam, Australia, the United States and Singapore.

Digital Economy

Russian President Vladimir Putin on Saturday proposed to create common "digital economy" space for the states located in the Asia Pacific region.

"We are living in the century of information society, of rapid development of digital telecommunication technologies and it is necessary to seize opportunities, which are opened up through cooperation in order to let public agencies and companies from different countries to cooperate in electronic format In that context we propose to create a common digital economy space."

He added that it implied the creation of legal and technological grounds for electronic cooperation.

Energy Prices for Countries of Asia-Pacific

Russia is ready to offer competitive energy prices for countries of the Asia-Pacific Region and is proposing to create an intergovernmental working group on the Asian energy super ring project, Russian President Vladimir Putin stated.

"For a faster, more dynamic realization of this project [Asian energy ring] we are offering to create an intergovernmental working group. At the same time I want to stress that Russia is ready to offer our partners a competitive, in the Asia Pacific Region, price for electric energy and fix it for a long-term period."

The Asian energy super ring project stipulates the unification of energy systems of Russia, Japan, South Korea, China and Mongolia. This ring is expected to consist of separate energy bridges, one of which can connect Russia's Sakhalin with Japan.

Far East Infrastructure

Russia is working out measures to support investors who will build external infrastructure for investment projects in the Far East, Putin added.

"Today, we already provide direct state subsidies to investors for the development of transport, energy and other infrastructure, for the opening of new production facilities. We are now thinking about improving support mechanisms. Investors who will build external infrastructure on their own, should receive this additional support from the government," Putin said, adding that "various proposals" on the issue "are being discussed."

Putin also said that access to natural resources in the Far East should be linked to investment in their processing.

The Russian leader proposed that Japan and South Korea reflect on the creation of joint investment ventures with Russia to finance industrial and high-tech projects.

"They could focus on the financing of projects not only in agriculture but also in industry, in the sphere of high technologies and in the field of natural resources," Putin said, expressing confidence that "the Far East with its land resources is capable of becoming one of the leading suppliers of quality, ecologically pure food products for the Asia-Pacific Region, where almost 60 percent of our planets population live."

Seoul-Moscow Transport Cooperation

Cooperation between Russia and South Korea in the sphere of transport to open up new possibilities to develop resources, South Korean President Park Geun-hye said Saturday.

"Through cooperation between [South] Korean and Russian businessmen in the sphere of creation of infrastructure, including in the sphere of transport and ports, it will be possible to work out a new multimodal logistical route that will allow to unite the Eurasian continent. Particularly, the Northeast Passage will open new possibilities for a sustainable development of resources," Park said at a plenary session of the Eastern Economic Forum (EEF).

She added that construction of inter-city speedways at Russia's Far East and urban redevelopment would create potential for cooperation.

Earlier in the day, Russian President Vladimir Putin said that the Russian Federation State Council would discuss the development of country's transport infrastructure.

Russia, Japan Natural Partners in Economic, Regional Security Spheres

Russia and Japan are "natural" partners in the economic and security spheres, Vladimir Putin said.

"We are natural partners with Japan, absolutely natural partners in the development of trade-economic ties and in the resolution of issues of regional security. And we [Putin and Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe] understand this very well."

The Russian president stressed that Russia and Japan must find a way to resolve their territorial dispute in order for it "not to destroy our relations, but to create a strong base for long-term development."

"Some time ago, we at the request of Japanese friends have returned to the consideration of the issue and ready to consider it. In order to solve it, we need a level of trust, a high level of trust and we need such a formula, I will repeat the thing I have said in an interview with Bloomberg, that will allow both the sides not to feel themselves at loss. It is a complicated solution, but it could be found."

Japan and Russia have never signed a permanent peace treaty after World War II due to Tokyo's claims to four Russian islands. The islands, located in the Sea of Okhotsk, were claimed by Soviet forces at the end of the war.

Issue of Crimea's Territorial Belonging Historically Closed

The issue of Crimea's territorial belonging historically closed, President Putin said.

"The people of Crimea have made their decision, they have voted [in a referendum]. The issue is historically closed, there could be no return to the previous system," Putin said.

Russia's historical southern region of Crimea rejoined Russia after a 2014 referendum. Almost 97 percent of the region's population voted for reunification in a referendum. Sevastopol, which has a federal city status, supported the move by 95.6 percent of votes.

Russia to Try to Return North Korea to Path of Negotiations
HANGZHOU (Sputnik), Anastasia Levchenko  A meeting between Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov and US State Secretary John Kerry on the sidelines of the G20 summit in China is possible if the United States officially makes a distinction between terrorists and opposition groups in Syria, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov told Sputnik.

"Participation of State Secretary [John Kerry] and Foreign Minister [Sergei Lavrov] in the G20 events in Hangzhou creates opportunities for their direct bilateral communication. At the moment, we do not have the timing set for such contact, but the main point is not the timing, it is the fact that we are doubtful that our American colleagues are able to overcome what is the main obstacle now for reaching the final agreement on Syria  mainly, the long-standing issue of differentiating between Daesh terrorists and those groupings that the US military structures work with. This is the main obstacle for the resolution of [the] Aleppo situation," Ryabkov said on Saturday.

Russian-US military experts are now meeting in Geneva to discuss differences between Russian and US positions.
VLADIVOSTOK (Sputnik)  Moscow will not raise the issue of missile launches by North Korea at the UN General Assembly (UNGA), if no new missiles are fired by Pyongyang, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Igor Morgulov said on Saturday.

"If in the run-up to the UN General Assembly there is no new launches, we will not [bring up this issue]," Morgulov told reporters.

He added that the issue had already been discussed by the UN Security Council.
Judith Bergman is a writer and political analyst living in Israel.

Updates throughout the day at http://calevbenyefuneh.blog spot.com. If you enjoy "Love of the Land", please be a subscriber. Just put your email address in the "Subscribe" box on the upper right-hand corner of the page.Twitter updates at LoveoftheLand as well as our Love of the Land page at Facebook which has additional pieces of interest besides that which is posted on the blog. Also check-out This Ongoing War by Frimet and Arnold Roth. An excellent blog, very important work.

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..Israel Hayom..01 September '16..One of the world's northernmost inhabited places is Longyearbyen, a small town of about 2,000 people in Svalbard, a Norwegian archipelago halfway between mainland Norway and the North Pole.Svalbard is a place of indescribable beauty, filled with an untouched arctic wilderness that will leave you in constant awe, simply grateful to be alive to witness such staggering wonders: untouched arctic landscapes, blueish glaciers and frozen tundra, which is home to an arctic wildlife that includes polar bears.Indeed, the most dangerous neighbors a human being can come across in Svalbard are polar bears, which is why it is prohibited to venture outside Longyearbyen without a weapon.Longyearbyen's residents come from all over the world and the place feels as far removed from any kind of international politics as you could possibly imagine.Ever since my husband and I visited this place, we have spoken about going back, and my husband has even taken to reading Svalbardposten -- the world's northernmost newspaper.It was during the perusal of this usually apolitical source of news -- it is not uncommon for nine out of 10 headlines to include polar bears in some form or other -- that my husband jumped from his chair, pointing to the computer screen in horror. I looked at the headline, which said, "Boycott Israel!"So there it was: the boycott, divestment and sanctions movement had made its way to the northernmost inhabited place on earth. The text was a letter to the editor, written last summer by a local priest, Leif Magne Helgesen, in which he was peddling the most outlandish claims, including that Israel is "a military regime" and encouraging his fellow Longyearbyen residents to boycott Israel. The priest had spent his summer vacation in a Palestinian Arab village and had returned a full-fledged BDS warrior, ready to go against Israel, which he continued throughout his lengthy diatribe to describe as a "regime."There is something deeply ironic, tragicomically so, about a priest who does his business in the northernmost spot on earth, surrounded only by the Creator's beauty and the occasional scare from a polar bear, isolated from the rest of the world and certainly from the issues of the Middle East, venting his anti-Semitic fury and rage at a country that could not possibly be further removed from him than Israel. It is also telling that this man is, of all things, a priest.Unfortunately, it should not surprise us. Svalbard belongs to Norway, which according to a recent report by watchdog group NGO Monitor, has recently joined Denmark, Sweden, Switzerland and the Netherlands in contributing funds to an organization funding NGOs that promote a boycott of Israel. According to the Norwegian Foreign Ministry's website, 5 million Norwegian kroner (over $600,000) was allocated to the Human Rights and International Humanitarian Law (HR/IHL) Secretariat in the second half of 2016. According to the NGO Monitor report, the "HR/IHL Secretariat is an intermediary that distributes funds to nongovernmental organizations ... active in BDS ... campaigns and other forms of demonization against Israel. It is managed by the Institute of Law at Birzeit University (IoL-BZU) in Ramallah and the NIRAS consulting firm, based in Sweden."Also according to the report, "80% of the HR/IHL Secretariat's distributions are allocated to core NGO funding. NGO Monitor research shows that out of 24 core recipients, 13 support BDS, receiving $5.78 million (more than half) out of an operating budget of $10.38 million over the course of four years. Some grantees have also promoted anti-Semitic rhetoric and have apparent links to the PFLP terrorist organization. Core group members receiving funding include BADIL, Al-Haq, Addameer and MIFTAH, all vehemently anti-Israel NGOs at the forefront of BDS campaigns."How surprising is it, then, that a Norwegian citizen, even in such a remote and apolitical place such as Longyearbyen, joins the BDS bandwagon? It is not surprising at all.Official Norway, naturally, denies all wrongdoing. This was the response of the Norwegian Embassy in Israel to the findings of NGO Monitor: "We do not find their characterizations to be representative of the work that these organizations are doing. Norway does not tolerate hate speech, efforts to delegitimize Israel, or anti-Semitism and have close dialogue with all our partners to make sure this is understood. ... Norway does not provide financial support to organizations whose main goal is to promote the BDS campaign."How lovely it would be if Norwegians could just stick to looking out for polar bears instead of pathetically attempting to meddle in Israel's business and then not even having the backbone to admit it.
VLADIVOSTOK (Sputnik)  On Thursday, the US Treasury added a number of Russian Gazprom energy company entities and subsidiaries of Gazprombank, as well as of Bank of Moscow and several other financial companies, to the US sectoral sanctions imposed on Russia on the pretext of the Ukrainian issue.

"I think there is no need for that [mirror response]. This is an act on the US side, I would say, a convulsive, a mechanical one. There is a feeling that they have a schedule  in August we introduce such a sanction, in December such and such and then, the next February  something else," Ulyukayev told reporters on the sidelines of the the second Eastern Economic Forum (EEF) in Vladivostok.
On August 24, several hours after Operation Euphrates Shield was launched, US Vice President Joe Biden sent a strong message to the Kurds, saying that they must move back east of the Euphrates. Two days later John Kerry downplayed US support for the Kurds saying that there "has been some limited engagement with a component of Kurd fighters on a limited basis."

Washington's response to Turkey's incursion undoubtedly upset many Kurdish fighters since they, not Ankara, were instrumental in the US-led anti-Daesh efforts in northern Syria.

"There is ample evidence that the DoD has been in competition with the CIA to find viable partners and that the DoD has been more successful in its relationship with the Kurds and SDF, who are far more effective than the plethora of Syrian rebel groups."

Moreover, the clashes between the Turkish military and the YPG appear to be pointing to Ankara's true goals in this region.

"The risk the United States faces is alienating the Kurds and seeing the SDF salient in Manbij collapse. This will set back US plans to launch a strike on Raqqa and cut off the head of the [Daesh] snake," Frantzman observed.
VLADIVOSTOK (Sputnik)  Earlier in the day, South Korean President Park Geun-hye said that South Korea could reach an agreement on free trade with the Eurasian Economic Union (EEU).

"The Korean partners confirmed their interest in creation of a free trade zone with the Eurasian Economic Union. We are ready to jointly consider merger of our integration plans and ideas of Madam President within the framework of her Eurasian initiative," Putin said.

The Russian leader and South Korean President Park Geun-hye held talks at the Eastern Economic Forum in Vladivostok earlier in the day.
VLADIVOSTOK (Sputnik)  Seoul and Moscow intend to strengthen "strategic dialogue" on the issue of North Korean nuclear program, South Korean President Park Geun-hye said on Saturday following talks with Russian leader Vladimir Putin at the Eastern Economic Forum (EEF).

"It is very important to resolve the North Korean nuclear issue, which is the greatest threat to security in the region, as soon as possible. Together with President Putin we agreed to further strengthen our strategic dialogue in resolving the North Korean nuclear and other issues," she said.

"Along with the threat of further nuclear tests, North Korea claims to conduct a preventive attack. For us it is a deadly threat because of the fact that we live within the range of missiles from North Korea, the likelihood of a conflict is increasing day by day. They [North Korea] improve their technology development of ballistic missile launches," the South Korean president added.
On Friday, Abe met with President Vladimir Putin in Vladivostok, the second visit to Russia for the Japanese prime minister this year. Putin is scheduled to visit Japan on December 15. Both leaders are also scheduled to meet during the APEC summit in Peru slated to be held in November.

Both leaders highlighted the need to lay the dispute to rest. Putin said that "we can't let the chances that we have slide by," while Abe urged both nations "to build a new era in Russia-Japan ties that will last the next 70 years."

Russian and Japanese officials have been vague on the details of a possible deal on the Kuril Islands, but handing them over to Tokyo seems to be out of the question. On Friday, John Micklethwait asked Putin whether Moscow could give up one of the islands in exchange for greater economic cooperation.
VLADIVOSTOK (Sputnik)  The Russian president added that the issue of trade barriers removal should also be discussed at the summit.

"I would like to draw attention to two points of great interest that correspond to the goals of Russia and Russia's Far East region, and they have been formulated in a proper way by our Chinese friends. The first is innovative development, we consider it extremely important. The second part is the international financial architecture. We have recently seen the expansion of quotas for the developing economies in the International Monetary Fund, but we believe this is not enough, bearing in mind the growing weight of the developing economies," Putin said at the Eastern Economic Forum in Vladivostok.
SAMARKAND (Sputnik)  The government of Uzbekistan confirmed that Karimov died at age 78 on Friday. The Uzbek leader was hospitalized last week after suffering a stroke.

"We had frequent talks, and always this communication was very productive, very useful to both our countries. Strong, warm, allied relations have been established between Russia and Uzbekistan. The first president of Uzbekistan sought it, and it happened. I am confident that we will continue this course developing partnership and cooperation between Russia and Uzbekistan and embodying the precepts of the first president of the country," Medvedev said at the memorial service for Karimov in his native city of Samarkand.

Karimov was hospitalized early on Saturday after suffering a stroke. On Sunday, the Uzbek Cabinet said in a statement that Karimov's treatment would "take some time." Karimov's daughter Lola confirmed later on her Facebook page that her father had suffered a brain hemorrhage.
MOSCOW (Sputnik)  According to the deal agreed on March 18, Turkey pledged to take back all undocumented migrants who come ashore in Greece if EU countries receive Syrian refugees resettled from Turkish camps on a one-for-one basis.

The bloc also promised to accelerate the Turkish EU accession and introduce visa-free regime once Turkey meets the 72 conditions set by the bloc. Ankara has not fulfilled the five conditions that relate to data protection and anti-terror laws so far.

"Work is ongoing on all the agreements we have already started to work on in the last month in a constructive way. We have seen today a reaffirmation from the Turkish side to stick to the agreements we had, on particular on the management of the refugee flows, and from our side, on the visa liberalization, which is a separate issue," she told reporters.
Other points of contention include the diplomatic row sparked by a German comedian, who wrote a satirical poem that mocked Erdogan, sparking a firestorm in Turkey. Then the Bundestag passed a resolution that qualified the 1915 massacre of Armenians as genocide. In response, Ankara refused to let German MPs to the Incirlik airbase, home to the US and German forces that are taking part in anti-Daesh efforts in Iraq and Syria.

"In recent years German attitude to Erdogan has markedly deteriorated. Sultan, as he is often referred to in the Western media, has been perceived as a tough, authoritarian leader who has been notorious for persecuting the opposition, Islamist-leaning tendencies and corruption scandals.

Long-harbored antagonism to Erdogan among German politicians is more often breaking through," the media outlet detailed.
MOSCOW (Sputnik)  On Wednesday, Israel approved the construction of 285 new housing units in the occupied West Bank and retroactively legalized 179 homes that were built in the 1980s.

The Foreign Ministry said Moscow was gravely concerned by the reported approval of new Israeli settlements in the West Bank.

In this regard we reiterate a well-known position of both Russia and the entire international community that such activities in the occupied Palestinian territories are illegal. We believe that the implementation of the reported Israeli projects will negatively affect the efforts to resume peace negotiations on a two-state settlement, the Ministrys statement said.
Fang cited retired Army Gen. Richard Cody, a vice president at L-3 Communications, the seventh largest US defense contractor, as telling investors that an "uptick" in defense spending was coming due to "resurgent" Russia and "we postured ourselves for it."

The Pentagon used the same tactic to push for more funds during congressional hearings on the National Defense Authorization Act earlier this year. The US military leaders urged the Congress to spend more on defense to counter Russia despite the fact that Washington is already spending much more that Moscow.

"NATO's combined military budget vastly outranks Russia's  with the US alone outspending Russia on its military by $609 billion to less than $85 billion. And yet, the Aerospace Industries Association, a lobby group for Lockheed Martin, Textron, Raytheon, and other defense contractors, argued in February that the Pentagon is not spending enough to counter 'Russian aggression on NATO's doorstep,'" Fang noted.

US defense officials and military commanders have repeatedly overhyped the non-existent threat from Russia, prompting an unnamed senior Pentagon officer to describe it as a "Chicken-Little, sky-is-falling" approach in an interview with Politico.
Beijing, whose claim to sovereignty over most of the South China Sea was rejected by the Permanent Court of Arbitration in the Hague in July, has long opposed discussing the South China Sea disputes at multilateral forums. In May, China responded angrily when the subject was raised during the G7 summit in Japan.

However, this issue will be hard to avoid if Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, who previously insisted that Asian and European leaders address the issues surrounding North Korea and the South China Sea among others, will have a bilateral meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping on the sidelines of the G20 leaders summit. Last week, Shotaro Yachi, Abes national security adviser, met Chinese State Councilor Yang Jiechi in Beijing to discuss preparations for the first face-to-face meting between the two leaders since April 2015.

A bilateral meeting between Xi and South Korean President Park Geun-hye has not been ruled out either. As the South Korean Foreign Ministry spokesperson told Sputnik on Monday, "such a meeting is an option."

Another bilateral meeting  between the host, President Xi, and Russian President Vladimir Putin  is expected to be much more pleasant for both sides. In mid-August, a senior Chinese diplomat, cited by South China Morning Post, told the media outlet that Putin would be guest No. 1 at the annual gathering of leaders with the Sino-Russian friendship, dubbed a "bromance" in the West, proving an exhibit of good diplomacy.

It will be in evident contrast to the reception the Russian leader received at the 2014 G20 summit in Australia's Brisbane, which he left abruptly before the final communique was issued, following critical remarks by Western leaders over the Ukraine crisis, citing the need to get some sleep.

China is Russias second largest trading partner, after the European Union, while Russia is one of the leading oil suppliers to China. The two countries are also united through membership of regional organizations like the Shanghai Cooperation Organization and BRICS, with Moscow also being supportive of the New Development Bank and the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank, headquartered in China and widely seen in the West as a challenge to the US-led IMF and the World Bank.

At the end of June, the Turkish president Recep Tayyip Erdogan also said that he would meet Putin on the sidelines of the summit. Also in June, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov announced that Putin might meet US President Barack Obama on the sidelines of the G20 summit, although later the president's spokesman, Dmitry Peskov, said no decision about such a bilateral meeting had been taken as yet.

According to Harry Broadman, Obama's appearance will be one of the political threads to watch. "Since this will be US President Barrack Obamas last G20 Summit, he may use the occasion to push issues he cares deeply about: climate change and cyber warfare," the expert predicted.

The environmental topic may be given further impetus by Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, who arrived in China on August 30 for his first official visit to the country. "As Canada's Justin Trudeau is coming to the G20 with climate change as a high priority he and Xi could join to give the summit real impetus to succeed here," John Kirton suggested.
HANGZHOU (Sputnik)  During the G20 summit, which will launch officially on Sunday and run through Monday, the Russian president is expected to meet heads of state and government at joint working sessions.

He will hold a series of bilateral meetings with the leaders of China, France, Britain and the Saudi deputy crown prince, among others.

Ahead of the G20 summit, Putin will traditionally attend an informal meeting of BRICS leaders  Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa  which is a club of five developing economies.
Furthermore, on September 1, Erdogan highlighted that the US' claims that the YPG is retreating to the eastern bank of the Euphrates bear no relation to reality and should be confirmed by Turkish intelligence first, Daily Sabah wrote

Commenting on the ongoing frictions between Ankara and Washington, Russian media outlet Nezavisimaya Gazeta suggested that Turkey may shift from Washington to Moscow to solve its security dilemma.

Speaking to the media outlet, Veniamin Popov, Director of the Center for the Partnership of Civilizations at the Moscow State Institute of International Relations (MGIMO), emphasized that Russia has been pursuing clear goals since the very beginning of the conflict in Syria.

Moscow has repeatedly called upon major players in the region to team up in order to defeat Daesh, he recalled.

"The alliance of Turkey, Iran and Russia may drastically change the situation on all fronts [in Syria]," Popov emphasized, adding that the Americans also understand that they need a broader coalition to eradicate terrorists on the ground.

For her part, Anna Glazova, Deputy Director of the Russian Institute for Strategic Studies (RISS), predicted that US-Turkish relations would further deteriorate.

"If Turkey continues its offensive [against the SDF] it will face a tougher response from the US. The relationship between the two allies is getting worse. To complicate matters further, besides the Kurdish issue there are other contradictions which are unlikely to be solved [by the US and Turkey] in the near future," Glazova told Nezavisimaya Gazeta.
HANGZHOU (Sputnik)  Putuin also said that Turkey has been facing a terrorist threat.

"We are glad that Turkey is now back on track toward living a normal political life," Putin said as he met President Erdogan ahead of the G20 summit in east China.

"We see that Turkey has been through difficult times, fighting against terrorism and facing serious terrorist crimes," the Russian leader continued.
Prior to giving warnings to Beijing, the US policymakers should weigh the pros and cons of such a possibility, the Australian academic notes.

The academic points out that "there is little chance of a quick, cheap, clean victory" for Washington in the event of the Sino-American military conflict. Moreover, the conflict would deal a heavy blow to the US economy and would be far worse than the Global Financial Crisis of 2008. Needless to say, the American electorate would hardly endorse such developments.

After the end of the Cold War the had enjoyed its position as an uncontested military hegemon facing a little if any risk in key regions like Asia, Europe and the Middle East.

However, the situation has changed and now the US is facing "a classic contest of power politics as it seeks to defend its place in the regional order against a very formidable rival" in Asia.

White asks: Could America remain secure and prosperous at home without being the dominant power in Asia and is that dominance so important as to justify the immense cost of a war with China?

The professor believes that Washington should be very careful about issuing warnings to China about its willingness to use armed forces in the South China Sea.

"If it is not willing to go to war, it should stop bluffing," the Australian academic stresses.

"And if it is, it should make that absolutely and unmistakably clear, so that Beijing can be in no doubt. The present ambiguity about America's resolve is the most dangerous possible situation," he adds.
The White House said in a statement that the two presidents had "a candid exchange" on the recent Hague tribunal ruling that denied Chinas claim to South China Sea resources and said it violated the sovereign rights of the Philippines.

"The President [Obama] reaffirmed that the United States will work with all countries in the region to uphold the principles of international law, unimpeded lawful commerce, and freedom of navigation and overflight," the statement read.
"The Prime Ministers view is that we should approach this in a hard-headed way, recognising that is in the interests of the UK to seek to work with Russia on issues around security that can affect people here at home, but recognising the many issues where we would disagree in the relationship," the source said as quoted by the Independent newspaper.

In August, Putin and May held their first phone conversation discussing the current level of bilateral ties.
In an article titled Erdogan tells US: Stop backing the Kurds and carried by DEBKAfile, the outlet reports that:

An all-out Turkish-Kurdish war has boiled over in northern Syria since the Turkish army crossed the border last Wednesday, Aug. 24 for the avowed aim of fighting the Islamic State and pushing the Syrian Kurdish YPG militia back. Instead of falling back, the Kurds went on the offensive and are taking a hammering. This raging confrontation has stalled the US-led coalition offensive against ISIS and put on indefinite hold any US plans for campaigns to drive the jihadists out of their Syrian and Iraqi capitals of Raqqa and Mosul.

The piece then goes on to describe how:
Kerrys visit took place at the same time as the Indian Defense Minister and his American counterpart signed the long-awaited Logistics Support Agreement in Washington which opened Indian territory up to US military assets under certain circumstances.

As for Bangladesh, the country was hit by a high-profile terrorist attack earlier this summer, which the government blamed on domestic terrorists but the US suggested  might have been Daesh.

As John Kerry sought to tie the security and economic structures of these two South Asian neighbors closer into the US orbit, he risked upsetting China and making this whole visit look like the opening of a new containment front against Beijing.
VLADIVOSTOK (Russia), (Sputnik)  Passenger traffic of Russia's airlines is likely to decrease by 10 percent in 2016, but resumption of charter flights to Turkey and potential renewal of flights to Egypt could mitigate the losses, Russian Minister of Transport Maxim Sokolov told Sputnik Saturday.

"The domestic market has increased, according to up-to-date data by 6 percent. But because of catastrophic decline of international transport operations, the correction will reach some 10 percent," Sokolov said in an interview.

He added that the resumption of charter flights to Turkey and possible restoration of flights to and from Egypt could improve the situation, but the overall operations' volume would decrease anyway.
On September 2, after negotiations with the former Head of Ingushetia, Ruslan Aushev released 25 women and children. On September 3, shooting and explosions started inside the school and security officials were forced to begin their assault operation.

Most of the hostages were released but 334 people were killed, including 186 children. More than 800 people were injured. The militants were killed; one survivor was sentenced to death, instead of receiving life imprisonment. The responsibility for the attack was claimed by the international terrorist Shamil Basayev (killed in 2006).

Twelve years have passed since Beslan tragedy took place on September 1, 2004. However, in these 12 years, some Western media have tried to justify the actions of the terrorists that day, even calling them rebels and guerrillas.

In conversation with Sputnik Italia, Ennio Bordato an honorary citizen of Beslan and the President of Help Us Save the Children Association [Aiutateci a salvare i bambini] described why it is important to remember this fateful day.

On September 4, 2004 we arrived in Moscow and contacted Beslan through a mother of one of the children lying in a hematology unit. Thanks to the authorities of the Autonomous Province of Trento [Provincia autonoma di Trento] we started our first project. We brought 33 children and 30 adults for two months to Italy from Beslan, Bortado said.

He further noted, A difficult episode started from 2005 to 2010 when a team of psychologists from the University of Padua (Universita di Padova) started working in Beslan. This project of psychological assistance ended in the release of 1000 DVDs with recommendations to overcome post-traumatic stress disorder.

Bortado added that the association is still active in Belsan as it is in touch with the city administration and in particular with the victims who came to Trento.

I believe that this terrible event should be seen with a broader view, to understand its full significance. What happened in Beslan was the first step to what is now called Daesh. This was an attempt to force Muslims to fight against Christians and to perceive Russia as the main enemy, the association president said.
When asked whether tensions between US and China in the Asia-Pacific region could affect relations between other regional players and if the North Korean nuclear problem could ensure dialogue between all political forces in the region, Rudd said that the region was full of bilateral political tensions and territorial disputes, but was also characterized by growing economic integration.

There are certain political dilemmas in the region that cant be resolved in the foreseeable future, but there are common security challenges that can be resolved. The commonality of interests between Japan, South Korea, the US, China and Russia on bringing about an end to North Korean nuclear weapons program demands concerted diplomatic efforts on the part of all these countries, he said.

Mentioning Australias decision to nearly double its defense spending over the next decade, Kevin Rudd said that there was no particular security threat whatsoever but added that for a country of 25 million people to defend a coastline of 37,000 kilometers was tricky.

Every country takes its national security issues very seriously, Russia does and we do too. Its more about establishing long-term credibility as a country prepared to defend its territorial integrity against unknown future scenarios, Kevin Rudd emphasized.

Speaking about the upcoming G20 Summit in China and the contribution it could make to global economic development, Kevin Rusdd said: First, we need to stop the introduction of further protectionist measures that are bad for the global economy. Now we have global trade no longer leading global economic growth. Global economic growth is currently about 3 percent and global trade growth is 2.9 percent. Historically, global economic trade was two or three times the size of global trade, but now it is pulling backwards, Kevin Rudd noted.

The second thing the G20 can do, he added, is look for new drivers of global growth: infrastructure, the digital economy and green economy. Growth in the global green economy each year is about three times that of global growth, running at about 8.5 percent.

What is lacking here is finance. We need to put finance behind projects that produce renewable energy or reduce the consumption of conventional energy and are a new driver of growth for the future, he noted.

He also pointed to the role of digital finance in developing medium and small businesses across the world, particularly in areas with no access to major markets.
The Turkish President expressed his thanks to Russia for taking the steps to expand commercial relations once more. "First of all, I want to express my gratitude. Yes, charter flights have indeed restarted and the first flight took off yesterday (Friday)," said Erdogan.

"We see that Turkey is going through hard times. We are pleased that the political situation is returning to normal," said Putin. "We are aware that the country is fighting against terror and facing serious threats. Once the normalization is fully achieved, we will be able to move forward more quickly."

The two parties further discussed the development of joint projects in the energy sector. "There will be an opportunity to discuss energy issues, due to some developments in this area," explained Erdogan.
VLADIVOSTOK (Sputnik)  The robots-assistants designed by the Russian Promobot company may soon enter the Arab and Japanese markets, Oleg Kivokurtsev, co-founder of the Perm-based company, told Sputnik on the sidelines of the Eastern Economic Forum (EEF) in Vladivostok.

"In October, there will be a presentation of the third generation of the robots [Promobot V.3]. With this generation of robots, we plan to enter the Arab market. When we were at the presentation in Dubai, one of the sheikhs of Saudi Arabia got interested in our robot. He said it was the best solution he had ever seen. His only question was whether the robot could bow down to him," Kivokurtsev said.

He added that the sheikh was ready to buy the robot at the price of $50,000, while the average price of Promobots ranges between $7,000 and $8,000.
MOSCOW (Sputnik)  The majority of the citizens of Russia and South Korea are confident about the prospects of strategic partnership between the two countries, according to a poll conducted by the Russian Public Opinion Research Center (VTsIOM) and the Korean Hankuk University of Foreign Studies.

"Majority of residents of the two countries believe that the partnership between Russia and the Republic of Korea is not only possible, but could also be beneficial. Thus, 66 percent of Russians and 77 percent of Koreans believe that strategic partnership between the two countries is possible, and 56 percent and 72 percent respectively believe that this partnership will be beneficial for their country," the poll said.
The FBI report states Clinton said she never deleted nor instructed anyone to delete her emails to avoid complying with the US Federal Records Act, Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) or State Department or FBI requests for information. Clinton had erased 33,000 emails that she claimed were personal. Moreover, the FBI report confirmed that hostile foreign actors gained access to Clintons emails through accounts of people she corresponded with.

Trump noted his shock in seeing how Clintons answers to the FBI differed from what Clinton has said in public.

"After reading these documents, I really don't understand how she was able to get away from prosecution."

In July, FBI Director James Comey described Clintons use of the private email server for official business as the US top diplomat as extremely careless, but did not recommend criminal charges against her.
Anderson told the International Business Times that he believes Weiner is a sex addict, and that he must feel very alone.

This is a serious and sincere offer as we wish to appoint Anthony Weiner our first-ever, love and sex columnist for Porn.com.

Anderson explained that Weiner, would offer advice, as well as comment on trends in porn, as well as rate his favorite adult films.

Weiner has been offered a job in the porn industry before, notably after his first sex scandal, by porn legend Larry Flynt.

This offer is not made in jest. To show our sincerity, Flynt Management Group, LLC is willing to pay twenty percent more than your former Congressional salary, ensuring that your medical benefits would be equal to what you were previously receiving. While you will have to relocate to our corporate offices in Beverly Hills, California, we would pay for all relocation costs, Flynt wrote in the Huffington Post at the time.

Weiners wife Abedin has worked closely with Clinton since the 1990s, during Bill Clintons presidency. She has stayed by the former First Ladys side ever since.

Weiners sexual scandals were chronicled in a now-popular documentary called Weiner, in which Abedins contempt for her likely soon-to-be-ex-husband was impossible to miss.
"Were talking about big, big effects on undecided voters because people trust Google so much, and because people assume, mistakenly, that what theyre seeing on screen is being determined by an impartial or objective search algorithm and that is simply not true."

Loud & Clear host Brian Becker asked how Google biases searches, noting that "theres an assumption of neutrality," and, "the assumption of integrity."

"Google edits its search suggestions in a way that they say prevents negative searches from occuring when youre searching people," he said, adding that "even the FTC in the Unites States has found that Google slants what it shows people in a way that serves the company."

"Theres nothing illegal about that," he pointed out, "so we shouldnt be shocked by it. Ethically, morally, we might note that its a threat to a free and fair election, but its not illegal."

Epstein described a "revolving door" between Google and the White House, pointing out that 250 top executives have swapped positions between the company and the Obama Administration over the last seven years. He said that if Hillary Clinton becomes president, "theres no question that that collaboration is going to continue or become closerI think its something we should worry about. There needs to be a separation between government and industry."
While serving as public advocate In 2013, DeBlasio released a "transparency report card," giving the NYPD a failing grade for public disclosure. One of his recommendations was for city agencies to "proactively disclose frequently requested dat" which would require them to "mandate online publishing of the most commonly-sought information. Proactive disclosure will save time and resources by posting minutes, public schedules and license data online for easy access."

DeBlasios report card caused transparency groups to applaud his stance on accountability. Susan Lerner, executive director of Common Cause NY remarked, "The public loses out when government agencies suppress the disclosure of relevant information. Democracy demands accountability. adding that her organization urges all City agencies to tighten their procedures so that FOIL [Freedom of Information Law] requests no longer fall "between the cracks.'"

Police spokesman, Deputy Chief Edward Mullen, said the change occurred when "someone" in the NYPDs legal department discovered that they had been giving out information that they were not required to.

Christopher Dunn, associate legal director for the New York Civil Liberties Union, said the sudden shift is policy "is a troubling example of the NYPD becoming more secret and thus less accountable."
Former CIA analyst and activist Ray McGovern told Radio Sputnik's Brian Becker that Hillary Clinton's speech is very similar to one given by Dick Cheney 14 years ago, at a similar venue, in which he attempted to justify the attack on Iraq, only now it is Russia that is being blamed.

During her speech Clinton reasserted claims that Russia was behind the hack on the Democratic National Committee (DNC), although there was no evidence provided, adding that Moscow's purported involvement should be regarded as a "direct military strike against the United States."

"This reminds me of before Iraq, when she sang the same tune," McGovern said during Becker's Loud & Clear broadcast. "It's really giving hypocrisy a bad name."
MOSCOW (Sputnik)  Fresno police were alerted to an active shooter situation in the main lobby of the Fresno County Jail at 8:39 a.m. (15:39 GMT) on Saturday, according to the statement.

"Two Sheriff's employees were injured and taken to the hospital, their conditions are unknown. One suspect has been taken into custody," the Fresno County Sheriff's Office said on Facebook.

An investigation is ongoing into the shooting, with more details to be released throughout the day, the sheriff's office said.
"CCG will continue to work with industry in the coming months to ensure scheduled vessel traffic can move into and out of Arctic waters and community harbours safely and efficiently."

At present, six CCG icebreakers and five helicopters operate in the Arctic region, providing support to some 100 vessels every day, according to the Canadian authorities.
PRAGUE (Sputnik)  The international conference on post-Cold War European security on September 16-18 will be attended by former heavyweights who shaped the political landscape not so long ago.

"Mikhail Gorbachev will come to Prague to participate in the international conference on the post-Cold War security," Milan Sirucek, one of its organizers, as well as a prominent Czech writer and journalist, told RIA Novosti.

He said the 85-year-old would also take part in the final press conference and then meet with Czech President Zeman at his official summer residence, Lany Chateau.
A M5.6 earthquake struck near Pawnee, Oklahoma on September 3, 2016.

According to press reports the quake was felt virtually across the entire midwest, from North Dakota through Houston. Thats a 1,300 mile stretch!

At 7:02:44 am local time, a major, M5.6 earthquake hit 14km northwest of Pawnee, Oklahoma. It rattled a swath of the Great Plains, from Kansas City, Missouri, to central Oklahoma. It was the strongest quake to hit Oklahoma in years.

Immediate Facebook post reports indicated pictures fell off walls as far away as Tulsa. Others felt it in Norman and Wewoka in Seminole County. It lasted roughly 15 seconds. Saturday mornings earthquake is the largest in Oklahoma since a 5.6 magnitude quake near Prague. That quake was followed by 10 aftershocks.

According to press reports the quake was felt virtually across the entire midwest, from North Dakota through Houston  a 1,300 mile stretch.

Aftershocks lasted for several minutes according to the USGS.

Very substantial earthquake with aftershocks going on for several minutes. More information to follow.  USGS in Oklahoma (@USGS_Oklahoma) September 3, 2016

The quake was especially felt in Oklahoma City, while residents as far as Dallas said the shaking continued for at least 10 seconds. The earthquake was shallow, with a focus just 4.1 miles below the surface; such quakes convey more energy to the land surface; as the USGS notes the recent quake in Italy started at a 10km depth.

What is notable about the quake is that in recent months as a result of the decline in fracking, the number of quakes especially in the Dallas region, had declined significantly.

Its not yet clear whether the earthquake caused any injuries or damage. Earthquakes hit Oklahoma frequently, but they are typically below 4.0 magnitude and rarely are felt in the northeast part of the state, according to Tulsa World.

People in Kansas City, Missouri, Fayetteville, Arkansas, and Norman, Oklahoma, all reported feeling the earthquake at about 7:05 a.m. Saturday.

Another M5.6 quake rattled 103km W of Ferndale, California on September 3, 2016 and a M3.1 tremor hit Nevada a few hours later.

Something big in coming in. Get ready for the worse to come!

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America's Approach To Somalia Has Failed. It Now Has Two Options

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One of the most momentous decisions the United States made after 9/11 was to go on the offensive against violent extremists, seeking to cut them off at their source. This was to be done by helping governments in the Islamic world provide prosperity, security, justice and a sense of national identity. While sound in theory, this forced the U.S. to work with deeply flawed partners and repeatedly crashed against three problems. First, extremists, appropriating or misappropriating religious themes and local grievances, are often deeply ingrained in the societies where they operate, whether by ethnicity, clan, tribe or religion. Second, political elites and security forces in the troubled nations that produce violent extremists are hindered by parochialism and corruption despite exhortations from their American advisers. And third, neighboring states with their own security concerns often complicate things by intervening or providing sanctuary for extremists.
Wisdom of the Crowd: 55 % of respondents said that the Trust Bak set up by Fairprice will not be profitable as there are already too many d...
After Clark County Republican leaders last weekend voted not to endorse Southwest Washington Congresswoman Jaime Herrera Beutlers re-election bid, the partys chairman said the decision goes back to credibility and showing leadership.

Herrera Beutler, a Camas-area Republican, is seeking her fourth two-year term representing the 3rd District, which includes Cowlitz, Lewis, Wahkiakum, Pacific and Clark counties. Clark County by far has the largest number of voters in the district.

Clark County Republican Party chairman Kenny Smith said the dissatisfaction with congressional decision making, and the increasing national debt, led to the GOPs precinct committee officers ultimately voting against endorsing Herrera Beutler last Saturday.

They didnt feel like people should bring out the pom poms and cheer her on just because shes a Republican, Smith said. I respect that.

Smith said there was some discussion about Herrera Beutler sitting on the fence about whether she endorses GOP presidential nominee Donald Trump, but he said hes unsure of how much it played a role in anybodys decision.

I think in general, PCOs have wished that candidates would support our nominee, he said.

The 60 or so Clark County PCOs endorsed most Republican candidates for state and federal offices, including Trump. They voted against endorsing Herrera Beutler and state Sen. Ann Rivers, a Republican who represents the 18th Legislative District, which covers northern and eastern Clark County. But they also unanimously opposed Jim Moeller, Herrera Beutlers Democratic challenger.

I think its just another signal that there needs to be a change in leadership at the congressional level, Moeller said of the Clark GOPss action. Even her own party doesnt want her.

Smith said a major sticking point with Herrera Beutler was the rising federal debt, which has nearly doubled to $19.5 trillion since President Barack Obama took office in 2009.

Smith said Herrera Beutler has voted for omnibus spending bills that have contributed to the problem. He said while he believes the PCOs personally like the congresswoman and will vote for her, he said endorsing her is another matter.

I think its a matter of integrity among the PCOs to say, Yeah OK, we love Jaime. We want people to vote for her. But to give our stamp of approval for the votes that shes taken thats contributed to the mess were in, we just cant go that far.

Herrera-Beutler won 55 percent of the vote in the Aug. 2 primary, more than twice Mollers percentage. Amy Pennington, spokeswoman for Herrera Beutler, said party members did not represent the majority of voters in the area.

A tiny group of activists made a poor decision that doesnt reflect the views of most Republicans or most Southwest Washingtonians, Pennington said by email. It has zero impact on anything Jaime is doing. She was honored to receive the support of a large majority of voters in this years primary election who recognize Jaimes hard work to faithfully serve all of Southwest Washington.

Cowlitz County Republican Party chairman Arne Mortensen said there hasnt been a motion from Cowlitz County PCOs to endorse Herrera Beutler. He said if there were one in the future, he would expect such a motion will swing one way or the other narrowly.

The Clark County Republican Party has excellent leadership, Mortensen wrote. They are focused on values and not personalities.

Smith said he has received many more calls from voters supporting the PCOs decision than opposing it.

Wahkiakum County Republican Party chairman Tom Blalock said while he agrees conservative voters are dissatisfied with Congress, he doesnt believe that blame should fall on Herrera Beutler.

Were all very unhappy with the fact that Barack Obama seems to do whatever he wants, but you would think we would have more control over what he does than that, Blalock said. I think thats had a lot to do with the way the (presidential) election is turning out.

Clark County Republicans hesitancy to back Herrera Beutler is in contrast to the state partys wholehearted support for her, said Susan Hutchison, the Republican Party state chairwoman.

I just want to be very, very clear that the Republican Party supports Jaime Herrera Beutler. Shes proven herself among the voters, Hutchison said. Her voting record is 100 percent better than what her Democratic opponents would be.
The Winlock High School junior who suffered a brain aneurysm and stroke at school in February returned to school for the first time Tuesday. But hes had another setback.

Two weeks ago, doctors found a second aneurysm growing in the brain of Salvador Ivan Rodriguez. Fearing that it may burst, theyve scheduled him for another surgery on Wednesday, according to this parents.

His parents had been encouraged by his recovery after he left the hospital earlier this year, despite the fact that his kidneys had failed four times and his vital signs flat-lined twice during his stay. He was in ICU for nearly a month and lost 40 pounds.

He has his bad days with the brain damage and the shaking he has, his mother, Dana Rodriguez de Orellana, said Friday.

Ivan has struggled to overcome short-term memory loss, shaking, and loss of vision in his left eye. Hes also been to the doctors several times for further studies on his abnormal liver function.

Hes been so successful after surgery, up walking, talking and remembering things, Orellana said.

After recovering from his first aneurysm, Ivan was in an individualized education program for his Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, and his parents were already meeting with school officials to discuss how and when he might return. Doctors discovered the new aneurysm after Ivan complained of head pain and other symptoms.

Ivan returned to school on Winlock High Schools first day class and is attending part-time as his health allows. Its hard to tell when hell be able to return after next weeks surgery, his mother said.

Those interested in helping Ivans family pay his medical bills and living expenses can donate through the Wishing for a miracle for Salvador Gofundme page.

Please, pray for my child that God will lay his hands on him and see him through the roughness he is about to face, Orellana wrote on an update posted to the crowdfunding site. And give him strength to heal with no further permanent damage.

Meanwhile, Orellana is still pursuing her masters in business administration. She has four classes left before she can graduate.

I hope to just be helpful somewhere, said Orellana said, who also works full time and takes care of three children. She speaks Spanish and loves to crunch numbers, and she wants to be able to combine those things to help the Latino community. Someday in the future I want to open my own business.
Nearly 200 people stood outside Mary Janes Glass Shop on Friday afternoon. Raindrops dotted their camera phone screens. Anxious banter and cigarette smoke filled the air.

They were eager to meet rapper Snoop Dogg, who visited the Commerce Avenue glass shop to sign autographs, pose with fans and smoke a joint.

Shop owners were tight-lipped about how much they spent to bring the internationally known performer to the promotional event, which was only open to 40 ticket holders who paid $100 each.

Outside the shop, Ruth Demos, 45, dressed her best for the occasion. She wore a green, knee-length dress with matching jewelry. Her curly hair was pinned back with a green flower.

I love me some cannabis, said Demos, a budtender at Main Street Marijuana. This is my celebrity dress. I only wear it for special occasions.

She said she purchased her ticket as her 45th birthday gift to herself.

I consider him a cannabis icon, and Im proud to be in this industry, she said. Im really glad prohibition is almost over.

Snoop Dogg quickly rose to fame in the early 90s after the release of his first album in 1993. Marijuana has been part of his brand since the beginning of his rap career, and he has his own line of marijuana flowers, concentrates and edibles called Leafs By Snoop.

Snoop Dogg arrived in Longview fashionably late Friday  about 90 minutes later than scheduled. But that didnt dull the mood. Once his bus pulled up to the store, fans chanted Snoop.

Terrance Miracle and his girlfriend, Rebecca Casciato, stood near Demos. Casciato, 28, also works as a budtender at Main Street Marijuana.

Miracle said he and his girlfriend prepared for the day by smoking a joint before coming to the event.

I think its awesome, Casciato said of Snoops visit. Hes a huge weed icon, and Ive listened to Snoop forever.

I grew up listening to Snoop, Miracle added.

Terease Nisbet, 47, stood outside with her 9-year-old son Matthew. Nisbet wasnt among ticket holders. She came simply to catch a glimpse of Snoop walking into the store.

I look up to him, Nisbet said of the rapper. He is what he is. He doesnt hide it, and I dont think people should hide it.

Snoop quickly walked from his bus inside the store, flanked by bodyguards who led him down a short red carpet. Once inside, fans were quickly organized into a line to pose with Snoop for a photo. Afterward, they could use the $100 they spent on their tickets toward merchandise at the shop.

On their way out of the shop, customers could grab a non-infused edible. The candies  which included caramel-filled chocolates, turtles, peanut butter cups, candy snowballs and smores  were made by Honu, Inc., a shop on Industrial Way that sells edibles. Mary Janes House of Glass doesnt sell marijuana, only a variety of locally made glass pieces used for smoking the plant.

People were all smiles during the photo taking, but many expressed disappointment afterward at not being able to spend more time with the music mogul.

It was rather cursory, said Alex DeSemple, 18, of Vancouver.

Still, DeSemple said meeting the rapper was worth it.

Hes a household name, he said. Its exciting to see him because hes a household name.

Elizabeth Madison, 18, of Longview agreed that the event was rushed and said she feels the store falsely advertised the appearance.

It said shop with Snoop,  she said, expressing her disappointment over only getting a photo.

However, she said she enjoyed the opportunity to see one of her favorite celebrities.

I grew up listening to his music, she said.

Ember Smith, 21, said she appreciated Snoop taking the time to visit Longview. A fan of his music, Smith said she attended his concert Thursday night in Ridgefield at the Sunlight Supply Amphitheater.

Hes such a real person, she said.

After meeting him, she added: Hes everything I expected he would be.
Buyers of Washington state hunting and fishing licenses whose personal information may have been compromised by a data breach will be notified and will receive identity protection services, the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife announced.

ACTIVE Network, the departments online hunting and fishing license sales vendor, has agreed to mail information as soon as possible to an estimated 1.5 million WDFW customers who created customer profiles in the license system before July 2006, said Peter Vernie, WDFW Licensing Division manager.

Personal information for approximately 2.4 million license buyers may have been compromised in the breach, but fewer people will be notified, WDFW officials said. For example, some former customers have died, while others profiles do not include enough information to enable the vendor to contact them.

The state did not report Friday now many license holders from the local area may have been compromised.

Vernie said ACTIVE Network also has agreed to provide a customer call center and identity protection services to those whose data was potentially compromised. Details of those services will be provided in the notification letters.

About two weeks ago, fish and wildlife agencies in Washington, Idaho, and Oregon, received messages from a person who claimed to have accessed customer data in the three states systems, which are all operated by ACTIVE Network.

Investigation by WDFW, the state Office of Cyber Security (OCS), and federal law enforcement agencies, confirmed that Washingtons system vulnerability had been exploited to access personal information provided by customers who bought licenses before mid-2006. Information added to those accounts since then is also vulnerable, investigators reported.

Vulnerable information for Washington customers includes names, addresses, dates of birth, and the last four digits of their Social Security numbers. Some customers drivers license numbers also were accessed, but there is no indication that credit card or other financial data was exposed, WDFW officials said.

At this time, investigators do not believe personal data is at risk for customers who made their first license purchase after June 2006. About 60 percent of WDFWs 6.6 million license customers fall into this category.

A statement today from ACTIVE Network said within 15 hours of learning of the incident, the vendor conducted a full security sweep of the system and released an update designed to address the reported threat. The company said it also arranged for a review by an independent, highly regarded cybersecurity firm.

WDFW halted online license sales on Aug. 22 and suspended all license transactions the following day, while information technology specialists investigated the incident and the systems security.

The department restored sales through its network of about 600 retail vendors on Saturday, Aug. 27, and resumed telephone sales through its customer service center on Monday, Aug. 29. In both cases, OCS, WDFW, and external IT specialists tested the systems repeatedly to ensure their security. Vendor and telephone sales account for more than 80 percent of total license sales.

The investigation into the data breach is ongoing, and online license sales remain suspended. Additional information, including advice for people who are concerned about the security of their personal data, is available on WDFWs website at http://wdfw.wa.gov/licensing/wild_system/.
This new galaxy cluster discovered using NASAs Chandra X-ray observatory has break nearly all records of distance. According to scientists, it is the most distant galaxy cluster they have ever spotted. The galaxy cluster named CL J1001+0220 (or CL J1001 for short) is located nearly 11.1 billion light-years away from Earth.

The cluster contains 11 galaxies and nine of them are witnessing rampant star births. For scientists, it is a remarkable site as not only the galaxy cluster is farthest ever observed but it is giving birth to stars at an unprecedented rate.

Lead researcher Tao Wang from French Alternative Energies and Atomic Energy Commission (CEA) said, this galaxy cluster isnt just remarkable for its distance, its also going through an amazing growth spurt unlike any weve ever seen.

Apparently, the galaxy cluster CL J1001 is a newly born cluster and is in early stages of evolution said scientists at NASA while explaining about the galaxies. Since the galaxy is located 11.1 billion light years away from Earth, it will help researchers in developing a better understanding of how galaxies evolved in the past.

In addition, galaxies should be tightly packed together to become a galaxy cluster and CL J1001 is one of the best examples of how galaxies get bound together by gravitational forces is early stages of evolution. Scientists are amazed to see how such young galaxies have formed a cluster and they want to study it thoroughly.

Previously, researchers believed that fully grown up galaxies form clusters. Observing this galaxy cluster revealed that more stars form after the cluster is made and galaxies join a cluster when they are isolated and mostly empty.

We think were going to learn a lot about the formation of clusters and the galaxies they contain by studying this object, said co-author Alexis Finoguenov of the University of Helsinki in Finland, and were going to be searching hard for other examples.

Moreover, Chandra X-ray Observatory (CXO) is a space observatory launched by NASA on July 23, 1999. It is nearly 100 times more sensitive to X-rays when compared to all other previous detectors. The telescope is named after astrophysicist Subrahmanyan Chandrasekhar. It has a lens that measures 1.2 meter in diameter and the CXO completes one revolution of Earth in 64 hours.

The study appeared in the Astrophysical Journal.

https://youtu.be/oadaCUr45oE
Family asked to meet Mir Quasem as his execution looms

Online Desk -The prison authorities here have asked the family of death-row war crimes convict Jamaat-e-Islami leader Mir Quasem Ali to meet him at Kashimpur Jail this (Saturday) afternoon as his execution looms following his decision not to seek clemency. Mir Quashem's family sources said the Department of Prisons sent them a letter around 9am asking them to meet him at the jail at 3:30pm. The letter mentioned that 22-23 visitors can meet him at the jail. His family members are now on the way to the jail. Besides, Additional Inspector General of Prisons Iqbal Hassan entered the Kashimpur jail around 2:00pm, said senior jail super Prashanta Kumar Banik. Earlier, the jail authorities started the process of hanging Mir Quasem Ali As per the Supreme Court verdict following his decision not to seek presidential mercy. Security in and around Kashimpur Central Jail has been beefed up over the imminent execution. Law enforcers were deployed in front of the jail gate with an increased number of regular jail guards. Besides, leave of all jail officials and employees has been cancelled. A team of hangmen, led by Shahjahan, is also ready. Doctors on Friday examined Mir Quasem's health at the Condemned Cell-40. However, the jail authorities could not say for sure when the verdict will be executed. Quasem informed his decision not to seek presidential clemency to the prison authorities around 3:30pm on Friday, said Kasimpur Jail super Prashanta Kumar Banik. The copy of the Supreme Court verdict rejecting the review plea of Mir Quasem reached the jail from Dhaka Central Jail in Keraniganj around 12:45am on Wednesday. On Tuesday, the top court upheld the death penalty for Quasem for the crimes he committed against humanity during the Liberation War in 1971. The International Crimes Tribunal-2 sentenced Mir Quasem, the Al-Badr chief in the port city of Chittagong in 1971, to death on November 02, 2014. On November 30, 2014, he filed an appeal with the SC challenging the death penalty. -Gazipur, Sept 3 (UNB)
Family members meet Mir Quasem at Kashimpur jail

Online Desk: The family members of death-row war crimes convict Jamaat-e-Islami leader Mir Quasem Ali met him Kashimpur Jail on Saturday as his execution looms following his decision not to seek clemency. Thirty-eight family members of Mir Quasem coming in six vehicles reached the jail gate around 3.35pm. They spent one hour and 23 minutes with him and got out of it around 6:08 pm, the jail sources said. Earlier in the morning, the prison authorities asked the family of Mir Quasem Ali to meet him. Meanwhile, six platoons of BGB members were deployed in Dhaka while four platoons in Gazipur to strengthen security ahead of Mir Quasem`s execution, said sources at the BGB Headquarters. Mir Quashem's family sources said the Department of Prisons sent them a letter around 9am asking them to meet him at the jail at 3:30pm. The letter mentioned that 22-23 visitors can meet him at the jail. Besides, Additional Inspector General of Prisons Iqbal Hassan entered the Kashimpur jail around 2:00pm, said senior jail super Prashanta Kumar Banik. Earlier, the jail authorities started the process of hanging Mir Quasem Ali as per the Supreme Court verdict following his decision not to seek presidential mercy. Security in and around Kashimpur Central Jail has already been beefed up over the imminent execution. Law enforcers were deployed in front of the jail gate with an increased number of regular jail guards. Besides, the leave of all jail officials and employees has been cancelled. A team of hangmen, led by Shahjahan, is also ready. Doctors on Friday examined Mir Quasem's health at the Condemned Cell-40. However, the jail authorities could not say for sure when the verdict will be executed. Quasem informed his decision not to seek presidential clemency to the prison authorities around 3:30pm on Friday. The copy of the Supreme Court verdict rejecting the review plea of Mir Quasem reached the jail from Dhaka Central Jail in Keraniganj around 12:45am on Wednesday. On Tuesday, the top court upheld the death penalty for Quasem for the crimes he committed against humanity during the Liberation War in 1971. The International Crimes Tribunal-2 sentenced Mir Quasem, the Al-Badr chief in the port city of Chittagong in 1971, to death on November 02, 2014. On November 30, 2014, he filed an appeal with the SC challenging the death penalty. --Gazipur, Sept 3 (UNB)
Russia, Japan vow to resolve island row

Russian President Vladimir Putin (L) and Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe visit an oceanarium on Russky Island before attending the Eastern Economic Forum in Vladivostok, Russia on Saturday.

Reuters, Russia :Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and Russian President Vladimir Putin on Saturday spoke of their joint resolve to settle once and for all a territorial row over a string of tiny islands that has marred ties for more than seven decades.In a speech delivered at a business conference in the Russian port city of Vladivostok, with Putin in attendance, Abe urged Putin to work with him to solve the dispute."As the leader of Japan, I am firmly convinced of the correctness of the Japanese position, while you, Vladimir, as the leader of Russia, are entirely confident of the correctness of the Russian position," Abe said."Yet, if we continue on like this, this very same discussion will continue for yet more decades to come. By leaving the situation as it is, neither you nor I will be able to leave better possibilities to future generations."Japan claims a string of Russia-controlled western Pacific islands, called the Northern Territories in Japan and Southern Kuriles in Russia.The territorial row over the island chain, seized by Soviet troops at the end of World War Two, has upset diplomatic relations ever since, precluding a formal peace treaty between the two countries.Putin said he was ready to take decisive steps to settle the dispute, though he cautioned that those steps could only be taken after careful preparation."The past should not be an obstacle to moving forward," Putin said during a question-and-answer session at the forum, where he shared the stage with Abe."We have to think how to get rid of problems which do not allow us to move forward.""I hope that we can solve these problems. In order to solve them we of course need a level of trust. It's a tricky solution but we can achieve it."On Friday, the Japanese prime minister held talks with Putin and agreed to have two more summit meetings by the end of the year to accelerate peace treaty negotiations."Vladimir, in order to carve out towards the future bilateral relations overflowing with unlimited potential, I am resolved to putting forth all my strength to advance the relationship between Japan and Russia, together with you," Abe said.Abe's father, Shintaro Abe, worked to resolve the dispute in the 1980s as foreign minister.Concessions over the islands would carry risks for Putin but could boost Japanese investment in Russia at a time when Moscow, battered by low global oil prices and Western sanctions, badly needs an injection of cash."The economies of Russia and Japan are not in rivalry. I am fully confident that ours is a relationship in which each complements the other in a magnificent way," Abe said.
Obama urges China to stop flexing muscles over South China Sea

Barack Obama urged China avoid flexing its muscles over issues like the South China Sea.

Reuters, Washington :

China needs to be a more responsible power as it gains global influence and avoid flexing its muscles in disputes with smaller countries over issues like the South China Sea, U.S. President Barack Obama told CNN in an interview to be aired on Sunday.

Obama, who meets with President Xi Jinping at a G20 summit next week in China, told CNN the United States supports the peaceful rise of China but that Beijing had to recognize that "with increasing power comes increasing responsibilities," according to excerpts released on Friday.

"If you sign a treaty that calls for international arbitration around maritime issues, the fact that you're bigger than the Philippines or Vietnam or other countries ... is not a reason for you to go around and flex your muscles," Obama said. "You've got to abide by international law."

China, a signatory to the U.N. Convention on the Law of the Sea, recently lost an arbitration dispute over the South China Sea. A court in the Hague found China had no historic title over the waters of the South China Sea and had infringed on the rights of the Philippines. Beijing has rejected the ruling.

Obama said Washington had urged Beijing to bind itself to international rules and norms to help build a strong international order.

"Where we see them violating international rules and norms, as we have seen in some cases in the South China Sea or in some of their behavior when it comes to economic policy, we've been very firm," Obama told CNN. "And we've indicated to them that there will be consequences."

The U.S. president said China could not expect to "pursue mercantilist policies that just advantage" itself now that China has become a more affluent, middle-income country.

"Even though you still have a lot of poor people, you know, you can't just export problems. You've got to have fair trade and not just free trade," Obama said. "You have to open up your markets if you expect other people to open up their markets."

Barack Obama Says Security Ties With Turkey Undiminished Since Coup Bid

World | Reuters | U

Washington: U.S. President Barack Obama said security relations with Turkey have not diminished as a result of a failed Turkish coup attempt in mid-July, according to excerpts of an interview with CNN to be broadcast on Sunday.

"We haven't seen a diminishing effect on our security relations. Turkey continues to be a strong NATO ally," Obama said.

"They are working with us to defeat ISIL and are an important partner on a whole range of security issues in the region," he said, using an acronym for ISIS.
Duterte declares `state of lawlessness` after Philippine blast kills 14

Rodrigo Duterte cancelled his first foreign trip to Brunei following a deadly blast in Philippene.

Reuters, Manila :Philippines' President Rodrigo Duterte declared on Saturday a "state of lawlessness" in the country after an explosion in a market killed 14 people in his home city while he was on a regular weekend visit there.Duterte, the crime-busting mayor of Davao City for more than two decades, said the blast late on Friday outside a high-end hotel intensified what was an "extraordinary time" in the Philippines, and security forces would redouble efforts to tackle crime, drugs and insurgency."I must declare a state of lawless violence in this country, it's not martial law," Duterte told a phalanx of reporters on a Davao street at daybreak after visiting the blast site."It's not martial law until it's a threat against the people and against the nation ... I have this duty to protect this country."Duterte was at a meeting some 12 km (7.5 miles) away from downtown Davao when the explosion occurred.It came as the uncompromising president wages war with just about anyone from drugs kingpins and street dealers to Islamist rebels and corrupt bureaucrats, scoring big points in opinion polls, but at a risk of making powerful enemies.There was no claim of responsibility though suspicion centered on an Islamic State-linked militant group.Police said 67 people were wounded in addition to the 14 dead.Police have yet to disclose details of their initial investigation, but Davao Mayor Sarah Duterte - the president's daughter - said in a television interview it was a bomb.Police and military promised to implement the nationwide "state of lawlessness", although there appeared to be confusion about what that actually entailed.Duterte's office said it was "rooted" in an article of the constitution that puts the president in charge of the armed forces. Several officials said the declaration meant troops would assist police in anti-crime and anti-terror operations.Rumors have swirled of a plot to assassinate Duterte, 71, which he has shrugged off as part of his job. The talk has been fueled by his controversial crackdown on drugs that has killed more than 2,000 people since his June 30 inauguration, and has been condemned by activists and the United Nations.
Bangla speech communities and the paradox of their nationhood

A.B.M. Razaul Karim Faquire, Ph.D. :

The term nationhood is associated with the concept of nation which requires a qualification. There are two competing definitions of nation, one of which refers to a territorial division containing a body of people of one or more ethnic identities and usually characterized by relatively large size and independent status (Merriam-Webster Dictionary, accessed on April 2015), while another of which refers to the people sharing a common language, religion, culture, history and ethnic origins that differentiate them from the people of other nations (Hastings, 1997). The national identity, i.e. nationality, in the present world order, is determined on the basis of definition in the former sense, according to which the nationality of Bangla speech communities have mainly been Bangladeshi and Indian respectively depending on their domicile in Bangladesh and India. In the similar vein, the countries of Bangladesh and India are regarded as nation. However the concept nation in the core sense refers to the society of people sharing a common language, religion, culture, history and ethnic origins across territorial boundaries.

There has now been a controversy if the Bangalee distributed throughout the contiguous regions covering the country of Bangladesh as well as the Indian states of Assam, Jharkhand, West Bengal, Tripura form a unified nation. The controversy has come out of the confusion over the constituents of nationhood of Bangalee. Though language, religion and ethnicity are known to be the constituents of a nation, the nationhood of Bangalee is mainly attributed to the language Bangla by evading the constituents of religion and ethnic composition in the present discourse of nationhood of Bangalee.

Bangalee is not a primitive society rather a civic society created out of different primitive ethnic communities. It is created through the integration of different ethnic communities involving the processes of Aryanization and Islamization under the authorities based in the ancient centers, e.g. Magadha and Gaur of political powers. The creation of Bangalee community occurred in three different phases. It began with the immigration of the Indo-Aryan communities from the western south Asia, which continued until the conquest of Muslim from the central and west Asia.

Given the above-described anthropological backdrop, I will attempt to reveal the nationhood of Bangalee communities inhabiting south Asia by undertaking an analysis on the parameters of nationhood: language, ethnic ancestry and religion as follows.

i) Linguistic parameter: The nationhood of Bangla speech communities is attributed to the language Bangla which is thought to be the main foundation for the Bangalee nation. Bangla is an Indo-Aryan variety developed from the Vedic Sanskrit by undergoing changes through contact with the Austro-Asiatic languages in the situation of language contact created during the spread of Buddhism, Hinduism and Islam (Chatterji, 1926). Irrespective of religious and ethnic affiliations, the people of Bangladesh as well as the Indian states of Assam, Jharkhand, West Bengal (Paschimbanga) and Tripura, and the island state of Andaman now share the common language of Bangla.

ii) Ethnic parameter: Bangalee has been a mixed ethnic community, which is created out of the Austro-Asiatic ethnic communities by undergoing the process of hybridization with other ethnic communities including the Indo-Aryan communities as well as the Muslim communities having ancestry to different ethnic communities of central and west Asia (cf. Rahim, 1967). The hybridization occurred in phases for last two millennia and the process is still going on. The pattern and rate of hybridization changed with each event of transfer of political power. The Hindu religious community developed from the Austro-Asiatic diaspora, which undergone different degree of Aryanization during the age of conversion to Buddhism until the decline of Buddhism. After the ascendency of the Sena Dynasty, the process of hybridization started to slow down and continued until the conquest of Indian subcontinent by the Muslim. After the Muslim conquest, the new pattern of hybridization started which created condition for intermarriage among the converted Muslim irrespective of the ethnic lineages under the framework of Islam. Hence the Muslim has been a crossbreed population comprising disproportionate degree of admixture of converted Muslim having ancestry to the different casts of Hindu in south Asia as well as the Afghan, the Persian, the Tajik and the Uzbek from central Asia, and the Arab from west Asia. The hybridization being a unidirectional process, the Muslims have been more hybrid than the Hindus. Hence the Bangalee being predominantly a crossbreed population comprising the Muslim and the Hindu do share disproportionate degree of the Austro-Asiatic ethnic feature.

iii) Religious parameter: The religions of Hinduism and Islam being associated with the language Bangla has been one of the determining parameter of the nationhood of Bangalee. Accordingly the Hinduism and the Islam indicate a cleft among the Bangalee people. Hence the Bangalee being divided along the communal line of religion strictly resist the intermarriage between the two religious communities which in effect cause to maintain the interethnic boundary.

From the above discussion on the three main parameters of nationhood of Bangalee, we can see that the language and religion have respectively been the cause for the unity and the disintegrity of the Bangla speech communities inhabited South Asia. The cleavage persisting along the line of religion has yielded a split of Bangla speech community towards the Hindu and the Muslim communities having instigated by the two-nation theory during the anti-colonial Indian independence movement in the 19th century. Accordingly the conflicting political parties of Muslim league and Indian national congress respectively representing the Muslim people and the chiefly Hindu people had finally agreed on the formation of a Bengal boundary commission, on the recommendation of which the territory of British Bengal has been partitioned into the Hindu majority West Bengal and the Muslim majority East Bengal on 16 August 1947. Therefore the partition of Bengal can be regarded as the realization of longstanding political and economic conflicts deep-rooted in the religious cleft of the Bangla speech communities into the Hinduism and the Islam.

(Professor A.B.M. Razaul Karim Faquire, Ph.D. is a professor at the Institute of Modern Languages in the University of Dhaka. His areas of research interest include linguistics, language contact, language policy and language history focusing on regions of South Asian and East Asia.)
Walton hands with Microsoft, Intel to introduce laptop

Economic Reporter :

Walton, local electronics company joined hands with Intel Corporation and Microsoft Corporation to introduce various high-tech devices in the country's potential information and communication technology sector.

In collaboration with Intel and Microsoft, the local brand Walton is going to add 6th Generation Intel processor-based laptop computers to its existing product line.

The most stylish, multifunctional and high speed laptops of Walton brand are going to hit the country's computer market in the last week of September this year. Walton will launch a total 20 models of laptop under four series like WaxJambu, Karonda, Tamarind and Passion.

In order to bring international standard hi-tech devices like laptops in the Bangladesh's IT market, the world's three technology-based giant companies Walton, Intel and Microsoft are working jointly.

Walton for the first time in Bangladesh is going to manufacture various sorts of computer hardware like electronics motherboard, the Walton officials informed. They have already brought state-of-the art technology from Europe for establishing motherboard manufacturing unit at the Walton Micro-Tech Corporation at Chandra in Gazipur.

To supply international standards to the local ICT market, Intel and Microsoft are providing technical and financial supports to Walton.


30th founding anniv of CPJA held

Chittagong Bureau :

The 30th founding anniversary function of Chittagong Photo Journalists Association held at a city posh hotel on Thursday night amid participation of the journalists of the port city . The founding anniversary turns into a journos reunion, sources said.

Press Advisor to the Prime Minister Iqbal Sobhan Chowdhury graced the occasion as chief guest. In the function , Editor of Dainik AzadiMA Malek, Editor of Dainik Purbokone Taslimuddin Chowdhury and the editor of Dainik Purbodesh Osman Gani Chowdhury were given reception . President of the CPJA Mosihur Rahman Badar presided the anniversary function duly attended by Asstt.

High commissioner of India in Chittagong Mr. Somnath Halder as special guest. In observations of the founding anniversary, CPJA and Agartala Press club jointly organized 3 days photo exhibition at Shilpala Academy from Wednesday .

In the photo expo, 22 photo journalists from Bangladesh and 19 photo journalists from Agartala participated, sources said.


Bangladesh Hindu-Bouddha-Christian Adibashi Party formed a human chain in front of the Jatiya Press Club on Saturday in protest against attack on ISKCon temple at Jugal Tila in Sylhet.
Mir Quasem hanged

Online Desk: Condemned war criminal Mir Quasem Ali has been executed for his crimes against humanity during the Liberation War in 1971. The wealthy tycoon and top financial backer of Jamaat-e-Islami Al-Badr commander Mir Quasem was hanged around 10:30pm on Saturday. With this execution, a total of six war criminals walked gallows for their offences against humanity in the 1971 War with Pakistan. Earlier, his family members paid him a final visit at the evening. On Friday, Mir Quasem pushed aside the prospect of presidential clemency, the last straw to avoid the gallows. Later, government started processing to execute him. On Tuesday, the SC dismissed Quasem`s petition seeking a review of the judgment that upheld his death penalty for crimes against humanity in 1971. The apex court released the full verdict and sent it to the International Crimes Tribunal.The ICT then sent copies of the verdict to Dhaka Central Jail, the office of Dhaka district magistrate, and law and home ministries. The Dhaka jail sent a copy to the Kashimpur jail. In November 2014, the ICT-2 sentenced Quasem to death on two charges and awarded him different jail terms on eight other charges. According to the case documents, he had set up a torture camp at Dalim Hotel in the port city during the Liberation War. On his instructions, many freedom-loving people were tortured and killed at the camp. Quasem challenged the verdict at the apex court. On March 8 this year, the SC upheld his death sentence on one charge -- the killing of young freedom fighter Jasim Uddin at Dalim Hotel -- and jail terms for his involvement in the abduction, confinement and torture of freedom fighters and innocent people. It, however, acquitted him of three other charges, including a murder charge for which he was sentenced to death by the ICT-2.Quasem filed the review petition on June 19.
US envoy praises role of BD police

Staff Reporter :US Ambassador to Dhaka Marcia Stephens Bloom Bernicat has praised the law enforcement agencies of Bangladesh for their "courageous role" in curbing terrorism and militancy."The police of Bangladesh are working hard to contain terrorism and militancy. It's obviously a hard work, not only forBangladesh police but also for the law enforcement agencies of all countries. But the police of this country [Bangladesh] are doing well," she said on Saturday.The US Ambassador came up with the admiration while talking to journalists after meeting Narayanganj City Corporation Mayor Dr. Selina Hayat Ivy. Commerce Minister Tofail Ahmed was also present during the one-hour meeting held at Narayanganj City Corporation office. Bernicat, however, said that the task [rooting out militancy] is not completed yet and all should be more cautious about the militants' activities."The home-grown militants have been committing terrorist activities in Bangladesh. They have close contacts with international militants. It would be unwise to think that all the militancy has been eliminated completely. We have to remain alert," Bernicat mentioned.Praising brave role of police force, she further said: "Police in Bangladesh have been tackling terrorism and militancy with patience, diligence and bravery. The law enforcing agencies [of Bangladesh] have been extending all-out cooperation to us. We [US government] have taken this issue with high importance."The US Envoy earlier had visited two other City Corporations and in line with the programme, she paid a courtesy visit to Narayanganj City Corporation yesterday. As part of US policy, she wanted to know the authorities' programme for containing militancy. On August 29, US Secretary of State John Kerry arrived Dhaka amid growing US's security concerns following the July 1 terrorist attack at the Holey Artisan Bakery restaurant in which 20 hostages, including 17 foreigners, were killed.In this backdrop, Washington had issued travel warnings for Bangladesh and authorised a 'voluntary departure' of family members of US Embassy diplomats and staff from Dhaka.
Cattle traders want respite from extortionists

Market full of local cattle: Few from India, Myanmar

A trader is seen engaged in fattening cows by injecting and feeding steroids in a bid to make a windfall profit in broad-day-light at Sagarika cattle market in the Port City Chittagong on Saturday.

Reza Mahmud :

A section of corrupt police and ruling party men are allegedly extorting cattle traders on the highways and waterways despite warnings from the police headquarters.

"The extortionists are stopping cow-loaded trucks at various points on the highways and forcing the drivers to pay them money," said Ariful Alam, a cattle trader of Gabtoli cattle market.

Another cattle trader Amin Uddin said, a limited number of cows are coming from India due to various restrictions by the Indian authorities. Adverse weather in the Bay of Bengal is also causing decreased number of cattle imports from Myanmar.

He said, "We are now relying only to our local cattle farms. If the cattle imports from neighboring countries are not increased then naturally the price of sacrificial animals will go up. In this situation, we are anxious over the acts of extortionists."

"We urge to the government to stop extortion activities on the highways and waterways to keep the cattle price reasonable," said Abdul Alim, a cattle trader from Dhupkhola playground cattle market at Gendaria in the city.

"The influential people, especially ruling party men and police, are among the extortionists," alleged the cattle traders at Brothers Union Balurmath preferring anonymity.

Another cattle trader in city's Sadarghat area said, his cow-loaded cargo vessel became the victim of extortionists in many river routes from Chandpur to Dhaka.

When contacted Mosleh Uddin Ahmed, the Joint Commissioner of DMP (traffic) told The New Nation, "Police are trying to catch all miscreants, including extortionists, on highways for safe passage of the cattle-loaded vehicles to their various market destinations.

"If any policemen are found involved in such crimes the traders should inform us. We must take hard action against them," the DMP joint commissioner said.

Earlier, the police headquarters warned that if any member of the force involved in extortions, especially in the cattle-loaded vehicles, they would face tough action.

The traders said, cattle-loaded vehicles are coming from different parts of the country to Dhaka ahead of Eid-ul-Azha. Trucks are coming by the roads and highways while cargo vessels and trawlers are coming through waterways.

The buyers said the price is seemed high so far comparably the last year. But they hope after more cattle arrive in the markets the price may go down.

The traders said, the cattle sale has started but the turnout is not sufficient. But they are not frustrated as the city dwellers usually buy cattle close time of Eid days.

"The residents of Dhaka usually buy cattle one or two days before Eid-ul-Azha due to their limit capability of keeping the cattle and taking care of them," said one of the traders.
UP Chairman's body identified

Staff Reporter :

The body recovered from a pond at Jhostitoalapara at Surendranath road in Jessore town three days back, has been identified as Abul Quashem, Chairman of Pashapol Union of Chowgacha Upazila on Saturday.

After recovering the body, police sent it to the Jessore General Hospital. As none came to the hospital to receive the body, the Anjuman Mufidul Islam buried it as unclaimed one. His body bore several injury marks.

"He might have been murdered in a preplanned way," said Ilias Ahmed, Officer-in-Charge, Kotwali Police Station.

He said the body would be exhumed for autopsy.

Later Abul Quashem's son Shahinur Rahman went to hospital and saw his father picture at the hospital's register book and identified him.

Abul Quashem had been remaining missing since Wednesday as on that day he came out of his residence to go to Dhaka. But an hour later his cell phone had remained switched off.


Reports on Farakka water misleading, claims India

Staff Reporter :

India has termed the media reports on release of water from Farakka Barrage contributing to floods in Bangladesh as "erroneous" and "misleading".

"The Ministry of Water Resources of India has clarified that the Gates of Farakka Barrage are operated to smoothly pass the flows of Ganga River. The Farakka barrage gates remain open during the monsoon for smooth passage of flows of Ganga River which is a routine and unavoidable activity," said a statement issued by the Ministry of External Affairs of India on Thursday.

Even a Bangladesh media report on August 31 quoted Water Resource Minister of Bangladesh saying that "India did not open the gates of Farakka Barrage suddenly, and there is no possibility of fresh floods in the country. All the gates of Farakka Barrage remain open during the monsoon to release water through the Farakka Barrage - it is nothing new," added an official spokesman in the statement.

Further, in accordance with the standing arrangement between India and Bangladesh flood alerts during the monsoon season are communicated for Farakka and Sahibganj sites by field offices of Central Water Commission (India) to their Bangladesh counterparts, it said.

"Being a routine procedure no special intimation or alert regarding opening of gates is issued. The Flood Forecasting and Warning Centre (Bangladesh) has been quoted in the media stating that the latest water rise was natural and not unusual or abnormal in the month of August," said the spokesman.
Man hacked to death in Narsingdi

UNB, Narsingdi :A man was chopped to death and his two brothers suffered injuries in an attack allegedly by their rivals at Baniachal village in Sadar upazila on Saturday.The deceased was identified as Rashid Miah, 42, son of Barek Miah of the village while the injured are Khorshed Miah, 45, and Asad Miah, 35.Officer-in-charge of Sadar Police Station Golam Mostafa said the followers of Brahmandi group had an altercation with supporters of Baniachal group over a trifling matter at Shikkha chatter around 5:30 pm.Later, a rumour spread around that members of Baniachal group, including Rashid, picked up Babu, a man of Brahmandi group.Brahmandi group members swooped on Rashid and his family members and chopped them with sharp weapons indiscriminately, leaving Rashid and his two brothers injured.They were taken to Sadar Hospital where doctors declared Rashid dead.Khorshed was sent to Dhaka Medical College Hospital in a critical condition, the OC added.Meanwhile, police arrested Babu, 25, from the spot.
Militant Murad hit by 9 bullets

Staff Reporter :Neo JMB military commander Murad, who was killed during a raid in city's Rupnagar area on Friday night, was hit by nine bullets, revealed an autopsy report on Saturday morning.Assistant Professor at Forensic and Medical Department of Dhaka Medical College and Hospital (DMCH) Sohel Mahmud told journalists, "Three bullets had hit his head and the six other bullets hit in the chest, waist and legs."Additional Inspector General of Police Md Mokhlesur Rahman said that Murad had also used aliases 'Jahangir', 'Omar' and 'Major Murad'. "Murad, aged between 45 and 50, was carrying a knife and a pistol during the raid on Friday night. He used both of the arms," he said. DB Joint Commissioner Abdul Baten said, Murad was the 'second-in-command' to top Neo-JMB leader and the July 1 Gulshan cafe attack 'plotter' Tamim Ahmed Chowdhury. Tamim and two other suspected militants were gunned down on August 27, when police raided a house in Narayanganj, Baten said. "Murad also stabbed police officers when they entered his Rupnagar rented house in the night. He died after being hit by a bullet during a scuffle that ensued when he tried to flee," the Joint Commissioner said.Syed Shaheed Alam, OC of Rupnagar Police Station, Inspector Shaheen Fakir and Sub-Inspector Md Momenur Rahman were also injured during the raid, Baten said.Dr Jesmine Nahar of DMCH said, Shaheed sustained injuries from a sharp weapon in his waist while Shaheen in his left shoulder and head.Shaheen also received wound in his right leg, which appears a bullet injury,' she said.
Terrorism broke out due to social unrest and absence of rule of law: CJ

Staff Reporter :Chief Justice Surendra Kumar Sinha said that absence of rule of law, liberty and freedom of expression has created unrest in the society hindering smooth functioning of the fair judicial system and democratic practices in Bangladesh. He came up with the observation while speaking at a publication ceremony of monthly magazine "Bangladesh Legal Times" at the Hotel Radisson in the city on Friday. He said, terrorism has broke-out in this century in different forms due to social unrest and absence of rule of law. The chief justice hoped the magazine would discuss serious legal matters, issues of social injustice and other related issues to craft a fair judicial system, establish rule of law and rights of the people.Law Minister Anisul Huq and Legal Times Editor Sheikh Fazle Noor Taposh editor of the magazine also spoke at the ceremony. Publisher of the magazine Banglar Bani organised the program.Justices from the Appellate and High Court divisions, Dhaka South City Corporation mayor, parliament members, government high officials and eminent lawyers were also present.Law Minister said, the mass media will criticize constructively that will forward the people and the country to prosperity. This kind of legal magazines is very important for the time we are living. The chief justice said the people of Bangladesh face significant hurdles in accessing the judicial system."Vulnerable groups, including the poor, women, children, ethnic minorities, and people with disabilities face particular exclusion. Throughout the formal justice system, there is a significant lack of capacity within the judiciary, relevant ministries and statutory bodies."The chief justice said there are some specific constraints on access to justice. Those include prohibitive costs, corruption and undue influence and lack of awareness of legal rights.SK Sinha noted that one of the main reasons behind case backlog is "awful shortage" of judges in both tiers of the judiciary and lack of infrastructure.He said the country now has 1,600 judges. The number is too meager and inadequate for a country with a population of 16 crore. If the number of judges is not doubled, no dramatic change can be expected."There are some lawyer who develop their mentality in commercialisation of the noble profession. They are not interested in giving due attention to 'substantive matters' such as first appeals or writs."We always discover serious flaws in plaints, written statements, writ petitions and even in the bail petitions and injunction petitions. The quality of drafting legal instruments is degrading day by day."Lawyers are interested in injunction and bail matters, and it's hard to find adequate number of lawyers to deal with "substantive matters", he said."If this continues, I do apprehend that judiciary will be in peril within 20 to 25 years and as a result, the rule of law which is the foundation of democracy will be a far cry." "Poverty, anxiety and discrimination are other causes that helped rise in terrorism in the society. Bangladesh is a peace loving country. We are determined to fight against terrorism. We have taken every steps to root out terrorism from the country," he said. There are terrorism more or less in all country in the world. Terrorism is the brutal enemy of the humanity. This is ruining happiness and peace of the society. Terrorism is not a diseases, it is rather a symptom. "Terrorism can sneak into a country if there are lack of rule of law," he said. "Terrorists do not have any nation they are threat for all humanity. We have to build a discrimination free society to stop this ill-forces," he said.
The Undead Archives

I have finally salvaged my pre-Blogger TDR archives and added them into Blogger. They are almost totally in the form of one giant post for each month. And the formatting strayed from the originals. Sorry. But historians everywhere can rejoice that this treasure trove of my thoughts is restored to the world.
Looking for the vulture assist with Neolithic burials

2 years ago
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Bad Luck! Hacker Arrested while Breaking Traffic Rules

Around five years after unknown hackers gained unauthorized access to multiple kernel.org servers used to maintain and distribute the Linux operating system kernel, police have arrested a South Florida computer programmer for carrying out the attack., a 27-year-old programmer from of El Portal, Florida, was charged Thursday with hacking servers belonging to the Linux Kernel Organization () and the Linux Foundation in 2011, the Department of Justice announced on Thursday.The Linux Kernel Organization runsservers for distributing the Linux operating system kernel, which is the heart of the operating system, whereas the Linux Foundation is a separate group that supports kernel.org.According to an indictment [ PDF ] unsealed by federal prosecutors on Monday, Austin managed to steal login credentials of one of the Linux Kernel Organization system administrators in 2011 and used them to install a hard-to-detect malware backdoor, dubbed, on servers belonging to the organization.But what made the breach much significant? It's the open-source operating system that's being used by Millions of corporate and government networks worldwide.Using the Phalanx malware, Austin allegedly installed a Trojan designed for Linux, FreeBSD or Solaris hacking  on a number of servers run by the Linux groups, which helped him gain access to the login credentials of people using the servers.Austin allegedly infected Linux servers, including "," "," and "," which were leased by the Linux Foundation for operating kernel.org. He also hacked the personal email server of Linux Kernel Organization's founder Peter Anvin.Austin is also accused of allegedly using his unauthorized admin privileges to insert messages into the system that would display when the servers restarted.According to prosecutors, Austin's motive for the intrusion was to gain early access to Linux software builds distributed through the www.kernel.org website.This security breach forced the Linux Foundation to shut down kernel.org completely while a malware infection was cleared up, and rebuild several of its servers. Miami Shores Police stopped Austin while breaking traffic rules on August 28 and then arrested after identified as a suspect in 2011 case.Austin is charged with 4 counts ofHe was released from jail on a bond of $50,000 provided by the family of his girlfriend.Judge has ordered Austin to stay away from the Internet, computers, and every type of social media or e-mail services, due to his "."Austin is scheduled to appear in San Francisco federal court on September 21 before the Honorable Sallie Kim, and if found guilty, he faces a possible sentence of 40 years in prison as well as $2 Million in fines.
"Currently, we have no further information since the responsible law enforcement agency did not get in touch with us directly, we were merely informed by our hoster," Perfect Privacy explains. "Since we are not logging any data there is currently no reason to believe that any user data was compromised."

Recently, two European countries, France and Germany, have declared war against encryption with an objective to force major technology companies to built encryption backdoors in their secure messaging services.However, another neighborhood country, Netherlands, is proactively taking down cyber criminals, but do you know how?Dutch Police has seized two servers belonging to Virtual Private Network (VPN) provider, as part of an investigation, without even providing any reason for seizures.Switzerland-based VPN provider said they came to know about the servers seizure from I3D, the company that provides server hosting across Rotterdam.For those unfamiliar, Virtual Private Networks or VPNs are easy security and privacy tools that route your Internet traffic through a distant connection, protecting your browsing, hiding your location data and accessing restricted resources.VPNs have now become a great tool not just for large companies, but also for individuals to improve their privacy and security online, dodge content restrictions and counter growing threat of cyber attacks.While many people, including digital activists, journalists, and protesters, use them for legitimate purposes, VPNs are also used by criminals and black hat hackers to protect their nefarious activities from prying eyes and stay anonymous online.This is why VPN services are frequently targeted by police and law enforcement while investigating crimes, and this is what appears to have happened with two servers belonging to Perfect Privacy.The VPN provider informed its customers that two of its servers in Rotterdam, Netherlands had been seized by the Dutch police on Thursday, August 24, without even contacting the company to inform about a possible investigation or the reason why their servers were brought down.The VPN provider says the authorities went directly to I3D with a subpoena requesting the hardware.Perfect Privacy confirms that the company was back up and running the following day after I3D provided two replacement servers, meaning that the seizures did not result in any significant outage.In April, Dutch Police seized Ennetcom servers based in the Netherlands and Canada to shut down their operations during a criminal investigation. Ennetcom was a company that sold customized Blackberry Phones with the secure PGP-encrypted network.Dutch authorities accused Ennetcom of helping criminals protect their communications to carry out crimes, involving drug trafficking, assassinations, and other serious offenses.
If you are looking for the new Immoral Minority posts, you should know that they can be found here at our new home Please stop by to get caught up on politics, join the conversations, or simply check out the new digs.
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.
MURPHYSBORO  Over the past few years, the city of Murphysboro has received several thousand dollars in grants from a local charity that specifically earmarked funding for various projects in the city.

The city just received an award of $25,000 for this year, which it plans to use for next year's Sunset Concert Series and for landscaping in two city parks, said Murphysboro Mayor Will Stephens.

In 2015, the city received $15,000 from the Elizabeth A. Smysor Trust, $4,000 of which was used to fund the city's first summer Sunset Concert series and another $4,500 on landscaping, Stephens said. The city used the remainder of that money to support funding for the creation of a new Tax-Increment Financing, or TIF, district at Illinois 13 and 127, where a commercial enterprise is being planned.

The trust was created the year after Smysor, who was also known as "Bessie," died in 1990 at the age of 103. Her husband, Walter, died in 1941; the couple had a son, William Dean Smysor, who died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound on Jan. 2, 1982, at the age of 65. Newspaper accounts do not say whether the shooting was accidental or intentional.

"We just received a check from them about a month ago, and once again, they earmarked a portion of that money to pay for the landscaping in the parks, as well as to pay for the concert series," Stephens said.

What to do with a few thousand dollars left over from last year's grant was the topic of one bit of conversation at the last Murphysboro City Council, with some members saying the money could be used to replace an aging truck used in mosquito abatement. One board member, though, questioned whether the Smysor trust foundation board would be OK with the city using the money in that format.

Stephens said he felt the board would be OK with that, but that he would check with them.

"I havent reached out to them yet, but we do have some pressing needs, one of which is that we have a truck that is used for spraying of mosquito abatement chemicals, and that truck is very old, its about 31 years," Stephens said. He said he'd like to see some of that left-over money used to buy a pre-owned truck, such as a Chevrolet S-10, to use for future mosquito abatement work.

"Theres no set amount that we get from the Smysor Trust every year, Stephens said. Some years we get money, some years we dont get any at all. It's up to the members of the board to decide if there is something that they want the city to fund or support. We have written letters to the Smysor Trust, from the city, asking for money for specific projects before, (such as for) the Sunset Concert Series and the landscape at Town Center Park."

Elizabeth Smysor's family, the Deans, owned and operated the Dean Mill of Ava for decades, and she helped her husband, Walter, run the Smysor Lumber Co. in Murphysboro, according to a 1991 Southern Illinoisan article. According to that same article, the couple also "maintained large agricultural holdings in both Jackson and Randolph Counties."

According to that article, "Smysor left the cities of Murphysboro and Ava and Murphysboro a trust of about $3 million to be distributed to charitable organizations."

Another major gift given after her death was a $350,000 donation to the St. Joseph Memorial Hospital, where she was part of its Auxiliary.

According to her obituary in the Southern Illinoisan, her survivors included a daughter-in-law and three nieces.
SPRINGFIELD  An administrative law judge has recommended that the Illinois Labor Relations Board send Gov. Bruce Rauners administration and a union representing 38,000 state workers back to the bargaining table to continue negotiating over wages and health care benefits.

The Rauner administration asked the labor board in January to declare that contract talks with the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees Council 31 have reached an impasse, which could clear the way for the administration to impose its terms on the union. That, in turn, could precipitate a first-ever strike of state workers.

In a 250-page recommendation issued Friday, Administrative Law Judge Sarah Kerley found that the state and AFSMCE have reached an impasse on many issues, including wages and health care, but she recommends against allowing the state to unilaterally impose its final contract proposal in full.

If the State were able to implement its entire last, best, and final offer, the implications and impact would be so enormous that, when applied to this case, it would be destructive of the collective bargaining process, Kerley wrote.

While wages and health are among the issues on which Kerley believes the sides are at an impasse, she recommended that negotiations continue on those subjects because the state hasnt provided the union with sufficient information about its proposals.

On wages, the state has sought a pay freeze and the implementation of a merit pay system, while the union has sought across-the-board raises for its members. On health care, the state has pushed for union members to take on a greater share of their insurance costs, but the union believes those proposals would shift too much of the burden onto its members.

Negotiations had been ongoing for nearly a year when the Rauner administration moved to have an impasse declared. The union has said for the past several months that it is still willing to negotiate.

The administration has accused the union of making unreasonable demands at a time of unprecedented fiscal challenges for the state, but AFSCME counters that Rauner has an ideological bias against the collective bargaining rights of public workers.

While negotiations have been acrimonious, Kerley said both sides generally have bargained in good faith.

Despite their many differences in philosophy and approach, I find that record before me, taken as a whole, reflects that each side sincerely hoped to reach agreement, though they had vastly different views of what that agreement should look like and had varying levels of optimism about whether they would actually be successful, she wrote.

Rauner spokeswoman Catherine Kelly said the administration appreciates that Kerley concluded that we have been bargaining in good faith for a fair deal on behalf of taxpayers.

We are reviewing her opinion to evaluate the next steps as the rest of the agreed-to process continues, Kelly said in a prepared statement.

Meanwhile, the union says it was largely vindicated by Kerleys recommendation.

We are pleased that todays recommendation underlines what AFSCME has been saying all along, AFSCME Council 31 Executive Director Roberta Lynch said in a written statement.

The union says it too is reviewing the recommendation, noting that it doesnt believe the two sides are at an impasse on some of the issues cited by Kerley.

We hope the labor boards final ruling will affirm the hearing officers recommended order to resume negotiations, Lynch said. But there is no need to wait  Governor Rauner should direct his representatives back to the bargaining table now, to work with AFSCME and develop a compromise agreement that is fair to all.

The state and the union now have time to respond to the recommendation and to each others responses. The labor board could make a final determination at its November meeting.
An armed suspect was killed in a police officer-involved shooting Saturday in Massac County, according to Illinois State Police.

An armed suspect entered a residence in Metropolis at about 4:09 p.m. Friday and assaulted a resident before fleeing on a motorcycle, pursued by local law enforcement. The suspect escaped law enforcement after abandoning the motorcycle in rural Massac County.

At about 4:30 a.m. today, a resident reported seeing a person, possibly carrying a handgun, in a neighbor's yard and reportedly heard three or four gunshots. A Massac County deputy a Metropolis Police officer arrived on scene and attempted to locate the subject, later hearing a gunshot close to their location. They were unable to locate the suspect and Illinois State Police District 22 assistance was requested at about 6:15 a.m.

At about 9:21 a.m., a trooper encountered the armed suspect, who was fatally wounded after shots were fired. The suspect's weapon was recovered at the scene. The name of the suspect is being held, pending verification by the Massac County Coroner.

There were no injuries to any of the officers. Illinois State Police, Illinois Conservation Police, Massac County Sheriff's Office, US Marshalls and Metropolis Police Department are investigating the incident.
Tropical Storm Hermine roared into The T&D Region late Friday morning, knocking down trees and power lines.

The storm also flooded roads around the region, forcing their closure.

In at least one instance, a person had to be rescued from his vehicle at the Orangeburg County/City Industrial Park as flood waters overwhelmed it. He was safely taken to higher ground while his vehicle remained engulfed in flood waters.

"It is pretty much in line with what we anticipated," Orangeburg County Emergency Services Director Billy Staley said, summarizing the storm's impact.

"Things are going as planned. We are trying to keep everyone safe, he said.

No injuries were reported in Orangeburg County.

Bamberg County Emergency Services Director Brittany M. Barnwell said the county has had to deal with downed trees, power outages and flooded roads.

There were no injuries or rescues reported in Bamberg County.

"It has gone pretty much as planned," Barnwell said. "We were pretty much prepared for it."

Calhoun County Emergency Services Assistant Director Dave Chojnacki said the county was relatively quiet despite Hermine.

"We have had one power line down and a couple of trees which were cleared by our volunteer fire department," Chojnacki said. "We have our normal EMS calls that are not weather-related.

We are getting the rain, but so is everybody else."

Tropical Storm Hermine moved out of the T&D Region on Friday night, leaving in its wake sunny, drier and cooler conditions for the long Labor Day weekend.

Downed trees

There were numerous reports of downed trees, with a report of tree on a house.

A tree was reported down on North Road just past the Wolfton Fire Department as well as on S.C. Highway 4 and Hamer Lane.

Trees were also reported in the roadway on Interstate 26 at the 157 westbound mile marker as well as the 148 mile marker and the 153 mile marker. A tree also fell on U.S. 21 five miles south of Branchville.

The South Carolina Highway Patrol also reported trees down near S.C. 4 and S.C. 3, on Ebenezer Road near S.C. 210, S.C. 70 and U.S. 301, Briarwood Street and Riley Street, and State Park Road and Oak Hollow Drive in Santee.

Flooded roads

Heavy rains also resulted in the closure of some city roads.

Several roads in the city were closed for a time Friday, including Stonewall Jackson Boulevard near Walmart, Boulevard Street between Amelia and Russell streets, U.S. 301 near Biddie Banquet, U.S. 301 in front of the old KFC, Old Riley Street and Riverbank Drive.

"The rain bands come through and they overwhelm the drains," Orangeburg Department of Public Safety Chief Mike Adams said. "The roads will flood and as the rain eases up, the drains are able to catch up. Flooding is relatively minor. We have not had any major problems at this point, he said.

Adams said the department has received one call for a downed power line on Brookside Road off of Riverbank Drive.

"We are here prepared and the other city departments are here working hard," he said.

In the Four Holes area of Orangeburg, there were reports of standing water on rural roadways and U.S. 301/Five Chop Road.

There were reports of dirt roads with water pooling on either side and completely covering the roadway in some places.

Flooded roads in Bamberg County included Pepper Road, Jager Road, Lake Margaret Drive, U.S. 78 between Bamberg and Denmark, Second Street, Goose Bay Road, S.C. Highway 61 at Long Leaf Road, Hi Ki Pen Road, Carlisle Street, North Street, Watermelon Road and Main Highway.

Heatwole Road in Govan was washed out because of the storm and was closed until further notice.

Winds, watches and warnings

Wind speeds from the storm's outer bands began to increase shortly before 9 a.m. Friday. Wind gusts shortly before 10 a.m. Friday clocked at 29 mph at Orangeburg Municipal Airport, according to the National Weather Service.

By late morning, wind speeds were gusting to about 33 mph at the airport and by early afternoon winds were steady from the northeast at 15 mph with gusts of 35 mph. Sustained wind speeds were at 29 mph around 2 p.m. with gusts of 48 mph around 4 p.m.

Wind gusts around 5 p.m. reached 46 mph.

A tornado watch was issued for Orangeburg and Bamberg counties, but ended with no reports of tornadoes.

The area also remained under a flash flood watch until 6 a.m. Saturday and a high wind warning until 2 a.m. Saturday.

Power outages

The Orangeburg Department of Public Utilities reported about 3,000 customer outages by late Friday afternoon. The hardest hit areas were north of the city limits.

South Carolina Electric and Gas reported about 195 customers without power in Orangeburg and 693 in Calhoun County without power Friday afternoon.

There were about 910 customers without power in Bamberg County at the height of the storm.

Tri-County Electric Cooperative President Chad Lowder said at the storms height, there were about 770 customers in Orangeburg County and 1,000 customers in Calhoun County without power.

"We are not too bad," Lowder said, noting the outages have been due to trees on power lines.

In one instance, a tractor-trailer struck a utility pole in Calhoun County, knocking out power.

"We have been lucky enough. We have not had any problems with equipment, he said.

Edisto Electric Cooperative reported about 588 outages in Bamberg County and 856 outages in Orangeburg County late Friday afternoon.

Power outages were reported in the Denmark area.

Rising rivers

Heavy rains also swelled area rivers.

At 11 a.m. Friday, the North Fork of the Edisto River was at 3.66 feet and at 4 p.m. the river was 6.13 feet. The river was expected to crest at 4 p.m. Sunday at about 8.2 feet.

The Edisto River at Givhans Ferry was at 2.36 feet at 4 p.m. The flood stage is 10 feet.

The Congaree River at Carolina Eastman, which frequently floods, was at 105.2 feet above sea level around 4 p.m. Friday. The river's flood stage is at 115 feet. Due to the fact that the area frequently floods, homes are built on stilts as protection against flood waters.

The storm

Hurricane Hermine made landfall near St. Marks, Florida around 1:30 a.m. Friday with maximum sustained winds of 80 miles per hour. It was the first hurricane to come ashore in Florida since Wilma struck 11 years ago.

A few hours after landfall, Hermine had weakened into a tropical storm, according to the National Hurricane Center.

It moved through Georgia and the Carolinas and was expected to move into the Atlantic and regain hurricane strength.
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Political and cultural commentary from the perspective of radical common sense. Opposition to the AMERICAN BIPOLARCHY and ideological fanaticism in all forms. Don't take our word for anything: figure it out for yourself.
This site focuses on Republican politicians and conservatives that rip off their constituency. We have the Tea Party, fundamentalist churches, the corruption of ALEC and other special interests groups. But the site also supports progressive Democrats and the local Democratic Socialist of America. We must have ideas on how to replace regressive and corrupt politicians with something better. For comments steveotto2001@yahoo.com or ottozero2001@yahoo.com.
By Azertac





The Istanbul Mineral and Metals Exporters' Association (IMMIB) will launch Trade Staff Program in Baku in October.





Preparations for the launch were discussed as a delegation of IMMIB Information Technologies Export Commission visited Azerbaijan Export and Investment Promotion Foundation.





During the meeting, the sides also discussed mutual cooperation in the fields of export, investment and IT.
The Azerbaijani state oil company SOCAR is supplying liquefied natural gas to new buyers, Bloomberg reported.

SOCAR will possibly start pure trading in the next five years, Arzu Azimov, chief executive officer of Geneva-based Socar Trading, said in an interview with Bloomberg.

Until then it will focus on projects that involve using LNG to generate power in nations from Africa to southeast Asia, he said.

According to the message, SOCAR is hoping to benefit from emerging nations rising power demand, which the International Energy Agency expects to more than double by 2040.

A 46 percent drop in benchmark Asian spot LNG since 2015 and an anticipated jump of 45 percent in supply by 2021 has made the fuel attractive to users that lack pipelines to import gas to produce electricity, the message said.

When supply rises, people see lower prices, see this resource as more attractive and invest in infrastructure to consume it, Azimov said.

SOCAR, which only trades crude and oil products, is participating in tenders for projects to build a power plant together with a regasification and storage facility, both as an equity holder and an LNG supplier, Azimov said.

He added that the company, which doesnt produce its own LNG, is a shareholder in and sole supplier to a project nearing completion in Malta.

The plants construction costs 175 million euros and its capacity will allow meeting up to 50 percent of Maltas electricity demand.

Headquartered in Geneva, SOCAR Trading was incorporated in December 2007 as the marketing arm of SOCAR with a mandate to market Azerbaijani barrels produced from the Azeri-Chirag-Guneshli field and other surrounding fields in Azerbaijan.
President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev has extended his deep condolences to the government and people of the Republic of Uzbekistan over the death of President Islam Karimov. "It is with great regret that I received the news of the death of President of the Republic of Uzbekistan, outstanding statesman, public and political figure Islam Abduganiyevich Karimov.

Islam Abduganiyevich Karimov went down in history as the first President of independent Uzbekistan. He is associated with the formation, development and strengthening of the state independence and sovereignty of the country, its accomplishments and successes in socio-economic and political areas, brotherly Uzbekistan`s integration into the international community."- said president Aliyev in a letter of condolences to Nigmatilla Yuldashev, Chairman of the Senate of Oliy Majlis of the Republic of Uzbekistan.

"A far-sighted, principled and consistent policy, organizational talent, a truly state approach to most difficult tasks fairly earned Islam Karimov the people`s love, deep respect and great authority both in Uzbekistan and beyond.

We in Azerbaijan know and have deep respect for Islam Karimov as a true friend, who made an outstanding contribution to strengthening centuries-old good traditions of friendship and mutual support between our peoples, establishing and developing Azerbaijani-Uzbek inter-governmental relations during the years of independence.

In this moment of grief, on behalf of the people of Azerbaijan and on my own behalf, I extend my deepest condolences to you, family and relatives of Islam Abduganiyevich Karimov, all the people of brotherly Uzbekistan over this irretrievable loss.

Islam Abduganiyevich Karimov will live in our memories and hearts."- said president in a letter.
Pakistan values relations with Azerbaijan, Muhammad Ishaq Dar, Pakistani federal finance minister, said, Dispatch News Desk reported on September 2.

Ishaq Dar made the remarks at a meeting in Islamabad with Ali Alizade, Azerbaijans ambassador to Pakistan, Sept. 2.

At the meeting the sides discussed the matters relating to energy and enhancement of bilateral trade between the two countries, the report said.

Ishaq Dar said both Pakistan and Azerbaijan have love and affection towards each other. He also praised the hospitality and warmth of the people during his visit to Azerbaijan in 2015.

The minister said the volume of trade between the two countries can go up by many times.

According to the report, the finance minister also expressed satisfaction with the ongoing negotiations between the two countries, especially in the field of energy and bilateral trade.

Ambassador Alizade said Pakistan is a strong and important country, and Azerbaijan attaches importance to relations with Pakistan.
By Azertac





Mayor of Astana Asset Issekeshev will embark on a one-day official visit to Azerbaijan on September 5.





He will meet with Baku mayor Hajibala Abutalibov to discuss prospects for cooperation.





Issekeshev`s visit aims to exchange experience in a range of areas of urban infrastructure, including investment, innovation, transport and tourism.
President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev attended the opening of the Museum of History and Local Lore as part of his visit to Masalli September 3.

The president was informed that the construction of the museum started in 2014 and was completed this July.

In 2013, President Aliyev signed an order allocating two million manats for construction of the museum.

The three-storey museum houses an exhibition hall, a fund, administrative rooms, an ideological center and a drawing gallery.

Ilham Aliyev cut the ribbon symbolizing the opening of the museum, and then viewed it.
President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev has inaugurated the Flag Square and the Azerbaijan State Symbols Museum in Masalli.

The president cut the ribbon symbolizing the official opening of the museum.

Ilham Aliyev was informed that the construction of the Flag Square and the Azerbaijan State Symbols Museum was launched in 2014 and completed in 2016.

The Flag Square occupies an area of 1.3 hectares. The flagpole here stands 62 meters in height. Green areas were created, and ornamental trees and flowers were planted at the square.

The museum features exhibits reflecting state symbols of Azerbaijan.
President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev has today arrived in Bilasuvar district for a visit.





The head of state first laid flowers at a statue of national leader Heydar Aliyev in the center of the city of Bilasuvar.





Head of Bilasuvar District Executive Authority Mahir Quliyev informed the President of the work carried out in the district in the last few years.
As part of his visit to Salyan district, President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev has attended the opening of a 21.4km-long section (from 31st km to 54.4km) of Alat-Astara-Iran state border highway.

The head of state was informed about the technical indicators of the highway.

President Ilham Aliyev cut the ribbon symbolizing the opening of the road.
Turkey may hold an early municipal election in November 2017, Hurriyet newspaper reported Sept. 2.

Turkish MP from the Republican People's Party (CHP) Gursel Tekin said a need for an early municipal election emerged in the country after the military coup attempt.

Municipal election in Turkey is held every five years. The last municipal election was held in Turkey March 30, 2014.

The ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) won the election gaining 45.6 percent of the vote.
Turkeys constructing a wall on the border with Syria has led to the Syrians protests, Ihlas News Agency (IHA) reported on September 2.

A group of people in the Syrian city of Kobani, near the border with Turkey, threw stones and Molotov cocktails at the Turkish builders who are erecting the wall along the border.

The decision to build walls in the provinces bordering Syria was made as part of the work to step up the fight against terrorism, as the members of terrorist organizations from Syria regularly try to cross into Turkey.

Syria has been suffering from an armed conflict since March 2011, which, according to the UN, has so far claimed more than 500,000 lives.

Militants from various armed groups are confronting the Syrian government troops. The "Islamic State" (IS), the YPG (Kurdish People's Protection Units) and the Kurdish Democratic Union Party (PYD) are the most active terrorist groups in Syria.
By Trend





Turkmen President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov discussed the topical issues of bilateral cooperation at a meeting with Qatars Foreign Minister, Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al-Thani, the Turkmen government said.

Stressing the broad prospects for the development of trade and economic relations, the sides called for intensifying fruitful partnership in various fields.

The oil and gas sector was stressed as one of the key vectors of interstate relations.

The two countries, which are among the leading exporters of natural gas, attach particular importance to the diversification of cooperation in this strategic direction.

Investments, trade, high technologies and construction are among the promising areas of the Turkmenistan-Qatar cooperation.

Diplomatic relations between the two countries were established in 1996.

Turkmen President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov invited the representatives of the Qatari business circles in April 2016 to participate in the construction of the Turkmenistan-Afghanistan-Pakistan-India (TAPI) transnational gas pipeline.

President Berdimuhamedov added that the pipeline is designed to supply natural gas to the major countries of South-East Asia, contribute to solving the economic problems of the region, important social and humanitarian issues.

The solemn ceremony of launching the TAPI construction, with a capacity of up to 33 billion cubic meters of gas, was held in mid-December 2015.
Thousands of Tashkent residents said last farewell to Uzbekistans President Islam Karimov who passed away September 2.

Earlier, it was reported that Islam Karimov was hospitalized Aug. 27 after having suffered a stroke.

Karimov will be buried in Samarkand on September 3.

Uzbek presidents funeral will be held in accordance with Muslim traditions.

Karimov was born January 30, 1938 in the city of Samarkand, Uzbekistan. He was the first president of Uzbekistan since the country gained independence in 1991.

In the Soviet period, Karimov served as first secretary of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of the Uzbek Soviet Socialist Republic from 1989 to 1991.

He also served as the head of the Uzbek government in 1990-1992.
Eight Turkish servicemen were killed and eight more were injured during anti-terrorist operations in the countrys Van province, the Anadolu Agency reported on September 3.

Reportedly, Turkey has neutralized 11 militants of the Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) terrorist organization in the Mount Tendurek.

The anti-terrorist operations continue with support of Turkish Air Force.

The conflict between Turkey and the PKK, which demands the creation of an independent Kurdish state, has continued for over 33 years and has claimed more than 40,000 lives.

The UN and the European Union list the PKK as a terrorist organization.
Turkeys Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu met with the US Secretary of State John Kerry during the G20 summit in China, the Anadolu Agency reported on September 3.

During the meeting, the parties discussed the Syrian crisis, the situation in Syrias Manbij and Jarablus, as well as fighting the Islamic State (IS, aka ISIS, ISIL or Daesh) terrorist group.

They also discussed the aspects of extradition of Fethullah Gulen from the US to Turkey. Gulen is accused of being involved in the July 15 military coup attempt.

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 had said the death toll as a result of the military coup attempt stood at 246, 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 authorities have sent two requests for Gulens extradition from the US.
Three Turkish servicemen died and 23 more were wounded in a shootout between the Turkish military and the Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) militants in the countrys south-eastern province of Hakkari, the Turkish Haber 7 TV channel reported on September 3.

According to the report, Turkish armed forces sent additional troops to the Hakkari province.

The conflict between Turkey and the PKK, which demands the creation of an independent Kurdish state, has continued for over 25 years and has claimed more than 40,000 lives.

The UN and the European Union list the PKK as a terrorist organization.
7:18 (GMT+4) The fire has been extinguished in the territory called Khutor, the Azerbaijani Ministry of Emergency Situations told Trend on September 3.

According to the message, no one was injured.

16:55 (GMT+4) A strong fire has broken out in the territory called Khutor, Baku, the Azerbaijani Ministry of Emergency Situations told Trend earlier.

According to the preliminary data, saw-timber was burning.
Taqdeer Award Certified Assessors have started the evaluation process for construction companies in Dubai that have applied to participate in Taqdeer Award 2016.



Taqdeer Award is the worlds first points-based award programme for recognising excellence in labour welfare practices and seeks to promote international best practices in labour welfare among construction companies alongwith enhancing relationship between companies and workers and also recognising excellence among workers.



The award, launched under the patronage of Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai and chairman of the Dubai Executive Council, will enhance the relationship between companies and workers by recognising excellence in labour practices and setting new benchmarks in work practices across sectors in Dubai.



Major General Obaid Muhair bin Suroor, the deputy director general of General Directorate of Residency and Foreigners Affairs (GDRFA) in Dubai and chairman of Taqdeer Award, said a large number of construction companies have expressed their interest in participating in the award.



"By showing a strong interest in participating in the Taqdeer Award, construction companies in Dubai have reflected their keenness to set international benchmarks in labour welfare practices. This is the first-of-its-kind award in labour welfare and we are confident it will have a positive impact across sectors of the economy," stated Major General Obaid.



According to him, the evaluation process starts with 'Desktop Evaluation', which involves assessment of documents submitted by the companies. The assessors have started 'Desktop Evaluation' for the companies.



Following the completion of 'Desktop Evaluation', the Taqdeer Assessors will conduct onsite visits to verify that the measures being taken and facilities being provided for workers are in accordance with the award criteria. The onsite visits will start this month, he stated.



There are around 282 companies in this sector in Dubai, providing jobs for more than 500,000 workers. The award will target those companies employing more than 100 workers.



The assessors include managerial level experts from different nationalities and with experience of being associated in assessment procedures and have undergone special training to carry out the assessment procedure for the award.



In its first cycle, the Taqdeer Award will cover the construction sector that employ manual workers and the future cycles will include factories and free zones, stated Major General Obaid.



The participating companies will be awarded the ratings from one star to five stars.



Winners of five and four-star ratings will receive a certificate, enjoy priority in government projects, and will be honoured at an award ceremony. These top ratings will give companies a competitive advantage in bidding for international contracts, he noted.



These awards have been launched in line with the vision of the Dubais leadership to make Dubai the worlds best places to live and work, said Major General Obaid.



The award reflects Dubais serious efforts in the area of enhancing employer-employee relationship and aims to enhance awareness among labourers about their rights and duties, encouraging workers to contribute their best, while setting international benchmarks in labour welfare practices, he added.-TradeArabia News Service
The World Water Week ended on a solid note with a call to acknowledge water as a vital player in the implementation of the 2030 agenda for sustainable development as well as the Paris Climate Agreement.



"Water - the lifeline of our planet - will be needed to achieve nearly every sustainable development goal, and to face the challenges that climate change presents," remarked Karin Lexen, the director of World Water Week at Stockholm International Water Institute (SIWI).



World Water Week 2016, which saw the participation of over 3,100 officials from 120 countries, concluded yesterday (September 2).



Throughout the Week, there was a focus on implementation and action, particularly on local and city level, marking a transition from the global discussions and negotiations that led to the adoption of the SDGs and the Paris Climate Agreement in 2015.



Implementation of the sustainable development goals including the goal on water (Goal 6) was one of key issues discussed by high-level policy makers, development and water professionals, researchers, civil society and private sector representatives.



Commenting on the event, SIWI's executive director Torgny Holmgren, said: "In order to achieve the goals; city and local leaderships are crucial; that is where we will find the drive. It is also important that civil society, businesses and social entrepreneurs are engaged, to learn from each other to create smart, viable and sustainable partnerships."



"Water is too important to keep inside the water community - water is a central part of the entire society," stated Holmgren.



This was underlined by Sweden's Environment Minister Karolina Skog: "Water is a shared resource and a shared responsibility. The private sector has an important part to play. It has the competence, the technology and the ability to invest."



World Water Week offered an opportunity for key actors to meet and take stock of progress towards the SDGs and the Paris Climate Agreement, from a water perspective. The Week will provide an annual update, tracking water in the global development agreements.



The Week also welcomed representatives of the High Level Panel on Water, established earlier this year by UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon and World Bank President Jim Kim, with the aim of furthering the water-related goals. The Panel representatives used the Week to get input from the wider water and development community.-TradeArabia News Service


Turkey and its rebel allies opened up a new line of attack in northern Syria on Saturday as Turkish tanks crossed the frontier from Kilis province, making a western thrust in an operation to sweep militants from its border.



The incursion from Kilis - which has been repeatedly targeted by Islamic State rockets from inside Syria over the last year - coincided with a push elsewhere in the region by the Turkish-backed Syrian rebels, who seized several villages further east from the Sunni hardliners.



By supporting the rebels, mainly Arabs and Turkmen fighting under the loose banner of the Free Syrian Army, Turkey is hoping to push out Islamic State militants and check the advance of US-backed Syrian Kurdish fighters.



The rebels last week took the frontier town of Jarablus with Turkish support. The operation, called Euphrates Shield, is Ankara's first full-scale Syrian incursion since the start of the five-year-old war.



On Saturday the tanks crossed the border and entered the Syrian town of al-Rai to support the new offensive, a rebel spokesman and monitors said. Now under rebel control, al-Rai had previously been in the hands of Islamic State.



Al-Rai is about 55 km west of Jarablus, and part of a 90-km corridor near the Turkish border that Ankara says it is clearing of jihadists and protecting from Kurdish militia expansion.



A rebel commander said they would aim to push east from al-Rai, in the direction of Jarablus, which would put pressure on Islamic State from both east and west of a stretch of territory it controls along the border between the towns.



"The operations are to work from al-Rai towards the villages that were liberated to the west of Jarablus," Colonel Ahmed Osman of the Sultan Murad rebel group told Reuters, adding that the offensive was backed by Turkey.



The Hamza Brigade, part of the Free Syrian Army, said it had taken control of Arab Ezza, a village about 30 km west of Jarablus and near where Turkish warplanes carried out air strikes on Friday.



FSA factions had also captured the villages of Fursan, Lilawa, Kino and Najma just south of Arab Ezza, a source in the Failaq al-Sham rebel group said.



US forces hit Islamic State targets overnight near Turkey's border with Syria.



"US forces struck ISIL targets near Turkey's border in Syria last night via newly deployed Himars system," Brett McGurk, the special presidential envoy for the coalition fighting Islamic State, said on his Twitter account.



Himars refers to a High Mobility Artillery Rocket System. It was not immediately clear where at the border the system had been deployed.



Turkey's pro-government Daily Sabah newspaper said Turkish air strikes in support of the rebels continued on Saturday.



While Euphrates Shield initially targeted Islamic State in Jarablus, most of the focus since has been on checking the advance of US-backed Syrian Kurdish fighters, to the alarm of Nato ally Washington.



Turkey disagrees with its ally's support for the Syrian Kurdish YPG militia, which it considers a terrorist group. The YPG has been among the most effective partners on the ground in the U.S.-led fight against IS.



Turkey is worried that advances by Syrian Kurdish fighters will embolden Kurdish militants in its southeast, where it has been fighting an insurgency for three decades led by the outlawed Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK).



The US has voiced concerns about Turkish strikes on Kurdish-aligned groups that Washington supports. Germany said it did not want to see a lasting Turkish presence in an already tangled conflict.



Turkey has said it has no plans to stay in Syria and simply aims to protect its frontier from the militant group and the Kurdish YPG militia.



Activists have reported protests in some Syrian towns near the Turkish border in recent days against what demonstrators have called Turkish imperialism. Turkish security forces used tear gas and water cannon to disperse protesters along the border on Friday.-Reuters
Dubai Electricity and Water Authority (Dewa) said it has become the first government organisation in the UAE to measure the happiness of children.



This supports the strategic objectives of the UAE, and the directives of HH Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, to provide happiness for all segments of society.



The directive ensures that all government policies, programmes, and services contribute to building a positive and happy community, and that the government should take priority in creating conditions capable of facilitating happiness for individuals, families, and employees.



Dewa measured the happiness of children who participated in the Reading is Positive Energy exhibition at Zabeel Park, Dubai.



The exhibition was aimed to instil a culture of reading, encourage members of society, and also featured different cultural corners. These include the Reading Exhibition corner, Reading Positive Energy Forum, Childrens Knowledge World, Smart Reading Corner, Reading Sensory Wall, Emirati Majlis, and a cultural cafe.



The Childrens Knowledge World Corner featured story-telling sessions that involved children and mothers telling stories and learning from each other. The Reading Sensory Wall gave an opportunity to the students to write their own stories using their sight, touch, and hearing.



The Smart Reading Corner provided the latest smart technologies and devices that helped readers and motivated people to read. At the Todays Children Read for Yesterdays Children programme, children read short stories to young adults.



On the initiative, Saeed Mohammed Al Tayer, the managing director and chief executive of Dewa, said:

"Sheikh Mohammed has taught us to work hard, to make people happy, and that the governments responsibility is to achieve the happiness of society as a whole."



"Measuring the happiness of the children reflects our commitment towards working to achieve the happiness of the community. This supports the UAE Vision 2021, and the Dubai Plan 2021, to transform Dubai into a city of happy, creative, and empowered people," he pointed out.



"We are proud to be the first government organisation in the UAE to measure the happiness of children. This reflects our deep understanding of engaging with younger generations, to ensure a brighter future," said Al Tayer.



"This supports Dewas strategy to achieve the happiness of the community, and support the youth. It has adopted a strategic objective that is directly-related to making stakeholders happier," he added.



Al Tayer said Dewa was committed to fulfilling the directives of the leadership, to achieve the happiness of the community.



This includes the national happiness and positivity charter, as part of the cabinets commitment through its higher policies, plans, projects and services at all government agencies to establish positivity as a key value to ensure the happiness of individuals, families and society, while instilling positivity as a major value, to help members of society achieve their dreams and ambitions



Dewa realises the importance of investing in the youth, who are the leaders of the future," he added.



According to him, Dewas educational and cultural activities aim to involve the youth in research and instill a culture of teamwork.



"Dewas Engineers of the Future summer camp aims to instil a culture of innovation and creativity among the youth, while providing an educational platform for children to develop their skills among fields including engineering, electricity, mechanics, science and mathematics," he stated.



The camp also aims to prepare the future generation of innovators, develop the capabilities of the youth, support talent, and share knowledge with the next generations, in adherence with Dewas motto, For generations to come, added Al Tayer.-TradeArabia News Service
Chinese President Xi Jinping and his Turkish counterpart Tayyip Erdogan agreed on Saturday to deepen counter-terror cooperation, as the two set aside previous disagreements over China's treatment of a Turkic-speaking Muslim minority.



Hundreds, possibly thousands, of Uighurs keen to escape unrest in China's western Xinjiang region have traveled clandestinely via Southeast Asia to Turkey, where many see themselves as sharing religious and cultural ties.



Beijing says some Uighurs then end up fighting with militants in Iraq and Syria.



But Ankara vowed last year to keep its doors open to Uighur migrants fleeing what rights activists have called religious persecution in China. Beijing denies accusations that it restricts the Uighurs' religious freedoms.



Meeting on the sidelines of the G20 summit in the eastern Chinese city of Hangzhou, Xi told Erdogan he appreciated Turkey stressing that it would not allow its territory to be used for acts that harmed China's security.



China "hopes both sides can achieve even more substantive results in counter-terrorism cooperation", China's state-run Xinhua news agency cited Xi as saying.



Erdogan, in comments before reporters translated from Turkish into Chinese, said the emphasis should be on strengthening their ties.



"Fighting terrorism is a long-term issue, and is also a long-term topic discussed by the G20," he said.



Xinhua also quoted Erdogan as thanking China for its help in maintaining Turkey's security and stability, and that he hoped for greater counter-terrorism cooperation.



Turkey, a Nato member and part of the US-led coalition against Islamic State, has seen a series of deadly bombings this year blamed on the radical Islamists. But it also fears Kurdish militias in Syria will seize a swathe of border territory and embolden Kurdish insurgents on its own soil.



Beijing blames Islamist militants, including those it says come from a group called the East Turkestan Islamic Movement (ETIM), for a rise in violence in Xinjiang in recent years in which hundreds have died.



Officials in Xinjiang have stepped up regulations banning overt signs of religious observance, like veils or beards.



Turkey angered China by expressing concern about reports of restrictions on Uighurs worshipping and fasting during Ramadan last year, and Turkish protesters have marched on China's embassy and consulate in Turkey over Beijing's treatment of Uighurs.



The two countries have also jousted over Thailand's deportation of Uighur migrants back to China.-Reuters
Jabra, a leading manufacturer of a broad range of communications and sound solutions, is bringing its new Halo Smart wireless headphones to the UAE.



The new multi-functional, neckband-style Bluetooth headphone offers superior sound experience and up to 17-hour battery life for calls and music on-the-go, said a statement from the company.



It is mainly designed for those who want to combine a great calling experience with music on-the-go and seamless switching between the two, it stated.



The model delivers superior call experience thanks to high-quality microphones with integrated wind-noise protection, enhanced voice capabilities via a dedicated Google Now/ Siri button and immersive, full spectrum sound through its 10mm speakers, said the statement.



The increasing adoption of headphones on a daily basis has become a lifestyle choice for consumers, whether they are at work, home or conducting a wide range of leisure activities, explained Dina Eladly, the marketing manager (Middle East & Africa) Consumer Solutions, Jabra.



"With more and more users switching between calls and music or watching movie clips for instance, weve witnessed a major shift in consumer demand and behaviour," stated Elady.



Halo Smart is the latest addition to the Jabra Halo family of wireless headphones, designed for busy people who are looking for versatile headphones for multi-purpose use.



Priced at Dh339 ($92), it is available in three colours: Impact Red, Electric Blue and Black.

The headphones will be available online and in selected UAE retailers including Virgin Megastore, Sharaf DG, iStyle and Dubai Duty Free.

"Users are opting for wireless Bluetooth technology that gives them a hands-free experience while staying connected all the time," said Elady.



Keeping in mind the needs and desires of our customers, our Halo Smart headphones deliver best-in-class call experience and superior music experience," she added.

The product will be available soon at Jumbo Electronics and Emax outlets.-TradeArabia News Service
After a dramatic rise during early August, gasoline prices have plummeted, losing over 13 cents per gallon this week. The decline coincided with the upcoming Labor Day weekend, which is often recognized as the end of the summer driving season.

Prices fell after weekly stockpiles of crude oil, gasoline, and diesel fuel all were sharply higher than expected in Wednesdays Department of Energy report.

With peak seasonal demand for gasoline coming to an end, futures markets are pointing toward slightly lower prices for the balance of the year.

Long term, the petroleum market is still dealing with record supplies of gasoline and crude oil, which should keep a lid on prices until the stockpiles go down.

As of midday Friday, October gasoline futures traded for $1.30 per gallon, a price that doesnt include taxes or other expenses.

Cattle lurch lower

Cattle prices collapsed to a five-year low on Friday at $1.02 per pound. Prices are dropping on expectations that grilling demand will decrease in the coming weeks as temperatures break lower in the shift toward fall weather.

As prices are falling, some cattle producers are dumping their herds as they fall in value, which is exacerbating the cycle. Meanwhile, meatpackers have the luxury of waiting for cheaper prices, which is making them less aggressive about buying.

One of the few bright spots in the cattle industry is that corn is near a seven-year low at $3.15 per bushel. This lowers a cattle feeders expenses, but it can also hurt him as low corn prices allow his competitors to cheaply add weight to their cattle, increasing the overall meat supply and driving prices even lower.

Coffee in the black

Coffee prices are in the black, rising almost 20 percent so far this year and are nearing the highest price in 18 months.

Prices perked over $1.50 per pound this week as concerns grew that the worlds biggest coffee grower, Brazil, could have a smaller crop this year. Damage from a mid-July frost now appears more severe than previously thought. Brazil is in the Southern Hemisphere and experiences its coldest weather in June and July.

Other major coffee producers are experiencing lower output as well, which has helped cause the market to gain steam on fears of a supply shortage. As of midday Friday, December arabica coffee futures traded for $1.52 per pound.
As the state energy downturn drags on, the bill is coming due on Wyomings heavy reliance on tax revenue from extractive industries. Lawmakers are meeting later this month to consider options to boost income from the states other main revenue source: sales tax.

At a Sept. 23 meeting in Buffalo, the Joint Revenue Committee will discuss ending two exemptions to the statewide sales tax. The exemptions offer tax breaks to various types of services and for expenditures determined to boost economic development.

Some of the exemptions have no real purpose except that they serve as a windfall for certain industries, said committee chairman Rep. Michael Madden, R-Buffalo. Theyre costing the state a lot of money.

Unlike the proposal to eliminate the sales tax exemption on food, which was shot down by the committee in May, the current ideas to broaden the sales tax are unlikely to hit consumers directly at the register.

While Wyomings heavy reliance on tax receipts from extractive industries is well known, the effort to collect another $200 million by eliminating the exemptions highlights sales tax as the states other main mode of revenue generation.

Wyomings lack of a personal or corporate income tax has earned the state a reputation for low taxes. Kiplingers Personal Finance magazine declared Wyoming the most tax-friendly state in its annual rankings released last week.

Wyoming has some of the lowest taxes in the country, said Kiplinger editor Sandra Block.

Block said Wyomings status as the friendliest state for taxation was based not only on the lack of income tax but also on its relatively low sales tax rate. But the Cowboy State has the third-highest sales tax collection rate per capita, according to a 2011 report from the Mercatus Center at George Mason University.

While it does receive money from property taxes, Wyoming collected over seven times the amount of sales tax revenue in the first quarter of 2016 as compared to property tax.

Given that most states use income taxes to help fund state government, Wyomings strong reliance on sales tax is unusual. It also puts a disproportionate tax burden on working-class Wyomingites who are likely to spend a higher share of their income on taxed consumption, said Carl Davis, research director at the Institute on Taxation and Economic Policy.

Low-income families invariably end up paying more under sales and consumption taxes, Davis said.

In Wyomings case, that means families earning less than $25,000 annually pay an effective state and local tax rate of 8.2 percent compared with a rate of 1.2 percent for those making over $625,000, according to a 2015 study by Davis institute.

The lowest-income families pay nearly 12 times as much of their income in sales tax as Wyomings wealthiest families.

Davis said one of the reasons sales tax tends to affect low-income individuals and families more than income tax is that it is more difficult for the state to offer tax breaks. While lawmakers can exempt the poor from paying full income taxes, sales taxes are far less precise.

Income tax has this ability to be very fine-tuned, Davis said. You can set it up in a way that families that cant afford to pay tax arent required to.

His institute ranks Wyoming as having the 14th most unfair state and local system in the country, due largely to its reliance on sales and property taxes.

We warn people there are trade-offs to living in a low-tax state, Block, the magazine editor, said. Its going to vary from one family to another.

Block said that while her publication does not take positions on which taxes are the most appropriate, the debate generally splits between those who believe in consumption taxes and those who support progressive taxation where individuals are taxed more or less based on their income.

Some people argue that a sales tax taxes consumption and doesnt discourage working, Block said.

Madden, the Buffalo lawmaker, disputes the notion that sales taxes are inherently regressive. He said while low-income state residents might spend a higher proportion of their income on products, sales tax exemptions on essentials like food and medicine mean the poor do not pay an unfair share of taxes.

I would say those people that spend a lot of their income on necessities are getting a tax break, Madden said.

While Sen. Ogden Driskill suggested allowing local governments to levy a sales tax on food during last spring, his proposal was roundly criticized for both procedural and substantive reasons.

The Wyoming Association of Municipalities came out against it over concerns that it would pit nearby cities against one another. Meanwhile, the Wyoming Association of Churches, which worked to exempt food from taxes around 10 years ago, noted that taxing groceries would have an especially unfair impact on the poor.

Madden said the Legislature was unlikely to revisit a food tax during the upcoming session.

I can assure you thats not going to be brought up, Madden said. Its an unpopular tax.

The sales tax exemptions that might be discontinued are most likely to hit manufacturers and companies operating data centers, who currently buy expensive equipment without paying state taxes.

While Davis said sales taxes paid by companies can indirectly raise consumer prices  for example, a grocery store taxed on the cleaning supplies it uses may raise prices on the food it sells  that was less of a concern when it comes to larger corporations that do much of their business outside of Wyoming.

These larger businesses might pass on to consumers any additional taxes they would pay if their exemptions are removed, but if those customers are out of state, Wyomings tax burden would not be significantly raised.

Youd expect a significant chunk of that [tax] to be exported, Davis said. Whereas if [the tax] is impacting smaller businesses, they dont have that same opportunity to send their higher costs out of state.

Despite believing sales tax to be a fair method of raising revenue, Madden said the Legislature would need to explore a new tax structure in light of the energy crash. While Madden said the revenue committee was unlikely to discuss larger tax reform at its September meeting, he also said Wyomings current tax system is not sustainable.

Were getting a laboratory experience of the downfall of relying too much on one industry, Madden said, referring to the roughly 70 percent of state revenue that comes from extraction companies. Somethings got to give.
Marilyn Miller, CPA and Jason McPhail, CPA, principal partners of Miller & McPhail, CPAs PLLC, announced the acquisition of the Mark S. Longley, CPA accounting firm in the North Shore community.

The three current office locations, phone numbers, staff, and "commitment to extraordinary client service" will remain the same as the firms merge under the Miller & McPhail name, it was stated.

Officials said, "The firm looks forward to welcoming the new clients and maintaining a close relationship with both new and current clients to best serve all their tax and accounting needs."

Miller & McPhail, CPAs, PLLC is a full service Certified Public Accounting (CPA) firm with offices in the Athens, Tn., and Chattanooga areas. The firm offers businesses and individuals a full range of services that include accounting, bookkeeping, tax planning, tax return preparation, payroll preparation, business consultation, new business start-up, Internal Revenue Service representation, retirement planning, estate planning, and financial planning.
The nations first total solar eclipse since 1979 is still nearly a year away. But communities spread across the United States are preparing to welcome massive crowds and the accompanying publicity and revenue.

While Casper boasts an astrological convention overlapping with the Aug. 21 eclipse and is considered one of the best viewing locations in the world, it is hardly alone. The path of the eclipse stretches from Oregon to South Carolina, and towns along the route are marketing themselves as the best place to watch the celestial event.

With the Oil City anticipating that tens of thousands of potential eclipse tourists will boost sales tax revenue and lift a local economy ailing from the energy bust, one might think Casper would be waging a fierce battle to draw visitors away from eclipse hot spots like northern Oregon and central Tennessee.

Not so, says Wyoming Eclipse Festival director Anna Wilcox.

We are not competing for attendance, Wilcox said.

I feel like that sounds awful, she added later.

But its not, she insists. The problem isnt drawing people to Casper. With local hotels already over 75 percent full during the eclipse  nine hotels are already sold out and others are not yet accepting reservations  Wilcox said her focus is ensuring that visitors who are bound to show up are properly accommodated.

It would be difficult, at this point, to market when 90 percent of our phone calls are, Hey, Im looking for accommodations and I cant find any, Wilcox said.

Some smaller Wyoming towns along the path of the eclipse are actually afraid of attracting visitors because theyre already expecting to be overwhelmed with hordes of visitors that their infrastructure cant accommodate, she said. Casper can take on the massive crowds, but Wilcox said she is trying to make sure the city rises to the occasion.

That includes free shuttles to help keep cars off the road and minimize congestion and a plan by the Casper Area Convention and Visitors Bureau to teach local workers how to best serve tourists next August.

Caspers methodical approach to eclipse festivities stands in contrast to the city of North Platte, Nebraska, roughly 350 miles to the southeast.

Assistant Director of the Lincoln County Visitors Bureau Muriel Clark said her group is going all out to attract visitors to view the eclipse in central Nebraska.

Were all about promoting, Clark said. We really want to capitalize on [this] and make sure that if people do have choices theyre considering Nebraska.

But North Platte is just a quarter the size of Casper, and while hotels are beginning to fill up, Clark acknowledged she may need to work harder to draw visitors.

We fully recognize that maybe Nebraska is not the first state that comes to mind when you think vacation destination, Clark said.

The town was planning to emphasize its ranching and pioneer culture, with a county fair and rodeo being moved to the eclipse weekend, she said.

Clark said North Platte is treating the eclipse primarily as a one-off boon to the local economy. However, Wilcox views eclipse visitors as potential return customers. If they dont have a good experience while visiting Casper for the eclipse, there is little chance that visitors will come back, she said.

Theyll be out and about and get that small glimpse of what we have to offer, Wilcox said. That can potentially turn into tourism.

Taking a similar tack is Oregon SolarFest event coordinator Sandy Forman, who said about half of her energy is going into handling the logistics of accommodating perhaps as many as 150,000 visitors expected in tiny Madras, Oregon, next summer.

Were trying to hit both ends, said Forman, who is also working to promote the town as a destination. But Forman touted the fly-fishing, hiking and resorts near the eclipse festival and wants to make sure visitors know how much the region has to offer in case they want to return.

They are also exploring using shuttles to move visitors around after being warned of the potential for severe gridlock.

We dont know what to expect, Forman said. Nobody does.

With Madras hotels  along with many others along the eclipse route  booked two years in advance, Wilcoxs decision to concentrate on providing a smooth experience for tourists in Casper next August may make sense.

Theyve already decided to come, Wilcox said. Casper is already where [people] want to be.
Rep. David Miller, the Republican with the most seniority in the Wyoming House, sent an email Tuesday to members of his party whod won their primaries. He congratulated them on their victories and then asked them to elect him speaker of the state Legislatures lower chamber.

Miller informed the primary victors  many of whom will be new to Cheyenne if they prevail in the Nov. 8 general election  that the process of selecting GOP leadership will occur Nov. 19 in Casper, according to a copy of the email obtained by the Star-Tribune.

The Riverton lawmaker also asked the Republicans to let him know which committees they would like to be assigned to  a power reserved for the House speaker.

As the longest-serving member of the House I want to take the initiative to begin the process of an organized and smooth transition to the 64th Wyoming Legislature, Miller wrote. I will be running for speaker of the House. I look forward to working with you as your next speaker.

The email demonstrates the behind-the-scenes scramble among Republican lawmakers in the House, which is losing three of its four leaders at the end of this year, creating a power vacuum. Some lawmakers are trying to distinguish themselves as torchbearers, ready to stand up and lead.

Current House Speaker Kermit Brown of Laramie is retiring. Majority Floor Leader Rosie Berger of Big Horn, who had said she wanted to run for House speaker, lost her primary. Speaker Pro Tempore Tim Stubson of Casper vacated his seat to run for Congress. The only leader who could remain is Majority Whip Hans Hunt of Newcastle, who sent his own email last week asking to be elected speaker pro tempore.

Miller has leadership experience, chairing the House Judiciary Committee, which reviews bills that alter the states criminal laws. It also studies larger criminal justice issues, such as overcrowding in the states prisons and sentencing reform.

Had Berger won her primary, Miller told the Star-Tribune, he wouldnt have challenged her for the speakership. But since Berger wont be returning, the House needs someone with experience. Miller has been serving in the Legislature since 2001.

Whether I win speaker or not, I want us to be organized and ready to go, regardless of who ends up in leadership down there, Miller said. I thought as the senior leader  I thought I ought to grab the bull by the horns.

House leaders play an important role in the day-to-day organization of the chamber. They schedule and prioritize bills for debate. They are in charge of overall pacing of debates, interspersed by other ceremonial activities. They assign bills and legislators to committees. They also tally support for bills before votes to decide whether the legislation should be debated or if a bill is dead on arrival.

House leadership meets regularly with leaders of the Senate and the governor to discuss issues of the day. They informally mentor new lawmakers and oversee security of the Capitol.

Miller said Rep. Steve Harshman may run for speaker, too, although the Casper lawmaker declined to discuss any plans to run for a leadership post.

I told him I was going to run for speaker; he said he was thinking about it, too, Miller said.

Harshman is second in seniority, having served since 2003. He is chairman of the Joint Appropriations Committee, the first group of lawmakers to craft the state budget. His understanding of the budget could be useful if he became speaker at a time of declining revenue.

Miller said he and Harshman visited a couple of weeks after the primary.

We talked about the makeup of the Legislature and some of the changes, Miller said. I think we are going to have a few more Democrats. We could have as much as a third of the membership as new. Its going to be an interesting time.

While Harshman didnt want to comment on whether hes seeking the speakers job, he did note it was a time of transition for the Legislature. In addition to leadership changes, there are people leaving the Legislatures nonpartisan staff, the Legislative Service Office.

I think theres a lot of conversations going on right now, he said. I think the most important thing that happens is really about the institution. Were undergoing a lot of transition right now. Our leadership, our membership and also the LSO.

Also on Tuesday, Hunt, the remaining member of House leadership, emailed colleagues to announce he would seek the third top spot, speaker pro tempore, if he wins the general election.

It was pretty short and sweet, he said. It said, if re-elected I plan on running for pro tempore. It was an honor serving as whip for the past two years and would appreciate your vote.

Miller doesnt have an opponent in the general election. Harshman and Hunt face Democrats Deirdre Stoelzle and Harold Eaton, respectively.

Rep. Mary Throne, the Democratic leader in the House, said it is too early to discuss who will fill the vacant leadership posts.

I really want to emphasize that this whole discussion is presumptions because most of the people running for the House, including myself, have a general election, she said. I have to go out there and earn my votes for the district. So do many of the Republicans.

She said the minority party has 48 candidates for the House: Forty-three candidates face Republicans, and five Democrats in Sweetwater and Teton counties are running uncontested.

There are also Wyoming Constitution Party candidates. That means the election of dozens of Republicans is not guaranteed.

Miller said he didnt send his letter to Democratic primary winners. But Throne said the Wyoming Constitution requires the entire Senate and House to choose their leaders, and Democratic lawmakers will have a say in the process. Throne expects candidates for speaker to reach out to her formally or informally, she said.

Democrats will be looking for a speaker who doesnt play partisan politics and who gives all bills a fair shot. Thorne has felt in the past her partys legislation has been taken seriously and she hopes that continues, she said.

Once youre speaker, youre not speaker of your caucus, youre speaker of your House, she said. Its certainly why Wyoming works better than other places  and better than Congress. We cross the threshold. Were all representatives, and we all work together. And for the most part we do a good part in that.
LARAMIE  Attorneys for the state are asking the Wyoming Supreme Court to uphold the convictions of a former prosecuting attorney found guilty of misusing county money.

State attorneys filed their legal arguments in the appeal by Richard Bohling, the former Albany County prosecuting attorney.

Bohling has asked the state Supreme Court to reverse his five criminal convictions stemming from what prosecutors say was Bohling's use of county money to buy cameras and other items for personal use.

Bohling was sentenced to two to four years in prison in February. He was also fined $45,000 and ordered to pay $3,000 in restitution.

Bohling's lawyers had argued he bought the expensive camera gear because photos taken by police often were insufficient to secure convictions.
Editor:

In Curt Wartick's letter, "Criticism of Cheney is old, worn out," he writes, "Wyoming may not deserve a person of this high caliber." I wonder why he chooses to live in a state that he has such a low opinion of? It appears he considers anyone who doesn't share his high opinion of Cheney to be shortsighted and empty-headed.

It is a free country, so she was well within her right to move here and run for political office using her family name recognition to advantage. I do not question her qualifications nor her strong family ties to Wyoming, but it irritates me that she claims to be a fourth-generation Wyomingite.

Liz Cheney wasn't born in Wyoming, she didn't grow up here, she didn't attend high school here, she didn't go to college here, she never held a job here, and none of her children were born here. She moved here in 2012, having lived in Wyoming for less than three of her 46 years (at that time) -- she did attend sixth grade at Park Elementary School and seventh grade at Dean Morgan Junior High School, both in Casper. How does that qualify her to claim she is a fourth-generation Wyomingite?

This criticism may frustrate Wartick and he may consider it petty, but I think it speaks to her character. Her name and her qualifications should have been sufficient. Was there really a need to create a less-than-honest credential? Of course this doesn't matter now, she won the Republican primary, which guarantees her the victory in the general election.

Being she moved here in 2012 to challenge an incumbent -- Wyoming's popular, conservative, senior U.S. Sen. Mike Enzi, I do not think see knows and understands our state. And I do not think that Wyoming's interests are her top priority. I think her priority is her own personal political agenda -- granted, one that is shared by many Republicans in this state. I do think she will represent Wyoming's interests in D.C. though, she will have to if she wants to be well positioned to run for Enzi's Senate seat when he retires.
A Tucson businessman has pleaded guilty to one count of tax evasion stemming from federal charges that he paid more than $400,000 in personal expenses with money from his business.

Larry Lester Larson, 73, former owner of State Industrial Supply Corp., was indicted on three counts of tax evasion in March 2014.

He has agreed to pay the government restitution of $183,382, and sentencing is scheduled for Nov. 16, the Internal Revenue Service said. Tax evasion is a felony that carries a maximum prison sentence of five years, plus penalties of up to $250,000 plus court costs for individuals.

Larsons attorney said the charges were the result of improper bookkeeping and all taxes owed will be paid as part of the restitution agreement.

Mr. Larson is a well-respected businessman who made some mistakes, coupled with a very sloppy bookkeeping staff, for which as owner of the company he takes responsibility, attorney Michael Piccarreta said, adding that his client is eligible for probation.

Larson has since sold the company to his son and is looking forward to retirement, Piccareta said.

According to court records, Larson was the CEO and sole owner of State Industrial Supply Corp., a distributor of fasteners and machine parts.

The IRS said that during the tax years 2006 through 2009, Larson paid personal expenses totaling $413,832 out of his corporations business account and later falsely deducted them as business expenses.

The IRS alleged that Larson falsely deducted personal expenses including elective and dental surgery, garage-floor coating for his home, the purchase of jewelry and an all-terrain vehicle, remodeling expenses for his sons home, pool service and home utilities, part of a family members wedding expenses, a personal loan that was paid back and falsely expensed as bad debt, and airfare for a Hawaiian vacation.

Piccarreta said because Larson operated State Industrial Supply as an S corporation, it was perfectly legal to pass personal expenses through the company so long as they were properly accounted for on tax returns, but that didnt happen.

The IRS investigator on the case said the proper reporting of expenses and income is an important requirement of business owners.
The Tucson Ministry Alliance, a creation of 4Tucson, Community Renewal and other partners, will host a Citywide Ministry Fair 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 8 at Fountain of Life Lutheran Church, 710 S. Kolb Road.

Ministries and other organizations from across the city will share information about how they impact Tucson and the volunteer opportunities available.
St. Mark's Presbyterian Church, 3809 E. Third St., will host Rabbi Alissa Wise, the national deputy director from the California-based organization Jewish Voice for Peace.

Wise will discuss the "The Road to Justice in Israel-Palestine: An Introduction to Jewish Voice for Peace" 6 to 9 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 10. Dinner, Middle Eastern music and a raffle will also be part of the evening. A $10 contribution is suggested.
A man was taken into custody in California by U.S. Border Patrol on a felony arrest warrant for first-degree murder in the slaying of a woman on Tucson's north side, police said.

Kathleen Lorraine Huffer, 52, was found Tuesday dead in her house in the 3000 block of North Richey Boulevard. She suffered blunt force trauma, authorities said.

Clifford Frederick Gant, 31, was detained by agents Thursday when he attempted to re-enter the U.S. at the San Ysidro Port of Entry, said Sgt. Pete Dugan, a Tucson Police Department spokesman.

San Ysidro is the largest land border crossing between San Diego and Tijuana, Mexico.

Gant was booked into the San Diego County jail on the felony warrant. Tucson police homicide detectives went to the jail and spoke with Gant who is awaiting extradition to Tucson, said Dugan Friday.

On Tuesday shortly before 7:30 p.m., Huffer was found after persons flagged down officers and asked them to check Huffer's welfare inside the house. The neighborhood is south of East Fort Lowell Road and west of North Dodge Boulevard.

Homicide detectives discovered that Huffer's vehicle was missing from the house, and family members said no one should be in possession of the vehicle. The vehicle was then reported stolen, said Dugan.

Detectives also found out that Gant had been staying with Huffer for several months. Investigators were not able to find Gant, but learned that Huffer's vehicle had entered Mexico through the San Ysidro crossing on Monday, Dugan said. He said images showed Gant driving the vehicle.

Based on that information and evidence collected at the scene, detectives obtained the arrest warrant, said Dugan.
A wanted poster of U.S. Senate candidate Ann Kirkpatrick sent out by Arizona Republican Party has angered a number of Arizona Democrats.

It isnt the fiery rhetoric that has angered them, but the computer-generated bullet holes that has Democrats, including former U.S. Rep. Gabby Giffords, demanding an apology.

Giffords was one of 13 people wounded in an assassination attempt in 2011 that left six people dead on the northwest side of Tucson.

The Kirkpatrick Senate campaign denounced the Western-style wanted poster  which the state party delivered to Kirkpatricks campaign office in Tempe  calling it tasteless and ignorant.

The state Republican party, however, isnt backing away from the issue.

Matthew Specht with the Arizona Republican Party said the complaints are just thinly-veiled attempts to avoid discussing Kirkpatricks unwillingness to talk with voters.

No one who received the press release containing the wanted poster linked it to violence until the Kirkpatrick campaign tried to use it as a way to distract the media from Ann Kirkpatricks absence from the campaign trail.

Kirkpatrick for Senate campaign manager Max Croes says the poster shows the Republican Party is only concerned about propping up Sen. John McCains re-election campaign.

The Arizona Republican Partys actions show the desperate and disgusting campaign John McCain and his allies have chosen to run, said Croes. There is absolutely no place for this disturbing imagery in Arizona politics.

Arizona Democratic Party Chair Alexis Tameron called it a desperate attempt to protect McCain, who is running for another term.

Im dumbstruck by the inexcusable lack of judgment, said Tameron. Todays political stunt by the Arizona Republican Party illustrates not only a lack of judgment but a complete disregard of the tragedy that traumatized so many Arizonans on Jan. 8, 2011.

A joint statement from Giffords and her husband, Mark Kelly, asked the state party to apologize.

In a state and country that know the toll of gun violence too well, there is no room for invoking the use of firearms in our politics, they said in prepared statement.

We urge Arizonans of every political stripe to join us in asking the Arizona Republican Party to refrain from using this irresponsible imagery and to apologize.

In a post on the Arizona Republican Party website, party Chairman Robert Graham noted Kirkpatrick isnt holding public events.

Afraid that Arizonans wont want her in the U.S. Senate if they learn more about her record and positions, Ann Kirkpatrick has been hiding out, said Graham. Please approach with caution, as Kirkpatrick has been known to flee voters when asked tough questions.

Kirkpatrick has been in Southern Arizona as recently as last Saturday, visiting La Estrella Bakery and chatting with locals in Oro Valley.

This weekend, Kirkpatrick will be meeting with locals in the White Mountains, a campaign spokesperson said.
PHOENIX  Gov. Doug Ducey is putting some distance between his efforts to cultivate better relations with Mexico and the rhetoric of his partys nominee for president.

The governor said Friday he agrees with the policy laid out earlier this week in a speech here by Donald Trump that the first step has to be securing the border. And Ducey said Trump is correct in his desire to rid the country of criminal aliens.

But the governor sidestepped the question of whether he shares the candidates belief that there should be no path to citizenship for the estimated 11 million people in this country without documents.

And Ducey said he does not believe it is necessary to actually build a physical wall along this countrys border with Mexico, as Republican nominee Trump has promised to do if elected.

I want to see border security, Ducey said. But the governor said there are other ways to achieve that.

We can use technology to do that, he explained. We can use border enforcement, we can use border agents to do this.

And the governor said the state Department of Public Safety and county sheriffs also can play a role.

I talked about that in my campaign, Ducey said of his views of border security.

This is his campaign, he said of Trump. Ill let him speak for himself.

The governors comments come as he attempts to navigate a path of openly supporting Trump while trying to promote closer relations between Arizona and Mexico as governor.

Mexico is our No. 1 trading partner, times four, Ducey said. My administration has worked very hard in building that relationship.

The governor said the addition of new flights between Arizona and Sinaloa helps cement those ties.

On Wednesday, when Trump was in Phoenix  and introduced by Ducey  the candidate made clear his view on what should happen to the 11 million illegal immigrants already in this country.

For those here today illegally who are seeking legal status, they will have one route and only one route: to return home and apply for re-entry under the rules of the new legal immigration system that I have outlined, Trump said.

There will be no amnesty, he continued. Our message to the world will be this: You cannot obtain legal status, or become a citizen of the United States, by illegally entering our country.

And does the governor agree?

There was a policy that was laid out, he responded. People can debate that.

Ducey did say he is in favor of anything that supports border security and brings clarity to our immigration process. But he balked when asked if that includes the lack of a path to legal status as Trump has said.

I want to start with border security, the governor said. I think once you get that, then you can have this discussion in terms of public policy.
The Longhorn Restaurant at 129 N. Market St. is remaining open, management said.

Charlie Danner said, "We did close last Tuesday and Wednesday for maintenance and will be closed this Saturday and Sunday for additional maintenance and cleaning.

"We have restaffed and will open on Monday (Labor Day), and will remain open after that.

"We invite all of our customers, both old and new, and friends to come see us."
The son of sheriffs captain is facing multiple felony charges after a federal investigation revealed he was having drugs shipped to his fathers home, court records show.

Kevin Brent Anderson, son of Capt. Gary Anderson, who heads the Pima County Sheriffs Departments criminal investigations division, was arrested at a Marana residence May 13, according to a probable cause statement filed by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security.

Pima County property records show Capt. Anderson and his wife are the owners of the home where their son was arrested and drugs seized, the documents show.

PCSD was informed by the Department of Homeland Security that they were investigating an employees son for drug trafficking and that our employee was not involved, Deputy Ira Sewell, a sheriffs spokesman, wrote in an email. We conducted an administrative investigation which resulted in a finding of unfounded, as there were no violations of department policies/procedures or state laws.

Capt. Anderson did not respond to a request from the Star for a comment.

At the time of his arrest, Kevin Anderson, 23, was on probation for a felony drug conviction in Maricopa County.

Pima County case

On May 6, U.S. Customs and Border Protection agents at JFK International Airport in New York intercepted a package containing more than 1,000 Ecstasy pills, addressed to Kevin Anderson at his Marana home, the probable cause statement says.

The package was shipped from Germany under the business name Victorious Fitness Supplements Inc., the document says.

According to Andersons Facebook page, he works as a trainer at a personal fitness center in Marana.

On May 13, Homeland Security and the U.S. Postal Service agents arrested Anderson after he signed for the package, the court document says.

While searching the house and Andersons car, agents found several different types and quantities of drugs, including Ecstasy, amphetamines and cannabis oil, as well as digital scales, according to the document.

He was booked into the Pima County jail and released the next day on a $25,000 bond.

On May 23, Anderson was indicted in Pima County Superior Court on felony charges of transporting drugs into the state for sale, possession of narcotics for sale, possession of dangerous drugs, possession of paraphernalia and conspiracy, court records show.

Andersons case is being prosecuted by the Arizona Attorney Generals Office, but is being tried in Pima County Superior Court.

His attorney, Christopher Scileppi, did not respond to the Stars request for comment.

On probation in Maricopa County

In 2014, Anderson pleaded guilty in Maricopa County Superior Court to one felony count of facilitation to sell or transport Ecstasy and was sentenced to two years of probation, which was set to end Aug. 5, Maricopa County court records show.

On May 16, days after his arrest in Pima County, a Maricopa County Superior Court judge issued a probation violation warrant, court records show.

Two weeks later, Andersons attorney entered a not guilty plea for the probation violation, court records show.

A second warrant was issued Aug. 9, and Anderson was booked into the Maricopa County jail on Aug. 11, where hes being held without bond, according to Sgt. Calbert Gillett, a Maricopa County Sheriffs Office spokesman.

Anderson has a hearing in a Maricopa court next week to determine if his probation will be revoked or if he will be granted bail. On Sept. 13, he has a case-management conference in Pima County Superior Court.
Help India!

By Estesham Qutub,

My name is Ehtesham Qutubudin Siddiqui, age: 29 years, occupation: Book Publisher. I was born in Uttar Pradesh in a poor family. In the year 1996, I moved to Mumbai for further education. My residential address in Mumbai is 202, Safiya Manzil, Naya Nagar, Mira Road (East), Thane  401107. I completed my XII standard through Maharashtra College, Belasis Road, Mumbai Central. I took admission in Narayan Nagu Patil Engineering College, in Pen. Raigad through Mumbai University in Chemical Engineering course in 1998. I used to stay in a hostel near the campus. However during my vacation and holidays, I used to visit Mira Road which is my residential permanent address.

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On 27 September, 2001 while I was travelling from Pen to visit my house, on the way, I thought of visiting a library situated at Feetwala Compound, Kurla (West) Mumbai, for reading some books. That evening around 08:00 pm, some policemen came in the library and took me along with seven other people to Kurla Police Station. That did not tell me the reason for detention, and arrested me in the offence of u/s 10&13 of unlawful activities (prevention) Act 1967. They informed me that students Islamic Movement of India has been declared as a banned organisation. They informed me about the offence only after the arrest i.e. when they produced me before Magistrate of Kurla Court. The truth is that I was never associated with any organisation which is mentioned above. The Honble magistrate of Kurla court had released me on bail of Rs. 3000/- cash. However the Kurla police, instead of releasing me took me to the police station and put me inside the lock up and said that I have been arrested in another case of the same offence. Kurla police has framed me in false cases which I had nothing to do with, and they have spoilt my reputation in society. In regard to second false case, the police took 15 day custody. After 15 days, I was granted bail of Rs. 8000/- security. As it was conditional bail. I could not continue my studies which resulted in the end of engineering course. After that, I learned Desktop Publishing on my Personal Computer and started a DTP business from my house in Mira Road know as Graphic Point. In March 2004, I started a publishing company known as Shahadah Publishing House publishing Islamic literature and books on general knowledge. In July 2003, I had taken admission in B Sc to complete my graduation through Indira Gandhi National Open University. But due to my arresting and false implication in 11th July 2006, Mumbai serial train blast case my whole career has gone for a toss.







Due to old record in Kurla police station, it had become a regular routine of detaining me. Every time or whenever any incident took place in Mumbai, I was called by police for a formal interrogation. Beside those two false cases implemented by Kurla police. I do not have any other criminal record as I was living a normal life in Mumbai.

On 11 July, 2006, serial bomb blast took place on Western Railway during peak hours, that time I was at home. When I learned about the blast at Mira Road, I went to the blast site to help the victims. I know very well that police will come to me for formal enquiry like the regular police routine, that had been a trend since 2001. Hence senior police Inspector namely Murade of Mira Road police station came to my house on 13 July, 2006 in evening time and asked me to come to the police station on the next day. On 14 July, 2006 at 11:00 am, I went to Mira Road police station to meet Sr. PI Murade. He questioned me about my whereabouts and asked me for my phone number, which I gave him (28115084) and left the police station. He also told me that if required for further investigation I will be called.

On 24 July, 2006, in the morning around 11:00 am, police sub-Inspector Sunil Mane of Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) unit-II, visited my house and asked me to come at Nagpada ATS office, the same before 03:00 pm. That day I went to Nagpada ATS office at around 02:00 pm. I met PSI Sunil Mane and he told me that senior official will me to interrogate me so they will take Bhoiwada ATS office. Upon reaching Bhoiwada ATS office, PSI Sunil Mane took me to the second floor in lock up, there he called PI Vilas Joshi, PI Dinesh Ahir, PSI Shailesh Gaekwad and other beating me with belts and sticks and continued beating me till evening. Later they took me from Bhoiwada to Nagpada handcuffed. They did not allow me to inform my parents or any of my relatives. When I was taken from Nagpada to Bhoiwada, before taking me inside the lock up, they emptied my pockets during my physical search. They took away my mobile, ATM card, PAN card and Rs. 25.000/- cash, which I was carrying off, with which I wanted to purchase a personal computer. PSI Sunil Mane only made entry of ATM card, PAN card and mobile in panchnama. However they distributed the Rs. 25000/- cash among themselves. On 29 July, 2006, When PSI Sunil Mane repreparing panchnama, I noticed that he did not mentioned the Rs. 25.000 cash in the recovery. Upon which I asked him about the money. I was surprised by his reply: bhool ja be tere paise.!

Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) detained me illegally from 24 July, 2006 to 29 July, 2006, as I was not produced before any Magistrate till 29 July, 2006. During this period ATS officers continued beating me for several hours everyday.

ATS officers search my house in my absence, as I was in their custody. They took all the books and literature which was published recently and took into their custody. ATS officers taken all valuable things from house, which I saw in ATS office and which included computer, printer, drill machine, tape recorder, Rs. 10.000/- cash, blankets etc. ATS officers chose two books namely Jihadi Azkar and Islam ki Rooh-Jihad fi Sabilillah, which described basic fundamentals of Jihad in Islam, and contains verses of Quran and saying of Prophet Muhammad (pbuh), and does not contain any inflammatory material and is easily available in the market. On the basis of these two books they arrested me on 29 July, 2006 and produced me before Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate, 2nd Court, Mazgaon, Mumbai and took 15 days police custody u/s 10&13 of unlawful activities (prevention) Act 1967. I became surprised when charge sheet was filed and one book namely jihad fi sabilillah-kiyon added in recovery which is not published by me. I wanted to tell many things to magistrate about the torture and illegal detention but ATS threatened me not to say anything to magistrate or else they were torture me more severely using third degree torture methods, therefore I could not tell any thing to the magistrate.

ATS officer took me to unit-II office and they started beating me, they never told me any thing that why they had arrested me but kept beating me. While torturing they used to say that to musalman hai isliye tere ko mar rahe hain with every blow they used to abuse my religion and said tere ko yehan koi nahi bachayega on 03 August, 2006 I was cruelly tortured by PSI Shailesh Gaekwad, PSI Sunil Mane and PI Vilas Joshi and asked me to accept the said crime of bomb blast in front of senior officials of ATS because of the torture I agreed to do whatever the ATS officers told me to do. After which they tookme to ATS head office, where ATS Chief KP Raghuvanshi and DCP Naval Bajaj were seated in the office. There in front of these senior, I complained about the torture that PSI Shailesh Gaekwad, PSI Sunil Mane and PI Vilas Joshi had done, and I also told ATS chief KP Raghuvanshi, that I am innocent and they are trying to involve me in the blast case. But to my surprise KP Raghuvanshi slapped me and told the officers that this torture was not enough and asked them to take me to Bhoiwada and beat me red, blue and black. I completely lost faith in the senior most officers as well as junior officers because this fraud of framing innocent people was ordered by senior officers of ATS including ATS chief. That on next day i.e. on 05 August, 2006 an officer namely PI Sunil Deshmukh took me to Chandan Chowki at Juhu, there the officers conducted Narco analysis test which was illegal and without permission of court, and the officers from Forensic Science Laboratory, Mumbai were also present there. Before taking me to Chandan Chowki, I was taken for medical check up at KEM Hospital, where I had complained about the torture, the medical officer present there referred to get x-rays and gave some medicines. However the medical report were hidden and no report of torture was registered. After the illegal Narco test DCP Naval Bajaj told me that, I confirm that you are innocent and we will transfer you to judicial custody on 12 August, 2006. However the next day I was taken to Nagpada unit-II by PI Dinesh Ahir, and upon reaching there he along with other officers tortured me and also gave electric shock on my private parts. After torturing me for ten hours they left me back to Bhoiwada lock up.

On 12 August, 2006, ATS officers arrested me in Mumbai serial train blast case and took police custody for two days. ATS officers told me that I will be sent to Judicial custody on 14 August, 2006. However on 14 August, 2006, they took police custody upto 25 August, 2006. On the same day I was taken to Kurla in Vijay Salaskars anti-Robbery Squad office which is also a torture room. There the officers beat me with belt and stick and then they handcuffed me to the window and did not allow me to sleep and I remained standing whole night. in the same night ie. In the night of 59th anniversary of Independence day, horrify torture were carried out by Vijay Salaskars men on the family members of an accused namely Faisal Shaikh, who is under arrest in the Mumbai serial train case. These torture is a great shame for nation as our country became Independent on the ideology of ahinsa lodged by father of nation Mahatma Gandhi. In front of us Vijay Salaskars men had removed the dress of 75 year old Faisals father and beat him with belt. They also insult the modesty of woman by uncovering the face of wife of Faisals brother, which is covered by veil.







On 21 August, 2006, PI Vilas Joshi, API Survey of Nagpada unit took me to Ujjain by train. There ATS officer shown me a hut 20 km away from Ujjain city. After that they told me that now you attended a meeting held in 1st week of July at the said place. I was stunned and surprised because they falsely implicated me in the said meeting. On 24 August, 2006, I was taken back to Bhoiwada lock up.

On 25 August, 2006, I was produced before Honble Judge of Mazgaon Court and ATS again took police custody till 08 September, 2006 in another case of Mumbai serial train blast registered by Andheri Railway Police Station. ATS officers did not allow me to sleep for six consecutive days. During this period an officer from Ahmadabad, Gujarat namely DG Vanzara also interrogated me and also abused and tortured me. He said that you are in Mumbai that is why you are alive, if you were arrested in Gujarat, I would have done your encounter. DG Vanzara told Naval Bajaj that the arrested accused are Muslims, therefore implicate them in the blast case to avoid public reaction and pressure from the government, and if required shoot any of them and show that they were trying to escape from custody.

On 05 September, 2006, I was taken to ATS Head Office, where police commissioner AN Roy, ATS chief KP Raghuvanshi, Adl. CP SK Jaisawal, Jaijeet Singh were present. However Jaijeet Singh and SK Jaisawal left the room. KP Raghuvanshi told me that we are not able to find the real culprits and were are planning to frame up the case because government is pressurising us to implicate the arrested accused and finish the case, and also told me that we will make you an approver in the case and you will be released after some months. He also offered me Rs. 25 lakhs for becoming an approver. I refused and told him that I am innocent and there is no question of confessing the crime or turning into an approver. The next day I was taken to Bangalore to conduct Brain mapping test, polygraph test and Narco analysis test. PI Raja Mandge and PI Prasad Khandekar took me along with them to Bangalore through Jet Airways. In Bangalore I was taken to Forensic Science Laboratory, where brain mapping and polygraph test conducted by Dr S Malini. On next day I was taken to Bowring and Lady Cursion Hospital for the Narco analysis test. After conducting these test I was brought back to Mumbai on 08 September, 2006. While returning to Mumbai API Shelke told me in the plane that the test confirms that I am innocent and will be released shortly. However ATS officers produced me before the court and took police custody till 14 September, 2006, and arrested me in another case of Mumbai serial train blast registered by Bandra Railway Police Station. On 10 September, I was again taken to Bangalore for another Narco analysis test. The Narco test was conducted on 12 September by Dr S Malini. During the test, I was conscious and understood all the questions asked by Dr S Malina and answer given by me. The next day i.e. on 13 September, 2006, I was brought to Mumbai by another officer. PI Prasad Khandekar and was taken to Nagpada ATS head office and produced me before KP Raghuvanshi then he told me that I have taken lot of rest and now it is time to break your bones. If you want to save yourself then do as directed and become an approver. I declined his offer saying that I am innocent and you all are trying to frame me in an offence which I have nothing to do with, this infuriated him and he told to PI Tajne to take me to Kalachowki police station and beat me till I obey them. PI Tajne took me to Kalachowki police station, there officers including Adl. CP Jaijeet Singh, DCP Naval Bajaj, ACP Sadashiv Laxman Patil PI Raja Mandge, Tajne, Khanwilkar and other constable started beating me using third degree torture methods. During the torture ATS officer showed me an edited CD of the Narco test, when I told them that the CD was edited. They started beating me mercilessly and asked me to act according to their wish. The series of tortur continued till 18 September, 2006, and on the same day PI Khanwilkar talked to me in private and said that he will request to the police commissioner AN Roy for my judicial custody on 22 September, 2006 and after one month I will be discharged from this case. However, when I was produced in court on 22 September, 2006, PI Khanwilkar told me that the senior officers have planned to falsely implicate you people in this case, but also said that do not worry as ATS have no proof of your involvement in this case and you will be discharged or acquitted from this case nearly in two years.

On 24 September, 2006, ATS officers again took me to Bangalore for Narco analysis test and I understood that the frequency of conducting so many Narco test was only to convince the senior officials of the government. From the Narco test ATS officers wanted some specific word from the accused persons which would incriminate them in this case and they wanted the Narco test video CD edited in a proper manner, which they did by the help of Dr S Malini, who conducted the Narco test thrice on me and other co-accused persons. Dr S Malini is also involved along with the ATS officers in this fraud. On 27 September, 2006, I was brought back to Mumbai on 28 September, 2006, I was produced before Honble special judge Shri Abhay Thipsay in Sewri Session Court and ATS took my police custody under Maharashtra control of organised crime Act 1999 till 09 October, 2006.

On 29 September, 2006, I was tortured continuously five hours using third degree methods by PSI Sachin Kadam, later I was produced before police commissioner AN Roy and ATS chief KP Raghuvanshi. Both the senior officers laughed at me and KP Raghuvanshi told me that I have been implicated in the blast case and forget about India being a democratic country. India is a hindu rashtra and there is no place for Muslims in India. Muslims in India are only for jail and encounter. Now only method to protect yourself from long imprisonment is that you become an approver in this case. I refused to become an approver and told them that the method to save myself was that you people catch the real culprits and release the innocent people. On this AN Roy told me that I have pressure from the home minister of India and home minister of state, and we are unable to do anything besides framing the case on you people and fabricating evidence against you people I have to answer my seniors also. After this AN Roy told me that tomorrow we are calling a press conference and you all will be famous as terrorists.

On 03 October, 2006, DCP Naval Bajaj came to meet me in Bhoiwada lock up. He was convincing me to sign on some blank paper and some paper with written material, but I did not sign on any of the papers, he abuse me and said that I was very stubborn and would not obey with being tortured. After that I was taken to Kalachowki police station for torture.

On 06 October, 2006, PI Tajne produced me before DCP Dattaray Karale of zone IV, there the DCP asked my name and lodged me in Matunga General lock up for 22 hours. During this time PI Tajne and API Deore tortured me in Matunga lock up and threatened me to sign on the papers given to me on next day. That on next day I was taken to the office of DCP Dattararay Karale, where he forced me to sign on same papers, with written material on it. PI Tajne and API Deore were also present in DCPs cabin. I did not sign the papers voluntarily but upon police pressure and threats. Later I was produced before chief metropolitan magistrate SS Shirke. The magistrate asked my name and date of first arrest in front of ATS officers. I did not understand what was going on, then I was sent back to Bhoiwada lock up. On 08 October, 2006, one of the ATS offices told me that the papers which I had signed was my confession, which I was not aware of till this ATS officer informed me. On 09 October, 2006, I retracted my confession, which is false and fabricated, before Honble special judge Mridulla Bhatkar, and on the same day I was remanded to judicial custody.







In the police custody of 75 days, I never forget the words of Asstt. Commissioner of Police late Shri Vinod Bhatt, who committed suicide in the second week of August. Before his suicide, during interrogation he told me that he was under immense pressure from his senior officers to implicate us falsely in Mumbai train blast case and he also promised that he will try his best not to implicate all of you innocent people till he is alive. Unfortunately Shri Vinod Bhatt committed suicide under tremendous pressure.

In the 75 days of long period police custody, ATS officers used third degree method for torture. The third degree torture methods which is used by ATS officers on me are as follows:

lATS officers used belt, which is used in flour mill, to beat us. They strike on the inner part of hand and feet about 200 times per spell leaving part of hand and feet in blue colour with strong pain during torture. After beating the parts of hands and feet become swollen. Medical officer of KEM Hospital supported ATS by not examining properly. ATS also used this belt to torture us also on any part of body, even on buttock also, due to this torture I cannot sit properly.

lATS officers given me shock using a current machine by making me nude. They use to tie wire on thumbs of legs and private parts of body. After that they pass the current at regular internals. ATS used this method of torture four times on me during police custody.

lAfter removing my clothes, I was made to sit down on floor, both hands tied by rope behind the body, thereafter my both legs stretched in opposite direction making 1800 angle. This torture method repeated many times at once during the period of custody they stretch my legs five times.

lATS officers tied me on a chair, which is kept very close to wall, they tied my head in a way that I cannot move my head anywhere in any direction. Then they drop the water drop-wise on my scalp upto eight hours. Due to this torture very strong pain occurred in neck and head.

lThey used to tie me upside down (i.e. in reverse position) and my both legs and hands also tied by rope, then they used to pour water in my nose at regular intervals about one hour, they use this technique of torture on me 3 time.

lATS officers threatened me that my family member also will be arrested in this case or brought by ATS and they will be molested, if I do not sign on confessional statement, they used example of family of my co-accused Faisal Shaikh, which was molested by Vijay Salaskar team in front of me.

lATS officers, including senior officers of IPS rank police commissioner AN Roy and ATS chief KP Raghunvanshi, given huge amount of cash after release, and also given the inducement of settlement anywhere in the world. These officers also promised many times to discharge me from the case if I became an approver.

I Ehtesham Qutubuddin Siddiqui solemnly affirm that whatever has been stated here above is true and correct as per my knowledge and belief.

Estesham Qutub is currently lodged in a Mumbai prison. His current address is UT-1129/10, 2/4 (Anda Cell),Mumbai Central Prison, Arthur Road, Mumbai 400 011

Illustrations by Yusuf

(Source: The Milli Gazette, 1-15 October 2010, pp. 8-9)


Help India!

By Saba Syed Hafeez for Twocircles.net

Last Wednesday morning, I got the news about the passing away of Kidwai Saheb (Dr A. R. Kidwai).Inna lillahe wa Inna elayhi raajoon (To God we belong and to Him we will return). May Almighty grant him forgiveness and a high place in the heaven.

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It is common to see adjectives like academician, chemist, politician, etc., being associated with him. Perhaps a correct way to describe him would be replacing politician with parliamentarian (being member of Rajya Sabha) and administrator. Indeed, he was one the finest administrators of his time whether serving an institution or a state.

Dr. Akhalqur Rehman Kidwai was a one of the few rare personalities bold enough to help fellow Muslims and their community but also to everyone else in general (sounds familiar to all INSAN alumni, a lesson Kidwai saheb and my father got during their schooling in Jamia). Hence, he was dearly respected by everyone regardless of caste or creed; as has been pointed out by others. He was a man of action, he got things done effectively and proactively using his personal achievements and position, without any political rhetoric and noise.





Dr. A. R. Kidwai, then the Governor of Bihar, during a visit to INSAN back in 1982. Here he is visiting a student science exhibition.



During my recent visit to India one employee at the Governor House in Patna recalled when Kidwai Saheb found out that a particular project hadnt moved because secretariat had not sent the needed data all these months. He ordered the department to open on a Sunday and produce the required data and bring it to his desk that very day. When a small city was about to drown into the communal blood bath, he mobilised the administration to take all preventive steps to stop it during his rule as a Governor of Bihar.

I am not a politician but I deal with them all the time, he once told a journalist. His actions drew admirers regardless of party politics. He was appointed to his first post-retirement job as Governor of Bihar by then President Neelam Sanjeeva Reddy of Janata Dal. Today we are also witnessing how he is being remembered by all.

Dr. Kidwai who was educated at Jamia Millia Islamia, later studied at University of Illinois, and Cornell University in the U.S., always had a keen interest in education and science. From leading the nations first Biochemistry Department at Aligarh Muslim University, to Union Public Service Commission, Khuda Bakhsh Khan Oriental Library, Alia University, Dr. Ambedkar Center of Bio-medical Research, Gandhian Studies Centers, and to numerous institutions, he left profound marks wherever he served. As a true Gandhian, he also took keen interest in reaching out to the poor, the orphans, the rural farmers, and strived for national harmony.

He could have easily taken his post-retirement gubernatorial and other positions of privilege as relaxing retirement jobs, a common phenomena back in the late seventies, and still so for many. Instead he chose to spend his days as an active, engaging, initiative-taking, and problem-solving public servant.

He was and always will be a role model for all us. Though Kidwai Saheb was four years senior to my father (Dr. Syed Hasan, founder of INSAN, and known as Syed Bhai), he was a great admirer of him and was one of the few people who truly understood my fathers mission and supported it throughout. My father also had great love and respect for him. There was one rare moment when my father got emotional in public right before he was about to welcome Kidwai Saheb to the stage during his visit to INSAN campus. Kidwai Saheb later reflected,We both took the message of Gandhiji. I headed for cities, Syed Hasan headed for villages. And the villages were the ones Gandhiji emphasised. This also shows his humility despite his stature.

Many have expressed about his hospitality such as sending his car and chauffeur to picked up his guests. He kept himself always accessible and often people referred to it as his Khula Darbar. If there was a genuine request and he could do something about it, he never hesitated in doing that. One time I called, but he was not available. The receptionist at the Haryana Governor House tried to take my information though he seemed to be having difficulty. To my surprise, I received a call back. Whether it was an invitation by a Swami starting a program for orphan kids or the need to help a Tableeghi Jamaat Ijtemaa, he was always ready to offer his contributory hand for the goodness of others, though interestingly he was neither a Hindu nor a Tableeghi.

Just few years back, we wanted to honour Kidwai Saheb. While I was mostly working out the details with his family members, I was told that he wanted to talk to me. He asked me to organize a program in Delhi about INSAN since many people, especially those from the new generation in central government, are unaware of the great works of Syed Saheb and ought to know. He even offered to take care of the venue, guests, and all other logistics. It was such a generous gesture reflecting his approach.

I was fortunate to be able to talk to Kidwai Saheb several times on phone but during my recent visit, I had the opportunity to meet him as well. I was pleased to see him in good spirit but wished I could have done this at least a few years back when I could have collected some memories of the old Jamia days and few words of wisdom.

India has lost another one of her most respected sons and an incredible public servant.

Saba Syed Hafeez is son of late INSAN Founder Padamshree Dr. Syed Hasan, and engaged in hunger, homelessness, and educational causes in America.
Help India!

By Neha Dabhade for Twocircles.net

(Secular Perspective September 1-15, 2016)

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An FIR was recently registered against Amnesty International India (AII) on charges of sedition and other IPC sections. Amnesty International India had organised a panel discussion which included Kashmiri Pandits and others in Bangalore. This discussion was a part of the campaign supported by AII to promote justice for victims of human rights violation in Jammu and Kashmir.

The Kashmiri Pandits present at the discussion chanted slogans hailing the Indian Army, which was met with pro-freedom sloganeering by some of the youth in the audience. Though AII clarified that it doesnt take any positions on self determination with regards to Kashmir, the government insisted that the event is anti-national, like the ABVP (Indian Express, 2016). In the midst of the chaos and din raised by the ABVP, the Report that Amnesty has published to uncover the plight of Kashmiris in Jammu and Kashmir got sidelined if not completely invisible.

Kashmir today is like a war zone where on one hand there is violence perpetrated by the militants and on the other hand, a strong presence of the Indian Army and internal security forces fighting against these militants. There have been rising concerns on the excesses committed by the Army and internal security forces against the citizens leading to worst forms of human rights violations. The Report, published in 2015, is called Denied Failures in Accountability in Jammu and Kashmir. It outlines the obstacles faced by the victims and their relatives in Kashmir when there are human rights violations and the role played by the security forces in this. The salient points of the Report are mentioned below.

The Amnesty Report begins with defining the scale of human rights violations in Kashmir that have been perpetrated by security forces personnel with glaring impunity. The Report states that from 1990 to 2011, the Jammu and Kashmir state government reportedly recorded a total of over 43,000 people killed. Of those killed, 21,323 were said to be militants, 13,226 civilians (those not directly involved in the hostilities) killed by armed groups, 5,369 security force personnel killed by armed groups, and 3,642 civilians killed by security forces.

This impunity is greatly accorded to the security forces by laws like Armed Forces Special Powers Act, 1990 (AFSPA) which gives them sweeping powers that lead to extrajudicial executions and other human rights violations. Section 7 of the AFSPA makes it mandatory to seek the prior sanction of Central and State authorities in order to prosecute any security force personnel in civilian courts. Under the pretext of protecting national security, the excesses of the security forces go unchallenged. 96% of all complaints brought against the army in Jammu & Kashmir have been dismissed as false and baseless or with other ulterior motives of maligning the image of Armed Forces.

To elaborate the consequences of such a system, the Report narrates the story of 17 year old Javaid Ahmad Magray who disappeared on 30th April, 2003. His parents searched high and low for him after seeing bloodstains on the pavement and security personnel outside the gate. The authorities at the army camp gave evasive answers as to the whereabouts of Javaid stating that he was taken by them for questioning until finally admitting that he was declared dead at the Soura Medical Institute. The parents found out that Javaid was wounded in an encounter with the army who claimed that Javaid was a militant. When an inquiry was carried out by the District Magistrate, it was concluded that Javaid was not a militant and the armys version of the killing was false. His parents wrote to the Ministry of Defence for sanction to prosecute the guilty officers under Section 7 of the Jammu and Kashmir Armed Forces Special Powers Act, 1990. After a long and painful wait, in 2012 they got a reply from the Ministry denying permission to prosecute stating, the individual killed was a militant from whom arms and ammunition were recovered. No reliable and tangible evidence has been referred to in the investigation Report.

Unfortunately this is not a stand-alone case where sanction to prosecute was denied. The practice of the Ministry of Defence and the Ministry of Home Affairs, which sanctions prosecutions of the army and internal forces personnel respectively, has been to either deny sanction or remain silent on such applications without citing any reason. The family members are not required to be informed about the status of the sanction, whether it is granted or denied. They often assume that the sanction is denied. This frustrating wait compels the relatives to give up the pursuit of justice which closes all avenues of appeal. Most of the times, the families are not even aware of the procedures to apply for permission to prosecute.

AFSPA by nature seems colonial, where similar laws were used by the British to preempt any legal challenge to their violence in India. AFSPA is considered draconian in the light of opinions and recommendations against it as expressed by committees constituted by the State and also by UN rapporteurs on violence against women; and on extrajudicial, summary or arbitrary executions. They have repeatedly pointed out that AFSPA had bred a culture of violence, especially against women, and eroded the principle of transparency and accountability of the state. The recommendations range from review of the law to its repealment.

Another important issue highlighted by the Amnesty Report is that since all cases are tried in military courts, civilians have limited options to appeal against judgments of these courts. The Supreme Courts extraordinary appellate jurisdiction, the Special Leave Petition, is barred from reviewing decisions made by military courts under the Constitution of India. This problematizes the jurisdiction to try cases of human rights violations that is vested with the military courts. Principle 29 of the Updated Set of principles for the protection and promotion of human rights through action to combat impunity also states: The jurisdiction of military tribunals must be restricted solely to specifically military offences committed by military personnel, to the exclusion of human rights violations, which shall come under the jurisdiction of the ordinary domestic courts

Similarly, with respect to investigations, an inquiry that is conducted by the same authority accused of the crime raises serious questions about the independence and impartiality of those proceedings. International law requires that crimes under international law be investigated by an independent authority, namely, an authority not involved in the alleged violations. The Indian Armys Human Rights Cell Reported that as of 2011, it has dismissed over 96 percent of the allegations of human rights violations brought against its personnel since 1993. The army had received 1,532 allegations of human rights violations (995 from Jammu and Kashmir, 485 from North-Eastern states, and 52 complaints from other states) out of which 1,508 were investigated, and 24 investigations remained pending as of 2011. Out of a total of 995 complaints of human rights violations against the army in Jammu and Kashmir, 986 have been investigated by the army to date, while 9 investigations currently remain pending. The army says it found that 961 of these allegations were false, baseless through internal enquiries. In the 25 cases found to be true, it says 129 army personnel were punished.

The Report points out inherent defects within the military justice system in which there are four types of court martials: general court-martial (GCM); district court-martial (DCM); summary general court-martial (SGCM); and summary court martial (SCM). In each type, members of the court martial are a part of the executive chain of command, meaning that there is a notable lack of independence. Court-martial proceedings are subject to judicial review under Article 32 of the Constitution of India (before the Supreme Court) and Article 226 (before the High Court). Thus, it is theoretically possible to challenge the verdict of a court-martial by filing a writ petition under either Article 32 or 226. However, there are no known instances of persons not subject to military law in Jammu and Kashmir challenging court-martial decisions through writ petitions.

Furthermore, the members have no qualifications or legal training of courts, thereby jeopardizing the prospects of justice.

In order to understand the implications of lack of independence of military courts, the Report narrates the story of Mushtaq. Mushtaq Ahmad Hajam was returning home after his prayers at a local mosque in Nowhatta, Srinagar on the 17th of August 1990, where he was shot at by a CRPF constable, leaving him fatally wounded. An FIR was filed by the family members of Mushtaq. The CRPF Report, however, stated that the constable fired in self-defence, though the police investigation wanted to convict the constable under Section 7 of the Armed Forces (Jammu and Kashmir) Special Powers Act in 1996. The CRPF court of inquiry and the Central government have however been reiterating time and again that no criminal cases can be pressed on the accused, and also that the case cannot be tried in civilian courts. Mushtaqs family still awaits justice.

According to the Report, the first obstacle is the reluctance of the police itself in filing of the complaints. Furthermore, the police does not take action until compelled to by the court and subsequently there are long drawn out cases. Sheilas story elaborates this aspect. Sheila was allegedly subjected to torture and sexual violence at the hands of the Deputy Superintendent of Police who was investigating the death of her neighbor. However, she experienced a lot of resistance from the police when she went to register her complaint. Subsequently, the Inspector General of police visited her family and offered an amount of 200,000 rupees, and jobs for both of her brothers. She refused to accept these, fearing future harassment. The State Human Rights Commission whom she approached in 2004 passed a judgement in 2008 stating that compensation be provided to Sheilas family and a police complaint be registered. Neither of these recommendations were implemented, however.

The next obstacle comes in the form of lack of cooperation of the army and security forces with investigations by the police. This ranges from not being present for questioning, to not responding to requests for the rosters of personnel involved in operations, records of weapons and ammunition used, etc. This has led to justice being denied to many. When Irfan Ganai and his cousin Reyaz stepped out of house to investigate a gunshot, fearing stolen cattle, a subsequently fired gunshot hit killed him. His family members guarded the body for more than 15 hours to ensure that the army doesnt take his picture and label him a militant in front of the authorities. What followed was a gruesome denial of justice, as the army refused to cooperate with the Sub-Divisional Police Officer who had sent letters to the Commanding Officer of the 13 Rashtriya Rifles regarding the details of the army personnel involved in the operation on the 30th of June, 2013, repeatedly. This uncooperative demeanour extended in case of the army officers and personnel too, who, despite being summoned for testifying, remained absent from all scenarios of investigation, eventually leading to the police abandoning the investigation unfruitfully.

What is perhaps the most heart rending experience of the Kashmir conflict is the plight of the relatives and the families of those who disappear or become victims of extrajudicial executions. Their quest for justice becomes painful when no information is given to relatives about the investigations. The police station refuses to divulge information to relatives and most of the times officers dont even meet them. Ghulam Mohammads son Abdul Hamid Dar was arrested on the 29th of December, 1995 by the army, and they later confirmed he was being held at the Sheeri camp in Baramulla. When he was allowed to meet Abdul at Boniyar camp on the 8th of January, they were allowed to see him from a distance, and his body seemed to be propped up on a bench, unmoving. Ghulam believes that his son was killed by the army and it disposed off his sons body when the police station refused to accept it. Ghulam tried filing an FIR at Sheeri police station, but it was not filed until six months later. Subsequently, Ghulam filed a habeas corpus writ in the High Court, and the court ordered a judicial enquiry. Ghulam and his family never got to know the contents of the Report. Neither were they informed about the outcome of the judicial proceedings. They were offered compensation to settle, but they did not. The investigation was then taken up by the State Home Department, which seeked the Centres permission to execute two army personnel, which was denied in December 2011. All through this, Ghulams family was kept out of the loop, and they eventually decided to give up on the case.

After facing harassment and trauma during the investigations as seen above, the lack of adequate financial compensation to families adds insult to their injuries. Most of the times, the victims are the sole breadwinners in the families. In spite of this fact, procedures for access to compensation remain weak. For instance, families are often intimidated by the concerned authority to withdraw cases by offering them compensation. Many dont take compensation viewing it as a tacit bargain to withdraw their cases. In addition, conditions are placed on eligibility for financial relief like, not being involved in militancy which in the first place is the allegation to be proved. Another condition is that the death certificate of the victim has to be furnished. This is impossible in cases of enforced disappearances since the victims are declared dead only after 7 years of the disappearance.

Recommendations:

 The provisions of prior sanction for prosecution from the State and Central authorities must be removed from AFSPA and criminal procedure code to ensure that trials are independent and fair in civilian courts. In the meanwhile, the families and applicants seeking sanction to prosecute must be informed about the status of their application.

 Make information regarding the proceedings and verdicts conducted in court martials public by making it more accessible through RTI/ online.

 Repeal AFSPA in order to ensure compliance with UN Principles for the Prevention of Extra-legal, Arbitrary and Summary Executions and other instruments India is signatory to.

 Definitions of torture and disappearance in Indian law should be consistent with the ones mentioned in UN Convention against Torture and other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment and International Convention on the Protection of All Persons from Enforced Disappearance

 Become party to international instruments/ conventions against torture and enforced disappearances. More importantly, national laws should be framed accordingly and implemented effectively.

 Right to truth will be upheld by keeping families informed about the procedures and status of applications even when the inquiry is led by the National Human Rights Commission.

 Review the provisions of compensation ex gratia to the families of victims where there is no impossible conditionality and threats or intimidation from the authorities. Compensation should be adequate and ensured especially to survivors of sexual violence.

On a concluding note, one can only hope that the State will take notice of this Report and implement its recommendations in the light of the recent unrest and protest happening in Kashmir which reflects the disaffection of the people stemming from years of violations of their human rights.

The report was first published in Secular Perspective, a fortnightly publication of Centre for Study of Society and Secularism, in its September 1-15 edition
Help India!

By Pervez Bari, TwoCircles.net

Bhopal: Dr Asma Zehra, executive committee member of All India Muslim Personal Law Board, (AIMPLB) addressed media persons in the city and said that the Muslim community will not lie low but oppose tooth and nail if any interference is made in their personal laws by the government of the day.

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The men and womenfolk of the community would struggle together, shoulder to shoulder, if need be, spiritedly and peacefully against the forces which are hell bent on meddling with the Muslim personal laws. We strongly condemn the moves of the BJP-led NDA government at the Centre backed by the RSS for trying to interfere in the Muslim personal laws and their nefarious design to formulate the Uniform Civil Code, she said.

Addressing a public meeting of Muslim women on the topic entitled Tahaffuz-e-Shariat aur Khwateen ki Zimmedariyan (Protection of Islamic law and responsibilities of women), Zehra said, India is a Secular Democratic country. Muslims are guaranteed the right to freedom of religion in the Indian Constitution. Different religious groups in our country follow their respective personal laws. Muslim Personal law is based on the Holy Book Quran and the Sunnah of the Holy Prophets Hadith (sayings). Islamic jurisprudence is a broad and meaningful subject.

We the Muslims of this country unitedly oppose any such effort to revoke the Muslim Personal Law which is an integral part of the Constitution. We the 10 crore Muslim Women of India will try to protect the Muslim Personal Law, she added.





Dr. Asma Zehra, executive committee member of All India Muslim Personal Law Board, (AIMPLB), addressing a public meeting of Muslim women in Bhopal



She said the real issues facing the Indian society nowadays are female feticide, female infanticide, dowry harassment, domestic violence and womens safety and security. However, the irony is that these vital issues are overlooked and Talaq (Divorce) is debated. Forty per cent of wives in India are facing domestic violence by husband and in-laws, she added.

Dr. Zehra expressed her anguish over the much hype being created in the media and the society over the issue of triple Talaq in Islam. Through this, she said, it is being portrayed that on the issue of divorce, Islam is anti-woman, gender biased and against fundamental rights of women. On the contrary the reality is that in Islam women are given equal rights in every of walk of life, she emphasized.

She said that Talaq is the most unpleasant act allowed in Islam. Every religion has a code for divorce where men and women are given the right to get separated in case of unsuccessful marriages. Marriages in the Muslim community are 97% successful and Muslim women are safe and comfortable in the Muslim Personal Law.

She said that recent articles giving the reference of Census 2011 in which it is shown that divorcees are higher percentage in Muslim community are old statistical data. Desertion and abandonment is very less in Muslim community and the burden of childrens upkeep is not on the wife.

She questioned also as to why there is an effort by the media to tarnish and damage the image of the Muslim community. Why the Muslim community has to face the blame of gender bias and gender discrimination. Islam elevated the position of Muslim women and gave her a respectable position in the society. Muslim women are socially more empowered than women of any community because of strong family system, she argued. She appealed the media not to present false figures and numbers and try to be realistic with the issues concerning the Muslim community.

Dr. Zehra also lamented that many so-called Muslim women organisations and Andolans (campaigns) have erupted recently who lack basic understanding of the Holy Quran and Hadith. They fail to understand that in cases of serious differences between husband and wife, the separation is a safe exit, she added.
Help India!

By Raqeeb Hamid Naik, TwoCircles.net

Bihar: Responding to one of the worst floods in over a decade in Bihar, US based IMRC Indian Muslim Relief & Charities (IMRC) have initiated an immediate relief work, providing ration like and ready to eat meals to the poor and needy flood affected families.

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IMRC have sanctioned an amount of Rs 33.3 lakh (USD 50,000) for relief work.

Bihar is facing one of the worst floods in the decade despite receiving less than normal rainfall as all the major rivers flowing through the state are over the danger mark. Over two million people from 1,115 villages of 12 districts in Bihar have been affected by devastating floods forcing over 1.7 lakh to take shelter in relief camps.

The floods have claimed lives of 179 people as the death toll continues to rise.

IMRC Volunteer, Afzal Ahmed from Patna while briefing about the IMRC relief work said,  More than 23 districts are affected by the floods. The water has receded in many district but Bhagalpur, Naugathia and Kathiar, which are close to river Ganga, thus worst affected. We will provide ration like rice and pulses including other essential items and ready to eat meals to people in these three districts.

Syed Abdul Najeeb, project manager of Hyderabad based Sahayata Trust, the implementation partner of IMRC, will reach flood affected districts of Bihar on Monday, September 5th to supervise and coordinate the relief work with local team of IMRC volunteers.

Right now Bihar is reeling under the worst ever floods. The flood affected families are without ration. We will try to reach out to thousands of such families, said Najeeb.

Manzoor Ghori, Executive Director of IMRC has said that the IMRC support will strengthen and expand the relief work to support thousands in need.
The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga womens cross country team got its season underway Friday night with a third place finish in the Jacksonville State Struts Season Opener at the JSU Race Course in Oxford, Ala.We all went out pretty strong and tried to stay in a pack, junior Hannah Chamblin said. Its been a hard week and it was good for us to get out there and finish as a team. It was good for our first race.Chamblin (Memphis, Tenn.) led the Mocs with an 8th place finish followed by senior Jessica York (Normandy, Tenn.) two spots behind.Chamblin covered the 4-kilometer course in a time of 14:49.3 while York posted a time of 14:59.8.Freshman Kennedy Thomson (Catharines, Ontario), running in her first meet, was the third Chattanooga runner across the line placing 16th with a time of 15:07.5. Redshirt freshman Haley Morris (Lenoir City, Tenn.) covered the distance in a time of 15:22.5, placing 21st while senior Anna Kate Chance (Columbia, Tenn.) was the fifth scoring Moc to finish, placing 23rd in a time of 15:23.4.Freshmen Julia Henderson (Brentwood, Tenn.) and Hannah Caldwell (Brentwood, Tenn.) placed 24th and 25th overall. Henderson posted a time of 15:24.4 and Caldwell covered the course in a time of 15:29.5.Auburn placed four in the top five to win the Opener with 31 points. Georgia State was second with 68 points and three in the top 10 and Chattanooga was third with 78 points. The Mocs finished ahead of Southern Conference foes Samford and Mercer. The Bulldogs were fifth with 117 points follows by Mercer with 140 points for sixth.The mens team runs at 10 a.m. Saturday in Nashville at the Belmont Opener at Percy Warner Park. Both teams will return home to host the annual PowerAde Invitational.
10/29/2022

The Chattanooga Mocs will head to Johns Island, S.C., for the 2022 Southern Conference mens and womens Cross Country Championships on Sunday, October 30. The championships will be held at the ... more
Pink Floyd fans are in for another treat after the launch earlier this week of what promises to be a spectacular exhibition at the Victoria and Albert Museum in the nations capital. Following on from the welcome news of a new box set featuring many previously unreleased tracks from their early years being made available, their devoted followers can now attend a special London Show dedicated to the band.

Seeking to emulate success of Bowie show

The slightly tongue in cheek The Pink Floyd Exhibition: Their Mortal Remains will no doubt hope to emulate previous hit shows hosted at the iconic venue, such as the hugely popular exhibit that played homage to David Bowie in recent years.

Attendees are promised a glitzy light show and access to rare concert footage of Pink Floyd, in addition to an opportunity to view handwritten lyrics by the global phenomenon.

Not quite the reunion fans hoped for

Whilst not quite satisfying Floyd fans desire to see a reunion of the group, the same team that were behind their amazing stage shows from the past have provided their skills for the new presentation. The links to the past dont end there as Aubrey Po Powell  the creative director behind several Floyd album covers  is the co-curator.

Mason attended the launch

Original drummer, Nick Mason (a sprightly 72-years young) was at the launch in Knightsbridge to provide his blessing for the notable event.

In typical flamboyant style, a giant inflatable pig flew overhead at the museum to mark the occasion, echoing a similar image on the cover of Pink Floyds 1977 album entitled Animals.

Mason was asked by Reuters how he thought that the band would fair in the modern musical environment if they were starting up now and surprised many by suggesting that I don't think we'd even get on The 'X Factor'.



Spectacular show promised

V&A curator, Victoria Broakes told reporters that although they had not sat all of the surviving Floyd members down in a room together, they had all provided their approval of the show. She enthused by adding that they could all be brought together in a fashion at the V&A though, impressing on potential attendees the very strong visual aspect of the band that shone through their work.

As a member of the team that also worked on Bowies show at the V&A in 2013, Ms Broakes is well-qualified to comment on the potential success of her latest venture which includes in excess of 350 distinct exhibits.

The show formally opens at the V&A in May next year and is expected to continue until October 2017. As such it will mark 50 years since Floyds first single Arnold Layne back in 1967.
Unified Communications Week in Review: RingCentral, Panasonic, Sangoma & More

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By Alicia Young

Web Editor By Alicia YoungWeb Editor

Happy Saturday! It was an exciting week in Unified Communications with Panasonic and Sangoma (News - Alert) releasing new solutions. The UC awards train continued this week as well, with RingCentral gaining recognition, and the community also has some valuable insight to offer on partnerships. Now that its the weekend, lets take a look back at these exciting last few days.





The week kicked off with news that the Panasonic (News - Alert) Systems Communications Company of North America has released its new UC Pro Communications software. It was made to work with various Panasonic UC hardware and targets small and midsize businesses that need to connect as many as 250 users. The UC Pro software has several benefits, one example being that it makes it possible for businesses to add mobile devices to their networks. You can find all the details on this release and the softwares capabilities HERE.

On the same note, Sangoma Technologies (News - Alert) has released its PBXact UCC. Theyve long boasted the capabilities of their PBXact UC suite of hardware and software for business. Its latest release builds upon the success of its on-site suite by addressing the needs of small and midsize businesses. They would like access to the communications features but also wish to gain the security and ease of setup that comes with cloud-based software. You can final all the information on this new release HERE.

RingCentral (News - Alert) continued the trend of UC solutions receiving recognition when it was named a Leader in Gartners Unified Communications as a Service (UCaaS) category of Magic Quadrant study. The Magic Quadrant study focuses on two main points: completeness of vision and ability to achieve that vision. Companies are then ranked according to these two points, and placed in a grid of four squares. Being named as a Leader is a big deal, and will boost RingCentrals credibility tremendously. For all the details on how they earned this ranking, go HERE.

Finally, TMCs (News - Alert) Maurice Nagle rounded out the week by providing insight into how partners can play a key role in sales success. Fusions dedicated Partner Support Team, Sales Engineers and Implementation Coordinators are there every step of the way to ensure each deployment results in happy, productive and prosperous end users. There are physical benefits to having a dedicated channel team, but its even better when partners receive education and certification in the complete product suite. You can read all about Fusions Partner Support Team HERE.

While some exciting news has been highlighted here, thats certainly not all that went on this week. Be sure to head to the Unified Communications homepage for all the updates, and come back next week for the latest insights. Have a great Labor Day weekend!
Is it just me or does everybody who hits 50 start doing things they have never done before? Maybe there is an urgent need to get everything in in case we are running out of time. Or maybe while we were educating ourselves, starting a family and choosing what seemed most lucrative, we had put off the things we wanted to do because there just wasnt money or time.

Perhaps we have waited to be at that place in our lives where we are comfortable enough and brave enough to say, why not?

After losing 17 pounds on Nutrisystem, I listened to my body tell me enough of the packaged food. Even though they tell you to add a fresh salad or vegetable  I was done, but it was a good start and helped me learn portion control and helped me get enough weight off so that I had energy for fitness.

I tackled workouts here and there, but nothing really consistent or organized. I wanted to get back into yoga and I sought out a place to join a yoga class.

The Hot Yoga Challenge was being offered by 3 Hearts Yoga for the month of September and I had always wanted to try hot yoga. They heat the room up to about 105 degrees or so and for an hour  you move, grab, hold and sweat!

Even though I am 50 now, I am pretty healthy  no high blood pressure, no high cholesterol the only thing I really deal with is menopause (hot flashes and headaches) and arthritis.

Well, I thought hot yoga might not be ideal for hot flashes but I found that it is amazing for arthritis!

Murray had one of the hottest summers this year with steamy, high heat indexes into the 100s and while at the ranch, my farrier Bill Sampson was shoeing my horses and mentioned he liked the soggy heat.

That surprised me because even though I like heat, I dont like heat with humidity. I was always a sauna room girl, not a steam room girl. But Bill said, the heat helped his bones to feel good when he worked, because he had had several injuries and broken bones in the past.

Hmm maybe hot yoga would help my arthritis. Whenever I would work out arthritis would keep me from enjoying it and also kept me from staying consistent. But if I am not in pain while working out, I would be able to continue it, enjoy it and my muscles would get stronger to support my bones and, that may actually help my arthritis.

Now I am no cripple, its basically just my hands and feet so I still do quite a lot, but I just cant wear high heels anymore and exercise has not been enjoyable  until now.

I prepared for my first class of hot yoga by turning up my air conditioner freezing cold and full blast the whole 15 minute drive to town. I was READY for the overly heated room.

I was a minute late when the class had started so I just jumped in and caught up. My freezing bones and drawn muscles welcomed the heat as I moved. It took a little while before I was sweating like the rest, because I had chilled myself all the way to my bones.

I remember twenty years ago working at the downtown YMCA in Chattanooga and during winter, I had to be relieved at the check in desk almost every hour so I could sit in the sauna for ten minutes and warm up. I have always had cold intolerance (until I began hot flashing) so my co-workers were kind to let help me stay warm.

Sitting in the sauna fully dressed (and back then we dressed professionally at the desks and not in tee shirts) I did not sweat because I was so chilled to the bone. As soon as I felt the heat reach my bones, I would go back to my desk and could survive the cold bursts of air coming at me from the front door for another hour.

So, it took about ten minutes for me to begin sweating in class. When the sweat began to trickle it took no time before it was dripping all down my body. Not just my head and face, not just under my arms, but every pore in my body opened up and released toxins, thoughts of menopause, arthritis and all the cares in my little world.

When you have a clean face with no makeup, when your hair is tied back and when you are wearing workout clothes  it feels great to sweat! I loved sweating at the ranch, but this time I was not lugging 25 gallon muck buckets. This work was for me alone.

I was drenched and needed a towel for my face, but I had a loose tee shirt and just used that to wipe my face down. Note to self: bring a towel.

The movements felt so good. It took me back to my days at Fit One in Ooltewah when I enjoyed working out. I used to take Cheryl Murmans Yoga class and my body always felt great stretching and holding poses as my body strengthened.

Some people think yoga is just stretching and not enough power for them to take seriously but yoga is serious.

When you move into a pose that your body normally doesnt do and you hold that pose, you are using muscles you never use and strengthening them  to the core. When you have a strong core, you are a strong person. But yoga also strengthens the mind.

If you never rest your mind but are consumed by the cares of the outside world as well as your world while you work out  I must keep a little makeup on I must hold in my stomach because there is a cute guy or girl over on the treadmill I must look good while I work out because everyone is looking at me Nope. Not with yoga.

When I do yoga, I am ME. It is FOR me. I go with clean skin, hair pulled back, loose fitting clothes and I am in my world. I only hear the voice of the instructor and I refuse to make eye contact with others while we are yoga-ing because it is a time for me to have full body awareness.

My own body. I hear my breath; I feel each drop of sweat. I am aware of muscles I forget about that are now being stretched and strengthened. And, I love myself. I am not worried about what I look like, if my gut is hanging out  I am a human being made glorious by my creator. Just like everyone else.

When the instructor Cynthia asked us to come up on our toes, I came out of my pure happy self for a second and thought, Oh no, because that is where my arthritis is. I had broken both of my big toes in my twenties and I really cant bend them very well until I did hot yoga.

I felt as if I were given back my youth! I could get up on my toes and hold the stance! My balance is a bit off with certain poses, but in a few weeks, that will be better as I get stronger. No matter how much you are on our feet each day, you do not use certain muscles in them until you do yoga. You will realize that holding a tree pose takes a lot of strength in your ankles. It will come.

The standing workout was amazing and felt good, but I was ready by the time Cynthia said it was

time for the mat work. About ten minutes before the end of class (and I had no idea how much longer we had to go) I didnt think I could make it to the end. I thought I would have to step outside of the room just to get away from the heat while my heart rate was up.

Yes, my heart rate was up  yoga IS a workout. When you watch yoga it looks easy and you wonder how it could possibly raise your heart rate, but if you DO yoga, you will see that strengthening your core muscles is work and your breathing gets harder and faster.

I kept telling myself, Just one more minute and in no time it was already the cool down and I made it! The whole class! I looked like I went swimming in my clothes but so did everyone else. I was able to make eye contact and say hello to my fellow yogis after class. They seemed to have enjoyed it as well.

The Hot Yoga Challenge is not every other day or twice a week  it is EVERY day of the week (except weekends) and I am going to do each night!

I just went to the second class last night and even though I froze myself again during the drive to the studio, I was not a minute late this time and I entered the sweltering room with a little time to before we began. That was the killer for me. Not to encourage being late to a yoga class  that really is not good form, but I began sweating at the start this time and my froze to the bone tactic didnt help me.

This time, I really thought I would have to leave class but I still made myself stick it out  and I made it again. Our bodies really can do more than we think if we just allow them to try.

I am not in pain with hot yoga and I am able to move freely. I absolutely love the way I feel. And as I said, it is an exercise for the mind. No matter how hard I work holding a pose or attempting a stretch, my mind is resting. I am in my body feeling every glorious move and delighting in that alone yet I know inside there is a lot going on with toxins releasing, energy building, and blood circulating.

How did this affect my hot flashes? Well lets just say I didnt notice them at all.

jen@jenjeffrey.com
Dont you hate it when some celebrity you really respect and most people venerate just comes out and says something that ticks you off, and yet you find that while you are incredibly frustrated with him or her, and absolutely disagree with certain statements, you still really respect that person? I respect Clint Eastwood for a million reasons, but his recent comments got on my nerves. So, Im going to try and break down why I revere him and why Im massively annoyed with him right now. And yet, I still think hes awesome.

Why everybody has to respect Clint Eastwood

Hes eighty-six, still healthy and alive, and not a vampire. Thats pretty impressive. He isnt afraid to use the f word in interviews. And you know, probably because hes Clint Eastwood, wed feed him peanuts to hear him say that word over and over again because he sounds so cool when he says it. Eastwood played the most conflicted, not at all clean-cut, bad guy type good guy cowboys better than anybody before or since. He made us love the shady, underdog heronothing like the John Wayne style cowboy herobecause he was cooler than the Fonze when he did it. And that was a huge film making shift. After all, if you have ever had the holy terror of reading the Puritanical Paradise Lost, you know the only entertaining character in it is Satan. Satans the only entity thats ever doing anything thats really interesting to humansyou know, all the sinful things we actually kind of want to do. Eastwood managed to Satanize the Hollywood hero masterfully because he was just like the popular bad boy in high school your mother told you to stay away from but you couldnt get enough of. And plus hed save the girl or the world or whatever needed saving. Eastwood tells it how it is, basically, and gets right the point with the kind of blunt straightforwardness some find insulting but I revere, especially in an octogenarian. Make my day. Lets leave it at that; theres no real need to elaborate.

Why Clint Eastwoods recent comments are so unnerving

Lets stop there since my reasons for respecting Eastwood could fill up a novel.

And yet, he had to go and ruin my day by telling America to just get over Donald Trumps racism. In the same interview, he called this generation wimps (he used a stronger term, actually, because hes so cool). You know, I have no qualm with him name calling people in this generation because hes correct. At least, in comparison to himself, tough guy Clint Eastwood, hes darn right.

Were all wimps when held up to him and we still want his autograph even though he called us a bad name.

Racist words to hurtand words can cause emotional trauma

But telling people to get over Trumps racism bothers me. Well get over racist comments when the real racist idiots out there get over racism first. Racism promotes hatred that can often lead to violence.

And while I dont care about what people do with their spare time in general, I do care if theyre doing things that hurt other people. Words really can hurt people and cause a lot of emotional traumathink of an emotionally abused child. And abusive words often lead to the introduction of another category of abusephysical abuse and violence. Honestly the worlds got to get over racism first, then those comments wouldnt even matter.

And yet, I still respect Eastwood.In fact, I think Ill Netflix some of his movies to hear him say Make my day fifty billion times tonight. By the way, Mr. Eastwood, how many peanuts will it cost me to hear you say my favorite f word again? Because Id rather remember you for either that funny interview quip or your catch phrase being spoken instead of your comment about Trump and racism.

In fact, to prevent such statements from happening again, Id like to offer to continue to feed your peanuts for the rest of your life. Given the fact it seems likely youll outlive even me, thats going to cost me a lot of peanuts, isnt it?
THAAD controversy rises in ROK amid president's slight change in position Updated: 2016-09-03 04:30 (Xinhua)

SEOUL -- Controversy resurfaced here over the deployment of a US missile shield, or Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD), in the Republic of Korea (ROK) as ruling party lawmakers boycotted all parliamentary procedures in protest against the National Assembly speaker's remarks on THAAD.

Parliament Speaker Chung Sey-kyun said in his opening speech at the Assembly's first regular session on Thursday that it would be hard to agree with the government's attitude to the THAAD deployment from the perspective of dealing with the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK)'s nuclear program.

The former lawmaker of the main opposition Minjoo Party accused the government of failing to communicating with the public over the US missile defense system that resulted in split and confusion among people.

Chung urged the government to stop a "chicken game" between the two Koreas, calling for talks with the DPRK that can start with smallest possible issues.

Saenuri Party lawmakers walked out of the chamber, demanding the speaker's apology and resignation. The ruling party has boycotted all parliamentary procedures until Friday, including the passage of a supplementary budget plan for the second half, strongly advocated by President Park Geun-hye to reinvigorate the faltering economy.

Members of the ruling party occupied the speaker's office for a rally against Chung's comments. The governing party lost its majority in parliament in the April 13 elections amid mounting dissatisfactions with income equality and slowing economy.

Chung Jin-suk, the governing party's floor leader, reportedly claimed the speaker violated his duty of political neutrality, but Chung Sey-kyun said his remarks were made to reveal public opinion on a current issue without any political intention.

Park Jie-won, interim chairman and floor leader of the People's Party, said the speaker's remarks were "excellent" as it reflected public concerns about THAAD, depicting what the country's No. 2 said as the greatest opening speech in parliament.

Meanwhile, President Park Geun-hye on Friday made her first mention of a conditional deployment of the US missile shield on South Korean soil, before leaving for Russia to participate in the Eastern Economic Forum.

"The essence of the problem in this matter is the North's nuclear and missile threats. If these threats are eliminated, the need to deploy the THAAD system would naturally disappear," Park said in a written interview with Russia's Rossiya Segodnya posted on a Cheong Wa Dae website.

It marked the first time the ROK leader mentioned the conditional THAAD deployment, showing signs of a slight change in her hard-line position ahead of her trips to Russia and China that have strongly opposed the US missile defense system.

Park is set to visit Vladivostok for two days to attend the second Eastern Economic Forum and hold a bilateral summit with her Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin. The forum was launched last year to speed up development of the Russian Far East.

She will travle to China to attend a Group of Twenty (G20) summit scheduled to be held in Hangzhou on Sunday and Monday.

Park, however, reiterated that the THAAD deployment is a measure of self-defense to protect from the DPRK's "ever-escalating" nuclear and missile threats.

She said there is no reason, nor practical benefit, for the THAAD system to target any third country, contrasting with repeated expressions of strong objections and worries from China and Russia.

Chinese and Russian objections to THAAD in the ROK came as the US missile shield's X-band radar can peer deep into Chinese and Russian territories, breaking strategic balance in the region and damaging security interests of the two countries.
10 killed, 60 wounded in blast in Philippine president home city Updated: 2016-09-03 04:44 (Xinhua)

DAVAO CITY, Philippines -- At least 10 people have been confirmed dead and scores others wounded in an explosion in the hometown of Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte on Friday night, officials said on Saturday, amid fears the toll could further rise.

Aside from the fatalities, some 60 others were rushed to different hospitals following the blast in downtown Davao City, according to presidential spokesperson Ernesto Abella.

The blast of still unknown origin happened as thousands of people were shopping at the night market along Roxas Avenue just across the Catholic-run Ateneo de Davao University around 10:30 p.m. local time, said Captain Rhyan Batchar, regional army spokesperson.

"An explosion hit in front of the Ateneo de Davao university. There were many fatalities," Batchar told Xinhua by phone.

Duterte was in the presidential guesthouse in Panacan village, some 15 kilometers away when the explosion happened, his aides said.

The tough-talking Philippine leader, who had been mayor in the city with 1.2 million people for over 20 years before winning the presidency in May, was expected to go to the site of the incident, officials said.

Friday's incident was the latest in the southern Philippine city since 2005 when suspected Islamist terrorists set off a bomb in a bus terminal in Ecoland village, killing a child and wounding five others.

Police said they could not yet determine if the latest blast was caused by a bomb and an investigation was now underway.

In 2003, more than 30 people were killed and over 130 others wounded when alleged Muslim insurgents bombed the city's old airport and passenger harbor within a month.
Guangdong enhances trade ties with Kenya Updated: 2016-09-03 17:48 By Philip Etyang in Nairobi(chinadaily.com.cn)

Guangdong province, which is famed for its status as a symbol of China's opening up and reform policy, recently bolstered its already deep economic, trade and people-to-people cooperation with Kenya and two other African countries.

A delegation of over more than 130 outstanding Chinese enterprises, led by the Governor of the people's Government of Guangdong Province Zhu Xiaodan, visited South Africa, Ethiopia and finally wound up their tour of Africa in Nairobi, Kenya at the beginning of September.

The excursion culminated in the signing of eight cooperation agreements on investment and trade projects between Chinese and Kenyan enterprises at a conference titled China (Guangdong)-Kenya Economic and Trade Conference. The enterprises were from the areas of electronic information, household appliances, logistics, textile, building materials and agriculture.

The event was co-organized by the Kenya National Chamber of Commerce, the Kenya Investment Authority and the People's Government of Guangdong.

Several dignitaries among them Chinese Ambassador to Kenya Liu Xianfa and Kenya's Cabinet secretary for East African Affairs, Commerce and Tourism Phyllis Kandie attended the event. Cabinet Secretary for Education Fred Matiangi and Chairman of the Public Accounts Committee in the Senate and Kisumu Senator Prof Anyang Nyongo were also in attendance.

Speaking at the event, Ambassador Liu said the China (Guangdong)-Kenya Economic and Trade Conference was the largest of its kind to be held in the East African region.

"I wish to thank the Kenyan government and the state institutions for its immeasurable support in ensuring that the economic and trade cooperation between Guangdong and Kenya grows," he said.

Liu also said that Guangdong has been the single most important province from China that has helped the Kenyan economy grow in leaps and bounds.

While showcasing how important Guangdong province is to China, Liu said that if the contribution of the province was not factored in the national economy of the country, the country's economy would not be placed second in the world after USA but 15th in the world.

On her part, Kenya's Cabinet secretary for East African Affairs, Commerce and Tourism Phyllis Kandie said because of Guangdong's contribution, Kenya was now a strong economic power house in the region and it attracts a lot of Foreign Direct Investment because of its rich infrastructure, location and status of being a gateway to the East African region.

"The Kenyan government is committed to spearhead the industrialization agenda with China as its partner. The government has done a lot to facilitate industrialization through enactment of the Special Economic Zones Act 2015, the Companies Act 2015 and the Insolvency Act 2015," she said.

She encouraged the Chinese enterprises at the event to invest in Kenya's Vision 2030 ambitious Lamu Port South Sudan Ethiopia Transport (LAPSSET) corridor project. The project will link a new port in Lamu at the Kenyan coast with rail, road and an oil pipeline to neighboring South Sudan and Ethiopia.

"Kenya has recently discovered oil deposits and will start exporting oil as from 2017. I therefore wish to encourage Chinese enterprises to join hands with their Kenyan counterparts through public and private partnerships and also invest in this sector," she said.

Kandie told delegates at the conference that China should increase its imports to Kenya because the country was strategically located in a huge market of over more than 42 million Kenyans, 140 million East Africans and 400 million people in the COMESA region.

Governor of the people's Government of Guangdong Province Zhu Xiaodan said the aim of the conference was to strengthen the friendly communication between China and Kenya, deepen trade and investment cooperation as well as implement consensus reached by President Xi Jinping and President Uhuru Kenyatta.

After over 30 years of the reform and opening up policy, Guangdong Province has made great progress in economic and social development. Last year, Guangdong's Gross Domestic Product (GDP) reached USD 1.17 trillion up by 8 percent and accounting for 1/9 of the entire country and ranking first in China

Economic and trade cooperation between Guangdong and Kenya started in 2005 when Kenya Airways, the national carrier started flying direct flights between Nairobi and Guangzhou. Last year, China Southern Airlines a member of the Sky Team also began direct flights between the two cities, making it the first China civil airline to fly the route. Between 2010 and 2015, trade volume between Guangdong and Kenya grew from USD380 million to USD 1.81 billion. This has accounted for 30.1 percent of the total imports and exports between China and Kenya.
The Tennessee Supreme Court has ruled that a business CEO who signed a lease on behalf of the company as well as in his personal capacity is liable for the obligations of the lease.

At issue in the case of MLG Enterprises v. Richard Johnson are the two signatures of Richard Johnson, CEO of Mobile Manufacturing, and whether his second signature was sufficient to make him individually responsible for obligations under the lease. In addition to signing the lease for Mobile Manufacturing to rent commercial space in a Williamson County building, Mr. Johnson signed the lease personally, but added for Mobile Master Mfg. LLC in handwriting after his second signature.

More than a year into the lease, the landlord, MLG Enterprises, filed a complaint stating that Mobile Manufacturing had abandoned the lease, and Mr. Johnson breached his personal guaranty agreement in the lease. Mr. Johnson maintained that the addition of the handwritten words absolved him of any personal obligation under the lease. The trial court agreed, dismissing the landlords complaint against Johnson. On appeal, a majority of the Court of Appeals agreed, and affirmed the trial courts ruling in a 2-1 decision.

The Supreme Court agreed to hear the case to decide whether Mr. Johnsons second signature was sufficient to bind him individually. In its opinion, the court noted the language preceding Mr. Johnsons signature, which stated: In consideration of Landlord entering into this Lease with Tenant, Richard L. Johnson hereby agrees that he shall be personally liable for all of Tenants obligations under this Lease and executes this Lease for this purpose.

The Court held that any attempt by Mr. Johnson to avoid the plain meaning of the explicit provision for personal liability by following his second signature with the words for Mobile Master Mfg. LLC was not effective to overrule the clear intent of the lease.
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The Georgia Department of Labor (GDOL) will host a recruitment on Thursday, Sept. 8, to help Mohawk Industries fill about 30 manufacturing jobs at its plants in Dalton and Chatsworth.

The event will be held from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the GDOLs Dalton Career Center located at 1406 Chattanooga Ave. GDOL staff will be on site to help screen the applicants.

The company is recruiting 10 workers each for full-time positions as superba operators, twister operators and binder operators.

Due to U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration regulations, all applicants must be at least 18 years old.

Salaries range from $10.68 to $15.02 an hour.

Applicants are encouraged to bring a resume and dress appropriately to improve their opportunities for jobs.

For more information about the jobs, or to apply online, visit www.employgeorgia.com to create an account and upload, or prepare, a resume. Having an Employ Georgia account expedites the interview process.

For more information about the recruitment, contact the GDOLs Dalton Career Center at (706) 272-2301. The career center is open to serve the public Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
A university student in Taiwan was sentenced to 11 months in jail on Friday for killing three cats and seriously injuring another, according to a statement released by the Chiayi District Court.

The man Yin confessed to having dashed adopted cats on the ground in a fit of rage, according to the court.

The four cats were adopted by separately in September and October last year, but three were found dead after a period of two days to two weeks, according to the court.

Another cat, adopted by Yin on Sept. 29, were found to have sustained severe injuries about two weeks later, the court added.

The fate of the cats led animal shelter groups and the former carers of the cats to suspect that Yin, 21, had done this deliberately and filed a lawsuit against him .

Under the island's current laws, those found to have intentionally injured an animal and caused its death may face a maximum sentence of one year in prison and fines up to 1 million new Taiwan dollars (about 32,000 U.S. dollars).
VENICE - Ex-fashion designer Tom Ford enthralled the Venice film festival on September 2 with a gripping tale of betrayal and revenge, unveiling two films in one with his hotly-anticipated Nocturnal Animals.

The romantic thriller, Fords second feature film after A Single Man (2009), spooked and stirred in equal part, with arresting performances from US stars Amy Adams and Jake Gyllenhaal as lovers gone awry.

From the first scene -- wildly obese women dancing naked -- to the bittersweet close, the former Gucci designer produced a visually stunning and richly complex evocation of human frailty and retribution.

"Loyalty is important to me. The story is about when you find people in your life, you hang on to them. This is a cautionary tale about what can happen in your life when you let them go," Ford told journalists on Venices Lido.

Adams, 42, plays Susan, who lives a privileged but lonely life in Los Angeles with her oft-absent husband. One day she receives a novel, Nocturnal Animals, written by her ex-husband Edward, played by Gyllenhaal.

Haunting

Edwards note, which asks her to read the novel and contact him, comes out of the blue, 19 years after she left him.

It sparks a bout of soul-seeking from Susan, with flash-backs of her life with Edward, and unveils a dark secret.

"There was a rumble beneath the screenplay. Tom told me he absolutely had to tell this story and I couldnt say no," said Gyllenhaal, 35, who described playing a man impotent in the face of horror "wonderfully frustrating".

The narrative takes on a second strand as the violent events in the novel are played out as pictured in Susans head as she reads, and she discovers the story is a channel for Edward to express the heartbreak she caused.

In the novel, Tony Hastings -- also played by Gyllenhaal -- is stopped by a creepy trio of joy-riders while driving across Texas at night, and his red-headed wife and daughter (resembling Susan and daughter) are abducted.

Hastings is left to try and track down the gangs ringleader, psychopathic Ray (played brilliantly by Britains Aaron Taylor-Johnson), with the help of detective Bobby Andes (Academy Award nominee Michael Shannon).

Ford, who adapted the screenplay from Austin Wrights 1993 book Tony and Susan, said "if it doesnt stay with you, haunt you, challenge you, its not a successful film for me" -- not a concern he should have here.

Very scary indeed

He added that there was a lot of himself in all three characters -- Susan, Tony and Edward. Susan "with her lack of self-confidence", Tony and Edward who are sensitive rather than dominant.

"They do not possess the stereotypical traits of masculinity that our culture often expects, yet in the end they both triumph. As a boy growing up in Texas, I was anything but what was considered classically masculine.

"Many things from my own life have worked their way into the screenplay for the film, just as details from Susan and Edwards life together seeped into Edwards story," he added.

Adams manages to make troubled Susan sympathetic, something she found difficult: "it was a tricky one to prepare because when I first started exploring Susan, I didnt like her, and I cant play a character I dont like".

For his part, family-man Aaron Taylor-Johnson, 26, said he did a lot of research for his role, including extensive reading on American serial killer, kidnapper, rapist, and necrophile Ted Bundy.

The result, Ford admits, is "scary, very scary indeed".  AFP
NEW YORK - On the 15th anniversary of the September 11 attacks, the New York museum that honors that dark day in US history is turning to something lighter: art.

Visitors to the National September 11 Memorial Museums new exhibit Rendering the Unthinkable are not being asked to relive the violence through turbulent canvases or painful performances.

Rather they are taken on a journey to soothe the pain and reflect on a terror attack that is now part of New Yorks DNA.

Opening on September 12, one day after the 9/11 anniversary, the exhibit will feature works by 13 local artists -- paintings, video and sculptures.

Each lived through the 2001 attacks in his or her own way, including one who lost his firefighter brother, whose body was never found.

Several, such as Ejay Weiss, incorporated ash from Ground Zero into their works. His four acrylic paintings enhance the chaos, with a calming square of blue sky in the center.

The now-distant morning when the Twin Towers of the World Trade Center were struck by hijacked airplanes, claiming 2,753 lives, is one New York still remembers well.

As horror rained down on the city, additional deadly attacks were carried out on the Pentagon and on a commercial airplane that crashed in rural Pennsylvania.

A few days after the attacks, Manju Shandler began creating paintings to represent each of the victims.

"At the beginning, we didnt even know how many had died," she said. In the end she painted nearly 3,000 victims, and 840 of the paintings will be displayed at the exposition.

Some of the depictions, which are each four by nine inches (10 by 23 centimeters), feature photos of the victims while others are more stylized, showing a man with his hair on fire, a silhouette or a snake.

"There is no direct correlation for each of the victims," Shandler said of the works, which took her three years to complete.

"It was a way to take all the pain and release it. It was cathartic," she said.

Counterpoint

Sculptor Christopher Saucedos two brothers, both New York City firefighters, responded to the attack, with one never to return.

Although Saucedo normally works with steel and other metals, he couldnt bear to create his 9/11 piece from metal, the only material left in the World Trade center after the attacks.

Pressing white linen pulp on blue handmade paper rectangles, Saucedo created three panels -- ethereal compositions on which the white linen forms what first appears to be a cloud, but on closer examination is in fact the World Trade Center buildings.

Also in the expo is a video by the Blue Man Group, a performance art collective, which was inspired by the scraps of paper from the World Trade Center that blew into the yard of their rehearsal space in Brooklyn after the attack.

A bronze statue of a woman falling to the ground, hand extended, pays homage to both the dead and living. Eric Fischls "Tumbling Woman" is on loan from The Whitney Museum.

The art on display, born out of the tragedy, is a "counterpoint" to the museums historical exhibition, said director Alice Greenwald.

While the museums mission is factual, meant to tell the tale of September 11 and the people who lived and died in the attacks, the art exhibit is "intimate and spare," she said.

"It is a very contemplative space," she told AFP, during a visit organized for journalists.

The exhibit "will give us another way in to remembering that day and the array of emotions we have been through," she said.

Since opening in May 2014, the museum, built on the former site of the World Trade Center in lower Manhattan, has welcomed nearly seven million visitors, according to its president Joe Daniels.  AFP
A series of new policies are coming into effect this month, including regulations relating to foreign diplomats and policies to support poor students, raise awareness of legal assistance and tighten State control of chemical substances.  Photo dantri.com.vn

HA NOI  A series of new policies are coming into effect this month, including regulations relating to foreign diplomats and policies to support poor students, raise awareness of legal assistance and tighten State control of chemical substances.

Under Circular 04/2016/TT-BNG issued by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, which took effect yesterday, foreigners holding NG3 visas are eligible to apply for temporary residence cards with validation periods of up to five years. The validation period should expire at least 30 days prior to the expiration of their passport.

NG3 visa holders are members of diplomatic missions, consular offices, representative offices of intergovernmental bodies, their spouses and children under 18, and their domestic helpers.

Holders of NG1, NG2 and NG4 visas who want to extend their stay permits should ask the bodies or organisations that sponsored them to enter Viet Nam to submit applications for extending their temporary residence cards. The extension period is for a maximum of 12 months and must also expire at least 30 days prior to the expiration of their passport.

A Governments decree, which also took effect yesterday, aims to support poor students in areas regarded as extremely disadvantaged.

Under Decree 116/2016/N-CP, a student of elementary or junior high schools in these regions will be provided with 15kg of rice per month for no more than nine months per year.

Each student will also receive an allowance to cover part of the cost of meals and housing which is equivalent to 40 per cent and 10 per cent of the basic salary per month, respectively.

Boarding schools for ethnic minorities will be financially aided to provide meals for students.

According to Decision 32/2016/Q-TTg, which will be effective from September 22, poor people and ethnic minorities in impoverished localities will have more opportunities to access legal assistance.

The Government will provide budgets to support officials working at centres for legal assistance in impoverished districts, communes and hamlets to attend lawyer training courses. More money will also be spent to establish a hotline for legal assistance at localities and to organise campaigns to raise community awareness on this matter.

Individuals and organisations will be fined VN10-15 million for not having a plan or measures in place to prevent and respond to chemical-related incidents during the production, trading, use or storage of hazardous chemicals.

The same fine will also be imposed on those who do not comply with conditions for producing and trading chemicals, insecticides and antiseptic products used at home and in medical establishments.

These are stipulated in the Governments Decree 115/2016/N-CP, which will come into effect from September 15.  VNS
HA NOI  Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi met with monks and nuns studying at the Viet Nam Buddhist Academy in Ha Noi today, as part of his visit to Viet Nam, which began yesterday.

Most Venerable Thich Thien Nhon, President of the Vietnam Buddhist Sangha Executive Council, highlighted the development of Buddhism in Viet Nam, saying the religion always plays a crucial role in tightening the friendship between the two countries.

He noted that Indian monks were the first to introduce Buddhism to Viet Nam, arriving on sea trade routes, and creating cultural links between the two nations.

Buddhism has become an indispensable component of Viet Nams culture over the past 2,000 years, he added.

Friendship between Viet Nam and India has been reinforced based upon the foundation laid by first Indian Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru and President Ho Chi Minh, he said.

He also expressed his belief that India will become more prosperous and play a key role in building peace, stability, and development in the region and around the world under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

Also, the Indian PM told the monks and nuns that the world needs peace, and pursuing peace will result in happiness for all.

He stressed that Buddhism brings hope, light, beliefs and peace, and expressed his hopes to welcome more Vietnamese monks and nuns to study Buddhism in India .  VNS
HA NOI  Vietnamese Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc and his Indian counterpart Narendra Modi agreed to upgrade their countries strategic partnership to a comprehensive strategic partnership during their talks in Ha Noi today.

At the talks following the official welcome ceremony, they rejoiced at the extensive and substantive development of bilateral relations, especially since the strategic partnership was set up in 2007.

They said the upgrade of bilateral ties is to meet the aspirations of the two countries leaders and peoples, and to be in conformity with both sides fundamental and long-term interests, as well as their willingness to contribute to peace, stability, cooperation and development in the region and the world.

PM Phuc said Viet Nam treasures the time-tested friendship with India which was founded by late President Ho Chi Minh and Indian PM Jawaharlal Nehru. He said his country supports Indias Act East policy and its greater role in the region and the world.

Narendra Modi, who is the first Indian PM to visit Viet Nam in 15 years, congratulated the Southeast Asian nation on the great socio-economic development progress and expressed his pride of the close relationship between President Ho Chi Minh and PM Nehru.

He stressed Viet Nam is an important pillar in Indias Act East policy and the expansion of Indias relations with ASEAN.

The two leaders agreed to enhance political and diplomatic cooperation through increasing visits at all levels and exchanges between their Parties, parliaments and people. The countries will effectively implement existing cooperation mechanisms, including soon organising the meeting of the Inter-Governmental Committee.

They considered security-defence cooperation as one of the important pillars of the comprehensive strategic partnership and pledged to effectively carry out the Joint Vision Statement on Viet Nam-India Defence Cooperation and deepen collaboration in this sphere.

The Indian PM thanked the Vietnamese Government for providing favourable conditions for his countrys naval ships to visit Viet Nam, thereby helping boost mutual understanding between the two navies.

The two PMs highlighted the enormous strategic cooperation potential in economics, trade and investment. They hailed two-way trade that surpassed US$7.8 billion in 2015 and showed confidence that the bilateral trade target of $15 billion in 2020 is feasible.

The leaders agreed to direct ministries and relevant sectors to take concrete measures to help businesses collaborate in the fields of their strengths while reducing trade barriers on import-export products and encouraging bilateral investment.

PM Narendra Modi welcomed Vietnamese enterprises to participate in the Make in India initiative to enjoy its preferential treatment. He acknowledged the proposal to reduce trade barriers and entrusted ministries and sectors to work on this issue.

Meanwhile, PM Phuc welcomed Indian companies to increase investments in Viet Nam and pledged to create the most favourable conditions for Indian investors and support them based on Viet Nams current law.

PM Narendra Modi affirmed that Indias Oil and Natural Gas Corporation (ONGC) will continue to implement its projects in Viet Nam, and hope to get more support to expand cooperation and investment in the country.

The two sides exchanged measures to widen collaboration in other important fields such as energy, peaceful uses of nuclear energy, aerospace science, oil and gas, information technology, and science-technology, along with education, healthcare, culture, tourism, and people-to-people exchanges.

They underlined the potential and significance of agricultural cooperation and stressed the need to increase connectivity in aviation, navigation, infrastructure and digital connection.

The PMs also exchanged views on regional and international issues of mutual concerns and agreed to enhance coordination at regional and global forums, especially of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and related forums.

Regarding the East Sea issue, the two sides reiterated their wish and determination to work together to maintain peace, stability, security, freedom and safety of overflight and navigation in the East Sea based on the principles of international law, particularly the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea 1982 (UNCLOS).

They confirmed the importance of fully respecting the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the East Sea (DOC) and hoped the involved parties will soon reach a Code of Conduct in the East Sea (COC).

The Indian PM expressed his hope that Viet Nam and other ASEAN member states will soon reach an agreement to realise the $1 billion credit package that India provides for the bloc in digital and infrastructure connectivity.

He took this occasion to thank the Vietnamese Government and people for their warm welcome and invite PM Phuc to visit India at a convenient time. PM Phuc accepted the invitation with pleasure. Dates for the visit will be arranged through diplomatic channels.

After the talks, the two PMs witnessed the signing of 12 cooperation agreements between the two countries. - VNS
HA NOI  Viet Nam and India signed 12 co-operation documents today during Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modis official visit to Viet Nam.

They include a framework agreement on cooperation and uses of outerspace for peaceful purposes, a protocol amending the two Governments agreement for the avoidance of double taxation and the prevention of fiscal evasion with respect to taxes on income, and a programme of cooperation in UN peace-keeping operations between Viet Nams Defence Ministry and Indias Ministry of External Affairs.

While the two countries foreign ministries inked a protocol on celebrating 2017 as The Year of Friendship, their ministries of health signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) on health cooperation.

Two other MOUs deal with cooperation in information technology and cyber security. A similar memorandum is on cooperation between the Vietnamese Academy of Social Science and the Indian Council of World Affairs. Another MOU is on cooperation between Viet Nams Directorate for Standards, Metrology and Quality and the Bureau of Indian Standards for mutual recognition of standards.

The countries also signed an agreement for setting up of a sustainable IT infrastructure for advanced IT training, and a technical agreement on sharing white shipping information between the Indian Navy and the Viet Nam Peoples Navy.

Meanwhile, Viet Nams Border Guard and Larsen &Tourbro Company inked a contract on design, building of boat in India, delivery in Viet Nam; material, equipment supply and technology transfer for boat building in Viet Nam. - VNS
HA NOI  Viet Nam and India issued a Joint Statement on the official visit to Viet Nam on September 2-3 by Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

The following is the full text of the Joint Statement.

At the invitation of H. E. Mr. Nguyen Xuan Phuc, Prime Minister of the Socialist Republic of Viet Nam, the Prime Minister of the Republic of India H.E. Mr. Narendra Modi paid an Official Visit to the Socialist Republic of Viet Nam from September 02 - 03 2016.

On September 3, 2016, Prime Minister Narendra Modi was accorded a ceremonial reception. This was followed by bilateral talks between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc. Thereafter, the two Prime Ministers witnessed the signing of bilateral documents. Prime Minister Narendra Modi met H.E. Mr. Nguyen Phu Trong, General Secretary of Viet Nam Communist Party, H.E. Mr. Tran ai Quang, President of Viet Nam, and H.E. Mrs. Nguyen Thi Kim Ngan, Chairperson of the National Assembly of Viet Nam. Prime Minister Narendra Modi laid a wreath at the Memorial of National Heroes and Martyrs and Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum, visited the Ho Chi Minh Residential Complex and the Quan Su Pagoda in Ha Noi.

Leaders of Viet Nam and India reviewed and expressed their satisfaction over the strong and comprehensive development of the relations of long-standing traditional friendship and Strategic Partnership between the two countries so far. Both sides welcomed the fact that the two countries will be celebrating the 45th anniversary of establishment of diplomatic relations (07/1/1972 - 07/1/2017) and the 10th anniversary of establishment of Strategic Partnership (06/7/2007 - 06/7/2017) in 2017, and emphasised that this marks a milestone and opens a new stage for the bilateral relations.

They shared the view that Viet Nam - India relations have been built on a firm foundation, with close links in culture, history and civilisation, mutual trust and understanding as well as the strong mutual support in international and regional fora. The Vietnamese side reaffirmed Viet Nams support for Indias Act East Policy and welcomed a greater role for India in the regional and international arena. Prime Minister Narendra Modi reaffirmed that Viet Nam is an important pillar of Indias Act East Policy.

Based on the current excellent relations, in order to meet the expectation of the Leaders and people of the two countries, and with the desire to contribute to regional peace, stability, cooperation and prosperity, Viet Nam and India agreed to elevate the current Strategic Partnership to Comprehensive Strategic Partnership. The two Prime Ministers agreed to assign the two Ministries of Foreign Affairs to be the focal points, in collaboration with other ministries and agencies of both sides, to build the Plan of Action to bring the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership to reality in all areas of cooperation.



1. Political relations, defense and security:

Both sides shared convergence of views on various bilateral and international issues, including the regional security situation in Asia. They expressed happiness at the success of recent high level visits of President Pranab Mukherjee and Minister of External Affairs Sushma Swaraj in 2014, Speaker of Lok Sabha and National Security Adviser in 2015 from the Indian side, and the visits of General Secretary of the Communist Party of Viet Nam Nguyen Phu Trong in November 2013, Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung in October 2014 and President of Viet Nam Fatherland Front in 2015 from the Vietnamese side. Prime Minister Narendra Modi congratulated the Vietnamese Leaders and people on the successful outcomes of the 12th National Communist Party Congress and of the elections for the 14th National Assembly and Peoples Councils tenure 2016-2021. Once again, he reiterated sincere congratulations to Viet Nams newly-elected leaders.

Both sides agreed to increase the exchange of high-level and other visits, step up relations between political parties and legislative institutions of both sides, establish relations between provincial/state governments on both sides, uphold established bilateral cooperation mechanisms, and effectively implement the agreements signed between two countries.

The two Prime Ministers expressed satisfaction at the significant progress made in defence cooperation, including exchange of high level visits, annual high-level dialogue, service-to-service cooperation, naval ship visits, extensive training and capacity building, defence equipment procurement and related transfer of technology, and cooperation at regional fora such as ADMM-Plus.

Both sides agreed to effectively implement the Joint Vision Statement on India-Viet Nam Defence Relations of May 2015. Prime Minister Narendra Modi reaffirmed Indias significant interest in promoting defence industry cooperation between the two sides and committed to provide a new Line of Credit for Viet Nam in this area. Both sides welcomed the signing of the contract for Offshore High-speed Patrol Boats between M/s Larsen & Toubro and Viet Nam Border Guards utilizing the US$100 million Line of Credit for defence procurement extended by India to Viet Nam. Prime Minister Modi announced a grant of US$5 million for the construction of an Army Software Park at the Telecommunications University in Nha Trang.

The Prime Ministers welcomed the signing of the MOU on Cyber Security between Ministry of Public Security of Viet Nam and Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology of India and the transfer of equipment to the Indian funded Indira Gandhi High-Tech Crime Laboratory. They agreed to an early conclusion of the MOU for cooperation between the National Security Council Secretariat of India and the Ministry of Public Security of Viet Nam, emphasised the need to establish the Deputy Ministerial level dialogue and to enhance cooperation on traditional and non-traditional security matters, cyber security, counter-terrorism, transnational crimes, disaster management and response, and undertaking training and capacity building programmes.

2. Economic relations, trading and investment:

The two Leaders emphasized that enhancing bilateral economic engagement is a strategic objective. In this regard, they requested the related ministries and agencies on both sides to explore substantive and practical measures to achieve the trade target of US$15 billion by 2020, including but not limited to: utilizing established mechanisms such as the Joint Sub-Commission on Trade, intensifying the exchanges among states of India and provinces of Viet Nam, strengthening exchanges of delegation and Business-to-Business contacts, regular organisation of trade fairs and events such as the India-CLMV Business Conclave and Viet Nam - India Business Forum.

They welcomed the effective implementation of India-ASEAN Trade in Goods Agreement and the conclusion of India-ASEAN Trade in Services and Investment Agreements (AITGA). They also called for close cooperation towards realisation of Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (RCEP).

The Prime Ministers urged leaders of business and industry to explore new business opportunities in the identified priority areas for cooperation: hydrocarbons, power generation, renewable energy, infrastructure, tourism, textiles, footwear, medical and pharmaceuticals, ICT, electronics, agriculture, agro-products, chemicals, machine tools and other supporting industries.

Both sides encouraged greater two-way investment between Viet Nam and India. Prime Minister Narendra Modi welcomed Viet Namese companies to take advantage of the various schemes and facilities offered under the Make in India programme. Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc welcomed Indian companies to invest in Viet Nam and affirmed Viet Nams commitment to create favourable conditions and facilitation for Indian investments in accordance with Viet Namese laws. Prime Minister Modi sought facilitation of the Government of Viet Nam for major Indian investments such as Tata Powers Long Phu-II 1320MW thermal power project for achieving contractual conclusion.

3. Energy:

The Vietnamese side welcomed the long-standing investment and presence of ONGC Videsh Limited (OVL) and its partnership with PetroVietnam (PVN) for exploration of oil and gas in Viet Nam. The Prime Ministers agreed to further enhance cooperation in the oil and gas sector and urged both sides to actively implement the Agreement signed in 2014 between PVN and OVL on cooperation in new blocks in Viet Nam. The Vietnamese side also welcomed Indian oil and gas companies to avail of opportunities in participating in mid-stream and down-stream sectors in Viet Nam.

Both Prime Ministers highly value the importance of renewable energy and expressed the belief that both India and Viet Nam would immensely benefit from enhancing the share of renewable energy in the overall power generation. The Vietnamese side welcomes Prime Minister Modis ambitious plan for deployment of 175 GW of renewable power capacities by 2022, including 100GW of solar and 60GW of wind power in India. In this regard, the two Leaders urged both sides to step up their cooperation in this sector.

4. Connectivities:

Both sides reiterated the importance of connectivity between Viet Nam and India. They urged airlines of both sides to soon open direct flights between major cities of Viet Nam and India. They sought accelerating the establishment of direct shipping routes between the sea ports of Viet Nam and India. Both sides agreed on the need to further strengthen physical connectivity between India and ASEAN.

The Indian side urged Viet Nam to utilise various initiatives of India for CLMV countries and the India - ASEAN Line of Credit for physical and digital connectivity.

Both sides agreed to enhance banking and financial sector linkages between the two countries for facilitating more intensive economic engagement. The Vietnamese side welcomed the opening of a branch of Bank of India in Ho Chi Minh City in July 2016 and took note of the Indian sides request on licensing international foreign exchange transactions of Bank of India to assist Indian business and industry in Viet Nam.

5. Science and Technology :

The Prime Ministers expressed satisfaction at three decades of bilateral cooperation in the use of atomic energy for peaceful purposes pursuant to the agreement signed by the two countries in 1986. They welcomed the discussions aimed at concluding the Agreement on Cooperation between the Indian Global Centre for Nuclear Energy Partnership and Viet Nam Atomic Institute and agreed to expedite the negotiation and conclusion of the new Inter-Governmental Framework Agreement on Cooperation in the Peaceful Uses of Nuclear Energy, which will set a strong foundation for further cooperation in civil nuclear energy.

The Prime Ministers expressed satisfaction at the signing of the Inter-Governmental Framework Agreement between the two countries for Exploration and Use of Outer Space for Peaceful Purposes and urged both sides to soon conclude the Implementing Arrangement between the Indian Space Research Organisation and Viet Nam Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment on Establishment of Tracking and Data Reception Station and Data Processing Facility in Viet Nam under the India-ASEAN Space Cooperation. The Vietnamese side welcomed the establishment of the facility which would increase capabilities of Viet Nam and ASEAN countries in remote sensing with numerous commercial and scientific applications.

6. Training:

Both Prime Ministers welcomed ongoing cooperation in the establishment of capacity building institutes in Viet Nam in IT, English language training, entrepreneurship development, high-performance computing and other areas and expressed satisfaction at the finalization of development partnership projects including the establishment of Viet Nam-India English and IT Training Centre at the

Telecommunications University in Nha Trang, the Centre for Excellence in Software Development and Training at Ho Chi Minh City.

Viet Nam welcomed the offer to train 15 Vietnamese diplomats at the Indian Institute of Foreign Trade, New Delhi and 25 Vietnamese students of Viet Nam National University Faculty of Oriental Studies at the Indian Institute of Management, Bangalore.

The Indian side affirmed that it would continue to provide training through Indian Technical and Economic Cooperation (ITEC) and provide scholarships for Vietnamese students and Government officials. Viet Nam welcomed Indias assistance under the framework of Mekong - Ganga Cooperation, especially the Quick Impact Projects Fund (QIPF).

7. Health, Culture, Tourism and People-to-people links:

Both sides welcomed the conclusion and signing of the MOU on Health Cooperation. They also emphasised the importance of encouraging traditional medicine.

Both sides agreed to strengthen exchanges and cooperation in culture, tourism, people-to-people links, especially exchanges between the youth of Viet Nam and India. Prime Minister Modi thanked Viet Nam for facilitating the establishment of the Indian Cultural Centre in Ha Noi which will open shortly. The Prime Ministers instructed officials to quickly follow-up the implementation of the Memorandum of Understanding on conservation and restoration of Cham monuments at My Son, Quang Nam Province, by the Archaeological Survey of India.

Viet Nam highly appreciated the support and assistance of India in organizing activities highlighting the role and contributions of President Ho Chi Minh. Prime Minister Narendra Modi thanked Viet Nam for its leadership in facilitating the inscription of the Archaeological Site of Nalanda Mahavihara as a UNESCO World Heritage site.

India announced the offer of special annual scholarships for Vietnamese students for advanced Buddhist studies at Masters/Doctoral level courses and annual scholarships of one year duration for study of Sanskrit in Indian institutes for the members of the Buddhist Sangha in Viet Nam.

8. Regional and international cooperation:

The Prime Ministers valued the cooperation and coordination between both sides at regional and international fora and agreed to strengthen cooperation particularly in UN, NAM, WTO, ASEAN and related forums including ARF, ADMM Plus, EAS, ASEM and as well as other sub-regional cooperation mechanisms. India welcomed the realization of ASEAN Community and expressed full support for ASEANs centrality in the evolving regional structure. India welcomed and highlighted the significant contribution of Viet Nam to the ASEAN - India Strategic Partnership in its capacity as ASEAN Coordinator for India for the period of 2015-2018.

Both Viet Nam and India stressed the need for reform of the United Nations and expansion of the UN Security Council in both the permanent and the non-permanent categories of membership, with enhanced representation from developing countries. Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed gratitude for Viet Nams consistent support to Indias candidature for permanent membership of a reformed and expanded UNSC. The Prime Ministers reaffirmed support for each others candidature for non-permanent membership of the UNSC, Viet Nam for the term 2020-21 and India for the term 2021-22. Both sides expressed satisfaction at the conclusion of the Program of Cooperation in UN Peacekeeping Matters. The Indian side expressed its commitment to capacity building and training to enable Viet Nams participation in UN peacekeeping operations.

Both sides reiterated their desire and determination to work together to maintain peace, stability, growth and prosperity in Asia and beyond. Noting the Award issued on 12 July 2016 of the Arbitral Tribunal constituted under the Annex VII to the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of Sea (UNCLOS), both sides reiterated their support for peace, stability, security, safety and freedom of navigation and over flight, and unimpeded commerce, based on the principles of international law, as reflected notably in the UNCLOS. Both sides also called on all states to resolve disputes through peaceful means without threat or use of force and exercise self-restraint in the conduct of activities that could complicate or escalate disputes affecting peace and stability, respect the diplomatic and legal processes, fully observe the Declaration on the conduct of parties in the South China Sea (DOC) and soon finalize the Code of Conduct (COC). They also recognised that the sea lanes of communication passing through the South China Sea are critical for peace, stability, prosperity and development. Viet Nam and India, as State Parties to the UNCLOS, urged all parties to show utmost respect for the UNCLOS, which establishes the international legal order of the seas and oceans.

The following Agreements were signed in the presence of the two Prime Ministers: (i) Framework Agreement on Cooperation in the Exploration and Uses of Outer Space for Peaceful Purposes; (ii) Protocol for Amending the Agreement on Avoiding Double Taxation; (iii) Program of Cooperation in UN Peacekeeping Matters; (iv) Protocol between the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Viet Nam and the Ministry of External Affairs of India on Celebrating 2017 as the Year of Friendship;

(v) MOU on Health Cooperation; (vi) MOU on cooperation in Information Technology; (vii) MOU on Cooperation between the Viet Nam Academy of Social Sciences and the Indian Council of World Affairs; (viii) MOU on cooperation in Cyber Security; (ix) MOU between the Bureau of Indian Standards and Directorate for Standard, Metrology and Quality for Cooperation in the Fields of Standardization and Conformity Assessment; (x) MOU on Establishment of the Centre of Excellence in Software Development and Training; (xi) Technical Agreement on Sharing of White Shipping Information; (xii) Contract for Offshore High-speed Patrol Boats.

Prime Minister Narendra Modis interactions with the entire leadership of Viet Nam were marked by warmth, friendship and mutual respect. Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed his gratitude for the warm reception and hospitality accorded to him and his delegation. He extended an invitation to Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc to visit India at a mutually convenient date. Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc accepted the invitation with pleasure. Dates for the visits will be finalized through diplomatic channels. - VNS


HA NOI  The establishment of the comprehensive strategic partnership between Viet Nam and India will create a new momentum for the development of the two countries and the whole region in general.

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi made the remark at a meeting with Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong in Ha Noi today during his official visit to Viet Nam.

The PM said Viet Nam and India have overcome difficulties to develop relations over years, stressing that Viet Nam plays a key role in Indias Act East policy and appreciating the countrys support for India at both regional and international forums.

Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong spoke highly of the PMs visit to Viet Nam, saying it demonstrates the attention of the Indian Government and the PM personally to boosting the time-honoured friendship forged between the two countries.

He confirmed that the Communist Party of Viet Nam and the Vietnamese people always treasure the long-lasting amity and comprehensive strategic partnership with India, as well as support the countrys Act East policy and its increased presence in and connectivity with Southeast Asia.

The Party leader agreed with the PMs proposal of enhancing high-level delegation and people-to-people exchanges while maintaining the current cooperation mechanisms and promoting affiliation across fields.

The two sides continue close coordination at regional and international forums, especially of the United Nations (UN), Non-Aligned Movement (NAM), World Trade Organisation (WTO), and Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), he added.

On the day, the Indian guest was greeted by President Tran ai Quang at the Presidential Palace.

President Tran ai Quang spoke highly of the talks between PMs Narendra Modi and Nguyen Xuan Phuc, especially their decision to elevate the two countries strategic partnership to comprehensive strategic partnership.

He expressed his belief that the orientations discussed by the two leaders will create a fresh driving force and cooperation opportunities for bilateral relations to grow extensively and match with the freshly-formed comprehensive strategic partnership.

The President asserted that Viet Nam encourages Indian oil and gas companies to broaden cooperative activities in projects implemented in the two countries or the third countries.

The two countries should study expanding partnerships in civil aviation, marine transportation, and road connectivity, Quang added.

PM Narendra Modi told his host that the upgrade of bilateral ties to comprehensive strategic partnership is a clear evidence of the trust shared by the two countries.

He reiterated that India places an extreme importance on Viet Nam in its Act East policy and noted that the two countries should expand their cooperation in economics, trade and investment to create a win-win playing ground.

He expressed his hope that the commitments made by Vietnamese leaders provide a foundation for the two countries to reap new successes.

Meeting with the Indian guest the same day, National Assembly (NA) Chairwoman Nguyen Thi Kim Ngan underlined the significance of Modis official visit, considering it a practical action to build up political trust and solidarity between the countries peoples.

She also spoke highly of the lifting of bilateral relations to a comprehensive strategic partnership, and believed that it will create a new framework to intensify their cooperation across the board, particularly politics, economics, defence-security, trade-investment, science-technology, and culture-education.

She assured that the Vietnamese NA will provide favourable legal conditions for the effective implementation of cooperation agreements between the two Governments.

She also appreciated the Indian parliaments support for the Indian Governments policies and activities on enhancing the traditional amity and strategic partnership with Viet Nam in recent years.

The Vietnamese NA attaches importance to cooperation with India and advocates the countrys Act East policy and all-round connectivity with Southeast Asia.

For his part, PM Modi said in his talks with PM Nguyen Xuan Phuc the two sides achieved a long-term vision on bilateral relations and pledged to realise the reached agreements.

He said India-Viet Nam cooperation benefits not only their own nations but also the region.

The visiting PM said he hopes the countries parliaments will bolster affiliation in the time ahead, including through delegation exchanges and experience sharing.

In the afternoon, PM Modi left Ha Noi, sucessfully concluding his official visit to Viet Nam. VNS
MOSCOW  The second Eastern Economic Forum opened in the Russian city of Vladivostok yesterday, attracting nearly 2,500 delegates from Australia, China, India, Japan, the Republic of Korea, Singapore, the US and Viet Nam.

The Vietnamese delegation included representatives from the ministries of Foreign Affairs, Industry and Trade, Public Health, and Education and Training, as well as the Vietnamese Consulate General in Vladivostok .

Initiated by Russian President Vladimir Putin, the two-day event seeks to foster economic development in the Far East and expand international cooperation in Asia-Pacific.

In his opening speech, the special envoy of the Russian President in the Far East and Deputy PM, Yuri Trutnev, said officials in the Far East are working to build a competitive model with preferential tariff and administrative procedures to attract investors.

The forum includes 52 sessions and five business dialogues between Russia and their partners from China, Japan, the Republic of Korea, ASEAN and Germany, discussing a range of issues regarding business opportunities in infrastructure, energy, aquaculture, tourism, intellectual economy, education and training in Asia-Pacific, manufacturing, forestry, and other topics.

Also during the forum, Russia announced plans to begin work on 11 projects worth US$40 billion to investors. The first forum, held in 2015, witnessed the signing of 80 agreements worth more than $20 billion.

The forum schedule calls for Russian President Putin to deliver a speech at a plenary session on September 3 and meet separately with Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, as well as President of the Republic of Korea Park Geun-hye.  VNS
HA NOI  The General Department of Preventive Medicine on September 1 held an online meeting in Ha Noi, HCM City, Central Highlands area and the central province of Khanh Hoa to discuss measures to assure the early detection of the Zika infection in high risks areas.

The Zika virus is caused by a virus transmitted primarily by Aedes mosquitoes. People with Zika virus disease often display symptoms including mild fever, skin rash, conjunctivitis, muscle and joint pain, malaise or headache. These symptoms normally last from 2 to 7 days. There is a scientific consensus that Zika virus is a cause of microcephaly in newborn babies and Guillain-Barre syndrome. Links to other neurological complications are also being investigated, according to the World Health Organisation (WHO).

By the end of last month, Singapore had 115 cases of Zika. Since the first case was discovered on August 27, new cases have been continuously reported. At present, 70 countries and territories around the world report people with the disease.

Further, the WHO has announced that transmission of the Zika virus has slowed, but the risk remains significant.

During the online meeting, representatives discussed actions to assure the early diagnosis of patients suspected of having contracted the Zika virus. Representatives agreed that the supervision would be expanded to outpatient medical stations, where patients with early symptoms often arrive to seek health care. Further, the process of collecting, maintaining and transporting the disease samples for testing is to be carried out based upon the Ministry of Healths regulations.

The US Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (US CDC) highly praised Viet Nams quick response to the Zika virus risks, as well as the countrys efforts in reducing the spread of dengue fever.

Also, the US CDC announced it is prepared to support Viet Nam in supervising and controlling these diseases.

Meanwhile, associate professor Tran ac Phu, director of the department, said that institutes should set up plans to keep close watch on the use of Test Trioplex in the early diagnosis of Zika virus cases.

The use of the test began in September.

Additionally, the National Institute of Hygiene and Epidemiology will organise training courses for medical workers across the country to learn to correctly test patients.  VNS
Uzbekistans President Islam Karimov died Friday, the government announced, ending over a quarter of a century of his rule in the Central Asian nation, with no clear successor in place.

"Dear compatriots, it is with huge grief in our hearts that we announce to you the death of our dear president," a state TV presenter said, reading an official statement.

Authorities said Karimov, 78, was pronounced dead at 8:55 pm local time (1555 GMT) after he suffered a stroke over the weekend and fell into a coma, following days of speculation that authorities were delaying the announcement of his death.

The presidents funeral will be held in his home city of Samarkand, central Uzbekistan, on Saturday morning according to his wishes as the country begins three days of mourning, the statement said.

Karimovs body was to be flown to Samarkand airport, which on Saturday will be closed to all flights except those with special permission.

From there, the funeral cortege is to set off at 6 am local time, with people able to pay their last respects from 9 am on a city square close to the cemetery where he will be buried, Russian news agencies reported, citing local officials.

Loyalist Prime Minister Shavkat Mirziyoyev is heading the organisation committee for the funeral, suggesting that he could be in line to take over long-term from Karimov.

Under Uzbek law, senate head Nigmatulla Yuldashev should now become acting president until early elections are held.

Karimovs youngest daughter Lola wrote on Facebook "he has left us... I am struggling for words, I cant believe it myself".

Uzbek state television switched to footage of folk musicians playing traditional instruments against a black background after announcing his death. Karimov was one of a handful of Soviet leaders who continued to be in power after their homelands gained independence from Moscow in 1991.

Russian President Vladimir Putin called Karimovs death "a great loss for the people of Uzbekistan" in a telegram to interim leader Yuldashev, while Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev is set to jet in for the funeral.

Tajik President Emomali Rakhmon confirmed he will attend while Turkmen President Gurbanguly Berdymukhamedov was reported to also be planning to go.

Ex-Soviet Kyrgyzstan, Belarus and Kazakhstan all said they were sending delegations headed by their prime ministers.

Former Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev, who appointed Karimov to head the former Socialist Republic of Uzbekistan in 1989, told Interfax news agency that Karimov was "a competent man with a strong character".

Kazakhstans leader Nursultan Nazarbayev, who has ruled for as long as Karimov said: "I grieve for the loss of a friend whom I worked with side-by-side for 30 years."-AFP
EVIAN, France - The leaders of EU heavyweights Germany and France yesterday called for a new push to invigorate the bloc after Britains shock Brexit vote.

Twenty-seven EU leaders will meeting without Britain in Slovakia on September 16 and Frances Francois Hollande and German Chancellor Angela Merkel said in a joint statement that a "new impulse" was required .

"With Brexit and the rise of populism and even questions on the very idea of Europe, a new impulse is needed for the European Union," they said.

"France and Germany will assume their responsibilities" to do this, they added.

British Prime Minister Theresa May has said she will not trigger Article 50 -- the formal notification which starts a two-year negotiating period before Britain leaves the EU -- until next year at the earliest.

Speaking two days ahead of a G20 summit in Hangzhou in China, Hollande and Merkel underscored Europes role in trying to spur growth and international trade.

"We will do our level best in China to see that the most important countries can give a new push to growth and global commerce," Hollande said.

Merkel on the other hand said that European countries "will do all they can to fight protectionism." - AFP
Nightingale Home Healthcare, a home care service provider based in Bengaluru, grew from a few 100 patients to 25,000 subscribers and 600 services each in 18 months. Medwell Ventures , founded by former Fortis limited CEO Vishal Bali, acquired Nightingale in April 2014, and is trying to organise the unorganised sector of home health care with a focus on chronic diseases. In an interview with Apurva Venkat, Bali talks about taking the services to 10 cities by 2020. Excerpts:



How is the journey of growth in the last 18 months been?



We started Medwell Ventures two years ago. We had two choices, either to start something new or take something existing and start building the whole system. Nightingales had existed in Bengaluru for years, but it was only in the area of bedside care for elderly patients. They had just about 15-20 employees who were bedside caregivers. But our idea was to focus on chronic disease management because it is the big opportunity from an Indian perspective. There is a bunch of chronic diseases where you need not necessarily go through hospitalisation if you are managing the diseases well.
Unequal Budget funding for the Yes vote wont give Australians equal say If you seek to ensure not all Australians get an equal say in the debate about an enshrined voice, then dont be surprised when millions of them cry foul about the integrity of the result.

Australia abstains from UN vote on nuclear weapons 00:24 Australia has abstained from a vote at the United Nations on a treaty banning nuclear weapons.

Geelong to host the 2026 Commonwealth Games closing ceremony 00:27 Geelong has been announced as the host city for the 2026 Commonwealth Games closing ceremony.
WATERLOO  Two men and two teenagers were arrested Friday evening on murder charges in connection with a July shooting death.

At 5:50 p.m. July 17 Waterloo Police were called to UnityPoint Health-Allen Hospital after multiple gunshot victims arrived there.

Otavious Brown, 21, Dewon Campbell, 17, and Aundrey Roberts, 22, all had suffered gunshot wounds outside 817 Logan Ave.

Brown, who was shot in the chest, died as a result of his injuries. His death was the first homicide in Waterloo in 2016.

Witnesses report seeing a green SUV heading north on Logan and hearing four to five shots. Police confirm they seized a green Chevrolet Tahoe suspected to be involved in the shooting.

Arrest warrants were obtained Friday for four suspects on charges of first-degree murder, attempted murder and intimidation with a weapon:

Shavondes Shavez Martin, 20, of 314 Crescent Place, was arrested in the area of Utica and Edwards streets.

Jacques Dominique Williamson, 25, of 229 Halstead St., was arrested at home.

Armand Isavia Anthony Rollins, 17, address not available.

Doncorrion Deangelo Spates, 15, address not available.

All four had their initial court appearances at 9 a.m. Saturday. Their next court date was set for at 3:30 p.m. Sept. 13.

Williamson and Martin, the two adults, as well as Rollins, are in custody at the Black Hawk County Jail. Spates, who at 15 cant yet be held in the jail, is in custody at North Iowa Juvenile Detention Services in Waterloo, according to the Waterloo Police Department.

Martin, 20, has been convicted of fighting or other disorderly conduct three times since 2014, as well as assault causing bodily injury in 2014 and two convictions for interference with official acts, as well as possessing controlled substances.

Williamsons record involves mostly minor charges such as public intoxication, interference with official acts and failure to disperse. His most recent charge was July 17, the night of Browns murder, when he was arrested and charged with false report of an indictable offense to a public entity.

Rollins, the 17-year-old, was taken into custody as a juvenile in 2015 for being a felon in possession of a firearm. His last charge was July 25, when he was arrested for a controlled substance violation and being in possession of a false drug tax stamp.

Spates, 15, has no prior convictions. He was charged Jan. 1 of this year with carrying weapons after police were called to a fight at Club 319 in downtown Waterloo. The bar has since closed.

Spates and a brother of Rollins  Demond Deon Rollins, 16  were arrested Friday as police were coming to arrest Spates at 520 Elm St. Spates and Demond Rollins apparently led police on a foot pursuit before being apprehended in the area of Courtland Avenue and Elm Street.

Demond Rollins, of 209 Thompson Ave., was charged with carrying weapons, possession of a weapon by a felon, interference with official acts while carrying a firearm and possession of marijuana.

According to police, Demond Rollins allegedly was seen attempting to throw a handgun onto the roof of a garage located behind 423 Fowler St. The gun instead hit the side of the roof and fell to the ground next to him.

He was taken into custody with juvenile detention services.

Spates does not yet have any additional charges related to the pursuit.
TempleFest, the annual summer festival of the Temple of Witchcraft, was held the weekend of July 29-31 in South Hampton, New Hampshire. The festival was hosted on a privately-owned farm deep in the hills of southern New Hampshire, and on a property guarded by red, white, and black masks of Hecate. Her guardianship seems completely appropriate in this place, which feels like a true crossroads between the everyday world and the world of all thing magickal.

TempleFests theme is Spirit, Community, Education, and there was plenty of each on display throughout the weekend in the form of powerful rituals, mutual support for attendees of all experience levels, and an excellent array of classes and workshops. Approximately 370 attendees from the TempleFest community came together along with special guests to learn and grow, and to also have fun while challenging their minds and hearts.

This was symbolized magickally by the Web of Community  a web of yarn which stood near the center of the grounds. According to Robbi Packard, one of the designers of the web, The intent behind it is to have a visual representation of how we give and receive from community. To show how we are all connected no matter where we attach ourselves to the web. Each of the cards the participant is to put on one side what it is they give to community, and on the other side what it is that they received from community. As the elements bless the web so are we blessed.

As a featured guest and first-time attendee, David Salisbury was impressed with his experience from the beginning. Ive been to Pagan festivals in every region of the country, and my first year at TempleFest truly stood out, said Salisbury. As a guest teacher, I was very impressed with the care to detail that the organizers took with every detail.

Those details began with the very first ceremony. Friday nights opening ritual was presided over by the Temples Aries Minister, Michael Cantone, and his deputies. The leaders cast a circle of protection around the property to ensure safety for all attendees. Deputy Aries Minister Fred Isom evoked the protection of Archangel Michael, and then the sacred fire was kindled.

Representatives from each of the Temple of Witchcrafts 12 ministries, one representing the archetype of each zodiac sign, charged a log with the blessings of its archetype and placed it into the pit. Participants charged a red crystal point with protection, and the crystal was placed in a cauldron near the sacred fire to send its charge out to the grounds and the people. Additionally, near the end of the ritual, attendees were reminded that the weekend was a spiritual event. They were encouraged to enjoy themselves, but also to keep in mind the sacredness of the weekend, and to use this time as a refuge from this years nasty political scene.

Then a full slate of classes began. From the beginning, it was clear that the education options were both varied and robust. Fridays first session included offerings on the triple shadow by author Ivo Dominguez, Jr., as well as sessions on advanced rune technique, Salisburys book Cleansing and Clearing, spiritual alchemy, and Faery Tradition teacher Storm Faerywolfs alignment with the 13 Planes of Progression.

Perhaps selfishly, I attended my wifes session on Digging Down to the Roots through hypnosis, in which she helped her guests identify and explore some of the lesser known roots of the difficult issues in their lives. Judging from the number of people who stayed to ask questions afterward, the session was very effective.

Fridays second session included a sound medicine journey, a chanting circle led by temple co-founder and Virgo Minister Adam Sartwell, and a mediumship class in which instructor Danielle Dionne taught how techniques from her Spiritualist roots could be used by Witches to communicate with those who have crossed over.

The beautiful Labyrinth Room of the farmhouse, which you really do have to see to believe since it indeed contains a full-sized labyrinth on the tile floor, was packed in a circle three-deep for Dionnes presentation. She discussed techniques for linking with ancestors on the other side as well as how to provide both evidence and essence of the deceaseds presence. She also discussed ethical issues in the practice of mediumship and cautioned that, just because the advice comes from a spirit does not mean it is correct. Know your dead people, Dionne cautioned.

The final event of Friday evening was The Procession of the Fallen Light, a poetic ritual connecting the stories of three mythological falls which allowed the Three Rays of Love, Will, and Wisdom to descend to the Earth. In the dark of night, we made our choice and followed one ray by the light of a lantern to a new circle, claiming the power and light of one of those rays within ourselves.

I particularly enjoyed the fact that this was a very Witch-specific festival, which was a fun change from the usual pan-Pagan environment Im used to while travelling, said Salisbury. While the festival had a specific focus, the diversity of workshops and rituals seemed to hold something for everyone. It was also nice to see offerings that held a deeper focus for experienced practitioners, which is hard to find at public festivals.

Saturdays slate of offerings began with a talk by temple co-founder Christopher Penczak on the Mysteries of the Seven Stages of Bread. Penczak led his large audience through the seven key stages of creating bread, and he connected those stages to a progressive process of personal and spiritual evolution. Although he acknowledged that this was a rather advanced concept for some listeners, Penczak also noted that the nature of the mysteries is that one gets from them what one is able to see and process at the time. Preserve the mysteries. Reveal them often, he quipped.

After this lecture, the educational program broke back out into sessions. There was more to choose from. I ended up attending Winifred Costellos presentation of the Three Realms of the Major Arcana. Costello is clearly a tarot expert, and she presented her personal method of looking at the Major Arcana as a division of physical, mental, and spiritual portions of the Fools Journey. Costello encouraged her attendees to leave their comfort zone and always look for new ways to examine the cards.

Saturday was a long day, filled with sessions and rituals. It was punctuated by keynote speaker Judika Illes brilliant and humorous presentation entitled Saints: The Powerful, Generous Dead. Especially for a person not raised in a Catholic context, Illes knowledge of the saints is both wide and deep. She made a powerful case that saints existed before Christianity, and despite the Catholic Churchs desire to claim them for their own, she emphasized that Christianity does not own the saints. Illed detailed a number of them who exist outside of the Christian context and provided an overview on how and why to work with saints, then gave tips on choosing the right saints for particular needs.

Illes enjoyed her time and her audience at TempleFest. TempleFest was a revelation, she said. While she arrived somewhat unsure of what to expect, Illes added that, What I discovered was an amazingly well-organized conference filled with passionate, committed, open-minded, loving people. I felt so incredibly welcomed.

An interesting part of Saturday was a counterpoint between two sessions denoted as cafes. On Saturday afternoon, Scorpio Minister Elsa Elliot and one of her deputy ministers, Danielle Dionne, hosted a death cafe, in which folks simply sat down and talked about death over cakes and cookies. Complete with a stuffed, plush Cerberus utilized as a talking stick, the conversation proved to be challenging, illuminating, and refreshingly honest.

That evening, the other Deputy Scorpio Minister, Wrentek McGowan, led a sex cafe, with the same basic goals, but with the topic changed to sexuality. Together, the two cafes provided a fantastic experience of talking openly and honestly about two topics which are often considered taboo, but which many Pagans and Witches find sacred.

As a light rain fell on Sunday morning, the days highlight was a lively panel on Justice, Hexing, and Activism. Moderated by Penczak, the panel included Illes, Dominguez Jr., Salisbury, Sartwell, and author Courtney Weber. The controversial topic has been discussed around the Pagan blogosphere recently, sometimes leading to anger and insults. This fact made it all the more helpful to have a panel of experienced Witches speaking candidly and sometimes disagreeing politely with each other.

The discussion was full of the complexity and nuance one would expect when wise people come together to discuss a difficult topic. Weber called it our obligation as citizens to work against injustice. Yet, she also suggested that it may be better to hex a policy that creates the problem rather than the person who committed it. Salisbury reminded us that justice is a process, and just because we cant see it working does not mean it is not occurring.

The panelists discussed their own ideas of justice. They went deep into the controversies surrounding the casting of hexes, sometimes criticizing the large public calls to send hexes in some cases while often ignoring other instances of injustice. It was one of those situations, much like the two cafes, where everyone knew that some people were made uncomfortable, and yet the airing of ideas and opinions  especially those which conflicted with preconceived notions  both challenged and benefited everyone involved.

Illes cautioned that Witches who seek to curse should take the time to examine their own motivations and the degree of injustice they are battling. If you think being uncomfortable is suffering, you are so lucky, she said. A lump in the throat is not the same as a lump in the breast. Warning against revenge for revenges sake, Dominguez advised that a potential curse should leave an opening for the person to change and grow. The target may suffer, but there should be a chance for them to improve as a result.

Reactions from those who attended were very positive. Chandra Williams, who traveled from Virginia to attend the festival for the third time, said This has been my favorite one so far. This year was packed full of so many wonderful choices of workshops that it was hard to choose which to attend. Another attendee, Karen Ainsworth, who came from the United Kingdom for the second consecutive year, called the it a truly awesome and magickal experience, adding that, My heart is so full of love right now!

Melisande, who drove to New Hampshire from Prince Edward Island, Canada, felt very welcome and comfortable. She appreciated the chance to experience the energy of the rituals, and the variety of workshops, adding that she particularly enjoyed Illes keynote speech, calling it Very engaging as well as informative as she shared some of her knowledge with a good dash of humor.

Debbie Stellhorn, a Temple of Witchcraft Mystery School student who came in from New Jersey, very much enjoyed a lesser known aspect of the TempleFest: The consecration of mystery school students on Thursday night. She says it was a chance to meet other temple members and elders in our community and through them Ive formed lasting friendships. The consecrations themselves are so powerful, said Stellhorn, I would make the trip up just to take part in them.

J.T. Mouradian, who came in from Massachusetts, stated emphatically, TempleFest 2016 was a profound event. Drumming and dancing with the people I love was empowering. Learning from so many wise people was enlightening. Sitting and talking with the people I love was a priceless blessing.

TempleFest ended Sunday afternoon. The Web of Community was gathered, blessed, and committed to the fire to send out its blessings as participants said their goodbyes until next year. At the end of TempleFest, we gather the energy that has been flowing through the web to the center of it, and Alix and Christopher carry it to the sacred fire where is burned and released, explained Packard. With the magickal work complete, the festival was over for another year.

Nicole, the Temple of Witchrafts Libra Minister and one of the organizers of TempleFest, said that next year will be a new experience. The festival has outgrown its current location and will be moving to a new venue. We will be moving to a new location, a nature-focused conference center in southern central New Hampshire, said Nicole. She added that We are also starting to get requests for invitations to present at TempleFest, so we know the word is out that we put on a good event.

Attendees agree. Mouradian told the story of his mother coming to one day of the festival. On the way out, he explained, she hugged and thanked me. She said very plainly, You all love one another, J.T.

After her first experience with TempleFest, Illes said, I recommend TempleFest wholeheartedly to anyone with an interest in Witchcraft and Paganism, whether or not they belong to the Temple of Witchcraft. I cant wait to return.

Mouradian concluded poetically:

This weekend I celebrated Life

This weekend I celebrated Love

This weekend I celebrated Magick

This weekend I celebrated Music

This weekend I celebrated Community

I am proud to call myself a Witch.

* * *
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Coming to Costa Rica? Want to go to Costa Rica? All birders should say yes because the small country where I live is easier to visit than a lot of people think. If the home birding patch is in Canada or the United States of America, its not really that far. Get on the plane anywhere from North Carolina to Texas or Florida and we are talking three to four hours. Yeah, quick enough to study the field guides and get psyched with recordings of vocalizations during flight and have time to spare. Oh, if you hadnt realized, it is a really birdy place too.

Lately, I have been waking up to the vocal antics of Laughing Falcon, the newly split Gray-cowled Wood-Rail, Grayish Saltator, Melodious Blackbird, and this beautiful male Blue Grosbeak that sings about a block away. I dont live in the forest either (unfortunately) but near a green patchwork of farm fields, second growth, and a riparian zone flush with trees. I get some birds here and can expect some sweet avian surprises now and then (a rare migrant Black-billed Cuckoo would be nice for the year), but my bird neighborhood is still nothing compared to the other side of the mountains. Over there, about an hour away by car, is a site called, Virgen del Socorro. This birding spot is a classic hotspot for two main reasons; (1) it provides fairly easy access to middle-elevation forest, and (2) it connects to the more extensive forests of Braulio Carrillo National Park. Since good stuff can wander in from that national park (by that, I mean rare, fancy birds you dont see all that often), its always exciting to bring the binos to that site.

Last weekend, I got in a morning over there with my birding buddy Susan. Our main goal was to check the forests past the Albergue del Socorro because that tends to be the best area. However, its not easy to get there early and not just because that would translate to leaving the house by at least 4 a.m. A bigger issue is having to drive through other birdy spots en-route and since thats pretty much like someone with a major sweet tooth strolling past a boulevard of open candy stores and chocolaterias, we didnt get to the best forests until 7:30 a.m. We just had to stop on the way, even if briefly, at Cinchona,

Cinchona- always an easy place for in your face views of hummingbirds and species that visit the fruit feeders. This is a female Green Thorntail.

and the Virgen del Socorro canyon because it was hopping with bird song. Zingy Zeledons Antbirds sang from the undergrowth, along with Bay Wrens, Tufted Flycatchers (if you saw one in Arizona, it probably wasnt the same species), tanagers, Tropical Parulas, Spotted Barbtail, and other birds including Thicket Antpitta, the first time I have heard that species at the site. Get there early and you might hear those species, Brown-billed Scythebill, Golden-olive and Smoky-brown Woodpeckers, and maybe even rarities like White-fronted (Zeledons) Tyrannulet, and Lanceolated Monklet.

The other side of the canyon has better habitat and good mixed flocks of tanagers and other birdies can come through although on Sunday, we just kept moving, only stopping for a surprise Long-billed Starthroat. As we approached the forest above Albergue Socorro, we finally had to stop and exit the vehicle though because there were too many calls of tanagers and euphonias to ignore. Melastome trees were fruiting and they were filled with Silver-throated Tanagers, Scarlet-thighed Dacnis, and White-vented Euphonias.

Numbers were impressive, especially because that euphonia species isnt the commonest of birds in Costa Rica.

When we had our fill of Melastome eating birds and looked long and hard enough to feel good about not possibly overlooking any sneaky Lovely Cotingas, we eased on up the rocky road and into the forest. The morning was reaching a late-ish 8:15 but the birds were still treating us well as dozens of tanagers and euphonias fed in yet more fruiting Melastomes. It was a lot more of the same plus Emerald, Speckled, and other expected tanagers and euphonias. As we tried to track some of those birds down, a movement in the forest understory caught our eyes. We raised bins, and voila, Collared Forest-falcon!

A juvenile Collared Forest-falcon looks for prey. Although this big raptor is common, its sneaky and usually one of those heard but not seen birds.

Good forest is usually good for raptors in Costa Rica and when a White Hawk flew into view, wishful thinking provoked a false start as I jumped the ID gun and said, here comes a Black and white Hawk-Eagle... But, nope it was a White Hawk, an expected but always welcome sight.

Its hard not to watch a big, chunky white raptor with black markings. You cant help but wonder how the heck the bird can look like that and get away it.

It was getting sunny, bird activity was falling and we kept checking tree tops looking for surprises. Thankfully, the clouds came back, the birds started moving again and we did get onto a mixed flock. That kept us busy for the next hour as the tree tops became alive with tanagers, euphonias, a foliage-gleaner or two, a couple of woodcreepers, different flycatchers, the hoped for, warbler-like Rufous-browed Tyrannulet, and an even more hoped for male Cerulean Warbler. I was hoping we would see one because this is the small window when that rare bird migrates through Costa Rica, and it seems to use foothill and middle elevation forests more than other habitats.

Eventually, the clouds did turn into rain but not before seeing Yellow-throated Toucan, and listening to Keel-billed Toucan while getting a few shots of the uncommon White-crowned Manakin.

In Costa Rica, this species only occurs in quality middle elevation and foothill rainforest.

On that day, the rain cut off the birding by noon but we still managed around 100 species, many of which were uncommon, local birds. Get there early and see how many bird species you can find! See one of our eBird lists from the day, and bird data from the Albergue del Socorro eBird hotspot, and the Virgen del Socorro hotspot.
Contact Information: Dr. Mark Loury Phone: 970-493-5334 Email Address: [email protected]

FORT COLLINS, CO, September 03, 2016 /24-7PressRelease/ -- Castle Connolly Medical Ltd., America's trusted source for identifying Top Doctors, has selected Fort Collins's Otolaryngology specialist Dr. Mark Loury for inclusion in its highly selective list of Castle Connolly Top Doctors this year.



Castle Connolly Medical Ltd. publishes its list of Castle Connolly Top Doctors at www.castleconnolly.com, as well as in a wide variety of printed directories, partner publications and on partner/affiliate websites. All told, more than 44,000 physicians - approximately 5% of the nation's licensed physicians - have been selected as Castle Connolly Top Doctors in their regions for their specialties.



Castle Connolly Top Doctors are selected by Castle Connolly Medical Ltd. after being nominated by peer physicians in an online nomination process. Nominations are open to all board certified MDs and DOs and each year tens of thousands of doctors cast many tens of thousands of nominations. Honorees are selected from the nominees by the Castle Connolly physician-led research team based on criteria including their medical education, training, hospital appointments, disciplinary histories and more.



About Mark Loury: a short profile by and about the honoree:



Dr. Loury graduated from the University of Colorado Medical School followed by residency at the Johns Hopkins Hospital in Baltimore, MD. He remained on the Johns Hopkins' faculty for six years then returned to Colorado with his family. They have been in Fort Collins for over 22 years. Dr. Loury is also listed in Best Doctors in America, America's Best Doctors, and the Patient's Choice Awards. He cares for Ear, Nose, and Throat conditions focusing on sinus and nasal disease, facial plastic surgery, thyroid and other head and neck tumors, and hearing problems.



For more information on this Castle Connolly Top Doctor, please visit Mark Loury's profile on www.castleconnolly.com.



Castle Connolly Medical Ltd.'s President and CEO Dr. John Connolly has this to say about Dr. Loury's recognition: "Only a small percent of physicians are selected to be Castle Connolly Top Doctors . Our goal is to make it easier for an average person to find the right doctor for them in what can be an overwhelming process at a difficult time in a person's life. Dr. Loury was nominated by physician peers and selected by our physician-led research team at Castle Connolly Medical Ltd. Selection is an impressive accomplishment worthy of recognition. My congratulations to Dr. Loury."



To find out more or to contact Dr. Mark Loury of Fort Collins, CO, please call 970-493-5334, or visit Advancedololaryngology.com.



This press release was written by American Registry, LLC and Castle Connolly Medical Ltd., with approval by and/or contributions from Mark Loury.



Castle Connolly Medical Ltd. identifies top doctors in America and provides consumers with detailed information about their education, training and special expertise in printed guides, online directories, and through its partnerships with more than 50 city and regional magazines and major newspapers all across the United States. It is important to note that doctors do not and cannot pay to be selected as a Castle Connolly Top Doctor. Learn more at www.castleconnolly.com.



American Registry, LLC, recognizes excellence in top businesses and professionals. For more information, search The Registry at http://www.americanregistry.com.



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On a recent evening, aides to Afghan President Ashraf Ghani invited several foreign journalists to his palace for an informal conversation. The journalists arrived to find a lavish picnic supper set up on the lawn. Soon after the guests sat down, the president unexpectedly strolled up and joined them.





Ghanis government is grappling with relentless poverty and insurgent violence, and the president faces unprecedented

. He is accused of being an autocratic micromanager and a remote academic with no feel for the common man. On that evening, though, he seemed confident, sympathetic and utterly unperturbed.





Holding forth on the Afghan economy, he rattled off head-spinning statistics about irrigation and living standards. Asked how he could appear relaxed with so many crises swirling around him, Ghani waved the subject away. What upsets him, he confided, are meetings that dont start on time. Crises, he added with a serene smile, make me calm.





Ghanis performance seemed intended to both dazzle and disarm his small audience, something he has failed to achieve with the Afghan public. At 67, with a history of health problems, he spends 18-hour days on the job, reaching for the sky with long-term regional development schemes and digging deep into the state bureaucracy to root out corruption.





Yet these superhuman efforts, popular with foreign donors, have generated little domestic goodwill. They are resented by officials whose authority he has stripped away and ex-militia leaders who expected the old patronage system to keep making them rich. Meanwhile,

among ordinary Afghans as the government has failed to bring jobs or security.





President Ghani is a victim of his own vision, said Timor Sharan, who represents the nonprofit International Crisis Group in Afghanistan. His reform agenda created high expectations, but people need to see tangible results. He thought he could sacrifice himself for the future, but if he fails, it will have a terrible historic impact on our country.





Even such constructive critics say Ghani has been his own worst enemy. They describe him as intellectually arrogant, impatient with underlings and too busy to indulge in the tea-drinking chats with elders and ethnic strongmen that enabled his predecessor, Hamid Karzai, to hold together a divided society emerging from decades of brutal conflict and ideological whiplash.





The other accusation is that Ghani has surrounded himself with advisers from his Pashtun ethnic group and clan, while shutting out those from other backgrounds. Both of his vice presidents are from ethnic minorities, but several of his closest confidants, such as the national security adviser, Hanif Atmar, are fellow Ghilzai Pashtuns. He has also alienated influential Durrani Pashtuns, whose tribe ruled the country for centuries.

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Contact Info: Switchfast Technologies Phone: 773-241-3007 Email Address: [email protected]

CHICAGO, IL, September 03, 2016 /24-7PressRelease/ -- Announcing a special recognition appearing in the March, 2015 issue of mspmentor.net published by mspmentor.net. Switchfast Technologies was selected for the following honor:

"Top 501 Managed Services Providers (MSPs) Worldwide"



A spokesperson from Switchfast Technologies commented on the recognition: "This is quite an honor for us. The fact that mspmentor.net included Switchfast Technologies in its selection of "Top 501 Managed Services Providers (MSPs) Worldwide," signals that our constant efforts towards business excellence are paying off. We are proud to be included in this recognition."



About Switchfast Technologies: a short profile by and about the honoree:



Switchfast Technologies is a leading IT Managed Services Provider (MSP), serving the Greater Chicagoland and Midwest Area. Switchfast clients understand that a true IT Partner goes beyond break/fix; rather providing long-term solutions to business challenges and goals. We ensure investment in Information Technology provides the maximum ROI to its stakeholders through IT Roadmapping, Planning and Strategy. We have one of the highest Client Satisfaction & Employee Engagement rates in the industry, along with the data, referrals and accolades to prove it. Switchfast Technologies - Your IT.



Following the publication of Switchfast Technologies's selection for mspmentor.net's Top 501 Managed Services Providers (MSPs) Worldwide list, American Registry seconded the honor and added Switchfast Technologies to the "Registry of Business Excellence ". An exclusive recognition plaque, shown here, has been designed to commemorate this honor.



For more information on Switchfast Technologies, located in Chicago, IL please call 773-241-3007, or visit switchfast.com.



This press release was written by American Registry, LLC with contributions from Switchfast Technologies on behalf of Switchfast Technologies .



American Registry, LLC is an independent company that serves businesses and professionals such as Switchfast Technologies who have been recognized for excellence. American Registry offers news releases, plaques and The Registry, an online listing of over 2 million significant business and professional recognitions. Search The Registry at http://www.americanregistry.com.



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Sep 2, 2016 | By Benedict

Theres only one thing more satisfying than being part of a 3D printing project, and thats teaching others how to get involved with the additive manufacturing game. A few weeks ago, Netherlands-based 3D printer manufacturer Ultimaker launched its ambitious 3D printing Pioneer Program through which school teachers and university staff can share useful tips and resources for bringing 3D printing into the classroom, but Thingiverse, MakerBots huge 3D printable file hub, has a fair amount of educational content of its own. MakerBot Learning, the educational division of the 3D printing company, has sifted through the database to identify the best STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Art and Math) 3D printing lesson plans submitted by Thingiverse users. The various lessons, from which we have selected 15, include step-by-step instructions, photos, 3D design files, activity sheets, and more. Some of the lessons are targeted at high school students, while others are more suitable for younger learners.



3D printing lesson #1: GO-GO AirBoat

Thingiverse user Macakcats GO-GO AirBoat lesson plan combines mathematics, physics, and electronics. When assembling the 3D printable AirBoat, students will discover how payloads affect a ships buoyancy, speed, and stability. They can do this by loading the 3D printed vessel up with one-cent coins until it is at max capacity, whereupon a depth sensor will alert the young crew that the boat is ready to set sail. As well as giving students hands-on experience of 3D printing, the project also helps kids learn about resistors, capacitors, diodes, LED's, DC motors, bipolar junction transistors (BJT's), Darlington pair transistors, phototransistors as triggers, circuit board layout, and soldering.

3D printing lesson #2: Bicycle Bubble Machine

This fun project from Thingiverse user heinzdrei shows keen makers how to turn their everyday, run-of-the-mill bicycle into a majestic vessel that wouldn't look out of place in The Little Mermaid. The wind-driven bicycle bubble machine attaches to a standard bike luggage rack, and requires only 3D printed components, wood, screws, and a handful of other parts. The creator of the 3D printing project warns that it can get messy, but isn't that part of the fun?

3D printing lesson #3: Educational Brake Caliper

Submitted by Thingiverse user Chriswh86, this fun project teaches high school or middle school students how to 3D print and assemble a racing-style brake caliper with quick-release brake pads and dual pistons. The project comes with 3D printable STL files, as well as additional documentation and a quiz. Additionally, the printed caliper fits on a shelf or desk as a display item. Since the start of my obsession with 3D printing and computer aided design, Motorsports has been on my mind, Chris explained. The Educational Brake Caliper is my first Motorsports-related design to be released to the public.

3D printing lesson #4: Density and Buoyancy Investigations

Thingiverse user mshcotts 3D printing lesson shows students how objects of different shapes and densities float according to Archimedes Principle. The users lesson plan actually divides into two labs, one to help students investigate volume and the relationship between cubic centimeters and millilitres, and the other to help them investigate density and buoyancy. By 3D printing small cubes with different infill settings, teachers can let students see two seemingly identical objects display different levels of buoyancya cube with a 5% infill will float, while a cube with 100% infill will sink.

3D printing lesson #5: Sphero Clipper Boat

One of the featured winners from the MakerBot STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Art and Math) Makeathon in San Francisco, ttds Sphero Clipper Boat lesson plan shows K12 students how to use the Sphero SPRK, Tickle programming, and 3D printing technology to create a boat. This boat can be made to complete several challenges, such as timed races, search and rescue missions, and more. Teachers can choose particular plugins for their activity of choice, depending on the needs of the curriculum.

3D printing lesson #6: Sodium Potassium Biological Electrogenic Pump

Designed to teach high school students about sodium and potassium ion paths across a cell membrane, Thingiverse user stevegongs 3D printing lesson covers biology, physiology, and physics. The creator of the kit suggests that teachers could employ a flipped classroom methodology, with students required to assemble the platform and explain the process of generating a membrane potential to their instructor.

3D printing lesson #7: Wind Energy Stored in Gravity

This fun 3D printing project submitted by Thingiverse user hyperplanemike can be used to teach kids about renewable energy. Energy is generated using a vertical wind turbine on the left hand side of the geared model. A movable battery section in the middle can be adjusted left or right to charge or expend the gravity battery. On the right side, there is a fan that can be used to reproduce a summer breeze after it is caught and stored in the battery.

3D printing lesson #8: Wind Car

Thingiverse user TheDukeAnumber1 encourages students to harvest wind energy to propel an unusual 3D printed car with this clever project. The printable model, which is an example of engineering connections and energy transfer, is aimed at students in 6th grade or higher. A moderate level of dexterity and model-building skill is probably required. One possible assignment could include requiring students to estimate how many times the wind cups will rotate when the car travels a specified distance, the maker suggests. This can be calculated after measuring the wheel and gear diameters.

3D printing lesson #9: Beast Belly Fraction Game

Submitted by Thingiverse user prof_Ruggles, the Beast Belly Fraction Game helps younger students understand the mathematics of fractions, teaching them to form whole numbers by adding the 3D printed fraction tokens together. Each kind of fraction token has a different thickness according to its value, so that a  token is double the thickness of a  token etc. Students can then fill the belly of a 3D printed monster with different combinations of these tokens.

3D printing lesson #10: Speedy Architect Project

One of MakerBot Learnings own 3D printing lessons, of which there are many, the Speedy Architect Project encourages students to make simple structures while meeting critical design requirements and keeping under set time and material limits. MakerBot Learning recommends the building project for students anywhere from 6th grade to 12th grade.

3D printing lesson #11: Ultimate Parametric Box

The Ultimate Parametric Box, a project submitted by electronics hobbyist Heartman, encourages students to get to grips with OpenScad and Thingiverse Customizer by creating 3D printed parametric boxes which can be used to house DIY electronics assemblies, control panels, or enclosures for an Arduino, Raspberry Pi, etc. This advanced project requires OpenScad, internet access, and a 3D printer.

3D printing lesson #12: Sand Spirograph

This sand spirograph activity from Thingiverse user burton15 can be used to teach students how to make a spirograph, a toy that produces mathematical roulette curves. The 3D printable toy was modeled using Blender and is based on a particular design that the maker had as a child. I tried to keep the list of printed parts minimal by creating a two-gear system instead of a more complex scissor extension arm, burton15 explains. A unique feature of my design is the guide wheel that supports the tracing gear to keep it level and from falling into the sand while still allowing the gear to rotate.

3D printing lesson #13: Rainbow Apparatus

A fascinating and colourful project created by Thingiverse user marciot, the Rainbow Apparatus consists of a lamp and projection disc, and the majority of the device can be 3D printed. Three 20 mm high-power LEDs are used to light up the kaleidoscopic structure. The project is complex in parts, and some soldering is required, so teachers looking to implement the project in the classroom should use their own judgment regarding what age and skill level is suitable.

3D printing lesson #14: Solar Hive

This random parametric beehive LED lamp workshop, created by Thingiverse user 3ddruckqueck, is fully customizable and can be made to run off solar power. The lamp can either be powered by 4 - 12 V like a "normal" LED lamp or as a solar powered outdoor night lamp that recharges during the day and glows in random patterns during the night during a specified time frame. All the body parts are 3D printed and the electronics should cost less than $25 in total. The idea was to create a lamp dedicated to the beauty of randomness, so the shape and the glowing pattern are randomized, the creator explained.

3D printing lesson #15: Parametric Music Box

Thingiverse user wizard23 submitted this fun Parametric Music Box project, which ended up being a Thingiverse Customizer Challenge contest winner in the Artistic category. The design is fully 3D printable, and while the notes dont ring out quite as true as they might on a metal music box, its still mightily impressive that the maker has been able to make regular plastic 3D printing filament into a singing box of wonders. Students with some programming and/or musical experience can create 3D printed music boxes that play different tunes.

With so much educational content to download through Thingiverse and other platforms like the Ultimaker Pioneer Program, the popularity of such websites shows that educators are keen to introduce 3D printing to their studentsand help out their teaching peers while doing so.

Posted in 3D Printing Application

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Patrick West in Spiked:

In 1989, the Western world got its first real taste of Islamic extremism when the Indian-born British writer Salman Rushdie was sentenced to death. It was the Ayatollah Khomeini of Iran who issued the fatwa ordering Muslims to kill Rushdie on account of his book, The Satanic Verses. Most people were horrified, not merely because of the effrontery of the Ayatollah, but because it seemed so anachronistic. Here we were, still in the midst of the Cold War, and up had popped some religious throwback exhorting murder on account of what someone had written. The concept of death for blasphemy, we assumed, belonged to different times.

Three decades on, furious rage at the behest of the religiously righteous and the easily offended is all too commonplace. Were The Satanic Verses published today, we wouldnt be surprised at the outrage it would generate. Not in the slightest. Rather, wed be astonished that anyone would dare write it at all, or that any publisher would release it. In our post-Charlie Hebdo times, every publishing house and editorial office is haunted by the spectre of aggrieved fanatics bursting through the doors with machine guns.

Would Rushdie himself do the same again, given the chance? Even hes not sure. In an interview with the French magazine Le Point last week, he said he probably wouldnt have received the same support from his peers today as he did in 1989, and might even face censure and denunciation from them. Today, they would accuse me of Islamophobia and racism, he said. They would charge me with crimes against a cultural minority.

More here.
On August 18, statues of a nude and Rubenesque Donald Trump popped up in public places in five cities across the country. Twoin Cleveland and New York Citywere almost immediately taken down by local authorities. The remaining three have been saved to varying degrees; the Los Angeles statue is in an art gallery awaiting sale by Julien's Auctions (the projected $20,000 in proceeds going to a pro-immigration group); Seattle's version was rescued and is currently on display at No Parking on Pike, an antique and resell shop of curios and oddities; and San Francisco's, well, that one is in limbo currently.





The sculptor, Joshua "Ginger" Monroe, known primarily for his work in horror movie special effects, arrived in SF yesterday hoping to retrieve the controversial original. Trump supporters hated it (which was the point), but the guerilla art also brought in some unexpected criticism from groups claiming the works to be transphobic and/or body-shaming (we'll have more on that in another story). With a perceived arrangement in place including input from Supervisor Scott Wiener who worked to save the statue, City Attorney Dennis Herrera, who wanted nothing to do with the case, the SFPD, and Nick Bovis, owner of Lefty O'Doul's who was going to display the work before returning it to Monroe, it appeared that Monroe would be able to arrive, visit SF with his family as tourists, pick up his creation, and head back to Las Vegas, where he currently lives. Not so fast, said SFPD, while they try to figure out whom to charge with felony vandalism over to the $4K cost of removing the epoxy used to secure the statue at Jane Warner Plaza. So far, they haven't even approached Monroe, despite him giving pressers yesterday in town, and they did not respond to questions posed by 7x7.





So, instead of taking his baby home that he created pro bono at the behest of the activist art collective INDECLINE, Monroe is sightseeing today and planning on partying tonight at Lefty O'Doul's. When it became clear he wouldn't be able to retrieve the statue so easily, he brought a back up plan with himhalf a naked Donald Trump statue (the top half), which will be resting atop the piano at the old school Union Square bar and restaurant. Patrons are invited to attend (free of charge, mind you) to take selfies with the bust and listen to a special line-up of musicians who will be playing in honor of Monroe. You can expect to see house regulars, The Irish Newsboys, a band made up of local journalists, plus special appearances by some of Deadhead Monroe's favorite players: Peter Albin of Big Brother and the Holding Company and Country Joe and the Fish, and Barry Melton (he's The Fish in the aforementioned band). They'll be playing some new songs specifically about nudity and Trump. The revelry begins at 7pm tonight. // Lefty O'Doul's, 333 Geary Street, Union Square, leftyodouls.biz
Laws crafted by those elected should do most good for most people
Cinepolis, Indias leading international and Worlds 4th largest exhibitor has acquired two properties of DT Cinemas, owned by DLF group (operated under the name DT Cinema), as part of its expansion strategy, in India. The two acquired cinemas: DT Cinemas, Saket (6 Screens) and DT Cinemas, Greater Kailash-2 (1 Screen) will be part of Cinepolis portfolio.



Cinepolis India now boasts 267 screens, with the addition of 7 screens in premier locations across Delhi NCR. The company has created a strong footprint across 41 Indian cities having strong presence in major metros: Delhi, Mumbai, and Bengaluru. Cinepolis India has also been strategically targeting tier-I/tier-II cities like Kolkata, Hyderabad, Kochi, Vadodara, Pune, Ahmedabad, Lucknow, Amritsar, Bhopal, and Vijayawada to grow its brand presence.



Speaking on the occasion, Mr. Javier Sotomayor, Managing Director, Cinepolis India said, I am pleased to announce the acquisition of 7 screens of renowned exhibition brand DT Cinemas from DLF. Apart from taking over the operations, we will refurbish these cinemas and rebrand them to Cinepolis, in the near future. We have plans to transform these two cinemas into our landmark properties. With the opening of Cinepolis Rohini in May this year and now the acquisition of these 7 Screens, we have strengthened our screen presence to 24 screens in Delhi. Committed to our brand promise and focus to offer best cinema viewing experience, we will continue to increase our presence in the country.



Mr. Sriram Khattar, CEO Rental Business - DLF India mentioned; This deal is in line with our strategy to focus on our core business. It will provide the management a more focused approach for enhancing value, especially in our retail businesses. Cinepolis offers a new age experience to its patrons and we are confident that the brand will continue to provide excellent movie-viewing experience to a wider audience.



The Mexican multiplex chain has transformed the movie watching experience of its patrons while providing a truly international movie-watching experience to the cinema lovers in India.



YES Securities (a subsidiary of YES BANK) and J. Sagar Associates acted as the exclusive financial and legal advisors, respectively to Cinepolis India on this transaction. EY India and Luthra & Luthra were the exclusive financial and legal advisors respectively to DLF on the transaction.
In a land of contrasts, in an emerging superpower where ancient mysticism walks hand in hand with scientific progress, nearly 1.3 billion people are bound together by diversity of their faiths and beliefs. In India, the customs and cultures are woven in a tapestry of traditional cycle of celebrations of lights, colors, music, dance and sheer spirit  the festivals.

Ganesh Chaturthi is a symbol of the spirit of India. Airing on Monday, September 5 at 9 PM, Discoverys one-hour special Spirit of India  Ganesh Chaturthi showcases the dynamic colors of the spirituality, the grandeur and the amusement, ushering the traditional celebration of Ganesha during the 10-day festival. UK born Indian actor Danny Sura immerses viewers into the cheerful mood of the festival that's celebrated all over India, but not with the kind of intensity and fervor that it brings to the countrys financial capital  Mumbai.

Most popularly known for his blessings of wealth, fame and fortune, Lord Ganesha or Ganapati - is one the most popular deities in India. The name Ganesha has a meaning where 'Gun' means group of people, and 'pati' means ruler or lord. Danny Sura travels across the country to explore interesting traditions and trivia related to the festival.

Beginning his journey in Mumbai, Danny visits one of the biggest mandaps, where he meets a group of Catholic women who tell him that their forefathers, Christian fishermen had started the festivities at Lal Baug in 1934. It is estimated that over 1.5 million people visit this mandap every day during the course of the festival. At another mandap, Danny meets a set designer who tells him about the tradition of not painting the Ganesha idols eyes until it is taken to someones residence or temple, which has gradually changed to covering the eyes and the face of the idol till an auspicious time. Danny also introduces a sculpture artist, Yusuf, who has been making Ganesha idols for years.

Further in Karnataka, Danny visits one of the intricately designed mandaps which is a replica of the Mysore Palace, and meets a few artisans who make the puja celebration a surprise for the visitors.

In Pune, Danny visits Kesariwada Palace, a museum dedicated to the trials and triumph of legendary leader Lokmanya Tilak and finds about his contribution to revive public celebration of Ganesha, an event that is held since the times of Chattraparti Shivaji. Danny also takes part in the final procession of immersing the idols. Travel with Danny and witness the energy, the spirit and the devotion of people who welcome and bid goodbye to their favourite deity in Discoverys special programme Spirit of India: Ganesh Chaturthi.
LITTLE ROCK, Ark., Sept. 2, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- A $45 million Settlement has been reached in a class action lawsuit against Philip Morris USA Inc. ("Philip Morris") about, among other things, whether Marlboro Lights and Marlboro Ultra Lights cigarettes were deceptively advertised, marketed and sold as healthier to smoke than regular cigarettes. Philip Morris denies the allegations in the lawsuit, and the Court has not decided who is right.

The Settlement includes all persons who purchased Marlboro Light or Marlboro Ultra Light cigarettes in the state of Arkansas for personal consumption from November 1, 1971 through June 22, 2010.

Class Benefits include the $45 Million Settlement Fund, which will be used to make payments to Class members and for the cost of administration of the Settlement, attorneys' fees and litigation costs, and Class Representative fees.

Payments will be made to Class members who file valid claims and will be calculated as follows:

10 cents per pack for each pack purchased between November 1, 1971 and April 17, 1998 ;

per pack for each pack purchased between and ; 25 cents per pack for each pack purchased between April 18, 1998 and April 18, 2003 ; and

per pack for each pack purchased between and ; and 10 cents per pack for each pack purchased between April 19, 2003 and June 22, 2010 .

The final value of each claim may be adjusted up or down pro rata depending on the number of claims filed.

In addition to the cash benefits to the Class, Plaintiffs claim to have benefited the Class through the litigation activity, publicity and public awareness, which helped result in the removal of Marlboro Lights and Marlboro Ultra Lights from the market.

Class Members can easily file a claim online at www.MarlboroLightsClass.com. Class Members may also download a Claim Form from the website or call the toll-free number or request a Claim Form be mailed to them. Claims must be filed online no later than midnight Central Time on December 1, 2016. Claim Forms sent by mail must be postmarked on or before December 1, 2016.

Class Members who do not want to be legally bound by the Settlement, must exclude themselves by November 1, 2016. Class Members who exclude themselves from the Settlement cannot file a claim and will not get a payment from the Settlement Fund. Class Members who do not timely exclude themselves will release any claims they may have against Philip Morris relating to the lawsuit. Class Members may object to the Settlement by November 1, 2016. A Detailed Notice available on the website explains how to exclude or object. The Court will hold a Hearing on November 21, 2016 to consider whether to approve the Settlement. Class Members may appear at the hearing, either by themselves or through an attorney hired by them, but don't have to. Class Counsel will also request an award of attorney's fees and Service Awards for the Class Representatives to be paid from the Settlement Fund, plus reimbursement of reasonable expenses. For more information, call the toll free number or visit the website.

To view the original version on PR Newswire, visit:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/court-to-notify-consumers-who-purchased-marlboro-lights-or-marlboro-ultra-lights-in-the-state-of-arkansas-that-they-could-get-money-from-a-class-action-settlement-300322334.html

SOURCE Circuit Court for Pulaski County, Arkansas
JUNO BEACH, Fla., Sept. 3, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Florida Power & Light Company (FPL) today announced that service restoration is complete for customers who were affected by Hurricane Hermine, in line with its pre-storm commitment to restore power to the majority of affected customers within 24 hours of the storm's passing.

"The fact that we were able to restore power to more than 110,000 customers within 24 hours following Hermine's passing is further evidence that the significant investments we've been making in our electric grid during the past decade are clearly providing benefits for our customers," said Eric Silagy, president and chief executive officer of FPL. "These investments, which include hardening our electrical system, upgrading our power lines and poles to be stronger and more resilient, and leveraging technology and the benefits of our 4.8 million smart meters, have resulted in one of the most advanced smart grids in the nation. In short, these investments helped reduce the number of outages our customers experienced during Hurricane Hermine, and for those who did experience an outage, helped us restore their service much faster."

FPL participates in a mutual assistance program with other electric utilities from across the nation. As part of that program, today FPL is making available 300 contract restoration personnel to help sister Florida utilities restore power to their customers. The company also is offering support to out-of-state utilities should the need arise. Other utilities have sent crews to help FPL customers after major storms, and FPL is happy to help restore power to those affected by Hermine.

"Living in Florida, we are susceptible to severe weather conditions throughout the year," said Silagy. "Hurricane Hermine serves as a stark reminder of this reality, and all of us who live and work here need to remember the National Hurricane Center's forecast of a very active 2016 hurricane season, taking the time now to make plans and preparations well before the next storm strikes."

The company offers storm preparation and safety tips at FPL.com/storm, including a downloadable guide for customers' homes and families. In addition, customers can stay in touch through:

Twitter: twitter.com/insideFPL

Facebook: facebook.com/FPLconnect

Florida Power & Light Company

Florida Power & Light Company is the third-largest electric utility in the United States, serving more than 4.8 million customer accounts or more than 10 million people across nearly half of the state of Florida. FPL's typical 1,000-kWh residential customer bill is approximately 30 percent lower than the latest national average and, in 2015, was the lowest in Florida among reporting utilities for the sixth year in a row. FPL's service reliability is better than 99.98 percent, and its highly fuel-efficient power plant fleet is one of the cleanest among all utilities nationwide. The company received the top ranking in the southern U.S. among large electric providers, according to the J.D. Power 2016 Electric Utility Residential Customer Satisfaction StudySM, and was recognized in 2016 as one of the most trusted U.S. electric utilities by Market Strategies International. A leading Florida employer with approximately 8,800 employees, FPL is a subsidiary of Juno Beach, Fla.-based NextEra Energy, Inc. (NYSE: NEE), a clean energy company widely recognized for its efforts in sustainability, ethics 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." NextEra Energy is also the parent company of NextEra Energy Resources, LLC, which, together with its affiliated entities, is the world's largest generator of renewable energy from the wind and sun. For more information about NextEra Energy companies, visit these websites: www.NextEraEnergy.com, www.FPL.com, www.NextEraEnergyResources.com.

Logo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20120301/FL62738LOGO

To view the original version on PR Newswire, visit:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/florida-power--light-company-completes-service-restoration-to-customers-affected-by-hurricane-hermine-in-line-with-pre-storm-commitment-300322380.html

SOURCE Florida Power & Light Company
Testers at Edwards meet with Auto GCAS survivor

Test pilots and engineers from the 416th Flight Test Squadron had the chance to meet with one of the squadrons success stories Aug. 25.



The group met with an allied nation pilot trainee who survived gravity induced loss of consciousness in an F-16 Fighting Falcon after the aircrafts Automatic Ground Collision Avoidance System activated, executing a ground-avoidance maneuver, just as the system was designed to do. The 416th FLTS tested and proved the F-16s Auto GCAS.



The pilot, whose call sign is Ocho, and his instructor pilot came to Edwards Air Force Base at NASAs request. Both pilots are assigned to the Arizona Air National Guards 152nd Fighter Squadron in Tucson, Arizona. The squadron has an international F-16 training program.



The meeting took place in the C-Dot Auditorium -- named for Maj. Aaron "C-Dot" George, a 416th FLTS pilot killed in a controlled flight into terrain (CFIT) incident with photographer Judson Brohmer in 2001.



They could have been saved by an (Auto) GCAS fly-up, but the jet they were flying didn't have the system, said Lt. Col. Chris Keithley, the 416th FLTS commander. Fast forward almost 15 years, and (an allied nation pilot) got a fly-up during air-to-air training in Arizona. He's not alone. To date, this technology has saved four pilots' lives in training and combat. This means their families didn't lose a husband, father, son or brother. It also means they're able to serve their country another day. It's a huge win and I can't overstate how meaningful it is.



The pilots were flying in two separate F-16s in the skies over the Southwest on May 5, when the trainee began a basic fighter maneuver.



I started to roll and started to pull and Im following (the instructor pilot) with my eyes, Ocho said. The next thing I remember is just waking up and hearing recover. It happened so fast. Usually, (when experienced at pulling Gs), most people get tunnel vision that gradually comes in. Thats what I always get, but that day I didnt get anything.



The first thing Ocho heard when he regained consciousness was his instructor pilot, Maj. Luke OSullivan, saying recover several times. Once he opened his eyes, Ocho said he was confused for one second and then saw the ground coming very fast.



I was already at the controls, but it had seemed I had not moved at all. When I woke up, I thought, What just happened? Whats going to happen? Everything just came to me at the same time. I immediately started to pull up.



Ochos F-16 Auto GCAS had already activated and the plane performed a roll-to-upright maneuver after sensing something was wrong.



Auto GCAS is designed to prevent CFIT mishaps by executing an automatic recovery maneuver when terrain impact is imminent. The system predicts those conditions by means of a continuous comparison between a trajectory prediction and a terrain profile that is generated from onboard terrain elevation data. At the instant the predicted trajectory touches the terrain profile, the automatic recovery is executed by the Auto GCAS autopilot. The automatic recovery consists of an abrupt roll-to-upright and a nominal 5-G pull until terrain clearance is assured.



After nearly three decades of development by the NASA Armstrong Flight Research Center, Lockheed Martin and the Air Force Research Laboratory, operational Auto GCAS systems began being installed throughout the Air Force F-16 fleet in 2013, following flight tests at the 416th FLTS.



Its definitely a valuable system, OSullivan said after witnessing Auto GCAS in action firsthand. It does what its supposed to and it works.



Both OSullivan and Ocho said pilots in their squadron are briefed on what Auto GCAS does. Still, they found a visit with some of the systems developers to be an eye-opening experience.



Walking out to the jet on a daily basis, I know a lot about the stick and throttle aspect of it, but  I didnt really think about all the different lines of code in the software and all the work that goes into testing to make sure its a viable system thats not going to interfere with what were trying to do out there, OSullivan said.



Today, the 416th FLTS continues to work on two Auto GCAS-related programs, which are the Automatic Integrated Collision Avoidance System and the Hybrid Flight Control Computer (HFLCC).



Auto ICAS is the integration of Auto GCAS and the Automatic Air Collision Avoidance System (Auto ACAS), and it essentially makes Auto ACAS ground-aware while still providing protection against aerial collisions. HFLCC introduces digital cards into the analog flight control computer of older F-16s, allowing them to run digital applications like Auto GCAS. The team also tests fixes to Auto GCAS issues that have been found in the field.



For the 416th (FLTS), the visit by the two pilots hammered home in a profound way how meaningful our work is, Keithley said. Often times, flight testers aren't able to see the results of their work. Fortunately, last Thursday we got to see that up close and personal.



The Air Force and Lockheed Martin are also looking at developing similar systems with the F-22 Raptor and F-35 Lightning II.
The Cbi on Saturday conducted raids at 20 locations in Delhi and Haryana over the alleged irregularities in the purchase of 400 acres of land by some builders.

These lands were taken from Gurgaon farmers during 2004-2007 at throwaway prices causing a loss of over Rs 1,500 crore to the national exchequer.

The official said that separate Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) teams searched the homes and offices of former Haryana Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda, two former IAS officers, including Principal Secretary M. L. Tayal and UPSC member Chattar Singh, and a serving IAS official S.S. Dhillon in Delhi and Haryanas Gurgaon, Rohtak, Chandigarh and Panchkula areas.

Sources said that the Cbi finally decided to conduct the raids following statements its officials recorded from several farmers and government officials linked to the case.

Most of the farmers and officials had made allegation against Hooda and Tayal, Chattar Singh and Dhillon of cheating, the source told IANS on condition of anonymity.

Reacting to the Cbi raids, Congress Party spokesperson Tom Vadakkan said it was political vendetta and misuse of power.

Haryana Minister Anil Vij, however, said that the Cbiwas the highest investigating agency and it is an inquiry of the previous governments reckless distribution (land).

On the request of the Haryana government and directions of the central government, the Cbi registered a case against unknown public servants of the Haryana government and some private persons in September 2015.

Cbi sources said that the unknown accused have been booked under charges of cheating, forgery, criminal conspiracy and under the Prevention of Corruption Act.

The Cbi took over the investigation of the case from Manesar police in Gurgaon that had already registered a First Information Report (FIR) against some public servants in Haryana and some private people.

It is alleged that some private builders in conspiracy with Haryana government officials had purchased around 400 acres of land from the farmers of villages in Manesar, Naurangpur and Lakhnoula in Gurgaon at throwaway prices between August 27, 2004 and August 24, 2007, said a Cbi official, adding the farmers and the landowners were threatened with Acquisition of their land by the government if they did not sell.

According to the official, the Haryana government had initially issued a notification under the Land Acquisition Act for land measuring about 912 acres for setting up an industrial model township at villages in Manesar, Naurangpur and Lakhnoula.

After that, all the land had allegedly been grabbed from the landowners and farmers by the private builders under the threat of Acquisition at meagre rates, the official said.

An order was also passed by the director of industries on August 24, 2007 releasing the land from the Acquisition process but the land was released in violation of the government policy in favour of the builders, their companies and agents, instead of the original landowners, the official said.

The land whose market value at that time was above Rs 4 crore per acre, totalling about Rs 1,600 crore, was allegedly purchased by the private builders from the land owners in only about Rs 100 crore.
In my previous Editorial on the issue of Politicians and Sex Scandals  Part 1, I wrote about some infamous sex scandals which had given immense exposure by media. In my todays article, I want to put some of the lesser known scandals by the politicians.

Raghavjees unnatural sex scandal

[inlinetweet prefix= tweeter= suffix=]Raghavjee, a veteran of Madhya Pradesh politics, has been accused of having unnatural sex with his servant.[/inlinetweet] A CD showing the then finance minister of Shivraj Singh Chouhans Madhya Pradesh government in compromising position with a man has done irreparable damage to the party. Raghavjee had to resign and the matter is now subjudice. According to Raghavjee, the man who has accused him of sexual exploitation worked part-time for him, occasionally massaged the ministers arms and legs, and had quit a month ago.

However his 29-year old domestic help had a different story to tell. He is in several extra-marital affairs with the wives of those who work at his official residence. I want to tell that he has done to other employees what he had been doing to me, the 29-year old victim said while addressing the media at leader of opposition Ajay Singhs residence.

Keralas ice-cream sex parlour scandal

In 1987, Kerala was rocked by a sex scandal known as ice-cream sex parlour scandal. The sex scandal came to light after a Kozikode based NGO filed a complaint alleging that an ice cream parlour was being run as a brothel and a number of girls were being sexually exploited there by powerful sections of the society including politicians, judicial officers and other VIPs.

P K Kunhalikutty, a minister belonging to IUML leader, came under scanner in this case and had to resign that time. The case resurfaced in 2011, when a relative of Kunhalikutty alleged that he had helped him in wriggling out of the case using illegal means including bribing the witnesses.

BJPs Sanjay Joshis scandal

Sanjay Joshi, the then general secretary of BJP, was hugely embarrassed when an audio cassette and a VCD, allegedly showing him in compromising position with a woman surfaced in 2005. Sanjay Joshi was a RSS prachark and he was known for his tough and no-nonsense approach. It was said that the CD was an outcome of intra-party rivalry.

Fingers were also raised at Narendra Modi with whom Joshi had fall out owing to sharp differences. The cassette had the voices of Joshi and the woman was talking about unfulfilled promises. Sanjay Joshi had to resign from his post. He was later rehabilitated in the party but the stigma never allowed him to regain his authority and command.

Jagjivan Rams sons sex scandal

Jagjivan Ram could well have been the first Dalit Prime Minister of independent India, had his son not entrapped in a sex scandal that came to light when everything was going in favour of the former. Indira Gandhi was defeated in the Janata Party wave in 1977 and Jagjivan Ram was a favourite for the PM post as he had broken away from the Congress and had a good reputation as an experienced politician and able administrator. Unfortunately for the then deputy prime minister Jagjivan Ram, nude pictures of his son Suresh Ram were published in a magazine named Surya that showed Suresh Ram in compromising positions with a girl named Sushma Chaudhury. What interesting fact was that the magazine was edited by none other than Maneka Gandhi, the daughter-in-law of Indira Gandhi.

Clearly, the pictures had more to it than what met the eyes. In those days, the pictures were taken on an automatic Polaroid camera. Jagjivan Rams political fortunes fell, the Janata Party broke into two, the Morarji Desai government fell and Charan Singh, with the outside support of Congress, became the prime minister.

Harak Singh Rawat-Indira Deoris Paternity Issue

[inlinetweet prefix= tweeter= suffix=]Harak Singh Rawat, the then Uttaranchal minister of Congress party, was accused in 2003 by an Assamese woman of having fathered her new born child.[/inlinetweet] Indira Deori alias Jenny from alleged that the Congress leader had fathered her child only. Rawat had to resign in the wake of the allegation made. His position became untenable after a fact finding committee of assembly submitted its report that highlighted the firm allegation levelled by the Assamese woman. The political storm that followed her allegation lost steam when the CBI tabled its report to the court stating that the DNA of the child did not match with the minister.

Bihars Bobby

Bihar was rocked in 1982 by the murder of a girl, Bobby, who was working in the Bihar secretariat. The murder caught headlines after the names of a number of ministers belonging to the then Congress government came under scanner. The government at that time was headed by veteran Congress leader Jagannath Mishra. Under immense public pressure and media scrutiny, the case was reopened and the dead body of the girl was exhumed for forensic analysis. Some of the culprits were identified later on.

Shehla Masoods murder

[inlinetweet prefix= tweeter= suffix=]Dhruv Narayan Singh, BJP MLA of Madhya Pradesh, was accused of having illicit relationship with many women and it resulted in the murder of one of her lovers[/inlinetweet], Shehla Masood, an RTI activist, who got eliminated through contract killers hired by Dhruvs another lover Zahida Pervez. Masood was an activist working primarily on wildlife conservation, and also supported other causes like good governance, RTI Act, Police reforms, environment, womens rights & issues and transparency. She sat on a fast in support of Anna Hazares India against Corruption campaign. She was actively involved in raising issues related to the deaths of tigers in the various sanctuaries of Madhya Pradesh. Shehla herself was working for the Shyama Prasad Mukherjee Trust, organizing events for them from Srinagar to Kolkata to Delhi.

Rajasthans Babulal Nagar scandal

A married woman of Jaipur has accused former Rajasthan minister Babulal Nagar of sexually exploiting her. According to the victim, the minister promised her a government job for her and then sexually assaulted her. The woman alleges that the minister threatened her to keep her mouth shut otherwise she will meet the fate of Bhanwari Devi.

MPs Satyanarayan Patels CD scandal

A CD had surfaced in Indore of Madhya Pradesh that showed Congress MLA Satyanarayan Patel in a compromising position with a woman. Patel had blamed his local rival from his own party, Vishal Patel, of tampering with the CD and trying to defame him. According to Patel, this was a well-planned conspiracy against him on the eve of Madhya Pradesh assembly elections. A forensic lab found that the video of a female was interpolated with that of the politician to create the sex CD. Every time a politician is caught in a sex scandal, he blames his political opponents for hatching a conspiracy against him but this is not true in all cases.

Politicians and sex scandal is not new to Indian voters, but the question is that how to keep moral check on such peoples conduct?

(With Inputs From Various Sources)

(Any suggestions, comments or dispute with regards to this article send us on feedback@afternoonvoice.com)








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Turkish military officials have reported said that four buildings in parts of northern Syria held by the Islamic State group have been struck by the Turkish jets, in turn damaging the buildings seriously and killing the "terrorists" holed up inside progressing the Euphrates Shield permeation.

The officials said that Turkish artillery had been firing 107 rounds at 25 terrorist aims in the Islamic State held villages of Zaghrah and Kuliyeh since Tuesday. These villages are located west of the border town of Jarablus, which was reinstituted by Turkey-backed Syrian rebels last week. Turkey had sent tanks and airplanes last week into Syria helping the rebels to take up Jarablus and cutting down the emergent proceeds by the Kurdish forces.

The officials provided the information without much elaboration on the issue on condition of anonymity and in line with government regulations.

Turkey's foreign minister has recently spoken with his Russian equivalent about Ankara's ongoing undertakings in opposition to the Islamic State group in Syria. Mevlut Cavusoglu has reportedly called Sergey Lavrov on Wednesday to revise him on the advancement of 'Euphrates Shield,' which is the Turkey's infiltration into Syria, which is intended at helping Syrian rebels curtail back IS as well as U.S. backed Kurdish forces.

The Turkish Foreign Ministry said that the two conversed about the efforts to start peace talks again, about the current progresses in Syria and the proper delivery of charitable aid to the refugees.

Turkey and Russia suffered a tough seven month discontinuity in harmonious relations after Turkey shot down a Russian bomber in November. The two restored ties following last month's attempted military coup in Turkey under the US based cleric Fetullah Gulen.

Ibrahim Kalin who is the spokesperson for Turkish presidency told reporters Wednesday that the Kurdish military will remain a target for Turkey till the time they move east of the Euphrates River. He said that Erdogan is heavily affianced in diplomacy in trying to secure a cease-fire in Syria during the upcoming Eid holiday. He says Erdogan will hold discussions on the issue during the G-20 summit in China.
Kroger Madison

(Courtesy of Kroger)

Here are the top stories in Alabama business for Friday, Sept. 2, 2016:

Kroger is opening a new store in Madison and giving away $300 gift cards to celebrate the occasion. The grocery store officially opens at 7 a.m. on Sept. 7.

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Maybe look at this collection of health code violations in Auburn before you head down for game days. With offenses ranging from moldy drink machines to moldy kitchen walls, you might lose your appetite.

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A win for south Alabama: The Economic Development Administration made two grants totaling nearly $5 million to Mobile and Atmore. The federal agency invests in distressed communities.

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The Alabama Innovation and Entrepreneurship Conference in Birmingham honored businesses statewide for innovation entrepreneurship and job creation. This year's winners included IllumiCare, Horizon Shipbuilding and HudsonAlpha.

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Here's a nightmare: some of Samsung's new Galaxy Note7 smartphones are exploding because of a battery problem. An explosion that close to your face? No thanks.

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Follow all of Alabama's business news here anytime.
A Birmingham funeral director was recently found not guilty in an alleged kickback scheme involving services provided to the Alabama Organ Center.

Jed Nagel, 54, was found not guilty on two counts of first-degree theft by deception during a trial before Jefferson County Circuit Judge Stephen Wallace.The trial ended Aug. 25.

The trial included testimony from two former Alabama Organ Center executives - director Demosthenes Lalisan and associate director Richard Alan Hicks - who served time in prison for guilty pleas in 2012 to federal healthcare charges after admitting they received nearly $500,000 in kickbacks from Nagel.

Nagel's attorneys have denied there were any kickbacks.

"Mr. Nagel has lived under a cloud of suspicion for five years," said Nagel's attorney, Greg Yaghmai. "He maintained his innocence from day one. The jury considered all of the evidence including the testimony of Hicks and Lalisan. It took them an hour to acquit Jed on all charges," he said.

The accusation began from a disgruntled employee, who filed a whistleblower lawsuit seeking millions from Nagel, Yaghmai said. "However, he (the whistleblower) did not get on the witness stand for the jury to judge his credibility. This speaks volumes about his lawsuit."

The whistleblower lawsuit is still pending.





Nagel was not charged with any criminal allegations in federal court, although he did agree to forfeit $1.1 million in a settlement with federal prosecutors. Jefferson County prosecutors, however, filed the theft by deception charges in 2013.

"We respect the process, but were surprised and disappointed in the outcome," Deputy Jefferson County District Attorney Cynthia Raulston said of the Aug. 25 jury verdict.

Lalisan and Hicks had pleaded guilty to healthcare and mail fraud charges in their cases and ordered to pay nearly $500,000 in restitution to the University of Alabama Health Services Foundation. Lalisan was sentenced to serve 13 months in May 2012. Hicks in June 2012 was sentenced to 12 months and one day in federal prison.

The organ center, a component of the University of Alabama Health Services Foundation, provides kidneys, hearts, lungs, livers, pancreases and other tissues to UAB Hospital's transplant program and for other surgeries statewide.

Nagel's funeral home, Abanks Mortuary and Crematory, had provided transportation and a centralized space for operations to the organ center.





The organ center is the only federally designated Organ Procurement Organization for Alabama, coordinating the equitable use of organs and tissues for life-saving transplants and medical research. UAB officials have said the kickback scheme did not affect tissue or organ donation, allocation or consent procedures.The organ center stopped using the funeral home as soon as it learned of the situation and tissue recovery was switched to being performed at the donor hospitals.

The approximately eight-year scheme to get kickbacks from the funeral home was detailed in federal court documents.



In 2003, at the suggestion of Lalisan and Hicks to save money, the center began to centralize its tissue procurement system, according to Lalisan's plea agreement.

That did not include organ recovery, a UAB spokesman said. Before then the tissue had been harvested in hospital operating rooms.

The funeral home would provide transportation of the body from the referring hospital to the embalming room at the funeral home where the tissue would be recovered.

The tissue, however, was always recovered by an organ center employee, the UAB spokesman said.

Prior to the change, the procedures had been performed in hospital operating rooms.

In 2009, the center completed construction of a tissue recovery room adjacent to the funeral home for the tissue -- not organ -- recovery procedures and stopped using the embalming room, according to a court document.

Starting in 2003, the owner of the funeral home began making kickback payments to Lalisan and Hicks, according to Lalisan's plea agreement. The payments were approximately 20 percent of the amounts paid by the foundation to the funeral home, the plea agreement states.

Prosecutors alleged that Lalisan and Hicks promoted the funeral home and made sure the foundation payments were made to the funeral home in exchange for the kickbacks. Between 2003 and June 2011 invoices from the funeral home paid by the foundation totaled $2.3 million, according to Lalisan's plea agreement.

Federal prosecutors in 2011 froze nearly $2.6 million of money held in 10 of Nagel's accounts. But later half of the accounts were unfrozen.

Then in Oct. 2013 Nagel agreed to forfeit $1.1 million to the federal government under a settlement with the U.S. Attorney's Office, court records show.
A couple made a shocking discovery as they were driving along a Myrick, Mississippi roadway this week.

They were driving along the rural roadway when they saw a sealed garbage bag moving. Inside they found seven puppies. Four of the dogs were already dead, WDAM reported.

The puppies were taken to the Southern Cross Animal Rescue in Laurel where they were transported to an emergency veterinarian's office for immediate care. One of the puppies later died.

The two remaining puppies are now recovering and in foster care, according to the report.

Southern Cross Animal Rescue Manager Heather Williams told WJTV that the puppies will need weeks of recovery.

Authorities didn't release details on the injuries the puppies received.

"We're hoping someone might recognize these puppies," Williams said. "They might know the area. They might know someone capable. Any information you have, the only way we can fight for these animals is to fight the people doing these evils to them."

Click here to the see graphic photos of the puppies.

Myrick is located in Jones County, north of Hattiesburg, in east Mississippi.
MEXICO CITY -- If Mexican President Enrique Pena Nieto was taking a gamble when he invited Donald Trump to meet with him this week, it was because he didn't have much to lose.

More than halfway through his six-year term, Pena Nieto is Mexico's least popular president since pollsters began such surveys in the 1990s.

In recent months, he has struggled to address rising homicide rates, a slowing economy and corruption scandals involving three of his party's governors.

He has made enemies with teachers over his recent educational reforms, and with the Catholic Church for supporting nationwide same-sex marriage. He's even been accused of plagiarizing much of his law school thesis.

And that was all before Trump came to town.

Exactly why Pena Nieto, 50, invited Trump to a closed-door meeting at his presidential palace remains a mystery to many Mexicans, who loathe the Republican presidential candidate for branding Mexican immigrants as rapists and saying he'd make Mexico pay for an impenetrable wall on its northern border.

What is clear is that by the time Trump had departed Wednesday afternoon and the pair had begun a Twitter war over whether they had discussed who would pay for the wall, the verdict on how the meeting played out for Pena Nieto was clear.

"It was a disaster," said security analyst Alejandro Hope. "He paid a huge political cost for no political gain."

"It was like it couldn't get any worse for him, and yet he made it worse," said Maureen Meyer, a Mexico expert at the Washington Office for Latin America, a human rights advocacy group.

On Friday, fliers started circulating on social media, calling for a march in two weeks to demand the president step down.

A survey published by Reforma newspaper underscored the point, with 85 percent of those polled calling Pena Nieto's meeting with Trump a mistake. Nearly two-thirds said the incident made their opinion of the president go down.

Not that Pena Nieto's poll numbers had much room to fall. A Reforma survey from last month showed only about 23 percent of Mexicans held a favorable opinion of the president. He is now regarded more poorly than former President Ernesto Zedillo was at the height of the mid-1990s economic crisis.

"The mockery of him around the world is well-deserved," said Carlos Sortre, a 38-year-old restaurant manager in Mexico City. "Never in my life have I felt so much frustration with a president, so much anger."

And yet his term had started with so much promise. Pena Nieto's 2012 election returned his Institutional Revolutionary Party, or PRI, to power after a 12-year absence. He vowed to be a new kind of leader of the PRI, which had previously ruled autocratically for seven decades, its name practically synonymous with corruption.

Although Pena Nieto won with just 38 percent of the votes in an election with two other major candidates, many Mexicans had high hopes for the young, charismatic and handsome politician whose telenovela star wife, Angelica Rivera, they had followed in the tabloids. Pena Nieto enjoyed a 61 percent favorability rating when he entered office.

He moved quickly to enact a series of bold structural reforms across several key sectors, with mixed results.

While Mexico has won international praise for modernizing its judicial system in recent years, a series of energy reforms have so far been less successful, in part because Pena Nieto opened up the nation's state-owned oil company to the private sector shortly before oil prices plummeted to their lowest levels in years.

"The strategic mistake the president made was to oversell his reforms," said Tony Payan, director of the Mexico Center at Rice University's Baker Institute. "They were premised on false promises of a quick payoff. People expected to see reduced prices in gasoline and electricity, and they have not seen that. What they see is the opposite."

"The government says the economy is fine, but our families don't feel that," said Laura Carmona, 45, a mother of four who works at an auto dealership. "The prices go up all the time -- light, gasoline, rent -- but our wages do not rise."

The president's attempts to overhaul the education system have been similarly fraught, with teachers protesting new requirements for teacher evaluation exams by setting up roadblocks and refusing to enter the classroom in some parts of the country. In June, several people were killed in the southern state of Oaxaca after police clashed with demonstrators.

Security continues to be a problem. After subsiding early in Pena Nieto's term, homicides are on the rise. Local and federal police tasked with fighting drug cartels have been plagued by accusations of torture and other human rights violations. This year, independent investigators discredited a government account of what happened to 43 students who vanished after being apprehended by state police in the state of Guerrero.

Pena Nieto has also been dogged by personal corruption scandals, including questions over his wife's 2014 purchase of a white marble mansion from a government contractor and more recent plagiarism allegations (the president said he didn't lift anything in his law school thesis but acknowledged "methodological errors").

His party fared badly in regional elections this summer, thanks in part to the fact that three PRI governors on their way out because of term limits are facing corruption allegations, included charges of graft.

Political analyst Jose Antonio Crespo said Pena Nieto needs to address corruption head-on if he wants to save his presidency and his party's chances at holding onto power in the 2018 race to replace him.

"He needs to fight corruption as much as possible," Crespo said. "This was the message of the elections."

But that is a difficult move for Pena Nieto, who would be attacking his own party if he pressed for more investigations into the actions of the governors. The president hasn't yet named a special prosecutor to head a new anti-corruption system that his government created under pressure from advocacy groups. Some analysts say he appears more interested in trying to improve his reputation in front of television cameras.

"I think in some ways the administration is convinced that they just have an image problem," said Payan. "I wonder if the president views it simply as a matter of correcting his message."

That could explain why Pena Nieto decided to host Trump for a high-profile meeting.

"I believe in dialogue to promote the interests of Mexico in the world, and to protect Mexicans wherever they are," Pena Nieto wrote on Twitter before the meeting.

But many Mexicans considered the meeting an insult and an act of hubris on Pena Nieto's part.

"If Pena Nieto isn't capable of security, of generating jobs or generating wealth, he isn't capable of defending Mexicans in the U.S.," said Jose Cruz, 26, a Mexico City resident who has spent the last six months looking for a job after graduating with an engineering degree.

"It's not Trump who should apologize to Mexicans, it's Pena Nieto for having created this nonsense," he said.

- By Kate Linthicum, The Los Angeles Times

Cecilia Sanchez in the Times Mexico City bureau contributed to this report.




Combatting poverty by partnering with local non-profits and streamlining federal anti-poverty programs were cited by U.S. Rep. Bradley Byrne during a national address on the U.S. Speaker's website.

Byrne's national speech come as Alabama continues to drop in the poverty statistics, and continues to lag behind national averages.

According to data from the U.S. Census Bureau and Alabama Possible - a nonprofit that tracks poverty data and issues - 19.2 percent of the state's residents live at or below the poverty line, while 27.4 percent of children are in a similar situation. The poverty guideline for a family of six is an income of $32,570.

The 2016 statistics places Alabama as the fourth poorest state in the nation. It was ranked sixth in 2015, seventh in 2014.

"Everyone in America deserves a real opportunity to lift themselves out of poverty once and for all," Byrne said during a recorded speech at a Feeding the Gulf Coast warehouse.

Byrne, R-Fairhope, spoke in support of Feeding the Gulf Coast and other nonprofits which are utilizing resources to combat poverty. He said, "They have a real concern and openly prove to people they are loved. It's clear to me the one thing government cannot do is love someone. But the government can learn from some of these groups what really works and make sure what the government does, supports their efforts."

He also touted a consolidation of federal programs "into a few" that focus on the following: Rewarding work, demanding results, allowing states to customize benefits, improve education and job training, and assist people in retirement and future financial planning.

"The problem is the many federal programs that are supposed to help people in need are leaving far too many people in poverty," Byrne said. "There is a better way."

Byrne's address was posted on U.S. Speaker Paul Ryan's website Saturday morning, two days ahead of Labor Day.

"We have to open up our system for more collaboration and tailored benefits, making it easier for individuals and communities to get back on their feet," Ryan said in a statement.

Byrne's address on Speaker's website was the first for an Alabama lawmaker since 2013, when Rep. Martha Roby spoke in support of federal legislation that allowed private-sector employers to offer employees opportunities to accrue paid time off or "comp time" in exchange for working overtime.
Ballot.jpg

Judge Wes Allen

By Wes Allen, Judge of Probate, Pike County

On November 8, 2016, the citizens of America will elect a new president. As the chief election official for Pike County Alabama, our team is currently preparing for the upcoming general election. I always take this responsibility very seriously and remain committed to ensuring an honest election process.

A recent Reuters report states the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe "aims to send 500 international observers to observe November's U.S. presidential election." The OSCE is being prodded by the liberal progressive Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights, based out of Washington DC, to send 500 international observers to monitor polling places across the United States. This proposal cannot and will not be tolerated in Alabama.

I have some good news for the OSCE and the Leadership Conference. Here in Alabama, we have sound election laws currently in place that protects every eligible citizen's right to vote, at the same time protecting against voter fraud.

For instance, current Alabama law requires every eligible voter to produce a valid Photo ID at the polls to cast a ballot. This is sound public policy that ensures honest elections and also that no illegal immigrants are attempting to influence our elections.

I would like to inform the OSCE and the Leadership Conference that current Alabama law allows for eligible voters to be appointed as a poll watcher to monitor our election process at each polling precinct. Each political party is allowed one appointee per polling precinct. We are very capable of appointing Americans to monitor our elections.

The citizens of Alabama have a right to freely exercise their right to vote without fear from any outsiders who wish to intimidate us. The prospect of an international group sending foreign observers to our country, to monitor and interfere with our free elections infuriates me and will not be tolerated if they show up in Pike County.

In the event any foreign election monitors are dispatched to Alabama, I am calling on Governor Robert Bentley and Attorney General Luther Strange to use every resource under their authority and control to ensure the sovereignty of Alabama is not violated.

As Alabamians and Americans we cannot and will not surrender our sovereignty and our Godgiven constitutional rights to anyone.
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According to a recent report, 1.8 million Kashmiri adults suffer from some form of mental distress.

Indian-administered Kashmir  Sometimes 52-year-old Hafiza Bano can be seen counting the wooden planks in the ceiling, or the lines on the doors, or the flowers imprinted on the rug.

Her house has three small rooms and a kitchen. In one of the mud-plastered rooms, a disabled relative lives; in another room, guests are greeted. The third is also occupied  by the memories of her dead daughter and disappeared son.

This is where Hafiza sleeps  a picture of her son, a jar full of the different medicines she must take and a broken radio tied with a piece of cloth beside her bed.

Almost every night, she dreams of buying her son clothes for Eid. Almost every morning, she wakes up crying.

READ MORE: What mental illness means to me

Her family gave her the radio in the hope that listening to music might distract her from her thoughts. But it proved to be as delicate as Hafizas mental health, and there is no piece of cloth that can hold her together.

Hafiza is mentally ill. And she isnt alone.

When Doctors Without Borders (MSF) recently released a comprehensive report [PDF]on mental health in Kashmir, it concluded that half of all residents of the valley have mental health problems.

The report found that nearly 1.8 million adults  45 percent of Kashmirs adult population  suffer from some form of mental distress. A majority  93 percent  have experienced conflict-related trauma. An average adult was found to have witnessed around eight traumatic events during his or her lifetime. More than 70 percent of adults have experienced or witnessed the sudden or violent death of someone they knew.

According to the report, 50 percent of women and 37 percent of men are likely to suffer from depression; 36 percent of women and 21 percent of men have a probable anxiety disorder; and 22 percent of women and 18 percent of men suffer from post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).

The report was the third of its kind on mental health carried out by MSF. Its first two were in Iraq and Syria.

Transmitting trauma

Indian-administered Kashmir consists of three regions: Jammu, the Kashmir Valley and Ladakh. The nearly 27-year-old armed rebellion against New Delhis rule has been centred in the valley, where the highest rates of mental illness are now reported.

Armed groups have been fighting against the hundreds of thousands of Indian troops stationed there  some seeking independence and some accession to Pakistan.

READ MORE: Disease, discrimination and dignity

In 1989, the year the conflict started, around 1,700 people visited Kashmirs only psychiatric hospital [PDF]. Last year, that number topped 100,000.

Its a crisis, says Kashmiri psychiatrist Mushtaq Margoob.

Before 1989, there were no PTSD cases, but now we have an epidemic of disorders in Kashmir. Generation after generation has been at the receiving end; anybody could get killed or humiliated  [its] a condition of helplessness. So, it is a transgenerational transmission of trauma.

The ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) agrees. Because of both [the] military and [the] militancy, people and their mental health becomes [a] casualty. We have been trying to explore options to try to address the issue, says Waheed-ur-Rehman Para, a PDP spokesperson.

When you live in a violent place, it affects your psychology and mental setup. All the violence, restrictions, strikes and curfews do have an impact on destabilising mental health  [The] government needs to have a comprehensive policy to deal with this grave issue.

Hafizas ordeal began in the winter of 1993, when she says soldiers from the Indian Border Security Force (BSF) took her 13-year-old son Javed Ahmed as he was eating lunch with his family at their home in the southern district of Pulwama.

READ MORE: Welcome to Kashmir

Kashmir was under curfew as armed fighters were engaged in a standoff with Indian troops at a shrine in the Hazratbal neighbourhood of the summer capital, Srinagar.

Hafiza recalls that time.

[The shrine] was under siege, so Javed had no school because the whole valley had [been] engulfed in tension. He had gone out to play with the children in the neighbourhood. And when he got back for food, in no time a group of troops barged into our house. In front of every one of us, they took my son. We pleaded before them, but they wouldnt listen.

He was never returned, she says, crying.

It was November 3, 1993. The family say they reported the case to the police and, a week later, received a copy of the First Information Report, a police report registered once a complaint is received.

The report alleged that the 13-year-old was a member of an armed group and that while he was being transported, fighters ambushed the troops in whose custody he was, triggering a gunfight on the evening of November 4.

The report claimed that Javed was able to escape under the cover of darkness during the gunfight.

But the family rejects this version of events, insisting that their son was just a normal schoolboy and that if he had escaped, he would have contacted them.

The family say they sold everything they had to hire lawyers and visit jails and military camps, searching for Javed.

I have no idea how much money we have spent in the courts to seek justice. I sold every valuable in the house, even the carpet material, says Hafizas husband, carpet-weaver turned auto-rickshaw driver Ghulam Nabi Mattu, 55. That is why, he says, their was not in a suitable living condition.

Getting mentally weaker every day

Located in the village of Mongehoum in Pulwama province, their home is made of mud and wood. Until recently, it didnt have any windows. But then the Association of Parents of Disappeared Persons, an NGO, installed new wooden ones.

Three years after his disappearance, Javeds sister, Ruksana, died of a heart attack. She was 14.

My daughter died of a heart attack during Ramadan [in 1996] while searching for her brother, Hafiza says. She would accompany us everywhere [to look for him].

Now, Hafiza and Ghulam are left with one child  their 30-year-old daughter Shafiqa.

We are facing tough times. I am getting mentally weaker every day. I sought to look for a man for my daughter to marry, but they didnt find our household to be up to their reputation and denied to marry her, Hafiza says.

Ghulams disabled brother, Wali Mohammad Mattu, also lives with them.

My disabled brother-in-law has been bedridden for the last six years. I take him out to go to the toilet and bathe [the bathroom and toilet are outside of the house] with the help of a boy from the neighbourhood every day since my husband drives an auto-rickshaw in the city [Srinagar]. If we dont take care of him, what will people say?

Hafiza rarely sleeps. According to her medical reports, she is suffering from a severe reactive depression with somatisation and migraines.

She stopped taking her anti-depressants a week ago because the family cannot afford to pay for them.

Ghulam has his own health problems. He suffers from severe back pain, but says that if he pays for hospital tests and pain medication, his family will have to go without food.

His old auto-rickshaw will be banned in a few months as the model is old, Hafiza explains, worried about what the government regulation intended to control pollution levels will mean for her family.

Why did this happen to my family? she asks as her tears begin to fall again.

Ghulam chips in to say that he sometimes feels as though his wife has gone mad. Had Javed been here, he says, things would have been much better for their family.

We would have definitely had a better life. He would go to school and also work part-time in the apple orchards, Ghulam reflects.

His son used to sell ice-cream after school and had always been responsible, he explains.

If Javed were alive, he would have been a great son and a support to the family.

Follow Baba Tamim on Twitter: @babatamim
If implemented properly, the agreements political provisions should help to foster national reconciliation.

The peace agreement with the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) reached this month by the countrys government has received much-deserved praise.

It is a historic achievement, one that promises to end more than a half-century of kidnapping, forced displacement, indiscriminate attacks on villages and violence that has resulted in tens of thousands of deaths.

Colombia is well versed in bringing an end to violent confrontation. After a decade-long mid-20th century clash between the countrys two major political parties  known simply as La Violencia  a bipartisan settlement, approved in a plebiscite in 1957, ended the conflict.





In 1990, the Colombian government reached political settlements with several rebel groups. The M-19, for example, became a major force in the 1991 Constitutional Assembly, with some of its leaders becoming active participants in democratic political life.

But some guerrilla organisations  including the largest, the FARC, and the much smaller National Liberation Army (ELN)  proved difficult to bring into line.

Negotiations with the ELN are ongoing, but do not seem promising. Negotiations with the FARC failed three times  in the 1980s, in the early 1990s, and at the turn of the century.

A hard task ahead

This time, peace with the FARC finally seems possible. Nonetheless, the recent agreement must be approved in a plebiscite on October 2, and not everyone in Colombia is ready to accept it.

In particular, former President Alvaro Uribe, whose government attempted to defeat the FARC with force, is leading a campaign to reject the deal.

According to Uribe and his Centro Democratico party, the agreement negotiated by President Juan Manuel Santos would essentially hand Colombia over to the rebels.

As Colombia's experience - and that of many other countries - has shown, economic inequality fuels social and political instability. Addressing it effectively must be central to Colombia's effort to achieve lasting peace. by

The agreements opponents want to force the FARC to surrender fully  an outcome that would be impossible without defeating it militarily. The good news is that most surveys indicate that a majority of Colombians will vote in favour of the agreement.

Assuming the deal is approved, the Santos government will face a number of challenges, beginning with the implementation of its political provisions. These include demobilising the FARC, under United Nations supervision, and creating opportunities for political participation by former members.

OPINION: Santos 2014-2018  A new beginning for Colombia

The Santos government will also have to put in place the agreed system of transitional justice to investigate, judge and condemn crimes committed during the conflict, in compliance with the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court, of which Colombia is a signatory.

In accordance with the statute, crimes against humanity committed by FARC members and other participants in the confrontation will be punished, based on the principles of truth, reparation, and deterrence.

Opportunity for national reconciliation

If implemented properly, the agreements political provisions should help to foster national reconciliation. But it is at least as important to address local-level social divisions that have emerged as a result of the conflict, particularly in hubs of violence.

Here, local and international civil-society organisations, together with regional and municipal governments, have an important role to play, and Colombias past experience overcoming similar challenges should prove helpful.

Such efforts must be supported by progress in another area, rural development, which is the only economic issue addressed in the peace deal.

This is hardly surprising. After all, the massive inequities that characterise rural Colombia gave rise to the FARC in the first place, and the conflict was concentrated in such areas.

Dismantling the narco-trafficking activities in which the FARC has been involved may also be considered an economic issue, given the need to provide alternative opportunities in rural areas; but it is, first and foremost, a security issue.

Laying the groundwork

Colombias government is already laying the groundwork for successful rural development. In 2014, it convened a commission, Mision para la Transformacion del Campo, which I had the opportunity to chair. Last year, we presented a blueprint for action.

Recommendations include: measures to narrow rural-urban gaps in access to basic social services within 15 years; efforts to increase opportunities for family agriculture, which accounts for nine-tenths of the rural labour force; better access to land for producers; the implementation of integrated rural development programmes at the local level; and institutional reforms aimed at upgrading government agencies in charge of rural development.

OPINION: Colombias challenging peace process with FARC

Realising this strategy would cost 1.2 percent of Colombias gross national product, and could be financed partly by redirecting existing expenditures.

The peace deal with the FARC will, of course, also carry other costs: Reparations for victims, the demobilisation and integration of guerrillas into civilian life and the temporary institutions established to manage the agreements implementation.

Reliable estimates place the total costs, including for rural development, at about 2 percent of GNP. Given the potential economic and, especially, social and political benefits of the agreement, the projected costs are modest.

Nonetheless, covering them will not be easy. After all, Colombia is currently experiencing a major economic slowdown and loss of government revenue, driven by low oil prices.

That is why the government intends to propose a structural tax reform after the plebiscite. The reform, aimed primarily at raising the funds needed to finance the peace process, should also attempt to help resolve another key economic challenge facing Colombia: Gross income and wealth inequality, of which rural-urban disparities are just one component.

As Colombias experience  and that of many other countries  has shown, economic inequality fuels social and political instability. Addressing it effectively must be central to Colombias effort to achieve lasting peace.

Jose Antonio Ocampo is a professor at Columbia University and Chairman of the UN Economic and Social Councils Committee for Development Policy.

The views expressed in this article are the authors own and do not necessarily reflect Al Jazeeras editorial policy.

Copyright: Project Syndicate 2016  Colombias Long Road to Peace
The groups objectives in using terrorism are not new, but its capacity for carrying out attacks is.

Omar Ashour is Senior Lecturer in Security Studies at the Institute of Arab and Islamic Studies in University of Exeter.

Terrorist attacks by the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL, also known as ISIS) affiliates and sympathisers over the past year have raised alarms in Europe, but they have not yet reached the frequency Europe experienced in the 1970s, according to the Global Terrorism Database.

However, whereas previous waves of terrorism in Europe stemmed from internal conflicts, todays deadly surge is linked to instability outside the continent.

Two modes of operation

The latest attacks are emerging from the political vacuum left by fallen dictators in the Middle East and North Africa.

So, just as there seems to be no end in sight for the violence in Syria, Iraq, and Libya, or for Egypts extreme polarisation, or for the fragile security situation in Tunisia and Algeria, there is little reason to believe that attacks in Europe will end anytime soon.

Making matters worse, Julys bloody putsch in Turkey  where 270 people were killed and another 1,500 wounded in just a few hours  makes the country an even more attractive ISIL target.

ISIL feeds off troubled states from which it can draw recruits and launch attacks  either by establishing an official province, as in Syria, Iraq, Libya, and Egypt, or by supporting secret cells and small combat units, as it has done in Tunisia and Turkey already.

These two modes of operation  insurgency and terrorism  go hand in hand. When an insurgent organisation loses control of territory or battlefield momentum, it resorts to terrorism, reasoning that attacks on softer civilian targets are cheaper, easier and just as politically effective.

This is why ISIL wants to strike Europe directly, even as it loses territory in Iraq, Syria, and Libya.

ISIL has multiple goals in following this path. It believes that terrorist attacks in Europe will deter the West from striking territories it controls, and it wants to avenge the more than 20,000 members it has lost to Western coalition air strikes.

Europe needs its democracies to unite around a common strategy to defend against manifold security challenges. Signs of disunity and fragmentation - to say nothing of bloody coup attempts - serve ISIL's publicly declared objective of 'weakening European cohesion'. by

Moreover, it wants to stoke anti-Muslim animus, thereby further alienating European Muslims from the rest of European society and boosting its supply of recruits in Europe.

Similarly, it wants to sow discord among European religious and minority communities themselves  the Sunni-Shia and Sunni-Alevi divide being two clear examples.

ISILs objectives in using terrorism are not new, but its capacity for carrying out attacks is. It has managed to sustain its terror operations in Europe despite being heavily bombarded since 2014 because it has been able to draw from relatively small subsets of more than 5,000 Europeans who have joined the fight in Syria.

The exact number of European fighters who have received training from ISIL and returned home is still unknown.

OPINION: France  How to win the war against ISIL

Abdelhamid Abaaoud, who led the November 2015 Paris attacks, claimed he was one of 90 ISIL-trained terrorists in Europe. ISIL has allegedly trained 400-600 fighters for external operations involving urban guerrilla warfare, improvised explosive devices (IEDs), surveillance, counter-security and forgery.

ISIL has so far hit France and Turkey the hardest. France has suffered more than 230 deaths and about 700 injuries, while Turkey has endured more than 220 deaths and about 900 injuries.

As it happens, France and Turkey are each the source of a relatively high number of foreign militants fighting in Iraq and Syria, with an estimated 700 French citizens and 500 Turks fighting under the ISIL flag.

Targeting France and Turkey

So why has ISIL focused on attacking France and Turkey? Preliminary findings by two scholars show negative reactions to French laicite  the tradition of secularism in public and political life  among disenfranchised young Sunni Muslims in French-speaking countries. This, the argument goes, facilitates their radicalisation and recruitment by extremists.

But more factors need to be investigated. For example, French foreign policy in the 21st century recognised many Middle Eastern grievances.

France opposed the war in Iraq in 2003; intervened militarily against Libyas dictator, stopping a potential crime against humanity in March 2011; and saved a fragile democracy in Muslim-majority Mali in 2013.

OPINION: From sporadic to systematic ISIL attacks in Turkey

While these policies were perceived favourably in most of the Middle East, ISIL and their supporters and sympathisers saw things differently.

Turkey, for its part, has long been an attractive alternative model for other Muslim-majority countries. Until its latest challenges, democracy seemed to be succeeding, and economic growth was as high as nine percent in recent years.

Given its Western leanings, it is no surprise that ISIL has dedicated several issues of its official magazine, Dabiq, to attacking the Turkish model and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.

An earlier iteration of ISIL, the Islamic State in Iraq, reportedly ordered vehicle-borne IED attacks on Turkey as early as April 2012.

Europe needs its democracies to unite around a common strategy to defend against manifold security challenges. Signs of disunity and fragmentation  to say nothing of bloody coup attempts  serve ISILs publicly declared objective of weakening European cohesion.

While France and Turkey have stood out as ISIL targets, they are not alone. But, given their shared position, their bilateral relationship is especially important, and diplomats from each country should get to work shoring it up.

Any further tensions will only undermine the potential for strategic cooperation. Now is the time to come together.

Omar Ashour is Senior Lecturer in Security Studies at the Institute of Arab and Islamic Studies at the University of Exeter and an Associate Fellow at Chatham House.

The views expressed in this article are the authors own and do not necessarily reflect Al Jazeeras editorial policy.

Copyright: Project Syndicate 2016  The Islamic States European Strategy
Ideology does not tell us the full story of the evolution of Islamist movements.

Within a few months of the launch of the Arab uprisings in late 2010, the initial jubilation felt by some Arab liberals and their friends in the West gave way to fears that a democratic order in the Middle East would simply usher in a new tyranny in the form of political Islam.

The Arab Spring, it was suggested, would lead to an Islamist Winter, culminating in the unification of Muslim Brotherhood movements from Morocco to Yemen and the restoration of the caliphate.

This rhetoric was ramped up in the aftermath of the July 2013 military coup in Egypt that overthrew the Muslim Brotherhoods Mohamed Morsi, the countrys first ever democratically elected president.

Some supporters of General Abdel Fattah El-Sisi, who assumed power in Egypts restored authoritarian state, argued that the coup saved Egypt  and possibly the region  from the consolidation of Islamist rule.

Much of the analysis of Islamist movements and their role in Arab societies in recent years reflects a chronic lack of contextualisation in favour of a simplistic approach that assesses them purely through their commitment to democracy or their propensity to endorse violence.

But if political leaders and policymakers wish to develop constructive strategies to contend with the presence of these deeply rooted trends within their societies, a more meaningful understanding of the history and evolution of Islamism is necessary.

Historical roots

The state-centred historical narrative of the Middle East during the 19th century follows secular reformers who instituted European modernisation policies within their own societies.

Modernisers from Mustafa Rashid Pasha in the Ottoman Empire to Muhammad Ali in Egypt launched efforts to reform their militaries, legal codes, education systems and taxation policies, among other things.

Quite often these policies continued under the auspices of colonial rule by British and French administrators. Given Europes changing relationship with the role of religion in its own societies and its historical hostility to Islam in particular, it was no surprise that some religious practices were marginalised in Muslim societies undergoing modernisation.

Adding to these pressures, the rise of modern institutions of governance ensured that states exercised far greater control over the lives of their citizens than ever before. Reformers such as Muhammad Abduh confronted these developments by adapting traditional Islamic institutions to the challenges of modern life.

Though he was a senior Azhari scholar and rose to become Mufti of Egypt at the turn of the century, Abduh represented a minority of religious officials, many of whom tended to hold to classical interpretations of Islamic law.

However, Abduhs disciples carried forward his legacy, with some forming the core of Egypts nationalist movement and others continuing to agitate for a greater representation of Islamic values in a rapidly changing society, especially after the 1924 abolition of the caliphate, the symbol of religious and political authority in the Islamic world that had stood for 13 centuries.





With the opening up of political space during the interwar period, the Muslim Brotherhood positioned itself as a movement that preached social reforms supporting the countrys continued modernisation while adhering to Islamic principles.

At a time when there appeared an increasing divide between the countrys political and religious elites and the latter seemed incapable of challenging their effective marginalisation, Hassan al-Banna, founder of the Muslim Brotherhood, believed that ordinary people could advocate on behalf of their religious ideals.

In spite of its historic conflict with the regime in Egypt, the Muslim Brotherhood had managed to carve for itself a crucial place within Egyptian society.

As such, the Muslim Brotherhood was not a traditional movement from a bygone era. Far from it. It maintained an intricate structure with elected representatives at various levels of the organisational hierarchy.

Even as his movement used Islamic terminologies for its various institutions, it functioned much like a community association or a political party. Although Banna criticised the partisanship of Egypts liberal political experiment, he nevertheless stood in parliamentary elections on multiple occasions.

His followers continued to advocate for a political and socioeconomic order that reflected Islamic ethical values. They pushed for censorship of objectionable content in books and films, lobbied banks to forgo the use of interest, and demanded that parliament be required to pass laws only in accordance with Islamic legal principles.

By the late 1940s, when Egypts political process had become increasingly fractured, the Muslim Brotherhood was one of many frustrated groups, including liberals, leftists and fascists, that resorted to street violence.

In 1949, security forces assassinated Banna in retaliation for the killing of a state official for which his supporters were held responsible.





Localising Islamism

The agendas of Islamist movements were also diametrically opposed to the aims of the states they sought to influence.

Throughout the second half of the 20th century, as many Arab states transformed into secular military dictatorships, social movements of all ideological stripes were largely repressed.

Islamist movements were considered the most threatening to many Arab rulers and their foreign sponsors for a number of reasons.

Because they appealed to a deeper sense of religious identity, Islamists were thought to have consistently undermined the narrower and more artificially constructed secular nationalism promoted by regimes within their societies.

The agendas of Islamist movements were also diametrically opposed to the aims of the states they sought to influence, from the calls for democratisation and religiously inspired reforms to the demands for a foreign policy that challenged foreign intervention in the region and promoted solidarity with oppressed Muslim populations.

Many Islamist groups were also singled out for persecution owing to a perception  in many cases a self-fulfilling one  that they would challenge the state militarily. Sayyid Qutbs impassioned contribution to the ideological development of Islamist thought during the 1960s endorsed a more confrontational approach to the excesses of state repression, though it stopped short of explicit endorsement of militant violence.

For Qutbs part in the escalation of Islamist rhetoric against military rule, the regime of Gamal Abdel Nasser executed him in 1966. In sharp contrast to the mainline Islamism promoted by the Muslim Brotherhood and its regional offshoots, some of Qutbs supporters would go on to develop a vision of Islamist activism that rejected the notion of gradual reform through existing state institutions.

Instead, they sought to develop a truly transnational movement that overturned these structures  through militant violence if need be  in favour of purely Islamic order. Spurred on by the Afghan jihad in the 1980s, this trend found currency in rallying disaffected youth to confront foreign intervention and domestic repression from the mid-1990s.

READ MORE: Whither political Islam?

While relatively small in number, jihadists represent a significant counterpoint to the gradual reformism and state-centred activism of mainline Islamism and continue to find currency in parts of the region, such as Syria and Iraq, suffering from military conflict and the collapse of functional state institutions.





The lesson from the latter half of the 20th century is that ideology does not tell us the full story, and the undue emphasis on it risks leading analysts to draw the wrong conclusions.

The evolution of Islamist movements cannot be divorced from their local political and social contexts.

Long before the Syrian branch of the Muslim Brotherhood led an armed insurrection against the brutal regime of Hafez al-Assad in the early 1980s, it regularly participated in the Syrian political process during the brief opening, allowing it to compete for parliamentary representation.

In Sudan, the movement led by scholar and activist Hassan al-Turabi alternately pursued its mission through appeals to popular mobilisation and supporting the militarys takeover of power, as in the 1989 coup led by Omar al-Bashir. Both approaches were justified by necessity and circumstance.

In the Palestinian context, Islamists had long conserved their energies for the inward practice of dawa, or religious preaching within their communities, as opposed to confronting the question of Israels continued occupation.

But seeing their stock within Palestinian society remain low as compared with liberal and leftist currents, by the late 1980s Palestinian Islamists resolved to join the struggle for national liberation, eventually adopting the path of armed struggle.

The Kuwaiti branch of the Muslim Brotherhood incurred the ire of many of its sister movements around the region when it endorsed the American-led intervention to liberate Kuwait from the Iraqi occupation that followed Saddam Husseins invasion in 1990.

In Jordan, the movement historically positioned itself as an ally of the Hashemite monarchy. Until recently, the Jordanian Muslim Brotherhood enjoyed relatively good relations with the state, being careful to distance itself from the more ambitious political objectives of movements in neighbouring countries.

In spite of its historic conflict with the regime in Egypt, by the end of this era the Muslim Brotherhood had managed to carve for itself a crucial place within Egyptian society.

It offered essential social services, such as schools and clinics, while continuing to press the government for democratic reforms.

To quell rising domestic and international pressure, the regime of Hosni Mubarak eventually paved the way for the Muslim Brotherhood, formally a banned organisation in Egypt, to send its members into the Peoples Assembly, allotting it 88 seats in the 2005 parliamentary elections.

The Arab Spring and beyond

By the eve of the Arab uprisings, most Islamist movements across the region had adopted a reformist, state-centred approach to their activism.

In the aftermath of the coup in Egypt, reformist figures within the Muslim Brotherhood have grown more vocal about the need to sever the organisations political activism from its missionary work.

They situated themselves purely within the context of their respective national politics, a far cry from Bannas original universalist mission and pan-Islamic outlook.

As newly founded Islamist parties in Tunisia, Egypt and Libya vied for votes in a nascent democratic order, it became increasingly apparent that these movements would have to continue to adapt to their rapidly changing landscapes or risk becoming relics of a bygone era of oppositional politics in the Arab world.

Not only did the toppling of one dictator after another free Islamist groups to fully embrace the state institutions that they had spent decades criticising, they also incorporated nationalist slogans and symbols into their programmes.

The Muslim Brotherhoods Freedom and Justice Party (FJP) featured the playing of the Egyptian national anthem at all major functions it held after its formation in February 2011, while Egyptian flags were also visible at every occasion.

The Ennahda Party in Tunisia had already distinguished itself years earlier by adopting a decidedly democratic platform that focused on promoting a pluralistic political system in its local context, in contrast to other Islamist movements.

However, in the years since the fall of Zine El Abidine Ben Alis regime in Tunisia, Ennahda has further developed its unique model for the next era of Islamist political activism.

At its tenth party congress last May, Ennahdas Rachid al-Ghannouchi announced that the movement was formally splitting its traditional social mission and religious preaching from its political party.

As the partys leaders proudly declared, they were becoming Muslim Democrats, an allusion to the Christian Democratic parties that dot the landscape of European political systems.

Ennahdas announcement represents a crucial acknowledgement that there was simply no place for the old model mid-20th-century Islamic activism in todays world.

In the post-Mubarak transition, the Egyptian Muslim Brotherhood found itself tremendously isolated by continuing to rely on its traditional base of support for political mobilisation rather than attempting to convince a broader swath of the Egyptian public to support the FJP.

It also faced internal hostility for depriving group members of the freedom to form their own political preferences. Morsis candidacy, which reversed a promise by Muslim Brotherhood leaders not to field a presidential candidate in the 2012 elections, was in large part a response to the candidacy of Abdel Moneim Abul Futuh, a former Muslim Brotherhood leader who left the group to launch his own political career.

In the aftermath of the coup in Egypt, reformist figures within the Muslim Brotherhood have grown more vocal about the need to sever the organisations political activism from its missionary work.

Such a measure, they contend, would preserve the purity of the groups social mission from the muddy waters of national politics.

READ MORE: The many battles of Egypts Muslim Brotherhood

Similar efforts have been quietly under way by Islamist parties across the Arab world.

What is truly ironic is that, as Islamist parties gradually acquire a more secular outlook to their interpretation of the needs of contemporary democratic politics, several authoritarian rulers have increasingly begun to employ traditional Islamic arguments to justify their hold on power.





Ali Gomaa, the former Grand Mufti of Egypt and a vocal supporter of the Sisi regimes brutal crackdown on civilians, has routinely been called upon to justify the emergence of a new authoritarianism in Egypt as the fulfillment of a traditional requirement of classical Islamic jurisprudence to promote political stability and obedience to ones ruler.

These pronouncements by Gomaa and a coterie of official jurists across the region signify that the debate around Islam and politics has come full circle.

The perceived failure of the states religious establishment to represent the aspirations of believers in the face of tyranny inspired Banna to launch his movement nearly a century ago.

But over the course of the past decade, Islamist groups have abandoned Islam is the solution as a simplistic catchphrase in favour of an emphasis on particular values that their evolving interpretation of Islam promotes: freedom, consultative governance and justice.

Indeed, the challenges that the latest iteration of Islamist activism faces are the same ones that confront political parties of all ideological stripes, namely, how to ensure that governments represent the interests of the majority of their citizens at a time when more people face the dangers of vast economic inequality and lack basic rights of freedom and security than at any other time in the recent past.
Mir Quasem Ali was hanged after being convicted for offences committed during 1971 war with Pakistan.

Bangladesh has executed a wealthy tycoon and top financial backer of its largest opposition party after his family paid him a final visit.

Mir Quasem Ali, a key leader of the Jamaat-e-Islami party, was hanged on Saturday after being convicted by a controversial war crimes tribunal of offences committed during the 1971 independence conflict with Pakistan.

The execution took place at 10:35pm (16:35 GMT), said Anisul Huq, the countrys law and justice minister.

Ali had been imprisoned in the Kashimpur high security jail in Gazipur, some 40km north of the capital Dhaka.

After the Supreme Court rejected his final appeal against the penalty on Tuesday, Ali declined to seek a presidential pardon, which would require an admission of guilt.

READ MORE: The politicisation of Bangladeshs war crimes tribunal

Ali was a key commander of the pro-Pakistan militia in the southern port city of Chittagong during the 1971 war, and later became a shipping and real estate tycoon.

Past convictions and executions of high-profile Jamaat leaders have triggered violence in Bangladesh, which is polarised along political lines.

Russel Sheikh, a senior Gazipur police official, told the AFP news agency that officials took highest security measures ahead of the execution for fear of violence by his supporters.

More than 1,000 police have been deployed in the district, Sheikh said.

Talha Ahmad, a commentator and lawyer on Bangladeshi affairs, told Al Jazeera that Ali was different from other Jamaat leaders.

He was a celebrated philanthropist, a very successful businessman and somebody who has done a tremendous amount of work to create free media and with vulnerable people, especially refugees, Ahmad said.

He was one of the rare breed of Jamaat politicians who was able to reach out to the wider society. It seems government goes after anybody who is capable of mounting an intellectual and practical challenge to the them. The government has become so authoritarian recently that it doesnt allow any opposition activism at all, whether it is Jamaat or any other party.

Major blow

The Supreme Courts decision to reject Alis appeal was a major blow for the Jamaat-e-Islami party, which the 63-year-old tycoon had helped to revive in recent decades.

Five opposition leaders have been executed for war crimes since 2013. Ali was the last prominent leader of Jamaat to face execution.

The war crimes tribunal set up by the government has divided the country, with supporters of Jamaat and the main opposition Bangladesh Nationalist Party branding it a sham aimed at eliminating their leaders.

Ali was convicted in November 2014 of a series of crimes during Bangladeshs war of separation from Pakistan, including the abduction and murder of a young independence fighter.

His son, Mir Ahmed Bin Quasem, who was part of his legal defence team, was allegedly abducted by security forces earlier in August, which critics say was an attempt to sow fear and prevent protests against the execution.
China and US, together responsible for 40 percent of the worlds CO2 emissions, urge other nations to follow suit.

The two largest contributors to global carbon emissions, China and the United States, have ratified the hallmark Paris agreement to battle climate change.

The countries ratification could help put the pact into force before the end of the year.

President Xi Jinping of China and US President Barack Obama called Saturdays announcement a milestone. Obama said the climate deal is the moment we finally decided to save our planet.

China and the US are responsible for about 40 percent of total global carbon emissions. Other countries are expected to follow China and the US and ratify the deal later this month during the UN Climate Change Week. Hopefully this will encourage other countries to make similar efforts, President Xi said after todays announcement.

The signal of the two large emitters taking this step together and taking it early, far earlier than people had anticipated a year ago, should give confidence to the global communities and to other countries that are working on their climate change plans, that they too can move quickly and will be part of a global effort, senior Obama adviser Brian Reese said.

READ MORE: COP21  Any agreement is better than no agreement?

The climate accord was signed last year in Paris. Its main goal is to slash greenhouse gas emissions and keep global temperature increases to well below two degrees Celsius. In the Paris agreement China and the US have committed to cutting levels of emissions by 2030. Theres an American saying: You need to put your money where your mouth is. Thats what were doing, President Obama said.

The timing of this announcement is important because it comes a few hours before the start of the G20 Summit, Al Jazeeras Adrian Brown, reporting from Hangzhou, said.

For the accord to go into legal effect, however, at least 55 countries need to ratify the agreement. What China and presumably the US will do is set an example for other countries to follow.

Before todays announcement only 23 countries, responsible for about 1 percent of global emissions, had ratified the treaty.

To cross this legal threshold UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said he would hold a high-level event in New York to which he would invite country leaders to formally ratify the Paris climate change agreement.

Experts have said that target is already in danger of being breached. The UN weather agency said that 2016 is on course to be the warmest since records began.
Republican presidential nominee says he wants to help rebuild Detroit as he pursues black voters ahead of election.

Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump promised African Americans prosperity and jobs on Saturday in a visit to a black church in Detroit, as he called for a civil rights agenda of our time.

I am here to listen to you, Trump told the congregation at the Great Faith Ministries International. I am here to learn.

The former real estate mogul and Reality TV star has stepped up his appeals to minority voters in recent weeks, but the visit was the first time Trump has addressed a largely black audience since winning the Republican nomination.

While protesters were a vocal presence outside, Trump made a pitch inside for support from an electorate strongly aligned with Democrat Hillary Clinton.

I want to help you build and rebuild Detroit, he said. I fully understand that the African-American community has suffered from discrimination and there are many wrongs that should be made right.

He also said the nation needs a civil rights agenda of our time, with better education and good jobs.

The visit is a high-profile stop in Trumps recent bid to offset the overwhelming advantage his rival Hillary Clinton has among African American voters, who make up 12 percent of the electorate.

Devils in the pulpit

Before the speech, protesters chanting Dump Trump and Were going to church tried to push through police barriers to gain entrance.

The devils in the pulpit, shouted Wyoman Mitchell, one of about 200 protesters who were pushed back by police on foot and on horseback in the tense encounter.





[Trump] didnt come to hear us, he came to talk to one of us to tell us what he thinks we ought to do, Pastor Lawrence Glass, one of the organisers of the protest, told Al Jazeera.

We are protesting against someone who has proven to have a legacy of bigotry and bullying people of color and people of faith are not standing for Trump and his antics of racial bias.

Church pastor Bishop Wayne Jackson had invited the New York billionaire to attend the fellowship service, and make some remarks.

Were told hell be there for at least an hour and a half and then hes going to record an interview with the pastor, which will then be edited and broadcast on a black television channel in a couple of days, said Al Jazeeras Alan Fisher, reporting from outside the church.

Charm offensive

The church appearance contrasted sharply with Trumps previous crude appeals for black support.

What do you have to lose? he said, addressing African Americans in a speech in Ohio less than two weeks ago to an overwhelmingly white audience.

They dont care about you. They just like you once every four years  get your vote and then they say: Bye, bye!' he said.

To bolster his case, Trump points at the Democratic stance on immigration, claiming his rival would rather give jobs to new refugees than unemployed black youth.

The African-American electorate traditionally leans heavily Democratic.

In 2012, about 93 percent of black voters backed Obama  an overwhelming enthusiasm that Clinton appears to have kept alive, taking 90 percent of the black vote in her primary contest against Bernie Sanders.

OPINION: Fear of a black and brown America

Detroit has the highest percentage of black residents  more than 80 percent  of any large American city.

Many neighborhoods have been hollowed out by decades of white flight, in which Caucasian families left downtown and midtown for more affluent suburbs.

Our political system has failed the people and works only to enrich itself. I want to reform that system so that it works for you, everybody in this room. Trump told the audience inside the church.

Democrats regularly remind voters that Trumps backers include former Ku Klux Klan leader David Duke  although the candidate has publicly rejected the extreme-right endorsement.

They also point out that Trump spearheaded the dubious birther movement, which sought  with backing from the Republican Partys right wing  to cast doubt on the nationality of Obama, Americas first black president.
As demonstrations continue, opposition tells Al Jazeera that jailed protesters of all backgrounds should be released.

Addis Ababa  An opposition leader in Ethiopia has demanded that political prisoners be freed as anti-government protests continued to rage in one of Africas most populous countries.

ETHIOPIA PROTESTS Protests in Oromia started in November last year when the government announced a plan to expand the capital  a city-state  into the surrounding Oromia region. Many Oromos saw that as a plan to remove them from fertile land. The scheme has since been dropped, but the unrest spread as demonstrators called for the release of prisoners and for wider freedoms. In the Amhara region, demonstrations began over the status of a district  Wolkait  that was once part of Amhara but was incorporated into the neighbouring Tigrayan region more than 20 years ago. Those demonstrations have also since widened. The governing Ethiopian Peoples Revolutionary Democratic Front last month rejected a United Nations request that it send in observers, saying it alone was responsible for the security of its citizens. The government, a close security ally of the West, is often accused of silencing dissent, even blocking internet access at times. At elections last year, it won every seat in the 547-seat parliament

The call was made by Tiruneh Gamta, a leader of the Oromo ethnic group, from which the biggest number of protesters come.

According to the New York-based Human Rights Watch, at least 500 people have been killed since unrest began in November.

Thousands have also been arrested, rights groups say, and many have not been heard from since they were detained.

We want all political prisoners, regardless of any political stand or religion or creed, released from jail. Together with this, we need democratic rights, Gamta told Al Jazeera.

The government has denied that violence from the security forces is systemic and pledged to launch an independent investigation, blaming opposition groups inside and outside of the country and what it called anti-peace elements for the chaos.

Al Jazeera interviewed a woman who said she was arrested while on her way to a market. A protest had been taking place close to the market, she said.

After a night in a jail cell, she and 30 other people were ordered onto a bus and told not to look outside, she said. Seven hours later, she said, they arrived at a camp.

At the camp, they put us in a cell. Then the next day, they ordered us out for what they said was exercise, the woman, who requested anonymity, told Al Jazeera.

They beat us as they ordered us to exercise, and when we got tired, they continued to beat us. I tried to do what they said, but I couldnt, so they beat me more. Even when I was running, they were beating me all over my body.

READ MORE: The Ethiopia rising narrative and the Oromo protests

Interrogation was carried out regularly to wear the detained down, the woman said.

Five or six policemen interrogated each one of us every day. They kept threatening us. They said if you give false testimony, we will kill you.

Protests that started in November among people from the Oromo ethnic group have spread. Demonstrators from the Amhara region have also started to demand greater political and economic rights.

The Oromo and Amhara are the two biggest ethnic groups in Ethiopia. Both accuse the government of being dominated by members of the Tigrayan ethnic group, which makes up about six percent of the population.

Government promised accountability

Government leaders have said they communicate with opposition groups to listen to their grievances. They also promised that police found guilty of abuse will be held to account.

We will do whatever it takes to make sure such things do not happen, and if they do happen, the people are not left unaccounted for, Getachew Reda, a government spokesman, told Al Jazeera.

Members of the opposition, though, say they have heard similar reassurances before.

READ MORE: Foreign firms attacked as Ethiopia protests continue

In the latest bout of unrest earlier this week, protesters attacked foreign-owned businesses, according to the owners of a flower firm.

The Dutch company said crowds of people in the Oromia and Amhara regions torched flower farms as they targeted businesses with perceived links to the government. Flowers are one of the countrys top exports.

Esmeralda Farms said its 10-million-euro investment ($11.1m) went up in smoke this week in Bahir Dar city and that several other horticulture companies were also affected.
As country reels from violence after disputed result, opposition leader Jean Ping renews claim that he won the vote.

Gabons top opposition leader Jean Ping has declared himself the rightful winner of this weeks presidential election, accusing the countrys leader of using fraud to cling to power.

Pings statement on Friday set the stage for a protracted dispute over the election after days of sporadic violence, as President Ali Bongo Ondimba has also declared victory.

The whole world knows today who is the president of the Republic of Gabon. Its me, Jean Ping, he told a news conference.

Each time the Gabonese people have chosen their president, the dark forces are always gathered to place he who was not chosen as head of state. Together we have decided, however, that this time things will be different.

On Friday, Ping said the results from individual polling stations should be released, echoing a call from France and the United States. Results released by election officials showed Bongo won by just 1.57 percent.

Bongos father had ruled the oil-rich country since the 1960s until his death in 2009, after which his son came to power.

Al Jazeeras Catherine Soi, reporting from Libreville, said: There has also been widespread looting in the city  People here say that things will get worse if the political crisis is not resolved.

READ MORE: Gabon opposition leader Jean Ping demands a recount

Shortly after Wednesdays vote, Ping told Al Jazeera that the vote was a joke, and that everybody inside and outside the country knows that Im the winner.

Opposition supporters have already taken to the streets in protest, and at least three people have been killed in the unrest. On Friday, Ping said citizens had strongly demonstrated their legitimate anger.

We are not politicians or the military. The police and military are our brothers, but we need change. We need to be free, one protester told Al Jazeera.

The US Embassy in Libreville said in a statement on its website on Tuesday that Gabons voters were not well served by the many systemic flaws and irregularities that we witnessed, including the late opening of polling stations and last-minute changes to voting procedures.

European Union observers criticised a lack of transparency on the part of institutions organising the vote.

People are afraid

The latest deaths in the violence included Bekam Ella Edzang, 27, who was killed when shot in the stomach by the Republican Guard, who were firing tear gas and live bullets, a childhood friend told the AFP news agency.

A second victim was identified as 28-year-old Axel Messa, whose mother told AFP he had been shot outside his home.

They found my son outside his front door in the street. A black car pulled up. They lowered the window  there were two of them  and they fired twice, she said.

Earlier this week, an Al Jazeera team was blocked by security forces from entering neighbourhoods in Libreville where protesters had gathered.

READ MORE: Libreville reels as clashes erupt over vote





The trouble has paralysed transportation across the country, with bread and other fresh food in short supply, the situation further aggravated by widespread looting.

As he queued in a long line outside a bakery, waiting for bread, Lionel Biteghe told Al Jazeera: The situation in this country is alarming. People are afraid. We have nothing in the house. We want the crisis to end.

Since Wednesday evening, many towns have been hit by violence, notably in the countrys north, close to the border with Cameroon where the situation is particularly tense, a security source told AFP.

In Oyem, the main town in the north, a policeman was hospitalised after being shot in the head, he said.

In Port Gentil, the economic capital, some youths could be seen barricading shops to deter further looting, while others blocked roads and threw stones at police, who then fired tear gas.

On Thursday, the interior ministry said up to a thousand people had been detained in the post-vote unrest, with a government spokesman saying the aim was to catch the criminals who set fire to the parliament building late on Wednesday.
At least ten fighters loyal to the government were killed and 60 wounded in Saturdays clashes in the coastal city.

Forces loyal to Libyas UN-backed government have said they pushed into the last holdouts of the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) in Sirte, as part of an offensive to retake the coastal city from the armed groups fighters.

The fighting has begun. We are attacking the last Daesh positions in district three, a fighter loyal to the UN-backed Government of National Accord (GNA), told AFP news agency on Saturday, using an Arabic acronym for ISIL.

Ten members of the pro-GNA forces were killed and 60 wounded in Saturdays clashes, medical sources in Misrata, a city half-way between the Sirte and the Libyan capital of Tripoli, told AFP.

Backed by weeks of US air strikes, fighters loyal to the GNA say they have recaptured nearly all of what has been ISILs main stronghold in the city.

READ MORE: Libyan forces make final push to retake Sirte from ISIL

In updates posted online, the fighters said they had seized several buildings between Sirtes Number One and Number Three neighbourhoods, and had destroyed an ISIL car bomb before it could reach its target.

Losing Sirte, the birth place of Libyas overthrown leader Muammar Gaddafi, would be a major blow for ISIL, which has been using it as an important base for Libyan and foreign fighters.

The armed group seized the city last year and controlled about 250km of the countrys Mediterranean coastline before forces aligned to the GNA began operations against it in mid-May.

The United States has been providing military support in the effort to expel ISIL from Sirte since August 1.

As of August 24, US warplanes had carried out a total of 82 strikes, according to the United States Africa Command.

The internationally backed governments forces and those of a rival authority in the east are currently engaged in a race to be the first to drive ISIL out of the city.

Libya has suffered from chaos since the 2011 overthrow of Gaddafi, with numerous revolutionary militias formed along regional and ideological lines vying for power.
US space agency releases pictures of first flyby of Juno probe, showing storms unlike any other in the solar system.

United States space agency NASA has released the first close-up images of Jupiters poles, saying it is unlike anything seen before in the solar system. The images were captured during a six-hour flyby of the Juno space probe on August 27.

First glimpse of Jupiters north pole, and it looks like nothing we have seen or imagined before. This image is hardly recognisable as Jupiter, principal investigator of Juno, Scott Bolton, said of the pictures of Jupiters north pole on the NASA website.

The space agency also released an infrared image of the south pole of the solar systems largest planet. Due to the way both earth and Jupiter are positioned, the south pole of the gas giant can hardly be examined, so Junos pictures give scientists a first glimpse of a previously unknown part of the planet.

Jupiter, which has an atmosphere that mainly consists of hydrogen and helium, is known for its Great Red Spot, a storm bigger than earth that has been raging for hundreds of years. The pictures released by NASA show storms and weather systems never seen before.

The largest planet in our solar system is truly unique. We have 36 more flybys to study just how unique it really is, Bolton commented after the spacecraft completed its first flyby, which took a day and a half.

Besides capturing images of both poles, Juno also recorded infrared video and audio of the largest planet in our solar system.

Jupiter is talking to us in a way only gas giant worlds can, co-investigator Bill Kurth said of the radio emissions picked up by Juno. It is the first time scientists have been able to analyse these radio signals in such detail.

The Juno space probe was launched five years ago and recently made the closest approach to Jupiter of any spacecraft ever.

Flying about 4,200km above the gas giants clouds, the craft travels about 208,000 kilometres per hour with respect to the planet. In total, the $1.1bn mission will last 20 months.
President Duterte declares state of lawlessness after deadly blast in his home city that killed at least 13 people.

A previous version of this story stated that a doctor, Leopoldo Vega, spoke to Al Jazeera by phone about the victims of the explosion. That was incorrect. He made the statement during a news conference.

The Philippine government has blamed the armed Abu Sayyaf group for a blast that killed at least 13 people in the home city of President Rodrigo Duterte, prompting him to declare a state of lawlessness.

Duterte told reporters in Davao City on Saturday that he may invite uniformed personnel to run the country according to my specifications.

He said police and the military will be authorised to conduct searches in a bid to stop terrorism.

This is not the first time that Davao has been sacrificed to the altar of violence, the president said, adding: Its always been connected with Abu Sayyaf before. They gave a warning. We know that.

We were ready for this, Duterte said when asked if the attack constituted a failure of intelligence.

Interior Minister Mike Sueno earlier told local radio station DZRH that his office had information about an imminent Abu Sayyaf attack.

Yes, we expected this already. Two or three days ago, we already had an intelligence (report) on this.

Another radio station also reported that Abu Sayyaf spokesman Abu Rami had confirmed that attack.

Civil liberties still stand

Richard Heydarian, a professor of political science at Manilas De La Salle University, told Al Jazeera that a state of lawlessness is not the same as martial law, whereby certain civil liberties are suspended.

What it means is that there will be more police presence; more checkpoints; the military could be involved and have more coordination with the police and, if necessary, impose a curfew. But basic civil liberties will still stand.

One thing were still not certain about is whether it is going to be a nationwide state of lawlessness, or only for Davao, because weve been getting mixed signals from different offices of the president.

The blast took place on Friday night at a night market in Davao, 960km south of the capital, Manila.

The explosion occurred close to the high-end Marco Polo hotel, which is popular with tourists and business people, city spokeswoman Catherine de la Rey told AFP news agency.

Regional police chief Manuel Guerlan told Reuters news agency that a ring of checkpoints had been thrown around the citys exit points.

Student John Rhyl L Sialmo told Al Jazeera that the explosion happened around 10:30pm local time (4:30 GMT).

We were inside one of the university buildings when we heard the loud explosion, said Sialmo, a student at Ateneo de Davao University, located across the site of the blast.

There were so many people, because it was a night market and also because its a Friday, Sialmo said, adding that the rescuers had to use improvised bandages on the victims.

A doctor from the Southern Philippine Medical Center in Davao City, said that all those who died had multiple shrapnel injuries.

All of the wounds examined were shrapnel type on different parts of the body, D Leopoldo Vega told reporters in a news conference.

War on drugs

The Philippine president was in Davao, but was safe and at a police station after the explosion, his son Paolo Duterte, who is vice mayor of the city, told Reuters news agency.

Duterte is hugely popular in Davao, having served as its mayor for more than 22 years before his stunning national election win in May, garnered from the popularity of a promised war on drugs.

READ MORE: Death toll in Dutertes war on drugs

His election has prompted a steep rise in drug-related killings, with more than 2,000 people killed since he took office on June 30, nearly half of them in police operations.

Davao is located in Mindanao, a large southern island beset by decades of armed rebellion by Muslim groups. The region is also home to Abu Sayyaf, a rebel group loosely linked to Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL, also known as ISIS) and notorious for making tens of millions of dollars from kidnappings.

There was no immediate claim of responsibility.

However, Davao itself is largely peaceful and Duterte has been credited with transforming it from a lawless town to a southern commercial hub for call centres and offshore business processing services.
Turkey sends in more tanks west of Jarablus, opening new front in battle against Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant.

Turkey has sent more tanks into northern Syria to the west of a border town seized from the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) group last week, opening a new front in a cross-border intervention aimed at sweeping its fighters from the area.

Saturdays development came after Turkish forces and allied Syrian rebels seized the strategic border town Jarablus from ISIL on August 25.

Turkey and Syrian rebel forces are now continuing an offensive against ISIL in the area, with rebels capturing several other towns on Saturday close to the border with Turkey.

Today, the rebel factions managed to take control of the villages of Arab Ezza, al-Fursan, and have moved towards Lilwa, Ahmed Othman, a commander in the pro-Turkey rebel group Sultan Murad, told Al Jazeera from Aleppos northern suburbs.

READ MORE: Kurds and refugees behind Turkeys Syria offensive

The UK-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, a monitoring group that records daily developments in the war, confirmed that the rebels had taken several villages.

Since Jarablus, we have headed west and managed to take over 17 villages from ISIL, said Othman.

The goal is to take control of all the villages between al-Rai and Jarablus.

The Sultan Murad group and other rebel outfits affiliated with the Free Syrian Army (FSA), have already driven ISIL out of both towns.





Today the tanks and armoured personnel started crossing in to Syria, said Al Jazeeras Hashem Ahelbarra on Saturday, reporting from Gaziantep on the Turkish border with Syria.

It seems that the Turkish government is going to further move into al-Rai where there is the presence of the FSA with the aim of driving ISIL out of those areas, around the town, said Ahelbarra.

From Jarablus to al-Rai, there is some 90 kilometres of border area that was under ISIL control for quite some time.

Turkey, continued Ahelbarra, was paving the way for the FSA to take over.

Last week, Turkey launched its first major incursion into Syria since the civil war began more than five years ago. Turkish tanks, fighter jets and special forces are backing rebels who are fighting separately against both ISIL and the Kurdish YPG group.

READ MORE: Turkey deploys more tanks in Syria, warns Kurdish YPG

Turkish-backed rebels have met little resistance as they captured border villages, Othman said.

There are no clashes, ISIL fighters flee as soon as they see us advancing, especially because we are supported by Turkish air power, he said.

According to Othman, Turkish tanks have not entered any of the villages, but have remained on standby on the Syrian side of the border.

Last months operation was Ankaras most ambitious during the five-and-a-half-year Syria conflict, and has since continued with tanks, fighter jets and special forces providing support to rebels.

After crossing the border on August 24, Turkish-backed Syrian rebels recaptured the border town of Jarablus from ISIL in 14 hours.

The strategic town had been controlled by ISIL, which is also known as ISIS, for two years. Al-Bab is not the groups only stronghold in Syrias northeast.

With reporting from Zena al-Tahhan: @ZenaTahhan
Turkish military says it neutralised at least 100 PKK fighters, without specifying how many were killed or wounded.

Turkeys security forces killed or wounded more than 100 Kurdish fighters from the Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) on Saturday, according to the Turkish military.

The figure is one of the highest casualty tolls in a single day of the conflict in recent years. Turkeys predominantly Kurdish southeast has been rocked by waves of violence since the 2015 collapse of ceasefire between the state and the PKK.

The military said in a statement that more than 100 PKK fighters had been neutralised, without detailing how many were killed and how many were wounded. It said that most had been taken back to northern Iraq where the PKK has mountain camps.

Turkeys southeast has seen heavy fighting in recent days in Hakkari province, near the border with Iraq, and in Van province, near the border with Iran.

Five Turkish security force members were killed and six more were wounded in Hakkari on Saturday in heavy clashes with PKK fighters, Reuters reported.

Eight more security force members were reportedly killed overnight in Van.

More than 40,000 people have been killed since the PKK first took up arms in 1984 with the aim of carving out an independent state for Turkeys Kurdish minority, although it now focuses more on rights and demands for greater autonomy.

Turkey, the European Union and the United States have labelled the PKK a terrorist group.
This year's G20 Leaders' Summit in the Chinese city of Hangzhou comes at a time when the world is wracked by problems.

Who, now, remembers, that earlier this year there was talk of a Chinese economic crash that hindsight shows was premature. The G20 meeting is now occurring when, comparatively, the Chinese economy is among the most stable in the world.

The EU has been rocked by Brexit -- the UK's planned exit -- Russia is struggling to cope with two stagnating wars, and the United States is riven by a wave of public protectionist sentiment.

Asia, too, has had its share of geopolitical disequilibrium, involving India and China and China and the Philippines. Still, the regional situation is comparatively calm when compared to other parts of the World. The choice of an oriental venue for the G20 summit, therefore, seems apt. After all, unlike the U.N., it has been known to produce some real change in the world, formulating policies and dialogues between the major global players.

One key area for China to show leadership is in regard to structural reforms, one of the key platforms of Chinese government policy. China's growth, as has been discussed in trade ministers' meetings, can be used to promote major trade liberalism in various sectors.

However, above all this, there is an expectation of a thaw in Sino-Japanese relations that could have broad regional implications.

On August 28, Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe was in the Kenyan capital of Nairobi to attend the sixth Tokyo International Conference on African Development, where he met 34 African head of states, including heavyweights like South Africa, Ivory Coast and Nigeria.

This was interpreted as an interesting geopolitical move occurring just before the G20 meeting, as Japan is trying to woo Africa alongside China, India and various Western countries, especially France. It also marks a Japanese African policy shift from aid to more active investment.

The previous week in Tokyo, Abe's top aide met China's senior diplomat, Yang Jiechi, to lay the groundwork for the highly significant meeting between President Xi Jinping and Prime Minister Abe on the sidelines of the G20 summit.

Chinese Premier Li Keqiang also met with the visiting head of the secretariat of Japan's National Security Council, Shotaro Yachi, in Beijing, where he stressed to his visitor that both China and Japan needed to work to get their fraught relations back on track, especially with 2017 marking the 45th anniversary of the normalization of ties and 2018 being the 40th anniversary of their Treaty of Peace and Friendship.

Japan has been sending out mixed signals on what it wants from China, and one can imagine that this, in itself, represents a strategy. On one hand, Japan is trying, through various means, to achieve detente with China.

Abe's meeting with President Xi is an extremely good step in that direction. The focus of both countries has been to develop a conciliatory atmosphere, ahead of the G20 meeting.

Of course, these things take time to develop. One needs to remember that the SALT talks between Leonid Brezhnev and Richard Nixon were two years in the making, for example. While Japan and China is in no way in a similar situation to the United States and Soviets during the 1970s, it's obvious that a certain "atmosphere' is needed for any high-level talks to proceed.

The journeys undertaken by senior Chinese and Japanese diplomats in this regard is a welcome development.

Deep differences remain however. Mr. Abe's remarks in Africa, for example, also contained a call for free movement in Asia-Pacific waterways, although it remains unclear how much diplomatic backing Japan expects to get from Africa in this regard. Nor is it clear if Japanese actions to balance Chinese economic investment with deeds rather than words will succeed.

Chinese investment in Africa has been going on for a long time, and China's recent base in Djibouti proves it can accept a security burden if necessary. Japan clearly will have to depend on the West to provide any needed security for its forays into Africa, not to mention that any investment there carries the risk of terrorism, diseases, and structural deficiencies and corruption -- things in which Japan has limited experience due to its isolationist policies. China, on the other hand, has experience in investing in Latin America and Africa and has accumulated considerable goodwill.

Finally, recent Japanese moves towards militarization, and the changing character of the nation, raise questions in the region's geopolitical structure. No great power seeks complications.

As of now, however, the near-term alignments match, reflecting a desire for detente on both side. Abe is understandably more worried about the success of his "Abenomics" policy, and both Japan and China wants to make this G20 a success amidst the recent complications in Asia. This provides a hopeful scenario.

Sumantra Maitra is a columnist with China.org.cn. For more information please visit:

http://www.china.org.cn/opinion/SumantraMaitra.htm

Opinion articles reflect the views of their authors only, not necessarily those of China.org.cn
We look at Australias changing relationship with its biggest trading partner China and challenges facing the country.

Australia, a vast continent rich in natural resources, is enjoying the longest economic expansion in the developed world  24 years and counting. Much of that boom was built on exports of commodities like iron ore to China.

As the Chinese economy grows, and the government is looking to reposition the performance of the Chinese economy ... what Australia will be looking to do is to try to harness those opportunities and export services into the Chinese economy ... tourism services ... education services as well as our professional services. by Brendan Rynne, KPMG Australia

China is the countrys biggest trading partner, but the Chinese economy is changing from manufacturing to an economy that is more focused on domestic demand.

Chinese buyers are also on the hunt for foreign assets. In early August, Australia blocked two Chinese bidders from buying state-owned power network Ausgrid. Tensions in the South China Sea have also complicated the relationship.

What effect is the overall commodities slump having on Australias economy and how will it adapt? What is next for Australia and China? And what happens to Australia if the demand from Chinese markets starts to slow down?

We speak to Brendan Rynne, KPMG Australias chief economist, and discuss the state and the future of Australias economy.

Also, Yaara Bou Melhem reports from New South Wales on how the sheep and wool industry is making a comeback.

Retirement industry: How old do you have to be before you can stop working?

Japan, the worlds third-largest economy, has one of the highest number of elderly citizens on the planet.

Over the next 20 years, the number of people over the age of 75 is expected to make up 30 percent of the population. And that is having a big impact on the economy as well as society in general.

Some companies have already taken matters into their own hands and opted for hi-tech solutions to helping people work beyond retirement age.

And Japan is not the only country encouraging people to work beyond retirement age: Finland makes its population work until the age of 68 before theyre able to claim state pension; in Greece, people have to work until 67; and recently, young Germans were told they might have to work until they are 69 years old.

For the past decade, governments across the developing world have been cutting the pension bill by increasing the retirement age; thats because people are living longer and birth rates are declining.

But how will this affect future generations? How old does one now need to be before they can stop working?

We discuss the pensions crisis around the world with Tom McPhail, head of Pensions Research.

Shifting tourism

Egypts tourism industry is in crisis: The number of foreign tourists fell 46.5 percent year on year in the first quarter of 2016. Tunisia saw tourist arrivals drop over 18 percent in the first quarter of the year, and Turkeys tourism sector contracted sharply in the first three months of 2016.

Portugal and Italy are shaping up to be the biggest winners. In Italy, the number of people visiting this year is already up on a record, and some local authorities are even thinking on limiting tourist access.

This year, we have seen a shift from  traditional destinations in the Middle East and in Europe to new destinations in southern Europe. There is no doubt that the attack in Paris and the situation in Egypt, Tunisia and Turkey have made tourists choose [safer] destinations, such as Spain, Portugal and Greece, explains Kinda Chebib, a senior analyst for Euromonitor International in London.

So, what are people looking for when they travel? Will this shift dramatically affect other economies?

We discuss the future of the tourism industry with Chebib.
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English News G20 needs to be strategic long-term oriented actor: B20 Germany Sherpa

Alwihda Info | Par peoplesdaily - 3 Septembre 2016





By Guan Kejiang from People's Daily The G20 should not only focus on implementation of members individual measures at the national level, but also be a strategically long-term orientated actor, said Stormy-Annika Mildner, B20 Germany Sherpa and the head of the Department External Economic Policy of the Federation of German Industries (BDI).



The Chinese G20 presidency has been right in emphasizing this characteristic of the G20 by focusing on common and coordinated actions, Mildner told People's Daily when talking about her expectations of the G20 and B20.



Suggesting the G20 to be a strategic long-term orientated actor, the sherpa noted that it has to set the right frameworks that allow us to make full use of emerging opportunities and manage long-term challenges through deeper cooperation, better coordination, and stronger actions.



The Chinese G20 presidency has been focusing on common and coordinated actions and introducing important new topics such as innovation and green finance, Mildner noted, adding that it has nonetheless pursued coherence with former presidencies by deepening cooperation and coordination on existing themes such as infrastructure connectivity, energy efficiency, and investment policy making.



The sherpa added that the business circle has developed a strong set of recommendations that provide the G20 with concrete and implementable actions, which can reach consensus across all members. She believes if these policies are implemented they will substantially boost growth and prosperity.



Mildner, who also contributed to the Trade & Investment Taskforce, elaborated on B20s detailed suggestions. According to her, the B20 emphasizes its previous calls to respect the protectionism standstill and the request for the swift and ambitious implementation of the WTO agreement on trade facilitation.



In addition, the B20 stresses the coherence of regional trade agreements in times of slow progress at the multilateral level, suggesting expert reviews that can help to identify potential for plurilateralization of measures.



A new impetus, according to the sherpa, was introduced on investment policymaking. The B20 recommendations on transparency, right to a fair dispute settlement and the rule of law, are reflected in the G20 trade ministers principles on investment policy making.



The global governance is a multi-stakeholder process, she pointed out, explaining that not only states but also businesses, civil society and individuals play a fundamental role in shaping policies and their implementation.



According to Mildner, the B20 has supported the G20 in living up to its role as the premier forum for international economic cooperation. B20 recommendations essentially support the G20 to set the right policies that enable sustainable growth in the years to come. This includes, for instance, calls for action on digital trade, a multilateral investment framework, and better future-orientated regulation.



Mildner also said that China is beyond doubt of tremendous importance to the world economy. Not only due to its sheer size, but also because of its increasing role in sustainability, be it infrastructure investments or CO2 emissions, she said.



With this increasingly important role also comes responsibility, which China needs to live up to, she stressed.



Since its WTO-accession, China has undertaken a number of important reforms that have sustained economic growth in China and its integration into global value chains. However, serious problems remain, Mildner commented.



Whether China is able to increase its innovation capacity is a crucial factor for the transformation its Chinese economy, the sherpa concluded.



Dans la meme rubrique : < > China's FAST discovers largest atomic cloud in universe China to make greater contributions to human progress China willing to work with the international community to promote equality, mutual learning, dialogue, and inclusiveness among civilizations Pour toute information, contactez-nous au : +(235) 99267667 ; 62883277 ; 66267667 (Bureau N'Djamena)
Here we go again I thought as I read through media reports about the latest atrocity committed by a fanatic shouting Allahu Akbar. This particular act of murderous jihad claimed two more young innocent lives in the name of Islam, British travellers Mia Ayliffe-Chung and Thomas Jackson. Their only crime was to be in a hostel in Queensland, Australia at the wrong time.

Despite the fact that the perpetrator, named as Sami Ayad, a Frenchman apparently, shouted what the media incorrectly call an Arabic phrase meaning God is greatest, police insist theres no evidence showing hed been radicalized or motivated by politics. They didnt go as far to say hes suffering from a mental illness this time.

True to form, the media is downplaying any connection to Islam. Instead of accurately describing Ayad as a French Muslim, hes portrayed as a Frenchman. Furthermore, the exclamation Allahu Akbar is not an Arabic phrase nor does it mean God is greatest as the duplicitous media reports state. Its an Arabic phrase specific to Islam  not all Arabs are Muslims for goodness sake  and it means Allah is greater. Meaning Allah is greater than your Gods and greater than your man-made governments and laws.

These kinds of desperate attempts to disconnect from Islam atrocities committed by Muslims in the name of their deity are deployed by both politicians and the media in the aftermath of each attack. Theyre deliberately concealing the truth about Islam in order to maintain the its a religion of peace narrative. Its crucial to counter this propaganda with the truth, so here are five awkward facts about Islam that deceitful politicians and the media would rather you didnt know.

1. Warlord Prophet - There are many unpleasant, violent stories about the prophet of Islam, Muhammad, and most unbelievers are completely unaware of them. Brainwashed by the Islam is peace mantra, they naively believe he was a holy prophet like Moses and Jesus; a man of peace dedicated to serving God. In fact, Muhammad was a mass-murdering warlord who waged brutal wars against unbelievers. He also tortured criminals and enslaved women. In Islam, Muhammad is regarded as the ideal man, the perfect example and every Muslim reveres him.

So lets ask: If Islam is a peaceful faith, why does it have such a violent prophet? Also, how can any Muslim who reveres his violent perfect example be regarded as moderate? Could I be described as moderate if I revere the examples of socialist mass murderers Joseph Stalin and Mao Zedong? Islam the peaceful faith with a violent, murdering prophet makes as much sense as Christianity the violent religion with a peaceful, loving messiah.

2. War Zone - Islam divides the world into two houses: The first is Dar al Islam, the house of Islam, the lands where Islam is dominant. The second is Dar al Harb, the lands of the infidels, the house of war. It is the duty of every Muslim to strive to make Islam dominant in the world by conquering the lands of Dar al Harb into Dar al Islam. This is commanded by Allah in Surah 8 ayat 39 of the Quran, a verse so important Muhammad recited it on his death bed. Such a division is clearly not a sign of peace and amounts to a declaration of war on all non-Islamic faiths.

So how do Muslims obey Allah's command? By waging

3. Holy War - Islamic jihad has several forms involving the struggle of the individual to become more spiritual. But it also involves the fight to conquer Dar al Harb into Dar al Islam until religion beings solely to Allah. Islam calls this fight: "Jihad al kuffar wal munafiqeen," the fight against the unbelievers and the hypocrites. History shows that Muslims have waged this holy war against unbelievers from all faiths almost non-stop since 622.

This holy war of conquest involves more than terror and violence and includes building a mosque, attending the mosque to give worship, wearing the burka, establishing Islamic customs such as halal food, sharia banking, prayer rooms, washing facilities, observing Ramadan and celebrating Eid.

Any action that enables Islam to flourish and become dominant in Dar al Harb is jihad. Additionally, jihad is obligatory - fardh - on all Muslims, you simply can't be a Muslim and not be a jihadist. This leads to a little-known core aspect of jihad you will never, ever see or hear in the mainstream media...

4. God Be Praised - When people in the West think of worship, they believe it involves visiting a church or temple, kneeling to pray, singing hymns and performing rituals such as vigils and Holy Communion. Worship in Islam involves much more. Any act that furthers Islam is considered as giving worship - ibadah  to Allah. All of the actions mentioned previously are considered ibadah.



But here's the crucial difference: Muslims who gang rape infidels, who beat up and steal from unbelievers, who lie to infidels about the nature of Islam also give worship to Allah. Devout Muslims waging war in the way of Allah - jihad fisabilillah - who kill unbelievers by beheading them, bombing them, stabbing them, shooting them, mowing them down in cars and trucks are giving worship to Allah. Furthermore, they also believe Allah is acting through them. Meaning its actually Allah who is doing the killing, they are merely his willing instruments.

5. Its The Law - Let's imagine for the sake of argument that holy war is not a core tenet of Islam. No suicide bombings, no mass murders, no rape and enslavement of infidel women, no lone wolf jihad attacks. Could Islam then be described as peaceful? Unfortunately not, because Islam comes with its own legal system, the sharia.

This legal code is based on how Muhammad practised his faith and it controls all aspects of a Muslim's life. Under sharia, the punishment for apostates and homosexuals is death. Adulterers face being thrashed within an inch of their lives or even stoned to death. Female rape victims unable to provide four male witnesses to their violation are criminalized and thieves will have their limbs amputated.

As you can see, even without the horrors of Islamic terrorism, it still wouldnt be possible to describe Islam as peaceful.

Which raises the question: Why are all Western governments importing millions of Muslims, enabling Islam to flourish in the West and deceiving their own people about its true nature? In doing so, they're endangering their own people and its innocents like Mia Ayliffe-Chung and Tom Jackson who pay the ultimate price. Theyre not the first to be sacrificed to Islam and they most certainly wont be the last.

Christopher J. Green is a syndicated author and blogger writing about Islam, Marxism, multiculturalism and the destruction of Western civilization. His blog is Christopher J Green.com and you can follow him on twitter @defiantlionuk
Has anybody noticed that Huma Abedin, lifelong Muslim Brotherhood symp, is now the acting Democratic candidate for President?

I'll bet the DNC knows it.

Hillary's condition could be fatal if she has as stroke, or takes a little too much Coumadin, one of her prescribed medications. The public has been told almost nothing about the specifics of her condition. But medical people have looked at the evidence and at her photos, which look dangerous.

August 29,2016

The media know the truth, which is why they are hotly trying to deny it. All of them, in unison. Donald Trump is dropping hints, which is what he does a lot of the time.

So please, please look again at Hillary's actual photos, and at the known facts about her only day-and-night companion, Huma Abedin.

If you don't, you're missing the biggest and most dangerous political drama of our time.

I would begin by wondering whether bad news about Hillary's health is a political lie, because rational people don't just believe everything they read. They test and test and test the facts. Don't believe these words, just the evidence of your eyes. The New York Times sure won't tell you the truth.

When you see what medical people all over the world are seeing, it'll be plain as day.

Because of Hillary's evident incapacity, her close companion Huma Abedin may represent the biggest strategic deception since D-Day. This is not a joke.

The Muslim Brotherhood, called the Ikhwan, should be remembered as the Nazi-era "Islamischer Broederbund" founded in 1928, as a Hitlerite organization, headed by the Mufti of Jerusalem.

Huma's mother Saleh is only a figurehead, who supposedly runs the "non-profit UK charity" that owns the family propaganda mag. The whole Abedin family has been on the take from "The Institute for Muslim Minority Studies," including Huma and Mom.

In Islam women are less than nothing without a man, so the family charity front was almost certainly started by her father, who is now dead. TIMMS is nothing but the family business, running as a nonprofit charity in the UK, and fronting for the Ikhwan, which is headquartered in the Gulf, now that they can't operate in Cairo any more. President Sisi of Egypt is running a hot war against them in that country, and their biggest Jihad op may be happening in Washington, DC.

Hillary's illness and Huma's influence over the 2016 Democratic campaign can be seen on YouTube and on major conservative and anti-Jihad websites. Anybody can check the facts.

For Heaven's sake, open your eyes, before it's too late.

Mohammed the Prophet of Islam (PBUH!) was a great war deceiver. The first European epic was the Song of Roland, which has the famous line "He (the Saracen) lied with every word he spoke."

That wasn't poetic invention, it told the plain truth about the Muslim invaders of Europe. Sun Tzu wrote that "war is deception," and the war theology of Islam agrees wholeheartedly.

Islam was a hyperactive war creed until the 1922, when Turkey abolished the Ottoman Caliphate under Kemal Ataturk. Before that, Muslim Jihadist campaigns periodically attacked Europe, China, India, Russia, North Africa and the Middle East with very great success.

The key to resisting Jihad was never just arms and fighters, but a strategic understanding of Islam's fundamental deception operations. This article is about what now looks like the most successful Jihadist deception in human history.

If that sentence makes no sense to you, please read it again. If your friends don't get it, ask them to read it again. If your political debating partners don't get it, dittos for them.

Civilizations that survived Jihad since he 7th Century learned about deception ops as the key for survival. In war, survival is not just a matter of firepower, but of word power.

Huma Abedin is now perhaps the single biggest influence on the Democratic Candidate for President of the United States -- without having to go through all the fuss of running for office.

Hillary is visibly disabled, as any honest doctor or nurse will tell you.

When she is asleep or having one of her bad turns, there is only one person who controls access to her. That person is Huma Abedin, a lifelong indoctrinee of the Ikhwan, der Islamischer Broederbund of historical infamy. Founded in 1928 by the Mufti of Jerusalem, among other Muslim bigwigs, who just loved the idea of killing all the Jews in the world. This is two decades before Israel's War of Liberation, giving the lie to the liberal delusion that it all started with the Founding of Israel as a State.

In the year 2016 Ikhwan is identical to the 1928 edition, because believing Muslims are all Fundamentalists. They interpret their scriptures much more literally than James Fallows has ever dreamed of doing.

The truth about the Moobers is not some paranoid conspiracy theory. History has many real conspiracies. Hitler ran a world-conquering conspiracy, and so did Lenin and Stalin. There are political ideologies that spin off real conspiracies like a bad case of dandruff.

Look it up political conspiracies in Wikipedia or other reliable sources.

Whether Huma has ever developed into a modern person we simply do not know, because childhood indoctrination is extremely powerful. Huma is a lifelong indoctrinee of the Ikhwan, as proclaimed in the year 1928 by real Arab Nazophiles using the slogan:

"Our only goal is to die in the way of Allah."

Like all of their words, you have to think two or three times before you get the double meanings. The doctrines of Jihad are rife with double meanings.

In Jihad jargon, "dying in the way of Allah" means only one important thing: Jihadist suicide-murder. As they keep demonstrating to unbelieving Western eyes, while we remain in deep denial.

A few examples.

9/11?

Suicide murder on a mass scale.

The Paris Jihad murders?

Ditto.

San Bernardino?

Ditto.

The beach bombings in Nice, France?

Ditto.

The London Underground bombing?

Ditto.

The suicide-murder of Egypt's Presiden Anwar Sadat, for signing the first and only formal Peace Treaty with Israel?

Jihad ***means*** willful suicide murder of infidels and ex-Muslims to sizable numbers of people. If you just murder infidels it's not nearly as good as dying as a martyr ***while*** killing infidels and traitors. Allah gives double points for suicide-murders, because they show your sincerity. Fundamentalist Muslims often celebrate your murder-martyrdom with an official wedding ceremony, complete with candies for the neighbors. Symbolically, martyrs are married to Allah.

(Simply killing yourself for Allah does not count. Suicide will take you straight to Hell. There is no more praiseworthy way to become Allah's beloved in Heaven, complete with an endless supply of nubile virgins, who will never grow old. Even seventy-two virgins get boring.

Americans should remember Jim Jones and Guyana. Think about knife-stabbing Jihad murderers in Jerusalem today. Think about Bushido warriors with razor-sharp swords, carefully honed to cut off human heads. Think Sioux braves charging into enemy villages to count coup on enemy braves.

But most of all, think about Huma and her lifelong indoctrinators, beginning with Mom and Dad Abedin.

(Please see MEMRI.org for numerous television videos of early child indoctrination by Hamas and the peace-loving Pals).

To most of us, Huma Abedin looks like an attractive young woman with everything to live for. To Muslim Fundamentalists she is a Muslima first. Nothing else counts.

Cults are what they are. They are amazingly common. In the famous Stanford experiments, Stanford students were easily indoctrinated by authority figures, wearing a lab coat.

Every human generation produces a small crop of Jim Jones cults.

In Fundamentalist Islam young girls are condemned to death, to protect the family honor and prestige. They are considered whores and traitors. By dating the wrong boys they have betrayed the faith, and their fathers and brothers have only one duty, which is to kill their daughters.

Please keep in mind that this ***is*** the belief system Huma was raised in. In radical Islam young children receive indoctrination long before they can think for themselves. Kids have no mental defenses, and -- as the Jesuits used to say -- "give me a child before age ten, and we will have him for life."

That is still true today, because our basic nature has not changed.

Islam is a war cult, not an unusual thing in human history. Japanese Bushido was also a war cult, and they came very close to killing off our Pacific Fleet at Pearl Harbor on that terrible day. Our aircraft carriers happened to be away at sea, but our great battleships were sunk, while our sailors died in the thousands.

Liberals specialize in highly selective memory, and they never, ever remember how close America came to total defeat on that day.

Mohammed the Prophet (PBUH!) was a great deceiver in war, which is how he managed to surprise and kill his enemies time and time again. Today the worldwide media constantly fall for the war term "hudna," which they translate as "peace." Poor, deluded idiots.

"Hudna" doesn't mean peace, but a temporary truce, to give the aggressors time to recover and organize another surprise attack. It's standard tribal warfare, as shown by perhaps the most important anthropologist of our time, Napoleon Chagnon. Chagnon is mandatory reading for intelligent adults. You will never understand human war and violence if you don't look him up, at least, on the web.

But back to Hillary and Huma.

On the fateful night of September 11, 2012, the appointed night for the Jihadist attack on our Benghazi facility, it may have been Huma Abedin, Hillary's personal companion, who made the decision not to wake her up.

Since we now know that the Moobers were directly involved in the Benghazi murders, it is conceivable that Huma had prior warnings from President Morsi of Egypt, head of the MB's at that time.

The US Embassy compound in Cairo, Egypt, was also attacked on the same day, and the New York Times featured an amazingly well-timed front-page photo, showing the black flag of El Qaeda flying over part of the Embassy compound.

You can't just storm the US Embassy in Cairo without the active collusion of the regime, who were run by the Moobers at that time. Similarly, you can't order the cops on the beat in Benghazi, to run off in the days before 9/11/12, without the active collusion of whichever Libyan gang was in charge in Benghazi.

Which turned out, by some miracle, to be AQAM, Al Qaeda in the Maghreb, another Sunni terrorist gang just like the Moobers.

What a coincidence. Two Sunni terror attacks on the same day, September 11, 2012, on two different US diplomatic compounds, one in Cairo, Egypt (then run by Mohammed Morsi, the head Moobster), and another simultaneous assault to murder our Ambassador to Libya, who just happened to be in Benghazi on September 11 of that year. Just before the second Obama election. The age of miracles is not over.

Double attacks at the same time are a war signature of Al Qaeda, as every American citizen should know by now. On September 11, 2001, Saudi-trained jihadists murderers butchered civilian US cabin personnel and pilots on American and United Airlines airplanes, and flew those giant jet planes with amazing precision into the Twin Towers and the Pentagon.

It's two terror targets every time.

Now Hillary's health crisis may go back before September of 2012, the day of the Benghazi assault, just before Obama's second election.

That night, when the In Extremis alarm came into State (mandatory for any violent assault on US Flag Officers or diplomats), Huma might have told the SecState protective detail that her boss had to sleep, for fear of aggravating her medical problem. That alert should have arrived at the White House, the Pentagon, and State within three minutes of the AQAM-Moober attack in Benghazi, and maybe the Embassy attack in Cairo.

Some senior official on duty may have called the White House, but Obama apparently wasn't answering the phone either.

Another coincidence? Maybe.

So they made up an incompetent lie for the media, and repeated it, all in unison, the way they always do. This is SOP for Obama, and they've practiced it thousands of times, long before September 11, 2012.

If our honest media somehow proclaim Hillary as the winner of the coming debates with Donald Trump, and if millions of our fellow Americans can raise their dead eyes to vote for her, Huma Abedin may well become the de facto Acting President of the United States in January of 2017. If Huma turns out to be a good and loyal American, can you imagine the blackmail material the Moobers have on her, her mother, and of course, on Tony the Wiener, former husband of Huma?

This not a movie.

It's not fiction.

This is real.
In early September of 1994 a man named Mike Ercoli was leaving an area famous in the old DC bar scene called The Alley when he may or may not have struck a homeless man with his Buick Regatta. As witnesses related to us who were friends with Mike, he became violent after he was arrested by multiple U.S. Secret Service Uniformed officers (several embassies are located near the area, which is why they arrived first) because he believed one of the officers had struck his mother, who happened to be in the car with him. The arrest occurred at approximately 3:00 a.m. He was never taken to the local jail, but was taken instead to DC General Hospital at 6:00 a.m. with massive internal injuries

On or about October 1 of 1994, Mike Ercoli died as a result of his injuries.

For the record, I and another friend of mine took Mikes mom to identify his body right after he died. The reasons for telling Mikes story are numerous, and there are lessons to be learned from his death.

First off, Mike was a Caucasian male, and an alcoholic. The Black Lives Matter publicists will always scream racism whenever a black thug is killed. Mike was an alcoholic who wore facial make up. The fact that he wore makeup would have likely made the militant homosexual lobby say that he was beaten because he was gay. No he did not wear the makeup because he was transgendered or gender confused. Mike wore the makeup because he was an evac chopper pilot in Vietnam who was shot down and burned badly in the resulting fire. Mike drank because he somehow lived through having a bullet in his back and then the ensuing fire after the chopper crashed, yet the wounded soldiers who he had been carrying were killed in the fire, and he never got over the guilt of living while those who he had been charged with taking care of died.

Second, from everyone who saw the arrest and how it played out (For the record I was one of Mikes best friends at the time of his death and Mike and I were well known on the DC bar scene), it was clear that the incident did not occur as was told by the Washington Post. While my then drinking buddies who witnessed this incident may have had a few too many, the fact is that they were all consistent about one fact -- that Mike did not start acting out until he had been put in handcuffs, thus negating the story told by the Secret Service that Mike had pulled a gun out from an officers holster. This incident may have not been criminal on the part of local law enforcement, but certainly they acted inappropriately. And likely the reports filed were false. It should be mentioned for the record that none of Mikes friends ever rioted or burned the 19th and M Street areas of NW Washington DC. We were all people who worked for a living and just liked to go out and party after hours.

Third and maybe most important -- and this is the hardest thing for me to accept. My friend Mike Ercoli would be alive today if he had not resisted arrest. As much as it pains me to have to say this, Mike helped to cause his own death by acting out. Everyone agrees that Mike went ballistic after he either saw or thought he saw one of the arresting officers push his mother to the ground. Mike had a horrible temper, and knowing him the way I did, he likely did flip out. Mike was a rather large fellow, over six feet tall, and weighed about 250 lbs. To take this man down could not have been an easy thing for the Secret Service personnel and likely involved the use of billy clubs and the like. While Mike should never have been beaten to death, he is responsible for putting himself in that situation by driving drunk, and then acting stupidly when his mother either was pushed or slipped and fell.

For all those who want to make every issue of police brutality a racial matter, it is not one. It is a snow job being perpetrated on us by race pimps who are profiting off the poverty of black youths. Its not your fault youre in the ghetto -- blame whitey. Forget the fact that your father abandoned your mother, forget the fact that the liberals have trapped you in a failing school system which grades itself not by how well children learn, but how many kids are pushed through a system which cares not about our children.

Cops are also human, and when put into stressful situations, no matter how good the training, something bad can happen. While I can never prove this fact, there is little doubt in my mind that Mikes death was a murder which was covered up by the DC Police after having been given untruthful statements by the U.S. Secret Service (see attached story from Washington Post). But Mike put the officers in that situation by resisting arrest. We have an adversarial judicial system for just that reason. To ensure that any person charged with a crime has a fair trial. Not a perfect trial, but one where all the evidence comes out in a manner which protects the right of any accused man from judicial tyranny. Most people, if they do something wrong, will try and cover it up. This is a sad fact of humanity, which has occurred since the time of Cain and Abel. It was the cover-up which got Nixon in trouble. Mike caused his own death. And no matter how much this may offend the Black Lives Matter troublemakers, 99% of cops are quality individuals who do their work well and should be thanked daily for protecting us from those who would live outside the law.

The fact is near 100 percent of those who are arrested and act in a peaceful manner live through the experience. If there is one lesson which may be taken away from Mikes untimely death, and the deaths of Freddie Gray (Baltimore) and Michael Brown (Ferguson, Missouri) it is that resisting arrest, acting out, and attacking police officers will not end up well. The punks who rioted in Ferguson and Baltimore, and us who miss Mike Ercoli and the many Mike Ercolis of the world are a testament to this.

John Massoud is a local businessman in Northern Virginia, a local district chair in the Shenandoah County GOP, and does media relations for the Shenandoah Valley Constitutional Conservatives aka the Shenandoah County Tea Party.
The Communist legislature of China voted to ratify the Paris climate accords yesterday, leading to President Xi declaring the agreement now in effect in China.

Meanwhile, President Obama also declared the ratification of the climate deal  but sort of forgot to take it to the Senate to get its approval. He just waved his scepter, and ratification came into being.

Did you ever think you'd see the day when Communists would teach America a lesson about the democratic process?

Washington Times:

In a ceremony in Hangzhou, China, Mr. Obama and Chinese President Xi Jinping deposited each countrys official instrument of acceptance with U.N. Secretary General Ban-Ki Moon to join the agreement. Separately, Mr. Obama and Mr. Xi agreed on a side deal aimed at curbing other pollutants in the U.S. and China. They committed to freeze the production of hydrofluorocarbons, the chemicals often used in air conditioning and refrigeration, and cut aviation emissions by an unspecified date, possibly as early as 2021. The U.N. climate-change pact cannot take effect until 55 nations representing 55 percent of worldwide carbon emissions formally ratify the agreement. The U.S. and China, the worlds two largest emitters, represent about 38 percent of total global emissions. With the formal entry of Washington and Beijing into the deal, the agreement now has been joined by 25 nations representing slightly more than 40 percent of total emissions. Mr. Obama is hoping to push the agreement to completion by the end of this year as one of his prime legacy goals. White House climate adviser Brian Deese said Saturdays action is intended to provide confidence to other countries to join the pact. He said there are commitments from more than 55 nations, including Brazil, Argentina and South Korea. Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump has said he would cancel the agreement if elected. Mr. Deese said despite opposition by Mr. Trump and by many Republicans in Congress, there is broad support among the public and the business community for an international climate agreement. Were quite confident the United States will continue to be a part of this agreement going forward, he said. Environmental groups hailed the move. Greenpeace East Asias senior climate policy adviser Li Shuo said political ambition must keep up with rising sea levels faced by vulnerable communities around the world. The agreement forged by 195 nations last December in Paris sets non-binding targets for the reduction of carbon emissions that most scientists blame for rising temperatures and sea levels. The Obama administration is not calling the pact a treaty, thereby avoiding the step of taking it to the Senate for a ratification vote  and likely rejection.

The White House argument for why Obama doesn't need to get Senate approval is that the climate deal requires "an executive decision" rather than advice and consent of the Senate. If this is true, why did the Chinese president get his parliament's approval for ratification? Why are most nations requiring a vote from their legislative bodies?

Martin Ebell of the Competitive Enterprise Institute thinks Congress should refuse to fund any part of the deal:

Then the Congress should prohibit any funding for the Paris Climate Treaty, the Green Climate Fund, and the underlying UN Framework Convention on Climate Change, Mr. Ebell said. Finally, if the Obama administration ignores the Congress, the Senate should take up and vote on ratification of the Paris Climate Treaty.

Simply put, the president does not have the authority to bind the U.S. government and people to an agreement that could cost our economy trillions of dollars and hundreds of thousands of lost jobs. Obama's use of his executive power at the expense of Congress has reached its zenith  at least temporarily. What he has in store for us his final few months in office will no doubt surprise and alarm us.
It is Saturday of Labor Day weekend, and for the fourth time, an agency has dumped more damaging Clinton email records over a holiday. The Obama administration has raised this behavior to an art form. Yesterday we found out that Hillary told the FBI that she "could not recall all her briefings" during the period after her accident (concussion) and resulting blood clot. Wow  it is scary enough to think that our secretary of state was incapable of performing her job during her last weeks in office, but this legitimizes some of the questions about her health. It also makes one wonder how many other secrets she may have mishandled.

Further, it makes FBI director Comey's assertion that there was no evidence that Clinton intentionally misused governmental secrets harder to swallow. How do security briefings on the way out relate to those at the beginning of her term? Does he truly believe that she forgot the details of the information given in 2009? How could she assert that when she signed several such papers? Moreover, she set up her server in 2008 long before her memory lapse and used the Clinton Foundation server to boot. Worse yet, she had 13 (we now discover) different devices, not one or two, as she stated at the U.N. Beyond that, two were destroyed by hammers by staff. A capable lawyer knows that you do not lie to the FBI, but lack of recall was never so astutely used.

But wait, as it gets worse. The FBI knew that the server was wiped clean by BleachBit software intended to erase the data. Normal deletion involves delinking the file from its directory header, allowing recovery of the actual data. No need to use a cloth, as few people would have known that this software exists. Now they advertise the ability to defeat the FBI computer searchers.

Let's reward more bad behavior, the liberal way. After a year-long investigation, did only sympathetic agents get to interview Hillary?

One must wonder why she still attracts supporters with a continuous release of evidence of her deceitful behavior. During President Clinton's term in office, he asked Dick Morris how to handle the Lewinsky scandal. He determined that if the information was released slowly and he stonewalled, the population would grow used to the detrimental information, and he could survive the scandal. This included lying under oath about sex (in the Paula Jones affair). Hillary has taken a page from the past, as her friends in high places (the White House and Justice Department) have dribbled out the material (over a one-and-a-half-year period) ever so slowly.

A quick review demonstrates clear deception by Hillary. At the U.N., she claimed that no emails contained secrets, which Comey refuted. Under oath, she told the House Committee further that she turned over all work-related emails. Again, it now appears that after turning over 30,000 e-mails, she forgot almost 15,000 others with work relationships uncovered by the FBI by backtracking to recipients. These include 30 or more involving Benghazi.

The State Department argued that it could not provide the meeting schedules before Dec. 2016 to FOIA requests, but after judicial prodding, State decided to produce these records by Oct. 15. Efforts by the AP, Citizens United, and Judicial Watch have been ongoing for up to seven years. It pays to have friends in high places, "unaware" that Clinton had a private server. Using a private server does help avoid FOIA requests, but is not foolproof.

Only after the NY Times reported a private Clinton server did the machine get wiped clean. More curious, it is reported that many government employees did not get headers with the entire Hillary email address. This could occur only with specific effort, but according to Comey, it was not intentional.

Selective amnesia is a curious medical condition. Despite her faulty memory, Hillary is sure she did not order anyone to erase her server of necessary documents. Yet she stated that she turned over all work-related emails after it became evident that they did not exist in the State Department records, but not upon leaving office.

If the slow release of damaging material can inoculate Hillary, will the danger of commingling of Clinton Foundation and governmental functions finally be the disease that trips her up?

Clearly, Comey was correct to indicate that a prosecutor in this administration would not prosecute Hillary under secrecy laws. The laws are not being uniformly applied; ask recently prosecuted military personnel and General Petraeus. You don't have to be right, but you must have the president on your side.
For decades, India resisted the temptation and various enticements to enter into any kind of defense or military agreement with another country that could end up embroiling it in someone else's war. This strategic impartiality may be over after the signing of an agreement with the United States to share land, air and naval bases.

Whatever gloss the two sides put up to divert criticism and speculation, it is clear that, primarily, this is not intended for peacetime activities. Countries may offer urgent refueling and maintenance services to others during peace, even in the absence of any formal agreement.

However, deals made after much covert and overt discussion to share defense facilities usually aim to seek security in future crisis situations, including wars.

There is a simple principle of armed conflict that provision of services to military vessels during wartime show on which side of the divide a country stands. To say the least, the logistic support agreement between the United States and India is a military deal with definite objectives for both peace and war.

Defense Secretary Ash Carter was categorical in declaring after signing the agreement that it would make the "logistics of joint operations" far easier for the two countries.

One may ask, therefore: joint operations against whom? Indian defense minister Manohar Parrikar supported Carter's assertion by saying the agreement would facilitate not only joint operations, but also help in conducting "joint exercises" and "humanitarian" missions.

The terminology used may certainly disturb some of India's neighbors. Though, China is not specifically mentioned in the agreement, it is clear it could play an important role in case of any confrontation between India or the United States and China.

For example, Parrikar talked about the issue of freedom of navigation when he said during the joint press briefing with Carter that "India and the United States have a shared interest in freedom of navigation and over-flight and unimpeded commerce as part of rule-based order in the Indo-Pacific region."

In this, he was parroting the U.S. policy guideline that the South China Sea should be open for unhindered navigation and international communication.

The Pentagon has been in search of dependable allies to checkmate China in this particular region as part of American "pivot" and "rebalancing" policies. Despite all its efforts, it has not so far been able to forge a powerful alliance like NATO, which was conceived and developed to counter a threat from the former Soviet Union.

Hence, America might have been forced to change the policy of reliance on big military alliances that can be difficult to control. It is comparatively easier to manage an individual country through a separate agreement to provide services like refueling, repair or outright military support in case of conflict.

The agreement with India fills a gap in American posturing in the Pacific. It seems that Washington was able to convince India that the two countries face a common threat, namely China, which is a strong economic and military power and already has some unresolved issues with Japan and South Korea, both of which have longstanding defense agreements with the United States, at a time when the issue of South China Sea and the friction between China and countries like the Philippines have assumed immense strategic important.

According to some experts, India is joining the American-sponsored agreement with an eye to obtaining the latest defense equipment and technology from its new ally, while the United States has a bigger game-plan to implement its strategic policy in the region.

However, although the agreement is silent about China, the absence of any escape clause specifically stating the agreed refueling and repair services would not be used in any conflict with China could mean India being drawn into any such military action.

The point is how far India might go to fulfill its real and imaginary defense needs, while hurting its ties with its neighbors. Is it just the beginning of a long term defense relationship?

The next step could be hosting of each other's troops and possibly a joint defense actions in case of a war. According to reports, the two sides are already negotiating at least two more agreements regarding communications and data sharing.

Sajjad Malik is a columnist with China.org.cn.

For more information please visit:

http://www.china.org.cn/opinion/SajjadMalik.htm

Opinion articles reflect the views of their authors, not necessarily those of China.org.cn.
At last, we have confirmation that Green Party candidate Dr. Jill Stein is a joke. Her campaign achievements now include confusing Cincinnati and Columbus, Ohio.

Now, it is true that they both begin with C, and it gets even more confusing because there is yet another big city in Ohio that begins with a C: Cleveland. You may have heard of it, as the Republicans had their convention there.

And Ohioans just love people not able to keep straight the names of their three largest cities. (A digression: the three cities are very different in character, and not particularly accustomed to regarding themselves as interchangeable.)

Dr. Stein dismisses the use of private jets as the realm of billionaires, so she flies commercial  which means she stood in line to check in and boarded a flight for Cincy blissfully unaware that a crowd was gathering in Columbus to hear her.

The Columbus Dispatch reports:

A not-so-funny thing happened on the way to Columbus. Green Party presidential candidate Jill Stein instead ended up in Cincinnati after a campaign staffer mistakenly booked her flight to the wrong C city in Ohio. Steins scheduled noon speech at Capital University in Bexley instead came at 2:35 p.m. after she jumped into a car to be driven up I-71 to the correct spot. A little scheduling error, Stein said. I wish we had the resources of the other candidates. Were the only candidate who operates like the American people. Steins shoestring campaign relies on commercial flights rather than the private jets used by the major party candidates who she denounced as corrupt servants of the billionaire class.

As a matter of fact, Greater Cincinnati Airport is in Kentucky, so Stein landed in the wrong state, too.

Somehow, she managed to make it up I-71 to Columbus in two hours. I hope she had a police escort, because I dont think you can do that at legal speeds.

Sorry, ladies, but the two female nominees for president this time around have failed the competence test.
That Muslims are receiving preferential treatment in the U.S. probably won't shock astute cultural observers. But it may shock them to learn that, at least in a current case in Alabama, the ACLU is taking exception to it and is suing.

Here is the story, courtesy of law professor Eugene Volokh at the Washington Post:

From the complaint in Allen v. English: Plaintiff Yvonne Allen is a devout Christian woman who covers her hair with a headscarf as part of her religious practice. In December 2015, Ms. Allen sought to renew her driver license at the Lee County driver license office, where officials demanded that she remove her head covering to be photographed. When Ms. Allen explained her religious beliefs, the County officials responded with a remarkable claim: They admitted that there was a religious accommodation available for head coverings, but contended that it applied only to Muslims.

According to an ACLU press release, "[t]he [county] staff also ridiculed Allen's beliefs, with one clerk proclaiming that she was a Christian and felt no need to cover her hair."

As for the substance of the lawsuit, the ACLU states, not surprisingly, "Lee County's refusal to grant Allen a religious accommodation contradicts state rules and violates her rights under the First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution and the Alabama Constitution[.]"

None of this will do anything to settle the ongoing debate over whether "ACLU" stands for the American Criminal Liberties Union or the American Communist Lawyers Union. But it could make one wonder if a wormhole has taken us to an alternate universe or if Seinfeld's George Costanza, in his "opposite" mode, is now working for the Alabama ACLU.

Unfortunately, all of America has become an alternate universe relative to what it once was. When people even in the Deep South don't recoil at the notion of privileging Muslims over Christians, well, Toto, you know we're not in Kansas anymore. Of course and in fairness, the Lee County officials were of the Christian tradition and likely believed that Allen was operating contrary to it (although Volokh points out that there is a Christian head-covering movement, as explained here and here). Nonetheless, it's hard to get around the fact that they so blithely tolerated pro-Muslim discrimination.

Contact Selwyn Duke, follow him on Twitter or log on to SelwynDuke.com.
University of Illinois student government is seriously considering a proposal that would mandate "substantial consequences" to student organizations that engage in what is termed "non-inclusive behavior."

They can't quite describe what that behavior is. But they'll know it when they see it.

Reason:

In defense of the bill, Student Senate Vice President Spencer Haydary said that free speech isn't absolute, and that hate speech should result in "consequences, repercussions, whatever you want to call it," according to The Daily Illini. The bill asks the administration "to create more substantial consequences for communities, such as registered student organizations, registered organizations, related organizations, and Greek organizations, involved in behavior that is not culturally inclusive, engaged in acts of intolerance, or engaged in acts that violate community standards." Campus Reform reports that the bill came in a response to activist demands for formal sanctions against a fraternity and sorority that hosted a theme party at which some guests wore sombreros. Illinois's Student Senate has no actual powerthank goodnessand so the bill isn't actually much of a threat to free speech on campus. Still, it's illustrative of the stupidity of the kind of person who gets elected to the Student Senate. Contrary to popular belief, the Supreme Court has never recognized a "hate speech" exception to the First Amendment: public universities are unquestionably required to permit students to engage in kinds of expression that other people might subjectively describe as hateful.

Totalitarianism is alive and well at U of I.

This makes the very concept of free speech meaningless. The First Amendment exists not to protect speech most people find acceptable. It's there specifically to protect unpopular views and utterances. In this case, a political faction at the school want to narrowly define speech in such a way that they become the final arbiters of what should be allowed and what shouldn't. There is rarely a clearer example of the totalitarian impulse on college campuses today.
Ever since the invention of firearms sometime around the thirteenth century, ammunition makers struggled to make lead shots that were perfectly spherical. An obvious method was to pour molten lead into molds, but this was a laborious process that could produce only a limited number of shots at a time. Besides, it often left a seam where the two halves of the mould met, making the shots aerodynamically inefficient. Manufacturers tried pouring molten lead through a sieve suspended several inches above a barrel of water, but this often produced tear drop-shaped shots with a tail. Another method that was used until the early nineteenth century was to take small cubes of lead and agitate them in a barrel until the corners were knocked off and approximately round shot was produced. Yet, none of these methods were satisfactory while the demand for shot, both for military purposes and for sport, was continually growing.

The Remington Shot Tower in Bridgeport, the U.S. Photo credit

The breakthrough came in 1782 when a British plumber named William Watts, of Bristol, discovered that the key to producing perfectly round shots was to drop molten lead not from a few inches but from a great height. When liquids are dropped from a height, the surface tension of the liquid pulls them into a shape that has the least surface area, which happens to be a sphere. The higher the surface tension the more easily the liquid form into spheres, and lead, William Watts realized, has a surface tension far greater than that of water.

To put his idea into practice, Watts went back to his brick row house in Bristol and began adding floors to it. He cut holes in the floors of his house and dug a well beneath it to achieve the necessary drop. At the top, he poured molten lead through a sieve and as the lead fell it turned into spheres, just as he had predicted. By the time the drops hit the water below, they'd started to solidify. The water caught the shots and cooled them further. Watts applied for a patent and was granted. Soon, shot towers started appearing all over England and Europe.

The first major American urban shot tower was erected in Philadelphia in 1808, and by 1813, three big towers were operating near St. Louis. In subsequent years, shot towers advanced technologically and spread across the United States and Europe. Steam elevators replaced staircases, cast-iron frames buttressed brick walls, and mule-drawn carts made way for rail lines. Yet the manufacturing process itself has changed little. However, improvements such as the addition of an up flow of air dramatically shortened the drop required.

A memorial plaque at Clifton Hill Shot Tower. Photo credit

Further reduction in the drop occurred in 1961 with the invention of the Bliemeister method by Los Angeles based inventor Louis W. Bliemeister. In this method, molten lead is dripped from small orifices into a hot liquid instead of cold water, and then rolled along an incline. The temperature of the liquid controls the cooling rate of the lead, while the surface tension of the liquid and the inclined surface work together to turn the droplets of lead into a spherical form. Instead of tens of feet, the molten leads could be dropped from as little as 1 inch.

Shot towers became obsolete and gradually fell into disuse. Some of them were demolished but many of them are still standing and now preserved as architectural and industrial heritage. Watt's original shot tower, the one he built at his home, was taken over by the Sheldon Bush & Patent Shot Company in the 1860s' and kept producing shot until 1968. Sadly, it was demolished.

Notable Shot Towers

The tallest shot tower ever built still stands in the Melbourne suburb of Clifton Hill in Australia. This brick structure was built in 1882 and is 160 feet high. The Jackson Ferry Shot Tower, located in Wythe County, Virginia began construction around 1800. It was built of stone with walls almost a meter thick, as it was not practical to use brick in that region for such a large structure. The 75 foot tower was built at the edge of a cliff and utilized a subterranean shaft of the same length to double the overall height the lead would drop.

The Shot Tower on the South Bank of the River Thames in central London, England was constructed in 1826, and was in use until 1949, but was demolished to make way for the Queen Elizabeth Hall. Another square shot tower was also located not far away downstream along the Thames.

Its hard to estimate how many shot towers were built and how many of them survive today. Some surviving examples of shot towers along with their pictures are published below.

Clifton Hill Shot Tower, the tallest shot tower ever built. Photo credit

Close-up of Clifton Hill Shot Tower. Photo credit

Chester Shot Tower located in the Boughton district of Chester, England. Built in 1799, the tower is the oldest such structure still standing in the world. Photo credit

Shot Ball Tower in Berlin. Photo credit

Cheese Lane Shot Tower in the English city of Bristol. It was built in 1969 as a replacement for the original tower built by William Watts. It now forms part of an office development and is located on the north bank of the Floating Harbour upstream of Castle Park. There is no public access to the interior of the tower. Photo credit

Coop's Shot Tower, encased by the Melbourne Central cone. The 50-meters tower was completed in 1888. The historic building was saved from demolition in 1973 and was incorporated into Melbourne Central complex in 1991 underneath an 84 m-high conical glass roof. Photo credit

Photo credit

This circular, sandstone shot tower, at Taroona, just south of Hobart, Tasmania, was built in 1870 and stands 48 metres tall. Photo credit

Inside the Taroona Shot Tower. Photo credit

Phoenix Shot Tower located near the downtown, Jonestown and Little Italy communities of East Baltimore, in Maryland. When it was completed in 1828 it was the tallest structure in the United States. Photo credit

The inside of the Phoenix Shot Tower, looking down from the 14th level. Photo credit

Shot Tower located in Dubuque, Iowa. Photo credit

Sources: Wikipedia / The Shot Peener Magazine / History Today / Pennsylvania Trapshooting / NOLA.com
Under the clear blue waters of Chuuk Atoll in the South Pacific, seven degrees north of the equator, near New Guinea, lies the wreck of a dozen Japanese warships, more than thirty merchant ships, and hundreds of aircrafts. The fleet was once stationed in Truk Lagoon, now known as Chuuk, which was a major base of the Japanese Imperial Navy in the South Pacific, during the Second World War. The armada included battleships, aircraft carriers, cruisers, destroyers, tankers, cargo ships, tugboats, gunboats, minesweepers, landing craft, and submarines. It was Japan's equivalent of the Americans' Pearl Harbor

The atoll was located within range of the Marshall Islands and was a significant source of support for Japanese garrisons located on islands and atolls throughout the central and south Pacific. These islands had facilities such as airstrips, submarine repair shops, a communications center, and a radar station. Coastal defense guns and mortar emplacements protected these facilities. With thousands of troops and heavy armament among the islands, Truk had become the Gibraltar of the Pacific and a significant threat to Allied operation in the Pacific. Neutralization of this threat became essential for the Allies.

"Operation Hailstone" was the code name for the assault on Truk Lagoon, which was carried out on February 17th and 18th, 1944. Over 500 airplanes, five fleet carriers, four light carriers, seven battleships, as well as numerous cruisers, destroyers, submarines, and other support ships descended on Truk Lagoon on a surprise attack. Unfortunately, the Japanese had already removed their precious aircraft carriers, battleships, and heavy cruisers from the base fearing exactly this kind of a move. However, numerous smaller warships and merchant ships remained in anchorage and several hundred aircraft were stationed at the atoll's airfields. These were destroyed by Allied bombardments.

At the end of the two-day attack, the Americans had sunk twelve Japanese warships, 32 merchant ships, and destroyed some 250 aircraft. Thousands of Japanese were killed. The United States suffered the loss of only 40 men and 25 planes. The attack ended Truk as a major threat to Allied operations in the central Pacific, and rendered the Japanese powerless to stop the Allied forces from advancing towards Tokyo.

Today, the wrecks of Truk Lagoon, sometimes referred to as the "Ghost Fleet of Truk Lagoon", serve as an excellent diving site. Most of the wreck lie in clear waters less than fifteen meters below the surface. The place is still littered with live explosives, mines, munitions, detonators, torpedoes and shells, as well as human remains. Everything is encrusted with colorful corals which in turn have attracted a diversity of marine life including manta rays, turtles, and sharks.

The lagoon is now part of Chuuk State within the Federated States of Micronesia, and consist of several islands surrounded by a protective reef enclosing the natural harbor which covers more than 2,100 square kilometers of area.

Photo credit: Aqua Immersion/Flickr

Photo credit: Matt Kieffer/Flickr

Photo credit: Stephen Masters/Flickr

Photo credit: Stephen Masters/Flickr

Photo credit: Andrea McIntyre/Flickr

Sources: Wikipedia / New American / www.bluelagoondiveresort.com / Pacific Wrecks
China and Brazil should strengthen cooperation and advance their comprehensive strategic partnership to new heights, President Xi Jinping said when meeting with his Brazilian counterpart Michel Temer on Friday.

Temer is here to attend the 11th G20 summit on Sept. 4 and 5.

Xi characterized the bilateral ties as mature and solid thanks to efforts by their predecessors and the members of both societies.

China is confident in the prospects of Brazil's future development and cooperation between the two countries. Both should continue to see each other as opportunities and partners, Xi said.

Xi underlined the importance of keeping close high-level interactions. The two countries should also use their complementary advantages to enhance economic and trade cooperation.

Both should strengthen industrial capacity cooperation. The proposed interoceanic railway project that will connect Peru's Pacific coast with Brazil's Atlantic coast should see real progress as early as possible, he added.

Xi reaffirmed the importance of strengthening collaboration in global governance, promoting sustainable development, advancing negotiations of climate change and the World Trade Organization Doha Round.

Close coordination within the G20 and BRICS frameworks is desirable, he said.

Xi also expressed confidence in the relationship between China and Latin America. China is willing to continue communicating and coordinating with Latin America to fulfill their comprehensive partnership.

Temer said he is happy to visit China as his first overseas trip after taking office as president, adding that Brazil values its steadily improving comprehensive strategic partnership with China.

Brazil is willing to enhance cooperation with China in economy and trade, energy, aviation, agriculture, finance, infrastructure and reactions to climate change.
The past few years, IFA has been the place where smartphone makers announce their devices for the second half of the year. More specifically, the devices they want to have on shelves for the upcoming holiday season. With Samsung moving the Galaxy Note launch outside of IFA and into August last year, and this year, that leaves room for more manufacturers to announce their own smartphones. Surprisingly, there were quite a few smartphone announcements this year in Berlin. Lets take a look.

Nubia Z11

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Now the Nubia Z11 isnt actually new. Its been out for quite some time, and in fact, our review just went live on Friday. However, the news here is that its going global. The Nubia Z11 is a pretty high-end flagship from the company. Sporting a 5.5-inch 1080p display, powered by Qualcomms Snapdragon 820 processor along with 4GB of RAM and 64GB of storage. There is also a 6GB/128GB model available. Theres a 3000mAh battery inside that does support Quick Charge 3.0, but it is not removable this time around. What really impresses everyone about the Nubia Z11 is the bezel-less display, it makes the phone that much more sleek and beautiful, even though it is a 1080p display in a world where 2K or QHD is king.

Lenovo Moto Z Play

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The Moto Z Play may not be the most interesting smartphone announced in Berlin this week, but its battery will likely last the longest. The Moto Z Play is somewhat of a mid-range smartphone from Lenovo, boasting a 1080p display, Snapdragon 625 and 3GB of RAM, where the Moto Z Play really surprises people is in the battery area. It has a 3510mAh battery and it does still support Quick Charge 3.0. Making for a pretty amazing smartphone. And itll be available later this month. Landing first on Verizon, and later on itll be available unlocked and in many more regions. Lenovo also unveiled the Hasselblad True Zoom Camera Moto Mod with the Moto Z Play, which has people a bit more interested, than the Moto Z Play. And yes that means that the Moto Z Play does work with the existing Moto Mods. Read our review of the Moto Z Play here.

Acer Liquid Z6 & Liquid Z6 Plus

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Acer added a few more models to their Liquid line of smartphones this year at IFA. The Liquid Z6 is an entry-level model, sporting a 5.5-inch full HD display along with 1GB of RAM, 8GB of storage and is powered by MediaTeks MT6737 processor. The Liquid Z6 Plus is a bit more of a mid-ranger. Sticking with the same full HD display, but upping RAM and storage to 2GB and 32GB, respectively. There is the MediaTek MT6753 processor powering this one, along with a massive 4080mAh battery. These two offerings from Acer will likely not make it out of Europe, additionally the majority of Acers smartphones havent been made available  officially  in North America so far.

Sony Xperia XZ & Xperia X Compact

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Sony showed up in Berlin with two brand new smartphones, to add to their new Xperia X line that they debuted at Mobile World Congress in February. The first one is the Xperia XZ which is slated to be their high-end flagship smartphone. Sony kept the 5.2-inch 1080p display here, as well as the Snapdragon 820 and 3GB of RAM inside. There is a 2900mAh battery that is powering the show, and with Sonys STAMINA feature-set, it should last you all day and then some. If not, it does support Quick Charge 3.0, so you can get to 100% fairly quickly.

The Xperia X Compact continues Sonys line of Compact smartphones. Which in the past have been full of smartphones that are smaller, but still boast high-end specifications. Thats not really the case with the Xperia X Compact, here. Theres a 4.6-inch 720p display on the front, and its powered by the Snapdragon 650 processor with 3GB of RAM and 32GB of storage. There is a 2700mAh battery inside here which should work fairly well, considering it is a HD display here and not a full HD panel.

HTC One A9s

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Last fall, HTC debuted the One A9. It was the first non-Nexus smartphone to launch with Android 6.0 Marshmallow, but it did look a whole lot like the iPhone. This year, HTC launched the One A9s, which looks even more like the iPhone, but has lower specs than its predecessor did. Leaving a lot of people scratching their heads. Its powered by the MediaTek P10 processor, which is a 64-bit processor, and that is paired with either 2GB of RAM and 16GB of storage or 3GB of RAM and 32GB of storage. The HTC One A9s is slated to be available globally, however HTC has not said what countries will get the device, nor have they listed the pricing for the HTC One A9s.

ZTE Axon 7 Mini

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The Axon 7 has been a fairly popular smartphone for ZTE since it was announced earlier this year. The company has now gone and made a mini version of that phone. Going from a 5.5-inch to a 5.2-inch display. Although the actual footprint of the smartphone isnt that much smaller. Its sporting a full HD AMOLED display with 3GB of RAM and 32GB of storage. It does also keep the front-facing stereo speakers for a pretty amazing audio experience. All that for just 299. No pricing or availability was announced for North America however.
Over the past week, Lenovo has announced a number of new devices, such as the new Moto Z Play and the trio of K6 smartphones, but it appears the company still wasnt finished. Lenovo has just announced another two devices, the Lenovo A Plus, a budget offering, and the Lenovo P2, an upper-midrange offering and the successor to the Lenovo Vibe P1.

Starting off with the Lenovo A Plus, the device isnt anything special  It offers a standard plastic design along with typical entry-level specs. The device features a 4.5-inch display with a very low 480 x 854 resolution but, for the price, this isnt anything out of the ordinary. On the inside, the device is powered by MediaTeks MT6580 processor which is clocked at 1.3GHz and is accompanied by 1GB of RAM and 8GB of internal storage, though this can be expanded via microSD. Elsewhere, the device comes with a 2000mAh battery, which is still pretty small, but should provide enough power to get the phone through the day considering its low power consumption and small display. Moving on to the cameras, the device is equipped with a 5-megapixel sensor on the rear which is coupled with a LED flash, while Lenovo has placed a 2-megapixel selfie sensor on the front. Lastly, the device features 4G LTE support and will be available for 69 ($77) in Europe, or for 79 ($88) if you want a dual-SIM version.

Regarding the Lenovo P2, it is the successor to the Vibe P1 and, once again, the feature that makes this device stand out is its huge battery which has been increased to 5100mAh, up from the 5000mAh battery that was featured on last years model. Other than the battery, the device is equipped with a large 5.5-inch display that comes with a 1080 x 1920 resolution. Powering this device is Qualcomms octa-core Snapdragon 625 processor which is coupled with 3GB of RAM and 32GB of internal storage, though a model with 4GB of RAM and 64GB of storage will be made available in China. Lenovo has equipped this device with a respectable 13-megapixel Sony sensor on the rear and a 5-megapixel camera on the front. Aside from these features, the device is also equipped with a front-mounted fingerprint scanner and comes with 4G LTE support. With the launch of both the Lenovo A Plus and the Lenovo P2, its clear that Lenovo is trying to fill all gaps in the market. In total, Lenovo has announced 6 devices this week, 5 of which are Lenovo branded while the other is the Moto Z Play which will further complement the still unreleased Moto Z and Z Force, therefore helping them cater to all consumers.
It has been an eventful 24 hours in the world of Google. At least from the consumer perspective as the last 24 hours has seen a number of Google-related reports coming through. One of the most attention-grabbing was the news around Project Ara. Up until yesterday, this was not only thought to be a project which was being actively developed on, but one which was expected to see the first consumer versions of an Ara phone coming to market within the next few months. Then came the headline that Google had effectively shuttered the project.

At first, this was only a rumor with the information coming from sources close to Reuters, although earlier today the first official confirmation came through and further reiterated that Project Ara is no more. Whether this is just a temporary thing or Ara will remain a permanently scrapped project remains to be seen. Although either way, it does not mean that it is the end for modularity in general. In fact, following those initial reports, 9to5 Google spoke with Dan Makoski, the Founder of Project Ara and former Head of Design at Googles ATAP, with some interesting results. Firstly and as to be expected, Makoski notes how disappointed he is that the project has now come to an end. Not just for those who have been waiting for an Ara phone to come to market, but also for the developers behind the project. Makoski did take this point furthering by stating that the lack of courage to keep the project alive was saddening, although Makoski also noted that he had faith in Rick Osterloh and Googles decision.

In terms of the future of modularity though, Makoski remains confident that module-based phones will still hit the market. Part of the likely reason for that confidence is that the report ends with Makoski confirming that he is actually in the process of working with Nexpaq on a modular phone. One which is not only in development but said to be shipping soon. For those interested in the possibility of a new modular phone coming to market from Nexpaq, unfortunately, neither the report nor Makoski provided any firm details on the phone, how much it will cost or what modular aspects it will include. Although, it is worth noting that Nexpaqs history is in the modular sector. Specifically, making modular-based accessories for already-existing smartphones. You can learn more about Nexpaq by checking out the video below.
The Samsung Galaxy Note 7 is the latest major smartphone release from Samsung and is already proving to be one of the best devices on the market. That is, if it can still be considered to be on the market as Samsung has issued a recall for the Galaxy Note 7 due to concerns over the batteries. More specifically, the fact that some users are reporting that the Galaxy Note 7 batteries are exploding. While reports of smartphones exploding and/or catching fire is something that many smartphones have faced, it seems the frequency of reports for the Galaxy Note 7 was too high for the company to ignore. Although, it does need to be made clear that this is not something that is happening incredible frequently as Samsung has confirmed the issue seems to affect around 24 smartphones per million.

Either way and due to the increased frequency and media attention, Samsung did earlier today announce the recall and their intention to swap-out already purchased Galaxy Note 7s for new ones. If you happen to be based in China though (who has just seen their Galaxy Note 7 availability going live), Samsung is keen to point out that Galaxy Note 7 smartphones purchased in China are not affected by the issue and therefore, also not subject to the recall.

According to a report out of Phone Radar today, Samsung is looking to reassure the Chinese market that Galaxy Note 7s in China are not affected by the issue. The reason Samsung seems to be so sure about this is that the Chinese market uses different battery suppliers to the rest of the world. As this is an issue which primarily affects the battery and with the Chinese version of the Galaxy Note 7 making use of batteries sourced from a different supplier, there is not any need for those devices to be recalled or buyers to be concerned about their handsets.

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While the recall in general is likely to prove to be a costly exercise for Samsung, it does stand to reason that if Samsung is confident enough to state that the Chinese version of the Galaxy Note 7 is unaffected by this issue, then they are probably not. After all, it would not bode well and would certainly further compound the current situation if Samsung was to reassure the Chinese market that Chinese Galaxy Note 7s are fine, only to find reports coming out later that a similar issue has arose. Whether the message will reassure Chinese consumers enough to purchase the Galaxy Note 7 though, remains to be seen.
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Chinese President Xi Jinping on Friday called on China and Laos to build an unshakable community of common destiny.

Xi made the remarks as he met with Laotian President Bounnhang Vorachit ahead of the G20 Hangzhou summit. Bounnhang has been invited to attend the summit as a guest, as his country currently holds ASEAN rotating presidency.

Xi said that during the 55 years since diplomatic relations were established, the two countries have cooperated in various areas, to the benefit of both peoples.

During Bounnhang's China visit in May, the two countries agreed on comprehensive strategic cooperation in the new era, Xi said.

China and Laos should advance their comprehensive strategic partnership and join hands in building a community of common destiny, Xi said.

The two countries should work on the Belt and Road Initiative and cooperate in production capacity, infrastructure, energy, and the economy, he said.

The 55th anniversary of diplomatic ties will be celebrated with exchange and cooperation in education, culture, tourism, and law enforcement security, he said.

Laos' attendance in the G20 summit is of great importance, the Chinese president said.

Bounnhang thanked China for the invitation and for the inclusion of "development" in the G20 summit agenda

Laos will continue to support China's important role in global and regional affairs, and will strengthen bilateral communication and coordination, said Bounnhang.
2 September 2016  The United Nations refugee agency today flagged that while the number of deaths of refugees seeking safety via the Turkey-Greece route into Europe has fallen dramatically, the use of the North Africa-Italy route has remained constant  with the latter experiencing an increase in the number of deaths, making 2016 the deadliest year so far for refugees in the Central Mediterranean.





The chances of dying on the Libya to Italy route are ten times higher than when crossing from Turkey to Greece, a spokesperson for the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (

), William Spindler,

a media briefing at the

today





to UNHCR, the number of

arriving in Greece has dropped dramatically, from over 67,000 in January 2016 to 3,437 in August 2016, following the closure of the so-called Balkan route and the implementation of the European Union-Turkey Statement, an agreement on methods to end the irregular migration from Turkey to the EU and replace it instead with legal channels of resettlement.




China will play its role as a responsible major country and move towards building new global relationships, said Ali Biniaz, First Counselor for Research, Embassy of the Islamic Republic of Iran in Beijing, before the upcoming G20 Hangzhou summit.

Mr. Biniaz made the remarks regarding the connectivity balance in the world. "The Chinese government defines connectivity between East Asia and the Middle East through the 'Belt and Road' and 'AIIB' initiatives on purely economic grounds as a geopolitical instrument," he said, adding that geopolitical and cultural connectivity should also be paid attention to.

Speaking of global governance, Mr. Biniaz commented that current problems make it impossible to avoid geopolitical considerations.

"Against this messy backdrop, China is expected to take the lead on reaching coordination between major economies while pushing a growth strategy so that geopolitical divides around the globe will disappear. This is indeed what the G20 has been designed to do," he said.

Mr. Biniaz suggested other global hot issues also be discussed in the forthcoming G20 Hangzhou summit. He cited some examples  the Middle East, African development and Southeast Asian security.

The G20 summit will be held on Sept. 4 and 5 in China's Hangzhou, a beautiful city with a reputation as a "paradise on earth." More than 30 leaders from around the world will meet to discuss major international issues and seek corresponding solutions.
 Flash

The Sudanese Ministry of Tourism said Friday tourism revenues have increased during the first half of this year to reach over 472 million U.S. dollars.

A report issued by the ministry showed a net increase in the country's tourism amounted to 472 million dollars, 6.9 per cent increase compared with the same period last year.

The report revealed that 376,681 tourists visited the country in the first half of this year, 7.1 per cent increase compared with the same period in 2015.

The Sudanese government is seeking to revitalize domestic tourism manifested in caring about infrastructure and signing a number of agreements on tourism development over the past years.

The Ministry of Tourism has launched a program aimed at Sudanese families and children of different ages to acquaint them with the attractions of the country through energizing domestic tourism in a number of states. Endit
Jeremy Corbyn, Press TV and a mere 20,000 filthy lucre

Jeremy Corbyn has appeared on Press TV five times. Press TV is the Iranian regimes propaganda channel. It used to be broadcast in the UK but it was banned for its role in filming the tortured forced-confession of Iranian liberal journalist Maziar Bahari. Bahari has called Corbyn a useful idiot, adding:

People who present programmes for Press TV and get paid for it should be really ashamed of themselves  especially if they call themselves liberals and people who are interested in human rights.

You can watch Corbyn at work here.

The Mail adds:

One Labour MP criticised the party leaders links to Press TV, and said he should donate all the money to a Jewish charity. In 2011 Mr Corbyn took part in a round-table discussion on the channel with journalist Yvonne Ridley, lamenting the killing of Osama bin Laden.

Mr Corbyn told PinkNews his 20,000 fee for four appearances between 2009 and 2012 wasnt an enormous amount, actually.

Is it enough to buy a train ticket?

Anorak

Posted: 3rd, September 2016 | In: Politicians, Reviews Comment | TrackBack | Permalink
(No) Antisemitism in Labour Party Watch: Ruth Smeeth, Kate Osamor And Corbyns kinder politics

More evidence that there is no anti-Semitism in the Labour Party. The Jewish News reports on Ruth Smeeth, Labour MP:

Counter-terrorism police have launched an investigation into a fanatic who has threatened to hang a Jewish female Labour MP from the gallows. Ruth Smeeth is reportedly receiving special protection from police after receiving the foul-mouthed death threat on Facebook, which included anti-Semitic and homophobic abuse. The Stoke-on-Trent MP is branded a yid, dyke and a CIA agent in the highly offensive rant which is reported in The Sun. The abuser finishes the post by saying: Ruth Smeeth is British and from my perspective since treason is still a capital offence in Britain, the gallows would be a fine and fitting place for this Dyke piece of Yid s*** to swing from

Adding:

The threat was issued in July, soon after the MP fled the launch of Labours report into anti-Semitism in tears after being accused by a Momentum activist of colluding with the right-wing press. Ms Smeeth accused Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn of a catastrophic failure of leadership for failing to intervene during the incident and said the Labour Party cannot be a safe space for British Jews.

Ms Smeeth is quoted in The Sun saying of that incident: I very much hold Jeremy personally responsible.

The Facebook rant is captured and reproduced:

The Sun says the ranter is a Corbyn supporter:

We hear from a Corbyn PR:

Jeremy has consistently spoken out against all forms of anti-semitism and has contacted Ruth Smeeth to express his outrage at the abuse and threats directed against her. Jeremy condemns all abuse, and no one responsible for it is a genuine supporter of Jeremys. He has repeatedly called for a kinder, gentler politics.

Smeeth is quoted by the Press Association:

Ms Smeeth told BBC2s Victoria Derbyshire programme. I know that Jeremy Corbyn would condemn this, but its not about condemning, its about what people are doing in his name. What I need is for the leader of my party, the leader of Her Majestys opposition, to make it clear what can be done. He should be naming and shaming some of the worst perpetrators who are doing it in his name, and making it clear publicly that they do not speak for him, that this is unacceptable. There is a vile amount of racism and intolerance and abuse online, which then feeds on to our streets and leads to a culture of intolerance that he could actually personally do something about. Thats what Im asking him to do.

In other news:

Exclusive: Shadow ministers aide suspended over Zionist posts. An aide to shadow international development secretary Kate Osamor endorsed a controversial Palestinian activists social media posts Elizabeth Dudley, who was a member of Kate Osamors parliamentary staff, liked two Facebook posts from a West Bank activist, who Jewish News revealed yesterday is to speak at an event organised by Newcastle Palestine Solidarity Campaign.

One incendiary post from Iyad Burnat said: To the American people do not bother to vote in the elections. The Zionists had identified the next president. Another post from him that was liked by Dudley showed the bodies of dead children with the flag of Israel alongside the swastika. Wording above said: Is the Zionists terrorists? What is the difference between Zionism and Nazism? Osamor told the Jewish News: Having been made aware of these posts, the member of staff has been suspended with immediate effect.

Conclusion: There is no anti-Semitism in the Labour Party.

Anorak

Posted: 3rd, September 2016 | In: Reviews Comment | TrackBack | Permalink
By Anirban Lahiri

Featured in IMDb Critic Reviews





I n the last twenty years, with the slow encroachment of the viewing space by the TV screen, always increasing in width, thriller replaced the romantic as the ubiquitous genre. Today, in the youth of globalization, thriller with its characteristic elements - accelerated pace (i.e., continually decreasing shot-duration in the same scene), Close Ups quickly stitched to Long and Extreme Long Shots, action jerks, discontinuity and war drum-beat rhythm - have become so important that a films success is defined by that. Fede Alvarezs chamber thriller successfully uses these tropes to carve out a tight, and unpredictable, high-strung midnight drama, enacted by four people and a dog (well, one dies in the first thirty minutes of the film, and replaced by a muted, kidnapped girl who also dies within ten minutes of her introduction in to the film. So, practically it is a film played out by three major characters, two absent or dead souls, and a dog), in a cloistered bungalow on the suburb.

Our Rating : 7.5

IMDb Ratings : 7.8 Genre: Horror | Thriller Cast: Stephen Lang, Jane Levy, Dylan Minnette Country: USA Language: English Runtime: 88 min Color: Color





A Still from Don't Breathe

Rocky, Alex and Money are three thieves who break in homes for petty sums. When they find out a rich, blind, army veteran staying in the suburb alone, in a secluded bungalow, they decide to barge in, at night. Little do these amateur burglars know how an experienced US Army officer functions, despite his blindness. Money (played by Daniel Zovatto) is killed quickly. The film practically begins at his death in the hands of the blind man. What happens after that puts us in a roller coaster drive for the next fifty minutes of the film.





The blind man has a dog. A fierce, protector, one. It is always amazing to see other animals playing sharply besides their human masters, in films. The dog, the overall architecture of scenes with its magical sheen of alternate orange and blue light zones, the claustrophobic violence that keeps us taut in the seats, almost no background music to spoil the mood  these adrenaline elements build the structure of fear and unpredictability with the first death in the house.

A Still from Don't Breathe

Special credit goes to the Cinematographer Pedro Luque Briozzo , from the State Film School, Uruguay. The typical Latin American mood enhancers that we have seen in the films shot by Lubezki, Navarro, Prieto or Miranda  saturated colors, play of the opposites, classical composition plans enhanced, separation of fore, middle and background like a visual engineer, precisely, with geometry, tones and colors  are vividly present in Luques work too. Cinematography, editing and sound design build up the characters caught between four walls, without much past history shown, or needed.



As student of Cognitive Psychology, I have some knowledge about how blind men perceive reality. Although there are subtle, and sometimes gross, differences among blind men in interacting with the world out there (and the differences are more pronounced between the congenital blind and blind at mature age), there are logical similarities. If vision is absent, other senses go on hyper-drive . I have seen blind persons moving with unbelievable agility, in all types of spaces. Fed Alvarez meticulously used this fact to etch out enhanced reality out of a fantasy space. The story unrolls at night, under dim light, and sometimes in total darkness. The blind man, brought to life by the refined movements of Stephen Lang, makes it unpredictable. We fail to guess who will win.

A Still from Don't Breathe

The actors were all in controlled role play. The credit for that goes to the Director and the Cinematographer. Without doubt, this is a Directors film. There was not much left for the actors to improvise.





Dont Breathe is ready to set fire to the screen. This film is an interesting case-study of how a high-pitched thriller may be made within a single location, in a continuous stretch of time. Important for both cinephiles and filmmakers,is ready to set fire to the screen.





Go and catch it in the cinemas!

A Still from Don't Breathe
 Flash

Intense battles between extremist rebels and Syrian army continued Friday in the central province of Hama, where the rebels shot down a Syrian aircraft, killing two pilots, according to a monitor group.

The intense clashes continued in the areas of Ma'an and Ma'rdes in the northern countryside of Hama, coupled with shelling and airstrikes on the rebel positions, according to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights.

The UK-based watchdog group said the rebels shot down a Syrian helicopter while landing, killing two officer pilots.

Other activists said the rebels captured several Syrian soldiers during Hama's recent battles, beheading at least two of them, according to photos released online Friday.

The Syrian army received reinforcements Thursday to confront a widescale offensive by rebels in the central province of Hama, amid confirmation that the military counter-offensive started Friday.

Hama's northern countryside has once again come under the spotlight after rebels repeatedly attacked government posts there.

The primary reason behind repeated rebel attacks is to keep the army busy on several fronts, which will reduce the army's pressure against rebels in other parts of Syria.

Recent reports indicate that rebels in the northern province of Aleppo are folding under pressure from the army, which has reportedly closed all entryways into the rebel-held areas in the eastern part of Aleppo.
YEREVAN, SEPTEMBER 3, ARMENPRESS. The Congressional Caucus on Armenian issues sent a congratulatory letter to President of the Nagorno Karabakh Republic on the occasion of the 25th anniversary of the NKRs Independence, reports Armenpress.

The letter was signed by US Congressmen Frank Pallone, Robert Dold, Jackie Speier, David Valadao, Adam Schiff, David Trott.

On behalf of the Congressional Caucus on Armenian Issues, we are wilting to congratulate you and the people of the Nagorno Karabakh Republic, Artsakh, as you celebrate the 25th anniversary of your independence on September 2. This historic day represents an important milestone in Artsakh's struggle to defend its right to sell-determination and liberty.

A quarter of a century ago, your people raised their voice for freedom and dignity dec1aiing their intention to build a sovereign and independent state. While overcoming Soviet oppression and Azerbaijan's military aggression, the formation of the Republic in 1991 became a testament to fundamental principles of liberty, democracy, and peace.

Over the years, despite continued violence and threats, the Nagorno Karabalkh Republic has continued to prove its strong dedication to these universal values. We commend your nation for consistently holding free and fair elections and your commitment to advance democratic governance and rule of law.

We remain committed to the continued development of Artsakhs economy and its democracy. We also condemn Azerbaijan's most recent aggression in early April against the people of Artsakh that led to hundreds of military and civilian casualties. We remain hopeful that a peaceful resolution to the Karabakh conflict will be found, and appreciate your unwavering pursuit of regional security and stability.

We will continue out support of the Nagorno Karabakh Republic and call for the formal recognition of Artsakhs independence.
YEREVAN, SEPTEMBER 3, ARMENPRESS. German Chancellor Angela Merkel said it is necessary to show respect towards the Bundestag resolution recognizing the Armenian Genocide, she said to RTL TV, reports Armenpress.

Merkel denied the information that the German Government will distance itself from the Armenian Genocide recognition resolution in order to normalize relations with Turkey.

She said the German Government will not make any statement on that resolution.

The German Spiegel earlier reported the German Federal Government is going to officially announce that it distances itself from the Bundestag resolution recognizing the Armenian Genocide.
YEREVAN, SEPTEMBER 3, ARMENPRESS. A criminal case has been filed over the killing of Armenian soldier Arayik S. Ordubekyan, press service of the Investigative Committee of Armenia told Armenpress.

Investigation is underway.

Earlier the NKR Defense Army reported on September 2 at 23:30, soldier Arayik S. Ordubekyan (born in 1997) was mortally wounded by the Azerbaijani shooting in one of the military units of the southern direction of the NKR Defense Army.
YEREVAN, SEPTEMBER 3, ARMENPRESS. President of Armenia Serzh Sargsyan sent a letter of condolences to the people of Uzbekistan and the leadership on the death of Uzbek President Islam Karimov, the press service of the Presidential administration told Armenpress.

Emphasizing Karimovs role in the development of statehood of modern Uzbekistan, the Armenian President expressed confidence that the Uzbek peoples tenacity and life energy will enable to overcome this difficult situation, to more strongly unite for the sake of strengthening and prosperity of the Republic of Uzbekistan.

I share the grief of the people of Uzbekistan, Islam Karimovs family and relatives, and express my condolences and support, the Presidents letter reads.
YEREVAN, SEPTEMBER 3, ARMENPRESS. On September 3, at 11:00, 26-year-old Mariam Tunyan gave birth to four babies (two boys, two girls) in Armenia Republican medical center in Yerevan.

My wifes and babies health condition is normal. Of course, we knew that we will have four babies, and we are very happy for that. We have not decided the names of the babies yet, we will discuss it with my wife soon, the babies father Yeghishe Tunyan said in an interview with Armenpress.

The parents of the babies live in Goris. They have a 3.5-year-old daughter. Yeghishe said their daughter is very happy for having two brothers and two sisters, and is looking forward when the parents, sisters and brothers will arrive home.

Giving birth to four babies in a natural way is an exceptional phenomenon.
STEPANAKERT, SEPTEMBER 3, ARMENPRESS. On September 3 Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Nagorno Karabakh Republic Karen Mirzoyan received the delegation of the Belgian Federal and Brussels Regional Parliaments MPs who had arrived in Nagorno Karabakh on the initiative of the ARF Armenian National Committee of Europe, press service of the NKR MFA informed Armenpress.

During the meeting Karen Mirzoyan briefed on the main directions and priorities of the foreign policy of the NKR. Speaking about the democratic development and state-building process in Nagorno Karabakh, the NKR Foreign Minister emphasized that there is no alternative to the independence of the NKR.

The current situation in the Azerbaijani-Karabakh conflict peaceful settlement process was also touched upon at the meeting.
Forza Horizon 3 Install Size

The install size for Forza Horizon 3 has been revealed coming in at 55.04-60 GB on the Xbox Marketplace and was released on September 13, 2016. The game is also Xbox One X enhanced bring improved visuals to 4k as well as HDR support. Forza Horizon 3 takes the race to Australia as players battle across a variety of landscapes and environments during the tour. It features full cross-play and cross-buy for Xbox One and Windows 10 with the Xbox Play Anywhere program with up to four player coop play anytime. Aside from the regular core experience players can also enjoy great DLC packs such as one in Blizzard weather and another featuring the joy of Hot Wheels against orange tracks.



Xbox.com Marketplace Storepage (Showing on Site)




All the latest Ashbourne news. Ashbourne is an historic market town in Derbyshire. Situated on the southern edge of the Peak District, it is known as the 'Gateway to Dovedale' and the 'Gateway to the Peak District'. Ashbourne is famous for the annual Royal Shrovetide Football Match, which has been played since at least 1667, although its origins may date back centuries earlier. Ashbourne became a Fairtrade town in March 2005. The popular Tissington Trail, which follows the route of the former Ashbourne to Buxton railway, starts on the edge of town. Keep up to date with the latest news from the town by signing up for our newsletter.
In the explosion of a homemade bomb 14 people were killed, at least 60 wounded. Extremist militia Abu Sayyaf behind the attack. A pregnant woman and a child among victims. President Duterte announces joint police and military operations against terrorism and drug trafficking. Filipino bishops: "Brotherhood and harmony in Davao and in the nation."

Manila (AsiaNews) - The Catholic Church in the Philippines is praying for the victims of the explosion that hit a city night market in Davao, southern Philippines. Davao is the hometown of the current president Rodrigo Duterte: 14 people died in the attack, at least 60 were wounded. In a note Msgr. Socrates Villegas, president of the Philippine Bishops Conference (CBCP), strongly condemns the brutal attack and stresses that "when a fellow dies, a part of humanity dies at the same time."

Among the victims - on the night of September 2 - there are also a pregnant woman and a small child. According to the Philippine authorities the Islamic extremist militia Abu Sayyaf, active in the south of the country, is to blame for the attack although at first the suspects had focused on drug traffickers.

The President, who was in this area at the time of the attack, has declared a "state of lawlessness". The measure does not involve martial law, but checkpoints are predisposed in the area and there will be "coordinated effort" between police and soldiers against terrorism and drug trafficking.

The Philippine defense minister Delfin Lorenzan confirmed that the Abu Sayyaf militia is behind the explosion and that the attack was revenge for the many losses in the stronghold of Jolo, about 900 km from Davao, as a result of an offensive carried out by the special forces.

Investigators have found shards and fragments of a homemade bomb on the blast site. The state of alert is highest in the capital Manila, where authorities have already tightened security.

The explosion in Davao occurred in an area adjacent to the Marco Polo Hotel, a point frequently visited by President Duterte who, every weekend, returns to his city of origin.

In the aftermath of the attack the president of the Filipino bishops announced a "common prayer" with Msgr. Romulo Valles, archbishop of Davao, and with all his saints. "We are all in mourning - said the President CBCP - for the death of innocent brothers and sisters." We pray for "the" eternal "peace for the victims", for "the healing of the wounded" and to "give strength" to all the families who have suffered violence. "And finally, we pray - he concluded - for the resumption of brotherhood and harmony in Davao and across the nation."

Davao is the most populous city in the southern Philippines, with its two million inhabitants. It is about 1500 km from Manila and is part of the southern region of Mindanao, where Muslim separatist militants have been fighting a separatist war for decades. The violence killed more than 120 thousand people. Duterte was mayor of the city for over 20 years, before winning the election and swearing in - on June 30 - as president.
by Matthias Hariyadi

Msgr. Henricus Pidyarto Gunawan, a Carmelite, was received this morning in the Gajayama stage. He succeeds Msgr. Herman Joseph Sahadat Pandoyoputro, resigned to the age limit. Tomorrow morning there will be the first mass as bishop. Increasing priestly vocations throughout the country.

Malang (AsiaNews) - Since this morning, the Diocese of Malang (East Java) have a new bishop. Msgr. Henricus Pidyarto Gunawan, Carmelite, took office in place of Msgr. Herman Joseph Sahadat Pandoyoputro, whose resignation on having reached retirement age was accepted by Pope Francis. Nearly 10 thousand faithful have flocked to Gajayana stadium to greet their new pastor.

Last night, 37 bishops led a prayer vigil for Msgr. Pidyarto Gunawan in the Cathedral of Saint Mary of Mount Carmel in Malang, which was attended by hundreds of Catholics from all areas of the diocese. Tomorrow the new bishop will celebrate his first mass as bishop.

Msgr. Pidyarto Gunawan has taught for 30 years in the institute Holy Scriptures "STFT Widya Sasana" Malang, high school of theology and philosophy in which Carmelites and religious of other congregations are formed.

Through the website of the Episcopal Conference, Msgr. Pidyarto Gunawan has highlighted the lines of his pastoral work, which will focus on cooperation with non-Christian communities by promoting interfaith activities. In addition, the new bishop will ensure that the Scriptures become more "familiar" for the local Catholics, so that the whole diocese benefits.

The city of Malang and East Java are Muslim majority and are home to 70% of the 80 million members of the Nahdlatul Ulama (NU), the largest of Indonesia's moderate Islamic movements.

The Indonesian Church is experiencing a moment of expansion, and together with conversions vocations to the priesthood are also increasing. On August 25, 12 priests were ordained in Malang; August 30 it was the turn of three Xaverian priests of the Archdiocese of Medan (North Sumatra). Many of the new priests are destined for foreign missions, especially in East Africa, Latin America and Europe.
Francis met tens of thousands of "mercy operators": "With your outstretched hand you touch the flesh of Christ, do not forget it." An invitation "to talk to the Lord, ask him the reason of things, and also ask them to remain humble and strong in service". A massive applause for Mother Teresa, a Saint as of tomorrow.

Vatican City (AsiaNews)  Do not act like the priest and Levite in the Gospel, who faced with a suffering person turned their eyes away this "is a grave sin, it is a modern sin, the sin of today. We Christians cannot permit it" said Pope Francis this morning to about 50 thousand volunteers, "mercy operators", who are celebrating their Jubilee, on the eve of tomorrow's Mass of canonization of Mother Teresa of Calcutta.

The love of which St Paul speaks, explained Francis after having reflected on the Letter to the Corinthians, "it is not something abstract and vague; on the contrary, it is a love that is seen, touched and experienced firsthand. The biggest and most expressive form of this love is Jesus. His whole person and his life is nothing more than the concrete manifestation of the love of the Father, to the very end, "God demonstrates His own love toward us in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us "(Rom 5,8). This is love, not words, it is love. "

From Calvary, where the suffering of the Son of God reaches its climax, "springs the source of love that erases all sin and that recreates a new life in everything. We carry indelibly this certainty of faith with us forever: Christ "loved me and gave himself for me" (Gal 2:20). Love, then, is the ultimate expression of all life and allows us to exist".

Faced with this essential content of faith, the Pope pointed out, "the Church could never afford to act as the priest and the Levite did towards the man left half dead on the ground (cf. Lk 10.25 to 36). You cannot look away and turn the other way so as not to see the many forms of poverty begging for mercy. This turning ones back on hunger, disease, exploited people  he added speaking off the cuff - is a grave sin, it is a modern sin, the sin of today. We Christians can not permit it".

It would not be worthy of the Church nor a Christian, in fact, "to move on and assume that you have a clear conscience just because we have prayed! Calvary is always relevant. It has by no means disappeared or is just a beautiful painting in our churches. That summit of compassion, from which the love of God flows onto human misery, still speaks to our day and pushes to always give new signs of mercy. I never tire of saying that God's mercy is not a nice idea, but concrete action.

Brothers and sisters, Francis resumed, "you here represent the great and varied world of volunteering. Among the most precious realities of the Church, you who every day, often in silence and obscurity, give form and visibility to the mercy ... The credibility of the Church passes convincingly through your service to the abandoned children, the sick, the poor without food and work, the elderly, the homeless, prisoners, refugees and migrants, those affected by natural disasters ... in short, wherever there is a call for help, there comes your active and disinterested witness. You make the law of Christ, to bear another's burdens, visible ".

Dear brothers and sisters, he continued in off the cuff remarks, "you touch the flesh of Christ with your hands. Do not forget about this: you touch the flesh of Christ with your hands. Always be ready in solidarity, strong in proximity, diligent in arousing joy and convincing in consolation. The world needs concrete signs of solidarity, especially in front of the temptation of indifference, and requires people capable of fighting individualism, the tendency to think only of oneself and ignore brothers in need, with their lives. Always be happy and full of joy for your service, but never make it a measure of conceit, a reason to feel better than others. "

To avoid falling into this trap, the Pope suggested that volunteers, "talk to the Lord about these things. Call Him. Do as did Sister Prema told us the nun, who knocked at the door of the Tabernacle. Courageous. Call the Lord, call: Lord look how much poverty, so much indifference ... Look the other way "I do not care, it does not matter" ... Instead ask "Lord why?". Why am I so weak and you called me to do this service. Help me, give me strength and humility. The crux of this mercy is the merciful Heart of Jesus. "

Tomorrow, he concludes, "we will have the joy of seeing Mother Teresa proclaimed a saint ... [Applause from the crowd ed] Well, she deserves it ... This witness of mercy of our time is added to the endless line of men and women who have made the love of Christ visible with their holiness. We also imitate their example, and ask to be humble instruments in God's hands to alleviate the suffering of the world and give joy and hope of the resurrection".
The authorities and the citizens prepare to bury President Islam Karimov, who died following a stroke at age 78. He had been hospitalized for six days amid rumors about his death. The funeral held in Samarkand, his hometown. Russian prime minister and other regional leaders in attendance

Tashkent (AsiaNews / Agencies) - The authorities and the citizens of Uzbekistan are preparing to bury President Islam Karimov, one of the most authoritarian leaders in Asia, who died a few days ago at the age of 78. His death was confirmed yesterday by the Tashkent government, six days after his hospitalization following a stroke. The official announcement of his death follows days of uncertainty and alternation of rumors about the alleged disappearance of the head of state.

The country will observe three days of national mourning for the death of its decade-long leader.

Karimov led Uzbekistan for 27 years, without disdaining the use of an iron fist and repression - silent and systematic - of dissidents. He justified his use of force with the danger posed by Islamic extremist militias active in the country, particularly along the border with Afghanistan.

The funeral, scheduled for today in the hometown of Samarkand, comes amid great uncertainty about the fate of the country. To date there are no clear indications for succession; the presence of Prime Minister Shavkat Mirziyoyev at the funeral might be an opportunity to sanction his rise as a potential successor.

This morning, a funeral procession carried the body of the President to Tashkent airport, greeted along the way by uniformed policemen and citizens throwing flowers. His wife Tatyana Karimova and her daughter Lola Karimova-Tillyaeva, both dressed in black and in tears, boarded the flight bound for Karimovs hometown.

Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev, along with many other regional leaders are expected to attend. US President Barack Obama sent a message renewing his nations friendship and cooperation with Uzbekistan and its people.

Under the Constitution Senate Speaker Nigmatulla Yuldashev will cover the functions of the President during the interim, pending new elections. However, according to experts he will hold the position for a long time. The challenge for the most important position in the country would be between the premier Mirziyoyev and his current deputy Rustam Azimov.
Foreigners working on vessels in Australia's multi-billion dollar offshore oil and gas industry must now have a visa to do so, the country's highest court has decided.Until now, non-Australians working resources installations have been able to work without needing a visa but the court decision means that they will need to have either a 457 skilled visa or a short stay visa. The decision has been welcomed by maritime trade unions but described as disappointing by Immigration Minister Peter Dutton who said it will reduce the competitiveness of the industry.The International Transport Workers' Federation (ITWF) welcomed the unanimous decision by the High Court of Australia which ruled that the Government decision in 2015 to exempt offshore workers from domestic visa requirements was invalid.'Bringing in often exploited foreign workers is a dangerous attack on the rights and safe working conditions of seafarers, regardless of their nationality. The offshore industry in any country's territory must be the domain of the national workforce as it involves the development of that country's sovereign and public wealth,' said ITF president Paddy Crumlin.'Unions watched the matter very closely because it was a blatant attack on Australians' rights to work in their own country,' Crumlin added.AMOU president Tim Higgs said that the Australian Government had 'hugely over reached with these tricky legislative instruments' and that Dutton's attempts to bypass existing laws and give unfettered work rights to non-Australian workers was always a terrible idea.'The key outcome is it puts a stop to the Government's attempts to undermine the jobs of Australian seafarers in the offshore oil and gas industry, which is what they did by opening up the industry to foreign labour,' said Maritime Union of Australia secretary Will Tracey.Dutton said, however, he believes that the exemptions had been made to protect jobs and provide certainty for the offshore resources industry. 'The decision relating to workers on vessels operating in the offshore resources industry is disappointing,' he remarked.'Workers on fixed offshore installations are required to hold an Australian visa, but the crews on some vessels which perform highly specialised worked, usually of a short term nature were exempted from this requirement,' he explained.'Many of these vessels operate in international waters and never enter an Australian port.The Government provided the limited visa exemption to both protect and support jobs for Australian workers and provide certainty for the offshore resources industry,' he pointed out.'However following the High Court ruling, workers on these vessels will now have to apply for and gain a visa before they can work within the offshore resource sector. This will add red tape, add costs to industry and reduce the competitiveness of what is one of Australia's biggest export earners,' he added.Australian Mines and Metals Association executive director Scott Barklamb pointed out that it could affect the future of the industry as specialised non-Australian crews play a 'small but critical part of building offshore resources projects'.'Making the employment of such workers more regulated, more costly and more difficult in Australia than it is in competing resource economies will have consequences and will make it even harder to bring future resource investment to Australia,' he said.
Originally Posted by glitter

I am sadly need lots of help here, now I am under bridging visa A due to the partner visa still processing, it's been 4 months since I apply the visa and we register marriage on May, so it's just three months we've been married, however we've been live together since last January.

He's doing striping so he met a woman from another strip bar, I found they contact each other for half a month, trading nude pictures and even when they meet up for sex, I am so worry if I divorce him I need to go back my country, he doesn't have a job and live in the house I rent, drive the car I brought, I pay for his all living spending because he promise me he will get a job after he get his certificate but it's been almost two years he got nothing still no job and pay nothing.

Can anyone suggest me what to do now ? I am afraid I will need to depart immediately after we separate or divorce since I haven't even get my TR yet, or I can just go to family law court and sue him ?

Please help



Sorry

This problem solved

Please delete



I am sure Immigration would be stupid not to monitor this site - but I may be stupid to think that - months is enough for them to find you, now you will just need to prove genuine relationship, a few here seem willing help you confirm that.



But that will not be me. Sorry if it does not work out you do need to leave regardless of any fault.
Can anyone tell me what a substantive Visa is? I've posted in Ask Mark but haven't gotten an answer yet and I need to file for my onshore partner Visa (820 I believe) on Monday. I started to file the other day but it asked me if I had a substantive visa which I am assuming means any visa but a bridging Visa. Am I right?
The story has to do with a lap-tastic E92 BMW M3 Coupe. The car has recently been completed and, prior to kicking off its Green Hell career, it's been featured in a social media adventure hosted by Nurburgring settler Boosted Boris Now, we're not sure whether Boris' fans got a bit overexcited about having the change to pull a Q&A session involving this car or the man went for a... custom selection process, but the resulting questions were not the kind you'd call informative.Well, at least not most of them, since the croissant-slicing assets of the carbon fiber aero blades installed on the front apron is quite a piece of info, hence the title above.Speaking of which, those of you wondering about the custom work involving the engine compartment should know the M3 has kept its natural aspiration. However, thanks to a few mods, the V8 now delivers 500 horses.Oh, and let's not forget the soundtrack. There's nothing like the stripped interior when you want a true sound resonator, as opposed to the speaker system BMW, along with many other carmakers, uses nowadays.And you'll get to fully experience the aural might of this Bimmer (at least as much as you speakers allow you to), since the almost-15-minute clip below involves a Bridge to Gantry episode.P.S.: As for the motorcyclists mentioned in the clip, the encounters between cars and bikes are usually solved with ease, all thanks to the invention of the rear-view mirror. However, this isn't always the case, so we've added a second clip at the bottom of the page, once that shows what happens when mirrors are ignored during a Ring hot lap (you can skip to the 6:00 point for the action).
3 September 2016 11:35 (UTC+04:00)

The referendum on amending Azerbaijans constitution scheduled for September 26 will be discussed in Paris in October at the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) Bureau meeting, the press service of Azerbaijans parliament said Sept. 2.

Azerbaijans President Ilham Aliyev signed an order to hold a referendum Sept. 26 for making amendments to the countrys constitution.

Presidential election in Moldova and Bulgaria, parliamentary election in Belarus, Georgia, Jordan, Montenegro, Morocco and other issues will be also discussed at the PACE Bureau meeting.

Azerbaijani MP, chairperson of the PACE Committee on Migration, Refugees and Displaced Persons Sahiba Gafarova, who will stay in France Sept. 4-10, will take part in the meeting of the Assemblys Bureau, as well as the Committee on Equality and Non-Discrimination.

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Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz
3 September 2016 10:31 (UTC+04:00)

President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev has extended his deep condolences to the government and people of the Republic of Uzbekistan over the death of President Islam Karimov. "It is with great regret that I received the news of the death of President of the Republic of Uzbekistan, outstanding statesman, public and political figure Islam Abduganiyevich Karimov.

Islam Abduganiyevich Karimov went down in history as the first President of independent Uzbekistan. He is associated with the formation, development and strengthening of the state independence and sovereignty of the country, its accomplishments and successes in socio-economic and political areas, brotherly Uzbekistan`s integration into the international community."- said president Aliyev in a letter of condolences to Nigmatilla Yuldashev, Chairman of the Senate of Oliy Majlis of the Republic of Uzbekistan.

"A far-sighted, principled and consistent policy, organizational talent, a truly state approach to most difficult tasks fairly earned Islam Karimov the people`s love, deep respect and great authority both in Uzbekistan and beyond.

We in Azerbaijan know and have deep respect for Islam Karimov as a true friend, who made an outstanding contribution to strengthening centuries-old good traditions of friendship and mutual support between our peoples, establishing and developing Azerbaijani-Uzbek inter-governmental relations during the years of independence.

In this moment of grief, on behalf of the people of Azerbaijan and on my own behalf, I extend my deepest condolences to you, family and relatives of Islam Abduganiyevich Karimov, all the people of brotherly Uzbekistan over this irretrievable loss.

Islam Abduganiyevich Karimov will live in our memories and hearts."- said president in a letter.

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Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz
3 September 2016 13:15 (UTC+04:00)

A farewell ceremony for Uzbekistans late President Islam Karimov has started in the presidential residence in Samarkand, the commission arranging the funeral told Trend.

Government and parliament officials, representatives of public, foreign delegations have gathered in the hall hosting the ceremony.

Delegations from more than 20 countries as well as a number of international organizations have arrived in Samarkand for the Uzbek presidents funeral.

The ceremony was opened by head of the state commission arranging the funeral, Uzbekistans Prime Minister Shavkat Mirziyoyev.

Uzbekistans President Islam Karimov passed away Sept. 2 after suffering a stroke.

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Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz
The body of a teen who was swept away by the current on the Peace River Saturday morning while trying to save his 11-year-old sister has been recovered.

Body of Austin Welch, 18, recovered Sunday



Welch fishing with sister, mother at Peace River Canoe Launch

Sister, Crystal Droze, fell from the dock into the water

Welch, mom, both jumped into water to save her

Barbara Engle, 35, was out at the Peace River Canoe Launch in Bartow fishing with her two children, Austin Welch, 18, and Crystal Droze, 11, Saturday morning, officials said. At some point in the morning, Crystal lost her footing on the dock and fell into the water.

Both Austin and Engle jumped into the water to help Crystal. Engle and Crystal were able to grab onto each other, but Austin was swept away by the fast-moving current.

"He's always been a protector and he's just so selfless," his mother Engle said. "The most amazing kid you could ever know."

Mother and daughter were able to pull themselves to shore, run out to nearby State Road 60 and flag down a passerby for help.

Polk deputies arrived on scene at approximately 11:30 a.m. Polk Fire EMS and Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation personnel were also deployed to the scene to assist in the search.

The search for Austin continued Sunday morning. FWC used side-scanning sonar from their boats, which detected the presence of something near where Austin was last seen going underwater (in the same area where his mother and sister were able to grab some grass/brush and pull themselves to shore, a couple hundred yards from the dock where they all went in.)

The sheriff's office dive team entered the water where the image was seen on the sonar, and recovered Austin's body.

"Austin lost his life saving the life of his 11-year-old sister. We had hoped and prayed that we would find him safe on the shore somewhere. We searched for him for 24 hours, as if he were one of our own family members. Please keep his family in your prayers," Sheriff Grady Judd said in a statement.

"(Crystal) is still in shock," Engle said. "She's upset. She's blaming herself. We keep telling her it's not her fault," Engle said.

An autopsy will be conducted to determine exact cause of death, however, this appears to be an accidental drowning, deputies said.

Devastated loved ones are now remembering Austin for his kind heart.

"He's always been a great person always helping everybody," friend Tequila Chance said.

Friends and family also said they will never forget the sacrifice he made to save his family.

"Know that he's a hero," said Engle. "He did the one thing that he would do without hesitation. Everybody loves him. He loves everybody."


Hillary Clinton told the FBI she relied on her staff not to send emails containing classified information to the private email server she relied on as secretary of state, adding that she was unclear about a classification marking on official government documents.

While Clinton repeatedly stated her private email was allowed, in FBI interview she stated she didn't request permission

In The Hill article, it reported that the FBI noted Clinton's concussion, blood clot and how she could not recall certain briefings

RELATED Story: Hillary Clinton to visit Tampa for rally Tuesday

Released document one

Released document two

The revelation came Friday as the FBI, in a rare step, published scores of pages summarizing interviews with Clinton and her top aides from the recently closed criminal investigation into her use of a private email server in the basement her Chappaqua, New York, home.

The Democratic presidential nominee told the FBI she never sought or asked permission to use a private server or email address during her tenure as the nation's top diplomat from 2009 to 2013. A prior review by the State Department's internal watchdog concluded the practice violated several polices for the safekeeping and preservation of federal records.

The latest revelations highlight competing liabilities for Clinton. Either she made a conscious effort to prevent a full public accounting of her tenure at State or she was nonchalant about decisions with national security consequences and risks. The first scenario plays into Republican arguments and voter concerns about her trustworthiness and transparency, while the second casts doubt on her pitch as hyper-competent, detail-driven executive.

Clinton campaign spokesman Brian Fallon said Friday the campaign was pleased the FBI had released the documents.

"While her use of a single email account was clearly a mistake and she has taken responsibility for it, these materials make clear why the Justice Department believed there was no basis to move forward with this case," Fallon said.

The campaign of GOP presidential nominee Donald Trump countered that the FBI documents show Clinton can't be trusted to serve as commander in chief.

"Hillary Clinton is applying for a job that begins each day with a top secret intelligence briefing, and the notes from her FBI interview reinforce her tremendously bad judgment and dishonesty," Trump spokesman Jason Miller said.

Clinton has repeatedly said her use of private email was allowed. But over a 3-hour interview in July, she told investigators she "did not explicitly request permission to use a private server or email address," the FBI wrote. They said no one at the State Department raised concerns during her tenure, and Clinton said everyone with whom she exchanged emails knew she was using a private email address.

The political website The Hill mentioned the health issues of Clinton that were noted in the released FBI documents.

Clinton said she received no instructions or direction regarding the preservation or production of records from State during the transition out of her role as secretary of State in 2013, read the FBIs notes from its July interview with Clinton, The Hill reported. However, in December of 2012, Clinton suffered a concussion and then around the New Year had a blood clot (in her head). Based on her doctors advice, she could only work at State for a few hours a day and could not recall every briefing she received."

The documents also include technical details about how the private server was set up. It is the first disclosure of details provided by Bryan Pagliano, the technology staffer who set up and maintained Clinton's IT infrastructure. Pagliano secured an immunity agreement from the Justice Department after previously refusing to testify before Congress, invoking his constitutional right against self-incrimination.

Large portions of the FBI documents were censored. The FBI cited exemptions protecting national security and investigative techniques. Previous government reviews of the 55,000 pages of emails Clinton returned to the State Department found that about 110 contained classified information.

Clinton and her legal team deleted thousands more emails she claimed were personal and private. The FBI report details steps taken by Clinton's staff that appear intended to hamper the recovery of deleted data, including smashing her old Blackberry smartphones with a hammer and using special software to wipe the hard drive of a server she had used.

Friday's release of internal investigative documents by the FBI was a highly unusual step, but one that reflects extraordinary public interest in the investigation into Clinton's server.

The FBI focused on whether Clinton sent or received classified information using the private server, which was not authorized for such messages. Clinton told the FBI she relied on others with knowledge about handling classified files not to send her emails inappropriately.

Clinton said she was unfamiliar the meaning of the letter "c'' next to a paragraph and speculated that it might be "referencing paragraphs marked in alphabetical order." That particular email had been marked as "confidential," the lowest level of classification. Clinton said she did not pay attention to the classified level "and took all classified information seriously," according to the FBI.

After a yearlong investigation, the FBI recommended against prosecution in July, and the Justice Department then closed the case. FBI Director James Comey said that while Clinton and her aides had been "extremely careless," there was no evidence they intentionally mishandled classified information.

The FBI's review also found no direct evidence that Clinton's server was hacked but said her system would be a high-value target for foreign intelligence agencies and a sophisticated attacker would have been unlikely to leave behind evidence of a breach. Clinton told the FBI she was unaware of specific details about the security, software or hardware used on her server.

Clinton also told the FBI she never deleted emails, nor instructed anyone else to do so, to avoid their potential release under the Freedom of Information Act.

However, the FBI report says Clinton contacted her predecessor, former Secretary Colin Powell, in January 2009 to inquire about his use of a BlackBerry. Powell, who also used a private email account, warned Clinton that if it became "public" that she used a smartphone to "do business," her emails could become official government records subject to disclosure.

"Be very careful," Powell cautioned Clinton in an email. "I got around it all by not saying much and not using systems that captured the data."

Clinton said she later directed her aides to create a private email account and said it was "a matter of convenience" to use the home server shared with her husband, former President Bill Clinton.

She added that "everyone at State knew she had a private email address," though in separate interviews several on her team told agents they had no idea she was using a private account.

Associated Press writers Ted Bridis in Washington and Bill Barrow in Miami contributed to this report.
XI'AN - A cargo train left Xi'an, capital of Northwest China's Shaanxi province, for Hamburg in Germany Friday night, local authorities said Saturday.

The train left Xi'an at 8:50 pm Friday and will pass through Kazakhstan, Russia, Belarus and Poland before reaching Hamburg, Xi'an international port authority said in a press release.

It said the journey will last 13 days.

The train carries machinery, home appliances, garments and electronic equipment, which will be forwarded from Hamburg to other European cities.

It is the second China-Europe freight train from Xi'an. The first left for Warsaw on Aug 18.

The train will promote the further opening of Shaanxi Province, and help shape a new international trade route within the framework of China's Belt and Road Initiative, said Han Song, a senior official with Xi'an municipal committee of the Communist Party of China.

"In the future, there'll be an outbound train every week and an inbound train once a month," said Han.
Lynch School of Education Brennan Professor Andrew Hargreaves met with Scotland's First Minister Nicola Sturgeon August 31 as a member of the country's new International Council of Education Advisors.

Hargreaves is part of a group of 10 international experts that spent two days talking to students and teachers about their experiences in Scottish education, reflecting on the findings of a recent Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development study, and discussing measures outlined in the governments Education Delivery Plan to reform Scotlands education system and close the achievement gap.

The ten members of the International Council of Education Advisers have extensive experience advising governments around the world on school improvement," Sturgeon said in a news release. "Education is this Governments top priority, and I am delighted to welcome the panel to Scotland to showcase the strengths of our education system and hear their thoughts on our plans for reform."

Hargreaves, a member of the OECD team that reviewed Scotland's Curriculum for Excellence, said the country has a strong national curriculum, professional teachers and a focus on ensuring educational equity.

We are all are keenly aware that there is still more work to be done however and the International Council of Education Advisors will do everything it can to offer some of the best evidence and insights from around the world, and to give candid and constructive feedback on the government's own proposals and evolving directions," Hargreaves said. "This a chance for all of us, together, to help Scotland lead the world in improving educational excellence and equity in ways that preserve and promote the richness of learning and the excitement of teaching.

Ed Hayward | News & Public Affairs
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Music composer Ghibran and #Chennai2Singapores director Abbas Akbar have been on a road trip from Chennai to Singapore to release the six songs from the movie.

While en route to Myanmar to release their third single, the team got into many problems like riots, earthquakes, and landslide which made it impossible for them to cross Myanmar border. They have been stranded near the border for almost a week now.

Yesterday (2nd September), when the team received news that another earthquake with a greater magnitude is about to hit Myanmar and possibly Thailand (the next destination) too, Ghibran and team decided to call off the drive. Keeping everyones safety in mind, the painful decision was made. The team received tremendous support and prayers for their safe return back home.

But in the midst of these, many rallied behind their indomitable spirit. Family members and loved ones urged them to carry on with the trip to finish what they started.

After careful consideration, Ghibran and team have decided to resume the drive back to Singapore. Although safety is still a concern, they will take full care to avoid the risky regions and to plan an alternative route which might be longer to travel, but still, would allow them to complete the dream of reaching all the way to Singapore by road and to release the remaining singles of Chennai2Singapore. They are now on the way to reach Myanmar and to release the third single "Pogadhe".

Next stop is Thailand!
The UK will be a "global leader" for free trade following the Brexit vote, Theresa May insisted, as she headed to China for the G20 summit.

The Prime Minister, who faces a row with Beijing over the delayed decision on the Hinkley Point power station, maintained that we were in a "golden era" for UK-China relations.

Speaking at Heathrow before boarding an RAF plane to Hangzhou, eastern China, she said: "The message for the G20 is that Britain is open for business, as a bold, confident, outward-looking country we will be playing a key role on the world stage."

Ahead of talks with president Xi Jinping she said: "This is a golden era for UK-China relations and one of the things I will be doing at the G20 is obviously talking to president Xi about how we can develop the strategic partnership that we have between the UK and China.

"But I will also be talking to other world leaders about how we can develop free trade around the world and Britain wants to seize those opportunities.

"My ambition is that Britain will be a global leader in free trade."

Mrs May added: "I will be talking to other world leaders about the opportunities for trade around the globe that will open up for Britain following Brexit.

"I will be talking about how Britain will be seizing those opportunities."

The Prime Minister hopes to use the G20 summit, where she will hold talks with world leaders including US president Barack Obama, to show that the UK remains a "dependable" diplomatic and trading partner in the wake of the vote to quit the European Union.

But despite holding face-to-face talks with Chinese president Xi Jinping, Mrs May is not expected to use the meeting to make an announcement on the Hinkley Point project, which is backed by Beijing's state-owned nuclear firm.

Mrs May will have a meeting with President Xi on Monday, after the conclusion of the two-day G20 summit of leaders of the world's richest nations in Hangzhou.

Although a decision on whether or not the Hinkley Point C project in Somerset will go ahead is expected this month, UK officials indicated it would not be announced at the meeting with the Chinese leader - fuelling speculation the plan will be scrapped or significantly altered.

The French energy giant EDF, with support from China General Nuclear, had expected to build the 18 billion plant, but in a surprise move Mrs May's administration signalled a delay in making a final decision on the project amid reports of security concerns about Beijing's involvement and the high cost of energy from the power station.

With the UK seeking a new role on the world stage following the Brexit vote, the decision on Hinkley Point has major diplomatic implications for relations between the UK, France and China.

During the summit, Mrs May will hold her first face-to-face talks with Russian leader Vladimir Putin, and is expected to adopt an approach of "hard-headed engagement" with Moscow.

She will also have a meeting with her Indian counterpart Narendra Modi, with the trading relationship expected to dominate the agenda.

Mrs May's talks with president Obama follow the US leader's warning that the UK would be at "the back of the queue" for a trade deal if it voted to leave the EU.

But amid reports the planned US-EU trade deal has stalled, the UK hopes for talks on a transatlantic agreement of its own with Washington.

During the summit, Mrs May will have the chance to mingle with world leaders - including during a boat trip on Hangzhou's lake - for the first time since the EU referendum.

Former security minister Dame Pauline Neville-Jones said reassurances are needed from China on security issues surrounding Hinkley.

"The issue, I think, is much more day-to-day security implications of having an investor of that kind who isn't an ally - not an enemy - but isn't an ally in the way most investment hitherto in to this country has been from the West," she told BBC Radio Four's Today programme.
Jamie Dornan attending at the opening ceremony of the 51st Karlovy Vary International Film Festival (KVIFF) on July 1, 2016 in Karlovy Vary, Czech Republic. (Photo by Matej Divizna/Getty Images)

Co Down actor Jamie Dornan has admitted he watched a woman on a train in preparation for playing a serial killer in TV hit The Fall.

He told the RTE's Late Late Show that he wondered what it would be like to follow her off the train, but clarified that he didn't.

The Co Down heart throb - who went on to become a megastar playing the lead character Christian Grey in the 50 Shades of Grey trilogy - said the moment happened as he prepared to play Paul Spector in The Fall.

When asked about reports that he stalked a woman in preparation for the role, he said the story was misreported.

"This is tricky, I got myself into trouble with this story ... I didn't follow through with it," he said.

"It was in London ... I observed someone on the Tube, I just thought I wonder what it would be like to follow her.

"A publication said I got off the train to follow her but I didn't."

Jamie also paid tribute to The Fall as being his big break, describing how his "professional landscape totally altered after doing it".

"Marie Antionette was the first job ... then I had a few barren years, I was in a band and doing a bit of modelling," he said.

"I was just glad I didn't work in an office.

"So things were going whatever way, then The Fall came along ... I had never been considered for a job like that ... a role of that scope."

Jamie appeared on The Late Late Show with Cillian Murphy to promote their new film Anthropoid in which they play exiled Czech soldiers during the Second World War who plot to kill top Nazi Reinhard Heydrich.

Cillian admitted his wife and him were big fans of The Fall and had "binge watched the whole thing".

The Co Cork born actor said who your co star was in a movie tended to be a "gamble" in terms of whether you get on with them, but said he and Jamie had struck up a strong friendship.

Jamie also said he was a "massive fan" of Cillian before they met.
A Co Antrim teenager who said to the principal of Columbine High School that he was going to die as part of a series of hoax threats in the US has avoided being sent to prison.

Ben Megarry (19), who suffers from autism, was charged with making a total of 23 hoax bomb threats between March and September 2012.

Belfast Crown Court Judge Sandra Crawford told Megarry that his crimes would normally require a deterrent and lengthy custodial sentences, but there were a number of mitigating factors in his case, including his age at the time - 15 - and the connection between his offending and his undiagnosed Asperger's syndrome.

Judge Crawford, who handed Megarry two years' probation and 70 hours' community service, said given these mitigation factors she was prepared to accept this recommendations of the pre-sentence report, which said he did not present a danger of serious harm to the public.

In all, Megarry, from Harmin Park in Newtownabbey, Co Antrim, pleaded guilty to a total of 23 charges related to a spate of hoax calls that he made between March and September 2012 to numerous "schools, businesses, public gathering places and airports within the continental United States".

In June the court heard that among his targets was Columbine High School - the scene of a "tragic and infamous gun massacre".

Prosecutor Peter Magill revealed that Megarry phoned Columbine on the 13th anniversary of the April 1999 shooting, telling the school principal he was not only "going to finish" what the two killers had started, but "he would not be so lucky - and that he was going to die".

Judge Crawford said it "was a sad irony" that many of the schools targeted by Megarry had pupils who were disabled or who had been diagnosed with special needs. The judge added that while a top psychiatric expert reported that but for Megarry's autism and Asperger's syndrome his offending may not have occurred, she found this difficult to accept as there were "too many imponderables" to definitively say he would not have committed the crimes. Judge Crawford said, however, that it was agreed that his condition was not uncovered until February 2014 and that at the time of his offending there were no check and balances to tackle many of the feature of his condition which his offending "unfortunately displayed".

Of particular importance, said Judge Crawford, were Megarry's "social naivety, desire to impress acquaintances, susceptibility to suggestion from others, his risk-taking and thrill-seeking behaviour, his inability of separating fact from fiction" and a lack of empathy as to the consequences of his actions.

As one expert put it, Megarry had been operating inside a "closed bubble".

Judge Crawford also commented that while the seriousness of the charges faced by Megarry could not be underestimated, other mitigating factors included the time in bringing his case to trial, his clear record, and that the fact that he had expressed remorse.

When questioned by police, Megarry, she added, readily confessed and also pleaded guilty, allowing him maximum credit for saving court time and the public purse a long and complicated trial.

At the original hearing the court heard that Megarry had not acted alone, but "often in conjunction with others not before the court... some of these other persons live in other countries and none at this time had been made amendable".

Prosecutor Mr Magill said it appeared the purpose behind the group calls was to achieve "some form of status" among these people, while at the same time provoking a response from the US authorities that could then be viewed online or on TV.

Mr Magill told the court that Megarry's guilty pleas, made at the first opportunity, had resulted from what he described as a "lengthy, costly and meticulous investigation" by local and federal enforcement agencies in the US, Interpol and the PSNI.

Defence QC Greg Berry said reports indicated that a remorseful Megarry may not have made the calls had he been diagnosed as autistic when a schoolboy. Mr Berry also said the Asperger's syndrome was only uncovered in February 2014.
A 45-year-old man has admitted a series of terrorist-related offences linked to a major explosives and ammunition find close to the border.

Appearing at Belfast Crown Court yesterday was Barry Francis Joseph Petticrew, who was arrested by police in October 2014 following a search at farm buildings in Co Fermanagh.

Petticrew, who is originally from Swanlinbar in Co Cavan but whose address was given as HMP Maghaberry, initially faced five charges arising from the raid at the property near the village of Kinawley.

However, after his barrister asked that he be re-arraigned on three of the five charges, two were left on the books, not to be proceeded with.

Petticrew pleaded guilty to three offences - namely possessing explosives with intent to endanger life, possessing articles for use in terrorism, and possessing ammunition with intent.

He admitted possessing a number of items including improvised explosive devices.

After Petticrew entered guilty pleas, his barrister asked that reports be compiled ahead of sentencing.

Judge Gordon Kerr QC then remanded Petticrew back into custody and informed him he would be sentenced in October.
A Mini is taken away from the scene of the crash on the junction of the Randox Road and Nutts Corner Road outside Crumlin

Tributes have been paid to a young man from the Belfast area who was killed in a car accident outside Crumlin on Thursday.

Michael Cusick (23) was travelling alone in a black Mini when the accident occurred close to the junction of Randox Road and Nutts Corner Road just before 11pm. Both roads were closed overnight, but were reopened again yesterday.

Police are asking anyone who witnessed the car in the area to contact Antrim Police Station or the Collision Investigation Unit on the non-emergency number 101, quoting reference number 1403 of 01/09/16.

"The collision occurred just before 11pm and involved a black Mini," a spokesman said.

"The Randox Road and Nutts Corner Road were closed to traffic, but have been reopened."

After hearing the devastating news, Michael's uncle Sammy posted on social media: "Life is so unfair. Thinking of my family at this sad time.

"My beautiful nephew Michael, rest easy lad. Till I see you again Mick look over your mom and dad and brother David."

Friend Sinead Dornan said: "Can't even put into the words the devastation I feel. Michael was so bubbly, so polite, funny, caring, loving... just an all round wonderful fella. May you rest in peace and your memory live on. Thinking of your whole family circle, friends and your partner, who you were set to marry."

Local UUP politician Mervyn Rea passed on his sympathies to the family and urged drivers to take extra care. "There is a particularly bad bend along the Nutts Corner road which motorists must approach with caution," he said.

"There are far too many accidents on our roads these days. It's difficult to think what could have caused this accident as conditions were good over the past few days.

"I want to send my condolences to the family of the young man. It's very sad for the immediate family and my heart goes out to them."
A mum's desperate bid to take her son to the US for lifesaving treatment is under threat after his condition took a turn for the worse.

Charlotte Caldwell had to rush her 11-year-old son, Billy, to hospital last week after he suffered three seizures in one day.

She is being forced to take her youngest son to America for treatment, at a cost of up to 300,000.

However, she had to cancel a major charity event - due to take place on the same day - and now the mum of two is terrified she will not raise enough cash in time for Billy to get the treatment he needs. She is being forced to take him to America for the treatment as it is not available here.

Charlotte has also revealed her disappointment after Health Minister Michelle O'Neill failed to respond to a letter she wrote begging for help to save Billy.

"I feel let down, I haven't even had an acknowledgement that she received the letter," said Charlotte.

The youngster from Castlederg developed a deadly form of epilepsy when he was a baby.

Doctors in Belfast said they were unable to help him, so Mrs Caldwell launched a fundraising drive to take him to the US for pioneering treatment not available here.

She raised enough money to take him to Chicago and after two years of intensive treatment there and another two years in England, Billy learned to walk and his seizures were brought under control. However, Charlotte was left devastated just a matter of months ago when Billy's seizures began to return.

"Last Friday he had three seizures and he was in a terrible state. I took him to the doctor and they told me to get him to A&E," she said.

"They did all the tests and think that the seizures had just taken so much out of his wee body, he had nothing left."

Ms Caldwell has rearranged the charity dinner dance for tonight.

Tickets for the event, at the Fir Trees Hotel in Strabane, are available by logging on to the Keep Billy Alive Facebook page.

Donations to the appeal can be made at the Keep Billy Alive Crowdfunding page.
Family and friends were last night praying for a Bible College librarian who suffered horrific injuries after she was attacked by a cow in Co Fermanagh.

Caroline Somerville, aged in her 40s from south Belfast, had been visiting Devenish Island with family members walking their dog when there was an incident with the farm animal.

It is believed Mrs Somerville went to the aid of the family pet when she was attacked. The dog later died.

The mother-of-three was initially airlifted to the South West Acute Hospital in Enniskillen and later transferred to the Royal Victoria Hospital in Belfast.

It is believed she had surgery on her colon and back.

Her family were at her bedside last night where her condition had improved from critical to stable.

The family had been enjoying a bank holiday weekend break at one of their favourite destinations, and it is understood that it was down to their quick actions that she was able to be rushed to hospital in good time.

A Belfast Bible College spokesman described her as a popular member of staff and said many of their students are extremely distressed about the incident.

He told the Belfast Telegraph that Caroline loved to holiday in Fermanagh.

"Our thoughts and prayers are very much with Caroline and her family," he said. "She has been on a bank holiday weekend break, she loves it down there in that part of the world.

"Caroline has been on staff for almost 10 years and is very popular. Very helpful.

"A quiet person in some ways, yet an invaluable asset for the students. Many of our students are very distressed about the news. We look forward to her recovery and we will be praying for that."

Along with college principal Patrick Mitchel, Caroline helped to raise 5,000 for the college by jumping out of a plane over the north coast recently.

She studied Library and Information Studies at The Robert Gordon University in Aberdeen before returning to Belfast.One of her neighbours in the Malone area of south Belfast and described the family as quiet.

A spokeswoman for the Department for Communities said it is undertaking inquiries.

"The incident occurred on private land," she said. "The department is involved with discussions with relevant authorities and the landowner to ascertain exactly what happened."

The Health Service Executive for NI said it was "aware of an incident in Co Fermanagh involving cattle in which a member of the public was injured" and said it was investigating the matter.
A Co Antrim man who injured three generations of a family - one of whom was assaulted with a bag of potatoes - was handed a five-year sentence

A Co Antrim man who injured three generations of a family - one of whom was assaulted with a bag of potatoes - was handed a five-year sentence.

Gareth McAllister's offending took place over a four-day period last June, during which he attacked a teenager, his father and his grandfather.

The youngest victim was slashed across the forehead by a knife-wielding McAllister, who also assaulted police during his arrest.

The 19-year old, from Rogan Manor in Newtownabbey, initially attacked the father with a bag of potatoes on June 6 outside the family home and four days later he knifed the son.

When the son's father and grandfather intervened in the knife attack, they were injured while disarming McAllister.

Branding McAllister's offending as "extremely serious", Judge Gordon Kerr QC handed him a five-year sentence - half of which will be served in custody, with the remainder on supervised licence upon his release.

Prior to sentencing, Belfast Crown Court heard the first incident occurred in the early hours of June 6 last year, when McAllister approached a house on Antrim Road. When the father answered the door, McAllister asked about the whereabouts of another family member, before punching the man in the face and hitting him with a bag of potatoes.

Four days later, the father's teenage son was attacked by McAllister in the forecourt of a garage on the Antrim Road. McAllister slashed the teenager's forehead and when the young victim's father and grandfather intervened, they suffered hand and other wounds trying to disarm the attacker.

The cut to the teenager's forehead required 13 staples, has left him with permanent scarring and was branded a "very substantial injury".

McAllister was restrained at the scene, and when police arrested him he spat at several officers, as well as assaulting two civilian custody officers at the police station. He initially told police he hadn't hurt anyone with a knife, then refused to answer any questions.

He subsequently pleaded guilty to 10 offences including wounding and assault occasioning actual bodily harm.

Defence barrister Denis Boyd, representing McAllister, confirmed his client was "clearly out of his head on drink and drugs", adding that at the time he had a "substance abuse problem".

Mr Boyd also said that McAllister armed himself with a knife as he was "suffering from a degree of paranoia about being attacked".

Regarding the offences, Mr Boyd said his client was only 18 at the time and "deepy regretted his actions".

He also told the court that whilst in custody on remand, McAllister has passed several drugs tests.

Sentencing McAllister, Judge Kerr said it was clear he had addiction issues.

Judge Kerr also said: "He accepts what he did, but doesn't fully accept or understand the effect his actions had on these people."
The tragedy that befell the Hawes this week in Co Cavan has left a nation numb and desperate to understand why. But expect more questions than answers in the coming days and weeks, writes Deirdre Reynolds.

As black hearses wound slowly through the streets of Ballyjamesduff this week, just one question hung in the air - why? The Hawe family will be laid to rest in Castlerahan today after a week that shook the Cavan townland to its core.

Schoolteachers Alan and Clodagh Hawe, and their sons, Liam (13), Niall (11) and six-year-old Ryan all perished in the latest murder-suicide to blight rural Ireland last Sunday.

Investigators believe "all the answers" lie within the ordinary family bungalow where dad Alan - who was deputy principal at his local national school - is believed to have pinned a note to the back door warning visitors to "Call the gardai" before he took his own life.

Speaking to the Irish Independent in the wake of the tragedy, one local mum seemed to speak for the entire community when she asked: "How could he kill those poor boys?"

As the contents of a second note found on the kitchen table of the family home were this week examined by forensic officers, one suicide expert warned that there may be more questions than answers in the days and weeks to come.

"There's no idea or no understanding that makes the tragedy of murder-suicide or suicide completely palatable," says Dr Eoin Galavan, a senior clinical psychologist with the HSE and CAMS (Collaborative Assessment and Management of Suicidality).

"It's a tragedy no matter what way you think about it.

"(But) there are a couple of (ways of) understanding that I think can help people process the experience of it.

"One of the things is that you have some sense of the kind of motivation people have when they enact self-injury or a murder-suicide.

"For example, if you look at the notes that people leave behind when a murder-suicide takes place, sometimes they will say things like, 'We didn't want to leave them in this terrible life', so in a way, the virtue is trying to save their children from what they perceive to be unmanageable pain.

"Of course, that's a distortion of that virtue, and we're not saying that that's a valid way to try and address that problem, but that's often reflective of what's often in the minds of people when they enact something of this nature."

Although just 2% of suicides are murder-suicides, according to the most reliable data on the subject from the US, familicide has become an all too familiar headline here in recent years.

Two years ago this month, nine- year-old twins Paddy and Thomas O'Driscoll were stabbed to death in their Charleville home by older brother Jonathan (21), whose body was later found by the banks of the nearby Awbeg River.

In July, Marco Velocci (28) and his toddler son Alex died when the car Marco was driving was involved in a head-on collision with an articulated lorry on the Limerick to Tipperary road. Amid tears and tea, as neighbours rallied to comfort family, friends and each other whatever way possible, Castlerahan - and indeed Oristown in Meath where mum Clodagh was also a primary school teacher - was this week the latest parish tragically brought closer by the unthinkable. "We have a concept called post-traumatic growth that is evident after tragedy," explains Siobhan O'Neill, a professor of mental health sciences at the University of Ulster and director of the Irish Association of Suicidology.

"We see that people become more connected, there can be increased social awareness, the community may become kinder, in a way, and these are all the positives that we can draw from a horrendous situation.

"But that's not to take away from the intense grief and sadness and trauma that a community collectively can experience after such a tragedy too, so it's important that is acknowledged.

"In small connected communities like that, these things aren't supposed to happen, and they're certainly not supposed to happen in family contexts.

"It shakes our faith in human nature and that can be quite destabilising.

"Often people turn to the Church in a way that they haven't before at times of tragedy like this, so the Church can have a really positive influence.

"But there are all sorts of other community leaders and community groups that can be important in drawing people together in trying to restore that sense of trust and stability that has been shaken when these tragedies happen.

"It's (about) giving everybody an opportunity to express the grief and to acknowledge the different forms of grief."

Facing up to the new school year beside the empty seats of three pals, without two beloved teachers, nowhere is that grief likely to be more evident than the classrooms of Cavan and Meath, among the counties' youngest residents touched by the nightmare.

For mums and dads in the area, the greatest lesson this term won't be learned from a book, according to Helen Culhane of the Children's Grief Project, a Limerick-based support service for school-aged children affected by loss through death, separation or divorce.

"Most adults think that children don't grieve and that it goes over their heads and if we tell them the little white lie, they'll have forgotten," she says.

"But I know in my work, if the grief isn't addressed it will erupt - usually at about the age of 10 because 10 is now the new teenage.

"If someone dies from natural causes or (an illness such as) cancer, there is a preparation and they're going in to see the person.

"Murder adds an additional pressure because now children are going to wonder, 'How could my teacher, who I loved, do this?' Or 'Will my dad murder me?'

"Their world becomes unsafe (and they may think), 'Who can I trust if I can't trust my mum or dad?'

"Sometimes we haven't got all the answers and usually we say things like, 'We don't know why this man did what he did, but as a mum and dad, we love you'.

"What you tell a 14-year-old and what you tell a four-year-old (will be different), but you still have to be truthful.

"We can start saying we need to send in the psychologists and the art therapists and the play therapists. (But) from my experience, what the children will need (most) is that there (is) someone there to listen. The most important people would be their parents."

Ahead of World Suicide Prevention Day next Saturday, some questions are even more pertinent.

"One of the great tragedies of suicide is in the aftermath you're looking backward thinking, 'Where was the evidence?'" argues Dr Galavan, who will host a workshop for parents on Understanding Youth Suicide at Connolly Counselling Centre in Dublin to mark the awareness day on September 10.

"(Some) of the main things that people go through on their way towards a suicide attempt - things like hopelessness, feeling like you're a burden - can occur completely privately.

"In other words, there isn't always going to be a 'We should have seen it coming' moment because for a lot of people there isn't.

"About 70% of people who die by suicide talk about it before they do, so when people do talk about suicide we should take it seriously even if it is incongruent with what we think looks like a totally fine life.

"Isolation is a good friend of suicide and the opposite of that is also true," he adds. "A community is actually a very potent prevention strategy (against suicide), so is connectedness, togetherness.

"A great way that communities can consider prevention a kind of a bedrock would be: Is there an air of inclusiveness in the community - do people feel that they can talk to each other?"

In the meantime, Castlerahan - like the 27 other communities across the country devastated by murder-suicide since 2000 - must not become synonymous with the tragedy visited upon it, urged Professor O'Neill.

"Suicide is stigmatised and murder-suicide is horrendously stigmatised," she explains.

"We need to be so careful about how this is discussed and manage that in a way that acknowledges the complexity of it and the fact that it is quite, quite rare. We can get negative stigmas around particular communities that have been (affected). I'm thinking of Dunblane in Scotland (where 16 school children and their teacher were killed in a murder-suicide in 1996).

"Even to hear Dunblane portrayed in a positive light is quite unusual and challenging, so those associations that we have with these events and particular communities can be damaging and destructive.

"But communities can also pull through that -it just requires a bit of structure."

For now, books of condolence, memorials and even tweets may go some way towards helping loved ones and strangers alike process the unprocessable loss of the lives of Clodagh, Liam, Ryan and Niall, as well the man who killed them.

"Anything that gives people the opportunity of being able to say how they feel, whether it be on social media or whether it's talking to a friend, is hugely important," believes consultant psychologist Owen Connolly of Connolly Counselling Centre.

"I think the big thing we need to be getting across to everybody is please, please if something is eating you (up), talk to somebody - don't keep it inside.

"Pretending it didn't happen, not expressing your real concern about the situation, doesn't allow you to give comfort as well.

"What the community needs is to feel comforted and also the community needs to feel that the nation is with them - that whatever happens to any one of them, happens to all of us."
Soldiers have reportedly been killed and 28 wounded in Turkey during clashes with Kurdish militants

Eleven soldiers have reportedly been killed and 28 wounded in Turkey's east and south east during clashes with Kurdish militants.

The casualties come from separate military operations in the provinces of Hakkari and Van against members of the "separatist terror organisation" - Turkey's description of the Kurdistan Workers' Party or PKK. Turkey, the EU and US consider the PKK a terrorist organisation.

Turkey's state-run Anadolu news agency said three soldiers were killed and 20 wounded with three in critical condition in Hakkari this morning. A Turkish Armed Forces statement said 33 Kurdish militants were killed and 30 wounded in the ongoing operations.

In a statement, the governor's office of Van said eight soldiers were killed and eight wounded in operations on Friday around Tendurek Mountain. The Turkish Armed Forces statement said 13 militants were "neutralised" in operations which Anadolu described as three airstrikes.

A precarious two and a half year ceasefire between Turkey and the PKK collapsed last summer, resuming the three-decade conflict that has killed an estimated 40,000 people.

Since fighting resumed, more than 600 Turkish security personnel and thousands of PKK militants have been killed. Rights groups say hundreds of civilians have also been killed in the clashes and tens of thousands displaced.

Turkey sent tanks across the border to Syria last month to support Free Syrian Army rebels in capturing Jarablus from the Islamic State group. The cross-border operation also aims to stall the Syrian Kurdish militants from seizing more ground in northern Syria.

Turkey contends that the US-backed Kurdish People's Protection Units or YPG in Syria are an extension of the PKK.

Before departing to China on Friday, the Turkish president Recep Tayyip Erdogan said: "The Western world has to make a decision. Either you are standing with terror and terrorism, or you are standing against terrorism."
The dismissals are allowed through the state of emergency declared by president Recep Tayyip Erdogan after the coup attempt

Nearly 43,000 people have been expelled from their jobs in Turkey's public institutions for alleged ties to terror organisations endangering national security, the government says.

Lists of names and positions published by the Official Gazette show the widescale purge Turkey has undertaken since the failed coup of July 15.

The government blames US-based cleric Fethullah Gulen for the plot that killed at least 270 people, and labels the network a terror organisation.

The dismissals are allowed through the state of emergency, declared following the coup attempt. The highest number of dismissals is from the Ministry of National Education with 28,163 people.

About 35,000 people have been detained for questioning and more than 17,000 of those have been formally arrested to face trial, including soldiers, police, judges and journalists.

AP
Islam Karimov, whose harsh and ill-tempered rule governed Uzbekistan for a quarter of a century, is to be buried in his home city of Samarkand.

The death of 78-year-old Karimov, the only president Uzbekistan has had since gaining independence from the Soviet Union in 1991, was announced by the government on Friday after he suffered a stroke.

The end of Karimov's monolithic presidency leaves no apparent successor, as well as concern that the ensuing political uncertainty could leave an opening for Islamic extremists to coalesce.

On Saturday thousands of Uzbeks lined the streets in Tashkent as a cortege carried Karimov's coffin to the airport, from which it was to be flown to Samarkand, an ancient Silk Road city renowned for its Islamic architecture.

AP

In a statement ahead of Karimov's burial, Uzbekistan's government hailed the authoritarian leader as a statesman and democrat though he was widely criticised abroad for harsh repression of dissent,

His coffin has been placed in the Registan, the renowned square flanked on three sides by madrassahs covered in intricate, colourful tiles and topped with aqua cupolas.

The Interfax news agency said the square was packed with thousands of men - women were excluded - to hear a mufti give a funeral prayer that said "Islam Karimov served his people".

The body was then taken to the Shah-i-Zinda necropolis, another architecturally significant site.

His Cabinet said in a statement that Karimov "attained a high authority in the country and in the international community as an outstanding statesman, who has developed and implemented a deeply thought-out strategy of building a democratic constitutional state with a civil society and a market economy".

"The death of Islam Karimov may open a pretty dangerous period of unpredictability and uncertainty in Uzbekistan," Alexei Pushkov, head of the Russian parliament's foreign affairs committee, told the Tass news agency.

Given the lack of access to the strategic country, it is hard to judge how powerful the Islamic Movement of Uzbekistan might be. Over the years, the group has been affiliated with the Taliban, al Qaida and the Islamic State group, and it has sent fighters abroad.

Under the Uzbek constitution, if the president dies his duties pass temporarily to the head of the senate until an election can be held within three months. However, the head of the Uzbek senate is regarded as unlikely to seek permanent power and Karimov's demise is expected to set off a period of jockeying for political influence.

Karimov was known as a tyrant with an explosive temper and a penchant for cruelty. His troops killed hundreds unarmed demonstrators with machine guns during a 2005 uprising, he jailed thousands of political opponents, and his henchmen reportedly boiled some dissidents to death.
Discovery voyage: the Caribbean Princess was the setting for a series of on-board historical lectures this summer

Many people are now back from their summer holidays and the memories remain to be savoured throughout our long autumn and winter.

Some of my memories this year are of several short cruises on the giant US liner the Caribbean Princess as she sailed into Belfast from Dublin or Liverpool as part of her summer tours of the British Isles. It was my privilege to give a series of lectures on board, concerning the history of Belfast Harbour and the Titanic, about which I wrote the book 'Titanic Port' several years ago.

There was a certain irony about an Ulster author talking about the Titanic to a multi-national audience on a cruise liner, but they all showed a deep interest in Belfast Harbour into which they were sailing the next morning.

Inevitably I talked to quite a number of people on each short cruise, and it provided an insight into what visitors think of Northern Ireland before they come here.

One man from Toronto was certain that our troubles were "between Protestants and Catholics," which is a common misconception about our province. Clearly we have not shaken off the old labels of a nation of religious bigots.

So my fellow traveller on the Caribbean Princess likened our divisions to those of the fierce quarrels between Sunni and Shi'ite Muslims, except that ours are within a Christian context.

He was a reasonable and intelligent man, but I had difficulty in trying to convince him that our divisions here are not due to theological differences, as such, and that the terms 'Protestant' and 'Catholic' are used as labels for much deeper divisions involving economics, territory and political power. I am still not sure that he took my point.

On another voyage, I had a long conversation with a young crew member from Indonesia who was a devout Catholic and he had a great respect for St Patrick.

He wanted to know more about our patron saint and asked me the best places to visit during his time in Northern Ireland.

I suggested that he should try to visit the St Patrick's Heritage Centre in Downpatrick or the two great St Patrick Cathedrals and the Heritage Centre in Armagh.

One of my vivid memories of this year's cruises is that of attending an ecumenical service on the Caribbean Princess as she glided into Belfast Lough on a Sunday morning. The service was simple and yet profound and a reminder of the very many people from all denominations who take their Christian faith with them when they go on holiday.

There was a surprising number of people who had been on a previous cruise around the British Isles and on one journey I met a couple on board who live in Holywood.

At the end of one lecture I talked to a man who told me he came from Sailortown in the docks area, but had emigrated to Toronto some 60 years earlier.

At breakfast one morning I met a lady whose home is in the desert near Las Vegas and who loved our "Irish rain".

It was also fascinating to discover which day trips the visitors were taking. Very many chose the Giant's Causeway, the Titanic Heritage Centre or a city tour of Belfast, and one couple from Philadelphia were keen to see Londonderry's Walls because of their historic structural significance.

Overall my cruises into Belfast on the Caribbean Princess made me proud of what we have to offer international tourists, and a deep gratefulness that such visits are possible after all we have been through.

Inevitably many conversations with Americans ended up with speculation about Donald Trump, and most were very apprehensive that he might be elected US President.

However, one couple from Maryland told me that they were Christians and they believed deeply that whatever happens, God will still be in ultimate control.

It's amazing what you learn when you are part of a group of 4,000 people in a cruise liner crossing the Irish Sea.
A new Donald Trump? It cant be. The arrival last month of the right wing iconoclast Steve Bannon as his new campaign chief was held as proof of a reversion to the Let Trump be Trump formula that had annihilated every opponent in the Republican primaries.

A definitive end, surely, to the efforts of Paul Manafort  the man Bannon replaced  to house-train the Manhattan businessman in the ways of conventional politics?

And this theory was only vindicated by the snarling immigration speech Trump delivered in Arizona on Wednesday, studded with his trademark lies (or factual inaccuracies as they are known) and in which he extolled deportation task forces and vowed to build his beautiful wall, paid for 100 per cent by Mexico, to keep the illegals out. Look a little closer however and a new method may be emerging from the madness.

A few hours earlier Trump had been in Mexico City, neatly upstaging Hillary Clinton, as he held talks with the Mexican president Enrique Pena Nieto. Admittedly he was helped by a stunningly feeble performance from his host.

But there was Trump on the world stage, saying the right things at the joint press conference afterwards, nodding sagely at points made by his interlocutor, the personification of diplomacy and politeness. Heavens, one thought, maybe he wouldnt be so bad after all, maybe he wouldnt press the nuclear button at a perceived insult during an international summit.

Yet, back in Phoenix, he seemed his old self  behaving, it could be argued, like the classic bully: fawning when on foreign soil and out of his comfort zone, but hectoring, mendacious and vicious when safely returned to home turf, addressing his adoring followers.

However forget the presentation. Forget too the playing fast and loose with facts (no amount of fact-checking will overcome the eternal human truth that people believe what they want to believe.) Instead, parse the speech more closely.

Set aside the Mexican-financed wall, and Trumps policies are not so different from those of Barack Obama, the supposed immigration softie who in fact has deported or prevented from entering the US more people than any president before him. Like Obama, Trump would focus on criminal elements, leaving the fate of the 11m illegals who pursue a law-abiding if precarious existence for a later date.

In essence, Trump is not ruling out the bargain at the core of various attempts at immigration reform on Capitol Hill over the last few years: a truly watertight border, coupled with de facto amnesty and a path to citizenship for those who are already here  and without whom, everyone knows, swathes of the US economy would cease to function.

Or take the economy, by far the most important consideration for ordinary voters (for all Trumps fulminations, only 8 per cent of Americans regard immigration as the elections most important single issue). Hes had plenty to plenty to work with these last few months: feeble growth, still stagnant earnings and a pervasive feeling that things are not as good as the employment statistics imply.

Expand Close Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump speaks during a campaign rally, Thursday, Sept. 1, 2016, in Wilmington, Ohio. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci) AP / Facebook

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Whatsapp Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump speaks during a campaign rally, Thursday, Sept. 1, 2016, in Wilmington, Ohio. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci)

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But previously hes blown it. At the end of July, the government announced some pretty lousy GDP news, a bare 1.2 per cent annual growth in the second quarter, which any self-respecting Republican candidate would have leapt on. And where was Trump? Bogged down in a disastrous, unwinnable quarrel he had picked with a Muslim-American couple whose son had died fighting for the US in Iraq.

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On Friday, when some uninspiring August unemployment figures were released, Trump didnt make the same mistake. He responded instantly with a tweet blaming the Obama-Clinton administration for failing to create jobs and boost pay in American industry.

A small detail, but a sign perhaps of a new Trump focus. It all adds up to the best week Trumps had since the conventions. Admittedly thats not saying much. With Hillary Clinton largely confining herself to lavish summer fundraisers among her friends in the Hamptons, hes had the field pretty much to himself.

Yet he still trails her by several points overall and  more important  by larger margins in most of the swing states where the election will be decided. In terms of money and state-by-state organisation Clinton leads by a country mile.

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Nonetheless, on the eve of the Labor Day holiday that traditionally marks the start of the general election campaign proper, Trump has clearly narrowed the gap since the dark days of early August, when a Democratic landslide looked on the cards. Finally, things are moving in the right direction.

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Whatsapp In this Tuesday, Aug. 30, 2016 photo, a Donald Trump pinata stands with other paper mache figures at a shop, in San Antonio. (AP Photo/Eric Gay)

But is it too late? In this bizarre campaign, nothing is certain. Last week Clintons approval rating sunk to an unprecedented low, underlining the miserable paradox that underlies this contest between the great unloved. Clinton, given all her baggage, is probably the only Democratic candidate Trump has a chance against  while he, even more flawed, is probably the only Republican she could be confident of beating.

But for Trump the bottom line hasnt changed. He and his advisers still appear to believe that victory lies in turning out in record numbers Americas white silent majority, the forgotten people, trampled on by globalisation and diversification, the people who attend his mass rallies. But that ignores the huge numbers of white women, and white people with university degrees, who cant abide him, not to mention Hispanics and black people.

Somehow, hes got to allay fears. Trump must persuade voters to give him a second look, to turn at least some Never Trumpers into Well, Maybes, without upsetting true believers by toning down his message. Hence the apparently conflicting messages on immigration: the red meat in Phoenix, the projection of moderation and statesmanship in Mexico City.

And thus, the Steve Bannons of this world calculate, a New Trump, who hasnt changed, but whos perhaps not so bad after all. After everything Trump has said and done these last 12 months, its a long shot. But barring some terrible new revelation about Hillary or the Clintons, its the best shot hes got.

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Louise Gilmore was three months pregnant with little Keegan

Evil murderer Stephen McKee tried to kill this tiny tot while he was still in his mother's womb. Louise Gilmore was three months pregnant with little Keegan (now two) when a drunken and drugged-up McKee battered her about the stomach with a hammer.

The unprovoked attack occurred just months before the twisted thug murdered west Belfast greengrocer Harry Holland. Ignoring the pensioner's pleas for mercy, callous McKee (18) plunged a screwdriver into his head.

Popular father-of-four Harry was killed as he tried to stop a gang stealing his delivery van in September 2007. Neighbours found him gravely injured on the street outside his home at Norfolk Drive. He died shortly after being admitted to hospital.

Louise still has nightmares about the time she came face to face with Harrys cold-blooded killer.

McKee's eyes were as black as could be, and you could tell from the way he was swinging the hammer that he was determined to kill. He was like an animal, said the trembling young mum.

He hit me in the stomach with the claw part of the hammer. I was three months pregnant and when I saw the blood seeping through my shirt I was convinced that I was going to lose the baby. I haven't been the same since and am now taking nerve tablets and anti-depressants.

McKee had attempted to hijack a car Louise was travelling in through the Ballymurphy estate. It was after summoning help and confronting the teenage killer that she was hit with the hammer.

McKee will be sentenced for the Holland murder at Belfast Crown Court on Friday.

At a court hearing earlier this week, a judge heard how in the months leading up to the September 2007 killing he was a one-man crime wave.

Minutes after McKee attacked pregnant Louise with a hammer, he stabbed her dad Paul McGoran with a screwdriver.

McKee was attacking Louise so I ran to help, explained Paul.

He started swinging the hammer at me, screaming that he would kill me. I punched him in the ribs and he dropped the hammer.

But then he ran into a house and came back out with a screwdriver, which he stabbed me with in the side. I am lucky to be alive. I don't like thinking about this, but I can't help wonder if it was the same screwdriver that he used to kill Harry.

In June 2007, three months before the Holland murder, a gun-toting McKee attempted to hijack three cars on the Falls Road. The drama only ended when the thug was knocked out by have-a-go-hero Sean Osborne.

Sean is adamant that McKee would have killed someone had he not intervened.

He said: McKee was out that night to do serious damage. If I hadn't intervened he would have killed someone.

Just three days before he murdered Harry Holland, McKee threatened to stab three neighbours with an eight-inch kitchen knife.

Brothers Brendan and Henry Rice and friend Eamon Butler were changing a wheel on a car in the Ballymurphy estate when

they were confronted by McKee, who was high on a cocktail of drink and drugs.

The killer shouted abuse at the innocent men before threatening to stab them.

I will stab you three b*****ds, he roared as he waved a huge knife.

On the night Harry was murdered, Louise Gilmore had a second run-in with McKee.

The killer chased her with a knife through a Ballymurphy alley while threatening to stab the bitch.

I was going to a wake house and walked through an alley where McKee was standing with a bag of drugs, said Louise.

He pulled out a knife and chased me. Obviously, he knew me from the time he beat me with the hammer.

It was just hours before he killed Harry. If he had caught me I would be in my grave.

McKee, who is currently on remand at Hydebank Young Offenders' Centre, has a history of drink and drug abuse.

Court documents show that he is dependent on alcohol and drugs and that he drinks to excess.

On the night of his murder, Harry Holland begged McKee to leave him alone. The grandfather pleaded: I'm an old-age pensioner. We don't want any hassle, calm down.

But McKee ignored the pleas, and plunged a screwdriver into the side of Harry's head, puncturing his brain.

A witness to the murder, Frank Quigley, said the stabbing made an awful noise. He also explained how McKee was determined to kill the pensioner.

I'm going to kill that old b*****d. I'm going to kill that old b*****d if I get him, McKee screamed.

Being sentenced alongside McKee are Patrick Crossan and a 17-year-old girl who cannot be named because she is a minor.

Crossan, 18, has pleaded guilty to affray and possessing a knife on the night of the Holland murder. The girl has pleaded guilty to affray and common assault.
Relatives of jailed Jamaat-e-Islami leader Mir Quasem Ali arrive in a vehicle at Kashimpur Central Jail on the outskirts of Dhaka, Sept. 3, 2016.

Bangladesh on Saturday put to death Mir Quasem Ali, a leader and funder of its largest faith-based party, for war crimes allegedly committed during the nations war of independence in 1971.

Mir Quasem Ali has been hanged at around 10:30 p.m. at the Kashimpur jail, Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal told BenarNews on Saturday night.

Quasem, 63, was the sixth senior opposition figure and the fifth from the Jamaat-e-Islami party executed for war crimes since the Awami League-led government established a war-crimes tribunal known as the International Criminal Court (ICT) six years ago.

In November 2014, the ICT convicted Quasem of wartime-related charges, including the alleged fatal torture of a young pro-independence supporter 45 years ago at a prison camp in Chittagong commanded by Quasem, who would have been 18 at the time.

On Tuesday, a five-member bench of the Supreme Courts appellate division upheld Quasems death sentence.

He was given the choice to seek presidential clemency but declined.

Beaten mercilessly

Quasem, a member of Jamaats highest policy-making body, has amassed a fortune as the founder of Bangladeshs largest private bank, Islami Bank. He also started a real estate company, hospitals, shipping lines, pharmaceutical companies and other enterprises, which have created jobs for thousands of members of Jamaat and its student wing.

Authorities on Saturday called family members to see Quasem for the last time. Thirty-eight relatives entered the Kashimpur jail at around 4:10 p.m. and stayed for around two hours, according to jail superintendent Prashanta Kumar Banik.

He does not fear death. He is dying for Islam. This death is similar to martyrdom, Khandker Ayesha Khatun, Mir Quasem Alis wife, told reporters Saturday at the jail gate.

But a woman who said her husband was tortured by Mir Quasem Alis unit was furious about the characterization of him as a martyr.

Mir Quasem Alis men raided our house, tied my husband Saifuddin Khan and five of his friends with a single rope and pushed them into a truck like cattle. They all were taken to Dalim Hotel and beaten mercilessly, Nurjahan Khan, wife of politician Saifuddin Khan, told BenarNews on Saturday.

He is a killer, a war criminal, she said.

Insufficient evidence

The brutal nine-month war through which Bangladesh won independence from Pakistan remains a source of bitter divisions 45 years later.

At the time, Jamaat-e-Islami Pakistan opposed Bangladeshs birth and its leaders and members joined hands with the Pakistan army to save Islamic Pakistan, terming the war an Indian aggression.

Bengali guerrillas with direct military help and later intervention from India defeated the Pakistan army, and 90,000 army personnel surrendered in Dhaka on Dec. 16, 1971.

The Awami League government in 1972 voided the political rights of all faith-based parties in the newly created country.

But the assassination of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, the countrys founding president, on Aug. 15, 1975, brought a boon for Jamaat and religion-based parties. Bangladeshs first military ruler, Major General Ziaur Rahman, released all jailed Islamist party leaders facing war crimes charges in its aftermath.

The rehabilitation of Jamaat in politics and releasing its leaders who committed war crimes was a catastrophic event in the history of the country. The war criminals should have been tried long ago, Afsan Chowdhury, a journalist and researcher, told BenarNews.

But international rights activists have said ICT prosecutions fail to meet fair trial standards.

In March, U.S.-based Human Rights Watch called for a new trial, citing senior Bangladeshi justice officials who said that prosecutors and investigators had produced insufficient evidence against him.

It is critical that the Bangladesh government ensures justice for the awful crimes against civilians in 1971, but that requires it to uphold international fair trial standards, Brad Adams, Asia director at Human Rights Watch, said in a statement Thursday.

If theres even a shadow of doubt about fairness, as in Quasem Alis case, the authorities should set aside the death penalty.
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For Immediate Release, September 2, 2016 Contact: Diana Dascalu-Joffe, (720) 925-2521, ddascalujoffe@biologicaldiversity.org Legal Protest Filed Against Fossil Fuel Auction of Public Lands in Wyoming BLM Lease Sale in High Desert Region Fails to Weigh Climate and Air-quality Impact,

Threatens Sage Grouse and Mule Deer CHEYENNE, Wyo. Conservation groups filed a formal administrative protest late Thursday challenging a Bureau of Land Management plan to auction off more than 32,000 acres of publicly owned fossil fuels in southern Wyoming. The protest cites concerns over air pollution, fracking and potential harm to threatened species  including the greater sage grouse  and the BLMs failure to consider the auctions impact on climate change. Greater sage grouse photo by Bob Wick, BLM. This photo is available for media use. Groups protesting the lease auction include the Center for Biological Diversity, Great Old Broads for Wilderness and the Sierra Club. This auction of public fossil fuels on 32,422 acres in Wyomings High Desert region could lead to the production of a combined 29 million tons of lifecycle greenhouse gas emissions throughout the development of the lease. President Obama has agreed to international goals to avoid the most catastrophic effects of climate change, said Diana Dascalu-Joffe of the Center for Biological Diversity. He can prove his commitment to these goals by immediately halting the auction of new fossil fuel leases on public lands. The protest raises clear deficiencies with BLM's environmental review of this leasing decision's impact on local air quality, climate change and impacts to species of concern including the greater sage grouse and big game habitat and migration routes.

The groups also contend that the Wyoming state BLM office failed to comply with a recent BLM memo instructing it to prioritize lease sales outside sage grouse habitat above those that offer parcels within the threatened birds' territory. This legal protest is part of a rapidly growing national movement calling on President Obama to expand his climate legacy by halting new federal fossil fuel leases on public lands and oceans  a step that would keep up to 450 billion tons of potential carbon pollution in the ground. Keep It in the Ground rallies opposed to federal fossil fuel auctions have been growing across the country  in Alaska, Colorado, Utah, Wisconsin, Wyoming and Nevada  and have caused several auctions to be canceled or postponed. Background

The American public owns nearly 650 million acres of federal public land and more than 1.7 billion acres of Outer Continental Shelf  and the fossil fuels beneath them. This includes federal public land, which makes up about a third of the U.S. land area, and oceans like Alaskas Chukchi Sea, the Gulf of Mexico and the Eastern Seaboard. These places and the fossil fuels beneath them are held in trust for the public by the federal government; federal fossil fuel leasing is administered by the Department of the Interior. Over the past decade, the combustion of federal fossil fuels has resulted in nearly a quarter of all U.S. energy-related emissions. An 2015 report by EcoShift Consulting, commissioned by the Center for Biological Diversity and Friends of the Earth, found that remaining federal oil, gas, coal, oil shale and tar sands that have not been leased to industry contain up to 450 billion tons of potential greenhouse gas pollution. As of earlier this year, 67 million acres of federal fossil fuel were already leased to industry, an area more than 55 times larger than Grand Canyon National Park containing up to 43 billion tons of potential greenhouse gas pollution. Last year Sens. Merkley (D-Ore.), Sanders (I-Vt.) and others introduced the Keep It in the Ground Act (Senate Bill 2238) legislation to end new federal fossil fuel leases and cancel non-producing federal fossil fuel leases. Days later President Obama canceled the Keystone XL tar sands pipeline, saying, Because ultimately, if were going to prevent large parts of this Earth from becoming not only inhospitable but uninhabitable in our lifetimes, were going to have to keep some fossil fuels in the ground rather than burn them and release more dangerous pollution into the sky. Download the September Keep It in the Ground letter to President Obama. Download Grounded: The Presidents Power to Fight Climate Change, Protect Public Lands by Keeping Publicly Owned Fossil Fuels in the Ground (this report details the legal authorities with which a president can halt new federal fossil fuel leases). Download The Potential Greenhouse Gas Emissions of U.S. Federal Fossil Fuels (this report quantifies the volume and potential greenhouse gas emissions of remaining federal fossil fuels) and The Potential Greenhouse Gas Emissions fact sheet. Download Over-leased: How Production Horizons of Already Leased Federal Fossil Fuels Outlast Global Carbon Budgets. Download Public Lands, Private Profits, a report about the corporations that are profiting from climate-destroying fossil fuel extraction on public lands. Download the Center for Biological Diversitys formal petition calling on the Obama administration to halt all new offshore fossil fuel leasing. Download the Center for Biological Diversitys legal petition with 264 other groups calling for a halt to all new onshore fossil fuel leasing. 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.
Mewing is a TikTok trend that has blown up in the last few months. It is claimed that it can help shape your jawline as well as cure other ailments by actively pressing your tongue to the roof
US State Secretary John Kerry once again called on Beijing to recognize the decision of the Hague-based Permanent Court of Arbitration over South China Sea, urging China to learn from India to accept the verdict of international tribunals.

While speaking to students at the Indian Institute of Technology in New Delhi, Kerry made a reference to the India-Bangladesh maritime dispute case. India accepted and implemented the ruling without any disapproval as Dhaka won the case after a United Nations tribunal court in 2014 awarded a substantial maritime area of the Bay of Bengal to Bangladesh.

"India's decision to accept an international tribunal judgment regarding its maritime border with Bangladesh actually stands apart. This is the model to help potentially dangerous disputes in different danger spots...these can be resolved peacefully including [the] South China Sea [dispute," Kerry said.

Kerry added that there cannot be any military solution to South China Sea dispute, adding that the US would remain to stand by its allies.

China has been firm and adamant that it would not accept decision over South China Sea, regardless of international pressure. The international tribunal court favors Philippines claim, rejecting China's historical claim on the maritime territory.

Since the verdict was pronounced, China has been in overdrive to counter international pressure. Beijing's diplomatic efforts ensured that South China Sea verdict was not stated in the joint statements of recently concluded ASEAN Foreign Ministers Meeting and Asia-Europe Meeting.

China has already warned against any discussion of the South China Sea issue ahead of the G20 Summit in Hangzhou.
The personal blog of Peter Lee a.k.a. "China Hand"... Life is a comedy to those who think, a tragedy to those who feel, and an open book to those who read. You are welcome to contact China Matters at the address chinamatters --a-- prlee.org or follow me on twitter @chinahand.
Arakanese and other ethnic representatives in attendance expressed low confidence that the conference currently taking place in Naypyidaw will in itself lead to a federalist system for Burma.

U Oo Hla, Pyithu Hluttaw MP from Mrauk U Township for the Arakan National Party (ANP), told Narinjara News that the current process is just one stage of a long journey that lies ahead.

Amyotha Hluttaw MP Daw Htu May from Ann Township, said that peace will only happen after ethnic people are granted autonomy.

Arakan State Chief Minister U Nyi Pyu said: In order to establish a genuine federal union, a common understanding that is accepted by everyone is important. If the common understanding is successful, stability and development would be more effective in Arakan State.

U Tun Zaw, joint secretary of the United Nationalities Federal Council and general secretary of the Arakan National Council, agreed that the conference alone wont satisfy the needs of the ethnic people. This can only be achieved with unity among the national forces, including the Arakan National Council, Arakan Liberation Party and Arakan Army.

The latter group, as well as the Taang National Liberation Army and the Myanmar National Democratic Alliance Army, have been excluded from participating in peace talks altogether, unless they agree in writing a willingness to surrender.

Reporting by Shwe Ya Aung for Narinjara News

Translated by Thida Linn

Edited by BNI staff
The fourth in an 11-part series featuring the results of this years student research on water quality in the Red Cedar Watershed:

Forty percent of farmland in the United States is rented out, mostly from Non-Operating Landowners (NOLs)  people that own land but do not themselves farm it. Nearly two-thirds are over the age of 65. NOLs represent a sizeable, but vastly understudied, portion of landowners in the United States.

My research as part of the sociology team this summer focused on use of conservation agriculture Best Management Practices (BMPs), such as conservation tillage, cover crops, buffer strips, and nutrient management plans, among others, on farmland owned by NOLs.

Our initial research questions sought to discern how factors like age, gender, conservation values, and relationship with ones tenant affect BMP use and BMP lease agreements. These questions guided our decision to talk to widowed women NOLs and frame the questions we asked them in our survey. Ultimately, my project aimed to understand how the intersecting identities and meanings this group of owners associate with their land.

My research partner, Alexis Econie, and I interviewed seven widowed women in the Red Cedar Watershed. We asked each of them the question, What does your land mean to you? Their answers ranged from tax money, income, family memories, an attachment to place, and something to take care of.

We found that throughout the conversations, however, interviewees often ended up focusing on the importance of many aspects of their land. Those who said outright their land provides income spent more time talking about their family  and vice versa.

Identifying with the land

It became clear that this group of landowners associate many intersecting meanings with their land, and we turned to the results from more than 100 survey respondents in order to capture how these various identities might affect best management practice use.

Our statistical model demonstrates that NOLs located inside the watershed who have higher incomes and higher self-described conservation values are women who talk to their renter about what is being produced on their land use  68.2 percent of possible BMPs. Those with average incomes and conservation values who live outside the watershed, do not talk to their renter about what to produce only use 0.57 percent of possible BMPs.

This tells us a few important things. First, as NOLs increasingly represent a population on Social Security, financial stability matters for BMP use. Interviewees noted that neither Social Security nor income land provides enough income by themselves to get by, and survey data shows that those making more money off their land use more BMPs. If we want more people to use the best practices, the baby boomer generation must be able to retire comfortably and maintain reliable sources of income.

Conversation is key

Second, its important for women NOLs especially to talk to their renters about what to produce on the land. When women have this conversation with their renters, they use about 44 percent of possible BMPs, compared to only 6 percent when they do not ask their renters about what they produce.

The organization Women Caring for the Land, originally based in Iowa, hosts workshops for women landowners, and our results indicate the potential benefits their work could have for the Red Cedar Watershed. Empowering women NOLs should become a priority for conservation and water quality improvement.

Love of the land

Finally, location matters. Non-operating landowners located in the Red Cedar Watershed reported higher BMP use. The landowners we spoke to felt an attachment to their land and harbored a keen sense of place and love of the area. Further efforts to improve water quality should build upon and speak to the attachment landowners have to this area and try to spark a connection with those located further away.

Overall, policy efforts should take into account actors like NOLs who may not have previously been targeted as a group with the power to encourage BMP use and set the tone for conservation agriculture in the watershed. Empowering women, promoting higher incomes, and encouraging a sense of community and place among NOLs can help make water quality improvement goals a reality.

I sit here writing this in my home state of Vermont. While I am often happiest here in the mountains, I am definitely missing the rolling hills and open skies of Menomonie as well as all the people that make it such a vibrant community.

At the community forum at the Raw Deal in early August, so many people thanked us for coming and for our research, but we really ought to be thanking you for bringing us to Menomonie, teaching us about the place you call home, caring about the work we do.
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BEIJING - China on Saturday offered condolences to the death of Uzebk President Islam Karimov who died on Friday at the age of 78.

File photo of Islam Karimov. [Photo/Xinhua]

Foreign Ministry spokesperson Hua Chunying said the Chinese side, shocked to learn the death of Karimov, expressed deep condolences and sincere sympathy to his family.Hua credited Karimov as founder of the Republic of Uzbekistan, who made great contribution to the national independence, development and prosperity of the country.She said Karimov was committed to the friendship and cooperation between China and Uzbekistan, and made unremitting efforts to promote the bilateral comprehensive strategic partnership, two-way exchanges, and people-to-people friendship."His pass away is a great loss of the Uzbek people. The Chinese people also lost a sincere friend," Hua said.She added that China was ready to work with Uzbekistan to consolidate the good-neighbor relationship, deepen bilateral cooperation, and continue to push forward the development of the bilateral relations."At this time of sorrow, the Chinese people will stand together with the Uzbek people," Hua said.Karimov, who had served as president of the newly independent republic since 1991, suffered a brain hemorrhage on Aug. 27.His funeral will be held on Saturday in the historic town of Samarkand, where he was born, a government statement said, adding that a three-day period of mourning would start on the same day.
U.S. Sen. Tammy Baldwin (D-Wis.) spent Friday morning marveling at the world-class technology of Cray, Inc. in Chippewa Falls, and how the supercomputers the company produces make lives better.

Her afternoon was spent trying to figure out a way to end the deaths inflicted by an epidemic of opioid and heroin abuse.

Baldwin held a roundtable discussion about the opioid and heroin use in Eau Claire. Following her visit with Cray employees, Baldwin talked with reporters about the opiod and heroin problem that is hitting eastern and southern Wisconsin hard.

Unlike methamphetamines, which law enforcement officials say is the top drug problem in the Chippewa Valley, Baldwin said the supply of opioids often originate from medical sources.

She said a northern Wisconsin school administrator told her a large percentage of students have one parent and some with two parents who are addicted to opioids or heroin. That administrator wanted better prevention in school systems and counseling.

Baldwin said many county Human Services departments have to take some of those children and placed them with relatives.

She said the United States has struggled on whether to put emphasis on restricting demand of drugs or the supply, and the nation needs both.

We have to go after the (drug dealing) bigfish, she said, but added: Were not going to cut off supply if you only focus on them.

Senate praised

Wayne Kugel, senior vice president of worldwide customer service for Cray, praised Baldwin for sponsoring the bipartisan ExaSCALE Computing Leadership Act. The act invests in advanced research and supercomputing infrastructure.

Without your help, we wouldnt see that funding, Kugel said.

Baldwin, who was elected in 2012 and took office in 2013, worked with Republican Sen. Lamar Alexander of Tennessee on the act. She said theres a need for supercomputers by the U.S. Department of Defense, Department of Energy and Department of Commerce.

A Cray employee who did not give his name said it was important Baldwin backed continued funding for research, saying that was important in advancing the field.

Its about funding ongoing research and maintaining continuity in research, he said.

Baldwin explained to the Cray employees she is ready to return to Washington, D.C. after a break during the entire month of August. Congress established the break for themselves in the days before air conditioning.

No good policies could possibly be made in a 100 degree swamp, she said.
Hey there, time traveller!

This article was published 03/09/2016 (2247 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Brandon-Souris Conservative MP Larry Maguire held an open house on Wednesday to mark the opening of his new constituency office space on 10th Street. The Brandon Suns managing editor Matt Goerzen sat down with Maguire to ask about his new role in Opposition, and seek his comments on issues facing his party and his riding.

MG  I understand youre now part of the Electoral Reform Committee.

LM  I was asked just last Friday to sit on the Electoral Reform Committee when it comes to Regina, Winnipeg and Toronto, on the 19th, 20th, and 21st of September  the first few days when it opens. I told the group earlier, if you dont see me sitting four people up behind Rona (Ambrose) on the TV when we start question period on the 19th, its because Im in Regina on the electoral reform hearings that are going across Canada. Theyve been going on all summer. Im filling in for someone on the committee at that particular point.

The makeup of the committee, the way the prime minister has operated it, the Opposition makes up the majority of the committee but its still a committee that the report goes to the Liberals. The Liberals send the whole thing to the prime ministers office as a final report. Its not as independent a committee as I would like to see it. Its been advertised that way. Im glad to be on it. Ill be able to hear what people have to say.

MG Whats your opinion on electoral reform?

LM  Well, No. 1, we dont need it. From the type of reform  Im not against any reforms that will get more voters out to vote, that kind of thing. But taking away the right to have the first past the post system thats been probably the best British parliamentary system in the world  Id say the Canadian democracy, political system is even better than what the British have. I think its the best parliamentary system in the world. People across the country, everybody knows who their representative is. Then you get into proportional representation and other types of government where people are elected  its based on the popular vote. Theyre not going to know who their member of Parliament  who theyre electing  in some of those areas.

MG  Do you see this as a shift away from the importance of the individual running in the riding, where the individual will count less than the party itself? Will people now be voting for a party, or will they still look to personalities? As you said, they wont know who their MP is going to be.

LM  I havent looked into it that much, but I dont think so. People are still going to vote for people that they know and people that they like. The portion, the part that is removed from that, is  people who are actually voting may not have a say who will be up there for a representative. From a popular vote perspective, certainly the Green Party would have had more seats in the House of Commons under that style of representation. Certainly the PM knows that it could be a social government in Canada for many many years perhaps if he was to run this style. And I think that hes banking that his party and the NDP can always form a government. And hes banking on the fact that he will be the leader of that as opposed to a New Democrat. It diminishes the democratic power in the whole process.

MG So what if, through these committee hearings, the message from Canadians is overwhelmingly negative, and the Liberals decide they want to back down from an idea they campaigned upon. Do you think a Liberal government can back down?

LM  Sure. They can do that. I dont know if they will. Certainly they have stated that they will not have a referendum, but theyre going across the country to get peoples views. I know your counterpart papers had a story  that referendums didnt work in Britain because of Brexit and they lost. But that was totally different. That was about the economy. This is about how people elect their government. And to me, its going to a buyer. A referendum on whether Quebec leaves Canada or not, that was one thing. But that was about whether they should be in government. It was close. I believe people should have a say  in the choice of the type of government they have. And if you are going to change the way people are elected, you dont just do it because, well, we were elected as a government in the last election.

MG I note, that the Harper government came in and changed the Wheat Board monopoly based on the idea that they were elected and had the mandate to do it. How is this any different?

LM Its totally different. Thats more like Brexit. Thats an economy, a marketing process. It doesnt change the way people elected their government. I was on the Wheat Board advisory committee for many, many years. There were people getting votes that were passed away. It was a system that wasnt working either. I was on the advisory committee, and then it was elected as a board of governors. It wasnt really the most democratic way of doing things either because people had permit books for many reasons. There were benefits to having permit books for family operations.

Changes that we made to the electoral act  Prime Minister Harper did open it up. More people did vote in the last election than ever before. Well, not ever before, but certainly more than we had in the last few elections. I just think that if youre going to change the way people elect citizens, my personal view is that we should have a referendum and let the people decide. But Im on the committee and Ill keep my ears open as much as anybody else on all these things. Ive had enough experience at these things, enough to know that youre not always right either.You need to listen to what people are saying, and hopefully the report will reflect that.

MG  So the Tories are obviously in a leadership race. Do you have someone in mind who you feel would be the best candidate? Are you already backing someone?

LM  Well, Im waiting to see who all gets in the race, No. 1 

MG You dont have anyone in particular youre rooting for?

LM Well, Kelly Leitch comes from the Brandon area. She grew up in Alexander. She knows people here in the city. Shes a very intelligent person. Shes one of the top four women under 40 in Canada. Shes a pediatric doctor.

MG  Shes a surgeon, yes?

LM  Yes, a surgeon. Very intelligent person. She was a very good friend of Jim Flahertys. One of his best friends actually  the doctor who actually tried to help him survive. Shes got a very good background in social policy and finances. Maxime Bernier has lots of ideas about how to simplify rules and regulations, if you would, in Canada. From my perspective it would be good to have a fellow of his stature out of Quebec as well. Raymond Cho and Tony Clement are both out of Toronto and are both well-heeled politicians in that area as well. I think it will be a very interesting race. Everybodys asking me that sort of thing, but I have a number of them right now.

MG  Well, then what kind of person should take over the leadership? What kind of characteristics do they need?

LM  I think we need somebody more open, somebody like Rona Ambrose. But shes not going to do it. Shes been more open. You need openness, you need transparency. You gotta have somebody thats good as leader, somebody who can get the message across. Thats where a leader comes in. You want to be able to get that message out to the press as best as you can.

MG  How do you compare (Mr. Harpers) style to that of our current prime minister? Whats your impression of this federal government in its first months?

LM  Accountability is the first word that comes to my mind. They used to chastise us for half a million dollar surplus, and now we have a reported $29.5- to $30-billion deficit. We had a budget that came forward before the last election, a platform that was fiscally balanced. And we were going to continue with balanced budgets for the foreseeable future. And all of a sudden, balanced budgets dont matter anymore. Now he says that hes going to balance it in four years  well, OK, hes even given up on that now.

I think accountability is one of the main things, and thats what Im hearing across the country. You cant just govern by selfies. Youve got to be more  theres got to be more substance to it than that. You cant just be writing cheques everywhere.

MG  How do you explain the Liberal governments current popularity in polls?

LM  Theyre very popular  you make a lot of people happy when you write a lot of cheques. And sometimes you dont when you dont. When youre fiscally responsible, there are tough decisions to make. Harper left this country, as part of his legacy, the lowest debt-GDP ratio in the world.

We had a balanced budget, the lowest taxes in 50 years in the country. Those things are going to change, particularly because the economy is not as buoyant and growing as quickly as even the Liberals thought it would be at that time. Theyre in a danger of not being able to respond to the long-term platform that they were looking at. However, the economy may turn around and they may be able to do that.

People respect someone who is a leader and has leadership. You need someone who is willing to make some tough decisions that will continue to keep Canada in a stature in the world that is in crisis right now.

I just think there are some tough decisions to be made, particularly in defence right now. There isnt much of a role for peacekeeping in the world. And thats where the present government wants to go  back into a peacekeeping role. Thats applaudable, but its not practical. And most people in the defence department will tell you that these days.

We all want to have peace. We all want to keep the peace, but the armies of the world arent in that kind of situation right now. Theyre at war.

MG  Changes to the Veterans Affairs office in Brandon  are you for them or against them?

LM Well, services were the main thing I was worried about, and they were still there. The government can do what they like. The government services office was the old back office. The same person was doing the same services, in the same building. I dont know how many times Ive repeated that.

I understand that it was one of their promises that they were going to bring them back to the back offices again. (The Veterans Affairs minister) was talking about bringing 400 people in to do this across Canada. Some of these offices didnt have as many as we had in Brandon. There were 77 cases here at one time. But he couldnt answer the question that I asked him  would the rural ones stay open, because we have Service Canada offices in Virden, Killarney and Carberry that all veterans could go to and still get the same paperwork filled out as before. We have those same services in Shilo. The only thing I was ever concerned about was making sure that any of our veterans had the services that they required.

I keep hearing stories about having to go to Winnipeg, but I havent met anyone whos gone to Winnipeg, save for one or two who were at the meeting that one day that you apparently reported on.

MG  The news today, with the prime minister in China. He sent out a press release saying that canola shipments can now continue.

LM Well, Im really glad to hear that. Its absolutely imperative that we be able to continue to ship. China is one of our biggest customers on canola  they take about four billion tons. Were going to be faced with a pretty large canola crop in Canada this year. Japans always been a leader in the importation of our canola. They take a lot of canola oil as well.

But in my estimation, this was a great barrier that China had put into place. There was very little chance that blackleg would ever get into their country. Its a soil disease. Having said that, they wanted all the canola to be shipped at one per cent dockage or less. It takes more time 

MG  And its an extra cost 

LM  I guess what they were saying is that they didnt want to clean it on their end. So if they want us to do it, we can do it more expensively than they can. Is it a way for them to reduce the price of canola, I dont know. Is that the outcome of it? I dont know, but Im glad to see that theres been some agreement. I havent seen exactly what it is, the extension of it, but I dont think its been totally resolved. Were going into our harvest season, and its important to keep those shipments going.

MG  Are you working with the Liberals to continue bringing infrastructure dollars to Brandon and the region? Can we still expect infrastructure money our way?

LM  Well, I was successful out in Arthur-Virden as an MLA for a lot of years when there was an NDP government in Manitoba. I dont expect that to change with the federal party that we have. Theyre going to spend under the Canada plan and the jobs fund is still there. In the election they said they would expand the Canada plan with more money. But they included their housing budget into that. So I think their budget and our budget combined together  comes out to about the same amount for both parties.

Our priorities were roads, sewer and water. The Liberals have apparently increased that to include recreation facilities as well. We have recreation facilities ready to go in Melita, and a number of other projects here in the city that I think could use some of those funds. Ill continue to work on that.

I appreciate the fact that theyve gone ahead with some projects here. The ones that I saw announced in the Building Canada Funds here that have been announced so far are basically some of the ones that were left on the books. One of the big ones that Im going to push first is making sure we get the 18th Street bridge finished properly. We had agreed to do that one, its in the books and its signed. Im sure thats one of the first ones well see done as well.

But well continue to fight for a lot of the water changes needed here in Brandon, too. When I met with Shari Decter Hirst  the first meeting I ever had with her  that was one of the Top 10 issues that the city had on its books at that time. And its still there.

The airport was No. 1. Hopefully that will be finished this fall. And well be glad to see that.
How old do citizens have to be to vote for president? the immigration officer asked during the civics portion of my U.S. citizenship test.

Easy, I thought. I answered confidently: Eighteen.

Wrong. I had two more chances.

Um, at least eighteen?

Wrong again. I had one more chance. I started to panic. What else could it be? I had memorized all the dates (1776, 1787, 1803, 1812) and numbers (27 amendments, 435 voting members in the House) that could trip me up. I needed to answer six of 10 civics questions correctly, and I wasnt too worried  until this point.

Eighteen, I repeated. The officer noted that was my first answer. I know, I said. I just dont know what else it could be.

The correct answer was 18 and older.

It was the greatest test of my self-control not to argue about semantics with the immigration officer. I wanted to tell her: Listen, I know exactly how old you need to be to vote. Ive desperately wanted to vote since I turned 18, and I still cant. Thats why Im sitting in front of you right now. But I bit my tongue; I was too close to finally getting naturalized.

I recalled this exchange recently, on my fifth anniversary of becoming a citizen. I realized I am just as upset now as I was in that moment five years ago. I was frustrated, because I just wanted to legally become an American and earn the right to vote  something that so many natural-born Americans take for granted, even long after they turn 18.

This question, and the answer, was deeply personal to me.

Three years before I took my test, I was a junior at Emory University. It was 2008, and I was 20 years old. The fall semester began with campus rallies and speeches by politicians, and everyone was talking about the election. I wished I could vote and was disappointed I couldnt. I was just coming into my political and civic awareness, and starting to figure out my social and fiscal values. I cared about my money, job opportunities and the world Id be entering after graduating. I wanted to vote for leaders who reflected my values and shared my concerns.

But as a permanent resident of the United States and a green-card holder, I was ineligible to vote.

Too many Americans sit out by choice. Just 67 percent of adults in a Washington Post-ABC poll last month said they were absolutely certain to vote. Nine percent said the chances were 50-50, and 10 percent said the chances were less than that. Six percent said they would not vote.

Actual turnout is pathetic. In 2012, 59 percent of eligible voters cast ballots in the general election. The turnout rate has not surpassed 65 percent since at least 1948, according to the U.S. Elections Project. The top excuse among Americans who didnt vote in 2014 was: They were too busy.

This year, voters are distrustful of both Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton. The candidates are unpopular with many voters, and many people have election news fatigue. Fifty-two percent of registered voters have an unfavorable impression of Clinton and 61 percent of registered voters view Trump unfavorably, the Post-ABC poll found. As of mid-July, 59 percent of Americans reported feeling exhausted by the election coverage, the Pew Research Center found. As someone who spends all day writing about untruths uttered by political candidates, I get it. Its a tough choice, but it doesnt mean you should choose to sit out.

I was naturalized on Aug. 5, 2011. I wore a red dress, white sandals and a blue bracelet. I sat in the front row and filled out my voter registration form before the ceremony began. The judge told us to embrace our new civic duties, by voting and serving on a jury without complaining. I legally became Michelle that day, and I made Ye Hee my middle name. I still go by both names. I submitted my voter registration form at the booth outside the courtroom. My colleagues at the Arizona Republic in Phoenix threw me a surprise American-themed party with hot dogs, apple pies, root beer floats and U.S. flags.

I voted in my first presidential election in 2012 and got my I Voted sticker. I immediately posted it all over social media.

There are legitimate challenges to voter access that keep eligible people from voting. For example, turnout is less consistent in poorer neighborhoods, where people may not be able to afford to take time off to cast a ballot. But the top reasons eligible voters didnt vote in 2012 and 2014 were unrelated to voter access: too busy, not interested, not liking the issues or simply forgetting. In 2012, just 2.7 percent of people who didnt vote said they couldnt find a polling place, and 5.5 percent had a registration issue.

In that election  the first one I could take part in  nearly one out of every five people who didnt vote said they skipped it because they were too busy. Its as if voting is a luxury, something you do if you remember to do it, and if youre not too bored by it. You shouldnt need a ceremony with a federal judge to understand that voting isnt just a matter of convenience.

About 700,000 people each year become naturalized U.S. citizens. They have earned it over years of assimilation  out of will or necessity  and thousands of dollars for legal representation and in application fees. But every election year, there are people who desperately wish they could have a say in the country they love and arent eligible to do so yet  like me in 2008.

So vote this fall. If youre tired of Trump and Clinton, look into third-party candidates or spend your energy researching your state or local elections. If youre too busy, request an early ballot and mail it in. Vote, because its your right and privilege, one you were either lucky enough to be born with, or resilient enough to earn.

Vote  that is, if youre 18 and older.
Hey there, time traveller!

This article was published 03/09/2016 (2247 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

In the midst of years of medical treatment, extreme loneliness and forced assimilation, one young indigenous sanatorium patient was unwittingly writing the first chapter of her love story.

Catherine Mason was seven years old when she was diagnosed with tuberculosis and sent away from her home in St. Theresa Point First Nation, a reserve in northeastern Manitoba, for treatment.

At that time, I didnt know any English or what was going on  they told me I was sick, Mason said. I thought one of my parents would come with me, which they didnt.

As an unaccompanied minor, Mason remembers having to wear a brown envelope around her neck  which she assumes contained some form of identification  while travelling first to Norway House, then to Ninette and eventually on to Brandon and Winnipeg.

She was shuffled between sanatoria for five years and has no idea how long she spent at each location. However, her memories of the Ninette Sanatorium are by far the most prominent.

The sanatorium, located about an hour south of Brandon, opened in 1910 and started treating aboriginal patients in the mid-1950s. Roughly a decade later, the TB centre started admitting children.

Plucked from her community and sent hundreds of kilometres away from her family, Mason says she was overwhelmingly lonely and scared.

When Mason arrived in Ninette in the 60s, she took solace in the fact that there was one other girl from St. Theresa Point in her ward  in Ninette the adults and children were treated in different buildings and the boys and girls kept in separate wards.

I felt a little comfort that there was somebody from my hometown  I kind of felt like she was my big sister, Mason said, adding that her big sister spoke the same Island Lake dialect of Cree as she did.

Unfortunately, the friendship was fleeting as the older patient was soon moved to the womens ward and Mason was again left to fend for herself in unfamiliar territory.

Aside from the treatment regime, which consisted of a myriad of injections and pills  as many as 24 pills a day, according to a former sanatorium staff member  and near constant bed rest, Mason was faced with learning a new language and eating foreign food.

One food-related incident was particularly damaging.

During dinner one day, a nurse told Mason she wouldnt be able to leave the table until she finished a piece of meat she was struggling to eat.

I just couldnt eat it, I dont know why, she said.

Instead of eating the meat, she tucked it into her pyjama pants with the intention of flushing it down the toilet before bed. Unable to do so before lights out, she stuffed the meat into a container in her bedside table. Another patient saw this and told on her the next morning.

According to Mason, what followed was similar to a scene in the 1981 film Mommie Dearest, in which the protagonist feeds her daughter the same food over-and-over until its rotten.

She continued to refuse the meat and the nurse came up with a different punishment.

She put me in front of the (ward) where all the boys were and she told me to put my arms up way up high and had somebody sit there with a yardstick and she said, If she puts them down make sure you hit her, Mason recalled. Above that all she put my pyjama pants down, spread my legs and I was supposed to stand like that.

Mason is unsure what happened next as she believes she blacked out.

She was deeply affected by the incident and remembers being regularly overcome with emotions. She was crying so much that the sanatorium staff arranged to have someone who spoke Island Lake Cree visit with her.

Mason had never received visitors in Ninette, so when a nurse called her into the common area she was perplexed.

Suddenly this guy came around the corner and sat in front of me and I started crying, she said. He started talking and I understood what he said  he said Stop crying in our language.

The visitor was quite a bit older than Mason, but during their short conversation he told her that he would marry her if she stopped crying in an effort to calm her down.

I thought this was my opportunity to get out of here, knowing that he was going to take me away from there.

But he never came back.

Mason, who is now 59, was 12 years old when she was discharged from the sanatorium system and 21 when she moved back to St. Theresa Point.

With the help of her cousin, she spent the next three years relearning her language and culture.

When I came back, I had completely lost my language  I couldnt understand what my brothers and sisters were saying, she said. I felt like I wasnt there, that I didnt belong.

Shortly after moving home, she met the man who would become her husband.

Harry was 11 years her senior and after the two married, Mason remembers lying in bed when he asked how many boyfriends she had before him. She told him not many and mentioned the stranger who visited her in Ninette.

All of a sudden, Harry rolled over and said, You mean that was you I (visited)?

The couple had never talked about her time in the sanatorium, but had somehow found each other again nearly 15 years after they first met. Earlier this summer, they celebrated their 38th wedding anniversary. They have five children and 14 grandchildren together.

Last year, the family made a trip to visit the site of the former Ninette Sanatorium.

For Mason, it was emotional and difficult to be back on the grounds.

I started punching my husband and said, Why didnt you come back again?  he said, Im here and Ill be with you all the time, she said. (Im) glad to be able to tell him about the things that happened during that time.

Mason is one of several people lending their experiences to a research project titled Indigenous Histories of Tuberculosis in Manitoba, 1930-1970, which is headed by University of Winnipeg Prof. Mary Jane McCallum.

McCallum says oral histories are an important part of the project because they tell a different story than the official records kept by the Sanatorium Board of Manitoba  which is now known as the Manitoba Lung Association.

The archival records tend to be by doctors, nurses and hospital administrators and they dont ever really speak directly to the patient experience, McCallum said. They tend to paint an overly rosy picture of what was going on in the hospitals.

One former patient told the researchers that he hid under his bed in fear when a man dressed as Santa Claus visited the ward.

Incidents like those really help to understand the extent to which patients experienced those sanatoriums as a really culturally alien and unsettling kind of place, McCallum said.

For Mason, the main goal of sharing her story is shedding light on the largely undocumented abuse suffered by indigenous patients at Manitoba sanatoria.

Im not looking for any publicity. I just want them to be aware that not only in residential schools that happened  it happened in the hospitals, too, she said.

McCallum says there were many similarities between the two government-run institutions.

The experience of relocation for a certain amount of time, the sort of cultural and psychological trauma and feeling kind of alienated from the services of the federal government in the longterm  like health and education, she said, adding that TB surveyors would often go into residential schools to find new cases of the disease.

The U of W researchers have conducted roughly 15 interviews to date and have been speaking to both patients and sanatorium staff members. Since many of the provinces sanatoria closed in the 1960s and 70s, most of the interview subjects were children when they attended the hospitals  McCallum says finding staff members has been more difficult.

Stella Olver was a nursing assistant at the Ninette Sanatorium from 1956 until it closed in 1972.

She recently contacted The Brandon Sun in reaction to our story about two Brandon residents who say they suffered sexual and physical abuse at the hands of Ninette staff members as children.

Olvers experience working in the sanatorium was decidedly different.

I knew the nurses that worked (in the childrens ward) and we were all very close, so I couldnt see them doing something like that, she said. At least I never saw anything.

Olver was stationed in the mens ward for most of her tenure and would occasionally take shifts in the childrens ward when someone called in sick.

She was 18 years old and fresh off the farm when she started working in Ninette, and says the hospitals roughly 50 medical staff were like one big happy family.

Based on McCallums research, Ninette was one of the nicest sanatoria in the province and was often described as the Sanatorium Boards crown jewel.

While Ninette wasnt racially segregated like a number of other institutions, the treatment was often different for indigenous and white patients.

Olver says indigenous patients were kept at the hospital for years at a time because doctors were afraid they wouldnt take their medication, because they would have to take the medication for sometimes a year after.

She believes there were roughly 20 Inuit patients in the sanatorium at one time and most of the children were indigenous.

Social services would bring them in or they would arrive on the bus, Olver said. I never saw a parent there, that was very sad.

But you know, the kids got attached to the staff, and some got attached to the other patients there  the women especially would be like foster moms to them.

Olver, who is 78 years old and originally from Saskatchewan, says she still hears from former patients from time to time  many of whom recall positive memories of the sanatorium.

I think it had a lot to do with the medical staff, the doctors they made special time for these patients  and I think that made the time they spent there a lot easier to bear, she said. It was a very special place, anyone who worked there had special feelings about the centre.

 Twitter: @evawasney
Opinion

Hey there, time traveller!

This article was published 03/09/2016 (2247 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

In politics, as in life, sometimes you need to settle for what is doable, not necessarily desirable, given the reality of your situation. This seems to be the underlying message behind Prime Minister Justin Trudeaus approach to dealing with China.

This past Monday, Trudeau travelled to China for an official state visit in advance of next weeks G20 summit. With stops in Beijing, Shanghai, Hangzhou and Hong Kong, Trudeaus itinerary includes meetings with government officials as well as leading figures in the countrys business sector. The trip marks Trudeaus first official visit to the country, less than a year after taking office.

Outlining his goals for the visit, Trudeau declared that he is striving for a closer, more balanced relationship between Canada and China  one that unlocks the untapped potential in our two countries commercial ties, and advances important issues like good governance, the rule of law and the environment.

Trudeau is well aware of whats at stake in his governments approach to China. Its no surprise that he is taking advantage of the G20 talks to forge a new path in Canadas relationship with China, or that his young daughter is travelling with him on this visit, just as he himself accompanied his own father on what would be Pierre Trudeaus last official mission to Beijing in 1983. Even the gifts presented to the Chinese administration by the younger Trudeau were a carefully orchestrated reminder of the esteem still held by the Chinese toward his father.

It was 43 years ago that Pierre Trudeau broke new ground by being one of the first western leaders to visit the Peoples Republic of China and recognize its new communist regime, a fact that is not lost on current Chinese leaders.

Trudeaus overtures to China and his blatant attempts to forge closer economic ties with the country stand in contrast with the previous Conservative government. When he became prime minister, Stephen Harper made it clear that he would not back away from criticizing Chinas human rights record, stating that he would not sell out Canadas values for the sake of the almighty dollar. It would not be until 2009, three years after he took office, that Harper would first travel to China, a move for which he was roundly chastised by the Chinese government.

To be sure, the Conservative governments stand on Chinas human rights record was laudable. International organizations like Amnesty International and Freedom House routinely call attention to the authoritarians regimes treatment of political dissidents, journalists and religious minorities within the country, and Canadians themselves remain wary of Chinas expansionist activities in Asia and Africa and its seemingly endless appetite for buying up businesses and property in other countries.

That being said, while we might not like some of their actions, notably when it comes to issues of human rights, the fact of the matter is that we as a country cannot allow our principles to stand in the way of some basic economic realities. And the reality is that we are a country that depends on trade  in fact, trade accounts for 60 per cent of our GDP, making us one of the most trade-dependent countries in the OECD. And who is our second largest trading partner after the United States? You guessed it, China.

Canada simply cannot afford to walk away from the economic benefits that can accrue from closer ties with China. Even the Conservatives came around to recognizing this in the latter years of their mandate, laying the groundwork for a future free trade agreement with China. The stakes are high: a report prepared by the Canada China Business Council estimates that a Sino-Canadian free trade agreement would generate $7.8 billion in new economic activity within 15 years.

We know from experience the exponential benefits these kinds of trade deals can have on our economy. A recent article in the National Post reported that trade between Canada and the United States tripled, to $2.4 billion a day, in the 25 years following the introduction of the first bilateral trade agreement between the two countries in 1989.

A closer relationship between Canada and China can also help mitigate other problems that can pop up along the way, such as Chinas recent threats to impose conditions on Canadian canola imports. While this dispute seems motivated more by politics than science, it is not one to be taken lightly. China is our second biggest customer of canola after the US, with shipments last year worth $3.8 billion alone. The fact that China has backed away from its Sept. 1 deadline to impose conditions in the wake of Trudeaus visit demonstrates the value of the Liberals prudent approach.

Trudeau will have to proceed carefully in his dealings with China. But as the canola issue reveals, sometimes you need to pick your battles when dealing with other partners you might not necessarily agree with, and keep your eyes on the larger prize.

 Kelly Saunders is an associate professor with the Department of Political Science at Brandon University.
Opinion

Hey there, time traveller!

This article was published 03/09/2016 (2247 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

On Monday, Sept. 5, the Brandon & District Labour Council is hosting a free barbecue at the southeast corner of Errol Black Park at First Street and Rosser Avenue from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. We encourage everyone in our community to join us in our Labour Day celebration.

We will offer you a complimentary barbecue and free draws, and a bouncy house will be set up for your children to enjoy for the afternoon. Please bring a lawn chair, picnic blanket and enjoy!

This day for Canadas unions is our time to celebrate our work and the everyday victories we win to make life better for everyone. We have advocated for stronger public pensions for nearly a decade, and now the federal government and Canadas premiers finally agree it is time to expand the Canada Pension Plan.

Later this year, the federal government will put legislation before Parliament to implement the first increase in retirement income benefits in half a century. While todays seniors still need help to avoid falling into poverty, it is young workers who will benefit the most from this change. Todays young workers need a new way to save for retirement. Changing the CPP so it covers more than just 25 per cent of working income will make a big difference when the time comes to retire.

We are also working hard to tackle precarious work and the shrinking number of good jobs. Good jobs, safe workplaces, fairness and equality are the basic ingredients of a better future for all working people. These are the things that union leaders like me and others believe in and work for every day. It motivates us to march in the streets, and celebrate in parks like we plan to do on Monday at Errol Black Park. We hope to see all of you out for this event. Happy Labour Day!

Jan Chaboyer, president

Brandon & District Labour Council
Opinion

Hey there, time traveller!

This article was published 03/09/2016 (2247 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Were very very focused on outlining job creation opportunities that we think will work, training opportunities that we believe will work, infrastructure investments that will work, and in tandem with one another these things will help us grow a stronger economy.

 Manitoba Progressive Conservative Premier Brian Pallister

Brian Pallister uttered those words last month, after word came down that more than 300 people in northern Manitoba would lose their jobs when Tolko Industries shuts down its paper mill plant in The Pas in December.

Pallister was short on specifics, merely suggesting that his government has a plan to create jobs and improve the quality of life for those living in northern Manitoba. His main message here was dont lose hope, were going to find a solution.

No doubt, the government truly is trying to find solutions that will improve the employment fortunes of the North, but the problem is very deep. Attracting profitable businesses to northern Manitoba is no easy task, especially considering that the paper mill plant has never once turned a profit.

Due to the fact that these jobs were based in the northern part of the province, the jobs that are being lost were well paid, too.

While it deliberates the possibilities, we suggest that the Pallister government take a hard look at the experience of the last Manitoba government that was under the control of the Progressive Conservatives, and the situation faced by the Maple Leaf plant here in Brandon when it first opened in 1999.

It has been deemed a world-class, state-of-the-art facility that uses the best technology and processes available, according to the City of Brandons economic development page. And over the last 17 years, this plant has changed not only the employment pool for the city, but the very face of the population as foreign workers from Colombia, Mexico, China, Ukraine and Mauritius immigrated to Canada and filled positions at the plant.

This has had a huge reverberation throughout the region, affecting everything from the housing market and the increase in needs for English as a Second Language training in our school division, to even the selection of groceries on local supermarket shelves.

But thats not how it was originally designed. Maple Leaf came here on the premise that there was a labour pool here of people who needed work and would take on jobs in the plant  and at first, a great number of these jobs were intended to benefit First Nations within Westman, especially Brandons own aboriginal population. The aboriginal population in Manitoba is seen as the most vulnerable population due to a high unemployment rate and poor economic outlook on Manitoba reserves.

For a brief time, the plan worked. According to the book Work in Tumultuous Times: Critical Perspectives, there were 1,300 workers employed by the plant in 2003  and of those, 29 per cent of the workforce was aboriginal, with only five per cent foreign migrant workers.

But the turnover rate at the plant was very high, particularly in the early years when it was said to have an 80 to 100 per cent churn in personnel. As The Brandon Sun and The Globe and Mail reported that year, the work was difficult and messy, a job that also took a toll on the body.

Unable to recruit enough people locally to swell its ranks and implement the required second shift that would improve local productivity, the company was forced to look outside the province for workers. And ultimately, it turned to the provinces temporary foreign workers program, a move that has been advantageous for both Brandon, and for the company.

It was also a happy accident, as this was not the original intention of the company, nor of the government of Gary Filmon that helped bring the plant to Brandon in the first place. It was developed with the best of intentions  provide local people with strong, stable employment, and hog producers with a strong local market. But the needs of the company did not meet the wants of the locals.

Since then, its been difficult for Brandon to land large operations for further economic development, and we are left wondering if the Maple Leaf experience is a factor here.

So to with northern Manitoba, and Premier Pallisters intentions to bring new industry and economic development to places like The Pas and Churchill. This government will have to be very careful what it does. As we wrote on this page last month, creation of a paper mill ended up costing Manitoba taxpayers hundreds of millions of dollars for a venture that ultimately will be closing its doors.

And were not sure that northern Manitoba will find itself the beneficiary of too many happy accidents, like Brandon was.
The German Chancellor is said to be concerned that the Apple tax ruling against Ireland will hurt investment in Europe.

The Irish Independent reports that Angela Merkel is backing the Government over its decision to appeal the 13bn ruling.

The Dail will be recalled next Wednesday to approve the Cabinets decision, and to set up an independent review of corporate taxes.

Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform, Paschal Donohoe, says it follows 'a lot of debate and a lot of soul-searching': "We just tried to weigh up what is the best thing for our country in the long run.

"We have genuinely made an assesment that is standing over the integrity of the revenue commissioner and saying they don't do deals with anybody.

"Sending out a message to everyone who has jobs in our country and creates jobs in our country that the way we collect tax is not going to change.

"that is why after a lot of debate and discussion among all of us, we have collectively reached a decision."
By Patrick Flynn

A transatlantic flight diverted to Shannon Airport this afternoon after a passenger on board was reported to have fallen ill.

American Airlines flight AA-755 was travelling from Paris to Philadelphia when it turned around over Co Mayo.

There were 97 passengers and crew on board the Airbus A330-200 jet.

Fire crews were standing by for the aircraft when it landed safely at 2.40pm and accompanied the jet to the terminal.

Ambulance paramedics quickly boarded the jet to assess the passenger who was transported to University Hospital Limerick for treatment.

On Wednesday, 12 people were taken to hospital when a United Airlines flight diverted after it encountered turbulence over the Atlantic.

A total of 23 people were assessed and triaged at the airport before 10 passengers and two flight attendants were transported to hospital with minor injuries.

The USs National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) will investigate the matter while Irelands Air Accident Investigation Unit (AAIU) has said it will provide assistance on request if required to.
The leader of France's far-right National Front set the tone for her campaign for the French presidency on Saturday, calling to fight an Islamist "offensive" and promising to hold a nationwide referendum on European Union membership if she is elected next spring.

At a rally in a small eastern village, Marine Le Pen focused on her favourite issues, such as national sovereignty, immigration control, Islamism and what she calls "savage globalisation".

The far-right candidate for the April-May election pledged to back the "France of the forgotten, the abandoned and the voiceless".

Ms Le Pen, who announced her presidential bid months ago, delivered her annual speech in Brachay, a hamlet of a few dozen inhabitants and the French municipality where she symbolically won the largest share of votes in the last election.

Along with the economy, the relationship between France's Muslims and non-Muslims has been a recurring theme as presidential hopefuls have kicked off their campaigns.

Ms Le Pen claimed she was right before all other presidential hopefuls because her traditional issues are now at the centre of the political debate and have found a "considerable resonance" among French voters.

Some politicians on the left say she is using the issue to encourage racism in France, yet polls suggest that she is increasingly likely to make it to the run-off in the presidential election.

Following the British precedent, Ms Le Pen promised to hold a nationwide referendum on whether France should leave or remain in the European Union if she is elected president.

"I will do it in France," she said and hailed the British who had "the courage to choose their destiny" by voting to leave the EU.

Referring to the controversy over local French bans on the burkini swimwear, she denounced a "relegation of women behind fabrics" and said that women should have the same right as men "to enjoy the French way of life on the beach and at school, in the street and at work".

She said she fears "dress segregation" will eventually pave the way for a "physical and legal" relegation of women.

"When are we going to have a ban on make-up? Then a ban (for women) to appear in public?" she asked.

The National Front leader also accused former French conservative president Nicolas Sarkozy, one of her potential presidential opponents, of pledging allegiance to a hard-line branch of Islam after he reportedly met the Saudi King in Morocco last month.

Ms Le Pen branded the rise of Islamic fundamentalism as the "new totalitarianism of the 21st century" and suggested terrorists were hiding among migrants.

"The best weapon against terrorism is the ballot," she said.

Since January 2015, Islamic State group-inspired attackers have killed at least 235 people in France.

French citizens or French-speaking residents have committed the overwhelming majority of strikes, often employing suicide tactics alongside command of their home surroundings.
Zimbabwe's 92-year-old President Robert Mugabe arrived home today after an overseas absence that led to rumours about a health crisis, joking to reporters: "Yes, I was dead".

"It is true that I was dead," the world's oldest head of state said. "And I resurrected. As I always do."

"Are we speaking to a ghost?" someone asked him.

"Once I get back to my country, I am real," Mr Mugabe said.

The president had not been seen since leaving a regional summit early on Tuesday.

Flight data showed his plane went to Dubai after the original flight path indicated a course toward Asia.

Mr Mugabe has received treatment in Singapore in the past.

His spokesman had denied reports that Mr Mugabe, the target of near-daily protests in recent weeks, was ill. The president told people on Saturday he had been away attending to family matters. He later addressed a youth meeting at his ruling party's headquarters.

His absence had raised the level of uncertainly in this southern African country already in economic and political turmoil.

Frustration has been rising in Zimbabwe over a plummeting economy and allegations of government corruption.

Police on Thursday banned protests in the capital for two weeks, on the eve of a demonstration planned by a newly formed coalition of opposition groups.

Mr Mugabe has been in power since 1980, and many in Zimbabwe have known no other leader in their lifetime. He has said he would run again in elections in 2018.

Recently, his wife, Grace, said Mr Mugabe would rule from the grave.
home World Many refugees in Switzerland are now turning to Christianity

Numerous refugees in Switzerland are now joining evangelical churches. The Counselling Center for Questions about Integration and Religion reported that many Afghans and Kurds have converted to Christianity in the last month.

Kathrin Anliker, the coordinator of the organization, said that refugees who experienced radicalism in their homelands are now open to changing their religion. She stated that some of those who were baptized in Switzerland were already Christians prior to moving but they were forced to hide their faith to avoid persecution.

There are suspicions that refugees are converting to Christianity in an effort to increase their chances of getting asylum. Lea Wertheimer, spokeperson of the State Office of Migration, insisted that conversion has no effect in its decision to grant asylum to a refugee.

"We check every case and decide if the person gets asylum or not based on the Swiss Asylum Law," Wertheimer said to Evangelical Focus.

Philippe DAtwyler, a minister of the Reformed Protestant Church in Zurich, said that many of the conversions happen in the Free Evengelical Churches. "The strong spirituality and the familiar atmosphere which are found in independent evangelical churches probably respond better to the needs of the new converts than the somehow detached state churches," he said.

Churches in Switzerland are now offering worship services for Iranians and Afghans.

There are also reports of conversions and services held just for refugees in other European countries.

In Germany, pastor Gottfried Martens said that his congregation grew from 150 to 700 people in just two years because of the converted refugees.

In Austria, there were 300 applications for adult baptisms to the Austrian Catholic Church during the first quarter of 2016. It was estimated that 70 percent of the applicants were refugees.

In Finland, a survey that covered 165 Lutheran churches revealed that there were a total of 117 baptisms of former Muslims. More specifically, 13 Pentecostal churches reported 108 conversions.

The Anglican Cathedral in Liverpool now holds a weekly Persian service for migrants from Iran, Afghanistan and others from central Asia.
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan and Saudi Arabia are said to have agreed to activate the agreement on financing and providing...
LONDON: Rishi Sunak will on Wednesday face off against opposition lawmakers for the first time as British prime...
COLOMBO: Sri Lanka will attempt to increase tax revenues to 15% of gross domestic product by 2026 from 8.5% now,...
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A fifth team of volunteers from Childrens Disaster Services (CDS) arrived in Baton Rouge, La., on Thursday, Sept. 1. Four CDS teams already have completed their service there. The CDS volunteers have been caring for children and families who have been displaced by flooding and are living in American Red Cross shelters.

The Church of the Brethrens Material Resources has sent two additional shipments of relief supplies to Louisiana on behalf of Church World Service (CWS).



Childrens Disaster Services

The CDS volunteer teams in Louisiana have served more than 400 children, reports CDS associate director Kathy Fry-Miller. CDS also has teams on alert today to respond to hurricanes in Hawaii and Florida if needed.

There are continuing needs for so many people who fear they may be permanently displaced from their homes, said a Facebook post from CDS, expressing concern for the families affected by flooding in Louisiana. We are grateful for the children that have been sharing their laughter and tears with our teams, and for the families who have shared their children with us during these stressful weeks. We are grateful for our partners in response, particularly Red Cross staff. We are grateful for our volunteers.

CDS has shared a blog written by a first-time volunteer, Child Life Specialist Brianna Pastewski. Find it at http://cldisasterrelief.org/2016/08/first-day-in-louisiana-by-brianna

Material Resources

The Material Resources program based at the Brethren Service Center in New Windsor, Md., warehouses and ships relief goods on behalf of ecumenical partners and humanitarian aid organizations. In the last week of August, two more shipments were made to Louisiana in response to the flooding, following on a first shipment sent on behalf of CWS.

In the two most recent shipments, CWS released 1,000 clean-up buckets to the Baton Rouge area on Aug. 23, and sent 100 cartons of baby care kits and 400 clean-up buckets to Clinton on Aug. 25.
An independent review into the NDIS portal failure that led thousands of participants to have payments fail or be delayed has found the national rollout was under-prepared and went live before it was ready.

The PwC report was released on Friday as federal, state and territory ministers agreed the Commonwealth would establish an independent complaints and serious incidents system to speed up help to those with a disability.

Social Services Minister Christian Porter and his state and territory counterparts agreed the impact and scale of the recent NDIS issues were "unacceptable". Credit:Michael O'Brien

The review into the mass failures since the myplace online portal went live on July 1 found the information and communications technology implementation "ran out of time" to fully complete necessary activities and proceeded knowing there were risks of serious problems.

"However, the change effort and overall program was under-resourced and underprepared in order to provide the accurate and timely support required by participants and providers when faced with ICT challenges," the review concluded.
No one throws a wedding like a Mehajer. A family from Sydney's west emerging as Australia's answer to the Kardashians.

On the back of her brother Salim's show  and traffic  stopping nuptials last year, Khadijeh "Kat" Mehajer has also followed in his footsteps as the Van Wilder of weddings.

But it was her bridegroom, Ibraham Sakalaki, who took creative control of the proceedings that were held over two weekends, culminating in a reception staged at two venues last week.

"Ibraham was a huge influence in the way the wedding came together, he was a groomzilla at some stages. We had sleepless nights and stressful days but it was all worth it in the end," Mehajer said.
According to freshly-minted Senator Derryn Hinch, descending the grand marble staircase at Parliament House with a radiant Jacqui Lambie on his arm, complete with false eye-lashes and hair extensions, was "just like" Scarlett and Rhett coming down the stairs at Tara "in Gone With The Wind".

A wide-awake Hinch informed PS he and his fellow senator had been hatching plans for their "date night" for some time, but even he was surprised at the speed in which the pair managed to create a media frisson, out-sparkling the likes of Julie Bishop.

Senator Jacqui Lambie, with her 'Kardashian hair' and Senator Derryn Hinch make a grand arrival for the Mid Winter Ball. Credit:Alex Ellinghausen

Indeed they had already earned the portmanteau "Jerryn" by the time they reached the bottom the stairs, which Hinch admitted sounded better than other potentials: "Dacquie" and (gulp) "Lynch".

"I had been meeting a lot of backbenchers and front benchers before I arrived in Canberra and Jacqui and I have been getting along very well. There are a lot of things we agree on and a lot of work we can help each other with... things like war veterans. When I asked if she was going to the Mid Winter Ball she said she had no one to go with ... which is when I asked her to be my date. I enjoyed her company very much," Hinch told PS.
I'm the first to admit that I lost sleep when my youngest first told me she was dating a woman. I was worried about what it might mean for her. But I love my daughter and her partner more every day. They ask for no special treatment and in our family we offer love unconditionally.

I'm a proud Dad to four kids. I've been lucky to see each of them find someone that they can love.

Last October, I did a very special thing for the last time  I walked my youngest daughter down the aisle. I was proud. She was happy. We came down the aisle four-abreast: my daughter, her now wife, her wife's father and me.

Nick Kyriacou and his daughter, Joy, on the day of her commitment ceremony. Credit:Florent Vidal Photography

In my own life, there is not a lot I haven't had to deal with and fighting is something I've had to do more than once. I spent my younger days  during school and after  fighting against the label "wog". As a kid living in Wollongong, the son of migrants from Cyprus, I fought against that hatred sometimes with my fists and sometimes with words.

As I got older, I fought battles with my parents. My own father worked the majority of his life in the blast furnaces of Blue Scope Steel (BHP). My parents had very little education and struggled to look after four kids in a new country. Choosing to marry a woman of a different faith, I had to fight my parent's idea that this was wrong. Later, I fought against the idea that divorce, too, was wrong.

But personally, I thought that by now my days of fighting labels were over. Instead, I am struggling again for my daughter's rights.

I do not want to have to fight for my daughter or any other person in a same-sex relationship to be treated equally. We seem to have spent a fair amount of time making people fight to be who they are in this country. I am a proud Australian but I am hurt and ashamed by our position on same sex marriage. I do not want to see my daughter or any other person fight against the feelings you get when you are openly told you are not good enough, you are not equal, you are not 'one of us'. But that's exactly what a plebiscite debate will do.
The girl asked if someone could sign her homework, so she could turn it in to her teacher the next day. "That broke my heart," said Burton. "She said, 'I did my work.' She pulled it out and showed it to us. It was math homework, (like) 'Which number is greater? Which number is odd or even?'  I told her, 'Sweetie, you probably won't have to go to school tomorrow.  But where you're going is going to have everything you need.'" In the apartment, Burton found an unopened can of infant formula and a baby bottle; she grabbed both. Michelle Burton comforts a baby after responding to a call in Alabama. At the precinct, officers bought whatever the other kids wanted to eat from a vending machine. There, Burton removed her vest and other police gear so she could comfortably hold the infant and give her a bottle. It had to have been hours since she had been fed, Burton thought.

"A lot of us are parents," Birmingham police spokesman Lieutenant Sean Edwards said. "We just go into parent mode and not necessarily police mode.  Officer Burton, she just really wanted to grab the baby and just cuddle the baby." So she did. Soon, the infant was sound asleep on Burton's shoulder. At some point, someone in the precinct captured a photo of the tender scene, which Burton later showed her husband. Edwards said he wasn't surprised by Burton's actions. The department has more than 800 sworn officers, and they have to be prepared for dozens of different scenarios, he said.

"It's a part of our job, it's a part of what we see, what we do. Our concern is to preserve, to protect," he said. "We find ourselves in a lot of situations like this." Maybe it's because Burton, 33, is a mother of two boys herself, or perhaps it's just that she's good at comforting children. She's often tapped to go to car accidents and other incidents where kids might be left alone. "They're like, 'Let's call Burton because this is what she does.' It happens a lot," Burton said. "But it's not just me. I actually have pictures of officers, male officers, like making baby bottles.  We do what we have to do when we have to do it." The rest of that night was a blur, but Burton said she can't forget the number of people who came together to make sure the four children were safe. A social worker  who had just welcomed her own newborn grandchild  showed up to the precinct and stayed with them until 3 a.m. the next day, when they finally were placed in the care of Child Protective Services, Burton said. Burton finally went home at 4am and promptly fell asleep.

While she was sleeping, Brian Burton, who also is in law enforcement, posted the photo of his wife and the baby on Facebook early the next morning. "Last night, my wife Michelle Burton told me she would be late getting off work because of call she was on where the parents of 4 small children had both overdosed," Brian Burton wrote in his post. "She spent the rest of the night taking care of these babies. She got home at 4 this morning. I've never seen her more beautiful than in this picture. What an incredible woman." Michelle Burton woke up to find hundreds of notifications on her phone. The photo had been shared more than 1700 times. She said she's not surprised by her husband's post, because he has always been her biggest supporter.

"He's very proud of who I am and what I do," Burton said. "What surprised me is just [how much] positive that seems to have come out of it." AL.com wrote about the viral photo. For the next several days, Burton said she couldn't go anywhere without getting stopped. Someone at a gas station recognised her: Are you that officer? the stranger had asked. What happened with the kids? While at the bank, another woman simply walked up to her and gave her a hug. Birmingham may have the largest population in Alabama, but at its heart, it's a small town, Burton said. "I'm overwhelmed about the whole thing," Burton said. "I don't want people to think that it's only me that does this. We all do things like this.  It was one of those nights where everybody worked together and everybody did what they needed to do."
NSW Health Minister Jillian Skinner said she is "not going anywhere" following revelations a second stillborn baby was mistakenly cremated at Royal North Shore Hospital.

The rattled minister told the media on Saturday afternoon she had received hundreds of messages of support, from the local health boards, clinicians and members of the public imploring her not to resign.

But she had not spoken to Premier Mike Baird since the latest scandal broke.

"I know the opposition has been calling for my resignation - that's pretty well expected - but I can tell you people in the health system, doctors, nurses, just some residents I met yesterday, said, 'For goodness sake, don't go anywhere'," Mrs Skinner said.
The agency tasked with implementing the National Disability Insurance Scheme "ran out of time" to successfully launch the roll out of the $22 billion program on its due date, with a report casting doubt on its ability to manage the scheme designed to help more than 400,000 Australians with disability.

A report into the National Disability Insurance Agency's new computer system, designed ahead of the July 1 launch, found there was not one catastrophic event which led to its failure but a "series of compounding issues".

It also found the agency's transition to the new system was "inadequate from the outset" and it was forced to rely on outside help to fix the problem which left people with disability and organisations which support them in limbo.

The report by PwC was ordered by the Federal Government following widespread disruption to the full NDIS roll out throughout July and August.
Queensland photographers have cleaned up in one of the world's largest print photography awards, with a Brisbane snapper receiving recognition for a collection close to his heart.

Six Queenslanders won awards at the Australian Professional Photography Awards (APPA) in Melbourne on August 31, including Brisbane-based Jannick Clausen who took home the title of Australia's top professional landscape photographer.

Jannick Clausen has been a photographer for 25 years and was inspired by his father, who died in March after a battle with cancer.

"I was ecstatic," Mr Clausen said.

"It's pretty much everybody's dream when you enter into awards like that, so I'm very happy."
A cyclist suffered serious injuries after colliding with a car at the Sunshine Coast on Saturday.

A car was turning right from the northbound lanes of David Low Way in Diddillibah about 5pm when it crashed into a cyclist travelling south along the same road.

A cyclist was taken to Nambour hospital with serious injuries after hitting a car at Diddillibah on Saturday evening.

The cyclist was taken to Nambour Hospital with serious injuries and the driver of the car was assisting police with their investigations.

The Forensic Crash Unit are investigating.
Mark Tromp was found on Saturday afternoon. Mr Tromp left Wangaratta police station shortly before 10.30pm, giving media camped outside a one-finger salute. He was released from police custody in to the care of his policeman brother, Ken. The Tromp children: Mitchell, Riana and Ella. A smiling Ken Tromp had earlier told media outside the police station "everything is going really well", but the family did not want to make any further comment.

Police confirmed Mr Tromp had been cleared by a medical assessor from Albury Wodonga Health and was safe and well. He did not need to be taken to hospital. Mark and Jacoba (Coby) Tromp. It is still unknown why the 51-year-old fled his Silvan home with his wife and three adult children last Monday. He had not been spotted in three days since he abandoned his car and ran into Merriwa Park on Wednesday. Despite speculation that the family suffered a shared delusional disorder before and during their "technology-free" road trip, Mitchell told Fairfax Media there were no recent or current psychological diagnoses in his family.

Paranoia over financial affairs  or that someone was trying to steal their money  is believed to be the catalyst for triggering the family crisis. The paranoia built up to a point where Mark and his wife, Jacoba, became terrified someone was coming after them before making the ill-fated decision to leave the family home in Silvan last Monday. Monbulk sergeant Mark Knight, who works with Mr Tromp's brother and knows the family, said no one was after the family and they were not being followed. Police have not found evidence their money was being targeted by a thief.

Sergeant Knight said previously there were no diagnosed mental health conditions and there is no evidence of drug taking or drug psychosis. The family have no debts and their businesses  an earth-moving company and berry farm  are successful. His wife Jacoba and eldest daughter Riana remain in hospital in Goulburn being assessed by mental health practitioners. Relatives have travelled to Goulburn to be with them. In a previous appeal to the public on Thursday, Mitchell said he had never seen anything like what he saw happen in his family. "It's really hard to explain or put a word on it but they were just fearing for their lives and then they decided to flee," he said.

"It was a build-up of different, normal, everyday events  just pressure  and it slowly got worse as the days went by." Mark and Jacoba Tromp were seen together at a Wangaratta shopping centre on Wednesday. The next sighting came when a Wangaratta couple reported the Tromp's grey Peugeot station wagon following them around the streets about 10pm the same day. When they stopped in Ely Street, they saw Mr Tromp get out of the car, run past Christopher Robin Kindergarten and into Merriwa Park. Police were earlier investigating three break-ins on Thursday at a horse club, football club and the general store around Milawa and Oxley.

The back door had been pushed open at each premises and food was taken from one. It is not known if Mr Tromp was responsible and may have been trying to get supplies, but his family had been hopeful it was him. For help or information call Lifeline on 131 114.  Timeline

Monday, August 29: The Tromps leave the family home in Ella's Peugeot, terrified someone was after them. During the course of the drive, it's discovered Mitchell has brought his phone with him. He throws it out of the window near Warburton, about 32 kilometres from the family home. The family continues driving towards Bathurst. Tuesday, August 30: Mitchell decides he wants to go home. He leaves the family at Kelso, a suburb of Bathurst, about 7am and makes his way to Sydney. The rest of the family continue on to the Jenolan Caves. That afternoon, they decide to split up. Ella and Riana steal a car in desperation and make their way to Goulburn then go their separate ways. Riana is found along the highway after stealing a lift in a ute and is taken to the local hospital due to stress-related issues. Ella drives back to the family home in Silvan. Parents Mark and Jacoba are reported missing and that afternoon police attend the family home to find credit cards and mobile phones lying around the house and car keys in ignitions. Wednesday, August 31: Mitchell arrives at the family home in the morning after catching the overnight train from Sydney. That afternoon, police search the Jenolan Caves area for Mark and Jacoba but are unable to find them. The couple drive south to Wangaratta where they separate. Jacoba takes public transport to Yass and Mark is seen leaving the Peugeot, with keys in the ignition, in a side street. Thursday, September 1: Police are notified in the early hours of the morning that the family car has been located in Wangaratta and that a lone man was seen walking away from the car. It is believed this man was Mark. Later in the day, Jacoba is taken to Yass District Hospital after a local found her wandering around town. Loading
On the night she was raped, Annalisa Sher was wearing a sheer top.

According to the detective she reported the incident to, it was perhaps her choice of clothing that provoked the assault.

Annalisa Sher protesting outside the State Library during the annual SlutWalk down Swanston Street on Saturday. Credit:Chris Hopkins

"My see-through top 'didn't help my cause'," Ms Sher says she was told.

The 25-year-old was one of almost 1000 people who flocked to the State Library of Victoria on Saturday to protest against victim blaming and "slut-shaming".
A truck driver has died after a trailer became unhitched from a caravan and hit his vehicle.

The crash happened around 3.45pm on Friday when the Hino truck was being driven west on Brookton Highway in Kelmscott.

A truck driver has died after his truck was hit by a trailer which broke loose from the caravan it was being towed by. Credit:ABC News

Police say a Dodge ute, which was towing a caravan which, in turn, had a trailer hitched to it, was heading east at the same time.

As the Dodge passed the Stony Brook Bridge, the trailer, which was carrying quad bikes, became unhitched from the caravan and crossed onto the other side of the road, crashing into the right hand side of the truck.
Bangkok: The deadly bomb that ripped through the home town of president Rodrigo Duterte late on Friday, is the first violent challenge to his "shock and awe" style rule that has exposed deep fissures in Philippine society and tossed a political hand grenade into Asian politics.

Within hours of the attack, Duterte declared a "state of lawlessness", mobilising security forces across his island nation and resembling the dark days of the Marcos dictatorship that ended 30 years ago.

Only days earlier Duterte had assured Filipinos he did not intend to become a dictator as the body count in his shoot-on-sight drugs crackdown topped 2000.

"They will say 'he will do a Marcos' far from it, I am just doing my job," he said.
Bizarre World Series opener ends with Phillies stunning Verlander's Astros

Justin Verlander's World Series struggles continued as the Astros blew a 5-0 lead, losing Game 1 in extra innings to the Phillies.
After Blackstone bought back Intelenet Global Services, a back office provider it had earlier sold to British firm Serco, its executive chairman Susir Kumar set the company a target of $1 billion revenue by 2020. Kumar tells Raghu Krishnan in an interview Intelenet wants to be a niche player with predictable revenue and profit. Edited excerpts:



What are the changes you are seeing in clients who deal with BPO firms?



Expectations are changing. Today clients want an outcome in terms of growth, profitability, brand or compliance. They are looking at returns. There is more outcome-based conversations than fixed-cost business.
Noida is emerging as a hub for smartphone makers. While the city earlier housed assembly and manufacturing facilities, a number of mobile handset makers are setting up offices and research units there. India is expected to overtake the US as the second largest smartphone market next year, according to a recent Morgan Stanley research report. KPMG reckons India will have 180 million smartphones by 2019, 13.5 per cent of the global market. Chinese handset manufacturer Vivo leased 250,000 sq ft in the World Trade Centre at Greater Noida for its office, R&D centre and manufacturing unit this ...
Auto repairs start-up Zonnett, founded by former Zee Group CEO Abhijit Saxena and former investment banker Kanishka Garg, is planning to raise around three-five million USD to expand its services.The proposed fund raising would be utilised for investments in geographic expansion, product development and scaling of operation in the start-up which positions itself as a one-stop solution to automobile repairs and services.Kanishka Garg, chief operations officer of Zonnett, said that in January the company had raised about half a million USD to develop production and applications and to set up operations in Mumbai.Investors include seasoned angel investors Atul Phadnis, founder of Whats ON India (now a Gracenote US-owned company), Chandresh Ruparel (managing director, Rothschild India), Suresh Balakrishnan (joint managing director, STULZ CHSPL India) and German MNC STULZ-CHSPL, Indian subsidiary of STULZ Group from Germany.is in active discussions with investors for raising Series A capital, about $3.5 million, said Garg.The proposed fund raising would support the company's plan to expand its operations to six more cities  Bengaluru, Delhi, Hyderabad, Chennai, Kolkata and Ahmedabad.The company plans to have 600 workshops in eight cities by March-June 2017, as compared to 110 workshops currently in Mumbai and Pune.Currently, is multi-model and we are open for exclusive brands, said Garg.

In the Indian car after sales service industry that is worth of Rs 20,000 crore, which is mostly in the unorganised sector.
The IITs are "slaves" of their own tradition and "orthodox", Delhi Deputy Chief Minister said on Saturday, claiming these factors are major hindrances for the premier tech institutes towards attaining world class status.

Speaking at a seminar here, Sisodia cited the example of Malvika Joshi, who was rejected by IIT because as she does not have a 10th or 12th completion certificate, but was accepted by the prestigious Massachusetts Institute of Technology in the US.

"The institute which is given top status in India is orthodox. It is a slave of its own tradition, not willing to change, unwilling to become scientific. That is why it is India's top class, not the world's.

"We believe that only that person should get admission in IIT who has spent 20 years in school. This rigidity led IIT to lose one talented candidate. When I read about this girl the first thing that I thought was that is why IIT can never be the world's premier institute," Sisodia said.

Sisodia, who holds the Education portfolio as well, also pitched for a separate Education ministry in the Centre, saying a person should not be considered as a resource. Education falls under the Ministry of Human Resources currently.

"The election season is going on in the United States and debates are going as to who will be the Education minister or the Finance minister and the debate is between professors of top institutes, educationists.

"Neither are they elected people nor are they bureaucrats or politicians. And look at our country where fake people rule the roost (number 2 ka aadmi)," he said.
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#WATCH Prime Minister Narendra Modi emplanes for Hangzhou (China) from Hanoi (Vietnam) pic.twitter.com/5hYMAGJlaG  ANI (@ANI_news) September 3, 2016

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday left Vietnam for China to attend the G20 summit beginning on Sunday after wrapping up his two-day maiden visit to the country that witnessed the signing of 12 agreements.

"A packed day of diplomacy in Vietnam ends as PM @narendramodi emplanes for Hangzhou to attend G20 Summit," External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Vikas Swarup tweeted along with a photo showing a red carpet goodbye for Modi.

The first leg of his 2-nation tour saw India extending a $500 million line of credit to Vietnam to deepen their defence cooperation, amid China's claims in the disputed South China Sea.

Bilateral ties were also upgraded to Comprehensive Strategic Partnership besides inking of 12 agreements including in defence, trade and sharing white shipping information. Vietnam currently has Comprehensive Strategic Partnership only with Russia and China.

"I thank the people and government of Vietnam for the very good hospitality during my visit," Modi said.

"Thank you Vietnam. I will remember this visit as a memorable and productive one, that laid the ground for even better India-Vietnam ties," he said in another tweet.

The Prime Minister's final engagement during the visit was a call on Nguyen Phu Trong, General Secretary of the Communist Party.

The two-day G20 summit beginning on Sunday in China's picturesque city of Hangzhou will see Modi join US President Barack Obama, Chinese President Xi Jinping along with other top world leaders to discuss global efforts needed to boost economic growth and trade.




Prime Minister offered Vietnam a credit line on Saturday of half a billion dollars for defence cooperation, giving a lift to a country rapidly pursing a military deterrent as discord festers in the South China Sea.

The deal was among a dozen cooperation agreements Modi signed in Hanoi alongside his Vietnamese counterpart, Nguyen Xuan Phuc, on the first visit to the country by an Indian prime minister in 15 years.

India and Vietnam share borders and large trade volumes with China and have repeatedly locked horns with Beijing, over the territorial disputes in the Himalayas and the South China Sea, respectively.

Both are also beefing-up of their defences and in India's case, its defence industry, promoting heavily its supersonic BrahMos missile. India is keen to sell the missile to Vietnam and four other countries, according to a government note seen by Reuters in June.

It was unclear if the latest loan included the $100 million India had previously made available to Vietnam for four yet-to-be-built patrol vessels in a deal agreed in late 2014.

In an address to media, Modi said the credit was for "facilitating mutual defence cooperation" and the relationship between the two countries would "contribute to stability, securities and prosperity in this region".

Modi, who was en-route to a G20 Summit in China, made no mention of the patrol vessels, nor BrahMos missiles, and did not elaborate on what Vietnam would use the $500 million credit for.

The offer comes after a surge of almost 700 percent in Vietnam's defence procurements as of 2015, according to the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute think-tank, which tracks the arm trade over five-year periods.

Vietnam is in the midst of a quiet military buildup analysts say is designed as a deterrent, to secure its 200 nautical mile Exclusive Economic Zone as China grows more assertive in staking its claims in the South China Sea.

Experts say Vietnam is in the market for fighter jets and more advanced missile systems, in addition to its six kilo-class submarines it has bought from Russia, the last of which it will receive late this year.

The 12 agreements signed on Saturday covered areas like health, cyber security, ship-building, U.N. peace-keeping operations and naval information sharing.

Both leaders said ties would be upgraded to the level of "comprehensive strategic relationship" and bilateral trade would be almost doubled to $15 billion by 2020.
#WATCH Prime Minister Narendra Modi arrives in Hangzhou (China) for the Annual G-20 Leaders Summit. pic.twitter.com/2zpBETlnJU  ANI (@ANI_news) September 3, 2016

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday flew into this Chinese city for the crucial G20 summit and talks with top world leaders, including one with Chinese President Xi Jinping on irritants in bilateral ties like India's NSG bid and the CPEC, which runs through PoK.

Modi, who reached here after a two-day maiden visit to Hanoi, begins his programme on Saturday morning by holding talks with Xi, in their second meeting in less than three months. The two leaders had last met on the sidelines of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Summit in June in Tashkent.

Saturday's meeting is viewed as important in the backdrop of steady decline in the bilateral relations over a raft of issues including the $46 billion China-Pakistan Economic Corridor which runs through Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK).

The two leaders, who enjoy a good rapport, would discuss contentious issues, which will also include listing of Pakistan-based terrorist organisations in the UN and China stalling India's membership at the elite Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG).

This would be followed by a meeting of the BRICS (Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa) leaders ahead of the G20 summit, which would begin later in the day.

Modi will also hold bilateral meetings with Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull and Saudi Arabia's Deputy Crown Prince Mohammad bin Salman.

He will attend the G20 summit that begins on Saturday with this year's theme of "Strengthening Policy coordination and Breaking a new path for growth" followed by a number of cultural programmes organised by the Chinese government.

On Monday, he will take part in the second and concluding session of the G20 and hold bilateral meetings with British Prime Minister Theresa May and Argentinian President Mauricio Macri before returning to Delhi.

In all, he would reside in this picturesque city for about 48 hours, officials said.

A meeting between Modi and US President Barack Obama is, however, not on the cards during this trip, they said.
Capping his visit to Vietnam, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday called on General Secretary of the Communist Party of Nguyen Phu Trong here.

"Final engagement for PM in this key visit is a call on Nguyen Phu Trong, General Secretary of the Communist Party ," External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Vikas Swarup tweeted along with pictures of the two leaders.

Earlier in the day, Modi held delegation-level talks with Vietnamese Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc following which the two sides signed 12 agreements while giving a strong boost to bilateral defence ties and upgrading the relationship from a Strategic Partnership to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership .

Following a luncheon banquet hosted in his honour by Phuc, Modi visited the Quan Su Pagoda, also known as the Ambassadors' Pagoda, here.

He then called on Assembly Chairperson Nguyen Thi Kim Ngan.

He also met Vietnamese President Tran Dai Quang who voiced his support for India's Act East Policy.

Modi arrived here on Friday ahead of his visit to China to attend the G-20 Summit to be held on September 4-5.

This is the first bilateral prime ministerial visit from India to in 15 years since the visit of then Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee in 2001.
Vietnamese President Tran Dai Quang on Saturday said that fully supports India's Act East Policy.

He said this when visiting Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi called on him here.

"President said fully supports Act East Policy of India," sources said here.

is the country coordinator of India for the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) region which is the focus of India's Act East Policy.

The Prime Minister, according to the sources, said that Vietnam was a priority in the Act East Policy.

He also said that as Asean country coordinator for India during 2016-18, Vietnam can take forward the relations even further.

The President thanked the government and people of India for consistent support for the socio-economic development of Vietnam.

He welcomed the 45th anniversary of diplomatic ties between India and Vietnam next year and said that the partnership would strengthen peace, development and security in the region.

Modi recalled Quang's visit to India in 2013 as Minister for Public Security and lauded the strong foundation that had been laid for security and defence ties between the two countries, the sources said.

Quang called for frequent high level exchanges to further strengthen political trust between the two countries.

"He sought further support from India in investment, education, training and science and technology," the sources said

"He asked for more Indian participation in oil and gas sectors of Vietnam."

With India signing an agreement with Vietnam on cooperation in exploration and use of outer space for peaceful purposes earlier in the day, Modi explained the benefits of space technology for the common man.

The Prime Minister extended an invitation to Quang to visit India which was accepted, the sources said .

Earlier in the day, Modi held delegation-level talks with Vietnamese Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc following which the two sides signed 12 agreements while giving a strong boost to bilateral defence ties and upgrading the relationship from a Strategic Partnership to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership .

Following a luncheon banquet hosted in his honour by Phuc, Modi visited the Quan Su Pagoda, also known as the Ambassadors' Pagoda, here.

He then called on Vietnam Assembly Chairperson Nguyen Thi Kim Ngan.

Modi arrived here on Friday ahead of his visit to China to attend the G-20 Summit to be held on September 4-5.

This is the first bilateral prime ministerial visit from India to Vietnam in 15 years since the visit of then Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee in 2001.
Indias growth potential is the best among the fastest growing major economies and the country should grab the opportunity to corner as much global capital as possible at a time when one third of the worlds government bonds worth $13 trillion is having a negative yield, said Deepak Parekh, chairman of Housing Development Finance Corporation (HDFC) on Saturday.
The is exploring multiple non budget funding options to implement projects including high speed trains, rolling stock, station development signalling and infrastructure development. Apart from approaching multilateral organisaions like World Bank, Asian Development Bank, the IR is in talks with public sector banks including State Bank of India, Infrastructure Development Finance Company and pension and sovereign wealth funds. This is in addition to the budgetary allocation of Rs 1.21 lakh crore for the current fiscal.
Despite that, the pace at which roads are being made, railways is expanding. Theres a six-fold increase in electronic goods manufacturing These things show we havent taken shortcuts. And my motto is like what you see on railway platforms  shortcuts will cut you short. We dont want to take any shortcuts and the results are showing, he said.

On unaccounted money, or black money, the PM advised people to declare it before, under the Income Declaration Scheme, before the deadline of September 30, or they might face stern action. Modi said his government has enacted a law that has curbed export of black money. For black money at home, the PM said: If you made a mistake, knowingly or unknowingly, come to the mainstream now, sleep peacefully at night. I have given a way If I take stern steps after September 30, no one can blame me. He said nobody has the right to loot the money that belongs to the poor of this country. The scheme, which opened on June 1, allows people to declare unaccounted money by paying tax and penalty on it.

Modi said the economic situation in May 2014 was much worse than it seemed on the surface. He said he was confronted with a choice  whether to be politically expedient and put the poor state of the economy in the public domain or keep the interest of the nation uppermost. He said his government had even mulled tabling in Parliament a white paper on the economic condition before the presentation of the first Budget. But that would have dragged the economy even lower, markets would have been badly hit, increased hopelessness, affected the market and the worlds view of India would have become worse. It would have got very difficult to pull the economy out of such morass, he said. Modi said this was the reason why his government didnt make public the jugglery that was done in previous Budgets (during the UPA rule) and the condition of bank NPAs.

The PM said he opted to be silent in national interest even at the cost of political damage. It hurt us, we were criticised. It was made to look like this was my fault. All these issues from the past impacted private investment, Modi said. The PM said the positive fallout of this has been that he is now able to address these issues. Modi said in the years to come it will be a matter of surprise when unbiased people sit down to analyse the choices his government has made on the economic front.

On the goods and services tax (GST) regime, he said it will reduce the tax burden on the common man. Terming it the biggest taxation reform since Indias Independence, Modi said greater transparency and simplification of rules would increase compliance and generate more revenue for development.

On Thursday, the GST constitutional amendment Bill crossed a key landmark with Odisha becoming the 16th state Assembly to ratify the Bill. This met the requirement of more than half of 31 state Assemblies approving the Bill for it to go for presidential assent. Very few people in the country pay taxes. Some people pay taxes because they are patriotic and they want to do something for the country. Some pay taxes because they dont want to break the law. Some pay to avoid trouble. But most dont pay because the process is complicated. They think they might get stuck in the process and wont be able to come out. GST will simplify tax payments so much that anyone who wants to contribute to the country will come forward, he said.

Secondly, today if you go and eat in a hotel, the bill that you get comes with this cess, that cess... People send messages on WhatsApp detailing the bill amount and the cess paid. All this will end, the PM added.

On reforms, Modi said, First of all, in our country, only what is talked about is seen as reform. If it isnt talked about, it isnt seen as reform. It shows our ignorance. Actually I am of the view reform to transform. I say in my government  Reform, Perform & Transform. And since I am sitting for an interview, I would say Reform, Perform, Transform & Inform.

The PM spoke on a wide range of issues from Lutyens culture, relations with judiciary, atrocities on Dalits, Kashmir situation and the forthcoming elections in Uttar Pradesh. The PM said his government has improved ease of doing business by removing hindrances. He said there the economy is more vibrant now and prospects of growth are brighter now after a good monsoon.

He said his government has used technology to curb low-level corruption. The PM said his government has not indulged in any political vendetta and rejected the assessment that it has targeted any particular dynasty, a reference to Congress President Sonia Gandhi and her family.

On the issue of Dalits, the PM said he is being blamed for the incidents as part of a conspiracy by his rivals when law and order is a state subject. He, however, advised all, including BJP leaders, to be more responsible in their public statements about any particular group or community.

The PM suggested the slowness in private investments could also be because of his tightening of screws on bank NPAs (non-performing assets). Incidentally, the interview was telecast on the last day in office of Reserve Bank of India Governor Raghuram Rajan. Modi said he had held a meeting with bankers and told them that there would be no phone calls to them from New Delhi (on issuing loans to industrialists).
The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, today visited the Quan Su Pagoda in Hanoi, Vietnam. .

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He offered prayers at the Sanctum Sanctorum, and was given a rousing reception by the monks. .

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Interacting with the monks, the Prime Minister said that he is fortunate to visit the Pagoda, and recalled that Indias first President Dr. Rajendra Prasad had visited this Pagoda in 1959. .

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Noting that links between India and Vietnam were 2000 years old, the Prime Minister said that while some came to make war, India had come with the message of peace the message of Buddha, which has endured. .

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He said the world must walk on the path of peace, which brings happiness and prosperity. The Prime Minister said Buddhism took the sea route from India to Vietnam, and therefore Vietnam has received the purest form of Buddhism. He said he has seen a glow on the faces of the monks who have been to India, and a great curiosity on the faces of those who wish to travel to India. .

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The Prime Minister invited them to visit the land of the Buddha, and especially Varanasi, which he represents in Parliament. .

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A group of State Civil Service Officers promoted to the IAS and undergoing the 118th Induction Training Programme at Lal Bahadur Shastri National Academy of Administration, Mussoorie called on the President of India, Shri Pranab Mukherjee today (September 3, 2016) at Rashtrapati Bhavan. .

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Speaking on the occasion, the President said that welfare of the people is the primary objective of the civil services. He told officers that as civil servants, they should keep in mind that they are in public service and should take responsibility of servicing the billion plus people of India. While the political regime may change on the basis of the verdict of the people, the structure of the civil services is permanent. This ensures the continuity of the governing process. The President also stressed on the important role played by civil servants in the making of modern India. .

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The Induction Training Programme aims to provide the officers inputs in Public Administration, Economics, Management, E-governance and Information Technology. The overall objective of the Induction Training Programme is to provide an All India perspective to officers who have considerable field experience in their respective States. .

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Militants from the outlawed Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) killed 10 Turkish soldiers and a village guardsman in two separate incidents in Turkey, state media reported today.

Eight Turkish soldiers were killed during clashes with rebels in the eastern province of Van on Friday, the governor's office said, quoted by state-run news agency Anadolu.

Eight soldiers were also injured in the same operation against the "separatist terror organisation", the name gives to the PKK, Anadolu reported.

Late on Friday, two soldiers and a village guard were killed in an attack on a checkpoint in Mardin in the restive southeast blamed on the PKK, the agency reported.

The guard killed was part of a group of local residents who cooperate with Turkish security forces against the PKK, listed as a terror group by Ankara and its Western allies. Three security guards were also wounded.

In a statement, the Van governor's office said the condition of those in hospital was "good", although their treatment continued.

Thirteen PKK fighters were killed by Turkish jets around Tendurek mountains in Van province, the office said, while Anadolu reported that the operation supported by the air force continued.

Since the collapse of a two-year ceasefire in July, Anadolu reported over 600 Turkish security force members have been killed by the PKK in renewed fighting.

The government has responded with military operations against the group, killing more than 7,000 militants in and northern Iraq, the agency said. It is not possible to independently verify the toll.

Activists claim innocent civilians have also been killed in the offensives.

More than 40,000 people have been killed since the PKK first took up arms in 1984.
German Chancellor Angela Merkel said on Saturday that she does not regret having opened the borders a year ago to allow entry to thousands of refugees who had been stuck in Hungary.

had assumed humanitarian responsibility, Merkel told German newspaper Bild, a year after Berlin and Vienna agreed to allow thousands of asylum seekers free passage into their nations, Efe news reported.

Borders were not open to all, but to those in great humanitarian need who had walked all the way from Hungary, Merkel said, adding that some decisions have to be taken without opinion polls.

Regarding criticism and fear on the part of German citizens on the integration of hundreds of thousands of migrants, Merkel acknowledged that it would not be easy, but considered it possible.

New arrivals would have to learn the language, respect laws and accept constitutional principles, she said.

Merkel defended the European Union agreement with Ankara over the repatriation of refugees to Turkey, saying that it had limited human trafficking and improved living conditions in Turkish refugee camps.

In order to abolish visa requirements for Turkish citizens, she said Ankara would need to fulfil all of the criteria established by the EU, something that it has not yet done.

About 1.1 million refugees entered in 2015.
Fox News, part of Rupert Murdoch's 21st Century Fox, is already contending with allegations of sexual harassment against former Chairman Roger Ailes A media watchdog group is calling for an investigation of Roger Ailes and other Fox News employees who may have taken part in alleged efforts by the network to obtain a reporter's phone records. The group Media Matters is seeking the investigation following reports in New York magazine that Fox News General Counsel Dianne Brandi hired a private investigator to obtain the phone records of one of the organisation's reporters, Joe ...
Hong Kong begins voting Sunday in a legislative election that will test the appeal of a new wave of anti-China activists and set the stage for future political fights over Beijing's control over the city. The Legislative Council election is the first since police clashes with student protesters two years ago thrust the former British colony's struggle for greater democracy into the global spotlight. The scuffles exposed rifts in Hong Kong's political camps, with some pro-democracy advocates demanding a sharper break with China and other more establishment politicians calling for ...
Pakistan's Interior Minister Nisar Ali Khan on Saturday said that the four suicide bombers who were killed by security forces while attempting to storm a Christian colony in Peshawar were "foreigners".

"We know that they (Christian colony attackers) were not Pakistani and we have tried to evaluate which country they belonged," Khan told media in Mardan after meeting with those injured in a suicide bombing at a court complex on Friday.

At least 13 people were killed and over 50 injured in Mardan sessions court attack which occurred hours after four suicide bombers tried to storm Christian colony in Peshawar.

All four were killed by security forces.

In the past, has accused Afghan nationals for various attacks.

Khan said was fighting the war against terrorism for its own survival.

"Pakistan's security forces have won a difficult war but there is still more to be done to eradicate terrorism entirely," he said.
Japan's Prime Minister on Saturday appealed to Russian President Vladimir Putin for a new era in ties hampered by a territorial dispute dating back to WWII.

"Let's put an end to this abnormal situation, which has lasted 70 years and together start to build a new epoch in Russia-Japan ties that will last the next 70 years," Abe told Putin during a speech translated into Russian after the pair met for talks in Russia's far eastern city of Vladivostok.

Tokyo-Moscow relations are hamstrung by a row dating back to the end of World War II when Soviet troops seized the southernmost islands in the Pacific Kuril chain, known as the Northern Territories in Japan.

The tensions have prevented the countries from signing a peace treaty formally ending wartime hostilities, hindering trade and investment ties.

The two sides are now on a concerted drive to improve ties with Abe currently on his second trip to Russia this year and Putin set to visit Japan in December.

Despite the warm words and clear desire to improve trade, which has been hit by sanctions slapped on Moscow by stalwart US ally Tokyo over Russia's meddling in Ukraine, there has been no major breakthrough on a deal to end the territorial dispute.

In his speech on Saturday to an economic forum in Vladivostok a day after meeting Putin, Abe also proposed to the Russian president that the two of them should meet annually in the city to try to hammer out their differences.
Ahead of the all-party delegation visit to Jamu and Kashmir, Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh on Saturday approved the use of chilli-based 'Pelargonic Acid Vanillyl Amide' (PAVA) shells as an alternative to pellet guns for crowd controlling.

PAVA shells are less-lethal ammunition, which temporarily incapacitates the target and renders them immobile for several minutes.

Last week, a seven-member expert committee, headed by Home Ministry Joint Secretary T.V.S.N Prasad, was constituted by the Home Minister to find alternative to the use of pellet guns.

Pellet guns gained widespread attention after more than 1,000 people sustained injuries in clashes with security forces in the Kashmir valley following the killing of Hizbul Mujahideen commander Burhan Wani on July 8.

PAVA shells, which contain Pelargonic Acid Vanillyl Amide, is an organic compound found in chilli pepper. It derives its name from the compound, which is also known as Nonivamide. It is considered to be bio-safe, less lethal than pellet guns, but equally effective.

PAVA shells cause severe irritation and paralyses for a short duration. On the Scoville scale, the degree to measure the power of chilli, PAVA is categorised as "above peak", having a temporary effect.

Once fired, the shells burst out to temporarily stun, immobilise the target (protesters) in a more effective way than a tear gas shell or pepper sprays, and can also be used in combination with stun and tear shells.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
While Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif claims the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) to be a "game-changer" for Islamabad, the project seems to create new conflicts in the country with local communities, ethnic groups and leaders of the smaller provinces completely protesting against it.

The USD 46 billion project is reportedly Beijing's aim to expand its influence in Islamabad and across Central and South Asia in order to counter the United States and Indian influence.

The CPEC, which would link Pakistan's southern Gwadar Port on the Arabian Sea to China's western Xinjiang region, includes plans to create road, rail and oil pipeline links to improve connectivity between Beijing and the Middle East.

With Pakistan grappling with an acute economic crisis, experts say that CPEC can certainly stir the much-needed economic activity in the country, reports DW.

The project has been opposed by local communities, ethnic groups and leaders of the smaller provinces.

Those against the project say that Pakistan's most populous and politically strongest province, Punjab, wants to reap all the benefits while using their lands and resources to implement it.

The signs of an imminent conflict have already emerged from the northern Gilgit-Baltistan region to the western Balochistan and southern Sindh provinces.

The DW quoted Syed Masood Alam, an expert based in the northwestern Waziristan region, as saying that the military and civilian establishments had changed the route of the economic corridor for the benefit of Punjab.

He added the people of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Gilgit-Baltistan, Balochistan and Sindh provinces are against the CPEC in its present form and will go to any extent to oppose it.

Despite all the unrest, Islamabad has ignored the concerns of the local communities and their leaders and vowed to continue with the CPEC at all costs.

The military has declared those opposing the CPEC are against Pakistan's economic prosperity and are "traitors."

Pakistani Army Chief General Raheel Sharif recently remarked that the security forces will not stop unless they achieve their end objective of a terror-free Pakistan irrespective of the costs.

Experts, however, say that the army is aiming to take an upper hand in the implementation of the economic corridor plan.

Brussels-based South Asia scholar Siegfried O. Wolf in a paper on the CPEC said that the project would entrench the military in the country's politics and subsequently harm any attempt to bring the country back into the process of democratic transition.

He even gave examples for autonomous decision-making by the military, which include the Karachi security operations, the Zarb-e-Azb operation.

Reports suggest that fight over the control of Pakistan's economic hub and port city Karachi has also intensified as the security forces continue to crack down the city's most popular political party, the Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM).

The project has, however, given spark to another issue, which is human right violation by the Pakistan Army on the people of Balochistan.

The Baloch separatist groups have all vowed to resist the CPEC as it exploits their resources and rights.

Rejecting China's interference in Balochistan over CPEC, the Balochistan Republican Party (BRP) activists earlier said that Islamabad wants to build the same in the region on the dead bodies of Baloch people with Beijing's help.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Officials from the Guangdong Provincial Government hold a news conference on the second Investing in Africa on Aug 29. [Photo/southcn.com]

Guangdong province, which is famed for its status as a symbol of China's opening up and reform policy, recently bolstered its already deep economic, trade and people-to-people cooperation with Kenya and two other African countries.

A delegation of over more than 130 outstanding Chinese enterprises, led by the Governor of the people's Government of Guangdong Province Zhu Xiaodan, visited South Africa, Ethiopia and finally wound up their tour of Africa in Nairobi, Kenya at the beginning of September.

The excursion culminated in the signing of eight cooperation agreements on investment and trade projects between Chinese and Kenyan enterprises at a conference titled China (Guangdong)-Kenya Economic and Trade Conference. The enterprises were from the areas of electronic information, household appliances, logistics, textile, building materials and agriculture.

The event was co-organized by the Kenya National Chamber of Commerce, the Kenya Investment Authority and the People's Government of Guangdong.

Several dignitaries among them Chinese Ambassador to Kenya Liu Xianfa and Kenya's Cabinet secretary for East African Affairs, Commerce and Tourism Phyllis Kandie attended the event. Cabinet Secretary for Education Fred Matiangi and Chairman of the Public Accounts Committee in the Senate and Kisumu Senator Prof Anyang Nyongo were also in attendance.

Speaking at the event, Ambassador Liu said the China (Guangdong)-Kenya Economic and Trade Conference was the largest of its kind to be held in the East African region.

"I wish to thank the Kenyan government and the state institutions for its immeasurable support in ensuring that the economic and trade cooperation between Guangdong and Kenya grows," he said.

Liu also said that Guangdong has been the single most important province from China that has helped the Kenyan economy grow in leaps and bounds.

While showcasing how important Guangdong province is to China, Liu said that if the contribution of the province was not factored in the national economy of the country, the country's economy would not be placed second in the world after USA but 15th in the world.

On her part, Kenya's Cabinet secretary for East African Affairs, Commerce and Tourism Phyllis Kandie said because of Guangdong's contribution, Kenya was now a strong economic power house in the region and it attracts a lot of Foreign Direct Investment because of its rich infrastructure, location and status of being a gateway to the East African region.

"The Kenyan government is committed to spearhead the industrialization agenda with China as its partner. The government has done a lot to facilitate industrialization through enactment of the Special Economic Zones Act 2015, the Companies Act 2015 and the Insolvency Act 2015," she said.

She encouraged the Chinese enterprises at the event to invest in Kenya's Vision 2030 ambitious Lamu Port South Sudan Ethiopia Transport (LAPSSET) corridor project. The project will link a new port in Lamu at the Kenyan coast with rail, road and an oil pipeline to neighboring South Sudan and Ethiopia.

"Kenya has recently discovered oil deposits and will start exporting oil as from 2017. I therefore wish to encourage Chinese enterprises to join hands with their Kenyan counterparts through public and private partnerships and also invest in this sector," she said.

Kandie told delegates at the conference that China should increase its imports to Kenya because the country was strategically located in a huge market of over more than 42 million Kenyans, 140 million East Africans and 400 million people in the COMESA region.

Governor of the people's Government of Guangdong Province Zhu Xiaodan said the aim of the conference was to strengthen the friendly communication between China and Kenya, deepen trade and investment cooperation as well as implement consensus reached by President Xi Jinping and President Uhuru Kenyatta.

After over 30 years of the reform and opening up policy, Guangdong Province has made great progress in economic and social development. Last year, Guangdong's Gross Domestic Product (GDP) reached USD 1.17 trillion up by 8 percent and accounting for 1/9 of the entire country and ranking first in China

Economic and trade cooperation between Guangdong and Kenya started in 2005 when Kenya Airways, the national carrier started flying direct flights between Nairobi and Guangzhou. Last year, China Southern Airlines a member of the Sky Team also began direct flights between the two cities, making it the first China civil airline to fly the route. Between 2010 and 2015, trade volume between Guangdong and Kenya grew from USD380 million to USD 1.81 billion. This has accounted for 30.1 percent of the total imports and exports between China and Kenya.
With Kashmir separatist leader Syed Ali Geelani asking the stakeholders not to meet the Centre's all-party delegation, the Communist Party of India (CPI) on Saturday said that it is their position, while the party is off the view that the government should engage with all stake holders in Jammu and Kashmir.

"That is their position, and I have nothing to comment on that. Our stated position is that the government should engage with all stake holders in Jammu and Kashmir," said CPI secretary D. Raja told ANI.

As the Centre will today brief the members of the all-party delegation the contours of their visit to Jammu and Kashmir, Raja said, "Now, the government has decided to send an all-party delegation. Tomorrow, there will be a briefing from Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh, and we will come to know how the all programme is being organised; what are the meetings going to be there; and what interactive sessions with cross section of people are; we will come to know tomorrow ."

At the meeting chaired by the Union Home Minister, about 30 Members of Parliamentary, who will visit Jammu and Kashmir on Sunday, will be briefed the contours of the visit.

During the preparatory meeting, the MPs will be given a presentation on the issue by top officials of the Home Ministry.

During the two-day visit, the MPs will interact with Governor N.N. Vohra and Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti, and will also be holding meetings with representatives of all political parties and other delegations in Srinagar to bring peace in the restive Valley.

Union Ministers Arun Jaitley, Dr Jitendra Singh and Ram Vilas Paswan will also be part of the delegation, besides leader of the opposition in Rajya Sabha Ghulam Nabi Azad and his Lok Sabha colleague Mallikarjun Kharge.

Besides JD(U) leader Sharad Yadav, CPM general secretary Sitaram Yechury, CPI leader D. Raja, NCP's Tariq Anwar and TMC's Saugata Roy will be the part of the delegation.

Other members of the delegation include Shiv Sena's Sanjay Raut, Akali Dal's Prem Singh Chandumajra, BJD's Dilip Tirkey and AIMIM's Asaduddin Owaisi.

The valley is facing unrest due to protests in the aftermath of the killing of terrorist Burhan Wani on July 8.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Prime Minister on Saturday held delegation level talks with his Vietnamese counterpart Nguyen Xuan Phuc in Hanoi, Vietnam.

"A comprehensive review of the Strategic Partnership. PM @narendramodi & PM Nguyen Phuc lead delegation level talks," tweeted Ministry of External Affairs official spokesperson Vikas Swarup.

It is expected that more than 10 agreements ranging from agreements on defence, health and space are going to be signed between the two countries after the talks.

Prime Minister Modi has said that his visit to Vietnam is a reinforcement of friendship, solidarity and comprehensive cooperation of both the countries.

In an interview to Vietnam news agency, Prime Minister Modi said his visit is intended to further boost bilateral and multilateral engagement and cooperation in the fields of politics, economy, commerce, culture, human resource development, science and technology, space research, defence and security amid New Delhi and Hanoi.

"India not only stood by Vietnam during its freedom struggle but also during its phase of reunification. The late 1970s and 80s were a difficult period for Vietnam, and India was one of the few countries that stood by Vietnam in its time of need. My visit to Vietnam is a reinforcement of our friendship, solidarity and comprehensive cooperation," said Prime Minister Modi.

The Indian Prime Minister earlier today visited the stilt house where revered leader Ho Chi Minh lived. Ho Chi Minh was the prime minister and the president of the country.

"A visit to a location deeply revered by Vietnamese! PM visits Nha San Bac Ho, President Ho Chi Minh's stilt house," Swarup said on Twitter.

"Seeking an auspicious start. PM @narendramodi and PM Phuc feed fish in Uncle Ho's pond in the Presidential compound," he said.

The stilt house was the residence of Ho Chi Minh from 1958 until his death in 1969. The house is located inside the Presidential Palace in Hanoi.

The Indian Prime Minister, who arrived in Vietnamese capital Hanoi Hanoi last night, also met Vietnamese counterpart Nguyen Xuan Phuc.

"A renewed warmth with Vietnam. PM @narendramodi and PM Nguyen Xuan Phuc meet for a tete-a-tete before formal talks," tweeted Swarup.

Prime Minister Modi also paid homage to heroes and martyrs at their monuments.

He also laid wreath at the war memorial located across the Ba Dinh Square, across the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum and close to Hanoi Citadel. Prime Minister Modi then paid homage to revered leader Ho Chi Minh at his mausoleum.

He was then accorded a ceremonial welcome at the forecourts of Presidential Palace and was given a guard of honour by the Vietnamese Government.
Expressing satisfaction in upgrading India's relationship with Vietnam to a "Comprehensive Strategic Partnership", Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday said that both countries as partners must also take advantage of synergies to jointly face emerging regional challenges and exploit new opportunities.

"As two partners, we must also take advantage of our synergies to jointly face emerging regional challenges and to exploit new opportunities. It is a matter of great satisfaction that we have now decided to upgrade our relationship to a "Comprehensive Strategic Partnership," he said.

Speaking at the luncheon banquet hosted by his Vietnamese counterpart Nguyen Xuan Phuc, Prime Minister Modi expressed his deepest appreciation for the warm welcome and said that both sides would celebrate the 45th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations and tenth anniversary of establishment of the Strategic Partnership in 2017.

Prime Minister Modi emphasized that Vietnam is a strong pillar of India's Act East Policy.

"I believe that a strong India-Vietnam partnership would lead to prosperity, development, peace and stability for our people, and in the wider region. Vietnam is a strong pillar of India's Act East Policy. Our bilateral ties are based on strong mutual trust and understanding, and convergence of views on various regional and international issues," he added.

Declaring that his visit to Vietnam is to nurture a relationship between the two societies and nations, he recalled that linkages between both sides have deep historical and civilizational roots going back to over two thousand years.

"These cultural bonds reflect themselves in many ways, most prominently in the connect between Buddhism and the monuments of the Hindu Cham civilization," he added.

In a bid to bolster bilateral ties, India and Vietnam inked a dozen of agreements, including protocol on double taxation avoidance agreement, in the presence of Prime Minister Modi and his Vietnamese counterpart.

Ministry of External Affairs official spokesperson Vikas Swarup told ANI, "12 MoUs and agreements were signed today ranging from health to defence to space."

"It has been agreed that we will upgrade our strategic partnership to a comprehensive strategic partnership.I look at this visit as setting a new benchmark for India-Vietnam ties which will take our relationship to a whole new level," he added.

The other agreements signed are cooperation in exploration and use of outer space for peaceful purposes, MoU between BIS and STAMEQ for mutual recognition of standards, contact with L&T for utilization of $100 million LoC for offshore Patrol boats, cooperation in the field of health, celebrating 2017.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Ahead of the all-party delegation meet in Kashmir, the Janata Dal (United) on Saturday expressed hope that it will bear some fruits.

"The separatists need to understand that there is no solution other than dialogue. The Government of India has to take strict steps. Even now there is curfew in many parts of the Kashmir Valley. I hope the all-party meet will bear some fruits," JD (U) leader Ajay Alok told ANI.

Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh will today chair a meeting of all-party delegation that will be visiting Kashmir on Sunday.

At the meeting called by Minister for Parliamentary Affairs Ananth Kumar - the itinerary of the visit will be shared with the members, who will also hold discussions on the prospective meetings in Kashmir.

The all-party delegation led by Singh will visit Jammu and Kashmir on September 4 and is expected to meet a cross section of people, individuals and organisations as an effort to restore peace back in the state.

The delegation will have 28 parliamentarians and senior government officials.

The delegation may include Finance Minister Arun Jaitley, Food and Public Distribution Minister Ram Vilas Paswan, Congress leaders Ghulam Nabi Azad, Mallikarjun Kharge as well as opposition leaders like Asaduddin Owaisi of AIMIM.

Curfew has been imposed in the valley ever since the killing of Hizbul Mujahideen commander Burhan Wani on July 8.

The curfew restrictions have been lifted from most of the parts of the Valley after 51 consecutive days raising death toll to 70 due to clashes between security forces and protesters.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Asserting that there is need for more peace in Kashmir, Deputy Chief Minister Nirmal Singh on Saturday expressed hope for positive outcome post the visit of the all-party delegation to the Valley.

"This delegation represents the country. People belonging to all the political parties are coming over here. They have showed their concern. They will meet various people. Definitely, we hope the people of Kashmir who want peace will respond and something positive will come out," Singh told ANI.

Reacting to a poser whether the all-party delegation would meet and hold talks with the separatist leaders, Singh said it is their programme and they would decide on it.

"The programme is being chalked out.so accordingly they are preparing it. I don't know whether they will meet the separatist leaders. It's their programme and they have to decide it. It's an all-party delegation.it's up to them whom to meet.whom not to meet," he added.

A preparatory meeting of all-party delegation scheduled to visit Jammu and Kashmir tomorrow was held here earlier in the day.

The delegation was made aware of the prevailing situation in the state and contours of the tour during which they will hold talks with a cross-section of people.

Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh, Parliamentary Affairs Minister Ananth Kumar, Minister of State in PMO Jitendra Singh and top officials were present in the meeting.

The prevailing ground situation in Jammu and Kashmir, views of different stake holders, individuals and groups were conveyed to the parliamentarians during the meeting.

During the two-day visit, the MPs will interact with Governor N.N. Vohra and Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti, and will also be holding meetings with representatives of all political parties and other delegations in Srinagar to bring peace in the restive valley.

The valley is facing unrest due to protests in the aftermath of the killing of terrorist Burhan Wani on July 8.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
14-time Grand Slam champion Rafael Nadal has exuded encouragement, saying that he felt less pain in his wrist during the third round match at the US Open.

After moving into the men's singles fourth round, the Spanish maestro said that although he feels a bit of pain in his wrist, his game doesn't get hindered by the issue, news.com.au reported.

Expressing satisfaction with his game and his level of confidence, Nadal said he had long waited to compete at a major tournament once again.

Fourth-seeded Nadal looked in fine form in his 6-1, 6-4, 6-2 victory over Russian Andrey Kuznetsov in the third round.

He was forced to withdraw early from the French Open and was ruled of the Wimbledon due to the wrist injury earlier this year.

He will next face 24th-seeded Lucas Pouille of France for a place in the quarterfinal on Sunday.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Rejecting China's interference in Balochistan over the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), the Balochistan Republican Party (BRP) activists have said Islamabad wants to build the same in the region on the dead bodies of Baloch people with Beijing's help.

The activists held a seminar in Paroon area of Panjgur district throwing light on the atrocities on the people of Balochistan and urged the Indian media to highlight the issue.

"We have seen that Pakistani media greatly aired news about the death of Burhan Wani (Hizbul Mujahideen militant). Similarly, we want the Indian media to take Balochistan issue and expose the atrocities done by the Pakistan Army on the people of Balochistan before the world," said an activist at the seminar.

He urged the international community and right groups across the globe to raise the voice of oppressed Baloch people on international forum.

The BRP activist said Pakistan is committing genocide and deterring the peaceful struggle of Baloch nationals through different extremist groups like Lashkar-e-Taiba's Hafiz Saeed.

He also condemned Balochistan Chief Minister Nawab Sanaullah Zehri's statement on Baloch separatist leader Brahamdagh Bugti.

The activist highlighted that those who have raised their voice on the Balochistan issue were crushed by the army.

So far, thousands of party activists have been killed by the Pakistani intelligence agencies, he said.

"Families wait for justice throughout life, so we hope every country supports our cause just like India that took up the Baloch issue and highlighted them on the international level," he added.

The activists say that CPEC was causing damage to the environment and would not benefit the people of the region instead they alleged Balochistan's abundant resources were being diverted for the benefit of Pakistan's most populous province Punjab.

Considered as a part of China's One Belt, One Road initiative, the CPEC covers Balochistan and Sindh provinces and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Even as China supports Pakistan's bid for the Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG) membership, Islamabad's partnership with the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) could derail Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif's aspirations of joining the non-proliferation organisation.

According to an article published in The Diplomat, Pakistan and North Korea have cooperated extensively on the development of ballistic missile and nuclear weapons technologies since the 1970s.

The article says it is the legacy of a major scandal linking the Pakistani military to North Korea's nuclear program and strong alliance with China that have prevented Islamabad from joining the United Nations efforts to diplomatically isolate the DPRK.

It says that while economic links between Pakistan and North Korea were established during the early 1970s, the foundations of the modern Islamabad-Pyongyang security partnership was forged by former Pakistani prime minister Zulfikar Ali Bhutto's 1976 visit to North Korea.

This partnership expanded significantly during the 1990s, as Pakistan's pursuit of nuclear weapons and close relationship with terrorist outfit Taliban isolated it from the international community.

During the time, the Chinese Government refused to sell Pakistan M-11 missiles, as it was trying to normalise relations with the United States.

So, the then Pakistani prime minister Benazir Bhutto purchased Rodong long-range missiles from North Korea and in exchange provided Pyongyang with "civilian nuclear technology".

In 2002, some U.S. officials announced that Pakistan had exported gas centrifuges to help North Korea enrich uranium and construct a nuclear bomb. However, the Pakistani military officials denied any such involvement.

But after the 2002 reports, the then Pakistani prime minister Pervez Musharraf prevented the United States from interrogating AQ Khan, a prominent nuclear scientist who assisted the nuclear programs of North Korea, Iran and Libya.

Even though Pakistan has avoided overt military cooperation with North Korea in recent years, Islamabad remains unwilling to fully comply with UN sanctions against the DPRK.

The presence of a North Korean consulate in Karachi and an embassy in Islamabad shows that UN sanctions have not hindered diplomatic cooperation between the two.

While on one hand, the United States and most western countries support India's NSG membership bid, Pakistan needs China's backing to accede to the NSG.

In the past few weeks, Pakistan was seen pitching again for its admittance to the NSG group.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday announced a new Defence Line of Credit for Vietnam of USD five hundred million for facilitating deeper defence cooperation with Vietnam.

Prime Minister Modi, while delivering a joint statement with his Vietnamese counterpart Nguyen Xuan Phuc, said Vietnam holds a special place in the hearts of the people of his generation.

"The links between our societies go back over 2000 years. The advent of Buddhism from India to Vietnam and the monuments of Vietnam's Hindu Cham temples stand testimony to these bonds. For people of my generation, Vietnam holds a special place in our hearts. The bravery of the Vietnamese people in gaining independence from colonial rule has been a true inspiration. And, your success in national reunification and commitment to nation building reflects the strength of character of your people. We in India have admired your determination, rejoiced in your success and have been with you all along in your national journey," said Prime Minister Modi.

He insisted that his conversation with Prime Minister Phuc was extensive and productive and their discussions covered the full range of bilateral and multilateral cooperation.

"We have agreed to scale up and strengthen our bilateral engagement. As two important countries in this region, we also feel it necessary to further our ties on regional and international issues of common concern. We agreed to tap into the growing economic opportunities in the region. We also recognized the need to cooperate in responding to emerging regional challenges. Our decision to upgrade our strategic partnership to a comprehensive strategic partnership captures the intent and path of our future cooperation. It will provide a new direction, momentum and substance to our bilateral cooperation. Our common efforts will also contribute to stability, security and prosperity in this region," he said.

"We realize that our efforts to bring economic prosperity to our people need to be accompanied by steps to secure them. Prime Minister and I have, therefore, agreed to deepen our defence and security engagement to advance our common interests. The agreement on construction of offshore patrol boats signed earlier today is one of the steps to give concrete shape to our defence engagement. I am also happy to announce a new Defence Line of Credit for Vietnam of US$ Five Hundred million for facilitating deeper defence cooperation. The range of agreements signed just a while ago point to the diversity and depth of our cooperation," he added.

Prime Minister Modi further said India and its 1.25 billion people stand ready to be Vietnam's partner and a friend in this journey.

"India will be offering a grant of USD five million for the establishment of a Software Park in the Telecommunications University in Nha Trang. The framework agreement on Space cooperation would allow Vietnam to join hands with Indian Space Research Organization to meet its national development objectives," he said.

"Enhancing bilateral commercial engagement is also our strategic objective. For this, new trade and business opportunities will be tapped to achieve the trade target of fifteen billion dollars by 2020. I also sought facilitation of ongoing Indian projects and investments in Vietnam. And, have invited Vietnamese companies to take advantage of the various schemes and flagship programmes of my government," he added.

Prime Minister Modi insisted that ASEAN is important to India in terms of historical links, geographical proximity cultural ties and the strategic space that both countries share.

"It is central to our 'Act East' policy. Under Vietnam's leadership as ASEAN Coordinator for India, we will work towards a strengthened India-ASEAN partnership across all areas," he said.

India and Vietnam today inked a dozen of agreements, including protocol on double taxation avoidance agreement, to foster better ties between the two sides.

"12 for togetherness! India & Vietnam sign a dozen agreements for further strengthening the Strategic Partnership," tweeted Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) official spokesperson Vikas Swarup.

The other agreements signed are cooperation in exploration and use of outer space for peaceful purposes, MoU between BIS and STAMEQ for mutual recognition of standards, contact with L&T for utilization of $100 million LoC for offshore Patrol boats, cooperation in the field of health, celebrating 2017 as 'Year of Friendship'.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday arrived at Hangzhou in China to attend the G20 Summit which is scheduled to take place on September 4 and 5.

The theme of the G20 Summit will be 'Toward an Innovative, Invigorated, Interconnected and Inclusive Economy'.

Leaders from G20 member states, guest countries, and heads of international organisations will attend the summit.

On the sidelines of the Summit, the Prime Minister will also have bilateral meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping.

It would be the first meeting between Prime Minister Modi and President Jinping after their meeting on the sidelines of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) summit held in Uzbekistan capital Tashkent.

The Prime Minister will also attend a BRICS leaders' meet and will return to India on September 5.

Before leaving for Hangzhou, Prime Minister Modi thanked Vietnam for good hospitality during his visit.

"Thank you Vietnam. I will remember this visit as a memorable & productive one, that laid the ground for even better India-Vietnam ties," he tweeted.

"I thank the people & government of Vietnam for the very good hospitality during my visit," he added.

On September 7, Prime Minister Modi will leave for Laos PDR on a two-day visit to attend the annual India-ASEAN and East Asia summits.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Prime Minister Narendra Modi called on Vietnam President Tran Dai Quang at the Presidential Palace here on Saturday.

"A firm footing for #IndiaVietnam ties. PM @narendramodi calls on President Tran Dai Quang at Presidential Palace," tweeted External Affairs Ministry official spokesperson Vikas Swarup.

Prime Minister Modi lauded the foundation laid for security and defence ties between the two countries and said Vietnam is a priority in India's Act East Policy.

During the meeting, President Quang said that Vietnam fully supports Act East Policy of India and thanked the Indian Government for consistent support to socio-economic development of the country.

He called for frequent high-level exchanges to further strengthen political trust between the two countries and sought further support from India in investment, education, training and science and technology.

Prime Minister Modi earlier met Nguyen Thi Kim Ngan, chairperson of the National Assembly of Vietnam.

"Afternoon meetings begin with a call on Nguyen Thi Kim Ngan, Chairperson of the National Assembly of Vietnam," Swarup said on Twitter.

Modi arrived in Vietnamese capital Hanoi last night in the first visit by an Indian Prime Minister in 15 years. Former prime minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee had visited the country in 2001.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Prime Minister Narendra Modi has emplaned for Hangzhou to attend the G20 Summit in China after completing a two-day visit to Vietnam.

During his visit to Vietnam, the two countries inked a dozen of agreements, including protocol on double taxation avoidance agreement, to foster better ties between the two sides.

The other agreements signed include cooperation in exploration and use of outer space for peaceful purposes, MoU between BIS and STAMEQ for mutual recognition of standards, contact with L&T for utilization of USD 100 million LoC for offshore Patrol boats, cooperation in the field of health, celebrating 2017 as 'Year of Friendship' .

Prime Minister Modi earlier held delegation-level talks with his Vietnamese counterpart, Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc.

Prime Minister Modi also invited the Buddhist monks and nuns present at the Quan Su Pagoda to visit the 'land of Buddha' India and his parliamentary constituency Varanasi.

Quan Su Pagoda is the headquarters of the Buddhist Sangha of Vietnam.

Stating that Buddhism, which took the sea route, travelled to Vietnam in its purest form from India, Prime Minister Modi said that should walk on the path of peace that brings happiness and prosperity.

Later he called on Vietnam President Tran Dai Quang at the Presidential Palace here on Saturday.

Prime Minister Modi lauded the foundation laid for security and defence ties between the two countries and said Vietnam is a priority in India's Act East Policy.

During the meeting, President Quang said that Vietnam fully supports Act East Policy of India and thanked the Indian Government for consistent support to socio-economic development of the country.

He called for frequent high-level exchanges to further strengthen political trust between the two countries and sought further support from India in investment, education, training and science and technology.

Prime Minister Modi arrived in Vietnamese capital Hanoi last night which was the first visit by an Indian Prime Minister in 15 years. Former prime minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee had visited the country in 2001.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Prime Minister on Saturday visited the stilt house where revered leader Ho Chi Minh lived.

Ho Chi Minh was the prime minister and the president of the country

visits Ho Chi Minh's stilt house. Photo: PIB India Twitter handle

.

"A visit to a location deeply revered by Vietnamese! PM visits Nha San Bac Ho, President Ho Chi Minh's stilt house," tweeted Ministry of External Affairs official spokesperson Vikas Swarup.

"Seeking an auspicious start. PM @narendramodi and PM Phuc feed fish in Uncle Ho's pond in the Presidential compound," he said.

The stilt house was the residence of Ho Chi Minh from 1958 until his death in 1969. The house is located inside the Presidential Palace in Hanoi.

The Indian Prime Minister, who arrived in Vietnamese capital Hanoi Hanoi last night, also met Vietnamese counterpart Nguyen Xuan Phuc.

"A renewed warmth with Vietnam. PM @narendramodi and PM Nguyen Xuan Phuc meet for a tete-a-tete before formal talks," tweeted Swarup.

Prime Minister Modi earlier today paid homage to heroes and martyrs at their monuments.

He also laid wreath at the war memorial located across the Ba Dinh Square, across the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum and close to Hanoi Citadel.

"Beginning with the memory of Vietnam's Martyrs.PM @narendramodi lays wreath at Monument of Heroes & Martyrs," Ministry of External Affairs Official Spokesperson Vikas Swarup tweeted.

Prime Minister Modi then paid homage to revered leader Ho Chi Minh at his mausoleum.

He was then accorded a ceremonial welcome at the forecourts of Presidential Palace and was given a guard of honour by the Vietnamese Government.
The National Panther Party (NPP) on Saturday said the only solution to end the unrest in Kashmir is imposition of President rule in the state.

NPP leader Bhim Singh said that the interactions he had with the people of the state clearly signifies that none of them are ready to compromise, adding getting rid of the BJP-PDP government from the state will only help in ending the unrest in the valley.

"It is surprising that the Indian Government is sending a delegation to Kashmir on Sunday morning. I have recently come back from Kashmir. And when this news got viral, there the oppressors and separatists called for a shutdown. This is the kind of reception Prime Minister Modi's delegation is getting," said Singh

"I am from a political party, I spoke about the Centre's delegation within my party and other parties, all asked one thing that what the agenda of this delegation is. I have come back from Kashmir on Friday and met all people from all sides which matter in this case including the Hurriyat conference leader, nobody is ready to compromise. They all have one condition that President's rule should be imposed in the state and the current government should be quashed. If this happens then I think the situation there might pacify and the youth, who have come out in the streets might return to their homes," he added.

Union Ministers Arun Jaitley, Dr Jitendra Singh and Ram Vilas Paswan will also be part of the delegation, besides leaders of the opposition Ghulam Nabi Azad and Mallikarjun Kharge.

JD (U) leader Sharad Yadav, Sitaram Yechury, CPI leader D Raja, NCP's Tariq Anwar and TMC's Saugata Roy will be the part of the delegation.

Other members of the delegation include Shiv Sena's Sanjay Raut, Akali Dal's Prem Singh Chandumajra, BJD's Dilip Tirkey and AIMIM's Asaduddin Owaisi.

The Valley is facing unrest due to protests in the aftermath of the killing of terrorist Burhan Wani on July 8. The Valley has seen possibly the longest spell of protests for over 50 days in which 70 people have lost their lives so far.
Bangkok, Sept. 3 (ANI): Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) executive member Indresh Kumar is on a three-day visit to Thailand as part of the RSS's s renewed global outreach with countries which share cultural similarities with India. Kumar's visit to Thailand marks a significant step towards the propagation of the organisation's ideology and thought process at an international level beginning with Thailand, a nation which shares heritage with India.

In an exclusive interview with ANI, Kumar said India and Thailand share very close and historical ties, adding both sides will help each other develop culturally and socially with mutual admiration.

"Today's day in Thailand was very busy and purposeful. This morning I met the workers from all 11 branches of the Hindu Swayamsevak Sangh situated in Thailand. During the meeting, we discussed methods to strengthen the relationship between Hindus and Buddhists. Meanwhile, we also talked about the measures to popularise the endeavours made by the Sangh among the Indians residing in the country. At the same time, we also talked about ways to increase our dialogue with the locals here," said Kumar, adding both nations have been and always will be one, as our fundamental DNA is same.

The senior RSS functionary also underlined the fact that violence and hatred can be brought to an end and peace can be established worldwide if Buddhism and Sanatan dharma amalgamate along with the rest of the religions, which originated in India.

Kumar also stressed the strengthening of cultural, business and security ties between India and Thailand.

"While speaking at the chamber of commerce, I said that the main objective of any embassy is to take care of its people in foreign land. It is supposed to behave like the parents take care of their children," he said while commenting on the role of the Indian Diplomatic missions abroad.

Kumar during his interaction with the business community in Thailand called upon them to step up trade between culturally similar nations - India and Thailand. He said that cultural outreach must translate into economic opportunities for countries having a common cultural heritage. The RSS, said Kumar, plans to step up its activities in Thailand and will work with local volunteers to serve the society.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Suspended Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) minister Sandeep Kumar, who is presently in the middle of a controversy post the sex scandal, surrendered before the Deputy Commissioner of Police office in Rohini this evening.

"We have registered a case against under Indian Penal Code (IPC) Sections 376. The probe is underway," DCP, Outer Delhi Vikramjeet Singh said.

Meanwhile, the woman who lodged the complaint against Kumar has been taken for a medical test at the Sanjay Gandhi Hospital in the national capital.

The AAP suspended Kumar after a raging controversy over an 'objectionable CD' which showed him in a compromising position with two women.

Kumar, who handled the Women and Child Welfare ministry in the Delhi Government, was earlier this week sacked from the Cabinet by AAP convenor Arvind Kejriwal.

Kejriwal said that he would prefer to forfeit his party but never tolerate corruption and wrongful activities, as the AAP does not believe in hiding flaws of its members.

Commenting on Kumar's "misdeeds", Kejriwal said that his former Cabinet colleague has betrayed the party and the people of Delhi.

Kumar, however, denied the allegations on Thursday and played the Dalit card while claiming that the video was fabricated.
Sandeep Kumar, who was suspended from the Aam Aadmi Party's primary membership over the sex CD row, has reached the DCP office in Rohini to surrender.

The woman, allegedly seen in the video, had lodged a complaint against the sacked minister at the Sultanpuri police station earlier today.

Meanwhile, the woman was taken for medical test in the Sanjay Gandhi Hospital.

AAP convenor Arvind Kejriwal earlier on Wednesday announced the decision to sack Kumar after receiving an objectionable CD.

Kejriwal said that he would prefer to forfeit his party but never tolerate corruption and wrongful activities, as the AAP does not believe in hiding flaws of its members.

Commenting on Kumar's "misdeeds", Kejriwal said that his former Cabinet colleague has betrayed the party and the people of Delhi.

Kumar, however, denied the allegations on Thursday and played the Dalit card while claiming that the video was fabricated.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
At least 14 persons were killed and 67 others injured in an explosion at a market in Philippines' Davao city, police officials said on Saturday.

The casualty figures were based on the latest information from area hospitals, Police Station Commander Milgrace Driz told EFE news.

"Based on initial investigation, police found a shrapnel from a mortar-based improvised explosive device," Communication Secretary Martin Andanar said.

The explosion occurred on Friday around 11.00 p.m. at a busy night market in the city centre.

The Abu Sayyaf terrorist group has claimed responsibility for the deadly blast, according to Department of Interior and Local Government Secretary Mike Sueno on Saturday

Abu Rami, a spokesman for Abu Sayyaf, confirmed the news to local Radio DZMM. However, it was unclear how the spokesman informed the radio station.

Speaking early Saturday morning, President Rodrigo Duterte, former mayor of Davao city, said that fighting and the drug trade would require "a state of lawless violence".

"It's not martial law but it would require nationwide, well-coordinated efforts of the military and the police," he said in a televised interview, adding that major checkpoints would be set up on all roads leading out of the city.

The President visited the blast site around 4 a.m.

He was in the city at the time of the blast but did not suffer any injuries.

Police in capital Manila were also on red alert.

--IANS

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In a fillip to the Chhattisgarh government's campaign for the rehabilitation of Maoists, 17 members of the Jan Militia, including some top Maoist leaders of Odisha's Niyamgiri area, surrendered on Saturday in Jagdalpur in Bastar district, a senior police officer said.

Among those who surrendered were Kamlu Joga who had a Rs 5 lakh reward on his head.

Bastar IG A.R.P. Kallori and SP R.N. Dash said that a total of 17 Maoists have surrendered before the administration, including Commander Kamlu Joga who is suspected to have attacked a police party during a raid in 2007 in Polampalli (Telangana).

They said that gang members of the GRD Jan Militia used to damage the roads whenever they came to know about police raids.

IG Kallori said the Maoists who surrendered would be given Rs 10,000 each as immediate relief as part of their rehabilitation, and would also be given skill training in livelihood.

Those who surrendered are from Bodavada, Badanbada, Bodanpal, Govindpal and Badirimau village blocks of Bastar. A total of 399 Maoists have surrendered within 11 months, including these 17, said Kallori.

--IANS

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(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
A day before an all-party delegation reaches the state, another youth was killed on Saturday during clashes with the security forces in Jammu and Kashmir's Anantnag district, taking the toll to the ongoing violence to 74.

Basit Ahmad Ahangar, resident of Vessu village in Anantnag, died during clashes between stone pelting mobs and security forces in the village, police sources said.

Reports said the youth had pellet injuries in his legs and a wound in the head when doctors at a local hospital where he had been taken for treatment declared him dead.

In another incident, mobs also torched the house of a ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) block president in Kund village of Kulgam district where Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti had gone during the day to offer condolences to a father whose son had been killed during the clashes.

Meanwhile, Mehbooba Mufti today wrote letters to separatist Hurriyat leaders inviting them to meet the all party delegation led by Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh arriving here on Sunday.

Reports said she wrote letters to Syed Ali Geelani, Mirwaiz Umer Farooq, Muhammad Yasin Malik, Shabir Ahmad Shah, Bilal Gani Lone, Aga Mehmood, Abbas Ansari, Nayeem Khan, Professor Abdul Gani Bhat, the chief of Jamaat-e-Islami organisation and some others in this regard.

Separatists have already announced boycott of any meeting with the delegation and also appealed to traders, industrialists, civil society members etc not to follow suit.

--IANS

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Some forage producers like mixing alfalfa with grasses like orchardgrass, fescue, and festulolium. Improperly adjusted disc mowers are complicating those plans, however.

Disc mowers are fantastic machines. Compared to sickle bar mowers, they cut faster, have less maintenance and repairs, and rarely plug. They can cut the crop shorter and keep going even if they occasionally scalp the surface.

And thats the problem.

With alfalfa, regrowth comes from crown buds using nutrients stored underground in the taproot. It doesnt matter if you leave a 1-inch or a 4-inch stubble, alfalfa regrowth rate will be the same.

Grasses are different. Grasses depend on nutrients stored in the lower stem for early regrowth. And some grasses, like orchardgrass, fescue and festulolium that have very low basal leaves, they also use energy produced by photosynthesis in those basal leaves for regrowth energy. So cutting these grasses short results in much slower regrowth and a weakening of the plant because the source of energy to support regrowth has been removed.

In a grass-alfalfa mixture, the short stubble left by a disc mower delays and slows the regrowth of the grass while the alfalfa recovers at its usual rate. Pretty soon alfalfa gets several inches taller than the grass, forms a tight canopy, and shades out the grass growing underneath. Before long, the grass dies out and disappears.

Clearly, the solution is to raise the cutting height to around 3 to 4 inches like happens naturally with a sickle bar. This is easier said than done, however. First, you need to remember to leave a taller stubble. And if working with a custom operator, it probably will require reminding that person of your stubble height demands.

Keeping grass in alfalfa when cutting with a disc mower is challenging, but it can be done.

Did you have downy brome, cheatgrass, or wild oats in your pasture this spring? Although difficult, they can be controlled and your pasture revitalized.

Winter annual bromes often invade thin or overgrazed pastures in fall and early spring. Livestock dislike grazing them, so over time they can take over and make large patches of pasture nearly worthless.

By far the most effective control method is to spray six to eight ounces per acre of an imazapic herbicide like Plateau as soon as possible this month. This pre-emerge treatment will prevent most annual bromes from developing.

As we move into October, however, it is likely that some -- or maybe a lot -- of these grass seedlings will have already emerged. When this situation exists, add an adjuvant like a non-ionic surfactant or methylated seed oil to the spray mix for better control of emerged seedlings.

In warm-season grass pastures and rangeland, there is another option. You can use glyphosate herbicides after top growth of these grasses has died due to a hard freeze or two. This can kill emerged annual brome seedlings without harming the desirable grasses. However, do not use glyphosate in cool-season pastures because it will injure or kill the pasture grasses as well.

These treatments may need to be repeated for a couple years to prevent reoccurrence of these weedy grasses. But with proper grazing management and other practices, your pastures can develop thicker stands of the more desirable grasses.

It takes a long, dedicated process to recover pastures overtaken by winter annual bromes. There are no shortcuts.

Dr. Bruce Anderson, UNL Extension forage specialist, provided the information used in this weeks column.
A glass-bottomed bridge in China deemed as a record-breaker when it opened on August 20 has closed, media reports said.

The record-breaking structure hanging over the Zhangjiajie Grand Canyon closed on Friday.

"We're overwhelmed by the volume of visitors," a spokesperson from the Zhangjiajie Grand Canyon's marketing and sales department told CNN, explaining that the bridge was the main draw of the canyon.

He added that the capacity of the glass bridge was limited to 8,000 visitors per day, but total demand was ten times as much.

The famous bridge also focused attention on other scenic spots in the area.

When asked if the bridge was cracked or broken, the spokesperson said "there was no problem", CNN reported.

He also confirmed that there were no accidents.

The six metre wide bridge stretches 430 metres over a 300 metre-deep valley between two cliffs in the stunning Zhangjiajie Park, said to have inspired the scenery for the sci-fi Hollywood blockbuster "Avatar".

During the suspension, Zhangjiajie Grand Canyon plans to improve not only its infrastructure, including parking lots, but also its ticket booking system, customer service and other areas, CNN quoted officials as saying.

--IANS

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(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
The agreement ending more than five decades of war between the Colombian government and leftist FARC rebels will be signed on September 26.

President Juan Manuel Santos on Friday revealed the date in a speech to the final session of the national congress of chambers of commerce, EFE news reported.

The president highlighted that September 26 is the feast day of Saint Peter Claver, a "great defender of human rights".

The Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia, or FARC, has battled a succession of governments since the mid-1960s and at its peak had some 20,000 fighters under arms.

The day after the accord is signed will mark the start of a 180-day period (D-Day+180) for the FARC to lay down their weapons, which are to be turned in to a UN mission.

Different sections of the agreement have already been signed by the government's chief negotiator, Humberto de la Calle, and his FARC counterpart Ivan Marquez, but it still must be inked by Santos and FARC chief Rodrigo Londono, better known by the nom de guerre Timochenko.

--IANS

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(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
From health to defence, India and Vietnam on Saturday signed 12 agreements following delegation-level talks headed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his Vietnamese counterpart Nguyen Xuan Phuc here.

"12 for togetherness! India & Vietnam sign a dozen agreements for further strengthening the Strategic Partnership," External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Vikas Swarup tweeted.

One agreement was signed with L&T for utilising $100 million of the $500 million defence line of credit India offered to Vietnam to build patrol boats.

MoUs were signed for cooperation in the field of health, mutual recognition of standards, cooperation between the Vietnamese Academy of Social Science and the Indian Council for World Affairs, cooperation in the field of cyber security, and cooperation in information technology.

An agreement was signed on cooperation in exploration and use of outer space for peaceful purposes.

Another agreement was signed on sharing of white shipping information while another called for setting up a sustainable IT infrastructure for advanced IT training.

One agreement on cooperation in UN peace keeping operations.

Agreements were also signed on double taxation avoidance and celebrating 2017 as the "Year of Friendship" to mark 45 years of India-Vietnam diplomatic ties.

Modi arrived here on Friday ahead of his visit to China to attend the G-20 Summit to be held on September 4-5.

This is the first bilateral prime ministerial visit from India to Vietnam in 15 years since the visit of then Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee in 2001.

--IANS

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Spelling fresh trouble for absconding liquor baron Vijay Mallya, the Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Saturday attached his assets

in Maharashtra and Karnataka and bank deposits and company shares worth Rs 4,234.84 crore as part of its ongoing probe following a complaint by State Bank Of India (SBI) in connection with a loan default.

The properties attached include Mally's Mandwa farm house in Mumbai's Alibag (Rs 25 crore), flats in Kingfisher Tower in Bengaluru (Rs 565 crore), his fixed deposits with HDFC bank (Rs 10 crore), shares of USL, UBL and MacDowell Holding Co. held by him and United Breweries Holding Limited (UBHL) and his controlled entities (Rs 3,635 crore).

"The present market value of the attached properties is Rs 6,630 crore approximately. So far, ED Mumbai has attached properties of Mallya and his companies having market value more than Rs. 8,000 crore," said an ED official.

This is the first major action against Mallya, 61, after he was declared a "proclaimed absconder" under Section 82 of the CrPC, by Special Judge P.R. Bhavke of the Special Court of Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) on June 14.

Mallya was required to appear in person before the Special Court within 30 days after he was declared 'proclaimed absconder', failing which the government could initiate attachment and disposal of his assets to recover the dues, an official said.

The official said the ED is investigating the same case in which the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) on August 13 had registered a case against Mallya, his defunct Kingfisher Airlines, UBHL and others after State Bank of India approached the agency with a complaint on behalf of a consortium of 17 banks for causing them loss of Rs 6,027 crore.

The ED Mumbai branch registered a fresh case against Mallya, Kingfisher Airlines, UBHL and others under Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) 2002.

Earlier, ED registered a money laundering case against Mallya and Kingfisher Airlines and its CFO in January 2016 in the matter of IDBI bank loan of Rs 750 crore.

As per the First Information Report (FIR), Mallya and UBHL executed a personal guarantee and a corporate guarantee at the time of obtaining loans from the banks in addition to the collateral securities of Kingfisher Airlines and its assets.

"On the request of Mallya, Kingfisher Airlines and UBHL, their loans were recasted in December 2010 and total outstanding were settled as Rs 5,575.72 crore subject to regular debt serving and adherence to agreed repayment schedules," the official said.

However, the official said, the accused failed to pay as per recast agreement and even did not honour the guarantees executed by them.

"Instead of it, the accused filed court case against banks that the said guarantees were taken from them under coercion or by force. Hence the consortium resorted to file complaint with CBI," the official said.

The ED investigation so far revealed that huge funds (more than Rs 3,500 crore) out of these loans were remitted outside India on pretext of payments of lease rentals or repair and maintenance but they failed to provide proper lease agreements and many irregularities in such payments were observed.

In the investigation, the ED also found that Mallya created a complex web of shell or investment companies in the name of his family members and employees with dummy directors.

"These companies though do not have any business activities and no independent source of income but hold substantial movable and immovable properties," the official said.

Mallya, while submitting a statement of his personal assets to the consortium of banks, has not disclosed his full properties in India and overseas as well as his interests in these companies being controlled directly or indirectly by him, the official said.

"There were substantial movable properties in the form of shares of various public limited companies held in the name of Mallya and UBHL, who have given personal and corporate guarantee, respectively."

The official said that a huge number of shares were also being held in the name of various other group companies controlled directly or indirectly by Mallya. "Even though sufficient funds were available with the accused, they had no intention to make payment towards the bank loans.

"They deliberately kept the huge number of shares approximately worth Rs 3,600 crore pledged with UTI Investment Advisory Services Ltd and Other financial institutions without substantial underlying liabilities and thus kept the consortium of banks in dark," the official said.

He said that Mallya criminally conspired with Kingfisher Airlines and UBHL to obtain funds through a consortium of banks, and out of which principal amount of Rs 4,930.34 crore still remains unpaid.

Mallya flew to London on March 2 this year just days before a consortium of lenders knocked on the Supreme Court's doors to recover Rs 9,431.65 crore in loan and interest.

--IANS

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(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Former Excise Minister K. Babu, whose house was raided by the Kerala Vigilance and Anti Corruption Bureau on Saturday, said this was "political vendetta".

I was totally surprised to know about the charges registered against me regarding my assets, the senior Congress leader told the media after the nearly eight-hour raid ended.

"This is a political vendetta. I am a person who files income tax and have declared all my assets. If there is anything which they find that I have not listed, it can be taken by the government. I will initiate legal steps against it," Babu said.

Simultaneous raids were also carried out at the houses of two of his close aides in Ernakulam district and also at his two married daughters' houses.

"The FIR against me mentions that I had benami deals with two people whose homes were raided. I have nothing to do with them," said Babu who lost his Tripunithura assembly seat for the first time in the May assembly polls.

Babu represented Tripunithura constituency for the past 25 years.

The raid that began at 7 a. m. on Saturday morning, ended after noon. At least Rs 8 lakh cash was seized which included Rs 1.5 lakh from Babu's house and 6.5 lakh from the residence of a businessman.

Babu is the second minister after former Finance Minister K. M. Mani from the former Oommen Chandy cabinet to face a vigilance probe.

In the first 100 days of his government, Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan has made it clear he means to weed out corruption from the state.

Babu had come under severe pressure as the Excise Minister after Biju Ramesh, a bar owner, alleged that he bribed the minister at his office.

Talking to the media in Delhi, Vijayan said his permission was not needed to raid Babu's house.

"May be the officials did it because that was the next thing to be done in the probe. We will not do anything vindictive in nature, but the law will take its course," said the Chief Minister.

Jacob Thomas, the Director General of Police who also heads the vigilance bureau, worked under Babu as Ports Director.

Thomas said that his priority was to end corruption and things were going in the proper way.

The raid was based on an FIR filed in a vigilance court in Ernakulam district saying that Babu had accumulated wealth disproportionate to his known sources of income.

Reiterating his claims, Ramesh said: "The truth will come out as everyone knows what has happened. A lot had happened during Babu's term as the minister."

Both Babu and Mani have been under the spotlight after the bar scandal broke in October 2014.

After the vigilance officers questioned him last week, Mani accused Thomas of carrying out a personal vendetta against him as the former minister had ordered an inspection into the DGP's department during his term.

Thomas was shunted out of vigilance under Chandy's rule.

Meanwhile, Chandy said that any probe was welcome, but if nothing came out of the witch hunts then the state government should take action against "such" officials.

Former Home Minister Ramesh Chennithala, who handled vigilance earlier, said such actions could not take place without the concurrence of the ruling leadership.

According to sources, a few more colleagues of Chandy could soon be subjected to similar probes.

--IANS

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(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Actor Joseph Gordon-Levitt travelled to Russia to meet US political exile Edward Snowden secretively before playing him on camera.

The 35-year-old, who stars as the controversial former CIA employee who leaked classified information in 2013 in a Oliver Stone-directed movie, recalled his experience of meeting Snowden, reports people.com.

"A few months before shooting the movie, I did have a chance to sit with him in person. It was honestly not as crazy as you would imagine," said Gordon-Levitt whose visits were arranged by Snowden's attorneys in US and Russia, where he lives in exile.

"I flew to Moscow and went and met him at an office," he added.

The actor, who stars in the movie alongside Shailene Woodley, shared that he relished the chance to study Snowden in person and learn more about his character.

"One of the first things I noticed actually was, he's got really good manners. He's sort of old-fashioned, in a way. You don't necessarily expect that in today's world, or when you think of someone who's really good at computers," Gordon-Levitt added.

--IANS

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(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
The CBI on Saturday conducted raids at 20 locations in Delhi and Haryana over the alleged irregularities in the purchase of 400 acres of land by some builders.

These lands were taken from Gurgaon farmers during 2004-2007 at throwaway prices causing a loss of over Rs 1,500 crore to the national exchequer.

The official said that separate Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) teams searched the homes and offices of former Haryana Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda, two former IAS officers, including Principal Secretary M. L. Tayal and UPSC member Chattar Singh, and a serving IAS official S.S. Dhillon in Delhi and Haryana's Gurgaon, Rohtak, Chandigarh and Panchkula areas.

Sources said that the CBI finally decided to conduct the raids following statements its officials recorded from several farmers and government officials linked to the case.

"Most of the farmers and officials had made allegation against Hooda and Tayal, Chattar Singh and Dhillon of cheating," the source told IANS on condition of anonymity.

Reacting to the CBI raids, Congress Party spokesperson Tom Vadakkan said it was "political vendetta" and "misuse of power".

Haryana Minister Anil Vij, however, said that the CBI was the highest investigating agency and "it is an inquiry of the previous government's reckless distribution (land)".

On the request of the Haryana government and directions of the central government, the CBI registered a case against unknown public servants of the Haryana government and some private persons in September 2015.

CBI sources said that the unknown accused have been booked under charges of cheating, forgery, criminal conspiracy and under the Prevention of Corruption Act.

The CBI took over the investigation of the case from Manesar police in Gurgaon that had already registered a First Information Report (FIR) against some public servants in Haryana and some private people.

"It is alleged that some private builders in conspiracy with Haryana government officials had purchased around 400 acres of land from the farmers of villages in Manesar, Naurangpur and Lakhnoula in Gurgaon at throwaway prices between August 27, 2004 and August 24, 2007," said a CBI official, adding the farmers and the landowners were threatened with acquisition of their land by the government if they did not sell.

According to the official, the Haryana government had initially issued a notification under the land acquisition act for land measuring about 912 acres for setting up an industrial model township at villages in Manesar, Naurangpur and Lakhnoula.

"After that, all the land had allegedly been grabbed from the landowners and farmers by the private builders under the threat of acquisition at meagre rates," the official said.

"An order was also passed by the director of industries on August 24, 2007 releasing the land from the acquisition process but the land was released in violation of the government policy in favour of the builders, their companies and agents, instead of the original landowners," the official said.

The land whose market value at that time was above Rs 4 crore per acre, totalling about Rs 1,600 crore, was allegedly purchased by the private builders from the land owners in only about Rs 100 crore.

--IANS

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(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
India and Vietnam on Saturday called for peaceful resolution to disputes in the South China sea, and that China should adhere a decision by a UN tribunals on a dispute between it Philippines in the area.

In a joint statement issued after a meeting between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his Vietnamese counterpart Nguyen Xuan Phuc, the two sides reiterated their desire and determination to work together to maintain peace, stability, growth and prosperity "in Asia and beyond".

The statement mentioned the award (judgment) by the Hague-based Permanent Court of Attribution (PCA) over strategic reefs and atolls that Beijing claims would give it control over disputed waters of the South China Sea. The judgment in favour of the Philippines was given on July 12.

The two countries called upon "all states" to resolve dispute through peaceful means.A

Noting the award, both sides "reiterated their support for peace, stability, security, safety and freedom of navigation and over flight, and unimpeded commerce, based on the principles of international law, as reflected notably in the UNCLOS (United Nations Convention on the Law of Sea)".

"Both sides also called on all states to resolve disputes through peaceful means without threat or use of force and exercise self-restraint in the conduct of activities that could complicate or escalate disputes affecting peace and stability, respect the diplomatic and legal processes, fully observe the Declaration on the Conduct of parties in the South China Sea (DOC) and soon finalize the Code of Conduct (COC)," the joint statement said.

They also recognised that the sea lanes of communication passing through the South China Sea are critical for peace, stability, prosperity and development.

"Vietnam and India, as State Parties to the UNCLOS, urged all parties to show utmost respect for the UNCLOS, which establishes the international legal order of the seas and oceans," the joint statement said.

Prime Minister Modi is now on an official visit to China, after Vietnam.

Earlier this week, US Secretary of State John Kerry, who was on a tour to India, had on Wednesday called upon China to follow India's example and accept the order of the tribunal.

--IANS

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(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
India on Saturday signed an agreement to provide patrol boats and extended a $500-million line of credit in the defence sector to Vietnam in a clear sign of New Delhi boosting its presence in southeast Asia's geopolitical scenario.

India also upgraded its relationship with Vietnam from "strategic partnership" to "comprehensive strategic partnership" following delegation-level talks between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Vietnamese Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc.

"My conversation with PM Phuc was extensive," Modi said in a joint press address with his Vietnamese counterpart.

"We agreed to tap into the growing economic opportunities in the region," he said.

Stating that the two sides have agreed to upgrade their strategic partnership to comprehensive strategic partnership, Modi said: "PM and I have agreed to deepen our defence cooperation."

He then announced an Indian line of credit of $500 million in the defence sector to Vietnam.

India and Vietnam signed 12 agreements, including provision of offshore patrol boats and cooperation in the field of cyber security

Modi arrived in Vietnam on Friday in what is the first prime ministerial visit from India to Vietnam in 15 years.

Earlier on Saturday, he was accorded a ceremonial welcome at the Presidential Palace in Hanoi.

--IANS

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(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Ahead of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to China, India on Saturday elevated its relationship with Vietnam from "Strategic Partnership" to "Comprehensive Strategic Partnership" while significantly deepening defence and security engagement with the southeast Asian nation "to advance our common interests".

"Our decision to upgrade our Strategic Partnership to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership captures the intent and path of our future cooperation," Modi said a joint press statement with Vietnamese Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc following delegation-level talks here.

"It will provide a new direction, momentum and substance to our bilateral cooperation. Our common efforts will also contribute to stability, security and prosperity in this region."

Russia and China are the other two countries with which Vietnam has comprehensive strategic partnerships.

India also offered a $500-million defence credit line part of which will be used for the construction of offshore patrol boats by L&T and the Vietnam Border Guards.

Vietnam is among those countries in the region which have disputes with China over the South China Sea.

A joint statement issued stated that "both sides reiterated their desire and determination to work together to maintain peace, stability, growth and prosperity in Asia and beyond".

"Both sides also called on all states to resolve disputes through peaceful means without threat or use of force and exercise self-restraint in the conduct of activities that could complicate or escalate disputes affecting peace and stability, respect the diplomatic and legal processes, fully observe the Declaration on the conduct of parties in the South China Sea and soon finalise the Code of Conduct," it stated.

In July, an international arbitration tribunal ruled in favour of the Philippines in its dispute with China over the South China Sea.

While the Philippines welcomed it, China reacted angrily calling it null and void with no binding force and that "China neither accepts it nor recognises it".

Calling for "utmost respect" to the UN Convention for the Law of the Sea, Saturday's joint statement said: "They (India and Vietnam) also recognised that the sea lanes of communication passing through the South China Sea are critical for peace, stability, prosperity and development."

In his joint press statement with Phuc, Modi, stressing on the economic prosperity of the people of both countries through steps to secure them, said: "Prime Minister and I have, therefore, agreed to deepen our defence and security engagement to advance our common interests."

He said the agreement on construction of offshore patrol boats was "one of the steps to give concrete shape to our defence engagement".

"I am also happy to announce a new defence line of credit for Vietnam of $500 million for facilitating deeper defence cooperation."

The Prime Minister also said that the Asean region was "important to India in terms of historical links, geographical proximity cultural ties and the strategic space that we share".

Vietnam is India's country coordinator for the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean).

"It (Asean) is central to our Act East Policy. Under Vietnam's leadership as Asean Coordinator for India, we will work towards a strengthened India-Asean partnership across all areas," Modi said.

India and Vietnam signed 12 agreements, including on cooperation in the field of cyber security and on exploration of outer space for peaceful purposes.

As part of his day's engagements, the Prime Minister called on Vietnamese President Tran Dai Quang who expressed his support for India's Act East Policy.

He also met with Vietnam National Assembly Chairperson Nguyen Thi Kim Ngan and General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam Nguyen Phu Trong.

Earlier in the day, Modi was accorded a ceremonial welcome at the Presidential Palace in Hanoi.

After attending a luncheon banquet hosted in his honour by Prime Minister Phuc, he visited the historic Quan Su Pagoda, also known as Ambassadors' Pagoda here.

Modi arrived in Vietnam on Friday in what was the first prime ministerial visit from India to Vietnam after the visit of then Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee in 2001.

On Saturday evening, he left Hanoi for Hangzhou, China, to attend the two-day G-20 Summit starting Sunday.

--IANS

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(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Acclaimed lyricist-writer Javed Akhtar, who is vocal about his thoughts, says he condemns the All India Muslim Personal Law Board (AIMPLB) for justifying instant divorce system.

The AIMPLB on Friday defended the practice of triple talaq and polygamy, professing that polygamy is a social need and a blessing and not a curse for women.

"I condemn Muslim personal law board in the strongest words for justifying instant divorce. They are the worst enemies of their own community," he tweeted on Saturday.

Saying that "polygamy is a blessing, not a curse for women", the AIMPLB, in its affidavit filed in the Supreme Court on Friday, said that if the option of polygamy was not available to a husband, then he may divorce his existing wife or indulge in illicit affairs.

"An unlawful mistress is more harmful for social fabric than a lawful second wife," the AIMPLB said in its response to a suo motu petition on the rights of Muslim women concerning marriage, divorce and maintenance and whether the current practices under Muslim Personal Law were violative of the fundamental rights guaranteed under the Constitution.

Defending the Shariah granting right to divorce to the husband, the AIMPLB said that "men have greater power of decision making. They are more likely to control emotions and not to take a hasty decision."

IANS

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A day before an all-party delegation arrives here from Delhi, Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti strongly pitched for talks with separatist leaders for peace in the Valley.

"The country's political leadership must, without any further delay, reach out and engage all sections of the society including the leaders of the Hurriyat Conference in a productive dialogue process to resolve the issue and make peace a reality in Jammu and Kashmir," Mehbooba said.

She was interacting with the people in a south village where she had gone to offer condolences to the bereaved family of Mashooq Ahmad Sheikh who was killed in firing by security forces last month.

The Chief Minister said it is perhaps for the first time that the issue has been discussed in so many forums and at so many levels during the last two months, including parliament.

"The need of the hour is to build on this larger political consensus within the country and initiate tangible measures to address the issue," she said.

The chief minister said during her meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi last month she suggested a three-pronged approach including talks with all sections of society, including the separatist leadership and also with Pakistan to put the reconciliation and resolution process back on track.

She expressed the hope that the upcoming visit of the all- party delegation to the state would facilitate revival of the much needed peace and resolution process.

The Chief Minister said the people have given the present government a mandate to voice their aspirations and seek resolution of the problems.

"The same has been reiterated in the government's 'agenda of alliance' wherein it has been made clear that the state government will create conditions to facilitate resolution of all issues and will help initiate a sustained and meaningful dialogue with all the stakeholders."

An all-party delegation is visiting the Valley on Sunday. It is expected to have talks with cross sections of society there.

--IANS

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The All India Government Nurses Federation (AIGNF), which has launched an indefinite strike to demand higher salary and allowances, on Saturday alleged that striking nurses were being threatened with termination of jobs and asked to vacate their government quarters within two days if they don't return to work immediately.

The federation has said they have been trying to approach senior Health Ministry officials, including Secretary C.K. Mishra, but have received no confirmation of a meeting as yet.

"Though we want to meet the senior officials and resolve the problem, we have been asked to meet only the nursing advisor repeatedly. The Health Secretary is not confirming our request to meet him over our demands," Liladhar Ramchandani, spokesperson AIGNF, told IANS.

Over 20,000 nurses in government hospitals in Delhi on Friday went on an indefinite agitation, even as the government invoked the Essential Services Maintenance Act (ESMA) against them.

Manchandani said that a delegation of 16-17 nurses, from various government hospitals of Delhi, were invited for talks by the Health Ministry but none of the officials met the delegation.

The pan-India nurses' agitation has affected hospital services badly.

According to the All India Government Nurses Federation (AIGNF), the core demands include that the entry pay grade for staff nurses be enhanced to Rs 5,400 from the existing Rs 4,600 and nursing allowance be raised to Rs 7,800.

They are also demanding risk and night duty allowances for all nurses.

On Friday, over 80 nurses of Ram Manohar Lohia Hospital were detained by Delhi Police for going ahead with the strike.

The agitation has badly hit over 40 central and state government hospitals in Delhi, at a time when dengue and chikungunya cases are soaring.

Delhi Lt Governor Najeeb Jung invoked the ESMA against the striking nurses, terming the agitation completely illegal.

The Health Ministry said that more states are likely to invoke the ESMA act depending on the condition of hospitals.

--IANS

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As the Vatican confers sainthood on Mother Teresa on Sunday, thousands of miles away in a nondescript West Bengal village, a tribal woman will be deeply engrossed in prayer.

Monica Besra, whose "miraculous cure" started the process of declaring the Mother a saint, will seek her blessings even as the renowned nun is canonised by Pope Francis, head of the Roman Catholic Church.

Monica is distraught at not being able to make it to Vatican, but for this tribal woman of South Dinajpur district -- whose cure led to the Mother's beatification, the first step towards sainthood, in 2003 -- this moment is equally ecstatic.

"Ever since it was declared that the Mother will become a saint, I wanted to go to Vatican. But things did not work out. I wanted to be there to witness this historic event," said Besra, who was present at the beatification ceremony conducted by then Pope John Paul II at St Peter's Square in the Vatican 13 years ago.

"But that hasn't lessened our happiness. I, along with my entire family and neighbours, will hold special prayers so that her blessings continue to shower on us," Besra told IANS over the phone.

Diagnosed with a cancerous ovarian tumour and facing death, Besra was "miraculously cured" in 1998 during prayers with some nuns of the Missionaries of Charity -- the Mother's order -- on the occasion of the first anniversary of her death.

Besra has said in earlier interviews that she was so sick and could barely walk when she found herself before a photo of Mother Teresa. It was then that she saw a "blinding light". The nuns are then said to have pressed a religious medallion on her belly -- and when she awoke a few hours later, she was cured.

Besra's cure was subsequently recognised by the Vatican and Mother Teresa was beatified in 2003 as the "Blessed Teresa of Calcutta".

Despite Vatican's acceptance of her cure as a miracle, some doctors were sceptical and claimed Besra was cured by medical treatment. They have maintained that all she was suffering from was a cyst, not a tumour, and recovered after prolonged tuberculosis treatment.

But today, Besra, who is about 50 years old, does not dwell on the controversies. The Mother's canonisation is a special moment, she said, not only for herself and her family, but for most of the residents in Nakor village, some 400 km from Kolkata.

"Besides holding prayers, we will be distributing sweets. Sunday is a special day for us for the entire village," Besra's son Raghunath said.

--IANS

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Prime Minister Narendra Modi completed his visit to Vietnam on Saturday in what was the first bilateral prime ministerial visit from India to the southeast Asian nation in 15 years.

Here are the key takeaways from the visit:

* The India-Vietnam relationship was upgraded to Comprehensive Strategic Partnership which Hanoi only has with Moscow and Beijing.

* A new defence credit line of $500 million from India was announced.

* Signing of contract for fast offshore patrol vessels by L&T with Vietnam Border Guards under $100 million from the defence credit line given.

* Agreement on cooperation in outer space for peaceful purposes.

* Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on cyber security.

* Navy-to-navy agreement on White Shipping information sharing.

* India to assist Vietnam to participate in UN peace keeping

* Grant of $5 million for software park.

* MoU on cooperation in the IT sector.

* MoU on setting up Centre for Excellence in software development.

* Postgraduate and doctoral scholarships for Buddhist and Sanskrit studies in India.

* Protocol on double taxation avoidance agreement.

* MoU for mutual recognition of standards.

* MoU on cooperation in health and medicine.

* MoU between Indian Council for World Affairs and Vietnamese Academy of Social Sciences.

* Protocol on celebration of 45th anniversary of diplomatic relations.

--IANS

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Director Raam Reddy, whose Kannada-language drama film "Thithi" was screened at the 1st BRICS Film Festival here on Saturday, says all the countries present at the fest are so diverse that the hinterlands and their uniqueness need to be explored.

The 1st BRICS (Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa) Film Festival, which is part of the special events planned in the run-up to the 8th BRICS Summit to be held in India next month, kick-off here at Siri Fort Auditorium Complex on Friday.

And on the second day, at a panel discussion titled Stories From Hinterland, Going Global, Reddy opined that there is an immense amount of raw talent in the small unexplored lands that are wanting to tell something unique.

"Realism is a style, it's something in India that captivated me. Diverse and interesting in so many ways. In hinterlands if you are collaborating with people, they are natural," Reddy said, adding that he also collaborated with people from the villages, behind the camera.

Reddy is best known for his National Award-winning film "Thithi", but has also impressed many with his short films including "Ika" - a Telugu short film.

"The countries that have come together for this festival are so diverse, with so much of diversity within each of their own countries that we need to go into the hinterlands. We need to start exploring the real heroes," he said.

Reddy also finds the common man interesting, and has had a number of real life people portraying themselves.

"I found the common man very cinematic and wanted them to be on the screen. I also like to work with people whom I know in some way. In 'Ika', children from a slum community who were attending a school that my mother runs... I knew them personally. They were so interesting and full of life and dynamic, and had so much to tell," he said.

The discussion had three panellists including Brazilian producer Ana Stella de Almeida Quesado and Mandla Dube, director from South Africa.

The festival will end on September 6 with the screening of Jackie Chan's "Skiptrace".

--IANS

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US President Barack Obama arrived in the Chinese city of Hangzhou on Saturday for the upcoming on his 11th tour of Asia before his term expires.

During the summit from September 4 to 5, Obama was expected to reaffirm the US's shift in focus towards Asia, Efe news reported.

Obama is expected to begin his Asian agenda with a meeting with his Chinese counterpart, Xi Jinping later on Saturday.

It will be the eighth face-to-face meeting and the fourth official bilateral meeting between the two leaders since they first met in California in 2013.

Last week, White House Senior Director for Asian Affairs Daniel Kritenbrink said Xi and Obama were expected to discuss the "positive" aspects of their bilateral ties, according to White House Deputy National Security Advisor Ben Rhodes.

Both nations were expected to announce the ratification of the climate pact reached at COP21 Summit in Paris last December.

The Chinese parliament on Saturday ratified the climate pact at the end of its bi-monthly session.

Other matters of consensus, such as mutual efforts on the Afghan reconciliation process and the Iranian nuclear deal, will also feature in the discussions.

Yet both sides indicated they will not avoid topics that they disagree on, such as the South China Sea dispute, how to tackle the North Korean nuclear threat and the human rights situation in China.

The White House has confirmed that Obama will also meet British Prime Minister Theresa May and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan ahead of the summit.

Obama will round off his participation with a press conference on Monday, before leaving for Laos, where he will become the first American President to visit the country.

In Laos, he will take part in the US-Asean (Association of Southeast Asian Nations) Summit and East Asia Summit until September 9, during which time he is expected to promote the Trans-Pacific Partnership.
Demonstrators in Pakistan who were speaking at an event here to show solidarity with Kashmiris, have questioned the efficacy of the MPs who were appointed to raise the Kashmir issue at the international level.

Citizens, politicians, lawyers, journalists and students of different universities on Friday said at the event that the MPs in the committee formed to raise the Kashmir issue were themselves not aware and could not speak on it.

The event was organised after Pakistan formed a committee of 22 MPs to raise the Kashmir issue at the international level as the Valley has been gripped by the worst violence since 2010.

Kashmir has been on edge since July 9, a day after the killing of top militant Burhan Wani in a gunfight with security forces.

At least 73 people, including two policemen, have been killed and thousands injured in the weeks of violence.

Human rights activist Asma Jahangir who was speaking at the event, asked what purpose would the Pakistani envoys' visit to Africa and Brazil serve, when those countries had nothing to do with the Kashmir issue.

"Unfortunately, governments have not been taking the issue seriously which can be gauged from the fact that in the past similar delegations were sent to different countries but they (the countries) did not even know if Ladakh was part of Kashmir," she said.

Jahangir said society should demand demilitarisation of Kashmir and the Pakistani government should raise this issue at the international level.

"After the death of Burhan Wani, youths of Kashmir came out of their houses on their own will," she said.

"Youths are not ready to live with India and they don't even want to live with Pakistan. They want freedom and we support them," she said.

Senator Farhatullah Babar from Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) said if Pakistan and India realised that Kashmir belonged to Kashmiris, the issue will be addressed within a few weeks.

"India cannot defeat Kashmiris by using pellet guns and making them blind," he said.

"Pakistani rulers should know that those who send militants to Kashmir, cannot serve the Kashmir cause. We also have to put our house in order," he said.

Senior journalist Hamid Mir said incompetent people were being sent to different countries to raise the Kashmir cause.

"It has been noticed at an international level and soon a Kashmiri organisation will send a letter to the Pakistan government in this regard," he said.

"Most of the envoys are not even aware about the Kashmir issue and cannot speak on it. If government is really serious it should send competent people," he said.

Another journalist said: "Unfortunately in Pakistan most of the people are not aware of the issue. Important books on the issue have been written by foreign writers."

--IANS

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Police has arrested a senior employee of Delhi's Rakab Ganj Gurudwara for allegedly raping a 40-year-old woman on the pretext of providing her a job in the media.

Bhupinder Singh, a close associate of one of the office bearers of the Delhi Sikh Gurdwara Management Committee, was arrested by Delhi Police on August 29.

He was presented before a magistrate here on August 30 and remanded to judicial custody till September 13.

According to the complainant, Singh was working in the Rakab Ganj Sahib Gurudwara and had taken Rs 2-3 lakh from the complainant on the pretext of providing her a job.

The woman told police that she knows Singh for the past two years.

Singh did not return the amount or provide her a job, she alleged.

On Aug 28, Singh messaged the woman and called her to an office in Bharat Nagar Paharganj, the woman said in her complaint.

When she went there, Singh told her that he has fixed up a job for her and she can start work from the next day.

Then he took her to his friend's room located near to the office.

"At 1 p.m. around he took me to the bedroom of his friend's house and started molesting her. When she opposed, Singh told her that her job will be finalised only when she establishes a physical relationship with him. Then he raped the woman," the first information report stated.

She lodged a First Information Report against the accused in the Paharganj police station in central Delhi

Police then arrested Singh on August 29.

Shiromani Akali Dal (Delhi) president and former Delhi Sikh Gurdwara Management Committee (DSGMC) chief Paramjit Singh Sarna on Saturday demanded action against Bhupinder Singh.

"The act of Bhupinder Singh, an associate of DSGMC's advisor Kulmohan Singh, has tarnished the image of the Gurdwara. Strong action must taken against him," Sarna told IANS.

--IANS

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(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Over 1,00,000 Taiwanese nationals participated in the first mass opposition protest against President Tsai Ing-wen's three-month old government, marching through Taipei on Saturday over Tsai's controversial pension reform plan.

The protesters, mostly retired government employees, servicemen, teachers and their family members, marched from four venues in Taipei towards the Presidential Office Building, Efe news reported.

Waving Taiwan's national flags and carrying banners with slogans such as "Revive Chinese Culture!", the demonstrators transformed the streets leading to the Presidential Office Building into a sea of red.

Shouting "Down with Tsai Ing-wen!", "Stop Smearing!" and "Give Us Dignity!", the participants gathered before a makeshift stage in front of the Presidential Office Building for a rally denouncing Tsai's government.

According to the Taipei Times, Tsai is moving forward to reform the pension system, after a study by the Ministry of Civil Service earlier this year showed that the system could bankrupt itself and was financially unviable.

The study showed that some of the country's 1,34,849 retired civil servants received more than $3,157 per month, while the lowest average payments were $1,263.

According to an unnamed Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) legislator, the Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) had in 2014 also attempted to reform the system, but faced a backlash that led to its electoral defeat that year.

--IANS

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Thousands of people facing the threat of eviction from their houses staged a protest outside the Raj Bhavan in Ranchi on Saturday.

The protesters had gathered under the banner of Ghar Bachachao Samiti (Save House Committee).

In August the district administration had served notices to people who had purchased land from tribal owners -- through a Scheduled Area Regulation (SAR) court settlement -- to prove that the deals were not fraudulent or illegal.

Failure to prove that will result in the eviction of all non-tribals from the property in question.

These notices were served to residents of Vidyanagar, Yamunanagar, Ganganagar, Kishoreganj, Kantatoli, Maulana Azad Colony, Chutia and other places in Ranchi district in Jharkhand.

If these notices are executed more than one lakh people will be rendered homeless.

Speaking to IANS, the protesters expressed their anguish and helplessness.

"This fight is for the poor -- tribal or not, doesn't matter. We purchased our land by spending our entire life's savings and now we are being made homeless," said Malti Devi, a resident of Ganganagar who participated in the dharna.

Echoing her view, Kunti Singh said "This is our fight for survival. Where will we stay? We invested our entire capital in this land."

According to official data, about 1.5 lakh of the 2.7 lakh houses in Ranchi are on tribal land.

The notices have been served as part of a drive to enforce the Chotanagpur Tenancy (CNT) Act 1908, which applies to Ranchi district and prohibits transfer or sale of tribal land to non-tribals without permission of the Deputy Commissioner.

However, Section 71A of the CNT Act does allow possession of tribal land by a non-tribal in case the latter had built on the land before 1969 and has been staying there ever since.

In such cases, the SAR court fixes a compensation against the land and possession is regularised.

Many tribal sellers of land and non-tribal buyers took advantage of this provision of law to regularise their deals that actually took place after 1969.

Fake documents were used in such deals to establish pre-1969 possession.

However, after such deals were signed, the tribal land owners filed fake case in SAR court claiming compensation.

Many such deals are believed to have taken place in cases where tribal owners were willing sellers.

Many tribals who sold their land had come out in support of the people facing evacuation. Many tribal landowners who sold land to non-tribals did not want their land back.

--IANS

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(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
The UN Environment Programme (UNEP) on Saturday lauded China and the United States for ratifying the Paris Agreement on the fight against global warming.

UNEP Executive Director Erik Solheim said the move by the two of the world's largest economies was significant, Xinhua news agency reported.

"This announcement is hugely important. The leadership of China and the US is crucial to taking the Paris Agreement forward. They bring significant additional momentum to keeping global warming under two degrees," Solheim said in a statement issued in Nairobi.

Presidents of China and the United States handed over their countries' instruments of joining the Paris Agreement separately to UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon on Saturday in China's Hangzhou.

The Paris Agreement, which was sealed in December 2015 after two weeks of intense negotiations, needs to be ratified by 55 countries, representing 55 per cent of global emissions, in order to come into effect.

Experts said both countries joining the Paris Agreement could help bring the accord into affect by the end of 2016.

"By putting the well-being of our planet at the top of the agenda, the two largest economies in the world are also showing that our economic future is low-carbon and green," Solheim said.

He said the fight against climate change remains difficult and urgent, but having heavy-hitters like China and the United States on "your side is extremely heartening".

--IANS

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The Kerala Vigilance and Anti Corruption Bureau officers raided the homes of former Excise Minister and senior Congress leader K. Babu, his two daughters and two of his close aides in Ernakulam district on Saturday.

The raid that began at 7 a.m. is continuing at the residences and offices of the five persons about 70 km away from Kochi. Babu was present when the sleuths arrived at his home here.

He is the second minister from the former Oommen Chandy cabinet to face vigilance investigation. The first one being former Finance Minister K.M. Mani.

In the first 100 days of his government Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan along with the Director General of Police (DGP) Jacob Thomas, who also heads the Vigilance and Anti Corruption Bureau, have made their intention clear to weed out corruption from the state.

Babu had come under severe pressure when he was the Excise Minister in the Chandy cabinet after Biju Ramesh, a bar owner, had alleged that he himself had bribed Babu at his office.

Today's raid at Babu's house, his two daughters and two of his close friends' was a simultaneous operation by a group of vigilance officials at 10 different locations.

The raid was based on a First Information Report (FIR) filed in a vigilance court in Muvattupuzha in Ernakulam district alleging Babu had accumulated wealth disproportionate to his known sources of income.

Reiterating his claims, bar owner Ramesh said: "The truth will come out as everyone knows what has happened. A lot had happened during Babu's term as minister."

Both Babu and Mani have been under spotlight following the bar scandal that broke in October 2014.

Mani had gone public after vigilance officers questioned him last week. He had accused DGP Thomas of carrying out a personal vendetta against him for ordering financial inspection into Thomas's department, when Mani was minister.

Thomas was shunted out of Vigilance under Chandy's regime.

Chandy, meanwhile, said he was willing to face any probe, but if nothing came out of the witch hunt then the state government should take action against "such" officials.

Former Home Minister Ramesh Chennithala, who handled Vigilance earlier, admitted that such actions could not happen without the concurrence of the ruling political leadership.

With Mani and Babu now under the Vigilance scanner, sources in the know of things pointed out that a few more colleagues of Chandy could soon be subjected to similar probes.

--IANS

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It is rare and therefore a big tribute to have dishes that celebrate your legacy. Outgoing Reserve Bank Governor got this honour with Zzungry, a Bengaluru-based food company that included two dishes in its menu as a tribute to the banker. Ulundu kozhukattai and Kova kozhukattai, dumplings of rice flour stuffed with spicy or sweet filling, are inspired from the cuisines of two states in India - Karnataka and Tamil Nadu - which hold great relevance in Rajan's life. Priced at Rs 100 and Rs 150 each, they will be available till Sunday, September 4, Rajan's last day at work.
Our meeting takes place in the backdrop of significantly increased intensity of bilateral engagement. Since our last meeting, our prime minister has visited the US three times and met with President Obama several times. The June Summit has charted an ambitious agenda for bilateral relations, whose implementation is our joint task.
US President Barack Obama's decision to renominate for a second term as president of the World Bank is not surprising, but will come as a disappointment to many, including many Bank employees. For India, the World Bank continues to be a significant lender. Over the 70 years from 1945 to 2015, India received over $100 billion from the World Bank, making it the largest recipient of such loans in the world. This figure will continue to increase; in July, the Bank announced that it would support India's ambitious push towards solar power by lending over $1 billion to various projects and programmes. The organisational direction of such a crucial lender - a direction typically set by the president - is therefore of vital interest to India.
Bharatiya Janata Party leader recently went to Athens. Apparently finding it impossible to do without Indian food, he searched for an Indian restaurant and found one with a Ganesh statue outside it. Assuming it was run by an Indian he went inside and had a meal that was quite good. Later, he found out the restaurant was owned by a Pakistani. "But the food was good, I have to say," he said grudgingly.
BJP on Saturday said Aam Aadmi Party leader Ashutosh's controversial blog represented the views of party Chief Arvind Kejriwal as it questioned his silence amid a row over the "comparison" of Mahatma Gandhi and Jawaharlal Nehru with its tainted leader Sandeep Kumar.

The blog's content was "shameful and inexcusable" and Kejriwal must apologise to the people, it said, adding that Ashutosh should also make an apology over his claim that virginity among unmarried boys and girls is nowadays seen as a sign of being "unwanted and undesired".

"This is a case of playback singing. The face of one person and the voice of another," BJP spokesperson Sambit Patra told media as he alleged that Kejriwal was the main person behind the blog.

"The most worrisome and shameful topic is that the greats like Mahatma Gandhi, Jawaharlal Nehru, Atal Bihari Vajpayee... have been sought to be insulted. The father of the nation has been sought to be insulted. The person whom the world follows has been compared with the leader and it is highly objectionable. This is inexcusable," he said, demanding that Kejriwal speak on the matter and tender an apology.

Noting that Kejriwal would go to Rajghat, a memorial to Gandhi, when he was launching his political career, Patra said he must speak now when Gandhi's character has been attacked by his partyman.

The Delhi Chief Minister is presently in Rome to attend the canonisation ceremony to bestow Mother Teresa with sainthood. The BJP leader said he must speak when a saint like Gandhi is being attacked.

Patra claimed the woman in the purported sex video involving Kumar, who has been sacked as a Delhi government minister, has complained that she was "exploited" as he hit out at after Ashutosh said it was a case of consensual sex between two adults.

He insisted that Ashutosh's blog represents the views of . In the blog, written for a private news network, Ashutosh had referred to the alleged affairs of Nehru and Gandhi.

Attacking the sacked Delhi minister, he said reports suggest that he himself had filmed the sexual act and called it an act of pornography.

Patra said Kejriwal claimed that he cannot verify every body's credentials while giving them party tickets and posts but he used to attack every opposition leader as if he knew all of them inside out.
On the eve of the visit of an all-party delegation to Jammu and Kashmir, Chief Minister on Saturday called for engaging all sections of the society, including Hurriyat Conference, in a credible and meaningful political dialogue for resolution of the problems in the Valley.

The country's political leadership must, without any further delay, reach out to and engage all sections of the society, including leaders of the Hurriyat Conference, in a productive dialogue process to resolve the issue and make peace a reality in Jammu and Kashmir, she said while visiting the family of a person killed in firing by security forces.

Seventy people have been killed and thousands injured in violence in Kashmir Valley following the killing of Hizbul Mujahideen militant Burhan Wani in an encounter on July 8.

"Visited the family of late Mashooq Ahmed, firing victim of Kund, Kulgam and offered heartfelt condolences to the bereaved family... The loss of human lives is a colossal tragedy and every one should strive for peace in J&K," she posted on Facebook.

The Chief Minister said it is perhaps for the first time that the Kashmir issue has been, during the past two months, discussed in so many forums and at so many levels including Parliament and at all-party meetings where judicious views were put across by all shades of the country's political opinion on how to end the stalemate.

The need of the hour is to build on this larger political consensus within the country and initiate tangible measures to address the issue, she said.

Mehbooba said the present situation in Kashmir calls for every right thinking party, group or individual to rise to the occasion and strive for finding ways and avenues for the restoration of peace and resolution of the problem.

"Right now Kashmir is again embroiled in a burning situation and we have hope that all sides will pick up elements of sanity and pragmatism and strike a new benchmark towards the resolution of the problem in light of the global and sub-continental realities," she said.

While the separatist leadership shall also have to take a step forward, the Centre on its part shall have to put off the fire on internal discontent, Mehbooba said.

Congress, CPI(M) and many other parties pitched for holding dialogue with "all stakeholders", including Hurriyat, to douse the unrest in Kashmir, at a meeting held by the government in New Delhi on Saturday to brief the MPs who are part of the 30-member delegation about the visit to the state on September 4-5.
Information and Broadcasting Minister M on Saturday said that had Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel been given a free hand, Kashmir would have completely become an integral part of India.

If the then Home Minister had been allowed to tackle the issue, Kashmir Valley would not have been witnessing the current unrest, he said.

"Unfortunately he was not allowed to handle the issue. Had he been allowed, Kashmir would have been totally a part of India by thought, speech and action," Naidu said.

The minister was speaking in Hyderabad at Tiranga Yatra as a part of 'Aazadi 70 Saal, Yaad Karo Qurbani'.

Naidu described Patel as the iron man and the unifier of India and recalled the role played by him in ensuring the accession of the princely states to India.

Naidu said though the Tiranga Yatra campaign concluded in other parts of the country, according to the call given by Prime Minister Narendra Modi it will continue till September 17 here, the Liberation Day of Hyderabad state.

He noted that even though people all over India celebrated freedom from British rule on August 15 in 1947, those living in the erstwhile princely state of Hyderabad had to wait till September 17, 1948.

Naidu said the region was finally liberated from the tyrannical Nizam's rule and integrated with the rest of India in 1948, thanks to the steely and firm resolve of Vallabhbhai Patel.

"The obduracy of the Nizam to retain Hyderabad as an independent state left Patel with no other option but to send the Army and liberate it," he said.

"The swift and clinical operation by the Indian Army put paid to the Nizam's plans and forced him to surrender. It also ended the violence unleashed by Razaakars, the private militia of the Nizam which was led by Qasim Razvi, who later fled to Pakistan," Naidu added.

He urged the Telangana government to officially celebrate Hyderabad Liberation Day as was being done in some districts of Maharashtra and Karnataka, which were then part of the Hyderabad state.

"It is unfortunate that some political parties are viewing from the prism of vote-bank politics, even in matters related to the nation's integrity. There should not be any kind of politics, leave alone vote-bank politics, when it comes to unity and integrity of the nation and all Indians should speak in one voice," he added.

Union Labour and Employment Minister Bandaru Dattatreya, the Bharatiya Janata Party leaders of Telangana, party activists and school children participated in the Tiranga Yatra.
At least ten persons, including a woman, have been injured in Bangladesh when a clash erupted between Hindus at an Iskon temple and Muslim devotees from a nearby mosque, forcing police to fire blank shots to disperse them.

The clash took place after Friday prayers when Muslim devotees went to the temple to request the authorities to stop playing the devotional songs that were being played on occasion of Kirtan at the temple, said Sylhet Metropolitan Police Additional Commissioner SM Rokan Uddin.

"Muslim devotees went to the temple before the Jumma prayers and had requested the temple authorities to stop the devotional songs while the prayers are held. However, when the songs were not stopped, the devotees went there again and locked in an altercation," Uddin said.

At one point, both groups started hurling bricks at one another leaving ten people injured, he added.

On being alerted, police rushed to the spot and fired several blank shots to disperse the crowds.

An eyewitness said banners at the entrance of the temple were torn up during the clash.

When contacted, Iskcon temple Principal Gaurango Brahmachari said: "Sylhet Divisional Commissioner Jamal Uddin Ahmad is visiting the spot and this is why I am unable to make any comment at this moment".

But he said the temple authorities were considering filing a case in this matter.

"We were attacked and we want justice. Until justice is done, we will keep protesting," he said.

Former ward councillor Jebunnahar Shirin and International Society for Krishna Consciousness (Iskcon) temple employee Rajendra Keshob Das were injured in the clash.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Police say gunmen have kidnapped 15 oil workers near Nigeria's petroleum capital of Port Harcourt in the latest apparent hostage-for-ransom incident.

A police spokesman, Deputy Superintendent Nnamdi Omoni, said today that all the abducted are Nigerians working for the local oil industry service company Nestoil.

He says their bus was hijacked yesterday about 100 kilometers southeast of their office in Port Harcourt.

Kidnappings of Nigerians and foreigners are common all over the country.

In the oil-rich southern Niger Delta, they are carried out by ordinary criminals as well as militants demanding a greater share of oil riches for locals.

Hostages are usually released unharmed after ransom payments.

Last month, 14 passengers seized from a commuter bus near Port Harcourt were released after two days. It was not clear if ransoms were paid.

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Two persons were arrested and five kilogram of cannabis was seized from their possession at Jammu railway station, police said today.

Government Railway Police (GRP) yesterday intercepted two persons, identified as Sahil Sharma and Munish Kumar, and seized five kilogram of cannabis packed in five packets from their possession, a GRP spokesman said.

The duo was arrested and booked under various sections of Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act, he said.

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At least three persons were injured today in clashes between MQM workers and a breakaway faction inside Karachi Central Jail, days after the party's chief Altaf Hussain was accused of inciting violence and making anti-Pakistan comments.

Several workers of Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) and Pak Sarzameen Party (PSP) -- the two parties which represent the Urdu-speaking people -- have been lodged in the jail for various offenses.

There had been tensions among the workers for the last a few days, jail officials said on the condition of anonymity.

"On Saturday, MQM and PSP workers along with other inmates clashed with each other, leading to three persons getting injured. Later, jail officials brought the situation under control," a he said.

PSP was formed by former mayor of Karachi Mustafa Kamal earlier this year with some dissidents of MQM. Since than, several leaders of MQM have joined the breakaway faction.

Members of both the parties have been engaged in a war of words after the alleged hate speech on August 22 by Hussain, who is self-exiled in London.

Many senior leaders of MQM have disassociated themselves from Hussain and the central coordination committee in London.

Yesterday, MQM members of the national assembly supported a resolution moved by other political parties condemning Hussain for his "anti-Pakistan" comments.

Pakistan has sent a formal reference to the British government against Hussain for inciting violence in Karachi, saying he had given hate speeches against Pakistan and some media houses and incited his party workers to resort to violence and anarchy.

MQM claims that hundreds of its workers have been arrested and jailed on frivolous charges by authorities following Hussain's speech.

Karachi's single largest party MQM emerged as a largely ethnic party in the 1980s and has political dominance in the southern Sindh province's urban areas - notably in Karachi, Hyderabad, Mirpurkhas and Sukkur where a large number of Urdu-speaking people reside.

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Five villagers were killed and two wounded in a attack in eastern Niger, the first in three months carried out there by the jihadist group, a local governor has said.

Governor of the Diffa border region, Dan Dano Mahaman Laouali, told Niger public radio the attack took place on Friday in Toumour.

It is the first attack in the east since early June when launched a major offencive in Bosso, a town in Niger near the border with Nigeria and Chad, before being pushed back by the military.

The attackers on Friday, who battled with locals armed with bows and arrows, also burned several homes before fleeing toward Nigeria after the violence.

Tens of thousands of Nigeriens fled the region after the attack in Bosso on June 23, which killed 26 soldiers.
Express, low-cost international subsidiary of Air India, has turned profitable for the first time since it started operations in 2005.

"As per the account placed and approved by airline's Board of Directors (on 31st August, 2016), the airline has made net profit of Rs 361.68 crore in the fiscal year 2015-16 against the loss of Rs 61 crore registered in the year 2014-15," an Express release said in Kochi on Saturday.

Along with other factors, higher passenger load factor and better utilisation of its assets helped the airline achieve the positive financial result as the its fleet size remained at the same level of 17 aircraft as was the case in the previous fiscal, it said.

"The year witnessed passenger load factor of 82.3 per cent against 81.4 per cent the previous year while the average daily aircraft utilization rose to 11.3 hours from 10.8 hours. The year, the Airline carried 2.80 million passengers as against 2.62 million in the previous year," it said.

Prudent commercial and management interventions brought about an increase of 11.3 per cent in revenues.

The airline has achieved total revenue of Rs 2,917.96 crore in the last fiscal against Rs 2,622 crore earned in the year 2014-15.

Focused efforts made towards ancillary revenue generation have also contributed to the enhanced revenues.

"This turnaround is the outcome of the sustained efforts made by every member of Team Express," said CEO of Air India Express, K Shyam Sundar.

Thanking the increased passenger confidence in the airline's services, he said it augurs well for the fleet expansion plans being implemented by the Airline.

"The plan will see the induction of six aircraft in the current fiscal, three of which have already joined the fleet in the 1st Quarter.

The induction of three more aircraft by the end of third quarter will take the Airline's fleet strength to 23 aircraft," he noted.

"Consequently the capacity offered and the Operating Revenues are expected to go up further by about 25 per cent in the fiscal 2016-17," the release said.

This year witnessed the launch of the Airline's operations from New Delhi to Dubai and Abu Dhabi and strengthening of its presence in North Indian markets and additional flight operations from its core markets in South India.
Arunachal Pradesh Governor Jyoti Prakash Rajkhowa has been reportedly asked to step down from his post, weeks after the Supreme Court restored the Congress government in the northeastern state.

Rajkhowa has been told "verbally" by a junior Union Minister and a senior official of the Home Ministry to step down on "health grounds", sources said here today.

The Governor's office, however, said there has been no formal communication from anyone asking Rajkhowa to resign from his post.

"There was no formal communication from anyone asking the Governor to resign from his post. But I have come to know that two-three individuals have spoken to the Governor and verbally indicated that," PRO to the Governor Atum Potom told PTI over phone from Itanagar.

After getting the two calls from Delhi asking him to step down, Rajkhowa apparently had approached Home Minister Rajnath Singh to seek clarification on the issue. But the Home Minister did not ask Rajkhowa to step down, sources said.

However, sources said, if Rajkhowa does not resign on his own, there is a possibility of central government asking President Pranab Mukherjee to withdraw his "pleasure", leading to his sacking.

By rule, Rajkhowa is entitled to a five-year term but it is subjected to the "pleasure of the President. 71-year-old Rajkhowa was appointed as Governor in May last year.

The reported move by the Centre to seek Rajkhowa's resignation came weeks after the Supreme Court restored the Congress government in Arunachal Pradesh and censured the Governor for "humiliating the elected government of the day".

The move comes against the backdrop of the political crisis in Arunachal Pradesh triggered by the revolt by Congress MLAs.

Congress rebel Kalikho Pul had become chief minister in February and was in power for five months after revolting against the then Congress government led by Nabam Tuki. Pul was subsequently dislodged from power by the apex court.

BJP was providing outside support to Pul, who was found dead in mysterious circumstances in Itanagar last month.

The Apex Court had criticised Rajkhowa for advancing the assembly session and fixing its agenda saying he cannot take away the House's discretion on the basis of "mere apprehension".

Sources claimed that there were efforts to woo dissident Congress MLAs, led by Pul, to the BJP side for installation of a BJP government in Arunachal Pradesh. But it did not materialise, sources said.

Later, following a Supreme Court directive Pul had to resign and all dissident Congress MLAs return to the parent party, leading to installation of a Congress government.

"The return of a Congress government could have been checked had all dissident Congress MLAs joined the BJP instead of continuing as a separate regional outfit," sources said.

Meanwhile, Rajkhowa fell ill and could not attend the swearing-in ceremony of Pema Khandu government, which succeeded Pul government.

When Khandu expanded his Ministry on August 3, Rajkhowa again showed inability to come for swearing-in ceremony of the new Ministers citing his ill health.

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Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and Bollywood megastar Amitabh Bachchan today picked up brooms during a 'Maha Cleanathon' held as part of the Swachh Bharat Abhiyan.

Bachchan, the campaign ambassador, and Fadnavis took part in the event, along with volunteers and students, at the state government-run J J Hospital here.

"Fifty cities in Maharashtra will be 'swachh' by October 2 and 7,000 villages in the state are now open-defecation free," Fadnavis said.

On public participation in building toilets, the Chief Minister said, "If we don't involve people in the construction of toilets, it doesn't fulfil the purpose. It becomes a storage space."



"When you see someone littering. Go stop them. Tell them what they are doing is wrong. When you keep doing this repeatedly, people will change," Bachchan said.

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When Pope Francis canonises Mother Teresa tomorrow, two Balkan countries will be celebrating the sainthood of a woman they both fiercely claim as their own.

While she is famed for her work with the poor in the Indian city of Kolkata, the late missionary's origins have been hotly disputed in southeastern Europe, where she grew up.

Born Agnes Gonxha Bojaxhiu in 1910 in multi-cultural Skopje - then part of the Ottoman Empire and now capital of the Republic of Macedonia - Mother Teresa had an ethnic Albanian mother whose family came from Kosovo.

Her father's roots are more debated: most people, especially in Albania, say he too was ethnically Albanian, although some Macedonians have argued he was a Vlach, another Balkan ethnic group.

The squabble exposes old ethnic rivalries in the Balkans, with neighbours Albania and Macedonia taking competitive pride in the Nobel Peace Prize winner - both countries have statues, roads, hospitals and other monuments in her name.

"Mother Teresa was born in Skopje but she never declared herself a Macedonian," said Albanian historian Moikom Zeqo, author of a study on the nun's links to Albania.

She "always spoke about her Albanian origins and her universal mission," Zeqo told AFP. Macedonians, however, suggest her birthplace is all important.

"We call her 'Skopjanka' (citizen of Skopje) because we know she is ours," said Valentina Bozinovska, director of the national commission for relations with religious communities.

The region changed dramatically in Teresa's lifetime, with the end of Turkish rule, two world wars, the rise and fall of communism and Yugoslavia, and the nationalistic Balkan wars of the 1990s.

Teresa was baptised Roman Catholic, a minority religion in Skopje, where she spent her childhood and decided early on she would take up a religious life. She left home aged 18 for a spell at an Irish abbey before travelling to India in 1929.

In the 1930s her mother and sister moved to Tirana in Albania, where communist dictator Enver Hoxha barred Teresa from visiting.

She eventually made her first of three trips to Albania in 1989, after Hoxha's death and a year before communism began to fall, to visit the graves of her family and the house where they lived for many years.

Genc Zajmi, 78, still resides in the building and recalls Teresa's loving letters to her mother, insisting the nun never forgot her Albanian roots.

Muslim-majority Albania celebrates a public holiday on the anniversary of Teresa's beatification in 2003.

As for Teresa, she was quoted describing herself both as a "Skopjanka" and as an Albanian "by blood", but insisting she belonged to the world.

Her adopted home country of India - which gave her citizenship in 1951 - flatly refused Albania's request in 2009 to hand over her remains, saying she was "resting in her own country, her own land".

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US President Barack Obama will meet the new British Prime Minister Theresa May on the sidelines of the G-20 summit in Hangzhou, China, a White House official has said.

"This will be the first formal meeting between the two leaders since Prime Minister May took the office in July," the official said.

In Hangzhou, the President and the Prime Minister "will discuss a range of bilateral and global issues, and as close friends and steadfast allies, the United States and United Kingdom continue to enjoy an enduring special relationship," he said.

Obama is also scheduled to have a bilateral meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping during the G20 meeting.

He will also meet his Turkish counterpart Recep Tayyip.

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The survey by the West Bengal government of the 997 acres of land to be returned to farmers in Singur under a Supreme Court ruling continued today on war footing despite inclement weather, a district official said.

The land had been acquired by the former Left Front government for the Tata Motors project.

The survey had begun on Friday after senior state officials and police entered the abandoned site filled with wild grass and overgrown bushes, after 10 years.

Satellite-based (GPS) mapping and drones carried out aerial survey as huge contingent of workers and employees from various departments were pressed into service for cleaning and preparing ground work for plotting of the land.

Additional District Magistrate Land Revenue (ADMLR) P Maji said, "We are working on a war footing. We are going to work even during night with floodlights. We will complete cleaning and the land survey will be finished in two weeks. There will be no slowdown of work despite inclement weather."



The District Magistrate, the Superintendent of Police and officials of the state land acquisition department and agriculture department were present at the site.

State Education minister Partha Chatterjee paid a visit to the site and met the officials. He said Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee will visit Singur and hold a public meeting on September 14.

"She is keeping a tab on the progress from Rome," he said.

Asked if industries were completely ruled out at the site, Chatterjee said, "First, let us abide with court order in handing over the land."



The Supreme Court order mandates that the physical possession of land should be given back to the farmers.

The Chief Minister had said that the order would be implemented in "letter and spirit" and handing over of the possession of land to farmers will be completed in 12 weeks as directed by the apex court.

According to tentative estimates, half of the land can be used for agriculture immediately. But the rest of the land had seen development activities at different levels using various building materials, Maji said.

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Bihar Water Resources minister Rajiv Ranjan Singh Lallan today slammed senior BJP leader Sushil Kumar Modi for seeking registration of cases against Chief Minister Nitish Kumar and the WRD minister for loss of lives in recent flood following breach in embankment.

"Sushil Modi should prove flood happening anywhere in Bihar currently following breach of embankment or else tender apology," Lallan told reporters.

Media reports quoted Modi as saying in Katihar yesterday that cases should be registered against the CM and the WRD minister for murder under section 302 for loss of lives following breach in embankment.

"Its bundle of lies," the Bihar WRD minister said, making a strong counter-attack on the BJP leader.

"Sushil Modi is crossing his limits...He is a politician and should make statement remaining within limits...By crossing limits he might have to face legal action in future," Lallan said in a terse reaction to the BJP leader.

Lallan said Modi had "mania" to be in "for which he makes unsubstantiated allegations against rivals".

"By making such baseless charges, the senior BJP leader is trying to demoralise departmental engineers who are working day and night for safety of embankments in the recent flood," he said.

"Due to heavy discharge of rain waters from Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh and Jharkhand, water level in Ganga rose above danger level at many places inundating many areas," he added.

The Bihar WRD minister reiterated his CM's opinion that siltation due to Farakka Dam caused flood every year in Bihar, adding, that until the Farakka Dam was dismantled and a national siltation policy formulated, flood would keep troubling Bihar every year.

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A motorcycle expedition to Khardungla, the world's highest motorable road at 18,389 ft, via Leh in Ladakh was launched here today carrying the message 'Stop Pollution Go Green'.

The five-member group of Assam Rhinos Motorcycle Club will reach their destination in Jammu and Kashmir on the ninth day from today, the organsiers said.

On their long journey they will also invite people of the towns and cities they cross to visit Assam and experience its natural beauty and tourist attractions of the state, said the expedition members.

After reaching Leh they would travel to Khadungla on their motorcycles and conclude their expedition in Jammu on the 13th day, they said.

On their way, the group will conduct meet mediapersons, road shows and pay sudden visits to educational institutions in, Siliguri, Purnia, Muzaffarpur, Gorakhpur, Lucknow, Bareilly, Delhi, Chandigarh, Shimla, Manali and other towns and cities to create awareness about the beauty of Assam through leaflets and pamphlets.

The expedition is being sponsored by Assam Pollution Control Board.

Dipu Deka, Jyotiprasad Das, Ankur Borthakur, Pranjal Sarma are expedition members who began thri journey from here, while the fifth member Nilotpal Haloi will join in Delhi, the organisers said.

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A local court today directed police to book Panaji Mayor Surendra Furtado and six others, two of them journalists, in connection with an incident where a de-weeding machine he had climbed on during a demonstration in a creek turned turtle due to overloading.

Judicial Magistrate First Class (JMFC) Pooja Kavlekar, acting on a complaint, asked police to file an FIR against them and complete the probe into the June 26 incident within two months.

Furtado, who was on-board the de-weeding machine fitted on a boat deployed to clean the St Inez creek, had fallen in the water when the vessel capsized apparently due to overloading.

Two journalists were also part of the group that had boarded the machine. The Mayor was explaining the use of the machine and media persons were invited to cover the demonstration in the creek, a water body running through the capital city.

Social activist Aires Rodrigues had filed a formal police complaint against Furtado. However, when police did not register an FIR, he approached JMFC.

Rodrigues, in the petition filed before JMFC, had alleged that police were shielding the Mayor because he was politically well-connected. The activist sought a court order to police for registering an FIR in connection with the incident.

Maintaining that a major man-made tragedy was averted, the activist told the court that the Mayor ignored the advice of MLA Jennifer Monseratte as well as the machine operator not to board the vessel.

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Former President Dilma Rousseff has slammed the process that led to her ouster this week, promising to provide a strong opposition voice to the new government.

In comments to foreign media yesterday, Rousseff said next week she would be moving back to her hometown of Porto Alegre in southern Brazil. She has 30 days to vacate the presidential palace.

On Wednesday, the Senate voted to remove Rousseff for breaking fiscal responsibility laws in her management of the federal budget. Brazil's first female president denies wrongdoing, and has frequently pointed out that previous presidents have used similar accounting measures.

Rousseff said she had not developed long-term plans for what comes next, but won't shy away from public life. "I don't have political plans for office, but I do have political plans. I'm going to oppose this government," she said.

Rousseff also had sharp words for Michel Temer, who was her vice president before taking over in the wake of her removal. The two were allies who turned into enemies, with Rousseff accusing Temer of being the ringleader behind her ouster.

She said that if he doesn't govern on the platform the two ran on in 2010 and 2014, people will see his government as illegitimate.

Rousseff also said she would be quick to raise her voice if Temer's government tries to crackdown on protesters. Since her ouster, a handful of small anti-Temer demonstrations have been broken up by police.

On Thursday, Rousseff appealed her removal from office to the country's highest court. It's unclear when the court will rule, but several appeals during the months-long impeachment process were rejected.

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Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaih today held discussions with senior counsel F S Nariman about the ongoing legal battle with neighbouring Tamil Nadu in the Supreme Court over the release of Cauvery water, which is expected to come up for hearing on Monday.

Chief Minister met Nariman in Delhi and discussed about the opinion that the court had expressed yesterday, officials in the Chief Minister's office said.

After the meeting Chief Minister saidKarnataka's lawyers will present its case on Monday.

The Supreme Court had yesterday advised Tamil Nadu and Karnataka to "live and let live", as they locked horns and traded charges in the courtroom over the release of Cauvery water.

The court was hearing Tamil Nadu's plea, seeking a direction to Karnataka to release 50.52 tmc feet of Cauvery water to save 40,000 acres of 'samba' crops this season.

Nariman is appearing for Karnataka in the case.

Water Resources Minister M B Patil, who is also in Delhi, is holding meetings with legal experts and lawyers.

Reacting to the developments in the apex court in connection with the case, Patil had yesterday said the state's legal team would present the ground realities, and inform the court about Karnataka's drinking water needs, deficit rain and storage levels in four reservoirs in the Cauvery basin area.

Karnataka had earlier made it clear that it was not possible for it to spare Cauvery water to Tamil Nadu given the"severe distress" it was facing; an all-party meeting had decided that the same stand should be placed before theSupreme Court.

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CBI today carried out searches at 20 locations including the residences of former Haryana Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda in a case of alleged irregularities in acquisition of land in Gurgaon in which farmers were cheated to the tune of Rs 1,500 crore.

The search operation also covered the residential premises of UPSC member Chattar Singh who was then Additional Private Secretary to Hooda, CBI sources said.

Besides Hooda's residence in Rohtak and Chandigarh, the premises of IAS officers--Additional Transport Secretary Haryana, S S Dhillon (then Director Town and country Planning), the then Principal Secretary of Hooda, M L Tayal (now retired)--were also searched in the operation spread across multiple cities, they said.

During the searches at Hooda's residence, CBI has found "fund transaction details worth crores of rupees" which are being scrutinised by the agency.

The sources said the agency team also searched premises of ABW Infrastructure Limited, its founder Director Atul Bansal in Rajokri and his brother Amit Bansal in Gurgaon was also covered in the operation resulting in the recovery of 22 items of forensic importance.

The role of firms associated with the builder like Innovative Infra Developers, Flair Private Limited among others is also under the scanner of the agency.

"In an ongoing investigation, CBI carried out searches at 20 locations in Rohtak, Gurgaon, Panchkula and Delhi in connection with allegedirregularitiesin the purchase of land from farmers in Gurgaon," CBI Spokesperson R K Gaur said.

The agency had registered the case last year in Septemberon allegations that private builders in conspiracy with unknown public servants of the Haryana government had purchased around 400 acres of land from farmers and land owners of village Manesar, Naurangpur and Lakhnoula, district Gurgaon at throw away prices, showing the threat of acquisition by the government, during the period of August 27, 2004 to August 24, 2007.

It was alleged that a loss of Rs 1,500 crore was caused to the land owners of village Manesar, Naurangpur and Lakhnoula of Gurgaon.

The premises of then Chief Town and Country Planner Dhare



Singh, in Rohtak and Delhi, M S Chopra, the then Officer on Special Duty (OSD) to Hooda, Randhir Singh (also the then OSD), the office of Town and Country Planning, Haryana government, Jaswant Singh, then District Town Planner, and the then Deputy Superintendent Town Planning Department were also searched, the sources said.

The raids were spread in Rohtak, Chandigarh, Gurgaon, New Delhi and Panchkula, they said.

It is alleged that initially the Haryana government had issued a notification under the Land Acquisition Act for acquiring land measuring about 912 acres for setting up an Industrial Model Township at villages Manesar, Naurangpur and Lakhnoula in Gurgaon.

After that, all the land had allegedly been grabbed from the land owners by private builders atmeagerrates showing the threat of Government acquisition, CBI had said after registering the case.

It is also alleged that an order was then passed by the thecompetent authority i.E. The Director of Industries on August 24, 2007 releasing this land from the acquisition process in violation of the government policy, in favour of the builders, their companies and agents, instead of the original land owners.

The CBI has alleged in its FIR that in the said manner, land measuring about 400 acres whose market value at that time was above Rs four crore per acre approximately totallingabout Rs 1,600 crore approximately was allegedly purchased by the private builders and others from the innocent land owners for only about Rs 100 crore.

(Reopens DEL 46)



The sources claimed during the searches photocopies of crucial documents related to the land acquisition process and maps of the land were recovered from the residence of Dhare Singh.

They said the agency also recovered documents of four properties of S S Dhillon besides records of 15 acres of agriculture land in Punjab.

Documents related to four flats allegedly belonging to M L Tayal and his family members were also recovered by the sleuths from his residence, they said.

The agency has also taken into possession two computers from Hooda's residence.

From Atul Bansal's premises, the investigating team seized laptops, hard drives and other electronic material in addition to various other documents, the sources added.
In mounting trouble for sacked Delhi minister Sandeep Kumar, the woman who purportedly figured in an 'objectionable' CD with him, has accused him of allegedly raping her after spiking her drink, following which Kumar today surrendered at the DCP's office here.

The woman today filed a complaint against Kumar at Sultanpuri police station alleging that she was raped by him after being offered a spiked drink, official sources said.

She alleged in her complaint that the CD was made after Kumar became a minister.

The woman claimed she had gone to meet Kumar for his help in getting a ration card. She was asked to wait at the minister's office and then offered a cold drink which was allegedly spiked, the sources said.

After she lost consciousness, she was allegedly raped. The woman claimed she did not know a CD had been made, they said.

Sanjay Singh, Joint Commissioner (Northern range), said that the victim's statement was being recorded.

A case under IPC section 376 (rape) has been registered, police said.

Meanwhile, Sandeep Kumar today reached the office of DCP (outer) to surrender.

Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal tweeted that Kumar should be given "exemplary punishment" if the allegations turn out to be true.

"If woman's allegations are correct, this is v serious. Strongest exemplary punishment shud be given to Sandeep," he said.

Earlier in the day, AAP suspended Kumar from the party, days after he was sacked as Women and Child Development minister over the "objectionable" CD in which he was shown in a compromising position with the woman.

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Chinese President Xi Jinping today asked the US to "play a constructive role" in maintaining peace and stability in the disputed South China Sea, asserting that Beijing will "unswervingly" safeguard its sovereignty over the area.

Xi made the remarks during a meeting with US President Barack Obama here on the eve of the key summit of G20 nations, where the leaders of the world's 20 strong economies will meet.

Xi said China will continue to "unswervingly safeguard" its territorial sovereignty and maritime rights and interests in the South China Sea (SCS).

"In the meantime, China will stick to peaceful settlement of disputes through consultation and negotiation with parties directly concerned, and safeguard peace and stability in the South China Sea along with ASEAN member states," Xi was quoted as saying by state-run Xinhua agency.

After several hours of talks, the White House said the leaders had a "candid exchange" over the arbitration case between China and the Philippines.

Obama also told Xi that the US would keep monitoring China's commitments on cybersecurity, the White House said.

In the meeting, Xi also said that China is willing to work with the US to ensure bilateral ties stay on the right track.

He urged the two countries to follow the principles of non-conflict, non-confrontation, mutual respect and win-win cooperation, deepen mutual trust and collaboration, and manage and control their differences in a constructive manner, in order to push forward continuous, sound and stable development of bilateral ties.

Noting that the city of Hangzhou holds historic significance to Sino-US relations, Xi spoke highly of his previous meetings with Obama since 2013, which "produced important consensus."



The US has voiced concern over Beijing's growing assertiveness in key waterways in the region.

The US has urged China to accept an international arbitration panel's ruling that sided with the Philippines in a dispute over claims in the SCS.

Beijing claims almost all of the South China Sea despite partial counter-claims from the Philippines, Vietnam, Malaysia and Taiwan.

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China today ratified the climate change agreement reached last year in Paris that aims to significantly reduce global emissions, giving a big boost to hopes to bring the accord into effect by the end of this year.

China's approval to the agreement came a day ahead of the G20 summit in Hangzhou, where the leader of the world's two biggest polluters - US and China - will meet.

China and the US together are responsible for around 40 per cent of the world's emissions so their ratification of the international legal document is viewed crucial.

The Paris Agreement is the third attempt to address the issue of climate change, after the 1992 UN Framework Convention on Climate Change and the 1997 Kyoto Protocol.

The accord, which sets ambitious goals for capping global warming and funnelling trillions of dollars to poor countries, will come into effect 30 days after at least 55 countries, accounting for 55 per cent of global greenhouse gas emissions, have ratified it.

Lawmakers of the Standing Committee of China's National People's Congress voted to adopt "the proposal to review and ratify the Paris Agreement," state-run Xinhua agency reported.

"Ratifying the agreement accords with China's policy of actively dealing with climate change," according to the proposal, which added that addressing climate change would help the country realise sustainable development.

The proposal said that ratifying the agreement was conducive to China's development interests, and it will also help the country play a bigger role in global climate governance.

China along with 195 other countries signed the Paris Agreement at UN Headquarters in New York on April 22, Earth Day, sending a strong messaging to the international community as it joins forces against global warming.

The Paris accord (COP21) aims to reverse temperature increase, mainly caused by carbon emissions. It sets a target to hold the global average rise in temperature below 2 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels, and preferably below 1.5 degrees.

It is a major milestone, especially after the failed climate summit in Copenhagen, Denmark, in 2009 and disputes among countries on their responsibilities.

(Reopens FGN 14)



To fulfill its commitment to Paris climate pact, China will have to cut its carbon emissions per unit of GDP by 60-65 per cent by 2030 from 2005 levels, increase non-fossil fuel sources in primary energy consumption to about 20 per cent, and peak its carbon emissions by 2030.

These targets were reflected in China's intended national determined contribution (INDCs) and also in its 13th Five-Year Plan (2016-2020).

Before the Paris agreement US and China reached a bilateral agreement in 2014 setting new targets for carbon emissions reductions by the US and a first-ever commitment by China to stop its emissions from growing by 2030.

The NPC ratified the climate agreement ahead of the G20 summit starting here tomorrow.

The G20 summit will also discuss the commitment of the developed countries to set up USD 100 billion fund for the developing countries to cope up with the costs of the effects of climate change.

India and China have been pressing the developed countries to keep up with the commitments for the fund.

Countries have one year to ink the agreement as it is open for signatures until April 21, 2017.

So far only 24 of the 180 signatories have ratified it, including France and many island states threatened by rising sea levels.

Only developed countries are expected to slash their emissions in absolute terms.
A Bishop today became the first Church of England priest to openly declare that he is gay and in a long-term relationship with a man.

Right Reverend Nicholas Chamberlain, the Bishop of Grantham, said he was moved to speak out about his sexuality after a British newspaper threatened to expose his personal relationship.

"It was not my decision to make a big thing about coming out," he told'The Guardian'.

"People know I'm gay, but it's not the first thing I'd say to anyone. Sexuality is part of who I am, but it's my ministry that I want to focus on."



Bishop Chamberlain said he obeys Church of England guidelines, which say gay clergy must remain celibate.

Under Church of England guidelines gay bishops must remain celibate and are not permitted to marry.

The church says that it supports clergy in same-sex civil partnerships, but marriage is a union of a man and a woman.

The Bishop said he had been with his partner for many years and that the relationship "is faithful and loving".

"We are like-minded, we enjoy each other's company and we share each other's life," he added.

"I really hope I'll be able to help us move on beyond matters of sexuality. It's not to say this isn't an important matter - I'm not brushing it aside," he said.

The Archbishop of Canterbury, Justin Welby, confirmed he was aware of the bishop's sexuality and that he was in a "long and committed relationship".

The Archbishop added: "His appointment as Bishop of Grantham was made on the basis of his skills and calling to serve the Church in the Diocese of Lincoln.

"He lives within the Bishops' guidelines and his sexuality is completely irrelevant to his office."



A Church of England spokesperson said: "Nicholas has not misled anyone and has been open and truthful if asked. The matter is not secret, although it is private as is the case with all partnerships/relationships."



Over the years, the Church of England has been trying to come to terms with controversy over its approach to gay clergy as a number of priests have defied the guidelines to marry same-sex partners since 2014.

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The Chief Minister's Good Governance Associates (CMGGA) in Haryana has reduced pendency of applications received on 'CM Window', a web portal for redressing grievances of people, on an average by 10 to 15 per cent.

This included overall reduction of 46.8 per cent in district Faridabad and 32.1 per cent in district Karnal, it was informed in a meeting of CMGGAs held under the Chairmanship of Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar,here today.

The Chief Minister suggested that CMGGAs formulate projects which would be easily accepted by the people so that such projects could be launched in other areas as well.

He asked them to get in touch with the Monitoring Committees in the Assembly Constituencies to take further the initiatives taken by them, according to an official release.

The CMGGAs also informed that 'School Mitra' programme was being implemented in Karnal under which private schools adopt government schools. Under the scheme, teachers of private schools teach students in government schools.

The Chief Minister was informed that Udaan Project was being implemented in Gurgaon district under which Geographic Information System (GIS) was being carried out with the help of drones for better decision making.

Similarly, odd-even scheme for autos was being implemented in Jind which has considerably reduced traffic on roads.

It was also informed that all CMGGAs have better understanding with deputy commissioners and additional deputy commissioners concerned.

They were working on various projects in coordination with DCs and ADCs so that the benefits of schemes could reach people at the earliest.

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Punjab Congress Legislature Party leader Charanjit Singh Channi today exuded confidence that Congress will "comfortably" form the government in the state after coming together of the fourth front adding he will go on a cycle yatra from September 27 to reach out to the masses.

The yatra will highlight the corruption and unemployment in Punjab during the last 10 years.

Channi met Congress vice president Rahul Gandhi here and discussed the political scenario in the state and briefed him about the party's prospects in the upcoming state elections.

After the meeting, he said Shiromani Akali Dal-BJP and AAP parties are disintegrating with many of their leaders quitting or looking for other options.

"The Congress party has very successfully completed its first phase of zone level programmes in which all the 117 constituencies have been covered. The Congress party will fight the ruling alliance in the coming Vidhan Sabha session also," he said.

Channi assured Gandhi that Congress will corner the ruling government on the issue of law and order, farmers' debt, urban issues and Dalit atrocities.

He also told Gandhi of his plan to start a cycle yatra in Punjab from September 27 covering all constituencies of the state in three phases. Punjab Congress chief Amarinder Singh will flag off the yatra.

The final programme and the constituency-wise detailed programme will be worked out soon in sync with PPCC. At least 1,000 cyclists will accompany Channi on the yatra on every phase which will last for seven days each.

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Cow vigilantes today torched a truck carrying chicken feed, and beat up the owner of the vehicle suspecting that it was carrying beef, at Zhora village, 40 km from here.

Following the incident, Bablu Thakur (22) and Gaurav Thakur (24) were arrested, local police inspector H C Ladiya told PTI. "We have lodged case against 15 persons. Two were arrested and the rest are being identified," he said.

Asked to comment on media reports that said the accused were Bajrang Dal workers, Ladiya said he did not know about it. "We are going to take tough action in the case," he added.

The truck, carrying raw chicken feed and headed for Manpur in Uttar Pradesh, developed a snag at Zhora village. Its owner Rajesh Jain, resident of Dholpur in Rajasthan, asked his driver to fetch a mechanic, the inspector said.

But the stench raised due to dry animal bones and organs like intestines used in the preparation of chicken feed, attracted the attention of some locals.

They suspected that the truck was carrying beef out of Bhopal and knocked on its door. Jain, who was sleeping in the cabin, got down from the other side. The crowd got hold of him and bashed him.

Within minutes, kerosene was brought, poured on the truck and it was set on fire, inspector Ladiya said. A patrolling police jeep reached the spot about the same time and alerted the Bairasia police station and the fire brigade.

Police rushed there along with fire tenders and swiftly brought the situation under control, Ladiya said. The fire only damaged cabin of the truck before it was put out and Jain had been slapped only once and did not sustain injury, he added.

"We have booked the accused under sections 147 (rioting), 149 (unlawful assembly), 323 (voluntary causing hurt), 506 (criminal intimidation), 427 (mischief) and 436 (mischief caused by fire and explosive) and other sections of IPC," the inspector added.

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Delhi Police has arrested three persons and recovered from them heroin worth over Rs 1 crore in two separate instances, police said today.

The three suspected drug peddlers were arrested from two different places by Crime Branch teams earlier this week and 1.2 kg of the contraband was recovered form them.

Javed was arrested from a service road opposite Anand Vihar railway station with 200 gm of heroin on the evening of August 29, said Ravindra Yadav, Joint Commissioner of Police (Crime Branch).

Next day, Crime Branch sleuths arrested Vinod Kumar and Manoj near Mongolpuri flyover and recovered 300 gm and 700 gm of heroin from them respectively, said the officer.

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A preliminary enquiry has been initiated by Delhi Police into allegations of tapping of phones of politicians, bureaucrats, industrialists and many other high-profile people by corporate major Essar Group.

Lawyer Suren Uppal, the complainant in the case, has been asked to present himself before the Special Investigation Team of Delhi Police on September 10.

Uppal had filed a PIL in the Delhi High Court in June alleging that Essar tapped phones of a number of high-profile persons including some Union Ministers. He had also approached the PMO against the group in the case.

The lawyer had alleged that the Essar Group had ordered its former security chief Albasit Khan to tap telephonic conversations of its business rivals when Atal Bihari Vajpayee was the Prime Minister.

In July, the Home Ministry had told the Delhi High Court that it has directed police to carry out a preliminary enquiry into the allegations Uppal had made in his PIL.

In a letter to Uppal on September 2, a Deputy Commissioner of Police had asked him to join the probe being carried out by the SIT, a senior Delhi Police official said, refusing to share further details.

When contacted, Uppal claimed he has a lot of documentary evidence including log books, handwritten notes as well as recordings of some top politicians and other high-profile persons to back his charge that the corporate major indulged in phone tapping from 2001 to 2005.

"I am ready to join the probe and present myself before the police committee on the given time and date. I have received just a letter asking me to join the probe. I have a lot of documentary evidences including some CDs that I have not given to anyone so far," he said.

Sources said that the SIT, led by a special commissioner, is expected to file a case after it wraps up its preliminary probe.

The five-member SIT is likely to call many persons to join the probe.

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"Once Upon A Time" star Emilie de Ravin has publicly asked for the dismissal of a female employee of American airlines after an alleged assault.

The 32-year-old actress addressed the incident in a series of tweets and said the employee had grabbed her forcefully at Los Angeles International Airport.

"Dear @AmericanAir I was grabbed forcefully, my carry on bag ripped out of my hand @lax this morning by AA employee A. 3 witnesses," she wrote.

In another post she thanked pilot for being helpful.

"By and @AmericanAir female employee Autonette Please kindly dismiss this woman from @americanair employment. Luckily our pilot was very kind and helpful & apologetic on woman's behalf and assisted in getting her name & instructions on who to contact to report her," she tweeted.

The actress also added no one has the authority to use physical force on someone.

"However there is NO excuse for physical force being used on someone. NOT OK @AmericanAir #accountability."



"Apart from this incident and DISGUSTING woman, thank you for a smooth and safe flight @AmericanAir," she tweeted later.

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Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal today picked on Prime Minister Narendra Modi, whom he has already dubbed "Mr Reliance", while attacking Congress as he said "no Prime Minister has sold himself to a corporate house the way he has".

"Congress was also in Reliance pocket. But they helped them secretly. Modiji proudly n brazenly announced it by modelling for Jio ad," the CM said in a tweet.

Modi had to face jibes from the Opposition parties after his picture featured in full page Reliance Jio advertisments yesterday on the launch of its telecom service.

"PM knew people won't like Reliance ad. Still he did. So, PM wants to say - 'Yes, I am Reliance man n I don't give a damn to what people think'," Kejriwal said in another tweeted.

Kejriwal, who has been unsparing in his criticism of the Prime Minister, had yesterday mockingly advised him to keep modelling for the Mukesh Ambandi-led group.

"No PM in independent India sold himself so brazenly to a corporate house. After PM modelled for Reliance product, wud anyone have courage to take any action against Reliance in any case?" Kejriwal asked.

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Every village in tribal Kinnaur district in Himachal Pradesh along the China border would be linked by road and the ongoing road construction projects in the district would be completed by expediting the works, Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh said today.

"There is a vast network of roads in Kinnaur but our endeavour is to connect every village in the district by road and works are going on to complete the roads so that the people can derive the benefit and avail the facility of better road connectivity for transporting their agriculture produce to main markets," he said while addressing a public meeting at Ribba in the district after inaugurating a parking place.

Virbhadra claimed Himachal Pradesh has emerged the most developed state among the hilly states in the country and the per capita income has increased to "Rs 1,30,067 from Rs 240 in 1948".

He also inaugurated Kashang-Akappa canal in Rarang, completed at a cost Rs 12.44 crore, and laid the foundation stone of Rs 3-crore sewerage plant in Ribba.

The Chief Minister later announced construction of Timchhe Canal, sewerage scheme, adequate funds for renovation of Pandav Temple and upgradation of a police post in Moorang.

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The father and ex-husband of a Pakistani-origin British woman were today charged with her murder in Pakistan in an apparent case of "honour killing" here.

The former husband of 28-year-old Samia Shahid was also charged with raping her before strangling her to death.

Shahid, a resident of Dhok Pandori village, some 230 km from Lahore, had come to Pakistan from Dubai in mid July to see her ailing father and was found dead on July 20. Her father claimed that she died due to cardiac arrest.

The murder would have gone unnoticed but British MP Naz Shah in a letter alerted Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif that it could be a case of honour killing following which Shahid's father Muhammad Shahid and ex-husband Muhammad Shakil were arrested.

The two are in police custody where according to police, Shakil had confessed killing his former wife.

The police has charged Shahid and Shakil with Samia's murder.

An autopsy report showed that she was raped before her murder.

Police is also trying to bring back Samia's sister and mother who fled to the UK after the murder.

A high-level inquiry headed by Deputy Inspector General (DIG) Abu Bakar Khuda Bakhsh concluded that she was murdered.

The DIG also asked for action against Station House Officer (SHO) Aqeel Abbas for professional negligence.

A police official said that following the official procedure, a case was registered against Abbas yesterday and he was arrested and locked up in Mangal police station.

Police sources said that Shakil, who is also Samia's cousin, confessed strangling her to death as she married another man of her choice.

Syed Mukhtar Kazim, second husband of Samia, had told police that his wife had been killed by her family members for marrying against the will of her parents.

Kazim and Samia, both British-Pakistani dual citizens, had been married for two years and were living in Dubai.

A beauty therapist from Bradford, Samia had previously been married to her first cousin Shakil but the couple parted ways after divorce in May 2014. She then married Kazim.

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Former Maharashtra minister Suresh Jain, arrested in the 2006 Gharkul housing scheme scam, today walked out of Dhule jail after the Supreme Court granted him bail.

Yesterday, the apex court granted him bail considering that all the important witnesses in the case have been examined. Jain, who was the minister for housing in the Shiv Sena-BJP government in the 1990s, has stayed in jail for over four-and-half years so far.

He was arrested in March, 2012 for allegedly favouring a builder and indulging in irregularities to the tune of Rs 29 crore. Jain had allegedly favoured a firm which got the contract for constructing tenements under the Gharkul housing scheme in Jalgaon district.

Former municipal commissioner of Jalgaon Pravin Gedam had registered a complaint in this connection in 2006.

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A court here after a fresh trial today convicted Goa-based model Siddesh Juvekar for cheating and raping a young woman.

Juvekar was a runner-up of the 'Mr India Manhunt 2015'.

South Goa Additional Sessions Judge Sherin Paul convicted Juvekar under sections 376 (rape) and 420 (cheating) of the Indian Penal Code.

"The quantum of sentence would be pronounced on September 7," said Aires Rodrigues, the victim's lawyer.

Colva police had filed the FIR against Juvekar on November 13, 2013 for raping the young woman from the state on several occasions on false promise of marrying her.

He was also booked for cheating her of Rs five lakh, which he had borrowed on the pretext of starting a business but did not return.

On July 4, 2014, Juvekar was dischargedby the South Goa sessions court but the woman filed an appeal before the Goa bench of Bombay High Court which directed a fresh trial.

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Three gold bars weighing just over a kilo and valued approximately at Rs 39 lakh, was seized from a passenger from Dubai at the Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose International airport here today.

The passenger, who hails from Thane in Maharashtra, had alighted from Emirates Airlines flight from Dubai, a Customs official said.

The gold worth Rs 38,59,916 was seized by air intelligence unit(AIU) of Kolkata Customs.

In another incident, AIU seized 9500 USD valued at Rs 6,27,000 from another passenger.

The passenger, who is a resident of Behala in the city, was travelling to Bangkok by Tashi Airlines, the official said.

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Nurses in government hospitals across the country today called off their indefinite strike after reaching a compromise with the Centre, in a major relief for Delhi and some other cities battling rising cases of dengue and chikungunya.

The strike called by the All India Government Nurses Federation (AIGNF) yesterday had severely crippled health services at hospitals in the national capital and some other cities in the last two days.

After after the strike began, Delhi government had invoked the stringent Essential Service Maintenance Act (ESMA) and declared the stir as illegal. Two male nurses of Dr Ambedkar Hospital in outer Delhi were today arrested under the Act.

"We have been given assurance by the central government that our outstanding issues would be resolved by September 12. Also, the Delhi Chief Secretary has assured us that the police cases against the two nurses would be withdrawn and they would be released. So, we are calling off our nationwide strike," AIGNF spokesperson Liladhar Ramchandani told PTI.

The Centre has constituted a committee headed by the Finance Secretary to look into the outstanding demands which has invited the nurses federation on September 12 for talks.

"We received a call from Union Health Minister J P Nadda and he asked us to withdraw the strike as Delhi and many other cities are grappling with rising cases of dengue and chikungunya. This health crisis was one of the major reasons we decided to call off the stir," he said.

The nurses have been demanding revision in pay and allowances for quite some time now.

Earlier in the day, Delhi hospitals, hit the hardest by the strike, managed with contractual nurses and interns to make up for the shortage of nursing, while Centre and the nursing federation held talks to find a way out of the crisis.

"We had talks with the government till late night. Members of the nursing federations discussed the issue with the Joint Secretary at Nirman Bhawan after talks with the nursing advisor earlier in the day," Ramchandani said.

Several routine operations in hospitals were cancelled, surgeries postponed, OPD timings curtailed and emergency services affected too.

At least 487 cases of dengue have so far been reported in the national capital this season, with 368 of them being recorded last month. Eight deaths due to it have also been reported. At least 432 people have been diagnosed with chikungunya in Delhi so far.

Till July 28, 9,990 suspected chikungunya cases were recorded in the country, with Karnataka reporting 7,591 cases. Also, over 15,000 cases of dengue have been reported across the country this year.

Ramchandani, however, said, "We will resume duty from



tomorrow morning and things will get back to normal."



The decision to call off the strike comes as a major relief for Delhi particularly, as the situation here had become "critical".

Delhi Chief Secretary K K Sharma held a meeting earlier in the day with Principal Secretary (Home), Commissioner of Police and Health Department officials to take stock of the situation. Sharma was informed during the meeting about the shortage of nursing staff at city hospitals.

"Major hospitals are having only one-third of the staff strength. The situation has become critical on account of the strike," a Delhi government statement said.

During the meeting, medical superintendents of hospitals reported that there was an increased rush of patients at fever clinics and the OPDs on account of the upsurge in dengue and chikungunya cases.

The city Health Department had issued a "public notice" asking the striking staff to resume duty "immediately".

Government hospitals in Delhi, including those run by the Centre, the city government or civic bodies employ about 20,000 nurses, and the federation claimed that most of the staff had joined the strike.

During the strike, nurses only attended to emergency and critical cases.

Besides Delhi, we got support from nurses in Chandigarh (PGIMER), Punjab, Rajasthan and Puducherry (JIPMER), the AIGNF spokesperson said.

The Centre had, however, claimed yesterday that only Maharashtra, Delhi and Uttar Pradesh were "partially affected" by the strike.

Delhi government runs nearly 40 hospitals out of which LNJP Hospital is the biggest. Other major hospitals under it include GTB Hospital, DDU Hospital, Dr Baba Saheb Ambedkar Hospital and Chacha Nehru Child Hospital.

Among centrally-run hospitals, Safdarjung Hospital which employs 1,100 nurses, including 160 on contract, too suffered on account of the stir.

RML Hospital employs about 840 nurses of whom 236 are on contract and the hospital said it managed with contractual nursing staff and interns.
Gujarat Chief Minister Vijay Rupani today asked top police officers to remain alert to thwart terror attacks, and stressed the need to strengthen intelligence network to keep a tab on "sleeper cells" helping terrorists.

Addressing top IPS officers at a conference in Gandhinagar, Rupani also put emphasis on improving the image of the police department and asked the officers to focus on providing safety and security to the downtrodden, said Minister of State for Home Pradeepsinh Jadeja.

"Gujarat has a 1,600 km long coastline. In addition, we are a prosperous state. So the Chief Minister suggested that the police department should strengthen the intelligence network in order to thwart any possible terror attack as well as to keep a check on sleeper cells helping terrorists," he said after the meeting.

Gujarat DGP P P Pandey along with other senior officers of the rank of Additional DGP, IG and DIG were present at the conference.

According to an official release, Rupani also said the government's image in the society is based on how people perceive the functioning of police, and there is a need to build "citizen-friendly" image of police through transparency and sensitive approach.

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Gumthala Garhu near Pehowa today became the first Wifi hotspot village in Haryana circle under the bulk plan of BSNL for the state.

The service was inaugurated by Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar from Chandigarh.

On the occasion, it was informed that BSNL Haryana circle has a plan to have 238 Wifi hotspot locations with 1072 access points in the state and the project would be implemented to its full capacity during the current financial year.

The Wifi hotspot facility at the village uses bandwidth of 10 mbps through BSNL's state-of-the-art network, according to an official release here tonight.

Ten outdoor and one indoor access points have been installed to cover the village. The coverage from each access point is about 100 meters. In this Wifi hotspot, data can be accessed by multiple users simultaneously, it said.

The BSNL has already installed 32 access points at different locations in Haryana under its retail plan, where a data can be accessed by the customer on paid basis for which subscription plans are available in the denomination ranging from Rs 10 to Rs 599 with data volume from 100 MB to 10 GB and validity from one day to 30 days, the statement said.

It said the gram panchayats are being connected as part of the National Optical Fibre Network Programme under Digital India Programme.

In Haryana, 6078 gram panchayats would be connected under this ambitious programme in a phased manner. Under phase one, work is in progress in 90 blocks and 90 per cent of it has already been completed. In phase two, work would commence in 24 blocks and it would be completed by the year end, the release mentions.

BSNL is introducing such a scheme which would automatically switch over to Wifi to provide high speed data to the consumers. It would be equal to 5G, it said, adding its technical trail has successfully been completed and the service would commence soon.

The BSNL would, on landline, provide data at a rate of one rupee per GB, it added.

Speaking on the occasion, Khattar said BSNL has "created history" by providing Wifi service in a village of the state and was a "matter of happiness".

He said earlier such services were available in cities only but are now were being extended to villages.

"I congratulate residents of the village and BSNL for this initiative," Khattar said.

The BSNL is providing Wifi hotspots in association with channel partner M/s Trimax in north zone, the release said.

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The Madras High Court today directed the authorities concerned to allow members of the Scheduled Caste (SC) community to enter the Sri Maha Mariyamman temple at Pasumbalur village in Perambalur district and take part in the temple festival.

The direction was given by Justice M Sathyanarayanan to the Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments department, Perambalur District Collector and the temple authorities on a plea by K Subramani, who sought it for the authorities to allow members of the SC community to offer their prayers at the temple on the occasion of the festival this month.

"In the light of the rival submissions made and the facts and circumstances, this court directs the authorities concerned to ensure that the people belonging to the Scheduled Caste community are allowed to enter the temple and worship the presiding deity during the festival to be held till September 16," the judge said.

Subramani, a Vanniar community leader, had alleged that the temple authorities were not allowing members of the Parayar (SC) community to take part in the festival which commenced on September 1.

He had also referred to clashes between members of the SC community and other communities during the temple festival on previous occasions.

One Katta Arumugam was brutally murdered and another Rajkumar received serious injuries on two occasions during the clashes in the past, he had said.

A representation seeking permission for SC community members to enter the temple during the festival was submitted to the authorities but it was not considered, he had submitted.

The judge made it clear that "people belonging to the upper caste as well as the Scheduled Caste shall realise the solemness of the occasion and shall extend maximum co-operation to the revenue as well as the police administration for the smooth conduct of the temple festival".

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The Madras High Court has expressed displeasure over filmmakers "corrupting the minds of the youth" by using vulgar words in songs and by projecting more violence in films, instead of inculcating moral values.

The court expressed its unhappiness while granting bail to Prabhu Kumar, who was arrested under POCSO Act and remanded in judicial custody on June 24, for singing a film song on seeing a 16-year-old girl who was accompanied by her mother.

Granting him bail yesterday, Justice S Vaidyanathan directed him to execute a bond for Rs 10,000 with two sureties each for a like sum. It also directed him to appear before the police daily until further orders.

It was submitted by the government advocate that the petitioner waylaid the victim who was accompanied by her mother and sang a film song besides pulling her hands.

The counsel for the petitioner submitted that the petitioner and the victim had a love affair. She further submitted that the petitioner had not committed any such offence and a false case had been foisted on him.

Justice S Vaidyanathan said considering the facts and circumstances of the case it cannot be said that the petitioner sang the song with sexual intentions.

"... Also, considering the period of incarceration of the petitioner, this court is of the view that no custodial interrogation is required at this stage and therefore, the petitioner is ordered to be released on bail."



"This court expresses its displeasure that the filmmakers as well as the producers, instead of inculcating good thoughts and moral values, are corrupting the minds of the youth by using vulgar words in songs and by projecting more violence in films, thereby deteriorating our culture and morality.

"Media is a powerful teacher, whose teachings are never forgotten by people. Therefore, the filmmakers should realise their responsibility to imbibe good thoughts in the minds of the youth, who are the pillars of the future society and should act upon to bring up a good society," the judge said.

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Former Haryana Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda today termed the CBI searches at his residences and other places as "political vendetta" unleashed by the BJP government against its opponents.

The senior Congress leader said the CBI searches "were not a court verdict against him" and that he will keep his side of the story at an appropriate platform.

"Let the government conduct investigations to its full satisfaction. I will fully cooperate in the investigations and not create any obstacle so that truth comes out before the people soon," the two-time former CM said in a statement here.

Hitting out at the BJP-led Haryana government, Hooda said, "To cover its failures, they are adopting tactics to divert people's attention by trying to defame the Congress leadership."



"If Congress has seen good days, it has also passed through difficult days, but the party even in difficult days has bravely faced conspiracy of its opponents," he said.

"BJP should understand this. They cannot browbeat me and keep me down with such actions," the Congress leader added.

CBI today carried out searches at 20 locations including the residences of the former Haryana Chief Minister and a sitting UPSC member in a case of alleged irregularities in acquisition of land in Gurgaon in which farmers were cheated to the tune of Rs 1,500 crore.

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Himachal Pradesh government would spend Rs 1689 crore during the current financial year to strengthen the health sector in the state, Health Minister Kaul Singh Thakur said today.

Presiding over the second bi-annual conference-cum-golden jubilee alumni meet of 'Himachal Pradesh Ophthalmologists Society' in Kufri here, he said four new medical colleges were coming up in the state.

He said Dr Y S Parmar Medical College in Nahan would become functional from this month with a fresh batch of 100 MBBS students and Chamba and Hamirpur Medical Colleges would start functioning next year.

Thakur said ESIC Medical College and Hospital, set up in Ner Chowk at a cost of Rs 850 crore, would also be made functional in coming days and to decongest IGMC in Shimla, its second campus was being set up in Chamiyana for which 250 bighas of land has been made available.

A cancer hospital was coming up in Mandi at a cost of Rs 45 crore. Super speciality block has been constructed at Tanda Medical College at a cost of Rs 45 crore and an AIIMS is being set up in Bilaspur, he said.

Thakur said to strengthen the healthcare network in rural areas of the state, the government has opened and upgraded 145 health institutes.

Health coverage of the state was far better than the national average and one health sub-centre is catering to 2,990 people whereas the ratio at the national level is 5,615 persons, Thakur claimed.

Similarly, one primary health centre caters to 12,921 persons; a community health centre to 80,208 persons and the per capita expenditure on healthcare was Rs 26,000, which was highest in the country, he added.

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A senior education chief in the UK today warned that "political correctness" of the local councilors was coming in the way of government efforts to clamp down on illegal Muslim schools in the country.

Sir Michael Wilshaw, the head of Britain's schools watchdog Ofsted, said "political correctness" of local authority officials in charge of inspecting such schools in their area was to blame.

Ofsted has identified between 150 and 160 of such potentially illegal schools and are working with lawyers to take them to court.

However, it fears the case may be weakened due to the local councils' lack of action.

"Some of our lawyers are saying that our cases are very robust. But what the courts might say is that the local authority has been into some of these places but don't want to upset community relations, so they ignore it," Wilshaw told 'The Times' in an interview.

"When push comes to shove, barristers are saying courts could say the local authorities didn't find anything wrong with these places. They have to see this as a serious problem, identify where these places are and close them down," he said.

Sir Michael did not name councils but said he was worried that councils in cities such as Birmingham, Bradford and Luton must recognise their duty to safeguard children.

Ofsted has also issued warning notices to illegal schools in London, Wolverhampton and Staffordshire.

According to the newspaper, not all illegal schools are Muslim schools and unregistered Christian and Jewish schools have also been discovered.

Independent schools offering full-time education must register with the Department for Education and be subject to inspection.

Ultimately a court must decide whether a school is illegal and Ofsted says its approach is getting tougher to ensure safety of youngsters.

There are concerns such schools could be a breeding ground for radical and extremist thinking.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
An Inner Line Permit (ILP) Cell, housed in a building of the border Police Check post in Mizoram-Assam border Vairengte town, was inaugurated by Kolasib District Deputy Commissioner H. Lalengmawia, an official statement today said.

The statement said Lalengmawia inaugurated the ILP Cell yesterday to facilitate on the spot issuance of ILP to the people from outside the state entering Mizoram.

The Cell was set up as an extension of the office of the Sub Divisional Officer (Civil) of Vairengte in which a signboard written in English, Hindi and Bengali was prominently displayed.

Temporary ILP would be issued in the Cell which could be made permanent in the DC's office. The Cell is equipped with facilities to take passport photographs of ILP applicants.

People from outside the state required ILP to enter Mizoram as per provisions of the Bengal Eastern Frontier Regulation, 1873 and the regulation has been in force in tribal-dominated states in the north east.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
India has asked the world community to "redouble" the efforts to fight the growing threat of terrorism by expediting the adoption of an international convention on terrorism, saying the UN members must recognise the "graveness" of its threat.

"As one of the oldest victims of terrorism in the world, India urges the UN and Members of the UN to recognise the graveness of this threat and commit to redouble our efforts in a practical and sustained manner to fight this scourge of world peace," senior official in the Indian Mission to the UN Srinivas Prasad said here.

"A commitment to the signing of the proposed and much discussed Comprehensive Convention on International Terrorism (CCIT) - a global compact on terrorism - would be an important step forward," he said, according to prepared remarks, posted on the mission's website.

Addressing a high-level forum on 'Culture of Peace' yesterday, Prasad said terrorism and extremism constitute the biggest threats to world peace today and "destabilises" societies and global order.

"This threat cannot be contained in one corner of the world and it will spill over to all parts of the world, as recent terrorist attacks in Europe, Africa, Turkey, Bangladesh and Afghanistan have demonstrated," he said.

Noting that while India aims to not only lift its population out of poverty but also build a peaceful and just society, Prasad said that the country "recognises" that "its economic development is contingent on a peaceful neighborhood and global order".

"We have, therefore, stressed on regional interconnectivity with our neighbors in South Asia and sharing of developmental efforts," he said adding that India also recognises the importance of supporting the UN in dealing with instability and violence and bringing peace in various parts of the world.

Invoking the legacy of Mahatma Gandhi, Prasad said the Indian leader's "powerful message" of peace and non-violence resonates even more strongly today "in a world in which we are faced with terrorism against innocent civilians and vulnerable members of society."



He said Gandhi's message is "deeply relevant" at a time when terrorism is used as "state policy" with no thought to the consequences to peaceful citizens and groups of women and children.

Voicing concern over the consequences of terrorism on the world's children, Prasad said conflict and violence impacting the stability of State structures, from Africa to Afghanistan, has "tragically" fuelled a mass refugee influx with children constituting a large section of this influx.

"While the world has striven to address this global refugee influx, we need to pay greater attention to ending terrorist violence which brings about this influx. A Culture of Peace and security is a prerequisite for economic development and the eradication of poverty, which ultimately is a safeguard against instability and mass violence," he said.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
India today extended a USD 500 million line of credit to Vietnam to deepen their defence cooperation and signed 12 agreements including a deal to construct offshore patrol boats, amid China's muscle flexing in the disputed South China Sea and "emerging regional challenges".

Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who held wide-ranging talks with his Vietnamese counterpart Nguyen Xuan Phuc here, said the two countries have decided to elevate their strategic ties to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership to provide it a new momentum.

"Our decision to upgrade our Strategic Partnership to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership captures the intent and path of our future cooperation. It will provide a new direction, momentum and substance to our bilateral cooperation," said Modi, who arrived here yesterday on his maiden visit to this key south east Asian nation.

Vietnam had earlier Comprehensive Strategic Partnership only with Russia and China.

"I am also happy to announce a new Defence Line of Credit for Vietnam of USD 500 million for facilitating deeper defence cooperation," Modi said after the signing of the agreements.

The 12 agreements were signed in a wide range of areas covering defence, IT, space, cyber security and sharing white shipping information in presence of Modi and Phuc.

"The range of agreements signed just a while ago point to the diversity and depth of our cooperation," he said, adding the agreement on construction of offshore patrol boats is one of the steps to give concrete shape to the bilateral defence engagement.

Modi described his talks with Vietnamese counterpart as "extensive and very productive" and said they covered the full range of bilateral and multilateral cooperation.

"We have agreed to scale up and strengthen our bilateral engagement. As two important countries in this region, we also feel it necessary to further our ties on regional and international issues of common concern," said Modi, who is here on a day-long visit.

"We also recognised the need to cooperate in responding to emerging regional challenges," the Prime Minister said, without naming any country.

China is involved in a raging dispute with the Philippines, Vietnam, Taiwan, Malaysia and Brunei over ownership of territory in the South China Sea (SCS), a busy waterway through which India's 50 per cent trade passes.

China has also objected in the past to India's Oil and Natural Gas Commission (ONGC) undertaking exploration at the invitation of Vietnam in the SCS, which is believed to be rich in undersea deposits of oil and gas.

India and the US have been calling for freedom of passage in the international waters, much to the discomfort to Beijing, whose claim over SCS was recently struck down by an international tribunal in favour of the Philippines.

"Our common efforts will also contribute to stability, security and prosperity in this region," Modi said.

Vietnam has shown a keen interest cooperating with India



in air and defense production. India's L&T will build offshore high speed patrol boats for Vietnamese Coast Guards, while a pact was signed on cooperation in UN peacekeeping matters.

Indian Navy and Vietnam Navy will cooperate in sharing of white shipping information.

Modi said as the two important countries in this region, India and Vietnam feel it necessary to further their ties on regional and international issues of common concern.

The Prime Minister also announced a grant of USD 5 million for the establishment of a Software Park in the Telecommunications University in Nha Trang.

"We agreed to tap into the growing economic opportunities in the region," said Modi, the first Indian premier to visit the Communist country in 15 years.

Noting that enhancing bilateral commercial engagement is the strategic objective of the two nations, he said, "For this, new trade and business opportunities will be tapped to achieve the trade target of USD 15 billion by 2020."



Besides seeking facilitation of ongoing Indian projects and investments in Vietnam, Prime Minister Modi said he has invited Vietnamese companies to take advantage of the various schemes and flagship programmes of the Indian government.

"As Vietnam seeks to empower and enrich its people, Modernise its agriculture; Encourage entrepreneurship and innovation; Strengthen its Science and Technology base; Create new institutional capacities for faster economic development; and Take steps to build a modern nation, India and its 1.25 billion people stand ready to be Vietnam's partner and a friend in this journey," Modi said.

Speaking about the framework agreement on Space Cooperation, he said it would allow Vietnam to join hands with Indian Space Research Organisation to meet its national development objectives.

Hoping for an early establishment and opening of the Indian Cultural Centre in Hanoi, he said, "The Archaeological Survey of India could soon start the conservation and restoration work of the Cham monuments at My Son in Vietnam."



He also thanked Vietnam's leadership in facilitating inscription of Nalanda Mahavihara as a UNESCO World Heritage site earlier this year.

India and Vietnam also signed an agreement on celebrating 2017 as 'The Year Of Friendship'.

Noting that ASEAN is important to India in terms of historical links, geographical proximity, cultural ties and the strategic space that the two sides share, he said, "It is central to our 'Act East' policy. Under Vietnam's leadership as ASEAN Coordinator for India, we will work towards a strengthened India-ASEAN partnership across all areas."



Modi also expressed the need to "stay focussed to keep up the momentum" in bilateral ties and invited the Vietnamese leadership to India.
India on Saturday extended a $500 million line of credit to Vietnam to deepen their defence cooperation and signed 12 agreements, including a deal to construct offshore patrol boats, amid Chinas muscle flexing in the disputed South China Sea and emerging regional challenges.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who held wide-ranging talks with his Vietnamese counterpart Nguyen Xuan Phuc, said the two countries have decided to elevate their strategic ties to a comprehensive strategic partnership (CSP) to provide it a new momentum.

Our decision to upgrade our strategic partnership to a CSP one captures the intent and path of our future cooperation. It will provide a new direction, momentum and substance to our bilateral cooperation, said Modi, who arrived in Vietnam on Friday on his maiden visit to this key south east Asian nation.

Vietnam had CSP earlier only with Russia and China. The 12 agreements were signed in a wide range of areas covering defence, IT (information technology), space, cyber security and sharing white shipping information in presence of Modi and Phuc. The range of agreements signed just a while ago point to the diversity and depth of our cooperation, he said, adding the agreement on construction of offshore patrol boats is one of the steps to give concrete shape to the bilateral defence engagement. Modi described his talks with Vietnamese counterpart as extensive and very productive and said they covered the full range of bilateral and multilateral cooperation.

"We have agreed to scale up and strengthen our bilateral engagement. As two important countries in this region, we also feel it necessary to further our ties on regional and international issues of common concern," said Modi, who is here on a day-long visit.

We also recognised the need to cooperate in responding to emerging regional challenges," the Prime Minister said, without naming any country.

China is involved in a raging dispute with the Philippines, Vietnam, Taiwan, Malaysia and Brunei over the ownership of territory in the South China Sea (SCS), a busy waterway through which Indias 50 per cent trade passes. China has also objected in the past to Indias Oil and Natural Gas Commission undertaking exploration at the invitation of Vietnam in the SCS, which is believed to be rich in undersea deposits of oil and gas.

India and the US have been calling for freedom of passage in the international waters, much to the discomfort to Beijing, whose claim over SCS was recently struck down by an international tribunal in favour of the Philippines.

"Our common efforts will also contribute to stability, security and prosperity in this region," Modi said.
India today extended USD 500 million Line of Credit to Vietnam for facilitating deeper defence cooperation with the south east Asian nation, as the two countries elevated their ties to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership to respond to emerging regional challenges.

"Our decision to upgrade our Strategic Partnership to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership captures the intent and path of our future cooperation. It will provide a new direction, momentum and substance to our bilateral cooperation," Prime Minister Narendra Modi said after talks with his Vietnamese counterpart Nguyen Xuan Phuc here.

He said the two sides recognised the need to cooperate in responding to emerging regional challenges.

Vietnam had earlier Strategic Partnership only with Russia and China.

Modi, who arrived here yesterday on his maiden visit to the country, described his talks with Vietnamese counterpart as "extensive and very productive" and said they covered the full range of bilateral and multilateral cooperation.

"I am also happy to announce a new Defence Line of Credit for Vietnam of USD 500 million for facilitating deeper defence cooperation," he said.

"Our common efforts will also contribute to stability, security and prosperity in this region," he said.

The two countries signed 12 agreements in a wide range of areas covering IT, space, double taxation and sharing white shipping information.

An agreement on construction of offshore patrol boats was also signed by the two sides, signalling astep to give concrete shape to defence engagement between the two nations.

"The range of agreements signed just a while ago point to the diversity and depth of our cooperation," Modi said, adding the agreement on construction of offshore patrol boats is one of the steps to give concrete shape to bilateral defence ties.

He said as the two important countries in this region, India and Vietnam feel it necessary to further their ties on regional and international issues of common concern.

Modi also announced a grant of USD 5 million for the establishment of a Software Park in the Telecommunications University in Nha Trang.

"We agreed to tap into the growing economic opportunities in the region," said Modi, the first Indian premier to visit the country in 15 years.

Noting that enhancing bilateral commercial engagement is the strategic objective of the two nations, he said, "For this, new trade and business opportunities will be tapped to achieve the trade target of USD 15 billion by 2020.

Besides seeking facilitation of ongoing Indian projects



and investments in Vietnam, Prime Minister Modi said he has invited Vietnamese companies to take advantage of the various schemes and flagship programmes of the Indian government.

"As Vietnam seeks to empower and enrich its people, Modernise its agriculture; Encourage entrepreneurship and innovation; Strengthen its Science and Technology base; Create new institutional capacities for faster economic development; and Take steps to build a modern nation, India and its 1.25 billion people stand ready to be Vietnam's partner and a friend in this journey," Modi told his Vietnamese counterpart.

Speaking about the framework agreement on Space Cooperation, he said it would allow Vietnam to join hands with Indian Space Research Organisation to meet its national development objectives.

Hoping for an early establishment and opening of the Indian Cultural Centre in Hanoi, he said, "The Archaeological Survey of India could soon start the conservation and restoration work of the Cham monuments at My Son in Vietnam."



He also thanked Vietnam's leadership in facilitating inscription of Nalanda Mahavihara as a UNESCO World Heritage site earlier this year.

Noting that ASEAN is important to India in terms of historical links, geographical proximity, cultural ties and the strategic space that the two sides share, he said, "It is central to our 'Act East' policy. Under Vietnam's leadership as ASEAN Coordinator for India, we will work towards a strengthened India-ASEAN partnership across all areas."



Modi also expressed the need to "stay focussed to keep up the momentum" in bilateral ties and invited the Vietnamese leadership to India.
India and Vietnam today called for a reform of the UN and an expansion of the Security Council in both the permanent and non-permanent categories of membership, with enhanced representation from developing countries.

The two nations stressed on the need for reform of the UN Security Council in a joint statement issued after Prime Minister Narendra Modi held wide-ranging talks with his Vietnamese counterpart Nguyen Xuan Phuc here.

"Both Vietnam and India stressed the need for reform of the United Nations and expansion of the UN Security Council in both the permanent and the non-permanent categories of membership, with enhanced representation from developing countries," the joint statement said.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed gratitude for Vietnam's consistent support to India's candidature for permanent membership of a reformed and expanded UNSC.

"The Prime Ministers reaffirmed support for each other's candidature for non-permanent membership of the UNSC, Vietnam for the term 2020-21 and India for the term 2021-22. Both sides expressed satisfaction at the conclusion of the Programme of Cooperation in UN Peacekeeping Matters," the statement said.

The Indian side expressed its commitment to capacity building and training to enable Vietnam's participation in UN peacekeeping operations, it said.

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The Indian administrative service, which is hamstrung by political interference and outdated personnel procedures, need urgent reform or risk institutional decline, according to a top US-based thinktank.

"Unfortunately, the IAS is hamstrung by political interference, outdated personnel procedures, and a mixed record on policy implementation, and it is in need of urgent reform," the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace said in its report on 'The Indian Administration Service Meets Big Data' released yesterday.

"The Indian government should reshape recruitment and promotion processes, improve performance-based assessment of individual officers, and adopt safeguards that promote accountability while protecting bureaucrats from political meddling," said the report authored by Milan Vaishnav and Saksham Khosla.

In the report running into 50 pages, Carnegie said political interference generates substantial inefficiency: the best officers do not always occupy important positions, while political loyalty offers bureaucrats an alternative path to career success.

"Counter-intuitively, greater political competition does not necessarily lead to better bureaucratic performance," it said.

Noting that individual bureaucrats can have strong, direct, and measurable impacts on tangible health, education, and poverty outcomes, the report said surprisingly, officers with strong local ties - thought to be vulnerable to corruption - are often linked to improved public service delivery.

Calling for a reform agenda for the civil services, the US think-tank said the central and state governments should pass and implement pending legislation that protects bureaucrats against politically motivated transfers and postings.

Despite judicial prodding, most states have stalled on such moves, it said.

The government should consider the proposal that officers deemed unfit for further service at certain career benchmarks be compulsorily retired through a transparent and uniform system of performance review, it said.

"While the present government has moved in this direction, this procedure should be institutionalised," it recommended.

State and central governments should discuss whether state cadres should be given greater latitude to experiment with increasing the proportion of local IAS officers and track their relative performance.

"Further research is needed to better understand the impact of local officers on development outcomes, to develop data on bureaucratic efficiency among officers in senior posts, and to systematically examine the workings of state-level bureaucracies," the report said.

According to the report the IAS faces a number of serious challenges-from diminishing human capital to political interference-that, if left unaddressed, will lead to further institutional decline.

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The dog firefighters rescued from a two-alarm house fire in South Middleton Township on Aug. 26 has been discharged from the Boiling Springs Animal Hospital.

Veterinarian Stacey Hartman said the 14-year-old Chinese crested name Chia arrived at the Boiling Springs Animal Hospital that Friday and was discharged before the beginning of the work week.

She was doing well for the weekend, Hartman said. Shes a little old dog, but she came through it. I was really impressed.

Hartman said Chia was immediately given oxygen and bronchodilators by firefighters to help deal with smoke inhalation.

She said thankfully Chia did not appear to have suffered any major burns from the fire that began around 10 a.m. in the 300 block of West Old York Street.

She is mostly hairless, so I think a lot of the firefighters were worried that was actually singed, Hartman said. That is her breed. She is supposed to look like that.

Pennsylvania State Police ruled the fire accidental, saying it began with an electrical failure in the electrical service panel.

Chia was resuscitated on scene by firefighters from Citizens Fire Co. No. 1, who utilized a special pet CPR mask they had received as a donation from Karns Quality Foods in Boiling Springs in 2010.

The firefighters, they were amazing, Hartman said. We were all so touched to see how much they cared. They were the heroes and they saved little Chias life.

Another dog that was in the home at the time of the fire did not survive.

No one was home at the time of the fire.
Fashion designer Archana Kochhar feels India has evolved in terms of fashion as people have become more open to experiment with trends.

"India has evolved significantly when it comes to fashion. People are willing to accept newer trends and are willing to experiment. Brides are open to not wearing red for the wedding. Capes, digital prints these are all signs of evolution that have happened in India," Archana told PTI.

The ace designer will be showcasing her collection at the New York Fashion Week on September 8.

The collection, called "A tale of two travels", is a melange of two capsule collections inspired from Archana's visit in India.

"One of the inspirations is derived from my travel to the villages of the colourful nomadic tribe Banjara and the other to the breath taking Taj Mahal. Blending these two varied inspirations for two capsule collections was an interesting challenge," she said.

According to Archana, the collection inspired by Banjara is a part of 'Make in India' campaign, initiated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

"I have worked with different sets of artisans from across India trying to revive and re-energise different art forms of India, some of which are dying. The translation of the collection is modern, keeping the essence of Banjara intact," she said.

The second collection is inspired by the finest carvings and floral patterns of the Taj Mahal.

Through her collection Archana is also supporting the initiative "Bring Beauty Back" and acid attack survivor Reshma Qureshi will be walking the ramp for her in New York.

"I am promoting the concept of inclusion of all forms of beauty, hence supporting the initiative at the New York Fashion runway. Reshma will open the show for me," she added.

The silhouettes comprises cold shoulder crop tops, caplets, flared bellbottoms, flared skirts, pencil skirts, paper bag waist skirts, dhoti pants, structured gowns, key hole gowns, flowy drapes and jumpsuits.

"For Banjara collection the colour pallet is of ivory offset with colourful digitally printed motifs. The second collection is a visualisation of the ivory marbles of the Taj Mahal," she added.

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A group of Indians today gathered at a hotel here to greet Prime Minister Narendra Modi as he arrived in this Chinese city for the crucial G20 summit.

The Prime Minister was greeted with chants of 'Modi, Modi' by the group of Indian men and women when he reached the hotel here after his arrival.

As he went around greeting the people, a number of them raised 'Modi, Modi' slogans. The group came from neighbouring Yiwu, the commodity hub which has several hundred businessmen residing there.

The Prime Minister greeted the people after getting out of his vehicle and then walked into the hotel.

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The Congress today alleged that "intolerance, confrontation and vendetta is part of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's DNA" and refuted the claims made by him in an interview.

"The Prime Minister's claim in a interview that he does not believe in politics of vendetta is proven wrong by his track record.

"Intolerance, confrontation and vendetta is part of Prime Minister's DNA and that of his party and the RSS", party's senior spokesman Anand Sharma told reporters.

Sharma said the CBI raids in the residences of former Haryana Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda in a case of alleged irregularities in acquisition of land in Gurgaon, was also part of the "same malice".

Hitting back at the Prime Minister, he claimed that in Gujarat, thousands of hectares of land were "sold for a song" and if land deals are probed, all the BJP chief Ministers would be in the dock.

Besides, he alleged that there is a "Dirty Tricks Department which is active, operate from the PMO. They are targeting Leaders in the Opposition. We have said it in Parliament, we are saying it again".

"They are tapping phones, keeping Opposition Leaders under surveillance, keeping senior Judges, senior Officials of Government of India under surveillance and the phones are tapped"



"He is running a Presidential form of authoritarian Government with neither the check of Presidential form of Government which are there in those countries which have a Presidential system nor the checks and balances of Cabinet in Parliamentary system", Sharma insisted.

The Congress leader alleged that the Prime Minister does not take any action against BJP Chief Ministers despite having clearcut cases, but goes out of the way to "target" opposition leaders and Chief Ministers.

"When Modi was the Chief Minister in Gujarat, a case of trespassing and robbery was made out against opposition leader Arjun Modhwadia. While cases were filed against late Chief Minister Amarsinh Chaudhary, raids were conducted against another former Chief Minister Shankersinh Vaghela", he said adding that the Enforcement Directorate notice to Associated Journals Ltd which used to bring out National Herald was another such instance.

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Former Tamil Nadu Governor K Rosaiah was accorded a grand farewell at the Chennai Airport, here today, official sources said.

The tenure of Rosaiah ended on August 31.

Maharashtra Governor C Vidyasagar Rao was given additional charge of Tamil Nadu.

Rosaiah replaced Surjit Singh Barnala in 2011 by then Congress-led government at Centre.

Rosaiah, a former Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister, was given a farewell by State government officials led by Finance Minister O Panneerselvam ahead of his departure, official sources said.

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On the eve of the visit of an all-party delegation to Jammu and Kashmir, a frontline Kashmiri Pandit organisation today demanded carving out a separate union territory for the community in the valley to "permanently rehabilitate them".

Panun Kashmir said no other solution was acceptable to the pandits of Kashmir who were forced to leave their homes during the onset of militancy in Kashmir.

"We want the entire political class of India to recognise the need of carving out a Union Territory of Panun Kashmir north and east of river Jhelum for the rehabilitation of internally displaced Hindus of Kashmir," said convener of Panun Kashmir, Agnishekhar, here.

"In Kashmir there is total rejection of coexistence and genocidal war on Hindus is continuing unabated. Kashmir has become a den of religious fascism and anti-India rebellion and to defeat it dividing Kashmir has become a necessity," he said.

Claiming Kashmir had become "an ungoverned zone", the organisation members also advised the members of the all-party delegation "not to make any compromise with separatists".

"We ask the government of India to desist from encouraging soft separatists and recognise the reality that present seditious unrest has been a result of accommodating soft-separatism," said Agnishekhar.

"It is a national responsibility of all the leaders of the all-party delegation to recognise that soft-separatist enterprise has acted as an over ground support structure to the religious fascist upsurge in Kashmir valley," he added.

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Supermodel Kate Moss is reportedly planning to tie the knot with Nikolai von Bismarck in Greece.

The 42-year-old supermodel and the aristocrat's recent trip to Hydra is believed to inspired the blonde beauty to want to hold a "low-key" ceremony on the Saronic Island, reported Female First.

The wedding plans, however, will only take place once Moss' divorce from her estranged The Kills rocker husband Jamie Hince, 47 is finalised.

"Both want a low-key ceremony with a handful of friends and family. The plan is to head back to London to celebrate with a larger group," a source said.

"They fell in love with Greece after jetting there last month and got the ball rolling by planning the wedding while out there.

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Congress leader on Sunday launched an attack on Arvind Kejriwal over his former cabinet colleague Sandeep Kumar's alleged sex scandal and asked the Delhi Chief Minister to resign on moral ground.

The former Delhi chief minister accused Kejriwal of "shaming the country" after an "objectionable" CD emerged which showed Kumar in a compromising position with a woman.

She was in the city as part of party's campaign team under the Congress' ongoing '27 Saal, UP Behaal' slogan.

Dikshit also slammed the remarks of AAP leader Asuthosh, who, while seeking to defend Kumar, had written, "Mahatma Gandhi, JawaharLal Nehru and Atal Bihari Vajpai too allegedly had relations with other women, which was on the basis of their mutual consent, though such issues in their personal life did not suffer their political career."

The party's chief ministerial nominee for Uttar Pradesh elections said the remarks are an "insult to the father of our nation" and asked the Union government to take punitive action against the AAP leader.

Dikshit, along with party state unit chief Raj Babbar and other leaders embarked on campaign march to Azamgarh and Ghazipur district.

Diskhit headed the Yatra to Azamgarh and Raj Babbar to Ghazipur district. They addressed gatherings there.

On their way, the congress leaders paid floral tributes to the martyrs of 1942 movement at 'Shaheed Smarak' here at Cholapur in Varanasi.

Asked to comment on Prime Minister Narendra Modi's reference to Balochistan on his I-Day speech and his Vietnam visit,Dikshit replied in a lighter tone saying, "As he is PM, so no comment."
The Vigilance and Anti-Corruption Bureau today conducted raids at the residences of former Kerala Excise Minister K Babu and his two daughters in connection with a disproportionate assets case against the Congress leader.

Vigilance officials said raids are also being conducted at the residences of two of his friends--Baburam and Mohanan- at Vyttila and Kumbalam in Ernakulam district.

Babu, who had a controversial stint as the state Excise Minister in the previous Oommen Chandy-led UDF government, had resigned after a Thrissur court ordered the Vigilance department to register an FIR against him in the bar bribery scam. He was later reinstated in the post.

The searches are being conducted at Babu's residence in Thrippunithura and his daughters' residences in Palarivattam in Ernakulam district and Thodupuzha in Idukki district, officials said.

Five teams of the Vigilance officials, headed by two DySPs, from Vigilance special cell, Ernakulam began the searches at 8 AM, they said.

Officials said the raids were being conducted after an FIR was registered based on a complaint filed by an Thrippunithura-based anti-corruption organisation against the former minister.

Babu had lost the Thrippunithura assembly seat to M Swaraj of CPI(M) in the elections held in May this year.

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Noted Kudankulam Nuclear Power Project Director R S Sundar was elevated to the post of Distinguished Scientist, in honour for his meritorious service, NPCIL said today.

"R S Sundar has been granted the status of Distinguished Scientist, the highest rank awarded to scientists in the Department of Atomic Energy," a press release from Nuclear Power Corporation of India Ltd said.

"Kudankulam Nuclear Power Project 1 and 2 Station Director H N Sahu and Chief Superintendent S V Jinna were also elevated as 'Outstanding Scientists'," respectively, it said.

Sundar graduated from the Coimbatore Institute of Technology as a Mechanical Engineer and joined the Department of Atomic Energy in 1980.

He was then elevated as KKNPP Site Director in 2014.

While Sahu, an alumni of University of Bihar belonged to the 25th batch of Bhabha Atomic Research Centre Training School, Jinna, an Electrical Engineer from Thiagaraja College of Engineering, Madurai Kamaraj University, was from the 28th batch of BARC, Mumbai, it said.

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Louisiana Governor John Bel Edwards says his state had more than USD 8.7 billion in damage from catastrophic flooding in August, and the figure will increase as officials finish assessing damage to roads and other public infrastructure.

The governor's office today released a letter Edwards sent yesterday to President Barack Obama.

Edwards asks that Congress this month approve USD 2 billion in federal aid for Louisiana for housing, economic development and infrastructure.

He says it's a "very reasonable request," adding to other federal programs assisting in Louisiana's flood recovery.

Edwards says damage has been documented to more than 55,000 houses, and that could double as aid applications and inspections continue.

More than 80 per cent of damaged homes lacked flood insurance because most were outside the flood plain. More than 6,000 businesses flooded.

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HARRISBURG  A Pennsylvania appeals court says state environmental regulators can continue weighing the effects gas drilling wells have on public and natural resources.

The court ruled Thursday in favor of the state Department of Environmental Protection and against the Pennsylvania Independent Oil and Gas Association.

The industry group includes hundreds of members mainly involved in conventional drilling operations. The group had said the state Supreme Court threw out the public resource protection sections when it struck down other parts of an oil and gas law.

Commonwealth Court rejected the argument and says the high court allowed those powers to survive by inserting language separating the public resource protections from the enjoined parts of the law.

The association says it believes the court erred and will review its options.
Several makeshift mohalla clinics in north Delhi functioning out of porta-cabins on roadsides, face "demolition" as the area's civic body has decided to remove such structures which have been built "without permission".

Delhi Health Minister Satyendar Jain today reacted sharply over the issue and claimed that these are temporary structures and "did not need permission".

The decision was taken during a high-power committee meeting of the BJP-ruled North Delhi Municipal Corporation (NDMC) held last month.

"MCD planning to demolish some Moh Clinics saying its their land. These r temp structures n don't need permission," the minister tweeted.

He also attached with the tweet a photograph of the municipal circular released in this regard.

"During the meeting it was also pointed out that PWD, GNCTD has started erection/installation on footpaths/pavements in many areas...All such structures should not be allowed to be erected on footpaths/pavements without approval of the corporation," the order reads.

The area falls under the NDMC and its Mayor said, "no unauthorised structures will be allowed on pavements and roadsides."



"As a civic body, it is our duty to remove any illegal structure. If the government has put up porta-cabins for mohalla clinics without permission, we will certainly remove those. Illegal structures will not be permitted," north Delhi Mayor Sanjeev Nayyar said.

Mohalla Clinics scheme is one of the flagship projects of the AAP government and currently 105 such facilities have been set up in different areas of the national capital, with most of these operating out of porta-cabins.

The issue is likely to further flare up the standoff between the AAP dispensation and the BJP-led civic body.

The Arvind Kejriwal-led government has an aim to increase the number of such clinics to 1,000 by the end of this year.

These are planned to be set up in commercial hubs, including Nehru Place, Bhikaji Cama Place, and Subhash Place, in order to provide medical facility to the working class there.

Delhi government has identified 300 schools where such clinics will be set up for giving medical service to students near their study places.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Prime Minister Narendra Modi today visited the historic Pagoda temple here and the stilt house where revered leader Ho Chi Minh lived, apart from enjoying fishing with his Vietnamese counterpart Nguyen Xuan Phuc.

Addressing Buddhist monks at the temple, Modi said Vietnam was an inspiration for everyone to shun violence and follow Buddha's path of peace and harmony.

"World should walk on the path of peace that brings happiness and prosperity, while war only brings transient greatness," the prime minister said.

"The advent of Buddhism from India to Vietnam and the monuments of Vietnam's Hindu Cham temples stand testimony to these bonds," Modi said.

He said the India-Vietnam ties were 2,000 years old.

Modi emphasised that his visit to Vietnam - the first by an Indian premier in 15 years - was to "nurture a relationship between our two societies and nations."



"These cultural bonds reflect themselves in many ways. Most prominently, in the connect between Buddhism and the monuments of the Hindu Cham civilization," he said.

"Some people came here with the objective of war. We came here with a message of peace which has endured," Modi said.

Modi said Buddhism, which took the sea route, travelled to Vietnam in its purest form from India.

He invited all the monks to visit India - the land of Buddha - and especially to Varanasi "which I represent in the Indian Parliament."



He said he is fortunate to visit the Pagoda temple after first President Rajendra Prasad in 1959.

The Quan Su Pagoda, also known as Ambassador's pagoda, is said to have served emissaries that were sent from Champa and Laos to Vietnam in the past. The pagodas - a Buddhist heritage and popular toursit sites - are at the heart of Vietnamese Buddhism and are a precious treasure of Hanoi.

The pagoda is said to have served emissaries that were sent from Champa and Laos to Vietnam in the past.

Earlier today, Modi visited Ho Chi Minh's stilt house at the majestic presidential palace. He was accompanied by Premier Phuc and thanked him for his generous welcome.

"Earlier this morning, you made the special gesture of personally showing me Ho Chi Minh's house... Thank you, Excellency, for extending me the privilege. Let me also congratulate the people of Vietnam on their national day that you celebrated yesterday," he said.

The stilt house was the residence of Ho Chi Minh from 1958 until his death in 1969 and is located inside the majestic Presidential Palace in Hanoi.

(Reopens FGN 11)



Modi also congratulated the people of Vietnam on their national day yesterday and laid a wreath at the Monument of National Heroes and Martyrs of Vietnam located across the Ba Dinh Square, across the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum.

"Homage to indomitable will of a leader. PM @narendramodi pays respects at the mausoleum of Ho Chi Minh. Beginning with the memory of Vietnam's Martyrs. PM @narendramodi lays wreath at Monument of National Heroes & Martyrs," Swarup said in a series of tweets.

Earlier today the prime minister was given a ceremonial welcome at the palace as he became the first Indian prime minister to visit the communist nation in 15 years.

"For people of my generation, Vietnam holds a special place in our hearts. The bravery of the Vietnamese people in gaining independence from colonial rule has been a true inspiration. And, your success in national reunification and commitment to nation building reflects the strength of character of your people," Modi said.

He said India believed in sharing knowledge, experience and expertise with other developing countries.

"The Cuu Long Delta Rice Research Institute, is a prime example of the enormous impact of our cooperation.India helped set up the institute in the Mekong Delta, sending agricultural experts and training its faculty in India," he added.
Turkey today sent more tanks into the northern Syrian village of al-Rai to fight Islamic State extremists, opening a new front after its intervention last month against the group, state media reported.

The tanks crossed into the village from Elbeyli in the Turkish province of Kilis to provide military support to Syrian opposition fighters after ridding northern villages of extremists in its "Euphrates Shield" operation launched on August 24, state-run Anadolu agency said.

At least 20 tanks, five armoured personnel carriers, trucks and other armoured vehicles crossed the border after noon, Dogan agency said.

Turkish Firtina howitzers fired on IS targets as the contingent advanced, Dogan said.

Meanwhile, Turkish war planes destroyed two IS targets in Wuguf in southern al-Rai between 10.00 GMT and 10.24 GMT, the Chief of Staff said, quoted by NTV television.

The statement also said two villages and an airport were captured by rebels today in the al-Rai region.

In the last few months, al-Rai has repeatedly changed hands between rebels and IS.

This is Ankara's most ambitious operation during the five-and-a-half-year Syria conflict, backed by the tanks as well as war planes and special forces providing support to rebels.

The goal is to remove IS from its border and to halt the westward advance of the Kurdish People's Protection Militia (YPG).

Ahmed Othman, a commander in pro-Turkey rebel group Sultan Murad, told AFP in Beirut that his group was now "working on two fronts in al-Rai, south and east, in order to advance towards the villages recently liberated from IS west of Jarabulus".

Othman said it was the first phase of their plans. "We want to clear the border area between al-Rai and Jarabulus from IS, before advancing south towards al-Bab (the last IS bastion in Aleppo) and Manbij (controlled by pro Kurdish forces)."



After the Kurds' success in Manbij, they said they wanted to advance and link their other two 'cantons' in northern Syria, Kobane and Afrin.

But President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said yesterday that Turkey would not allow the group to create a "terror corridor".

Ankara sees the Kurdish Democratic Union Party (PYD) and the YPG as terror groups acting as the Syrian branch of separatist rebels in Turkey's restive southeast.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Turkey today sent more tanks into the northern Syrian village of al-Rai to fight Islamic State extremists, opening a new front after its intervention last month against the group, state media reported.

The tanks crossed into the village from Elbeyli in the Turkish province of Kilis to provide military support to Syrian opposition fighters after ridding northern villages of extremists in its "Euphrates Shield" operation launched on August 24, state-run Anadolu agency said.

At least 20 tanks, five armoured personnel carriers, trucks and other armoured vehicles crossed the border after noon, Dogan agency said.

Turkish Firtina howitzers fired on IS targets as the fresh armoured contingent advanced, Dogan said.

In the last few months, al-Rai has repeatedly changed hands between rebels and IS.

This is Ankara's most ambitious operation during the five-and-a-half-year Syria conflict, backed by the tanks as well as war planes and special forces providing support to rebels.

The goal is to remove IS from its border and to halt the westward advance of the Kurdish People's Protection Militia (YPG).

Ahmed Othman, a commander in pro-Turkey rebel group Sultan Murad, told AFP in Beirut that his group was now "working on two fronts in al-Rai, south and east, in order to advance towards the villages recently liberated from IS west of Jarabulus".

Othman said it was the first phase of their plans. "We want to clear the border area between al-Rai and Jarablus from IS, before advancing south towards al-Bab (the last IS bastion in Aleppo) and Manbij (controlled by pro Kurdish forces)."



After the Kurds' success in Manbij, they said they wanted to advance and link their other two 'cantons' in northern Syria, Kobane and Afrin.

But President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said yesterday that Turkey would not allow the group to create a "terror corridor".

Ankara sees the YPG as a terror organisation linked to Kurdish separatist rebels in southeast Turkey but the United States has provided training and equipment to the group.

The intervention last month caused another complication in what was already a tangled five-year civil war, with Ankara and Washington supporting different proxy groups seeking to retake territory from IS.

Within 14 hours on August 24, Turkish-backed Syrian rebels recaptured the border town of Jarabulus from IS and continued to make gains in villages nearby.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
As the state-run NTPC Ltd plans to cut supply to BSES discoms in eastern and central Delhi from Sunday midnight over non-payment of Rs 961.58 crore dues, power companies today said the move will not impact supply quantity as they have enough electricity at their disposal.

"The discoms have power storing arrangements. They will also purchase short-term power in case there emerges unforeseen situation at economical rates. Residents need not face power cuts. Meanwhile, we are making all the efforts to see the dues are cleared," a BSES official said.

The official further stated the power company is under "financial strain" due to non-liquidation of regulatory assets estimated to be over Rs 16,000 crore as on March 31.

On the other hand, he said, the dues to be paid to the NTPC's Aravali Power Company Private Limited (APCL), which supplies the power to the discoms, are to the tune of Rs 961.58 crore.

"A matter to this regard is pending before Supreme Court and we are awaiting its judgment. The judgment shall pave the way for liquidation of the assets and thereby, clear the dues," he added.

The NTPC Ltd had yesterday said a notice for regulation of power supply was served on Anil Ambani-led Reliance Group's BSES Rajdhani Power Ltd (BRPL) and BSES Yamuna Power Ltd (BYPL), which will deprive Delhi of 445 MW of power with effect from 00:00 hrs of September 5.

"Despite clear directions of the Supreme Court, the dues continued to accumulate. Today, the outstanding amounts are Rs 961.58 crore (Rs.695.25 crore of BRPL & Rs.266.33 crore of (BYPL)," it had said.

APCPL, Jhajjar has been supplying power to BRPL and BYPL since March 5, 2011. It has allocated 445 MW power to the discoms, 372 MW to BRPL and 73 MW to BYPL and average monthly energy bill is about Rs 87 crore (Rs 73 crore to BRPL and Rs 14 crore to BYPL) for the current financial year.

The company had said the payments by the BSES discoms (power distribution companies) had become irregular for quite sometime.

The matter was brought before the apex court, which in its judgement dated March 26, 2014 directed the BSES discoms to ensure payments of all current energy bills from January 1, 2014. However, the company said that despite clear directions of the Court, the dues continued to accumulate. MORE PTI SBR ENM dues continued to accumulate.

In a meeting taken by Delhi Electricity Regulatory



Commission on May 16, both BRPL and BYPL had given plan for liquidation of outstanding dues based on which regulation notice issued by APCPL earlier on May 6 was withdrawn.

The company said APCPL has to pay in advance to its fuel suppliers which constitute about 70 to 80 per cent of its monthly energy bills.

"If the above situation continues, APCPL being a single power station company, is unable to meet any of its commitments inter alia including payment to fuel suppliers, debt servicing requirements and even payment of salaries to its employees.

"Under the circumstances, APCPL has no other option but to regulate power on the BSES discoms," it had said.
Two nurses were arrested in Delhi as hospital services in the national capital and other cities continued to suffer on the second day of the nationwide indefinite strike by nurses today, even as the Centre and the nursing federation held talks to seek a way out of the crisis.

The national capital seems to have been hit the hardest by the stir as patients suffered in the absence of adequate staff at hospitals, which are managing with contractual nurses and interns.

The strike has been called by the All India Government Nurses Federation (AIGNF) and supported by the Delhi Nurses Federation seeking redressal of issues related to pay and allowances.

"We are having talks with the government at the moment. Members of the nursing federations are currently discussing the issue with the Joint Secretary at Nirman Bhawan, after talks with the nursing advisor earlier in the day," AIGNF spokesperson Liladhar Ramchandani told PTI.

Soon after the strike began yesterday, Delhi government had invoked the stringent ESMA declaring the stir as illegal.

Meanwhile, Delhi Chief Secretary K K Sharma held a meeting with Principal Secretary (Home), Commissioner of Police and Health Department officials to take stock of the situation.

"The Chief Secretary was informed that two members of the nurses' union have already been arrested," Delhi government said in a statement, quoting a press release by the city's Health Department.

The agitation has come at a time when Delhi and several other cities are battling rising cases of dengue and chikungunya.

Several routine operations in hospitals have been cancelled, scheduled surgeries postponed, OPD timings curtailed and emergency services affected too.

During the meeting, medical superintends of hospitals reported that there is an increased rush of patients in fever clinics and the OPDs, on account of the upsurge in dengue and chikunguniya cases.

The city government in a statement said the Health Department has issued "public notice" asking striking staff to resume duty "immediately".

Sharma was also informed about the shortage of nursing staff at city hospitals.

"Major hospitals are having only one-third of the staff strength. The situation has become critical on account of the strike," it said.

Government hospitals in Delhi, including those run by the Centre, the city government or civic bodies employ about 20,000 nurses.

"The names of absentee nursing staff are being taken and



FIRs would be lodged against them if they fail to report for duty. Action will be taken against them under ESMA which involves arrest and detention with the likely consequences of termination of services," the statement said.

Asked if the AIGNF would consider calling off the strike after the talks, Ramchandani said, "We are not willing to relent unless our demands our met. The talks do not look positive at the moment, but let us wait and see."



The AIGNF has said that nurses would only attend to emergency and critical cases, and that too till Sunday.

Besides Delhi, we are getting support from nurses in Chandigarh (PGIMER), Punjab and Rajasthan and Puducherry (JIPMER).

The Centre yesterday, however, had claimed that only Maharashtra, Delhi and Uttar Pradesh were "partially affected" by the strike.

"Medical services in the fever clinics and the OPDs are being managed only with contractual nursing staff. However, patient care in the wards is affected. And while emergency surgeries are being carried out with the aid of interns and student nurses, scheduled surgeries have been postponed," Delhi government said in the statement.

Medical superintendents of all Delhi government hospitals would hold "walk-in interviews" for engaging nurses on daily wages "with effect from September 5", it said.

During the review meeting, Sharma was informed that Secretary (Health) visited major Delhi government hospitals accompanied by senior medical officers, to review the situation, the statement said.

Delhi government runs nearly 40 hospitals out of which LNJP Hospital is the biggest. Other major hospitals under it include GTB Hospital, DDU Hospital, Dr Baba Saheb Ambedkar Hospital and Chacha Nehru Child Hospital.

The nurses federation claimed that services were affected at all these hospitals.

Among centrally-run hospitals, Safdarjung Hospital which employs 1,100 nurses, including 160 on contract, too suffered on account of the stir.

RML Hospital employs about 840 nurses of whom 236 are on contract, and the hospital is managing with contractual nursing staff and interns.

At least 487 cases of dengue have so far been reported in the national capital this season, with 368 of them being recorded last month. Eight deaths due to it have also been reported. At least 432 people have been diagnosed with chikungunya in Delhi so far.

Till July 28, 9,990 suspected chikungunya cases were recorded in the country, with Karnataka reporting 7,591 cases. Also, over 15,000 cases of dengue have been reported across the country this year.
One person was killed and two were injured in an altercation between two groups of labourers in central Delhi's Arambagh area, police said today.

What started off as a minor scuffle over intruding in each others' working area last evening, escalated into a major clash with one group of labourers brandishing knives against the other.

Eighteen-year-old Surender was stabbed in the chest and succumbed to his injuries, police said. His friends, Rahul and Vinod, sustained injuries and are currently undergoing treatment at Lady Hardinge Hospital, a senior police officer said.

The statement of the injured persons will be recorded, the officer said, adding that the accused are yet to be identified.

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Rajmata Padmini Devi of the former royal family today met with Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje amid the ongoing row over Jaipur Development Authority sealing hotel Raj Mahal Palace, owned by the family.

"I am satisfied with the Chief Minister's assurance," she said after meeting Raje at her residence in civil lines.

Devi took out a rally two days back from city palace to the hotel against the JDA's move to seal the gates of the hotel last week.

Her MLA daughter Diya Kumari met senior party leader Shyodan Singh yesterday at the party office.

After the meeting with Kumari, Singh had met the CM last evening.

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A senior police officer has been arrested and jailed for negligence in the murder case of a Pakistan-origin British woman in Punjab province, an official said today.

Samia Shahid, 28, a resident of Dhok Pandori village, some 230 km from Lahore, had come to Pakistan from Dubai in mid July to see her ailing father and was found dead on July 20. Her father claimed that she died due to cardiac arrest.

The murder would have gone unnoticed but British MP Naz Shah in a letter alerted Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif that it could be a case of honour killing.

A high-level inquiry headed by Deputy Inspector General (DIG) Abu Bakar Khuda Bakhsh concluded that she was murdered.

The DIG also asked for action against Station House Officer (SHO) Aqeel Abbas for professional negligence.

A police official said that following the official procedure, a case was registered against Abbas yesterday and he was arrested and locked up in Mangal police station.

Already Samia's former husband Shakil and her father Chaudhry Shahid are in police custody for alleged murder.

Police sources said that Shakil, who is also Samia's cousin, confessed strangling her to death as she married another man of her choice.

Syed Mukhtar Kazim, second husband of Samia, had told police that his wife had been killed by her family members for marrying against the will of her parents.

Kazim and Samia, both British-Pakistani dual citizens, had been married for two years and were living in Dubai.

A beauty therapist from Bradford, Samia had previously been married to her first cousin Shakil but the couple parted ways after divorce in May 2014. She then married Kazim.

The case, however, has taken another twist after a report by BBC that Samia might have been raped before murder.

Police has refused to comment on the report.

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India has created "an East like situation" in Pakistan's restive southwestern province of Balochistan by helping the separatists active in the resource- rich tribal region, former interior minister Rehman Malik has alleged.

Rehman who was minister from 2008-13 in Asif Ali Zardari's Peoples Party government told media that India was helping separatists in the province.

"I feel that an East Pakistan-like situation is being created in Balochistan as the role of Mukti Bahini is being played by India in collaboration with Afghanistan and duly backed by the West," he said.

Rehman said the role of India in the unrest in Balochistan "is not a hidden story," and the previous PPP government had taken up the issue of Balochistan with India.

"We had taken up the matter with former Indian home minister P Chidambaram and he had assured us that they would take notice of it, but later the five-year term of our government ended and we could not pursue the matter," he said.

He said during the tenure of the previous PPP government he had given a five-hour-long briefing to the Senate on Balochistan in which he had provided proof of separatist leader Brahmadagh Bugti's alleged links with Indian agencies.

He also referred to some speeches of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, especially those he delivered in Bangladesh and on the occasion of India's Independence Day, and said that Modi was fanning the flames of fire in Balochistan.

He urged Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif to take serious notice of conspiracies being hatched against and take all necessary steps against elements behind them.

Rehman also criticised the US policies towards Pakistan and said that the joint declaration signed between India and the US in September last year and June this year were attempts to pressurise Pakistan.
Pakistan tonight said it was "deeply saddened" by Bangladesh's execution of Jamaat-e-Islami leader Mir Quasem Ali and alleged that he was hanged after a conviction "through a flawed judicial process".

Pakistan's reaction came just an hour after the hanging of 63-year-old media tycoon, the sixth Islamist to be executed for war crimes committed during Bangladesh's 1971 Liberation War.

"Pakistan is deeply saddened over the execution of the prominent leader of Jamat-e-Islami, Bangladesh, Mir Quasem Ali, for the alleged crimes committed before December 1971, through a flawed judicial process," a Pakistan Foreign Office statement said.

"The act of suppressing the Opposition, through flawed trials, is completely against the spirit of democracy. Ever since the beginning of the trials, several international organisations, human rights groups, and international legal figures have raised objections to the court proceedings, especially regarding fairness and transparency, as well as harassment of lawyers and witnesses representing the accused," it said.

Pakistan also called upon the Bangladeshi government to uphold its commitment, as per the Tripartite Agreement of 1974, wherein it was "decided not to proceed with the trials as an act of clemency".

"Recriminations for political gains are counter productive. Pakistan believes that matters should be addressed with a forward looking approach in the noble spirit of reconciliation," the statement said.

It said Pakistan offers deepest condolences to the bereaved family members.

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A plea seeking setting up of a "public body", independent of the executive and judiciary, to ensure fair appointment of judges in High Courts and the Supreme Court and check nepotism, has been filed in the apex court.

The PIL, filed by National Lawyers' Campaign for Judicial Transparency and Reforms and its office bearers, is likely to come up for hearing next week.

Claiming that the "common deserving lawyers" are usually not considered for appointment of Judges in the higher judiciary, the plea alleged that those close to the judges of the Supreme Court and High Courts or politicians or big industrial houses only got chosen as judges.

"In the eyes of the Petitioners, what is paramount is a system of appointment of Judges independent of both the executive and the judiciary," it said.

Alleging nepotism in the selection of judges, the plea said the existing system has appointed the "kith and kin of sitting and former Judges of the Supreme Court and High Courts, their juniors, celebrated lawyers, Chief Ministers, Governors and a few first generation lawyers who are all politically connected or are close to big industrial houses."



The plea, filed by lawyers including A C Philip and Mathews J Nedumpara, said the mechanism of appointment of judges, independent of the executive and the judiciary, was "killed" even before it was allowed to take birth by the judgment in the NJAC case.

"No mechanism in substitution thereof, which will provide for a just, fair, open and non-discriminatory selection and appointment of Judges from a diverse and wider pool of candidates than the traditional ones, namely, the kith and kin of Judges, their near and dear ones, has been brought into existence...", the PIL said.

It alleged the fundamental right of being considered for such appointment of ordinary lawyers has been infringed in the wake of quashing of the National Judicial Appointment Commission (NJAC) Act and enabling 99th constitutional amendment by the Supreme Court.

The plea also said that there was no effective mechanism to address complaints of misconduct against judges.

The Judicial Standards and Accountability Bill, 2012 introduced in the Parliament, remained in "cold storage" as the judges were not "forthcoming to welcome" it.

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Prime Minister was accorded a ceremonial welcome in front of the majestic Presidential palace here this morning.

Modi, the first Indian prime minister to visit the communist nation in 15 years, was welcomed by Vietnamese president Tran Dai Quant.

Modi flew in here last night for a day long packed visit to Vietnam. He leaves this evening for the G20 talks in China.

After anthems of both India and Vietnam were played by the armed forces band, dressed in sharp white with gold tassels and black gum boots, the prime minister inspected a guard of honour by the three armed forces of the host country.

Immediately afterwards Modi, in white churidar kurta with grey jacket, was taken to the humble traditional stilt house near the palace where Vietnam's beloved leader Ho Chi Minh lived intermittently between 1958-1969. He was shown the place by the Vietnamese president.

Later he will hold talks with his Vietnamese counterpart Nguyen Xuan Phuc.
In a veiled attack at the Home Department which is headed by Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, Shiv Sena today said the job of police is "much more than just keeping political rivals and one's own people under surveillance".

"The job of police extends beyond surveillance of political rivals and one's own people (those within BJP)," an editorial in Sena mouthpiece 'Saamana' said.

BJP's bickering ally cited the case of policeman Vilas Shinde who died when he was assaulted while on duty.

"If such attacks on policemen continue, then police will have to be provided an armour instead of helmets," it added.

"The dent to the image of khaki uniform won't stop merely by according deceased policemen the status of martyrs. The moral of police force is down and political interference has increased," the editorial said.

"After seeing all this, one remembers late Balasaheb Desai's work as Home minister," the Sena said.

"In the last few years, the work of the Home Department is only recruitment and promotion of the chosen few," the party said.

Sena's attack comes against the backdrop of a demand by Leader of Opposition in State Assembly Radhakrishna Vikhe Patil that the state needs a full time Home Minister.

"Law and order is not an issue to be dealt weekly or fortnightly. Fadnavis is not able to spare time to deal with the Home issues. He should hand over the work to a full time minister for the sake of the state," he had said.

6,226 rapes, 17,234 molestation and 3,771 murder cases were registered between January, 2015 and June, 2016. Fadnavis, who took reigns of the state in October 2014, is being dubbed by his opponents as a "failed Home Minister".

Former CM and senior Congress leader Narayan Rane had also said Fadnavis has left the law and order situation at the police officers' mercy.

"Brutal crimes like the Kopardi gangrape and murder can't take place without political patronage. The CM is more interested in delivering speeches, inaugurating seminars and clearing files at the behest of his bosses in Delhi," he had said.

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President Pranab Mukherjee will felicitate senior Congress leader and former Union Home Minister Sushilkumar Shinde tomorrow at a function to mark his 75th birthday in his native Solapur in Maharashtra.

The President will be the chief guest at the function in which a galaxy of leaders including Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, Union Minister Nitin Gadkari and NCP chief Sharad Pawar would be present.

The organisers said Maharashtra Governor Vidyasagar Rao would also attend the function.

Born on September 4, 1941 in Solapur, Shinde had a humble beginning as a bail-boy in the Solapur sessions court where he served from 1957 until 1964. He then joined the Maharashtra State Police and served as sub-inspector in Mumbai CID for six years, before plunging into politics.

A former Maharashtra Chief Minister, Shinde served as Governor of Andhra Pradesh from October 2004 to January 2006. He also served as Union Power Minister from 2006 to 2012 and later as country's Home Minister in 2012 and served that position till May 2014.

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Congress Vice-President on Saturday said his mahayatra from Deoria in eastern Uttar Pradesh to Delhi from September 6 is a campaign to help secure rights of the poor, farmers and labourers in government resources.

"My Yatra from Deoria to Delhi starting September 6 - is a campaign to secure the rights of the poor, farmers and labourers in government resources," he said on twitter.

The Congress vice-president will launch his month-long mahayatra traversing 2,500-km through Uttar Pradesh, ahead of assembly elections in the state slated early next year, from village Panchlari Kritpura in Rudrapur on September 6.

also tweeted his programme for the first day of the yatra, during which he will meet people along the way in a door-to-door campaign collecting 'kisan maagpatras' (farmers demand charters) and will hold one-to-one interactions with farmers at 'Khaat Sabha' in Rudrapur.

He will also undertake a roadshow in Deoria and will hold another interaction with farmers in Kanchanpur village and another "khaat sabha" in Kasia.

Rahul will do a night halt in Gorakhpur before embarking further on the journey. He will hold similar interactions with farmers and roadshows the next day and will spend the second night at Basti.

During the mahayatra, the Congress leader will cover as many as 233 assembly constituencies to reach out to people ahead of crucial polls slated early next year.

The mahayatra comes after successful road show of Sonia Gandhi earlier last month and the two yatras of state party leaders in various districts of the state.

Rahul will hold 'khaat sabhas' in 21 districts and also road shows in numerous large towns and cities.
is in advanced stages of finalising a proposal to create a $5 billion fund to finance its various infrastructure projects.

Once the proposal for floating Railways of India Development Fund (RIDF) is finalised, it will be placed before the Cabinet for its nod, Railway Minister Suresh Prabhu said on Saturday.

"There were certain hurdles that were to be cleared for the proposed $5 billion Railways of India Development Fund before we seek Cabinet approval. We are almost done the structuring of the fund and hope we will be able to take it to the Cabinet soon," Prabhu told a seminar organised by Indian Merchants' Chamber.

The proposed fund, which will be anchored by the World Bank, will be of seven years.

"Nearly 20 per cent of the fund will come from the Finance Ministry and we expect the balance from pension funds and sovereign funds," Namita Mehrotra, Executive Director, (Resource Mobilisation), Railway Board, said.

She said the Finance Ministry's share will come in the form of equity. "It is being planned that the World Bank will route the funds through the Finance Ministry, which will be invested in RIDF as equity. We are hopeful of receiving a good response from pension funds and sovereign wealth funds."



Mehrotra said the proposed fund will mainly invest in major infrastructure projects of the transport behemoth.

Prabhu said pension funds are keen to put money in the Railways as it is a long-term investment destination for them with assured long term returns and capital safety assurance.

The Government has also embarked on a mid-term plan for creating infrastructure and expects to spend nearly Rs 8.56 trillion through various funding sources.

"Due to insufficient capital, expansion of infrastructure and capacity augmentation did not happen for a long time. But now we are working out on various initiatives whereby we will be able to raise funds not only through our core revenue streams, with two-thirds coming in from freight and the fares chipping in with just one-third, but also through non-fare income," Prabhu said.

LIC had agreed to invest Rs 1.5 trillion in various commercially viable railway projects last year and out of the total it has already invested Rs 10,000 crore so far.

He said Railways will continue to explore the public private partnership (PPP) model for various plans, especially for those projects which are capable of repaying debt.

It can also be noted that, the Japan International Cooperation Agency has also agreed to provide loan of around Rs 1 trillion at 0.1 per cent interest for a 50-year tenure with a 15-year moratorium for the Mumbai-Ahmedabad bullet train project.
To expedite the survey work of the 498 km long Bilaspur-Manali-Leh new railway line, railways has sought land from Ladakh Autonomous Hill Development Council (LAHDC) to set up camp office at Leh.

Government wants to strengthen the rail network in areas located close to Tibet.

We have requested the LAHDC Chairman to allot land for setting up camp office at Leh to speed up the survey work of the Bilaspur-Manali-Leh rail line, said a senior Northern Railway official.

Apart from being of strategic importance, the Bilaspur-Manali-Leh railway line, is also expected to boost tourism potential of the area, right from Himachal Pradesh to Ladakh.

The cost of construction of the 498-km railway line has been estimated at Rs 22,831 crore.

Northern Railway General Manager AK Puthia has visited Leh along with team of senior officers and discussed the issue of railway connectivity to Ladakh region with the local elected representatives and district administration recently.

According to the official, the Chairman LAHDC has advised to submit a formal application in this regard and further assured that the same would be allotted at top priority and hence land will not be a problem.

Bilaspur-Manali-Leh rail line would pass through Bilaspur, Mandi, Kullu and Lahaul-Spiti districts of Himachal Pradesh to reach Leh.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Home Minister has become a good samaritan for a group of students from Jammu and Kashmir studying in Rajasthan, who were facing difficulties in getting benefits of a government scholarship.

Singh, who witnessed the plight of these students hailing from Srinagar, Jammu and Ladakh on a news channel last night, first called up the journalist who reported the story and subsequently contacted the Rajasthan Education minister. He sought resolution of their problem which pertained to availing the Prime Ministers' Special Scholarship scheme.

The students belong to the Gyan Vihar University in Jaipur.

"On hearing the news, the Home Minister called the Education minister of Rajasthan and obtained the phone numbers of some of the students. On talking to them, he learnt that the students had some difficulties in getting their scholarship under the Prime Minister's Special Scholarship scheme," a Home Ministry official said.

"Singh has asked the concerned minister to sort out the operational difficulty by Monday (September 5). He also told the students to meet him on September 6 in Delhi immediately after he returns from his tour to Jammu and Kashmir on September 4-5, if their problem persisted," the official said.

A 24x7 grievance redressal helpline was recently set up by the Home Ministry for helping people from the Valley, particularly students residing out of the state.

The Ministry had nominated Sanjay Roy, Director (Media), as the nodal officer for this task.

The grievances can be reported on the following phone numbers: 011-23092923, 011-23092885, or mailed at dirmjk-mha@nic.In



The nodal officer will receive complaints from Kashmiri people and youths facing harassment in different parts of the country. He will also coordinate with states for an early disposal of such cases.

The announcement for appointing such an officer was made by the Home Minister during his two-day visit to Kashmir Valley recently during which several political parties had raised the issue of harassment of Kashmiri youths in various parts of the country.

During the recent unrest in the Valley, reports of alleged harassment of Kashmiri youths were received from states including Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Karnataka, Maharashtra and Uttar Pradesh.
       : -       , '  ,     '
Jammu and Kashmir state unit of CPI(M) today called for release of all separatist leaders from detention to facilitate their talks with the visiting all-party delegation tomorrow.

The state government must not miss this opportunity and facilitate the meeting of the separatist leaders with the all-party delegation and for that all those leaders who are under detention, must be released, senior CPI(M) leader and MLA Kulgam, M Y Tarigami told PTI.

Tarigami said a formal invite must also be sent to the separatists.

A formal letter of invitation must be sent to the leaders of the separatist camp as well, he said.

He said CPI(M) general secretary Sitaram Yechury also raised the matter in today's meeting of the members of the delegation which was convened by Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh.

Yechury raised the issue in the meeting that all shades of the separatist leadership must be approached to meet the visiting delegation, Tarigami said.

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On a day of dramatic developments, sacked Delhi Minister Sandeep Kumar today surrendered before police hours after a woman, who purportedly figured in an "objectionable" CD, filed a rape complaint against him, even as he was suspended from AAP.

In her complaint, the woman alleged that Kumar had offered her a spiked drink in his office in outer Delhi's Sultanpuri where she had gone to seek his help in procuring a ration card. The woman has alleged that after she fell unconscious, he raped her.

Earlier in the day, AAP's Political Affairs Committee suspended the 36-year-old first-time MLA from the party and refered the matter to its disciplinary committee.

Kumar was removed from the council of ministers on August 31 by Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal after the CD purportedly showing him in compromising position with a woman surfaced.

The MLA from Sultanpur Majra surrendered before the investigators at the office of DCP (Outer) in Pitampura where his statement was recorded, senior police officials said.

In her complaint filed at Sultanpuri police station, the woman claimed the CD was made after Kumar became minister and that she did not know about it.

Recalling the day the alleged incident took place, the woman claimed she was asked to wait at the minister's office and then offered a cold drink which was spiked. After she lost consciousness, she was raped, the woman claimed.

It is not immediately known what the woman told the police about when the alleged incident took place.

Her statement is being recorded, Sanjay Singh, joint commissioner of police (Northern range) said.

Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal tweeted that if the allegations were found to be true, then Kumar should be given "exemplary punishment".

"If woman's allegations are correct, this is v serious. Strongest exemplary punishment shud be given to Sandeep," Kejriwal who is in Rome to attend Mother Teresa's canonisation tweeted.

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Indian national champion Saurav Ghosal and star woman player Joshna Chinappa bowed out in the quarterfinal stage of the USD 100,000 China Open, a PSA World Tour event, here today.

Ghosal produced a 76-minute epic battle against Egyptian sixth seed Karim Abdel Gawad before going down 9-11, 3-11, 11-8, 11-5, 9-11 in the quarterfinal match.

Earlier, Ghosal, who dropped out of the top 20 as per the latest PSA rankings, made a bright start against fourth seeded Colombian Miguel Rodriguez in the opening round.

The Indian produced a grand come back to convert a 1-2 deficit to a 3-2 win, in the first round match that lasted 90 minutes. That 11-9, 8-11, 8-11, 11-9, 11-5 win helped Ghosal get a place in the quarterfinal.

In the women's section, Indian stars Joshna Chinappa and Dipika Pallikal Karthik suffered losses to crash out of the tournament.

Dipika, who had to come into the main draw via the qualification phase, lost 5-11, 5-11, 6-11 in the first round against Hong Kong Open winner Nouran Gohar of Egypt, seeded third.

However, Joshna, who has just returned to the top-10 ranking in the world, survived some tense moments to beat qualifier Heba El Torky of Egypt in four games 8-11, 11-8, 11-4, 11-7. But in the quarterfinal, she lost 7-11, 5-11, 6-11 to top seed Laura Massaro of England.

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The UN Security Council today urged South Sudan to drop its opposition to the deployment of a regional protection force to beef up a large UN peacekeeping mission in the war-scarred country.

Echoing a call made earlier today by South Sudanese religious leaders, ambassadors from the council's 15 member states met with senior government ministers in Juba and all spoke in favour of sending an additional 4,000 troops to the 13,000-strong mission, known as UNMISS.

One of the ambassadors, who asked not to be named, told AFP he thought the South Sudanese ministers "were surprised to see that the Security Council spoke with one voice.

"They were surprised by the tone of Russia, and also of China, which acted like someone who lost two peacekeepers."



The two died when artillery fire hit a UN base during July clashes between forces loyal to President Salva Kiir and those of rebel leader Riek Machar.

The upsurge threatened a fragile peace accord signed last year to end a devastating 18-month civil war which left tens of thousands dead.

China and Russia abstained from an August 12 Security Council vote on the resolution that authorised deploying a protection force with a more robust mandate than that of UNMISS.

UNMISS faced considerable criticism over its failure to protect civilians during the July fighting.

So far Kiir's government had rejected the idea of a new force, saying it would violate national sovereignty.

Those at today's meeting emerged on a conciliatory note.

"I want to assure the people of South Sudan that the rumour that the UN has come to impose on us and bring in foreign forces to take the freedom of our country is not there," said Government Affairs Minister Martin Elia Lomoro.

Lomoro said the "modalities" of deploying the new force were being discussed but he did not state that his government had dropped its opposition.

US Ambassador Samantha Power said the meeting was "useful" because "we got to debunk, as the Security Council, some of the myths that have existed about what the Security Council has intended.

She added that proponents of the force had "one constituency in mind, and that is the people of South Sudan...With an eye to protecting them, to ensuring they get the humanitarian assistance they need. Some are facing famine-like conditions.

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Police today arrested Syed Taha Andrabi, a government official and younger brother of Dukhtaran-e-Millat chief Asiya Andrabi, from his residence in Chanapora locality here.

Taha Andrabi, joint director in the Technical Education Department, was arrested from his house this morning, a police official said.

He was taken to Rajbagh police station for questioning, police said.

The reason behind the arrest was not immediately known.

Separatist leader Asiya Andrabi, who heads the radical all-women group, has courted controversy several times in the past for hoisting the Pakistani flag.

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Assam Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal today vowed to seal the Indo-Bangaldesh border completely, saying his government is committed to ensure zero infiltration.

"Our government attaches top-most priority to seal the Indo-Bangla border completely to make Assam a state free from illegal immigrants," he said after a two-day visit to the Indo-Bangla border at Mankachar sector of the state.

Sonowal said all modern technology should be utilised to check illegal immigration, entry of fundamentalists, smuggling of arms, narcotics and cattle.

He travelled around 40 km along the border, including Boraibari, Seshumara and Hatichar, in Mancachar area and reviewed the ground situation there.

"A lot needs to be done to seal the porous border areas in sync with the expectations of the people of Assam," he said.

Sonowal said sealing of the border has been a long-cherished dream of all sections of people of Assam to insulate the state from illegal immigrants.

"We also seek cooperation from all sections of the people to fortify our international borders, including Karimganj, and create a protective shield against all cross-border movements like smuggling," he said.

The Chief Minister took a ride by a steamer on the Brahmaputra along the riverine border to get a first-hand view of the status of the border that the state shares with Bangladesh.

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DMK treasurer and Opposition leader in Tamil Nadu Assembly M K Stalin today said Chief Minister Jayalalithaa should move the Supreme Court to prevent the proposal by Kerala government to construct a dam across Siruvani river.

Addressing party workers here, he said Jayalalithaa should have moved the Supreme Court and obtained a stay on the proposal to construct the dam.

The AIADMK MPs also failed to raise the issue in the Parliament, he said, adding construction of dam would affect the supply of drinking water in Coimbatore, Erode and Tirupur districts.

The government should also immediately convene an all party meeting and take steps to meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi to stop the move, he said.

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Uzbekistan laid strongman Islam Karimov to rest today amid tight security, after his death triggered the deepest period of uncertainty in the country's post-Soviet history with no clear successor in view.

Karimov, 78, was pronounced dead late yesterday after suffering a stroke last weekend and falling into a coma, authorities said, following days of speculation about his rapidly failing health.

An Islamic funeral for the iron-fisted leader - who dominated the ex-Soviet nation for some 27 years - was held in his home city of Samarkand, southwestern Uzbekistan, today and the country will begin three days of mourning.

Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev and the presidents of Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Afghanistan were among dignitaries attending the memorial service on the famed UNESCO World Heritage site of Registan Square.

Uzbek state television showed footage of mourners carrying Karimov's coffin through a crowd in the historic square which is encircled by blue-domed madrassas.

"Our people and Uzbekistan have suffered an irreplaceable loss," Russian wire Interfax quoted Uzbek Prime Minister Shavkat Mirziyoyev as saying at the ceremony.

"Death took from our midst the founder of the state of Uzbekistan, a great and dear son of our people."



Loyalist Mirziyoyev headed the organising committee for the funeral, in a sign that he could be the frontrunner to replace Karimov.

Russian premier Medvedev told the Uzbek leadership that Moscow "in these sad days" is "with you, you can have no doubt", RIA Novosti reported.

An AFP journalist in Samarkand - which also houses the mausoleum of feared 14th century warlord Tamerlane - said national flags were flying with black ribbons of mourning attached and that the road to the cemetery where Karimov was buried next to his family was strewn with roses.

Police had cordoned off most of the centre of the city and were not letting ordinary citizens or cars through.

Despite his brutal quarter-century rule, which earned him a reputation abroad as one of the region's most savage despots who ruthlessly stamped out opposition, people in Karimov's home town mourned his passing and some youths wore black clothes.

"When we found out about his death, all my family - my wife, my son's wife, the children - we were all crying, we couldn't believe it," one local man, 58, told AFP, refusing to give his name.

"It is a great loss for every Uzbek. He made our country free and developed."



Crowds of people had earlier reportedly lined the road to watch and throw flowers at the cortege as it drove through the capital Tashkent.

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Students of a government school today staged a protest against a teacher for allegedly beating a student in Raesi area district of Jammu and Kashmir.

Accusing the teacher of corporal punishment, the students today boycotted their classes and demanded action against him, a police officer said.

Some students had allegedly misbehaved with a woman teacher of the school following which she informed one of his male colleagues about the incident, the officer said.

He took strong note of the incident and the student in question was beaten up, he said.

Meanwhile, the school administration has tendered an apology to the students and the matter has been resolved as of now, the officer said.

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Tata Sons today said NTT DoCoMo - the estranged Japanese partner - is confusing its intent to pay with what is "legally payable" by the Indian company, and emphasised that its intent is to pay but "within the confines of the law".

"Docomo is unfortunately confusing our intent to pay with what is legally payable by us. Tata's intent is to pay but within the confines of the law," a Tata Sons spokesperson said.

NTT DoCoMo yesterday said Tatas raising "objections" to the enforcement of the London Court of Arbitration (LCIA) award directly contradicted its statements of intent to meet the payment obligations.

The Tats Sons spokesperson further said that the position Tata Sons has taken in its affidavit filed in the Delhi High Court is in line with what it has stated from the outset -- that it is committed to honouring its contractual obligations to NTT DoCoMo, in compliance with Indian regulations and law.

"There is a judicial process that is underway and we need to pay due heed to the laws that bind us all," the spokesperson added.

Expressing disappointment at the lack of cooperation from "partners" in arriving at an amicable resolution, Tata Sons said "despite several attempts on our part, our partners have refused to come together with us to engage the Government and the Regulator on the issue".

In June this year, the London Court of International Arbitration (LCIA) tribunal ordered Tata Sons to pay DoCoMo a sum of USD 1.17 billion in compensation for breaching an agreement on India joint venture - Tata Teleservices.

The Japanese firm has filed a plea in the Delhi High Court seeking enforcement of the arbitration ruling. Tata Sons has deposited the entire amount of USD 1.17 billion with the registrar of the Delhi High Court which is hearing the matter.

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"Watch ye therefore: for ye know not when the master of the house cometh, at even, or at midnight, or at the cockcrowing, or in the morning: Lest coming suddenly he find you sleeping. And what I say unto you I say unto all, Watch." - Jesus Christ, as recorded in Mark 13:35-37.

Jesus tells us all to watch for His return. We do not know when He will come; we only know that He will.

He does give us signs and many people know what they are - earthquakes, wars and rumors of wars, and so on. Often when these events occur, Christians are reminded of the Lord's imminent return.

Stage one of Jesus' return, the rapture, is most likely the next event on God's prophetic calendar. For those that don't know what the rapture is, the most vivid Biblical description of the event is found in 1 Thessalonians 4:16-18. Long story short, Jesus appears in the sky and calls home all those who truly believe in Him. Those that have died believing in Jesus before this event will be resurrected, and those still alive will be taken by God to be with Him. They will suddenly vanish.

As mentioned earlier many people know the signs of Jesus' return and in particular the earthquakes and the wars and rumors of wars thing. One thing I like to watch, however, is the shaping of unfulfilled prophecy. If something is to happen after the rapture and we can see that event taking shape now, then the time for the rapture must be at hand.

When America went off to fight the first Gulf War people kept asking me if we were about to have Armeggedon. Obviously, we did not, and the truth is, Armeggedon will not come until at least seven years after the rapture.

However, the Bible does speak of two other battles that will occur before Armeggedon takes place. Psalm 83, Amos 1-2, and the book of Obadiah contain the events of the first of these battles. Ezekiel 38-39 describes the second. The Psalm 83 battle takes place around the time of the rapture (most likely shortly after) and the Ezekiel battle happens during the seven years between the rapture and Armeggedon.

Jesus told us to watch, and there have been several events in the news the last few weeks showing the alliances needed for Ezekiel's battle are beginning to form. Ezekiel's battle describes an invasion of Israel by a coalition of nations, Russia (Magog), Iran (Persia), Turkey (Togmarah), The Ukraine (Gomer), Ethiopia, and Libya. The three largest armies in this Biblical invading party have been involved heavily with each other recently.

Press reports from Russia and the Middle East are telling us Russia gave warning to Turkish President Erdogan moments before the failed coup on his country. Shortly after the coup attempt, Erdogan visited Russia and announced, "The Moscow-Ankara friendship axis will be restored. Hey, regardless of what you thought of someone before when they save your life there is an instant elevation of respect.

Since Erdogan's Russia visit, Turkey's Foreign Minister, Mevlut Cavusoglu, accused NATO of regarding Turkey and Russian as "second class countries."

Also, on August 23 the American Military Newspaper, "Stars and Stripes" reported that Turkey is open to Russian basing bombers at the airfield at Incirlik.

As far as Russian and Iran are concerned, only two weeks ago, Russia used the Nojeh airbase in Iran to stage airstrikes in Syria. This was the first time Iran has allowed a foreign power to use its land to launch an offensive strike against another nation.

As we can see Russian is drawing closer ties with Turkey and Iran, but that is not all; Turkey and Iran are sitting a little closer on the couch as well. In a joint press conference August 12, the Foreign Ministers of Iran and Turkey agreed to boost trade relations and pledged greater cooperation in working with the situation in Syria.

There are Biblical prophecies that will happen after the rapture, and we are witnessing the puzzle pieces of those events taking their place into the puzzle. If these developments are taking shape; how much closer is the rapture?

"And what I say unto you I say unto all, Watch." - Jesus Christ.
The district court here today granted interim bail to Thane District Jail Superintendent Hiralal Jadhav, accused of molestation by a lady police constable.

Jadhav has moved the court seeking a pre-arrest bail.

District judge M M Walimohammad today granted him interim bail upto September 9, when the prosecution will file its reply.

Pending the inquiry, the state Government yesterday suspended Jadhav.

Thane police registered a case of molestation under section 354 of IPC against Jadhav on August 31.

Advocate Anil Navle, Jadhav's lawyer, argued that the offence was bailable. He also contended that there was no case of sexual harassment, as reported by the media.

Jadhav was framed up because he took action against some erring jail staff, he said.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
A black televangelist who has been a campaign surrogate for Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump has admitted he "overstated" his accomplishments in a biography posted on his church's website.

Mark Burns walked off the set of a CNN interview that aired today after being confronted with questions about claims made on the website about his educational background and military service.

The website page has since been pulled down.

Burns issued a statement yesterday declaring he was being attacked "because I am a black man supporting Donald Trump for president."



He admitted, however, that "as a young man starting my church in Greenville, South Carolina, I overstated several details of my biography because I was worried I wouldn't be taken seriously as a new pastor."



In the CNN interview, Burns acknowledged he had not graduated from North Greenville University as stated on the church website page nor was he admitted to a historically black fraternity, Kappa Alpha Psi, as claimed.

Other discrepancies raised in the CNN interview were that Burns served in the South Carolina National Guard, not in the army reserves as the website said, and that he had enrolled but never advanced in a master's program at Anderson Theological Seminary.

Burns spoke at the Republican National Convention in July on behalf of Trump, and has since made appearances as a surrogate for the New York billionaire, who is currently on a charm offensive to win over black voters.

Burns had to apologise last week after posting a cartoon of Trump's Democratic rival, Hillary Clinton, in blackface, offending African American voters.

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If the US fails to crack down on immigration, according to the Donald Trump camp, the nation will be inundated with criminals, illicit drugs and job- stealers.

And tacos. The popular Mexican dish that includes a tortilla shell filled with meat, vegetables and cheese is the latest threat facing Americans if the Republican presidential candidate loses, the co-founder of Latinos for Trump told MSNBC.

"My culture is a very dominant culture. It is imposing and it's causing problems," Marco Gutierrez said Thursday.

"If you don't do something about it, you're going to have taco trucks (on) every corner."



The earnest warning unleashed a flurry of social media activity, with many Americans relishing in the idea of life in a country where taco trucks rule the streets.

"A chicken in every pot, a car in every garage, & #TacoTrucksOnEveryCorner," comedian and actor Orlando Jones tweeted, using a hashtag that quickly went viral.

"If this is wrong. Then I don't want to be right. #ImWithHer," tweeted another user, using Clinton's campaign slogan.

The post included an image of breakfast tacos, a Texas morning staple that often includes eggs and chorizo sausage.

Gutierrez's alert came the night after Trump delivered a fiery speech outlining his harsh immigration plan, which would include stepping up deportations, cancelling President Barack Obama's executive orders protecting millions of undocumented migrants, and blocking federal funding to so-called "sanctuary cities" that bar discrimination against the undocumented.

His rival Hillary Clinton has expressed support for a pathway to citizenship for most of America's undocumented.

Her campaign called Trump's plan part of his "campaign of hate."



"In his darkest speech yet, Donald Trump doubled down on his anti-immigrant rhetoric and attempted to divide communities by pitting people against each other and demonizing immigrants," it said in a statement.

#TacoTrucksOnEveryCorner is not the first time the internet has had a field day with taco symbolism this campaign season.

On May 5 - the Cinco de Mayo holiday that commemorates Mexican resistance - Trump posted a photograph of himself tucking into a taco salad, a dish of American origin.

Under the picture the billionaire wrote: "Happy #CincoDeMayo! The best taco bowls are made in Trump Tower Grill.

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Aam Aadmi Party leader Jarnail Singh today tendered an unconditional apology for his party colleague Bhagwant Mann's misbehaviour with the mediapersons during a rally at Bassi Pathana in Fatehgarh Sahib district on Thursday.

"Media's anger is justified. Having been a journalist myself, I know that media has a big role to play in our democratic system. And media has also played a role in where AAP stands today," Jarnail, who is AAP's national spokesperson and party's Punjab co-ordinator, said replying to questions of mediapersons at a press conference here this evening.

Jarnail, who was flanked by party leaders Himmat Singh Shergill and Jasbir Singh Bir, said that AAP senior leader Sanjay Singh has talked to party's Sangrur MP, who has been in the line of fire on the issue.

"We need cooperation from the media. We respect the fourth pillar of democracy. If anyone has felt hurt, then I tender unconditional apology," Jarnail Singh said.

Facing a volley of questions from the media here, Singh said, "we will take up the matter with our MP."



When he was asked whether he can give assurance that in future his party workers will not interfere in media's working and misbehave with them, Singh replied: "I again say that it will be our endeavour that such incidents are not repeated in future."



"As party leader, I tender unconditional apology," he said.

However, mediapersons at the conference got angry when Jarnail Singh told them "I request (media) that incident (involving Bhagwant Mann) should not be given this importance".

(REOPENS DES 21)



On the backfoot on this issue, Jarnail Singh said, "I know that your anger is justified. We will ensure that this issue is taken up with Arvind Kejriwal."



The mediapersons reminded him that his party has maximum journalists in its fold and such a behaviour from its MP was unacceptable.

"I again tender an unconditional apology and I think the matter should be ended here," he added.

Notably, in fresh trouble for Bhagwant Mann, the AAP's Sangrur MP was today booked along with some of his party activists by Punjab Police on a complaint alleging that they had misbehaved with mediapersons at a rally in Bassi Pathana.

"After receiving the report of the DSP to whom an enquiry had been marked and after getting legal opinion in this regard, we registered a case against Mr Bhagwant Mann and some of his party activists," Fatehgarh Sahib SSP H S Bhullar said today.

The media persons had yesterday filed a complaint against Mann who along with his supporters allegedly misbehaved with them and used derogatory remarks against the media at a political rally in Bassi Pathana in Fatehgarh Sahib district on Thursday.

Mann is alleged to have instigated AAP volunteers against media persons present there and they manhandled the scribes and even damaged the camera of one of them, the complaint read.

Mann even used the word "paid media" which hurt the feelings of journalists, it said.

After the incident, Congress activists had burnt an effigy of Mann at Bassi Pathana.

Mann has been mired in controversies. The AAP MP recently drew flak for alleged security breach after he streamed a video of him entering the Parliament Complex in Delhi. The Lok Sabha Speaker had formed a panel to probe the issue and Mann was asked to stay away from proceedings of the house, pending the inquiry.
Opening his final trip to Asia, President Barack Obama is expected to join Chinese leader Xi Jinping in announcing their countries are formally taking part in a historic global climate deal.

Yet thornier issues like maritime disputes and cybersecurity shadow Obama's visit.

The president departed yesterday for Hangzhou, China, where he will meet today with Xi ahead of a summit of the Group of 20, a collection of industrial and emerging-market nations.

Environmental groups and experts tracking global climate policy said they expected the two leaders would jointly enter the sweeping emissions-cutting deal reached last year in Paris. Unlikely partners on addressing global warming, the US and China have sought to use their collaboration to ramp up pressure on other countries to take concrete action as well.

Entering the climate agreement has been an intricate exercise in diplomatic choreography. The deal was reached in December, and the US, China and many others signed it in April, on Earth Day. Even the third step formally participating in the deal doesn't bring it into force in the US or China.

That won't happen until a critical mass of polluting countries joins. Aiming to build on previous cooperation, the US and China have also been discussing a global agreement on aviation emissions, though there's some disagreement about what obligations developing countries should face in the first years.

The aviation issue is expected to be on the agenda for Obama's meeting with Xi, along with ongoing efforts to phase out hydrofluorocarbons, another greenhouse gas.

The alliance on climate has been a rare bright spot between the US and China in recent years, a relationship otherwise characterized by tensions over China's emergence as a key global power.

Washington has been deeply concerned about China's territorial ambitions in waters far off its coast, while Beijing looks warily at Obama's efforts to expand US influence in Asia, viewing it as an attempt to contain China's rise.

Obama, in a CNN interview, said he'd told China's leaders repeatedly that with more global power comes more responsibility.

"Part of what I've tried to communicate to President Xi is that the United States arrives at its power, in part, by restraining itself," Obama said. "When we bind ourselves to a bunch of international norms and rules, it's not because we have to, it's because we recognize that over the long term, building a strong international order is in our interests."



Of China's artificial island-building in the South China Sea, Obama added: "We've indicated to them that there will be consequences.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Expressing grief over the death of Uzbekistan President Islam Karimov, President Barack Obama has said that the United States remains committed to its partnership with the central Asian nation.

"At this challenging time of President Islam Karimov's passing, the United States reaffirms its support for the people of Uzbekistan," Obama said.

"This week, I congratulated President Karimov and the people of Uzbekistan on their country's 25 years of independence," he said.

"As Uzbekistan begins a new chapter in its history, the United States remains committed to its partnership with Uzbekistan, to its sovereignty, security, and to a future based on the rights of all its citizens," the US president said.

Karimov was Uzbekistan's first and only president after it became independent from the then USSR in 1991.

Karimov died at the age of 78 after reportedly suffering a stroke over the weekend.

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The US Agency for International Development (USAID) has announced to fund and promote research in partnership with the General Electrics to improve standards in the Indian solar industry.

This is one of the 49 projects selected by USAID's US Global Development Lab today that would receive a total of USD 10 million to address critical areas of development, a media release said yesterday.

Funded through the Partnerships for Enhanced Engagement in Research (PEER) program, the individual projects will address gaps in scientific knowledge ranging from disaster preparedness to maternal and child health to food security, it said.

"Collaboration is key for accelerating the impact of scientific research on development," said Ann Mei Chang, USAID's Chief Innovation Officer and Executive Director of the US Global Development Lab.

"Through programs like PEER, we help strengthen the global scientific research community by providing opportunities for the best scientific minds to collaborate on crucial development issues," Chang said.

Among the new awards, the PEER program will support research in Morocco on the integration of solar energy microgrid into 'smart buildings' in partnership with National Instruments.

It will aslo aid research in Peru on climate adaptation strategies with the goals of informing practical solutions to water sustainability and water quality research in Lebanon to determine how pollutants may affect refugee populations.

It has also selected research in partnership with the National Cancer Institution on how Health approaches can be used to reduce tobacco use in patients with tuberculosis and research in partnership with USAID/Southern Africa, and the Government of South Africa's Department of Science and Technology (DST) to co-fund two research projects addressing water quality.

Since its launch in 2011, PEER has supported more than 200 researchers in over 45 countries, with a total investment of over USD 50 million.

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Uzbekistan bade farewell to President Islam Karimov at a high-security funeral today, after his death plunged the country into the greatest period of uncertainty in its post-Soviet history with no clear successor to the iron-fisted ruler.

Karimov, 78, was pronounced dead late Friday after he suffered a stroke last weekend and fell into a coma, authorities said, following days of speculation that officials were delaying making his death public.

The Islamic funeral for the strongman -- who dominated the ex-Soviet nation for some 27 years -- was being held in his home city of Samarkand, southwestern Uzbekistan, on Saturday and the country will begin three days of mourning.

An AFP journalist in the famed Silk Road city -- which houses the mausoleum of feared 14th century warlord Tamerlane -- said police had cordoned off the centre and were not letting ordinary citizens or cars through.

Despite his brutal quarter-century rule, which earned him a reputation abroad as one of the region's most savage despots who ruthlessly stamped out opposition, people in Karimov's hometown mourned his passing and some youths wore black clothes.

"When we found out about his death, all my family -- by wife, my son's wife, the children -- we were all crying, we couldn't believe it," one local man, 58, told AFP, refusing to give his name.

"It is a great loss for every Uzbek. He made out country free and developed."



State television in the tightly-controlled nation earlier reported the coffin had arrived by plane in Samarkand accompanied by Karimov's widow and younger daughter.

Crowds of people had earlier reportedly lined the road to watch and throw flowers at the cortege as it drove through the capital Tashkent.

Authorities said Karimov's coffin would be displayed in a city square for people to pay their last respects before he is buried in a nearby cemetery later Saturday next to other family members.

Eyewitnesses told AFP that they had seen the vehicles carrying the coffin head towards Samarkand's UNESCO World Heritage site centre but that the event was open only to guests with official invitations.

Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev flew in for the funeral, along with leaders from former Soviet republics including Tajik President Emomali Rakhmon, Turkmen President Gurbanguly Berdymukhamedov and the prime ministers of Kyrgyzstan, Belarus and Kazakhstan.

Loyalist Prime Minister Shavkat Mirziyoyev heads the organising committee for the funeral, in a sign that he could be the frontrunner to take over long-term from Karimov.

Under Uzbek law, senate head Nigmatulla Yuldashev has now become acting president until early elections are held.

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Uzbekistan will bury President Islam Karimov Saturday, as his death plunges the Central Asian nation into the greatest period of uncertainty in its post-Soviet history with no clear successor to the iron-fisted ruler.

Karimov was pronounced dead late Friday after he suffered a stroke last weekend and fell into a coma, following days of speculation that authorities were delaying making his death public.

The strongman's funeral will be held in his home city of Samarkand, central Uzbekistan, on Saturday morning and the country will begin three days of mourning.

Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev is expected to fly in for the funeral, along with a coterie of leaders from former Soviet republics including Tajik President Emomali Rakhmon, Turkmen President Gurbanguly Berdymukhamedov and the prime ministers of Kyrgyzstan, Belarus and Kazakhstan.

Karimov's body was to be flown to Samarkand airport, which on Saturday will be closed to all flights except those with special permission.

The funeral cortege was expected to leave the airport at 6 am local time. His coffin will be displayed in a city square from 9 am for people to pay their last respects before being buried in a nearby cemetery, Russian agencies reported, citing local officials.

Loyalist Prime Minister Shavkat Mirziyoyev is heading the organisation committee for the funeral, suggesting that he could be in line to take over long-term from Karimov.

Under Uzbek law, senate head Nigmatulla Yuldashev should now become acting president until early elections are held.

Karimov, 78, was one of a handful of Soviet strongmen who clung to power after their homelands gained independence from Moscow in 1991.

His brutal quarter century rule earned him a reputation as one of the region's most brutal despots who ruthlessly stamped out opposition.

The most serious challenge to his rule came in the guise of his eldest daughter, once seen as a possible heir, who he put under house arrest in 2014 after a family power struggle broke into the open.

Uzbekistan has never held elections deemed free and fair by the international monitors, and Karimov won his fifth terms in office last March with 90 percent of the vote.

His death pushes the strategically located landlocked country into a "phase of uncertainty", the head of the Russian lower house of parliament's international affairs committee, Alexei Pushkov, said Friday.

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Union Minister Venkaiah Naidu today suggested the TRS Government in Telangana to officially celebrate the "Liberation of Hyderabad State" on September 17 and said the issue should not be linked to vote-bank politics.

Even though the people all over the country celebrated and rejoiced over the hard won freedom from British on August 15, 1947, those living in the erstwhile Hyderabad State had to wait for celebration till September 17, 1948 when the region was liberated from the tyrannical Nizam's rule and integrated with the rest of India, he recalled.

"While the BJP has been demanding for the past many years for official celebration of the Liberation of Hyderabad State, it is unfortunate some political parties view even matters relating to the nation's integrity through the prism of vote-bank politics," the BJP leader said.

There should not be any kind of politics, leave alone vote-bank politics, when it comes to unity and integrity of the nation, the Minister said.

"Hyderabad Liberation Day is being celebrated officially on September 17 in some of the districts of Maharashtra and Karnataka and my suggestion to Telangana Government is to follow suit. I hope it would respond positively to the suggestion," Venkaiah said at a 'Tiranga Yatra' function here this morning.

During the "autocratic" rule of the Nizam, Telugu language was discouraged as the medium of instruction in educational institutions, he said.

"The young generations were not allowed to know and recollect the memories of our forgotten heroes. The time has come to include lessons in school textbooks on the valour and sacrifices made by these stalwarts. Then only various facets about the lives and deeds of these great sons of our soil would be passed on to the coming generations," Naidu said.

He said Prime Minister Narendra Modi has taken up the Tiranga Yatra to undo the injustice done to forgotten heroes of the freedom movement.

Sardar Patel was unifier of India and had he been given a free hand to tackle the Kashmir issue then, the present situation in the militancy-affected State would not have arisen, he added.

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Vietnam's top leaders today lauded India's position on the disputed South China Sea (SCS) and sought its participation in oil and gas sectors of the Communist nation, as they hailed the upgradation of bilateral ties to Comprehensive Strategic Partnership.

Vietnam appreciates India's principled position on the South China Sea issue, Communist Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong told Prime Minister Narendra Modi when the latter called on him, sources said.

"We must also intensify our coordination in regional and multilateral fora," he told Modi, who reiterated that India always stood as a friend with Vietnam throughout history.

"It would be rare to find such a relationship which has lasted 2,000 years," he told Trong and recalled the Vietnamese leader's visit to India in 2013.

China is involved in a raging dispute with the Philippines, Vietnam, Taiwan, Malaysia and Brunei over ownership of territory in the SCS, a busy waterway through which India's 50 per cent trade passes.

India supports freedom of navigation and over flight, and unimpeded commerce, based on the principles of international law, as reflected notably in the UNCLOS (United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea).

India believes that states should resolve disputes through peaceful means without threat or use of force and exercise self-restraint in the conduct of activities that could complicate or escalate disputes affecting peace and stability.

The Prime Minister said areas such as cyber security and information technology would benefit from the creation of a task force and help the two sides solve future problems.

Trong agreed that India-Vietnam relations were time tested and very durable. He said he had visited India twice in 2010 and 2013 and both visits had left very good impressions.

Noting that India is a major country with unique and age old civilisation and culture, he said Vietnamese people had never forgotten India's strong support during Vietnam's struggle for independence, sources said.

"The upgradation of relationship to Comprehensive Strategic Partnership was an indicator of the importance Vietnam attaches to India. It has strategic partnerships only with two other countries, Russia and China," he said.

He also thanked Modi for India's support to Vietnam's armed forces and agreed with the Prime Minister that cooperation in cyber security was very important.

Prime Minister Modi also called on Vietnamese President Tran Dai Quang at the Presidential Palace today.

"Our partnership will strengthen peace, development and security in the region," President Quang told Modi.

Noting that Vietnam was a priority in India's Act East



policy, the Prime Minister lauded the strong foundation that had been laid for security and defence ties between the two countries, sources said.

President Quang said Vietnam fully supports India's Act East Policy and thanked New Delhi for its consistent support to socio-economic development of this south east Asian nation.

He welcomed the upcoming 45th anniversary of diplomatic ties between India and Vietnam and 10th anniversary of the establishment of the Strategic Partnership which has been now elevated Comprehensive Strategic Partnership.

Prime Minister Modi recalled Quang's visit to India in 2013 as Minister for Public Security.

He said greater economic partnership would be a win-win for both countries. As ASEAN country coordinator for India during 2016-18, Vietnam can take forward relations between the two sides even further, he added.

President Quang called for frequent high-level exchanges to further strengthen political trust between the two sides.

He sought further support from India in investment, education, training and science and technology. He also sought more Indian participation in oil and gas sectors of Vietnam, sources said.

Both the leaders expressed great optimism for the future of India Vietnam ties.

Prime Minister Modi invited Quang to visit India. President thanked him for the invitation.

Earlier, Prime Minister Modi met with Speaker of National Assembly Nguyen Thi Kim Ngan. The two leaders called for greater parliamentary exchanges between the two countries.

Ngan said she would be visiting India in December. She recalled long standing historical and cultural ties with India and said as a young girl she used to watch Indian films.

The two leaders applauded the decision to upgrade the ties to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership, sources said.

(Reopens FGN29)



Modi and Trong said there should be more exchanges at the people-to-people level to further strengthen the relationship.

The Communist Party General Secretary also called for increase in exchanges between political parties, women leaders and youth.

The Vietnamese people had never forgotten India's strong support during Vietnam's struggle for independence, Trong told Modi during talks.

Modi expressed confidence that under Trong's guidance, India-Vietnam relationship will reach new heights.
Kerala's anti-corruption watchdog today conducted raids at the residences of former state Excise Minister K Babu and his two daughters in connection with a disproportionate assets case against the Congress leader.

Vigilance and Anti-Corruption Bureau sleuths also swooped down simultaneously on the Ernakulam residences of two of the Congress leader's alleged 'benamis' - Baburam and Mohanan- who have no known source for running any business.

Searches were conducted at Babu's residence in Thrippunithura and his daughters' residences in Palarivattam in Ernakulam district and Thodupuzha in Idukki district, officials said.

The raids were conducted after registering an FIR based on a complaint of corruption against Babu by an anti-corruption organisation in Thrippunithura.

According to an FIR filed before the Court of Enquiry Commissioner and Special Judge, Muvattupuzha, VACB Special Cell submitted that Babu, "who hails from a poor family, abused his power as the Minister to accumulate wealth."



"He had illegal connections with real estate mafia, business groups and 'benamis' in Ernakulam district and outside Kerala," it alleged.

During the inquiry, it was revealed that Babu had purchased 120 acres of land at Theni in Tamil Nadu by spending several lakh of rupees, it said.

Babu, a senior Congress leader, however, rejected the allegations and challenged the probe agency to prove the charges against him.

"It is an act of vengeance," he said in Thrippunithura. "I have no benami business. Allegations against me are wrong. If I have any ill-gotten assets, that will be freely given to the government," Babu said.

Reacting to a query on the raid, VACB Chief Jacob Thomas said "uprooting corruption is the policy of the government" and sought support of media in the mission.

Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan said Vigilance Department was free to take action in such cases.

"There is no need for any nod from the Chief Minister to conduct searches at Babu's residence," the Chief Minister told reporters in New Delhi.

Babu, who had a controversial stint as Excise Minister in the previous Oommen Chandy-led UDF government, had resigned after a Thrissur vigilance court ordered the Vigilance Department to register an FIR against him in the bar bribery scam. He was later reinstated in the post.

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The judicial custody of LIC agent Anand Chauhan, arrested in a money laundering case against Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh, was today extended by four days by a special court here.

The court extended Chauhan's custody till September 7 after Enforcement Directorate (ED), which is probing the matter, submitted that the case was still being probed and his custody should be extended.

The court had on August 20 dismissed Chauhan's bail plea in the case.

Chauhan was arrested from Chandigarh on July 9 under the provisions of Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) as he was allegedly not cooperating with the ongoing investigation.

ED had claimed in the court that during Chauhan's interrogation, it was revealed that as an LIC agent, he had entered into a modus operandi to launder disproportionate assets by investing in LIC policies.

The agency had submitted that Singh "while serving as a Union minister, had invested huge amounts in purchasing LIC policies in his own name and that of his family members through Chauhan".

"Virbhadra Singh, while functioning as a Union minister during the period from May 28, 2009, to June 26, 2012, acquired assets, disproportionate to his known sources of income to the tune of Rs 6,03,70,782 and further tried to justify the same in the form of agricultural income.

"Pratibha Singh, wife of Virbhadra Singh, Chauhan, with whom Virbhadra Singh had signed the alleged MoU for managing his apple orchard and Chunni Lal Chauhan, proprietor of M/s Universal Apple Associates, who purportedly showed purchase of apples from Shrikhand Orchard, have facilitated in justifying the disproportionate assets of Virbhadra Singh and thereby abetted the offence," the ED had alleged.

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Actor Parambrata Chatterjee, who impressed the audience with his performance in emotional thriller "Kahaani", has revealed director Sujoy Ghosh offered him a part in its sequel too but he had to turn it down due to dates issues.

"I was offered a certain part in the film but I could not manage dates as I was busy with something else. But I am hoping to do Sujoy's next after 'Kahaani 2'," the Bengali star told PTI here.

"Kahaani", which released in 2012, marked the actor's Bollywood debut. The sequel brings back actress Vidya Balan from the original and features Arjun Rampal as the addition to the series.

Parambrata's second Hindi film, "Traffic", released earlier this year.

When asked why he did not sign more Bollywood films, the 36-year-old actor said, "Hindi films will obviously give me wider fasbase but there is umbilical cord connecting me to Bengali cinema like it would connect a Marathi actor to cinema of his state," he said on the sidelines of the first edition of BRICS Film Festival.

Parambrata said even though there is more money in Bollywood, he feels closer to the cinema of his state.

"This fight that you have to put as regional actors and directors to defend your cinema against the all-engulfing Bollywood, which of course we all enjoy, gives you the sense of being a comrade, it develops greater fondness for films of your state. I would like to do more of Bengali films even though money is less," he said.

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The West Bengal government today showcased before a delegation of BRICS Young Diplomats' Forum various development programmes initiated by Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee projecting overall development of the state and the better lifestyle of it's people.

The meeting was held as a delegation of the BRICS (association of five major emerging national economies: Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa) Young Diplomats' Forum reached the state secretariat 'Nabanna' to meet state's Higher Education and Parliamentary Affairs Minister Partha Chatterjee.

On a query by the young diplomats, the minister explained before them how the Mamata Banerjee Government is going ahead with its various development programmes like Kanyashree, Yubashree, Sabuj Sathi and a host of other projects successfully.

Among other things, state's cultural heritage, success in small scale industries, irrigation and agriculture were the highlights during the interaction.

To a question, Chatterjee told the delegation about various steps taken by the state government in particular to train up young talents and make all women economically self-reliant.

State Youth Affairs Minister Arup Biswas welcomed the delegation members.

State Home Secretary Moloy Dey and Agriculture Secretary Sanjeev Chopra too were present on the occasion.

The BRICS Young Diplomats will be in the city till September 6 and participate in various programmes, besides meeting Speaker of the state Assembly Biman Banerjee on September 5.

India will host the two-day 8th Annual BRICS summit from October 15 in Goa with the participation of the heads of state or heads of government of the five member states Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa.

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"We will sort it out," said Chief Justice of India T S Thakur today in the wake of a senior Supreme Court judge's stunning attack on the functioning of the Collegium system in selection of judges.

Justice Thakur's brief response came when he was asked about Justice J Chelameswar's refusal to take part in Collegium meetings on the grounds they were functioning in an "opaque" and "non-transparent" manner.

"We will sort it out," the CJI told PTI, a day after Justice Chelameswar's outburst against the Collegium system of selection of judges became public.

Justice Thakur, who was at a convocation event at the National Law University (NLU) here, did not elaborate.

Justice Chelameswar, the fifth senior-most judge who is part of the five-member Collegium headed by CJI and Justices A R Dave, J S Khehar and Dipak Misra as other members, did not attend the Collegium meet that was scheduled on Thursday.

He also shot off a letter to the Justice Thakur expressing unwillingness to take part in Collegium meetings on several grounds including that it has been functioning in an "opaque" and "non-transparent" manner.

The meeting of the Collegium was called off due to Justice Chelameswar's absence.

At a separate event, Justice Chelameswar declined to take any questions on the collegium issue which has snowballed into a major controversy.

"It is not the right place to ask me such questions," he told media persons with folded hands at the Eighth Law Teachers' Day function here.

Justice Chelameswar is reported to have said that no reason, no opinion is recorded in the system of selection of judges and that just two people decide the names and come back to the meeting and ask for a yes or no.

He further asked whether a judge of the Supreme Court or high court an be selected in such a manner.

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The MeT department today warned of widespread rainfall across West Bengal in the next 48 hours under the influence of a developing low pressure in north western part of Bay of Bengal.

"It is still a cyclonic circulation and is likely to form a low pressure. The indication is that the depression is likely to be formed in the north western part of Bay of Bengal, Gangetic West Bengal, Odisha and Jharkhand. We are closely observing the situation," IMD, Kolkata Director G K Das told PTI.

The low pressure, however, would not be strong but its movement would be slow through Gangetic West Bengal causing heavy to very heavy rainfall (7 cm - 20 cm) in the entire state, Das said.

The rainfall would continue till Monday, he said, adding that the maximum and minimum temperature during the period is likely be around 32 degrees Celsius and 26 degrees Celsius respectively.

"Under the influence of moderate to strong southwest monsoon current, there is likely to be strong southwesterly wind speed between 35 km and 45 kmph gusting to 55 kmph and rough to very rough seas along and off West Bengal coasts. Fishermen are advised not to venture to the sea," Das said.

The city and the districts today witnessed widespread rainfall along with thundershower under the influence of the cyclonic circulation.

The city received over 35 mm rainfall and heavy rain that lasted for nearly one-and-half hours flooded the city roads mainly the Central part of the city including Beleghata, Central Avenue besides, Behala, Jadavpur, Southern Avenue, and Bhowanipore areas in the south.

Heavy to very heavy rain occurred at many places in Darjeeling, Jalpaiguri, Alipurduar districts of sub-Himalayan West Bengal, while heavy rain occurred at isolated places of Nadia district and in places of Sikkim and Bihar, Das said.

A senior IMD official said rainfall occurred at most places over the districts of Bankura, Birbhum, Bardhaman, Purulia and North and South 24 Parganas including at many places over East and West Midnapore, Hooghly besides, at a few places over Murshidabad and Howrah districts.

Panagarh in Burdwan district recorded 61 mm, Haldia in East Midnapore 23 mm, Purulia 17 mm, and in North 24 Parganas' Salt Lake 14.2 mm, Dumdum 9 mm and Barrackpore 8 mm, he said.

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Actor Will Smith attended his mother-in-law's wedding with wife Jada Pinkett Smith.

Jada's mother, Adrienne Banfield-Jones, tied knot with her boyfriend last week, reported E! Online.

Jones was seen wearing a white gown while her now-husband wore a beige suit with a red tie.

The 47-year-old actor's wife Jada attended the wedding ceremony in white dress, while the "Suicide Squad" star opted for a grey suit.

There were reports of trouble in Smith and Jada's paradise but the couple, who are parents to Jaden, 18, and Willow, 15, have been going strong.

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India is unlikely to give French naval contractor DCNS a proposed order for three new submarines, in addition to the six it is already building in the country, following the leak of secret data about its capabilities, Indian defence officials said.

Details of the Scorpene submarine were published in the Australian newspaper last month, triggering concerns that it had become vulnerable even before it was ready to enter service.

DCNS had offered to build three more submarines to help India replace its ageing Soviet-era fleet, and had held talks over the past year, two Indian sources said.

That offer will not now be taken up, according to the officials.

"We had an agreement for six, and six it will remain," a defence ministry official briefed on the navy's plans told Reuters, speaking on condition of anonymity.

A navy officer said there had been a serious breach of data and the navy's efforts were focused on determining the damage done to the existing submarines.

"No order will be signed, nothing is going to happen now," the officer, who is also been briefed on the submarine data leak, said when asked if the government planned to enlarge the order.

DCNS spokesman Emmanuel Gaudez said the company was "stunned" by the information. "The talks are ongoing with the government and our Indian partners. We have not been informed in anyway of such a decision," he said.

India's defence ministry has written to DCNS asking for details about the extent of the leak and how data relating to the Scorpene's intelligence gathering frequencies, diving depth, endurance and weapons specifications had ended up in the public domain, both officials said.

A naval group headed by a three-star admiral is looking at altering some features of the submarine, the first of which began sea trials in May for induction later this year, to minimise any damage.

The remaining five are in various stages of production at state-run Mazgaon Docks shipyard in Mumbai and they were all due to enter service by 2020.

INVESTIGATION

An official at Mazgaon Docks said the firm was focused on completing the original order of six Scorpenes and that he was not aware of any plan to build more.

A DCNS spokesman had earlier said the firm was in close touch with "our key customers like India to keep them informed of the development of our investigation, respond to their questions and mitigate their legitimate worries".

"The investigation is still ongoing and one of its objectives is to determine the potential prejudice and minimize its potential consequences," the spokesman said.

DCNS is preparing to build a new fleet of submarines in Australia for A$50 billion ($38.13 billion). Australian defence officials have warned the firm to beef up security in the wake of the leak.

DCNS has said that the leak, which covered details of the Scorpene-class model and not the vessel currently being designed for the Australian fleet, bore the hallmarks of "economic warfare" carried out by frustrated competitors.

Indian officials have pointed to a "non-disclosure of information" clause that was written into the 2005 contract at French insistence, the first defence ministry official briefed on the communication with the DCNS, said.

But the official said the government could only invoke that clause if it was established that the data was leaked and not stolen.

A French government source has said the firm had apparently been robbed, and it was not a leak, adding it was unlikely classified data was stolen.

NOISE SIGNATURE

Indian submarine experts say that, while the breach in information security was serious, it does not make the Scorpenes immediately vulnerable to detection.

The most vital data about a submarine is its unique "signature" of noise, heat and electro-magnetic emissions, and it is the combination of such signatures that determines the ability to detect them.

"If that is gone, then you might as well say goodbye to the submarine. You are exposed," said former vice admiral and submariner A.K.Singh.

Such signatures are assembled in the course of the sea trials of a submarine, and in the case of the Scorpenes that has yet to happen, he said.

India's submarine arm is down to 13 vessels, only half of which are operational at any time, and is falling rapidly behind China, which is expanding its maritime presence in the Indian Ocean.

Even Pakistan, which operates Agosta submarines also built by DCNS and is in talks with China for a new set of submarines, is drawing close to the operational strength of the Indian navy.

The Indian government has approved the acquisition of the next generation of submarines beyond the Scorpene, in an project estimated at $8 billion.

DCNS has expressed an interest in that project, as has Russia and Germany's ThyssenKrupp Marine Systems.

The first defence official said he did not expect any movement on that project until the investigation into the Scorpene leak was completed and new security measures put in place.
Outgoing RBI Governor Raghuram Rajan on Friday said foreign investors tend to see through the "noisy politics" in India around emotive issues like beef ban, 'love jihad' and 'ghar wapsi'.

With private investment not picking up and jobs not being created, he advocated 'step-by-step' liberalisation of the economy for boosting growth.

"We are a very noisy economy, noisy polity. There is always debate about something or other reflected in noisy television programme. But if you look at sensex, it is doing very well. If you look at bond yield, it is very low. I think take away has to be that markets seems to be ignoring noise," he said.

In an interview to Karan Thapar on India Today TV, he said, "investors tend to see through" political discourse.

"I think political sort of difficulties have had happened through out India's history. There is always some issues being discussed. I think investors tend to see through this...

foreign (investors) also," he said.

Rajan said he was not saying nothing would perturb them but his sense was that "that they have come to accept that emerging markets including India will have noisy politics."

Interestingly, industrial countries themselves have very noisy politics at this point, he said without naming any country.

He was asked division in politics, Kashmir and Indo-Pak tension could cause concerns in the mind of foreign investors.

Asked about the recent RBI annual report stating that Indian economy was performing below its potential, he said private investment was not coming in. "Corporations are not building new factories and they are not putting up new machines. They are not increasing jobs at the way one would wish them to."

He hoped with a good monsoon demand will pick up in sectors like automobile and cement. "Once we have a good monsoon and a feel good factor prevailing in the economy, people start buying more, then there is virtuous circle, demand energises private investment that build on what public investment that is already growing."

He said it serves well to do "step by step" and "steady" liberalisation of the economy "without upsetting too many people, upsetting too many constraints in the economy."

The Governor, who steps down from office on Sunday, said he felt labour and land reform have to be done.

"But again we need system. Do we move immediately to a system where there is no security of employment. Don't you need redressal mechanism. What is the appeal system. We need to have social security system to support the workers. As we process we need to see entire system is built out and that means of course incrementalism...If you too fast on one dimension, you outrun other dimension which are also needed at the same time."

Replying to questions on job creation, the outgoing Governor said jobs were being created in informal and small sectors and "we don't count them properly".

Stressing that there is a need to create more and better jobs, Rajan said that "what we are trying to do" is to build infrastructure, make doing business easier, improve the quality of finance and increase the quality of human capital.

"If we do all these, jobs will come... we do need to create jobs. This is the issue of the moment for everybody in India, how do we create more jobs," he said.

The RBI Governor said on the ease of doing business front there are areas of success and at the same time India has a long way to go in some areas.

"...we have a long way to go in some areas. There are areas of tremendous success and what we need to do is replicate them all around."

Citing an example, Rajan said "I can file my taxes in India more easily than in the US".

On abolition of the Planning Commission, he said: "Whether it is called Planning Commission, whether its called Niti Aayog, I think what really matters is that it prepare us in terms of policies...

"...there is a need for an organisation that help prepare us for the future, it help to analyse programmes, it helps design better programmes. That's what NITI Aayog seems to be doing," Rajan said.

On the GDP numbers, he said: "I think, better not to look growth at quarter on quarter basis, but on average basis".
A day before demitting office, Reserve Bank Governor Raghuram Rajan on Saturday said the RBI's ability to say 'no' to highest echelons of government has to be protected as the country needs a strong and independent central bank.

Delivering a lecture on 'independence of the central bank' at the St. Stephens College here, the outgoing governor said the central bank cannot be free of all constraints as it has to work under a framework set by the government.

Recalling his predecessor D Subbarao's comments on policy differences with the government, Rajan said he "would go a little further" as he believes that "the Reserve Bank cannot just exist, its ability to say 'no' has to be protected."

"In this environment, where the central bank has to occasionally stand firm against the highest echelons of central and state governments, recall the words of my predecessor, Dr. Subbarao, when he said "I do hope the Finance Minister will one day say, 'I am often frustrated by the Reserve Bank, so frustrated that I want to go for a walk, even if I have to walk alone. But thank God, the Reserve Bank exists," the outgoing RBI governor said.

He further said that freedom to take operational decisions is important for the central bank.

"However, there are always government entities that are seeking oversight over various aspects of RBI's activities.

Multiple layers of scrutiny, especially by entities that do not have the technical understanding, will only hamper decision making," he said.

Instead, the government-appointed RBI Board, which includes ex-officio government officials as well as government appointees, should continue to play its key oversight role.

"In this regard, all important RBI decisions including budgets, licences, regulation and supervision are now either approved by the Board or one of its sub-committees. Vacancies in the RBI Board, which have remained unfilled for many months now, should be filled quickly so that the full expertise and oversight of the Board can be utilised," he said.

Rajan said central bank governors sit at the table along with finance ministers at G-20 meetings for a reason. "It is the central bank governor, unlike other regulators or government secretaries, who has command over significant policy levers and has to occasionally disagree with the most powerful people in the country."
Global economic slowdown, raising protectionism, structural reforms to expand global trade and creation of jobs, innovation, inclusive growth and climate finance are the key topics to be discussed at the two-day G20 summit starting in this picturesque Chinese city on Sunday.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will join US President Barack Obama, Chinese President Xi Jinping along with other top world leaders to discuss global efforts needed to boost economic growth and trade.

"India will engage constructively on all the issues before us and work towards finding solutions and taking forward the agenda for a robust, inclusive and sustainable international economic order that uplifts the socio-economic conditions of people across the world, especially those who need it most in developing countries," Prime Minister Modi has said in his tweet on the G20 summit.

Modi, who is in Vietnam on a maiden visit, will arrive here tonight to attend the summit.

Ahead of the G20 summit, leaders of BRICS (Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa) will meet to finalise their strategy for highlighting issues exercising emerging economies.

Heads of the five countries will also be meeting in Goa next month during the BRICS summit to work more coordinated strategy in the face of global economic slowdown and to counter protectionist measures.

Despite the political differences, emerging economies - India and China - are trying to work out more closer cooperation to oppose protectionism from the developed countries, increasing globalisation and expansion of global trade through structural reforms to create more jobs for their massive populations.

"I see a very good opportunity for a coordinated action between India and China," Secretary Economic Affairs Shaktikanta Das told his Chinese counterpart Vice Minister for Finance Shi Yaobin during the last month's India-China Finance Dialogue.

"It is very important to point out that the idea of inclusiveness has been retained and has been given greater focus in G20 agenda under Chinese Presidency," he said.

"Very rightly and in a timely manner, the Chinese Presidency is also giving importance to new industrial revolution on innovation as main drivers of economic growth in the current century," said Das, who took part in several G20 meetings.

While the Chinese security agencies mounted a massive security operation including heavy scrutiny of the guests in top hotels, the majority of the city's over nine million population either left for holidays out of the city or stayed indoors reportedly on instructions to ensure a smooth summit.

In many parts of the city, only the authorised G20 vehicles were seen plying on the well laid out roads besides few other vehicles.

Shi said emerging market economies like India, China face greater pressure today.

"In Global community, we keep hearing bad mouthing of emerging economies here and there," he said.

"So as two important emerging economies, China and India need to build more solidarity, air common voice, urge developed countries to adopt more responsible macro economic policies and lay foundation and enabling environment for global economic recovery," he said.

Talking about priority areas for India in G20, Das had said, "from our point view basically to convey to the world the need for structural reforms which is one of issues being highlighted by Chinese Presidency will have to continue."

With GST set to become a reality after the approval of Parliament and several state assemblies, India is pressing for more structural reforms to create more jobs.

The world community should continue with reforms "because that is only way you can revive global growth," Das said.

On the reforms of the IMF and World Bank, both India and China are on the same page.

With regard to World Bank both India and China are reiterating and stressing the need to have the shareholder reform and recapitalisation of the global lender and governance reforms to give greater voice based on current realities.

In the G20 meetings in the run up to the summit, India has been emphasising the importance of inclusive growth in the world economy.

"Every growth has to be inclusive to result in job creation. Because growth without job creation has its own pitfalls," Das said, adding that only G20 summit held in Asia highlighted the inclusiveness aspect while it has not figured when it was held in western countries.

India and China are also pressuring the developed nations to implement their commitment for USD 100 billion climate finance.
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Q: I have been working from home as a computer programmer for over 15 years now, recently I accepted a job as a senior programmer, which will put me on location at client sites. I'm worried since I haven't had to use face to face communication skills in a business setting in many years I might be rusty and out of place. As a senior representative of my company, I believe these communication skills should be one of my strengths and not a weakness. What are some things I can do or practice so that I'm more natural and professional during face-to-face communication?

A: Improving your interpersonal skills is something that cannot happen overnight. The only way to improve is to practice and actually do it. Many of the skills may take time for you to adopt, however there are also some quick little techniques that can start to make things easier almost immediately.

Stay professional. Remember no matter whom you're talking to make sure you are at your best. The way you act reflects on your character. Learn to deal with situations in an appropriate way.

Establish credibility. Be sincere, if you are truthful and upfront with people it will go a long way to gaining other's respect and trust.

Understand others' point of view. Remember to reflect on what others tell you, even if you disagree take the time to learn and understand where they are coming from.

Learn about others. Take time talk with employees or clients. Conversations do not need to be work related, rather simple conversations that help you learn about the person and build rapport.

Be confident. Keep eye contact and your body relaxed. Be sure to speak clearly and at a moderate pace.

Wes Atwood is president of Dale Carnegie Training of South Texas, which includes Corpus Christi, Laredo and the Rio Grande Valley. For more tips, visit corpuschristi.dalecarnegie.com.
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Sellers graduates from Schreiner University

Porter Sellers of Corpus Christi graduated from Schreiner University in Kerrville and will be recognized at the May 2017 Commencement Services. Sellers received a bachelor of science degree in nursing.

Moreno joins Kentucky MFA program

Cameron Moreno of Corpus Christi is one of seven students admitted to Western Kentucky University's Master in Fine Arts in Creative Writing Program, all of who are fully funded with teaching assistantships for the two-year, residential course of study, officials said.

The program prepares students for lives as writers of novels, short fiction, creative nonfiction, scripts and poetry and related pursuits such as teaching, literary editing and publishing. Students also complete a secondary concentration in literature, composition/rhetoric or teaching English as a second language to give them additional options for employment after graduation.

The program of study consists of 48 credit hours of graduate course work, culminating in comprehensive exams and the completion of a publishable creative thesis in fiction, poetry, script writing or creative nonfiction.

Forgione represents A&M-CC at national event

Bunny Forgione, associate dean of the College of Nursing and Health Sciences at Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi, represented the institution's chapter of The Honor Society of Phi Kappa Phi, at the 44th Biennial Convention, officials said.

The convention was held July 28-30 in Atlanta, Georgia.

Forgione, of Corpus Christi, is the president of the Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi chapter and attended the convention as the chapter's voting delegate.

The convention gathered more than 300 attendees, including chapter officers, board members, headquarters staff and guests from across the nation. The two-day event featured a keynote address from Buck Goldstein, co-author of "Engines of Innovation: The Entrepreneurial University in the 21st Century", and a plenary address from renowned leadership specialist Lou Heckler.

HRI to host workshop in Cuba

The Harte Research Institute for Gulf of Mexico Studies at Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi will host its Furgason Fellowship International Student Workshop this November, in Havana and Maria La Gorda, Cuba, for the first time, officials said.

The institute has selected 18 graduate students from institutions in Mexico, Cuba and the United States to participate.

Student participation is being funded through the Furgason Fellowship Endowment. Coral Lozada, a doctoral student at the institute and Island University alumna, is one of the six students chosen to represent the United States.

The workshop will focus on emerging issues surrounding tourism and environmental protection, an area in which Lozada has unique experience, officials said. She is a graduate of the Master's International program at Texas A&M-Corpus Christi.

During the first part of the trip, students will have the opportunity to participate in the Gulf of Mexico Health+ Trinational Workshop to engage with international experts in marine and coastal research. They will then travel to the Guanahacabibes National Park and UNESCO Biosphere, in Pinar del Rio, Cuba, to get hands-on experience exploring the potential impacts associated with marine protected areas, sea turtle conservation, marine debris, diving and cruise tourism industry and other environmental impacts.

The Cuban workshop is the third in the Trinational series, with previous sessions held at the university and in Veracruz, Mexico.

Students receive degrees from Baylor University

Lisette Linares and Matthew Kenneth Watson, both of Corpus Christi, graduated from Baylor University on Aug. 13.

Linares earned a master of science in education with a concentration in educational psychology and Watson, earned a bachelor of business administration while majoring in management.

Local student makes President's List

Rogers State University announced Jacquelyn J. Bueno of Corpus Christi made the president's list for the summer 2016 semester.

To qualify for the president's honor roll, students must complete a minimum of 12 credit hours with a 4.0 grade-point average.

Compiled by Natalia Contreras
GABE HERNANDEZ/CALLER-TIMES Calallen High School students look through donor information and fill out questionnaires as they prepare to donate blood Friday, Sept. 2, 2016, in Corpus Christi.

SHARE GABE HERNANDEZ/CALLER-TIMES Plasma and blood cells are separated as students donate blood Friday, Sept. 2, 2016, at Calallen High School in Corpus Christi. GABE HERNANDEZ/CALLER-TIMES Calallen High School student Myrah Pena donates whole blood Friday, Sept. 2, 2016, in Corpus Christi. GABE HERNANDEZ/CALLER-TIMES Calallen High School student Ivan Alvarez donates double red cells Friday, Sept. 2, 2016, in Corpus Christi. GABE HERNANDEZ/CALLER-TIMES Calallen high school students donate blood Friday, Sept. 2, 2016, in Corpus Christi.

By Julie Garcia of the Caller-Times

Blood drive buses bring out the best and less-than-best in people.

"What do you have today?" ask some people when they open the door to the Coastal Bend Blood Center bus when it's parked at a big box store or the mall. They're looking for a T-shirt or maybe some free crackers, a phlebotomist said.

For those blood drives, the center only packs the bus with about 25 pint-size bags. Usually, they only get 12-15 whole blood or double red cell donations in a day.

That is not the case at Coastal Bend high schools, however. Already this school year, the center has visited Sinton, Falfurrias, and Veterans Memorial high schools and Incarnate Word Academy. On Friday, they parked at Calallen High School.

About 140 empty bags were brought to the school that day with the hopes that at least 70 people will donate.

"They are our big suppliers," said Brandi Isensee, a phlebotomist. "We try to get them on the second day (of school)."

Ivan Alvarez, Calallen senior, gave blood for the first time Friday. He said he wanted to do his part to help save lives and he also plans to participate in the Red Cord Heroes Program.

Any graduating high school senior must give three whole blood donations, three double red cell donations or a combination of the two between May 14, 2016, and May 12, 2017, according to the center's website. If the student is unable to donate because of age, weight or medical restrictions, they can recruit family members or friends to donate on their behalf.

In total, students must make or have made on their behalf five donations to receive a special red cord they can wear during their graduation commencement ceremony. During the 2015-16, more than 1,600 Coastal Bend seniors met the red cord requirements, raising thousands of blood donations.

The blood donated to the center doesn't only help patients in South Texas. Isensee said blood banks from around the country can request blood, especially during mass shootings or other tragedies.

Every Wednesday and Sunday, blood is taken to M.D. Anderson Hospital in Houston for cancer patient transfusions, she said.

Twitter: @Caller_Jules

HOW TO HELP

Though about 30,000 people volunteer as blood donors in the Coastal Bend, there are still inventory needs depending on blood type.

A current red blood cell inventory shows that types AB-negative, O-negative and B-negative are at critical need levels; A-negative is at minimal need level and A-positive, AB-positive, B-positive and O-positive are at optimal need levels.

To find a monthly schedule of blood drive locations, go to www.coastalbendbloodcenter.org/event_calendar.cfm
COURTNEY SACCO/CALLER-TIMES Corpus Christi Police Chief Mike Markle addresses the media during a news conference following three separate shooting incidents in 36 hours on Saturday, Sept. 3, 2016.

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By Esther Hackleman, Esther.M.Hackleman@caller.com

Corpus Christi Police Chief Mike Markle said at a news conference Saturday that Shooters Depot was targeted in the Thursday night robbery that left the store's 63-year-old owner dead and a store employee wounded.

"This is no longer a who-dunnit. This is no longer thought to be an organized plan of going from gun shop to gun shop," Markle said. "I know that was some worries from some of our local gun store owners."

The police department hosted the news conference to address that shooting and two others, all of which happened within a 36-hour time frame. The other two shootings left one dead and one injured.

The conference followed a Saturday afternoon news release that announced the arrest of Truanser Hughes on suspicion of capital murder in connection with store owner George Koumbis' death. The news release also identified three other suspects in that incident.

Hughes, 19, was located and arrested Friday by the U.S. Marshals Fugitive Apprehension Task Force on an unrelated aggravated robbery warrant, the release stated.

Hughes was interviewed about the shooting at the store in the 5500 block of Leopard Street by Corpus Christi Police Department homicide detectives. During the interview, detectives decided to charge him with capital murder and learned about three other suspects in the slaying.

Hughes remains in Nueces County Jail on charges of capital murder of multiple persons and aggravated robbery, according to jail officials. His combined bail was set at $1,050,000.

Detectives also obtained murder warrants for Filamir Gomez Jr., 20; Jeremiah Jenkins, 28; and Darien Marshall, 22; Markle said. Bails for all three were set at $1 million.

Markle said the employee who was shot is in stable condition.

Police said Friday that one of the victims' vehicle and some of the store's guns, which were stolen during the robbery, were found abandoned at 910 Corn Products Road.

The investigation is ongoing, and detectives are working with the Marshals and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms, the release stated.

Police are investigating the two other shootings, one on Friday afternoon at a duplex in the 400 block of Airport Road and the other early Saturday morning at a house in the 4400 block of Valdez Drive.

Anyone with information on the suspects or their whereabouts should call Crime Stoppers at 361-888-8477 or submit information online at www.888TIPS.com.
SHARE Premont ISD's interim superintendent, Eric Ramos, was arrested Thursday night on suspicion of possession of marijuana. Premont ISD's interim superintendent, Eric Ramos, was arrested Thursday night on suspicion of possession of marijuana. Sheriff Romeo Ramirez said Ramos tossed a plastic bag as he was stepping out of the car. The bag contained marijuana, four packs of rolling papers and a grinding device.

By Beatriz Alvarado of the Caller-Times

Premont ISD Superintendent Eric Ramos was placed on paid administrative leave by the school board pending an investigation after he was arrested Thursday on suspicion of possession of marijuana, a community member said.

Premont resident Mary Leyendecker, who attended the special called meeting, said the board appointed Ernest Singleton as interim superintendent. Singleton is a former Premont ISD superintendent.

Board president Michelle McCleery released a statement after the meeting.

"Today the board was notified of Mr. Ramos's arrest," the statement reads. "Until such time as the board is able to investigate the matter further, it is in the district's best interest to relieve him from his duties on a temporary basis in order that an acting superintendent can perform the duties of the superintendent and focus strictly on the needs of our students. We have no further information to provide at this time."

Ramos, 52, declined to comment after the board meeting, but he apologized for his behavior in a text message to the Caller-Times earlier in the day.

"I am completely ashamed and embarrassed for the mess I have created for Premont ISD," the message said. "We have worked so hard to bring the district up to standards. This type of publicity is the last thing I would want for this special community. I ask that we all respect the legal system which presumes innocence until proven guilty."

Premont ISD's superintendent was arrested Thursday night on suspicion of possession of marijuana, according to a social media post by the Duval County Sheriff.

A Duval County Sheriff's Office deputy about 9 p.m. pulled over Ramos, the post states. While conducting the routine traffic stop on Farm-to-Market Road 1329 and 716, the deputy noticed the odor of marijuana and asked Ramos to step out of his vehicle.

Sheriff Romeo Ramirez said Ramos tossed a plastic bag as he was stepping out of the car.

The bag contained marijuana, four packs of rolling papers and a grinding device, Ramirez said.

Ramos was booked into Duval County Jail on suspicion of possession of less than two ounces of marijuana.

He was released Friday on $250 bail, Ramirez said.

The Commissioner of Education offered an abatement to the district Dec. 18 after a notice of Texas Education Agency's intent to shut it down was issued Nov. 17. At that time, the district was informed its accreditation was revoked, and it would close July 1.

Ramos took the helm as interim superintendent in December 2014 and in February the board voted in favor of appointing him as the sole finalist for the permanent superintendent position. Appointing a permanent superintendent was part of the abatement terms approved by the board in December. The district's former superintendent, Ignacio Salinas Jr., took the position in 2013 and retired in December 2014.

Ramos has led the district ever since, but was not eligible for the position permanently until a certification for superintendent waiver was approved by TEA. The waiver was finalized in December and was valid through the 15-16 school year, TEA spokeswoman DeEtta Culbertson said.

Ramos said his contract as the district's superintendent was extended during an Aug. 25 special meeting.

Twitter: @CallerBetty
FARES SABAWI/CALLER-TIMES Nueces County Assistant District Attorney Deborah Rudder explains new changes made in regards to truancy cases during a meeting Friday, Sept. 2, 2016, at the Nueces County Courthouse.

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By Fares Sabawi of the Caller-Times

In an effort to resolve truancy cases more quickly, the Nueces County Truancy Committee made suggestions to help streamline the process.

Judge Joe Benavides announced to local truancy officers Friday in his courtroom at the Nueces County Courthouse that he and Judge Thelma Rodriguez would be the only judges in the county that will preside over truancy cases.

"I called this (meeting) to make sure all my constituents know how this works," he said.

Truancy was decriminalized by the state legislature and became a civil offense in 2015. Lawmakers hoped the change would shift the responsibility of intervention to schools and decrease the amount of petitions. Nueces County Assistant District Attorney Deborah Rudder said, however, that wasn't the case in the previous school year.

Before, cases could be filed in any justice of the peace office or municipal court. The process was disorganized, Rudder said, and prosecutors had trouble presenting the case within 45 days of a student's most recent absence, which is required by state law.

Rudder told the truancy officers that petitions should only be filed as a "last resort," and passed out packets to officers that she hopes will make the petitions more uniform.

Rudder also said she is hoping to have one prosecutor assigned to all truancy cases "in the interest of consistency," but that the decision would have to be approved by the Nueces County Commissioners Court.

Benavides said that all middle schools in his jurisdiction have improved attendance, and he wanted to improve the attendance rates at Coles High School, Miller High School and Moody High School.

Benavides also said he is looking forward to the challenge of overseeing truancy cases for 28 schools in the county.

"I love this. It's my passion to help you guys out trying to get these students in school in a timely manner," he said.

Twitter: @Caller_Fares
SHARE Chad Magill

Whether a recent vote by City Councilman Chad Magill was an actionable breach of ethics is for the city's ethics commission to determine. But, actionable outcome or not, he should have abstained. Enough known facts point to that inescapable conclusion.

The vote was against extending $14 million in sewer and water lines to annexed land belonging to Chapman Ranch. The City Council annexed the land in 2014 to thwart a wind farm because the admiral in charge of all Navy flight training is concerned that wind farms may pose risks to that mission. The naval air stations in Corpus Christi and Kingsville have been vital to the local economy since World War II.

Regardless of the outcome of the Aug. 23 vote, Magill shouldn't have participated. But the vote was 5-4 with Magill among the bare majority, which means that his vote was as decisive as one vote can be.

His vote wouldn't be an issue  or at least not a known issue  had Magill not abstained from the annexation votes and discussions in 2014. At that time, Magill disclosed that his employer was likely to be involved in the wind farm. If that was a reason to abstain then, it still is unless something has changed, and Magill hasn't disclosed that anything on that front has changed.

The annexation was controversial and continues to be for several reasons. First, whether the Navy needs to be protected from wind farms still isn't settled. Second, the annexation also was either pro-growth or pro-sprawl, depending on the attitude of the beholder, because the land is in the direction the city has been growing. Third, annexation encroaches on property rights.

Magill's abstentions afforded him the luxury not only of appearing ethical but also of not having to pick any of the poisons that went with voting for or against the annexation. But two years later, he was the first to question the $14 million.

There's a good reason to question it  it supports the aforementioned sprawl when the city has so many other infrastructure needs. But the annexation decision of 2014  the one Magill sat out because he said he had a conflict  already settled that question.

The $14 million was a commitment tied directly to the annexation. State law requires the city to provide what the $14 million would have provided, and to get started on it within two and a half years, or face de-annexation. The city staff reminded the council about the projects' connection to the annexation when Magill broached the issue.

Magill has said his vote was about saving or better spending $14 million, not about annexation. He also has said that the item on the agenda said nothing about annexation. But there is no dodging that it was an annexation vote  or, more accurately, a de-annexation vote. It was, at the least, a prelude to de-annexation.

Magill is an aggressive digger into the weeds of city government. He knew his vote's inseparable relationship with the annexation  the same annexation he said in 2014 that he couldn't vote on or discuss.

Magill said he wasn't surprised by the complaint and that he will explain in writing to the ethics commission why his vote wasn't a conflict of interest. If there exists an explanation that adds up to his vote not having been a conflict, the language should be so simple that he should have explained it publicly already. If it's complicated, it's conflicted.

Here's some plain talk about what Magill must do if he wants to avoid a conflict of interest: He should call for a re-vote on the $14 million so he can do the right thing and abstain. And he should never vote again on anything that affects the annexation of this land in any way. It's the only way.
| BY Lynchy |

This weekend at the Italian Grand Prix in Milan, Heinekens $200 million sponsorship of Formula1 is being unveiled with a 90 second TV commercial urging racing fans  and all motorists  that When you drive, never drink.

The commercial, directed by Aussie expat Gary Freedman from The Glue Society, stars three-time Formula 1 champion and road safety campaigner Sir Jackie Stewart at various stages throughout his successful motoring career.

Created by Publicis Italy, the story is a re-creation of Jackie Stewarts life from the mid sixties through the seventies, in which he is seen winning races and enjoying the Formula 1 lifestyle, all the while courteously refusing bottles of Heineken every time they are offered to him.

In the final scene, Jackie Stewart  now 77 years old  appears at a glamorous party.

When a waiter offers him a Heineken, expecting him to finally enjoy a drink, he again refuses, saying Im still driving, with a nod at his flashy sports car parked outside.

The soundtrack is a version of David Bowies Heroes by Postmodern Jukebox featuring Nicole Atkins.

Publicis Italy is the lead agency globally on Heineken. Its CEO and executive creative director, Bruno Bertelli, is also chief creative officer of Publicis Worldwide, and has worked on the Heineken business for 17 years.

The agency selected The Glue Societys Gary Freedman to shoot the spot  following recent high profile projects for HSBC, IKEA and award winning projects for Doritos, Fosters and Money Supermarket in the UK.

The spot was filmed by internationally renowned director of photography, Stephane Vallee with post production by the team at MPC, London.

Anuraag Trikha, Heinekens global brand communications director, said of the sponsorship: Its a natural question to ask our point of view on drinking and driving. For Heineken, its an obligation and an opportunity to promote responsible behavior, because people do want to listen to a brand like us. We are the only brewer to show people rejecting our own product.

Bernie Ecclestone, chief executive of the Formula One group, said: Heinekens new campaigns are impressive. They provide impact, innovation and scale. The campaigns capture the essence of F1; safety and responsibility coupled with excitement and glamour. This is an example of why we were excited about Heineken joining the F1 family.

Client: Heineken Formula 1 Sponsorship

Senior Director, Global Brand: Gianluca Di Tondo

Communications Director, Global Brand: Anuraag Trikha

Agency: Publicis, Italy

CCO Publicis Worldwide, CEO & ECD Publicis Italy: Bruno Bertelli

ECD Publicis Italy: Cristiana Boccassini

ECDs Publicis Italy / Heineken Brand: Luca Cinquepalmi & Marco Venturelli

Production Company: Anorak Berlin/Independent London

Executive Producers: Christiane Dressler & Jason Kemp

Director: Gary Freedman, The Glue Society

DOP: Stephane Vallee

Post Production: MPC, London

Editor: Adam Spivey
Place to unwind? Here in Australia, it's home with the kids or anywhere on a beach with surf, sun and salty air. Overseas, it's our annual trip to Switzerland, to visit the family of my wife Andrea. It's hectic getting there, especially now with two little ones, and it's a long trip, but once we're there we take a deep breath and enjoy.
The Hellenic Club in Woden was one of the businesses that took part in the pilot, adding more nutritious options to its children's menu including chicken souvlakis and spaghetti bolognaise alongside the usual suspects of chicken nuggets and chips.
"They explained me the situation, and what brackytherapy was  it's stainless steel capsules, the size of a rice grain, and they're filled with slow release radiation, and they inject about 100 of them all in at the one time into the prostate," he said.
"It is well overdue, but it needs to be done in a credible way, and I think it should be part of a broader review, of the influence that industry, unions, all lobbyists and money has on politics in Australia," he said.
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.
Competing at the top of the premium luxury car segment, where the BMW 7-Series and Mercedes-Benz S-Class rule supreme, the all-new Genesis G90 is now available for order.



Powered by a 3.3-liter twin-turbo V6 good for 365 HP and 376 pound-feet (510 Nm) of torque, the RWD 3.3T Premium is the most affordable of the range, at $68,100, while for the AWD model consumers will have to pay at least $70,600.

Hyundais premium brand has a second engine in store for those looking for more power: a 5.0-liter V8 that is found on the Ultimate grade level and produces 420 HP and 383 lb-ft (519 Nm) of torque. The RWD variant starts from $69,700, while the AWD will set you back for 72,200. Both units are mated with an eight-speed automatic transmission as standard.

The G90 also packs an advanced safety and technology suit that counts the lane keep assist, lane departure warning, smart blind spot detection with rear cross-traffic alert, driver attention alert, automatic emergency braking with pedestrian detection, dynamic bending light and high beam assist, smart cruise control with stop/start, multi-view and forward-view cornering camera and the list can go on.

The first examples of the Genesis G90, which is known as the EQ900 in South Korea, will arrive at retailers at the end of September. All prices are recommended by the manufacturer and exclude a $950 freight charge.

PHOTO GALLERY
The German CEO of Jaguar Land Rover has revealed that Jaguar is pursuing all-electric drivetrains while Land Rover is expected to move towards hybrids.



Peter Modelhart told local media Rhein Zeitung that future Jaguar models will change and adopt electric power yet still be a real Jaguar. Although the executive didnt reveal which Jaguar models will be electric, it is reported that the company is developing both an electric sedan and a battery-powered SUV.

Serving as direct rivals to the Tesla Model S and Model X, the vehicles will be particularly important for Jaguar to boost its sales in the United States. In the past year, the company has sold fewer cars there than Tesla.

While Jaguar is going down the electric route, Modelhart said that hybrid powertrains probably make more sense than a pure electric powertrain for Land Rover.

In Europe, select Range Rover models can be ordered with a diesel-electric V6 drivetrain and given the torque and fuel efficiency improvements provided by an electric motor, its likely that additional models within the Land Rover family will follow this path.

PHOTO GALLERY
You could have the missing piece of the puzzle that will help the RCMP put someone behind bars. Here are some recent crimes that Central Okanagan Crime Stoppers hope you can help solve by calling our anonymous tips line at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477), visit our website at www.crimestoppers.net or text to CRIMES (274637), keyword Ktown.

CRIME: THEFT OF FUEL

DATE: August 26, 2016

RCMP FILE: 2016-50839 and 2016-51819

Bylands Nursery staff reported the theft of approximately 1000 litres of gasoline on August 26th. The fuel had been siphoned from the tops of the tanks which were secured with electronic locks. On August 29th the businesss security guard called in an attempted theft of fuel just before 1 a.m. The guard witnessed a man and woman at the fuel tanks; when the couple spotted him they peeled out in an older model brown Ford F150 with wood paneling on the sides.

If you know anything about this crime, or any other crime, call the Central Okanagan Crime Stoppers anonymous tips line at 1-800-222-TIPS or visit our website at www.crimestoppers.net. Your information will be kept confidential and could lead to a reward of up to $2000.00.

CRIME: MISCHIEF TO WINDOWS

DATE: August 31, 2016

RCMP FILE: 2016-52085

The West Kelowna RCMP Detachment received a call on August 31st that several windows on the Sensisyusten School located on Quail Lane were broken. Upon attendance it appears that a suspect or suspects used a slingshot and rocks to break or crack 8 windows on the House of Learning. Video surveillance indicates that at least one person entered the school at approximately 10:30 the night before.

Photo: Crime Stoppers

You can help catch these suspects and qualify for a reward by calling Crime Stoppers anonymous tips line at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477), visit our website at www.crimestoppers.net or text to CRIMES (274637), keyword Ktown.

This article is written by or on behalf of an outsourced columnist and does not necessarily reflect the views of Castanet.
Photo: Facebook

Students in Vancouver are finding it next to impossible to find decent, affordable, rental accommodations.



So much so, people are willing to pay $580 a month to live in a closet.



An ad on a Facebook group for international students, describes the space as a den. In fact, the door of the walk-in closet opens to a bedroom.



Four people, including the closet sleeper, are sharing the two-bedroom apartment.



It underlines the housing crunch students face.



While UBC offers 11,000 dorms, the most of any institute in the country, the waitlist is 5,000 students long.



About 1,000 spaces were added this year and another 1,400 rooms should come on stream in the next two years.



That, however, is of little consolation to students like Dario Garousian, who told CTV News he went to see an $850 bachelor suite in Kitsilano. Forty people were already in line ahead of him

As soon as I saw that, I immediately thought that, well, I dont think I have a chance, Garousian said.

Another student looked at about 35 places in her search for accommodations.

But, if all else fails, unfortunately, there's always the closet.

 with files from CTV Vancouver
Photo: CTV

A number of passengers aboard an ill-fated tour bus have filed a class action suit in B.C. Supreme Court.

The suit was filed by passengers from a Western Bus Lines bus that crashed on the Coquihalla Highway Aug. 28, 2014.

Forty-three of the 56 people on board were taken to hospital with various injuries.

The bus, chartered by a Richmond tour company, was taking passengers  many who were tourists from Southeast Asia  back to Vancouver after a tour of the Rocky Mountains.

A report published in The Province, stated the Ministry of Transportation, City of Merritt, VSA Highway Maintenance Ltd. and a company identified as ABC company, have been named in the lawsuit.

The suit contends those named in the suit owed it to the plaintiffs to ensure the highway was both designed and maintained to a standard that would make it reasonably safe.

They claim the crash was caused by, or contributed to by their negligence. Specifically, it's claimed the road was not properly designed, constructed, marked or maintained.

"Further, or in the alternative, the collision occurred when the driver of the bus lost control of the bus due to inadequately marked pavement, and/or poorly designed road," the suit claims.

Three weeks after the crash, Transportation Minister Todd Stone said driver error was likely to blame for the crash. At the time, he told a Kamloops radio station that driver fatigue potentially led to the crash and his ministry will review the length of time that drivers can operate a vehicle before there is a mandated rest.

Both speed and mechanical failure had been ruled out.
Photo: CTV

Health officials are now confirming a year after the incident that fentanyl went missing from a Victoria hospital.

Island Health reported Friday it informed Health Canada, last year, that more than one litre of solution, containing an undisclosed quantity of fentanyl, went missing in late 2015, according to CTV Vancouver Island.

Richard Jones, Director of Pharmacy Services for Island Health, said nursing staff, physicians and pharmacy staff would all have had access to the liquid, and it remains unclear exactly how it went missing.

In terms of it actually showing up as missing, when an individual is expecting to see it show up and they discovered it didnt arrive, an investigation was launched immediately, said Richard Jones, Director of Pharmacy Services for Island Health.

The loss only needed to be reported to Health Canada, which it was, but Island Health did not contact Victoria Police.

We fulfilled our obligations under that responsibilitythe regulation is silent on that, Jones said.

Victoria Police told CTV News their policy is that any hospital drug losses should be reported to them.

Jones also said the amount of fentanyl contained in the liquid is very small, but did not confirm how much.

There is no way of knowing where the liquid went, or if it made it to street level according to Jones.

Part of the risk depends on how drug-naive the individual taking it is, or receiving it in care, he said. Its a variable dose thats going to be what could cause harm versus what could cause pain relief.

Its unclear if the investigation is ongoing or if Island Health received any discipline.

Statistics show the number of deaths in B.C. between Jan. 1 and June 30 where fentanyl was detected has leapt to 238, a 250-per-cent increase over the same period last year.

On Sept. 1, nine people in Delta overdosed in a 20-minute period on what are believed to be drugs laced with fentanyl.

-- With files from CTV.
Photo: The Canadian Press

The votes are in and, if Canadians have their way, the common loon could one day join the beaver and maple leaf as an official symbol of Canada.

While the United States has the bald eagle and Britain has the robin, Canada has no national bird of its own  something the Royal Canadian Geographical Society is trying to change.

The organization launched its national bird project in January 2015, inviting Canadians to vote for their candidate of choice on the website of Canadian Geographic magazine, which it publishes.

Although the loon topped the contest with nearly 14,000 of the almost 50,000 votes cast, there's no guarantee it will emerge the winner.

A panel debate will be held in Ottawa in September, where experts will argue the merits of each of the top five birds.

The final choice will be announced Nov. 16. After that, organizers will submit their proposal to the government, probably through a private member's bill in the Commons.

When the contest ended Aug. 31, the loon had outstripped the snowy owl (8,498 votes) and the gray jay, or whiskey jack (7,918).

The Canada goose finished fourth, while the black-capped chickadee rounded out the top five.

A spokeswoman for the geographical society said the loon is familiar to Canadians because of its presence on the one dollar coin and its "haunting" call.

"It's synonymous with Canada's North and wilderness," Deborah Chapman said in an interview.

"I think when people think of the loon we think of that call, and that reminds us of the North, which is a bit about who we are."

While the Canada goose's fourth-placed finish may surprise some, given its name, Chapman pointed out the species is equally associated with leaving big messes behind and can be considered a nuisance.

Chapman also noted that the front-running loon is already the official bird of Ontario and, unlike the two runners-up, flies south to escape Canada's harsh winters, which may not make it the best symbol of the country's northern spirit.

One well-known ornithologist, who will speak at the Ottawa panel, is convinced that the third-ranked gray jay is the bird that best embodies the country.

David Bird (yes, that's his real name) says the forest-dwelling species is smart and hardy, is found throughout Canada (and isn't found elsewhere in large numbers) and isn't claimed as an official bird by any province.

Bird says gray jays are also like Canadians as a whole because they are known for their friendly and trusting natures.

"You will never find a friendlier bird than the gray jay, because they will come down and take food from your hand without being trained," he said.

"All those features make it a good choice to represent Canada."
Photo: Contributed

No winning ticket was sold for the $50 million jackpot in Friday night's Lotto Max draw.

However, two of the nine MaxMillions prizes of $1 million dollars each were claimed by tickets sold in Ontario.

The grand prize for the next draw on Sept. 9 will rise to $55 million, and there will be 16 MaxMillions prizes up for grabs.
Photo: CTV

Environment Canada issued a tropical cyclone information statement Saturday for parts of Nova Scotia as hurricane Hermine makes its way up the Atlantic coast.

The weather agency says Hermine was in North Carolina before moving offshore Saturday afternoon.

The eight Nova Scotian counties that could be affected are Annapolis, Digby, Lunenburg, Queens, Shelburne, Yarmouth, as well as Halifax County (east of Porters Lake), Halifax Metro and Halifax County West.

Hermine is not expected to have a direct impact on Canadian territory over the Labour Day weekend, but Environment Canada says "some potential impacts are possible next week."

People in the Atlantic region are urged to monitor the storm closely over the weekend for any significant changes in the forecast.

Environment Canada says the Canadian Hurricane Centre is monitoring the storm closely and will provide more information Sunday.

The agency says Hermine will stall along the east coast of the United States late Sunday or early Monday morning. The storm is expected to remain offshore, east of New Jersey and south of Long Island, N.Y., until at least mid-week next week, and should remain outside of Canadian waters until then.
Photo: Google Maps

UPDATE: 7:43 p.m.

The vehicle incident at the junction with Highway 97C is now clear.

UPDATE: 6:17 p.m.

According to Drive BC, the highway is now reduced to single lane alternating traffic.

UPDATE: 5:30 p.m.

RCMP and the BC Coroners Service are investigating after a fatal collision involving a motorcycle on Highway 97 Saturday afternoon in Peachland.

Emergency crews responded to a serious injury collision involving a motorcycle and a passenger vehicle on the highway south of the Highway 97C interchange at 2:45 p.m.

Initial findings at the scene indicate that a north bound black Harley motorcycle collided with the rear of a beige Honda Accord which had stopped behind a third vehicle waiting to complete a left hand turn off the highway.

The driver and passenger of the motorcycle, a man and a woman, were rushed from the scene to hospital by BC Ambulance Service. The woman passenger has since succumbed to her injuries.

A portion of Highway 97 entering into Peachland has been closed off while an analyst from the RCMP Integrated Collision Analyst and Reconstructionist Services examines the scene.

For the time being, traffic is being diverted around the crash scene via Highway 97C and Cousins Road.

RCMP Victim Services have also been brought to the scene to assist.

Further updates will be provided as they become available.

If you witnessed this crash and have not yet spoken to police you are asked to contact the West Kelowna RCMP at 250-768-2880.

UPDATE: 4:36 p.m.

Highway 97 is closed in both directions at the junction with Highway 97C because of the vehicle incident.

The estimated time of opening is currently not available.

Castanet will provide more details as they become available.

A motorcyclist and vehicle collided on Highway 97, just east of Peachland, Saturday afternoon.

A witness in the area said he saw several people performing CPR on the rider of the motorcycle, on the side of the highway at about 2:40 p.m.

As he continued towards West Kelowna, he saw several emergency vehicles racing past him towards the crash.

This guy was pretty messed up, the witness said.

He said it looked like the motorcycle and the car involved were travelling northbound on Highway 97 when the collision occurred, just south of where the Okanagan Connector meets the highway.

The condition of the rider is unknown at this time.
Photo: Contributed

Passengers on a WestJet flight bound for Ottawa found themselves making an unexpected detour to Regina on Saturday.

WestJet spokeswoman Lauren Stewart says flight 610 from Calgary to Ottawa was diverted to Regina after crew members detected smoke in the flight deck.

Stewart says the plane landed safely without any problems.

Passengers were transferred to alternate flights in order for them to continue their journey.

Stewart says the aircraft in question is being taken out of service and will be inspected by maintenance crews.
The National Science Foundation has issued two quarter-of-a-million-dollar grants for Leveraging Personalized Internet Services to Combat Online Trolling.



The grant defines online trolling as, scenarios in which various groups deploy tactics to influence public opinion on the Internet, by leaving biased, false, misleading, and inauthentic comments, and then artificially amplifying their ratings, so you can immediately see where thats a slippery slope to shutting down free speech and dissent because who decides what is false, misleading, and inauthentic online?

The governments researchers?



Creepier, the grant admits that we are increasingly tracked as our privacy is increasingly going extinct on the internet, and it is this built-in extensive tracking infrastructure that will be tapped to combat trolling online:

Users have often expressed concern about the lack of privacy and control over their personal data. Nonetheless, despite a substantial effort to expose and control this prevalent behavior, the reality is that users keep accepting updated online privacy policies, which in turn grant the gathering of more personal data. This project explores re-using this extensive tracking infrastructure for the benefits of both the users themselves and web services, with a goal of preventing online trolling



The goal is reportedly to create a personalization-based counter-trolling system as open-source software



Kind of ironic when you think about how much money Hillary has spent amassing her very own online troll army Then again, the combat here will be reserved for dissenters George Orwell style, as per the usual.
Lebanon firefighters responded Thursday evening to an RV fire in the parking lot of a local church.

Linn County dispatch initially reported fire coming from the engine compartment and spreading throughout the motor home.

Upon arrival of the first engines, crews found heavy fire extending throughout the RV, according to a press release from the Lebanon Fire District. The blaze was quickly knocked down by firefighters and a search of the vehicle was completed with no reports of casualties or injuries.

According to the the uninjured driver, the vehicle began to overheat and smell hot, so he then pulled into the River Center parking lot to investigate when the fire was discovered in the engine compartment.

Lebanon Fire District responded with two engines carrying nine firefighters, and one ALS medic unit with two firefighters. Lebanon Fire District was assisted by the Lebanon Police.


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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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!.

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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.

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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!.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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


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The campaign for Ann Roe, who is running for Congress against Lyin' Bryan Steil has come out with the best one-liner of this cycle so far: I can't argue...

11 months ago
Activists rally in New York during a protest against the price of drugs. (Getty Images)

At least eight pharmaceutical companies sell a decades-old drug that treats gallstones, but the competition has done little to keep its price down.

Instead the price has skyrocketed.

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Two years ago, ursodiol's wholesale price was as low as 45 cents a capsule. Then in May 2014, generic drug manufacturer Lannett Co. hiked its price to $5.10 per capsule, and one by one its competitors followed suit  with most charging nearly the same price.

Experts say this is not how a competitive marketplace is supposed to work.

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"When you have a generic drug with eight suppliers you would expect the prices to go down," said Dana Goldman, director of USC's Leonard D. Schaeffer Center for Health Policy & Economics.

Unlike nearly every other developed nation, the U.S. allows drug manufacturers to set their own prices, a policy that has resulted in overall medicine costs being far higher than elsewhere. Increasingly, insurers are passing the cost along to patients through higher deductibles.

Robert Frankil, the owner of Sellersville Pharmacy in Pennsylvania, said ursodiol is just one of dozens of generic drugs that he has found to spike in price in the last couple of years.

"Why are these companies raising their prices?" asked Frankil. "Because they can."

He said many of his patients in high-deductible plans end up paying full price.

"Patients paid $40 for their prescription one month and $400 the next," Frankil said. "Nobody can believe this is happening."

One of the ursodiol suppliers is Mylan, which recently stirred outrage with its steep price hikes of another medicine, the EpiPen device, just as children went back to school. The device automatically injects a drug called epinephrine to counteract life-threatening allergic reactions.

Since buying EpiPen from another company in 2007, Mylan has continually raised its wholesale price, often called the list price. The price rose from $94 in 2007 to $608, a rise of 547%, according to data from Truven Health Analytics.

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Some experts have blamed the EpiPen price hikes on a lack of competition. But even when Sanofi, a competitor, introduced another automatic epinephrine injector in 2013 to challenge Mylan, it charged exactly the same price -- $241 for a package of two.

The two companies then continued to repeatedly raise their prices until 2015, when Sanofi took its device called Auvi-Q off the market because it may have been inaccurately delivering the drug. At that time, both companies were charging about $500.

The skyrocketing prices of EpiPen and ursodiol show why prescription medicines are making up an ever greater share of health spending.

According to the federal Health and Human Services Department, prescription drugs now account for almost 17% of personal healthcare expenditures  up from about 7% in the 1990s.

Lannett, which is headquartered in Philadelphia, has detailed in its financial statements how its price increases on ursodiol and other medicines have boosted sales and profits.

The company said that the price of its gallstone medicines, including ursodiol, rose by 907% in the year ended June 30, 2015, adding $58.7 million to sales.

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Overall, the company said, price hikes on myriad medicines accounted for 39%, or $157.3 million, of its net sales of $406.8 million.

Lannett executives said this week they could not comment because of an ongoing investigation by the U.S. Justice Department into their pricing practices. Prosecutors are looking at possible violations of the Sherman Antitrust Act, which outlawed monopolistic business practices.

In December 2014, the company told shareholders that it had received a grand jury subpoena requesting information that included communications with competitors about the pricing and sale of certain products.

Other companies raising their wholesale price of ursodiol to more than $5 for a 300-milligram capsule include Epic Pharma, Teva Pharmaceuticals, Avkare Inc., Marlex Pharmaceuticals and Major Pharmaceuticals.

The fact that the price hike was led by generic-drug companies seems to turn the industry's traditional price model on its head.

Mylan stopped selling ursodiol in 2012 and then brought it back in January, charging a wholesale price of $4.95 per capsule.

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Nina Devlin, a Mylan spokeswoman, said ursodiol's price increase happened while the company was out of the market. She said Mylan reintroduced the drug in January at what had become the "current market price."

Michele Pelkowski, a spokeswoman for Israel-based Teva, said the price hike had been made by Actavis Generics, which Teva recently acquired. She said Teva was aware of a shortage of active ingredients needed to manufacture ursodiol that may have affected the market.

Cliff Stanfill, an executive at Avkare in Pulaski, Tenn., which sells medicines to the federal government, said, "It's our policy not to speak about pricing to anyone except our buyers."

Michael Lupo, director of sales at Epic Pharma in Jamaica, N.Y., said he "wasn't at liberty to discuss" the price increase.

The other companies did not respond to requests for comment.

Brand-name medicines are protected from competition by their patents, and they are still the primary driver of rising drug spending. When the patents expire, other companies can sell the medicines as generics, which in the past has usually caused the price to plummet.

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Instead, today the price of an increasing number of generic drugs with multiple manufacturers is rising.

For example, eight of the 10 drugs that had the biggest percentage price hikes in 2014 were generic medicines made by multiple manufacturers, according to information published by the federal Medicare program.

"These are old drugs," said Frankil, the pharmacist. "These aren't drugs that are hard to make."

Mylan is one of the world's largest manufacturers of generic drugs. In June, David Maris, an analyst at Wells Fargo, warned that Mylan was dramatically raising prices of many of its medicines, which "could bring greater regulatory scrutiny and headline risk."

"We wonder if aggressive price increases are being used to make EPS [earnings per share] targets or to offset disappointing sales in other areas," Maris wrote.

Epinephrine, the drug inside the EpiPen, was first synthesized more than 100 years ago. The drug's patent expired decades ago, but Mylan holds a patent on the automatic injection device.

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Mylan made Epipen into its first billion-dollar product through the price hikes and by spurring demand. The company has spent millions of dollars on advertising EpiPen. It also successfully lobbied to get a federal law passed in 2013 that encourages schools to keep emergency supplies of the epinephrine injectors.

Mylan, which moved its corporate address from Pennsylvania to the Netherlands in 2014 to lower its tax rate, has tried to mollify consumers by providing a discount card that covers up to $300 for the EpiPen two-pack. Such discounts and co-pay coupons help patients, but often leave insurers and the overall health system still paying a high cost.

This week, Mylan said it would start selling a generic version of the EpiPen at $300. That is half its current list price, but still a 200% rise from when it purchased the device.

According to Chief Executive Heather Bresch, Mylan receives just $274 of the $608 list price because of the rebates and discounts the company gives to insurers, pharmacy benefit managers and other middlemen.

Goldman at USC said that one solution to the excessive price hikes of generic drugs would be to increase regulation so that manufacturers were paid more like utilities.

"We should make sure the companies get a reasonable rate of return," he said, "but nothing to gouge the consumer."

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melody.petersen@latimes.com

@melodypetersen
North Coast Music Festival returned to Union Park with a few tweaks to usher in its seventh year. After last year's lineup, which generally skewed to an older crowd drawn to legacy acts and less electronic dance music, the annual Labor Day weekend event mined its roots.

Like its earlier years, organizers booked a more even spread of EDM, hip-hop, and indie and jam bands, including weekend headliners Odesza, Grouplove, Logic, Bassnectar, Zedd and Umphrey's McGee. North Coast drew an estimated 18,500 people Friday, the first day of the three-day festival.

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Chicago's music festival landscape has grown exponentially since North Coast's inception and the proliferation of festivals has seemed a contributing factor to less crowded grounds for some, such as the EDM-heavy Spring Awakening and Pitchfork. However on Friday, North Coast festival co-founder Michael Berg said this year's event was on track to surpass last year's attendance. An estimated 54,500 fans were expected over the weekend. The fest also eliminated one stage, which alleviated the sound bleed that has plagued previous years.

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The decision to add back more EDM may seem ill-timed when interest seems to be waning. Perry Farrell recently told the Chicago Tribune he was not a fan of the newer EDM that spawned his own stage at Lollapalooza. While Berg agrees that there's good and bad in the genre, he contends some EDM has evolved in a way that renews interest. "The live (instrumentation) side of it is the cooler, hipper side of it at this point. It's not just button pushing, which is what a lot of people negate the art form for."

That was evident Friday, with most of the electronic acts adding live instrumentation to the mix, which gave fans more visuals and musical layers to dance to. Live horns, a guitarist and multiple appearances by the Chicago Bulls Drumline, which grooved while delivering beats, buoyed headliner Odezsa's cinematic soundscapes. Galantis, consisting of Miike Snow's Christian Karlsson and Linus Eklow, jumped on and off its rig wielding drumsticks, augmenting their song's rhythms. Australian duo Hermitude's set included a keytar.

Bands spanned a range of styles, from Chicago artist Jamila Wood's soulful, poetic sway earlier in the day to Grouplove's giddy and quirky closing set, which included "Tongue Tied."

The penultimate acts of the night were also the most disparate and indicative of the fest's eclectic vibe. Sleigh Bells upped the ante (and the volume) on the day's beats with its visceral, chest rattling noise-pop that reverberated through to the back of the audience. The duo, joined by a touring guitarist, provided a welcome cacophony of thunderous beats and metallic riffs juxtaposed against Alexis Krauss' melodic vocals. A riveting juggernaut, Krauss thrashed, twirled and headbanged her way through the set, which included "A/B Machines," "Demons" and "Infinity Guitars." She delivered the most commanding, empowered performance of the night. On the other side of the park, Juicy J's set felt composed in comparison. Still, the veteran rapper had the crowd grooving and singing along to his hits, such as "Low" and "Bounce It."

Althea Legaspi is a freelance critic.

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Expand Autoplay Image 1 of 122 Sophie Turner as Jean Grey, anger management student, in "Dark Phoenix." The film, the latest in the "X-Men" franchise, costars James McAvoy, Michael Fassbender and Jessica Chastain. Read the review. (Twentieth Century Fox)
New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie ordered his administration in June to evaluate the steps for withdrawing from a tax reciprocity agreement with Pennsylvania. (MEL EVANS / AP)

TRENTON, N.J. (AP)  New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie said Friday he is pulling out of a nearly 4-decade-old income tax agreement with Pennsylvania, all but ensuring that thousands of residents in each state will see their tax burdens go up.

The Republican governor said his hand was forced because the Democrat-led Legislature failed to find $250 million in health insurance savings for public workers despite assuming the savings in the budget. He said he will reconsider ending the agreement if lawmakers deliver the savings.

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"I am left with the least painful option I have to fulfill my constitutional duty to balance the budget for New Jersey taxpayers," Christie said in a statement.

The 1977 reciprocity agreement allows residents who work in either state to pay income taxes at their home state's rate. Either governor can pull out of the deal at the start of the year but must give 120 days' notice.

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The deadline for notice this year was Friday.

A spokesman for Democratic Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Wolf said that Christie "erred significantly" and that his action punishes Pennsylvanians.

"It seems that Governor Christie is committed to making Pennsylvania and our residents working in New Jersey suffer the consequences of his failure to enact a responsible budget," spokesman Jeffrey Sheridan said in a statement.

With the agreement ending, the tax consequences will hurt high-earning Pennsylvanians who work in New Jersey and low-income New Jerseyans who work in Pennsylvania.

Pennsylvania has a flat 3.07 percent income tax rate; New Jersey has a more progressive tax structure, with rates from 5.53 percent to 8.97 percent on income from $40,000 and above.

By way of explanation, Pennsylvania and New Jersey lawmakers and Tax Foundation state director Scott Drenkard provided these scenarios: A Pennsylvania resident who works in New Jersey and makes over $40,000 files a return in Pennsylvania, pays her taxes, then files a return with New Jersey. If taxed at 5.53 percent in New Jersey, she would owe that amount minus credit for her tax payment to Pennsylvania.

Likewise, a low-income New Jersey resident would file at home, then with Pennsylvania. Since New Jersey's rates are lower than Pennsylvania's at 1.75 percent for income from $20,000 to $35,000, the taxpayer would get a credit for taxes paid at home but then pay some fraction to Pennsylvania.

Democratic New Jersey Senate President Steve Sweeney said Christie is burdening New Jersey residents and called on him to renegotiate.

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"This is the wrong decision for our state," he said. "This is not the last word on this issue. We should not be balancing New Jersey's books on the backs of middle-class taxpayers."

It's not the first time a New Jersey governor considered ending the deal. Democrat Jim McGreevey made the same proposal in 2002 but drew criticism from New Jersey lawmakers who represent workers in southern New Jersey.

According to census data from 2010, about 40,000 Camden County residents commute to Pennsylvania for work, along with more than 20,000 commuters in Burlington and Gloucester counties. The data also show that about 34,000 Bucks County residents work in New Jersey, along with roughly 17,000 from Philadelphia who commute east.

Before Christie's decision, Scott Drenkard, director of state projects for the nonpartisan Tax Foundation, called the possibility of losing the reciprocity agreement a loss for tax simplicity.

"This is absolutely a money grab," he said.
The Tribune Tower on Michigan Avenue was built in 1925 and houses the Chicago Tribune and other businesses. (Brian Cassella / Chicago Tribune)

With the Chicago Tribune likely to exit the skyscraper that bears its name by June 2018, if not sooner, some colleagues are sidling up to my cubicle and urging me to mount a campaign to keep us in Tribune Tower.

Sorry. Journalists don't get a pass on the disruptions of history. Buildings have lives that extend beyond the institutions that built them. Tribune Tower won't be the same without the reporters, editors, graphic designers and photographers who have poured their blood, sweat and creativity into it, but the paramount issue is the future of this 91-year-old icon.

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The Tower is an extraordinary presence in an extraordinary city of architecture, a soaring study in vertical lines that etches a striking skyline silhouette and symbolizes the essential role that journalists play in holding the powerful to account. The neo-Gothic design by John Mead Howells and Raymond Hood, winners of one of the most celebrated architecture competitions in history, was no accident. By transforming the precedent of the medieval cathedrals into a modern skyscraper, it elevated the grubby business of gathering facts and getting the scoop into a higher calling.

Step beneath the chandeliers of the main lobby, a hushed, dimly lit space where inscriptions about freedom of the press are chiseled into the travertine marble walls, and you are standing in a cathedral of journalism. Touches of whimsy temper such earnestness. Above the main entrance, an allegorical sculpture of a whispering man, his fingers pressed to his lips, symbolizes insidious rumor. Another sculpted figure, his hands cupped to his mouth, represents the clarion call of real news.

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The main lobby of the Tribune Tower, home of the Chicago Tribune, is a cathedral to journalism. (Chris Walker / Chicago Tribune)

At this stage, days after the broadcasting and digital company known as Tribune Media announced it would sell the Tower and adjacent property for $240 million to Los Angeles-based developer CIM Group and Chicago developer Golub & Co., it may seem premature to ponder the skyscraper's prospects. The deal isn't expected to close until the end of September. And unforeseen circumstances, including a real estate bust or an oversupply of boutique hotels, could scuttle the hotel, retail and residential complex the developers are expected to bring to the Tower's 3-acre parcel at the gateway to the Magnificent Mile.

Nevertheless, the skyscraper's future is on people's minds, including downtown Ald. Brendan Reilly, 42nd, who has publicly aired his aversion to the construction of a retail structure on the plaza to the south. The issues facing Reilly, Mayor Rahm Emanuel's planners and the developers boil down to one word: Quality. Any alterations or additions to the Tower have to meet the highest standards. Business as usual  the cheap, the ordinary, the second- or third-rate  won't cut it. Tribune Media's selection of a buyer, however, gives pause.

CIM and Golub did not distinguish themselves with a new apartment high-rise they built atop the perpetually troubled Block 37 mall. The 38-story building, called the Marquee at Block 37, is a Janus-faced mix of awkward bulges on one side and sheer banality on the other. The developers have tapped its designer, the workhorse Chicago firm of Solomon Cordwell Buenz (SCB), to do preliminary studies on the Tower. SCB is capable of good work, like the glass-sheathed Loews hotel and apartment tower along the Chicago River, but the adaptation of old buildings to new uses is not its strength.

To squeeze residential high-rises onto constricted urban sites occupied by historic buildings, the firm has trafficked in the tainted practice of the "facade-ectomy," which saves a structure's skin and guts its interior, as if architecture were taxidermy. The burden is thus on the developers to prove that the admiration they expressed for the Tower's architecture  "a prominent property with a rich history," enthused CIM principal Avi Shemesh  was more than lip service.

The first battle lines over the redevelopment of historic Tribune Tower have formed over a proposed retail structure that opponents argue could block the Towers south facade from the Michigan Avenue Bridge and clutter a little-known sliver of open space, the so-called Ogden Slip view corridor. (John J. Kim / Chicago Tribune) (John J. Kim / Chicago Tribune/Chicago Tribune)

Another cause for concern is that the developers will be operating within a regulatory framework that privileges profit over preservation. That framework is a legacy of the landmark agreement that Tribune Co. struck with the City of Chicago in 1988, which was formally approved by the City Council a year later.

Under the agreement, only the 36-story Tower has protected status and only its Michigan Avenue facade is completely safeguarded. Portions of other facades can be changed; the one facing east is only protected from the 22nd floor up. In addition, three buildings attached to the Tower  a former printing plant and four- and 11-story buildings built for WGN Radio and WGN Television  can be demolished.

In their current state, these buildings join with the Tower to form an urban complex that's both grand and granular. The Tower is the mountain, the other buildings its foothills. The buildings along Michigan Avenue wrap around a quiet, U-shaped courtyard that's an antidote to Michigan Avenue's clamor. Pedestrians invariably stop to photograph a remarkable collection of fragments of historic sites and buildings from around the world that are embedded in the Tribune's limestone walls. (Col. Robert R. McCormick, the Tribune's longtime editor and publisher, told his reporters to gather these rocks "by honorable means.")

An architectural historian could rightly claim that the buildings illustrate the evolution of the American media in the 20th century. To which a cynic might respond: "That's right. Some of them are about to disappear." Which begs the ultimate question: How should the Tower's redevelopment proceed without erasing its history or its special sense of place?

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A grotesque above the main entrance to the Tribune Tower, home of the Chicago Tribune. The figure has hands cupped to his mouth and represents the clarion call of real news. (Chris Walker / Chicago Tribune)

Reilly's stance against the suggested retail structure  he says it will block views of the Tower from the Michigan Avenue Bridge and clutter a little-known sliver of open space, the Ogden Slip view corridor, that runs from Lake Shore Drive to Michigan Avenue  is a good beginning. But much more needs to be addressed:

 The developers are sure to erect a new skyscraper (or two) on the surface parking lot to the Tower's east. Yet city planners must ensure that the skyscraper does not block views of the Tower from the Ogden Slip view corridor. If they fail to do so, the landmark protection granted to the Tower's eastern facade will be meaningless.

 The planners should also encourage the developers to turn the little WGN Radio Building into new uses including shops, using the carrot of federal historic preservation tax credits. Such credits could be obtained because the Tower is part of a historic district, principally composed of 1920s towers around the Michigan Avenue Bridge, that's on the National Register of Historic Places. The credits could lower the project's cost by tens of millions of dollars. If the other Tribune buildings aren't reused, "the tax credits probably would not be forthcoming," said Allen Johnson, a partner at the Chicago office of MacRostie Historic Advisors, a consultant.

 Public access to the Tower's churchlike main lobby should be ensured. The lobby and two elevator lobbies to which it leads are the only interior spaces protected by the landmark agreement. Ordinary people should be able to see this inspiring space, which cements the Tower's identity as a journalistic citadel.

 New construction on the site, meanwhile, can take a lesson from an unlikely source: Donald Trump. The challenge at the Tower is not unlike the one the New York developer and now Republican presidential nominee faced when he tore down the old Chicago Sun-Times building to make way for the 98-story Trump International Hotel and Tower: Respect a historic icon (in Trump's case, the Wrigley Building) and build a modern skyscraper of comparable quality. Notwithstanding its oversized sign and underwhelming spire, the Trump Tower, by Skidmore, Owings & Merrill of Chicago, largely accomplished that goal.

But that was just one building. The Tribune Tower redevelopment must meet an even more exacting standard: A sophisticated interweaving of past and present, form and finance. We journalists will be watching, even if we're no longer in Tribune Tower.

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Blair Kamin is a Tribune critic.

bkamin@chicagotribune.com

Twitter @BlairKamin
Nurse Kelly Procek performs an IV flush on a patient while making her rounds at MacNeal Hospital in Berwyn on Sept. 1, 2016. (Antonio Perez / Chicago Tribune)

On the hot Saturday night of Labor Day weekend in 2002, Jon Hagen was working his regular evening shift as a flight nurse on a medical helicopter in Wisconsin when a call came through about a rollover accident on a rural highway. Hagen and his partner rushed to the scene and airlifted a critically injured man to the nearest trauma center.

The patient, who looked about the same age as Hagen, died minutes after arriving at the emergency room. But something about the case haunted Hagen, a married father of two.

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"For some reason, this one stuck," Hagen said. "Here's a guy that's I don't know how far from home, traveling alone ... You think about that and you wonder if they had family, kids, what they were doing."

Hagen Googled the patient's name a few days later. When he found an online obituary for Tom Procek, a 42-year-old married father of three from Woodridge, he took a few minutes to send the Proceks an online message to let them know their loved one didn't die alone.

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Hagen didn't know it at the time, but that small gesture offered Procek's family comfort for years to come. And more than a decade later, Procek's only daughter, Kelly, returned the favor last spring when she Googled Hagen's name and sent him a touching message on Facebook.

"I wanted you to know that you and the work that you do inspired me to go back to school for nursing ...Throughout my school when we are asked why we wanted to go into nursing, I go back to the letter that you wrote our family about being by my Dad's side in his final moments. It meant the world to me that he wasn't alone. My Dad and I were very close and it still upsets me that we never were given the chance to say goodbye but thankful that he was with the people that were trying their hardest to save him. It inspired me to be that person for someone else."

Flight nurse Jon Hagen works at an accident scene in Wisconsin. (Jon Hagen / Handout)

Since Procek, 32, sent the message in March, she and Hagen, 57, have gone on to forge an unlikely friendship. The man who cared for her father in his final moments now serves as her nursing mentor. Hagen, who still works full time as a flight nurse in Wisconsin, and his wife drove to Downers Grove in May for Procek's graduation ceremony from the nursing program at College of DuPage, when he pinned her uniform  a long-standing tradition for nursing graduates. He cheered her on from a distance as Procek studied for her nursing certification exam, offering her tips and encouragement.

And when Procek begins work as a full-time pediatric nurse at MacNeal Hospital in Berwyn this month, Hagen will be anxiously awaiting stories from her budding career.

It's a bond that nurses seldom get to experience, despite the number of people they affect on a daily basis, said Mary Jo Assi, director of nursing practice at the American Nurses Association. Nurses may come in contact with hundreds of patients and their families each year, but they are trained to not expect much back in return.

"Typically, I think that nurses understand that when they are caring for people who are ill, people are not at their best," said Assi, who added that Hagen and Procek's story was an important reminder: "Those interactions have ripples ... it just absolutely warms my heart."

We couldn't be there, but to hear from somebody who was there, somebody who cared, provided me with a tiny bit of closure.  Kelly Procek, who was inspired to be a nurse by the flight nurse who tried to save her father

Lifetime of service

As a high schooler growing up in Wisconsin, Jon Hagen was inspired to become a paramedic by the 1970s show "Emergency!" Hagen received his emergency medical technician certification in 1976 at the age of 17. He took a job in an ambulance, fulfilling 24-hour shifts  one day on, two days off  treating people in dire need. Hagen loved the exhilaration of helping people while under pressure.

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But after 14 years on the job, Hagen sought better pay and more job opportunities. He went back to school at Fox Valley Technical College in Appleton, Wis., for an associate's degree in nursing, followed by a bachelor's in nursing from the University of Wisconsin-Green Bay. He worked for four years as a registered nurse at a hospital intensive care unit, then took a job as a flight nurse in 1994.

"Every call is different," Hagen said of medical helicopter work he still does today. "In a half an hour, you don't know where you're going to be, what you're going to be confronted with."

Such was the case on Aug. 31, 2002, when Hagen and his work partner, Pam Witt-Hillen, then flight nurses for ThedaStar Air Medical in northern Wisconsin, were dispatched to an accident on Interstate 39 in the town of Dewey, a rural community in central Wisconsin. By the time Hagen and Witt-Hillen arrived, the victim was being treated by local paramedics, who were administering CPR. The emergency response team got back a pulse and loaded the man onto the helicopter stretcher to be rushed to a hospital in Marshfield, Wis., 50 miles away.

Through years of experience, Hagen knew the downside of his job: being unable to save patients.

"The way I look at it is you do the best you can and let the chips fall where they may," he said. "You rely on your training to do the right interventions and give them a chance."

On the helicopter flight to the hospital, Procek was unconscious. His heart stopped beating, but Hagen and his partner were able to get a pulse back doing CPR. They were still performing CPR when the flight landed and turned him over to emergency room staff. Minutes later, Procek was pronounced dead at the hospital, Hagen said.

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Days later, Hagen couldn't stop thinking about the case. He Googled Procek's name from a work computer, something he did from time to time after losing patients on the job. When he saw the description of Procek as a father and husband, Hagen then did something he had never done before: He signed the online guest book at the funeral home.

"I think it was just real brief ... just something acknowledging their pain, and that we were with him," Hagen recalled of the message he posted. "I think people want to know, no matter how bad it is, that he mattered to somebody, he didn't die alone. That we tried."

Kelly Procek is seen at her nursing graduation at the College of DuPage with the nurse who inspired her career, Jon Hagen, a flight nurse from Wisconsin. (Jon Hagen / Handout)

Unexpected loss

Kelly Procek, the spirited, rebellious eldest child of Tom Procek, had always enjoyed a close relationship with her father.

Her dad, a machinist, gave her nicknames like "Smelly Kelly" and purposely swerved when he drove his daughter to dance team practice, trying to mess up the makeup she applied in the car. When he grounded her, he took the tires off her car and left it on cinder blocks in the driveway to ensure she didn't sneak away, she recalled with a laugh.

The weekend before the accident, Tom Procek moved Kelly into her new apartment in Bloomington, Ill., where she was enrolled in classes at Heartland Community College. Kelly returned home for Labor Day seven days later, and was out with friends on the night of Aug. 31 when a police officer called her cellphone to tell her that her father had been in a serious accident. They tracked down her mother, who was spending the long weekend elsewhere in Wisconsin with Kelly's youngest brother.

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After several confused phone calls, the family learned that Tom Procek had died.

It was devastating news for the family, who were left with many unanswered questions: Where was he heading? What caused the single-car accident? Did he suffer or feel alone?

As the family scrambled to plan funeral services, the message from Hagen was so appreciated.

"We couldn't be there, but to hear from somebody who was there, somebody who cared, provided me with a tiny bit of closure," Kelly Procek said.

Recent nursing graduate Kelly Procek, left, and her instructor, registered nurse Debra Crivellone, look over patient information Sept. 1, 2016, at MacNeal Hospital in Berwyn. (Antonio Perez / Chicago Tribune)

Inspired to help others

In the years after her father died, Kelly Procek struggled to find direction in her life. She graduated with her associate's degree, then moved to California with her boyfriend, Josh, for a fresh start. The couple had two children, and Procek worked for a cousin's event-planning business. But after three years on the West Coast, Procek wanted her children to be around family. She also decided it was time to get onto a career track.

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When considering what she wanted to do, Procek remembered Hagen and the solace he offered her family when they needed it most. She also recalled the positive experiences she had with the hospital nurses who helped deliver her children.

Before moving back to the Midwest, she contacted the College of DuPage and inquired about what it would take to earn a degree in nursing. She moved back in 2012 and, for the next four years, spent hours at a time at the Glen Ellyn campus attending classes, or at local coffeehouses studying. Josh, a bartender, watched the children during the day. At night, after a long day of studies, she'd rush home to make dinner, give the children baths and put them to bed.

Procek excelled in her classes, earning the distinction of high honors, and became co-president of the college's Student Nurse Association. As her graduation day neared, she felt it was time to give credit to the man who inspired her path. She sent the message to Hagen on Facebook.

"It touched my heart," Hagen said. "That's kind of why you do what you do."

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Within the first few exchanges, Hagen agreed to pin Procek at her graduation ceremony in May. Before a crowd of hundreds, Procek, who was chosen as the ceremony's graduation speaker, told the story of her friendship with Hagen.

"No matter where we go in our careers, always remember that our job won't always go smooth or be enjoyable. It won't always be clean or stress-free. But it will always have purpose," Procek told her fellow graduates. "Be that person for someone. Go that extra step."

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Since then, the new nurse and her mentor have been in regular contact. Hagen sent her texts wishing her good luck before the nursing exam, then a card in the mail when she passed. She reached out to him excitedly when she landed her first job.

Procek, who hopes someday to transition into emergency room nursing, said she wants to follow her mentor's footsteps in more ways than one.

"I think that ultimately he's an inspiration of an amazing nurse," she said. "Just going into it, I hope I can somehow pay that forward."

vortiz@chicagotribune.com

Twitter @vikkiortiz
Morton Groves Edison Elementary School teacher James O'Malley has been bestowed a Presidential Award for Excellence in Math and Science teaching, earning a $10,000 prize and a visit to Washington, D.C., to accept his award. He's been at Edison for more than 20 years. (Chris Walker/Chicago Tribune)

It's common for teachers to decorate their classrooms, but fourth-grade teacher James O'Malley, known by his students as Dr. O, takes it to a new level.

Every nook and cranny of his room is a showcase: a collection of skulls and skeletons, a plastic bag filled with buffalo fur, a butterflies of Africa display, green paper "vines" twisting across the ceiling, with a wasp nest (inactive) and stuffed-animal monkeys hanging on.

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Learning science is like a jungle adventure or a science museum visit for Dr. O's fourth-graders at Thomas Edison Elementary School in Morton Grove, with fun and fast-paced instruction winning over the kids.

Now, O'Malley himself is a winner  a big winner.

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The White House announced last month that O'Malley, 51, won a Presidential Award for Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching, one of four Illinois educators honored with the prize that includes $10,000 from the National Science Foundation and a trip to Washington, D.C., and the White House later this week. O'Malley won the prestigious award in science, in the category for kindergarten through sixth-grade teachers.

Math teacher Catherine Ditto, of Burley Elementary School, won a Presidential Award for Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching. (Abel Uribe / Chicago Tribune)

Catherine Ditto, 53, a sixth-grade math teacher at Chicago Public Schools' Burley Elementary School in Lakeview, was a winner in math, also in the grade-school category.

CPS kids don't start classes until Tuesday, but Ditto was at school getting her classroom ready last week and talked to the Tribune about her work.

She said she was inspired to teach by her mother, who was a longtime teacher, and determined to help children master math  even if it's tough.

"Like so many people, I really struggled in math," said Ditto, who recalled doing well in math in the early grades but found the subject more difficult in high school. Nowadays, students are expected to tackle tougher material at an earlier age, she said.

On 2015 state exams, 85 percent of sixth-graders at Burley were considered proficient in math, the highest math performance of all grades at the school and more than three times the state average for sixth-graders.

O'Malley and Ditto have taught for more than 20 years, and each teach more than one subject at their grade schools, though they were honored for their specialties in math and science.

Two other educators won the presidential awards at the seventh- to 12th-grade level: Michael Fumagalli, 33, a former science teacher at East Leyden High School in Franklin Park, and Lisa Nicks, 34, a former math teacher at Thornton Township High School in Harvey.

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Fumagalli is now a dean at Glenbard East High School in Lombard, so he'll no longer be in the classroom daily  but he still plans to work with science teachers at the school. He's passionate about science and the future of science.

"I really, really believe, to the core of my being, that there's a kid now in a classroom who will cure cancer ... or do something miraculous that changes the trajectory of humanity," Fumagalli said.

Nicks is not teaching  she's at home with her 21/2-year-old son. But she remains licensed and says she'll be back to teaching at some point.

At Thornton Township High School, state test scores in math have been low. But Nicks had faith that struggling students could increase their skills. "I was amazed by those kids," she said.

All four teachers say they're on the way to Washington, D.C., to take part in the awards ceremony and visit the White House at the end of the week, where they hope to meet President Barack Obama.

James O'Malley, a teacher at Edison Elementary School in Morton Grove, leads his class of fourth-graders in "Newton Knocks," a game he devised. (Chris Walker / Chicago Tribune)

In all, 213 math and science teachers won the awards announced last month, recognizing educators from 50 states as well as the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, U.S. territories and Department of Defense-related schools, according to the White House. The teachers went through a lengthy application process that included nominations, recommendations, a video of their class in action and other requirements.

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The awards are a bright spot at a time when educators have faced challenges over student testing, teacher evaluations, pay and pensions, and other issues.

The Presidential Awards were created in the early 1980s, but the importance of math and science instruction has been growing as teachers prepare students for fields in science, technology, engineering and math, or STEM.

Illinois and other states have adopted the Next Generation Science Standards for what students should know, including studying science and engineering practices as early as kindergarten.

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O'Malley, who has a doctoral degree, has a lively teaching style that has students moving around, firing off questions and answers, working with partners and writing down observations in their journals. In a recent class, kids picked out animal skulls and skeletons and had to figure out what they were, as well as their characteristics, such as the shape of teeth, which would signal whether the animal was a carnivore or herbivore.

"What is this?" several children asked O'Malley about their skulls. "What do you think it is?" O'Malley fired back. That got the kids thinking and trying to come up with the right answers.

Ultimately, kids identified a mountain lion skull, as well as a deer spine, an elk jaw and a beaver skull, among others.

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O'Malley was always positive, telling the kiddos  that's what Dr. O often calls his students  that they were on the right track. "Great observation!" O'Malley said. Or, "outstanding analysis."

O'Malley also was humble when he couldn't answer a child's question. "Dr. O doesn't know  I don't know everything."

drado@tribpub.com

Twitter @diane_rado
A couple dozen people slapped at each other, yelled and then walked away from police who tried to clear the Stroger Hospital parking lot early Saturday.

The group arrived after four men were shot in the West Town neighborhood about 3:30 a.m. The four shot there, in the 100 block of North Seeley Avenue, were among at least 11 wounded in shootings overnight.

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Officers found a gun and a crime scene on the block just west of Damen Avenue. While they arrived there, officers at Stroger asked for more cars because of a "free-for-all" fight that broke out in the parking lot.

Four people were shot in the Seeley attack. A 21-year-old man was hit in the right ankle, a 34-year-old man in both legs, a 36-year-old man in the right leg and a 39-year-old man in the right leg. All four were listed in good condition and were being "uncooperative," police said.

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At Stroger, one woman walked through the emergency room driveway and yelled that two men had died. A boy pounded on a car parked on Ogden Avenue, skipped away and then walked fast from a sergeant who followed from a distance of about 10 feet until the boy made it to Damen.

A scuffle broke out an hour later, again at the entrance to the emergency room, and officers cleared the lot.

All of those wounded Friday night and Saturday morning were hurt in South and West Side shootings.

The most recent attack left a 64-year-old woman shot in Gresham. She was shot in the 8100 block of South Paulina Street at about 6:05 a.m., police said. No information was immediately available about the circumstances of the shooting or where she was being treated.

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At 4:15 a.m., a 24-year-old man was shot in the leg in the South Austin neighborhood, police said. He had been shot in the 5000 block of West Adams Street and taken to Stroger Hospital, where his condition was stabilized. He told police he heard shots and was hit.

Someone shot a 20-year-old man in the hand in the West Englewood neighborhood about 2:20 a.m. Saturday. He was outside in the 5600 block of South Marshfield Avenue when someone fired at him from a passing white Pontiac, police said. He was taken to Holy Cross Hospital and is in good condition.

Two women were shot in the Back of the Yards neighborhood about 2 a.m. A 26-year-old woman was left in critical condition with a gunshot wound to her back and a 31-year-old woman was grazed and is in good condition, police said.

They were outside in the 4700 block of South Laflin Avenue when someone started shooting from a passing gray minivan. The 26-year-old is at Stroger Hospital and the older woman refused medical attention. The shooting likely is related to a gang conflict between the Latin Saints, which claim territory northwest of the shooting scene, and the La Raza street gang, located to the south. Police at the scene found more than 10 shell casings from a rifle in the intersection of 47th and Laflin.

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A 29-year-old man was left in critical condition after a Humboldt Park neighborhood shooting Friday night about 9:20 p.m. Police said the shooting happened near the corner of Monticello Avenue and Thomas Street. Someone in a Cadillac SUV fired toward his car.

The 29-year-old apparently fled  his vehicle was rammed by the same vehicle that the shots came from and he crashed into two other vehicles in the 3100 block of West Augusta Boulevard, about a mile away from the shooting. The man shot is in critical condition, but other injuries he suffered from the car crash are not considered life-threatening, according to police.

About 9 p.m., a 17-year-old boy was shot in the South Austin neighborhood. He was in the 100 block of North Parkside Avenue when a vehicle approached and someone inside fired shots. The teen was shot in the back and elbow. He got himself to West Suburban Medical Center and was listed in good condition.
Transcription

1 Try something a little different for Christmas this year and experience a Morocco adventure holiday! This hotel tour includes the Gorge du Dades, Todra Gorge with its 300m high gorge walls, camel trekking and an overnight stay in a Berber camp in the Sahara. We finish with a visit to Ait Benhaddou's famous Kasbah and a tour of Marrakech. Travelling by mini van and 4x4 Landcruiser, this adventure tour uses 3* accommodation along with a night under the stars at a traditional Berber camp in the Sahara Desert...

2 TOUR OVERVIEW Tour operates: December Tour type: Xmas Transport: Minivan / 4x4 Landcruiser Tour rating: Easy Start - Finish: Marrakech - Marrakech Minimum group size: 2 Maximum group size: 16 Minimum age: 15 HIGHLIGHTS Marrakech, Gorge du Dades, Todra Gorge, Erg Chebbi, Sahara Desert, Ouarzazate, Ait Benhaddou, Marrakech

3 ITINERARY Day 1 - Marrakech: Welcome to Morocco! Following your transfer from the airport to our joining hotel in the heart of Marrakech, make the most of your first day and explore the souks and Djemaa El Fna (the legendary main square). Be sure to be at the hotel for the pre-departure meeting at where you will meet your fellow travellers. Day 1 - Marrakech: Welcome to Morocco! Following your transfer from the airport to our joining hotel in the heart of Marrakech, make the most of your first day and explore the souks and Djemaa El Fna (the legendary main square). Be sure to be at the hotel for the pre-departure meeting at where you will meet your fellow travellers. Overnight Marrakech (D) Day 2 - Gorges du Dades: Leaving Marrakech, we venture through the Gorges du Dades, a stunning valley which extends from the High Atlas to the Jebel Sahro range in the south. Berbers built many Kasbahs in the vicinity of gorges for defence purposes and these, combined with its natural beauty make this area a fitting backdrop to the start of your adventure! Day 2 - Gorges du Dades: Leaving Marrakech, we venture through the Gorges du Dades, a stunning valley which extends from the High Atlas to the Jebel Sahro range in the south. Berbers built many Kasbahs in the vicinity of gorges for defence purposes and these, combined with its natural beauty make this area a fitting backdrop to the start of your adventure! Overnight Gorges du Dades (B, L, D) Day 3 - Todra Gorge: This morning brings the opportunity to explore the Gorge du Dades, walking through the foothills and the local villages and getting a feel for the area. After lunch we head east and discover the charm of the Todra Gorge with its plunging depths to its 300m high cliffs. Witness its changing colour, from bright yellow under the mid day sun to orange and red as the sun slowly moves from east to west. Here you can enjoy optional rock climbing (in summer) or horse riding but if getting up close to the scenery or seeing it from horseback isn t your thing, you can just chill out and enjoy the view! Later we visit the village co-operative where you can see and buy authentic, Berber, handmade rugs, kilims and carpets. Overnight Todra Gorge (B, L, D) Day 4 - Sahara Desert: We leave Todra and make our way across the Jebel Sahro towards Erg Chebbi where magnificent sand dunes signal the start of the Sahara Desert. En route, we stop for a swim and some lunch before arriving at Merzouga where we leave our vehicle and take a camel trek into the desert to a Berber camp. Savour the quiet majesty of the desert and enjoy every moment of this highlight of your Moroccan adventure. This evening, enjoy local food and a night under the Saharan stars. To seal this as an experience of a life time, surf the Sahara Desert and try Dune Boarding! Overnight Berber camp (B, L, D)

4 ITINERARY Day 5 - Ouarzazate: We leave the Sahara Desert and continue our adventure through the Draa Valley along the route of 1000 Kasbahs. This area boasts a beautiful landscape dotted with untouched villages that preserve that sense of times past where you can witness villagers going about their daily routine. We venture on to Ouarzazate, which African traders once used as a resting place on their journeys up to Europe which makes sense as it is an intersection, triangulated by the Atlas, Draa and Dades Valleys. This areas appeal is best conveyed through its use as a film set for many great films - The Last Temptation of Christ, The Living Daylights and, more recently, Gladiator. We make it in time for a swim which leaves you refreshed and ready to explore the centre. Overnight Ouarzazate (B, L, D) Day 6 - Ouarzazate: This morning, the adventure continues as we head for Ait Benhaddou, a fortified city', situated along the former caravan route between the Sahara Desert and Marrakech. En route, choose from optional quad biking or a visit to the film studio. We then travel over the High Atlas mountains on our way to Marrakech. On a hill along the Ouarzazate River we find Ait Benhaddou. A UNESCO World Heritage site, it boasts great examples of Kasbahs, some of which remain inhabited. Overnight Ouarzazate(B) Day 7 - Marrakech: Glowing red, like a welcoming campfire, against the snow capped High Atlas Mountains, the very name Marrakech conjures up images of a mysterious, distant city; magic carpets and snake charmers; frankincense and myrrh brought in by camel trains. Explore the medina with its rose-coloured walls and tangle of winding streets and bustling souks. The focal point is the central square, the Djemaa-el-Fna, an extraordinary gathering and market place, full of colour, spicy aromas and traders. It is best seen in the evening when overflowing with food stalls, dancers, acrobats, fortune tellers, musicians and henna artists a great place to practice your bargaining skills! Towering over all this is the Koutoubia mosque, the tallest building in the city, and a reminder of the importance of Islam to the lives of the city's residents. Try a traditional hammam, a steam bath followed by an exfoliating massage it s the ideal end to the day as your adventure holiday comes to an end. Overnight Marrakech(B, D) Day 8 - Marrakech: The adventure holiday ends after breakfast. (B)

5 WHAT YOU GET Included WHAT YOU GET Arrival transfer from airport (if travelling to and staying in joining hotel) Full Board: 7 Breakfasts, 4 Lunches, 6 Dinners including a Berber camp dinner Crew (1 x Guide & 1 x Driver) Transport All Accommodation Guided tour Marrakech Camel trek Excluded Tipping kitty $50 (used for hotel porters, hotel waiters,local guides used for city tours, airport drivers, Berber camel herders, restaurant tips) Flights Drinks Lunch x 2 & Dinner x 1 TIP for Nomadic Guide is not included in the tipping kitty. If you are happy with the Guide's service we recommend 2-3 $US Dollars per day, or local currency equivalent. OPTIONAL UPGRADES Single Supplement: 119 Pre/Post accommodation: SGL 45: DBL/TWN 60: TPL 80 *********************************** OPTIONAL ACTIVITIES Rock climbing in Todra Gorge (1 hour = 250 DH, 2 hours = 390 DH) Hammam spa in Marrakech (prices from 150DH) Quadbiking in Ouarzazate (2 hours = 590DH, 2 hours for 2 pax = 690DH) Movie studio visit in Ouarzazate (30 minutes = 50 DH) Hot air balloon ride over the High Atlas Mountains (2000 DH) (DH = MOROCCAN DIRHAM) USEFUL INFORMATION Before you go Visas & permits

6 Visas are NOT required for British, Australian, New Zealand, Canadian, US and other EU nationals for a stay of up to 3 months. Please ensure your passport is valid up to the end date of your tour and that you get your passport stamped upon entry into Morocco. All other nationalities should contact the Moroccan embassy for details. Visas are your responsibility. Don t forget to check! Travel insurance All our passengers must be fully insured for travel in Morocco. It is essential that you get the correct level of cover and it is advised that you speak to your travel insurance provider for advice. Please ensure that the policy provides adequate cover for hospital treatment, repatriation flights home in the event of you being too ill to continue the tour, personal accident, personal baggage and associated valuables. Please note that some optional activities may require additional cover as well. In addition you must bring the policy with you as it is obligatory for joining any tour. Vaccinations It's recommended that you be vaccinated for Tetanus and Polio if you haven't had a booster in the last 10 years. Food and water born diseases are also quite common so we recommend vaccinations for Typhoid (valid 3 years) and Hepatitis A (validity varies) as well. Finally, Morocco is not a high risk Malaria area but if in any doubt please consult a physician or travel clinic for further information. On location Currency GBP 1.00 = MAD13 USD$1.00 = MAD9 EUR 1.00 = MAD11 MAD = Moroccan Dirham, rates are subject to fluctuation. Exchange facilities are available at various bureau de changes in major towns and most banks have ATMs. How much spending money is needed, depends largely on the individual. However we currently recommend an average of USD $20 - $30 per day though. We can t specify every sundry cost however and you ll need to allow for expenses such as drinks, snacks and the odd souvenir. Travellers Cheques can be difficult to change en route so we recommend you have cash for convenience and bring a card to use in the ATM s, most accept Visa, MasterCard, Electron, Cirrus and Maestro. There are ATM s at Marrakech airport, which you can use upon arrival as well. Climate Temperatures in Morocco are generally high, particularly during the summer months from May to September, so take sunscreen. However in Winter temperatures can drop right down in the evenings, but as long as you bring some warm clothing and sleeping bag if spending a night in the Sahara or doing a trek then you will be more than comfortable. Altitude For most tours you do not exceed any altitude that would cause ill effects. However for the Berber Migration in the High Atlas which has an altitude of over 3,000 and is therefore defined as a high altitude area then there are different guidelines as exposure to these heights can cause the onset of altitude sickness. This form of sickness which is the biggest health risk for trekkers can cause people to experience differing degrees of symptons, which include, headaches, nausea, dizziness, fatigue and shortness of breath. However our treks are designed to ensure there is plenty of time for adequate acclimatisation and cases of mountain sickness are rare. If you do suffer though symptoms will usually decrease in severity during acclimatisation. Throughout the trek it is therefore important to drink plenty of fluids and eat lots of carbohydrate food as well to keep the body properly hydrated and finally and most critically please report any symptoms of altitude sickness immediately to your guide. Packing

7 Luggage Pack all your gear in a rucksack/backpack for these type of trips. Also bring a day pack, to keep personal items such as your wallet, camera and water bottle. Your rucksack/back pack must not have an exterior frames. Only the soft, flexible variety is permitted. Leave your suitcase at home, they re simply not practical. Don t overdo it as well! Pack sensibly and take garments that are comfortable and cool. Morocco can be very hot in summer but after the sun sets and at high altitudes, the temperatures can drop, so pack accordingly. In terms of sleeping bags, although we provide blankets, on tours from November April we do recommend a 3/4 season sleeping bag for the night spend in the desert. What to bring Detailed checklists are available but below is a list of the essential items to bring with you on your tour: Towel Torch and batteries Camera and spare memory card/film Mosquito repellent Water bottle Personal first aid kit, antiseptic gel and wipes Waterproof/wind proof jacket A photo-copy of your passport * Finally, if bringing your smart phone with you, please make sure that you turn your data roaming off, to avoid heavy increases to your bill! Responsible travel Cultural awareness We cannot emphasise enough that we are travellers and therefore guests. So it is our duty to respect and adjust where possible to the people of the region, their customs and views. Your Tour Leader can let you know more, as well as brief you on all environmental matters. Religious awareness Morocco is predominantly Muslim and, as such, we would ask all of our customers to respect and adhere to (when appropriate) the dress codes of the Islamic faith. This en-tails covering of shoulders and knees whenever possible. Security There are currently no travel restrictions in place in the case of Morocco. However travellers should always be vigilant and aware when travelling.

8 DATES & PRICES Prices shown are based on twin or triple sharing with the same sex. Where an optional single upgrade is available, it will be detailed in the Excluded information in the 'What you get' section and bookable in MyNomadic. Dec 10 Dec 11 Dec 12 Dec 13 Dec 14 Dec 15 Dec 16 Dec Tour price Single supplement (optional)
Police are asking for the public's help finding a 13-year-old girl who went missing Thursday afternoon in the city's Austin neighborhood.

Tapikies Miller was last seen about 4:30 p.m. in the 100 block of North Lacrosse Avenue. She was wearing a black sweatshirt with a white Nike swoosh on the chest, a red T-shirt, black leggings and black and gray Nike Airmax gym shoes. She may also be carrying a purple and white backpack, police said.

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Tapikies was seen Thursday night near West End and Lamon avenues. She is known to frequent the area around Spencer School, 214 N. Lavergne Ave, police said.

Tapikies is described as a black girl with a medium complexion, black hair and brown eyes. She is 5 feet 4 inches tall and weighs about 148 pounds, police said.

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Anyone with information on her whereabouts should contact the Area North Special Victims Unit at 312-744-8266.
Members of the Chicago Teachers Union march holding a banner promoting Ald. Susan Sadlowski Garza, 10th, during the 10th Ward's Friends of Labor Parade on Sept. 3, 2016. (Anthony Souffle / Chicago Tribune)

Crowds cheered as "The Star-Spangled Banner" blasted from a car Saturday on Chicago's Southeast Side, signaling the beginning of the 10th Ward Labor Day Parade.

Spectators crowded under patches of shade along a stretch of the city's East Side neighborhood to cheer hundreds of ironworkers, bricklayers, plumbers and teachers from 70-plus workers unions and groups.

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The parade, which began on the corner of 104th Street and South Ewing Avenue, lasted about an hour, giving the public ample time to stop in at the nearby Friends of Labor Festival at Steelworkers Park. The three-day event is the first Labor Day celebration of its kind since the dissolution of the East Side Labor Day Parade in the mid-1990s.

Ald. Susan Sadlowski Garza, 10th, one of the event's organizers, said she wanted to celebrate the area's diverse labor community and educate the public on the labor movement's history and values.

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"We work hard all year long and so we're going to give ourselves a pat on the back," she said. "It's about camaraderie and bringing people together to fight for good working conditions, a living wage and a safe place to live."

Led by a single Chicago police squad car, the parade kicked off just after 12:30 p.m. Dozens of groups, including the Chicago Teachers Union and the Chicago Women in Trades, followed closely, throwing pieces of candy and waving to the crowd. Members of the Knights of Columbus color corps marched in full regalia, including black suits, capes and plumed hats.

The South Shore Drill Team performed during the event and proved to be the biggest crowd-pleaser. More than 50 members danced along the route wearing shirts that read "Stop the Violence" on the front and "Peace and Love" on the back.

Maria Guerrero, 37, said her two young sons enjoyed watching the group dance and wave flags. Her boys collected bags full of candy and cheered as groups of horses and motorcycles moved down Ewing Avenue.

"I've been in this neighborhood for eight years and I've never seen anything like this," she said. "I think it's great."

Terry Riban, 54, waved miniature American flags as she marched with Cement Masons Local 502. She's been a cement worker for about 30 years and was the first woman in her union to receive a 20-year gold pin for her work.

"I feel a real sense of pride. It's exciting to see all the neighbors coming out to watch us," she said. "It's important to celebrate Labor Day and educate people on the importance of work, earning a living and taking care of their families."

Gerardo Sanchez, 60, watched the parade from a black folding lawn chair with the words "Laborers Local 1001" stitched on the back.

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A longtime employee of the city's Department of Streets and Sanitation, Sanchez said he wanted to show his support for the city's union workers.

Joined by his wife, Chelo, the couple recalled attending a similar Labor Day parade more than two decades ago.

"It's been since 1993 the last time they had a Labor Day Parade. It's nice, all the different floats and people coming out to watch," Sanchez said, pausing as a colleague drove past.

"That's my boss. He's at the end of the parade because he's gonna do the cleanup," he joked.

The festival ends Sunday night with a fireworks show at Steelworkers Park at 87th Street and Lake Shore Drive and is free to the public.

nmoreno@chicagotribune.com

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Twitter @nereidamorenos
The Jackson Park beach house, near the 6300 block of Lake Shore Drive. (John Dziekan / Chicago Tribune)

Police are searching for a man wanted in the Sunday night sexual assault of a 5-year-old girl near the Jackson Park beach house on the South Side.

Between 6:30 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. Aug. 28, the man approached a 5-year-old girl and made sexual contact with her next to the parking lot in the 6300 block of South Lake Shore Drive, police said.

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When the child's mother called for the girl, the man ran toward his vehicle and fled the scene, police said.

The man is described as black with a dark complexion. He has dark eyes and shoulder-length hair that is mostly gray with black and silver. His hair is in braids or dreadlocks, police said.

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He was wearing a blue shirt with a word containing the letters B, C and Y, and black pants. He had on a gold bracelet and chain, and was driving a blue pickup truck with a black cab, police said.

Anyone with information on the incident should contact the Chicago Police Department Special Investigations Unit at 312-492-3810.
Corey Strother Jr., 16, died Aug. 26, 2016, more than eight months after he was shot in the Englewood neighborhood. (Family Photo / Handout)

Corey Strother Jr. spent the last eight months of his life hospitalized and unable to speak to his family during his loved ones' daily visits to his bedside.

Strother was 15 when he was shot about 9:30 p.m. Dec. 22 in the 5900 block of South Princeton Avenue as he tried to help get his niece into the family home.

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His sister yelled, "Don't do this," as the gunman fired one shot at the teen, according to his family. No one else was hurt in the shooting.

He then spent months at Stroger Hospital, then a rehabilitation center and finally Lurie Children's Hospital. He died Aug. 26 from a gunshot wound to the neck and his death was ruled a homicide by the Cook County medical examiner's office. He was 16 years old.

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His mother, Tiffany Strother, said her son continued to fight while he was hospitalized and seemed to be making progress, although the shooting left him with injuries to his spine and brain.

"He was trying to communicate with his eyes," she said. "I knew that my son was still in there. He wasn't able to tell us if he was in any pain or hurting. We had to go off his vitals."

Her son was a junior at Dunbar Career Vocational High School when he was wounded and continued to do schoolwork while he was hospitalized. People from the school would come in and read to him.

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Her son always liked going to school, hoped to go to college and loved rap music, Tiffany Strother said.

His father, Corey Strother, had been teaching the teen how to drive before the shooting. Tiffany Strother recalled how her son surprised her at a grocery store by pulling up her car close to her.

"They stole that from me," she said. "They stole him growing up, him driving, getting his license."

Though the teen wasn't the oldest in the family, Tiffany Strother said she considered him the responsible child, the one she would leave in charge when she worked nights. She said her husband pushed for their son to stay on the right track, to stay away from certain crowds and only worry about himself.

Police and the family said the teen was not a gang member.

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In January, Swonn Herron, 23, was charged with attempted murder in the shooting. He has pleaded not guilty to the charges, according to court records.

Herron's next court hearing is scheduled for Sept. 9.
Patty and Jerry Wetterling show a photo of their son Jacob Wetterling, who was abducted in October 1989 in St. Joseph, Minn., and is still missing. Patty Wetterling said Sept. 3, 2016, that his remains have been found. (Craig Lassig / AP)

MINNEAPOLIS  The remains of Jacob Wetterling, an 11-year-old boy kidnapped from a rural Minnesota road nearly 27 years ago, were identified Saturday, authorities said, providing long-awaited answers to a mystery that has captivated residents and sparked changes in sex offender laws.

A masked gunman abducted Jacob in October 1989 near the boy's home in St. Joseph, about 80 miles northwest of Minneapolis. The Stearns County sheriff's office confirmed in a statement that "Jacob Wetterling's remains have been located" and that the Ramsey County medical examiner and a forensic odontologist identified them Saturday.

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Additional DNA testing will be conducted, and investigators are continuing to evaluate new evidence in the case, the sheriff's office said, adding that authorities expect to be able to provide more details this week.

A law enforcement official told The Associated Press earlier Saturday that a person of interest in Jacob's abduction took authorities to a field in central Minnesota last week. The official, who spoke on condition of anonymity because of the ongoing case, said remains and other evidence were recovered and that the remains had been buried.

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A bouquet of flowers is placed at the end of Jerry and Patty Wetterling's driveway in St. Joseph, Minn., on Sept. 3, 2016, as news came out that the search for Jacob Wetterling may be over. (Kimm Anderson / AP)

Jacob's mother, Patty Wetterling, sent a text message to KARE-TV earlier Saturday, saying that Jacob "has been found and our hearts are broken." She did not immediately respond to calls and text messages from The Associated Press.

Jacob was riding his bicycle with his brother and a friend on Oct. 22, 1989, when a masked gunman abducted him. Authorities said the man held on to Jacob and told the other boys to run. Jacob hadn't been seen since, despite extensive searches, tens of thousands of leads and offers of a monetary reward.

No one has been arrested or charged in his abduction, which led to changes in sex-offender registration laws.

But last year, authorities took another look at the case, and were led to Danny Heinrich, a man they called a "person of interest" in Jacob's kidnapping.

Daniel Heinrich, whom authorities have called a person of interest in the 1989 kidnapping of Jacob Wetterling, denied any involvement and was not charged with that crime. But he has pleaded not guilty to several federal child pornography charges. (Sherburne County sheriff's office)

Heinrich, 53, of Annandale, denied any involvement in the abduction, and was not charged with that crime. But he has pleaded not guilty to 25 federal child pornography charges and is scheduled to go on trial on those counts in October.

The FBI has said previously that Heinrich matched the general description of a man who assaulted several boys in Paynesville from 1986 to 1988. Earlier this year, Heinrich's DNA was found on the sweatshirt of a 12-year-old boy who was kidnapped from Cold Spring and sexually assaulted just nine months before Jacob's abduction.

Heinrich was questioned by authorities shortly after Jacob's disappearance, but he denied involvement. Court documents say his shoes and car tires were "consistent" with tracks left near the site of Jacob's abduction but couldn't be ruled an exact match. Authorities also searched the home where Heinrich lived with his father at the time and found scanners, camouflage clothing and a picture of a boy wearing underwear.

Heinrich's attorney did not respond to emailed requests for comment Saturday.

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Jacob's abduction shattered childhood innocence for many in rural Minnesota, changing the way parents let their kids roam. His smiling face was burned into Minnesota's psyche, appearing on countless posters and billboards over the years. Each year, Minnesota residents were asked to keep their porch lights on for Jacob's safe return.

Patty Wetterling always kept hope her son would be found alive. She became a national advocate for children, and with her husband, Jerry Wetterling, founded the Jacob Wetterling Resource Center, which works to help communities and families prevent child exploitation. In 1994, Congress passed a law named after Jacob Wetterling that requires states to establish sex offender registries.

Officials with the Jacob Wetterling Resource Center posted a statement on its website Saturday, saying they are in "deep grief."

"We didn't want Jacob's story to end this way," the statement said. "Our hearts are heavy, but we are being held up by all of the people who have been a part of making Jacob's Hope a light that will never be extinguished. ... Jacob, you are loved."

Associated Press
HONOLULU  Opening his final trip to Asia, President Barack Obama is expected to join Chinese leader Xi Jinping in announcing their countries are formally taking part in a historic global climate deal. Yet thornier issues like maritime disputes and cybersecurity shadow Obama's visit.



The president departed Friday for Hangzhou, China, where he will meet on Saturday with Xi ahead of a summit of the Group of 20, a collection of industrial and emerging-market nations. Environmental groups and experts tracking global climate policy said they expected the two leaders would jointly enter the sweeping emissions-cutting deal reached last year in Paris. Unlikely partners on addressing global warming, the U.S. and China have sought to use their collaboration to ramp up pressure on other countries to take concrete action as well.



Entering the climate agreement has been an intricate exercise in diplomatic choreography. As Obama crossed the Pacific, the state-run Xinhua News Agency reported China's legislature had voted to formally enter the agreement. The White House announced Obama would speak about climate change shortly after landing in the eastern city.



The deal was reached in December, and the U.S., China and many others signed it in April, on Earth Day. Even the third step  formally participating in the deal  doesn't bring it into force in the U.S. or China. That won't happen until a critical mass of polluting countries joins.



Aiming to build on previous cooperation, the U.S. and China have also been discussing a global agreement on aviation emissions, though there's some disagreement about what obligations developing countries should face in the first years. The aviation issue is expected to be on the agenda for Obama's meeting with Xi, along with ongoing efforts to phase out hydrofluorocarbons, another greenhouse gas.

The alliance on climate has been a rare bright spot between the U.S. and China in recent years, a relationship otherwise characterized by tensions over China's emergence as a key global power. Washington has been deeply concerned about China's territorial ambitions in waters far off its coast, while Beijing looks warily at Obama's efforts to expand U.S. influence in Asia, viewing it as an attempt to contain China's rise.



Obama, in a CNN interview, said he'd told China's leaders repeatedly that with more global power comes more responsibility.



"Part of what I've tried to communicate to President Xi is that the United States arrives at its power, in part, by restraining itself," Obama said. "When we bind ourselves to a bunch of international norms and rules, it's not because we have to, it's because we recognize that over the long term, building a strong international order is in our interests."



Of China's artificial island-building in the South China Sea, Obama added: "We've indicated to them that there will be consequences."



Though Obama had early hopes for forming a close personal and professional relationship with Xi, who took office in 2013, many in Washington have been surprised by the Chinese leader's nationalist inclinations as president. The two countries have made little progress reconciling their differences over human rights and Chinese cyber spying, issues the White House said Obama planned to raise.



As for its commitments to the climate deal, the U.S. pledged to cut its emissions 26 percent to 28 percent over the next 15 years, compared to 2005 levels. China vowed that its emissions, which are still growing, will top out by 2030.

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Before the deal takes effect, 55 countries representing 55 percent of the world's emissions must formally join. Entrance by the U.S. and China will get the deal to about 40 percent of emissions. Fewer than half of the requisite 55 countries will have joined, but many others have signaled they plan to join in 2016, and the White House has been hopeful the deal can take force before year's end.



During three days in China, Obama will also attend an economic-focused gathering of G-20 leaders and hold his first meeting with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan since a failed coup attempt against his government this summer. Obama also will meet with Britain's new prime minister, Theresa May. Then the president travels to Laos for the first visit by a sitting president. Obama plans a major speech on his Asia policy and a meeting with the new Phillipine leader while in Laos.

Associated Press
The emails to the North Carolina election board seemed routine at the time.



"Is there any way to get a breakdown of the 2008 voter turnout, by race (white and black) and type of vote (early and Election Day)?" a staffer for the state's Republican-controlled legislature asked in January 2012.



"Is there no category for 'Hispanic' voter?" a GOP lawmaker asked in March 2013 after requesting a range of data, including how many voters cast ballots outside their precinct.



And in April 2013, a top aide to the Republican House speaker asked for "a breakdown, by race, of those registered voters in your database that do not have a driver's license number."



Months later, the North Carolina legislature passed a law that cut a week of early voting, eliminated out-of-precinct voting and required voters to show specific types of photo ID - restrictions that election board data demonstrated would disproportionately affect African Americans and other minorities.



Critics dubbed it the "monster" law - a sprawling measure that stitched together various voting restrictions being tested in other states. As civil rights groups have sued to block the North Carolina law and others like it around the country, several thousand pages of documents have been produced under court order, revealing the details of how Republicans crafted these measures.

A review of these documents shows that North Carolina GOP leaders launched a meticulous and coordinated effort to deter black voters, who overwhelmingly vote for Democrats. The law, created and passed entirely by white legislators, evoked the state's ugly history of blocking African-Americans from voting - practices that had taken a civil rights movement and extensive federal intervention to stop.



Last month, a three-judge federal appeals panel struck down the North Carolina law, calling it "the most restrictive voting law North Carolina has seen since the era of Jim Crow." Drawing from the emails and other evidence, the 83-page ruling charged that Republican lawmakers had targeted "African-Americans with almost surgical precision."



Gov. Pat McCrory (R) filed an emergency petition to restore the law, but a deadlocked Supreme Court on Wednesday refused his stay request, meaning the law will not be in effect for the Nov. 8 election. Because the lower court did not offer specific guidelines for reinstating early voting, however, local election boards run by Republicans are still trying to curb access to the polls.



In lengthy interviews, GOP leaders insisted their law is not racially motivated and their goal was to combat voter fraud. They called their opponents demagogues, who are using the specter of racism to inflame the issue.



The Rev. William Barber II, president of North Carolina's NAACP chapter, said the policies enacted by the law speak for themselves.



"You didn't hear about fraud in North Carolina until blacks started voting in large numbers," said Barber, who has also led a series of large protests against the law. "Then all of a sudden, there's a problem with how people are voting."

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"People keep asking when they passed this law, 'Were they racist in their heart?' It doesn't matter," he added. "You look at the heart of their policies. If I tell you this law is going to affect black people more than anyone else, and you still go ahead and do it, you yourself are making clear exactly what you are."



Longtime Republican consultant Carter Wrenn, a fixture in North Carolina politics, said the GOP's voter fraud argument is nothing more than an excuse.



"Of course it's political. Why else would you do it?" he said, explaining that Republicans, like any political party, want to protect their majority. While GOP lawmakers might have passed the law to suppress some voters, Wrenn said, that does not mean it was racist.



"Look, if African-Americans voted overwhelmingly Republican, they would have kept early voting right where it was," Wrenn said. "It wasn't about discriminating against African-Americans. They just ended up in the middle of it because they vote Democrat."



Barber, though, argued that Republicans are playing with words.



"You can't expect racists to come right out and sound like racists," he said. "They've substituted the word 'racial' with the word 'political.' "

Fights over race and voting rights are nothing new in North Carolina. Its history - like many Southern states - is littered with laws and policies specifically designed to deter black voters: literacy tests, poll taxes and required recitations of the preamble of the Constitution.



The Voting Rights Act of 1965 banned many of these practices. But as recently as the mid-1990s, voter turnout among African Americans here remained low, with only 37 percent voting compared to 48 percent of whites.



In the late 1990s, when Democrats controlled the legislature, the state tried to make voting easier for all residents. The new rules allowed voting before Election Day, same-day voter registration and the counting of votes cast in the wrong precinct.

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The laws ended up helping black voters more because they often face more financial and logistical barriers, said Rep. Henry "Mickey" Michaux, 85, one of the state's first black legislators who helped pass many of the new voting rules. "Some folks don't own a car. Some have the type of job where you can't take a day off."



With the new laws, voter turnout in North Carolina went from 43rd place in the nation to 11th. The increase was especially big among black voters.



Then, in 2010, North Carolina experienced a seismic political shift: Republicans took control of the House and Senate for the first time since 1898. For years, GOP legislators said, they had watched Republicans in other states such as Georgia and Indiana pass voter ID laws. Now they had the power to do the same in Raleigh.



House Speaker Thom Tillis and Senate Leader Phil Berger tapped Rep. David Lewis, a tobacco and cotton farmer from the rural center of the state, to oversee the effort to pass a new voter ID bill. In 2011, legislators passed a law requiring all voters to produce a photo ID, such as a driver's license. But the state's governor, then still a Democrat, vetoed the bill.



In an interview, Lewis said he was driven by a deep concern about voter fraud, particularly people showing up at polls and deliberately impersonating another person. But there is little evidence that such fraud is a problem. A 2013 report by North Carolina's Board of Elections showed that between 2000 and 2012, out of nearly 40 million votes cast, only two cases of in-person voter fraud were referred to a district attorney.



Lewis and other Republicans insist fraud could be happening all the same.



"Just because it's not documented doesn't mean it doesn't exist," he said.



So in 2012, when McCrory won the governor's office, Lewis and others tried again.

North Carolina Gov. Pat McCrory speaks during a news conference in Raleigh, N.C., on May 9, 2016. (Gerry Broome / AP)

Within months of McCrory's victory, emails show, the state election board began receiving requests for demographic data from a group of GOP lawmakers, including Lewis, a top aide to Tillis named Ray Starling, and state Reps. Tim Moore and Harry Warren.



They asked for statistics on voter behavior broken down by race: Who voted early, and who voted on Election Day? Who voted out of precinct?



They asked about what kinds of people were registered to vote but did not have a driver's license. They asked about student ID cards - which some states allow as a form of voter ID - and how many African-Americans had them.



Moore did not respond to requests for comment. Lewis, Warren and Tillis said they requested the data to make sure their bill would not violate federal laws against discrimination.



Over several email exchanges, state researchers told GOP legislators that between 318,643 and 612,955 registered voters appeared to lack IDs issued by the North Carolina Division of Motor Vehicles. And the data attached showed the percentage of black people at risk of losing their vote under the new law was much higher than whites.



In another email exchange, officials at the University of North Carolina received a data request from Lewis.



"I was asked by a State Representative about the number of Student ID cards that are created and the % of those who are African-American," a university official says to his lower staff. No explanation is given on why Lewis needs the data, just a plea to hurry on it. "He needs it in 2 hours or less."



But for all the keen interest Republicans expressed in emails about voting methods heavily used by minority voters, the law they drafted in April 2013 at first did not touch any of it. Instead, it focused initially only on voter IDs.



Once that early version of HB 589 passed the house, it sat for two months in North Carolina's Senate. When reporters asked about the delay, Tom Apodaca, the Republican chairman of the Senate Rules Committee, pointed to one reason: the U.S. Supreme Court.



Under a decades-old provision in the Voting Rights Act of 1965 - called Section 5 - Southern states like North Carolina with a history of voter discrimination could not change election laws without the approval of federal officials.

But in the spring of 2013, as North Carolina Republicans were working on their bill, a court case - called Shelby v. Holder - was being argued before the Supreme Court that threatened the very existence of Section 5.



On June 25, 2013, the Supreme Court issued their ruling on the case, nullifying Section 5. Explaining the court's 5-to-4 decision, Chief Justice John Roberts Jr. wrote that "history did not end in 1965" when the Voting Rights Act was passed. In the decades since then, he said, "voting tests were abolished, disparities in voter registration and turnout due to race were erased, and African-Americans attained political office in record numbers."



In North Carolina, within hours of the court ruling, Apodaca told local reporters, "Now we can go with the full bill." With the "legal headache" of Section 5 out of the way, he said a more extensive "omnibus" bill would soon be introduced in the Senate.



Weeks later, at 9 p.m. on a Monday, five days before the end of the legislative session, Republican lawmakers emailed out their new version of HB 589.



Democrat state Sen. Josh Stein remembers getting the email while sitting at his kitchen table that night, already dressed for bed. "My jaw just hit the table."



The bill had grown from 16 pages to 57, tacking on more than 50 new parts. The new bill shortened early voting by half, cutting one of the Sundays when black churches held their "Souls to Polls" drives. It eliminated same-day registration and out-of-precinct voting.



It also proposed changes that, to Stein and other opponents, made no sense unless you were purposely trying to discourage voting. For example, it canceled an existing rule that let 16- and 17-year-old high schoolers to pre-register to vote in civics classes or when they got driver's licenses. And it took away counties' ability to extend poll hours on Election Day during extraordinary circumstances such as long lines.



On the next day, a hearing on the bill was packed. Republicans in charge began by giving the crowd one white piece of paper with 10 lines on it. Only 10 people would be given the chance to talk, they explained, with just two minutes each. That total of 20 minutes, it later turned out, would be the only public testimony Republicans allowed on the revised bill.



During the hearing, Stein read into the legislative record studies and statistics to show the bill would disproportionately hurt African-American, minority and younger voters. The idea, he said, was to show Republicans knew exactly what they were doing and lay the groundwork for the legal battle ahead.



On the Senate side, Republican state Sen. Bob Rucho was tasked with defending the bill. "I don't agree with your premise," he told Stein and other critics, "and secondly, I don't look at race as who's going to vote. What we're trying to do is make sure that we have an equal opportunity for every single person to vote, and it's not designed on race in any manner."



In the space of three days, Republicans managed to get HB 589 approved by the Senate Rules Committee, passed in a Senate floor vote and sent back to the House for a final vote on the second-to-last day of the legislative session.



A federal court judge would later write, "Neither this legislature - nor, as far as we can tell, any other legislature in the country - has ever done so much, so fast, to restrict [voting] access."



On July 25, 2013, the bill passed the House, 73 to 41. Everyone who voted for the law was a white Republican, and every black member of the legislature voted against it. As the final vote was cast, Democratic representatives all stood up, held hands and bowed their heads in prayer.



Rick Glazier, a white Democratic representative at the time, was on the House floor with Michaux, the black legislator who helped pass many of the voting-access laws being dismantled by HB 589. "I'll never forget the look on his face. To see the thing you had fought for your whole career destroyed in a matter of days," Glazier said. "He had tears in his eyes."



Lewis said he deeply resented critics who have painted the bill and its supporters as racist. "When Democrats were in power, I may not have agreed with them, but I never questioned them personally or tried to impugn their reputations," he said.



On the day McCrory signed HB 589 into law, the state's NAACP chapter sued over the voter ID portion of the bill, while the League of Women Voters and the Southern Coalition for Social Justice challenged its other parts like cutting early voting, same-day registration and out-of-precinct voting. National lawyers from groups such as the American Civil Liberties Union and Advancement Project stepped in to help. The Justice Department later joined as well.

In January, the federal district judge overseeing the consolidated cases sided with the Republicans and kept HB 589 in place. The judge, Thomas Schroeder - a George W. Bush appointee - said that Republicans offered plausible explanations for why they requested racial voting data and enacted the law.



But on July 29, the three-judge panel on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 4th Circuit - all Democratic appointees - overturned Schroeder's decision.



North Carolina's Republican leaders have condemned the 4th Circuit ruling and called its judges partisan.



The stakes are high for both sides. With just weeks before early voting begins, McCrory is locked in a tight race for reelection against Cooper, the state attorney general. As a swing state, North Carolina could also be pivotal in the presidential election.



The Republican state Senate and House leaders said in a statement: "We can only wonder if the intent is to reopen the door for voter fraud, potentially allowing fellow Democrat politicians like Hillary Clinton and Roy Cooper to steal the election."



Meanwhile, the years-long fight has metastasized into a county-by-county war throughout North Carolina.



When the appellate court restored that week of early voting previously eliminated by HB 589, the judges did not specify what times or places the early voting would take place. Now, Republicans in many counties appear to be using that opening to carry out the intended cuts of HB 589 anyway.



In recent weeks, after the 4th Circuit's ruling, the election board in Guilford County tried to cancel Sunday voting and slash the number of polling sites, especially in black and student-heavy neighborhoods. After hundreds disrupted a meeting with chants and protest songs, the board passed a scaled-back compromise plan.



Soon after, the election board in Wake County - which includes the capital Raleigh - tried a similar move by restricting the restored early voting days to a single location with limited parking.



And in heavily African-American Lenoir County, Republican election board members are trying to eliminate Sunday voting and evening hours and slash polling sites from four down to one.



When the Republican governor asked the Supreme Court to temporarily reinstate the restrictions of HB 589, he argued that the 4th Circuit struck down the law too close to Election Day, which threatens to create confusion.



He was worried, he said, about the harmful effect it could have on voters.



Julie Tate in Washington contributed to this report.
Transcription

1 DANISH INSTITUTE FOR INTERNATIONAL STUDIES STRANDGADE Copenhagen K DIIS Brief Multiculturalism in Denmark and Sweden Ulf Hedetoft December 2006 Danish controversies over multiculturalism and integration can be enlightened by a fresh look at the ostensibly polarised differences on these questions between Denmark and its closest neighbour Sweden. Danish integration policies appear to be assimilationist in effect, if not in intent, while Sweden has openly pursued an official multiculturalism towards its ethnic minorities for over thirty years. Differences rooted in history and political tradition are real, but there appears to be some evidence of convergence today. Multiculturalism in Sweden looks increasingly unviable as a compromise, and vulnerable to the current political atmosphere, while in Denmark local policy implementation and pragmatic international adaptation to diversity management belie the hostile tone of national politics. Both countries are wrestling with the adaptation of long standing traditions and institutional forms particularly those of the welfare state in a difficult international environment. The convulsions over multiculturalism are typical of the adaptive politics and symbolic difficulties of small states in the face of wider global transformations. Ulf Hedetoft is Professor of International Studies, Aalborg University and Director of the Academy for Migration Studies in Denmark

2 AS THE infamous cartoon case has demonstrated, Denmark and multiculturalism are strange bedfellows. Indeed, in a very real sense Danish multiculturalism is an oxymoron. Over the last decade, leading Danish politicians, from all agenda-setting parties, not just the present government, have repeatedly stressed that Denmark is not and does not intend to be a multicultural society; positive discrimination is never contemplated as a solution to integration problems; descriptive representation of ethnic minorities in political life is rejected; mother-tongue instruction is actively discouraged; and cultural diversity more broadly is officially frowned on as an alien, un-danish notion. Thus, for quite some time multiculturalism has been portrayed as out of sync with the successful political culture of this small, homogeneous nation state, both by political actors and public intellectuals (Hedetoft, 2003 & 2006a). All this is obviously not a reflection of a nation state which has successfully stemmed ethnic diversity, kept globalization at bay, and halted migration at the Danish borders. Rather it articulates the principled view that an increasingly (though reluctantly) multi-ethnic society does not have to become politically multicultural, but can insist on (and impose on immigrants and descendants) its cultural and historical identity in the face of global challenges. In that sense, Danish integration policies are necessarily assimilationist, though the word itself is usually eschewed. And though they can appear both contradictory and irrational, they do have their own historical logic. This is a logic, however, that is currently under siege and is leading not just to more stridently cultural nationalism, shriller islamophobia and increasingly nostalgic notions of Denmark for the Danes, but also to an ongoing, but somewhat covert, re-articulation of integration policies and discourses in order to take account of diversity and cope with unprecedented consequences of globalization. In this sense, Denmark is a country characterized by closet, street-level diversity policies, though the closet is only opened temporarily, and multicultural initiatives are only introduced covertly and as temporary makeshift measures by officials operating at lower levels of municipal integration, or in private businesses, where diversity management enjoys increased popularity. Against this background, this brief will cast Denmark in the interesting comparative light of Denmark s Scandinavian sibling Sweden where, unlike Denmark, multiculturalism has been 1

3 official integration policy for over 30 years. The point is both to demonstrate that in spite of similar historical paths toward modernity and similar political and social structures, small welfare-states based on culturally homogeneous histories do not necessarily spawn assimilationist integration policies. But it is also to expose the current normative problems of multiculturalism in Sweden (as well as a host of other countries) in the context of the problems ethnic assimilationism is encountering in Denmark. The conclusion is that we are seeing new configurations emerge between diversity and monoculturalism in both countries, and that it is reasonable to interpret these developments as a reflection of increasing convergence between two formerly very different models for handling diversity. Homogeneity vs multiculturalism: a Danish/Swedish comparison 1 In a global age, it is particularly appropriate to emphasize that nation states are different, not only with regard to size, economic strength, natural resources and geo-political position, but also concerning history, form of state and government, institutions, demographics, and national identity. Nation states have grown into modernity in different ways and have developed diverse political, administrative, and institutional cultures in the course of history. In addition, the constitution of national consciousness and auto-perceptions has taken place against the background of different images of alterity and through nationally specific interactions between political and social mechanisms of inclusion and exclusion. For the same reason, the ways nation states talk about, legislate for, and cope with ethnic and historical minorities differ from one another in significant ways, in spite of the indubitable fact that in all these cases we are dealing with the same universal object, the nation state, and that in many ways it makes sense to deal with its forms of manifestation analogously, as a reflection and outgrowth of the same form of political and ideological organization. Nevertheless, national migration and integration regimes (Favell 2001; Spencer 2003) specific, institutionalized configurations of closure and openness, cynicism and idealism, political and economic interests vary on important dimensions. These variations, in turn, are intimately linked with differences of frames for national identity perception and different models for active citizenship. 2

4 These reflections also apply to nation states which normally appear to be very similar, because they structurally represent the same type of social formation, comparable interactions between state and citizens, and analogous political and cultural histories. An obvious example is Sweden and Denmark both of them Scandinavian welfare states, both homogeneous people s homes ( folkshem, as a Swedish term has it) with well-developed democratic structures, both old monarchies, both small states with a pronounced sense of social equality and just distribution, and both nurturing a perception of the other party as Scandinavian kith and kin, with whom one feels culturally and socially connected. In spite of these similarities, the migration and integration regimes of the two countries are in many ways divergent, their interpretation of integration and ethnicity is different, and their public debates about these subjects and about the way they are dealt with in the other country are frequently at loggerheads. Danish homogeneity faces Swedish multiculturalism; a closed, exclusionary regime encounters one that is open and inclusive; assimilation contrasts with official recognition of difference; ideas that frame them as the problem confront ideas framing the national society as a barrier to integration; welfare is variously projected as hindrance to or a path toward integration; they are seen as victims of or responsible for their own destiny; institutional rigidity faces flexible adaptation of institutions to new groups; and demands for single, exclusive citizenship stand in opposition to possibilities for multiple citizenship. In this light, the two countries are worlds apart; Danish discourses of national self-sufficiency seem to collide with a Swedish regime carried by international moralism and accountability, which in Denmark is pejoratively cast as political correctness preventing a free debate and open acknowledgement of what and how huge the real problems are. If nothing else, these are the prevalent ideal types, substantiated by seemingly ever more divergent developments and mutual stereotypes over the past 5 or 10 years. They reflect an incontestable fact regarding public discourses and government policies in the integration domain. They are less expressive of the practical implementation of policies at the regional and local levels; and they match even less specific, measurable effects of integration in decisive societal areas like the settlement patterns of ethnic minorities (where ghettoization is still widespread in both countries), gender-specific labour-market 3

5 integration, participation in social networks and civic institutions, or political representation although on most of these counts, Sweden does have a slight edge. That said, debates in both countries have changed somewhat recently and now less readily live up to stereotypical perceptions. In Sweden, immigrants now more frequently become framed as a source of social problems, no doubt under the influence of the Danish politicization of immigrants and integration; whereas in Denmark, critical parts of the Danish debate have been inspired by perceptions of Swedish tolerance and diversity practices. And while it is no doubt true that there are no votes in xenophobia in Sweden, as Fredrik Reinfeldt, the new Swedish prime minister (representing Moderaterna the Conservatives), has put it, 2 public debates on these issues have become more polarized, and objections that used to be taboo can now be articulated. Another significant indicator is that although 2006 has been proclaimed the official Year of Multiculturalism ( mangkulturar ) in Sweden, government reports like The Blue and Yellow Glass House ( Det blagula glashuset ) 3 are less concerned with depicting and managing a multicultural polity than with combating structural discrimination. This is a change which (together with the existence of the Swedish Ombudsman for ethnic discrimination) in subtle ways refers to a much less rosy reality than what has so far been painted with traditional brushstrokes. It is also a reality which uncannily resembles Denmark. Conversely, well hidden behind a wall of assimilationism in Denmark and somewhat perversely spurred on by the negative experience of the Cartoon affair, we find a dawning realization that global challenges require more diversity management in corporate Denmark, more openness toward and recognition of ethnic minorities, and a more flexible migration regime. These changes can now be defined pragmatically as being in the undisputed economic and demographic interest of a small nation in search of continued economic growth and successful adaptation to globalization. 4 Even the Danish People s Party has recently revealed small chinks in the armour of national romanticism and welfare chauvinism on these counts. Sweden has evolved from the paternalistic multiculturalism of the welfare state, through anti-discriminatory strategies, into an incipient acrimonious debate, where exclusionary strategies and integration demands firmly embedded in the values of the host country can now also be articulated, but are still in opposition to the dominant consensus. Denmark has 4

6 moved from conditional tolerance in the 70s and 80s, through demands on newcomers for acculturation and financial self-sustenance, into a polarized debate, where exclusionary strategies and demands for integration on the conditions of the host country assume ever greater domination. But there is now also a growing interest in the negative effects of institutional discrimination, a greater openness toward a proactive immigration policy, and an incipient moral rejection of the marginalizing consequences of monocultural power. Common to both nation states is, apart from comparable political systems, the external context: the global challenge, and the image of the Islamic risk factor. However, there are limits to the extent and depth of the convergence between the immigration and integration regimes of the two countries. First, the discursive relations of power are differently configured. Multiculturalism is still official politics in Sweden and should be compared to the official Danish model of ethnic homogeneity. The implication is that the direct Danish correlation between political rhetoric and practical policies ( consistency is here the official codename) does not exist in Sweden, where the gap between the two is still both apparent and tangible. Secondly, the two welfare models (once generally referred to as the Nordic model ) are constructed on the basis of two different pathways toward consensus and social success. The Swedish one is corporatist, basing itself on centralized institutions, political co-optation, and top-down security for social and cultural interest groups. The Danish is based on decentralized networks, acceptance of freely-concluded labour-market contracts, and an elastic and malleable flexicurity model. In cultural terms, the Swedish model is geared to attempts to engender consensus, whereas cultural and identitarian monoculturalism is the implicit precondition for the functionality of the Danish. Thirdly, both in Denmark and Sweden it is also true that institutions matter and tend to create their own path dependencies handed-down patterns of thought, assessment, and social practices even in the management of ethnic and immigrant issues. It is no coincidence, for instance, and not without social consequences, that Sweden has fostered the idea to create an ombudsman to deal with cases of ethnic discrimination, while Denmark has not (the idea has been rejected on several occasions); that Denmark has a law 5

7 for the creation of government-sponsored civic (including ethnic and religious) associations; or that the Swedish Foreign Minister, Laila Freivalds, in March 2006, was compelled to withdraw from her position due to ambiguous handling of a ramification of the Cartoon affair in Sweden, while her Danish opposite number has stayed put and can rely on even stronger popular backing after the affair. In sum, while it may be true that there is a greater degree of convergence between the two countries now, it is probably more precise to say that specific relations between divergence and convergence have undergone a number of significant changes, where some are related to an increasingly globalized migration context, others to internal changes in social structures and national heterotypes, and yet others to shifts in political accent, climates of debate, and discursive environments. The Freivalds case just mentioned is emblematic. Although her faux pas was due to a multiculturalist knee-jerk reaction to stop the dissemination of the Mohammed cartoons in Sweden and thus prevent the tainting of Sweden s international image, the reason this act which might well have gone unnoticed or even been publicly supported in the past now ended in public disgrace was the very same principle that allegedly created the uproar in Denmark in the first place: the right of free speech, specifically to publicly disdain ethnic minorities, particularly Muslims (Hedetoft, 2006b). Small states in a global age The Danish model of integration mixes ethnic and civic-republican virtues (as well as attendant demands on the new Danes ) on the assumption that the integration process can only accept difference and deviation from the traditionally practised notion of equality to a limited extent and on for pragmatic-instrumental reasons. This makes the model strongly path-dependent, meaning that the ideal of homogeneity is still adhered to despite a new and unprecedented globalization context because it has previously proven its worth as a successful template for international adaptation, and because Danish decision-makers apparently have great difficulties in departing from well-tried and established practices. Therefore it is still an open question whether the process of increasing politicization of the ethnic field in Denmark should be regarded a luxury problem for a well-functioning 6

8 welfare state, which is left with basically just this one really hard crunch to resolve; or, which is more likely, if we are witnessing a more thoroughgoing and universal challenge to small states in a global age (Katzenstein, 1985), whose survival and prosperity vitally depend on the degree to which previous strategies will prove adaptable or dysfunctional. One way or the other, and regardless of the fact that in many ways the Danish case is probably unique, developments more generally, in the rest of the west and especially Europe, indicate that it is reasonable to regard Denmark as representative of comparable processes in other small and medium-size nation states (Campbell et al, 2006). The Swedish dimension can be viewed as representative of the inverse problem: i.e., the current crisis of multiculturalism (socially, politically, and normatively) at the intersection between the transformative process of national identity and transnational forms of belonging. Forms of identity and belonging find themselves in a process of transmutation, because societies are becoming more multi-ethnic, whilst multiculturalism is increasingly experienced and debated as an impossible, unrealistic, even conservative model of resolution and now in Sweden too. The nation, in politically communitarian forms, is striking back by tightening the net of demands around immigrants and descendants, often in populist forms, and making access to national spaces more and more difficult, even dangerous. Concurrently the values carrying and legitimizing these stringent policies become more clearly universalized. It becomes ever harder to tell apart the specific national features of states, which nevertheless project themselves as highly particularistic. This is happening simultaneously as national sovereignty and the differences between welfare regimes are severely challenged by global pressures. Further, in the transnational spaces a decoupling of nation and state is taking place. National forms of consciousness, communication, and belonging are stretched out, while the state itself tends to remain as the form in which civic-political belonging is organized. Finally, these new regressive, conservationist, or expanding forms of nationalism are complemented by other ideologies, which are properly cosmopolitan, the preserve mainly of global elites. The entire field is thus in a process of thoroughgoing reformulation, partly due to globalization, partly to other political or economic transformations. Tendencies toward a renationalization of forms of belonging are no doubt real, but framing conditions are different 7

9 from the heyday of nationalism. The intimate linkage between nation and state can no longer be taken for granted. In this way demands based on national cultural legacies and myths are radicalized at the same time as border-transgressing tendencies are becoming more pronounced. This double process symbolically articulated through the tension between single citizenship (Denmark) and dual citizenship (Sweden) is threatening to relegate homogeneous nationalism to the status of a modern anachronism, at a time when there is as yet no satisfactory and exhaustive alternative to the identity of the nation state in sight (religiosity is the one possible exception). In this respect, multiculturalism as we know it will not do it is too politically contradictory, too culturally essentialist and, on the personal level, too unable to combine ethnic and civic dimensions of allegiance and belonging in a stable yet forward-looking way. 8

10 Notes 1 For a detailed investigation of the differences and similarities between Danish and Swedish immigration and integration policies, see Hedetoft, Petersson & Sturfeldt, See article by Kristina Olsson in Politiken, December 4, Statens Offentliga Utredningar [Government Papers], Stockholm 2005, no As is apparent from, for instance, the report of the Danish Welfare Commission, December 2005, and the recommendations of the Government s Globalization Council, March Further Reading John Campbell, John A. Hall, Ove K. Pedersen (eds) National Identity and the Varieties of Capitalism: the Danish Experience, Montreal: McGill University Press. Adrian Favell, 2001 Philosophies of Integration. London: Palgrave (2nd edition) Ulf Hedetoft, Cultural transformation : how Denmark faces immigration, opendemocracy, October 30 (see , 2006a. More than kin, and less than kind: The Danish Politics of Ethnic Consensus and the Pluricultural Challenge, in John Campbell et al, eds, National Identity and the Varieties of Capitalism: the Danish Experience, Montreal: McGill University Press , 2006b. Denmark s Cartoon Blowback, opendemocracy, March 1 (see Ulf Hedetoft, Bo Petersson & Lina Sturfeldt (eds) Bortom stereotyperna. Invandrare och integration i Danmark och Sverige [ Beyond stereotypes. Immigrants and integration in Denmark and Sweden ]. Gothenburg: Makadam. Peter Katzenstein Small States in World Markets. Ithaca & London: Cornell University Press. Sarah Spencer (ed.) The Politics of Migration, Oxford (special issue of The Political Quarterly). Statens Offentliga Utredningar [Government Papers], Stockholm 2005, no. 56: Det blagula glashuset 9
The first Labor Day celebration took place 134 years ago in New York City, at a time when organizing a union was not yet a protected right. At the time, labor unions were often viewed as criminal conspiracies, and a few years later, with the passage of the Sherman Antitrust Act, they were treated as anti-competitive trusts. It took years for labor to debunk these myths  indeed, some still think of labor unions in these terms  so this Labor Day it is worthwhile to look at a few misconceptions that currently surround labor.

Myth No. 1: Unions are for the working class workers only.

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Labor seems to suffer from a branding problem  specifically, the notion that unions are for blue-collar workers in old-school jobs. As journalist Harold Meyerson wrote in the American Prospect, labor stands in the minds of many for "autoworkers and steelworkers, for the cutting-edge industries of 1935." Likewise, the AFL-CIO has bemoaned the "misperception that organized labor is predominantly a blue collar movement."

Despite their old-fashioned image, labor unions also include new industries and white-collar workers. The professional class has not been immune to workplace issues of mistreatment, outsourcing, and stagnant or declining wages, and as a result its members have been increasingly joining unions. For decades, the percentage of professional workers in unions hasgrown, and now professionals are the majority of union members in the United States. Conversely, the share of union members in traditional blue-collar jobs such as manufacturing and mining has diminished along with those industries. In addition to traditional unionized professions such as teaching and nursing,graduate students, student athletes, doctors and digital journalists have been agitating for labor representation.

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Myth No. 2: Workers can be forced to join unions.

Right-to-work advocates have for decades repeated the phrase "compulsory unionism" to advance the myth that workers are sometimes forced to join a union. "The fact is that ending compulsory unionism is the only way to introduce real accountability into today's labor unions," Stefan Gleason wrote in 2003 in the National Review Online. At the Mackinac Center for Public Policy, Robert Hunter declared that Michigan's public schools are in crisis, and "compulsory unionism is one of the roots of the problem."

The reality is that closed shops, which restrict hiring to union members, have been illegal in the United States since 1947. In every jurisdiction in America, if the majority of workers choose to be represented by a union, any worker can object and choose not to join without risking their job. In non-right-to-work states, these objecting workers pay only a fair-share fee that covers the costs of representing them at work. These fees vary union by union and year by year based on accountings of expenditures, but typically they constitute 70 to 85 percent of regular union dues. Such objecting workers do not pay for any political or other activities of the union, and they are not members of the union.

In right-to-work states, a worker can choose to pay nothing, even though the union must represent all workers equally, regardless of their membership or payment of dues. Nobody is ever forced to become a union member.

Myth No. 3: Right-to-work laws would bankrupt unions.

But right-to-work does not necessarily translate into high levels of covered, "free-riding" workers who don't pay. For instance, all federal employees, including postal workers, are under right-to-work. In the federal workforce (excluding postal employees), 79 percent of the workers who are covered under a union contract have chosen to join; among postal employees, more than 92 percentcovered under a contract have chosen to join. In a brief submitted in the Friedrichs case, the Mackinac Center for Public Policy pointed out that union membership among union-represented workers has remained around 80 percent despite right-to-work policies passed in recent years.

Yet right-to-work laws still threaten to expose real weaknesses inside unions: namely a lack of solidarity and participation among members. Twenty-five years ago, in their study on union membership attitudes and participation, Daniel Gallagher and George Strauss wrote that "compared with European unionists, those in North America look upon unionism more as an insurance policy than an instrument in the class struggle or even as a social movement." Labor's approach to its membership has changed little during the intervening years, with unions still presenting themselves as a service to their members. Though it is difficult to gauge levels of solidarity, one way of measuring it is through the use of strikes. Strikes are among labor's strongest weapons, but they require a great deal of solidarity to ensure that workers don't cross the picket line or that the union does not face a decertification vote following the strike. Between 1990 and 2015, the number of strikes declined by more than 90 percent, from 801 in 1990 to 72 last year.

Myth No. 4: Unions only help only union workers.

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Critics of unions often frame them as private interest organizations that help only their members. In a 2011 column about Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker's right-to-work crusade, commentator John Lott alleged, for example, that AFL-CIO President Richard Trumka was "fighting for some workers" but "hurting other workers."

It is true that unions often limit their activities to matters concerning their membership. But it is wrong to conclude that this work does not help workers more generally or that unions don't organize for the common good. A new paper from the Economic Policy Institute shows that higher union density has historically led to higher pay among nonunion workers. In fact, if union levels were in 2013 what they were in 1979, nonunion men would be earning an additional $109 billion per year. Unions such as the Service Employees International Union have spent millionsin a fight to raise the minimum wage to $15 an hour, even though they are unlikely to get an increase in membership in the short term. Call it the tide that lifts all boats.

Beyond wages and benefits, research has shown that unions are among the few groups that represent the priorities of the middle class. Teachers unions, for example, have found creative ways to better the lives of students through collective bargaining, with the Chicago Teachers Union going on strike in part for increased libraries and other resources, and the St. Paul, Minnesota, teachers union fighting to limit foreclosures during the school year for households with school-age children.

Myth No. 5: Unions are a bulwark against globalization.

From NAFTA to the Trans-Pacific Partnership, labor unions have positioned themselves as the primary critics of, and protectors of workers against, globalization and free trade. The AFL-CIO, for instance, states that the TPP "appears modeled after the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA), a free trade agreement that boosts global corporate profits while leaving working families behind." Likewise, the SEIU calls the TPP "NAFTA on steroids" and "a secret trade agreement that must be stopped."

The reason for their opposition is clear: Increased globalization often leads to more competition with countries where workers are paid far less, exploiting those workers while making it difficult to keep American wages high.

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But despite the best efforts of labor, including large protests in the 1990s, globalization has largely continued apace, and U.S. workers have paid the price. According to the Economic Policy Institute, while NAFTA promised to create 200,000 new jobs for American workers, since its 1994 inception 682,900 jobs have been lost. Another EPI report found that international trade depressed wages for non-college-educated workers by 5.5 percent, meaning an annual loss of $1,800 for the average worker. Meanwhile, workers overseas often face even worse labor conditions, with fewer protections and lower wages.

Washington Post

Moshe Marvit is a labor and employment lawyer and a fellow at the Century Foundation. He is the co-author of "Why Labor Organizing Should Be a Civil Right."
A man watches a TV screen showing a file image of Kim Yong Jin, second from left, a vice premier on education affairs in North Korea's cabinet, and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, second from right, on Aug. 31, 2016. (Ahn Young-joon / AP)

North Korean dictator Kim Jong Un recently ordered the execution by firing squad of a top government official for unspecified high crimes and misdemeanors against the state. Deputy Premier Kim Yong Jin, 63, was dispatched in a blaze of fire from an anti-aircraft gun, a South Korean newspaper reports.

What infraction prompted the supreme leader's ire?

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Some accounts suggest that Kim Yong Jin dozed off during a meeting with He Who Is Not To Be Trifled With. Although maybe Kim Jong Un instead found fault with the deputy's reported "disrespectful posture." Was he slouching? Pouting? Unclear. The JoonAng Ilbo newspaper's epilogue: "He was arrested on-site and intensively questioned by the state security ministry. He was executed after other charges, such as corruption, were found during the probe."

Whatever his capital crime, Kim Yong Jin now becomes a global object of sympathy among all those millions of suffering, sleep-tempted minions trapped in interminable meetings that meander this way and that, sapping from its participants the very will to live.

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Show of hands:

Who hasn't nodded off as a meeting droned into its second hour?

Who hasn't imagined a nice pillow and comfy bed while a co-worker prattled on about his or her stellar achievements in a desperate attempt to impress the boss, who, truth be told, seemed drowsy herself?

Who hasn't surreptitiously checked a smartphone or played a game in a fevered if dangerous bid to keep ... eyelids ... open.

Zzzzz ... Huh? OK, right, back to the editorial.

Kim Jong Un isn't the only dear leader who demands stern-faced attention at meetings.

In 2010, Elmhurst city officials tried to eject a woman from a committee meeting because she sighed and rolled her eyes while members discussed plans to spend $30,000 on a state lobbyist. "Making faces behind the mayor's back is disruptive, in my opinion," one thin-skinned official huffed. The meeting adjourned quickly when other officials protested the move to toss the woman. No anti-aircraft firing squad was required.

Beyond Elmhurst: American workers have told pollsters they'd opt to watch paint dry or undergo a root canal instead of being trapped in a go-nowhere meeting.

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In the past we've cheered smart thinkers who innovated ways to reduce the inevitable meeting creep and veer. There's the walking meeting, espoused by tech titans Jack Dorsey of Twitter and Mark Zuckerberg of Facebook. A fine idea  we get some of our best ideas while walking  but assembling a meeting outdoors assumes the weather cooperates. That eliminates about 350 days a year in Chicago.

Another idea: Everyone stands. That way, no one gets too comfortable. Purportedly that helps meetings move along at a rapid clip, eliminating distractions and digressions. Several years ago a Sears exec with a military background tried this. Meetings got shorter. More crisp.

But some people complain that even standing meetings can stretch on for an hour or more.

And standing can make you tired. It can provoke foot and leg problems.

Note to standing-meeting bosses: The point isn't to stand for very long. The point is to dispense with all the pleasantries, fripperies, self-promotional gasbaggery, diatribes, passive-aggressive snipes and GET TO THE POINT of why the meeting was called in the first place. You should leave a meeting energized, ready to Get Something Done. Not staggering for another Venti at Starbucks.

If bosses can't limit meetings they at least should provide roll-up napping mats for employees. That way, workers will be refreshed and ready to go when the dithering and digressing ... finally ... ends.
Let's play a quick game of word association. When we say: "U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs," you say ...

Many Americans would blurt: "scandal."

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Not wrong. Egregious example: revelations in 2014 of dangerously long wait times for veterans in need of medical care, some of whom died while on ever-lengthening waitlists. VA officials lied about  and attempted to cover up  those lists. More than 120 medical centers and clinics, including Hines VA Hospital near Maywood and four other facilities in Illinois, were flagged for a more extensive investigation into patient access and scheduling practices.

VA Secretary Eric Shinseki took the fall. But flash forward. Now, after major investigations and billions more spent, is the VA health system better? President Barack Obama says yes. "We've hired thousands more doctors, nurses, staff," he told a recent conference of the Disabled American Veterans. "When we really put our sweat and tears and put our shoulder to the wheel, we can make things better."

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But for too many vets, Obama's "better" is no good. Serious problems persist at the Veterans Health Administration, the VA's medical wing. And they'll continue to persist until Congress and the White House feverishly commit to three goals:

Allow more veterans to seek medical care with private doctors. The more flexibility in choosing providers, the better chance that veterans will get the excellent care they deserve.

Streamline and downsize the rest of the system to focus on specialized care for battle-related injuries that private docs can't perform as well as VA staffers.

Fire workers who resist change or don't perform. As you read on, look for the number "nine." Because you won't believe ....

A massive new report from the Commission on Care, created by Congress after the 2014 scandal, concludes: "Although VHA provides care that is in many ways comparable or better in clinical quality to that generally available in the private sector, it is inconsistent from facility to facility, and can be substantially compromised by problems with access, service, and poorly functioning operational systems and processes."

Among the commission's 18 recommendations for a sweeping overhaul: Create a more comprehensive and flexible "VHA care system." That's envisioned as a less rigid network of providers including doctors from the VA, military hospitals, other federally funded providers and facilities, and VA-credentialed private doctors and clinics.

The commission also suggests that the current Veterans Choice program be expanded so that all vets can consult private physicians. Good idea: It doesn't take a specialist in battlefield wounds to prescribe blood pressure meds. In 2014, Congress passed Veterans Choice, which already allows many vets to choose a private doc outside the system if they live more than 40 miles from a VA facility or have to wait more than 30 days for an appointment.

Yet that law has led to billions of dollars in expenses, millions of square feet of new medical space ... and even longer wait times at many VA facilities. One reason: The law not only mandated a complex new health system, but ordered the VA to set it up in 90 days.

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Predictable result: bureaucratic chaos.

Predictable congressional solution: Let's throw more money at the VA!

In the decade since 2006, the VA's budget has soared from $73 billion to $167 billion, with much of the growth in the health system. Staff, too, has ballooned. None of that has significantly dented the VA's entrenched culture that disdains accountability.

For instance: The 2014 law streamlined the process to fire VA executives who concealed the waiting-list scandal. Since then, however, only nine people have been fired for manipulating wait times, The New York Times reports. And some of them could still get their jobs back after appeals. Maddening.

"If you don't have accountability, and you know your job is safe whether you perform or not, it's hard to make any progress, " Republican Sen. Johnny Isakson of Georgia tells the newspaper. "Right now, that is what we have at the VA."

The Care Commission recommends a new board of directors accountable to the president. That could sharpen oversight or just provide more political theater and VA blamesmanship. The bottom line:

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No plan to revive the VA will succeed until superior performance is rewarded and poor performance is punished.

Until then, count on more VA scandals, more excuses  and more American veterans cheated of the care they deserve.

Join the discussion on Twitter @Trib_Ed_Board and on Facebook.
The four-district Plano Area Special Education Cooperative is up and running, providing special education services to some of the members of the former county-wide special education co-op.

Member districts spent $164,678 on startup costs for the new co-op, according to a cooperative document provided by program officials. They have set a tentative budget, and are looking at a consulting role for the former director of the county special education co-op, Director Amy Lee said.

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"Everyone seems to have transitioned well," Lee said. "We are still working behind the scenes, obviously, on fine-tuning some of the processes, but other than that everything is going really well."

The Plano area organization in part replaces the Kendall County Special Education Cooperative, which had included school districts in Oswego, Yorkville, Plano, Newark's high school and consolidated districts and the Lisbon grade school district. Oswego-based Community Unit School District 308 moved to withdraw from the organization, taking almost two-thirds of the programs' students with it, and the remaining districts chose to dissolve the cooperative by the end of June.

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Four of the districts  Plano Community Unit School District 88, Newark Community High School District 18, Newark Community Consolidated District 66 and Lisbon Grade School District 90  formed the Plano Area Special Education Cooperative. Yorkville and District 308, meanwhile, moved to create their own programs.

At the start of the Plano-area organization's first year, the co-op is serving 440 students and has 55 staff, including therapists, office and part-timers, said Lee, who had been the assistant director of the Kendall County co-op.

The program is looking at a $3.7 million budget, Lee said, but has yet to give it final approval.

The four member districts split up the startup costs of software, legal fees, services and office expenses, with Plano covering 90 percent of the costs. But districts also received a percentage of the money left in the Kendall County co-op's bank accounts, which amounted to more than the startup cost each district contributed, a co-op document provided by Lee shows.

After the expenses incurred to help get the new co-op up and running, Plano was expected to end up receiving $32,389 from the former Kendall County co-op, Newark District 66 was set to receive $7,213, Newark District 18 was set to get $11,013, and Lisbon was expected to get $5,706, according to a co-op document. The rest of the Kendall County co-op's fund balance, which was divided based on the size of each district, was set to go to District 308 and Yorkville.

The Plano cooperative is looking to give former Kendall County co-op director Lynda Shanks a consulting role, Lee said, though several steps remain before her contract is finalized. A version of her contract provided by Lee specifies that she would be charged largely with winding down the Kendall County co-op.

She would be paid $106,875 from September through June 2017, plus benefits and expenses, and the Plano special education co-op will make payments to the Teachers' Retirement System on her behalf. Yorkville School District 115 would share her services.

Lee said Shanks' role would not create a new administrative position, but instead she viewed it as an extension of her previous contract. Shanks could help answer questions and provide support to the new co-op, she said.

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"Lynda comes with a lot of knowledge and experience...so is a great resource," Lee said.

Overall, Lee said the start of the year has gone well, staff have been positive and member districts have provided support to the new organization.

"It's been a really smooth transition," she said.

sfreishtat@tribpub.com

Twitter @srfreish
The Autumn in The Park Festival has several activities for youth, including a petting zoo. (Village of Palos Park)

Palos Park officials are welcoming fall with the village's fifth annual Autumn in The Park festival set for Sept. 16-17.

"For a small town like Palos Park, we try to put on a pretty nice event," Village Manager Richard Boehm said.

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He said that while the village tries to hold one or two special events a month, Autumn in the Park is the town's largest, drawing about 5,000 visitors.

This year's festival at Village Green, 8901 W. 123rd St., includes a climbing wall, petting zoo, dunk tank, food, and a beer and wine tent. There also will be live music from rock bands The Mix and 7th Heaven on Sept. 16 and Hi Infidelity on Sept. 17.

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The blues band Cadillac Dave and His Chicago Red Hots also will perform Sept. 17.

"We have a little something for everybody," Boehm said.

The kids also can burn energy in a bounce house or the bungee trampoline.

"It's pretty fun to watch," Boehm said of the trampoline.

A new event is an apple pie contest to complement the popular BBQ cook-off, which already reached the maximum entrants at 25 teams.

Organizers begin planning for the event about a year in advance, Boehm said, and make changes every year.

"It takes a lot of effort," he said. "We've almost got it down to a science."

Boehm said organizers are limited by the space on the Village Green,but he believes everything will be carefully placed to allow for good crowd movement.

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He said a lot of time is spent on the logistics of the festival, such as policing, parking and trolley service.

Boehm said organizers also try to add new events every year and omit events that weren't as popular. Events that had been canceled include bingo for senior citizens and a teen area.

"We try to find what people want," he said.

The cost and revenue from last year's festival broke even for the village, but Boehm said the event has been self-sufficient overall or has made a little money.

"We're very proud of this event," he said.

For more information about the festival, visit autumnintheparkfestival.org.

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Frank Vaisvilas is a freelance reporter for the Daily Southtown.
-- Paul Waldman, in a WaPo post today, "Heres a tale of

two scandals. Guess which one will get more play?"

Heres a tale of two scandals. Guess which one will get more play?



By Paul Waldman

September 2 at 1:01 PM



Whenever some new piece of information emerges about Hillary Clinton or people close to her, were told that it raises questions of some kind, which means its being shoehorned into a larger narrative that says something fundamental about her: That shes tainted by scandal, or corrupt, or just sinister in ways people can never quite put their finger on.



Yet somehow, stories about Donald Trump that dont have to do with the latest appalling thing that came out of his mouth dont raise questions in the same way. Theyre here and then theyre gone, obliterated by his own behavior without going deep into question-raising territory.



To see what I mean, lets look at a couple of stories that have come out in the last 24 hours. Well start with the one about Clinton. You may have heard recently about Judicial Watch, which is an organization established in the 1990s to destroy Bill and Hillary Clinton, a mission it continues to this day. Through lawsuits and Freedom of Information Act requests, they try to obtain information that can be used against the Clintons, and theyre going to be a vital player in Washington politics should Hillary become president. The groups latest revelation can be found in email exchanges between Doug Band, an executive at the Clinton Foundation, and Hillary Clintons aide Huma Abedin, when Clinton was secretary of state.



Heres how the New York Times reported this story, under the headline Emails Raise New Questions About Clinton Foundation Ties to State Department:

A top aide to Hillary Clinton at the State Department agreed to try to obtain a special diplomatic passport for an adviser to former President Bill Clinton in 2009, according to emails released Thursday, raising new questions about whether people tied to the Clinton Foundation received special access at the department.



The request by the adviser, Douglas J. Band, who started one arm of the Clintons charitable foundation, was unusual, and the State Department never issued the passport. Only department employees and others with diplomatic status are eligible for the special passports, which help envoys facilitate travel, officials said.



Mrs. Clintons presidential campaign said that there was nothing untoward about the request and that it related to an emergency trip that Mr. Clinton took to North Korea in 2009 to negotiate the release of two American journalists. Mrs. Clinton has long denied that donors had any special influence at the State Department. The first sentence of that story is questionable at best. The top aide, Huma Abedin, did not agree to try to obtain a special diplomatic passport for Band. He emailed her asking for it, and she replied, OK will figure it out. Its hard to say whether that constitutes agreeing to anything, and at any rate, Band and the other two Clinton aides who were going to accompany the former president on this mission to North Korea didnt actually need diplomatic passports for the trip and wouldnt be allowed to get them anyway, nothing happened. You might have missed it, but there in the second paragraph the story notes that no diplomatic passports were ever issued.



To sum up: An executive at the Clinton Foundation made a request of Hillary Clintons aide, and didnt get what he was asking for. Now maybe there is some real evidence somewhere of corruption at the State Department during Clintons time there, but that sure as heck isnt it.



If you as a journalist are going to say that something raises questions, and if you know the answer to those questions, you have to say that, too. So in this case, the question the Band email raises is, Did an aide to Bill Clinton get a diplomatic passport from Hillary Clintons staff when she was Secretary of State, something he was not entitled to? The answer is  and pay attention to make sure you grasp this answer in all its complexity  No. (If you want a fairer version of this story, heres the Posts.)



Now let me point you to another story, one you probably havent heard about. Yesterday we learned that Donald Trump paid the IRS a $2,500 penalty over a contribution his foundation made to a PAC affiliated with Florida attorney general Pam Bondi, whom you might remember from the Republican convention, where she gave a rousing speech endorsing Trump. Does this story raise questions? Does it ever.



Heres the quick summary: In 2013, Bondis office received multiple complaints from Floridians who said they had been cheated out of thousands of dollars by a fraudulent operation called Trump University. While Bondis office was looking into the claims to determine if they should join New York States lawsuit against Trump University, Bondi called Donald Trump and asked him for a contribution to her PAC.



Now lets pause for a moment to savor the idea that Bondi, the highest-ranking law enforcement official in the state, would solicit a contribution from someone her office was in the process of investigating. She did solicit that contribution, and Donald Trump came through with $25,000.



Or actually, his foundation paid Bondis PAC the $25,000, which is an illegal contribution. Trumps people say this was just a clerical error, and Trump himself reimbursed the foundation  thats what the IRS fine was about. But days before getting the check, Bondis office announced that they were considering whether to go after Trump University, and not long after the check was cashed, they decided to drop the whole thing.



Here are a few questions this story raises: How many Floridians were scammed by Trump University? When Bondi and Trump spoke, did Trump University come up? What was the basis on which Bondi decided not to join New Yorks lawsuit? Why didnt she recuse herself from the decision? Are there any other attorneys general Trump has given money to, and had any of them received complaints about Trump University, the Trump Institute, the Trump Network, or any of Trumps other get-rich-quick scams that were so successful in separating ordinary people from their money?



Those kinds of questions are what spur more digging and allow news organizations to not just write one story about an issue like this and then consider it done, but return to it again and again. If they decided to, they could get at least as much material out of the issue of Trumps scams as they do out of Clintons alleged corruption at the State Department. But Im guessing they wont. Some stories raise questions, and others dont.

#

One of the ways in which the Right-Wing Noise Machine has learned to tie the Infotainment Noozemedia in knots is by exploiting the media crutch of "even-handedness" -- based, of course, on utterly false equivalences. And the Noise Machine has been crucifying Hillary Clinton with a steady stream of "news" items and leaks that feed to the Center and Left's appallingly lazy acceptance of the Noise Machine's "larger narrative" that Hillary is, as Paul Waldman puts it in the post of his we're looking at today, " Heres a tale of two scandals. Guess which one will get more play? " "tainted by scandal, or corrupt, or just sinister in ways people can never quite put their finger on."By itself this would be damaging enough to any kind of realistic political discourse regarding the election or anything else. However, the problem is wildly compounded by the exact opposite way of looking at things that should raise questions on the Right; the standard has been stretched so preposterously that every day zillions of things thatto raise questions don't seem to. Like, for example, the growing smell of the wildly inappropriate connection between the Trump interests and Florida AG Pam Biondi. What it comes down to, Paul notes at the end, is: "Some stories 'raise questions,' and others don't."As Digby also noted today , Paul has "done such a thorough job" with the story that she was able to forego writing it up herself. I think we'll also just let him tell the story his way.

Labels: 2014 congressional races, false equivalency, Florida, Hillary Clinton, media, Paul Waldman, Right-Wing Noise Machine, Trump
Tigers trained by Ryan Holder were the first act when the Kelly Miller Circus performed in Hampshire last year. (Denise Moran / The Courier-News)

Over a weekend last month one of Carpentersville's most popular parks was bursting with Civil War reenactors.

This month, that same locale will be teeming with exotic animals, aerialists and acrobats.

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The Oklahoma-based traveling Kelly Miller Circus is coming to town and will host shows at 5 and 8 p.m. both Saturday, Sept. 10, and Sunday, Sept. 11, at Carpenter Park, 351 Carpenter Blvd.

Tavana Brown, general manager for the Kelly Miller Circus, said the company kicks off its big top season in mid-March with shows in Oklahoma. The performance troupe then makes its way across the country.

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"This year we went as far north as New Jersey and now we're on our way back to Oklahoma," Brown said. "We do two shows a day, seven days a week."

The Kelly Miller Circus, established in 1938, travels on a fleet of 36 vehicles, according to the company website.

The troupe will begin setting up at 9 a.m. Sept. 10, and the community is invited to watch the tent-raising.

"Then a guide is available and she gives tours of the setup and shows the animals," Brown said.

Circus highlights will include acrobats, clowns, aerialists, jugglers, as well as a small goat that rides on the back of a pony.

"That's a lot of fun," Brown said. "The kids really love that."

Attendees will also enjoy seeing the "educated zebra."

"She does math problems with the kids," Brown said.

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Village officials are looking forward to the event.

"This is very exciting," Trustee Pat Schultz said. "I think Carpenter Park is the perfect venue for it."

Tickets can be purchased online at www.kellymillercircus.com. Advance purchase tickets cost $12 for adults and $6 for children. From 9 a.m. until noon on the mornings of the show tickets can also be purchased at the discounted rate. At showtime tickets are $16 for adults and $8 for children.

Erin Sauder is a freelance reporter for The Courier-News.
Cambridge Lakes Charter School at 900 Wester Boulevard in Pingree Grove wins an extension of its charter. (Denise Moran / The Courier-News)

The Cambridge Lakes Charter School in Pingree Grove has been awarded a renewed charter through August 2020 by the Community Unit School District 300 board  with conditions.

A draft charter agreement discussed Aug. 17 was revised to make the renewal date a year earlier than 2021 and to include these provisions:

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"(Management firm) Northern Kane Educational Corp. shall maintain time and effort logs that will be made available to the district upon request for any position where an employee's responsibilities include both providing services to the charter school-related programs and noncharter school-related programs. If NKEC fails to prepare or provide such time and effort logs for an employee, the board may withhold from its payments to NKEC an amount equal to 50 percent of the salary paid to that employee until such time as NKEC can verify, to the school district administration's satisfaction, the time the employee allocates to the employer's various responsibilities."

"NKEC's signatory page to the charter agreement shall only include Sylvia Polletta as the CEO and the NKEC board president (Julie Mahaffrey) as signatories to the charter agreement. It should not include any other individual."

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While classes began in August for other schools in the district, Cambridge Lakes Charter School has its first day Tuesday. The school is enrolling 818 students for pre-K through 12th grade, according to Anthony McGinn, district director of public relations and communication services.

"We are very excited that our children will continue going to Cambridge Lakes Charter School," Kelly Yee said. "We are very optimistic that the new management will help to improve the future of the school."

Kate Van Gheem, of Gilberts, has two children who will attend the charter school this year: Ella in fifth grade and Joshua in seventh.

"I'm hopeful that the new NKEC board will make the right changes for the benefit of the teachers and the students," Van Gheem said.

Denise Moran is a freelance reporter for The Courier-News.
Motorcycles and gifts were plentiful during a previous DuKane A.B.A.T.E. Toy and Food Run in the Fox Valley. (DuKane A.B.A.T.E. )

DuKane Chapter of A.B.A.T.E., a motorcycle group, is hosting more than 5,000 riders to its biggest ride of the year, its 30th Annual Toy and Food Run, on Oct. 9.

The ride starts in Elburn with a pre-party that includes music, food and local celebrities, according to a press release. Riders will be escorted by Santa Claus and his helpers during a parade with the ride ending at the Batavia VFW, 645 S. River St., Batavia.

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Judy Kaenel, president of DuKane A.B.A.T.E., said the ride also attracts politicians and local celebrities. Illinois Gov. Bruce Rauner has attended in past years and will likely participate this year, she said.

The route is "completely safe," she said. Kane County Sheriff's deputies and other police officers are at points throughout the 17 miles between Elburn and Batavia, she said.

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Riders donate toys and canned goods to 18 different charities in the Fox Valley, said Greg Smith, an A.B.A.T.E. member who handles public relations for the motorcycle rights organization. The charities include Mutual Ground, Elburn Food Pantry, Aunt Martha's Youth Services and Lutheran Family Services.

Gloria Casas is a freelance reporter for The Courier-News.
Elgin police arrested a 45-year-old man who spit at a nurse, according to police reports.

David Sorensen, of the 700 block of Hiawatha in Elgin, is charged with three counts of felony aggravated battery and a misdemeanor count of battery, according to Elgin police reports.

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Sorensen was being treated in the emergency room at Presence St. Joseph Hospital, 77 N. Airlite St., around 7:40 p.m. Wednesday when he became belligerent and was restrained, police said. Hospital staff was moving him to another room in the ER when he yelled obscenities to a nurse, then spit at her, reports stated.

Due to Sorensen's actions, the victim must undergo a series of tests, police said.

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Gloria Casas is a freelance reporter for The Courier-News.
Elgin police K9s Willson and Bauer got new gear to protect them as they do their jobs, Elgin police said.

The two canine officers received protective body armor  bullet and stab protective vests  from Vested Interest in K9s Inc., according to a news release. The nonprofit received a $65,800 donation from Help Officer Hickey Vest K9s, an online fundraiser organized to help an Ohio officer to keep his partner, named Ajax, after retirement, the release stated.

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"The Elgin Police Department would like to thank Vested Interest in K9s Inc. for their assistance in protecting our four-legged officers," Chief Jeff Swoboda said in the release.

Vested Interest in K9s Inc. will provide 62 law enforcement dogs with vests, thanks to the donation, the release stated. The nonprofit has passed out over 2,000 vests, totaling more than $1.7 million, to K9s all over the country, it stated.
Barbara Brust, Ella Johnson Memorial Public Library board president (from left); Emily Klonicki, library director, and Linda Drendel, library board member, with a proclamation announcing September as Ella Johnson Memorial Public Library Month. (Denise Moran / The Courier-News)

The Hampshire village board announced this week that September will be celebrated in the Hampshire area as Ella Johnson Memorial Public Library Month.

According to the proclamation read by Hampshire Village President Jeffrey Magnussen: "The year 2016 marks the 80th year of consecutive library service to the Hampshire area, having begun as a Works Progress Administration project by the Wednesday Club in 1936."

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The library was once housed in a former hat shop donated by Bertha Farrell Watts in memory of her sister, Ella Johnson. The library later moved to its current address at 109 South State Street in Hampshire.

According to library district officials, the district serves residents in an over 100 square mile area including Hampshire, Burlington, Rutland and Plato townships.

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Library of America recently announced Ella Johnson Memorial Public Library as one of 55 libraries and other institutions in 25 states, plus the District of Columbia, that won funding for public programs related to a two-year, nationwide initiative timed to coincide with the upcoming 100th anniversary of America's entry into World War I in April 1917.

"World War I and America" is presented by Library of America with funding from the National Endowment for the Humanities and project support from the Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History.

According to Library of America, a total of $76,800 was awarded in the initiative's first round. Winners will receive stipends of either $1,200 or $1,800 for public programs centered on a set of seven humanities themes associated with "World War I and America." Recognized humanities scholars and members of the veteran community will participate in all programs, which will be free and open to the public.

A second round of applications will be evaluated in January. The deadline for applying is Jan. 13.

The four Round One grantees from Illinois were: Ella Johnson Memorial Public Library District; Kishwaukee College, Malta; Orland Park Public Library, and Fountaindale Public Library, Bolingbrook.

Upcoming events at the library in Hampshire this month include: Family Movie Night, "The Jungle Book," on Tuesday, Sept. 6 at 6 p.m.; Johnny Appleseed Night, Thursday, Sept. 8 at 6:30 p.m. with apple stories, crafts and apple treats; Cheese 101, Saturday, Sept. 10, at 11 a.m., with the history of cheese-making and cheese samples; Reading to Rover every Tuesday at 5:30 p.m.; Reading is Sweet, Saturday, Sept. 17 at 11 a.m., with face-painting, crafts and mini pie snacks; Mad Scientists, ages 9 to 12, Monday, Sept. 19 at 4:30 p.m., and Adult Craft Workshop, Wednesday, Sept. 28 at 11 a.m. All programs are free, while some programs require registration.

The Harp Twins, Camille and Kennerly Kitt, will perform at 7:30 p.m. on Thursday, Sept. 15, as part of the Ella Johnson Library's Living Room Concert Series.

For more information, call 847-683-4490; www.ellajohnsonlibrary.org.

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Denise Moran is a freelance reporter for The Courier-News.
From left, first graders at Westbrook Elementary School Joshua Kim, Christian Kim and Lucy Kwon practice forming sentence structures with Tracy Sohn, the Korean bilingual teacher, on Aug. 26. (Alexandra Kukulka / Pioneer Press)

District 34 offers language programs for students who speak another language at home and need English learning support: the English Language Learners program, the Korean Bilingual program, and the Spanish Bilingual program

"Can you say, 'the rain stopped?'" said Tracy Sohn, the District 34 Korean bilingual teacher, to three first graders.

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"The rain stopped," they said excitedly.

Sohn was reading to the students in English, a day after reading to them from a Korean version of the same book so they would understand the plot. Today, they used the story to practice forming sentences in English.

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The Korean Bilingual program is part of the District 34 English Language Learners program, which has grown over the last five years, from 13 percent of all district students enrolled in the program in the 2012-2013 school year to 16 percent of all district students enrolled in the program this school year, according to District 34 data.

The District 34 Board of Education responded to the growth by appointing Kristy Patterson as the director of the English Language Learners and Bilingual Programs in the summer. This appointment took Patterson's previous 10-month position as teacher on assignment, or a teacher that has administrative duties, and expanded it to a 12-month director position with a few added responsibilities, like overseeing the summer school program, said District 34 spokeswoman Jennifer Nimke.

The district's ELL program aims to support students who speak another language at home, and the Korean and Spanish programs for bilingual students fall under its umbrella, Patterson said. The Korean and Spanish bilingual programs teach students how to speak English along with their native language, Patterson said.

The Spanish bilingual program is offered at Henking Elementary School and Hoffman Elementary School, while the Korean bilingual program is offered at Westbrook Elementary School, Patterson said.

The state mandates that schools offer native language instruction if there are more than 20 students who speak the same language in one school, Patterson said.

Students in the Korean bilingual program are usually found to be English proficient by the end of second grade, and the students in the Spanish bilingual program are usually found to be English proficient by the end of third grade, Patterson said.

But most parents of students in the Spanish bilingual program keep their children in that program through fifth grade so that they continue to learn Spanish as well as English, Patterson said.

Korean Bilingual Program

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The Korean bilingual program started in the 2015-2016 school year, and has an enrollment of 20 students for the current academic year, according to district data.

Sohn said she has planned field trips, like visiting the Glenview office of The Korea Times newspaper, to supplement what students learn in the classroom.

"I tried my best in bringing a culture component along with the program, getting parents involved in their child's education [and] trying to branch out into the Korean community that's pretty big in Glenview," she said.

Sohn said she believes Korean-speaking families  who culturally place a high value on education - have been attracted to Glenview because it's a nice suburb with good schools, and the village's reputation has spread by word of mouth.

Sohn, who lived in Seoul for 3 years, said she has noticed Korean businesses, like bakeries, opening up around Glenview, which attracts even more Koreans to the area.

"It's a part of your life that you can take from Korea and you have it here. It's like a comfort," she said. "I think the education [component] started it, though."

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Sohn, who was born in Chicago and grew up in Highland Park, said she hopes her students take away a sense of pride for who they are after working with her.

"In America, being multicultural or a minority is not always valued as highly, and for me as a child, it takes a hit on your self-identity and confidence growing up," Sohn said. "I hope they don't have that [feeling] as much."

Spanish Bilingual Program

The Spanish bilingual program started in the 2005-2006 school year and has an enrollment of 115 students, according to District 34 data.

Carly Spina, a third grade bilingual teacher at Hoffman, said her students start third grade learning 70 percent in Spanish and 30 percent in English, but by the end of the year they are learning in both languages equally. By the end of fifth grade, students are learning 90 percent in English and 10 percent in Spanish so that they are prepared for middle school, she said.

Spina supplements her teaching with lessons from community members, she said. Students write letters to different people in the community, the Glenview Police Department, architects and engineers to ask those members to teach them about a specific topic related to their field, Spina said.

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For example, on a lesson on weather, students wrote to a Univision weather anchor who sent them a video showing them her studio and explaining what she does, but she also spoke about the importance of being bilingual, Spina said.

Spina said she wants to empower her students. During PARCC testing last year, she had members of the community write words of encouragement on large posters that she hung up around the classroom, she said.

"I want my students to know that school is for them. This community is for them. We honor biliteracy. We celebrate biliteracy," Spina said.

akukulka@tribpub.com
A 24-year-old Round Lake woman made an initial appearance in federal court Friday after being charged with larceny for allegedly attempting to rob a credit union in Grayslake Thursday morning.

Yvette Pedrero appeared before a federal judge Friday morning for an initial reading of charges in the case, according to FBI spokesman Garrett Croon. Croon said Pedrero was arrested following an investigation in which the FBI was assisted by the Grayslake and Gurnee police departments.

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According to a criminal complaint filed against Pedrero in U.S. District Court, Pedrero attempted to enter the Community Trust Credit Union branch in Grayslake Thursday morning with the intention of robbing it.

The complaint included an FBI agent's affidavit that said authorities based the charges against Pedrero on information from a cooperating witness, audio recordings and audio and video surveillance

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The complaint states that a witness told Gurnee police in late August that Pedrero had asked for his help in robbing both the Grayslake and Gurnee branches of the credit union, either in the morning just after the credit union opened or just before closing time.

The witness said Pedrero said she used to work for the credit union and had conducted surveillance on both branches, according to the complaint. It stated she also told him that the two would split an estimated $250,000 to $300,000 following the robberies.

The complaint states that the witness said that he told Pedrero several times he was not interested in helping, and that he then called Crime Stoppers to report the incidents. At that point, the witness was put in contact with Gurnee police and began cooperating with law enforcement.

The witness, under the direction of law enforcement, then texted Pedrero and said he was interested, and several text and recorded conversations occurred over the next two days as Pedrero allegedly laid out plans for the robbery of the Grayslake facility, according to the complaint. At one point, Pedrero allegedly asked the witness whether he had a gun, but the witness expressed no desire in pursuing that discussion and the complaint does not allege that a weapon was involved in the robbery attempt.

On Thursday morning, Pedrero allegedly picked up the witness, and under law enforcement surveillance, drove to and parked in a lot near the credit union.

According to the witness, Pedrero then put on a hooded sweatshirt, sunglasses, hair extensions and other items of clothing while the witness also put on a hooded sweatshirt, the complaint states.

After leaving the car at about 10:10 a.m., and approaching the entranceway to the credit union on Route 83 in Grayslake, Pedrero was arrested by authorities.

Officials said Pedrero voluntarily waived her rights and admitted to authorities that she planned to rob the credit union.

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She is currently being held in the Metropolitan Correctional Center in Chicago, according to the Federal Bureau of Prisons. Croon said Pedrero has not yet been arraigned in the case.

jrnewton@tribpub.com

Twitter @jimnewton5
The Lake County Major Crime Task Force was on the scene Sept 3, 2016, of a fatal police-involved shooting in the first block of Macgillis Drive in Round Lake the night before. (Joe Shuman / Chicago Tribune)

The Lake County Major Crime Task Force did not disclose Saturday what may have provoked a Round Lake police officer to shoot a 22-year-old man armed with a piece of glass Friday night.

Michael Robert Musson was pronounced dead about 11 p.m. at the scene of the shooting, which occurred in the first block of North Macgillis Drive, according to the Lake County coroner's office. An autopsy was scheduled for Sunday morning.

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Musson was holding a piece of glass when confronted by the Round Lake officer, who was alone and the first to arrive in response to 911 calls about someone banging on doors, Detective Chris Covelli, a task force spokesman, said. Officers who arrived after the shooting administered lifesaving measures but could not save Musson, he said.

Covelli would not say how many rounds were fired nor would he release the officer's name.

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The officer was treated for non-life-threatening injuries at an area hospital, and is now on paid administrative leave in accordance with Round Lake regulations regarding officer-involved shootings, Covelli said. The Round Lake Police Department will conduct an internal investigation to ensure department protocol was followed.

The Lake County Major Crime Task Force is handling the criminal side of the investigation, Covelli said.

"The task force will continue to follow up on leads regarding the shooting," he said. "Once all of the facts, evidence and data is collected regarding the investigation, they will meet with the Lake County state's attorney's office so that the state's attorney's office can make a determination on the incident itself."

Musson appeared to have been breaking window glass and lights, and may have tried to force his way into at least one home among the rows of condominiums along that stretch of North Macgillis Drive, Covelli said. Although Musson's driver's license says he lived in Grayslake, it's believed he may have been living with someone near where the shooting occurred, he said.

Musson's father, Mike Musson, declined to comment on the incident Saturday, other than to say authorities had not yet spoken to him about his son's death and that they appeared to be "circling the wagons."

Task force investigators are interviewing 911 callers and other witnesses, Covelli said.

Sandy Bennett said she was babysitting her two grandchildren at her son's home on Macgillis when she heard what she thought was her grandson dropping a large toy.

"My grandson came up and said somebody was banging on the garage door," the 72-year-old Niles woman said. She found out later that neighbors also heard someone pounding on the doors of their homes, she said.

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She saw a figure she could not identity as a man or woman walking away in a wooded area in front of her son's home before she called 911, Bennett said. She believes barking from the family dog scared the person away.

The officer involved the shooting was not wearing a body camera, Covelli said. The squad car they drove to the scene is equipped with a dashboard camera, but it wasn't disclosed if it recorded video of the incident.

Covelli said investigators are piecing together where Michael Musson was before the incidents occurred, and what might have contributed to his behavior. Blood work from the coroner's autopsy will determine if drugs or alcohol were in his system at the time of the shooting, but it could take some time before results are available, he said.

Nick Swedberg is a freelance reporter for the Lake County News-Sun.
As Waukegan School District 60 switches to the SAT college entrance exam with other school districts across the state, more than just juniors will be trying out the new test.

Eighth-graders, freshmen and sophomores will be provided a free practice test next month, designed to give them practice before they take it for real their junior year. The practice session is also aimed at giving district administrators and teachers baseline data to start adjusting curriculum for the year and personalizing lessons for students, said Lori Campbell, director of secondary education.

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The $32,500 contract with the College Board, the nonprofit that creates the SAT exam, includes practice exams for the three grades access to online lessons and videos that are recommended based on students' individual performance, and teaching guides for educators, according to a copy of the contract approved in August.

Taking the practice SAT will also provide students with opportunities to earn scholarships from the National Merit Scholarship Program, according to district documents.

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For the past 15 years, students in Illinois took the ACT, an alternative college entrance exam, but last year, the College Board won a three-year, $14.3 million bid to give its exam to all public high school juniors in Illinois. The College Board is also behind the Advanced Placement courses that many high school students use to earn college credit while in high school.

Staff at Waukegan School District 60, which is under new leadership since Superintendent Donaldo Batiste retired this summer, is looking into how the district reached out to parents in the past before deciding how to communicate these changes and the new practice exams to families, said Vicky Kleros-Rosales, the district's new deputy superintendent for academic supports and programs.

Waukegan High School is also planning for parent meetings where the new exams will be covered along with topics like what seniors should be doing to prepare for college, said Campbell, who, like Kleros-Rosales, is new to the district this year.

Students want to have an exit plan for when they leave high school, so even though the practice tests won't be for a grade, Campbell said, she expects to see buy-in from students.

"The first time our students take the SAT should not be in junior year when it determines college entrance," Kleros-Rosales said. "We want to make sure they're prepared and exposed to it and prepared to their best to be successful."

The exposure is particularly important in Waukegan, where 73 percent of students were considered low-income in 2015, she said.

In more affluent communities, parents can pay for outside tutoring and test preparation, Kleros-Rosales said. The goal is to level the playing field for Waukegan students.

The one-day assessment will run 2 hours, 45 minutes, which  while longer than it was before a redesign last year  is shorter than the ACT, according to the exams' websites. The ACT has a science section as well as math, writing and reading.

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While the district revisits all the assessments it gives each year, no other changes are planned, Kleros-Rosales said.

Each of the three grades that will take the practice SAT this year will continue to take the Northwest Evaluation Association Measures of Academic Progress, or MAP tests, she said. Eighth-graders will also continue to take the state-mandated Partnership for Assessment of Readiness for College and Careers, or PARCC.

While the amount of time students spend taking standardized tests has come under fire in the past few years, Waukegan students take fewer tests than students in higher-performing education systems abroad, Campbell said.

"We need to prepare our students to live in a global community," she said, emphasizing that the data that teachers and schools get from the tests are important in making sure curriculum is meeting the needs of students and to help teachers personalize lesson plans for particular students.

emcoleman@tribpub.com

Twitter @mekcoleman
Coming to us soon - us as in those living in Palma - will be the Hazte Oir "bus of hate", as it has been branded. The bus is sched...
Vietnam Electricity refrained from buying electricity from China last month following a surge in domestic output.

Vietnams electricity output during the first eight months of this year has increased by 11.2 percent to 117.1 billion kilowatt hours (kWh), including 1.2 billion kWh imported from China, said the countrys utility group EVN said Saturday.

Hydropower plants which in the first eight months of 2016 generated 32.7 percent of Vietnam's electricity, often face shutdowns during the dry season, causing nationwide outages. Meanwhile, coal has taken over hydro power as the leading source of electricity in the country as it has generated 38.03 percent of the total output so so far this year.

In response to fast growing demand for power, Vietnam is building more coal-fired thermal plants and buying electricity from neighboring China.

However, EVN said last month it stopped buying power from China for the second month in a row.

The state-run group which started buying electricity from Chinese power plants in the border province of Yunnan in 2004, expects it will not have to import more power from the neighboring country in four consecutive months.

EVN plans to import about 950 million kWh from China to meet the domestic power needs in 2016, down 44 percent from 2015.

EVN said Vietnam's power output is expected to reach 183 billion kWh this year.

The average energy consumption in Vietnam grew 13 percent from 2006-2010, and by about 11 percent from 2011-2015, said Le Tuan Phong, deputy head of the General Directorate of Energy, adding that the country is on the path towards powering itself by 2030.

The countrys power production is expected to grow at an annual rate of 14 percent between 2015 and 2030.

Vietnam is also restructuring its power sector by breaking up its retail power monopoly EVN to develop a competitive retail power market by 2030.

And it is aiming to generate enough energy to power almost every home by 2020 and increase residential solar power usage to 50 percent of households nationwide by 2050.

Related News:

> Vietnam pushes renewable energy with focus on solar power

> Vietnam to quicken share sales in EVN in push for wholesale power market by 2017

> EVN hooks up power deal with China on rising demand
Vernon Hills resident Michael Marr is working through the permitting process at Long Grove Village Hall to open Buffalo Creek Brewery, which could occupy the vacant building at 350 Old McHenry Road. (Ronnie Wachter / Pioneer Press)

For years, friends have been challenging Michael Marr to brew special beers for them. Most recently, a guy he knows wanted a beer that tasted like chocolate and bacon.

And the recipe that Marr came up with may make the menu of the microbrewery he is proposing to open next spring in Long Grove.

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Marr is working through the permitting process at Long Grove Village Hall to open Buffalo Creek Brewery, which could occupy the vacant building at 350 Old McHenry Road.

"I decided I wanted to do something new," Marr said.

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He said he found the right location to establish his craft brewery, which would be the only active brewery in Long Grove if village officials endorse his proposal.

Located on the side of the actual Buffalo Creek, the 11,000-square-foot building features a rotunda on one end, a big backyard and an elevated deck.

"All the pieces are starting to come together," Marr said.

Presently working in the financial industry, the Vernon Hills resident has been clearing out time to turn his beer-brewing hobby of 14 years into a full-time occupation.

If he is able to open it as he currently envisions it, Buffalo Creek Brewery will be solely a drinking establishment  not a restaurant.

He said he wants the business to function like the front end of a winery, including tables for drinking, a sampling room and brewing equipment on display. Space on the second floor for private events would be available for rent, he said.

"I want to really make a destination out of it," Marr said.

There are already a few restaurants located nearby with liquor licenses.

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At Chatter Box in Long Grove, owner Steve Besbeas said he saw a potential brewery as an asset that wouldn't add competition.

"I don't believe in that word  competition," Besbeas said. "Mike Marr's a great guy. We're going to work together. I hope that place becomes the Napa Valley of freaking beer."

Marr said he was confident in his product.

Since he started home brewing, friends ask him to make special flavors. One wanted something with chocolate and bacon in it. Marr said he was able to create those tastes using only five ingredients.

None of those ingredients included bacon or chocolate, he said.

"A lot of friends like to challenge me," he said. "I have a lot of fun with this."

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If he gains approval for Buffalo Creek Brewery, he said he will mostly focus his brews on the German and Belgian styles. He plans to store most of his brewing equipment in the rotunda.

At past meetings, Long Grove board members have addressed Marr's concept with interest.

The Plan Commission Zoning Board of Appeals is scheduled to hold a public hearing Sept. 6 on the proposal. Village trustees later could take a final vote on the proposal if it clears the commission.

Marr said he hoped to make new friends and offer new ideas at his proposed business.

"They just had their first craft beer festival," he said, referring to a Long Grove event this past July. "I have a lot of ideas for what they can do next year."

rwachter@pioneerlocal.com

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Victoria Flynn of Mundelein puts a new registration sticker onto her license plate after an Aug. 30 visit to the Secretary of State facility in Libertyville. (Rick Kambic / Pioneer Press)

Mundelein resident Tim Willems said he didn't realize his vehicle registration was five months past due until a Mundelein police officer pulled him over.

The timing of Willems' late renewal coincided with the period when Secretary of State Jesse White stopped mailing reminders about vehicle registration expiration dates.

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"I never put two-and-two together," Willems said. "I remember hearing about all sorts of things being held hostage because of the drama downstate, but I rarely look at my license plate."

White stopped mailing the notices in October 2015 due to the state budget impasse. Spokesman David Drucker said the office's reserve money was being prioritized for duties that are required by law.

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After Republicans and Democrats in Springfield reached a stopgap budget agreement, the notices will once again be mailed out. Drucker said registration reminders began going out again on Aug. 1. However, he said they will not be sent to motorists whose registrations have previously expired.

An act was also signed by Gov. Bruce Rauner on Aug. 25 that changes the way the office handles drivers who purchase a late registration during a period when notices are not being distributed.

The new law only applies to people whose registration expires after the law's Aug. 25 signing, according to Drucker, and only grants a 30-day grace period. If a driver falls within that grace period they will not have to pay the $20 late fee.

However, because the stopgap deal was made and reminders are once again going out, the new law is moot for the time being.

"I believe the bill was signed in case we stop sending notices in the future," Drucker said. "We have no intention of doing that. We sure hope there is a full budget , but we don't want to be in a situation where we have to stop again."

The Secretary of State issued about 476,000 late fines totaling around $9 million between Jan. 1 and mid-July of this year to people who renewed their license plates late, according to a spokeswoman for State Sen. Dan McConchie, R-Hawthorn Woods.

"The people of Illinois should not be punished for legislators not doing their job," McConchie said in a written statement. "Charging motorists a $20 late fee because legislators officials couldn't agree on a budget is absurd."

None of the collected money will be returned, and Drucker said the money goes to Illinois' general account.

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The law Rauner signed on Aug. 25 also says local, county and state police tickets should be waived if they're issued within 30 days after the registration expired, but only if that occurs when reminders are not being mailed out. Drucker said that is also moot for the time being.

For Willems, he said Mundelein police were generous when he was pulled over.

"I was fortunate that a very friendly Mundelein officer stopped me just a few blocks from my house," Willems said. "He gave me a warning and told me to go take care of it."

Mundelein police stopped 956 cars for expired registrations between Oct. 1, 2015 and June 30, 2016, according to Deputy Police Chief Don Hansen. As a result, 631 warnings were given and 325 tickets were issued.

Comparatively, he said Mundelein police stopped 717 people for expired registrations between Oct. 1, 2014 and June 30, 2015  when mailers were being sent out  and officers gave 282 warnings and 435 tickets.

Nearby in Libertyville, records didn't show much of a change.

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Officers issued 102 tickets, 23 written warnings and 74 for expired registrations between Jan. 1 and Aug. 15 of this year, according to the records division.

Libertyville police gave 106 tickets, 30 written warnings and 64 verbal warnings between Jan. 1, 2015 and Aug. 15, 2015.

In Vernon Hills, officers issued few warnings.

Between Oct. 1, 2015 and July 30, 2016, Vernon Hills police gave 228 tickets and four warnings, according to spokesman Kim Christenson. Similarly, officers only issued 96 tickets between Jan. 1, 2015 and when reminders stopped going out in October.

Christenson said most of the tickets were $25 local fines, but he noted that Vernon Hills has a long standing policy of reducing those tickets to warnings if people renew their registration within 10 days after being ticketed.

rkambic@pioneerlocal.com

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Linden Oaks in Naperville will hold a program on Medical Marijuana: Legal, Health and Community Considerations will be on held Sept. 16. (Antonio Perez / Chicago Tribune)

Senior citizens conference set for Sept. 16

The city of Naperville and Naperville and Lisle townships will host the Healthy, Wealthy and Wise senior citizens' conference from 8:30 a.m. to 12:15 p.m. Sept. 16 at the Naperville Municipal Center, 400 S. Eagle St.

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The free conference is meant to help seniors enhance their quality of life and meet with about 30 area organizations that help seniors.

Speakers will discuss a variety of topics, including how to stay healthy, manage finances, and perform simple cognitive and physical exercises.

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Seniors can also learn about using social media and Skype.

Advance registration is required. To register, call 630-969-0992 and reference event code 12171.

For more information, go to www.naperville-lisle-triad.org or contact Julie Smith at 630-305-5450 or smithju@naperville.il.

Linden Oaks holding medical pot program

Linden Oaks Behavioral Health will hold the program, "Medical Marijuana: Legal, Health and Community Considerations," from 9 a.m. to 12:15 p.m. Sept. 16 at the Northern Illinois University Conference Center Auditorium, 1120 E. Diehl Road, Naperville.

The program will focus on the ramifcations of medical marijuana legislation and policy updates. The fee to attend is $30.

To register, go to www.eehealth.org/loh-seminars or call 630-527-6363. For more information, call 630-646-5150 or e-mail lindenoaksmarketing@edward.org.

Rotary to host Harvest Moon party

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The Naperville Sunrise Rotary's annual Harvest Moon party will be held from 7 to 11 p.m. Sept. 17 at Naper Settlement, 523 S. Webster St.

This year's event, which raises money for its charity projects around the world, will have a Guatemalan theme to recognize the clean water and housing projects the club is supporting there.

Food, craft beer, wine, a silent auction, music and dancing will be among the festivities.

Tickets are available for $40 per person in advance at www.harvestmoonparty.com or $50 per person at the door.

Holocaust survivor to tell her story

Marthe Cohn, a Holocaust survivor who spied on Nazi troops for the Allies, will share her story at 7 p.m. Sept. 19 at the Embassy Suites in Naperville.

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The event is sponsored by the Chabad Jewish Center of Naperville.

Following the talk, Cohn will sign copies of her memoir, "Behind Enemy Lines: The True Story of a French Jewish Spy in Nazi Germany."

Marthe Cohn (www.jewishnaperville.com / HANDOUT)

Cohn joined the French resistance, was recruited to be a spy and infiltrated German territory in the guise of a German nurse. She relayed information to Allied commanders.

Tickets are available at www.jewishnaperville.com or by calling 630-344-9770. Tickets are $15 if bought by Sept. 15 or $20 at the door. Sponsorships are available for $180.

Presidential debate panel at NCC

North Central College's departments of political science and communications will cosponsor a free Presidential Debate Academic Panel from 7 to 10 p.m. Sept. 26 in Smith Hall at Old Main, 30 N. Brainard St.

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Panelists include three of the college's political science faculty members and two outside experts: Dr. Philip Dalton of Hofstra University and Dr. David Worth of Rice University.

Panelists will offer brief comments on what to watch for in the debate. Following the debate, they will comment and answer questions.

Election commission seeks judges

The DuPage Election Commission is looking for judges to work the Nov. 8 election.

Applicants need to be a U.S. citizen and registered voter in DuPage County. They must also be able to read, write and speak English, know basic math and not be a political candidate.

An election judge helps a voter casting a ballot during the March primary. DuPage County is seeking residents to work as judges for the November election. (Antonio Perez / Chicago Tribune)

Judges must declare the political party he or she wishes to represent and attend a training seminar.

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For additional information, go to www.dupageco.org/election.

District 204 receives finance award

Indian Prairie School District 204 was awarded its 12th Certificate of Excellence in Financial Reporting for having met or exceeded the standards for financial reporting and accountability.

The Association of School Business Officials International recognized the district for its Comprehensive Annual Financial Report for the fiscal year ending 2015. The group, founded in 1910, is a professional organization that provides programs and services to promote the highest standards of school business management practices.
A 57-year-old Merrillville man was pronounced dead early Saturday morning after his car went off westbound Interstate 80/94 in Gary in what officials described as a suspected medical incident, officials said.

Nicholas Melegos, of the 600 block of West 66th Place, was found inside his car, which had run into a brush-and-water-filled ditch about 30 feet from the road near Grant Street, the Indiana State Police and Lake County Coroner's Office said in news releases.

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Trooper Jason Pratt and Andy Rasala crossed through the waist-deep water to reach the vehicle, which was partially on an embankment, and found Melegos was not conscious or breathing, reports said. Because they could not remove him from the car because of the depth of the water, they performed CPR in the vehicle as it was towed and Gary Fire Department and EMS personnel arrived on the scene, according to the reports.

There were no visible signs of trauma, reports said.

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The Lake County coroner's office certified Melegos' death at 1:27 a.m. The manner of death is pending.

Carrie Napoleon is a freelance reporter for the Post-Tribune.
A 56-year-old Portage man died at Glacier National Park this week doing what he loved with someone he loved, his mother said Saturday.

Dan R. Pilipow and his son, Christopher, were climbing Jackson Peak in Montana on Tuesday when the two men fell, according to reports. Christopher was able to stop his fall on a snow field, but could not locate his father. Searchers spotted Pilipow's body from a helicopter on Wednesday, and a technical rescue team recovered it Thursday.

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Pilipow had been going to the Glacier to climb since 1984 and wanted to buy a home in the area when he retired in three years, his mother, Jacqueline Stanley, 77, said. Jackson Peak is one of the tallest in Glacier, standing 10,052 feet, according to the park's website.

Stanley said her son loved the park and loved the railroad, a profession in which he worked his whole life. Pilipow and his son had taken the train to Glacier National Park and were returning to northwest Indiana the same way, arriving Sunday, she said.

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"He took his son and daughter there when they were little," Stanley said. Pilipow would travel to Glacier three or four times a year to climb, often with Christopher, she said.

"Danny ended up taking me there, then his aunts and uncles," Stanley said. "Everybody just loved it there. It's a world all its own.

"He led an ideal life for him," she said.

He grew up in Hessville, where he attended St. Catherine of Siena Catholic Church. Pilipow was a 1977 graduate of Morton High School, and he began working with the Indiana Harbor Belt Railroad when he was 18.

Stanley said Pilipow was fascinated with the railroad since he was a child. He loved going to the Hammond depot to watch the trains, especially on Thanksgiving Day. She said a supervisor told her to have him apply as soon as he was 18, and he did. He was hired shortly thereafter and had been employed by the railroad since.

Pilipow traveled every line of the Amtrak system, she said.

"He was blessed," Stanley said. "He got to do the job he loved. He always loved trains. He got to lead an ideal life."

In addition to his son and mother, Pilipow is survived by his daughter and son-in-law, Melissa and Brad Griffin; Christopher and Melissa's mother, JoEllen Pilipow; his sister and brother-in-law, Sandra and Tim Pauer; and his partner, Terry Gurley. He was expecting his first grandchild in mid-September, his mother said.

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A memorial service will be held at 10:30 a.m. Thursday at St. Michael the Archangel Catholic Church in Schererville, where Stanley said Pilipow attended services every Sunday.

Friends may meet with family from 3 to 7 p.m. Wednesday at White Funeral Home, 921 W. 45th Ave., Griffith.

Carrie Napoleon is a freelance reporter for the Post-Tribune.
Federal agents have arrested a Griffith man for the second time in the 1980 killing of Hammond police Officer Larry Pucalik.

A murder case filed Thursday in Lake Superior Court was unsealed after members of the federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives arrested James Hill, 53, in the shooting death of Pucalik in the lobby of a Hammond motel during a robbery.

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Hill was taken into custody Friday at an apartment in the Mansards Apartments in the 1200 block of Dylane Drive. He is charged with murder, murder in perpetration of robbery and attempted robbery.

More than four years ago, Hill and two co-defendants were charged with murder in Pucalik's death. The case against Hill was dismissed in March 2014 pending further investigation. Co-defendant Pierre Catlett, 66, is awaiting extradition while serving a prison sentence in Illinois. Charges were dismissed in December 2014 against a third man who was deemed incompetent to stand trial.

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In the newest case against Hill, investigators re-interviewed and took recorded statements from numerous witnesses who previously had provided information in the case, court records state.

About 3 a.m. Nov. 14, 1980, a hotel clerk was working the front desk of the Holiday Inn-Southeast in Hammond with Pucalik, who was working security, she recalled for police. The hotel lobby door was kept locked and was equipped with a buzzer system. Pucalik buzzed in a black man, who inquired about a room. As the clerk looked for an available room and price, a second man entered the lobby. Both men pulled out handguns, placed a blue denim bag on the hotel counter and ordered the clerk to put all the money into the bag, court records state.

Court documents said Pucalik emerged from the back office into the lobby, realized the clerk was being robbed and tried to pull out his handgun but was shot by the second man who entered the lobby, the clerk told police.

Both men ran from the lobby, leaving the blue denim bag with money.

The clerk, who is the only eyewitness to the killing, is now deceased.

Two days after the homicide, an unknown person called Hammond police and said, "Pierre Catlett killed your cop," records state.

About 1 mile west of the motel in a Hammond apartment complex parking lot, police found a blue 1973 Chevrolet Impala that had been reported stolen two days before the killing. The car was missing a right-front hubcap when it was recovered. The motel clerk identified the car as the one the two men got into after the attempted robbery-homicide. Investigators located a hub cap in the grass near the exit of the motel parking lot and linked it to the car that the witness identified, records state.

A Hammond school teacher who had been living in the nearby now-demolished Kennedy Park Apartments identified Catlett from a photo lineup and a physical lineup as the person he saw get out of the blue car early on the day of the killing at the complex, records state. .

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Within days of Pucalik's homicide, police learned of a possible connection via the blue denim bag to a robbery of a gas station and the rape of a store clerk about a month prior to the killing.

The store clerk identified Hill and another man as her attackers, records state. Both men were convicted of her rape, but years later, the other man's rape conviction was overturned due to a lack of DNA evidence and circumstances surrounding the hypnosis of the clerk.

Another crime involving a blue denim bag was an armed robbery on Oct. 19, 1980, of a Kentucky Fried Chicken in Hammond. Two store clerks identified Hill as one of the suspects, records state.

During an interview with police four days after the killing, when Hill was arrested for the rape of the store clerk, Hill spontaneously said, "I know you guys think I shot that Hammond cop," court records state.

In March 1981, Hill gave a statement to police in which he admitted that he drove the vehicle in the attempted robbery and killing of Pucalik, records state. He identified the third man and a second man, later identified as Catlett, who went into the motel, records state.

Ruth Ann Krause is a freelance reporter for the Post-Tribune.
Nurses at The Methodist Hospitals share a common bond for the job. (Jerry Davich, Post Tribune) (Jerry Davich, Post Tribune/Chicago Tribune)

Debra VanWoerden stopped herself mid-sentence to dart into a patient's room.

"I'll be right back," VanWoerden said apologetically before scurrying away.

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She disappeared into the hospital room where a woman moaned loudly, as if in excruciating pain. Her moans could be heard throughout the entire hospital wing.

"What's wrong? Are you OK?" VanWoerden asked gently.

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The frightened woman suffered from a racing heart rate.

"We call it tachycardia," VanWoerden whispered to me. "We're getting her medication lined up. She's OK now. What we were talking about?"

Welcome to VanWoerden's workplace, the third floor of The Methodist Hospitals' Southlake campus in Merrillville. Technically this floor is called 3W2, the hospital's medical, surgical and orthopedics wing, where VanWoerden is the nursing manager.

Debra VanWoerden, Nursing Manager 3W2, Dr. Judson Wood, and Kara Baltz, Registered Nurse, are medical professionals at Methodist Hospital in Merrillville, IN. The group along with others will be working at their jobs on Labor Day. (John Smierciak / Post-Tribune)

Here, a whirlwind of activity challenges nurses as they perform their daily duties. It's a well-rehearsed dance, with doctors making their routine calls, incoming and outgoing patients, lost visitors and, on this weekday, a nosy newspaper columnist.

"There's always something going on here," VanWoerden said as nonstop bells chimed to alert nurses which patient's room needs to be visited.

On this Labor Day weekend, I'm recognizing nurses everywhere by shadowing nurses here who, collectively, work around the clock throughout the year. Holidays simply fall into a never-ending rotation of work shifts, many seeping into their personal time.

"Many of us choose to be here because we care about our jobs and our patients," VanWoerden said in between visits to patients. "This is the career we chose."

Registered nurses rank fifth in the country of occupations with the largest employment, at 2.8 million and rising, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.

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Nationally, the average age of a registered nurse is 50, according to the National Council of State Boards of Nursing. As America's population gets grayer, more wrinkled and in need of more professional health care, the projected average growth rate for nursing is 16 percent over the next decade, compared to 7 percent for all occupations.

Yvonne Lopez is a registered nurse at Methodist Hospital in Merrillville, IN. Lopez will be working at her job on Labor Day. (John Smierciak / Post-Tribune)

All it took was a few hours at Methodist for me to better understand that nursing can make other jobs seem more insignificant. Some patients' cases are life or death, literally. Others highlight quality-of-life issues that get debated by lawmakers. All of them depend on nurses, who keep any hospital running on schedule.

"Doctors can be found at every hospital, but nurses are the true lifeline to patient care," said Dr. Vijay Dave (pronounced Dah-vay), who's been on staff at Methodist for more than 40 years. "We cannot do anything without them. They're the unsung heroes of our two hospitals  and any hospital."

Dave recalled when one fellow doctor became seriously ill, prompting several nurses to visit his house to relieve his wife from round-the-clock caregiving duties. Dave also rattled off a list of other gestures by nurses that don't get much publicity.

"Disasters bring out the best in them," he said Wednesday after his workday ended.

Back at the hospital, where hand sanitizer replaces handshakes, registered nurse Kara Baltz was in the middle of her 12-hour shift, 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.

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Kara Baltz is a registered nurse at Methodist Hospital in Merrillville, IN. Baltz will be working at her job on Labor Day. (John Smierciak / Post-Tribune)

"Twelve-hour shifts have proven to be more effective for patient care, with patients having only two nurses each day, not three," Baltz told me as she hustled into a patient's room.

"Knock-knock," she said while slowly entering the room. "Can I come in? It's time to go over your discharge paperwork."

Sounding like a seasoned pharmacist, not a two-year RN, Baltz went through a checklist of medications the woman needed to take after returning home. When Baltz left the room, she tracked down the patient's doctor to confirm a future appointment.

"Doctor, is seven to 10 days OK?" she said. "OK, perfect."

Baltz then arranged for the patient's transport via wheelchair to the front entrance.

"It's all about time-management and prioritizing our patients," said Baltz, a mother of two from Valparaiso who's working on her bachelor's degree.

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Baltz was recently named the chairwoman of the Professional Development Council, as part of the Nursing Shared Governance.

"It's where all nurses have a voice to come together to improve quality and the overall patient experience," explained Sheila Cook, the hospital's director of acute and critical care nursing.

Among other duties in addition to caring for patients, Baltz creates the weekly work schedule for 19 other nurses in her wing. It's the management part of a job that's still based on human interactions, often at a primal level.

"I've always had a love of caring for patients and having a personal connection with people," said Baltz, who credits her older sister for her nursing career.

On the hospital's fourth floor, Alethia Donald, nursing manager for 4W3, made her routine rounds to oncology patients. The patients receiving chemotherapy were marked by a sign of a green tree on their door.

"It's so we can take any needed chemotherapy precautions," Donald said.

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One wall featured a photo gallery of nurses' faces underneath a sign stating I-NURSE. It stands for integrity, nursing excellence, unity, respect, scholar and evidence-based practice.

"These represent our hospital's overarching vision," Cook said.

Outside the room of an oncology patient, registered nurse Noemi Rojas studied the patient's condition on a computer monitor atop a "WOW" cart, which stands for "wi-fi on wheels." (The staff here used to call it a COW cart, for "computer on wheels," but it sounded offensive to nearby patients.)

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Rojas spoke in Spanish to one Latina patient in need of something to drink.

"It makes her feel more comfortable," Rojas said.

Alethia Donald, RN and Unit Manager, and Noemi Rojas, RN are nurses at Methodist Hospital in Merrillville, IN. Both nurses will be working at her jobs on Labor Day. (John Smierciak / Post-Tribune)

Cook, who's been at Methodist for more than 30 years, said, "What you're seeing here today is a snapshot of what our nurses do each day at both campuses."

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VanWoerden, whose mother is a retired nurse here, started her day at 5:50 a.m.

"I'm not complaining," she quickly noted. "It's my choice."

jdavich@post-trib.com

Twitter@jdavich
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China Southern Airlines on Friday said it plans to increase its fleet size by about 43 percent to 1,000 aircraft by 2020.

The country's largest air carrier by fleet size said it is expected to carry 160 million passengers annually in 2020.

China Southern leased a new Airbus A321 on Friday, bringing its total number of aircraft to 700.

This made it the world's fourth largest airline by fleet size after American Airlines, Delta Air Lines and United Airlines, according to the International Air Transport Association.

The expansion in its fleet size is mainly due to the opening of more international routes, the airline said. Currently, its international flights carry 31 percent of its total passengers.
China's top legislature on Saturday ratified the Paris Agreement on climate change, a significant international legal document that outlines post-2020 global climate governance.

Lawmakers voted to adopt "the proposal to review and ratify the Paris Agreement," at the closing meeting of the week-long bimonthly session of the National People's Congress Standing Committee.

The much-anticipate Paris Agreement on climate change is the third document to attempt to address climate change, following the 1992 United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change and the 1997 Kyoto Protocol.

BIGGER ROLE IN GLOBAL CLIMATE GOVERNANCE

"Ratifying the agreement accords with China's policy of actively dealing with climate change," according to the proposal, which added that addressing climate change would help the country realize sustainable development.

The ratification will "further advance China's green, low-carbon development and safeguard environmental security," it said.

"Ratifying the agreement is conducive to China's development interests," and it will also help the country "play a bigger role in global climate governance," according to the proposal.

China signed the Paris Agreement at UN Headquarters in New York on April 22, Earth Day, sending a strong messaging to the international community as it joins forces against global warming.

Vice Premier Zhang Gaoli, the special envoy of President Xi Jinping, signed the document and announced that China aimed to finalize domestic legal procedures to ratify the pact before the G20 summit in Hangzhou.

On Dec. 12, 2015, after nearly two weeks of hard bargaining, negotiators representing 196 parties to the UN conference on climate change in Paris (COP21) sealed the pact, aiming to reverse temperature increases, mainly caused by carbon emissions.

The agreement sets a target of holding the global average rise in temperature below 2 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels, and preferably below 1.5 degrees.

It is a major milestone for global climate negotiations, especially after the failed climate summit in Copenhagen, Denmark, in 2009 and disputes among countries on their responsibilities.

Environmental experts said that, during the Paris negotiations, China helped resolve several thorny issues.

To fulfill its commitment to the Paris climate pact, China will have to cut its carbon emissions per unit of GDP by 60-65 percent by 2030 from 2005 levels, increase non-fossil fuel sources in primary energy consumption to about 20 percent, and peak its carbon emissions by 2030.

These targets were reflected in China's intended national determined contribution (INDCs) and also in its 13th Five-Year Plan (2016-2020).

After the signing, the Paris Agreement is still missing the support of 55 nations that account for 55 percent of global greenhouse gas emissions before it can enter into force.

Countries still have one year to ink the agreement as it is open for signatures until April 21, 2017.
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi (L) and his Vietnamese counterpart Nguyen Xuan Phuc at the press conference in Hanoi on September 3. Photo by VnExpress/Giang Huy

Indian PM Narenda Modi did not elaborate on what Vietnam would use the $500 million credit for.

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi offered Vietnam a credit line on Saturday of half a billion dollars for defense cooperation.

The deal was among a dozen cooperation agreements Modi signed in Hanoi alongside his Vietnamese counterpart, Nguyen Xuan Phuc, on the first visit to the country by an Indian prime minister in 15 years.

India and Vietnam share borders and large trade volumes with China and have repeatedly locked horns with Beijing, over the territorial disputes in the Himalayas and the South China Sea (Vietnam's East Sea), respectively.

Both are also beefing-up of their defenses and in India's case, its defense industry, promoting heavily its supersonic BrahMos missile. India is keen to sell the missile to Vietnam and four other countries, according to a government note seen by Reuters in June.

It was unclear if the latest loan included the $100 million India had previously made available to Vietnam for four yet-to-be-built patrol vessels in a deal agreed in late 2014.

In an address to media, Modi said the credit was for "facilitating mutual defense cooperation" and the relationship between the two countries would "contribute to stability, securities and prosperity in this region".

Modi, who was en-route to a G20 Summit in China, made no mention of the patrol vessels, nor BrahMos missiles, and did not elaborate on what Vietnam would use the $500 million credit for.

The offer comes after a surge of almost 700 percent in Vietnam's defense procurements as of 2015, according to the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute think-tank, which tracks the arm trade over five-year periods.

The 12 agreements signed on Saturday covered areas like health, cyber security, ship-building, U.N. peace-keeping operations and naval information sharing, including a $5 million deal to build a technology park in the coastal resort city of Nha Trang.

Vietnam is pushing to become a key player in Southeast Asia's tech scene as it looks to diversify exports beyond manufacturing and agriculture.

Both leaders said ties would be upgraded to the level of "comprehensive strategic relationship" and bilateral trade would be almost doubled to $15 billion by 2020.

Paid tributes to one of Asias tallest leaders, the great Ho Chi Minh. pic.twitter.com/iKx9tEmas5  Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) September 3, 2016

Modi also visited the tomb of Vietnam's independence leader Ho Chi Minh, posting a photo on Twitter of the monument where the embalmed national hero is on display, saying: "Paid tributes to one of Asia's tallest leaders, the great Ho Chi Minh."

Modi is scheduled to fly out later Saturday to attend the G20 summit in Hangzhou China along with other world leaders. He will then head to Laos for a summit of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), and will attend an ASEAN-India Summit on September 8.

Related news:

> India to supply four fast patrol boats to Vietnam

> India-Vietnam Solidarity Committee calls on China to respect Hague ruling

> India plans expanded missile export drive, with China on its mind
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Li Xiaopeng, former Shanxi governor, has been appointed to minister of transport, according to the decision made by the top legislature on Saturday.

Members of the National People's Congress Standing Committee on Saturday voted to remove Yang Chuantang from this position, replacing him with Li.
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The call for resignation of President Muhammadu Buhari by the former ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) over the economy is preposterous, the Nigerian government said Friday.

Deji Adeyanju, a PDP spokesperson, had asked the President to resign for destroying the economy.

Official data released on Wednesday stated that Nigeria was in recession, with a 2.06-percent contraction seen in the second quarter Gross Domestic Product -- lowest growth rate in three decades.

"It is very painful in a situation where the armed robber is now the one sympathizing with the victim," Lai Mohammed, Minister of Information and Culture, said at a media forum in Abuja, the nation's capital.

"I read in the dailies that the PDP said that the President must resign because of the economy," he added.

"While we are not going to indulge in blame game, I think we should also be honest enough to admit that we will not have been where we are today if they had done what they ought to do," Mohammed said.

The Nigerian official told reporters that Nigeria is not the only country hit by recession and crash in price of crude oil, but other countries made savings.

"Saudi Arabia today has about 600 billion U.S. dollars in reserve and this is by planning and saving for the future which the past administration failed to do during surplus," he added.

"This is not about blaming other administration, but we believe that one should be honest when criticizing," the minister said.

Mohammed assured that the government would do everything possible to bring the country out of the economic situation.
The economic transformation in China is an opportunity for both China and Germany, said the chief of the Federation of German Industries (BDI) on Friday.

In a written interview with Xinhua, BDI Director-General Dr. Markus Kerber said, "It offers new opportunities also for German companies leading in environment-friendly and resource-efficient production and automation."

According to Kerber, the BDI carefully observes the structural reforms and the ongoing process of economic transformation taking place in China.

"We appreciate the government's aim to move away from quantitative towards more qualitative and sustainable growth. Reform is the only way forward for China," said Kerber.

Kerber pointed out that the German industry does not share concerns about China's catching-up process in terms of competition from Chinese high-tech companies.

"We have close economic relations with other advanced economies and we believe that a high degree of competition is good for all in the long run, given a level playing field," said Kerber.

The BDI is going to open a branch office in Beijing soon. Kerber explained that the office in Beijing is going to be the second office of BDI outside Europe.

Kerber said it was a natural step, "since China today is one of our most important economic partners."

Kerber elaborated that German industry has become more internationalized in past decades, saying "As a business association we thus increasingly have to represent the interests of our industry on an international level."

Kerber maintained that it is vital for the German industry to be able to get a deeper understanding of the developments in China, noting "We are convinced that more dialogue is to the benefit of both industries, in China and in Germany."

The economic partnership between China and Germany has been very successful over the last decades, Kerber commented, adding "Our close economic partnership is also reflected in the investment ties between us."

Kerber said the BDI appreciated that the Chinese investments in Germany and Europe have been catching up rapidly in recent years.

At the same time, Kerber said the BDI trusted in China that it will open up its own markets accordingly now that Chinese investors increasingly capitalize on the high level of openness in Europe.

With regard to the Belt and Road initiative, Kerber said it has a huge potential as it brings much needed investment to Central Asia.

The setting up of the Asian Infrastructure Development Bank is also a welcomed step that goes hand in hand with the Belt and Road initiative. According to Kerber, connecting China more closely with Europe, Southeast and Central Asia, the Middle East and Africa through infrastructure development and the creation of economic corridors will help boost growth in the coming years and will have a long term effect on economic integration.

It might contribute to more stability in the Middle East in the long run. For realizing the initiative's full potential, a transparent, open and inclusive implementation would be welcomed, he said.
Chinese President Xi Jinping (R) meets with Singaporean Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong in Hangzhou, capital of east China's Zhejiang Province, Sept. 2, 2016. (Xinhua/Zhang Duo)

Chinese President Xi Jinping met with Singaporean Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong on Friday, calling for mutual understanding and respect on issues related to the two countries' core interests and major concerns.

China and Singapore forged a partnership of all-round cooperation keeping with the times last year during Xi's state visit to the Southeast Asian city-state.

Noting the importance of top-level design of bilateral ties, Xi proposed that high-level exchanges be maintained and communication with Singapore strengthened.

China pays great attention to Singapore's interest in the Belt and Road Initiative, said Xi, adding China is ready to build the China-Singapore Demonstration Initiative on Strategic Connectivity in southwest China's Chongqing Municipality into a highlight of bilateral ties.

The Chinese president also called for the advancement of two flagship government-to-government cooperative projects, namely the Suzhou Industrial Park established in 1994 in China's eastern province of Jiangsu, and the Tianjin Eco-city inaugurated in 2008 in the northern Chinese port city of Tianjin.

The two countries should deepen cooperation in areas of finance, the Internet, social management, law enforcement security, counter-terrorism and anti-corruption, said Xi.

Xi expects Singapore, as the coordinator for China-ASEAN relations, to push forward the healthy and stable development of China-ASEAN ties.

China, Xi added, is ready to enhance communication and coordination with Singapore in regional and international mechanisms.

For his part, Lee spoke highly of the smooth progress of bilateral cooperation in all areas under the guidance of a partnership of all-round cooperation keeping with the times between the two countries.

Noting that the strategic connectivity project in Chongqing is taking shape, Lee said the two countries should take it as an opportunity to expand cooperation in aviation, finance and connectivity under the framework of the Belt and Road Initiative.

Singapore, as the coordinator for China-ASEAN relations, is willing to improve cooperation between China and ASEAN, said Lee.

Lee is here to attend the G20 Hangzhou summit on Sept. 4-5.
China will work with Senegal to elevate bilateral relations to a comprehensive strategic partnership, President Xi Jinping said when meeting with his Senegalese counterpart Macky Sall on Friday.

Sall is in the eastern city of Hangzhou to attend the 11th summit of the Group of 20 major economies, to be held on Sept. 4-5. He is one of the leaders of some guest countries and international organizations to join the leaders of the G20 members.

Sall said he was very pleased to attend the summit at Xi's invitation, which symbolizes China's great importance attached to Africa.

Xi said China is willing to work with Senegal to implement the outcomes of the Johannesburg Summit of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) and strengthen bilateral friendly cooperation of mutual benefit.

The Chinese president stressed that the two sides shall enhance political exchanges to promote mutual trust and expand economic and trade collaboration by bridging China's development plans with those of Senegal to help the latter accelerate industrialization and boost agricultural modernization.

Xi also hoped the two countries would strengthen cooperation in the field of security, including peacekeeping, keep close communication and coordination on global affairs, and work together to drive the world's political and economic order to be more just and equitable.

Sall expressed appreciation for China's long-term assistance to Senegal and Africa.

He spoke highly of the cooperation plans adopted at the Johannesburg Summit in early December last year and China's pragmatic measures to implement them.

Senegal is willing to work closely with China to realize independent development in Africa, he said.
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Chinese Ambassador to Britain Liu Xiaoming said on Friday that the Chinese government and business sector had cast the "vote of confidence" in the China-Britain relations despite uncertainties after the Brexit referendum.

Liu said in a signed piece of article published by the Politics First Magazine on Friday that the vital interests that bond the two countries together and the fundamentals of their bilateral relations had remained unchanged.

"We hope that the changes within British politics will not compromise the UK government's consensus and commitment to working with China for a sound China-UK relationship," he said. "We hope that, regardless of any foreign policy adjustments in the UK, advancing ties with China will always be a priority in Britain's external relations."

The Chinese diplomat said that for the China-Britain ties to grow and sustain, it is important that the two countries respect each other, treat each other as equals and take into account each other's core interests and major concerns.

"Looking to the future, we need to stick to this important principle, cherish what has been achieved through hard efforts, and seize today's opportunity and work for a future of lasting, stable and sound China-UK relations," he added.

Regarding the coming G20 Summit, Liu said that he is convinced that the meeting will set new goals, map out a new blueprint and introduce new dynamism to the future of the China-Britain relations.

The ambassador's latest comments on the renowned bimonthly magazine came one day after he published another two signed article on the Daily Telegraph and the China Daily UK Edition inaugural issue and its website.

In those two pieces, Liu urged his country and Britain to enhance cooperation in an array of areas ranging from infrastructure investment to international financial framework and build stronger political mutual trust.
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China on Saturday offered condolences to the death of Uzebk President Islam Karimov who died on Friday at the age of 78.

Foreign Ministry spokesperson Hua Chunying said the Chinese side, shocked to learn the death of Karimov, expressed deep condolences and sincere sympathy to his family.

Hua credited Karimov as founder of the Republic of Uzbekistan, who made great contribution to the national independence, development and prosperity of the country.

She said Karimov was committed to the friendship and cooperation between China and Uzbekistan, and made unremitting efforts to promote the bilateral comprehensive strategic partnership, two-way exchanges, and people-to-people friendship.

"His pass away is a great loss of the Uzbek people. The Chinese people also lost a sincere friend," Hua said.

She added that China was ready to work with Uzbekistan to consolidate the good-neighbor relationship, deepen bilateral cooperation, and continue to push forward the development of the bilateral relations.

"At this time of sorrow, the Chinese people will stand together with the Uzbek people," Hua said.

Karimov, who had served as president of the newly independent republic since 1991, suffered a brain hemorrhage on Aug. 27.

His funeral will be held on Saturday in the historic town of Samarkand, where he was born, a government statement said, adding that a three-day period of mourning would start on the same day.
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Outdoor weddings have been prohibited in Turkey for security reason after a street wedding bombing killed 56 people in southern province of Gaziantep, Turkish Interior Ministry announced on Friday.

The new security measure bans all outdoor weddings and engagement ceremonies throughout Turkey, local Daily Sabah reported.

Anyone who plans to hold indoor wedding parties should also inform authorities in advance so that security forces can take precaution.

Anyone does not follow the new measure will be fined under the misdemeanor law.

On August 20, a bomb attack at a wedding party in Gaziantep killed at least 56 people, including 34 children, and injured nearly 100.

Local government said the suicide bombing was organized by the Islamic State. Endit
The Vietnamese tourist visa is now five times more expensive.

The increase will mostly affect U.S. citizens entering Vietnam on tourist visas who, starting August 29, have to pay $135 for a multi-entry visa instead of $25 for a single-entry.

The fee hike comes after the Vietnamese government has agreed to extend visa validity for U.S. citizens, allowing them to enter the country on a one-year visa rather than a three-month.

The new visa policy is in accordance with an agreement between Vietnam and the U.S., Vu The Binh, vice chairman of Vietnam Tourism Association said in an interview with the Saigon Times.

Binh cited diplomatic officials saying that the U.S. requested the Vietnamese government to extend visa validity for its citizens as it has long done the same for Vietnamese passport holders, granting them one-year visas.

The Finance Ministry has fixed the fee for a one-year visa with multiple entries at $135 across the board, Binh added.

The regulators are just too rigid. Most of tourists to Vietnam are on one-time and few-day travel trips so there is no need to apply for this type of visa, Binh explained, referring to the fact that U.S. tourist will have to pay five times higher than they used to for the new visa.

The number of U.S. tourists coming to Vietnam annually is expected to rise to one million next year, according to tourism ministry.

Vietnam attracted nearly 500,000 U.S. travelers last year, 10 percent higher than the year before and received about 386,000 U.S. arrivals during the first eight months of this year, 15 percent up from the same period last year, government statistics show.

Since revenues from tourism services contribute around 6 percent to Vietnams gross domestic product, the government, in an attempt to attract more foreign tourists, has offered visa exemptions with single-entry visits to the citizens of some countries including Germany, France, Italy, Spain and the United Kingdom.

The new visa policy granted to U.S. citizens is also supposed to draw more tourists to Vietnam. However, when it comes into effect, said tourism operators, with a sudden hike in visa fees, it is highly likely to have adverse consequences.

Related News:

> US citizens offered one-year visas to Vietnam

> New US visa policy offers opportunities for Vietnamese start-ups

> Filthy toilets and robberies: Deputy PM names tourism nightmares in Vietnam
Chinese President Xi Jinping (C) shakes hands with U.S. President Barack Obama and U.N. Secretary General Ban Ki-moon during a joint ratification of the Paris climate change agreement at the West lake State Guest House in Hangzhou on September 3, 2016. Photo by AFP/How Hwee Young

China and the United States, jointly responsible for about 38 percent of global emissions, ratified the Paris Agreement Saturday.

Eight months after 195 nations concluded a hard-fought climate rescue pact, pressure is mounting to put its carbon-cutting promises into action as world leaders gather at G20 and UN meetings this month.

The historic deal reached in Paris in December has been signed by 180 countries, but will only take effect after 55 nations responsible for 55 percent of greenhouse gas emissions have ratified it, making it binding.

China and the United States, jointly responsible for about 38 percent of global emissions, ratified the pact on Saturday, on the eve of a meeting of G20 leaders meeting in Hangzhou, China, considerably boosting efforts.

Until Beijing and Washington joined the club, only 24 nations emitting just over one percent of global gases had officially acceded, according to the U.N. climate body overseeing the deal to cap global warming at two degrees Celsius (3.6 degrees Fahrenheit) over pre-Industrial Revolution levels.

"As 2016 heads into the record books as likely the hottest year ever recorded in history, it is a reminder that we have precious little time left to act to keep global temperature rise well below 2 C," said Pascal Canfin of environmental group WWF.

"We have the Paris Agreement to guide our way. Now we need governments to implement it," he said in a statement.

U.S. President Barack Obama said the pact represented "the moment we finally decided to save our planet", and U.N. chief Ban Ki-moon said he was "optimistic" of its taking effect before the end of the year.

Patricia Espinosa, executive secretary of the U.N. Framework Convention on Climate Change, thanked the U.S. and China for ratifying the pact she said held the key to a sustainable future for all.

"The earlier that Paris is ratified and implemented in full, the more secure that future will become," she said, and urged other nations "to join this wave of ambition and optimism towards a better and sustainable world."

The Hangzhou gathering brings together world leaders representing 85 percent of the world's GDP, two-thirds of its population, and some 75 percent of greenhouse gas emissions.

This will be followed on September 21 by U.N. chief Ban Ki-moon hosting leaders on the sidelines of the General Assembly to beat the drum for ratification.

Getting rid of coal

The pact sets out to curb warming by replacing atmosphere-polluting fossil fuels with renewable sources, an ambitious goal towards which most U.N. nations have already pledged emissions curbs.

This is meant to stave off the worst-case-scenario effects of violent droughts, storms and sea-level rise threatened by excessive planet warming.

Only by ratification, however, does a country agree to be bound to an international agreement of this kind, explained the World Resources Institute (WRI), a climate think tank.

Depending on constitutional provisions, many countries need to pass domestic legislation to do so.

Greenpeace senior policy adviser Li Shuo said accession by the U.S. and China brought the possibility of the Paris Agreement entering into force early much closer to reality.

"But this moment should be seen as a starting point, not the finale, of global action on climate," he said.

France, which hosted the U.N. huddle dubbed COP 21 (21st Conference of Parties) which yielded the climate pact, is pushing hard for it to enter into force before the next meet in Marrakech, Morocco from November 7 to 18.

"Our assessment is that 55 parties are likely to ratify this year, representing 58 percent" of emissions," said the WRI's David Waskow.

"It is a much more rapid process... than we have seen in the past for climate or any international regime of this type."

By comparison, it took eight years for the Kyoto Protocol, which preceded the Paris agreement, to enter into force. Neither the U.S. or China signed up to it.

More important even than ratification, observers agree, is cutting fossil fuel subsidies and other funding.

"If G20 countries were to rid themselves of their reliance on coal, this would significantly impact their ability to increase their climate pledges and get their emissions trajectories on a below 2 C pathway," said researcher Niklas Hohne of the NewClimate Institute.

On current pledges, the planet will warm by a dangerous 3 C, according to scientists.

Related news:

> Climate change could drown Vietnam's beaches: experts

> Climate change health impacts loom large

> U.S. offers Vietnam $500,000 to handle effects of climate change
Zhang Kai

(Stock photo courtesy of Zhang Kai)

China Aid

Reported in Chinese by Qiao Nong. Translated by Carolyn Song. Written in English by Brynne Lawrence.

Updated at 5:23 p.m. CDT on Sept. 12, 2016





(Hohhot, Inner MongoliaAug. 31, 2016) The mother of renowned human rights lawyer Zhang Kai published a distressed update yesterday, saying that police surrounded her home and attempted to seize her son. Earlier that day, Zhang had publicly renounced statements he was forced to make during an interview.

In an attempt to maintain the pretense that the Chinese government justly punishes human rights activists, officials forced Zhang to attend the Aug. 4 trial of lawyer Zhou Shifeng, after which he was pressured into condoning the governments treatment of human rights lawyers in an interview. On Aug. 30, he posted a message on WeChat, a popular social media service, refuting his statements, requesting the forgiveness of the lawyers family members and explaining that he had been under great duress after experiencing a six-month detention that was all black and no daylight.

Zhang was originally apprehended on Aug. 25, 2015, for legally representing about 100 churches affected by an ongoing demolition campaign in Zhejiang province. Charged with gathering a crowd to disturb public order and stealing, spying, buying and illegally providing state secrets and intelligence to entities outside of China, he was held incommunicado in an unofficial prison known as a black jail.

Six months later, he reappeared on state television on Feb. 25, 2016, where, during an interview, he was forced to confess to his alleged crimes. Days later, he received a criminal detention sentence, which was cut short when he was released on bail on March 23. Since then, he has been living with his family in Hohhot, Inner Mongolia.

Zhang Kai confirmed that he published the message during a phone call with a China Aid reporter, but stated it was inconvenient for him to receive interviews at this time.

A day later, his mother wrote on social media that police came to her house and attempted to take Zhang into custody once again.

Translations of the two social media messages, as well as the interview between China Aids reporter and Zhang, are forthcoming.

China Aid exposes abuses human rights and religious freedom abuses, such as those experienced by Zhang Kai, in order to protect the right of Chinese Christians to practice their faith.

Zhang Kai wrote this message, translated above,

to refute what he said in a previous interview.

(Photo: China Aid)

Zhang Kais Statement

1. Because of my Christian beliefs and desire to have a clear conscience, I formally declare: On Aug. 4, I accepted an interview with iFeng Satellite TV and other media concerning Zhou Shifengs case. This was not what I really wished for, but I was forced to convey what I did out of fear. I now revoke all of my comments.

After I experienced half a year of detention that was all darkness with no daylight, my elderly parents felt apprehensive. All along, I was powerless to overcome the fear and psychological harm that was brought about as a result. Furthermore, I was powerless to contend against the authorities pressure.

2. I want to repent before God for what I have done because of my weak heart and fear. I request forgiveness from the family members of [human rights lawyers] affected by the 709 incident.

3. Brothers and sisters in the Lord, please pray for me.

Christian: Zhang Kai

8/30/2016





Zhang Kais Mother, Inner Mongolia

The Wenzhou police came to talk to my son this morning. In the worst case, he could go to jail again. Since he was released, he hasnt had one day of freedom! They have the television and prisons [Editors note: She is referring to when Zhang was forced to confess to his crimes on a state-controlled television broadcast]. What do we have? We only have our lives! Let it be!

Ge Yongxi











Zhang Kais mother posted a notice saying the Wenzhou police came last night. They blocked his Weibo, and it looks like they might take him away. No matter what happens, I believe that my son can face it!

ChinaAid Media Team

Cell: (432) 553-1080 | Office: 1+ (888) 889-7757 | Other: (432) 689-6985

Email: [email protected]

For more information, click here
An employee introduces a Samsung Electronics Galaxy Note 7 smartphone at a store in Seoul, South Korea. [Photo/Agencies]

Samsung will issue a global recall of the Galaxy Note 7 smartphone as soon as this weekend after its investigation on explosion claims found batteries were at fault, according to South Korea's Yonhap News.

Samsung Electronics declined to comment on the report on Friday, but said it was conducting the inspection with its partners, it said.

"We will share the findings as soon as possible. Samsung is fully committed to providing the highest quality products to our consumers," the company said in a statement.

Shipments of the Galaxy Note 7 smartphone were delayed in South Korea this week for extra quality control testing. The move came after reports that batteries in some of the jumbo smartphones exploded while they were being charged. Samsung launched the latest version of the Note series just two weeks ago.

Citing an unnamed company official, Yonhap said Samsung's investigation found that faulty batteries caused the phone to catch fire. The number of the Galaxy Note 7 phones with a faulty battery accounts for "less than 0.1 percent" of the products in the market and Samsung is discussing how to resolve the issue with Verizon and its other partners, the official told Yonhap.

The battery issue is a fresh blow to Samsung's smartphone business that has been on a recovery track.

Associated Press
WANG QIFENG / FOR CHINA DAILY

The G20 Summit in Hangzhou is expected to set records for both the number of participants and the number of meetings, as some non-G20 members have been invited as guests and BRICS leaders will hold an informal meeting on the sidelines of the summit.

As host to such a significant forum, China needs to better play its role as a flag-bearer for free trade. The United States was the initiator and has been the leading advocator of the world's multilateral and liberal trade system after the end of World War II.

But while exerting a huge influence on the development of international trade rules, it has not gone all-out to advance inclusive, non-discriminatory liberalization of multilateral trade or further reduced its trade barriers. Instead it has been dragging its feet on the Doha Round of the World Trade Organization talks and spared no efforts in seeking to create regional economic groups exclusive of those major trading powers such as China that it believes threaten its leading status.

The most typical case is the US' unconcealed attempt to push for a Trans-Pacific Partnership Agreement without China. Besides, calls for protectionism have increased in the US to an unprecedented level.

In sharp contrast, China has chosen an evidently different approach from the US. As the world's leading trading country, China has not only been striving to advance the Doha Round of trade talks, it has also been continuously and voluntarily lowering its trade barriers. Despite its efforts to push for bilateral and regional free trade agreements, or FTAs, and advance its Belt and Road Initiative, China has not used its advantages to cozy up to smaller trading partners to form a closed or semi-closed trade circle to maintain its leading trading status.

All of China's efforts are aimed at pursuing a more open and competitive trading environment. It is with such an approach that China has prioritized imports expansion on its foreign trade agenda for the past few years. For example, the trading partners with which China has inked FTAs in the past two years are not less-developed emerging economies but developed or newly industrialized economies whose per capita GDP is much higher than that of China. On Dec 9, 2015, China announced its FTAs with the Republic of Korea and Australia will take effect on Dec 20, and it would expand the range of preferential taxes for imported consumer goods for daily use and cut duties on imported equipment, key components, energy and raw materials since Jan 1, 2016.

In contrast to the TPP, China has openly stressed that the Belt and Road Initiative should conform to WTO rules and proposed a free trade area with the European Union.

All these reflect China's willingness and determination to promote a more open trade environment. But to be an effective free trade flag-bearer, China should first maintain its own domestic economic stability and pursue sustainable development. And since it believes in open and fair competition, instead of obstructing the TPP, it should better promote the broader and more inclusive Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership.

Also, China should push for coordination among major countries on fiscal and monetary policies to maintain their own (and the world's) economic stability to prevent them from resorting to trade protectionism. And in its effort to reform the international economic coordination mechanism and improve global governance, China should take into consideration both equity and efficiency.

China attaches great importance to the G20 platform, but the participation of a number of countries with huge political, economic and ideological differences also means difficulties and low efficiency in the group's efforts to promote policy coordination. Thus, the G20 should only be viewed as a venue to reach principled consensuses not as a place to perform concrete decision-making functions and prescribe a panacea for all problems.

The author is a researcher at the International Trade and Economic Cooperation Institute of the Ministry of Commerce.
World Bank President Jim Yong Kim speaks at a forum on financial development at the 2016 IMF World Bank Spring Meeting in Washington April 17, 2016.[Photo/Agencies]

China supports Jim Yong Kim's second-term as the World Bank President, China's vice finance minister said on Friday.

Zhu Guangyao, vice-minister of finance, spoke highly of President Kim's efforts in lifting global economic growth and in poverty reduction.

Speaking at a news conference ahead of G20 Summit to be held in Hangzhou, Zhejiang province, Zhu said that China has a built a long-standing cooperation with the World Bank and the nation's economic growth has benefited from the financial support and knowledge provided by the World Bank Group.

Zhu expected that Kim's next term of presidency would continue help the World Bank, as a significant multilateral international financial institution, to further promote the bank's reforms and initiatives.

Jim Yong Kim, 56, is the 12th head of the bank.
Logos of KFC, owned by Yum Brands Inc, are seen on its delivery bicycles in front of its restaurant in Beijing February 25, 2013. [Photo/Agencies]

Yum! Brands Inc, which operates KFC and Pizza Hut, said it will sell a combined $460 million stake in its Chinese business to Primavera Capital Group and an Alibaba Group Holding Ltd affiliate, Ant Financial Services Group.

Primavera and Zhejiang Ant Small & Micro Financial Services Group will invest $410 million and $50 million, respectively, in the Yum China Holdings Inc spinoff, according to the statement on Friday. The deal was first reported by the Wall Street Journal. Primavera's founder Fred Hu, Goldman Sachs Group Inc former chairman in charge of Greater China, will become chairman of Yum China.

Yum last year bowed to activist pressure and agreed to spin off its China business into a separate publicly traded company after a prolonged sales slump caused by food-safety scandals.

Yum has seen its dominance of a fast food industry it helped to create deteriorate as health-conscious Chinese consumers shift to healthier options and domestic food chains.

Representatives for Primavera and Ant couldn't be immediately reached for comment after business hours.

Ant, the Alibaba affiliate, operates the widely used Alipay mobile payments platform.

Bloomberg
Comprehensive guidelines are to be issued by China's State Council to ensure healthier and more sustainable development of venture capital.

The new guidelines were approved on Thursday at the State Council's executive meeting. Premier Li Keqiang, who presided over the meeting, highlighted the importance of venture capital development.

"Encouraging venture capital development means a lot for the country's efforts in maintaining sustainable growth and creating jobs," Li said.

"Meanwhile, China's economy still faces considerable downward pressure, yet we notice that regions that perform well in the new economy have much less pressure in ensuring the employment rate than areas that did poorly in developing the new economy," he said.

Venture capital in China refers to growth equity capital, or loan capital, invested by private investors or specialized financial institutions in innovative business startups. Investors mainly gain profits through transferring their share of equity as these companies mature.

Temporary measures were previously put in place in 2005, when the sector was still burgeoning. Over the past decade, venture capital in China, on average, has recorded an average growth of up to 20 percent a year.

The new guidelines emphasize that the development of venture capital should prioritize the new economy, and prevent the possible risk of a capital bubble. Investors should apply a more professional approach based on their own features, use credit wisely and be aware of their social responsibilities.

The new guidelines are in line with the "mass entrepreneurship and innovation" program, created by the premier in 2014, and the government has been reinvigorating the economy by encouraging more people to start their own businesses and unleash their innovation potential.

Figures from the National Development and Reform Commission show that the number of newly registered enterprises exceeded 2.62 million in the first half of 2016, up 28.6 percent compared with last year. By the end of 2015, venture capital had contributed about 2.17 million jobs.

"Developing venture capital will contribute to our country's innovation-driven development strategy and boost private investment," Li said.

Venture capital has also contributed greatly to the commercialization of innovation and scientific research findings, and it plays an increasingly important role in China's economic upgrading.

However, regulation and legislation still lag behind the sector's robust growth. As pointed out during the Thursday meeting, supervision needs to be upgraded, and better credit facilities are in high demand.

Li said that the development of venture capital should be guided by market demand and a wider range of international practices should be implemented.

"It is necessary to draw foreign investment into innovation and entrepreneurship efforts with more robust opening-up efforts. We can also learn a lot along the way," he said.

According to the new guidelines, China will also encourage more diversified venture capital companies, including angel investors. Financing channels for venture capital investors will be expanded, and tax policies for the sector will be better developed.

Xinhua
YANGON - Trade value between Myanmar and China picked up in the first five months of 2016-2017 fiscal year, reaching $2.296 billion, the Myanmar Ministry of Commerce said on Friday.

The four border gates, which link China, are Muse in northern Shan state, Lwejel in Kachin state, Chin Shwehaw in northeastern Shan state and Kanpite Tee in Kachin state, of which Muse border gate stands the largest trade zone with maximum trade value transacting between the two neighbors.

However, trade value through Muse gate alone dropped $114.083 million to $1.95 billion during the five-month period as there were some restrictions by China on rice trading and other items as well as traffic jam on the route to Muse which slowed down trade activities in the early months of this year.

Myanmar mostly exported rice to China, while the others are agricultural products, jade and raw materials.

Myanmar has 15 border trade points with China, Thailand, India and Bangladesh. The total border trade value with the four neighboring countries during the first five months of this fiscal year reached $2.816 billion .

The Myanmar government has planned to open more border trade points under the second short-term five-year National Comprehensive Development Plan which spans from 2016-2017 to 2020-2021.
BEIJING - China will establish a green financing mechanism to facilitate the economy's transition featuring sustainable growth, a senior official of the Ministry of Finance (MOF) told Xinhua on Friday.

According to the guidelines released Wednesday by the People's Bank of China (PBOC) and six other central authorities, China will be the first country worldwide to establish a green financing mechanism.

Among the multitude of incentives proposed to promote green finance, the guideline suggested the establishment of a green development fund, which could reduce investors' financing costs or boost their profits.

The MOF will integrate several special funds on energy conservation and environment protection to provide funding for the green development fund and invest in green industry, a strong message showing the central government's commitment to green development, said the unnamed official during an interview with Xinhua.

The official said that local governments will be encouraged to establish funds to encourage more private capital to invest in green sectors.

The MOF has been always been an advocate for the green industry. Fiscal expenditure on environment protection in 2015 hit 480.3 billion yuan ($72.8 billion), up 26 percent year on year, according to the official.

More fiscal policies supporting green financing will be implemented, including fiscal interest deduction and public-private partnership (PPP) projects, which will promote the development of green industry and provide a healthy policy environment for green financing, said the official.

Meanwhile, the official said China will continue to enhance international cooperation in the green financing field to attract more investment.

China has included green financing on the G20 agenda for the first time to encourage more investment in environmentally friendly projects and build international consensus around green finance.

China's economy is undergoing a major structural transformation toward a new development model focused on achieving better quality growth that is more economically and environmentally sustainable, and achieves better social outcomes for the Chinese people.
The chairman of China's largest server manufacturer called for deeper communication among global big data enterprises at the upcoming B20 summit on Friday, as Internet data centers become as important as water and electricity in the big data era.

Sun Pishu, chairman and CEO of Inspur Group Co Ltd, said when it comes to the interconnections of the global information infrastructure, enterprises should not just focus on improving internet bandwidth.

"As a growing number of governments and enterprises move their business to cloud platforms, internet data centers will play a central role in connecting different countries around the world," he added.

Sun made the comments in Hangzhou, capital of Zhejiang where the B20 summit will be held on Saturday. According to him, when promoting the Belt and Road Initiatives, which are designed to promote trade and exchange between China and Middle Asian and European countries, it is important to balance investments in traditional infrastructure and internet infrastructure.

The Shandong-based company has been stepping up efforts to "export" its big data capability to countries such as Russia, Indonesia and Thailand by partnering with local firms or setting up research and development centers there.
Rescue workers carry a bag containing a dead body of victims of an explosion at a night market in Davao City in southern island of Mindanao early September 3, 2016. Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte branded the bombing of a night market in his home town that killed at least 14 people an act of terrorism, and announced extra powers for the military to combat the threat. Photo by AFP/Manman Dejeto

The bombing of a night market killed at least 14 people.

Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte on Saturday branded the bombing of a night market in his home town that killed at least 14 people an act of terrorism, and announced extra powers for the military to combat the threat.

Duterte said there were no confirmed suspects for the attack in the southern city of Davao just before 11 p.m. (1500 GMT) on Friday, although he named two Islamic militant groups and drug lords as the potential culprits.

"We will treat this as a police matter about terrorism," Duterte told reporters early Saturday morning after visiting the site of the bombing in the heart of Davao and close to one of the city's top hotels.

Duterte was in the city at the time of the blast but was not near the market.

At least 14 people were killed and another 67 were injured in the explosion, police said. Sixteen of the injured were in critical condition, a local hospital director told reporters.

"The force just hurled me. I practically flew in the air," Adrian Abilanosa, who said his cousin was among those killed, told AFP shortly after the attack as bodies lay strewn amid broken plastic tables and chairs.

An improvised explosive device caused the explosion, presidential spokesman Martin Andanar said.

Deadly Philippine bomb attack 'terrorism': Duterte Deadly Philippine bomb attack 'terrorism': Duterte

Davao is the biggest city in the southern Philippines, with a population of about two million people. It is about 1,500 kilometres (930 miles) from the capital of Manila.

The city is part of the southern region of Mindanao, where Islamic militants have waged a decades-long separatist insurgency that has claimed more than 120,000 lives.

Duterte had been mayor of Davao for most of the past two decades, before winning national elections in a landslide this year and being sworn in as president on June 30.

Duterte became well known for bringing relative peace and order to Davao with hardline security policies, while also brokering local deals with Muslim and communist rebels.

"State of lawlessness"

Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte speaks to members of the media as he visits the site of an explosion at a nigth market in Davao City in southern island of Mindanao early September 3, 2016. Photo by AFP/Manman Dejeto

On Saturday morning, Duterte declared a "state of lawlessness", which his security adviser said gave the military extra powers to conduct law enforcement operations normally done only by the police.

When asked who was responsible, Duterte said authorities had been expecting reprisals from the Abu Sayyaf Islamic militant group following a military offensive against it.

The Abu Sayyaf is a small but extremely dangerous group of militants that has declared allegiance to Islamic State and is notorious for kidnapping foreigners to extract ransoms. The group beheaded two Canadian hostages this year.

Duterte last week ordered a major assault against the Abu Sayyaf on its stronghold of Jolo island, about 900 kilometers from Davao. Fifteen soldiers died in clashes with the Abu Sayyaf on Monday.

"I remember warning everybody that there could be a reprisal because of the operation there," Duterte said.

While Davao has been regarded as relatively safe compared with other parts of Mindanao, the Abu Sayyaf and other Islamic militant groups have carried out deadly attacks there in the past.

The Abu Sayyaf claimed responsibility for three bomb attacks in 2005 -- one in Davao, one in a nearby city and a third in Manila -- that killed eight people.

The Abu Sayyaf said it conducted the 2005 attacks in response to an offensive against it at that time.

In 2003, two bomb attacks blamed on Muslim rebels at Davao's airport and the city's port within a month of each other killed about 40 people

However Duterte on Saturday made clear the Abu Sayyaf was not the confirmed culprit, as he named the Maute gang -- another small militant group based in Mindanao that has also declared allegiance to the Islamic State group -- as another suspect.

Duterte also raised the possibility of drug lords carrying out the attack as a way of fighting back against his war on crime.

Duterte has made eradicating illegal drugs the top priority of the beginning of his presidency.

Security forces have conducted raids in communities throughout the country to arrest or kill drug traffickers.

More than 2,000 people have died in the war on crime.

The United States, the United Nations and rights groups have expressed concern about an apparent wave of extrajudicial killings.

Related news:

> Philippines' Duterte warns China of 'reckoning'

> Duterte threatens to pull Philippines out of UN

> The dark side of Duterte's deadly but popular drugs war
China's vice finance minister urged for greater collaboration to tackle challenges that arise from excessive capacity on Friday.

Speaking at the press conference held ahead of the G20 Summit to be held in Hangzhou, East China's Zhejiang province, Zhu Guangyao, vice finance minister, stressed the importance of cooperating to address challenges that cannot be resolved by any country alone.

"Excessive capacity has become a key challenge faced by both advanced and developing economies among G20 members," he said, adding that sluggish demand is one major reason leading to overcapacity.

Zhu said that global coordination is the answer to face these challenges, and that criticism does no good to resolve frictions and challenges between trading partners.

Despite facing economic headwinds and price fluctuations, "China takes the lead among major economies in the world to shut excessive capacity, " said Zhu, referring to the nation's targets set for capacity reduction and the central government's financial support for relocating laid-off workers.

Zhu added the government would help promote merger and liquidation of companies grappling with overcapacity problems using market principles.
On the sidelines of the G20 Summit in Hangzhou on Sept 4-5, President Xi Jinping will host an informal meeting of his counterparts from Brazil, India, Russia and South Africa, or a BRICS meeting. Since all BRICS nations are members of the G20, their leaders, or representatives, have been sharing notes and coordinating their policies and strategies at various global forums, including the G20 Summits.

But the BRICS meeting in Hangzhou will be special for several reasons.

First, the meeting will give BRICS leaders a chance to discuss their major decisions and fine-tune them before announcing them at the 8th BRICS summit in mid-October in Goa in western India. About 900 delegates are expected to attend it, including 300 from China.

Second, the two summits put special focus and onus on China and India, which are seen today as locomotives of the global economy, which has been struggling for the last eight years. Indeed, the World Economic Outlook of the International Monetary Fund has lowered the global growth estimate from 3.1 to 2.9 percent for this year.

Third, the two summits will give China and India the opportunities to push developing countries' agenda of democratizing global financial governance, and put the BRICS house in order as it has been attracting criticism for its geographical and structural disconnects.

And fourth, given that for some time, the Brazilian, Russian and South African economies have been facing downswings, China and India have to play the lead roles and thus get the chance to reset their bilateral ties that have hit a hump since the beginning of this year.

On the positive side, the new-found bonhomie between China and India has resulted in two sides signing contracts worth about $50 billion for Chinese investments in India in the next five years.

Conscious of their developing relations, however, the two sides have treaded cautiously, with India responding in a measured manner to the July 12 ruling by an arbitral tribunal in The Hague. In return, Foreign Minister Wang Yi visited India last month.

In fact, the China-India bonhomie has extended to global financial governance, too, as the BRICS New Development Bank was established in record time of three years and has already announced its first tranche of funding for green and sustainable projects for all five BRICS members in social sectors such as healthcare, education and population matters.

Besides, the China-led 57-member Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank has India as its second-largest stakeholder. This means the two countries are aware of their inordinate responsibilities to strengthen BRICS as a platform to achieve innovative structural adjustments in global financial governance, including in the G20.

Led by China and India, BRICS leaders have already been debating how to develop their own commercial arbitration mechanisms to reduce their dependence on redress centers in developed countries, whose awards tend to be loaded against developing countries.

Similarly, to strengthen their competitiveness in trade and investments, BRICS leaders have been debating about setting up a rating agency for the five-member bloc. And to encourage intra-BRICS trade, they have been discussing the possibility of issuing "BRICS visas" for businesspeople and visa-on-arrival for other visitors. All this not only raises their clout in G20 deliberations, but also strengthens their drive to restructure the outdated Bretton Woods institutions such as the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund and help emerging economies get larger representation and greater say in global financial decision-making.

The author is professor of diplomacy and disarmament at the School of International Studies, Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi.
Inside an office at Hangzhou's Zhejiang University, Anchik Tyu, an Uzbek national who is in the final year of his doctoral work, was making a call on his mobile phone.

"Hello, do you speak Russian?" Tyu asked in Russian.

"I have just arrived at the Hangzhou Railway Station from Shanghai, and I don't know how to get to West Lake," Tyu said, trying to sound like a tourist.

He added that he wanted to save money and didn't want to take a taxi.

Tyu, one of 26 international students who are part of the volunteer team for the G20 Summit, was pretending to be a first-time visitor to Hangzhou, the capital of Zhejiang province, which is hosting the summit.

He was calling the language service local hotline96020to check on whether the service was up to the mark.

Tyu, who has been living in China for six years, is fluent in Chinese. His bilingual skills make him a perfect candidate for a language volunteer at the summit, which will draw leaders from 20 major economies.

"She did a good job," Tyu said after using the service.

"The instructions given by the attendant were clear enough for me to understand," he said.

Following the call, Tyu filled out an evaluation form that covered such factors as use of language and the attendant's attitude.

The hotline has been providing 24-hour service since Aug 10, with a separate crew of about 250 interpreters providing service in all of the languages of the summit's participating nations.

Annie Cen Zhao, from Venezuela, is responsible for testing the Spanish service.

"I asked the attendant how to send a box of local snacks back home. Also, I pretended to have problems with the customs office for carrying too much cash."

Zhao, who made her call in the middle of the night, has lived in Hangzhou for two years.

She said her love for the city prompted her to apply to be a volunteer.

But she and more than 60 other applicants had to go through several rounds of screenings and interviews to be recruited.

Like Zhao, Zakarya Al-Shaarani, from Yemen, learned about the recruitment in June and applied.

"I was a bit nervous during the interview," said Al-Shaarani, who came to China in 2014 to study Chinese.

After being selected, the international students participated in numerous training sessions, during which they were briefed about the summit, as well as the history and culture of Hangzhou.

"I found it very interesting to learn about the summit and the city," said Al-Shaarani. "Working with fellow students to serve at such an important event is really exciting."

Sedjro Aurel Desnos Goun, from Benin, is a candidate for a master's degree in international relations and has lived in China for nearly a decade.

"I admire China for having held so many large-scale events, such as the 2008 Summer Olympics and 2010 Shanghai Expo," Goun said.

He said he wanted to get an insider's view by being a volunteer.

Goun, whose Chinese name is Nuo Yan, or "promise", said he feels that being a volunteer is like "keeping a promise that you will be ready to serve anytime".

Besides testing the language service hotline, international volunteers have also been organizing English classes for local residents.

Australian Tim Clancy, who is studying clinical medicine at Zhejiang University, said he was honored that the West Lake district government invited him to take part in the making of a TV program that teaches English to Hangzhou residents.

"I'd never imagined that people here are so hospitable," Clancy said. "I want to be part of this great event."
China and the United States are expected to give the Paris climate change agreement a big push forward as the world's largest economies gather for the G20 Summit this weekend, experts say.

With Chinawhich has shown growing international leadership on climate changehosting the summit for the first time, "we can expect climate and energy to be front and center", said Joanna Lewis, a specialist at Georgetown University on energy and environmental issues in China.

The summit on Sunday and Monday is also the last for US President Barack Obama, who hopes to cement action on climate change as one of his legacy issues, experts say.

China and the United States, the world's two biggest contributors to climate change, have made a joint political push to drive action on the problem since 2014, when they made their targets for the Paris agreement public at the same time.

"The US and China are poised to lead the way in the G20 (on climate action) so other countries will follow," Lewis told journalists by telephone.

But G20 members so far have committed to only a sixth of the emissions cuts needed to hold global temperature increases to "well below 2 C", as agreed to in Paris, so much more needs to be done, said Lutz Weischer, head of international climate policy at Germanwatch, an advocacy group that tracks climate action.

In particular, planned new coal-fired power plants within the G20 would nearly double coal capacity if built, and would make it "virtually impossible" to limit warming even to 2 degrees, said a report issued on Thursday by the Climate Transparency consortium.

"In the real world, there is still a long way to go, particularly for the G20, and they need to reflect that in a more serious way," Weischer told journalists.

G20 economies produce about 80 percent of climate-changing greenhouse gas emissions, with China and the United States taking the lead, noted Andrew Steer, president of the World Resources Institute.

Getting more G20 members to ratify the Paris climate deal could boost momentum for it to take effect early, perhaps even by the end of this year or early next, he added.

That is considered increasingly important as the world continues to break temperature records on an almost monthly basis and struggles with more extreme weather, worsening coral bleaching, and other impacts that suggest climate change is advancing faster than anticipated.

For the Paris climate agreement to come into effect, 55 countries representing 55 percent of the world's emissions must ratify it.

So far 23 countries have done so, but 55 nations accounting for 58 percent of emissions have indicated they will approve the deal by the end of the year, said Andrew Light, a senior fellow at World Resources Institute and a former US State Department climate adviser.
Young volunteers who are assisting the B20 Summit jump together in front of the event's main venue in Hangzhou, Zhejiang province. WANG ZHUANGFEI / CHINA DAILY

Business 20 pushing for G20 to adopt and implement practical measures to advance trade, investment and innovation

As the world looks to emerge from the shadow of the global financial crisis that erupted eight years ago, President Xi Jinping's speeches at the upcoming G20 Leaders Summit and the B20 Summit in Hangzhou are expected to propose long-term governance mechanisms and a number of new measures to promote trade, investment and innovation, said officials and business leaders of the B20.

The B20 summit and meetings involve representatives of the international business community who offer advice to the G20 leaders.

They have proposed a number of first-time proposals including building a global e-commerce platform and a joint fund to develop advanced technologies, as well as visa-free policies for managers of small and medium-sized enterprises to travel within the group.

Yi Huiman, chairman of the Industrial and Commercial Bank of China and a member of the B20's financing growth taskforce, said as the G20 accounts for 85 percent of the world's economy, 80 percent of world trade and outbound investment and 70 percent of inbound investment, the speech of the president was expected to encourage support for trade and finance to help contribute to global growth.

The G20 started off as a forum featuring regular meetings of the finance ministers and central bank governors of the world's major economies. It was remodeled into a summit for the leaders of the 19 largest economies and the European Union in the aftermath of the 2008 financial crisis.

However, in the post-crisis era, the G20 has met new challenges, and it has been urged to shift its focus from crisis management to long-term governance.

"In the current global economic climate, the G20 needs to structurally upgrade itself to help the global economy get out of the low growth trap," said Ren Hongbin, president of China National Machinery Industry Corp.

Liang Guoyong, an economic affairs official at the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development, said China's implementation of measures to address its economic issues reflects the country's efforts to improve global economic governance and promoting its prominence on the global stage.

Pierre Nanterme, CEO of Accenture Plc, a global consulting and professional services company, said he is a strong believer that e-commerce and related trade methods will be the main engines for global economic growth, as well as offering smaller companies more access to foreign markets.

"That is why in the B20's SME development taskforce, we are strongly supporting the creation of a platform called the Electronic World Trade Platform," Nanterme said.

The Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation, a forum for 21 Pacific Rim economies, has already reached a consensus with members of the G20 that cross-border e-trade would be one of the best ways of enabling SMEs to address the obstacles they face in accessing foreign markets.

Phil O'Reilly, director of business consultancy Iron Duke Partners in New Zealand, predicted that the Chinese leader's speech will emphasize the developing e-trade to further accelerate the pace of global trade pace and necessary infrastructure development.

"It is enormous growth potential, not just e-commerce in China across borders, but in every country," he said. "It would mean that small and medium-sized businesses could be global from day one. It is not just trading out of China or trading into Chinait is doing trade anywhere in the world."

In its latest prediction, the International Monetary Fund has lowered this year's global economic growth target from 3.1 percent to 2.9 percent.

If the projections turn out to be true, 2016 will be the second consecutive year of less-than-3-percent global growth after last year's 2.4 percent.

In addition, the developed economies are facing weak recoveries. Earlier this year, the IMF downgraded its economic growth forecasts for the United States, the EU and Japan.

Aging populations, wealth distribution inequality, technological monopolies, trade protectionism, the Syria refugee crisis and terrorism are believed to be the main reasons behind the low-growth. To tackle these problems, the G20 members need to increase their inputs into promoting sustainable development.

"That is why the upcoming G20 Summit has, for the first time, chosen to put development at the top of the macro-policy agenda, and will put forward an action plan for implementing the United Nation's 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development," said Wang Shouwen, vice-minister of commerce.

It is also why China considers the lack of growth impetus to be a key issue for this year's summit and has put forward a blueprint for innovation-driven growth, Wang said.

China currently is trying to stimulate growth by focusing on the supply-side reform. Its efforts in this endeavor can be of great benefit for the countries worldwide that are striving to get their sluggish economies back on track.

The supply-side structural reform is aimed at cutting low-end industrial capacity while increasing high-tech production.

"Eager to enhance the world's trading ability, China will push for the adoption of a global trade growth strategy at the summit, lay out guiding principles for global investment policies and promote deepening reform of the existing international financial system," said Xu Hongcai, director of the Economic Research Department at the China Center for International Economic Exchanges.

About B20

The Business 20 is a key platform for the international business community to participate in global economic governance and international economic and trade regulation.

Centered on the B20 taskforce meetings and the B20 summit, it supports the work of the G20 by hosting focused policy discussions and developing recommendations geared toward strong, sustainable and balanced growth in the global economy.

Over the years the B20 priorities have been clearly aligned with those of the G20 Summit, focusing on major goals in global economic development.

These include reform of the financial system, trade, investment, infrastructure, employment and anti-corruption measures.

The B20 taskforces consult with the business community and devise a list of recommendations for G20 members.

Since 2010 more than 400 policy recommendations have been proposed. These continue to be highly valued by G20 leaders, and many have been incorporated into previous G20 communiques.

Many G20 leaders have attended previous B20 summits and exchanged views with B20 delegates.
Jiang Zengwei, chair of B20 2016 and chairman of the China Council for the Promotion of International Trade.

China, as chair of the G20, is hosting the G20 Leaders Summit for the first time. It is being held in Hangzhou, Zhejiang province, on Sept 4 and 5.

As an important opening event for this year's summit, the 2016 G20 business summit, known as the B20, will be held from Saturday to Sunday.

The G20 leaders highly value the input of the international business community into their considerations. President Xi Jinping will attend the opening ceremony of this year's B20 Summit and deliver a keynote speech.

Other leaders of G20 members, including Argentina, South Africa, Turkey, Australia and Canada, will also have discussions with representatives of the business community at the B20 Summit.

The event has attracted more than 800 delegates from scores of countries and regions, as well as international organizations.

Among them are the heads of major international organizations, including the World Bank, the International Monetary Fund, and the World Trade Organization.

The B20 Summit has also attracted wide attention and participation from the international business community.

More than 600 companies have sent representatives to the summit, many of them on the Fortune 500 list or among the top 500 Chinese businesses.

As a result, this year's session has become the largest in the history of the B20.

The B20 Summit will feature in-depth discussions on the four major topics on the G20 agendabreaking a new path for global economic growth, developing more effective and efficient global economic and financial governance, encouraging robust international trade and investment, and promoting inclusive and interconnected development.

At present, the global economy is in an important transition period. While we are facing huge and urgent challenges, there are also abundant opportunities to be seized.

The B20 plays an important role in the G20 process. It is also a unique platform for business leaders from major economies to discuss global governance and push forward economic growth. Accordingly, the B20, on behalf of the international business community, shoulders the critical task of providing G20 leaders with recommendations for boosting economic growth and employment worldwide and improving global economic governance.

The international community is expecting both the G20 and the B20 to play their roles in finding solutions to the global economic problems and propose initiatives to inject more vitality into global economic recovery.

Thus, this year's B20 has focused on the themes and key agenda of the G20 Hangzhou summit. After comprehensive consultations with the international business community, six major areasfinancing to boost growth, trade and investment, infrastructure, development of small and medium-sized enterprises, employment and anti-corruptionwere reviewed by the B20. Corresponding taskforces were established to review these topics and a special purpose forum on anticorruption was also held.

Over the past seven months, we have organized more than 50 work meetings, seminars and exchange activities between business participants in the B20 and G20 members. We visited 14 countries and invited about 3,900 people to research and discuss the B20 proposals to be submitted to the G20 leaders.

Based on the above efforts, we have compiled the B20 2016 Policy Recommendations to the G20, which will be officially handed over to G20 leaders later this week at the B20 Summit.

The report makes 20 policy recommendations addressing the G20 Leaders Summit themes that are specific and actionable.

We have taken comprehensive steps to communicate and promote these proposals to the G20 and other interested countries as well as within the international business community. Given the potential effect of these recommendations on global economic recovery, we hope they will all be adopted and implemented by the G20 members.

After nearly a year of hard work, the B20 has reached its harvest season. We expect the participants at the B20 Summit to exchange views and contribute ideas and solutions for attaining robust, sustainable and balanced global economic growth. Their discussions will also shape the further development of the B20.

The author is the chair of B20 2016 and chairman of the China Council for the Promotion of International Trade.
A business group from industrial and commercial circles has proposed building an electronic world trade platform to provide input for leaders' decision-making.

Business 20 has recommended that the G20 leaders endorse the concept of eWTP for public-private dialogue to incubate cross-border e-trade rules and to make the policy and business environment more efficient for cross-border e-trade development, said Yu Ping, China's B20 sherpa, which is a post defined as the representative of the government at the international summit.

The B20 Summit will gather over 800 business leaders in Hangzhou on Saturday and Sunday, presenting more than 400 policy recommendations in various fields, including curbing trade protectionism, green finance, infrastructure connectivity and anti-corruption.

"The B20 proposes to formally establish the eWTP as an open, transparent, not-for-profit platform," said Yu. "It will cooperate with international organizations such as the World Trade Organization to prioritize e-trade development needs and enhance e-trade articles in the Trade Facilitation Agreement."

The eWTP initiative has been led by China's e-commerce giant Alibaba Group Holding Ltd.

Jack Ma, Alibaba's executive chairman, said his company will pick two countries to run the test after the G20 Summit to see how it works. Ma has traveled to a number of countries including Russia, South Korea, Australia and several European nations to promote this initiative.

The B20 gives international companies and commercial organizations a chance to participate in global economic governance and the making of economic and trade regulations.

"I hope Alibaba could run the first round of this network and give it to somebody that could follow up," said Ma, who is also chair of the B20 SME Development Taskforce. "It will also bring investment and trade opportunities to countries that need to improve their infrastructure development, especially in the fields of telecommunication, logistics and services."

This is also the first time that the B20 has suggested promoting inclusive and green financing to further protect consumers' interests and seek more healthy growth.

"I hope to see progress made on multiple G20 priorities, including on financial regulation ... and green finance," said Bill Winters, group chief executive of Standard Chartered.

"We need to focus on ways in which to unlock investment to support the huge need for infrastructure finance across the G20 and to fund clean energy technologies that enables us to transition to a low-carbon world," said Winters, who also is co-chair of the B20's Financing Growth Taskforce.

Jiang Xueqing in Beijing contributed to this story.

zhongnan@chinadaily.com.cn
Friday marked the first day of President Xi Jinping's packed schedule of meetings with key figures arriving for the G20 Leaders Summit in Hangzhou, Zhejiang province.

Xi welcomed leaders from Kazakhstan, Indonesia, Senegal, Laos, Brazil and Singapore on Friday, as the leaders expressed their countries' desires for a successful summit in China.

Many of the countries said they appreciated China's contribution to boosting development and solidarity in regions such as Africa. Among the six countries, Kazakhstan, Senegal, Laos and Singapore are guest countries invited by Beijing this year.

Laos chairs the Association of Southeast Asian Nations this year, while Senegal is chair of the New Partnership for Africa's Development.

Catchphrases during the meetings included "dovetailing national-level development strategies," "promoting key infrastructure projects" and "addressing the sluggish global economy."

To highlight greater benefits from cooperation, Xi specified goals such as helping to accelerate industrialization in Senegal and promoting the industrialization of agriculture there.

Wang Yusheng, a veteran Chinese diplomat and a former Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation official, noted that hosting the G20 Summit is an important opportunity for China to play its role as a major country with a great sense of responsibility.

"As China promotes equality and mutual benefit, and a correct outlook upon interests ... I believe these concepts will be further realized and all the countries will work together to weather the storm," Wang said.

Su Ge, president of the China Institute of International Studies, noted that the meetings were held as growth is slowing in emerging economies and the security situation in many regions is deteriorating.

"The world has benefited China's development, and the Chinese economy will make its own contribution to the world," Su said.

Kazakhstan

President Nursultan Nazarbayev thanked China for its invitation to attend the G20 summit as a guest country. He said that the two countries have traditional friendship and high political mutual trust.

Kazakhstan would like to enhance cooperation with China in areas including trade, agriculture, energy, petroleum processing, environmental protection and security, Nazarbayev said.

He added that Kazakhstan is willing to connect the country's "Bright Road" new economic policies with China's Belt and Road Initiative.

President Xi Jinping said that China and Kazakhstan should make joint efforts for more competitive projects with high added value, deepen energy and resource cooperation, broaden people-to-people exchanges, and strengthen cooperation in the security area.

Indonesia

President Joko Widodo said he supports exploring ways to connect China's 21st century maritime Silk Road with Indonesia's 'global maritime nexus', and deepening cooperation with China in areas such as trade, investment, finance and infrastructure. The Indonesia-China comprehensive strategic partnership could contribute to world peace and security, he said. President Xi Jinping urged the smooth construction and operation of a high-speed railway linking the Indonesian capital Jakarta and nearby Bandung. Xi said that the two countries should cooperate on more leading projects and enhance cooperation in areas including infrastructure, production capacity, trade, investment, finance and e-commerce. China and Indonesia should be good neighbors, good partners and good friends, Xi said.

Senegal

President Macky Sall said Senegal appreciates China's long-term support to Senegal and Africa at large.

Senegal highly values China's cooperation plan with Africa that President Xi Jinping announced during the China-Africa Cooperation Forum Johannesburg Summit last year, he said, as well as close cooperation with China to achieve Africa's independent development.

China and Senegal agreed in the meeting to raise the bilateral relationship to a comprehensive strategic partnership of cooperation. Xi said China is willing to help Senegal speed up industrialization and independent development, modernize agriculture, strengthen security cooperation and push forward the international political and economic order to be more fair and reasonable.

Laos

President Bounnhang Vorachith said he appreciates China's invitation to Laos to attend the G20 Summit in Hangzhou, and he speaks highly of China's making development an important topic on the summit agenda.

The Laos-China comprehensive strategic partnership is developing rapidly, the high-level visits are frequent, and cooperation in various fields is bringing tangible benefits to people of both countries, he said.

President Xi Jinping said Laos' participation in the G20 Summit, with its chairmanship of ASEAN, is of great significance. Both countries should jointly promote the building of the Belt and Road Initiative and strengthen cooperation in fields such as infrastructure, energy development and economic cooperation parks, Xi said.

Brazil

Brazilian President Michel Temer said he is delighted to come to China and attend the G20 Leaders Summit as his first trip abroad after taking office. Brazil wants to deepen its comprehensive strategic partnership with China on stable and long-lasting basis, he said. Brazil would like to increase cooperation in fields such as bilateral trade, energy, aviation, agriculture and husbandry, investment, financing and infrastructure, he added. President Xi Jinping said China has confidence in Brazil's development prospects as well as China-Brazil cooperation. Xi said he hopes the two countries will increase the dovetailing of industries and production capacity cooperation, introduce new dynamism into practical bilateral cooperation by promoting scientific and technological innovation, and expand strategic coordination in international issues such as global governance, sustainable development and climate change.

Singapore

Singapore's Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong said the strategic interconnection project in Chongqing, a landmark cooperative project between his country and China, has gradually taken shape. Singapore hopes to broaden its cooperation with China under the Belt and Road Initiative, in fields such as aviation and finance. As the coordinating country between China and ASEAN, Singapore is ready to keep pushing forward China-ASEAN cooperation, he said. President Xi Jinping said China and Singapore are "standing at a new historic starting point".The two countries should well plan development of bilateral ties, maintain top-level exchanges, strengthen communication and show understanding and respect on issues involving each other's core interests and major concerns.

China Daily

(China Daily 09/03/2016 page4)
Lush forests, cool temperatures and the beautiful landscape make the Mogan Mountains a popular destination for Chinese vacationers. DUAN CHANGZHENG / FOR CHINA DAILY

Rediscovered about a decade ago, the scenic serenity of the peaks made them the playground of an eclectic elite since ancient times, particularly in the early 1900s. Erik Nilsson reports.

American missionaries. Chinese crime lords. British bankers.

Mao Zedong, Zhou Enlai and Chiang Kai-shek.

A legendary herbologist's daughter, who forged magic swords for a king and then leapt into the kiln to possess the weapons with her soul in the Spring and Autumn Period (770-476 BC).

The Mogan Mountains' scenic serenity has made them the playground of an eclectic elite since ancient times and particularly in the early 1900s.

Picturesque peaks, cool climates and verdant vibrancy have long drawn a curious cast of characters to this terrain. And this ecological and historical legacy has in the last decade generated a resurgence of visitors from around the world.

It's said tea first left China from these mountains when the British transplanted it in what's today Sri Lanka.

The international enclave in Zhejiang province's Deqing county was essentially forgotten by the outside world after New China's 1949 founding.

It crumbled for decades, until after the turn of the century, when a South African working in Shanghai stumbled upon the abandoned hamlet of Sanjiuwu.

Grant Horsfield was seeking a retreat from the heat, pressure and pollution of Shanghai when he chanced upon the thicket of forsaken farmhouses in Mogan. He hunted down the owners and leased the tumbledown buildings to convert them into guesthouses in 2007.

Everyone thought he was crazy. But the business turned out to be insanely successful.

Sanjiuwu was but the first of several properties run by Naked Retreats around the country.

The brand opened the luxurious $31.7 million Naked Stables in another part of Mogan in 2011.

The cheapest roomsearthen huts with sleek Afro-Asian interior design and lavish amenities like spa showerscost more than 1,000 yuan ($150) a night. The priciest tree houses perched on the mountaintop peak at more than 13,000 yuan.

Summers are fully booked, and weekends are reserved in advance much of the year.

Twenty minutes of horse riding costs 200 yuan. The priciest package for an hour of off-road Land Rover driving tops out at just under 5,000 yuan per person.

It also hosts a spa, yoga and pottery classes.

Naked Resorts is reincarnating the Sanjiuwu location. It's reinventing the original nine farmhouses and constructing a replica of a celebrated 1920s mansion built like a medieval castle that once stood on the Mogan Mountains. It's slated to open in November.

Horsfield wasn't the first foreigner to return to the area after the exodusa Briton opened a hotel on an alp a few years beforebut it was the South African entrepreneur's project that ignited the interest that detonated an explosion of boutique accommodations.

Dozens of resorts and homestays have since sprung up, typically claiming eco themes and billing themselves as blends of history and modernity.

Indeed, these motifs befit the mountain's essence.

The destination has since ancient times been recognized as ranking among China's top four summer retreats for average annual temperatures of 13 C.

Forestsmostly plumes of more than 60 species of bamboobristle across 93 percent of the expanse, painting the prominences assorted shades of green.

This enticed well-heeled foreigners and Chineseincluding the drug lord "Big-eared Du" and mob kingpin Zhang Xiaolin, who reportedly fed his mistress to his pet tigersto build more than 250 opulent summer homes from the late 1800s to the early 20th century. Today, 43 enjoy national protection.

A statue in Reed Pond Park stands as a more recent monument commemorating the ancient pharmacologist, Mo Yuan, from whom the mountains take their namesake, and his daughter, Mo Ye.

Lore holds he spent decades traveling the region to collect and study homeopathic plants, his little girl in tow, after his wife died due to a lack of medicine.

He eventually settled in the area.

Mo Ye later fashioned a pair of enchanted swords with her husband, Gan Jiang, and sacrificed herself to the kiln's flamesand deityso her spirit would waft into the blade, infusing it with magic powers.

Mogan, by coincidence, roughly translates as "no concerns" or "don't work".

That's incidental. Yet, given the mountains' history and contemporary status as a sanctuary of leisure, it seems fitting.
A farmer harvests pitaya fruit in the Xianju Agriculture Experiment Park for Taiwan Farmers. WANG ZHUANGFEI / CHINA DAILY

The government of Xianju, Zhejiang province, recognizes environmental protection requires more than pure policyit's also a battle for hearts and minds.

That said, none of these are mutually exclusive. Rather, the county has demonstrated they are symbiotic.

Upon realizing the underdeveloped county's progress depends on ecotourism and organic farming, authorities set out to build consensus that green is the way to go.

"There were debates about why we should seek green developmentand how," says Xianju's policy research department director Zhu Huwei.

"Now, people from the bottom to the top agree on this path. Our goals, strategies and practices are all based on this concept. People have already started to see the financial benefits.

"People used to believe economic development and ecological protection were inherently at odds. But they don't need to be."

The county's GDP has grown rapidly over the past years, during which time tourism has doubled.

"Many other places developed fast but had to turn around later to deal with pollution," Zhu says.

"We've been figuring out how to use our ecological advantages to develop rapidly over the past decade."

This has led to the rise of a grassroots "ecological culture", he says. Volunteer groups clear trash in rivers, valleys and mountains.

Zhejiang province recently designated the county as a pilot zone for the standardization of green practices because of its track record.

"We're setting standardswhat's a green school, what's a green hospital, what's a green office," Xianju's Party chief Lin Hong explains.

"Sustainable development goes beyond government and business operations to include residents' daily lives. For instance, do people shop with plastic or cloth bags?"

A bridge between mountains in the Shenxianju scenic zone in Xianju county.[Photo provided to China Daily]

Lin also advocates the reduction of food waste and donations of secondhand items.

The government has introduced a "1-3-5" recommendation in which, one day a week, people walk to work if their jobs are closer than 3 kilometers and bike if they're within 5 km.

Zhu says he rides rather than drives.

Public institutions and private enterprises are encouraged to agree to a "green convention" about behaviors they voluntarily assume.

Offices are encouraged to go paperless and print on both sides if physical copies are necessary. Workers are expected to turn off the lights and airconditioning when they, say, leave for lunch.

A system similar to the green convention offers guidelines for ordinary people.

Danzhu township has issued 10 suggestions for residents, including sorting trash, repurposing old items and refraining from littering.

"There isn't a tradition of sorting garbage in villages," publicity officer Zheng Yi says.

"We want to change mentalities."

Teams inspect homes to see if they're in compliance. Those who are receive small gifts, such as towels, detergent and thermoses. Households who separate kitchen waste and recyclable items earn 1 yuan (15 cents) a day after 30 days.

But it is more of an ethical than a material concern, Zheng explains. "If people's morality is enriched, they're more likely to engage in green behavior," he says.

Villages also form women's and Party volunteer teams to promote green behaviors.

A peculiar park in Xiachenzhu village bears testimony to the ethos. Four walls constructed with materials recycled from collapsed farmhouses stand in a field previously occupied by tombs, pigpens and a manure pit.

"We let the weeds grow so villagers appreciate nature," Zheng says.

But while there are no punishments for violating the guidelines, Xianju has also introduced punishable environmental ordinances.

Villagers organize patrols of up to five people to monitor behaviors along waterways and in forests.

Fines ranging from 500 to 10,000 yuan are issued for illegal fishing, dumping trash, camping and fires along Xiachenzhu's Weiqiang River, for instance.

It's a question of guidelines versus red lines. "It's a gradual process," Lin explains.

"Interestingly, villagers have done a better job than urban residents. Although people in the city typically have more education  Supervision isn't enough. We need to do more."

Xing Yi contributed to this story.
"With increasing power comes increasing responsibilities," said Obama referring to China.

China needs to be a more responsible power as it gains global influence and avoid flexing its muscles in disputes with smaller countries over issues like the South China Sea (Vietnam's East Sea), U.S. President Barack Obama told CNN in an interview to be aired on Sunday.

Obama, who meets with President Xi Jinping at a G20 summit next week in China, told CNN the United States supports the peaceful rise of China but that Beijing had to recognize that "with increasing power comes increasing responsibilities," according to excerpts released on Friday.

"If you sign a treaty that calls for international arbitration around maritime issues, the fact that you're bigger than the Philippines or Vietnam or other countries ... is not a reason for you to go around and flex your muscles," Obama said. "You've got to abide by international law."

China, a signatory to the U.N. Convention on the Law of the Sea, recently lost an arbitration dispute over the South China Sea. A court in the Hague found China had no historic title over the waters of the South China Sea and had infringed on the rights of the Philippines. Beijing has rejected the ruling.

Obama said Washington had urged Beijing to bind itself to international rules and norms to help build a strong international order.

"Where we see them violating international rules and norms, as we have seen in some cases in the South China Sea or in some of their behavior when it comes to economic policy, we've been very firm," Obama told CNN. "And we've indicated to them that there will be consequences."

The U.S. president said China could not expect to "pursue mercantilist policies that just advantage" itself now that China has become a more affluent, middle-income country.

"Even though you still have a lot of poor people, you know, you can't just export problems. You've got to have fair trade and not just free trade," Obama said. "You have to open up your markets if you expect other people to open up their markets."

Related news:

> Vietnam says all will lose in any South China Sea war

> ASEAN deadlocked on South China Sea after Cambodia blocks statement

> Australia must choose between United States and China
China will facilitate the entry of small and medium-sized enterprises into the global value chain through new measures including policy support, innovation promotion, interconnected infrastructure facilities and inclusive trading platforms after the G20 Summit in Hangzhou, the Ministry of Commerce said on Friday.

Eager to enhance the earning ability of China's SMEs, the ministry has been making efforts to approve the action plan of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development to seek new growth models and opportunities. Reform and innovation will be used to promote growth potential for them, Shen Danyang, spokesman for the Ministry of Commerce, said at a news conference in Beijing.

The United Nations adopted the 2030 Agenda in September 2015, with the major goals of eliminating poverty, addressing inequality and curbing climate change.

"These proposals, after approval by the summit, will transit from 'China plans' to joint actions among more countries. They could promote the status and influence of the G20 on global cooperation and inspire much enthusiasm," Shen said.

Huang Yanghua, an associate professor at the institute of industrial economics under the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, said that small and medium-sized companies, when getting connected to the global value chain, would benefit from convenient market access, low-cost factors of production and innovation-oriented partners around the world.

"It's hard for most of the SMEs to meet the complex certification standards of the global value chain in terms of, for example, product quality, environmental protection and employment, " Huang said.

"To cope with the challenge, international organizations and governments need to work together to train the SMEs to get familiar with the procedures."

Another desired result, according to Shen, is to firmly support the multilateral trading system, and actively promote the Doha round of talks.
Zhejiang launched its official English language website and Facebook pages in late August, aimed at providing a window to the outside world for one of the most vibrant and diverse provinces in all of China.

The "Zhejiang, China" English website and Facebook pages are backed by the Information Office of Zhejiang Provincial People's Government and leading media outlet, China Daily. The website and social media pages will provide authoritative global communication platforms for Zhejiang province.

The two platforms will cater to the international community by publishing the lastest local news as well as detailed service information on the province, with a fresh and international perspective. The sites will show the world that Zhejiang is a fantastic place to live, visit, learn about culture, and do business.

"Zhejiang, China" English website: http://www.ezhejiang.gov.cn

The Facebook pages of "Zhejiang, China":

https://www.facebook.com/iZhejiang (English)

https://www.facebook.com/iZhejiangCN (Chinese)
Photo taken on Aug 31, 2016 shows a night view of Hangzhou, capital city of East China's Zhejiang Province. The G20 Summit will be held in Hangzhou from Sept 4 to 5. [Photo/Xinhua]

A non-profit organization in Brussels promoting bilateral digital and Internet cooperation says it has endorsed the proposal to establish an Electronic World Trading Platform (eWTP).

Luigi Gambardella, president of ChinaEU, a member of the B20 SME Development taskforce, said on Saturday he expected the eWTP initiative to become a key policy recommendation for G20 and to be endorsed by the international leaders.

"The solution of today's economic slowdown is to increase the inclusion of global trade and improve the involvement of SMEs," he said.

"eWTP will provide SMEs a transparent and open platform to sell their goods and services globally thus facilitating their inclusion in cross-border e-Trade."

But he also said the final goal should be e-commerce without borders that gives consumers freedom to shop online without limitations. As such it is of outmost importance that eWTP includes consumer associations as its main stakeholders.

Gambardella expected that concrete action plan to implement eWTP will be discussed during the B20 summit. In particular, eWTP should advocate regulatory reforms, and it could draw upon the experience of Europe and focus on similar areas identified by the European Commission in its plan for a EU Digital Single Market, such as making cross-border parcel delivery more affordable and efficient, and Promoting self-regulation as the best way to achieve an effective consumer protection on the web, thus increasing consumer trust in e-commerce.
The China-South Africa relationship is "in its best condition of all time" and is faced with an historic opportunity for development, President Xi Jinping said in a meeting with his South African counterpart Jacob Zuma on Saturday.

The meeting happened on the sidelines of the G20 Leaders Summit in eastern China's Hangzhou city.

The comprehensive strategic partnership between China and South Africa is marching with great steps forward, Xi said.

The two sides hoped to expand trust, strengthen exchanges on party, government, legislation and military levels, boost cooperation at the localities level and promote investment and employment, Xi said.

Both China and South Africa are important developing major countries and members of the BRICS, and China is ready to work along with South Africa to further strengthen coordination in bilateral and multilateral affairs.

Zuma said South Africa cherished its comprehensive strategic partnership with China, and that the bilateral relationship was deepening and cooperation in various fields was developing rapidly.

South Africa endorses China's contribution to the development of Africa as well as China's leadership at the G20 Summit in Hangzhou to focus on issues concerning development, particularly the development of Africa, Zuma said.

South Africa is ready to closely work with China upon cooperation regarding the United Nations, G20, the BRICS and China-Africa Cooperation Forum, he added.
SHANGHAI - China's experience in economic development embodies unique wisdom and the world is looking forward to learning from it during the upcoming G20 Summit in Hangzhou, Saudi Prince Turki bin Abdullah bin Abdulaziz Al-Saud told Xinhua here Thursday.

He made the remarks during an exclusive interview with Xinhua on the sidelines of the 13th annual conference of the International Financial Forum held in Shanghai, China's largest city.

Hailing China's well-respected role in economic development, the prince said the whole world is expecting that the summit could come up with solutions for the global economic stagnation.

As for the organization of the G20, the prince called for better understanding between developed and developing countries.

"Developing countries and developed countries need more understanding (of each other). The new world order should be shifting to the East as everyone knows right now economically, and also the developing world should really participate in that (process)," said the prince.

While applauding China's Belt and Road Initiative for extending beyond Asia to countries in Europe and Africa, the prince suggested that with new economic and communication tools available, more comprehensive cooperation could be explored within the framework.

The Belt and Road Initiative, which comprises the Silk Road Economic Belt and the 21st Century Maritime Silk Road, was brought up by China in 2013. The initiative envisions a trade and infrastructure network that connects Asia with Europe and Africa along the ancient Silk Road routes.

Over 70 countries and organizations, including some countries around the Gulf, have voiced support for and willingness to join the initiative.

The Gulf Cooperation Council countries have benefited a lot from the cooperation between the East and the West, said the prince. "We'd love to expand it even more. It's a plus for everybody."

The International Financial Forum is dedicated to advancing the dialogue on economic globalization and financial cooperation.
MEXICO CITY - Mexico's President Enrique Pena Nieto travels to China on Friday to take part in the "strategic" Group of 20 (G20) Summit to be held on Sept 4-5 in the city of Hangzhou, China.

In a statement issued on Friday, Mexico's Foreign Affairs Ministry called the gathering a "strategic platform for consolidating Mexico's global role," and said the president was heading to the forum with five "main goals," many of which are the same ones China has singled out for discussion.

China has said this year's gathering of the world's 20 biggest economies will take place with the theme "Building an innovative, strengthened, interconnected and inclusive global economy."

To that end, said the ministry, "China has proposed exploring new models for growth based on innovation, the digital economy, the new industrial revolution and structural reforms."

Similarly, topping Mexico's objectives will be "to underscore the importance of structural reforms to boost productivity and growth opportunities, and tackle the challenges of the world economy."

The second goal is to "spur investment in high-quality infrastructure to improve inclusion and connectivity."

Mexico will also back "promoting financial inclusion; contributing to the reactivation of international trade and reiterating the G20's commitment to avoid protectionist measures; (and) spurring the G20's collective contribution to implementing (the UN) 2030 Sustainable Development Agenda."

Summit leaders hope to "achieve more effective and efficient global economic and financial governance through the overhaul of global financial institutions, especially the International Monetary Fund, to create a more stable, resilient, inclusive, 'green' and transparent financial system," the government said.

Mexico considers the G20 to be the "most important" international forum for decisions about global economic governance, "with the added value of including both developed and emerging economies," the ministry said.

At the summit, leaders and representatives of international organizations will take part in five work sessions, each focusing on a key theme, and adopt a final declaration of the principle agreements reached.

President Pena Nieto is traveling accompanied by his wife Angelica Rivera, and his ministers of foreign affairs and economy, among others.
MOSCOW - The fact that the G20 summit will be held in China reflects the global recognition of and respect for China's giant economic success, a leading Russian economic expert has said.

"The international community admits that China has become a major economic power, which largely determines the economic development of the whole world," Vyacheslav Kholodkov, head of the International Economic Organizations Department at the Russian Institute for Strategic Studies, told Xinhua.

As the second-largest economy of the world, China has a strong impact over global economic processes, the economist said, adding that the performance of China's stock markets and its import of energy resources exert a powerful influence on world markets.

Kholodkov also expressed the belief that the Western media today have exaggerated and distorted the existing problems with the Chinese economy.

"China's economic success is like a thorn on the side of many Western politicians and journalists, because it shows that there are other more successful models besides the Western liberal economic model," the expert noted.

In his opinion, the current problems plaguing China were those of structural adjustments and shifts in economic development pattern.

If previously China's development had been driven mainly by exports, it is now shifting from export-oriented development model to focusing on domestic demand, Kholodkov said.

Kholodkov saw "nothing dramatic" in such a development, as other countries that experienced similar problems have survived such transitional periods.

China's GDP grew by 6.9 percent last year, a rate to be envied by many countries, according to Kholodkov.

China presents an example for many developing countries, including Russia, which are closely watching China's experiences and following some of its trends in their political practices, he concluded.
Chinese President Xi Jinping delivers a speech at the B20 summit in Hangzhou, Zhejiang province on September 3, 2016. [Photo/Xu Jingxing]

China is the perfect country to bridge rich and poor, online and offline, developed and developing, said Clare Pearson, chairwoman of the British Chamber of Commerce in China.

"The speech of President Xi shows China is moving from sideline to central in global governance. By literally and metaphorically building bridges across the new Silk Road, China will share its prosperity with the world," she said after listening to Chinese President Xi Jinping's keynote speech on Saturday at the Business 20 (B20) summit in Hangzhou. Xi stressed reform and opening-up, innovation, a green economy, poverty elimination and many other topics.

Pearson said she was quite impressed by China's resolution to grow green development.

"I think the keynote of the speech is 'quality, not quantity'. I think all companies need to clean their mind and adopt this philosophy for sustainable business," she said.

For Chinese it means a switch from carbon-based energy to renewable. For foreign companies it means cooperating with China to move up the value chain, that is, how to produce more with less, she said.

She said the UK is a leader in environmental protection and renewable energy. Manchester used to have "pea-soupers", that is, thick, polluted air, when it was the factory of the world. But today Manchester is a livable city.

She said that the UK has to share its journey with China on how to move from industrial country to clean technology leader. It's a potentially win-win situation for both countries.
Global business and opinion leaders shared their views about Chinese President Xi Jinping's keynote speech at the opening ceremony of the B20 Summit in Hangzhou, Zhejiang province Saturday.

"China would work with other parties to ensure that the Hangzhou summit comes up with an integrated prescription to help the world economy move along a path of strong, sustainable, balanced and inclusive growth," Xi said.

Here are excerpts of their comments.

Yang Yuanqing, chairman and CEO of Lenovo, speaks at the Business 20 (B20) summit in Hangzhou, capital of East China's Zhejiang Province, Sept 3, 2016. [Photo/XInhua]

Yang Yuanqing, CEO of Lenovo Group, world's largest PC maker

I noticed in President Xi's speech words like "innovation" and "growth" are mentioned frequently. President Xi has great expectations for Chinese business circles, which cheers us up a lot. The most important subject under discussion at the summit is to realize the innovative pattern of growth.

I think new technology is always the main motivation of economic development. The technical innovation and IT technical revolution have great power to drive economic growth. The Chinese economy is in the key stage of transformation and innovation. We expect to contribute our wisdom to Chinese and world economic growth.
HANGZHOU -- Presidents of China and the United States handed over their countries' instruments of joining the Paris Agreement separately to Secretary-General of the United Nations Ban Ki-moon on Saturday in Hangzhou.

Chinese President Xi Jinping said that climate change concerns the well-being and future of humanity. The Paris Agreement has charted the course for post-2020 global cooperation against climate change, and it indicates that a cooperative, win-win, equitable and fair climate governance mechanism is being shaped.

The handover of the legal document is a new and solemn commitment of the Chinese government, he said.

Depositing the documents together, China and the United States have displayed their ambition and determination to jointly tackle a global challenge, Xi said.

Taking advantage of implementing the Paris Agreement, the international community should make greater efforts to improve global governance mechanism and innovate on relevant actions, so as to facilitate the full operation of the agreement, the president said.

Developed countries should honor their commitments and provide financial and technological support to developing countries and enhance their capability in climate actions, Xi said.

China, a responsible developing country and an active player in global climate governance, will implement its development concepts of innovative, coordinated, green, open and shared growth, fully advance energy conservation, emission reduction and low-carbon development, and embrace the new era of ecological civilization, he said.
A fisherman repairs his boat overlooking fishing boats that fish in the disputed Scarborough Shoal in the South China Sea, at Masinloc, Zambales, in the Philippines April 22, 2015. Photo by Reuters/Erik De Castro

Reports show China had sent barges to the contested Scarborough Shoal and had appeared to begin construction in the area.

Beijing is expanding its large-scale land reclamation in the disputed South China Sea (Vietnam's East Sea), Philippine president Rodrigo Duterte said Friday, despite an international court ruling rejecting most of China's claims in the resource-rich area.

A U.N.-backed tribunal ruled in July that China's claims to almost all of the strategic sea had no legal basis and its construction of artificial islands in disputed waters was illegal.

But Duterte said he received an "unsettling" intelligence report showing China had sent barges to the contested Scarborough Shoal and had appeared to begin construction in the area for the first time.

China previously constructed artificial islands in the Spratly chain in the South China Sea. The United States warned in June of "actions" if Beijing extended its military expansion to the Scarborough Shoal.

"I think they are starting in (Bajo de) Masinloc and this will be another ruckus there," Duterte said, referring to the shoal by its local name.

He said the Philippine Coast Guard found "a lot of barges" near the area.

"There seem to be new barges coming in and they suspect that's going to be another construction."

China has sought to assert its claims in the South China Sea by building a network of artificial islands capable of supporting military operations.

Its massive land reclamation has prompted criticism from the U.S. and claimant countries, with Washington warning it endangers freedom of navigation in international waters.

Vietnam, Malaysia, Brunei and Taiwan also have claims to the sea, through which over $5 trillion in annual trade passes.

The Scarborough Shoal, a rich fishing ground within the Philippines' exclusive economic zone and far away from the nearest major Chinese landmass, is a particular flashpoint. China took control of Scarborough Shoal in 2012 after a stand-off with the country's navy.

Duterte's comments come a week before a regional summit in Laos where the South China Sea dispute will be on the agenda.

He said he would consider bringing up the construction work during bilateral talks with Beijing, adding it would affect global commerce.

"If (China) continues building military installations there ... insurance would go up for the ships and the goods they transport. Because then it would be a source of conflict and thereby the threat is always there."

Duterte, who took office two months ago, has vowed to mend ties with China after his predecessor Benigno Aquino angered Beijing by filing the arbitration case in 2013.

He has said he would not raise the matter of the ruling in Laos to avoid escalating tensions. But on Friday, Duterte he said he would insist on China's compliance with the verdict during direct talks with Beijing.

He criticized the Asian giant's statements saying it would ignore the ruling.

"We can only take so much but you cannot be slapped every day with (those) kinds of words."

Related news:

> Obama urges China to stop flexing muscles over South China Sea

> Vietnam says all will lose in any South China Sea war

> Philippines' Duterte warns China of 'reckoning'
Chinese President Xi Jinping (center), US President Barack Obama (right) and Secretary-General of the United Nations Ban Ki-moon attend the deposit of instruments of joining the Paris Agreement in Hangzhou, Zhejiang province, Sept 3, 2016. [Photo/Xinhua]

China and the United States showed leadership and commitment in tackling climate-change challenges as they formally committed to joining last year's Paris Agreement on climate change on Saturday ahead of the G20 Summit.

"China and the United States have expanded dialogue and achieved fruitful results in recent years to tackle global climate challenges," said President Xi Jinping, commenting on the two countries' efforts to advance climate-change initiatives since 2014, when the two countries submitted their respective emission goals for the Paris Agreement.

Xi and US President Barack Obama submitted formal agreement documents to United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon.

China pledged to peak carbon emissions by 2030, while the United States pledged to cut emissions by 28 percent by 2025 compared with the level in 2005.

The formal commitment to the agreement by the two major countries, which together account for a large proportion of the world's carbon dioxide emissions, sets a good example for other G20 members who signed the Paris Agreement to facilitate ratification, experts said.

China and the US, as the world's two largest emitters, are "setting a powerful and positive example" helping to spur momentum toward the rapid entry into force of the agreement, said David Nabarro, the UN secretary-general's special adviser on sustainable development.

"China's example demonstrates that a low-carbon and climate-resilient development is not only feasible but beneficial on many fronts," said Nabarro.

The special adviser said UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon will be hosting an event on Sept 21 at the UN in New York to build on the strong momentum coming from the G20 Summit for ratification of the Paris Agreement.

As China moves quickly to use more clean energy and scale up green technologies, Nabarro said China is also demonstrating strong resolve in tackling air pollution caused by the burning of fossil fuels, and is promoting more sustainable urbanization.

By 2050, one quarter of the world's largest cities will be in China. "The way in which Chinese cities develop and address climate change may well serve as a model for the world's cities in both developed and developing countries," he said.

"Commitment and efforts being made by the two countries send strong signals to other G20 members to quicken the pace of their own legislative process," said Bai Yunwen, a climate and policy researcher at Greenovation Hub, a Beijing-based NGO.

The G20 members are responsible for 75 percent of global emissions, and their energy-related greenhouse gas emissions increased by 56 percent from 1990 to 2013, according to a report released in late August by Climate Transparency, a nonprofit organization.

Echoing Bai's statement, Niklas Hoehne from Germany's New Climate Institute said that if G20 members were to rid themselves of their reliance on coal, this would have a significant bearing on their ability to both increase their climate pledges, and get their emission trajectories below 2 C.

The Paris agreement, made in December last year, set goals to limit the rise of global temperatures below 2 C compared to the preindustrial levels.

The agreement will only come into effect with the ratification of at least 55 parties that account for 55 percent of total emissions.

Lin Boqiang, director at the China Center for Energy Economics Research at Xiamen University, said the formal commitment made by the two major emitters would help the agreement to come into force.

"Global powers could take the chance provided by the G20 platform to enhance policy coordination and help the agreement to come into force at an earlier date," he said.

Contact the writers at wangyanfei@chinadaily.com.cn
JD.com's traditional delivery vehicle vs the company's first-ever driverless delivery vehicle. Provided to China Daily

Chinese e-commerce platforms are speeding up their investment in the smart logistics field, developing driverless delivery vehicles and robots to promote logistical efficiency.

JD.com Inc announced on Thursday that its first-ever driverless delivery vehicle is under road test and will put into a trial in October.

Equipped with multiple vision sensors and radars, the driverless vehicle can identify and avoid obstacles and traffic jams as well as calculate the shortest route. It could deliver goods to office buildings and convenience stores in city neighborhoods, said JD.com.

The length of the vehicle is 1 meter long, 0.8 meter in wide and 0.6 meter in high, but it has six compartments of different sizes to carry packages.

Xiao Jun, who is in charge of JD's X Lab, a business unit dedicated to adopting cutting-edge technology in logistics and delivery, said: "The driverless delivery vehicle is just 'the tip of an iceberg'."

"The application of driverless vehicles will be confined to temporary deliveries in the initial phase of testing, and the large-scale commercial use is expected to be launched next year."

The company said it has also been testing the driverless technology in freight transportation, to save manpower costs and enhance operational efficiency.

JD.com inked a strategic partnership agreement with Siasun Robot & Automation Co on Friday to develop smart logistical solutions.

In June, it used drones to deliver online purchases to rural shoppers in Jiangsu province, kicking off its trial of unmanned aircraft for "last mile" distribution.

Cainiao, Alibaba Group Holding Ltd's logistics offshoot, also developed a robot that can deliver goods bought by online shoppers. The robot is able to take elevators by itself, avoid barriers, and navigate inside buildings, according to Cainiao.

Lu Zhenwang, chief executive officer of the Shanghai-based Wanqing Consultancy, said "the driverless technology is not mature at present, for instance, some self-driving cars still can't recognize obstacles in roads and neighborhoods." Smart logistics is the future development trend, but it may take three to five years to realize commercial use of driverless delivery vehicles, he added.

Meng Jing contributed to this story.
The fight against corruption needs to be urgently highlighted, as clean governance will contribute to economic development for G20 members and the world, according to experts from home and abroad.

Tackling anti-corruption, as a hot issue, has featured both on the G20 and B20 agendas, "because graft has been recognized as one of the barriers to economic growth," said Evelyn Mantoiu, a policy analyst from the University of Sheffield. She made the comments after hearing President Xi Jinping's keynote speech at the B20 opening ceremony on Saturday.

Among recommendations submitted by B20 members to G20 leaders, two items related to the anti-corruption issue. One is to strengthen intergovernmental cooperation against graft, while the other is to encourage the G20 to set up a more transparent commercial environment for competitions.

"Curbing corruption is important, as graft undermines trust, which is a key investment security factor. And it increases transaction costs due to unpredictability," Mantoiu said.

She added that graft also undermined tax bases that could be otherwise used for capital investment and development, as well as hampering the legitimacy of governance and business activities.

In her view, tackling corruption will help foster a fair business environment, which in turn can generate effective growth and minimize the loss of resources.

Wang Junlin, a senior lawyer specializing in commerce and competition from the Ying Ke Law Firm, who attended the B20 meeting, echoed the thoughts. He suggested G20 members implement the recommendations provided by the B20, pushing the fight against corruption through legislation.

"G20 economies can also try to reach some anti-graft agreements and put them into their business or trade conventions if the legislation is hard to make in a short time," said Wang.

In addition, establishing a regional anti-corruption convention in line with G20 members different economic growths may also be a good choice, while giving rewards for graft clue providers will also be better for G20 members to curb corruption in business cooperation, he said.

Wang is optimistic that international cooperation is playing a bigger role in fighting corruption. And while it is clarified in the B20 recommendations, Mantoiu believes the work against corruption may involve a longer process.

But both agreed that the endeavor of intergovernmental cooperation was necessary.

On April 27, another B20 anti-corruption policy paper was issued at an anti-graft forum in Beijing, during which representatives from commercial and legal industries also strongly called for international cooperation against corruption, hoping that a transparent environment could keep competitions fair and in order.
Chinese President Xi Jinping (right) meets with US President Barack Obama, who is here to attend the G20 summit, in Hangzhou, capital city of east China's Zhejiang Province, Sept 3, 2016. [Photo/Xinhua]

HANGZHOU -- Chinese President Xi Jinping on Saturday said China is willing to work with the United States to ensure bilateral ties stay on the right track.

Xi made the remarks in a meeting with his US counterpart Barack Obama in the eastern city of Hangzhou on the eve of the G20 summit.

He urged the two countries to follow the principles of non-conflict, non-confrontation, mutual respect and win-win cooperation, deepen mutual trust and collaboration, and manage and control their differences in a constructive manner, in order to push forward continuous, sound and stable development of bilateral ties.

Noting that the city of Hangzhou holds historic significance to Sino-US relations, Xi spoke highly of his previous meetings with Obama since 2013, which "produced important consensus."

In particular, the decision to build a new type of major-country relations between China and the United States has led to a series of concrete achievements in bilateral ties, Xi said.

Two-way trade, investment and personnel exchanges are at historical highs, he said, and both countries have worked together in combating climate change, advancing negotiations on a bilateral investment treaty, and establishing a mutual trust mechanism between the two militaries.

Important progress was also made in fighting cyber crimes, coping with the Ebola epidemic in Africa, and facilitating a comprehensive agreement on the Iranian nuclear issue, Xi said.

"All these have showcased the strategic importance and global influence of Sino-US relations," the Chinese president said.

Xi said China and the United States have carried out fruitful cooperation under the G20 framework, and the two sides have maintained close coordination and communication with regard to the preparation of the G20 Hangzhou summit.

China appreciates the cooperation and support from the US side, he said, adding that holding a successful summit is the global community's shared expectation, as well as the due responsibility of China and the United States as the world's two largest economies.

He said China hopes to work with the United States and other parties to achieve fruitful results during the summit to inject momentum to the global economy while lifting confidence.
President Xi Jinping and US President Barack Obama meet at the West Lake State Guest House in Hangzhou, Zhejiang province, on Saturday. Wu Zhiyi / China Daily

Beijing and Washington should strengthen mutual trust and "manage and control divergences in a constructive manner" for a lasting and healthy development of bilateral relations, President Xi Jinping said when meeting with his US counterpart Barack Obama on Saturday.

The meeting, the eighth between the two leaders, was held in Hangzhou, capital of Zhejiang province, ahead of the two-day G20 Leaders Summit, which starts on Sunday.

Xi spoke highly of his interactions with Obama, saying their previous meetings "all produced important consensus".

Two-way trade, investment and personnel exchanges are at historic highs, and both countries have worked jointly to tackle climate change, advance negotiations on a bilateral investment treaty and establish a mutual trust mechanism between the two countries militaries, Xi said.

Progress has also been made in fighting cybercrime, coping with the Ebola epidemic in Africa and facilitating a comprehensive agreement on the Iranian nuclear issue, the president said.

"All these have showcased the strategic importance and global influence of China-US relations," Xi said.

Obama said, "What I think we have been able to achieve is practical and constructive efforts where our interests intersect, and a candid discussion of those areas where we are different, and our ability to manage them in a way that does not put the bilateral relationship at risk".

Tackling climate change has been a highlight of the China-US collaboration.

Ahead of their face-to-face talks, the two leaders handed over to United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon the documents in which the two countries agreed to join the Paris climate agreement to cut greenhouse gas emissions.

The meeting drew much media attention, as relations saw ups and downs earlier this year as a result of US actions in the South China Sea.

Yuan Peng, vice-president of the China Institutes of Contemporary International Relations, said both leaders share a clear understanding of the "scope, complexity and strategic significance of bilateral relations". They have maintained frequent communications over development goals and strategic intentions, Yuan said.

Such exchanges of views have ensured strategic stability between China and the US, he added.

Teng Jianqun, a research fellow on US studies at the China Institute of International Studies, said Obama is visiting China "to cement his diplomatic legacy".

Obamas visit to the country, expected to be the last before he leaves office, provides an opportunity for the two countries to prepare for a smooth transition in relations when the next US president takes office in January, he said.

Stable long-term relations are good news not only for the two countries, but for the rest of the world as well, Teng said.

Obama is scheduled to visit Laos after his trip to Hangzhou.
An employee of Wensli Group displays silk scarves to be given to B20 Summit guests as gifts. GAO ERQIANG/CHINA DAILY

Silk products are synonymous with Hangzhou, the city that first exported them during the Western Han Dynasty (206 BC-AD 24). Two millennia later, the exquisite craftsmanship of silk continues to be the source of justifiable pride.

It should come as no surprise that guests at the B20 and G20 summits will find silk forming an integral part of their experience there.

To symbolize the city's attachment to the fine material, a gift package for the B20 Summit guests contains a pure silk scarf. More than 800 participants at the B20 Summit received such scarves.

The scarves have intricate designs, and their poetic names, including "Flowers Filling the Pavilion", "Butterflies Around Flowers", "Auspicious Totem" and "Painting and Elegance", suggest grace and serenity.

"Painting and Elegance", inspired by traditional blue and white porcelain, is the favorite of Tu Hongyan, chairwoman of the Wensli Group, one of the companies responsible for preparing the gifts.

She led a team of 30 top designers who came up with more than 100 patterns, many incorporating Chinese motifs such as the dragon and phoenix, before finally whittling them down to five.

Each of the silk scarves is printed and dyed about 20 times, and it takes six weeks for the process of platemaking, printing and dyeing to be completed, said Li Minxia, a silk designer from Wensli Group.

Wang Pengcheng, deputy general manager of the brand operation center at Zhejiang Cathaya International Co, said silk combines the essence of local expertise with global popularity and, as such, is a gift of immense symbolism and appeal.

The center prepared 20,000 silk scarves for the G20 guests, with two main patterns"Romantic Dancing Butterfly" and "Far-Reaching Elegance".

"Silk gifts are an ideal choice to balance both Chinese characteristics and international recognition," said Wang.

The G20 economies appreciate the qualities of silk, he said.

Globally, the Japanese use the most silk products, and French brands like Hermes use silk for signature products. Italy is a well-known center for silk goods, and Brazil is a large silk manufacturer.

China played a major role in developing sericulture, or silk farming, and one of its origins is in Qianshanyang in northern Zhejiang province.

Archaeological digs there have unearthed silk thread, ribbons and silk from more than 4,000 years ago. After laboratory testing, they were confirmed to have come from domesticated silkworms.
By Agencies in Singapore and Beijing | China Daily | Updated: 2016-09-03 08:20

City-state is in battle mode against Zika after infections rise

China's quarantine authorities said on Thursday they have been increasing health screenings of travelers arriving from Singapore amid an outbreak of Zika in small city-state.

China is also increasing inspections of shipments arriving from Singapore, the General Administration of Quality Supervision, Inspection and Quarantine said in a statement on its website.
Guangdong province, which is famed for its status as a symbol of China's opening up and reform policy, recently bolstered its already deep economic, trade and people-to-people cooperation with Kenya and two other African countries.

A delegation of over more than 130 outstanding Chinese enterprises, led by the Governor of the people's Government of Guangdong Province Zhu Xiaodan, visited South Africa, Ethiopia and finally wound up their tour of Africa in Nairobi, Kenya at the beginning of September.

The excursion culminated in the signing of eight cooperation agreements on investment and trade projects between Chinese and Kenyan enterprises at a conference titled China (Guangdong)-Kenya Economic and Trade Conference. The enterprises were from the areas of electronic information, household appliances, logistics, textile, building materials and agriculture.

The event was co-organized by the Kenya National Chamber of Commerce, the Kenya Investment Authority and the People's Government of Guangdong.

Several dignitaries among them Chinese Ambassador to Kenya Liu Xianfa and Kenya's Cabinet secretary for East African Affairs, Commerce and Tourism Phyllis Kandie attended the event. Cabinet Secretary for Education Fred Matiangi and Chairman of the Public Accounts Committee in the Senate and Kisumu Senator Prof Anyang Nyongo were also in attendance.

Speaking at the event, Ambassador Liu said the China (Guangdong)-Kenya Economic and Trade Conference was the largest of its kind to be held in the East African region.

"I wish to thank the Kenyan government and the state institutions for its immeasurable support in ensuring that the economic and trade cooperation between Guangdong and Kenya grows," he said.

Liu also said that Guangdong has been the single most important province from China that has helped the Kenyan economy grow in leaps and bounds.

While showcasing how important Guangdong province is to China, Liu said that if the contribution of the province was not factored in the national economy of the country, the country's economy would not be placed second in the world after USA but 15th in the world.

On her part, Kenya's Cabinet secretary for East African Affairs, Commerce and Tourism Phyllis Kandie said because of Guangdong's contribution, Kenya was now a strong economic power house in the region and it attracts a lot of Foreign Direct Investment because of its rich infrastructure, location and status of being a gateway to the East African region.

"The Kenyan government is committed to spearhead the industrialization agenda with China as its partner. The government has done a lot to facilitate industrialization through enactment of the Special Economic Zones Act 2015, the Companies Act 2015 and the Insolvency Act 2015," she said.

She encouraged the Chinese enterprises at the event to invest in Kenya's Vision 2030 ambitious Lamu Port South Sudan Ethiopia Transport (LAPSSET) corridor project. The project will link a new port in Lamu at the Kenyan coast with rail, road and an oil pipeline to neighboring South Sudan and Ethiopia.

"Kenya has recently discovered oil deposits and will start exporting oil as from 2017. I therefore wish to encourage Chinese enterprises to join hands with their Kenyan counterparts through public and private partnerships and also invest in this sector," she said.

Kandie told delegates at the conference that China should increase its imports to Kenya because the country was strategically located in a huge market of over more than 42 million Kenyans, 140 million East Africans and 400 million people in the COMESA region.

Governor of the people's Government of Guangdong Province Zhu Xiaodan said the aim of the conference was to strengthen the friendly communication between China and Kenya, deepen trade and investment cooperation as well as implement consensus reached by President Xi Jinping and President Uhuru Kenyatta.

After over 30 years of the reform and opening up policy, Guangdong Province has made great progress in economic and social development. Last year, Guangdong's Gross Domestic Product (GDP) reached USD 1.17 trillion up by 8 percent and accounting for 1/9 of the entire country and ranking first in China

Economic and trade cooperation between Guangdong and Kenya started in 2005 when Kenya Airways, the national carrier started flying direct flights between Nairobi and Guangzhou. Last year, China Southern Airlines a member of the Sky Team also began direct flights between the two cities, making it the first China civil airline to fly the route. Between 2010 and 2015, trade volume between Guangdong and Kenya grew from USD380 million to USD 1.81 billion. This has accounted for 30.1 percent of the total imports and exports between China and Kenya.
The United States is gravely concerned about specific accusations of abuse and torture that were made during the trial of 23 persons arrested following June 29th riots in Nouakchott, the capital of Mauritania.

The arrests followed a protest against eviction by residents of a squatter camp in the capital, many of whom are former slaves. The protest turned violent, when demonstrators threw stones and burned a police bus. Nine police and other Mauritanian citizens were injured. The United States condemns the serious injuries and associated property damage.

The United States is concerned with reports of coerced confessions or statements obtained through torture, raising serious concerns as to whether each accused individual received a fair trial. The U.S. will closely follow an anticipated appeal process. Among those sentenced are thirteen members of the Resurgence of Abolitionist Movement, an organization championing the anti-slavery movement in Mauritania.

Mauritania was the last country in the world to officially abolish slavery in 1981. Nevertheless, slavery continues in the West African nation where an estimated 4 to 20 percent of Mauritanias 3.5 million people are enslaved.

The United States urges an immediate and comprehensive investigation into all credible allegations of torture, public release of the findings of this investigations, and appropriate prosecution of any individuals whom the investigation finds were responsible for such acts.

Mauritania enshrined its commitment against torture by characterizing it as a crime against humanity in the 2012 revision of the Mauritanian Constitution, and in April of this year established in law the National Mechanism for the Prevention of Torture, which has been partially staffed but not fully funded.

The United States strongly encourages Mauritania to respect human rights and fundamental freedoms, including freedoms of expression and association, for all Mauritanians. The U.S. supports fair trial guarantees, transparent and credible judicial processes, and respect for the human rights of all individuals.
The United States helps to ensure the free flow of commerce through, among other areas, the strategically important Strait of Hormuz, which connects the Persian Gulf to the Gulf of Oman and the Arabian Sea. Approximately 20 percent the worlds oil - vital to the global economy -- passes through the Strait.

Recently, there were several incidents of harassment of U.S. Navy vessels in the Gulf by Iran, and these irresponsible actions by Iranian naval forces are causing concern.

At a press briefing, Army General Joseph Votel, head of U.S. Central Command, warned that such episodes have the potential for dangerous escalation. He himself, he said, personally witnessed an instance in July, when the USS New Orleans was transiting the Strait of Hormuz:

An IRGC, Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps missile ship and three fast-attack crafts demonstrated aggressive behavior in the vicinity of our ship. In recent days, we have witnessed even more provocative activity by the IRGC and navy vessels. That type of behavior is very concerning and we hope to see Irans naval forces act in a more professional manner.

General Votel said no other country does what Iran does in the Gulf:

They dont go out and they dont drive fast boats towards military vessels out there in the same way that they do. Nobody else does that.

General Votel praised U.S. naval forces for their measured response to Irans harassment, but he warned that such behavior is dangerous, and called on Iran to be professional and act in a responsible manner.

The problem has been created by the attempt on the part of Irans leaders to exert their influence and authority, General Votel said. This is not about the Iranian people, he added. Its about the Iranian regime and their desire to continue to do these types of things that stoke instability -- or attempt to stoke instability -- in the region.
KAILUA-KONA, Hawaii (AP)  An appeals court has ruled that about 50 Hawaii businesses with permits to catch fish bound for aquariums do not need environmental assessments to receive the state permits allowing them to collect the fish.

Environmentalists in 2012 filed a lawsuit demanding the assessments. They say too many fish are taken from Hawaiis reefs and many do not survive their trips for sale to aquarium owners.

But the Intermediate Court of Appeals on Wednesday ruled that commercial collectors of fish destined for aquariums are not involved in the type of business requiring environmental assessments, like construction companies that build structures on land, West Hawaii Today reported on Friday.

Mandating environmental assessments for the aquarium fish permit holders would create an unreasonable, impractical and absurd result, said the opinion written by Judge Katherine G. Leonard.

Hawaiis so-called aquarium fish collectors already report details of their catches to the Department of Land and Natural Resources.

Environmentalists who filed the lawsuit will probably appeal it to Hawaiis Supreme court, said Summer Kupau-Odo, a lawyer with the Earthjustice environmental law group.

Its obviously not working, Kupau-Odo said of regulations. Theyre obviously not utilizing all the tools they have to protect the environment.

David Dart, an aquarium fish collector, said was pleased with the ruling. He said existing regulations work and that the western Hawaii fisheries that supply 70 percent the states fish destined for aquariums are sustainable.

Environmentalists opposed to aquarium fish want to shut down the business and keep hitting us from different angles, Dart said. They have a personal bias against keeping a fish as a pet.

Bill Walsh, an aquatic biologist with the state Division of Aquatic Resources, said last year that the abundance of two popular species of aquarium fish increased dramatically in restricted and open areas of coastal waters.

The state attorney generals office that represented the Department of Land and Natural Resources was pleased with the outcome of the case, said spokesman James Walther.

They have a personal bias against keeping a fish as a pet.  David Dart, an aquarium fish collector
(Photo : Indian Army) BrahMos will soon envelop all of Pakistan.

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Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi offered Vietnam a $500 million line of credit for defense cooperation, much of which Vietnam will likely use to purchase weapons and equipment from India to fend off Chinese aggression in the South China Sea.



Modi visited Vietnam from Sept. 2 to 3 as part of New Delhi's "Act East Policy" aimed at strengthening security and economic ties with India's East Asian neighbors. Vietnam has become the world's eighth largest buyer of weapons as it strives to build a modern military deterrent that will give China pause.



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"I am also happy to announce a new defense credit for Vietnam of $500 million for facilitating deeper defense cooperation," said Modi after signing the deal.



Modi also said the relationship between the two countries would "contribute to stability, securities and prosperity in this region."



India last offered Vietnam a similar line of credit in 2014 in the amount of $100 million. It isn't clear if the latest loan includes this amount India previously made available to Vietnam for the latter to buy Indian-made naval patrol vessels.



Lines of credit normally obligate the receiver, in this case Vietnam, to purchase weapons from the creditor, in this case India.



Vietnamese Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc praised his country's close friendship with India. Phuc said he and Modi also "discussed matters concerning the East Sea."



"All sides must peacefully solve East Sea disputes based on international laws," said Phuc.



Neither Phuc nor Modi, however, mentioned if a deal that will see Vietnam buy India's supersonic BrahMos cruise missile (the fastest in the world) had pushed through. They also didn't explain what Vietnam will buy with the $500 million credit line.



Vietnam and India signed 12 agreements on Sept. 3 covering naval information sharing, cyber security, ship building and U.N. peace-keeping operations, among others.



Modi left Vietnam for Hangzhou, China on the evening on Sept. 3 to attend the G-20 Summit on September 4 and 5.



Modi is the first Indian prime minister to visit Vietnam in over a decade. Analysts say his visit proves how important Hanoi is to India, and also sends a strong signal to China as to which side India supports in the South China Sea imbroglio.



"Vietnam is India's important strategic partner and the visit is aimed at further strengthening bilateral ties, including defense, security and trade," said Preeti Saran, Secretary (East), External Affairs Ministry, before Modi's arrival.



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TagsPrime Minister Narendra Modi, Vietnam, $500 million line of credit, India, Act East Policy, Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc, East Sea
(Photo : ASEAN) ASEAN member states

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The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and China next week will sign protocols they hope will lessen the chance of armed conflict over the South China Sea.



To be signed at Laos during the three-day ASEAN summit will be the Code for Unplanned Encounters at Sea (CUES). CUES is a communications protocol arrangement and is the first agreement of its kind, said Helen de la Vega, Assistant Secretary at the Philippines' Department of Foreign Affairs. It will also establish hotlines between China and the ASEAN governments.



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"It's one way of de-escalating tensions in the South China Sea," said de la Vega.



"This is very important because any accident that can lead to a major confrontation will be avoided if our navies and coast guards are communicating with each other," said an unnamed Philippine Navy officer.



He said there were situations in the past when Chinese ships ignored and refused to contact Philippine Navy ships upon being approached.



The ongoing South China Sea dispute pits ASEAN members the Philippines, Vietnam, Brunei and Malaysia against China that still claims to own the South China Sea. This despite an arbitration court ruling last July 12 nullifying China's nine-dash line claim, and saying China had infringed on the sovereign rights of the Philippines in the South China Sea.



China has since become more belligerent, threatening war, holding naval drills and making angry faces at its enemies, particularly the United States.



Representatives from the U.S., Japan, South Korea, Australia, India and Russia will also attend the ASEAN summit. The United States, Japan and Australia are expected to call on China to respect and comply with the ruling of the arbitration court during the summit.



It's estimated that some about $5 trillion sea-borne trade annually transits the South China Sea.



The Permanent Court of Arbitration's (PCA) ruling in the South China Sea case filed by the Philippines has been labeled a "sweeping victory" against China.



It concluded that China has no legal basis to claim historic rights within the nine-dash line in the South China Sea. It also ruled that none of the land features in the Spratlys meet the criteria for an island that China -- or any other country -- can use to claim a 200 nautical mile exclusive economic zone (EEZ).



Many countries including the United States, Australia and Japan welcomed the arbitration outcome and pressured China to comply with the ruling.



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TagsAssociation of Southeast Asian Nations, ASEAN, South China Sea, Code for Unplanned Encounters at Sea, CUES, Permanent Court of Arbitration
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!)
ELKO  The Wild Hair Salon is open and ready for clients.

The business is a full service hair and nail salon with two technicians. Melissa McDermott does hair styling, manicures and pedicures, facial waxing and lash and eyebrow tinting. Wanda Soper is a nail artist who specializes in acrylic design.

Both McDermott and Soper worked at another salon that recently shut its doors. A space opened up in the Rancho Plaza and they decided to make the leap into running an independent business.

We like our small personal space, said McDermott about the tastefully decorated beauty parlor. People can feel relaxed and at home here.

Both ladies are seasoned professionals but they come from different backgrounds in the field of cosmetology. McDermott apprenticed locally under Nora Hatfield at Sheer Perfection. Soper attended Roseburg Beauty College in Roseburg, Oregon.

I feel like there are major advantages and some disadvantages to apprenticeship, said McDermott. I built a clientele as I went along but missed the big shows that the schools go to.

The Wild Hair Salon will be celebrating their grand opening from 9 a.m.  4 p.m. on Sept. 17 along with Thackers Timeless Treasures. They will be hosting a barbecue and photo booth and offer giveaways. The salon is located in the Rancho Plaza at 1312 Idaho St.

The business is open 9 a.m.  4 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday but they are available for scheduling appointments at other times. Find all of the details on their Facebook page.
(Photo : Getty Images) China is the worlds largest emitter of Co2 gas.

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China's parliament on Saturday gave official consent to the Paris global climate agreement. This paves the way for the implementation of the historical Paris climate accord in China.



China's top legislature ratified "the proposal to review and ratify the Paris Agreement" at the closing meeting of a week-long session, Xinhua reported. The United States, which is the second largest emitter of green house gasses, is also set to ratify the Paris agreement later this year.



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The announcement comes just a day before the start of G20 Summit at the Chinese city of Hangzhou, where top leaders of the world's largest 20 economies would assemble for a week-long summit to discuss a host of global issues.



In December last year, nearly 200 countries in Paris signed an accord to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and keep global temperature "well below" 2 degrees Celsius. The accord was hailed as a landmark event by most experts, who had already raised alarm over the rising global temperature and increasing level of greenhouse gasses across the world.



Before China, nearly 23 countries had ratified the Paris accord. However, the ratification by China assumes greater importance, as the country accounts for nearly 20 percent of global emissions. This is followed by the United States which accounts for nearly 17.9 percent. Russia and India are also considered among the world's top carbon emission emitters.



According to the Paris accord, countries that ratify the deal are bonded for at least three years, after which they can opt to withdraw from it.



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TagsChinese Parliament, china, G20 summit, Paris Climate Accord, Paris climate summit, Global Warming China
(Photo : Malloy Aeronautics) U.S. Army brass views a full-size prototype of their JTARV.

(Photo : Malloy Aeronautics) One-third scale model of JTARV with 3D printed pilot.

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The U.S. Army is developing a real world "Hoverbike" that's been a staple in Hollywood movies but is calling its version the Joint Tactical Aerial Resupply Vehicle, or JTARV.



The Army's JTARV is a rectangular shaped quadcopter using four standard helicopter style rotors overlapped with each other. The hoverbike's full size version, if approved by the brass, will transport supplies, ammunition and soldiers to battlefields around the world.



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The U.S. Army Research Laboratory recently revealed a prototype of JTARV to the director of Program Innovation, Maj. Gen. Jim Richardson



The full-size version currently being tested weighs 270 kg. So far, the prototype has been tested tethered to the ground to prevent it taking off on its own.



The full sized version uses a motorcycle engine and controls. It can travel at up to 92 miles or for 45 minutes on one tank of fuel.



The price for this piece of the future when it's perfected: some $60,000 per JTARV.



JTARV was invented by a New Zealand firm, Malloy Aeronautics, headed by its founder Chris Malloy. The firm is working with the American company SURVICE Engineering to deliver an operational version of JTARV to the Army.



"We combined the simplicity of a motorbike and the freedom of a helicopter to create the world's first flying motorcycle," said Malloy. "When compared with a helicopter, the Hoverbike is cheaper, more rugged and easier to use -- and represents a whole new way to fly."



Malloy said the Hoverbike flies like a quadcopter, "and can be flown unmanned or manned, while being a safe low level aerial workhorse with low ongoing maintenance."



He said his company is almost ready to begin flight testing of the full sized version.



"We are in the final construction stages of the latest manned prototype of Hoverbike, and in a few months we will start flight testing.



"After the successful completion of test flights we will build a final engineering prototype for submission to aviation certification authorities."



What the partners have operational so far is a prototype 1/3rd the size of the real thing with a 3D printed "pilot" that reminds one of an Imperial Stormtrooper from the movie franchise, Star Wars.



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TagsU.S. Army, Hoverbike, Joint Tactical Aerial Resupply Vehicle, JTARV, U.S. Army Research Laboratory, Malloy Aeronautics, Chris Malloy
The question are we alone in the universe? has fascinated people for centuries. For a while in the late 19th century it was believed that there were canals on Mars actually built by intelligent beings, based on the findings of Italian astronomer Giovanni Schiaparelli during the opposition of 1877. Science writer H.G. Wells amplified this theory with the fictional War of the Worlds about Martians taking over our planet.

This week we have seen that Russian scientists thought they recorded electromagnetic waves broadcast from an exo-planet in the HD 164595 solar system. Their star, a few billion years older than our Sun, is comparable in size and brightness and has at least one planet the size of our Neptune. Back in May 2015, researchers using the RATAN-600 radio telescope in Zelenchukskaya, detected a candidate SETI signal (Search for ExtraTerrestrial Intelligence) from that region 94 light years away. Could we detect such a signal and how much energy would it take for another world to contact us?

Radio telescope receivers detect electromagnetic waves much lower in frequency than ordinary light waves. These waves are produced by electrons accelerating around in space as well as the signals of molecules spinning in clouds of gas and dust. Early radio telescopes only tuned into single specific frequencies but modern devices observe a large number of frequencies all at once using computers that can divide the frequency bands into many. Most radio telescopes monitor frequencies from 10 to hundreds of megahertz and some even higher. The Russian signal was clocked at a wavelength of 2.7 cm corresponding to a frequency of 11 GHz placing it in the radar section of the spectrum, much higher than a typical kitchen microwave oven that operates at 2.54 GHz.

In a paper entitled Forty Trillion Signals from SERENDIP, The Berkeley SETI Program, authors Bowyer and Donnelly list the sensitivity of the largest radio telescope in the world, the Cornell operated Arecibo radio telescope in Puerto Rico to be in the vicinity of 2 x 10^-25 Watts/meter^2. Using this as a starting point, we can work backwards to determine the power that the ETs used when they sent us a signal last year.

The fact that light travels 9.46 x 10^15 meters in one year, a planet 94 light years distant would put it at 8.9 x 10^17 meters away. According to what we know about electromagnetic energy transfer, all signals drop off as an inverse square due to the surface area of a sphere, so the signal would have to have been produced at 1.98 x 10^12 Watts. Is there anything on Earth that humans have made comparable in strength?

For broadcast band signals the Bolshakovo transmitter in Russia is credited as the most powerful medium-wave broadcasting station in the world. Providing 2.5 megawatts to the world-wide Voice of Russia on 1,110 kilohertz it is so strong it sometimes can be picked up in America when the conditions are correct. We would have to do a million times more power to rival the ET transmitter.

At this time the highest-power, short-wave transmitting station in the world is called the High Frequency Active Auroral Research Program (HAARP) which can transmit up to 3.6 megawatts via an array of 180 crossed dipole antennas on towers covering 42 acres on an US Air Force base in Gakona, Alaska. To achieve this gigantic output HAARP employs 180 large ceramic-metal tube RF amplifiers, each capable of providing 20 kilowatts, feeding into the antenna array all at once. According to their website, HAARP is a research facility for studying plasma physics and radio science involving the Earths ionosphere. The antenna system is one of the biggest in the world.

Doing a little more math we can test if it is even possible to power the ET transmitter with an earth-based power station. Lets say the ET station ran on ordinary petroleum based diesel fuel. Based on the hydrocarbons found on Saturns moon Titan it is not a large leap to believe petroleum exists on other planets too. One 42-gallon barrel of diesel provides close to 5.4 GigaJoules. Dividing this out, we would find that the ET station would consume 367 gallons of diesel per second  assuming 100 percent conversion efficiency. Shucks, one large government office building in Washington, D.C., probably guzzles more heating fuel faster than this on a cool October day.

We should be able soon to communicate back if they are there.
Liberty Counsel Files Brief on Behalf of American Pastor in International Lawsuit

SPRINGFIELD, Mass., Sept. 2, 2016 / Christian Newswire / -- Liberty Counsel filed its second 150-page brief in support of dismissing a lawsuit filed by Sexual Minorities Uganda (SMUG) against American Pastor Scott Lively, responding to the 1,000+ pages submitted by SMUG to keep its vindictive and baseless lawsuit alive. SMUG filed the suit in retaliation against Lively for speaking about homosexuality and God's design for the family in Uganda.

SMUG claims Lively committed an international "crime against humanity" when he shared his biblical views on homosexuality during three visits to Uganda in 2002 and 2009, even declaring Lively's "crimes" to be "one step from genocide." SMUG deems every pro-family advocate in Uganda to be a "co-conspirator" in a "criminal enterprise" to "persecute" the LGBTI (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, intersex) population of Uganda. In addition to seeking bankrupting financial penalties from Lively, SMUG is asking the federal court to prohibit Lively from, among other things, preaching at Ugandan churches and lobbying or advocating against same-sex marriage in Uganda.

Lively's latest brief responds to over 1,000 pages of manufactured allegations and diversionary propaganda filed by SMUG in an attempt to rescue its lawsuit from the sworn testimony of its officers and directors, admitting that SMUG has no knowledge whatsoever connecting Lively to any act of "persecution." The brief, filed on behalf of Lively, shows the court that SMUG not only cannot prove a single act of "persecution" by Lively, but also concealed from Lively and the court a book published by SMUG covering a decade of the Ugandan homosexuality debate and containing information that destroys SMUG's international "conspiracy" theory.

"SMUG has now made it clear that it wants to put Pastor Scott Lively's Christian faith on trial," said Liberty Counsel's Harry Mihet, Chief Litigation Counsel and Vice President of Legal Affairs. "Every American should be concerned about this unprecedented attempt to subjugate U.S. citizens and our Constitution to the new 'morality' of the international left," Mihet continued, "and we should pray for a just and decisive ruling from the court preserving our most cherished constitutional freedoms of thought and expression."

The federal court in Springfield, Massachusetts will hear argument on Lively's motion for summary judgment dismissing SMUG's case on October 5, 2016.



Liberty Counsel is an international nonprofit, litigation, education, and policy organization dedicated to advancing religious freedom, the sanctity of life, and the family since 1989, by providing pro bono assistance and representation on these and related topics.
home Faith Astronaut sees design and purpose in creation during space travels

American astronaut Jeff Williams acknowledged God's handiwork when he described the view of earth from outer space.

Williams spoke to the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary (SBTS) chapel through a NASA downlink interview with SBTS President Albert Mohler Jr.

When Mohler asked Williams what he sees when he looks at Earth while in orbit, he replied, "When I look out the window and I see this, all of the elements are what you would imagine you would see with a creative work by an infinite God."

"You see the design, you see the beauty, you see the purpose, you see all of those elements, you see order in all the details," he added.

Williams, the commander of Expedition 48, spoke with Mohler on Tuesday morning for about 15 minutes from the International Space Station (ISS). During the interview, Williams showed the 800mm lens camera that he uses to take his pictures. He sent photographs of the SBTS campus taken from the ISS.

When he spoke about walking in space, he described it as "challenging" but "an amazing experience."

"It just deepens a comprehension, the observation of what we know through Scripture about the amazing creative work of God. It's an incredibly humbling experience," he remarked.

Williams is a regular listener of Mohler's podcast even while in orbit. He confessed that he misses his wife and immediate family. He revealed that he has a grandchild whom he has not met face to face.

Williams began his career as a test pilot and was selected to become an astronaut in 1996. At that time, U.S. and Russia were still in the early stages of the development of the ISS. Williams wrote the book "The Work of His Hands: A View of God's Creation From Space" to describe his experiences in orbit.

Expedition 48 launched on July 7 from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan. Williams recently completed the mission's second spacewalk with flight engineer Kate Rubins. He is expected to land on Sept. 6 with a record of 534 cumulative days in space, surpassing the record of astronaut Scott Kelly by two weeks.
home World Catholic priest beaten into a coma by pagans in Nigeria

Pagan youths attacked a Catholic priest on Monday, Aug. 29 during a rosary procession in the Obubo community in Anambra State, Nigeria. Rev. Fidelis Ifeanyichukwu Ugozo was beaten and stabbed in the face because the mob believed Ugozo burned down their gods' shrine.

A youth leader identified as Gabriel Ikegbunam allegedly stopped Ugozo from entering his village. It was said that Ikegbunam called on others to charge when Ugozo and his Catholic followers ignored his warning.

Cletus Nwankwo, a former catechist at Ugozo's church, said that the youths wielded axes, guns and machetes.

"They grabbed the Blessed Sacrament from our Parish Priest, hit it on the floor and used the Monstrance to hit our parish priest on his hand before stabbing him on the face and other parts of the body" he said to Anambra Broadcasting Service.

Ugozo, who was reportedly beaten into a coma, was rushed to an undisclosed hospital and was later transferred to St. Joseph's Hospital in Adaza Ani.

Igwe Lawrence Egwuonu, the ruler of Ugbenu, said his wife was also beaten by the mob. He stated that Ikegbunam, along with three companions, went to his palace to complain about the destruction of their deity's shrine.

"After investigation, I discovered that they were all liars. None of their shrines were burnt and I can defend it anywhere," said Egwuonu. "Their greatest mistake was touching the priest and destroying the Blessed Sacrament. It is a sacrilege and they will pay for it," he added.

Two men, Anthony Anigbogu and Humphrey Ekwenye, were arrested in connection with the case while Ikegbunam and other accomplices remain at large.

Pagan youths were also previously suspected of attacking churches in Anambra. In August 2013, 50 Christians, including a 2-year-old baby, were injured after several churches in Awka were attacked by suspected cultists. More than seven churches were reportedly looted and burned.
home Faith Evangelical ministries will be first to go when internet is handed over, evangelist says

Evangelist Perry Stone warned on Friday that conservative evangelical ministries could be the first group to be blocked when the U.S. relinquishes control over the internet.

"One of the last things Obama will do before leaving office is to basically turn the Intenet [sic] over to the Globalists," said Stone on a Facebook post.

"The first groups to 'go away' or be blocked will be conservative evangelical ministries and also conservative blogs that expose the secret and hidden agendas of leaders, or make stands in agreement with the Bible," he continued.

Stone voiced his concerns regarding online freedom of speech. He claimed that many other groups shared the same sentiments. Stone also mentioned coming across a document discussing plans for martial law in America.

"This could well be the conclusion of Internet freedom of speech for many. Some will say this is not as big a deal, however, several organizations are very concerned and believe this is the first step in controlling the speech of Americans," he added.

The National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) is responsible for managing the Domain Name System through the Internet Assigned Numbers Authority (IANA).

The U.S. announced plans to turn over the system's control to the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN), the global organization that manages IANA, after the contract between the ICANN and the government expires on Sept. 30.

Businesses and civil-society leaders are worried that the responsibility will actually be turned over to the U.N. There are concerns that U.N. member states like China and Iran would be allowed to extend their influence on policies regarding free speech.

Sen. Ted Cruz and Rep. Sean Duffy introduced the Protecting Internet Freedom Act to prevent the turnover of the internet to a global organization. The bill seeks to prevent the expiration of the contract between the NTIA and IANA without Congress approval.
home US Hillary Clinton private emails & FBI interview details revealed: Lost & destroyed devices, ignorance of briefings & security rules

Hillary Clinton, under questioning by federal investigators over whether she had been briefed on how to preserve government records as she was about to leave the State Department, said she had suffered a concussion, was working part-time and could not recall every briefing she received. It was also revealed that Clinton used more than a dozen devices to conduct her emails during her tenure as Secretary of State, but none of those devices were made available to the FBI, with the bureau being told they had all either been lost or destroyed. In another instance, an entire archive of Clinton's emails were deleted by a company the former Secretary of State had employed to deal with them.

Clinton, the Democratic Party's presidential candidate, raised the health scare during her 3-1/2-hour interview with the Federal Bureau of Investigation and Justice Department prosecutors on July 2, according to an FBI summary released on Friday.

Besides the 11-page interview summary, the FBI also released other details of its investigation into her use of an unauthorised private email system while running the State Department, in which it concluded she mishandled classified information but not in a way that warranted a criminal prosecution.

Clinton told investigators she could not recall getting any briefings on how to handle classified information or comply with laws governing the preservation of federal records, the summary of her interview shows.

"However, in December of 2012, Clinton suffered a concussion and then around the New Year had a blood clot," the FBI's summary said. "Based on her doctor's advice, she could only work at State for a few hours a day and could not recall every briefing she received."

A Clinton campaign aide said Clinton only referenced her concussion to explain she was not at work but for a few hours a day at that time, not that she did not remember things from that period.

The concussion was widely reported then, and Republicans have since used it to attack the 68-year-old candidate's health in a way her staff have said is unfounded.

The FBI report, which does not quote Clinton directly, is ambiguous about whether it was her concussion that affected her ability to recall briefings.

The FBI declined to provide further comment on the report.

Clinton, who is challenging Republican Donald Trump for the White House in the Nov. 8 election, has been dogged for more than a year by the fallout from her decision to use an unauthorised private email account run from the basement of her Chappaqua, New York, home.

Republicans have repeatedly attacked Clinton over the issue, helping drive opinion polls that show many U.S. voters doubt her trustworthiness.

Trump's campaign issued a statement immediately following the FBI report's release saying the notes from the interview "reinforce her tremendously bad judgment and dishonesty."

Clinton has said that in hindsight she regretted using a private email system while secretary of state.

According to the report, Clinton told the FBI that she did not set up a private email server to sidestep the law requiring her to keep her business communications a matter of public record.

At least one federal judge is examining whether this was the case as part of a lawsuit against the State Department concerning public access to Clinton's government records, which the U.S. government said it had no access to in response to requests from members of the public.

The documents also show that Clinton contacted former Secretary of State Colin Powell in 2009 to ask about his use of a personal BlackBerry phone.

In his reply to Clinton via email, Powell told Clinton to "be very careful" because the work-related emails she sent on her BlackBerry could become public record.

"I got around it all by not saying much and not using systems that captured the data," Powell said, according to the summary.

After her use of a private email system became public knowledge in March 2015, Clinton repeatedly said she did not use it to send or receive classified information. The government forbids handling such information outside secure channels.

The FBI has since concluded Clinton was wrong to say that: At least 81 email threads contained information that was classified at the time, although the final number may be more than 2,000, the report said. Some of the emails appear to include discussion of planned future attacks by unmanned U.S. military drones, the FBI report showed.

"CLINTON believed the classification level of future drone strikes depended on the context," the FBI's interview summary said. The U.S. government requires that military plans be classified.

The FBI released its report on Friday afternoon before the Labor Day holiday weekend, a time many Americans are preparing to travel.

State Department spokesman John Kirby said he would not comment on the FBI's findings because the department "does not have full insight into the FBI's investigation."

He declined to say whether State Department officials still discussed the planning of future attacks using drones in unclassified emails.

"I'm not going to speak to past email practices," he said. "We trust State Department employees to use their best judgment when conveying sensitive information, taking into account a range of factors."

The Clinton campaign released a statement welcoming the report's release.

"While her use of a single email account was clearly a mistake and she has taken responsibility for it, these materials make clear why the Justice Department believed there was no basis to move forward with this case," Brian Fallon, a campaign spokesman, said in a statement.

Some Republicans saw the files as confirming their belief that the Department of Justice should have prosecuted Clinton.

"These documents demonstrate Hillary Clinton's reckless and downright dangerous handling of classified information during her tenure as secretary of state," Paul Ryan, the Republican speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives, said in a statement. "This is exactly why I have called for her to be denied access to classified information."
home World ISIS chainsaws 9 Iraqi youths in half in Mosul

Nine teenagers were cut in half with a chainsaw by the ISIS (Islamic State of Iraq and Syria) terrorist group. The youths were sentenced to death upon accusations of joining an anti-resistance group in Mosul, Iraq.

"The death sentence pronounced by ISIS sharia court stated that the men should be tied to an iron pole in the center of Tal Afar Square in Mosul and then sliced into two with an electric chainsaw," a source told Iraqi News.

The Human Rights Watch (HRW) recently issued a report that the Popular Mobilization Forces (PMF), a state-sponsored paramilitary organization, is recruiting children as young as 12 to fight ISIS. In a separate report, witnesses told HRW that at least seven children from the Debaga camp were recruited on Aug. 14 and taken to Mosul for preparations.

ISIS has also been known to recruit children. In July 2015, HRW reported the case of two Iraqi kids who escaped from a camp where children as young as 14 receive military training.

The Violations Documenting Center in Syria documented 194 deaths of "non-civilian" male children between September 2011 and June 2014.

According to HRW, non-state armed groups recruit children under the guise of providing education. Children who join the groups were allegedly given weapons training and ordered to carry out dangerous tasks. Leaders also reportedly encourage young recruits to go on suicide bombing missions.

HRW called on all armed groups in Syria to make a commitment to forbid the recruitment of men under the age of 18. "Governments and individuals providing aid to Syrian armed groups should review these groups' policies on child recruitment and urge them to ban the use of children, and to verify recruits' ages," said HRW in a statement.

Bill Van Esveld, a senior children's rights researcher, implored the Iraqi government to pay attention to the recruitment of children in the Mosul operation. "The government and its foreign allies need to take action now, or children are going to be fighting on both sides in Mosul," he said.
125 YEARS AGO August 29, 1891: Five teams loaded with wool from W.F. Ross ranch near Mountain City, arrived in town Thursday.



T.N. Stone goes to Tuscarora tomorrow for the purpose of taking charge of the school there.



Indian Agent Plumb came down from the reservation Thursday. His two daughters, Blanche and Alma who have been attending the School of Methods here, will return home with him.



Miss Lena Alexander will leave on tomorrow mornings stage for Tuscarora, in route to Independence Valley to re-open the school at that place.

100 YEARS AGO

August 29, 1916: Mr. and Mrs. W.H. Moffatt left here for Deeth on business connected with the Spanish Ranch.



The Elko High School Board of Education, consisting of A.W. Hesson, J.H. Cazier and W.R. Englert, accompanied by Professor George C. Jensen, motored to Wells recently. Upon arriving in Wells, the board met in conjunction with the Wells educators  a meeting being held in the high school in Wells. During the meeting many prominent citizens of Wells who are vitally interested in school matters, spoke and plans were discussed for the betterment of the Wells High school. The Wells school is growing rapidly and where there was an attendance of 12 pupils last year, everything points to an enrollment of 25 this year. Professor Wolf was engaged to assist Professor Durell; thus giving the Wells High school three highly competent teachers.

August 30, 1916: One of the most important transactions of the year and one that means much to Elko in more ways than one, was consummated recently when the old university dormitory, or more recently the residence of Mr. Hayden Henderson, was rented by the Elko High School Board of Education for use as a dormitory during the coming school year. The building will be fitted up in an up-to-date manner, and equipped with every comfort. It is the intention of the board to devote the entire building to the housing of girl students and use same in connection with the High school.

75 YEARS AGO

August 27, 1941: Announcement was made today by C.M. Luce, superintendent, that the Elko Grammar school will open next Tuesday, September 2. First, sixth, seventh and eighth graders will report to Building No. 1 at regular school time Tuesday morning. Second, third fourth and fifth graders will report to Building No. 2 Tuesday afternoon at the regular time. Kindergarten pupils will enter accompanied on the first day by their parents.

August 28, 1941: Pulling contests have been featured at the Nevada Livestock Show and Elko County Fair for two years. They are being repeated this year, because of their popularity, on the first day of the show, September 11th. The show continues for four days. Prizes are given teams weighing more than 3,000 and less than 2,700 pounds, with special prizes for Nevada novice teams.

August 29, 1941: Nevada motorists will be required to return their 1941 automobile registration plates when applying for 1942 tags, Secretary of State Malcolm McEachin, ex-officio motor vehicle commissioner, announced today. The return of current plates is designed as a national defense measure in the conservation of steel, McEachin stated, and will be adopted by the remainder of the states.

50 YEARS AGO August 30, 1966: Anita Marisquerena of Lamoille announced today she is opening a small grocery store in connection with Pine Lodge. The grocery will be operated in the Pine Lodge building. She said the grocery store will be operated for the convenience of Lamoille residents and also for those who picnic and camp in the area.



Elko County schools will open their door for the 1966-67 school year on Sept. 6, 1966. Pre-registration in the Elko area indicates an increase in school population both on the elementary and high school levels, necessitating double sessions at the Southside and Northside Elementary schools. This increase was anticipated more than a year ago, but current registrations show the possibility of a greater number than was projected. The double sessions will be in grades kindergarten and two through sixth at Southside and in kindergarten at Northside.

August 31, 1966: Sale of the Rancho Grande 40 miles north of Elko to Dr. and Mrs. Ramon Somavia of Hollister, Calif., was announced today by the sellers, Mr. and Mrs. W.W. (Walt) Whitaker Sr., Mr. and Mrs. W.W. (Bill) Whitaker Jr., and Mr. and Mrs. Kenneth A. Homer. The sale price was reported in excess of $1 million. The Rancho Grande, which includes 18,000 acres of deeded land, served for many years as headquarters for the Nevada operations of the late W.H. Moffat. Walt Whitaker purchased the ranch in 1960. The Whittaker family will continue operation of the neighboring Haystack Ranch.

25 YEARS AGO August 30, 1991: Seven wild horses captured on U.S. BLM range near Nellis Air Force in July were adopted at Spring Creek Horse Palace last Thursday from among 35 mares and stallions brought from Renos Palomino Valley Wild Horse and Burro Placement Center, reported Bruce Portwood, wild horse specialist with the Elko BLM. I wouldnt term it real successful, he said. I wish we had moved more horses like we have done here before. Three Nellis refugees went to Carlin, two to Salt Lake City and one to Oasis  each for a $125 adoption fee.

September 3, 1991: Since the 1930s attempts have been made by ski buffs to establish a permanent place for families to play on the snowy slopes near Elko, says Charlie Chester, founder and chairman of the current committee advocating a complete winter recreation area here. This fall Chester and his committee, Dale Coleman, Jerry Warren, John and George Lostra, Rocky Bush and Marsha Davis, are suggesting a new Snow Bowl be established not far from the old area, but with different access, from North Fifth Street, and more snow.
home Entertainment Kevin Sorbo stars in new movie about atheist's conversion to Christianity

Kevin Sorbo and his wife, Sam, will be starring in "Let There Be Light," a new movie about a famous atheist who converted to Christianity.

Sam, who met Kevin on the set of the TV series "Hercules: The Legendary Journeys," co-wrote the script with Dan Gordon.

"The idea hit me. I wonder what would happen if the world's greatest atheist had a come-to-Jesus moment?" she said to AL.com.

Kevin will take on the character of an atheist author who had a near-death experience.

The crew just finished three weeks of filming in Birmingham, Alabama and will continue to shoot scenes in New York City.

The couple hopes that the new movie will be as successful as "God's Not Dead," which starred Kevin as an atheist professor. The film earned $60.7 million on a $2 million budget.

"From a business perspective, if you do the right faith-based movie, you're going to reach a lot of people," Sam said.

She added that spiritually inspiring movies made for Christians create a more dramatic effect. She then narrated a story about a woman who approached Kevin and told him that she was a Muslim who converted to Christianity after seeing "God's Not Dead."

Her hubsand Kevin is also not shy about speaking about his faith to the mainstream media. Last July, he lamented the increasing secularism in America.

"We are turning into a secular country, aren't we? We are taking God out of everything. We wonder why bad things happen. We worry about schools, well they are taking God out of schools," he told FOX11.

Kevin also complained about the highly sexual and violent content in today's movies but he believes that Hollywood will start producing more faith-based films. Kevin played Joseph in the film "Joseph and Mary" which was released on DVD last July.

"Let There Be Light" is expected to be released in December 2017.
home Faith Lawyer who defended Christians detained in China after retracting 'forced statements' in prison

Human rights lawyer Zhang Kai was detained by authorities after he retracted the statements he was forced to make during his previous incarceration.

Zhang was initially arrested in August 2015 for giving advice to Christians who protested the removal of crosses on their churches. He was held for six months in an unknown location for "endangering state secrets" and "gathering a crowd to disrupt public order." On Feb. 25, Chinese media showed footage of him admitting to charges.

Zhang received a criminal detention sentence but it was cut short. He was released on bail last March on the condition that he would not speak to the media.

According to Zhang's lawyer, Tan Chenshou, police from Wenzhou City went to Zhang's home in Inner Mongolia to arrest him. Earlier that day, Zhang reportedly retracted the scripted criticisms of human rights lawyers that he was coerced to say while he was in prison.

"I think it's very likely [that he will be prosecuted]. We can't rule it out," Tan told Radio Free Asia (RFA). "He was forbidden to talk to the press; Zhang Kai has been targeted for a lot of persecution," Tan added.

RFA reported that there are increasing cases of detained human rights lawyers who are forced to make such confessions.

In July 2015, 248 human rights lawyers and activists were targeted by Chinese officials. Amnesty International reported that the state-run media referred to these defenders of justice as a "major criminal gang."

Amnesty International noted a pattern where the accused were detained for more than a year and denied their own choice of lawyers. Some were reportedly made to confess on state television prior to their trials.

The global organization called on Chinese authorities to end the suppression of the lawyers and activists.

"This wave of trials against lawyers and activists are a political charade. Their fate was sealed before they stepped into the courtroom and there was no chance that they would ever receive a fair trial," said Roseann Rife, East Asia Research Director at Amnesty International.
home Faith Millennials actually love the Church if it remains authentic and true, says youth pastor

The notion that millennials are not interested in the Church is actually a misconception, said youth pastor Jason Powell recently at the Harvest Christian Fellowship. Powell, who leads a team of young evangelists on the streets, believes that young people are dedicated to the Church as long as its authentic.

"If we get away from the fake, the facade, the apparent mask of things and go to the real authentic a you know, there is a mission at hand a a down to earth real cause for the gospel, I think these young people rise to the occasion every single time," Powell told the Christian Post.

Brady Collins, another youth pastor, added that millennials are not impressed by light shows in the Church but they are interested in authentic discipleship.

105,000 people attended the SoCal Harvest 2016 at the Angel Stadium last weekend. Over 11,000 made the commitment to Christ. The youth pastors identified that the key to these large figures are millennials who love the Church.

"80% of people who come to this event are brought by a friend," Powell said to the Christian Post. "So friendship-type evangelism is very important. So it is this idea that we are praying, inviting and bringing," he continued.

Powell thinks that many non-believers come to these events because Christians who are encouraged to bring their friends use the opportunity to present the gospel.

"We liken our job to the parable of the sower. Our job is to cast that seed, so when we cast that seed, it is the Holy Spirit who does the work," he said.

There is also an extensive follow-up program after the evangelistic outreach. There are teams who collect information from new believers to connect them with the local parish in their neighborhood. 250 churches in Southern California are cooperating with Harvest for this program.

More than 5.7 million people have attended the Harvest events since 1990 with over 471,000 commitments to Christ. The events have been viewed by over 1.8 million people through live webcast.
home US More than half GOP voters now regret picking Donald Trump, poll finds

54 percent of Republican voters are now saying that Trump is not the best choice for the GOP (Grand Old Party).

The poll conducted by Huffington Post/YouGov showed that only 35 percent of GOP voters think that Donald Trump is the best candidate among the 16 Republicans who ran for the nomination.

When GOP voters were asked if they were to choose again, 29 percent still picked Trump followed by Sen. Ted Cruz with 15 percent. 14 percent picked Sen. Marco Rubio. The other candidates got less than 10 percent.

Last June, 44 percent of Republican voters said that Trump was the best option while another 44 percent disagreed.

Democrats seem to be happy with Hillary Clinton as their nominee. 53 percent said that Clinton is the best choice while only 37 percent said otherwise.

When asked who the Democrats would pick if they were to choose again, 47 percent still picked Clinton while 42 percent chose Sen. Bernie Sanders.

20 percent of all voters thought that Trump is the best candidate for the Republicans while 30 percent believed that Clinton is the best choice for the Democrats.

A poll conducted by Fox News showed Trump gaining on Clinton. In a four-way matchup, Clinton was leading with 41 percent, followed by Trump with 39 percent. Libertarian party candidate Gary Johnson received 9 percent while Green Party candidate Jill Stein got 4 percent.

In a two-way poll between Clinton and Trump, Clinton led by 6 percent, 48 to 42. Clinton was ahead by 10 points 49 to 39 in a poll conducted in early August.

87 percent of Clinton's supporters said they were certain of their choice while 88 percent of Trump's supporters said the same about him.

According to the forecast by FiveThirtyEight, Hillary Clinton has a 73.8 percent chance of winning the election while Trump only has 26.2 percent as of Sept. 1. At the end of July, the forecast showed Clinton leading by only 2 points, 51 to 49.
home World Ukraine religious leader arrested in Russia while preaching

A Ukrainian religious leader was arrested while preaching to the St. Petersburg Messianic Jewish community in Russia. The preacher, Sergei Zhuravlyov, was accused of violating an anti-terror law that prohibits missionary activity.

Zhuravlyov, a representative of the Ukrainian Reformed Orthodox Church of Christ the Savior, was specifically accused of promoting hate speech and having ties to the Ukraninian nationalist party known as "Right Sector." He is currently out on bail, the Moscow Times reported.

The anti-terror legislation used against him was signed into law by Russian President Vladimir Putin on July 7. It is popularly known as the "Yarovaya law," named after its principal author, Irina Yarovaya.

Critics have expressed their concern about the overbearing traits of the law.

"This is an absolutely draconian law, even the Soviet Union did not have such an overwhelmingly repressive legislation," said Gennady Gudkov to the Los Angeles Times. Gudkov is a lawmaker who was evicted from Duma for criticizing Putin.

Edward Snowden, the whistleblower who is on temporary asylum in Russia, also expressed similar sentiments on Twitter.

Six individuals have already been arrested for conducting missionary activities since July. One was identified as a Hare Krishna while the other five were Christians.

One of the Christians was American Baptist minister Daniel Ossewaarde. He was fined 40,000 rubles (approx. $600) for holding a Bible study session in his home. He is currently appealing his case and hopes that it will prevent other missionaries from getting in trouble with the law.

"The way they wrote the law is very ineffective in accomplishing what they wanted to accomplish," Ossewaarde told the Baptist Press.

"They wanted to make all missionary activity illegal. The law as written doesn't apply to me, and that's why I believe that we will win this appeal. But long term, obviously they can write another law that says missionary activity is just plain outlawed. I certainly consider myself a missionary," he added.
12-year-old boy accused of stealing church bus for 7-mile ride

A 12-year-old boy from the U.S. state of Illinois is facing charges of stealing a church bus and going for a seven-mile ride before he was stopped by the police.

The theft occurred at the Valley Baptist Church in Oswego village. Surveillance video showed the boy riding his bike to where the buses were parked at around 5:30 p.m. After a few minutes, the video showed the bus heading towards the exit, according to WGNTV.

The boy drove the bus until Naperville where he was stopped by the police.

Valley Baptist Church Pastor David Hemphill said he believed the boy was looking for candy in the bus when he found the key instead and decided to take the vehicle for a ride.

The Kendall County Sheriff's Office called Hamphill to inform him that they got the bus and the boy.

"They said, 'A 12-year-old has taken one of your vehicles and we have it. No one has been hurt. The young person is OK. We just need someone to come pick up the vehicle,'" the pastor said.

The boy was released to his parents.

"His father called me and was remorseful and apologised and said he would take care of any of the costs that were involved. I was very appreciative of that. He seemed like a very concerned dad and wanted to help his child," the pastor said.

The boy was charged as a minor with theft of a motor vehicle, the Chicago Tribune reported.

The buses are used by the church in the Oswego, Montgomery and Aurora areas to pick up children and adults who do not have transportation and bring them to the church.

It was in 1970 when the Valley Baptist Church started. Hemphill became its pastor in 2008.

In the last four decades, the church has brought well-known preachers to its pulpit including Dr. Lee Roberston, Dr. Mark Cambron, Dr. John Goetsch, Evangelist Dan Knickerbocker, Dr. J.R. Faulkner, Dr. Clarence Doyle, Evangelist Bobby Brown, Dr. Mel Rutter, Dr. Jim Delashmit, Dr. Wendell Evans, and Dr. Paul Levine, according to its website.
Atheists object to Arizona department head's alleged promotion of religion

A group of atheists continues to insist that an Arizona state department head is using government resources to promote religion.

The Freedom From Religion Foundation (FFRF) first sent a letter in June to Arizona Department of Economic Security (DES) Director Tim Jeffries regarding his email to all department employees about his membership in the Order of Malta and asked them to send messages that he will bring to Lourdes, France.

The group said this is unconstitutional as Jeffries tried using state government resources and staff to promote his alleged personal religious views and asked him to stop it.

But the Office of the Arizona Attorney General cleared Jeffries of any violation.

"Mr. Jeffries' internal emails about his personal trip were private speech, did not bear the endorsement of the State, and did not violate the Constitution. Furthermore, if DES were to adopt a rule banning religious speech in internal workplace emails, as you suggest, it would violate the First Amendment," Civil Division Chief Counsel Paul Watkins told FFRF in an Aug.10 letter.

FFRF responded, saying that "when Jeffries 'goes to work and performs the duties he is paid to perform, he speaks not as an individual, but as a public employee.' It is irrelevant that state employees are permitted to use work accounts to send and receive personal emails. The email addresses, the time and the computers are all government resources. Jeffries only has access to these resources because he is an employee and representative of the state of Arizona."

Watkins insisted that Jeffries' emails are private speech.

"Employees at state agencies, including DES, are not prohibited from using work email accounts to send and receive personal emails," he said. "Every employee is free to handle these personal emails and the views and opportunities presented as they please."

He explained that Jeffries' emails are not proselytisation.

"Although Mr. Jeffries mentions the Order of Malta, he says the purpose of the Order is to serve the poor and the sick. Overall, the emails demonstrate that Mr. Jeffries discussed a personal, charitable trip and were not attempts to convert others to his faith," he added.
Church-based group helps children, homeless fight Zika virus in U.S.

From Brazil to other Latin American countries, the Zika virus infection has become a global health emergency, spreading to other areas including the United States. It has now reached even Singapore, which is halfway around the world from the point of origin.

In the U.S., Catholic organisations are doing their share to make sure that people are protected from the infection, and that the virus does not spread further.

The Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of Miami, for instance, is focused on lowering the possibility that residents, particularly children and homeless individuals, will be bit by mosquitoes carrying the Zika virus.

"This is a public health crisis and we are working with people," Richard Turcotte, chief executive officer of the Catholic Charities, said, as quoted by The Catholic News Agency.

In the childhood development centre and homelessness centre where the group operates, Catholic Charities already installed mosquito traps. The Catholic organisation also conducts daily inspections in these centres to check that there are no places with stagnant water, where Zika-carrying mosquitoes are known to breed.

In addition to these efforts, Catholic Charities has also limited the time spent by children outside the centre to lessen the possibility that they will get infected by the Zika virus.

John DiCamillo, ethicist for the National Catholic Bioethics Center, commended Catholic Charities for its effort against the Zika virus, saying that aside from caring for people's health, the group is also ensuring the dignity of people.

"It's important to remember that in each of these cases we're dealing with a human life, a human person, who is being impacted by the disease, and at no point does that give us the right as a society, much less as a parent, to directly intend the destruction of that individual," DiCamillo also told The Catholic News Agency.

He also maintained that abortion should not be viewed as a way to address the Zika virus public health emergency.

"If we're going about directly killing people who are part of a society as a means of protecting a society, then we're doing something that's fundamentally self-contradictory," DiCamillo said.
Church brings Christ to residents in troubled South Sudan, U.S. lawmaker says

Throughout His ministry, Jesus Christ reached out to the marginalised  the poor, the hungry, the troubled, among others. In South Sudan, the Church is following Jesus' example by doing its part in helping residents suffering from the civil war, a humanitarian crisis, and the threat of mass starvation.

New Jersey Rep. Chris Smith, chair of the House Subcommittee on Global Human Rights, recently met with Archbishop Paulino Lukudu Loro of Juba, the capital city of South Sudan. The meeting was part of a fact-finding mission on the human rights situation in the African nation.

Smith recounted how Archbishop Lukudu "described a loss of hope upon many people" in South Sudan, according to The Catholic News Agency.

"The great expectations from five years ago when they became independent have, for the time being, crashed and burned, although hope remains eternal," the American lawmaker said.

The Roman Catholic official also "expressed grave concerns about the humanitarian crisis, the crisis of leadership," according to Smith.

Amid the humanitarian crisis, church workers are "scrambling to provide shelter" and "safe refuge" for the many refugees there, Smith said, recalling his meeting with Archbishop Lukudu.

"The Church plays a key role, as always and everywhere, in the provision of humanitarian aid," Smith said.

"The bishops I met with are just absolutely committed to living out Matthew 25, the vulnerable people and helping people as if they were Christ," he added.

South Sudan became an independent country in 2011, but since December 2013, the African nation has been torn by a civil war between government forces and the Sudan People's Liberation Army.

The two forces initially entered into a peace agreement, which subsequently collapsed as violence erupted anew.

Aside from Archbishop Lukudu, Smith also met with South Sudan President Salva Kiir Mayardit, and Defence Minister Kuol Manyang Juuk to bring to their attention the attack on some aid workers in the country.
ISIS rooting for Trump to win November election, believing he'll be the one to lead U.S., West to destruction

Although Donald Trump has promised to wipe them off the face of the earth, the Islamic State (ISIS) is going all-out in their support for him, precisely because of his plan to engage the terrorist organisation head-on if he wins the White House this November.

According to Foreign Affairs magazine, interviews with ISIS supporters and recent defectors indicate that the jihadis are rooting for Trump to beat Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton.

This is because they think Trump will help lead the United States and the West toward their own destruction after their envisioned final apocalyptic battle with the Muslim militants' army in the Syrian town of Dabiq.

The jihadis and their supporters believe that in that final battle, the West will be defeated, allowing Muslims to conquer the whole world before the coming of their Mahdi, the purported final redeemer of Islam who some Muslims believe will rule the world for a period of years before the day of judgement.

Foreign Affairs spoke with 12 ISIS supporters and former members of the group who said that they are all rooting for Trump to win the U.S. presidency this November 8.

In the interviews, ISIS supporters and defectors said Trump's hard-line stance on Muslim migration plays into the jihadis' propaganda claims that the West is at war with Islam.

Last December, Clinton also raised this point, saying that ISIS was using clips of Trump's comments to help recruit disenfranchised Muslims from around the world to join its ranks.

ISIS supporters believe that if Trump wins, his fiery rhetoric will lead to the radicalisation of Muslims in the U.S. and Europe and encourage them to carry out lone-wolf attacks inside their home countries.

They also think that Trump has poor leadership skills and that he will make faulty and unwise decisions as the commander-in-chief of the U.S. military, which would eventually lead to a weaker Americaone that they believe the jihadis could defeat in the final battle in Dabiq.
Elko County students headed back to class this week as Nevada enters a new era of education made possible by last years passage of the states largest-ever tax hike.

One of the biggest challenges has been for schools to find enough teachers. Many educators left the field during the recession and now they are in such big demand that Utah is hiring unlicensed teachers.

Our local district administrators did an outstanding job staying ahead of the recruiting curve, and most teaching positions were filled prior to the start of school. Their job will be easier next year when they can also offer a significantly higher starting salary. The downside is that insurance and retirement costs also continue to rise, and Elko County must pay much higher premiums than its big-city counterparts.

One challenge the district is not facing this year is growth. The opening-day head count was flat compared with last year. The totals are important because they determine the level of funding, and a new system will check enrollment on a quarterly basis.

According to the National Education Associations annual rankings, Nevada schools are estimated to spend $9,321 per pupil in 2016. Thats a $365 per pupil increase over the previous year, and puts Nevada in 35th place among other states.

Nevada businesses grossing more than $4 million began paying their first installments of the annual Commerce Tax last month. Much of the money is going to K-12 education, but earmarked for specific programs such as boosting low-performing schools and ensuring that students can read by the third grade. Teachers in places like West Wendover and Owyhee are paid bonuses for working in Victory Schools, defined as those in Nevadas 20 poorest zip codes. Elko County is receiving more than $1 million of the $25 million spent on this program statewide.

The Read by 3 initiative is a $27 million program that will require schools to hold back any students who cannot read by the time they are supposed to enter fourth grade.

Another $25 million program being expanded is Zoom Schools with a high percentage of students who do not speak English, but the funds are only going to Clark and Washoe counties.

One of the biggest changes this year is that full-day kindergarten has been expanded to all schools. Parents in some Elko County schools who previously had to pay tuition for the program will no longer be charged.

All of these programs should benefit students and increase their chances of success, but what remains to be seen is whether they will boost Nevadas dismal student performance rankings, which are consistently at the bottom of the heap.

The rankings are heavily weighted by outcomes in the states high population centers, where negative social factors come into play. Education Weeks annual Quality Counts survey shows that Nevada parents rank near the bottom in higher education levels and maintaining steady employment, as well as English language fluency.

The governors ambitious education programs can only address these challenges tangentially. In the long run, we expect his economic diversification accomplishments will be a more significant factor in improving student performance.
New Green Party co-leader: 'My faith is what drives my politics'

The path Jonathan Bartley has travelled is more dramatic than most political party leaders can claim.

The new co-leader of the Greens, alongside the party's sole MP Caroline Lucas, was a strong favourite before the result was announced on Friday afternoon. And the pair duly secured nearly 90 per cent of the 15,467 votes cast.

But not many Green party members can claim the dubious honour of being a former Conservative party leader's aide.

In 2005 Bartley worked for John Major during a Tory leadership race, a role he is unsurprisingly quick to play down. "...That was very, very early on," he says in an interview with Christian Today, shortly after the result was announced.

The journey from Tory aide to Green Party leader is not the only dramatic change Bartley has undergone.

A Christian, Bartley says his ancestors' Quakerism is now "what I find most affinity with". He set up Ekklesia, a Christian think tank with a strong commitment to "social justice, nonviolence, environmental responsibility [and] nonconformist styles of Christianity".

But Bartley was baptised into the Church of England. He taught in a Sunday school and sat on the Church of England's Evangelical Council.

These days he says having bishops in the House of Lords is "unChristian", is pro-disestablishment and doesn't "believe in the privileging of religion in any shape or form".

He is a longstanding supporter of same-sex marriage and wishes the CofE "were more progressive". He says: "I wish they were bolder. I would encourage them in the way they are heading but for me it's too slow."

He is his most passionate when talking about climate change. "I don't understand those who say they are religious but don't feel the climate crisis is something to be urgently tackled.

"Care for the planet seems to be a no brainer for me."

And he is scathing about his former political party. "In the Conservatives essentially you have competition. In Labour you have conflict. In the Green party you have co-operation.

"I see conflict and competition as generally negative. When you are someone with a disability or someone who is older. Or just someone who is not in the prime of life and very strong. Then you lose out in competition.

"To me it is very much the bias towards those who need support and those we are called to stand up for that is what the Green party embodies."

It is the issue of disability that is crucial to understanding Bartley's story. His 14-year-old son has spina bifida and uses a wheelchair. Bartley told Christian Today his birth was a "pivotal" moment.

"I started to see the world in a very different way," he said. "I saw all the barriers that are put up to people who are disabled and I took a long hard look at all the different parties.

"I realised the Green party embodied the values of the bias to the poor, the bias to the vulnerable and standing up for the voiceless which are the themes that run through the Hebrew scriptures and the New Testament.

"They embody the character of Jesus and the character of God."

He went on: "My faith is still what drives my politics. I have always been driven by that.

"I have always been driven by the desire to make the world a better place. To make it more as it was intended to be."

He describes an early Christian apologetic, the letter from Mathetes, a Church teacher, to Diognetus, a pagan. "It is not a set of doctrines but a set of the way Christians behaved," said Bartley. "The early Christians described themselves as living The Way. It was described they shared a common table. They displayed a form of their own citizenship.

"For me faith is not just a set of doctrines or tickboxes. The bottom line is are you living the way Jesus called you to."

And the Green party, says Bartley, is "the natural expression" of this.
Lutheran bishops say church weddings in Finland only for straight couples

The Evangelical Lutheran Church in Finland has announced that it will not officiate same-sex weddings as the country's gay marriage law takes effect in March next year.

At a bishops' meeting held in Joensuu on Wednesday, it was decided that the church will only officiate the weddings of heterosexual couples.

An 11-page proclamation said the parties to a church wedding should be a man and a woman, according to Yle.

Same-sex couples can register their partnerships and have civil weddings at local registry offices.

"The church is not turning its back on sexual and gender minorities or rainbow families, but they are welcome in all other respects. They are a part of us, and not separate from us or some kind of problem," said Archbishop Kari Makinen.

Lawmakers voted in November 2014 to legalise same-sex marriage, a move that was lauded by Makinen. The archbishop's reaction led to about 3,000 members quitting the church.

"The change to marriage laws means that members of the Finnish Evangelical Lutheran Church, persons in high office and workers stand with same-sex [persons] in marriage," according to the bishops' announcement.

Makinen said the church's official line on same-sex marriage may have disappointed people.

"I can imagine that there must have been some expectations that something definitive would happen now," he said.

Makinen did not say what action the church will take if a cleric breaks the church guidelines and officiate same-sex weddings.

"At this stage it is not possible to say what the consequences of such an action would be," he said.

The bill to legalise same-sex marriage in Finland was approved by the president in February last year. Laws were changed to reflect such in social benefits and healthcare.

The bishops' announcement also said that a priest can pray for and with persons who have gotten married in a civil ceremony.
Why the prosperity gospel brings a poverty mindset

Two months back, a preacher and New York Times bestselling author posted a sale on his home which he admitted he couldn't afford to maintain anymore. His home was an Orange County Mansion that was valued at $2 Million.

The preacher in question preaches prosperity theology. What makes a prosperity teaching is not the presence of the huge mansions, expensive cars, private jets and expensive brand label clothing. It's the position of the heart.

Prosperity teachings put a whole lot of emphasis on the financial blessings of God, luring people into the Christian faith by using a hook of more money, material wealth and possessions. In a nutshell, prosperity gospel puts more emphasis on wealth and the self than it does on Christ.

On the surface, the message of prosperity theology has a partial truth to it. Indeed God wants to bless us and provide for us. It's His desire that His people never go hungry and actually live on an excess so that we can be a blessing to others. But the danger of prosperity gospel puts more emphasis on the blessing than on the one who gives the blessing.

Colossians 3:2 tells us to "set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth." Prosperity gospel poses a threat to believers because at the heart of it, it promotes and even creates a poverty culture amongst God's people.

A poverty mindset and a prosperity teaching have this in common: they put too much emphasis on the individual needs of people, placing the self at the center of the universe and making our needs, our wants and our desires more important than the will of God.

Sure God wants to bless us, but He wishes to do so on His terms, not ours. When we put too much emphasis on material blessings we miss out on the other more important blessings God wants to give us such as stronger faith, better character, lasting relationships and a deeper experience of His love.

A prosperity gospel is no gospel at all because the true gospel speaks of us dying to ourselves and now living with the desires that are that of Christ. No longer do we walk in a poverty mindset, but one that finds true satisfaction and joy in Jesus alone and money, possessions and earthly wealth simply become an add on.

It's pretty clear really that a prosperity teaching reflects a poverty mindset where our needs - which are endless - never find contentment and are always at the center. True Christian living puts Jesus at the center and looks first to Him for joy and satisfaction whether we are living in plenty or in little.
Zimbabwe's Mugabe: 'It's true I was dead. I resurrected as I always do'

Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe returned home from abroad in a jovial mood on Saturday, poking fun at the latest online media speculation that he was gravely ill and had sought medical help in Dubai.

Mugabe, 92, came back to the grim reality of rising public anger over an economic meltdown widely blamed on his misrule, with violence erupting a week ago when police fired teargas at opposition leaders and protesters.

Reports that Mugabe's health is declining have become common in recent years, but the veteran politician, in power since independence from Britain in 1980, often refers to himself as "fit as a fiddle".

On Saturday Mugabe poured scorn on rumors on some online news websites - partly fed by his early departure from a regional summit - that he had been rushed for medical treatment in Dubai.

Mugabe told journalists at Harare international airport he had gone to Dubai on a family matter concerning one of his children.

"Yes, I was dead, it's true I was dead. I resurrected as I always do. Once I get back to my country I am real," he quipped.

But Mugabe showed some signs of frailty, walking slowly from the plane and only chatting briefly with officials before being whisked away in a motorcade.

Mugabe rejects the blame for a crisis currently manifesting itself in acute cash shortages and high unemployment, and last week warned protesters there would be no "Arab Spring" in Zimbabwe, referring to the uprisings that toppled several Arab leaders.

He routinely blames Zimbabwe's economic problems on sabotage by Western opponents of his policies, such as the seizure of white-owned commercial farms for black people.

Last week Mugabe accused Western countries, including the United States, of sponsoring recent anti-government protests.

But even some of his once stalwart supporters, including Zimbabwe's war veterans who invaded white commercial farms in support of Mugabe's land seizures, have turned their backs on him, saying he has "devoured" the values of the liberation struggle.

Zimbabwe, which has also been hit by drought and weak commodity prices, is struggling to pay salaries to soldiers, police and other public workers, fuelling political tensions, including within the ruling ZANU-PF.

Divisions have emerged inside the party as senior officials position themselves for power after the veteran leader is gone, with one faction supporting Vice President Emmerson Mnangagwa while another backs first lady Grace Mugabe.
A north Houston man remains in custody after his arrest for allegedly abusing an underage family member, authorities said Friday.

Cepeda Drake, 47, is charged with aggravated sexual assault of a child for what authorities said was a continuous pattern of abuse over a period of several years.
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In its early years, Anderson Fair Retail Restaurant was known more for spaghetti than songs.

The venerable Montrose venue would grow into a proving ground for songwriters, but when it first opened in 1969, the space on Grant Street drew crowds by providing pasta and the opportunity to talk politics.

Because Montrose became the city's enclave for artists, free thinkers and war protesters, it was only a matter of time before songs circulated at Anderson Fair. The spaghetti remained, at least for a while, but the venue grew into a destination for musicians who put a premium on their lyrics.

Out-of-town legends like Odetta and Dave Van Ronk would frequent the space. More often it presented local and regional talent. Lyle Lovett, Lucinda Williams and Robert Earl Keen were just a few of the young songwriters in the late 1970s and early '80s who visited the venue and learned from Townes Van Zandt, Eric Taylor, Nanci Griffith and others who already were established at the venue.

More Information NOTABLES Anderson Fair has been host to numerous musicians, from up-and-coming Texas songwriters to underappreciated touring veterans. Here's a list of some notable names who spent time on the Houston club's stage. Odetta Dave Van Ronk Lucinda Williams Lyle Lovett Nanci Griffith Robert Earl Keen Townes Van Zandt Guy Clark Blaze Foley See More Collapse

"As a listener I'd never been to a place like Anderson Fair, where the playing was clean and everybody was quiet," Lovett says. "It was magical."

Nearly a half century later, the Fair continues to host live music Thursdays through Sundays, when it offers a stage for songwriters to play their songs without interruption by conversation or cellphones, a well-seasoned venue comparable to venerable spaces such as McCabe's Guitar Shop in Santa Monica, Calif., or the Bluebird Cafe in Nashville.

"People like to focus on the old days," owner Tim Leatherwood says. "But we're still doing well here. We're still here for people looking to hear good music played by good songwriters."

Businessmen Marvin Anderson and Gray Fair took over a narrow room in part of the barn-like structure - much of it built with wood salvaged from the old Brazos Hotel - on Grant without any musical accoutrements. No stage, no PA system.

Expectations were modest: a space for people with similar political leanings to meet, converse and, if they were so inclined, eat spaghetti.

"It wasn't started as any kind of folk mecca at all," Taylor says. "More like a safe place to sit amongst friends and talk politics. That was my first experience with it."

By 1973, though, music had taken root in the space, starting with songwriters playing for tips. The owners rented additional space in the brick building and took down a wall. Even then the inside wasn't roomy, so activity often buzzed outside, too. Because Anderson Fair was located a block off of a major thoroughfare, street fairs became a natural community event, and they also raised money to keep the Fair in operation following the expansion.

Anderson and Fair sold the club to a cooperative that eventually would include Leatherwood, who showed up around 1972 and began working at the Fair, first as a sound engineer for one of the block parties.

"I worked that block party and never left," he says.

He eventually would take on management of the club along with Walter Spinks and Roger Ruffcorn. Attrition gradually left Leatherwood, a co-op of one.

The club's requirement of its performers was original songs.

"The Fair was part of everybody's life if you wrote music," Taylor says. "There was a different feeling there because you had so many different musicians who lived right there in the Montrose who flocked to the place. We'd sit around in the afternoon and swap songs and drink 25-cent beer. So it evolved out of a love for the music, but also the fact that it was easy to get to, and there were so many writers there."

Taylor says the club had a reputation for being "too cute" for some songwriters. But he remembers a different place.

"I'm very grateful for most every moment I had there. To clarify, the people at Anderson Fair have seen me at my worst and at my best. That was just the times: People really went around showing the worst of themselves and the best of themselves, and nobody seemed to give a (expletive) one way or the other who saw it."

He recalls loud and nasty Blue Wednesdays, where guitar whiz Rocky Hill would play for a less reserved crowd.

"Everybody has this view of it as a quiet little folk club," Taylor says. "On Blue Wednesdays, it was a different scene. It was a weird time. People would do things and nobody would call the cops because the last thing anybody wanted was the (expletive) cops down there. It could be a pretty wicked little joint after hours.

"Some nights things were wide open."

Nights are a little less wide open as Anderson Fair moves toward 50 years with Blue Wednesdays a distant memory.

Decades later, Leatherwood carries Anderson Fair on his shoulders, booking acts and managing a group of volunteers. He closes during the summer to oversee the venue's upkeep.

"Just a chance to paint the walls," he says. "Parts of the building are more than 100 years old. Mortar starts turning to sand."

And then Anderson Fair opens back up.

"Nobody got rich at Anderson Fair," Lovett says. "I'm sure he's kept it afloat with his day job and patrons."

When the venue needed a new stage Ken Gaines and Wayne Wilkerson - who host a songwriters' circle on Thursday nights - built one about a decade ago.

The club was the subject of a 2009 documentary film, "For the Sake of the Song: The Story of Anderson Fair," and some of its more famous alumni - including Lovett, Keen and Griffith - have returned for shows to raise money for the Fair.

But such events just keep the place operating. If making money were the goal, Leatherwood wouldn't refund audience members' money while showing them to the door for talking on the phone. Anderson Fair has made very few concessions to time. It remains a cash-only business.

Considering most of the building was constructed in the 1920s, the walls may be held up by the countless photos and posters. There remains a small reading room off the entry, adjacent to the bar.

But people come years later for the listening room, which resists modernization. Structurally, the goal appears to be staying within code; anything more would be window dressing - were there a window. The room is small and dark with minimal decoration. It offers unobstructed views of the stage and clear sound, as it has for years. In that room, words and music have to make their case without distraction and without outside assistance.

"There's something about that stage," Lovett says. "To me, I feel more exposed there in that room than in bigger theaters. Maybe because it's so small and quiet."
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A Houston man facing capital murder charges in the alleged self-defense shootings of his wife and teen daughter in June was denied bail early Saturday.

Michael Wayne Ratliff, 43, was arrested this week in the deaths of Sandtrece Ratliff, 44, and 14-year-old Ariel Ratliff.

He initially told police he opened fire to defend himself as his wife and daughter attacked him with knives in their south Houston home. The incident happened around 2:45 a.m. June 16 in the 15100 block of Alkay near Anderson.

Ariel Ratliff died at the scene. Her mother was rushed to Ben Taub General Hospital, where she was pronounced dead.

According to the Harris County Institute of Forensic Sciences, the mother died at 4 a.m., about an hour after her daughter. Sandtrece Ratliff died from two gunshots to the head and neck. Ariel Ratliff died of a bullet wound to her head.

After two months of investigation, authorities determined that Ratliff did not act in his own defense. Houston police took him into custody on Wednesday, but did not release details about the case or what led to capital murder charges.

More information was revealed during a two-minute hearing on Saturday's 2 a.m. docket in Harris County probable cause court.

"The defendant walked the officers through the crime scene and stated that he had shot them in self defense," a prosecutor told the judge during a video appearance. "The medical examiner said that scientific evidence did not support the defendant's version of what had occurred and ruled the deaths as homicides due to gunshot wounds."

The assistant district attorney also said that officers spoke with a witness who stated that she had been talking to Ariel Ratliff on June 16 via FaceTime  a videoconferencing application  and could hear two adults arguing in the background.

The girl told that witness that people fussing were her parents, the prosecutor said.

A judge determined that there was enough evidence to deny Michael Ratliff an immediate opportunity for release.

In his only response during the brief hearing, Ratliff asked for a court-appointed lawyer.
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It's a crime as old as the state of Texas. And, for more than a century, a special group of rangers has made catching cattle rustlers their mission.

In bygone days, their prey roamed the vast rural expanses of Texas where cattle drives provided a tempting target for the rustlers. These days, they are just as likely to find the bad guys plying their trade in the shadows of urban metropolises intersected by busy highways.

Like Sugar Land, where this week police say they broke up a ring of castle rustlers and arrested four of them.

The men, including a 10-year Sugar Land Police officer, were arrested on suspicion of engaging in organized criminal activity, a felony. The Texas Department of Public Safety has taken charge of the case, which also involves the sheriff's offices of Brazoria, Fort Bend and Liberty counties. The special rangers of the Texas and Southwestern Cattle Raisers Association aided in the bust, too.

Specifics of the crimes have not been divulged. DPS officials said only that a number of cattle, plus construction equipment, cattle trailers, lawn-mowers and pick-up trucks were allegedly stolen. In all, the value of what was said to have been taken was estimated by DPS around $150,000.

The arrested officer, William Allen, most recently worked in the traffic division, Sugar Land spokesman Doug Adolph said. He was released from Fort Bend County jail on a $50,000 bond and placed on paid leave, pending the criminal proceedings and an internal investigation.

The alleged crime, perhaps, surprised some city slickers. How could it be that Texans today are still having cattle taken? But for the men and women who have grown up ranching, it's a liability they expect.

"You're always exposed," rancher Dave Scott, of Richmond, said. "That's a fact of life. Like if you own a grocery store or something else, you're subject to being robbed."

In 2015, there were 758 livestock-related theft cases investigated, according to data from the Texas and Southwestern Cattle Raisers Association. More than 1,500 cattle, together worth more than $2 million dollars, were recovered. Thirty-seven livestock cases were tried, yielding nearly $22,000 in fines and just shy of $194,000 in restitution.

So far this year, 425 cases have been reported.

For criminals, cattle owners know there are certain advantages to going after their livestock. The animals can be sold quickly, and for a full price. A criminal need not find a bovine black market, or hawk an item for less than it's worth. He or she simply can take the animal to an auction house and hope not to get caught.

A calf, depending on its weight, may bring in hundreds of dollars. A cow could bring in $1000. Checks can be picked up the same day of the auction, made out to whatever name given.

The Texas and Southwestern Cattle Raisers Association, founded in 1877 in Graham, continues to operate across the state for the primary reason of tracking down such cattle crooks. They encourage their 17,000 members to take certain precautions, like tagging the animals' ears, branding the cattle with specific marks and registering those marks with the county where the animals are kept.

When a close watch isn't enough, the association leaders also say they know how to seek out lawbreakers.

"It's an issue still," said Laramie Adams, an association spokesperson. "... At the end of the day, they usually get caught."

The crime is one that Scott, the longtime rancher, experienced a few years ago on a wooded ranch in Robertson County.

Seldom does one see all of one's cattle at any point in time, noted Scott, a past president of the association. If a rancher owns 10 cattle, it would be easy to notice one animal missing. If a rancher owns several hundred, it could be months before realizing that some were gone.

In Scott's case, a man who took care of and fed the animals on his behalf one day noted some no longer seemed to be there.

"He got to looking, got to looking, and they were gone," Scott said.

They figured around 17 head were unaccounted for. There was no trace of how they'd disappeared: no fence cut, no lock broken. Scott turned to that agency established to take this on: Texas and Southwestern Cattle Raisers Association. He handed over the case to Special Ranger Hal Dumas, a supervisor for the region.

Dumas is one of 30 special rangers working in Texas and Oklahoma. In Texas, the rangers are commissioned by the Department of Public Safety, meaning they get their arresting authority from them, but their salaries are paid by the Association.

A longtime member of law enforcement, Dumas has worked cattle thefts for about 20 years. Investigating an average of two or three cases at a time, Dumas has seen it all: people who buy cattle on a handshake and never fulfill their promise to pay; people with drug addictions who load up a few cattle and quickly sell them for cash; people who are taking care of another's cattle and sell off a few as time passes.

And, of course, there are cases of cattle that just wandered down the road.

Some cases involve hundreds of cattle. Some are just a few head.

Often, Dumas said, the crooks work in groups and steal until they get caught. The amateurs are obvious, leaving behind cattle they should have been able to nab, with blood or pieces of clothing left on the fences.

Luckily, he said, the average person who reads about and thinks to commit the crime can't round up the animal at all. As Dumas put it: "Most of those people don't know how to catch a cow."

If they do get sold off, sometimes, cattle can be identified by distinctive markings. They can also be found by pulling out a tail hair and checking the DNA to see if it matches that of a parent the rancher still has.

Local sheriff's offices, too, investigate livestock crimes.

In Wharton County, they may end up with stolen cattle cases twice a year, Capt. Raymond Jansky said. More often, cattle simply have wandered off.

Officers get daily "cattle calls" about animals found outside of their pastures, Jansky said. As such, as part of their field training, all officers are trained in how to pen a cow.

Usually, the animals are standing just outside of the pasture where they belong, maybe grazing by a ditch. Officers will try to contact the land owner, but if they cannot, they will open a gate and run them in, Jansky said.

Sometimes, all that takes is the honk of a police car.
A North Texas man is reportedly taking heat from his homeowners association for flying a "Back the Blue" flag in front of his house.

According to KXAS-TV, Rodney Ivester, of Corinth, was ordered by the Oakmont Country Club Estates Property Owners Association on Wednesday to take down his black-and-white American flag that also has a blue stripe.
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Texas' highest criminal appeals court Friday stayed the execution of a man, sentenced to die for the 1988 fatal shooting of a Houston policeman during the robbery of a Richmond Avenue adult book store.

Robert Jennings, 58, who has spent two-thirds of his life behind bars for various felony convictions, was scheduled to be executed by lethal injection on Sept. 14.

Friday's 5-4 ruling by the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals marked the fourth time in a month that the Austin court halted an execution. The court's five-paragraph order offered no explanation for the ruling, noting only that the execution had been stopped "pending further order of this court."

Jennings was convicted of repeatedly shooting 24-year-old Police Officer Elston Howard. The officer was issuing a misdemeanor citation to an employee of the Empire Book Store, 4330 Richmond, when the gunman entered to rob the business.

RELATED: Judge rejects appeal from British woman on Texas death row

Late last month, Jennings' Houston attorney Randy Schaffer filed an appeal that argued, in part, that prosecutors "destroyed, lost or suppressed" school records that might have shown earlier indications of intellectual deficiency and that the trial judge's directions to the jury improperly precluded consideration of the killer's remorse as a mitigating factor.

Howard's relatives could not immediately be reached for comment Friday, but in 1988, the slain officer's mother, Era Howard, told reporters that lethal injection was "too good" for Jennings. "He should be stood out and shot just as close a range as my son was shot," she said. "I want him to see that gun before he's blown out."

Testifying at Jennings trial, book store clerk Larry Overholt told jurors that Howard was issuing a citation for the showing of movies without a license when the gunman entered.

"He pulled a gun out of his jacket right away," Overholt testified. "He went right toward officer Howard. By the time officer Howard noticed, Jennings was right on him."

Overholt said Howard, who was attired in a vest bearing the word "Police," uttered the words, "Oh, no" seconds before Jennings fired two shots into his neck. After the officer fell to the floor, Jennings fired two additional shots into his head.

Then-District Attorney Johnny Holmes read jurors a statement Jennings gave police in which he claimed he fired as Howard attempted to tackle him.

"When the dude charged me, he tried to tackle me and he put his head in my stomach and was trying to knock me down and while he was tackling me, my gun went off and I shot him in the back two times, " the statement read. "After I shot him, the dude went to the ground between my legs and he was still holding me by the legs."

Jennings told authorities he was unaware Howard was an officer.

As his execution date approached, Jennings rejected a request for an interview.

Accomplice was 'pretty upset'

His accomplice, David Harvell, however, spoke with reporters at Teague's Boyd Unit, where he is serving a 55-year sentence for aggravated robbery.

Harvell, who waited at the wheel of a getaway car about a block from the store, said Jennings told him he had shot a security guard.

"He came back with that story. I didn't believe him," Harvell said. "But when I took the gun, I saw it had four spent shells. So, I believed it.  I was pretty upset. I took him down the street and tried to get him out of the car. He didn't know whether he had shot a cop or not. He's never been all that sharp."

In an effort to force Jennings from his car, he shot the robber in the hand.

"I've dreamt about this," he said of the crime. "It's possessed my heart and mind."

Harvell said he had driven the getaway car during several earlier robberies with Jennings - prosecutors told jurors Jennings had committed at least 10 other robberies - and that the "jobs" were always low-dollar, easy targets.

'He didn't have a chance'

Jennings was troubled from earliest adolescence. At 14, he was declared delinquent. At 16, he was sent to a youth detention facility. At 17, he was sentenced to five years in prison for aggravated robbery. Released in 1978, he was returned to prison months later on a 30-year sentence on two counts of aggravated robbery and one count of burglary of a habitation.

He was paroled two months before he fatally shot Jennings.

Howard, the father of a 3-year-old girl, had wanted to become a policeman since childhood.

When he was 8 years old, his father, Alcono Howard said in 1988, the boy saw a policeman on the street and said, "That's what I want to be. Doesn't he look great?"

Howard joined the department in 1983, and by the time of his death had achieved a reputation as a star undercover narcotics officer. More than 100 drug cases were developed through his work, authorities said after his death.

Howard's partner on the fatal night was officer Milford Sistrunk, who said he was unaware of the shooting until emergency vehicles arrived at the scene.

"I was parked at the far end of the strip center with the air conditioner running," he said. The night's tragedy marked the low point of his career, he said.

"He didn't have a chance," he said of Howard. "That guy came in with a drop on him."

Interviewed before Friday's stay, Sistrunk said he planned to witness Jennings' execution.

"Justice delayed is justice denied," he said. "For him to live this long on death row - longer than my partner - I don't see the point. He should have been gone long ago."

Still, said the retired officer, "I have no real malice toward him. I did at one time, but that's behind me  I hope he gets to heaven. He's a kid who went wrong."
The failure of Spains interim Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy on Friday evening to garner support in a second vote in Congress to form a government extends the countrys eight-month-long political deadlock, raising the specter of an unprecedented third general election in a year.

Friday evenings vote mirrored the outcome of Wednesdays, with 170 deputies supporting Rajoy and 180 voting against him.

All Rajoy required on Friday was a simple majority of more yes votes than no votes. The deal reached between the PP and Ciudadanos, with support from the Canaries Coalition, guaranteed 170 favorable votes, but as in the first round, the PP failed to garner the six extra seats it needed for an overall majority.

A growing number of regional leaders feel the time has come for the Socialists to reconsider its position and reach out to other parties to try to form some kind of coalition government

Rajoy was also unable to persuade deputies from regional parties in Catalonia and the Basque Country to abstain: 11 abstentions would have been enough to reach a simple majority.

This came as no surprise given the deal signed by the PP and emerging center-right party Ciudadanos, which stresses the unity of Spain and opposes a sovereignty referendum in Catalonia.

At least let a government be formed in Spain, Rajoy said to Socialist chief Pedro Sanchez in Congress Friday evening before the vote, before criticizing him for something as serious as blocking [the formation of a government] without offering an alternative, apart from deals with extremists. He also accused Sanchez of serious consequences that would not be solved with a third election.

In response, Sanchez repeated his argument that the Socialists have no confidence in the PP and placed the blame for a third election with Rajoy.

Fridays vote was a foregone conclusion, which is why the partys regional leaders have been calling for an internal debate on its position of refusing to support the PP

Rajoy, whose Popular Party (PP) administration took office in 2012, winning the most votes in elections held in December 2015 and June 26 of this year, but failing to secure a majority, now has the option of making a second leadership attempt on November 1, depending on the outcome of key regional elections in Galicia and the Basque Country.

What now for the Socialists?

As the countrys second-largest political force, and having blocked Rajoys bid for reinstatement, the Socialist Party (PSOE) must now decide whether to retain its opposition to any kind of PP administration, or make some other move that would prevent a third election that would likely yield a similar impasse to the previous two.

The Socialist Partys federal committee agreed at the end of last year, following Decembers inconclusive election, against supporting a PP government, with or without Rajoy at the helm.

We cannot support what we want to change, party leader Pedro Sanchez told Congress on Wednesday, and then turning to Rajoy: The lies you have told, now and in the past, and your refusal to accept your political responsibilities, support our lack of trust in you, and that is why we will vote against you, said Sanchez.

Sanchez, who tried to form a government after the first inconclusive election but was voted down by other forces, including the PP, ended his 35-minute address by insisting on his categorical no to four more years of Rajoy.

Fridays vote was a foregone conclusion, which is why the partys regional leaders have been calling for an internal debate on its position of refusing to support the PP.

Former Socialist Party Prime Minister Felipe Gonzalez has called on the party to allow Rajoy to form a government, a view cautiously echoed by some regional leaders.

Regional Socialist Party chiefs have told EL PAIS that there has been virtually no contact between Sanchez and the grass roots over the recent months of impasse. The picture they paint is of a leader increasingly isolated from the rest of his party. The partys federal executive hasnt met since July 9, which is a long time, Emiliano Garcia-Page told EL PAIS, adding: there have been two general elections in Spain and the situation in Catalonia needs to be discussed, referring to the confidence vote the head of the regional government of Catalonia faces in September.

Everybody in the party was clear about what we shouldnt do, but we now need to think about what we should do, because the country is demanding more from us, says Garcia-Page. His concerns are shared by the heads of the regional governments of Aragon, Extremadura, Valencia, and reportedly by Susana Diaz, the head of the regional administration of Andalusia, a long-standing Socialist Party fiefdom.

Garcia-Page has put himself at Sanchezs disposal to compare the different positions in the party and to form an opinion.

Garcia-Pages offer seems designed to avoid convening a meeting of the federal committee, which would require either the support of a third of its members, or for Sanchez to do so. Forcing Sanchezs hand runs the risk of unleashing a leadership battle.

Socialist Party sources say that a meeting of the federal committee cannot be avoided, and that Sanchez will likely call a reunion before the elections in Galicia and the Basque Country on September 25.

Sanchezs position as party leader would be weakened if the Socialists do badly in the elections; at the same time, his reiteration of the partys position on Wednesday and Friday makes any hope of a change unlikely.

At the last meeting of the federal committee on July 9, following the inconclusive June 26 elections, it reiterated the decision taken on December 28 not to facilitate in any way the formation of a PP government. At the same time, it was also agreed that every step should be taken to avoid a third election. It would now seem that a growing number of regional leaders feel the time has come for the Socialists to either walk back from that decision or to reach out to other parties to try to form some kind of coalition government.

Sanchez and Albert Rivera, the leader of Ciudadanos, reached broad agreement earlier in the year to form a government, but the Socialists and leftist party Podemos have major differences, notably over the latters support for Catalonias right to hold an independence referendum, which the Socialists oppose.

If the political deadlock continues and Spaniards return to the polls, the new campaign would begin on December 9 and last 15 days, meaning the election would fall on December 25.

But both the PP and the Socialists have said they would support a change to the law, cutting the campaign times by half. This would make December 18 the new election date.

English version by Nick Lyne.
The summers final Live on the Waterfront concert was held Wednesday evening at Prince Arthurs Landing. The popular series in Thunder Bay has completed nine weekly shows that began on July 13. Wednesdays concert was unique as it was held one hour later in the evening to mesh with the 10 p.
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Armenia-Azerbaijan: EU sets up monitoring capacity along the international borders

PACE co-rapporteurs on Armenia concerned by reports of alleged war crimes or inhuman treatment perpetrated by Azerbaijans armed forces

There is still 35% gender pay gap: Sona Ghazaryan

Global Finance Names Ameriabank the Safest Bank in Armenia

Mikayel and Karen Vardanyans provided 136 million AMD support for the overhaul of the Myasnikyan statue, which was in unsafe state of disrepair

Believe me, as a representative of a country which uses the Schengen system very often, it is quite important. Vardanyan

I really look forward to having answers from the Azerbaijani side for these alleged gross human rights violations: Secretary General

I call on Armenian and Azerbaijani parliamentarians to use this Assembly as an agora of opportunities President Tiny Kox

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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".

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The statement of the meeting between Prime Minister Pashinyan, President Aliyev, President Macron and President Michel of October 6, 2022

Largest Corporate Bond Program at the Securities Market of Armenia Completed Successfully

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The statement of the Defender on the video of the execution of Armenian PoWs by the Azerbaijani armed forces

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STATEMENT BY SECRETARY ANTONY J. BLINKEN

This criminal act is another proof that the Armenophobia policy. Tatoyan

Nikol Pashinyan, Nancy Pelosi discuss a number of issues related to the Armenian-American agenda and regional developments

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Armenian Revytech, global technology leader SAP and financial services software specialist SAP Fioneer sign a cooperation agreement

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After joining the EEU, Armenia has lost its sovereignty

The main loss for Armenia was that we missed the opportunity to initial Association Agreement with the EU, which in addition to many privileges, will make Armenia a favorable country for investment and bridge us with the European market, economist Ashot Yeghiazaryan said on Saturday speaking about Armenias membership to the Eurasian Economic Union and the losses Armenia has suffered as a result of that membership. The signing of the Association Agreement would give indirect security guarantees to Armenia and Karabakh but now we have lost that opportunity. On the other hand, after the membership to the EEU, we have witnessed a decline in the GDP performance instead of strong growth. Besides, there has been a sharp decline in foreign circulation and an increase in state debts by more than $ 700 mln, whereas Armenia could have become a real bridge for many investors. By the way, today marks the third year since Armenia has joined the EEU. Officially Armenia has been the member of that structure since January 2, 2015. He thinks that by joining the EEU, Armenia has lost its sovereignty, The fact that Armenia must have been a bridge between the EEU and the EU, doesnt resist any criticism; Russia destroys, burns all the bridges of Armenia with other countries. Armenias sovereignty will be restored the day it leaves the EEU and the CSTO. Denominated in dollars, we sustained economic decline more than by 9 percent. There has been a decline in foreign trade, in the exportation sphere, by 4 percent etc. The turnover without customs duties also hasnt justified the expectations. Last year only 61 million customs duties were levied. He is sure that the EEU is a failed project and has no future. The remark of one of the journalists, that during the recent meeting between Vladimir Putin and Serzh Sargsyan, the RF President said that after joining the EEU Armenia has had 10 percent growth in the GDP performance, reminded Ashot Yeghiazaryan of similar statement by Vladimir Putin when signing the EEU document, It is a fact that Armenia hasnt had such a growth. If there is some growth, it hasnt been thanks to the EEU, but thanks to increase in foreign debt, some inner sustainability and other factors.
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Armenia-Azerbaijan: EU sets up monitoring capacity along the international borders

PACE co-rapporteurs on Armenia concerned by reports of alleged war crimes or inhuman treatment perpetrated by Azerbaijans armed forces

There is still 35% gender pay gap: Sona Ghazaryan

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Global Finance Names Ameriabank the Safest Bank in Armenia

Mikayel and Karen Vardanyans provided 136 million AMD support for the overhaul of the Myasnikyan statue, which was in unsafe state of disrepair

Believe me, as a representative of a country which uses the Schengen system very often, it is quite important. Vardanyan

I really look forward to having answers from the Azerbaijani side for these alleged gross human rights violations: Secretary General

I call on Armenian and Azerbaijani parliamentarians to use this Assembly as an agora of opportunities President Tiny Kox

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There is no place for the death penalty in a State that respects human rights: PACE General Rapporteur

EU and CoE call on two Member States that have not yet acceded to this Protocol  Armenia and Azerbaijan  to do so without delay

An urgent debate requested on "The military hostilities between Armenia and Azerbaijan".

UCOM AND PES-PES CONTINUE COOPERATION WITHIN THE FRAMEWORK OF EDUCATIONAL PROJECT

The statement of the meeting between Prime Minister Pashinyan, President Aliyev, President Macron and President Michel of October 6, 2022

Largest Corporate Bond Program at the Securities Market of Armenia Completed Successfully

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The statement of the Defender on the video of the execution of Armenian PoWs by the Azerbaijani armed forces

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STATEMENT BY SECRETARY ANTONY J. BLINKEN

This criminal act is another proof that the Armenophobia policy. Tatoyan

Nikol Pashinyan, Nancy Pelosi discuss a number of issues related to the Armenian-American agenda and regional developments

Delegation by Nancy Pelosi Accompanied by Alen Simonyan Visits Tsitsernakaberd Memorial Complex

Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives Nancy Pelosi Arrives in Yerevan

Armenian Revytech, global technology leader SAP and financial services software specialist SAP Fioneer sign a cooperation agreement

With 120 million drams donated by Mikael Vardanyan, the defenders of the homeland will be treated in a new building

OSCE Chairman-in-Office and OSCE Secretary General call for immediate cessation of hostilities along Armenia-Azerbaijan border

Statement by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Artsakh

USA Embassy Message for U.S. Citizens

ANCA Issues National Call to Action to Stop Taxpayer Funding of Aliyevs Aggression
AKRON, Ohio - A man accused of assaulting two girls has been sentenced to prison.

Paul Burkhammer, 53, of Akron, was sentenced Friday to 11 years in prison, according to a news release from the Summit County Prosecutor's Office. In July, Burkhammer pleaded guilty to one count of child endangering and two counts of abduction.

Burkhammer was arrested on April 27 after two girls - ages 11 and 13 - accused him of assaulting them at his Polk Avenue house.

The 13-year-old was punched in the stomach and smacked in the head by Burkhammer, police said. The blow to the head was so hard that the girl had a concussion, according to the news release.

Burkhammer then taped the teen's arms and legs together before smacking her feet with a wire clothes hanger, according to authorities. He took the tape off, tried to kiss her twice and threatened to kill the girl if she told anyone, police said.

Later in the night, Burkhammer told the 13-year-old girl to get his cigarettes out of the car, police said. She was then locked out of the house.

Inside, Burkhammer took the 11-year-old to another room and duct-taped her hands and feet behind her back, police said. The girls told police that the man smacked her feet with a wire hanger; took the tape off and tried to kiss her as well.

If you'd like to comment on this post, please visit the cleveland.com crime and courts comments section.
Drunken driving, Avon Belden Road: On Aug. 28, officers were dispatched to a call of a truck leaving Taco Bell southbound with an intoxicated male driver who had become belligerent with a worker. The truck was located at the intersection of Avon Belden Road and the entrance to the Wildberry development. A traffic stop was initiated, and the driver continued southbound into Avon. The suspect was found to be under the influence and was arrested after a breath test indicated a blood alcohol concentration of .224. A woman who had been in the truck was found walking on Avon Belden Road and given a ride to the police department.

Drunken driving, Lake Road: On Aug. 27, police responded a crash in which the driver hit a telephone pole and then left the scene. The driver and his car was located and the suspect arrested on drunken driving charges.

Criminal mischief, Oakwood Drive: On Aug. 22, officers were dispatched to Overlook Park for a report of property damage. Someone had spray painted the playground area, swing, sidewalk and playground monument.

Theft, Highland Drive: A resident reported two unlocked cars entered overnight after the garage door had been left open on Aug. 21. Laptops, money, credit cards, and a purse were reported stolen.

Theft, Cove Avenue: A woman reported money, a T-shirt, sunglasses and two syringes stolen from her unlocked car on Aug. 21.

Theft, Webber Road: A Westlake man reported his cell phone stolen from Weiss Field on Aug. 20.

Theft, Oakwood Drive: On Aug. 26, a woman reported someone had broken into a shed and stolen several items within the last month.

Thefts, Bayview Drive: A man reported a GPS and power cord stolen on Aug. 23 after leaving his car unlocked. In a separate incident, a woman reported a purse with credit cards and an MP3 player stolen.

Fraud, Avon Belden Road: On Aug. 26, a woman reported being scammed out of $1,750 by a suspect claiming to be from the IRS.
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Hillary Clinton and Tim Kaine have flip-flopped their positions on TPP and deregulation for big banks.

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- It's understandable if displaced American workers would want to heat their Labor Day weekend cookouts by burning the NAFTA and TPP trade deals. Hillary Clinton likely wishes she could've burned the unflattering FBI notes from their interview with her. She and Tim Kaine have already lit fire to their past support of the TPP deal and deregulation for big banks.

Earlier this week, when Donald Trump sounded as if he might be softening his positions on immigration reforms, he was accused by Conservatives and Democrats of being a flip-flopper. Yet both Hillary Clinton and Tim Kaine have flip-flopped their positions on issues that arguably have bigger impact on the American labor force than illegal immigration.

Clinton flipped her position on the Trans-Pacific Partnership, now opposing the trade deal. Longtime Clinton confidant, Virginia Governor Terry McAuliffe, asserted at the Democratic Party Convention that Clinton would flip back and support TPP once she was elected president. Bill Clinton, who ushered in NAFTA, will be there to give her an assist. An assist workers displaced by NAFTA are still looking for.

Before being chosen as Clinton's running mate, Tim Kaine had been aggressively pushing legislation to further deregulate big banks. The same banking industry that contributed to sinking the economy, leaving millions out of work and salaries stagnant for those hanging on to jobs. Kaine changed his position after being chosen by Clinton, who was already coming under fire for her connections to Wall Street, which was paying her half a million dollars per speech.

Illegal immigration costs Americans menial jobs they often don't want. But flawed trade deals and bank deregulation have costs American workers living-wage jobs that are the backbone of America.

Clueless or Conniving Clinton?

Recently released FBI notes from their interview with Hillary Clinton will just reinforce Clinton's already high negatives for trustworthiness.

In the notes taken from a July 2 interview, Clinton comes off as either lying -- at worst, or disingenuous, clueless and inept -- at best.

Clinton claimed to the FBI that she had never received any training on how to handle sensitive documents. She "could not give an example of how classification of a document was determined."

When shown a document marked with a ( C ) along side the content, she said she was unaware that connotes "confidential." She thought it meant the paragraphs were being marked in alphabetical order.

The former Secretary of State said she relied on subordinates to ensure sensitive information wasn't compromised and for guidance. She asserted that she never used a private server to evade public record disclosure laws.

The notes reveal that Clinton's emails were deleted only after the New York Times first reported her use of a private server. A Clinton aide, whose name was redacted claimed that was due to an oversight on his part. The individual said Clinton's aide, Cheryl Mills had requested months earlier that he implement "email retention policy changes" to Clinton's account that would delete all emails over 60 days old.

It's a stretch as long as Pinocchio's nose to believe that a former First Lady, U.S. Senator,lawyer, and Secretary of State, didn't know even the basics of handling sensitive information or the designations for classified documents.

Clinton's #1 selling point to voters has been her experience and fitness for the office of the presidency. In campaign commercials and stump speeches, she has been painting Trump as unfit, then basically tells the FBI that as Secretary of State she was clueless.
People showed yellow card - Robert Kocharyan

In his exclusive interview to Azatutyun.am, Armenias second President Robert Kocharyan referred to the Karabakh conflict, economic situation, as well as the moral and political atmosphere in the country. Question: How do you assess military and diplomatic developments over Nagorno Karabakh in the context of regional processes? Answer: Today we see that a number of unfavorable factors are accumulating, which gives rise to serious concerns. The disturbance of military balance because of the sale of Russian weapons, unpleasant resolutions and reports of international organizations on the Karabakh issue, formation of a new format of regional cooperation upon the initiative of Azerbaijan, the creation of the North-South Transport Corridor that bypasses Armenia All these processes with their geopolitical consequences will have a lasting negative impact on the countrys economy and its weight and influence in regional and international affairs, as well as on our resources to have our say in the talks over Karabakh. The authorities [in Armenia] should be able to analyze the causes of all those processes and find a practical solution to counter the existing challenges. By the way, we do not have much time to handle the situation. Question: How would you assess the actions of the Sasna Dzrer group? Answer: Radical activities can be displayed in any country, even in the most democratic ones. Everywhere there will be people who will see the solution to political and social problems in extreme methods. The question is how the society responds to the attempts to resolve internal problems by force I'm more concerned about peoples reaction to the recent events. Although there was a victim, a day after the seizure of a police station by the Sasna Dzrer group people perceived the armed group members as rebels who had thrown down the gauntlet to the acting regime. This shows the general moods in public, peoples attitudes towards the authorities and pressure. It also speaks about political, economic and social problems have become chronic in public consciousness. A yellow card was shown to the countrys political system. Let me repeat it once again. I am not speaking about the seizure of the police station, I am speaking about the public reaction to the fact, public support for the group members in the streets and through social networks and glorification of the group. You cannot ignore such a phenomenon and you need to do something about it otherwise you will have a country sitting on a powder keg. We need radical reforms, people need to see political competition in the country and the possibility of changes. They want to see legitimate electoral processes. For more details visit here
The election season is heating up, U.S. Republican Presidential candidate Donald Trump has pulled back even with Democrat candidate Hillary Clinton and every new economic number is being scrutinized for its supposed political meaning.



The unexpectedly soft August jobs report will lend a little political advantage to Trump. Overall, jobs came in 30,000 to 40,000 below expectations. Goods-producing and manufacturing jobs decreased, wages were near-flat and retreated to 2.4 percent year-on-year, the private and manufacturing work weeks fell and overall hours dropped.



However, this is far from a catastrophe. Jobs still climbed by 150,000 or so. And the third-quarter ending in September will probably generate near-3 percent growth, as inventories reverse course and start rising again. These numbers may well lend some political advantage to Clinton.



But if you look under the economys hood, youll discover a business recession that has been going on for quite a while. Profits, productivity, business investment, and ISM manufacturing are all down. According to Chapman University professor, Mark Skousen, business-to-business supply-chain activity  which hardly anyone looks at  has been hurting for well over a year. And bank loans are in a slump.



If these trends continue, jobs and wages will continue to slip.



So, whats to be done?



Well, if you have a business recession, which could easily spread to consumers, the policy fix has nothing to do with whether or not the Fed raises its target rate by a quarter point. Nothing to do with the Fed.



Instead, the trick is to help business with new incentives. And thats why I have been for Trumps tax-reform plan since last winter.
For decades hurricanes were named for the saint's day on which they occurred (like "San Felipe" in 1928), and the U.S. started giving hurricanes female names in 1953. It wasn't until 1979 that hurricanes in the Atlantic and Gulf of Mexico began receiving both male and female names.

"US hurricanes used to be given only female names, a practice that meteorologists of a different era considered appropriate due to such characteristics of hurricanes as unpredictability," wrote researchers in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Science in 2014.

The researchers found that hurricanes with female names cause more deaths than male-named storms, suggesting that people don't prepare as much for the feminine storms.

The paper recommended that policymakers consider a new system for naming that wouldn't cause "human response to be influence by the mental representations associated with those categories."

Americans also apparently respond to the names of storms in the way they name their children. A 2012 analysisfound that after Katrina, there was an unusual increase in the number of children with K-names: Kimberly, Karen or Kevin. People avoided the name of the hurricane itself, but were more likely to pick similar-sounding names.

Naming conventions are also a source of controversy. A black congresswoman from Texas complained in 2003 that hurricanes were only given white names. "All racial groups should be represented," she said, according to Wired.

Additionally, the names chosen by the regional tropical cyclone authorities do tend to reflect the names in those regions. While the Atlantic Basic hurricanes in the Caribbean, Gulf of Mexico and North Atlantic are named "Alberto," "Barry," and "Chantal," while Jakarta has "Anggrek" and "Bakung," and the Southwest Indian Ocean has "Abela" from Tanzania, "Bransby" from South Africa and "Cilida" from Madagascar.
In the 55 years of space travel, fewer than 550 people have journeyed out of earth's orbit. Mae Jemison is one of them.

More than 20 years ago, Jemison became the first African-American woman in space aboard the Endeavour space shuttle. Today, she is working to extend human space travel beyond our solar system.



"In order to do space exploration, you have to push further than the things that we know how to do now," Jemison told CNBC's On The Money in an interview.



Jemison is the principal of "100 Year Starship," a joint initiative between the Dept. of Defense and NASA working to achieve human interstellar travel in the next century.



Having been in space, does she believe life could exist on other planets?



"I don't know that having been in space gives me a better idea of whether life might exist on other planets," Jemison said with a laugh.



"The reality is that we know that this universe, that our galaxy, has billions of stars. We know that stars have planets," she said. "So the likelihood that there is life somewhere else to me is just absolutely there."
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The proposed Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP) deal between the U.S. and the European Union is facing real issues and it is going to take time, the secretary-general of the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) told CNBC on Saturday. The deal would loosen the regulatory barriers to trade between the world's two largest trading blocs. U.S. President Barack Obama is in favor of the project, but U.S. Presidential candidate Donald Trump has been critical of multilateral trade deals that he says may harm U.S. workers and industries. Angel Gurria, the head of the OECD, said TTIP was a win-win proposition, but that it was "so difficult and so important and that's why it's going to take time," in an interview with CNBC on the sidelines of the G-20 summit in China. In recent weeks, European politicians have complained that talks to secure a deal are failing because their U.S. counterparts will not compromise sufficiently. Gurria pointed to the upcoming U.S. Presidential elections and the anti-free trade rhetoric in the country as challenges, along with stagnant economic growth in Europe that might spur protectionism. "We are only two months away from the U.S. election and again the mood in the U.S. is, at least from the speeches, very anti-free trade and at the same time in Europe, you have a very low growth period," he told CNBC.



TTIP - and its Asia-Pacific equivalent, the Trans-Pacific Partnership - are key tenets of Obama's policies and are designed to make trade simpler by eliminating many of the tariffs in place to protect particular goods and industries. However, they have become a target for fears about the potential negative fallout from globalization. Trump has pledged to "never sign any trade agreement which hurts our workers or which diminishes our freedom and independence." But Roberto Azevedo, the director general of the World Trade Organization (WTO), said the link between foreign trade and unemployment was small. "When we talk about trade, most of the times, it's making a relationship between trade and unemployment. Trade is not the cause of unemployment. In fact, the biggest drivers of unemployment are innovation and increased productivity. More than 80 percent of unemployment caused in those countries (U.S. and Europe) is due to those two factors, so trade is a minor component of that," he told CNBC on Saturday on the sidelines of the G-20 summit in China.



Is protectionism the problem?

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While increased trade and the removal of barriers to trade should benefit both the U.S. and Europe, negotiations have stalled over whether the benefits would be evenly distributed. Gurria added that global trade growth was below where it should be because of countries' protectionism. "Trade growth is below 3 percent, it should be at 6-7 percent and act as a locomotive and what are we seeing? We look like we're going backwards," he told CNBC. "The reason is that in a crisis people want to protect ,which is exactly the wrong reaction, this is what makes the 1930s even worse when everybody closed the doors. And the idea is to have an open trade and investment regime," Gurria later added. French and German government ministers have blamed U.S. protectionism for the trade talks teetering on the brink of collapse  although the European Commission insisted on Monday that the "ball is still rolling" on the deal. "Those who are protectionist are Americans; Europe is very open," Matthias Fekl, France's minister of state for foreign trade, tourism and French nationals abroad, told CNBC last week. Fekl added that France was prepared to walk away from the TTIP negotiations if no progress is made. Gurria told CNBC he hoped the deal would not fail. "(The European Union) came out strongly saying no, (German Chancellor) Angela Merkel came out and strongly saying no, we're on it and working on it. U.S. said we're working it. All I'm saying is the symptoms and the signals are not good so we have to overcome them," he told CNBC.



Photographer | Collection | Getty Images

Meanwhile, WTO's Azevedo told CNBC that governments should not give up on TTIP. "A deal that important, that meaning(ful), will be tough," he said. "It is extremely difficult and the interests are very clear, visible and political as well, but it's possible. We have proven (that) at the WTO often  we had the Bali deals two years ago; just last year, another one," Azevedo added. He said that if the TTIP talks dragged on too much, striking deal would get harder. Azevedo said that he was concerned about the emphasis on the negative effects of trade during the U.S. Presidential election campaign. "That may lead to the wrong policies and the wrong decisions, as we come to the situation where a new government is in place," he told CNBC.


The U.K. cannot "cherry pick" the parts of the single market it wants to keep when it quits the European Union, the EU's vice-president for the euro and social dialogue told CNBC on Saturday.

"It is really for the U.K. to decide. It comes with conditions with respect for freedoms and with respect for EU rules and regulations. There cannot be cherry picking and the European Commission has been very clear about it," Valdis Dombrovskis told CNBC, speaking from the sidelines of Italy's Ambrosetti forum on economics.

He said the discussion was premature. "(The) U.K. really needs to make some strategic decisions on its future relations with the EU  mainly (regarding whether to be) within or outside the (EU) internal market. Negotiations have not even started yet because (the) U.K. hasn't filed formally," Dombrovskis told CNBC.

He said the U.K.'s decision regarding this would provide some clarity to the financial sector, particularly with regard to so-called passporting rights. At present, EU passporting rights mean U.K. businesses can provide financial services anywhere in the 28-country bloc while being based and regulated in the U.K.

"Of course within the internal market it is simpler, because there are passporting rights. If it is outside the internal market it means more far reaching changes for the financial markets," Dombrovskis told CNBC.
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One of the world's biggest cruise ship sailed closer to wining, dining and entertaining passengers on Friday, when the Swiss-owned MSC Meraviglia was floated out to sea in a 12-hour operation. With space to welcome 5,714 guests aboard, the Meraviglia will be one of the largest cruise ships afloat once it sets sail in June 2017. Royal Caribbean's gargantuan Harmony of the Seas currently holds the title of the world's largest cruise ship, with the capacity to hold more than 6700 passengers total. Bookings on the Meraviglia already open for a 7-night Mediterranean cruise setting off from Marseille in the first week of the ship's working life. The most modest interior rooms are priced at 699 ($929) for the week, while luxuriating in a Yacht Club room will burn at least a 1,699-sized hole in your wallet. The Royal Suite is the most extravagant of the Yacht Club rooms, featuring a 700-square foot main room and a 430-square foot balcony pimped-up with a private whirlpool bath and dinner party-sized table. Being in the prime Yacht Club area of the ship means the suite also offers a concierge service, a 24-hour butler and exclusive restaurants, bars and sunbathing space closed off to other passengers. The vessel is part of MSC's ambitious $10.2 billion investment program and is the first to launch of 11 ships coming into service between 2017 and 2026. It was constructed in the STX France shipyard in Saint-Nazaire and is now in its final waterborne construction phase.





Photographer | Collection | Getty Images

A key attraction in MSC's first at-sea venture is the involvement of Cirque du Soleil, whose artists will perform shows created exclusively for MSC cruises guests. As well as its sheer size, cruise enthusiasts are interested in the high-tech features built into the ship via a partnership with South Korean electronics giant Samsung. These include an augmented reality device that can show shoppers what they look like in the designer clothes sold on board without them even trying them on. Smart bracelets will be used to pay for goods  and keep track of your children if they decide to run amok on board or head to the Aqua Park that boasts three giant waterslides. But could these tech features, or others, such as the 262 foot -LED dome that will create continuous light shows along a Mediterranean-style promenade, detract passengers from the natural attractions of going to sea? Not according to Pierfrancesco Vago, executive chairman of MSC Cruises, who said "We're turning the idea of 'turning it all off' on its head and enabling our guests to use technology to enhance their life onboard by helping them to better plan their cruise and get the most out of their holiday." He contended that there would be no bar to guests doing a digital detox, saying "The important point is that guests can choose what information they receive and how much they engage with the technology."

Photographer | Collection | Getty Images

Indeed, Cindy D'Aoust, CEO of Cruise Lines International Association, told CNBC that the latest gadgets were key to many passengers' cruise experiences.

"Technology is important to guests as it provides additional ways to stay connected and personalize the cruising experience," she said via email. "Cruise ships are now outfitted with some of the most advanced amenities in the travel industry," she added. According to data from Cruise Market Watch, the number of cruise passengers rose by an annual compound growth rate of 12.6 percent between 1990 and 2015. And the growth looks set to continue, albeit at a slower pace  passengers numbers are seen jumping to 25.3 million in 2019 again 22.3 million in 2015. However, with pockets of the tourist industry suffering in the wake of terror attacks around European and North African hotspots, concerns have been raised that nervous passengers may prefer to stay ashore.

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This is a hilarious piece about the recent visit of Facebook billionaire founder, Mark Zuckerberg to Nigeria to introduce the Facebook proposed internet programme.

A Nigerian writer, Destiny Young has mocked the former administration of former President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan on the steps the leadership could have taken had Mark Zuckerberg visited Nigeria during his tenure in office.

Read the hilarious piece below:

1. The presidency will set up a committee to welcome him.

2. The national assembly joint committee on information technology will also be at the airports to welcome him.

3. There will be traffic everywhere both in Lagos and in FCT.

4. He will be heavily guarded by soldiers, police and DSS.

5. Youths will wear t-shirts with his images, Women will also tie wrapper bearing his images.

6. Pages of newspapers as well as national TV will have facilitation messages welcoming him.

7. Public holiday Will be declared to welcome him properly.

8. #2.1 billion will be released by Dasuki, on order of the presidency, to various groups for logistics and feeding during the visit.

9. Gov. Akpabio (the uncommon transformer) will lobby to have him in Akwa Ibom state.

10. In Akwa ibom, the following will take place;

(a) A visit to the tropicana

(b) A visit to e-library

(c) A visit to underground pipe-jacking drainage (with electricity generating turbine) first in sub-sahara Africa.

(d) A reception ceremony at the state banquet hall later in the evening.

(e) At the reception, he will be entertained to jokes by SirJames, Basket mouth, Klink de drunk, Elenu, Brass band 999 mass choir will not be left out.etc.

(f) and first class private jet will be hiredby the state govt. to fly Mark back to Abuja.

Mark, sorry you came late. lol.
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U.S. Sen. Roy Blunt came to Columbia on Friday as part of his campaign across Missouri as he runs for a second term. Blunt spoke to mid-Missourians about his call for more jobs and less government regulation.
Missouri football vs. South Carolina: live updates and scores

Follow along with the game action here, as Missouri travels to the other Columbia to play South Carolina.
August 30, 2016 - The massive Blues City Brewery at 5151 E. Raines Rd. was built for Schiltz and later bought by Coors to supply the Eastern U.S. It is now owned by contract brewer City Brewing of LaCrosse, Wisconsin, which plans a $13 million capital investment. (Yalonda M. James/The Commercial Appeal)

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By Wayne Risher of The Commercial Appeal

Owners of Blues City Brewery plan $13 million in upgrades over the next year, including a new production line, pushing investment to $62 million since 2011.

The sprawling former Schlitz, Strohs and Coors brewery in Memphis uses only 25 percent of its production capacity but expects volume to grow, despite the impending loss of a contract with Craft Brew Alliance (CBA), a top official said.

Blues City is a unit of La Crosse, Wisconsin-based City Brewing, which brews beers under contracts with other companies. It bought the underused, 1.3 million-square-foot brewery in Hickory Hill five years ago.

City Brewing chairman and chief executive George Parke said, Were profitable. We have a good workforce. We have a very good book of business. Were pleased with the decision we made to make the investment in Memphis. I think its a success story. Were proud of what weve done.

Parkes optimism resonates with John Holl, who tracks the U.S. market as editor of All About Beer magazine. Holl said contract brewing has a bright future, in part because of a proliferation of beer choices. Blues Citys location positions it to grow with the market.

Holl said, The Mid-South is an area that is increasingly embracing craft beer, alternative beer choices and regional beer choices. For the brands that are looking to make serious inroads into that area, who are interested in having a partner that can make and distribute quality liquid, those brands are going to be very smart to align themselves with Blues City Brewery.

CBA, which owns craft beer brands Kona, Widmer, Redhook and Omission, said in early 2014 it had contracted with Blues City to produce 100,000 barrels a year. CBA said last month it would pull production from Memphis as part of an extended distribution agreement with Anheuser-Busch InBev, which owns nearly a one-third stake in CBA.

We hate to lose any business, but thats the nature of co-packing, Parke said. Weve lost a lot of other business because of the strong dollar, he said. Blues City had been brewing Australian beer before the U.S. dollar gained value compared to foreign currency, he said.

CBA, representing about 5 percent of Blues Citys annual volume, wasnt a big loss for us, he said. Since that announcement came out we have probably replaced that volume four or five times over. Its not going to have an effect on our employment or our investment.

Blues City can produce more than 60 million cases or 4 million barrels a year. Last year it brewed about 15 million cases, Parke said.

The brewery at 5151 East Raines was opened by Jos. Schlitz Brewing Co. in 1971 and closed by Molson Coors Brewing Co. in 2007. Chism-Hardy Enterprises produced energy drinks and other nonalcoholic beverages there before selling to City Brewing for $10 million.

Memphis and Shelby County provided a partial tax freeze, a payment in lieu of taxes or PILOT, valued at about $6 million over 15 years, as an incentive to attract the investment.

The PILOT agreement called for $41 million in capital investment and employment of 500 at the end of a five-year ramp-up period. Officials with the Economic Development Growth Engine of Memphis and Shelby County are expected to review the companys results on investment, jobs and wages later this year to determine if it has complied with the PILOT terms. Such reviews are standard after a company completes the ramp-up period and sometimes can result in reduced PILOT benefits.

Parke conceded that efforts to meet the job target have lagged, but he noted that total employment, 277 people as of Dec. 31, 2015, did not tell the whole story.

The companys strategy has been to pay existing workers overtime to keep up with increased volume. Were trying to get the best employees and pay them well, he said. Blues City paid 87,000 hours of overtime in 2015, and That trend continues, Parke said.

Overtime is an alternative to hiring additional workers who might later be idled by seasonal fluctuations in demand.

Temporary workers from an employment agency were used to meet the demand from Australia, and some customers station their own workers at the brewery to oversee contract brewing, Parke said.

Several customers have brewmasters on site, but they dont count as our employees.

Parke said the company has invested $49 million, including the real estate acquisition, well over its capital investment target. It has programmed $13 million in projects for 2016 and 2017, including about $3 million for a new line to produce variety packs of canned beer. The line should be ready in the first quarter of 2017, he said.

All About Beers John Holl said contract brewers are ideally positioned to ride the growing popularity of craft beers.

With 4,800 breweries in the country, everybody is looking for the competitive advantage, Holl said. Were seeing a lot of breweries that would at one point have wanted to expand on their own, (instead) save money and go to contract brewers and let them take on the volume.
September 3, 2016  Sister Zita (right) and Sister Coleta with the Memphis branch of the Missionaries of Charity pray with members of the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception during a special mass of thanksgiving for the canonization of Mother Teresa of Calcutta who founded the order. (Jim Weber/The Commercial Appeal)

David Waters Columnist SHARE September 3, 2016  Sister Zita (right) with the Memphis branch of the Missionaries of Charity prays for Tori Straham and her baby after during a special mass of thanksgiving for the canonization of Mother Teresa of Calcutta at the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception. (Jim Weber/The Commercial Appeal) September 3, 2016  Sister Zita with the Memphis branch of the Missionaries of Charity offers a relic of Mother Teresa for homage to clergy and members of the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception after a special mass of thanksgiving for the canonization of Mother Teresa of Calcutta who founded the order. (Jim Weber/The Commercial Appeal)

Mother Teresa's sisters live among us so quietly and so faithfully we don't even notice.

And that's fine. The four Missionaries of Charity who live in a convent in North Memphis aren't here for us.

They have been here since 1989 "to satiate the thirst of Jesus Christ on the Cross for Love and Souls." Those words are in the rules of their religious order, founded in 1950 by Mother Teresa.

Teresa, one of our most human beings, will be canonized Sunday as St. Teresa of Calcutta.

Saturday, four of the sisters she sent to Memphis attended a Mass of Thanksgiving.

"A saint once walked among us," Monsignor Val Handwerker, rector of the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception, told those who gathered for the mass.

He was referring to Mother Teresa's visits to Memphis in 1988 and 1989.

She came the first time at the invitation of then-Bishop Daniel M. Buechlein, who asked her to open a mission home in Memphis.

The bishop and Rev. J. Peter Sartain, now archbishop of Seattle, showed her possible locations in North Memphis.

At each site, she found a flower bed and pushed into the dirt a Medal of the Immaculate Conception, an oval medallion dedicated to the Virgin Mary.

One side of the medal depicts Mary; the other side a cross arising from a large letter 'M'.

"She said a prayer asking the Blessed Mother to help her make the right choice," Sartain wrote years later.

In 1989, Teresa returned to Memphis to open the home at the corner of Seventh and Keel. She also spoke at a mass at the Mid-South Coliseum.

"Let us get together in this beautiful city," Teresa told 9,500 people at the mass. "Let no man, no woman, no child feel unwanted, unloved, uncared for."

Teresa never returned to Memphis, but her missionaries have been here ever since.

The four wisps of women spend their days caring and praying for their neighbors in North Memphis. They fill their nights with silence, at least as much silence as their neighborhood will allow.

They live in poverty themselves, owning nothing more than their simple robes and habits, a pair of sandals, a crucifix and a rosary.

They share their meals, provided daily by God through the kindness of strangers. They share their home, provided by the Church, with women and children who need emergency shelter.

Every day they walk the neighborhood and knock on doors looking for shut-ins and others they can help.

One day 14 years ago, they knocked on Tiffany Kelly's door at the old Oaks Manor housing project.

Tiffany was in the second grade. She was living with her mother, who suffers from Lupus, and her older sister.

She'd never heard of the Missionaries of Charity or Mother Teresa. She just knew the slight, quiet women wearing long blue and white habits and robes were there to help.

They looked like angels to her.

"I was used to the environment of violence and bad examples," said Tiffany. "I heard gunshots every other night. They appeared angelic and brought a spirt of peace. This is when I recall my childhood changing for the better."

The sisters helped Tiffany's mother enroll her two daughters in Holy Names of Jesus and Mary Catholic School, a new Jubilee school on their neighborhood.

They went with Tiffany on field trips to movies and museums. They worked with her in summer programs.

They told her about Jesus and Mary and taught her how to pray.

"The most peaceful moments I remember is going into their prayer room and praying in silence," Tiffany said last week. "This is where my faith in God strengthened."

Tiffany went on to graduate from Memphis Catholic High, thanks to the Memphis Opportunity Scholarship Trust. She's in her final year of nursing school at UT-Martin.

"I want to help people," she said. "If it hadn't been for the sisters of Mother Teresa, and the supportive environment they provided, I don't think I would have made it."

Four years ago, Cardinal Jorge Bergoglio of Argentina celebrated a mass for thousands of children.

"Who told us that we can find Jesus in those most in need?" he asked the children.

"Mother Teresa!" they replied.

"And what did Mother Teresa have in her arms?," Cardinal Bergoglio asked. "A crucifix? No  a child in need. So we can find Jesus in each person who is in need."

Sunday, Pope Francis, the former Cardinal Bergoglio, will canonize St. Teresa of Calcutta.

"She should have been a saint a long time ago," Tiffany said.

She was.

Contact columnist David Waters at waters@commercialappeal.com.
As the 2016 homicide rate in Memphis continues to rise, so too does the public hand-wringing.

Local television news stations keep telling us about one violent crime after another every night, and recently those reports have gone beyond gang shootings and domestic attacks.

Totally innocent and unsuspecting people simply going about their business are becoming the targets more and more of ruthless criminals.

Who wasn't dismayed after learning of the fatal shooting of Eddie Walker, a kind-hearted senior citizen who was gunned down after arriving at his South Memphis home after midnight Aug. 21? The confessed killer took Walker's car, but was later caught in DeSoto County.

The killing struck a nerve not just because Walker was so well-liked around Memphis, but also because it seemed so unnecessary. Why shoot an 83-year-old man who posed no real threat to the 21-year-old gunman? And some people want to have political spasms over the term "super predator."

Meanwhile, a daylight shooting and robbery at the Hickory Hill branch of SunTrust Bank last week has also increased public uneasiness. In what one police official described as an ambush, the assailant shot a Brink's armored truck employee in the face and took her money bag before fleeing. Yes, I said her. The brazen crime led one bystander to call for martial law in Memphis.

Add to that the killing last Monday of a man leaving a Raleigh convenience store that was captured on video, and all of a sudden the public relations spin that fear of being a random crime victim is overblown no longer holds water.

The fact is, the criminals are getting bolder and far more dangerous. And you have to ask yourself, what's going on?

Police Director Michael Rallings offered somewhat of an explanation last week during a podcast interview with Commercial Appeal columnist David Waters. Rallings attributed at least part of the uptick in violent crime to recent street protests against police brutality and economic inequality.

"I think people are more emboldened as law enforcement has been more scrutinized," the director said. "I think law enforcement may be engaging less across the nation and people are more emboldened to do things."

It was not the first time that line of thinking has been expressed as an explanation for rising crime. In May, FBI Director James Comey said anecdotal evidence shows some police officers have become wary of confronting possible suspects for fear of a "viral video effect." That, Comey said, "could well be at the heart" of an increase in violent crime across the country.

To no surprise, the National Fraternal Order of Police disputed Comey's contention. The group's executive director told The New York Times that Comey is "basically saying that police officers are afraid to do their jobs with absolutely no proof."

No doubt protest groups would also take issue with the notion that viral videos and street demonstrations are to blame for a spike in violent crime.

But while there is no statistical proof  not yet, anyway  to back up Comey's and Rallings' claims, their statements are not farfetched. Criminals will always look for an edge. And as of late, many of them are showing no hesitancy to take a life if it means getting away quicker and without resistance.

Plus, gang members, packing a handgun and a cellphone, in places such as bloody Chicago are showing they're no longer afraid to taunt the police.

I don't believe, however, that police are becoming cowardly any more than I believe protesters are the main cause of violent crime. But something very scary is happening in our nation.

Our political discourse is full of anger and divisiveness. Race relations seemingly have gone down the tubes. And sadly, young black men, especially, are becoming stone-cold killers.

We cannot sugarcoat it any longer. As Bill Gibbons, who took over last week as president of the Memphis Shelby Crime Commission and head of the new Public Safety Institute at the University of Memphis, told me, "There is a reason to be more fearful given the current atmosphere."

But our fears need not be crippling. Instead they should spur us to be more vigilant in our communities, more engaged with law enforcement and less accepting of lawlessness.

None of that is easy. But it's far better than hand-wringing.
I recently spent a week with my brother-in-law, John Gilleland, who is one of the world's greatest nuclear physicists. No joke. He started a company called TerraPower that is funded by Bill Gates. The company began when the two of them asked a question: "How can we find a way to get electrical power to the poorest people in the world and thereby help raise them out of poverty?" It was an audacious question.

John, my brother-in-law, concluded, "Let's build small nuclear power plants that are safe, do not produce weapons grade uranium, and can be built anywhere in the world."

Bill Gates replied, "Can you do that?"

"I don't know," John said, "but I'll give it a try."

That was in 2007. Along with other brilliant scientists, John set to work to solve an impossible problem. There were massive technical issues. There were almost unsolvable political issues, such as needing a treaty between the U.S. and China to share nuclear information. John and Bill were undeterred. They kept at it. They are now on the brink of building the first safe nuclear reactor ever designed. It will take 10 years before it goes online, but the reactors will bring power to people who either have none or rely on coal to produce it.

By decreasing carbon dioxide emissions, these reactors might have the side effect of slowing global warming. This is not pie-in-the-sky stuff. This is happening. I sat in a cabin on Long Island Sound while John showed me the slides he was about to present to the faculty of Yale University. We then discussed his way of attacking unsolvable problems, which I think could be helpful for us in Memphis. The first principle: Think big thoughts. Don't be scared by the size of the problem. Have lofty goals.

The second principle: Be innovative and not dependent on technological invention. This means that if you can make something new with junk in the garage, that is innovation. If someone first has to invent something that doesn't yet exist and requires technology that doesn't yet exist, it is less likely to happen.

We in Memphis have a lot of junk in our garage, in my opinion. Let's be innovative. Third: Find the meanest people you can to try and tear apart your plan. Don't get your feelings hurt if they succeed. Just start over.

Finally: Do not forget that perfect is the enemy of the good. I see us all the time criticizing a good plan because it is not perfect. When John first saw the abandoned Sears Crosstown building, he thought I  and the rest of us who were planning to repurpose it  were crazy. He now thinks we are geniuses. (It is nice to have your brilliant brother-in-law not think you are a fool.) Of course, it would be nice to have Bill Gates' money to solve our problems in Memphis. But money is not the key ingredient for our success. We need focused and determined effort to address our real problems with innovative solutions. We cannot be distracted by naysayers, but we have to be willing to listen to our critics, when their criticisms are appropriate. The time has come to push our city forward. TerraPower is about to change the way the world generates energy. I believe that we in Memphis can change the way we thrive as a city if we commit ourselves for the long, hard task at hand.
Post Consumer Brands leased this large warehouse in Gateway Global Logistics Park, located southeast of Collierville near Byhalia, Mississippi. This photo, made in January 2015, shows construction under way in the 554,040-square-foot building. (Stan Carroll/The Commercial Appeal)

Ted Evanoff Columnist SHARE April 7, 2016 - The Legacy Park industrial facility under construction in Olive Branch, Mississippi. (Brandon Dill/Special to The Commercial Appeal)

Five years ago, I met Ruby Bright, executive director of the Womens Foundation for a Greater Memphis. We talked about jobs and poverty.

Back then there was a lot of noise in the nation about reshoring  companies bringing back to the United States work that had been offshored to Asia. I asked her this:

If a manager opened a factory in the city and wanted to hire 1,000 people bolting parts together for $10 per hour, how many of her clients could immediately go to work? I guessed she would say 1,000.

Only about 100, she said.

Others are held back by child care, sick relatives, drug tests, felony records, ill health, unreliable transportation, simply not knowing how to get and keep a job. Many people would like to work, she said, but cant, at least not right now.

Here in metropolitan Memphis, where about a third of the 1.34 million residents are impoverished, her reply has stuck with me: About 100.

It stuck largely because the civic leaders in Memphis and the Mid-South focus on this idea: Train the people and the jobs will follow.

We know reshoring is happening in the United States. I think well see increased opportunity, said Christopher Masingill, co-chairman of the Delta Regional Authority, a federal economic development agency. Its all about human capital.

Human capital? People and their skills and ambitions.

These days, you hear Memphis companies cant find enough capable staff for all the machines and offices.

Employers currently have 628,200 payroll jobs in the nine-county metro area, but cant find enough people  or at least enough skilled people  to fill 16,000 vacant positions.

Concerns surface even in the middle-class suburbs. Carmen Kyle, executive director of the Southaven Chamber of Commerce, has said site relocation executives immediately ask: Does DeSoto County have enough able workers? (Yes, she answers).

In other times when workers were scarce, wages rose, attracting newcomers. During the shale boom a few years ago, welders poured into the Great Plains for $100,000 annual pay.

We dont see higher pay luring many newcomers here. For various reasons, wages have been fairly flat in Memphis and many other cities since the recession faded.

Instead, efforts are focused on training residents.

Moore Tech, for example, expanded classes for occupations such as electricians. Glen Fenter, former head of the community college in West Memphis, was hired to organize tech training at the metro areas community colleges under a new agency named the Greater Memphis Alliance for a Competitive Workforce.

Fenters efforts tie in part to Tennessees Labor Education Alignment Program, or LEAP, new legislation meant to improve science, technology and mathematics education in the public schools. In Memphis, Southwest Tennessee Community College officials plan to double information technology classes to 300 students per semester by relying on a LEAP grant.

The strategy parallels ideas laid out in 2013 by the Greater Memphis Chambers Chairmans Circle. Its Harvard Tech moon mission calls for Fenter and his education colleagues to graduate 30,000 high-tech industrial workers in 10 years.

Train them, and the jobs will materialize  thats the strategy.

Yet it is probably going to collide with a new initiative that surfaced this summer.

Greater Memphis Chamber chairwoman Carolyn Hardy has urged the 120 enterprises comprising the Chairmans Circle to voluntarily divert a portion of their spending on supplies and services to black and women entrepreneurs.

The Memphis Minority Business Continuum has gone a step further, recommending the regions large companies back off on purchases from out-of-town suppliers and shop at African American- and white-owned firms in the Memphis area. MMBCs survey suggests this Buy Local campaign could bring an additional $1.7 billion in annual sales to minority firms alone.

This has the makings of a boom for black businesses if it happens. And where theres a boom, hiring generally picks up.

Yet, 16,000 jobs are already said to be vacant because of a skills shortage. At the same time, baby boomers are retiring, leaving more jobs open. And the state of Tennessee is trying to develop a huge industrial park on 4,100 acres it bought 25 miles east of Memphis.

Where will all the workers come from?

Our high schools graduate more than enough people to fill job vacancies.

In the metro-area about 20,000 residents turn age 18 each year and about 10,000 turn 65.

Among these teens, roughly 8,000 enroll each year in community colleges and four-year colleges, some in distant cities, aggravating the brain drain because many college graduates dont return home.

What the other 12,000 people do isnt clear.

Despite this groups size, it is obvious the region is better educated than ever. Among metro-area residents 25 and older, the U.S. Census shows, about 490,000 people have an associate, bachelors or graduate degree, about 260,000 have a high school diploma and 130,000 have not completed high school.

Most likely, many of Ruby Brights clients are in this latter group, while the bigger pool helps power the Memphis economy.

It is the middle, the high school grads, where skills seem lacking.

Masingill, the head of the Delta Regional Authority, insists human capital brings the jobs. He is saying education is economic development. If this is true, we need to ramp up our ambitions.

It is good that Southwest Tennessee Community College aims for IT classes of 300 students and Harvard Tech envisions 3,000 graduates per year. But this isnt enough.

Ted Evanoff, business editor of The Commercial Appeal, can be reached at evanoff@commercialappeal.com and (901) 529-2292.
SHARE Lauren Groff, author of "Fates and Furies" and other works, will speak next weekend at this year's Mid-South Book Festival. Photo by Megan Brown

By Peggy Burch, Chapter16.org

Literary luminary Lauren Groff will take the stage at this year's Mid-South Book Festival, which will draw 70 authors of fiction, nonfiction and poetry to Playhouse on the Square next weekend. Groff's most recent novel, "Fates and Furies," was a National Book Award finalist and President Barack Obama's favorite book of 2015. Her earlier books include "The Monsters of Templeton," "Arcadia" (based in part on The Farm in Summertown, Tennessee), and the short-story collection "Delicate Edible Birds."

"Fates and Furies" unravels a 24-year marriage from the perspectives of both partners: Lotto, an actor and playwright; and Mathilde, a model and art-gallery employee who becomes Lotto's unofficial editor and personal manager. Although the marriage is the essential fact of each of their lives, Mathilde has a dramatic backstory unknown to Lotto. He doesn't even know her real name.

Mathilde is angry  at her parents, her mother-in-law, Lotto's best friend. In what Groff calls a "controlled burn over the course of many, many years," Mathilde exacts revenge on them all. "I wanted to go against the literary tropes of women we've seen through the centuries, from Medea to, oh my gosh, basically almost every woman in (fictional) history: Anna Karenina, Emma Bovary," Groff said in a recent phone interview with Chapter 16. "Angry women self-immolate in a lot of ways. I wanted Mathilde to go outwards."

One source of Mathilde's anger is her family's belief that she was responsible, at age 4, for the death of her 1-year-old brother. In the novel, it's not clear whether her family is correct in this assumption, but Groff recalls a real-life scene that bolstered her idea that very young children have no moral sense: "I saw my 3-year-old and my 1-year-old walking side-by-side by a pool, and my 3-year-old just looked at his brother and pushed him in, knowing full well that the 1-year-old cannot swim and it's a very bad thing to do."

"Fates and Furies" is dedicated to Groff's husband, Clay, whom she met when both were students at Amherst College. At the first sight of him, she writes in the book's acknowledgments, "I turned, stunned, to my friend and said I'd marry him, even though I didn't believe in marriage." This resistance to the institution of marriage, she said, "comes out of a great number of feminist philosophy courses that I took, but also being a human, being in the world, and understanding the history of what marriage is and the latent residual misogyny manifested in modern marriages." But, she adds, "I am very happy in my marriage. In fact, that's the one thing that allows me to write because my husband happens to be one of the most feminist men in the world, and he does at least 50 percent of the child-rearing, if not more."

This conflicting view of something so fundamental is a source of inspiration for Groff as a writer: "I find the places of darkness, the places where I can't quite understand the two separate parts of me that seem to be contradictory. Those are where I find the most interesting stories; those are where I want to live for the five years it takes to write a novel."

Another way she immerses herself in her work is by drafting her novels in longhand. "You are engaging your entire body when you're writing in longhand because you're sort of curled over the paper and smelling the paper and the ink; you're seeing the pores in the paper. You're sort of seeing it pass under your hands. It's just a beautiful, almost sensual experience."

In addition to Groff's appearance, the Mid-South Book Festival will also feature a conversation with Greg Sestero, whose memoir, "The Disaster Artist," is the basis for the James Franco film "The Masterpiece." The book describes Sestero's experience working on "The Room," the cult favorite regularly described as the worst movie ever made. In addition, there will be a panel on middle-grade novels that includes Barry Wolverton, author of "Neversink." Another panel on books about music will feature Tonya Dyson of the open-mic project The Word; Holly George-Warren, author of the Alex Chilton biography, "A Man Called Destruction"; Charles Hughes, author of "Country Soul"; and hip-hop artist Marco Pave. Other panel topics include blogging and grass roots publishing.

"This is unique to our community, to have such a big festival that's free (and) geared just toward reading and writing," said Knox Shelton, interim executive director of Literacy Mid-South, which organizes the festival. "It's also about nurturing the writing community here in Memphis."

Find a full schedule of events at midsouthbookfest.org.

For more local book coverage, please visit Chapter16.org, an online publication of Humanities Tennessee.
SHARE June 14, 2016- Mark Luttrell. (Nikki Boertman/The Commercial Appeal)

By Linda A. Moore of The Commercial Appeal

Shelby County Mayor Mark Luttrell legally can't veto a charter amendment approved by the County Commission that creates a referendum regarding the body's role in dismissal of the county attorney.

In a related matter, the Shelby County Election Commission will hold a special meeting at noon Tuesday to certify the County Commission's proposed amendment. If approved by the Election Commission, it will appear as a referendum on the Nov. 8 ballot.

On Friday, Luttrell said he'd been advised that under state law ordinances on charter amendments "follow a different route than other ordinances would" and don't need his approval to move forward.

"Apparently there's been a legal interpretation that an ordinance to amend the charter goes directly from the commission to the Election Commission and then the people are the ones that have the final say on it," Luttrell said.

Right now, the mayor appoints the county attorney, the commission confirms the appointment, but only the mayor has the power to dismiss the county attorney.

Although the charter says the county attorney is legal counsel for all of county government, some commissioners have argued the existing setup weighs heavily in favor of the executive branch, leaving the legislative branch without independent legal representation, especially when there is conflict between the two branches of government.

During the meeting, Luttrell took issue with the accusation that his office influenced the county attorney's relationship with the County Commission and said he would consider a veto.

"I had not made a decision with what I was going to do so this takes the decision out of my hands," he said Friday.
By Tom Charlier of The Commercial Appeal

Responding to criticism over their plans to cool a Memphis power plant with pristine aquifer water, Tennessee Valley Authority officials say all other options  including buying water from Memphis Light, Gas and Water Division  pose too many problems in terms of cost and reliability.

But local leaders, including MLGW officials, dispute that.

In recent weeks, environmentalists, scientists and elected officials have called on TVA to either drop, reconsider or more fully explain its plans to pump 3.5 million gallons of water daily from the Memphis Sand aquifer for the Allen Combined Cycle Plant under construction in Southwest Memphis. Most recently, the Memphis City Council approved a resolution asking that TVA explore getting its the water from either a shallower aquifer or MLGW, while U.S. Rep. Steve Cohen, a Memphis Democrat, wrote the agency expressing concern about the issue.

Critics say tapping the aquifer for industrial cooling purposes represents an inappropriate use of, and possible threat to, the deep, pure source of drinking water for Memphis and other municipalities. They also contend that TVA, which sells $1 billion a year worth of electricity to MLGW, ought to be willing to buy $1.2 million of water from the utility.

The $975 million plant, set to open in 2018, will recirculate millions of gallons of cooling water constantly, but it will need 3.5 million extra gallons daily to make up for water lost to evaporation.

TVA officials, in recent interviews and in meeting of the agency's board on Aug. 25, outlined why they feel alternatives to the Memphis Sand are unfeasible. Those alternatives include using treated wastewater from the nearby T.E. Maxson Treatment Plant, purchasing MLGW water and pumping from a shallower, less pure aquifer.

In the board meeting late last month, TVA President and CEO Bill Johnson stressed that the agency is legally bound to produce electricity at the lowest feasible cost. The highly advanced gas-fired plant, which will produce much less air pollution than the nearby coal-burning Allen Fossil Plant that it is replacing, needs extremely high-quality water, he said.

"This will be one of the most efficient machines in the world. It's also very sensitive," Johnson said.

TVA originally planned to use so-called "gray water" from the wastewater plant, but upon further study decided that option was too costly, he said. To prevent corrosion of the sensitive equipment, the agency would have to build a $12 million to $25 million treatment plant, which would cost $6 million a year to run. Johnson said TVA also didn't want to rely on the wastewater plant as its sole source of cooling water.

Although TVA will be buying some MLGW water to produce steam, the option of relying on the local utility for its cooling water isn't feasible, Johnson said.

"We could not get sufficient water from MLGW at peak operating levels, and to do that would require significant upgrades to their system and require the additional construction of multimillion-gallon, large storage tanks at Allen for supplemental cooling water," Johnson told the board.

By peak operating levels, he was referring to periods of high-electrical demand, when pumping rates would rise from the 2,500-gallon-per-minute annual average to 5,000 gallons per minute.

Johnson said TVA also would have to treat the MLGW water because of the chemicals added by the utility to ensure it is safe to drink.

But MLGW officials insist they could adequately supply the TVA plant. "We're confident we have the capacity with the infrastructure we have in place to meet their needs," spokesman Richard Thompson said Friday.

The recently closed Cargill plant on Presidents Island, which had been MLGW's largest customer, used even more water than TVA would.

Capacity aside, however, TVA spokesman Chris Stanley said reliability would be a major challenge in relying on MLGW for cooling water. A burst pipe or similar disruption in water service "would cause us to have to shut down the plant very quickly," he said.

At the board meeting, Johnson said the environmental impacts of using MLGW water and pumping from the agency's own 650-foot-deep wells would be similar.

"In both cases, the water comes out of the same aquifer, in the same amounts, just from different wells," he said.

Also, a study conducted by the U.S. Geological Survey for TVA found that the pumping would have little effect on the Memphis Sand. After 30 years of the average pumping envisioned at the plant, water levels in the aquifer would be about 7 feet lower at the plant site and 4 feet lower within a surrounding area encompassing 2,590 acres, USGS concluded.

But local groundwater experts say the TVA pumping could pose a threat to the quality of the Memphis Sand water, most of which fell as rain more than 2,000 years ago and has been trickling through sand and gravel ever since.

Brian Waldron, director of the Center for Applied Earth Science and Engineering Research at the University of Memphis, said the plant site lies near known windows, or gaps, in the dense clay layer that protects the Memphis Sand from surface contamination. The TVA pumping, by lowering the water table in the Memphis Sand, could pull less-pure water from a shallow aquifer into the Memphis Sand, he said.

Waldron said TVA should explore using the shallow aquifer for cooling water, noting that it is replenished by the nearby Mississippi River.

But Stanley again cited water-quality concerns. "The cleanliness of the water in the shallow aquifer is the reason is the reason we didn't even really look at that," he said, noting that costly treatment would be needed.

However, TVA's concerns ring hollow to some local environmentalists. Scott Banbury, conservation program coordinator for the Sierra Club's Tennessee chapter, said TVA could use MLGW water as its primary cooling source, with the plant wells as a backup. Treatment costs are "a drop in the bucket" considering the scale of the project, he said.

Banbury said he and others believe "it is immoral to boil off 3.5 million gallons of our aquifer water a day."
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By Daniel Connolly of The Commercial Appeal

The Memphis Fire Department responded Friday night to a report of a police vehicle on fire in Hickory Hill.

The incident was reported shortly before 9 p.m. as an auto accident with a squad car on fire at the intersection of Hickory Hill and Knight Arnold, Watch Commander Rita Jackson said.

Additional details, including whether anyone was in the vehicle, were not immediately available.
SHARE Rudolph Vetter/The Commercial Appeal files September 1, 1951  "We need a bigger zoo!" trumpets Alice, lone remaining elephant, to Sam M. Nickey Jr. (left), president of Memphis Zoological Society; H.S. Lewis (center), general superintendent of Memphis Park Commission, and N.J. Melroy, superintendent of Overton Park Zoo on Sept. 1, 1951.

Sept. 3

25 years ago: 1991

Secret tape recordings reveal Memphis State University officials in 1988 made plans to hire a black as dean of the College of Education  no matter who applied for the job. The tapes indicate that Board of Regents officials ordered the university to target specific jobs for blacks after a pattern of repeatedly hiring white males for top-level jobs caught up with the university. The tapes are evidence in a $1.1 million reverse discrimination lawsuit filed by a white woman who applied for the dean's job. It names the Board of Regents, MSU, Dr. Thomas Carpenter, who was MSU president at the time, and Dr. Victor Faisal, MSU vice president for academic affairs. The lawsuit is expected to go to trial before U.S. Dist. Judge Julia Gibbons this fall.

50 years ago: 1966

Dr. Martin Luther King has accepted an invitation to speak to the Progressive National Baptist Convention here Friday, it was announced yesterday by Dr. S.A. Owen, pastor of Metropolitan Baptist Church. The civil rights leader, who is head of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference, is the associate pastor of Ebenezer Baptist Church in Atlanta, which is affiliated with the denomination. Dr. King is scheduled to speak at 8 p.m. at Metropolitan Baptist, headquarters for the convention.

75 years ago: 1941

Capt. Toll Fowler, veteran commanding officer of the Police Traffic Division, yesterday assumed charge of the City Auto Testing Bureau succeeding the late A.E. O'Brien, who died recently of injuries received in an auto accident.

100 years ago: 1916

All Memphis relaxed last night when news flashed over the wires from Washington that Congress had punctured the railroad strike bubble by passage of the eight-hour work day law. This was just 36 hours before Memphis railroad employees were set to walk out.

125 years ago: 1891

The canvassers who are soliciting one-dollar-a-month subscriptions for the electric illumination of Main Street have met with interrupted success, and will complete their canvass within the next two or three days.
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By Andrew Demillo, Associated Press

LITTLE ROCK  The Arkansas Supreme Court was asked Friday to disqualify an effort to legalize medical marijuana over potentially invalid signatures, the second challenge filed against a ballot measure to make the drug available to some patients.

Attorney Kara Benca of Little Rock questioned the validity of thousands of signatures that were submitted for the proposal allowing patients with certain medical conditions to buy marijuana. The measure is among two medical marijuana proposals on the November ballot.

Benca claimed more than 15,000 signatures that were submitted for the proposal should be tossed out. Benca identifies herself in the lawsuit as a life member of the National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws, which supports legalizing the drug.

Her complaint includes claims that the group behind the measure did not following reporting requirements for paid canvassers and that some petitions were left unattended for people to sign for the measure. Benca asked the court to prevent state officials from counting any votes for the measure in the Nov. 8 election.

Melissa Fults, the campaign director for Arkansans for Compassionate Care, said she was confident the challenge would be defeated and said the group had the proper paperwork for its petitions.

"We should be running a campaign to get this passed for sick and dying patients and instead we have to deal with bogus lawsuits," Fults said.

David Couch, the sponsor of the competing medical marijuana proposal, said he wasn't directly involved in the lawsuit but shared information with the attorneys in the case about problems he had found with the canvasser registration and reporting for Fults' proposal.

A separate challenge was filed with the court last month by a coalition of groups opposed to the measure, including the state Chamber of Commerce. That challenge argues the proposal's language is misleading to voters.
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By Bill Gibbons, Special to Viewpoint

It's time for a renewed, concerted effort to tackle the challenge of crime in our community.

A safer community is the key to progress in other areas, ranging from more and better-paying jobs to population growth to growth in our tax base. Without reducing the crime rate  violent crime in particular  progress on other fronts becomes extremely difficult.

New York City was once one of the most dangerous cities in America. It even gained the title of "the ungovernable city." A survey in the early 1990s indicated that a majority of New Yorkers wanted to leave.

Then, through strong leadership and smart strategies, there was a major shift. New York became one of the safest cities in America. Rather than accepted as inevitable, crime became unacceptable to New Yorkers. Since the turnaround began, the population of the city itself has grown by 1.2 million people. Investments and the tax base have expanded dramatically.

Memphis Mayor Jim Strickland notes consistently that violent crime is our community's biggest challenge. He gets it. He knows that meeting this challenge head on is key to positioning Memphis for growth. He understands that the current violent crime rate is not inevitable, just as it was not in New York.

I have left my position as commissioner of the Tennessee Department of Safety and Homeland Security so that I can work every day as part of a communitywide team determined to meet the challenge of crime through implementation of a new, focused community plan.

There's a second important reason I've decided to make this change, and that's the commitment of the University of Memphis to a new Public Safety Institute (PSI). The PSI will focus on applied research to evaluate more accurately all parts of our community plan. We will be able to identify evidenced-based best practices. And we will be able to identify any part of the plan not working as well as expected, figure out why that's the case, and make adjustments.

I am impressed by University of Memphis President M. David Rudd and his team. He has a clear vision of what the PSI can mean for the university both as a partner with the community and as a national urban research university.

Spearheaded by the Crime Commission, Operation: Safe Community was launched in 2007 as a communitywide crime reduction plan in direct response to the dramatic increase in violent crime in 2006. A lot of effective initiatives grew out of that plan, including a strong commitment to data-driven policing (Blue Crush), a crackdown on felons in possession of guns, and effective use of our state nuisance law to shut down drug houses. Over the 2007-2011 time period, the major violent crime rate dropped almost 25 percent.

In 2012, we launched a second Operation: Safe Community plan. Some good things have occurred under that plan as well, such as creation of the Family Safety Center to help victims of domestic violence, and the Safeways program, which is an intensive effort to reduce crime in major apartment communities. Yet, while still below 2006 levels, some of the progress we had made in curbing violent crime has been eroded. In part, we did not stay focused on what seemed to be working. And, frankly, the second plan has been too broad in scope, without sufficient focus.

Many of us are working on a new Operation: Safe Community plan to be announced this fall and chaired under the leadership of District Attorney General Amy Weirich. It needs to be a plan (1) agreed upon by the major stakeholders, (2) focused on a limited number of strategies that we believe can make a significant difference if implemented, and (3) that is measurable and can be evaluated through the PSI.

Curbing violent street crime must be a top priority. It is driven by the deadly combination of criminal gang activity that often spills onto our streets and victimizes innocent citizens, guns in the hands of convicted felons and juveniles recruited by gangs, and drug trafficking that threatens the stability of many neighborhoods.

Domestic violence remains a major part of our challenge. About half of all reported crimes against persons are domestically related. Domestic violence accounts for about a third of all reported aggravated assaults.

Most of our crime is driven by repeat offenders. We must do a better job of increasing the chances of repeat offenders becoming productive members of our community.

We have thousands of juveniles in our community who are at risk of going down the road of juvenile delinquency, followed by criminal behavior as adults. Many face adverse childhood experiences hard for most of us to comprehend. We must reduce the number of juveniles who go down that road and deal more effectively with those who do.

Finally, more than ever, it is important that the new plan engage the broader community. This cannot be a plan just for law enforcement, prosecutors and others involved in the criminal justice system. It must be a plan that gives other citizens effective ways to help make our community safer. That includes the development of strong partnerships between citizens and law enforcement at the neighborhood level.

Simply put, we should never surrender a single neighborhood to a high crime rate. Every law-abiding citizen deserves to live, work and raise a family in a safe place. We must reach the point where criminal conduct is not accepted as inevitable, but rather simply unacceptable.

Bill Gibbons is the former district attorney for Shelby County and, through Aug. 31, served as commissioner of Safety and Homeland Security for the State of Tennessee. Effective Sept. 1, he became president of the Memphis Shelby Crime Commission and executive director of the Public Safety Institute at the University of Memphis.
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By Jonah Goldberg

Since it has been seven months since the Iowa caucuses and it'll be another three-plus years until that hell is fresh again, this is the best time to talk about ethanol.

In case you didn't know, ethanol is very popular in Iowa and other corn states, which is why most presidential candidates swear once every four years that they love ethanol so much they'd marry a jug of it if they could. If only for a moment, loyalty to this government moonshine becomes as fraught with political symbolism as a gay wedding in which both grooms refuse to wear American flag pins while declining to stand for the national anthem in support of our troops.

Thankfully, we don't have to worry about that for a little while, so let's tell the truth: Ethanol is stupid, wasteful and bad for cars (because it's corrosive and inefficient), the economy and the environment.

The main case for biofuel is twofold. It's supposed to be better for the environment, particularly global warming, and lessen our dependence on foreign oil. The assumption was that converting plants into fuel was "carbon neutral," and since we can do that at home, every gallon of oil we replace with corn is one less we have to buy from overseas. The fact that it also lines the pockets of agribusinesses and the politicians who love them is supposed to be a total coincidence and irrelevant to this good and noble policy.

Nope.

A new study from the University of Michigan confirms what pretty much everyone knew all along. Researchers found that biofuels create more greenhouse gases than simply using petroleum, because plants only absorb a fraction of the carbon dioxide released by burning the fuels in the first place. Moreover, ethanol production and distribution is energy-intensive, throwing off even more greenhouse gases.

"When you look at what's actually happening on the land, you find that not enough carbon is being removed from the atmosphere to balance what's coming out of the tailpipe," University of Michigan professor John DeCicco said. "When it comes to the emissions that cause global warming, it turns out that biofuels are worse than gasoline."

A study last year by the University of Tennessee found that in the decade since the U.S. imposed the Renewable Fuel Standard  and after $50 billion in subsidies  corn-based ethanol "created more problems than solutions" and hampered research on other kinds of biofuels.

But even if you think, as I do, that caring for the environment means more than climate change, ethanol is a horror. Growing corn for inefficient fuel takes up farmland, raising food prices and encouraging deforestation. Science writer Matt Ridley has estimated that if all of our transport fuel came from biofuel, we would need 30 percent more land than all of the existing food-growing farmland we have today.

All of the corn we grow requires vast amounts of fertilizer, which runs into our waterways and out to the Gulf of Mexico. Every year that runoff creates a massive, and growing, dead zone that kills sea life in one of our most valuable fisheries. According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Organization, "Habitats that would normally be teeming with life become, essentially, biological deserts." This year's dead zone will be the size of Connecticut, researchers say.

Meanwhile, in places such as Brazil, CO2-absorbing rainforests (among the biggest sources of biodiversity) are being clear-cut to make room for biofuel crops. The Nature Conservancy's Joseph Fargione estimated a few years ago that converting rainforests, peatlands, savannas or grasslands for biofuels releases 17 to 420 times more CO2 than it offsets by displacing petroleum or coal.

One hears a lot about the great jobs ethanol creates here at home, but this is broken-window thinking. Frederic Bastiat famously explained in his essay on the broken window that it's silly to talk about the jobs created by a broken window  you've got to hire people to replace it, right?  unless you also take into account that the money spent on a new window could have been spent on something more productive.

Thanks to the shale oil revolution, America now has greater oil reserves than Saudi Arabia and Russia. Domestic oil production produces far more  and far better paying  jobs than ethanol production. Cheaper oil also cascades through the economy, creating more jobs. And we're better at producing oil in an environmentally safe way than most other countries. When we take production offline, we are in effect subsidizing foreign production.

But hey, the Iowa caucuses are important too.

Jonah Goldberg is a fellow at the American Enterprise Institute and a senior editor of National Review. Contact him at goldbergcolumn@gmail.com.
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By Kevin Williamson

Hillary Clinton suggests that Donald Trump of Fifth Avenue is at heart a Klansman from Mississippi. Trump says Clinton is a "bigot."

Really?

Both of them have a bit of creepy racial stuff in their pasts: Clinton hailed the late senator Robert Byrd, D-W.Va., who once bore the risible title "Exalted Cyclops" of the Ku Klux Klan, as her "friend and mentor." Trump was obliged to settle a housing discrimination case and says woefully stupid things about wanting Jews rather than blacks handling his money. But the idea that either candidate is a racist in the way David Duke is a racist is absurd.

Clinton's effort to tie Trump to avowed racists is mostly just a classic political overreach. But the way Trump explains Clinton's bigotry  calling her out for failed urban policy preferences and because she "sees people of color only as votes"  is more than a bit hypocritical.

Bigotry is antipathy toward different people or ideas. Trump wants to redefine it as Clinton's indifference to one of her core constituencies, black voters. The problem with applying that line of thinking is that Trump has done basically the same thing. He got this far by pandering to white voters' worst instincts on immigration, and when it no longer helped his prospects, he began waffling on what was once his core issue. In his Phoenix speech Wednesday, Trump returned to form, but he clearly doesn't see it as an immutable commitment.

If taking one's most loyal constituency for granted is bigotry, then when it comes to working-class whites, Trump's a bigot, too.

A bit of context: No Republican presidential nominee has won the black vote since Herbert Hoover  despite the prevailing narrative, African-Americans' partisan allegiances changed long before the Democrats' abrupt about-face on civil rights in 1964. From a purely Machiavellian point of view, there's one kind of black voter: reliable Democrat.

And Trump is absolutely correct that 2016 is no different. Clinton and Democrats are taking black voters for granted. Why shouldn't they? Trump is hovering between 1 and 2 percent in recent polls of black voters. While you can imagine a situation where a different GOP nominee could methodically make the case that Democratic policies in communities run by elected Democrats have trapped many black Americans in a cycle of futile government dependence, Trump is not the guy to make that case. His messaging  "What the hell do you have to lose?"  is crude, and his commitment, contrasted with his record, is utterly insincere.

Even more damning, though, is that Trump takes his voters for granted in precisely the same way. On this we have his own word: In interviews earlier this year, both on and, reportedly, off the record, he's taken the "everything's negotiable" stance. He once bragged he could shoot somebody on Fifth Avenue and not dampen the fervor of his most committed cultists, and now on immigration, his centerpiece issue, that principle is being tested. Ann Coulter famously said that there was nothing Trump could do to alienate her affections except flip-flop on his ridiculous immigration promises, but in recent weeks he's flirted with doing just that.

He was openly discussing a possible breach of faith on the one issue where he had, until now, been consistent, and upon which he built his support. As much as anything else, Trump fought his way to the top of the Republican heap by promising  to blue-collar whites, the slice of the body politic most receptive this approach  to "build a wall," make Mexico pay for it and kick every last illegal immigrant out of the country, post haste. Then he spent weeks suggesting these might not all happen, or they'd happen, as Donald Trump Jr. described it, in "baby steps," before doubling down Wednesday night in Phoenix. Earlier that day, he went to Mexico and reported that he didn't bring up what would be his hardest diplomatic task as president, convincing the Mexican government to pay for his wall. Clear illustrations of Trump's willingness, in his words, treat his supporters "only as votes."

Yes, he'll almost certainly get away with it, because Americans, in the main, don't use voting to make heard their views on contentious public policy matters. Most don't even know what those issues are or which politician is on which side of them. In fact, voters routinely report that they support a candidate because he holds a certain position on a certain issue when that candidate actually holds the opposite position. Political allegiance, rather, correlates strongly with cultural affiliations acquired early in life, with issues playing a minor role. That is the finding of several decades' worth of voter research ably documented by Christopher H. Achen and Larry M. Bartels in "Democracy For Realists: Why Elections Do Not Produce Responsive Government."

Voters use the ballot to make statements about who they are  or, at least, about what sort of people they perceive themselves to be. It's what has driven all the racism talk in recent weeks. That talk isn't really directed at African-Americans or the anxious white working class. It's directed, like most things in our politics, at the relatively affluent white people drinking $4 lattes at Starbucks. The last thing that sort of person wants to be thought of is a racist. To be a racist is the ultimate sin in polite American society, and swing voters will not associate themselves with a candidate if doing so means they will be tarred as racists or racists-by-proxy. Kellyanne Conway, who (at least as of this writing) runs Trump's campaign, knows this.

In the end, Black Lives Matter supporters in Baltimore and Trump-or-die knuckleheads in the former Confederate states may have more in common than they realize. Unlike "independent," relatively affluent, suburban white moderates, their votes already are tallied up in the mental notebooks of those running both major-party campaigns. By Trump's own standard, they're the object of Clinton's  and his  bigotry. They can be ignored and betrayed, as are the millions of loyal black Democrats trapped in failed, Democrat-dominated cities, or the overwhelmingly white corpus of new heroin addicts and the struggling communities around them, needlessly immiserated by backward drug policies and vindictive criminal-justice programs championed for two generations by the Republicans they support.

This election isn't about them. Never has been.

Kevin Williamson is roving correspondent for National Review. He wrote this for the Washington Post.
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BRIDGEPORTThe Connecticut Department of Transportation will close Metro Norths three New Haven Line Ticket offices, according to a statement by and the MTA.

Ticket offices are scheduled to shut down in Greenwich, South Norwalk and Bridgeport a week after the announcement, on Saturday, September 10.
Silver Airways opens second US commercial route to Cuba

A Silver Airways flight landed Thursday morning at the Abel Santamaria International Airport in central Santa Clara city opening a second US commercial connection with Cuba, following a Jet Blue first flight on Wednesday, in what has been the resumption of direct regular flights between the US and Cuba since they were cancelled over 50 years ago.

Silver Airways CEO Sami Teittener was among the passangers to land at the airport, where they were welcomed by Commercial and Business vice-director of the Cuban Airport Service Company (CACSA) Rosa Elena Nieves and by airport director Omar Andres Gil.

In statements to reporters Teittener said this is the first time ever for a Silver Airliner to have made a commercial flight to Cuba and now those planes will be coming to Santa Clara three times a week.

Silver Airways expects to also visit other Cuban destinations, including eastern Camaguey and Holguin cities and also Cienfuegos in the south-central territory. Such flights will start in October and in November Silver will fly to Cayo Coco key, off the central Cuban coast, and Santiago de Cuba, while in December the destinations will include western Matanzas, eastern Manzanillo City and Cayo Largo Key.

For Silver CEO, Cuba is an emerging market with huge opportunities for development over the next few years, given its tourist potential and the presence in the U.S. of a large Cuban American community.

Teitterner presented airport director Omar Andres Gil with a replica of a Silver airliner, while Gil gave him a nice craftwork.

(acn)
These real PA creatures could become cryptids if we don't save them
Check it out: Fun things to do this weekend in Lake County

entertainment
The leaders of the EU returned to centre stage last week, strutting across the deck of an Italian aircraft carrier like modern-day masters of the universe.

And if you thought Britains vote to leave the EU might have shaken their confidence in the inevitability of federal union, their elaborately staged photo opportunities told a very different story.

To kick off their summit, the leaders of the eurozones three biggest powers, Angela Merkel, Francois Hollande and Matteo Renzi, first visited the island grave of a Communist politician called Altiero Spinelli.

Europe, the source of the Enlightenment, the birthplace of modern science, is in crisis, writes the Nobel Prize-winning economist Joseph Stiglitz

In 1941, while imprisoned in a fascist camp, Spinelli wrote a manifesto calling for a federal Europe and insisting that the days of national sovereignty must be consigned to history. He survived World War II, and ended up on the Brussels super-state gravy train as a European Commissioner in the Seventies.

Once the Continental trio had paid their respects to their federalist godfather, a helicopter flew them to the deck of the Giuseppe Garibaldi, which usually spearheads the Italian naval mission to intercept refugees in the Mediterranean.

Yet again the symbolism was excruciatingly heavy-handed, since it was named after Garibaldi, the guerrilla leader who fought for Italian unification back in the 1860s.

Some people, conceded Renzi the Italian prime minister, had suggested that after Brexit, Europe would come to an end. But, he said defiantly, the summit proved this is not the case.

Yet even as the EUs governing triumvirate were posing for the cameras, one of the worlds most respected intellectuals was issuing a bleaker prediction.

Europe, the source of the Enlightenment, the birthplace of modern science, is in crisis, writes the Nobel Prize-winning economist Joseph Stiglitz, in the very first sentence of his new book The Euro And Its Threat To The Future Of Europe.

His subject, of course, is the great untouchable pillar of European unity, the perennial elephant in the room, the symbol both of soaring Continental idealism and of crushing economic failure.

British holidaymakers may just see it as another foreign banknote. But to Professor Stiglitz, the euro is the EUs original sin, the underlying mistake that has turned optimism into disaster.

The euro, he argues, was a mistake from the beginning, and the social and political consequences of the European elites folly have been disastrous

The euro, he argues, was a mistake from the beginning, and the social and political consequences of the European elites folly have been disastrous.

Founded amid intense utopian excitement, it has plunged much of southern Europe into the deepest economic misery in living memory, throwing millions on to the scrapheap of unemployment and handing far-Right extremists the perfect gift.

That may sound melodramatic, but Professor Stiglitzs expertise should not be blithely brushed aside. Currently professor of economics at Columbia University in New York, he was formerly the chief economist of the World Bank and chairman of the U.S. Presidents Council of Economic Advisers.

So when Professor Stiglitz warns that the EUs current path will lead to catastrophe, the Continents political elite really ought to listen. Indeed, last month he told one interviewer that the most likely future for the eurozone is a politically cataclysmic event that would tip it towards outright financial Armageddon.

In particular, he pointed to this autumns Italian referendum on constitutional change  which seeks to reorganise how Italy is governed  on which Mr Renzi has staked his entire political future.

If the vote goes against the Italian prime minister, Professor Stiglitz believes the ensuing loss of confidence could shatter Italys fragile financial system, which in turn could knock over a series of economic dominoes across the continent, and so bring a brutal end to the Euro experiment.

The leaders of the EU returned to centre stage last week, strutting across the deck of an Italian aircraft carrier like modern-day masters of the universe

Astonishingly, though, none of this seemed to trouble the European leaders parading on deck. Nor did they seem discombobulated by the Brexit vote, despite the fact that it represents the biggest rebuke to the federal project since the foundation of the EU.

Indeed, it was almost as if the British vote had never happened. At one stage they even discussed plans for a united European army  precisely the kind of thing that seems to confirm all the worst stereotypes of obsessive Euro-federalism.

In Brussels, meanwhile, it was business as usual.

The European Parliament, for example, has been busy producing a ludicrous graphic showing that the EU had won the Rio Olympics, with a total of 325 medals.

Almost unbelievably, Europes parliamentarians even had the gall to include British athletes in their total. How, I wonder, do our gold medallists feel to be told that far from representing Great Britain, as they had imagined, their performances had been hijacked by the EU?

What all this reflects, of course, is the EU elites blanket refusal to recognise the implications of Brexit. Instead of seeing it as a salutary warning that their project has spun out of control, they prefer to treat it as a crime to be punished.

And although it is still early days, they ignore the fact that more and more economic data suggests that those predictions of dire outcomes for Britains prosperity may be wrong  while disregarding the growing chorus of experts who say Brexit should lead to wholesale reforms in the EU.

As always, the greater good of European unification trumps everything else. Democratic accountability, economic hardship, political turmoil  these must simply be brushed aside.

The truth is that the European elite have gone too far now to admit defeat. Mrs Merkel and Mr Hollande, in particular, have inflicted such damage on the economies and peoples of southern Europe that they simply cannot bring themselves to admit that they were wrong and start again

In this context, Professor Stiglitzs book could hardly be better timed. For if there is one thing that really epitomises the arrogant indifference of the Continents political elite, then it is the single currency.

The euro was a recklessly foolish idea from the very beginning. It was utter madness to introduce a single currency for more than 20 countries, without any fiscal union to ensure that everybody was playing by the same rules. As the professor argues, it was madness, too, to yoke together countries with vastly different economies as though they were merely the European equivalent of American states like California and Connecticut.

American states, he points out, share a common culture, a common banking system and a powerful sense of national solidarity. You can easily move from one to another in search of a job, for example, without anybody calling you an immigrant or even noticing the difference.

A nd although European policy-makers insisted the euro would encourage convergence among member states, Professor Stiglitz shows that it has made divisions worse.

For example, Portugals GDP was 57 per cent of Germanys when they adopted the euro in 1999. Today, it has fallen to just 48 per cent.

To put it another way, the euro has made rich countries richer, and poor countries poorer.

John Major and Gordon Brown do not always get a good press. But in this we owe them a profound debt of gratitude for keeping the UK out of the euro

It has been wonderful for German exporters, who can flood the markets of southern and eastern Europe with their admirable (though, in Volkswagens case after the emissions scandal, fraudulent) cars. But for businesses and consumers elsewhere, it has been a disaster.

In effect, the euro has reduced proudly independent countries such as Portugal and Greece countries that often endured difficult and bloody times in the 20th century, and desperately yearned for peace and prosperity  to client states, dependent on the goodwill of Brussels and Berlin.

If it were merely an economic project, the euro would have been abandoned years ago. But of course it was never really an economic idea. It was always political  a tool to bind Europe together in the pursuit of a largely Franco-German federal ideal.

In its sheer rigidity  for example, the euro made it impossible for the cash-strapped Greeks to devalue their currency and become more competitive abroad  the euro is reminiscent of the gold standard.

This was the inflexible currency system that Britain and other countries adopted between the world wars, with the value of the pound fixed in terms of gold, which helped plunge the world into the Great Depression.

Like the euro, the gold standard became a kind of totem, to which politicians clung in total defiance of economic reality. Like the euro, it was seen in terms of prestige and political capital, with the leaders of the day ignoring the closing factories, lengthening dole queues and human costs. But the gold standard collapsed eventually, with Britain finally forced to abandon it in the summer of 1931.

And the euro would probably have collapsed, too  if only the peoples of southern Europe had had their way. Here, Professor Stiglitz is rightly withering.

As he shows, the so-called troika, the European Central Bank, the European Commission and the International Monetary Fund, backed by the German government, have contemptuously ignored not just the needs but also the democratically expressed wishes of millions of people. To give an obvious example, the Greeks have consistently voted against the punishingly austere terms imposed by the troika, but it has done them no good at all.

In July last year, Greek voters even explicitly rejected the terms of an EU bailout in a national referendum.

In response, EU leaders forced them to swallow the bailout anyway, and also demanded the resignation of the anti-federalist Greek finance minister, Yanis Varoufakis, who had earned their hatred by daring to criticise the policies dreamed up in Brussels and Berlin.

(As Professor Stiglitz notes, one reason the charismatic Mr Varoufakis annoyed the European elite was that he was the only finance minister who had been a professional economist, having taught at the University of Texas. To put it another way, he was the only one who actually knew what he was talking about). But at the heart of the European project, as Professor Stiglitz points out, there has always been a profound lack of commitment to democracy.

What does it mean, he wonders, to be a democracy, where the citizens seemingly have no say over the issues about which they care the most, or the way their economy is run?

It is telling, for example, that only two European countries, Denmark and Sweden, have ever held referendums on joining the euro. Both of them rejected it.

But the others never had a chance to vote, so they had to swallow it.

The same would probably have happened to Britain, too, had John Major not won an opt-out at Maastricht in 1992, and if Gordon Brown had not stood up to Tony Blairs euro-enthusiasm a few years later.

Mr Major and Mr Brown do not always get a good press. But in this we owe them a profound debt of gratitude.

In his final chapters, Professor Stiglitz suggests there are two possible futures for the euro.

O ne would be a more social Europe, with taxes harmonised across the eurozone, a common welfare system, a common banking system, and so on, all paid for, essentially, by the Germans.

The Greeks have consistently voted against the punishingly austere terms imposed by the troika, but it has done them no good at all. Pictured: Riot police forces clash with protesters in front of the Greek Parliament during an anti-austerity demonstration in Athens

This strikes me as so far-fetched as to belong in the realm of fairy-tales. For one thing, I am far from convinced that European voters actually want more Europe. More importantly, there is absolutely no chance of the Germans paying for it.

The other solution, which seems much more realistic, would be simply to wind the whole thing up. The euro, he writes, is just a 17-year-old experiment, poorly designed and engineered not to work . . . It is better to abandon the euro to save Europe.

There is, however, a problem. And it is perfectly captured in those pictures of Mrs Merkel, Mr Hollande and Mr Renzi posturing on that aircraft carrier.

The truth is that the European elite have gone too far now to admit defeat. Mrs Merkel and Mr Hollande, in particular, have inflicted such damage on the economies and peoples of southern Europe that they simply cannot bring themselves to admit that they were wrong and start again.

They cant see the euro is not the God-given route to salvation, but, as Professor Stiglitz puts it, just an artifice, a human creation, another fallible institution created by fallible men.

They would prefer to put their own political capital, and their vain, foolish utopian hopes, above the happiness and wellbeing of the Portuguese shopkeeper, the Greek fisherman, the Spanish doctor and the Italian housewife.

So they are doomed to drift on through their dream world, sailing merrily towards disaster. But one day, inevitably, reality will come crashing down.
There was a cheeky builder from Redruth, who told the world  and his wife  the whole truth! I never wolf-whistled  Im a married man. Only took a selfie, pleaded scaffolder Sam Wayne, 36, after he took a photograph of himself with the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge. The image made many front pages and led to media outlets around the world bidding for their own chunk of Cornish hunk, from Loose Women to People magazine in the US.

Well, Ive been looking at this delicious silly season story in more detail, and heres the scoop.

The real story here is not about a Duchess who, while accompanying her Prince (in spivvy skinny jeans, Hush Puppies and newly cropped pate) on a tour of Cornwall, crossed paths with a muscly pin-up builder (and phew, could there be a fitter contender for Mr September in the inevitable, forthcoming Cheeky Builder calendar?).

I never wolf-whistled  Im a married man. Only took a selfie, pleaded scaffolder Sam Wayne, 36, after he took a photograph of himself with the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge

Sam changed his profile picture to a photo of him taking his second Royal selfie  he already had one in his collection, of him in a hard hat with Prince Charles

Its all that  and more!

Consider the timeline of what happened (available to view on Sams Facebook page).

First Sam changed his profile picture to a photo of him taking his second Royal selfie  he already had one in his collection, of him in a hard hat with Prince Charles.

A couple of hours later, it was updated to the selfie itself. Then he started posting all the accompanying news stories, the shoot he did with MailOnline (the one where hes carrying four boards, biceps and crotch bulging) plus comments like milking it! and So far spoken to daily mail, daily express, pirate fm and people magazine US, Ive made the royals famous again!

And then the plot thickened.

Back in April, Sam tied the knot with a curvy blonde called Hayley, who works for a Redruth legal firm.

Now Mrs Wayne, I suggest, took a dim view of suggestions that her hubby had been flirting with a slender brunette and future Queen. A very dim view.

There is no other explanation for the fact that Sams posts became suddenly shrill and defensive. He changed his profile picture back to his wedding day with his wife. He started accusing the papers of stitching him up, of denying hed been fresh with Kate, denying there were gestures and wolf-whistles. He even accused my trade of just stereotyping scaffolders/builders.

Oh, Sam. Dont do this to me.

I almost had you down as a possible Man of the Year  good with your hands, smiley, cheeky, ripped. Married, yes, but devoted and loyal, proud to tell the world that you loved your missus and youd never give another woman the glad eye, not even a beautiful Duchess who strolled past you at work.

But now I fear you doth protest too much.

Stop pretending to be the victim here. We all saw the way you looked at Kate, and Kate looked at you  and so did Hayley. You fancied the pants off each other.

It was on all the front pages  and you got busted.

Maybe dont play it again, Sam.

Now it's Renee's turn to spout a load of tripe

This new vogue for actresses to say how wonderful and enriching it is getting older  first Courteney Cox, now Renee Zellweger, right  is tiresome. As you mature, youre not just getting older, youre becoming more of who you are supposed to be, warbles Renee, and becoming the best version of yourself, better and more interesting. Please no. So much pressure! I was hoping getting older meant we could all become the worst versions of ourselves at last  so much more fun.

One in five mothers regrets choosing her babys name, even though its one of the few things about parenting you can sort of control. I still have the list of all the baby names I considered (Titus, Tosca, Theodora I know).

We called our first Ludovic. Partly because it is the only thing my husband and I have ever agreed on, and partly because my brother Leo, who ended up being in at the kill at the hospital, said Call him anything so long as its not Ludovic! when he heard our choices. The problem with names is not regretting them  its the knowledge that you make the bed your poor child has to lie in for ever.

The BBC led bulletins on the death of Gene Wilder, aged 83, after a battle with Alzheimers. To open the programme with the announcement that an antique actor has popped his clogs after a long illness grates. The Beeb manages to cheapen both news and death.

PING! An email from a PR. Will I pretty please tweet a picture of myself with a cuppa to mark the beginning of Helens trial in The Archers, which starts tomorrow, and in support of a campaign against domestic abuse?

Er, let me think no. As much as I applaud the campaign (#solidaritea) to launch a thousand sips, I dont think a picture of my mug plus mug will do anything except raise irritation levels on Twitter.

Don't stop the Red Strip chaos
Theresa May set off yesterday for the G20 summit in China accompanied by a plane-load of hacks. Aides said she had no intention of copying John Major, who frequently wandered down the aircraft aisle to cosy up to the scribes. Tony Blairs future spin doctor Alastair Campbell, then a humble journalist on the Daily Mirror, bluntly told him: Bugger off, Prime Minister. Im doing my expenses.

Theresa May (pictured with Philip Hammond at Heathrow) set off yesterday for the G20 summit in China accompanied by a plane-load of hacks

Dogs disclosure last week that Mrs May loathes her nose and loves Elizabeth I is not the only time she has been put on the spot in an interview. Invited to choose between a night out at the stuffy Carlton Club in Pall Mall or Stringfellows night club, she once said: My night out would be with my husband, wherever he chose to take me. Asked if she would wear tiger-skin pumps or furry slippers on a night in, she purred: Tiger-skin pumps. Grrrrr.

If bombastic Ed Balls wants to do well on Strictly Come Dancing, he will have to be more charming to the judges than he was at an infamous Labour conference lunch at Brightons Grand Hotel with media bigwigs, when his 30-minute uninterrupted Leftie rant over the hors doeuvre was only halted when a guest shouted: Ed, shut the **** up and eat your lobster!

A classy addition to Team Jezza...

How is Jeremy Corbyns drive against privilege going? Reporters wanting to question the Labour leader this weekend were put through to his duty press officer, former debutante Georgie Robertson, left, daughter of celebrity couple Kathy Lette (bestselling author) and Geoffrey Robertson (rich human rights lawyer). Champagne socialism in action...

Reporters wanting to question the Labour leader this weekend were put through to his duty press officer, former debutante Georgie Robertson (pictured)

Think Corbyns fruitcake followers cant get any nuttier? Think again. He is now being endorsed by the Posadists, who say the arrival of aliens on Earth would be a sign that a superior  communist  society exists on a faraway planet. The group, founded by late Argentinian Trotskyist Juan Posadas, also think we can communicate with dolphins. A veteran Labour MP says: Jeremy has more chance of talking to dolphins than Labour voters.

Enemies in the annex

After waving goodbye to his palatial digs at No 11 and the Treasury, George Osborne has been glumly unpacking in his newly downsized Commons office in the modernist Portcullis House annex. And who has just arrived in the spartan office directly opposite? An equally downcast Michael Gove, the man whose treacherous support for Brexit helped to bring an early end to Georges rule. Oh, the fickle finger of fate.
My last supper in London before I moved to the country took place in The Wolseley, on Piccadilly. Its a cavernous brasserie. Its fashionable, and therefore packed to the high rafters with extroverts.

I sat opposite my agent, the only person who had turned up, and told him the reasons I was leaving. I wanted peace and quiet. Id be fine driving 500 miles to and from work. The locals will love me, as Im an animal lover.

I could see his mouth moving but I couldnt hear a word, given the din from other diners, the clattering of cutlery on polished tables, the braying, the scraping on plates, and the fact that Im also profoundly deaf.

My last supper in London before I moved to the country took place in The Wolseley, on Piccadilly (pictured)

I couldnt lip-read, given it was so gloomy, and so had no idea he was imparting dire warnings. Only five years later, when my house had been shot at and my car pelted with eggs, did he say: Well, I did try to warn you.

I blame noise in restaurants for my downfall. If only Action On Hearing Loss, which yesterday revealed plans for a mobile phone app to enable diners to record dangerous decibel levels in order to name and shame restaurants, had acted sooner.

The campaigning charity found that a lack of sound-absorbing curtains, carpets, tablecloths and even cushions has made eateries louder. Id add to that list the fact that children are allowed to run around unfettered. Last Sunday, I was forced to sit outside an Italian with my three collies  no dogs were allowed inside the premises  while packs of feral children circled my table, screaming.

Unwanted noise, such as piped music, raises stress levels and blood pressure, but its also isolating, and makes the hard of hearing among us appear stupid.

I remember sitting at a table of 15 or so at a restaurant for a bosss leaving dinner. I was next to a young, ambitious male political writer and opposite a bitter Left-wing female columnist, the type who orders as much alcohol as possible to cheese off the newspaper proprietor picking up the tab. When I asked him what car he drove, he mumbled something, so I said: Is that an Aston Martin? No, its an Audi! Jesus. They soon, thank God, turned to their companions, abandoning me to stew in a soup of half-caught gossip.

And its not just other diners who become enraged  its the waiting staff, too.

Having brunch at the Ivy in Chelsea a few Sundays ago, the waitress read out the specials. It was so noisy  given that the doors were open, the other diners there were so successful that they were not inclined to whisper, and the young womans accent was so acute  that I was forced to make her repeat them four times.

Finally able to make out the word kedgeree, and telling her, None of thats any good to me, Im a vegetarian, she rolled her eyes, exasperated.

I wrote here a couple of months ago that Ive actually been barred from an establishment  a Michelin-starred gastropub stuffed with overdressed women and boastful men celebrating birthdays and anniversaries.

I could not hear a word uttered by the French waiter, who actually chased after me and my boyfriend as we left, telling my partner  the waiter had learned there was no point addressing me, as though we were suddenly in Tehran  that shes been ignoring me all evening.

She had, in fact, informed the maitre d and a waitress upon arrival that she is deaf.

At the Hospital Club (pictured) a few weeks ago, a small group of us  a PR, a star, an agent  had dinner, but given that we were reclined on sofas around low tables, the distance rendered me mute, uncomprehending

Perhaps when the maitre d imparted this warning to the waiter, whos obviously far too thin-skinned to work in the service industry, the Gallic ghoul misheard him, given the racket.

You might say, Well, why doesnt the cloth-eared bint stay home, but unfortunately a lot of my work takes place in the newest, hottest and therefore loudest eateries.

The trend for casual, clubby dining is Kryptonite for the hard of hearing. At the Hospital Club a few weeks ago, a small group of us  a PR, a star, an agent  had dinner, but given that we were reclined on sofas around low tables, the distance rendered me mute, uncomprehending.

I was once interviewed by a journalist from Stylist magazine for a cover story in a place so noisy we might as well have broken flatbread at a table on the second runway at Heathrow.
A kind-hearted stranger is helping a 13-year-old girl she has never met tick off her 'visual bucket list' before she goes blind.

Teenager Maiah McWaters, from South Australia, will completely lose her sight in the next few years and has a modest list of things to see before that time comes.

Although the two have never met, Kellie Warner is fundraising to help Maiah realise her dreams after stumbling across her mother on Facebook.

Amazed: Maiah McWaters, 13, was blown away to hear that Kellie Warner was helping to send her to the Gold Coast

Mandy McWaters recently posted a comment on Facebook about her daughter Maiah and her dream to see the Gold Coast before she went blind.

Kellie, from Queensland, was so touched when she stumbled across the comment, she could not help but get involved to give Maiah a hand.

Mandy says: 'We came across each other by chance. I commented on a Facebook post about how we would love to take Maiah to the Gold Coast but couldnt quite afford it.

'Kellie saw that and ended up getting in touch and setting up the fundraising page.'

Mandy says she and her daughter were overcome with emotion when they realised someone wanted to help them.

'I couldve cried. Its absolutely incredible what she has done.

'When I told Maiah she was so excited about it. She was so excited that we might be able to get there.

'I did have to explain that its not a certainty though  that there is a chance we might not make it. She understands that.'

'Absolutely incredible': Maiah's mum Mandy says she was overcome with emotion when Kellie Warner (pictured) got in touch with her

Maiah suffers from a degenerative visual disorder called rod-cone dystrophy.

She has been slowly losing her sight since the day she was born and doctors believe she will go completely blind within the next few years.

'In 2013 she was told she would go blind before she turns 30,' Mandy says.

'She was then diagnosed with epilepsy last year and that doesnt help either. Every time she has a seizure her vision gets worse.

'Weve been trying to save to take her away for a long time.

'But we have been in and out of hospital with the kids  two others have learning difficulties as well  and we have just never had the money.'

'So excited': Mandy says her daughter Maiah (pictured) dreamed of visiting the Gold Coast's theme parks before losing her sight

Kellie has now started a fundraising page to scrape together the $5,000 needed to send the family to visit the Gold Coast's theme parks.

She told Daily Mail that she was so touched by Maiah's story she just wanted to help.

'It just stuck with me,' Kellie said. 'An Australian girl with all that hanging over her, that she will go blind soon, should be able to fulfill such a simple dream to visit the theme parks.'

The other items on Maiah's visual bucket list are visiting Australia Zoo, swimming with dolphins and meeting Bindi Irwin.

Kellie says her own son's struggle with autism had inspired her to help out Mandy and Maiah.

'I just thought that it was important to try and help someone who was asking so little,' she wrote on the Go Fund Me page.

'A young girl wants to go to the Gold Coast. Surely that is something every Australian child should be able to do.'
Ms Writes has also set up a GiveaLittle page that has raised over $2,000

The family will walk around Wellington on 30 September with buckets

She said: 'He's such a gentle, special little boy' of little Eddie

The blogger's three year old was looked after by the hospital while a baby

Emily Writes's son chose to raise money for the hospital for his birthday

When Emily Writes told her three-year-old son, Eddie, that she and her partner would take the day off for his fourth birthday, and added that he could have whatever he wanted for a gift, she didn't expect such a conscientious response from a toddler.

'I want to get moneys [sic] again for the sick babies,' Eddie, from Wellington in New Zealand, told his mother.

He was speaking of the time the year before when he and his family collected money for the 'hosdiddle' that had looked after him when he was sick as a baby.

Wellington Children's hospital looked after little Eddie between the ages of zero and three; he has a respiratory problem and has had multiple amounts of surgery for it.

Special little boy: Eddie, from Wellington, New Zealand (pictured), wants to raise money for the children's hospital that helped him instead of getting a birthday present

At first, I thought Eddie wanted to do it again because he loved the hospital mascot, a lion, but then I remembered how much he loved the physical collecting with buckets

'I was totally surprised when he said that was what he wanted,' Ms Writes told Daily Mail Australia.

'We had done some collecting with buckets the year before but had hardly spoken of it since.

'At first, I thought Eddie wanted to do it again because he loved the hospital mascot, a lion, but then I remembered how much he loved the physical collecting with buckets, and later hearing that the money had gone to other sick children.

'He's such a gentle, special little boy. He's always been caring to everyone, nurses and family alike. He takes being a big brother very seriously.'

Constant presence: The hospital looked after the three-year-old boy (pictured) while he was a baby, and he really enjoyed collecting funds with buckets last year

And so, not wanting to let down Eddie's fourth birthday wish, Ms Writes decided to help her son raise money for Wellington Children's Hospital.

The pair set out with the intention of filling six buckets, and raising NZ $600 worth of money for the hospital.

It's such a great little lesson for Eddie, to teach him that people and children can make a difference and do good things

Ms Writes also set up a GiveaLittle page to raise additional funds for Eddie's present, and later penned a blog post on her popular blog, Emily Writes.

'I've been totally overwhelmed by how much we've raised so far,' Ms Writes told Daily Mail Australia.

'We're absolutely thrilled to have just tipped NZ $2,000 and had no idea we would raise so much.

'It's such a great little lesson for Eddie, to teach him that people and children can make a difference and do good things.

'He's delighted, and wants to meet everyone personally who has donated.'

Big brother: His family plan to go out with buckets around Wellington in September - Eddie wants to raise six-buckets-worth of money for the hospital

Wonderful cause: So far, the GiveaLittle page set up by his mother, Emily Writes, has raised over NS $2,000 - which Ms Writes says is totally 'overwhelming'

Meanwhile, Ms Writes, her partner and her son are preparing to head around Wellington with buckets at the end of the month in order to raise funds:

'On his birthday  30 September  well be heading around Wellington and Eddies little wish is to collect six whole buckets for the place that was so gentle with him and his very grateful parents,' she writes on her blog post 'A Little Wish'.

'Thanks for supporting my little one and showing him he can make a difference in the world, more importantly  thanks for supporting a wonderful cause.

'The Childrens Hospital staff are just wonderful, amazing people. And we love them.'
A 28-year-old Queensland woman embarked on a mission to lose weight so she could fulfil her lifelong dream of being a mum after being told by doctors that at 180kg she wouldn't be able to conceive.

Longing to build a family with her new husband, Ashleigh Williams, from Bundaberg in north Queensland, decided three years ago to shed the pounds she had steadily gained for over a decade after a concerning conversation with her gynaecologist.

'We knew we wanted to have a family as soon as we were married and I had been told by my doctors and a specialist that there wasn't any chance of me conceiving at that weight and would possibly need assistance with fertility medication but couldn't go on it until I had dropped by BMI [body mass index],' she told Daily Mail Australia.

'I really had no choice  it was time to do something about it.'

Ashleigh Williams (pictured), a 28-year-old from Bundaberg in north Queensland, embarked on a mission to lose weight in 2013 after doctors told her she wouldn't be able to conceive a child at 180kg

Eager to build a family with her new husband, Ken, 30, Ms Williams (pictured) said she 'had to do something about it' and underwent gastric surgery within a month after the concerning conversation with her gynaecologist

Within a month Ms Williams had undergone gastric surgery and began immediately losing weight  shedding 90kg within 18 months and conceiving her son naturally soon after.

'I've never looked back since,' she said.

Surgery was just a way to jump start the weight loss, Ms Williams said, but after losing 40kg in six months the numbers on the scale stopped dropping.

'I realised that the only way I was going to succeed in my goal was to hire a personal trainer and have them work with me to lose weight and eat healthy and train the right way,' she said.

The remaining 50kg disappeared over the following 12 months.

She immediately began losing weight thanks to the surgery and a diet and lifestyle overhaul  shedding 90kg within 18 months (pictured) and conceiving her son, Atticus, naturally soon after

'It made everything worth it. It has been a rough journey and changing your life like that has a toll on you mentally and physically,' Ms Williams said (pictured with her husband, Ken)

Sitting 10kg away from her 100kg goal, Ms Williams was surprised to learn all of her hard work had paid off.

'I took nine different pregnancy tests within an hour. I was shocked, we couldn't believe it  I couldn't speak, I was hysterical,' she said of finding out she was pregnant with her son, Atticus, who is now eight months old.

'We were told that even after [the weight loss] that I would still need to have IVF and we booked in to start on Tuesday and found out I had conceived naturally on the Saturday before.'

'It made everything worth it. It has been a rough journey and changing your life like that has a toll on you mentally and physically.'

Ms Williams (pictured) said she allowed her body to heal after giving birth but headed back to the gym two months ago

Not only did the weight loss help her begin her family, but it improved other health conditions  asthma and epilepsy, Ms Williams said

Ms Williams said she allowed her body to heal after giving birth but headed back to the gym two months ago.

'I used to do five days a week, two times a day, but not I don't have time so I train in the afternoons four days a week,' she said, as well as eating high protein meals in small portions and snacking on healthy items in between.

'The protein is crucial to your development, your hair, nails, and muscle strength. I eat a lot of lean meat  chicken, pork, fish,' she said.

The mum-of-one said she allows herself a 'cheat day' on occasion and still enjoys her vices, including Coke and a glass of wine, but consumes them in moderation.

The mum-of-one (pictured) said she allows herself a 'cheat day' on occasion and still enjoys her vices, including Coke and a glass of wine, but consumes them in moderation

Not only did the weight loss help her begin her family with her husband, Ken, 30, it improved other health conditions  asthma and epilepsy.

She also doesn't have to wear glasses any more as her eye sight has drastically improved.

'The surgery is just a tool to help you in your journey, but without committing to a healthy lifestyle change, you don't succeed,' she said.
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His outlandish installations, including pickled sharks and cows, and a flair for publicity as an artist have brought him vast fame and fortune, yet Damien Hirst has always managed to keep his private life away from the public gaze. Until now.

Because his selfie-loving young girlfriend has released a series of photographs of the artists occasionally bizarre lifestyle.

Pictures posted on Instagram and Twitter by glamorous Katie Keight, 26, offer a rare insight into Britains richest living artist  a man who has a 150 million property portfolio and an overall fortune estimated at 215 million.

Portrait of an artist: Damien Hirst pictured with his 26-year-old girlfriend Katie Keight; the couple have a home in Regent's Park which is worth 40million

Fine abode: Artist Damien Hirst's multi-million pound home in Regent's Park in the exclusive west London district

Glamorous: Pictures posted on Instagram and Twitter by Katie Keight, 26, offer a rare insight into Britains richest living artist  a man who has a 150 million property portfolio and an overall fortune estimated at 215 million

Thanks to Miss Keight, we can now see the romantic couple surrounded by Hirsts characteristically death-obsessed art  including skull-studded furniture  or simply relaxing together.

One shows them wearing coloured contact lenses as they prepare to go out for a Chinese meal, while another shows them sunbathing with the caption Sol mates.

They are also seen swimming in clear blue waters on luxury holidays in Morocco and Thailand, and posing for selfies with artists Jeff Koons and Jonathan Yeo.

Hirst, 51, who famously created a platinum skull encrusted with 8,601 diamonds which sold for 50 million, is mainly pictured dressed in black or pulling faces. There are also hundreds of posts of Keight alone  posing naked by a swimming pool or relaxing in an extravagant bubble bath.

Make mine a large bubbly: When your partner is worth more than 200million, you don't have to scrimp on bubble bath (left); death influences much of Hirst's art - this his 2007 diamond-encrusted platinum skull (right)

Bare: There are hundreds of posts of Keight alone  posing naked by a swimming pool or relaxing in a bubble bath

Themes: Katie stretches out on a bed with skulls behind her as she holds a book on the subject; whilst right she is seen with a handbag made in the shape of a 50 note

Why do all the hard work yourself...Hirst famously uses assistants to make his work - including artist friend Jonathan Yeo, pictured, as Katie's Instagram picture reveals

Before his relationship with Keight, Hirst dated swimwear model Roxie Nafousi, who is now said to have a collection of his paintings worth millions. He also has three sons  Connor, 21, Cassius, 16, and ten-year-old Cyrus  from a 20-year relationship with Californian designer Maia Norman.

The images provide a glimpse of some of the sumptuous homes that form Hirsts property empire. These include a 5 million villa on the Thai island of Phuket, and the 3 million, 300-room Toddington Manor in Gloucestershire.

Earlier this year, Hirst won a planning battle to install a swimming pool and yoga room  Keight often posts pictures of herself in yoga pose  in a mega-basement of his 40 million John Nash home overlooking Regents Park.

The artist was introduced to Keight by movie mogul Harvey Weinstein at a Foundation for Aids Research party. The millionaire lifestyle that she is afforded thanks to Hirsts success does not stop her from mocking him. She often teases Hirst about being old but dressing young. In one picture she writes For the love of god  also the name of his 50 million skull  in response to him wearing a beanie hat.
I am in pain. Yes, its physical. It throbs where the baby was so recently growing in my womb and I have cramping as my body readjusts to being an empty vessel again.

But that is not the real pain.

The real pain is a hollow, gaping ache, an inner wail that wont go away, the senseless grief that pokes me awake and reminds me that I have come to the end of a journey and now I must mourn, but I dont know how.

I cant find a comfy position to simply be. There is nowhere to go.

Breaking her silence: BBC presenter Tessa Dunlop reveals her anguish at losing a third unborn baby

The loss of my tiny baby son (he measured just 5 in long) is the latest milestone in what has been, until now, a private agony.

I was more than three months pregnant  the gynaecologist assured me it was the best baby hed seen that day.

I left the hospital as high as a kite. Then, a month later, I caught a horrible bug, almost certainly listeriosis, probably caused by something I ate.

What a hellish thought. It was this infection which killed the little boy growing inside me.

The procedure to remove him was gruelling. I lost nearly two pints of blood, and emergency surgery was necessary to remove my placenta.

I am not alone, of course  one in every hundred pregnancies ends in miscarriage after the 12-week scan.

On most labour wards there is a private room where a woman is screaming, but all she will take home is a photograph that people wont want to look at.

For some, their baby will be bigger than mine, and their grief no doubt greater.

Tessa pictured with her Coast co-star Neil Oliver. The 41-year-old is sharing her pain to 'serve as a reminder that we are all vulnerable'

After 20 weeks the medical term changes from late miscarriage to stillbirth. But every one of us is in pain.

I am 41 years old and this pregnancy was the product of IVF. I had previously suffered a miscarriage at 11 weeks and an ectopic pregnancy (when the embryo implants itself outside the womb and either dies or has to be removed).

I do think the sisterhood could be encouraged to open up

All of this was very painful, and so too the infertility that came before it. But until now my grief was private. It felt wrong to complain.

I have so much  a seven-year-old daughter, conceived naturally, exciting work, a marriage that has grown softer and stronger through my inability to have another child.

And there is my pride. Perhaps people would tut and mutter that Id waited too long to have a second child, or they might pity me, and I couldnt bear that.

I would have to regale them with a private back story: how, straight after the birth of my daughter, I lost my job, sued a big company, fell on antidepressants, my dear father died, and my marriage took a hit, so yes, I did delay childbirth.

'Pain can feel unmanageable, but it would be so much worse endured alone' (file photo)

All of this is difficult to admit and therefore best shoved out of sight, kneaded into a small corner to be dealt with in the middle of the night. So no, I did not share my experience. I was a coward.

Pain can feel unmanageable, but it would be so much worse endured alone.

In the past three years I have spooled through internet and newspaper articles and taken solace in other peoples stories.

I have leaned heavily, too, on a trio of friends who have also experienced loss  divorce, death, disappointment.

They have been there for me and met the boring minutiae of monthly failure, regret and injections with compassion and understanding.

Like the gynaecologist at Kings College Hospital in London who acknowledged my agony when he told me my baby was dead, they have embraced my pain, and in doing so, they have eased it.

One of my closest friends is a childless man. Danny has said consistently: Write down what you are feeling. It is a big deal. It will help other women. We all feel pain.

So here, belatedly, is my offering. I dont want this to become a hand-wringing exercise about educated women leaving childbirth until it is too late.

But I do think the sisterhood could be encouraged to open up.

All too often beyond the congratulations of a new life conceived, procreation and fertility are subjects infected with accusation and shame.

The result is an unhelpful silence. Why is so little known about those women who have been in the labour room but come home without a baby?

Didnt you know that pregnancy can end at any time? asked my friend with an arched brow, and in hushed tones shared two anecdotes from the school gate, before adding  but dont say I told you.

I hope that by sharing my pain itll serve as a reminder that we are all vulnerable

Heaven forbid we might admit defeat in the face of natures ruthless lottery.

And what of the one in five pregnancies which ends in early miscarriage? Where are those women?

The firmly engrained silence during the challenging first three months of pregnancy ensures that many women suffer their loss alone.

Only when pressed did one heavily pregnant 39-year-old I know admit that shed had seven miscarriages between her oldest child and the one she was carrying.

We need to drop the old-fashioned taboos surrounding fertility and admit that many of the babies born to older women in particular are accompanied by a painful back story.

Some only have a painful story. Fewer celebrity miracle births and more honesty about the pitfalls of middle age that are so cruelly exclusive to women would help everyone.

Societally, it might even force us to work out a way of better supporting girls during that precious decade  somewhere between 24 and 34 years of age  when both emotionally and biologically they are best equipped to give birth.

More broadly, I hope that by sharing my pain itll serve as a reminder that we are all vulnerable.

This autumn I will appear on BBC2 in a new series exploring Britains limitlessly fascinating landscape and history.

Ill look happy and successful. I was pregnant  I felt happy and successful. But now you know that behind the small screen scenes, Im also in pain.

And I am not alone.
Who Killed Piet Barol? Wiedenfeld & Nicolson, 14.99

Rating:

The eponymous Piet Barol of this curious novel is a conman and fraudster living in Cape Town, South Africa, in 1914. He is posing, with his wife Stacey as a willing accomplice, as a French aristocrat  a vicomte, no less  and the provincial swells of the colonial city have bought into the duplicity entirely.

But all is not well. Piets furniture business is near bankruptcy and he is having to let staff go.

Stacey comes up with a plan. An English millionaire, Percy Shabrill, is building a palatial mansion in Johannesburg  it will need furniture.

Masons omniscient voice extends to creatures (a leopard and spider) . We learn what they are thinking as they watch the hairless apes intrude into the inviolate fastness of the forest

Together Piet and Stacey convince the nouveau-riche Shabrills that the only furniture worth having is that made by Barol Ltd. The Shabrills agree  the Barol fortunes are restored.

Then the novel takes a huge swerve. Mason employs an omniscient voice  we can enter the heads of any of the characters in this novel and know what they are thinking.

Ntsina is a young, disenchanted mineworker; Luvo is a butler for the Shabrills. They are employed by Piet as he embarks on a journey to the Southern African interior looking for exclusive timber to make the furniture ordered by the Shabrills. The trio head for the enormous, distant Gwadana forest and the tone of the novel changes as Piet ventures far beyond the paths of the white man.

And far beyond the paths of the conventional novel, also. Who Killed Piet Barol? is, I suppose, a novel of so-called magic realism, that genre much favoured by Latin American writers in the Seventies and Eighties. Masons omniscient voice now extends to creatures (a leopard and a spider, for example). We learn what they are thinking as they watch the hairless apes intrude into the inviolate fastness of the forest.

The novel also becomes a folkloric African story as Ntsinas return to his tribe and homeland in Gwadana provokes a love story and a marriage, and the prophecies of a blind child detonate unfortunately on Piets timber-felling plans.

The problem for Piet is that the trees he most desires are called Ancestor Trees and cannot be touched for fear of offending the elemental spirits of the forest. So he develops an elaborate subterfuge to keep the Gwadana out of the forest while he starts the felling.

The furniture he makes recharges his fortunes. Stacey and their child join him in the forest. Piet, rejuvenated by the wilderness, becomes a different man and things begin to go awry.

And in the parallel African story, similarly. In a lubricious sub-plot, Ntsinas father takes on the marital duties of his son. Discord and discontent begin to dominate the lives of the Gwadana. And then Piets subterfuge is discovered. The Ancestor Trees have all been felled and cut up into planks. Piet owes a large sum of money to his subordinates Ntsina and Luvo. What seemed to be his salvation turns out to be his immolation.

The problem with Who Killed Piet Barol? is that it doesnt really seem to know what kind of novel it wants to be.

At first it seems to be about colonial life, pretension and avarice. The notorious Native Land Act of 1914  which denied indigenous South Africans the right to own land and, effectively, heralded the era of apartheid  appears the driving force of the narrative. But then we are diverted by the Gwadana forest story, and South Africas noxious politics recede and the magic realism takes over.

It takes over the prose as well. Mason writes with a kind of fey faux-archaism, with little natural contraction in dialogue (did not instead of didnt) and very free with cliches (he stormed off, for example) and anachronisms. In 1914, there were no wind-up radios, and nobody would say: We have to ramp up production.

This is one of the strangest novels Ive read in years, and despite its random veerings of tone and its meandering narrative it almost succeeds by a form of sheer sincerity. Piets journey of self-discovery, his egalitarianism, his friendship with Ntsina and Luvo, his rejection of the European civilised values he once espoused are, in a way, the stuff of fable and fairy story.
Nina Conti: In Your Face

The impro-ventriloquist pares down her act by employing audience members as her puppets. Its a stroke of genius as her punters don masks and morph into the show, with Conti manipulating them like some possessed puppet-master.

The impro-ventriloquist (above) pares down her act by employing audience members as her puppets, Sep 7 to Nov 30, ninaconti.net

Sep 7 to Nov 30, ninaconti.net

Al Murray: Lets Go Backwards Together

What can The Pub Landlord find to moan about now that were leaving the EU? Bar-room philosophy at its sharpest as the Guvnor mounts a one-man campaign to save the nation.

Sep 9 to Nov 26, thepublandlord.com

James Acastar: Reset

Acastar has notched up five Edinburgh Comedy Award nominations without landing the big one, but thats just an indication of this gawky intellectuals consistent hit rate when it comes to stand-up.

Sep 22 to Dec 5, jamesacaster.com

Henning Wehn: Westphalia is Not an Option

The self-styled German Comedy Ambassador picks at the bones of post-Brexit Britain armed with comedys most amusing accent. The exception to the rule that Germans arent funny.

Sep 14 to Dec 10, henningwehn.de

Shappi Khorsandi: 'Oh My County!' From Morris Dancing To Morrisey

Another post-Brexit lament as the Iranian-born comic celebrates her 40th year in Britain with a love letter to her adopted land. A balanced, upbeat, heartfelt take on immigration.

Another post-Brexit lament as the Iranian-born comic (above) celebrates her 40th year in Britain with a love letter to her adopted land, Sep 14 to Dec 17, shappi.co.uk

Sep 14 to Dec 17, shappi.co.uk

Pete Firman: TriX Firman

has perfected the comedy magicians craft: eschewing hammy lines and cheesy patter, the Middlesbrough sleight-of-hand stand-up combines rapid-fire gags and off-the-cuff put-downs with trickery par excellence.

Sep 21 to Nov 3, petefirman.co.uk

Mark Watson: Im Not Here

The prolific Watson steps out with more of his frenetic funny stuff, somehow managing to elicit profound emotion from the daftest material.

Watson steps out with more of his frenetic funny stuff, somehow managing to elicit profound emotion from the daftest material, Sep 23 to Nov 19, markwatsonthecomedian.com

Sep 23 to Nov 19, markwatsonthecomedian.com

Jason Byrne: Jason Byrne Is Propped Up

The freewheeling, manic Irishman improvises sublime nonsense at high speed, this year employing more outlandish props than ever. False chins, giant ducks and mops for legs
In a searingly emotional interview, Barry Gibb  the last surviving Bee Gee  opens up as never before about the pain of losing all three of his brothers... and how they haunt him to this day

Barry Gibb is telling me he has seen ghosts. Yes and its not fun because youre not quite sure what it was about. If it was real. Ive seen two brothers. Which brothers? I saw Robin and my wife saw Andy.

Maybe its a memory producing itself outside your conscious mind or maybe its real. He likes pondering the big questions. Yes. The biggest of all, is there life after death? Id like to know.

Barry still has the leonine quality he has been famous for throughout his career

Andy, the youngest Gibb brother, died in 1988 aged just 30 after years of drug abuse, Maurice died 13 years ago at the age of 53, and Robin died in 2012 at 62 after a protracted battle with cancer. And Barry, who has never spoken with such emotion about his loss, is clearly haunted by their deaths.

I meet the last surviving Bee Gee in his local Indian restaurant just around the corner from his rarely visited British family home in Beaconsfield (he has lived mainly in Florida for the past 20 years). The sole remaining brother, who turned 70 on Thursday, still looks leonine, with a full-ish mane of hair and thick beard.

He talks about the death of his brothers almost without prompting. After Rob died I just sat moping around thinking that was the end of it and I would just fade away. I thought I was quite happy about fading away, but then the President of Columbia Records, Rob Stringer, came to see me and signed me and said: Were gonna move your ass! And I thought: Oh well, thats OK. So Im back.

Robin, Maurice and Barry Gibb in 1989. Like all siblings, the brother often argued, but, as barry says, they were incredibly close

A few months ago there was his rapturous appearance at Glastonbury with Chris Martin and Coldplay. He performed Stayin Alive to a blissed-out ovation. Glastonbury came out of the blue. The whole experience is amazing. Chris is such a gentleman, and I met Gwyneth. He says he also met Noel Gallagher and that theyd arranged to have a curry together soon.

Hes written some of the greatest pop songs of all time  Stayin Alive, Jive Talking, Massachusetts, How Deep Is Your Love, To Love Somebody, Words, and sold more than 220 million records. In 2012, Billboard ranked the Bee Gees third for the most Hot 100 No 1 hits in history, with nine in total, behind the Supremes 12 and The Beatles 20. Yet Im not sure he believes in himself. Ive never had self-esteem. Every person that Ive met and admire has the same lack of self-esteem. Ive seen it with Michael Jackson, Ive seen it with Barbra Streisand.

He goes on to explain: Self-confidence and self-esteem are very different things. Ive always been trying, trying, trying and I think thats good. Thats the hunger that keeps you alive no matter what and theres been bad times where I didnt really want to.

After the death of his remaining brother he certainly had a slump. But Im amazed when he tells me what he turned to for solace in those dark days.

Barry at Robins funeral. Barry says: You are in a kind of tunnel. You have to come out the other side and I waited for that and I watched television. Downton Abbey  that got me through it, and Ray Donovan and Billionaire'

You are in a kind of tunnel. You have to come out the other side and I waited for that and I watched television. Downton Abbey  that got me through it, and Ray Donovan and Billionaire. I love them more than movies. I love the cliff-hangers. We get British television in America because I have Apple TV.

Its a surprising confession but Downton helped him recover. We loved it. My wife was sitting next to Maggie Smith recently at Wimbledon and told her.

He reveals that Paul McCartney also helped him through the grieving process.

He always got me through everything, he says of the man whos been a lifelong friend. I met him for the first time at the Saville Theatre in 1967. He brought Jane Asher to see a show and he said: You guys have got something, you should keep going, and I always found that very encouraging.

The Bee gees playing together in 1998. Andy, the youngest Gibb brother, died in 1988 aged just 30 after years of drug abuse, Maurice died 13 years ago at the age of 53, and Robin died in 2012 at 62 after a protracted battle with cancer. And Barry, who has never spoken with such emotion about his loss, is clearly haunted by their deaths

'The last time I saw him was at Saturday Night Live in 2013 when we were both playing. We had adjoining dressing rooms. We started talking about the time before we had any success. We talked about being naive. Not understanding what was happening. About being a great band and being happy and not competitive.

Competitive with The Beatles? No... about not being competitive with each other. Hes in a cloud of nostalgia now. Those days of not understanding the business and not knowing why everybody wanted to know when for a long time they didnt. That naivety.

How intense was the sibling rivalry in the Bee Gees? Well, I dont think its any different from any other brothers or sisters. A mix of competition and closeness? Yes. All of those things, and you have enormous arguments. Then you become incredibly close and you have really angry moments with each other. Nothing different from any other family except our obsession with music. Thats how it was.

There was always competition within the group. We werent competitive with The Beatles. We were just another pop group, but they changed the world.

McCartney gave him fascinating singing tips, as well as style inspiration. McCartney hasnt changed his keys down. Hes still singing in the keys he always did and Im still doing that. A lot of artists have lowered their keys. Hes always been inspiring to me. What he said was, Always look down [when youre singing] on your highest note, and I said yes, OK.

The Beatle was also responsible for his famous Bee Gee beard. I grew it in 1968 because McCartney grew a beard for The Long And Winding Road. Hes always been that big of an influence on me. Even when The Beatles broke up! I thought, Thats it, we should break up.

Did he feel as the oldest Bee Gee he was always the leader? Yes, yes, because the oldest brother is always put in that position. Watch over Maurice and Robin, watch over Andy. And often they didnt want to be watched over. Maurice and Robin were twins so they were always secretly chatting. I was the one that had to make sure we got paid.

I had to look out for business. I enjoyed it. It was important that we were not cheated and I think that was pretty common. You hear all these horror stories about the manager making a fortune. Robert Stigwood was kind to us. We were all given about 100 per week and in 1967 you could live well on that money  and that was before we had any real success.

The Bee Gees in their late Sixties and Seventies heyday were known as Medallion Men. Today Barry is wearing beaded bracelets under his black shirt and a discreet silver neck chain with a mystic symbol on it (Ive outgrown all that gold and diamonds and chains that I used to wear, but I do love jewellery.)

They were never style icons. Kenny Everett used to do a fabulous take-off of the Brothers Gibb. They were mocked at the time when the cool kids were into Bowie and Roxy, but over time Bee Gees songs have been reassessed, with How Deep Is Your Love lauded as a pop song as flawless as Queens Bohemian Rhapsody. By the time they created the soundtrack to Saturday Night Fever in 1977, their falsetto came into its own.

The Bee Gees (with brother Andy, right) in 1975. They were unbelievably productive. Some of the most famous songs, such as How Deep Is Your Love and Jive Talkin were written in less than a day

They were unbelievably productive. Some of the most famous songs, such as How Deep Is Your Love and Jive Talkin were written in less than a day. Yes, there was a half-day when we wrote Too Much Heaven, Tragedy and Shadow Dancing and a couple of other songs in one afternoon. I think we were high. Amphetamines, nothing heavy. We never took heavy drugs like heroin or cocaine. There were no songs written on that, he says adamantly.

Does he have any vices now? I never drink alcohol except sake, which I love. You dont get a hangover. You never feel bad. He tells me that the last time he got drunk was as a teenager. I got so drunk mixing different drinks at a convention, I woke up in the bridal suite. I was so violently ill they put me in the room and left me but when I woke up I did wonder if there was a bride. Fortunately there wasnt.

He starts to talk about his new album In The Now but hes drawn irresistibly back to his brothers. Its about the denial of the past and the future. Yet its about the moment and how to seize it. Its about the loss of the people closest to you so its live in the moment, grab every moment because you see what happens. The eyes tangibly sadden. Mo was gone in two days. He died from complications from a twisted intestine in hospital in Florida. Maybe thats better than long and tortured? Which is what Robin went through. Andy went at the age of 30. All different forms of passing and for our mum devastating. Shes 95. She had a mild stroke two weeks back.

He seems overcome with sadness. Theres been so much passing in my family that at one point I said Id prefer to go in my sleep or on stage but I never said [that] while singing Stayin Alive [as was reported a few years ago]. Perhaps that was made up because its a funny line.

There are 12 songs on the new album and three bonus tracks. Daddys Little Girl is one of them and thats written for my daughter Ali. Shes 24 and still lives with us. Ive never met a lady with a stronger opinion. Star Crossed Lovers is written for [his wife] Linda. They met at a taping of Top Of The Pops in London when she was the reigning Miss Edinburgh.

After the death of his remaining brother Barry certainly had a slump. Its a surprising confession but Downton Abbey helped him recover

When we first met our manager didnt want me to have a girlfriend so she always had to stay at home. I always had to seem available. Everyone was against it but that made her stronger and were still together 49 years later.

After the high of Glastonbury, is he up for another tilt at the summit, this time without his brothers? Ill happily hit the road if this album means something. Its an enormous effort to go on tour without that momentum and I want that momentum. Is it harder to go out on stage when hes been used to his brothers standing beside him? Its not hard if your eldest son is standing next to you. Hes not a Bee Gee. He wouldnt like that. Hes Steven. Hes covered in tattoos. Hes a metalhead with a heart of gold. He plays on the album. Hes part of the band, in fact its the best bunch of musicians Ive ever had. I want to be on tour so I need to create a reason for people to come and see me. I need to feel that full-cycle feeling, you know? That I can come back.

Many people think he never actually went away. While there was no conscious decision to stop, there was no decision to write a new album while Robin was alive either. His illness took a toll on any creative output. The feeling is I am reintroducing myself as an individual. When he did Guilty with Streisand, a huge hit in 1980, he was an individual, not a Bee Gee. But I was never allowed to go on about it. We won best duet at the Grammys and my brothers never mentioned it. Its that kind of brothers and sisters thing. If I would ever say we won this many Grammys they would always go one less saying No, no, it was this many.

Is there a vault of unreleased Bee Gees songs? No. Robin always emptied it out. I would always say, Thats not good enough to go on the album, Robin and he would say, Yes, but its another song. Lets put it on. In the eyes of the record company the more songs you give them the better deal it is for them, but I dont feel it was necessary.

Does he see the Bee Gees influence in any of the current music-makers? I always felt that I used to hear it with Prince and Michael Jackson. The multi harmonies, the grooves. A lot of people have told me that I made a difference to them, and Id like to keep doing it for as long as I possibly can.

This year theres been a pop icon death overload. Bowie, Prince. How did this affect him? Prince! he says adoringly. Ive always loved Prince. I didnt quite understand a lot of David Bowie because he was such an artist. I admire it but I was more involved with people like Prince. The R n B influence, the falsetto is more me. We worked in his building where he lived in Minneapolis. We did a performance for the music industry of Minneapolis at one point. He was there but hiding behind a speaker so we never met. Hiding behind a speaker? I know. You cant be that shy, right? But there you are.

Does he have a bucket list of things he wants to do before he dies? No, I have a f*** it list. I have a list of things that I know Ill never do. Ill never walk through the Grand Canyon, not with my ankles. Ill never get to the top of the Eiffel Tower. I hate heights. I just think in terms that Im going to be quite happy with whatever comes around the corner.

Ive grown up in three different cultures. Ive seen the Pyramids and Im a real fanatic on the ancient worlds. There is no evidence of how that civilisation developed. Those people might already have been there before. Im fascinated by civilisations that were around 20,000, 30,000 years ago that could be as advanced as we are now in different ways.

Does he feel hes been here before? Perhaps. Ive had a few incarnations. I try not to question it. Theres been so much loss in my family, for me its a standing mystery. Does he believe he will see them again? I dont want to question it. Dont want to go there.

Barry with his good friend Sir Paul McCartney

Part of him is very modern. His shirt and bracelets, his attitude. And part is very old school. I dont do Instagram or emails but I do text. I have a Twitter account that goes through Ashley, my second-eldest son. I try not to think about that stuff too much.

In the olden days he always used to see himself as a lion with his virile mane. In a 1979 authorised, illustrated biography of the brothers called The Greatest, there were caricatures of him as a lion, Robin as a red setter and Maurice as a badger.

I assumed he would have been a Leo and he says, Im actually a Virgo. Im ambidextrous, left-footed, play the guitar right-handed and I think Im a little too old for a lion but Ive still got a bit of a mane going on. Pause. Although I have always associated myself with a lion, he says rather proudly. In South Africa I bought a walking cane with a silver lions head on it so if theres ever a time when I cant walk Ill be able to be helped by the lion and itll still be a lion walking.

Although hes known pretty well at his local Indian, he says restaurants are rare for him. Im such a home body. I dont rise early and I dont get going till about noon. Im still useless to everybody till 2pm and then I get sharp and I start to look forward to whats on TV that evening. I read three books at a time. I love ancient history. At the moment Im reading a book about the French Revolution, another about the conscious mind and Im obsessed with Egyptology. Im into the unknown, the supernatural. All that world. I like things that cant be explained  like ghosts.

In the meantime his album ponders all kinds of shadows, yet hes not a sad man. He laughs a lot and jokes with me. And I love a good curry, he says.
'We were all called into a school gymnasium. There were well over a hundred kids, some of them talking in accents I couldnt begin to understand. And we were there to do something remarkable. We were about to put on a Shakespeare play in the West End of London and it was going to be great. My acting life was about to begin. It was indescribably exciting.

Rosamund Pike: The face in the photo is someone who has just landed the role of Juliet and is thinking, How on earth am I going to do this?

The National Youth Theatre was a life-changer for Timothy Dalton. He was welcomed into its ranks in the mid-Sixties  a decade after it was first established in 1956.

Every year since then, thousands of young actors have walked through its door. The NYT receives over 4,500 applicants each year for 700 places.

Many  including David Suchet, Matt Smith, Daniel Day- Lewis and Colin Firth  are now the biggest stars in British acting.

Paul Roseby was once one of those young hopefuls, joining in 1984, at 17, and spending four years as an actor. He is now the artistic director and CEO.

Here, he looks back at the NYT days of some of those stars, while Daisy Lewis, Timothy Dalton and Rosamund Pike remember their own student days.

The NYTs 60th gala is on Sep 18 at the Shaftesbury Theatre, nyt.org.uk

Do tell em, Pike!

Rosamund Pike Me with Paul Ready in Romeo And Juliet in 1997. Id been with the NYT for a few months but had given up any hope of being a member of the company in that first year. I was doing temp work in Victoria and got a call to say the girl cast as Juliet had dropped out and the director wanted me.

'I remember that as clearly as the moment I was offered Die Another Day or Gone Girl. The face in the photo is someone who has just landed the role of Juliet and is thinking, How on earth am I going to do this? Im at the stage in my career where Im discovering what works and what doesnt. Im learning to find my own clown, find the dancer in me, find the fighter in me. Everything came out during those years and NYT was a really safe place to kind of be stupid, to fail, to succeed.

Rosamund Pike with ben Affleck in Gone Girl

Im ready, Mr Spielberg

Paul Roseby on Chiwetel Ejiofor This is Chiwetel as Othello in 1995, with John Grout. So impressive was his audition that he was fast-tracked into the lead role. He reprised the role a year later in Glasgow.

'He had intended to study for three years at Lamda, having been offered a place, but Steven Spielbergs casting director saw him in Othello and he landed a role in Amistad at 19. He left drama school but later returned as Othello, giving an Olivier Award-winning performance, directed by fellow NYT alumnus Michael Grandage.

Paul Roseby on Chiwetel Ejiofor This is Chiwetel as Othello in 1995, with John Grout

Chiwetel Ejiofor in Twelve Years A Slave

A brief history of Tim

Timothy Dalton I played Diomedes with Andrew Murray as Troilus in the NYTs 1965 Troilus And Cressida at the Old Vic. Id joined that year. I saw a note on the school notice board, saying the NYT was holding auditions at a school in Manchester. I lived in Derbyshire but I had to go.

'I got on a train and found it but I was late. Then I saw a piece of paper on a door which said, NYT Auditions. I opened the door and saw in the far corner a man at a table eating a big pork pie.

'This was [NYT founder] Michael Croft. After confirming this was the right place he invited me to share his pie. Very solemnly he said, This is the best pork pie in the entire British Isles. Ill never forget those words. After helping him finish the pie I performed my piece from Shakespeare. I was rubbish but he said, Are you going to join us in the summer then? I was in.

Timothy Dalton in Penny Dreadful in 2014.

Timothy Dalton: I played Diomedes with Andrew Murray as Troilus in the NYTs 1965 Troilus And Cressida at the Old Vic'

Mr Bond, I presume?

Paul Roseby on Daniel Craig Daniel and I performed in the 1990 production of Blood Wedding. We treated it all as a bit of a laugh. There was a fair bit of drinking going on in those days. If youd told me at the time that Daniel would have gone on to play James Bond Id have believed you. He had huge presence and those mesmerising blue eyes.

'He was physically imposing too and had a resonating voice. He was always a strong character but, if anything, he has become more comfortable in himself since then.

Daniel Craig (left) in the NYTs 1989 production of Marat/Sade

Paul Roseby on Daniel Craig: 'If youd told me at the time that Daniel would have gone on to play James Bond Id have believed you'

Fresh (faced) as a Daisy

Daisy Lewis These days Ill be at some awards ceremony [she played Sarah Bunting in Downton Abbey], look around and realise Im surrounded by people who came through the ranks. I regard being accepted as my greatest achievement.

'We were there on merit and had a common purpose, which was to make great theatre. We werent paid. We were doing it for the sheer love of it. We fell in love. We argued. We cried. We laughed. And we grew up. The NYT taught me everything. It didnt cost a penny apart from accommodation and I owe them my career. It was the making of me.'

Daisy Lewis in the 2006 production of Blue Moon Over Poplar

Daisy Lewis: 'The NYT taught me everything. It didnt cost a penny apart from accommodation and I owe them my career. It was the making of me'

A star is born

Paul Roseby on Helen Mirren This is Helen in our 1965 A Midsummer Nights Dream. The production also starred Diana Quick. The next year Mirren played Cleopatra in the NYTs Antony And Cleopatra at the Old Vic, was signed by an agent  and the rest is history.

Paul Roseby on Helen Mirren: This is Helen in our 1965 A Midsummer Nights Dream. The production also starred Diana Quick'

Helen Mirren in The Queen

David meets his match

Paul Roseby on David Walliams David is pictured here as Trinculo in our 1991 production of The Tempest.

'The production was responsible for the meeting of Walliams and his Little Britain and Come Fly With Me co-star Matt Lucas. Matt was assigned the role of Koken, which in Japanese theatre is the name for someone dressed from head to toe in black who moves the scenery around.

'David quickly spotted Matts talents regardless and they struck up a friendship based on a shared love of comedy and performance. Newsreader Angela Rippon was less appreciative. She attended a matinee one afternoon, sat in the front row and had a snooze.

Paul Roseby on David Walliams: David is pictured here as Trinculo in our 1991 production of The Tempest'
Victoria

Sunday, ITV

Rating:

Are You Being Served?

Sunday, BBC1

Rating:

And so to Victoria, who was not always attired in black with the jowls of a Timothy Spall, as the young queen was a total hottie (Jenna Coleman) with dinner-plate eyes who appeared to have just emerged from the brow bar at Harvey Nichols (who knew?; also, at what age did she first look in the mirror and say, Goodness, I believe I am developing the jowls of Timothy Spall. Lord Melbourne, help!). But if you can buy Queen Victoria as a total hottie, and can buy her flirtation with Lord Melbourne, who is also a total hottie (Rufus Sewell), and can withstand all the total hotness that must have abounded in 1837, then Victoria is nicely watchable.

Jenna Coleman in Victoria. the young queen Is a total hottie with dinner-plate eyes who appeared to have just emerged from the brow bar at Harvey Nichols

Written and produced by Daisy Goodwin, this is very much Sunday-evening fare in the style of our old friend Julian Fellowes.

You could even say it was Downton Does Victoria, with its intrigues below stairs as well as upstairs.

The candles. The rats. The seamstresss secret life. And also, all those Mrs Patmore-style misgivings about the future, as in: The gas lamps are coming, the gas lamps are coming. Somebody, stop the gas lamps from coming!

Victoria, here, even sounded like Lady Mary, and I half expected a Turk to be found dead in her bed and why not, as so much of history has been played with anyway.

That Lady Flora business, for example, did not happen at the time of Victorias coronation but some years afterwards.

There is no evidence she was ever in love with Melbourne, her Prime Minister, although you can see why she was attracted here.

Indeed, the most compelling aspect in this whole production was his astonishing trousers, which gave him the male equivalent of camel toe.

Having put in some research  I am a journalist, dont try it yourselves at home  I now know this is called moose knuckle and he did seem to have sufficient moose knuckle to turn not just a young girls head, but also an older womans head.

(My head was substantially turned; my eyes were also like dinner plates.)

Playing with the facts is fine. Dramatists do it all the time. But it is only fine if the audience feels an emotional or psychological truth is being explored  see Mrs Brown, which managed that beautifully.

Its enjoyably soapy, in its spirited, Downton way, and I was fascinated to learn of Victorias bizarrely cosseted childhood  she always had to sleep next to her mother, and did you know she was never allowed to walk up or downstairs if unaccompanied by an adult?  but what were we meant to hold on to?

The look of it is rather flimsy. The frocks are glorious, admittedly, but all the jewellery could have come from Poundland  that coronation crown!  while the CGI was appalling.

Honestly, Ive seen more convincing backdrops at no-mark theatres in the sticks.

Upstairs was fat with political intrigue, with Victorias uncle (Peter Firth) and her mothers adviser (Paul Rhys) plotting against her; they were entertainingly wicked and would definitely have been twirling their moustaches, had they moustaches.

While Ms Coleman was excellent  flinty yet flirty; childlike yet womanly  one certainly prays the arrival of Prince Albert will pep things up in future episodes.

But, for now, it is a perfectly respectable Sunday-evening romp with the key words being for now.

Tonight it will have to compete against the return of Poldark. The gas lamps may well be coming but what about the pilchards? This is what we most wish to know.

Revisiting a classic is not always a misbegotten exercise  hello, Poldark  but the BBCs decision to revive classic sitcoms with fresh casts for its landmark sitcom series is bewildering.

If you wish to celebrate the British sitcom, why not put the money into commissioning original pilots? Why remake Porridge and Keeping Up Appearances and Are You Being Served? (but not Mind Your Language, thankfully, or It Aint Half Hot Mum) as part of some tenuous landmark event? What is the point? For those who remember these shows, they remember them, and for those who arent old enough, they must simply be perplexed.

Are You Being Served?, with its dolly bird and limp-wristed gay man and sexually frustrated older woman always going on about her pussy, was very much of its time, but if you wish to marvel at what passed for comedy then, the show already exists.

Its a bit like I dont know re-serving grilled grapefruit or real orange juice reconstituted from a can.
Having celebrated his 80th birthday and the release of his 47th film, youd have thought even a famous neurotic like Woody Allen might have time to relax.

No, he says firmly. Im sorry, but I dont have less anxiety the older I get, I have more. Thats why I work all the time, to distract myself. Its a lot less distressing than thinking, Oh God, Im 80, and half my life is over 

Allen is talking, obliquely and with that trademark wry humour, about his latest film, Cafe Society, which stars Jesse Eisenberg as young, nervous Bobby who, disillusioned by Thirties Hollywood and an unrequited love for a studio secretary, played by Kristen Stewart, returns to New York to make it big among the nightclubs of Manhattan.

Allen realises much of his success is down to those early, funny films, the still much-cherished comedies in which he appeared with Diane Keaton, such as Play It Again, Sam

The sumptuous period film opened the sunlit Cannes Film Festival earlier this year but was clouded by controversy as the personal life of Allens past again caught up with him.

On the day of the world premiere, Ronan Farrow, Allens estranged son from his 12-year relationship with actress Mia Farrow, published a column berating the film world for continuing to fete the film-maker, whom he once again accused of sexually abusing his sister Dylan  Allens adopted daughter  when she was seven years old, in 1992.

The director himself has always denied the accusation and has never allowed the rumours and outcry to derail his pattern of making a new film every year.

Allen's latest film Cafe Society stars Jesse Eisenberg as nervous Bobby who, disillusioned by Thirties Hollywood and an unrequited love for a studio secretary, played by Kristen Stewart

His escape from the drama is to constantly immerse himself in the universes of his movies (in Cafe Society, Eisenbergs Bobby is surely his proxy, the part Woody would once have played), often recreating the romantic Hollywood films with which he used to occupy his days as a youth in Brooklyn.

I have always thought of myself as romantic, although this is not a view necessarily shared by the women in my life, he suggests. And no, Im not a Clark Gable or a Cary Grant, but what I mean by it is that I romanticise New York City, I romanticise the past or old relationships. But what can I do? Hollywood movies had this indelible influence on me so I make movies in this very romantic way.

And Ill continue to do so as long as I can, he promises. Until one day, the alarm will go off and my wife [Soon-Yi] will nudge me and say Get up, its eight oclock and I wont move. And that will be it.

Cafe Society will be followed at the end of this month by the release of his first foray into streaming, a six-part comedy called Crisis In Six Scenes that he made for Amazon

But for the moment, its business as usual. Cafe Society will be followed at the end of this month by the release of his first foray into streaming, a six-part comedy called Crisis In Six Scenes that he made for Amazon, starring, among others, pop starlet Miley Cyrus. He has already begun filming his latest movie, starring Kate Winslet and Justin Timberlake and rumoured to be set in the Fifties, partly around the amusement parks on Coney Island, where Allen spent much of his childhood.

If I drop dead this second, I can be OK with myself  all my dreams came true, professionally. I wanted to be in movies, and I was; I wanted to be a comedian, and I did that: I played jazz in New Orleans; I dined at the White House; Ive done radio, TV, books and magazines. It took a bit of deception and scheming, occasional lying and some tap dancing, but it was largely luck.

His escape is to constantly immerse himself in the universes of his movies (in Cafe Society, Jesse Eisenbergs Bobby is surely his proxy, the part Woody would once have played)

He realises much of his success is down to those early, funny films, the still much-cherished comedies in which he appeared with Diane Keaton, such as Play It Again, Sam, Sleeper, and the great Annie Hall, recently voted the funniest screenplay of all time.

When I started in movies, the studios felt the comic people were a breed apart, that they had some kind of secret knowledge. If you did dramas, they felt they could interfere and give notes, but if you were comics like me or Mel Brooks, the studios didnt feel qualified to meddle, and they said Oh, those guys are geniuses and they left us alone.

As soon as I grasped that, I took advantage for as long as I could and have done ever since, really. Luckily, my movies had some financial success, or they dont lose money at least, and theyve continued to leave me alone.

Who knows? he concludes, giving one of his famous shrugs. Maybe they havent noticed but, you know, Im still here.
The leaked CD shows sacked AAP minister Sandeep Kumar getting intimate with the woman

Sacked Delhi minister Sandeep Kumar allegedly raped her after slipping sedatives into her drink and there was nothing consensual about the activities recorded in a sex tape that he features in.

The truth behind the sex tapes was revealed by the woman seen in the CD, to the police on Saturday.

Authorities arrested Kumar while AAP suspended him from the party days after Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal removed the scandal-hit lawmaker from the Cabinet.

The development comes amid a raging controversy over the disk which has a video and photographs purportedly showing the Sultanpur Majra MLA in a compromising position with two women.

AAP has suspended the primary membership of Sandeep Kumar

I used to live in G-block and wanted a ration card for myself, said the woman, who approached the police and was taken for a medical test.

I met Kumar and requested him for help me in getting a ration card made. I went to his residence to get a ration card issued. He offered me a soft drink which was spiked with sedatives. I fell unconscious after which he sexually exploited me.

Chief Minister Kejriwal tweeted that Kumar should be given exemplary punishment if the charges are proven.

According to the complainant, the tape was made after Kumar became a minister.

If womans allegations are correct, this is v (very) serious. Strongest exemplary punishment shud be given to Sandeep (sic), tweeted the AAP convener, who is in Vatican City for Mother Teresas canonisation on September 4.

According to the complainant, the tape was made after Kumar became a minister.

He was heading the citys woman and child development, social welfare and SC/ST departments.

Sandeep Kumar was on his way to the DCP office (to surrender) when we arrested him. He has been arrested on the basis of evidence collected. He will now be produced in the court, said Vikramjeet Singh, DCP of outer Delhi.

The woman said the incident took place a year ago and she did not know a video was being recorded.

During the meeting Sandeep Kumar promised me a job, she said in the complaint.

I wasnt aware of the video recording. I want action against him. I am a poor woman and because of him my image has been sullied. I want my identity not to be disclosed as I have little children.

The victim said after the incident she was scared to discuss it with anyone or confront Kumar, fearing that he would rape her again.

Commenting on Kumars actions, Kejriwal had said that Sandeeps romp turns out to be rape AAP has suspended the primary membership of Sandeep Kumar.

Woman says CD made after Kumar became minister, AAP suspends him his former Cabinet colleague had betrayed the party and the people of Delhi, while terming him a "rotten fish".

The MLA, however, has denied the allegations, claiming the tape was fabricated and he was being targeted for being a Dalit.

I come from a poor family. The poor are always trapped. Every time we rise, there are conspiracies to crush us. I am being targeted because I have set up a statue of Babasaheb Ambedkar in my house. I am ready for every agni-pariksha (trial by fire), the 34-year-old MLA told the media.

The woman's statement was recorded before a magistrate under Section 164 of CrPC.

Kumar was booked on charges of rape, transmission of material containing sexually explicit act and taking illegal gratification.

The Delhi Polices crime branch has initiated an investigation to determine the authenticity of the CD.

Before the woman approached authorities, the party appeared divided on action against him.

AAP leader Ashutosh had said in a blog that the legislators consensual act was not wrong and his sacking from the cabinet was aimed at perception management.

He also wrote that the row over the video exposes the hypocrisy of the society and hollowness of the media and wondered why the seemingly obvious consensual act should create ripples in the media and politics.

Reacting to this, Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia said: Ashutoshs opinion could be his own, but the whole party is very clear on it.

Kejriwal had said that he would prefer to forfeit his party, but never tolerate corruption and wrongful activities, as AAP does not believe in hiding flaws of its members.

BJP demands apology from Kejriwal and Ashutosh

By Mail Today Bureau

Coming down heavily on sacked AAP minister Sandeep Kumar who is caught in a sex CD row, the Bharatiya Janata Party on Saturday demanded his immediate arrest.

The BJP demanded Kumars arrest citing that he could influence the victim and affect the police investigation.

The Leader of Opposition, Vijender Gupta, also attacked Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal and AAP leader Ashutosh for denigrating women publicly in his blog by defending the sacked minister.

Women protest outside the AAP headquarters over the sex scandal

The BJP leader demanded an apology from the two. Without knowing the womans side of the story, he has gone on to declare Sandeep Kumar as innocent and a victim of politics."

"If CM Arvind Kejriwal is left with even an iota of shame and integrity, then he should suspend his party leader Ashutosh and file a police complaint against him, Gupta said.

Citing the example of Soni Mishra suicide case, Gupta said that the recent cases of sexual harassment of women by members of AAP has established it as a party of sex scandals, wherein the highest leadership is directly involved.

BJP also said Aam Aadmi Party leader Ashutoshs controversial blog represented the views of party chief Arvind Kejriwal as it questioned his silence amid a row over the comparison of Mahatma Gandhi and Jawaharlal Nehru with its tainted leader Sandeep Kumar.

Ashutosh in a blog had said the legislators consensual act was not wrong and his sacking was aimed at perception management.

In the blog, he had also said the row over Kumars objectionable video exposes the hypocrisy of the society and hollowness of the media and wondered why the obvious consensual act should create ripples in the media and politics.

The blogs content was shameful and inexcusable and Kejriwal must apologise to the people, Goel said, adding that Ashutosh should also make an apology over his claim that virginity among unmarried boys and girls is nowadays seen as a sign of being unwanted and undesired.

This is a case of playback singing. The face of one person and the voice of another, BJP spokesperson Sambit Patra said alleging that Kejriwal was the main person behind the blog.

The Delhi Chief Minister is presently in Rome to attend the canonization ceremony to bestow Mother Teresa with sainthood.

The BJP leader said he must speak when a saint like Gandhi is being attacked.
Kolkata should be mourning today. The woman who burnt the stamp of hell into its flesh is being made a saint. And some of us are in the throes of gratitude and ecstasy for that favour.

Albanian-born Agnes Gonxha Bojahiu worked as a nun in the city for about seven decades, become its Mother Teresa.

In the process, she also became the conscience-keeper of the West and the flag-bearer of the Catholic church in the land of the poorest and the unwashed.

On Sunday, the Roman Catholic Church will officially recognise Mother Teresa as a saint, but there are many who question her legacy

She received grants and awards and mingled with the worlds mightiest politicians, figureheads, industrialists and even brutal dictators.

And when thousands were gassed to death in the worlds biggest corporate massacre, the 1984 Bhopal gas tragedy, she hissed in fierce determination: Forgive. Forgive. Forgive.

The then Union Carbide boss, Warren Anderson, the main accused whom the Indian government helped escape justice till the end, must have flashed an imaginary thumbs-up at her, grinning.

But beyond all this, Kolkata has a much bigger reason to cringe in shame.

Sainthood requires at least two miracles to be established and accepted by the Pope.

The first one apparently happened a year after Teresas death.

Monica Besra, a tribal woman suffering from stomach tumour went to the Missionaries of Charity, where two nuns tied an oval medallion bearing Teresas picture to her tummy.

A man takes a photograph of a religious icon of Mother Teresa ahead of her canonisation ceremony, in Kolkata

She eventually got cured, and Mother Teresa got beatified in 2003 because of this supposed miracle.

Some of the doctors who treated her were aghast. This miracle claim is absolute nonsense and should be condemned by everyone, Dr Ranjan Kumar Mustafi, of Balurghat Hospital in West Bengal, was quoted saying in newspapers.

She had a medium-sized tumour in her lower abdomen caused by tuberculosis. The drugs she was given eventually reduced the cystic mass and it disappeared after a year's treatment.

The second miracle reportedly happened in 2008 when Brazilian Marcilio Andrino, who the Church says unexpectedly recovered from a severe brain infection minutes before a surgery after his family prayed to Mother Teresa.

The Vatican decided this was the clincher, and Teresa must be granted sainthood. The other phenomena linked to sainthood are no less fantastic.

In Liquefaction, for instance, a long-dead saints blood miraculously liquefies on the Feast day.

A vial of Naples patron saint St Januarius, dead more than 1,900 years ago, liquefies every year on September 19, according to the Church.

Or take for instance the Odour of Sanctity, which supposedly makes the body of a dead saint smell of roses months after his or her death.

There couldnt have been greater irony for Kolkata.

This is the city where Ronald Ross did his pioneering malaria research, Jagadish Chandra Bose made pioneering discoveries on radio signals and plant physiology, and Satyendranath Bose gave the world Boson, the god particle.

In 1981, Mother Teresa flew to Haiti receive the Legion dHonneur from dictator Jean- Claude Duvalier or Baby Doc, a man who robbed millions from the impoverished nation and topped it up with human rights abuses.

Back in Kolkata, 1981, a 50-year-old doctor hanged himself out of humiliation and frustration.

A panel of government bureaucrats had termed his lifetimes research bogus and he was transferred from the city.

About 27 years later, he was credited with creating the worlds and Indias first test tube baby Kanupriya Agarwal or Durga.

Mukhopadhyays life later inspired the movie, Ek Doctor Ki Maut.

Mother Teresas emphasis on the poorest of the poor and the lowest of the low has served to reinforce for the impression of Calcutta as a city of dreadful night, Christopher Hitches writes in his book Missionary Position, which demolishes the hype around her.

Mother Teresas global income is more than enough to outfit several first-class clinics in Bengal. The decision to not do so, and indeed to run instead a haphazard and cranky institution is a deliberate one. The point is not the honest relief of suffering but promulgation of a cult based on death and suffering and subjection, Hitchens writes, adding that she herself has checked into some of the finest and costliest hospitals of the West during her bouts of heart trouble and old age.

There have been repeated allegations of her converting those she seemed to serve.

Mother Teresa has never pretended that her work is anything but a fundamentalist religious campaign, writes Hitchens, The poorest of the poor are the instruments of this; an occasion for piety.

Kolkata has many resident saints, ones who did miracles within the delightful premise of reason.
Indian agencies are making a fresh dossier against Dawood Ibrahim, to hand it over to Pakistan.

In its latest attempts to convince Pakistan about Dawoods presence in their country, India has prepared a series of call records between Dawood and his business associates in India and other countries.

Most of these calls are Internet Protocol calls and India has managed to transcribe them as proof against Dawood.

India has prepared a series of call records between Dawood and his business associates in India and other countries as proof of his presence in Pakistan

It is believed that Dawood has diversified business links with many big businessmen in different countries and sometime he directly talks to them for business decisions.

Earlier a report from United Nations confirmed that six out of nine addresses of Dawood given by India were found correct.

After that as per Intelligence Bureau reports, this was noticed that Dawoods associates and relatives shifted from these addresses to unknown locations in Pakistan.

After this revelation immediate family members has also changed their mobile and other contact numbers that they have been using for years.

The new dossier consists of his new business associates, his stake, addresses and contact persons who are looking after trade on his behalf and also in constant touch with Dawood Ibrahim for directions.

As per sources, this dossier will be handed over by India to Pakistan in the next scheduled meeting.

The government is also learnt to have prepared a new blueprint to nab the absconding underworld don, who is believed to be hiding in Pakistan for over two decades now.

The government has formed five new investigative teams of 50 officers.

The teams have been mandated to dismantle Dawood Ibrahim's business empire spread over several countries.

The special teams comprise of officers drawn from the Enforcement Directorate, Income Tax Department, Research and Analysis Wing (RAW) and Interpol wing of the CBI.

The team has been asked to monitor Dawood and his gang's movement and activities in Pakistan, UAE and other countries.

The agencies have identified 11 close associates of Dawood Ibrahim, who run his business across the globe.
Families choosing a new car are demanding higher levels of safety as well as style and overall performance.

But motor manufacturers are still not doing enough to make potentially life-saving safety features available on all their models, according to UK crash-test experts.

And if this continues, those cars increasingly will be marked down in the crash tests, warn safety chiefs as the new 66 registration plate appear on roads.

The new Scenic scored 90 per cent for protecting adult occupants, 82 per cent for child occupants and 67 per cent for pedestrian protection.

But crash-test experts at the Motor Insurance Repair Research Centre  known as Thatcham Research  praised the new Renault Scenic.

Its the first small multi-purpose vehicle in its class to have autonomous emergency braking (AEB) with pedestrian detection as standard across its range.

With AEB, a car is fitted with sensors to detect objects ahead and how far away they are, then applies the brakes accordingly.

This week the Scenic achieved a five-star crash-test rating in the EuroNCAP crash tests. Others must follow its lead, experts say.

The new Scenic scored 90 per cent for protecting adult occupants, 82 per cent for child occupants and 67 per cent for pedestrian protection.

Subarus Levorg estate also achieved five stars for having AEB as standard. By contrast, the new Kia Niro, which achieved the maximum five stars when fitted with its optional safety pack, was docked a star for models fitted with standard equipment.

Thatcham Research chief executive Peter Shaw said: Autonomous emergency braking is a proven life-saver that significantly reduces the likelihood of a crash.

Sixty of the worlds rarest cars are among 1,000 on display until Sunday at the Concours of Elegance at Windsor Castle (see below).

Having this technology on every model of every new car should now be standard practice.

Renault is to be applauded for recognising this as the responsible course of action.

He said the toll of more than 23,000 people killed or seriously injured every year on UK roads, as well as insurance claims, could be reduced if all new cars were fitted with AEB as standard.

At present it is fitted as standard on only 21 per cent of new cars in the UK.

The school run returns after the summer holidays with nearly half of all parents (46 per cent) admitting they dread it, according to a survey by motor insurer Allianz.

One in five (20.7 per cent) are stressed by the traffic, with a third (32.5 per cent) saying they had witnessed a school run driving accident involving physical injury or damage to vehicles.

Car envy afflicts more than one in five (21.7 per cent) parents, who say their make and model of car is a source of competition between families.

Alarmingly, one in five (19.7 per cent) of school run parents feared they had too much alcohol in their system from drinking the night before.

More than a quarter (26.3 per cent) believe driverless cars will help reduce school run stress, according to the research from 1,700 parents of primary school children aged between five and 11.

Separately, Confused.com calculates children returning to school will add 40 minutes a week to commuting, increasing the average daily run from 22 minutes to half an hour.

This weekend and next are packed full of treats for fans of luxury and vintage vehicles.

Sixty of the worlds rarest cars are among 1,000 on display until Sunday at the Concours of Elegance at Windsor Castle (left), hosted by Prince Michael of Kent to celebrate the Queens 90th birthday.

The 60 historic cars include a 1900 Daimler 6hp owned by the Queen, a one-off 1938 Hispano Suiza Dubonnet Xenia and a Ferrari 250 GT Pininfarina Series I Cabriolet. Also on display are the surviving cars from the first British Grand Prix held in 1926, the year in which the Queen was born.

Hundreds more cars are on show from Ferrari and Aston Martin to Rolls-Royce and Jaguar. Day tickets from 40 to 120 (17.50 for children, with under-fives free) from concoursofelegance.co.uk.

Daily Mail readers can secure a day ticket for 25 using online discount code MAILVIP.

Rowan Atkinson and former Dragons Den panellist Theo Paphitis are among those racing vintage cars at the Goodwood Revival, from Friday to Sunday (Sept 9 to 11).
The 24billion takeover of ARM Holdings by Japans SoftBank may be bad news for Britains tech industry but it has got investors very excited about the prospects of other deals in the sector.

Shareholders gave the seal of approval to the acquisition of the Cambridge-based business this week, sparking a flurry of activity among many other technology stocks on the FTSE.

Berkshire-based Micro Focus Internationals shares have risen almost 5 per cent over the past month to 1975p, while intellectual property firm Imagination Technologies, which has been struggling, has soared 20 per cent to 247.75p.

Skyrocketing: Tech industry share price growth over one year

With so many leading innovators based in Britain and a weaker pound suddenly making them look much cheaper to buyers overseas, many experts are predicting ARM wont be the last technology takeover.

Richard Watts, manager of the Old Mutual UK Mid Cap fund, says: There is a huge amount of merger and acquisition activity in this space as both existing and emerging companies look to reshape their businesses and to take advantage of the enormous opportunities which technology and innovation have created.

Among his favourite technology companies is Paysafe. The firm is involved in financial technology.

It processes transactions and also allows users to set up so-called digital wallets so they can make safe payments online without having to enter their bank or card details.

Watts likes companies which are disrupting their industry by introducing new methods and technologies. He calls it a payments revolution.

He says: Paysafe is growing its revenues and profits extremely quickly, and in an industry which is consolidating it could be a prime acquisition candidate. But Paysafe also has a very strong balance sheet, which means it could pursue acquisition opportunities itself.

Indeed, only this week the firm announced its purchase of Canadian technology provider Income Access for 22.9million.

Paysafe is the second-largest investment in Wattss portfolio, accounting for some 6.7 per cent of the 2.1billion fund, which returned 9.5 per cent over the past year.

Jeremy Gleeson, manager of the Axa Framlington Global Technology fund, likes Proofpoint, which makes software for internet and email security

Jeremy Gleeson, manager of the Axa Framlington Global Technology fund, likes Proofpoint, which makes software for internet and email security. It is an increasingly important area for businesses to invest in.

Security breaches and cyber-attacks not only compromise a companys security and privacy but can lead worried customers to turn away in droves.

Gleeson says: Criminals are getting more sophisticated in the way they launch attacks and traditional methods such as anti-virus software are no longer as effective as they once were.

He likes Proofpoint because its technology helps firms to detect threats before they get inside a companys systems. In its last-quarter update, the firm grew its revenues by 42 per cent to 67.7million. Gleeson has 1.9 per cent of his 316million fund, which has returned 32.4 per cent over the past year, in the stock.

He also likes US firm PTC, which makes product life cycle management software  tools which help a manufacturer to design and make its products.

Gleeson says: With products in general becoming more sophisticated, PTCs tools can help. As manufacturers look to increase the intelligence in their products, the internet of things (where household items can talk to each other) will be a driver of new business for PTC.

Tides changing: Richard Watts, manager of the Old Mutual UK Mid Cap fund, likes companies which are disrupting their industry by introducing new methods and technologies

Philip Matthews, manager of the Schroder UK Alpha Plus fund, likes accountancy software firm Sage. Recently under new management, he likes that the company is focused on improving efficiency within its business and trying to improve its level of recurring revenue.

Matthews, who is looking for companies with strong balance sheets and good growth, also likes Fidessa. He says the firm, which makes software used by City traders, has made significant investment in its product and is set to deliver strong revenue growth in coming years.

Some 12 per cent of the 1billion UK Alpha Plus fund is invested in technology-related firms. The fund has returned 10 per cent over the past year.

But savers should not get carried away just because of one technology success story. While more takeovers may be on the horizon, there will be just as many losers as winners in the industry.

Matthews says: While the recent bid for ARM Holdings highlights the attractiveness of UK technology companies, it shouldnt be treated as a proxy for the sector.
Man changes

The worlds biggest listed hedge fund Man Group has been shaken up by its new chief executive, Luke Ellis.

After the shock departure of boss Manny Roman for rival mutual fund manager Pimco, Mark Jones has moved to be group chief financial officer from his current position of co-chief executive officer of discretionary equity investment unit Man GLG.

He replaces Jonathan Sorrell, who will now assume the role of president, filling the position left by Ellis.

Step-up: Mark Jones has moved to be group chief financial officer from his current position

Segro demand

Britains largest listed industrial property developer Segro has raised 340m for a new logistics warehouse.

There had been strong demand for Segros share placement, with investors buying at discounts of 4.4 per cent to 5.5 per cent to Segros Thursday closing price of 455.2p, indicating a strong appetite to fund warehouses.

Italy festers

Italys moribund economy stagnated in the second quarter of the year having grown by 0.3 per cent in the first.

The bleak figures pile pressure on the government after a report earlier this week that showed youth unemployment in the country had risen from 37.3 per cent to 39.2 per cent.

Rio sale British-Australian miner

Rio Tinto has sold its majority stake in South African mine Zululand Anthracite Colliery for an undisclosed sum. Rio Tinto sold its 74pc stake to Menar Holding, and its shares rose 1.2 per cent, or 28p, to 2327p per share.

Takeover finalised

The 1.4billion takeover of Argos by the parent company of Sainsburys is complete. It now has 601 supermarkets, 773 convenience stores, 739 Argos stores and three Habitat stores.

Shares rose yesterday by 1.7 per cent, or 4.1p, to 246.1p.

Competition probe

Cineworlds acquisition of five cinemas from the Empire chain is being probed by The Competition and Markets Authority.

The 94million deal, which completed last month, included the sale of Empires flagship complex in Leicester Square.
A third of homeowners say they are disappointed by their lack of progress on moving up the property ladder, a new report by Lloyds Bank has revealed.

It also found that on average, 74 per cent of homeowners currently not living in the home they plan to stay in for the rest of their life reckon it will take two more moves to get there.

House prices are continuing to rise yearly, making it impossible for some to make the jump to bigger properties, the study found.

In particular, first-time buyers were more likely to say that they had expected to be further up the property ladder than they currently are.

Ladder woe: Lloyds also found that 74 per cent of homeowners reckon that it will take up to two more houses to get their long-term house

An average of 43 per cent of first-time buyers found themselves trailing behind their expectations. This is in comparison to an average of 33 per cent of all homeowners.

The survey of homeowners was conducted prior to the EU referendum vote. After the vote the Bank of England base rate was also slashed to 0.25 per cent.

But it wasn't all negative - the research suggested that homeowners were slightly more optimistic about how long it would take for them to upgrade to their long-term property.

In 2012, 88 per cent believed that they would have to wait longer to buy their forever property. In the recent report of 1,000 homeowners, this figure was a lower 81 per cent.

Andrew Mason, mortgage products director at Lloyds Bank, said: 'There's still a perception among a large number of homeowners that their long-term aspirational home seems far off and they are not moving up the housing ladder as quickly as they had hoped - although this perception has been gradually improving over the last few years.'

Faster upgrade: But the research also revealed that homeowners were slightly more optimistic about how long it would take for them to upgrade to their long-term property

According to the research, the cheapest place to buy a 'forever' home would be Northern Ireland, where the average three-bedroom property costs 114,940.

On the other end of the scale, London is by far the most expensive at 485,050.

But there was a brief dip in property asking prices by 3,602 in August due to Brexit worries and a summer holiday slowdown.

But while property listing website Rightmove said the Brexit vote had knocked sentiment, it added that the month-on-month decline in asking prices was in line with the traditional summer lull.
German neo-Nazi Ursula Haverbeck, dubbed the 'Nazi grandma' by German media, has again been convicted of Holocaust denial and sentenced to eight months in prison

A prominent German neo-Nazi dubbed the 'Nazi grandma' by German media has again been convicted of Holocaust denial and sentenced to eight months in prison.

The Detmold state court in Germany announced on Friday that 87-year-old Ursula Haverbeck plans to appeal the decision.

Haverbeck wrote a letter in February to the mayor of Detmold when a former Auschwitz guard was going on trial there, claiming the notorious Nazi death camp was only a labour camp and called survivors 'alleged witnesses.'

Haverbeck was most recently convicted of Holocaust denial in 2015 for a similar statement in an interview outside the trial of a former Auschwitz guard in Lueneburg.

She was sentenced to 10 months imprisonment in that case but remains free as her appeal is heard.

Both guards were convicted of multiple counts of accessory to murder and are appealing.

Haverbeck, who is a friend of Gudrun Burwitz - elderly daughter of Nazi S.S. chief Heinrich Himmler - was sentenced for sedition over the interview she gave to a TV station denying that Jews were murdered in extermination camps.

The Detmold state court in Germany announced on Friday that 87-year-old Ursula Haverbeck plans to appeal the decision

In the interview with the ARD network she claimed the death camp of Auschwitz in Nazi occupied Poland, where at least 1.1 million people were murdered, was 'nothing more than a labour camp.'

In Germany, anyone who publicly denies, endorses or plays down the extermination of Jews during Adolf Hitler's regime can be sentenced to a maximum of five years in jail.

It is estimated that more than six million people, including Jews, gays, Romany, the disabled and other persecuted minorities, were killed during the Holocaust.

Some 1.1 million people, most of them European Jews, were murdered between 1940 and 1945 in the Auschwitz-Birkenau camp before it was liberated.

Haverbeck wrote a letter in February to the mayor of Detmold when a former Auschwitz guard was going on trial there, calling Holocaust survivors 'alleged witnesses'
Uzbekistan's only post-Soviet President Islam Karimov's death has prompted fears of a power struggle

Uzbekistan has been plunged into the greatest period of uncertainty in its post-Soviet history following the death of strongman dictator Islam Karimov.

The 78-year-old, who crushed all opposition in the Central Asian country as its only president in a quarter-century of independence from the Soviet Union, died of a stroke yesterday.

He will be buried at a ceremony today in his home city of Samarkand in central Uzbekistan.

The country will then begin three days of mourning.

His death follows days of speculation that officials were delaying making his death public, with no clear successor for the iron-fisted ruler lined up.

Karimov suffered a stroke last weekend and fell into a coma.

People stand along a road today to pay the tribute to the memory of Uzbek late President Islam Karimov as a mourning motorcade drive by in Tashkent, Uzbekistan

Flowers were thrown at a motorcade as people lined the streets to pay tribute to Karimov today

Despite his brutal quarter century rule earning him a reputation abroad as one of the region's most savage despots, people in Karimov's hometown mourned his passing and youths wore black clothes.

His younger daughter, Lola Karimova-Tillyaeva, said in a social media post Monday that he had been hospitalized in the capital of Tashkent after a brain hemorrhage Aug. 27.

On Friday, she posted again, saying: 'He is gone.'

People throw flowers on the hearse today as they gather along the road to watch the funeral procession of President Islam Karimov in Samarkand

One of the world's most authoritarian rulers, Karimov cultivated no apparent successor, and his death raised concerns that the predominantly Sunni Muslim country could face prolonged infighting among clans over its leadership, something its Islamic radical movement could exploit.

Alexei Pushkov, head of the Russian parliament's foreign affairs committee, told the Tass news agency: 'The death of Islam Karimov may open a pretty dangerous period of unpredictability and uncertainty in Uzbekistan.'

Uzbekistan honor guards stand next to a large portrait of the late President Islam Karimov and his awards in Samarkand today

POTENTIAL SUCCESSORS FOR STRONGMAN Shavkat Mirziyoyev - The technocrat prime minister Prime Minister Shavkat Mirziyoyev Viewed as a tough-guy enforcer, Shavkat Mirziyoyev, 58, appears to be the front-runner to take over long term after he was named head of the committee organising Karimov's funeral. Technocrat Mirziyoyev, who has served as prime minister since 2003, is reported to have close ties to the former president's family and to key security bosses. According to rights activists the former governor of Karimov's home region of Samarkand has been in charge of making sure the country fulfils its annual cotton quotas. That places him at the heart of a industry that is crucial to the Uzbek economy - it is one of the world's leading cotton producers - but is accused of forcing over a million citizens, including children, to pick the cotton each year. Rustam Azimov - The finance chief Deputy premier and finance minister Azimov, 57, is reportedly viewed by foreign diplomats as more friendly to West, although he is still a key member of Karimov's inner circle. The former banker - in place since 2005 - has been touted as a possible replacement after apparently weathering power struggles. After years at the heart of the Uzbek elite Azimov is implicated in the vast web of corruption that has purportedly seen those close to Karimov amass vast fortunes. After news emerged that Karimov was in hospital rumours flew that Azimov had been placed under house arrest, but they were quickly denied and he has been named as part of Karimov's funeral committee. Rustam Inoyatov - the veteran security boss The country's powerful security chief Inoyatov, who has held the post since 1995, has long been seen as the key power behind the throne. At 72 the former KGB officer may not take the top job himself but the long-time Karimov ally looks likely to have a decisive say in who does. Inoyatov's reputation is seriously tarnished for his alleged role in the bloody suppression of protests in the eastern city of Andijan in 2005 - when hundreds of demonstrators are believed to have been gunned down in a massacre. While officially he controls Uzbekistan's security service he also effectively exerts control over the army and other law enforcement agencies. Nigmatulla Yuldashev - the stand-in leader According to Uzbekistan's constitution, senate leader takes over temporarily until early elections are held within three months. But commentators describe Yuldashev as a little-known 'non-entity' who is unlikely to have the clout to impose himself in the long run. The Karimovs - the despot's family Lola Karimova-Tillyaeva, Karimov's daughter Still likely to play a big role are Karimov's widow Tatyana and his younger daughter Lola Karimova-Tillyaeva. Karimova-Tillyaeva, Uzbekistan's ambassador to UNESCO in Paris, took to social media during her father's illness to confirm he had suffered a brain haemorrhage. She told the BBC in rare comments in 2013 that she did not foresee a career in politics for herself, insisting she was focused on her young family. She also said that she had not spoken to her older sister Gulnara for 12 years. Once seen as a potential heir to her father's throne one-time socialite, pop star and business magnate Gulnara, 44, spectacularly fell from grace in a bitter family feud and was placed under house arrest in 2014. Gulnara, a former ambassador to the UN in Geneva, is being probed in Europe over a $330 million telecoms corruption scandal. Advertisement

Mourners lined the streets to watch the president's funeral today

A farewell ceremony was held for Uzbekistan's President Islam Karimov near Tashkent International Airport today

He lead a fearful regime and led through brutal repression, his critics have said.

Steve Swerdlow, Central Asia researcher at Human Rights Watch, said: 'Islam Karimov leaves a legacy of a quarter century of ruthless repression.

'Karimov ruled through fear to erect a system synonymous with the worst human rights abuses: torture, disappearances, forced labour, and the systematic crushing of dissent.'

People hold flowers as they gather along the road to watch the funeral procession of President Islam Karimov in Samarkand

Nevertheless Karimov's visitors in his last year included US Secretary of State John Kerry and Russian President Vladimir Putin.

Uzbekistan still receives US aid.

Given the lack of access to the strategic country, it's hard to judge how powerful the Islamic Movement of Uzbekistan might be.

Karimov, right, pictured alongside Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow in 2008

Over the years, the group has been affiliated with the Taliban, al-Qaida and the Islamic State group, and it has sent fighters abroad.

Under the Uzbek constitution, if the president dies his duties pass temporarily to the head of the senate until an election can be held within three months.

However, the head of the Uzbek senate is regarded as unlikely to seek permanent power and Karimov's demise is expected to set off a period of jockeying for political influence.

Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev leaves a plane as he arrives to take part in mourning events related to the death of Uzbek President Islam Karimov in Samarkand

Karimov was known as a tyrant with an explosive temper and a penchant for cruelty.

His troops machine-gunned hundreds of unarmed demonstrators to death during a 2005 uprising, he jailed thousands of political opponents, and his henchmen reportedly boiled some dissidents to death.

He came under widespread international criticism from human rights groups, but because of Uzbekistan's location as a vital supply route for the war in neighboring Afghanistan, the West sometimes turned a blind eye to his worst abuses.

Crowds turned out in force to mourn the death of Islam Karimov at the age of 78

But Karimov's death caused widespread upset across Usbekistan.

'When we found out about his death, all my family - by wife, my son's wife, the children - we were all crying, we couldn't believe it,' one local man, 58, told AFP, refusing to give his name.

'It is a great loss for every Uzbek. He made our country free and developed.'

State television in the tightly-controlled nation earlier showed soldiers loading a coffin onto a plane for what it described as Karimov's final journey to Samarkand, with two women who appeared to be his wife and younger daughter weeping on the tarmac.

Authorities said Karimov's coffin would be displayed in a city square for people to pay their last respects before he is buried in a nearby cemetery later Saturday next to other family members.

Eyewitnesses told AFP that they had seen the funeral cortege pass but that the event was open only to guests with official invitations.

Karimov suffered a stroke last week, and the announcement of his death followed days of speculation

Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev is expected to fly in for the funeral, along with a coterie of leaders from former Soviet republics including Tajik President Emomali Rakhmon, Turkmen President Gurbanguly Berdymukhamedov and the prime ministers of Kyrgyzstan, Belarus and Kazakhstan.

Loyalist Prime Minister Shavkat Mirziyoyev heads the organising committee for the funeral, in a sign that he could be the frontrunner to take over long-term from Karimov.

Under Uzbek law, senate head Nigmatulla Yuldashev has now become acting president until early elections are held.

Barack Obama said he had recently congratulated Karimov on Uzbekistan's 25 years of independence

Noting Karimov's death, President Barack Obama said in a statement that the US 'reaffirms its support for the people of Uzbekistan'.

'This week, I congratulated President Karimov and the people of Uzbekistan on their country's 25 years of independence,' Obama said in the statement.

'As Uzbekistan begins a new chapter in its history, the United States remains committed to partnership with Uzbekistan, to its sovereignty, security, and to a future based on the rights of all its citizens.'

UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said he was 'saddened' following Karimov's death

UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon was 'saddened' at Karimov's death and paid tribute to his efforts 'to develop strong ties between Uzbekistan and the United Nations as well as strengthen regional and global peace and security,' UN spokesman Stephane Dujarric said.

Ban singled out Karimov's promotion of the treaty to establish the Central Asian Nuclear Weapon-Free Zone which entered into force in 2009.

China's Foreign Ministry called Karimov 'a sincere friend' who promoted a strategic partnership between the two countries.

Karimov (right) with Russian President Vladimir Putin (left) and China's President Xi Jinping (centre) during the SCO (Shanghai Cooperation Organization) summit in Ufa, Russia

His death 'is a great loss of the Uzbek people', ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying said, according to state media.

Uzbekistan, a country of 30 million people famous for its apricot orchards, cotton fields and ancient stone cities along the Silk Road, had been one of the Muslim world's paragons of art and learning.

But Karimov cracked down on any form of Islam that wasn't patently subservient to him.

His leadership style was epitomized by propaganda posters often displayed in Uzbekistan that depicted him alongside Tamerlane, a 14th-century emperor who had conquered a vast region of West, South and Central Asia.

Karimov was known to shout and swear at officials, and was rumoured to have lashed out when he became angry

He was known to shout and swear at officials during meetings and it was widely rumored that in bursts of anger he would beat officials and throw ashtrays at them.

Under Karimov, the economy remained centralized, with a handful of officials controlling the most lucrative industries and trade.

A 1996 ban on the free convertibility of the national currency, the som, blocked trade and foreign investment, while unemployment soared and poverty was widespread.

Islam Karimov (left) welcomes chairman of the U.S. Joint Chiefs of Staff, Gen. Richard Myers prior to their meeting in presidential residence outside of Tashkent in 2002

Endemic corruption stymied development, despite considerable resources of natural gas and gold, along with its cotton exports. Millions of Uzbeks have flooded into Russia and neighboring Kazakhstan to support their families with remittances that amount to a sizable part of the country's GDP.

Karimov was suspicious of the West and infuriated by its criticism of his human rights record, but he also dreaded Islamic militancy, fearing it could grow into a strong opposition.

He unleashed a harsh campaign against Muslims starting in 1997 and intensifying in 1999 after eight car bombs exploded near key government buildings in Tashkent. The explosions killed 16 people and wounded more than 100.

The strongman president, whose record has been attacked by human rights activists, died yesterday after suffering a stroke

'I am ready to rip off the heads of 200 people, to sacrifice their lives, for the sake of peace and tranquility in the country,' Karimov said afterward. 'If a child of mine chose such a path, I myself would rip off his head.'

In the next few years, thousands of Muslims who practiced their faith outside government-controlled mosques were rounded up and jailed for alleged links to banned Islamic groups.

In 2004, a series of bombings and attacks on police killed more than 50 people and sparked a new wave of arrests and convictions.

Islam Karimov (centre) shakes hands with Indian President Pratibha Patil (right) as Uzbek First Lady Tatyana Karimova (left) looks on during a ceremonial reception at President House in New Delhi in May 18, 2011

Following 9/11, the West overlooked Karimov's harsh policies and cut a deal with him in 2001 to use Uzbekistan's Karshi-Khanabad air base for combat missions in Afghanistan.

During a May 2005 uprising in the eastern city of Andijan, Uzbek troops fired on demonstrators, killing more than 700 people, according to witnesses and human rights groups. It was the world's worst massacre of protesters since the 1989 bloodbath in China's Tiananmen Square.

Angered by U.S. criticism of the crackdown, Karimov evicted U.S. forces from the base.

Karimov attends a meeting with US Secretary of State John Kerry and his delegation at the Palace of Forums in Samarkand, Uzbekistan, last year

He later quietly softened his position, allowing Uzbekistan to be part of the Northern Distribution Network supply route for Afghanistan, whose utility declined when Russia dropped out of the network in 2015.

The United States in turn agreed to start the sale of non-lethal military goods to his regime.

Islam Abduganiyevich Karimov was born on January 30, 1938, and studied economics and engineering in what was then a Soviet republic, rising through the Communist Party bureaucracy.

In 1989, Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev made Karimov Uzbekistan's Communist Party chief in the wake of a huge corruption scandal that involved top Uzbek officials.

At the time, Karimov was seen as a hard-working and uncorrupt Communist.

On March 24, 1990, the local parliament elected him president of the Uzbek Socialist Republic, and in December 1991, just days after the Soviet Union ceased to exist, Karimov won the presidency in a popular vote.

Shaken by a series of ethnic and religious riots in the turbulent years surrounding the Soviet collapse, Karimov was obsessed with stability and security.

He said Uzbekistan would follow its own path of reform and would build democracy and a market economy without the turmoil and crises of most other former Soviet nations.

Mourners lined the streets to pay tribute to the Uzbekistan's president after his death was announced yesterday

After his 1991 election, the fledgling democratic opposition was banned and forced into exile.

The media were muzzled by censorship. Law enforcement and security services grew increasingly powerful and abusive, and the use of torture in prisons was labeled 'systematic' by international observers.

Karimov's death would 'mark the end of an era in Uzbekistan, but almost certainly not the pattern of grave human rights abuses, said Denis Krivosheev, deputy director for Europe and Central Asia at Amnesty International.

'His successor is likely to come from Karimov's closest circle, where dissenting minds have never been tolerated.'

Karimov was a distant leader. His annual New Year's address to the nation was always read by a TV anchor. His wife rarely appeared in public, and his vacations were never announced.

But the public was constantly reminded of his leadership by banners with quotes from his speeches posted on buildings and billboards.

All of his election victories were landslides, but none were recognized as free or fair by international observers.

His only challenger in 2000, Abdulkhafiz Dzhalolov, said he himself voted for Karimov.

People gather along the road under the Uzbekistan national flag with a black ribbon to watch the funeral procession of President Islam Karimov in Tashkent

His nephew, opposition journalist Jamshid Karimov, was forcibly committed to a psychiatric institution after a series of articles criticizing his uncle and other officials.

Karimov's oldest daughter, Gulnara, generated media buzz over her immense wealth, fashion shows and music videos done under the stage name GooGoosha. Sometimes touted as a potential successor, she was both admired and despised at home.

In 2014, she used her Twitter account to accuse Uzbekistan's security services of orchestrating a campaign of harassment against her and deceiving her father.

The president's daughter Gulnara Karimova pictured at an event at Uzbekistan's Centre of National Arts in October 2013

Her tweets then stopped, prompting speculation that she and her 15-year-old daughter were under house arrest in Tashkent.

Word of Karimov's death began spreading even before the Uzbek government announced it Friday night, with officials in Kyrgyzstan and Afghanistan saying leaders from those countries would attend his funeral and the Turkish prime minister offering condolences.

Uzbekistan celebrated its Independence Day on Thursday, which is perhaps why the government had delayed any news about Karimov.

Police guard as people gather along a road to watch the funeral procession of President Islam Karimov in Tashkent

Photos carried Friday by the respected Central Asian news website Fergana.ru showed what appeared to be undertakers in Samarkand working on a plot in the cemetery where Karimov's family is buried.

The Samarkand airport said it would be closed to all flights except specially approved aircraft Saturday, according to U.S. Federal Aviation Administration's website.

Uzbek opposition blogger Nadezhda Atayeva said on Friday that Uzbek authorities appeared to be cracking down on communication channels.

Speaking from western France, she said an opposition contact told her via Skype that government officials had been told to turn off their phones and Internet speeds had slowed. As he spoke, she said, the signal went dead.
An openly gay police chief of a small South Carolina town who was fired in 2014 by an 'anti-gay' mayor before getting her job back has been suspended for repeatedly failing to follow town protocol and not reporting a sexual harassment claim, disciplinary documents reveal.

Documents reveal Crystal Moore did not inform supervisors of the harassment claim, while also revealing an officer's salary at a public meeting, failing to file weekly reports, and checking another employee's disciplinary record without permission.

The Latta, South Carolina, chief's disciplinary reprimands were released on Friday after a request under the Freedom of Information Act.

Openly gay police chief Crystal Moore (pictured) has been suspended for ignoring protocol, two years after she was fired for her sexuality before getting her job back after a town protest

The police chief was suspended for five days earlier this month. She responded to all four reprimands by promising to follow town policy in the future and also said she was only trying to help a new employee when she accessed the disciplinary records.

'It will NOT happen again,' Moore wrote on one reprimand.

Moore said in a text message she won't comment on the reprimands until her lawyer says it is OK to discuss them.

She also said she was helping out after parts of the town lost power Friday in Tropical Storm Hermine.

On her Facebook page she wrote: 'I am proud of the work I've done as Latta's Chief and stand by my record of honesty and accountability.'

Documents reveal Moore repeatedly failed to follow town protocol and did not report a sexual harassment claim

Latta Police Chief Crystal Moore was suspended for five days earlier this month after receiving four disciplinary reprimands

Moore did not go into detail about the circumstances of why she was suspended.

The sexual harassment claim was not filed against Moore, but the documents do not indicate which town employees were involved in the case.

Regarding that case, Latta Town Administrator Jarett Taylor wrote in the reprimand that a supervisor must be told before any other action is taken. He said Moore only tried to contact him after bringing in a sheriff's office deputy to take a report.

'Simply texting a situation after it has been put into motion does not suffice,' Taylor wrote.

'Ms. Moore by her own writing ... has not grasped the concept and does not seem to take constructive criticism well.'

Latta Town Administrator Jarett Taylor (pictured) issued the reprimands, two years after he was instrumental in getting Moore's job back after she was fired because of her sexuality

Earl Bullard (pictured), the mayor who fired Moore in 2014, was caught out making anti-gay remarks

Taylor said Friday that Moore and the town are back on good footing after she served her punishment. 'Far as I'm concerned, it's over and done with,' Taylor said.

Latta officials initially refused to release the reprimands, saying they were private personnel records.

The town relented after an Associated Press reporter pointed out a 2004 South Carolina Supreme Court ruling that said the way police officers do their jobs has 'a large and vital public interest that outweighs their desire to remain out of the public eye.'

Moore was fired two years ago, after nearly two decades working in Latta, because of her sexuality.

Taylor, who also sits on the Town Council, was instrumental in helping get her job back.

Moore got her job back in 2014 after hundreds of people rallied (pictured) to support her in the small South Carolina town

He recorded Latta's mayor, Earl Bullard, saying he would rather have a drunk watch his grandchildren than a gay person.

The town of 1,400 people about 25 miles northeast of Florence rallied around Moore, stripping the mayor of his power.

The Town Council then hired her back and passed an anti-discrimination ordinance.

Moore announced earlier this year that she planned to run for Dillon County sheriff as a petition candidate and has started to campaign during her off hours.
The 19-year-old woman at the center of the Oakland Police Department sex scandal has been arrested after allegedly suffering a breakdown at a rehab center.

Jasmine Abuslin, who also goes by the name Celeste Guap, was arrested on Monday at Treasure Coast Recovery Center, a voluntary treatment center in Florida.

Police say Abuslin, who joined the center on Friday to be treated for heroin and sex addiction, ran into the street, pulled up her shirt and exposed herself to motorists.

Jasmine Abuslin, the 19-year-old at the center of the Oakland Police Department sex scandal, has been arrested for felony aggravated assault while in rehab

Abuslin, who claims to have had sex with more than 30 officers starting at age 16, allegedly flashed motorists, bit a guard and then tried to solicit sex from police during the incident

After a security officer convinced her to come back inside she was taken to a small room, but quickly became upset, police said.

As more security officers came into the room, sheriff's deputies say Absulin became violent and balled her fists.

When the guards tried to restrain her she lashed out, attempting to flip over a safe before hitting them and biting one on the arm, police say.

Martin County Sheriff's Office was called and Absulin was arrested on a felony charge of aggravated battery.

Staff at the center told police that she has been extremely hostile toward them since arriving three days prior.

After being arrested police say Absulin managed to slip out of regular sized handcuffs and so they had to use a smaller pair.

The teen had been sent to the voluntary rehab facility in Florida by officers in California in order to receive treatment for heroin and sex addiction

Absulin says officers from seven different law enforcement agencies slept with her, some while she was underage, and exchanged nude messages with her (pictured)

When she was put into a police car she began hitting her head on the window and then tried to solicit sex, police say

She was later pictured smiling in her police mugshot while wearing a protective police vest.

An investigation into Absulin began after Officer Brendan O'Brien, one of those she allegedly slept with, killed himself

According to ABC 7, which spoke to Absulin before her treatment, she was told to go to the center by California police who told her to 'treat it like paid vacation.'

On the way to the treatment center, the station reports that Absulin threatened to jump out of the van transporting her and on to the highway in order to commit suicide.

She also claimed that she had been in contact with a Miami pimp who had offered to come and collect her if things did not go well in rehab.

Absulin is at the center of the Oakland Police sex scandal that forced the resignation of three chiefs in just eight days back in June.

While going under the name of Celeste Guap she claims to have slept with more than 30 police officers from seven agencies, starting at age 16.

Police chief Paul Figueroa stepped down in June after only two days on the job, following predecessor Ben Fairow, who had been fired after just six days.

Fairow himself had been chosen to replace former police chief Sean Whent, who had resigned the week prior.

Whent had quit after multiple officer misconduct cases.

Sean Whent (left), Ben Fairow (center) and Paul Figueroa (right) all quit as Oakland Police chiefs in the space of eight days in the wake of the scandal

He said at the time that the investigation into possible sexual misconduct with a minor stemmed from the suicide of an officer.

Officer Brendan O'Brien killed himself just hours after Guap started revealing details of the relationships with members of law enforcement on Facebook last September, reports suggest.

Guap, whose mother works as a dispatcher at the Oakland Police Department, hasn't named the officers she claims to have slept with.

She claims that only three officers paid her after their encounters, and recalls having up to ten trysts with a single cop.
Jeremy Corbyn has defended taking 20,000 from an Iranian state-run TV channel which was banned from broadcasting in the UK.

Press TV paid the Labour leader thousands of pounds for just a handful of appearances  but Mr Corbyn said the sum wasnt an enormous amount.

He claimed that he used his Press TV role to address human rights issues and challenge the repressive regime in Tehran.

Jeremy Corbyn during one of his appearances on the Iranian channel Press TV

But no evidence of this has been found. Instead, most of his appearances focus on his anti-West, anti-Israel views.

One Labour MP criticised the party leaders links to Press TV, and said he should donate all the money to a Jewish charity.

In 2011 Mr Corbyn took part in a round-table discussion on the channel with journalist Yvonne Ridley, lamenting the killing of Osama bin Laden.

He attacked the lack of a trial for the 9/11 mastermind and said Barack Obama had become another Pentagon president like the rest of them. He told the programme: This was an assassination attempt and is yet another tragedy upon a tragedy.

Mr Corbyn also suggested that there was something fishy because Bin Laden had been buried at sea, and said he could have been killed years earlier.

But he did not raise any objection when a contributor called the BBC Zionist liars and described Israel as a disease. Press TV was taken off air in the UK in 2012 and restricted to the internet after broadcasting an interview with Maziar Bahari, an imprisoned journalist, which was conducted under duress.

Mr Corbyn told PinkNews his 20,000 fee for four appearances between 2009 and 2012 wasnt an enormous amount, actually.

John Mann, a Labour MP, said he couldn't understand the motives of one of the party's MPs appearing Press TV given it was t he mouthpiece of a regime that had jailed trade unionists

He said he took part in a few programmes quite a long time ago, adding: I refused to do any more because there was a change in the process they were operating. He said most of the money he was paid was used for his constituency office.

John Mann, a Labour MP and chairman of the all-party group on anti-Semitism, said: I cant understand what the motives would be for a Labour MP to appear on Press TV. It is the mouthpiece of a regime that has imprisoned trade unionists. I would suggest he donates all the money to charity. The Holocaust Education Trust would be a good one.

A spokesman for Mr Corbyn said: His involvement with Press TV allowed him to deplore all human rights abuses, which he has consistently raised with Iran, including on a visit to Tehran with Jack Straw in 2015. He also met Irans foreign minister with Hilary Benn where once again human rights were raised. Jeremys involvement with Press TV ended when changes to the way they were operating meant he could not participate without political interference.
The two babies were mistakenly cremated at Royal North Shore Hospital

But the stillborn was sent to the crematorium

The parents who lost their baby in 2012 were waiting for autopsy results

the same mistake was made three years earlier

It has been revealed a 20-week stillborn baby was mistakenly cremated in 2012 after a Sydney hospital this week admitted to the same error in 2015.

The parents who lost their baby in 2012 at Royal North Shore Hospital were waiting for an autopsy on their baby but a mix-up in the mortuary meant the stillborn was sent to the crematorium before the post-mortem was done, The Sydney Morning Herald reported.

The hospital apologised to the parents and assured them the error would not occur again- but it did only three years later.

Two stillborn babies were mistakenly cremated at Royal North Shore Hospital in Sydney (pictured)

Parents of a stillborn baby were left devastated after their infant was accidentally cremated despite their request for a burial in an unfortunate hospital mix-up (stock image)

Health minister Jillian Skinner said she will not resign over the latest revelation citing enormous support from the medical community asking her to stay.

Ms Skinner was already under pressure over a baby gassing tragedy at the Bankstown-Lidcombe Hospital and a chemotherapy crisis at St Vincent's Hospital.

She said the NSW opposition's calls for her to step down were expected but she was 'not going anywhere'.

'I have hundreds of text messages and emails of support,' she said.

Opposition Leader Luke Foley said it was time the health minister stepped down after a number of tragic incidents.

'There is a culture of cover-up,' Mr Foley said.

'Mr (Mike) Baird has to do the right thing and appoint a new health minister,.'

NSW Health Minister Jillian Skinner addresses the media outside her home on Saturday

NSW Health Minister Jillian Skinner arrives to address the media at her home in Sydney

Parents of another stillborn baby were left devastated after their infant was accidentally cremated despite their request for a burial in an unfortunate hospital mix-up in late 2015.

The identities of two babies, one that was miscarried and one stillborn at a Sydney hospital, were confused at a mortuary, a committee was told.

One of the babies was incorrectly identified with a blanket label, leading staff to believe it was the other baby.

On Tuesday, Ms Skinner faced a string of questions about 'mix ups' in the NSW health system.

In June and July of this year, a baby boy died and a newborn girl suffered suspected brain damage after they were mistakenly given nitrous oxide instead of oxygen at Bankstown-Lidcombe Hospital.

Ms Skinner defended her decision to avoid the media when a report into the catastrophic bungle was released publicly on Saturday.

On Tuesday, embattled NSW Health Minister Jillian Skinner (pictured) faced a string of questions about 'mix ups' in the NSW health system

The report found 'a series of tragic errors' including incorrect installations of gas pipelines, flawed testings and significant clinical and management failures caused the deadly error.

'I wanted the focus to be on the findings of the chief health officer (Dr Kerry Chant). This was her report. It's a really important report,' Ms Skinner told the hearing on Tuesday afternoon.

'Do you think it was a mistake, that you should have fronted up with Dr Chant?' Labor health spokesman Walt Secord asked the minister.

'No I don't. I did it deliberately because I wanted the focus to be on her report, on the findings that would give confidence to the public that the system was safe,' Ms Skinner told the committee.

'If I had been there, that would not have been the focus. By not being there, that was the focus. That was what the media was reporting.'

In the hospital bungle, one of the babies was incorrectly identified with a blanket label, leading staff to believe it was the other baby (stock image)

Ms Skinner said she eventually agreed to front television crews after several requests late on Saturday afternoon because by then 'there had been enough time for the media to absorb the matters in (the) report'.

Ms Skinner also confirmed she has refused to meet with a patient affected by a chemotherapy under-dosing scandal at St Vincent's Hospital, despite their request.

'I don't have a hard and fast set protocol, but it would be my inclination to wait until the investigation had been completed (to meet with affected patients),' the minister said.

She told the committee she regretted saying St Vincent's Hospital 'lied' about the scandal, conceding it was too harsh and she should have instead said they 'misled' the public through the media.
The 11-year-old and nine-year-old sons of Australian murder suspect Sara Connor pleaded with their mother to return home in an emotional video, telling her 'we love you.'

The 45-year-old's ex-husband, Anthony 'Twig' Connor, delivered the video to Ms Connor this week during a heartbreaking visit to Bali, where she is being held after being accused of murdering an Indonesian policeman last month with her British DJ boyfriend.

Mr Connor, who insists his ex-wife is innocent, told News.com.au she was shaking during their emotional visit in jail and immediately asked about the couple's children.

'They sent a little video to me to give to Sara and every time I see it, it breaks my heart you know. They are just saying, 'Mum, we love you, come home soon', Mr Connor told the publication.

Scroll down for video

The 11-year-old and nine-year-old sons of Australian Sara Connor (right), who is accused of murdering a policeman in Bali two weeks ago, have begged their mum to come home in an emotional video

The 45-year-old's ex-husband, Anthony 'Twig' Connor (pictured), delivered the video to Ms Connor this week during a heartbreaking visit to Bali

Ms Connor (right) is being detained in Bali by police with her British boyfriend David Taylor (left). Both are accused of murdering Wayan Sudursa on August 17 on Kuta Beach

'It is tough for us. The boys don't know when Mum's coming home.'

Mr Connor, who called Ms Connor a 'good soul', said he would love his former partner 'forever' and wants to help her.

'We are still connected even though we are not together, we are still connected. The children have got a big part of that. But we are still friends, we are still good friends and that's why I am here,' he said.

Mr Connor (pictured) becomes emotional as he speaks in Denpasar, two weeks after she was arrested over the alleged murder of a Bali police officer

Mr Connor spoke of a video recorded by her two children

It comes amid revelations that Ms Connor will come face to face with her boyfriend David Taylor again as Balinese police attempt to work out exactly what happened the night policeman Wayan Sudarsa was allegedly murdered on Kuta Beach two weeks ago.

The couple have already spent several gruelling hours re-enacting 'scenes' from the night, which police say is necessary after vast differences emerged in each of their stories during the first re-enactment.

One of the main differences in their story is that Ms Connor's lawyer claims she played no part in the murder and she was trying to separate Mr Taylor and Mr Sudarsa who were fighting following an argument over her lost handbag.

Mr Connor broke his silence this week, insisting his ex-wife is innocent

Police say Ms Connor was 'definitely involved' in the death of a Bali police officer after she and Mr Taylor were forced to re-enact the alleged murder

During the re-enactment Ms Connor was seen straddling the officer and appeared to pretend to strike him with a walkie talkie before the policeman mimed biting her on the thigh as she knelt next to him.

Ms Connor denies striking the officer with a walkie talkie and her lawyer claims she was told to re-enact 'scenes' she says never happened.

Denpasar police chief Hadi Purnomo said: 'Sara was definitely involved in the assault. Sara hit the victim with a walkie talkie.'

Mr Taylor's lawyer Yan Erick P Sihombing said Ms Connor told his client that she had hit the police officer.

Mr Taylor, 34, pretended to hit the 'victim' with a broken bottle as he re-enacted the alleged death of officer Wayan Sudarsa

'In David's testimony David said that Sara told him after they got to the hotel that she was bitten and she was punching this guy (police),' Mr Sihombing said, according to the Daily Telegraph.

Another difference is related to whether the couple saw anyone else on the night of the alleged murder.

Mr Sihombing said Mr Taylor didn't see anybody on the street but Ms Connor said she saw somebody in the street.

Ms Connor had originally told police Mr Sudarsa was a 'bad cop' who had pinned her down in the sand with his body weight on August 17.

But she later changed her story to say she had been trying to separate Mr Sudarsa and Mr Taylor after a fight broke out between the pair.

The re-enactment was the first time Mr Taylor and Ms Connor have seen each other since their arrest almost two weeks ago.

During the re-enactment Ms Connor was seen straddling the officer and appeared to pretend to strike him with a walkie talkie. Ms Connor denies this ever happened and claims she was told to act scenes that didn't occur

The couple embraced at Kuta Beach on Wednesday morning as police tried to determine who is telling the truth about what happened on the night of a police officer's death

A man lays on the sand at Bali's Kuta Beach, pretending to be Wayan Sudarsa - whose bloodied body was found on August 17

They have not been formally charged under Indonesian law as police have 120 days to build their case.

Police say the couple admitted to clashing with victim and claim Mr Taylor hit the officer over the head with a beer bottle.

Police officer Wayan Sudarsa (pictured) was found dead on Kuta Beach in Bali with 42 wounds to his body

The altercation allegedly broke out after Mr Taylor confronted Mr Sudarsa over his girlfriend's missing handbag.

Just before the re-enactment, Ms Connor took off the sarong covering her face so Mr Taylor could kiss her on the top of the head after they came out of two separate armoured vehicles dressed in orange prison jumpsuits.

The pair went 'scene by scene' through the alleged events which came across like a play, scripted under the direction of officers yelling through a microphone.

The events began with Mr Taylor approaching the cop imitating Mr Sudarsa to confront him over Ms Connor's lost purse.

'Scene ... David fell and became involved in a fight with the victim,' a police officer directed as Mr Taylor lay on his back with the man playing Mr Sudarsa staring over him.

As though being brought in from behind the curtains at a play, Ms Connor entered the 'scene'.

As if she was standing in the wings of a play, Ms Connor was then brought into the 'scene', to re-enact how she allegedly tried to separate the pair

Ms Connor appears solemn at Kuta Beach as she and Mr Taylor re-enact the events that led to the death of Mr Sudarsa

Mr Sudarsa's stand-in mimed biting her thigh - a recreation of the moment she says she tried to separate the pair and 'protect' the cop.

The 'scenes' slowly built up to the moment Mr Taylor mimed hitting Mr Sudarsa in the back of his head with a broken beer bottle, while Ms Connor crouched in the sand nearby.

This blow, Denpasar Police Chief Hadi Purnomo said was the 'most deadly one'.

Sixty-eight 'scenes' were played out throughout Wednesday with the pair taken to Ulawatu in nearby Jimbaran after Kuta Beach.

Ms Connor and Mr Taylor embrace as a police officer holds up their name tags as they continue the recreation of 'scenes'

Ms Connor says Mr Sudarsa bit her on the thigh and hand when she tried to separate the pair

Sara Connor (left) and her British boyfriend David Taylor (right) are taking part in a re-enactment of what happened the night a policeman was killed on Kuta Beach in Bali
Singing a hymn of hope yesterday, Hollywood stars urged the Government to offer sanctuary to hundreds of child refugees trapped in the Jungle camp in Calais.

Campaigners say almost 400 languishing in the refugee camp are eligible to come to the UK because of family ties.

They handed in a 75,000-name petition to the Home Office, as well as the names of 387 children, putting fresh pressure on Home Secretary Amber Rudd to allow them in.

Actress Juliet Stevenson, joined by fellow stars Vanessa Redgrave and Dame Harriet Walter, said history will judge us very harshly if the Government failed to act.

Voicing their concern: Dame Harriet Walter, Vanessa Redgrave and Juliet Stevenson sing outside the Home Office yesterday

The group also paid tribute to Alan Kurdi, the three-year-old Syrian refugee who drowned in the Mediterranean a year ago and was found washed up on a Turkish beach.

Miss Stevenson said: Whatever you think about the EU or free movement of the workforce, that is different to offering sanctuary to children fleeing war and violence.

Miss Redgrave said supporting vulnerable refugee children was a moral and civic duty and called for the Government to agree to a special permit for refugees.

The Mail, along with Save The Children and other charities, has campaigned for ministers to allow unaccompanied refugee children into the UK. Around 800 are among the 7,000 refugees living in the Calais camp.

Rabbi Laura Janner-Klausner, from the Reform Judaism movement, said: Ive met some of them in Calais. Young children wandering around this refugee camp, who have a clear legal right to be here. We should be letting them in today.
Mother allegedly performed oral sex on the child and had sex before

A Gold Coast mother has been accused of helping her friends rape her nine-year-old daughter by tying the child up and dressing her in a 'Playboy outfit'.

The 37-year-old woman allegedly let the men rape the girl on several occasions at her home between May 2014 and May 2015, the Gold Coast Bulletin reported.

On one occasion, the girl allegedly woke up wearing a short black dress and bunny ears and was then made to give a man oral sex.

Police allege a Gold Coast mother helped her friends rape her nine-year-old daughter by tying the child up and dressing her in a 'Playboy outfit'

The mother has been charged with 17 offences, including rape and torture, and appeared in Southport Magistrates Court on Friday.

Police will also accuse the woman of performing oral sex on her daughter during one incident in which the girl woke up in the garage on her hands and knees as she was being fondled by multiple people, the paper reported.

It is alleged that when the girl protested, a man threatened to shoot her and she was then raped and restrained on the floor.

Police will also allege the woman had sex with two men in front of her daughter and later helped a man rape her by restraining her and making her drink something that made her fall asleep.

Details of the alleged abuse were revealed last month when the child told a psychologist about being touched inappropriately.

The matter has been adjourned until Tuesday when the woman is expected to apply for bail.
Mrs May is set to tell the Chinese president that he will have to wait for an answer, according to Government sources

Theresa May will fly into a diplomatic row with China today, amid growing indications that she could veto its involvement in Britains nuclear industry.

The Prime Minister is heading to the G20 summit in Hangzhou under intense pressure to tell her Chinese hosts whether she will press ahead with an 18 billion plan to build a nuclear power station at Hinkley Point in Somerset.

It comes as one source said pulling out of the deal would cost the UK 6 billion.

The controversial deal, signed by David Cameron and George Osborne, would see China provide a third of the funding for Hinkley Point, as well as winning the right to build a nuclear plant at Bradwell, in Essex.

The Hinkley plans were put on hold in July amid concerns about the cost and the implications of giving the secretive Chinese state access to Britains critical infrastructure.

EDF, the energy firm building the plant, now fears the Chinese could take offence and walk away, leaving the project in ruins.

One senior EDF figure told the Financial Times that Britain would have to fill the 6billion black hole itself if the Chinese pulled out.

China, which is keen to gain a foothold in the UKs nuclear sector, is pushing hard for confirmation that Mrs May will go ahead with the deal.

But Government sources last night said the Prime Minister would tell President Xi Jinping that he will have to wait for an answer when she meets him for face-to-face talks on Monday.

A UK official said: The Prime Minister will set out the Governments approach. We have said there will be a decision in September, but I dont expect one in the next few days  and neither do our Chinese or French partners.

The controversial deal was signed by David Cameron (pictured last year sharing a pint with Chinese president Xi Jinping) and George Osborne. China is pushing hard for confirmation that Mrs May will go ahead with it. But Mrs May will tell the president he will have to wait for an answer when she meets him for talks on Monday

French officials yesterday said they believed Mrs May was ready to sound the death knell for the project.

They said French President Francois Hollande had repeatedly sought assurances from Mrs May about the deal over the summer, only to be rebuffed.

A source said: If the Chinese pull out, there is no way EDF will be able to pay for the rest itself. We would need the British or someone else to step in.

Another source at the company said it would be a disaster for the project if the Chinese withdrew.

An artist's impression of plans for the new Hinkley Point C nuclear power station, an 18 billion project for which China would provide a third of the funding if the UK does not pull out of the deal

The row threatens to overshadow Mrs Mays agenda at the G20, where she will try to convince the Chinese and others that the UK continues to be a dependable partner in the wake of the Brexit vote.

A senior diplomatic source last night warned that scrapping the Hinkley Point deal could damage long-term relations with China.

There is a danger that they wont understand it, the source said. They thought they had this deal  and in China, a deal is a deal.

They are very sensitive to any sense of being anti- Chinese  the Prime Minister will have to step very carefully because they will be watching for every nuance.

The other point is that if the Chinese dont fund these power stations, who are we going to get to do it? We simply dont have the capacity in this country to fund projects of this size.

At the same time we are looking for Chinese investment in HS2 and all sorts of other projects  Chinese money is here, whether we like it or not.

Mrs May is to open informal talks on new trade deals with the United States, China and India in the next 48 hours.

The Prime Minister will use her debut on the international stage at the G20 summit to stress that Britain is open for business after the Brexit vote. She will also hold her first face-to-face talks with Barack Obama this morning.
He may be able to travel at warp speed but even Spock needs to slurp on a Starbucks to beat the summer heat.

And though it might seem highly illogical that the space explorer would be sipping coffee through a straw on 11th Avenue in Manhattan, it made perfect sense once it became clear that a Star Trek convention was just yards away.

Loyal fans were excitedly gathering this weekend for Star Trek: Mission New York at the Jacob K. Javits Convention Center for one of the biggest celebrations commemorating the shows 50th anniversary.

Living long and prospering! Spock was seen sipping on a a Starbucks coffee at the convention

Some of the franchises most loyal fans are attending the three-day convention in New York

Joe Desimone, 10, pretends to fire a phaser at an alien while attending the Star Trek: Mission New York convention

Hailing on all frequencies! Spock appears to be in deep thought, rather than deep space as he chews on a New York bagel

The very first Star Trek convention was also held in New York in 1972.

Organizers expected 500 people and 3,000 showed up. The numbers have kept growing at each subsequent convention with tens of thousands expected this weekend.

The original series was acclaimed by critics, including Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., for having a black woman (Nyota Uhura, played by Nichelle Nichols) and a Japanese American (Hiraku Sulu, played by George Takei), as major characters.

But it was the fandom of the show that led to the franchise being resurrected with movies, spinoff shows and countless other multimedia.

Beam him up: The fans of Star Trek take it very seriously with many owning, or maybe renting costumes for the special event

Star Trek fan Quinn Raymond poses for a pictures while sitting in the captain's chair of the Enterprise, all part of a Star Trek set that has been set up

Star Trek uniforms are all prominently on display for fans to purchase for themselves!

The very first Star Trek convention was held in the city in 1972 and it has grown ever more popular

At this weekend's event, dozens of special guests will be in attendance including William Shatner who played Captain Kirk from the show's second pilot in 1966.

There's also a long lineup of 'Trek Talks' given by astronauts, scientists, engineers, and Star Trek alumni.

The talks will cover topics including alien life, exoplanet exploration, and the ways in which the show has influenced NASA, space travel, and modern technology.

Star Trek fan Alex Reventlow lives out his dream as he sits in the Captain's chair

Thousands of fans are expected at the the convention across the weekend

A boy plays with a model of a Klingon ship from the TV show

Beam her up! Star Trek fan Nadia Tyler, left, poses for a picture with a man pretending to be the character Scotty from the original Star Trek series

Meanwhile, for those in the south of the country, fantasy and role play is the order of the weekend at Dragon Con in Georgia.

The event which has been running for 30 years bills itself as the largest multi-media, popular convention focusing on science fiction & fantasy, gaming, comics, literature, art, music and film.

Like the Star Trek convention, it embraces participants to dress up in all kind of fantastical costumes.

Around 75,000 guests are expected to be wandering through the Atlanta convention halls this Labor Day weekend.

Costumed people attend the 30th annual Dragon Con science fiction and fantasy convention in Atlanta, Georgia

Jordan Poll (left) as Oracle and Chad Allen (right) as the Swamp Druid cross Peachtree in Atlanta, Georgia. Thousands of attendees crowd downtown Atlanta hotels and streets during the Labor Day weekend, many dressed as their favorite characters in what is known as cosplay
Chimpanzees love the latest fad or craze every bit as much as humans do  even when it makes them look ridiculous.

At a sanctuary in Zambia, one female invented a fashion statement by sticking a long stalk of grass into her ear and leaving it there as she made her way around the family group, grooming each of the others in turn. It was a distinctive look, and soon other apes were adopting it.

The stalk serves no purpose. It doesn't do anything, but years later this group of chimps are still, uniquely, wearing grass in their ears.

And a female orangutan called Suma, at Osnabruck Zoo, Germany, during the Seventies, went even further: she would collect cabbage leaves, sift through them and choose one to press onto her head.

Chimpanzees love looking at themselves in the mirror and are 'dedicated followers of fashion'

Then she'd inspect herself in the mirror, trying the leaf at different jaunty angles.

During a career of studying animal behaviour stretching back more than 40 years, I've often seen chimps riding a new trend. At the world's largest chimpanzee colony, in Royal Burgers' Zoo in Arnhem, Holland, a group I was studying came up with a game we called 'cooking'.

They'd dig a hole in the dirt, collect water by holding a bucket under a tap and pour the water into the hole. Then they'd sit around the hole poking the mud with a stick, as if stirring soup.

Sometimes there would be three or four holes on the go at the same time, keeping half the group busy.

And Wolfgang Kohler, who studied primate behaviour before World War II, witnessed chimps devising a new dance. They'd march in single file, stamping one foot down hard and stepping lightly with the other as they trotted around and around a post, while wagging their heads in time to the rhythm.

Like all fashion victims, chimps love mirrors. They use them not just to check their appearance, but to examine areas that they can't see, such as the inside of their mouths. Females always turn around to look at their own bottoms  something that males don't care about.

A lifetime of studying these astonishing animals has taught me that they are far more intelligent than most scientists realise.

They follow complex social rules, caring for each other, and understanding each other's viewpoints, even their emotions.

One ageing female at Arnhem was having trouble walking  so the younger females would go to the tap, collect a mouthful of water and then come back to dribble it into the old ape's open mouth.

Similar behaviour has been observed in the wild, by British primatologist Jane Goodall.

She described how one elderly animal, dubbed Madame Bee, had become too weak to climb trees. Bee would patiently wait at the bottom for her daughter to carry down armfuls of fruit, which the pair would then contentedly eat together.

What is most impressive here is not just how the young apes solved problems, but the fact that they perceived other apes had problems. The chimps were able to appreciate life from a different viewpoint  an ability scientists once believed was particular to humans.

Many researchers still refuse to let go of that belief.

I was at a symposium recently to discuss altruism, where a prominent child psychologist loudly told an audience: 'No ape will ever jump into a lake to save another!'

I had to point out that there are several reports of apes doing exactly this  even though they are not naturally able to swim.

Another psychologist, America's Michael Tomasella, has proclaimed that humans are the only creatures capable of working together to achieve their goals. His dictum is: 'It is inconceivable that you would ever see two chimpanzees carrying a log together.'

That's a striking statement, and one that just isn't true.

Chimps also use mirrors to examine areas they can't see, such as the inside of their mouths

At Royal Burgers' Zoo there were beech tree saplings in the chimp enclosure, protected by a circle of electrified wire. I have watched two chimps using long sticks as ladders, to get over the wire: one holds the stick, and the other scales it to reach the tender leaves without getting a shock.

At my office in Yerkes National Primate Research Centre, in Atlanta, Georgia, two adolescent females often try to spy on me by peering through my first-floor window.

Together, they roll an oil drum up to the building's wall, and one stands on the drum while the other climbs onto her shoulders. Then, in a synchronised movement, they bounce up and down, so that a cheeky chimpanzee face keeps popping up outside the window.

But the most extraordinary instance was the so-called Great Escape of Arnhem.

One night, after all the people had gone home, the chimps dragged a gigantic tree trunk, far too heavy for a single animal to move, to the perimeter wall and propped it up. Then 25 of them scrambled out of the enclosure  and raided the zoo restaurant.

Co-operation doesn't have to be so dramatic to be impressive. One day I was watching a female called Krom, who was trying to scoop water from a tyre hanging on a log.

Unfortunately, a row of other tyres were hanging beside it, and she couldn't lever up the one she wanted, to get her drink. For about ten minutes she wrestled with this, watched by her nephew Jakie, a smart seven-year-old.

He waited till Krom had given up, and then set patiently to work, dragging all the tyres off the log one by one. When he reached the last one, he carefully removed it so that no water was spilled, and carried it to Auntie Krom. She started to drink immediately.

You might think apes don't use social communication, that they have no way to say 'please' and 'thank you', 'hello' and 'goodbye'. But you'd be wrong.

I once trained a female chimp named Kuif to bottle-feed a baby she had adopted every few hours throughout the day and night. She was a natural nurse, and would remove the teat from the baby's mouth now and then to burp him.

When we called her inside for a feeding, Kuif would make a long detour, doing the rounds on the island to visit first the alpha male, then the alpha female and then her friends.

She'd give each one a kiss, before coming into the building  and if any of them were asleep, she'd wake them up for her goodbyes. Chimps also kiss as a greeting after separation, placing their lips gently on each other's mouth or shoulder. This resembles the human kiss of greeting.

Bonobos (once known as pygmy chimpanzees) go even further. When a zookeeper familiar with chimps once naively accepted a bonobo kiss, not knowing this species, he was taken aback by the amount of tongue that went into it!

If you're going to work with any ape, it is essential to know their behavioural codes  not just the rules of kissing, but their moods and emotions . . . and especially their tricks. One of my students came to his first encounter with chimps, against our advice, wearing a suit and tie. He insisted he was capable of dealing with these two juveniles, aged about four, because he had a lifetime's experience with dogs.

Chimpanzees, even though they look very cute when young, are ten times more cunning than dogs  and much stronger than humans.

When the student came staggering out of the test room, the two mischievous apes were still clinging to his legs. His jacket was in tatters, with both sleeves torn off. Luckily, the chimps didn't have time to discover that a tie can also be used as a noose.

One of the problems in studying chimps is that, because they are so clever, they get bored very easily. This means that in tests against monkeys, they often come off worse: their superior intelligence is actually a disadvantage.

Rhesus monkeys can perform the same simple experiment, such as identifying an object by its shape without seeing it, hundreds of times. Chimps lose interest after a dozen trials.

Their attention wanders. They pull at your clothes or try to grab you, they make faces, they bang on the windows, they jump up and down. Sometimes this behaviour proves irresistible and, rather unprofessionally, I have abandoned an experiment and joined in a game instead.

Chimpanzees enjoy laughing. I am well aware that it is crucial to avoid equating animal behaviour with human traits just because they look similar, but in this instance there is no better explanation.

When young apes are tickled, they make breathy sounds with a rhythm of inhaling and exhaling that sounds like the laughter of children. And just like children, they love being tickled even when, at the same time, they can't stand it.

I have often seen how they push away my tickling fingers and then come back begging for more, holding their breath while awaiting the next poke in the belly.

In the past our general attitude has been that we like chimpanzees to be quite like humans, but not too much. The anthropologist Desmond Morris told me that, when he was working at London Zoo in the Sixties, tea parties were still held regularly in the ape house.

Gathered on chairs around a table, the chimps had been trained to use cups, saucers and a teapot  no problem for these sophisticated, tool-using animals.

But over time, the apes' performance became too polished, which made the public feel uncomfortable. The chimps looked a little too like us. With the human ego under threat, something had to be done, and the apes were retrained to throw food around and drink from the teapot spout as soon as the keeper's back was turned.

OCTOPUSES ARE BRAINBOXES, TOO It's not only chimpanzees and bonobos that display amazing intelligence. Many creatures exhibit intellectual abilities that must be seen to be believed. An octopus at one aquarium was fond of raw chicken eggs, breaking them open and sucking out the contents. One day, a keeper accidentally gave it a rotten egg. The octopus shot the smelly remains over the side of its tank  straight at the human who had supplied the egg. This was no accident. Octopuses can certainly tell people apart. In a recognition test, one keeper gave an octopus scraps of food, while another poked it gently with a bristly stick. The octopus soon learned to recognise which human was its friend, even though both keepers were wearing identical blue overalls. When it spotted its enemy, the octopus would recoil, squirting jets of ink into the water  a typical defence mechanism. But when the other keeper arrived, it would approach, without any display of fear or hostility. Advertisement

This naughty behaviour was much more popular.

In fact, chimpanzees prefer a civilised life. At Burgers', I watched two infant apes rolling and scrapping on the ground, enjoying a game that soon got out of hand.

There was screaming and hair-pulling, and the two mothers, watching their little ones fight, didn't know what to do. Of course, either of them could have waded in and broken up the fight, but that would have made matters worse.

Mothers are never impartial, and it's not unusual to see a juvenile quarrel escalate into an adult fight. Instead of intervening, one of them went across to the old matriarch, Mama, to wake her from a snooze.

Swinging an arm in the direction of the fight, the younger female pointed out the problem. Mama needed only one glance to assess the situation, and took a step forward with a threatening grunt. That shut up the squabbling youngsters in an instant. Chimps are so clever that they can assess a new situation by spotting the things that are missing. This takes imagination and a powerful sense of reasoning.

For example, one morning at Burgers', while the chimps were still in their night quarters, we showed them a crate full of grapefruits. Then we carried it, under their watchful eyes, through the door to their outside enclosure.

When we brought the crate back, it was empty  and pandemonium broke out. As soon as they saw the grapefruits were gone, 25 apes burst out hooting and hollering and slapping each other on the back.

I have never seen animals so excited about absent food. They inferred that, since grapefruits can't just vanish, we'd left these treats outside for them in the enclosure.

That was the first and only time we carried out the experiment, so it's certain that the chimps weren't responding to experience or learning by trial and error. They had taken one look and seen exactly what was going on.

Another experiment, by Charlie Menzel at the Language Research Center in Atlanta, tested a similar type of intelligence.

Late one evening, he let a female chimp called Panzee watch while he hid a bag of her favourite M&M sweets in a bush, just outside her enclosure. The bag was tantalisingly out of reach, and Panzee could do nothing about it all night.

Next morning, when the caretakers arrived, she was waiting. Charlie guessed what would happen, knowing the caretakers were very sympathetic to the chimps and would take Panzee's behaviour seriously.

Using gestures and noises, such as panting, calling, beckoning and pointing, she directed the caretakers straight to where the sweets were hidden. As the humans got closer, Panzee vigorously bobbed her head up and down, as if saying: 'Yes! Yes!'

Charlie tried the experiment again, letting Panzee see him hide sweets in all kinds of places. The chimp never got muddled, and never directed the caretakers to an old stash. As the hiding places were moved further away, Panzee would point higher, to indicate a greater distance  just as humans would.

But for sheer brainpower, there's no beating a chimp called Ayumu at the Primate Research Institute, in Kyoto University, Japan. A young male, he has a memory capable of absorbing information at lightning speed and recalling it perfectly.

Sitting at a touchscreen computer, he watches numbers one to nine flash up and then vanish. Ayumu can reproduce the sequence every time  even if the numbers appear for just one-fifth of a second.

I tried, and the best I could do was five correct digits. Ayumu gets a perfect score 80 per cent of the time. No human can match that, even memory wizards capable of memorising the order of a shuffled pack of cards.

In contests, Ayumu always emerges as the 'chimpion', and now that he is being tested on an even larger sequence of numbers, flashed up even more rapidly, the limits of what he can do are still unknown.

I have my own reason to be grateful for chimpanzees' memories. It's many years since I left Arnhem and moved to America, but I still return every year to see my ape friends.

Some of the colony were there as youngsters 30 years ago, and when I arrive they quickly pick out my face amid the crowds and greet me with an excited hooting. It seems my face is special to them. And they are all very special to me.
The home owners claim they have been deliberately mislead

It is being advertised as a potential space for an eight-storey development

The neighbouring Sydney property is being sold by the NSW government

The owners say they paid premium prices for the views from the properties

Home owners who spent millions on their properties are threatening to sue the NSW government if their Harbourfront views are blocked by a neighbouring property.

Eight Victorian terraces in Lower Fort St, Millers Point, an inner-city suburb of Sydney, were purchased at a total cost of 37 million for their waterfront views.

But the nearby property being sold by the government is being advertised as a potential eight-storey development of 'lavish apartments' which will block their million dollar views, reported The Daily Telegraph.

A million dollar view of Sydney's harbour can be blocked for home owners if the government sells a property and permits a high-rise building

The advertisement notes the 718sq m site at 14 Hickson Rd, Walsh Bay comes with Sydney iconic views including the Harbour, Bridge, Opera House and CBD and has the 'Potential to construct a prestigious mixed-use development or hotel'.

Home owner, Eddie Younes, spent $6.675 million on one of the Fort St terraces and has threatened to sue if the high-rise is given the green light.

'I specifically asked at the time if there were plans for the site and was told nothing would happen,' he said.

Eddie Younes, spent $6.675 million on one of the Fort St terraces and has threatened to sue if the high-rise is given the green light

Opposition Finance, Services and Property spokesman Clayton Barr, believes the government deliberately chose to not publicise the information about the potential high-rise.

'I find it hard to believe the government did not know, at the time of selling the Millers Point properties, that they also planned to sell this land for high-rise development,' he said.

Property NSW said a high-rise building is only an option and still needs to be given approval.

'Prospective purchasers were encouraged to make their own inquiries regarding potential uses of the site,' a spokesman said.
Daniel Morcombe's killer Brett Cowan has been left permanently disfigured after he was allegedly attacked with boiling water in jail.

Adam Paul Davidson faced court over the incident that occurred last month inside the Wolston Correctional Centre in Queensland.

Davidson, 30 revealed the details in court over the incident in which he allegedly poured boiling water from a mop bucket on Cowan before beating him.

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Brett Cowan, Daniel Morcombe's murderer, was left in hospital after a fellow inmate allegedly poured boiling water on him

Daniel was murdered by the paedophile in 2003 on the Sunshine Coast in Queensland

He was charged with grievous bodily harm following the alleged attack.

He is the only person expected to be charged in relation to the attack despite claims more prisoners were involved.

Bill Potts from Queensland's Law Society condemned the attack.

'We as a society, no matter what we might think of him (Cowan) as a person, still have an obligation to ensure his safety,' he said.

Cowan is serving a life sentence for murdering Sunshine Coast schoolboy Daniel Morcombe in 2003.

Adam Paul Davidson who has been charged for the assault told the court he 'did it for the people' (Cowan pictured)

Cowan is serving a life sentence for killing Daniel (pictured)
Children hoping for a delayed back-to-class date because of floods had a let-down when a digger operator gave stranded teachers a new type of lift to school.

Teachers in the remote Yen Bai province in northern Vietnam were stranded when floods washed out roads between the villages and the school.

So big-hearted construction workers brought in a giant digger and ran a makeshift ferry service taking teachers across the flood in its giant scoop.

Headmaster Duong Xuan Truong - from the Nam Muoi Ethnic Day-boarding Junior High School - said: 'The path was closed because it had been washed away by very heavy rain.'

He added: 'We didn't know how the teaching staff would get there until the digger arrived.'

A video of the impromptu ferry shows teachers crammed four at a time into the scoop as they are taken across the fast-moving flood waters.

Operators even managed to get the teachers' mopeds across, tied to the bottom of the digger's scoop.

Children hoping for a delayed back-to-class date because of floods had a let-down when a digger operator gave stranded teachers a new type of lift to school

Teachers in the remote Yen Bai province in northern Vietnam were stranded when floods washed out roads between the villages and the school

The school head explained: 'The excavator was part of a team building a new bridge across a river that had burst its banks because of the food.

'Without them, we wouldn't have been able to open the school at all.'

Last month bored miners filmed themselves bowling using a huge mechanical excavator to pass the time in a remote region in Kazakhstan.

The bizarre incident took place on the outskirts of the village of Auezov in the eastern part of the country where the mine workers used the massive excavator.

Footage shows the drivers of the machine using a green rubber ball as a bowling ball to knock down a series of water bottles.

Headmaster Duong Xuan Truong - from the Nam Muoi Ethnic Day-boarding Junior High School - said: 'The path was closed because it had been washed away by very heavy rain'
David Ward, 51, threatened to kill shoppers with cyanide

A chemistry graduate threatened to kill shoppers with cyanide in a 2million blackmail scheme.

David Ward, 51, told a national supermarket that contaminated food which would cause 'certain death' to anyone who ate it had been placed on the shelves.

He backed up the threat by sending a vial to the company's headquarters. Tests revealed it contained up to ten lethal doses of the substance.

In a letter, Ward posed as a group of disgruntled employees 'free to poison your products at any time of our choosing'. He wrote: 'We have the power to destroy your company and we will unless paid. Don't pay and people will die, I promise you, and we will want four million [pounds] then for the extra unwanted attention this would bring.'

But he was caught after DNA on the letter's stamp matched a sample he had given in 2012 when facing unrelated charges.

Jailing Ward for seven years, Judge Mark Dennis QC told him: 'Had it not been for a DNA profile obtained from you in relation to an earlier offence, you may well have remained undetected and your scheme allowed to run at your discretion.' The defendant bought pure potassium cyanide online after a failed attempt to make his own batch.

He made the purchase through an American website on the 'dark web', the unpoliced part of the internet where drugs, weapons and other illegal items are traded.

Payment was made using Bitcoin, the virtual online currency which is difficult to trace.

The supermarket, which cannot be identified for legal reasons, was told to place an obituary in a national newspaper to indicate they were prepared to pay the ransom. Ward's letter, which he signed 'a businessman', said: 'Make the announcement and innocent people need not die.'

He backed up the threat by sending a vial (pictured) to the company's headquarters

However, urgent forensic checks revealed his identity and he was arrested a day before the blackmail deadline in February. When questioned by police, he claimed he had acted alone and no food had been tampered with.

Unmarried Ward's DNA was on the UK police forces' national database after he was convicted of a 'long list' of more minor offences. His criminal record stretched back to 1985 when he was in court for dishonesty at the age of 20.
Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump has run an unusually cheap campaign in part by not paying at least 10 top staffers.

They include recently departed campaign manager Paul Manafort, California state director Tim Clark, communications director Michael Caputo and a pair of senior aides who left the campaign in June to work for a Trump Super PAC.

The New York real estate magnate and his allies have touted his campaign's frugality, saying it is evidence of his management skills.

Paul Manafort, Trump's former campaign chief who quit amid the Russian cash scandal, did not draw any salary from election coffers, it has been revealed

California state director Tim Clark (left) and communications director Michael Caputo were also not paid. Caputo has said he was promised a salary, but none materialized

His campaign's spending has totaled $89.5 million so far, about a third of what Democratic rival Hillary Clinton's campaign has spent.

But not compensating top people in a presidential campaign is a departure from campaign finance norms.

Many of the positions involved might typically come with six-figure annual paychecks in other campaigns.

'It's unprecedented for a presidential campaign to rely so heavily on volunteers for top management positions,' said Paul Ryan, an election lawyer with the campaign finance reform advocacy group Campaign Legal Center.

The Trump campaign said the claims are 'sloppy at best', but declined to elaborate.

One of the 10 who were unpaid, Michael Caputo, told a Buffalo radio station in June after he resigned from the campaign, that he was not volunteering. Rather, he said he just had not gotten paid.

Caputo confirmed to Reuters on Thursday that the Trump campaign has still not paid his invoices.

Trump has prided himself on the frugality of his campaign, having spent around a third as much as the Clinton camp so far

In another instance, two high-level former Trump campaign advisers, former Chris Christie campaign manager Ken McKay and Manafort lobbying associate Laurance Gay, departed the Trump campaign in June to work for the Trump-backed Super PAC, Rebuilding America Now.

In June, the Super PAC paid each of them $60,000, the filings show.

Federal campaign law stipulates that people working for campaigns, who may possess strategic knowledge of a campaign or work as a campaign's agents, must wait for 120 days before going to work for a Super PAC, a political spending group that can accept unlimited sums of money from wealthy donors so long as it does not coordinate with a campaign.

Aide Ken McKay left Trump's campaign in June to work for one of his Super PACs without drawing a salary

Through a spokesperson, McKay and Gay said they were volunteering for Trump and did not possess strategic information so the rule did not apply to them.

Another example of free labor is Rick Gates, who was Manafort's deputy.

According to two former high-level Trump staffers, Gates functioned as the Trump campaign manager for more than two months, all while not collecting a paycheck.

By contrast, Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton's campaign manager Robby Mook earned roughly $10,000 in July, the same amount as President Barack Obama's campaign manager Jim Messina did in 2012.

That same year, Republican nominee Mitt Romney's campaign manager, Matt Rhoades, was making nearly $7,000 bi-monthly.

Others who, according to the FEC filings, have not been paid include finance chairman Steven Mnuchin, national political director Rick Wiley and senior adviser Barry Bennett.

None of them were available for comment, nor were Manafort, Gates and Clark.

Many campaigns have volunteers who work as low-level ground troops, knocking on voters' doors and passing out campaign buttons.

There are instances in other campaigns of senior staff opting not to draw a paycheck. For example, John Podesta, a longtime adviser to Clinton who is now her campaign chairman, considers his role honorary and does not draw a salary.

What is unusual, however, is for a campaign to have such a large group of people in top positions who are unpaid.

After Manafort resigned in August, Trump promoted his senior adviser and top pollster, Kellyanne Conway, to become his new campaign manager.

Before then, Conway ran a Super PAC affiliated with Texas Senator and Republican presidential candidate Ted Cruz.

For work from June 2015 to June 2016, the Super PAC paid the firm she owns more than $700,000.

She officially joined the Trump campaign July 1. But so far, according to campaign finance reports that detail spending through July 31, Conway has not been paid by the Trump campaign.
Two sisters with cerebral palsy who were split up after one of them was adopted from a Chinese orphanage and the other was left behind have been reunited after almost four years apart.

Aubrey, 13, and Avery, 14, were living in the same Chinese orphanage but did not know they were related, before the former was adopted by Lisa Lumpkins and her family from Georgetown, Kentucky in 2013.

Then, earlier this year, Lumpkins saw a picture of Avery while scrolling through social media.

Two sisters with Cerebral Palsy, Aubrey (right) and Avery (left), who were split up after one of them was adopted from a Chinese orphanage and another was left behind have been reunited

Almost immediately, she says she suspected it was Aubrey's sister.

'The first time I seen (sic) them, I was just speechless,' Lumpkin said in an interview with Inside Edition.

'I was like, you know, wow, she looks just like my daughter.

After a DNA test confirmed what Lumpkins thought, the Kentucky mother-of-eight stared the adoption process.

Aubrey (right) and Avery (left) were living in the same Chinese orphanage but did not know they were related, before the former was adopted by Lisa Lumpkins and her family in 2013

The Lumpkins family - Madison (back left), Aubrey (front left), Blake (back second from left), Avery (front second from left), Carter (front middle), Lisa (back middle), Gene (back right), Molly (front third from right), Mia (front second from left), and Noah (front right)

But she was then presented with a new challenge in her attempt to reunite the sisters.

Avery's 14th birthday was in August, the age at which children become ineligible for adoption in China.

If Lumpkins could not have the adoption process completed by then, Avery would be forced to stay in China forever.

Thankfully, after a mad scramble against the calendar, the adoption was confirmed in time and Avery boarded a plane to the U.S. last week, according to Inside Edition.

Lisa Lumpkins (pictured) said she and her family worked desperately to adopt Avery before she turned 14 and became ineligible

Lisa Lumpkins said the moment she saw a picture of Avery (pictured) she thought she looked like her adopted daughter, Aubrey

The Lumpkins were waiting at the airport with Aubrey to welcome the newest member of their family.

'I was just floored, I didn't know what to say,' Lumpkins said after reuniting the sisters.

'I wish we would've known three and a half years ago so we could have gave them all that time together.'

Since settling in at her new home, Lumpkins says Avery and her sister are getting along tremendously.

Lisa Lumpkins posed for a picture at the Lexington Airport with Avery (left) and Molly (right) when they arrived from China after being adopted last month

Aubrey (back right) poses for a photo with her adopted siblings, Mia (back left), Noah (front left), and Carter (front right)

'They're loving being together. They remembered being [at the orphanage] together, but they had no clue they were sisters,' she told Inside Edition.

Lumpkins, who also has two biological children - Blake and Madison - with her husband, Gene, said earlier this year she dreamed of adopting since she was a little girl.

So in 2013, the couple flew to China to meet Aubrey, who was nine at the time.

Prior to this adoption, the Lumpkins had also given a new home to Mia, Noah, and Carter.
An Ontario woman helped her grandfather spread the word on social media after he found an extraordinarily large mushroom in the woods.

Don Smith, 84, found the 15.4-pound puffball while walking his daughter's dog last week near Woodstock.

Eager to share his discovery with the world, he asked his granddaughter Kaylie Ngo to post a photo of his find online.

She obliged, and a photo of Smith with the enormous puffball in his lap has now been shared 4,686 times.

Don Smith, 86, of Mossley, Ontario, found a giant puffball mushroom (pictured) last week and asked his granddaughter to post a picture of the find online for the world to see

'My 84-year-old Grandpa from Mossley, Ontario wants "the internet" to see this,' Ngo wrote on Facebook. 'He is extremely proud of this find.'

The puffball measures 20 inches in diameter.

'He's just really excited to have found something so special,' Ngo told the Toronto Star. 'He just wanted to share it with everybody. I thought it was really cute.'

But Smith won't make a dinner out of the mighty mushroom. He finds the taste of puffballs too woody and doesn't eat them.

So he gave his precious find to a friend - but believes it will probably take several people to eat a mushroom this size.

The largest puffball ever found was discovered in Slaithwaite, in the United Kingdom, in 2010 according to the London Free Press. It had a circumference of 66.5 inches.

Kaylie Ngo, Smith's granddaughter, agreed to help him share his victorious find with the world and posted a photo on Facebook, along with this message
Dinkins said it was Garcia who hit his vehicle, according to police report

Former New York mayor David Dinkins hit a delivery man with his Cadillac, breaking the man's ankle before driving off, a lawsuit states.

Bronx resident Rodrigo Garcia, 32, filed the suit Friday in Manhattan Supreme Court. He says Dinkins, 89, hit his bicycle with his Cadillac this summer.

Garcia was pedaling on the Upper East Side on York Avenue near 69th Street when Dinkins' car clipped him on June 30, the lawsuit says.

But Dinkins told police it was the delivery man who hit his car, according to the police report.

Former New York mayor David Dinkins (pictured on Monday), 89, hit a delivery man with his car in June, breaking the man's ankle, a lawsuit filed Friday states

Garcia was about to turn on East 69th Street when Dinkin's Cadillac caught the front basket of his bike, the suit states according to the New York Post.

The impact caused Garcia's bike to complete a 180-degree spin, breaking his right ankle, his attorney Joel Turney said.

Turney claims Dinkins drove away and that a witness took down the number on his license plate.

However the police report shows that officers did not tick the box that says 'left scene' and instead indicated 'not investigated at scene', the Post reported.

The former mayor told authorities Garcia was the one who had hit the side of his car according to the police report.

The report also mentions damage to the front of Dinkins' car, the New York Daily News reported.

Garcia says has been out of work since the crash.

Dinkins, who now teaches at Columbia University's School Of International And Public Affairs, was hospitalized with pneumonia in February.
Maurice Nelson (pictured),who had been on the run for nearly two months after being accused of kidnapping, repeatedly raping and keeping a woman in chains for four days in his basement, has turned himself in

A man who had been on the run for nearly two months after being accused of kidnapping, repeatedly raping and keeping a woman in chains for four days in his basement, has turned himself in to police.

Maurice Nelson, 28, allegedly abducted and tortured a 23-year-old woman inside his home, before police were called to rescue the woman on July 14 after neighbors reported hearing loud screams.

Nelson has been on the run ever since, which is why police were so shocked when he arrived at the City-County Building on Thursday morning to surrender.

Sgt. Eric Gundle, a supervisor with the Marion County Sheriff's judicial enforcement division, was at the center when a man who he believed was a pastor approached him and said he had a man with him who wanted to turn himself in, the Indianapolis Star reports.

The cop then followed the man back to his car, where he then slapped handcuffs on Nelson.

But at the time, Gundle was unaware he had just arrested one of the state's most wanted men, and didn't realize until the next day.

He went on to add Nelson 'didn't say much', and did not give any clues as to where he had been hiding for the past number of weeks.

The 28-year-old has been charged with three counts of rape, criminal confinement, three counts of battery as well as other crimes, and is scheduled to face a preliminary hearing next week.

Maurice Nelson, 28, allegedly abducted and tortured a 23-year-old woman inside his home (pictured), before she was found and rescued on July 14

At the time of the incident in July, police released this picture of Maurice Nelson, who remained on the run for almost two months

It comes after it was revealed officers forced their way inside the home to rescue the 23-year-old woman by cutting off a padlock, before they went down into the basement and found her.

At the time, she was naked, handcuffed, shackled and with a chain around her neck. Additional restraints secured the victim to the floor and to a metal pole.

The victim told police that her four-day nightmare started on July 10 when she met up with Maurice Nelson 10 after the two spoke through a phone chat line.

The 28-year-old man picked up the woman from a local hotel and she agreed to go to his house and 'chill,' the document states.

On Thursday, Nelson turned himself in to an officer at the City-County Building in Indianapolis (pictured)

When the couple arrived at Nelson's residence, they proceeded to have sex, but at one point Nelson stopped and sprayed the woman with mace, according to police.

Nelson then allegedly overpowered the 23-year-old, cuffed her and dragged her down to the cellar, where he chained her up, covered her mouth with duct tape, beat her with a baton he dubbed Timmy turner and raped her at least four times over the next four days, according to police.

The alleged victim said her captor told her he was a cop and pretended to be talking on a police radio.
An exclusive Catholic school has 'banned' two girls from seeing each other after it was revealed they were in a lesbian relationship, students claim.

St Aloysius Girls College in Adelaide has denied claims two senior students were ordered not to sit together in class or talk to each other on school grounds.

A friend of the girls, who attends a different school, has spoken out about the allegations to 7News.

St Aloysius girls College in Adelaide 'banned' two girls from seeing each other after it was revealed they were in a lesbian relationship, students claim

'Not going to the school, I can't be threatened with suspension or exclusion so I can take a stand for these girls and their rights,' the friend said.

An online petition calling on the school to allow the couple to be together was started by a St Aloysius student received almost 500 signatures in a few hours before the school demanded it be removed, the publication reported.

On Friday the school issued a statement saying the school's policies had been misrepresented.

'Social media has this week provided an avenue for a serious misrepresentation regarding the school's policies,' a statement from Principal Paddy McEvoy read.

A friend of the girls, who attends a different school, decided to take a stand with an online petition

The since removed petition calling on the school to allow the couple to be together was received almost 500 signatures in a few hours

On Friday the school issued a statement saying the school's policies had been misrepresented

'The school  like many others - provides guidelines around student behaviour in school uniform, including public displays of affection, and has been absolutely consistent in their implementation.
A British health authority which suggested it would deny non-life threatening surgery to the obese and smokers has said it will put its proposals on hold.

The plans by Vale of York clinical commissioning group (CCG) could have meant that patients who exceed a body-mass index (BMI) of 30 would face delays in receiving some NHS surgery for up to a year.

Leading medics said it could become part of growing trend in hospitals which would see the overweight have elective medical procedures denied as a bid to cut costs.

Patients with a BMI of 30 or over would have been told they were not entitled to operations - a trend health bosses believed would become more common

The restrictions were described as the 'most severe' policy the modern NHS has seen by the Royal College of Surgeons (RCS).

But the North Yorkshire authority today said it had been asked to review the plans by NHS England.

It said in a statement: 'NHS England has today asked us to review the draft approach, which we will now do, and will hold off implementing anything until we have an agreed way forward.

'We will ensure any plans are implemented in line with national guidance, are in the best interests of our patients and are clinically robust.'

A spokesman for NHS England said denying operations to a particular group - such as smokers - was 'inconsistent' with the NHS constitution.

He said: 'Major surgery poses much higher risks for severely overweight patients who smoke. So local GP-led Clinical Commissioning Groups are entirely right to ensure these patients first get support to lose weight and try and stop smoking before their hip or knee operation. Reducing obesity and cutting smoking not only benefits patients, but saves the NHS and taxpayers millions of pounds.

Smokers would also have had to prove they have given up for at least eight weeks before they can have routine operations

'This does not and cannot mean blanket bans on particular patients such as smokers getting operations, which would be inconsistent with the NHS constitution.

'Vale of York CCG is currently under 'special measures' legal direction, and NHS England is today asking it to review its proposed approach before it takes effect to ensure it is proportionate, clinically reasonable, and consistent with applicable national clinical guidelines.'

The report by the CCG said obese patients may secure a referral in less than a year if they shed 10% of their weight.

Similarly, if smokers refuse to quit they faced having procedures delayed for up to six months, which can be accelerated if they quit their habit for eight weeks.

News of the proposed rationing sparked criticism from former health minister Norman Lamb, who said it was 'outrageous'.

NHS Providers, which represents NHS leaders, said similar proposals were likely to follow in future.

A spokesman said a number of considerations are taken by health services outside of costs when considering the decision to operate, but added: 'However, given that we are in the middle of the longest and deepest financial squeeze in the NHS's history, we are likely to see more decisions like this in future.'

In April, the RCS found almost a third of CCGs have one or more mandatory policies on BMI level, stopping overweight or obese patients being referred for routine surgery.

Cancer patients are not included within the scope of such policies.

Body Mass Index (BMI), which relates to a person's weight and height, is used by experts to define overweight and obese limits.

Those with a BMI of 30 to 35 and above are said to be moderately obese, while someone whose BMI is higher than 40 is classified as severely obese.

The president of the RCS, Clare Marx said: 'The policies being introduced by Vale of York CCG are some of the most severe the modern NHS has ever seen.

She added: 'We would support any attempts by Vale of York to expand its weight loss and smoking cessation programmes, but introducing blanket bans that delay patients' access to what can be life-changing surgery for up to a year is wrong.'

Mr Lamb, a Liberal Democrat who served as minister for state care and support in the Department of Health between 2012 and 2015, had said: 'Any rationing not based on clinical need is outrageous. But it is caused by the Conservative government persisting with plans to reduce the share of our national income spent on the NHS.

'This is just the latest in a growing list of local decisions to ration care.

Former health minister Norman Lamb branded the move 'outrageous'

'Any rationing not based on clinical need is outrageous.

'But it is caused by the Conservative government persisting with plans to reduce the share of our national income spent on the NHS.'

'At this rate we may see brutal service reductions becoming the norm, rather than just being exceptions.' Clare Marx, president of the Royal College of Surgeons

And Chris Hopson, who heads NHS Providers - an organisation which represents acute care, ambulance and community services - warned it could become the norm.

He said:'I think we are going to see more and more decisions like this.

'It's the only way providers are going to be able to balance their books, and in a way you have to applaud their honesty.

'You can see why they're doing this  the service is bursting at the seams.'

Under the Vale of York CCG's originally planned policy, smokers who refuse to kick the habit will have planned operations postponed for six months.

They may, however, speed up their operations by proving to medics that they have quit for at least eight weeks.

Cancer patients and those with conditions which could become life-threatening will not be included, and surgery will not be postponed if exceptional circumstances can be shown.

NHS bosses are tightening their belts, and they expect patients to be able to do the same before they qualify for surgery

Patients with a body mass index (BMI) of 30 or above will not be eligible for routine operations, a North Yorkshire hospital trust has ruled

Similar measures have been introduced by health trusts in North London and Hertfordshire, and last month St Helens CCG in Merseyside revealed it is considering temporarily suspending all non-essential hospital referrals in order to cut costs.

The Vale of York CCG had said it introduced the measures because of a funding gap.

BODY MASS INDEX (BMI) Body Mass Index (BMI), which relates a person's weight and height, is used by experts to define overweight and obese limits. People described as overweight have a BMI of 25 to 29.9. Those with a BMI of 30 to 35 and above are said to be moderately obese, while someone whose BMI is higher than 40 is classified as severely obese. Advertisement

Am earlier statement from the CCG said: 'The local system is under severe pressure.

'Hospitals are being warned they will not be paid for surgery if they carry out operations on obese patients who are not exempt from the policy.
The number of regular soldiers in the Army has fallen to the lowest number in 200 years according to figures released y the Ministry of Defence.

Figures show the Army has slid below the slimmed down target of 82,000 and the number of regular soldiers is below 80,000.

The statistics from the Ministry of Defence show the number of trained and counted full time soldiers at 79,390 at the beginning of July, down from 81,270 at the same time last year.

There are more soldiers in the volunteer reserves compared with last year, up to 23,400 from 21,530.

Figures show the army is at its lowest number of regular soldiers in 200 years. File photo

Speaking to the Telegraph, former officers warned the depleted figures means the Army could struggle to respond to a major incident.

Charles Heyman, editor of Armed Forces of the United Kingdom and a former infantry officer, told the paper: 'It's significant because it is part of a trend and the Army is going to find it difficult to catch up quickly.

'There's no doubt that not having Afghanistan does have an impact on recruiting. There's a lot of opportunities in civilian life and there's not really any fresh thinking about how to get people to serve in the Army.'

The Army was cut from 102,000 to 82,000 after the Defence Review in 2010 but the number of reservists was intended to increase to 30,000.

The Army was cut from 102,000 to 82,000 after the Defence Review in 2010 but the number of reservists was intended to increase to 30,000. File photo

Low rates of unemployment and a lack of overseas operations or war are all impacting on the Army's ability to recruit.

A general upturn in the country's economy makes it hard for the Army to attract new soldiers, one officer said.

The Royal Navy is down to 38,340 personnel, while the Royal Air Force is at 36,990 total.

A Ministry of Defence spokesman said: 'The Army offers exciting opportunities that inspire the best of our young people and we are committed to recruiting to 82,000.
A 20-year-old woman has been charged over the death of a 62-year-old woman following a horror crash on the NSW Central Coast.

The young woman was allegedly driving on a suspended licence when she was involved in the fatal crash in Gosford about 6am on Saturday.

The 62-year-old woman who was driving a Mitsubishi Mirage was rushed to Royal North Shore Hospital where she later died from her injuries.

A woman has died following a horror smash in Gosford on the central coast of NSW

A 62-year-old woman died from injuries after she was airlifted to a Sydney hospital

A 20-year-old woman has been charged over the death - it is alleged she was driving on a suspended licence

The 20-year-old woman has been ordered to face Wyong Bail Court on Sunday.

She was charged with dangerous driving occasioning death, negligent driving occasioning death and driving while suspended.

A Toyota Camry also suffered minor damage as a result of the incident.

The driver of the Camry was not injured. The 20-year-old's passenger was also unharmed in the accident.

The 20-year-old and her passenger were not hurt in the accident but went to hospital to be examined

A third car was damaged during the accident however the male driver was not hurt
Amazingly victims survived the incident and were said to be stable today

This is the horrific moment a man sparked terror by randomly attacking four people with a large butcher's knife.

The 26-year-old, identified locally as Nicolas Valdemar, got off his bike to stab an 89-year-old pensioner after spotting him coming out of a shop in Argentina.

He also repeatedly knifed a 54-year-old woman who tried to stop him, stabbing her up to 15 times including nearly a dozen times as she lay helpless on the ground.

The 26-year-old, identified locally as Nicolas Valdemar, got off his bike to stab an 89-year-old pensioner after spotting him coming out of a shop

One CCTV camera showed him stood over his unnamed female victim and repeatedly plunging the knife into her before walking away and leaving her for dead

He was held by Good Samaritans including an injured taxi driver he had attacked after turning on a fourth person he confronted walking along the pavement.

Miraculously no-one was killed and three of the four victims described as 'serious' in hospital were said to be stable today.

Graphic footage showed the suspect, believed to be under the effect of drugs or suffering psychological problems, randomly targeting his victims.

One CCTV camera showed him stood over his unnamed female victim and repeatedly plunging the knife into her before walking away and leaving her for dead as if nothing had happened,

The terrifying incident happened around 10am yesterday morning in Berisso near to La Plata, an hour and an half's drive south of the Argentinian capital Buenos Aires.

One witness said: 'It all began when a well-built man with a knife got off his bike and jumped on a man aged over 80 who he began to stab.

'He didn't want to rob him, he attacked him straight away without even saying a word.

'A woman who owns a nearby bakery shouted at him to stop and he leapt on her and stabbed her several times.

Graphic footage showed the suspect walking around the streets holding a knife, ready to attack anyone he intercepted

Believed to be under the effect of drugs or suffering psychological problems, the man can be seen randomly targeting his victims

He was held by Good Samaritans including an injured taxi driver he had attacked after turning on a fourth person he confronted walking along the pavement before police arrived

'A taxi driver tooted his horn and yelled at him and the attacker reacted by throwing himself on the car and stabbing him through the window. It was absolutely horrific.'

The hero taxi driver managed to radio colleagues despite his injuries who helped him detain the knifeman after he attacked a third man until police arrived.

The victims were rushed to Larrain Hospital in Berisso where they were recovering from their ordeal today.

The unnamed bakery owner, comparing her experience to the horror film Psychosis, said: 'I rushed out into the street because I heard a loud noise while I was serving people.

'I thought at first the attacker was hitting his elderly victim because I didn't see the knife. I shouted at him, 'Stop hitting him, he's just an old man.

'That's when I saw the blade. He got up with a gigantic butcher's type knife, like in the film Psychosis, and began to stab me.
The Australian Defence Force has been forced to pay more than $67 million to compensate victims of sexual assault, violence, bullying or harassment.

A total of 1,723 people shared in the $66.62 million payout, the final report by the Australian Defence Taskforce released on Friday revealed.

The report revealed 133 of the complaints were so serious they had to be referred directly to police by the taskforce.

Among the allegations leveled against army, navy and air force personnel were rape, indecent assault, threats to kill and abuse of a girl under the age of 10.

The Australian Defence Force paid more than $66 million to compensate victims of assault and sexual assault committed by its personnel, a report from the Defence Taskforce has revealed

A further 700 complaints were also received from alleged victims of assault, but they were not assessed as being 'within scope and plausible' by the taskforce.

The taskforce, which was launched in 2012, assessed complaints of sexual and other abuse by defence personnel prior to 11 April 2011, and also the complaints of women who were sexually assaulted between 1991 and 1998.

The chairman of the taskforce Robert Cornell described a previously 'dysfunctional culture' within the defence Force that even saw personnel go as far as to cover up the abuse committed by their colleagues.

'The defence culture described in many of the complaints was that you do not jack [or dob] on your mates, even if those so-called mates sexually or physically abused you,' Mr Cornell wrote.

'This flawed and dysfunctional culture discouraged some complainants from reporting abuse and, in other cases, complainants who did report their abuse were further abused and mistreated.

'As a result, highly trained members were adversely affected in their job performance  often for years  or they were driven out of defence and lost their careers.'

More than 1,700 incidents of assault including rape, indecent assault and abusing a girl under the age of 10 were revealed in the report. Of those incidents, 133 were so serious they were sent straight to police

After the report was released on Friday, Justice Minister Michael Keenan (pictured left) announced that he hoped it would lead to sustained change within the ranks

But despite the revelations of extensive abuse by its personnel, Mr Cornell praised the steps taken by the defence force to fix the culture within the ranks.

'It would be a great pity if Defences focus on improving culture and practices which has resulted in so much good work over the last few years was to lose impetus and the current commitment to continual improvement wither on the vine,' Mr Cornell wrote.

The taskforce suggested defence improve its internal processes for preventing abuse and also improve training for helping those who have suffered from sexual assaults.
A woman can be heard accusing the police officer of being out of line

Two men, aged 27, face 14 years jail after being charged over the attack

Officers were trying to make an arrest when a man lashed out at them

Shocking footage has surfaced of a thug smashing a police officer over the head with a steel chair as the officer was breaking up a brawl.

The disgraceful scenes on the Brunswick St nightclub strip in Brisbane's Fortitude Valley were captured last month on a mobile phone as bystanders accused the officer of being out of line.

Two men, both aged 27, face 14 years imprisonment if they are found guilty after being charged over the attack, 9 News reported.

Shocking footage has surfaced of a thug smashing a police officer over the head with a steel chair while the officer was breaking up a brawl

'A fight just happened right here,' a woman can be heard saying just moments before the man clocks the officer with the chair.

'He just chucked a f*****g chair at the cop,' another woman says.

After police detain the two men, a third woman accuses the officer of being in the wrong, saying: 'They're getting f***ing arrested for nothing.'

Two men have been charged with serious assault on police, which carries a harsh maximum penalty of up to 14 years jail.

Investigations into the incident are ongoing.

The two officers have joined the 2000 Queensland police assaulted every year in the line of duty.
An international buyer has paid $1.7 million more than the reserve price for a house that he plans to demolish.

The Hong Kong buyer paid $4.8 million for the 709 square-metre property at 51 Rowland St in the leafy Melbourne suburb of Kew, where they now plan to build a dream home.

Despite having only visited the property for the first time two days earlier, the eventual buyer was seemingly set on making the purchase at auction on Saturday.

A Hong Kong buyer has paid $1.7 million more than the reserve for a property in the leafy Melbourne suburb of Kew, which they incredibly plans to knock down and build on again

The buyer paid an amazing $6770 per square metre for the home which is in prime location

Before emerging victorious at auction they had to fend off bids from a neighbour and two other bidders after finding themselves in the middle of a fierce bidding war.

In paying $6,770 per square metre for the house, the buyer not only blew the asking price out of the water, but also recorded a new record for the region, the Herald Sun reported.

But despite paying a small fortune the new owner plans to immediately begin the demolition process before building another home on the block.

Currently standing on the block is a tired-looking house with a large backyard, something that clearly did not appeal to him.

With Melbourne set to become Australia's most populated capital city in coming decades, the location of the block means the purchase may prove to be a smart investment.

It is positioned close to a number of Melbourne's most elite private schools, something that was reportedly a factor in the high-selling price.

The property is located close to Melbourne's elite private schools and is just six kilometres from the CBD

'Normally the land there is selling for something like $4000 per square metre, so this is clearly a very, very strong result,' Richard Earle, director of the local Jellis Craig group, said.

'The schools won't be moving, the transport won't be moving... you wonder what it might be worth in a decade, or two, or three, or four.'
Foreign Secretary's missive said to have taken Downing Street by surprise

Boris Johnson has urged Theresa May not to keep Britain in the single market or agree a contribution to the EU budget as part of a Brexit deal.

In a leaked letter, the Foreign Secretary noted what are understood to be his four non-negotiable 'red lines' for the negotiations.

These were controls over immigration from EU countries, an end to budget contributions, a stop to more EU legislation applying to the UK and Britain's removal from the authority of the European Court of Justice.

Boris Johnson has urged Theresa May not to keep Britain in the single market. Pictured at a meeting of foreign ministers in Slovakia

In a leaked letter, the Foreign Secretary noted what are understood to be his four non-negotiable 'red lines' for the negotiations

The personal missive was the first significant leak from Mrs May's government, The Times reported.

The newspaper claimed the letter was sent after Mr Johnson visited French Foreign Minister Jean-Marc Ayrault on July 28, which came a week after the the Prime Minister's first cabinet meeting.

The letter surprised in Downing Street as neither of the other Brexit-supporting ministers, Liam Fox and David Davis, sent letters to Mrs May.

Statements from the government suggest that Mr Johnson's views on Brexit are gaining wider influence.

Cabinet ministers meeting at Chequers on Wednesday agreed that any Brexit deal will have to include controls on EU migration.

Describing the discussions, a spokeswoman for the PM said the deal 'must mean controls on the numbers of people who come to Britain from Europe but also a positive outcome for those who wish to trade goods and services'.

These were controls over immigration from EU countries, an end to budget contributions, a stop to more EU legislation applying to the UK and Britain's removal from the authority of the European Court of Justice

Yesterday, he spoke with his Austrian counterpart Sebastian Kurz before a gathering of EU foreign ministers (pictured) which they were attending later in Slovakian capital Bratislava

This led to speculation that this will dash any hopes of full access to the single market for British companies.

The spokeswoman also insisted the UK would gets its own 'unique' deal and not an 'off the shelf solution'.

On Thursday, Mr Johnson attended a meeting of foreign ministers in Germany to discuss the security situation in Ukraine, arms control and international terrorism, among other issues

Mr Johnson said his attendance was 'part of the broader message that we're making to the world that, whatever our relationship is going to be with the treaties of the European Union, the United Kingdom is not leaving Europe'.

'Broadly conceived, we are a European country, we're a dedicated European power,' said Johnson, who took office in the wake of the shock June referendum in favour of Britain leaving the EU.
have described him as a 'happy' and 'bubbly' child

Lauren Matthews said Oliver faces daily taunts about his appearance from strangers

A young mother has has been forced to defend her sick child after vile strangers pretended to vomit when he passed them in the street.

Oliver Matthews was born with an abnormally shaped head - meaning his skull was crushing his brain.

Medics had to perform dangerous surgery that left him with a zig-zag scar across the top of his head.

But mum Lauren, 24, from Hull, said her two-year-old faces daily taunts about his appearance from cruel strangers.

Lauren, a full-time carer for her son, said: 'This condition really needs awareness. I had no idea about it unless my son was diagnosed.

'Some people have made cruel and senseless comments. People have followed me round and pretended to retch.

'I have had to ignore them. It's absolutely vile.

Medics had to perform dangerous surgery that left him with a zig-zag scar across the top of his head

'He will have the scar for the rest of his life, but even so he is really brave and one of the happiest kids I know.

'He's obviously too young to notice some of the comments at the moment. I just hope when he gets older they don't affect him.

Oliver Matthews was born with an abnormally shaped head - meaning his skull was crushing his brain

'I'd love for him to stay as bright and confident as he is.'

The comments are especially cruel given the fight that Oliver, now two, has had with the condition since he was six months old.

Craniosynotosis is where the baby is born with an abnormally shaped head, which is often the result of increased pressure on the brain.

In total, the toddler has faced four surgeries to relieve the pressure on his brain and allow him to lead a normal life.

Lauren thought there was an issue at birth but was told by the midwives not to worry.

She said: 'The shape of his head was wrong and it looked a bit alien.

Lauren thought there was an issue at birth but was told by the midwives not to worry.

The comments are especially cruel given the fight that Oliver, now two, has had with the condition since he was six months old

His mum says he is an extremely happy child and hoping that when he gets older they don't affect him

Lauren thought there was an issue at birth but was told by the midwives not to worry.

She said: 'The shape of his head was wrong and it looked a bit alien.

'But they discharged him with 'no abnormalities. I was confused and fuming.'

When he was six months old Oliver had a reaction to penicillin, so Lauren took him to Hull Royal Infirmary straight away.

While they were there, the paediatrician said he was concerned about the shape of his head.

When he was six months old Oliver had a reaction to penicillin, so Lauren took him to Hull Royal Infirmary straight away

When he first saw it, his brother Justin asked for him to be taken back to hospital as he thought he was still broken.

A scan revealed he had craniosynotosis and the paediatrician's advice was to demand a referral to a specialist from our GP straight away.

Lauren said: 'We got an x-ray and it confirmed what he had said. He was transferred to Leeds hospital.

'I felt vindicated in a way, but it was really awful. In November 2014 he had his first surgery.

'It was absolutely terrifying having to hand my child over to the surgeons. He was only 13 months old.

'For those seven hours I was just waiting for the phone call. I was pacing up and down the waiting area.

'Fortunately he pulled through and was alright. He has a huge incision in his head from ear to ear.

'When he first saw it, his brother Justin asked for him to be taken back to hospital as he thought he was still broken.'

WHAT IS CRANIOSYNTOSIS? Babies can be born with or develop an abnormally shaped head. Symptoms can include headaches, learning difficulties and eye problems. Usually diagnosed by a pediatrician using and X-ray or CT scan Two types of craniosyntosis - syndromic and nonsyndromic. Syndromic is the result of one of a number of possible syndromes. The cause of nonsyndromic is unknown and there are no other birth defects. Effects 1 in every 3,000 children, with 3 out of 4 of these being boys. Surgery is the primary treatment for curing craniosyntosis. Advertisement

Six months after the surgery he started displaying symptoms of increased pressure on his brain

Six months after the surgery he started displaying symptoms of increased pressure on his brain.

He was screaming through the night, and he would only let Lauren or her sister Rebecca help him.

After his first surgery he was diagnosed with global developmental delay, and doctors thought his symptoms might have been related.

However, when they measured the pressure in is skull, they found it was at 44 mmHg, or millimetres of mercury. Normal values range between 7-15 mmHg.

Lauren said: 'It was an incredible amount of pressure. His skull was crushing his brain.

'He had five more hours of surgery and they removed two sections of his skull.

'I thought the first surgery he had would be all he would need so it was horrible.'

After going under the surgeon's knife again he was fine for two months and he and Lauren returned to a normal life.

Oliver settled back into a regular sleeping pattern and he was happy.

despite the trials they have been through, Oliver remain strong and and his mother is hopeful for his future

But Lauren quickly became concerned that the problem had returned when he began being sick and screaming in agony again.

She rushed him to Leeds Hospital for a CT scan at the end of March, which revealed the pressure in his brain had shot back up to 30 mmHg.

This time the pressure was also causing damage to his optic nerves. Going back was getting worse and worse because he is terrified of medical things.

But after another two rounds of surgery to remove further pieces of his skull, the pressure in his head and his eyesight are steadily returning to normal.

Now, despite the trials they have been through, Lauren and Oliver remain strong and hopeful for the future.

But after another two rounds of surgery to remove further pieces of his skull, the pressure in his head and his eyesight are steadily returning to normal

Lauren said: 'The past couple of years have been an absolute rollercoaster.

'Oliver has been an inspiration. He is bright and bubbly. Within 24 hours of his last surgery he was up and walking around, wanting to see all the wards and playing with toys.

'Hospital staff absolutely love him because he is so bubbly.
When president Barack Obama arrived in China on Saturday, typical pleasantries were spoiled slightly after a Chinese official began shouting at U.S. White House staff.

Chinese authorities have imposed extremely tight security precautions for the G20 summit.

Not even U.S. National Security Adviser Susan Rice and the White House press corps proved exempt when Air Force One landed in host city Hangzhou.

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President Barack Obama arrived in China on Saturday for his final G20 summit as president, but his initial landing was marred by tension between Chinese officials and White House staffers

Chinese authorities have imposed extremely tight security precautions for the G20 summit, which cause tempers to flare on the tarmac

U.S. National Security Adviser Susan Rice and senior White House staffer Ben Rhodes were blocked from getting close to the president until Secret Service stepped in and escorted them

When Obama travels, the reporters accompanying are brought under the wing of the Boeing 747 to watch him come down the aircraft stairs.

On Saturday they were penned off behind a blue rope installed by Chinese security.

But that was not far away enough for the Chinese personnel, one of whom screamed at White House staff, demanding the U.S. press leave the scene.

One Chinese official (pictured) shouted at a group of reporters for being too close to the president, despite the fact they followed protocol

A female White House official (pictured), handbag over her arm, told him that it was an American plane and the U.S. president

'This is our country!' the Chinese official, in a dark suit, shouted at her in English. 'This is our airport!'

Government official was not happy that reporters were under the wing of AF1. WH press aide would not back down. pic.twitter.com/C3JRVIe37K  Roberta Rampton (@robertarampton) September 3, 2016

A female White House official, handbag over her arm, told him that it was an American plane and the U.S. president.

'This is our country!' the Chinese official, in a dark suit, shouted at her in English. 'This is our airport!'

When U.S. National Security Adviser Susan Rice and senior White House staffer Ben Rhodes tried to get closer to the president, lifting up the blue rope and walking under it, the official turned his ire on Rice, trying to block her progress.

As they exchanged angry words her Secret Service agent stepped in to usher her past him.

After the tense landing, Obama was on his way to the G20 summit - his last as president of the United States

At the international forum of nation leaders in Hangzhou, China and the U.S. ratified the Paris Agreement for both countries (Chinese President Xi Jinping, pictured, left)

The Paris Agreement is part of the UN's Convention on Climate Change, which began in 2015

Moments after the heated argument the U.S. president's motorcade was rolling away.

Hangzhou is a city of nine million people but it has been denuded of around a quarter of its population for the event.

Factories have been closed to ensure blue skies, potential troublemakers detained, and the wide boulevards of a city lauded by Venetian traveler Marco Polo are empty.

'They did things that weren't anticipated,' Rice told reporters later.

This G20 summit is being held in Hangzhou, Zhejiand province, China, which is home to nine million people

The pair were seen walking around a pavilion after the day's events before stopping in for tea

Obama and Chinese President Xi Jinping (left) drink tea in a pavilion at West Lake State Guest House in Hangzhou

Obama is attending the G20 summit - his last as president, this week.

At the international forum of nation leaders in Hangzhou, China and the U.S. ratified the Paris Agreement for both countries.

The Paris Agreement, which is part of the UN's 2015 Convention on Climate Change, is an arrangement to begin greenhouse gases emissions mitigation, adaptation and finance in the year 2020.

Last year 195 countries negotiated the language of the agreement and came to a consensus that was agreed upon by all the nations.
Ukranian soldiers are turning their backs on modern weapons in favour of antiquated boys' toys, a recent video shows.

Instead of relying on high-tech mortars or guided missiles, the Ukrainian squad on the disputed border with Russia was filmed using a giant DIY catapult to hurl grenades at the enemy.

But some experts remain sceptical, believing the act may have been staged.

Instead of relying on high-tech mortars or guided missiles, the Ukrainian squad on the disputed border with Russia was filmed using a giant DIY catapult to hurl grenades

The catapult - made out of a forked tree trunk, strong elastic and a leather pouch - was filmed in action on the front line in the village of Marinka

Returning to the dawn of weapons technology to take on their opponents the catapult - made out of a forked tree trunk, strong elastic and a leather pouch - was filmed in action on the front line in the village of Marinka.

In the footage the intrigued cameraman can be heard asking: 'What are you going to do? Launch the grenade with this catapult?'

Two soldiers are then seen setting the catapult, stretching it back, pulling the pin and sending the grenade flying through the air towards the Russian front-line.

After hearing the sound of an explosion, one of the soldiers gesticulates and shouts: 'F**k you, Russia!'

Two soldiers are then seen setting the catapult, stretching it back, pulling the pin and sending the grenade flying through the air towards the Russian front-line

After hearing the sound of an explosion, one of the soldiers gesticulates and shouts: 'F**k you, Russia!'

Some experts say the attack was staged to mock Russian military leaders, who are always bragging about their latest weapons in the media.
A section of the M4 hard shoulder will be turned into a fourth lane of traffic - prompting claims the government could be putting lives at risk.

Transport Secretary Chris Grayling has approved the plan, which will see a 32-mile stretch of the motorway widened between Hayes in west London and Theale in Berkshire.

But the chair of the Commons Transport Committee says safety concerns have been ignored.

The government says allowing drivers to use the hard shoulder on the M4 will improve traffic flow, but critics believe it will be dangerous

Louise Ellman warned: 'I think lives could be put at risk.

'This is a hasty decision led by cost-cutting without proper consideration for safety.

Louise Ellman, who chairs the Commons Transport Committee, has warned it will not be safe

'It ignores the need for a three-year trial period for safety considerations.

'The Transport Committee produced a highly critical report on this.'

And the Liverpool Labour MP continued: 'Breakdown operators say they will not go to cover broken down vehicles as they are concerned about safety.

'There is also concern that there will be too few emergency refuges.

'It will make traffic move more smoothly, but the question marks are over safety.'

Mr Grayling said there is a 'critical need to improve the existing national road network'.

In his letter of approval he said the move will 'increase capacity, improve traffic flow and reduce journey times, thereby supporting economic development'.

Environmental and transport groups have also voiced their outrage at the decision.

I think lives could be put at risk. This is a hasty decision led by cost-cutting without proper consideration for safety. It ignores the need for a three-year trial period for safety considerations Louise Ellman

Bridget Fox, sustainable transport campaigner, said: 'This is bad news for both motorists and local residents.

'Motorists and breakdown operatives will be exposed to greater risk with the loss of the hard shoulder.

'This is just expanding motorways on the cheap.'

She added: 'We need investment in alternative options, including better rail, to give people choice in their journeys.'

Transport Secretary Chris Grayling said the move would improve traffic flow on the M4

And Jenny Bates, from Friends of the Earth, said: 'Widening the M4 will lead to more traffic, more climate changing emissions and increase air pollution levels that already break legal health limits.

'Motorway widening is not the solution to our congested roads as more traffic just makes it worse, it's time to send UK transport in a new direction to protect our planet and our health.'

The Government move comes despite strong warnings from MPs to scrap plans to convert more hard shoulders into permanent driving lanes to ease congestion.

The Commons Transport Committee reported in June that it was too dangerous to proceed with expanding motorway capacity by converting hundreds of miles of hard shoulder into permanent lanes.
Admissions comes after he was confronted over the claims on his website by CNN anchor Victor Balckwell on Friday

some of his professional accomplishments including graduating from college and serving in the Army Reserve

One of Donald Trump's top advisers and surrogates admitted to falsifying some of his professional accomplishments days after apologizing in his 'sincere heart of hearts' for tweeting a 'divisive' cartoon image of Hillary Clinton in blackface.

South Carolina pastor Mark Burns made the admission after a 'contentious confrontation' with CNN anchor Victor Blackwell on Friday who confronted him over claiming on his church's website that he served six years in the Army Reserve and had a Bachelor of Science degree.

The website page has since been pulled down.

Burns has never served in the Army Reserve, but was in the South Carolina National Guard. He was discharged in 2008, according to CNN.

Burns claimed he earned a Bachelor of Science degree from North Greenville University, but the school told CNN that he only attended classes there for one semester.

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South Carolina Pastor Mark Burns (above) admitted to falsifying some of his professional accomplishments days after apologizing for tweeting a 'divisive' cartoon image of Hillary Clinton in blackface

Burns made the admission after a 'contentious confrontation' with CNN anchor Victor Blackwell (above) on Friday who confronted him over claiming that he served in the Army Reserve and had a Bachelor of Science degree

When asked about earning a degree, Burns admitted that he did not finish.

However, when he was confronted about the numerous social and professional accomplishments listed in his biography on his website, he first tried to claim that the page had 'obviously' been either 'manipulated or either hacked or added.'

The host site for his page, Wix, said that there was no evidence of a hack.

'This is not fair at all,' Burns told Blackwell during the interview. 'I thought we were doing a profile and all of a sudden you're here to try to destroy my character.'

'I'm not here to destroy your character,' Blackwell replied.

Burns ended the interview abruptly by walking away.

At one point, Burns told Blackwell he believed the interview was off the record, to which Blackwell responded, 'I didn't agree to that.'

Burns abruptly ended the interview by walking away.

Burns (left), who is an advisor to Donald Trump (right), admitted that he did not finish college and ended the interview abruptly by walking away

He released a statement about the false information within his biography and said he 'overstated several details.'

'As a young man starting my church in Greenville, South Carolina, I overstated several details of my biography because I was worried I wouldn't be taken seriously as a new pastor,' Burns statement reads.

'This was wrong, I wasn't truthful then and I have to take full responsibility for my actions. Since that time I should have taken steps to correct any misrepresentations of my background.

'We all make mistakes, and I hope that the measure of my character and the quality of my works speak for what kind of person I am.

'I do also want to set the record straight about why this attack is happening  because I am a black man supporting Donald Trump for President.

'For too long, African-American votes have been taken for granted by Democratic politicians, and enough is enough.

Burns released the above statement to his Facebook page shortly after the CNN interview admitting to 'overstating' details of his biography as a young man

'It's a shame that the political insiders and the media choose to attack me because I'm not going to stay silent about Hillary Clinton's pandering to our community.

'Instead, I'm going to tell people that there is another option  an option that represents a positive vision that will unify our country. That's why I have and will continue to tirelessly support Mr. Trump.'

Burns also admitted that he was not a member of the historically black fraternity, Kappa Alpha Psi, as he previously claimed.

Another discrepancy raised in the CNN interview was that he had enrolled but never advanced in a master's program at Anderson Theological Seminary.

On Tuesday, Burns apologized for tweeting a cartoon image of Clinton in blackface.

The tweet, which Burns posted Monday, depicts Clinton with her face shaded wearing a T-shirt that says 'NO HOT SAUCE NO PEACE.' She is holding a sign that says #@!* THE POLICE.'

The text of the tweet reads: 'I ain't no ways tired of pandering to African Americans,' with additional text mockingly meant to be from Clinton saying, 'Black Americans, THANK YOU FOR YOUR VOTES and letting me use you again ... See you again in 4 years.'

Burns posted the tweet, which he initially defended Monday, in advance of Donald Trump's planned speech to before a black congregation on Saturday, to be broadcast on the Impact Network.

On Tuesday, Burns (above) apologized for sending out a tweet that showed Hillary Clinton in blackface wearing a T-shirt that says 'NO HOT SAUCE NO PEACE'

Burns sent out a tweet (above) of the cartoon on Monday. He initially defended the post, but told CNN on Tuesday it was in hindsight a 'horrible image'

'It was in hindsight a horrible image to use. For me the blackface wasn't the focal point of the picture,' Burns told CNN Tuesday morning.

'Obviously it was never my intent to  you know, this campaign needs to be moreso about the policies of the candidates, and I'm supporting those policies,' Burns continued.

'The last thing I want to do was to draw attention away from Mr. Trump's policy and our historic upcoming event Saturday at the Impact Netowrk in Detoit,' he said.

Burns also apologized for retweeting a doctored photo purporting to show Hillary Clinton in blackface while standing with a young Bill Clinton at a Halloween party, after being told by a CNN host that the image has been debunked as false.

'In retrospect that particular post  of course I didn't have the correct information knowing that it wasn't bill Clinton and I apologize for that as well, for posting incorrect information,' Burns said.

Then he reflected: 'That's what the true message of grace is, once you discover new information, you are quickly to change your opinion and get back on the right path.'

Burns also apologized for retweeting 'incorrect information'  a photo purporting to show Hillary Clinton in blackface that has been debunked

Burns spoke at the Republican National Convention in Cleveland on the day Trump was formally nominated

'And that's what I'm doing right now to the whole world is to say In my sincere heart of hearts my job as a pastor is to draw people together not push them away and one I began to discover how it was pulling people apart it is completely contrary to the message of unity that I've been declaring around the world speaking at mr Trump's rallies around this country.'

On Monday, Burns initially defended the Tweet amid criticism he cast as part of a 'P.C. environment.'

'The tweet is a frustration that I have as a black man here in America and how I see African-Americans in many cases  not every case but in many cases  are suffering throughout this country and to see how en masse we have been voting for the Democratic Party en masse and yet we have very little to show for it,' he told MSNBC's Kristin Welker,' the Charlotte Observer reported.

'It's a vexation to me to see how the Democratic Party, and especially Hillary Clinton, what I call tap dance for the black vote, get it and then disappear for four more years,' he said.

Burns is a pastor at the Harvest Praise & Worship Center in Easely, S.C.

He said that 'In hindsight  if I could do it all over again, there are so many different creative ways of getting my message out there to the public, say, 'Hey African Americans, we need to make the Democratic Party work for our vote. We don't need to just vote for them en masse.''

Burns said he hadn't spoken to Trump about the matter.

'This is not the campaign talking. This is not somebody yelling in my ear saying you need to take that down. This is Mark Burns all by himself, who truly loves people and I love this country,' he said.
Donald Trump launched new attacks on 'Morning Joe' co-host Mika Brzezinski, branding her 'very dumb' and mentally unstable after the show criticized his weak ground strategy in Florida.

On Friday, Trump tweeted: 'Just heard that crazy and very dumb @morningmika had a mental breakdown while talking about me on the low ratings @Morning_Joe. Joe a mess!'

Trump frequently appeared on the MSNBC show until he started a fight with co-host Joe Scarborough in May, declared a boycott on the program and then claimed the two hosts were romantically involved.

Donald Trump launched new attacks on 'Morning Joe' co-host Mika Brzezinski, branding her 'very dumb' and mentally unstable after the show criticized his weak ground strategy in Florida

The co-hosts were initially criticized for being too cozy with Trump until a Twitter spat broke out in May. In late August, the feud escalated when Trump personally tore into the left-leaning Brzezinski, by calling her 'off the wall', 'neurotic' and a 'not very bright mess'

While Trump's famous feud with Megyn Kelly has petered out, his attacks on Brzezinski have intensified despite a brief attempt to soften his tone and adhere to a script.

A panel on Friday's episode of Morning Joe pointed out that Trump's campaign has just one field office in Florida, compared to Obama's 102 during the 2012 election.

Trump responded on Twitter by blasting the co-hosts before he wrote: ' People will be very surprised by our ground game on Nov. 8. We have an army of volunteers and people with GREAT SPIRIT! They want to #MAGA!'

The co-hosts were initially criticized for being too cozy with Trump, who frequently appeared on the show, but on May 6, he said the 'rapidly fading' show was pushing for a third candidate to run.

Scarborough, a former Republican congressman in Florida, shot back and Trump eventually announced a boycott of the show, writing: 'They misrepresent my positions!'

In late August, the spat escalated when Trump personally tore into the left-leaning Brzezinski, by calling her 'off the wall', 'neurotic' and a 'not very bright mess'.

In May, Trump said the 'rapidly fading' show was pushing for a third candidate to run before announcing his boycott

Trump also claimed Brzezinski and co-host Joe Scarborough were romantically involved (pictured on a segment this week where the two bantered about whether Trump is a psychopath or a sociopath)

He added: 'Some day, when things calm down, I'll tell the real story of @JoeNBC and his very insecure long-time girlfriend, @morningmika. Two clowns!'

Brzezinski went after Trump last week on the early-morning show following a segment about Trump's escalating attacks on Clinton.

Speaking directly to the candidate who wasn't on the show, Brzezinski said: 'Donald Trump, you have no idea what your words mean.'
Mack Yearwood (pictured), 42, of Stuart, Florida, was caught by police after he used a wanted posted with his mug shot on it as his Facebook profile picture

A fugitive in Florida has been arrested after changing his Facebook profile picture to a wanted poster with his mug shot on it.

Family members warned Mack Yearwood, 42, of Stuart, Florida, that officers use Facebook to find fugitives, but he didn't heed their advice to take the photo down.

'I wish he would take it down! The cops use Facebook now!' one family member wrote on the picture.

On Tuesday, officers found and arrested Yearwood in Palm Beach County.

Stuart police took a battery complaint and began investigating Yearwood as the suspect, according to WPBF-TV.

While investigating detectives found Yearwood's Facebook page and the Citrus County wanted poster he was using as his Facebook picture.

Family asked Yearwood to take the image (pictured) down, which he posted in March, but he refused to remove it

Yearwood posted the photo in March of this year, but the warrant was shared online in October of last year by Citrus County Sheriffs Office.

Yearwood was already wanted for violating the terms of his probation in a battery case, FOX 29 Palm Beach reported.

The 42-year-old was arrested for the warrants from Citrus County and a marijuana possession charge.

The new battery complaint is being investigated.
A 72-year-old patient at an Ohio dentist's office was under nitrous oxide and accidentally shot himself this week.

James White on Wednesday believed he heard his cell phone ringing and went to pick it up, but got his gun, WCMH reported.

White shot himself in the hand, and the bullet grazed his stomach, the TV station said.

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A 72-year-old patient at an Ohio dentist's office was under nitrous oxide and accidentally shot himself this week

Sgt. Christina Evans-Fisher with the Clark County Sheriff's Office told WCMH: 'Going to a doctor's office where you might possibly be placed under some kind of medication that may alter your mental status at the point, you might not want to carry a weapon in there at that time.

'So think about your safety and the safety of the people around you.'

A New Carlisle Dental Group dental worker said in a 911 call broadcast by the TV station: 'We have a patient here in a chair. He accidentally shot himself with a gun in his hand.'

The worker said in the call: 'He was in the chair, and he was doing his filling, and I'm not for sure what happened. He got his gun and I don't know.'

White shot himself in the hand, and the bullet grazed his stomach

The man was taken to a hospital for treatment of the injury, which wasn't considered serious, the Springfield News-Sun reported. No other injuries were reported.

Sgt. Chad Brown says the patient has a permit to carry a concealed weapon.

The man might be charged with using weapons while intoxicated, the newspaper reported.
Pierre Beauvil was arrested Friday and charged with first-degree threatening

A 28-year-old man was arrested for making threats to Sandy Hook Elementary School on the first day of class since it was demolished after the 2012 shooting.

Pierre Beauvil called the main office at the school on August 15 and made a threat for August 29 after an administrator responded to his inquiry about the first day of class, police said.

On Monday, about 400 students entered the newly designed $50million school in Newton, Connecticut, erected on the site where gunman Adam Lanza killed 20 first-graders and six staff members before committing suicide.

Beauvil made threats after he called the office asking when the school in Newtown, Connecticut was scheduled to reopen, police said.

Investigators tracked the phone number down to Beauvil, who lives in the nearby city of Stamford, about 35 miles away.

He was arrested on Friday and charged with first-degree threatening, second-degree harassment and breach of peace,.

An investigation is ongoing to determine whether Beauvil is responsible for other school threats.

Pierre Beauvil called Sandy Hook Elementary School (pictured) on August 15 and made a threat for August 29 after someone responded to his inquiry about the first day of class, police said

The original buildings were demolished after Adam Lanza went on a shooting rampage at the school in 2012, killing 20 first-graders and six staff members before committing suicide

On Monday, about 400 students entered the newly designed $50million school in Newton, Connecticut (pictured)

About 70 current Sandy Hook students attended the old school when the shooting occurred (pictured, painted hand prings with names of teachers and students on a playground bench)

After the shooting in 2012, students were sent to a school in neighboring Monroe.

About 70 current Sandy Hook students attended the old school when the shooting occurred.

School officials say about 35 of them were in the building at the time, but none of them witnessed the shootings. Those students are now fourth graders.

Because of retirements and transfers, only about half the staff members from the original Sandy Hook are still with the school, Superintendent Joseph Eradi said.

Funded by a state grant, the new 86,000-square-foot school was built with impact-resistant windows and state-of-the-art video monitoring.

The ground floor is elevated, making it harder to see inside classrooms from the outside.

The new school includes numerous safety features after Adam Lanza (pictured) went on a shooting spree in 2012

The landscaping also ensures anyone approaching the school has to cross one of three pedestrian bridges, where they will be visible to people inside.

It has been built to invoke nature, with treehouses and courtyards.

The driveway and parking lots also have been changed, to minimize the emotional impact on students and educators seeing the property for the first time since the shooting.

First Selectman Pat Llodra said: 'Our goal was to create a place of community and learning, a place that would honor those we lost and allow those who were left behind the chance to move forward.'

The district will provide those students and staff with special resources to help cope with the return.

A three-year, $7.1 million grant to fund added mental health professionals has expired. But grants from charities will cover those costs.

The school will not have a prominent memorial to the staff and students murdered in the massacre.

When asked about a memorial Erardi said: 'I'm going to pass on answering that, because it involves the conversations I've had with the impacted families and those will always remain confidential.'




A father who had his son taken from him during a child recovery operation in late 2015 has detailed the moment the 'military style' interception was made.

Australian musician and businessman Ashley Crick was sitting at a shopping centre in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia with his young son in December last year when he was surrounded by two large men.

Just moments later his young son Griffin was being whisked away by his ex-wife and former Neighbours star Eliza Szonert.

Close to nine months on, Mr Crick - who is now his son's sole carer - has detailed to the Herald Sun how he wanted to help the youngster but simply froze.

Australian businessman and musician Ash Crick (pictured) has described the moment his son was taken from his arms during a 'child recovery' in December last year. He said he froze and was unable to move to help his son after being confronted in a Malaysian shopping centre

The 'child recovery' saw the son (pictured far right) of Australian man Ash Crick taken from him by the two men and his ex-wife, former Neighbours actress Eliza Szonert

'It was like ice (was flowing) from my head rushing through my body,' Mr Crick said.

'There was no way I could reach over and get Griffin and even if I'd tried I thought Griffin would have potentially been flattened and hurt, if not worse.'

With the two men towering over him and telling him not to make any rash decisions, Mr Crick was forced to watch his son be carried away.

He said the move - which reportedly cost Ms Szonert $100,000 - was done with such precision that it was as if it had been planned using military tactics.

The story made headlines in Australia, with video of the recovery being widely shared.

But while the story was big back home, Mr Crick said in Malaysia his sole focus was finding his young son and ex-wife.

Mr Crick said he froze after being surrounded by the two men and was unable to prevent his young son Griffin from being taken away from him

Ms Szonert was hiding in Malaysia for three weeks before she handed herself and her young son into police. Mr Crick is now the sole carer for his young son

After three weeks of searching across the country and its capital city, Ms Szonert handed herself into a police station along with the couple's young son.

While the ordeal was over, it has since taken a great emotional toll on the young boy at its centre, according to his father.

'He's confused. He doesn't know how to make sense of it,' Mr Crick said, detailing his son's emotions.

Just months after his own incident, a failed 'child recovery' completed by 60 Minutes and Channel Nine in Lebanon also made headlines.

After his experience and the 60 Minutes incident, Mr Crick has urged other parents not to use 'thugs' to do their dirty work.

'Hiring thugs is making it worse,' he said.
Jerry Heller (pictured), the long-time manager of N.W.A. and one of the founders of the gangsta-rap movement, has died at age 75

The long-time manager of N.W.A. who helped kick-start the gangsta-rap movement, Jerry Heller, died because of how he was portrayed in a recent movie, his lawyer claims.

Mickey Shapiro said his client was incredibly upset and 'heartbroken' at the way he was presented in Straight Outta Compton, which was released last year.

'Jerry Heller would be alive today if not for that movie,' Shapiro told TMZ.

Heller was played by Paul Giamatti in the film.

It comes after the 75-year-old's cousin confirmed the death when speaking to Billboard.

TMZ earlier reported Heller died after suffering a medical emergency while driving in Ventura County, California, around noon on Friday.

The site reported that Heller crashed into a mini-van and was transported to a hospital with serious injuries.

Lawyer Mickey Shapiro (pictured in 2010) claims his client, Heller, was incredibly upset and 'heartbroken' at the way he was presented in the 2015 film, Straight Outta Compton

He later died, but it is not clear if he died from his injuries, a medical condition or both.

Heller began his career in the industry as an agent and promoter.

His early work began with classic rock artistis like Creedence Clearwater Revival, Marvin Gaye, the Who and Black Sabbath in the 1960s and 1970s.

As hip-hop dominated the mainstream in the 1980s, Heller co-founded Ruthless Records with N.W.A rapper Eazy-E.

In 1986, supergroup N.W.A. formed under Heller's label Ruthless Records, which was co-founded by rapper Eazy-E

Heller was the manager of N.W.A. (pictured, left to right, MC Ren, DJ Yella, Eazy-E and Dr. Dre) for four years, during which time the group produced Straight Outta Compton

In 1986, supergroup N.W.A. formed with original members Arabian Prince, Dr. Dre, Eazy-E, and Ice Cube. DJ Yella and later MC Ren.

The year after Ruthless Records was founded, N.W.A.'s first single 'Panic Zone' was released.

Heller was the manager of N.W.A. for four years, during which time the group produced Straight Outta Compton, which is considered one of the best hip-hop albums of all time and went triple platinum.

Heller and Ice Cube later had a dispute over royalties and the rapper quit the group in 1989 as N.W.A. began to fall apart.

Ice Cube eventually wrote the 'diss track' 'No Vaseline' aimed at Heller.

In the following years Dr Dre would leave Ruthless Records and co-found Death Row Records with Suge Knight.

Heller (pictured, right) called rapper Eazy-E (pictured, left) 'the greatest' and said he was like a son to him up until his death at age 30 from AIDS

Bad blood between Dr Dre and Heller eventually led to the rapper's scathing music video for 'Dre Day', which slammed Heller.

Despite falling out with most of the members of N.W.A., Heller's partnership with Eazy-E continued until the rapper's death from AIDS in 1995.

'I was with him until the day of his untimely death.

'I still think about him every day. He was like my son. He was a visionary.

'He was the greatest, and I've always believed that only he and I really understood the significance of what N.W.A was,' Heller told Rolling Stone in November 2015.

Last year, when the biopic Straight Outta Compton, produced by Dr. Dre and Ice Cube was released, Heller filed a $110 million defamation lawsuit for his portrayal in the film.

Last year, when the biopic Straight Outta Compton, produced by Dr. Dre and Ice Cube was released, Heller (right), who was played by Paul Giamatti (left image, right) filed a $110 million defamation lawsuit for his portrayal in the film

'I have a certain reputation, and that reputation certainly doesn't entail the things that they said about me,' Heller said of the film (pictured)

Heller, who was played by Paul Giamatti in the film, was shown as a negative influence on the group.

He told Rolling Stone the film bothered him and he was hurt by what he saw in Straight Outta Compton.

'As for the things that bothered me, I've been in the business for six decades. I've probably represented almost every major artist in the world, either directly or peripherally, at one time or another.

'I have a certain reputation, and that reputation certainly doesn't entail the things that they said about me.

Heller (left) called his portrayal in the film (right) 'very hurtful' but his lawsuit was dismissed in June

'It was very hurtful. I thought "No Vaseline" was hurtful. But actually, this was more hurtful.

'Look, I am what I am, but I'm not a thief. And I'm not scandalous. I did more for N.W.A ... I mean, it was just incredible, the success that we had. So for them to call me a thief is just terrible,' he said.

Heller's lawsuit was dismissed in June.
An officer is in critical condition after he suffered a gunshot wound to the head during a shootout that left one suspect dead in Atlantic City, police said.

Gunfire broke out near Caesars casino hotel in New Jersey around 3.30am on Saturday when two uniformed police officers approached a group 'engaged in criminal activity', according to Atlantic County First Assistant Prosecutor Diane Ruberton.

The police returned fire and killed one suspect, while the injured officer was rushed to the hospital where he underwent surgery and remains in critical condition, Ruberton said.

Police released surveillance video in an attempt to identify two groups of three men, and a total of five suspects or persons of interest are still at large, Ruberton added.

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An officer is in critical condition after he suffered a gunshot wound to the head during a shootout that left one suspect dead in Atlantic City, police said

Police released surveillance video in an attempt to identify two groups of three men

A total of five persons of interest are still at large, after one suspect was killed, Ruberton added

One officer was shot as he emerged from the patrol car, and the second officer returned fire, killing one suspect.

Members of the group fled in different directions, and the deceased suspect was found on the ground more than one block away at Missouri and Pacific Avenues, according to Ruberton.

The injured officer was rushed to AtlantiCare Regional Medical Center and underwent surgery, according to Atlantic City Press.

'Our hearts are heavy at this hour, but our resolve to captured these suspects remains undeterred,' New Jersey State PBA President Patrick Colligan said.

Gunfire broke out near Caesars casino hotel in New Jersey around 3.30am on Saturday

The officers stopped a car with three men inside near the parking garage of Caesars, when shots were fired

Hundreds of officers responded to the scene, with some in SWAT gear patrolling the scene. Five suspects or persons of interest are at large (pictured, Caesars)

Mayor Don Guardian said there were 'too many assault weapons in the wrong hands'

Police have released a surveillance video enlisting the public's help to identify two groups of three men.

According to Ruberton's press release: 'The first group appears to be 3 black males wearing, from left to right: a white shirt, a light-colored shirt, and a dark shirtthe man in the dark shirt appears to be taller than the other two men'

'The second group appears to be 3 black males, the one to the right wearing a dark sweatshirt with the words Atlantic City on the front, the other two men wearing baseball hats. '

Mayor Don Guardian said: 'It's a sad commentary on society. These are good examples of what happens when too many of these assault weapons are in the wrong hands.'

Hundreds of officers responded to the scene, with some in SWAT gear patrolling the streets surrounding the casino.

A number of police departments are also assisting the search for the five persons of interest.

The New Jersey State Police union is offering a $20,000 reward for anyone with information leading to the arrest and conviction of suspects connected to the shooting.

Anyone with information about the identities of the men should call the Prosecutors Office Major Crimes Unit at (609) 909-7666.

This is the second shooting near Caesars this week.
German Chancellor Angela Merkel hit back at her critics over immigration today, as her conservative party faces up to possible defeat in an election in her home state.

The country's leader rejected charges that her government is spending less on Germans because of a large influx of refugees.

In an interview published in Saturday's edition of Bild newspaper, Merkel also strongly defended her decision, one year ago this weekend, to open the door to hundreds of thousands of refugees mostly fleeing conflicts in the Middle East.

German Chancellor Angela Merkel and prime candidate Lorenz Caffier during the official end of the election campaign at the Marktplatz in Bad Doberan today

'We did not reduce benefits for anyone in Germany as a result of the aid for refugees. In fact, we actually saw social improvements in some areas,' Merkel said.

'We took nothing away from people here.

'We are still achieving our big goal of maintaining and improving the quality of life in Germany.'

Merkel made the comments a day before a critical vote in the eastern state of Mecklenburg-Vorpommern.

The German Chancellor receives a gift next to Lorenz Caffier (right), Interior minister of Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania and top candidate of the Christian Democratic Union (CDU) party for the upcoming state elections

The big influx of refugees and migrants has been blamed after her approval ratings fell to a five-year low of 45 percent.

It's completely clear that a year like last year cannot be repeated, which is why we have taken the measures we have. But it was the right thing to do that we rose to this humanitarian responsibility and continue to do so Angela Merkel

But Merkel was unapologetic and said, faced with the same situation today, she would act no differently.

She told the newspaper: 'On that weekend (in 2015) it was not about opening the border for everyone, it was about not shutting it to those who had made their way to us from Hungary, on foot and in great need of help.'

Far fewer migrants are arriving in Germany now due to border closures in southeastern Europe and to a deal between Turkey and the European Union, whereby Ankara agrees to take back people leaving its shores for Greece in return for accelerated EU accession talks and visa-free travel for Turks to the bloc.

German Chancellor Angela Merkel attends a Christian Democratic Union (CDU) party campaign today

Merkel, who is contemplating a bid for a fourth term as chancellor in next year's federal election, has cited intense efforts to integrate refugees through language courses and other help.

But she has also pressed for quicker deportations of those whose asylum applications have been denied.

Angela Merkel meets members of a shanty choir during an election campaign event in Bad Doberan today

The German government repatriated 21,000 people last year and 35,000 in the first seven months of 2016.

'It's completely clear that a year like last year cannot be repeated, which is why we have taken the measures we have.

'But it was the right thing to do that we rose to this humanitarian responsibility and continue to do so,' Merkel said.

German Chancellor Angela Merkel receives flowers at a Christian Democratic Union (CDU) party campaign today

Merkel's Christian Democrats are polling neck and neck in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern with the anti-immigrant Alternative for Germany (AfD) party, which has been siphoning away conservative voters with its virulent anti-refugee stance.
After this, Kevin Cameron started sleeping with a shovel next to his bed

He scaled a tall courtyard fence to get away from the

A man woke up to find an intruder inside his home who then apologised to him before fleeing over the back fence.

The man entered the Adelaide home about 8pm under the cloak of darkness as Kevin Cameron slept in his bed.

Thinking no one was at home, the intruder crept through the home and was unknowningly caught on CCTV.

A man woke to find an intruder in his home and when he approached him the uninvited guest simply apologised before running away

Mr Cameron was woken by a noise, presumably made by the intruder, and got up to see what it was.

When he opened his bedroom door he came eye-to-eye with the intruder.

The home owner's CCTV footage shows him questioning the stranger.

'What the f***'s going on?' Mr Cameron asked.

'Sorry' was the intruder's response, which was also captured on camera.

That's when Mr Cameron told him to 'get the f*** out'.

The home invasion occurred at 8pm, but the house was in darkness so it could have looked like there was no one home

Kevin Cameron, pictured, woke to find the intruder in his home. He now sleeps with a shovel by his bed

The startled home owner then chased his uninvited guest down two flights of stairs and through to the rear courtyard.

He decided not to corner the home invader as he did not know what he might do.

The unknown man scurried over the high back wall of the courtyard.
Tara Brown's daughter Aria kisses a pillow with an image of her mother on it every night after losing her almost one year ago.

Heartbreaking details have emerged of the four-year-old's lasting memory of her mother and her new life with her grandmother Natalie Hinton on the Gold Coast.

The preschooler keeps a rainbow-coloured framed cast of Tara's hand so she never forgets her doting mother, the Gold Coast Bulletin reported.

Ms Brown's ex-boyfriend Lionel Patea, a former Bandido bikie, has been charged with her murder and is awaiting trial in a high-security male prison south of Brisbane.

Police allege Patea ran Ms Brown's car off the road on September 8 last year, moments after she had dropped their young daughter Aria at daycare.

He is then accused of bludgeoning her to death with a fire hydrant cover while she was trapped in the wreckage of her overturned vehicle.

Tara Brown was inseperable from her daughter Aria, and the pair still have a special bond

'She has a great memory. I thought that memories would have started to fade by now but they are so strong still,' Ms Hinton said.

The Gold Coast Hospital provided the framed cast of Tara's hand to her little girl.

Ms Hinton said Tara's spirit can still be felt around the home as they draw closer to the first anniversary of Tara's death.

'I really believe in the spiritual side of things. I believe Tara is around a lot,' Ms Hinton said.

Details of Tara's last days have also emerged.

She had planned to meet with police to discuss the tumultuous relationship she had with her former partner Lionel Patea.

Aria keeps a rainbow coloured framed cast of Tara's hand so she never forgets her doting mother

Ms Brown's ex-boyfriend Lionel Patea, a former Bandido bikie, has been charged with her murder and is awaiting trial

The young mother had been promoted at work and was planning to commence studying law in the days before booking the meeting with police, the Bulletin reported.

Her mother spoke of the heart-wrenching moment she arrived to the hospital after Tara's accident.

'You walk into that... I was totally unaware of the full extent of what had happened,' Ms Hinton said.

As hundreds of friends and family converged in the hospital, it has been revealed the doctor emerged to deliver the tragic news, saying: 'Her injuries are so, so bad. She is not going to make it.'
The parents of Stanford rapist Brock Turner have reportedly asked police to help deal with protesters and be on alert for any possible violence as they fear for their son's safety.

Turner was released from a California jail on Friday after serving only three months for sexually assaulting an unconscious 23-year-old woman at Stanford University.

Law enforcement in Ohio, where Turner is set to live with his parents, are tracking social media to monitor threats, according to TMZ.

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Family affair: Brock Turner was met after he left prison on Friday by his mother Carleen and father Dan. He will live with them outside Dayton, Ohio, and be supervised by probation officers

Downcast: Turner, who turned 21 behind bars, said nothing as he left the county jail

Protesters, including some armed, protest outside Turner's parents' home on Friday. Law enforcement in Ohio are reportedly on the alert for possible violence and threats

That includes any threatening activity from those angry with Turner's 'lenient' sentence to Sugarcreek Township residents not happy to have a sex offender living in their neighborhood.

Protesters are expected at the Turners' home over the weekend, including some who will be openly carrying a firearm, a protester told TMZ.

A crowd of protesters, including some who were armed, were pictured outside the home on Friday holding signs that read 'Castrate Rapists' and 'No Sympathy For Rapists.'

While law enforcement is not forthcoming with details about actual threats, a source told TMZ 'everybody is always concerned about death threats.'

Following Turner's release on Friday morning, he was reunited with his father who dismissed his crime as '20 minutes of action'.

The convicted pervert emerged from San Joses Main Jail South at 6.09am Pacific Time and shortly afterwards met his father and mother at a nearby hotel.

A sole protester shouted 'loser' as he walked the 10 yards from the main door to a waiting car.

Turner, who celebrated his 21st birthday in jail at the start of last month, was being met by his parents Dan and Carleen, who flew in from their home near Dayton, Ohio, to collect him.

The family are now traveling back to Ohio, where Turner will serve his three-year probation term, having successfully applied to have it transferred from California to his home state.

Angry: Men and women gathered outside the home in Ohio, where Turner will serve his three-year probation

Armed: Protesters carrying placards are pictured outside the home Brock Turner will live with his parents

'We don't forgive, we don't forget, expect us': Protesters wrote on the road at the Ohio home in chalk

Protest: Men and women carry placards outside the home where Turner will live with his parents

Sending a message: A chalk message on the road reads 'Rapist' and an arrow points towards the home

Turner must check in with his new probation officer within 72 hours of his release  or face being forced back to Santa Clara County to complete probation there.

'It's safe to say that he will be out of [California] as soon as he can,' a source at the Santa Clara County Probation Department told DailyMail.com.

'If he doesnt check in with his probation officer [in Ohio] within 72 hours, then he has to check in with us, which would mean him spending the next three years here.'

The Turner case sparked outrage after the 21-year-old's 'lenient' sentence was made public.

Currently, California law metes out harsher punishment in cases where the victim was conscious - although campaigners are now advocating a change in the law.

Among them is Santa Clara sheriff Laurie Smith who on Friday morning told media that probation is 'not a fair sentence for anyone convicted of a sexual assault felony'.

She added: 'As the Sheriff of Santa Clara County and a mother, I believe the interests of justice are best served by ensuring sexual predators are sent to prison as punishment for their crimes.'

Jeffrey Rosen, the county district attorney, also echoed the call saying that if the law was changed a similar case would see a state prison rather than county jail sentence for the rapist.

'If we had our way, Brock Turner would be in state prison serving a six year sentence, not going home,' he said in a statement issued after the release.

'However, our focus today is on a bill that will require a state prison sentence, not probation, for anyone convicted of sexually assaulting an unconscious person.

'With the Governors signature, the next Brock Turner will go to prison.'

Wait till I get you home: Dan Turner had spoken up for his rapist son in a letter which fueled outrage about the sentence

Freedom: At 6.09am Brock Turner was released from jail in Sam Jose. A sole protester shouted 'loser'

Guarded: Jail staff were in attendance as well as sheriff's deputies as Brock Turner emerged from his sentence, which was widely condemned as lenient

Eyes down: Shamed rapist Brock Turner walked out dressed smartly in penny loafers, dress shirt and carrying a blazer under his arm.

Walk of shame: Brock Turner on the brink of crossing the threshold of the county jail

On his way: After just three months, Brock Turner walked out of San Jose's Main Jail South at 6.09am. He said nothing and showed no sign of repentance

Out: Rapist Brock Turner walked free at 6.09am Pacific Time as a single protester shouted 'loser'

Turner will also have to visit the Greene County Sheriffs Office in Xenia within five days of his return to Ohio to be photographed, finger-printed and to sign the state's sex offender's register.

Once signed, the 21-year-old will remain on the list for life  and will never be allowed to live near schools or work with children.

Other restrictions include asking permission to travel out of state, keeping authorities informed of his address and submitting to regular visits from law enforcement.

Neighbors will also be given flyers featuring Turner's picture advising them that a convicted sex offender is living on their street.

During his probation period, Turner will have to undergo drug and alcohol counseling, be subjected to random chemical testing and be banned from possessing firearms.

Authorities in Ohio have said the convicted rapist will be treated 'like every other sex offender that comes through the doors,' with Greene County Sheriff Gene Fischer insisting that there is no chance he will get any sort of special treatment.

'Were not treating him with kid gloves,' Fischer told the Dayton Daily News on Thursday. 'Were going to treat him like every other sex offender that comes through the doors.'

Aftermath: This was Brock Turner photographed after his arrest in an image obtained by NBC's Today show

Abrasions: Pictures obtained by NBC's Today show revealed how Turner had abrasions on the front and back of his right hand and dirt on his face

Ready to walk: Brock Turner makes his way towards the exit from the jail, where he had spent much of the last three months. He began the sentence in another correctional facility

Supervised: Brock Turner is now free but will be on probation for three years and a registered sex offender for the rest of his life

Short walk to freedom: A white SUV was waiting for Turner to take him away from the jail

Turner, a former champion swimmer, was convicted in June of sexually assaulting a 23-year-old woman during a party at the Kappa Alpha frat house on Stanford's Palo Alto campus.

The victim, who has not been named, was unconscious at the time  although Turner claimed in court that she had appeared 'satisfied' with their interaction.

Two passing Swedish students spotted Turner on top of the victim, who had and still has a serious boyfriend, chased him and wrestled him to the ground  holding him there until the cops arrived.

Photographs obtained by NBC's Today show and broadcast on Friday morning show how he had abrasions on his hands and his face when he was arrested.

A supporting letter from Turner's father, in which the rape was dismissed as '20 minutes of action,' later sparked outrage after being read out in court  as did others portraying the pervert as a victim of campus drinking culture.

In reality, Turner was no stranger to drugs and alcohol and only confessed to heavy boozing and dabbling with LSD after probation officers told him that text messages exposing his lies had been made public.

Anger: Santa Clara sheriff Laurie Smith told media that probation is 'not a fair sentence for anyone convicted of a sexual assault felony'.

Call: Sheriff Laurie Smith renewed her calls for tougher rape sentences wit this letter to California's governor

As a result, additional conditions pertaining to drugs and alcohol have been added to the terms of his probation  with the convicted rapist facing another trip to court and a possible jail term if found to be drinking or taking illegal substances.

Turner, who began his jail sentence on June 2, has spent most of his time inside at the 674-bed Main Jail South in San Jose, California.

His first month behind bars was spent four miles away at the Elmwood Correctional Facility in Milpitas, which accommodates detainees in barracks and a sprawling tent city.

However, due to the nature of his crimes, Turner was kept away from the general population and was eventually transferred to the more modern Main Jail.

HOW DAN TURNER EXCUSED HIS 'SHATTERED' SON'S CRIME IN LETTER TO JUDGE A letter from Dan Turner to the judge sentencing his rapist son was part of a campaign his family launched to keep the swimmer out of jail. Turner wrote: ' These verdicts have broken and shattered him and our family in so many ways. His life will never be the one that he dreamed about and worked so hard to achieve. That is a steep price to pay for 20 minutes of action out of his 20 plus years of life. The fact that he now has to register as a sexual offender for the rest of his life forever alters where he can live, visit, work, and how he will be able to interact with people and organizations. What I know as his father is that incarceration is not the appropriate punishment for Brock. He has no prior criminal history and has never been violent to anyone including his actions on the night of Jan 17th 2015. Brock can do so many positive things as a contributor to society and is totally committed to educating other college age students about the dangers of alcohol consumption and sexual promiscuity. By having people like Brock educate others on college campuses is how society can begin to break the cycle of binge drinking and its unfortunate results. Probation is the best answer for Brock in this situation and allows him to give back to society in a net positive way.' Advertisement

Sources at Elmwood told DailyMail.com that the transfer took place after he was put into protective custody, a status usually reserved for pedophiles and those at risk of harm from other inmates.

'They had to move him because hes a PC [protective custody], said a guard, who asked not to be named, to this website.

'The guy messed up but hes privileged, so In the end, he wasnt [at Elmwood] for very long  they moved him [to Main Jail] two months ago.'

Main Jail South, which opened in 1956, features tiered cells spread over several floors with each inmate held in an open-style room fronted with bars.

As at Elmwood, criminals are given three meals a day  cooked by other inmates  and can attend classes if they wish to.

However, Santa Clara County officials were at pains to point out that Turner received no special treatment  apart from having his letters held for him instead of delivered.

Lt. Joe Jensen, a spokesman for the Santa Clara County Sheriff, told an ABC News affiliate that the disgraced swimmer had been deluged with hate mail during his first month behind bars.

'He got several hate mail early in his sentence,' said Jensen. 'He told us he didn't want to receive any more mail. So we kept his mail.'

She also told Crime Watch Daily that during his time in jail, Turner shared his cell with another inmate - who was also part of the protected custody program.

The cell, a plain gray-painted room, included a set of iron bunk beds and had bars instead of doors to enable guards to keep an eye on him.

According to Smith, Turner endured 'a tough regime' in Main Jail South but added she 'did not hear of him having any problems while he was here'.

However, Jensen, who told DailyMail.com that Turner had not been given the option of leaving jail via a back entrance to avoid protesters angry at his 'lenient' sentence, said the ex-student would be given the letters regardless once he returns to Ohio.

According to Fischer, Turner will also receive regular visits from law enforcement  and threatened to 'pop in unannounced' every few months.

'We will go down to his house where he is living to confirm he is living there,' he said. 'We will pop in unannounced from time to time to make sure hes living where he says hes living.'

Turner, who will live at his parents' Bellfield home for the next three years, is now planning to appeal his sentence in the hope of having his name removed from the sex offenders register.
The Belgian defenders had entrenched themselves in bunkers on a hillside a few miles from the French border as battle commenced.

It was May 1940, and the Germans were bent on driving through the supposedly impenetrable Ardennes Forest.

The Fall of France had begun.

Battle charge: German infantry swarm through the streets of Warsaw in 1944

In front of the Belgians lay a slope, several hundred yards of open terrain: impossible to take except by a frontal attack, which was apparent suicide.

But thats exactly what the infantrymen of the Wehrmacht did.

The Belgians, shocked by this fearless behaviour, retreated. Yet rather than securing their position, the completely uninhibited Germans chased after them and set their enemies to flight.

During the hours that followed, 60,000 Germans, 22,000 vehicles and 850 tanks crossed the River Meuse into France.

We felt a kind of high, an exceptional state, one participant reported. We were sitting in our vehicles, covered in dust, exhausted and wired.

It was a mere three days later that the German division commander reported his troops had reached the French border. Many of them had not shut their eyes since the start of the campaign.

And thanks to the crystal meth that had fuelled their rage through the Ardennes, they still couldnt.

GERMANY, awake! the Nazis had ordered. And with the help of methamphetamine, or crystal meth, a nation did.

Starting life as Volksdroge, the peoples drug was on sale in every chemist shop in Germany.

But from 1937 tens of millions of little pills  under the trademark Pervitin  were produced to a quality that even Walter White, the drugs cook in the hit TV drama Breaking Bad, could only have dreamed about.

A particularly potent and perfidious substance became a popular product under Hitler

Furniture-packers shifted more furniture, firemen put out fires faster, barbers cut hair more quickly, nightwatchmen stopped sleeping on the job, train drivers drove their trains without a word of complaint, and long-distance lorry-drivers bombed down newly constructed autobahns, completing their trips in record time.

Party members did the same, and so did the SS. Stress declined, sexual appetite increased, and motivation was artificially enhanced.

Bosses at the Temmler factory in Berlin, where the pill was produced, were bursting with pride. Boxed chocolates spiked with methamphetamine were even put on the market.

Hitler: Addicted to cocaine, the heroin-like eukodal, and a toxic cocktail of narcotics - and they were supplied by Theodor Morell (left), a doctor described as the Reich injection master

It was not only the hard-working servants of the Reich who became dependent on chemical stimulation. Their commander-in-chief, too, was hopelessly addicted.

While Adolf Hitler allowed the world to believe he was a teetotaller who didnt even touch coffee, a man who had thrown his last cigarettes into the Danube, the reality was that he was a super-junkie, addicted to cocaine, the heroin-like eukodal, and a toxic cocktail of narcotics supplied by Theodor Morell, a doctor described as the Reich injection master.

Drugs fuelled Hitlers military decisions, helped him outlast his opponents, aided his recovery after assassination attempts, and also assisted him in the bedroom with Eva Braun.

By 1936 Hitlers health was so poor that he could barely function. He suffered from unspeakable bloating, and eczema on both legs, so that he had to walk with bandages around his feet and couldnt wear boots.

Morell recommended to the Fuhrer the bacterial preparation Mutaflor. Hitler was cured and he appointed the doctor as his personal physician.

Before every big speech the Reich Chancellor now allowed himself a power injection in order to work at the peak of his capabilities.

Colds, which could have kept him from appearing in public, were banished by intravenous vitamin supplements.

To be able to hold his arm up for as long as possible when doing the Nazi salute, Hitler trained with chest-expanders and also took glucose and vitamins.

The glucose, administered intravenously, gave the brain a blast of energy after 20 seconds, while the combined vitamins allowed Hitler to address crowds wearing a thin Brownshirt uniform even on cold days without showing a sign of physical weakness.

In the summer of 1942, Hitlers absorption of injections rose to such a level that Morell had to put in a special order at Engel chemists shop in Berlin for syringes for the Fuhrers headquarters.

July 18, 1943 was a special date. The Red Army had won the greatest tank battle in history at Kursk, and thus destroyed all German hopes of a turnaround in Russia.

In the middle of the night, Morell was dragged from his bed by Heinz Linge, Hitlers valet: the Fuhrer was bent double with pain, and an immediate cure was required.

Heinz Linge, Hitlers valet

Morell needed to pull an ace from his sleeve, and in fact he did have something: eukodal. But its use was risky. Its extremely potent active ingredient is an opioid called oxycodon, synthesised from the raw material of opium. In specialist circles, eukodal was a wonder drug.

Almost twice as effective for pain relief as morphine, this archetypal designer opioid was characterised by its potential to create very swiftly a euphoric state significantly higher than that of heroin, its pharmacological cousin.

Erwin Giesing was another of Hitlers doctors. Giesings favourite remedy for treating pains in the ear, nose and throat area was cocaine, the substance the Nazis abhorred as a Jewish degeneration drug.

According to Giesings notes, Hitler said: Its a good thing youre here, doctor. This cocaine is wonderful, and Im glad that youve found the right remedy. Free me from these headaches again for a while. But he added: Please dont turn me into a cocaine addict.

Between the autumn of 1941, when he started being given hormone and steroid injections, and the second half of 1944, when first the cocaine and then, above all, the eukodal kicked in, Hitler hardly enjoyed a sober day.

He moved in a permanent fog: a doped-up performance athlete unable to stop  until the inevitable collapse.

The Nazi party on a march in 1938. It was not only the hard-working servants of the Reich who became dependent on chemical stimulation. Their commander-in-chief, too, was addicted

Reoprts by the medical service on methamphetamine use in the attack on Poland in September 1939 fill whole dossiers in the Freiburg Military Archive. The molecular structure of methamphetamine is similar to adrenaline.

Those who take it feel livelier, energised to the tips of their fingers. Self-confidence rises, there is a sense of euphoria, and a feeling of lightness and freshness. A sense of emergency is experienced, as when one faces a sudden danger: an artificial kick.

The consequences for the German army were astounding  and terrifying for those unfortunate enough to stand in its way.

While Hitler allowed the world to believe he was a teetotaller, the reality was that he was a super-junkie, addicted to cocaine, the heroin-like eukodal, and a toxic cocktail of narcotics

In every aspect of the attack that led to the deaths of 100,000 Polish soldiers and, by the end of the year, 60,000 Polish civilians, the drug helped the aggressors to work without any sign of tiredness until the end of the mission.

The 3rd Panzer Division reported the following: Often there is euphoria, an increase in attention span, clear intensification of performance, work is achieved without difficulty, a pronounced alertness effect and a feeling of freshness. Worked through the day, lifting of depression, returned to normal mood.

For many soldiers, the drug seemed to be an ideal companion on the battlefield. It switched off inhibitions, which made fighting easier. A medical officer from the IX Army Corps raved: Im convinced that in big pushes, where the last drop has to be squeezed from the team, a unit supplied with Pervitin is superior.

Contrary to what Nazi propaganda told the outside world, the Germans did not have superior armies. The Allies had better equipment and numerically greater forces.

Hitler refused to acknowledge these realities and was convinced the Aryan warriors soul would achieve dominance against the odds.

Drugs fuelled Hitlers military decisions, helped him outlast his opponents, aided his recovery after assassination attempts, and also assisted him in the bedroom with Eva Braun

Time and again, mistakenly inspired by the militarys doped performance on the Polish campaign, he spoke of miracles of courage of the German soldier.

Another such Pervitin-fuelled miracle came with the Wehrmachts invasion of France in May 1940. The plan was to push a lightning armada of tanks through the supposedly impassable Belgian Ardennes mountains to reach the French border city of Sedan within a few days, and then to charge all the way to the Atlantic coast.

In their trouser pockets the Germans always had their pep pills at the ready. They knew that the fighting could begin at any moment. When that happened, they had to be on top form and wide awake. The Wehrmacht was thus the first army in the world to rely on a chemical drug.

At the Temmler factory dozens of women sat at circular machines that looked like mechanical cakes. As many as 833,000 tablets could be pressed in a single day. The Wehrmacht had ordered an enormous quantity for the army and the Luftwaffe  35 million in all.

Like the German army, the Luftwaffe also became hooked on Pervitin

Side effects of the pharmacological mass abuse were also observed. Older officers from the age of 40 felt the effects of the use of meth on their hearts. One colonel with the 12th Panzer Division, who was known to take a lot of Pervitin, died of a heart attack while swimming in the Atlantic.

One captain also had a cardiac arrest after using Pervitin at a stag party. A lieutenant general complained of fatigue during long periods of fighting and took Pervitin before driving to the front to join the infantry, against medical advice. There he suffered a collapse.

Like the German army, the Luftwaffe also became hooked on Pervitin.

It soon became too dangerous to operate over Britain in daylight, and one bomber pilot described the situation: The launch was very often late, 10 oclock, 11 oclock, and then you were over London or some other English city at about one or two in the morning, and of course then youre tired. So you took one or two Pervitin tablets and then you were all right again.

While Messerschmitts were technically inferior to British Spitfires, the Luftwaffes use of drugs was far ahead of that in the RAF. Pervitin had several nicknames that indicated its use  pilot salt, Stuka pills or Goring pills.

German infantry marching towards the Czech frontier near Rudelstadt, in the Silesia mountains

Spurred on by a disastrous cocktail of propaganda and pharmaceutical substances, people would become more and more dependent.

In Germany the use of the substance ran to more than a million doses per month.

National Socialism was toxic in the truest sense of the word. It gave the world a chemical legacy that still affects us today: a poison that refuses to disappear.

On one hand, the Nazis presented themselves as clean-cut and enforced a strict anti-drug policy, underpinned with propagandistic pomp and draconian punishments. In spite of this, a particularly potent and perfidious substance became a popular product under Hitler.

Studies show that two-thirds of those who take crystal meth excessively suffer from psychosis after three years.

Since Pervitin and crystal meth have the same active ingredient, and countless soldiers had been taking it more or less regularly since the invasion of Poland, the Blitzkrieg on France or the attack on the Soviet Union, we must assume psychotic side effects, as well as the need to keep increasing the dosage to achieve a noticeable effect.

Ideology had long lost its hold, and the leadership could think of nothing to motivate their soldiers.

Pervitin carved out a great career for itself all over the German Reich, and later in the occupied countries of Europe.

Its active ingredient, methamphetamine, is now either illegal or strictly regulated, but, with the number of consumers currently at more than 100 million and rising, it counts today as our most popular poison.

 Kiepenheuer & Witsch 2015.

Translation  Shaun Whiteside 2016.
Government officials have been warned of 'honey traps' as Theresa May heads to the G20 summit

Theresa May has been told to undress under her bed sheets to avoid Chinese spies as British officials head to the G20 summit.

The Prime Minister's team have also been warned of 'honey traps' as they travel to Hangzhou in China for the conference of the world's richest nations.

During a security briefing, officials were given temporary mobile phones and told not to keep any gifts in fears that they could be bugged.

The travelling party from No10 has even been warned that they cannot expect privacy in the comfort of their hotel rooms, due to the surveillance of the Chinese Government.

A Whitehall source told the Mirror: 'We have been told if we are uncomfortable about being seen naked, we should undress under the bedclothes.'

In particular British officials were told to be wary of 'honey traps', after a member of Gordon Brown's team claimed he was drugged and had his phone and confidential documents stolen on a trip to China in 2008.

The man was said to have been seen walking off with an attractive Chinese woman before waking up the next day with his belongings gone.

Ahead of her trip, speaking at Heathrow before boarding an RAF plane, the Prime Minister said Britain will be a 'global leader' for free trade following the Brexit vote.

Mrs May, who faces a row with Beijing over the delayed decision on the Hinkley Point power station, maintained that we were in a 'golden era' for UK-China relations.

She said: 'The message for the G20 is that Britain is open for business, as a bold, confident, outward-looking country we will be playing a key role on the world stage.

'This is a golden era for UK-China relations and one of the things I will be doing at the G20 is obviously talking to president Xi about how we can develop the strategic partnership that we have between the UK and China.

'But I will also be talking to other world leaders about how we can develop free trade around the world and Britain wants to seize those opportunities.

Mrs May, who will be meeting with Chinese president Xi Jinping said that it is a 'golden era' for UK-China relations (Pictured, President Xi)

'My ambition is that Britain will be a global leader in free trade.'

The Prime Minister hopes to use the G20 summit, where she will hold talks with world leaders including US president Barack Obama, to show that the UK remains a 'dependable' diplomatic and trading partner in the wake of the vote to quit the European Union.

But despite holding face-to-face talks with Chinese President Xi Jinping, Mrs May is not expected to use the meeting to make an announcement on the Hinkley Point project, which is backed by Beijing's state-owned nuclear firm.

The Prime Minister hopes to use the G20 summit, where she will hold talks with world leaders including US president Barack Obama (Pictured, with the Chinese President)

Although a decision on whether or not the Hinkley Point C project in Somerset will go ahead is expected this month, UK officials indicated it would not be announced in China - fuelling speculation the plan will be scrapped or significantly altered.

The French energy giant EDF, with support from China General Nuclear, had expected to build the 18 billion plant, but in a surprise move by Mrs May's administration signalled a delay in making a final decision on the project amid reports of security concerns about Beijing's involvement and the high cost of energy from the power station.

With the UK seeking a new role on the world stage following the Brexit vote, the decision on Hinkley Point has major diplomatic implications for relations between the UK, France and China.

Former security minister Dame Pauline Neville-Jones said reassurances are needed from China on security issues surrounding Hinkley.

'The issue, I think, is much more day-to-day security implications of having an investor of that kind who isn't an ally - not an enemy - but isn't an ally in the way most investment hitherto in to this country has been from the West,' she told BBC Radio Four's Today programme.

During the summit, Mrs May will hold her first face-to-face talks with Russian leader Vladimir Putin (Pictured, arriving in China)

During the summit, Mrs May will hold her first face-to-face talks with Russian leader Vladimir Putin, and is expected to adopt an approach of 'hard-headed engagement' with Moscow.

She will also have a meeting with her Indian counterpart Narendra Modi, with the trading relationship expected to dominate the agenda.

Mrs May is expected to use the summit to discuss the possibility of a new free trade deal with Australia.

She will meet with her Australian opposite number Malcolm Turnball to try and broker the deal, which will be the UK's first new trade agreement after Brexit.

Mrs May's talks with president Obama follow the US leader's warning that the UK would be at 'the back of the queue' for a trade deal if it voted to leave the EU.
A top Islamist party leader convicted of war crimes involving Bangladesh's 1971 independence war against Pakistan has been executed.

Mir Quasem Ali, 63, a key financier of the Jamaat-e-Islami party, was killed at Kashimpur Central Jail on the outskirts of the capital, for murder, confinement, torture and incitement to religious hatred during the war.

The execution took place amid a spate of militant attacks in the Muslim-majority nation, the most serious on July 1, when gunmen stormed a cafe in Dhaka's diplomatic quarter and killed 20 hostages, most of them foreigners.

Mir Quasem Ali (pictured centre before a hearing at the International Crimes Tribunal), 63, a key financier of the Jamaat-e-Islami party, was killed at Kashimpur Central Jail

Bangladeshi activists who fought in the 1971 war, celebrate after the execution

An ambulance leaves Kashimpur Central Jail carrying the body of Jamaat-e-Islami party's senior leader Mir Quashem

The war crimes tribunal set up by prime minister Sheikh Hasina in 2010 has sparked violence and drawn criticism from opposition politicians, who say it is targeting her political foes. The government denies the accusations.

Human rights groups say the tribunal's procedures fall short of international standards, but the government rejects that assertion, and the trials are supported by many Bangladeshis.

Family members of Ali arrive to meet him before his execution at the Kashimpur Central Jail

The execution took place amid a spate of militant attacks in the Muslim-majority nation, the most serious on July 1

Bangladeshi security guards in front of Kashimpur Central Jail earlier today

Ali was convicted of 14 war crimes committed during Bangladesh's 1971 independence conflict with Pakistan (Bangladeshi police at the Supreme Court in Dhaka)

Bangladeshi protesters who fought in the 1971 independence conflict celebrated the supreme court's decision to reject Ali's appeal against his death sentence

Bangladeshi activists celebrate after the sentencing of Jamaat-e-Islami party leader Mir Quasem Ali in 2014

Thousands of extra police and border guards were deployed in Dhaka and other major cities. Previous convictions and executions have triggered violence that has killed about 200 people, most of them Islamist party activists, and police.

Since December 2013, five Jamaat leaders, including former top leader Motiur Rahman Nizami, and a leader of the main opposition party, have been executed for war crimes.

Official figures show about three million people were killed and 200,000 women were raped during the nine-month war, in which some factions, including the Jamaat-e-Islami, opposed the breakaway.
I knew I shouldnt have gone. It was my sister Linda who persuaded me.

Seven years after emigrating to Australia, she and her husband Chas were returning to England for the first time, to attend the wedding of our half-sister Sandra on August 25, 1990.

Sandras father would be giving her away. The problem was that Sandras father, Stephen Johnson, was also my father.

He was, of course, Lindas father, too, but while Linda had reestablished contact with him, I had not.

'No scars': Alan and his bride Judy after marrying in 1968 - they are pictured with Alan's best man, Andy Wiltshire, and his sister Linda, far right

In a different context I suppose he gave us away, or at least left us to our own devices. I was eight when he walked out and 13 on the only other occasion Id seen him since  at my mother Lilys funeral  where hed hovered on the periphery.

It seems over-dramatic to say that, as far as I was concerned, I didnt have a father; as if Id grown up emotionally damaged by his departure, by his rejection of my mother, and of us.

Hatred was not an emotion I ever felt capable of summoning up

But I bore no shoulder chips, carried no burden; there were no scars on my body, or on my soul. I was completely and entirely at ease with being fatherless.

It wasnt as if Steve had broken some kind of bond between us when he left. Wed never been close. And Linda had always said that she hated our father.

Indeed, shed once tried to stab him with her Girl Guide penknife. He was a boozing, gambling womaniser who abused our mother physically as well as mentally.

If he hadnt been so feckless she wouldnt have had to ruin her already fragile health by scrubbing and cleaning other peoples houses for a pittance.

Yet hatred was not an emotion I ever felt capable of summoning up.

Labour MP for West Hull and Hessle, Alan Johnson, has opened up in this searingly honest account

Still, I knew enough to feel elated when he left. No more shouting matches that could be heard by all the other families living around us in our West London slum.

No more attacks on my mother. No more creeping around in silence on a Saturday morning while he slept off the excesses of the night before.

At that time, in the 1950s, the BBCS Home Service would broadcast appeals for information about missing people.

I remember wondering if, one of those mornings, just after the programme Lift Up Your Hearts and before the eight oclock news, would come the plea: Will Mr Stephen Arthur Johnson, of Southam Street, North Kensington, London W10, return home, where his wife, Lilian May Johnson, is waiting to hear from him.

Steve slipped away on a Saturday morning in 1958 while the three of us were down the lane in Portobello Road market.

He was tracked down to Upland Road, East Dulwich, the home of Vera, the barmaid at the Lads of the Village, one of the various pubs across Kensal Town where Steve played piano to an appreciative audience.

And now the wedding invitation arrived from that same house in Upland Road. Mr and Mrs Stephen Johnson request the pleasure of the company of

After 32 years, he wanted the pleasure of my company. Linda was coming all the way from Perth for Sandras special day. Sandras our sister, she reiterated.

Our flesh and blood. It would make her day if we could be there for her.

She was as determined and as persuasive as ever. I was cornered. Id have to go.

Doomed marriage: Alan's parents Steve and Lily at Kensington Register Office on their wedding day in 1945

I didn't tell my three children about the wedding invitation. They had shown no curiosity about their family history.

In truth, neither their mother Judy nor I had encouraged it. We had created a new family, far from the deprivation of North Kensington.

Why would we want to dwell on the snapped branches of our family tree? Now one of those branches had blown back from a world of gas-lit streets and damp, crumbling houses. I was about to be reunited with my father.

Were there any fond memories I could dredge up to help me to prepare myself for the ordeal?

One scene constantly recurred. We are in the kitchen at Southam Street. I am sitting on the cracked lino as Steve talks to my mother. From my perspective, he seems tall.

For once they are not arguing, but talking; discussing something facetoface. He has come home from his intermittent work as a painter and decorator, his red hair flecked with paint.

Wearing a crumpled brown gabardine mac boasting more buttons than are strictly necessary, he is smoking a cigarette and speaking earnestly.

He slipped away one day and moved in with Vera the barmaid

I can smell Steves familiar musk  a mixture of putty, tobacco and alcohol  but he isnt drunk or angry.

Perhaps it is the rare civility of this encounter that imprinted the image on to my memory. Then there was the trip to the barbers, perhaps my first. A plank of wood would be placed across the thickly padded black leather arms of the chair to bring small boys up to the required height for hair-cutting.

Steve sat smoking and reading the newspaper, probably picking out the horses he would bet on, as he did every single day that horses anywhere were running races.

And there was that word Steve would use in jest when adopting a mock upper-crust tone. What was it? Invariably? Indefinitely? Indubitably? That was it.

On a Sunday Lily might say: Arent you going to see your mother this morning?

Steve, in a good mood as he prepared to embark on his meticulous weekend toilette (he always liked to look smart), would reply: Indubitably, my dear.

A posh word uttered lightheartedly as a dig at those who led a very different life from ours. Indubitably.

I would run these childhood scenes through my head as the reunion approached, trying to dispel any negative thoughts.

Steve would have been about 37 when hed decamped  the same age I was when I drove away from my home on the Britwell estate in Slough and my marriage to Judy.

It was true that Id retained a close relationship with my kids and that the divorce had been as amicable and as painless as we were able to make it.

But hadnt my mother tried hard to encourage me to stay in touch with Steve? A boy needs a father, she would insist. But to no avail. So the fault, if fault there was, for my fatherless state was mine as much as his.

Sandra had a fine day for her marriage to Eamman Horgan. It was the first time I had ever seen her.

I couldnt discern much of a family resemblance, though she did have Lindas eyes, through which an equally vivacious personality shone out.

As for Steve, Im ashamed to say that the first thing I noticed about him was his full head of hair. At 69 years of age, the ginger had turned grey but it was Brylcreem-slicked into the same style hed always worn, combed back from the forehead.

Given the hereditary nature of baldness (and my vanity), this was the happiest possible revelation.

Looking on from the congregation, I was already suppressing emotions that had welled up. Swirling among them was self-pity, for sure, and a deeper anger than I ever thought I could harbour.

I couldnt help but think of Lily and her longing for a stable marriage, reasonable health, and a house with her own front door.

Most of all I felt a compelling urge to avoid the embarrassment of meeting a man Id be expected to call Dad but who meant nothing to me.

Of one thing I was certain: in the midst of all this angst there was not a smidgen of regret that I had never followed Lilys advice to forge a bond with my father.

Linda was standing on the other side of Chas, one place away. Every so often during the ceremony shed lean forward to smile at me and, I think, to check how I was coping.

I decided that I had three options: leave now and spoil Sandras day; stay and be sucked into a family relationship that repelled me; or get through the wedding and the reception afterwards with as little contact with Steve as possible.

I would never have Lindas maturity or magnanimity. I went for option three.

Outside the church, in the late- summer sunshine, guests and onlookers stood around in their late-1980s fashionable gear, all wide shoulders and big jewellery.

I was sporting a pale blue suit that I couldnt have worn three years earlier or three years later. It had shoulder pads, a single-button jacket, turn-ups and no vents.

Steve stood in a family circle with his wife Vera, her son Michael from a previous liaison, and two of Steves brothers, my uncles.

I could have left Steve in no doubt about my hostility towards him

The three Johnson men were all short, about 5ft 4in, Id guess. One of them, Uncle Jim, had always been kind to my mother, and it was Jim whod agreed to act as guarantor for Linda and me when our social worker somehow managed to secure a council flat for us in Battersea after Lily died.

The same could not be said for the other brother, Wally, from whom Lily had sought help when Steve abandoned us. He had told my mother that we all have our problems and shut the door in her face.

Eventually the radiant Sandra came across with Eamman and insisted on taking us over so that I could be introduced to my father. She had me firmly by the arm, and suddenly I was face-to-face with Steve.

He was impeccably turned out, as he had always been on Sundays and holidays, or when playing the piano in the pubs and clubs of West London.

His suit was early 1950s demob style, so we were each sartorially representative of our different eras.

He said: Hello, son. I said Hi but we didnt shake hands and, thankfully, at almost that precise moment, the photographer shouted Brides family! and began to muster us.

It was only when I departed that we made any physical contact, shaking hands in the functional way one does when saying goodbye.

Vera said: Now weve got together again, we need to stay in touch. I nodded and smiled. Nod and smile, that was me. I recognised deep emotions but refused to articulate them.

At least I could have left Steve in no doubt about my hostility. I could have been honest with him, told him man to man what I thought of him; forced him to regret in some way his treatment of Lily. But instead we shook hands limply.

Linda and Alan in Liverpool in 1956

He was aware that I was divorced. Maybe there was a knowing look in his green eyes that said: Now you know about relationships, and how they can wax and wane.

Perhaps he expected his 40-year-old son to demonstrate the same maturity as his eldest child. But heres the thing about Steve: I dont believe he actually thought about it very much at all. Hed settled with the woman he loved and that woman wasnt Lily.

I could take it or leave it. Just as I never wanted any kind of relationship with him, he didnt particularly want one with me.

In 2004, just as I was appointed to my first Cabinet position, I had a call from Linda to tell me that our father had died. Nothing much stirred inside me. A man I didnt know had lived into his 80s, longer than both his wives. Twice as long, in fact, as his first wife, my mother.

Linda wouldnt be going to the funeral and neither would I.

When I closed my eyes I was back in the crumbling, squalid dystopia of London W10. Steve, Lily, Linda and me in our two gas-lit rooms in Southam Street.

Then I thought of Lilys final days in Hammersmith Hospital, her hopes of a happy future with Steve long gone.

I cant remember if Lily was still alive when I saw an episode of Coronation Street in which Ena Sharples and Elsie Tanner argued fiercely in the street.

Ena, in her overcoat and hairnet, shouted at Elsie: Theres something wrong with a woman who cant hang on to her man! Now I realise how much that statement encapsulated the attitudes of the time in working-class communities.

I pictured Lily confronting her heart condition with a fragile bravery. An abandoned woman.

Linda had sat with her in intensive care after her operation. A tracheotomy had been performed to help Lily breathe and she was in an induced coma, but the nurse said she would know Linda was there and would be able to hear her.

So Linda talked about how successful the surgery had been. We both knew, my sister and I, that if our mother had come round, if she had been able to think at all, the only thing she would have been thinking about was what would become of us.

If only Lily could have glimpsed what the future held for the other three occupants of those two dank, condemned rooms into which Id been born. Steve had a happy second marriage.

Even at the end, his life was contented. As for Linda and me, thanks to my sister we battled through the dreadful aftermath of our mothers death to lead fulfilling lives and never forgot the values shed instilled.

I so wish our mother could have been reassured in those final hours. Everything will be all right, Lily, all right for all of us. Really, it will.

 Alan Johnson, 2016
A 13-year-old girl was killed and her friend was left seriously injured after a round of gunfire erupted in broad daylight as the pair walked home from school in Texas.

Lauren Landavazo and Makayla Smith, both 13, were shot on Friday at 3.30pm in Wichita Falls only hours before a second round of gunfire erupted, police said.

The girls were found at the scene on the 5100 block of Kingston Drive with apparent gunshot wounds before they were taken to hospital where Landavazo later died from her injuries, KAUZ reported.

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Lauren Landavazo (pictured with her mother, right|) and Makayla Smith, both 13, were shot on Friday afternoon as they walked home from school in Wichita Falls, police said

The girls were found at the scene on the 5100 block of Kingston Drive (pictured) with apparent gunshot wounds, police said

Smith underwent surgery and is currently listed in critical condition at the United Regional Hospital.

Witnesses in the usually quiet neighborhood told police they saw a white male with curly brown hair carrying a rifle and driving a black Dodge pickup truck following the shooting.

He is believed to be between 16 and 18 years old.

Sgt Herald McClure said at this time they do not have any information indicating 'this was just a random shooting,' according to the New York Daily News.

Landavazo (pictured left and right) was taken to hospital where she later died from her injuries

Less than two hours after the girls were shot in the middle of the street, a second round of gunfire rang out one street over on Tower Drive around 5pm.

Two people were reportedly detained at that scene and no injuries were reported.

Police do not know at this time if the two shootings were related.

Both of the girls were students at McNeil Middle School.

The usually quiet community is now mourning the loss of the middle schooler

Superintendent Michael Kurt released a statement saying the district was 'saddened by this senseless act of violence.'

He also said thoughts and prayers were with those involved.

'Please know that the district is coordinating efforts to provide grief counselors for students,' the statement said.

'As soon as we have more information about those resources, we will pass that along to you.'

Landavazo pictured above with her mother, Bianka. Police are searching for the suspect described as a white male between 16 to 18 years old

On Facebook, Ladavazo's mother and a powerful message for her daughter's murderer.

'To the MURDERER !!!!!! This beautiful girl was our miracle baby that you just taken away from us,' Bianka Landavazo wrote.

'You will be found, you will pay the price for shooting her down in cold blood!!

'You no good son of a b**** watch out..we will not rest till you are Caught!!!!!!!'

Police are still investigating the incident are and on the hunt for the suspect.

Authorities are asking anyone with information to contact Crimestoppers at 940-322-9888.
With stunning coral reefs teeming with marine life, Mauritius is the perfect setting for a scuba-diving holiday.

But for Jeff and Julie Byrne, the dream turned into a nightmare when they surfaced from a morning dive to find their tour boat had vanished  leaving them stranded in the shark-infested waters of the Indian Ocean.

The British couple, both 52, then endured a terrifying seven-hour ordeal as a deadly riptide dragged them nearly ten miles off shore.

Julie Bryne, 52, and husband Jeff Bryne, 52, at the Grand Bay Yacht Club, after being rescued

A map of the area off the north of Maurituis showing the dive site at the blue star before they were rescued nine miles away

Linking arms with the other three members of their diving party, they had to tread water and pray for a rescue as a tropical storm came roaring in.

At times they were struggling to remain afloat amid 25ft waves, and visibility was reduced to just a few yards as the rain lashed down. As the light faded, the Byrnes feared their hopes of a rescue had gone with it.

We thought we were done for, that wed perish in the water and our bodies would never be found, said Julie.

We saw helicopters overhead and although we yelled and screamed they couldnt see us.

Their ordeal bears remarkable similarities to the 2003 film Open Water, which chronicles the desperate struggle of a couple who find their boat has vanished after surfacing from a scuba-diving trip in the Caribbean. The movie was based on the real-life story of American tourists, Tom and Eileen Lonegran, who disappeared off Australias Great Barrier Reef in 1998 and were never found.

Fortunately, the Byrnes did not share the fate of the films lead characters  one drowns and the other is killed by a shark  although just ten minutes before they were finally spotted, Jeff felt two thuds against his legs.

I got bumped twice quite hard and it had never happened all throughout the seven hours before, he said. It was my left leg first and then my right leg. I had my mask but I thought, I dont want to look down there if there are sharks. 

The couple, from Rockcliffe, Cumbria, who have two daughters aged 25 and 22, had been looking forward to the ten-day trip in June. Staying in the luxury resort of Veranda Paul in Grand Gaube, they had booked a series of dives through their hotel with private firm DiveSail Travel.

After a successful excursion on their third day, they booked another for the following morning.

Julie Bryne, diving off Mauritius, the day before being stranded in shark infested waters

That day, the couple were among a group of tourists taken out by speedboat to Gunners Quoin island, off the northern coast of Mauritius.

A French dive master jumped into the water alongside the Byrnes, a German woman, Patricia Veccio, and a 51-year-old British man, Jeffrey Tibbles, and began what was supposed to be the first of two dives that day. Yet, without their knowledge, the boat left the spot to drop off other divers around the cove.

If Id known the boat was going to leave us, I would absolutely never had gone in the water. Its a divers worst nightmare, said Jeff, a site manager and veteran of more than 500 dives.

After 30 minutes underwater, visibility became poor and the dive master signalled to the group to return to the surface. But to their astonishment, their boat had vanished.

Julie said: Panic set in immediately. The dive leader told everyone to remain calm and started blowing his whistle, saying the boat would hear it and come back. But we quickly realised no one could hear us and the boat wasnt coming back.

At that point, the couple say they were just 50 yards from the shore of Gunners Quoin. But, incredibly, the dive master feared they would be washed into nearby rocks, so he ordered them to swim away from the island.

The instructor was yelling at everyone to swim further out to sea, Julie said. It was like the instructor had no safety training. He had no radio, no SOS equipment, no way of calling for help.

We then got caught up in a riptide and were carried out by the current.

Her husband added: The skies went very grey and it started to rain. It got so dark that we could barely see each other. At that point, even if anything came it was never going to find us. That was about my lowest point.

Meanwhile, a huge search operation involving a helicopter and 20 vessels had been launched.

As the hours dragged on, Jeff began to fear the worst. Not all five of us would have made it through the night, definitely not, he said. Three of us were quite strong, two of us not so strong. The German girl got really sick with the heavy seas she more or less gave in. She was vomiting all the time. She went very quiet.

Jeff used a surface marker buoy (pictured) to signal for help after efforts from coastguard

Julie, used to dealing with emergencies in her day job as an ambulance support centre operator, said: Jeff told me to stay strong and have hope. But when the helicopter passed us by, I was on the verge of breaking down.

I told Jeff I loved him and he said he loved me.

At 5.15pm, they were finally spotted  the crew of a pleasure boat searching for them saw Jeffs 5ft inflatable surface marker. The group was severely dehydrated and sunburnt  but alive.

We were all in tears, we were elated, said Julie. We all just got on the boat and we were hugging and kissing. Even the two lads who rescued us were in tears. Were just so grateful to everyone who joined the hunt.

An investigation by the Mauritius Scuba Diving Association (MSDA) found that the skipper and the dive master were negligent.

An MSDA spokesman said the Mauritius Tourism Authority had temporarily suspended the licence of DiveSail Consultants Ltd, pending a decision on whether it will be revoked. Last night the authority did not respond to requests for comment.

Stephane de Senneville, director of DiveSail Travel, which contracts out the scuba arm of its business to a third-party firm, DiveSail Consultants Ltd, said: The mistake was the decision made by the dive master who chose to swim away from the protection of the cove and into sharp currents which dragged them out to sea.

Everyone came out alive and no one was hurt  the end result was positive.

But for Jeff and Julie  who say they have yet to receive a formal apology and merely had their fee for the days diving trip waived  the companys words provide little solace.

Julie said she is suffering post- traumatic stress disorder.
Police are hunting a man after a woman was raped at knifepoint when she offered him some change.

The victim, in her late 50s, was subjected to a 'horrific' attack in an alleyway of Essex Road in Islington, north London, at around midnight on Thursday.

The man then emptied her bag onto the floor and stole some valuables before fleeing the scene.

The victim, in her late 50s, was subjected to a 'horrific' attack in an alleyway of Essex Road (pictured) in Islington, north London, at around midnight on Thursday

Described as dark skinned, around 5ft4ins in height and of medium build, the attacker was wearing dark clothing and looks like he is between 30 and 40 years old.

DC Sarah Hunter of the Metropolitan Polices sexual offences unit said: This was a horrific attack on a woman who had stopped to help a stranger when he asked her for some change.

My team are keen to hear from anyone who has information that can assist the investigation.

This was a callous attack which has left the victim very traumatised.
Hollywood heart throb Jude Law is set to cause controversy as the chain-smoking, megalomaniac pontiff in Sky's new mini-series The Young Pope.

The British actor plays American Lenny Belardo who somehow manages to reach the top job in the Catholic church despite growing up in an orphanage.

The first two episodes were shown a the Venice Film festival to great critical review, but Catholics around the world may not appreciate the unusual take on the leader of the church.

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Jude Law plays Pope Pius XIII in Sky's new 10-part series The Young Pope, which according to its director Paolo Sorrentino may cause some degree of upset within the Vatican

Diane Keaton plays Sister Mary, who is the new pontiff's private secretary and also the woman who cared for the Lenny Belardo when he was dumped in an American orphanage as a child

Law, pictured on set in his Papal regalia admitted it was like being hit by a tonne of bricks when Sorrentino called him up and asked him to play the Pope, fearing he wouldn't be believable

According to early reviews of the show, Law's character is a 'chain smoking megalomaniac'

Speaking in Venice, Law said he was surprised when Italian director Paolo Sorrentino called him to play Pope Pius XIII - who is supposed to be the first American to head the Catholic church.

He said: 'Like a ton of bricks it landed on me that I had to play a pope and I didn't quite know where to go or what work to do to offer it some weight and believability.

'But Paolo constantly reminded me that it was a piece about a man who happened to be the pope. Once I started approaching it from that point of view ... it started to come together.'

The series opens with the newly appointed pope crawling out from under a pile of sleeping babies, only to reveal that the image was a dream.

On his first day in the job, the new pontiff demands Cherry Coke Zero at breakfast, scolds an elderly nun for kissing his forehead, bans the use of his image on merchandise and refuses to be properly seen or photographed in public, even when he delivers his inaugural homily.

Diane Keaton plays a nun who had raised Lenny in an orphanage and becomes the pope's private secretary.

Sorrentino said doing a mini-TV series gave him greater opportunity to delve deeper into the characters, but he also sought to bring in some cinematic elements.

He agreed that his pope was a stark contrast to the approach of the Vatican's current pontiff, Pope Francis, but said there was no reason the Catholic church could not have his type of leader in future.

'It's possible that after a more liberal pope there may be one that has different ideas,' the Oscar-winning director said.

'It would be quite naive to believe that the Church has embarked on a long path towards liberalism.'

He said he wasn't worried about a reaction from the Vatican, adding that if they are patient enough to see the work in its entirety, they will understand it as a piece of art 'that examines the contradictions and the difficulties as well as the fascinating aspects of the clergy, the priests and the nuns'.

The show airs on Sky Atlantic on Thursday, October 27.

One of the issues is set to cause controversy in the new series is the fictional pontiff's addiction to cigarettes as Pope Pius chain smokes though each episode

The director asked the Vatican to consider the series in its entirety before criticising it

Unlike Pope Francis, the fictional Pope Pius has extremely harsh words for his flock

The Young Pope will be broadcast on Sky Atlantic in October in Britain and Ireland

Sorrentino spoke about the upcoming series: ' The most mysterious and contradictory figure of all turns out to be Pius XIII himself.

'Shrewd and naive, old-fashioned and yet very modern, doubtful and resolute, ironic, pedantic, hurt and ruthless, Pius XIII tries to walk the long path of human loneliness to find a God for mankind. And for himself.'

L.A. Confidential star James Cromwell also stars in the new series as Cardinal Michael Spencer.

Asked whether he was worried the Vatican and Pope Francis may take offence at the clever, funny but biting tale, Sorrentino said it was 'the Vatican's problem not mine'.

'But if they watch to the end they will see it is a work that tackles with curiosity and honesty, not with a desire to provoke... the contradictions and difficulties, and fascinating lives of clergy, nuns and the pope,' he said.

While Francis insists on the Church opening its doors to the people, Pius XIII has but harsh words for his flock.

'The pope we have created is diametrically opposed to the real one, because that could happen. It is possible for a liberal pope to be followed by someone very different,' Sorrentino said.
Dazed and bloodied: Ben Ellery staggers to the side of the road after the crash

Like millions of Britons, I have driven along the featureless road leading to the Calais ferry port so many times over the years it has become a familiar final glimpse of France before heading home.

For a few sickening moments early on Friday, I feared it might be the last thing I ever saw.

But the most chilling aspect of the crash in which my car was written off and my two passengers and I narrowly escaped death, was that it was not an accident at all  but the result of a deliberate, cold-blooded act.

The tree trunk hurled at our car which caused the near-fatal swerve could have been thrown at any family travelling back to the UK. And the next victims may not be so lucky.

I was with photographers John McLellan and Steve Burton after investigating the increasing menace that migrant gangs pose for motorists around Calais. We were about to find out only too clearly.

We were on the autoroute to the ferry port, travelling at about 50mph, when three migrants suddenly appeared on the right side of the road. I saw one of them was carrying a thick log.

With both hands he hurled it at the windscreen and I instinctively jerked the steering wheel to the left. I felt a sickening jolt as the car was hit by an articulated lorry and we spun out of control.

Then we were pushed sideways at speed along the road by the 38-ton truck.

I expected to hit another vehicle at any moment. I stabbed at the brake pedal furiously but we were at the mercy of the larger vehicle.

My face cracked against the steering wheel and John let out a moan as his face smashed into his camera. After about 50 yards, we came to a halt.

Wreckage: The Mail on Sunday team's car after being crushed by a juggernaut in Calais

I asked Steve and John if they were OK, but neither could speak. One let out a groan. I could feel blood gushing out of my own face.

I was not sure whether it was safer to stay in the car and risk getting hit by an oncoming vehicle, or to walk on to the carriageway.

I also didn't know whether the migrants might want to attack us again.

I stumbled from the car on to a carpet of smashed glass. The lorry was blocking John's door and he scrambled out of mine.

My adrenaline was surging and I staggered to the side of the road. After about 30 seconds the police arrived. I motioned for them to get Steve out of the car.

Injured: Photographer Steve, on a stretcher, and colleague John in the ambulance last week

Paramedics turned up within minutes and I saw Steve being loaded on to a stretcher in a neck brace. The lorry driver, a Hungarian called Ferenc, ran up to John and gave him a hug.

He started apologising but John told him it wasn't his fault. Ferenc had seen the migrants too and there was nothing he could do.

I got into the ambulance and a paramedic told me I would have to have stitches as bone was visible under a deep gash.

One medic said he thought British volunteers were helping the migrants with equipment such as chainsaws to create blockades. At the hospital I was told of a tourist treated for injuries after a migrant threw something at their car.

As one doctor put eight stitches in my face, another came in and said two migrants had just been admitted with knife wounds inflicted during a fight.

One was critical having been stabbed in the neck, and the other's lungs had been punctured. My CT scan was delayed as they were given priority. The doctor said: 'This happens every day.'

The next day I went to the Commissariat de Police in Calais to find out what happened to my car and was told by an officer that these sort of attacks were happening 'tous les jours.'

At the recovery compound I shuddered at the sight of my caved-in car and the thought of how lucky we were to survive.

Would a young family have come out alive from the same attack? I don't think they would.
She was captured on video that was uploaded to Facebook last week by motorcyclist Erik Hanna, 25, from Ottawa

The Newfoundland driver has been charged with careless driving, distracted driving and failure to notify change of address

Canadian woman seen texting and driving in a video caught on a motorcyclist's helmet camera has turned herself in to police

A woman recorded texting and driving in a video caught on a motorcyclist's helmet camera has turned herself in to Canadian authorities and now faces several charges.

The driver is seen committing the driving violation in footage uploaded to Facebook on August 27 by 25-year-old motorcyclist Erik Hanna from Ottawa, CBC reported.

In the viral video, the Newfoundland driver behind the wheel of a black Hummer is shown texting and staying stopped at green lights.

She has since been charged with careless driving, distracted driving and failure to notify change of address, Ottawa police said on Thursday.

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A woman recorded texting and driving in a video caught on a motorcyclist's helmet camera has turned herself in to Canadian authorities and now faces several charges

The driver (pictured) has since been charged with careless driving, distracted driving and failure to notify change of address, Ottawa police said

The unidentified driver is seen committing the driving violation in footage uploaded to Facebook on August 27 by 25-year-old motorcyclist Erik Hanna from Ottawa (pictured)

At the start of the video, Hanna is seen driving between two lanes and pulling up to the driver-side door of her car while they are at a red light.

The woman is shown looking down at her phone and ignoring Hanna's presence when he knocks on her window.

He is seen knocking a second time without so much as a glance or response from the woman as she continues to text, briefly looking up to see if the light has changed.

Hanna eventually drives away but is nearly hit by the driver as she closely passes him moments later.

Following the near-collision, Hanna follows the driver and confronts her at another red light, this time pulling up to the right side of the SUV.

The woman looks over at Hanna who points at her before they pull over on the side of a road.

The driver is seen saying something to Hanna that is inaudible before Hanna says to her: 'I got it all on camera. You on the phone, you cutting me off, everything.'

'It's all recording right now. I'm going to the police. I'll follow you wherever you want to go. All right? Let's go,' he adds.

The woman's response is again inaudible but Hanna told CBC she said, 'Don't you have something better to do? What do you think you're doing?'

Hanna responds, saying: 'No that's dangerous to my life. That's dangerous to other people's lives. This is the best thing I can do right now.

'So let's get to the police right now, still recording.'

At the start of the video, Hanna is seen driving between two lanes and pulling up to the driver-side door of her car while they are at a red light

The woman is shown looking down at her phone and ignoring Hanna's presence when he knocks on her window

He is seen knocking a second time without so much as a glance or response from the woman as she continues to text, briefly looking up to see if the light has changed

The woman then rolls up her window and drives away.

Following the incident, Hanna uploaded the video to Facebook and also turned it over to police who opened an investigation into the incident.

Ottawa police attempted to locate the driver but noted tracking her down could be difficult considering she had Newfoundland license plates and could be far outside of Ontario's borders.

Earlier this week, Sgt. Mark Gatien of the OPD's Traffic Enforcement Unit said police would issue her tickets if they found her but said once she leaves Ontario, 'when she's gone, she's gone.'

'If she has watched the news or read the papers and wants to turn herself in, come and see us,' he told The Ottawa Citizen.

'We'll give her two tickets and she will be on her way.'

Hanna eventually drives away but is nearly hit by the driver as she closely passes him moments later

Following the near-collision, Hanna follows the driver and confronts her at another red light, this time pulling up to the right side of the SUV

Hanna told CBC earlier this week that he had decided to take action after seeing the woman texting at a stop light.

'The light actually turned green and she stayed stopped,' he said.

'A couple cars honked, we went around  I chose to go around her. I saw her just staring down at her cellphone.'
The sister of the woman who died in a botched butt lift has confronted the doctor in Mexico after discovering the 29-year-old was one of six patients to have died on his operating table.

Gold Coast woman Andrea Sarmonikas has been in Mexico for a year since her sister Evita, 29, died while having a minor surgery in March last year at medical tourism town Mexicali.

Ms Sarmonikas will confront Dr Victor Ramirez after discovering he has been implicated in the deaths of five other patients, according to an investigation by Seven's Sunday Night program.

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Gold Coast woman Andrea Sarmonikas (left) has been in Mexico for a year since her sister Evita (right) died while having a minor surgery in March last year

Ms Sarmonikas has been investigating the history of Dr Victor Ramirez (pictured) and will confront him after discovering he has been implicated in the deaths of five other patients

Ms Sarmonikas said she believes she needs to keep investigating until the doctor is stopped.

'Three deaths that we know of direct evidence  Evita is one of those. Another three that we still don't know names and we still don't know causes. And we need those families to come forward,' Ms Sarmonikas told Sunday Night.

'If I don't do this now, someone else is going to die. While the doors keep opening I will continue because this doctor needs to be stopped.'

An initial autopsy said Evita had died of a heart attack, but a second autopsy commissioned by the family found her lung had been punctured four times.

An initial autopsy said Evita had died of a heart attack, but a second autopsy commissioned by the family found her lung had been punctured four times

Dr Ramirez is still working as a plastic surgeon despite facing charges of homicide and operating outside his licence over Evita's death, according to the investigation

Dr Ramirez is still working as a plastic surgeon despite facing charges of homicide and operating outside his licence over Evita's death, according to the investigation.

The case is not expected to go ahead until the end of the year.

Kim Kardashian once threatened to sue Dr Ramirez for using an image of her to advertise himself on billboards.

The mother of the women, Maria Sarmonikas, wants her surviving daughter to return home.

The mother of the women, Maria Sarmonikas (right), wants her surviving daughter Andrea to return home

'I want Andrea back, start life again because she left everything to find justice for her sister,' mother Maria said (L-R Evita, Maria, Andrea)

'I just want some answers to finish all this,' she told Sunday Night.

'I want Andrea back, start life again because she left everything to find justice for her sister.'

Ms Sarmonikas has said she will not give up and return to Australia.

The hospital in Mexicali, where the botched operation took place, has been shut down.
One of his friends in China had been harboring North Korean escapees

A US student who is thought to have been kidnapped by Kim Jong Un's secret agents may have been handed over by Chinese police on suspicion of harboring escapees from North Korea, it has been claimed.

David Sneddon of Brigham Young University was just 24 when he disappeared in Yunnan Province. Chinese police said that Sneddon likely disappeared in a hiking accident.

But South Korea's Abductees' Family Union claimed he was abducted by North Korea to teach English to Kim Jong Un.

The union's chief, Sung-Yong Choi, said Sneddon is now living in the North Korean capital of Pyongyang, where he has a wife and two children.

And evidence from a Japanese agency suggests he was arrested in China on false charges of helping illegal residents travel through the country.

A document revealed to DailyMail.com by Sneddon's family claims the Ministry of State Security of the People's Republic of China (MSS) then handed him over to North Korean officials in 2004.

Vanished: David Sneddon (pictured) disappeared in 2004 while in Yunnan Province, China. Chinese police said he likely died by accident while hiking, but his body was never found

Kidnapped: A report published Wednesday said Sneddon was in fact kidnapped to teach Kim Jong Un (pictured) English, and that he is still alive and living in the North Korean capital

According to the report from the National Association for the Rescue of Japanese Kidnapped by North Korea (NARKN) from May 2012, Sneddon was arrested in August of that year.

The report added: 'The MSS said they released him in September, 2004, because the "JAIS" was coming to search for him.

'However, a Chinese woman, a friend of the American, is quoted as saying that he had not been released but instead handed over to five North Korean secret agents who had come to Kunming for surveillance of North Korean defectors.'

The Sneddons believe that 'JAIS' is a mispronunciation of 'James,' Sneddon's brother, who did indeed go to Yunnan to search for him.

Tokyo Christian University chairman professor Tsutomu Nishioka's report from the same time explained that 'helping illegal residents' is believed to mean providing assistance to North Koreans passing through China as refugees.

'Immediately before leaving Beijing for Yunnan, David Sneddon met an American friend who studied Korean minorities in China and might have been involved in supporting North Korean defectors,' Nishioka said.

'Both Chinese and North Korean officials have taken this contact as a reason to be suspicious about David's possible involvement with efforts to rescue North Korean refugees.'

Sneddon's family claims that the Japanese and South Korean reports were 'never fully investigated' by US officials.

The family said that the US state department never contacted Japanese experts who claimed that Sneddon was taken to North Korea.

The recent information reported by Japanese media is not the first time that it has been suggested that Sneddon is being held captive, the family said.

Hopeful: Sneddon's parents Roy and Kathleen never gave up hope that their son was alive, and continue to campaign for his release

A statement from the family to Dailymail.com read: 'This latest news out of South Korea via Japanese media is not the first time such information stating David Sneddon is likely a captive in North Korea has surfaced.'

Pentagon expert Chuck Downs first proposed the idea in 2011, thinking it was possible because North Korean agents patrol the Yunnan area, which was a popular escape route for fleeing refugees when Sneddon disappeared.

Sneddon's case also fits the pattern of abductions by North Korea at the time, his family says.

They add, however, that Sneddon was not helping refugees cross through China, but was rather mistaken as such because he was fluent in Korean and skilled in Mandarin.

Sneddon's family said in an email to Dailymail.com: 'David was not an operative on the underground railroad.

'He was an American language student and a tourist, as proven by his travel plans and that he spent the summer studying in Beijing.

'The information from Japan suggests that Chinese officials may have suspected David was an operative due to his fluency in Korean and his skills in the Mandarin Chinese languages. That is likely why the report states he was detained.

'We have talked to the experts and heard their reasons to believe the information is accurate; US officials would likely reach the same conclusion upon additional investigation, especially talking directly with the experts who obtained it.

'The group it came from is a world-renowned leader in knowledge of North Korean abductions of citizens from other countries. Melanie Kirkpatrick is an expert on the Asian Underground Railroad and she agreed that David may have been mistaken as an operative.'

Sneddon's parents, Roy and Kathleen, have long doubted the official story of their son's disappearance.

Encouraging: David's parents have been encouraging anyone from outside Utah to write their senators and representatives and demand action. David is pictured above

Searching: Roy (right) and son James Sneddon walk through Shangri-La in Yunnan Province with placards, seeking their lost relative

'We just knew in our heart that he was alive, so we had to keep fighting,' said Kathleen Sneddon.

Their suspicion was based in part on the fact that Sneddon's body was never found after he was believed to have died in Tiger Leaping Gorge, a canyon on Yunnan's Jinsha River that is highly popular with tourists.

The area is also one of a series of stops on the underground railroad that moves North Korean escapees to South-East Asia.

Sneddon had last been seen on August 14, 2004, leaving a Korean restaurant in Shangri-La, a town not far from the Tiger Leaping Gorge trail.

He was reported missing on August 26, when he failed to turn up at the airport in Seoul, South Korea, where he was to meet his brother.

Sneddon's parents believe their son was targeted because of his fluency in Korean, which he used while serving on a Mormon mission in South Korea - but it wasn't always this way.

'We initially thought that China had picked David up thinking he was involved in the underground railroad, because a former companion of his had been teaching a North Korean family in Beijing,' Roy Sneddon explained to Dailymail.com.

Roy and his sons began to visit Yunnan to put up posters and hand out flyers with David's photo, as a way to cajole the Chinese authorities into giving him back.

'We thought they might just say "We made a mistake" if we weren't too confrontational,' he explained.

Prayers: On the Facebook page dedicated to their son, Sneddon's parents celebrated discovering their son might still be alive - but asked for prayers for the people of North Korea

Alive? Sneddon (pictured in China), is now living in the North Korean capital of Pyongyang, where he teaches English to children and has a wife and two children, it has been alleged

But a few years on, they were contacted by a man with a very different idea.

Around 2011 they were contacted by Chuck Downs, then of the Committee for Human Rights in North Korea, who had been told of David's disappearance when he met one of the young man's friends.

He invited the couple to Washington, DC, to meet a group of people from Japan who had previously been abducted by North Korea, and might be able to shed some light on their son's fate.

'We said we would pay our own way because we didn't want to be used by the Japanese,' Roy said.

But once they were there they discovered that foreigners being kidnapped by North Korea - especially in Asia - was not as uncommon as might be hoped.

Soon after they appeared on Voice of America, an international radio channel, talking about David's disappearance and got a very surprising call.

'I received a phone call from a US citizen near Seoul,' Roy explained. 'He said, "My wife was a defector so I'm in touch with a community of people who left North Korea.

''They tell me there is someone who matches the description of your son and he's teaching English in Pyongyang.''

It was the confirmation they had hoped for - but they kept their expectations grounded.

And they are even more cautious about the reports that have come through this week.

Search: The search for Sneddon (pictured in front of karst formations in China) has been ongoing for his parents for the past 12 years - but now it seems it may be approaching an end

Resolution: The Sneddons are also encouraging people from outside Nebraska to ask their representatives and senators to sponsor resolutions to investigate their son's vanishing

'Our contact said that this (Yahoo News Japan) reporter is not always accurate,' Kathleen Sneddon said. 'Sometimes he's spot-on and sometimes he's not.

'Right now we're saying we're "Hopefully optimistic".'

In the meantime, The Sneddons are working to promote their son's case.

They operate a website and Facebook page dedicated to sharing stories and information about his disappearance.

And their years of campaigning paid off earlier this year when Utah Representative Chris Stewart (R) and Senator Mike Lee (R) presented a joint Resolution to the House of Representatives and the Senate urging action to find out what happened to Sneddon.

The resolution has already been backed by Marco Rubio, and the couple say it is gaining traction with other politicians.

They are now urging people across America - especially those outside Utah - to contact the offices of their state senators and representatives, particularly their international staff, to ask them to back the bills.

The resolution currently requires three more members of the House of Representatives Foreign Affairs Committee and five more cosponsors in total in order to bring about a vote in the Fall.

'Even though it may be difficult, it's the duty of the United States government to follow all leads to locate a missing citizen,' Representative Stewart said in a statement.

Missing: A missing poster produced to help find David in China. His parents have worked to raise awareness of their son's disappearance over the past 12 years

Targeted: The poster on display. David's parents believe their son was targeted because of his fluency in Korean, which he used while serving on a Mormon mission in South Korea

Searching: David's brothers, Michael (left) and James (right) are seen at Tiger Leaping Gorge in Yunnan, where Sneddon was believed to have vanished

'The evidence indicates that there are still a lot of unanswered questions about David's disappearance.

'David's family deserves answers to those questions, and until we find those answers I will continue urging the state department to pursue all possible explanations for David's disappearance.'

Last seen: Sneddon, pictured, was last seen on August 14 leaving a Korean restaurant in Shangri-La, a town not far from the Tiger Leaping Gorge trail

A spokesman for Stewart said that he continues to push the resolution, and is hopeful that it will be voted on by the House before the end of the year, KUTV reported.

For the Sneddons, who have worked so long to find out what happened to their son, the promise of the resolution is uplifting news.

'This may put some fire in Congress,' Kathleen Sneddon, said.

She added that both she and her husband had already been contacted by a US senator from outside Utah who was eager to make progress.

Early signs are promising: The claims have spurred action on the part of the US Department of State, which announced Wednesday that it would conduct an active search for him in North Korea, Desert News Utah reported.

In the meantime, for the Sneddons, this is just another step in a road they hope will lead to their son coming home.

And Roy Sneddon is hopeful about the future - although he's well aware of the hard work needed to get there.

'I expect that, when all is said and done, we'll have done as much as we can,' he said. 'But standing back we'll say: "It was a miracle. We're glad that we saw it."'

Celebration: Sneddon's family have always believed he would be found alive. In May they shared this Facebook post on what would have been his 36th birthday

'Kidnapped': The state department will conduct an 'active search' for Sneddon. It's believed he has a wife and kids. Pictured: A view of North Korea across the South Korean border
Author John le Carre skiing in Saint-Moritz

Bestselling spy novelist John le Carre has revealed how, as a naive 16-year-old in post-war Paris, he narrowly escaped seduction by a Panamanian diplomat and his utterly beguiling wife.

In an extraordinary encounter, having been plied with alcohol, the most desirable woman he had ever seen kicked off a shoe and caressed my leg with a stockinged toe before her husband decided that we were ready for bed.

By a squeeze of my hand, the motion was seconded by the mans thirtysomething wife, but having made his excuses, le Carre left alone and found himself sleeping on a park bench.

The sensuous, unfulfilled night would later inspire works such as The Night Manager and The Tailor Of Panama, both featuring the country.

The latter was turned into a hit BBC series starring Tom Hiddleston and Elizabeth Debicki.

The author, now 84, recalls the seduction attempt by a man he names as Count Mario de Bernaschina in his autobiography, The Pigeon Tunnel.

It was 1947 and the teenager, who was born David Cornwell but took the pen name John le Carre, had been dispatched to Paris by his roguish father Ronnie, ostensibly to collect a 500 debt from the Panamanian ambassador to France.

Arriving at their elegant home in his grey school suit, he was greeted by the diplomats attractive young wife  the most desirable woman I have ever seen. I must have been standing one step beneath her, he writes, because in my memory she is smiling down on me like my angel redeemer. She was bare-shouldered, black-haired and wore a flimsy dress in layer after layer of chiffon that failed to disguise her shape.

Roguish: The author's father Ronnie Cornwell, centre, entertains lady friends

The countess looked him up and down, scrutinising him playfully until she seemed to find everything to her satisfaction, whereupon she muttered: And you are still a boy.

Le Carre was invited into the drawing room where he was given a glass of rum daiquiri and peppered with questions, including whether he had a girlfriend.

When he plucked up the courage to ask about the money, the man claimed he was the one out of pocket as he had invested in one of Ronnies business enterprises and received no returns.

However, the matter was quickly forgotten and the couple invited the schoolboy to a nearby Russian restaurant. The wife looked particularly pleased when he accepted.

Le Carre recalls: Over dinner, while the count talked about something more pleasant, the countess kicked off a shoe and caressed my leg with her stockinged toe.

On the tiny dance floor she sang Dark Eyes to me, holding the length of me against her and nibbling my earlobe while she flirted with the balalaika man and the count looked indulgently on.

Inspiration: Elizabeth Debicki in the TV version of The Night Manager

On our return to the table, the count decided that we were ready for bed. The countess, by a squeeze of my hand, seconded the motion.

Rather than accept their advances, le Carre, who also penned The Honourable Schoolboy, offered his excuses and left. Somehow I found myself a bench in a park, and somehow I contrived to remain the boy she had declared me to be.

In Paris decades later he tried to find the house and restaurant but could not. Intriguingly, half a century later while visiting Panama to research The Night Manager, he made enquiries about his erstwhile host: nobody could recall a count from Panama.

In the memoir, serialised by The Guardian, he writes: Bernaschina? Nobody had heard of the fellow. A count? From Panama? It seemed most improbable. Maybe I had dreamed the whole thing? I hadnt.
Dame Lowell Goddard will submit a written report after efforts by the Home Affairs Select Committee to meet her failed

The judge who dramatically quit as chairman of a 100 million child sex abuse inquiry will not meet MPs to explain her resignation.

New Zealander Dame Lowell Goddard will submit a written report after efforts by the Home Affairs Select Committee to make her appear in person failed.

Her departure from the 500,000-a-year role last month, having lost the confidence of senior staff, cast the independent inquiry into chaos.

Asked if she would attend Wednesdays session of the committee alongside new Home Secretary Amber Rudd, Dame Lowell, 67, said from Wellington, New Zealand: I dont anticipate it, no.
When people talk about holidaying in Greece, they often think of the islands: Mykonos, Paros, Santorini, Naxos.

The Peloponnese, the southern peninsula of Greece, is in effect an island, too, but a vast one, with all the advantages of island life (beaches, harbours, seaside tavernas) in addition to some of the best archaeological and historical sites in the country (Olympia and Epidaurus, Monemvasia and Mistra).

The Peloponnese also has mountains and landscapes of olive groves and pines, and is separated from the rest of Greece by the Corinth Canal to the east and the Gulf of Corinthos in the north-west.

On a journey: Victoria began her trip at Nafplio, above, the first capital of the Greek State

Victoria (pictured) was researching for her new book Cartes Postales From Greece

In my new book, Cartes Postales From Greece, my fictional character makes a journey around Greece and falls in love with the Peloponnese.

In order to write about him, I had to go travelling myself, heading westwards from Athens to this wonderful southernmost part of mainland Greece.

I began in autumn, with plenty of energy to sightsee (this is the perfect season, with the sea staying warm enough to swim in until mid-November) and my travels soon shaped the route that my character Anthony would take and inspired the stories he would tell.

I went where tourists throng as well as to places where they dont tend to hang around for long.

Sometimes I found myself where they dont go at all, occasionally because of my terrible map-reading. Mistakes sometimes led to happy discoveries.

For example, crossing mountains on a rough track because I had missed a turning led to the most spectacular views of pine forests and waterfalls I would otherwise have missed.

The towns enchanted me as much as the landscapes.

I began in Nafplio, which was the first capital of the Greek State. It has a perfect harbour and three fortresses (including one on an island).

I loved it for its faded grandeur and elegance, narrow streets without cars, and a feeling that this was where history was made.

To infinity and beyond: The pool at Amanzoe in Porto Heli, which Victoria says is the most luxurious in Greece

Most magical of all was the generous central square, Plateia Syntagmatos, with its shiny marble paving stones, where people relax in cafes, or take their evening volta, or walkabout. It was the best space for people-watching.

As well as the buildings that border this square, Nafplio has many beautiful and interesting ones, including the cathedral of Agios Giorgos.

Originally a Catholic church under the Venetians and then a mosque under the Turks, it is now a Greek Orthodox church.

The life of this building tells the story of Greece, explaining the patchwork of architectural styles you often see in the Peloponnese as a result of different periods of occupation.

Kalamata was the next place I stopped at, though I passed dozens of small villages in between. This is a working town, a port, somewhere entirely without pretension or awareness of its own charm.

The spectacular Church of St Andrew in Patras (pictured) is the largest church in Greece

Kalavryta is also known for something more positive. It is the starting point for Greeces most spectacular rail journey

Much of the city is modern. Many of the buildings were destroyed by an earthquake in 1986, but dotted among their replacements are dozens of magnificent neo-classical mansions that survived the tremors.

To see their exaggerated grandeur is worth a visit in itself.

In the older part of town furthest from the port (from which a vast tonnage of olives is exported annually), there is a more picturesque area with small streets that wind up towards a Frankish castle.

On the way, I went into the Military Museum and was shown around by a young soldier. It was part of his military service to lead me through the last 200 years of Greek history, a period that has seen only short times of real peace.

My favourite place in Kalamata was the railway museum. It is little more than a siding, where trains have come to a halt and never left.

I found it intensely nostalgic to wander among the carriages and peer in at the old-fashioned wooden seating and drivers compartments and imagine a different Greece, an early modern age that has already been swept away by a mixture of rapid development and crisis.

To go on a train that still functioned, I went up to Kalavryta, through the spectacular region of Arcadia (after which our idea of heaven on earth is named).

The rolling hills and mountains are as verdant and fertile as any of the Latin poet Virgils descriptions and, any minute, you expect the half-man, half-goat figure of Pan to emerge with his pipes and to cast his spell.

Beyond these magic mountains, Kalavryta is a very contrasting place to Kalamata.

Nafplio was the first capital of the Greek State. It has a perfect harbour and three fortresses (including one on an island)

This is a town that vividly remembers a dark moment from its past, and if any visitor was not aware of the consequences of the German occupation of Greece, it would be impossible to be oblivious here.

On December 13, 1943, as retribution for resistance and an attack on German soldiers, the entire male population, about 500, were taken to a hillside and shot.

Women and children were locked inside the school while the village was burned to the ground. They emerged to find the smoking ruins of their homes and the bodies of their husbands and sons.

The extraordinary thing about this attractively rebuilt town (a ski resort in winter) is the sense of peace. On the hillside, where a memorial has been built, the word Eirini  peace  is spelled out in stones.

Kalavryta is also known for something more positive. It is the starting point for Greeces most spectacular rail journey.

I travelled like an excited child on the narrow-gauge track built in the 1890s to bring minerals from the mountains to the sea.

The Peloponnese is separated from the rest of Greece by the Corinth Canal (above) to the east and the Gulf of Corinthos in the north-west

The small carriages rattled their way through the Vouraikos gorge and eventually reached Diakofto, a village on the sea.

Arrival brought a change in climate, and the warmth of the air and the sight of trees heavily laden with oranges was welcome after the mountain chill of Kalavryta.

From here I looked out across the Gulf of Corinth and decided to go west to Patra, the largest city in the Peloponnese. It may be dilapidated, but this is part of its charm.

The central square is worth seeing for its immense dimensions, along with a delicate, neo-classical theatre, the Apollon.

The church of St Andrew, which inspired an episode in Cartes Postales, is extraordinary  more impressive than some Byzantine churches. Consecrated in 1974, it holds 5,000 people.

The interior is extravagant, with every surface and interior of its dome gleaming with colour and gold leaf.

Above, the pristine bay at Voidokilia Beach, one of the many charms of the Peloponnese

Full of stories, I left the Peloponnese and crossed to the rest of Greece over the suspension bridge at Rio.

I stayed in every style of accommodation, from the Amanzoe in Porto Heli, which offers the most luxurious accommodation in Greece, and the exceptional Costa Navarino resort on the west coast, to the humblest two-star room.

All options are great. But even better is to be spontaneous, to go where your instinct takes you, and to discover the real freedom of travel.

On his journey, my protagonist sends postcards to the woman who has jilted him, but they land on another womans doormat. Enchanted by them, she is lured to the Peloponnese to see it for herself. I hope others will be, too.

Cartes Postales From Greece, by Victoria Hislop, is published on September 22 by Headline at 19.99.
Avignon may be the subject of a famous French song but there is more to this handsome gateway to Provence than dancing on the bridge.

You might, for example, enjoy trying some of the highly-regarded wines from the surrounding Cotes du Rhone region or explore its cobblestone-covered streets.

Here, Mail on Sunday rounds up the six things you must do in Avignon:

Take the train

There is a direct train service from London St Pancras to Avignon, which makes it easier than flying via Marseille

The nearest airport to Avignon with regular services from the UK is Marseille Provence  its 51 miles away.

So why not take a direct Eurostar train from London, and then the journey becomes part of the holiday. The 7.19am service from St Pancras arrives at 2.08pm.

All the main attractions are inside the city ramparts. The best views are from Rocher des Doms  an elegant park looking over the Rhone, and out to a wider Provencal landscape.

For a picnic, stock up with goods from Les Halles market.

Bridge to the past

End of the road: The remains of Le Pont Saint Benezet, with the ramparts of Avignon in the background

Built in the 12th Century, Le Pont Saint Benezet served for centuries as the last crossing on the Rhone before it flowed into the Mediterranean. Floods gradually took it apart until, in 1669, locals figured it wasnt worth repairing.

Now it is a bridge to nowhere, yet a song written about it, called Sur Le Pont DAvignon, is known the world over.

As the song says, it is still possible to dance, or simply walk, on the shortened bridge  only four of its original 22 arches survive. Entry costs about 9.

Papal palace

Above, a sidewalk cafe in front of the Palais des Papes and the cathedral - one of the key sights in the city

Avignon was once one of the worlds great power bases. The papacy moved here in the 1300s, as war threatened Rome. Clement V and his successors built the mighty Palais des Papes.

Today the Palace  grand and extravagant, and still the greatest of all Gothic buildings  is one of the main attractions of the city centre.

Inside the 27 rooms youll find tapestries and frescoes of dragons and unicorns, of flowers and forests, and hunting scenes. The Banquet Hall and Great Chapel are vast.

In summer, the palace is the backdrop for a nightly light and sound show projected on to its facade (www.palais-des-papes.com).

Small wonders

Horsemen take part in the Avignon Festival, which takes place in the city in July every year

Avignons smaller-scale historical marvels include the Cathedral of Notre-Dame-des-Doms, and the Museum of the Petit Palais.

The star among its Renaissance paintings is Botticellis Virgin And Child. The churches of St Agricol, St Didier and St Pierre date from pre-papal times.

And in July, the Avignon Festival features displays by horsemen, dance performances and plays.

Golden age

The charm of this city is anchored in its squares and haphazard narrow, cobblestone ways, named according to some ancient purpose or function, such as Rue Bonnetterie (hosiery).

I ate at lAgape (restaurant-agape-avignon.com) on Place des Corps Saints where home-cooked food is inspired by the classics of French gastronomy. A three-course lunch costs 20.

There's plenty of wines to try from the surrounding Cotes du Rhone region and you'll find small restaurants and cafes to dine in

In the afternoon, pause at any cafe in the central square, Place de lHorloge. Its big attraction is the gorgeous Carrousel Belle Epoque, from Frances golden age before the First World War.

Fine wine

Learn as you taste at Le Vin Devant Soi (4 Rue College du Roure).

Customers buy a card of credits, then serve themselves small tasting measures from 32 available wines from the surrounding Cotes du Rhone region.

On a quiet Monday morning, the proprietor shared his knowledge, and advised on real bargains.
Following her split from James Stewart in May last year, Jessica Marais has certainly bounced back career-wise.

After winning a Logie Award earlier this year for her role in Love Child, the busy actress will next star in Network Ten's new drama The Wrong Girl and is also fronting Berlei's latest lingerie campaign.

Speaking to Popsugar Australia, the 31-year-old mother-of-one says she's 'in a really good place at the moment'.

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Loving life: Australian actress Jessica Marais, who is fronting Berlei's latest lingerie campaign, says she is 'in a really good place at the moment'

Opening up about her decision to model for the Berlei Sensations lingerie collection, Jessica said she was impressed with the female focus of the products and campaign.

'I think that it's designed by women for women, which is great because a lot of the time  not trying to detract from male designers and the incredible way they design for women  women are told by men what think we want, what think we need or what think we like,' she said.

'Sometimes it takes a woman to know a woman.'

'It takes a woman to know a woman': Opening up about her decision to model for the Berlei Sensations lingerie collection, Jessica said she was impressed with the female focus of the products and campaign

Speaking of girl power, the blonde beauty is doing her best to spend more time with five-year-old daughter Scout, whom she shares with ex James Stewart.

Juggling motherhood with her busy career is a challenge, but Jessica insists: 'I've had a great time and I'm feeling like I'm in a really good place at the moment'.

Jessica was previously in a relationship with Home And Away actor James Stewart, who she met on the set of Packed To The Rafters.

Family snap: Jessica shares five-year-old daughter Scout with ex-fiance James Stewart

Split: The couple confirmed their split in May last year after a five-year romance

The pair were together for four years, announcing their engagement in October 2010, before welcoming daughter Scout in May 2012.

But in May last year a representative for the couple confirmed they had split, issuing a statement that read: 'Jessica Marais and James Stewart have amicably separated.

'Their main focus at this time is the co-parenting of their daughter and they ask that media respect their privacy.'

Successful: Juggling motherhood with her busy career is a challenge, but Jessica insists: 'I've had a great time and I'm feeling like I'm in a really good place at the moment'

Actress: Jessica has recently been on screen playing Dr Joan Millar on Channel Nine's Love Child

The Love Child star recently admitted she is striving to be a 'better mother and a better person' in an interview with Elle Australia.

'She's constantly teaching me patience, which is something I have to work hard at,' the actress said.

'She also teaches me to see the potential in life. She's quite a creative little soul.'
Australian actress Courtney Eaton wasn't afraid to make a style statement when she hit the red carpet with co-star Brenton Thwaites at the Gods Of Egypt premiere in Tokyo, Japan earlier this week.

The 20-year-old stepped out in a striking navy dress, featuring a sleek black leather bustier layered over the top, and matching long sleeves.

Ruffled layers of sheer black fabric were featured at the base, while a pair of metallic silver laced up boots with an elevated heel, accentuated her height.

Red carpet appearance: Australian actress Courtney Eaton wasn't afraid to make a style statement when she hit the red carpet with co-star Brenton Thwaites at the Gods Of Egypt premiere in Tokyo, Japan earlier this week

The brunette beauty added a few more accessories to complete her look for the occasion.

She held onto a multicoloured clutch, while sporting a pair of delicate drop earrings.

Her dark tresses were worn in a half-up, half-down hairstyle, while some smokey eyeshadow and a slick of crimson lipstick highlighted her stunning facial features.

Meanwhile her co-star Brenton Thwaites looked very smart as he stepped out in a coordinated ensemble.

Working it: Courtney stepped out in a striking navy dress, featuring a sleek black leather bustier layered over the top, and matching long sleeves

Coordinated co-stars: Brenton's navy suit matched Courtney's dress

The 27-year-old former Home And Away star's navy suit matched Courtney's dress.

He wore a crisp white shirt underneath, teamed with a maroon tie and metallic pocket square.

His brown curly locks were tucked neatly behind his ears, while he effortlessly oozed sex appeal with a hint of facial hair.

The genetically blessed hunk plays the character Bek in the film, while Courtney plays the role of Zaya.

Also starring in the flick are the likes of Gerard Butler and Abbey-Lee Kershaw.
As a leading man, he's usually seen playing sympathetic - or alluring - characters.

But Jude Law will no doubt shock fans with his latest on-screen performance - as he shapeshifts into the unconventional head of the Catholic church, no less.

The 43 year-old portrays the papal in forthcoming Sky thriller The Young Pope, which audiences got a preview of thanks to an extended trailer on Friday.

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New role: Jude Law will no doubt shock fans with his latest on-screen performance - as he shapeshifts into the head of the Catholic church, no less

The two-minute clip opens with the British star in a confessional booth, where he's asked to repent for his sins.

But, in a sign of what's to come, he simply responds: 'I do not have any sins to confess', before greeting crowds outside the Vatican and saying: 'I am a contradiction... I am God'.

At that point the words 'saint, sinner, pope, man' flash up on the screen - and cut to him smoking a cigarette.

Dramatic: The 43 year-old portrays the papal in forthcoming Sky thriller The Young Pope, which audiences got a preview of thanks to an extended trailer on Friday

I have nothing to confess: The Pope is insistent that he has nothing to be sorry for

'I see Christ in you': Co-starring Diane Keaton, the actress plays a nun

Co-starring Diane Keaton, the actress - who plays a nun - can then be seen holding his face in her hands during a religious experience.

Eerily, she tells him: 'I see Christ's reflection in you...' before a vision of mother and child appear in a field.

The teaser then shifts gear and eludes to the cut-throat competitiveness inside the church.

Saint and sinner: The Pope is seen taking a puff on a cigarette

Leading on women? The trailer suggests that Pope attracts female attention

As his colleagues try to overthrow him, he can then be heard shouting: 'I will wage a war against you without end' - before demanding 'revolution'.

Together, the preview will certainly whet appetites for the keenly-awaited drama, which is made in conjunction with Sky.

Directed by the Oscar-winning Paolo Sorrentino, Jude takes on the fictional role of the first American-born Pope in contemporary times, Pius XII.

Holy smokes: He's introduced as a very unconventional holy figure

Describing the themes that will run throughout his complex and stylish religious drama, the director said: '[It shows] the inner struggle between the huge responsibility of the Head of the Catholic Church and the miseries of the simple man that fate (or the Holy Spirit) chose as Pontiff.

'[The Young Pope is about] the clear signs of Gods existence.The clear signs of Gods absence. How faith can be searched for and lost.

'The greatness of holiness, so great as to be unbearable when you are fighting temptations and when all you can do is to yield to them.'

The show will be broadcast on Sky Atlantic in the UK from 27th October.
She's the 2016 Melbourne Spring Fashion Week ambassador who's been front row at a variety of shows since the festival's launch late last month.

And on Friday, Isabel Lucas rocked a seasonal two-tone green ensemble as she once again stepped out for an event at Melbourne Fashion Week.

The 31-year-old actress looked flawless in the floral lace bodice garment, which hugged her svelte frame and featured a fitted mid-thigh emerald pencil skirt.

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Emerald beauty: Isabel Lucas rocked a seasonal two-tone green ensemble as she stepped out for another Melbourne Fashion Week event on Friday night

The dress also featured an eye-catching gold zipper right down the centre of the entire ensemble, which was left partially unzipped at the top.

The former Home And Away actress wore her golden locks straight allowing them to fall naturally behind her shoulders as she sat in the audience of the fashion event.

She appeared to be wearing minimal make-up and showcased her natural beauty as she cast an elegant gaze across the room.

Isabel was seen toting a small Saint Laurent tasselled clutch and opted for minimal accessories including a delicate leather-look bracelet, which sat on her left wrist.

Natural beauty: The former Home And Away star appeared to be wearing minimal make-up and showcased her natural beauty as she cast an elegant gaze across the room

So not to draw attention away from the striking ensemble, Isabel wore clear strap heels to complete her look.

The actress, who is known to be heavily involved in environmental activism, was also seen on Wednesday at the Melbourne Spring Fashion Week opening gala wearing a sustainable black dress.

The former Australian soap star looked flawless in the black garment, which hugged tightly to her slender frame and featured an over-the-top floor-length sheer dress.

The high collared gown featured a red, blue and silver floral embroider design all round, as well as long sleeves with frills at the ends.

Environmentally friendly: Isabel, known to be an environmental activist, was also seen on Wednesday wearing a sustainable black dress at a Melbourne Spring Fashion Week event

In a post to Instagram Isabel revealed the Nevenka designed garment was made from carefully sourced natural materials and Australian made.

She captioned the image: 'Loving the way @nevenka_melbourne garments are made from carefully sourced natural fibres and materials and all garments are made locally.

'A symbiotic commitment to sustainable and ethical fashion!'

Another post featured former model and businesswoman Lindy Klim and was captioned: 'With this sweetheart @lindyklim.'

Sheer beauty: The former Australian soap star looked flawless in the black garment, which hugged tightly to her slender frame and featured an over-the-top floor-length sheer dress

The elegant blonde has long been an environmental activist and still has an outstanding arrest warrant for a protest against dolphin culling in 2007.

Isabel made an appearance in the controversial documentary about dolphin culling called The Cove but made her name playing Tasha Andrews on Home And Away from 2003 to 2006.

Since relocating overseas, she has starred in a number of big budget movies including Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen and Red Dawn, which co-starred her ex-boyfriend Chris Hemsworth.
He confessed to wishing he had a kid who was as 'cool' as the adorable Stranger Things starlet during a recent interview.

And while Aaron Paul didn't officially adopt Millie Bobby Brown, he momentarily achieved his dreams of playing doting dad to the young actress as he posed for a darling Instagram snapshot on Friday.

The 37-year-old Breaking Bad actor and his wife Lauren met up with the Netflix series star after he interviewed her for Elle magazine last month.

'First family photo': Aaron Paul and wife Lauren joked they wanted to adopt Stranger Things star Millie Bobby Brown, and they all met for dinner after making plans during an interview the Breaking Bad actor conducted

'It's official. #milliebobbypaul #firstfamilyphoto,' the snapshot was captioned of Millie sitting in between Aaron and his wife of three years.

Millie - who plays psychokinetic girl Jane 'Eleven' Ives - posted her own photo as she sat next to the hunky actor who portrayed Jesse Pinkman in the hit AMC series.

'Had a wonderful evening with Aaron and Lauren! love my #fakeadoptedparents #lovethemforever,' the 12-year-old darling wrote.

'Love my fake adopted parents': Millie - who plays psychokinetic girl Jane 'Eleven' Ives - posted her own photo as she sat next to the hunky actor who portrayed Jesse Pinkman in the hit AMC series

Aaron conducted a phone interview with the Spanish-born British actress in mid-August and posted a beautiful black and white snapshot of her with a sweet message to accompany.

'Had the absolute pleasure to interview the brilliant, articulate and absolutely adorable @milliebobby_brown the other day. She of course exceeded all of my expectations.'

During their talk, the Golden Globe nominee confessed to Millie: 'I gotta tell you: My wife and I are constantly talking about you. We're constantly saying, "Her parents must be so proud!" To be honest, we wish that you were our child.'

'She exceeded all of my expectations': The Golden Globe nominee posted a beautiful black and white snapshot of Millie the day he conducted the Elle magazine interview with her in August

'I wish you were my parents!' the young talent quipped.

He reiterated: 'But, seriously, we could only wish our kid will be half as cool as you.'

The Netflix smash hit was announced for a second season renewal on Wednesday and while Aaron tried to get insider information, Millie wasn't aware of the upcoming season at the time.

But the charming girl made Aaron a deal, 'Listen, if I know, you'll be the first one to know.'

'Don't toy with my emotions': The Emmy winner pleaded with Millie once she suggested they meet up for dinner

'Will you please track me down and let me know?' he pleaded.

'So I have Twitter. As soon as the Duffers tell me, I'll private message you. And I'm in L.A. in two weeks and we can go out for dinner,' Millie suggested.

'DO NOT TEASE ME! Don't toy with my emotions, Millie. I just followed you on Twitter. Please follow me back. Make my life complete,' the Emmy Award winner begged as he hung on the young girl's every word.

She played with him: 'I'm deadly serious, Aaron. Deadly serious.'
She's made no secret of her love for yoga and meditation.

So it was no surprise to see The Bachelor Australia contestant Keira Maguire at The Wellness Festival in Brisbane on Saturday.

The 29-year-old account manager opted for a sleek black ensemble while making an appearance at the event hosted by Colour and Coconuts.

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Sporty chic: The Bachelor Australia contestant Keira Maguire made an appearance at The Wellness Festival in Brisbane on Saturday

Keira mastered the sporty chic look, wearing black T-shirt teamed with a pair of matching leggings.

She layered her look with a cool leather jacket, while a pair of sassy shades were tucked into her top.

Opting for comfortable footwear on this occasion, the blonde beauty slipped her feet into a pair of black and white running shoes.

Sleek in black: The 29-year-old account manager opted for a sleek black ensemble while making an appearance at the event hosted by Colour and Coconuts.

Working it: Keira mastered the sporty chic look, wearing black T-shirt teamed with a pair of matching leggings

The Lara Bingle lookalike's cropped golden locks were pulled back in a slick low bun, with a pale pink lipstick completing her fresh look.

Keira wasn't the only famous face at the event, with former Miss Universe Australia Laura Dundovic hosting The Wellness Festival.

The event features a full day program of health and wellness experiences including sessions with inspiring health experts and entrepreneurs, a live DJ, lunchtime workout, and Wellness Market, as well as tempting healthy eats and treats.

Mix and match: She layered her look with a cool leather jacket, while a pair of sassy shades were tucked into her top

Lauren Pell, Founder of Colour and Coconuts said in an official statement: 'Theres a huge surge of interest in wellness happening right now  but its not all green juices and yoga classes.

'More than ever people are focussed on enhancing their lives, reaching their peak potential, and making the most of every day. They want to understand how to get the best out of life  whether thats through nutrition, movement, professional development or emotional health.

'We were blown away by the response to our first Wellness Festival in Melbourne - we had people flying from interstate to attend, so we realised it was time to hit the road!'
A radiant Sharon Stone gave a thumbs up as she walked through Los Angeles Airport on Friday on her way to catch a flight out of town.

The Basic Instinct beauty looked fabulous as ever and much younger than her 58 years.

Her signature blonde hair was styled in a short bob and she kept up make-up light with some lip gloss and brow pencil.

On the move: Sharon Stone smiled and gave a thunms up as she walked through the departure area at LAX on Friday on her way to catch a flight out of town

The actress was dressed in a flowing black ensemble of full-length skirt and matching blouse with several of the top buttons left undone.

She wore a long black coat over the top and added a pair of white trainers.

Sharon accessorized with a chunky gold neck chain and a pair of sunglasses.

relaxed: The Hollywood star who's 58 was dressed for comfort and style in a flowing black skirt and matching blouse with a black overcoat and a pair of white trainers

Her upbeat demeanor came after the news that she has received a new retraining order against her stalker Phillip Barnes, after it emerged he could be released from prison soon.

Barnes, who is currently being held in a psychiatric ward in prison, sent her a letter revealing he could be released in four months, TMZ reported this week.

The actress was prompted to head to court following the letter, as the restraining order she received agianst him in 2011 expired in 2013.

After Barnes was caught just outside of her property in August of that year she received the court order banning him from being within 100 yards of her and her children.
She has flooded her Instagram page with snapshots of her little girl since her birth on July 8.

And Liv Tyler didn't disappoint when she shared more breathtaking images from a photo shoot on Friday.

'Snuggled up with my tiny little peanut,' the 39-year-old actress captioned a photo as she posed with little baby Lula Rose.

Snuggled up with my tiny little peanut  @tylerford A photo posted by Liv Tyler (@misslivalittle) on Sep 2, 2016 at 7:26pm PDT

The HBO Leftovers starlet looked stunning in the mother-daughter pictures taken by famed photographer Tyler Ford.

She protectively cradled her tiny infant as the pair cosied up on a plush rust-coloured vintage sectional.

Liv was donned in all black with figure-hugging tights encasing her slender stems.

A photo posted by Liv Tyler (@misslivalittle) on Sep 2, 2016 at 7:19pm PDT

She wore a three-quarter length sleeve blouse while softly placing a kiss on her baby girl's cheek.

The daughter of Aerosmith legend Steven Tyler and her fiance David Gardner share Lula along with their 19-month-old son, Sailor.

Liv is also mother to Milo, 11, from her marriage to Spacehog rocker Royston Langdon and Gardner also has a son from a previous relationship, Gray.

The Lord Of The Rings star told The Times in the UK this past February that she's not planning on having any more children after this.

'I have been pregnant for two years straight. It feels like forever,' she said. 'I think we will be done after this.'

'Helping me read my script': Liv touched down in Australia with Lula on Monday as she returned to film the Leftovers' season finale

'It's funny because I always knew when I was a little girl that I wanted to have children and I always envisioned having a little tribe.'

Liv and David reportedly became engaged in December 2014.

On Monday, the award-winning actress touched down in Australia with Lula as she returned to film the Leftovers' season finale.

Since arriving Down Under, the Armageddon starlet shared an adorable picture of her and the tiny tot gazing at each other with big smiles.

Alongside the post, she wrote: 'Ohhh my sweet baby girl is smiling with me. Seven weeks let the fun begin!!!'

'She likes Australia, yay!': On Wednesday, Liv shared an adorable picture of her and the tiny tot glaring at each other with big smiles

'She likes Australia, yay!!!! And the little sweet sweater grandma Gardner made for her to keep her warm on our adventures... thank you nana Veronica.'

Two days earlier, Liv uploaded a snap from the long hauled flight, which showed the newborn sleeping peacefully in her arms.

'Australia here we come!!! #theleftovers. Momma and Lula back to work,' the caption read.

'Lula seven weeks working hard growing, sleeping and being so beautiful and helping me read my script and memorize my lines. #theleftovers @hbo.'
They say that blood is thicker than water.

And this appeared to be the case for Pixie Curtis, five, who declared her two-year-old brother Hunter as her best friend in a sweet Instagram post on Saturday.

The daughter of PR queen Roxy Jacenko made the cute admission in the caption accompanying a photo of her kissing Hunter's cheek.

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Best of friends! Pixie Curtis, five, declared her two-year-old brother Hunter as her best friend in a sweet Instagram page on Saturday

'My little best friend,' wrote Pixie in the caption before adding two love heart emojis and tagging her little brother.

Meanwhile, little Hunter appeared less-than-impressed with his sister's overly-affectionate advances, sharing a similar photo to his Instagram account with the caption: 'When you want your sister understand personal space.'

'How is one to leave an impact on the ladies under these circumstances?!' he added.

The posts were presumably written by their mother, Roxy, who manages both their accounts, which boast a whopping 130,000 followers collectively.

Family first! Meanwhile, Roxy took to her Instagram page to share a photo of herself and her children sitting in the car, accompanying the snap with a single love-heart

Meanwhile, Roxy took to her own Instagram page to share a photo of herself and her children sitting in the car, accompanying the snap with a single love-heart.

Hours earlier she shared the latest of her trademark elevator selfies, this time showcasing her Louis Vuitton bomber jacket and Hermes handbag.

Family time has become important for the Sweaty Betty founder, whose husband Oliver Curtis was recently incarcerated for insider trading.

Glamorous: Meanwhile, Roxy took to her Instagram page to share a photo of herself and her children sitting in the car, accompanying the snap with a single love-heart

In June, Roxy's husband Oliver Curtis was sentenced to two years jail in NSW Supreme Court, following his insider trading conviction.

One month later, the mother-of-two revealed that she had found a lump on her left breast and she recently underwent breast cancer surgery.

Roxy had surgery to remove the 10mm tumour in her chest earlier this month, allowing 60 Minutes to film the procedure and air the scene in their recent tell-all interview.

Tough times: In June, Roxy's husband Oliver Curtis was sentenced to two years jail in NSW Supreme Court, following his insider trading conviction
Salma Hayek celebrated her 50th birthday on Friday with the help of a Mariachi band.

The Mexican actress was greeted by the musicians as she arrived on the set of the movie Beatriz At Dinner, that she's currently shooting in Los Angeles.

The musical group was a surprise put together for her by the cast and crew led by director Miguel Arteta.

Birthday girl: Salma Hayek, who celebrated her 50th birthday on Friday, was surprised with a Mariachi band as she arrived on set

Since it was a film set, someone was of course on hand to capture the birthday girl's surprise on camera.

Salma later shared the video with her social media followers, posting it to Instagram with a note of thanks to those who orchestrated it.

The Ugly Betty star is seen being driven to the location in a white sedan and beaming with delight as she exits the vehicle as the Mariachi music plays.

Ready to perform: The traditional Mexican musicians were in full costume on the location set of the independent comedy Beatriz at Dinner and waiting for her when she arrived

Unexpected: The surprise had been planned by director Miguel Arteta and the rest of the cast and crew

A little overcome: Crew members caught her reaction on their cell phones as the Mexican actress covered her face with her hands in a show of emotion

The crew is seen filming her arrival on their cell phones and applauding her as she walks over to Arteta and gives him a warm hug.

She then puts her hands to her face for a moment as if briefly overcome with emotion.

Salma, who is married to French multi-millionaire Francois-Henri Pinault, stars in the small budget comedy with Connie Britton, Chloe Sevigny and John Lithgow.
She recently displayed her ample assets in a barely-there outfit on social media, just days before heading to the Burning Man Festival in the Nevada desert.

And Imogen Anthony, 25, posted another sizzling selfie on Saturday, showcasing her svelte frame in the same skimpy black bodysuit.

The pink-haired exhibitionist added a feathered headdress and black boots to the revealing look and captioned the snap, 'we made it.'

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Scorching! Imogen Anthony sizzled in a revealing black bodysuit and feathered headdress at the Burning Man Festival in Nevada on Saturday

The skimpy one-piece left little to the imagination, highlighting her chest, slender legs and lithe arms.

The Maxim model shared the image with her 110,000 Instagram followers, just hours before a vitruvian man inspired effigy is set to be lit on fire.

In preparation for the festival, Imogen posted two other snaps wearing the bodysuit made by label adamsaaks.

Girls just wanna have fun! Imogen appeared to be enjoying the festival, which is a favourite amoung Hollywood stars

She's on fire! The skimpy one-piece left little to the imagination, highlighting her chest, slender legs and lithe arms

She captioned the first photo: 'Thank you @adamsaaks for getting my #BurningMan bodysuit here in time, all the way from NYC.'

And the second photo was captioned: 'I'm ready 4 u #BurningMan.'

The image comes just days after another provocative post, in which she showcased her pert derriere.

Stunner: Imogen is known for flaunting her ample assets in barely-there outfits across social media

The model flaunted a hint of sideboob and her behind as she appeared to smoke a marijuana cigarette in a Los Angeles kitchen.

Under California law, the use of medical marijuana is permitted under the state's Medical Marijuana Identification Card Program (MMICP).

'House Bunny,' Imogen captioned one snap that saw her resting both hands on a kitchen stove top and pushing out her bottom seductively.

Glamour: The Maxim model is believed to have attended the festival with friends

With a cigarette placed in her mouth, she swept her pink tresses into what appeared to be two pigtails, and sported a glamorous makeup look of winged eyeliner and a soft pink lip.

A later snap shared to the site saw the slender starlet provide two close-up shots of the revealing swimwear.

This time, Imogen flaunted more sideboob while hitching up the bottoms to reveal more of her backside.

Revealing: Imogen took to Instagram on Tuesday in a G-string teal swimsuit that flashed a serious amount of flesh

Simply captioning the snap with just three love hearts, the girlfriend of radio shock jock Kyle Sandilands glanced seductively at the camera, one moment playfully running her hand through her hair.

This is not the first time the media personality has been seen smoking what appeared to be marijuana.

On Monday, Imogen shared an Instagram video of herself sitting on Kyle Sandiland's gold 'throne', while blowing smoke out of her mouth.

Seductive: A later snap shared to the site saw the slender starlet provide two close-up shots of the revealing swimwear, this time flaunting a significant amount of sideboob while hitching up the bottoms to reveal more of her toned derriere

In the caption, the outspoken star called for the legalisation of cannabis in Australia, writing: 'When in Rome (or on a throne)...I love California #legaliseaustralia.'

In the video, Imogen also wore a bath robe and appeared fresh out of a shower as she relaxed listening to music.

She shared the clip shortly before posting several more photos from her romantic date night with KIIS FM shock jock Kyle.

Recreational use of cannabis in Australia is illegal.

Blowing smoke? Imogen shared an Instagram video of herself smoking a marijuana cigarette in California captioning the image with a call to legalise the drug in Australia

In love: The outspoken star shared the clip shortly before posting several more photos from her romantic date night with KIIS FM shock jock Kyle Sandilands (L)

In California, a vote will be held in November over whether recreational marijuana should be legalised.

Several US states have approved marijuana use by sick people and also removed jail sentences for recreational users.

One is California, which passed the nation's first medical marijuana law in 1996.

But it is still a violation of law if somebody possesses up to one ounce of marijuana.
She put on a very loved-up display with her husband Mark Wright on Thursday, firmly quashing endless break-up rumours surrounding their marriage.

But Michelle Keegan's hubby may have to shield his eyes from her new BBC drama Our Girl, which will see her get hot and heavy with her co-star Luke Pasqualino.

The actress, 29, strips to just her bra as she enjoys a saucy romp in the series with her 26-year-old hunk - who she was rumoured to have formed a 'close bond' with on set, fuelling further speculation of a split with Mark.

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Hotting up! Michelle Keegan, 29, enjoys a saucy romp in BBC One's Our Girl with her hunky co-star Luke Pasqualino - who she was rumoured to have formed a 'close bond' with on set

Arms wrapped around each other in a dark bedroom, the pair are seen sharing a passionate kiss as they engage in skin-to-skin contact in the heart-racing scene.

As if the dalliance wasn't enough, Mark may have even more reason to look away from his wife's new war epic - with her character Corporal Georgie Lane also sharing a second kiss with co-star Royce Pierreson.

Talking of the on-set antics at the Our Girl screening on Thursday, the former Coronation Street star remained coy about her steamy scenes.

Look away, Mark! Her husband Mark Wright may have even more reason to shield his eyes from his wife's new drama - as she shares kisses with both Luke and co-star Royce Pierreson

'I'm going to say both of them were very good!' she laughed, when asked which of her acting beaus was the better lip-lock.

Michelle and Mark stepped out for a celebratory night out after the show's launch, as the duo remain defiant in the face of rumoured strife in their marriage.

The 29-year-old beauty could not stop smiling as she strode along arm-in-arm with her spouse of one year, having enjoyed a night of post-work festivities at London's Mahiki nightclub.

Happier than ever! Michelle went further than showing off her ring as she later stepped out with the former TOWIE star for a celebratory night out after the launch

Michelle stole the show at the launch, as she flashed her engagement ring from her husband in a defiant display having set tongues wagging with the absence of the jewellery in recent weeks.

In the face of bold claims about their romance, the couple, who have just returned from a beach break in Majorca, seemed happier than ever as they giggled their way out of the swanky club in the capital before hopping in a cab.

The former Coronation Street actress remained in her stunning tuxedo from earlier in the night.

Look at the smiles! The 29-year-old beauty could not stop smiling as she strode along arm-in-arm with her spouse of one year, having enjoyed a night of post-work festivities at London's Mahiki nightclub

Moment to himself: Mark appeared to be lost in thought as Michelle screamed with laughter at a joke from co-star Ben Aldridge

A laugh a minute: In the face of bold claims about their romance, the couple, who have just returned from a beach break in Majorca, seemed happier than ever as they giggled their way out of the swanky club in the capital before hopping in a cab

Flying the flag: As the duo clamboured into a taxi they were caught in a fit on the giggles, while Michelle held on to a camouflage flag, no doubt a souvenir from the triumphant launch of the show

Mark meanwhile, who had not been seen at the premiere, was suitably more low-key in a denim ensemble.

The handsome star, who soared to fame in TOWIE's 2010 inauguration, wore tight jeans with a complementary grey T-shirt and denim jacket for his night out with his stunning wife.

As the duo clambered into a taxi they were caught in a fit on the giggles, while Michelle held on to a camouflage flag, no doubt a souvenir from the triumphant launch of the show.

Having a giggle: It was a squeeze in the car as the whole gang looked to be heading to their next venue while cracking up with Michelle sat in the centre of the taxi

What a laugh! Mark seemed to be the jester of the pack as he giggled away

Stoney: Some moments appeared more stern as the laughs dissipated

A great night had by all! The happy couple seemed joyous at the end of the evening

Stunner: Michelle's gleaming white smile was stunning as she beamed

Hometime: The couple looked ready for bed as they left the party

Time to go: Michelle struggled to keep her eyes open as Mark guided her to the car

Something on your mind? The former TOWIE star seemed preoccupied with his phone

More serious moments: Mark and Michelle gazed into the distance as they waited for the car to depart

Also in their cab was her co-star Ben Aldridge, who seemed to have been enjoying the party alongside the couple.

It was a squeeze in the car as the whole gang looked to be heading to their next venue while cracking up with Michelle sat in the centre of the taxi.

While the happy couple seemed joyous at the end of the evening, reports were once again circulating, with insiders claiming Michelle's Our Girl love interest Luke Pasqualino dodged the premiere to avoid questions about their relationship.

Glimmering: Michelle's dazzling good looks were radiant in the London night

Wrapping up: It was no doubt time for bed after a night of work and partying for the pair

Serious: Mark frequently looked lost in thought as he headed out

Three's a crowd? Michelle was in a fit of giggles with her co-star Ben

What's so funny? While her husband was lost in thought, Michelle was having the time of her life

Was it something he said? The actress is obviously great mates with her co-star

The glamorous event in London saw Michelle arrive on the arms of handsome co-stars Ben and Royce Pierreson although Luke was nowhere to be seen.

Insiders tell The Sun that the 26-year-old former Skins star sought to avoid any awkward line of questioning about the 'close bond' they formed, in fear his responses would further fuel rumours.

The speculation was not helped when Luke and Michelle filmed scenes in Manchester in July, where they looked totally at ease with one another.

Leading lady: Michelle was keen to celebrate after her big night on the red carpet

Hunky husband: Mark didn't appear at the premiere earlier in the evening but was there to party with his wife later

This way? Michelle looked for the couple's car as they walked out into the crowd

Party time! Michelle chose to celebrate her new TV project at popular haunt Mahiki

I got you babe: Gentleman Mark held the door open for his wife

Keeping her close: Mark made sure his gorgeous girl stuck by his side in the crowds

Where to next? The party spirit seemed to be strong in the cab ride home

In the mood: Mark seemed to brighten up as he joined in the fun and japes

Michelle plays Lance Corporal Georgie Lane to Luke's character, maverick Special Forces officer Elvis Harte.

While the stunning actress ensured her wedding ring was in full focus during the evening, Luke, who is reportedly dating Little Mix's Perrie Edwards, was nowhere to be seen.

Sources tell the publication: 'Michelle and Luke obviously formed a close bond while being away from home for so long.

Time out: Michelle Our Girl love interest Luke Pasqualino reportedly dodged Thursday night's premiere to dodge questions about their relationship

Work time! Insiders tell The Sun that the 26-year-old former Skins star sought to avoid any awkward line of questioning about the 'close bond' they formed, in fear his responses would further fuel rumours

Work friends: The glamorous event in London saw the former Coronation Street star, 28, arrive on the arms of handsome co-stars Ben Aldridge and Royce Pierreson although Luke was nowhere to be seen

'But he just wants to the talk to be about his performances, not face the inevitable questions about his relationship with Michelle. His responses could fuel even more rumours.'

MailOnline has contacted representatives for BBC and Luke for comment.

As she walked the red carpet, Michelle looked incredible in a black two-piece suit, with a plunging white vest top worn beneath to flash a hint of her cleavage yet remaining demure and sophisticated.

Where was he? While the stunning actress ensured her wedding ring was in full focus during the evening, Luke, who is reportedly dating Little Mix's Perrie Edwards, was nowhere to be seen

New love? Luke is rumoured to be dating Little Mix star Perrie Edwards

Ring the alarm! Michelle stole the show at the launch, as she flashed her engagement ring from her husband of a year Mark Wright in a defiant display having set tongues wagging with the absence of the jewellery in recent weeks

Stunner: The actress, who has just returned from a beach break with her husband in Majorca, looked incredible in a chic tuxedo as she prepped to unveil her latest work in the BBC series

Michelle looked incredible in a chic tuxedo as she prepped to unveil her latest work in the BBC series.

Her blonde tresses, recently bleached for her role in forthcoming biopic Bobby And Tina, were beginning to show the faintest hints of her natural raven roots although she ignored the contrast with a pulled back style.

The most stand out element of her incredible outfit was undoubtedly her eye-watering engagement ring, gifted to her by Mark in September 2013.

Hunky! The most stand out element of her incredible outfit was undoubtedly her eye-watering engagement ring, gifted to her by the former TOWIE star in September 2013

Pals: Royce meanwhile looked sharp in a cobalt blue polo shirt for his turn at the premiere, where he was lucky enough to receive a warm hug and affectionate poses with his stunning co-star

Her hands were laden with delicate costume jewellery rings, while she wore a dazzling gold watch although her eye-popping wedding ring was the stand-out element of her accessory choices.

Mark and Michelle's marriage has been plagued with rumours of strife, with the whispers being heightened by Michelle's frequent public appearances without her wedding ring of late - although the couple have frequently slammed the reports.

Michelle was beaming as she walked the red carpet in her suit while sandwiched between her two co-star pals, with Ben going casual in a bomber jacket.

A handsome pair: Michelle was beaming as she walked the red carpet in her suit while sandwiched between her two co-star pals, with Ben going casual in a bomber jacket

Suited and booted: Michelle's ensemble was perfect for the evening ahead

A gorgeous group: The trio proved to be an extremely good looking group

Bling, bling: Her hands were laden with delicate costume jewellery rings, while she wore a dazzling gold watch although her eye-popping wedding ring was the stand-out element of her accessory choices

Royce meanwhile looked sharp in a cobalt blue polo shirt for his turn at the premiere, where he was lucky enough to receive a warm hug and affectionate poses with his stunning co-star.

Earlier this year a previous story from New! magazine claimed the Heart presenter was concerned when fans linked Michelle to handsome Ben.

Michelle had innocently shared a group picture with some of the cast at their read through which was captioned: 'Me and some of the boys at our cast read through for Our Girl 2! X'

But a representative for Mark told MailOnline: 'It's a completely fabricated and made up story written by people desperate for content.'

Slammed! Earlier this year a previous story from New! magazine claimed the Heart presenter was concerned when fans linked Michelle to handsome Ben

Innocent: Michelle had innocently shared a group picture with some of the cast at their read through which was captioned: 'Me and some of the boys at our cast read through for Our Girl 2! x'

Gorgeous: Michelle's role as Corporal Georgie Lane in the new series takes over the lead role from Lacey Turner, who will reprise her character of Molly Dawes but in a minor capacity due to her hectic filming schedule with EastEnders

Working it out: Michelle looked ready for business for the night ahead

Michelle's role as Corporal Georgie Lane in the new series takes over the lead role from Lacey Turner, who will reprise her character of Molly Dawes but in a minor capacity due to her hectic filming schedule with EastEnders.

Speaking about the second season of Our Girl, a BBC spokesperson announced: 'It won't be an easy posting as [Georgie] has to earn the love and trust of her fellow soldiers, and the greater respect of her commanding officer, while working alongside aid workers in the world's biggest refugee camp.

'Kenya will be full of surprises that will challenge Georgie professionally and personally.'
She spent 20 years as Sally Fletcher on Home and Away.

And it seems years after leaving the show, Summer Bay still holds a special place in Kate Ritchie's heart.

In a cryptic photograph posted to Instagram on Saturday, the 35-year-old radio host revealed that she was back on the sands of Palm Beach in Sydney's northern beaches, where the soap is filmed.

'It doesn't quite solve the big issues like it used to but continues to have its claws in my heart and offer me some quiet  #palmbeach #summerbay #stillhaventbeentothelighthousei,' she captioned one image.

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Memory lane: Kate Ritchie rugged up and strolled along Sydney's Palm Beach on Saturday. She said the beach 'continues to have its claws in my heart and offer me some quiet'

In one image, Kate beamed for the camera with the beach as her backdrop and she appeared to be standing in the sand.

In another image, her shadow reflected on the sand as she enjoyed a solo outing.

'Sometimes you've just got to put your toes in the sand,' she captioned alongside the hashtag 'palmy.'

The former soap star recently told TV Week that she would happily return to set.

Could this mean a return to the small screen? Kate Ritchie posted a cryptic shot of herself at Sydney's Palm Beach, where Home and Away is filmed on Saturday afternoon

Back in uniform: The former soap actress told TV Week she would happily return to set, and as her character was not killed off the show, 'the option is there'

'They didn't kill me off, so the option is there,' she said.

In June, the mother-of-one celebrated the release of Hollywood movie Independence Day: Resurgence with her Nova 969 co-hosts Tim and Marty.

The trio dressed in clothes from 1996, when the original Independence Day film was released.

Just like old times! The mother-of-one dressed up in her Summer Bay High uniform for a 1998 theme day at Nova 969, where she hosts a radio show

Kate of course chose to don an outfit similar to her Summer Bay High uniform, in a tribute to the show which launched her career and proved she could still pull off the youthful look.

The children's author is rumoured to be separated from her husband, retired NRL player Stuart Webb, and the two are reported to be living apart.

A return to Summer Bay could be just the distraction Kate is looking for.
She's the glamorous jetsetter who recently announced she was expecting her second child.

And Rachael Finch has just arrived home from her latest getaway with her beau Michael Miziner.

The aesthetically-blessed couple visited the ski fields of New Zealand's south island, but the brunette beauty was slightly disappointed that she couldn't hit the slopes.

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'It's been a pleasure': The 28-year-old Myer Ambassador gushed over New Zealand's beauty, despite not being able to hit the ski slopes

'Queenstown, it's been a pleasure this weekend,' the Australian model and TV presenter shared with her 172,000 followers.

'Despite not being able to ski due to the little one growing in my belly I had the best time exploring & taking in your beauty.'

Rachael and Michael announced they were expecting their second child last month via social media.

First look: Rachael Finch debuted her growing baby bump two weeks ago at the Myer Spring/Summer 16 fashion show red carpet in Sydney

The television presenter shared an image of her 12 week ultrasound, along with the caption: 'Tears of joy as bubby no.2 is on the way!!!

'12 weeks along!! (pic from our 8 week scan). Excited to share this new adventure with you guys,' including a love heart emoticon.

The 28-year-old Myer Ambassador displayed her bump while attending the Myer Spring 16 Fashion Launch in Sydney last month.

Exciting news: The 28-year-old former pageant girl took to Instagram last month to share the exciting news

She told Daily Mail Australia she had been suffering from morning sickness.

'I think Ive had perpetual morning sickness and this morning I think I've just gotten over all this,' she said.

Rachael and Michael are already parents to daughter Violet, two.

Going strong: The pair married in an intimate Sydney wedding in January the same year, having previously met on the Australian version of Dancing With The Stars in 2010

Violet will soon be celebrating her third birthday, having been born in September 2013.

Rachael and Michael married in an intimate Sydney wedding in January the same year, having previously met on the Australian version of Dancing With The Stars in 2010.

The statuesque star made headlines in May when she revealed she drops Violet at her mother-in-law's house every weekend from Friday afternoon to Sunday.
She has recently split from her boyfriend of more than a decade.

But Diane Kruger is getting herself back out there as a newly-single lady, putting on a seriously sexy display in France on Friday night.

Attending the dinner of the 42nd Deauville American Film Festival Opening Ceremony, the German actress sexily showcased her leggy frame in a metallic micro-mini dress.

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Back on the market: Newly-single Diane Kruger, 40, put on a seriously sexy display at the the 42nd Deauville American Film Festival Opening Ceremony dinner in France on Friday night

The blonde beauty dazzled in the super short shift dress of metallic silver.

Featuring very thin spaghetti straps, the 40-year-old was not shy to show off plenty of skin and her enviably lean legs in the thigh-skimming number.

She kept the look trendy with a chunky black choker, showing off her natural flair for fashion.

Saucy: The German actress flashed plenty of skin and her leggy frame in a metallic micro-mini dress

The blonde beauty completed the outfit with black heeled sandals adorned with gold studs and a matching black box bag.

Diane looked far more youthful than her 40 years as she smiled for the cameras, showing off her incredibly smooth and glowing complexion.

The Troy actress appeared to cast her love woes aside at the dinner, looking in good spirits despite her recent split from Joshua Jackson.

She's a stud: The blonde beauty completed the outfit with black heeled sandals adorned with gold studs and a matching black box bag

Her appearance in France comes just weeks after it was revealed that the 40-year-old split from her long-term boyfriend after ten years together.

A spokesperson told People Magazine in July: 'They have decided to separate and remain friends.'

Diane started dating Josh, 38, in 2006 after she split from her husband of five years, French director Guillaume Canet.

Looking for love? Diane Kruger seems to have romance on the brain - as she proved when she stepped out in France on Friday, where she attended the 41st Deauville American Film Festival

However Diane hinted that romance may still be on her mind when she first stepped out at the Opening Ceremony of the Film Festival earlier on Friday.

The German star effortlessly turned heads in her choice of attire, which consisted of a jet black floor-length dress adorned with hundreds of jewelled love hearts.

The sophisticated dress was of a semi-sheer style for added sex appeal, alluring at her long legs to show her ex what he is missing.

Loved-up or not: Belted at the waist and featuring cut-out sleeves, it was certainly a statement - whether intentional or not

Gorgeous: The blonde beauty certainly cut a glam display at the bash in North West France

Belted at the waist and featuring cut-out sleeves, it was certainly a statement - whether intentional or not.

In December it was reported that Kruger had been spotted in a New York bar with The Walking Dead star Norman Reedus.

The two starred in the 2015 drama Sky, in which Kruger leaves her husband before hooking up with a cowboy stranger, played by 47-year-old Reedus.

Joshua was also spotted having coffee with former Teen Wolf actress Crystal Reed in Los Angeles last month.

Sheer delight: The sexy dress was designed to show off plenty of leg thanks to its sheer style

Appearing at a photocall on Saturday, the style star wowed in a fashion forward black mini-dress with elaborate flared sleeves that highlighted her slender arms.

Exhibiting her toned pins for the press event, the stunner injected some height into her lithe frame with a star covered Stella McCarthy flatform.

Channelling Parisian cool, the actress left her hair loose as she styled her tresses into a natural kink as she added a swipe of lipgloss across her plump pout.

Chic: The style star wowed in a fashion forward black mini-dress with elaborate flared sleeves that highlighted her slender arms

Parisian chic: Channelling Parisian cool, the actress left her hair loose as she styled her tresses into a natural kink as she added a swipe of lipgloss across her plump pout

Starring in up-and-coming flick The Infiltrator, Diane plays federal agent Kathy Ertz.

The film centres around fellow federal agent Robert Mazur, played by Brian Cranston, who goes undercover to penetrate the trafficking network of Colombian drug lord Pablo Escobar.

With the help of Diane's character and others, Mazur poses as a money-laundering businessman named Bob Musella to try take down their empire.

The Infiltrator is set for release in the UK on September 16.
She is often primed to perfection on her morning show Sunrise.

But Sam Armytage opted to go makeup-free on Saturday, while lounging by the beach in Sydney.

The 39-year-old TV presenter looked happy and relaxed as she flashed a smile for the camera in a selfie posted to Instagram.

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Resting beach face: Sam Armytage opted to go makeup-free on Saturday, while lounging by the beach in Sydney

Her blonde locks were swept up in a bun to showcase her makeup-free face.

Adding a touch of glamour to her otherwise casual look, Sam protected her eyes with leopard-framed sunglasses.

'Resting Beach Face,' she captioned the photo, which she shared with her 149,000 Instagram followers.

Birthday girl: The television personality turns 40 on Sunday, and she has taken time off her TV duties to enjoy the milestone

The media personality turns 40 on Sunday and she has taken time off her TV duties to enjoy the milestone.

On Wednesday, the famed TV journalist gathered some of Australia's most famous newsreaders to party alongside her at the Catalina Rose Bay Restaurant in Sydney.

She was joined by co-host Natalie Barr, as well as the morning Sunrise team which included David 'Kochie' Koch, Mark Beretta and Edwina Batholomew.

Star studded party: She was joined on Wednesday by the Sunrise team which included Natalie Barr, David 'Kochie' Koch, Mark Beretta, Edwina Batholomew, executive producer Michael Pell and producer David Walters

Friend and executive producer Michael Pell and producer David Walters were also the party.

Sam took to Instagram to upload a snap taken from the festivities.

The journalist joined her fellow Sunrise crew for a group shot as she beamed for the camera.

'Lurvely lunch with my ''other'' family': Sam celebrated her birthday with the Sunrise team on Wednesday

She captioned the picture: 'Long, lurvely lunch with my 'other' family @ my favourite restaurant .. Queue the heart- eyes emoji.'

This came after she shared an Instagram photo of herself cutting into the dessert, which featured three tiers and floral decorations.

The birthday girl looked to be in high spirits as she left the boozy lunch, sporting a beige coat and the same leopard print shades she was donning beach-side on Saturday.
She's a Balinese princess and a doting mum to two young daughters and one son.

And over the weekend, Lindy Klim proudly showcased her maternal side as she shared a sweet kiss with her youngest daughter, Frankie.

The 38-year-old and her adorable five-year-old were on a beach in Seminyak, Bali.

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'Perfection of place and companion:' Lindy Klim shared a sweet moment with daughter Frankie over the weekend in Bali

Lindy, who shared the image on Instagram, accompanied it with the caption: 'Perfection of place and companion.'

The leggy beauty is incredibly close with Frankie, and often shares images of just the two of them spending mother-daughter time together.

The brunette, who split with swimmer Michael Klim earlier this year, recently confessed that she was concerned that no man would want her as a single mother with three kids.

Mum and me: The 38-year-old often shared photos of herself and Frankie on social media

Putting her to work: Lindy has used Frankie to promote Milk & Co, which Lindy is the creative director for

Speaking to the Daily Mail Australia at the Myer Spring 16 Fashion Launch in Sydney last month about her relationship aversions, the creative director of Milk & Co confessed: 'I didn't think anybody would want me.'

'I've got three children [Stella, Rocco and Frankie] and that's a lot to take on,' she said, while showing off her sun-kissed figure in a Dolce & Gabbana jumpsuit.

Luckily, Lindy did manage to bag herself a new man  British builder Adam Ellis  just two weeks after announcing her split from six-time Olympic medalist Michael.

'I didn't think anybody would want me:' The Balinese princess told Daily Mail Australia that as a single mum, no man would want to date her

'Adam is amazing and I'm really fortunate that I found him,' she said of her new beau.

'It's been a tough little while for me, but I'm really happy now.'

While the romance is still in its early days, Lindy admitted to wanting more children  perhaps some with her new love interest.

'Adam's 40 and he doesn't have children. Who knows?' she told the Daily Mail Australia ahead of the spring-summer fashion parade.

'I think he is an amazing person. I'm really lucky and fortunate that I've found him and maybe he needs one of his own one day.'
She's used to partying the night away in her stomping ground of Chelsea.

But Binky Felstead was in Manchester on Thursday, modelling for her latest In The Style fashion range.

The Made in Chelsea star, 26, turned heads in bardot floral mini dress that showcased her svelte physique.

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Beauty: Reality star Binky Felstead was in Manchester on Thursday, modelling for her In The Style fashion range

Her grey ankle boots elongated her never-ending golden legs as she strolled to the studio carrying a white and gold Chanel bag.

With her customary heavy dose of liner, eye shadow and foundation applied, she let her highlighted brown locks drape over her shoulder.

When in the studio, Binky modelled a zig-zag patterned dress, holding her hair back and staring at the floor for one shot.

Model: The Made in Chelsea star, 26, turned heads in bardot floral mini dress that showcased her svelte physique

Fashionista: With her customary heavy dose of liner, shadow and foundation applied, she let her highlighted brown locks drape over her shoulder

In another snap, the fun-loving gal raised both arms into the air and pouted for the camera before changing into a loose black minidress with a plunging neckline.

Her fashion range features alongside those of Geordie Shore star Charlotte Cosby and Towie babe Billie Faiers for In The Style.

The day before the shoot, The Made In Chelsea star showed up to London nightspot Embargo where co-star Alex was playing a DJ gig on Wednesday night, with the two showing off their moves in a fun Instagram shot.

Leggy: Her grey ankle boots elongated her never-ending golden legs as she strolled to the studio carrying a white and gold Chanel bag

Purposeful: Binky marched to the studio, looking forward to getting on with the modelling

Binky dressed in a simple strapless black dress for the night out in her familiar stomping ground of Chelsea.

The MIC favourite kept comfy, swapping her heels for glitzy flats, while a large shoulder bag was the finishing touch.

In keeping with her dressed down look, Binky kept her makeup simple, showing off a bare-faced look as she left the club.

What's that on the ground? When in the studio, Binky modelled a zig-zag patterned dress, holding her hair back and staring at the floor for one shot

Stunner: In another snap, the fun-loving gal raised both arms into the air and pouted for the camera

Poser: She then changed into a loose black minidress with a plunging neckline and pouted for the camera

The star certainly seemed to party hard, sharing a fun Instagram shot of her and Alex celebrating after his DJ stint alongside the caption: 'When the ex has done his hard grafting....'

Binky and Alex had a tumultuous romance back in 2014, finally splitting for good after the MIC hunk cheated.

Alex is single yet again after calling time on another rollercoaster relationship with Nicole Hughes this summer, with MIC viewers seeing the lothario dump his girlfriend of two years by text after sleeping with Olivia Bentley during their summer jaunt to the South of France.
She reportedly split with Brooklyn Beckham earlier this week, with reports alleging she was being 'too clingy'.

But Chloe Grace Moretz looked every inch the independent woman as she blew a kiss during a photocall at the 42nd Deauville American Film Festival on Saturday.

The 19-year-old actress looked sensational in frilled black mini dress which showcased her honed legs during the French seaside event.

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Single stunner: Chloe Grace Moretz, 19, put her split with Brooklyn Beckham, 17, behind her during a photocall at the 42nd Deauville American Film Festival on Saturday

The sexy number cinched her in at the waist with a thick black belt before flaring out to add to her curves.

The same red embroidery detailing took prominence at the end of her sleeves and the garment's hemline before falling short on her thighs.

Chloe - who is one of the young stars to be honoured for her early contribution to the industry at the festival - added height to her frame in strappy high heels.

Catch it if you can! The American actress looked sensational in a frilled black minidress as she blew a kiss

Shapely: The sexy number cinched her in at the waist with a thick black belt before flaring out to add to her curves

Stylish: The same red embroidery detailing took prominence at the end of her sleeves

It's over: She reportedly split with Brooklyn Beckham earlier this week

Despite suffering romantic heartbreak, the Kick-Ass star stunned as her blonde locks fell in waves down one side and over the bib style neckline.

It was claimed on Thursday that she had become 'too clingy' for 17-year-old Brit Brooklyn, which led to the demise of their transatlantic romance this week.

A source told The Sun: 'Brooklyn is so young with his whole life ahead of him, he basically just didn't need the aggro.

'He was besotted with her at first, but as time wore on Chloe wanted to become more serious and given he lives on the other side of he Atlantic, it was something he couldn't offer.

Gorgeous: The Kick-Ass star stunned as her blonde locks fell in waves down one side and over the bib style neckline

Standing tall: Chloe - who is one of the young stars to be honoured for her early contribution to the industry at the festival - added height to her frame in strappy high heels

Lovely legs: The garment's hemline before falling short on her thighs, allowing her to flaunt her lean pins

'But, like any youngsters in a relationship, there wouldn't be much of a surprise if they get back together. Especially if they go on to mix in the same circles.

It was a contemplative Chloe who made an appearance in Paris on Thursday, hours after it was revealed her relationship with Brooklyn has come to an end.

The actress was accompanied by her older brother, Trevor Duke, as she took a stroll through central Paris shortly after flying into the French capital from Los Angeles.

Her ex-boyfriend was just a skip away in London, looking forlorn during a lunch with pals in London.

Revealing: A source told The Sun, 'Brooklyn is so young with his whole life ahead of him, he basically just didn't need the aggro'

'He was besotted with her at first': The source went on to claim Brooklyn's initial admiration for Chloe quickly wore off

Moving on: The star showed no sign of her recent heartache as she hit the film event

What break-up? Chloe struck a confident pose for the photocall

Truth is out: News of the split initially surfaced when Page Six revealed the romance was over

Thankful: She put her hands together in a heart-warming display

Thinking back? On one occasion, it seemed like the events of the last couple of days caught up with her

Back on form! She quickly regained herself and blew another kiss

The beginning: Chloe initially confirmed the couple had reignited their relationship during an appearance on Watch What Happens Live in early May

News of the split initially surfaced when Page Six revealed the romance was over.

The pair split shortly before Brooklyn returned to the United Kingdom with his family following an extended summer break in Los Angeles, where they own a home.

Brooklyn and his family arrived back in London on Tuesday following their two-month break in California.

Chloe confirmed the couple had reignited their relationship during an appearance on Watch What Happens Live in early May.

Meanwhile, Chloe has been impressing with her single girl style at the festival where she dazzled in a keyhole floral cutout gown on Friday.
They're the high-profile Australian couple whose five-year relationship is rumoured to be on the rocks.

But social media sensation Imogen Anthony and radio shock jock Kyle Sandilands appeared to be as smitten as ever while partying the night away at Burning Man Festival in the Nevada Desert on Saturday.

The couple posed for a loved-up photo, just moments before a vitruvian man inspired effigy was set on fire.

True love: Imogen Anthony and radio shock jock Kyle Sandilands appeared to be as smitten as ever while partying the night away at Burning Man Festival in the Nevada Desert on Saturday

'Sorry for the s*** quality pic, but just letting you all know that we are officially part of this amazing Burning Man tribe,' Imogen posted to her 112,000 Instagram followers.

Kyle and Imogen were outed as 'Burning Man Virgins' when they arrived and were told they had to roll around in the dust as part of the their initiation.

'They were very condescending of my cleanliness and how much we didn't know about what we were about to get ourselves into, but not everyone can go cold turkey on society and get straight on the BM train straight away,' Imogen wrote.

Smitten: The loved up couple have brushed off rumours their relationship is on the rocks

'I mean, give it an hour or two. This isn't just a festival, this is its on cult. But I love it.'

In preparation for the festival, Imogen posted two other snaps wearing the bodysuit she wore to the event, which was made by label adamsaaks.

She captioned the first photo: 'Thank you @adamsaaks for getting my #BurningMan bodysuit here in time, all the way from NYC.'

Stunner: Imogen is known for flaunting her ample assets in barely-there outfits across social media

Festival in the desert: Imogen posted snaps to Instagram wearing a bodysuit she wore to the festival

And the second photo was captioned: 'I'm ready 4 u #BurningMan.'

Meanwhile, reports which surfaced last month that the couple were set to split were flatly denied by Kyle.

In a statement to Daily Mail Australia, a rep for the radio host dismissed the reports as 'fabricated' and 'rubbish.'

She's on fire! The skimpy one-piece leaves little to the imagination, highlighting her chest, slender legs and lithe arms

It was claimed friends were concerned that 25-year-old Imogen's raunchy Instagram posts had become all too much for Kyle, 45.

'The article is fabricated and rubbish,' a statement read.

'Kyle supports Imogen in everything she does and always has, he loves her and adores her.

Fabricated: A rep for the shock jock dismissed reports the couple were set to split as 'rubbish'

'No "pals and colleagues" of ours would think this, only desperate gossips that want to cause trouble.'

The response came after The Daily Telegraph claimed Kyle's 'closest friends' told him the relationship 'may have run its course.'

They reportedly feared the KIIS 106.5 FM co-host's younger girlfriend 'may have gone off script and (was) no longer projecting an image that is in Sandilands best interests.'
He sparked health fears after he was pictured with a tracheostomy tube late last year.

But now Val Kilmer looked healthier than ever as he grabbed a bite to eat with his daughter in Beverly Hills on Friday.

Looking fresh-faced, the 56-year-old actor stopped by celebrity eatery Mr. Chow with his daughter Mercedes - highlighting how he has come leaps and bounds since removing his tracheostomy tube.

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Healthy: Val Kilmer looked healthier than ever as he grabbed a bite to eat with his daughter in Beverly Hills on Friday

Channelling Californian cool, the father-of-two worked a blue flannel shirt that displayed his sunkissed glow and faint scar on his neck.

Teaming his sharp ensemble, the Batman actor donned a pair of dark wash denims which he held in place with a dark brown belt.

Strutting through the city's streets, Val worked a grey trainer as he protected his peepers from the burning sun with his retro inspired clear framed sunglasses.

Happy: The 56-year-old actor stopped by celebrity eatery Mr. Chow with his daughter Mercedes - highlighting how he has come leaps and bounds since removing his tracheostomy tube

Back in October Val had taken to Facebook to deny that he was battling throat cancer, following rumors of ill health.

He did, however, admit that an undisclosed procedure had left him with a 'swelling.'

According to the UK's National Health Service website, a tracheotomy is a surgical opening in the anterior wall of the trachea to facilitate ventilation - the opening is usually maintained by use of a tracheostomy tube.

A tracheostomy may be created for a number of reasons - including to deliver oxygen to the lungs when a person is unable to breathe normally after an injury or accident, or because their muscles are very weak.

Health issue? Val was pictured in December 2015 with what looked to be a tracheostomy tube

It can also allow a person to breathe if their throat is blocked, whether because of a swelling, a tumour, or something stuck in their throat, and to reduce the risk of food or fluid going into the lungs.

MailOnline contacted a spokesperson for Val Kilmer for further comment at the time, with one representative confirming that the actor was currently on hiatus.

In January, ago Val took to social media to deny that he was gravely ill in hospital after Radar reported that he was admitted to UCLA's intensive care unit and could 'barely speak.'

He wrote on Facebook: 'Thank you all for your love and support. There's a rumor I'm unwell again and in hospital which is totally untrue.'

'I was in to verify I have no tumor or infection of any kind which was verified by the very caring experts at UCLA.'

That had been the third time that year that Kilmer - a Christian Scientist - had denied he was suffering from cancer.
He regularly flies to Las Vegas - by private jet, of course - to spend the weekend hitting the clubs.

But during his appearance at 1 OAK nightclub in Sin City on Friday, Scott Disick admitted he may be ready to hang up his party shoes.

The 33-year-old confessed to People that he is considering giving up his nightclub hosting stints once and for all because it is getting 'so repetitive'.

Hanging up his party shoes?: Scott Disick revealed at 1 OAK in Las Vegas on Friday that he may be retiring from nightclub appearances

'I feels like [1 OAK] is a second home but I'm thinking about retiring from the whole appearances,' he shared. 'I've just been doing it for so long.

'I love them and I'm gonna try to have a good night, as I love it here, but part of me feels like I just can't keep doing these for the rest of my life either.'

Scott added: 'It's just starting to feel like Groundhog Day. I don't know if I can give the people what they want anymore.'

The reality star certainly looked less enthused about a night of clubbing as he posed for photos on the red carpet and inside the venue at The Mirage Hotel and Casino.

Less than enthused: The reality star certainly didn't look thrilled about his evening ahead as he posed on the red carpet

'I don't know if I can give the people what they want anymore': Scott told reporters that his hosting duties are 'starting to feel like Groundhog Day'

Scott was dressed down for the evening in ripped jeans, white trainers and a grey sweater under a short-sleeved plaid shirt.

The self-styled Lord Disick had also hosted an evening at 1 OAK just one week earlier, as well as two more in the month before that.

GQ alleged in an article earlier this year that Scott could at one point draw in $70,000 to $80,000 per night as a host, and he once earned $250,000 for a string of hosting appearances in the UK.

Scott typically will jet to Vegas for the weekend when he has a club appearance, while his ex-girlfriend Kourtney Kardashian takes care of their three children in Los Angeles.

Keeping it casual: The 33-year-old was dressed down for the evening in ripped jeans, white trainers and a grey sweater under a short-sleeved plaid shirt

Lucrative: At one time Scott would allegedly draw in up to $80,000 to host a club night

The former couple, who split last year after nine years together, are parents to sons Mason, six, and Reign, 20 months, and four-year-old daughter Penelope.

Scott spent some time in rehab following the break-up, checking out of a treatment facility in November of last year.

The star has not given up alcohol following his stint in rehab, and defended his decision in March, revealing that he sought treatment primarily for an addiction to sleeping pills.

Busy schedule: The self-styled Lord Disick had also hosted an evening at 1 OAK just one week earlier, as well as two more in the month before that

' The truth is I never lied and said that I was never going to have a beer again,' he told People at the time. 'I went in for a lot of different reasons. My biggest thing was that I was very addicted to sleeping medication. And now, it's fine.'

Scott added: ' The truth is rehab did help me and now I'm just trying to be responsible. I'm not out here trying to get wasted, but you know what, I will have a beer on the beach.

'I'm not doing drugs, I'm not doing anything insane, so I think people just need to relax... I just want to try to live my life.'
She's known for her glamorous outfits at red carpet events.

But Lauren Goodger appeared to swap her usual glamour for comfort as she arrived at the Pup Aid event in London in what looked to be her pyjamas, joined by her French Bulldog, Coco.

Attending the Primrose Hill-based event, the 29-year-old stepped out in the form-fitting kooky co-ords as she flaunted her svelte figure walking to the exclusive doggy event on Saturday.

Doggy day care: Lauren Goodger seemed to swap glamour for comfort as she arrived to Pup Aid in what looked to be her pyjamas with Coco the French Bulldog in London

The reality star displayed her slender shoulders in the quirky zig zag print two-piece that clung to her curves as she carried her dog.

Going for a relaxed look, the brunette beauty attempted to glam up her bedroom inspired ensemble with a black and snakeskin print cross body bag with gold chain strap - which nestled in the midst of her bosom.

Lauren displayed an eye-catching gold bracelet around her wrist as she paraded her adorable pooch in the capital - donning a pair of simple studded white gladiator inspired sandals.

Relaxed: Lauren opted to go for a relaxed look at the event

Matching: Attending the Primrose Hill event, the 29-year-old stepped out in the form-fitting co-ords as she flaunted her svelte figure walking to the exclusive doggy event on Saturday

Low-key: The brunette beauty attempted to glam up her bedroom inspired ensemble with a black and snakeskin print cross body bag with gold chain strap which nestled in the midst of her bosom

Walk this way: Lauren displayed her eye-catching gold bracelet as she paraded her adorable pooch around the capital - donning a pair of simple studded white gladiator inspired sandals

The Essex stunner held her glossy brunette locks off her face with her reflective sunglasses as her styled loose tresses got caught in the the passing wind.

Going for a full-on glamorous make-up look, Lauren heavily contoured her face with a golden bronzer as she swiped a vibrant matte red lip to bring her look together.

Applying lashings of mascara, Lauren couldn't help make her eyebrows the highlight of her look as she heavily filled them in to match her chocolate brown hair.

Despite leaving TOWIE in 2012 after two years, the reality TV star hinted that she might be making a comeback to the ITVBe series.

Glossy: The Essex stunner held her glossy brunette locks off her face with her reflective sunglasses as her styled loose tresses got caught in the the passing wind

Beaming: Applying lashings of mascara, Lauren couldn't help make her eyebrows the highlight of her look as she heavily filled them in to match her chocolate brown hair

Making her debut as one of the series' original characters, Lauren has been keeping busy since her exit from from the show, appearing on Celebrity Big Brother, Dancing On Ice and launching a fitness DVD.

And now it looks as though she might be going back to her roots, hinting at an upcoming appearance on The Only Way Is Essex.

Speaking in her New! column this week, the Essex-born star said: 'I had a great meeting with Lime, the production company behind 'TOWIE', among other shows, brainstorming and plotting the return of LG to your TV screens.

'I'd love to be back on TV so watch this space... and don't be surprised if you see me pop up in TOWIE again in the future.'

Sweet: Lauren held a cute looking dog dressed up as Donald Trump

Flaunt it: Lauren was sure to flaunt her hourglass curves in her matching two-piece

TV woes: Lauren revealed earlier this week she paid money to a man claiming to be after a TV licence fee, despite already having one

Apart from TOWIE reunions, Lauren revealed earlier this week she paid money to a man claiming to be after a TV licence fee, despite already having one.

Her revelation came amid a renewed focus on TV licensing following the change in legislation to end the BBC iPlayer loophole.

The 29-year-old reality TV personality posted on Twitter: 'Man just knocked at my door for TV licence? I paid there and then is this correct? But I do actually have one? Does this happen normally.'

Raising awareness about the UK's puppy farms, the event saw a number of famous faces attend including Celebrity Big Brother's Chloe Khan, TOWIE's Chloe Meadows as well as former Strictly star Pasha Kovalev and Countdown's Rachel Riley.

Sweet: Celebrity Big Brother's Chloe Khan posed with the sweet dog at the event

Pooch perfect: TOWIE's Chloe Meadows beamed as she posed with an adorable pooch

Far from ruff! Former Strictly star Pasha Kovalev and Countdown's Rachel Riley posed with some cute dogs




She's the TV personality who was recently dumped as a David Jones ambassador.

But it seems Emma Freedman has found her feet in the radio world as reports claim she is set to join Triple M's The Grill Team.

After regularly appearing on the show throughout the year, the TV personality is set to join the all-male line-up on a permanent basis, The Daily Telegraph reported on Saturday.

Finding her feet: After making contributions to The Grill Team throughout the year, the TV personality is set to join the all-male line-up on a permanent basis

But sources told the publication that some members of the all-male team - Mark Geyer, Matty Johns and Gus Worland - weren't happy about the appointment.

If she does land the radio gig, it will be a welcome stabiliser for the 27-year-old, whose career has seesawed in recent years.

In July, she became the latest victim of a major shake-up at David Jones and was cut from the ambassador line-up.

How will the boys take it? Sources told The Daily Telegraph that some members of the all-male team - Mark Geyer, Matty Johns and Gus Worland - weren't happy about the appointment

In 2014, she was famously axed from Channel Nine's The Today Show, a decision that left Emma 'devastated.'

She revealed she underwent therapy sessions to help cope with the change, telling OK! magazine: 'It took me a long time to get over it.'

But in 2015, she landed on her feet and was back on TV as a live correspondent and weather woman on Channel 7's breakfast program, Sunrise.

'It took me a long time to get over it': Emma revealed she underwent therapy sessions to help cope with being axed from the Today Show in 2014

But in February, the TV star revealed she was rejoining Channel Nine on Wide World of Sports, just over a year after she bid farewell to the network.

Emma took to Twitter in March to share the exciting news, telling fans she was 'excited' to be picking up where she left off.

'In some news... I'm excited to be rejoining the team and am looking forward to being back hosting on Sunday mornings with the team,' she wrote.

Back on her feet: In 2015 she landed a role as correspondent and weather woman on Channel 7's breakfast program, Sunrise

In January 2015, she had a brief stint with Channel Ten as a guest panellist on talk show Studio 10.

Around the same time, she expanded her career into radio, teaming up with the popular Jules Lund to host The Scoopla Show on Today's Hit Network.

The show was nominated for Best Networked Program at the Australian Commercial Radio Awards, but narrowly lost out to Nova's Kate, Tim & Marty.
Drake Bell has been released from jail after serving less than 48 hours.

The Nickelodeon alum, who was sentenced to the mandatory 96 hours behind bars after a second DUI conviction, walked free on Saturday evening around 6pm.

TMZ reports that the star was locked up on Friday but released early due to good behaviour.

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Jail time: Drake Bell has taken a plea deal which involves a sentence of 96 hours in L.A. County Jail following his second DUI conviction

It was reported on Saturday that Drake had struck a plea deal to serve 96 hours in L.A. County Jail.

He received his second DUI conviction this past January.

The sentence is mandatory for the 30-year-old, as the January offense was his second, after having been busted for a DUI in San Diego back in 2009.

As he was: Drake was an icon to children across American when he starred in Nickelodeon's Drake & Josh, which ran from 2004 until 2007

He will also be placed on four years probation and must attend an alcohol education program in addition to the jail time.

The second charge came in January as Drake was allegedly caught straddling a lane and driving 55 in a 35 MPH zone in Los Angeles County.

He had been pulled over in the early hours in the city of Glendale after officers supposedly spotted his erratic driving and saw him make a sudden stop at a red light.

A Glendale Police spokesman told People that he was stopped on December 21 at around 2:18 am, and that lawmen 'smelled an odor of alcohol' from him.

He was then ordered to take a sobriety test which he was unable to complete to the satisfaction of the police officers.

At the time Drake was arrested on suspicion of DUI and then later released after posting $20,000 bail.

Back in January Los Angeles District Attorney's office spokesperson Ricardo Santiago said that Drake had been charged with misdemeanor DUI, which has a maximum sentence of one year in county jail.

Taking a plea: Back in January Drake had been charged with misdemeanor DUI, which has a maximum sentence of one year in county jail (pictured in May 2015)

After appearing in commercials Drake became a child star when he scored a role on Amanda Bynes' comedy sketch vehicle The Amanda Show.

After he ended his spell on that show he was given his own, as aspiring musician Drake Parker on Drake & Josh, which ran from 2004 until 2007.

He has continued to work in television, notably as the titular role in Ultimate Spider-Man, and he has also been focusing on launching a more adult-oriented music career, with his most recent album being 2014's Ready, Steady, Go.
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Sunday nights will never be the same again  because a TV ratings war is about to get very steamy indeed. Rival costume dramas Victoria and Poldark go head-to-head in the schedules tonight, each hoping that a heady mix of bare flesh, illicit sex and romantic intrigue will give them the edge in the battle for viewers.

Irish heart-throb Aidan Turner will go topless within minutes of the second series of Poldark beginning its run on BBC1 at 9pm, and his character Ross is later seen making love to wife Demelza, played by Eleanor Tomlinson.

The scenes are far racier than anything so far offered up by ITVs Victoria. By the end of tonights third episode, which also starts at 9pm, the young Queen will not have shared so much as a chaste kiss.

VICTORIA EPISODE 4: 48mins - At last, a smacker! It takes until the end of next week's fourth episode before the Queen (Jenna Coleman) finally shares a kiss with her beloved Albert (Tom Hughes)

VICTORIA EPISODE 5: 16 mins - Brother , it's getting hot! The steamiest moment comes when Albert and his brother Ernest (David Oakes) are both topless and covered in sweat a sauna

Her unconsummated love for her Prime Minister, Lord Melbourne  played by a smouldering Rufus Sewell  is the closest the drama has come to anything approaching sexual intrigue.

But The Mail on Sunday can reveal that the Queens luck in the love stakes is about to change, when she meets her future husband Albert.

Our exclusive pictures from episodes four and five show that the producers of the ITV drama are pulling out all the stops to ensure their programme beats Poldark to become TVs sexiest show. Among the highlights are Albert and his brother Ernest in a sauna, with just towels to cover their modesty.

VICTORIA EPISODE 5: 17 mins - Steam bath, ma'am? Victoria can think of little else but Albert following their passionate embrace. She ponders the future while lounging in a lavish bath

A young Queen Victoria dreams of her future husband as she takes a bath in episode five of ITV's new period drama Victoria

VICTORIA EPISODE 5: 21 mins - Who's THAT girl? Albert visits a house of 'ill repute' and is repeatedly kissed by a prostitute called Gretchen. But this is not the sex scandal it seems, as he is there to learn how to sexually satisfy his future wife...

The feature-length opening episode of Victoria last Sunday, starring Jenna Coleman, drew 6.1 million viewers. It easily beat the BBCs remake of Are You Being Served?  5 million tuned in to watch the Grace Brothers sitcom.

ITV has ploughed a huge sum into the eight-part period drama about Victoria, starting from her ascending the throne aged 18.

Kevin Lygo, director of television at ITV, said he hoped that by starting a week before Poldark, audiences would be more likely to tune in to the tale of the young Royal.

VICTORIA EPISODE 5: 41 mins - Phew! We are married. Victoria and Albert in bed? Don't worry this is AFTER they married at St James's Palace on February 10, 1840

Victoria and Albert lay in bed together after tying the knot in ITV's new period drama Victoria, which the network hopes will battle it out with popular BBC drama Poldark

He said: It was important for us to get in before Poldark. I would have felt very nervous about going head-to-head.

Ours is new, and theyve got a bit more momentum, but well steal their thunder by coming out a bit earlier.

Poldark was seen by more than nine million viewers during its first series, and BBC executives will be hoping that Turners toned torso will help the latest outing repeat that success.

POLDARK EPISODE 1: 20 mins - Mine's a six-pack. Aidan Turner, as Ross Poldark, wastes no time in showing off the six-pack again that wowed female fans in the first series. Just 20 minutes in, a topless Ross gets to work in a tin mine

POLDARK EPISODE 1: 29 mins - Oh, Delmeza! Ross and his wife Demelza (Eleanor Tomlinson) share an erotic sex scene - as he is about stand trial for a riot

LIZ JONES: PS Haven't we seen that cute period pooch before, Your Majesty?

She's deaf, is missing a few teeth due to a saliva problem, and is very food-oriented, staring longingly at a sausage throughout our interview, whereas most female stars merely demand iced water. Nonetheless, she is the hardest-working actress in the UK, currently making doe eyes and waggling her rump at Rufus Sewell on ITV.

This is Tori, a nine-year-old tri-coloured Cavalier King Charles spaniel, currently upstaging Jenna Coleman in Victoria.

I meet her at the home of her owner and trainer, Gill Raddings, whose company, Stunt Dogs & Animals, provides four-legged actors (Gill also tells me sternly that border collies are eminently trainable, when I bring up my unruly trio).

Tori, a nine-year-old tri-coloured Cavalier King Charles spaniel, is currently upstaging Jenna Coleman in Victoria and played the same role of Dash, the Queen's beloved companion, alongside Emily Blunt in Young Victoria

It turns out this is not the first time Tori has played Victorias beloved companion Dash  she was also cast in Young Victoria, the 2009 film starring Emily Blunt. In fact, she is a costume drama doyenne, and has appeared in The Duchess with Keira Knightley, Midsomer Murders, Dickensian (she was thrown into the Thames), and To Walk Invisible, the new BBC drama about the Brontes.

I normally train rescue dogs  Battersea Dogs Trust will phone when they have a candidate  but for Young Victoria the casting was very specific, recalls Gill, who houses none of her dogs in kennels. There are hundreds of paintings of Dash.

So I went to a breeder who had a seven-month-old puppy who wasnt good enough to show, as her mouth wasnt formed correctly. But she was the mirror image of Dash. I had six weeks to train her for the film. The only difference is their sex. Tori is a bitch.

According to her owner Gill, Tori loves to play around in the mud but after will demand to be bathed like a 'little princess'

So what qualities does Tori possess? She is bold and not noise-sensitive, says Gill.
It's been a rough summer for Lil Wayne.

The Grammy Award-winning rap star on Saturday admitted he was burned out - and appeared to be contemplating retirement - in the wake of a nearly-two-year beef with his label, and a hoax that drew out police to his Miami mansion Friday.

'I AM NOW DEFENSELESS AND mentally DEFEATED & I leave gracefully and thankful I luh my fans but Im dun,' the 33-year-old rapper, whose real name is Dwayne Michael Carter, Jr., tweeted early Saturday.

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Peace out?: Lil Wayne, seen here in Miami in July, alarmed fans and music industry peers Saturday when he took to Twitter contemplating his own retirement

Open book: The rapper, 33, held little back in expressing his frustration over recent events

The strong words set off a chain effect that saw his fans, and musical peers artists Missy Elliott and Chance the Rapper, pledge him their support.

Elliott, 45, wrote, 'Prayers up 4 whatever u may be enduring right now this to will pass & may u find PEACE ... I will always be a fan of your work,'.

Meanwhile Chance the Rapper tweeted to Lil Wayne, 'I just wanna remind you that absolutely nothing and no one in this world can defeat you. Tell them devils back back.'

Early retirement?: The rapper's been a staple in hip-hop culture for more than 15 years, with his first featured spot coming in the 1999 Juvenile hit Back That A** Up

Bad day at the office: Much of the news about the rapper over the past two years has centered around his feud with his label, Cash Money Records

The Sucker for Pain hit-maker later responded to the kind words, as he said, 'Aint lookin for sympathy, just serenity,' followed by, 'Im good yall dont trip.'

The emotional outburst from the New Orleans-born rapper might have been triggered by Friday's events, as Miami ABC affiliate WPLG Local 10 reported that pranksters claimed that someone had been shot at the rapper's La Gorce Island home Friday.

The She Will star had previously been targeted in a similar prank in March of 2015, according to the station, which reported that in both instances, a male voice told authorities he had just shot multiple people.

Please don't go: Hitmaker Missy Elliott was among those to let Lil Wayne know his importance to the rap game

More support: Chance the Rapper, 23, checked in with an inspiration message for Lil Wayne

Say it isn't so: NFL defender Chris Clemons let his emojis do the talking, calling the rapper the king of his craft

Freaky Friday: The rapper's home was the target of another hoax, as a man told police he had shot four people at the residence

The rapper, via his Twitter page, commended local police officers who had responded to the incident: 'Luv to the miami PD for always being alert, attentive, & appropriate. Thk u.'

The other potential factor in what would be considered a shocking early retirement for the still-relevant rapper could be tied to the ongoing problems he's had with his label Cash Money Records, as he's been outspoken in his frustration over the stalled release of Tha Carter V, his upcoming studio album.

The feud between Lollipop rapper against the label and its leader, Bryan 'Birdman' Williams, has been at varied levels of intensity for nearly two years: It became nearly deadly after Lil Wayne's tour bus was shot at in Atlanta on April 26, 2015.

False indicator: Birdman and Lil Wayne and rang in the new year at Drake's party at Miami's E11even nightclub

Detente: Birdman (far right) and Lil Wayne (3rd from left) shocked many with this shot of them collaborating in January, but the two were seemingly right back at odds within months

Rapper Peewee Roscoe (whose real name is Jimmy Carlton Winfrey), who received a decade-long sentence in the shooting, claimed that Birdman had a hand in setting it up, but Birdman later told Power 105.1's Angie Martinez he was not involved in the violent incident, calling it 'the craziest s*** I ever heard in my life.'

The tension simmered down for awhile as 2016 began: the two rang in the year at the same party hosted by Drake, and began collaborating in the studio later that month, but things looked to have soured since.
For Drew Barrymore, getting to yoga class was the hardest part but once there it was smooth sailing.

The 41-year-old actress seemed ready for the sweat-filled workout ahead as she shared a make-up free selfie from the Core Power Yoga studio in Hollywood on Saturday.

Drew's face boasted a clear complexion and was framed by naturally waving blonde hair while giving the lens a lop-sided smirk.

'Sweaty Saturdays': Drew Barrymore was about to get hot and sweaty as she shared a smiling selfie at yoga class on Saturday

'#pregame It's about to go down! #hotyoga #sweatysaturdays #nofilter #happyplace #labordayvibes,' the Blended star captioned the snap.

She followed up with a post-workout picture of herself from the changing room with face slick with perspiration, a toothy grin on her face.

The expression was quite different from the one she had when she arrived to the location that morning.

Sleepy arrival: The 41-year-old actress couldn't stifle a big yawn as she arrived to her morning yoga session in Hollywood

Wake up call: Just getting to class seemed to be the hardest part for the Blended star

Let it go: Drew didn't hold back as she yawned wide with eyes closed

Drew was seen enjoying a big wide yawn while strolling to the class, a sign that she still had some waking up to do.

The mother-of-two was clad in a white T-shirt with a purple England emblem in front along with purple patterned leggings.

She had a pair of headphones on her head and a tall smoothie in her grasp, while earthy slip-on sandals made walking comfortable.

Feeling fine: The Never Been Kissed star was happy and sweaty after her yoga workout

Back to reality: Drew emerged from the yoga studio with hair in a ponytail and carrying a towel

The 50 First Dates star, whose divorce from art consultant Will Kopelman was made final early last month, has been stretching her creative wings of late.

On Tuesday, Drew attended Cameron Diaz's fun-filled 44th birthday celebration - an intimate gourmet session at The New School Of Cooking in Culver City, California.

Drew slipped into an apron alongside her pal's other celebrity guests including Gwyneth Paltrow and her beau Brad Falchuk, Nicole Richie and husband Joel Madden, and Cameron's husband Benji.

Awake: The mother-of-two was well awake and refreshed by the time she left her class

Single life: Drew celebrated Cameron Diaz's 44th birthday with Gwyneth Paltrow and other friends earlier in the week

While it wasn't certain what they were cooking, they were stirring up quite a feast.

And of course, yoga has been a wonderful release for the newly single star.

Drew shared a picture of herself following last week's Saturday yoga, sweaty face and all.
Mohamed Hadid is lucky in his companions, animate or otherwise.

On Friday, he enjoyed a day out with one of the latter.

The 67-year-old was spotted having a leisurely drive in Beverly Hills in his 1929 Packard Phaeton, a few days after it emerged that another loyal friend - Lisa Vanderpump - had leapt to his defence.

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Check out those wheels: On Friday, Mohamed Hadid was spotted driving a 1929 Packard Phaeton in Beverly Hills

Wearing black trapezoid sunglasses and a black and white bomber jacket, the Nazareth native drove up Canon Drive with the top down.

The father of Gigi and Bella Hadid is no stranger to automobile nostalgia. Last week, he posted an Instagram video of himself driving his fiancee Shiva Safai down the same 90210 street in a Morgan 3 Wheeler.

That 35,000 car had been spruced up with modern accoutrements, but its driver still accessorised his outfit with old-fashioned goggles to add that extra dash of retro appeal.

On Monday, DailyMail.com reported exclusively that Vanderpump and Hadid had both, in legal depositions, denied accusations levelled against him by Brandi Glanville.

Feel the breeze: The 67-year-old wore a black and white bomber jacket as he drove up Canon Drive with the top down

Glanville claimed the real estate developer had spent two years cheating on his then wife, Yolanda Foster, with former Real Housewife Of Miami Joanna Krupa.

The 43-year-old alleged that the Hadid patriarch and the acid-tongued Londoner had remarked on the smell of Krupa's private parts.

After the Brandi Glanville Unfiltered hostess made her charges during a January 2015 appearance on Watch What Happens: Live, a legal imbroglio began. Mrs Romain Zago first sued Glanville in a Miami court for emotional distress and slander.

Turbulent week: On Monday, DailyMail.com reported he and Lisa Vanderpump had given depositions denying Brandi Glanville's accusations that he had cheated on Yolanda Foster with Joanna Krupa

Their battle has continued to the present, and last month Krupa filed to amend her complaint in order to collect punitive damages. Under Florida law, she could haul in up to $2 million.

Hadid and Vanderpump's depositions were filed as a part of the plaintiff's new motion.

When prodded on whether Krupa had helped instigate his marriage's collapse, Anwar Hadid's father insisted that had 'absolutely not' been the case.

Old friends do tend to become old habits: The fiance (centre) of Shiva Safai (left) has been friends with the sharp-tongued Londoner (right) for over a decade

Cannot stop smiling: Mohamed looked joyous to be out and about in his youthful ensemble

The happy couple: The duo strode through the streets and the luxury eatery

Stunner: Shiva looked happy as she grabbed her iced drink

Meanwhile, Vanderpump - who has been Hadid's friend for over a decade - buttressed his contention, saying she didn't think the affair had happened.

She also countered that Krupa shouldn't have filed suit at all, and that 'I don't give anything Brandi Glanville says any credence or credibility, and don't invest.'

At another point, she doubled down: 'Makeup, whatever she's doing, I'm not interested.' To which her interlocutor responded: 'I understand. But of course she never said anything about your private parts to the world.'
She's been turning heads with her stylish ensembles at Venice Film Festival.

But Dakota Fanning pulled out all the stops as she walked the red carpet for the Brimstone premiere on Saturday.

Clad in a glittering gown adorned with thousands of sequins, the 22-year-old actress looked every inch the stunning leading lady as she posed for snaps.

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Best of the bunch! She's been turning heads with her stylish ensembles at Venice Film Festival. But Dakota Fanning pulled out all the stops for the Brimstone premiere on Saturday

Featuring delicate spaghetti straps, the gown flashed a hint of cleavage before cinching in at her slender waist.

Flaring out into a full skirt, it trailed behind her as she walk, glimmering under the bright lights of the premiere.

With swathes of blue, cream and pink running across the length of the dress, Dakota turned heads in her stylish ensemble.

Shining star: Clad in a glittering gown adorned with thousands of sequins, the 22-year-old actress looked every inch the stunning leading lady as she posed for snaps

Effortlessly elegant: Featuring delicate spaghetti straps, the gown flashed a hint of cleavage before cinching in at her slender waist and flaring out into a dramatic full skirt

Sweeping her golden locks away from her face, she styled her glossy tresses into a half up style, showing off her pretty features.

Opting for a neutral make-up palette, the blonde beauty showed off her natural beauty, highlighting her stunning complexion with a sweep of bronzer.

Turning away, the starlet looked just as glamorous from behind, with the trail from her black belt running across the length of the gown.

Golden girl: Brimstone also features rising star and British actress Emilia Jones, who looked just as chic as Dakota at the premiere in an eye-catching gold gown

Dakota stars alongside the likes of Kit Harington and Paul Anderson in Brimstone - which is slated for release on October 13.

The upcoming western is competing for the Golden Lion at Venice Film Festival and tells the story of a frontier woman who turns into a fugitive when she is wrongly accused of a crime.

Dakota and Kit were late additions to the movie, replacing Mia Wasikowska and Robert Pattison in the principle roles.

Double threat! Opting for a fashion-forward glittering gown, the 14-year-old actress proved she was just as stylish as she was a good actress

Brimstone also stars British actress Emilia Jones, who looked just as chic as Dakota at the premiere.

Opting for a fashion-forward glittering gown, the 14-year-old actress proved she was just as stylish as she was a good actress.

Featuring a hanky hem that fell across her calves, the gold dress was ornately designed, with white and blue beading creating delicate patterns across the chest.
Bindi Irwin paid tribute to her late father Steve Irwin on Sunday morning, on the occasion of Father's Day, coinciding this year with the 10th anniversary of the Crocodile Hunter star's death.

'You'll be my hero for my entire existence. I love you more than words can describe,' 18-year-old Bindi wrote on her Instagram account, alongside a throwback image of her and Steve.

The photo showed Steve holding onto a much younger Bindi, innocently staring into the camera while in the safe hands of her famous father.

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Heartfelt: Bindi Irwin paid tribute to her late father Steve Irwin on Sunday morning, on the occasion of Father's Day, coinciding this year with the 10th anniversary of the Crocodile Hunter star's death

Bindi, Terri and Robert Irwin are not expected to make an appearance at an Australia Zoo Father's Day event on Sunday.

An Australia Zoo spokeswoman said that the trio would not be at the wildlife park and were keeping their movements for the day private.

Steve Irwin - husband to Terri, dad to Bindi and Robert - died on September 4, 2006 after being struck multiple times by a stingray barb while filming in the waters off the coast of Queensland, near Port Douglas.

Private time: Bindi, Terri and Robert Irwin are set to keep their movements for this weekend private and wont be making an appearance at an Australia Zoo Father's Day event on Sunday

As news broke of the beloved TV personality and wildlife warrior's passing in the ocean, the nation was in left in complete shock.

The iconic Crocodile Hunter was only 44 years old at the time of his death, with his young children Bindi and Robert aged just eight and two respectively.

But in the years following the tragic event, Steve's legacy continued on through his tight-knit family, who have continued to spread his conservation message.

Bindi seems to be well-and-truly following in her late father's footsteps, as she recently visited the Steve Irwin Wildlife Reserve on the Cape York Peninsula, Queensland.

Bindi, who was very close to her father, regularly shares snaps of the pair together on social media and recently posted a photo with the caption: 'I love you. I hope I'm making you proud'.

Remembering Steve: The tenth anniversary of legendary conservationist Steve Irwin's death will fall on Father's Day this Sunday

Keeping his dream alive: In the years following the tragic event, Steve's legacy continued on through his tight-knit family, who have continued to spread his conservation message

The now 18-year-old was also recently joined by her family and boyfriend Chandler Powell for a weekend trip, which saw her catch saltwater crocodiles.

While on the trip, a photo posted to the Australia Zoo Instagram page, saw a young Bindi posing with a captured crocodile alongside Steve, mother Terri and brother Robert.

Bindi captioned the post: 'On our #CrocTrip2016 and reflecting on these amazing memories.

'Crocodiles will always hold a special place in my heart.

Legacy: Bindi Irwin (R) seems to be well-and-truly following in her late father's footsteps, and recently visited the Steve Irwin Wildlife Reserve on Cape York Peninsula, Queensland with (R-L) her younger brother Robert, mother Terri, and boyfriend Chandler

Memories: A photo shared on the Australia Zoo Instagram page by Steve's daughter, showed a younger Bindi posing with a captured crocodile alongside Steve, mother Terri and brother Robert

'They were Dad's absolute favourite animals and he dedicated his life to helping people understand and respect these gorgeous modern day dinosaurs.

'The Australia Zoo Crocodile Research Trip is the largest running research project conducted on saltwater crocodiles in the world.

'We are blessed to carry on in Dad's footsteps,' she concluded.

Other Instagram photos saw Bindi 'crocodile catching' - a technique made famous by her TV star father.

With the help of her 19-year-old boyfriend Chandler Powell, Bindi caught a crocodile in the Wenlock River.

Vested interest: Bindi has made no secret of her passion for wildlife and conservation

'Today was a huge day for me on this #CrocTrip2016,' she wrote in the photo caption.

'We caught a brand new crocodile in the Wenlock River and we named her Madison.

'I was so excited that my amazing boyfriend was given the opportunity of taking the head on the jump team,' she continued.

Despite the tragic loss, the wildlife warrior told KIIS FM's The Kyle And Jackie O Show she saw no need in trying to reconnect with his spirit through a medium, as she felt he was 'always with us'.

Sweet: Other Instagram photos saw Bindi 'crocodile catching' - a technique made famous by her TV star father. Pictured with her boyfriend Chandler

Tragic loss: Steve Irwin died in 2006 after being stung in the heart by a sting ray. At the time Bindi was just eight years old

And the budding superstar equally posts about her admiration for her 'strong' mother.

A throwback photo, with both Terri and her brother Robert as a baby, was posted in May and captioned: 'Happy Mother's Day to the strongest, most beautiful woman I have ever known.

'Thank you for loving us, supporting us and being our world.'
NASA unveils photos of Jupiter's poles

NASA published the first-ever images of Jupiter's north pole and its southern aurora, taken during the Juno spacecraft's first orbital flyby of the gaseous giant.

Juno came within 2,500 miles (4,200 kilometers) of Jupiter on August 27 during a six-hour transit from the north pole to the south.

"It looks like nothing we have seen or imagined before," Scott Bolton, principal investigator of Juno from the Southwest Research Institute in San Antonio, said on Friday.

Jupiter's north polar region is coming into view as NASA's Juno spacecraft approaches the giant planet NASA (NASA/JPL-CALTECH/SwRI/MSSS/AFP)

"The largest planet in our solar system is truly unique. We have 36 more flybys to study just how unique it really is."

A camera dubbed the "JunoCam" took the high-definition images. It is one of the nine instruments onboard the spacecraft.

Juno notably sent the first infrared close-ups of the planet's north and south poles.

"These first infrared views of Jupiter's north and south poles are revealing warm and hot spots that have never been seen before," said Alberto Adriani, of the Istituto di Astrofisica e Planetologia Spaziali in Rome.

Adriani is one of the researchers who developed the Jovian Infrared Auroral Mapper (JIRAM) that allowed scientists to acquire the images.

"While we knew that the first-ever infrared views of Jupiter's south pole could reveal the planet's southern aurora, we were amazed to see it for the first time," he said.

Auroras are streamers of light in the sky caused by energy from the sun and electrically charged particles trapped in the magnetic field.

Another Juno instrument recorded sounds from Jupiter -- "ghostly-sounding transmissions emanating from the planet," said NASA.

Scientists have known about Jupiter's radio emissions since the 1950s, but had never analyzed them from such a close distance.

"Jupiter is talking to us in a way only gas-giant worlds can," said Bill Kurth, co-investigator from the University of Iowa.

Juno's main mission began in July and is scheduled to end in February 2018, when the probe will self-destruct by diving into the planet's atmosphere.

The $1.1 billion project aims to peer beneath the clouds around Jupiter for the first time to learn more about the planet's atmosphere.

Scientists want to know how much water the planet contains, because it can tell them a lot about when and how the planet formed.

Juno will also probe how the planet's intense magnetic field is generated, and study the formation of auroras.

Juno explores Jupiter -, - (AFP Graphic)
Trump in Detroit to woo wary black vote

Lagging in the polls with less than 10 weeks until election day, Donald Trump takes his presidential campaign to Detroit Saturday for a charm offensive targeting African-American voters, who have flocked to his Democratic rival Hillary Clinton.

Aware he faces an uphill battle to succeed President Barack Obama in 2017, the Republican White House contender has made pointed appeals to black voters in recent weeks.

In doing so, Trump is acknowledging a community he has all but overlooked until now -- but which makes up 12 percent of the US electorate.

Donald Trump has attracted controversy over his remarks on immigration, Islam and Barack Obama Thos Robinson (Getty/AFP/File)

His pitch? "What do you have to lose?"

"Democrats have claimed to speak in your name for decades, he argues, but look at the numbers: you are hardest hit by poverty and unemployment, you live in neighborhoods plagued by violence, and you are stymied by failing schools.

"They don't care about you. They just like you once every four years -- get your vote and then they say: 'Bye, bye!'" he told African-Americans -- albeit while addressing an overwhelmingly white rally in Ohio recently.

To bolster his case, Trump points at the Democratic stance on immigration, claiming his rival would rather give jobs to new refugees than unemployed black youth.

The African-American electorate traditionally leans heavily Democratic.

In 2012, about 93 percent of black voters backed Obama -- an overwhelming enthusiasm that Clinton appears to have kept alive, taking 90 percent of the black vote in her primary contest against Bernie Sanders.

Detroit has the highest percentage of black residents -- more than 80 percent -- of any large American city.

Many neighborhoods have been hollowed out by decades of "white flight," in which Caucasian families left downtown and midtown for more affluent suburbs.

What exactly Trump, 70, plans to do in Detroit remains unclear.

After recording a televised interview he is supposed to attend a worship service at a black church in the Motor City, briefly addressing the "Great Faith Ministries International" congregation before meeting residents of a black neighborhood.

As often with Trump, much will hinge on whether the business magnate sticks to the carefully prepared script, or chooses to improvise -- raising the likelihood of a controversial outburst.

Some civic and religious leaders have announced plans to protest Trump's visit, including the Ecumenical Ministers Alliance which will lead a Saturday march to the church hosting Trump.

- Racist backers -

Excerpts from an eight-page working document published Thursday by The New York Times give a taste of the scripted interview questions to be asked by the church's pastor, Bishop Wayne T. Jackson, and the answers drafted by Trump's advisers.

Trump's scripted responses seek to strike a presidential tone, pledging to approach the office "with the utmost wisdom" and to "serve all Americans without regard to race, ethnicity or any other qualification."

Asked about the document, the pastor confirmed he had submitted questions in advance, but said they were liable to change -- and strongly denied he was working hand in hand with Team Trump.

"He has made statements and his statements are that I want to make the black community better," Jackson told CNN. "So we want to know the answers. We want to know how you are going to do that."

"There's a lot of perception out there that there's a lot of racist people that are following his campaign," he added.

"These are questions that we're going to ask. And then when it's all said and done, then let the people decide."

Democrats regularly remind voters that Trump's backers include former Ku Klux Klan leader David Duke -- although the candidate has publicly rejected the extreme-right endorsement.

They also point out that Trump spearheaded the dubious "birther" movement which sought -- with backing from the Republican Party's right wing -- to cast doubt on the nationality of America's first black president.

Donald Trump's pitch to the African-American electorate is "What do you have to lose?" Yuri Cortez (AFP/File)

Detroit has the highest percentage of black residents of any large American city and hosts Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump on Saturday Michael Mathes (AFP)
China ratifies Paris climate pact, US tipped to follow

China ratified the Paris climate change accord on Saturday, with the US expected to do so later in a joint stand against global warming by the world's two biggest polluters.

The accord sets ambitious goals for capping global warming and funnelling trillions of dollars to poor countries facing an onslaught of damage as a result of climate change.

It will come into effect 30 days after at least 55 countries, accounting for 55 percent of global greenhouse gas emissions, have ratified it.

Smoke belches from a coal-fired power station near Datong, in China's northern Shanxi province Greg Baker (AFP/File)

China is responsible for around a quarter of the world's emissions, with the US in second place on more than 15 percent, so their participation is crucial.

China's legislature, the National People's Congress, voted to adopt "the proposal to review and ratify the Paris Agreement", the official Xinhua news agency said.

US President Barack Obama is due to arrive in China later Saturday for a G20 summit in the eastern city of Hangzhou, and is expected to announce the formal joining of the accord with President Xi Jinping.

Campaigners welcomed the move.

"China and the US, the two largest developing and developed country economies and emitters, joining the Paris Agreement shows that the global community can come together to address the threat of climate change," said Alvin Lin of the US-based Natural Resources Defense Council.

"Both countries are transforming their economies to grow through clean energy rather than fossil fuels, so their citizens can benefit from a cleaner environment and be competitive in the green economy," he told AFP.

- Pressure on G20 leaders -

The two giants are expected to use the summit, a gathering of the world's leading developed and emerging economies, to pressure others to do so.

"Xi and Obama should seize the opportunity to lead the worlds 20 wealthiest nations by joining and building on the Paris agreement," said Greenpeace East Asias senior climate policy adviser Li Shuo.

It is time for the Paris accord to "move from agreement to action", he added. "Political ambition must keep up with rising sea levels faced by vulnerable communities around the world."

The Paris pact calls for capping global warming at well below two degrees Celsius (3.6 degrees Fahrenheit), and 1.5 C (2.7 F) if possible, compared with pre-industrial levels.

Until Saturday only 24 of the 180 signatories had ratified it, including France and many island states threatened by rising sea levels but who only produce a tiny proportion of the world's emissions.

For China, ratifying the agreement fits with Beijing's domestic political agenda of being seen to make efforts to clean up the environment, after years of breakneck industrial development led to soaring air, water and ground pollution.

The scourge is estimated to have caused hundreds of thousands of early deaths, and is the source of mounting public anger.

Under the Paris accord, Xinhua said, China will have to cut its carbon emissions per unit of GDP by 60-65 percent from 2005 levels by 2030 and increase non-fossil fuel sources in primary energy consumption to about 20 percent.

Neither of those requirements implies a commitment to cut absolute levels of emissions, although China is also obliged to have them peak by 2030.

During the negotiations over the Paris deal Beijing stressed the concept of "differentiated responsibilities" -- the idea that developed countries should shoulder the lion's share of the burden as they have polluted most since the Industrial Revolution.

China previously committed to its emissions peaking "around 2030", a declaration made on an earlier visit by Obama, when he announced a target for the US to cut its own emissions 26-28 percent below 2005 levels by 2025.

China, the world's biggest polluter, is responsible for around 25% of global carbon emissions - (AFP/File)
Syrian refugee saw the stars and stripes - and 'felt safe'

On a warm afternoon in June, Ammar Kawkab and his family joined the trickle of Syrian refugees arriving in the United States to escape the devastating war in their country.

There were no crowds, television cameras or politicians to greet them at the airport in San Diego, their new home.

But that was of no concern to Kawkab, who hails from the predominantly Kurdish city of Qamishli in northeast Syria, a frequent target of attacks by the radical Islamic State (IS) group.

Syrian refugee Ammar Kawkab and his daughters Noor (C) and Aya make their way home from school in San Diego, on August 31, 2016 Frederic J. Brown (AFP/File)

All that mattered was that he, his wife and their four children were finally safe after a more than two-year journey that took them from their homeland to Lebanon and finally America.

"On that day, I felt that finally I had a flag that could protect me," the 52-year-old telecom technician told AFP, fighting back tears as he pointed to an American flag hanging on a wall in the family's modest two-bedroom apartment in a suburb of San Diego.

"The day I set foot here, I felt as much American as Obama," he added. "As soon as I saw the flag, I felt safe."

Kawkab is among the 10,000 Syrian refugees the United States has taken in this year as part of a resettlement program that has emerged as a hot-button issue in the White House campaign.

While local communities across the country have offered support to the refugees, there has also been a wave of opposition, with 31 governors calling for a ban on Syrian refugees entering the country in the wake of last November's jihadist attacks in Paris.

Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump has also seized on the issue, vowing to block refugees fleeing the violence in Syria from entering the US on grounds they were not being properly screened and posed a threat.

- 'Starting to get scared' -

Such rhetoric baffles aid officials and refugees like Sowsan Al-Zait, 45, who arrived in San Diego a year ago, fleeing the violence in her hometown of Homs, a key battleground in the uprising against the regime of Bashar al-Assad.

"After everything we went through, to have someone speak of us like this is incomprehensible," sighed Al-Zeit as she took a break on a recent morning from her English language class.

"I initially felt safe here but in recent months, to be honest, we have started getting scared."

David Murphy, head of the International Rescue Committee's branch in San Diego, where some 372 Syrians have been resettled, said the xenophobic backlash was surprising given the extensive background checks -- usually lasting two years -- the refugees undergo.

"The rhetoric is horrific, it's embarrassing," Murphy said. "These refugees are fleeing the horrors of war. They are fleeing ISIS, they are fleeing terrorists. They are not terrorists themselves."

"In many countries around the world, when you invite someone in, they are a guest. You help them. You don't bring them in to a hostile environment," he added.

- 'Shame and embarrassment' -

According to the UN refugee agency (UNHCR) and other aid groups, nearly five million Syrians have fled their country since the conflict broke out in 2011 and some eight million have been internally displaced. The figures represent more than half of the country's pre-war population of about 23 million.

The influx of refugees has severely stretched the resources of neighboring countries such as Turkey, Lebanon and Jordan, which have borne the brunt of the crisis, and pressure has been building for the US and other countries to step up and take in more Syrians.

"The world looks to the United States for leadership on refugees and we are not providing it," said Mark Hetfield, who runs HIAS, which helps resettle refugees.

"The message that we should be giving to the world today is that this country was built on refugees ... and that every time this country has put limits on the number of refugees we accept, we have looked back on it with shame and embarrassment."

Aid officials said that while the 10,000 mark -- reached this week -- was positive, at least 10 times that number of refugees should be admitted in the coming year if the United States is to do its part.

"We have this very different juxtaposition here in the US where you have people all over the country responding with a welcome, and members of Congress and presidential candidates very much trying to close the doors," said Jennifer Quigley, a strategist for refugee protection with Human Rights First.

Kawkab said he hopes that with time, Americans will look upon refugees like him as individuals, each with a story to tell.

"We are neither terrorists nor criminals," he said. "And we are not here to be a burden on America. We want to give back to this country."

Syrian refugees take notes during their Vocational ESL class at the International Rescue Committee center in San Diego, on August 31, 2016 Frederic J. Brown (AFP/File)

Syrian refugee family of Ammar Kawkab (2nd L), his wife Leila (C) and children Noor (L), Aya (R) and Hamza with his skateboard, pose for a photo at their apartment in San Diego, on August 31, 2016 Frederic J. Brown (AFP/File)
Islamic militants blamed for deadly Philippine blast

Philippine authorities on Saturday blamed a notorious group of Islamic militants for the bombing of a night market in President Rodrigo Duterte's home town that killed at least 14 people.

An improvised explosive device tore through the bustling market in the heart of Davao city and close to one of its top hotels just before 11:00pm (1500 GMT) on Friday.

Authorities said the Abu Sayyaf, a small band of militants that has declared allegiance to the Islamic State group, most likely carried out the attack in response to a military offensive launched against it last week.

Rescue workers line up bags with dead bodies of victims of an explosion at a night market in Davao City, on the southern Philippine island of Mindanao, early on September 3, 2016 Manman Dejeto (AFP)

The president's spokesman, Martin Andanar, said Duterte believed the militants were behind the blast.

"The office of the president texted and confirmed that was an Abu Sayyaf retaliation. For the city government side, we are working on that it is an Abu Sayyaf retaliation," Davao mayor Sara Duterte, who is also the president's daughter, told CNN Philippines.

National Defence Secretary Delfin Lorenzana said the Abu Sayyaf had struck back after suffering heavy casualties on its stronghold of Jolo island about 900 kilometres (550 miles) from Davao.

"We have predicted this and warned our troops accordingly but the enemy is also adept at using the democratic space granted by our constitution to move around freely and unimpeded to sow terror," Lorenzana said in a statement.

Duterte, who was in Davao at the time of the attack but not near the market, told reporters before dawn Saturday that it was an act of terrorism, as he announced extra powers for the military.

At least 14 people were killed and another 67 were wounded in the explosion, police said. Sixteen of the injured were in critical condition, a local hospital director told reporters.

- Pregnant woman dies -

Durian vendor Maribel Tabalwon, 34, told AFP chaos broke out after the blast. She helped rescue three victims but one of them, a woman seven months pregnant, eventually died.

"The blast was so loud the ground shook. She was crawling but she was lucky enough no one trampled her during the stampede. She was shaking and bleeding."

Davao is the biggest city in the southern region of Mindanao, with a population of about two million people. It is about 1,500 kilometres from the capital of Manila.

The city is part of the southern region of Mindanao, where Islamic militants have waged a decades-long separatist insurgency that has claimed more than 120,000 lives.

Duterte had been mayor of Davao for most of the past two decades, before winning presidential elections in a landslide in May and being sworn in on June 30.

Duterte became well known for bringing relative peace and order to Davao with hardline security policies, while also brokering deals with local Muslim and communist rebels.

Duterte has in recent weeks pursued peace talks with the two main Muslim rebel groups, which each has thousands of armed followers. Their leaders have said they want to broker a lasting peace.

However the Abu Sayyaf, a much smaller and hardline group infamous for kidnapping foreigners to extract ransoms, has rejected Duterte's peace overtures.

In response, Duterte deployed thousands of troops onto the small and remote island of Jolo to "destroy" the group.

The military reported 15 soldiers died in clashes on Monday, but also claimed killing dozens of Abu Sayyaf gunmen.

On Saturday, Duterte declared a national "state of lawlessness", which his security adviser said gave the military extra powers to conduct law enforcement operations normally done only by the police.

While Davao has been regarded as relatively safer than the rest of Mindanao, the Abu Sayyaf and other Islamic militant groups have carried out deadly attacks there in the past.

In 2003, two bomb attacks blamed on Muslim rebels at Davao's airport and the city's port within a month of each other killed about 40 people.

Duterte initially raised the possibility of drug lords carrying out Friday's attack as a way of fighting back against his crime war.

More than 2,000 people have died in his unprecedented anti-crime crackdown, drawing widespread international condemnation over an apparent wave of extrajudicial killings.

Map of the Philippines locating Davao, where an explosion claimed several lives on September 2, 2016 - (AFP Graphic)

Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte speaks to the media as he visits the site of an explosion at a nigth market in Davao City, on the southern island of Mindanao, early on September 3, 2016 Manman Dejeto (AFP)
Aboriginal woman goes from 'non-citizen' to Australian parliament

Wearing a cloak decorated with the goanna lizard, the first Aboriginal woman elected to Australia's lower house took her seat in parliament this week, saying that as a child she was a "non-citizen".

Former teacher Linda Burney made history in July when she was voted into the House of Representatives, joining only a handful of other indigenous lawmakers in Australia's national parliament.

In her maiden speech, she said that her kangaroo skin cloak "tells my story", as another Wiradjuri woman sang to her in traditional language from the public gallery.

Aboriginal lawmaker Linda Burney says the first decade of her life was spent as a "non-citizen" in Australia David Foote (AUSPIC/AFP/File)

"It charts my life, on it is my clan totem the goanna and my personal totem the white cockatoo," she told parliament on Wednesday.

Burney said she would bring the "fighting Wiradjuri spirit" to the capital in Canberra, as she described how far she had come from her childhood in New South Wales.

"I was born at a time when the Australian government knew how many sheep there were but not how many Aboriginal people," Burney, a former New South Wales state government minister, said.

"I was 10 years old before the '67 referendum fixed that. The first decade of my life was spent as a non-citizen," the 59-year-old lawmaker added.

The 1967 referendum changed Australia's constitution to allow Aboriginal people to be counted in the national census.

But indigenous Australians still suffer disproportionate levels of disadvantage and imprisonment and have a much lower life expectancy.

They are also dealing with the legacy of policies under which indigenous children were taken from their mothers to be raised by white families or in institutions.

Burney, who is with the opposition Labor Party, joins the ruling conservative Liberal Party's first Aboriginal MP, Ken Wyatt, who was elected in 2010, and follows in the footsteps of former senator and Olympian Nova Peris, who was the first indigenous woman in the upper house.

"The Aboriginal part of my story is important, it is the core of who I am," Burney said.
Brief encounter as Djokovic wins in 32 minutes, Nadal breezes

Novak Djokovic reached the US Open last 16 in just 32 minutes when Mikhail Youzhny retired injured before fellow two-time winner Rafael Nadal also made the fourth round for the first time in three years.

Defending champion Djokovic was 4-2 ahead in the first set when Russian 34-year-old Youzhny called it quits suffering from a left hamstring injury.

The outcome completed a bizarre first week for world number one Djokovic.

Defending US Open Champion Novak Djokovic of Serbia has had two easy rounds thanks to injured opponents Don Emmert (AFP)

After labouring over four sets to beat Jerzy Janowicz on Monday, he was handed a walkover into the third round when Czech opponent Jiri Vesely withdrew from their second round clash with an arm injury.

"I have never had this happen before in my Grand Slam career, getting a walkover and the next match lasting just half an hour," said Djokovic.

The top seed next faces Britain's world number 84 Kyle Edmund who stunned John Isner of the United States 6-4, 3-6, 6-2, 7-6 (7/5) to make a Slam fourth round for the first time.

Nadal reached the fourth round for the first time since 2013 -- the year of his last New York title -- with a 6-1, 6-4, 6-2 win over Russia's Andrey Kuznetsov.

"Andrey is always a tough opponent, he returns well and has good shots from the baseline," said fourth seed Nadal who faces France's Lucas Pouille for a quarter-final slot.

"I had a fantastic first set, a little trouble with my serve in the second but the third was key so I'm very happy."

Djokovic's very brief encounter had been preceded on Arthur Ashe Stadium by women's eighth seed Madison Keys pulling off an epic comeback to beat Japan's Naomi Osaka.

Keys won the latest-ever finishing women's match at the tournament on Monday when she completed victory over compatriot Alison Riske at 1:48am.

On Friday, the 21-year-old was involved in more drama when she rallied from 1-5 down in the final set to defeat Osaka 7-5, 4-6, 7-6 (7/3).

- Keys benefits from choke -

The 18-year-old Osaka was so traumatised by her failure to convert her dominance into victory that she broke down in tears as she twice tried and failed to serve for the victory.

"This is the greatest comeback of my career, hands down," said Keys who will face two-time runner-up Caroline Wozniacki for a quarter-final spot.

In stark contrast, German second seed and Australian Open champion Angelique Kerber closed out the night session with a 6-1, 6-1 win in just 53 minutes against American 17-year-old CiCi Bellis.

Kerber, who claimed her season-leading 50th match win, next faces two-time Wimbledon winner Petra Kvitova.

Jack Sock, the American 26th seed, reached the fourth round for the first time by knocking out 2014 champion Marin Cilic 6-4, 6-3, 6-3 in tie where he did not face a single break point.

The 23-year-old Sock, whose last two appearances at the US Open had ended in retirements, goes on to face French ninth seed Jo-Wilfried Tsonga.

Tsonga, a two-time quarter-finalist, made the last 16 with a 6-3, 6-4, 7-6 (7/4) victory over South Africa's Kevin Anderson.

Wozniacki, who knocked out ninth-seeded former champion Svetlana Kuznetsova in the second round, clinched a seventh win in seven meetings over unorthodox Monica Niculescu of Romania.

The Dane's 6-3, 6-1 victory featured eight breaks of serve.

Roberta Vinci, the Italian seventh seed and runner-up to compatriot Flavia Pennetta in 2015, overcame a second set blip to defeat 21-year-old Carina Witthoeft 6-0, 5-7, 6-3.

The 33-year-old Vinci led 5-4, 30-0 in the second set before her 84th-ranked German opponent dug deep to take the tie into a decider.

But Vinci prevailed on the back of 40 winners and will meet Lesia Tsurenko of the Ukraine for a quarter-final place.

Tsurenko, the world 99, made the last 16 at a Slam for the first time by beating 12th seed Dominika Cibulkova 3-6, 6-3, 6-4.

The 27-year-old Tsurenko committed 44 unforced errors. Fortunately for her, newly-married Cibulkova hit 54.

Latvia's Anastasija Sevastova backed up her shock victory over third seed and French Open champion Garbine Muguruza by making the last 16 for the first time with a 6-4, 6-1 win over Kateryna Bondarenko of the Ukraine.

World number 48 Sevastova, who briefly retired in 2013, has matched her best run at a Slam and next faces British 13th seed Johanna Konta who put out Belinda Bencic 6-2, 6-1.

Rafael Nadal of Spain beat Russia's Andrey Kuznetsov in straight sets Don Emmert (AFP)

Madison Keys says her battle against Naomi Osaka was "hands down" the greatest comeback of her career Timothy A. Clary (AFP)
North Korea hit hard by floods: state media

Flooding caused by torrential rains hit North Korea this week, leaving 15 people missing and thousands of others homeless, according to Pyongyang's state media.

The Tumen River, which serves as part of the border between China, Russia and North Korea, burst its banks in "the worst-ever flood" in the area, the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) said late Friday.

In the northeastern province of North Hamgyong, 15 people were missing in Hoeryong City and several counties including Musan, Yonsa and Onsong and part of the Rason special economic zone also suffered "serious damage".

South Korean tourists look across the Tumen River into North Korea from an observation point in China's north-eastern Jilin Province Robyn Beck (AFP/File)

More than 17,000 houses were destroyed or partly damaged, forcing 44,000 people to seek shelter elsewhere, KCNA said.

North Hamgyong Province received up to 32 centimetres (12 and a half inches) of rain between early Tuesday and mid-Friday, it said.

"Relentless campaigns are under way to stabilize people's livelihood and restore damaged properties", it said, adding that further assessments of the damage would continue.

North Korea is known for being vulnerable to natural disasters, especially floods.

Its territory is largely composed of mountains and hills that have long been deforested for fuel or turned into terraced rice fields, allowing rainwater to flow downhill unchecked, washing away top soil from agricultural fields.
Mother Teresa's legacy under cloud as sainthood nears

As the Vatican prepares to declare Mother Teresa a saint this Sunday, in the Indian city where she rose to fame, claims of medical negligence and financial mismanagement at her care homes threaten to cloud her legacy.

Pope Francis approved the canonisation of the widely beloved Roman Catholic nun last December, nearly two decades after she died in Kolkata, in whose teeming slums she devoted her life to helping the destitute and the sick.

Yet criticisms of the soon-to-be Saint Teresa of Kolkata abound, with doctors and former volunteers recounting grim tales of poor sanitation, medical neglect and forced conversions of the dying.

Nuns of the Missionary of Charity, the Religious order founded by Mother Teresa, queue in St. Peter's square at the Vatican Vincenzo Pinto (AFP/File)

Born Agnes Gonxha Bojaxhiu to Albanian parents in what is now Macedonia, her Missionaries of Charity homes for the dying earned her a Nobel Peace Prize and the sobriquet Saint of the Gutters.

"We feel that Mother Teresa's elevation to sainthood would be a renewed thrust to (her) charitable works," Thomas D'Souza, the Archbishop of Kolkata, told AFP.

Like millions of Catholics worldwide, Gautam Lewis is excited to celebrate the canonisation of the woman he calls his "second mother", who rescued the orphan after he was struck with polio aged two.

"Mother Teresa used to carry me to church every Sunday and she personally supervised my treatment when I underwent surgeries and rehabilitation to get rid of polio," Lewis, now a pilot in London, told AFP.

"I remember feeling very safe and secure in her presence," said the 39-year-old, in Kolkata for celebrations of the nun.

Already considered a living saint by many, the humanitarian's path to canonisation was sealed after the Vatican last year recognised the second of the two required miracles, following her death.

A critically ill Bengali tribal woman and a Brazilian man suffering from multiple brain tumours both credited prayers to the deceased nun with saving their lives.

But Aroup Chatterjee, a British doctor born in the city formerly known as Calcutta, said that "her whole emphasis was propagation of her faith at any cost."

"To convert a dying, unconscious person is very, very low behaviour, very disgusting," the 58-year-old author of a controversial 2003 book on the nun said.

"Mother Teresa did that on an industrial basis."

- Questions over care -

One of Mother Teresa's most vocal critics, the late British-born author Christopher Hitchens, accused her of exacerbating the plight of the poor with her staunch opposition to contraception and abortion.

The famous atheist, who made a provocative film about the nun called Hell's Angel in 1994, said she denied basic care to patients out of a belief that suffering brought them closer to God.

"I think it is very beautiful for the poor to accept their lot, to share it with the passion of Christ," Hitchens quoted her as saying in 1981, in his book The Missionary Position.

Some former volunteers say her order glorifies pain and poverty and accuse it of delivering bare-bones care, despite receiving millions of dollars in donations.

Hemley Gonzalez, who started his own NGO in Kolkata as a response to the alleged deficiencies he witnessed when volunteering at Missionaries of Charity eight years ago, calls it "a modern-day cult".

Nuns washed needles with tap water before reusing them, he said, and scolded him for giving terminal patients haircuts because they were going to die anyway.

"Right under the eyes of everyone... they're getting away with medical negligence," Gonzalez said.

S. Bedford, a journalist who spent two months volunteering at the home in Kolkata, recalled grim sanitary conditions.

"The squat-style toilets were in a narrow room slick with water, urine and faeces... (many had) to crawl through the mess," she wrote in a 2014 article.

- God's work -

Missionaries of Charity has vastly expanded since Mother Teresa's death, and now has 758 centres in 139 countries staffed by more than 5,000 nuns.

Yet the order remains opaque, declining to publish its funding sources or accounts, a stance which has elicited suspicion over its management of allegedly vast sums.

In her lifetime Mother Teresa was criticised for accepting funds from corrupt financiers including former Haitian dictator Francois "Papa Doc" Duvalier and a California banker jailed for swindling investors.

The order, however, roundly rejects its detractors.

Sunita Kumar, a spokeswoman for Missionaries, refuted all the allegations as "rubbish".

"What business is it of anybody's what we do with the money? Why should we expose our own accounts to others? Mother Teresa's focus was not to build five-star hospitals, it was to provide for the poor," she said.

While she remains a polarising figure, the nuns carrying on her life's work in Kolkata believe the flow of donations and volunteers is proof of higher assent.

"Mother Teresa believed that it is God's work and God will take care of everything," Sister Mary Lysa told AFP.

"Until today, God has never failed us."

Nuns pray over the body of Mother Teresa at the Missionaries of Charity in Kolkata in September, 1997 Arko Datta (AFP/File)

Criticisms of Mother Teresa abound, with doctors and former volunteers recounting grim tales of poor sanitation, medical neglect and forced conversions of the dying Tekee Tanwar (AFP/File)
Climate pact: After years of talk, focus shifts to action

Eight months after 195 nations concluded a hard-fought climate rescue pact, pressure is mounting to put its carbon-cutting promises into action as world leaders gather at G20 and UN meetings this month.

The historic deal reached in Paris in December has been signed by 180 countries, but will only take effect after 55 nations responsible for 55 percent of greenhouse gas emissions have ratified it -- making it binding.

China -- responsible for around 25 percent of global carbon emissions -- ratified the pact Saturday, ahead of a meeting of G20 leaders where the United States is also expected to follow suit, considerably boosting efforts.

The historic climate deal reached in Paris in December will only take effect after 55 nations responsible for 55 percent of greenhouse gas emissions have ratified it Francois Guillot (AFP/File)

Until Beijing joined the club, only 24 nations emitting just over one percent of the global total had officially acceded, according to the UN climate body overseeing the deal to cap global warming at two degrees Celsius (3.6 degrees Fahrenheit) over pre-Industrial Revolution levels.

"As 2016 heads into the record books as likely the hottest year ever recorded in history, it is a reminder that we have precious little time left to act to keep global temperature rise well below 2 C," Pascal Canfin of environmental group WWF said ahead of a two-day G20 summit opening in Hangzhou, eastern China, on Sunday.

"We have the Paris Agreement to guide our way. Now we need governments to implement it," he said in a statement.

China and the United States are jointly responsible for about 38 percent of emissions and had been widely expected to announce ratification at the Hangzhou gathering, which begins Sunday and brings together world leaders representing 85 percent of global GDP and two-thirds of its population.

This will be followed on September 21 by UN chief Ban Ki-moon hosting a gathering on the sidelines of the General Assembly to beat the drum for ratification.

The Climate Action Network (CAN), a global NGO grouping, urged G20 leaders in an open letter to ratify the pact "as soon as possible" as a restatement of political commitment.

Early ratification would "also give a strong signal globally to business, cities and ordinary citizens to act ambitiously on climate change," it said.

- Getting rid of coal -

The pact sets out to curb warming by replacing atmosphere-polluting fossil fuels with renewable sources -- an ambitious goal towards which most UN nations have already pledged emissions curbs.

This is meant to stave off the worst-case-scenario effects of violent droughts, storms and sea-level rise threatened by excessive planet warming.

Only by ratification, however, does a country agree to be bound to an international agreement of this kind, explained the World Resources Institute (WRI), a climate think tank.

Depending on constitutional provisions, many countries need to pass domestic legislation to do so.

On Thursday, France's climate envoy Segolene Royal urged Paris-based ambassadors to agitate for speedy ratification by their respective nations.

France hosted the UN huddle dubbed COP 21 (21st Conference of Parties) which yielded the climate pact. It will preside over the process until Morocco takes over as host of the next round of talks from November 7 to 18.

Ratification before the Marrakech meet, said Royal, "will allow COP 22 to be a COP of action", focusing on practical solutions for reaching the set goals.

With some 30 other nations having indicated their intent to formally adopt the pact, Royal may very well get her way.

"Our assessment is that 55 parties are likely to ratify this year, representing 58 percent" of emissions," said the WRI's David Waskow.

"It is a much more rapid process... than we have seen in the past for climate or any international regime of this type."

By comparison, it took eight years for the Kyoto Protocol, which preceded the Paris agreement, to enter into force.

The G20 meeting will be closely watched for progress.

"The G20 countries generate about 75 percent of global greenhouse gas emissions," said Christoph Bals of the Germanwatch pressure group.

"On that account they play a decisive role for the implementation of the ambitious Paris targets."

More important even than ratification, observers agree, is cutting fossil fuel subsidies and other funding.

"If G20 countries were to rid themselves of their reliance on coal, this would significantly impact their ability to increase their climate pledges and get their emissions trajectories on a below 2C pathway," said researcher Niklas Hohne of the NewClimate Institute.

On current pledges, the planet will warm by a dangerous 3 C, according to scientists.

But there has been progress too: China's declining coal use, an 18-percent increase in renewable energy since 2008, and the declining price of solar energy, NGOs say.

China, responsible for around 25 percent of global carbon emissions, ratified the Paris climate pact, September 3, 2016, ahead of a meeting of G20 leaders Johannes Eisele (AFP/File)

US Secretary of State John Kerry holds his granddaughter at the UN Signing Ceremony for the Paris climate accord in April Spencer Platt (Getty/AFP/File)
Abe calls for 'new epoch' in Russia-Japan ties hit by WWII dispute

Japan's Prime Minister Shinzo Abe on Saturday appealed to Russian President Vladimir Putin for a new era in ties hampered by a territorial dispute dating back to WWII.

"Let's put an end to this abnormal situation which has lasted 70 years, and together start to build a new epoch in Russia-Japan ties that will last the next 70 years," Abe told Putin during a speech translated into Russian after the pair met for talks in Russia's far eastern city of Vladivostok.

Tokyo-Moscow relations are hamstrung by a row dating back to the end of World War II when Soviet troops seized the southernmost islands in the Pacific Kuril chain, known as the Northern Territories in Japan.

Russian President Vladimir Putin (C) shakes hands with Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe as they visit an oceanarium on Russky Island near Vladivostok, on September 3, 2016 Alexei Druzhinin (Sputnik/AFP)

The tensions have prevented the countries from signing a peace treaty formally ending wartime hostilities, hindering trade and investment ties.

The two sides are now on a concerted drive to improve relations with Abe currently on his second trip to Russia this year and Putin set to visit Japan in December.

- Warm words, no breakthrough -

Despite the warm words and clear desire to improve trade, which has been hit by sanctions slapped on Moscow by stalwart US ally Tokyo over Russia's meddling in Ukraine, there has been no major breakthrough on a deal to end the territorial dispute.

In his speech Saturday to an economic forum in Vladivostok a day after holding talks with Putin, Abe also proposed to the Russian president that the two of them should meet annually in the city to try to hammer out their differences.

Talking on the same stage as Abe, Putin said that, while both Tokyo and Moscow wanted to defend their national interests, the two sides needed to bury the hatchet once and for all.

"Today it is obvious that we can't let the chances that we have slide by," Putin said.

"Each of us looks at this problem through the prism of their national interests but we all agree on one thing -- we need to solve the problem," Putin said.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov told reporters after the two leaders met Friday that they had focused on boosting trade ties, but remained vague about the prospects of solving the territorial conflict.

Russia has angered Japan recently by building new modern compounds for its troops stationed on two of the disputed islands.

Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev infuriated Tokyo last year when he visited the islands, which are home to some 19,000 Russians.
Chinese glass bridge, world's longest, closes

The world's longest glass bridge, over a scenic canyon in China, has been closed less than two weeks after it opened after being overwhelmed by a swarm of visitors.

More than 10,000 visitors a day flooded over the Guinness record-setting attraction, overwhelming managers who had planned to limit visitors to no more than 8,000, local media reported.

The bridge is undergoing "an internal system upgrade", the official Xinhua News service quoted officials as saying, but did not specify when it would reopen.

Visitors cross the world's highest and longest glass-bottomed bridge above a valley in Zhangjiajie, China's Hunan province, on August 21, 2016 Fred Dufour (AFP/File)

The group in charge of the attraction said that it would use the closure to update "software and hardware" related to managing visitors, Xinhua said Friday.

In an announcement on one of its social media accounts, the company apologised for inconveniencing the many travellers who had made reservations to visit.

"You... have cheated consumers," one angry commenter replied.

"I'm on the train right now. I can't change my travel plans or get a refund. You have made the world lose hope. I see you are the world's number one cheat."

Some 430 metres (1,400 feet) long and suspended 300 metres above the earth, the bridge spans the canyon between two mountain cliffs in Zhangjiajie park in China's central Hunan province.

The nature reserve is known for its otherworldly natural beauty. Famous for its precipitous cloud-wreathed mountains, it is a UNESCO world heritage site that reportedly inspired the landscapes of James Cameron's sci-fi blockbuster Avatar.

Following an alarming glass bridge cracking incident at the Yuntai mountain in northern Henan in 2015, authorities in Zhangjiajie were eager to demonstrate the safety of the structure.

They organised a string of media events, including one where people were encouraged to try and smash the bridge's glass panels with a sledge hammer, and another where they drove a car across it.

Nonetheless, visitors were banned from wearing high heels as they ventured out onto the deck.
India is giving Vietnam half a billion dollars in credit to boost the defence ties, the latest security deal between the two nations seeking to counter Beijing's muscle-flexing in the South China Sea.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi made the announcement during a visit to Hanoi, which has gone on a spending spree in the recent years to expand and modernise its military arsenal amid territorial disputes with Beijing in the strategically vital waterway.

"I am also happy to announce a new defence credit for Vietnam of $500 million for facilitating deeper defence cooperation," Modi told reporters after signing the deal.

India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi (C) and Vietnamese Deputy Prime Minister Vu Duc Dam (R) visit the Quan Su pagoda in Hanoi, on September 3, 2016 Hoang Dinh Nam (AFP)

He did not specify details of the arrangement, but traditionally such lines of credit would oblige Vietnam to sign contracts with Indian companies.

About 50 percent of India's trade passes through the South China Sea, where Beijing has built up islands and outcrops capable of supporting military activities to the chagrin of Vietnam and other claimants.

Vietnam's Prime Minister praised its close friendship with India Saturday during the visit -- the first by an Indian premier in 15 years and part of New Delhi's "Act East Policy" to strengthen economic and security ties with east Asian neighbours.

"(We) discussed matters concerning the East Sea," Vietnamese Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc told reporters.

"All sides must peacefully solve East Sea disputes based on international laws," he added of the contested waterway, where the Philippines, Brunei, Taiwan and Malaysia also have claims.

The latest defence deal follows a similar announcement in 2014 when India agreed to give Vietnam a $100 million line of credit to buy naval patrol boats, a move that likely rankled China.

Beijing has previously criticised India's cooperation with Vietnam in the defence sector, and India has its own frosty history with China following a brief but bloody border war in 1962.

Friends in the region

Vietnam was the eighth largest importer of arms between 2011 and 2015, according to the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute, up from a rank of 43 in the previous five-year period.

The communist country is increasingly looking to new partners to replace or update Soviet-era military equipment, including the United States which lifted a Cold War-era arms embargo in May.

Vietnam expert Carl Thayer said Modi's trip was Vietnam's way of showing it has other friends in the region.

"Vietnam is playing that game: 'Come on, China, get close to us, cooperate, but if you don't we can move to India or we'll go talk to you after the Prime Minister of India has just been through,'" he said.

India and Vietnam signed a dozen agreements in all, including a $5 million deal to build a technology park in the coastal resort city of Nha Trang.

Vietnam is pushing to become a key player in Southeast Asia's tech scene as it looks to diversify exports beyond manufacturing and agriculture.

Modi also visited the tomb of Vietnam's independence leader and communist crusader Ho Chi Minh, posting a photo on Twitter of the monument where the embalmed national hero is on display, saying: "Paid tributes to one of Asia's tallest leaders, the great Ho Chi Minh."

Modi is scheduled to fly out later Saturday to attend the G20 summit in Hangzhou China along with other world leaders. He will then head to Laos for a summit of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), and will attend an ASEAN-India Summit on September 8.
Philippines: Five things to know about the Abu Sayyaf

Philippine authorities on Saturday said the Abu Sayyaf, a local Islamic militant group notorious for kidnapping foreigners, was responsible for a deadly night market bombing that killed at least 14 people.

Here are five key questions and answers about the Abu Sayyaf:

- Who are they? -

Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte has called the Davao night market bombing an act of terrorism Manman Dejeto (AFP)

The group is a radical offshoot of a Muslim separatist insurgency that has claimed more than 120,000 lives in the south of the mainly Catholic Philippines since the 1970s.

It was established in the 1990s with funds from a relative of former Al-Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden.

Several Abu Sayyaf units have pledged allegiance to the Islamic State group that holds vast swathes of Iraq and Syria but analysts say they are more interested in funding than ideology.

- How dangerous are they? -

The Abu Sayyaf is blamed for deadly bombings, including an attack on a ferry in Manila Bay in 2014 that claimed 116 lives in the country's deadliest terror assault.

It is also notorious for kidnappings for ransom, murdering foreign and local hostages if huge sums are not paid.

The Abu Sayyaf beheaded an American man in 2002, a Malaysian last year, and two Canadians in April and June.

The United States lists the group as a "foreign terrorist organisation".

The military estimates its forces to number 400, down from an original 1,000 fighters.

- Where are they based? -

Abu Sayyaf's strongholds are the Muslim-populated islands of Jolo and Basilan in the far south of the Philippines, about 1,000 kilometres (600 miles) from Manila.

Sallying forth in fast boats from the islands, the Abu Sayyaf snatches victims and hides them among sympathetic Muslim communities, many of whom have received money from the militants.

In recent months, the group expanded its activities to include high seas kidnappings of sailors in waters bordering the Philippines, Malaysia and Indonesia.

- What's been done to defeat them? -

From 2002-2014, the US deployed Special Forces advisers to train and provide intelligence to Filipino troops but scaled back after the Pentagon concluded the group had lost the ability to launch international attacks.

Several Philippine presidents have declared wars on the Abu Sayyaf.

Philippines, Indonesia and Malaysia also agreed on joint patrols to prevent kidnappings at sea.

But millions of dollars in ransom money, assistance from locals, and their mastery of the terrain have helped the Abu Sayyaf evade government pursuit.

- Why do authorities believe they carried out Friday's attack? -

Officials said the Abu Sayyaf was likely to carry out Friday's bombing in retaliation for a military offensive Philippine president Rodrigo Duterte declared last week to "destroy" the group.

National Defence Secretary Delfin Lorenzana said the Abu Sayyaf has a history of launching attacks outside Sulu when pinned down in intense government operations.

The Abu Sayyaf claimed responsibility for three bomb attacks in 2005 -- one in Davao, one in a nearby city and a third in Manila -- that killed eight people.

The Abu Sayyaf said it conducted the 2005 attacks in response to an offensive against it at that time.

Philippines blast AFP (AFP)

Abu Sayyaf strongholds are the Muslim-populated islands of Jolo and Basilan in the far south of the Philippines Mark Navales (AFP/File)

Several Philippine presidents including current leader Rodrigo Duterte have declared war on the Abu Sayyaf STRINGER (AFP/File)
Obama arrives in China for final visit as president

US President Barack Obama arrived in China on Saturday for his final visit as president, intent on cementing the "pivot" to Asia undertaken during his administration.

Obama was welcomed by an honour guard as Air Force One landed in the eastern city of Hangzhou, which is hosting the G20 summit of global economic powers.

But there was also tension on the tarmac, with angry words exchanged when a Chinese official remonstrated with National Security Advisor Susan Rice about where she could stand.

US President Barack Obama disembarks from his Air Force One plane after arriving at Hangzhou Xiaoshan International Airport in China, on September 3, 2016 Nicolas Asfouri (AFP)

Hangzhou is under ultra-tight security, with a quarter of its residents encouraged to leave and potential troublemakers detained as the ruling Communist Party takes every measure to prevent any possible wrinkles.

Later Saturday Obama will hold private talks with Chinese President Xi Jinping at the city's picturesque West Lake, dotted with islands and a favoured subject for Chinese artists.

The meeting is expected to focus on the fight against global warming, after China on Saturday ratified the Paris climate accord and with the US tipped to follow suit, taking the pact a giant step forward.

Tackling climate change has become a bright spot in often difficult relations between the two powers.

But Xi and Obama will also discuss tensions in the South China Sea, where Beijing's territorial claims, and its construction of artificial islands in disputed waters, have set the region on edge.

On Sunday Obama is to hold talks with Theresa May for the first time since she became British prime minister in the wake of the landmark vote to leave the European Union.

Syria will shift into focus when Obama meets his Turkish counterpart Recep Tayyip Erdogan on the sidelines of the summit.

Relations between Washington and Ankara have soured following an attempted coup against Erdogan and Kurdish advances along Turkey's southern border.

Erdogan has accused the United States of harbouring a Turkish cleric he accuses of plotting the coup.

US officials insist they will extradite Fethullah Gulen if Turkey can present proof he was actually involved.

The spat has soured public perceptions of the United States in Turkey and risks undermining a deep security relationship between the NATO allies.

Tensions have been further strained by Turkey's bombing of Kurdish positions in northern Syria.

The targets included Kurdish groups that are backed by Washington and seen as integral to the fight against the Islamic State group.

Ankara accuses them of being in league with the Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK), a group which has claimed responsibility for deadly attacks inside Turkey.

Obama could also take the opportunity to meet with Russian President Vladimir Putin, as their foreign ministers work to reach a deal that would ease fighting around Aleppo.

After the G20 talks conclude Monday, Obama will travel to Laos which is hosting the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) summit.
Myanmar peace summit ends with long road ahead

Myanmar's Aung San Suu Kyi concluded a landmark summit with ethnic rebels on Saturday, calling it the first step on what promises to be a tough road to peace.

The conference in the capital Naypyidaw was Suu Kyi's first big drive to end insurgencies that have rumbled across Myanmar's frontier states for nearly seven decades.

The nobel laureate, now leading the country after championing a democracy struggle against the former junta, has devoted her first few months in power to kickstarting fresh negotiations between rebel militias and the army.

Myanmar's Aung San Suu Kyi (L) greets military delegates at the conclusion of the peace conference in Naypyidaw on September 3, 2016 Aung Htet (AFP)

No resolution emerged from the four-day summit, which gave representatives from dozens of ethnic groups a chance to air grievances and outline their political aspirations.

Suu Kyi's biggest achievement was bringing new players to the table, including rebel armies that did not sign a shaky ceasefire brokered by the former military-backed government last year.

However three groups still actively clashing with troops did not attend the talks, and the powerful Wa -- a heavily armed militia based near the border with China -- stormed out on day two over what the government said was a misunderstanding.

"To achieve peace is very difficult," Suu Kyi told the conference hall filled with hundreds of delegates on Saturday, the final day of the summit after it was decided a fifth was not needed.

"This is the first meeting. After this, there will be more meetings. And there are many things we have to do during the time in between," she added.

The veteran democracy activist, who spent some 15 years under house arrest during junta rule, urged all sides to "look forward" as the peace process continues.

Distrust of the military still runs deep in Myanmar -- especially in the minority areas battered by decades of fighting and oppression.

Many of the conflicts are complicated by tussles over drug trades and lucrative gem and timber reserves in rebel-held areas.

- Challenges ahead -

While Suu Kyi has backed the minorities' calls for greater autonomy in their homelands, it will be a challenge to craft a federal arrangement that meets each group's unique demands.

Any changes to a junta-era charter will also require support from the still-influential army, which has the power to veto any proposed amendments.

Although the army has loosened its grip the country since the end of junta rule 2011, soldiers still run key government ministries and a quarter of parliament seats.

Lian Hmung Sahkong, a leader from the Chin National Front who helped organise the peace conference, said the next gathering of delegates will be held in six months.

"Our current challenge is to get the signatures of ethnic groups that did not sign the NCA," he said, referring to the limited ceasefire negotiated last year.

A leader from the Kachin Independence Organisation (KIO) -- a powerful rebel faction that did not sign the truce -- stressed that no concrete agreements were reached at this week's talks.

"We were able to present our proposals at this conference, but nothing important happened," General Gun Maw told reporters, adding that more discussion is needed before his group will sign a deal.

Myanmar's diverse patchwork of ethnic groups make up around a third of the population, but the government and military have long been dominated by members of the majority Bamar ethnicity, to which Suu Kyi belongs.

The peace summit comes almost 70 years after her independence hero father signed an agreement promising autonomy to major ethnic groups ahead of Myanmar's break from colonial ruler Britain.

But the deal collapsed after his assassination and was ignored by the junta that seized power, triggering uprisings that have simmered in the country's borderlands ever since.
Police rescued 22 Nepali women from a hotel in New Delhi, who were allegedly being trafficked from the impoverished Himalayan nation to the Middle East, and are searching for two suspects, officers said Saturday.

Officers from the force's serious crimes branch raided a hotel near the capital's international airport on Thursday morning after receiving a tip-off from the Nepali embassy.

One of the trafficked women had earlier escaped from the hotel and reached the embassy, leading to the police raid.

Indian police personnel stand guard outside the district court Saket in New Delhi on January 3, 2013 Prakash Singh (AFP/File)

"Twenty-two women were rescued in the raid. We have identified two accused who are evading arrest," Ravindra Yadav, Joint Commissioner of Police (Crime) in New Delhi told AFP.

"The women will give their testimonies before a court today. The visas indicate most of them were flying to Qatar and other Middle Eastern countries," he said.

The trafficked women were desperately looking for work in the aftermath of a devastating earthquake in April 2015, and were lured with the promise of jobs in the Middle East, another officer said.

Their traffickers took away their passports and documents after they arrived in Delhi a week ago.

Nepal has seen an upswing in the number of cases of trafficking since last year's earthquake killed nearly 9,000 and left thousands homeless.

Many of them are trafficked to India and Gulf countries and forced into slavery and prostitution.

Campaigners have warned that gangs are targeting vulnerable women and children and traffic through the porous border with India.
Putin calls to lower Korea tensions

Russian President Vladimir Putin on Saturday urged both sides on the Korean peninsula to calm tensions after meeting South Korean leader Park Geun-hye.

"Obviously we need to avoid any provocations or enflaming the situation," Putin said at a statement to the press in the far eastern city of Vladivostok.

"It is necessary to lower the level of military confrontation to form the basis for mutual trust among all the countries in the region."

A submarine ballistic missile is launched at an undisclosed location in North Korea on April 23, 2016 KCNA (KCNA via KNS/AFP/File)

Park, whose country is a stalwart US ally, said she had agreed with Putin "to further strengthen our strategic contacts aimed at resolving the North Korean nuclear problem."

North Korea in August test-fired a submarine-launched missile towards Japan, marking what weapons analysts called a clear step forward for its nuclear strike ambitions.

Current UN resolutions prohibit North Korea from any use of ballistic missile technology, but Pyongyang has continued to carry out numerous launches following its fourth nuclear test in January.

South Korea has responded to Pyongyang's continued launches by agreeing to deploy a sophisticated US anti-missile system -- known as THAAD -- a move that has seriously strained relations with North Korea's main diplomatic ally, China.
Ex-husband, father charged with UK woman's murder in Pakistan

Police in Pakistan charged the ex-husband and father of a British woman believed to have been the victim of an "honour killing" with her murder on Saturday.

Samia Shahid, a dual national, died in July during a visit to her family village in Punjab province. Her second husband, Mukhtar Kazam, claims she was murdered for bringing "dishonour" on her family.

Kazam has said his wife had angered her parents by converting to Shia Islam, his sect, before their wedding.

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 Habib Shaikh (AFP/File)

"We have completed our investigation and concluded that her ex-husband Muhammad Shakeel and father Muhammad Shahid were involved in her killing," said Abubakar Buksh, deputy inspector general of police in the region.

"Her ex-husband has also been charged with raping her," he told AFP.

"The abetment of Samia's mother and sister in the crime has also been proved but they have fled to the UK. We have also arrested the chief of the local police station for helping them escape."

Kazam and Shahid, both dual British-Pakistani citizens, had been married for two years and were living in Dubai.

Shahid's father has denied the charges, claiming his daughter died of natural causes.

Hundreds of women are murdered by relatives in the conservative Muslim nation each year on the pretext of defending what is seen as family honour.
US, China join climate deal in 'turning point' for planet

The United States and China on Saturday formally joined the Paris climate change agreement, with President Barack Obama hailing the accord as the "moment we finally decided to save our planet".

The move by the world's two biggest polluters is a major step forward for the 180-nation deal, which sets ambitious goals for capping global warming and funnelling trillions of dollars to poor countries facing climate catastrophe.

Obama and his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping handed ratification documents to UN chief Ban Ki-moon, who said he was now optimistic the agreement will be in force by the end of this year.

UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon (L) shakes hands with Chinese President Xi Jinping (C) after the US and China formally joined the Paris climate deal on September 3, 2016 Saul Loeb (AFP)

At a ceremony in the Chinese city of Hangzhou, Obama said climate change would "define the contours of this century more dramatically than any other challenge".

History would show that the Paris deal would "ultimately prove to be a turning point", he said, "the moment we finally decided to save our planet".

"There's an American saying, You need to put your money where your mouth is. That's what we're doing."

The Paris accord aims to limit global temperature increases to two degrees centigrade, and will be triggered after it is ratified by at least 55 countries, accounting for 55 percent of global greenhouse gas emissions.

The US and China are together responsible for some 40 percent of the world's emissions, so their participation is crucial.

China's Communist-controlled parliament ratified the agreement earlier Saturday, and President Xi said the Asian giant was "solemnly" committed to the issue.

"Hopefully this will encourage other countries to take similar efforts," he said in Hangzhou, where he is to host the G20 summit of the world's leading developed and emerging economies.

Until Saturday only 24 of the signatories had ratified the accord, including France and many island states threatened by rising sea levels but who only produce a tiny proportion of the world's emissions.

Ban said there would be high-level talks in New York later this month to push more countries to sign up, and told the two leaders they had "added powerful momentum" to efforts to bring the accord into force.

"I am optimistic we can do it before the end of this year."

- 'Powerful signal' -

Climate is one of the few areas where the world's two most powerful countries -- who are at loggerheads on issues ranging from trade disputes, cyberspying and the South China Sea -- are able to find common cause.

Campaigners welcomed the move, with WWF saying they had sent "a very powerful signal that there will be real global action on climate change".

But some environmental groups say that the Paris pledges by China, the US and others fall far short of what is needed to meet the goal of less than two degrees of warming.

"This moment should be seen as a starting point, not the finale, of global action on climate," said Greenpeace policy adviser Li Shuo.

The Paris pact calls for capping global warming at well below two degrees Celsius (3.6 degrees Fahrenheit), and 1.5 C (2.7 F) if possible, compared with pre-industrial levels.

For China, ratifying the agreement fits with Beijing's domestic political agenda of being seen to make efforts to clean up the environment, after years of breakneck industrial development led to soaring air, water and ground pollution.

The scourge is estimated to have caused hundreds of thousands of early deaths, and is the source of mounting public anger.

Under the Paris accord, China has pledged to cut its carbon emissions per unit of GDP by 60-65 percent from 2005 levels by 2030 and increase non-fossil fuel sources in primary energy consumption to about 20 percent.

Neither of those requirements implies a commitment to cut absolute levels of emissions, although China is also obliged to have them peak by "around 2030".

In its Paris commitment, the US promised to cut its own emissions 26-28 percent below 2005 levels by 2025.

During the negotiations over the Paris deal Beijing stressed the concept of "differentiated responsibilities" -- the idea that developed countries should shoulder the lion's share of the burden as they have polluted most since the Industrial Revolution.

For its part the White House is looking for the Paris accord to come into force during Obama's tenure, in part to burnish his climate legacy, but also to ensure it is not derailed by the forthcoming US election.

The administration has been careful to structure the agreement so that it can be enacted by Obama under existing presidential authorities and without Congressional approval.

Policymakers from Tokyo to Stockholm have bitter memories of George W. Bush and his Republican Party refusing to ratify the Kyoto Protocol after it was agreed by Bill Clinton's adminstration.

The United States and China formally joined the Paris climate agreement shortly after US President Barack Obama arrived in Hagzhou for the G20 summit Darek Redos (AFP/File)

US President Barack Obama disembarks from Air Force One upon his arrival at Hangzhou Xiaoshan International Airport on September 3, 2016 Nicolas Asfouri (AFP)

China often orders mass factory closures to clean up the chronically polluted skies of most major cities Fred Dufour (AFP/File)
Taiwan public sector workers protest pension reforms

More than 100,000 people, mostly civil servants, took to Taipei's streets Saturday in protest over planned reforms to the island's struggling pension system, for which they say they are unfairly blamed.

The massive demonstration was the latest challenge to President Tsai Ing-wen's new government, which has seen its popularity ratings fall rapidly since taking the helm in May.

Taiwan's pension schemes vary for different occupations and public sector retirees typically receive more generous packages than workers from other sectors which fall under a different labour pension system.

Thousands of people took to Taipei's streets in protest over planned reforms to the island's struggling pension system Sam Yeh (AFP)

The government has warned that various pension funds are estimated to go bankrupt from as early as 2020 if the system is not overhauled.

Retired civil servants, teachers, servicemen and firefighters shouted "oppose stigmatisation" and "demand dignity" as they gathered in a square near the presidential office in downtown Taipei. Police estimated a turnout of around 117,000 for the rally, the biggest public protest since Tsai took office.

"We are accused of stealing and robbing the country. Our dignity is hurt and we are very angry. Enough is enough," rally organiser Peng Ju-yu told AFP.

Public sector employees do not oppose reforms but they are angry they are being unfairly blamed for bankrupting the pension system, Peng explained.

In the past the government had to offer generous incentives to public sector employees as the starting salaries were low. But public sector jobs have become popular in the past decade amid economic slowdowns.

Tsai has said pension reform is "an unavoidable responsibility of our generation" to protect retirees.

"I support pension reforms but they should be reasonable and transparent. It's not fair to just blame public sector workers for dragging down the country's finances," said 35-year-old policeman Levi Lee.

The opposition Kuomintang (KMT) party warned the government against "stirring up hatred and confrontation."

"We support pension reforms but they should be gradual and with supporting measures. The DPP has caused many problems with its rough methods," said KMT spokesman Chou Chih-wei.

Tsai has seen her support ratings slide to 41 percent from a high of 70 percent following a string of controversies, including the pension reform plans.

"The government should work harder to improve the economy and prevent big corporations from evading taxes instead of going after people who worked all their lives in public services," said protester Kao Shu-rong, a 82-year-old retired civil servant.
Zimbabwe's Mugabe scoffs at death rumours

Zimbabwe's President Robert Mugabe joked Saturday that he had been resurrected as he returned from a foreign trip, mocking rumours that he had died or is critically ill.

"Yes, I was dead. It's true I was dead. I resurrected as I always do once I get back to my country. I am real again," the 92-year-old ruler told reporters at Harare international airport after arriving from Dubai.

His comments came after an online news site reported he had died mid-air on his trip to Dubai.

Zimbabwe's President Robert Mugabe's health has been increasingly under the spotlight in recent years Wilfred Kajese (AFP/File)

Mugabe's health has been increasingly under the spotlight in recent years, particularly after he fell down a staircase after addressing supporters last year.

He has denied ill-health reports and vowed to stand for reelection in 2018, but recent weeks have seen a surge of demonstrations against his rule, which stretches back to Zimbabwe's independence in 1980.

Zimbabwe police announced on Thursday a two-week ban on protests in the capital Harare, after a string of violent demonstrations in recent weeks calling on Mugabe to step down.

In a speech later Saturday Mugabe said his government would not allow violent demonstrations by opposition political parties against his rule.

"We can't allow them to continue on these violent demonstrations unimpeded. No, enough is enough," Mugabe said in an hour-long speech to the youth league of his ruling ZANU-PF party.

"You realise the opposition parties are in a destabilisation mode, aiming to make our country ungovernable. They are pursuing their selfish agenda that targets the undemocratic removal of an elected government from office," he added.

Mugabe also accused the West of helping to finance the opposition.

"Our enemies use money and opposition parties to provoke internal instability and conflicts," he said.

Zimbabwe has suffered an economic crisis since the start of the century, with 90 percent of the population not in formal employment.
Scientists say Singapore Zika is Asian, cases reach 200

Singapore on Saturday reported 215 cases of Zika infections as scientists in the city-state said the virus strain comes from within Asia and was not imported from Brazil.

The Ministry of Health and National Environment Agency said in a joint statement on Saturday evening that of the 26 new cases reported Saturday, 24 were linked to a cluster in the Aljunied district where the country's first locally-transmitted cases were reported.

The statement did not say where the other two cases were from.

Zika is primarily transmitted by the Aedes aegypti mosquitoes, and also by sexual contact Marvin Recinos (AFP/File)

A week after Singapore reported its first case of locally transmitted Zika infection, local scientists say they have completed genetic sequencing of the virus.

"The analysis found that the virus belongs to the Asian lineage and likely evolved from the strain that was already circulating in Southeast Asia. The virus from these two patients was not imported from South America," the statement said.

The Aedes mosquito-borne Zika, which has been detected in 67 countries and territories including hard-hit Brazil, causes only mild symptoms for most people such as fever and a rash.

But pregnant women who catch it can give birth to babies with microcephaly, a deformation marked by abnormally small brains and heads.

Malaysia on Saturday confirmed its first locally transmitted case of Zika infection in a man living in the eastern Malaysian state of Sabah.

This comes two days after the first case on Malaysian soil was reported in a woman who is believed to have contracted it while visiting her daughter in neighbouring Singapore.
More Turkish tanks enter Syria in new front

Turkey on Saturday sent more tanks into the northern Syrian village of al-Rai to fight Islamic State extremists, opening a new front after its intervention last month against the group, state media reported.

The tanks crossed into the village from the Turkish province of Kilis to provide military support to Syrian opposition fighters as part of Turkey's "Euphrates Shield", state-run Anadolu news agency said.

At least 20 tanks, five armoured personnel carriers, trucks and other armoured vehicles crossed the border after noon, Dogan news agency said.

Turkish military tanks are seen during clashes between Turkish soldiers and Islamic State group fighters 20 km west of the Turkish-Syrian border town of Karkamis on September 3, 2016 Bulent Kilic (AFP)

Turkish Firtina howitzers fired on IS targets as the contingent advanced, Dogan said.

Euphrates Shield is Ankara's most ambitious operation during the five-and-a-half-year Syria conflict, backed by the tanks as well as war planes and special forces providing support to rebels.

The goal is to remove IS from its border and to halt the westward advance of the Kurdish People's Protection Militia (YPG).

US President Barack Obama's anti-Islamic State envoy Brett McGurk said on Twitter US forces hit jihadist targets overnight on Friday with a "newly deployed" mobile rocket system close to the Turkish border with Syria.

The US embassy in Ankara said on the social media website it was the "latest step in US-Turkey cooperation in the fight against ISIL (IS)".

Meanwhile, Turkish war planes destroyed two IS targets in Wuguf in southern al-Rai between 10:00 GMT and 10:24 GMT, the Chief of Staff said, quoted by NTV television.

The statement also said two villages were captured by rebels on Saturday in the al-Rai region. In the last few months, al-Rai has repeatedly changed hands between rebels and IS.

Ahmed Othman, a commander in pro-Turkey rebel group Sultan Murad, told AFP in Beirut that his group was now "working on two fronts in al-Rai, south and east, in order to advance towards the villages recently liberated from IS west of Jarabulus".

Othman said it was the first phase of their plans. "We want to clear the border area between al-Rai and Jarabulus from IS, before advancing south towards al-Bab (the last IS bastion in Aleppo) and Manbij (controlled by pro Kurdish forces)."

After the Kurds' success in Manbij, they said they wanted to advance and link their other two "cantons" in northern Syria, Kobane and Afrin.

But Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said on Friday that Turkey would not allow the group to create a "terror corridor".

- Syrian rebels retake villages -

Ankara sees the Kurdish Democratic Union Party (PYD) and the YPG as terror groups acting as the Syrian branch of separatist rebels in Turkey's restive southeast.

Militants from the outlawed Kurdistan Workers' Party were blamed on Saturday for the deaths of 20 Turkish soldiers and a village guardsman after three separate clashes and an attack in a violent 48 hours in the country's east and southeast.

The guard killed was part of a group of local residents who cooperate with Turkish security forces against the PKK, listed as a terror group by Ankara and its Western allies.

In Cologne meanwhile, up to 30,000 people took part in a protest against the Turkish offensive in Syria, German news agency DPA reported, while calling for the PKK leader and one of its founders Abdullah Ocalan to be released from jail.

The intervention into Syria last month caused another complication in what was already a tangled five-year civil war, with Ankara and Washington supporting different proxy groups seeking to retake territory from IS.

The United States has provided training and equipment to the YPG, much to Ankara's chagrin.

Within 14 hours on August 24, Turkish-backed Syrian rebels recaptured the border town of Jarabulus from IS and continued to make gains in villages nearby.

According to the Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, Turkey-backed rebels also took control of eight villages and two farms on both the Jarabulus front and new al-Rai front.

But Othman said the rebels had taken control of nine villages on the newest front and four on the Jarabulus front.

Observatory head Rami Abdel Rahman said that only "25 kilometres was left for the pro Turkey rebels to control the border area between al-Rai and Jarabulus".

Turkey has also carried out strikes against the YPG north of the town of Manbij, which the Kurds seized last month.

Turkish soldiers drive back to Turkey from the Syrian-Turkish border town of Jarabulus on September 2, 2016 Bulent Kilic (AFP)

Smoke rises near the Syrian border town of Jarabulus on September 1, 2016 Bulent Kilic (AFP)
Libya pro-govt forces attack last IS bastion in Sirte

Forces loyal to Libya's unity government launched a new attack Saturday on diehards of the Islamic State jihadist group pinned down in the coastal city of Sirte.

Backed by weeks of US air strikes, fighters loyal to the Government of National Accord (GNA) have recaptured nearly all of what had been the jihadists' main stronghold in North Africa.

The city's fall would be a huge setback to IS's efforts to expand its self-proclaimed "caliphate" beyond Syria and Iraq where the jihadists have also suffered losses.

Forces loyal to Libya's Government of National Accord (GNA) gather around a tank, as they attack the last positions of the Islamic State group's (IS) jihadists on September 3, 2016 Mahmud Turkia (AFP)

"The fighting has begun. We are attacking the last Daesh positions in district three" where the jihadists are cornered, a GNA fighter told AFP, using an Arabic acronym for IS.

The GNA forces media centre said the new push had begun to retake Sirte, located 450 kilometres (280 miles) east of the capital Tripoli.

"Our forces are advancing inside the areas where Daesh is, in district three, and so far have taken control of" two banks and a hotel, the media centre said on its Facebook page.

It also said they had thwarted an attempted suicide bombing.

Ten members of the GNA forces were killed and 60 wounded in Saturday's clashes, said a doctor at hospital in Misrata, a city half-way between the Sirte and Tripoli where the casualties are taken.

The loyalists used tanks and heavy artillery to dislodge snipers posted in apartment blocks before troops advanced on foot, said an AFP journalist in the city.

Ambulances earlier streamed out of Sirte -- hometown of dead dictator Moamer Kadhafi -- headed for Misrata.

The fighting eased after sunset, the journalist said, with sporadic gunfire on the ground and military aircraft heard overhead.

Since the offensive against Sirte began on May 12, more than 400 fighters loyal to the government have been killed and about 2,500 wounded.

It is not yet known how many IS militants have been killed, but the GNA media centre said the bodies of 10 jihadists had been found in a school in district one, which was being combed after being retaken on Monday.

The forces loyal to the UN-backed GNA had said last weekend they were preparing to "liberate" the entire city after seizing several IS positions, including its headquarters.

On Wednesday, GNA head Fayez al-Sarraj visited Sirte for the first time since loyalist forces launched their offensive more than three months ago.

- US air raids -

Sarraj and some of his ministers toured former front lines as well as the Ouagadougou conference centre which IS had used as its base.

"We will continue to chase, with the help of God, the Daesh remnants and strike them wherever they may be in our country," Sarraj said this week.

The capture of Sirte by IS last year sparked fears the jihadists would use it as a springboard for attacks on Europe.

The Sunni extremists took advantage of the chaos in oil-rich Libya after the 2011 uprising to seize Sirte in June 2015, hoisting their black flag above the city.

The offensive on the ground has been backed by US air power.

On Friday, the United States Africa Command said that since the US campaign began on August 1, US drones, helicopters and bombers had carried out a total of 108 air strikes against the jihadists in Sirte.

It said that on August 31, targets including five "enemy fighting positions" and a vehicle bomb were hit.

Fewer than 200 IS jihadists remain in Sirte, Pentagon spokesman Captain Jeff Davis said on Thursday, and they are essentially surrounded by GNA forces and the sea.

The GNA has been struggling to assert its control over all of Libya.

France on Friday urged Sarraj to find a compromise with the Tobruk-based parliament in the far east of the country, which does not recognise the unity government.

"He must find a compromise with the Tobruk parliament and General (Khalifa) Haftar," who controls the armed forces in the east, Foreign Minister Jean-Marc Ayrault said in Paris.

Forces loyal to Libya's Government of National Accord (GNA) gather around a tank, as they attack the last positions of the Islamic State group's jihadists in the area known as District Three in the west of the coastal city of Sirte Mahmud Turkia (AFP)

Members of the forces loyal to Libya's UN-backed Government of National Accord (GNA) fire their weapons at enemy positions in the coastal city of Sirte Mahmud Turkia (AFP/File)
Trump surrogate apologizes for overstating credentials

A black televangelist who has been a campaign surrogate for Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump has admitted he "overstated" his accomplishments in a biography posted on his church's website.

Mark Burns walked off the set of a CNN interview that aired Saturday after being confronted with questions about claims made on the website about his educational background and military service.

The website page has since been pulled down.

Mark Burns speaks during a rally for Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump in Austin, Texas on August 23, 2016 Suzanne Cordeiro (AFP)

Burns issued a statement Friday declaring he was being attacked "because I am a black man supporting Donald Trump for president."

He admitted, however, that "as a young man starting my church in Greenville, South Carolina, I overstated several details of my biography because I was worried I wouldn't be taken seriously as a new pastor."

In the CNN interview, Burns acknowledged he had not graduated from North Greenville University as stated on the church website page nor was he admitted to a historically black fraternity, Kappa Alpha Psi, as claimed.

Other discrepancies raised in the CNN interview were that Burns served in the South Carolina National Guard, not in the army reserves as the website said, and that he had enrolled but never advanced in a master's program at Anderson Theological Seminary.

Burns spoke at the Republican National Convention in July on behalf of Trump, and has since made appearances as a surrogate for the New York billionaire, who is currently on a charm offensive to win over black voters.
At 82, Jane Goodall embraces modern technology to save planet

Best known for rolling with chimpanzees in the African wild and revealing the apes' true nature as never before, Jane Goodall is now embracing modern technology in her mission to save the planet.

And at 82, the British primatologist said she has more energy than ever, particularly due to her work with young people around the world.

"I do have hope for the future, even though I think I have seen as much as anybody of the harm that we are inflicting on this planet," Goodall told attendees at the International Union for Conservation of Nature's World Conservation Congress in Honolulu.

Jane Goodall signs autographs at the International Union for Conservation of Nature World Conservation Congress in Honolulu, Hawaii, on September 2, 2016 Kerry Sheridan (AFP)

"We are coming up with new technology all the time that will enable us to get in greater harmony with nature."

Goodall rose to fame for her pioneering, up-close study of the behavior of chimpanzees in the 1960s.

She was the first researcher to give names -- rather than numbers -- to the apes, and was the first to observe them using tools, a capacity that was until then thought to belong only to humans.

Now, her Jane Goodall Institute is using satellite imagery, digital mapping and NASA technology to encourage large-scale conservation projects in the forests of Africa.

The initiative, led by her co-worker Lilian Pintea, has allowed people living in Gombe National Park in Tanzania to see high-resolution digital maps of their forests from above for the first time.

Seeing how these landscapes have changed since the 1970s, with trees dwindling and important chimp habitat lost, has encouraged them to protect their forests, better manage their own resources and replant trees, he said.

"The reason why this change happened was because we merged and integrated this perspective from above with the local understanding about the nature of the ecology in the right context at the community level," Pintea said.

Goodall herself said she is not involved with technical details -- that is all handled by Pintea, an expert in mapping tools who previously worked at the World Bank.

But she said she is in awe of the power of US space agency technology to make connections with the most primitive cultures.

"I find this a very fascinating juxtaposition of ideas," she said.

- Inspired by youth -

Goodall said she travels 300 days of the year, and is inspired by meeting young people, particularly through a program she began in 1991 with a dozen students in Tanzania.

Called Roots and Shoots, the program encourages kids to come up with ideas to help people, animals and the environment, and is now a major movement in nearly 100 countries.

"As I travel around the world," she said, "I meet more and more young people who seem to have a new determination that they are going to take over and they are going to make change."

She also touted the power of social media to connect people around environmental causes.

"Social media used in the right way can bring together people around the world in unprecedented numbers," she said.

Goodall spoke at several sessions during the IUCN World Conservation Congress this weekend, opening at least one of them by stepping to the microphone and mimicking the greeting call of a wild chimpanzee.

The packed room cheered and applauded in response, and a few women wiped away tears.

- 'Trump doesn't' -

She is also featured in a new movie about the perils of climate change, called "Time to Choose," written and directed by Academy Award winner Charles Ferguson.

"You can see how far Jane has come out of her comfort zone," said the film's executive director Jeff Horowitz, remarking on Goodall's move from the wilderness to the forefront of modern technology.

Goodall "is generally known to strike up a conversation with everyone around her," he added.

"Jane's calling in her life is to help people understand what is important about our home."

Seated next to Horowitz as he introduced a screening of the film, Goodall, who is a vegetarian, urged people to eat sustainably and consider how much damage meat-eating incurs on the planet.

She also weighed in on the US presidential race.

As Horowitz spoke about his belief that most Americans understand that climate change is a real problem, Goodall interjected, "Trump doesn't."

"Sorry?" he said.

"Trump doesn't," she repeated, drawing more cheers from the crowd.

Soon, she opened the floor to questions. Someone asked if she ever found it difficult to face the enormous task at hand.

"I'm finding it easier to get more passionate," she answered.

"I speak from the point of view of being 82. Each year I live, I am closer to the end," Goodall added.

"There is such a lot to do. I'm absolutely galvanized to use my remaining time."

The Jane Goodall Institute is using satellite imagery, digital mapping and NASA technology to encourage large-scale conservation projects in the forests of Africa Kerry Sheridan (AFP)
Army retakes central Mali town from jihadists

The Malian army Saturday regained control of a central town briefly held by jihadists, UN and Malian security sources told AFP, but the unnamed armed group allegedly left with a local official they were keeping hostage.

Boni is home to several thousand people and was seized by unidentified jihadists on Friday afternoon until the early hours of Saturday.

The militants fired on administrative buildings and set fire to the mayor's office, leading the army to recall its troops from the vicinity.

The militants fired on administrative buildings and set fire to the mayor's office, leading the army to recall its troops from the vicinity Souleymane Ag Anara (AFP/File)

"The jihadists left Boni in the night and today around 8am the Malian army came back to take control of the town," a Malian security source told AFP.

A source close to the UN mission in the country, which is known by the acronym MINUSMA, said two helicopters were providing cover over the town, "to support the Malian army, who are now in control."

Meanwhile an administrative source in the town said the jihadists "kidnapped a Boni community official" accused of giving information to the security forces by phone.

Ongoing international military intervention since January 2013 has driven Islamist fighters away from major urban centres which they had briefly controlled, but large tracts of Mali are still not controlled by domestic or foreign troops.
Bangladesh hangs top Islamist tycoon for war crimes: minister

Bangladesh hanged a wealthy tycoon and top financial backer of its largest Islamist party late Saturday for war crimes, the country's law and justice minister said.

Mir Quasem Ali, a key leader of the Jamaat-e-Islami party, was hanged at a high security prison outside the capital Dhaka after he was convicted of offences committed during the 1971 war of independence against Pakistan, Anisul Huq told AFP.

"The execution took pace at 10:35 pm (1635GMT)," he said.
Turkish aid sent to Gaza after Israel deal approved: official

Turkish aid for the Gaza Strip has been sent from the country's southern coast for the second time since relations were normalised between Israel and Ankara in June, a Turkish official said Saturday.

A humanitarian aid ship bound for southern Israel's Ashdod port left Mersin on Friday, the official said, "the second major shipment of humanitarian aid to Gaza since an agreement was reached".

The shipment is the first since Turkish lawmakers ratified the deal to normalise ties between the two countries last month.

A truck loaded with aid parcels provided by Turkey waits at the Kerem Shalom crossing near Rafah after it entered the southern Gaza Strip from Israel on July 4, 2016 SAid Khatib (AFP/File)

Under the deal, Israel will pay Turkey $20 million (17.7 million euros) in compensation for a botched Israeli commando raid on a Gaza-bound Turkish aid ship in 2010 that left 10 Turks dead.

The official, who did not wish to be named, said Ankara had sent 100 wheelchairs, 1,000 bicycles, 100,000 backpacks and stationery kits, 300,000 pieces of clothing and 350,000 nappies.

The shipment also contained 1,288 tons of flour, 170 tons of rice, 64 tons of sugar, 95 tons of vegetable oil, the official said.

"We expect the items to be distributed to the people of Gaza before the upcoming Islamic holiday," the official said, referring to the Eid al-Adha holiday, around September 12.

The first shipment reached Gaza on July 4 just in time for the Muslim Eid celebrations marking the end of Ramadan fasting.
Trump courts black voters with visit to Detroit church

Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump struck a compassionate tone when addressing black churchgoers in Detroit Saturday, part of a late bid to soften the edges of an abrasive presidential campaign weeks before the US election.

The visit to Great Faith Ministries International, in the heart of a city famous as a symbol of economic and urban decline, was his first to an African-American church, according to the pastor.

Trump has faced complaints of racial insensitivity, with his provocative anti-immigrant rhetoric, his false accusations that President Barack Obama was born outside the United States, and an aggressive America-first platform seen as catering to white voters.

Protesters try to enter the property of Great Faith Ministries Church in Detroit before a visit by US Republican Presidential candidate Donald Trump on September 3, 2016 in Detroit, Michigan. Jeff Kowalsky (AFP)

While the Republican nominee called for "a civil rights agenda for our time," he stopped short of outlining policy specifics on how to address inner city poverty and the challenges facing minorities.

"Our nation is too divided," he said, setting aside his usual stridency, and adopting a humble tone.

He told the audience that he came to listen to their concerns, expressing sympathy for the out-of-work young men he had seen on boarded-up Detroit streets.

"Nothing is more sad than when we sideline young black men with unfulfilled potential, tremendous potential," Trump said, speaking from notes.

"Our whole country loses out without the energy of these folks. We're one nation. And when anyone hurts, we all hurt together," he said.

Trump was received courteously and rewarded with occasional bursts of applause as he set about trying to allay the deep skepticism of African-Americans who have swung overwhelmingly behind his rival, Hillary Clinton.

Blacks account for 12 percent of the US electorate, and Trump, who trails in the polls with 66 days before the election, recently has sought to broaden his appeal.

- 'Devil's in the pulpit' -

Before the speech, protesters chanting "Dump Trump" tried to breach police barriers to gain entrance.

"The devil's in the pulpit!" shouted Wyoman Mitchell, one of several dozen protesters who were pushed back by horse-mounted police and other officers in the tense encounter.

Rick McGowan, who works in Detroit schools, described Trump's outreach here as "an insult to black people."

"He's never come to our rescue," McGowan said. "Why are we supposed to believe him now?"

Church pastor Bishop Wayne Jackson had invited New York billionaire Trump to attend the fellowship service.

Trump sat for an interview with the pastor that will be aired Thursday, according to Jackson's Impact Network.

He also took a short tour with Ben Carson, a retired African-American neurosurgeon and former Republican presidential rival, who showed Trump the modest Detroit home in which he grew up.

- 'Nation too divided' -

The church appearance contrasted sharply with Trump's previous crude appeals for black support.

"What do you have to lose?" he posed nearly two weeks ago, rhetorically addressing African-Americans in a speech before a white audience in Ohio.

Trump has been faulted for largely ignoring the black community during his campaign.

But in Detroit, he extolled black contributions to America and the moralizing force of black churches.

"I am here today to listen to your message and I hope my presence here will also help your voice to reach new audiences in our country," Trump said.

"We talk past each other, not to each other and those who seek office do not do enough to step into the community and learn what is going on."

- Detroit -

The African-American electorate traditionally leans heavily Democratic, and Detroit has the highest percentage of black residents -- more than 80 percent -- of any large US city.

Many neighborhoods have been hollowed out by decades of "white flight," in which Caucasian families left downtown and midtown for more affluent suburbs.

Recognizing that the community has suffered from discrimination, Trump stressed that "there are many wrongs that must still be made right. They will be made right."

But Detroit Mayor Mike Duggan, a Clinton supporter, faulted Trump for not putting forward any tangible solutions.

"If you want to be sincere, tell us specifically what you're going to do, and that's what we're still waiting for," Duggan told CNN.

Small business owner and Trump backer Carletta Griffin was in the church, and said his compassion was "genuine, it was authentic, and it was warm."

Fellow African-Americans need to "change the lens in our perspective," she said, and recognize Trump's sincerity.

But Denaria Thorn, who also attended the service, said she remained opposed to Trump and had been "expecting an apology" for harsh rhetoric he has delivered in the past.

"He has a whole lot of making up to do," Thorn said.

Trump critics have accused him of flirting with racism and embracing positions that have lured white nationalists to support him, including former Ku Klux Klan leader David Duke.

Clinton has noted that as a young developer, Trump was sued for failing to rent to black and Latino tenants, and by black employees of his casinos.

Protesters march outside of Great Faith Ministries Church in Detroit before a visit by US Republican Presidential candidate Donald Trump in Detroit, Michigan Jeff Kowalsky (AFP)

Detroit Police officers on horseback try to disperse protesters that were trying to enter the property of Great Faith Ministries Church in Detroit before a visit by US Republican Presidential candidate Donald Trump in Detroit, Michigan Jess Kowalsky (AFP)
Five dead in first east Niger Boko Haram attack in 3 months: governor

Five villagers were killed and two others wounded in a Boko Haram attack in eastern Niger, the first in three months carried out there by the jihadist group, a local governor said Saturday.

Governor of the Diffa border region, Dan Dano Mahaman Laouali, told Niger public radio the attack took place on Friday in Toumour.

It is the first attack in the east since early June when Boko Haram launched a major offensive in Bosso, a town in Niger near the border with Nigeria and Chad, before being pushed back by the military.

Nigerien soldiers patroling near Bosso, Niger Issouf Sanogo (AFP/File)

The attackers on Friday, who battled with locals armed with bows and arrows, also burned several homes before fleeing toward Nigeria after the violence.
Mali defence minister fired after jihadists seize town: officials

Mali's defence minister Tieman Hubert Coulibaly was fired Saturday, officials told AFP, a day after jihadists briefly took control of a town in the country's centre.

A decree released by the government stated his post had been revoked after militants stepped up attacks in the country's centre in recent months, targeting government and military installations.

A senior official in the Malian defence ministry told AFP it came following "the latest waves of insecurity in central Mali," referring to jihadists' seizure of the town of Boni on Friday and an attack on a central Mali military base in Nampala that killed several soldiers in July.

Malian Defence Minister Tieman Hubert Coulibaly pictured in 2013 was fired after jihadists briefly took control of a town in the country's centre John Thys (AFP/File)

The Malian army on Saturday regained control of Boni, which is home to several thousand people, from the jihadists who had escaped with a local official as a hostage.

The militants fired on administrative buildings and set fire to the mayor's office, leading the army to recall its troops from the vicinity.

"The jihadists left Boni in the night and today around 8am (0800 GMT) the Malian army came back to take control of the town," a Malian security source told AFP.

A source close to the UN mission in the country, which is known by the acronym MINUSMA, said two helicopters were providing cover over the town, "to support the Malian army, who are now in control."

However, an administrative source in the town said the jihadists "kidnapped a Boni community official" whom they accused of giving information to the security forces.

Ongoing international military intervention since January 2013 has driven Islamist fighters away from major urban centres which they had briefly controlled, but large tracts of Mali are still not controlled by domestic or foreign troops.

Jihadist groups early last year began to carry out attacks in central Mali as well as the long-troubled north.

Ansar Dine claimed responsibility for the July 19 attack on Nampala, in which 17 soldiers were killed, 37 were wounded and six were reported missing, according to the official toll.
Young activists take on China in key Hong Kong election

Young Hong Kong independence activists calling for a complete break from China stood for the first time Sunday in city-wide legislative elections, the biggest polls since mass pro-democracy protests in 2014.

They were fighting for seats in the Legislative Council (LegCo) as concerns grow that Beijing is tightening its grip on the semi-autonomous city.

Although polls were supposed to close at 10:30 pm (1430 GMT) there were still queues at some stations after the deadline, with predictions of a record turnout.

A vote for members of the Legislative Council, Hong Kong's lawmaking body, is the most important poll since major pro-democracy rallies brought parts of the city to a standstill in 2014, calling for political reforms Anthony Wallace (AFP/File)

Before the vote, some polls forecast victories for the young independence activists, but that could split the vote for the pro-democracy camp -- and end up playing into the hands of pro-Beijing parties.

Most established pro-democracy politicians do not support the notion of independence and may lose seats to voters who now favour more radical new groups.

If the democrats lose just four seats overall, they will forfeit the one-third voting bloc they need to veto bills, stacking the already skewed legislature even more in favour of Beijing.

Fears that Hong Kong's freedoms are disappearing were fanned after five city booksellers known for salacious titles about Beijing politicians disappeared, resurfacing in detention on the mainland.

That fuelled the fire of the "localist" movement, which is seeking distance from China after the failure of the 2014 rallies to win political reform.

Now some young campaigners are demanding outright independence, others the chance for Hong Kong to determine its own future in a referendum.

The more strident independence activists -- slammed by Beijing and Hong Kong authorities as acting illegally -- were banned by the government from running in Sunday's election, a move that sparked anger.

Political analyst Joseph Cheng says he expects new faces in the legislature.

"This election is very much characterised by an inter-generational change of politicians and political leaders," he told AFP.

One 30-year-old voter who gave her name as Sandy said she favoured independence.

"This is a very critical time... we are here to ensure a voice can still be heard," she said.

Hong Kong was handed back to China by Britain in 1997 under an "one country, two systems" agreement intended to protect its freedoms and partial autonomy for 50 years. However, many young campaigners believe that deal has failed.

- Pro-Beijing bias -

But while victory for anti-China activists would be a major coup, many still feel they are chasing an impossible cause.

Student voter Wilson Vai, 21, said he supported the pro-democracy camp but felt that calling for independence was going too far.

"It is too idealistic and unrealistic," he told AFP.

Even if localists did win seats, with their numbers still small they would not tip the balance in a system where it is almost impossible for the anti-Beijing camp ever to gain a majority.

While 40 of the Legislative Council's 70 members are directly elected by the public, 30 are selected by small voting blocs from special interest groups representing a range of businesses and social sectors. Those seats go predominantly to pro-Beijing candidates.

Hong Kong's unpopular leader Leung Chun-ying, who is seen by critics as a Beijing stooge, described the elections as "democratic" as he cast his vote.

Several political opponents protested outside the polling station, with one throwing a tuna sandwich towards Leung -- saying it symbolised the fact that elderly people cannot afford to eat breakfast in a city where the wealth gap is widening.

Entrenched divisions have led to a Legislative Council often hamstrung by filibustering and point-scoring.

With soaring flat prices and low salaries causing serious concern, many frustrated residents say it is time to put politics aside and focus on struggling communities.

"I just hope that people can sit down and talk without going radical," said a 72-year-old voter surnamed Yau.

There was anger among some at the polls who said there had been irregularities, including having their names crossed off lists when they hadn't voted, local media reported.

The count begins soon after polls close and results are expected early Monday.

Almost two million people -- 52.6 percent of the electorate -- had voted by 9:30 pm.

Hong Kong's Chief Executive Leung Chun-ying arrives to cast his vote for the legislative council elections, on September 4, 2016 Anthony Wallace (AFP)

Hong Kong's election is only partially democratic and it is almost impossible for the anti-Beijing camp ever to gain a majority Anthony Wallace (AFP)
Officer, suspect shot and killed in New Mexico town

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP)  A police officer who authorities say attempted to chase down a 38-year-old felon with three active arrest warrants was fatally shot by the suspect Friday after an exchange of gunfire in a southern New Mexico town.

The suspect, Joseph Moreno, also was killed in the morning shootout near a trailer park in Alamogordo, police said at a news conference. The desert town of about 31,000 people is home to the White Sands National Monument and Holloman Air Force Base.

Police identified the slain officer as Clint Corvinus, a four-year veteran who graduated from high school in Alamogordo. Authorities said he is survived by his parents, girlfriend and an 8-year-old daughter.

This undated photo released by the Alamogordo Police Departmet, shows Alamogordo police Officer Clint Corvinus. Corvinus, 33, was shot and killed Friday, Sept. 2, 2016, in Alamogordo, N.M., after he encountered a 38-year-old man with three active warrants out for his arrest and the suspect opened fire. (Alamogordo Police Department via AP)

"I am again so very saddened to see that yet another courageous law enforcement officer has been killed in the line of duty," Gov. Susana Martinez said in a statement. "The violence against our police officers has to end, and we must do everything we can to stand up for those who put their lives on the line every single day to protect us."

Corvinus' death marks the second fatal shooting of a police officer in a rural area of the state in less than a month. Three weeks ago, authorities said an Ohio fugitive gunned down Officer Jose Chavez during a traffic stop in Hatch, a village about 100 miles west of Alamogordo that's known for its green chile crop.

The suspect in that shooting, Jesse Hanes, was taken into custody after a dramatic car pursuit, a carjacking and the shooting of a bystander whose car Hanes stole, police said.

The case and other recent events have led to renewed calls from Martinez, a Republican and former prosecutor, to reinstate New Mexico's death penalty. Lawmakers repealed it in 2009 before Martinez took office.

The governor said she would back legislation for capital punishment when the Legislature convenes in January.

In the last legislative session, prior attacks on police  including the May and October 2015 shooting deaths of officers in Albuquerque and suburban Rio Rancho  galvanized a largely unsuccessful push by Republicans in the state Legislature for several crime measures, including one that aimed to make targeted assaults on officers punishable under the state hate crimes statute.

Within hours of the shooting Friday, Rep. Nate Gentry, an Albuquerque Republican and the state's House Majority leader, issued a statement that called for laws that "put  and keep  the violent criminals who terrorize our communities behind bars."

Flags were flown at half-staff at the Alamogordo police department after the shootout and mourners left flowers outside the building as law enforcement and members of the state's congressional delegation issued statements in support of the fallen officer's colleagues and families.

Corvinus, on patrol as a field training officer Friday morning, was with another officer when they encountered Moreno. He led the officers on a foot pursuit in an alley before gunfire erupted, state police said.

Moreno, who state police say was armed, was pronounced dead at the scene. Corvinus, 33, was taken to a hospital, where he was pronounced dead at 9:18 a.m., police said.

State Police said in a statement that Moreno had a lengthy criminal history that included arrests for armed robbery, aggravated burglary, and multiple counts of being a felon in possession of a firearm.

Online court records showed he was scheduled for trial in December on drug charges. His outstanding warrants stemmed from charges related to drug trafficking and driving with a suspended license.

A booking photo from the city of Alamogordo showed Moreno with dramatic facial tattoos, including one across jaw that resembled the teeth of skeleton.

this undated booking photo provided by Alamogordo Police Department shows Joseph Moreno. Police say Moreno was killed when gunfire erupted Friday, Sept. 2, 2016, in Alamogordo, N.M. Alamogordo police Officer Clint Corvinus was also killed. (Alamogordo Police Department via AP)

Alamogordo, N.M., Police Chief Daron Syling speaks at a press conference outside police headquarters Friday, Sept. 2, 2016. He said 33-year-old Alamogordo Police Officer Clint Corvinus died from his injuries at Gerald Champion Regional Medical Center after being struck by gunfire. Authorities say Corvinus pursued a 38-year-old man with three active arrest warrants and was fatally shot by the suspect Friday after gunfire erupted in a residential area of Alamagordo. The suspect was also killed. (Jacqueline Devine/Alamogordo Daily News via AP)

Alamogordo, N.M., Police Chief Daron Syling speaks at a press conference outside police headquarters Friday, Sept. 2, 2016. He said 33-year-old Alamogordo Police Officer Clint Corvinus died from his injuries at Gerald Champion Regional Medical Center after being struck by gunfire. Authorities say Corvinus pursued a 38-year-old man with three active arrest warrants and was fatally shot by the suspect Friday after gunfire erupted in a residential area of Alamagordo. The suspect was also killed. (Jacqueline Devine/Alamogordo Daily News via AP)

Residents add to a sidewalk memorial outside Alamogordo, N.M., police headquarters Friday, Sept. 2, 2016. Chief Daron Syling said 33-year-old Alamogordo Police Officer Clint Corvinus died from his injuries at Gerald Champion Regional Medical Center after being struck by gunfire. Authorities say Corvinus pursued a 38-year-old man with three active arrest warrants and was fatally shot by the suspect Friday after gunfire erupted in a residential area of Alamagordo. The suspect was also killed. (Jacqueline Devine/Alamogordo Daily News via AP)

Residents stand outside Alamogordo, N.M., police headquarters Friday, Sept. 2, 2016. Chief Daron Syling said 33-year-old Alamogordo Police Officer Clint Corvinus died from his injuries at Gerald Champion Regional Medical Center after being struck by gunfire. Authorities say Corvinus pursued a 38-year-old man with three active arrest warrants and was fatally shot by the suspect Friday after gunfire erupted in a residential area of Alamagordo. The suspect was also killed. (Jacqueline Devine/Alamogordo Daily News via AP)
Ohio middle schoolers treated after eating extra-hot peppers

WEST MILTON, Ohio (AP)  Officials say several dozen Ohio middle schoolers apparently ate extra-hot peppers brought in by a student and were treated by medics after some had adverse reactions.

The Dayton Daily News (http://bit.ly/2c0sb0Y ) reports emergency crews went to Milton-Union Middle School at lunchtime Friday after students ingested suspected ghost peppers. Five children were taken to hospitals.

School Superintendent Brad Ritchey says some students had teary eyes, blotchy skin or hives. A 911 caller reported two students vomiting.

Eighth-grader Cody Schmidt said he tried a pepper provided by a student he didn't know, then got worried when others nearby had physical reactions to the peppers.

How did they handle it? He says: "We all drank like 10 cartons of milk."

It wasn't clear if the student who provided the peppers will face discipline.

___
Board critiques Utah police shooting that wounded teen

SALT LAKE CITY (AP)  Salt Lake City Police officers did not act within policy when they shot and critically wounded a 17-year-old Somali refugee, the department's Civilian Review Board said in a report released Friday.

Police were trying to protect a man that Abdi Mohamed had hit with a metal mop handle, but the Feb. 27 incident didn't appear critical when police used deadly force, the board said.

Neither Mohamed nor the victim "were showing any sense of urgency in this last confrontation," according to the report that cited video footage of the incident.

Those videos have not been made public.

The board's reports are among many things Salt Lake City Police Chief Mike Brown takes into consideration when he makes final decisions on whether incidents like the shooting are warranted under policy and if anyone should be disciplined, according to a department statement.

The panel's conclusion runs counter to the determination made by Salt Lake County District Attorney Sim Gill. He found in August the officers were legally justified because police believed he was about to seriously injure or kill a man with a metal mop handle.

The officers yelled multiple times for Mohamed to drop the weapon as he and another man attacked the victim, but he refused, Gill said.

Mohamed's family has disputed that account, saying he misunderstood police commands. His lawyer Ryan Hancey didn't have immediate comment on the board's findings Friday.

Mohamed was hospitalized in a medically induced coma but survived. Now 18, he's used a wheelchair after being released.

The fight that sparked the shooting started after a proposed drug deal, according to police. Gill has refused to release body camera footage, citing robbery and drug charges filed against Mohamed.

The civilian review board acknowledged that officers had reason to believe the light, hollow rod was actually a heavier, more dangerous pipe or sword. The victim received welts and bruises.
Guatemalan ex-Supreme Court judge jailed in corruption case

GUATEMALA CITY (AP)  A former Guatemalan Supreme Court justice has been jailed on suspicion of illicit association and influence-trafficking linked to a corruption case.

Investigators allege that Douglas Charchal Ramos improperly influenced court decisions in favor of a container terminal company. He denies the accusations.

Judge Miguel Angel Galvez ordered Charchal sent to prison Friday, the same day he resigned as a magistrate.
PICTURED: Vandalized posters ahead of Hong Kong's elections

HONG KONG (AP)  Hong Kongers are heading to the polls Sunday in the first major election since 2014 pro-democracy street protests.

A new crop of radical activists are challenging both pro-Beijing rivals and Hong Kong's mainstream pro-democracy parties for seats in the Legislative Council, or Legco.

A series of vandalized posters are a sign that the elections are the most contentious since the 1997 British handover of the city to China.

In this Friday, Sept. 2, 2016, photo, an election banner for radical activist candidate, from left, Edward Leung, Baggio Leung Chung-hang and Li Tung-sing are seen defaced days before legislative elections, in Hong Kong. Hong Kongers are heading to the polls Sunday in the first major election since 2014 pro-democracy street protests. A new crop of radical activists are challenging both pro-Beijing rivals and Hong Kong's mainstream pro-democracy parties for seats in the Legislative Council. A series of vandalized posters are a sign that the elections are the most contentious since the 1997 British handover of the city to China. (AP Photo/Kin Cheung)

Many of the candidates in the defaced posters are from the new wave of pro-democracy activists who, unlike their older established mainstream counterparts, reject the idea that Hong Kong is a part of China and support more confrontational tactics and radical action in their fight for full democracy from Beijing.

A key theme of this year's vote is a growing call for independence from China. Such talk was once considered unthinkable but has become commonplace as residents fret over Beijing's tightening. Some of the more radical candidates want Hong Kong-focused localism and others desire full autonomy.

Pro-democracy candidates agree on the need for direct elections for Hong Kong's top leader, currently hand-picked by a committee of mostly pro-Beijing elites. Chinese communist leaders had promised to allow elections but insisted on screening out unfriendly candidates, a stance that sparked the 2014 protests and left Hong Kong's democratic development in limbo.

In this Aug. 29, 2016 photo, tape holds together an election campaign banner for radical activist candidate Lau Siu-lai, which was slashed days ahead of legislative elections, in Hong Kong. A new crop of radical activists are challenging both pro-Beijing rivals and Hong Kong's mainstream pro-democracy parties for seats in the Legislative Council. A series of vandalized posters are a sign that the elections are the most contentious since the 1997 British handover of the city to China. (AP Photo/Kin Cheung)

In this Aug. 29, 2016 photo, an election campaign banner for radical activist candidate Yau Wai-ching is seen defaced days before a Sep. 4 vote, in Hong Kong. A new crop of radical activists are challenging both pro-Beijing rivals and Hong Kong's mainstream pro-democracy parties for seats in the Legislative Council. A series of vandalized posters are a sign that the elections are the most contentious since the 1997 British handover of the city to China. (AP Photo/Kin Cheung)

In this Thursday, Sept. 1, 2016, photo, an election campaign banner for radical pro-democracy candidate Leung Kwok-hung, known as "Long Hair," is seen defaced and slashed apart in Hong Kong. Hong Kongers are heading to the polls Sunday in the first major election since 2014 pro-democracy street protests. A new crop of radical activists are challenging both pro-Beijing rivals and Hong Kong's mainstream pro-democracy parties for seats in the Legislative Council. A series of vandalized posters are a sign that the elections are the most contentious since the 1997 British handover of the city to China. (AP Photo/Kin Cheung)

In this Aug. 29, 2016 photo, an election campaign banner for pro-democracy candidate Lee Wing-hon is seen defaced days before a Sep. 4 vote, in Hong Kong. Hong Kongers are heading to the polls Sunday in the first major election since 2014 pro-democracy street protests. A new crop of radical activists are challenging both pro-Beijing rivals and Hong Kong's mainstream pro-democracy parties for seats in the Legislative Council. A series of vandalized posters are a sign that the elections are the most contentious since the 1997 British handover of the city to China. (AP Photo/Kin Cheung)

In this Aug. 31, 2016 photo, election campaign banners for mainstream pro-democracy election candidate James To, front, and pro-Beijing candidate Starry Lee are seen defaced and slashed apart days before a Sep. 4 vote, in Hong Kong. Hong Kongers are heading to the polls Sunday in the first major election since 2014 pro-democracy street protests. A new crop of radical activists are challenging both pro-Beijing rivals and Hong Kong's mainstream pro-democracy parties for seats in the Legislative Council. A series of vandalized posters are a sign that the elections are the most contentious since the 1997 British handover of the city to China. (AP Photo/Kin Cheung)

In this Friday, Sept. 2, 2016, photo, an election campaign banner for radical activist candidate Gary Fan is seen defaced days before legislative elections, in Hong Kong. Hong Kongers are heading to the polls Sunday in the first major election since 2014 pro-democracy street protests. A new crop of radical activists are challenging both pro-Beijing rivals and Hong Kong's mainstream pro-democracy parties for seats in the Legislative Council. A series of vandalized posters are a sign that the elections are the most contentious since the 1997 British handover of the city to China. (AP Photo/Kin Cheung)

In this Aug. 31, 2016 photo, an election campaign banner for candidate Ricky Wong, a local tycoon, is seen slashed and spray painted days before legislative elections, in Hong Kong. Hong Kongers are heading to the polls Sunday in the first major election since 2014 pro-democracy street protests. A new crop of radical activists are challenging both pro-Beijing rivals and Hong Kong's mainstream pro-democracy parties for seats in the Legislative Council. A series of vandalized posters are a sign that the elections are the most contentious since the 1997 British handover of the city to China. (AP Photo/Kin Cheung)

In this Aug. 31, 2016, photo, an election campaign banner for mainstream pro-democracy election candidates Ted Hui Chi-fung, left, and James To are defaced with spray paint days before legislative elections, in Hong Kong. Hong Kongers are heading to the polls Sunday in the first major election since 2014 pro-democracy street protests. A new crop of radical activists are challenging both pro-Beijing rivals and Hong Kong's mainstream pro-democracy parties for seats in the Legislative Council. A series of vandalized posters are a sign that the elections are the most contentious since the 1997 British handover of the city to China. (AP Photo/Kin Cheung)

In this Aug. 29, 2016, photo, election campaign posters for pro-democracy candidate Helena Wong Pik-wan are seen defaced days before a Sep. 4 vote, in Hong Kong. Hong Kongers are heading to the polls Sunday in the first major election since 2014 pro-democracy street protests. A new crop of radical activists are challenging both pro-Beijing rivals and Hong Kong's mainstream pro-democracy parties for seats in the Legislative Council. A series of vandalized posters are a sign that the elections are the most contentious since the 1997 British handover of the city to China. (AP Photo/Kin Cheung)

In this Aug. 29, 2016, photo, an election campaign poster for pro-democracy candidate Helena Wong Pik-wan is seen defaced by a sticker days before legislative elections, in Hong Kong. Hong Kongers are heading to the polls Sunday in the first major election since 2014 pro-democracy street protests. A new crop of radical activists are challenging both pro-Beijing rivals and Hong Kong's mainstream pro-democracy parties for seats in the Legislative Council. A series of vandalized posters are a sign that the elections are the most contentious since the 1997 British handover of the city to China. (AP Photo/Kin Cheung)
Duterte declares 'state of lawlessness' after bomb kills 14

DAVAO, Philippines (AP)  Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte declared a nationwide "state of lawlessness" Saturday after suspected Abu Sayyaf extremists detonated a bomb that killed 14 people and wounded about 70 in his southern hometown.

Duterte, who inspected the scene of Friday night's attack at a night market in downtown Davao city, said his declaration did not amount to an imposition of martial law. It allows troops to be deployed in urban centers to back up the police in setting up checkpoints and increasing patrols, he said.

An Abu Sayyaf spokesman, Abu Rami, claimed responsibility for the blast near the Jesuit-run Ateneo de Davao University and a five-star hotel, but Duterte said investigators were looking at other possible suspects, including drug syndicates, which he has targeted in a bloody crackdown.

In this photo released by Malacanang Palace Presidential Communications Operations Office Presidential Photographers Division, Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte, second left, visits the site of Friday night's explosion that killed more than a dozen people and wounded several others at a night market in Davao city, his hometown, Saturday, Sept. 3, 2016 in southern Philippines. Duterte declared a nationwide "state of lawlessness" Saturday after suspected Abu Sayyaf extremists detonated a bomb at the market. (Robinson Ninal/Malacanang Palace Presidential Communications Operations Office Presidential Photographers Division via AP)

"These are extraordinary times and I supposed that I'm authorized to allow the security forces of this country to do searches," Duterte told reporters at the scene of the attack, asking the public to cooperate and be vigilant.

"We're trying to cope up with a crisis now. There is a crisis in this country involving drugs, extrajudicial killings and there seems to be an environment of lawless violence," said Duterte, who served as mayor of Davao for years before being elected president in June.

The attack came as Philippine forces were on alert amid an ongoing military offensive against Abu Sayyaf extremists in southern Sulu province that intensified last week after the militants beheaded a kidnapped villager. The militants threatened to launch an unspecified attack after the military said 30 of the gunmen were killed in the weeklong offensive.

Rami is the son-in-law of Mohammad Said, an influential militant commander who used the nom de guerre Amah Maas and was killed in the ongoing Sulu offensive. Davao Vice Mayor Paulo Duterte, the president's son, also told reporters that militants linked to the Islamic State group had threatened the progressive city.

Some commanders of the Abu Sayyaf, which is blacklisted by the United States and the Philippines as a terrorist organization for deadly bombings, ransom kidnappings and beheadings, have pledged allegiance to IS. The military, however, says there has been no evidence of a direct collaboration and militant action may have been aimed at bolstering their image after years of combat setbacks.

Communications Secretary Martin Andanar said that the bomb appeared to have been made from a mortar round and that doctors reported many of the victims had shrapnel wounds.

Despite the emergency, Duterte said he would proceed with trips to Brunei, Laos and Indonesia starting Sunday, but a Department of Foreign Affairs official later told The Associated Press that the Brunei leg of Duterte's first foreign visits has been postponed. At an Asian summit in the Laotian capital of Vientiane, Duterte said in jest that most of the leaders he would meet, including President Barack Obama and Russian leader Vladimir Putin, have had a taste of terrorist attacks.

Armando Morales, a 50-year-old masseur, said the explosion threw him off his chair, adding that the blast had an upward force and emitted smoke but no fireball that could have killed more people. He saw at least 10 people lying bloodied on the ground, mostly fellow masseurs and their customers.

"I helped tie their wounds to prevent blood loss," the still-dazed Morales said. "They were pale like dead already."

Police immediately set up more checkpoints in key roads leading to the city, a regional gateway about 980 kilometers (610 miles) south of Manila. The police force in the capital also went on full alert at midnight.

U.S. National Security Council spokesman Ned Price said in a statement that local authorities in the Philippines continue to investigate the cause of the explosion, and the United States stands ready to provide assistance to the investigation.

Obama will have an opportunity to offer his personal condolences to Duterte, with the two leaders planning to meet on the sidelines of the summit of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations leaders in Laos next week, Price said.

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Gomez reported from Manila, Philippines. Associated Press writer Matthew Pennington in Washington contributed to this report.

In this photo released by Malacanang Palace Presidential Communications Operations Office Presidential Photographers Division, Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte, center, visits a hospital where victims of Friday's explosion were brought in from a night market in Davao city, his hometown, Saturday, Sept. 3, 2016 in southern Philippines. in Davao city, his hometown, Saturday, Sept. 3, 2016 in southern Philippines. Duterte declared a nationwide "state of lawlessness" Saturday after suspected Abu Sayyaf extremists detonated a bomb at the market. (Robinson Ninal/Malacanang Palace Presidential Communications Operations Office Presidential Photographers Division via AP)

In this photo released by Malacanang Palace Presidential Communications Operations Office Presidential Photographers Division, Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte, right, comforts a victim outside a hospital where people injured in Friday's explosion at a night market were brought in in Davao city, his hometown, Saturday, Sept. 3, 2016 in southern Philippines. Duterte declared a nationwide "state of lawlessness" Saturday after suspected Abu Sayyaf extremists detonated a bomb at the market. (Kiwi Bulaclac/Malacanang Palace Presidential Communications Operations Office Presidential Photographers Division via AP)

Philippine police investigators check bodies at a blast site at a night market that has left at least several people dead and wounded others in southern Davao city, Philippines late Friday Sept. 2, 2016. The powerful explosion at a night market late Friday in Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte's hometown in the southern Philippines took place amid a security alert due to a major offensive against Abu Sayyaf militants in the region, officials said. (AP Photo/Manman Dejeto)

A Philippine soldier keeps watch at a blast site at a night market that has left several people dead and wounded others in southern Davao city, Philippines late Friday Sept. 2, 2016. The powerful explosion in Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte's hometown in the southern Philippines took place amid a security alert due to a major offensive against Abu Sayyaf militants in the region, officials said. (AP Photo/Manman Dejeto)
PICTURED: Vandalized posters ahead of Hong Kong's elections

HONG KONG (AP)  Hong Kongers are heading to the polls Sunday in the first major election since 2014 pro-democracy street protests.

A new crop of radical activists are challenging both pro-Beijing rivals and Hong Kong's mainstream pro-democracy parties for seats in the Legislative Council, or Legco.

A series of vandalized posters are a sign that the elections are the most contentious since the 1997 British handover of the city to China.

In this Friday, Sept. 2, 2016, photo, an election banner for radical activist candidate, from left, Edward Leung, Baggio Leung Chung-hang and Li Tung-sing are seen defaced days before legislative elections, in Hong Kong. Hong Kongers are heading to the polls Sunday in the first major election since 2014 pro-democracy street protests. A new crop of radical activists are challenging both pro-Beijing rivals and Hong Kong's mainstream pro-democracy parties for seats in the Legislative Council. A series of vandalized posters are a sign that the elections are the most contentious since the 1997 British handover of the city to China. (AP Photo/Kin Cheung)

Many of the candidates in the defaced posters are from the new wave of pro-democracy activists who, unlike their older established mainstream counterparts, reject the idea that Hong Kong is a part of China and support more confrontational tactics and radical action in their fight for full democracy from Beijing.

A key theme of this year's vote is a growing call for independence from China. Such talk was once considered unthinkable but has become commonplace as residents fret over Beijing's tightening. Some of the more radical candidates want Hong Kong-focused localism and others desire full autonomy.

Pro-democracy candidates agree on the need for direct elections for Hong Kong's top leader, currently hand-picked by a committee of mostly pro-Beijing elites. Chinese communist leaders had promised to allow elections but insisted on screening out unfriendly candidates, a stance that sparked the 2014 protests and left Hong Kong's democratic development in limbo.

In this Aug. 29, 2016 photo, tape holds together an election campaign banner for radical activist candidate Lau Siu-lai, which was slashed days ahead of legislative elections, in Hong Kong. A new crop of radical activists are challenging both pro-Beijing rivals and Hong Kong's mainstream pro-democracy parties for seats in the Legislative Council. A series of vandalized posters are a sign that the elections are the most contentious since the 1997 British handover of the city to China. (AP Photo/Kin Cheung)

In this Aug. 29, 2016 photo, an election campaign banner for radical activist candidate Yau Wai-ching is seen defaced days before a Sep. 4 vote, in Hong Kong. A new crop of radical activists are challenging both pro-Beijing rivals and Hong Kong's mainstream pro-democracy parties for seats in the Legislative Council. A series of vandalized posters are a sign that the elections are the most contentious since the 1997 British handover of the city to China. (AP Photo/Kin Cheung)

In this Thursday, Sept. 1, 2016, photo, an election campaign banner for radical pro-democracy candidate Leung Kwok-hung, known as "Long Hair," is seen defaced and slashed apart in Hong Kong. Hong Kongers are heading to the polls Sunday in the first major election since 2014 pro-democracy street protests. A new crop of radical activists are challenging both pro-Beijing rivals and Hong Kong's mainstream pro-democracy parties for seats in the Legislative Council. A series of vandalized posters are a sign that the elections are the most contentious since the 1997 British handover of the city to China. (AP Photo/Kin Cheung)

In this Aug. 29, 2016 photo, an election campaign banner for pro-democracy candidate Lee Wing-hon is seen defaced days before a Sep. 4 vote, in Hong Kong. Hong Kongers are heading to the polls Sunday in the first major election since 2014 pro-democracy street protests. A new crop of radical activists are challenging both pro-Beijing rivals and Hong Kong's mainstream pro-democracy parties for seats in the Legislative Council. A series of vandalized posters are a sign that the elections are the most contentious since the 1997 British handover of the city to China. (AP Photo/Kin Cheung)

In this Aug. 31, 2016 photo, election campaign banners for mainstream pro-democracy election candidate James To, front, and pro-Beijing candidate Starry Lee are seen defaced and slashed apart days before a Sep. 4 vote, in Hong Kong. Hong Kongers are heading to the polls Sunday in the first major election since 2014 pro-democracy street protests. A new crop of radical activists are challenging both pro-Beijing rivals and Hong Kong's mainstream pro-democracy parties for seats in the Legislative Council. A series of vandalized posters are a sign that the elections are the most contentious since the 1997 British handover of the city to China. (AP Photo/Kin Cheung)

In this Friday, Sept. 2, 2016, photo, an election campaign banner for radical activist candidate Gary Fan is seen defaced days before legislative elections, in Hong Kong. Hong Kongers are heading to the polls Sunday in the first major election since 2014 pro-democracy street protests. A new crop of radical activists are challenging both pro-Beijing rivals and Hong Kong's mainstream pro-democracy parties for seats in the Legislative Council. A series of vandalized posters are a sign that the elections are the most contentious since the 1997 British handover of the city to China. (AP Photo/Kin Cheung)

In this Aug. 31, 2016 photo, an election campaign banner for candidate Ricky Wong, a local tycoon, is seen slashed and spray painted days before legislative elections, in Hong Kong. Hong Kongers are heading to the polls Sunday in the first major election since 2014 pro-democracy street protests. A new crop of radical activists are challenging both pro-Beijing rivals and Hong Kong's mainstream pro-democracy parties for seats in the Legislative Council. A series of vandalized posters are a sign that the elections are the most contentious since the 1997 British handover of the city to China. (AP Photo/Kin Cheung)

In this Aug. 31, 2016, photo, an election campaign banner for mainstream pro-democracy election candidates Ted Hui Chi-fung, left, and James To are defaced with spray paint days before legislative elections, in Hong Kong. Hong Kongers are heading to the polls Sunday in the first major election since 2014 pro-democracy street protests. A new crop of radical activists are challenging both pro-Beijing rivals and Hong Kong's mainstream pro-democracy parties for seats in the Legislative Council. A series of vandalized posters are a sign that the elections are the most contentious since the 1997 British handover of the city to China. (AP Photo/Kin Cheung)

In this Aug. 29, 2016, photo, election campaign posters for pro-democracy candidate Helena Wong Pik-wan are seen defaced days before a Sep. 4 vote, in Hong Kong. Hong Kongers are heading to the polls Sunday in the first major election since 2014 pro-democracy street protests. A new crop of radical activists are challenging both pro-Beijing rivals and Hong Kong's mainstream pro-democracy parties for seats in the Legislative Council. A series of vandalized posters are a sign that the elections are the most contentious since the 1997 British handover of the city to China. (AP Photo/Kin Cheung)

In this Aug. 29, 2016, photo, an election campaign poster for pro-democracy candidate Helena Wong Pik-wan is seen defaced by a sticker days before legislative elections, in Hong Kong. Hong Kongers are heading to the polls Sunday in the first major election since 2014 pro-democracy street protests. A new crop of radical activists are challenging both pro-Beijing rivals and Hong Kong's mainstream pro-democracy parties for seats in the Legislative Council. A series of vandalized posters are a sign that the elections are the most contentious since the 1997 British handover of the city to China. (AP Photo/Kin Cheung)

In this Aug. 29, 2016 photo, an election campaign banner for radical activist candidate Yau Wai-ching is seen defaced days before legislative elections, in Hong Kong. Hong Kongers are heading to the polls Sunday in the first major election since 2014 pro-democracy street protests. A new crop of radical activists are challenging both pro-Beijing rivals and Hong Kong's mainstream pro-democracy parties for seats in the Legislative Council. A series of vandalized posters are a sign that the elections are the most contentious since the 1997 British handover of the city to China. (AP Photo/Kin Cheung)
Hailing cooperation, US and China join global climate deal

HANGZHOU, China (AP)  Setting aside their cyber and maritime disputes, President Barack Obama and China's President Xi Jinping on Saturday sealed their nations' participation in last year's Paris climate change agreement. They hailed their new era of climate cooperation as the best chance for saving the planet.

At a ceremony on the sidelines of a global economic summit, Obama and Xi, representing the world's two biggest carbon emitters, delivered a series of documents to U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon. The papers certified the U.S. and China have taken the necessary steps to join the Paris accord that set nation-by-nation targets for cutting carbon emissions.

"This is not a fight that any one country, no matter how powerful, can take alone," Obama said of the pact. "Some day we may see this as the moment that we finally decided to save our planet."

U.S. President Barack Obama meets with Chinese President Xi Jinping at the West Lake State Guest House in Hangzhou on Saturday, Sept. 3, 2016 ahead of the G-20 summit. (Wang Zhao/Pool Photo via AP)

Xi, speaking through a translator, said he hoped other countries would follow suit and advance new technologies to help them meet their targets. "When the old path no longer takes us far, we should turn to innovation," he said.

The formal U.S.-Chinese announcement means the accord could enter force by the end of the year, faster than anticipated. Fifty-five nations must join for the agreement to take effect. The nations that have joined must also produce at least 55 percent of global emissions.

The U.S. and China together produce 38 percent of the world's man-made carbon dioxide emissions.

The White House has attributed the accelerated pace to an unlikely partnership between Washington and Beijing. To build momentum for a deal, they set a 2030 deadline for China's emissions to stop rising and announced their "shared conviction that climate change is one of the greatest threats facing humanity." The U.S. has pledged to cut its emissions by at least 26 percent over the next 15 years, compared to 2005 levels.

The meeting of the minds on climate change, however, hasn't smoothed the path for other areas of tension. The U.S. has criticized China over cyberhacking and human rights and voiced increased exasperation with Beijing's growing assertiveness in key waterways in the region. Most recently, the U.S. has urged China to accept an international arbitration panel's ruling that sided with the Philippines in a dispute over claims in the South China Sea.

China views the South China Sea as an integral part of its national territory. The U.S. doesn't take positions in the various disputes between China and its Asian neighbors, but is concerned about freedom of navigation and wants conflicts resolved peacefully and lawfully.

Meeting with Xi after the announcement, Obama said thornier matters would be discussed. He specifically cited maritime disputes, cybersecurity and human rights, though the president didn't elaborate during brief remarks in front of reporters at the start of the meeting.

After several hours of talks, the White House said Obama told Xi the U.S. would keep monitoring China's commitments on cybersecurity. The leaders also had a "candid exchange" over the arbitration case between China and the Philippines, the White House said.

The ceremony opened what is likely Obama's valedictory tour in Asia. The president stepped off Air Force One onto a red carpet, where an honor guard dressed in white and carrying bayonets lined his path. A girl presented Obama with flowers and he shook hands with officials before entering his motorcade.

But the welcome didn't go smoothly. A Chinese official kept reporters and some top White House aides away from the president, prompting a U.S. official to intervene. The Chinese official then yelled: "This is our country. This is our airport."

Throughout his tenure, Obama has sought to check China's influence in Asia by shifting U.S. military resources and diplomatic attention from the Middle East. The results have been mixed.

The Trans-Pacific Partnership, a massive trade deal the White House calls a cornerstone of the policy, is stuck in Congress. Obama planned to use the trip to make the case for approval of the deal before he leaves office in January.

Climate represents a more certain piece of his legacy.

Under the Paris agreement, countries are required to set national targets for reducing or reining in their greenhouse gas emissions. Those targets aren't legally binding, but countries must report on their progress and update their targets every five years.

Xi said he acted after China's legislature voted Saturday to formally enter the agreement. In the U.S., Senate ratification is not required because the agreement is not considered a formal treaty.

Li Shuo, Greenpeace's senior climate policy adviser, called Saturday's declarations "a very important next step."

If the deal clears the final hurdles, he said, "we'll have a truly global climate agreement that will bind the two biggest emitters in the world."

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Associated Press writer Louise Watt contributed to this report.

U.S. President Barack Obama, left, and Chinese President Xi Jinping pose for photographers as they shake hands before their meeting at the West Lake State Guest House in Hangzhou in eastern China's Zhejiang province Saturday, Sept. 3, 2016. (Wang Zhao/Pool Photo via AP)

U.S. President Barack Obama, center left, joined by Secretary of State John Kerry, center right, speaks during a bilateral meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping at West Lake State House in Hangzhou in eastern China's Zhejiang province, Saturday, Sept. 3, 2016. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster)

U.S. President Barack Obama, right, and Chinese President Xi Jinping sit together during a climate event at the Ruyi Hall at West Lake State House in Hangzhou in eastern China's Zhejiang province, Saturday, Sept. 3, 2016. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster)

U.S. President Barack Obama arrives at the Hangzhou Xiaoshan International Airport, Saturday, Sept. 3, 2016, in Hangzhou, China, to attend the G-20 summit. Obama is expected to meet with China's President Xi Jinping Saturday afternoon. (AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein)

Members of a Chinese honor guard line up near a U.S. Air Force plane before the arrival of U.S. President Barack Obama at the Hangzhou Xiaoshan International Airport, Saturday, Sept. 3, 2016, in Hangzhou, China, to attend the G-20 summit. (AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein)

U.S. President Barack Obama, center, is greeted as he arrives on Air Force One at Hangzhou Xiaoshan International Airport in Hangzhou in eastern China's Zhejiang province, Saturday, Sept. 3, 2016. President Obama hopes to highlight his administration's ongoing commitment to the G20 as the premier forum for international economic cooperation as well as the U.S. rebalance to Asia and the Pacific. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster)

U.S. President Barack Obama arrives on Air Force One at Hangzhou Xiaoshan International Airport in Hangzhou in eastern China's Zhejiang province, Saturday, Sept. 3, 2016. President Obama hopes to highlight his administration's ongoing commitment to the G20 as the premier forum for international economic cooperation as well as the U.S. rebalance to Asia and the Pacific. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster)
'Yes, I was dead:' Zimbabwe's Mugabe back after disappearing

HARARE, Zimbabwe (AP)  Zimbabwe's 92-year-old President Robert Mugabe arrived home Saturday after an overseas absence that led to rumors about a health crisis, joking to reporters that "Yes, I was dead."

"It is true that I was dead," the world's oldest head of state said. "And I resurrected. As I always do."

"Are we speaking to a ghost?" someone asked him.

FILE - In this Monday, Aug. 8, 2016 file photo, Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe addresses party supporters during a gathering to honor the country's dead heroes, at the National Heroes Acre in Harare. Zimbabwe's 92-year-old President Robert Mugabe arrived home Saturday, Sept. 3, 2016 after an overseas absence that led to rumors about a health crisis, joking to reporters that "Yes, I was dead." "It is true that I was dead," the world's oldest head of state said. "And I resurrected. As I always do." (AP Photo/Tsvangirayi Mukwazhi, file)

"Once I get back to my country, I am real," Mugabe said.

The president had not been seen since leaving a regional summit early on Tuesday. Flight data showed his plane went to Dubai after the original flight path indicated a course toward Asia. Mugabe has received treatment in Singapore in the past.

His spokesman had denied reports that Mugabe, the target of near-daily protests in recent weeks, was ill. The president told people Saturday he had been away attending to family matters. He later addressed a youth meeting at his ruling party's headquarters.

His absence had raised the level of uncertainly in this southern African country already in economic and political turmoil. Frustration has been rising in Zimbabwe over a plummeting economy and allegations of government corruption.

Police on Thursday banned protests in the capital for two weeks, on the eve of a demonstration planned by a newly formed coalition of opposition groups.

Mugabe has been in power since 1980, and many in Zimbabwe have known no other leader in their lifetime. He has said he would run again in elections in 2018.

Recently, his wife, Grace, said Mugabe would rule from the grave.

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Trump tells black churchgoers in Detroit visit is 'to learn'

DETROIT (AP)  Donald Trump swayed to songs of worship, read scripture, and donned a Jewish prayer shawl Saturday during a visit to a predominantly black church in Detroit, where he called for a "civil rights agenda for our time" and vowed to fix the "many wrongs" facing African-Americans.

"I am here to listen to you," Trump told the congregation at the Great Faith Ministries International. "I'm here today to learn."

Trump has stepped up his outreach to minority voters in recent weeks as he tries to expand his appeal beyond his GOP base. The visit was Trump's first to a black church  a rare appearance in front of a largely-minority audience for the candidate who typically attracts overwhelmingly white crowds.

Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump gives a thumbs up during a church service at Great Faith Ministries, Saturday, Sept. 3, 2016, in Detroit. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci)

Trump was introduced by Bishop Wayne T. Jackson, who warned that he was in for something different. "This is the first African-American church he's been in, y'all! Now it's a little different from a Presbyterian church," he said.

While protesters were a vocal presence outside, Trump made a pitch inside for support from an electorate strongly aligned with Democrat Hillary Clinton.

"Our nation is too divided," said Trump, who is known for making contentious remarks. "We talk past each other, not to each other. And those who seek office do not do enough to step into the community and learn what is going on."

Striking a rare unifying tone, he said, "I'm here today to learn so that we can together remedy injustice in any form."

Trump also praised the black church as "the conscience of our country" and said the nation needs "a civil rights agenda for our time" that includes the right to a quality education, safe neighborhoods and good jobs.

"I fully understand that the African-American community has suffered from discrimination and that there are many wrongs that must still be made right," Trump said.

Before he left, he was presented with a prayer shawl, which Jackson draped over Trump's shoulders, and a Jewish Heritage Studies bible. Trump also met with a smaller group of church members and recorded an interview with the pastor.

Trump's efforts thus far to attract greater support from minority groups have largely fallen flat. Polls show Clinton with overwhelmingly more support from blacks and Hispanics. African-American community leaders, in particular, have railed against Trump's dire depictions of minority life and dismissed his message as intended more to reassure white voters that he's not racist than to help communities of color.

Outside the church, several separate protests swelled into a throng of about 400 people denouncing Trump. At one point, the protesters tried to push through a barrier to the parking lot but were stopped by church security and police.

Rev. Lawrence Glass, one of the clergy denouncing Trump's visit, said Trump represents the "politics of fear and hate," and "minorities of all kinds have much to lose taking a chance on someone like" Trump.

Emery Northington, 42, who works in auto sales, said that Trump "doesn't have my best interest in hand."

Detroit Mayor Mike Duggan also issued a statement saying that, "Mr. Trump ran a campaign through the nomination process of bigotry."

But inside, churchgoers who chose to attend Trump's speech speak said they thought it was important to hear directly from the Republican nominee as they weigh their options.

"I'm here to hear what he has to say," said Milton Lewis, 46, who works as a minister at another church.

"I have a very open mind," echoed Pierre Curtis, 69, a Great Faith Ministries International congregation member for more than 20 years.

After the church visit, Trump made a brief stop at the southwest Detroit childhood home of Ben Carson, the retired neurosurgeon who ran against Trump in the primaries and is now advising the campaign.

Surrounded by security and a swarm of reporters, Trump spoke briefly with the home's current owner, Felicia Reese.

"Your house is worth a lot of money," he told her, thanks to the Carson connection.

Carson told The Associated Press before the trip that it would serve as an opportunity for Trump to see the challenges residents face as he refines his policy plans.

"It always makes much more of an impression, I think, when you see things firsthand," Carson said.

Detroit is about 80 percent black, and many are struggling. Nearly 40 percent of residents are impoverished, compared with about 15 percent of Americans overall. Detroit's median household income is just over $26,000  not even half the median for the nation, according to the census.

Meanwhile Trump's running mate, Indiana Gov. Mike Pence's, went virtually unnoticed during a stop at Ohio State University on the opening day of football season.

In an interview with NBC's "Meet The Press" Saturday, Pence said he plans to release his tax returns next week, and said Trump's long-awaited tax returns are also coming. He echoed Trump's promise that he will release his taxes upon the completion of an ongoing audit.

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Follow Colvin and Williams on Twitter at https://twitter.com/colvinj and https://twitter.com/CoreyAPReporter

Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump, right, stands and listens during a church service at Great Faith Ministries, Saturday, Sept. 3, 2016, in Detroit. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci)

Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump wears a prayer shawl during a church service at Great Faith Ministries, Saturday, Sept. 3, 2016, in Detroit. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci)

In this Thursday, Sept. 1, 2016, photo, Toni McIlwain stands outside the building that housed her Ravendale Community nonprofit that offered education and drug prevention programs in Detroit. McIlwain believes that as a candidate for president, Donald Trump has a right to go anywhere he wants, but she says it takes a lot of nerve for him to return to Detroit after comments he made last month about blacks. Trump is planning to attend a service Saturday at an African American church in Detroit. (AP Photo/Corey Williams)

Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump speaks during a church service at Great Faith Ministries, Saturday, Sept. 3, 2016, in Detroit. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci)

A local resident looks on as Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump, left, walks with Dr. Ben Carson, during a tour of Carson's childhood home, Saturday, Sept. 3, 2016, in Detroit. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci)
Harsh Uzbek leader buried amid praise from his Cabinet

MOSCOW (AP)  Uzbekistan's widely criticized authoritarian leader Islam Karimov was hailed as a statesman and democrat by his government as he was laid to rest Saturday in the ancient silk road city of Samarkand.

The coffin of 78-year-old Karimov, whose death from a cerebral hemorrhage was announced Friday, was placed in the renowned Registan square, flanked on three sides by Islamic schools covered in intricate, colorful tiles and topped with aqua cupolas.

Thousands of men packed the square  women were excluded  to hear a mufti give a funeral prayer that said "Islam Karimov served his people." The body was then taken to the Shah-i-Zinda necropolis, another architecturally significant site, for burial.

People throw flowers on limousines as they gather along a road to watch the funeral procession of President Islam Karimov in Tashkent, Uzbekistan, early Saturday, Sept. 3, 2016. Karimov has died of a stroke at age 78, the Uzbek government announced Friday. (AP Photo/Umida Akhmedova)

Karimov became the leader of Uzbekistan in 1989, when it was a Soviet republic, and held power with ruthless determination throughout all of Uzbekistan's independence. He crushed opposition, repressed the media and was repeatedly denounced by activists abroad for human rights violations including killings and torture.

His Cabinet, however, said in a statement that Karimov "attained a high authority in the country and in the international community as an outstanding statesman, who has developed and implemented a deeply thought-out strategy of building a democratic constitutional state with a civil society and a market economy."

Karimov cultivated no apparent successor, and his death raised concerns that the predominantly Sunni Muslim country could face prolonged infighting among clans over its leadership, something its Islamic radical movement could exploit.

Uzbekistan is ex-Soviet central Asia's most populous country and borders Afghanistan, making it of strategic interest to Russia and the United States.

In a statement, President Obama said the U.S. remains committed to its partnership with Uzbekistan as the country "begins a new chapter in its history."

Alexei Pushkov, head of the Russian parliament's foreign affairs committee, retorted on Twitter that Obama "is mistaken if he thinks this new chapter will be written in Washington."

"The death of Islam Karimov may open a pretty dangerous period of unpredictability and uncertainty in Uzbekistan," Pushkov told the Tass news agency on Friday.

Given the lack of access to the strategic country, it's hard to judge how powerful the Islamic Movement of Uzbekistan might be. Over the years, the group has been affiliated with the Taliban, al-Qaida and the Islamic State group, and it has sent fighters abroad.

Under the Uzbek constitution, if the president dies his duties pass temporarily to the head of the senate until an election can be held within three months. However, the head of the Uzbek senate is regarded as unlikely to seek permanent power and Karimov's demise is expected to set off a period of jockeying for political influence.

Karimov was known as a tyrant with an explosive temper and a penchant for cruelty. His troops killed hundreds of unarmed demonstrators with machine guns during a 2005 uprising, he jailed thousands of political opponents, and his henchmen reportedly boiled some dissidents to death.

"He left a terrible legacy. His successors will actively try to continue his policies," opposition blogger Nadezhda Atayeva, who fled to France in 2000, told The Associated Press.

Two top officials are seen as likely successors to Karimov  Prime Minister Shavkat Mirziyoyev and Rustam Azimov, who is the finance minister and deputy prime minister.

Azimov stands out for his management skills and his wide network of contacts, Atayeva said, whereas "Mirziyoyev elicits more antipathy for his harsh character and corruption history."

On the sidelines of the funeral, Mirziyoyev met with his Russian counterpart Dmitry Medvedev.

People hold flowers as they gather along the road to watch the funeral procession of President Islam Karimov in Samarkand, Uzbekistan, Saturday, Sept. 3, 2016. Karimov has died of a stroke at age 78, the Uzbek government announced Friday. Karimov will be buried Saturday in the ancient city of Samarkand, his birthplace, the government said in a statement. (AP Photo)

People throw flowers on the hearse as they gather along the road to watch the funeral procession of President Islam Karimov in Samarkand, Uzbekistan, early Saturday, Sept. 3, 2016. Karimov has died of a stroke at age 78, the Uzbek government announced Friday. Karimov will be buried Saturday in the ancient city of Samarkand, his birthplace, the government said in a statement. (AP Photo)

People hold flowers as they gather along the road to watch the funeral procession of President Islam Karimov in Samarkand, Uzbekistan, early Saturday, Sept. 3, 2016. Karimov has died of a stroke at age 78, the Uzbek government announced Friday. Karimov will be buried Saturday in the ancient city of Samarkand, his birthplace, the government said in a statement. (AP Photo)

Police guard as people gather along a road to watch the funeral procession of President Islam Karimov in Tashkent, Uzbekistan, early Saturday, Sept. 3, 2016. Karimov has died of a stroke at age 78, the Uzbek government announced Friday. (AP Photo/Umida Akhmedova)

Police guard as people gather along a road to watch the funeral procession of President Islam Karimov in Tashkent, Uzbekistan, early Saturday, Sept. 3, 2016. Karimov has died of a stroke at age 78, the Uzbek government announced Friday. (AP Photo/Umida Akhmedova)

A woman embraces her son while standing along the road to watch the funeral procession of President Islam Karimov in Tashkent, Uzbekistan, early Saturday, Sept. 3, 2016. Karimov has died of a stroke at age 78, the Uzbek government announced Friday. (AP Photo/Umida Akhmedova)

People hold flowers as they gather along the road under the Uzbekistan national flag to watch the funeral procession of President Islam Karimov in Tashkent, Uzbekistan, early Saturday, Sept. 3, 2016. Karimov has died of a stroke at age 78, the Uzbek government announced Friday. (AP Photo/Umida Akhmedova)

FILE-In this file photo taken on Wednesday, Feb. 6, 2008, Russian President Vladimir Putin and Uzbekistan's President's Islam Karimov, right, meet in Moscow, Russia. The Interfax news agency Friday Sept. 2, 2016 cites an Uzbek government statement saying President Islam Karimov is dead. (Vladimir Rodionov, Sputnik, Kremlin Pool Photo via AP)
French uproar creates opportunity for Israeli burkini makers

HOD HASHARON, Israel (AP)  France's burkini controversy is boosting the bottom line for Israeli makers of modest swimwear.

The country, home to large populations of conservative Jewish and Muslim women, has cultivated a local industry of modest swimsuits, and the full-body outfits that have caused uproar in France have been a common sight on Israeli beaches for several years.

Marci Rapp was among the first to enter the industry after she moved to Jerusalem from Toronto in 2008. The warm Mediterranean climate presented a fashion challenge because she keeps her arms and legs covered, in keeping with Jewish rules of modesty.

In this Friday, Sept. 2, 2016 photo, Muslim women stand at a beach in Tel Aviv, Israel. France's burkini controversy is boosting the bottom line for Israeli makers of modest swimwear. Israel, home to large populations of conservative Jewish and Muslim women, has cultivated a local industry of modest swimsuits, and the full-body outfits that have caused uproar in France have been a common sight on Israeli beaches for several years. (AP Photo/Ariel Schalit)

"I had nothing to wear," she said. "I couldn't find something that was suitable for me to feel comfortable when I was more covered."

Rapp started the MarSea Modest swimwear company, which sells dresses, shorts, shirts and head coverings made of lightweight, chlorine-resistant Italian fabric, sewn in Tel Aviv. Business has grown at least 10 percent a year since she started, she said, in part due to her energetic sales tactics  such as handing out flyers to women wearing drenched long skirts at the beach.

Only a few of her clients are Muslim, Rapp says, because they require more conservative swimwear than she offers. The burkini, coined by an Australian-Lebanese designer about a decade ago, covers the head, torso and limbs with lightweight swim fabric. Rapp's swimsuits do not include hoods, which most observant Muslim women prefer, and many of her styles do not reach to the wrists and ankles.

Nevertheless, Rapp said the burkini controversy has drawn attention to her company, which she runs out of her Jerusalem living room, and has bumped her sales by a few percentage points, though she declined to provide sales figures. Her swimsuits sell for about $100.

Rapp said she was baffled by the decision of several French towns to ban full-body swimwear. The ban was later overturned by France's top court, the Council of State. As a result, the ban is likely to be lifted across France, but only once a legal challenge is brought to the local courts of each of the 30 or so French municipalities affected.

"What does a woman do in France who wants to cover up for sun protection or who wants to cover up some scarring, or if she is a little overweight and she doesn't want to wear a bikini?" she asked. "It doesn't make any sense that they are banning a specific type of modest swimwear. It's very racist to me."

Itay Yaacov, a journalist at the fashion site Xnet, estimated that over the last decade, about a dozen Israeli companies have begun making modest swimwear. The outfits have become a global trend, he added, saying even secular women have begun pairing long sleeved shirts with bikini bottoms. Most Israeli companies are small and cater to the local market, he said.

But some have greater reach. Anat Yahav started the SunWay company to make UV-protective clothing for children in 1998 with headquarters north of Tel Aviv. Then, she said, Muslim customers asked her to make an adult model with long sleeves, legs and hoods. Finally, Jewish women chimed in and requested short-sleeved and three-quarter length dresses and pants. Today, Yahav runs three company shops in Israel and exports worldwide via her site, Amazon and distributors in Greece, Germany, New Zealand and the United States.

Yahav said the uproar in France increased her sales and gave her a sense of pride at Israeli acceptance of the conservative swimwear. She boasted that she has never had a case where a customer was kicked out of a pool for covering up.

"Finally we are the normal ones," she said with a chuckle.

Sahab Nasser sells SunWay burkinis at her lingerie shop in Tira, a mostly Muslim town in central Israel. She said she sold burkinis for four years before she finally bought one so she could accompany her three-year-old daughter in the pool. It has been life-changing for her and other Muslim women, she said, because previously they would stay out of the water while the men and children in their families would go swimming.

"The burkini has let (Arab women) go to the beach, spend quality time with the family, to go to mixed gender pools, to swim with their families and feel comfortable, without criticism," she said. "Who said the bikini is the right look for the beach?"

In this photo made on Thursday, Sep. 1, 2016, Israeli Jewish woman wears modest swimsuite on the beach near the port city of Ashdod, Israel. France's burkini controversy is boosting the bottom line for Israeli makers of modest swimwear. Israel, home to large populations of conservative Jewish and Muslim women, has cultivated a local industry of modest swimsuits, and the full-body outfits that have caused uproar in France have been a common sight on Israeli beaches for several years. (AP Photo/Tsafrir Abayov)

In this Friday, Sept. 2, 2016 photo, Muslim woman bathes in the Mediterranean Sea in Tel Aviv, Israel. France's burkini controversy is boosting the bottom line for Israeli makers of modest swimwear. The country, home to large populations of conservative Jewish and Muslim women, has cultivated a local industry of modest swimsuits, and the full-body outfits that have caused uproar in France have been a common sight on Israeli beaches for several years. (AP Photo/Ariel Schalit)

In this Friday, Sept. 2, 2016 photo, Muslim women bathe in the Mediterranean sea in Tel Aviv, Israel. France's burkini controversy is boosting the bottom line for Israeli makers of modest swimwear. Israel, home to large populations of conservative Jewish and Muslim women, has cultivated a local industry of modest swimsuits, and the full-body outfits that have caused uproar in France have been a common sight on Israeli beaches for several years. (AP Photo/Ariel Schalit)

In this Friday, Sept. 2, 2016 photo, a Muslim woman holds her child at a beach in Tel Aviv, Israel. France's burkini controversy is boosting the bottom line for Israeli makers of modest swimwear. Israel, home to large populations of conservative Jewish and Muslim women, has cultivated a local industry of modest swimsuits, and the full-body outfits that have caused uproar in France have been a common sight on Israeli beaches for several years. (AP Photo/Ariel Schalit)
AP EXPLAINS: Saints, miracles and Mother Teresa

VATICAN CITY (AP)  For many of the poor and destitute whom Mother Teresa served, the tiny nun was a living saint. Many at the Vatican would agree, but the Catholic Church nevertheless has a grueling process to make it official, involving volumes of historical research, the hunt for miracles and teams of experts to weigh the evidence. In Mother Teresa's case, the process will come to a formal end Sunday when Pope Francis declares the church's newest saint. Here's a look at the process:

HOW SAINTS ARE MADE

The process to find a new saint usually begins in the diocese where he or she lived or died; in Mother Teresa's case, Kolkata. A postulator  essentially the cheerleader spearheading the project  gathers testimony and documentation and presents the case to the Vatican's Congregation for the Causes of Saints. If the congregation's experts agree the candidate lived a virtuous life, the case is forwarded to the pope, who signs a decree attesting to the candidate's "heroic virtues."

Nuns of Mother Teresa's Missionaries of Charity, carry some of her relics during a vigil of prayer in preparation for the canonization of Mother Teresa in the St. John in Latheran Basilica at the Vatican, Friday, Sept. 2, 2016. (AP Photo/Gregorio Borgia)

If the postulator finds someone was healed after praying for the candidate's intercession, and if the cure cannot be medically explained, the case is presented to the congregation as the possible miracle needed for beatification, the first major hurdle in the saint-making process. Panels of doctors, theologians, bishops and cardinals must certify that the cure was instantaneous, complete and lasting  and was due to the intercession of the saintly candidate. If convinced, the congregation sends the case to the pope, who signs a decree saying the candidate can be beatified. A second miracle is needed for the person to be declared a saint.

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AFTER SCANDAL, REFORMING THE PROCESS

The saint-making process has long been criticized as being expensive, secretive, ripe for abuses and subject to political, financial or theological winds that can push one candidate to sainthood in record time and leave another languishing for centuries. Pope Francis has raised eyebrows with some rule-breaking beatifications and canonizations, waiving the need for miracles and canonizing more people in a single clip  more than 800 15th-century martyrs  than John Paul did in his 26-year pontificate (482).

Francis has also imposed new financial accountability standards on the multimillion-dollar machine after uncovering gross abuses that were subsequently revealed in two books. The books estimated the average cost for each beatification at around 500,000 euros ($550,000), with much of the proceeds going to a few lucky people with contracts to do the time-consuming investigations into the candidates' lives. For the record, the postulator of Mother Teresa's cause says her case, which stretched over 20 years, cost less than 100,000 euros.

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FROM MOTHER TO SAINT TERESA

Why is Mother Teresa a saint? And why is she the icon for Pope Francis' Holy Year of Mercy? For her admirers, it's obvious.

"Mother is known throughout the whole world for her works of mercy, recognized by Christians and non-Christians alike," said Sister Mary Prema Pierick, the current superior general of Mother Teresa's Missionaries of Charity order. "Reflecting about Mother and the life of our mother, we see all the works of mercy  corporal and spiritual  put into action."

Her biographer, the Rev. Lush Gjergji, said she founded her life on two pillars: "For God and for the human being."

"She crossed all barriers like castes, races, gender, ethnic, religious, cultural and turned into and remained the mother of the whole civilization," he said. "In the history of sainthood and that of Christianity, she is the first saint of Hindus, Buddhists, Muslims, non-religious and of course for Christians."

She was not beloved by all, however. She was criticized for the quality of care in her clinics and accused of taking donations from Haitian dictator Jean-Claude Duvalier and disgraced American financier Charles Keating.

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FRANCIS' SAINT

Mother Teresa is most often associated with St. John Paul II, who was pope during the heyday of her work. But Pope Francis seems more a pope in her likeness, eschewing the Apostolic Palace for a simple hotel room, focusing his ministry on the most marginal of society and traveling to the peripheries to find lost souls  just as Mother Teresa did. In one of his first public audiences after being elected pope in 2013, Francis said he longed for a "church that is poor and for the poor." That Francis is crowning his Jubilee Year of Mercy with Teresa's canonization is evidence that he sees her as the model of the merciful church he envisions.

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SECURING THE CEREMONY

With more than 100,000 people expected to jam St. Peter's Square on Sunday, including at least 13 heads of state or government, security is an obvious concern given that the Islamic State group has said Rome is their ultimate target as the seat of Christianity. For months now, police have closed to traffic the main boulevard leading to the Vatican. In anticipation of the throngs expected Sunday, Rome police have added an extra 1,000 officers, many of them anti-terrorism teams, to a law enforcement force that has already been beefed up by 2,000 for the Jubilee year. The security plan calls for the area around St. Peter's to be divided into three areas with reinforced controls starting Saturday night and lasting through Sunday. The airspace over the Vatican and surrounding areas will be closed.

A nun of Mother Teresa's Missionaries of Charity holds a rosary during a vigil of prayer in preparation for the canonization of Mother Teresa in the St. John in Latheran Basilica at the Vatican, Friday, Sept. 2, 2016. (AP Photo/Gregorio Borgia)

Nuns of Mother Teresa's Missionaries of Charity arrive during a vigil of prayer in preparation for the canonization of Mother Teresa in the St. John in Latheran Basilica at the Vatican, Friday, Sept. 2, 2016. (AP Photo/Gregorio Borgia)

A nun of Mother Teresa's Missionaries of Charity pray during a vigil of prayer in preparation for the canonization of Mother Teresa in the St. John in Latheran Basilica at the Vatican, Friday, Sept. 2, 2016. (AP Photo/Gregorio Borgia)

FILE - In this Thursday, Sept. 1, 2016 file photo, a tapestry showing Mother Teresa hangs from the central balcony of St. Peter's Basilica, in St. Peter's Square, at the Vatican. For many of the poor and destitute whom Mother Teresa served, the tiny nun was a living saint. Many at the Vatican would agree, but the Catholic Church nevertheless has a grueling process to make it official, involving volumes of historical research, the hunt for miracles and teams of experts to weigh the evidence. (AP Photo/Alessandra Tarantino, File)

FILE - In this Dec. 13, 1980 file photo, Pope John Paul II, left, talks with Mother Teresa after he celebrated a Mass for her in his private chapel, at the Vatican. For many of the poor and destitute whom Mother Teresa served, the tiny nun was a living saint. Many at the Vatican would agree, but the Catholic Church nevertheless has a grueling process to make it official, involving volumes of historical research, the hunt for miracles and teams of experts to weigh the evidence. (AP Photo)
Indian premier offers loan, defense cooperation in Vietnam

HANOI, Vietnam (AP)  Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi has offered Vietnam a loan of $500 million to strengthen its defense capacity amid China's intensifying presence in the disputed South China Sea.

The so-called "Line of Credit" was announced after Modi's talk with Vietnamese Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc during his official visit to Hanoi, a day before he is scheduled to travel to China to attend the G-20 summit.

Military cooperation tops the discussions between Modi and Phuc.

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, center, escorted by Vietnamese Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc, left, inspects an honor guard during a welcome ceremony in Hanoi, Vietnam Saturday, Sept.3, 2016. Military cooperation tops the agenda during Modi's stop in Vietnam, just before he travels to China to attend the G-20 summit. (AP Photo/Hau Dinh)

A dozen agreements were signed, including one on cooperation of Indian and Vietnamese navies and a contract between an Indian shipbuilder and Vietnam's coast guard.

India, which also has a border dispute with China, has been vocal on the issues in the South China Sea, calling for freedom of passage in the international waters.

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, left, and Vietnamese Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc smile each other as they shake hands in Hanoi, Vietnam Saturday, Sept.3, 2016. Military cooperation tops the agenda during Modi's stop in Vietnam, just before he travels to China to attend the G-20 summit. (AP Photo/Hau Dinh)
Stalled talks, rising violence jeopardize UN Syria mediation

GENEVA (AP)  With war trumping peace efforts in recent weeks in Syria, U.N.-mediated talks sputtered over another missed deadline to resume this past week. Analysts say patience is waning and prospects for a deal brokered by the United Nations are wearing increasingly thin.

U.N. special envoy Staffan de Mistura, entering his 27th month in the job, on Thursday shrugged off his inability to meet two target dates in August to bring envoys from President Bashar Assad's government and the main opposition back to the table in Geneva.

De Mistura blamed the increasing "militarization" of Syria's crisis for his failure and again deferred to Russia and the United States to lead the way out. "It's not about deadlines, about dates," he said. "It's about realities."

Women and their children leave the Moadamiyeh suburb of Damascus, Syria, on Friday, Sept. 2, 2016. Dozens of Syrians living in a besieged rebel-held suburb of the capital, Damascus, have begun evacuating the area following a deal struck with the government that grants amnesty to gunmen and restores state control. (AP Photo)

De Mistura, a veteran Swedish-Italian diplomat, has long touted his "three-legged table" approach to helping end a merciless 5-year war: Reducing the violence, boosting humanitarian aid and drawing Assad's state and its enemies into a political process.

But Syria's largest city, Aleppo, is on the cusp of disaster, and a truce that gave beleaguered Syrians a respite early this year is all but dead. U.N.-led humanitarian aid is trickling in but only to the neediest spots. Turkish troops have crossed into Syria after years of staying out.

De Mistura says Assad now has "clearly a strategy" to force local surrenders and evacuations like recent ones by residents of two Damascus suburbs, Daraya and Moadamiyeh, after years of grueling sieges.

De Mistura's Aug. 1 target date for resuming talks that broke up in April passed, then another went by at the end of August.

No longer does he talk about timetables for getting the Syrian sides back to Geneva and is focusing instead on getting the world community more involved. He says he's preparing an unspecified "quite clear political initiative" to present before the U.N. General Assembly this month in New York, to help the assembly "look the Syria problem straight in the eye."

In other words: Back to the international drawing board, just as two important political dates lie on the horizon: votes for U.S. president and U.N. secretary-general.

On Aug. 26, de Mistura briefly dropped in on 12 hours of bilateral of talks in Geneva between U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry and Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov. In their final news conference, they referred to de Mistura only once and Kerry canceled plans for a private meeting with him. Kerry did find time for dinner with Geneva's mayor, though.

Critics have accused the U.N. of enabling Assad's government, either by bolstering it with humanitarian aid that goes to his supporters or naively thinking he and his backers will accept a political transition when the war has recently been going their way. U.N. officials say their job is to help all civilians in such war zones, whether in areas Assad controls or outside them.

Analysts acknowledge de Mistura always faced a tough task.

"No one will question Staffan de Mistura's well-intentioned efforts, but one can certainly question the strategy adopted," said Emile Hokayem of the International Institute for Strategic Studies.

Some of de Mistura's questionable assumptions, Hokayem said, include believing that Russia and the U.S. could have sway with key regional players Turkey, Saudi Arabia and Iran, or that Moscow had the leverage or the will to steer Assad toward an accord. He noted how Russia has been both a participant, helping Assad's fight, as well as an arbiter in the war.

"The U.N. is in an extremely difficult place right now ... It largely has relied on the U.S.-Russia track," said Hokayem from Beirut. "It is basically a hostage to battlefield developments, great-power politics and regional preferences."

U.S. and Russian experts worked behind closed doors in Geneva this week on details of a joint plan, and some U.N. diplomats are hoping that Presidents Obama and Putin may provide some direction on Syria from a Group of 20 summit in China this weekend.

Jeffrey Martini, a Middle East expert at the Rand Corp. think tank, says Moscow and Washington's main point of commonality is opposition to the Islamic State group, and until its extremists are quelled, a political process in Syria will be on hold.

Fighting ISIL is the "low-hanging fruit, more than the civil war ... which is much more intractable," Martini said.

Assad's allies Russia and Iran also appear to be hoping to rearrange the chessboard by improving ties between Syria and Turkey, long one of the strongest supporters of the anti-Assad rebels. Turkey's incursion into northern Syria in August to fight Kurdish militias and IS militants showed that Ankara and Damascus have common enemies.

Last week, Turkish and Syrian intelligence officials met secretly in Baghdad, an Iraqi intelligence official told The Associated Press, speaking on condition of anonymity to discuss the meeting.

Lebanese journalist Mohammed Ballout, who has close contacts with Damascus, wrote in the As-Safir newspaper Friday that Putin is trying to put together a meeting between Assad and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan. A Turkish official, speaking on condition he not be named in line with government regulations, denied any such efforts were underway.

De Mistura on Thursday expressed "a strong feeling of outrage and disappointment" because of the new violence and increasing struggles to get convoys of aid into priority U.N. areas.

"The more we see that happening, the more determined we are in not letting the Syrian people down," he said. "So don't interpret, please, any of those events which are terrible and are sad as an indication that ... we are giving up on the Syrian people and on a solution."

When de Mistura became the U.N. point man on Syria in July 2014, few expected him to work miracles where other seasoned diplomats  former U.N. Secretary-General Kofi Annan and former Algerian Foreign Minister Lakhdar Brahimi  had failed.

This year began somewhat auspiciously. In late 2015, world and regional powers pushed Assad's government and the "moderate" opposition  excluding extremist groups like Islamic State and al-Qaida-linked Nusra Front  to agree to "indirect" talks in Geneva under de Mistura's mediation.

The truce brokered by the U.S. and Russia largely held for weeks, and humanitarian aid that was all but nonexistent last year began flowing.

But each seeming advance fell to pieces.

Talks deadlocked over the issue of Assad's fate. Violence in Syria resumed. De Mistura suspended the talks in April.

The last leg to weaken has been the humanitarian front. After a miserable 2015, the U.N.-led efforts brought aid  food, water, equipment, medicines  to dozens of "besieged" and "hard-to-reach" areas in the first half of this year.

But aid convoys all but ended in late summer because of unrelenting fighting. De Mistura angrily noted in mid-August that convoys in preceding weeks had reached only one area, the Waer neighborhood of Homs  even as airdrops by the U.N. World Food Program continue to government-held areas of eastern Deir el-Zour.

Hokayem said de Mistura should resign "as a 'big bang' and lay it all on the table."

"If, on the mere issue of humanitarian access, nothing significant can happen, then it is time to ask the question: What is this process for?"

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AP correspondent Qassim Abdul-Zahra in Baghdad contributed to this report.

People board buses leaving the Moadamiyeh suburb of Damascus, Syria, on Friday, Sept. 2, 2016. Dozens of Syrians living in a besieged rebel-held suburb of the capital, Damascus, have begun evacuating the area following a deal struck with the government that grants amnesty to gunmen and restores state control. (AP Photo)

Syrians leave the Moadamiyeh suburb of Damascus, Syria, on Friday, Sept. 2, 2016. Dozens of Syrians living in a besieged rebel-held suburb of the capital, Damascus, have begun evacuating the area following a deal struck with the government that grants amnesty to gunmen and restores state control. (AP Photo)

Syrians wait to board bused as they leave the Moadamiyeh suburb of Damascus, Syria, on Friday, Sept. 2, 2016. Dozens of Syrians living in a besieged rebel-held suburb of the capital, Damascus, have begun evacuating the area following a deal struck with the government that grants amnesty to gunmen and restores state control. (AP Photo)
Thousands of Kurds demonstrate in Cologne, Germany

COLOGNE, Germany (AP)  Thousands of Kurds, including many carrying flags with the image of jailed PKK leader Abdullah Ocalan, demonstrated in the German city of Cologne Saturday against the Turkish government's policies.

Organizers said the demonstration was aimed in part at protesting against Turkey's military intervention in northern Syria and what they call the "dictatorial" behavior of Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan. They argued that Ocalan, who has been in prison in Turkey since 1999, should be recognized as a "legitimate negotiating partner."

Cologne police put more than 1,000 officers in place. City police chief Juergen Mathies told news agency dpa that pictures of Ocalan were allowed but demonstrators would not be allowed to show symbols of the banned PKK, or Kurdistan Workers' Party.

Thousands of Kurds, including many carrying flags with the image of jailed PKK leader Abdullah Ocalan, demonstrate in Cologne, Germany, Saturday, Sept. 3, 2016. Organizers say Saturdays demonstration is aimed in part at protesting against Turkeys military intervention in northern Syria and what they call the dictatorial behavior of Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan. In background the Cologne cathedral. (AP Photo/Martin Meissner

Turnout at Saturday's event was estimated at close to 30,000, and there were no reports of significant trouble. A month ago, up to 40,000 people rallied at the same site to denounce the attempted military coup in Turkey and show support for Erdogan.

The PKK, which wants greater autonomy for Kurds living in Turkey, is considered a terrorist group by Turkey, the U.S. and the European Union.

A cease-fire between Turkey and the PKK collapsed last year. Last month, Turkey launched a cross-border operation whose aims include stalling Syrian Kurdish militants from seizing more ground in northern Syria.

Thousands of Kurds, including many carrying flags with the image of jailed PKK leader Abdullah Ocalan, demonstrate in Cologne, Germany, Saturday, Sept. 3, 2016. Organizers say Saturdays demonstration is aimed in part at protesting against Turkeys military intervention in northern Syria and what they call the dictatorial behavior of Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan. (AP Photo/Martin Meissner

Thousands of Kurds demonstrate in Cologne, Germany, Saturday, Sept. 3, 2016. Organizers say Saturdays demonstration is aimed in part at protesting against Turkeys military intervention in northern Syria and what they call the dictatorial behavior of Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan. (AP Photo/Martin Meissner
Turkish tanks cross into Syria in 'new phase' against IS

ISTANBUL (AP)  Turkish tanks crossed into Syria to the west of a frontier town seized from the Islamic State group last week, in a "new phase" of an operation aimed at sealing off the last stretch of border controlled by the extremists.

By nightfall, Syrian rebels backed by the Turkish forces seized seven villages from IS, according to local journalist Ahmad al-Khatib.

The private Dogan news agency reported at least 20 tanks and five armored personnel carriers crossed at the Turkish border town of Elbeyli, across from the Syrian rebel-held town of al-Rai. The new incursion is unfolding about 55 kilometers (34 miles) west of Jarablus, where Turkish forces first crossed into Syria 10 days ago.

A Turkish army tank stationed near the Syrian border, in Suruc, Turkey, Saturday, Sept. 3, 2016. Turkey's state-run news agency says Turkish tanks have entered Syria's Cobanbey district northeast of Aleppo in a "new phase" of the Euphrates Shield operation. Turkish tanks crossed into Syria Saturday to support Syrian rebels against the Islamic State group, according to the Anadolu news agency. (AP Photo)

A spokesman for one of Turkish-backed Syrian factions said 100 Turkish troops accompanied 30 tanks across the border, linking up with the rebels at al-Rai. He spoke on the condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to talk about the Turkish troops.

Rebels and Turkish forces are now advancing in two directions, to the east from al-Rai and to the west from Jarablus, to seal the border. The rebels advancing from Jarablus say they captured three more villages from the extremists on Saturday.

IS, which once controlled hundreds of miles of territory along the Turkish border and used it to bring in foreign fighters and supplies, now only rules a 21-kilometer (13-mile) stretch of the frontier. The group has suffered a string of defeats in recent months in both Syria and Iraq.

Some 5,000 U.S. and Turkish-backed Syrian rebels have crossed into northern Syria from Turkey to participate in the so-called Euphrates Shield operation, according to local journalist Adnan al-Hussein, who is embedded with the groups.

Three rockets fired from IS-held territory in Syria meanwhile struck the Turkish border town of Kilis, some 30 kilometers (19 miles) from Elbeyli, according to the Turkish governor's office, which said one person was lightly wounded. Dogan says rockets have killed 21 Kilis residents and wounded scores since January.

The Turkish military responded to the rockets on Saturday with howitzers, striking two weapons depots and bunkers, and "destroying the locations and the Daesh terrorists there," the state-run Anadolu news agency said, referring to IS by an Arabic acronym.

Turkey's military says its right to self-defense as well as U.N. resolutions to combat the IS group justify its Syria incursions.

Turkey and allied Syrian rebels have also fought U.S.-backed Kurdish forces known as the People's Protection Units, or YPG, around Jarablus. Turkey views the YPG as an extension of the Kurdistan Workers' Party, or PKK, which Turkey and its allies consider a terrorist organization.

The U.S. has provided extensive aid and airstrikes to the YPG-led Syria Democratic Forces, which have proven to be highly effective against IS. The Syria Democratic Forces, which also includes Arab fighters, has taking a large swath of territory from the extremists along the border with Turkey and closed in on Raqqa, the de facto capital of the extremist group's self-styled caliphate.

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Associated Press writer Philip Issa in Beirut contributed to this report.
Le Pen promises French referendum on EU if elected president

PARIS (AP)  The leader of France's far-right National Front set the tone for her campaign for the French presidency Saturday, calling to fight an Islamist "offensive" and promising to hold a nationwide referendum on European Union membership if she is elected next spring.

At a rally in a small eastern village, Marine Le Pen focused on her favorite issues, such as national sovereignty, immigration control, Islamism and what she calls "savage globalization."

The far-right candidate for the April-May election pledged to back the "France of the forgotten, the abandoned and the voiceless."

Le Pen, who announced her presidential bid months ago, delivered her annual speech in Brachay, a hamlet of a few dozen inhabitants and the French municipality where she symbolically won the largest share of votes in the last election.

Along with the economy, the relationship between France's Muslims and non-Muslims has been a recurring theme as presidential hopefuls have kicked off their campaigns. Le Pen claimed she was right before all other presidential hopefuls because her traditional issues are now at the center of the political debate and have found a "considerable resonance" among French voters.

Some politicians on the left say she is using the issue to encourage racism in France, yet polls suggest that she is increasingly likely to make it to the runoff in the presidential election.

Following the British precedent, Le Pen promised to hold a nationwide referendum on whether France should leave or remain in the European Union if she is elected president.

"I will do it in France," she said and hailed the British who had "the courage to choose their destiny" by voting to leave the EU.

Referring to the controversy over local French bans on the burkini swimwear, she denounced a "relegation of women behind fabrics" and said that women should have the same right as men "to enjoy the French way of life on the beach and at school, in the street and at work."

She said she fears "dress segregation" will eventually pave the way for a "physical and legal" relegation of women. "When are we going to have a ban on makeup? Then a ban (for women) to appear in public?" she asked.

The National Front leader also accused former French conservative president Nicolas Sarkozy, one of her potential presidential opponents, of pledging allegiance to a hard-line branch of Islam after he reportedly met the Saudi King in Morocco last month.

Le Pen branded the rise of Islamic fundamentalism as the "new totalitarianism of the 21st century" and suggested terrorists were hiding among migrants.

"The best weapon against terrorism is the ballot," she said.
Democrats counting on Indiana as they eye Senate takeover

INDIANAPOLIS (AP)  Republican Senate candidates around the country, from Wisconsin to Florida, are bracing for Donald Trump to lose their states, and they're looking for ways to win in spite of him.

In Indiana, GOP Senate nominee Todd Young is facing a completely different, but arguably even more frustrating challenge.

His opponent, former Democratic Sen. Evan Bayh, shocked Young and pretty much everyone else when he got into the race less than two months ago at the urging of Senate Democratic leaders. Bayh announced he'd changed his mind after retiring from Congress in a well-publicized burst of frustration six years ago, and wanted his old job back.

In this photo taken Aug. 29, 2016, Indiana Republican Senate candidate Todd Young, center, talks with apprentice electricians during a tour of the Associated Builders and Contractors Training Center in Indianapolis. Democrats are counting on a victory in Indiana as they strategize taking back the Senate majority with wins there and in Illinois, Wisconsin and elsewhere. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)

Since then, Bayh has barely talked about Trump, who's expected to win Indiana. But then Bayh barely talks about Young either, or really much about politics at all.

Instead Bayh, a youthful 60, is trying to cruise to victory on the strength of his own popularity from his years as Indiana's governor in the 1990s, and his family's long history in the state, where his father, Birch Bayh, also was a senator.

Evan Bayh avoids much contact with the media and instead pops up around the state almost unannounced to regale appreciative voters with anecdotes. About the time as a kid when Harry Truman walked him to the bathroom. About the white socks his father wore with a suit. About his 20-year-old twin sons' enormous appetites. About how he went to the new Jason Bourne movie ("which I'm not sure I'd advise"), only to be given, to his dismay, a senior ticket.

He started the campaign with a massive lead in fundraising and polls, and his strategy is plainly to run out the clock on the election before either advantage disappears.

The strategy exasperates Republicans, who have reams of opposition research about Bayh, much of it focused on the fact that he spent the past six years of his life living in multimillion-dollar residences not in Indiana. But the GOP may not have enough time to turn voters' views before the Nov. 8 election.

"He's running a campaign based on his dad's name, which is pretty sad," said Young, 44, a hard-working third-term congressman and former Marine who's not well-known outside his southern Indiana district. "Evan Bayh represents the old way of politics, the old way of doing things, and this is a change election. And I represent change."

Young was the easy favorite to win the seat after beating a tea party opponent in the May primary, but that was before Bayh got into the race. Since then, Republicans argue that they've given Bayh a tougher contest than he bargained for after not being on the ballot in 12 years.

Bayh acknowledges the campaigning seems rougher than before, but insists he doesn't regret getting back in.

"It's a lot nastier than I remember," Bayh said recently outside an Indianapolis senior center where many residents had personal stories to share about him. One remembered Bayh being born; another said Bayh officiated at her daughter's wedding.

"I'm doing this because I want to make a difference to the people of my state," Bayh said. "If I've got to put up with some of the nasty politics, well, then so be it."

Putting Indiana in their likely win column was a major coup for Democrats in this year's costly fight for Senate control. Republicans command a slim 54-46 majority, and Democrats need to pick up four seats to take back power if they hang onto the White House. The electoral map greatly favors Democrats this year, and Republicans are on defense on unfavorable terrain in a half-dozen states, including Illinois and Wisconsin, where Democrats lead in the polls.

The Wisconsin race also features a former senator trying to make a comeback, although Democrat Russ Feingold lost to the man he is now trying to replace, GOP Sen. Ron Johnson.

Intense struggles are underway in Nevada, where Minority Leader Harry Reid's retirement gave Republicans their one pickup opportunity, and in New Hampshire, Pennsylvania and Florida, where incumbent GOP Sen. Marco Rubio is seen as having an edge over Democratic Rep. Patrick Murphy.

Democratic hopes have faded in Ohio, where Sen. Rob Portman has run a strong campaign against former Democratic Gov. Ted Strickland. But Democrats are holding out hope for North Carolina, Missouri and Arizona, where GOP Sen. John McCain is seeking a sixth term.

Republicans acknowledge that in many of these states the outcome will depend on how Trump performs. If he manages to win or loses to Hillary Clinton only narrowly, Republicans could limit their losses or even potentially hang onto their majority. But if Trump ends up losing big, the marginal states could all fall to Democrats.

In many states, Republicans are working diligently to find Clinton voters who will also vote for a Republican for Senate.

In Indiana, by contrast, Young is trying to tie Bayh to Clinton, who is quite unpopular. Bayh says Clinton has "always been trustworthy in my dealings with her," and there's little evidence Young's strategy has worked so far in a state where Trump supporters who also plan to back Bayh are not hard to find.

"I'm voting for Trump. ... Usually I vote straight Republican," Sherrie Elliott, 56, an Indianapolis paralegal, said on a recent afternoon in Monument Circle downtown. But she's also considering casting her ballot for Bayh. "He always seemed nice and honest when he was our governor."

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This story has been corrected to reflect that Birch Bayh was a senator, not a governor and a senator. With BC-US--Senate 2016-Glance.

In this photo Aug. 30, 2016, Indiana Democratic Senate candidate Evan Byah talks with Phyllis Coombs as he campaigned in a senior living community in Indianapolis, Tuesday, Aug. 30, 2016. Democrats are counting on a victory in Indiana as they strategize taking back the Senate majority with wins there and in Illinois, Wisconsin and elsewhere. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)

In this photo taken Aug. 29, 2016, Indiana Republican Senate candidate Todd Young speaks after receiving the endorsement of the U.S. Chamber in Indianapolis. Caryl Auslander, Vice President, Indiana Chamber of Commerce is at the right. Democrats are counting on a victory in Indiana as they strategize taking back the Senate majority with wins there and in Illinois, Wisconsin and elsewhere. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)

In this photo taken Aug. 30, 2016, Indiana Democratic Senate candidate Evan Byah talks with Jack and Frances Abbott as he campaigned in a senior living community in Indianapolis. Democrats are counting on a victory in Indiana as they strategize taking back the Senate majority with wins there and in Illinois, Wisconsin and elsewhere. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)

In this photo taken Aug. 29, 2016, Indiana Republican Senate candidate Todd Young, right, talks with pipefitter apprentice Chris Byrd, of Indianapolis, as he tours the Associated Builders and Contractors Training Center in Indianapolis. Democrats are counting on a victory in Indiana as they strategize taking back the Senate majority with wins there and in Illinois, Wisconsin and elsewhere. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)
A look at top races in the fight for control of the Senate

A look at this year's top Senate races as Democrats to try take back control from Republicans, who now hold a majority in the chamber:

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INDIANA

This June 16, 2016 photo shows an exterior view of the Capitol Building in Washington. Republican Senate candidates around the country, from Wisconsin to Florida, are bracing for Donald Trump to lose their states, and looking for ways to win in spite of him. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite)

Democratic former Sen. Evan Bayh, who retired six years ago, is running to get his old seat back. He is favored over GOP Rep. Todd Young, a former Marine. Incumbent GOP Sen. Dan Coats is retiring.

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ILLINOIS

Incumbent GOP Sen. Mark Kirk is the most endangered Republican this year given Illinois' Democratic leanings in a presidential year. His Democratic opponent is Rep. Tammy Duckworth, a double-amputee war veteran.

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WISCONSIN

Wisconsin features a rematch between former Sen. Russ Feingold and GOP incumbent Sen. Ron Johnson, who defeated Feingold six years ago. Democrats are optimistic about the state.

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NEW HAMPSHIRE

GOP Sen. Kelly Ayotte is facing a tough challenge from Gov. Maggie Hassan. With two strong candidates in the race, Ayotte's challenge is overcoming Donald Trump's unpopularity in the state.

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PENNSYLVANIA

GOP Sen. Pat Toomey has broken with his party in support of limited gun control measures and refused to endorse Trump as he struggles for support from Democratic-leaning voters. He could have trouble surviving a big Trump loss. His opponent is Democrat Katie McGinty, a former gubernatorial chief of staff.

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FLORIDA

GOP Sen. Marco Rubio announced his retirement from the Senate in an unsuccessful bid for the White House, but like Bayh on the Democratic side, he got back into the race at the urging of party leaders. He is slightly favored over Democratic Rep. Patrick Murphy.

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NEVADA

The retirement of Senate Minority Leader Harry Reid gives Republicans their one pickup opportunity. They are bullish about their candidate, GOP Rep. Joe Heck, but the race is shaping as a hard-fought toss-up with former state Attorney General Catherine Cortez Masto.

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OHIO

Democrats had high hopes for defeating GOP Sen. Rob Portman but he's run a strong and disciplined campaign, and former Democratic Gov. Ted Strickland has failed to gain traction.

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NORTH CAROLINA

Both parties are keeping an eye on GOP Sen. Richard Burr's re-election race as a potential surprise. His Democratic opponent is former state legislator Deborah Ross, a former official with the American Civil Liberties Union. In a sign of GOP nervousness, a Republican-leaning group plans to spend $8.1 million on television ads.

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MISSOURI

Republicans are confident that incumbent GOP Sen. Roy Blunt will keep his seat, but Democrats are enthusiastic about their young candidate, Missouri Secretary of State Jason Kander.

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ARIZONA

Republican Sen. John McCain, 80 and seeking his sixth term, faces a spirited challenge from Democratic Rep. Ann Kirkpatrick in a state with a significant Hispanic population.

In this photo taken Aug. 30, 2016, Indiana Democratic Senate candidate Evan Byah talks with Jack and Frances Abbott as he campaigned in a senior living community in Indianapolis. Democrats are counting on a victory in Indiana as they strategize taking back the Senate majority with wins there and in Illinois, Wisconsin and elsewhere. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)
Nigeria's urgent polio vaccination drive targets 25 million

MAIDUGURI, Nigeria (AP)  An emergency polio vaccination campaign aimed at reaching 25 million children this year has begun in parts of Nigeria newly freed from Boko Haram Islamic extremists, with fears that many more cases of the crippling disease will likely be found.

Two toddlers discovered last month were Nigeria's first reported polio cases in more than two years, putting the world on alert just months after the African continent was declared free of the disease.

One member of the Rotary Club's "End Polio Now" drive said he almost cried when he got the news. It was a major blow to global efforts to stamp out polio, which persists in only two other countries, Pakistan and Afghanistan.

In this photo taken on Saturday, Aug. 27, 2016, a health official administers a polio vaccine to a child at a camp for people displaced by Islamist Extremist in Maiduguri, Nigeria. An emergency polio vaccination campaign aimed at reaching 25 million children this year has begun in parts of Nigeria newly freed from Boko Haram Islamic extremists, with fears that many more cases of the crippling disease are likely to be found. (AP Photo/Sunday Alamba)

The Associated Press joined the vaccination drive in northeastern Nigeria, a campaign going to extraordinary lengths to fight the disease in areas still threatened by Boko Haram extremists who violently oppose Western medicine.

Health workers using military helicopters, all-terrain vehicles and even tricycle taxis vaccinated about 1.5 million children in the past week alone, starting in the refugee camps where the new cases surfaced.

The World Health Organization has said the two new cases indicate the wild polio virus has been circulating for five years in northeastern Borno state, where Boko Haram began its uprising in 2009.

More cases are expected to surface as Nigeria's military forces Boko Haram out of more towns and villages, said Dr. Tunji Funsho, head of Rotary's polio eradication drive.

Just 20 years ago, this West African nation was considered the world's epicenter of polio, recording 1,000 cases a year. Men and women with twisted limbs crawling along the roadside to beg are still a common sight. A global drive to end polio began in 1988, when the highly contagious disease was endemic in 125 countries.

Though progress has been made, wiping out polio probably will not be possible without ending the unrest tied to Islamic extremism that prevents vaccination in the three countries where the virus still is endemic, according to a new report from U.S.-based risk analysis group Stratfor.

"Boko Haram is largely responsible for the insecurity that has hamstrung vaccination efforts in Nigeria," the report said. "Though the group has weakened since the start of 2015 ... as long as this security risk remains, so, too, will the risk that Nigeria's latest run-in with polio will not be its last."

Boko Haram is in retreat but remains deadly. In July, militants attacked a humanitarian convoy near Maiduguri, the region's largest city, leading the United Nations to suspend aid to newly liberated areas where it says half a million people are starving.

Boko Haram's opposition to all things Western reached new heights in 2013 when militants shot and killed nine women vaccinating children against polio in northern Kano, Nigeria's second largest city.

Over the years, the vaccination campaign has had to fight rumors that the vaccine was a plot to sterilize Muslims, which it overcame by winning over religious and traditional leaders and grassroots women's groups.

"Yes, it's a major setback, but we are not defeatist," Funsho declared of the latest cases. He looked over a map of Borno state that showed only a small southern section as "accessible," most of the sprawling state "partially accessible" and a band in the north bordering Niger, Cameroon and Chad as "inaccessible" because of Boko Haram fighters.

Over the past week, hundreds of health workers from the government, the United Nations and aid organizations spread out across Borno state, delivering the vaccinations through drops on the tongue.

Military armored cars and truckloads of soldiers guarded trips into precarious areas. They included the town of Chibok, where nearly 300 schoolgirls were kidnapped in April 2014, shocking the world. More than 200 remain missing. Boko Haram extremists attacked a village near Chibok last week, killing 11 people.

For areas too dangerous to reach by road, helicopters delivered vaccines to already trained people on the ground, to avoid suspicion of strangers, said Rotary field coordinator Aminu Muhammad.

"We've even been able to reach a couple of areas that we had been told by the military were inaccessible, after community leaders informed us we could get through," Muhammad said proudly.

"Still, there were some major communities outside the metropolitan areas that we were unable to reach," Muhammad said.

He could not estimate costs for the massive campaign because organizations like the U.S. Centers for Disease Control, the U.N. children's agency and London-based Save the Children all are participating with their own budgets.

Most vaccinators are women because men traditionally are not allowed into the home of a Muslim woman if her husband is absent.

One campaign member, Maryam Kawule of the Core Group, led green-veiled young women ticking off family names handwritten in an exercise book. "We do the preliminary work of counting the children, and we're here now to ensure every kid under 5 gets his or her vaccination," she said.

It doesn't end there. The polio vaccine has to be administered at least three times to each child, and up to five times in endemic areas, so more rounds are planned next year.

In this photo taken on Saturday, Aug. 28, 2016, a child cries after she was administered with a polio vaccine during a house to house vaccination exercise in Maiduguri, Nigeria. An emergency polio vaccination campaign aimed at reaching 25 million children this year has begun in parts of Nigeria newly freed from Boko Haram Islamic extremists, with fears that many more cases of the crippling disease are likely to be found. (AP Photo/Sunday Alamba)

In this Sunday, Aug. 28, 2016 photo, a health official administers a polio vaccine to a child at a camp for people displaced by Islamist Extremists, in Maiduguri, Nigeria. An emergency polio vaccination campaign aimed at reaching 25 million children this year has begun in parts of Nigeria newly freed from Boko Haram Islamic extremists, with fears that many more cases of the crippling disease are likely to be found. (AP Photo/Sunday Alamba)

In this photo taken on Sunday, Aug. 28, 2016,h ealth officials wait for a briefing before administering polio vaccinations, at a camp for people displaced by Islamist Extremist in Maiduguri, Nigeria. An emergency polio vaccination campaign aimed at reaching 25 million children this year has begun in parts of Nigeria newly freed from Boko Haram Islamic extremists, with fears that many more cases of the crippling disease are likely to be found. (AP Photo/Sunday Alamba)

In this photo taken on Sunday, Aug. 28, 2016, a health official inks a child finger to indicate she has been administered with a polio vaccine, at a camp of people displaced by Islamist extremist in Maiduguri, Nigeria. An emergency polio vaccination campaign aimed at reaching 25 million children this year has begun in parts of Nigeria newly freed from Boko Haram Islamic extremists, with fears that many more cases of the crippling disease are likely to be found. (AP Photo/Sunday Alamba)

In this photo taken on Sunday, Aug. 28, 2016, a health official writes a date on a wall of a house after administering a polio vaccine in Maiduguri, Nigeria. An emergency polio vaccination campaign aimed at reaching 25 million children this year has begun in parts of Nigeria newly freed from Boko Haram Islamic extremists, with fears that many more cases of the crippling disease are likely to be found. (AP Photo/Sunday Alamba)

In this photo taken on Sunday, Aug. 28, 2016 health officials administers polio vaccine to children at a camp for people displaced by Islamist Extremist in Maiduguri, Nigeria, Sunday Aug. 28, 2016. Health workers using military helicopters, all-terrain vehicles and tricycle taxis vaccinated hundreds of thousands of children this week, fighting the return of crippling polio in areas newly freed from Boko Haram extremists who violently oppose Western medicine. (AP Photo/Sunday Alamba)

In this photo taken Saturday, Aug. 27, 2016, a polio campaigner smiles, during a polio vaccination excise in Maiduguri, Nigeria. An emergency polio vaccination campaign aimed at reaching 25 million children this year has begun in parts of Nigeria newly freed from Boko Haram Islamic extremists, with fears that many more cases of the crippling disease are likely to be found. (AP Photo/Sunday Alamba)

In this photo taken on Sunday, Aug. 28, 2016, a health official administers a polio vaccine to children at a camp for people displaced by Islamist Extremist in Maiduguri, Nigeria. An emergency polio vaccination campaign aimed at reaching 25 million children this year has begun in parts of Nigeria newly freed from Boko Haram Islamic extremists, with fears that many more cases of the crippling disease are likely to be found. (AP Photo/Sunday Alamba)

In this photo taken on Tuesday, Aug. 30, 2016, Gambo Bukar, left and Palmata Bukar, right, parents of Idrisa Gambo, a recent polio case victim, sit during an interview at Muna camp for people displaced by Islamist Extremist in Maiduguri, Nigeria, Tuesday Aug. 30, 2016. An emergency polio vaccination campaign aimed at reaching 25 million children this year has begun in parts of Nigeria newly freed from Boko Haram Islamic extremists, with fears that many more cases of the crippling disease are likely to be found. (AP Photo/Sunday Alamba)
Viking ship heading down Erie Canal, to reach NYC Thursday

LITTLE FALLS, N.Y. (AP)  A Viking ship is heading down the Erie Canal.

The 114-foot-long Draken sailed from Norway to North America this summer. The hand-built wooden ship has a stunning red sail and a carved dragon figurehead, but they had to be taken down so the craft could pass under bridges over the canal.

The ship is having deck tours at several stops along the canal. It's scheduled to spend this weekend at Little Falls, New York, and arrive at the Hudson Maritime Center in Kingston, New York, on Friday. It will stay there until the following Thursday, then head to New York City.

FILE - In this July 19, 2016 file photo, The Draken Harald Harfagre departs Bay City, Mich., on the Saginaw River. The Viking ship is heading down the Erie Canal the weekend of Sept. 3. The 114-foot-long Draken sailed from Norway to North America this summer. The hand-built wooden ship has a stunning red sail and a carved dragon figurehead, but they had to be taken down so the craft could pass under bridges over the canal. (Jacob Hamilton/The Bay City Times-MLive.com via AP)
Clinton enters fall with key advantages in White House race

COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP)  Two months from Election Day, Hillary Clinton has a clear edge over Donald Trump in nearly every measure traditionally used to gauge success in presidential races.

She's raising huge sums of money and flooding airwaves with television advertisements. A sophisticated data team with a history of winning White House contests is meticulously tracking voters in key battleground states. Clinton also has multiple paths to the 270 electoral votes needed to win in November  so many that she could lose Ohio and Florida and still become America's first female president.

But Trump's campaign believes there are pockets of voters eager to be persuaded not to back Clinton. While Trump squandered a summer's worth of opportunities to court those voters, his campaign heads into the fall suddenly confident in its ability to make up lost ground.

Phone volunteer James McMillian of Newark, Ohio, makes a call seeking support for Hillary Clinton at the Ohio Together Hillary Clinton campaign office in Newark, Ohio, Thursday, Sept. 1, 2016. Two months from Election Day, Hillary Clinton holds a clear advantage over Donald Trump in nearly every measure traditionally used to gauge success in presidential races. But of all her advantages, one of Clintons biggest may be Trumps inability to capitalize on her most glaring weakness: Many Americans question her character and find her untrustworthy. (AP Photo/Paul Vernon)

Trump aides were gleeful Friday over the release of FBI notes regarding Clinton's controversial email practices while secretary of state. His campaign plans to come out of the Labor Day weekend wielding the report as a warning about the Democrat's judgment.

Getting Trump to make that kind of consistent case against Clinton has been a herculean task for much of the campaign. But advisers say he's more receptive to his new leadership team's more scripted approach, mostly because it's coincided with a tightening in the public polls he monitors obsessively.

"There's a renewed focus on Hillary Clinton and her problems, which I think has been beneficial," said Matt Borges, the chairman of Ohio's Republican Party. "He's got to sustain this for another couple weeks."

Still, Trump aides acknowledge that the brash businessman needs to do more to address his own shaky standing with voters.

Trump's campaign has spent no general election money on positive, biographical ads, despite having plenty of cash to do so. Efforts to highlight a warmer side of the New York real estate developer at the GOP convention were quickly overshadowed by flaps of his own making. He's also angered anew Hispanics voters, a fast-growing segment of the electorate that Republicans are desperate to draw from, by holding fast to his tough immigration policies.

"He's running up against a population trend and a demographic reality," said Steve Schale, a Florida-based Democratic strategist.

If Trump can reshape the race, he'll need to do so quickly. Early voting begins in some states this month. North Carolinians can start submitting absentee ballots Friday. In Ohio  a state no Republican has won the White House without  people can start voting on Oct. 12, a week before the last of three presidential debates.

Both campaigns expect enormous audiences for the debates. Clinton, who has been in intensive study sessions with her debate team in recent days, is sure to face higher expectations from voters. Trump's political inexperience leaves him with a lower bar to clear.

Privately, Republican leaders say it will take more than strong debates for their nominee to alter a race that appears to be leaning in Clinton's favor. While Trump publicly maintains support from numerous high-ranking GOP officials, a striking number of discussions among Republicans in Washington often begin with an assumption that Clinton will be president come January.

Trump advisers vigorously dispute that the race has slipped from their grasp. They contend most Americans are just now tuning into the presidential campaign in a serious way.

"We're very much on schedule to do what we need to do to turn out the vote for Mr. Trump," said Bob Paduchik, Trump's Ohio state director and one of the most experienced operatives on the Republican's staff. Paduchik said Trump's efforts heading into the fall are focused primarily on rallying "disaffected Democrats and independents."

Clinton's campaign has long argued that Trump is overestimating the number of voters willing to switch from voting Democratic in presidential election to Republican. But Clinton aides are monitoring movement toward a pair of third party candidates, Libertarian Gary Johnson and the Green Party's Jill Stein.

"There's no question you've got two candidates who are both underwater on their favorables right now," Joel Benenson, Clinton's chief strategist and pollster, said by way of explaining the appeal of Johnson and Stein. "I think it's important as this gets closer that people understand the stakes and the importance of their vote."

Clinton and running mate Tim Kaine will have an all-star stable of Democrats making that case on their behalf through the fall.

President Barack Obama is expected to spend much of October campaigning for Clinton, focusing in particular on increasing turnout among young people, blacks and college-educated whites. Vice President Joe Biden will camp out in working class areas of Ohio and Pennsylvania. Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders, Clinton's vanquished primary rival, will be rallying the young voters and liberals who backed his campaign.

Trump will be largely on his own, with the exception of running mate Mike Pence and a few loyal supporters such as New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie and former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani. In the battle for control of the Senate, most Republicans in competitive races have stayed away from Trump.

Democrats now see a clear path to taking back control of the Senate, with party leaders identifying Illinois, Indiana, Wisconsin and Pennsylvania as favorable opportunities to pick up seats. Democrats are also confident that if Clinton wins in some of the most contested state such as New Hampshire, North Carolina and Nevada, she'll bring along the party's Senate candidates.

There are bright spots for Republicans in the Senate contests. Sen. Rob Portman of Ohio is running a campaign that mirrors Clinton's more than Trump's  disciplined, well-funded, and heavily centered on data  and appears on track to hold his seat, even if Clinton carries the state in the presidential race.

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Associated Press writer Chad Day in Washington contributed to this report.

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Follow Julie Pace at http://twitter.com/jpaceDC

Phone volunteers Dy' Sheam West, right, of Jacksontown, Ohio, Terry Flash, center, of Buckeye Lake, Ohio, and Charlyn Rusk of Johnstown, Ohio, make calls seeking support for Hillary Clinton at the Ohio Together Hillary Clinton campaign office in Newark, Ohio, Thursday, Sept. 1, 2016. Two months from Election Day, Hillary Clinton holds a clear advantage over Donald Trump in nearly every measure traditionally used to gauge success in presidential races. But of all her advantages, one of Clintons biggest may be Trumps inability to capitalize on her most glaring weakness: Many Americans question her character and find her untrustworthy. (AP Photo/Paul Vernon)

Phone volunteers Deborah Bennett of Thornville, Ohio, left, and Charlyn Rusk of Johnstown, Ohio, talk about a call list at the Ohio Together Hillary Clinton campaign office in Newark, Ohio, Thursday, Sept. 1, 2016. Two months from Election Day, Hillary Clinton holds a clear advantage over Donald Trump in nearly every measure traditionally used to gauge success in presidential races. But of all her advantages, one of Clintons biggest may be Trumps inability to capitalize on her most glaring weakness: Many Americans question her character and find her untrustworthy. (AP Photo/Paul Vernon)
What's on Hillary Clinton's to-do list before Election Day?

WASHINGTON (AP)  Hillary Clinton will celebrate Labor Day with an edge over rival Donald Trump in any number of the most competitive states, even as she struggles with the challenge of sealing the deal with large groups of voters who consider her dishonest and untrustworthy.

Clinton's experience as secretary of state and her handle on domestic policy make her the favorite in three presidential debates beginning later this month. She has appeared in more than 30 as a presidential candidate in 2008 and 2016.

But she still has work to do.

Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton looks up to audience members as she leaves a campaign event at Truckee Meadows Community College in Reno, Nev., Thursday, Aug. 25, 2016. Clinton enters Labor Day with an edge over rival Donald Trump in a series of battleground states. But she still faces major challenges with voters who view her as untrustworthy. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster)

A look at Clinton's Labor Day to Election Day to-do list:

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DOMINATE THE DEBATES

Millions of voters will watch the debates, which offer her an opportunity and a challenge.

She needs to prepare for a candidate who's the most unpredictable nominee in decades.

She also needs to prevent Trump from using the televised forums to present himself as a plausible commander in chief, and from turning them into referendums on President Barack Obama's two terms and Clinton's decades in politics.

Clinton acknowledges that the debates could be pivotal. She told donors last weekend, "Somebody said to me, 'Well, remember, there'll be a lot of people watching.' One hundred million people watching. And 60 million will be paying attention to the campaign for the first time."

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CHART A PATH TO 270

Clinton has an edge in most of the highly contested states, the roughly dozen or so where the election will be decided. Her campaign is trying to keep open as many paths as possible through those states to reach the decisive 270 electoral votes needed to win.

She enters the fall with a decided advantage, both in terms of history and in this year's campaign. If Clinton can hold onto the set of states that every Democratic presidential nominee has won since 2000, she starts with 242 electoral votes.

Beyond those states, preference polls show her ahead in Virginia and Colorado, and competing in close contests in North Carolina, Florida and Ohio. Applying pressure on Trump, Clinton is advertising in GOP-leaning Arizona and in an Omaha, Nebraska, congressional district.

If Clinton can keep open as many routes to victory, she will make it difficult for Trump to chart a way to 270. That will make it hard for him to convince fellow Republicans who are worried about maintaining their congressional majorities that he can win.

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EXPECT THE UNEXPECTED

Clinton's campaign is bracing itself for some type of 'October surprise"  an unexpected event that requires the nominee to adjust in the pressure-cooker of the campaign's final days.

Clinton must be able to deftly deal with such a development, and there are plenty of contenders on the horizon.

The State Department is expected to release some of the 15,000 emails from Clinton's time there that have yet to be made publicly available.

WikiLeaks has threatened to release more damaging information before the end of the election.

She'll need to make sure any new revelations don't further damage the public's view of Clinton, which isn't particularly strong for a candidate seen as ahead on Labor Day.

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TURNOUT, TURNOUT, TURNOUT

Clinton's campaign needs to maximize voter turnout among members of the "Obama coalition"  the legions of black, Latino, unmarried women and young voters who powered him to two decisive victories.

Trump has sought in recent days to turn around his dismal standing among minorities. But the negative tone of the campaign could dampen turnout and make Clinton's task more difficult.

Clinton also aims to make the most of early voting in a number of critical states, replicating a strategy that worked well for Obama.

She will have plenty of help: Obama and Vice President Joe Biden are hitting the road on her behalf and she can also rely on her husband, former President Bill Clinton.

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TRUSTWORTHINESS

Questions about Clinton's honesty and trustworthiness have dogged her throughout the campaign and she can ill afford to have more voters view her in a negative way.

Her saving grace during the campaign has been Trump's high negative ratings, untrustworthiness and penchant for saying provocative things that have turned off many voters.

But more revelations about her private email server or the Clinton Foundation could reinforce the perception that she's not trustworthy.

On Friday, the FBI released notes from its investigation of her email use as secretary of state. It's the kind of day Clinton needs to avoid.

Even if she wins in November, this is a problem could haunt Clinton in the White House. That's why she needs to start chipping away at her trust deficit now, so that if elected, she will have some public goodwill as she tries to lead the nation and work with Congress.

Clinton could find it difficult to enact her agenda if questions about her honesty linger as president.

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Address rape victims of South Sudan hotel rampage, US says

JUBA, South Sudan (AP)  The U.S. ambassador to the United Nations is calling for an independent commission to take testimony from rape victims of a rampage by South Sudanese soldiers at a hotel compound popular with foreigners.

Ambassador Samantha Power spoke Saturday as the U.N. Security Council visited the country on the brink of renewed civil war. Fighting in the capital, Juba, in July killed hundreds.

Meeting with South Sudan's Council of Ministers, Power urged the government to hold accountable the soldiers who attacked the Terrain compound during the chaos, targeting Americans and raping women.

An Associated Press investigation found that victims also were beaten and forced to watch a local journalist be shot dead.

South Sudan has set up a commission of inquiry into the attack amid concerns about its transparency. Power said many victims of the "ghastly acts" feel frightened to come forward for fear of retaliation.

Power also called for accountability for attacks on civilians. Another AP investigation found South Sudanese soldiers raped several local women and girls outside a U.N. camp in July.

"We've met with women who described a huge surge in sexual violence against women who leave the camp in order to try to get firewood," Power said after Security Council members visited the camp where tens of thousands shelter.

"As a mother, I can't imagine that choice - a choice in whether I cook for my kids or whether I risk sexual violence outside the camp," Power said. "I know I would go and take that risk for my children. I think any mother would."

Several dozen camp residents demonstrated in support of the deployment of 4,000 additional peacekeepers approved last month by the council.

South Sudan's government has objected to the force.
Protesters reportedly insult Venezuela leader during visit

CARACAS, Venezuela (AP)  Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro reportedly was greeted by angry pot-banging protesters during a visit to Margarita Island.

Grainy cellphone videos said to be from the Friday night encounter were picked up by Venezuelan news sites and were trending on social media. The socialist leader is seen jogging through a crowd as residents loudly bang on pots and hurl obscenities.

His visit to Margarita Island earlier Friday evening was broadcast nationwide. Images of the protest were later posted by residents of the town where it reportedly occurred.

FILE - In this April 12, 2016 file photo, Venezuela's President Nicolas Maduro speaks during the installation of a truth commission, at Miraflores presidential palace in Caracas, Venezuela. Opponents of President Nicolas Maduro promise to flood the streets of Caracas on Thursday, Sept. 1, in a major test of their strength and the governments ability to tolerate growing dissent. (AP Photo/Ariana Cubillos, File)

Maduro supporters sought to cast doubt about what happened, with one pro-government lawmaker posting on social media a short, edited video of what looks like the same appearance and in which Maduro can be seen greeting well-wishers as he jogs through the crowd with his fist raised.

There was no immediate government reaction.

The opposition said the protest illustrated the widespread anger among Venezuelans for Maduro during the country's economic crisis.
Analysis: 10 states still haven't elected minority statewide

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (AP)  Nearly two centuries after Missouri gained statehood as part of a compromise over slave ownership, no black candidate has ever won a statewide election there  a barrier Robin Smith is trying to overcome but seldom discusses publicly.

According to an analysis by The Associated Press, Missouri is one of 10 states since Reconstruction where only white candidates have won contests for president, senator, governor and other nonjudicial offices elected statewide. The others are Alabama, Arkansas, Nebraska, North Dakota, South Dakota, Tennessee, West Virginia, Wyoming and Mississippi, which had the nation's first two black senators in the 1870s when those seats were chosen by legislators rather than popularly elected.

Just making it to the general election puts Smith, the Democratic candidate for secretary of state, in rare political company. The only previous minority candidate to have won a major party's nomination for statewide office in Missouri was Alan Wheat  a black former Democratic congressman from Kansas City who lost the 1994 Senate race to former Republican Gov. John Ashcroft. Ashcroft's son, Jay Ashcroft, now is running against Smith.

FILE _ This undated file photo provided by the Smith campaign shows retired St. Louis television news anchor Robin Smith, the Democratic candidate running for Missouri secretary of state. Nearly two centuries after Missouri gained statehood as part of a compromise over slave ownership, no black candidate has ever won a statewide election there _ a barrier Smith is trying to overcome but seldom discusses publicly. (Suzy Gorman/Smith campaign via AP, File)

"Race never came up, so I brought it up," Wheat said of his campaign. "I knew it was on people's minds, and I wanted to openly discuss it so that any questions people had about it could be answered and satisfied."

Smith, a longtime TV news reporter and anchor in St. Louis, has taken a more reserved approach when addressing the topic. Although she spoke generally with the AP about making the political system more inclusive, she frequently changed the subject when asked about the historical ramifications of her campaign. Campaign manager Kirk Clay said she does not talk about race on the campaign trail either.

Smith and West Virginia auditor candidate Mary Ann Claytor are the only black candidates for statewide office who will appear on the ballot this November as major party nominees in the 10 states where no minority has ever won such a race. Four American Indian candidates are running for statewide office in the Dakotas. All are Democrats.

Statewide posts aren't the only elected positions in which minority representation has lagged. An AP analysis published in June found non-Hispanic whites make up a little over 60 percent of the U.S. population but hold more than 80 percent of all congressional and state legislative seats.

Mark Sawyer, director of the Center for the Study of Race, Ethnicity and Politics at UCLA, said progress for minorities on the statewide level has stalled since a wave of moderate, black officials was elected in the 1980s.

While statewide elected officials often climb the political ladder after first getting elected to local offices, Sawyer said white candidates are more likely than minorities to follow that pipeline. Minority candidates have enjoyed more success in local elections in areas with large numbers of black or Hispanic residents, he said, and those offices don't always offer a clear transition to a statewide job.

Artur Davis, a black, former four-term congressman in Alabama, said race was a "continual factor" in his unsuccessful bid to win the Democratic nomination for governor in 2010. Davis said he considered it "coded" language when his opponent and others suggested he couldn't win statewide in Alabama, where more than a quarter of the population is black.

"It's very challenging to go from representing a primarily African-American district to a statewide environment in the South," Davis said. "... Once you become identified or tabbed politically as a spokesperson for a race, it obviously becomes very difficult to broaden your political appeal beyond that race."

Other hurdles cited by candidates, political scientists and other experts include the expense of running for office, minority candidates' tendency to run as Democrats even in strongly Republican-leaning states and the lack of minorities in elected office who could help others break into politics.

Beyond the 10 states that have never elected a minority in a nonjudicial statewide race, six others had been included on the list before backing Barack Obama for president  Iowa, Maine, Minnesota, New Hampshire, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin.

There is no official list of minority officeholders or candidates because most states don't track by race, and even the definition of minority can vary. For example, South Dakota previously elected two Lebanese-American candidates as U.S. senators. The U.S. Census Bureau currently classifies those of Middle Eastern and North African descent as white rather than minorities, and the Senate's website doesn't include them on its list of minorities to serve in the chamber.

Of the states where voters have elected minority candidates to statewide office, several picked lieutenant governors who ran on a ticket with a white candidate. Kentucky only last year elected its first black candidate to statewide office. That was Republican Lt. Gov. Jenean Hampton, who ran with Gov. Matt Bevin.

Claytor, the auditor candidate in West Virginia, said there's "probably always a chance" some voters might not pick her because of her race. But she said she was accepted while working in the auditor's office and now is stressing that voters should choose based on candidates' qualifications.

"Would you rather them have specific governmental accounting knowledge, or are you going to hold these things against them that has nothing to do with performing the job?" she said.

In 2008, Denise Juneau became the first American Indian woman in the nation elected to statewide office when she won her campaign for Montana superintendent of public instruction.

Juneau, who is now running for Montana's lone U.S. House seat, said the country has a long way to go before the minorities in public office are reflective of the population. But she said it's important that minority candidates break barriers. At least in her case, Juneau said her success made the hurdle appear a little less daunting for others who might someday seek to follow in her footsteps.

"This is a game-changer about the perspective of what's possible for their future," she said.
'Our cause is just,' says tribal leader in pipeline protest

STANDING ROCK SIOUX RESERVATION, N.D. (AP)  High on a hill overlooking the confluence of the Missouri and Cannonball rivers, Dave Archambault II knelt and touched a stone that bears a handprint worn into it by thousands of his ancestors who have done the same for centuries.

There, the leader of the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe said a prayer for peace.

Below, Archambault can see Native Americans from across North America gathered at an encampment a half-mile away, joining his tribe's growing protest against a $3.8 billion four-state oil pipeline that will cross the Missouri River nearby. It's a project they fear will disturb sacred sites and impact drinking water for thousands of tribal members on the Standing Rock Sioux Reservation and millions further downstream.

In this Aug. 26, 2016, photo, Standing Rock Sioux Chairman Dave Archambault II poses for a photo near Cannon Ball., N.D., on the Standing Rock Sioux Reservation overlooking an encampment where Native Americans from across North America have gathered to join his tribe's growing protest against a $3.8 billion four-state oil pipeline. About 30 people, including Archambault himself, have been arrested in recent weeks for interfering with construction of the Dakota Access pipeline. (AP Photo/James MacPherson)

"Our cause is just," the laconic, soft-spoken 45-year-old said. "What we do today will make a difference for future generations."

His contemporaries say he's the right person at the right time to lead the fight, which has led to the arrests of about 30 people, Archambault included, for interfering with construction of the Dakota Access pipeline.

Since becoming the leader of about 9,000 people in 2013, Archambault has sought to improve housing, health care, employment, education and other grim realities that his 2.3 million-acre reservation that straddles the North and South Dakota border and reservations nationwide face.

Now, he's dealing with added pressure of the pipeline, which he has called yet another "historic wrong" involving tribal sovereignty and land rights.

The Standing Rock Sioux Tribe sued federal regulators for approving the pipeline, challenging the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers' decision to grant permits. The company has temporarily halted construction, and a federal judge will rule before Sept. 9 on whether that break will last.

Archambault and others also have been sued by Dallas-based Energy Transfer Partners for interfering with the pipeline, which will pass through Iowa, Illinois, North Dakota and South Dakota.

Former North Dakota U.S. Attorney Tim Purdon, who is representing Archambault and other tribal leaders in that suit, told The Associated Press that it's nothing more than an attempt to silence the tribal leader.

"I think they think he is a voice for the people that no one can control," Purdon said. "From the first day I met him, I could tell he is a very serious person who really has the best interests of his people  and the people of North Dakota  at heart. What I see now is the same thing: He is focused on what he believes is best."

Archambault has for years spoke of concerns among the leaders of North Dakota's five American Indian reservations about "the increasing number of environmental incidents" in western North Dakota's oil patch  far from his own territory. He appealed to lawmakers to do more to protect public safety and the environment.

That was before his tribe was aware of the Dakota Access pipeline, for which developers have promised safeguards, noting that workers monitoring the pipeline remotely in Texas could stop any leak within three minutes.

It's not enough for Archambault, who worries a breach would destroy sacred sites and ancestral burial grounds well beyond the reservation's boundaries.

"Anything that is man-made is going to come apart," he said, pointing to a 2013 spill in northwestern North Dakota that was among the largest inland spills in North America. It was discovered only after a farmer got his tractor stuck in the muck while harvesting wheat; it's only half cleaned up, despite crews working around the clock since it happened, state health officials say.

Archambault has the full backing of the leader of North Dakota's oil-rich Mandan, Hidatsa and Arikara Nation.

"Standing Rock is standing for something and we're there standing with them," Three Affiliated Tribes Chairman Mark Fox said. His reservation produces about 20 percent of the state's daily oil output.

"We want oil production but we want it done responsibly and respectfully," Fox said. "Our basic position ... is to figure another way around the river and the reservation. There are other ways."

Fox called Archambault a lifelong friend who he says has become "weary but remains strong" and is "under a heavy burden."

Still, Archambault is clearly buoyed by the scores of protesters who have come to help his tribe's fight. On a recent afternoon, Monte Lovejoy, a member of the Oglala Sioux tribe on the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation in South Dakota, embraced Archambault and thanked him.

"I really couldn't afford to come up here," he told Archambault, whom he'd never met before. "But I really couldn't afford not to, for my kids and for my people."
After Brazil's Rousseff ousted, what about corruption probe?

RIO DE JANEIRO (AP)  When Brazilian President Dilma Rousseff was kicked out of power, she became the biggest casualty of a massive corruption probe that is roiling Latin America's largest country  even though she was never personally implicated in the scheme.

With Rousseff's permanent departure from the presidency on Wednesday, the big question is: What happens now to the investigation at the state oil company Petrobras?

Many of the lawmakers who voted to remove Rousseff are under investigation themselves in the scandal involving billions of dollars of kickbacks. Rousseff has charged that corrupt lawmakers wanted her out to halt the Petrobras probe.

In this Wednesday, Aug. 31, 2016 photo, Brazil's President Michel Temer, center, is surrounded by senators as he arrives to take the presidential oath at the National Congress, in Brasilia, Brazil. Several dozen of the lawmakers who voted earlier in the day to remove President Dilma Rousseff are under investigation in the scandal involving billions of dollars of kickbacks. Rousseff has charged that corrupt lawmakers wanted her out to halt the Petrobras probe. But if the intention was to sweep the probe under the rug, its too late, say law professors, corruption experts and political analysts. (AP Photo/Eraldo Peres)

But if the intention was to sweep everything under the rug, it's too late, say law professors, corruption experts and political analysts.

"Politicians have lost control over that investigation," said Carlos Pereira, a public administration professor at the Getulio Vargas Foundation, a think tank and university in Rio de Janeiro. "(Lawmakers) know they cannot interfere."

Indeed, between Rousseff's suspension in May for breaking fiscal laws in managing the budget and the final judgment against her on Wednesday, prosecutors doubled the number of politicians and people connected to them under investigation, according to the attorney general's latest numbers.

Within a month after Rousseff was suspended in May and her vice president Michel Temer took over on an interim basis, three members of his new Cabinet were forced to resign because of corruption allegations. Temer took over permanently with Rousseff's ouster.

Known as "Car Wash," the corruption case came to light after authorities discovered a ring of money launderers in gas stations and car washes. That led them to a much larger scheme: construction companies that paid bribes to high-ranking politicians in exchange for inflated contracts with Petrobras. The operation was so large  some $2 billion in bribes over a decade  that Petrobras even had a department dedicated to distributing illicit payments, prosecutors say.

While Rousseff has never been implicated, many accuse her of trying to protect her mentor and predecessor, former President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, who was charged in July with obstruction of justice in the probe. Many Brazilians also blame her for not doing more, as the bulk of the graft happened during the 13 years her Workers' Party was in power.

In the last two years, dozens of business people and politicians from across the spectrum have been jailed. Fifteen of the 81 senators who voted on whether to remove Rousseff are being investigated in the Petrobras probe, including the Senate President Renan Calheiros, who has been accused of receiving bribes.

"Car Wash shows that our justice system has achieved independence and autonomy, and you don't mess with that," said Luiz Jorge Werneck Vianna, a professor and justice system expert at Pontifical Catholic University of Rio de Janeiro. "The people will not accept it."

Battling impunity is one of the few bright spots in a nation mired in recession and bogged down by the political crisis.

Nearly one third of Brazilians see corruption as the nation's biggest problem, a higher percentage than for any other issue, according to a July poll by Datafolha. Since early 2015, more than 2 million people have signed a petition from the attorney general's office to introduce new laws and levy harsher sentences for corrupt public servants.

The judge presiding over the Car Wash case, Sergio Moro, has obtained hero status among many Brazilians. Recently speaking at a gathering in Washington, he said he said police, prosecutors and judges encounter strong support from average citizens but sharp opposition from lawmakers.

Deltan Dallagnol, an outspoken prosecutor in the probe, has frequently warned about any attempts in Congress to hinder investigations, thus keeping the colossal case in the public eye.

"With or without Dilma, it makes no difference to us," he said during a recent event in the northeastern city of Recife.

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Adriana Gomez Licon is on Twitter: http://twitter.com/agomezlicon

In this Wednesday, Aug. 31, 2016 photo, police officers stand next to a large inflatable doll in the likeness of Brazil's ousted President Dilma Rousseff wearing a presidential sash with the words in Portuguese; "Goodbye dear" during a rally to celebrate her impeachment in Sao Paulo, Brazil. Rousseff became the biggest casualty of a massive corruption probe that is roiling Latin Americas largest country, even though she was never personally implicated in the scheme. Nearly one third of Brazilians see corruption as the nations biggest problem, a higher percentage than for any other issue, according to a July poll by Datafolha. Since early 2015, more than 2 million people have signed a petition from the attorney generals office to introduce new laws and levy harsher sentences for corrupt public servants. (AP Photo/Andre Penner)

Brazil's ousted President Dilma Rousseff pauses during a press conference at the official residence Alvorada Palace, in Brasilia, Brazil, Friday, Sept. 2, 2016. Rousseff on Friday slammed the process that led to her ouster this week, promising to provide a strong opposition voice to the new government. In comments to foreign media, Rousseff said next week she would be moving back to her hometown of Porto Alegre in southern Brazil. She has 30 days to vacate the presidential palace. (AP Photo/Eraldo Peres)
Record-tying Oklahoma earthquake felt as far away as Arizona

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP)  A record-tying earthquake in the edge of Oklahoma's key energy-producing areas rattled the Midwest from Illinois to the southwest part of Texas on Saturday, bringing fresh attention to the practice of disposing oil and gas field wastewater deep underground.

The United States Geological Survey said a 5.6 magnitude earthquake happened at 7:02 a.m. Saturday in north-central Oklahoma, on the fringe of an area where regulators had stepped in to limit wastewater disposal. That temblor matches a November 2011 quake in the same region.

An increase in magnitude 3.0 or greater earthquakes in Oklahoma has been linked to underground disposal of wastewater from oil and natural gas production.

Sandstone bricks from the side of the historic Pawnee County Bank litter the sidewalk after an early morning earthquake in Pawnee, Oka., on Saturday, Sept. 3, 2016. The United States Geological Survey said a 5.6 magnitude earthquake happened Saturday morning in north-central Oklahoma, on the fringe of an area where regulators had stepped in to limit wastewater disposal. That temblor matches a November 2011 quake in the same region. (Paul Hellstern/The Oklahoman via AP)

The Oklahoma Corporation Commission, which since 2013 has asked wastewater-well owners to reduce disposal volumes in parts of the state, is requiring 37 wells in a 514 square-mile area around the epicenter of the earthquake to shut down within seven to 10 days because of previous connections between the injection of wastewater and earthquakes.

"All of our actions have been based on the link that researchers have drawn between the Arbuckle disposal well operations and earthquakes in Oklahoma," spokesman Matt Skinner said Saturday. "We're trying to do this as quickly as possible, but we have to follow the recommendations of the seismologists, who tell us everything going off at once can cause an (earthquake)."

Skinner said the commission's "area of interest" includes another 211 square miles in Osage County. However, he said the commission doesn't know how many wells may be involved because the area is under the jurisdiction of the Environmental Protection Agency, and the commission is working with that agency.

"EPA decides on the wells in Osage County. We don't know anything about Osage County, legally we're not even allowed to ask," Skinner said.

People in Kansas City and St. Louis, Missouri; Chicago; Gilbert, Arizona; Fayetteville and Little Rock, Arkansas; Des Moines, Iowa; Memphis, Tennessee; and Big Lake in the southwest part of Texas, all reported feeling the earthquake. Dallas TV station WFAA tweeted that the quake shook its studios, too.

Pawnee County Emergency Management Director Mark Randell said no buildings collapsed in the town of 2,200 about 9 miles southeast of the epicenter. "We've got buildings cracked," Randell said. "Most of it's brick and mortar, old buildings from the early 1900s."

Randell also said a man suffered a minor head injury when part of a fireplace fell on him as he protected a child. The man was treated and released.

Oklahoma Gov. Mary Fallin has declared a state of emergency for Pawnee County, allowing state agencies to make emergency purchases related to disaster relief and preparedness. The declaration is also the first step toward seeking federal aid should it be necessary.

The damage is not as severe as the 2011 quake near Prague, Oklahoma, about 60 miles south of Pawnee, despite being the same magnitude and approximately the same depth. Saturday's was 3.7 miles deep, compared to 3.1 miles in 2011. Both are shallow quakes, during which shaking is more intense, like setting off "a bomb directly under a city," USGS seismologist Susan Hough has said.

However, hard bedrock beneath the surface in north-central Oklahoma is likely the reason for less damage, Oklahoma Geological Survey geophysicist Jefferson Chang said, adding that the subsurface around Prague is softer.

"It's pretty much comparable to the Prague event," Chang said. "But in harder rock, it won't shake as much."

Pawnee furniture store owner Lee Wills told The Associated Press that he first thought it was a thunderstorm.

"Then it just ... Everything went crazy after that. It just started shaking," said Wills, who lives about 2 miles outside of town. "It rocked my house like a rubber band. Threw stuff off cabinets and out of cabinets, broke glasses."

___

Associated Press writers Kelly P. Kissel in Little Rock, Arkansas, Erica Hunzinger in Chicago and Ben Thomas in Washington, D.C., contributed to this report.

Kyndra Richards cleans up at "White's Foodliner" after an early morning earthquake in Pawnee, Oka., on Saturday, Sept. 3, 2016. The United States Geological Survey said a 5.6 magnitude earthquake happened Saturday morning in north-central Oklahoma, on the fringe of an area where regulators had stepped in to limit wastewater disposal. That temblor matches a November 2011 quake in the same region. (Paul Hellstern/The Oklahoman via AP)
Search called off for 2 missing American climbers

SALT LAKE CITY (AP)  The families of two well-known Utah climbers who went missing on an icy mountain peak in Pakistan called off the search for them Saturday.

Jonathan Thesenga, a representative for one of the climber's sponsors, said the families of Kyle Dempster and Scott Adamson made the "extremely difficult decision" based on how much time had passed and the continuously stormy weather.

Search team members as well as expert observers agreed the chances of finding any sign of the two were extremely slim, said Thesenga, global sports marketing manager for Utah-based Black Diamond Equipment, which was sponsoring Dempster.

This undated photo shows climber Scott Adamson. Two well-known Utah climbers are missing in Pakistan where they were attempting to make a treacherous ascent up an icy mountain. Alpinists Kyle Dempster and Adamson were due back at base camp on Friday, Aug. 26, 2016, after they left five days earlier to begin an ascent up the north face of a place called "Ogre II" off the Choktoi Glacier in northern Pakistan, said Jonathan Thesenga of Black Diamond Equipment. Snowy and cloudy conditions are hindering rescue efforts that began Sunday, he said. (Nathan Smith/Pull Photography via AP)

According to Thesenga, the Pakistani military conducted exhaustive sweeps over the men's likely descent route with two helicopters. The aircraft also flew over where they were last seen. Saturday was the first day that the weather was clear enough for flyovers.

A rescue effort was launched last Sunday near northern Pakistan's Choktoi Glacier after the men failed to return Aug. 26 to base camp.

Thesenga says the two left base camp Aug. 21 to begin their ascent. Their cook, at base camp, spotted their head lamps about halfway up the peak on the second day. On the third day, though, snowy and cloudy temperatures rolled in that have socked in the area, he said.

Dempster, 33, and Adamson, 34, both of Utah, are two of the most accomplished alpinists of their generation. Dempster is a two-time winner of the coveted climbing award, Piolets d'Or. He last won in 2013 for a climb he did with others in the same area in Pakistan.

They were attempting a climb never before done on the north face of a peak known as Ogre II. It is part of a grouping of mountains called Baintha Brakk.

The peak has only been reached once before, by a Korean team in the 1980s via a less difficult route, Thesenga said.

Last year, Dempster and Adamson nearly died trying the same climb. Adamson broke his leg after a 100-foot fall and the two fell again 400 feet while trying to get down the mountain. He said the duo hoped they had learned from their mistakes during the near-death experience to make it this time, Thesenga said.

Dempster and Adamson have made careers of climbing peaks from Pakistan to Alaska. In a video posted on the Black Diamond website, Dempster talks about the risk of his daring sport.

"It's a journey to something that inspires you," Dempster said. "On that journey, you go through the feeling of fear and to an eventual outcome. You use your pool of experience and common sense and intuition to help make decisions and mitigate the dangers."
Louisiana flood damage at least $8.7 billion, governor says

BATON ROUGE, La. (AP)  Louisiana Gov. John Bel Edwards says his state had more than $8.7 billion in damage from catastrophic flooding in August, and the figure will increase as officials finish assessing damage to roads and other public infrastructure.

The governor's office Saturday released a letter Edwards sent Friday to President Barack Obama.

In it, the Democratic governor asked that Congress this month approve $2 billion in federal aid for Louisiana for housing, economic development and infrastructure. He said it's a "very reasonable request," adding to other programs assisting in Louisiana's flood recovery, such as aid from the Federal Emergency Management Agency.

"While short-term relief for immediate needs available through FEMA for items such as temporary rental assistance, essential home repairs and other disaster-related needs are greatly needed and greatly appreciated, our full recovery will not be realized without additional help," Edwards wrote.

A storm that started Aug. 12 dumped as much as 2 feet of rain in some parts of Louisiana over two days, and the flooding has been described as the worst disaster in the U.S. since Superstorm Sandy struck the East Coast in 2012.

Edwards said flood damage has been documented to more than 55,000 houses in Louisiana, and that could double as aid applications and inspections continue. More than 80 percent of damaged homes lacked flood insurance because most were outside the 100-year flood plain. He said initial evaluations show the majority of flooded households were for people with low to moderate incomes, and 20 percent were renters.

More than 6,000 businesses flooded, with more than $2.2 billion in damages to buildings, equipment and inventory, Edwards said. He also said there are "conservative estimates" of more than $110 million in damage to agriculture.

Estimates are that about 30 state roads washed out and 1,400 bridges will need to be inspected, the governor said.

Edwards said he has asked all members of Louisiana's congressional delegation to support the request for $2 billion in Community Development Block Grant Disaster Recovery money, and to ask their colleagues to approve it.

"The majority of these citizens did not carry flood insurance, and I impress upon you that they will not be able to make critical decisions on rebuilding their homes and their lives without the availability of CDBG-DR funds," Edwards wrote to the president. "This additional assistance is critical to Louisiana's full recovery from these floods."

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Nebraska's Ben Sasse faces heat at home for Trump stance

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP)  It's been a long summer for Nebraska Sen. Ben Sasse, the conservative Republican whose refusal to support GOP presidential nominee Donald Trump has led to angry confrontations at local meetings, criticism from leaders in the state party and even death threats.

In an interview with The Associated Press, Sasse acknowledged he's been lambasted by his party's most engaged voters and other politicians in his overwhelmingly conservative state but said he doesn't regret his decision to publicly oppose  and at times ridicule  the New York businessman.

"Lots of Nebraskans adhere to a lesser of two evils theory, and I completely understand and respect that," Sasse said. "But humbly, I think there's more to it than that... When you vote, you're saying that this person is an exemplar of the American system. You're saying this person has character. You're telling your kids that this person is a model of civic virtue, and that you hope to have more candidates like that in the future."

FILE - In this Nov. 4, 2014 file photo, Republican Senator-elect Ben Sasse addresses supporters in Lincoln, Neb. Sasse, a conservative Republican whose refusal to support GOP presidential nominee Donald Trump, has led to angry confrontations at local meetings, ridicule from national pundits and even death threats. (AP Photo/Nati Harnik)

The first-term senator doesn't have many like-minded colleagues: Nebraska's other U.S. senator, Deb Fischer, has endorsed Trump, and Republican Gov. Pete Ricketts and the state's popular former governor, Dave Heineman, added their support at a raucous Omaha rally this summer. But supporters of Sasse point to his conservative principles and say he's not alone in his thoughts.

Sasse, a 44-year-old former college president who holds degrees from Harvard and Yale, argues Trump isn't a true conservative. When Trump's last GOP rival dropped out of the race, Sasse went so far as to argue on his Facebook page that "two dishonest liberals" were leading the national parties.

After Trump spoke in July with Republican senators in Washington, Sasse's spokesman quipped: "This election remains a dumpster fire. Nothing has changed."

Sasse declined to discuss the threats his office has received but said it reflects a breakdown in civil discourse. "We should never normalize this kind of stuff," he said.

He also said he isn't trying to pressure others, just speaking his conscience because he believes Trump would try to expand the executive branch's power.

"Nebraskans are much more comfortable with civil disagreement than finger in-the-wind pandering," he said.

It's that kind of talk that's angered Republican residents. Bob Warner, a GOP activist who voted for Sasse in 2014, has repeatedly called the senator's office to protest the senator's statements.

"What he personally thinks of Trump is his own business, but the people in his party supported Trump," the former city council member in Sasse's hometown of Fremont said. "As far as I'm concerned, he's telling the people that they don't know what they're doing."

Jill Woodward, of Omaha, likes Sasse but is disappointed in him as well.

"Donald Trump won our primary fair and square," Woodward said. "He might not have been everyone's first choice, but that's life. Let's stick together, be a party and support our candidate."

Sasse held a series of town hall meetings in Nebraska recently but didn't discuss his opposition with voters as he has to media outlets. He has said he wanted to keep his town hall events focused on policy issues.

"I wanted to know why he feels the way he does," said Jack Schreiner, who owns a rubber factory in Hastings and attended a town hall meeting in that city. "I'm not opposed to somebody having different views. But as a Republican, what are our options? Hillary?"

In suburban Omaha, Sasse refused to take questions about Trump until after a town hall meeting, prompting about 70 people to gather outside and pepper him about it. Sasse said the confrontation was organized by a small group of agitators who didn't speak for most of the attendees.

"The overwhelming number of people who want talk about the election talk about how distraught they are that we have two horrible candidates," he said.

Despite the backlash, it's unclear how much it ultimately hurt Sasse. He's not up for re-election until 2020, and supporters say many Nebraska Republicans share his misgivings. Trump received 61 percent of the vote in the state's May primary  even though all other candidates had dropped out of the race.

"Nebraska voters are pretty pragmatic, and I don't see them punishing Sasse," said Bryan Baumgart, a former Douglas County GOP chairman in Omaha. "There are a ton of Republicans here who support him and actually agree with him. He's kept every promise he has made, including sticking to his principles. Some may accuse him of abandoning the party, but he has supported all of the party's principles."

Former Nebraska Republican Party Chairman Mark Fahleson added that it would be hard for potential Republican primary challengers to position themselves as more conservative. In a state like Nebraska, the danger in a primary is to be portrayed as not conservative enough, and that's a tough argument to make against Sasse, who was elected with 64 percent of the vote in 2014.

"If you're a conservative Republican, he's doing a phenomenal job," Fahleson said. "If you're a Republican Party activist who has spent your life attending county Republican meetings and Republican conventions, then, yeah, you may be upset."

Many Republican activists are frustrated because Sasse benefited from the party's support when he was running for office but now doesn't want to help its presidential nominee, said Hal Daub, a former Nebraska congressman and Omaha Mayor. Daub endorsed Sasse's primary opponent, establishment favorite Shane Osborn, in 2014, but said he's more concerned now that Sasse's strong opposition to Trump will backfire.

"For my state and for his sake, what if Donald Trump is the next president?" Daub said. "We're really going to be welcome in the White House, aren't we?"

David Kramer, a former Nebraska GOP chairman who is now a national committeeman, agreed Sasse might not pay a high price and speculated Sasse might just be trying to make a name for himself nationally.

"I just think it's a risk for us, as a party, not to get behind the nominee," said Kramer, whose wife managed the campaign of one of Sasse's primary opponents. "I think that Sen. Sasse is playing a calculated game of being able to stand on the morning after the election if Trump loses and say, 'I told you so,' which I think he hopes will bolster his national reputation.

"I still don't know that that will resonate back here at home."

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People marvel at surf after Hawaii hurricane watch canceled

WAIMANALO, Hawaii (AP)  A hurricane watch was canceled as Hurricane Lester tracked north of the Hawaiian islands and residents flocked to beaches Saturday morning to marvel at the big waves the storm created.

Lester was expected to generate large and dangerous surf across exposed shorelines of the Hawaiian islands over the weekend, the National Weather Service reported.

Honolulu couple Bailey Matsuda and Anne Smoke headed to the east shore and stood at Halona Blowhole Lookout to watch waves pounding the rocks. "It's beautiful, actually," Smoke said, sipping coffee. "I've never seen them this big on this side."

Hopena Pokipala carries a surfboard while discussing wave conditions with Kaipo Guerreo at Makapuu Beach in Waimanalo, Hawaii on Saturday, Sept. 3, 2016. A hurricane watch is canceled for Hawaii as Hurricane Lester tracks north of the state. But the hurricane is generating large waves. (AP Photo/Jennifer Sinco Kelleher)

Her husband, Matsuda, said they will remain prepared during this year's hurricane season. "There are more hurricanes headed our way," he said, recalling when Hurricane Iwa struck Hawaii in 1982 and Hurricane Iniki, which was the last hurricane to make landfall in Hawaii in 1992. "It's a matter of time and odds."

Hurricane Madeline threatened the Big Island earlier in the week but was downgraded to a tropical storm and passed without causing major damage.

Hurricane Lester was located about 175 miles east of Honolulu late Saturday morning, weakening and moving west-northwest at 17 mph, the weather service said.

Smoke and Matsuda headed to another beach just as tour buses arrived carrying tourists armed with selfie sticks. Tourism officials said they hadn't heard of mass cancelations of trips or other major impacts to the tourism industry.

Surfer Martial Crum cautioned visitors to watch the waves from a safe distance as he and surfer Kahai Fukumitsu monitored conditions at an east Oahu surf spot they called the "best-kept secret."

"Even if you're an experienced surfer, the conditions are tricky," Crum said of waves he estimated to be about 12 feet high. "It's a swell. It's enough to get our attention, so we drove out here."

Surf heights exceeded 20 feet along the Big Island's east-facing shores, Hawaii County's Civil Defense Agency said.

Hopena Pokipala declared the waves "chaotic" after surfing a few sets at east Oahu's Makapuu Beach. "It was fun, just a lot of paddling," he said.

After breakfast, Bert and Tia Hartsock took their 1-year-old daughter, Maya, to watch the waves at Makapuu. "It's pretty impressive," Tia Hartsock said. "I love watching the ocean."

Heavy showers or thunderstorms were possible over the weekend as Lester passes, the weather service said.

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Associated Press writer Mark Thiessen contributed to this report from Anchorage, Alaska.

Thomas Gordon takes photos with his cell phone of waves while at the Halona Blowhole Lookout in Honolulu on Saturday, Sept. 3, 2016. A hurricane watch is canceled for Hawaii as Hurricane Lester tracks north of the state. But people are flocking to beaches to marvel at large waves the hurricane is generating. (AP Photo/Jennifer Sinco Kelleher)

Bert Hartsock carries his 15-month-old daughter, Maya, on his shoulders as they and his wife, Tia, watch the surf at Makapuu Beach in Waimanalo, Hawaii on Saturday, Sept. 3, 2016. A hurricane watch has been canceled for Hawaii as Hurricane Lester tracks north of the state. But people are flocking to beaches to see at large waves the storm is generating. (AP Photo/Jennifer Sinco Kelleher)

A couple poses for a photo at Akaka Falls in Honomu, Hawaii on Friday, Sept. 2, 2016. Tourists in Hawaii who had been planning an escape to a sunny island paradise were instead hit with the threat of back-to-back hurricanes, but they're making the best of their vacations. (AP Photo/Audrey McAvoy)

Visitors look at the Kilauea volcano summit crater at Hawaii National Park, Hawaii, Friday, Sept. 2, 2016. A hurricane watch has been dropped on Hawaii's Big Island, but the threat remains for Maui County and the island of Oahu as Hurricane Lester barrels through the Pacific. (AP Photo/Audrey McAvoy)

Visitors look at the Kilauea volcano summit crater at Hawaii National Park, Hawaii on Friday, Sept. 2, 2016. A hurricane watch has been dropped on Hawaii's Big Island, but the threat remains for Maui County and the island of Oahu as Hurricane Lester barrels through the Pacific. (AP Photo/Audrey McAvoy)

This NOAA satellite image taken Friday, September 02, 2016 at 01:00 AM EDT shows a clear eye associated with Hurricane Lester as it continues to move westward towards Hawaii. A band of showers has moved inland through the Pacific Northwest, making its way across Idaho and northern Nevada. Much of the rest of the Intermountain west remains unsettled, with scattered showers and embedded thunderstorms across the region and into eastern Montana as well. (NOAA/Weather Underground via AP)

Kaly Sun, right, removes boards from her restaurant in Pahoa, Hawaii after Tropical Storm Madeline moved through the area, Thursday, Sept. 1, 2016. The tropical storm left parts of Hawaii's Big Island soggy but intact as residents of the island state prepare for a second round of potentially volatile tropical weather. Hurricane Lester remains on track to impact the islands this weekend, but possibly after being downgraded to a tropical storm. (AP Photo/Audrey McAvoy)

This photo shows a fence broken by storm surge from Tropical Storm Madeline at an oceanfront home in Kapoho, Hawaii, Thursday, Sept. 1, 2016. A tropical storm left the Big Island soggy but intact as residents prepared for the possible arrival of another storm, Hurricane Lester. (AP Photo/Audrey McAvoy)

A man stands in front of the boarded-up Pahoa Family Health Center in Pahoa, Hawaii after Tropical Storm Madeline moved through the area, Thursday, Sept. 1, 2016. The health center reopened a short time later. The tropical storm left parts of Hawaii's Big Island soggy but intact as residents of the island state prepare for a second round of potentially volatile tropical weather. Hawaii Island was pummeled with heavy rains and strong waves overnight, but residents woke to blue skies but little damage after Madeline skirted the island. Hurricane Lester remains on track to impact the islands this weekend, but possibly after being downgraded to a tropical storm. (AP Photo/Audrey McAvoy)

A man stands on a street in Pahoa, Hawaii after Tropical Storm Madeline moved through the area, Thursday, Sept. 1, 2016. The tropical storm left parts of Hawaii's Big Island soggy but intact as residents of the island state prepare for a second round of potentially volatile tropical weather. Hurricane Lester remains on track to impact the islands this weekend, but possibly after being downgraded to a tropical storm. (AP Photo/Audrey McAvoy)

A man takes a photo of Akaka Falls in Honomu, Hawaii on Friday, Sept. 2, 2016. Tourists in Hawaii who had been planning an escape to a sunny island paradise were instead hit with the threat of back-to-back hurricanes, but they're making the best of their vacations. (AP Photo/Audrey McAvoy)
Bangladesh executes 5th Islamist party leader for 1971 war

NEW DELHI (AP)  Bangladeshi authorities executed a top Islamist party leader convicted of war crimes involving the nation's 1971 independence war against Pakistan, officials said.

Mir Quasem Ali, a leader of the Jamaat-e-Islami party, was hanged at 10:30 p.m. Saturday, hours after several dozen family members and relatives met him for the last time inside Kashimpur Central Jail near the capital, Dhaka, said Proshanto Kumar Bonik, a senior jail superintendent.

"We are doing our necessary formalities now. We will send the body soon to the ancestral home in Manikganj district for burial," Bonik said.

Bangladeshi security personnel stand guard in front of Kashimpur Central Jail where Mir Quasem Ali, a senior leader of the main Islamist party Jamaat-e-Islami, is being held, in Gazipur, on the outskirts of Dhaka, Bangladesh, Saturday, Sept. 3, 2016. Bangladesh's Supreme Court on Tuesday rejected a final appeal by the top Islamist party leader convicted of war crimes in the country's independence war against Pakistan, confirming a death sentence handed down earlier by a special tribunal. (AP Photo)

Immediately after the execution, Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan said security measures were put in place to prevent unrest by Ali's supporters, including deployment of paramilitary border guards and additional police in Dhaka and other cities.

The Jamaat-e-Islami party in a statement protested Ali's execution and called for an eight-hour general strike beginning Monday morning.

The execution took place a day after Ali refused to seek presidential clemency. The president had previously rejected appeals for clemency by other Islamist party leaders facing execution.

On Tuesday, the Supreme Court rejected a final appeal for reviewing Ali's death sentence handed out by a special tribunal two years ago. After the ruling, the Jamaat-e-Islami party called for a daylong general strike across the country last Wednesday, but got little response.

A special tribunal dealing with war crimes sentenced Ali to death in November 2014. The 63-year-old member of Jamaat-e-Islami's highest policy-making body was found guilty on eight charges, two of which carried the death sentence, including the abduction and murder of a young man in a torture chamber. Ali was sentenced to 72 years in prison on the other charges.

Ali built his fortune by establishing businesses from real estate to shipping to banking, and he was considered one of the party's top financiers.

He became the fifth Jamaat-e-Islami party leader to be executed since 2010, when Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina formed the special tribunal to try suspected war criminals. Also executed was a close aide of former Prime Minister Khaleda Zia from the main opposition Bangladesh Nationalist Party.

Jamaat-e-Islami is a key partner of Zia's Bangladesh Nationalist Party in the opposition against Hasina.

Hasina's government says Pakistani soldiers, aided by local collaborators, killed 3 million people and raped 200,000 women in the 1971 independence war.

Jamaat-e-Islami, which had openly campaigned against independence, has denied committing atrocities.

Hasina has called the special tribunal trials a long overdue effort to obtain justice for the victims of war crimes, four decades after Bangladesh split from Pakistan. Her government has rejected criticism from abroad that the trial process did not meet international standards.

The international human rights group Amnesty International noted that the United Nations had raised questions about the fairness of the trials of Ali and other Islamist party leaders.

"There is no question that the people of Bangladesh deserve justice for crimes committed during the War of Independence, but the death penalty is a human rights violation and will not achieve this. It is a cruel and irreversible punishment that most of the world's countries have now rid themselves of," said Champa Patel, Amnesty International's South Asia Director, in a statement released Saturday.

Bangladeshi security personnel stand guard in front of Kashimpur Central Jail where Mir Quasem Ali, a senior leader of the main Islamist party Jamaat-e-Islami, is being held, in Gazipur, on the outskirts of Dhaka, Bangladesh, Saturday, Sept. 3, 2016. Bangladesh's Supreme Court on Tuesday rejected a final appeal by the top Islamist party leader convicted of war crimes in the country's independence war against Pakistan, confirming a death sentence handed down earlier by a special tribunal. (AP Photo)

A relative of Mir Quasem Ali, senior leader of the country's largest Islamic party Jamaat-e-Islami, holds an infant and arrives to meet Ali at the Kashimpur Central Jail in Gazipur, on the outskirts of Dhaka, Bangladesh, Saturday, Sept. 3, 2016. Bangladesh's Supreme Court on Tuesday rejected a final appeal by the top Islamist party leader convicted of war crimes in the country's independence war against Pakistan, confirming a death sentence handed down earlier by a special tribunal. (AP Photo)

Relatives of Mir Quasem Ali, senior leader of the country's largest Islamic party Jamaat-e-Islami, arrive to meet Ali at the Kashimpur Central Jail in Gazipur, on the outskirts of Dhaka, Bangladesh, Saturday, Sept. 3, 2016. Bangladesh's Supreme Court on Tuesday rejected a final appeal by the top Islamist party leader convicted of war crimes in the country's independence war against Pakistan, confirming a death sentence handed down earlier by a special tribunal. (AP Photo)

Relatives of Mir Quasem Ali, senior leader of the country's largest Islamic party Jamaat-e-Islami, arrive to meet Ali at the Kashimpur Central Jail in Gazipur, on the outskirts of Dhaka, Bangladesh, Saturday, Sept. 3, 2016. Bangladesh's Supreme Court on Tuesday rejected a final appeal by the top Islamist party leader convicted of war crimes in the country's independence war against Pakistan, confirming a death sentence handed down earlier by a special tribunal. (AP Photo)
Spain's Popular Party backs Rajoy, defends Manuel Soria

MADRID (AP)  Spain's acting Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy has met with his Popular Party to plan a strategy after lawmakers rejected his bid to form a minority government for a second time, pushing the country closer to a third election in a year.

In a meeting Saturday, Popular Party leaders reaffirmed their backing of Rajoy as their candidate and continued blaming the Socialists, the second biggest party in Parliament, for the failed investiture.

Following a failed first attempt to form a government on Wednesday, Rajoy's bid was again voted down on Friday by 180 lawmakers against 170 in favor, as had been expected. Parliament now has until Oct. 31 to produce a government or a third round of elections will be called, possibly on Christmas Day.

But the Popular Party's intended message of unity was overshadowed by the government's decision to name former Minister of Industry Manuel Soria as a candidate for the executive director of the World Bank. Soria resigned from his ministerial post in April after being linked with an offshore company in the Panama Papers leak.

He claims he never ran or owned a Bahamian offshore company, although his name appeared in documents identifying him as the director of such a firm. Party Secretary Maria Dolores de Cospedal defended the government's decision to nominate Soria for the World Bank post, saying his experience qualifies him for the job and that he is innocent of the accusations stemming from the leak.

Albert Rivera, leader of the business friendly Ciudadanos party, has criticized Rajoy for allowing a former minister who resigned for "having money in fiscal paradises" to represent Spain at the World Bank. The World Bank has yet to approve Soria's nomination.
US, Russia close on Syria deal, but Obama says not there yet

HANGZHOU, China (AP)  The United States is skeptical an agreement with Russia to decease violence in Syria can work but will keep pursuing it nonetheless, President Barack Obama said Sunday as negotiators from both countries edged toward a deal.

Obama, speaking on the sidelines of the Group of 20 economic summit in China, said the U.S. and Russia still have "grave differences" about what's needed to end Syria's civil war and which opposition groups are legitimate targets for the U.S. and Russian militaries. But he said "it is worth trying."

"We're not there yet," Obama said. "I think it's premature for us to say there's a clear path forward, but there's the possibility at least for us to make some progress."

U.S. President Barack Obama listens to translation as he sits on stage during a climate change event with Chinese President Xi Jinping and U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon at the Ruyi Hall at West Lake State Guest House in Hangzhou in eastern China's Zhejiang province, Saturday, Sept. 3, 2016. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster)

A deal could be announced as early as Sunday by U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry and Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, said a senior U.S. State Department official, adding that the two countries were close to a deal but still had unresolved issues. The official wasn't authorized to discuss the negotiations publicly and requested anonymity.

Kerry and Lavrov have been deep in talks for weeks over a deal to boost U.S. and Russian military cooperation to fight the Islamic State group and other extremists in Syria  a step Moscow has long sought. The package would include provisions so aid can reach besieged areas of Syria and measures to prevent Syrian President Bashar Assad's government from bombing areas where U.S.-backed rebels are operating.

U.S. officials have said that as part of a deal, Russia would have to halt offensives by Assad's government, something it has failed to do over months of diplomatic efforts. They said the U.S. must get rebels to break ranks with the al-Qaida-linked Nusra Front, a task that grew tougher after Nusra fighters last month successfully broke the siege of Aleppo, Syria's largest city and the site of fierce recent fighting.

Though negotiators have been hopeful a deal could come together while world leaders are gathered in Hangzhou for the G20, that optimism has been tempered by the failure of previous ceasefire deals to hold. The U.S. has long been wary of increasing military coordination with Russia in Syria's civil war because it says Russia continues striking moderate, U.S.-backed opposition groups in a bid to prop up Assad. The U.S. wants Russia to focus exclusively on IS and al-Qaida-linked groups.

Obama and Russian President Vladimir Putin plan to huddle on the sidelines of the summit, the White House said.

For Obama, a military partnership with Russia would mark a significant change. When Russia started bombing targets in Syria last year, the U.S. declared the intervention an act of desperation and said its coalition fighting IS wasn't coordinating with Moscow. The minimal cooperation focused on avoiding mid-air collisions between Russian and coalition planes.

The new approach would involve intelligence and targeting cooperation. Assad's forces would be barred from attacking areas outside of IS' control; attacks on Nusra and its allies would be up to the U.S. and Russia to work out among themselves in their Joint Implementation Group. Defense Secretary Ash Carter and National Intelligence Director James Clapper both have expressed misgivings.

Discussions about the intractable Syria conflict and the related fight against IS have been a major focus as world leaders gather for the G20, which brings together the world's major economies. Obama met first Sunday with new British Prime Minister Theresa May, then with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan for their first sit-down since failed coup in his country in July.

Obama called the attempted overthrow "terrible." He assured Erdogan that his national security team and the Justice Department would ensure that those responsible are brought to justice, a reference to Turkey's extradition request for an exiled cleric it holds responsible. The U.S. is still weighing Turkey's evidence against Pennsylvania-based cleric Fethullah Gulen.

Turkey's demands for the U.S. to hand over Gulen have coincided with growing clashes between Turkish forces and U.S.-backed Kurds in Syria. The Pentagon has backed the incursions, but said they should only be aimed at IS fighters. Turkey has used the operations to push back Syrian Kurds it accuses of seeking to claim more territory.

Obama called Turkey a key ally in the campaign to defeat the Islamic State and said "we now need to finish the job" of securing Turkey's border with Syria.

Since the failed coup, the U.S. has been alarmed by Turkey's diplomatic flirtations with Russia, Assad's patron, and softened demand for Assad's exclusion from a political transition.

Erdogan said it was important for the U.S. and Turkey to "embrace a common attitude against terrorism." In a reference to Washington's support for the Kurds, he said there are "no good terrorists or bad; all terrorism is bad."

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Associated Press writer Bradley Klapper in Washington contributed to this report.

U.S. President Barack Obama speaks during a climate event at the Ruyi Hall at West Lake State Guest House in Hangzhou in eastern China's Zhejiang province, Saturday, Sept. 3, 2016. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster)
15 oil workers kidnapped at gunpoint in southern Nigeria

WARRI, Nigeria (AP)  Police say gunmen have kidnapped 15 oil workers near Nigeria's petroleum capital of Port Harcourt in the latest apparent hostage-for-ransom incident.

Spokesman Deputy Superintendent Nnamdi Omoni says all the abducted are Nigerians working for local oil industry service company Nestoil.

He says their bus was hijacked Friday about 100 kilometers (60 miles) southeast of their office in southeastern Port Harcourt.

Kidnappings of Nigerians and foreigners are common all over the country. In the oil-rich Niger Delta, they are carried out by ordinary criminals as well as militants demanding a greater share of oil riches for locals.

Hostages are usually released unharmed after ransom payments.
Bumpy beginning for Obama in China, starting on the tarmac

HANGZHOU, China (AP)  If President Barack Obama was hoping for a graceful start to his final trip to Asia as commander in chief, this wasn't it.

Confrontations between Chinese officials and White House staff and other diplomatic dust-ups were out in the open from the moment Air Force One landed in Hangzhou, where world leaders were attending an economic summit.

The first sign of trouble: There was no staircase for Obama to exit the plane and descend on the red carpet. Obama used an alternative exit.

U.S. President Barack Obama arrives on Air Force One at the Hangzhou Xiaoshan International Airport, Saturday, Sept. 3, 2016, in Hangzhou, China, to attend the G-20 summit. Obama is expected to meet with China's President Xi Jinping Saturday afternoon. (AP Photo/Mark Shiefelbein)

On the tarmac, a quarrel broke out between a presidential aide and a Chinese official who demanded the journalists traveling with Obama be prohibited from getting anywhere near him. It was a breach of the tradition observed whenever the American president arrives in a foreign place.

When the White House official insisted the U.S. would set the rules for its own leader, her Chinese counterpart shot back.

"This is our country! This is our airport!" the Chinese official yelled.

The dispute escalated when a Chinese official tried to keep Susan Rice, Obama's national security adviser, away from her boss. Rice, one of the highest-ranking officials in U.S. government, seemed less than amused when asked about it by a reporter.

"They did things that weren't anticipated," she said.

Obama, reflecting later on the squabbling, said it wasn't the first time it had happened. But he acknowledged hosting huge summits like the Group of 20 can be overwhelming and said the issue isn't limited to China.

"We don't leave our values and our ideals behind when we take these trips," Obama said. "It can cause some friction."

Tense exchanges continued after Obama started his program of meetings in Hangzhou. An Associated Press reporter was denied entry to a climate change ceremony because a credential list used a common nickname, though he was eventually allowed in after the U.S. Embassy intervened. Two Chinese officials  one working to assist the American delegation  had to be physically separated after trying to hit each other outside an event.

Brusque interactions and last-minute disagreements about protocol are not uncommon when the U.S. leader visits China, where there's an expectation that government ground rules be followed without question, no matter how rigid. Despite public protestations, the U.S. has had little success persuading China that it's in its interest to be more tolerant of scrutiny by the public or the press.

"We don't make apologies for pushing a little bit harder when it comes to press access," Obama said.

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Reach Josh Lederman on Twitter at http://twitter.com/joshledermanAP

Members of a Chinese honor guard line up near a U.S. Air Force plane before the arrival of U.S. President Barack Obama at the Hangzhou Xiaoshan International Airport, Saturday, Sept. 3, 2016, in Hangzhou, China, to attend the G-20 summit. (AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein)

U.S. President Barack Obama arrives at the Hangzhou Xiaoshan International Airport, Saturday, Sept. 3, 2016, in Hangzhou, China, to attend the G-20 summit. Obama is expected to meet with China's President Xi Jinping Saturday afternoon. (AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein)

U.S. President Barack Obama, center, is greeted as he arrives on Air Force One at Hangzhou Xiaoshan International Airport in Hangzhou in eastern China's Zhejiang province, Saturday, Sept. 3, 2016. President Obama hopes to highlight his administration's ongoing commitment to the G20 as the premier forum for international economic cooperation as well as the U.S. rebalance to Asia and the Pacific. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster)
MINNEAPOLIS (AP)  The remains of Jacob Wetterling, an 11-year-old boy kidnapped from a rural Minnesota road nearly 27 years ago, were identified Saturday, authorities said, providing long-awaited answers to a mystery that has captivated residents and sparked changes in sex offender laws.

A masked gunman abducted Jacob in October of 1989 near the boy's home in St. Joseph, about 80 miles northwest of Minneapolis. The Stearns County Sheriff's Office confirmed in a statement that "Jacob Wetterling's remains have been located" and that the Ramsey County medical examiner and a forensic odontologist identified them Saturday.

Additional DNA testing will be conducted and investigators are continuing to evaluate new evidence in the case, the sheriff's office said, adding that authorities expect to be able to provide more details early next week.

FILE - In this Aug. 28, 2009, file photo, Patty and Jerry Wetterling show a photo of their son Jacob Wetterling, who was abducted in October of 1989 in St. Joseph, Minn and is still missing, in Minneapolis. Patty Wetterling said Saturday, Sept. 3, 2016 that his remains have been found. Daniel Heinrich, who authorities have called a person of interest in the 1989 kidnapping, denied any involvement and was not charged with that crime. But he has pleaded not guilty to several federal child pornography charges. (AP Photo/Craig Lassig, File)

A law enforcement official told The Associated Press earlier Saturday that a person of interest in Jacob's abduction took authorities to a field in central Minnesota last week. The official, who spoke on condition of anonymity because of the ongoing case, said remains and other evidence were recovered and that the remains had been buried.

Jacob's mother, Patty Wetterling, sent a text message to KARE-TV earlier Saturday, saying that Jacob "has been found and our hearts are broken." She did not immediately respond to calls and text messages from The Associated Press.

Jacob was riding his bicycle with his brother and a friend on Oct. 22, 1989, when a masked gunman abducted him. Authorities said the man held on to Jacob and told the other boys to run. Jacob hadn't been seen since, despite extensive searches, tens of thousands of leads and offers of a monetary reward.

No one has been arrested or charged in his abduction, which led to changes in sex-offender registration laws.

But last year, authorities took another look at the case, and were led to Danny Heinrich, a man they called a "person of interest" in Jacob's kidnapping.

Heinrich, 53, of Annandale, denied any involvement in the abduction, and was not charged with that crime. But he has pleaded not guilty to 25 federal child pornography charges and is scheduled to go on trial on those counts in October.

The FBI has said previously that Heinrich matched the general description of a man who assaulted several boys in Paynesville from 1986 to 1988. Earlier this year, Heinrich's DNA was found on the sweatshirt of a 12-year-old boy who was kidnapped from Cold Spring and sexually assaulted just nine months before Jacob's abduction.

Heinrich was questioned by authorities shortly after Jacob's disappearance, but he denied involvement. Court documents say his shoes and car tires were "consistent" with tracks left near the site of Jacob's abduction, but couldn't be ruled an exact match. Authorities also searched the home where Heinrich lived with his father at the time and found scanners, camouflage clothing and a picture of a boy wearing underwear.

Heinrich's attorney did not respond to emailed requests for comment Saturday.

Jacob's abduction shattered childhood innocence for many in rural Minnesota, changing the way parents let their kids roam. His smiling face was burned into Minnesota's psyche, appearing on countless posters and billboards over the years. Each year, Minnesota residents were asked to keep their porch lights on for Jacob's safe return.

Patty Wetterling always kept hope her son would be found alive. She became a national advocate for children, and with her husband, Jerry Wetterling, founded the Jacob Wetterling Resource Center, which works to help communities and families prevent child exploitation. In 1994, Congress passed a law named after Jacob Wetterling that requires states to establish sex offender registries.

Officials with the Jacob Wetterling Resource Center posted a statement on its website Saturday, saying they are in "deep grief."

"We didn't want Jacob's story to end this way," the statement said. "Our hearts are heavy, but we are being held up by all of the people who have been a part of making Jacob's Hope a light that will never be extinguished. ... Jacob, you are loved."

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Associated Press writer Jeff Baenen contributed to this report.

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Follow Amy Forliti on Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/amyforliti. More of her work can be found at http://bigstory.ap.org/content/amy-forliti.

FILE - This undated file photo provided by the Sherburne County Sheriff's Office, shows Daniel Heinrich. Patty Wetterling, the mother of Jacob Wetterling, missing since 1989, said Saturday, Sept. 3, 2016 that his remains have been found. Heinrich, who authorities have called a person of interest in the 1989 kidnapping, denied any involvement and was not charged with that crime. But he has pleaded not guilty to several federal child pornography charges. (Sherburne County Sheriff's Office via AP )

A white ribbon with a large J hangs on a post along Minnesota Street as residents there await confirmation that remains found belong to 1989 abduction victim Jacob Wetterling, Saturday, Sept. 3, 2016, in St. Joseph, Minn. The Stearns County Sheriff's Office says in a statement that Jacob's remains were identified on Saturday. Jacob was 11 when he was kidnapped from a rural road on Oct. 22, 1989, near his home in St. Joseph, about 80 miles northwest of Minneapolis. (Kimm Anderson/St. Cloud Times via AP)

Pedestrians walk past white ribbons hung along Minnesota Street as residents of St. Joseph, Minn., wait for confirmation that the remains of 1989 abduction victim Jacob Wetterling had been found, Saturday, Sept. 3, 2016. The Stearns County Sheriff's Office says in a statement that Jacob's remains were identified on Saturday. Jacob was 11 when he was kidnapped from a rural road on Oct. 22, 1989, near his home in St. Joseph, about 80 miles northwest of Minneapolis. (Kimm Anderson/St. Cloud Times via AP)

A bouquet of flowers is placed at the end of Jerry and Patty Wetterling's driveway as news has come out that the search for Jacob Wetterling may be over, Saturday afternoon, Sept. 3, 2016, in St. Joseph, Minn. Minnesota Gov. Mark Dayton and other officials are offering support to the family of Jacob Wetterling after his mother said the remains of the boy missing for nearly 27 years have been found. In a statement, Dayton says Jacob's story "has touched the lives and hearts of Minnesotans for a generation." (Kimm Anderson/St. Cloud Times via AP)

A single bouquet of flowers is rested on the sign for Dr. Jerry Wetterling's chiropractic office as the town of St. Joseph, Minn., waited for confirmation that remains found were those of the 1989 missing boy Jacob Wetterling, Sat., Sept. 3, 2016. The Stearns County Sheriff's Office says in a statement that Jacob's remains were identified on Saturday. Jacob was 11 when he was kidnapped from a rural road on Oct. 22, 1989, near his home in St. Joseph, about 80 miles northwest of Minneapolis. (Kimm Anderson/St. Cloud Times via AP)
Virginia attorney general seeks US probe of regional jail

RICHMOND, Va. (AP)  The Virginia attorney general is asking the Justice Department to investigate a regional jail after the deaths of two inmates.

Mark Herring said Friday in a letter to U.S. Attorney General Loretta Lynch that he wants a "trusted, independent voice" on whether inmates are receiving proper and timely medical care at Hampton Roads Regional Jail in Portsmouth.

The jail is run by a local board, and medical service is provided by a contractor.

Henry Stewart, 60, filled out an emergency grievance form at the jail Aug. 4 saying he had blacked out twice in less than 24 hours and couldn't hold down food or water. He died two days later.

The grievance form said a nurse determined his concerns "not to be an emergency." It said Stewart had refused medication and had been evaluated by off-site specialists. Stewart's family found the form among his belongings at the jail.

In August 2015, 24-year-old Jamycheal Mitchell, who was mentally ill, died in the jail. His family filed a lawsuit in May in which other inmates said correctional officials physically abused and withheld food from Mitchell. A medical examiner said Mitchell died of heart failure accompanied by severe weight loss.

Mitchell was jailed in April 2015 after he was accused of stealing junk food from a convenience store. He was ordered to a mental hospital, but his paperwork was stuffed in a hospital employee's desk drawer and he was never sent there.

"These deaths have generated serious allegations, and the lack clarity surrounding these now repeat incidents shows an acute need for an inquiry to determine whether there are practices that are incompatible with Eighth Amendment rights and guarantees (post-conviction) and Fourteenth Amendment rights and guarantees (pre and post-convictions) provided to all citizens under the United States Constitution," Herring wrote.

The Eighth Amendment bans cruel or unusual punishment. The 14th Amendment guarantees equal protection.
Things to know about 1989 abduction of Minnesota boy

MINNEAPOLIS (AP)  The 1989 abduction of 11-year-old Jacob Wetterling from a deserted road has intrigued Minnesota residents and others around the country for more than two decades. On Saturday, authorities confirmed that his remains were found, after decades of extensive searches.

Here are things to know about the case:

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This Nov. 3, 2015 photo shows the area where 11-year-old Jacob Wetterling was abducted in Oct. 1989 in St. Joseph, Minn. Patty Wetterling, the mother of Jacob Wetterling said Saturday, Sept. 3, 2016 that his remains have been found. Danny Heinrich, who authorities have called a person of interest in the 1989 kidnapping, denied any involvement and was not charged with that crime. But he has pleaded not guilty to several federal child pornography charges.

WHAT HAPPENED

Jacob was riding his bicycle with his 10-year-old brother, Trevor, and a friend on Oct. 22, 1989, when a masked gunman abducted him near his home in St. Joseph, about 80 miles northwest of Minneapolis. The gunman was on foot, and no car was in sight. Authorities said the man held onto Jacob and threatened to shoot the other two unless they ran into the woods.

Sheriff's deputies, National Guard troops and hundreds of volunteers scoured the area but found no clues. The FBI released a personality profile of the type of person who may have kidnapped the boy  probably a previous sex offender, a white man 25 to 35 years old and likely someone who worked at an unskilled job.

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A FRUSTRATING SEARCH

Jacob's disappearance generated more than 50,000 leads. Despite extensive publicity, repeated aerial and ground surveys and an initial reward of more than $100,000 after the kidnapping, state, local and federal authorities were frustrated by the lack of evidence. The seemingly unsolvable case remained open.

In 2010, authorities spent two days searching and digging at a farm near where Jacob was last seen, but forensic tests on the items showed no link to the crime.

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ATTENTION ON CHILDREN

In 1990, Jacob's parents, Patty and Jerry Wetterling, founded what is now known as the Jacob Wetterling Resource Center, which works to help communities and families prevent child exploitation. Patty Wetterling later would chair the board of the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children.

She would continue to speak passionately about making the world a safe place for children. And in 1994, Congress passed the Jacob Wetterling Act, legislation for a sex offender registry.

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'PERSON OF INTEREST'

Last year, authorities re-examined the case and said Danny Heinrich, of Annandale, was a "person of interest" in Jacob's disappearance. He faces federal child pornography charges, to which he has pleaded not guilty, but has denied any involvement in Jacob's abduction, and has not been charged with that crime.

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Associated Press writer Amy Forliti contributed to this report.

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'Finding Oscar' documents 1982 Guatemala massacre, fallout

GUATEMALA CITY (AP)  Ramiro Osorio still has vivid memories of the day that death came to his village of Las Dos Erres over 30 years ago at the height of Guatemala's decades-long civil war.

Soldiers massacred more than 200 people at the town in the remote northern region of Peten. The 5-year-old Osorio's life was spared, but he was abducted by a soldier who he says kept him as a slave for years, tortured him and even tried to kill him.

"He always told me that if I thought of running away from the house there was no way, that he could find me even five meters below ground," Osorio said. "I was very afraid."

FILE - In this Aug. 2, 2011 file photo, Cristina Alfaro Mejia, whose husband and daughter were killed by soldiers during a massacre in the community of Dos Erres in 1982, holds a rose while waiting for the sentencing of soldiers in Guatemala City. The court sentenced three former special forces soldiers to 6,060 years in prison each for the massacre of more than 200 men, women and children during Guatemala's 36-year civil war which ended in 1996. The story of the massacre is told in Finding Oscar, a documentary executive-produced by Steven Spielberg that premieres in Sept. 2016 at the Telluride Film Festival in Colorado. (AP Photo/Rodrigo Abd, File)

Now the story of the massacre at Las Dos Erres is being brought to the big screen in "Finding Oscar," a documentary executive-produced by Steven Spielberg that premieres this weekend at the Telluride Film Festival in Colorado.

"Finding Oscar" recounts the events of Dec. 6-7, 1982, which began when Guatemalan soldiers went to the village looking for weapons that guerrillas had stolen from them. Troops tortured and raped female villagers, interrogated and executed men and, to cover up the abuses, tossed the living and the dead into a well. Years later forensic workers recovered the remains of 162 adults and 67 children.

It also tells the stories of Osorio and Oscar Ramirez, who was 3 years old when he was abducted from Las Dos Erres. The film's title refers to the years-long search by an activist and a prosecutor for Ramirez, who migrated to the United States at age 17. Genetic testing ultimately matched him to his father, who also survived the massacre and has visited him in the United States.

Osorio lived with Santos Lopez Alonzo, the soldier accused of kidnapping him, until he joined the Guatemalan army at age 18. Last month Lopez was deported from the United States, where he had lived since 2001, and charged by Guatemalan prosecutors with murder, kidnapping of a minor and crimes against humanity. He denies the accusations.

"With the documentary what one hopes is for justice to be done and for what happened in Las Dos Erres to never happen again," Osorio said.

Ramirez and Osorio have been granted political asylum in the United States and Canada. They met for the first time last December, 33 years after the massacre.

"Meeting Oscar and knowing what his backstory was, I was completely surprised," filmmaker Ryan Suffern said. "He was nothing (like) what I thought I probably expect from somebody who had experienced that. He's incredibly kind. He's an amazing father, husband, hard worker, and very gracious and a very warm human being."

Suffern added that he found Ramirez's story "a really interesting point of access into a larger conversation on quite a few different issues, issues of not only genocide but U.S. foreign policy ... and immigration."

During the 1980s, the Reagan administration had direct contact with Guatemala's then-dictator Efrain Rios Montt. A month after the massacre  when the army's atrocities were already known, according to declassified U.S. diplomatic cables  the Reagan administration asked Congress for more economic support for the Guatemalan military.

At least 245,000 people were killed or disappeared during Guatemala's 1960-1996 conflict, according to the United Nations. Other Central American nations also went through bloody civil wars and today are suffering from high homicide rates as hyper-violent gangs terrorize large parts of the population.
The Latest: Search called off for 2 missing US climbers

SALT LAKE CITY (AP)  The Latest on two Utah climbers who disappeared while climbing a mountain peak in Pakistan (all times local Utah time):

3:50 p.m.

The Pakistani military has called off the helicopter search for two well-known Utah climbers.

This undated photo shows climber Scott Adamson. Two well-known Utah climbers are missing in Pakistan where they were attempting to make a treacherous ascent up an icy mountain. Alpinists Kyle Dempster and Adamson were due back at base camp on Friday, Aug. 26, 2016, after they left five days earlier to begin an ascent up the north face of a place called "Ogre II" off the Choktoi Glacier in northern Pakistan, said Jonathan Thesenga of Black Diamond Equipment. Snowy and cloudy conditions are hindering rescue efforts that began Sunday, he said. (Nathan Smith/Pull Photography via AP)

Jonathan Thesenga, whose company sponsors one of the climbers, says the families of Kyle Dempster and Scott Adamson decided to end search efforts Saturday.

Thesenga says two helicopters conducted exhaustive sweeps of the area of over the men's likely descent route as well as where they were last seen on Aug. 22.

Saturday was the first day that the weather was clear enough for a sweep.

Search team members say the chances of finding any sign of them are extremely slim.

A rescue attempt was launched last Sunday near northern Pakistan's Choktoi Glacier after the pair failed to return to base camp Aug. 26.

They had been attempting to climb the north face of a 23,901-foot mountain.

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9:34 a.m.

A Pakistani military search team has yet to locate a pair of well-known Utah climbers who went missing on an icy mountain peak.

Global Rescue Operations spokeswoman Ann Shannon says a military helicopter conducted flights over the likely locations of the climbers Saturday morning.

A second helicopter was deployed after the first one had to refuel.

The aircraft were launched from Skardu and have been conducting searches at altitudes of up to 22,000 feet.

It is the first time the weather has cleared enough for helicopters to look for Kyle Dempster and Scott Adamson.

A rescue effort was launched last Sunday near northern Pakistan's Choktoi Glacier after the men failed to return Aug. 26 to base camp.

They had been attempting to climb the north face of a 23,901-foot mountain.
Europe weaker because of Brexit, Russian deputy prime minister warns

Brexit has weakened Europe, Russia's deputy prime minister has warned.

Arkady Dvorkovich insisted he would rather the EU had remained stronger.

"The British decision to leave Europe made Europe a little bit weaker at this point. The whole process of getting away from Europe is a difficult one and creates more uncertainties.

The Kremlin wants Europe to be strong, Russia's deputy prime minister has said

"For Russia, it is important that Europe is strong, we don't need weak partners. We need strong partners to go forward and provide for better future for Russian and Euopean peoples.

"Strong politics makes Europe really big player in the international landscape and individual countries cannot affect international politics in the same way that a united Europe can do," he told BBC Newsnight.

Mr Dvorkovich denied claims by David Cameron and others that Russian president Vladimir Putin wanted Brexit in order to weaken the EU and break sanctions against his country.

"That's just not true. First, we do not have any particular opinion whether UK should stay in Europe or leave it. It's a sovereign affair of the United Kingdom, and the rest of Europe, Russia is not a player in this game.
Kyle Edmund defeats John Isner to set up US Open clash with Novak Djokovic

Britain's Kyle Edmund set up a US Open showdown with Novak Djokovic by beating John Isner to reach the fourth round of a grand slam for the first time.

American 20th seed Isner delivered 27 aces and enjoyed the support of a raucous home crowd in Louis Armstrong Stadium, but Edmund overcame both to win 6-4 3-6 6-2 7-6 (7/5).

The 21-year-old will now meet world number one Djokovic, Andy Murray's chief rival at Flushing Meadows, for a place in the quarter-finals.

Kyle Edmund continues his progress at Flushing Meadows on Friday evening

Edmund was beaten by Isner in straight sets at the French Open this year but the Briton has come into form at Flushing Meadows, knocking out world number 15 Richard Gasquet in round one.

"It's been a great tournament so far. I've really enjoyed playing here, although maybe not the result you guys wanted," Edmund said on court afterwards.

"I think, playing John, your chances don't come very often, so you have to capitalise when they do.

"With his serve, you see how many aces he hits, when you get a racket on the ball you have to get in court and hustle. I played the big points well, especially in that tie-break.

"I knew it was going to come down to one or two points and I'm very pleased I came out on top."

This was Edmund's third top-30 victory, with Gilles Simon also despatched at Queen's, and there is some symmetry to his breakthrough run, given it was here that he reached the semi-finals of the boys' event in 2011.

That year, Isner made the last eight of the senior tournament, losing out to Murray, but this was Edmund's night under the floodlights in New York and his win was fully deserved.

Djokovic will be a step up in class, having enjoyed the benefit of two withdrawals and almost five days rest, but Edmund knows what to expect after losing to the Serbian in Miami in March.

He may also seek advice from Murray, his compatriot and mentor, who knows the 12-time major champion's game as well as anyone.

"It's going to be a tough match. Playing the world number one is always going to be tough," Edmund said.

"He's rightfully world number one. He's been very consistent at a high level.

"I'll learn from what happened in Miami. Playing Isner at the French Open helped me (on Friday night) so maybe that will help me again."

The Yorkshire-based youngster has always had talent but his rise in confidence has been notable since he led Britain to Davis Cup victory, without Murray, over Serbia in July.

Davis Cup captain Leon Smith was watching on in the crowd and after Dan Evans beat Alexander Zverev on Thursday, he has a selection dilemma ahead of the quarter-final against Argentina this month.

Edmund raced out of the blocks, breaking for 3-2, and, while he came under pressure when serving out, he converted a third set point to move one frame clear.

As the light dimmed, the noise rose, and Isner thrived on the atmosphere, although it was a stroke of fortune that prompted his break when a mis-hit return caught Edmund by surprise.

That was all he needed as the American served out with an ace and he looked to have the momentum when he opened up 0-40 and three break points at the start of the third.

Edmund, however, saved all three and then broke twice himself, sealing the set when Isner failed to make a simple forehand volley.

The fourth set was the most dramatic but Edmund never cowered and instead it was Isner who lost his cool at 5-4, appealing his opponent's ace only to find all his challenges were used up.

Into the tie-break, Edmund slapped a short forehand into the net but again responded as a superb return forced Isner to spurn a half-volley.
Bastian Schweinsteiger left out of Manchester United's Europa League squad

Bastian Schweinsteiger has been left out of Manchester United's squad for the Europa League group stage.

The 32-year-old was this week named in United's Premier League squad but he will be ineligible to play in Europe after being excluded from the 27-man list submitted to UEFA.

Schweinsteiger has yet to make an appearance under new boss Jose Mourinho, who has told the midfielder it will be "very difficult" to give him any playing time this season.

Bastian Schweinsteiger last played for Manchester United in March

The German stated on the eve of his 121st and final international appearance on Tuesday that it was his "absolute dream" to help Manchester United to glory this season.

But the latest snub will come as a blow to a player who has reportedly been forced to train with the reserves in the early stages of the new campaign.

Teenage defenders Timothy Fosu-Mensah and Axel Tuanzebe, who has yet to make his first-team debut, were included in the squad published on UEFA's website for the group stage, which Mourinho's men begin with a trip to Feyenoord on September 15.

:: Manchester United's Europa League squad for the 2016/2017 group stage:
Johanna Konta still recovering from collapse at US Open

Johanna Konta insists she is still recovering from her "traumatic" second-round collapse but the British number one still had enough energy to thrash Belinda Bencic at the US Open.

Konta took just 52 minutes to swat aside Bencic and stroll into the last 16 and her victory was all the more impressive given it came just 48 hours after her health scare on Wednesday.

Curtailed by heat and fatigue, Konta had collapsed on court in round two and needed almost 15 minutes of treatment before feeling able to continue.

Johanna Konta, pictured, strolled past Belinda Bencic 6-2 6-1 (AP)

She underwent medical tests but nothing untoward was revealed and the world number 14 certainly showed few signs of weakness as she hammered Bencic 6-2 6-1.

Latvia's Anastasija Sevastova, who knocked out third seed Garbine Muguruza earlier this week, awaits in round three.

"I'm still recovering in every way," Konta said. "I think it was quite a traumatic experience. I'm just still working on getting better.

"I think the best I can do for myself is move on from it, and I felt I did that today."

Bencic is undeniably talented and at 19, the second youngest player ranked inside the top 30, but the Swiss simply never competed in what was a demolition on the new Grandstand court.

Konta did not give away a single break point, she won 19 out of 20 on her first serve and unleashed 29 winners to her opponent's nine.

After losing two of the opening three games, the Briton won 11 out of the next 12 en route to victory in a brisk 52 minutes. Bencic looked almost relieved when it was over.

"She played really well," Bencic said. "She was definitely the better player, a couple of levels above me and I'm going to practice even more so I can be as good as her.

"She is really up and coming and playing really well, there are a lot of things I need to improve to be on that level.

"Normally I can read the opponent better. Today it was very difficult with her serve, very good and tough to read.

"She played really fast, she didn't give me a chance to think or get into the rallies, she served and 'boom' the next shot is almost a winner."

Konta is emerging from a tricky section of the draw as a major force and she will certainly start as favourite against Sevastova, who has climbed to 48th in the world following temporary retirement in 2013.

If she comes through, America's Madison Keys or the resurgent Caroline Wozniacki will stand in the way of her second grand slam semi-final this year.
M4 hard shoulder plan 'could put lives at risk'

Lives could be put at risk by Government plans to convert the M4 hard shoulder into a fourth lane of traffic, the chair of the Commons Transport Committee has warned.

Louise Ellman voiced serious concerns after Transport Secretary Chris Grayling gave the green light to have a 32-mile stretch of the highway widened from three to four lanes from Hayes, west London, to Theale, Berkshire.

"I think lives could be put at risk. This is a hasty decision led by cost-cutting without proper consideration for safety," Ms Ellman told The Press Association.

Labour's Louise Ellman has criticised a plan to allow hard shoulder running on part of the M4

"It ignores the need for a three-year trial period for safety considerations. The Transport Committee produced a highly critical report on this.

"Breakdown operators say they will not go to cover broken down vehicles as they are concerned about safety. There is also concern that there will be too few emergency refuges.

"It will make traffic move more smoothly, but the question marks are over safety," the Liverpool Labour MP said.

The Transport Secretary, who granted planning permission for the scheme, said there is a "critical need to improve the existing national road network".

In his letter of approval he said the plans will "increase capacity, improve traffic flow and reduce journey times, thereby supporting economic development".

Environmental and transport groups are outraged at the decision and claim having no hard shoulder will be a hazard for motorists.

Bridget Fox, sustainable transport campaigner, said: "This is bad news for both motorists and local residents.

"Motorists and breakdown operatives will be exposed to greater risk with the loss of the hard shoulder.

"This is just expanding motorways on the cheap."

She added: "We need investment in alternative options, including better rail, to give people choice in their journeys."

Jenny Bates, of Friends of the Earth, said: "Widening the M4 will lead to more traffic, more climate changing emissions and increase air pollution levels that already break legal health limits.

"Motorway widening is not the solution to our congested roads as more traffic just makes it worse, it's time to send UK transport in a new direction to protect our planet and our health."

Under the plans, the stretch of road from junction three to 12 would also be subject to variable speed limits.
JJ the German Shepherd honoured for collaring knife-wielding robber

A "fearless" police dog who tracked down a knife-wielding robber has been awarded for his devotion to duty.

German Shepherd JJ was honoured by the vet charity PDSA after managing to sniff out the phone thief who was hiding in bushes, West Midland Police said.

Dog handler Pc Wayne Mellings and JJ were called to Saltley, Birmingham, after reports that a 15-year-old girl had been robbed of her iPhone at knifepoint.

A police dog has been honoured for its role in the arrest of a robber

The pair set off in pursuit of the teenage suspect and t hree-year-old JJ tracked his scent into a cul-de-sac where two other mobile phones and a credit card had been hidden in undergrowth.

They then scaled railings during the search for the robber and found him lying low in bushes with the iPhone.

Pc Mellings said: "This was typical of JJ. He is fearless and has a real nose for sniffing out evidence and catching criminals.

"JJ managed to follow the scent to a commercial estate then lead us to some bushes where the suspect was hiding in the undergrowth. He was still holding the young girl's mobile phone.

"JJ played a vital role in catching the offender and recovering the stolen phone. He fully deserves this recognition."

The police dog was presented with the PDSA Commendation as part of the charity's animal awards programme on Thursday.

Rebecca Thorne, senior vet at the charity's Aston Pet Hospital, said: "PDSA has a long tradition of honouring animals and JJ's story really epitomises the value that animals bring to our lives."

Police said a 17-year-old was put on a youth rehabilitation order - including a 16-week overnight curfew - and ordered to pay compensation for the offences.
UK trade deal after Brexit not our top priority, Barack Obama warns

Barack Obama has said the United States would guard against any "adverse" impacts from the Brexit vote, but warned that a trade deal with the UK was not Washington's top priority.

The president suggested the trading relationship between the UK and the US could become stronger in future and vowed to make sure it did not end up "unravelling" as the Brexit process began.

Theresa May held her first talks with the president since becoming Prime Minister at the G20 summit in Hangzhou, with trade one of the main items on the agenda.

Theresa May and Barack Obama shake hands at the conclusion of a news conference at the G20 summit (AP)

During the referendum contest Mr Obama controversially warned that the UK would be at the "back of the queue" for a trade deal.

Challenged about his comments at a press conference alongside Mrs May, the US president said: "It is absolutely true that I believed pre-Brexit vote and continue to believe post-Brexit vote that the world benefited enormously from the UK participating in the EU.

"But I also said at the time that, ultimately, this was a decision for the British people and the British people made that decision."

Mr Obama said he had never suggested that the US would "punish" Britain for the vote.

But he said that Washington's focus was on the bigger prizes of the Trans-Pacific Partnership and the troubled US-EU trade deal, while the UK had to make sealing a deal with Brussels its main priority.

He said the US would work with Mrs May on the process: "We will consult and co-ordinate with her as she and her government move forward with the Brexit negotiations to ensure that we don't see any adverse effects in trading and commercial relationships between the United States and the United Kingdom."

Mr Obama added: "We are going to do everything we can to make sure that the consequences of the decision don't end up unravelling what is a very strong and robust economic relationship and could become even stronger in the future.

"But, first things first."

The US president said the "special relationship" would endure as the UK pursues an "orderly exit" from the EU.

He praised Mrs May as a "steadying influence during a time of transition".

Mrs May called the US a "special partner" for the United Kingdom, a "long-standing ally and close friend".

Speaking about their discussions over the UK's decision to leave the EU and its impact on relations with America, she said: "The UK has always been a strong partner for the US and that will remain the case."

Mrs May added: "We are both strong supporters of free trade and today we have discussed how to take forward consultations to ensure that the UK and US have the strongest possible trading relationship.

"This reinforces my belief that as we forge a new global role for the UK we can and will seize the opportunities that Brexit presents and make a success of it."

Earlier, Mrs May said: "There will be no second referendum, no attempt to turn the clock back or get out of this. (Britain) will be leaving the European Union."

European Council President Donald Tusk said there will be no negotiations with Britain on the terms of its departure from the EU until the Government formally invokes the two-year leaving process.

Speaking in Hangzhou, Mr Tusk said such pre-negotiations are not in the interests of the remaining 27 EU members.

"We need to protect the interests of the members of the EU that want to stay together, not the one which wants to leave," he said.

The UK has to invoke Article 50, the EU treaty clause that sets up the departure of a nation from the current 28-member bloc.

Number 10 sought to play down Mr Obama's comments about the focus on multinational trade deals.

An official said: "He is a president who has invested a lot of time in multilateral trade deals, that sees those as kind of his legacy and has wanted to get those over the line.

"So I don't think him talking up those, and the focus and efforts that the US has put into those, is that much of a surprise, really.
Calais protest demanding demolition of Jungle camp set to grow

French shopkeepers, police, unionists and farmers are set to join hauliers in calling for the northern section of the camp at Calais to be demolished.

Lorry drivers planning a protest about the migrant crisis around the French port town on Monday are "in it for the long haul" and will stand their ground until they see action to dismantle the Jungle camp, a trade association has warned.

The protest is likely to disrupt British cross-Channel travellers.

Pressure has been growing on the French authorities to tackle the Jungle camp which has grown in recent months

Pressure has been growing on the French authorities to tackle the problem, which has seen the camp swell in size in recent months, and ta lks took place between protest organisers and French interior minister Bernard Cazeneuve on Friday

Despite efforts to reduce numbers by dismantling the slum's southern section earlier this year, up to 9,000 migrants from countries including Sudan, Syria and Eritrea are living there in squalor.

People traffickers are reported to be going to extreme lengths in Calais in their efforts to reach the UK, with vehicles being torched, petrol bombs thrown and trees being cut down to block roads before drivers are threatened with chainsaws and machetes.

Gangs are paid thousands of pounds by vulnerable people to get them to Calais, from where some are smuggled to Britain to work to pay off huge debts to people traffickers.

People-traffickers have even been deliberately causing car crashes on the roads to the port by hurling large objects at cars and then stowing away on lorries caught up in the traffic jams that pile up behind.

A team of Mail On Sunday journalists were injured when their car was ambushed by gangs who threw a log at their vehicle, forcing it to swerve into the path of a lorry which smashed into it.

The trio clung on as the car was dragged up the road, and were later taken to hospital for bad cuts and bruising.

A doctor at the Calais Hospital, Quentin Pette, told them: "Targeting motorists in order to cause accidents is a new tactic. A colleague treated someone recently who was injured when a migrant threw something at their vehicle near the port."

Ben Ellery, a reporter who was injured, said: "The tree trunk hurled at our car which caused the near-fatal swerve could have been thrown at any family travelling back to the UK. And the next victims may not be so lucky."

Home Secretary Amber Rudd described the incident as "extremely concerning", saying: "It is vital that people feel safe when using the Channel ports. This shows just how it is in all our interests to combat attempts to enter the UK illegally."

Dover Tory MP Charlie Elphicke said unless action is taken by the French authorities it will be only a matter of time before someone is killed, telling the newspaper: "I will be going into the Home Office this week to urge the Government to put more pressure on the French to tackle the anarchy."

The Road Haulage Association (RHA) said it was disappointed that "despite assurances that the action by Calais hauliers would take the form of a go-slow, this now appears not to be the case".

RHA chief executive Richard Burnett said the organisation has spoken to a representative of the French road transport union, the FNTR, who said that on Monday at 7.30am (local time) lorries and tractors will be gathering at Dunkirk to the north of Calais and Bolougne to the south.

"Both groups will then travel along the A16 towards Calais, converging at the Eurotunnel exit," he said.

The RHA said 200 French farmers are joining in the protest, angry at migrant action that has resulted in destroyed crops and extensive damage to farms in the area.

Mr Burnett added: "It seems certain that traffic crossing from the UK will find it almost impossible to leave the port as access to the A16 is denied.

"The inevitable repercussions of this will surely mean that the authorities on this side of the Channel will have no alternative but to deploy Operation Stack. This will bring yet further misery to hauliers bound for mainland Europe and of course for the people and businesses of Kent."

Mr Burnett said: "It appears that the proposals made by the minister were not enough to placate local Calais businesses and hauliers. We have been told that those taking part in the protest are in it for the long haul and they will stay there until they see action to dismantle the camp."
U.S. to urge G20 to boost economies, heed citizen anger

By Jason Lange

WASHINGTON, Aug 31 (Reuters) - U.S. President Barack Obama will urge leaders of the world's major economies to use fiscal policy and other tools to boost growth while paying more attention to angry citizens who feel left behind, Treasury Secretary Jack Lew said on Wednesday.

The United States will also call for the Group of 20 leading economies to keep their steel industries from getting so big that factories are underused, Lew said in a preview of the U.S. message to the Sept. 4-5 G20 summit in Hangzhou, China.

Lew's comments suggest Washington could press Beijing at the summit on excess capacity in China's giant state-backed steel industry. The remarks also point to the rising awareness among leaders of advanced economies that support for global trade and financial integration cannot be taken as a given.

"There are very real concerns about globalization and technology, but the answer cannot be to close ourselves off," Lew said in prepared remarks at the Brookings Institution.

In the campaign ahead of the U.S. presidential election in November, both major candidates have expressed skepticism over free trade pacts both new and old. Britain voted in June to leave the European Union, another sign of discontent with globalization.

The G20 needs to find ways to boost the living standards of poor and middle-class families, Lew said, saying Obama will press G20 leaders to make banking services universally available.

America has been pressing other G20 governments to spend more when possible to boost the global economy, which has cooled as weaker growth in China reduced demand for commodities like copper and iron. Europe and Japan have also been growing at lackluster rates.
Swiss parliament avoids clash with EU over immigration, suggests compromise

By Michael Shields and Philip Blenkinsop

BERN/BRUSSELS, Sept 2 (Reuters) - Switzerland skirted a direct clash with the European Union over immigration curbs on Friday when a parliamentary panel rejected the government's threat to impose unilateral quotas on foreigners next year in favour of a compromise.

The lower house committee drafting legislation on the politically sensitive topic instead proposed giving local people hiring preference as a way to ease pressure on domestic job markets without infringing too much on EU free movement rules.

Negotiations that neutral Switzerland conducts with the EU to resolve the matter will be scrutinised for potential hints of what kind of deal Britain might expect following its June vote to leave the bloc.

The compromise bill, criticised by the far-right Swiss People's Party (SVP) as too vague and a betrayal of voters' demand for quotas in a 2014 referendum that must be implemented by February, now moves to the full lower house for debate.

Kurt Fluri, a committee member from the pro-business Liberals party, said the committee had "rejected that the government should be able to decide measures that violate the free movement of people".

He said most members of the panel wanted to preserve bilateral economic accords that enshrine the principle of free movement in return for enhanced Swiss access to the EU's common market, which takes most exports from the Alpine republic.

These accords will be jeopardised if the Swiss unilaterally restrict EU immigration.

Free movement of people is a cornerstone of EU policy. Britain voted in June to leave the EU, in large part to stop unlimited immigration of EU citizens that critics say has pressured job markets, social services and schools.

BRUSSELS WARY OF GIVING GROUND

The European Commission, which faces years of similar negotiations on migration rules with Britain, has shown little inclination to accommodate Switzerland or budge from insistence the Swiss respect free movement rules or lose trade benefits.

Brussels believes that any compromise with Switzerland would heighten demands from Britain.

One EU source said Bern and Brussels had agreed a provisional timetable, with Switzerland encouraged not to rush through any legislation but to wait until mid-December.

European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker is to meet Swiss President Johann Schneider-Ammann on Sept. 19 in Zurich with the aim of putting together a joint text outlining the way forward. The Commission would seek to involve EU member states from October, the source said.

"It can only be worse than what Cameron got," the source said, referring to a deal struck with then-Prime Minister David Cameron in March, containing limited concessions meant to reduce Britain's attractiveness to EU immigrants. It was not enough for most Britons, who voted 52 to 48 percent to quit the EU.

"It really has to be tailor-made for the Swiss so that it does not open the door for others," the source added.

A statement from Switzerland's governing Federal Council said the outcome of Britain's EU referendum "doesn't make the talks any easier; the search for a solution remains difficult".

Swiss officials are trying to curb immigration into a country where a quarter of the people is foreign. Employers that depend on foreign expertise are watching the issue closely.

Parliament committee chief Heinz Brand, a member of the SVP, said the draft legislation unveiled on Friday would severely crimp the attractiveness of hiring people from abroad.
Obama says security ties with Turkey undiminished since coup bid

WASHINGTON, Sept 2 (Reuters) - U.S. President Barack Obama said security relations with Turkey have not diminished as a result of a failed Turkish coup attempt in mid-July, according to excerpts of an interview with CNN to be broadcast on Sunday.

"We haven't seen a diminishing effect on our security relations. Turkey continues to be a strong NATO ally," Obama said.

"They are working with us to defeat ISIL and are an important partner on a whole range of security issues in the region," he said, using an acronym for Islamic State.

Turkey says the United States and other Western allies have not been sufficiently supportive of its efforts to root out those responsible for the failed putsch.

Since the coup attempt, in which rogue soldiers tried to topple President Tayyip Erdogan's government, Turkey has removed 80,000 people from public duty and arrested many of them, accusing them of sympathizing with the plotters.

Critics say Erdogan has used the coup attempt as a pretext to curtail dissent.

Obama said the United States would give "honest feedback" to Turkey if it believes the steps Ankara is taking after the coup jeopardize relations with Washington.

Turkey says the mastermind behind the attempted overthrow was U.S.-based Turkish cleric, Fethullah Gulen, and it has demanded his extradition.
Colombia, FARC to sign peace accord on Sept. 26 in Cartagena

BOGOTA, Sept 2 (Reuters) - The final peace accord between Colombia's government and Marxist FARC rebels will be signed on Sept. 26 in Cartagena, President Juan Manuel Santos said on Friday, as the two sides seek to put half a century of war behind them.

Santos and long-time foe Rodrigo Londono, known by his nom de guerre Timochenko, will shake hands and sign the document in the coastal city.

The signing comes ahead of plebiscite on Oct. 2 that will allow the nation to decide whether to accept the agreement reached with the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia after almost four years of negotiations in Havana.

"I want to make an important announcement, maybe the most important announcement of my life. Peace will be signed on September 26," he said in Cartagena.

Voters will be asked to respond yes or no to a single question: "Do you support the accord that puts an end to armed conflict and constructs a stable and durable nation?"

Santos's push to negotiate an end to 52 years of war with the FARC was finally concluded last week.

The historic agreement pledged to end a war that has killed more than 220,000 people and displaced millions. Some 7,000 FARC fighters will be incorporated into society and permitted to form a political party.

The 297-page accord has been published so that Colombians can pore over its contents before the vote.

Santos, who has staked his legacy on peace, has launched a campaign to convince Colombians to back the accord. But he faces fierce opposition from powerful sectors of the country who believe the only solution is to finish the FARC militarily.

The deal is opposed by two former Colombian presidents, including popular right-wing hard-liner Alvaro Uribe.

Most opinion polls suggest Colombians will back the deal. But the nation is deeply divided and caught in a heated debate over what sort of justice the rebels should face and how they should be incorporated into society.

Under the deal, the FARC will be given non-voting congressional representation until 2018. From then until 2026 it will be given 10 voting seats whether or not it has electoral support.
Zambia's top court gives opposition extra time in election row

LUSAKA, Sept 3 (Reuters) - Zambia's Constitutional Court ruled early on Saturday that a challenge to President Edgar Lungu's re-election at the helm of Africa's second-largest copper producer would be extended into next week to give the opposition more side to present its case.

The court had two weeks to decide on the challenge filed by on Aug. 19 by opposition leader Hakainde Hichilema, who claims the violence-marred election in the southern African nation was rigged.

But the president of the Constitutional Court Hildah Chibomba granted the extra time after lawyers for the opposition quit the case and Hichilema claimed the law required that his side be represented properly.

"We shall allow the petitioners to engage lawyers to represent them and this matter stands adjourned up to Monday. Each party shall be given two days to present their case," Chibomba said.

Lungu's lawyers had earlier opposed the extension, saying the matter should be concluded within 14 days. But they will have an opportunity to respond to the opposition, which will present its case first on Monday.

Lungu's inauguration has been postponed because a rule introduced in January says the winner of a presidential vote cannot be sworn in if the vote is contested in a court.
Microsoft gets support in gag order lawsuit from U.S. companies

By Dustin Volz

WASHINGTON, Sept 2 (Reuters) - Technology, media, pharmaceutical and other companies, along with major corporate lobbying groups, filed legal briefs on Friday in support of a Microsoft Corp lawsuit that aims to strike down a law preventing companies from telling customers the government is seeking their data.

Friday was the deadline for filing of friend-of-the-court briefs by nonparticipants in the case. The filings show broad support for Microsoft and the technology industry in its latest high-profile clash with the U.S. Justice Department over digital privacy and surveillance.

Microsoft's backers included the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, the National Association of Manufacturers, Delta Air Lines Inc , Eli Lilly and Co, BP America, the Washington Post, Fox News, the National Newspaper Association, Apple Inc, Alphabet Inc's Google, Amazon.com Inc, the Electronic Frontier Foundation and many others.

Microsoft filed its lawsuit in Seattle federal court in April, arguing that a law allowing the government to seize computer data located on third-party computers and often barring companies from telling their customers that they are targets is unconstitutional.

The Justice Department argues that Microsoft has no standing to bring the case and the public has a "compelling interest in keeping criminal investigations confidential." Procedural safeguards also protect constitutional rights, it contends. A Justice Department spokesman declined comment on Friday's filings.

Microsoft says the government is violating the Fourth Amendment, which establishes the right for people and businesses to know if the government searches or seizes their property, in addition to Microsoft's First Amendment right to free speech.

In the suit, which focuses on the storage of data on remote servers that are often referred to as "cloud" computers, Microsoft said it had been subjected to 2,600 federal court orders within the past 18 months prohibiting the company from informing customers their data was given to authorities pursuing criminal investigations.

Under the authority of the 30-year-old Electronic Communications Privacy Act (ECPA), the government is increasingly directing investigations at parties that store data in the cloud, Microsoft argued in its suit.

Five former law enforcement officials who worked for the FBI or Justice Department in Washington state also submitted a brief supporting Microsoft.

In July, a federal appeals court sided 3-0 with Microsoft in a separate case against the Justice Department, ruling the government could not force the tech company to hand over customer emails stored on servers outside the United States.

The Justice Department has not decided whether to appeal that decision, a spokesman said.
Japan PM urges Putin to work together to resolve island dispute

By Kiyoshi Takenaka

VLADIVOSTOK, Russia, Sept 3 (Reuters) - Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe called on Russian President Vladimir Putin on Saturday to work together to resolve once and for all an island row that has marred ties for more than seven decades.

Abe made the appeal in a speech delivered at a business conference in the Russian port city of Vladivostok, with Putin in attendance.

"As the leader of Japan, I am firmly convinced of the correctness of the Japanese position, while you, Vladimir, as the leader of Russia, are entirely confident of the correctness of the Russian position," Abe said.

"Yet, if we continue on like this, this very same discussion will continue for yet more decades to come. By leaving the situation as it is, neither you nor I will be able to leave better possibilities to future generations."

Japan claims a string of Russia-controlled western Pacific islands, called the Northern Territories in Japan and Southern Kuriles in Russia.

The territorial row over the island chain, seized by Soviet troops at the end of World War Two, has upset diplomatic relations ever since, precluding a formal peace treaty between the two countries.

Abe's father, Shintaro Abe, worked to resolve the dispute in the 1980s as foreign minister.

The speech comes one day after he held talks with Putin and agreed to have two more summit meetings by the end of the year to accelerate peace treaty negotiations.

"Vladimir, in order to carve out towards the future bilateral relations overflowing with unlimited potential, I am resolved to putting forth all my strength to advance the relationship between Japan and Russia, together with you," Abe said.

Concessions over the islands would carry risks for Putin but could boost Japanese investment in Russia at a time when Moscow, battered by low global oil prices and Western sanctions, badly needs an injection of cash.
China, Turkey pledge to deepen counter-terrorism cooperation

By Engen Tham

HANGZHOU, China, Sept 3 (Reuters) - Chinese President Xi Jinping and his Turkish counterpart Tayyip Erdogan agreed on Saturday to deepen counter-terror cooperation, as the two set aside previous disagreements over China's treatment of a Turkic-speaking Muslim minority.

Hundreds, possibly thousands, of Uighurs keen to escape unrest in China's western Xinjiang region have travelled clandestinely via Southeast Asia to Turkey, where many see themselves as sharing religious and cultural ties.

Beijing says some Uighurs then end up fighting with militants in Iraq and Syria.

But Ankara vowed last year to keep its doors open to Uighur migrants fleeing what rights activists have called religious persecution in China. Beijing denies accusations that it restricts the Uighurs' religious freedoms.

Meeting on the sidelines of the G20 summit in the eastern Chinese city of Hangzhou, Xi told Erdogan he appreciated Turkey stressing that it would not allow its territory to be used for acts that harmed China's security.

China "hopes both sides can achieve even more substantive results in counter-terrorism cooperation", China's state-run Xinhua news agency cited Xi as saying.

Erdogan, in comments before reporters translated from Turkish into Chinese, said the emphasis should be on strengthening their ties.

"Fighting terrorism is a long-term issue, and is also a long-term topic discussed by the G20," he said.

Xinhua also quoted Erdogan as thanking China for its help in maintaining Turkey's security and stability, and that he hoped for greater counter-terrorism cooperation.

Turkey, a NATO member and part of the U.S.-led coalition against Islamic State, has seen a series of deadly bombings this year blamed on the radical Islamists. But it also fears Kurdish militias in Syria will seize a swathe of border territory and embolden Kurdish insurgents on its own soil.

Beijing blames Islamist militants, including those it says come from a group called the East Turkestan Islamic Movement (ETIM), for a rise in violence in Xinjiang in recent years in which hundreds have died.

Rights groups say the unrest there is more a reaction to repressive government policies, and experts have questioned whether ETIM exists as a cohesive militant group.

Officials in Xinjiang have stepped up regulations banning overt signs of religious observance, like veils or beards.

Turkey angered China by expressing concern about reports of restrictions on Uighurs worshipping and fasting during the holy month of Ramadan last year, and Turkish protesters have marched on China's embassy and consulate in Turkey over Beijing's treatment of Uighurs.
Russian, Japanese leaders express new resolve to settle island row

By Kiyoshi Takenaka and Denis Pinchuk

VLADIVOSTOK, Russia, Sept 3 (Reuters) - Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and Russian President Vladimir Putin on Saturday spoke of their joint resolve to settle once and for all a territorial row over a string of tiny islands that has marred ties for more than seven decades.

In a speech delivered at a business conference in the Russian port city of Vladivostok, with Putin in attendance, Abe urged Putin to work with him to solve the dispute.

"As the leader of Japan, I am firmly convinced of the correctness of the Japanese position, while you, Vladimir, as the leader of Russia, are entirely confident of the correctness of the Russian position," Abe said.

"Yet, if we continue on like this, this very same discussion will continue for yet more decades to come. By leaving the situation as it is, neither you nor I will be able to leave better possibilities to future generations."

Japan claims a string of Russia-controlled western Pacific islands, called the Northern Territories in Japan and Southern Kuriles in Russia.

The territorial row over the island chain, seized by Soviet troops at the end of World War Two, has upset diplomatic relations ever since, precluding a formal peace treaty between the two countries.

Putin said he was ready to take decisive steps to settle the dispute, though he cautioned that those steps could only be taken after careful preparation.

"The past should not be an obstacle to moving forward," Putin said during a question-and-answer session at the forum, where he shared the stage with Abe.

"We have to think how to get rid of problems which do not allow us to move forward."

"I hope that we can solve these problems. In order to solve them we of course need a level of trust. It's a tricky solution but we can achieve it."

On Friday, the Japanese prime minister held talks with Putin and agreed to have two more summit meetings by the end of the year to accelerate peace treaty negotiations.

"Vladimir, in order to carve out towards the future bilateral relations overflowing with unlimited potential, I am resolved to putting forth all my strength to advance the relationship between Japan and Russia, together with you," Abe said.

Abe's father, Shintaro Abe, worked to resolve the dispute in the 1980s as foreign minister.

Concessions over the islands would carry risks for Putin but could boost Japanese investment in Russia at a time when Moscow, battered by low global oil prices and Western sanctions, badly needs an injection of cash.
Tensions rise in Germany's Turkish diaspora, mirroring splits in Turkey

By Paul Carrel and Andrea Shalal

BERLIN/COLOGNE, Germany, Sept 2 (Reuters) - Ercan Karakoyun has long played a prominent role in Berlin's Turkish community, promoting education and dialogue among Muslims and Germans of other faiths.

Now, however, whenever he can, Karakoyun avoids the bustling streets where many Turks live in the German capital. He says he has received six death threats via email and Facebook that are being investigated by police.

"One message said: 'We know where your daughter goes to school'," he added.

Karakoyun heads the Foundation for Dialogue and Education in Germany, a movement that supports Fethullah Gulen, the U.S.-based cleric Turkey blames for July's attempted coup.

The group has been active in Germany for many years, operating 150 tutoring centres in the country, 30 government-recognised schools and a dozen interfaith dialogue projects. It has long been seen as a moderate Islamic group although it has faced criticism over a lack of transparency.

Now though, tensions are rising among the community of 3 million people with a Turkish background in Germany following the failed putsch. They have split into supporters of Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan and his opponents, and they are vying for influence.

The divisions mirror those that are now in stark relief in Turkey between Erdogan's supporters and two other groups - Gulen backers and ethnic Kurds.

Karakoyun said ties with Erdogan supporters had been strained for several years but the situation had spiralled out of control since the coup was thwarted.

"Erdogan's witchhunt in Turkey against Gulen supporters is now being carried out here," Karakoyun said.

The rivalries have raised questions about a failure to better integrate Turks, some of whom have lived in Germany for decades. They have also deepened scepticism in Germany about migrants at a time when Chancellor Angela Merkel is under fire over her open-door refugee policy.

The government has a policy headache. Although concerned about Turkey's record on human rights and a crackdown on opponents since the failed coup, it needs Ankara's help to stem the flow of migrants from countries such as Syria.

KURDS PLAN TO MARCH

One immediate concern is a march planned in Cologne on Saturday by leftist groups and Kurds, who account for one in three immigrants from Turkey.

This follows a ban on a large, annual Kurdish festival nearby which angered the Kurds, especially as Erdogan supporters were allowed to hold a rally in Cologne on July 31.

Security officials worry that Erdogan supporters could take to the streets to counter the Kurdish march, expected to attract about 30,000 people, and that there could be violence. Tempers flared when Germany's top court prevented Erdogan from addressing the July 31 rally via videolink.

With many people of Turkish origin just back from summer holidays in Turkey, there are concerns that passions have been fuelled by media coverage "back home" which is dominated by criticism of Germans, coup plotters and Kurds.

"We cannot allow this conflict to be imported to German soil. We have to pay particular attention to those cases where massive pressure is being applied to Germans with a Turkish background here," Nicola Beer, general secretary of Germany's libertarian Free Democratic Party, told Reuters.

Community leaders say a pervasive and longstanding sense among young Turkish Germans that they are shunned in society makes them pliable and more attuned to the political mood in the homeland, to which they feel attached but barely know.

"Because they (young Turks) are ill-informed (about events in Turkey) many get emotional quickly. Some are charged like ticking time bombs," said Kazim Erdogan, 63, a psychologist who is no relation of Turkey's president.

"The atmosphere (in the Turkish community in Germany) is completely poisoned. We are at a tipping point."

Lists of businesses identified as backing Gulen, and calling for boycotts of their products or services, have appeared on social media.

"We are outing these parallel forces and their henchmen!" read one entry, listing over 20 firms in the Stuttgart area, at least one of which denies such links.

Turkish officials say the German government's concerns about tensions in the Turkish community are overblown and the majority of Turks in Germany have rallied behind Erdogan since the coup.

Sixty percent of Turks in Germany voted for his AKP party in the latest national elections, according to the Organisation of Turkish Communities in Germany.

QUESTIONS ABOUT INTEGRATION

But Labour and Social Affairs Minister Andrea Nahles told Reuters after meeting Turkish groups in Berlin's Kreuzberg neighbourhood that the situation was "ripping families apart."

Government officials are worried about the role played by the Turkish-Islamic Union for Religious Affairs (DITIB) which operates through some 900 associations across Germany, most of which are mosques with imams dispatched from Turkey.

"DITIB is used to spread the Turkish government's message in Germany," Ole Schroeder, deputy interior minister and a member of Merkel's conservatives, told Reuters.

Politicians from right and left want DITIB's influence curbed, and many, including Schroeder, are calling for the group to stop importing clerics who are trained in Istanbul.

DITIB has denied being steered by the Turkish government or posing any threat to Germany.

Merkel has urged Turks in Germany to show "loyalty to our country," a comment that divided her ruling coalition and pointed to growing angst about strains in the Turkish community and Ankara's influence on it.

Tensions with Ankara grew when German parliament passed a resolution in June declaring the 1915 massacre of Armenians by Ottoman forces a genocide.

They rose further when a government report in August called Turkey a hub for Islamist groups, and government data show a quarter of the 850 militants who have left Germany to fight for Islamic State had a Turkish background.

Cansel Kiziltepe, a Social Democrat member of the Bundestag lower house of parliament, said the situation showed Germany had not implemented any meaningful integration policies until the early 2000s.
Putin: world needs to avoid steps that would heighten tensions with N.Korea -

By Vladimir Soldatkin and Denis Pinchuk

VLADIVOSTOK, Russia, Sept 3 (Reuters) - Russian President Vladimir Putin urged countries on Saturday to show caution when dealing with North Korea and to avoid any actions that might further enflame tensions with Pyongyang.

Speaking at a business forum in Russia's Pacific port of Vladivostok attended by South Korean President Park Geun-hye and Japanese Prime Minister Shinz Abe, Putin said Moscow favoured bringing North Korea back to international negotiations over its nuclear programme.

Putin also urged Pyongyang to adhere to agreements backed by the United Nations, but he added: "I think that any actions that would provoke further escalation (of tensions) are counter-productive."

Earlier Park called on Russia and other major global players to increase pressure on North Korea to abandon its nuclear programme, saying this could open the road for cooperation with Pyongyang.

"In order for Pyongyang to take the decision to abandon its nuclear programme, it is important to give it a strong unified message," Park told the forum in Vladivostok.

Concerns about the threat posed by North Korea have spiralled since it conducted its fourth nuclear explosion in January and followed it up with a series of missile tests despite severe United Nations sanctions, which Pyongyang rejects as an infringement of its sovereignty.

In June North Korea test-fired what appeared to be two mobile Musudan rockets, one of which climbed to 1,000 km (600 miles), or enough to fly more than 3,000 km (1,800 miles) down range.

On Aug. 24 Pyongyang also fired a submarine-launched ballistic missile (SLBM) toward Japan that travelled 500 km (311 miles).
Zimbabwe's Mugabe rejects ill health talk but faces rising public anger

By MacDonald Dzirutwe

HARARE, Sept 3 (Reuters) - Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe returned home from abroad in a jovial mood on Saturday, poking fun at the latest online media speculation that he was gravely ill and had sought medical help in Dubai.

Mugabe, 92, came back to the grim reality of rising public anger over an economic meltdown widely blamed on his misrule, with violence erupting a week ago when police fired teargas at opposition leaders and protesters.

Reports that Mugabe's health is declining have become common in recent years, but the veteran politician, in power since independence from Britain in 1980, often refers to himself as "fit as a fiddle".

On Saturday Mugabe poured scorn on rumours on some online news websites - partly fed by his early departure from a regional summit - that he had been rushed for medical treatment in Dubai.

Mugabe told journalists at Harare international airport he had gone to Dubai on a family matter concerning one of his children.

"Yes, I was dead, it's true I was dead. I resurrected as I always do. Once I get back to my country I am real," he quipped.

But Mugabe showed some signs of frailty, walking slowly from the plane and only chatting briefly with officials before being whisked away in a motorcade.

Mugabe rejects the blame for a crisis currently manifesting itself in acute cash shortages and high unemployment, and last week warned protesters there would be no "Arab Spring" in Zimbabwe, referring to the uprisings that toppled several Arab leaders.

He routinely blames Zimbabwe's economic problems on sabotage by Western opponents of his policies, such as the seizure of white-owned commercial farms for black people.

Last week Mugabe accused Western countries, including the United States, of sponsoring recent anti-government protests.

But even some of his once stalwart supporters, including Zimbabwe's war veterans who invaded white commercial farms in support of Mugabe's land seizures, have turned their backs on him, saying he has "devoured" the values of the liberation struggle.

Zimbabwe, which has also been hit by drought and weak commodity prices, is struggling to pay salaries to soldiers, police and other public workers, fuelling political tensions, including within the ruling ZANU-PF.
Rwanda's tourism earnings seen up 25 pct in 2016 from last year - official

KIGALI, Sept 3 (Reuters) - Rwanda expects to boost its revenue earnings from tourism this year by 25.8 percent from 2015, helped by extra attractions including a new game park, an official told Reuters late on Friday.

The central African country famed for rolling green hills and treks to see endangered gorillas on the slopes of the Virunga Mountains, sees tourist earnings reaching $400 million this year, up from $318 million in 2015.

Francis Gatare chief executive officer of state-run Rwanda Development Board (RDB) told Reuters that Rwanda wanted to maximise earnings from visitors "by giving several opportunities so that they (visitors) can increase the length of stay in the country."

A new national park called Gishwati-Mukura, the country's fourth, a "cultural village" in the capital Kigali, a vast new hospitality facility called the Kigali Convention Centre, and new adventure activities on Lake Kivu would drive revenue growth, Gatare said.

Rwanda is credited with rapid growth since the 1994 genocide that claimed the lives of 800,000 people but critics of incumbent President Paul Kagame say his authoritarian style undermines the potential for long-term political stability.
Clashes overnight in southeast Turkey kill 8 security force members -sources

DIYARBAKIR, Turkey, Sept 3 (Reuters) - Eight members of Turkey's security forces and 11 militants from the outlawed Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) were killed in clashes overnight in southeast Turkey, security sources said on Saturday.

The fighting, in Van province near the border with Iran, followed a day of violence across the largely Kurdish southeast in which 27 PKK militants and at least seven security force members were killed.

Southeastern Turkey has been hit by waves of violence since the collapse of a 2-1/2-year ceasefire between the Turkish state and the autonomy-seeking PKK in July 2015.

An air operation was continuing in the region on Saturday following the overnight clashes, state-run Anadolu Agency said, citing the local governor.
Kuwait has advised citizens to make sure their phones contain no material that might be seen as being linked to Islamist militants before travelling to the United States, local media reported on Saturday, after three men were denied entry in July.

State news agency KUNA quoted a statement by the Kuwaiti embassy in Washington as saying that authorities at 'some U.S. airports may check the contents of mobile phones or other smart mobile equipment'.

'The embassy of the state of Kuwait in Washington urged citizens to make sure that their phones do not contain any materials or photos of extremist nature, related to areas of conflict or terrorist organisations or footage of violence of all kinds before entering U.S. territories,' KUNA said, citing a statement.

Kuwait has advised citizens to make sure their phones contain no material that might be seen as being linked to Islamist militants before travelling to the United States, local media reported on Saturday (file)

'(This is) so that students and citizens may be spared questioning by authorities in U.S. airports and to avoid any action against them that could result in cancelling their visas and banning them from entering U.S. territories,' it added.

The Arabic language al-Rai newspaper reported in July that three businessmen were questioned for 21 hours at Los Angeles airport and had their telephones checked before they were turned back, in the second incident of its kind this year.

The Gulf Arab OPEC oil exporter is a key U.S. ally and a member of an international alliance led by the United States which is fighting against ISIS in Syria.

In July, the United Arab Emirates, another close Gulf Arab ally of the United States, told its male citizens to avoid wearing traditional white robes and head dress when travelling abroad, after a businessman was wrestled to the ground at an Avon, Ohio hotel and held as an Islamic State suspect.
Spain proposes former minister linked to Panama Papers for World Bank

MADRID, Sept 3 (Reuters) - Spain has nominated as its World Bank representative a former industry minister who resigned following allegations of links to offshore dealings which emerged after he was named in the Panama Papers.

The Economy Ministry said in an e-mailed statement late on Friday night that the Spanish government had proposed Jose Manuel Soria as executive director at the World Bank.

Soria, who has denied any wrongdoing, resigned as minister in April following reports of alleged links to an offshore company on the British island of Jersey in order to limit any damage to Spain's caretaker government, the conservative People's Party (PP).

Soria's resignation came ahead of Spain's national election in June, its second in seven months, which ended as inconclusively as the previous one in December..

The nomination was announced when acting Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy from the PP failed at the second attempt to win a new term, increasing the likelihood that Spain will have to hold its third election in year.

In what could become another public embarrassment for the PP caretaker government, plagued by a string of corruption scandals, the opposition Socialists have said they will demand Economy Minister Luis de Guindos urgently appear in parliament to explain the reasons for the government's nomination.

The PP has faced a slew of investigations over allegations of misappropriating public funds and influence peddling, which have seen several of its politicians resign. The PP has denied it has a problem with corruption, saying the cases are isolated and it is tackling them.

The World Bank's 189 governors are expected to vote on Soria's candidature as part of the process of appointing 25 executive directors.
Turkey, EU must work more closely together - Turkey's EU minister

BRATISLAVA, Sept 3 (Reuters) - Turkey's European Union Affairs Minister Omer Celik said on Saturday his meeting with the bloc's 28 foreign ministers had resulted in a "very strong consensus" that they should work more closely after ties soured over a failed coup in Ankara.

Celik, speaking via translation, also expressed Turkey's strong disappointment with the EU's initial reaction to the failed military coup in July.
Nigerian gunmen kidnap 14 local oil workers and driver in southern Rivers state

ONITSHA, Nigeria, Sept 3 (Reuters) - Gunmen in Nigeria's restive southern Niger Delta region, which has been hit by a series of militant attacks on energy facilities since the start of the year, have kidnapped 14 local oil workers and their driver, police said on Saturday.

Kidnapping for ransom is a common problem in some parts of Nigeria and the southern Delta energy hub has seen an increase in crime since the start of attacks by militants calling for more oil wealth to go to the impoverished region.

The abduction took place on a road connecting the towns of Omoku and Elele, around 50 km (30 miles) from the city of Port Harcourt, Rivers state, in the early hours of Friday as the employees of Nigerian energy company Nestoil travelled to work, police said.

"We have recovered the vehicle they were travelling in before the incident occurred. Police are currently combing bushes around the area in a bid to find and release the victims," said Nnamdi Omoni of Rivers state police.

"I do not think there was a foreigner among those kidnapped. Their abductors have not made any contact and nobody has been arrested yet," added Nnamdi.
Turkish-backed Syrian rebels seize village from Islamic State - rebels, monitor

BEIRUT, Sept 3 (Reuters) - Turkish-backed Syrian rebels seized at least one village from Islamic State on Saturday near Turkey's border with Syria in further advances against the jihadist group, the insurgents and monitors said.

The Hamza Brigade, a group fighting under the banner of the Free Syrian Army, said it had taken control of Arab Ezza, a village near which Turkish warplanes carried out air strikes on Friday.
Turkish tanks roll into Syria, opening new line of attack

By Umit Ozdal and John Davison

ELBEYLI, Turkey/BEIRUT, Sept 3 (Reuters) - Turkey and its rebel allies opened a new line of attack in northern Syria on Saturday, as Turkish tanks rolled across the border and Syrian fighters swept in from the west to take villages held by Islamic State.

The incursion was launched by Turkey from Kilis province - an area frequently targeted by Islamic State rockets - and coincided with a separate push by the Turkish-backed Syrian rebels, who seized several villages further to the east.

By supporting the rebels, mainly Arabs and Turkmen fighting under the loose banner of the Free Syrian Army, Turkey is hoping to drive out Islamic State militants and check the advance of U.S.-backed Syrian Kurdish fighters.

The rebels last week took the frontier town of Jarablus with Turkish support. The operation, called Euphrates Shield, is Ankara's first full-scale Syrian incursion since the start of the five-year-old war.

On Saturday the tanks crossed the frontier and entered the Syrian rebel-controlled town of al-Rai to support the new offensive, a rebel spokesman and monitors said.

Al-Rai is about 55 km (34 miles) west of Jarablus, and part of a 90-km corridor near the Turkish border that Ankara says it is clearing of jihadists and protecting from Kurdish militia expansion.

The rebels then seized villages to the east and the south of al-Rai, according to one rebel official.

"They took several villages, about eight villages. At first they took two and withdrew from them, but then reinforcements came and there was an advance," Zakaria Malahifji of the Aleppo-based Fastaqim group told Reuters.

The Turkish-backed operation was putting pressure on Islamic State from both east and west of a stretch of territory it controls along the border between the towns.

"The operations are to work from al-Rai towards the villages that were liberated to the west of Jarablus," Colonel Ahmed Osman of the Sultan Murad rebel group told Reuters.

EASTERN PUSH

The Hamza Brigade, also part of the Free Syrian Army, said it had taken control of Arab Ezza, a village about 30 km west of Jarablus and near where Turkish warplanes carried out air strikes on Friday.

FSA factions had also captured the villages of Fursan, Lilawa, Kino and Najma just south of Arab Ezza, according to a source in another rebel group, the Failaq al-Sham.

The United States said it hit Islamic State targets in the region overnight, although it did not say where.

"U.S. forces struck ISIL targets near Turkey's border in Syria last night via newly deployed HIMARS system," Brett McGurk, the special presidential envoy for the coalition fighting Islamic State, said on his Twitter account.

HIMARS refers to a High Mobility Artillery Rocket System. Turkey has struggled to protect the area around Kilis from Islamic State rocket fire. Three rockets fired from northern Syria hit the region on Saturday, Dogan news agency reported, adding there were no casualties.

Turkey's pro-government Daily Sabah newspaper said Turkish air strikes in support of the rebels continued on Saturday.

FOCUS ON KURDISH MILITIA

While Euphrates Shield initially targeted Islamic State in Jarablus, most of the focus since has been on checking the advance of U.S.-backed Syrian Kurdish fighters, to the alarm of NATO ally Washington.

Turkey disagrees with its ally's support for the Syrian Kurdish YPG militia, which it considers a terrorist group. The YPG has been among the most effective partners on the ground in the U.S.-led fight against IS.

Turkey is worried that advances by Syrian Kurdish fighters will embolden Kurdish militants in its southeast, where it has been fighting an insurgency for three decades led by the outlawed Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK).

In China, to attend the G20 meeting of world leaders, President Tayyip Erdogan said there should be no support for any terrorist organisation - a reference to the United States' backing of the Syrian Kurdish fighters.

"There is no good terrorist. All terrorists are bad. All organisations involved in terrorism are cursed. This is how we see things and how we put up our struggle," he said, according to a transcript of an interview with China's CCTV released by Erdogan's office.

The United States has voiced concerns about Turkish strikes on Kurdish-aligned groups that Washington supports. Germany said it did not want to see a lasting Turkish presence in an already tangled conflict.

Turkey has said it has no plans to stay in Syria and simply aims to protect its frontier from the militant group and the Kurdish YPG militia.
Turkey-backed Syrian rebels say launch new attack against IS from the west

BEIRUT, Sept 3 (Reuters) - Turkey-backed Syrian rebels on Saturday launched a new operation against Islamic State near the border which aims to advance eastwards against the jihadists from the town of al-Rai, a rebel commander said.

"The operations are to work from al-Rai towards the villages that were liberated west of Jarablus," Colonel Ahmed Osman of the Sultan Murad rebel group told Reuters, adding the offensive was backed by Turkey.
Turkish-backed Syrian rebels seize several villages from Islamic State - rebels, monitor

BEIRUT, Sept 3 (Reuters) - Turkish-backed Syrian rebels seized several villages from Islamic State on Saturday near Turkey's border with Syria, in further advances against the jihadist group, the insurgents and monitors said.

The Hamza Brigade, a group fighting under the banner of the Free Syrian Army, said it had taken control of Arab Ezza, a village near which Turkish warplanes carried out air strikes on Friday.

A source in the Failaq al-Sham rebel group said FSA factions had also captured the villages of Fursan, Lilawa, Kino and Najma just south of Arab Ezza.

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights monitoring group confirmed that the rebels had taken several villages.

Turkey last week launched its first major incursion into Syria since the civil war began five years ago. Its tanks and warplanes are backing rebels who are fighting separately against both Islamic State and the Kurdish YPG militia.

Ankara's offensive has alarmed the West, with Washington saying that action aimed at the YPG, part of a U.S.-backed coalition also fighting against Islamic State, risks undermining the broader goal of ridding Syria of the jihadist group.

Turkish forces and their Syrian rebel allies began the Aug. 24 offensive by seizing Jarablus, a Syrian frontier town, from Islamic State, before turning their sights on what the army said were YPG positions. The YPG denied they were there.
One killed as bomb explodes on train in southern Thailand

BANGKOK, Sept 3 (Reuters) - One railway worker was killed and three people were wounded when a bomb exploded on a train in Thailand's southern town of Pattani on Saturday, police said, a day after peace talks between the Thai government and Muslim separatists.

The bomb was hidden under rail tracks at Khok Pho district of Pattani, damaging the last carriage, Police Captain Promote Juichouy told Reuters.

The blast destroyed half the carriage and blew a big hole under the track, police said.

The three wounded people included two train workers and a female passenger. The train was heading to Bangkok.

Peace talks between Thailand's government and Muslim separatists ended on Friday with no breakthrough but an agreement to meet again. The insurgents denied responsibility for a string of bombs last month.

A decades-old insurgency in the Muslim-majority southern provinces of Yala, Pattani and Narathiwat has claimed more than 6,500 lives since it escalated in 2004, according to the independent monitoring group Deep South Watch.

As with most such attacks, no one claimed responsibility.
U.S. forces hit Islamic State targets in Syria -U.S. envoy

ISTANBUL, Sept 3 (Reuters) - U.S. forces hit Islamic State targets overnight near Turkey's border with Syria using a newly deployed mobile rocket system, a senior diplomat said on Saturday.

"U.S. forces struck ISIL targets near Turkey's border in Syria last night via newly deployed HIMARS system," Brett McGurk, the special presidential envoy for the coalition to counter Islamic State, said on his official Twitter account.

HIMARS refers to a "High Mobility Artillery Rocket System". It was not immediately clear when the system was deployed at Turkey's border.
Turkish tanks enter Syrian town near border to support rebels against IS - rebel spokesman

BEIRUT, Sept 3 (Reuters) - Turkish tanks entered the Syrian town of al-Rai near the border on Saturday in support of a new insurgent attack against Islamic State, a rebel spokesman said.

"They (the tanks) entered the attack now," said Mohammed Rasheed of the Jaish al-Nasr rebel group, which operates under the banner of the Free Syrian Army.
More than 100 PKK militants killed or wounded in clashes -Turkey military

ANKARA, Sept 3 (Reuters) - More than 100 Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) militants were either killed or wounded in clashes with Turkish security forces on Saturday, the military said,

It was one of the highest casualty tolls in a single day of the conflict in recent years.

The military said in a statement that more than 100 PKK militants had been "neutralised" in clashes, without specifying how many were killed and how many wounded. Most had been taken back to northern Iraq, where the PKK has mountain camps.
More than 100 PKK militants killed or wounded in clashes -Turkey military

ANKARA, Sept 3 (Reuters) - More than 100 Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) militants were either killed or wounded in clashes with Turkish security forces on Saturday, the military said.

It was one of the highest casualty tolls in a single day of the conflict in recent years. Turkey's largely Kurdish southeast has been rocked by waves of violence following the collapse of a 2-1/2-year ceasefire between the state and the PKK last year.

The military said in a statement that more than 100 PKK militants had been "neutralised" in clashes, without specifying how many were killed and how many wounded. It said most had been taken back to northern Iraq, where the PKK has mountain camps.

Turkey's southeast has seen heavy fighting in recent days in Hakkari province, near the border with Iraq, and in Van province, near the border with Iran.

Five Turkish security force members were killed and six more were wounded in clashes in Hakkari, security sources told Reuters.

Eight more security force members were killed overnight in Van, the sources said.
Iran ready to help restore oil market balance after it regains share - official

DUBAI, Sept 3 (Reuters) - Iran is ready to support any decision to help restore balance to the oil market after it regains its pre-sanctions market share, the Iranian oil ministry's SHANA news agency reported on Saturday, quoting a minister.

"Deputy Petroleum Minister in International Affairs and Trading Amir Hossein Zamaninia voiced Iran's support for any decision that would help restore balance in the oil market, saying the country can only be cooperative in this field once it regains its pre-sanctions oil market share," SHANA said.

Zamaninia was speaking after a meeting in Tehran between Iranian Oil Minister Bijan Zanganeh and his Algerian counterpart Nouredine Bouterfa.

Iran, OPEC's third largest producer, has been sending positive signals that it may support joint action to prop up the oil market, potentially aiding efforts to revive a global deal on freezing production levels.

Members of OPEC will meet on the sidelines of the International Energy Forum (IEF), which groups producers and consumers, in Algeria on Sept. 26-28.

Zanganeh has confirmed that he will attend the Algeria meeting.

Zamaninia said OPEC countries need to find a way to revive the quota system.
Halep gets Hungarian fright before reaching last 16

By Steve Keating

NEW YORK, Sept 3 (Reuters) - Fifth seed Simona Halep narrowly avoided a third-round upset with a 6-1 2-6 6-4 win over Hungary's Timea Babos on Saturday to keep her U.S. Open title hopes alive.

Halep came into the match having dropped nine games in her opening two matches and looked ready to make speedy work of Babos but she needed two hours and eight minutes on an overcast Arthur Ashe Stadium court to secure her place in the last 16.

After blitzing the opening set in 24 minutes, Halep meekly surrendered the second to the 34th-ranked Babos, who had been knocked out in the opening round in four previous visits to Flushing Meadows.

Babos continued to apply the pressure in the third, breaking Halep at the first opportunity, but the fiery Romanian battled back, angrily smashing her racket on to the court before holding serve for a 5-4 lead.

Halep was gifted her place in the fourth round when Babos double-faulted to hand her the break and match.

"I don't know how I came back," Halep told reporters. "I felt like I didn't play my best but I was fighting to the end for every ball.

"I was trying to push her back. I was trying to run for every ball. I did everything I could today and I'm really happy I could finish the match in my way."
Turkish-backed Syrian rebels seize several villages from IS near town of al-Rai - rebel official

BEIRUT, Sept 3 (Reuters) - Syrian rebels backed by Turkey seized several villages from Islamic State near the town of al-Rai, from where the rebel groups launched a new operation against the jihadists earlier on Saturday, a rebel official said.

"They took several villages, about eight villages. At first they took two and withdrew from them, but then reinforcements came and there was an advance," Zakaria Malahifji of the Aleppo-based Fastaqim group told Reuters.
Iran ready to help restore oil market balance after it regains share - official

DUBAI, Sept 3 (Reuters) - Iran is ready to support any decision to help restore balance to the oil market after it regains its pre-sanctions market share, the Iranian oil ministry's SHANA news agency reported on Saturday, quoting a minister.

Algerian Energy Minister Nouredine Bouterfa said after talks in Tehran with his Iranian counterpart, Bijan Zanganeh, that the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) wanted an oil price of between $50-60 a barrel, according to SHANA

"Deputy Petroleum Minister in International Affairs and Trading Amir Hossein Zamaninia voiced Iran's support for any decision that would help restore balance in the oil market, saying the country can only be cooperative in this field once it regains its pre-sanctions oil market share," SHANA said.

Global oversupply in oil had knocked crude prices down from mid-2014 highs above $100 a barrel to a 12-year lows earlier this year of around $27 a barrel. Brent has since rebounded and was trading at around $49 a barrel last week.

Iran, OPEC's third largest producer, has been sending positive signals that it may support joint action to prop up the oil market, potentially aiding efforts to revive a global deal on freezing production levels.

Members of OPEC will meet on the sidelines of the International Energy Forum (IEF), which groups producers and consumers, in Algeria on Sept. 26-28.

Zanganeh has confirmed that he will attend the Algeria meeting.

Zamaninia said OPEC countries need to find a way to revive the quota system.

"Naturally, if a country wants to produce at its full capacity, there will not be any balance in the market," Zamaninia said, without naming any country, but in an apparent reference to Saudi Arabia.

SHANA said that after the meeting with Zanganeh, Bouterfa told the agency that a crude oil price of $50 per barrel was "unacceptable".
Suspected Boko Haram militants riding camels kill five in Niger

NIAMEY, Sept 3 (Reuters) - Suspected militants from the Islamist group Boko Haram rode on camels into a village in southeastern Niger and killed five people, Anfani radio station said on Saturday.

A militia repulsed the overnight raid in the commune of Toumour, about 75 km (47 miles) from the regional capital Diffa. The attackers burned houses and left others wounded, the station said.
Displaced South Sudanese appeal to UN to urgently send more troops

By Michelle Nichols

JUBA, Sept 3 (Reuters) - Displaced civilians and religious leaders in war-torn South Sudan appealed to the U.N. Security Council on Saturday to urgently deploy extra foreign troops as government ministers questioned whether more peacekeepers were needed in the capital, Juba.

The 15-member council met with President Salva Kiir's cabinet, religious and civil society leaders and visited two U.N. compounds in Juba where tens of thousands of civilians have been sheltering amid nearly three years of violence.

While the country's conflict was sparked in December 2013 by political rivalry between Kiir and opposition leader Riek Machar, Anglican Archbishop Daniel Deng warned that "people have been made to believe it's a tribal war."

"What happened in Rwanda - we're afraid it can happen in this country," he told the Security Council, referring to the Hutu genocide of Tutsis and moderate Hutus in 1994.

Catholic Archbishop Paulino Lukudu Loro described the planned deployment of a 4,000-strong regional protection force to ensure peace in Juba, authorized by the Security Council last month, as a "reconciliation force."

"We need this help," he said. "We cannot put our nation on the right track alone."

South Sudan gained independence from Sudan in 2011 but slid into civil war after Kiir sacked Machar as his vice president. The conflict between forces loyal to Kiir, an ethnic Dinka, and Machar, a Nuer, has often followed ethnic lines.

The pair signed a peace deal a year ago but fighting has continued and Machar has now fled to neighboring Sudan.

After a meeting between the council and Kiir's cabinet, U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Samantha Power said the cabinet ministers had asked "whether the regional protection force was still needed given that Riek Machar has fled the country, given the transitional government is working more smoothly."

"We as a council sent an unequivocal message that 'yes, this force is still needed'," she told reporters. The Security Council has threatened to impose an arms embargo on South Sudan if the government does not cooperate.

South Sudan's Minister for Cabinet Affairs, Martin Elias Lomoro, said of the planned deployment: "We're discussing the modalities."

The new force will boost a 12,000-strong U.N. peacekeeping force (UNMISS) that has been on the ground since 2011. When the conflict erupted in 2013, the United Nations took the rare step of sheltering civilians at several of its compounds.

"That's one of the reasons why a regional protection force is so necessary because so much of UNMISS's resources is devoted to protecting civilians in the camps," Deputy British U.N. Ambassador Peter Wilson told reporters.

U.N. peacekeepers currently protect nearly 200,000 civilians at six sites around the country. The Security Council, which visited two camps in Juba on Saturday, were greeted at the U.N. House site by mainly displaced Nuer shouting "down, down, Salva Kiir."

"We need your help, we are tired," said Peter Gatkuoth, 23, who has sheltered at the U.N. House site for several years.

The South Sudan conflict has been marked by the use of rape as a weapon and some displaced women told council members on Saturday that they had to risk being the target of sexual violence every time they left the camp to get food and firewood.

"As a mother I can't imagine that choice," Power said. "I know I would go and take that risk for my children, I think any mother would. We heard desperate appeals for the regional protection force to be deployed quickly."

Oil producer South Sudan's fledgling economy has been battered by the conflict, driving prices higher and leaving half the country's 12 million people without enough food.

Paleki Ayang, director of the South Sudan Women Empowerment Network, told the council her monthly salary had dropped from $2,000 more than two years ago to $80.
Mother Teresa to be made saint at Vatican ceremony

By Isla Binnie

VATICAN CITY, Sept 4 (Reuters) - Mother Teresa of Calcutta, a Nobel peace laureate known as the "saint of the gutters" during her lifetime, will be made a saint of the Roman Catholic Church on Sunday.

More than 100,000 pilgrims are expected to attend a service led by Pope Francis in St. Peter's Square at the Vatican to honour the tiny nun who worked among the world's neediest in the slums of the Indian city now known as Kolkata.

Her legacy fits neatly with Francis's vision of a poor church that strives to serve the poor, and the ceremony will be a highlight of his Holy Year of Mercy which runs until Nov. 8.

Mother Teresa and her Missionaries of Charity (MoC) order have been criticised both during her life and since her death in 1997, but many Catholics revere her as a model of compassion.

Thousands attended a papal audience on Saturday in the Vatican, where a large canvas of the late nun in her blue-hemmed white robes hung from St. Peter's basilica.

"Her testimony makes us reflect and transform...and make a better world," Brazilian priest Carlos Jose Nacimento said.

Critics say she did little to alleviate the pain of the terminally ill and nothing to tackle the root causes of poverty. Atheist writer Christopher Hitchens made a documentary about her called "Hell's Angel".

She was also accused of trying to convert the destitute in predominantly-Hindu India to Christianity, a charge her mission has repeatedly denied.

But Pope John Paul II, who met her often, had no doubt about her eligibility for sainthood, and put her on a fast track to elevation two years after her death instead of the usual five.

The Church defines as saints those believed to have led such holy lives they are now in Heaven and can intercede with God to perform miracles - two of which are needed to confer sainthood.

She is credited with healing an Indian woman from stomach cancer in 1998 and a Brazilian man from a brain infection in 2008.

The canonisation will also be celebrated in Skopje, the capital of modern Macedonia where Mother Teresa was born of Albanian parents in 1910 and became a nun aged 16.

In Kolkata, where the first MoC mission was set up in 1952, there will be prayers, talks and cultural events, but no major ceremony.

Delegations from at least 15 national governments are expected at the Vatican.
Turkey seen approving German parliamentary visit to air base soon-lawmaker

BERLIN, Sept 4 (Reuters) - Turkey is expected to approve an Oct. 4 visit by German lawmakers to the Incirlik military air base next week after the arrival of a new Turkish envoy to Germany, ending a dispute that jeopardised Germany's continued use of the base, a senior lawmaker said.

"I expect that the issue will be resolved next week," said Rainer Arnold, defence spokesman for the Social Democrats in parliament, echoing hopeful but less specific comments made by senior German officials last week.

Lawmakers had threatened to withdraw 250 troops from the base near the Syrian border unless Turkey allowed them to visit.

The news, first reported by the Welt am Sonntag newspaper, comes after efforts by Germany to mend fences with Ankara and a meeting was held on Saturday between the European Union's 28 foreign ministers and a senior Turkish official in Bratislava.

The EU, which depends on Ankara to keep a lid on the movement of migrants to the bloc, is now seeking to ease tensions with Turkey after criticising President Tayyip Erdogan's crackdown on opponents following the failed coup in July.

Turkey had already banned lawmakers from visiting Incirlik in response to a June parliamentary vote declaring the 1915 massacre of Armenians by Ottoman forces a "genocide." Senior officials last week said permission for the lawmaker visits depended on Germany distancing itself from the resolution.

On Friday chief government spokesman Steffen Seibert said the Armenia resolution was not legally binding, although he denied the government was distancing itself from the resolution.

Arnold said permission for the lawmakers' visit was essential for the Bundestag to extend the mandate due to end in December for German troops now stationed at Incirlik along with six Tornado reconnaissance jets and one refuelling plane, in support of the U.S.-led coalition's fight against Islamic State.

NATO also agreed last week to move its Airborne Warning and Control System, or AWACS, surveillance planes to Turkey from the Baltic region.

About 30 percent of the personnel for the planes is provided by Germany. Because the planes will provide information to the U.S.-led coalition fighting Islamic State, the German parliament must approve any such deployment, Arnold said.
The much-awaited all-party parliamentary delegation is going to Srinagar on September 4. But who will meet them? Syed Ali Shah Geelani has locked himself up at home and stated he would not engage with the delegation.

In this situation, it is unlikely that the rest of the Hurriyat Conference, including Mirwaiz Omar Farooq and Yasin Malik, would want to stick their necks out when they believe the PDP-BJP state government has betrayed the Kashmiris, and PM Narendra Modi has made provocative speeches distorting the context in which Kashmiris view the Valley and its imperatives.

On the other hand, the PDP-BJP alliance is mired in its own mistakes. The BJP cannot pull out the PDP from the mess it has got itself in under Mehbooba's stewardship. The alienation in the Valley has reached unprecedented dimensions and there is no going back.

Kashmir needs demilitarisation. Photo credit: Reuters

The gulf between the state and Union governments' is visible in the statistics. The statistics released by the state government until August 24 presented a higher figure of deaths than the toll released by Union home ministry, which estimated a lower figure of 60+ in its folio to the parliamentary delegation on September 2, whereas the state government estimate released only a week earlier, kept the toll at 70.

The Union government has not welcomed the suggestions of Northern Area Commander Lt Gen D.S. Hooda who advocated that the talks must include separatists and student leaders from the Valley.

In any case, the Hurriyat is not willing to meet emissaries from Delhi. Not only has the death of Burhan Wani led to a surge of support for militancy, but also strengthened religious dogmatism.

The current Kashmiri narrative has hardened and Kashmiri Pandits are referred to as "too pro-India". Flats for them have been referred to as "Pandit ghettoes", which is unfair as no significant housing has yet been provided to the exiled.

In this charged situation, why has the parliamentary delegation gone to Kashmir? Because, in order to begin talks, it is necessary to visit those they can. The Kashmiris must know that there are sympathetic MPs wanting to share their concerns, wanting to offer condolences for the injured and the dead - those who will ask for their views on how the unrest grew.

Unfortunately, there is likely to be little such interaction. The Valley will be shut down in a curfew. Tempers are still high, and the people still grieving. They want to know what happened to their rights and why? The Union government's narrative has botched up the issue.

The PM's diatribe against Pakistan and its alleged crimes against Balochistan, Gilgit-Baltistan and PoK, has derailed the proposed peace talks. It is ridiculous to claim that PoK is under a severe military regime, with Kashmiris on the other side thirsting to get out of the region.

The Kashmiris fear the Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA) under which there is immunity for anything done or purported to be done by any soldier/officer.

In a very important judgment less than a month ago, the Supreme Court clarified upon a plea raised by persons from Manipur that AFSPA could not be extended indefinitely. The apex court also ruled that there could be no immunity under AFSPA for human rights violations.

Considering some 1,800 cases raised by the plaintiffs of human rights violations by the security forces, the court ruled that they be investigated. This judgment will be a shot in the arm for the Kashmir civil society that has strongly opposed the law, which the British colonial government introduced as an Ordinance in 1942 to deal with the Quit India movement the same year.

Other draconian laws like the Public Safety Act also need to be withdrawn as the Act, which was initially passed to curtail timber smuggling, has become an another anti-terrorism law.

Kashmir requires patient attention and calibrated demilitarisation as tempers soften, as well as wide-ranging talks to grant the Valley greater autonomy it has longed for.

But the Union and state governments as well as Indian civil society have a major task ahead. It is high time we gave Kashmiris the humane governance and respect due to them.
Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko and European Commission Vice President for the Energy Union Maros Sefcovic at a meeting in Kyiv have agreed in the near future to finalize the memorandum on strategic partnership in the energy sector between Ukraine and the European Union.

"The parties have agreed in the near future to finalize the memorandum on strategic partnership in the energy sector between Ukraine and the European Union, which would open opportunities to involve Ukraine in participation in the EU's Energy Union," the presidential press service said.

Poroshenko thanked the EU and Sefcovic personally for support for Ukraine, noting the importance of energy independence from Russia.

The president stressed Ukraine is committed to a further implementation of reforms in the energy sector in accordance with its obligations under the Energy Community Treaty and the Association Agreement with the EU.
No significant progress was made in the investigation of the murder of journalist Pavel Sheremet, the Ukrainian National Police Chief Khatia Dekanoidze said.

"You have no idea what large-scale work our investigators conducted. I would like not to talk about numbers yet, but they have already questioned several hundred people, watched a large amount of footage, and if we make a breakthrough, you will know it. Unfortunately I cannot say that yet," she told reporters at a briefing in Kyiv on Friday.

Well-known journalist Sheremet was killed in an explosion of a car in the downtown Kyiv on July 20, 2016. The explosion occurred at 07.45 a.m., when Sheremet was driving the car, which, according to the media, belonged to the Ukrayinska Pravda head Olena Prytula. She was not in the car at the moment.

Ukrainian Prosecutor General Yuriy Lutsenko said that the key theory of the murder is revenge due to the journalist's professional activities.
The Ukrainian minister for temporarily occupied territories and internally displaced persons, Vadym Chernysh, believes the law on the establishment of the Crimea free economic zone should be abolished because at this stage it is not necessary.

"My position as a minister, and I have already expressed it at several government meetings, is as follows: the law on the Crimea free economic zone should be abolished. There is no need for it now. Probably, when the law was adopted, there was no clear understanding how industry, businesses will work there. But today it is already clear it is not necessary. All the more it controls not only economic relations but also, let's say, private matters of citizens," he said in an interview with the Dzerkalo Tyzhnia. Ukraine weekly.

According to him, the ministry is preparing a draft resolution for consideration by the Cabinet of Ministers, held working group meetings on the subject to discuss the positions of other ministries.

The law of Ukraine on the creation of the Crimea free economic zone and the peculiarities of economic activity in the temporarily occupied territory of Ukraine came into force in September 2014.
The United States has welcomed the establishment of a ceasefire in Donbas, U.S. Department of State spokesperson John Kirby has said.

"The United States welcomes the commitment of Ukraine and Russia to truce to the Day of Knowledge witnessed by the OSCE," he said.

The document reads sustainable ceasefire, as well as providing the OSCE Monitoring Mission with full access to the territories is a "critical" condition to ensure compliance with Minsk agreements by the parties.
Part two of a four-part series.

Nellie Bly had lobbied long and hard for the chance to circle the globe in fewer than 80 days.

The popular investigative reporter for the New York World newspaper got the green light from her bosses in November 1889 only because they were fearful someone else would do it first. Bly had just two days to prepare for her trek, because the Augusta Victoria steamship was leaving the dock at Hoboken, New Jersey, for Southampton, England, on Nov. 14.

Elizabeth Bisland, who would spend the last years of her life living just outside Charlottesville, was given mere hours to prepare. Her boss at The Cosmopolitan magazine, John Brisben Walker, had learned about Blys trip on the morning of her departure.

Walker immediately realized the publicity potential for his monthly magazine if he interjected Bisland into the race. But if she were to have any chance of winning, she would have to leave that very day.

When Walker told Bisland what he had in mind, she thought he was joking. After exhausting every excuse she could think of, the 28-year-old writer rushed home to pack.

Journalists covering the story were amazed by how light each woman traveled. The general thinking at the time was that a woman would need to pack several suitcases for a weekend getaway.

Putting the lie to this assumption, Bly carried only a small leather satchel. Bisland managed with a steamer trunk, Gladstone valise and a shoulder strap that held a heavy shawl.

While Bly headed east by ship, Bislands only option was to travel west by train. Veteran travelers likely would have opted for the westward route.

Seafarers were keenly aware that the Atlantic Ocean offers up its roughest waters and strongest storms during that time of year. Bly still was within sight of land when her turbulent stomach insisted on leaving breakfast behind.

For the next few days, Bly would be a frequent visitor to the ships railing as she battled a terrible bout of seasickness. She basically willed herself back to health, and with her sea legs firmly beneath her, she passed the time by noting oddities among her fellow passengers.

For example, one woman refused to get undressed for fear the ship would go down, and she would enter her watery grave without being presentable. She wasnt the only passenger who kept her lifejacket within reach as the three-stacked steamer pitched and dropped through heavy seas.

Bisland would find that travel by train could be as harrowing as being stuck on a storm-tossed ship. It didnt help that she had practically no time to prepare herself mentally for such an undertaking.

Bly had started the race at 9:40 a.m. on that November Thursday. The Fast Western Express train that Bisland was on left Grand Center Depot in New York City at 6 that evening.

The following day, New York newspapers were awash with the breaking news that there were two women racing around the world. Telegraph keys soon were spreading the news from coast to coast.

Having been flung into the adventure with only five hours to prepare, Bisland was in a near state of shock by the time the train left the station. Lonely, homesick and filled with trepidation of what was to come, she didnt eat a thing until she reached Chicago.

The Windy City turned out to be where the first travel glitch occurred. Walker had arranged for someone to meet Bisland, but he or she never showed up.

This misstep didnt fill Bisland with confidence, but she managed to make the train that would carry her to Omaha, Nebraska. It wasnt until she was nearly three days into the journey that she was able to shake what she later termed stupefaction of amazement.

This mental malady likely returned during a horrifying train ride down the western slope of the Wasatch mountains in the Utah territory. The engineers nickname was Cyclone Bill, and Bislands account of the wild run provides proof that the handle was richly deserved.

The rocking motion of the train became so severe that passengers got sick. At one point, the nearly out-of-control train rounded a curve at such a high rate of speed that the wheels on one side of a car momentarily lifted off the tracks.

Bisland maintained her composure, but one man became so unnerved that he fell to the floor in a fit of panic. It had taken no time at all for the two women to realize that just because world travel was possible, that didnt mean it would necessarily be fun.

Next: The world beneath their feet.

David A. Maurer can be reached at dmaurer@dailyprogress.com or (434) 978-7244.
The issue of sovereignty over Crimea is historically closed, there is no way to return to the previous system, Russian President Vladimir Putin has said.

"The people of Crimea have made the decision and voted. The question is historically closed," Putin said at a plenary session of the Eastern Economic Forum.

"There is no return to the previous system, it does not exist at all," the Russian president said.

VLADIVOSTOK. Sept 3 (Interfax)  The issue of sovereignty over Crimea is historically closed, there is no way to return to the previous system, Russian President Vladimir Putin has said.

"The people of Crimea have made the decision and voted. The question is historically closed," Putin said at a plenary session of the Eastern Economic Forum.

"There is no return to the previous system, it does not exist at all," the Russian president said.
RICHMOND  Gov. Terry McAuliffe has declared a state of emergency for all of Virginia as the state braces for the effects of the remnants of Hurricane Hermine, which made landfall Thursday.

As it moves its way up the East Coast, the storm could mean flooding and damaging winds in parts of Virginia.

We are strongly encouraging everyone in Virginia to prepare for the possibility of damaging winds, downed trees, power outages and flooding in much of the commonwealth, he said. I have been briefed by the National Weather Service and my emergency team, who are tracking this storm and monitoring for the potential that it will reconstitute as a noreaster with significant rainfall, life-threatening storm surge and flooding. I urge Virginians to limit travel as the severe weather arrives and evacuate if recommended by officials. We hope this storm passes quickly through our commonwealth, but our top priority must be to ensure the safety of our citizens and their families.

He listed the following actions by the state, according to a news release:

 The Virginia Emergency Operations Center is at increased readiness with emergency response team members monitoring the storm and ready to coordinate the states response. The Virginia Emergency Support Team will be fully activated tomorrow morning and will provide 24-hour coverage for as long as needed.

 The Virginia Department of Emergency Management is coordinating conference calls between the National Weather Service, state agencies and local governments.

 The Virginian National Guard has been authorized to bring up to 300 personnel on state active duty and plans to alert them on Friday. They are scheduled to be staged and ready for duty by early Saturday morning at key locations in the Hampton Roads area. Expected missions for the Guard include using Humvees and light/medium tactical trucks to provide transportation through high water as well as providing chain saw teams for debris reduction.

 Virginia Department of Transportation crews have begun full preparation for a significant weather event expected to impact the commonwealth over the next few days. VDOT crews are ready to clear roads and ensure roads are safe for travel.

 With this being a holiday weekend, Virginia State Police already have an increased presence on highways across the commonwealth to manage increased volumes of traffic, and to expedite response to crashes and disabled motorists. The Virginia State Police Swift Water Rescue Team is on stand-by.

For more information, visit vaemergency.gov.
The EU, the UN and the World Bank have estimated funding required for implementing the "Restoration of Peace in the East" program at $1.52 billion, the Ukrainian minister for the temporarily occupied territories and internally displaced persons, Vadym Chernysh, has said.

He said in an interview with the Dzerkalo Tyzhnia. Ukraine weekly the Cabinet of Ministers plans in the near future to make decision on setting up a council that will coordinate the implementation of the "Restoration of Peace in Donbas" program.

"Two government resolutions directly related to the state program as one of the components of the mechanisms that should be implemented are almost ready. This is the creation of the corresponding council under the government headed by the deputy prime minister with the participation of all the central authorities and representatives of regional and local authorities," he added.
Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko has no doubt the European Union will decide on granting Ukraine a visa-free regime in autumn.

"I am confident we will get a visa-free regime in autumn," he said, speaking during the celebration of the Day of City in Vinnytsia.

As reported, the European Parliament Committee on Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs on September 5 will hear a report on the liberalization of a visa regime with Ukraine.

"The committee will also discuss the report on the liberalization of a visa regime with Ukraine together with Deputy Foreign Minister of Ukraine Olena Zerkal," reads a report on the website of the European Parliament.
More than 2,000 years ago, Jesus Christ, whom people received as a king on Palm Sunday, was put on trial and the same people who cheered for Him were against Him.

Im sure many of you are familiar with this story.

Jesus was sentenced to die a horrible death, a death on the cross. If you read the story, you will see that Jesus Christ died on the cross, was buried and resurrected from the dead on the third day.

I believe there are people today who are struggling with rejection and abandonment. Some of you may even have been hurt by people you used to trust and respect. There are also so many people who feel like injustice was done to them.

If we look at Jesus Christs story, he was mocked, humiliated, cursed at, beat up and crucified by essentially the same people who were praising him and shouting hosanna in the highest just a few days before.

After all the things they had done to Jesus, I believe He was entitled to feel resentful and ultimately be angryinstead, He cried out to God the Father just before he died and said: Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing  (Luke 23:34).

Jesus Christ chose to forgive those people who once received Him as king, but then turned against Him.

As I look at our society, I notice that people are becoming more angry and bitter, leading them to seek vengeance instead of forgiveness. There are so many people who live without forgiveness. Once a lack of forgiveness has taken root in your heart, it will begin to grow and develop into bitterness and hatred. The love that once warmed the heart, will became distant and cold.

The inability to forgive is a very dangerous poison. This poison can affect believers or nonbelievers. There are some studies that are even linking this resentment to a number of diseases, as well as emotional issues. I believe that a lack of forgiveness can hold a person back from fulfilling their purpose in life.

The only cure is to forgive. Christian or non-Christian, if you want to live life with peace in your heart, you have to learn to forgive othersand also yourself. You may not feel like forgiving people. I understand, I have been there. But it is not about my feelings, it is about my decision.

There are some people who unknowingly hold on to pain from their past. They have chosen to forget rather than forgive. I believe there is a great deal of difference between forgiving and forgetting. Forgetting does not erase the poison but forgiving does.

As human beings, we will be hurt and we will hurt others as well. We have to learn to forgive and love one another. God loves you and me and He gave His son for us. It wasnt just the people who were there who killed Jesus, it was your sins and mine too. He died so that we can have eternal life through Him.

We need to realize that the license weve given ourselves to judge others can weaken us all. Not forgiving is a huge obstacle that keeps us from obedience and intimacy with the Lord. If Christ can forgive me, I know with his help I can forgive and love others.

I encourage you to make a commitment to follow Christ and start your journey of forgiveness today. God Bless!
Culpeper resident Justin Lair recently got his voting rights backfor the second timeand will be making his voice heard at the polls in November.

It feels very satisfying to finally be able to vote for the first time in my life, said the 27-year-old Eastern View High School graduate who works full time at Jiffy Lube while attending community college.

Convicted in 2009 of buying/receiving stolen goods, Lair served a month in jail, complied with the terms of his supervised probation, paid back $3,415 in restitution and hasnt been in trouble since. He registered to vote for the first time earlier this year after Gov. Terry McAuliffe, a Democrat, in April automatically restored the voting rights of Virginia felons like Lair, who had done their time and paid their fines.

Lair was among 13,000 former felons in the state who registered to vote following the executive order that was then overturned by the GOP-controlled Virginia Supreme Court, which sided with Republican legislators who sued to overturn the governors action.

The Culpeper man was left in a lurch and unable to votehis rights revoked once again, his name removed from the local voting rolls. But then the governor announced last month he would individually restore the right to vote for the 13,000 who had registered to do so, and Lair got a letter in the mail saying his ability to participate in the political process had been re-re-restored.

I took it to the DMV about a week ago, he said of re-initiating his voter registration status.

But the political back-and-forth over the issue is not over yet.

State Republicans, led by Senate Majority Leader Thomas Norment, R-James City County, have once again sued McAuliffe and Norment, further, filed legislation Thursday to amend the Virginia Constitution to allow those convicted of nonviolent felonies to have their right to vote automatically restored once all the terms of their sentences have been completed.

This amendment would guarantee those who have their right to vote restored are truly deserving of that second chance, Norment said in a statement. And to ensure the unnecessary drama that ensued after Governor McAuliffe issued his unconstitutional rights restoration order does not repeat itself, this amendment would remove the executive from the rights restoration process.

Republicans want McAuliffe out of the process, claiming he was motivated to restore the right to vote to ex-offenders in Virginia so they would vote for his friend, Hillary Clinton. Democrats, meanwhile, claim Republicans want to further disenfranchise black voters.

State Sen. Donald McEachin, D-Henrico, responded to Norments action Thursday saying both Republican and Democratic governors through the years have used their discretionary authority to restore the rights of former offenders. He joined other Democrats in saying the proposed constitutional amendment would not allow any method for violent felons who had done their time to ever be able to vote.

This is not really a proposal to restore rights at all, said McEachin, Senate Democratic Caucus Chairman. On the contrary, it is requiring individuals to meet onerous requirements not expected of others. Once again, we are dividing citizens and setting up different prerequisites for voting, and it smacks of Jim Crow.

McAuliffe said Norments proposal would be a step backward for those convicted of nonviolent felonies in that it would reinstate a requirement that individuals fully pay back court costs as a condition of restoration of rights.

This is an unfair demand that my administration eliminated as a post modern-day poll tax on our citizens, the governor said. We will not accept a punitive tax as a barrier to voting for the poorest Virginians. 

McAuliffe said Norments proposal would restore another policy requiring individuals to complete suspended sentences without supervision before being able to vote.

We will strongly oppose any new civil rights barriers that would move Virginia backward and make our commonwealth a national embarrassment, the governor said. Senator Norments proposal is an affront to the ideals established by Thomas Jefferson 240 years ago.

Amending the state constitution is a complex, multi-year process requiring passage by the General Assembly in two separate sessions and approval by voters. Virginia joins Florida, Iowa and Kentucky among the only four states in the U.S. that ban ex-felons from voting.
If you unfortunately read Mike McClarys hit piece in last Sunday's Star-Exponent, please realize how biased this man is. His display of ignorance about Dave Brats first two years as our congressman is blatantly off base. His total premise is that Dave Brat is not working and hasnt written bills  as if writing bills is being effective. But should one take the time to really be truthful, it is quite the opposite.

Here's why: Mr. Brats election helped stop the Gang of 8 immigration bill that a majority of Americans opposed. Watch the PBS Frontline documentary: Immigration Battle. It's all right there. But McClary doesnt want you to know this.

Dave Brat is part of the House Freedom Caucus that forced a change in the House speakership. Dave and that group helped pull the brakes on the congress flawed "buy now, pay later" policy that guides many of our politicians in DC. By the way, you know who would end up paying for that policy? Your kids and mine! McClary doesnt want you to know this.

When Democrats talk about needing to do something "for the kids"  theyre loading them up with debt they can never pay. McClary doesnt want you to know this.

With Brat's efforts, instead of a federal budget hijacked by special interests where we have no say, the focus is now on restoring order to a broken process leading us back to a sane responsible budget that reflects the interests of the people, not crony elites. McClary doesnt want you to know this.

Dave voted for common sense when he voted against the Iran Deal, now falling apart under its flawed irrational logic that undermines U.S. national security and threatens Israel. McClary doesnt want you to know this.

Dave protected taxpayers from loans made by Ex-Im Bank, a monument to corporate welfare that pads the pockets of crony elites, not you. You might think that seems like an idea Democrats would support, but you would be wrong. When it comes to cozying up to Wall Street, ladies and gentlemen, I bring you Hillary Clinton, exhibit A. McClary doesnt want you to know this.

Dave consistently votes yes to getting the federal government off the necks of small businesses here in Culpeper so they can grow and contribute to their community. That's why he has a 100 percent score with NFIB, a group that fights for your right to own, operate and grow a business. McClary doesnt want you to know this.

Dave voted for higher wages for American workers when he voted against The Trans-Pacific Partnership, a disastrous trade agreement crafted behind closed doors by multi-national corporations in bed with big government. As someone who taught economics to college students and who served as an economic adviser to Governor Tim Kaine, Dave Brat knows what "free trade" is  and the TPP is not a free trade agreement. It has 30 chapters and more than 5,500 pages . It only takes that many pages to craft special deals for Wall Street and foreign elites who are perfectly fine with undercutting worker wages here with imported labor. McClary doesnt want you to know this.

Hillary Clinton was a big fan of TPP. Now she is against it. Why change her mind? The wealthiest who can afford to buy access to her, thats who! Adam Davidson, The New Yorker , and a Democrat who moderated panels for the Clinton Global Initiative stated that this organization is all about buying access to Bill and Hillary by powerful people. Did McClary tell you this?

What infuriates Democrats about Congressman Brat is that he always votes with his constituents based on honest principles, keeps his promises and brings facts to light truthfully and succinctly. The fact is he not only has a Ph.D. in economics, he also attended seminary. He talks and lives the Golden Ruleand Judeo-Christian traditions as often as he talks about free markets. How is that considered ineffective, Mr. McClary? You cant, with conscience, speak of your candidate in this manner but you can vilify others without conscience.

The problem Mr. McClary and Democrats have with Congressman Dave Brat is that he has been very very effective for the 7th district and deserves to be re-elected.
Uzbekistan has increased the number of troops and military hardware on its border with Kyrgyzstan, a source from the Kyrgyz State Border Service told Interfax on Saturday.

"It's true that Uzbekistan has increased the number of servicemen on the Kyrgyz-Uzbek border. Military fighting vehicles have been deployed, and military helicopters have been flying from time to time. We have taken note of this and are ready to react appropriately if need be," he said.

"We have also tightened border security. There are no reasons to worry, we stand ready for any changes and complications in the situation on our state border," the source said.

Residents of the Ala-Buka district in the Jalal-Abad region in southern Kyrgyzstan told Interfax that they "noticed an increase in the number of Uzbek troops and military hardware at the Orto-Tokoy Reservoir checkpoint last evening."
EU foreign ministers have not discussed a gradual cancellation of sanctions against Russia at a meeting in Bratislava, EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Federica Mogherini has stated.

"We have not discussed this issue with the ministers, but as far as I know, it is being actively discussed today in some EU countries, particularly in Germany. We focused on how to achieve the full implementation of the Minsk agreements and what the EU can do besides sanctions," she said.

Mogherini noted the main objective of European diplomats is not to impose sanctions but settle the conflict.
Chinese President Xi Jinping on Friday called on China and Laos to build an unshakable community of common destiny.

Xi made the remarks as he met with Laotian President Bounnhang Vorachit ahead of the G20 Hangzhou summit. Bounnhang has been invited to attend the summit as a guest, as his country currently holds ASEAN rotating presidency.

Xi said that during the 55 years since diplomatic relations were established, the two countries have cooperated in various areas, to the benefit of both peoples.

During Bounnhang's China visit in May, the two countries agreed on comprehensive strategic cooperation in the new era, Xi said.

China and Laos should advance their comprehensive strategic partnership and join hands in building a community of common destiny, Xi said.

The two countries should work on the Belt and Road Initiative and cooperate in production capacity, infrastructure, energy, and the economy, he said.

The 55th anniversary of diplomatic ties will be celebrated with exchange and cooperation in education, culture, tourism, and law enforcement security, he said.

Laos' attendance in the G20 summit is of great importance, the Chinese president said.

Bounnhang thanked China for the invitation and for the inclusion of "development" in the G20 summit agenda

Laos will continue to support China's important role in global and regional affairs, and will strengthen bilateral communication and coordination, said Bounnhang.
Free Event

Event honors 50th anniversary of National Historic Preservation Act

The Dayton Art Institute is pleased to announce that it will participate in the Ohio Open Doors program on Sunday, September 18.

Brought to you by the Ohio History Connection, Ohio Open Doors is a statewide effort, taking place September 918, where buildings and landmarks around the state will open their doors to the public for special tours and programs. The public is invited to join in honoring the history, design and stories of The Dayton Art Institute, as the museum celebrates the 50th anniversary of the National Historic Preservation Act. A special gallery guide created for the event will offer information about the museum buildings architecture and history.



On Sunday, September 18, The DAI will waive its suggested general admission and offer free admission to its permanent collection from noon to 5 p.m. The museum will also offer a $3 discount on regular adult and senior admission prices for the special exhibitions The Antarctic Sublime & Elements of Nature: Water. From 1:30 to 3:30 p.m., docents will be stationed at locations throughout the museum to offer historical information about the building and answer guest questions.



Constructed in 192829 and opened in 1930, The Dayton Art Institutes historic building, modeled after the Villa dEste near Rome and the Villa Farnese at Caprarola in Italy, is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.



The vision and generosity of museum benefactor Julia Shaw Carnell created a landmark home for The Dayton Art Institute that is still as magnificent as it was when it opened in 1930, says Michael R. Roediger, Director and CEO of The Dayton Art Institute. The Ohio History Connections Ohio Open Doors program offers a wonderful opportunity to invite the community to the museum to learn more about this architectural gem, as well as the art housed within its walls.



Established in 1966, the National Historic Preservation Act has been instrumental in preserving the historic fabric of cities and neighborhoods. It has transformed the face of communities from coast to coast, establishing the legal framework and incentives to preserve historic buildings, landscapes and archaeology. The act drives economic revitalization by attracting investment, supporting small business, stabilizing neighborhoods, and creating jobs.



Ohio Open Doors showcases the stories of important landmarks right in our backyard, says Burt Logan, Executive Director and CEO of the Ohio History Connection. The 50th anniversary of the National Historic Preservation Act is the perfect time to highlight the history and the uniqueness of Ohios most treasured places.



For more about The DAI and Ohio Open Doors, click here, or call the museum at 937-223-4ART (4278). Be sure to also connect with The Dayton Art Institute on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Pinterest for additional information and historic photos.



ABOUT OHIO OPEN DOORS

2016 marks the 50th anniversary of the National Historic Preservation Act signed by President Lyndon B. Johnson on October 15, 1966. To celebrate, Ohio History Connection will inaugurate Ohio Open Doors, to promote and inspire pride in Ohios amazing heritage.

ABOUT THE DAYTON ART INSTITUTE

As one of the Miami Valleys premier fine art museums, The Dayton Art Institute offers a full range of programming in addition to exhibiting its collection. Gallery hours are Wednesday  Saturday, 11 a.m.  5 p.m., and Sunday, noon  5 p.m., with extended hours until 8 p.m. on Thursdays. Suggested admission to the museums permanent collection is $8 adults, $5 seniors, active military and groups. Admission is free for museum members, students (18+ w/ID) and youth (17 and under). Some special exhibitions, programs and events may carry an additional charge and include admission to the museums permanent collection as part of that price. Free parking is available at the museum and the facility is fully accessible to physically challenged visitors. The DAIs Museum Store is open during regular museum hours. Leo Bistro serves lunch Wednesday  Friday, 11 a.m.  2:30 p.m., Saturday, 11 a.m.  2 p.m., and Sunday, noon  3 p.m. Leo Bistro also serves dinner on Thursday evenings, 4:30  7 p.m. For more information, please call 937-223-4ART (4278) or visit daytonartinstitute.org. The Ohio Arts Council helped fund this organization with state tax dollars to encourage economic growth, educational excellence and cultural enrichment for all Ohioans. The DAI also receives support from the Montgomery County Arts and Cultural District.



ABOUT OHIO HISTORY CONNECTION

On May 24, 2014, the Ohio Historical Society changed its name to the Ohio History Connection. Established in 1885, this nonprofit organization provides a wide array of statewide services and programs related to collecting, preserving and interpreting Ohios history, archaeology and natural history through its more than 50 sites and museums across Ohio, including its flagship museum, the Ohio History Center in Columbus. For more information about programs and events, call 800.686.6124 or go online at ohiohistory.org.
The fifth edition of Culture Works Guide to Arts & Culture in the Dayton Region is now available and features more cultural organizations and events than ever before.
Chinese President Xi Jinping met with Singaporean Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong on Friday, calling for mutual understanding and respect on issues related to the two countries' core interests and major concerns.

China and Singapore forged a partnership of all-round cooperation keeping with the times last year during Xi's state visit to the Southeast Asian city-state.

Noting the importance of top-level design of bilateral ties, Xi proposed that high-level exchanges be maintained and communication with Singapore strengthened.

China pays great attention to Singapore's interest in the Belt and Road Initiative, said Xi, adding China is ready to build the China-Singapore Demonstration Initiative on Strategic Connectivity in southwest China's Chongqing Municipality into a highlight of bilateral ties.

The Chinese president also called for the advancement of two flagship government-to-government cooperative projects, namely the Suzhou Industrial Park established in 1994 in China's eastern province of Jiangsu, and the Tianjin Eco-city inaugurated in 2008 in the northern Chinese port city of Tianjin.

The two countries should deepen cooperation in areas of finance, the Internet, social management, law enforcement security, counter-terrorism and anti-corruption, said Xi.

Xi expects Singapore, as the coordinator for China-ASEAN relations, to push forward the healthy and stable development of China-ASEAN ties.

China, Xi added, is ready to enhance communication and coordination with Singapore in regional and international mechanisms.

For his part, Lee spoke highly of the smooth progress of bilateral cooperation in all areas under the guidance of a partnership of all-round cooperation keeping with the times between the two countries.

Noting that the strategic connectivity project in Chongqing is taking shape, Lee said the two countries should take it as an opportunity to expand cooperation in aviation, finance and connectivity under the framework of the Belt and Road Initiative.

Singapore, as the coordinator for China-ASEAN relations, is willing to improve cooperation between China and ASEAN, said Lee.

Lee is here to attend the G20 Hangzhou summit on Sept. 4-5.
Everyone was surprised with Hollywood actor Will Smiths surprise visit to India. Eyebrows were raised when the actor, after landing in Mumbai, headed straight to Akshay Kumars home for dinner.

If sources are to be believed then this bonding happened because Will Smith and Akshay Kumar will be starring in an ad together and Smith was in Mumbai to finalise details of the ad.

We dont know what the ad is about, but, we do know that the two are shooting together for a major brand. The concept will see high-voltage action, says the source, while adding, Until the ad is shot no one is allowed to even talk about it.
The use of hospice care is associated with better quality-of-care outcomes, including patient-centered care metrics. (Photo: AP)

A new study adds to evidence that hospice care during the last six months of life is associated with better overall experiences for patients and a lower likelihood of dying in a hospital.

Consistent with other studies demonstrating benefit, the use of hospice care is associated with better quality-of-care outcomes, including patient-centered care metrics, study leader Ruth Kleinpell and colleagues write in the journal BMJ Supportive and Palliative Care, online August 16.

In other words, Kleinpell told Reuters Health, Hospice care can provide patients and families with a better dying experience.

The research team studied more than 163,000 patients enrolled in Medicare, the U.S. governments insurance for the elderly and disabled, who had died in 2010. All had been hospitalized at least once in the previous two years for a chronic illness associated with high mortality rates.

Roughly 47 percent of patients were in hospice in the last six months of their life. Hospice admissions were tied to a number of variables, the team found, including higher patient satisfaction ratings, better pain control, reductions in hospital days, fewer deaths in the hospital, and fewer deaths occurring with an ICU stay during hospitalization.

In the U.S., Medicare provides hospice benefits for patients who arent expected to live more than six months. Those benefits include medications, equipment (such as hospital beds, wheelchairs, commodes and oxygen), home visits from nurses, chaplains and social workers, and other services for the patient and family members.

The majority of patients today still die in hospitals, said Kleinpell, a professor at the Rush University College of Nursing in Chicago who works in a critical care unit at Rush University Medical Center.

If someone is hospitalized and approaching the end of life, hospice care is more optimal so they can get the care they need, she told Reuters Health by phone.

Susan Miller, who specializes in hospice and palliative care at Brown University School of Public Health in Providence, Rhode Island but who was not involved with the current study, said for patients nearing the end of life, hospitals palliative care teams typically address management of symptoms such as pain and include discussion of goals of care including the choice of hospice.

Hospice care offers symptom management, emotional and spiritual support, and it's a Medicare benefit, she said. Whats most important is that patients and their families have crucial conversations about hospice care with their doctors, Kleinpell said.

Patients should be enrolled in hospice early," she said, "so when conditions worsen, they and their family members get the appropriate help to prepare for whats next.
Retinal tissue in the back of the eye leads to the brain, and it has no ability to regenerate after tissue loss. (Photo: Pixabay)

Used incorrectly, laser pointers can damage the retina of the eye and may cause some irreversible vision loss, according to researchers who treated four boys for these injuries.

Doctors, teachers and parents should be aware that this can happen, and limit childrens use of laser pointers, the authors write.

This was initially thought of as a never event, that never happened, said senior author Dr. David R. P. Almeida of VitreoRetinal Surgery, PA, in Minneapolis, Minnesota. But we have four cases so it does happen sometimes, though its still unusual.

The authors report on two 12-year-olds, one nine-year-old and one 16-year-old who came to a medical center with central vision loss and blind spots within hours to days after looking into or playing with a green or red laser pointer.

In one case, the boy looked at the reflection of a laser pointer in a mirror. Two others simply pointed the lasers at themselves, and the fourth was engaged in a laser war with a friend.

The researchers report in Pediatrics that three of the boys had potentially irreversible, although relatively mild, vision loss. One boys vision continued to worsen two weeks after the injury and eventually decreased to 20/40 best corrected visual acuity in both eyes, which is at or close to the limit for obtaining a drivers license in most U.S. states.

Long-term outcomes for these patients will be pretty mild vision loss, Almeida said. Males may horse around with things more, or we just happened to have boys in our series, Almeida told Reuters Health by phone. Injuries could be just as likely for girls.

He advises parents to be careful about where they buy laser pointers, as some retailers may not list the power rating or may list it incorrectly, and to limit use for kids under 14.

Most consumer laser pointers fall under class II or class IIIA level of safety according to the American National Standard Institute, with a power output of five milliwatts or less. But class 3B or class 4 level lasers may emit up to 500 milliwatts or more and these lasers may cause immediate eye hazard when viewed directly, Almeida and his coauthors write.

Retinal tissue in the back of the eye leads to the brain, and it has no ability to regenerate after tissue loss, Almeida said. One patient developed bleeding and needed an injection in the eye, which can be particularly unpleasant for children, he said.

Kids may use laser pointers as long as they avoid improper use, Almeida said.Unsupervised use of these laser pointer devices among children should be discouraged, and there is a need for legislation to limit these devices in the pediatric population, he and his coauthors write.
Controversy resurfaced here over the deployment of a US missile shield, or Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD), in the Republic of Korea (ROK) as ruling party lawmakers boycotted all parliamentary procedures in protest against the National Assembly speaker's remarks on THAAD.

Parliament Speaker Chung Sey-kyun said in his opening speech at the Assembly's first regular session on Thursday that it would be hard to agree with the government's attitude to the THAAD deployment from the perspective of dealing with the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK)'s nuclear program.

The former lawmaker of the main opposition Minjoo Party accused the government of failing to communicating with the public over the US missile defense system that resulted in split and confusion among people.

Chung urged the government to stop a "chicken game" between the two Koreas, calling for talks with the DPRK that can start with smallest possible issues.

Saenuri Party lawmakers walked out of the chamber, demanding the speaker's apology and resignation. The ruling party has boycotted all parliamentary procedures until Friday, including the passage of a supplementary budget plan for the second half, strongly advocated by President Park Geun-hye to reinvigorate the faltering economy.

Members of the ruling party occupied the speaker's office for a rally against Chung's comments. The governing party lost its majority in parliament in the April 13 elections amid mounting dissatisfactions with income equality and slowing economy.

Chung Jin-suk, the governing party's floor leader, reportedly claimed the speaker violated his duty of political neutrality, but Chung Sey-kyun said his remarks were made to reveal public opinion on a current issue without any political intention.

Park Jie-won, interim chairman and floor leader of the People's Party, said the speaker's remarks were "excellent" as it reflected public concerns about THAAD, depicting what the country's No. 2 said as the greatest opening speech in parliament.

Meanwhile, President Park Geun-hye on Friday made her first mention of a conditional deployment of the US missile shield on South Korean soil, before leaving for Russia to participate in the Eastern Economic Forum.

"The essence of the problem in this matter is the North's nuclear and missile threats. If these threats are eliminated, the need to deploy the THAAD system would naturally disappear," Park said in a written interview with Russia's Rossiya Segodnya posted on a Cheong Wa Dae website.

It marked the first time the ROK leader mentioned the conditional THAAD deployment, showing signs of a slight change in her hard-line position ahead of her trips to Russia and China that have strongly opposed the US missile defense system.

Park is set to visit Vladivostok for two days to attend the second Eastern Economic Forum and hold a bilateral summit with her Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin. The forum was launched last year to speed up development of the Russian Far East.

She will travle to China to attend a Group of Twenty (G20) summit scheduled to be held in Hangzhou on Sunday and Monday.

Park, however, reiterated that the THAAD deployment is a measure of self-defense to protect from the DPRK's "ever-escalating" nuclear and missile threats.

She said there is no reason, nor practical benefit, for the THAAD system to target any third country, contrasting with repeated expressions of strong objections and worries from China and Russia.

Chinese and Russian objections to THAAD in the ROK came as the US missile shield's X-band radar can peer deep into Chinese and Russian territories, breaking strategic balance in the region and damaging security interests of the two countries.
The hash tag started after 21-year-old Mixo (@Mijeaux) asked her followers to tweet her photos of their thighs sans any filter or special effects. (Photo: Instagram)

Anybody who takes a cursory look at the portrayal of women in the mass media will almost immediately notice how unrealistic beauty standards are simply inescapable. Moreover, ridiculous internet trends like the A4 waist challenge and the Belly button challenge make it extremely difficult for women to develop a healthy self-esteem. It is in this environment that the #ThighsForJeaux aims to harness the powers of social media to spread the message of body positivity.

The hash tag started after 21-year-old Mixo (@Mijeaux) asked her followers to tweet her photos of their thighs sans any filter or special effects. She stated that no one should be compelled to cover up due to the fear of being body-shamed by others in the hot summer weather. She also posted a picture of her own bare legs in a summer outfit using the hash tag #ThighsForJeaux.

Soon enough women from all over world, especially women of colour, began posting pictures of their thighs along with the hash tag. The movement was soon trending in South Africa and received a lot of press coverage. Something that motivated me to start the hashtag is how often people/ women are judged for showing their thighs, especially if their thighs are deemed imperfect by societal standards, Mixo told Marie Claire.

Check out some of the pictures of this viral body positive trend that were shared online:

A photo posted by Lyne (@zana_tyne62) on Sep 1, 2016 at 4:43am PDT

I've received so much hate for this photo but here it is again #ThighsForJeaux pic.twitter.com/qGOVe1ny90  Ash (@wzrdash) September 1, 2016

I've come a long way with myself. I got it from my Mama! #ThighsforJeaux @Mijeaux pic.twitter.com/YouBxPFNcc  afro (@sandrine_azania) September 1, 2016

Had to a quick one before one of the guys barged in  @Mijeaux #ThighsForJeaux pic.twitter.com/uQB6W8390O  B (@Buliebabes) September 1, 2016

 a submission with a pretty amazing story #ThighsForJeaux pic.twitter.com/yf2xDD2e14  thigh ambassador (@Mijeaux) September 1, 2016
Andes, a popular beer brand in Argentina, has constructed a unique bar called Andes Bar 45 in the Mendoza province in the Andes mountains. (Credit: YouTube)

True beer lovers know that the way beer is poured into a glass plays an important role in deciding the quality of the drink. One is required to tilt the glass to 45 degrees to come up with that perfect layer of beer foam. So, a bar in Argentina has decided to make the task simpler for the bartender buy tilting itself at angle of 45 degrees.

Andes, a popular beer brand in Argentina, has constructed this unique bar in the Mendoza province in the Andes mountains. Not surprisingly, the bar is named Andes Bar 45. It is located on a natural slope of a mountain.

Right from the furniture to even the beer tap, everything in this bar is tilted. Of course, this also means that customers have to be careful about holding their beer so that they end up spilling it.

Click on the link below to view their ad:
Beijing: The world's longest glass bridge, over a scenic canyon in China, has been closed less than two weeks after it opened after being overwhelmed by a swarm of visitors.

More than 10,000 visitors a day flooded over the Guinness record-setting attraction, overwhelming managers who had planned to limit visitors to no more than 8,000, local media reported. The bridge is undergoing "an internal system upgrade", the official Xinhua News service quoted officials as saying, but did not specify when it would reopen.

The group in charge of the attraction said that it would use the closure to update "software and hardware" related to managing visitors, Xinhua said Friday.

In an announcement on one of its social media accounts, the company apologised for inconveniencing the many travellers who had made reservations to visit.

"You... have cheated consumers," one angry commenter replied. "I'm on the train right now. I can't change my travel plans or get a refund. You have made the world lose hope. I see you are the world's number one cheat." Some 430 metres (1,400 feet) long and suspended 300 metres above the earth, the bridge spans the canyon between two mountain cliffs in Zhangjiajie park in China's central Hunan province.

The nature reserve is known for its otherworldly natural beauty. Famous for its precipitous cloud-wreathed mountains, it is a UNESCO world heritage site that reportedly inspired the landscapes of James Cameron's sci-fi blockbuster Avatar. Following an alarming glass bridge cracking incident at the Yuntai mountain in northern Henan in 2015, authorities in Zhangjiajie were eager to demonstrate the safety of the structure.

They organised a string of media events, including one where people were encouraged to try and smash the bridge's glass panels with a sledge hammer, and another where they drove a car across it. Nonetheless, visitors were banned from wearing high heels as they ventured out onto the deck.
One would expect academic institutions to not just be centres that impart academic knowledge but also act as the bastions of values that celebrate the freedom and dignity of the human spirit. Sadly, this cannot be truly said for a number of learning institutions in India. After the Pinjra Tod campaign by students from Delhi University to protest against gender discriminatory rules in colleges and hostels and a similar controversy at Christ College, it seems that St. Aloysius Pre-University College of Mangalore has decided to repeat the same mistakes.

(Credit: WordPress)

An alumnus of St. Aloysius, Satshya Anna Tharien, wrote a blog post about the new set of rules for students that are far from any supposed notion of equality. It has been reported that these rules were conveyed to them by teachers during a closed-door meeting and heavily stacked against female students.

(Credit: WordPress)

Tharien even shared an anecdote from the time she was still studying at St Aloysius PU College that will make you shocked at the kind of mentality certain teachers have at some of the coeducational institutions in the country.

Mangalore, December 2011: We were sitting on the steps in college studying for the Class 11 French exam. 7 of us were huddled around a single French textbook, fervently hoping wed remember the exceptions of the verb manger.

A particularly tall friend of mine kept casting shadows on the book because he was standing, blocking the sun. Exasperated, we asked him to move and he sat down next to me. We continued our frantic last-minute prep, laughing as we came up with ways to remember different French words.

Suddenly I heard someone calling me. I turned around to find a lab attendant gesturing to us.

The Dean wanted to meet us in his office.

As we walked up the stairs to his office, I wondered what the meeting could be about and more importantly whether it would end in time for us to finish brushing through those ghastly verbs.

He started off with a belligerent What were you two doing?.

We looked at each other, confused.

Studying for the test, Sir I replied.

The conversation then took a bizarre turn.

Dean: Is that the way to study?

Me: I dont understand Sir. We were doing a group study for the French exam thats going to start in sometime

Dean: That is not the way to study!

Me: (completely baffled) What Sir?

Dean: Is that what your parents taught you? To sit close together with boys?

Me: Err.. we were studying Sir. We had just one textbook so everyone was sharing it

This is a college! This is not the place to study!, he screamed.

At this moment my friend and I didnt know whether to laugh or to be incredulous.

He then asked us to meet him after the exam.

This left me a little rattled, but I didnt think too much of it. We went back to studying, but this time I made my friend stand even if it meant we had to peer at darkened pages.

After the exam, my friend went to meet him while I waited outside for my turn. He came out within a few minutes smiling and said that he wasnt told much, just not to do group studies like that ever again.

So I thought that I too would be subjected to the same thing and calmly went inside.

The Dean asked me for my register number, pulled out my mark sheets and began scrutinising it. I was a reasonably good student, so I suppose he couldnt find much fault there.

He pointed out a 78 I had scored in an English class test.

Dean: Ha! Look at this. What kind of marks is this? You got 84 in the previous exam and a 78 in this one! See, this is where your group studies are getting you.

Me: But Sir, that 78 was the highest score in the class

At this point he probably didnt expect a retort and was enraged.

Dean: What do you mean highest? You are sitting with boys in the college. That is not right!

He went on to berate my character and morals, his voice rising to a crescendo. Every unfair barb he threw at me made me feel powerless and frustrated.

We were raised to respect elders, so I held my tongue. But I couldnt hold back my tears.

He stopped his tirade when he saw my eyes swelling up after a prolonged bout of crying. Satisfied that he had yelled me into submission, he ended with an ominous threat  If I see you talking to boys again in the college, Ill dismiss you from this college

I was stunned. He was the Dean. He had the power to actually carry out his threat.

I was studying in a co-educational institution. The male-female ratio in my class was 5:1. Was I supposed to talk only to the 11 girls in my class? Must I ignore the 60 other classmates just because they were boys?

Did he expect me to suddenly shun all my friends just because they were boys?

How would I carry out my responsibilities as a Class Representative?

He dismissed me with a wave. Today I am letting you go, otherwise I would have called your parents

I was so angry I retorted, Sir you dont need to call my parents. I will call them myself and you can meet them tomorrow.

He hadnt expected this. This was usually the part where the student begged for mercy and forgiveness, promising all kinds of atonement but to please leave the parents out of this.

He fumbled, No no need to call them tomorrow. But if it happens again I will call them

My voice was choked up from crying but I was adamant. My parents would meet him the next day.

I walked out of the room sobbing. I was angry that I let someone bully me like that. I was angry that I was given such a brow-beating and my friend was let off with just a joke. I was hurt because I felt like I had made some sort of huge mistake but I was confused because I could not understand why it was a mistake in the first place.

From a distance, my friend thought I was laughing and that the Dean had chided me lightly as with him. Only when he came closer did he realise I was sobbing.

My parents heard me out as I narrated the entire incident. They were immense pillars of support and met the Dean the very next day. In front of them as well, he tried to pull out my marks as a means of justification. My parents would have none of it. When I tried to explain what happened he pointed an angry finger at me  You just keep quiet!

I was angry. This meeting was about me, about what happened. He kept trying to defend his action, saying it was just a precaution as other parents had complained about boys and girls sitting together inside the campus. He kept referring to me as She, derision resonating with just that single syllable.

I have never felt as small or defeated as I did that day. My father calmly asked me to leave and as I walked down the corridor, heads popped out of passing classrooms curious to know what had happened.

I am so incredibly grateful to my parents for standing by me when other parents in the same situation would have usually taken the Deans side. I have heard accounts of when parents had even hit their child, to assure the Dean that they were serious about disciplining them.

Eventually it was sorted out with the Principal issuing an announcement stating that while this was a co-educational college, one boy and one girl should not be found lurking around in the corners of the campus.

I tried to put the incident behind me and concentrated on completing the rest of my exams. But it has always stayed with me.

For a long time I would not let a boy sit next to me. If they told me I was crazy Id just stand up and remain standing. Id rather spend hours standing than being put through that humiliating experience ever again.

It changed the way I viewed male-female relationships for a while. Every boy and girl talking to each other seemed suspicious to me. To my horror I was becoming exactly what I had loathed. This is how the cycle of abuse continues.

It took me a while to calibrate within myself that male-female interactions are but normal. That nothing more needs to be attributed to a word, a look , an accidental touch or even a hi-five."
We get celebrities to give their take on a current issue each week and lend their perspective to a much-discussed topic. This week we talk about: Indian culture and short skirts

Tourism and Culture minister, Mahesh Sharma raised a storm this week when he suggested that female foreign tourists should avoid wearing short dresses and skirts, when in India. The minister was handing out a list of dos and donts for foreign tourists when he said that Indian culture was different from the Western one. Under fire, Mahesh retraced his statement, saying he only meant that these clothings shouldn't be worn in religious places. Should ministers should mind their Ps and Qs while representing India on an international stage? Do such unofficial regulations about telling women and tourists how to dress sets a dangerous precedent about moral policing in our country?

Arwa Hussain, model and nutritionist: 'Government should accept diversity in cultures

In Haryana, Vidhan Sabha Monk Tarun Sagarji was naked as he gave a speech in front of everyone, including women. We respect it because it is their culture. In the same way, we should respect others cultures too. Why is wearing a skirt unacceptable? It is the failure of our government that they are not able to provide security to foreign tourists. Wearing a skirt isnt indecent according to any culture. Its high time that our government works on creating a better law and order situation in the country, and accept the diversity of cultures. Which century are we living in?

Meghna Pant, author, The Trouble With Women: We need to address male behaviour

For a minister who should be pushing the governments agenda of Atithi Devo Bhava, Mahesh Sharma has done a great disservice to his portfolio, and to the women of India. He is putting this forth only for women, specifically in the context of a womans conduct. His parochial statements tie into the regressive notion that women are to be blamed for crimes against them and that boys will be boys. It also abdicates the governments responsibilities by instilling fear in the mind of tourists, especially female ones. Does the government want to propagate such systemic failure, that too on an international level? If we are to move forward as a nation, we have to stop perpetuating notions that shame the victims of sexual violence, and start shaming perpetrators. We need to address male behaviour instead of female behaviour. That will come through leadership and governance. Are you ready for that, Mr Sharma?

Vidya Gopalakrishnan, fashion designer: It is a shortcoming on our side

It is simply ridiculous to restrict anyones choice of clothing,  be it a tourist or a local. It is a major shortcoming on our side if we, as a country, have decided to solely rest the safety of anyone on their way of dressing. On a personal level, I was quite unsatisfied with a country, which I visited recently. It had many warnings about pickpocketing and theft. Every tourist followed the same precautions, which were mentioned on a popular travel site, in order to minimise theft. It will be sad to have our country be spoken of in a similar manner  to have restrictions and precautions pushed onto women.

Ajay Gandhi, Entrepreneur: Ministers have to shed their regressive ideologies

The statement is obviously coming from a regressive mindset and ideology. If you put it in the context of this ministers previous public utterances, he seems serious about it. A progressive, modern, egalitarian society is what we have to aspire to be. Our ministers and politicians have to learn what it really means. They have to shed their regressive ideologies.

Sanjay Pinto, lawyer and media personality: Such comments are an excuse for their failure to do their job

Obscenity  like beauty  lies in the eye of the beholder. If bigwigs have regressive views, they must keep it to themselves instead of shooting their mouths off with such ridiculous and downright sexist utterances. Their focus must be on making our public places safe for everyone. Spewing such gems of wisdom is also a convenient excuse for their failure to do their job.

Koral Dasgupta, author: We shouldnt accept these comments lightly

We are just too used to telling the girls that they need to be careful so that they dont invite anything unpleasant. This thought runs so deep that it has become almost a part of our culture. Hence it is no surprise that the Tourism and Culture Minister has made such a statement. But this time around, by trying to advise female tourists with the the same old doctrine, he has done more harm. Our hopeless attempt to protect women has reached a greater audience. Instead of warning men to to mend their ways or asking them to join the cause of womens safety, we keep playing the Indian culture card. What respect does this command if we cant instill basic faith between genders? However, I dont think this sets any precedence. Such comments will have to be withdrawn every time, just like Mr Sharma did. We, the common people, can do it by not accepting these lightly. a hundred thousand protests and withdrawals later, a new culture will set in.
Teachers Day is almost here and for those of you who have been out of classrooms for a long time, this list will definitely help you navigate your memory lane. With strict teachers to fun ones, we have it all in this list of teachers on television that have made their mark.

Annalise Keating (Viola Davis) How to Get Away with Murder

Annalise Keating is a strict taskmaster but shes also one of the most unconventional on TV. She manages to keep her interns out of jail despite the mishaps theyre a part of, manages to win cases that seem impossible and also helps her prodigies get excellent scores in school.

Thinking deeper and getting creative with answers is what shes all about  and thats why her brutal yet necessary lessons help her students succeed, case after case.

Miss Edna Krabappel (Voiced by marcia wallace)The Simpsons

She probably reminds you of a few teachers you encountered as a kid  those had a sarcastic remark at the ready, everytime you tried to disrupt class. Ms Krabappel is a Simpsons favourite because she seemed to care very little about her job, drank, dated around and somehow managed to deal with Bart and his unruly gang. She makes us think hard about what we put our teachers through in school!

Ben Chang (Ken Jeong)  Community

Community is the perfect place to find many strange teachers who are unique characters. The one that stands out is Ben Chang who begins his life at Greendale Community College as a sassy Spanish teacher, and then goes on to play many different roles  including music student and security guard! If we had Chang as our teacher, learning would be a crazy yet fun learning experience. He might not be too idealistic, but the disasters he creates are a roller-coaster ride were willing to hop on.

Jessica Day (Zooey Decschanel) New Girl

How can you not love the enthusiastic and adorable teacher that is Jessica Day? She loves her job and has a passion for helping children develop, and ithats exactly what makes a great teacher!

Although she has gotten into a fair bit of trouble at work dealing with bosses, co-workers and bullies  shes managed to swing back very quickly. Her quirky persona, cheerfulness and determination makes us wish we had more of those when we were students.

Dean Munsch (Jamie Lee Curtis)  Scream Queens

Ah, Dean Munsch, what would Wallace University do without you? Well, thered be a lot less drama to start with. She sets out to abolish the Greek fraternity system and tries to keep the college open despite murders on campus.

As the series progresses we find that she has secrets of her own that she is trying to desperately hide. She may not be the best principal or teacher but she definitely is a hilarious one. Secrets and laughs; thats all we need in a horror-comedy.

Will Schuester (Matthew Morrison)  Glee

Will Schuester is probably the most ideal teacher anyone could ask for. With his passion for music, he sets on a journey to bring back and nurture the Glee club.

Not only does he actively take part in changing the lives of the students he teaches and helps them win several accolades  but he also deals with his own life. For anyone who thought that teachers didnt have lives outside the classroom, this is going to be an eye-opening experience.
The infant was kidnapped and the accused took her to a jungle nearby and sexually assaulted her, police said. (Photo: Representational Image)

New Delhi: A 10-month-old infant was sexually assaulted by a neighbour in west Delhi's Vikaspuri area, police said on Saturday.

The infant girl, whose parents work as construction labourers was kidnapped by another construction labourer who stays near their hut when her parents were asleep last night, said a senior police officer.

The child's family stays in slums near DDA Park inVikaspuri. The infant was kidnapped and the accused took her to a jungle nearby and sexually assaulted her, added the officer.

When the girl's mother realised that her child was missing, she raised a hue and cry and their neighbours then called the police. Three constables searched for the girl who was later found lying in the bushes around 12.30 am. She was rushed to DDU Hospital where she is currently undergoing treatment and her condition is stable, police said.

A case under section 376 IPC (rape) and relevant sections of POCSO has been registered, police said. The accused, Vijay (35) was arrested today from the area.

He works as a labourer and belongs to Bihar, said the officer. The girl's family belongs to Khajuraho, Madhya Pradesh and had been staying in the area for the last three-four months. The accused wasn't known to the victim's family, police said.

DCW chief Swati Maliwal on Saturday met the infant at DDU Hospital and tweeted about the brutal incident.

"Woke up to another brutal rape in the Capital. This time of a 1 year old. Horrific. Rushing to the hospital to see her. Raped girl is 1 year old baby. Couldn't dare to look at her face. Been operated upon. Can't imagine her suffering. Parents v poor laborers," she said in a series of tweets.
Bengaluru: Four students, who were riding with the 18-year-old K. Shiny Kiran, chose to flee the spot instead of helping their friend after she was run over by a van on the busy Old Madras Road near K.R. Puram on Thursday evening, an eyewitness told DC.

Five students, including two girls  one of them Shiny, were riding three bikes, performing wheelies and racing on the busy Old Madras Road near K.R. Puram on Thursday evening when Shiny, who was on the pillion, fell off her bike and was run over by a van, killing her on the spot with fatal head injuries.

But the four other students, including the rider, abandoned the victim and sped away from the spot, eyewitness and complainant M. Muniraju, an autorickshaw driver, told DC. The van stopped at the spot, but the driver too abandoned the vehicle and fled the spot, he said.

I was driving my auto on Nagarapalya Road and saw the three bikes performing wheelies and racing with girls sitting behind. I passed by them and stopped before the Gopalan Mall when I saw a big crowd gathered at the spot where they were doing the stunts. I rushed and found the girl with fatal head injuries. I recognised her by her clothes as she was sitting behind one of the bikes, said Muniraju.

Two men who were riding a Pulsar bike that was closely following the van stopped and tried to help the victim. Two women from RMZ Infinity also rushed to the help of victim covered her body with clothes. There was a bag and an ID card in the victims pocket and I tried to call the college number several times, but there was no response. By then the police arrived at the spot and shifted the girls body to a hospital, said Muniraju. All those who witnessed the accident and helped the victim did not want to get caught in police legalities and left the spot as soon as the police arrived.

Shocked Shinys parents did not know why their daughter was on Old Madras Road when her college is in Koramangala and her house is in Ulsoor, an investigating officer said. The postmortem was conducted on Friday morning and the body was handed over to her family members.

As no CCTV footage is available from the accident spot, the Indiranagar traffic police are ascertaining the call detail records of Shiny to find out who she was going with on the bike and why and where she was heading to. The cops are also analyzing CCTV footage from the previous junctions to get the registration numbers of the bikes. We suspect the bike rider is also a student from RJS College and we are in touch with college authorities to ascertain his identity, an investigating officer said.
Palakkad: Actor Sreejith Ravi, who has performed villain roles in many Malayalam films, was arrested on Friday on the charge of behaving indecently with some school girls last month. Sreejith, son of veteran actor T.G. Ravi, was picked up by the Ottappalam police on Thursday from a film shooting location at Pallavur here and was charged with sections of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act, 2012 (POCSO) and IPC. The charges include exhibitionism, uttering lewd comments and clicking the photographs of a group of school girls.

His arrest was recorded on Friday morning and he was produced before the Palakkad Additional Sessions Court- I which granted him conditional bail on a bond of Rs 1 lakh. The court also asked him to surrender his passport and present himself before the investigating officer every Thursday. Though the students of a prominent school at Pathiripala in Ottapalam had filed a complaint with Ottappalam police on August 27, the police allegedly tried to hush-up the case. It was only after the parents of the girls took up the matter with the district police chief and the district collector that the police recorded the statement of more than 15 girls on Friday afternoon by sending civil women police officers to the school.

Palakkad SP A. Srinivasan told DC that the allegations of police laxity would be inquired into and that Ottappalam SI was investigating the case. The girls and their parents had handed over the registration number of the Duster car in which the actor allegedly came and showed them his private parts. The verification of the vehicle number found that the car belonged to the actor. The students identified the actors photograph which prompted his arrest. However, the actor denied the allegations and said he had explained his version to the police. The number of the car provided by the girls is mine. But I was not involved in any such incident. The girls might have mistakenly noted down the car's number, Sreejith said.
The girl narrated the incident to her mother on Friday and later she lodged an FIR at the police station.(Representational image)

Kendrapara: Two youths were arrested for allegedly raping a minor girl in the seaside Baradanga village in Odisha's Kendrapara district.

The 15-year-old girl student of a government-run school was raped allegedly by the duo when she had gone out to relieve herself in the backyard of her house on Thursday evening, police said.

Umakanta Rout (22) and Pralaya Das (30) were arrested on Friday and they have confessed to have raped the girl on Thursday evening while she had gone to the field, said Sub-Divisional Police Officer (SDPO) of Kendrapara, Purna Chandra Pradhan.

The girl narrated the incident to her mother on Friday and later she lodged an FIR at the police station, the SDPO said, adding both the accused were arrested after the victim's mother filed an FIR at the Mahakalpadad police station and alleged that her minor daughter was gang-raped by them.

During interrogation, both the accused persons confessed that they followed her, then grabbed her and took her to a lonely place where they repeatedly raped her. They also threatened to kill her if she told anyone about the incident, added the police officer.

Police have booked the accused under section - 376 (g) (gangrape) of IPC and sections- 4 and 6 of Protection of Children from Sexual Offence Act, 2012.
At least 10 people have been confirmed dead and scores others wounded in an explosion in the hometown of Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte on Friday night, officials said on Saturday, amid fears the toll could further rise.

Aside from the fatalities, some 60 others were rushed to different hospitals following the blast in downtown Davao City, according to presidential spokesperson Ernesto Abella.

The blast of still unknown origin happened as thousands of people were shopping at the night market along Roxas Avenue just across the Catholic-run Ateneo de Davao University around 10:30 p.m. local time, said

Captain Rhyan Batchar, regional army spokesperson.

"An explosion hit in front of the Ateneo de Davao University. There were many fatalities," Batchar told Xinhua by phone.

Duterte was in the presidential guesthouse in Panacan village, some 15 kilometers away when the explosion happened, his aides said.

The tough-talking Philippine leader, who had been mayor in the city with 1.2 million people for over 20 years before winning the presidency in May, was expected to go to the site of the incident, officials said.

Friday's incident was the latest in the southern Philippine city since 2005 when suspected Islamist terrorists set off a bomb in a bus terminal in Ecoland village, killing a child and wounding five others.

Police said they could not yet determine if the latest blast was caused by a bomb and an investigation was now underway.

In 2003, more than 30 people were killed and over 130 others wounded when alleged Muslim insurgents bombed the city's old airport and passenger harbor within a month.
Mumbai: The Mumbai Police on Saturday arrested Sohail Shaikh, the boyfriend of 19-year-old Aishwarya Agrwal, an IT student, who was brutally hacked to death on Friday afternoon.

Shaikhs friend, Deepak Waghri, was arrested on Friday for killing Agrwal, a resident of Bolinj, Virar, and was produced in a local court on Saturday evening where he was remanded in police custody till September 8.

The police had booked Waghri under the sections of the Indian Penal Code for murder and attempt to rape. The polices preliminary investigation has indicated that Shaikh had conspired with Waghri, following which the latter attempted to rape Agrwal. Shaikh will be produced in court on Sunday.

The investigation in the case is on and the police is going to take down the statements of Agrwal and Shaikhs neighbours and relatives to understand the nature of their relationship.

According to police officers, Agrwal, a second-year IT student, was in a relationship with Shaikh. Both of them used to meet daily in Waghris house, which is situated in Jakat Naka in Mumbai.

On Friday, Agrwal visited Waghris house to meet Shaikh when Waghri allegedly started pressurising her for a physical relationship with him. But, Agrwal turned him down and Waghri allegedly tried to rape her. Following this, a scuffle took place between the two, and Waghri picked up an axe and allegedly attacked Agrawal.
Kolkata: On the eve of her canonisation as a Roman Catholic saint, and 19 years after her death, the order founded by Mother Teresa of Calcutta is going strong - even without her charismatic leadership.

The Missionaries of Charity gained world renown, and Mother Teresa a Nobel peace prize, by caring for the dying, the homeless and orphans gathered from the teeming streets of the city in eastern India.

They also drew criticism for propagating what one sceptic has called a cult of suffering; for failing to treat people whose lives might have been saved with hospital care; and for trying to convert the destitute to Christianity.

While staying true to their cause, the Missionaries of Charity say they have responded to their detractors.

"There is no change in our way of treating the sick and dying - we follow the same rule that Mother had introduced," said Sister Nicole, who runs the Nirmal Hriday home in the ancient district of Kalighat, the first to be set up by Mother Teresa in 1952.

The nuns no longer picked up people "randomly" off the streets, she said, and only took in the destitute at the request of police.

"Any good work will be challenged - but if the work is genuinely good it will survive such criticism and carry on to be God's true work," said Nicole.

Prayer and work

Hundreds of thousands are expected to gather in Rome on Sunday for a canonisation service led by Pope Francis, leader of the world's 1.2 billion Roman Catholics, in front of St Peter's Basilica.

Kolkata, as the former capital of the British Raj is now called, is holding prayers, talks and cultural events. But no major ceremony is planned to mark the path to sainthood for the two miracles of healing attributed to Mother Teresa.

The low-key mood reflects an often-heated debate over religious intolerance in India, a predominantly Hindu country of 1.3 billion people.

Although Prime Minister Narendra Modi has said Indians felt "proud" about the canonisation, the head of a Hindu grassroots movement that supports his government provoked controversy last year by accusing Mother Teresa of seeking to convert people to Christianity. Her order denies this.

Kolkata Archbishop Thomas D'Souza played down any suggestion that Mother Teresa was not loved and respected by people of other faiths in a city that is home to 170,000 Roman Catholics.

"Mother is certainly not a goddess to them," he told Reuters. "But she is deeply venerated and people - cutting across caste, community and creed - are respectful to her work."

The everyday work of the Missionaries of Charity goes on, meanwhile. On a recent day at the spartan Kalighat home, male inmates with shaven heads and wearing green uniforms lay on bunks. Women ate in a canteen while others were cared for by volunteers. One inmate, a man of about 40 called Saregama, had just died.

"Saregama died with dignity and care," said Sister Nicole. "We prayed for him."

The number of homes that the Missionaries of Charity run has grown to nearly 750 in India and abroad, from the 600 that Mother Teresa left when she died in 1997.

At Mother House, her old headquarters down a narrow lane, the mood was one of silent prayer. Inside, a notice still hung on the wall saying: "Time to see Mother Teresa: 9 am to 12 noon/3 pm to 6 pm. Thursday closed."

Mother House still attracts visitors to India like Pedro Afonso, a lawyer from Brazil who had come with a friend for evening mass. He gave thanks for the miracles that will bring sainthood to Mother Teresa and said that, in Kolkata, she "had chosen the right place for her work and charity".
New Delhi: Arunachal Pradesh Governor Jyoti Prakash Rajkhowa has been reportedly asked to step down from his post, weeks after the Supreme Court restored the Congress government in the northeastern state.

Rajkhowa has been told "verbally" by a junior Union Minister and a senior official of the Home Ministry to step down on "health grounds", sources said here today.

The Governor's office, however, said there has been no formal communication from anyone asking Rajkhowa to resign from his post.

"There was no formal communication from anyone asking the Governor to resign from his post. But I have come to know that two-three individuals have spoken to the Governor and verbally indicated that," PRO to the Governor Atum Potom told PTI over phone from Itanagar.

After getting the two calls from Delhi asking him to step down, Rajkhowa apparently had approached Home Minister Rajnath Singh to seek clarification on the issue. But the Home Minister did not ask Rajkhowa to step down, sources said.

However, sources said, if Rajkhowa does not resign on his own, there is a possibility of central government asking President Pranab Mukherjee to withdraw his "pleasure", leading to his sacking.

By rule, Rajkhowa is entitled to a five-year term but it is subjected to the "pleasure of the President. 71-year-old Rajkhowa was appointed as Governor in May last year.

The reported move by the Centre to seek Rajkhowa's resignation came weeks after the Supreme Court restored the Congress government in Arunachal Pradesh and censured the Governor for "humiliating the elected government of the day".

The move comes against the backdrop of the political crisis in Arunachal Pradesh triggered by the revolt by Congress MLAs.

Congress rebel Kalikho Pul had become chief minister in February and was in power for five months after revolting against the then Congress government led by Nabam Tuki. Pul was subsequently dislodged from power by the apex court.

BJP was providing outside support to Pul, who was found dead in mysterious circumstances in Itanagar last month.

The apex court had criticised Rajkhowa for advancing the assembly session and fixing its agenda saying he cannot take away the House's discretion on the basis of "mere apprehension".

Sources claimed that there were efforts to woo dissident Congress MLAs, led by Pul, to the BJP side for installation of a BJP government in Arunachal Pradesh. But it did not materialise, sources said.

Later, following a Supreme Court directive Pul had to resign and all dissident Congress MLAs return to the parent party, leading to installation of a Congress government.

"The return of a Congress government could have been checked had all dissident Congress MLAs joined the BJP instead of continuing as a separate regional outfit," sources said.

Meanwhile, Rajkhowa fell ill and could not attend the swearing-in ceremony of Pema Khandu government, which succeeded Pul government.

When Khandu expanded his Ministry on August 3, Rajkhowa again stated inability to come for swearing-in ceremony of the new ministers citing his ill health.
New Delhi: Arunachal Pradesh Governor Jyoti Prakash Rajkhowa has been reportedly asked to step down from his post, weeks after the Supreme Court restored the Congress government in the northeastern state.

Rajkhowa has been told "verbally" by a junior Union Minister and a senior official of the Home Ministry to step down on "health grounds", sources said in New Delhi on Saturday.

The Governor's office, however, said there has been no formal communication from anyone asking Rajkhowa to resign from his post.

"There was no formal communication from anyone asking the Governor to resign from his post. But I have come to know that two-three individuals have spoken to the Governor and verbally indicated that," PRO to the Governor Atum Potom told PTI over phone from Itanagar.

After getting the two calls from Delhi asking him to step down, Rajkhowa apparently had approached Home Minister Rajnath Singh to seek clarification on the issue. But the Home Minister did not ask Rajkhowa to step down, sources said.

However, sources said, if Rajkhowa does not resign on his own, there is a possibility of central government asking President Pranab Mukherjee to withdraw his "pleasure", leading to his sacking.

By rule, Rajkhowa is entitled to a five-year term but it is subjected to the "pleasure of the President. 71-year-old Rajkhowa was appointed as Governor in May last year.

The reported move by the Centre to seek Rajkhowa's resignation came weeks after the Supreme Court restored the Congress government in Arunachal Pradesh and censured the Governor for "humiliating the elected government of the day".

The move comes against the backdrop of the political crisis in Arunachal Pradesh triggered by the revolt by Congress MLAs.

Congress rebel Kalikho Pul had become chief minister in February and was in power for five months after revolting against the then Congress government led by Nabam Tuki. Pul was subsequently dislodged from power by the apex court.

BJP was providing outside support to Pul, who was found dead in mysterious circumstances in Itanagar last month.

The Apex Court had criticised Rajkhowa for advancing the assembly session and fixing its agenda saying he cannot take away the House's discretion on the basis of "mere apprehension".

Sources claimed that there were efforts to woo dissident Congress MLAs, led by Pul, to the BJP side for installation of a BJP government in Arunachal Pradesh. But it did not materialise, sources said.

Later, following a Supreme Court directive Pul had to resign and all dissident Congress MLAs return to the parent party, leading to installation of a Congress government.

"The return of a Congress government could have been checked had all dissident Congress MLAs joined the BJP instead of continuing as a separate regional outfit," sources said.

Meanwhile, Rajkhowa fell ill and could not attend the swearing-in ceremony of Pema Khandu government, which succeeded Pul government.

When Khandu expanded his Ministry on August 3, Rajkhowa again showed inability to come for swearing-in ceremony of the new Ministers citing his ill health.
Jaipur: The BJP appears to have stepped in to resolve the ongoing tussle between the erstwhile royal family of Jaipur and Jaipur Development Authority over Raj Mahal Palace heritage hotel owned by the family of a party MLA Diya Kumari.

BJP's national joint general secretary Saudan Singh held separate meetings with Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje and Diya Kumari at the party office in Jaipur on Saturday, a day after 'Rajamata' Padmini Devi took out a rally protesting the Authority's action to seal the main gate of the Palace claiming its ownership.

On September 1, Rajasthan government had justified the Authority's move and said it was "completely legal and bona fide" as the action was taken for public land.

The Opposition Congress too has taken a swipe over the "confrontation" brewing between Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje and the royal family.

Diya Kumari, daughter of 'Rajamata' Padmini Devi and BJP MLA from Sawai Madhopur, briefed Singh about the JDA action on Raj Mahal Palace hotel owned by the family, party sources said. Later, the Chief Minister also visited the party office and met Singh.

The sources said that the party leader had been sent to intervene in the ongoing conflict between the erstwhile royal family and the state government over the issue though they did not divulge further details of the meetings.

Diya was not present in a protest rally taken out by the 'Rajamata' against the JDA earlier this week but her husband and son had joined Devi in the march.
New Delhi: BJP on Saturday said Aam Aadmi Party leader Ashutosh's controversial blog represented the views of party chief Arvind Kejriwal as it questioned his silence amid a row over the "comparison" of Mahatma Gandhi and Jawaharlal Nehru with its tainted leader Sandeep Kumar.

The blog's content was "shameful and inexcusable" and Kejriwal must apologise to the people, it said, adding that Ashutosh should also make an apology over his claim that virginity among unmarried boys and girls is nowadays seen as a sign of being "unwanted and undesired".

"This is a case of playback singing. The face of one person and the voice of another," BJP spokesperson Sambit Patra told media as he alleged that Kejriwal was the main person behind the blog.

"The most worrisome and shameful topic is that the greats like Mahatma Gandhi, Jawaharlal Nehru, Atal Bihari Vajpayee, have been sought to be insulted. The father of the nation has been sought to be insulted. The person whom the world follows has been compared with the AAP leader and it is highly objectionable. This is inexcusable," he said, demanding that Kejriwal speak on the matter and tender an apology.

Noting that Kejriwal would go to Rajghat, a memorial to Gandhi, when he was launching his political career, Patra said he must speak now when Gandhi's character has been attacked by his partyman.

The Delhi Chief Minister is presently in Rome to attend the canonisation ceremony to bestow Mother Teresa with sainthood. The BJP leader said he must speak when a saint like Gandhi is being attacked.

Patra claimed the woman in the purported sex video involving Kumar, who has been sacked as a Delhi government minister, has complained that she was "exploited" as he hit out at AAP after Ashutosh said it was a case of consensual sex between two adults.

He insisted that Ashutosh's blog represents the views of AAP.

In the blog, written for a private news network, Ashutosh had referred to the alleged affairs of Nehru and Gandhi.

Attacking the sacked Delhi minister, he said reports suggest that he himself had filmed the sexual act and called it an act of pornography.

Patra said Kejriwal claimed that he cannot verify everybody's credentials while giving them party tickets and posts but he used to attack every opposition leader as if he knew all of them inside out.
New Delhi: CBI on Saturday carried out searches at the residences of former Haryana Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda and a sitting UPSC member along with 18 other locations in a case of alleged irregularities in acquisition of land in Gurgaon in which farmers were cheated to the tune of Rs 1,500 crore.

CBI sources said besides Hooda's residence, premises of the then Principal Secretary M L Tayal, UPSC member Chattar Singh, both former IAS officers, and a serving IAS SS Dhillon were also searched by the team.

"In an ongoing investigation, CBI carried out searches at 20 locations in Rohtak, Gurgaon, Panchkula and Delhi in connection with alleged irregularities in the purchase of land from farmers in Gurgaon," CBI Spokesperson R K Gaur said.

The agency had registered the case last year in September on allegations that private builders in conspiracy with unknown public servants of Haryana Government had purchased around 400 acres of land from farmers and land owners of village Manesar, Naurangpur & Lakhnoula, District Gurgaon at throw away prices, showing the threat of acquisition by the government, during the period August 27, 2004 to August 24, 2007.

It is alleged that in this process, initially, the Haryana Government had issued a notification under the Land Acquisition Act for acquisition of land measuring about 912 acres for setting up an Industrial Model Township at Villages Manesar, Naurangpur and Lakhnoula in Gurgaon.

After that, all the land had allegedly been grabbed from the land owners by private builders under the threat of acquisition at meagre rates, CBI had said after registration of the case.

It is alleged that an order was also passed by the the competent authority i.e. the Director of Industries on August 24, 2007 releasing this land from the acquisition process and the land was released in violation of the government policy, in favour of the builders, their companies and agents, instead of the original land owners.

The CBI has alleged in its FIR that in the said manner, land measuring about 400 acres whose market value at that time was above Rs 4 crore per acre approximately totalling about Rs 1,600 crore approximately was allegedly purchased by the private builders & others from the innocent land owners for only about Rs 100 crore.

It was alleged that a loss of Rs 1,500 crore was caused to the land owners of village Manesar, Naurangpur and Lakhnoula of Gurgaon.
New Delhi: The Congress on Saturday alleged that "intolerance, confrontation and vendetta is part of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's DNA" and refuted the claims made by him in an interview.

"The Prime Minister's claim in a interview that he does not believe in politics of vendetta is proven wrong by his track record. Intolerance, confrontation and vendetta is part of Prime Minister's DNA and that of his party and the RSS", party's senior spokesman Anand Sharma told reporters.

Sharma said the CBI raids in the residences of former Haryana Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda in a case of alleged irregularities in acquisition of land in Gurgaon, was also part of the "same malice".

Hitting back at the Prime Minister, he claimed that in Gujarat, thousands of hectares of land were "sold for a song" and if land deals are probed, all the BJP chief Ministers would be in the dock.

Besides, he alleged that there is a "Dirty Tricks Department which is active, operate from the PMO. They are targeting Leaders in the Opposition. We have said it in Parliament, we are saying it again".

"They are tapping phones, keeping Opposition Leaders under surveillance, keeping senior Judges, senior Officials of Government of India under surveillance and the phones are tapped"

"He is running a Presidential form of authoritarian Government with neither the check of Presidential form of Government which are there in those countries which have a

Presidential system nor the checks and balances of Cabinet in Parliamentary system", Sharma insisted.

The Congress leader alleged that the Prime Minister does not take any action against BJP Chief Ministers despite having clearcut cases, but goes out of the way to "target" opposition leaders and Chief Ministers.

"When Modi was the Chief Minister in Gujarat, a case of trespassing and robbery was made out against opposition leader Arjun Modhwadia. While cases were filed against late Chief Minister Amarsinh Chaudhary, raids were conducted against another former Chief Minister Shankersinh Vaghela", he said adding that the Enforcement Directorate notice to Associated Journals Ltd which used to bring out National Herald was another such instance.
Srinagar: Police on Saturday arrested Syed Taha Andrabi, a government official and younger brother of Dukhtaran-e-Millat chief Asiya Andrabi, from his residence in Chanapora locality in Srinagar.

Taha Andrabi, joint director in the Technical Education Department, was arrested from his house this morning, a police official said. He was taken to Rajbagh police station for questioning, police said.

The reason behind the arrest was not immediately known.

Separatist leader Asiya Andrabi, who heads the radical all-women group, has courted controversy several times in the past for hoisting the Pakistani flag.
Kochi: The Vigilance and Anti-Corruption Bureau on Saturday conducted raids at the residences of former Kerala Excise Minister K Babu and his two daughters in connection with a disproportionate assets case against the Congress leader.

Vigilance officials said raids are also being conducted at the residences of two of his friends - Baburam and Mohanan - at Vyttila and Kumbalam in Ernakulam district.

Babu, who had a controversial stint as the state Excise Minister in the previous Oommen Chandy-led UDF government, had resigned after a Thrissur court ordered the Vigilance department to register an FIR against him in the bar bribery scam. He was later reinstated in the post.

The searches are being conducted at Babu's residence in Thrippunithura and his daughters' residences in Palarivattam in Ernakulam district and Thodupuzha in Idukki district, officials said.

Five teams of the Vigilance officials, headed by two DySPs, from Vigilance special cell, Ernakulam began the searches at 8 am, they said.

Officials said the raids were being conducted after an FIR was registered based on a complaint filed by a Thrippunithura-based anti-corruption organisation against the former minister.

Babu had lost the Thrippunithura Assembly seat to M Swaraj of CPI(M) in the elections held in May this year.
A statement on the website of the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS) says Chinese physicists have recently made breakthrough findings in liquid metal that allow hard metal to become flexible as liquid metal, a step closer to building a shape-shifting liquid metal similar to the T-1000 Terminator in the science fiction film.

While liquid metal machines are used to rely on pure liquid materials, this breakthrough actually combines solid and liquid metals, which would enable the liquid metal machinery to have functional structures, like bones for a live person, according to a press release published on the website of the CAS' Technical Institute of Physics and Chemistry on Tuesday.

The T-1000 appears indestructible in the film, as it can quickly repair any damage. It can also take on any appearance it likes and slide under doors or through prison cell bars, the Independent newspaper reported.

The joint discovery by the institute and Tsinghua University shows that the liquid metal machinery triggered violin-like wire oscillation and jumping liquid metal droplet inside sets of solid-liquid combined machinery, according to the website.

The mechanism has led to the development of self-propelled liquid metal motors and liquid metal-wheeled small vehicles.

The CAS team led by Liu Jing has made huge breakthroughs in chip cooling, advanced manufacturing and electronic, biomedical and flexible machinery applications, read the press release.

A team of engineers at RMIT University in Melbourne are working on how to enable liquid metal to move autonomously. "Eventually, using the fundamentals of this discovery, it may be possible to build a 3D liquid metal humanoid on demand, like the T-1000 Terminator," professor Kourosh Kalantar-Zadeh said on the university's official website on August 5.
New Delhi: Ahead of the all-party delegation's visit to Kashmir in the wake of ongoing unrest, Left parties on Saturday the Centre to bring Pakistan to the discussion table, besides holding talks with other stakeholders including Hurriyat leaders to find a "final solution" to the problem.

Speaking to media persons after a consultation meeting with intellectuals here on the Kashmir issue, CPI(M) general secretary Sitaram Yechury and his CPI counterpart Sudhakar Reddy also urged Hurriyat leaders to discuss their positions with the delegation to find a solution to the problem.

"A final solution to this (problem) cannot happen without engaging with Pakistan. Yes, Pakistan's involvement in cross-border infiltration, terrorism, on that all of us have said unitedly that the country as a whole will face it. But at the same time, the engagement with Pakistan is also important," Yechury, who is part of the 30-member delegation, said.

On asked whether inviting Pakistan to come to discussion table will mean converting the issue as one associated with Pakistan and not India's internal matter, Yechury said "the Kashmir dispute is between Pakistan and India".

"(However) there is no scope for third party involvement nor there is a requirement. This is an Indo-Pak dispute," he said.

To a question, Yechury said the NDA government itself had taken this position of holding dialogue with Pakistan "embracing all issues including that of Kashmir".

Speaking further, Yechury reiterated he had raised the issue of inviting Hurriyat leaders for discussion during all-party members' meeting with the government earlier in the day. He though said the government remained "non-committal" over the demand.

"It is up to the government to invite them (Hurriyat leaders). We want to meet the them. JD(U), RJD and DMK leaders supported the demand during the meeting," he added.

Referring to media reports claiming hardline Hurriyat Conference leader Syed Ali Shah Geelani's opposition to holding talks with the delegation, Yechury said, "I don't know (about the reports), we are only telling them you talk to us, tell us your conditions. Without discussions there can't be a solution."

"This morning they heard us, they did not say no, did not say yes. As has been happening in this government, the yes or no can come only after the Prime Minister's approval or disapproval," said Yechury.

"Come and speak. We believe these (discussions) are being held late. Had this been held earlier, such a situation would not have arisen. But the delegation's visit should not go futile," he said, echoing Yechury.
Chennai: The Madras High Court has upheld the life sentence awarded by a lower court to four accused in the alleged caste-related murders of two persons in Tiruvallur district in 2003 while acquitting 23 others.

A Division Bench comprising Justices S Nagamuthu and V Bharathidasan on Wednesday confirmed the order of the Tiruvallur District Court Additional Sessions Judge on the appeals of four of the convicts while allowing the petition of 23 others convicted by the trial court. One other accused had died during the trial.

"In our considered view from and out of the eye witnesses' account, coupled with the medical evidence, the prosecution has clearly established that the four accused had attacked the deceased which resulted in death and therefore they are liable for punishment for the offences including murder under (IPC) Section 302," the bench said.

It acquitted the remaining 23 of all the charges including murder and observed that though the prosecution has projected that "as many as 28 persons came in the mob, one cannot expect them to notice the presence and participation of all the 28 accused and speak about the act including the weapons held."

"A witness may be in a position to notice only the participation of a few accused," it said.

The matter relates to the murder of two persons by 28 persons belonging to the Scheduled Caste in Tiruvur village in Tiruvallur District.

According to the prosecution, on February 1, 2003, tension prevailed in Tiruvur village, after a statue of social reformer BR Ambedkar was allegedly found desecrated, triggering protests.

Subsequently, a group of people from the village, armedwith deadly weapons like sickles, attacked one Sukumar belonging to another community and killed him on the spot. Another Mahesh was also murdered by the mob the same day.

On December 21, 2015, the Tiruvallur District Court had sentenced all the 27 accused for several offences, including murder, to life imprisonment following which they had approached the High Court.
New Delhi: A plea seeking setting up of a "public body", independent of the executive and judiciary, to ensure fair appointment of judges in High Courts and the Supreme Court and check nepotism, has been filed in the apex court.

The PIL, filed by National Lawyers' Campaign for Judicial Transparency and Reforms and its office bearers, is likely to come up for hearing next week.

Claiming that the "common deserving lawyers" are usually not considered for appointment of Judges in the higher judiciary, the plea alleged that those close to the judges of the Supreme Court and High Courts or politicians or big industrial houses only got chosen as judges.

"In the eyes of the Petitioners, what is paramount is a system of appointment of Judges independent of both the executive and the judiciary," it said.

Alleging nepotism in the selection of judges, the plea said the existing system has appointed the "kith and kin of sitting and former Judges of the Supreme Court and High Courts, their juniors, celebrated lawyers, Chief Ministers, Governors and a few first generation lawyers who are all politically connected or are close to big industrial houses."

The plea, filed by lawyers including AC Philip and Mathews J Nedumpara, said the mechanism of appointment of judges, independent of the executive and the judiciary, was "killed" even before it was allowed to take birth by the judgment in the NJAC case.

"No mechanism in substitution thereof, which will provide for a just, fair, open and non-discriminatory selection and appointment of Judges from a diverse and wider pool of candidates than the traditional ones, namely, the kith and kin of Judges, their near and dear ones, has been brought into existence...", the PIL said.

It alleged the fundamental right of being considered for such appointment of ordinary lawyers has been infringed in the wake of quashing of the National Judicial Appointment Commission (NJAC) Act and enabling 99th constitutional amendment by the Supreme Court.

The plea also said that there was no effective mechanism to address complaints of misconduct against judges.

The Judicial Standards and Accountability Bill, 2012 introduced in the Parliament, remained in "cold storage" as the judges were not "forthcoming to welcome" it.
Mumbai: In a veiled attack at the Home Department which is headed by Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, Shiv Sena on Saturday said the job of police is "much more than just keeping political rivals and one's own people under surveillance".

"The job of police extends beyond surveillance of political rivals and one's own people (those within BJP)," an editorial in Sena mouthpiece 'Saamana' said.

BJP's bickering ally cited the case of policeman Vilas Shinde who died when he was assaulted while on duty.

"If such attacks on policemen continue, then police will have to be provided an armour instead of helmets," it added.

"The dent to the image of khaki uniform won't stop merely by according deceased policemen the status of martyrs. The moral of police force is down and political interference has increased," the editorial said.

"After seeing all this, one remembers late Balasaheb Desai's work as Home minister," the Sena said.

"In the last few years, the work of the Home Department is only recruitment and promotion of the chosen few," the party said.

Sena's attack comes against the backdrop of a demand by Leader of Opposition in State Assembly Radhakrishna Vikhe Patil that the state needs a full time Home Minister.

"Law and order is not an issue to be dealt weekly or fortnightly. Fadnavis is not able to spare time to deal with the Home issues. He should hand over the work to a full time minister for the sake of the state," he had said.

6,226 rapes, 17,234 molestation and 3,771 murder cases were registered between January, 2015 and June, 2016.

Fadnavis, who took reigns of the state in October 2014, is being dubbed by his opponents as a "failed Home Minister". Former CM and senior Congress leader Narayan Rane had also said Fadnavis has left the law and order situation at the police officers' mercy.

"Brutal crimes like the Kopardi gangrape and murder can't take place without political patronage. The CM is more interested in delivering speeches, inaugurating seminars and clearing files at the behest of his bosses in Delhi," he had said.
Mumbai: Railway Ministry is in advanced stages of finalising a proposal to create a USD 5-billion fund to finance its various infrastructure projects.

Once the proposal for floating Railways of India Development Fund (RIDF) is finalised, it will be placed before the Cabinet for its nod, Railway Minister Suresh Prabhu said on Saturday.

"There were certain hurdles that were to be cleared for the proposed USD 5-billion Railways of India Development Fund before we seek Cabinet approval. We are almost done the structuring of the fund and hope we will be able to take it to the Cabinet soon," Prabhu told a seminar organised by Indian Merchants' Chamber.

The proposed fund, which will be anchored by the World Bank, will be of seven years.

"Nearly 20 per cent of the fund will come from the Finance Ministry and we expect the balance from pension funds and sovereign funds," Namita Mehrotra, Executive Director, (Resource Mobilisation), Railway Board, said.

She said the Finance Ministry's share will come in the form of equity. "It is being planned that the World Bank will route the funds through the Finance Ministry, which will be invested in RIDF as equity. We are hopeful of receiving a good response from pension funds and sovereign wealth funds."

Mehrotra said the proposed fund will mainly invest in major infrastructure projects of the transport behemoth. Prabhu said pension funds are keen to put money in the Railways as it is a long-term investment destination for them with assured long term returns and capital safety assurance.

The Government has also embarked on a mid-term plan for creating infrastructure and expects to spend nearly Rs 8.56 trillion through various funding sources.

"Due to insufficient capital, expansion of infrastructure and capacity augmentation did not happen for a long time. But now we are working out on various initiatives whereby we will be able to raise funds not only through our core revenue streams -- with two-thirds coming in from freight and the fares chipping in with just one-third -- but also through non-fare income," Prabhu said.

LIC had agreed to invest Rs 1.5 trillion in various commercially viable railway projects last year and out of the total it has already invested Rs 10,000 crore so far.

He said Railways will continue to explore the public private partnership (PPP) model for various plans, especially for those projects which are capable of repaying debt.

It can also be noted that, the Japan International Cooperation Agency has also agreed to provide loan of around Rs 1 trillion at 0.1 per cent interest for a 50-year tenure with a 15-year moratorium for the Mumbai-Ahmedabad bullet train project.

The bullet train project implementation period is slated to be six years -- between 2017 and 2023 -- for the 508 km long route. The operating speed will be 320 kmph while the maximum speed will be 350 kmph.

Prabhu informed the government has also proposed an integrated development model for the PSU.

"The redevelopment of railway stations will be carried out in an integrated manner to house trains, buses, auto-rickshaws and taxis.

"We signed an agreement with Gujarat government and Surat Municipal Corporation two weeks ago for the redevelopment of Surat station. Work on two more stations will start soon in and around Delhi," Prabhu added.
As many as 1000 PAVA shells would be reaching the Kashmir Valley on Sunday, said officials. (Photo: HU Naqash/DC)

New Delhi: Use of chilli-filled grenades as an alternative to pellet guns, which will be used in rarest of rare cases, was cleared on Saturday by Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh for crowd control ahead of the visit of an all-party delegation led by him to restive Kashmir on Sunday.

The Home Minister cleared the file for use of Pelargonic Acid Vanillyl Amide (PAVA) also called Nonivamide as an alternative to the pellet guns, official sources said.

Read: Left wants government to hold talks with Pakistan on Kashmir issue

They said as many as 1000 shells would be reaching the Kashmir Valley on Sunday.

During his two-day visit to Kashmir on August 24-25, Singh had said an alternative to pellet guns will be given to security forces in the coming days.

Read: Release separatist leaders to facilitate meet with all-party: CPI(M)

Pellet guns are, however, unlikely to be banned completely but will be used in "rarest of rare cases", they said.

The use of PAVA was recommended by a seven-member expert committee, headed by Joint Secretary in the Home Ministry T V SN Prasad, in its report submitted on August 29.

Read: J&K unrest: Kashmir lawyers not to meet all-party delegation

The panel was constituted after scores of protesters were blinded by the use of pellet guns in the Valley.

The Kashmir Valley is witnessing unrest following the killing of Hizbul Mujahideen militant Burhan Wani on July 8.

'PAVA shells', a chilli-based ammunition, is less lethal and immobilises the target temporarily.

The 'PAVA shells' were under trial for over a year at the Indian Institute of Toxicology Research, a Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) laboratory in Lucknow, and its development has come at a time when Kashmir is on the boil.
New Delhi: Observing that Karnataka should live and let live, the Supreme Court on Friday asked it to inform on Monday the quantum of water it will be able to release to Tamil Nadu as per the distress formula of the Cauvery water disputes Tribunal.

A bench of Justices Dipak Msira and Uday Lalit hearing TN's plea for release of 50.52 tmcft of water, asked senior counsel Fali Nariman appearing for Karnataka to impress upon the Karnataka Chief Minister to release water to Tamil Nadu to help the State continue to exist as an entity and said both States should live in harmony.

Justice Misra observed Tamil Nadu's situation is 'water, water everywhere, but not a drop to drink'. Some steps have to be taken by Karnataka so that the other State [Tamil Nadu] can exist as an entity. The principle of live and let live has to be applied to this dispute.

Accepting the submissions of senior counsel Shekar Naphade for Tamil Nadu that there is deficit in the release of water by Karnataka, the Bench said Tamil Nadu had suffered deficit for three straight months of June, July and August this year. At least live up to the distress formula of the Cauvery Tribunal Award of 2007, Justice Misra told Karnataka.

Mr Nariman submitted that for the past few months there has been deficient rainfall and there is a deficit of 80 tmcft of water in the reservoirs. He said unfortunately the Tribunal had not considered the deficit formula and it is left to the Supervisory committee to decide.

Justice Msira told Mr. Nariman Two States have to live in harmony. Water disputes leave inhabitants of two States, its agriculture, their lives in dire straits. When Mr. Naphade said leave alone two States, two districts in a State end up fighting nowadays. He said the Karnataka Chief Minister had gone on record saying he will not release water to TN and this is political reality.

Justice Msira said I am talking the constitutional language. We cannot assume what will be the rainfall, etc but if there is a formula in the Tribunal award, Karnataka is bound by it. You {Karnataka} cannot say we are not bothered. If the Tribunal has devised a formula how can you get away from that formula? You {Nariman} impress upon the State that it should live up to the directions of the Tribunal. The bench posted the matter for further hearing on September 5 to enable Karnataka to respond.
Srinagar: A youth was on Saturday killed in clashes between protesters and security forces in Qazigund area of South Kashmir taking the death toll in the ongoing unrest to 71 even as curfew continued in parts of Srinagar in view of the separatists' call for occupying Lal Chowk and Airport Road in Srinagar.

Curfew-like restrictions remained in force in rest of Kashmir even as normal life remained paralysed for the 57th day.

24-year old Basit Ahmed Ahanger was brought to the district hospital in Anantnag in Srinagar with pellet injuries sustained during clashes, a police official said, adding he was declared brought dead by the doctors.

"Curfew remains in force in five police station areas of downtown Srinagar and Batamaloo and Maisuma areas in uptown city," a police official said.

He said curfew in these areas of the summer capital continued as a precautionary measure in view of the call given by separatists asking people to occupy Airport Road, city centre Lal Chowk and district headquarters on Saturday and Sunday to protest the visit of Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh-led all-party delegation to the Valley.

However, the official said, curfew has been lifted from the towns where it was imposed yesterday. Curfew has been lifted from other areas of the Valley in view of the improving situation, the official said.

Authorities had yesterday reimposed curfew in Pulwama, Kulgam, Shopian, Baramulla and Pattan towns apart from some areas of Srinagar in view of apprehensions of violence after Friday prayers.

Curfew-like restrictions on the movement of people were in place in the rest of the Valley, official sources said.

Meanwhile, normal life remained affected due to the separatist sponsored strike on 57th day as educational institutions and private offices were closed, while public transport continued to be off the roads.

The separatists have extended the shutdown programme till September 8.

Two police personnel are among those killed while several thousand others have been injured in the clashes between protesters and security forces in the Valley since Hizbul Mujahideen militant Burhan Wani was killed in an encounter in south Kashmir on July 8.
Chennai: The Madurai bench of the Madras High Court has directed the Tamil Nadu government to pay Rs 28.37 lakh as compensation to a family of a woman who died due to medical negligence.

According to reports, Rukmini, 34, was admitted to Government Nagercoil Medical College and Hospital on March 18, 2011 for a tubectomy. She was administered nitrous oxide, also called laughing gas, instead of oxygen  leading to severe blood loss which eventually caused her death.

Rukmini's husband S Ganesan had in 2013 filed a petition seeking Rs 50 lakh compensation for him and two children.

The judge said that the doctors and paramedical staff of Government Nagercoil Medical College Hospital were involved in acts of medical negligence, causing the petitioners wife to go into a vegetative state. The judge then directed the state health secretary to pay the compensation to the petitioner within 8 months, at 9% interest per annum.
Himachal Pradesh CM, Virbhadra Singh while serving as a Union minister, had invested huge amounts in purchasing LIC policies in his own name and that of his family members through Chauhan. (Photo: PTI)

New Delhi: The judicial custody of LIC agent Anand Chauhan, arrested in a money laundering case against Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh, was on Saturday extended by four days by a special court here.

The court extended Chauhan's custody till September 7 after Enforcement Directorate (ED), which is probing the matter, submitted that the case was still being probed and his custody should be extended. The court had on August 20 dismissed Chauhan's bail plea in the case.

Chauhan was arrested from Chandigarh on July 9 under the provisions of Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) as he was allegedly not cooperating with the ongoing investigation.

ED had claimed in the court that during Chauhan's interrogation, it was revealed that as an LIC agent, he had entered into a modus operandi to launder disproportionate assets by investing in LIC policies.

The agency had submitted that Singh "while serving as a Union minister, had invested huge amounts in purchasing LIC policies in his own name and that of his family members through Chauhan".

"Virbhadra Singh, while functioning as a Union minister during the period from May 28, 2009, to June 26, 2012, acquired assets, disproportionate to his known sources of income to the tune of Rs 6,03,70,782 and further tried to justify the same in the form of agricultural income.

"Pratibha Singh, wife of Virbhadra Singh, Chauhan, with whom Virbhadra Singh had signed the alleged MoU for managing his apple orchard and Chunni Lal Chauhan, proprietor of M/s Universal Apple Associates, who purportedly showed purchase of apples from Shrikhand Orchard, have facilitated in justifying the disproportionate assets of Virbhadra Singh and thereby abetted the offence," the ED had alleged.
China to provide more fiscal support for greener growth: Official

BEIJING, Sept. 2 -- China will establish a green financing mechanism to facilitate the economy's transition featuring sustainable growth, a senior official of the Ministry of Finance (MOF) told Xinhua on Friday.

According to the guidelines released Wednesday by the People's Bank of China (PBOC) and six other central authorities, China will be the first country worldwide to establish a green financing mechanism.

Among the multitude of incentives proposed to promote green finance, the guideline suggested the establishment of a green development fund, which could reduce investors' financing costs or boost their profits.

The MOF will integrate several special funds on energy conservation and environment protection to provide funding for the green development fund and invest in green industry, a strong message showing the central government's commitment to green development, said the unnamed official during an interview with Xinhua.

The official said that local governments will be encouraged to establish funds to encourage more private capital to invest in green sectors.

The MOF has been always been an advocate for the green industry. Fiscal expenditure on environment protection in 2015 hit 480.3 billion yuan (72.8 billion U.S. dollars), up 26 percent year on year, according to the official.

More fiscal policies supporting green financing will be implemented, including fiscal interest deduction and public-private partnership (PPP) projects, which will promote the development of green industry and provide a healthy policy environment for green financing, said the official.

Meanwhile, the official said China will continue to enhance international cooperation in the green financing field to attract more investment.

China has included green financing on the G20 agenda for the first time to encourage more investment in environmentally friendly projects and build international consensus around green finance.

China's economy is undergoing a major structural transformation toward a new development model focused on achieving better quality growth that is more economically and environmentally sustainable, and achieves better social outcomes for the Chinese people.
New Delhi: "We will sort it out," said Chief Justice of India TS Thakur on Saturday in the wake of a senior Supreme Court judge's stunning attack on the functioning of the Collegium system in selection of judges.

Justice Thakur's brief response came when he was asked about Justice J Chelameswar's refusal to take part in Collegium meetings on the grounds they were functioning in an "opaque" and "non-transparent" manner.

"We will sort it out," the CJI told PTI, a day after Justice Chelameswar's outburst against the Collegium system of selection of judges became public.

Justice Thakur, who was at a convocation event at the National Law University (NLU) in Delhi, did not elaborate.

Justice Chelameswar, the fifth senior-most judge who is part of the five-member Collegium headed by CJI and Justices AR Dave, JS Khehar and Dipak Misra as other members, did not attend the Collegium meet that was scheduled on Thursday.

He also shot off a letter to the Justice Thakur expressing unwillingness to take part in Collegium meetings on several grounds including that it has been functioning in an "opaque" and "non-transparent" manner.

The meeting of the Collegium was called off due to Justice Chelameswar's absence.

At a separate event, Justice Chelameswar declined to take any questions on the collegium issue which has snowballed into a major controversy.

"It is not the right place to ask me such questions," he told media persons with folded hands at the Eighth Law Teachers' Day function in Delhi.

Justice Chelameswar is reported to have said that no reason, no opinion is recorded in the system of selection of judges and that just two people decide the names and come back to the meeting and ask for a yes or no.

He further asked whether a judge of the Supreme Court or high court an be selected in such a manner.
Hyderabad: A six-kg male child was delivered on Saturday at Niloufer Hospital making him the first heavyweight child to be born at the hospital. It was the third baby for Shabana and Mohammed Wasim whose previous two children  a boy and a girl  were born with normal weight.

Ms Shabana Wasim, 29, was diagnosed as diabetic in the first two months of pregnancy. Dr M. Satyavathi, senior gynecologist, said, Gestational diabetes is the major cause for such a heavyweight baby. Due to the increased blood sugar levels of the mother the childs weight in the womb increased. Research has shown that mothers with glucose intolerance have larger incidence of heavyweight babies. How the weight of the foetus can be controlled without affecting its growth is a big challenge. Ms Wasim was on insulin therapy and sugar management at the Osmania General Hospital. Regular screening was carried out to check the growth of the foetus. In the last scan before the birth the team found that the baby was more than 5 kg.

It was then decided that she would require a C-section because of the growing weight of the baby. Gestational diabetes is mostly seen in women after 25 years of age.

Dr Lalu Prasad, senior pediatrician at Niloufer hospital, said, The babys body parts are normal. Larger weight doesnt mean that the baby has a huge stomach. The weight has been distributed in the arms and legs. The baby is also tall at 21 inches. The first initiation of breast feeding has been done. If it is found that is not sufficient than supplementary milk will be advised.

Doctors are going to observe the baby for the next 72 hours. Blood and urine profile will be checked for anomalies. A senior doctor said, The babys blood count and urine profile will be tested, and the baby would be checked for neurological deficiencies which are found to occur in large babies.

The sheer weight of the child gives the impression that he may require more food but doctors said that will not be the case. Dr Lalu Prasad explained, Growth of the child now will be like any other normal baby. In the womb, the weight increased due to the mothers high glucose levels. It will not be the same outside.
Hyderabad: Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao has given in-principle approval to the transport department to introduce negative points-based driving licence suspension system. The government will issue orders specifying the number of negative points for each category of violation of the provisions of the Motor Vehicles Act. Sources said licence would be placed under suspension for a year if a motorist accumulates 12 negative points.

A motorist booked for driving a vehicle during licence suspension period would be chargesheeted and be liable for imprisonment up to three months. When contacted, additional commissioner of police, traffic, Jitender said the negative points-based licence suspension system would be implemented once the government issues orders.

Deputy commissioner of police, traffic, A.V. Ranganath said, As the collection of Aadhaar details is incomplete, negative-points system would be initially implemented during spot checking. Traffic police will stop motorists if they are violating rules and record their Aadhaar or driving licence details based on which the number of violations will be booked and licence suspension would be recommended, he said. The negative points would be linked to the e-challan system after the collection of Aadhaar details is complete.

It is likely that a driver will get five negative points for drunk driving for transport and passenger vehicles, three points for drunk driving of personal vehicles, two points each for speeding, jumping signals, cellphone driving and three points for dangerous parking of vehicle on highways, sources told this newspaper.
Hyderabad: The Tenth Additional Chief Judge of Hyderabad City Civil Court on Saturday ordered Sujana Group of Industries, owned by Union Minister Y.S. Chowdary, to repay Rs 6.20 crore with interest to three companies belonging to B. Ramalinga Raju, founder of Satyam Computer Services.

The judge passed three separate decrees on three suits moved by like Fincity Investments Pvt Ltd, Highgrace Investments Pvt Ltd and Elem Investments Pvt Ltd stating that they had given five loans to Sujana Capital services Ltd, Futuretech Industries Ltd and Platina Properties and Projects Ltd and Mr Chowdary stood guarantor along with another director, R. Devender Reddy, for the loans.

The petitioner companies told the Court that all the loans were taken in 1999 and they moved court in 2003 after the borrower companies failed to repay the money.

They submitted that the borrowers failed to honour the written agreements to repay the money within a short span of time and urged the Court to grant decree for recovery of loans with penal interest.

The Sujana Group claimed that the lending companies used them for transferring their money. While awarding the decrees, the judge refuted the contention of the Sujana Group saying that no evidence was placed to back it up.

The judge held that the borrower companies and the directors who stood as guarantors for the loans were liable to repay the decree amount with interest ranging from 18 per cent to 24 percent for 17 years.

Counsel for the petitioner companies said according to the decree the total amount with interest payable would now be about Rs 17 crore.
Hyderabad: The Deccan Heritage Trust, which is celebrating 425 years of Hyderabad and the 450th birth anniversary of Muhammad Quli Qutb Shah, the fifth ruler of the Qutb dynasty, is striving for a commemorative stamp and a coin of Quli Qutb Shah and Charminar for the occasion.

The city of Hyderabad celebrates its 425th birthday on October 9, the date coinciding with the first day of 1000th Hijri/1591 AD which is accepted as the foundation day of Hyderabad as per the Hijri calendar.

Since Charminar was the first building in the new city of Hyderabad, it is the birthday of Charminar as well. Mohammad Quli Qutb Shah had built Charminar in 1591.

Managing trustee of Deccan Heritage Trust Muhammad Safiullah, told this newspaper on Thursday that the Trust has approached the Telangana state government for conducting celebrations officially and has also requested it to take up with the Centre to issue a Rs 5 commemorative stamp and Rs 5 coin.

We requested the Telangana state government to take up celebrations of the twin events in October and the government was quite positive, Dr Safiullah said.

We have also requested the government to take up with the Centre and the Union finance ministry for a Rs 5 coin and with the Posts and Telegraphs for a Rs 5 stamp, since they are landmarks in the history of Hyderabad, the historian said.

The first stamps of Hyderabad were issued in 1869. They were replaced in 1880 with a new design. The brownish One Anna Charminar stamp is still quite famous. Dr Safiullah said he would also request the Archaeological Survey of India, the custodian of Charminar, to celebrate the event in a befitting manner and illuminate the famed minarets for the occasion.

The Deccan Heritage Trust is planning to provide a couple of designs to the Telangana state government for the proposed commemorative stamp and coin to be forwarded to the Centre. We will rope in historians and experts to design a fitting commemorative stamp and coin. This will be handed over to the state government, Dr Safiullah added.
Chennai: The suicide bid of a woman police Inspector, who was at loggerheads with her counterpart working in the law & order wing, was thwarted by cops on security duty at the Secretariat complex on Friday afternoon.

The incident sparked tension in the high security complex, which has enhanced security cover after the DMK MLAs recently conducted a mock assembly there.

The woman Inspector in her khakis walked into the complex carrying a bottle filled with kerosene. She had not been flagged by the personnel on security duty on a day on which a session of the Assembly came to a close.

The cop, who had direct access to the VIP gate in the Secretariat, pulled out the bottle and poured kerosene on herself at around 12.45 pm. The security personnel in the vicinity responded quickly and overpowered her after a struggle.

The woman, who is an athlete, gave her colleagues a tough time before she could be subdued. She was subsequently removed from the complex and is likely to face the departmental action.

Preliminary investigations revealed that relations between the woman Inspector, Kanchana, who is posted in the Tiruvottiyur all women police station and the Law & Order Inspector, Prakash, were very poor and that they were freely trading charges against each other. Making matters worse, they sit in the same building with their rooms located opposite each other on the same floor.

There were instances wherein both had refused to listen to cases where their jurisdictions overlapped. Recently, the two clashed over parking their vehicles in the station compound.

However, there were no adverse remarks against both the officers and they were thought of as clean cops. The woman had earlier made representations to her superiors seeking relief.
According to ED officials 26 FIRs are filed in various Police Stations of Tamil Nadu, against him and his associates.

Chennai: Enforcement directorate on Friday attached 124 immovable properties, worth over Rs 150 crore, of wanted Dubai based don Sridhar Dhanapal and his family members, under the provisions of Prevention of Money Laundering Act, 2002 (PMLA).

This apart from the four properties worth over Rs 5 crore in his name, which are under process of being attached by the Kancheepuram police. He is involved in many cases of extortion, murder, attempt to murder and illegal possession of arms etc in Tamil Nadu and has been declared a proclaimed offender.

According to ED officials 26 FIRs are filed in various Police Stations of Tamil Nadu, against him and his associates. Sridhar has been evading the judicial proceedings in India for past 3 years and it is learnt that he flew away from India in the year 2013 and stationed in Dubai after he came out of jail on a bail after being arrested. Though he is stationed in Dubai, his associates had been grabbing land on his instruction over phone after threatening the owners in Kancheepuram, police noted.

A red corner notice was issued against him by Central Bureau of Investigation, National Central Bureau-India Interpol, New Delhi. Sridhar & his wife have not appeared for the summons and are evading the investigations in this regard. The Enforcement Directorate during money laundering investigations found that the said person had committed the offence of money laundering and using the proceeds of crime, acquired 124 immovable properties in his name and name of his wife, daughter and brother.

The investigations revealed that Sridhar never had a legitimate income and during his earlier days he had been doing illicit liquor business along with his brother D. Senthil, an ED official noted.

Therefore 5 properties of guide line value of Rs 6.19 crores registered in his name, 68 properties of about Rs 24.62 crores and two movable properties of about Rs 34 lakhs (SB account & fixed deposit account) in the name of his wife, 11 properties of about Rs 25.65 crores registered in the name of his daughter and 40 properties of about Rs 23.30 crores registered in the name of his brother have now been provisionally attached.

Total guide line value of properties attached provisionally under the provisions of PMLA is about Rs 80 crore and the market value is estimated to be about Rs 150 crore, disclosed ED official.
Chennai: Two days after the Madras high court pulled up the Greater Chennai corporation commissioner for not redressing the grievance of people residing around Kodungaiyur dump yard here, the court has directed him to appear on September 23 in connection with a contempt petition.

The matter relates to a building by Devaraji at Kapaleeshwarar Nagar, Neelangarai. On a petition from R. Vadivelu of Neelangarai, residing near the place, the building was sealed and locked by officials for deviating from approved plan. In the pretext of demolishing the unauthorised and deviated portion, Devaraji approached the high court to unlock and unseal the premises.

On December 21, 2012, the court directed the corporation commissioner and the executive engineer (enforcement) zone XV, to unlock and unseal the premises.

However, Devaraji carried on with construction work. The petitioner R. Vadivelu and another suo motu contempt that was initiated by the bench in connection with unauthorized constructions in the city

Meanwhile, Devaraji, in his contempt petition, submitted the authorities concerned had willfully acted against the high court order. The bench on September 14,.2015 directed the corporation Commissioner to demolish the deviated portion and collect the amount from the owner Devaraji.

When the matter came up before the First Bench comprising Chief Justice Sanjay Kishan Kaul and Justice R. Mahadevan, the corporation Commissioner filed a report stating that final orders were passed against seven officers, who failed to stop the unauthorised construction. However, no details of officers were furnished.

The Bench directed the Commissioner of Corporation to remain present on the next date of hearing. The court also directed the additional advocate-general to file an affidavit with regard to 30 other buildings in the same area for which notices were issued by the corporation in connection with the deviations.
A portrait of Mother Teresa is carried in the crowd during a vigil of prayer in preparation for the canonization of Mother Teresa in the St. John in Latheran Basilica at the Vatican. (Photo: AP)

Hyderabad: The Archd-iocese of Hyderabad will celebrate the September 4 canonisation of Mother Teresa at the Vatican with a Mass at all parishes and a diocesan celebration at St Marys Basilica here. The canonisation is an occasion of great joy, said Father Sunder, principal of St Marys Degree College. Representatives from the Mother Teresa Home at Musheerabad will offer a special Mass at St Marys Church on Sunday.

Saint Mother

Mother Teresa, the revered but controversial nun, will be declared a saint on September 4. Heres more on it:

Event at 2pm

Pope Francis will declare Mother Teresa a saint in St Peters Square at the Vatican during the canonisation Mass. The Mass will start at 10.30am local time. Thats 9.30 am UK time, which is 2pm IST.

Unusually Fast

Her canonisation has been completed in unusually quick time on the back of the extraordinary popularity she enjoyed during her lifetime and with the help of influential supporters.

The miracles

1. Monica Besra, whose healing was Mother Teresa's first miracle, will spend September 4 praying at her home in a Bengal village. Monica, who was cured of a large stomach tumour miraculously, says it was due to the divine power of Mother Teresa whom she worships.

2. Pope Francis in December decreed that Brazilian man Marcilio Haddad Andrinos cure was a miracle after Vatican doctors said it was medically inexplicable.

Road to sainthood

1997. After Mother Teresas death, the Holy See began the process of beatification.

2002. The Vatican recognised as a miracle the healing of a tumor in the abdomen of Monica Besra

2003. The Mother was beatified as Blessed Teresa of Calcutta She was beatified by then Pope John Paul II in a fast-tracked process in a ceremony attended by 3,00,000 pilgrims.

2008. Another healing attributed to Mother dates back to December 9, 2008 and concerns a Brazilian man facing serious brain problems. Family members prayed to mother and he recovered, leaving doctors at a loss to explain how.

Controversies

During her life, Teresa was widely revered as a self-sacrificing force for good, despite ferocious criticism from prominent intellectuals including the British writer Christopher Hitchens and the Australian feminist academic Germaine Greer. Hitchens wrote a book about her entitled Hell's Angel that branded her a hypocrite.

The sainthood process

1. Church officials examine a candidates good deeds for evidence of virtue

2. A bishop submits the candidates case to the Vatican

3. Congregation for the Causes of Saints scrutinises the case

4. Once the Congregation approves the case, it is forwarded to the Pope

5. The Pope decides if the candidate has lived a virtuous life

6. An ndividual is beatified when one of the miracles is certified posthumously

7. Canonization occurs once a second miracle is verified posthumously

www. cnn.com

Other Saints from India

1. Saint Gonsalo Garcia (1556 - 1597) Patron of the city of Bombay

2. Saint Alphonsa Muttathupadathu (1910-1946) Patronage against illness

3. Kuriakose Elias Chavara (1805 - 1871)

4. Mother Euphrasia Eluvathingal (1877 - 1952)
New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi's picture in full page Reliance Jio advertisements on the launch of its telecom service kicked up a controversy with Opposition parties taking jibes at him.

Congress also said Modi should take action against Reliance Jio if the telecom company has failed to take permission from the PMO for using his photograph.

Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal mockingly dubbed Modi as "Mr Reliance" and accused him of "openly endorsing" its latest Jio services whose launch was announced by business magnate Mukesh Ambani.

The AAP chief's caustic jibe at Modi, including an advice to him to "keep modelling for Reliance", came on a day the Mukesh Ambani-led group splashed advertisements featuring the face of the Prime Minister across newspapers. "Modiji you keep modelling for Reliance ads. Labourers across the country will teach you a lesson in 2019. PM as Mr Reliance. Any more proof required to prove that Modiji is in Ambani's pockets. PM of India openly endorses Reliance product," Kejriwal said in a series of tweets.

Reliance, through its ads, dedicated the Jio 4G service to the Modi government's flagship Digital India project. Full-page "Joi: Digital Life" jacket advertisements were published with a photograph of the Prime Minister, dressed in a blue jacket.

Not just politicians, even Twitterati couldnt hold themselves back and lashed out in rather interesting ways.
Bruce Lee Club in Hong Kong founded by fans of the legendary kung fu star will close on Sept. 4 after 15 years of operation due to rising rent in one of the world's most expensive property markets.

This mini-museum and souvenir shop in Kowloon has action figures, toys, movies and memorabilia related to the martial arts icon.

It will hold an auction of its collection on Sept. 3 including a rare porcelain figure of Bruce Lee with an estimated market value of $HK100,000 ($12,900). Income from the auction will be used to cover expenses and redundancy pay.

The club said it aimed to "bring members from around the world together to express and exchange their feelings about Bruce Lee and to promote martial arts, philosophy and arts movies."

The shop had already cut its space by half to reduce costs, but was still unable to cover the rising rent.

Chairman W Wong said the shop that was in operation for 15 years was more like a venue for fans to meet rather than a profit-making business.
Chennai: Maharashtra Governor C Vidyasagar Rao on Friday assumed additional charge of Tamil Nadu, three days after incumbent K Rosaiah demitted office after an eventful five-year tenure.

At a simple ceremony at the Raj Bhavan attended by Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa and her cabinet colleagues, Chief Justice of the Madras High Court Sanjay Kishan Kaul administered the oath of office to Mr Rao, who hails from the newly created state of Telangana.

After the swearing-in ceremony that lasted just 15 minutes, Ms Jayalalithaa congratulated Mr Rao and introduced some of her senior cabinet colleagues to the new Governor. Justice Kaul also introduced some of the senior judges of the Madras High Court to Mr Rao.

Earlier, the new Governor, who will hold additional charge of Tamil Nadu till a full-time Governor is appointed, was accorded a red carpet welcome at the Chennai Airport immediately on his arrival from Hyderabad.

Mr Rao was personally received by Ms Jayalalithaa, Lok Sabha Deputy Speaker M. Thambidurai and senior Tamil Nadu Minister and was accorded the ceremonial Guard of Honour.

Mr Rao was on Wednesday appointed as the Governor of Tamil Nadu after Mr Rosaiah demitted office the day earlier. Mr Rosaiah, who served as Governor for full five-year term, had left the Raj Bhavan before the new Governor arrived.
Bengaluru: With AICC vice-president, Rahul Gandhi in his constituency on a three-day visit, Chief Minister, Siddaramaiah, Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee(KPCC) president, Dr G. Parameshwar and KPCC working president, Dinesh Gundu Rao held discussions with AICC general secretary, Digvijay Singh and many other senior leaders in New Delhi on Friday to arrive at a final conclusion over the nominations to three MLC posts, appointments to boards and corporations and induction of two ministers in the state cabinet.

Mr Siddaramaiah and other senior leaders are learnt to have sought Mr Gandhi's appointment on Saturday as the latter is arriving only on Friday night after his three- day tour in his constituency.

Speaking to Deccan Chronicle, a senior leader from New Delhi said, "There is no clarity yet on any issues that are doing rounds in state party circles. Mr Siddaramaiah seems to have made up his mind to discuss all three issues - first appointment of the new president of the PCC, second the appointment of new chairmen of state run boards and corporations, and lastly, the induction of two new ministers into his cabinet."

The source added that the CM wants clearance of at least 20-25 MLAs for state run boards and corporations, while he wants at least his close aide, K J. George's induction into the cabinet. Mr George was forced to quit from the ministry after a FIR was filed naming him in the DySP M.K. Ganapati suicide case.

"In an effort to give final shape and execute his own plans, Mr Siddaramaiah is holding discussions with various leaders who matter in Delhi and who hail from the state," the source explained.
BENGALURU: Loyal workers of the ruling Congress could soon have a good reason to celebrate as party vice president Rahul Gandhi reportedly turned down Chief Minister Siddaramaiahs proposal to appoint legislators as chairpersons of state-owned boards and corporations, but instead reward them with these posts.

On Saturday, Mr Gandhi reportedly poured cold water on Mr Siddaramaiahs attempt, the second in recent months, to appease MLAs by appointing them to these posts.

He asked the Chief Minister and KPCC president, Dr G. Parameshwar, to draw up a list of party workers who had toiled for the success of the party, and appoint them as heads of boards and corporations.

Speaking to Deccan Chronicle, a senior leader in New Delhi said though Mr Siddaramaiah won over several senior leaders including, party general secretary, Digvijay Singh, he could not convince Mr Gandhi who apparently sought detailed information on the list prepared by the CM.

It was evident that both Mr Siddaramaiah and Dr Parameshwar were not on same page as they used to be on earlier occasions. Although they are at loggerheads on many issues, whenever the issue of these appointments came up, they used to bury the hatchet and go with almost similar list or similar options. Therefore, most of the time, their lists used to get cleared. But, this time both do not seem to be on the same page as far as appointments to boards and corporations are concerned, the leader added.

The leader said Dr Parameshwar batted in favour of party workers on Friday while Mr Siddaramaiah continued to argue that he would prefer MLAs to head these posts. Mr Gandhi apparently sought a detailed list of party workers from the block level to district level who were working in the same capacity for more than a decade.

If workers are toiling for more than a decade in the same post, then I think this is the right time for us to reward them, isn't it? he reportedly remarked when he saw the list. He also said that he was not ready to accept the list on the basis of caste or religion, but one with workers having worked for 10 years and caste as the second criteria.
Above all, what afflicts the people of Kashmir Valley is a sense of humiliation. This has built up over the decades. This is what Pakistan, the separatists and the small but ever-present pro-Pakistan constituency, always seek to exploit. But so must all democrats be concerned about this deeply sensitive issue if they are serious about being democrats  party colours dont matter. And this is what the all-party delegation of our MPs led by home minister Rajnath Singh should keep in view in Srinagar on Sunday, and try to offer reasonable assurances that steps can be taken to restore Kashmirs hurt pride. The MPs delegation should know that ordinary people in the Valley are looking to their arrival with hope, notwithstanding the curfews and protests, some of the latter being a put up job. In truth, everyone is by now mentally exhausted  not just the security forces. The unprecedented shutdown is nearly two months old.

Development and defeat of poverty are always important. But these cant be equated with peoples pride and sense of belonging. In any case, our MPs should be aware that Kashmir Valley is among the economically better off places in the country, thanks to Sheikh Abdullahs land to the tiller programme which came under his Naya Kashmir initiative guided by his leftist friends. We must also bear in mind that only the Government of India can bring sanity back, not the chief minister or the 15th Corps commander. As for the separatists, they revel in seeing bridges burn. Some of them are naysayers by conviction as theyd like Kashmir to join Pakistan, some take money to speak negative language, and some are genuinely afraid of being shot dead on instruction from the other side if they show the smallest inclination to talk to New Delhi.

Several prominent personalities have thus been eliminated, and this makes the fear real. In any case, New Delhi alone  not just the GoI but also our Parliament  has the power to make a difference. The key separatists are likely to engage in baiting talk but do little to alleviate the miseries of the people. They are not in the business to look for solutions. They have not been elected, and are therefore not answerable to the people. They are there to stoke the fires. The more miserable and alienated the people, the more the separatists prosper politically, and derive associated benefits. Remember, there is a proxy war on. Politics under the shadow of the gun is what we are condemned to negotiate. The Kashmiris understand this. They are among the politically shrewdest people anywhere and perfectly capable of speaking in nuanced code language, and are not given only to exaggerated chest beating and shrieking, which is alas what comes across on television screens as so much journalism these days  including in Kashmir  privileges drama over substance.

But because the people of Kashmir are not naive, they know when New Delhi is serious, and when it makes meaningless noises. If the Centre is serious, the people will lose no time in putting the separatists in their place. Atal Behari Vajpayee as Prime Minister struck a chord in the Valley because he did not speak only of jamhooriyat (democracy) but also Kashmiriyat and insaniyat (humanism). No one had done this before. Kashmiriyat addressed identity issues, including those relating to politics. Insaniyat took care of matters relating to violence and related abuses (from the side of the State and the militants in the insurgency years of 1989-93). Speaking in the impersonalised categories of democracy, development, integration and unity, or talking up the cliches of confidence, trust and healing touch, would have set Mr Vajpayee on a barren course. These have become vacuous phrases from an unproductive past. But mechanically repeating or rehashing the Vajpayee vocabulary today wont do either.

Before Mr Vajpayee, his predecessor P.V. Narasimha Rao had said, The sky is the limit for Kashmirs autonomy within the outlines of the Indian Constitution. The late PMs words are also recalled in the Valley. But for the people of Kashmir, the uplifting language did not leave the page on which it was written. This is where this all-party MPs team can make a contribution. To begin with, it can advance an idea which is full of powerful symbolism and seeks to directly address the humiliation issue  that calling the J&K governor Sadr-e-Riyasat, and the chief minister Prime Minister, as in the old days, can be revived. Such nomenclature remained long in use after the last Kashmir Maharaja, Hari Singh, who wished to remain independent of both India and Pakistan but found it expedient to sign the Instrument of Accession with India when Pakistan sent raiders and invaders into the Valley in October 1947, was obliged to demit office. When Kashmir formally agreed to be incorporated into the territory of India, it was also agreed that the J&K constitution and flag would remain in use, and this agreement has been duly honoured. So, whats wrong with the recall of names of prominent constitutional offices?

If this happens, a frisson of excitement will course through the whole Valley. Also, in PoK and Gilgit-Baltistan, the example will set an enormous pressure on the Pakistani authorities, who have made these regions an inconsequential fiefdom of a militarised State bordering on Islamism. At the time of accession, Maharaja Hari Singh had agreed only to surrender foreign affairs, defence and communication to New Delhi. It is time to institute a commission to study which laws passed by Parliament can be adopted by the J&K Assembly for implementation, and whether any should be deleted. The Indian Constitution and our laws are among the most progressive in the world. Kashmir itself may voluntarily choose many or most of our laws  such as those relating to the judiciary, labour, women and children, or the right to information. In real terms, measures such as these do underscore the idea of autonomy, and India can take up the matter internally. Talks with Pakistan  of the kind that PM Manmohan Singh had to link J&K with PoK through trade  are not needed here.
The all-India workers strike last Friday  involving 150 million employees  appears to have had only partial impact in the country. In Kerala and Tripura, where the ruling Left Front supported the employees cause wholesale, the effect was total. On the other hand, the national capital and Mumbai remained mostly untouched. If the RSS-backed Bharatiya Mazdoor Sangh, which used to support such actions when the Congress was in power, had come out along with all the major national trade unions like All-India Trade Union Congress (AITUC) and Centre of Indian Trade Unions (CITU), Delhi and Mumbai might not have remained untouched.

On sectoral issues and those concerning wider economic matters, including the demand from industry to revamp the countrys labour laws to enable an easily enforceable hire and fire regime in order to check labour market distortions, the BMS view is unlikely to be very different from the other major unions, but evidently the RSS-oriented union did not desire to embarrass the Modi government. Although the strike call lacked a punch, it is plain that the country cannot afford such actions for a longer period. A call for a one-day strike is mainly symbolic and resorted to in order to draw the attention of the government to the economic conditions of workers.

This strike had included the demands of workers of organised industry as well as the informal sector though the major unions are not always able to get into the informal sector, which is widely dispersed. What the government cannot afford to ignore is the fact that the workers demanded conspicuous governmental efforts  by improving the public distribution system, for instance  to help bring down the prices of essential commodities which have remained unconscionably high for some two years. They also sought to draw the governments attention to the grim employment situation.

Whatever the causes for these strong negatives in the system, the wider middle class, to say nothing of the rural poor, is also raising these same critical issues already. If these blocks are able to come together even for limited purposes, the government is likely to find itself on a sticky wicket. The issues that the dalits are currently raising are apparently non-economic in nature, but are perhaps rooted in their worsening economic prospects and can be fuelled by it.

The charter of demands of the workers has sought a minimum wage of Rs 18,000 per month in the informal and the formal sector. This practically means the doubling of the wage rate. Most employers, not just households and small businesses, are unlikely to be able to afford this. The government too may find its fiscal deficit targets going out of hand if it agreed to this demand. National unions should pitch their proposals more realistically.
The standard template of the agreement, which can be found on the Internet with a simple search, shows it is more a facilitator and places no obligations on India to follow America into battle. The US has signed logistics agreements with more than 60 countries, both allies and non-allies.

The signing of a defence logistics support agreement by India and the United States is an important marker in bilateral relations and an example of the two countries overcoming the hesitations of history.

The evocative phrase was used by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in his address to the US Congress in June amid cheers. No one could have wagered that Modi would move so quickly on an agreement that India had resisted for 12 long years out of fear it would bring New Delhi too close for comfort to the US.

Some strategic analysts are disturbed by the idea of a strategic embrace even if they accept the logic of India building stronger ties with the US. In the most negative assessment of the agreement, one analyst called it Indias most serious strategic mistake in seven decades mainly because it would force Russia to move ever closer to China and Pakistan in an axis against India.

Many of the misgivings about the agreement stem from misinformation, including a persistent fear that Americans can now have bases in India. The more imaginative have even claimed that American GIs are coming to father illicit children in India.

In light of such criticism, some of it ideological, it is important to examine what the logistics support agreement actually entails and whether it automatically means India joining hands in Americas constant military adventures. Simply put, it doesnt. It allows the two armed forces to help each other with food, fuel, storage, medical services, repair, spare parts and storage facilities in times of need.

The standard template of the agreement, which can be found on the Internet with a simple search, shows it is more a facilitator and places no obligations on India to follow America into battle. The US has signed logistics agreements with more than 60 countries, both allies and non-allies.

The one with the Philippines, a US military ally, makes clear that the agreement would be implemented, applied and interpreted by the parties in accordance to their respective constitutions, national laws and regulations.

Given political sensitivities, India forced not just a name change, resulting in an inelegant title but also textual changes to limit its scope and give India an out. The Indian defence ministry has said the agreement would be used exclusively during authorized port visits, joint exercises, joint training, and humanitarian assistance and disaster relief efforts. It would help if the text of the Logistics Exchange Memorandum of Agreement or LeMOA were made public but given the governments tendency towards secrecy, its unlikely.

So why did Modi rush in where Manmohan Singh feared to tread? The signing of LeMOA on Monday during Defence Minister Manohar Parrikars visit to Washington was perhaps as much a result of quashing hesitations of history as recognizing the rapid changes in Indias external environment.

Read: ...But we haven't reached NAATO!

Over the past three years, China has made its presence felt more aggressively than before, producing islands from rocks, building military installations on them, declaring an air defence zone, threatening neighbors, attacking fishing boats and generally marking territory.

The last straw for the Indian government was perhaps the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor or CPEC, which would go through disputed territory. Two of Indias most difficult and dangerous neighbors are going to be tied by the one-belt-one-road initiative of Chinese President Xi Jinping. India sees CPEC as a strategic move, not purely an economic one. Besides, Modis ardent courtship of Xi didnt produce desired results either on moving border talks along or isolating Pakistani terrorists. What he got was a series of snubs  China blocked Indias entry into the Nuclear Suppliers Group while protecting Pakistans Masood Azhar from UN sanctions.

Indian defence policy cant remain static in the face of Chinese assertiveness and expansionist behavior. It has to use a bigger tool kit. While critics have focused on what LeMOA can do for the US, its useful to see how this agreement expands Indian Navys reach by providing access to US bases in Diego Garcia and Djibouti.

China opened its first overseas base in Djibouti earlier this year, a move that made military strategists sit up and take notice, to say nothing of its constant intrusions into Indias neighbourhood. Its silly to see Chinas state-controlled media issue warnings about how India signing LeMOA may irritate China, Pakistan or even Russia. Indian irritation has been far greater with the China-Pakistan nuclear, missile and terror alliance -- a big reason among other compelling reasons why India has moved closer to Washington over the years.

Modi took the unprecedented step of issuing a joint vision statement with President Barack Obama in January 2016 to send a smoking signal to China. The statement talked about the importance of safeguarding security and ensuring freedom of navigation and overflight throughout the region, especially in the South China Sea where China is busy rubbing everyones nose.

Yes, for all practical purposes India has shed the garb of non-alignment  Modi is not attending the NAM summit -- but one could argue it doesnt mean automatic alignment with the US on all issues. In fact, there is a marked divergence on US policy towards Pakistan, notwithstanding boilerplate statements by visiting Obama cabinet members.

Americans recognize and are slowly accepting that India will never be a traditional ally. It needs special treatment and acceptance on its own terms. They are under no illusion that they will fire from Indian shoulders now or any time soon.

A new playbook is being developed as we speak. The US government now treats India on a par with its allies in terms of technology transfer. It is willing to share jet engine and aircraft carrier technology  even the most optimistic wouldnt have predicted that a decade ago.

The only real question for India is Russias reaction to the new Indo-American friendship society. Can New Delhi keep Moscow truly engaged with cash and contracts and work on Washington to focus on the real adversary instead of rivals long defanged?
The Logistics Exchange Memorandum of Agreement (LeMOA) does not make India amilitary ally of the US in the traditional sense of the term, nor does it allow the US to base its weapons and military personnel on Indian soil, but it does open the door to a far closer military relationship, yet of a different, 21st century kind, between what were once described as "estranged democracies" or even, "the irresistible force and the immovable object".

It has been a long march (Chinese, please pardon) to LeMOA, but there is a ring of strategic inevitability about it. It began, in a sense, almost as soon as the Soviet Union collapsed and the Cold War ended. The first American reaction to its victory over the Evil Empire was to make a plan to ensure that no other peer competitor on the scale of the Soviet Union ever emerged again. It's encapsulated in a never-published document, called the draft Defense Policy Guidance, 1992, written by 'neocons' Paul Wolfowitz and 'Scooter' Libby for Donald Rumsfeld, during the Senior George Bush's presidency. It was never published because one particular prescription for American global primacy was too controversial to be made public: that the US should ensure that any country that has the potential to rise on the global stage is balanced off by a regional rival.

Almost immediately, as the US realised that the strategic theatre was shifting from Europe to Asia, where China was on the rise, it began its search for new allies. And it was the Pentagon, not the State Department, that was keen on India. The US Air Force sent the late George Tanham of the RAND Corporation to understand India's 'strategic culture'. Mr. Tanham promptly went back disappointed - there was no such thing in India!

The Soviet collapse had left India, too, searching for new paradigms, economic and military. It was during P.V. Narasimha Rao's time as prime minister that India first sought a 'nuclear deal' with former US President Bill Clinton and offered to separate civilian and military nuclear reactors so that the former could receive uranium supplies. The nuclear deal didn't happen, but something else came up in those conversations: a suggestion from the Americans that India build up the Andaman & Nicobar Islands as a tri-services command rather than just a naval base, keeping China in view.

It was also during this time that 'Yoda' Andrew Marshall, the 'father' of strategic Net Assessment, helped India set up its own Net Assessment centre. Years later, although Clinton imposed sanctions on India for the 1998 nuclear tests, these began to be diluted less than six months later, and in 2000, as his term was ending, Clinton visited India, the first visit by a US President in 22 years.

By this time, though, years had been lost for India-US relations even as China had grown economically and militarily. George W. Bush came into the White House, therefore, promising to build strategic ties with India. The Pentagon sent the India-born Ashley Tellis, then a RAND analyst, to study India's nuclear weapons capabilities and intent. The Vajpayee government, as it built up relations, gave unprecedented access to Tellis -- as one Indian analyst put it, "to everything except the bomb basement".

Ambassador Robert Blackwill's rhetoric on the India-US relationship, Tellis' research on India's nuclear weapons helped pave the way for the Bush's closest advisers to conclude that "nuclear weapons in the hands of friendly countries" was not a matter of strategic concern for the US.

Around the same time, an Indian thinker, Prof. M.D. Nalapat, proposed the idea of an Asian 'NATO', spearheaded by the US and India, named 'NAATO', the North Atlantic Asia Treaty Organisation, somewhat contradictory to the very correct logic he was proposing -- that America should leave behind its

European friends when it came to managing Asian affairs and team up with Asian players, India in particular. While not many in India took notice, the Pentagon commissioned yet another study to understand what India wanted from the US and what it was ready to give back. Would something like 'NAATO' be possible with India? The conclusion was the famous "inverted pyramid" of Indian and US priorities:

India wanted technology first, strategic partnership later; America wanted India to commit to a strategic partnership first, and it would free India from all technology denial regimes later. These studies became the basis for the high-technology cooperation groups that were formed and finally the nuclear deal three years later. As the Chinese threat grew in America's view, and the Americans realised that India was going to take its own time to make up its mind, the Bush administration concluded that it was not necessary for India to tightly couple itself to America militarily. An economically strong and militarily powerful India would be "a natural counterbalance" to rising Chinese power even if India did not align itself with the US. Bush's NSA and later Secretary of State Condoleeza Rice declared that the US was "ready to help India rise to global power", including in military capabilities. This was the beginning of the thinking on the new, 21st century kind of ally that America could live and work with --a friend that you could "plug and play" with, and differ and disagree with. Not NAATO at all. But close enough.
Pakistan could have been part of LeMOA had it not been identified by Afghanistan, India and the U.S. as part of the regions terrorism problem. (Representational Image)

After years of missing out on opportunities to shut down the Taliban insurgency and refusing to act against all Jihadi terrorist groups, Pakistan's fear of encirclement that led to its disastrous policies in Afghanistan might be on the verge of coming true. Since the withdrawal of Soviet forces in Afghanistan in 1989, Pakistan has supported some of the most hardline Islamist factions on grounds that it could not let Afghanistan fall into the hands of other foreign powers. Now, it seems that it is precisely because of Pakistans support of the Taliban and the Haqqani network that India, Afghanistan and the United States have agreed to strategically encircle Pakistan.

Afghanistan and the United States tried hard to persuade Pakistan, especially after 9/11, to work with them in ending the safe haven for terrorists that has made Pakistan the epicentre of global jihad in addition to being a major victim of terrorist attacks. Pakistans paranoid security establishment, however, saw conspiracies between Afghan and Indians and Indians and Americans where there were none. After almost eight years of hoping that Pakistan would bring the Taliban and the Haqqani group to the negotiating table, the Obama administration has decided to signal that it is ready to consider options for Afghanistan that do not include Pakistan.

On August 30, 2016 India and the United States signed LeMOA (Logistics Exchange Memorandum of Agreement), one of three foundational agreements that the US signs with countries with whom it has a close defense relationship. Afghanistans Chief of Army Staff, Sher Mohammad Karimi, is currently on a four day visit to India seeking military assistance, both equipment and training. At the India-US Strategic Commercial dialogue in Delhi on August 29, 2016 Secretary of State John Kerry announced that in September the United States, India and Afghanistan will finally hold a trilateral dialogue. On surface, these events are not directed specifically at Pakistan but to a paranoid Pakistani security establishment it appears like a nightmare come true.

Since independence in 1947, Pakistans worldview has been shaped by an obsession with India. Pakistan has manifested a desire to escape an Indian (and by default a South Asian) identity and sought to be perceived as a Middle Eastern country. This led Pakistan into American-led middle-east centered military alliances, which were meant to help Pakistan secure U.S. equipment for its goal of being Indias military equal.

The belief that India and Indian leaders have not accepted the idea of a Pakistan born out of British Indias partition has led to the perception of India as an existential threat to Pakistan. Although there is no evidence that India seeks to reincorporate Pakistan, fear of undoing partition has informed Pakistani decision-making for 69 years. Pakistans strategists and policy makers have seen Afghanistan consistently through the prism of their fear of India. Fearful of an Indo-Afghan alliance that would have the potential of breaking up Pakistan, Islamabad has sought a pro-Pakistan, anti-Indian Afghan regime, especially after Pakistans role as the staging ground for the anti-Soviet jihad in Afghanistan during the 1980s. Afghanistans periodic support for irredentist Pashtun (and later Baluch demands) has only strengthened this Pakistani paranoia. Pakistanis have feared a pincer attack to undo Pakistan involving India and Afghanistan, notwithstanding the fact that during the India-Pakistan wars of 1965 a

nd 1971, Kabul sided with Islamabad, not Delhi.

In recent years, Afghan leaders encouraged by the United States have repeatedly made attempts to build ties with Pakistan but their efforts have not been reciprocated. In 2011 former Afghan President Hamid Karzai referred to Pakistan as Afghanistans twin brother while describing India only as a great friend. Current President Ashraf Ghani spent the first two years of his presidency reaching out to Pakistan, expressing hope that Pakistan would rein in the Taliban operating from its soil.

Pakistan, however, has remained wedded to its fears and seems to have risked its alliance with the United States in pursuance of its assumptions about Afghanistan. Since 2001, Pakistan has assumed that it can return to be being the paramount power in Afghanistan once U.S. forces, which arrived in the aftermath of 9/11, leave the region. For their part, the Americans put up with Pakistans failure to keep its promises about combating terrorism and seldom went beyond periodic reprimands to nudge Pakistans policy in a different direction.

All that is beginning to change. Closer economic ties between India and the US are seen as providing New Delhi with the economic might to build its military power. The Americans are now willing to risk expanding ties with India for the sake of an increasingly unreliable Pakistan. Pakistans response to close ties between the US and India is to argue that this will disturb the strategic imbalance in South Asia. After years of deferring to that argument, Washington seems poised to finally ignore it.

Unable or unwilling to openly say that it fears Indias rise and knows that it cannot play catch up, Pakistans security establishment prefers to couch its words by referring to it as strategic imbalance. Pakistans hope that the international community will step in and help create parity between India and Pakistan is becoming less and less attainable.

Always fearful of India and framing its foreign policy solely through the prism of the perceived existential threat, Pakistan has been unable to build effective partnerships with most countries in its neighborhood. Others are not always as interested as Pakistan in helping it escape India, seek parity with India or to contain India within the region.

Pakistan does not have good ties with the country it broke away from (India) nor with the country that broke away from it (Bangladesh). Pakistans relations with its other western neighbor Iran are friction-ridden as well primarily because of Pakistans use of Jihadis as levers of foreign policy. Iran suspects Pakistan of giving free rein to anti-Iran Sunni extremists in Balochistan, who also act as Pakistans allies in fighting Baloch nationalists seeking separation or autonomy from Pakistan.

Pakistan could have been part of LeMOA had it not been identified by Afghanistan, India and the U.S. as part of the regions terrorism problem. Islamabads zero sum games involving unending jihad have led to its nightmare of India-U.S.-Afghan partnership becoming a reality. Pakistan would benefit from accepting that it is a part of South Asia. Building closer economic and commercial relationships with its immediate neighbors will bolster Pakistans economy and stabilize its polity and society. If, however, Pakistans leaders stick to their national narrative of grievance against India, they will find that other countries now have less time for that than they might have had earlier.
Lalit Mansingh, former Indian foreign secretary and ambassador to the United States, talks about the importance of US secretary of state John Kerrys visit to New Delhi. In an interview with Sridhar Kumaraswami, he explains what the visit means for India in pursuit of its strategic goals.

What is the significance of US secretary of state John Kerrys visit to India and the second strategic and commercial dialogue the two countries have concluded?

The continuation of the strategic and commercial dialogue reflects the strength in bilateral ties. Interestingly, the Obama administration is now moving into a legacy mode in its last few months in office. Even earlier, some of the most significant US decisions on India were taken during the last few months in office, as was the case during the Bill Clinton and the George W. Bush presidencies.

Though Mr Kerry spoke of terror sanctuaries in Pakistan, he described it as a victim of terror. Do you think this was satisfactory for India?

Even though Mr Kerry tried to strike a balance, I would say it is favourable to India as there are many positives. The US is willing to back India in naming terror organisations that find sanctuary in Pakistan and is also calling for strong action by Pakistan against the perpetrators of the Mumbai and Pathankot terror attacks. It is realistic to acknowledge that the US will not abandon Pakistan as it has a strategic stake there and it intends to preserve it.

The US seems to be keen on getting India on board for its strategic naval rebalance in the Asia-Pacific. Do you see any danger of India being sucked into a growing conflict with China?

There is no danger of India getting drawn into any regional conflict. We are entering a phase of a closer partnership with the US, but without any secret strings attached. There is convergence between the US rebalance in Asia and Indias Look East policy. The commonality in approach lies in the fact that India is equally concerned about the Indo-Pacific because of its strategic interests. Both countries support freedom of navigation in the international waters of the Indian Ocean as also the South China Sea. The Sea Lanes of Commerce are vital for both. There is no obligation, however, to rush to each others support in case of conflict with a third party.

The joint Indo-US statement spoke about a redoubling of efforts for Indian entry into the Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG). Is that a prized objective for Indias interests?

Yes. This is important since the NSG lays down the rules for transfer and sale of sensitive nuclear technology. If we gain entry, we make the transition from being a mere applicant to being part of the rule-making process that approves such transfers. On the other hand, it is also clear that given Chinas opposition, it is not easy for India to be admitted without the heavy-lifting capabilities of the US. I believe that by pushing for membership recently at Seoul, India has proved that the odds have moved significantly in its favour. China stands isolated as the only country that is opposed to Indias entry.

The US has said that the path to India becoming a permanent member of the UN Security Council is complicated and may take a while. What is the US strategy?

The US strategy is similar to the one on the NSG, only much larger in its scope. The US is the most powerful country in the world. It is understood that no Secretary-General of the UN can be appointed against the wishes of Washington. India has open support of four out of five permanent UNSC members  US, Russia, UK and France. Once again, China stands isolated. It will oppose Indias entry till it gets a deal that makes it sweeter to accept or until its opposition becomes internationally unsustainable. India cant go it alone; it has to be part of a successful coalition of potential candidates. There is already a G-4, (India, Japan, Germany and Brazil) for membership. There are three aspirants from Africa  South Africa, Nigeria and Egypt. There are problems such as Brazil facing domestic troubles and the African continent not making up its mind. A G-5 has to be first constituted for India to begin serious efforts to join the UNSC as a permanent member.

How would you read the timing of the two countries signing the Logistics Exchange Memorandum of Agreement (LEMoA) in Washington while Mr Kerry was set to begin the strategic dialogue in New Delhi? Is this the symphony that PM Narendra Modi spoke of earlier in Washington?

Very much so. The LEMoA is in Indias national interest. A bold move by the government, it provides for reciprocal use of bases and support services. There is no obligation to provide base facilities for the US on demand as permission will be granted on a case-by-case basis. The intention is to help each other. India gets a disproportionate advantage since the US has bases worldwide, whereas Indias bases are only within its territory.

How do you view the civil nuclear energy cooperation now that the US has announced that American firm Westinghouse will build six nuclear reactors in India? In other spheres too, bilateral trade is growing rapidly.

The agreement with Westinghouse will not be finalised till next year. However, the idea is to begin the technical preparations so that the building of reactors can start immediately in 2017, after the contract is signed. With the issue almost resolved regarding the concern expressed by the US and other foreign suppliers over liability for accidents, the Westinghouse decision sends a signal globally that India is now an attractive destination for investments in civilian nuclear power. Bila-teral trade is booming and remains balanced in the exchange of goods and services. Consequ-ently, the goal of increasing bilateral trade five-fold to approximately $500 billion appears realistic.

India has once again raised its concerns with the US regarding the recent fee hike of the H1B and L1 visa. Do you think the US will act on these concerns?

There is domestic pressure in the US, especially in the election season, to restrict the entry of skilled foreign personnel. While the Americans have promised to look into Indias concerns, it is clear the need to protest will have to be stepped up as the fee hike and restrictions will hurt Indias economic interests, particularly in the IT sector. It is important to articulate the concerns forcefully, both for keeping the visas open and affordable as also to conclude a totalisation agreement, which will release funds contributed by Indians for their future social security requirements.
The company said it has not found a way to tell exactly which phones may endanger users out of the 2.5 million Note 7s already sold globally.

Samsung recalled its Galaxy Note 7 smartphones today after finding some of their batteries exploded or caught fire.

Samsung's Note 7s are being pulled from shelves in 10 countries, including South Korea and the United States, just two weeks after the product's launch.

Customers who already bought Note 7s will be able to swap them for new smartphones in about two weeks, said Koh Dong-jin, president of Samsung's mobile business.

He apologised for causing inconvenience and concern to customers.

The recall, the first for the new smartphone though not the first for a battery, comes at a crucial moment in Samsung's mobile business.

Apple is expected to announce its new iPhone next week and Samsung's mobile division was counting on momentum from the Note 7's strong reviews and higher-than-expected demand. Samsung said it had confirmed 35 instances of Note 7s catching fire or exploding.

There have been no reports of injuries related to the problem.

The company said it has not found a way to tell exactly which phones may endanger users out of the 2.5 million Note 7s already sold globally.

It estimated that about 1 in 42,000 units may have a faulty battery.

Samsung's official statement was silent on whether customers should stop using their phones, and it didn't say whether the problems happened while the phones were charging or during normal use.

"The ball is in Samsung's court to make this right. Consumers want information about what's going on and peace of mind that this is not going to happen again," said

Ramon Llamas, who tracks mobile devices at research firm IDC.

"No one wants to wake up at 1, 2 or 3 (in the morning) and find out your smartphone's on fire."

He added that while phone combustions are unusual, "35 instances are 35 too many."

This summer, Samsung ran into a quality-control issue with another smartphone, a niche model called the Galaxy S7 Active.

Consumer Reports found that the phone didn't live up to its water-resistance promises.

Samsung said that relatively few phones were affected and that it had identified and fixed the manufacturing problem.

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A training session to educate and improve the ethnic languages of judges was held at Minzu University of China on Friday, with joint efforts of China's top court and the State Ethnic Affairs Commission.

The university is also a base to cultivate judges who can speak ethnic languages, according to a statement provided by the Supreme People's Court.

Liu Hui, deputy director of the commission, said during the opening ceremony that protecting ethnic languages is a good way to improve legal services in ethnic areas across the country, and hopes the base will be a platform to educate ethnic judicial talents.

"We will further cooperate with the top national court in solving disputes or legal problems in the ethnic regions, and studying and making some practical ethnic language references for judges," Liu added.

Xu Jiaxin, director of the political department of the top court, suggested that it make full use of people in ethnic colleges and pay close attention to cultivating their legal knowledge, "as it is a must to ensure access to justice in ethnic regions."

Since 2014, the top court has provided training courses which allowed over 200 judges to learn Uyghur and Tibetan languages, the statement added.

Jiang Qibo, chief judge of Case Filing Department with the top court, said last year that an ethnic online platform for making lawsuits is in the works and will be launch by the end of this year.

Right now, the top court's website, where verdicts are posted, has provided ethnic language services for litigants.
It estimated that about 1 in 42,000 units may have a faulty battery.

Samsung is allowing Galaxy Note 7 customers to swap their handset either with the Galaxy S7 or S7 Edge phones.

Samsung on September 2 confirmed to recall all Galaxy Note 7 equipped with battery it has found to be fire-prone. In addition, the company is also offering its customers the option to exchange their Note 7 handset with Samsungs previous flagships Galaxy S7 or S7 Edge.

The recall comes just over two weeks after the company launched its latest premium phone, which features an outsized screen and high-resolution camera. It follows reports of the 988,900 won ($885) phone igniting while charging.

Samsung has already halted their sales in 10 markets.

According to a statement reported by a technology website Verge, Samsung has announced its own exchange programme which will provide customers with a new device by next week.

The exchange programme offers customers to either exchange Galaxy Note 7 device with a new one as early as next week or they can exchange the device for a Galaxy S7 or S7 Edge and replacement of any Note 7 specific accessories with a refund of the price differences between devices. Moreover, affected customers will receive a $25 credit on their phone bill or a $25 gift card for the trouble caused.

Customers who already bought Note 7s will be able to swap them for new smartphones in about two weeks, said Koh Dong-jin, president of Samsung's mobile business.

The company said it has not found a way to tell exactly which phones may endanger users out of the 2.5 million Note 7s already sold globally. It estimated that about 1 in 42,000 units may have a faulty battery.

Click on Deccan Chronicle Technology and Science for the latest news and reviews. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter.
Washington: If the US fails to crack down on immigration, according to the Donald Trump camp, the nation will be inundated with criminals, illicit drugs and job-stealers and -- tacos!

Tacos -- the popular Mexican dish that includes a tortilla shell filled with meat, vegetables and cheese is the latest threat facing Americans if the Republican presidential candidate loses, the co-founder of Latinos for Trump told MSNBC.

"My culture is a very dominant culture. It is imposing and it's causing problems," Marco Gutierrez said Thursday.

"If you don't do something about it, you're going to have taco trucks (on) every corner."

The earnest warning unleashed a flurry of social media activity, with many Americans relishing in the idea of life in a country where taco trucks rule the streets.

"A chicken in every pot, a car in every garage, & #TacoTrucksOnEveryCorner," comedian and actor Orlando Jones tweeted, using a hashtag that quickly went viral. "If this is wrong. Then I don't want to be right. #ImWithHer," tweeted another user, using Clinton's campaign slogan.

The post included an image of breakfast tacos, a Texas morning staple that often includes eggs and chorizo sausage. Gutierrez's alert came the night after Trump delivered a fiery speech outlining his harsh immigration plan, which would include stepping up deportations, cancelling President Barack Obama's executive orders protecting millions of undocumented migrants, and blocking federal funding to so-called "sanctuary cities" that bar discrimination against the undocumented.

His rival Hillary Clinton has expressed support for a pathway to citizenship for most of America's undocumented. Her campaign called Trump's plan part of his "campaign of hate."

"In his darkest speech yet, Donald Trump doubled down on his anti-immigrant rhetoric and attempted to divide communities by pitting people against each other and demonizing immigrants," it said in a statement.

#TacoTrucksOnEveryCorner is not the first time the internet has had a field day with taco symbolism this campaign season.

On May 5 - the Cinco de Mayo holiday that commemorates Mexican resistance - Trump posted a photograph of himself tucking into a taco salad, a dish of American origin.

Under the picture the billionaire wrote: "Happy #CincoDeMayo! The best taco bowls are made in Trump Tower Grill. I love Hispanics!"
The United States is considering further easing or lifting sanctions against Myanmar. (Photo: AP)

Washington: The United States is considering further easing or lifting sanctions against Myanmar around the time of a White House visit this month by the country's new leader, Aung San Suu Kyi, US officials told Reuters.

President Barack Obama is expected to decide on the extent of the sanctions relief after consultations between Suu Kyi and his administration to gauge how far she wants Washington to go in loosening the screws on Myanmar's still-powerful military.

Obama will attend a Group of 20 leaders' summit this weekend in China followed by an East Asia summit in Laos, where Suu Kyi may also be present. She will visit Washington on September 14-15 for meetings with Obama, Vice President Joe Biden, members of the US Congress and business leaders.

Suu Kyi, a Nobel Peace Prize laureate and democracy icon, helped persuade the West to impose sanctions during her years as a jailed opposition leader. She is now trying to strike a balance between showing her people the economic rewards of a democratic transition while keeping pressure on the country's generals for further reforms.

Obama's historic opening to Myanmar followed by its peaceful transition to an elected civilian-led government is seen as one of his foreign policy achievements. But with less than five months left in office, his administration remains wary of giving up leverage for removing the vestiges of military rule.

Suu Kyi's Washington visit would be her first since her National League for Democracy (NLD) party swept into power after November 2015 elections.

Ben Rhodes, Obama's deputy national security adviser, met this week with congressional staffers and told them the president was considering reducing sanctions or removing them altogether, several US officials said.

The US officials spoke to Reuters this week on condition of anonymity.

The White House declined comment.

Washington is eager to expand relations with Myanmar to help counteract China's rise in Asia and let US businesses take advantage of the opening of one of the world's last "frontier markets"  fast-growing but less developed emerging economies.

Military-run Enterprises

Most of the remaining US measures restrict business with military-run enterprises, including bans on imports of Myanmar's jade and gemstones, and with black-listed individuals.

Obama has already eased some sanctions on Myanmar, formerly known as Burma, several times. This included the removal in May of state-owned banks from the US blacklist and of measures against seven key state-owned timber and mining firms. But many restrictions were renewed for another year.

"We're looking at things related to trade, investment and commerce, and trying to see what can be done to improve the investment environment in Myanmar," a US government source said of the changes being weighed.

These could include adding Myanmar to the Generalized System of Preferences program, which provides duty-free treatment for goods from many poor and developing countries, the sources said.

A key question is how far Suu Kyi wants Washington to go in relaxing pressure on the military, which has a strong hand in politics through a military-drafted constitution as well as an economic powerbase.

"If our bosses are in the room with Aung San Suu Kyi and she says 'I want you to lift all the sanctions,' it is hard to imagine them saying no," a congressional source said, when asked whether members of Congress would go along with lifting US sanctions.

Suu Kyi is barred from the presidency by the constitution drafted by the former junta because her two sons are British citizens. She holds the title of foreign minister, but is Myanmar's de facto government leader.

She and the NLD have been criticized for not doing enough to help Myanmar's oppressed Rohingya Muslim minority.

Some backers of removing sanctions argue that easing Myanmar's international isolation could help improve human rights by boosting the economy.

However, Human Rights Watch called on Friday for the US government to keep sanctions in place to deter the military from derailing democratic reforms.
United States President Barack Obama is expected to join Chinese leader Xi Jinping in announcing their countries are formally taking part in a historic global climate deal.

Hangzhou: China has entered the emissions-cutting agreement reached last year in Paris in advance of the Group of 20 summit this weekend.

The state-run Xinhua News Agency reported that China's legislature voted on Saturday to ratify the agreement.

The agreement, which calls on countries to set their own targets for reducing carbon dioxide emissions and update those targets every five years, takes force when accepted by at least 55 nations that produce 55 percent of global man-made emissions.

China and the US together produce 38 percent.

Opening his final trip to Asia, President Barack Obama is expected to join Chinese leader Xi Jinping in announcing their countries are formally taking part in a historic global climate deal. Yet thornier issues like maritime disputes and cyber security shadow Obama's visit.

The president departed Friday for Hangzhou, China, where he will meet on Saturday with Xi ahead of a summit of the Group of 20, a collection of industrial and emerging-market nations.

Environmental groups and experts tracking global climate policy said they expected the two leaders would jointly enter the sweeping emissions-cutting deal reached last year in Paris. Unlikely partners on addressing global warming, the US and China have sought to use their collaboration to ramp up pressure on other countries to take concrete action as well.

Entering the climate agreement has been an intricate exercise in diplomatic choreography. As Obama crossed the Pacific, the state-run Xinhua News Agency reported China's legislature had voted to formally enter the agreement. The White House announced Obama would speak about climate change shortly after landing in the eastern city.

The deal was reached in December, and the US, China and many others signed it in April, on Earth Day. Even the third step - formally participating in the deal - doesn't bring it into force in the US or China. That won't happen until a critical mass of polluting countries joins.

Aiming to build on previous cooperation, the US and China have also been discussing a global agreement on aviation emissions, though there's some disagreement about what obligations developing countries should face in the first years. The aviation issue is expected to be on the agenda for Obama's meeting with Xi, along with ongoing efforts to phase out hydrofluorocarbons, another greenhouse gas.

The alliance on climate has been a rare bright spot between the US and China in recent years, a relationship otherwise characterized by tensions over China's emergence as a key global power. Washington has been deeply concerned about China's territorial ambitions in waters far off its coast, while Beijing looks warily at Obama's efforts to expand US influence in Asia, viewing it as an attempt to contain China's rise.

Obama, in a CNN interview, said he'd told China's leaders repeatedly that with more global power comes more responsibility.

"Part of what I've tried to communicate to President Xi is that the United States arrives at its power, in part, by restraining itself," Obama said. "When we bind ourselves to a bunch of international norms and rules, it's not because we have to, it's because we recognize that over the long term, building a strong international order is in our interests."

Of China's artificial island-building in the South China Sea, Obama added: "We've indicated to them that there will be consequences."

Though Obama had early hopes for forming a close personal and professional relationship with Xi, who took office in 2013, many in Washington have been surprised by the Chinese leader's nationalist inclinations as president. The two countries have made little progress reconciling their differences over human rights and Chinese cyber spying, issues the White House said Obama planned to raise.

As for its commitments to the climate deal, the US pledged to cut its emissions 26 percent to 28 percent over the next 15 years, compared to 2005 levels. China vowed that its emissions, which are still growing, will top out by 2030.

Before the deal takes effect, 55 countries representing 55 percent of the world's emissions must formally join. Entrance by the US and China will get the deal to about 40 percent of emissions. Fewer than half of the requisite 55 countries will have joined, but many others have signaled they plan to join in 2016, and the White House has been hopeful the deal can take force before year's end.

During three days in China, Obama will also attend an economic-focused gathering of G-20 leaders and hold his first meeting with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan since a failed coup attempt against his government this summer.

Obama also will meet with Britain's new prime minister, Theresa May. Then the president travels to Laos for the first visit by a sitting president. Obama plans a major speech on his Asia policy and a meeting with the new Phillipine leader while in Laos.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Prime Minister of Socialist Republic of Vietnam Nguyen Xuan Phuc at the joint media briefing in Hanoi, Vietnam, on Saturday. (Photo: PIB)

Hanoi: India on Saturday extended a USD 500 million line of credit to Vietnam to deepen their defence cooperation and signed 12 agreements including a deal to construct offshore patrol boats, amid China's muscle flexing in the disputed South China Sea and "emerging regional challenges".

Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who held wide-ranging talks with his Vietnamese counterpart Nguyen Xuan Phuc in Hanoi, said the two countries have decided to elevate their strategic ties to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership to provide it a new momentum.

"Our decision to upgrade our Strategic Partnership to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership captures the intent and path of our future cooperation. It will provide a new direction, momentum and substance to our bilateral cooperation," said Modi, who arrived in Hanoi on Friday on his maiden visit to this key south east Asian nation.

Vietnam had earlier Comprehensive Strategic Partnership only with Russia and China.

"I am also happy to announce a new Defence Line of Credit for Vietnam of USD 500 million for facilitating deeper defence cooperation," Modi said after the signing of the agreements.

The 12 agreements were signed in a wide range of areas covering defence, IT, space, cyber security and sharing white shipping information in presence of Modi and Phuc.

"The range of agreements signed just a while ago point to the diversity and depth of our cooperation," he said, adding the agreement on construction of offshore patrol boats is one of the steps to give concrete shape to the bilateral defence engagement.

Modi described his talks with Vietnamese counterpart as "extensive and very productive" and said they covered the full range of bilateral and multilateral cooperation.

"We have agreed to scale up and strengthen our bilateral engagement. As two important countries in this region, we also feel it necessary to further our ties on regional and international issues of common concern," said Modi, who is in Hanoi on a day-long visit.

"We also recognised the need to cooperate in responding to emerging regional challenges," the Prime Minister said, without naming any country.

China is involved in a raging dispute with the Philippines, Vietnam, Taiwan, Malaysia and Brunei over ownership of territory in the South China Sea (SCS), a busy waterway through which India's 50 per cent trade passes.

China has also objected in the past to India's Oil and Natural Gas Commission (ONGC) undertaking exploration at the invitation of Vietnam in the SCS, which is believed to be rich in undersea deposits of oil and gas.

India and the US have been calling for freedom of passage in the international waters, much to the discomfort to Beijing, whose claim over SCS was recently struck down by an international tribunal in favour of the Philippines.

"Our common efforts will also contribute to stability, security and prosperity in this region," Modi said.

Vietnam has shown a keen interest cooperating with India in air and defense production. India's L&T will build offshore high speed patrol boats for Vietnamese Coast Guards, while apact was signed on cooperation in UN peacekeeping matters. Indian Navy and Vietnam Navy will cooperate in sharing of white shipping information.

Modi said as the two important countries in this region, India and Vietnam feel it necessary to further their ties on regional and international issues of common concern.

The Prime Minister also announced a grant of USD 5 million for the establishment of a Software Park in the Telecommunications University in Nha Trang.

"We agreed to tap into the growing economic opportunities in the region," said Modi, the first Indian premier to visit the Communist country in 15 years.

Noting that enhancing bilateral commercial engagement is the strategic objective of the two nations, he said, "For this, new trade and business opportunities will be tapped to achieve the trade target of USD 15 billion by 2020."

Besides seeking facilitation of ongoing Indian projects and investments in Vietnam, Prime Minister Modi said he has invited Vietnamese companies to take advantage of the various schemes and flagship programmes of the Indian government.

"As Vietnam seeks to empower and enrich its people, modernise its agriculture; encourage entrepreneurship and innovation; strengthen its science and technology base; create new institutional capacities for faster economic development;

and take steps to build a modern nation, India and its 1.25 billion people stand ready to be Vietnam's partner and a friend in this journey," Modi said.

Speaking about the framework agreement on Space Cooperation, he said it would allow Vietnam to join hands with Indian Space Research Organisation to meet its national development objectives.

Hoping for an early establishment and opening of the Indian Cultural Centre in Hanoi, he said, "The Archaeological Survey of India could soon start the conservation and restoration work of the Cham monuments at My Son in Vietnam."

He also thanked Vietnam's leadership in facilitating inscription of Nalanda Mahavihara as a UNESCO World Heritage site earlier this year.

India and Vietnam also signed an agreement on celebrating 2017 as 'The Year Of Friendship'.

Noting that ASEAN is important to India in terms of historical links, geographical proximity, cultural ties and the strategic space that the two sides share, he said, "It is central to our 'Act East' policy. Under Vietnam's leadership as ASEAN Coordinator for India, we will work towards a strengthened India-ASEAN partnership across all areas."

Modi also expressed the need to "stay focussed to keep up the momentum" in bilateral ties and invited the Vietnamese leadership to India.

Modi also expressed the need to "stay focussed to keep up the momentum" in bilateral ties and invited the Vietnamese leadership to India.
Hanoi: India and Vietnam on Saturday called for are form of the UN and an expansion of the Security Council in both the permanent and non-permanent categories of membership, with enhanced representation from developing countries.

The two nations stressed on the need for reform of the UN Security Council in a joint statement issued after Prime Minister Narendra Modi held wide-ranging talks with his Vietnamese counterpart Nguyen Xuan Phuc in Hanoi.

"Both Vietnam and India stressed the need for reform of the United Nations and expansion of the UN Security Council in both the permanent and the non-permanent categories of membership, with enhanced representation from developing countries," the joint statement said.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed gratitude for Vietnam's consistent support to India's candidature for permanent membership of a reformed and expanded UNSC.

"The Prime Ministers reaffirmed support for each other's candidature for non-permanent membership of the UNSC, Vietnam for the term 2020-21 and India for the term 2021-22. Both sides expressed satisfaction at the conclusion of the Programme of Cooperation in UN Peacekeeping Matters," the statement said.

The Indian side expressed its commitment to capacity building and training to enable Vietnam's participation in UN peacekeeping operations, it said.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his Vietnamese counterpart Nguyen Xuan Phuc at a joint media briefing in Hanoi, Vietnam. (Photo: Twitter)

Hanoi: India and Vietnam signed 12 agreements on Saturday in a wide range of areas covering defence, IT, space, double taxation and sharing white shipping information, signalling a strong upward push in their strategic ties.

The agreements were signed by officials of the two sides in presence of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his Vietnamese counterpart Nguyen Xuan Phuc here.

"12 for togetherness! India & Vietnam sign a dozen agreements for further strengthening the Strategic Partnership," External Affairs Ministry Spokesperson Vikas Swarup tweeted.

Vietnam has shown a keen interest in air and defence production. India's L&T will build offshore high speed patrol boats for Vietnamese Coast Guards, while an agreement was signed on programme of cooperation in UN peacekeeping matters.

Indian Navy and Vietnam Navy will cooperate in sharing of white shipping information.

The pacts included agreement on exploration and uses of outerspace for peaceful purposes, agreement on avoidance of double taxation, health cooperation, IT cooperation, cyber security and agreement on contract and design, building of boat in India, equipment supply and technology transfer.

In addition, MoU between Vietnamese Academy of Social Science and Indian Council of World Affairs, MoU between BIS and STAMEQ for mutual recognition of standards, agreement on setting up of sustainable IT Infra for advanced IT training and protocol between Vietnam and India on celebrating 2017 as 'The Year Of Friendship' were also signed.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi will join United States President Barack Obama, Chinese President Xi Jinping along with other top world leaders to discuss global efforts needed to boost economic growth and trade. (Photo: AP)

Hangzhou: Global economic slowdown, raising protectionism, structural reforms to expand global trade and creation of jobs, innovation, inclusive growth and climate finance are the key topics to be discussed at the two-day G20 summit starting in this picturesque Chinese city on Sunday.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will join United States President Barack Obama, Chinese President Xi Jinping along with other top world leaders to discuss global efforts needed to boost economic growth and trade.

"India will engage constructively on all the issues before us and work towards finding solutions and taking forward the agenda for a robust, inclusive and sustainable international economic order that uplifts the socio-economic conditions of people across the world, especially those who need it most in developing countries," Modi has said in his tweet on the G20 summit.

Modi, who is in Vietnam on a maiden visit, will arrive on Saturday night to attend the summit.

Ahead of the G20 summit, leaders of BRICS (Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa) will meet to finalise their strategy for highlighting issues exercising emerging economies.

Heads of the five countries will also be meeting in Goa next month during the BRICS summit to work more coordinated strategy in the face of global economic slowdown and to counter protectionist measures.

Despite the political differences, emerging economies  India and China  are trying to work out closer cooperation to oppose protectionism from the developed countries, increasing globalisation and expansion of global trade through structural reforms to create more jobs for their massive populations.

"I see a very good opportunity for a coordinated action between India and China," Secretary Economic Affairs Shaktikanta Das told his Chinese counterpart Vice Minister for Finance Shi Yaobin during the last month's India-China Finance Dialogue.

"It is very important to point out that the idea of inclusiveness has been retained and has been given greater focus in G20 agenda under Chinese Presidency," he said. "Very rightly and in a timely manner, the Chinese Presidency is also giving importance to new industrial revolution on innovation as main drivers of economic growth in the current century," said Das, who took part in several G20 meetings.

While the Chinese security agencies mounted a massive security operation including heavy scrutiny of the guests in top hotels, the majority of the city's over nine million population either left for holidays out of the city or stayed indoors reportedly on instructions to ensure a smooth summit.

In many parts of the city, only the authorised G20 vehicles were seen plying on the well laid out roads besides few other vehicles.
The ministry said local transmission was highly likely because the man had no recent history of travelling outside Malaysia. (Representational Image)

Kuala Lumpur: Malaysia reported its first locally transmitted Zika case on Saturday, a 61-year-old man who has died of heart-related complications, the government said.

The patient was a resident of the eastern Malaysian state of Sabah, the Ministry of Health said, and already was in fragile health due to heart problems, high blood pressure and other maladies.

But the case, coming two days after authorities reported the country's first case of Zika, is likely to add to fears of a full-blown outbreak of the mosquito-borne virus in the tropical nation.

The ministry said local transmission was highly likely because the man had no recent history of travelling outside Malaysia.

Ministry Director-general Noor Hisham Abdullah told state news agency Bernama his prior health problems were the cause of death on Saturday afternoon, but that the results of a full investigation were pending.

On Thursday, Malaysia reported the first Zika case on its soil -- a 58-year-old woman who is believed to have contracted it on a visit to neighbouring Singapore, where 150 cases have been confirmed.

A study published Friday in The Lancet Infectious Diseases journal said at least 2.6 billion people could be at risk from the virus in mosquito-ridden parts of Africa, Asia and the Pacific.

Zika, which is spread mainly by the Aedes mosquito, has been detected in 67 countries and territories including hard-hit Brazil.

It causes only mild symptoms for most people such as fever and a rash, but infected pregnant women can give birth to babies with microcephaly, a deformation marked by abnormally small brains and heads.

Malaysia already has struggled in recent years to control the spread of Aedes-borne dengue fever.

It has been bracing for Zika after Singapore reported a surge in cases beginning a week ago.

Malaysia has stepped up screening of travellers from abroad, particularly Singapore, and fogging with mosquito-killing chemicals while urging the public to eliminate mosquito breeding sites such as stagnant water.
The first leg of his 2-nation tour saw India extending a USD 500 million line of credit to Vietnam to deepen their defence cooperation, amid China's claims in the disputed South China Sea.

Hanoi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday left Vietnam for China to attend the G20 summit beginning Sunday after wrapping up his two-day maiden visit to the country that witnessed the signing of 12 agreements.

"A packed day of diplomacy in Vietnam ends as PM @narendramodi emplanes for Hangzhou to attend G20 Summit," External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Vikas Swarup tweeted along with a photo showing a red carpet goodbye for Modi.

The first leg of his 2-nation tour saw India extending a USD 500 million line of credit to Vietnam to deepen their defence cooperation, amid China's claims in the disputed South China Sea.

Bilateral ties were also upgraded to Comprehensive Strategic Partnership besides inking of 12 agreements including in defence, trade and sharing white shipping information. Vietnam currently has Comprehensive Strategic Partnership only with Russia and China.

"I thank the people and government of Vietnam for the very good hospitality during my visit," Modi said. "Thank you Vietnam. I will remember this visit as a memorable and productive one, that laid the ground for even better India-Vietnam ties," he said in another tweet.

The Prime Minister's final engagement during the visit was a call on Nguyen Phu Trong, General Secretary of the Communist Party.

The two-day G20 summit beginning tomorrow in China's picturesque city of Hangzhou will see Modi join US President Barack Obama, Chinese President Xi Jinping along with other top world leaders to discuss global efforts needed to boost economic growth and trade.
BEIJING, Sept.3 -- Chinese Vice Premier Zhang Gaoli, as special envoy of Chinese President Xi Jinping, will attend the funeral of late Uzbek President Islam Karimov on Saturday.

Zhang was at the invitation of the Uzbek side, said Foreign Ministry spokesperson Hua Chunying here on Saturday.

Karimov, who had served as president of the newly independent republic since 1991, suffered a brain hemorrhage on Aug. 27.

His funeral will be held on Saturday in the historic town of Samarkand, where he was born, a government statement said, adding that a three-day period of mourning would start on the same day.
Philippine police officers look at dead victims after an explosion at a night market that has left about 10 people dead and wounded several others in southern Davao city. (Photo: AP)

Davao: Philippine authorities on Saturday blamed a notorious group of Islamic militants for the bombing of a night market in President Rodrigo Duterte's home town that killed at least 14 people.

An improvised explosive device tore through the bustling market in the heart of Davao city and close to one of its top hotels just before 11:00pm (1500 GMT) on Friday.

Authorities said the Abu Sayyaf, a small band of militants that has declared allegiance to the Islamic State group, most likely carried out the attack in response to a military offensive launched against it last week.

"The office of the president texted and confirmed that was an Abu Sayyaf retaliation. For the city government side, we are working on that it is an Abu Sayyaf retaliation," Davao mayor Sara Duterte, who is also the president's daughter, told CNN Philippines.

National Defence Secretary Delfin Lorenzana said the Abu Sayyaf had struck back after suffering heavy casualties on its stronghold of Jolo island about 900 kilometres (550 miles) from Davao.

"We have predicted this and warned our troops accordingly but the enemy is also adept at using the democratic space granted by our constitution to move around freely and unimpeded to sow terror," Lorenzana said in a statement.

Duterte, who was in Davao at the time of the attack but not near the market, told reporters before dawn on Saturday that it was an act of terrorism, as he announced extra powers for the military.

At least 14 people were killed and another 67 were wounded in the explosion, police said. Sixteen of the injured were in critical condition, a local hospital director told reporters.

"The force just hurled me. I practically flew in the air," Adrian Abilanosa told AFP shortly after the attack as bodies lay strewn amid broken plastic tables and chairs.

Davao is the biggest city in the southern Philippines, with a population of about two million people. It is about 1,500 kilometres from the capital of Manila.

The city is part of the southern region of Mindanao, where Islamic militants have waged a decades-long separatist insurgency that has claimed more than 120,000 lives.

Duterte had been mayor of Davao for most of the past two decades, before winning national elections in a landslide this year and being sworn in as president on June 30.

Duterte became well known for bringing relative peace and order to Davao with hardline security policies, while also brokering deals with local Muslim and communist rebels.

Duterte has in recent weeks pursued peace talks with the two main Muslim rebel groups, which each has thousands of armed followers. Their leaders have said they want to broker a lasting peace.

'Destroy' Abu Sayyaf

However the Abu Sayyaf, a much smaller and hardline group infamous for kidnapping foreigners to extract ransoms, has rejected Duterte's peace overtures.

In response, Duterte deployed thousands of troops onto the small and remote island of Jolo to "destroy" the group.

The military reported 15 soldiers died in clashes on Monday, but also claimed killing dozens of Abu Sayyaf gunmen.

On Saturday morning, Duterte declared a national "state of lawlessness", which his security adviser said gave the military extra powers to conduct law enforcement operations normally done only by the police.

While Davao has been regarded as relatively safe compared with other parts of Mindanao, the Abu Sayyaf and other Islamic militant groups have carried out deadly attacks there in the past.

In 2003, two bomb attacks blamed on Muslim rebels at Davao's airport and the city's port within a month of each other killed about 40 people.

Before his daughter and defence secretary blamed the Abu Sayyaf, Duterte also raised the possibility of drug lords carrying out the attack as a way of fighting back against his war on crime.

Duterte has made eradicating illegal drugs the top priority of the beginning of his presidency.

Security forces have conducted raids in communities throughout the country to arrest or kill drug traffickers.

More than 2,000 people have died in the war on crime, drawing widespread international condemnation over an apparent wave of extrajudicial killings.
Former teacher Linda Burney made history in July when she was voted into the House of Representatives. (Photo: AFP)

Sydney: Wearing a cloak decorated with the goanna lizard, the first Aboriginal woman elected to Australia's lower house took her seat in parliament this week, saying that as a child she was a "non-citizen".

Former teacher Linda Burney made history in July when she was voted into the House of Representatives, joining only a handful of other indigenous lawmakers in Australia's national parliament.

In her maiden speech, she said that her kangaroo skin cloak "tells my story", as another Wiradjuri woman sang to her in traditional language from the public gallery.

"It charts my life, on it is my clan totem the goanna and my personal totem the white cockatoo," she told parliament on Wednesday.

Burney said she would bring the "fighting Wiradjuri spirit" to the capital in Canberra, as she described how far she had come from her childhood in New South Wales.

"I was born at a time when the Australian government knew how many sheep there were but not how many Aboriginal people," Burney, a former New South Wales state government minister, said.

"I was 10 years old before the '67 referendum fixed that. The first decade of my life was spent as a non-citizen," the 59-year-old lawmaker added.

The 1967 referendum changed Australia's constitution to allow Aboriginal people to be counted in the national census.

But indigenous Australians still suffer disproportionate levels of disadvantage and imprisonment and have a much lower life expectancy.

They are also dealing with the legacy of policies under which indigenous children were taken from their mothers to be raised by white families or in institutions.

Burney, who is with the opposition Labor Party, joins the ruling conservative Liberal Party's first Aboriginal MP, Ken Wyatt, who was elected in 2010, and follows in the footsteps of former senator and Olympian Nova Peris, who was the first indigenous woman in the upper house.

"The Aboriginal part of my story is important, it is the core of who I am. But I will not be stereotyped and I will not be pigeon-holed," Burney said.
The alert, which caused so much flutter, pertained to a police raid in Mirpur on a militant hideout, killing one. (Photo: Screen grab)

London: The BBC, on Friday, was forced into crisis control mode to reassure freaked out Britons, after an alert in Bengali set off alarm bells, making many wonder if the organisation was hacked by the ISIS.

According to reports, subscribers to BBCs alert services received an alert in Bengali after a technical error linked a report from its Bengali service.

The alert, which caused so much flutter, pertained to a police raid in Mirpur on a militant hideout, killing one.

But all hell broke loose when puzzled users, unable to comprehend the message, jumped to conclusions, taking to Twitter, wondering if BBC has been taken over by ISIS hackers.

Just got a BBC news flash on my phone. In Arabic. I'm in Oxfordshire. Has IS grabbed control or something??, one user wrote, while many others expressed similar wonder.

To put matters to rest, the organisation was forced to come out with a tweet, clarifying the incident.

Apologies to anyone who received a @bbcbreaking alert from our Bengali service. Don't worry, we weren't hacked, the organisation tweeted.

Pointing out the 'western ignorance', one user wrote, "One BBC news article in BENGALI and the internet freaks out about ISIS. Western ignorance exmeplified."
In the video, five hostages are shown dressed in familiar orange jumpsuits seen in previous ISIS propaganda videos. (Photo: YouTube Screengrab)

London: Speaking up for the first time, grandparents of 11-year-old Joe Dixon, who was seen killing Kurdish rebels in an ISIS video, claimed that he was kind and loving before he was taken to Syria by his mother Sally Jones, and did not know how he had changed.

Images of Joe, complete in camouflage, and shooting Kurdish rebels in the back of the head, sent Britain to a frenzy last week.

Joe was taken to ISIS-controlled territory in Syria late in 2013 by his mother Sally Jones, commonly known as Mrs Terror and White Widow.

Speaking to Daily Mail under condition of anonymity, friends of the family revealed the distraught situation they were in.

"I felt sick to the stomach, his grandmother reportedly said after watching the images, and added, If there is a God, why cant he stop it?

Joe, who spent most of his weekends with his grandparents, had an inquisitive mind, acquaintances said, and added that spent much of his time with his pet rabbit, cat and his dog Rizzy.

The child felt closer to this grandparents than his mother, the report claimed and added that he was worried about his mothers plan to travel to Syria in the run up to his travel.

"He was having difficulty sleeping. His grandmother discovered that the thing that was worrying him was that his mother was planning a trip, the acquaintance said.

Joe is the second child of Sally Jones. Her first son, born out of her on-and-off relation with one Jonathan Wilkinson, was 18 when she planned the move to Syria, but he refused to accompany her and chose to live with his fathers relatives.

Sally, who was born Catholic, converted to Islam a few years ago. She met 19-year-old jihadi Junaid Hussain through an online dating portal. The duo soon hit it off. As Junaid skipped bail and fled to Syria in 2013, Sally followed suit, with her son. She informed everyone that she was going for a vacation to Turkey, but crossed over from Turkey to Idlib in North West Syria.

Junaid and Sally, accompanied by Joe went to Raqqa, ISIS de-facto capital, where Junaid was later killed in an air strike. Meanwhile, Sally earned herself notoriety for spewing anti-West venom online and recruiting young Brtions.

She is later believed to have shifted from Raqqa to Mosul, where Joe is believed to be held.

Joe, who was in Raqqa with Sally and Junaid, called his grandparents only once, but was monitored during the conversation. She (the grandmother) had so much she wanted to ask him but she could hear the boy was being cautioned by his mother in the background. He must have looked around to her for permission to answer the questions his grandmother was putting to him because she could hear Sallys voice going 'no' to many of them, reports said.

Earlier in May this year, Sally had also posted an image of herself in a black burqa by the Tigris river, saying Enjoying a beautiful summer with my son.

But while Sally transforms her son into an ISIS foot soldier, Joes grandparents back in England are distraught and have lost all hope of seeing their grandson ever again.

"There can be no doubt now that the grandchild they doted on no longer exists. He is gone for ever, transformed beyond recognition by his evil mother and her ISIS cohorts, family friends said.
A portrait of Mother Teresa is carried in during a vigil of prayer in preparation for the canonization of Mother Teresa in the St. John in Latheran Basilica at the Vatican. (Photo: AP)

Rome: As the Roman Catholic Church prepares to declare Mother Teresa of Kolkata officially a saint, the man she is believed to have miraculously intervened to rescue from the brink of death says he does not think she chose him specifically.

Mother Teresa, a Nobel Peace Prize winner affectionately known during her lifetime as the "saint of the gutters" for her work among the poor and who died in 1997, is due to be officially canonised by Pope Francis on Sunday at a ceremony likely to bring more than 100,000 people to St. Peter's Square.

The Church opened the way for Mother Teresa's canonisation last year after declaring the recovery of Brazilian Marcilio Haddad Andrino from a life-threatening brain infection a miracle.

Andrino, who is 43 and lives in Rio de Janeiro, told a news conference at the Vatican on Friday he felt very grateful but thought anybody else could equally have benefited from her intervention.

"If it hadn't happened to me maybe there would be someone else tomorrow. She did not distinguish. I don't feel special," said Andrino, who was due to attend Sunday's ceremony with his wife Fernanda will attend Sunday's canonisation ceremony.

When Andrino was afflicted by brain abscesses and hydrocephalus from which doctors feared he would not recover in 2008, the couple prayed to Mother Teresa, who became famous for her work in the Kolkata slums.

He said his condition deteriorated to the point that he struggled to walk down the aisle at his wedding in September 2008 and by early December he was unconscious in hospital.

Andrino was scheduled for brain surgery, but when he suddenly awoke shortly before the allocated surgery time without the headache that had been tormenting him, the doctor told him the intervention would not be necessary.

"I was able to spend Christmas with my family and six months later I went back to work with no problems," Andrino said, adding that he and Fernanda later surprised the medics by having two children.

Fast track

The Roman Catholic Church has more than 10,000 saints, many of whom were not elevated until centuries after their deaths.

The case for canonisation is usually initiated five years after the candidate's death, but Pope John Paul II waived this for Teresa, putting her on a fast track to sainthood.

In 2002, the Vatican ruled that prayers to Mother Teresa had brought about an Indian woman's miraculous cure from stomach cancer, providing the first of the two miracles Catholic doctrine requires before conferring sainthood.

Born Agnese Gonxha Bojaxhiu of Albanian parents in 1910 in what is now Macedonia, she became a nun aged 16 and moved to India in 1929, creating her first mission in 1950.

Catholics revered Mother Teresa for bringing relief to the sick and dying through chapters of her Missionaries of Charity (MoC) order, whose sisters wear distinctive blue-trimmed white robes, established around the world.

However, critics say she did little to alleviate the pain of the terminally ill and nothing to tackle the root causes of poverty.

She was also accused of trying to convert the destitute in predominantly Hindu India to Christianity, a charge her order has repeatedly denied.
Rome: A French satirical weeklys cartoon depicting victims of last weeks earthquake in Italy under layers of lasagna has angered some in the country.

Amatrice is home of spaghetti allamatriciana, a dish with ingredients including tomato sauce, and guanciale ham. The image shows an injured man and a woman standing next to a pile of rubble from which feet can be seen.

The bandaged man is shown under the words penne tomato sauce, a woman with burns is depicted as penne gratin, and bodies lying beneath layers of rubble as lasagne all beneath the heading Earthquake Italian style, the BBC reported.

The Italian news agency ANSA quoted the mayor of Amatrice, the hardest-hit town where more than 230 bodies were found after the Aug. 24 quake, as calling the cartoon in Charlie Hebdo magazine tasteless and embarrassing.

Mayor Sergio Pirozzi said on Saturday that while he welcomes irony, it shouldnt come at the expense of the dead. He added that he is sure the cartoon doesnt reflect the true feelings of the French people.

In 2015 the magazine had published a controversial cartoon of the young Syrian refugee Alan Kurdi who drowned while fleeing Syria. It also posted controversial sketches of the Prophet Muhammad.

The magazine, however, is seen as a beacon for free speech. Many of its defenders use the hashtag #JeSuisCharlie to defend the publication and its articles particularly following the attack on its offices in 2015.

However, the latest cartoon has not gone down very well even with the magazines supporters.
London: An 8-year-old girl in Uganda has been arrested for committing lesbianism, the Independent reported on Saturday. It said the girl is understood to be in police custody after her neighbour reported her to the police for engaging in romantic relationships with other girls.

The Gay Star News said Catherine Wobuyaga, officer at Jinja Police Child Family Protection unit, in the eastern region, confirmed the girl had been arrested, reports.

A neighbour spotted the luring other girls to a nearby farm. There she enacted various sex acts with her fingers, the neighbour alleged. The girl is a minor and cannot be named for legal reasons.

Same-sex sexual acts are illegal in Uganda, which has some of the most restrictive anti-LGBT laws in the world.

Meanwhile, international human rights activists condemned the alleged arrest. Victor Odero, Amnesty Internationals East Africa Campaigner told The Independent: The girl should be immediately and unconditionally released if she is still in detention. What she needs is protection and respect for her privacy, rather than being treated as a criminal. The states responsibility here is to protect the childs welfare, not to arrest her.

The penal code criminalising same-sex acts in Uganda dates back to laws passed under British colonial rule. In February 2014, the laws were extended further so that promoting homosexuality or knowing someone had committed a homosexual act and failing to report it to the police is also a criminal offence.
The campaign was promoted by Human Rights Watch (HRW) who is calling for the abolishment of male guardianship practice. (Photo: AFP)

Riyadh: Women Saudi Arabia are prohibited by law from making major life decisions without permission from their male guardians. But some of them have now joined a social media campaign on Twitter to put an end to this outdated practice.

Using with the hashtag #TogetherToEndMaleGuardianship, women across the country have taken to Twitter to express their opinions about the topic and are demanding social reform.

Currently, the law in Saudi Arabia prohibits women from travelling abroad, getting married without consent or even getting employment.

Here are some of the tweets that followed the trending hashtag as the first step to putting an end to male guardianship:

The campaign was promoted by Human Rights Watch (HRW) which is calling for the abolishment of male guardianship laws. The male guardianship system is the most significant impediment to realising womens rights in the country, effectively rendering adult women legal minors who cannot make key decisions for themselves, HRW said in one of its reports.
Samia Shahid, 28, was found dead on July 20 at her parents' house in Mangla area of Jhelum district in Punjab province. (Photo: Youtube grab)

Islamabad: The father and ex-husband of a Pakistani-origin British woman were on Saturday charged with her murder in Pakistan in an apparent case of "honour killing" in Islamabad.

The former husband of 28-year-old Samia Shahid was also charged with raping her before strangling her to death. Shahid, a resident of Dhok Pandori village, some 230 km from Lahore, had come to Pakistan from Dubai in mid July to see her ailing father and was found dead on July 20. Her father claimed that she died due to cardiac arrest.

The murder would have gone unnoticed but British MP Naz Shah in a letter alerted Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif that it could be a case of honour killing following which Shahid's father Muhammad Shahid and ex-husband Muhammad Shakil were arrested.

The two are in police custody where according to police, Shakil had confessed killing his former wife.

The police has charged Shahid and Shakil with Samia's murder. An autopsy report showed that she was raped before her murder.

Police is also trying to bring back Samia's sister and mother who fled to the UK after the murder.

A high-level inquiry headed by Deputy Inspector General (DIG) Abu Bakar Khuda Bakhsh concluded that she was murdered. The DIG also asked for action against Station House Officer (SHO) Aqeel Abbas for professional negligence.

A police official said that following the official procedure, a case was registered against Abbas yesterday and he was arrested and locked up in Mangal police station.

Police sources said that Shakil, who is also Samia's cousin, confessed strangling her to death as she married another man of her choice.

Syed Mukhtar Kazim, second husband of Samia, had told police that his wife had been killed by her family members for marrying against the will of her parents.

Kazim and Samia, both British-Pakistani dual citizens, had been married for two years and were living in Dubai.

A beauty therapist from Bradford, Samia had previously been married to her first cousin Shakil but the couple parted ways after divorce in May 2014. She then married Kazim.
Samia Shahid, 28, was found dead on July 20 at her parents' house in Mangla area of Jhelum district in Punjab province. (Photo: Youtube grab)

Lahore: In a shocking revelation, the Punjab police has disclosed that the 28-year-old British beautician who was allegedly killed by her ex-husband in an honour killing bid in Pakistan, was raped before she was strangled to death.

According to reports in Daily Mail, Samia Shahi, who was visiting her relatives in Punjab, was strangled by her first husband using a scarf.

Samias father Mohammad Shahid was also one of the prime suspects in the case.

Read: Pak honour killing: Police officer arrested for delinquency in Samia Shahid case

He initially claimed that she died of cardiac arrest in her sleep, and later changed his statement to claim that she had committed suicide

The police started a probe on the case after Samias husband, Syed Mukhtar Kazam, alleged that she was lured to Pakistan with false claims that her father was ill, and was murdered in her bed for marrying outside her sect. During the initial probe, Samias former husband Mohammad Shakeel confessed to the police that he strangled her with a scarf for marrying a man from the Shia community.

The police are also attempting to have her mother and sister for further questioning.

Samia, was found dead on July 20 at her parents' house in Mangla area of Jhelum district in Punjab province, and was buried in a hasty ceremony.

A beauty therapist from Bradford, Samia had previously been married to her first cousin Shakil but the couple parted ways after divorce in May 2014. She then married Kazim of Taxila in September 2014 and both started living in Dubai.

Kazim and Samia, both British-Pakistani dual citizens, had been married for two years and were living in Dubai.

Her murder came over a week after social media celebrity Qandeel Baloch was strangled by her brother "for disgracing" family honour which caused international uproar forcing the Pakistani government to announce the introduction of strict legislation against those involved in honour killings.
MANILA, Sept. 3 -- Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte declared Saturday "state of lawlessness" in southern island of Mindanao following a deadly attack allegedly perpetrated by the Abu Sayyaf Group in Davao City.

In an interview with reporters, Duterte said his declaration of state of lawlessness "would require nationwide, well-coordinated efforts of the military and the police."

He clarified that it is not a declaration of martial law.

"I have this duty to protect the country. I have this duty to keep intact the integrity of the nation," the president said.

Death toll from the explosion reached 14, while over 70 were injured.

In a separate statement, Presidential Spokesperson Ernesto Abella said the president's declaration of a state of lawlessness is rooted in Article VII Section 18 of the Constitution.

The declaration is limited such that he can only call out the armed forces to suppress the lawless violence, Abella said, adding that there was no suspension of the writ of habeas corpus.

"It is a different case from the existence of invasion or rebellion. Only if there is invasion or rebellion, and when public safety requires it, can he suspend the writ of habeas corpus or declare martial law," he explained.

According to Interior and Local Government Secretary Mike Sueno, the Abu Sayyaf Group has claimed responsibility for the attack at the Davao night market late Friday night.

Duterte came from Davao City and his daughter and son are the mayor and vice-mayor, respectively, of the city.

Prior to the attack, the military has been conducting intensified operation against the bandits in southern province of Sulu after they beheaded a Filipino hostage.

Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana said he has directed all commands of the Armed Forces of the Philippines "to be on high alert especially in urban centers for possible other terroristic act attempts by this group."

The Eastern Command in Davao city has been directed to assist the Philippine National Police in maintaining peace and order in Davao City and in the apprehension of the perpetrators, he said.

"They will also aid in gathering intelligence information and in conducting investigations to get to the bottom of this unfortunate incident," he added.
Police said all preparations have been made to execute Ali, who is imprisoned at the Kashimpur high security jail in Gazipur, some 40 kilometres (25 miles) north of Dhaka. (Representational Image)

Dhaka: Bangladesh was set to execute a wealthy tycoon and top financial backer of its largest Islamist party late Saturday, as his family paid him a final visit.

Mir Quasem Ali, a key leader of the Jamaat-e-Islami party, faces the gallows after being convicted by a controversial war crimes tribunal for offences committed during the 1971 independence conflict with Pakistan.

Police said all preparations have been made to execute Ali, who is imprisoned at the Kashimpur high security jail in Gazipur, some 40 kilometres (25 miles) north of Dhaka.

"It (the hanging) is likely to take place tonight," Gazipur district police chief Harun-or-Rashid said.

After the Supreme Court rejected his final appeal against the penalty on Tuesday, Ali declined to seek a presidential pardon, which would require an admission of guilt, paving the way for his execution.

Two other police officials speaking on condition of anonymity said that the execution would occur between 10:00 pm Bangladesh time (1600 GMT) and midnight.

Prosecutors said Ali was a key commander of the notorious pro-Pakistan militia in the southern port city of Chittagong during the 1971 war, and later became a shipping and real estate tycoon.

Russel Sheikh, a senior Gazipur police official, told AFP that officials have taken "highest security measures" ahead of the planned execution for fear of violence by his Islamist supporters.

"More than 1,000 police have been deployed in the district," Sheikh said.

Hundreds of paramilitary border guards were also deployed outside the prison and in the capital Dhaka, a director of the Border Guard Bangladesh told AFP.

Past convictions and executions of high-profile Jamaat leaders have triggered violence in Bangladesh, which is polarised along political lines.

"All along he said he was innocent. He said he is being killed unjustifiably," said Tahera Tasnim, one of Ali's daughters after 23 members of his family went to meet him in the jail.

"He said this repressive government is killing them (Islamist leaders) to stop Islam being established in the society and the country," Tasnim told AFP.

The Supreme Court's decision to reject Ali's appeal was a major blow for the Jamaat-e-Islami party, which the 63-year-old tycoon had helped to revive in recent decades.

Five opposition leaders including four leading Islamists have been executed for war crimes since 2013. Ali is the last prominent Islamist leader to face execution.

The war crimes tribunal set up by the government has divided the country, with supporters of Jamaat and the main opposition Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) branding it a sham aimed at eliminating their leaders.

Ali was convicted in November 2014 of a series of crimes during Bangladesh's war of separation from Pakistan, including the abduction and murder of a young independence fighter.

His son Mir Ahmed Bin Quasem, who was part of his legal defence team, was allegedly abducted by security forces earlier in August, which critics say was an attempt to sow fear and prevent protests against the imminent execution.

The Islamist party, which is banned from contesting elections has labelled the charges against Ali "false" and accuses the government of exacting "political vengeance".
Prime Minister Narendra Modi waves while emplaning for Hangzhou in China to attend G20 Summit, from Noi Bai International Airport, Hanoi, Vietnam on Saturday. (Photo: PTI)

Hangzhou: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday flew into Hangzhou for the crucial G20 summit and talks with top world leaders, including one with Chinese President Xi Jinping on irritants in bilateral ties like India's NSG bid and the CPEC, which runs through PoK. Modi, who reached here after a two-day maiden visit to Hanoi, begins his programme on Sunday morning by holding talks with Xi, in their second meeting in less than three months.

The two leaders had last met on the sidelines of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Summit in June in Tashkent.

Sunday's meeting is viewed as important in the backdrop of steady decline in the bilateral relations over a raft of issues including the USD 46 billion China-Pakistan Economic Corridor which runs through Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK).

Read: India, Vietnam sign 12 pacts; Modi gives $500 mn credit line for defence

The two leaders, who enjoy a good rapport, would discuss contentious issues, which will also include listing of Pakistan-based terrorist organisations in the UN and China stalling India's membership at the elite Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG).

This would be followed by a meeting of the BRICS (Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa) leaders ahead of the G20 summit, which would begin later in the day.

Read: India, Vietnam sign 12 pacts; Modi gives $500 mn credit line for defence

Modi will also hold bilateral meetings with Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull and Saudi Arabia's Deputy Crown Prince Mohammad bin Salman.

He will attend the G20 summit that begins tomorrow with this year's theme of "Strengthening Policy coordination and Breaking a new path for growth" followed by a number of cultural programmes organised by the Chinese government.

On Monday, he will take part in the second and concluding session of the G20 and hold bilateral meetings with British Prime Minister Theresa May and Argentinian President Mauricio Macri before returning to Delhi.

In all, he would reside in this picturesque city for about 48 hours, officials said.

A meeting between Modi and US President Barack Obama is, however, not on the cards during this trip, they said.
Another accused Muhammad Intizar was declared proclaimed offender as he did not turn up before the court. (Representational Image)

Lahore: A court has cleared all the 46 people accused of attacking a church and houses of Christians in a neighbourhood near Lahore's Sanda police station over faulty investigation and prosecution.

Reports suggest that the mob had attacked the Christian neighbourhood after accusing one of the residents of blasphemy.

Anti-Terrorism Court Judge Aaqib Nazir, in his 17-page judgement, wrote that prosecution had failed to prove charges against the accused and ordered the release of Liaqat, one of the accused who had been in police custody, reports the Express Tribune.

Another accused Muhammad Intizar was declared proclaimed offender as he did not turn up before the court.

Twenty-one suspects were declared innocent while the rest were set free by the Court yesterday.

Nearly 800 people had broken the gate of Saint Joseph Church in Dhup Sari and ransacked the building. First Information Report under Sections 295, 295-A, 436, 452, 395, 353, 337-F1, 337-A1 and 148 of the Pakistan Penal Code (PPC) and sections of the Anti-Terrorism Act were registered against them on the complaint of a police official on May 24, 2015.

During the incident, DIG (Operations) Haider Ashraf and Millat Park SHO Naveed Akmal were injured.

The judge also noted that the police had committed serious blunders in the investigation, adding no one from the aggrieved community had appeared before the court.

Two Christian witnesses, who appeared before the court, vouched for the accused and denied their involvement in the incident.

Two prosecution witnesses Constable Mumtaz Hussain and Constable Arif Hussain were declared hostile by the prosecution.

Meanwhile, advocate Nadim Anthony, a council member of the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan, criticised the judgment and said it was the outcome of a faulty justice system.

"How a Christian can appear before Court when he has no protection? Christians and Ahmadis are the most vulnerable segments in our society and avoid recording statements against Muslims because they fear backlash," he said.
Former interior minister of Pakistan Rehman Malik has said India created an East Pakistan like situation in Balochistan by helping the separatists active in the region. (Photo: PTI)

Islamabad: India has created "an East Pakistan like situation" in Pakistan's restive southwestern province of Balochistan by helping the separatists active in the resource-rich tribal region, former interior minister Rehman Malik has alleged.

Rehman who was minister from 2008-13 in Asif Ali Zardari's Pakistan Peoples Party government told media that India was helping separatists in the province.

"I feel that an East Pakistan-like situation is being created in Balochistan as the role of Mukti Bahini is being played by India in collaboration with Afghanistan and duly backed by the West," he said.

Rehman said the role of India in the unrest in Balochistan "is not a hidden story," and the previous PPP government had taken up the issue of Balochistan with India.

"We had taken up the matter with former Indian home minister P Chidambaram and he had assured us that they would take notice of it, but later the five-year term of our government ended and we could not pursue the matter," he said.

He said during the tenure of the previous PPP government he had given a five-hour-long briefing to the Senate on Balochistan in which he had provided proof of separatist leader Brahmadagh Bugti's alleged links with Indian agencies.

He also referred to some speeches of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, especially those he delivered in Bangladesh and on the occasion of India's Independence Day, and said that Modi was fanning the flames of fire in Balochistan.

He urged Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif to take serious notice of conspiracies being hatched against Pakistan and take all necessary steps against elements behind them.

Rehman also criticised the US policies towards Pakistan and said that the joint declaration signed between India and the US in September last year and June this year were attempts to pressurise Pakistan.
Islamabad: Pakistan's Interior Minister Nisar Ali Khan on Saturday said that the four suicide bombers who were killed by security forces while attempting to storm a Christian colony in Peshawar was "foreigners".

"We know that they (Christian colony attackers) were not Pakistani and we are tried to evaluate which country they belonged," Khan told media in Mardan after meeting with those injured in a suicide bombing at a court complex yesterday.

At least 13 people were killed and over 50 injured in Mardan sessions court attack which occurred hours after four suicide bombers tried to storm Christian colony in Peshawar.

All four were killed by security forces. In the past, Pakistan has accused Afghan nationals for various attacks.

Khan said Pakistan was fighting the war against terrorism for its own survival.

"Pakistan's security forces have won a difficult war but there is still more to be done to eradicate terrorism entirely," he said.
Hangzhou: China and the US - responsible for around 40 per cent of the world's carbon emissions - on Saturday jointly ratified the Paris climate change deal that aims to significantly reduce global emissions, giving hopes that the landmark accord may come into effect by the end of this year.

Chinese President Xi Jinping and US President Barack Obama gave documents to UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon entering their nations into global climate change pact.

Their approval to the agreement came a day ahead of the key summit of G20 nations in Hangzhou, where the leaders of the world's 20 strong economies will meet.

China and the US together are responsible for around 40 per cent of the world's emissions so their ratification of the international legal document is viewed crucial.

In a speech at a ceremony in the eastern Chinese city of Hangzhou, Obama said the Paris deal was the "single best chance that have to deal with a problem that could end up transforming this planet".

"We are moving the world significantly towards the goal we have set," he said, adding that history would show that the Paris deal would "ultimately prove to be a turning point". Earlier today, China's parliament ratified the agreement, with President Xi saying his country was "solemnly" committed to the deal.



"We need to take an innovative approach to climate change," he said in Hangzhou.

The Paris Agreement is the third attempt to address the issue of climate change, after the 1992 UN Framework Convention on Climate Change and the 1997 Kyoto Protocol. The accord, which sets ambitious goals for capping global warming and funnelling trillions of dollars to poor countries, will come into effect 30 days after at least 55 countries, accounting for 55 per cent of global greenhouse gas emissions, have ratified it.

Lawmakers of the Standing Committee of China's National People's Congress voted to adopt "the proposal to review and ratify the Paris Agreement," state-run Xinhua news agency reported.

"Ratifying the agreement accords with China's policy of actively dealing with climate change," according to the proposal, which added that addressing climate change would help the country realise sustainable development.

China along with 195 other countries signed the Paris Agreement at UN Headquarters in New York on April 22, Earth Day, sending a strong messaging to the international community as it joins forces against global warming.

The Paris accord (COP21) aims to reverse temperature increase, mainly caused by carbon emissions. It sets a target to hold the global average rise in temperature below 2 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels, and preferably below 1.5 degrees.

It is a major milestone, especially after the failed climate summit in Copenhagen, Denmark, in 2009 and disputes among countries on their responsibilities.
India today extended a USD 500 million line of credit to Vietnam to deepen their defence cooperation and signed 12 agreements including a deal to construct offshore patrol boats, amid China's muscle flexing in the disputed South China Sea and "emerging regional challenges".



Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who held wide-ranging talks with his Vietnamese counterpart Nguyen Xuan Phuc here, said the two countries have decided to elevate their strategic ties to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership to provide it a new momentum.



"Our decision to upgrade our Strategic Partnership to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership captures the intent and path of our future cooperation. It will provide a new direction, momentum and substance to our bilateral cooperation," said Modi, who arrived here yesterday on his maiden visit to this key south east Asian nation.



Vietnam had earlier Comprehensive Strategic Partnership only with Russia and China.

"I am also happy to announce a new Defence Line of Credit for Vietnam of USD 500 million for facilitating deeper defence cooperation," Modi said after the signing of the agreements.



The 12 agreements were signed in a wide range of areas covering defence, IT, space, cyber security and sharing white shipping information in presence of Modi and Phuc.



"The range of agreements signed just a while ago point to the diversity and depth of our cooperation," he said, adding the agreement on construction of offshore patrol boats is one of the steps to give concrete shape to the bilateral defence engagement.



Modi described his talks with Vietnamese counterpart as "extensive and very productive" and said they covered the full range of bilateral and multilateral cooperation.



"We have agreed to scale up and strengthen our bilateral engagement. As two important countries in this region, we also feel it necessary to further our ties on regional and international issues of common concern," said Modi, who is here on a day-long visit.



"We also recognised the need to cooperate in responding to emerging regional challenges," the Prime Minister said, without naming any country.



China is involved in a raging dispute with the Philippines, Vietnam, Taiwan, Malaysia and Brunei over ownership of territory in the South China Sea (SCS), a busy waterway through which India's 50 per cent trade passes.



China has also objected in the past to India's Oil and Natural Gas Commission (ONGC) undertaking exploration at the invitation of Vietnam in the SCS, which is believed to be rich in undersea deposits of oil and gas.



India and the US have been calling for freedom of passage in the international waters, much to the discomfort to Beijing, whose claim over SCS was recently struck down by an international tribunal in favour of the Philippines.



"Our common efforts will also contribute to stability, security and prosperity in this region," Modi said. Vietnam has shown a keen interest cooperating with India in air and defense production. India's L&T will build offshore high speed patrol boats for Vietnamese Coast Guards, while a pact was signed on cooperation in UN peacekeeping matters.



Indian Navy and Vietnam Navy will cooperate in sharing of white shipping information.

Modi said as the two important countries in this region, India and Vietnam feel it necessary to further their ties on regional and international issues of common concern.



The Prime Minister also announced a grant of USD 5 million for the establishment of a Software Park in the Telecommunications University in Nha Trang. "We agreed to tap into the growing economic opportunities in the region," said Modi, the first Indian premier to visit the Communist country in 15 years.



Noting that enhancing bilateral commercial engagement is the strategic objective of the two nations, he said, "For this, new trade and business opportunities will be tapped to achieve the trade target of USD 15 billion by 2020."



Besides seeking facilitation of ongoing Indian projects and investments in Vietnam, Prime Minister Modi said he has invited Vietnamese companies to take advantage of the various schemes and flagship programmes of the Indian government.



"As Vietnam seeks to empower and enrich its people, Modernise its agriculture; Encourage entrepreneurship and innovation; Strengthen its Science and Technology base; Create new institutional capacities for faster economic development; and Take steps to build a modern nation, India and its 1.25 billion people stand ready to be Vietnam's partner and a friend in this journey," Modi said.



Speaking about the framework agreement on Space Cooperation, he said it would allow Vietnam to join hands with Indian Space Research Organisation to meet its national development objectives.



Hoping for an early establishment and opening of the Indian Cultural Centre in Hanoi, he said, "The Archaeological Survey of India could soon start the conservation and restoration work of the Cham monuments at My Son in Vietnam."



He also thanked Vietnam's leadership in facilitating inscription of Nalanda Mahavihara as a UNESCO World Heritage site earlier this year. India and Vietnam also signed an agreement on celebrating 2017 as 'The Year Of Friendship'.



Noting that ASEAN is important to India in terms of historical links, geographical proximity, cultural ties and the strategic space that the two sides share, he said, "It is central to our 'Act East' policy. Under Vietnam's leadership as ASEAN Coordinator for India, we will work towards a strengthened India-ASEAN partnership across all areas."



Modi also expressed the need to "stay focussed to keep up the momentum" in bilateral ties and invited the Vietnamese leadership to India.


It's been two years since India emerged as the world's fastest-growing major economy, but the rapid expansion has done little to improve the lot of Ashok Kumar.



Parked up and sitting on the kerb, the 25-year-old truck driver is going nowhere fast. He is the sole breadwinner for the 13 people in his extended family and his monthly salary is stuck at $150.



With new, better-paid jobs hard to come by, Kumar lacks options. He fears becoming unemployed like his elder brother, who recently returned to their village in Uttar Pradesh after months of searching in vain for work.



Data out on Wednesday showed India's economic growth slowed to 7.1 percent in the quarter to June, a 15-month low. That is faster than other major economies, but not fast enough to create enough new jobs to absorb all the one million people who join the workforce every month.



A government survey found that job creation fell by more than two-thirds in 2015. Analysts at HDFC Bank estimate that for every percentage point the economy grows, employment now adds just 0.15 of a percentage point - down from 0.39 in 2000.



It's a major challenge for Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who has promised to create 250 million jobs over the next decade.



"For one job, there are at least 20 candidates," said Kumar. "If you want the job, you can't afford to bargain."



Nearly two-thirds of India's 1.3 billion people are under 35 years old. This rising demographic "bulge" will create the largest working-age population in the world. At the same time China, which has long curbed family size, will age as a society.



Whether this so-called demographic dividend will translate into the kind of economic gains seen in Japan and Korea, or lead to upheavals, depends on India's ability to generate jobs.



Yet, despite average annual growth of 6.5 percent between 1991 and 2013, India added less than half the jobs needed to absorb new job seekers.



Under Modi, India has opened up further to foreign investment, hoping to generate more manufacturing jobs. A loan scheme for small businesses has been set up and there are plans for a $1.5 billion fund for startups.



Modi has also launched a programme to train over 4 million people in different skills in six years.



Pronab Sen, country director for the International Growth Centre, a British-backed think tank, said such measures were "laudable", but they aimed at boosting supply when more demand was needed.



"India has become a demand-starved economy," Sen said. "If there is no demand, there will be no incentive to produce more which, in turn, will mean no new jobs."



The level of desperation for work is staggering. In August, nearly half a million people, including post-graduates, applied for 1,778 jobs as sweepers in the city of Kanpur.



This was not a one-off. Last year, in Uttar Pradesh, 2.3 million people sought 368 low-level government jobs that required a primary education and ability to ride a bicycle.



Competition for such jobs has become fiercer as the public sector's share in formal employment is declining.



Two years of drought has caused distress in farming, while the construction business has suffered a prolonged downturn  making work scarcer in the two sectors that employ the bulk of India's unskilled workforce.



Satellite cities around the capital, like Greater Noida were, until recently, bustling with construction activity.



Now, Greater Noida's skyline is dotted with half-built, abandoned, high-rises. Cranes and diggers stand idle.



In Delhi and the surrounding National Capital Region, housing starts fell 41 percent year-on-year in the first half of the year, according to consultancy Knight Frank. Across India, starts were down 9 percent from a year earlier.



Bhuwan Mahato, a contractor who supplies workers to construction projects around Noida, says demand for labour is down by at least 25 percent.



"I wish I hadn't joined this business," said Mahato, a 30-year-old migrant from the state of Bihar. "But, truthfully, there are no other opportunities, either."


BEIJING, Sept. 3 -- Chinese President Xi Jinping on Saturday offered his condolence over the death of Uzbek President Islam Karimov, and expressed sympathies on behalf of the Chinese government and people, as well as in his own name.

Karimov died Friday of a stroke at age 78 in the Uzbek capital of Tashkent after 25 years of rule in the Central Asian nation since its independence from the Soviet Union.

In the condolence telegram to Nigmatulla Yuldashev, head of Senate of Uzbekistan's Supreme Assembly, Xi spoke highly of Karimov's historic contributions to the country's independence, development and prosperity, while praising his commitment to the cooperation and the comprehensive strategic partnership between China and Uzbekistan.

Karimov's unfortunate passing is not only a huge loss to the Uzbek people, but also means the Chinese people have lost a true friend, he said.

Xi also said China highly values developing China-Uzbekistan relations and will work together with Uzbekistan to enhance their good-neighborly ties and deepen their mutually-beneficial cooperation for the benefit of the two countries and their peoples.

Under the Uzbek constitution, the presidential duties will pass temporarily to Yuldashev until an election can be held within three months.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi today visited the historic Pagoda temple here and the stilt house where revered leader Ho Chi Minh lived, apart from enjoying fishing with his Vietnamese counterpart Nguyen Xuan Phuc.





Addressing Buddhist monks at the temple, Modi said Vietnam was an inspiration for everyone to shun violence and follow Buddha's path of peace and harmony. "World should walk on the path of peace that brings happiness and prosperity, while war only brings transient greatness," the prime minister said.



"The advent of Buddhism from India to Vietnam and the monuments of Vietnam's Hindu Cham temples stand testimony to these bonds," Modi said. He said the India-Vietnam ties were 2,000 years old.



Modi emphasised that his visit to Vietnam - the first by an Indian premier in 15 years - was to "nurture a relationship between our two societies and nations." "These cultural bonds reflect themselves in many ways. Most prominently, in the connect between Buddhism and the monuments of the Hindu Cham civilization," he said.



"Some people came here with the objective of war. We came here with a message of peace which has endured," Modi said. Modi said Buddhism, which took the sea route, travelled to Vietnam in its purest form from India.



He invited all the monks to visit India - the land of Buddha - and especially to Varanasi "which I represent in the Indian Parliament." He said he is fortunate to visit the Pagoda temple after first President Rajendra Prasad in 1959.



The Quan Su Pagoda, also known as Ambassador's pagoda, is said to have served emissaries that were sent from Champa and Laos to Vietnam in the past. The pagodas - a Buddhist heritage and popular toursit sites - are at the heart of Vietnamese Buddhism and are a precious treasure of Hanoi.



The pagoda is said to have served emissaries that were sent from Champa and Laos to Vietnam in the past. Earlier today, Modi visited Ho Chi Minh's stilt house at the majestic presidential palace. He was accompanied by Premier Phuc and thanked him for his generous welcome.



"Earlier this morning, you made the special gesture of personally showing me Ho Chi Minh's house... Thank you, Excellency, for extending me the privilege. Let me also congratulate the people of Vietnam on their national day that you celebrated yesterday," he said.



The stilt house was the residence of Ho Chi Minh from 1958 until his death in 1969 and is located inside the majestic Presidential Palace in Hanoi. Modi also congratulated the people of Vietnam on their national day yesterday and laid a wreath at the Monument of National Heroes and Martyrs of Vietnam located across the Ba Dinh Square, across the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum.



"Homage to indomitable will of a leader. PM @narendramodi pays respects at the mausoleum of Ho Chi Minh. Beginning with the memory of Vietnam's Martyrs. PM @narendramodi lays wreath at Monument of National Heroes & Martyrs," Swarup said in a series of tweets.



Earlier today the prime minister was given a ceremonial welcome at the palace as he became the first Indian prime minister to visit the communist nation in 15 years.



"For people of my generation, Vietnam holds a special place in our hearts. The bravery of the Vietnamese people in gaining independence from colonial rule has been a true inspiration. And, your success in national reunification and commitment to nation building reflects the strength of character of your people," Modi said.



He said India believed in sharing knowledge, experience and expertise with other developing countries.

"The Cuu Long Delta Rice Research Institute, is a prime example of the enormous impact of our cooperation.India helped set up the institute in the Mekong Delta, sending agricultural experts and training its faculty in India," he added.
Pakistan released two daughters of Al-Qaeda chief Ayman al-Zawahiri and another woman in exchange for former army chief Gen Ashfaq Pervez Kayani's abducted son, a media report has claimed throwing new light on the terrorist outfit's disturbingly long reach inside the country.





The Long War Journal, a project of the Foundation for Defence of Democracies, has based its report on the 20th edition of Al-Masra magazine - affiliated with the Al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP) - published in late August, which said the prisoners' swap took place weeks ago.



However, the news could not be independently verified as there has been no reports on the abduction of Kayani's son, who was not named in the report.



"If the jihadist organisation is merely boasting, then that is noteworthy. But if al Qaeda did manage to kidnap Kayani's son and force the Pakistani government's hand, then this indicates Zawahiri's men have a disturbingly long reach inside of Pakistan," the report said.



"Although retired, Kayani is one of the most powerful figures in the Pakistani military and intelligence establishment, which has long sponsored jihadis, including the al Qaeda-allied Taliban," the report alleged.



It said the editors of the Al-Masra magazine included a box highlighting the story on the frontpage saying "detaining" the "son of the Pakistani Army Commander" led to the release.



The newsletter's authors claimed a series of tweets posted online in mid-August provided the insider details of the story. In a tweet, a jihadist accused the Pakistan Army of detaining Zawahiri's daughters, as well as the daughter of Sheikh Murjan Salem al Jawhari, as part of its "infidel" war on the mujahideen.



The twitter account has now been suspended. "The twitter user, who is likely an al Qaeda media operative, further claimed that al-Qaeda was left with two ways to deal with the situation. First, al-Qaeda needed to take 'revenge' on the supposed spy. Second, Allah 'enabled the mujahideen' to detain the son of the Pakistan Army commander in order to exchange him 'for the sisters'.



"He included a picture of Kayani to emphasize that this is the Pakistani leader he meant. Al-Qaeda's account referred to Kayani as if he is active, even though he has been retired for nearly three years," the report said.



According to the media account, the army initially "refused" the proposed exchange, but eventually agreed after lengthy negotiations. Zawahiri's daughters and the other woman, along with their children, were reportedly returned to Egypt. "It isn't clear if the purported exchange took place in late July or early August," the report said.
Lieutenant Governor Najeeb Jung on Friday sent back the file with the AAP government's proposal to hike minimum wages in Delhi, triggering fresh accusations against him and Prime Minister Narendra Modi by Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal.



In principal, the LG has okayed the wage hike but the city government needs to send the proposal again in view of the recent High Court order, said Delhi Labour Minister Gopal Rai. The High Court had held that the Lieutenant Governor is the administrative head of Delhi.



Objecting to the committee formed for reviewing minimum wages, the LG has returned the file. We will remove the shortcomings and send the file again for LGs approval as per the court's order, he said.



Kejriwal mocked the decision by Modis LG, saying it comes on a day when workers nationwide are on strike.



On a day when 18 crore workers are on strike, Modi's LG returns file on minimum wage, Kejriwal tweeted.



Confirming the receipt of the file from the LG office, Labour Minister Gopal Rai said, Delhi government was taking decisions on its own prior to the High Court order. Now we have to submit the proposal again for LG's approval.



The AAP government has proposed a hike in minimum wages from Rs 9,500 to Rs 14,000. Rai said the file was sent to the LG on August 24, said Rai.



LG sahab returned the file to increase minimum wages in Delhi, tweeted Rai.

Rai called an emergency meeting with officials of the Labour department at Delhi Secretariat.



Kejriwal also slammed the Prime Minister for modelling in Reliance Industries Limited advertisements, referring to his photograph appearing in newspapers ads for a new venture. PM as Mr Reliance, Kejriwal tweeted.



Modi ji, you keep on modeling in Reliance advertisement. The labour force of the whole nation will teach you a lesson in 2019, he tweeted.



Aam AadmiParty MLA Alka Lamba also took a swipe at the PM over the advertisement. Even the Prime Minister is on sale in this country, she tweeted in Hindi. Is desh mein bikta hai sab kuch bas ek kharidaar chahiye, khiladi, abhineta, yaha tak ki pradhanmantri bhi.



Atishi Marlena, an aide to Education Minister Manish Sisodia also attacked the LG and the PM in a tweet. As workers strike for minimum wages, PM models for Reliance, LG returns file for Delhi govt increasing wages. Wah!



The Labour minister said that the government will get the minimum wages increased at any cost. Nobody can survive in Rs 4,000 to Rs 8,000 in today's world. Hats off to these people who are managing with such low wages. The government will make sure workers get their due share, said Rai.


Uzbekistan bade farewell to President Islam Karimov at a high-security funeral today, after his death plunged the country into the greatest period of uncertainty in its post-Soviet history with no clear successor to the iron-fisted ruler.





Karimov, 78, was pronounced dead late Friday after he suffered a stroke last weekend and fell into a coma, authorities said, following days of speculation that officials were delaying making his death public.



The Islamic funeral for the strongman -- who dominated the ex-Soviet nation for some 27 years -- was being held in his home city of Samarkand, southwestern Uzbekistan, on Saturday and the country will begin three days of mourning.



An AFP journalist in the famed Silk Road city -- which houses the mausoleum of feared 14th century warlord Tamerlane -- said police had cordoned off the centre and were not letting ordinary citizens or cars through.



Despite his brutal quarter-century rule, which earned him a reputation abroad as one of the region's most savage despots who ruthlessly stamped out opposition, people in Karimov's hometown mourned his passing and some youths wore black clothes.



"When we found out about his death, all my family -- by wife, my son's wife, the children -- we were all crying, we couldn't believe it," one local man, 58, told AFP, refusing to give his name.



"It is a great loss for every Uzbek. He made out country free and developed."

State television in the tightly-controlled nation earlier reported the coffin had arrived by plane in Samarkand accompanied by Karimov's widow and younger daughter.



Crowds of people had earlier reportedly lined the road to watch and throw flowers at the cortege as it drove through the capital Tashkent.



Authorities said Karimov's coffin would be displayed in a city square for people to pay their last respects before he is buried in a nearby cemetery later Saturday next to other family members.



Eyewitnesses told AFP that they had seen the vehicles carrying the coffin head towards Samarkand's UNESCO World Heritage site centre but that the event was open only to guests with official invitations.



Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev flew in for the funeral, along with leaders from former Soviet republics including Tajik President Emomali Rakhmon, Turkmen President Gurbanguly Berdymukhamedov and the prime ministers of Kyrgyzstan, Belarus and Kazakhstan.



Loyalist Prime Minister Shavkat Mirziyoyev heads the organising committee for the funeral, in a sign that he could be the frontrunner to take over long-term from Karimov.



Under Uzbek law, senate head Nigmatulla Yuldashev has now become acting president until early elections are held.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi today flew into this Chinese city for the crucial G20 summit and talks with top world leaders, including one with Chinese President Xi Jinping on irritants in bilateral ties like India's NSG bid and the CPEC, which runs through PoK.



Modi, who reached here after a two-day maiden visit to Hanoi, begins his programme tomorrow morning by holding talks with Xi, in their second meeting in less than three months. The two leaders had last met on the sidelines of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Summit in June in Tashkent.



Tomorrow's meeting is viewed as important in the backdrop of steady decline in the bilateral relations over a raft of issues including the USD 46 billion China-Pakistan Economic Corridor which runs through Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK).



The two leaders, who enjoy a good rapport, would discuss contentious issues, which will also include listing of Pakistan-based terrorist organisations in the UN and China stalling India's membership at the elite Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG).



This would be followed by a meeting of the BRICS (Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa) leaders ahead of the G20 summit, which would begin later in the day.



Modi will also hold bilateral meetings with Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull and Saudi Arabia's Deputy Crown Prince Mohammad bin Salman.



He will attend the G20 summit that begins tomorrow with this year's theme of "Strengthening Policy coordination and Breaking a new path for growth" followed by a number of cultural programmes organised by the Chinese government.



On Monday, he will take part in the second and concluding session of the G20 and hold bilateral meetings with British Prime Minister Theresa May and Argentinian President Mauricio Macri before returning to Delhi.



In all, he would reside in this picturesque city for about 48 hours, officials said.



A meeting between Modi and US President Barack Obama is, however, not on the cards during this trip, they said.


Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaih today held discussions with senior counsel F S Nariman about the ongoing legal battle with neighbouring Tamil Nadu in the Supreme Court over the release of Cauvery water, which is expected to come up for hearing on Monday.





Chief Minister met Nariman in Delhi and discussed about the opinion that the court had expressed yesterday, officials in the Chief Minister's office said.



After the meeting Chief Minister said Karnataka's lawyers will present its case on Monday.



The Supreme Court had yesterday advised Tamil Nadu and Karnataka to "live and let live", as they locked horns and traded charges in the courtroom over the release of Cauvery water.



The court was hearing Tamil Nadu's plea, seeking a direction to Karnataka to release 50.52 tmc feet of Cauvery water to save 40,000 acres of 'samba' crops this season.

Nariman is appearing for Karnataka in the case.



Water Resources Minister M B Patil, who is also in Delhi, is holding meetings with legal experts and lawyers.



Reacting to the developments in the apex court in connection with the case, Patil had yesterday said the state's legal team would present the ground realities, and inform the court about Karnataka's drinking water needs, deficit rain and storage levels in four reservoirs in the Cauvery basin area.



Karnataka had earlier made it clear that it was not possible for it to spare Cauvery water to Tamil Nadu given the "severe distress" it was facing; an all-party meeting had decided that the same stand should be placed before the Supreme Court.
Vietnam's top leaders today lauded India's position on the disputed South China Sea (SCS) and sought its participation in oil and gas sectors of the Communist nation, as they hailed the upgradation of bilateral ties to Comprehensive Strategic Partnership.





Vietnam appreciates India's principled position on the South China Sea issue, Communist Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong told Prime Minister Narendra Modi when the latter called on him, sources said.



"We must also intensify our coordination in regional and multilateral fora," he told Modi, who reiterated that India always stood as a friend with Vietnam throughout history.



"It would be rare to find such a relationship which has lasted 2,000 years," he told Trong and recalled the Vietnamese leader's visit to India in 2013.



China is involved in a raging dispute with the Philippines, Vietnam, Taiwan, Malaysia and Brunei over ownership of territory in the SCS, a busy waterway through which India's 50 per cent trade passes.



India supports freedom of navigation and over flight, and unimpeded commerce, based on the principles of international law, as reflected notably in the UNCLOS (United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea).



India believes that states should resolve disputes through peaceful means without threat or use of force and exercise self-restraint in the conduct of activities that could complicate or escalate disputes affecting peace and stability.



The Prime Minister said areas such as cyber security and information technology would benefit from the creation of a task force and help the two sides solve future problems.



Trong agreed that India-Vietnam relations were time tested and very durable. He said he had visited India twice in 2010 and 2013 and both visits had left very good impressions.



Noting that India is a major country with unique and age old civilisation and culture, he said Vietnamese people had never forgotten India's strong support during Vietnam's struggle for independence, sources said.



"The upgradation of relationship to Comprehensive Strategic Partnership was an indicator of the importance Vietnam attaches to India. It has strategic partnerships only with two other countries, Russia and China," he said.



He also thanked Modi for India's support to Vietnam's armed forces and agreed with the Prime Minister that cooperation in cyber security was very important.



Prime Minister Modi also called on Vietnamese President Tran Dai Quang at the Presidential Palace today. "Our partnership will strengthen peace, development and security in the region," President Quang told Modi.
Experts at an Internet seminar in Beijing on August 31 suggested that an Internet-oriented G20, or I20, should be formed to tackle Internet challenges facing G20 members.

The development of cyber security faces three main challenges: Internet sovereignty, terrorism and hackers, and data security, said Lyu Benfu, a professor from the Chinese Academy of Sciences.

The experts agreed that the Internet will drive global economic growth in the future. In the past, countries promoted trade facilitation and service facilitation, but they will need to focus more attention on data flow facilitation in the future, said Lyu.

On Internet sovereignty, Hao Yeli, Vice Director of the China Institute for Innovation and Development Strategy, came up with a three-dimensional perspective that takes nations, the international community, and netizens into consideration.

The international community has long criticized Chinas so-called Great Firewall, saying that the electronic barrier hinders free speech. Hao defended Chinas national firewall, arguing that poor cyber security and the potential for color revolutions leaves China with no choice.

Hao pointed out that the situation will improve along with improvements in security, mutual trust, democracy, and technology. For now, however, China is forced to make such policies, said Hao.

The report on Internet Development of G20 Members was released the same day of the seminar, the first ever such report which focused on G20 countries. The report noted that developing countries are next in line to develop high-speed Internet, and India has become the fastest growing internet market in the 20-member group.

According to Fang Xingdong, founder of the Internet strategy think tank Chinalabs, China should cooperate with India on Internet innovation. Experts at the seminar said that China, India, and the U.S. will dominate the future of Internet innovation.
Virtually daring the Prime Minister, former Finance Minister P Chidambaram today said the government should publish the contemplated White Paper on the economic situation in the country before the Narendra Modi dispensation presented its first budget in 2014.





"Govt should publish the contemplated White Paper. Before they withdraw the Economic Survey of 2014-15."



"Also withdraw RBI Annual Report and CSO Report for 2014-15. They will be non-White Papers!", the senior Congress leader and Rajya Sabha MP said in a series of tweets.



The response of Chidambaram, who was the Finance Minister when the UPA went out of power in May 2014, came a day after Prime Minister Narendra Modi had said in an interview that he wanted to bring a White Paper before his government presented its first budget but opted against it in the national interest, even at the risk of political damage.



"...I think, before presenting the first budget, I should have placed a White Paper in Parliament on the economic situation in the country. This thought had come to me," Modi said an interview to CNN News18.



Senior Congress spokesperson Anand Sharma also sought to dismiss the Prime Minister's claim. He had yesterday said the Prime Minister had participated in an interview the questions and answers of which appeared to be "prepared by the PMO."



Accusing the Prime Minister of "misleading" the nation by targeting previous government on the economic situation, he told reporters "UPA had left a stable economy. Forex reserves were USD 300 billion. National income grew three-fold. Nearly 14 crore people came out of poverty".



Taking a dig at the Prime Minister, he said Modi knows "very little" about the economic situation in India.



"Indeed, it seems that people are circumspect to give him the real picture."

Seeking to puncture government's claims, he said the fact is that the economy is in a "worrying situation" with key parameters like National Saving Rate and National Investment Rate having fallen.



"After being in power for 27 months, these excuses are not expected. Instead of making comments on the previous Government, Modiji should instead talk about all of his electoral promises which have remained unfulfilled," Sharma said insisting that during the UPA term, GDP increased four-fold in 10 years.



He challenged the government to come out with a White Paper to tell the country about falling investment rate, falling manufacturing, non creation of new capacities, gross capital formation falling in double digits, job loss and fall in exports.
Arunachal Pradesh Governor Jyoti Prakash Rajkhowa has been reportedly asked to step down from his post, weeks after the Supreme Court restored the Congress government in the northeastern state.



Rajkhowa has been told "verbally" by a junior Union Minister and a senior official of the Home Ministry to step down on "health grounds", sources said here today.



The Governor's office, however, said there has been no formal communication from anyone asking Rajkhowa to resign from his post.



"There was no formal communication from anyone asking the Governor to resign from his post. But I have come to know that two-three individuals have spoken to the Governor and verbally indicated that," PRO to the Governor Atum Potom told PTI over phone from Itanagar.



After getting the two calls from Delhi asking him to step down, Rajkhowa apparently had approached Home Minister Rajnath Singh to seek clarification on the issue. But the Home Minister did not ask Rajkhowa to step down, sources said.



However, sources said, if Rajkhowa does not resign on his own, there is a possibility of central government asking President Pranab Mukherjee to withdraw his "pleasure", leading to his sacking.



By rule, Rajkhowa is entitled to a five-year term but it is subjected to the "pleasure of the President. 71-year-old Rajkhowa was appointed as Governor in May last year.



The reported move by the Centre to seek Rajkhowa's resignation came weeks after the Supreme Court restored the Congress government in Arunachal Pradesh and censured the Governor for "humiliating the elected government of the day".



The move comes against the backdrop of the political crisis in Arunachal Pradesh triggered by the revolt by Congress MLAs.



Congress rebel Kalikho Pul had become chief minister in February and was in power for five months after revolting against the then Congress government led by Nabam Tuki. Pul was subsequently dislodged from power by the apex court.



BJP was providing outside support to Pul, who was found dead in mysterious circumstances in Itanagar last month.



The Apex Court had criticised Rajkhowa for advancing the assembly session and fixing its agenda saying he cannot take away the House's discretion on the basis of "mere apprehension".



Sources claimed that there were efforts to woo dissident Congress MLAs, led by Pul, to the BJP side for installation of a BJP government in Arunachal Pradesh. But it did not materialise, sources said.



Later, following a Supreme Court directive Pul had to resign and all dissident Congress MLAs return to the parent party, leading to installation of a Congress government.



"The return of a Congress government could have been checked had all dissident Congress MLAs joined the BJP instead of continuing as a separate regional outfit," sources said.

Meanwhile, Rajkhowa fell ill and could not attend the swearing-in ceremony of Pema Khandu government, which succeeded Pul government.



When Khandu expanded his Ministry on August 3, Rajkhowa again showed inability to come for swearing-in ceremony of the new Ministers citing his ill health.
Put your feet up on the coffee table, and you might knock over those pieces by Kakurezaki Ryuichi and Mori Togaku, or that vase by Matsui Kosei.





Splash around in the upstairs bathtub, and youre likely to spray water on the sculptures to your left or your right by some of Japans most influential 20th-century ceramic artists. This simple house in Brooklyn is not only where Steven Korff and Marcia Van Wagner, a married couple, raised their two boys  now 18 and 21  but where Korff keeps the more than 400 sculptural vases, bowls, sake cups and flasks that have quietly made him one of the leading collectors in contemporary Japanese ceramics.



Even Qatari royalty  Sheikha al Mayassa bint Hamad bin Khalifa al-Thani, chairwoman of the Qatar Museums Authority, and her husband, Sheikh Jassim bin Abdulaziz al-Thani, two of the most important buyers in the art market  have made their way to Brooklyn to buy from him.



Collectors who get most of the attention these days tend to spend millions on postwar and contemporary art that they display in their elegant homes, lend to museums or sell at auction. But there is another tier of collector that operates below the radar, acquiring obsessively in a particular category at a lower price point.



Korff is one. Yes, he sold Ken Prices 1964 Pink Egg at Phillips in 2014 for $509,000, a high for that artist at auction. And that same year, he donated five pieces to the Brooklyn Museum. But, in general, Korff just quietly crams his Queen Anne Victorian with the pottery hes grown so passionate about over the last 20 years.



Nothing prepared me for getting to his house and seeing what he had, said Joan Cummins, the Brooklyn Museums curator of Asian art. Id be pretty happy to have almost anything in his collection.



Ceramics cover every available surface in his home  the stereo, the radiator, the kitchen island, the cable box. He literally lives with his collection, as does his family, said Joan B Mirviss, whose New York gallery specialises in Japanese art. If theres an inch, theres a piece of ceramic art.



Alex Heminway, the director of design at Phillips in New York, said that to visit Korffs jam-packed home is to experience the physical commitment required to be a collector. A general unease pervades, due in part to the feeling of being a bull in a china shop, Heminway said, but, more significantly, due to the suspicion that one is looking too deeply into the well, one is eavesdropping on the soul.



Man of knowledge



To be sure, Korff lives and breathes this stuff  reading books about ceramics, checking the internet sites of Japanese dealers daily. Its the first thing I do when I get up in the morning, he said. Its all-consuming. While he has never managed to get to Japan  Van Wagner works full time as a municipal credit analyst at Moodys Investors Service, and hes been a stay-at-home dad  Korff has established strong relationships with dealers there.



Of all my clients, I dont know of any who study the market, know the history, are more connected than he, said Robert Yellin of the Yakimono Gallery in Kyoto. He often gets information about whats going on in Japan before I do. The guy is totally, ballistically nuts, in the most positive way. Korff sells his pieces only when he needs the money (the egg helped him save for his kids college) or, occasionally, to trade up. He refines, so hes constantly reassessing, Cummins said. 'Do I really need this object? If not, can I turn it in for something I do need? He does think very critically about the objects.



And then there are the boxes. Every piece of pottery comes in a signed, sealed wooden box, which is essential to its value. If you dont have the box, its worth half, Korff said. So Korff has a box for every item in his collection, which he keeps stuffed in a closet in his third-floor attic. Heaven help him when he needs to retrieve one. I have to pull everything out, he said. Its a three-day event.



A growing interest in contemporary Japanese clay artwork among museums around the country shows that Korff was ahead of the curve. Last year, museum exhibitions in five states focussed on such ceramics, and four shows are coming up this fall, Mirviss said.



Wiry and diminutive (hes 5-foot-4), Korff, 62, grew up in New York City, where his mother taught modern dance, and his father taught drama in YMCAs. He spent his summers at Bucks Rock, a creative work camp, since both parents were instructors there.



Korffs obsessive personality is also evident in his collection of vintage steel bikes from the 1970s and 80s, which he rides exclusively. He cycles at least 40 miles a day around Prospect Park  except on Saturdays, when he runs six miles. He got into collecting in his mid-20s, after spending about a decade as a drummer in a band called the Planets  Punk happened, and we didnt happen, he said. He also worked as the manager of a video store and as a record promoter. Although Korffs hair used to hang down to his buttocks and now is short and greying, he still bears a few signs of his hippie phase: the Birkenstock sandals, the stud in his left ear.



Building a collection



Korff at first became interested in American ceramics and began buying Ken Price, as well as Peter Voulkos, Robert Arnerson, Paul Soldner and Rudy Autio. I dont like things that are manufactured as much as handmade, he said. Ultimately, he decided to focus on Japanese work, building a collection that is now worth from $500,000 to $800,000. Korff has paid anywhere from $200 for a sake cup to more than $100,000 for a piece by Okabe Mineo, but generally spends between $8,000 and $20,000 per item.



Typically, ceramics collectors emphasise sculpture, Cummins said, but Korff collects the way Japanese people collect  smaller wares that can be used for serving sake or tea. Still, Korff is acquiring less these days, feeling as if he owns examples of just about everything he ever wanted. And, he has to concede, he has finally run out of room. Probably, enough is enough, he said. Ive reached the point in my life when I want to divest. I just want to have a much simpler life.Yes, I could get a few more pieces, he added, but my inclination is not to.






G20 members include Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Canada, China, France, Germany, India, Indonesia, Italy, Japan, South Korea, Mexico, Russia, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, Turkey, the United Kingdom and the United States and the European Union.

A cautious India today said it has warded off pressure from the US and China to set this year as the deadline to ratify the Paris Agreement, even as the two countries ratified the climate deal ahead of the G20 summit here tomorrow.India besides several other countries felt that they can not ratify the Paris Agreement due to various legal impediments, the Vice Chairman of NITI (National Institution for Transforming India) Aayog, Aravind Panagariya said here. UN Secretary General has earlier suggested that the Paris climate deal be ratified this year so that it could be implemented."There is no deadline to my mind but we will make submissions of progress," said Panagariya, summing the feeling of India and many other countries in this regard. The joint statement to be released at the end of the G20 summit on September 5 will take into consideration the difficulties in this regard, he said."My stand is we could not commit for 2016," Panagariya, India's official representative at the G20 summit, said. His comments came as China and US in a bid to put pressure on other countries ratified the deal today and handed over their countries' instruments of joining the Paris Agreement separately to the UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon.Chinese President Xi Jinping said that climate change concerns the well-being and future of humanity. The Paris Agreement has charted the course for post-2020 global cooperation against climate change, and it indicates that a cooperative, win-win, equitable and fair climate governance mechanism is being shaped.Depositing the documents together, China and the US have displayed their ambition and determination to jointly tackle a global challenge, Xi said. Developed countries should honour their commitments and provide financial and technological support to developing countries and enhance their capability in climate actions, Xi added.Panagariya said besides the climate change, the draft joint statement also refers to refugees, terrorism and anti- microbial resistance. The two day G20 summit to be attended by Prime Minister Narendra Modi will kick off here tomorrow.
WEconnect International in association with the Karnataka government will organise a two-day event ThinkBig 2016 on women entrepreneurship on November 14 and 15.





Speaking at the event, Karnataka Industries Minister R V Deshpande said Karnataka is synonymous with entrepreneurship and progress. I believe that this is an opportune moment for Karnataka to host ThinkBig 2016, in order to highlight both elements by focusing on women-owned businesses, he said.



The two-day event is configured with a view to educate women entrepreneurs, train them with right skills, assess opportunities and connect them with the business eco-system. The event is expected to witness participation of over 4,000 women entrepreneurs from various sectors. It will be held at the Bangalore International Exhibition Centre.



WEConnect International India executive director Parul Soni said the growth of supply chain diversity of corporate members has increased their ability to procure more from women-owned businesses. ThinkBig2016 is Asias largest women entrepreneur summit, said Soni.




The strike called by the All India Government Nurses Federation (AIGNF) yesterday had severely crippled health services at hospitals in the national capital and some other cities in the last two days.



After after the strike began, Delhi government had invoked the stringent Essential Service Maintenance Act (ESMA) and declared the stir as illegal. Two male nurses of Dr Ambedkar Hospital in outer Delhi were today arrested under the Act.



"We have been given assurance by the central government that our outstanding issues would be resolved by September 12. Also, the Delhi Chief Secretary has assured us that the police cases against the two nurses would be withdrawn and they would be released. So, we are calling off our nationwide strike," AIGNF spokesperson Liladhar Ramchandani told PTI.



The Centre has constituted a committee headed by the Finance Secretary to look into the outstanding demands which has invited the nurses federation on September 12 for talks.



"We received a call from Union Health Minister J P Nadda and he asked us to withdraw the strike as Delhi and many other cities are grappling with rising cases of dengue and chikungunya. This health crisis was one of the major reasons we decided to call off the stir," he said. The nurses have been demanding revision in pay and allowances for quite some time now.



Earlier in the day, Delhi hospitals, hit the hardest by the strike, managed with contractual nurses and interns to make up for the shortage of nursing, while Centre and the nursing federation held talks to find a way out of the crisis.



"We had talks with the government till late night. Members of the nursing federations discussed the issue with the Joint Secretary at Nirman Bhawan after talks with the nursing advisor earlier in the day," Ramchandani said. Several routine operations in hospitals were cancelled, surgeries postponed, OPD timings curtailed and emergency services affected too.



At least 487 cases of dengue have so far been reported in the national capital this season, with 368 of them being recorded last month. Eight deaths due to it have also been reported. At least 432 people have been diagnosed with chikungunya in Delhi so far.



Till July 28, 9,990 suspected chikungunya cases were recorded in the country, with Karnataka reporting 7,591 cases. Also, over 15,000 cases of dengue have been reported across the country this year.





Ramchandani, however, said, "We will resume duty from tomorrow morning and things will get back to normal." The decision to call off the strike comes as a major relief for Delhi particularly, as the situation here had become "critical".



Delhi Chief Secretary K K Sharma held a meeting earlier in the day with Principal Secretary (Home), Commissioner of Police and Health Department officials to take stock of the situation. Sharma was informed during the meeting about the shortage of nursing staff at city hospitals.



"Major hospitals are having only one-third of the staff strength. The situation has become critical on account of the strike," a Delhi government statement said. During the meeting, medical superintendents of hospitals reported that there was an increased rush of patients at fever clinics and the OPDs on account of the upsurge in dengue and chikungunya cases.



The city Health Department had issued a "public notice" asking the striking staff to resume duty "immediately". Government hospitals in Delhi, including those run by the Centre, the city government or civic bodies employ about 20,000 nurses, and the federation claimed that most of the staff had joined the strike.



During the strike, nurses only attended to emergency and critical cases. Besides Delhi, we got support from nurses in Chandigarh (PGIMER), Punjab, Rajasthan and Puducherry (JIPMER), the AIGNF spokesperson said.



The Centre had, however, claimed yesterday that only Maharashtra, Delhi and Uttar Pradesh were "partially affected" by the strike. Delhi government runs nearly 40 hospitals out of which LNJP Hospital is the biggest. Other major hospitals under it include GTB Hospital, DDU Hospital, Dr Baba Saheb Ambedkar Hospital and Chacha Nehru Child Hospital.



Among centrally-run hospitals, Safdarjung Hospital which employs 1,100 nurses, including 160 on contract, too suffered on account of the stir. RML Hospital employs about 840 nurses of whom 236 are on contract and the hospital said it managed with contractual nursing staff and interns.



Nurses in government hospitals across the country today called off their indefinite strike after reaching a compromise with the Centre, in a major relief for Delhi and some other cities battling rising cases of dengue and chikungunya.
Industrybuying, one of Indias leading B2B ecommerce startup, has joined hands with Capital Float, the largest digital lending platform in the country, to offer Pay Later, a credit solution to businesses across India.





The loan product enables small and medium enterprises (SMEs) to procure industrial products using a pre-defined credit line that gets reset upon repayment. Pay Later comes as a convenient feature for SMEs and SMBs looking to procure industrial products as it allows them to avail online credit of up to Rs 25 lakh almost instantaneously without paperwork and hassles associated with getting a loan from elsewhere, a release said.



To avail the Pay Later option, companies need to register themselves on the Industrybuying website and Industrybuying will share customer details with Capital Float for processing. Post verification done by Capital Float, the credit line will be setup on IndustryBuying and ready for use within 72 hours. Payment through Pay Later is available for a purchase amount of Rs 25,000 or higher, the release added.



Working capital management is a problem faced by most SMEs. Along with solving this problem for existing businesses, the availability of hassle-free loans can help numerous entrepreneurs lead the establishment of various SMEs and SMBs in tier II and tier III cities of India wherein the real bulk of Indias bustling industrial sector lies, Industrybuying co-founder and chief executive officer Swati Gupta said.



The market opportunity is sizeable and encouraging. Our collaboration with IndustryBuying will incorporate the strengths of two growing businesses, taking finance to tier II and tier III markets, which were previously ignored due to inadequate infrastructure. We intend to make convenient finance accessible to SMEs at a granular level, Capital Float co-founder Gaurav Hinduja said.




Visitors passing through Mumbai's Girgaum area during Ganeshotsav would come across several Ganesha idols. Almost every second or third lane will have one medium-sized Sarvajanik Ganesha idol.





The visitors taking the Keshavji Nayak Chawl on Khadilkar Road would go past another idol--that of the Shree Sarvajanik Ganeshotsav Sanstha. Only those reading the line written in Marathi below First Ganesha festival celebrated in Mumbai and in English as www.1stganeshfestival.com would realise that they are close to a rich piece of heritage and history!





Lokmanya Bal Gangadhar Tilak started the first public Ganesha festival in Mumbai in this very place in 1893. A year later, the festival spread to other places throughout Maharashtra. This year it is the 124th year of celebrations. However, the celebrations here are still traditional and the organisers and residents are averse to hype.





Our Ganapati idols are of the same shape, same size, same posture, same colour and manufactured by the same family...its a pride of Mumbai, Maharashtra and India...and we keep the celebrations simple, Shree Sarvajanik Ganeshotsav Sanstha President Bhalchandra Gharat said.





While 2017 would mark the 125th anniversary of the celebrations of Mumbai's first Ganesha festival, this year has its own importance as it marks the centenary of Lokmanya Tilaks famous proclamation Swaraj is my birthright and I shall have it and is the 160th birth anniversary of the revolutionary leader.





Tilak (July 23, 1856 - 1 August, 1920), regarded as Father of Indian Unrest, was one of the pillars of the freedom movement and also lead the public Ganeshotsav celebrations in Maharashtra then with an aim to organise people at one place and take the freedom movement ahead. In 1893, Tilak started public Ganesha festivals in Pune and Mumbai. This Ganesha mandal is known for its simplicity and has its own importance in the history of Mumbai and the country, said journalist-writer Ajit Joshi, who is an expert on Mumbai.





Located at a walking distance from the Charni Road station on the Western Railway route, the Keshavji Nayak Chawl is a cluster of six chawls. We have nearly 150 tenements and over 600 residents, said Sanstha treasurer Kumar Walekar. We want the celebrations to be traditional, as it is, he said.





Theirs is a 10-day celebration. We have everything inhouse... the architect is from our chawl, so is the designer, the material supplier...we do the decoration ourselves....the idol is being sourced from the same place for the last 124 years....what people like is that the celebrations are done in a homely atmosphere...the priest comes from Konkan, he said.





The two-foot-tall Ganapati idol, according to their tradition, is brought in a palkhi and is taken in a palkhi for immersion. People wear traditional clothes when Lord Ganesha arrives and departs, he said.





Walekar said that they mobilise fund. The amount is contributed by members and ex-members or residents of the chawls, he said. Some prominent nationalised and cooperative banks sponsor through branding on gates and banners. They spend between Rs 3.5 lakh and Rs 5 lakh. Everything is virtually done by locals.





The topography of the chawls has not changed. They have kept it intact. Though there is a lot of redevelopment of chawls in the Girgaum area, this one has not been touched, Joshi said. The place looks the same as it was decades ago, added Walekar. The idol is installed at the same place and what has changed is the colour, doors and some temporary structures that support the pandal, he said. After the idol is installed and prana-pratishta are done, entry into the sanctum sanctorum is restricted.





Even cultural events are traditional in nature. Local youth and women are involved and two days are reserved for youth and women. Competitions, mostly traditional ones, are held and locals, including children, actively participate in them.





The More family of Shree Ganesh Chitrashala from nearby Thakurdwar make idols for them. Now brothers Rajendra and Jayesh are at the helm of affairs. This is our fourth generation making the idols for Keshavji Nayak Chawl...we made the first idol and till this day the tradition continues, said Jayesh.





More said only organic, natural and eco-friendly materials are used. The clay is brought from Bhavnagar and vegetable colours are used," he said. The family is busy throughout the year. After Ganesha festival, they start making idols for festivals like Navaratri.





If Keshavji Nayak Chawl has the distinction of being the first Ganesha mandal of Mumbai, the Shree Ganesha Chitrashala automatically becomes the first idol-makers of Mumbai. Now they make nearly 350 Ganesha idols.





According to Jagdish Gandhi, a historian of Mumbai and environmentalist, who had authored A Tale of Native Towns of Mumbai that dwells on Bhuleshwar, Girgaum and Malabar Hill, said: "The Keshavji Nayak Chawl that continues to host the utsav since its inception without a single interruption, has a history. Keshavji Nayak was a trader hailing from Kutch in Gujarat of Dasha Oswal origin. As he established himself well in trade and commerce, he built a small chawl in Kandewadi....However, he passed away in 1884...When the first utsav was initiated as a Sarvajanik affair, it was essentially low-key, matter-of-fact celebration, though thrown open to public participation.





He said that the residents of the chawl need to be credited as they have resolutely kept intact the ethnic and traditional character of the utsav till date, in sharp contrast to the high-decibel, high-fashioned celebrations all around in contemporary times.





The chawl also has a very rich history. It was between 1860 and 1862, Nayak founded the cluster of chawls, mainly for people of middle-income group. Some of the proud occupants were Marathi poet Krishnaji Keshav Damle who wrote under the name Keshavsut, dashing labour leader Shripad Dange, socialist SM Joshi, the first Prime Minister of Bombay State B G Kher, social reformer Prabodhankar Thackeray, Marathi journalist, playwright, and freedom fighter Veer Vamanrao Joshi. It was here that Swatantraveer Savarkar sent a pistol to India from London concealed in a dictionary which was received by his follower Patankar.





The first public celebrations too have a history and a background. Tilak wished to bring about social change for political reasons too. In 1893, he appealed to the people to make it a festival of masses, says the Shree Sarvajanik Ganeshotsav Sanstha.

People wear traditional clothes during installation and immersion
Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti on Saturday urged New Delhi to initiate an unconditional dialogue with Hurriyat Conference leaders. This comes even as separatists and traders bodies announced their decision to boycott the all-party delegation meeting.



The countrys political leadership must, without any further delay, reach out and engage all sections of society, including the leaders of the Hurriyat Conference, in a productive dialogue process to resolve the issue and make peace a reality in Jammu and Kashmir, Mehbooba said at Kraloo village in south Kashmirs Kulgam district.



The need of the hour is to build on this larger political consensus within the country and initiate tangible measures to address the issue, she said. She explained that during her meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi last month she suggested a three-pronged approach, including talks, with all sections of society within J&K, the separatist leadership and also with Pakistan to put the reconciliation and resolution process back on track.



Referring to Modis statement that the seeds of the current unrest in Kashmir were sown during Independence and a solution to the problem will be found, Mehbooba said, The prevailing situation in Kashmir presents not just a challenge, but also an opportunity to the prime minister to take some bold measures towards resolution of the issue and make India more at peace not only with its neighbours, but also with itself.



Hardline Hurriyat leader Syed Ali Shah Geelani, who is spearheading the ongoing unrest, said the Parliamentary delegation was coming to the state after passing a resolution that Kashmir is an integral part of India.


People of the Miao ethnic group play drums to celebrate autumn harvest in Songtao Miao Ethic Autonomous County, southwest China's Guizhou Province, Sep. 2, 2016. (Xinhua/Long Rong)

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Ahead of all-party delegations arrival in Kashmir on Sunday, the government and Opposition leaders held a brainstorming session, but differed on holding talks with the separatist groups, including the Hurriyat, which has called for a boycott of their visit.



In what was described as a preparatory meeting on Saturday chaired by Home Minister Rajnath Singh, leaders from the Congress and the CPM said all stakeholders should be approached during the two-day trip. These leaders urged the government to make sure the visit is not a wasted opportunity.



Rajnath remained non-committal on this proposal and said it had been left to Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti to determine who the delegation would meet.



Shortly afterwards, the word came from Srinagar that Mehbooba wrote to separatist groups, asking them to take lead and engage with the all-party delegation visiting the state on Sunday.



She reached out to the leaders of Tehreek-e-Hurriyat, Hurriyat Conference, Hurriyat Conference J&K, JKLF, National Front and Jamaat-e-Islami including Sayeed Ali Shah Geelani, Mirwaiz Umar Farooq, Mohammad Yasin Malik, Prof Abdul Gani Bhat, Moulvi Abbas Ansari, Shabir Ahmad Shah, Bilal Gani Lone, Aga Hassan, Naeem Ahmad Khan and Amir Jamiat-e-Ahli-Hadees, J&K and others reiterating their role and seeking their cooperation in the peaceful resolution of the issue of Jammu and Kashmir.



Among those who favoured talks with the Hurriyat, CPM general secretary Sitaram Yechury favoured sending an invite to the separatist group for talks and making an announcement of confidence-building measures.



Yechury said the government should make tangible announcement like a ban on pellet guns, withdrawal of AFSPA from civilian areas and rehabilitation and compensation package for those who lost their lives in the recent violence. This should be seen as a follow up of Prime Minister Narendra Modis statement of taking peace initiative on the basis of insaniyat, jamhuriyat and Kashmiriyat.



Those who favoured this approach included D Raja of the CPI and Asaduddin Owaisi of the All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen. Leader of the Opposition in the Rajya Sabha Ghulam Nabi Azad said the Congress-led UPA is open to holding dialogue with all stakeholders.



The government's position was that the members of the delegation were free to meet anyone, including the separatists. But Rajnath Singh or any other central minister will meet only those who are ready to resolve all issues within the framework of the Constitution.




Barely 24 hours before the visit of an all-party delegation to end the current unrest, violence intensified in Kashmir on Saturday with one youth being killed and at least 100 civilians injured in fresh clashes.



The youth, who was injured during protests in Vesso village of south Kashmirs Anantnag district, died in a hospital. Doctors at district hospital Anantnag said the youth had received multiple pellet injuries and a head wound.



An identified body of a male reportedly having pellet injuries was retrieved from the Jhelum river near Lal Chowk in Srinagar on Saturday evening. Clashes erupted in Lal Chowk and its adjoining areas after the incident.



Police and CRPF personnel used force on people near Hari Singh Street, who tried to march towards Eidgah graveyard in old city to bury the body. The forces took the body away to police control room. A police official said, the body showed marks of violence and the process of identification is on.



With this, the toll in the current unrest which erupted after the killing of Hizbul commander Burhan Wani on July 8, has reached to 74. Reports said at least 35 people were injured in clashes after security forces vandalised the venue of a protest rally in Shangus area of Anantnag.



In Tral area of Pulwama district of south Kashmir at least a dozen protesters were injured during the clashes. Similar reports were received from Awora village of north Kashmirs Kupwara district, where 15 protesters were injured. More than 50 protesters were injured during clashes with forces in Beerwah area of central Kashmirs Budgam district, reports said.



A police spokesman said 12 incidents of stone-pelting were reported from Srinagar, Budgam, Anantnag, Sopore and Kupwara. Barring these incidents of stray stone-pelting, the overall situation remained under control, he said, adding that the curfew was lifted from Anantnag, Pulwama, Kulgam, Shopian and Baramulla and most parts of Srinagar on Saturday.



In volatile Batamaloo area, policemen assaulted over a dozen photojournalists who were on duty. The photojournalists later staged a sit-in and left only after SSP, Srinagar, Amit Kumar assured them of action against the erring policemen. Health officials at sub-district hospital Magam said that they were beaten and abused by the police in Qamarwari area of Srinagar while they were heading for work on Saturday morning.
The Congress leaders have been toiling hard to make party vice president Rahul Gandhis khat chaupal (a meeting in which Rahul will sit with the people on cots) in Uttar Pradesh a success.





Rahul, who would embark on a padyatra (foot march) from Deoria district to Delhi from Tuesday, would be holding meetings, especially with the farmers, through khat chaupal, a concept developed by political strategist Prashant Kishore, on lines of Prime Minister Narendra Modis Chai pe charcha.



The Congress vice president, who would be launching his padyatra from a dalit hamlet at Rudrapur in Deoria would be meeting around 10,000 farmers later in the day in Kushinagar district, about 350 kilometres from here.




The Andhra Pradesh government, through its dry spell mitigation programme, used rain guns for the first time in the country. The move was made in an effort to save standing crops in four lakh acres in Rayalaseema and other parts of the state.



Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu, who is camping at Anantapur to monitor the efforts, encouraged students to participate in the programme. Nearly 1,500 students from various universities in Rayalaseema extended their services in operating the rain guns. Naidu monitored the situation from the control room set up in Vijayawada.



The government completed its mission by spraying water from available sources on 3,27,008 acres in Rayalaseema and 70,000 acres in Guntur, Prakasam and Srikakulam districts.



Farmers of Veerapuram village in Anantapur expressed happiness as they were able to save more than 70% of crops with the help of the rain guns. However, Opposition leader Y S Jaganmohan Reddy countered the governments claims.




Women activists on Saturday decried the stand of the All India Muslim Personal Law Board (AIMPLB), supporting the practice of triple talaq. The Board, in an affidavit on Friday, contended the Supreme Court could not go into the personal laws in the name of reform, in view of the protection granted under the Constitution.



It also contended that triple talaq, though the least appreciated form of terminating a marriage, was very much effective and in line with the Shariat law. The practice also protected the dignity of either parties and avoided mudslinging in public, besides allowing the parties to move on without much bitterness and hatred towards each other.



One of the petitioners in the apex court, Noorjehan Safia Niaz, co-founder of Bharatiya Muslim Mahila Andolan (BMMA) said, No one can stop a citizen of this country from approaching the court. That is a right Muslim women also have.



Asserting that the apex court has a right to interpret the law, she described the stand of the AIMPLB as obstinate and rigid. In her plea before the court, she said the practice of triple talaq was un-Quranic as the religious text insisted on mandatory arbitration for seeking divorce.



CPM leader Brinda Karat said, AIMPLB has refused to listen to the many pleas of women on the complete unfairness of arbitrary triple talaq. Among other grounds, the AIMPLB submitted that Shariah granted the right to divorce to husband because men have greater power of decision making. They are more likely to control emotions and not to take a hasty decision.


Karnataka will explain to the Supreme Court on Monday the current shortage of water in the Cauvery river, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah said here on Saturday.





Siddaramaiah, who met senior counsel Fali S Nariman on the ongoing legal battle with Tamil Nadu in the Supreme Court over the release of Cauvery water, told reporters that Karnatakas lawyers would present its case with all the facts.



On Friday, the Supreme Court had advised Tamil Nadu and Karnataka to live and let liveover the release of Cauvery water.



The court was hearing Tamil Nadus petitions for a direction to Karnataka to release 50.52 tmcft of Cauvery water to save 40,000 acres of samba (rice) crops this season. Nariman is appearing for Karnataka in the case.



Water Resources Minister M B Patil, who is also in Delhi, held meetings with legal experts and lawyers. On Mahadayi, he said he would write to the Maharashtra and Goa governments calling for an amicable settlement of the dispute. He also said Prime Minister Narendra Modi should intervene in the matter.


At present, we intend to remove only those encroachments that cause flooding. The joint commissioners and chief engineers have been told to identify flood-prone areas where removal of encroachments is a must. There could be some major structures, too, said Siddegowda, without sharing details of major encroachers. The chief engineer said marking buildings may take at least a week and the demolition of structures would start on September 13.



In a recent meeting, the BBMP commissioner directed the joint commissioners and chief engineers of their respective zones to prepare an action plan for clearing encroachments. Sources in the Palike said Prasad had directed the zonal officers and engineers to identify structures along stormwater drains where demolition is warranted.

Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike will launch the next round of demolition drive to clear encroachments on stormwater drains in the city on September 13. The survey to identify encroachments in 35 different locations across Bengaluru will begin on September 6.The director of Survey Settlement and Commissioner of Land Records has deputed 23 surveyors to BBMP to identify encroachments. Six surveyors have already reported for work.BBMP Chief Engineer (stormwater drain) Siddegowda said the marking of encroaching buildings will start on Tuesday.
Home Minister Rajnath Singh on Saturday cleared the use of chilli-filled PAVA grenades in place of the controversial pellet guns for crowd control. This comes ahead of a two-day all-party delegation visit to Kashmir.



The use of PAVA was recommended by a seven-member panel led by Joint Secretary in the home ministry T V S N Prasad, in its report submitted on August 29. Official sources said Singh cleared the file for the use of Pelargonic Acid Vanillyl Amide (PAVA), and around 1,000 shells would be sent to Kashmir by Sunday.



Though PAVA will replace pellet guns, the latter will not be completely removed from the security armoury. It will be used in the rarest of rare occasions, the sources said. When fired, the less-lethal PAVA shells will burst to temporarily stun, immobilise and paralyse the target in more effective ways than a tear-gas shell or pepper spray. The use of pellet guns in Kashmir over the past 57 days following protests had invited criticism, with political parties and civil society castigating the government over the issue.



Several youths were severely injured, most of them in their eyes, during violent protests against the killing of self-styled Hizbul Mujahideen commander Burhan Wani on July 8. The home ministry had set up the panel after the government and security forces faced severe criticism over the use of pellet guns.



PAVA was under trial for over a year at the Indian Institute of Toxicology Research, a Council of Scientific and Industrial Research laboratory, in Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh.



Sources said the Tear Smoke Unit of the Border Security Force in Gwalior, Madhya Pradesh, might be asked to go for bulk production of the shells shortly, with the first lot consisting of not less than 50,000 rounds.


It was all shimmer, shine and style at the second preliminary round of the Metrolife Fashion Show, which was held at the Oxford College of Arts and Science in HSR Layout on Saturday.



The south zonal round saw some well-conceived concepts presented in brilliant ways which delighted the gathering. The Mount Carmel College walked away with the first prize for their ode to Chennai textiles and their presentation inspired by the temples of South India and a time when women and art were considered synonymous. The girls lit up the stage in their beautiful checked silk saris, traditional jewellery and ghungroos. Marking a deviation from the usual style, they started in a soft and mellow style which later picked up tempo and brought the house down.



The Dayananda Sagar Academy of Technology and Management won the second prize for their innovative costumes made out of paper. The creative yet highly fashionable attires would have looked at place on any runway in the world.



The Vogue Institute of Fashion Technology bagged the third place for their collection called Ashtamangalyam. The ethnic wear with a twist made the crowd go crazy with the mirror detailing and stunning jewellery. The beautiful ensemble in velvet looked spectacular and showcased the creativity of the students to the maximum.



The Acharya Institute of Graduate Studies got the fourth prize for their presentation Sufi sultans and desi boys. With more male models than females, this college was a trendsetter with its ornately designed costumes with multiple layers and sequins, coupled with exotic headgear.



The fifth place went to the T John College for their collection inspired by the kaleidoscope. The highly innovative garments in soft colours coupled with paper flower accessories and some fabulous props were a visual treat.



Other colleges, too, put up a spectacular show. The RV Institute of Management presented a Navarathri-themed collection with colourful ethnic wear and bright props. The Indian Institute of Fashion Technology had a game of thrones inspired collection which was completed by a grunge look and innovative outfits of leather and velvet.



The VET First Grade College had a delightfully creepy looking red and black collection inspired by spiders. The Dayanand Sagar Business Academy showcased their skill and versatility with garments made of recycled mats and newspapers. The Bishop Cotton Womens Christian College presented the little black dress with a twist and the Oxford College of Science put up a stunning show with an ensemble in shades of orange and black with glittering mirror borders.



Along with the audience, the celebrity judges, too, had an enjoyable time. Actor Samyukta Hornad, model and actor Neha Shetty, designer Kamal Raj Manickath, actor Dhananjaya and guest of honour actor Kartik Jayaraman were all praise for the creativity of the students and the hard work put in by them. The grand finale of the fashion show will take place on September 10 at the Dayananda Sagar Institutions, Kumaraswamy Layout.




Baku, Azerbaijan, Sept. 3

Trend:

Uzbekistans embassy in Azerbaijan will open a book of condolences over the death of Uzbek President Islam Karimov.

Uzbekistans flag is flying at half-mast at the embassys building to mourn the passing of Islam Karimov.

The book of condolences will be open Sept. 3 from 14:00 to 16:00 (UTC/GMT + 4 hours), Sept. 4, from 14:00 to 16:00, Sept. 5 from 11:00 to 13:00 and from 14:00 to 17:00, Sept. 6 from 11:00 to 13:00 and from 14:00 to 17:00.

Uzbekistans embassy has also canceled the official reception dedicated to the 25th anniversary of the countrys Independence Day, which was scheduled for Sept. 6.

Uzbekistan has declared three-day mourning over Islam Karimovs death.

Karimov passed away Sept. 2.

Earlier, it was reported that Islam Karimov was hospitalized Aug. 27 after suffering a stroke.

Karimov was born January 30, 1938 in the city of Samarkand, Uzbekistan. He was the first president of Uzbekistan since the country gained independence in 1991.

In the Soviet period, Karimov served as first secretary of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of the Uzbek Soviet Socialist Republic from 1989 to 1991.

He also served as the head of Uzbek government in 1990-1992.
The party that lets go of the mayors post in the BBMP Council to the JD(S) would be the beneficiary of the regional partys support. This was the indirect message given by JD(S) supremo H D Deve Gowda on Saturday.



Speaking to reporters in Bengaluru after he held a meeting with the 14 party corporators, Gowda hinted that the JD(S) is seriously vying for the mayors post this term.



The partys state president H D Kumaraswamy has already said as much, said Gowda. Last year, we had forsaken the mayors post. Kumaraswamy has already said the JD(S) is seeking the mayors post. While he is in talks with the BJP, Transport Minister Ramalinga Reddy met me and sought the support of JD(S). The JD(S) has 24 votes in the Council, including the 14 corporators, he said.



Stating that the corporators would heed to any decision taken by the party leadership, Gowda said that a final decision would be arrived at after another round of meetings with party legislators and Kumaraswamy.



The corporators have highlighted the pros and cons of continuing the alliance with the Congress, including the problems that they have faced. Many of them feel that the JD(S) should seek the mayors post, he added. The JD(S) is miffed that it got the chairmanship of only two out of 14 standing committees in the Council.




In order to increase vehicular speed and decongest high density corridors in the city, the traffic police have proposed a complete ban on parking on 12 major roads. The proposal is likely to come into effect by the end of this month.



The traffic police made this proposal during the coordination committee meeting of heads of the BBMP, BDA, transport department and the Bengaluru police chaired by Chief Secretary Aravind Jadhav on Saturday.



Parking on some stretches and junctions on these 12 corridors affects smooth flow of vehicles leading to traffic congestion, R Hithendra, Additional Commissioner of Police (Traffic) told DH, explaining the rationale behind the plan.



There is hardly any space for parking on some of these corridors due to heavy congestion. Parking is not officially banned on these corridors. Hence, the police have decided to enforce the no parking rule through a notification, Hithendra added.



The traffic police had received complaints about inconvenience and non-fatal accidents caused by parking on major roads in the city. Following this, a survey was conducted by the traffic police. Based on the survey, they finalised a list of 12 corridors for the no parking rule, said a senior officer.



The police have written separate letters seeking a no-objection certificates (NOC) from the BBMP, Directorate of Urban Land Trafficking (DULT) and Transport Department as these agencies too decide the parking issues on major roads.



The police are identifying the stretches and preparing maps for the no parking rule. NOCs and maps would be ready shortly, the officer said.



After completing formal procedures, the police will issue a notification banning parking. The entire process is likely to take at least two weeks, the officer said.



The meeting, attended by top officials of the BBMP, BDA, transport department and the Bengaluru police, also discussed issues related to clearing roads humps, filling up of potholes, installation of sign boards specifying alighting points for private and government buses among others.


Bengalurus premier Ganesha Utsava is back with a twist. The 54th Bengaluru Ganesha Utsava (BGU) will see artistes from India and across the globe performing, from September 5.



The event, which will go on till September 15, is being organised at the National College grounds in Basavanagudi, instead of the APS College grounds, where it was held in previous years. The Utsava is organised by the Shree Vidyaranya Yuvaka Sangha. The highlight of this year is that the main mantapa is a replica of the kalyani (temple pond) at Melkote in Mandya district.



Nandish S M, managing trustee of BGU, told DH that the mantapa measures 150 feetx120 feet and has been constructed by artistes from Pratirupi company. It took three months to construct the mantapa. Keeping pace with time, BGU is getting innovative. For the first time in India, world-renowned Berklee Indian Ensemble (part of Berklee College of Music, USA) will render A tribute to A R Rahman, along with other compositions on September 6, Nandish said.



A few other highlights of this years festival are performances by Shaan, Bappi Lahari, drum jam by Ranjit Barot and a musical tribute to S Janaki by an all-woman band led by Sunitha Murali and Supriya Raghunandan. For lovers of instrument music, there is a percussion ensemble by Beat Gurus, the Basuri Band by Raj Chandran and violin duet by Boston Brothers  Tejas and Pranav Manjunath.



Along with the musical bonanza, food lovers can treat themselves to a variety of delectable dishes at the Aromas of Karnataka - Food Utsava that will be held at the same venue. For more information and full schedule of the programmes, log on to www.bgu.co.in.




Orion Mall on Rajkumar Road may run into big trouble as a survey sketch with a detailed report prepared by Bengaluru Urban district authorities shows that the commercial space is sitting on three acres and four guntas of government land.



In his September 2 report to the Commissioner of Survey, Settlement and Land Records, Joint Director of Land Records K Jayaprakash stated that the encroachment happened in nine survey numbers of Kethumaranahalli and Yeshwantpur villages of Yeshwantpur hobli, Bengaluru North taluk.



The land comprises a stormwater drain, pathway, bullock cart way, erstwhile village road, rock area and pond. The encroached land has been described as kharab (wasteland). The century-old village map had all the topographical details.



While preparing the local map, the village maps were not taken into account. As a result, these minute details did not find mention in the local maps prepared in the later years, which is a blunder, the joint director stated in the report. He has requested revenue officials to initiate action for the recovery of government land.



In support of the claim, Jayaprakash submitted the village map superimposed on Google Earth satellite images, which show the stormwater drain running right in the middle of Orion Mall. Five days ago, Mayor B N Manjunath Reddy had accused Brigade Group of encroaching on the stormwater drain for Orion Mall. The builder categorically denied the charge.




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After much deliberation and anticipation of modifications needed to safely execute the Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race during a global pandemic, Iditarod race organizers and its board of directors today (Dec. 18th, 2020) announced a modified race route in 2021, as well as a comprehensive COVID-19 prevention plan.

Dubbed the Iditarod Gold Trail Loop, the race route will follow a portion of the traditional Iditarod southern race route to the Iditarod checkpoint, and then continue to the mining ghost town of Flat before looping back to the southern route in a course that is approximately 860 miles.

For the 49th running of the Iditarod, the currently rostered 57 race teams will be offered a fresh racing challenge and opportunity that will require them to persevere on a course that crosses the Alaska Range, Happy River Steps and the notorious Dalzell Gorge, twice. A feat never before attempted.

The Iditarod is synonymous with community, perseverance, and ingenuity. The 49th race will channel the states rich history and tradition of the sled dog and honor the indomitable spirit of the 49th state, said Iditarod CEO Rob Urbach. This modified race route and the execution of the COVID-19 prevention plan will enable us to maintain the integrity of the race and the psychic value of the coveted finishers belt buckle.

While the race forges a new path for the 2021 iteration, community leaders in checkpoints that will not be visited this year on the latter half of the southern route acknowledge that the decision, while disappointing, was necessary for the overall health and safety of its residents.

We support the Iditarods decision to alter the race route for the 2021 race, said John Handeland, Iditarod board member and mayor of Nome. We understand the circumstances and wish they were different. The burled arches in Nome will be ready and waiting for the return of the race in 2022 for the 50th running.

The COVID-19 prevention plan, developed with guidance from the Alaska Department of Health & Social Services, trail communities and Iditarod infectious disease epidemiologist czar Dr. Jodie Guest, is built on disciplined protocols and a self-reinforcing culture. The core tenets include checkpoint bubbles, robust testing protocols, mandatory face masks, social distancing and reducing staff to mission critical. The plan is subject to change as the Iditarod continues to work with the state, communities along the trail and all of its partners to modify the plan as needed.

Dr. Guest, who is also a longtime Iditarod race volunteer, has been advising the Iditarod regarding risk mitigation best practices, surveillance and contingency planning since September 2020 and will continue to do so throughout the 2021 race.

Over 100 years ago, Iditarod was a vital gold mining community that contributed greatly to the woven tapestry of Alaskas story. The 2021 Iditarod Gold Trail Loop will not only honor the essence of the sled dog culture but energetically draw from those early gold-seeking pioneers, said Mike Mills, Iditarod board of directors president. The board, after thoughtful deliberation, has determined that the highest standards of safety can be maintained for the canine and human athletes, volunteers, and communities, so we are excited for the unique setting and challenges of this years race.

More information on the Iditarod Gold Trail Loop will be finalized in the coming weeks. The Iditarod will be holding a virtual press conference in early January 2021, to provide a more detailed update on the 2021 race route and answer questions about its commitment to the health and safety of its participants. Further details will be released in a follow up media advisory.

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by K.J. Lincoln

I dont think we should be recommending renewal at all, said council member Leif Albertson regarding AC Quickstops alcohol package store liquor license during their regular meeting on February 13th, 2018.

Council rejected Resolution 18-02, which was originally introduced by Mayor Rick Robb during the January 23rd, 2018 regular meeting. Mayor Robb was absent due to travel.

Resolution 18-02 is a proposed resolution that recommends renewal with conditions for the package store license renewal for AC Quickstop located at 131 Akakeek.

The conditions are for AC Quickstop to apply for and receive a City of Bethel conditional use permit for the store at a new location located away from a dense residential neighborhood with sufficient and safe parking, including safe ingress or egress for vehicles and pedestrians. And to provide adequately trained security personnel both inside and outside the premises during all hours the store is open.

The current location, while technically in a general use zone, is immediately adjacent to and can be considered part of a crowded residential neighborhood, states the proposed resolution. The residential neighborhood, commonly known as housing or Bethel Heights is the biggest and most dense residential neighborhood in BethelMany children live in this area.

Despite the issues, it is possible that AC can do a better job if the ABC Board (Alcoholic Beverage Control Board) requires them to do so, continues the resolution.

Aaron Sperbeck, attorney for the Alaska Commercial Company was at the meeting. He asked for the City to work with AC as members of the community to sit down and craft a resolution that meets the Citys concerns. They would want a timeline to implement the changes.

I believe that the AC store is certainly standing ready and willing to work with the city to address the alcohol issues that we all see that are prevalent, he said. The AC store is certainly prepared to work with the City in a resolution such as 18-02, that provides for conditions but with the caveat being that it be based on more of a structured timeline with conditions to be met in a reasonable amount of time.

Putting these conditions back to the ABC Board and asking them to enforce them, I dont think that is their role and I dont think that is the best way to handle this. I dont think they have the ability or the interest in doing that, said council member Albertson during discussion.

Resolution 18-02 failed unanimously 5-0. Council member Naim Shabani was the other person absent.

Resolution 18-03 under New Business passed by a vote of 4-1. This resolution protests the renewal for the package store liquor license for AC Quickstop, owned by the North West Company (International) Inc.

The resolution cited excessive calls for services and that the location does not comply with the Citys conditional use permitting standards. It also discusses the neighborhood area where the store is located and the adjacency of three schools, a preschool, and playgrounds. Parking issues were also included.

This resolution, sponsored by council member Albertson, passed introduction. During voting, council member Thor Williams cast the only nay vote.

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I always look for your articles for advice. I dont always have that type of advice. Im grateful you share.

Brittany Laraux

Bethel, AK

Vaccine Eligibility Expanded in AK!

Yesterday (March 3rd, 2021), the State of Alaska Vaccine Task Force significantly expanded the criteria for who is eligible for the state-allocated COVID-19 vaccine! The new eligibility group, Phase 1C, includes people 55-64 years old, people 16 and older who are essential workers under the CISA definition, high-risk or might be high-risk according to CDC guidelines, those living in a household that includes three or more generations, or skipped generations (e.g., a grandchild living with an elder), and people living in unserved communities as specifically defined by the Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation.

I would encourage everyone to take some time to look through this information and find out if your family or friends are eligible and desire to receive a vaccination. This is a big step forward in the COVID-19 mitigation effort and is very encouraging news!

If you do qualify, visit CovidVax.Alaska.Gov to check the availability of appointments in your area.

Senator Scott Kawasaki

Juneau, AK

I will support the first Native American who would hold this position with the expectation that Representative Haaland will be true to her word

During a Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee hearing, U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) today (March 4th, 2021) announced that she will support the nomination of Representative Deb Haaland to serve as Secretary of the Department of the Interior.

The Department of the Interior  and thus the Secretary who leads it  both play an outsized role in our state. Alaska has more federal lands, more mineral resources, and more natural hazards than any other state. We are set apart by unique laws and frameworks that Congress enacted and that Presidents signed, whether our Statehood Act or ANCSA or ANILCA. We are an Arctic nation because of Alaska. And we are a diverse state, with many indigenous peoples and cultures who have lived there since, as they say, time immemorial. We are a state that is just different.

I seek to ensure every nominee who comes before us understands that. I have spent a considerable amount of time trying to educate others about Alaska and our unique needs and our unique peoples. And I spent a considerable amount of time with Representative Haaland reiterating what is at stake for us.

Alaskas prosperity is directly linked to decisions made by Interior  whether through their trust responsibilities, their authority over responsible resource development, or their monitoring of hazards and other threats.

Ive had two separate meetings with Representative Haaland that lasted for more than an hour each. I participated in both days of her nomination hearing, asking many questions, and have reviewed the answers she provided to all of our members. Ive also spent considerable time listening to Alaskans views on her nomination. They are paying attention to this nomination.

Ive heard two sentiments over and over again. The first is that many Alaskans  Alaska Natives in particular  are enormously proud to have a Native American nominated to this position. It is truly a historic nomination and they believe Alaska Native issues can be elevated to one of the highest levels of government.

The second concern that Im hearing is that many Alaskans are concerned about the agendas Representative Haaland will seek to implement on her own and on behalf of the White House. They are concerned by her opposition to resource development on public lands, including her opposition to key projects in Alaska and her questioning of the vital role that Alaska Native Corporations serve in our communities.

Weighing on top of that is my experience from the Obama administration, when I voted for a Secretary who promised to be a good partner for Alaska, but proved to be anything but that after confirmation.

So I struggled with this vote. How to reconcile a historic nomination with my concerns about an individuals  and an administrations  conception of what Alaskas future should be.

I believe Representative Haalands heart is there for Native peoples and all who treasure our public lands. I dont believe that is the extent of Interiors mission, but she has also told us that she recognizes that if confirmed, she will be serving in a different capacity. She told me that she knows she will need to represent every Alaskan, including those who know how to responsibly develop our lands. And she committed to me that she will make sure that we are doing all we can to ensure that your constituents have the opportunities that they need.

Given the early days of this administration, I have my doubts about whether that will be the case. But I have decided to support this nomination today, to support the first Native American who would hold this position, and with the expectation that Representative Haaland will be true to her wordnot just on matters relating to Native peoples, but also responsible resource development and every other issue.

I also fully anticipate that she will have a strong management team in place with people who understand the value of resource development from public lands. She needs thiswe need thiswithin the Department of Interior.

I am going to place my trust in Representative Haaland and her team, despite some very real misgivings. And Representative Haaland, if you are listening, know that I intend to work with you because I want you to be successful and need you to be successful, but I am also going to hold you to your commitments to ensure that Alaska is allowed to prosper.

U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski

Washington, D.C.

Clean Water Act protections needed for Bristol Bay

This is a letter to Michael Regan, Administrator- designate and Jane Nishida, Acting Administrator of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency dated March 1, 2021.

Dear EPA Administrator-designate Regan and Acting Administrator Nishida,

We write to you today requesting immediate action to ensure the Bristol Bay salmon fishery and the 14,000 men and women whose livelihoods depend on it are not destroyed by development of the proposed Pebble Mine in Bristol Bay, Alaskas headwaters. Bristol Bays commercial fishermen have been fighting the threat of the proposed Pebble Mine for over a decade now, still with no protections in place which would give our industry the assurances we need and deserve.

Bristol Bays commercial salmon fishery is unlike any other in both its volume of fish and number of renewable jobs. Its a thriving economic engine that supplies over half the worlds wild sockeye salmon and provides over 15,000 renewable jobs. Bristol Bay is a torch-bearer for sustainable fisheries management, boasting record returns over the past decade, following a record 135 years of commercial fishing of this incredible resource.

Its sustained a fishing tradition for generations of families throughout Alaska and the U.S. with Bristol Bay commercial fishing permit holders and crew hailing from nearly every US state. Unmatched in both size and sustainability, action under the Clean Water Act is needed and justified to ensure this $2.2 billion a year commercial fishing industry continues to thrive.

In spite of consistent findings by both the EPA and Army Corps of Engineers that the Pebble Mine would pose unacceptable adverse impacts to the Bristol Bay watershed and fisheries, the Bristol Bay region remains vulnerable to large-scale mining and the door remains open for the Pebble Mine to be developed. Without Clean Water Act 404(c) protections in place, Bristol Bay is not safe and Bristol Bays fishermen cannot rest.

We now have an opportunity to stop the Pebble Mine for good and put an end to the uncertainty that has been hanging over Alaskas fishing industry and the thousands of American fishing families who depend on Bristol Bay. We hope that you listen to the call from Bristol Bay tribes, fishermen, and others to establish Clean Water Act protections for Bristol Bay without delay. Please help us ensure that we can continue to provide our fellow Americans and the world with nutritious wild seafood and support our families for generations to come.

Commercial Fishermen for Bristol Bay Advisors; Katherine Carscallen, Hattie Albecker, Erica Madison, Heidi Dunlap, John Fairbanks, Michael Jackson, Michael Friccero, Holly Wysocki, Mark Niver

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Baku, Azerbaijan, Sept.3

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This year Azerbaijan mark 2 important milestones in the history of EU-Azerbaijan relations: the 20th anniversary of signing the Partnership and Cooperation Agreement in 1996 and the 10th anniversary of signing the MoU on a strategic partnership in the field of energy in 2006, Elmar Mammadyarov, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Azerbaijan said.

He made this statement at the Informal lunch of the EU member states with the Eastern partner countries in the margins of Gymnich.

According to him, over the last 2 decades, the EU-Azerbaijan cooperation has tremendously grown and gradually evolved into a large-scale partnership in many areas of shared interest. Both legal documents have greatly contributed to this process.

"We have obvious shared interests in a wide variety of areas and there is still much untapped potential in our cooperation. Submission of the draft Strategic Partnership Agreement (SPA) in the margins of Riga Summit was a clear signal reaffirming the importance that we attach to our bilateral relations. Development of long-term relationship with the EU and its Member States based on principles of equal partnership and mutual benefit is one of the key aspirations of Azerbaijans foreign policy", he said.



"We do believe that the SPA will provide a solid legal foundation for enhancing EU-Azerbaijan engagement in a most comprehensive manner and we look forward to launching official negotiations once the negotiating mandate is formally approved by the EUs Foreign Affairs Council. Let me, dear colleagues, express our expectation that it will occur soon. We are ready for intensive dialogue on upgrading our legal framework, which should reflect current realities and ambitions, and will promote EU-Azerbaijan bilateral cooperation for years to come", he added.

Mammadyarov noted that discussions held with Federica during her visit to Baku injected a new dynamism into EU-Azerbaijan interaction. The upcoming months seem to be promising ones in our bilateral political agenda, including the parliamentary dimension, and we will spare no efforts to keep that momentum going. The members of Parliamentary Cooperation Committee will pay a goodwill visit to Baku this month with the aim of reviving inter-parliamentary dialogue. We also look forward to the forthcoming visit of COEST mission to Baku as another opportunity to discuss issues of mutual interest with EU Member States.

"We stated that we were building our relations with the EU based on bilateral track of the Eastern Partnership, however we never excluded the potential and significance of its multilateral cooperation. We have always advocated for its realization through practical implementation of feasible and tangible projects in areas of shared interest, which could deliver concrete results through concrete actions based on concrete commitments. The timely implementation of the Southern Gas Corridor is of a strategic importance in this context. In our firm understanding, transport is another key area which could greatly advance mutually-beneficial cooperation among interested partners within the Eastern Partnership multilateral track.

However, inclusive multilateralism is hindered by protracted conflicts in the region. Territorial integrity and inviolability of borders of Azerbaijan is not less important than other EaP partners. We hail the EU's explicit support to these key principles in its recently adopted Global Strategy. The sooner withdrawal of Armenian armed forces from occupied territories will serve to the EU objectives in fostering regional cooperation in South Caucasus and beyond it", he said.
Gazprom CEO Alexey Miller said the company is interested in investments related to facilities for conversion of natural gas in Turkey under the scope of the Turkish Stream project, DailySabah reported.

Speaking to reporters in Vladivostok, Russia, Miller said they expect the necessary permissions from Turkey for the implementation of the Turkish Stream project in the near future.

"All the permissions issued earlier for the construction of the South Stream will be used by Gazprom for the Turkish Stream," Miller said. "We are interested in investments related to facilities for conversion of natural gas in Turkey, especially the natural gas consumption sector in western regions."

Moreover, in an interview with Bloomberg news agency yesterday, Russian President Vladimir Putin said that the Turkish Stream gas pipeline project will finish sooner or later. According to a post on the Kremlin's website, Putin said that they will ultimately at least put into practice the first segment, which is on transferrability and the increment of supply to the Turkish domestic market.

Energy and Natural Resources Minister Berat Albayrak held talks with Miller on Wednesday to discuss the Turkish Stream project and natural gas trading.

The Energy and Natural Resources Ministry announced earlier this week that Turkey and Russia have agreed to obtain the necessary permits for the realization of the Turkish Stream project. The ministry's statement revealed, "Both parties expressed mutual determination to take steps to guarantee Turkey's rights arising from the contract within the framework of the arbitration process, and resolve the question that led to this process." During one-on-one and inter-delegation meetings in Istanbul, the Russian and Turkish delegations addressed the issues of the Turkish Stream project, regional cooperation on energy and the arbitration process that Turkey initiated as part of its rights arising from the contract that it signed with Russia.

Albayrak welcomed Russian Gazprom CEO Alexey Miller and his entourage on Wednesday. The meeting that was held at the Dolmabahce Prime Ministry Office. Albayrak said, "We hope that our cooperation with Russia will be improved," adding that Turkish-Russian relations have reached a higher level since Aug. 9 than they were before the fighter jet crisis that started on Nov. 24, 2015. Stressing that Turkey and Russia will soon take more positive steps with respect to energy, Albayrak said Turkey is always looking to further improve cooperation.

Meanwhile, in the aftermath of the jet crisis last year between Turkey and Russia, the meeting between Russian President Vladimir Putin and President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Aug. 9 is regarded as the onset of a new era in terms of relations between the two countries, further fostering economic cooperation. In this respect, more concrete steps started being taken regarding the Akkuyu Nuclear Power Plant project - the first of three nuclear power plants Turkey currently plans to build in the southern province of Mersin along with the Russian state-owned nuclear energy company Rosatom, aside from Turkish Stream.

The Turkish Stream project is designed to transfer Russian natural gas to Europe via the Black Sea and Turkey. Under Russian state-owned energy giant Gazprom's plans, the Turkish Stream pipeline will be split into four lines with a total capacity of 63 billion cubic meters a year. In December 2014, Russia scrapped the South Stream pipeline project that would have transported natural gas to Europe via Bulgaria and brought forward the proposed four-line and 63 billion-cubic-meter project that will bypass Ukraine and stretch to the Turkish-Greek border through the Black Sea.
Defense helps Buckeyes rally, pull away for 44-31 win over Penn State

No. 2 Ohio State football used 34 decisive seconds midway the fourth quarter and then two knockout blows late for a 44-31 victory over Penn State.
Russia and Turkey could sign an intergovernmental agreement on the Turkish Stream gas project within one or two months, Russian Energy Minister Alexander Novak told journalists on Saturday, Sputnik reported.

The Turkish Stream project, which was planned to bring Russian gas via the Black Sea into Turkey and southern Europe, was suspended after a Russian Su-24 aircraft was downed by a Turkish F-16 fighter in Syria on November 24, 2015. In June, following Turkey's apology to Russia for the November incident, the sides began a reconciliation process.

On August 10, Gazprom's project management department official Anatoly Fayantsev said that the energy giant was willing to sign an intergovernmental agreement on the Turkish Stream with Turkey and was planning to update a roadmap for the halted project.

"We plan that within a month or two we will get to the signing of relevant documents so that the first line for the supply of gas to Turkish consumers could be implemented by the end of 2019," Novak said.

Gazprom CEO Alexei Miller said on Friday that a roadmap for the Turkish Stream was expected to be worked out in October and the intergovernmental agreement was expected within several months after that.
DogTipper.com is reader-supported; if you buy through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.

If you are planning a visit to The Windy City with your dog, you will be blown away by the new overnight package for guests with pets offered at The Kinzie Hotel.

Check out what the 215-room boutique retreat gives dog travelers who are checking in to The Kinzie Hotel in Chicago with the Pamper Your Pet package:

Rover will receive a customized welcome gift bag filled with swag, including gourmet treats, chew toys, a fashion forward I Explored Chicago bandana, doggie spa amenities, and complimentary copies of FIDO Friendly magazine and the hotels Pet Lovers Guide to the City.

After spending the day seeing the sights, Spot can dine and drink from his own dog food and water bowls, and dream of tomorrows adventures as he heads to the Land of Nod on a comfortable doggie bed.

Offering pups a taste of the good life, a chef-crafted In-Room Doggie Delights Dining Menu is available for breakfast, lunch or dinner (with a complimentary first meal of the day).

A free photo shoot of dogs and their pet parents snapped by the Kenzie Pet Concierge at a Chicago landmark like the Wrigley Building, the Chicago Theatre or Michigan Avenue bridge, which are all within walking distance of The Kinzie Hotel.

Add-ons to the Pamper Your Pooch package can also be arranged, with pet-friendly businesses offering everything from dog cruising to dog walking.

A hotel with a lot of heart, The Kinzie launched the Pamper Your Pooch package on National Dog Day with an outdoor adopt-a-thon, and continues its commitment to help canines in need through two initiatives. Partial proceeds from each Pamper Your Pooch package sold will benefit ALIVE Rescue, a Chicago non-profit which has been saving the lives of homeless companion animals since its start in 2008. Kinzies Facebook fans can help shine a spotlight on the option of pet adoption by sharing the hotels rescue Dog of the Month via social media.

Rates are subject to nightly service fee. A $50 pet fee is included in the rate.

The Kinzie Hotel is located at 20 West Kinzie Street in Chicago, Illinois.

For more information:

Photo Credit: Kinzie Hotel
India and Egypt on Friday decided to significantly step up their defence and security cooperation to effectively deal with the twin challenges of terrorism and radicalisation as Prime Minister Narendra Modi and visiting Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi held talks covering the entire expanse of ties. With both India and Egypt engaged in fighting terrorism, the two leaders identified the menace as one of the ''gravest threats'' and decided to have greater information and operational exchanges to combat it, besides ramping up defence cooperation. ''We are of one view that growing radicalisation, violence and spread of terror are a real threat across regions,'' Modi said after talks with the President of the strategically located country which is a crucial link between northeast Africa and the Middle East. The two countries also decided to expand trade and commercial ties holding that there are huge opportunities to exploit untapped economic opportunities in the two countries. A memorandum of understanding on maritime shipping was also signed. Prime Minister Modi said the two countries agreed on an ''action-oriented agenda'' to drive the engagements in a range of sectors, apart from deciding to expand defence trade, training and capacity building. Sisi, who arrived in India on Thursday on a three-day visit, said his government will work towards a robust security cooperation with India besides laying out a roadmap for intensification of bilateral trade and investment cooperation. ''The two leaders strongly condemned terrorism in all its forms and manifestations. They considered terrorism to be one of the gravest threats to international peace and security. They reaffirmed their resolve to strengthen cooperation in combating terrorism at all levels. ''They also reaffirmed their resolve to work together at UN on concluding the Comprehensive Convention on International Terrorism (CCIT),'' a joint statement issued after the talks said. The Prime Minister, in his statement to the media, said the 1.25 billion people of India are happy that the Egyptian President is in India and that both of them have agreed to build on multiple pillars of cooperation between the two sides. Calling the talks very productive, Sisi said a large number of issues ranging from tackling terror, expanding trade ties to dealing with challenge of climate change were deliberated upon, adding that there was ''major convergence'' of views on them. The two leaders welcomed the recent exchanges on security cooperation and counter-terrorism at the level of National Security Adviser and the conclusion of a memorandum for cooperation between the two National Security Councils. In his comments, Modi hailed Sisi as a ''man of many achievements'' and said Egypt, a natural bridge connecting Asia with Africa, has always ''championed'' causes of developing countries. Referring to defence ties, the two leaders expressed their satisfaction that defence cooperation is taking place through regular exchanges and welcomed deepening and expansion of defence relations through high level visits, training, exercises, transit facilities, and hardware cooperation. In the meeting, Sisi appreciated Modi's gesture of supplying 20,000 MT of rice to Egypt at ''friendship price'' last month. The two leaders agreed to maintain the spirit of friendship and extend cooperation in other food items as well. On climate change, the two leaders highlighted the importance of a global approach based on the principles and provisions of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) and its Paris Agreement. Referring to trade, the joint statement said the two leaders welcomed the expansion of Indian investment in Egypt, which is currently about $3 billion, and agreed to encourage companies and corporations from their respective countries. ''Modi welcomed Egyptian investments in India under the 'Make in India' initiative, in the manufacturing and services sectors. President al-Sisi invited Indian participation in the Suez Canal Economic Zone, particularly in sectors such as petro-chemicals, energy and agriculture,'' it said. Sisi extended an invitation to President Pranab Mukherjee and Prime Minister Modi to visit Egypt at a mutually convenient time, which was gladly accepted, the statement said.








Home Four wheelers Here's How The Un-insured Koenigsegg Bit Dust In Mexico oi-Abijith Vilangil

An ultra-rare Koenigsegg CCX has been totalled in Mexico yesterday, but, before we get down to the whole story, we've to warn you that its details might sound like it's from a James Bond movie.

{photo-feature}
Home Four wheelers Raid On Mitsubishi Motors HQ Over Cheating Scandal oi-Kennedy Paul

Mitsubishi Motors Corp. were scrutinised further on the mileage cheating scandal which hit the Japanese automaker earlier this year. The Transport ministry officials of Japan raided the headquarters of Mitsubishi allegedly for cheating on the mileage of eight more models.

{photo-feature}
Russian Energy Minister Alexander Novak said Saturday that an agreement to freeze oil production levels could be worked out at the forthcoming meeting of the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) in Algeria, Sputnik reported.

On September 26-28, representatives of 73 member states of the International Energy Forum (IEF) are set to meet in the Algerian capital to discuss oil-related issues. OPEC members are expected to hold informal consultations on the sidelines of the IEF summit.

"In regard to the discussion of the situation in general, within its framework different proposals could be worked out," Novak said speaking about the possibility to freeze oil output during the upcoming meeting.

"This issue would be worked out in the course of monitoring."

The minister said that Russia was open for proposals to coordinate its efforts with other oil producing states.

"We adhere to the position that our doors are always open in regard to the issues related to monitoring and coordination of activities, because the market situation is still complicated and it has not stabilized in the last two years taking into consideration the decrease in prices. I think that within the framework of the ministerial meeting, which will be held on the sidelines of the International Energy Forum, we will be able to discuss the situation with the colleagues."

Global oversupply and stagnating demand have caused oil prices to plunge from $115 per barrel in June 2014 to less than $30 per barrel in January 2016. Prices recovered amid Nigeria and Venezuela's output outages and growing demand in May, peaking at over $50 per barrel in early June.
A new campaign was launched to combat the problem of farm related crime and thefts has the backing of Louth IFA.

Every year thousands of tools, vehicles and farm machinery and equipment are stolen from farms throughout Ireland.

Since 2010, over 28,642 farm related crime incidents have been reported to Garda, including burglaries and vehicle, machinery and equipment theft, according to the latest CSO figures. T

The most common incidents are thefts from farm yards, with over 2,000 incidents being reported every year since 2010. The next most common occurrence is theft from outhouses or sheds, followed by burglary.

Jointly organised by Crimestoppers, the Irish Farmers Association, an Garda Siochana and DoneDeal the campaign is aiming to raise awareness among the public and in particular those in the farming community, of the issue of thefts from farms.

This initiative follows the joint campaign run by Crimestoppers and the IFA last year to combat livestock theft.

Farmers in Louth are being reminded to sign up to the TheftStop scheme at www.theftstop.ie).
Baku, Azerbaijan, Sept. 1



By Aygun Badalova - Trend:



National Iranian Oil Co. (NIOC) has pushed back the launch date for a new heavy crude grade to the end of this year, a source at the state-run firm told International Oil Daily (IOD).



The new grade, known as West Karoon, was due to debut by mid-2016 but the launch has been delayed to allow more time for work on a marketing strategy and tests by refiners, as well as a ramp-up in output at the fields that will produce the stream.



"We still don't export West Karoon crude separately, but hopefully from year-end," the source said.



West Karoon block includes North and South Azadegan, Yadavaran and North and South Yaran fields with 64 billion barrels of reserves, which currently share about 6 percent in the country's total crude oil production. All of the mentioned fields are joint ones with Iraq.



The grade is expected to be offered to Indian and European refiners with facilities to process heavy crudes, and it will compete with Iraq's Basrah Heavy.



"It is close to Basrah Heavy and in India there has been much interest," the NIOC source said.



Earlier Iranian official told Trend on condition of anonymity that the output of the mentioned five projects would reach 700,000 barrels per day by 2018.



Currently Iran produces 3.65 million barrels per day (mb/d), about 0.85 mb/d more than during the sanctions era and still about 0.2 mb/d less than during the pre-sanctions level.



"Currently, the Yadavaran and North Azadegan produces 175,000 b/d in the first phase and we are preparing to develop the second phase with Chinese Sinopec and CNPC's cooperation respectively," said the official.
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Baku, Azerbaijan, Sept. 3

By Elena Kosolapova  Trend:

The Azerbaijani state oil company SOCAR is supplying liquefied natural gas to new buyers, Bloomberg reported.

SOCAR will possibly start pure trading in the next five years, Arzu Azimov, chief executive officer of Geneva-based Socar Trading, said in an interview with Bloomberg.

Until then it will focus on projects that involve using LNG to generate power in nations from Africa to southeast Asia, he said.

According to the message, SOCAR is hoping to benefit from emerging nations rising power demand, which the International Energy Agency expects to more than double by 2040.

A 46 percent drop in benchmark Asian spot LNG since 2015 and an anticipated jump of 45 percent in supply by 2021 has made the fuel attractive to users that lack pipelines to import gas to produce electricity, the message said.

When supply rises, people see lower prices, see this resource as more attractive and invest in infrastructure to consume it, Azimov said.

SOCAR, which only trades crude and oil products, is participating in tenders for projects to build a power plant together with a regasification and storage facility, both as an equity holder and an LNG supplier, Azimov said.

He added that the company, which doesnt produce its own LNG, is a shareholder in and sole supplier to a project nearing completion in Malta.

The plants construction costs 175 million euros and its capacity will allow meeting up to 50 percent of Maltas electricity demand.

Headquartered in Geneva, SOCAR Trading was incorporated in December 2007 as the marketing arm of SOCAR with a mandate to market Azerbaijani barrels produced from the Azeri-Chirag-Guneshli field and other surrounding fields in Azerbaijan.

Follow the author on Twitter: @E_Kosolapova
What is fracking?

Fracking is a process of blasting water, chemicals and frac sand deep into the earth to break up sedimentary rock and access natural gas and crude oil deposits. The fracking industry, which has sought to promote the practice as safe and controlled, has preferred the term hydraulic fracturing.

Fracking emerged as an unconventional, relatively new and extremely popular technique only about 20 years ago in the U.S., after advances in technology gave it an unprecedented ability to identify and extract massive amounts of resources efficiently.

Fracking is one of the most important environmental issues today, and its a prime example of how a new technology that offers immediate economic and political benefits can outpace (often less obvious) environmental and health concerns.

Why is fracking so controversial?

Modern fracking emerged so quickly, faster than its impacts were understood. Just as importantly, once scientists, health experts and the public started to object with evidence of harm it was causing, business and government succeeded in perpetuating a message of uncertainty, that more research was necessary, further enabling the full speed ahead fracking juggernaut.

How does fracking impact the environment?

Frackings supporters have pushed an environmental angle, insisting that natural gas can be a bridge fuel, a cheaper, cleaner option than coal before we have a large-scale transition to renewable energy. This claim has some merit, as natural gas does emit much less carbon dioxide than coal or oil. However, it is still a fossil fuel, adding harmful emissions while the climate crisis worsens. Moreover, fracking wells leak methane, a greenhouse gas more than 25 times more potent than CO2.

Water



In order to break up rock formations one to two miles deep, a fracking operation requires millions of gallons amount of water. After its used, the resulting wastewater, which contains chemicals is pumped back into injection wells, sent to treatment plants, or can be dangerously dumped or spilled.

In 2016 the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) released a report skewed friendly to industry in its language: Hydraulic Fracturing for Oil and Gas: Impacts from the Hydraulic Fracturing Water Cycle on Drinking Water Resources in the United States. The EPA acknowledged that drinking water contamination was possible, but ultimately came to this conclusion: Data gaps and uncertainties limited EPAs ability to fully assess the potential impacts on drinking water resources locally and nationally.

Earthquakes



According to the U.S. Geologic Survey, disposal of wastewater has caused an increase in earthquakes in the central U.S. Seismologists have reported that frackings initial blasting process can trigger earthquakes.

Air Pollution

In addition to methane, fracking releases many toxic contaminants into the air. EPA has acknowledged the public health threat, but a lack of urgent political pressure has sidelined the agency into advising on ways to control and reduce, rather than eliminate, the danger.

Toxic Chemicals



Fracking fluids contain unknown chemicals and known carcinogens such as benzene. Fracking companies havent been required to disclose their proprietary formulas, however. This is yet another example of how uncertainty serves as an enabling force. The EPA has identified more than 1,000 different chemicals used in fracking fluid.

Wildlife



Fracking can destroy wildlife habitats, pollute rivers and fisheries, poison birds, and use up water supplies that animals need to survive.

How does fracking affect the economy?



The fracking boom made the U.S. the worlds largest producer of oil and gas, reducing its energy imports from 26% to less than 4%. It has lowered oil and gas prices and created thousands of industry jobs. While fracking companies profited greatly at first, as prices dropped their margins collapsed. Many are now going bankrupt.

How is fracking regulated?



Congress has enabled the oil and gas industry to be exempt from such regulations as the Clean Air Act, the Clean Water Act, and the Safe Drinking Water Act.

Fracking surged during the Obama administration, which moved to protect water from fracking on federal lands in 2015. Subsequently, the Trump administration sought to roll back protections and expand fracking on federal lands.

Key Examples of Fracking in the United States

Pennsylvania

Pennsylvanias Marcellus Shale is the source for about 40% of shale gas production in the U.S.

New York

While the Marcellus Shale also runs through New York, the state has banned fracking.

Texas

Texas produces more crude oil than any other state.

North Dakota

The Bakken Shale in North Dakota has been one of the main sites for the fracking boom and subsequent bust, leaving behind extensive environmental damage.

A recent report found that all 50 states could provide 100% (or even greater) in-state renewable energy.

Other Countries



Outside the U.S., only Canada, China and Argentina have commercial fracking operations. A UN report in 2018 said that other countries were highly unlikely to produce at such a large scale as the U.S., due to political and cultural factors, and existing infrastructure.

The Future of Fracking

While renewables were considered a solution for peak oil only a decade ago, fracking changed the terms of the debate, with a new focus from environmentalists to keep it in the ground starting in 2015.

The Biden administration now stands at a pivotal moment in the climate crisis. Bidens stance on fracking is not yet entirely clear, but he has rejoined the Paris agreement and appears to take climate seriously. At the same time, he is sympathetic to workers in fossil fuel industries, was vice president during the fracking boom years under Obama, and may be more inclined to seek a gradual transition than one fast enough to help solve the crisis.
What Is Ocean Bound Plastic?



Ocean bound plastic is plastic waste that is headed toward our oceans. The term ocean bound plastic was popularized by Jenna Jambeck, Ph.D., a professor from the University of Georgia. In 2015, she and a team of researchers estimated the amount of plastic waste entering the ocean from land.

Addressing ocean bound plastic is a key element to ocean conservation. Around 80% of plastic in the ocean can be sourced back to ocean bound plastic. Plastics that end up near bodies of water such as rivers are at risk of ending up in the ocean. Other plastic can reach the sea through sewage systems or storms.

For example, in 2011, after the 2011 Tohoku tsunami and earthquake hit Japan, around 5 million tons of debris ended up in the ocean. Some of the debris sank while some ended up on the U.S. west coast. Additionally, trash and plastic can come from ships or offshore platforms. However, decades ago, countries dumped their waste directly into the sea. In the U.S. this was outlawed in 1988 in the Ocean Dumping Ban Act of 1988.

Plastic waste is a huge threat to our Earth, and diverting ocean bound plastic is one way we can do better to help the environment.

Fishes swim near a plastic fork and a bottle at the Samandag Cevlik Akcay diving site off the coasts of Samandag, near the Turkey  Syria border, in Hatay province of Turkey on December 6, 2018. Sebnem Coskun / Anadolu Agency / Getty Images

How Much Plastic Is in the Ocean?



Each year, despite conservation efforts, 8 million tons of plastic reaches our oceans to meet the 150 million metric tons of plastic that already exists in marine environments. According to the Smithsonian, as of 2016, we produce around 335 million metric tons of plastic each year. Half of this plastic is single-use. Of the plastic we use globally, only around 9% of it gets properly recycled.

To create a mental picture of just how much plastic ends up in our oceans, imagine a garbage truck the size of New York City depositing its garbage into the ocean every minute of every day for a whole year. If this doesnt frighten you enough, the amount of plastic that will be produced and consumed is supposed to double over the course of the next ten years. If nothing is done to address plastic consumption, and the aftermath, there could be over 250 million metric tons of plastic in our oceans in ten years.

Even if you dont live on a coast, the plastic you throw away can still end up in the ocean. According to the World Wildlife Fund, plastic ends up in the ocean when its thrown away instead of recycled, when its littered on land, and when products we use are flushed down the drain or toilet. Additionally, cosmetic or cleaning products that contain parabens or microplastic beads can be washed into the ocean.

What Type of Plastic Is in the Ocean?

Plastic is not biodegradable, and it doesnt decompose. Many plastics are made only to be used one time, where they are then thrown out; theyre known as single-use plastic.

During the 2017 International Coastal Cleanup, the top kinds of plastics that were collected included wrappers, bottles, grocery bags, take-out containers  and the infamous plastic straws. These types of plastics and others combine into a category scientists call microplastics. According to the National Ocean Service, microplastics are the multi-colored pieces of plastic that can be found in a handful of sand on the beach or in the ocean.

Around 12% of plastic is incinerated  leaving 80% to end up in landfills. A 2014 study found that there are around 244,000 metric tons of plastic floating in our oceans. Out of the 244,000 tons found in the ocean, around 79,000 tons can be found in the Great Pacific Garbage Patch, a mass of floating debris thats twice the size of Texas.

Reducing our individual plastic footprint is important. However, most plastic pollution comes from large corporations. Corporations need to address their production processes, waste management, and how their operation can have an impact on the environment. Large corporations address their mass production of single-use plastics by shifting the responsibility of sustainable disposal onto the consumer.

According to Greenpeace.org, some of the brands that contribute to a large amount of plastic waste include Coca-Cola, PepsiCo, Nestle, Unilever, and Colgate-Palmolive. The soft drink industry in particular creates tons of plastic waste. In 2016, Coca-Cola produced over 110 billion single-use plastic bottles.

The Problems With Ocean Plastic

Plastics floating and polluting the ocean only scratches the surface of issues it causes  it impacts all of marine life, people, and Earths climate.

Marine Life

Animals are impacted by the plastic we use and dispose of. Ocean plastic has already affected 267 species, and 86% of sea turtles. They can suffocate, drown, or get entangled in plastic, or even ingest it. Some species such as birds, fish, turtles, and whales can mistake plastic for prey, according to the International Union for Conservation of Nature. When marine life ingests plastic, they can die of starvation because their stomachs are filled with plastic debris. Marine life can be cut by plastic, and also receive internal injuries. Seabirds are known for feeding on the oceans surface, making them more likely to ingest floating plastic debris. Adult seabirds go to feed their young, and their chicks feed on this plastic: One study from 1997, conducted by Albatross Biology and Conservation, found that around 98% of chicks sampled had plastic in them, and the amount of plastic has been increasing over time.

Additionally, plastic debris can promote the spread of invasive organisms, further hurting marine ecosystems; floating plastics get carried out to sea through ocean currents.

Food and Health

Plastic debris doesnt only harm the oceans wildlife  its affecting the human food chain, too. Microscopic plastic has been found in various foods and beverages, including water, beer and, salt. A 2008 Pacific Gyre voyage found that fish ingest plastic debris. Algalita researchers caught 672 fish, and 35% of the fish had eaten plastic pieces.

Climate Change

In a report released by Yale Climate Connections, Claire Arkin, communications coordinator for the Global Alliance for Incinerator Alternatives said, Plastic pollution is not just an oceans issue. Its a climate issue and its a human health issue.

As of 2019, 4 to 8% of global oil consumption is linked to plastics, according to the World Economic Forum. If this persists, by 2050, plastics will account for 20% of oil consumption. Plastic, as a petroleum product, is inextricably linked to the fossil fuel industry: the extraction and transportation of fossil fuels releases carbon into the atmosphere, contributing further to the warming of our planet. Additionally, when plastic waste is incinerated, the process releases more carbon dioxide into the atmosphere.

The Human Impact

This rare Critically Endangered Hawksbill Sea Turtle (Eretmochelys imbricata) is entangled in discarded fishing net aka Ghost nets. Placebo365 / iStock Unreleased / Getty Images

Plastic reaching the ocean is largely due to human consumption. Companies that use plastic packaging, and oil companies, are part of the problem when it comes to plastic accumulating in our oceans. Individual littering of plastic is another contributor, as well as the improper disposal or accidental losing of fishing gear in the ocean.

Improper Disposal of Fishing Gear



According to a report from Greenpeace.org, fishing gear is the largest contributor to ocean plastic pollution. Commercial fishing gear including nets, lines, pots, and traps gets discarded into the ocean. The lost gear weighs the same as 55,000 double-decker buses, according to The Guardian.

Abandoned fishing gear, also known as ghost gear, has the potential to trap marine life. In 2015, an 80-foot blue whale was caught in an abandoned fishing line. Not only does lost fishing gear make up a significant portion of all ocean plastic, around 10%, but its also the deadliest to marine life, including coral, sessile animals, and vegetation.

Abandoned gillnets have caused the vaquita porpoise to near extinction, in the upper Gulf of California and Mexico; around 10 vaquita porpoises remain.

In addition to environmental impacts, ghost gear can affect the economy negatively. Some studies estimate around 90% of the species caught in abandoned gear are commercially valued.

Solutions to Minimizing Ghost Gear

Although the statistics may seem grim, there are ways to prevent fishing gear from ending up in the sea and harming marine life.

One way to prevent ghost gear from entering our oceans is through recycling. Fishermen should return no longer useful traps and nets to a port, rather than discarding the materials into the ocean. There are ports in Massachusetts, Oregon, and Rhode Island that offer recycling programs; more recycling facilities at ports could help minimize littered fishing gear.

The use of biodegradable fishing nets is on the rise. According to a study published in Animal Conservation, there are encouraging tests that show the utility and effectiveness biodegradable nets may have. A net made of polybutylene succinate and polybutylene adipate-co-terephthalate showed promising results when compared to traditional nets used for fishing. The study showed that these biodegradable nets started to decompose after two years.

Clean-ups are another way to get abandoned fishing gear out of the ocean. There are organizations that specialize in retrieving discarded nets from the ocean. The Ghost Fishing Foundation has scuba divers retrieve floating fishing gear. Occasionally, the foundation will use cranes to pull out large pieces of netting.

Littering

Around 80% of marine debris and pollution is plastic, according to Pew Research. Marine litter mostly stems from unsustainable methods of production, as well as high consumption rates, and a lack of solid waste management infrastructure. Most of the plastic litter on Earth and in our oceans can be linked back to just a small number of multinational corporations.

According to an EPA report, every bit of plastic ever made still exists. The Plastic Disclosure Project estimated that 33% of all manufactured plastic is only used once. In 2018, only 8.7 percent of plastic was recycled. Although individuals should do their part to keep our planet and oceans clean, a small number of multinational corporations are to blame for the majority of littered plastic.

What Is Being Done to Help?

Greenpeace activists assembled two life-size reproductions of two whales that emerge from a sea invaded by disposable plastic waste, in the center of Rome, to denounce how our seas and the species living in them are in grave danger due to plastic pollution in 2018. Stefano Montesi / Getty Images

An elementary concept to positively impacting the environment is the buzz phrase, reduce, reuse, recycle. What this phrase fails to consider is that what will make the largest impact in helping our environment is to hold large corporations accountable. According to Greenpeace.org, recycling alone will never solve the plastic and pollution crisis our society is facing.

Organizations



Many organizations are addressing the ongoing and ever-growing issue of ocean pollution. For example, The Ocean Cleanup, a non-profit aimed at ridding the ocean of plastic, is developing advanced technologies that are contributing to the largest ocean cleanup in history. The non-profits goal is to clean up 90% of floating ocean plastic pollution.

Plastic Oceans International is another organization that produces films and digital content in order to promote a global movement to rethink plastic. They also engage and teach students about the effects of plastic pollution and how they can contribute to ocean conservation.

Plastic Bank aims to not only stop ocean plastic but improve the lives of people who live in the poorest countries around the globe. The organization builds recycling ecosystems and processes the materials, so they can then be reintroduced to the economy through the global manufacturing supply chain.

One organization, Plastic Soup Foundation, aims not only to remove plastic from our oceans but also prevent plastic from reaching the sea in the first place. When it was founded, the organization had a heavy focus on protecting marine life, but the organization has expanded its priorities and aims to educate people on the potentially harmful effects marine plastic has on human health.

Indian residents walk past as they look at a large-scale sculpture of a killer whale made of single-use plastic and 40,000 plastic bottle caps being displayed to raise awareness on ocean contamination at Elliots beach in Chennai on May 11, 2019. ARUN SANKAR / AFP / Getty Images

Legislation



Some legislation helps to protect the oceans, and minimize plastic production and consumption. In the U.S, eight states have banned the use of single-use plastic bags, and more are hoping to in the coming years, including Connecticut and Virginia. Washington, DC implemented a ban on plastic straws on Jan. 1, 2019.

The Marine Debris Research, Prevention, and Reduction Act established programs in tandem with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and the United States Coast Guard. The programs help to determine sources of marine debris and how to reduce and prevent it.

Policies such as The Shore Protection Act, established in the U.S. in 1988, help to prevent the illegal dumping of waste off the coast. In 1967, a supertanker named Torrey Canyon spilled nearly 120,000 tons of oil into the ocean; it was the worlds first major oil tank disaster. Because of this incident, the Act to Prevent Pollution from Ships, passed in the U.S., most recently has been amended to regulate air pollution. It also regulates and limits the amount of nitrogen oxide levels, as well as requiring ships to use fuel with low sulfur content.

While these laws help to reduce pollution in our oceans, none of the laws listed are a cure-all, and many of them havent been amended in decades. Some conservation organizations are fighting for more rigorous laws, regulations, and policies to keep our oceans plastic-free.

What Can You Do?

Although large corporations are responsible for a majority of plastic waste ending up in the oceans, there are still things to be done on an individual level to help keep our oceans clean.

Reduce, Reuse & Recycle

Something everyone can do to contribute to the fight against ocean plastic pollution is to resist and reduce the use of single-use plastics. From plastic bags and bottles to plastic utensils, reducing your use of these plastics is a relatively easy step in limiting your plastic footprint.

When grocery shopping, bring your own reusable grocery bags. These bags are widely available and will last you a long time. Instead of using thin plastic produce bags, opt for reusable produce bags as well. Implementing the use of these reusable products will make you a more sustainable grocery shopper. There are incentives for altering your plastic consumption as well. At Target, for each reusable grocery bag you use, you get a 5 cent discount.

In recent years, Starbucks has made the switch to strawless drinking lids for their cold beverages. However, if you enjoy drinking out of straws, or want to prevent teeth staining, try using metal or reusable straws. Theyre widely available and easy to clean, and you can use them hundreds of times. Before the pandemic, Starbucks also started implementing reusable cups and tumblers. This way, when you make your coffee run, you dont have to use any single-use plastic. When you bring your own cup, you get a 10-cent discount. The program should continue when health authorities deem its safe to do so.

Other major chains have similar programs where you can bring your own cup or tumbler, including Dunkin, Panera Bread, Einstein Bros. Bagels, Caribou Coffee, Peets Coffee, and more.

Another ocean contaminant is microbeads and parabens. These are found in cosmetic products like face washes, toothpaste, and body washes. If you look at the ingredient list and see polyethylene or polypropylene, the product contains harmful microbeads, and you should avoid it.

When you grab some food to go, many restaurants will put your food in styrofoam containers, and then throw it in a plastic bag, and then go even further by supplying a bunch of paper napkins and plastic utensils. You can buy reusable utensils that are meant for traveling so you can skip the plastic utensils.

A more creative way to limit the amount of plastic you use is to buy in bulk. Singe-serving foods multiply waste. When youre grocery shopping, opt for a large tub of yogurt, instead of many small, single-serving yogurts. Buy trail mix that comes in one container, rather than many individually wrapped little ones. Buying products that you routinely use and consume in bulk can make a big difference.

When you forget your reusable bag or cup and have to use single-use plastic, you can help the environment and the oceans by recycling it properly. Be sure to be in the know about what types of plastics can be recycled in your community. If youre unsure of what you can and cannot recycle in your town, check out Earth911s recycling directory.

Engage in Cleanups

Employees from the organization 4Ocean clean Balis beaches daily from plastic Bali has long grappled with plastic pollution both on land and in its seas. Jonas Gratzer / LightRocket / Getty Images

Another tangible way to help is by physically removing plastic from the ocean and beaches by participating in a cleanup. If there are no cleanups in your community, organize your own. There are also larger cleanup events such as the International Coastal Cleanup that you can be a part of. Whether its with an organization or your friends and family, participating in a cleanup is a simple way to help collect plastic waste from marine communities.

Donate

There are a variety of organizations that aim to reduce the amount of plastic in our oceans, in creative, technologically advanced ways. Many of these organizations are non-profits and rely heavily on donations to continue to do important environmental work. Making a donation, even if its small, will help these organizations to continue to clean up and conserve our oceans.

Takeaway

Plastic debris floating in our oceans doesnt just affect the marine wildlife and plant species  it affects all of us. If action isnt taken now, there will be catastrophic consequences.

Plastic already kills over 100 million ocean animals each year; this number will only increase as time goes on.

Fish are being over-harvested already, but with many fish species dying off, and more fish consuming plastic, the fishing industry as we know it may not survive if incessant ocean pollution continues. This affects the entire food chain and will affect many fishermens livelihoods.

Ocean pollution is a huge threat to the overall biodiversity of our oceans. For example, coral reefs DNA can be altered from ocean pollution. Many fish and marine life rely on coral reefs for survival. If fish can no longer live in coral reefs, they wont gather in the same areas, affecting the land wildlife on the shore who fish for food. If the land animals cannot feed on fish, they may venture into new hunting territories, putting them at risk of being attacked by unfamiliar predators, which can then lead to extinction.

The impact of ocean plastic extends beyond marine life. If marine animals are affected, land animals will be affected and humans will be affected. The pollution of the oceans sets off a domino effect on the greater environment.

Oceans make up 71% of our Earth. If the sea isnt healthy and thriving, the majority of our planet isnt. Ocean plastics are a major threat to the health and well-being of all living species on Earth.

Audrey Nakagawa is the content creator intern at EcoWatch. She is a senior at James Madison University studying Media, Art, and Design, with a concentration in journalism. Shes a reporter for The Breeze in the culture section and writes features on Harrisonburg artists, album reviews, and topics related to mental health and the environment. She was also a contributor for Virginia Reports where she reported on the impact that COVID-19 had on college students.
There is one masterpiece, the hexagonal cell, that touches perfection. No living creature, not even man, has achieved, in the center of his sphere, what the bee has achieved in her own: and were some one from another world to descend and ask of the earth the most perfect creation of the logic of life, we should needs have to offer the humble comb of honey.  Maurice Maeterlinck, The Life of the Bee, 1924.

What is the most important animal to humans? In prehistoric times, the dog helped transform early hunter-gatherers into apex predators. Later, human civilization was built on the backs of horses. But starting around 11,500 years ago, when humans began making permanent settlements and invented agriculture, bees emerged as the most critical animal to human survival.

Worker bees on honeycomb cells. Photo credit: Shutterstock

By pollinating crops around the world, honeybees feed more than 7 billion people today. Most of the food that we eat (and all of our cotton) is produced in part by the hard work of bees. In her 2011 book The Beekeepers Lament, journalist Hannah Nordhaus described honeybees as the glue that holds our agricultural system together.

The importance of bees isnt limited to humans, of course. By promoting the reproduction of angiosperms or flowering plants, bees are also central to survival of countless other animal species that rely on those plants and their fruits to survive. In fact, Earths entire planetary ecology has been shaped by bees. Since they first evolved from wasps some 100 million years ago, bees have driven the evolution of plant life.

Sadly, in recent times, we have not treated our bee friends well. The use of pesticidesneonicotinoids in particular, which are commonly used on corn, soybean, canola and cereal, as well as many fruits and vegetableshave killed an estimated 250 million bees in a just a few years. Applied to plants, neonics travel through the plants vascular system and appear in roots, pollen and nectar that then are transferred to bees and their colonies, as well as other untargeted and vulnerable species, from earthworms to birds and even bats.

In a 2012 interview, conservation biologist and bee expert Dr. Reese Halter, host of the PBS Nature television series Dr. Reeses Planet, said, The bees are trying to tell us something very clearly. The way we are operating  isnt working. Weve lost a quarter of a trillion honeybees, which have died prematurely in the last four years. This dramatic decline of the bee population has been ascribed to Colony Collapse Disorder (CCD), a combination of deadly effects, including pathogens, parasites and pesticides that have been decimating beehives since at least 2006.

Bee colony decline in the U.S. Photo credit: U.S. Department of Agriculture

Last month, the Bee Informed Partnership, an academic non-profit supported by the U.S. Department of Agriculture and the National Institute of Food and Agriculture, released the results of its annual survey of more than 6,000 American beekeepers. They found that northern beekeepers lost almost half (48 percent) of their managed colonies between April 2014 and April 2015. Southern beekeepers lost 37 percent of their colonies over the same period.

Killing bees, Killing Ourselves

A growing body of scientific evidence has pointed to one of the culprits of bee deaths: a nicotine-based class of pesticides known as neonicotinoids, also called neonics. In January, an international multidisciplinary team of 30 scientists, the Task Force on Systemic Pesticides, reviewed 1,121 peer-reviewed papers published over the past five years, including those sponsored by industry. In their report, the Worldwide Integrated Assessment of the Impact of Systemic Pesticides on Biodiversity and Ecosystems (WIA), the scientists concluded that current large-scale prophylactic use of systemic insecticides is having significant unintended negative ecological consequences.

Specifically, they found that, at field-realistic levels of pollution, neonicotinoids  generally have negative effects on physiology and survival for a wide range of non-target invertebrates in terrestrial, aquatic, marine and benthic habitats. Put simply, neonics kill a whole range of species beyond bees that are necessary for healthy, functioning ecosystems, such as butterflies (which also act as pollinators), earthworms and snails (both of which help maintain soil health).

Moreover, the scientists stated, Imidalcloprid [a neonic, the most widely used insecticide in the world] and fipronil [an insecticide belonging to the phenylpyrazol family] were found to be toxic to many birds and most fish, respectively. They also concluded that imidacloprid, fipronil and clothianidin (a neonic) exert sub-lethal effects, ranging from genotoxic and cytotoxic effects and impaired immune function, to reduced growth and reproductive success, often at concentrations well below those associated with mortality. Use of imidacloprid and clothianidin as seed treatments on some crops poses risks to small birds and ingestion of even a few treated seeds could cause mortality or reproductive impairment to sensitive bird species.

We have clearly not learned the lessons of pioneering conservationist Rachel Carson, who wrote in her seminal 1962 book Silent Spring, Can anyone believe it is possible to lay down such a barrage of poisons on the surface of the earth without making it unfit for all life? They should not be called insecticides, but biocides.'

Battle Lines Drawn

Six months after the WIA report came out, the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC), a nonprofit environmental advocacy group based in New York, filed a legal petition with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) asking the agency to withdraw its approval of neonics. The petition said:

Given mounting scientific evidence that neonicotinoids are toxic to bees and threaten both individual and population survival, the agency should also initiate cancellation proceedings for all neonicotinoid pesticide products, beginning with those for which safer alternatives are available. In the meantime, however, EPA should take immediate steps to protect bees and to prevent ongoing adverse effects on the environment. EPA shouldat a minimumimmediately initiate interim administrative review to evaluate the serious threat that neonicotinoids pose to bees.

Unlike traditional pesticides that are typically applied to a plants surface, neonicotinoids are systemic pesticides that are absorbed into plant tissue, turning a plant into a tiny poison factory that emits toxins from its pollen down to its roots, writes toxicologist Jennifer Sass, an expert on U.S. chemical policy who serves as a senior scientist in NRDCs health program. As non-selective pesticides, neonicotinoids do not discriminate between target and non-target insect species, including beneficial pollinators.

Bee activists rally in Toronto, Canada, on May 25, 2013. Photo credit: Shutterstock

We are still awaiting a response from EPA, Dr. Sass told AlterNet. So far they have neither responded to our petition or taken any final action.

Bee colony decline in Europe. Photo credit: Simon G. Potts

Last year, Canadian beekeepers filed a class action lawsuit against pesticide giants Bayer and Syngenta, seeking $400 million in damages. The plaintiffs claim that the firms were negligent in their design and development of the neonicotinoid pesticides. A 2013 study by Health Canada, the government health agency, detected the pesticides in 70 percent of dead bees.

Beeline to Right-Wing Money

The agrochemical industry has poured millions of dollars into passing laws and managing public perception. In 2013, Bayer, the primary manufacturer of imidacloprid, spent nearly $5 million lobbying the U.S. federal government on a variety of legislative and regulatory matters impacting the food, pharmaceutical and biotech industriesincluding bee health and EPA regulatory actions regarding pollinator protection. In the same year, the German corporation BASF, the worlds largest chemical producer, which holds the patent rights for producing and selling fipronil, spent $2.26 million lobbying the U.S. government, including efforts to make S. 1009, Modernization of the Toxic Substances Control Act, a bill regarding the EPAs regulation of chemicals, more industry-friendly. Bayer has also been fighting efforts to place a moratorium on neonics in the EU. Bayer Group has been shown up as a corporate bully, trying to silence campaigners who are standing up for bees, said Friends of the Earth, an environmental nonprofit.

In addition to lobbying lawmakers and bullying activists, corporate interests are funding a propaganda machine that is working to discredit the science connecting neonics to bee deathsthe same machine that is propping up the pro-GMO, pro-pesticide agenda of Monsanto, Bayer, Syngenta and the other big players in the agrochemical industry. One of the most active cogs in this machine is the nonprofit Genetic Literacy Project (GLP), a GMO industry front group that is housed at the Statistical Assessment Service (STATS) program at George Mason University (GMU). According to Sourcewatch, It seems that with the affiliation of the group with this right-wing university, significant work and output is being financially supported by GMU, whose major funders include ExxonMobil, the Charles G. Koch Charitable Foundation and the Searle Freedom Trust.

According to the STATS website, it is funded by a grant from the Searle Freedom Trust and does not accept industry funding or support. The Searle Freedom Trust is a conservative private foundation funded up by the inherited wealth of the pharmaceutical giant G.D. Searle & Co., now a part of Pfizer. Searle funds a wide range of conservative think tanks, including Americans for Prosperity, the American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC) and the Heartland Institute. Daniel Searle, the founder of G.D. Searle & Co., was the largest funder of the right-wing think tank the American Enterprise Institute.

Photo credit: Bee Informed

In March, GLP founder Jon Entine wrote a vigorous defense of neonics, which was posted on the GLP website. As one commenter mentioned, Entine grossly misrepresents the findings of a USDA study he mentions in his piece. In addition, he points to stable colony populations in the U.S. but fails to mention that American beekeepers have been importing bees from Australia to maintain their colony numbers. He may dupe a casual reader, but to followers of the biotech propaganda machine, this attempt to deceive the public about the harsh reality of neonics should come as no surprise.

Jon Entine has professional ties to Monsanto, the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, Proctor & Gamble and other similar corporations, writes Mike Adams, the founding editor of Natural News, a health news website. Adams goes on:

Entine is a key attack operative for the biotech industry, well known for authoring wildly defamatory character assassination articles to target GMO skeptics and scientists who disagree with the biotech industrys contrived safety claims. With the help of Forbes.com and the American Enterprise Instituteboth key players in attacking and smearing GMO skeptics and scientistsEntine has been instrumental in viciously smearing the reputations of numerous scientists, activists, independent journalists and environmentalists, usually through the use of wildly fraudulent smear tactics and the wholesale fabrication of false facts.

Complex Clash

The biotech industry, however, has tried to shift the battle over bees and pesticides away from the arena of public relations and frame it as a political issue. Its more a clash of ideologies than PR, said Luke Gibbs, head of corporate affairs for northern Europe at Syngenta, the worlds largest agrochemicals company and a leading producer of neonicotinoids. [Bee decline is] a complicated, multifactorial issue. But its become so polarized and politicized that it unfortunately prevents us working together, when it could be very mutually beneficial.

Environmentalists, food safety advocates and agribusiness working together? It may seem far-fetched, but considering the fact that the food system isnt going to be wrenched from corporate control any time soon, it may be an avenue worth exploring. Both extremes are complete nonsense, said conservation biologist Dave Goulson from the University of Sussex. The science is pretty convincing that neonicotinoids are contributing to bees decline, but its by no means the worst factor. Most scientists agree its habitat loss that is the single biggest driver, with disease and pesticides contributing. Obviously, any pesticide is damaging to wildlife; its about finding the right balance between productivity and environmental impact.

The greens and beekeepers probably have an argument, said John Haynes, the manager of a 3,000-acre farm on the border of Essex and Hertfordshire counties in southeast England who supports the use of neonics. But if you want oil seed rape to be grown in this country rather than imported, we need a more intelligent approach to neonicotinoids than a total ban.

The bee decline is more complex than simply pinning the blame on one class of pesticides. A three-year study by the University of Maryland published in the peer-reviewed journal PLOS ONE in March found that the neonic imidacloprid is unlikely a sole cause of colony declines in the U.S. over the past decade. The researchers did find that the pesticide is harmful to bees: Infestations of Varroa mites were significantly higher in exposed colonies. In addition, bees avoided honey stores that were contaminated with imidacloprid, leading to malnutrition. Still, the big takeaway from the study is that neonicontinoids are bad for bees.

Fear of Free

Perhaps there is no need to find a right balance when it comes to neonics simply because they may not even be necessary. One of the arguments of the agrochemical industry is that there are no alternatives to neonics. That is simply not true. Its just that many of the alternatives do not enrich corporate coffers. On their Save the Honey Bees website, the Pesticide Action Network, an international coalition of NGOs, citizens groups and individuals fighting pesticide use in around 60 countries, recounts an important story that farmers who are under the false assumption there are no options should note:

In 2008, when Italy discussed a possible banning of the use of seed coating on maize because of the spectacular honeybee colony losses, the industry made an impressive media campaign on the lack of alternatives to fight the Western Corn Rootworm and the economic damages such a decision would make: tens of millions of euros for farmers. After 4 years of maize harvest without neonicotinoids, no dropdown in maize production could be observed and an ancestral, simple and free technique replaced costly neonicotinoids: crop rotation. Such a technique can efficiently replace neonicotinoids for many plant predators.

One word in that story strikes fear in the hearts of agrochemical executives and their propagandist minions: free. They have a lot to lose if farmers turn to alternatives. (For a list of more sustainable alternatives to specific neonics, click here). According to Statista.com, the worldwide agrochemical market generated $203.6 billion in 2013 and is on target to generate more than $242 billion in revenue by 2018. In 2012, insecticides and seed treatments (mostly neonic-based) comprised about 30 percent of Bayer CropSciences revenues and more than six percent of Bayers overall sales.

There is also a growing body of evidence that questions the benefit of neonics. A study conducted by Michigan State University and published earlier this year in the Journal of Economic Entomology examined the relationship between western bean cutworm infestation and damage in dry beans. Looking at the use of seeds treated with the neonicotinoid thiamethoxam and soil treated with the systemic insecticide aldicarb, the researchers concluded that neither pesticide reduced cutworm damage. In fact, untreated plots had a lesser percentage of defects compared to treated plots, which were eaten by pests, which the researchers believe encountered fewer natural predators in the untreated plots.

Unsung and Unpaid

Bees are facing fights on multiple fronts. And their job is thankless. Not only do they have to contend with deadly parasites, pathogens, pesticides and propaganda, they arent even rewarded for all their labor. You can thank the Apis Mellifera, better known as the Western honeybee, for 1 in every 3 mouthfuls of food youll eat today, writes Bryan Walsh, TIMEs foreign editor who has covered environmental issues for the magazine. From the almond orchards of central Californiawhere each spring billions of honeybees from across the U.S. arrive to pollinate a multibillion-dollar cropto the blueberry bogs of Maine, the bees are the unsung, unpaid laborers of the American agricultural system, adding more than $15 billion in value to farming each year.

Pavan Sukhdev, an environmental economist who was appointed a Goodwill Ambassador in 2012 by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) for his work promoting the green economy, argues that we dont value the contribution of bees because that value hasnt been monetized. Not a single bee has ever sent you an invoice, Sukhdev writes in the United Nations report The Economics of Ecosystems and Biodiversity. And that is part of the problembecause most of what comes to us from nature is free, because it is not invoiced, because it is not priced, because it is not traded in markets, we tend to ignore it.

Bee covered in yellow spheres of pollen. Photo credit: John Kimbler / Climate Kids / NASA

Even beyond putting a price tag on bees work output, we should look to them as a model to emulate. If you think about it, the honeybee beehive is the perfect paradigm for the ultimate food service industry, said Dr. Halter, the bee expert. It begins before sunup. It closes shop after sundown. There is zero unemployment. And the bees are able to change their order of operations within a matter of minutes.

The way humanity manages or mismanages its nature-based assets, including pollinators, will in part define our collective future in the 21st century, said Achim Steiner, UNEPs executive director. The fact is that of the 100 crop species that provide 90 percent of the worlds food, more than 70 are pollinated by bees.

As the English poet William Blake observed in Proverbs of Hell, The busy bee has no time for sorrow. And until we start to truly value the service they provide to us and nature as a whole, soon bees may have no time left for anything at all. And all the sorrow will be ours.
Its official: Oklahoma now has more earthquakes than anywhere else in the world, according to a spokesman from the Oklahoma Corporation Commission (OCC), which oversees the Sooner States oil and gas industry.

Several earthquakes have struck Oklahoma in just these past four days. As Oklahoma Corporation Commission spokesman Matt Skinner said about the states increased seismic activity, Weve got an earthquake issue. Photo credit:

Earthquaketrack.com

We have had 15 [earthquakes] in Medford since 5 oclock Saturday morning, said spokesman Matt Skinner on Nov. 9, according to the Enid News. Weve got an earthquake issue.

OCC has developed areas of interest, where earthquake clusters have occurred. A cluster is two earthquakes within a half mile of each other, with one measuring at least magnitude 3.2. Originally, they were three-mile circles, then six-mile circles. The circles grew in number and now encompass a very large area of Oklahomaabout 9,000 square miles in all, [Skinner] said, reported the Enid News.

Scientists have linked this never-ending spate of tremors to the states drilling boom. The Oklahoma Geological Survey concluded that the injection of wastewater byproducts into deep underground disposal wells from fracking operations has triggered the seismic activity in Oklahoma.

As EcoWatch reported two months ago, Oklahoma went from two earthquakes a year before 2009 to two a day. This year, roughly 700 earthquakes of magnitude 3 or higher has shook the state, compared to 20 in 2009.

The tremors are such a frequent occurrence that the OCC has forced changes to 500 disposal wells around the state, including the shut down of wells around the city of Cushing, which holds one of the largest crude oil storage facilities in the world.

The OCC is requiring well operators to show that water is not being injected below the states deepest rock formations, which is believed to contribute to the earthquakes.

Incidentally, Oklahoma has about 4,500 disposal wells with about 3,500 still in operation, so these regulations only applied to a small fraction of the wells.

Skinner said the Oklahoma Geological Survey has seen an overall reduction in earthquakes. However, he noted, Now, this weekend may have blown that out of the water, I dont know.

Again, based on the data, it would appear that even if you do the right thing, its going to take a long time, he said. Theres no quick off switch.

https://twitter.com/NorthsideNancy/status/645000104949084160 disposal wells.

However, Fallin is still weighing some of the pros and cons of fracking in her state. Oklahoma is one of the top natural gas-producing states in the country, and the sector provides a significant number of jobs in the state.

We want to do it wisely without harming the economic activity we certainly enjoy and the revenue, quite frankly, we certainly enjoy, Fallin said. The council has worked very hard to ensure the energy sector, state agencies, environmentalists and academia are all talking and sharing that data and we have a scientific-based approach to reducing seismicity in our state.

Many Oklahomans are worried that, one day, a damaging earthquake could strike. Fallins advice to residents is that they should call their insurance agent and see what types of products are available, to protect themselves. This advice from the governor was unsurprisingly met by criticism.

Oklahoma is Rocking: FAIRVIEW, Okla. (AP)  The U.S. Geological Survey has recorded a 4.3 magnitude earthquake https://t.co/eIbs7D05DT  Change Tulsa (@CHNGTulsa) November 16, 2015

Angela Spotts, co-founder of Stop Fracking Oklahoma (formerly Stop Fracking Payne County), said many insurance policies have high deductibles and cover only catastrophic damage, according to Tulsa World.

It really appears to me we are protecting the industry in this state, Spotts said. Their jobs are important. But my home and all the people I speak for that dont have the courage to stand up and speak out, our lives, homes, property and well-being is every bit as important as the jobs in the oil and gas industry. And I sincerely dont believe the actions have been quick enough and fast enough and protecting from one of the big ones from happening.

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The Sierra Club and the public interest law firm Public Justice have filed a federal lawsuit Tuesday against three energy companies engaged in hydraulic fracturing, aka fracking, in Oklahoma.

The suit against New Dominion, Chesapeake Operating and Devon Energy Production Company alleges that wastewater from fracking and oil production have contributed to the states alarming spike in earthquake activity.

Map of Oklahoma. The orange dots represent the number of earthquakes with a magnitude of 3.0 and higher from 2010 to date. The blue dots represent the states wastewater disposal wells. Photo credit: Earthquakes in Oklahoma

The lawsuit demands the companies, as a first step, to reduce, immediately and substantially, the amounts of production waste they are injecting into the ground.

The lawsuit was filed the same day that the Oklahoma Corporation Commission made their largest push yet to curb the states seismic activity. According to the Associated Press, the states oil and gas regulator ordered operators of nearly 250 injection wells to reduce the amount of wastewater they inject underground.

The commission released a plan that covers more than 5,200 square miles in northwest Oklahoma and called for a reduction of more than 500,000 barrels of wastewater daily, or about 40 percent less than previous levels, the AP reported.

The commissions measure comes three days after a 5.1 magnitude earthquake shook northwest Oklahoma. Not only was the quake felt in seven other states, its the third-strongest temblor ever recorded in the state, the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) said.

Without knowing more specifics about the wastewater injection and oil and gas production in this area, the USGS cannot conclude whether or not this particular earthquake was caused by industrial-related, human activities, the agency said. However, we do know that many earthquakes in the area have been triggered by wastewater fluid injection.

Fairview, Oklahomas 5.1 magnitude earthquake on Feb. 13 that was felt in Arkansas, Iowa, Kansas, Missouri, Nebraska, New Mexico and Texas was the largest earthquake in the state since a 5.6 earthquake struck in 2011. Photo credit: USGS

The Sooner State has gone from two earthquakes a year before 2009 to two a day, making it the earthquake capital of the world.

In 2014, seismologists reported more than 5,000 earthquakes in Oklahoma. In 2015, the state experienced 907 quakes of magnitude 3.0 or greater. The earthquakes are continuing in 2016, the suit states, noting that Oklahoma City residents were awakened on January 1 with a 4.1 magnitude earthquake. Six days later, 4.3 and 4.8 magnitude earthquakes occurred back-to-back. [The state] has had 131 earthquakes from January 1 through 16, 2016, ranging from 2.01 to 4.8.

Scientists concluded in April 2015 that the injection of wastewater byproducts into deep underground disposal wells from fracking operations have triggered the near-daily quakes.

The Tulsa World examined a recent Oklahoma Geological Survey study, which found an 81 percent jump from 2009 to 2014 in wastewater volumes pumped back underground from oil and gas activities, in which wastewater volumes skyrocketed to 1.538 billion barrels in 2014 from 849 million in 2009. The rise coincides with the states leap in seismicity, Tulsa World observed.
Melting Antarctic ice sheets are measurably reducing the salinity of the Southern Ocean. The research, published Thursday in Nature, notes that more freshwater entering the ocean is more important for changes in global climate than has been appreciated so far.

Ocean salinity patterns from Dec. 2011 to Dec. 2012 as seen by Argentinas SAC-D satellite. NASA/GSFC/JPL-Caltech

Scientists have seen a reduction in salinity of the waters around Antarctica over the past decades. They havent understood why until now. The studyby researchers from ETH Zurich, the GEOMAR Helmholtz Centre for Ocean Research Kiel and the University of Hamburgdescribes a process whereby sea ice forms each winter, releasing salt in the seawater, then drifts northward and melts in the summer, spreading fresh water over a wide area.

On average, seawater is about 3.5 percent salts, mainly sodium chloride. Salt water is denser than fresh water, and the freezing point of water goes down as the amount of dissolved salts goes up. If all the salt in the worlds oceans were removed and spread over the Earth, it would cover the planet in a 500-foot thick salt lick.

But salinity is not uniform across the worlds waters. The highest salt content is generally found in the center of ocean basins, away from continents and the fresh water flowing from their rivers every day. Equatorial waters, where evaporation is highest, also boast above-average salinity. But these are not constant throughout the year.

Ocean circulation is driven by surface winds, temperature and salinity. Cooler, high-salinity water sinks to great depths, while lower-salinity water, which is less dense, rises. Over a long periodabout 1,000 yearsthe Global Conveyor Belt moves water around the oceans in response to temperate and salinity.

In contrast to the Arctic Ocean, where the sea ice is declining at a rate of 13.4 percent per decade, the Antarctic ice sheet added 112 billion tons of ice per year from 1992 to 2001.

The maximum seasonal ice cover in the Southern Ocean now reaches further north than it did 30 years ago. The German and Swiss study explains, This expansion is mainly due to a stronger transport of sea ice that has pushed the sea-ice edge further to the north. The northernmost edge of the ice at maximum is at about 60 degrees south.

That may seem paradoxical in the face of a warming planet, but NASA explains: Just as the temperatures in some regions of the planet are colder than average, even in our warming world, Antarctic sea ice has been increasing and bucking the overall trend of ice loss.

The significance of the greater mass of Antarctic sea ice is that, as it melts each summer, the fresh water sinks to a depth of about 600 to 1,500 meters, a region known as the Antarctic Intermediate Water. It then spreads north to the equator, into the eastern Atlantic and as far as the Iberian Peninsula.

As the water in the upper layers of the ocean become fresher and less dense, they may block the heavier, saltier waters below from rising to the surface. This is a process known as stratification.

James Hansen, the former NASA scientist, pointed to stratification as a potential wild card in the climate disruption process. He thinks that it could accelerate the melting of the Greenland and Antarctic glaciers, and perhaps change current patterns in the Atlantic. Research published Aug. 23 in Nature found evidence that stratification is occurring in Prydz Bay in East Antarctica.

In announcing the German and Swiss study, the researchers noted, So far, the Southern Ocean has acted as a climate regulator and carbon sink: climate models show that this ocean has absorbed around three quarters of the excess heat. The Southern Ocean has also taken up around half the total amount of anthropogenic carbon dioxide absorbed by the worlds oceans.

NOAA

Further studies will test these theories, and new satellites will help researchers better observe the ocean and sea ice. The Southern Ocean will get more attention in the years to come.
[Editors note: Evidence has been mounting that the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has been silencing its own bee scientists who have raised the alarm about the deadly impact that pesticides, particularly neonicotinoids, have on bees. Last month, for example, the Washington Post reported the story of Jonathan Lindgren, a USDA bee scientist, who filed a whistleblower suit alleging that he was disciplined to suppress his research. In 2014, Dr. Jeffery Pettis, another USDA bee scientist and beekeeping advocate, was demoted, leading several beekeeping and environmental organizations to express concern that the agency has actively suppressed bee science that would negatively impact agrochemical companies like Bayer and Syngenta. In the spring of 2014, 10 USDA scientists took action, filing a petition calling on the USDA to stop ordering its own researchers to retract studies, water down findings, remove their name from authorship and endure long indefinite delays in approving publication of papers that may be controversial.]

I am grateful to Steve Volk for investigating the role of the U.S. Department of Agriculture in the dramatic decline of honeybees. He is right that the USDA muzzled Jonathan Lundgren for shedding light on the deadly effects of pesticides on honeybees. I am also not surprised that the USDA demoted another bee scientist, Jeffery Pettis, for telling Congress that pesticides are more hazardous to honeybees than Varroa mites.

Evidence has been mounting that the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has been silencing its own bee scientists who have raised the alarm about the deadly impact that pesticides, particularly neonicotinoids, have on bees. Photo credit: Pazargic Liviu / Shutterstock

My confidence that Volk is right comes from experience. I worked at the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) for 25 years. I spent most of that time at the Office of Pesticide Programs. I was astonished by EPAs nasty habit of covering up for the industry and its friends in Congress and the White House. My memos reminded senior managers that the EPA was fighting the wrong battles. I objected most strenuously to the EPA approval of neurotoxins in nylon microcapsules that decimated honeybees. EPA officials branded me not a team player.

The widespread use of deadly neurotoxins was in full swing as early as in the 1970s. In addition to killing bees and other beneficial insects, the encapsulated parathion caused various degrees of neurological damage and quite possibly, death to small and large mammals, terrestrial and water invertebrates and birdseven at rates of just a pound of poison per acre. The gizzards of most birds would grind down and rupture the nerve poison microcapsules, causing crippling disease or death.

Some EPA ecologists also protested the use of nerve poisons in farming. They knew that bees would continue to die from the encapsulated parathion because the registrant, the chemical company that owned the encapsulated parathion, had persuaded the EPA to approve the spraying of the companys product during the spring bloom, when all pollinating insects would be out foraging for nectar and pollen. The ecologists also warned the killing of pollinators would be environmentally disastrous and would have adverse effects in food production. After all, honeybees pollinate enough fruits and vegetable making up about a third of what we eat.

The Carter EPA ignored the ecologists. Instead, it permitted the selling of the time-release parathion gas for use on an even wider array of produce, from artichokes, cabbages and potatoes to wheat, soybeans, apples and pears. The move dramatically raised the chemical exposure of both bees and the American people.

The evidence could not have been clearer. In 1979, an EPA scientist discovered how to stain parathion microcapsules so they could be identified in honey and pollen. Sure enough, on testing on a bee colony on the field, he found microcapsules in the queen bees gut and honey.

Predictably, this scientists discovery and talent went nowhere. He neither published his research nor continued with his honeybee investigations. Instead, he was forced to become a paper pusher at EPA headquarters while the agencys top pesticide managers made sure that his laboratory would no longer be used for research threatening to industry.

As with so many EPA moves, this was done to keep bad news about nerve gas pesticides secret. It was evident to me that the EPA was not protecting our health but the profits of the industryneurotoxins or no neurotoxins.

Forty years after EPA first began approving neurotoxins enclosed in microscopic spheres, the same lethal tradition remains in place with the neonicotinoids. These German-made neurotoxins disrupt the immune system of animals. Farmers have been buying them since 2003 to treat corn and other major crop seeds. Plants (such as corn) grown from these soaked seeds become toxic at fantastically small amounts to any insect touching or eating them.

Like the microencapsulated parathion, neonicotinoids kill outright or cripple the honeybees. Poisoned worker bees neglect to take care the eggs and feed the larvae. A bees navigational abilities break down. The result, according to Vera Krischik, professor of entomology at the University of Minnesota, is that honeybees cant remember who they are or where to go.

This cause and effect between the nicotine-based insecticides and the near obliteration of honeybees explains the fury of the USDA. Imagine Americans discovering we are killing honeybees with neurotoxins. Even USDA scientists are raising red flags.

Like the EPA, the USDA cannot afford to offend the lords of agribusiness. But fortunately, USDA bee scientists are finally siding with honeybees, the integrity of science and the survival of our food and agriculture.

Its obvious to me we need to protect Jonathan Lundgren, Jeffery Pettis and other whistleblowers throughout the government. They are our first line of defense against unscrupulous companies and purchased politicians who lose no sleep over the poisoning of honeybees and countless other animals.

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(Photo: REUTERS / Rupak De Chowdhuri)Catholic nuns from the Missionaries of Charity, the global order of nuns founded by Mother Teresa, take part in a mass service to mark the 104th birth anniversary of Mother Teresa in Kolkata August 26, 2014. Teresa, a Nobel Peace Prize winner who died in 1997, was beatified by Pope John Paul II in 2003 at the Vatican.

Indian Christians have castigated a Hindu leader for saying that the charity works of the beloved Blessed Teresa of Calcutta, better-known as Mother Teresa, were intended to convert people to Christianity.

Some 150 people from different religious backgrounds gathered in Chhattisgarh state to hold a sit-in to protest the remarks Teresa, a nun and Nobel Peace Prize winner acclaimed for her works among the poor and marginalized.

They were outraged over the remarks of Mohan Bhagwat, the head of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS or National Volunteers Corps), viewed as a hardline Hindu nationalist group made about the nun who worked in India.

Bhagwat spoke on Feb. 23 about Mother Teresa's works in India, only to hint the nun seemed to have had an ulterior motive.

"Mother Teresa's service would have been good," Bhagwat said.

"But it had one objective - to convert the person being served into a Christian," he continued. "If conversion is done in the name of service, then that service gets devalued."

Arun Pannalal of the Chhattisgarh Christian Forum, which mobilized the protesters, said the remarks appeared to be in sync with a campaign against the Christian community in India.

Minority religions there have faced increased pressure by some Hindus in the past few months, with Christian churches and other places of worship getting vandalized.

Some Christians and Muslims have also complained about forced conversions in some parts of the country.

"It is a well-planned strategy against the Christian community. Christians all over the world have an image of service to the poor and this is an attempt to destroy that image," Pannalal told ucanews.com.

"We are getting strong support. We are soon going to take this protest to the national level," he added.

As the protest channeled the rage of people in Chhattisgarh, a Christian group instituted a complaint against Bhagwat at the headquarters of the RSS in Nagpur, western India, demanding an immediate apology.

"Bhagwat in his statement is trying to belittle a person who was an icon of hope, [an] icon for the poor and ... of everything that is good in the world.

"He needs to apologize to the whole humanity for the remarks he has made," said Sajan George, president of the Global Council of Indian Christians.
Tashkent, Uzbekistan, Sept. 3

By Demir Azizov  Trend:

Thousands of Tashkent residents said final farewell to Uzbekistans late president, Islam Karimov, who passed away Sept. 2.

Earlier, it was reported that Islam Karimov was hospitalized Aug. 27 after suffering a stroke.

Karimov will be buried in Samarkand Sept. 3.

The Uzbek presidents funeral will be held in accordance with Muslim traditions.

Karimov was born January 30, 1938 in the city of Samarkand, Uzbekistan. He was the first president of Uzbekistan since the country gained independence in 1991.

In the Soviet period, Karimov served as first secretary of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of the Uzbek Soviet Socialist Republic from 1989 to 1991.

He also served as the head of the Uzbek government in 1990-1992.
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...
Buenos Aires, Sep 3 (EFE).- Activists behind a documentary that denounces cases of child labor in yerba mate fields in northeastern Argentina are looking to spearhead change through legal channels and by bringing the film to a global audience.

The picture shows the children surviving on just two daily meals - usually a fried flour dish known as "reviro" - and enduring work days of up to 12 hours.

"I Like Mate without Chile Labor," produced by the media company Posibl. and recently brought before the Argentine Senate, is the product of a campaign launched by Patricia Ocampo and Jorge Kordi and aimed at exposing the poverty that afflicts the "tareferos," or pickers of yerba mate, the source of a caffeine-rich beverage known as mate that is Argentina's national drink.

The creators of the film are now trying to have it screened at next year's Cannes Film Festival.

Members of the non-governmental organization Un Sueno para Misiones (A Dream for Misiones) were donating books in that northeastern Argentine province when they uncovered the use of child labor in the yerba mate fields, a problem they say dates back hundreds of years.

"In 2013, there was an accident in which one of the trucks coming from the harvest in Misiones overturned with 14 children on board, three of whom died," Ocampo said in an interview with EFE.

The lawyer, a native of Misiones, says children as young as five accompany their parents and help them gather the yerba mate, "initially as a game."

The NGO is trying to get a bill passed to create a certification system and have a "No Child Labor" seal applied to brands of mate produced by tareferos who work under dignified conditions.

They have also launched a petition on the Web site change.org that has gathered more than 62,000 signatures expressing support for the bill. Those signatures are to be submitted to Argentine Labor Minister Jorge Triaca and the speaker of the lower house of Congress, Emilio Monzo.
Tashkent, Uzbekistan, Sept. 3

By Demir Azizov  Trend:

Heads of various countries and international organizations have expressed condolences to Uzbek people and leadership over the death of the countrys President Islam Karimov.

It is with great regret that I received the news of the death of President of the Republic of Uzbekistan, outstanding statesman, public and political figure Islam Abduganiyevich Karimov, Azerbaijans President Ilham Aliyev said in his letter of condolences.

He is associated with the formation, development and strengthening of the state independence and sovereignty of the country, its accomplishments and successes in socio-economic and political areas, brotherly Uzbekistans integration into the international community, President Aliyev said.

A far-sighted, principled and consistent policy, organizational talent, a truly state approach to most difficult tasks fairly earned Islam Karimov the peoples love, deep respect and great authority both in Uzbekistan and beyond, he added.

In his letter of condolences, Russian President Vladimir Putin said Karimovs departure from life is a great loss for the Uzbek people, as well as the Commonwealth of Independent States and the countries-partners of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization.

Islam Karimov was a prominent statesman, a true leader of the country. The most important milestones in the history of modern Uzbek state are associated with his name, said Putin.

Chinese President Xi Jinping and Premier of Chinese State Council Li Keqiang said Karimov had made great efforts for developing the strategic partnership between the two countries and strengthening the friendship between the peoples of China and Uzbekistan.

The US President Barack Obama has said, At this challenging time of President Islam Karimovs passing, the US reaffirms its support for the people of Uzbekistan.

The US remains committed to partnership with Uzbekistan, to its sovereignty, security, and to a future based on the rights of all its citizens, the White House quoted Obama as saying in a statement.

Uzbekistan continues receiving condolences over the death of President Islam Karimov, who passed away Sept. 2.

Earlier, it was reported that Islam Karimov was hospitalized Aug. 27 after suffering a stroke.

Karimov will be buried in Samarkand Sept. 3.

The Uzbek presidents funeral will be held in accordance with Muslim traditions.

Karimov was born January 30, 1938 in the city of Samarkand, Uzbekistan. He was the first president of Uzbekistan since the country gained independence in 1991.

In the Soviet period, Karimov served as first secretary of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of the Uzbek Soviet Socialist Republic from 1989 to 1991.

He also served as the head of the Uzbek government in 1990-1992.
Tashkent, Uzbekistan, Sept. 3

By Demir Azizov  Trend:

Delegations from 17 countries as well as a number of international organizations have arrived in Samarkand to attend the funeral of Uzbek President Islam Karimov, an official of the Samarkand city administration told Trend.

Islam Karimov passed away Sept. 2. Earlier, it was reported that Karimov was hospitalized Aug. 27 after suffering a stroke.

Presidents of Afghanistan, Tajikistan and Turkmenistan, prime ministers of Belarus, Georgia, Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan, deputy prime ministers of China, South Korea and Ukraine have arrived in Uzbekistan to take part in the funeral ceremony.

Russian delegation is headed by Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev.

Currently, foreign delegations continue to arrive in Samarkand.

Preparations are underway in Samarkand for Karimovs funeral ceremony.

The Uzbek presidents funeral will be held in accordance with Muslim traditions. The ceremony is expected to start at 12:00 (UTC/GMT +5 hours).
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
Tashkent, Uzbekistan, Sept. 3

By Demir Azizov Trend:

Islam Karimov dedicated his life to Uzbekistans formation, Uzbek Prime Minister Shavkat Mirziyoyev said at a farewell ceremony for the countrys first president Sept. 3.

Mirziyoyev recalled the first, the most difficult stages of Uzbekistans formation, extremists and terrorists who were trying to destabilize the country.

"Our nation remembers and will never forget the courage shown by the president to preserve the independence of Uzbekistan, peaceful life, happy future of our children," he added.

Mirziyoyev stressed that President Karimov was able to see the prospects, took peoples problems, hopes and dreams to heart.

The president made decisions in the most crucial moments to ensure the development of the countrys priority directions," he added.

The farewell ceremony is being held in the presidential residence in Samarkand.

Government and parliament officials, representatives of public, foreign delegations have gathered in the hall hosting the ceremony.

Delegations from more than 20 countries as well as a number of international organizations have arrived in Samarkand for the Uzbek presidents funeral.

Uzbekistans President Islam Karimov passed away Sept. 2 after suffering a stroke.
Second Market Place regeneration protest planned



St Peter's at Market Place before works - credit: Malcolm Hannan

A second protest will take place in Peel this afternoon against regeneration works at Market Place.

Government's Town and Village Regeneration scheme have replaced a red sandstone wall with tiers of Chinese white sandstone steps - much to the dismay of residents.

Proposals for Market Place and Douglas Street were drawn up and displayed publicly in July 2014 before a planning application was submitted.

The scheme received planning approval in August last year - however Peel residents highlighted their concerns at a protest outside the site last weekend.

The second demonstration will take place at Market Place at 2.30pm.
Baku, Azerbaijan, Sept. 2

By Dalga Khatinoglu, Mehdi Sepahvand  Trend:

While OPEC members and some non-member oil producers are preparing for an upcoming non-official OPEC meeting in Algeria to decide a practical move on oil output freeze and prepare the ground for improving prices, Iran has announced its intent to recover its pre-sanctions output.

In 2008, Iran used to produce up to 3.9 million barrels per day (mbpd) of crude, which plunged to 2.8 mbpd under sanctions and now stands at 3.7 mbpd.

Iran plans for the current year to add 90 thousand barrels to its output from West Karun fields and to increase output at these fields from 450 thousand barrels to 700 thousand in 2018. Iran also plans in the meantime to increase its gas condensates output from 450 thousand barrels to 1 million per day. There are other fields as well, such as the Changuleh and Salman that Iran is developing.

At the same time, OPEC Secretary General Mohammed Barkindo will travel to Tehran Sept. 5 ahead of the Algeria summit  to be held Sept. 8  to talk the member state into a freeze.

Dr. Fereydoun Barkeshli, president of Vienna Energy Research Group in Austria and the National Iranian Oil Companys former general manager for OPEC and international affairs, told Trend Sept. 2 that the level of a freeze does not apply to capacity-building in OPEC members.

Investment aimed at boosting production capacity by Iran or other OPEC members does not interfere with the freeze or the management of production, Barkeshli said. Countries do not necessarily use their entire capacity. The OPEC quota established in the early 1980s was meant to serve this very point. For what was said, the National Iranian Oil Companys measures to create capacities do not go against Irans accompaniment of the freeze plan or any policy to limit the OPEC output.

He believes, nonetheless, that regard for OPECs policy of introducing a restrictive plan is generally positive, preventing investment for the creation of capacity that would not serve any demand from the market.

The reason for mentioning this is to point to the fact that Irans investment in various fields, including those it shares with the neighboring Iraq, does not interfere with its policy of supporting the freeze plan, he said.

The OPEC basket plunged from over $105 in the first half of 2014 to $45 now. The reason has been the continued presence of surplus oil in the market and an increase of supply vis-a-vis demand.

Barkeshli says, As for the structure of Irans oil fields, it is necessary to note that most of Irans major oil fields are in their second half of lifetime and are experiencing output decline. Most of Irans big, old fields lose 250,000 to 300,000 bpd of their production capacity each year. These fields take a lot of gas and steam injection. Also, it is necessary to use advanced technologies to prevent the deterioration of the wells and refurbish their structures.

It is necessary for the Iranian oil industry to rapidly invest in, explore, and tap new, green fields.

It should be admitted that the era for big, high-yield fields is over not only in Iran, but in most places around the world, necessitating investment in smaller fields. Of course Iran should also put its shoulder to the wheel to develop its gas industry, since now Irans success in the oil industry is closely associated with its development and use of the gas sector, Barkeshli added.

Barkeshli says that the freeze plan is a recent innovation in the OPEC.

OPEC has lacked such a thing as freeze so far. OPECs management of the world oil market is executed via the quota system. OPEC last defined and passed member quotas in the summer of 2013. After international oil sanctions were implemented, some countries started a race to gain some of Irans share. Of course the greater part of Irans quota went to Saudi Arabia which enjoyed a considerable surplus output capacity.

He believes this is why Irans official and reasonable position now is for all OPEC members to restore their official and legal 2013 quotas and the collective output ceiling of 30.45 mbpd.

In case this output ceiling and a return to the legal and official quotas is agreed upon, the members would be able to negotiate for and demand a rise in quota with regard to the current status of the world market and prices.

OPECs output in July stood at 33.44 mbpd.

Barkeshli also says the freeze is a wrong innovation for OPEC.

OPEC is an organization with collective responsibility to manage the market and adjust supply, demand, and prices. The innovation of freeze hurdles OPEC out of its organizational structure with no control over price or expendable supply, he said. In the meantime, Iran is ready to accept a phase of passage, whereby it hopes other OPEC members, too, would admit the need for Iran to regain its lost market.

Russian President Vladimir Putin also told Bloomberg on Sept. 2 that Iran can be exempted from the freeze plan.
By Fatih Karimov  Trend:

Baku, Azerbaijan, Sept. 3

Iran and Algeria enjoy long-term and strategic ties within the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC), Bijan Namdar Zanganeh, Irans oil minister, said.

Zanganeh made the remarks during a meeting with Algerian Energy Minister Noureddin Boutarqeh who is on a visit to Tehran Sept. 3, IRNA news agency reported.

Besides cooperation in OPEC, Iran and Algeria can develop their mutual relations in various fields in particular in oil, gas and energy sectors, Zanganeh added.

Boutarqeh arrived in Tehran Sept. 3 to talk about energy cooperation with Iranian officials.

It is expected that the issues related to the 15th meeting of the worlds energy ministers which is scheduled for September 26-28 and the OPEC meeting to be discussed during Algerian energy ministers visit to Tehran.

Iran's oil minister has confirmed that he will take part in the upcoming meeting, aimed at "common action" to support the global oil prices.

It is expected that the talks on oil production freeze will be held between OPEC and non-OPEC countries.

Iran has been earlier called on by many countries, in particular, rival Saudi Arabia, to cooperate with the proposal to hold outputs at the January levels.



Tehran has rejected the idea as an imposition of a new set of sanctions on Iran after the country was freed of economic sanctions in January.

The secretary-general of the OPEC, Mohammed Barkindo, also intends to visit Tehran Sept. 5 to convince Iran to join the oil output freeze plan.
The images of Dana Majhi, carrying the body of his deceased wife on his shoulders, with his daughter walking by his side for 10 km because the district hospital at Bhawanipatna in Odishas Kalahandi district, could not provide a vehicle to take him to his village 60 km away remind us of the shocking and persistent neglect of health infrastructure in 21st century India. It is precisely this kind of crisis that the poor face which made the Odisha government launch the Harishchandra Sahayata Yojana in August 2013 to provide the poor financial assistance to administer the last rites of the deceased. In February this year, the state government announced the Mahaparayana scheme to ensure the availability of a mortuary vehicle to transport the deceased. Unfortunately, the schemes have failed to deliver. The poor still rely on bicycles, motorcycles, rickshaws, wooden cots, and in this case, a shoulder, to take the deceased home.

While this incident brings attention to the pathetic state of affairs in the countryside, in another recent incident in urban, industrial Kanpur, Sunil Kumar lost his 12-year old son after waiting for medical care at the emergency unit of a government hospital, which eventually did not even provide a stretcher to carry the child to the referred childrens medical centre. The boy died on his fathers shoulders just before they could reach the hospital.
By Fatih Karimov  Trend:

Baku, Azerbaijan, Sept. 3

Iran will cooperate in oil freeze plan only once its pre-sanction oil market share is revived.

Tehran supports any decision for restoring balance on the oil market, however it can cooperate in this regards once it regains its pre-sanction quota, Amir Hossein Zamaninia, Irans deputy oil minister said, SHANA news agency reported Sept. 3.

Zamaninia made the remarks after the meeting of Irans oil minister Bijan Namdar Zanganeh with Algerian Energy Minister Noureddin Boutarqeh who is on a visit to Tehran.

Zamaninia said that Iran's stance regarding restoration of the Islamic Republics pre-sanction market share is fair.

He said that the OPEC production quota should be revived for OPEC to become a decision-making organization once again.

If every producer supplies as much oil as it can produce, balance will not stabilize on the market, Zamaninia added.

Iran has repeatedly urged other OPEC members, with an output exceeding their quota, to decrease production.

OPEC members will meet with producers and consumers on the sidelines of the International Energy Forum (IEF) in Algeria on Sept. 26-28.

Iran's oil minister has confirmed that he will take part in the upcoming meeting, aimed at "common action" to support the global oil prices.

It is expected that the talks on oil production freeze will be held between OPEC and non-OPEC countries.

Iran has been earlier called on by many countries, namely, rival Saudi Arabia, to cooperate with the proposal to hold outputs at the January levels.



Tehran has rejected the idea as an imposition of a new set of sanctions on Iran after the country was freed of economic sanctions in January.

The secretary-general of the OPEC, Mohammed Barkindo, also intends to visit Tehran Sept. 5 to convince Iran to join the oil output freeze plan.
Saturday, September 3, 2016

The EEOC filed yet another suit in federal court claiming that termination or refusing to hire Rastafarians with dreadlocks or long hair violated federal employment discrimination laws. In this Florida case, a hospitality company fired a Rastafarian cook at a Walt Disney World Resort serving the military and veterans resort after he refused to cut his dreadlocks because of his religion. He was employed for nearly a year and half before he was ordered to cut his hair as a result of a site visit from corporate inspecting employee appearance standards. He was not alone as two other employees with long hair were also required to cut their hair.

The EEOC also brought an action last year against New Yorks UPS accusing it of failing to hire or promote individuals whose religious practices conflict with its appearance policy, including Rastafarians and Muslims. EEOC recently settled suit against a North Carolina-based beer distributor accused of discriminating against a Rastafarian delivery driver candidate who wouldnt cut his hair. The beer distributor paid the employment candidate $50,000, will make company policy changes subject itself to inspection by the EEOC, will post notices around its workplace and provide discrimination training programs for employees.

Small businesses are not immune. EEOC also filed suit against a small North Carolina catering company with discrimination claims for allegedly unlawfully terminating a Rastafarian delivery driver who insisted on wearing a small hat to keep a lid on his spiritual energy.

The take-away is to be culturally sensitive in your employee appearance policies. Reasonable accommodations must be made for religious hair and headwear. This includes Rastafarians, Muslims, Seiks, Jews, and other groups that raise a religious objection to an employment related dress or appearance code. If you want to challenge the employee claims or deny accommodation based on a legitimate safety or other basis, you should consult your labor law attorney for guidance to avoid fines, penalties or legal damages.

About Tracy Jong

Tracy Jong has been an attorney for more than 20 years, representing restaurants, bars, and craft beverage manufacturers in a wide array of legal matters. She is also a licensed patent attorney.

Her book Everything You Need To Know About Obtaining and Maintaining a New York Retail Liquor License: The Definitive Guide to Navigating the State Liquor Authority will be available next month on Amazon.com as a softcover and Kindle e-book.

Her legal column is available in The Equipped Brewer, a publication giving business advice, trends, and vendor reviews to help craft breweries, cideries, distilleries and wineries build brands and succeed financially.

She also maintains a website and blog with practical information on legal and business issues affecting the industry. Follow her, sign up for her free firm app or monthly newsletter.

www.TracyJongLawFirm.com

TJong@TracyJongLawFirm.com

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Tracy Jong Law Firm
Friday, September 2, 2016

The Dr. Peace train is gaining momentum. The West Suburban Faith Based Peace Coalition of Chicago, mainly Du Page County centered, has an annual dinner to celebrate their peace essay contest. The basis of their peace essay is the Kellogg Briand Pact of 1928 outlawing war and the threat of war in international affairs. Unfortunately, this agreement is largely ignored in the world today. Students in particular were encouraged to enter. An 800 word letter to a significant person in the world is sent out and the reply is included in order to be eligible to win the first second and third place cash awards. Dr. Peace was encouraged repeatedly to send in a submission, but when he did, he found out about the reply. Sending to presidential candidates was too much to ask for such busy people, and even broadening the request out to third party candidates Jill Stein of the Greens and Austin Peterson of the Libertarians left no reply. Still the committee apparently liked my entry enough to earn a Special Recognition Award and a give me a five minute acceptance speech at the banquet on the anniversary of the agreement August 27, 2016.

It was noted at the banquet that the main speaker, Kathy Kelly, is a three time nominated person for the Nobel Peace Prize, and that I was a one time nominee. The main winner of the award was not present due to being from another country far away, but had a representative there. It was my random good fortune to end up at the same table as the second place winner, son of a staff person for Democratic U.S. Senate Leader Harry Reid. His letter was addressed to Senator Reid who did reply to the letter. I was able to enjoy conversation with his dad as I gave both of them the flyer I passed out to everyone about the "Paradigm Shifts of Peace Economics" which would have been the subject of the last monthly coffee house meeting until I had to cancel due to a schedule conflict. Encouraged by the conversation I also gave both the son and the dad copies of my "Summary of Military Dis-Economics" one page summary of the thirteen key correlations that define the essence of my theories.

When the moment came for my speech, after the main speaker and before the award winners, I decided the best idea to focus in on was the concept of empire, how military spending leads to empire decline and how that decline shapes the health, safety, civic structure, and politics of the whole society as a direct result. The main organizer sent me this thank you: "Thanks, Bob. You added a lot to the success of the program and you did a wonderful job of summarizing your contribution to the understanding of the benefits to a peace-focused economy." My colleague present thought I was a highlight of the whole event. At the end of my speech I awarded copies of my video to the main speaker and a peace columnist for the Chicago Tribune. The aide to Senator Reid asked for a copy of the video and I went back to my car and found two more copies and gave him one and took a donation for the other copy from a lady I later found out to be another one of the organizers. Every one standing around afterwards was eager to talk with me, as I talked with several people. I urged a social scientist to nominate me for next year's Nobel Peace Prize, as I expect the process could take several years.

For the text of the contest entry letter:

https://bobreuschlein.wordpress.com/2016/04/23/dear-future-us-president/

For the five paradigm shifts in the flyer distributed:

https://bobreuschlein.wordpress.com/2016/04/30/paradigm-shifts-of-peace-economics/

For a one page summary of the scope and accuracy of my work given to the Senator's aide:

https://www.academia.edu/4044456/SUMMARY_Military_DisEconomics_HighAccuracy13
Saturday, September 3, 2016

Pathetic, adj.: arousing pity, especially through vulnerability or sadness.

Synonyms: pitiful, pitiable, piteous, moving, touching, poignant, plaintive, distressing, upsetting, heartbreaking, heart-rending, harrowing, wretched, forlorn

This is the word that constantly came to mind and heart as I explored the FBIs notes (you can too, here) regarding Hillary Clintons decisiveat least in terms of saving her from prosecutioninterview with the FBI. Everything about them arouses pityfor her, for us, for the nation. Let us count the ways.

1. Over at MSNBC, Meet the Press host Chuck Todd, a fully committed operative of the Democratic Party, like most of his colleagues, and like them committed through his partisan bias to saving America from Donald Trump, was overcome with an attack of objectivity. It bothers me as an American citizen, he said, that the FBI didnt record Hillarys interview, and left Americans to ponder merely notes taken by one agent as the public tries to assess who it may be electing President in November. Are you kidding me?! Todd cried. Were releasing notes?!

Were releasing notes. Its pitiable to see one of many prominent journalists who have tried so, so hard for eight years to paper over, minimize and otherwise shrug off the constant, near complete incompetence of the Obama Administration and every agency under it to be suddenly stung by the realization that this has consequencesfor trust, for truth, for belief that the government isnt actively engaged in suppressing it. Pathetic.

2. Some of you will recall that I was collecting the various partisan reactions to FBI director James Comeys statement announcing that the FBI would not be recommending Clintons indictment to ultimately gauge which partys reaction was more ridiculous, irresponsible, dishonest and foolish. Democrats were claiming that Comeys report, despite showing that Clinton had lied outright about her use of the private e-mails server, and that her recklessness had endangered U.S. intelligence, exonerated Hillary. Republicans were claiming that Comeys statement and the decision not to prosecute was indefensible. I was waiting to learn what Hillary had said in her interview, as I assumed that it would have to be released before the election. To reveal a closely guarded Ethics Alarms secret, I was prepared to declare Republicans the winner of the competition, as obviously idiotic as it is to say that a report declaring Clinton incompetent and dishonest could possibly exonerate her. Reading the notes, however, and considering the fact that the F.B.I. only has these notes to show us, I am back to, as Bobby Fisher would say, square one. Which is pathetic.

3. Why? Well, we have just learned that Clinton had her server wiped after the New York Times, on March 3, 2015, broke the story of the server systems existence. At the same time, she and her surrogates were telling the news media and us, I want the public to see my email, even as she directed her henchmen to destroy it. The FBI knew this, yet still found Clintons actions just negligent, and not criminal. Five months laterback in those halcyon days when she actually held press conferences she feigned ignorance when Fox Newss Ed Henry asked, Did you wipe the server? saying, Like with a cloth or something? Now we know, vie the FBI notes , that she had the server emptied using a sophisticated software program, BleachBit, that is designed to make purged e-mails virtually unrecoverable, and indeed several thousand of hers were successfully destroyed. Clinton got away with this, her supporters dont think it matters, and the FBI apparently minimized these efforts to obstruct justice. Pathetic.



4. This past week we learned that 30 e-mails related to Benghazi and this its Congressional investigation were among those Clinton tried to eliminate, despite Clinton saying over and over again that she wanted all of her State related e-mails to come out, and that she had turned over every one of them. This attempted destruction of evidence, for that is what it was, occurred after Clinton knew that there were various official government investigations of the Benghazi massacre. This means that Clinton engaged in prima facie obstruction of justice. The F.B.I. apparently didnt care. It is therefore either corrupt or incompetent. Pathetic.

5. The first paragraph of the notes identifies Clintons lawyers, who were permitted to be present for the interview. Among them is Cheryl Mills, Clintons longtime confidant and chief-of-staff at the State Department. KABOOM!* Cheryl Mills was a potential witness, and even a likely subject of the investigation. She had an absolute, unwaivable conflict of interest. Her appearance as Clintons attorney was an apparent or actual ploy to protect information she received regarding the e-mails that was not privileged, since her role on Clintons staff was not as her personal lawyer or a State Department lawyer. Again, for the interviewers to allow this was either brain-blowingly incompetent, or corrupt.

Pathetic.

6. Thats five reasons for pity already and one KABOOM!, and I havent even reached the stunning statementswell, descriptions of statementsClinton made during the interview. In the interest of length, here are the most pathetic ones, all together:

[O]ne of the highest ranking national security officials in the United States government  an official whose day-to-day responsibilities extensively involved classified information; who had secure facilities installed in her two homes (in addition to her office) so she could review classified information in them; and who acknowledged to the FBI that, as secretary of state, she was designated by the president as an Original Classification Authority, meaning she had the power to determine what information should be classified and at what level  had the audacity to tell the interviewing agents that she did not know what the different classification symbols in classified documents signified.

When she was asked about an email chain containing the symbol (C),meaning confidential, Clinton said she didnt know what it meanteven by the time of the interview! and, the notes say, could only speculate it was referencing paragraphs marked in alphabetical order. McCarthy again

Mind you, Mrs. Clinton was not just secretary of state for four years. She was a United States senator for eight years, during nearly all of which she was assigned to the Senate Armed Services Committee (and such Armed Services components as the Subcommittee on Emerging Threats and Capabilities). Reviewing classified information, including highly sensitive national defense secrets, is a routine part of that committees work.

Hillary frequently, and I mean frequentlyI thought I lost devices too often lost her Blackberrys, and the FBI failed to find thirteen of them, which she used to submit more than 2,000 classified emails.

Clinton told investigators she could not recall getting any briefings on how to handle classified information or comply with laws governing the preservation of federal records. She really said that.

Forty times Clinton said that she couldnt recall critical events.

Pathetic.

Pathetic.

Pathetic.

Pathetic.

Pathetic.

7. This, as much as it is a terrible reflection on Clinton, the State Department and the F.B.I., is more evidence of the unconscionable incompetent and miserable leadership of Barack Obama. His Secretary of State, giving her the benefit of the doubt, was an incompetent, blithering fool. His State Department was technologically inept and reckless, to a dangerous degree. Did he know? Did he check? Did he care? Pathetic!



8. Hillarys corrupted supporters and most of the news media have been cheering on this woman, in part on based on the claim that she is uniquely qualified for the Presidency by experience. You see, for experience in a job to be a qualification for a tougher job, one has to have shown ability, skill and competence in that job. By the evidence her own words, Hillary Clinton did not possess basic knowledge essential to her position, and worse, lacked the curiosity to even seek to acquire that knowledge. This kind of astounding incompetencea mechanic saying Wrench? Whats a wrench?a pilot saying Flaps? What are flaps?is not a qualification. It is a disqualification. Yet we will continue to hear how qualified Clinton is for the next two months. He advocates are stupid or corrupt: those are the only alternatives.

Pathetic.

9. And what of Hillary herself? My initial conclusion, supporting Comey, was that she was, like so many others of her generation in positions of power and authority in the private and public sector, overwhelmed by the rapid advance of technology, and her ineptitude in the matter of her e-mails was careless and negligent but not criminally so. Reading the notes, however, what I see reeks of wilful or contrived ignorance, and willful ignorance is unethical as well as a weak defense against criminal complicity.

If not wilful ignorance, then the remaining explanations are that she was lying to the F.B.I,, or that she has something wrong with her, because she wasnt always this stupid. Whichever it is of the three, there is only one word for the fact that the Democratic Party has allowed this woman to be the only thing standing between Donald Trump and the White House.

By now, you should know what that is.

* The Ethics Alarms official designation for something so unethical it makes my head explode.

_______________
Dreams of a better home led more than 50 San Antonio homeowners to take high-interest loans from local mortgage broker Fred Hobbs to hire his contracting company to fix their foundations, replace their wiring or add a new bathroom, among other improvements.

But in many cases, Hobbs companies left them deeply in debt and with their homes in worse shape than before, with cracked walls, leaky roofs, tilting floors, and faucets and electrical outlets that dont work, according to two lawsuits and interviews with another eight homeowners.

Two borrowers lost their homes after struggling to repay the loans, and others have been threatened with foreclosure. Many say they have paid thousands out of their own pockets to fix the work after Hobbs company, Texas Home Restoration, refused to help.

Every time I find something new, I get so angry and tell my husband, What are we going to do? said Mary Luis, 69, who took a $21,000 loan from the company in 2011 to build a handicap bathroom for her elderly mother.

Shortly after the bathroom was finished, frogs and lizards started coming into the shower through a crack in the wall, Luis said. The grout crumbled and the roof started leaking, ruining one of the walls and the carpet in an adjacent room. She and her husband say they have spent more than $5,000 to repair the work on their South Side home.

If you dwell on something like this, it just makes you angry. You carry it in your stomach and it makes you miserable, Luis said. None of us are like that. Were surviving because of our faith.

Other homeowners share similar stories. West Side couple Graciela and Richard Munoz said their home began tilting a year after they took out an $18,900 loan from the company to fix their foundation and replace their wiring. Another West Sider, Alma Santos, said she had to spend another $28,000 to level her home after she paid almost $29,000 to Texas Home Restoration, which failed in its attempt.

Leonard Sanchez said he borrowed $39,000 for the company to repaint his house and make other repairs, but the contractors used spray paint that quickly began peeling and patched his roof with old wood that ended up cracking.

Elaine Castro and her husband, who took out a $32,420 loan for a wholesale restoration of their home, say theyve resorted to using their shower to wash their hands and brush their teeth after Hobbs contractors bungled their plumbing. They cant afford to fix it.

Perhaps the most striking story comes from Gloria Revillas, who said Texas Home Restoration left the foundation of her West Side home in such bad shape that the floor became crooked, forcing her and her husband to spend more to fix it. The episode caused her 76-year-old husband so much stress that she believes it contributed to his two recent heart attacks, she said.

He worried and worried and worried and said they didnt do a good job, Revillas said. He worries too much, and thats why he gets more sick.

Partnership with Markman

Texas Home Restoration has performed renovations for at least 54 local homeowners since 2011, with Hobbs lending them money for the work through another one of his companies, Texas Mortgage Capital Corp., property records show. Most of the homeowners live on the West and Southwest Side.

The homeowners typically didnt receive any actual money. Instead, Texas Mortgage Capital used the loaned money to pay Texas Home Restoration as a general contractor, which would accept bids from subcontractors for most of the work, just like any construction company would, Hobbs said in a phone interview.

Hobbs made the loans through a so-called mechanics lien, which takes a secured interest in the title to a house as collateral for repayment. Although not technically a home equity loan, a mechanics lien allows a lender to foreclose on the property if a borrower falls behind on payments. One of the lawsuits against Hobbs calls his loans in effect a hybrid home equity loan improperly documented as a mechanics lien.

In many, if not most, cases, he charged upward of 16 percent interest; the current average interest rate on home equity loans to borrowers with good credit is 4.9 percent.

Hobbs insists that his company performed good restoration work and is responsive to complaints. All the homeowners who hired his company for renovation work signed documents indicating the work was completed, he said. Some have complained about the work as part of a strategy to avoid foreclosure, he said.

We do everything by the book, and people make all kinds of claims after the fact, especially if they think they might get free work or something out of it, Hobbs said. There are a lot of homes that were done and people are satisfied.

Reached by phone, two homeowners who took loans from Texas Home Restoration said they had positive experiences.

From my standpoint, theyve done a good job with me, said Estelle Daniels, who lives on the East Side and borrowed money in 2013 to repair her ceilings and roof. She said shes having no trouble making her monthly payments.

The two homes that Hobbs companies foreclosed on have ended up in the hands of Jack Markman, a Houston property owner who has been accused in numerous lawsuits over the past 15 years of trapping low-income customers in property contracts that are designed to fail.

Markman entered the San Antonio market last fall by partnering with Hobbs to buy homes; he told the Express-News he plans to buy and flip between 100 and 200 homes in inner-city San Antonio.

He has bought another two of Texas Home Restorations contracts from Hobbs, meaning that if those properties go into foreclosure, he will have a chance to snatch them up.

Texas Home Restoration remains in business, but it hasnt signed a new contract for renovations since 2014. That year, the Dodd-Frank financial reform bill put in place stricter lending regulations, reducing the profit that Hobbs and his investors could make on the contracts, Hobbs said.

After Dodd-Frank, the rate of return  on those notes is not a very attractive rate for our investors, he said. Therefore, unfortunately, the people of San Antonio that need remodel work done on their houses are not able to get it at this time.

Two lawsuits

Texas Home Restoration has been sued twice. The first lawsuit was filed in 2014 by Adriene Wilson, who took out an $86,000 loan with 16 percent interest in 2013 for repair work on her home in Lavaca, according to court documents. Consultants hired by her attorney say the work should have cost $25,000. By January 2014, she was facing foreclosure.

Wilson said in her lawsuit that Hobbs employees started a fire that damaged her home. Consultants determined the renovation work posed a fire hazard, violated city building codes, and was done without any great level of skill or training and with no attention to detail. Her case was settled in April to reduce her principal to $68,129 with an annual interest rate of 6 percent, court records show.

West Side homeowner Rosalinda Ybarra filed the second lawsuit in December, saying Texas Home Restoration left her home with cracking walls and buckling floors. Ybarra, who said she does not read or write well, signed documents in July 2013 for a $46,550 loan with a 16 percent interest rate.

Half of the things, I didnt know what I was signing, Ybarra said in an interview at her home near Elmendorf Lake. Several holes have appeared in the floor of her home since the renovation work was done, she said; she has covered them with layers of carpet.

Ybarra has reached a settlement with Hobbs, subject to the approval of a judge, to adjust the terms of the loan, her lawyer, Genevieve Hebert Fajardo, said, noting that she and her client are happy with the proposed settlement. As part of the settlement, a third-party engineer would visit the home to decide if more repairs are necessary.

Both lawsuits claim that Texas Home Restoration didnt take out the proper permits for the renovation work. A search of the citys permit database shows that many renovation projects funded by Hobbs company never received permits.

Hobbs said in an interview that his company and its contractors always obtained the proper permits when the scope of the work required it.

Some homeowners who have taken loans from Hobbs accuse his companies of sloppy record-keeping. Santos, the West Side homeowner who borrowed money to level her home, said the company hasnt let her see how much of the loan she has paid off.

Becky Valdez, who took a loan to level her South Side home, said the company unexpectedly raised her monthly payments from the low $400s to the high $700s. Hobbs companies have failed to provide amortization schedules and payment notes when requested, she said. She and her husband had to dip into a 401(k) retirement account to make payments after the company threatened foreclosure.

The couple has decided to sell their home because we just dont want to deal with them anymore, Valdez said. We just dont.

rwebner@express-news.net

@rwebner
Baku, Azerbaijan, Sept. 3

By Emil Ilgar  Trend:

Irans Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif will take part in the funeral of Uzbekistans President Islam Karimov in Samarkand, IRNA reported.

An Iranian delegation is accompanying Zarif, the report said Sep. 3.

Earlier, Foreign Ministry Spokesman Bahram Qassemi announced that Iran will participate in the funeral procession ceremony of Karimov at the highest diplomatic level.

We are in constant contact with the Iranian embassy in Tashkent to take part in funeral of late president of Uzbekistan at the highest possible level, Qassemi said.

Given the historical and cultural relations between the Iranian and Uzbek nations, a message of condolence by Irans president addressed to the Uzbek nation and government was sent, he added.

President Karimov died at the age of 78 after suffering a stroke.

His rule saw the country emerge from the collapsing Soviet Union to become an independent nation.

Karimov was born in 1938 in Samarkand, one of Central Asia's oldest inhabited cities and a key stopping point along the Silk Road.

He studied engineering and economics at university.
COLUMBUS  Aaron and Sarah Heilers of Anna have been named the winners of Ohio Farm Bureau Federations 2016 Excellence in Agriculture Award.

The award recognizes successful young agricultural professionals who are actively contributing and growing through their involvement with Farm Bureau and agriculture.

The Shelby County Farm Bureau couple have a corn, soybean, wheat and wine grape operation. Aaron is project manager of the Blanchard River Demonstration Farm Network Project, a $1 million, five-year project supported by Ohio Farm Bureau, USDA-NRCS and other groups that showcases innovative and standard agricultural practices that help reduce and prevent nutrient runoff.

Community involvement

Sarah is an agricultural educator and FFA adviser at Anna High School. The Heilers will receive an expense-paid trip to compete in the national Excellence in Agriculture contest during American Farm Bureaus annual convention in January.

They also will receive a John Deere Gator courtesy of Farm Credit Mid-America, and a $1,000 technology package sponsored by Ohio Farm Bureau. The couple are members of Shelby Countys Young Agricultural Professionals chapter and were co-chairs of Ohio Farm Bureaus Young Agricultural Professionals committee.

Aaron is past president and vice president of Shelby County Farm Bureau and director of the Shelby County Fair Board. Sarah is currently on the county Farm Bureaus Women in Ag Committee, an adviser for Anna Young Farmers and Anna FFA Alumni, and was Shelby County Farm Bureau Teacher of the Year in 2012.

They both have bachelors degrees in agriculture from Ohio State University and Sarah has a masters in teaching and learning from Nova Southeastern University. They have two children.

Other finalists

Other finalists in the Excellence in Agriculture contest were Greg and Rose Hartschuh of Sycamore, and Kyle Smith, of South Vienna. Craig Pohlman, of Venedocia, has been named winner of Ohio Farm Bureau Federations 2016 Outstanding Young Farmer Award.

The contest is designed to help young farmers strengthen their business skills, develop marketing opportunities and receive recognition for their accomplishments. Contestants are judged on the growth of their farm businesses and involvement in Farm Bureau and their community.

Pohlman has a 1,300-acre grain crop operation and is an independent seed and cover crop seed salesman. He and his wife, Sheila have three children. He is currently president of Van Wert County Farm Bureau and a Van Wert Soil Water and Conservation District trustee.

In 2004, he graduated from Ohio State University with a bachelors degree in agricultural education.

Pohlman won 250 hours free use of an M-series tractor provided by Kubota, a Polaris Ranger provided by Polaris, $1,000 in Grainger merchandise sponsored by Farm Credit Mid-America and an expense-paid trip to the 2016 American Farm Bureau Federation annual convention in Phoenix in January. Other finalists in the contest were Pete Cruz, of Somerset, Gregory Griffin, of Germantown, and Christian Hoffman, of Stoutsville.
New technology is vital to support the sustainable intensification of farming, a major agricultural business-focused event has said.

Although almost half of the farmers surveyed as part of the Sustainable Intensification Platform had used some type of decision support tool, the review team discovered that of the hundreds of tools found, the vast majority were not widely implemented or known about.

Some of the promising technologies that are available to help farmers increase yield without compromising soil quality and environmental factors, are to be discussed at a NIAB and Agri-Tech East workshop Innovations for Sustainable Intensification on 14th September 2016.

Dr Belinda Clarke, Director of Agri-Tech East, says the sustainable intensification provides a "significant market opportunity" for technology developers, but the tools must be "appropriate for use in a complex environment."

"Through this workshop we are aiming to provide an overview of the challenges, the technology that is currently available and the requirements for new tools," Dr Clarke said.

"Farmers and growers will also benefit from early sight of findings coming out of the trial farms.

"By bringing all parties together we aim to accelerate developments in this crucial area."

Lack of knowledge

Dr David Rose, of the Department of Geography at University of Cambridge, is leading the team looking at decision support tools.

He says: "We have evaluated paper-based, software-based, and app-based tools and found that although farmers and their advisors are prepared to use these tools, few seem to have been designed with knowledge of the end user and their requirements.

"We are developing a checklist to help designers to improve their value.

Improving grassland soils for livestock is one of the technological goals for many developers

"This includes ensuring that the benefit outweighs the cost of implementation; compatibility with existing equipment or software; providing a strong evidence-base to support usage; offering the ability to customise the tool to meet the requirements and practices of a particular farm; and allowing what if analysis to compare different management options.

"All of these things would significantly improve the value of these tools."

Sustainable Intensification Platform

SIP (Sustainable Intensification Platform) Project 1 is a research project funded by Defra and the Welsh Government to investigating ways of increasing farm output whilst enhancing the environment and countryside.

Louis Baugh is a wetlands farmer and comments that freshwater in the Norfolk and Suffolk Broads, provides a socio-economic benefit both to farming and the local economy and technology can help protect this vulnerable ecosystem.

He says: "Accurate and early detection of crop pathogens will assist with the timely control of disease and minimise the use of inputs.

"A good example of this is work by the Earlham Institute to develop infield microcomputers for the detection and identification of yellow rust in wheat which gives an insight into how this disease can be controlled in future.

"Another interesting technology is the use of GPS and drones for the production of soil and yield maps.

"The Broadlands Catchment Partnership has used LiDAR data within a geographic information system to map field slopes and watercourses and this has created a useful web-based tool for farmers.

"It helps them to identify high-risk sites that are likely to contribute diffuse pollution. This information can be used to inform management practices in that part of the field."

Farm management practices

Stuart Knight, Deputy Director of NIAB and Leader of SIP 1, has brought together a multi-disciplinary community to look at the issues from many angles.

It includes a network of 5 study farms across England and Wales that have been evaluating a range of farm management practices that could be adopted for more widely.

He says "For arable, this includes over-winter coverage crops and less intensive cultivation systems, and for livestock, reseeding of permanent pasture with high sugar grasses and improving grassland soils.

"Better soil management is a good example of how yields can be improved, environmental impacts reduced and resilience to climate change increased, all at the same time. These win-win scenarios provide a great opportunity.

"The project has developed new approaches to measuring the environmental as well as the economic performance of farms, without requiring large amounts of new data to be collected."

Some of the emerging technologies to be discussed at a NIAB and Agri-Tech East workshop  Innovations for Sustainable Intensification  include the use of yield and soil mapping to improve precision farming and variable rate application of inputs; use of LIDAR imagery to reduce run-off; predicting performance using models enhanced with Earth Observation (EO) data and technologies for increasing resilience in harsh environments.
Farming charity, The Addington Fund, has launched a new initiative to help raise vital funds for farmers in need.

The funds will see sheep farmers donate live animals through auction markets around England and Wales.

The new scheme, titled Tup 1 Ewe, enables sheep farmers to nominate the sale proceeds of ewes or lambs to the charity when arriving at participating livestock markets around England and Wales, from September 2016.

"Farmers can donate a ewe and lamb or lambs or they can give the progeny of the ewe as a store or finished lamb," explains Ian Bell, Chief Executive, the Addington Fund.

"The proceeds will then be sent to the Addington Fund direct from the auctioneer and the funds raised will support farming families in the region of the market."

The Addington Fund, which offers a lifeline to farmers in desperate need of housing or emergency funds, has worked closely with the Livestock Auctioneers Association Council to formulate this new scheme and ensure it is convenient and workable on busy sale days.

'Much needed cause'

"We want to make donations easy and practical for the farming community," says Ian.

"Livestock farmers have always been incredibly supportive of our charity and this offers a new and unique method of giving money to a worthy and much needed cause.

"This predominately results in the Addington Fund working to provide housing for farmers who are forced to leave their homes," adds Ian.

"However, in certain counties, we also offer affordable housing to anyone currently working in, or retired from, an agricultural or a land based industry. A donation of just one animal could make a huge difference to someones future.

"The Livestock Auctioneers Association Council is backing this new campaign and we hope to add more markets to our list of participating partners in the coming months.

"Farmers should look out for details at their local market or ask their auctioneer," concludes Ian.
A growing number of farmers in the south west of England are looking to market their farms privately this autumn, rather than launch them on the open market.

Charlie Evans, Strutt & Parker's Head of Estates and Farm Agency in the South West Region, said he has ten farms, totalling 2,385 acres, available privately this autumn.

This compares with four farms a year ago, totalling 864 acres.

He has an additional 2,336 acres available in south west England on the open market.

The trend does seem to be for an increase in private marketing, he said.

Normally I would expect the ratio to be 75:25 in favour of open market sales.

"Private marketing is attractive to people who are looking to move but cannot buy before they sell"

There are two key reasons for this happening. The first is uncertainty about how the market will perform this autumn because of the impact of the Brexit vote.

"Some people are thinking they dont want to lose the impact of their farms in the market through a public launch if it turns out the market is weak, so this is a way to test the market discreetly.

I also think the current climate, in terms of profitability, is leading others to question why they are farming.

"Some have decided if they can get a good price for their farm they will sell, but dont want to alert neighbours, suppliers or staff to the fact they are open to leaving the industry.

"Selling privately gives them privacy, so that they can carry on with business as usual for the time being.

Private marketing

Mr Evans said off-market sales typically accounted for 25% of sales in the region, which was broadly reflective of the position nationwide.

Private marketing is attractive to people who are looking to move but cannot buy before they sell.

"They want to be ready to buy when they find the right thing. It also appeals to those who want to sell, but continue trading as normal in the meantime.

Mr Evans said one recent off-market sale in Devon had completed at 8% above the guide price, showing that it was still possible to achieve premium prices selling privately.

It is still possible to get a premium, particularly a premium for exclusivity, if the farm is only offered to a single buyer or to a neighbour.

"However, it is harder to generate competition from multiple buyers.

"The main concern people have about private marketing is that you will never be absolutely certain you have got the highest price as you cannot expose the farm to the market.

Mr Evans said the recent announcement from the Treasury that farm subsidy payments can continue at current levels until 2020 had been met with relief and gave some short-term certainty to buyers.

Overall, prices remain stable and there is good local demand in some areas.

"But, as has been the case for some months, the market is very location specific.
Foreign Ministry Spokesman Bahram Qassemi announced that Iran will participate in the funeral procession ceremony of late Uzbek President Islam Karimov at the highest diplomatic level, IRNA news agency reported.

We are in constant contact with the Iranian embassy in Tashkent to take part in funeral of late president of Uzbekistan at the highest possible level, Qassemi said.

Given the historical and cultural relations between the Iranian and Uzbek nations a message of condolence by Irans president addressed to the Uzbek nation and government was sent to condole the demise of the late Uzbek president, he added.

President Karimov died at the age of 78 after suffering a stroke.

His rule saw the country emerge from the collapsing Soviet Union to become an independent nation.

Karimov was born in 1938 in Samarkand, one of Central Asia's oldest inhabited cities and a key stopping point along the Silk Road.

He studied engineering and economics at university.
Maris Otter barley malt has helped secure the top place yet again at CAMRAs Great British Beer Festival.

This is the 11th time in 16 years that Maris Otter has been the barley of choice for the Champion Beer of Britain.

Binghams Vanilla Stout 5% abv from Berkshire, this years Champion Beer of Britain, is based on Maris Otter malt, with vanilla, dark malts and British hops added.

Chris Bingham, Owner/Brewer and MD of Binghams Brewery, comments: We are really keen on Maris Otter as it gives a sure foundation for our beers and the character of a base malt is important.

"Maris Otter has a balanced, pleasantly biscuity flavour, and is a real class act."

Binghams Vanilla Stout 5% abv from Berkshire, this years Champion Beer of Britai

"I tell people that when blending spices for a curry, you cant always tell which flavour comes from which ingredient, but you can certainly tell when one important flavour is absent!

The revered barley variety was developed in the 1960s by a Dr Bell, in Maris Lane, Trumpington, Cambridgeshire.

Maris Otter was developed for its taste and remains the only barley bred to provide consistency for the brewer and a spectrum of flavours which come through in the beer; and although it yields less than new barley varieties, what it does yield is extremely special.

Maris Otter was saved from likely extinction in 1990 by Robin Appel of Hampshire and Banhams of East Anglia, barley merchants with a passion for the job and with maltster customers who supply brewers across the globe.

They also marked a great milestone for it as, following the celebrations for its 50th anniversary back in 2015, more Maris Otter was grown in Britain last year than for the previous twenty years.

'Difficult time for winter barley farmers'

Demand has been rising since from brewers not only in the UK, but also from Europe and America.

"However, the 2016 growing season has been a difficult one for many winter barley farmers," Mr Bingham said.

"The lack of June sunshine this year has meant that yields are lower than in 2015 but quality has been far better than its more modern counterparts."

The industry will have plenty of top quality Maris Otter malt from this harvest and demand remains good for planting this autumn.

When the leaves turn and an evening chill embraces the British public, farmers will be planting yet another seasons worth of the worlds finest malting barley.

"Maris Otter may be over 50 years old, but none can match the flavour or brewing characteristics of our old Champion," concluded Mr Bingham.
Lucy Gavaghan, a 14-year-old schoolgirl who gathered 460,000 signatures for online petitions calling for supermarkets to stop selling caged eggs, was invited on a tour to a free-range farm.

Lucy, from Sheffield, was invited to celebrate her success with a tour of Wood Farm in Waresley, Bedfordshire, which is a member of RSPCA Assured.

Rio Mellor, an RSPCA Assured assessor, said Lucy's campaign will see "millions of hens, who would have been kept in cages, being given plenty of space to move around freely and express their natural behaviours instead."

"Its a phenomenal victory for animal welfare," Mr Mellor said.

"It was wonderful to meet Lucy and tell her more about the strict RSPCA welfare standards farmers have to meet in order to use the RSPCA Assured logo.

"It was helpful for her to see a commercial farm in action. She asked some intelligent questions about welfare and Im sure this experience and her new knowledge will help her future campaigns"

Egg campaigner Lucy Gavaghan was said to be impressed by RSPCA Assured farm

250-acre farm

Charles Mear, the fourth generation of his family to farm the land, his wife Jo, and their three children showed Lucy around their 250-acre farm where they have just under 28,000 free-range hens producing about 25,000 eggs a day.

Lucy and her mum Jenny were shown the tree-covered ranges, inside the sheds, the egg packing station and also the mill where the family mixes their own feed for the hens.

Charles said: Lucy has really made the supermarkets sit up and take notice, shes managed to open doors to make a real impact and proved she is a force to be reckoned with.

The welfare of the hens is our top priority. We think happy hens produce quality eggs, so its great that the industry has got someone like Lucy pushing for change.

We wish her every success with her campaign.

'Happy and healthy'

Lucy became interested in hens when she met some at a livery yard where her family keep their miniature Shetland pony Willow.

She now has a flock of her own - Pumpkin, Hazel, Sunshine, Sylvia, Fern and Mildred - some of which are former battery cage hens.

She launched her first online petition lobbying Tesco from her mobile phone in the living room and it quickly went viral gaining more than 280,000 signatures in less than six months.

Now she is campaigning for the UK to go cage-free.

Lucy said: "I felt it was really important for me to see a commercial farm and I was really impressed. The hens looked really happy and healthy, just how all hens should be.

"I know there will be some resistance to what I am trying to achieve - an end of hens being kept in cages - so it was great to speak to a commercial farmer like Charles and know he wishes me well with my campaign"
"But our WA farmers produce good quality milk too, so Parmalat is putting some of that into export and we have the added advantage that it is quicker to get exports through Fremantle port than Melbourne," Mr Sharpe said.
So make sure you have the day marked on the calendar and get along and see how producing sheep can be made a lot easier, you have nothing to lose and everything to gain!
That faint gobble, gobble youre hearing in the distance can only mean one thing: Thanksgiving is near! Both ACTS and SERVE are gearing up for their holiday programs, and your help is needed.
Fort Bragg to be known as Fort Liberty. Here's what to know.

When will Fort Bragg be renamed? Why will it be renamed Fort Liberty? How much will it cost?
Turkey 'an important partner for a whole range of issues in the region,' Obama says, Anadolu Agency reported.

A recent failed coup in Turkey did not have a diminishing effect on security relations between Ankara and Washington, President Barack Obama told CNN while en route to China.

Turkey continues to be a strong NATO ally, Obama said. They are working with us to defeat ISIL and are an important partner for a whole range of issues in the region, the American leader said in an exclusive interview to be aired Sunday in a special edition of Fareed Zakaria GPS.

Obama will meet Turkeys President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on the sidelines of the G20 Summit in Hangzhou, China, and is expected to discuss the July 15 overthrow attempt and other security issues in the region.

Asked if he is worried about Turkey's stability, Obama said the country has gone through a political and civil earthquake and it would rebuild itself.

They have got to rebuild and how they rebuild is going to be important and what we want to do is to indicate to them that we support the Turkish people, he said.

With respect to the Turkish governments crackdown on the Fetullah Terrorist Organization, or FETO, accused of leading the putsch attempt, Obama added: Like any good friend, we want to give them honest feedback if we think that the steps they are taking are going to be contrary to their long-term interests and our partnership.

The failed coup has strained relations between the U.S. and Turkey as the alleged leader of the coup, Fetullah Gulen, resides in the state of Pennsylvania and officials in Turkey have voiced concerns about Washingtons apparent reluctance to extradite the secretive FETO leader.

Obama will meet for the last time as president with G20 leaders, before attending a regional gathering in Laos.
UK Prime Minister Theresa May is interested in cooperation with Russia over security issues with recognition that the two countries have many disagreements over other issues, Sputnik reported.

Russian President Vladimir Putin and Theresa May are expected to hold a bilateral meeting on the sidelines of the G20 summit, which is scheduled to take place in the Chinas city of Hangzhou on September 4-5.

"The Prime Ministers view is that we should approach this in a hard-headed way, recognising that is in the interests of the UK to seek to work with Russia on issues around security that can affect people here at home, but recognising the many issues where we would disagree in the relationship," the source said as quoted by the Independent newspaper.

In August, Putin and May held their first phone conversation discussing the current level of bilateral ties.

During their phone conversation, held at the United Kingdoms request, the two leaders expressed dissatisfaction with the existing parameters of cooperation in the political, trade and economic spheres. They agreed to improve dialogue between the intelligence services in charge of aviation security, according to the Kremlin statement.

May, formerly the UK home secretary, was widely expected to maintain a hard line on Russia after becoming the prime minister, as she was the minister responsible for the inquiry on the death of former Russian Federal Security Service employee Alexander Litvinenko, condemning the Russian government. She was also one of the main supporters of the EU anti-Russia sanctions.
Colin Firth does not understand why people are attracted to Mr Darcy from 'Pride and Prejudice'.

Colin Firth

The 55-year-old actor famously played the iconic Jane Austen character in a 1995 TV adaptation of the novel - but remains bemused by Mr Darcy's popularity among women.

He confessed: "Women being attracted to him took me by surprise.

"Jane Austen writes very well about women, but she doesn't really write about men from their perspective, and when I took on the role of Darcy it seemed to me that he was imperious and stiff and forbidding, and I didn't know what there was to play apart from him scowling all the time."

The role proved to be a landmark moment in Firth's career, but he still cannot explain the allure of the character.

The Oscar-winning star told the Daily Mail newspaper: "I thought it would be quite fun and liberating to play someone who was completely and utterly dislikeable, unsympathetic, judgemental and snobbish.

"I didn't have to think about bringing charm to the role - the way I saw it, I just had to stand there and make everyone hate me ... then this weird thing happened where people liked him, which wasn't what I was expecting at all! We're 20 years on and I still don't understand it."

Firth stars as Mr Darcy in the 'Bridget Jones' franchise - and he considers that character to be considerably more likeable.

But he added: "I know people who are as introverted as he is, but there are very, very few people who are quite as emotionally constipated.

"I'm not, myself. I mean, when I'm on my best behaviour and in public, I do revert to a kind of English politeness. And when I'm in Italy, where my wife is from, I do feel very English. But I'm not as repressed as Mark Darcy."
Margot Kidder has criticised Zac Snyder's 'Superman' films for wasting the Lois Lane character.

Margot Kidder

The 67-year-old actress played the intrepid reporter, who is the girlfriend of the Man of Steel, in the four 'Superman' films which starred Christopher Reeve donning the famous red cape from 1978 to 1987.

Kidder has watched Snyder's two films which feature Henry Cavill as the Son of Krypton and is massively disappointed with how he has depicted Amy Adams' Louis on screen, insisting he has reduced to nothing but a damsel in distress.

Speaking to website HeyUGuys, she moaned: "They took one of the best American actresses around, Amy Adams, and didn't give her anything to do! I mean, how stupid is that?"

"They made her what used to be the girlfriend, which kind of ended in the 60s with women's rights."

Kidder believes that audiences will always return to the original films because they are closer in essence to how Superman was depicted in the early DC Comics stories.

She explained: "They always go back because 'Superman' was better written and directed. They go back to that series because they were so much truer to the comic books. Superman responds to women by saving them, saves the children and beats up the bad guys, if you will. In that sense, it's so much simpler than the later films made it out to be. I think there was a cynical decision on the part of the studios ... to hit the demographic of the millennials in the later films. I think the directors were good, the actors were good, but the basic approach wasn't there."

Despite bashing the modern franchise Kidder has not ruled out a return to the DC universe if there was an appropriate role for her.

When asked if she'd get involved again, Margot replied: "Yeah, sure. Depending on the script or what they wanted me to do. I am 67, I am an old broad now! So, I look back at this with much more amusement than I did. I don't have a career I need to worry about protecting. My life has nothing to do with movies anymore. I live in a little town in Montana and basically do political activism. So, I guess it would be fun to fly in and do a couple of days' work."
We head into the autumn and it is always an exciting time for film fans as we are usually treated to a range of great indie films... 2016 is going to see that fine tradition continue.

Captain Fantastic

Yes, if you are an indie film fan, you are in for a treat this September as there are a string of great indie films that you really cannot afford to miss.

We take a closer look at some of the films that are on the horizon and the indie movies that we are looking forward to the most.

- Jim: The James Foley Story - released 2nd September

If you are a documentary film fan, then Jim: The James Foley Story is one of the movies that you cannot afford to miss.

James Foley was an America journalist who was reporting on the Syrian Civil War when it was kidnapped and eventually beheaded by ISIS in August 2014.

Directed by Brian Oakes, Jim: The James Foley Story, is an in depth look at the life and works of the journalist Oakes was a childhood friend of Foley's.

The movie is the second documentary movie by Oakes, who made his debut back in 2015 with television documentary Living with Lincoln. Jim: The James Foley Story is a more personal movie for the filmmaker and is set to be one of the most emotional and powerful movies this September.

Jim: The James Foley Story is a fascinating portrait of a man who died doing the job that he loved. It is a mix of personal stories as well as tackling some wider themes of events in the Middle East.

- Anthropoid - released 9th September

Sean Ellis is set to return to the director's chair this September as he returns with his latest film Anthropoid.

Anthropoid is the fourth feature film for Ellis and his first film since the release of Metro Manila back in 2013. As well as being in the director's chair, Ellis has also teamed up with Anthony Frewin to pen the film's screenplay.

Cillian Murphy leads an all-star cast in the historical drama and is joined by Jamie Dornan, Anna Geislerova, Harry Lloyd, Toby Jones, and Charlotte Le Bon.

Anthropoid is based on the extraordinary true story of the World War II operation to assassinate SS-Obergruppenfuhrer Reinhard Heydrich. Heydrich was the Reich's third in command after Hitler and Himmler, and the main architect behind the Final Solution and the leader of the occupying Nazi forces in Czechoslovakia.

Nicknamed 'The Butcher of Prague,' his reign of terror and brutal crackdown prompted Allied authorities in London to hatch a top-secret mission, codenamed Operation Anthropoid, which would change history.

The film follows two soldiers from the Czech army-in-exile, Josef Gabcik (Murphy) and Jan Kubis (Dornan), who are parachuted into their occupied homeland in December 1941. With limited intelligence and little equipment in a city locked down under Nazi occupation, they must find a way to assassinate Heydrich, the man many saw as Adolf Hitler's natural successor.

The movie premiered at the Karlovy Vary International Film Festival earlier this summer and is set to be a tense watch. We are big Cillian Murphy fans here at FemaleFirst and it is always exciting to see him back in action.

- Hell Or High Water - released 9th September

Chris Pine has already had a busy summer with the release and success of Star Trek Beyond, and now he is back with indie film Hell Or High Water.

Hell Or High Water sees Pine team up with filmmaker David Mackenzie, who returns to the director's chair for his first feature since the success of Starred Up back in 2013.

Pine takes on the central role of Toby Howard and is joined on the cast list by Ben Foster, Jeff Bridges, Katy Mixon, and Gil Birmingham.

Hell or High Water premiered at the Un Certain Regard section of the 2016 Cannes Film Festival, where it was well received by both audiences and critics.

A story about the collision of the old and new West, two brothers - Toby (Pine), a straight-living, divorced father trying to make a better life for his son; and Tanner (Foster), a short-tempered ex-con with a loose trigger finger - come together to rob branch after branch of the bank that is foreclosing on their family land. The hold-ups are part of a last-ditch scheme to take back a future that powerful forces beyond their control have stolen from under their feet.

Vengeance seems to be theirs until they find themselves in the crosshairs of a relentless, foul-mouthed Texas Ranger (Bridges) looking for one last triumph on the eve of his retirement. As the brothers plot a final bank heist to complete their plan, a showdown looms at the crossroads where the last honest law man and a pair of brothers with nothing to live for except family collide.

Mackenzie made every sit up and take notice when he delivered Starred Up and he is one of the most exciting filmmakers to keep an eye on over the next couple of years.

Hell or High Water is set to be another character driven drama with some great performances at its core.

- Captain Fantastic - released 9th September

Captain Fantastic is another film that her been performing well on the festival circuit and now there's just a week or so to go until it finally hits the big screen.

The movie received its world premiere at the Sundance Film Festival at the beginning of the year and marks the return of Matt Ross to the director's chair.

Captain Fantastic is only the second feature film of Ross' career and comes four years after he made his debut with 28 Hotel Rooms in 2012.

As well as being in the director's chair, Ross has also penned the film's screenplay and he teams up with actor Viggo Mortensen for the first time.

The Oscar-nominated actor takes on the central role of Ben, a devoted father of six children, and is joined on the cast list by George MacKay, Samantha Isler, Annalise Basso, Nicholas Hamilton, Kathryn Hahn, Steve Zahn, and Frank Langella.

Deep in the forests of the Pacific Northwest, isolated from society, a devoted father (Mortensen) dedicates his life to transforming his six young children into extraordinary adults. But when a tragedy strikes the family, they are forced to leave this self-created paradise and begin a journey into the outside world that challenges his idea of what it means to be a parent and brings into question everything he's taught them.

Captain Fantastic is a movie that has been winning over critics on the festival circuit and is a film that you really cannot afford to miss this September.

- Hunt For The Wilderpeople - released 16th September

Taika Waititi is a filmmaker who will see his star rocket next year after taking up the director's chair for Thor: Ragnarok. But before we see him put his own stamp on the Thor franchise, he is back with Hunt For The Wilderpeople.

Hunt For The Wilderpeople is based on the book by Barry Crump and Waititi has penned the screenplay as well as being in the director's chair.

The movie premiered In Competition at this year's Sundance Film Festival and it looks set to be one of the great sleeper hits of 2016. it is an adventure/comedy that really looks like it is going to be a whole lot of fun.

Sam Neill and Julian Dennison take on the central roles of Uncle Hec and Ricky and they are joined on the cast list by Rhys Darby, Rima Te Wiata, Rachel House, and Oscar Knightley.

Ricky, a defiant young city kid, finds himself on the run with his cantankerous foster uncle in the wild New Zealand bush after a series of misadventures befall the unlikely duo. A national manhunt ensues, and the two are forced to put aside their differences and work together in this hilarious and heartfelt adventure.

Hunt For The Wilderpeople has been met with acclaim on the festival circuit and upon release and is one of the September movies that I am looking forward to the most.

- Swiss Army Man - released 30th September

Swiss Army Man was one of the most divisive films at this year's Sundance Film Festival - some loved it while others hated it. But it is promising to be one of the most original movies to hit the big screen this September.

Swiss Army Man marks the feature film directorial debut for Dan Kwan and Daniel Scheinert, who make the leap from shorts and television projects. As well as being in the director's chair, Kwan and Scheinert have also penned the film's screenplay.

The movie sees Paul Dano take on the central role of Hank while Daniel Radcliffe stars as corpse - yes you read that right - Manny.

Dano and Radcliffe are two of the most exciting actors around and I am looking forward to seeing them work together on this new feature. They are joined on the cast list by Mary Elizabeth Winstead, Timothy Eulich, and Richard Gross.

Outrageously funny and deeply affecting, Swiss Army Man tells the tale of Hank (Dano); stranded on a deserted island and having given up all hope of ever making it home again. But one day everything changes when a corpse named Manny (Radcliffe) washes up on shore; the two become fast friends, and ultimately go on an epic adventure that will bring Hank back to the woman of his dreams.

It may have divided audiences at Sundance, but the movie has gone on to win over the critics. Kwan and Scheinert did go on to win Best Director award in the US Dramatic category at the festival.

Other indie films to watch out for this September include The 9th Life of Louis Drax, The Blue Room, and Theo and Hugo.

by Helen Earnshaw for www.femalefirst.co.uk

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Cast: Stephen Lang, Jane Levy, Dylan Minnette, Daniel Zovatto, Emma Bercovici, Katia Bokor

Direction: Frede Alvarez

Genre: Thriller

Duration: 1 hour 28 minutes



Story: Three teenage thieves - Rocky (Levy), Money (Zovatto) and Alex (Minnette) - desperate to make enough money and leave for a better life in California, break into the house of a blind Army veteran Norman Nordstrom (Lang). They received a tip off that he has a stash of more than $300,000 hidden away and thereby, with this dough, they will be able to fulfill their dreams. But things start to go wrong for them very, very quickly.



Review: Right from the opening frame, Don't Breathe gets into the heart of things with an ominous scene that looks straight out of a nightmare, but yet , is real-world enough. As for the rest of the movie, imagine a twisted version of Panic Room (where Jodie Foster rocked) and a very scary home-invasion story where it's no big deal breaking into the house, but the heart-in-your-mouth factor comes from the fact that the three cannot get out.



Rocky is a free-spirited girl who has the most ambition of the lot. Oh, and she loves shoes. Money is the tough-talking hooligan and Alex is the baby-faced cautious one, also the smartest of the trio. What makes this film different is that it is largely devoid of jump scares that have become a Hollywood horror cliche. To give you an idea of the atmosphere, remember Silence of the Lambs? The terror that Clarice felt when she's in pitch darkness, battling a deranged psychotic? Well ramp that up by a factor of ten. Although Lang is blind, he is nonetheless very strong and his sense of smell and hearing compensates, ironically, giving him an advantage in the dark over the three who have all their faculties functioning fine.



Giving the movie a tight, gripping feel is the superb tracking camerawork (courtesy cinematographer Pedro Luque), especially in the parts that take place in Nordstrom's basement. And they also stumble upon a secret that The Blind Man has kept hidden from any prying eyes. Enough said about that ! Suffice to say that within the first few minutes of the movie, you'll find out why it's called Don't Breathe. It's fantastic. Go watch it.

Next Story : Not Your Average Gift: Our Handpicked Thoughtful Diwali Gifts
River Island has joined hands with Snapchat to introduce the 'Snap & Share' campaign for its millennial audience in the UK. The companies have collaborated to create customised branded filters which can exclusively be used in Snapchat stories when in River Island stores. They are set to be made available in over 280 stores for the next three months.

This one of its kind, location-based campaign features filters that are especially designed to highlight cultural messages and key brand. They will change along with the fashion seasons. Moreover, this campaign is inspired by Polaroids and supports the retailer's new fall advertising campaign. It will run until the end of November.

When devising a plan for the launch of our new autumn/winter campaign, we wanted to explore new innovation and technology, seeking a fresh way for us to connect and engage with River Island customers. We decided to use Snapchat for its mass reach, popularity and ability to cut through to consumers with strong, creative content, said Josie Roscop, marketing director of River Island.

River Island has joined hands with Snapchat to introduce the 'Snap & Share' campaign for its millennial audience in the UK. The companies have collaborated to create customised branded filters which can exclusively be used in Snapchat stories when in River Island stores. They are set to be made available in over 280 stores for the next three months.#

Customers, who visit the stores in the UK and use these filters in their Snapchat stories, stand a chance to win a shopping spree of 1,000 and a digital camera. (KT)

Fibre2Fashion News Desk  India
GRAND CAYMAN, CAYMAN ISLANDS -- (Marketwired) -- 09/02/16 -- Tethys Petroleum Limited ("Tethys" or the "Company") (TSX: TPL) (LSE: TPL) today announces a corporate update.

Olisol Transaction

Following approval of The Grand Court in the Cayman Islands on August 19, 2016 to reduce the par value of the Company's ordinary shares from US$0.10 to US$0.01 the Company has worked with Olisol and its advisors to complete the previously announced C$9.8 million private placement by September 2, 2016. The Company made the necessary filing with the Cayman Islands Registrar of Companies on August 31, 2016 at which time the reduction in par value became legally effective. The Investment Agreement requires a closing date two business days after all closing conditions have been satisfied or waived by the parties. The Company was prepared to complete the private placement with Olisol on September 2, 2016 as originally scheduled or to agree a short extension with Olisol if Olisol met certain funding commitments.

As Olisol has not done so the Company considers Olisol to be in breach of the Investment Agreement. The Company continues to work with Olisol to complete the private placement whilst at the same time evaluating alternative funding arrangements. Olisol continues to advance funds required under its' obligation of the terms of the Investment Agreement to the Company in order to meet working capital needs and has advanced a total of US$452,000 to the Company in recent days.

Kazakhstan legal proceedings

On August 24, 2016 the Court dismissed the claim brought against the Company and its subsidiaries in Kazakhstan and ordered the lifting of the seizure order over the Company's assets. The claimant lodged an appeal on August 29, 2016. Until the appeal is heard restrictions remain in place over the operation of the Company's bank accounts in Kazakhstan.

Tajikistan arbitration proceedings

As previously announced on August 15, 2016, Total and CNPC, the Company's partners in Tajikistan, filed for arbitration proceedings at the International Court of Arbitration in relation to the Company's cash call defaults and the partners' notice to the Company to withdraw. The partners are seeking to enforce the withdrawal notice and their claim for damages of US$9.0 million (and continuing) plus costs. The Company has submitted its response to the request for arbitration and has made a counter-claim against the partners of US$10.1 million.

About Tethys

Tethys is focused on oil and gas exploration and production activities in Central Asia and the Caspian Region. This highly prolific oil and gas area is rapidly developing and Tethys believes that significant potential exists in both exploration and in discovered deposits.

Disclaimer

Some of the statements in this document are forward-looking. Forward-looking statements include statements regarding the intent, belief and current expectations of the Company or its officers with respect to Olisol's access to funds, the placing to Olisol, advances under the working capital facility, potential alternatives to the transactions with Olisol and related transactions. When used in this document, the words "expects," "believes," "anticipates," "plans," "may," "will," "should" and similar expressions, and the negatives thereof, are intended to identify forward-looking statements. Such statements are not promises or guarantees, and are subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause actual outcomes to differ materially from those suggested by any such statements including risks and uncertainties with respect to completion of the placing, advances under the working capital facility and related transactions. In addition, certain regulatory approvals lapse as early as September 3, 2016, and there is no certainty that the Company will be able to obtain an extension. Should the Company be unable to obtain an extension, it may not be able to complete the placing even if Olisol proposes to do so. Moreover, there is a risk that the Company's counter-claim against Total and CNPC will not be successful and that the Company will be required to compensate Total and CNPC. There is also a risk that restrictions on the Company's bank accounts in Kazakhstan will be extended.

No part of this announcement constitutes, or shall be taken to constitute, an invitation or inducement to invest in the Company or any other entity, and shareholders of the Company are cautioned not to place undue reliance on the forward-looking statements. Save as required by the Listing Rules and applicable law, the Company does not undertake to update or change any forward-looking statements to reflect events occurring after the date of this announcement.

Contacts:

Tethys Petroleum

info@tethyspetroleum.com

www.tethyspetroleum.com




Baku, Azerbaijan, Sept. 3

By Orkhan Guluzade  Trend:

Turkeys Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu met with the US Secretary of State John Kerry during the G20 summit in China, the Anadolu Agency reported Sept. 3.

During the meeting, the parties discussed the Syrian crisis, the situation in Syrias Manbij and Jarablus, as well as fighting the Islamic State (IS, aka ISIS, ISIL or Daesh) terrorist group.

They also discussed the aspects of extradition of Fethullah Gulen from the US to Turkey. Gulen is accused of being involved in the July 15 military coup attempt.

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 had said the death toll as a result of the military coup attempt stood at 246, 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 authorities have sent two requests for Gulens extradition from the US.

---

Follow the author on Twitter: @o_quluzade
VANCOUVER, BRITISH COLUMBIA -- (Marketwired) -- 09/02/16 -- Royalty North Partners Ltd. (TSX VENTURE: RNP) ("RNP" or the "Company") is pleased to announce that it has completed the transactions contemplated by its previously announced loan and royalty agreement (the "Agreement") with Country Wine & Spirits, Inc. ("CWS"), a leading San Diego retailer of wine, beer & liquor.

Under the terms of the Agreement, RNP has loaned US$5,500,000 to CWS (the "Loan") and, as partial consideration for the Loan, CWS has granted RNP a royalty (the "Royalty") calculated on the gross sales of CWS. The initial royalty rate will be 5.5% of gross sales until the Loan has been repaid at which point a reduced royalty rate will be payable thereafter. CWS is required to pay a minimum of US$770,000 per year for the first two years.

Justin Currie, Chief Executive Officer at RNP, commented: "We are pleased to have successfully closed this transaction with CWS and look forward to our partnership with them going forward."

Proceeds from the Company's recently completed private placement were used to fund the Loan. The private placement consisted of approximately C$9.5 million of units at a price of C$0.15 per unit, with each unit consisting of one common share in the capital of the Company and one-half of one share purchase warrant (as opposed to a full warrant as referenced in the Company's September 1, 2016 press release). Each full warrant entitles the holder to acquire one common share in the capital of the Company at C$0.25 per share until the date that is 60 months from the closing of the private placement.

RNP is currently evaluating a number of other high-quality companies with the goal of providing attractive royalty-based financing to our partners and diversifying the Company's portfolio of royalty investments.

On behalf of the Company,

Justin Currie, Chief Executive Officer and Director

About Royalty North Partners Ltd.

Royalty North Partners is a Vancouver, BC based, TSX-V listed (RNP) company focused on creating a diversified portfolio of cash flowing royalties by providing financing to private businesses operating in the "mid-market". RNP is led by a seasoned board and management team with a successful track record of experience in royalty financing, capital markets transactions and private company operations. RNP is targeting royalty investments in companies with stable cash flow in non-resource based sectors looking for growth capital or succession liquidity.

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

Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

Except for the statements of historical fact contained herein, the information presented constitutes "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of certain securities laws, and is subject to important risks, uncertainties and assumptions. The words "may", "could", "should", "would", "suspect", "outlook", "believe", "anticipate", "estimate", "expect", "intend", "plan", "target" and similar words and expressions are used to identify forward-looking information. The forward-looking information in this news release describes the Company's expectations as of the date of this news release and accordingly, is subject to change after such date. Readers should not place undue importance on forward-looking information and should not rely upon this information as of any other date. While the Company may elect to, it does not undertake to update this information at any particular time.

Contacts:

Royalty North Partners Ltd.

Chris Buss

Chief Investment Officer and Director

(604) 628-1101

www.royaltynorth.com




NEW ORLEANS, LA--(Marketwired - September 02, 2016) - Kahn Swick & Foti, LLC ("KSF") and KSF partner, the former Attorney General of Louisiana, Charles C. Foti, Jr., remind investors that they have until October 24, 2016 to file lead plaintiff applications in a securities class action lawsuit against Signet Jewelers Limited (NYSE: SIG), if they purchased the Company's securities between January 7, 2016 and June 3, 2016, inclusive (the "Class Period"). This action is pending in the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York.

What You May Do

If you purchased shares of Signet and would like to discuss your legal rights and how this case might affect you and your right to recover for your economic loss, you may, without obligation or cost to you, call toll-free at 1-877-515-1850 or email KSF Managing Partner Lewis Kahn (lewis.kahn@ksfcounsel.com). If you wish to serve as a lead plaintiff in this class action, you must petition the Court by October 24, 2016.

About the Lawsuit

Signet and certain of its executives are charged with failing to disclose material information during the Class Period, violating federal securities laws.

The alleged false and misleading statements and omissions include, but are not limited to, that: (i) Signet was experiencing difficulty ensuring the safety of customers' jewelry while in the custody of the Company's brands; (ii) Signet's employees at stores under at least one brand, Kay, were swapping customers' stones for less valuable stones; (iii) Signet was experiencing a decrease in customer confidence; (iv) Signet had increasing competitive pressures; and (v) as a result, Signet's financial performance was being negatively impacted.

About Kahn Swick & Foti, LLC

KSF, whose partners include the Former Louisiana Attorney General Charles C. Foti, Jr., is a law firm focused on securities, antitrust and consumer class actions, along with merger & acquisition and breach of fiduciary litigation against publicly traded companies on behalf of shareholders. The firm has offices in New York, California and Louisiana.

To learn more about KSF, you may visit www.ksfcounsel.com.

Contact:

Kahn Swick & Foti, LLC

Lewis Kahn

Managing Partner

lewis.kahn@ksfcounsel.com

1-877-515-1850

206 Covington St.

Madisonville, LA 70447
New Delhi: Supreme Court on Friday asked the Sahara Group to come clean by disclosing its sources from where it had raised Rs 25,000 crore and paid its investors in cash, observing that it is difficult to digest as such a huge amount cannot fall from the heavens.

You (Sahara Group) tell us what is the source of this money? Did you get the money from other companies or other schemes to the tune of Rs 24,000 crore? Withdrew it from bank accounts? Or sold property to get it? It should be any of the three alternatives. Money did not fall from the heavens. You have to show from where you have got the money.

Though we dont doubt the capacity of your client to pay crores of money to investors, that too in cash in two months. But the entire explanation of the episode is difficult to digest. Tell us the source of the cash and there will be no need to open the pandora box, a bench headed by Chief Justice T S Thakur said.

The bench, also comprising Justices A R Dave and A K Sikri, which will hear the matter on the issue again on 16 September, said you start the hearing on that date by disclosing from where you got the money.

Show us the documents. How the money was lying in other schemes, the bench said after senior advocate Kapil Sibal, appearing for Sahara Chief Subrata Roy, submitted that the group had raised money and paid to its investors in cash and the market regulator Sebi was running away from finding out crores of investors.

This is your (Saharas) claim. Sebi has a very simple question. Please tell us from where you got the money. You tell us and we will close the case. You tell us how you raised Rs 25,000 crore in cash, the bench said.

Sibal said the group was open for any probe and even assuming that there is an apprehension that it is a case of blackmoney, the group can be investigated but if its black money, who is Sebi to investigate? It is matter of Income Tax (Department).

However, the bench said the onus was on the business house to reveal the source of the money, whether it is accounted money or unaccounted money.

Was it lying in your bank account or you got it from schemes floated by you, the bench said as Sibal tried to convince that the Group drew money from others schemes in which the investment was made.

I have already filed an affidavit, Sibal said.

Meanwhile, the bench also asked Sebi to respond after properly examining the plea made by Sahara group in its fresh application seeking permission to borrow money from a foreign entity for raising the amount for securing Roys interim bail.

For the interim bail, the court had put conditions on Roy 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, including interest, to be paid back to the investors.

When Sibal was drawing attention to the fresh plea, the bench asked senior advocate Arvind Datar, who appeared for Sebi, to respond to the application after carrying out a thorough investigation.

You look into all the aspects with a pinch of salt. We are not convinced with the application. You investigate thoroughly and properly, the bench told Datar.

The bench said it has never restrained Sahara from raising the money.

The groups application had stated that Sahara needed to borrow money from Reuben brothers of United Kingdom for depositing it in the Sebi-Sahara account opened at the apex courts direction for refunding money to investors.

It had earlier informed the court that the loan on overseas hotels that was given by Bank of China has been taken over by billionaire brothers David and Simon Reuben of United Kingdom, whose main activities were in real estate, private equity and venture capital.

Roy, on 26 August, had offered in Supreme Court to pay an additional Rs 300 crore to Sebi but said the amount should be adjusted as bank guarantee.

Sahara had also informed the court that it was negotiating the sale of its three overseas hotels  Grosvenor House Hotel in London, New York Plaza and Dream New York hotels.

On 3 August, the court had extended Roys parole till September 16 with a condition to deposit Rs 300 crore with Sebi.

Roys parole, granted on humanitarian grounds following the death of his mother, was extended after he had deposited Rs 300.68 crores, giving him the opportunity to raise the remaining amount to secure bail in the case.

The apex court had allowed 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.

The Sahara chief had earlier told the court that by December, the group would be in a position to fulfill all the conditions and that talks were going on with Canara Bank for Rs 1,500 crore bank guarantee.

The apex court had passed an order on 29 March stating that Sebi would 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.

The court had 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.
Srinagar: With curfew lifted from all but two police station areas of Kashmir, BSF troops deployed to quell street protests were withdrawn on Saturday suddenly and replaced by the CRPF, barely a week after deployment, apparently following demands by the political parties and Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti.

The border guarding force was deployed in the restive Valley after a gap of 12 years.

As a fall out of the decision, four companies of CRPF, which were deployed for route sanitisation exercise for Prime Minister and other SPG protectees in Delhi, have been withdrawn. The task will now be undertaken by the BSF, which is mandated for guarding Indo-Pakistan and Indo-Bangladesh borders.

A total of 25 fresh companies of CRPF are now being sent to the Valley for replacing the BSF.

So far, 18 companies (around 1,800 personnel) of CRPF have reached the Valley out of which eight have been sent to north Kashmir. One company, which was on static duty at the state secretariat, has been replaced by ITBP.

The sources said several political parties had demanded withdrawal of the BSF from the Valley during their talks with Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh recently. It is understood that Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti had also sought its withdrawal during her meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

The BSF, which was taken off counter-insurgency operations in Jammu and Kashmir in 2004, was deployed in the Valley last week after a gap of 12 years. BSF personnel were deployed in the commercial hub of Lal

Chowk in the city and adjoining areas for law and order duties.

This was for the first time since 2004 that BSF was called for active duties in the city. The force, which conducted anti-militancy operations in Kashmir for nearly 13 years from 1991, was replaced in the city by the Central Reserve Police Force in 2004.
Guwahati: Expressing concern over the porous Indo-Bangladesh border in Mankachar sector of Assam, Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal said that his government will take action on a war footing to seal the international border.

Sonowal said this on Saturday while visiting the Mankachar sector of the Indo-Bangladesh border along with a delegation of the All Assam Students' Union (AASU), several MLAs of the ruling alliance government in the state and top bureaucrats including the Director General of Assam Police.

The Chief Minister who embarked on the two-day visit since Friday visited riverine border areas on Saturday and said that lots needed to be done to seal the porous border areas in synchronisation with the expectations of the people of Assam.

"The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-led government in the state attaches top priority to sealing the Indo-Bangladesh border in order to make Assam a state free from illegal foreigners," said Sonowal after visiting the border and added that sealing of the Indo-Bangladesh border has been a long pending demand of the people.

"The government shall take exhaustive and all inclusive measures to seal the porous riverine border areas on a war-footing. We also seek cooperation from all sections of the people to fortify our international borders and create a protective shield against all cross border movements including smuggling," Sonowal said.

The Chief Minister also travelled around for three hours on the Brahmaputra river along the riverine borders and had his boat anchored on several sandbars to interact with the people and get a first hand account and view of the status of the international border and of the people living near it.
A good monsoon may be unpredictable. But the fallout of a bad monsoon isnt, at least in Tamil Nadu and Karnataka.

When the rains fail in the two states, this is what happens, more often than not: There would be little water in the Cauvery. Crops whither and farmers suffer. Then Tamil Nadu demands that Karnataka, the upstream state, should let go of some water, instead of holding on to it. Karnataka demurs. Where is the water to release, it asks. Then comes a bandh or two in Tamil Nadu over Karnatakas rejection. And it kicks up protests in Karnataka against the possibility of the state giving away water. Tamil Nadu rushes to the Supreme Court.

Thats what happened once again in the last 10 days. And thats how once again the Supreme Court came entered the scene on Friday.

The court asked Karnataka to consider giving Cauvery water to Tamil Nadu to help that state continue to "exist as an entity". Adjourning the case to Monday for a detailed hearing on Tamil Nadus petition for water, the court left Karnataka in no doubt that the state would end up releasing at least some water to its neighbour. Karnataka must make it clear to the court on Monday how much water it could part with.

If there was a formula to share the water, Karnataka was bound by it, said Justice Dipak Misra, and he advised Karnataka to "live and let live". That left Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Jayalalithaa with a little smile on her face and sent Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah into a huddle with his officials.

Met our legal advisor, senior jurist Mr.Fali S Nariman in Delhi and held discussion. Our advocates will argue in the SC on Monday #Cauvery  CM of Karnataka (@CMofKarnataka) September 3, 2016

As has been the pattern again, the final ruling of the court in the latest episode is likely to leave either of the states or both unhappy. If the court orders the release of a substantial quantity of water, Karnataka will be tense. And if that quantity falls far short of Tamil Nadus demand, farmers there will take to streets.

On 26 August, Tamil Nadu wanted the court to order Karnataka to release 50.052 tmcft (thousand million cubic feet) of water. This is the amount of water which it says Karnataka failed to release since 1 July. Karnataka said its reservoirs had only 51 tmcft available for use and, if it let go of it, its own crops would die and there wont be water to drink for people in Bengaluru and two other towns. Tamil Nadu claimed that Karnataka has more water than that and is diverting part of it to undeclared projects.

But who must find how much water there really is? And who must decide how it should be shared, if there isnt enough water for both states?

The Cauvery Water Dispute Tribunal said in its 2007 verdict that the Centre must set up an authority to independently monitor and regulate water availability and releases. If this is still waiting to be implemented, its because the politics of parties take precedence over the economics of suffering farmers. In the face of claims and counter-claims, the parties in power at the Centre from 2007 till now had no wish to do anything that might incur the wrath of farmers  key votebanks  in one state or the other.

Politics thrives on human misery. Consider this: When water is scarce, even half-a-tmcft of it can cause a riot, in Karnataka if its released and in Tamil Nadu if it isnt. Reservoir levels go low, and tempers run high, because millions of farmers in both states depend on the river. But even as the Cauvery basin goes dry for crops, it turns fertile for politics. Frenzied rhetoric makes the problem worse than what it is.

No wonder that the Cauvery dispute has taken as many turns as the river takes twists on its course through the two states. Originating at Talakavery in Karnatakas Kodagu district, the Cauvery traverses about 322 kilometres, enters Tamil Nadu near Hogenakkal in Dharmapuri district, zigzags for 483 kilometres more before joining the Bay of Bengal at Poompugar in Nagapattinam district of that state.

At the root of the dispute is Tamil Nadus claim that Karnatakas dams on the river impound more water than they should and stop it from flowing down. Karnataka argues that Tamil Nadu has been not only usurping more water but even wasting it with unscientific agricultural methods, letting a good amount of it into the sea.

The backstory

In the Indian context, there are essentially three kinds of water rights. First comes the riparian right. Its the peoples fundamental right to use the water flowing on the land they live on.

Karnatakas contention is that Tamil Nadu had resorted to prior-appropriation of Cauvery water and that the British made it possible. The state says the British favoured the Madras Presidency as against Mysore, then ruled by a king.

Then there is the prior-appropriation right: appropriate more water first and claim it as your right later. This means Territory-A uses more water before Territory-B gets a chance to do it and, when a dispute crops up later, lays claim to it as its legal share. This sounds suspiciously similar to a squatters right to land, but it isnt really as bad or illegal. People who have used the water first have already invested in dams and are irrigating their lands, and they do earn some right over its continued use.

The third one, the equality right is what Territory-B fights for, accusing Territory-A of usurping more water by prior-appropriation. Territory-B wants an equitable share for itself. (Similar to the prior-appropriation right, there is also the prescriptive right, acquired by long usage of water at a time when existing laws allowed it.)

Karnatakas contention is that Tamil Nadu had resorted to prior-appropriation of Cauvery water and that the British made it possible. The state says the British favoured the Madras Presidency as against Mysore, then ruled by a king.

The trouble first arose in 1881 when Mysore wanted to build a dam across the Cauvery, and Madras objected to it. The British arbitrated, and the result was an agreement in 1892, followed by another in 1924. But the dispute went on and on, and in 1990 came the Cauvery Water Disputes Tribunal which, after 17 years of fierce deliberations, came up with an award in 2007.

The Tribunal allocated 270 tmcft of water to Karnataka, 419 to Tamil Nadu. Kerala (which has a Cauvery tributary) and Puducherry (which is near the end of the river) were given 30 and seven tmcft respectively. These allocations were made on the basis that the Cauvery has a total of 740 tmcft of water at 50 per cent dependability, which means that the river has this much of water in 50 out of 100 years.

The Tribunal said that Karnataka should release 192 tmcft of water to Tamil Nadu in every water year (from June to May), and thats what becomes contentious when the rains fail. The Tribunal also said that, during bad monsoon, the states must share the distress in the proportion of their normal allocations.

But in the absence of an effective mechanism to ensure a proportionate sharing of the distress, the dispute rages on.

Is there a permanent end to the dispute?

A permanent solution was what the Tribunal was thought to have found after 17 years of deliberations. Its a question of implementing it  in distress years. When rains are copious, the states have little problem in sharing the water. Setting up a Cauvery Management Board or Authority, as suggested by the Tribunal, on the lines of the Bhakra Beas Management Board is perhaps the only way to ensure that the dispute doesnt repeat itself like a stuck record whenever rainfall is deficient.

Equally important is to find ways to save water and increase inflows into the river.

A Rs-1,000-crore proposal that Tamil Nadu had in 1974 to modernise its irrigation system could save up to nearly 50 tmcft of water, but it has been hanging fire for lack of funds. And the demand of the states farmers to desilt Cauvery channels has had no takers either. Reason: lack of funds.

On its part, Karnataka could tap at least part of the huge amount of rain water that falls over Western Ghats and simply flows into the ocean into a network of pipes and let it into the Cauvery, experts point out.

Would Narendra Modi be large-hearted enough to investigate and fund such projects in both the states?
This article is based on a school classroom interaction with scores of teenagers in late April - when Firstpost had published an earlier version.

The students made it clear that they have no time for 'leaders' of the Hurriyat - echoing what Mirwaiz Umar Farooq too had said. Particularly after 'the Arab Spring' five years ago, it is not only insufficient but counterproductive for national security establishments to make deals with political and religion-based organisations. Nor are economic packages enough at this point.

The all-party delegation that visits Kashmir on Sunday will not have much opportunity to engage with teenagers of the sort who are typically on the streets with stones and barricades.

The students in that classroom in one of the worst affected areas ranged from 12 to 18 - like those now on the streets. This is what they said in April:

The 12-year-old child looks angelic as he stands at the back of the classroom in his bright uniform. The room seems cramped, with the rows of neatly turned out students. Gradually gathering confidence, the child relates a litany of complaints. His theme is discrimination. The army kills Kashmiris, he says. Kashmiri students are beaten and badly treated in states across India while outsiders are safe in Kashmir.

Water cannons are used in other states, live bullets in Kashmir.

They fire shells at schools, he adds, his eyes dilating a bit. A teargas shell was apparently fired outside a nearby school during an exam a few days ago when common people gathered to protest and throw stones during an armed encounter between militants and forces. The students view it as an unjustifiable tactic; it rankles terribly. So do memories of teargas and the blast from 'sound bombs' that they have experienced.

These do not repress.

They incite.

Beef is accepted in 'our religion', says another student, but Kashmiris have been oppressed over beef. Dadri is in their minds... and Udhampur.

This room full of students ranging from 12 to 18 years of age has been summoned from the playing field by their principal to talk to me. But they are not upset at being kept away from the sport. They are eager to share their angst. Even when the school gives over, it is only when staff come to say that a particular bus is about to leave, that students who have to take that bus leave the room. The rest say their homes are at a walking distance; they want to continue this discussion. They will sit till evening if I will, even talk through the night, they say.

Their litany of complaints is one that has become common across Kashmir. It is the discourse that now undergirds the new militancy. The passion with which it is voiced is a little more intense in this school. For, this school is in a hamlet at the pulsing heart of the rebellion that has overtaken Pulwama district in the south district. The militant commander Abu Qasim, who was killed in an encounter last winter, spent three years living here. A number of militants have emerged from this northeast belt of Pulwama town.

More are ready.

Those in this classroom, including the girls sitting in the right half of the room, announce that they would all turn 'mujahid' if arms were available. That is echoed by students with whom I interact in different parts of south Kashmir during a four-day visit that takes me through Awantipora, Bijbehara, Aishmuqam, Anantnag, Kulgam, Shopian and Pulwama.

One hears the same complaints everywhere.

Comparisons are drawn with state action against the Jat agitation in Haryana and the Patel agitation in Gujarat: Water cannons there, bullets here. Further, students complain that their 'mothers and sisters' cant go into the fields for fear of humiliation. Among students, this discourse is new

Talk of Islamic identity, jihad, Islamic rule and discrimination against Muslims too is common. In one room full of students, the only response to 'Who is your hero?' is the Prophet. 'Who in the contemporary world?' is greeted with silence. Not (Syed Ali Shah) Geelani sahib, I ask, or the Mirwaiz (Umar Farooq)? None of them, the students respond.

Not only is there great disappointment with the PDP-BJP coalition, many young people disparage democracy as a system. The Islamic State has no organisational presence here, but minds and hearts are full of notions that would suit it. Many more students talk of Pakistan than they did five years ago when I toured the Valleys educational institutions extensively. Islam is their connection, they say. Some also talk of Islamic rule unbounded by nation states.

There are variations in opinions, to be sure. But some of the alternative voices tend to take a little time to emerge during conversations  anti-India voices being more ready at hand, and louder. Towards the end of my discussion with the students of the Pulwama Degree College, a student spoke of corruption and doublespeak in his society. Another said, "The fault is not only with India or the army, we too are at fault.

The organs of the state take such voices for granted. Those organs reach out to those who raise opposing voices. That not only turns a competitive marketplace of slush funds into a quagmire, incentivising antagonistic voices. Even if it buys up 'leaders', it increases the disillusionment, frustration, and anger of young people like those in that classroom  for they see what is afoot.

The flip side of the coin: some residents of Pulwama and Shopian speculate whether the high levels of anti-State sentiment in the belt  where Abu Qasim lived  could also be related to the areas relative economic backwardness and the poor quality of the local soil. An extraordinarily high proportion of students in that school classroom said that their family earnings are from agriculture.

Five years ago, youths from such backgrounds  with family incomes less than Rs 5,000 a month  tended to prefer peace and opportunities for prosperity. They were against agitations and instability. That this has changed indicates that hope has been extinguished. Exclusivist and political ideas about religion have increased alongside.

Generally speaking, the youngest now seem to be the most radical  in religious and political terms. One of the most vocal of the teenaged students in that school classroom speaks of corruption in society, but equates corruption with participation in the establishment. He speaks of all those who work for the government as 'mukhbir' (informers).

This narrative has either been benignly ignored, if not covertly promoted, by those who make deals with 'secessionist leaders'. In so doing, they have smoothed the passing of the baton of secessionist fervour to a highly motivated generation.
New Delhi: The IITs are "slaves" of their own tradition and "orthodox", Delhi Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia said on Saturday, claiming these factors are major hindrances for the premier tech institutes towards attaining world class status.

Speaking at a seminar in New Delhi, Sisodia cited the example of Malvika Joshi, who was rejected by IIT because as she does not have a 10th or 12th completion certificate, but was accepted by the prestigious Massachusetts Institute of Technology in the US.

"The institute which is given top status in India is orthodox. It is a slave of its own tradition, not willing to

change, unwilling to become scientific. That is why it is India's top class, not the world's.

"We believe that only that person should get admission in IIT who has spent 20 years in school. This rigidity led IIT to lose one talented candidate. When I read about this girl the first thing that I thought was that is why IIT can never be the world's premier institute," Sisodia said.

Sisodia, who holds the education portfolio as well, also pitched for a separate education ministry in the Centre,

saying a person should not be considered as a resource.

Education falls under the Ministry of Human Resources currently.

"The election season is going on in the United States and debates are going as to who will be the Education minister or the Finance minister and the debate is between professors of top institutes, educationists.

"Neither are they elected people nor are they bureaucrats or politicians. And look at our country where fake people rule the roost (number 2 ka aadmi)," he said.
We should all be worried when the youngest woman minister in the Union cabinet prefers to endorse regressive, patriarchal values instead of pressing for progressive change. Views such as these also provide ample reason to be suspicious of the governments constant projection of youth as a necessary pre-condition for initiating intelligent and efficient policies. Young ministers, as we know, can often be more resistant to change than older ones.

If the former Human Resource Development Minister Smriti Irani has already validated such an argument, Anupriya Patel, the latest youthful minister to join the cabinet, is not proving to be very different. In an interview to NDTV on Thursday, Patel, the 36-year-old minister of state for health and family welfare, spoke her mind on the controversial new surrogacy bill that bans commercial surrogacy, in addition to excluding a whole range of couples from the right to surrogacy. Not surprisingly, the legislation has touched off a huge storm in many sections of the civil society.

Despite the complicated nature of the debate, Patel seemed oblivious to the bills many complexities, and its limiting and worrying implications for different stakeholders  complexities emphasised by the bills many critics as well as supporters.

Papering over such worries and concerns, in the interview, Patel blasted underprivileged families for pushing women into surrogacy. Such families, the minister contemptuously said, were simply too lazy to try out the many options (presumably for employment) offered by the Modi government. What are these kinds of families which want easy money? They are using their women members. They dont want to work hard  they dont want to do anything they have a woman in the family and they are saying go. They are not even bothered, the minister claimed.

Responding to the observation that many surrogate mothers choose surrogacy for its financial benefit, Patel said: Modi government gives you n number of options. You can explore those other options to make a living. We want to give a message to families, which are encouraging women members to bring easy money for them to fill their tummies by getting their own bodies exploited. Statements such as these are both insensitive and coercive, overlooking the real issues faced by women who opt for surrogacy for financial reasons.

One could rightfully ask the minister what she thinks has been happening in the country for the last two years. How many options are there for women looking for employment? Is the situation really so rosy and optimistic that one can just go out and get a job simply because one wants to? Women and men, with low levels of education and skills still find it incredibly difficult to find decent jobs where they arent exploited or their dignity is not traded. Surely the Minister must know this.

Patel seems to suggest that rather than sell their bodies, women should opt for lesser-paid jobs, even if they have little or no control in such situations. It may be pertinent here to remind the minister of the many recent media interviews in which surrogate mothers have explicitly stated their preference for earning money through surrogacy rather than working as maids in households. Patel is driven by a moralistic argument that emphasises the purity of the body or womb over allowing women to exercise their choice.

For instance, when the issue of excluding live-in and homosexual couples came up, Patel responded by saying: As a woman I think a child needs a normal family. He needs a mother and a father. Thats what nature demands. And thats what I think If a live-in couple decides to separate tomorrow what happens to the child? The problems with such statements are of course all too apparent. Apart from labelling certain relationships unnatural, this point of view also suggests that only live-in couples can separate. Presumably, either married couples dont divorce or  worse  they shouldnt.

Perhaps the minister has forgotten that on more than one occasion, the Supreme Court has already recognised live-in relationships as presumptive marriage. Recall in this context an important judgment on live-in relationships, delivered by the Supreme Court last April. A two-member bench of Justices MY Eqbal and Amitava Roy ruled that continued cohabitation of a couple would be presumed as valid marriage, and that the woman would be eligible to inherit the property of her partner in case of his death.

Few would deny that conventional family structures have been undergoing transformative changes in the recent past. But our political class and legislators seem determined to resist any change. As a result, the laws legislators are framing are turning out to be inadequate for meeting the challenges of the contemporary situation. If one expected Patel to reflect the aspirations of modern India because of her youth, one was disappointed.

Undoubtedly, debating the surrogacy bill is complicated. Or so it should be given the nature of the matters raised by the bill. Any simplification of the provisions on grounds of some pre-conceived notion of morality can only hurt the many stakeholders who are involved. It shouldnt be too much to ask for a little more sensitivity and a little less hyperbole.
Gods Own Country has always been a place where people across the spectrum have asserted their right to protest in no uncertain terms. And so it is that the Sabarimala shrine perched on a forested hill top in Kerala has become the focus of a rather unique protest. A cross section of Kerala women in the 10 to 50 age group have begun to assert their right to uphold and not bar the tradition of banning women in their age group from entering the shrine.

The November to January Sabarimala peak season is drawing near and Trupthi Desai has already started talking about the shrine being her next target. The Supreme Court has been hearing a PIL on the entry of women into the temple. And two places of worship have been forcibly made to open their doors to women.

Meanwhile in Kerala, the campaign called Ready to Wait is gaining momentum. These women in the 10 to 50 age group say they are willing to wait for menopause before they enter the temple. This may sound strange to others who are fighting to break down all gender barriers. And stranger still to know it comes from a part of the country where, for generations, women from matrilineal families have inherited property and wielded a greater degree of autonomy over their own lives. Why would they be wanting to have a ban?

To those not in the know, women in the age group of 10 to 50 are banned from entering the Sabarimala temple. The reasons given are varied. According to the myth, Ayyappa  the celibate God housed in this shrine  shunned women because never knew the love of a mother. He was the product of two male gods Hari (in the form of Mohini) and Hara. His foster mother, the childless Rani of Pandalam, rejected him when she became pregnant and he became an ascetic. Since he is celibate, women in their prime are banned as they might prove to be a distraction.

Another explanation is that in days of yore, since the trek to the shrine was tough and wound its way through jungles full of wild animals vulnerable women were exempted. But that does not explain why pre-pubescent and post-menopausal women were allowed. Would they not be weaker than women in their prime?

Probably the real explanation is the concept of menstrual impurity. In our country, the belief that a menstruating woman is a pollutant cuts across caste, creed and social strata. Forget temples, thanks to generations of brainwashing, menstruating women dont enter their own puja rooms or even kitchens. And yet menstrual blood is the blood of life.

In preparation for their pilgrimage, the Sabarimala pilgrims are supposed to be abstinent and forgo meat, liquor and women. Women who are still menstruating are barred because cannot remain pure for forty days. In fact during their period of pollution they are not even allowed to cook for their husbands.

In 1990, a PIL was filed in the Kerala High Court against a former woman commissioner of the Devaswom Board named Chandrika who had conducted the first rice feeding ceremony of her grandchild at the temple. Though Chandrika herself was over 50, her daughter (in whose presence the feeding of her child was done) was in the prohibited age group. Several other groups got impleaded including the Kerala Women Lawyers Federation who argued for a removal of the ban. During the hearing, several points of view came up. Chandrikas lawyer argued that she did not break any tradition as women of all age groups were allowed during the non-festive seasons when the temple was open for a few days every month. The Kerala Chief Secretary and the thanthris who administered the temple also gave their points of view, so did representatives of the Devaswom Board.

In its final ruling in 1993, the Kerala High court, said that the restriction imposed on women aged above 10 and below 50 from trekking to the holy hills of Sabarimala and offering worship at Sabarimala Shrine is in accordance with the usage prevalent from time immemorial. It found that the restriction imposed by the Devaswom Board was neither violative of the Constitution of India nor of the Hindu Place of Public Worship (Authorisation of Entry) Act, 1965.

Not only did the Court decide in favour of the ban, it also ruled that the comparatively new practice of women of the banned age group entering the temple during certain days should also be stopped. In other words the ban for this age group became complete once more.

It has always been a well known secret that women VIPS, wives of politicians and other influential people have always managed to sneak their way in. A famous Kannada actress of yesteryear even spoke publicly about her visit to the sanctum sanctorum in Sabarimala when she was in her forties. Once when I was also in my forties, a Devaswom Board Official whom I was interviewing, offered to take me in. I have always been puzzled by this. Would a true devotee want to sneak in? A non-believer would either not go at all or would take a public stand against the ban.

In 2008, the Indian Young Lawyers Association filed a PIL in the Supreme Court challenging once again the ban on entry of women of a certain age group into the temple. At that time the LDF government which was in power supported the PIL, but in 2016, when it came up for hearing, the LDF (which was in power again) did an about turn and said it would support the ban. The advocate appearing for the Devaswom Board cited the 1993 ruling of the Kerala High Court to indicate that the matter had been settled. This case is still going on.

The controversy continues to rage on with the tussle between religious tradition and beliefs on one side and rationalism, gender justice and constitutional rights on the other. The stake holders are many devotees, temple authorities, politicians, priests, lawyers, womens rights activists and of course the women in the banned age group.

In such a situation there has to be a nuanced argument and a properly worked out solution. Forced temple entry can never result in a proper solution.

Gita Aravamudan is a journalist and author of the book Baby Makers: The Story of Indian Surrogacy
Baku, Azerbaijan, Sept. 3

By Orkhan Guluzade  Trend:

Eight Turkish servicemen were killed and eight more were injured during anti-terrorist operations in the countrys Van province, the Anadolu Agency reported Sept. 3.

Reportedly, Turkey has neutralized 11 militants of the Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) terrorist organization in the Mount Tendurek.

The anti-terrorist operations continue with support of Turkish Air Force.

The conflict between Turkey and the PKK, which demands the creation of an independent Kurdish state, has continued for over 33 years and has claimed more than 40,000 lives.

The UN and the European Union list the PKK as a terrorist organization.

---

Follow the author on Twitter: @o_quluzade
Mumbai: Reaching out to North Indians ahead of the BMC polls next year, Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Friday said people from that region and other parts of the country, who reside in the state have not only imbibed Maharashtra's culture, but have also enriched it.

"Whenever a north Indian asks me where his place was in the state, I reply to him with a song  'Najar ke samne, jigar ke pass koi rahta hai wo tum'...," Fadnavis said to a round of applause.

The chief minister, who started off his speech in Bhojpuri, said, "Maharashtra shares a very old and lasting bond with the Uttar Pradesh and this is the reason Maharashtra has always given due respect to all the North Indians, as it has given to the people belonging to rest of the country."

Fadnavis was speaking at 'Baati-Chokha', a public dinner programme with traditional north Indian menu, organised by BJP at suburban Goregaon.

"Uttar Pradesh is the land of Lord Ram and Krishna. Wherever Lord Ram visited in the Maharashtra during his exile, it became places of worship and we all have maintained our immense respect and faith to those places," he said.

Not only this, centuries ago at the time of Shivaji Maharaj's coronation, a brahmin from Uttar Pradesh was called in and he completed all the rituals, he added.

"People coming in from all the states, including UP, have not only adopted Maharashtra's culture, but also enriched it," he said.

Taking potshots at Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav, Fadnavis said, "Those who made tall promises about transforming Uttar Pradesh into 'Uttam Pradesh' have miserably failed to do so. But now it would be done only under the able leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modiji."

The BJP's event is being seen as an aggressive way to woo 'Uttar Bhartiyas' as they form 28 per cent vote share in Mumbai.

The outreach has another objective with forthcoming Assembly elections in Uttar Pradesh, due next year.

BMC has been ruled by Shiv Sena, which plays its agenda of 'sons-of-soil' vs 'outsiders', with the BJP as a junior partner for over two decades.

Baati-chokha is a traditional north Indian dish. While baati consists of wheat and sattu (powdered roasted black grams) formed into balls with spices, and then dipped in ghee (clarified butter) chokha is a dip prepared by mashing boiled potatoes, tomatoes and eggplant together with some spices.

City BJP chief Ashish Shelar, senior leader of Mumbai BJP and general secretary Amarjeet Mishra, Vice president of Mumbai BJP Sanjay Upadhyay along with other leaders were present.

Mumbai BJP general secretary Amarjeet Mishra, who often organises such events for North Indians, said, "The work that chief minister of Uttar Pradesh didn't and couldn't do here in Mumbai (to connect with the North Indians), is being done by Devendraji."
Take into consideration Prime Minister Narendra Modi's response to a question asked in an exclusive interview to CNN-News18 by group editor Rahul Joshi. Focusing on the states going into polls next year and on the developing feeling among the Dalits and OBCs that the BJP-Sangh Parivar were anti-Dalits, Joshi asked the PM how would he assure that his agenda remains focused on development and only development, at a time when social discrimination and fundamentalism were raising their ugly heads again.

Watch the full interview here or catch it on CNN-News18 today at 2 pm and 9 pm.

From his response, it seemed to be clear that Modi was willing to speak his mind on the subject. After all, the issue concerned his own persona  both as a leader and as the prime minister  his party, its politics, and the governance matters of his government:

"The country has full faith that our agenda is only development. There is no confusion in the minds of country folk. But all those people who never wanted that a government like this should come to power, those who never wanted the previous regime to go... they are the ones who have trouble. So, development is our only issue and it will remain so. And this is not a political issue. This is my conviction...," Modi said.

"As far as some incidents are concerned, they need to be condemned. It has no place in any civilised society. But we must not forget that law and order is a state subject. Some are selectively picking issues and blaming Modi for it. I don't know what purpose does it serve for those who are doing this. But this is surely hurting the interests of the country. Such incidents must not happen,

"From a statistical point of view, whether it is communal violence, atrocities against Dalits, or atrocities against tribals, data shows that such incidents have gone down in number as opposed to the previous government. But the issue is not of what happened in their government and our government. The issue is that this is not befitting our society," Modi added.

"We have a culture dating back thousands of years. We have seen some imbalances in our society. We have to intelligently take our society out of this imbalance. This is a social problem. It is deeply rooted. Politics based on social imbalances is a disservice to society  to all those who have faced injustice for generations,

"Today, in this country, Dalit MPs and Dalit MLAs, tribal MPs and tribal MLAs, and the BJP have a sizeable presence. Ever since I celebrated the 125th anniversary of Babasaheb Bhimrao Ambedkar, many people thought that Modi is a devotee of Ambedkar. They started having problems. We identified five sacred places associated with Babasaheb Ambedkar  Mau, the birthplace of Babasaheb Ambedkar; Nagpur; Mumbai, where we set up his memorial; memorials at two places in Delhi; or converting the place where he stayed in London, as a memorial. In a way we set up five pilgrimage spots," Modi added.

"All those who were self appointed guardians and were trying to create tension in the country, did not like this. That Modi is with the Dalits. That Modi devotes himself to the tribals. I am devoted to the development of all Dalits, oppressed, underprivileged and deprived. Those who see this as an obstruction to their politics are the ones creating trouble. And this is why they are levelling baseless allegations. All those who have fed this country the poison of caste divide have destroyed this country, they must stop giving political overtones to social problems. We must go forwards with a purpose. And I want to ask the society that are these incidents befitting of a civilised society?" Modi said, in response to the question.

A long winding response indeed. The longest on any issue that was touched upon in the 75-minute long comprehensive interview. That in itself is an indicator as to how keen Modi is to give his take on the subject, and to have the narrative debated in public.

The BJP leadership believes that the Una incident  which proved to be very damaging to the party  was instigated by known Modi adversaries from rival parties in Gujarat. It is now up to Modi to contain that damage, and salvage BJP's prospects in the upcoming state Assembly elections.

When Narendra Modi took over as prime minister in the summer of 2014, he undertook an intense Dalit outreach program and took the glorification of the biggest Dalit icon, BR Ambedkar, to entirely new levels.

For long, the BJP has boasted that it has the highest number of Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribe MPs. They point out that when Narendra Modi was voted to power, the number of SC-ST MPs climbed to 64 and that the vote share from the community swelled as well. Inclusion of the Dalit community within the broad Hindutva fold has for long been a part of the RSS' consciously formulated engineering plank.

When Narendra Modi took over as prime minister in the summer of 2014, he undertook an intense Dalit outreach program and took the glorification of the biggest Dalit icon, BR Ambedkar, to entirely new levels.

So much so, that when he had to launch the Swachh Bharat campaign, he landed at a Dalit basti in Delhi and picked up a broom. He dedicated the Stand Up India program to the community as well, and so on. He went to places  domestic and abroad  and spent hours to celebrate the 125th birth anniversary of Ambedkar.

Continuing with the party's appeasement efforts, when BJP president Amit Shah had to take a dip at Simhastha Kumbh in Ujjain, he chose to go to a meet of Dalit sadhus and take a dip at Balmiki Dham.

The Sankaracharyas, Mahamadelshwars, Gurus, Mathadhis, Peethadhis had all taken time off from their akharas, mutts, temples, peeths, camp sites and headquarters in Ujjain to be present there, to spread a common message that was in agreement of samrasta (harmony), through tokenism or otherwise  that Dalits were as much a part of the Hindu community as anyone else. Whenever Shah has toured UP, he has made sure that a part of his program was focused on Dalit and OBCs.

Then Una happened. A highly condemnable incident in Gujarat and some other such incidents elsewhere by self styled gau rakshaks (cow protectors), in one go, potentially threatened to undo whatever Modi had done so far. Modi came out strongly for Dalits and spoke against the anti-social elements who moved around under the garb of cow protectors.

Modi is well aware that, given the fact that the 2017 UP assembly elections are only a little over 100 days away, he has a very short time period to regain the confidence of the Dalits in the nation's most politically significant state.

To add to BJP's woes, a person called Daya Shankar Singh's condemnable remarks against BSP chief Mayawati caused immense damage to the party. Singh was promptly sacked from his post in the party's UP unit, but the incident left deep scars.

As it is, the Muslim community is against the BJP and the party simply cannot afford any hostility towards it by members of the Dalit community.

Thus, when Modi says, "I want to tell all the politicians  I will tell my party leaders also  you are answerable to the nation and that is why all those living in public life, whether political or social workers, even if we are representing a particular community for the benefit of the country's unity, society's unity, and for the sake of bonhomie - we must be extra vigilant,

"Whenever we are wounded, even the slightest touch of a paper also causes pain. Thousands of years of injustice have kept these wounds open. The slightest of damage will cause a lot of pain. This is why, it does not matter whether the incident is big or small, what matters is that the incident must not happen in the first place. Which government had more incidents and which didn't is not the point. We all have to work collectively to give strength to the country's unity," he means it.

The biggest irony, though, is that some loudmouths in his very own party soon forget what their leader had preached to them.

Watch the full interview here or catch it on CNN-News18 today at 2 pm and 9 pm.
From being a business-friendly chief minister of India's most business-friendly state, Narendra Modi has had to undergo a total image makeover as prime minister. While occupying the centrist position vacated by the Congress in national politics, in this new avatar Modi is pro-poor and in some respects almost Nehruvian in his beliefs.

Watch the full interview here or catch it on CNN-News18 today at 2 pm and 9 pm.

The change was easy to see during his exclusive 75-minute interview with CNN-News18 where he dealt at length  among a range of other issues  on questions regarding poverty.

Modi's conviction, that empowerment for poor was the only route to sustainable growth, was evident during his interaction with Rahul Joshi, group editor of Network 18. Also evident was the consummate politician who knows how to twist the knife into his rivals even as he accused some parties of using poverty as a tool for votebank politics.

If there was one chink in Modi's impregnable armour, when he assumed office at 7 Race Course Road following a historic mandate in May 2014, it was a perception that he was 'business-friendly'. Strange as it may seem since that tag was also one of the reasons why he was voted to power  there was space nevertheless for his rivals to paint him as being friendly only to industry.

As prime minister, however, Modi soon found out that his self-projected image of being 'India's CEO' can be quite a handicap in the rough and tumble of Indian politics, the median of which remains firmly tilted to the left. While the first two budgets focused on clearing the clogs in infrastructural arteries, resetting the economy and putting in place a system that would revive the growth story, Modi soon realised that a narrative  that his government was 'anti-poor'  was taking shape aided by some ham-handed moves such as attempting to force through the Land Acquisition Ordinance.

Before long, even a decimated Congress and its leader, who resists all endeavors to be taken seriously, managed to pull off a coup of sorts, coming up with a slogan that stuck  "suit boot ki sarkar". For a man who coins slogans at the tip of a hat and uses them with elan, Modi found it difficult to shake it off. There were other factors at play. Two consecutive droughts, some reverses in local body elections and a drubbing in Bihar Assembly polls indicated that the rural voter base was feeling restive about acche din.

A course correction came via the third budget with a massive targeted disbursement towards agriculture, rural infrastructure and rural poor. Social sector spending was revved up and stress was laid on rural development. The aim, as Finance Minister Arun Jaitley had articulated after presenting the budget, was to double farmers' income in five years.

The change in course was accompanied by a massive outreach initiative. Last Saturday, as a PTI report points out, during a meeting in New Delhi of BJP chief ministers and deputy chief ministers, PM and the party's top brass stressed on the agenda of good governance and pro-poor measures that have already been undertaken.

The message was that party leaders must reach out to the poor at all times, and not just during elections. This motif came up in a reply to Joshi's question during the interview on whether political parties do anything beyond providing lip-service to poverty alleviation.

"You are right. Poverty alleviation has been a political slogan. A lot of politics has happened on poverty. And a lot of programmes for poverty alleviation have also been started keeping elections in mind. I do not want to get in a controversy on whether it was good or bad. But my path is a little different."

And his path, Modi stressed, was empowerment. Don't give people the fish, teach them how to catch it.

"We have to empower the poor to end poverty. If the poor are empowered, then they have enough power to alleviate poverty. Politics can be done by keeping the poor, poor. But freedom from poverty can only come through empowerment."

It is not difficult to imagine that Modi's barbs were aimed at politics of doles and emoluments which do little to remove poverty and increase corruption instead, serving only to fatten the middlemen. In fact, much of Modi's policies, like direct benefit transfers (DBT), are aimed at cutting off the middlemen and providing benefits directly to those who need it.

During the interview, "empowering the poor" cropped up as the recurrent theme. The Prime Minister elaborated on some of the central schemes targeted towards poverty elimination through self-employment.

"The biggest tool for empowerment is education. The next point is employment. If we get economic empowerment, then it can serve as a tool to change things on its own. All the initiatives that we have taken over the past few years, like the Mudra Scheme  at least 3.5 crore people have taken the benefits of the Mudra Scheme and they got about Rs 1.25 lakh crore through this scheme.

"Many of them are those who have got money from the bank for the first time. These people will do something or the other. They will get sewing machines, stitch clothes It is possible that they might employ a few. This empowerment will give people a lot of power. Suppose a person buys a taxi. Then they would want to educate their children. They will move forward."

And his path, Modi stressed, was empowerment. Don't give people the fish, teach them how to catch it.

The mention of Stand Up India, Modi's entrepreneurial idea for women and the socially underprivileged, came up, as did Start-Up India, the initiative for private enterprise in digital arena.

"One of the things that we have done is called Stand Up India. I have told banks that every branch must give financial aid to a Dalit, a tribal and a woman. They must make them an entrepreneur. There are 1.25 lakh bank branches in India. If they empower even three people each, 4-5 lakh families will be benefitted. People who did not have this sort of financial empowerment will feel empowered. They will be an economic strength.

"Start Up India... To give employment to the young, I have started this scheme. These are small decisions. I have also sent an advisory to the states. That they must move forward in this direction."

He also picked up the topic of Model Shop & Establishment Act, cleared in June this year and aimed at generating grassroot-level employment.

"We have big malls in our country. Lakhs and crores of rupees are spent in constructing them. They suffer is no time restriction. They can run till 10 pm, 12 pm, 4 am but there will be a government representative with a stick in his hand asking a small shopkeeper to shut his shop as soon as it is evening.

"Why? We have said that these small traders who have small enterprises, they are free to be open 365 days, 24x7 so that they can go about doing their business and also employ a few. And these are the people who drive the economy in our country. This is where we are working to empower."

Job creation remains a huge concern for the government with all metrics pointing towards a shrinkage in employment opportunities when millions are entering the job market each year. Modi touted Skill India Mission, that aims to tap into India's demographical advantage by providing the youth with skills and ability, as the answer.

"We have laid a lot of stress on skill development. It is the need of the hour. We have changed systems and created a ministry. It has a different budget. Work is being done on a huge scale. Skill development by government, through public private partnership, through 'skill universities' collaborating with other countries who have done good work in developing skills are being done.

"The country has 80 crore youth. They are below 30 years of age. If they have the skill, they can change India's fortune. We are laying stress on this. The country's youth and employment are at the centre of all economic activity. In the agriculture sector too, if you move towards value addition, it will create more opportunities to generate employment.

"A village youth who has had to go to big towns under pressure, if he is given value addition and agriculture-centric rural development, if we empower him, then employment opportunities shall be created. We are laying stress on this. And some good results are visible."

Watch the full interview here or catch it on CNN-News18 today at 2 pm and 9 pm.
Hangzhou: Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chinese President Xi Jinping will meet on Sunday on the first day of the G20 summit here and are likely to discuss bilateral differences over issues including the proposed $46 billion China-Pakistan Economic Corridor which runs through PoK.

The Modi-Xi meeting assumes significance as India-China relations have followed a southward trajectory over contentious issues like the listing of Pakistan-based terrorist groups in the UN, China stalling India's membership of the Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG) and the ambitious China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) that criss-crosses Pakistan-occupied Kashmir.

During Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi's visit to Delhi this month, India and China formed a mechanism led by Foreign Secretary S Jaishankar and the Chinese Vice Foreign Minister to address their differences.

The meeting between Modi and Xi  their second in less than three months  is expected to take place in the morning of 4 September, officials here said.

Modi and Xi had last met on the sidelines of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Summit on 23 June in Tashkent, the capital of Uzbekistan.

The two leaders are to meet again in little over a month for more elaborate discussions during the Brics summit to be hosted by India in Goa on 15-16 October.

Chinese officials say the two meetings between Modi and Xi could set a new direction to the bilateral relations.

Modi will reach China tomorrow evening from Vietnam to take part in the two-day G20 summit. The Indian contingent will be putting up at Sheraton resort  about 30 kilometres outside the city  where Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe too would stay.

Modi is likely to hold bilaterals with several G20 leaders during his 48-hour stay here. Xi too is scheduled to have a number of one-to-one meetings including with US President Barack Obama.

Top disarmament officials from India and China were also expected to meet to discuss issues of China "blocking" the UN move to ban Masood Azhar, chief of the Pakistan-based terror group Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM), and Beijing's opposition to New Delhi's bid to joining the 48-member NSG.
Hangzhou: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday flew into this Chinese city for the crucial G20 summit and talks with top world leaders, including one with Chinese President Xi Jinping on irritants in bilateral ties like India's NSG bid and the CPEC, which runs through PoK.

Modi, who reached after a two-day maiden visit to Hanoi, begins his programme on Sunday morning by holding talks with Xi, in their second meeting in less than three months. The two leaders had last met on the sidelines of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Summit in June in Tashkent.

Tomorrow's meeting is viewed as important in the backdrop of steady decline in the bilateral relations over a raft of issues including the USD 46 billion China-Pakistan Economic Corridor which runs through Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK).

The two leaders, who enjoy a good rapport, would discuss contentious issues, which will also include listing of Pakistan-based terrorist organisations in the UN and China stalling India's membership at the elite Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG).

This would be followed by a meeting of the BRICS (Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa) leaders ahead of the G20 summit, which would begin later in the day.

Modi will also hold bilateral meetings with Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull and Saudi Arabia's Deputy Crown Prince Mohammad bin Salman.

He will attend the G20 summit that begins tomorrow with this year's theme of "Strengthening Policy coordination and Breaking a new path for growth" followed by a number of cultural programmes organised by the Chinese government.

On Monday, he will take part in the second and concluding session of the G20 and hold bilateral meetings with British Prime Minister Theresa May and Argentinian President Mauricio Macri before returning to Delhi.

In all, he would reside in this picturesque city for about 48 hours, officials said.

A meeting between Modi and US President Barack Obama is, however, not on the cards during this trip, they said.
Prime Minister Narendra Modis visit to Vietnam at a time when smaller countries in the region are increasingly concerned about Beijings assertiveness in the South China Sea and surrounding waters, is significant. More so as it has come at a time when India has voiced its unhappiness with China for blocking entry to the Nuclear Suppliers Group, rejecting on technical grounds Indias attempt at sanctions against Jaish-e-Mohammed leader, Masood Azhar, and building projects in POK, which India claims as its own. By travelling to Vietnam Modi is making a point.

The visit is the first by an Indian Prime Minister in 15 years. Ironically Modi is in Hanoi ahead of his trip to China for the G-20 meet in Hangzhou. Vietnam is a country which has stood firm against its huge neighbour and fought three wars with China, the last in 1979. In April this year Vietnam seized a Chinese ship with three people on board in the Gulf of Tonkin near the South China Sea. India and Vietnam share legitimate concern about Chinas growing military clout.

In keeping with the importance of Vietnam, India upgraded its ties to a comprehensive strategic partnership.

"Our decision to upgrade our Strategic Partnership to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership captures the intent and path of our future cooperation. It will provide a new direction, momentum and substance to our bilateral cooperation, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said after talks with his Vietnamese counterpart Nguyen Xuan Phuc.

China figured prominently in the discussions between the two leaders.

"(We) discussed matters concerning the East Sea," Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc told reporters. "All sides must peacefully solve East Sea disputes based on international laws," he added.

An array of pacts

Twleve agreements and memorandum of understandings ranging from defence to information technology, space, sharing of shipping information, avoidance of double taxation, health, medicine and scholarships for Sanskrit and

Buddhist studies were signed during Saturdays talks.

India has extended a new Line of Credit of $500 million for defence cooperation. Details on what this will be spent is not known.

An agreement was also signed on Saturday between Larsen and Toubro and Vietnam Border Guards for building of high-speed patron boats. Larsen and Toubro is an Indian private company which is branching out to production of defence equipment. The money for the patrol boats will come from the $100 million credit previously extended by India for

defence procurement. Another $ 5 million was announced for the building of an Army Software Park at the Telecommunications University in Nha Trang.

Without naming China, Modi said after the talks with his counterpart Nguyen Xuan Phuc: "We realise that our efforts to bring economic prosperity to our people need to be accompanied by steps to secure them. Prime Minister and I have, therefore, agreed to deepen our defence and security engagement to advance our common interests. The

agreement on construction of offshore patrol boats signed earlier today is one of the steps to give concrete shape to our defence engagement."

Mum on Brahmos

Expectations that Vietnams longstanding demand for purchase of Indias Brahmos missiles could be announced was belied. Not wishing to annoy China the previous UPA government had kept the demand hanging. Prime Minister Modi it was expected would not hesitate to go ahead with the sale. But no agreement on the Brahmos was announced.

Perhaps Modi did not wish to queer the pitch ahead of his meeting with Chines President Xi Jinping on Sunday.

Modi also met President Tran Dai Quang and the powerful General Secretary of the Communist Party, Nguyen Phu Trong, who praised Indias principled position on the South China Sea. He also thanked Modi for Indias support to Vietnams armed forces.

Cementing cooperation in energy

President Tran Quang wanted more Indian participation in the Vietnamss oil and gas sector. The joint statement also mentioned: "The Vietnamese side welcomed the long-standing investment and presence of ONGC Videsh Limited (OVL) and its partnership with PetroVietnam (PVN) for exploration of oil and gas in Vietnam. The Prime Ministers agreed to further enhance cooperation in the oil and gas sector and urged both sides to actively implement the Agreement signed in 2014 between PVN and OVL on cooperation in new blocks in Vietnam. The Vietnamese side also welcomed Indian oil and gas companies to avail of opportunities in participating in mid-stream and down-stream sectors in Vietnam."

In the past China had from time to time warned India against off shore exploration in the South China Sea. Vietnam had insisted that the exploration was within its territorial waters but China repeatedly warned India against interference. By choosing to take on blocks auctioned by Vietnam, India was backing Vietnams claim of legitimacy.

Any new off-shore oil exploration bid by India in Vietnam would incense China. Overall Modi short visit seems to have yielded dividends for both India and Vietnam.
Moscow: Lambasted for brutally crushing dissent, Uzbekistan's President Islam Karimov kept a stranglehold on power for over 25 years  even at the expense of his own daughter.

The veteran leader, 78, who died on Friday, several days after suffering a stroke, played Russia, China and the West off against one other to avoid total isolation as he steered his strategic state out of the collapse of the Soviet Union.

He was to be buried on Saturday in the ancient city of Samarkand, his hometown, state television said.

"Islam Karimov has been the state for over quarter of a century, ruling with an iron fist," Steve Swerdlow, Central Asia researcher for Human Rights Watch, told AFP.

"The last 25 years have been known largely for repression  that's his legacy."

Karimov's authoritarian rule came under fire over accusations of heinous rights abuses, most prominently over bloodshed in the city of Andijan in 2005, but the most serious threats to his reign came from far closer to home.

In a court drama with echoes of Shakespeare, the former Soviet apparatchik  at the helm since 1989  had his eldest daughter put under house arrest in 2014 during a family feud in which she compared him to brutal Soviet leader Joseph Stalin.

The spectacular fall from grace of Gulnara Karimova  a pop-singing, corruption-tainted socialite once seen as a possible heir to her father's throne  appeared to show just how far Karimov was willing to go to keep his iron grip on power.

Karimov, long the subject of rumours about his ill health, has now left no obvious successor in a country that has never held an election judged free and fair by international monitors.

He won Uzbekistan's first elections after the fall of the Soviet Union in 1991 and last March cruised to his fifth five-year term with over 90 percent of the vote.

"Without a strong government there will be chaos in society," Karimov warned ahead of the poll.

'Sorcery'

Born on 30 January, 1938, Karimov was raised in an orphanage in Samarkand. He studied engineering and rose up the Communist Party ladder to become head of Soviet Uzbekistan in 1989.

Like the authoritarian leader of neighbouring Kazakhstan, Nursultan Nazarbayev, Karimov led his country through the transition from the former USSR without any major challenge to his rule.

Critics, however, say he squandered the potential of his cotton-rich nation of 30 million  by far the most populous in ex-Soviet Central Asia  and allowed a corrupt elite to amass huge fortunes.

The major challenge for Karimov came when the palace power struggle within his own family emerged in 2013.

The house arrest of the once-untouchable Gulnara Karimova, 44, came after a war of words played out in the international media during which she accused her mother and younger sister of sorcery, and assailed the country's security chief on Twitter for harbouring presidential ambitions.

Prosecutors have since launched investigations into her and her business associates' alleged connections to a "criminal gang".

Formerly a fixture at fashion events in the West, Karimova is also under investigation in Europe over a $300 million (276 million euros) telecoms corruption scandal.

'Hundreds killed'

After the majority Muslim republic gained independence in 1991, Karimov launched simultaneous battles against Western culture and Islamic fundamentalism, stamping out radical groups at home.

Right groups have repeatedly accused his regime of torturing opponents and using forced labour in the lucrative cotton sector.

The authorities have consistently denied the reports  including the notorious claim that two alleged extremists were boiled alive in 2002.

The most persistent accusations from rights activists remain that government forces killed hundreds of demonstrators in the eastern city of Andijan on 13 May, 2005.

The government dismissed the reports of a massacre and said the violence was a response to Islamic extremism.

Although there was no independent investigation of the killings, which followed the arrest and subsequent jailbreak of a group of religious businessmen, a report by the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) estimated the death toll at between 300 and 500 people.

Facing Western criticism, Karimov shut down a US military base in the country that had been used to support Washington's campaign in neighbouring Afghanistan, threatening ties he had nurtured since the 11 September, 2001 attacks.

But over a decade on, Uzbekistan still receives US aid and both Secretary of State John Kerry and Russian leader Vladimir Putin have jetted in for talks over the past year.

As world powers continue to vie for influence, activists wonder how the nation's rights record can ever improve.
Hanoi:Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday visited the historic Pagoda temple and the stilt house where revered leader Ho Chi Minh lived, apart from enjoying fishing with his Vietnamese counterpart Nguyen Xuan Phuc.

Addressing Buddhist monks at the temple, Modi said Vietnam was an inspiration for everyone to shun violence and follow Buddha's path of peace and harmony.

"World should walk on the path of peace that brings happiness and prosperity, while war only brings transient greatness," the prime minister said.

"The advent of Buddhism from India to Vietnam and the monuments of Vietnam's Hindu Cham temples stand testimony to these bonds," Modi said.

He said the India-Vietnam ties were 2,000 years old.

Modi emphasised that his visit to Vietnam - the first by an Indian premier in 15 years - was to "nurture a relationship between our two societies and nations."

"These cultural bonds reflect themselves in many ways Most prominently, in the connect between Buddhism and the monuments of the Hindu Cham civilization," he said.

"Some people came here with the objective of war. We came here with a message of peace which has endured," Modi said.

Modi said Buddhism, which took the sea route, travelled to Vietnam in its purest form from India.

He invited all the monks to visit India - the land of Buddha - and especially to Varanasi "which I represent in the Indian Parliament."

He said he is fortunate to visit the Pagoda temple after first President Rajendra Prasad in 1959.

The Quan Su Pagoda, also known as Ambassador's pagoda, is said to have served emissaries that were sent from Champa and Laos to Vietnam in the past. The pagodas - a Buddhist heritage and popular toursit sites - are at the heart of Vietnamese Buddhism and are a precious treasure of Hanoi.

The pagoda is said to have served emissaries that were sent from Champa and Laos to Vietnam in the past.

Earlier today, Modi visited Ho Chi Minh's stilt house at the majestic presidential palace. He was accompanied by Premier Phuc and thanked him for his generous welcome.

"Earlier this morning, you made the special gesture of personally showing me Ho Chi Minh's house... Thank you, Excellency, for extending me the privilege. Let me also congratulate the people of Vietnam on their national day that you celebrated yesterday," he said.

The stilt house was the residence of Ho Chi Minh from 1958 until his death in 1969 and is located inside the majestic Presidential Palace in Hanoi.

Modi also congratulated the people of Vietnam on their national day yesterday and laid a wreath at the Monument of National Heroes and Martyrs of Vietnam located across the Ba Dinh Square, across the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum.

"Homage to indomitable will of a leader. PM @narendramodi pays respects at the mausoleum of Ho Chi Minh. Beginning with the memory of Vietnam's Martyrs. PM @narendramodi lays wreath at Monument of National Heroes & Martyrs," Swarup said in a series of tweets.

Earlier today the prime minister was given a ceremonial welcome at the palace as he became the first Indian prime minister to visit the communist nation in 15 years.

"For people of my generation, Vietnam holds a special place in our hearts. The bravery of the Vietnamese people in gaining independence from colonial rule has been a true inspiration. And, your success in national reunification and commitment to nation building reflects the strength of character of your people," Modi said.

He said India believed in sharing knowledge, experience and expertise with other developing countries.

"The Cuu Long Delta Rice Research Institute, is a prime example of the enormous impact of our cooperation.India helped set up the institute in the Mekong Delta, sending agricultural experts and training its faculty in India," he added.
India has created "an East Pakistan like situation" in Pakistan's restive southwestern province of Balochistan by helping the separatists active in the resource- rich tribal region, former interior minister Rehman Malik has alleged.

Rehman who was minister from 2008-13 in Asif Ali Zardari's Pakistan Peoples Party government told media that India was helping separatists in the province.

"I feel that an East Pakistan-like situation is being created in Balochistan as the role of Mukti Bahini is being played by India in collaboration with Afghanistan and duly backed by the West," he said.

Rehman said the role of India in the unrest in Balochistan "is not a hidden story," and the previous PPP government had taken up the issue of Balochistan with India.

"We had taken up the matter with former Indian home minister P Chidambaram and he had assured us that they would take notice of it, but later the five-year term of our government ended and we could not pursue the matter," he said.

He said during the tenure of the previous PPP government he had given a five-hour-long briefing to the Senate on Balochistan in which he had provided proof of separatist leader Brahmadagh Bugti's alleged links with Indian agencies.

He also referred to some speeches of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, especially those he delivered in Bangladesh and on the occasion of India's Independence Day, and said that Modi was fanning the flames of fire in Balochistan.

He urged Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif to take serious notice of conspiracies being hatched against Pakistan and take all necessary steps against elements behind them.

Rehman also criticised the US policies towards Pakistan and said that the joint declaration signed between India and the US in September last year and June this year were attempts to pressurise Pakistan.
As the sainthood for the widely-beloved Roman Catholic nun, Mother Teresa, will be declared by the Vatican on Sunday, here is all you should know about the canonisation process.

A canonisation process involves volumes of historical research, the hunt for miracles and teams of experts to weigh the evidence, which the Catholic Church goes through before making it official and declaring the candidate a saint. In Mother Teresa's case, the process will come to a formal end on Sunday when Pope Francis declares the Church's newest saint.

Explained: Canonisation process

The process to find a new saint usually begins in the diocese where he or she lived or died; in Mother Teresa's case: Kolkata.

A postulator  essentially the cheerleader spearheading the project  gathers testimony and documentation and presents the case to the Vatican's Congregation for the Causes of Saints.

If the congregation's experts agree that the candidate lived a virtuous life, the case is forwarded to the pope, who signs a decree attesting to the candidate's "heroic virtues."

If the postulator finds someone was healed after praying for the candidate's intercession, and if the cure cannot be medically explained, the case is presented to the congregation as the possible miracle needed for beatification  the first major hurdle in the saint-making process.

Panels of doctors, theologians, bishops and cardinals must certify that the cure was instantaneous, complete and lasting - and was due to the intercession of the saintly candidate. If convinced, the congregation sends the case to the pope, who signs a decree saying the candidate can be beatified.

A second miracle is needed for the person to be declared a saint.

The saint-making process has long been criticised as being expensive, secretive, ripe for abuses and subject to political, financial or theological winds that can push one candidate to sainthood in record time and leave another languishing for centuries.

Pope Francis has raised eyebrows with some rule-breaking beatifications and canonisations, waiving the need for miracles and canonising more people in a single clip  more than 800 15th-century martyrs  than John Paul did in his 26-year pontificate (482).

Francis has also imposed new financial accountability standards on the multimillion-dollar machine after uncovering gross abuses that were subsequently revealed in two books. The books estimated the average cost for each beatification at around 5,00,000 ($5,50,000), with much of the proceeds going to a few lucky people with contracts to do the time-consuming investigations into the candidates' lives.

For the record, the postulator of Mother Teresa's cause says her case, which stretched over 20 years, cost less than 100,000.

Why is Mother Teresa a saint? And why is she the icon for Pope Francis' Holy Year of Mercy?

For her admirers, it's obvious.

"Mother is known throughout the whole world for her works of mercy, recognised by Christians and non-Christians alike," said Sister Mary Prema Pierick, the current superior general of Mother Teresa's Missionaries of Charity order.

"Reflecting about Mother and the life of our mother, we see all the works of mercy  corporal and spiritual  put into action."

Her biographer, the Reverend Lush Gjergji, said she founded her life on two pillars: "For God and for the human being."

"She crossed all barriers like castes, races, gender, ethnic, religious, cultural and turned into and remained the mother of the whole civilisation," he said.

"In the history of sainthood and that of Christianity, she is the first saint of Hindus, Buddhists, Muslims, non-religious and of course for Christians."

However, she was not the beloved of all. She was criticised for the quality of care in her clinics and accused of taking donations from Haitian dictator Jean-Claude Duvalier and disgraced American financier Charles Keating.

Mother Teresa is most often associated with St. John Paul II, who was pope during the heyday of her work. But Pope Francis seems more a pope in her likeness, eschewing the Apostolic Palace for a simple hotel room, focusing his ministry on the most marginal of society and traveling to the peripheries to find lost souls - just as Mother Teresa did.

In one of his first public audiences after being elected pope in 2013, Francis said he longed for a "church that is poor and for the poor."

"Right from the beginning we said, 'Oh wow, this is a really an 'MC' pope!" said the Reverend Brian Kolodiejchuk, the MC (Missionaries of Charity) priest in charge of the cause.

"He would have been one of our best members - if he hadn't joined the Jesuits."

That Francis is crowning his Jubilee Year of Mercy with Teresa's canonisation is evidence that he sees her as the model of the merciful church he envisions.

"There will be other canonisations, but this (is) perhaps the key canonisation in what is the key year, the Year of Mercy," said the Vatican spokesman, Greg Burke.

With more than 1,00,000 people expected to jam St. Peter's Square on Sunday, including at least 13 heads of state or government, security is an obvious concern given that the Islamic State group has said Rome is their ultimate target as the seat of Christianity.

With inputs from AP
Baku, Azerbaijan, Sept. 3

Trend:

The foreign ministers of EU member-states discussed three main topics at the informal meeting in Bratislava, Miroslav Lajcak, Slovakias foreign minister, said, TASS agency reported Sept. 3.

Lajcak said that the relations with Turkey, the prospects of the Minsk agreements on the settlement of the situation in eastern Ukraine, as well as the EU development were discussed.

We will also hold a brief meeting with the foreign ministers of the Eastern Partnership member-states, Lajcak added. "We will talk about the future of this project."
The Acting Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer, Niger Delta Development Commission, NDDC, Mrs. Ibim Semenitari, has debunked claims made by the Rivers State Governor, Mr. Nyesom Wike, that the Commission was not involved in the recovery of dilapidated road infrastructure in Etche local government of the state. Semenitari stressed that not only was Mr. Wike playing to the gallery, but was hiding the fact of his failure to tackle the bigger challenge of insecurity plaguing Rivers State.



Semenitari, who was reacting to Mr. Wikes claims on Thursday that NDDC had claimed undertaking the construction of the Igwuruta-Chokocho-Okehia road, said the governor should emulate the Cross River State Governor who commended NDDC for its intervention on the Calabar-Itu Road.

As an interventionist agency, NDDC stepped in to recover the roads between Igwuruta and Umuechem, as well internal roads in that community, and the Oil Mill-Igbo-Etche-Chokocho road, which is a critical connection between the bigger Port Harcourt market and the produce spots in Etche. NDDC, working under the directives of President Muhammadu Buhari, GCFR, stepped in to arrest the deterioration in road infrastructure in Etche as to eventually boost economic activity in the area and give its inhabitants a lease of life. Checks can be made on those roads as to the veracity of NDDCs scope and quality of intervention.

Semenitari further stated that NDDC would drive those projects to completion despite Wikes attempts to possibly stall them.

The facts which Mr. Wike sought to turn head-down, are clear. NDDC is working on the Igwuruta-Umuechem, Umuechem internal roads, and the Oil Mill-Igbo-Etche-Chokocho road. Wike is not happy that the Federal Government through the Commission is giving Etche people such critical intervention, and so, would prefer where the roads users continued in their suffering.

Semenitari added: We are miffed that Mr. Wike is yet to come to terms with the severe challenges ravaging the state. Surprisingly, rather than commit himself to true governance, Wike, like that proverbial Emperor who watched while his empire burnt, plays politics with the welfare of Rivers people. We thought that the degenerating insecurity in the state should cause Mr. Wike sleepless nights until there was solution. Unfortunately, Mr. Wike chooses to engage in speech-making as though there was a speech contest.

Wike is not bothered that under his watch in little over a year, Rivers State has become a killing field. Wike is not bothered that there is capital flight and mass movement of people and that corporate entities are deserting Rivers State.

While we do not intend to engage the governor in any speech contest, NDDC will not be deterred in pursuing the overall development of every segment of the Niger Delta region. That is the mission and mandate of the Commission the NDDC boss averred.

Bekee Anyalewechi

SA(Media) to the Ag MD/CEO
2000 - 2022   24 .-   .       focus-news.net,                 () .                  24 .                 24      .       .       24 .
Uber Technologies' deal to sell its money-burning Chinese operation to rival Didi Chuxing Technology might have just hit a snag: China's Ministry of Commerce said on Friday that it had opened an investigation into the deal, citing antitrust concerns.

If the Chinese government ends up blocking the deal, that will leave Uber in a tough spot.

China's antitrust regulators aren't happy with Didi

Anti-trust regulators at China's Ministry of Commerce, or Mofcom, say that Didi should have filed for an antitrust review before it announced the deal at the beginning of August. They want to know why Didi didn't file -- and it appears that they plan to put the deal under close scrutiny.

Didi, which typically enjoys a close and positive relationship with Chinese government officials, said last month that it didn't think the deal met Mofcom's filing requirements. It said in a statement to Reuters that the "trigger requirement for the antitrust process" is only met if both parties involved in the merger have revenue of over 400 million yuan ($59 million). UberChina's revenue in 2015 was less than that, it said.

Apparently, the government disagrees. A Mofcom spokesperson said on Friday that antitrust investigators have interviewed Didi officials twice, and have requested further details on its decision not to file for an antitrust review before announcing the deal.

What it means for Uber if the deal is held up

The deal to sell UberChina to Didi is extremely important to Uber. Uber spent at least $2 billion in an effort to build out a presence in China and was adding millions more every month, but it wasn't working. The amount of cash Uber was burning was said to be a source of concern for its investors, a distraction from its efforts in more promising regions, and a potential roadblock to an initial public offering.

The announcement that Didi would buy UberChina in exchange for a stake in the combined company and a $1 billion investment in Uber by Didi was seen as a graceful exit -- the best that Uber CEO Travis Kalanick could hope for under the circumstances. In a way, it's a coup for Uber: It will allow the company to focus its still-substantial cash hoard (believed to be about $9 billion) on expanding its reach in the U.S. and in more promising markets abroad.

It also removed a potential sticking point to Uber's widely expected IPO. All of these things add up to a win for Uber and Kalanick, but if Chinese regulators halt the deal, Uber will have to scramble to come up with a Plan B -- and that could be complicated.

What happens from here?

It's not clear what happens from here because it depends on how Mofcom's investigation unfolds. Mofcom may choose not to take strong action against Didi. Didi is backed by China's sovereign-wealth fund and has long had a close relationship with regulators and government officials. (That's one reason why outsider Uber was at such a disadvantage versus Didi in China.)

From a Chinese perspective, the deal is a big win for Didi and China because it removes a foreign competitor from the playing field. After the regulators have their say, perhaps giving Didi a wrist slap, it seems likely that the deal will be approved.
In this clip from the Industry Focus: Energy podcast, Sean O'Reilly talks with Motley Fool Canada head, Taylor Muckerman, about the Canadian oil industry scene.

Listen in to find out why oil sands are so much harder to work with than the shale that so many American wells have been blessed with, how big Canada's oil business is compared to the rest of the world, why the expensive Canadian sands are being drilled while offshore rigs are left untouched, how long-term investors should think about investing in Canadian oil companies (and commodities in general), and more.

A full transcript follows the video.

This podcast was recorded on Aug. 18, 2016.

Sean O'Reilly: It occurred to me recently, I was like, "We've got this guy that helps run Fool Canada. They're crushing it up there. He goes to Toronto occasionally."

Taylor Muckerman: Occasionally.

O'Reilly: We really should pick your brain, Taylor's brain, about what's the difference between Canadian oil companies and the U.S. industry.

Muckerman: In terms of companies, they operate pretty similarly, but they're dealing with oil sands for the most part rather than shale oil like drillers in the United States have been blessed with recently. When you look at the industry up there, Alberta is Grand Central Station. If you look at Alberta by itself, I think it's in the top five for oil reserves in the world.

O'Reilly: On the planet Earth?

Muckerman: Yeah.

O'Reilly: It's them, Saudi Arabia...

Muckerman: There's plenty of gas. Let's see. If you look at it, they have the third-largest crude reserves in the world. They're talking if technology improves, you could see 300 billion barrels of bitumen. Right now, with current technology, around 170 billion barrels.

O'Reilly: For the layman, bitumen is basically like tar?

Muckerman: Yes. Oil sands is what they have up there. It's very hard to extract, very greenhouse gas-intensive.

O'Reilly: They use those trucks. It's very messy.

Muckerman: To ship it in pipelines, you have to use diluent. They have to, basically, ship from the United States in a pipeline up to Canada, dilute the bitumen so that it flows through the pipeline -- because it's so thick and nasty that it wouldn't move on its own, so you dilute it a little bit -- so then you can ship it through pipelines to transport it. Which is kind of why crude-by-rail has been a big deal for them, because that was a big boom for oil sands, because you just loaded it into a truck or a tanker rather than having to ship diluent up and then combine it. It removed that step from the process because you could just put bitumen right in the tanks.

O'Reilly: All of this sounds expensive.

Muckerman: It is.

O'Reilly: Can you just give a ballpark estimate compared to... Last week, we talked about the Permian Basin. Where does Canada fall, globally, on the cost structure of things?

Muckerman: Depending on the offshore field that you're talking about, it's upwards in that range of offshore drilling. Right now, they're definitely not breaking even on barrels of oil that they're producing and you're also looking at Western Canadian Select being the kind of oil that you price in Canada, which is sold at a discount even to West Texas, which is sold at a discount to Brent.

O'Reilly: Because it's so dirty and it's a hassle.

Muckerman: It's dirty and it's more remote. One of the big bottlenecks in Canada is infrastructure to move oil around the country. You see Keystone XL got shut down, the plans for that... You got the southern leg on board, which is totally in the United States.

O'Reilly: Kinder Morgan (KMI 0.33%) just got approved for that $4 billion pipeline up there.

Muckerman: That was an expansion, I believe. But then, you look at Enbridge's Northern Gateway Pipeline, which was supposed to go from Alberta to the West Coast so that it gives oil more access to Asia. That was originally approved in 2014, but I believe they just lost an appeals case recently, so that pipeline...

O'Reilly: Was that an environmental thing?

Muckerman: Yeah. It was an environmental thing with the native tribes in that area. There were some areas where maybe the government and Enbridge overlooked, and so during the appeals process, those were brought up and now that pipeline is back on the shelf.

O'Reilly: Got it.

Muckerman: That's one of the biggest issues outside of the high cost to produce it versus the low cost that it's currently selling at. The big thing there is infrastructure, because when you look at Canada, they use hardly any of the oil that they produce. It's pretty much all exported, mostly to the United States. They're big on natural gas and even bigger on hydropower in Canada. They're one of the cleanest energy-producing countries in the world in terms of what they use to produce energy, but the oil that they produce and export is very expensive and dirty.

O'Reilly: Yeah, plus their population is not big.

Muckerman: It's about a tenth of what it is here.

O'Reilly: There's like 90% of the Canadian population lives within 100 miles of the United States border or something like that.

Muckerman: You look at Ontario and British Columbia are the hubs and you've got, obviously, Calgary is a big city, Montreal is a big city, Quebec, but if you look at Vancouver and Toronto and then the surrounding areas of those two cities, Canada in a nutshell.

O'Reilly: Taking a step back, Canadian oil sands basically cost the same as offshore like in the Gulf of Mexico or something.

Muckerman: It gets up there.

O'Reilly: It's like 60, 70, 80, you need that to justify these projects.

Muckerman: If you look at some recent projects, you look at Suncor (SU 0.69%) just developed a $13 billion project in Fort Hills, but that's like, they said, "OK, that's pretty much our last major project."

O'Reilly: For?

Muckerman: For the foreseeable future. They are turning their mind toward smaller projects because they're a little bit more predictable. Obviously, they're less expensive.

O'Reilly: Don't want to overcommit, man.

Muckerman: Yeah, you don't want overproduction at this point in time.

O'Reilly: On the flip side of that, though, I can't remember when we talked about this, but I seem to remember us talking about an offshore auction in the Gulf of Mexico and there were no bidders. I've been looking at Suncor and a couple of other competitors. They're still producing. They're still doing some projects. Is it just because it's on land? What's the disconnect there if the costs are the same? Why is nobody going to the Gulf, but Canada is still doing some stuff?

Muckerman: I'm pretty sure in those auctions, you've got a limited time frame that you have to drill or begin producing before the money that you spent at the auction is just a sunk cost. I guess it's a sunk cost immediately, but then it basically just disappears. You get nothing for your money if you don't drill soon enough. A lot of these companies in Canada have the right to that land so they can...

O'Reilly: They own it and that's it.

Muckerman: Yeah. They might as well produce. You've got the transportation. Offshore, you have to have a unique transportation for each well because there aren't these pipelines crisscrossing the Gulf of Mexico, thankfully. With the oil sands, these companies -- like we talked about last week -- the companies have to keep the lights on, but they are trimming back. If you look at 2014, oil spending was around $80 billion. This year, two years later, it's around $30 billion for the full year of 2016. It's the biggest two-year change since they started measuring that in the 1940s.

O'Reilly: I'll never forget we saw the capex is now down to like 1952 levels or something.

Muckerman: Yeah, it's bad.

O'Reilly: Eisenhower wasn't the president. Taking an investor perspective to all this, it sounds like based upon all that we've discussed in this show that -- ignoring nationalities and tax effects and all that kind of fun stuff -- do you need higher oil prices to even think about investing in a Canadian oil company? In the $40-$50 world, should we be looking in the Permian Basin?

Muckerman: Sure. You look at Suncor, it's integrated so it's got the full operations just like...

O'Reilly: Their refining operations have been doing well.

Muckerman: Yeah, they have. That may be a company to look at. For us, in Stock Advisor Canada, we've never recommended an energy or oil and gas producer. We have quite a few pipelines and quite a few services companies on our scorecard. That's the method we've been choosing to address the Canadian energy market because we're benchmarked against the S&P/TSX and so you have to have energy exposure, because once energy started to rebound earlier this year, it was...

O'Reilly: You don't want to lag it, obviously.

Muckerman: Right. We did quite well during the downturn comparatively, but once that uptake hit, it was a noticeable lacking portion of our portfolio. We've got several companies that either maintain pipelines, own pipelines. They go out there and provide equipment in the drilling fields. We've got that exposure that way. I think it permeates through the Fool to stay away from producers, in large part, because commodities are so cyclical. The services companies are affected as well, but maybe not to the same degree.
Hugh Grant, the CEO of Monsanto (MON), recently updated investors on ongoing potential merger and acquisition discussions with industry peers by simply saying, "It's clear that Monsanto remains the partner of choice in this industry." I don't think the company should sell itself for just that reason. Compared to industry peers, Monsanto has the pipeline with the most potential and growth projects. To top it all off, MON has the most near-term benefits for shareholders.

One of these near-term growth drivers that investors should have on their radar is a manufacturing facility in Luling, Louisiana, where Monsanto is investing $975 million to become a leading producer of the herbicide dicamba. While the entire industry currently produces enough dicamba every year to cover about 40 million acres of farmland, the manufacturing facility in Luling will boast an annual production capacity covering between 80 million and 100 million acres of farmland. Some of the production will be sold to DuPont (DD) for its proprietary herbicide formulations, while the remaining capacity will be sold under Monsanto herbicide brands.

In other words, the planned herbicide factory is kind of a big deal.

Why manufacture dicamba?

Dicamba is not a new herbicide by any means. In fact, it has been used to control broadleaf weeds in the United States since 1967. But the herbicide is on the cusp of a renaissance as agrochemical companies aim to deliver new weed control solutions into the hands of farmers dealing with increased tolerance to the most widely used herbicide, glyphosate. While weeds were developing tolerance to herbicides long before the introduction of genetically modified seeds, the near-ubiquitous use of agricultural biotechnology in major crops has increased selective pressures for such traits to develop. The industry's answer: more agricultural biotechnology.

That really shouldn't be too surprising. Much of Monsanto's success in the past two decades has been derived from developing and licensing genetic traits that allow corn, soybeans, cotton, and other crops to tolerate applications of glyphosate. The company may be closely associated with the sale of glyphosate herbicide formulations sold under the Roundup brand, but most of the company's revenue and profit is actually derived from selling seeds and licensing genetic traits, as full-year 2015 financials demonstrate:

Metric Seeds and Genomics Agricultural Productivity Revenue $10,243 million $4,758 million Gross profit $6,277 million $1,905 million

Given the rise in glyphosate-tolerant weeds, Monsanto has also been quietly developing genetic traits that allow major crops to tolerate applications of dicamba (and new herbicide formulations that go hand-in-hand with the new traits). Investors already know how this will play out: direct seed sales under brands marketed by the company and traits licensed to industry peers.

But there's a slight twist to how the genetic trait for dicamba tolerance, called Xtend, is being deployed. Rather than being rolled out as a separate technology platform, Monsanto is viewing it as an upgrade to its existing Roundup Ready technology platform. That means, simply, the company is selling seeds that tolerate both glyphosate and dicamba herbicide applications -- marking the first commercially available stacked trait (two or more traits in the same seed) for herbicides.

Soybeans are the first crop to include the Xtend trait, which Monsanto is selling as a stacked trait under the Roundup Ready 2 Xtend brand. There are currently roughly 1 million acres of the crop deployed in the United States today, although the company expects market penetration to grow to 15 million acres in 2017 and 55 million acres in 2019, with a total estimated market opportunity of 80 million acres.

However, it should be noted that the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has not approved the in-crop use of dicamba for the Xtend trait, which means farmers planting the soybean seeds aren't allowed to take advantage of that specific trait in the stack at the moment. Of course, farmers have used dicamba on the crops anyway, which has many questioning whether or not Monsanto should have sold seeds with an unapproved trait to begin with. (It probably shouldn't have.)

Similar to the Roundup technology platform, Monsanto will sell both proprietary seeds and herbicides to offer a complete set of solutions for farmers. The company's Roundup Xtend VaporGrip and Xtendimax VaporGrip herbicides are formulations of both glyphosate and dicamba, which will be sourced from external dicamba supplies until the new manufacturing facility begins operations. At that point management expects the Roundup Ready Xtend crop system to deliver at least 30% returns. The dicamba factory will supply up to 35% of total industry demand. While the new herbicides are designed to not travel by wind -- so as not to affect neighboring farms -- they are also awaiting EPA approval.

Admittedly, the nomenclature can be difficult to follow, but the table below shows Monsanto's marketing team does have it organized:

Genetic Trait Herbicide Roundup Ready (tolerates glyphosate) Roundup (glyphosate) Xtend (tolerates dicamba) XtendiMax VaporGrip (dicamba) Roundup Ready 2 Xtend (tolerates both glyphosate and dicamba) Roundup Xtend VaporGrip (glyphosate and dicamba)

Monsanto has also been active in licensing the Xtend trait to industry peers. A much-heated legal dispute with DuPont ended in 2013 with the company agreeing to pay Monsanto at least $1.75 billion through 2017 to license certain technologies including Xtend. DuPont will then pay royalties on sales of seeds containing the Xtend trait beginning in 2018. And, as mentioned in the introduction, DuPont has also agreed to purchase some of the output from Monsanto's future dicamba manufacturing facility for its own proprietary herbicide mixture branded DuPont FeXapan herbicide plus VaporGrip Technology.

What does it mean for investors?

While the Roundup crop system catapulted Monsanto to the forefront of the industry, the Roundup Ready 2 Xtend crop system can allow it maintain both its leadership position and growth. That is even more likely after a competing dicamba trait and herbicide system developed by Dow Chemical was nearly universally shunned by industry peers in favor of Monsanto's platform. It later ran into regulatory issues that will further delay its commercialization and use -- giving Monsanto even more time to capture market share for dicamba crop systems and marking the equivalent of a knockout punch for Dow.

A combination of farmer needs to respond to glyphosate tolerant weeds and advances in agricultural biotechnology support the need for Roundup Ready 2 Xtend crops. Monsanto's R&D labs and its new dicamba manufacturing facility have made it possible. Despite the controversy surrounding the launch of new seeds, the platform should create tremendous value for farmers and the company.
Baku, Azerbaijan, Sept. 3

Trend:

Turkey has been disappointed with EU reaction to the military coup attempt in the country, Omer Celik, Turkish minister for EU affairs, said, TASS agency reported.

Celik made the remarks following the talks with the foreign ministers of 28 EU countries in the capital of Slovakia Sept. 3.

"We have not seen the expected solidarity from the EU, he said.

Celik also said that the EU should not expect Turkey to change the country's anti-terrorism legislation.

The minister added that Turkey can discuss new anti-terror commitments as part of the Council of Europe in the future.

The "one for one" plan for the exchange of migrants between the EU and Turkey is not enough, we need a new mechanism, he added.

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 had said 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.
Whether you're a younger investor pursuing the next great growth opportunity or a more experienced one whose selection of stocks tends to be less aggressive, every investor's portfolio should have a niche carved out for more-conservative options.

Here are three starkly different opportunities -- Aqua America (NYSE: WTR), Franco-Nevada Corp. (NYSE: FNV), and Ecolab (NYSE: ECL) -- that could help investors avoid tossing and turning all night.

Come on in, the water's fine

When it comes to low-risk investments, utilities like Aqua America are among the most popular choices. Tracing its history back to 1886, Aqua America, the second-largest water utility by market cap, currently provides water and wastewater services to 3 million people in eight states. Unlike smaller, regional water utilities, like California Water Service Group (NYSE: CWT), Aqua America has a geographically diversified customer base that mitigates the risk of adverse local weather phenomena.

Furthermore, Aqua America deals primarily in the regulated market, so management has clear insight into future revenue, thereby allowing it to strategically plan for capital upgrades to its vast infrastructure. This, in turn, enables the company to increase operational efficiency and generate stronger margins. From 2018 through 2020, for example, the company expects to reinvest $1.4 billion in upgrades to its infrastructure.

Granted, investors shouldn't expect to see revenue rise from a flood of new customers in the days ahead; nonetheless, management has demonstrated its prowess at growing the top line through the steady acquisitions of smaller municipal water companies. This, in concert with consistent upgrades to the company's infrastructure, has resulted in revenue increasing at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 2.59% over the past 10 years and operational cash flow rising at a CAGR of 5.55% during the same period.

To further illustrate the allure of Aqua America, consider how its performance compares to leading peers American Water Works (NYSE: AWK), California Water Service, and Connecticut Water Service (NASDAQ: CTWS).

Over the past five years, Aqua America has consistently demonstrated a superior ability to turn shareholders' investments into profits. Of course, the company's past performance is no guarantee that it will continue to generate the same type of returns moving forward. It does, however, suggest that management has developed a successful business model for satisfying the water needs of its customers and quenching investors' thirst for profits.

Moving forward, investors can confirm the company's growth strategy remains intact as it acquires smaller municipal water systems, a key component of its growth strategy. Over the last 10 years, for example, it has completed nearly 200 acquisitions. Moreover, additional acquisitions remain in the company's crystal ball. Aqua America currently has six municipal asset agreements signed, and it is committed to continuously acquiring additional systems in the future.

A golden opportunity

Unlike gold-mining companies that dig the precious metal from the ground, Franco-Nevada is a royalty and streaming company, which acts like a specialized financier, providing miners with up-front capital to cover the considerable costs of mine construction. In return, Franco-Nevada receives the rights to purchase gold and other minerals at preset prices or to receive a percentage of mineral production from a mine.

Over the past two years, gold and other precious metals accounted for an average of 92% of the company's annual revenue. Attempting to mitigate the risk associated with a downturn in any of the precious metals markets, management has identified a long-term goal of generating 80% of its revenue from precious metals. Another way in which the company reduces risk is through the geographic diversification of its assets. In 2017, for example, Latin America accounted for 42% of the company's adjusted EBITDA, while the U.S., Canada, and the rest of the world accounted for 18%, 21%, and 19%, respectively.

In 2017, Franco-Nevada reported production of 497,745 gold equivalent ounces -- a company record. And the company expects plenty of growth on the horizon. During a presentation from earlier in the year, management forecast production of 565,000 to 595,000 gold equivalent ounces in 2022, assuming a gold price of $1,300 per ounce; this represents roughly 17% growth over that which it reported in 2017. And positioning itself for further growth beyond 2022, the company has a strong, well-diversified pipeline of assets in the exploration phase of development, including 138 precious metals projects, 70 projects representing other minerals, and 82 oil and gas projects.

Let's keep it clean

Fashioning itself as "the global leader in water, hygiene and energy technologies and services," Ecolab helps to meet the needs of its customers in 170 countries, from water treatment solutions for the energy industry to cleaning solutions for the restaurant industry. For conservative investors, Ecolab's attraction is clear: The company provides its services to a wide swath of industries, mitigating the effects of a downturn in any one of them.

A mature company, Ecolab was incorporated in 1924. Consequently, investors shouldn't expect the sharp top-line growth that is oftentimes associated with younger companies. With this in mind, the fact that Ecolab grew sales at a modest 4.4% over the past five years should hardly be shocking. The surprise, rather, is the ability with which the business has been able to grow cash flow and profits.

Management's adept ability to grow the bottom line and continuously churn out cash ensures that Ecolab is able to fund operations, complete acquisitions, and satisfy other needs without having to rely excessively on debt. The company, for example, ended 2017 with a net debt-to-EBITDA ratio of 2.4, illustrating how it is not overly reliant on leverage. Moreover, the company retains an investment-grade balance sheet. And according to Ecolab's most recent 10-K, the business holds "current credit ratings of A-/Baa1 by the major ratings agencies."

In the days ahead, investors can watch how Ecolab progresses in achieving its goal of greater profitability by streamlining its operations. By developing digital platforms and other cost-saving initiatives, management has targeted a goal of a 20% operating margin, a notable increase over the 14.3% operating margin it has averaged over the past five years.

Three ways to sleep better at night

Appealing to risk-averse investors, Aqua America, which provides vital services to millions of customers, will surely not see demand ebb anytime soon. Franco-Nevada, moreover, represents another possibility since demand for gold -- prized for thousands of years -- is unlikely to wane in the coming days. And Ecolab, whose solutions are sought by a wide swath of industries, represents another viable consideration for investors who are keen on avoiding risk.

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In this clip from the Industry Focus: Energy podcast, Sean O'Reilly talks with Motley Fool Canada head, Taylor Muckerman, about the Canadian oil industry scene.

Listen in to find out why oil sands are so much harder to work with than the shale that so many American wells have been blessed with, how big Canada's oil business is compared to the rest of the world, why the expensive Canadian sands are being drilled while offshore rigs are left untouched, how long-term investors should think about investing in Canadian oil companies (and commodities in general), and more.

A full transcript follows the video.

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.

This podcast was recorded on Aug. 18, 2016.

Sean O'Reilly: It occurred to me recently, I was like, "We've got this guy that helps run Fool Canada. They're crushing it up there. He goes to Toronto occasionally."

Taylor Muckerman:Occasionally.

O'Reilly:We really should pick your brain, Taylor's brain, about what's the difference between Canadian oil companies and the U.S. industry.

Muckerman:In terms of companies, they operate pretty similarly, but they're dealing with oil sands for the most part rather than shale oil like drillers in the United States have been blessed with recently. When you look at the industry up there, Alberta is Grand Central Station. If you look at Alberta by itself, I think it's in the top five for oil reserves in the world.

O'Reilly:On the planet Earth?

Muckerman:Yeah.

O'Reilly:It's them, Saudi Arabia...

Muckerman:There's plenty of gas. Let's see. If you look at it, they have the third-largest crude reserves in the world. They're talking if technology improves, you could see 300 billion barrels of bitumen. Right now, with current technology, around 170 billion barrels.

O'Reilly:For the layman, bitumen is basically like tar?

Muckerman:Yes. Oil sands is what they have up there. It's very hard to extract, very greenhouse gas-intensive.

O'Reilly:They use those trucks. It's very messy.

Muckerman:To ship it in pipelines, you have to use diluent. They have to, basically, ship from the United States in a pipeline up to Canada, dilute the bitumen so that it flows through the pipeline -- because it's so thick and nasty that it wouldn't move on its own, so you dilute it a little bit -- so then you can ship it through pipelines to transport it. Which is kind of why crude-by-rail has been a big deal for them, because that was a big boom for oil sands, because you just loaded it into a truck or a tanker rather than having to ship diluent up and then combine it. It removed that step from the process because you could just put bitumen right in the tanks.

O'Reilly:All of this sounds expensive.

Muckerman:It is.

O'Reilly:Can you just give a ballpark estimate compared to... Last week, we talked about the Permian Basin. Where does Canada fall, globally, on the cost structure of things?

Muckerman:Depending on the offshore field that you're talking about, it's upwards in that range of offshore drilling. Right now, they're definitely not breaking even on barrels of oil that they're producing and you're also looking at Western Canadian Select being the kind of oil that you price in Canada, which is sold at a discount even to West Texas, which is sold at a discount to Brent.

O'Reilly:Because it's so dirty and it's a hassle.

Muckerman:It's dirty and it's more remote. One of the big bottlenecks in Canada is infrastructure to move oil around the country. You see Keystone XL got shut down, the plans for that... You got the southern leg on board, which is totally in the United States.

O'Reilly: Kinder Morgan(NYSE: KMI) just got approved for that $4 billion pipeline up there.

Muckerman:That was an expansion, I believe. But then, you look atEnbridge'sNorthern Gateway Pipeline, which was supposed to go from Alberta to the West Coast so that it gives oil more access to Asia. That was originally approved in 2014, but I believe they just lost an appeals case recently, so that pipeline...

O'Reilly:Was that an environmental thing?

Muckerman:Yeah. It was an environmental thing with the native tribes in that area. There were some areas where maybe the government and Enbridge overlooked, and so during the appeals process, those were brought up and now that pipeline is back on the shelf.

O'Reilly:Got it.

Muckerman:That's one of the biggest issues outside of the high cost to produce it versus the low cost that it's currently selling at. The big thing there is infrastructure, because when you look at Canada, they use hardly any of the oil that they produce. It's pretty much all exported, mostly to the United States. They're big on natural gas and even bigger on hydropower in Canada. They're one of the cleanest energy-producing countries in the world in terms of what they use to produce energy, but the oil that they produce and export is very expensive and dirty.

O'Reilly:Yeah, plus their population is not big.

Muckerman:It's about a tenth of what it is here.

O'Reilly:There's like 90% of the Canadian population lives within 100 miles of the United States border or something like that.

Muckerman:You look at Ontario and British Columbia are the hubs and you've got, obviously, Calgary is a big city, Montreal is a big city, Quebec, but if you look at Vancouver and Toronto and then the surrounding areas of those two cities, Canada in a nutshell.

O'Reilly:Taking a step back, Canadian oil sands basically cost the same as offshore like in the Gulf of Mexico or something.

Muckerman:It gets up there.

O'Reilly:It's like 60, 70, 80, you need that to justify these projects.

Muckerman:If you look at some recent projects, you look atSuncor(NYSE: SU)just developed a $13 billion project in Fort Hills, but that's like, they said, "OK, that's pretty much our last major project."

O'Reilly:For?

Muckerman:For the foreseeable future. They are turning their mind toward smaller projects because they're a little bit more predictable. Obviously, they're less expensive.

O'Reilly:Don't want to overcommit, man.

Muckerman:Yeah, you don't want overproduction at this point in time.

O'Reilly:On the flip side of that, though, I can't remember when we talked about this, but I seem to remember us talking about an offshore auction in the Gulf of Mexico and there were no bidders. I've been looking at Suncor and a couple of other competitors. They're still producing. They're still doing some projects. Is it just because it's on land? What's the disconnect there if the costs are the same? Why is nobody going to the Gulf, but Canada is still doing some stuff?

Muckerman:I'm pretty sure in those auctions, you've got a limited time frame that you have to drill or begin producing before the money that you spent at the auction is just a sunk cost. I guess it's a sunk cost immediately, but then it basically just disappears. You get nothing for your money if you don't drill soon enough. A lot of these companies in Canada have the right to that land so they can...

O'Reilly:They own it and that's it.

Muckerman:Yeah. They might as well produce. You've got the transportation. Offshore, you have to have a unique transportation for each well because there aren't these pipelines crisscrossing the Gulf of Mexico, thankfully. With the oil sands, these companies -- like we talked about last week -- the companies have to keep the lights on, but they are trimming back. If you look at 2014, oil spending was around $80 billion. This year, two years later, it's around $30 billion for the full year of 2016. It's the biggest two-year change since they started measuring that in the 1940s.

O'Reilly:I'll never forget we saw the capex is now down to like 1952 levels or something.

Muckerman:Yeah, it's bad.

O'Reilly:Eisenhower wasn't the president. Taking an investor perspective to all this, it sounds like based upon all that we've discussed in this show that -- ignoring nationalities and tax effects and all that kind of fun stuff -- do you need higher oil prices to even think about investing in a Canadian oil company? In the $40-$50 world, should we be looking in the Permian Basin?

Muckerman:Sure. You look at Suncor, it's integrated so it's got the full operations just like...

O'Reilly:Their refining operations have been doing well.

Muckerman:Yeah, they have. That may be a company to look at. For us, inStock Advisor Canada, we've never recommended an energy or oil and gas producer. We have quite a few pipelines and quite a few services companies on our scorecard. That's the method we've been choosing to address the Canadian energy market because we're benchmarked against the S&P/TSX and so you have to have energy exposure, because once energy started to rebound earlier this year, it was...

O'Reilly:You don't want to lag it, obviously.

Muckerman:Right. We did quite well during the downturn comparatively, but once that uptake hit, it was a noticeable lacking portion of our portfolio. We've got several companies that either maintain pipelines, own pipelines. They go out there and provide equipment in the drilling fields. We've got that exposure that way. I think it permeates through the Fool to stay away from producers, in large part, because commodities are so cyclical. The services companies are affected as well, but maybe not to the same degree.

Sean O'Reilly has no position in any stocks mentioned. Taylor Muckerman has no position in any stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool owns shares of and recommends Kinder Morgan. 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 potash market has been under pressure since the breakup of the international cartel, but prices may have finally reached their nadir. Image source: Getty Images.

This could be the signal the crop nutrition producers have been waiting for to indicate the market is about to make a U-turn. No, not the merger of equals between PotashCorp (NYSE: POT) and Agrium (NYSE: AGU) that was confirmed this week, but rather the supply deal signed with both China and India by the world's largest potash producer, Uralkali.

The straw that stirs the drink

The potash market has been waiting for China to ink deals with potash producers. Usually signed early in the year, or late spring the latest, China held off until the end of July before coming to terms with Belaruskali, the one-time partner of Uralkali in the Belarusian Potash Corp cartel. And that only came about after India had signed one with BPC at prices some 30% below the prior year's contract.

Because China is the world's largest consumer of potash (and just about every other commodity), it typically gets the best pricing. Where Belaruskali's contract with India saw it accept $227 per metric ton, the one with China was even lower, at $219 per metric ton.

The potash market was thrown into turmoil in 2013 when Uralkali broke away from BPC because it wanted to gain market share by selling all of its production into the market. Beforehand, the cartel typically withheld some of the inventory from sale in a bid to keep prices elevated.

Yet potash that once had sold for around $900 per metric ton during the commodities boom was cut in half or more, and Uralkali, as the low-cost production leader, saw an opportunity to take more share. The cartel's breakup, however, caused pricing to go into a tailspin, immediately falling to $325 per metric ton. With plentiful supplies, China saw no need to sign a new agreement as it drew down its inventory and allowed competitive pressures to drive prices even lower.

Although there was the possibility China might not sign a contract at all this year, PotashCorp was upbeat that the bottom had been reachednevertheless, and said it expected prices to rise next year. It pointed out that years in which China failed to sign a contract or was late doing so -- few and far between though they were -- the following year always saw prices increase.

Image source: PotashCorp.

Low-price environment

Certainly Belaruskali's contract with India first, then China was more than what many analysts thought might be the possible, as they suggested a price of $200 per metric ton or less would be notunreasonable. PotashCorp was reporting global average prices of just $178 per metric ton while Agrium and Mosaic (NYSE: MOS), PotashCorp's partners in the North American potash marketing group Canpotex, were reporting prices of $199 and $207 per metric ton, respectively.

These new contracts signed with Uralkali are significant, not least because the crop nutrient producer had scoffed at the price Belaruskali agreed to saying they were too low. While Uralkali didn't say what price it got -- just that they were in-line with the market -- the length of the Indian contract indicates the demand drought may be over.

Uralkali will deliver 600,000 metric tons of potash to various Chinese customers through January and will sell 650,000 metric tons to Indian Potash through July 2017.

The growing season in these countries is just getting underway, and having drawn down their inventories, they need to restock. Belaruskali's China contract was for delivering 1.3 million metric tons by the end of the year while Israel Chemicalsagreed to supply China with 700,000 metric tons in 2016.

Canpotex is the last remaining major supplier yet to sign a contract with either China or India, though it's said to be in negotiations. Having waited so long, it may not get terms as good as those offered to the others, but with demand looking like it's growing once again, PotashCorp's prediction of improved pricing in 2017 may yet come true.

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Image source: Getty Images.

Most investors need to wait a decade for a stock they own to double in value. However, investors who took a flier on silver mining stocks at the beginning of this year achieved that in a matter of months. In fact, those who bought Hecla Mining (NYSE: HL), First Majestic Silver (NYSE: AG), or Coeur Mining (NYSE: CDE) at the beginning of this year have seen their investment go up more than 200% in just eight months:

HL data by YCharts.

While the primary driver of these massive gains is the more than 40% increase in the price of silver since the start of the year, that is only part of the story.

Digging into what's driving producer profits

It may come as a surprise to some that silver is not up all that much over the past year. For example, during the second quarter, Hecla Mining's average realized silver price was $17.26 per ounce, which was just 6% higher than the $16.32 it realized in the prior-year's second quarter. That said, Hecla Mining's sales were up a remarkable 64% while cash provided by operating activities more than doubled. Driving these gains was the fact that Hecla Mining's silver production was up 71% while its cash costs were down 32%. It was that combination of higher volumes of lower-cost silver that's driving the company's remarkable earnings growth.

It was a similar story for First Majestic Silver. Itsaverage realized silver price was $17.01 per ounce last quarter, which was relatively unchanged from the $16.99 per ounce it captured in the year-ago quarter. However, revenue jumped 22% while the company reversed its year-ago loss. Again, driving the company's results was an increase in production, which was up 23%, to go along with a 24% drop in costs.

Unsurprisingly, Coeur Mining's average silver price realization was not up all that much year over year, increasing by just 7.1%. However, it delivered a remarkable 258.8% surge in free cash flow due in part to 5.5% growth in silver equivalent ounces sold and a 10.4% decrease in costs per ounce of silver equivalent.

This is only the beginning

While these silver producers had a great first half, all three are in the position to deliver stronger results in the second half of the year even if silver does not budge. Hecla Mining, for example,recently increased its full-year production forecast from 41 million ounces of silver to 44 million. Even better, it pushed down its cost projection, with the company now anticipating that full-year cash costs will average $4.75 per ounce of silver, down from its prior estimate of $5.00 per ounce.

First Majestic, on the other hand, actually projects that its production will come in 11% below forecast due to lower production rates at two of its mines. That said, it plans to offset that shortfall by pushing costs lower, with its full-year cash costs projected to be 23% below its previous guidance.

Finally, while Coeur Mining is maintaining its production and cost guidance, the company announced two significant developments that set it up for stronger cash flow in 2016 and beyond. First, the company finally satisfied the minimum ounce obligation on theFranco-Nevada (NYSE: FNV) royalty at its Palmarejo mine. That triggers a shift in terms, which should drive a significant increase in that mine's cash flow. Further, the company used its growing cash flow and a recent equity issuance to repay a $99 million term loan. That not only cut debt by 20% but reduced its annual interest expense by $9 million.

Investor takeaway

Silver, having started the year with a surge, just got its price back to where it was a year ago. While that certainly helped producer profits, many helped themselves by pushing down costs and increasing production. Those two factors are the primary reason their profits are soaring and have the potential to continue driving profit growth even if silver takes a breather.

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.

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When drones attack. Image source: Getty Images.

For years, it seemed the U.S. had a near monopoly on military drones capable of launching missiles and dropping bombs from the air -- primarily, Predator and Reaper drones from General Atomics, supplemented by a few smaller Shadowsfrom Textron (NYSE: TXT). Lately, however, hunter-killer drones are popping up in the most surprising places.

Late last year, in a pair of groundbreaking announcements, we learned that:

The U.S. Pentagon has authorized the sale of hundreds of Hellfire missiles, laser guided bombs, and "JDAM" munitions specifically tailored to weaponize General Atomics MQ-9 Reaper drones to the Italian Air Force; and

Next door in Spain, the local military has also placed orders for four Reaper drones -- and plans to weaponize those as well.

Now, the U.S. State Department appears to be preparing to declare open season for armed military drone sales around the globe.

How markets get born

As reported last week by DefenseNews.com, "top agency officials" from the U.S. State Department have been meeting with delegates "from various nations" to try to agree on a set of global principles governing the sale and use of armed drones internationally. Among these, countries exporting armed military drones would be expected to apply existing arms control laws to the sale of armed drones, consider a recipient country's record as a responsible actor before approving a sale, and "ensure [that armed drones, once sold are] used responsibly by all States."

In essence, the "Proposed Joint Declaration of Principles for the Export and Subsequent Use of Armed or Strike-Enabled Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS)" would commit signatories to abiding by the same guidelines the U.S. applies when weighing foreign sales of its own military weapons. In that regard, the State Department announced in February of 2015 a relaxation of America's own policy on military drone exports. If enough countries agree to the Proposed Joint Declaration, the U.S. government plans to open the document up for signing, perhaps at United Nations meetings on October 3.

Spreading democracy -- by drone

"As other nations begin to employ military UAS more regularly and as the nascent commercial UAS market emerges, the United States has a responsibility to ensure that sales, transfers and subsequent use of all US-origin UAS are responsible and consistent with US national security and foreign policy interests, including economic security, as well as with U.S. values and international standards."

-- U.S. State Department

That's the U.S. government's official position -- advocating the Proposed Joint Declaration in order to ensure the responsible use of drones by countries that were going to buy them anyway. But at the same time, America's efforts will help to grow the export market for armed military drones -- to the benefit of the U.S. defense contractors, who currently lead the world in their production. Most of the major defense contractors already maintain surveillance drone programs. In additionto Textron and General Atomics, mentioned above, Northrop Grumman (NYSE: NOC) and Lockheed Martin (NYSE: LMT) have offered to build armed drones for the U.S. military.

So why would America open up the market to sales outside its borders? The defense market experts at IHS Jane's estimate that in 2014, $6.4 billion worth of (mostly unarmed) drones were sold globally. In less than a decade, the global market for drones of all stripes will exceed $10 billion in value.

That's a market that U.S. defense contractors like Textron, Northrop, and Lockheed would dearly love to dominate. And in fact, the market for drones could be even bigger than Janes estimates. Consider, for example, just three high profile contracts reported in recent years:

Three Global Hawk drones sold to Japan in December 2015 ($1.2 billion)

Four more Global Hawks sold to Korea the year before ($1.2 billion more)

And 16 General Atomics Reaper drones ordered by France the year before that -- a $1.5 billion deal.

In each of these contracts, foreign governments dropped more than $1 billion on a single drone order -- no weapons included -- placed with an American defense contractor. Now extrapolate that across the dozens of countries around the world that might be in the market for drones, and multiply by the value of armed military drones with weapons. (When Italy armed its two Reapers, for example, it spent $130 million on the purchase -- more money than the Reapers themselves costto acquire).

Pretty soon, you've got yourself ... I'm honestly not sure how big of a market. It could be the $10 billion that Jane's estimates, the $11.4 billion recently floated by analysts at Teal Group-- or more. In any case, it's going to be bigger than today's, and perhaps a whole lot bigger.

Now all the State Department has to do is get some more countries to sign on, and create the market.

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Fool contributorRich Smithdoes not own shares of, nor is he short, any company named above. You can find him onMotley Fool CAPS, publicly pontificating under the handleTMFDitty, where he's currently ranked No. 295 out of more than 75,000 rated members.

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Image source: Wayfair.

What happened

Shares of online furniture retailer Wayfair (NYSE: W) dropped 11.5% in August, according to data provided byS&P Global Market Intelligence. The company's second-quarter report was mixed, with costs rising faster than sales, a development that led investors to erase the stock's earlier gains.

W data by YCharts.

So what

Wayfair grew revenue by 60% year over year to $786.9 million during the second quarter, driven by a 65% increase in active customers and a 15% increase in average order value. Analysts expected revenue to be about $4.5 million lower.

While Wayfair beat expectations on revenue, profitability was another story. The company reported a non-GAAP (generally accepted accounting principles) net loss of $0.43 per share, compared to a loss of $0.15 per share during the prior-year period, and $0.02 lower than the average analyst estimate. The miss was driven by a 69% year-over-year increase in operating expenses, with merchandising, marketing, and sales costs rising 82%.

While Wayfair has yet to reach profitability, despite generating nearly $3 billion of sales over the past 12 months, CEO Niraj Shah is confident in the long-term story:

Now what

Wayfair's market capitalization now sits at roughly $3.3 billion, about the same as the average analyst estimate for revenue in fiscal 2016. That valuation suggests investors aren't very confident that Wayfair can continue to grow rapidly and become profitable at the same time.

Wayfair continues to spend heavily in order to gain more customers, but with customer loyalty a fickle concept, it's unclear whether this spending will pay off in the long run. Wayfair spent 12% of revenue on advertising during the second quarter, a number that will need to come down if the company hopes to eventually turn a profit. Despite continued growth, a lack of progress toward profitability was enough to send Wayfair stock tumbling in August.

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.

Timothy Green has no position in any stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool owns shares of and recommends Wayfair. 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 11-page FBI summary released Friday of Hillary Clinton's July 2 interview in the criminal email investigation shows bureau agents focused their questions to her on the 22 Top Secret emails considered too damaging to national security to make public.

These emails contained some of the U.S. government's most closely held secrets, known as Special Access Programs (SAP), as first reported by Fox News.

Though the summary is heavily redacted, it shows FBI agents asked Clinton about an Afghan national identified as "Salehi," who appeared in her emails, which included a discussion of a New York Times report about his alleged ties to the CIA. Clinton said she did not remember the email, had no reason to believe the discussion involved classified information, and had "no reason to doubt the judgment of the people working for her on the 'front lines.'"

The discussion of a foreign national working with the U.S. government raises security implications -- an executive order signed by President Obama said such unauthorized disclosures are presumed to cause damage to the national security."

The Salehi email, and the discussion of a possible relationship with the U.S. government, was first reported by Fox News as an example of how human spying intelligence, known as humint, was contained in the Clinton emails. The sharing and discussion of such intelligence puts lives at risk.

Clinton was also asked about an October 2012 email that discussed, "This am Green on Blue" -- referencing an attack in Afghanistan where American personnel were among the dead. While key sections are redacted, a separate publicly released State Department email, as well as details in the FBI summary, suggest the communication included discussion of an American later revealed to be a CIA officer. Fox News is not reporting the identity of the individual in deference to the familys wishes not to publicize his national security work.

According to a December 2013 policy document released by the Office of the Director of National Intelligence, the HCS-O designation "is used to protect exceptionally fragile and unique IC (intelligence community) clandestine HUMINT operations and methods that are not intended for dissemination." An unauthorized disclosure would be expected to cause especially "grave" damage.

Dan Maguire, former Special Operations strategic planner for Africom, told Fox News in January the disclosure of sensitive material impacts national security and exposes U.S. sources.

"There are peoples lives at stake. Certainly in an intel SAP, if youre talking about sources and methods, there may be one person in the world that would have access to the type of information contained in that SAP, he said.

FBI agents also asked Clinton about three emails marked classified. They contained a "C" or portion marking, indicating the intelligence was at the lowest level, or confidential. Clinton said she thought the "C" was part of series like bullet points or a listing, like A, B, C. Fox News first reported in June that at least one of the Clinton emails contained classified markings -- conflicting with Clinton's repeated public statements.

Agents also asked Clinton about a 2011 cable, first documented by Fox News, that went out under her signature as secretary of state and advised State Department personnel against personal email use because of the high risk of cyber intrusion. Clinton told the FBI she could not recall the specific cable.
Prosecutors and former Virginia Gov. Bob McDonnell's attorneys want more time to figure out the next steps after the U.S. Supreme Court overturned his corruption conviction.

The high court ruled in June that McDonnell's actions were distasteful but didn't necessarily violate federal bribery laws. The case was returned to an appeals court to decide whether there's enough evidence for another trial.

The appeals court put McDonnell's case on hold in July after both sides said they need more time to analyze the Supreme Court ruling. They were supposed to update the court by Monday.

But prosecutors said in a court documents Friday that they need more time. Both sides want the case to remain on hold for another three weeks.

McDonnell was convicted in 2014 of violating federal bribery law.
Russian President Vladimir Putin and his Turkish counterpart Recep Tayyip Erdogan are discussing the prospects of restoring full-fledged bilateral cooperation, including in energy, at the meeting in Chinas Hangzhou, TASS reported.

"Im glad to have a chance to meet and discuss the implementation of our agreements reached during your visit to Russias St. Petersburg," Putin told the Turkish president opening the meeting. "Of course, a lot more needs to be done to restore the full-fledged cooperation in all areas. We will talk about this once again today," Putin said.



Erdogan also said he plans to consider all the issues of bilateral cooperation raised at the St. Petersburg meeting of the two leaders in August. "There will be the possibility to consider the energy issues as there is some development here," he said, adding that some steps need be taken for progress in this area.

Ahead of the talks, Putin and Erdogan greeted each other and also shook hands with all participants of negotiations from both sides. Both leaders noted that the delegations at the talks are representative.

Among members of the Russian delegation are Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, presidential aide Yury Ushakov, Energy Minister Alexander Novak, Economic Development Minister Alexey Ulyukayev, Rosatom chief Sergey Kiriyenko, Gazprom CEO Alexey Miller, Rosneft CEO Igor Sechin and head of the Russian Direct Investment Fund Kirill Dmitriyev.

Members of the Turkish delegation are Deputy Prime Minister Mehmet Simsek, Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu, Economy Minister Nihat Zeybekci, Energy Minister Berat Albayrak, Head of National Intelligence Organization Hakan Fidan, foreign policy adviser Sadik Arslan and others.
Syndicated columnist Charles Krauthammer told viewers on Special Report with Bret Baier that Hillary Clintons message is lost amidst the constant release of emails.

There is no message, Krauthammer said. This is completely smothering her campaign."

"What's going to hurt her, it reinforces the idea of her being untrustworthy, living by a different set of rules. But that's known, I think it's baked-in," Krauthammer said.

Krauthammer said the summary released by the FBI of its investigation into Clinton's use of email server reinforces the idea of her being untrustworthy and living by her own set of rules.

"Can anybody remember anything she has said or done in the last week or two or three since the convention that has been news other than some new leaks, some drip, drip, drip or some weak campaign response to yet another piece of news?"
The G20 summit got off to a contentious start Saturday with Chinese officials reportedly confronting National Security Advisor Susan Rice and other U.S. officials in at least three incidents, as President Obama arrived in China for the two-day international economic talks.

Within minutes of Obama arriving on Air Force One, a member of the Chinese delegation started screaming at White House staff, according to reporters on the tarmac.

One reporter described the scene as a bit of chaos, as the Chinese official appeared furious about journalists being so near Obamas arrival, though they purportedly were standing in the area Chinese officials had designated for them.

White House officials reportedly told the Chinese official that the U.S. press corps was staying for the American president arriving on a U.S. aircraft.

When the White House official insisted the U.S. would set the rules for its own leader, her Chinese counterpart shot back, the Associated Press reported.

"This is our country! This is our airport!" the Chinese official yelled.

The exchange with Rice reportedly happened when the Chinese official attempted to prevent her from walking to the U.S. motorcade, as she crossed a media rope line. The official purportedly spoke angrily to her before a Secret Service agent intervened.

Rice responded, but her comments were inaudible to reporters standing underneath the wing of Air Force One. It was unclear if the official, whose name was not immediately clear, knew that Rice was a senior official, not a reporter.

When asked about the incident later by a reported, Rice seemed less than amused by the incident.

"They did things that weren't anticipated," she said, the AP reported.

A White House spokesman and China's Foreign Ministry did not respond immediately to requests by Reuters for comment.

To be sure, China is taking every precaution to ensure the summit, in the eastern city of Hangzhou, goes smoothly. But the incidents appeared to underscore the community countrys contentious relationship with the United States and other Western nations and efforts to control the media.

Obama has raised issues of freedom of the press on previous visits to China, which insists that media must follow the party line and promote "positive propaganda".

Foreign reporters are often physically prevented from covering sensitive stories, but altercations involving foreign government officials are rare.

U.S. officials also apparently got into a heated exchange with Chinese security official before Obama arrived at Chinas West Lake State Guest House, where he met with Chinese President Xi Jinping to formally enter their respective countries -- the world's two biggest carbon emitters -- into last year's Paris climate change agreement.

The ceremony included U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon and took place ahead of the summit, which officially starts Sunday.

White House staffers and Secret Service officers trying to enter the state guest house separately from reporters were stopped at a security gate and purportedly argued about how many members of the U.S. delegation would be allowed to enter.

"The president is arriving here in an hour," one White House staffer was overheard saying in exasperation.

However, the most heated exchange purportedly occurred between a Chinese security official and a Chinese official helping Americans who got angry about how the guards were treating the White House staff.

You don't push people, the Chinese official purportedly yelled in Chinese. No one gave you the right to touch or push anyone around."

Another Chinese official stepped between the two when the security official purportedly looked ready to throw a punch.

"Calm down please. Calm down," White House official purportedly said.

A foreign ministry official said in Chinese: "Stop, please. There are reporters here.

Another heated exchange between White House press officers and Chinese officials purportedly occurred minutes later -- over how many American print reporters would be allowed inside the building.

The disagreement continued until about 20 minutes before Obama arrived and purportedly ended with 10 of the reporters being allowed inside, despite White House officials arguing there was plenty of empty space for them to stand at the back of the room.

Fox News' Kristin Brown and wire service reports contributed to this story.
Donald Trump on Saturday took his message to African-American voters into the black community, telling a Detroit church congregation that they are Gods greatest gift to our nation."



Trump made his appeal at the Great Faith International Ministries church, after weeks of trying to appeal to black voters and amid criticism that the Republican presidential nominee has yet to bring his message into black communities across the country.

Trump on Saturday vowed if elected to bring jobs back to those communities, including many with impoverished black neighborhoods, and to provide a better education for the children who live in them.

But today, Im here to listen, said Trump, reading in subdued tones from what he said was a hand-written message. I mean it from the heart.

The event, which included Trump being interviewed by the churchs leader, Bishop Wayne Jackson, for his cable TV show, was surrounding by protesters outside. Some argued with police and private security officers about being denied access to the event and chanted, No hate in the White House.

Trump told the congregation in his roughly 20-minute speech that African-American churches -- in the pews and pulpits -- were the foundation of the civil rights movement and of the Christian faith, while also asking members to work with him to restore Americas once-prosperous urban centers.

I want to help you rebuild Detroit, make the city the economic envy of the world, he said to applause. Things are going to get better.

Over roughly the past two weeks, Trump has increased his efforts to appeal to black voters, arguing that the policies of Democratic rival Hillary Clinton and those of other Democratic lawmakers have failed residents in many U.S. cities, particularly African-Americans.

Hillary Clinton-backed policies are responsible for the problems in the inner cities today, and a vote for her is a vote for another generation of poverty, high crime and lost opportunities, he said at an Aug. 17 rally in Wisconsin. Democratic lawmakers have ruined the schools. Theyve driven out the jobs. Theyve tolerated a level of crime no American should consider acceptable.  I am asking for your vote so I can be your champion in the White House.

After making such arguments, he has frequently said on stage: What the hell do you have to lose with Trump?

However, critics argue that Trump made the Wisconsin speech, for example, 40 miles away from Milwaukee and that other, similar speeches have been held in such places as Austin, Texas, and Des Moines, Iowa, not areas Trump has highlighted like Chicagos South Side or west Baltimore.

On Saturday, Trump also seemed to draw attention to the racial divide that separates Americans and the distrust African-Americans have for law-enforcement agencies, underscored by the sometimes violent protests that have followed the recent deaths of black males while interacting in police officers.

Our nation is too divided, he said, after arguing about a lack of trust between citizens.

Trump was joined at the event by Dr. Ben Carson, the retired neurosurgeon and former 2016 GOP presidential candidate who is black and came from the Detroit area.

After the church event, Carson took Trump to his childhood home.

Trump trails Clinton in most national polls and in the race on win over minority voters.

Trump is also scheduled this weekend to go to Philadelphia to meet with about a dozen business and religious leaders in the citys black community.
Roquebrune Cap-Martin, France -- Some 15 miles down the Mediterranean coast from the French city of Nice, the scene of July's deadly terror attack, is another scene -- this one of peace and tranquility.

Dubbed Cap Moderne, it is a grouping of modernist summer homes and related buildings, perched above a beautiful cove in the town of Roquebrune Cap-Martin.

It is worth a trip. Now available to the public for tours, an exhibition has just opened showcasing the locations restoration process.

At a time when the value and risks of immigrants are being debated on both sides of the Atlantic, it does represent a remarkable product of immigrants (in this case to France).

The centerpiece is the sleek white villa named E-1027, created in the 1920s by noted Irish designer Eileen Gray, with help from her Romanian-born lover (and architect) Jean Badovici.

Just after World War II, a restaurant called Etoile de Mer (Starfish) was built close-by, the work of Italian-born (and later Nice plumber) Thomas Rebutato.

What really puts this place on the map, though, is its ties to the Swiss-French world-renowned architect Le Corbusier. He built his own summer Cabanon (cabin) there as well as five Holiday Cottages.

He also splashed colorful (and often erotic) murals on walls throughout the site.

It was, in fact, in the waters nearby, in August 1965, that Corbu met his end, suffering a heart attack while taking his beloved morning swim.

Indeed, this paradise" has had a far from idyllic history. There was in-fighting between the artists involved, it was occupied (and shot-up!) by occupying Nazis during the war, one of the later tenants was murdered in the main Villa, and it was left for squatters and ruin.

That is, until it was saved by descendants of one of the owners, as well as public and private financing.

Todays modern and harsh realities even now, though, intrude on Cap Moderne.

Our tour guide Stephanie Cornil told us immigrants had been found this week huddling near the sites exhibition center. They apparently crossed the Italian border (perhaps from Africa), a few miles away.

When I asked what she thought was the most important thing about the historic location, she told me it was the human quality of the place, that the people living and visiting there were always kept in mind by its creators.

As this sometimes inhuman summer in Europe (with more cultural face-off's and terror attacks happening in France and elsewhere ) draws to close, that 'personal' note is one to remember.
Officials say several dozen Ohio middle schoolers apparently ate extra-hot peppers brought in by a student and were treated by medics after some had adverse reactions.

The Dayton Daily News (http://bit.ly/2c0sb0Y ) reports emergency crews went to Milton-Union Middle School at lunchtime Friday after students ingested suspected ghost peppers. Five children were taken to hospitals.

School Superintendent Brad Ritchey says some students had teary eyes, blotchy skin or hives. A 911 caller reported two students vomiting.

Eighth-grader Cody Schmidt said he tried a pepper provided by a student he didn't know, then got worried when others nearby had physical reactions to the peppers.

How did they handle it? He says: "We all drank like 10 cartons of milk."

It wasn't clear if the student who provided the peppers will face discipline.

___

Information from: Dayton Daily News, http://www.daytondailynews.com
The case of former Stanford University swimmer Brock Turner, who walked out of jail Friday after serving three months for the sexual assault of an unconscious college co-ed, arguably will not be the last of its kind.

This time of year on college campuses -- the start of fall semester -- appears critical. It is commonly known among administrators as the "the Red Zone," referring to the time when incoming freshmen are most susceptible to sexual assault.

Alcohol is often a factor in sexual assaults and a number of universities, including Stanford, have issued bans or limits on alcohol.

But cracking down on booze does not seem to be enough according those who deal with the issue. "Binge drinking on college campuses has been reduced in the last few years and we haven't seen that same reduction in college sexual assault," said Stephanie Gordon, Vice President for Professional Development at the Student Affairs Administrators in Higher Education Association.

At the University of Colorado in Boulder (CU), officials say they are the only college in the country to mandate bystander intervention training for all new freshmen. Students learn to recognize a wide range of scenarios, not necessarily just an assault in progress, where they may be able to help.

Tactics discussed fall under the categories of direct help, creating a distraction or stealth action. One of the course's instructors, Julie Volckens, associate director for assessment and education, described their approach: "If I don't feel sex assault is maybe relevant to me, I'm not going to assault anyone, I'm probably not going to be assaulted, the skills are still relevant for me and I can see how I can use them in different contexts."

CU's courses, both the community equity class for addressing sexual misconduct and the bystander class, have been around for awhile, but recently received new attention.

Former CU student Austin Wilkerson made headlines earlier this month after receiving what was perceived as another light sentence for pretending to help an intoxicated student, but then sexually assaulting her. He received jail and work-school release, instead of prison.

"We believe we can interrupt many situations before they turn into sex assaults or before they turn into problems, reduce harm around someone who's had too much to drink who's leaving the party and probably shouldn't go by themselves, Volckens said of the training. "The Turner case is an example -- he was stopped and held for police by two bicyclists who were passing by at the time.

CU Boulder conducted a Sexual Misconduct Survey of more than 13,000 students last year. It found over the calendar year, 71 percent of sexual assaults happen during the fall semester, 67-percent of them on first-year students. The rate of assaults declined from the first to fourth year (and beyond).

Katharina Booth, Chief of the Sexual Assault and Domestic Violent Unit at the Boulder County District Attorney's office, tells Fox News, "What I see and what we look at all the time, is upper classmen and so forth, using alcohol as that tool, that weapon to perpetuate against that young naive, entering freshman and who is just kind of coming out in the world."

The issue is an eye opener for CU freshman Johanna Tran, who heard about the Wilkerson case. "I think it's actually really scary... you would hope that your campus is like a safe place to be at but you're not really safe so it's kind of sad." She told Fox News she finds safety in numbers and makes a point of surrounding herself with men she knows very well.

The problem is also believed to be vastly under-reported nationwide, in part because of stereotypes. "I think victims, survivors, often think that 'I shouldn't have got so drunk', everybody else is blaming them already, so that helps stifle their desire or potential to report in the first place," said Booth.

The victim impact in the Wilkerson case even underlined the issue. Here is an excerpt: "Even my own mother was victim blaming. She told me that if I hadn't been drunk, this wouldn't have happened. Yet, it was excusable for him to rape me because he was drunk. After all I've endured emotionally, physically, psychologically and financially, the burden of the blame still crashes down on my shoulders."

Booth and Gordon both stress the importance of parents getting through to their kids early on. "Actually if we start talking about it at the college age it's a little too late to make that impact, we really want students to be talking about it from the time that they understand what sex is and how to manage responsible sexual behavior," Gordon said.
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A missionary from Spain who devoted her life to helping the poor in Haiti was fatally shot at a crowded intersection in the Caribbean country's capital Friday.

Jean Bruner Noel, a justice ministry official at the scene, identified the woman as Isabel Sola Matas, 51. He said she was from Barcelona but had lived in Haiti for years.

Noel said her purse was stolen after assailants shot her twice in the chest as she sat at the wheel of her old SUV. She was attacked as she inched down a winding avenue filled with pedestrians and vehicles in Bel Air, a rough hillside neighborhood of shacks in downtown Port-au-Prince.

A Haitian woman who was a passenger in the car was also shot twice and taken to a hospital. Her condition was not immediately known.

At Sacred Heart Catholic Church, the Rev. Hans Alexandre described Sola as a "tireless servant of God" who helped build houses, worked as a nurse, fed the hungry and created a workshop where prosthetic limbs were made for amputees injured in Haiti's devastating 2010 earthquake.

"The loss is immense. In killing her they didn't kill just one person, they killed the hopes of many people," Alexandre said.

Sola invited Alexandre and four other priests to live at her two-story home for over a year after the previous church building and its rectory were toppled by the quake.

She helped raise tens of thousands of dollars to build a parish vocational school where Haitians could learn everything from catering to electrical wiring to music, Alexandre said.

One Haitian woman at Sola's downtown home shouted in distress and anger when she heard about the killing.

"What a country this is! She did so very much for people here and this is what happens," Suzie Mathieu said, covering her face with her hands.

Sola was a member of the Congregation of the Religious of Jesus and Mary, whose website describes it as a group of women from various countries who commit themselves to serving others.

Outside the home's metal gate, a disheveled man in tattered clothes stared at the ground.

"She was the person who took care of people like me, helping with food and other things," he said. "I am very sad today."

___

David McFadden on Twitter: www.twitter.com/dmcfadd
Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte declared a "state of lawlessness" Saturday after suspected Abu Sayyaf extremists detonated a bomb that killed 14 people and wounded about 70 in his southern hometown.

Duterte, who inspected the scene of Friday night's attack at a night market in downtown Davao city, said his declaration that covers the southern Mindanao region did not amount to an imposition of martial law. It would allow troops to be deployed in urban centers to back up the police in setting up checkpoints and increasing patrols, he said.

An Abu Sayyaf spokesman, Abu Rami, claimed responsibility for the blast near the Jesuit-run Ateneo de Davao University and a five-star hotel, but Duterte said investigators were looking at other possible suspects, including drug syndicates, which he has targeted in a bloody crackdown.

"These are extraordinary times and I supposed that I'm authorized to allow the security forces of this country to do searches," Duterte told reporters at the scene of the attack, asking the public to cooperate and be vigilant.

"We're trying to cope up with a crisis now. There is a crisis in this country involving drugs, extrajudicial killings and there seems to be an environment of lawless violence," said Duterte, who served as mayor of Davao for years before elected to the presidency in June.

The attack came as Philippine forces were on alert amid an ongoing military offensive against Abu Sayyaf extremists in southern Sulu province, which intensified last week after the militants beheaded a kidnapped villager. The militants threatened to launch an unspecified attack after the military said 30 of the gunmen were killed in the weeklong offensive.

Some commanders of the Abu Sayyaf, which is blacklisted by the United States and the Philippines as a terrorist organization for deadly bombings, ransom kidnappings and beheadings, have pledged allegiance to the Islamic State group. The military, however, says there has been no evidence of a direct collaboration and militant action may have been aimed at bolstering their image after years of combat setbacks.

Communications Secretary Martin Andanar said the bomb appeared to have been made from a mortar round and doctors reported many of the victims had shrapnel wounds.

Despite the emergency, Duterte said he would proceed with a trip to Brunei, Laos and Indonesia starting on Sunday. At an Asian summit in the Laotian capital of Vientiane, Duterte said in jest that most of the leaders he would meet, including President Barack Obama and Russian leader Vladimir Putin, have had a taste of terrorist attacks.

Witnesses initially gave conflicting accounts, according to police, with some saying that a cooking gas tank exploded at a massage section and food stalls of the night market while others suggested it may have been some kind of an explosive.

Police immediately set up more checkpoints in key roads leading to the city, a regional gateway about 980 kilometers (610 miles) south of Manila. Police forces in the capital also went on full alert at midnight.

TV footage showed bodies lay scattered amid plastic chairs strewn about at the scene of the blast moments after the blast, which was heard several blocks away. Ambulance vans drove to and from the area.

U.S. National Security Council spokesman Ned Price said in a statement that local authorities in the Philippines continue to investigate the cause of the explosion, and the United States stands ready to provide assistance to the investigation.

Obama will have an opportunity to offer his personal condolences to Duterte when the two leaders plan to meet on the sidelines of the annual summit of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations leaders with some Western leaders in Laos next week, Price said.
Turkeys military launched a second incursion into Syria Saturday against an Islamic State-held border town, in a move that U.S. officials view as a necessary step to flushing out the jihadist group from the war-torn country.

A Turkish armored unit supported by artillery strikes moved across the border into Al-Rai, a Syrian city that Syrian rebels lost to Islamic State earlier in May and which is located roughly halfway along the line of control bebetween the Turkish-Syrian border.

A statement from the Turkish military said that Syrian rebels fighting with the support of Turkish armored units and artillery had control of the Syrian town. It wasn't immediately clear when the operation started or what kind of resistance the forces met during the incursion.

The thrust follows a successful operation last week by Turkeys military and an estimated 1,000 Syrian rebels to seize Jarablus, which lies across the border from Gaziantep, a Turkish city of two million people that has been severely destabilized by the flow of foreign fighters entering Syria and leaving that war-torn country to spread Islamic States terror spree in their homelands.

Saturdays incursion took place 36 miles west of Jarablus and represents a new second front for the Turkish military in Syria. If Turkish-backed rebels can successfully hold the area, it would slice in half the approximately 62 miles of territory that Islamic State has controlled along the Turkish border and isolate its remaining forces in that corner of Syria.

Click for more from The Wall Street Journal.
British prisons have become alarmingly fertile breeding grounds for terrorism, according to new government research that supports the long and widely held beliefs that UK lockups too often double as jihadi training camps.

Many of the terror attacks that have plagued Europe in recent years bear a common, chilling hallmark: They were carried out by attackers who went into prison as petty criminals and emerged as hardened terrorists. Officials armed with sobering new research now want to take steps to isolate known jihadists from the general prison population in a bid to stop recruitment.

We cannot have a situation where we have extremist prisoners influencing others who are vulnerable to those messages, said Justice Minister Liz Truss.

The case of radical firebrand Anjem Choudary, who was recently sentenced to 10 years in prison for supporting ISIS after years of openly espousing Islamist hate, has brought increased attention to the issue. Charismatic and committed jihadists like Choudary have a ripe and captive audience behind bars, say those in a position to know.

What makes a good recruit is somebody who is already disenfranchised, someone who is anti-establishment, who holds some kind of resentment, said former jihadist Adam Deen.

One former prisoner told Fox News of the time in 2014 when word made its way through the cellblock that Mosul had fallen to ISIS. The high-security prison erupted with chants of Allahu Akbar. 

It was like a big party that went on unchecked for several hours, he said.

Another former prisoner and reformed jihadist, Adam Deen, explained why prisoners are so susceptible to Islamist proselytizing.

What makes a good recruit is somebody who is already disenfranchised, someone who is anti-establishment, who holds some kind of resentment, Deen said.

The U.S. prison system is also facing the problem  with Muslim groups acting like gangs, recruiting people and protecting their own, according to former Al Qaeda recruiter and convict Jesse Morton, who is now working at a think tank at George Washington University.

The individual charismatic preacher who radicalized me while I was incarcerated, became like a father, he said.

Morton also says he saw dozens of prisoners radicalized around him in the three years he was imprisoned, and said that many radical preachers had not been identified by the authorities.

"Even later in life, when I was incarcerated for terrorist-related crimes, it went on very frequently in general, mainstream or medium or high-security prisons as well, he said.

The issue could loom even larger, say experts, should the remaining Guantanamo detainees be transferred to U.S. prisons, where they could get prisons equivalent of rock star treatment.

The UK has learned the hard way, after a number of terror attacks were carried out by people radicalized in prison. Now, hopes for ending the bloody trend lie in segregating some of the most dangerous and charismatic members of prison populations.
Baku, Azerbaijan, Sept.3

Trend:



Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and US President Barack Obama will meet tomorrow in China within the framework of the G20 summit, Anadolu reported.

During the meeting the presidents will discuss a number of important issues, as well as the settlement of the Syrian conflict.

On Aug. 24 morning, the Turkish Air Force with the support of the coalition aircraft launched an operation to liberate the city of Jarabulus from the IS militants in northern Syria, near Aleppo city.

The operation was carried out under the name Shield of the Euphrates.

Syria has been suffering from an armed conflict since March 2011, which, according to the UN, has so far claimed over 500,000 lives. Militants from various armed groups are confronting the Syrian government troops. The Islamic State (IS, ISIL, ISIS or Daesh), the YPG and the PYD are the most active terrorist groups in Syria.
Lets face it, we love superlatives. The oldest, the tallest,

the fastest, the largest, whatever it is, we love it.

Now comes a relatively obscure battle in faraway Louisa County that boasts not one, but two superlativesTrevilian Station. It holds the distinction of being the largest all-cavalry battle of the Civil War, as well as the scene of Union Gen. George Armstrong Custers first Last Stand.

Yet, despite that, Trevilian Station does not get much attentionthen or now, as it turns out, occurring at the end of Grants bloody 1864 Overland Campaign and the start of the equally sanguinary siege of Petersburg.

It wasnt reported very well and it gets lost, admitted Edgar Crebbs, secretary of the Trevilian Station Battlefield Foundation. Another reason there is so much obscurity about the battle is no one of note got killed.

Yet, as the largest all-cavalry battle of the war, it means that every one of the 16,000 soldiers who fought there arrived on horseback or in wagons. No one walked. Thats a lot of horses. Standing single file nose to tail, they would form a straight line more than 24 miles long, roughly the distance from Fredericksburg to Dale City in Prince William County.

Ironically, the role that horses played at Trevilian Station is oftentimes forgotten, but without them, the battle could not have been fought at all. Horses endured the hardships of long, hot rides, the terror of battles and the misfortune of being killed and injured at a rate more than twice that of their human handlers.

At Trevilian Station, on just the Union side alone, nearly 3,000 horses perished, according to Crebbs, so many that the retreat after the battle was marked by vultures circling overhead as injured or exhausted animals were shot rather than be allowed to fall into enemy hands.

Trevilians second superlative is Custers first Last Stand, a reference to his main claim to fame, his defeat at the Battle of the Little Bighorn in 1876.

A 23-year-old brevet brigadier general in 1864, Custer was the youngest person to attain that rank in the Union army (another superlative!). Brave and daring, he possessed a singular skill in high demand at the time a willingness to lead headlong cavalry charges against his Southern foes. At Trevilian, such tactics led to Custer being cut off and attacked from three directions at once.

He was a brazen, courageous man, Crebbs said, But he was reckless. For about four hours, he didnt know if he was going to live or die.

Eventually, help arrived, but not before Confederates captured Custers headquarters wagon with all his personal effects, including love letters to his wife, Libbie. Taken to Richmond and published there in the papers, Custers correspondence was viewed as a shocking sign of Yankee depravity by readers only too willing to be scandalized by such loose northern morality.

Today, Trevilian Station provides a quiet backdrop to these events of the distant past. More than 2,000 acres of land has been saved by the Civil War Trust and other preservation groups. A recently opened 7-mile bridle and hiking trail provides access to some sections of the battlefield from Memorial to Labor Day only. Future plans call for installing signs on the trails to describe the fighting, but for now, the best way to see the battlefield, according to Crebbs, remains the 15-mile Civil War Trails driving tour.

With the exception of a single port-a-potty in the parking lot of a trailhead, there are no visitor facilities anywhere on the battlefield. Food, gas, and shopping are available in the nearby towns of Louisa and Gordonsville and at a lone convenience store at Trevilian Station itself.

Besides the battlefield, the Sargeant Museum in Louisa is of interest. There, you will find information not only about the battle, but also about the areas other history.

The county is just peppered with historic homes, said Elaine Taylor, executive director of the Louisa County Historical Society. Because it has always remained pretty rural, pretty unchanged for the last 200 years.

One historic district, Green Springs, in the western end of the county has more 18th- and 19th-century homes than Williamsburg, Taylor noted.

In addition, the county parks and recreation department offers many programs at the museums adjacent Heritage Farm. Among the most popular of these are the hearth cooking classes, where period recipes from Colonial Virginia are prepared using traditional methods. Classes start in November. Participants must be 17 or older. The cost is $25 per person.

They do a full meal, Taylor said. Its hearth cooking 101 and they get to eat it.

If you have time, a trip to nearby Gordonsville is also recommended. The restored Exchange Hotel witnessed the treatment of 70,000 wounded in its rooms or on its grounds during the war. As one of 53 receiving hospitals in Virginia where wounded received short-term care before being sent to more permanent facilities, the hotel is the only such hospital to survive from the period.

Admission to the Exchange Hotel is $10 for adults and $3 for children ages 8 to 12 for which price visitors are transported to another time. In one of 11 rooms open to the public, they experience not just Civil War medical care, but also the comforts that hotel guests enjoyed on stopovers on the 10-hour train rides between Richmond and Alexandria. To say it was posh would not be an exaggeration.

Right across the street from the hotel is the Barbeque Exchange, a favorite with locals. All the meat served is cooked on site behind the restaurant in the magic shack, as Chef Ed McLaughlin called it. Workers prepare 1,600 pounds of meat on a typical day, along with kale, beans and sauces. A visit to the open-air shed quickly makes it clear how beastly hot it is in the summer for those manning the grills. Working there in winter, one employee assured me, feels much better.

For those who prefer fine dining, Prospect Hill Plantation Inn, an 18th-century manor house with original dependencies just a few miles off Interstate 64 in Louisa, is to return to earlier era of graciousness and hospitality. A four-course dinner for two costs $125. Reservations are required.

You can have a wonderful dinner there, Taylor said. The chef is superb, so its a nice conclusion to the day.
Bahamas, True Colour Satellite Image (Photo : Planet Observer/ Universal Images Group/ Getty Image)

The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) has issued 'Level 2 Travel Notices' on Tuesday (August 23) for the travelers destined to Bahamas. The cautionary notice has been issued following publication of report on local mosquito transmission of Zika.



Such notice alerts travelers with advice to practice enhanced precautions while travelling to destinations with Zika outbreak. Since Zika transmission takes place through mosquitoes, CDC has also suggested Bahamas-bound travelers to protect themselves from mosquito bites.



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In Tuesday's travel notice, CDC has also confirmed transmission of the mosquito-borne disease on the island of New Providence that includes the capital city of Nassau, according to a report published in CBS 58. 'Local mosquito transmission' is a terminology used to indicate infection of mosquitoes with Zika virus in a particular area. The disease control body works with other public health officials to monitor transmission of the birth defect causing virus.Traveling to the virus prone areas may cause infection. Particular species of mosquitoes responsible for spreading Zika infection aggressively bite during daytime.

Zika virus infection does not exhibit any symptoms for a particular period even after returning from the infected areas. Till date, no vaccine or medication has become available to combat against the virus. Preventing mosquito bites appears as the best practice to avoid Zika virus infection.

Symptoms of the virus infection include fever, rash, joint pain and reddish eyes. Level of such sickness is usually mild and lasts for several days to a week. In severe extent of the disease, the ailing patient needs hospitalization. However, such extent of sickness is very uncommon and very few numbers of deaths have been reported.

Though the virus causes little harm to the infected, but may pose serious risks to the unborn babies leading to microcephaly.Caribbean 360 has described Bahamas as an archipelago in the Atlantic off the coast of Florida that conjoins dozens of other destinations previously included in the CDC's travel notices. CDC advises travelers visiting Zika infected areas to monitor for symptoms of infection upon consultation with their healthcare professionals narrating recent traveling history.

Bahamas conjoins dozens of areas, already included in the CDC's list of travel alerts. On Tuesday last, the disease control and monitoring authority has enlisted Bahamas with a level 2 alert tag while confirming local transmission of Zika virus. Notably mentioning, the virus is capable of causing microcephaly and other birth defect generating diseases to the unborn and no vaccine or medication has yet been introduced to fight with.






In a tragic accident, her boyfriend and protector on the street had died.

Now alone, she was convinced her life wasnt worth living.

A haze of alcohol kept her safeseparated from the place in which her past was the present. Shed tried to reach for the future at times, sobering up, looking for a job, trying to do what she thought everyone else wanted from her. But too long a glimpse at her open emotional wounds sent her in search of the only way she knew how to alleviate the pain.

I got involved because I thought she needed a different narrative. Maybe, just maybe, if she knew how much people cared about and believed in her, the space outside of her mental anguish and alcoholic daze would seem a little less dangerous.

So, I framed a story.

Were going to go on a ride, I told her. I cant promise that there wont be traffic jams, our car might break down and we might even get in a few accidents, but Im not going to leave you.

She appreciated the concept, and I continued.

Heres the thing. My car doesnt have any child-safe locks. You can jump out at any time and go do what you think you need to do. Im not going to chase you. Im not going to make you get back in the car, but I am going to wait for you. And when you are ready to get back in the car, we will continue down the road in search of something better.

She giggled at the idea, heartily agreed and our journey began.

I pulled in all the tricksa housing plan, an income strategy, the offer of treatment whenever she was ready to go and even a church of intentional friends who were equally ready for whatever it took.

Not only was there no change, her circumstances worsened. The harder I would try, the more destructive she would become. Frequent visits to the hospital for detox turned into regular stays on the psychiatric wing. At times, she spent so much time outside our theoretical car, we convinced ourselves she simply didnt want to ride at all.

She lost her housing. The few jobs she got couldnt withstand her frequent absences. She claimed to want treatment, but never accepted the hours of research that had gone into finding a program.

I promised never to leave her, but there came a time I wondered.

Late in the evening one night, I sat around with a wonderful group of people who had become this young womans support system. No one wanted to give up on her, but neither did anyone know what else to do.

Then it occurred to me, maybe we framed it all wrong.

In Deuteronomy 31:6, Moses gives Joshua some sage advice as he prepared to take the leadership torch and lead the Hebrews into the Promised Land. Be strong and courageous, he tells him. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for The Lord your God goes with you; he will never leave you or forsake you.

Moses cannot go with Joshua, but he believed the same guiding force that helped him carry the people out of Egypt would inspire Joshua do what needed to be done.

So is true of most of us, I thought, as we are faced with the opportunities to lead both ourselves and others through precarious situations each and every day. God doesnt sit in the drivers seat and make sure we do whatever He thinks we should do. We drive and He works through others to makes sure we have the support we need to make the right decisions.

Ill never forget the look of despair on my friends face when I visited her in the mental hospital. She had many low moments in our time together, but the typical bottoming out was woven with hope for what she planned to do different. This time, there was none of that and she fully expected my visit to bring the story she was used topeople invest their love and support, she doesnt measure up, people walk away.

I had something else in mind.

I owe you an apology, I told her. I promised to go on this journey with you, and I promised to never leave you, but I was afraid to let you drive.

Her startled gaze told me that she was caught off guard.

All this time, I continued, weve been on this ride together. I think you like riding with me and you want to go somewhere better, but if Im in the drivers seat its too hard for you to give me directions. If Im driving, you wont tell me if you hate the direction Im headed. You dont believe me when I say Ill never leave you. So, you keep jumping out before I have the chance to walk away.

She nodded quietly.

So lets get back in the car, I said, but you drive this time. Ill ride shotgun and all the people who love you will squish into the back seat. Same rules: no child-safe locks. We can jump out at any time, but this time you are in charge and you can pick us up anytime you want.

Im not sure my analogy deserves the full credit for the miracle that followed, and it certainly wasnt instant. But once my young friend had permission to drive, it was like we had given her the opportunity to live. No longer was she captive to the hopes and dreams that others had for her. The wheel was hers to pursue the destination she chose, and with Gods help we were just along for the ride.
It was reported last week that a planet has been discovered in a so called habitable zone of a nearby solar system.

Despite the fact that this planet is many light years away, it is yet another step in the possible discovery of life in the far reaches of space.

It was also reported recently that a sound detected from deep space could possibly be some kind of radio signal from intelligent life on a distant planet.

Again, another possible step in the discovery of life somewhere out in the vast universe.

Space exploration fascinates me and I firmly believe that we are not the only beings in a universe that stretches far beyond the imagination of man and contains billions of stars with countless planets and moons swirling around them.

Other life exists somewhere out there. I would bet on it.

Do you realize that it has been 42 years since man last set foot on the moon? Given the fact that it took us only about 10 years to develop the technology needed to get to the lunar surface, it is almost unimaginable that we havent been back for more than four decades.

Whats so important about going to the moon? Well, if we hope to someday colonize planets like Mars, we need a place to test our technology and the moon would seem to be it. It is close by and would be a good jumping off point for other trips into space.

Yes, I know science takes money, but it provides knowledge. Just think how much more of that knowledge we could have gained if we had spent as much on space exploration in the past 15 years as we have spent on wars.

Mans future is in space and we should keep looking up to find our destiny.

Speaking of money, there has been a lot of discussion about the $1.7 billion that America sent to Iran in the wake of the release of three Americans held captive in Tehran.

Was it ransom or not? Was it simply the release of Iranian assets that had been frozen following the overthrow of the Shah back in 1979?

It was likely both and it is not the first time an American president has brokered such a deal. You are likely alive because of the first.

Anyone remember the Cuban Missile Crisis of 1962? If you do, then you probably know that using back-channel negotiations, President John Kennedy agreed to remove American nuclear missiles from Turkey in exchange for the Soviet Unions removal of nuclear missiles from Cuba.

The deal was that the missiles in Turkey would be removed quietly about six months after the Cuban missiles were taken back to Russia. The strategy was that six months after the deal, the move would cause very little political upheaval. And it worked.

Ransom? Yes. But it was better than nuclear war.

I have a feeling that President Obama employed the same strategy in the Iran deal. The $1.7 billion was not just to free the three Americans, but to insure the nuclear agreement with the Iranian government.

Was it good strategy? Only time will tell. As I said, were all likely here today because of the ransom deal JFK made with the Soviets in 1962.

The Iran nuclear agreement may work out, but President Obamas medical insurance plan seems to be falling apart, as more and more jurisdictions are losing companies willing to provide coverage.

I ran into a self-employed friend the other day who told me that the monthly premiums for him and his wife are $1,800 per month. Worse yet, the best he could do was a $10,000 deductible.

Was he a bad risk?

I havent been to a doctor since I was 17, said the 62-year-old builder. My wife had one small bout with cancer some time ago.

Obamacare is making a bad medical system worse.

Finally, a friend was making hay a couple of weeks ago and he tried to hire some Hispanic laborers to help. He had used these men before and they were good workers.

To his surprise, the men refused, saying that getting up hay in the heat of the day was too hard.

Well, so much for Hispanic workers doing the jobs that Americans wont do. Looks like these folks have become Americanized really quickly.

No one, it seems, wants to do hard work anymore.

Work ethics may have changed, but farming has not. Unfortunately, you still have to make hay while the sun shines.

The man and his wife got up about 250 bales of hay in the 95-degree heat. Believe it or not, they survived, just as farmers for centuries have done.
Hurricane Hermine will likely be little more than a nuisance to the Fredericksburg region today, putting a damper on the unofficial end of summer after making landfall in Florida early Friday and churning up the East Coast toward Virginia.

Rain was expected to begin early day and last throughout the day, with no more than an inch of accumulation, National Weather Service meteorologist Luis Rosa said.

Its going to be breezy conditions, he said, with 30 to 35 mph gusts.

Westmoreland and parts of the Northern Neck could experience tropical storm conditions, but the bulk of the region will be spared, he said.

Hermine, which was downgraded to a tropical storm on Friday, is expected to stall off the Mid-Atlantic coast through Labor Day weekend, Rosa said.

There is a chance of rain Sunday, but the weather will depend upon Hermines movements, he said. Temperatures are expected to reach the mid-70s Saturday and Sunday with heavy cloud cover.

We encourage everyone to keep abreast of the latest forecast. It could change, Rosa said.

State officials are also urging people to stay up-to-date on the finicky remnants of the storm, which measured about 300 miles across, according to a news release from the Virginia Department of Emergency Management.

Gov. Terry McAuliffe declared a state of emergency Friday, making state resources available to impacted areas if needed.

AAA estimated that as many as a million holiday travelers in Virginia could be affected by the storm.

Surf and wave heights could reach 6 to 8 feet in the Chesapeake Bay, which could lead to life-threatening beach conditions and significant beach erosion, according to the department of emergency management. The storm surge could reach 2 to 4 feet.

The eastern part of the state could get as many as 6 to 10 inches of rain.
A Department of Justice employee put up a poster of indicted hackers in Washington on March 24, 2016 (Photo : Getty Images/Alex Wong)

FBI alleges for targeting the voter registration system in Illinois and Arizona by the Russian hackers. The allegation has been made during June while alerting the Arizona officials over the assault on state election system.



Quoting FBI, Matt Roberts, spokesperson for Michele Reagan (R), Arizona Secretary of State has referred the threat as credible. The threat has reportedly scored a significance level of eight out of 10, The Washington Post reported. Reagan has been compelled to stall the state's voter registration process for nearly a week.



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The hackers haven't been able to compromise the registration system either of the state or any county. Instead, username and password of a lone official involved in state's voter registration have been hacked.



FBI hasn't clarified whether the hacking has taken place under patronization from the Russian government. The Denver Post informs, the Bureau officials have declined to comment upon contact. They advise private industry as routine works over possible cyber threats detected while conducting random investigations.



However, analysts consider the hacking incident in Arizona as the latest instance for Russian interest over US election systems and intra-party operations. Earlier, the hackers have also reportedly sent embarrassing emails from the computers of Democratic National Committee leading to ultimate resignation of its Chairwoman Debbie Wasserman Schultz.



The recent hackings, believed to be posed by Russian hackers exert tensions over the security of upcoming US presidential election. While communicating a 'flash' alert to the Arizona state officials, FBI has also informed detecting penetration attempt to election systems in different states. They have also claimed for archiving IP addresses and technical details of the infiltrators.



In a separate incident, Illinois officials have also detected penetration attempt into their election system during the month of July. Though no data has been altered, but concerned authorities have been witnessing a huge blow following ultimate compromise of central voter enrolment database.



FBI blames the Russian hackers for penetrating election systems in several US states. The Bureau has neither disclosed details of the hackers nor confirmed direct or indirect Russian state patronization. However, the recent hacking attempts pose threats for further attacks during the upcoming US presidential election.



Video demonstrates some hacking tools used by the hackers.






Roanokes Bernard Marie, who survived Nazi-occupied France as a boy and has spent much of his adult life thanking American servicemen for liberating his country, was in turn thanked for his service by the American Legion at its national convention Wednesday in Cincinnati.

National Commander Dale Barnett presented Marie with the Legions 2016 Patriot Award for a lifetime of devotion to veterans of World War II, according to the Legions website.

Created in 2007, the honor recognizes "an outstanding citizen who has demonstrated a profound and exceptional commitment to military personnel and their families."

Past recipients include U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders and the Oak Ridge Boys.

Marie received the award and gave a speech before a crowd of about 10,000.

It was pretty overwhelming, Marie said from his Roanoke home. Im pretty used to talking to people but Ive never talked to 10,000 people in a room.

Marie was 5 when the June 6, 1944, D-Day invasion began, liberating his part of France a few days later. That allowed his father, a member of the French Resistance, to return home. Before that, everyone but his mother and their priest believed his father was dead.

As an adult, Marie for more than 30 years has hosted an annual dinner to recognize World War II veterans. He also has worked with the French government to present more than 150 veterans with the French Legion of Honor, including two at the Legion convention this week.

He is himself the recipient of Frances highest civilian honor, the Order of Merit.

The Patriot Award ranks just below that recognition for Marie, a dual U.S. and French citizen.

It was fantastic, he said in the thick accent he retains despite decades of life in the U.S.

Marie speaks often to small groups and veterans organizations, but nothing like what he experienced in Cincinnati.

Never shy, Marie was thrown a bit off his game when he realized that his face was appearing on large television screens around the arena, with someone typing his words for captions.

So when I saw that, I said, Oh my god, with my French accent, who is going to understand me? So that makes me very nervous, he said.

Marie was on stage just a couple hours before Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton. They met backstage later in the evening.

He also met Chicago-based French Consul General Vincent Floreani, who told the crowd, Mr. Marie, you make France proud.
Youth Unlimited Announces 2017 SERVE Mission Trip Sites

Youth Unlimited is a non-denominational, non-profit organization that partners with churches across North America to provide short term mission trips and faith-forming experiences.

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Grand Rapids, MI: This summer, through Youth Unlimited's week-long, service-oriented SERVE mission trips, 39,032 hours of service were given throughout 26 different communities around the U.S. and Canada.

"SERVE is an incredible opportunity to partner with local churches and help them better connect with their surrounding communities. It is an intentional way to show communities that they are loved, and to show the students they can be involved in a transformative work that is bigger than themselves," said Jeff Kruithof, Executive Director of Youth Unlimited.

Youth Unlimited provides these youth mission opportunities to help teens connect with Christ, the church and communities and to learn life lessons they can take with them into adulthood. What makes SERVE unique, however, is that each youth service trip is hosted and conducted by a local church, allowing congregations in each community to better meet the needs of people in their own backyards.

2017 summer service trip locations have just been announced with over 30 sites set to host students from across North America. Youth Unlimited is eagerly anticipating the great impact these programs will make next summer.

To learn more about Youth Unlimited and the upcoming SERVE mission trips, contact Youth Unlimited or visit www.youthunlimited.org.

Youth Unlimited, headquartered in Grand Rapids, MI, is a non-denominational, non-profit ministry organization with the focus of assisting the Church and its many local congregations with their ministry to our youth. Through events like SERVE mission trips, Youth Unlimited partners with youth leaders to provide faith-forming experiences to middle school and high school aged students. Visit www.youthunlimited.org for more information.

For more information, please visit http://www.youthunlimited.org

Contact Info:

Name: Jeff Kruithof

Organization: Youth Unlimited

Address: 1333 Alger Street SE Grand Rapids, MI 49507

Phone: (616) 241-5616

Source: http://marketersmedia.com/youth-unlimited-announces-2017-serve-mission-trip-sites/131023

Release ID: 131023

For more information visit r



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Announcing The Official Launch Of Tecademics

Tecademics, a company created by internet entrepreneurs, has just announced the launch of its new internet marketing college. Tecademics will offer students from all over the world one of the highest quality educations by partnering with some of the elite and top internet marketing entrepreneurs.

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Tecademics, a company created by internet entrepreneurs Chris Record and Jim Piccolo, has just announced the launch of its new internet marketing college set to start on November 11th, 2016. Tecademics will offer students from all over the world one of the highest quality educations by partnering with some of the elite and top internet marketing entrepreneurs.

Tecademics will use Instructional Systems Design (ISD) as its curriculum structure. ISD is offered in all major universities globally and has been proven to accelerate learning and increase retention for students. All Tecademics instructors are top internet entrepreneurs ranging from e-commerce experts, search engine optimization experts as well as digital marketers and social media marketers.

Online marketing has exploded in recent years with many people making it their sole source of income. Many universities and colleges now offer programs geared at teaching internet marketing. However, the class topics are limited and rarely teach students how to earn money online. Tecademics will teach its students internet marketing in the real world and prepare students to make a living with the skills that they acquire. This solves two problems; students obtain a quality collegiate education without being in debt upon graduation. Additionally, students are encouraged to create entrepreneurial ventures thus creating more jobs in the workforce.

Chris Record is excited about his new venture "We will bridge the gap between traditional education and guru education with Tecademics."

Tecademics will combine online classes and webinars taught by top entrepreneurs as well as traditional classes in a classroom setting. Tecademics is designed for entrepreneurs looking to move their business online, business owners, and anyone looking to start earning an income through various online channels.

Tecademics will launch its first classes on November 11th, 2016. To register now and receive complimentary training and classes before the official launch date and to learn more, visit http://clk.im/tecademics

For more information, please visit http://tecademics.ca

Contact Info:

Name: Adrian

Organization: tecademicsca



Release ID: 131000

For more information visit r



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Phoenix Marketing Services Now at Small Biz Press Release Service

This Press Release service comes from a small business seeking to help other small businesses. Those interested in learning more Press Release Services can do so on the website athttp://www.smallbizpressreleaseservice.com/

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How many web based, lead-generation strategies have small business tried and failed with? Those interested in learning more can do so on the website at http://www.smallbizpressreleaseservice.com/

Chandler, United States - September 2, 2016 /PressCable/ --

Phoenix Small Businesses looking for the latest Marketing services now can purchase Press Release Writing and Distribution Services with Small BIZ Press Release Service. Today Peter M Deeley Jr. releases details of the new Press Release Services Service's development.

The company site is found here: http://www.smallbizpressreleaseservice.com/

The Press Release Services are designed to appeal specifically to small business increasing their exposure to future clients and includes:

The Press Release distribution service was included because search results dominated by too few players. This service comes from a small business seeking to help other small businesses. These Press Releases will leverage power normally associated with big brands for small businesses seeking exposure to targeted clients.

The Press Writing Service was made part of the service, since not everybody has the time, interest, or ability to craft effective media pieces. Customers who invest in the service should enjoy this feature because this Press Release Writing Service makes this a "turn-key" process allowing business owners to enjoy the benefits of excellent marketing service without learning entirely new skill sets - such as effective copywriting.

Leveraging the power of big, established media brands brings the search engine world to attention. How many web based, lead-generation strategies have small business tried and failed with? This service brings a level of attention on Google previously inaccessible to small businesses. When a business is not located on Google's front page, their presence on the search engine has little value. Nobody scrolls into the second third, fourth pages of search results. Getting near the top of those searches is the only way to monetize your web-lead generation efforts.

Peter M Deeley Jr., when asked about the Press Release Services Service said:

"Small Biz Press Release Service is a small business. Small businesses juggle an enormous number of competing priorities. This service will over-deliver value for clients without demanding a great deal of time to manage."

This is the latest offering from Peter M Deeley Jr. is important because Deeley feels: "growing small businesses is key to the health of the country. Professional and financial success play vital roles in everybody's happiness. It is key part of the business' mission to assist people in the fulfillment of their dreams..

Those interested in learning more Press Release Services can do so on the website athttp://www.smallbizpressreleaseservice.com/

For more information, please visit http://www.smallbizpressreleaseservice.com/

Contact Info:

Name: Peter Deeley

Organization: A Well Run Life

Address: 3160 S. Gilbert Rd. #5

Phone: 6027177458

Release ID: 131015

For more information visit r



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Roofing Company in Alabama Introduces New Website

Birmingham Precision Roofing launches its new website for its clients in the Birmingham area.

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Birmingham Precision Roofing - a roofing service company in the state of Alabama - introduces its new website specifically designed to cater to its customers in the Birmingham area.

The company can now be contacted by interested clients via its new website at http://birminghamprecisionroofing.com, where customers can browse through the different roofing services that the company offers.

Birmingham Precision Roofing handles residential and commercial roofing construction, roofing repair, and roofing maintenance. It also has a 24/7 emergency roof repair service, perfect for situations that usually occur during unexpected moments of the night, or even during storms and other dangerous situations.

The company has decided to create a more specific website address for its business to allow customers to search for them easily, and not have them go through the hassle of searching among lots of other roofing companies that cannot even serve in the area. It realizes the fact that choosing professional roofers to cater to roofing problems is not an easy job for clients, especially those experiencing roofing problems for the first time. Victims of roofing issues, if not able to search for a trusted roofing company, will have to go through the tedious task of calling and negotiating with each and every roofing company in the Yellow Pages until they find the service provider that can immediately attend to the roofing issue, while also considering budget.

With this new website, the company aims to allow easy access and faster transactions between its crew members and the clients. It also showcases the numerous achievements that the company has garnered throughout the many years it served as one of the reputable roofing companies of the locality.

One of the many achievements of Birmingham Precision Roofing is its insured service. This means that the company can show a copy of its roofing contractor's certificate, assuring prospect clients that any danger that might occur related to the roofing project to be undergone, will be completely covered and compensated for by the company. This is also an immediate proof the the company's credibility, along with the presentation of its licensed roofers and experienced crew members.

While not all states require contractors to be licensed, such a license indicates all roofers bearing it have taken a written exam that proves knowledge on anything and everything related to both theories and practical applications of roofing.

The website also has a contact page that interested clients can access, allowing them to send a message to the company, where they can be replied to as quickly as possible.

A local landline number is also provided, showcasing that the new website is promising in its pursuit to make the roofer hiring process simple and quicker for the clients all over the Birmingham area.

For more information, please visit http://birminghamprecisionroofing.com

Contact Info:

Name: Jon Madrigal

Organization: Birmingham Precision Roofing

Address: 1146 Florentine Cir #23 Birmingham, AL 35215

Phone: 205-224-9572

Release ID: 131079

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PBC Vice Governor Reveals Use of 'All Policy Tools' to Achieve Global Economic Growth

The G20 Summit will focus on global economic growth. (Photo : Getty Images)

China is making sure that the G20 Summit agenda is clear as the People's Bank of China (PBC) vice-governor reveals a consensus among G20 members to "use all policy tools to support growth."



According to China Daily, Yi revealed the agreement among G20 member nations in a statement on Thursday ahead of the G20 Leaders Summit on Sunday and Monday, Sept. 4 and 5.



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During the event hosted by the city of Hangzhou in the Zhejiang Province, economic leaders of 20 member nations will discuss important issues that would determine the global economic balance.



All Policy Tools



During his talk, Yi mentioned the use of "all policy tools" in order to support growth in the individual countries and the world in its entirety.



China Daily explained that the PBC vice governor was referring to monetary and fiscal policies that could be used to reform the global financial system.



"This marks a milestone in the G20's recent history of macroeconomic policy coordination," Yi added.



During the G20 Leaders Summit, China intends to improve "policy-level coordination" among member countries in order to achieve sustainable growth not only for the Middle Kingdom bur for the global economy.



"China is playing a leading role in helping the world avoid a war of currency depreciation," Bank of Communications Chief Economist Lian Ping explained.



According to Lian, China is a significant factor in competitive devaluation which means its willingness to be a responsible economy can be beneficial for the global scene.



"China has more important goals to achieve. Considering those more important goals, not seeking a government-engineered depreciation of the yuan is a fully rational thing for China to do. It will bring about lasting benefits for the country and the world," he added.



The Chinese Yuan



At the time, Yi also emphasized that there is "no hope" of solving problems with the devaluation of the Chinese yuan and vowed that the currency would maintain its current stability by closely coordinating with other major economies regarding the exchange rate.



Yi's statement comes in the wake of a call from U.S. Secretary of Treasury Jacob Lew urging the G20 to "foster global commitments," per the Xinhua News Agency.



In response, Yi explained China's plans to explore available policy toolkits that it could adopt to match its own circumstances.



He also explained that while the country's macro policies do have some positive effects on the sluggish demand in the near future, increasing the supply-side would be better since it promises a long-term economic growth.






Alibaba founder and CEO Jack Ma speaks before investors during Alibaba's Investor Day in June this year. (Photo : Getty Images)

Alibaba is at risk of being added to the United States' roster of counterfeit marketplaces as the Chinese-owned e-commerce company fails to root out fake products.



A recent report from the Wall Street Journal revealed how the Chinese e-commerce firm owned by billionaire Jack Ma failed in removing counterfeits from its online shopping service.



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According to the article, complaints from dozens of trade groups resurfaced after Alibaba failed to make good on its promises to remove counterfeits.



Citing a letter from the groups which include the French Federation of Leather Goods, the Union des Fabricants, and the Federation of the Swiss Watch Industry, the WSJ said that the traders are compelled "to focus on what has not improved," referring to the fake products that still plague Alibaba.



"Trust cannot be hostage to delay," the traders said in the letter, explaining that as much as they want to trust Jack Ma's e-commerce firm, the long wait for an effective action has taken its toll.



In response, Alibaba said that the company is looking forward "to working closely with the brands represented by the trade groups, many of whom have already built successful online businesses on Alibaba platforms."



However, some companies remain doubtful that the issue would be resolved.



"What Alibaba does in response to [brand owners'] complaints is not transparent. It is incomprehensible," said Juanita Duggan, chief executive of the the American Apparel & Footwear Association, in an interview with WSJ.



Back in July, Alibaba announced the launch of a new online selling system that could combat counterfeits called the "IP Joint-Force System."



According to Fortune, this system enhances an existing "good faith takedown" scheme that was introduced in 2015.



Previously, Alibaba Group founder Jack Ma blamed the recurrence of pirated or fake goods in the e-commerce website to the lack of better offers from the authentic brands.



"The problem is that the fake products today, they make better quality, better prices than the real products, the real names. It's not the fake products that destroy them, it's the new business models," he said in June as quoted by Bloomberg.


Girl Meets World Season 4 Air Date, Spoilers, News & Update: Renewed or Cancelled? Rowan Blanchard Confirms Cast In Limbo!

"Girl Meets World" Season 4 renewal or being cancelled has been a hot topic among fans of the Disney Channel series. While filming of the current third season ended, Disney Channel has not breathe a word about a Season 4.

At the moment, there are two rumors and speculations swirling around. One side is pretty certain that "Girl Meets World" Season 4 renewal will definitely happen though a change in network is being eyed at. On the other hand, others believe that "Girl Meets World" cancellation is more likely to happen.

'Girl Meets World' Season 4 Cancellation Rumors?

Rumors of the supposed "Girl Meets World" Season 4 cancellation seem to have started when reports surfaced saying that there is some problem with the working relationship among the "GMW" cast. However, actress Rowan Blanchard already addressed this issue in a Twitter post and clarified that there is no bad blood among the cast, as previously reported by GamenGuide.

However, some wordings in her Twitter post was interpreted by others to be an indication that the series is indeed facing uncertain times and that "Girl Meet World" Season 4 cancellation is not a distant possibility. Blanchard's tweet says "We all have had a hard time this week because of it being our possible last week," which, according to observers, hints of a tone of uncertainty.

It does not help that Disney has not done steps to discredit these "Girl Meets World" Season 4 cancellation rumors. The network has been consistently silent on the issue thus far, adding fuel to these speculations.

'Girl Meets World' Season 4 Renewal Still Possible

Others are more optimistic saying that Disney's silence on the issue does not necessarily mean it's the end of the series.. In fact, it can be viewed in a positive light. The network's non confirmation on the rumored cancellation could only mean that a "Girl Meets World" Season 4 renewal is definitely in the works.

There are also speculations that when "Girl Meets World" Season 4 renewal happens, it won't be in the same network anymore. Since the "GMW" Season 4 cast are already teenagers, the series' Season 4 will tackle issues appropriate to the maturing cast but may no longer be relevant to the Disney Channel audience.

The logical move would be to transfer to a different network that offers the appropriate audience demographics. For this reason, speculations say that when "Girl Meets World" Season 4 renewal gets confirmed, it might be transferring to Freeform which is also a part of the Disney group.

'Girl Meets World' Cast In The Dark As Well

However, it is not just the fans that are questioning about the fate of the series. It now appears the even the "GMW" cast themselves are just as uninformed as the rest regarding the "Girl Meets World" Season 4 renewal or if it will be cancelled.

Speaking to SheKnows, Blanchard confirms that even the "GMW' cast are unaware of where the series could be heading. "I know as much as you do, " explains Blanchard. "But as of right now, we just finished Season 3 and we're still waiting on the word," referring to confirmation of a "Girl Meets World" Season 4 renewal or cancellation.

While the "GMW" cast has already done filming for season 3, there are still enough episodes left for airing until early 2017. Hopefully, confirmation about the show's future will be available soon. Until then, stay tuned to GamenGuide for updates on whether the series gets cancelled or for "Girl Meets World" Season 4 renewal gets confirmed.




GoPro Karma Drone Latest News, Release Date & Update: Drone Finally Out This September

The much awaited GoPro Karma Drone is on the verge of release thanks to some teasers recently made on Twitter. The shares come from GoPros official account, showing off a video as well as its launch date which will be on September 19.

GoPro has carved a name for itself as an action camera so its venture into the drone market should be something worth looking into. While its credibility has been shown from previous action cameras such as the GoPro Hero 4, it will be interesting how things pan up when the cams take shots from up there.

Details on the GoPro Karma drone have been scarce with most of the information tied up to the grapevine. The only thing that the company confirmed so far was a drone would be coming out. Now, a release date has been announced.

The Ultimate GoPro Accessory

CEO Nick Woodman brands the GoPro Karma Drone as the ultimate GoPro accessory, something he touched on in May 2015. It was initially believed that the GoPro Karma Drone would be out by mid-2016 so it is already technically delayed.

Debuting alongside the GoPro Hero 5?

Speaking of the GoPro Hero 4, equally interesting is when the GoPro Hero 5 would be coming out. It has been two years since a sequel to the GoPro Hero 4 has come out so some are now hoping that come September 19, a successor will debut alongside the GoPro Karma Drone.

Hence, a lot of GoPro loyalists will likely be monitoring the events happening in the coming weeks with September 19 only a couple of weeks away. More details or information may come out in the coming days so make sure you check back here on Game & Guide for the latest on the GoPro Karma Drone.
iOS 10 Jailbreak Rumors: Does Pangu Have A Working Crack Ready?

After releasing iOS 9.3.5, it will be interesting if Pangu will come up with a surprise jailbreak soon. Seeing however that iOS 10 is on the verge of being announced, it may not be feasible for the hacking group to do so.

iOS 10 is expected to come out alongside the iPhone 7 and Apple Watch 2 in San Francisco this Sept. 7 though its roll-out could take weeks to happen. Just the same, the best route for Pangu to appease the Apple jailbreaking community is to instead work on an iOS 10 for longer use.

Apples sneaky move

As mentioned in a previous post, the untimely release of iOS 9.3.5 cut short the use of the iOS 9.3.4 jailbreak. For Apple owners, applying the latest iOS is a must seeing that it was really meant to cover up security flows used by an Israeli group (NSO) to spy on dissidents and journalists.

More to that, Apple owners will find themselves in a compromising position, hence the reason as to why most are urged to apply the latest patch. It was never rolled out to address the iOS 9.3.4 jailbreak, an unfortunate casualty.

Pangus deck growing thin

Hence, Pangu finds itself back to square one. The logical move is to work on that iOS 10 crack which they had shown off previously at MOSEC 2016.

Though it was only a beta version for iOS 10, a lot may have changed already with successive updates to the upcoming operating system. Regardless, the tweaks needed to make it work on current Apple devices would be minimal compared to a jailbreak that would start from scratch.

Pangu is now on the clock to come up with an iOS jailbreak, though the unannounced release of the iOS 9.3.4 jailbreak could be a sign of good things ahead. The fact that they can release untethered versions fast can be considered a bright spot for Apple jailbreaking fans.

Expect the heat to pick up on Pangu should Apple officially unveil the iOS 10 in the coming days. Stay tuned to Game & Guide for more iOS 10 news.
iPad Pro 2 Latest News, Release Date & Update: Apple Pencil Feature May Write Off iPad Mini

The iPhone 7 is days away but most of the rumors right now seem to be on the other products that could debut alongside it or follow in the coming months. So far, speculated to be debuting alongside the iPhone 7 is the Apple Watch 2 and reported the MacBook Pro 2016 and MacBook Air 2016 in the Fall as mentioned in a previous post. So where are the iPad Pros and iPad Minis in the mix?

The word out is that the iPad Pro 2 will be reserved for a 2017 release. Such comes no less from reliable tipster Ming-Chi Kuo. It was Kuo who bared that the iPad Pro 2 will offer a 10.5-inch variant to debut alongside a low-cost a 9.7-inch tablet.

Moreover, the 10.5-inch iPad Pro 2 will come have corresponding processors. The 10.5-inch version will have an A10X while the smaller 9.7-inch iPad Pro 2 will bank on an A9X chip.

iPad Pro 2 designed for commercial and education use

Kuo goes on to add that the reason behind the larger and more powerful iPad Pro 2 is meant to serve the commercial and education sector. This includes seeing an iPad Pro 2 with faster screen zooming, scrolling and panning as divulged by Bloomberg.

Worth noting here is maximizing the use of the Apple Pencil. A lot will fall at the hands of the new and wider scope iOS 10 update which will likely be available once the iPad Pro 2 is ready for deployment. Apple Pencil is currently available but limited to a select number of apps.

The end of the iPad Mini?

With the emphasis on the Apple Pencil shaping up, such could signal the demise of the iPad Mini. That and possible lack of interest in the mini tablet version could place the iPad Mini on the brink though there is roaming word that an iPad Mini 5 is in the works.

Hence, the remaining months for 2016 will see some of the much-awaited products sans the iPad line. It all starts on September 7, the revelation day of the iPhone 7 and the Apple Watch 2.
How To Get Away With Murder Season 3 Air Date, News & Update: Wallaces Death Causes Trouble To Annalise, Keating Five Team?

"How To Get Away With Murder" Season 3 release date is finally happening later this month. After five long months of waiting, fans are dying to know what kind of complications, legal or otherwise, Annalise and the Keating Five could find themselves into this season.

It can be recalled that the biggest problem introduced in the previous season was Wallace Mahoney's death. And now, it appears that when "How To Get Away With Murder" Season 3 release date arrives, Wallace, even in death, will still become a source of their worries.

It all boils down to possible motives and plausible alibis. As previously stated by GamenGuide, two of the Keating Five will become suspects for Walace's death with the arrival of "How To Get Away With Murder" Season 3 release date.

For course Wes Gibbins would be a suspect with the arrival of "How To Get Away With Murder" Season 3 release date. Talk about being at the wrong place at the wrong time and with a possible motive to boot.

Last season, Wes was finally able to track down his biological father who turn out to be Wallace Mahoney. Deciding to finally met him, Wes heads out to New York. Just as he was telling his father of their biological relation, Wallace was shot leaving him covered in blood. What could happen in "How To Get Away With Murder" Season 3?



It was also already confirmed that Frank Delfino would definitely be a suspect of Wallace's murder when "How To Get Away With Murder" Season 3 release date comes later this month. And it's now hard to see why. After all, he hated Wallace for placing him in a position where he played an indirect role in the death of Annalise's unborn child. In addition, his disappearance could be held against him and might highlight his apparent guilt.

Now, latest reports suggest that another member of the legal team could become a suspect as well when "How To Get Away With Murder" Season 3 releases. It is possible that Annalise herself would be included in the investigation as well.

In a new "How To Get Away with Murder" Season 3 trailer, Annalise is shown starting her first day of teaching at the law school. However, posters with her photo and calling her a killer are pasted all over the campus. Could this be in connection with Wallace's murder too?

It now appears that everyone's skills in getting away with murder would be tested to their limits next season. Fortunately, whatever questions fans may have will soon be put to rest. "How To Get Away With Murder" Season 3 air date is slated this September 22 returning on ABC at 10 PM ET.
The more the merrier: With almost everyone owning a smartphone, scammers are always on the hunt for new victims. (Above) Some train passengers in Shenzhen tinker with their phone on Aug. 23, 2016. (Photo : Getty Images)

Local authorities face the mounting challenge of protecting the public from telecommunications fraud and ensuring that their personal information and similar private data remains private, reported the Global Times.



For some experts, poor security measures enable phone scammers to victimize people. They likewise indirectly blame the police force for inaction.



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Recent scamming led to the death of two victims.



Someone conned Xu Yuyu of sending 9,900 yuan in exchange for a scholarship grant. Xu originally intended the money for her tuition fee at Nanjing University of Posts and Telecommunications in in Nanjing, Jiangsu Province.



There was no scholarship grant in the first place.



Most likely triggered by the outcome of the incident, Xu succumbed to cardiac arrest, according to Qilu Evening News.



Another student, Song Zhenning, lost 2,000 yuan to a scammer. The impact was so strong for Song that the 21-year-old suffered a heart attack and did not survive the ordeal.



Chen Zhonglin, the dean of Chongqing University Law School, said to the Global Times that organizing telecoms fraud involves little money and promises a lot in return.



Therefore, according to Chen, the number of cases of fraud has surged over the years.



Xiang Ligang, CEO of CCTIME Dumbo, a Bejing-based company offering telecommunications services, cites three reasons why public security bureaus seem to have a hard time curbing telecoms fraud: their outdated system, lack of manpower and insufficient funds.



For Xiang, public security bureaus should work hand in hand with telecoms companies and banks to develop a national system that would detect and prevent scams.



Tu Zipei, an information specialist, accuses the countrys mobile network operators of disregarding incidents of telecoms fraud, reported Caixin.



Tu said that these companies rake in billions of money from spam text messages and unsolicited phone calls. They could, according to him, block those unwanted calls and text messages by installing the necessary software programs.



He likewise calls the attention of the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology to further look into the matter.



Billions of money already went to telecoms fraud.



On December 2015, one resident from Guizhou Province lost 117 million yuan to a scammer, according to BBC.



Worse, telecoms fraud even elicited a diplomatic row between China and Taiwan in April.



The Ministry of Public Security informed the people in February regarding 48 types of telecoms fraud.






Lenovo A6600 Specs, Latest News & Updates: Device Now Available In India, Lenovo Adds Two Devices To Launch In The Same Country

Lenovo has just added another phone on their list, the new Lenovo A6600 has been launched in India. It has a 5 inch HD display powered by a 1GHz quad-core processor by MediaTek.

Specs Of Lenovo A6600

According to GSM Arena, the latest Lenovo A6600 will be having a 1GB RAM and a built-in internal storage 16 GB which can be expandable up to 32 GB via SD card. It is said to be running on Android Marshmallow.

When it comes to the camera of Lenovo A6600, it will sport an 8 megapixel of main camera and 2 megapixel front camera. It is packed with a 2,300 mAh battery and it also supports dual SIM which can be 4G and a VoLTE.

Price and Availability Of Lenovo A6600

The new Lenovo A6600 will be very affordable as it is designed especially for those people in India and China. The device is said to be available for only $105. According to iTech Post, the Lenovo A6600 is mostly available at mortar and brick stores which can be bought for as low as $100.

LenovoZuk 2, Lenovo Z2 Plus

According to Gadget 360, the said Chinese company, Lenovo is also expected to release another new gadget in India, the Lenovo Zuk Z2 and the Lenovo Z2 Plus. The two Lenovo devices were first launched in China last May and now will be available in India soon.

The said Lenovo Zuk Z2 also has a 5 inch full HD display with an anti-oil and anti-fingerprint protection feature on its screen which reduces smudges. It also sport a 64 bit Snapdragon processor and a 4 GB RAM with a 13 megapixel main camera and an 8 megapixel front camera. The Zuk Z2 was said to be available at CNY 1,799 during the release in China.
Health officials said the local coronavirus outlook remained stable this week, though they continued to warn against a potential winter surge.
Im not the next Usain Bolt or Michael Phelps. Im the first Simone Biles.

This young American gymnast offered a great deal of wisdom in her brief comment, regarding her Olympic achievement. Her words tell us that she is unique. She is not trying to emulate some other star. She does not want or need to be compared to anyone else or follow in their footsteps. And, as I understand her words, this first Simone will be transformed over time. She is not finished becoming who she is. I believe there is some spiritual wisdom found in Biles remark.

The language of the Christian tradition often suggests that one of the goals of being Christian is to be like Jesus. To be his follower means you will, in a way, follow in his footsteps. While I do like to refer to myself as a follower of Jesus, (in reference to his teachings and his worldview) I confess I DONT REALLY WANT TO BE LIKE JESUS.

After all, Jesus was a male, peasant Jew living in an entirely different time and place. And the idea of being like him further implies there is a one-size-fits-all way of being human  and it looks like Jesus. Even the thoughtful question, What would Jesus do? suggests there is a singular answer in any challenging situation and our task is to find it. This leaves little room for creativity and imagination. The goal is to get it right  like Jesus.

I dont believe getting things right is the goal of living. I see the life and teachings of Jesus as being a remarkable invitation to be fully ourselves. I came that they might have life and have it abundantly. This simple quote of Jesus from Johns Gospel is echoed throughout Jesus life. We are not being invited to be clones of Jesus so we will always do and say the right thing. We are invited instead to be fully ourselves  each of us. Throughout scripture, Jesus message of the unconditional love of God frees us to step boldly out into the world while also looking deep inside ourselves. We can do both without fear that we might make a mistake, or not be as good as someone else. We begin to realize we have nothing to prove. We can see that we do not need to compare ourselves to others (even Jesus). Ultimately, we understand we are not trying to achieve something named by another.

Life is about letting go of all the worldly things that get in the way of this beautiful unfolding of who we are. For me, there is no question that Jesus lived fully into being himself. And because of this, I get a glimpse of God  of love  in his life. This inspires me greatly, as do the lives of others where I see this love shining through. This presence of God that frees us to be ourselves is the abundance Jesus talked about. And it certainly doesnt look the same in every life.

And it will not look the same in any one persons life over a lifetime. Years ago, a young woman began to realize that she didnt have to be like everyone else. She could stop comparing herself to some ideal. She noticed she did not need to compete in order to be really alive. She began to see the worth of being herself. These realizations birthed the first Barbara Nixon. Since then, she has transformed more than once and she feels fairly certain the end of this transformation is not yet in sight.
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EU businesses want reciprocity from China. (Photo : Getty Images)

European businesses are calling for reciprocity as more Chinese businesses enter Europe while tight regulations face foreign firms in China.



An annual report from the European Union Chamber of Commerce in China revealed the EU traders' dissatisfaction at how things are playing out in the business scene in the Middle Kingdom where foreign companies are having a difficult time staying afloat amid stern regulations.



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According to the Wall Street Journal, the EU is expected to air its concerns on the unfair and "highly disappointing" economic reform in China during the upcoming G20 Leaders Summit on Sept. 4 and 5.



A Warning



"This could seriously damage China's ambitions to establish a vibrant market economy," warned Jorg Wuttke, the European Union Chamber President.



"Government has an important role to play in supporting basic research, but it simply should not be responsible for directing capital. Instead, private enterprises should be given room to determine where the future opportunities lie," Wuttke stated.



Frustration is clear among the ranks of European businesses as the Chinese are going on a buying spree of companies overseas while foreign firms have very limited access to the steadily growing consumer market in China.



"If there are more deals coming, and more deals that European companies would like to do but can't do in China, then people are going to look at this differently," the EU Chamber President added.



The WSJ revealed that Europe receives so many Chinese investments, 70 percent of which are from state-owned companies.



While they appreciate the money coming in, the EU wants a fair and reciprocal trade relationship with the Middle Kingdom to prevent European businesses from dying out.



"The increasing wave of Chinese investment into Europe, while European investment in China drops, highlights the lack of reciprocal market access," Wuttke added.



The G20 Summit



Prior to the release of the annual report, Wuttke expressed his fear about protectionist forces being unleashed in response to China's market barriers that impeded foreign investors from working freely.



"We worry that China might unleash protectionist forces, which none of us want to see," Fortune quoted him as saying.



In response, Beijing wishes to remain silent on issues like protectionism as it intends to discuss such matters during in upcoming G20 Summit to be held in Hangzhou, Zhejiang Province.



"If need be, we have soldiers that can repel attacks, and soil that can stanch floods,'" Ministry of Commerce spokesperson Shen Danyang said, citing a Chinese proverb that explains how China has theh tools to defend itself.






Great Day for Music : Musical classes in English for the youngest

Bonn A relaxed and fun approach to appreciating music is key at Great Day for Music. Sessions are in English and cater mainly to little ones.

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Stevie Wonder sings it best, Music is a world within itself, with a language we all understand, with an equal opportunity for all to sing, dance and clap their hands. Its true that music cuts across many borders and gives everyone a chance to get involved. The philosophy of Great Day for Music, which focuses on the very youngest of children is exactly that - everyone can learn to make music and have fun while theyre at it, they just need the right kind of musical input.

Expats are often looking for music classes in English, and this might fit the bill for some. Beginning with babies up to 8 months-old, parents can bring in their little ones and learn how their babys music development works. Founder of the music school, 35-year-old Anna Tagliabue says, Most of our music classes are for 0 - 5-year-olds with their parents/grandparents/babysitter. They are devised so that whole families can join or parents can take turns.

The music school uses a method called Music Together which resulted from early-childhood music development research from the Center for Music and Young Children in Princeton, New Jersey. It encourages a relaxed and playful atmosphere with plenty of room for experimentation. For children who outgrow the initial classes, recorder and violin lessons are offered. Tagliabue said they are considering  a more general type of music class for 5-8-year-olds in the future.

Tagliabue was born in Bonn but has an American and a German parent. After teaching Latin for several years, she decided the joy of making music was most important to her and she founded Great Day for Music in 2012. In the last year, they had about 40 families participating and there is steady growth as word gets out. Tagliabue is supported by Philippa Matthaei, who lived in the U.S. for 2 1/2 years, and Gabriela Vilchez, who sang in a university choir in her native Peru, and fronted a small rockband in Bilbao. New this fall, Vilchez will conduct one class in Spanish.

A new class is also offered for expectant mothers; the idea is that babies already develop a sense of hearing by the 23rd week. Birthday parties are also on the radar and the music teachers will come to your home for a 30 minute or 45 minute session to make music with the kids at your childs Birthday party.
Gather around, my dearies, for tales of phantom islands and shivers of delight. Phantom islands are islands that were drawn on maps long ago, but seem to have gone missing.

Hy-Brasil

The

is one such island. For ages, Ireland referred to an island by the name of "Hy-Brasil" (and other spellings). It was documented first in 1325 when it appeared on maps. It was described as perfectly round with a channel river running down the center. The people had known of the island and spoke of it, so it being shown on a map was an obvious consequence of documenting the shores of Ireland. It had earned a reputation for being laced in fog most of the time and possibly holding gold or the answer to immortality.

In the 1480s and explorer went out, determined to find it, but could not. Interestingly, one explorer kept pushing further and further and eventually ran into Newfoundland.

A few in the 1600s claimed they had managed to stumble upon it. One said that they fell into a fog and then found themselves at the shore. They reported giant black rabbits and a wizard living alone in a stone castle who gave them silver and gold. Another said that he was approached by an old man who gave him a book and told him not to open it for seven years. When seven years went by, he supposedly found it to be filled with info including medicinals. When I read that, I thought immediately of the unusual book called

which has botanicals and unknown language that has been unsolved.
Apple to unveil Beats products at September 7 event News oi -GizBot Bureau

US tech giant Apple is set to unveil new Beats by Dre products at the company's much-anticipated iPhone 7 launch event on September 7.

The mega event at the Bill Graham Civic Auditorium in San Francisco will unveil the iPhone 7 and the iPhone 7 Plus smartphones along with the next-generation Apple Watch, appleinsider.com reported on Friday.

SEE ALSO: Apple to remove unused apps from its App Store

The company has reportedly sent out invites to select media to cover the launch of iPhone 7.

Apple acquired the headphone manufacturer Beats for $3 billion in 2014.

It is still unclear what kinds of Beats products will be unveiled, but the brand is known for a variety of headphones and portable Bluetooth speakers.

"Apple is also expected to unveil new, entirely wireless Bluetooth earbuds dubbed "AirPods" at the upcoming event. Whether the product will be sold with Apple or Beats branding remains to be seen, " appleinsider.com reported on Friday.

People can pre-order the luxury smartphone from September 9 while sales may begin from September 16.

The new iPhone 7 may have a dual rear camera, a pressure-sensitive home button, Bluetooth-supported headphones, dual speakers at the bottom and Type-C interface, signalling the end of the 3.5 mm headphone jack in the iPhone family.

SEE ALSO: Samsung Gear S3, Asus ZenWatch 3, HTC One A9s & More Devices Announced at IFA 2016

To date, Apple has kept Beats products largely separate from its own. Devices like the iPhone still ship with Apple-branded EarPods, while Beats headphones are sold separately, the report added.

Source IANS

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Pakistani National Extradited and Sentenced for Attempting to Export Sensitive Technology for Pakistani Military

Department of Justice

Office of Public Affairs

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Thursday, September 1, 2016



Syed Vaqar Ashraf, 71, of Lahore, Pakistan, was sentenced today to 33 months in prison by U.S. District Judge Rosemary Marquez of the District of Arizona. Ashraf previously pleaded guilty to conspiracy to export defense controlled items without a license.

Assistant Attorney General for National Security John P. Carlin and U.S. Attorney John S. Leonardo of the District of Arizona made the announcement.

Ashraf attempted to procure gyroscopes and illegally ship them to Pakistan so they could be used by the Pakistani military. In an effort to evade detection, Ashraf arranged for the gyroscopes to be purchased in the name of a shell company and caused the gyroscopes to be transshipped to Belgium. Ashraf then traveled to Belgium to inspect the gyroscopes and arrange for their final transport to Pakistan.

On Aug. 26, 2014, Ashraf was arrested by the Belgium Federal Police at the request of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement's Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) agents, who had been conducting an undercover investigation of Ashraf's activities.

HSI and Belgium Federal Police investigated the case. Trial Attorney Elizabeth Cannon of the National Security Division and Assistant U.S. Attorneys Kristen Brook and Beverly Anderson of the District of Arizona prosecuted the case.

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National Security Division (NSD)

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German Intelligence Service Accused of 'Systematically' Violating Constitution

Sputnik News

19:01 02.09.2016(updated 19:03 02.09.2016)

In a leaked report from the government's representative for data protection, Bundesnachrichtendienst (BND), Germany's Federal Intelligence Service was blamed for serious abuses of law.

The confidential report, dated March 2016, was brought to attention by public broadcasters NDR and WDR on Thursday evening. The 60-page study was carried out by Federal Data Protection Commissioner Andrea Vohoff, who is responsible for ensuring that government agencies do not violate German citizens' rights when using their personal data.

"The BND systematically lifted and used personal data without a legal basis to do so," wrote the commissioner.

Vohoff named a total of 12 violations of the law in seven spheres of activity, including obstruction of her own work.

"The BND massively and illegally blocked my ability to oversee it  a comprehensive and efficient oversight on my part was therefore not possible. These are serious breaches of the law."

According to the report, the commissioner was blocked from checking so-called selectors  the lists of the key concepts, which identify information such as phone numbers and email addresses used by the BND for targeted surveillance.

Vohoff also called for shutting down large parts of the BND's data base in Bad Aibling, Bavaria. "According to law these databases must be immediately deleted. They must not be used anymore," the document said.

Opposition politicians said that the report confirmed what they had long been saying  that the BND acts outside the law.

"The report cannot be misunderstood, either in its unusual level of clarity or in the extent of its criticism," said Konstantin von Notz, Green Party Member of Parliament and head of the parliamentary committee on the NSA.

Activities of the Germany's Federal Intelligence Service attracted the attention of the German public and the Bundestag after the scandalous revelations of Edward Snowden. BND management was accused of helping the American NSA, when it was spying on a global scale. It was revealed that the NSA tapped a number of European governments and organizations, including German ones.

 Sputnik

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Exterior of an AT&T store in Bethlehem, Georgia, United States - 2015/11/13 (Photo : Getty Images/John Greim)

The US Court of Appeals in California has dismissed a lawsuit on August 29 filed by the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) accusing AT&T Inc. for deceiving consumers. The telecommunications conglomerate has been accused of slowing down internet speeds of users having unlimited mobile data plan after consuming certain levels of data.



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FTC has filed the lawsuit in 2014. The appeal court for the ninth circuit has directed a lower court dismissing the lawsuit related to data throttling. Notably mentioning, despite winning the verdict in its favor, AT&T may still have to embrace monetary penalty from the Federal Communications Council (FCC), Reuters reported.



In the lawsuit, FTC has accused AT&T for the failure to inform its unlimited data plan subscribers on slower internet speeds in case of higher usage. The consumer rights body alleges for up to 90 percent reduction of internet speed in such instances.



The second largest wireless carrier in the US has filed multiple motions on several grounds seeking dismissal of the lawsuit. In its verdict, the appeal court also directs for applying the judgment in all cases pending with the lower courts. The court acknowledges AT&T's claim for operating as a 'common carrier' enjoying exemption from informing data plan consumers about possible throttling, Android Headlines reported.



The fair usage policy for internet data allows carriers to throttle consumers with higher consumptions during peak hours to free up network resources. Besides AT&T, other operators also practice throttling in different forms. T-Mobile, for an instance, degrades a consumer in the priority list after monthly usage of 23 GB. The degradation eventually leads to a reduced speed during the peak hours or within an area of higher data traffic.



Wireless carrier AT&T has won verdict from the appeal court in California filed by FTC in 2014. FCC has sued the telecommunication giant for deceiving data plan consumers with higher usage. However, the appeal court verdict by no mean offers immunization against FTC's attempt for imposing a monetary penalty.



YouTube Video: The unseen about AT&T






New Saab Fighter Jet Gives Swedish Defense Unexpected Headache

Sputnik News

16:42 02.09.2016(updated 16:43 02.09.2016)

The Swedish Air Force is facing major problems following its decision to acquire new Gripen E fighter jets. Whereas the plane itself is rather advanced, the training aircraft used for the training of pilots is outdated. Undisturbed, Saab hopes to throw new training jets into the bargain to fill the gap.

The Swedish Air Force is about to proudly replace 96 Gripen C/D aircraft currently in use with 60 Gripen E, the latter being a larger model with a number of improvements in the form of new radars and electronic warfare systems. Whereas the new Gripen E offers considerable technological advances, it also presents significant problems. The advanced technology is no match for the training aircraft currently in use in the Swedish Air Force.

The current Swedish training aircraft SK 60 has roots in the 1960s, and the gap between this trusted old-timer and the modern generation of fighter jets is far too big. As the warplanes become increasingly more sophisticated, the demands on school aircraft are increasing; the pilots must learn how to handle various weapons, radars and communication systems.

"The gap between SK 60 and Griffin E is too great. We won't be effective if we continue practicing with SK 60. The sooner we can ditch it, the better," Colonel Magnus Liljegren told Swedish newspaper Svenska Dagbladet.

The situation is further complicated by the high flying costs. Since only a small part of the training can be performed on outdated planes, pilots would have to do more training in the Gripen E. And flying a fighter jet is significantly more expensive than flying a small training aircraft.

"The disadvantage of the simple school aircraft is that you need to practice more with Gripen, which makes it more expensive," Claes Thagemark from the Swedish Defence Materiel Administration told Svenska Dagbladet.

Unsurprisingly, the future of the Swedish training aircraft is very much decided in the United States. The US Air Force is preparing an enormous contract to purchase about 350 new school aircraft. The current school aircraft in the US is about 50 years old, and four groups are vying for the lucrative contract. The one who gets the order is expected to gain a strong position even in other countries that plan to update their school aircraft fleet.

In this battle, Swedish Saab has teamed up with the American Boeing. Saab's management naturally hopes to win the US contract, but looks for more.

"I hope we'll get the same platform for trainer aircraft in Sweden," Ulf Nilsson, head of Saab's aviation operations, told Svenska Dagbladet.

However, the underlying danger is that the plane would become too expensive for the Swedish Air Force, since their colleagues in the US have much higher standards.

Nevertheless, Magnus Liljegren emphasized the need for speed and a better overall performance of the plane. According to him, Saab and Boeing's joint win in the US would also whet the Swedish military's appetite. The hidden bonus is that they expect to get the plane sooner if it is produced by a Swedish company.

 Sputnik

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Sweden Flirts With NATO Amid Drills Aimed at Deterring Russian 'Threat'

Sputnik News

15:06 02.09.2016(updated 15:40 02.09.2016)

Today, Sweden and Finland kick off four-day-long joint exercises in the vicinity of Gotland off the coast of Sweden. The exercise's scenario is an armed attack against Sweden. As if by chance, a fresh defense report stated that Sweden's NATO membership 'could possibly deter Russia.'

The joint exercise is taking place in southern Sweden from Friday noon to Tuesday and is estimated to involve around 3,500 servicemen.

"We practice developing the Air Force's abilities," Helene Nyberg, Director of Communications at Blekinge Wing, said, as quoted by local news outlet Kalmar 24.

Meanwhile, locals were warned of extra aircraft noise, as well as Navy ship's appearance near the coast. Additionally, Finland is expected to contribute five Hornet fighter jets and 50 servicemen.

"We will use the established routes, but the exercise will be more intense than usual. Also, we will also start from bases that are not used every day, so it will be felt," Nyberg said.

Incidentally, the Swedish Commission on Defense and Security Cooperation stated in its freshly released report, that the West's ability to deter Russia from conflicts in the Baltic Sea is likely to increase if Sweden joins NATO, Swedish national broadcaster SVT reported.

Given that, it may seem peculiar that the report dismisses the chance of a Russian attack on Sweden as "practically impossible." Another "unlikely" scenario is that Sweden becomes embroiled in a military conflict following a Russian attack on NATO members Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania.

In the report, Russia is estimated to have the military capability to within a couple of days extend its military control over the Baltic states. Russia could then, or even at an earlier stage, proceed to place air defense systems in Swedish territory, including the island of Gotland, to stop NATO flights over the Baltic Sea.

The report also pointed out "significant shortcomings" in Swedish defense, despite fighter jets and submarines. Sweden is therefore dependent on outside help, whereas American reinforcements with heavy ground forces are expected to arrive no sooner than in three weeks.

According to the report, a Swedish NATO membership, which may be achieved within "12-15 months," is nevertheless "no shortcut" to solving Sweden's defense shortcomings. Another problem which could arise should the country join NATO would be how to meet the bloc's requirement of defense spending equivalent to 2 percent of the GDP, which at present is only met by five out of the bloc's 28 member states.

Finally, the report pointed out that a Swedish NATO application would trigger a political crisis with Russia, "the extent of which is difficult to assess."

This is not the first report by Swedish think-tanks or government commissions that cautiously advocate NATO membership. Of late, Sweden, which has maintained neutrality and a non-alignment policy since 1812, has come under immense pressure from NATO lobbyists. Despite its officially neutral stance, Sweden does contribute to various NATO and EU battlegroups and is involved in international organizations.

 Sputnik

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Uzbekistan Confirms Karimov's Death; Burial to Be in Samarkand

By VOA News September 02, 2016

Uzbekistan's authoritarian ruler for more than 25 years, Islam Karimov, has died, the government announced Friday, and will be buried Saturday in Samarkand, the ancient Silk Road city where he was born.

Ending days of speculation about whether Karimov was still alive following a massive stroke, Uzbek authorities said the 78-year-old ruler had been in a coma for days. He was pronounced dead Friday evening, one day after the Central Asian country's independence holiday.

Karimov's younger daughter, Lola Karimova-Tillyaeva, mourned her father in internet messages: "He has left us. ... I am struggling for words. I can't believe it myself."

"May God show His mercy to him," she wrote in Uzbek on Facebook. Her notes drew thousands of responses.

Only leader since independence

Karimov, the only leader Uzbekistan has known since it became an independent nation following the collapse of the Soviet Union, crushed all opposition during his time in power, and he had not groomed anyone to take over after him. Analysts said they were concerned that the largest and most powerful Central Asian nation could face prolonged infighting, and they also warned that Islamic radicals could try to exploit uncertainty in Tashkent, the capital.

The solemn official announcement of the president's death did not make clear who would rule the country in the future. As stipulated by the Uzbek constitution, the speaker of the senate, Nigmatilla Yoldoshev, is "interim president."

Prime Minister Shavkat Mirziyoyev was named chairman of the commission organizing the state funeral  a development seen by some as an indication he would be one of the contenders to succeed Karimov. Yoldoshev, deputy chairman of the funeral commission, is not seen as a likely candidate to take power permanently.

From the Kremlin, Russian President Vladimir Putin sent his condolences for the "heavy loss" Uzbekistan suffered. Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev will lead Moscow's delegation at the funeral.

Alexei Pushkov, head of the Russian parliament's foreign affairs committee, told reporters that Karimov's passing "may open a pretty dangerous period of unpredictability and uncertainty in Uzbekistan."

President Barack Obama said the United States reaffirmed its support for the people of Uzbekistan "at this challenging time."

'New chapter in its history'

Obama's statement, issued late Friday before he left on a flight to Hangzhou, China, for a summit meeting of Group of 20 government leaders, said: "As Uzbekistan begins a new chapter in its history, the United States remains committed to partnership with Uzbekistan, to its sovereignty, security and to a future based on the rights of all its citizens."

Putin also will be at the summit of the G-20, the world's richest nations, and he has already signaled that he hopes to engage in talks on geopolitical issues with the other world leaders there.

Turkey announced Karimov's death to the world hours before it was confirmed in Tashkent.

Prime Minister Binali Yildirim sent a message of condolence to the Uzbek people; the two countries have extensive ethnic, cultural and linguistic ties.

Uzbek authorities said they consulted with physicians from Russia, Germany, Finland and Monaco as the gravity of Karimov's medical situation became clear. The president's daughter said the cerebral hemorrhage that led to his death occurred August 27.

A senior official of Amnesty International said the rights group was not optimistic that Uzbekistan's repressive regime would soon change its policies, marked by the use of torture against domestic opponents.

'Human rights abuses'

Denis Krivosheev, Amnesty's deputy director for Europe and Central Asia, said: "Islam Karimov's death marks the end of an era in Uzbekistan, but almost certainly not of the pattern of grave human rights abuses. His successor is likely to come from Karimov's closest circle, where dissenting minds have never been tolerated."

Authorities in Uzbekistan apparently had been expecting Karimov's death for days. Fragmentary reports emerging from the country told of burial preparations in Samarkand, and the closure of the city's airport for all but official flights.

An Uzbek opposition blogger based in Western Europe, Nadezhda Atayeva, said Uzbek authorities appeared to be cracking down on communication channels with the outside world.

Speaking to the Associated Press from France, Atayeva said a contact in Uzbekistan told her government officials had been ordered to turn off their telephones, and that internet service was slowing down noticeably.

Atayeva said she spoke to her contact via Skype, but as he described the situation in Tashkent, the line went dead.

VOA's Uzbek service contributed to this report.

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Putin Denies Claims Russian Gov't's Involved in DNC Emails Hack

Sputnik News

11:23 02.09.2016(updated 11:41 02.09.2016)

Russian President Vladimir Putin denied on Friday the claims that the Russian government was involved in hacks of the US Democratic National Committee's (DNC) e-mail server, in an interview with the Bloomberg agency.

VLADIVOSTOK (Sputnik)  In July, the DNC was subject to a cyberintrusion and massive email leak that Democratic officials immediately blamed on some Russian hackers.

"But I want to tell you again, I don't know anything about it, and on a state level Russia has never done this," Putin said.

He pointed out that US politicians and media tried to divert attention from the leak itself with finger pointing.

"Does it even matter who hacked data of Mrs Clinton's election campaign office? The important thing is the content that was given to the public There's no need to distract the public's attention from the essence of the problem by raising some minor issues connected with the search for who did it," Putin said.

In July, WikiLeaks published nearly 20,000 hacked emails that apparently showed DNC members discussing ways to undercut Clinton's rival Bernie Sanders in the race for the Democratic nomination.

The US presidential election is scheduled for November 8.

 Sputnik

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Chinese J-20 Stealth Fighter Allegedly Spotted Near Indian Border

Sputnik News

19:12 02.09.2016

This development is significant as it comes just days after China warned India against deploying the supersonic BrahMos missile in the same region.

China's most formidable stealth fighter J-20 has been spotted near the border with India. Images of the J-20 positioned at the Daochenge Yading airport in the high altitude Tibetan Autonomous Perfecture which lies to the east of India's north eastern state of Arunachal Pradesh first surfaced on social media.

On the deployment of the BrahMos missile, a Chinese Defense Ministry spokesperson said, "We hope the Indian side can do more for peace and stability in the border region, rather than the contrary."

Interestingly, Prime Minister Narendra Modi is traveling to China in a couple of days to attend the G-20 summit where he is expected to meet Chinese leadership. Before attending the G-20, Modi will visit Vietnam, which China sees as an adversary.

The Chinese Chengdu J-20 is a twin engine fighter with stealth features which enable it to sometimes go undetected by radar unlike other fighter jets.

It is one of China's most guarded military hardware. Positioning it at the Daochenge Yading airport, China has displayed its combat capability even at 14,000 ft in the Himalayan range, an area which is otherwise considered impossible terrain for air combat operations.

 Sputnik

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North Korea's Kim Reportedly Had Senior Official Executed for Bad Posture

Sputnik News

21:59 02.09.2016(updated 23:29 02.09.2016)

North Korea's Minister of Education has reportedly been executed by firing squad for "not sitting properly" in parliament.

Kim Yong-jin, 63, was executed in July after dictator Kim Jong-un became infuriated by his posture and perceived "bad attitude" on June 29, a South Korean official said.

An interrogation prior to the man's death lead officials to declare that he was an "anti-revolutionary agitator."

"Vice premier for education Kim Yong-Jin was executed," unification ministry spokesman Jeong Joon-hee told South Korea's JoongAng Daily. "Kim Yong-Jin was denounced for his bad sitting posture when he was sitting below the rostrum," he added.

"He was later accused of being anti-revolutionary following a probe and a firing squad execution was carried out in July," he told the newspaper.

Two other officials were sent to camps for "ideological re-education."

Earlier this week it was reported that Hwang Min, the former agricultural minister, and Ri Yong-jin, a senior official in the education ministry, were also executed at a military academy in Pyongyang using an anti-aircraft gun.

Ri Yong-jin was reportedly executed for dozing off during a meeting with Jong-un. He is at least the second person to meet this fate after falling asleep in the presence of the 32-year-old Jong-un.

In April of 2015, North Korea's former defense chief Hyon Yong-chol was executed by firing squad for the offense of falling asleep during a meeting attended by the DPRK supreme leader.

 Sputnik

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Assyrians in Iraq Receive Coalition Support to Fight Daesh for First Time Ever

Sputnik News

20:39 02.09.2016

Assyrian militias fighting against Daesh in Iraq, received air support from the US led coalition for the first time ever during their fight against terrorists in Nineveh province.

Sarkon Slivo, speaker of the Assyrian Democratic Movement (ADM), told Sputnik that Nineveh Plain Protection Units (NPU) defeated Daesh terrorists at Khazir River, south-east of Mosul with the help of the international coalition.

"Soldiers of NPU liberated the village of Al-Kabir, which is situated 35 km south-east of Mosul and 12 km south of Bakhdida," the speaker said.

The source said that General Bikhnam Abbush ordered on Thursday morning to storm the village of Al-Kabir. Assyrians combat units moved from their positions at Khazir River and began to enter the village, by evening, it was liberated from Daesh.

During the offensive, the NPU troops which are a Christian armed group, received air support from the international coalition whose forces attacked the terrorist positions.

This air support was the first given in history of combat operations in Iraq.

At the same time, the NPU repelled an attack by militants in Telskuf village, where the terrorists organized car bomb assaults with the aim of breaking through the NPU's defense. Nevertheless, the Assyrian troops managed to kill 150 terrorists and keep the village under their control.

Since the spread of Daesh in Iraq, Assyrian troops have not received any military support from any of the anti-terrorist coalitions. The initiative to liberate the north of Iraq was started by the Kurdish Peshmerga troops.

Due to lack of international support, the Assyrian troops were forced to act alone to protect their villages and districts from Daesh militants.

A few months earlier, the NPU commander expressed hope to receive coalition support. The western assistance "will give equality to all the ethnic groups here," Col. Jawat Habib Abboush, the deputy commander of the group was reported as saying, according to news portal AINA.org.

"This is our country, we had a civilization here for a thousand years and we are still citizens of this country," he added. "We cannot be marginalized."

When Daesh spread across northern and western Iraq in the summer of 2014, Assyrian Christians were brutally targeted and thousands of members of the community were displaced from their homes, fleeing to Kurdish-controlled areas.

 Sputnik

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Pakistani Military Official Admits Daesh Presence in Pakistan

Sputnik News

05:15 02.09.2016(updated 05:16 02.09.2016)

Senior Pakistani military spokesman Asim Bajwa said at a Thursday news conference in the city of Rawalpindi that Daesh terrorists had made inroads into Pakistan, however, their expansion has been stopped by the Pakistani army. "The reverse process has begun now as Pakistani society has refused to accept the militant phenomena," Bajwa said.

Bajwa's statement is a rare acknowledgement of the presence of Daesh in the country, as earlier it was claimed that there was no extremist footprint in Pakistan. "At the start of Zarb-e-Azb Operation, Pakistan was plagued with terrorism and militancy, but Army successfully eliminated terrorism from their epicenters," Bajwa said.

It was reported that 309 militants, including members from Syria, Afghanistan and Iraq, were seized by Pakistani security forces. Attacks on embassies, on Pakistani officials and on an airport in Islamabad by Daesh operatives have been foiled, according to the military spokesman.

The Pakistan army has eliminated some 3,500 extremists since 2014 as a result of military operations in the North Waziristan and Khyber tribal regions, he said.

The violent Daesh extremist group uses social media to engage local militants, and distributes leaflets backing terrorism in their efforts to recruit new members. Bajwa admitted that the terrorists had committed several attacks on media and security personnel, as well as having killed Sabeen Mahmud, a human rights activist, in Karachi in 2015.

Pakistan's General Raheel Sharif said in October 2015 to the Royal United Services Institute for Defense and Security Studies in London, that there was "a dangerous phenomenon" with some people in Islamabad willing to ally with Daesh. Nevertheless, Sharif claimed that Pakistan would not tolerate Daesh anywhere in the country.

"As far as Daesh is concerned, in Pakistan, even a shadow of Daesh would not be allowed," Sharif said.

 Sputnik

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Russian MoD Slams Pentagon's Comments on Russian Strike Killing Daesh Commander

Sputnik News

16:39 02.09.2016(updated 16:41 02.09.2016)

Pentagon is completely unaware about the circumstances surrounding the killing of a Daesh senier commander in a Russian airstrike in Syria's Aleppo province, the Russian Defense Ministry said Friday.

MOSCOW (Sputnik)  The ministry earlier confirmed that Daesh second-in-command Abu Mohammed Adnani was among about 40 terrorists killed in an airstrike by Russian Su-34 fighter-bombers in the Syrian province of Aleppo.

However, some anonymous Pentagon sources ridiculed the report in an interview with Reuters, calling it "a joke."

"It is not surprising that Pentagon does not have any concrete information about the Russian strike on August 30 as the US officials have been claiming almost every day for about a year that they rule out any coordination of military operations in Syria with Russia," Russian Defense Ministry spokesman Maj. Gen. Igor Konashenkov said.

"How can they be aware of this data [on the strike], then?" Konashenkov said.

"Therefore, the remarks by Pentagon anonymous sources calling the Russian strike on Adnani "a joke" is the only way for them [the US military] to find an excuse for their ignorance," he stressed.

 Sputnik

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Militants Fighting in North of Hama Province Arrive From Damascus Suburb

Sputnik News

22:44 02.09.2016

Armed groups fighting in the north of Syrian Hama province are composed of militants who arrived from Darayya, southern suburb of Damascus, a source in the militia told RIA Novosti.

ALEPPO (Sputnik)  On August 25, the Syrian army and the so-called moderate armed opposition reached an agreement under which some 4,000 civilians were expected to leave Darayya, as well as 700 armed militants, who were to be taken to Idlib.

"According to our sources, terrorists, fighting in the north of Hama, are mainly composed of militants, who were allowed to leave Darayya and come to Idlib. Now they are attacking us and the army led by Jabhat Fatah al Sham, [al-Nusra Front]," the source said.

Earlier in the day, the Syrian army backed by local militia launched a counteroffensive in north of Hama province and retook the village of Maardes.

On Wednesday, a representative of the local militia said terrorists were trying to seize four villages located between the Idlib and Hama provinces.

Syria has been mired in civil war since 2011, with government forces fighting numerous opposition groups, as well as terrorist formations, such as the Daesh, prohibited in many countries, including Russia and the United States.

 Sputnik

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Intel CEO Brian Krzanich and Lenovo Chairman and CEO Yang Yuanqing attend the Lenovo Tech World at China National Convention Center in Beijing last year. (Photo : Getty Images)

Intel Corp is set to raise its marketing investments in China and improve its image by taking advantage of opportunities brought by the Internet of Things (IoT) in one of the world's largest chip markets, according to technologynewschina.com.



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"The only thing about China is that we need to spend more to expand in this market which is so big and has so many people. We will focus on the millennial generation, which are not only our core consumers but influential business decision makers," Penny Baldwin, vice-president in the Global Marketing and Communications Group at Intel, said.



In an interview with China Daily in Beijing, Baldwin said that the company will do everything and grab the opportunities presented by the Internet of Things as it tries to catch up with rival Qualcomm Inc in the mobile Internet era.



"By 2020, over 50 billion devices will be connected and this is exactly what Intel is preparing for," Baldwin added, saying that the company will prioritize drones, augmented reality, and robots in its product drive.



From a chip supplier of hardware manufacturers, the company is taking a major shift in its branding strategy to become a firm that is closely associated with consumers as well as fashion and cultural symbols, according to the company.



"We want to develop preferences and brand loyalty among consumers, based on which we can boost our brand premium and have more power in hands to negotiate with our manufacturing clients," Baldwin was quoted as saying.



In an effort to expand their marketing campaign, Intel teamed up with TV program producers and popular movie stars in 2015. But instead of simply placing their logos to promote the company in these programs, content producers were invited by Intel to shoot in their laboratories, which gave the audience a glimpse at how employees work their daily lives inside the facilities of the technology giant.


Syrian Army, Militia Launch Counteroffensive in Hama Province's North

Sputnik News

11:54 02.09.2016

The Syrian army and allied militia stopped terrorists' offensive and liberated a village in north of the Hama province.

ALEPPO (Sputnik)  The Syrian army backed by local militia launched a counteroffensive in north of the Hama province and retook one village, a source in the militia told RIA Novosti.

"The army and our units stopped the terrorists' offensive in northern Hama. We are advancing now. We freed the village of Maardes and moving to Tayyibat al Imam," the source said.

The source added that the militants were attacking the city of Muhradah to slow the Syrian army's advance.

On Wednesday, a representative of the local militia said armed groups of terrorists were trying to seize four villages located between the Idlib and Hama provinces. He also added, that militants involved in the fighting were from different armed groups, linked to Jabhat Fatah al Sham, formerly known as al-Nusra Front, classified as terrorist organization in Russia.

Syria has been mired in civil war since 2011, with government forces fighting numerous opposition groups, as well as terrorist formations, such as Daesh, prohibited in many countries, including Russia and the United States.

 Sputnik

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Sperm Collector Machine (Photo : YouTube)

What many males spill during moments of passion or lust is precious commodity in China. Sperm banks in the country are willing to pay thousands of yuan for semen, following the lifting of the one-child policy.



The two-child policy, which became official in January 2016, boosted demand for semen, but because of traditional culture and Chinese view of sperm donation as unorthodox, it is difficult to convince the countrys men to donate their seed, explained Fan Liqing, executive vice president of the Reproductive and Genetic Hospital of Citi-Xiangya in Hunan, reported Global Times.



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As Chinas largest sperm bank, the hospital officials are worried over the shortage of donated sperm and the declining quality of semen donations.



In Sichuan, to address the problem, the only sperm bank in the province boosted the cash reward to 5,000 yuan, with the added bonus of preserving their sperm for five years. The amount is 25 times the 200 yuan the sperm bank offered as cash reward a few years ago.



The Shanghai Sperm Bank offers a bigger cash reward of 6,000 yuan for 17 milliliters of semen. Despite the higher monetary compensation, demand is still bigger than supply. Studies show less than 20 percent of Chinese college students found the idea of donating sperm acceptable in contrast to blood donation which blood banks could advertise.






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By Federico Martinez, Federico.Martinez@gosanangelo.com @Federico_SAST

Texas is currently ranked 48th in the nation in its spending per public school student, a trend that will cause long-term economic and social problems because the quality of public education will continue to plummet, a state advocate for public education warned San Angelo residents this past week.

Charles Luke, associate director of Pastors for Texas Children, made his comments during "The Truth About Public Education and School" forum held at Stephens Central Library on Thursday. About 90 people attended the public event.

"The state needs to pony up and provide funding for state education," Luke said. "A quality education is a vital constitutional right. Sometimes the state Legislature gets it right, sometimes they don't."

Luke said funding for public education has been steadily decreasing for more than three decades. He placed the blame on state lawmakers, particularly senators, who he alleged manipulate funding so that wealthy school districts continue to reap more public financial support than poorer schools  especially those with large African-American and Hispanic students.

"It's nonsense, and it has to stop  yesterday," Luke said.

Carol Ann Bonds, retired superintendent of the San Angelo Independent School District who also spoke at the forum, said a decrease in school funding five years ago, part of an overall cut by the state, cut more than $12 million from its general fund operating budget.

"It was the worst year of my career," said Bonds, who noted that most of the cuts made included laying off teachers and other school staff and eliminating many school programs.

Bonds, who has been a public education administrator for more than two decades, and Luke said since then, some funding for public schools has been restored but not enough to match the costs of increased student enrollment and increased operating costs, including salaries and teacher health insurance.

According to Texas Education Agency data, state revenue allocated to schools in the 2010-2011 fiscal year amounted to $4,231 per student; in the 2012-13 fiscal year, that figure had retreated to $3,813, and in the 2016-17 fiscal year budget, it has climbed back to $4,118 per student, still $113 short of the allocation level from seven years ago.

Healthcare for Texas teachers costs about $1.5 billion annually, a cost the state hasn't attempted to help fund, Luke said. According to current funding formulas, "a couple hundred school districts in Texas are at risk of losing 57 percent of their funding for the 2017-18 school year."

The state has 1,207 public school districts, according to the Texas Education Agency.

School funding is also based on a formula using property taxes. Local tax revenue allocations in the past seven years have formed an increasingly large portion of the general revenue funding for schools. In 2009-10, local taxes were 43.66 percent of the allocation and the state portion was 52.35 percent; in the 2016-17 budget year, the local revenue allocation has expanded to 46.94 percent and the state portion has shrunk to 49.35 percent. Local revenues vary widely from one district to another, depending on the real estate values on which property taxes are based, and the state's increasing dependence on local revenue sources tends to aggravate disparities between districts.

Part of the funding formula is based on how well schools do on achieving certain benchmarks, including student test results, Bonds said. Currently, all schools in San Angelo are performing at "acceptable" standards, the highest rating a school can receive, Bonds said.

Other school districts in the state aren't faring as well. For example, Texas schools that are failing to meet minimum state achievement goals include 12 schools in Odessa, 8 in Midland and Lubbock and 2 in Amarillo, Bonds said. Those districts have been rated "not acceptable" by the state.

The problem is that if struggling schools don't show improvement they are penalized by having some of their funding taken away  at a time when more resources would likely help solve their existing problems, Luke said.

Luke and Bonds said charter schools can undermine the quality of education of public schools because they receive funding that would otherwise go to public schools. Charter schools also aren't required to adhere to the same academic achievement standards.

"A tuition-free education provides equal educational opportunities for all," Bonds said. "We have a legal obligation to uphold high standards for everyone. This is a system of governance that upholds a democratic society."

Thursday's event was part of a monthly series of forums, "The Truth About ...", that address a variety of issues. The forums are hosted by The Tom Green Democratic Party.
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The Affordable Care Act, better known as "Obamacare," is also well-known for the trouble it keeps getting into. The most recent chapter could be the next to last.

Big insurance companies, thinking there are better ways to make necessary profits than by losing money, are saying goodbye to the program's exchanges. This and others departing could make the program collapse, and some of the remedies being floated about could make it even less sustainable.

In a way, all this should be no surprise. The overriding issue plaguing these companies, the exchanges and those in the program has been there from the start. It is the idea of an all-encompassing, enormous, comprehensive project making sure all of us are in health care heaven.

What President Barack Obama and the other founders wanted was not some cautious outing in which particular problems were cautiously but reliably solved on an individual basis. They wanted to revamp pretty much everything in a hurry, and there is a problem.

The human intellect is not up to it.

It is difficult to know the consequences of any act we undertake, even something simple such as driving home from a movie. There could be an accident or a heart attack or a road could be closed and on and on. When you decide to reframe virtually the whole works in a system constituting a sixth of the economy in a continental nation of 300 million people, you are dealing with something complex almost beyond imagining.

Central-planning hubris was nonetheless riding high in hatching the plan, and lawmakers and bureaucrats didn't think there was a detail they could not mange. Thus we got 2,000 pages of law and 10,000 pages of regulations and one mistake after another, from computer confusion to language that apparently did not mean what it said to reinventions of the free market system that were not free and did not work.

As an instance of big brains doing dumb things, our D.C. superiors redefined insurance from a guarantee of money if something goes awry with one's health to a guarantee of money if something is already awry. If they were working on fire insurance, they would have said you can buy it and cash it in after your house had already burned to the ground.

Yes, we needed to find a way to help the uninsured with threatening preconditions. Unfortunately, the way the Democrats did it made insurance companies depend on unusually huge numbers of young, healthy individuals signing up for Obamacare to compensate for all those who were already sick.

It has not worked out so well. Despite penalties, too many of the healthy are staying away from insurance policies irksome in a host of ways.

What this means is that, even with government subsidies, the insurance companies dish out more money than they take in and turn to sky-high deductibles and ever heftier premiums that do still more to keep the healthy at bay. Finally, opting for survival, they skedaddle from the program.

Defending the program as a whole, some say it was, after all, a huge accomplishment to finally insure 20 million of a planned 50 million uninsured Americans. But given the flimsy structure, that could mean now you see it, now you don't.

A favored remedy of the left amounts to assisted suicide for the economy. These folks cheer for a single-payer system  something like Medicare for everyone  that would cost the government trillions on top of entitlement programs that are already set to crush us in not too many more years minus readjustments.

Other plans have issues, too, and what is needed is gradual repeal and replacement by means of legislative prudence  one small step at a time, building on what works and discarding what doesn't. A comprehensive, all-at-once junking of Obamacare could be as bad as its comprehensive creation. There are lots of good ideas around, but Congress should proceed slowly and carefully.

Jay Ambrose is an op-ed columnist for Tribune News Service. Contact him at speaktojay@aol.com.
American prisons and jails dont stop people from committing crimes again for the same reason that cars arent magically repaired after being locked in a garage for 20 years. Sometimes things have to get a lot worse before people think its worth the effort to make them better  and America may finally be approaching that point with its criminal justice system.The publics general dissatisfaction with policing and criminal justice was crystallized in July when Micah Xavier Johnson shot and killed five Dallas police officers, and injured nine other officers and two civilians.Johnsons extreme act was a manifestation of a growing sentiment among Americans, black Americans especially, that U.S. law enforcement is not administered fairly. With high-profile incidents of police shooting civilians (like Michael Brown, Alton Sterling and Philando Castile), a court system that does not seek to rehabilitate, a revolving door on prisons and jails that sees the same inmates again and again, and the growing cost of housing 22 percent of the worlds prisoners, both the public and government are ready for reform.Crime is a societal problem as old as sin itself, but Americas treatment of the issue has proven so careless that some leaders are now willing to try different approaches. Police departments are using data platforms like Socrata for Public Safety to hold officers accountable and keep the public informed of operations. And through programs like the Justice Reinvestment Initiative, states are using data to help case workers, judges and lawmakers make decisions that reduce crime instead of build more prisons. Modern technology is generating data that allows criminal justice to add shades of gray to what has long been viewed as a black and white issue.In the 1960s, crime was on the rise, but the prison population was not. Short sentences allowed criminals to cycle through the system quickly, and the subsequent public unrest became fertile soil for the Law and Order criminal justice system touted by politicians like Ronald Reagan and Richard Nixon. Law and Order types are pragmatic and straightforward. They wanted to clean up the streets and get people to straighten up and fly right. Longer sentences for lesser crimes became the trend in criminal justice as this philosophy took hold. As the 1980s crime wave surfaced, the War on Drugs cinched the noose a bit tighter still.The sentences were just incredible, recalled Tom Lalley, communications manager at Pew Charitable Trusts. You know, it was 15, 25 years for trafficking drugs and a lot of times these were just people who were hired to drive the truck, that sort of thing.The recent legalization of marijuana in some states is part of a larger push back against the War on Drugs and a Law and Order type system that has traditionally not tolerated any discussion of nuance or motivation for criminality. And so the idea that a nonviolent criminal should be removed from society for half his life no longer seems as obvious or rational to people as it once did. Law and Order types believe that incarceration is the way to stop and prevent crime, and in a concrete way, thats true. Those in prison have a hard time committing crime that affects anyone outside the prison. But this attitude is dismissive of the insidious peripheral effects on society.After release, most criminals continue the same kind of life they were leading before they got popped. A 2005 study by the Bureau of Justice Statistics that tracked more than 400,000 prisoners in 30 states found that more than two-thirds of those prisoners were arrested again within three years of release. Within five years, that figure goes up to 76 percent  thats 309,952 men and women, from a single study, caught in the revolving door of drugs and crime who ding the economy for billions each month. The funds put into state corrections has quadrupled in the last two decades, according to Pew Charitable Trusts, and now tops $50 billion annually.Criminal behavior causes immeasurable damage not only to the nations economy and cultural image, but also to the psyches of Americas children, who are themselves at increased risk of imprisonment for the lack of guidance, containment and positive role-modeling that their fathers might have provided had they been present. Criminality is passed down from father to son unconsciously and at a massive scale. Its sad for those who care on a personal level, but even those who dont care are going to feel it around tax season and each time they walk the streets or turn on the news.The more than 2.1 million men locked in American prisons, jails and juvenile correctional facilities account for more than 93 percent of the total American inmate population. The removal of those men from society is hard on each of their emotional well-beings and sense of self-worth, which makes rehabilitation a challenge. But the ordeal is even more detrimental to their families, their children and the nation as a whole.There are about 2.7 million children with an incarcerated parent, almost always a dad. About 71 percent of pregnant teenagers are fatherless, according to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. About 80 percent of rapists are motivated in part by anger stemming from fatherless childhoods, according to a 1978 study found in Criminal Justice and Behavior Vol. 14. Removing a father from the home makes a student nine times more likely to drop out of high school, according to a report from the National Association of Secondary School Principals. Absence of a father increases the risk of childhood suicide five-fold, according to the U.S. Department of Health. Children who are abandoned by their fathers are soon to become the same people that society doesnt know what to do with, and their numbers are growing.While mothers are thought by the psychology world to be the most important force in early childhood for both boys and girls, the presence of a strong male figure in the home has shown in repeated studies to decrease aggression among boys and reduce (by about 20-fold) the likelihood of a wide range of behavioral disorders, according the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Taking even a single father away from his family creates a seemingly unstoppable chain-reaction felt throughout society. That such a practice is today considered a cultural norm will forever color the pages of history books. When future classrooms look back to review the character of Americas ancient peoples, they may marvel at the readiness with which society swept this problem under the carpet. America may as well be burying nuclear waste  these kinds of problems dont just go away.Despite the shooting in Dallas, which was the deadliest incident for U.S. law enforcement since 9/11, the city is at the forefront of data-driven policing. Dallas is one of the few governments in the nation to have released large amounts of officer-involved shooting data  12 years worth in the case of the Dallas Police Department (DPD)  that includes metrics like race and gender of the officers and citizens involved. The idea was to make police officers accountable for their actions.And its working.In 2015, our department's excessive force complaints were reduced by 67 percent, said DPD Police Chief David Brown at a press conference just a few weeks before the fatal police shooting. And our deadly force incidents have been reduced by 45 percent. So far, this year in 2016, we've had four excessive force complaints. We average between 50 and 200 my whole 33-year career. So this is transformative. And we've averaged between 18 and 25 police-involved shootings [annually] my whole career. We have had two so far this year. Knock on wood, brother. Knock on wood.The federal government is gently nudging police departments to be more transparent like Dallas. The Death in Custody Reporting Act of 2013, which began under another name in 2000, threatens to penalize states that do not report the deaths of citizens under law enforcement supervision by cutting Omnibus Crime Control and Safe Streets Act funding by 10 percent. This year, the FBI is also considering an extension on use-of-force data collection to include nondeadly incidents.Kevin Merritt, CEO of Socrata, said police departments should stop waiting for the federal government to decide their policies and take matters into their own hands.I emailed [Seattle Police] Chief [Kathleen] O'Toole after what happened in Dallas and I said, We've got to accelerate, Merritt said. We've got to go faster about getting all this data online in a format that people can understand.To that end, Socrata released in June a new open data platform for public safety  called Socrata for Public Safety  that gives police departments a platform to share their operational data, access and publish data on interactive national crime plotting map CrimeReports, track goals over time, and provide financial transparency. If police dont share their data and tell their story, the publics imagination fills that void with another story  and police may not enjoy that narrator.There is a fractured relationship between police departments and mostly the minority communities in each of these cities. The reason it's fractured is based on two things. One is the perception that there is profiling going on and that there's a different kind of treatment police officers have for certain minorities than they would for Caucasian folks. The second part of it is social media and the power of this device, Merritt said, holding up his iPhone.Smartphone videos like the one made by the girlfriend of Philando Castile, who sat calmly recording as police near St. Paul, Minn., shot and killed him during a routine vehicle stop, make it difficult for even the staunchest police supporters to deny that looking at data might be a more prudent course than the one the countys been on for the past several decades.There are a certain number of people who are constantly going through the jail system, constantly going through the court system, who really aren't criminals, said Merritt. These are people who have drug addiction and substance abuse challenges, and they really should be diverted to mental care or to substance abuse care. But because these systems are so disconnected, there's no real opportunity to do that.But data-driven approaches are a chance to remove the politics and biases from what has traditionally been a politically stalemated and race-oriented conversation. Data can be manipulated, but when scientific rigor is applied, its hard to argue with numbers that show what works and what doesnt.These data silo problems that you hear about are real. Really, an employee cannot find the data they have, Merritt said. So part of what we're doing is creating systems where the court system can interface without exposing confidentiality with the health-care system. When the judge is sitting there, and the guy has been here 10 times this year and he keeps breaking and entering and stealing car radios so he can feed his drug addiction, instead of the judge sending you to the county jail, we can say, 'You know what, we've sent you to the county jail nine times in the last year. This is not working. I'm going to divert you to the substance abuse program. For the first time, the judge will be able to see there is no room in the county jail, but there is room in this facility for substance abuse.Through the Justice Reinvestment Initiative, a program under the Bureau of Justice Assistance, 30 states are taking a second look at their justice policies.South Carolina, for instance, saw its prison population race up from about 9,000 to 25,000 inmates between 1983 and 2009. The Justice Reinvestment Initiative prompted the creation of the Omnibus Crime Reduction and Sentencing Reform Act in 2010, which prioritized incarceration of high-risk and violent offenders. Last year, a report was issued showing that South Carolinas prison population declined almost 10 percent, and nonviolent incarceration decreased 30 percent. This led the state to close two prisons and reduce the capacity of another. The state estimated the act saved $18.7 million in spending.The Justice Reinvestment Initiative is a worthwhile approach to criminal justice because it removes anecdotal thinking from the equation and gets people looking at processes in an objective way, said Faye Taxman, professor of criminology at George Mason University.Our war on drugs has led us to incarcerating people for possession or people who have addiction disorders," she said, "and thats a very expensive policy when you realize that in most systems anywhere between 15 and 30 percent of the population are drug addicted and might be better served by solid drug treatment programs that are half the cost of incarceration. Maybe thats a better public strategy.Law and Order types are repelled by the idea of coddling criminals, but the justice system today stacks terrible odds against those who start out in life on the wrong foot. For a system that constantly references the term rehabilitation, theres not a whole lot of rehabilitating going on, hence the high rates of recidivism. When prisoners are released, Taxman said, they often emerge much worse off than when they went in. They accrue debt from child support, they lose employment and housing opportunities, and their time inside has often been spent learning how to be a more skilled criminal rather than being more emotionally or psychiatrically attuned.The Justice Reinvestment Initiative is under-evaluated in terms of what people have been able to do, but, at least in my view, it has laid a foundation to make reforms and to open up the opportunity of thinking about what else could we do? Taxman said. So youre seeing a lot more attention now given to substance abuse and mental health issues, and thats because the datas all showing that there are pockets of people in these institutions, and the institutions cant really address their needs. I think its been a promoter of people thinking about a broader range of approaches that they wouldnt have thought about without the data.Utah began its Justice Reinvestment Initiative program about 18 months ago through development of a data platform built using Apache Hadoop thats scheduled for launch later this year. Data will be shared across agency functions like criminal justice and human services.Were partnered with local government, counties, and county jails and county mental and behavioral health organizations to get a complete picture of how were servicing vulnerable populations in the state, explained Dave Fletcher, Utahs chief technology officer . Based on data, the idea is we can provide data-driven decisions to judges, to people in mental health agencies to provide better solutions that work based on the analytics associated with any given individual.States tend to have effective data-sharing programs across criminal justice, said Fletcher, but when a prisoner is released from prison or otherwise crosses into another government function, people slip through the cracks and dont get the services or treatment they need. This system would allow for real-time data-sharing so case workers and judges arent hazarding guesses  theyre looking at accurate, up-to-date data.When they come out of the correctional system, there is a certain portion of them that may have substance abuse issues or end up being homeless, Fletcher explained. We want to be able to know when that happens so we can intervene proactively rather than waiting for the situation to get worse. And we want to use data to know what kinds of solutions work best  so when they come in for a service, say unemployment, then based on the history we have for that individual, we will know better what kind of jobs to match them up with and what kind of training theyll need.The main challenge around a program like this isnt technical, said Fletcher, but bureaucratic. There are privacy laws that can make such data-sharing arrangements tedious to facilitate, he said, but it is possible to share that data and they will.Were hoping to save about $550 million through this initiative, Fletcher said. Ultimately I think all of this should result in lower cost for government, and better results and better outcomes that are measurable. We dont always do a good job of measuring the outcomes of all of the programs we have, and I think thats a big part of this  to do a better job of that.
A protester demonstrates in support of EU ruling against Apple outside parliament building in Dublin on September 2, 2016 (Photo : Getty Images/Paul Faith)

Apple is probably going to be ordered to count billions of Euros by The European Union Competition Council (EUCC) for dodging taxes in the Republic of Ireland. The ruling on tax evasion is scheduled to be delivered on Sept. 4 following completion of detail probe into Apple's controversial Irish tax affairs.



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If the council rules against the tech giant, the penalty will be for billions of Euros and the largest monetary penalty in the history of EU. However, whatever the ruling will be, both Apple and the Irish government are believed to appeal against the ruling.



Under EU regulations, tax authority of any member country is not allowed to grant tax holiday or benefits in favor particular business enterprises. EU considers such interventions as illegal aid under state patronization. The EU competition regulator has accused Irish government in 1991 and 2007 for aiding Apple in narrowing down its tax liability, according to BBC.



In 1991, Apple has signed a tax agreement with the Irish authority amid sharp fall in iPhone sales due to PC booming. The iPhone manufacturer has made another agreement in 2007 on paying four percent tax due against $200 billion profit earned over a period of 10 years.



Apple earns around 90 percent of annual profit from its Irish subsidiaries. In addition to that, the Cupertino, California-based electronics and software giant holds a cash reserve of $187 billion in Ireland. The liquidity reserve in an overseas country is the largest one piled by any US business enterprise, reports Independent. EUCC alleges that such undue and illegal tax privileges allowed Apple to eliminate rivals while distorting competitive environment in the market.



Meanwhile, the probe and attempt for penalizing a United States multinational company have been criticized by the US government. The US Treasury Department has referred the moves as deeply troubling while representing the commission as a supra-national tax authority. Apple, however, denies any special tax deal and claims for operating business in Ireland following general tax provisions unlike other multinationals.



Apple has been enjoying tax benefits from the concerned authority of Ireland and EUCC has termed such arrangements as illegal. The council is about to impose a hefty monetary penalty following completion of the probe on alleged tax dodging. However, the moves have been criticized by the US government while representing those as deeply troubling.



In the video, EU competition council claims owing $14.5 billion from Apple in back taxes.






(TNS) -- On Sept. 1, Democrat Russ Feingold called for the federal government to treat broadband internet service as a public utility as part of his Badger Innovation Plan.Feingold, who is running against U.S. Sen. Ron Johnson, R-Oshkosh, for the Senate seat Feingold lost to Johnson in 2010, touted his plan to expand high-speed internet access to rural areas during a visit with the La Crosse Tribune's editorial board.Up to a million people (in Wisconsin) do not have adequate internet, Feingold said, which limits not only individuals' ability to connect to digital infrastructure but also businesses ability to compete globally.Feingold told a story of students in rural areas who arent able to get internet access at home and so drive to town to do homework.They park outside the library or the high school or the local college, and there are a couple different cars there and theyre not up to no good -- theyre just trying to get wi-fi, Feingold said. You cant really compete as a business or a student without internet.Feingold called for a robust federal program of broadband build-outs by both private and public providers to bring rural residents up to the same level of service as people in the city, at similar rates -- similar to federal subsidies in the 1930s that expanded electricity to those same areas.This needs to be a utility, Feingold said. Everybody needs to have it. You cant let these three big companies have control.Feingolds plan criticizes congressional efforts to pass legislation limiting net neutrality, which would allow Comcast, AT&T and Charter to charge websites such as Netflix and Google for faster content delivery.We have to break the hold of these corporate interests when it comes to something like this, Feingold said.Feingold called for a federal law to prevent states from disallowing municipalities, co-ops and rural electric companies to make broadband accessible to all. He said his would benefit small businesses, allowing them to better compete, and help students and families living in places the three large companies dont cover.His plan also calls for further investment in technical education and greater support for Trade Adjustment Assistance, which helps workers transition into new careers, as well as investment in more traditional infrastructure.Feingold said his policies are efforts that should find support from both major parties and, more important, the people of Wisconsin.People really want us to work across the parties and embrace bipartisanship, Feingold said. Its not long ago that these were bipartisan issues.Feingold pointed at immigration reform, climate change and health care as issues that used to bring Democrats and Republicans together. He said he believes he can find common ground to make real changes if re-elected.
The Italian grand prix saga is still not over, as the contract was not actually signed on Friday.

Bernie Ecclestone, Jean Todt and Lombardy president Roberto Maroni announced on Friday that a new three-year deal to keep F1 at Monza has been agreed.

"As soon as we agree on all the little details that are important for the contract, we will sign it in the UK," F1 supremo Ecclestone said.

"Most important is that we have finally reached an agreement and there are no more problems. The contract is for three years but I hope the race will be here for 100," he added.

Italian automobile club chief Angelo Sticchi Damiani, who has led the negotiations, told the Italian broadcaster Sky: "For jurisdictional reasons it can't be signed in Italy."

Maroni added: "I will go to London to be sure."

Also at Friday's announcement was former Renault boss and Ecclestone confidante Flavio Briatore, who told Mediaset: "I only played the role of facilitator -- those who did the negotiations did a very good job."

(GMM)
F1 teams are reportedly concerned about the risk of staff contracting the mosquito-borne Zika virus in Singapore later this month.

The Sun newspaper reports that 150 cases have been recorded in the Asian city-state in the last week.

The report said Mercedes plans to supply staff with long-sleeve tops, while Nico Rosberg has been consulting with doctors about the risks.

He said: "As a family man now, yes, I will be very interested and look into it when the time comes. I have started discussions about it already."

Singapore race organisers told the German-language Speed Week: "The wellbeing and safety of visitors and participants at the Marina Bay Circuit is our absolutely priority.

"We are currently working closely with the relevant authorities and are putting all necessary measures in place. Preparations for our race continue as per normal," the statement added.

(GMM)
Pirelli has admitted it might not be able to introduce a new construction of tyre this year.

The Italian marque is seeking the agreement of all the teams to bring in a safer construction, but some competitors fear it is fundamentally different and slower.

As a last resort, Pirelli could turn to the FIA for help on getting the tyres introduced on safety grounds.

"But I would prefer to get the consent of all of the teams," Pirelli's Mario Isola told Auto Motor und Sport.

The report said it is already too late to get the new tyres sent to Malaysia for the race in early October by sea.

"We still have to produce the tyres," Isola admitted, "and then send them to Sepang via air.

"The normal tyres are already on the way by sea. If we get an agreement on the new tyres, we will just have a lot of tyres in Malaysia," he smiled.

(GMM)
Max Verstappen has hit back with fury at criticism from 1997 world champion Jacques Villeneuve.

After the 18-year-old Red Bull driver's controversial duel with Kimi Raikkonen at Spa, commentator Villeneuve said Verstappen should tone it down or risk killing a rival.

"He should watch his statement that someone could die," the Dutch broadcaster NOS quoted him as saying. "He himself has killed someone."

Verstappen is probably referring to 2001, when an airborne crash in Melbourne involved a rear wheel detaching, striking and killing a marshal.

F1 race director Charlie Whiting reportedly took Verstappen aside at Monza and warned him about his aggression.

"We talked a bit about what happened in the last race," Max admitted, according to De Telegraaf newspaper. "I'd rather it was alone with Charlie than with the media or the briefing with the drivers."

Verstappen's driving has been a hot topic at Monza, with even former Renault team boss Flavio Briatore asked about it by Italy's Mediaset outlet.

"If I was his manager, I would tell him to always do the same thing," he said.

(GMM)
A new study reveals that Chinese netizens vary in the way they use the Internet. (Photo : Getty Images)

According to the Zhongshan Index 2016, a study of netizens across China that analyzed what they express online and how they do it, many Internet users are characterized by the way they communicate.



The index revealed that many users' level of positivity in life is characterized by their location.



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According to the report, netizens from the Guangdong Province usually discuss their work, while those from the prosperous city of Hangzhou, East China's Zhejiang Province spent more time talking about leisure.



The Index is a joint research paper published by the Chinese Netizen Social Mentality Research Lab at Sun Yat-sen University, the Association of Cyber Culture of the city of Zhongshan, Guangdong, and the Guangzhou Big Data and Public Dissemination Research Base.



Researchers from these institutions gathered random responses of 2,000 to 5,000 Internet users across the country. They also observed users in WeChat, Sina Weibo, and Baidu Tieba.



Zhu Wei, deputy director of the Research Center of Law of Communication at the Beijing-based China University of Political Science and Law, said ""The local environment, customs, climate and other elements might form the characteristics of residents, but in terms of this report, the connection between the cities and their Web users' emotions may also be caused by other issues."



The expert believed that the location of the user affects the way he communicates, and affects his or her manner of thinking.



He Lingnan, deputy chief of the big data and communications lab at Sun Yat-sen University, agreed with Zhu.



He said, "Actually, we cannot simply explain the findings of netizens' online expression, because we have currently only studied it from the angle of communication, but we need more data and further studies from local experts who understand the variety of societies and cultures covered."



The experts concluded that further study on online behavior can later help determine medical needs and even predicting crime rates.


An explosion was seen from the site of a SpaceX rocket at the Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida on Thursday morning. (Photo : Getty Images/ Justin Sullivan)

A SpaceX rocked exploded on the launch pad at Cape Canaveral on Thursday morning where it was being test-fired ahead of its Saturday launch. Buildings miles away from the launch pad were shaken by the blast.



SpaceX said that an anomaly had happened while the rocket was being fueled and the CEO, Elon Musk tweeted that there were no injuries as a result of the explosion, but that the cause of the blast is still unknown, CNN reported.



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Musk, who also is CEO of electric car maker Tesla (TSLA), has said he hopes the company will be able to take people to Mars as soon as 2025.



The rocket's payload was carrying an Israeli-built communications satellite used for Facebook and was due to launch on Saturday.



According to BBC News, Facebook in partnership with French satellite firm Eutelsat Communications, was to use Spacecoms' Amos-6 satellite to bring broadband internet access for swathes of Africa, Europe and the Middle East as part of its initiative, the Internet.org.



Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg, who is travelling in Africa said that he was deeply disappointed to hear SpaceX's launch failure which destroyed their satellite. In a post on his Facebook account, he said that the satellite would have provided connectivity to many entrepreneurs and everyone else across the continent.



The Facebook founder however, noted that they will remain committed to their mission of connecting everyone and they will keep working until everyone gets the opportunities the satellite would have provided. Zuckerberg also said he has other technologies to help connect people.



The 9:07 am blast, was a series of explosions that lasted for more than four minutes. The blast occurred at the Launch Complex 40, an Air Force facility which has been leased to SpaceX. Since 2010, he company has managed to launch 25 rockets from the site. Its rockets have carried supplies to the International Space Station as well as satellites.



SpaceX aiming at chnaging the economics of space flight by making rockets that land upright after launch and can then be reused. Though it has yet to carry any people into space, it has won a contract from NASA to take American astronauts to the space station in the future.



By late 2017, SpaceX is expected to receive flight readiness certification from NASA for those manned flights.



A leading Israeli space official said the loss of the Amos-6 satellite that was valued at more than $200m (150m), was a major blow to the industry.



Here is a video of SpaceX Rocket Massive Explosion:






Falcon 9 rocket with AMOS-6 satellite explodes on the launch pad on Sept. 1, 2016. (Photo : NASA)

NASA has issued a statement saying the explosion that destroyed a SpaceX Falcon 9 launch vehicle and AMOS-6, its $200 million satellite payload, won't delay the launch of the OSIRIS REx mission to the asteroid Bennu on Sept. 8.



The agency made the announcement following concerns the huge explosion and fireball that obliterated Falcon 9 on Sept. 1 at Space Launch Complex 40 might have damaged the Atlas V rocket that will launch OSIRIS Rex located at Space Launch Complex 41, slightly over a mile from SpaceX's launch pad where the explosion occurred.



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"We remain confident in our commercial partners and firmly stand behind the successful 21st century launch complex that NASA, other federal agencies, and U.S. commercial companies are building on Florida's Space Coast," said NASA.



"Today's incident -- while it was not a NASA launch -- is a reminder that spaceflight is an incredible challenge, but our partners learn from each success and setback.



NASA, however, is unable to confirm if the blast will affect missions to the International Space Station (ISS). It said the situation at the Cape is being evaluated, and it's too early to know whether the incident will affect the schedule for upcoming NASA-related SpaceX launches to the ISS.



"If there are SpaceX mission delays, other cargo spacecraft will be able to meet the station's cargo needs, and supplies and research investigations are at good levels."



It's all systems go for the $800 million OSIRIS-Rex mission, however.



"The launch for NASA's OSIRIS-REx mission remains on track for Sept. 8. Initial assessments indicate the United Launch Alliance Atlas V rocket and OSIRIS-REx spacecraft are healthy and secure in the Vertical Integration Facility at Space Launch Complex-41, which is 1.1 miles from SpaceX's launch pad where the incident occurred."



The Origins, Spectral Interpretation, Resource Identification, Security, Regolith Explorer or OSIRIS REx is a NASA asteroid study and sample return mission. It will to study asteroid 101955 Bennu, a carbonaceous asteroid and in 2023 return a sample to Earth for detailed analysis.



If successful, OSIRIS-REx will be the first U.S. spacecraft to return samples from an asteroid.



The returned asteroid material might enable scientists to learn more about the formation and evolution of the Solar System; initial stages of planet formation and the source of organic compounds that led to the formation of life on Earth.



The 45th Space Wing said the "anomaly" that destroyed the Falcon 9 occurred during propellant loading of the vehicle.



SpaceX confirmed the cause in a statement that said the anomaly "originated around the upper stage oxygen tank and occurred during propellant loading of the vehicle. Per standard operating procedure, all personnel were clear of the pad and there were no injuries."



The static test fire that destroyed Falcon 9 is the last milestone a launch vehicle goes through prior to launch. The "strongback", the structure that supports the Falcon 9 until just prior to launch, was heavily damaged during the explosion.


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Modi in Vietnam for Security Talks with Vietnamese Leaders; BrahMos Likely on their Agenda

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi. (Photo : Getty Images)

The Sept. 2-3 visit of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi to Vietnam is being overshadowed by a lingering question: will both countries at last sign the deal to sell India's deadly BrahMos supersonic cruise missile to Vietnam?



What is certain is BrahMos will be atop the agenda during meetings between Modi and Vietnamese President Tran Dai Quang and Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc. Overarching the talks to bolster Vietnam's arsenal will be India's new and more muscular role as a key Asian player opposing Chinese hegemony in the South China Sea and Asia.



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"Narendra Modi's visit actually is the strong indication of India showing its friendship, camaraderie, solidarity with Vietnam, particularly at the time when Vietnam is facing lots of pressure in the region from China," said Prof. Sukh Doe Muni, fellow at the Institute for Defense Studies and Analyses in New Delhi.



The ruling against China by the Permanent Court of Arbitration in The Hague that invalidated China's claim to own the South China Sea might bring India and Vietnam closer together diplomatically, believes Ngo Xuan Binh, director of the Institute of Indian and Southwest Asian Studies in Hanoi.



Western military sources said Modi's talks in Hanoi included the option of stationing a team of Indian technicians Vietnam to offer the Vietnamese assistance in using the BrahMos system. Speculation is rife India might soon deliver the potent cruise missile to Hanoi, which means the deal has been signed.



Modi is the first Indian prime minister to visit Vietnam in over a decade. Analysts say his visit proves how important Hanoi is to India, and also sends a strong signal to China as to which side India supports in the South China Sea imbroglio.



"Vietnam is India's important strategic partner and the visit is aimed at further strengthening bilateral ties, including defense, security and trade," said Preeti Saran, Secretary (East), External Affairs Ministry, before Modi's arrival.



"Vietnam is a central pillar of India's Act East Policy and our priorities for cooperation range in a whole host of areas, including defense and security, trade and investment, maritime cooperation, energy resources, in integrating our self to the ASEAN community and for leveraging our interactions in the regional and international forums," she said.



"Defense and security cooperation with Vietnam is very robust, which includes counterterrorism, trans-national crimes. Our focus is on capacity building, training, high-level exchanges and more recently defense procurement."



Modi will leave for Hangzhou, China from Vietnam in the evening on Sept. 3 to attend the G-20 Summit on September 4 and 5.


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Cos Cob

The annual Greenwich remembrance of the 2001 terrorist attacks will have a new setting this year with a ceremony set for Sept. 11 at the memorial in Cos Cob Park.

The glass memorial was unveiled formally last year and pays tribute to the 33 victims from Greenwich. The ceremony will take place at 5 p.m. sharp and last for about 30 minutes.

The memorial took years to complete and was privately funded. It was given to the town as a gift for a park built on the site of the old Cos Cob Power Plant.

The September 11th Memorial Foundation Board and town officials are working together closely to craft an event that will honor all who perished on Sept. 11, 2001, especially the 33 individuals whose names are a part of the memorial, foundation spokesman Peter Barhydt said.

Parking is available at the park with additional parking at the nearby Cos Cob train station and commuter lots.

Chris Hughes, a Marine veteran and commander of the American Legion Post 29, had been instrumental putting together earlier ceremonies both at Town Hall and at the Glenville Volunteer Fire Company, where a memorial was created out of a piece of the World Trade Center, according to First Selectman Peter Tesei.

What weve come to appreciate is that, through the establishment of the memorial, many of the families view (the Cos Cob) location as a grave site, Tesei said. Many are appreciative of what the town has done to hold this every year  but are looking for a degree of subtlety versus pomp, is really the best way to put it.

The traditional ceremony by the Glenville Volunteer Fire Company remembering those killed in the attacks and saluting first responders also is set for Sept. 11. The ceremony will take place at 3 p.m. at the firehouse, 266 Glenville Road.

According to Sandy Kornberg, the observance is expected to be a low-key one. The public is invited to attend.

Old Greenwich

A popular Old Greenwich grocery store has been sold but there are not expected to be any immediate changes for shoppers at the Kings Market on Arcadia Road.

The market is expected to remain open after the sale to KB Holding Inc. but no official word has been released by the new company. KB Holding Inc. of Delaware is affiliated with Qatari conglomerate Ghanim bin Saad Al Saad and Sons Holding. Published reports state that stores will retain their management structure and remain locally operated.

The grocery store was once part of the Porricellis chain, which also used to operate in Cos Cob. In 2012, the store was sold by owner Jerry Porricelli Jr. after 63 years in Old Greenwich with the stipulation that it had to remain a grocery store. Kings has operated the store ever since.

The sale also includes the Baluccis Food Lovers Market at 1050 East Putnam Ave. in Riverside. The store had previously been sold in 2009 to Angelo, Gordon and Co. and MTN Capital Partners LLC, putting them both under the same corporate umbrella.

In a statement, Kings Chairman and CEO Judith Spires said, We believe this will be a great partnership for Kings and Balducci's that will create significant opportunities for our business going forward.

The sale was brokered by the investment managing firm Castle Harlan.

Kings and Balduccis are two long-established and well-organized brands in high-end food retailing with, we believe, an outstanding potential for expansion, and we are pleased to see this transaction reach its successful conclusion, Castle Harlans managing director Eric Schwartz said in a statement.

Central Greenwich

Greenwich Library is hitting an important milestone next week.

On Sept. 6 at 5 p.m., the library will kick off the 100th anniversary of the public-private partnership with the town of Greenwich. Tuesdays event will take place in the second floor meeting room.

This is a special partnership between the town and its residents, Greenwich Librarys Director of Development Nancy Klein said. While the town supports many of our core operating and maintenance expenses, we need generous residents to fund our programming and events for the entire community.

Through the partnership, she said, guest authors and speakers and concerts and other free events for the community are funded.

Greenwich Library holds close to 1,400 programs and events a year. More information about the anniversary and other upcoming events is online at www.greenwichlibrary.org .

Klein said the kickoff was created to take advantage of the librarys annual appeal to donors, which starts in the beginning of September. Other events will be held throughout the year.

Post Road

A proposal to build apartments on the site of the Post Road Iron Works is heading into its final go-round.

The towns Planning and Zoning Commission is expected to formally vote on Thursday to deny final site plan approval for the plan to demolish the current buildings and put up a 397,485 square foot apartment complex with 355 units and an above and underground parking garage for 559 vehicles.

The towns Inland Wetlands and Watercourses Agency denied the application in July, citing environmental concerns. IWWA approval was needed for the project to get the go-ahead from Planning and Zoning.

The proposal, has been met with strong public opposition from neighbors, who say a large structure would ruin the neighborhoods character and cause environmental problems, including flooding and potentially contaminated soil getting into the air and water.

According to town Director of Zoning Katie DeLuca, the Post Road Iron Works application will be dealt with at 4 p.m. before the commission adjourns and reconvenes at 7 p.m. She said the agenda was split because of expected lengthy discussions at the meeting and the commission wanted to deal with the item early.
Antibacterial soaps (Photo : Getty Images)

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has banned antibacterial soaps and body washes from being sold in the United States, saying there's no proof these kinds of soap are safe and kill germs better than ordinary bath soap.



The FDA banned 19 chemicals regularly used in antibacterial soaps and argued these soaps provide no benefits over regular soap. Makers of antibacterial soaps also failed to prove these soaps kill germs, said the agency. Removing these chemicals means these soaps can no longer claim to be antibacterial.



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Companies were given one year to remove the banned ingredients out of the products, said the FDA. The ban only affects hand soaps and body washes.



"Consumers may think antibacterial washes are more effective at preventing the spread of germs, but we have no scientific evidence that they are any better than plain soap and water," said Dr. Janet Woodcock, director of the FDA's Center for Drug Evaluation and Research.



"In fact, some data suggests that antibacterial ingredients may do more harm than good over the long-term."



The FDA also expressed concern antibacterials in these soaps contribute to the growing problem of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) in which microbes are becoming increasingly resistant to all known forms of antibiotics.



Among the banned chemicals are triclosan and triclocarban. The popular triclosan used in 93 percent of liquid products labeled antibacterial or "antimicrobial, said the FDA. Triclosan and the 18 other ingredients are used in over 2,100 products, or 40% of the soaps sold in the U.S.



The FDA said it's discussed the safety of triclosan and similar ingredients with manufacturers for at least a decade. Triclosan, however, is so popular the FDA expressed concerned about the long-term effects of its use. The Environmental Protection Agency is reviewing the banned anti-bacterial ingredients.



"Manufacturers did not demonstrate that they are both safe for long-term daily use and more effective than plain soap and water in preventing illness and the spread of certain infections," said Theresa Michele of the FDA's Division of Non-prescription Drug Products.



She also said using cleaners with the 19 banned ingredients could increase bacterial resistance, which is key to the AMR problem. The banned substances might also affect hormones.



Michele noted the FDA had given manufacturers time to submit data showing their antibacterial soaps were better than soap alone, but no significant new data were submitted.



She pointed out hand washing with plain soap and water is the most effective way to avoid getting sick and spreading germs to others.



On the other hand, hand sanitizers and wipes designed to be used without water and containing more than 50% alcohol are not affected by the new rules. Cleansers used in hospitals or nursing homes are exempt from the ban.



The banned chemicals are (and look for them in your bath soap and body wasg):



Cloflucarban; Fluorosalan; Hexachlorophene; Hexylresorcinol; Iodine complex (ammonium ether sulfate and polyoxyethylene sorbitan monolaurate); Iodine complex (phosphate ester of alkylaryloxy polyethylene glycol); Nonylphenoxypoly (ethyleneoxy) ethanoliodine; Poloxamer-iodine complex; Povidone-iodine 5 to 10 percent; Undecoylium chloride iodine complex; Methylbenzethonium chloride; Phenol (greater than 1.5 percent); Phenol (less than 1.5 percent) 16; Secondary amyltricresols; Sodium oxychlorosene; Tribromsalan; Triclocarban; Triclosan; Triple dye.


Samsung might have issued a global recall of Galaxy Note7 units over battery fire hazard, but that hasn't stopped the company from launching the handset in China, where the 4GB RAM variant is now available for purchase.

Turns out Galaxy Note7 units destined for China are immune from the battery problem as they contain battery from a different supplier. This was revealed by the company in a press release, asking users in China to "rest assured."

Following is the translated version of what the South Korean company said:

Samsung Electronics officially announced, ease of use for the protection of consumers, in some countries, for Galaxy Note7 possible risks proactively replace the battery. Country line version from September 1 officially on sale in the Chinese market, the use of different battery suppliers, not in the replacement category, Chinese consumers can rest assured purchase. Samsung Electronics will continue to carry out Chinese people love to do business and contribute to Chinas social enterprise commitment to continue to uphold the quality and service first conviction, for consumers the best products and experiences. Thanks to the media and public attention for China Samsung Electronics.  Samsung (Sep 2, 2016)

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If you recall, Sony said last year that it is "very seriously" considering starting a manufacturing facility in India. Now, when asked if there has been any progress in this regard, the company's India Managing Director Kenichiro Hibi has said that they are still serious about it but nothing has moved on ground yet.

"Don't deny any possibility. Still in discussion for opportunities in the future to expand manufacturing, but nothing concrete," Hibi said. "We are talking more seriously about what we can do in India."

The Japanese company, which has manufacturing units in its home country, as well as China and Malaysia, currently only has a software development centre in India with an employee strength of 1,500. It has, however, started assembling televisions and other media products in the country in association with a local partner.

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As you might already know, Samsung has announced a worldwide recall of the Galaxy Note7 over battery fire hazard, and all Note7 sales have been suspended. The company has already confirmed that shipments have been delayed as it's carrying out further quality testing on the handset.

While retailers are not to blame to for the whole situation, some of them are doing their bit to offer solace to their customers. For example, if you are in the UK and had pre-ordered a Samsung Galaxy Note7 through Carphone Warehouse, it's worth knowing that the retailer is offering 25 (around $33) account credit to compensate for the delay.

For its part, Samsung has made it clear that users' security is their priority at the moment, and there is currently no word on exactly when Galaxy Note7 shipments will resume, although we expect that to happen soon.

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Ryan Chester, 2015 Breakthrough Junior Challenge winner. (Photo : Breakthrough Prize Foundation )

The Breakthrough Junior Challenge, a global student science and mathematics competition designed to inspire creative thinking about fundamental concepts in the life sciences, physics or mathematics, has been launched and is now accepting original science video submissions through Oct. 10.



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The Breakthrough Prize Foundation announced the launch of the second edition of this event open to young people around the world.



Breakthrough Junior Challenge is funded by Mark Zuckerberg; his wife, Dr. Priscilla Chan, and Yuri and Julia Milner, through the Breakthrough Prize Foundation. The prize is based on a grant from Zuckerberg's fund at the Silicon Valley Community Foundation and a grant from Milner Global Foundation.



Breakthrough Junior Challenge is a global initiative to develop and demonstrate young people's knowledge of science and scientific principles; generate excitement in these fields; support STEM career choices and engage the imagination and interest of the public-at-large in key concepts of fundamental science.



"The Breakthrough Junior Challenge encourages the next generation of scientists and leaders to help us all see scientific principles in new, fresh ways," said Dr. Chan, Breakthrough Prize co-founder.



"We hope students from around the world will take part in the Breakthrough Junior Challenge, and I'm looking forward to seeing their incredible work. As we learned last year, these students' unique perspectives and innovative thinking can teach us all about the importance of complex scientific principles in our daily lives."



Students ages 13-to-18 from countries across the globe are invited to create original videos (up to five minutes in length) that illustrate a concept or theory in the life sciences, physics or mathematics.



The submissions will be judged on the students' ability to communicate complex scientific ideas in the most engaging, illuminating, and imaginative ways. The deadline for submissions is Oct. 10, 2016. Students must register to participate at www.breakthroughjuniorchallenge.org.



One winner will be recognized and awarded a $250,000 scholarship. The science teacher who inspired the winning student will win $50,000. The winner's school will also receive a state-of-the art science lab valued at $100,000.



New this year, the Breakthrough Junior Challenge will incorporate a "Popular Vote" contest.



All semifinalist videos will be posted for public viewing on the official Breakthrough Prize Facebook page, and the video that receives the most "likes" will be declared the "Popular Vote" top scorer. The "Popular Vote" top scorer will receive automatic placement into the finalist round, and will be in the running for overall challenge winner.



In 2015, the competition received more than 2,000 qualified applications from 86 countries, including the United States, India, Mexico, Canada, the United Kingdom, Australia, China, Japan, the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Brazil, Thailand, Turkey, Vietnam, Norway, France, Israel and Peru.



Last year's winning submission was from 18 year-old Ryan Chester of North Royalton High School, Ohio.



Ryan's video, "Some Cool Ways to Understand the Special Theory of Relativity and What It Means About Time," explored Albert Einstein's theory of special relativity and was noted by judges for its wit, clarity and creativity.



The video had global appeal, and received close to four million online views. In September, Ryan will enroll at Harvard University.



"Winning the Breakthrough Junior Challenge changed my life, especially by opening up options for college. Originally, I was going to go to a state school in Ohio. That was the most affordable option. After winning the Challenge, any college became affordable. Now I am going to Harvard, which before I had never even considered," said Chester.



"My advice to current participants would be to definitely do your research. Make sure you understand the topic better than you need to. And add any kind of humor."



This year's Breakthrough Junior Challenge winner will be recognized at the Breakthrough Prize awards ceremony in Silicon Valley. The winning student and his or her teacher will be announced and the first-place film will be presented during a nationally televised show, details of which will be announced at a later date.



You can view Chester winning video here.






Haiti - FLASH : A nun shot dead in Port-au-Prince





Friday morning, a religious from Barcelona and member of the Catholic Congregation of Jesus Mary, sister Isabel Sola Macas (51), was fatally wounded by two bullets in the chest in his car, a Toyota Land Cruiser white, by two unidentified individuals who wanted to rob her while she was returning from a bank branch.



A passenger who accompanied the nun was also seriously wounded by two shots. Information confirmed by Garry Desrosiers, Deputy Spokesman of the National Police of Haiti (PNH) who has announced the opening of an investigation.



Sergio Francisco Cuesta, the Spanish Consul in Haiti confirmed with sadness the death of his compatriot who lived in Haiti for over 8 years "Unfortunately, these things happen: in the metropolitan area of Port-au-Prince, sometimes, life is complicated," de deplored.



S/ HaitiLibre


















Published on 2016/09/03

South Korea's drinking cultural favoring quality over quantity, a North Korean defector shares his story in the fight for hearts and minds, the South Korean government encourages its citizens to make more babies, and what will Asia's "cultural Olympics" really look like?

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"South Koreans drinking more low-alcohol drinks, less excessively"

Are South Korea's drinking habits changing towards favouring quality over quantity? According to the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety they are: "Flavor and aroma appear to becoming more important criteria for selecting alcoholic beverages". Energy drinks, "energy boilermakers", are also up...

...READ ON THE HANKYOREH

"Coming of Age in North Korea"

A North Korean defector gives his theory on how "tiny packets of information just might bring an end to decades of tyranny in his homeland". Jung Gwang-Il works with a number of defector-led groups that help to break the fog of information and knowledge in his home country up North. When asked why Jung defected in the first place, he said: "I cannot forget the eyes of the inmates that were looking at me as I was being released from Yodok, and as I was walking towards freedom".

...READ ON THE ATLANTIC

"South Korea's new drive to boost flagging birth rate"

South Korea's birthrate has been a problem since the 1960s, but the South Korean government recently announced measures that will aim to encourage couples to make more babies ranging form fertility treatment, financial support, as well as increased paternity leave for fathers; "Health Minister Chung Chin-youb says 'all possible efforts' must be made to reverse the decline".

...READ ON BBC

"Korea, China, Japan agree to push for 'Culture Olympics'"

South Korea, China, and Japan all have massive international events in their near future and the three cultural powerhouses have agreed to "push for co-hosting academic and cultural events" alongside and during their international gatherings. The PyeongChang Winter Games (South Korea), the Summer Games (Japan), and the Winter Olympics (China) are all coming up and have been identified as key events that can help foster intellectual and cultural exchange.

...READ ON THE KOREA HERALD
Published on 2016/09/03

My Korean Kitchens shows us how to make sticky honey soy chicken drumsticks, The Daily Meal lists some of the essential ingredients used in Korean cooking, discover how kimchi can help chefs innovate, and learn more about the food culture on the other side of the DMZ from a man who spent 14 years eating there.

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"STICKY HONEY SOY CHICKEN DRUMSTICKS"

Sue's latest recipe for making sticky honey soy chicken drumsticks is sure to be a family favourite. In this post, Sue, who also an author and photography, shares steps for making this amazing, "super easy" oven-baked dish complete with detailed instructions and great images of each step of the way.

...READ ON MY KOREAN KITCHEN

"Everything You Need to Know About Korean Food - America's Trendiest Asian Cuisine"

The Daily Meal has this introduction to Korean food if you're not sure what all the fuss is about and want to discover more about the South Korean flavours spreading around the globe: "While Korean cuisine has evolved through the centuries and ingredients can obviously vary by province, over the years a national culinary identity has emerged, and it's definitely one worth celebrating".

...READ ON THE DAILY MEAL

"A Guide to North Korean Food from a Man Who's Been Eating It for 14 Years"

A British man who has been visiting North Korea since 2002 has this guide to North Korean food and the surrounding cultural: "Anyone over the age of 20 there has memories of living in a famine [...] As such, food is very important and the culture is culinary. People know that missing a meal is an extravagance that they used to not have, so they really go for it. There's no real concept of leaving food".

...READ ON MUNCHIES

"Why Kimchi Is the Ultimate Blank Canvas for Innovative Chefs"

Chefs looking to innovated in their kitchens may want to consider adding South Korea's fermented cabbage, kimchi, to their next dish. In this post, the first of a new column on Munchies called "Kimchi Is a verb", you'll hear why Koreatown author Matt Rodbard believes kimchi is "much more than that pouch of funky cabbage". What are your experiences with kimchi in the kitchen? Be sure to share your thoughts in our comment section below...

...READ ON MUNCHIES
Published on 2016/09/03

Kim Ran talks about how art and diplomacy can come together, get a sobering glimpse into life as a young artist in Korea, artists in Seoul hope to save a high-rise complex from development, and celebrate the works of Yoo Youngkuk at the National Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art.

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"Kim Ran, the Korean 'art diplomat' in Argentina"

Art director Kim Ran speaks about raising Korea's profile in the international arena in the wake of the 16th Korean Women's International Network (KOWIN) in Jeju: "The longer I work with KOWIN, the thought grows stronger that the power of women leads the world [...] I will try to do my share of improving Korean women's standing in Argentina while pursuing better relations between us and the locals".

...READ ON THE KOREA TIMES

"Living as artist in Korea"

Korea's art scene is quickly catching up to the Korean Wave at large, but what is it like to be an artist in Korea? Yeo Ye-rim shares her lived experience as an art graduate and reveals some statistics about how artists fair in South Korea: "I have always dreamt of becoming an artist... But I have no time for art when I'm working all day, earning slightly over a million won a month".

...READ ON THE KOREA TIMES

"Artists seek to preserve historic highrise complex"

Artists in Seoul are moving into the Seun Sangga complex, a "megastructure [that] symbolizes an era of unbridled urban development". Although the legacy of this "imposing architectural form is fading", many artists have taken up residency and are hoping to preserve the building. "This area is very interesting in many artistic ways because there is so much important history. This area is a symbol of dictatorship", said Yangachi, director of Slow Slow Quick Quick (SSQQ).

...READ ON THE KOREA TIMES

"Yoo Youngkuk - Korean Abstract Art Pioneer"

Starting Friday, 21 October, the National Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art (MMCA) in Seoul will be exhibiting works to celebrate the 100th anniversary of Yoo Youngkuk, one of Korea's "modern masters": "Featuring 120 abstract paintings, 20 sketches, and other materials, the exhibition will highlight the artist's lifelong quest to create dynamic geometric abstract images". The exhibition will run until March next year, so there's plenty of time to go and enjoy some beautiful and works of art by one of Korea's greats.

...READ ON KOREA 4 EXPATS
By William Schwartz | Published on 2016/09/03

I came to Jeongdongjin, a region in the southeasternmost part of Gangneung's city limits, for the Jeongdongjin Independent Film Festival (JIFF). About the last thing I was expecting to see was Kawsay, the native Ecuadoran band featured in "El Condor Pasa - 2014", hanging around outside the local train station doing street performances and selling their various wares. It was a pretty dumbfounding moment, realizing that they do in fact wander the Korean countryside at random. Well, seemingly at random. They have a Korean manager and I presume they do at least get invitations rather than just showing up unannounced.

Anyway, the festival itself is...not that easy to photograph. Jeongdongjin is a small community that lacks anything remotely resembling a movie theater. The main selling point of JIFF is that it takes place entirely outside underneath the stars late at night. Still, it was nice of them to include this mildly creepy photo zone just so various tourists could prove they'd been there.

The food in Jeongdongjin is nothing all that special. This is a kind of Jjambbong ()- seafood with vegetables. You can find it practically anywhere in Korea, it's just fresher when the ingredients come from the ocean nearby.

This is a sculpture from Jeongdongjin's rather modest Sand Clock Park (  ). The central gimmick of this park, so far as I could tell, was that it contained large monuments in the shapes of obscure clocks whose timetelling mechanism is not all that clear. While it appears to have been designed with tourists in mind, by and large this just looked to me like another perfectly ordinary public park used by locals for their own general amusement.

Locals who, aside from the more obviously tourist-oriented industries, are generally engaged in ocean-related...stuff. I spend way too much time exploring weird little nooks and crannies like this. While this small port is easily visible from the beach (or parking, for that matter), it's just a generally random collection of junk, all with its own perfectly valid utilitarian commercial purpose I pressume.

But about that tourist industry- its reputation is quite well-earned. Jeongdongjin boasts what are probably the singularly the most beautiful beaches in South Korea. It's mind-boggling the sheer quantity of people who will come out at the crack of dawn just to get a good look at the sunrise. What's even weirder, though, is that this is pretty much the highest number of people you'll see at the beach here at any given moment. Jeongdongjin is just well known enough to have a great reputation while being just tucked away enough that a decent though not excessive number of people will hang out there. It's a bit of a widely shared secret.

Much like the film festival itself. As blisteringly hot as the day was, it was surprising how cool the night was, to the point of even being chilly. The inherently optimistic nature of the festival was also a spot of decent cheer. The opener for every JIFF screening was a short animation that involved, among other things, a rained out screening miraculously coming up with a rainbow at the last minute so everyone can enjoy the show.

And come out they did. This is the final Sunday night group photo. Bear in mind these are just the people insane enough to stick around all the way through the final screening, which ended close to midnight. I only had just barely enough time to catch the final late train to take me back west, to a town with something more affordable than hiked-up guest house fees. Not that I can blame the high season surcharge. It's all a matter of supply-and-demand, and when a township can scrape together the sponsorship fees necessary to run an outdoor film festival next to one of the greatest beaches in the country, well, local guest house operators can charge pretty much whatever they want.

Article by William Schwartz

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Published on 2016/09/03 | Source

Added episode 13 captures for the Korean drama "W" (2016)

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Directed by Jeong Dae-yoon

Written by Song Jae-jeong

Network : MBC

With Lee Jong-suk, Han Hyo-joo, Jung Eugene, Lee Tae-hwan, Park Won-sang, Cha Kwang-soo,...

16 episodes - Wed, Thu 22:00

Synopsis

A mysterious melodrama about a parallel universe which depicts a man and a woman who live in the same Seoul but in different environments.

Broadcast starting date in Korea : 2016/07/20

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Harlow is a former New Town in Essex with a population of 86,000. Located in the upper Stort Valley, it was built in the decades after the Second World War to ease overcrowding and London and provide homes for people bombed out during the Blitz. It includes Britain's first pedestrian precinct and first modern residential tower block, The Lawn. Old Harlow, the historic part of the town, was mentioned in the Domesday Book. David and Victoria Beckham's former home, Rowneybury House, nicknamed 'Beckingham Palace', is nearby.

06:00, 29 OCT 2022
Ireland's ability to attract investment from major corporations is the "envy" of other European countries and the reason they attack our tax rates, Finance Minister Michael Noonan has claimed.

The minister launched a stinging assault on our bigger EU colleagues, alleging that the decision to force Apple to pay 13bn in back taxes is part of a plan to force changes to the Irish tax system.

Mr Noonan and Taoiseach Enda Kenny suggested that Competition Commissioner Margrethe Vestager's judgment was driven by malice.

"There is a lot of envy across Europe about how successful we have been in putting the headquarters of many companies into Ireland," said Mr Noonan.

He cited the Taoiseach's first EU meeting after taking office in 2011 when then-French president Nicolas Sarkozy made "an attempt to bully" Ireland into raising corporation tax to 15pc in exchange for a bailout programme.

"I think that was a dreadful thing to do at the time," said Mr Noonan.

"There are people still of the same view that Ireland is doing too well in terms of investment and who would like to change the 12.5pc.

"I would like to say to international and to the Irish people that there will be no change in our 12.5pc.

"We stand by the treaty. It's in our competence to set the rates and no bridgehead by any commissioner is going to change that.

"We'll fight it at home and abroad and in the courts."

During a press conference at Government Buildings, Mr Noonan told reporters he has "heard comments" from the US in recent days that Ireland is "pro-business", unlike Europe.

"We'll reinforce the attractiveness of Ireland as a location by lodging an appeal," he added.

Demands

Cabinet agreement on an appeal came after intense talks involving Children's Minister Katherine Zappone and members of the Independent Alliance.

As part of the deal, the Dail will be recalled from its summer break next Wednesday to debate the EU ruling.

Fine Gael sources told the Herald that Ms Zappone took a particularly hard line during the negotiations, making a series of demands concerning tax justice.

Afterwards, she said the arrangement between Apple and the Revenue Commissioners was "unethical", but praised the European Commission, which had "acted in the public interest by bringing this issue into the public, media and political spotlight".

However, she agreed to the appeal on the grounds that it would be an opportunity for tax justice for those who have "been denied money as a result of Ireland's past actions".

"Countries who feel robbed or cheated can use this appeal to make their case," she said.

Minister for Disability Iss-ues Finian McGrath said the Independent Alliance was "satisfied" with the outcome and "everybody has to pay their fair share of tax".

Asked about the division in the Government over the issue, he said: "A lot of people have to get used to this."

Waterford TD John Halligan, who had been the most likely to quit the Government over the issue, said: "I believe Apple should have paid the money, but I also think the Government shouldn't be destabilised or brought down."
The country's oldest TV star, Bessie Nolan (104), is enjoying a well-deserved holiday after she captured the nation's heart on RTE's Older Than Ireland.

The tea-drinking, chain-smoking Dubliner became an overnight sensation after 367,200 viewers tuned in on Wednesday to watch the award-winning documentary.

The show looked back at 100 years of life through the eyes of 30 Irish centenarians who were born while the country was still part of the United Kingdom.

Viewers fell for stylish and no-nonsense Bessie, from Drimnagh, describing her as "a legend" and "a hero" as she joked about how "everybody should die at 70".

"She's a phenomenon, still going strong at 104," said Snackbox Films' co-founder Colm Nicell, who worked as the chief researcher for the show.

"She defied people's expectations and that's why I think the audience warmed to her.

"She's a very independent lady, doing all her own shopping and cooking, and is away all the time.

"She's been all over the world and has probably seen more of it than any of us will in our lifetimes.

"She's actually in Kildare at the moment on a week's holiday."

To add to her fame, Bessie holds the record for being the oldest woman ever to fly on an Aer Lingus plane, which she did in 2014 while travelling to France.

"She's some woman all right - her son is 84 and still he's her baby boy," said Colm.

The film-maker told the Herald that the studio had been delighted with the reception for their documentary, which won best feature at last year's Galway Film Fleadh.

"Hopefully, it dispelled a few assumptions people have about the older generation," he said.

"The film for us was more a celebration of old age rather than saying it's all doom and gloom.

Clock

"It would have really been easy for us to make a documentary that was a terrible tale about getting old, but that wasn't the point we wanted to make.

"There are plenty of people out there who are of Bessie's age and full of spirit."

Snackbox Films is now working on a new project called Under the Clock, which aims to tell the stories of those whose relationships began under one of Ireland's most iconic landmarks, the Clerys clock on O'Connell Street.

"We were inspired by the closure of the department store last year," said Colm.

"That building has such a history that it seems strange for it to be gone now.

"Thousands of people must have met under that unassuming clock, whether as friends, lovers or strangers, so there must be plenty of fantastic stories to tell.

"We're really keen to feature a large cross-section of people from every county and community in Ireland who used it as a place to meet."

Anyone interested in being involved in the new project can contact Colm at theclock@snackboxfilms.com
Lord Mayor of Dublin Brendan Carr has said he saw a man injecting drugs in a city phone box this week

He was speaking follow- ing a visit to the capital by Australian drugs expert Dr Marianne Jauncey, who said she was shocked at the amount of people she saw openly using drugs in the city.

She said it surpassed anything she has seen in Sydney - a city of 4.3 million people - in the past decade.

Mr Carr said the situation was "dangerous".

"There's no doubt about it, this is a problem that hasn't gone away. Three or four days ago I myself witnessed someone injecting in a phone box," he told the Herald.

"This is dangerous - you can't have needles lying around on the streets. It's a bad image for the city to have drugs being taken openly like this.

"I don't believe putting people in prison works. There are people who are concerned that if we introduce injecting clinics that we are in some way legalising or normalising this, but we've never conquered this issue."

The Ana Liffey Drug Project has called for the potential of drug users as ordinary people must be realised.

Project director Tony Duffin said supervised injection centres were the best solution for everyone concerned.

"They are not the only solution, they are part of the solution. People need housing, they need support," he said.

"We've been lobbying for almost five years for supervised injecting centres. The current situation is not good for anyone.

"It's not good for the addicts, it's not good for business, it's not good for residents and it's not good for tourism."

Scum

Mr Duffin said an injecting centre would help save lives, and pointed out that there had not been a single death in any of the 100 or so supervised injecting centres worldwide.

Mr Duffin also hit out at the attitude some people had to drug addicts and said terms such as "scum" were unhelpful.

"It's unacceptable to speak about people like this. These are sons and daughters. People are full of potential," he said.

Richard Guiney, CEO of Dublin Town, said that in the organisation's experience there had been a marked fall-off in public drug use.

"The first thing I would say is that the issue is on the decrease," he said.

"If I was talking about it 10 years ago, we would have been finding much more needles on the street."

He supported a pilot project for mobile supervised injecting centres.

A Dublin caller to Joe Duffy on RTE Radio One's Liveline said that being on streets where people were on drugs was like "being in an episode of The Walking Dead".

Gary Gibson (49), from Lucan, said more effective action was needed to curb the distressing behaviour of addicts on the streets.

He said on a recent visit to the city centre he and his wife were on a crowded 25A bus that stopped at James Joyce Bridge.

A young man "clearly under the influence of drugs" was engaging in an sexually explicit act while lying down alone on public seating in broad daylight.

"His tracksuit bottoms were down around his ankles and he must have been out of his head on drugs," he said.
Thousands turned out to pay their respects to the tragic Hawe family ahead of their funerals today.

A steady stream of people made their way to the Lakelands funeral home in Cavan town where the five bodies were laid out side by side, the three young brothers in white coffins.

Liam (13), Niall (11) and six-year-old Ryan died from stab wounds while their teacher mother, Clodagh, died from head injuries. That's according to a post-mortem carried out by deputy State Pathologist Dr Michael Curtis.

Mrs Hawes' body was found downstairs in the sitting room of the family home in Ballyjamesduff. The bodies of her children, in their pyjamas, were discovered upstairs in bedrooms.

Charity

Alan Hawe, also a teacher, took his own life after killing his wife and children. A studio photograph of the family was released yesterday by relatives.

Mrs Hawe's family, the Colls, along with Alan Hawe's family asked mourners to donate to the country's biggest suicide prevention charity, Pieta House, in lieu of flowers.

The funeral will take place at Saint Mary's Church in Castlerahan, Co Cavan, at 4pm. Burial after Mass will be in the adjoining cemetery.

The church is close to Castlerahan Central National School where Hawe was vice-principal.

Niall and Ryan were students there at the time of their death. Eldest son Liam was a past pupil.

Relatives of the Hawe family arrived early last evening and had private prayers with Bishop Leo O'Reilly over the remains of their loved ones.

At the family's dormer bungalow, a makeshift shrine had been erected, featuring candles and a growing number of floral tributes.

Mrs Hawe was described this week as "the best teacher in the world" by one mother at Oristown National School in Kells, Co Meath, where she taught.

As the community prepares to bury the family today, they are still struggling to come to terms with the enormity of the tragedy discovered by gardai, who were alerted when a relative found a note pinned to the back door of the house.

Despite the horrific manner of the family's deaths, it is understood that relatives decided to have them buried together as, they do not wish to "demonise" the boys' father.

A close family friend said this week that the family loved Hawe, which would be clear at the funeral today.

Psychologists from the National Educational Psychological Service have been assigned to the primary schools to support and advise teachers in their efforts to help students and staff deal with the loss of the family.

The schools will also be open to parents who seek support and guidance.

Women's Aid has reported an increase in the number of calls to its helpline, with many mothers distraught at the deaths of Mrs Hawe and her children.
The EU called Thursday for all sides in Gabon to reject violence as the country descended into chaos after President Ali Bongo was declared winner of disputed polls.

"The official announcement of results has plunged Gabon into a deep crisis," European Union foreign policy chief Federica Mogherini said in a statement.

"It is important for all parties to reject violence and call for calm," Mogherini added.

Thousands of angry protesters poured onto the streets of Libreville accusing the government of stealing the election after Bongo won a second term by a razor-thin margin over rival Jean Ping, who said security forces killed two people on Thursday.

"Any challenge must be made with peaceful means in order to avoid any conflagration in the country. Security forces must react responsibly," Mogherini said.

"Trust in the election results can only be restored through a transparent verification, polling station by polling station."

She added that the EU is in contact with all its African and other partners in order to promote a peaceful resolution to the crisis.

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The symbolic fact passed quickly, during a long list of achievements in Carl Andersons annual report as the leader of the Knights of Columbus.

Weeks earlier, the powerful Catholic fraternal order had donated its 700th ultrasound machine for use in crisis pregnancy centers. This was appropriate news to share during the Toronto convention, which took its biblical theme from Isaiah: Before birth the Lord called me, from my mothers womb he gave me my name.

The Spanish language phrase that means to give birth is dar a luz, words that literally mean to give light to the child, said Anderson in his Aug. 2 text. Our ultrasound program gives a light to the mother that enables her to see the reality and often the personality of her child in the womb.

Right now, he added, efforts to oppose abortion are linked to other public debates. For example, there are efforts to support the Little Sisters of the Poors work with the weak and elderly, as well as their struggles against Health and Human Services mandates they believe attack religious liberty, seeking their cooperation with health-care plans supporting contraceptives, sterilizations and abortion.

This kind of work does require involvement in politics, noted Anderson, who held several posts in the Ronald Reagan administration. However, he noted that Pope Francis said: Politics, according to the Social Doctrine of the Church, is one of the highest forms of charity, because it serves the common good.

Thus, Anderson issued a familiar challenge to his audience, which included about 100 bishops.

We need to end the political manipulation of Catholic voters by abortion advocates, he said. It is time to end the entanglement of Catholic people with abortion killing. ... We will never succeed in building a culture of life if we continue to vote for politicians who support a culture of death.

These are fighting words in a tense year in which the GOP White House candidate has clashed with Pope Francis and Catholic bishops  conservatives as well as progressives  on issues linked to immigration and foreign policy. Billionaire Donald Trump now says he is pro-life, after years of supporting abortion rights.

Meanwhile, Democrat Hillary Clinton has a bullet-proof record backing abortion rights. Her running mate, Tim Kaine, is an active Catholic who insists he is personally opposed to abortion  while holding a 100 percent approval rating from Planned Parenthood for his work in the U.S. Senate.

The bottom line: This bizarre political year, noted Archbishop Charles Chaput of Philadelphia, is both depressing and liberating. Its depressing that both candidates have astonishing flaws, and America is more polarized than ever. Its liberating because its easier to ignore the routine tribal loyalty chants of both the Democratic and Republican camps.

Stressing that he was offering advice, not speaking as an archbishop, Chaput wrote that he thinks the major candidates are so problematic that neither is clearly better than the other. He added: This year, a lot of good people will skip voting for president ... or vote for a third party presidential candidate; or not vote at all; or find some mysterious calculus that will allow them to vote for one or the other of the major candidates. ... Its a matter properly reserved for every citizens informed conscience.

On the Catholic left, John Gehring of the Faith in Public Life think tank blasted Chaput for bashing Clinton alongside Trump. Donald Trumps toxic candidacy is sui generis, a grave threat to basic democratic norms and ideals, Christian values and the common good, he argued in Commonweal. In this context, the archbishops astonishing false equivalency is irresponsible and even morally dangerous.

And so it goes. Speaking to the Knights, Anderson stressed the urgency of ongoing debates about the religious liberty and freedom of conscience. Also, its crucial that we refuse to let the worst among us define who we are as a people, he said.

Was this a shot at Trump, Clinton or both?

Faithful citizenship means that in times of tragedy we raise a standard of charity, of unity and of fraternity that can make possible forgiveness, healing and reconciliation, he said. Faithful citizenship calls us to follow the better angels of our nature to build a better society. But to build a better society we must have the freedom to follow those angels.
The city will be home to hospitals and medical faculties

A major Indian medical care company will build a complete medical city in Egypt, with investment in the project at $1.6 billion, Egypt's minister of trade and commerce announced in New Delhi on Friday according to MENA agency.

Minister Tarek Kabil said an agreement had been reached between the minister and the company by which a delegation from the company would visit Egypt to discuss the project with all official parties involved, including the health ministry.

Kabil added that the project will include hospitals, medical centres and faculties, as well as the latest medical technologies.

The Egyptian trade minister held a series of meetings with the CEOs of major Indian companies in New Delhi on Thursday, during the visit of President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi to India.

El-Sisi will be in India until Saturday.

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More women, juveniles help drive need for more space at the jail
The Egyptian presidents participation in the upcoming summit is the first for Egypt since the summit was first held in 2008

Egypt's President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi arrived in China's Hangzhou for the G20 Summit where Egypt is a guest of honour, Ahram Arabic website reported.

El-Sisi will participate as a guest in the 2016 G20 Summit at the invitation of Chinese president and summit chairman Xi Jinping, a first for Egypt since the first summit was held in 2008.

Egypt and China have taken recent steps to increase cooperation and investment in a number of fields.

In January, the Chinese president visited Egypt and signed a number of cooperation deals in the transportation, power generation and civil aviation sectors worth $15 billion.

El-Sisi arrived to China from India, where he held talks with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi in New Delhi, signed a maritime transportation agreement between Egypt and India, visited the tomb of Mahatma Gandhi and met with US Secretary of State John Kerry, who was also visiting at the time.

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The International Monetary Fund supports Egypts efforts in achieving economic reform, the IMFs managing director Christian Lagarde told Egypts President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi during a meeting on the sidelines of the G20 summit in China.

The meeting  attended by Egypts central bank governor Tarek Amer and other top Egyptian ministers  comes several weeks after Egypt and the IMF reached a tentative financing accord on a three-year extended fund facility (EEF) programme worth about $12 billion (SDR 8.5966 billion, or 422 percent of Egypt's quota).

According to Egypts presidency spokesman Alaa Youssef, the meeting witnessed discussions related to the initial agreement between the IMF and Egypt, which is expected to be approved by the fund's executive board in the coming weeks.

Lagarde praised the efforts exerted by the Egyptian government to develop the economy through applying necessary economic reforms to overcome the challenges that obstruct pushing the countrys economy forward, Youssef said.

She wished the government luck in its mission to accomplish its developmental goals, he added.

Meanwhile, El-Sisi stressed to Lagarde Egypts keenness to strike a balance between raising growth rates and financial stability and social justice in a way that ensures protection for low income citizens.

The president asserted that the state would continue with plans to promote a social protection safety net throughout the coming period, Youssef said.

The meeting also covered attempts by Egypt to create an attractive atmosphere for investments, considering it a pillar in raising growth rates, creating jobs and lowering public debt.

Egypt aims through its government reform programme to curb a huge budget deficit (between 11 and 13 percent over the past six years) and growing public debt, stimulate growth, create more jobs to lower unemployment and poverty rates, and increase national income.

Last week, Egypts parliament approved a long-delayed value added tax (VAT) at a rate of 13 percent for the 2016/17 fiscal year, but said it will rise to 14 percent the following year.

The VAT is part of the government economic reform programme that has been endorsed by the IMF.

Egypt, which relies heavily on imports, particularly foodstuffs, has been suffering a severe shortage of hard currency reserves in the last several years due to political instability which scared off tourists and foreign investors.

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This is no time to cavil, or be mean and political.

She is going to be a Saint, and India and its Prime Minister are quite naturally very elated at this signal honour to secular India. He said so in his monthly national broadcast over the state-owned All India Radio. The highest in the Church expressed their gratitude and thanks to him for this warm gesture.

No one has, correctly, spoken of any irony that even Odisha, remembered every August since 2008 for the sponsored pogrom in Kandhamal, and earlier for the gruesome 1999 killing of Graham Stuart Staines and his pre-teen sons Timothy and Philip, will name a major street in its capital city after the new saint. In 2008 August, half a dozen nuns of Missionaries of Charity, the religious order founded by Teresa of Kolkata, had gone missing after their convent was attacked, and the MC Brothers had to close down the home they ran for leprosy patients and families half way up a sal forest hill. The nuns were rescued.

Everyone understands that Mr Mohan Bhagwat, the head of the Rashtriya Swayamsewak Sangh, is just placing on record their charge that Teresas love for the poor and her social work was just a ruse to hide her real mission to convert Indians to Christianity as a true agent of the Pope in Rome. The Sangh does similar social work and more, without any ulterior motives. On cue, the Vishwa Hindu Parishad and the Hindu Mahasabha spokespersons have criticised the Bharatiya Janata Party and Mr Narendra Modi for appeasing Dalits, Christians, and for good measure, Muslims.

Mother Teresa (1910 - 1997), the Albanian nun who dedicated her life to the poor, the destitute and the sick of Kolkata, was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 1979. (Getty Images)

This little tableau of good cheer, however, does not gel very much with battles being fought in courts of law on justice for victims of targetted violence, and complaints to the police for attacks on small village prayer houses attacked by local political thugs of the ruling dispensation who are accompanied by enthusiastic constables, and often a friendly videographer and photojournalist who have been alerted to the forthcoming action against people who convert innocent tribals by offering them money.

Read: Bearing the Cross, attacks against Christians

The grassroots media may perhaps be as complicit as the police constables, but it is because of their hard work that the world comes to know of pregnant women, wives of pastors being assaulted, and at least one sought to be burnt alive. Many readers will also remember the photograph of a pastor, his hair partly shorn in bold swipes of the razor, being paraded on a donkey. It was not a parody of the Nazarenes triumphal entry into Jerusalem two millennia ago.

On an average, a case is recorded every day and a half.

Mother House, Missionaries of Charitys office at Kolkata. (Indranil Bhoumik / Mint)

To be fair, there has been violence against Christians even when the Congress has been in the national government, but as data and analysis by the Evangelical Fellowship of India, the United Christian Forum and other groups show, the intensity and pattern changes when the BJP rules in New Delhi as also where the party has been in power for years. Even in Odisha, the BJP was part of the ruling alliance, with its people in key ministries. Impunity is apparent. The victims, by the time they reach a police station, find a case already registered against them, with the assailants smirking in the Inspectors office.

Mr Modi himself has dismissed this data as false, perhaps even concocted in connivance with his political foes. Incidents against half a dozen churches in Delhi on the eve of the last Assembly elections were first pinned on the Aam Admi Party, and then dismissed as short circuits and mischief by local drunkards. Protestors, among them several women, who had been injured in a violent lathi-charge outside the Sacred Heart Cathedral in New Delhi at that time were cautioned against registering formal complaints lest they face criminal proceedings for attacking the police. You are not with us, Mr Modi had told a delegation of clergy and lay persons who had gone to greet him.

This is not about Christians as collateral damage in the larger criminal intimidation of Muslims in several parts of the country. The incitement to violence is specific, and continues, as much by the small fry in the village as by several identified Members of Parliament, men and women, and persons who also call themselves Sadhvis, Nuns, or Sants.

There seems political sanction and support for it. The BJP has, since coming to power, reaffirmed its objective of outlawing religious conversions in the country. It chooses to ignore the Christian argument that conversions by force and fraud which are declared illegal by special legislation in several states, are also bad in faith. The BJP and RSS anger could be because Christians also assert that citizens of India enjoy freedom of faith, to espouse a religion of their choice, to reject the religion of their birth, and if they so desire, to reject religion entirely, to become an atheist, agnostic, a communist, perhaps.

This freedom is seen as an attack on Indian culture. Alas, it is not just the BJP and the RSS who are guilty. Many of the regressive laws were enacted by the Congress, the last in Himachal by Mr Vir Bhadra Singh, currently facing charges of corruption. He thought Christian missionaries posed a threat to stability, law and order in the Himalayan state which is billed as an abode of the gods, much like its neighbouring Uttarakhand which so far does not have the law called Freedom Of Religion Act. The chief ministers do not see the irony in the name.

The ecstatic and political rejoicing over the new saint will not change one whit the oft-spoken fear by the same elements of Christianity overwhelming the ancient land, much like Islam but without the gun they see in all that television footage.

But Teresa is our own, even though Kolkata, and Bengal, sometimes claim a monopoly on her. They are specially blessed. We must rejoice, as citizens of a country where Christianity is just a few years younger than its founder.

John Dayal is a former National President of the All India Catholic Union, and a writer.

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Vivek Oberoi turns a year older on Saturday (September 3). Like every year, the actor will celebrate the day with a special set of people who are part of his life. For the past 14 years, Ive been celebrating my birthday with kids who are fighting cancer, or who have fought the disease and survived. One Foundation (Viveks charity organisation), in association with Cancer Patients Aid Association, organises a special event for them. I like to celebrate with the kids, he says.

The adorable angels of vatsalya(home for unprivileged kids) gifted me the gift of "life" ! Will plant it in my garden for sure! A photo posted by Vivek Oberoi (@vivekoberoi) on Aug 17, 2013 at 2:02am PDT

This year, the actor has organised a special screening of A Flying Jatt for the children. A few people associated with the film will also join the celebrations.

Read: Vivek Oberoi has been training hard for his next film

We have organised a special screening of this particular movie since its a film for kids. Jackie Shroff, Tiger Shroff and Remo Dsouza are coming to spend time with the kids. Its amazing to see everyone participate and spread joy. This has been my birthday ritual for years now. We are expecting about 250 kids, says Vivek.

Read: Vivek Oberoi to undergo full-body transformation for his next

The actor also talks about his most remarkable moment in the year gone by, On the personal front, this year has been quite incredible. I was invited by both the Prime Ministers office and the office of the department of disabilities to be the ambassador for the Accessible India Campaign for persons with disabilities. For me, its an honour to be associated with the campaign. It will have an impact on the quality of lives of close to seven to eight crore people. It is truly an honour if I can touch the lives of so many people through this campaign.

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Ranbir Kapoor was last seen in Tamasha (2015). His upcoming film Ae Dil Hai Mushkil will release later this year.

Read: Id have turned down homosexual roles before Fawad took it up: Ranbir Kapoor

Meanwhile, Bollywoods younger lot of actors, such as Varun Dhawan and Shraddha Kapoor, have been signing one film after the other. Ask him if he feels a sense of competition with them, and Ranbir says, Competition is a good thing; it has always been there. It was present when Raj Kapoor (his grandfather), Dev Anand and Dilip Kumar were acting. It only drives us to become better versions of ourselves.

Watch Ranbir Kapoor in the teaser of Ae Dil Hai Mushkil

Rumours about Fawad Khans screen time being increased in Ranbirs next film have been doing the rounds for a while now. But the actor chooses not to say much about the matter, except, I hope his part has been increased. The Barfi! (2012) star goes on to add that it was a lot of fun working with the Pakistani actor. He is talented. Hanging out with him, even outside the sets, was so much fun. We struck a good friendship, says Ranbir.

Ranbir Kapoor says that it was a lot of fun working with the Pakistani actor. (Raajesh Kashyap/HT photo)

The actor has been producing a movie for almost three years now. He points out that production is a tough job. I have realised, I am not cut out for production. Its a [tough] job, and so is acting. Mixing the two is very difficult, he says.

Read: I put in an effort to look presentable: Ranbir Kapoor

Ranbir Kapoor, who walked the ramp at the Lakme Fashion Week, feels there is a distinct shift in the way men dress today.

Ranbir also walked the ramp at Lakme Fashion Week last week. He feels there is a distinct shift in the way men dress today. There are more options now. A lot of people in India are pushing the boundaries where fashion is concerned, he says. But Ranbir is quick to add that these boundaries are extended by men only during festivals like Diwali. That shouldnt be the case. It should be followed even in your day-to-day lives, he says.

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Travelling  whether it is to shoot for a movie, to promote a film or for commitments related to an endorsement  is an essential part of an actors job. Shraddha Kapoor was supposed to fly to the US on September 1 to finish the remaining schedule of her next, which co-stars Arjun Kapoor. But the actor had to delay her flight as she wanted to be part of a promotional event of another film that also has her in the lead.

Read: Shraddha Kapoor will be seen in Rock On 2 with Farhan Akhtar, Arjun Rampal and Half Girlfriend with Arjun Kapoor.

A source close to Shraddha says, The actor didnt want to miss out on all the fun. The event took place last evening (September 2) and Shraddha made it a point to attend it.

Read: There is competition in Bollywood, but its friendly: Shraddha Kapoor

The actor will now fly to New York, USA, on September 5. When contacted, Shraddha confirmed the news and said, Its been an incredible journey, shooting for my upcoming musical, and there was no way that I was going to miss being part of the event. Now, Im looking forward to wrapping up the last schedule of my next film in New York. It is an exciting time.
Bollywood diva Deepika Padukone recently disclosed that photo- sharing site Instagram is her favourite social networking platform. She is also the most followed Indian star on the site with 10.7 million followers.

If I had to choose one platform, I think it would be Instagram because I think pictures really speak a thousand words, said the 30-year-old actor in an interview with the Paper Magazine.

#papermagazine @papermagazine A video posted by Deepika Padukone (@deepikapadukone) on Sep 2, 2016 at 1:44pm PDT

She added, Im not someone who is very comfortable with expressing myself with words, but I like expressing myself through emotion, and I think images and photographs are a great medium for that.

Personally I am a shy person I think social media is a bit contradictory to my personality. Im someone who likes to keep things personal and private, and Im not too comfortable with sharing my every mood and emotion, she explained.

She, however, said that the liberty she gets on social media to connect with the fans is amazing to her. The fact that social media gives me the opportunity to interact with my fans and to have that one on one direct connection with them, is what I appreciate the most, she said.

#papermagazine @papermagazine A photo posted by Deepika Padukone (@deepikapadukone) on Sep 2, 2016 at 1:40pm PDT

Along with her warming words, what is even more appreciated is her elegant style that she impeccably displayed on the cover of the magazines September issue.

Images of Deepika wearing a gorgeous Fendi dress covering most of her body while showing off a deep neckline, has already created a stir on the internet with people comparing the Indian beauty with American reality TV star Kim Kardashian, saying, Nudity isnt the only hot.

Watch: Deepika Padukone, Vin Diesel in xXx: Return Of Xander Cage trailer

Known for her extra bold style, Kim earlier made headlines with her nude shoot for the cover of the same magazine.

Deepika, on the work front, is all set to make her Hollywood debut with in xXx: Return of Xander Cage, co-starring Vin Diesel.

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Less than a week after the new law facilitating the building of churches was approved by Egypts parliament last week, a Muslim MP has taken the initiative of submitting the first request to build a new church in his native governorate of Assiut in Upper Egypt.

"I wanted it recorded in history that a Muslim was the first to submit a request for building a church in Egypt after the passing of the new landmark law," the independent MP, El-Badri Ahmed Deif, told reporters Saturday.

"This request aims to build new bridges of confidence between Muslims and Christians and foster national unity in Egypt."

The government says the long-awaited law has made it much easier for anyone looking to build or restore a church in the country, getting rid of much of the red tape and obstacles faced by Christians who for decades have not enjoyed the same rights as Muslims in building or maintaining their places of worship.

Deif said that he has requested to build the church in the Assiut village of Salam (Peace).

"Although this village was the birthplace of [the late Coptic Orthodox] Pope Shenouda III, it has never had a church," said Deif.

Deif described Pope Shenouda as a historic leader of Coptic Christians.

"This great, moderate man was the pope of the Coptic Orthodox Church for 41 years, during which he lived in the tumultuous eras of late presidents Gamal Abdel-Nasser and Anwar El-Sadat, as well as former president Hosni Mubarak."

In spite of his central religious status over these four decades, he never used his influence to build a church in his home village.

Deif added that more than 5,000 Christians live in the village of Salam and that they are in urgent need of a church.

"I want to build a church in Salam to help these Copts perform their religious duties as well as to immortalise the name of Pope Shenouda, the son of this village," said Deif.

Deif said his request for a permit will be submitted to governor of Assiut Yasser El-Dessouki in line with the new law.

The law states that local governors are required to respond to such requests within four months, and, if they deny the request, must give a clear explanation for their decision.

Deif's initiative was warmly welcomed by Christian MPs, particularly Coptic Orthodox members.

Egypts parliament, elected late last year, has a record 39 (6.5 percent) Christian members.

Coptic MP Margaret Azer, deputy chairwoman of parliament's human rights committee, told reporters that Deif's request is a very good initiative from a Muslim MP who belongs to a governorate that includes a large number of Coptic Christians.

"This initiative also reflects a high sense of national unity and this is what we hope for after the passing of the new church building law," said Azer.

Azer also argued that the move by Deif should send a message to Islamist MPs  members of the ultraconservative Salafist Nour Party  who rejected the law on religious grounds.

The Salafist Nour MPs claimed that the law would weaken, rather than foster, national unity, Azer said. But MP Deif's request now comes to refute this claim and send a different message that this law can build new bridges of confidence between Muslims and Christians and contain sectarian tension, particularly in Upper Egypt.

Azer told Ahram Online that the new church building law represents a very progressive step.

Some media outlets have claimed that Christian MPs rejected this law, but this is not correct, said Azer, stating that she is personally happy with the new law, especially after Article 2 of the draft bill was amended by the government to meet the demands of Christian leaders.

"The new law states that the size of a new church and its annexes should conform to the size and the needs of local Christians as well as the rate of population growth in any one area, [rather than merely the size of local Christian populations as previously suggested in the draft version of Article 2]; and that a church can also include more than one altar, forum, baptising hall, and minaret."

Azer said that this last-minute amendment was wholeheartedly welcomed by all Christian MPs.

When this law was passed on 30 August, the day was like a national festival where Muslim and Christian MPs were one hand, said Azer.

"I highly appreciate the role of Muslim MPs who said this law reflects the principle of citizenship."

The law was, however, critisised by two prominent Christian MPs, political analyst Emad Gad and rights activist Nadia Henry, who criticised the provision giving provincial governors the final say on church building requests.

Henry, who voted in favor of the bill, said in a Facebook post that she "strongly believes that there are loopholes in the law [that still make it difficult to build churches] .

She explained to media outlets "I initially opposed the law but voted for as I realised it would be approved by the majority of MPs."

The real enemy among us remains the existence of discrimination; the enemy that we are fighting together will sooner or later threaten the countrys social cohesion and fabric," she added.

On the other hand, Pope Tawadros II, the head of the Coptic Orthodox Church, sent a message of thanks to President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi on the first of September.

"This law comes to correct a 160-year-old mistake and to heal the wounds suffered in this long period for the sake of strengthening stability and citizenship," Pope Tawadros said.

Magdi Malak, a Coptic MP from the Upper Egypt governorate of Minya, also highly welcomed Deif's initiative.

"I know fellow MP El-Badri Deif as an enlightened MP who strongly believes in national unity and citizenship and I really thank him for his great step," said Malak, adding that "I think MP Deif's initiative should encourage all Christian leaders to submit church building requests as long as they reflect real needs."

Deif told reporters that he is sorry about the state of churches in the governorate of Assiut.

"Most of the churches there are in urgent need for restoration, as the buildings are dilapidated, and Christians, especially in Assiut, had never been able to obtain the permits necessary to restore them," said Deif.

Deif also talked about the impact of the arson attacks on churches in Upper Egypt that followed the 2013 dispersal of sit-ins protesting the ouster of Islamist president Mohamed Morsi.

"This caused a lot fear and havoc among Christians, and it became quite impossible to build or even renovate a church," said Deif, who lauded the role of the Egyptian army in footing the bill of restoring most of the churches attacked after Morsi's ouster.

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Actor Jimmy Sheirgil is Bollywoods quintessential guy- who-never-gets-the-girl. And every time hes abandoned by the heroine, social media users have a field day cracking jokes . This time, the actor lost out on Diana Penty in his recent release, Happy Bhaag Jayegi. Seemingly tired of this joke, the actor says, Out of 100 films, if in four I didnt get the girl, its barely a ratio to conclude anything, he says.

It started with Dil Hai Tumhaara (2002) when Jimmy Sheirgill gets friendzoned by Preity Zinta, followed by Mere Yaar Ki Shaadi Hai where he lets his fiance walk away with her best friend Uday Chopra a night before the wedding. The joke only got more intense with Tanu Weds Manu and Tanu Weds Manu: Returns where Sheirgill loses Kangana Ranaut to R Madhavan not once, but twice. And Saheb, Biwi Aur Gangster had him getting shot by his wifes lover. Not to forget films such as Munna Bhai M.B.B.S, Lage Raho Munnahi, Bang Bang, Bullet Raja, Dangerous Ishq and Tom, Dick & Harry where Sherigill never had the luck of even having a female co-star. Its not a big deal. It was a joke we laughed along with and its time it needs to get over, he says.

Read: Getting into the army was a big thing in my time: Jimmy Sheirgill

Actor Jimmy Sheirgill desperately wanted to break free from his chocolate boy image, so he took up matured roles. (Photo: Raajessh Kashyap)

The 46-year-old actor plays much younger roles than his age and he does justice to them. While this drastic shift in the choice of roles has surprised audiences, the actor says hes been doing this since the beginning. Sometimes you are working on a few films together for a year or two and they all get completed around the same time. And then suddenly one particular year, they start releasing one by one. Thats exactly happening with me, so its fair for people to think that way, says the actor.

After films like Saheb, Biwi Aur Gangster, Tanu Weds Manu, Madaari and Shorgul, it must have been a thoughtful decision to switch to younger roles again. When you are doing younger roles, you want to do matured ones and look different. Ive been through that phase wherein I was doing serious projects and then there was an urge to get back to that young image. As an actor, I also look for some kind of excitement, says Sheirgill

Read: Maachis helped me choose better films: Jimmy Sheirgill

The actor who started his career with Maachis (1998) and later Mohabbatein (2000) says he never tried to get in that zone where he becomes stagnant, so he would constantly look for work to reinvent himself. After a few weeks of Mohabbatein, my chocolate boy image was all over the town. I got so sick of it and desperately wanted to break away. Hence, films such as Haasil, Yeh Zindagi Ka Safar, Bas Ek Pal, Charas, Yahan, Munnabhai etc came up, which helped set me apart. Finally audience realised I can do intense and angry young man kind of roles too, he adds.

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When it first released in 2013, Rakeysh Omprakash Mehras Bhaag Milkha Bhaag (BMB) won over the both the audience and the critics. Now, three years later, the filmmaker says he had an amazing experience when he took the film to the German-speaking cities in Europe earlier this week.

Read: Anil Kapoor shares first look of Rakeysh Omprakash Mehras Fanney Khan

It was a three-country tour. Rakeysh took the film to Vienna in Austria, Zurich in Switzerland, and Munich, Frankfurt, Dusseldorf and Berlin in Germany. Besides the promotions, he soaked in the rich culture of those places, says an insider. Austria is home to Mozart and is famous for its art and culture. Thats why it was a dream-come-true for Rakeysh. He too enjoys listening to Mozart. He was also excited because few films get a release in those countries, says the insider.

Read: Gulzar is eternal: Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra on his Mirzya writer

The movie will always be special to him and thats why Rakeysh, who is busy with the post production of his upcoming love story, took time out to be part of this.

When contacted, Rakeysh says, It was absolutely amazing to see that three years after the film released in India, it released in German-speaking cities of Europe. Majority of the audience present in the theaters were Europeans, and they identified with the film exactly the way Indians did. The interaction with the audience post every screening was enriching. They termed the film as the new-age cinema from India, not Bollywood.

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Around three evenings a week  and often more  we make a baingan bharta for dinner in my home. It is not that difficult a dish to master, baingan is relatively easy to find in the market, and it may well be my favourite (or at least one of them) of all market subzis.

When foreign guests try the bharta, they usually love it. Not only is it relatively mild in its spicing  you can actually taste the flavour of the original vegetable, which is not always true of other Indian-style sabzis  but it is also a flavour that many foreigners recognise immediately. Their reference point, though, is not some restaurant version of the dish  baingan bharta is not a popular dish at most Indian restaurants abroad  but the baingan dishes of Middle Eastern cuisine. (Pedants may want me to point out that the baingan is a berry, in scientific terms, and not, technically speaking, a vegetable. But as this column is called Rude Food and not Pointless Pedantry, we shall ignore them!)

Sometimes guests will tell me that it reminds them of the Turkish Imam Bayildi. This baingan dish is probably more famous than it deserves because of its unusual name which translates loosely as the Imam fainted. There are many stories about how the name originated. One version has it that an Imam swooned with joy because the dish was so wonderful. Another has it that one day, when his wife ran out of olive oil, she could not make it. On hearing that the dish would not be served, the Imam was so angry that he fainted. A third, more cynical version, is that the poor man fainted when he heard how much olive oil was used in the preparation of the dish.

Personally, I have never found more than a very tenuous parallel between our baingan bharta and Imam Bayildi. But I do see the point. The food of the Middle East, and the Mediterranean region as a whole, uses lots of baingan. Melanzane Parmigiana, one of the worlds most famous Italian dishes, for instance, is based on baingan.

Over the years, bitter experience has made me cautious about claiming anything as our own. Many of the vegetables, pulses, and flavours that we consider central to Indian cuisine turn out to have come from the Americas and were introduced to India by European colonialists: chilli, potato, rajma, etc.

So it is with dishes. They are not always of indigenous origin. Our pulao comes from the Turkish pilaf, the samosa is a variation of the Middle Eastern sambusak. The jalebi came to India from West Asia. Tea was planted in Darjeeling by the British who brought the plants from China. Coffee came from the Arabs. And so on.

So I have never made any great claims about baingan. And Western authors have told us that even the word baingan comes from the Persian badinjan. The other English name we use for the vegetable, brinjal, is said to come from the Portuguese berinjela.

And indeed, fancy people in the West dont use any of these names. In America, they call it an eggplant. In England, they call it an aubergine. The Italians call it melanzana (which is why their famous dish is called Melanzane Parmigiana.)

No doubt, I thought, it would turn out that the Turks or the Europeans sent us baingan. Or perhaps it came to India with European imperialists.

But, I am happy to say, I was completely wrong. The baingan is ours. We gave it to the rest of the world. The Turks, the Italians and everybody else, took it from us. They may give it fancy names. But it is an ancient Indian vegetable. It appears in all our ancient texts  even our epics  and we have had the first ever name for it: the Sanskrit vrantakam from which the Hindi baingan came. As for the Arabic name of which so much is made, well it looks like Badinjan is derived from the Sanskrit vrantakam.

Thai cuisine has several kinds of baingan, including eggplant omelette (Photo: iStock)

Whats more, I dont think we took any of our recipes from Arabs or other foreigners either. The food historian, Colleen Taylor Sen, has tracked down a baingan recipe from the first known Indian cookbook, the Pakashastra. Because this is a work of 760 verses, passed down orally, it is difficult to date accurately. But most estimates place it in the same period as the Mahabharat.

One baingan recipe, discovered by Sen, requires you to take cubes of baingan and mix them with ground coriander, cumin, black pepper, imli, mango powder and dahi. When the baingan pieces are fully coated with the paste, they are fried in ghee. Then, they are wrapped in palm leaves along with aromatic flowers and camphor and sauteed in hot ghee. Eventually they are removed from the leaves and served on their own.

Not only is this recipe, with its double-frying, quite complicated but it sounds a lot like the Indian cooking of today. So, thousands of years ago, long before Jesus Christ was born, India already had a sophisticated cuisine in which the baingan played a key role.

By the medieval period, the famous baingan dishes of modern Indian cooking  including the baingan bharta  had already been created and documented.

So how did the Middle East get into the baingan act? Well, before we worry about that, consider the role of the baingan in the Far East. The Thais have several different kinds of baingan including the little pea aubergine which they put into curries. The Chinese also use baingan in their cooking. And so do the Japanese.

Where did they get their baingans from?

From us, probably!

Most theories suggest that the baingan plant travelled from India to South-East Asia, and then China during the prehistoric or ancient periods. By the time the rest of the world discovered the baingan, we, in South and East Asia, already knew it well.

So when did the Arabs/Turks get hold of it?

Long after the Far East. Thats for sure.

It is hard to say exactly when because, contrary to popular belief, India and the Middle East were trading partners much before the birth of Islam. The Indus Valley Civilisation was a trading partner of Mesopotamia (roughly equivalent to todays Iraq) and the commercial links continued to flourish through the centuries.

Moreover, while there are extensive records of how the Arabs took the baingan to Europe, there seem to be relatively few records of how it got to the Middle East from India in the first place. What seems likely, judging by the baingans appearances in Arab culinary texts, is that it did not actually became common or popular till about the 8th Century AD or several centuries after the first Indian recipes for early Baigun Bhaja had already been recorded in Indian texts.

The Arabs had opened trade routes (and military supply lines  they first invaded Spain as early as 8 AD) with Europe and these were probably used to export the baingan. The Italians saw their first baingans in the 13th Century. The variety the Arabs sold them was white in colour and looked like eggs on stems. This version reached England in the 1600s, was called eggplant, and described thus: the bigness of swans egg, of a white colour and sometimes yellow and often brown. The characteristic purple colour we associate with the baingan came much later as new varieties were farmed.

Opinions will vary but I believe that people who live in cold countries do not understand the flavour of the baingan or know how to cook it. Arabs, Turks and Persians have warm weather cuisines so they have created great baingan dishes. And the only Europeans who make good use of it are those in warmer Mediterranean

Europe where ratatouille and Melanzane Parmigiana were created.

But none of those dishes  neither Turkish nor Southern European  seem to me to even come close to the glories that the baingan has been raised to in our cuisine. No matter which part of India you go to, there is a great baingan dish: the baigun bhaja of Bengal, the bharta of North India, the simple ringan nu shaak of Gujarat or the many wonderful baingan preparations of Andhra, ranging from Vankaya Peanut Kura to the Bharti Vangal.

So whenever a foreign guest tells me he likes the bharta at my house and asks if it is Middle Eastern in

origin, I have my answer ready.

No, I say. It is an original Indian vegetable. We cultivated it. And we gave it to the world.

And then I smile. Its nice to be proud of the lesser-known glories of Indian vegetarian cuisine.

*

From HT Brunch, September 4, 2016

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The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) must be strong and independent to say no to the highest echelons of the government, governor Raghuram Rajan said on Saturday in his last public speech before ending his tenure as the central bank head.

He also pitched for elevating the rank of the RBI governor saying it should be commensurate with the position as the most important technocrat in charge of economic policies of the country.

Read: Raghuram Rajans departure is hardly a surprise

Rajan, who had repeated face-offs with the political establishment for ignoring calls to cut interest rates, has said he will return to academia after leading the countrys top bank through wide-ranging reforms including a landmark switch to inflation-targeting.

Though his tenure ends on Sunday he is likely to hand over charge to his successor, deputy governor Urijit Patel, on Tuesday.

The central bank should be independent and should be able to say no to seemingly attractive proposals, he said delivering a lecture on Independence of the central bank at the St. Stephens College here.

The Reserve Bank cannot just exist, its ability to say no has to be protected... said the outspoken economist whose tenure was marked by controversies triggered by comments on intolerance debate to the governments flagship programme Make in India.

He, however, added that the central bank cannot become free of all constraints, as it has to work under a framework set by the government.

The 53-year-old, known as the Rockstar Banker for his boyish good looks, said the freedom to take operational decisions is important for the central bank.

However, there are always government entities that are seeking oversight over various aspects of RBIs activities. Multiple layers of scrutiny, especially by entities that do not have the technical understanding, will only hamper decision-making, he said.

On his push for elevating the rank of the RBI governor, currently at par with Cabinet secretary, he said, There is a reason why central bank governors sit at the table along with the finance ministers in G-20 meetings.

Former RBI governor Bimal Jalan said that since the mid-1990s, India has managed its economic situation well.

(The) situation was quite critical in the 1990s and we had a situation and the balance of payment was a huge issue but post that there has been no cause for concern... now we have a good foreign exchange reserves, we are the fastest growing economy, Jalan told HT.

He, however, refused to comment on the issue of the RBI governors rank. That is between the government and the RBII am out of it.

Read | RBI chief Raghuram Rajan felt undermined in weeks before quitting: Report

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The placid waters of Srinagars iconic Dal Lake are deceptive. The serene beauty of the houseboats lining the boulevard and the shikaras full of happy tourists have for years tricked successive governments into believing that normalcy has returned to the Valley. But the Kashmiris know it for what it is: Surface normalcy. So when the Valley slipped into a vortex of violence, in a fraction of a second, after the killing of militant commander Burhan Wani on July 8, New Delhi was left staring at cold statistics: 1.1 million tourists had visited Kashmir till the first week of July as against 550,000 the previous year.

The governments in New Delhi and Srinagar were looking at the wrong set of statistics. They should have been focusing on the changing ground reality: The fact that local militants like Wani were outnumbering the foreign terrorists. They should have analysed the reasons for why militant funerals were drawing large crowds. In fact, they should have worried that women gathering to prevent security forces from launching operations in rural areas was a clear throwback to the early nineties, when the gun first surfaced in Kashmir.

Read: Before Kashmir visit, all-party delegation meets in Delhi to ensure consensus

I saw the writing on the wall a year ago on a trip to south Kashmir, where deep discontent was being articulated in village after village. The lynching of Mohammad Ikhlaq in Dadri over mere suspicion of him having consumed beef had become a talking point in the Valley. His death had prised open a debate on why the PDP had formed the government in alliance with the BJP. In speech after speech, Mehbooba Mufti had implored the voters to vote for her so that the BJP can be kept out.

BJP general secretary and Kashmir-in-charge Ram Madhav admitted that the current phase of violence caught the government by surprise. I need to point out that Kashmir is angry, not only because militant commander Burhan Wani was eliminated in an encounter, but because the trust deficit between the Valley and New Delhi has been eroded over the years and has now reached breaking point. For too long, Kashmiris believed that the Centre would address their grievances politically. They believed that in 2008, when civilians were killed, and again in 2010, when 116 young persons were killed. For too long, Kashmiris have lived in the hope that New Delhi would pay attention to the reasons for their alienation; for why they continue to suffer in one of the most militarised zones in the world. There was a glimmer of hope in 2010, when the Centre had tried to address the anger then by sending a team of interlocutors, who painstakingly spoke to several stakeholders and turned in a report that referred to Kashmir as a dispute. No one, however, paid attention to the recommendations in the interlocutors report and this time, New Delhi responded by raising the issue of Balochistan.

Read: Curfew returns to Valley ahead of all-party teams visit

I can tell you in no uncertain terms that 2016 is a consequence of 2010. Not paying heed to the interlocutors report has come at a cost. The state government, led by Mehbooba Mufti, too has been unable to assuage the raw emotions of the stone-throwing youth, who are refusing to tire. The sentiment prevalent on the Kashmir street echoes a do or die attitude and is different from the previous cycles of violence. Ms Muftis signalling is all wrong. Keeping phone networks and broadband connections on the blink  in the hope that fewer people will be able to mobilise themselves  has not worked. Instead, it has given rise to deep resentment that is only feeding the rage. Let me be clear. If 2010 was a long period of unrest, 2016 is an uprising. A disturbing new reality is being scripted and both the state government and the Centre need to wake up to it.

There is another critical difference. In 2010, the stone-wielding youth were protesting against a fake encounter in which three innocents were killed. The demand for justice lay at the heart of the unrest. This time, the anger is widespread and the enraged youth have no demands. They appear fed up with New Delhis unwillingness to accept the very political nature of the Kashmir problem.

Only when the protests raged well past 50 days was there an acceptance that they were deeply symptomatic. Finally, an all-party delegation will be landing in Srinagar once again but engaging with various stakeholders and then acting on recommendations would amount to a deep betrayal the country cannot afford. New Delhi has for long been shying away from a dialogue with the separatists  and even though the current protests are not entirely in their control. The delegation must reach out to them.

Read: Geelani refuses to meet all-party delegation, says accept J-Ks disputed nature

The Kashmiri wound is deep and it has festered for too long. One major step forward would be to reduce the repressive security measures. Sending in additional companies of paramilitary forces is not the answer. Kashmiris have been living oppressed lives for more than two decades and it is time we reached out to them and addressed their grievances. Shooting and blinding them with pellets will only exacerbate the problem. In close to two months, not a single government representative has visited the injured who are still being treated in hospitals across the Valley. It is imperative that the government expresses remorse for civilian deaths and starts a dialogue. The agenda of alliance which binds both the PDP and the BJP also advocates talks with separatists.

Union home minister Rajnath Singh held out hopes of an alternative to the pellet gun, which has become the symbol of oppression. A committee has now recommended that it be used only in rare circumstances but Kashmir needs a political dialogue that can make the gun redundant. The security forces are being stretched to perform a difficult task only because the political class has failed to engage with its own people. Madhav also said that the Kashmiris could ask for the moon, under the Indian Constitution. He only echoed what former prime minister PV Narasimha Rao had promised 20 long years ago, when he had said the sky is the limit.

With some imagination, ways can be found to grant greater autonomy with no threat to Indias sovereignty. That was the case up until 1953, after which the states autonomy was continuously diluted. The time has come to go to the next level on Kashmir, which is bleeding India, tarnishing its image both internally and externally, providing ammunition to Pakistan and alienating a whole generation in the state. A government that cares for its people will have to walk the talk.

chanakya@hindustantimes.com

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The Catholic Church is said to have over 10,000 saints and beati, so one would think that a new addition to this crowd would not be that newsworthy. Not when the saint-to-be is Mother Teresa, though. The canonisation is of particular importance especially for the Vatican, Albania and India.

Mother Teresa is perhaps the Holy Sees most recognisable personality of the media age, some would say even more well-known and charismatic than her closest friend, Polish-born Pope Saint John Paul II. Together, this formidable duo of Vatican outsiders were a force of nature in their efforts to undermine communism and commitment to the mission ad gentes they shared even before they became close.

Mother Teresa was born to Albanian parents in Skopje only three years before her nation was dismembered by the European powers. To her fellow Albanians she has always been a figure of national pride. Irrespective of their religious adherence or lack of it, the Albanians in Albania proper, Kosova, Western Macedonia and worldwide, are looking forward to the proclamation of their newest saint. There are at least four other Catholic saints of Albanian origin. This is hardly surprising given Albanias Christian roots extend to apostolic times like very few nations in Europe.

Pope John Paul II greets Mother Teresa at the start of a private audience at the Vatican. She is perhaps the Holy Sees most recognisable personality of the media age, some would say even more well-known and charismatic than her closest friend, Polish-born Pope Saint John Paul II, says Dr Gezem Alpion. (HT Photo)

Mother Teresas canonisation on September 4 is apparently big news also in her adopted country India where she lived and worked as a missionary for 69 years from 1929 until her death in 1997. It would be naive to think that everyone in India is overjoyed or really cares that Pope Francis will declare her a saint. And there are those who detest her, claiming she was essentially a proselytiser, devoted fund-raiser for the Vatican, and a major contributor in turning the image of Calcutta irreparably into hell on earth. I have met with some of Mother Teresas Indian critics when visiting Calcutta and New Delhi as well as overseas.

Just as well I have met Indians who think very highly of her. Irrespective of what her Indian detractors say, there are Indians from all walks of life who took Mother Teresa into their hearts from the moment she left the Loreto order in August 1948 because she did not agree with their type of missionary work.

Sishu Bhavan, Kolkata, a centre for malnourished children and orphans, looked after by the Missionaries of Charity. (Indranil Bhoumik / HT Photo )

Mother Teresa had many Indian friends but not many of them can pretend to know the private woman behind the public nun. This is hardly surprising. In many ways, she remained an enigma to the end also for her fellow sisters and brothers of the Missionaries of Charity who were close to her.

In my ongoing research, I contend that Mother Teresa started suffering from the dark night of the soul from the moment she lost her father unexpectedly and in mysterious circumstances when she was only nine years old. I also argue that her decision to go to India was motivated not so much simply by a desire to serve Jesus or the poorest of the poor, as a growing unthinking army of hagiographers keep on saying. A major reason why Mother Teresa apparently chose India as the destination of her calling had to do with her quest for her illusive God. In this respect, one could argue, the poor, just like the members of her religious community, were her helpers in her efforts to find Jesus.

Read: Mothers first miracle, how she cured Monica Besra

Notwithstanding Mother Teresas lifelong and complex spiritual aridity which, in my opinion, makes her a much more interesting figure than simply an epitome of charity, she is often portrayed as, the nun loved India to the end. India was not her adopted country; it was her only country. This does not mean that she loved Albania less but that her heart was in India. I can now reveal for the first time that I have found irrefutable evidence that, contrary to the words attributed to Mother Teresa, or what she indeed may have said in public not to annoy her Albanian expatriates about the place of her burial, the fact of the matter is that she did not want Albania to be her final resting place. When she was once asked by someone very dear to her where she wanted to be buried, Mother Teresa had replied with no hesitation whatsoever: In India; in my country. What makes this statement even more important is that it was made before she became world famous following the awarding of the 1979 Nobel Prize for Peace.

Why was India so dear to Mother Teresa? Having waited patiently for seventeen years for an opportunity to serve the poor and being convinced that the Loreto order was set in its way as an education provider to change, on 10 September 1946 Mother Teresa finally made up her mind to go it alone. One of the main reasons for this insubordination was that, as she once put it, she had not gone to India to teach the daughters of the rich. Her stuck-up Loreto nuns, who had looked down upon her from the start because, in their view, she was not European enough, turned vicious when she had the temerity to tell them that she had the answer for the survival of Christianity in the new independent India.

Mother Teresa did herself no favours in 1947 describing not only Loreto superiors but also all Western nuns as Mems who remain foreigners for the people, following rules which do not allow them to be one of the people. More importantly, she was critical of them for expecting souls to come to them or be brought to their big schools and hospitals.

One can say that Mother Teresas Indian detractors are correct to an extent when they take issue with the alleged contribution she rendered in eradicating the poverty and alleviating the sufferings of the poorest of the poor in India. The obsession for statistics, noticeable in Mother Teresa herself and members of her religious family, would inevitably increase the resentment towards her and her people. If quantified, Mother Teresas impact on Calcutta, India or worldwide is negligible. The value of Mother Teresas work and legacy are in their symbolism. This explains why religious figures of all creeds, Hindu nationalists, Bengali Communists and Indias federal leaders of all ranks were keen to support the European nun who, different from other missionaries, saw herself as an ordinary Indian, dressed like ordinary Indians and lived like ordinary Indians.

As a Catholic nun, it was inevitable that Mother Teresas devotion was first and foremost to the Vatican. Nonetheless, the Christianity she preached and practised was not a colonial faith. Nor was it another version of adopted Indian Catholicism that directly or indirectly, one could argue, has applied caste discriminatory practises amongst its flock.

Mother Teresa, the Catholic nun, was a good friend of anyone who needed her help, irrespective of their creed or lack of it. This was one of the qualities that apparently endeared her also to her earliest followers, who were former Loreto students from a variety of religious and ethnic backgrounds. This helps explain Mother Teresas enduring appeal worldwide.

India and Indians have every right to rejoice this Sunday not so much because the Vatican is making their adopted citizen a saint but that Mother Teresas work is being acknowledged once again.

Mother Teresas devotion to the poor, in spite of the fact that apparently she was never cured of her gnawing doubts about Gods existence, is in my view the greatest miracle one could ever expect from any mortal, including a sainted woman like Mother Teresa who, thanks to the generosity, vision and open-mindedness of an ancient people like the Indians, was hailed as a saint in her lifetime.

Dr Gezim Alpion teaches at The University of Birmingham, UK. he has written books on Mother Teresa

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Years ago, Maqbool Fida Husain, the iconic Indian artist, drew three striped lines on a swathe of white canvas. There was no face; just the folds of the sari covering what would be a head, draping shoulders hunched in a mothers stoop, an interpretation perhaps of the Pieta statue by Michelangelo now in St Peters Basilica in the Vatican. To every Indian, as to most others across the globe who saw it, it was instantly recognisable as Mother Teresa of Kolkata, the woman who took dying men and women from the streets of the city to her home, or the person behind the orphanages which cared for newborn babies abandoned on some other towns pavement or refuse dump.

And as Pope Francis, himself radically interpreting Christs compassion and love in a modern world, canonises Anjeze Gonxhe Bojaxhiu, born in the distant town of Skopje, now in Macedonia, as Saint Teresa of Kolkata, India sees it as an honour to its own tradition of renunciation and service.

In fact, Mother Teresa made the khadi sari or dhoti with its three blue lines border as iconic as herself. A symbol of compassion and love. Much as Mahatma Gandhi had made the homespun a symbol of the poor of the land. India never had better ambassadors. The khadi he wore was spun by himself. The khadi she wore was woven by victims of Hansens disease, deemed by others to be unclean and historically doomed to places where they would not be seen by others.

An MF Husain painting of Mother Teresa. (Painting collection and photo courtesy: Kumar Gallery, New Delhi)

Today, Sisters of the Missionaries of Charity of many nationalities and all races wearing the same sari carry a little bit if India to every corner of the world, working among the poorest of the poor in lands haunted by disease and want, and often razed by war. Some die when their ashrams are attacked by gun-toting terrorists, as happened recently in Yemen. No mean work by one who came to India as a young woman in 1929 with the Loreto Sisters.

Read: A saint who was more of a mother

What Prime Minister Narendra Modi said in his Mann Ki Baat on 28th August, 2016, reflects best the sentiments of the Indian people: She was born in what was then Albania. Her language also was not English. But she moulded herself (to Indian conditions) and served the people of India. It is natural for every Indian to take pride in the moment in which such a Mother is declared a Saint.

She had learnt English for she first wanted to be a teacher, and she soon learnt Bangla in her adopted land. With the language, Mother Teresa herself not only imbibed Indianness but, she went further and proclaimed Indian values that she admired, to the world. She praised the Indian attitude of listening to each other and contrasted it with the hurried rat race of the West. According to her, the Indian ethos of being with someone, listening without a clock and without anticipation of results, teaches us about love. Because the success of love is in the loving  it is not in the result of loving.

For 17 years she taught in Loreto, St. Marys School, Calcutta (now called Kolkata). This totally Indian nun taught in Bengali because the medium of the school was the local language and she called herself the happiest nun in the world. These 17 years of her life epitomise the wonderful services rendered by the Catholic Church to education and nation building in India, inculcating values and love for our country.

Teresa gave her all to this vast country. And the Indian people gave back love in equal measure. She became the quintessential Mother, a title given by the people only to a very few in recent times. The state bestowed on her the highest civilian honour Bharat Ratna in 1980.

But her eventual calling was different. Rukmini Chawla, her biographer, recounts that on a train to Darjeeling for her retreat, Mother Teresa heard her call. Rukmini had the privilege of getting to know Mother Teresa at the tender age of two when Mother Teresa visited her home and with whom her association continued till Mothers death.

Asceticism, a highly valued virtue in Indian culture, took a new form in the saintly woman. Three saris are all that she owned: one to wear, one to wash and one reserved for festive occasions. She refused to eat in the houses of others, not because she did not like to eat in company but because the poor would have to struggle to feed her if they invited her and if she ate with those who could afford; she felt it would mean discrimination.

But her asceticism was not an asceticism of the secluded. She denied herself everything just like her Lord and Master, Jesus Christ, to be at the service of the poorest of the poor, the dying and the abandoned. She gave the Indian asceticism a new value, a new form: deny yourself everything so that you can become everything for those who have nothing. Her life, her work and her ministry were a manifestation of the Love of Christ in her and the Love of Christ for India. Her work was based on a deep prayer experience. She would spend hours in prayer and this prayer would sustain her work. To this country with its deep spiritual character, its longing for the God Experience, Mother Teresa showed us what real God Experience can do  love the poor without counting the cost, serve the lowest of the lowliest, without measuring the efforts.

The moment of her canonisation can be summarised in her own words quoted by Rukmini Chawla on the back cover of her book: I see God in every human being when I wash a lepers wounds, I feel I am nursing the Lord Himself. Is it not a beautiful experience. Mother Teresa was Gods gift to India. By imbibing Indianness, cultivating asceticism, taking the love of God from India to the rest of world, she became Indias gift to the world.

Bishop Theodore Mascarenhas is secretary general, Catholic Bishops Conference of India

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To be honest, Im not sure what conclusion to arrive at. Is this simply an obsession we cant get rid of? Or are we also exposing our weakness? Worse, are we undermining our ambitions? It could be any one of the three or, possibly, all of them.

The truth is weve always behaved like this. Last week the BJP did it but earlier Congress governments have done it as well. In fact, I cant think of any government that isnt guilty of this thoughtless folly.

Now, let me explain. The amount of time and effort our governments devote to complaining about Pakistan to American interlocutors and the sense of achievement we feel when they nod in agreement diminish us. Im not saying we dont have cause to complain. We definitely do. But to go on and on does more than draw attention to the problem. It reveals our lack of capacity to handle it and our dependence on the United States.

India aspires to be a major power. We claim the right to sit as a permanent member of the United Nations Security Council. We insist we are the paramount state in South Asia. Is it then fitting that the key concern we raise in our talks with America should be a list of complaints about Pakistan? No matter how justified our anger, does it deserve this prominence?

Read: Pakistan is neither hell nor heaven, its simply schizophrenic towards India

My answer is no for three reasons. The way we raise Pakistan makes it clear we cant handle the problem on our own. We end up exposing our helplessness. Second, we raise questions about our dominance in South Asia. We may be a giant in size but we end up appearing vulnerable to the pygmies surrounding us. Finally, this constant bleating reinforces doubts we deserve a place on the UNs high table.

Thirty years ago, when Chinas international position was not dissimilar to ours, I dont recall Beijing emphasising its regional issues in the same way. It was too proud to do so and that pride served it better. Our behaviour suggests lack of self-respect.

Now dont get me wrong. Im not saying our concerns about Pakistan shouldnt be discussed with America. The issue is how you do it, when and the response to what you hear.

Last week we took pride in the fact Pakistan was raised at the start of Sushma Swarajs discussion with John Kerry. Should it really have been the first issue on the agenda? Then, we gloried in the details she shared and the length at which she spoke. Not just Lashkar-e-Taiba and Jaish but D-Company was also raised. D-Company, I ask you! Finally, we were thrilled by Kerrys response that America makes no distinction between good and bad terrorists. But what else could he have said?

Read: It is in Indias own interest to treat such external evaluations seriously

Im neither a politician nor a diplomat and I could be wrong but I suspect America would think better of us if we didnt make Pakistan the number one issue. If nothing else it would suggest we have the capacity to handle it ourselves. Even if thats not true its an image worth maintaining.

Im surprised Narendra Modi doesnt instinctively realise this. After all, he knows how important it is to appear to be strong. This is one instance where he would do well not to follow the sad practices of his predecessors.

Read: We will march on path of development, trust in Kashmir and succeed: Modi

You dont need Kerry or Obama to hold your hand. You should be able to handle the Sharifs on your own.

The views expressed are personal

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A complaint filed by a delegation of BJP and Akali leaders led by west Delhi MP Parvesh Verma in connection with former Delhi minister Sandeep Kumars objectionable CD row has been forwarded to the crime branch.

The branch has constituted a special team to verify the authenticity of the CD, which Sandeep Kumar says is doctored.

The team will look into the BJP leaders allegations that Kumar, Arvind Kejriwal and Manish Sisodia sat on the CD for over 15 days.

HT asked experts if Kumar can be booked for a criminal act and if the case will stand in court.

Criminal lawyer Arjun Diwan said no criminal case can be made out against Kumar. A personal act behind closed doors is not a crime. In fact, the man who leaked the video with an intention to make it public is liable for punishment, he said.

Read | AAP suspends sacked minister Sandeep Kumar from party membership

Recording a personal video is not a crime but circulating or publishing it on a public platform with an intention to tarnish ones image amounts to crime. In the present situation, no case can be made out against him (Kumar), he said.

A case can be made only if the woman in the video approaches police or court and says Kumar recorded it without her knowledge. Kumar then may be booked under Section 354C - filming a woman during a private act and for representing a woman in an indecent way, outraging her modesty.

The filming is also in violation of the IT Act that bans publishing pornography in electronic form and its transmission/transfer.

No one knows about the woman in the video. Her marital status is important to establish the adultery angle. Kumar can be booked for adultery in case the husband of the woman in the video approaches police. Adultery (section 497) is sexual intercourse with wife of another man, he said.

Can Kumars wife complain of adultery? No, say experts. Sections of adultery do not apply even if Kumars wife files a complaint against him, alleging she was cheated. Law says only the husband of the woman who is a party (in this case, the woman in the video) can file a complaint against the other male person about adultery. The woman is not an abettor in this situation, advocate Arvind Jain said.

Read | AAPs Dalit face Sandeep Kumar was a giant killer in 2015 polls

The BJP has also demanded action against Sisodia and Kejriwal. But no case can be made out against the CM and deputy CM as the act had no connection with the portfolio that Kumar held, say experts.

Action can be initiated if the video is found to be linked to his office in any way  in this case, if it is proved he used his power and post to get sexual favours, or took sexual favours to get a job done.

The CM or the deputy CM has no business entertaining complaints that question their ministers personal life, until it is not influencing his work in any way. They are not duty-bound to question what a minister does in his personal space, Diwan said.
NEW DELHI: A self-styled godman was arrested on Friday for allegedly cheating women of their money and sexually exploiting them on the pretext of solving their problems through supernatural practices, the police said.

T he occultist allegedly drugged and raped women while performing black magic on them. He allegedly clicked objectionable photographs of them.

He later allegedly blackmailed the women for sexual favours and money, threatening to circulate their photos in social media, said the police.

The arrested tantrik, Shoib Khan, alias Nasir, was famous in central Delhi areas as Guru Siddhi Baba. He would issue advertisements on cable TV in the localities, claiming he had supernatural powers. He would invite people to his ashram.

A senior police officer said they arrested Shoib after probing a rape and cheating case lodged at Ranjit Nagar police station on August 12.

The woman in her complaint said she was stressed after losing her job a few months ago. Depressed, the woman contacted the fake godman after seeing his advertisement on TV, said the officer.

The tantrik asked her to meet him at his ashram. She met the tantrik and he offered her a glass of spiked water. When she regained consciousness, the woman realised she had been raped. The tantrik took her money and said he filmed her, the officer said.

The tantrik threatened to circulate the photos and videos on social media if she complained to the police.

Unable to bear the blackmail any longer, the woman approached the local police, said the officer.

A team under the supervision of ACP Rajkumar Bhardwaj and SHO Neeraj Kumar obtained the call detail records of the phone numbers provided and found that he lived in Chandni Mahal area.

We located the suspects house after a door- to- door search. We then raided the house and caught him, the officer said.
Turkish Europe minister Omar Celik is joining the EU's 28 foreign ministers to discuss fragile relations as the EU wraps up a two-day meeting.

Turkey is pushing for visa-free travel in the EU for its citizens and is threatening to walk away from a deal meant to keep migrants from European shores if its demands aren't met. But Brussels says it will allow that only if Ankara rolls back a crackdown targeting wide segments of society in the wake of July's abortive coup.

Ankara is also angry over calls to end talks on Turkey's entry into the EU.

Slovak Foreign Minister Miroslav Lajcak, whose country holds the rotating presidency, said Saturday discussions will focus on "what are our expectations from Turkey and all what Turkey expects from us."

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NEW DELHI: The Delhi High Court on Friday sought response from the city government on the plea of app-based taxi aggregator Uber claiming that several of their cabs were challaned or confiscated merely because they did not have calibrated meters.

Justice Manmohan did not issue any interim order on Ubers application seeking quashing of the challans of its cabs but sought the governments response by September 6, the next date of hearing.

Uber also alleged that the government is taking the action at the behest of some of its competitors to end our business.

However, the Delhi governments senior standing counsel Rahul Mehra said cabs running on Uber and Ola platforms cannot get blanket immunity for violating the law merely because a central panel was working on formulating a uniform policy to regulate such companies.

Justice Manmohan asked Mehra if the government could wait till the committee comes out with its report as the aggregators have cooperated earlier on the issue of surge pricing.

The committee is looking into it If you (government) have waited so long, wait for some more time till the committee comes with a solution in its report, the court said.

The court on August 11 had set August 22 as the deadline after which taxi aggregators as well as cab operators cannot charge passengers more than the government-fixed rates.
NEW DELHI: Govindpuri in south-east Delhi was set up as a transit camp for families to be resettled in Ambedkar Nagar during the Asiad Games. Today it is notoriously infamous for recording the highest number of minor rapes in the capital.

Home to over 5.5 lakh people, 80% being migrants from different states, the area has over eight slum clusters, a jungle, and some pockets of middle-class Kalkaji Extension.

In 2014, the area recorded 37 rapes, second highest in the capital. Among the 37 raped, 22 were found to be minors. In 2015, 35 cases of rape were reported from the area and in 2016, 22 cases were reported. The number of minors raped in the area during 2015-16 stood at 13, police records say.

With only 11 urinals across 11 locations in the area and four common toilets without any doors, most people go to the Tughlaqabad jungle, popularly known as TKD, to relieve themselves. Many minors are reportedly sexually assaulted by men when they go to the jungle.

Recently two minors were abducted when they were on their way to the toilet, taken into the jungle and raped. Men sit there and smoke marijuana. Sometimes they even sit behind bushes and consume alcohol. They then tease women and sexually assault them. In a case reported in 2013, a man abducted a minor, showed her porn clips on his phone and then sexually assaulted her on a ridge, a senior police officer said.

The police said that most of the men who see minors as easy targets are migrants and have no record of their existence and hence have lesser chances of being caught. Among 5.5 lakh people residing in the area, only 1.5 lakh are registered voters and the rest do not have any record of their existence. In most cases, accused are masons or labourers who are living away from their families and have urges. It becomes difficult to trace them as they do not have a permanent address, an investigator explained. The houses have no numbers, the lanes are congested. For any new recruit, it is difficult to get familiar to the area, he added.

Another problem being faced by the police is a severe staff crunch. For 5.5 lakh people there are only 162 police personnel posted at Govindpuri police station. There are only 65 beat staff. Technically one beat staff official is taking care of 8,500 persons on an average. Most beat officials are often busy with court proceedings. We do not even have enough women police officers to deal with rape cases, a police officer said.
NEW DELHI: The Delhi government on Friday invoked the Essential Services Maintenance Act (ESMA) to force striking nurses to return to duty in its 33 hospitals and several dispensaries.

Thousands of nurses joined a pan-India strike on Friday to demand changes to the seventh pay commission.

All regular nurses went on an indefinite strike on Friday morning., said a government release.

The government termed the services as essential and prohibited the nurses from going on a strike for six months.

Under the act, the striking nurses can be imprisoned for up to three years if they fail to return to work. As soon as the notification reaches the hospital, the police will be asked to detain all leaders of the strike, a source said.

In addition to normal workload, a large number of fever cases are being reported in hospitals and dispensaries. For these patients, the Delhi government has made special arrangements. The strike will cause immense hardships for those who need emergency care, the release read.

The Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) reported 487 cases of dengue and 432 cases of chikungunya till August 27. Two dengue deaths were also reported.

Barring nursing staff from the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), around 25,000 nurses went on strike across government-run hospitals in Delhi on Friday.

At Dr Ram Manohar Lohia Hospital, 150 contractual nursing staff and students ran the out-patient department (OPD) and the emergency services.

With the nurses on strike, we had to give medicines, saline and injections to the patients in the wards, said a resident doctor from RML hospital, on condition of anonymity.

Services were hit in Lok Nayak Hospital and Baba Saheb Ambedkar Hospital in Rohini also.

The nurses have demanded an increase in their grade pay.

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NOIDA: The father of the 13-year-old victim of Bulandshahr rape and robbery said that his daughter is concentrating on her studies to forget her ordeal.

The girls family said that they hope that she can fulfil her dream of becoming an Indian police service (IPS) officer.

I am trying to erase bad memories by focusing on my studies. My only goal now is to go for higher studies and clear IPS exam, the girl said.

The district magistrate of Gautam Budh Nagar, NP Singh, has taken the responsibility of bearing her education expenses and got her admitted to a private school in Noida.

The Ghaziabad resident, whose wife and minor daughter were gang-raped on June 29 by highway robbers on the Delhi-Kanpur highway in Bulandshahr in Uttar Pradesh, said that the local administration and state government has forgotten them.

The family still lives in the one-room rented residence in a Ghaziabad village.

The Ghaziabad district administration was not showing interest in helping us get our daughter admitted to a better school, where she can be safe and study without disturbance. Gautam Budh Nagar district magistrate NP Singh learnt about my problem related to admission. He met me and my daughter and promised help. On August 29, he managed to get my daughters admission to a top private school, the father of the girl said.

We did not want our daughter to continue studies in the same school because she was not comfortable. Now she is recovering from the mental trauma. Noida DM got her admitted in Class 8 and she is trying to focus on her studies now. She is concentrating on her class work even at home to forget the incident, he said.

The administration in Noida has taken steps to ensure comfort of the victim.

NP Singh said, If she wants to become an IPS officer then I will support her in that exam too, after schooling. We need to help her realise this dream so that she can inspire others.

The girls father said, The UP government offered us flats in Ghaziabad that were in a pathetic state with foul smell . We requested for flats in Noida for our daughters safety but the Ghaziabad administration has not bothered to address our concerns in last 20 days. Political leaders and the state government have forgotten us.

Ghaziabad district magistrate Nidhi Kesarwani said, Once we receive a letter from the victim requesting flats in Noida, we will send the same to the UP government. We have completed all formalities at Ghaziabad for issuing the weapons licence. Now requisite clearances are needed from the familys home district. We had tried to get her admitted to a Ghaziabad school but they wanted to shift to Noida.

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Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal was directed by a city court on Saturday to appear before it on September 17 when it will consider the issue of framing of notice against him on a criminal defamation complaint filed by BJP MP Ramesh Bidhuri.

Metropolitan magistrate Harvinder Singh passed the direction while granting exemption from personal appearance to Kejriwal for Saturday after he was told that the CM was unable to attend the hearing as he was out of India.

The court would also decide on the next date of hearing, Kejriwals plea seeking permanent exemption from personal appearance in the matter.

Since he (Kejriwal) is not in India, therefore, the application for exemption from personal appearance for the day is allowed.

Date be fixed for consideration on framing of notice and accuseds (Kejriwal) application (seeking permanent exemption from appearance in the case)... Kejriwal is directed to appear on the next date. Matter be put up for September 17, it said.

During the proceedings, Kejriwals plea for personal exemption for the day was opposed by the counsel for complainant Bidhuri, who was present in the court.

Kejriwal, who was summoned as an accused in the complaint filed by Bidhuri, was granted bail by the court on July 8 after he appeared before it and furnished a personal bond of Rs 10,000.

Kejriwal was summoned as accused by the court in February this year on a criminal defamation complaint filed against him by Bidhuri, an MP from South Delhi parliamentary constituency, under section 500 (defamation) of the IPC.

Bidhuri had alleged that Kejriwal had defamed him in an interview to a news channel.

He had claimed that during the interview, Kejriwal had falsely said that criminal cases were pending against Bidhuri and a Congress leader but the Delhi Police was not taking action against them.

Bidhuri has claimed that no case was pending against him and Kejriwal had defamed him by giving such a statement.
Delhi Police arrested a labourer on Saturday for allegedly abducting and sexually assaulting a 10-month-old girl in Vikaspuri area.

The infant girl, whose parents work as construction labourers, was left in the bushes by the accused who stays near their hut, police said.

The childs family stays in slums near DDA Park . The accused took the child to a jungle nearby and sexually assaulted her, a police officer said.

When the girls mother realised that her child was missing, she raised an alarm and their neighbours then called the police. Three constables searched for the girl who was later found lying in the bushes around 12.30 am. She was rushed to DDU Hospital where she is currently undergoing treatment and her condition is stable, police said.

A case under section 376 IPC (rape) and relevant sections of POCSO has been registered, police said.

The girls family belongs to Khajuraho, Madhya Pradesh and had been staying in the area for the last three-four months. The accused wasnt known to the victims family, police said.
A 24-year-old businessman was killed on Saturday morning after he lost control of his speeding BMW near the Oberoi hotel in central Delhi. The accident occurred on the day the man was to be engaged to his girlfriend.

Abhijit Singh, a builder, was headed from Defence Colony to Model Town when he rammed the grille of a flyover just outside the Oberoi hotel. He was returning home from his bachelor party at around 5 am.

The car flew across the road and rolled over for 50 metres before coming to a halt. The cars roof was severely damaged and the doors jammed from the severity of the impact.

A passerby rushed to help. He reportedly cut open the seat belt and pulled Singh from the car. Singh was then rushed to Moolchand hospital, about four kilometers away. The passerby also contacted the police.

He was admitted to the intensive care unit, but succumbed to his injuries later in the day.

He sustained severe head injuries that caused internal bleeding. We have sent the body for a postmortem examination to ascertain the cause of death. We have also initiated an inquiry, a senior police officer said.

The deceaseds family refused to speak to the media.

Singhs father (also a builder) had been preparing for his sons engagement. Even though he had asked Singh to be at home, a day before the engagement, he had insisted to go and party with his friends, a police officer said.

It is yet to be ascertained if Singh was drink driving.

The car was definitely speeding. It appears Singh wanted to take the flyover, but instead of going towards the right, the car slid left. Even though he was wearing a seat belt, he could not be saved. Had the car been under the speed limit, it would not have toppled over, a senior police officer said.

Singh is survived by his parents and an 18-year-old brother.

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Jailed gangster Ashok Rathi was on Saturday sent to four-day police remand in connection with the murder of his estranged wife, Sushma Rathi.

Sushma, 32, was shot dead by two Santro car-borne assailants in Alipur village on Gurgaon-Sohna road on Friday morning. Her sister, Neetu, named Ashok and his brother Nishu as prime suspects for the murder in her police complaint on Friday.

Ashok Rathi, who has been booked in 28 cases, including murders, is serving life imprisonment at Bhondsi jail. Police investigating the murder sought a warrant from the court to interrogate him with regard to Sushmas murder.

We have taken him in remand and will interrogate him in connection with the murder of his wife, said Sukhbir Singh, assistant commissioner of police (ACP), Sohna.

Police sources, however, revealed that Rathi has confessed to having Sushma killed.

Read more: Gangsters wife shot thrice near Gurgaon, dead

Sushma, had separated from Rathi, 37, over a property dispute. The discord between the two started after the couple married in 2004 and Ashok tried to grab Sushmas ancestral land, police said.

Police have also managed to trace the details of the Hyundai Santro car that was apparently used by the shooters to kill Rathis wife. The car (HR51 AA 8725), police said, was stolen from Sector 7 of Faridabad on August 22. A case of car theft was lodged in Faridabad by its owner Tejpal, a resident of Sector 3, Faridabad.

We are trying to trace the people who stole the car. This will help us trace the shooters, said a police spokesperson. Sources said teams of police are looking for suspected shooters in Uttar Pradesh, where Rathi had many contacts.

After dating for a year, Sushma and Ashok Rathi had married in 2004, against the wishes of her mother, Anguri Devi, and brother, Dharmender Kumar. The discord started when Rathi began eyeing his in-laws property and Sushma objected to it. Her father had left two houses and agricultural lands for the family.

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Former Delhi minister Sandeep Kumar was arrested on Saturday night for allegedly raping a woman with whom he was seen in a purported sex tape, leading to his sacking from the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government.

Kumar, who was the only Dalit face in the Arvind Kejriwal government, surrendered to Delhi Police earlier in the evening, reports PTI.

He was also suspended from AAP on Saturday over the sex scandal that has divided party leaders.

He has been booked for rape, administering a stupefying substance (poisoning), different sections of the IT Act and Prevention of Corruption Act, said Vikramjeet Singh, deputy commissioner of police, Outer Delhi.

Kumar will be produced in a court on Sunday, reports PTI.

Read | Delhi CM Kejriwal sacks minister Sandeep Kumar over alleged sex tape

The woman accused Kumar, 36, of allegedly raping her after spiking her drink with a sedative when she had gone to meet him about an year ago seeking help to obtain a ration card.

The woman, who is married with two children, told police that the video was shot after Kumar was made the women and child welfare minister. Kumar has said the video is doctored.

She said that the leaked footage has strained her personal relationship with her husband and that Kumar should be punished, a senior police officer said.

Hours before the woman appeared before police, the former minister was suspended from primary membership of the party, pending inquiry by an in-house disciplinary committee constituted to probe the matter.

If womans allegations are correct, this is v serious. Strongest exemplary punishment shud be given to Sandeep (sic.), tweeted Kejriwal, who is in the Vatican for the canonisation ceremony of Mother Teresa on Sunday.

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Today Mother Teresa will become a member of what the Catholic Church down the ages has called the communion of saints. Who are these saints? They are Christians the Church presents to the world as models of behaviour and trustworthy guides for the spiritual life. Christians also pray to them to intercede with God on their behalf. A Goan priest once told me the saints had much in common with Hindu Gods. Hindus have their favourite Gods who intercede on their behalf with the ultimate being and Christians have their favourite saints who intercede with God.

Read: Can faith and prayers heal? Only if you continue medication

Many Indian Christians will regard Mother Teresas concern for the poor and the personal sacrifices she made to identify with them, her piety and devotion to the Church, her courage and kindness, her achievements too and her pride in India as more than sufficient evidence that she is a saint. But no one is perfect, and in the world today we seem to take a particular delight in exposing peoples weaknesses and faults rather than rejoicing in their goodness. So inevitably there are those who have found fault with Mother Teresa.

Mary Loudon, one of the earlier volunteers who worked in Mother Teresas Home for the Dying, had accused her of ignoring modern medicine and said Mother Teresa may be almost universally admired for her courage and kindness but most see her as nothing more than a super social worker. But Mother Teresa did train in a missionary hospital in Patna before she started her work in the slums of Kolkata.

Read: Path to sainthood more bureaucratic than divine

When Mother Teresas Missionaries of Charity arrived in Lima, Catholic priests told them they were not wanted because they served the poor but did nothing about eliminating poverty. The most famous attack on her came from the British journalist and literary critic Christopher Hitchens. In his study of Mother Teresa called The Missionary Position, he described her as a religious fundamentalist, a political operative, a primitive sermonizer and an accomplice of worldly secular powers. The ferocity of Hitchens criticism comes from his own fundamentalism, he was a fundamentalist atheist. I do not believe that it is valid to regard Mother Teresa as a religious fundamentalist. She was a devout Catholic but at the same time she said some call him Ishwar, some call him Allah, some simply God but we all have to acknowledge it is He who made us for greater things, to love and be loved.

Mother Teresa did from time to time keep questionable company. Her decision to accept an award from Jean Claude Duvalier, the murderous dictator of Haiti, was certainly highly questionable. I am a great admirer of Mother Teresa but in a book I wrote about her I did question her attitude to the poor. I quoted her as saying [b]y their courage they truly represent the hope of the world. They have taught us a different way of loving God by making us do our utmost to help them. I went on to say [s]he seems to be saying that the poor are pawns in the hands of God provided to create love for him.

To all those who suggested that Mother Teresa should have been more of a doctor or nurse, a sociologist, a welfare worker, or a political activist she had one answer, I am a Catholic Nun. As to my calling I belong to the World. As to my heart I belong to the heart of Jesus. The Belgian Jesuit priest and Islamic scholar, Father Van Exem, was Mother Teresas adviser. She had entrusted all her letters to him and he kept them in a tin trunk under his bed in St Xaviers, Kolkata. Father Van Exem once said to me, If you want to understand Mother Teresa you have to always bear in mind she is an orthodox Catholic.

Read: West Bengal govt to use Mother Teresas canonisation to boost tourism

The simple white cotton sari with a blue band the Missionaries of Charity wear symbolises that they are members of an Indian order. Mother Teresa herself adopted Indian citizenship and received the highest Indian order. There will be Indians of all faiths who will rejoice in Indias new saint. Members of the VHP are not among them. They claim Mother Teresa was a fraud, that her motivation was not love of God and the poor but converting them to Catholicism. The Prime Minister has ignored them and in the Indian tradition of accepting there are many different names for God, Mother Teresas tradition too, he has sent external affairs minister Sushma Swaraj to represent him at the canonisation.

The views expressed are personal
A reporter for Britain's Times newspaper who hit the headlines after being kidnapped and shot in Syria said Saturday that a recent Facebook video appeared to show the gunman was now a US-backed rebel.

Anthony Loyd was seized along with photographer Jack Hill in 2014 as they were returning to Turkey after several days working in the conflict zone of Aleppo.

Loyd was shot twice in the leg while being held captive and both men suffered severe beatings after Hill and the guide tried to escape.

However, Loyd said he recently saw his shooter, whom he named as Hakim Abu Jamal, in a video waving around a Kalashnikov gun while celebrating a US-backed rebel group victory in the border town of al-Rai.

"It was with some surprise watching a video of a victorious band of western-backed rebels that I noticed the face of America's newest ally in the war against Isis group in Syria," he wrote in Saturday's Times.

"It was the face of a man I last saw in May 2014 when he leant forward to shoot me twice in the left ankle at almost point-blank range while my hands were tied," he added.

"He shot me in the middle of a crowd of onlookers, after a savage preliminary beating, denouncing me as 'a CIA spy'. Now, it seems, he works with them," he added.

Loyd was hooded and tied up and put in the back seat of a car, while Hill and the guide were put in the boot before being driven to a warehouse in the town of Tall Rifat.

Hill and the guide managed to break out and overpower their main captor. The guide escaped but Hill was recaptured and beaten, and Loyd was shot to stop him trying to leave.

He said Jamal was the ringleader of the gang, who hoped to secure a kidnap bounty from the two men, and criticised the CIA's vetting process.

"Centcom, the US Central Command, did not respond to Times requests over three days this week to explain how such a well-known hostage taker with family connections to extremists could have passed US vetting procedures," he wrote.

Reporters Without Borders says Syria is the most dangerous place in the world for journalists, with more than 110 killed since the conflict began in March 2011.

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India is 35 tanker-trucks short of the blood it requires for medical procedures, yet some areas of the country wasted blood because there was too much of it, according to an IndiaSpend analysis of government data.

The shortage was estimated at 1.1 million units -- as blood is measured, with a unit being either 350 ml or 450 ml -- in 2015-16, Minister for Health and Family Welfare J.P. Nadda told the Lok Sabha in July 2016. We converted these data into tankers, assuming a standard tanker-truck of 11,000 lt and a 350 ml unit.

In percentage terms, India is 9% short of its needs -- the shortage reducing from 17% in 2013-2014.

The 9% national shortfall hides local shortages and oversupply.

Bihar is 84% short of its blood requirements, more than any other state, followed by Chhattisgarh (66%) and Arunachal Pradesh (64%). Chandigarh had almost nine times the blood it needed, Delhi three times, Dadra and Nagar Haveli, Mizoram, and Pondicherry twice, according to government data.

India has 2,708 blood banks, but 81 districts still lack one, according to government data. Chhattisgarh has the most districts without a blood bank (11), followed by Assam and Arunachal Pradesh (9).

Blood donations are largely from and for the same community, said Zarin Bharucha, pathologist and Chairperson of Federation of Bombay Blood Banks.

A blood donation camp at AIIMS in Bhopal. (HT Photo)

Rural areas find blood supplies harder to access. India has a huge rural population, almost 70%, and we need to be able to provide blood in the most remote areas also, Bharucha said.

Shortages may also be due to the fact that there is no central collection agency, leaving the logistics of collecting blood to single blood banks and local governments.

Some areas may collect too much blood at the same time, instead of doing it at a constant run.

This leads to two issues, said Bharucha. First, that area is likely to experience a shortage of donations in the future. In a country without a donation culture, if everyone donates at the same time, they wont show up for a while. Second, you might have so much blood that you wont need it. So, a part of it will be wasted.

Between January 2011 and December 2015, 63 blood banks across Mumbai wasted 130,000 litres of blood, the Asian Age reported in May 2016, quoting a reply that Right to Information (RTI) activist Chetan Kothari received from the Mumbai District AIDS Control Society, which revealed that the blood was discarded because it was stored for too long.

Watch: Why India needs more blood

World Health Organisation (WHO) guidelines on blood donations require all blood to come through voluntary donations from low-risk populations.

The National Aids Control Organisation (NACO), a division of the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, running HIV/AIDS control programmes, reported that blood donated voluntarily increased from 54% in 2006 to 84% in 2013-2014.

Activists said this figure is misleading. They argue that NACO started counting family donations as voluntary, a practice that goes against WHOs definition of voluntary donation.

Paid donations were banned by a Supreme Court ruling in 1996, but the practice continues. Hospitals that are short of blood often ask a patients family to find what are called replacement donors.

Not everyone has a donor available, so they might land up getting a paid donor, someone masked as a family member who already knows the question they will be asked, said Bharucha.

Getting paid donors may not be safe: donors might either not be tested or provide a false medical history just in order to get paid, increasing the chances for the blood-receiver of getting a transfusion-transmitted infection (TTI) such as HIV, hepatitis A and B and malaria.

Shortages of blood also lead to a black market. In 2008, 17 people were kidnapped for two-and-half years and forced to donate blood so that the kidnappers could sell it to blood banks and hospitals, some of which were accused of being complicit, the BBC reported in January 2015.

They were forced to donate blood three times a week. The Red Cross says blood should be donated no more than once in 8-12 weeks.

Since the need for blood is increasing, not least because the surgery field is improving and medical tourism is expanding, we need to spread awareness through the communities, said Bharucha. We need to create a culture of regular donations: giving blood every three months will increase blood supply as well as blood safety.

(Silvio Grocchetti is a multimedia journalist. The story was first published by IndiaSpend)
Jessi Hempels brother Evan was born a woman. He came out as transgender 16 years ago but never stopped wanting to have a baby. This spring he gave birth to his first child. Evans pregnancy is proof that we live in amazing times.

When Evan first visited an LGBT health centre in Boston, US, Jessi wrote for TIME, it was the first time his doctor had seen a prospective birth father.

We live in amazing times. My brother's pregnancy offers the proof. I've written about it for @TIME https://t.co/fhz7Xg9oBF  Jessi Hempel (@jessiwrites) September 1, 2016

Evan, 35, came out as transgender at the age of 19. He underwent hormone treatment but kept his female reproductive organs, including his breasts, just in case he wanted to breastfeed (or chest-feed - a term trans men have adopted for nursing) his own child someday.

Three years ago, he and his female partner decided that the time was right.

Evan stopped taking his testosterone shots, and his doctor began to attempt fertilisation through artificial insemination. Last spring, Evan finally gave birth to a baby boy.

T-minus two weeks A photo posted by Jessi Hempel (@jessiwrites) on May 7, 2016 at 3:03pm PDT

Pregnancy, even when intended, can be a difficult time for many trans men. The necessity of stopping hormone treatments and the renewed imposition of their female biology led to identity confusion and depression in one of Evans good friends who is also transgender.

Evan, however, said that his experience was almost entirely positive.

It was a gamble. I didnt know how Id feel, said Evan. But it turns out I just feel like its really cool that my body can do this.

A representational photo. (Instagram)

Six days after Evan gave birth, Jessi drove with her partner to see the newborn. When she arrived, her brother had just finished chest-feeding. Jessi asked her brother whether the process of the pregnancy had changed him at all  in particular, had giving birth made him question his masculinity?

People who are not trans talk about being trapped in a body, replied Evan. But thats not really the way my friends talk about it. I was always Evan. I always had these parts. I always just felt like me, and like I was a guy.

Follow the writer on Twitter: @SanyaHoon

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Jammu and Kashmir chief minister Mehbooba Mufti invited Hurriyat leaders on Saturday for talks with an all-party delegation headed to the Valley, asking separatist leaders to lend credence and credibility to the outreach by the countrys political leadership.

Ahead of the much-anticipated visit on Sunday, the Centre approved a chilli-based shell as an alternative to the controversial pellet guns, blamed for causing eye injuries to thousands of civilians including children, and fanning anger against security forces.

Muftis letter to separatists came in the backdrop of hardline leader Syed Ali Shah Geelani, chairman of the Hurriyat Conference, refusing to meet the delegation if New Delhi doesnt accept the political nature of the Kashmir dispute.

Read | J-K CM Mehbooba Mufti invites separatists for talks with all-party delegation

Mufti sent the invitation in her capacity as the PDP chief, indicating that its coalition partner BJP is out of the process to involve separatists for a dialogue to defuse the most volatile phase in the Valley since 2010.

Seventy three people, most of them civilians, have been killed in street violence sparked by the gunning down of a militant leader by security forces on July 8.

This will be the start of a credible and meaningful political dialogue and resolution process to end the stalemate, Mufti said in her letter.

Sources said back-channel talks led by CPI (M) legislator MY Tarigami are also on to convince Geelani, who is under house arrest, to meet the team if they come to his houseas it happened in 2010.

If they agree, we are ready to meet them at their residences (in Srinagar), CPI (M) leader Sitaram Yechury said.

Two other influential separatist leaders, Yasin Malik and Mirwaiz Umar Farooq, are in jail.

The last political dialogue with separatists was held in 2002. In 2010, some members of an earlier all-party delegation had met Hurriyat leaders, though the engagement did not bear substantial results.

In Delhi, during a briefing for the delegation members, home minister Rajnath Singh was, however, non-committal when many leaders demanded that the Centre invite the Hurriyat for talks during the two-day visit.

A source quoted Singh as saying during the meeting that the main challenge before the government during the crisis was the use of the social media and militants hiding with civilian mobs to attack security forces.

Finance minister Arun Jaitley, who said Kashmiris have grievances and some of the irritants should be removed, appealed to the delegation not to get provoked and listen to everyone.

Trinamools Saugata Ray suggested the delegation should interact with university students and media.

The home minister said one thousand chilli-based PAVA shells will reach Srinagar on Sunday to be used for crowd control by security forces.
Time is up for Arunachal Pradesh governor Jyoti Prasad Rajkhowa, with the NDA government deciding to remove him soon.

The government wants him to go but doesnt want to make it a spectacle either. He will be removed in due course, said a government official.

The governors office, however, said there had been no formal communication from anyone asking Rajkhowa to resign from his post.

Responding to the news, Rajkhowa did not name anyone but said the person who asked him to resign was from Guwahati.

The caller from Guwahati did not give the reason when I asked him why I should resign. I spoke to the home minister (Rajnath Singh), and he expressed ignorance. He said you are doing fine in your state. When I asked him what I should do, he said you do your normal duty. Then I spoke to MoS (home) Kiren Rijiju. He also said he had no such information, Rajkhowa said.

He added: But during a conversation later, Rijiju said it was true and therefore, I should resign. He said a constitutional post will be created for me but I said I am not interested in any post. Then he said I will be given a cabinet post following my resignation but I said I am not interested.

Rajkhowa said whoever wanted him to resign should be specific about the reason.
The anti-corruption branch of the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) conducted searches at 20 locations, including the residences of former Haryana chief minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda, in a case of alleged irregularities in acquisition of land in Gurgaon. The farmers and landowners were apparently cheated to the tune of Rs 1,500 crore.

The search operation also covered the residential premises of UPSC member Chattar Singh, who was then additional private secretary to Hooda, CBI sources said on Saturday.

Besides Hoodas residence in Rohtak and Chandigarh, the premises of IAS officers  additional transport secretary, Haryana, SS Dhillon (then director town and country planning), the then principal secretary of Hooda, ML Tayal (now retired)  were also searched in the operation spread across multiple cities, the agency said.

During the searches at Hoodas residence, the CBI alleged that it has found fund transaction details worth crores of rupees which are being scrutinised by the agency.

Reacting to the raids, Hooda said it was political vendetta. They can do whatever they want to do. There are not going to get anything in it, for, there is nothing wrong in it, he said.

Hooda was in Delhi at the time of raids but local Congress leaders created ruckus outside his house. Congress MLA Shakuntala Khatak, spokesperson and former MLA Krishan Murti Hooda and Rohtak former MLA Bharat Bhushan Batra tried going inside his house, but were stopped by the police.

In the ongoing investigation, the CBI carried out searches at 20 locations in Rohtak, Gurgaon, Panchkula and Delhi in connection with alleged irregularities in the purchase of land from farmers in Gurgaon, CBI spokesperson RK Gaur said.

The agency had registered the case last September based on allegations that private builders, in conspiracy with unknown public servants of the Haryana government, had purchased around 400 acres from farmers and land owners in Manesar, Naurangpur and Lakhnoula, at throwaway prices.
Chief Justice of India TS Thakur reiterated on Saturday the need to appoint more judges to deal with the pending cases at trial courts and appellate courts and hoped to sort out issues raised by Justice Chelameswar, the fifth senior-most judge.

Filling up of proper number of judges at the courts has not kept pace with the increasing number of cases, said the CJI.

His comment came after Justice Chelameswar refused to attend the meeting of the collegiums on Thursday, hinting at a potential delay in the appointment of high court judges.

Justice Chelameswar is part of the five-member collegium headed by the CJI and justice AR Dave, justice JS Khehar and justice Dipak Misra as other members.

Read | Revolt in SC collegium: Senior judge boycotts meet over lack of transparency

At the fourth annual convocation ceremony of the National Law University here, Chief Justice Thakur said, Speedy trial is a fundamental right. The adjudicatory process in the courts today is taking unduly long time, which more often than not defeats the right itself.

But unfortunately, for a variety of reasons, and a major reason is, as we all know, the lack of proper number of judges that are required. This is not happening at the trial level or at the appellate level. This needs to be addressed, he added.

He urged young lawyers to face the challenges posed in todays world for the downtrodden and steer the dynamics of change by being an instrument of constitutional values.

Read | Filling vacancies in judiciary a national challenge, says CJI

CJI Thakur has been vocal about the shortage of judges. He had earlier said the country needed to double the number of judges from its current strength of 21,000.

At an event here earlier this year, the CJI broke down and criticised successive governments for not increasing the number of judges to a number sufficient to deal with the pending cases.

The CJI had last month said he was disappointed with Prime Minister Narendra Modi for not mentioning the problem of judicial appointments in his Independence Day speech.

Read more | Collegium system is a lesser evil than the NJAC

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Curfew continued in parts of Srinagar on Saturday and restrictions remained in force in rest of Kashmir after separatists call for occupying Lal Chowk and Airport Road.

Curfew remains in force in five police station areas of downtown Srinagar and Batamaloo and Maisuma areas in uptown city, a police official said.

He said curfew in these areas of the summer capital continued as a precautionary measure in view of the call given by separatists asking people to occupy Airport Road, city centre Lal Chowk and district headquarters on Saturday and Sunday to protest the visit of Union home minister Rajnath Singh-led all-party delegation to the Valley.

Read| Geelani refuses to meet all-party delegation, says accept J-Ks disputed nature

However, the official said, curfew has been lifted from the towns where it was imposed on Friday. Curfew has been lifted from other areas of the Valley in view of the improving situation, the official said.

Authorities had reimposed curfew in Pulwama, Kulgam, Shopian, Baramulla and Pattan towns apart from some areas of Srinagar on Friday in view of apprehensions of violence after Friday prayers.

Normal life remained affected due to the separatist sponsored strike on 57th day as educational institutions and private offices were closed, while public transport continued to be off the roads.

The separatists have extended the shutdown till September 8.

At least 72 people, including two police personnel, have been killed and several others injured in the clashes between protesters and security forces in the Valley since the killing of Hizbul Mujahideen militant Burhan Wani in an encounter in south Kashmir on July 8.

Read| All-party delegation to Kashmir must not be photo-op: Yechury
Politicians set to visit Kashmir as part of an all-party delegation met in Delhi on Saturday to discuss the situation in the valley and the possibility of holding talks with people from various sections.

Home minister Rajnath Singh chaired the meeting and also discussed the itinerary of the Kashmir visit that begins on Sunday.

The home minister-led all-party delegation is expected to meet political groups, trade union leaders, civil society members and individuals to discuss ways and means of restoring peace in the valley caught in an unending cycle of violence triggered by the July 8 killing of Hizbul Mujahideen militant commander Burhan Wani.

Read: We will march on path of development, trust in Kashmir and succeed: Modi

Everyone gave their suggestions. When we return from Kashmir, this delegation will meet here again, Singh said after the meeting.

The exercise was undertaken to ensure that all MPs speak in tandem and there is consensus among the lawmakers while speaking to a cross-section of people, aiming to bring peace in the state, a source told PTI.

The delegation comprises 28 MPs and some senior government officials. They include Finance Minister Arun Jaitley, Food and Public Distribution Minister Ram Vilas Paswan, Congress leaders Ghulam Nabi Azad and Mallikarjun Kharge, and MP Asaduddin Owaisi.

Channels of dialogue should be always open, the government of India needs to decide who the stakeholders are, Congress leader Ghulam Nabi Azad said.

Life has remained disrupted in the Kashmir Valley for the last nearly two months amid recurring pro-freedom stone-throwing protests and counter-violence by security forces. At least 73 people, including two policemen, have been killed in the weeks of violence.
Jalindra Lohra is 11 but unlike most boys his age, he spends most of his time poring over books, reciting English letters he started recognising barely a month ago.

He is a resident of Jamti  a village in Jharkhands Maoist violence-affected Gumla district  and was rescued by police and put into a new residential primary school for the tribes.

Lohra shivers when he recalls the time Maoists forcibly took his younger sister Dumitri for recruitment in their armed squad.

The primary school building has leaking roofs and poor basic amenities such as proper beds, tables and chairs, and electricity supply is sporadic.

But for the soft-spoken boy  deemed as vulnerable to extremist recruitment  it is a far better place to live than his village.

He is one of hundreds of children who are snatched from their parents by Maoists, only to be abandoned later under pressure from police or security forces.

A first-of-its-kind government survey earlier this year found that Maoists took away at least 35 children from as many villages in Latehar, Lohardaga and Gumla districts last winter. Many of these children were either freed or escaped.

Not convinced of their safety in the villages, police evacuated at least 100 such children from their homes and put them in two specially created boarding schools in Gumla. Girls were sent to the already existing Kasturba Gandhi Vidyalayas.

Though away from their homes and parents, the children, between five and 15, seem happy exploring a world away from the shadow of the rebels guns. Parents are also happy to see their children in a secure environment.

The jungle party (Maoists) would often come and hold meetings with elders, demanding children for their armed squads. On denial, they would thrash our parents, says Vikash Toppo, 14.

He recalls how his uncle was tied to a tree and thrashed with rifle butts as others watched helplessly.

Police have shifted his four siblings out of the village and into residential schools. Toppo wants to become a police officer and eliminate insurgents.

Rajpal Oraon, 13, also wants to study hard and become a police officer. Back home, he says, he saw teenagers migrating to other states for work or moving into the Maoist camps.

I want to study and don the khaki uniform, he said.

School principal Santosh Kumar says at first, the childrens confidence was low as they were shaken by Maoists high handedness. They could hardly read or write, let alone coping with the curriculum. Within a month, they have shown tremendous signs of improvement and let me tell you, some of them are very sharp, he said.

We wish to shift more children from the insurgency affected villages but for that we need more residential schools, says director general of police, DK Pandey. He says even though the Maoists are constantly on the run after forces punctured all their bastions, security and education of the children remained a concern for the government.

The government has sanctioned two hostels, one each for boys and girls, at Banalat and Jamti so that the children remain close to their parents and in a protected environment, the DGP stresses.

At least 21 of the 24 districts in Jharkhand are affected by Left wing extremism.

There are at least seven recognised Left wing extremist groups  Maoists are the biggest of them all  that allegedly abuse and violate the rights of children.

A group in Gumlas Bishunpur block led by Ramdeo Oraon has allegedly raped and brutally killed girls and boys before burying their bodies.

Families have left the villages he dominates and the schools attendance is low.

People in a few other villages do not send their children to school and facilitate their migration. Poverty and the fear of being recruited or sexually exploited are the major reasons behind the migration.

According to a survey conducted by NGO Tomorrows Foundation, 77,493 children, more than half of whom are of school-going age, migrate with their parents from Jharkhand every year.

Education in the rebel-controlled areas is in shambles as teachers find the extremist menace an excuse to not attend to their duties. Some government teachers posted in the troubled villages have found an easy way to skip their duties by hiring educated, unemployed local youngsters for as less as Rs 2000-Rs 4000 a month to work on behalf of them.

To check the proxies, chief minister Raghubar Das on August 30 directed district superintendents of education (DSEs) to ask schools to install Aadhaar card pictures of teachers in classrooms for students to recognise the original ones.

Teachers have also alleged the Maoists went to schools asking for children for recruitment.

The state general of human rights organisation Peoples Union for Civil Liberties, Shashi Bhushan Pathak, declined to comment on the forcible recruitment of children by the Maoists.

But he said, Women and children are treated better in the Maoist camps. Political knowledge of children with them is far superior to those attending the government schools.
Haryana has again recorded the highest rate of gangrapes per lakh woman population, as per the National Crime Record Bureau (NCRB) report for 2015. The report was released on Tuesday.

There were 204 gangrapes in the state in 2015 which comes down to 1.6 gangrapes per lakh woman population. Rajasthan is at the second spot with 1.2 gangrapes per lakh population whereas Delhi is at the third spot with 1 gangrape per lakh population.

According to the NCRB, the crime rate, defined as the number of crimes reported per lakh population, is universally taken as a realistic indicator since it balances the effect of growth in population and size of state.

The NCRB has calculated the crime for women-related crimes using female population only whereas for remaining, it has been calculated on the basis of total population.

If we talk in absolute numbers, Haryana comes at 4th spot in the country with 204 gangrapes. Uttar Pradesh tops with 458 incidents, followed by Rajasthan with 411 incidents and Madhya Pradesh with 270 incidents. Delhi recorded 92 gangrapes.

Punjab reported 27, Himachal Pradesh had 8 incidents and Chandigarh reported 4 gangrapes.

In 2014 too, Haryana was at top with 1.9 gangrapes per lakh population followed by Delhi at 1.6. There were 230 incidents of gangrape in 2014. In absolute numbers too, Haryana was at 4th spot. While Uttar Pradesh was at top (573), followed by Rajasthan (414), Madhya Pradesh (284).

HARYANA SECOND IN DOWRY DEATHS

Haryana had the second highest rate of dowry deaths in the country at 1.9 per lakh population with 243 cases in 2015. At top are Bihar and Uttar Pradesh with a rate of 2.3. In absolute figures, UP recorded 2,335 cases and Bihar posted 1,154 cases. In 2014, Haryana has the third highest rate of 2.5 with 293 cases.

In stalking women, Haryana has the third highest rate in the country. The state with 338 cases has a rate of 2.7 cases per lakh population, while at the top is Delhi which posted a rate of 12.1, with 1,124 cases, while Telangana is second with a rate of 4.2 with 766 cases. In 2014, the state recorded 4th highest rate of 2.3 with 284 cases.

The rate in cases of criminal breach of trust is also second highest in Haryana at 3.8 per lakh population with 1,035 cases. Assam is on top with a rate of 6 with 1,917 cases. In 2014, Haryana, with 786 cases, was at the 4th spot with rate of 2.9.

As far as the rate of forgery cases is concerned, Haryana is at the third spot. It reported 739 cases with a rate of 2.7. At the top is Rajasthan with a rate of 6.4 per lakh population and 4,612 cases.

Uttrakhand is at the second spot with rate of 3.1 and 326 cases. In 2014, Haryana has the second highest rate of 2.5 with 667 cases.

In unnatural offence too, Haryana has the third highest rate in the country. The state with 111 cases recorded a rate of 0.4.

Delhi with 172 cases is at top with rate of 0.8 while Chandigarh, with 12 cases, is at the third spot with rate of 0.7. In 2014, however, Haryana had the second highest rate of 0.5 with 143 cases.

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Turkish security forces suffered a bloody 24 hours after 13 soldiers and a village guardsman were killed in three separate incidents in the country's east and southeast, blamed on Kurdish militants.

Three Turkish soldiers were killed during an operation against rebels from the outlawed Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) in the southeastern province of Hakkari on Saturday morning, state-run news agency Anadolu reported.

Another 20 soldiers were wounded, three of whom seriously injured in the incident close to the border with northern Iraq, the agency said.

Another eight soldiers were killed during clashes with the "separatist terror organisation", which authorities use to refer to the PKK, in the eastern province of Van on Friday, the governor's office said.

Eight soldiers were also injured in the same operation, the office said in a statement.

And late on Friday, two soldiers and a village guard were killed in an attack on a checkpoint in Mardin in the restive southeast blamed on the PKK, the agency reported.

The guard killed was part of a group of local residents who cooperate with Turkish security forces against the PKK, listed as a terror group by Ankara and its Western allies. Three security guards were also wounded.

In a statement, the Van governor's office said the condition of those in hospital was "good", although their treatment continued.

Thirteen PKK fighters were killed by Turkish jets around the Tendurek mountains in Van province, the office said, while Anadolu reported that the operation supported by the air force continued.

Attacks against Turkish military have continued with almost daily attacks since the July 15 failed coup which tried to oust President Recep Tayyip Erdogan from power.

Since the collapse of a two-year ceasefire in July, Anadolu reported over 600 Turkish security force members have been killed by the PKK in renewed fighting.

The government has responded with military operations against the group, killing more than 7,000 militants in Turkey and northern Iraq, the agency said. It is not possible to independently verify the toll.

Activists claim innocent civilians have also been killed in the offensives.

More than 40,000 people have been killed since the PKK first took up arms in 1984.

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As it renews its bid for Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG) membership, India has told interlocutors that New Delhi has no issues with Pakistan getting entry into the elite club after following due process like it did.

Pakistans bid has made admitting new members into the NSG a political compulsion for China, an all-weather ally of Pakistan, which had raised procedural issues against Indias efforts in May.

The consultations for Indian membership are now taking place on two tracks: discussions undertaken by NSGs chairs envoy Rafael Grossi with members of the group and Indias bilateral efforts to drum up support for entry into the club by the year-end.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will take up the matter when he meets Chinese president Xi Jingping on the sidelines of the G20 summit on Sunday. China had blocked Indias bid last June on the grounds of it being non-signatory to the non proliferation treaty (NPT).

India has said that it has fulfilled all the necessary requirements for becoming a full member of the NSG. And any country (read Pakistan) following suit can be admitted.

Xi may raise Lemoa

However, it will not be a surprise if Xi raises Indias recent signing of the Logistics Exchange Memorandum of Agreement (LEMOA) with the US and asks Modi to clarify Indias foreign policy doctrine of non-alignment.

China though is not worried about the pact, a top expert said.

There is no panic in China over LEMOA. It doesnt mean US will use Indian bases... China is not worried. China and India relations are not a zero sum game, Ye Hailin, director of the Centre for South Asian Studies at the elite Chinese Academy of Social Sciences (CASS) told Hindustan Times.

India will not give up its independent foreign policy. There is no formal military alliance with the US and there is no shift in Indias strategic doctrine.

Hu Shisheng, South Asia expert at the China Institutes of Contemporary International Relations, said, Ever since the beginning of this year, there have been new disturbances in our bilateral relations. But I am glad to find that after foreign minister Wang Yis visit to India, the situation is stabilising.

Bilateral trade between the months of January and May fell by about 6% to $26 billion, compared to the same period last year.

The chronic problem of trade deficit for India  and trade surplus for China  for the five months in 2016 is nearly a whopping $20 billion.

But the outlook for the future is strong.

Chinese investment has strong enthusiasm to get into India, (it is) very active to get into the Indian market. Businessmen are trying to get to know India, to collect more information on the Indian market. Next step, they will invest, said Liu Xiaoxue, an economist with CASSs National Institute for International Strategy.

It is also learnt that a bilateral meet between Modi and President of the United States Barack Obama will not take place.

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Indias entry into the Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG) and its concern over the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) are expected to be raised by Prime Minister Narendra Modi when he meets with Chinese President Xi Jinping on the sidelines of the G20 Summit in Hangzhou on Sunday.

Though India is set to push for structural reforms to shore up the flagging global economy, poverty and green finance among others in the forum of the worlds largest 20 economies, Modi will once again try to persuade Xi to back India for membership of the 48-member NSG -- an exclusive grouping that controls global nuclear trade.

In June, Modi had, during a meeting with Xi in Tashkent on the sidelines of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation summit, asked for Chinas backing for Indias NSG membership.

But China, leading a group of 10 countries, blocked Indias entry at the plenary of the NSG in Seoul in June, citing New Delhis non-signatory status to the Nuclear Proliferation Treaty. Beijing has, however, been a keen backer of Islamabads entry to the bloc.

Intransigent then, Beijing now looks amenable to Indias admission into the elite grouping.

Modi is to reach Hangzhou, the capital and most populous city of Zhejiang Province in east China, on Saturday evening to attend the two-day summit that begins on Sunday.

Chinese experts hope the meeting between the two leaders would be good.

Read: Indias NSG attempt was well worth the risk

We are not against Indias entry into the NSG. After the Chinese Foreign Ministers (Wang Yi) visit to India (in August), the two sides have agreed to establish a new channel to touch upon all these kind of issues, Hu Shisheng, director, Institute of South and Southeast Asian and Oceanian Studies at the China Institute of Contemporary International Relations, a government think tank, told IANS.

He was referring to the new mechanism between India and China under which Joint Secretary of Disarmament Division Amandeep Singh Gill and Ambassador Wang Qun, Director-General of the Arms Control Division of the Chinese Foreign Ministry, will discuss the NSG issue.

Its because not to let these issues bother the top leaders (Modi and Xi). Earlier, they could not reach understanding because of lack of information. I hope the meeting would be good, he added.

Asked if China would be more open to Indias admission to the NSG, Hu said: Of course.

The change in Beijings stance may also have to do with a UN court ruling on the South China Sea dispute in July. The rejection of Beijings claims over the so-called Nine Dash line -- almost 90 per cent of the disputed South China Sea -- was a blow to China in its dispute with the Philippines, as also Vietnam, Malaysia, Taiwan and Brunei. China has rejected The Hague Courts ruling.

India asking the parties concerned to show utmost respect to the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) has sort of miffed China, which is worried about its image being sullied in the world.

It has been suggested that Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yis visit to India last month was to ensure that New Delhi does not raise the South China Sea issue at the G20, in a sort of quid pro quo deal -- which could see Beijing giving its backing for the NSG membership.

However, even if India keeps quiet on the issue, the US and Japan are highly likely to bring it up, much to the embarrassment of China which has said an emphatic no to political discussion at the G20.

The $46 billion China-Pakistan Economic Corridor is also likely to figure in the meeting between the two leaders.

India has strongly opposed the proposed economic corridor which will pass through Pakistan-held Kashmir and Gilgit-Baltistan, which New Delhi claims as its own.

Modis reference to the two regions, as well as Balochistan, in his Independence Day speech has Beijing worried. Beijing fears New Delhis tacit support to the separatist sentiment in the region -- a charged levelled by Islamabad and denied by New Delhi -- may hit the already-delayed project.

Chinese experts have warned that China may come to Pakistans aid if India creates trouble in these regions.

Besides, global structural reforms, inclusive growth and climate financing will be the major issues to be brought up by India at the summit.

There will be emphasis on appealing to the countries to carry forward the commitment to the issue of climate change and climate change finance. There was a $100 billion commitment which has been made by developed countries -- that $100 billion is nowhere near sight. We would like to again stress the importance of developed nations making available that $100 billion, Shaktikanta Das, Economic Affairs Secretary said earlier.
India is unlikely to give French naval contractor DCNS a proposed order for three new submarines, in addition to the six it is already building in the country, following the leak of secret data about its capabilities, Indian defence officials said.

Details of the Scorpene submarine were published in the Australian newspaper last month, triggering concerns that it had become vulnerable even before it was ready to enter service.

DCNS had offered to build three more submarines to help India replace its ageing Soviet-era fleet, and had held talks over the past year, two Indian sources said.

That offer will not now be taken up, according to the officials.

We had an agreement for six, and six it will remain, a defence ministry official briefed on the navys plans told Reuters, speaking on condition of anonymity.

A navy officer said there had been a serious breach of data and the navys efforts were focused on determining the damage done to the existing submarines.

No order will be signed, nothing is going to happen now, the officer, who is also been briefed on the submarine data leak, said when asked if the government planned to enlarge the order.

Read: Understanding Scorpene leak: Why Indias next-gen subs are now vulnerable

DCNS spokesman Emmanuel Gaudez said the company was stunned by the information. The talks are ongoing with the government and our Indian partners. We have not been informed in anyway of such a decision, he said.

Indias defence ministry has written to DCNS asking for details about the extent of the leak and how data relating to the Scorpenes intelligence gathering frequencies, diving depth, endurance and weapons specifications had ended up in the public domain, both officials said.

A naval group headed by a three-star admiral is looking at altering some features of the submarine, the first of which began sea trials in May for induction later this year, to minimise any damage.

The remaining five are in various stages of production at state-run Mazgaon Docks shipyard in Mumbai and they were all due to enter service by 2020.

INVESTIGATION

An official at Mazgaon Docks said the firm was focused on completing the original order of six Scorpenes and that he was not aware of any plan to build more.

A DCNS spokesperson had earlier said the firm was in close touch with our key customers like India to keep them informed of the development of our investigation, respond to their questions and mitigate their legitimate worries.

The investigation is still ongoing and one of its objectives is to determine the potential prejudice and minimize its potential consequences, the spokesperson said.

DCNS is preparing to build a new fleet of submarines in Australia for A$50 billion ($38.13 billion). Australian defence officials have warned the firm to beef up security in the wake of the leak.

DCNS has said that the leak, which covered details of the Scorpene-class model and not the vessel currently being designed for the Australian fleet, bore the hallmarks of economic warfare carried out by frustrated competitors.

Indian officials have pointed to a non-disclosure of information clause that was written into the 2005 contract at French insistence, the first defence ministry official briefed on the communication with the DCNS, said.

But the official said the government could only invoke that clause if it was established that the data was leaked and not stolen.

A French government source has said the firm had apparently been robbed, and it was not a leak, adding it was unlikely classified data was stolen.

NOISE SIGNATURE

Indian submarine experts say that, while the breach in information security was serious, it does not make the Scorpenes immediately vulnerable to detection.

The most vital data about a submarine is its unique signature of noise, heat and electro-magnetic emissions, and it is the combination of such signatures that determines the ability to detect them.

If that is gone, then you might as well say goodbye to the submarine. You are exposed, said former vice admiral and submariner AK Singh.

Such signatures are assembled in the course of the sea trials of a submarine, and in the case of the Scorpenes that has yet to happen, he said.

Indias submarine arm is down to 13 vessels, only half of which are operational at any time, and is falling rapidly behind China, which is expanding its maritime presence in the Indian Ocean.

Even Pakistan, which operates Agosta submarines also built by DCNS and is in talks with China for a new set of submarines, is drawing close to the operational strength of the Indian navy.

The Indian government has approved the acquisition of the next generation of submarines beyond the Scorpene, in an project estimated at $8 billion.

DCNS has expressed an interest in that project, as has Russia and Germanys ThyssenKrupp Marine Systems.

The first defence official said he did not expect any movement on that project until the investigation into the Scorpene leak was completed and new security measures put in place.
Jammu and Kashmir chief minister Mehbooba Mufti on Saturday wrote to separatist groups and asked them to take the lead and engage with the all-party delegation reaching Srinagar on Sunday.

In her letter, she asked the separatists to suggest a time and place of their convenience for the meeting.

Everybody...mainstream as well as separatists are equally concerned, albeit in our own way, about the existing situation in the Valley. Notwithstanding the fact that you and I have different and divergent political ideologies, I have no doubt that all of us have the best interest of the people of J&K in mind, she wrote.

True, our politics and programs are at variance with each other, but our concerns for our people and society in general, and the future of our youth in particular, should not be any different.

The CM said that she was writing as president of the J&K Peoples Democratic Party and added that this will be the start of a credible and meaningful political dialogue and resolution process to end the stalemate.

Cutting across party lines and political positions, the countrys political leadership has reached out and it is for us to collectively lend it credence and credibility, wrote Mehbooba.

To convert our conviction and commitment of a peaceful and prosperous J&K into reality, it is important that you share your thoughts and beliefs with this distinguished group who represent the people of India and not only the Government of India.

A 27-member all-party delegation led by home minister Rajnath Singh and finance minister Arun Jaitley is slated to hold interactions with various sections in the state on September 4 in the wake of the latest violence in Kashmir that has left 72 people dead.

However, separatist leader Syed Ali Shah Geelani refused to meet the delegation.

Dubbing it as a meaningless photo session, Hurriyat hardliner Geelani said the MPs in the delegation have neither the mandate nor the intention to resolve the dispute of Jammu and Kashmir.

The chairman of All Parties Hurriyat Conference asked India to accept the disputed nature of Jammu and Kashmir and start demilitarisation in the state.

Indian parliamentarians should have a special session of Parliament where they should accept the disputed nature of Jammu and Kashmir to pave the way for holding referendum in the state to settle this issue permanently, peacefully and democratically, Geelani said in a statement on Friday.

Read | Oppn pitches for talks with Hurriyat ahead of all-party teams Kashmir visit

Earlier on Saturday, Mehbooba Mufti reiterated the urgency of initiating unconditional and productive dialogue with Hurriyat Conference to resolve the Kashmir issue and make peace a reality in the Valley.

The countrys political leadership must, without further delay, reach out and engage with all sections of society, including leaders of the Hurriyat Conference in a productive dialogue process to resolve the issue and make peace a reality in Jammu and Kashmir, the CM said while interacting with people at Kalroo village in Kund area of south Kashmirs Kulgam district.

Mehbooba had gone to offer condolences to the bereaved family of Mashooq Ahmad Sheikh, who was killed in firing by security forces last month. Last month, too, she met a few victims families in south Kashmir.

The 19-year-old Mashooq Ahmad Sheikh was killed in clashes with security forces in July. The chief ministers visit, however, was followed by protests and stone pelting in the area. Eyewitnesses said Mehboobas cavalcade, too, was not spared.

The all-party delegation is likely to reach the Valley at 9 am. Meetings are scheduled from 11am till evening. While the delegation is likely to meet Mehbooba in the morning, it would be followed by meetings with delegations of mainstream parties. The delegation is also likely to meet Governor NN Vohra in the afternoon. After 2 pm, the MPs may proceed for any unscheduled meetings.

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A youth was killed in clashes between protesters and security forces in Qazigund area of South Kashmir on Saturday taking the death toll in the ongoing unrest to 73, most of them civilians.

24-year old Basit Ahmed Ahangar was brought to the district hospital in Anantnag with pellet injuries sustained during clashes, a police official said, adding he was declared brought dead by the doctors.

The youth is dead. He had multiple pellet injuries. Besides, he received some other injuries apparently caused by some blunt object, said Fazil Kochak, chief medical officer of Anatnag, adding that the youth was brought from Vessu village of Qazigund in Anantnag district.

Residents said the area witnessed clashes between stone pelting youths and security forces during the day. Police refused to specify how the youth received blunt injuries.

Meanwhile, tension gripped Lal Chowk in Srinagar after the body of a youth was found floating on river Jhelum on Saturday, hours before an all-party delegation was scheduled to arrive in Kashmir on Sunday.

People came out in the evening protesting after news spread that the body bore some pellet injuries even as Kashmir remained on the edge for the 57th day.

People took the body in a procession and offered funeral prayers near Palladium Lane. As they tried to march with the body to the graveyard, police swung into action using force to disperse them and take the body in their possession.

We took the body as people were on their way for its burial. We wanted to do the medical formalities and also identify the body, said Manzoor Ahmed, station house officer at Shaheedganj police station stating that the body bore no pellet wounds. Preliminary investigation revealed that the person was a non-Muslim. He was also a non-local who had probably drowned, said Ahmed, adding that the youth was in his late twenties.
The Madras high court on Saturday directed the authorities concerned to allow members of the Scheduled Caste (SC) to enter the Sri Maha Mariyamman temple at Pasumbalur village in Perambalur district and take part in the temple festival.

The direction was given by Justice M Sathyanarayanan to the Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments department, Perambalur District Collector and the temple authorities on a plea by K Subramani.

In the light of the rival submissions made and the facts and circumstances, this court directs the authorities concerned to ensure that the people belonging to the Scheduled Caste community are allowed to enter the temple and worship the presiding deity during the festival to be held till September 16, the judge said.

Subramani, a Vanniar community leader, had alleged that the temple authorities were not allowing members of the Parayar (SC) community to take part in the festival which commenced on September 1.

He had also referred to clashes between members of the SC community and other communities during the temple festival on previous occasions.

One, Katta Arumugam, was brutally murdered and another, Rajkumar, received serious injuries on two occasions during the clashes in the past, he had said. A representation seeking permission for SC community members to enter the temple during the festival was submitted to the authorities but it was not considered, Subramani claimed.

The judge made it clear that people belonging to the upper caste as well as the Scheduled Caste shall realise the solemness of the occasion and shall extend maximum co-operation to the revenue as well as the police administration for the smooth conduct of the temple festival.

Read more | Arent we humans too? A five-year Dalit struggle in a Tamil Nadu village
When Prime Minister Narendra Modi comes face to face with President Xi Jinping on the sidelines of the G20 Summit in Hangzhou on Sunday, striking a pragmatic balance between sharp diplomatic differences and the promise of economic cooperation could drive the agenda for their talks.

Modi will fly to the scenic  if deserted  city of Hangzhou late on Saturday evening from Vietnam, where he signed 12 agreements, including one for extending a $500-million line of credit to the country.

Like Indias border dispute with China, Vietnam too has an ongoing and bitter maritime dispute with China about overlapping claims on islands in the South China Sea.

Differences will, of course, be on Modis mind when he meets Xi at the sprawling G20 Summit venue.

The list is long: China taking the lead in blocking Indias bid to enter the Nuclear Suppliers Group, Beijings controversial economic corridor with Pakistan that passes through Pakistan-occupied Kashmir and Beijing putting on hold the move for UN sanctions against Jaish-e-Mohammed chief Masood Azhar, the suspected mastermind of the attack on Pathankot airbase.

Bilateral relations dipped after India blamed China for stymieing its bid to become a member of the NSG in June. The two sides also engaged in a war of words over Chinas technical hold on the move to ban Azhar.

It will not be a surprise if Xi raises Indias recent signing of the Logistics Exchange Memorandum of Agreement (LEMOA) with the US and asks Modi to clarify Indias foreign policy doctrine of non-alignment.

China though is not worried about the pact, a top expert said.

Read: Indias NSG attempt was well worth the risk

There is no panic in China over LEMOA. It doesnt mean US will use Indian bases...China is not worried. China and India relations are not a zero sum game, Ye Hailin, director of the Centre for South Asian Studies at the elite Chinese Academy of Social Sciences (CASS) told Hindustan Times.

India will not give up its independent foreign policy. There is no formal military alliance with the US and there is no shift in Indias strategic doctrine.

Hu Shisheng, South Asia expert at the China Institutes of Contemporary International Relations, said, Ever since the beginning of this year, there have been new disturbances in our bilateral relations. But I am glad to find that after foreign minister Wang Yis visit to India, the situation is stabilising.

Hu described as a good move the effort by the two countries to establish a new mechanism at the level of the foreign secretary and the deputy foreign minister to discuss all kinds of sensitive issues. He said the most important part is that the two sides should communicate, frankly and candidly.

Economic ties could be the glue to bring the two sides closer. The range of economic ties might not be promising at present but holds the promise of a healthier future, a Chinese expert said.

Bilateral trade between the months of January and May fell by about 6% to $26 billion, compared to the same period last year. The chronic problem of trade deficit for India  and trade surplus for China  for the five months in 2016 is nearly a whopping $20 billion.

But the outlook for the future is strong.

Chinese investment has strong enthusiasm to get into India, (it is) very active to get into the Indian market. Businessmen are trying to get to know India, to collect more information on the Indian market. Next step, they will invest, said Liu Xiaoxue, an economist with CASSs National Institute for International Strategy.

She said Chinas venture capitalists are eagerly looking for overseas markets and India is the hot destination for them.
Mistaking chicken feed for beef, cow vigilantes at a village near Bhopals Bairasia locality torched a passing truck carrying the meat and beat up the vehicle owner on Saturday.

Police arrested Bablu Thakur (22) and Gaurav Rajput (23) for the incident that occurred about 40 kms from the state capital. They are on the lookout for the other accused.

Gaurav Rajput and Bablu Thakur were arrested for rioting and mischief by fire or explosive substance under relevant sections of Indian Penal Code (IPC). The police may initiate actions under National Security Act against the two. Investigations are on to nab the other accused, said superintendent of police (north), Arvind Saxena.

Local police inspector HC Ladiya added that a case had been against 15 persons. The accused were booked under the IPC sections pertinent to rioting, unlawful assembly, voluntary causing hurt, criminal intimidation, mischief, and mischief caused by fire and explosives.

Police suspect the hand of a right-wing organisation behind the attack.

The incident follows the thrashing of two Muslim women by Hindu Dal activists in July in Mandsaur district over rumours that they were carrying beef. A veterinary test later revealed the 30kg of meat seized from the women was buffalo.

Cow slaughter is banned in Madhya Pradesh, with the maximum punishment stretching upto seven years in jail. However, the state law doesnt include buffalo under its ambit, which means the Muslim women were not guilty.

Read | Mob beats Muslim women in MP over beef rumour, Oppn corners govt in House

Read | Dalit family attacked by Bajrang Dal over beef, alleges Karnataka rights group

According to police, the truck headed for Uttar Pradeshs Aligarh had developed a technical glitch at Bairasia at around 10 am. Since the truck was carrying raw chicken feed, it had the stench of dry animal bones and organs. The smell caught the attention of some locals who suspected the truck of carrying beef.

The locals rounded on vehicle owner Amar Singh Jat, even when he showed his legal documents clarifying the meat to be chicken fodder. Besides roughing him up, the mob also poured kerosene on the truck and set it alight.

A patrolling police jeep reached the spot at this time and alerted the Bairasia police station and the fire brigade. The fire was put out before it damaged more than the cabin of the truck.

Cows are revered by Hindus and slaughtering them is illegal in most states. Madhya Pradesh, and many others states, also bar the sale and possession of beef.

The issue of beef consumption has been a burning issue for months now, starting with the murder of Mohammad Ikhlaq in September last year when a mob suspected him of eating beef. The death sparked outrage among many across the nation, but also led to similar incidents of violence by cow vigilantes.

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Prime Minister Narendra Modi flew into Chinese city of Hangzhou on Saturday for the crucial G20 summit and talks with top world leaders, including Chinese President Xi Jinping on irritants in bilateral ties like Indias NSG bid and the CPEC, which runs through Pakistan-occupied-Kashmir.

Hello Hangzhou! PM lands in China to attend the G20 Summit, Modi tweeted, along with a photo showing Modi shaking hands with officials after landing.

Hello Hangzhou! PM lands in China to attend the G20 Summit. pic.twitter.com/63Ko1oMr1z  PMO India (@PMOIndia) September 3, 2016

External affairs ministry spokesperson Vikas Swarup also tweeted about Modis arrival in China, saying: Morning in Hanoi, night in Hangzhou.

Modi, who reached here after a two-day maiden visit to Vietnam, begins his programme on Sunday morning by holding talks with Xi, in their second meeting in less than three months. The two leaders had last met on the sidelines of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Summit in June in Tashkent.

Sundays meeting is viewed as important in the backdrop of steady decline in the bilateral relations over a raft of issues including the 46 billion dollar China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC).

The two leaders, who enjoy a good rapport, would discuss contentious issues, which will also include listing of Pakistan-based terrorist organisations in the UN and China stalling Indias membership at the elite Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG).

This would be followed by a meeting of the BRICS (Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa) leaders ahead of the G20 summit, which would begin later in the day.

Modi will also hold bilateral meetings with Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull and Saudi Arabias Deputy Crown Prince Mohammad bin Salman.

Modi will attend the G20 summit that begins on Sunday with this years theme of Strengthening Policy coordination and Breaking a new path for growth followed by a number of cultural programmes organised by the Chinese government.

On Monday, he will take part in the second and concluding session of the G20 and hold bilateral meetings with British Prime Minister Theresa May and Argentinian President Mauricio Macri before returning to Delhi.

In all, he would reside in this picturesque city for about 48 hours, officials said.

A meeting between Modi and US President Barack Obama is, however, not on the cards during this trip, they said.
Self-appointed guardians threatened by his governments commitment to Dalits are creating social tensions, Prime Minister Narendra Modi has said, exhorting them not to inflict pain on wounds caused by thousands of years of injustice.

Modi, whose government is accused by the opposition of unleashing social terror, cautioned against giving a political colour to social problems while asking party hotheads to choose their words carefully.

Contesting accusations that his government was anti-Dalit, Modi said he was working for the development of the community.

All those self-appointed guardians who were trying to create tensions in the country did not like this -- that Modi is with Dalits, that Modi devotes himself to tribals Those who see this as an obstruction to their politics are the ones creating trouble, he said.

Economic progress alone was not the solution, he said in an interview to CNN News18 that was broadcast on Friday.

Peace, unity and harmony is essential for society. We dont need unity to fight poverty alone We need to be committed to social justice, he said.

Warning against casteism, Modi said the BJP would fight the Uttar Pradesh elections on the issue of development alone.

The poison of casteism and communal vote bank has caused enough damage.

Read | Reform, perform and transform: Modis mantra for his government

Indias most populous state, which is due for polls early next year, has voted regional parties for decades and the BJP wants to change that.

The party is looking beyond its traditional support base of upper castes and is wooing Dalits who account for 21% of the states population.

Modi counted the government celebrating Dalit icon BR Ambedkars 125th birth anniversary and the BJPs sizeable presence among marginalised communities with many Dalit lawmakers as key indicators of his and his partys attitude towards Dalits.

Read | Modi says devoted to Dalits welfare, warns against politics of social imbalance

Data showed that communal violence and atrocities against Dalits and tribals had come down under his government, Modi said.

The government has come under increased pressure after some Dalit youth were flogged in public Una in his home state of Gujarat in July.

Thousands of years of injustice had kept the wounds open. The slightest of damage will cause a lot of pain, Modi said.

Politics on social imbalances is disservice to society, to all those who faced injustice for generations.

It was after 30 years that in the 2014 election people junked vote-bank politics and voted for a majority government. An entire section of our society has made a shift. It is possible that the people of UP will do a similar thing, he said.

The PM asked party leaders to watch against reckless statements, saying they were answerable to the nation.

all those living in public life, whether political or social workers, even if we are representing a particular community, for the benefit of the countrys unity, for the sake of bonhomie, we must be extra vigilant.

Making a pitch for clubbing state and national elections, Modi said leaders across the political spectrum often spoke to him about it but government couldnt take such a decision alone. All parties would have to agree to it.

Read | Short cut will cut you short: Read full transcript of PM Modis interview

You can watch the full interview on CNN-News 18 channel on Saturday: 9 am, 2pm, 9pm and Sunday: 9am, 12pm, 8pm

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Turkey on Saturday sent more tanks into the northern Syrian village of al-Rai to fight Islamic State (IS) militants, opening a new front after its intervention last month against the group, state media reported.

The tanks crossed into the village from Elbeyli in the Turkish province of Kilis to provide military support to Syrian opposition fighters after ridding northern villages of extremists in its "Euphrates Shield" operation launched on August 24, state-run Anadolu news agency said.

At least 20 tanks, five armoured personnel carriers, trucks and other armoured vehicles crossed the border after noon, Dogan news agency said.

Turkish Firtina howitzers fired on IS targets as the contingent advanced, Dogan said.

Meanwhile, Turkish war planes destroyed two IS targets in Wuguf in southern al-Rai between 10:00 GMT and 10:24 GMT, the Chief of Staff said, quoted by NTV television.

The statement also said two villages and an airport were captured by rebels on Saturday in the al-Rai region.

In the last few months, al-Rai has repeatedly changed hands between rebels and IS.

This is Ankara's most ambitious operation during the five-and-a-half-year Syria conflict, backed by the tanks as well as war planes and special forces providing support to rebels.

The goal is to remove IS from its border and to halt the westward advance of the Kurdish People's Protection Militia (YPG).

Ahmed Othman, a commander in pro-Turkey rebel group Sultan Murad, told AFP in Beirut that his group was now "working on two fronts in al-Rai, south and east, in order to advance towards the villages recently liberated from IS west of Jarabulus".

Othman said it was the first phase of their plans. "We want to clear the border area between al-Rai and Jarabulus from IS, before advancing south towards al-Bab (the last IS bastion in Aleppo) and Manbij (controlled by pro Kurdish forces)."

After the Kurds' success in Manbij, they said they wanted to advance and link their other two 'cantons' in northern Syria, Kobane and Afrin.

But President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said on Friday that Turkey would not allow the group to create a "terror corridor".

Ankara sees the Kurdish Democratic Union Party (PYD) and the YPG as terror groups acting as the Syrian branch of separatist rebels in Turkey's restive southeast.

Militants from the outlawed Kurdistan Workers' Party were blamed on Saturday for the deaths of 20 Turkish soldiers and a village guardsman after three separate clashes and an attack in a violent 48 hours in the country's east and southeast.

The guard killed was part of a group of local residents who cooperate with Turkish security forces against the PKK, listed as a terror group by Ankara and its Western allies.

In Cologne meanwhile, up to 30,000 people took part in a protest against the Turkish offensive in Syria, German news agency DPA reported, while calling for the PKK leader and one of its founders Abdullah Ocalan to be released from jail.

The intervention into Syria last month caused another complication in what was already a tangled five-year civil war, with Ankara and Washington supporting different proxy groups seeking to retake territory from IS.

The United States has provided training and equipment to the YPG, much to Ankara's chagrin.

Within 14 hours on August 24, Turkish-backed Syrian rebels recaptured the border town of Jarabulus from IS and continued to make gains in villages nearby.

According to the Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, Turkey-backed rebels also took control of three villages close to the border on Saturday, two on the Jarabulus front and one on the new al-Rai front.

Observatory head Rami Abdel Rahman said that only "25 kilometres was left for the pro Turkey rebels to control the border area between al-Rai and Jarabulus".

Turkey has also carried out strikes against the YPG north of the town of Manbij, which the Kurds seized last month.

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The use of chilli-filled grenades as an alternative to pellet guns, which will be used in the rarest of rare cases, was cleared by home minister Rajnath Singh on Saturday for crowd control ahead of the visit of an all-party delegation led by him to restive Kashmir on Sunday.

The home minister cleared the file for use of Pelargonic Acid Vanillyl Amide (PAVA) also called Nonivamide as an alternative to the pellet guns, official sources said.

They said as many as 1,000 shells would be reaching the Kashmir valley on Sunday.

During his two-day visit to Kashmir on August 24-25, Singh had said an alternative to pellet guns would be given to security forces in the coming days.

Pellet guns are, however, will be used in rarest of rare cases, they said.

The use of PAVA was recommended by a seven-member expert committee, headed by joint secretary in the home ministry TVSN Prasad, in its report submitted on August 29.

The panel was constituted after scores of protesters were blinded by the use of pellet guns in the Valley.

The Kashmir valley is witnessing unrest following the killing of Hizbul Mujahideen militant Burhan Wani on July 8.

PAVA shells, chilli-based ammunition, is less lethal and immobilises the target temporarily.

The PAVA shells were under trial for over a year at the Indian Institute of Toxicology Research, a Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) laboratory in Lucknow, and its development has come at a time when Kashmir is on the boil.
Information and broadcasting minister M Venkaiah Naidu said on Saturday that had Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel been given a free hand, Kashmir would have completely become an integral part of India.

If the then home minister had been allowed to tackle the issue, Kashmir Valley would not have been witnessing the current unrest, he said.

Unfortunately he was not allowed to handle the issue. Had he been allowed, Kashmir would have been totally a part of India by thought, speech and action, Naidu said.

The minister was speaking in Hyderabad at Tiranga Yatra as a part of Aazadi 70 Saal, Yaad Karo Qurbani.

Naidu described Patel as the iron man and the unifier of India and recalled the role played by him in ensuring the accession of the princely states to India.

Naidu said though the Tiranga Yatra campaign concluded in other parts of the country, as per the call given by Prime Minister Narendra Modi it will continue till September 17 here, the Liberation Day of Hyderabad state.

He noted that even though people all over India celebrated freedom from British rule on August 15 in 1947, those living in the erstwhile princely state of Hyderabad had to wait till September 17, 1948.

Naidu said the region was finally liberated from the tyrannical Nizams rule and integrated with the rest of India in 1948, thanks to the steely and firm resolve of Vallabhbhai Patel.

The obduracy of the Nizam to retain Hyderabad as an independent state left Patel with no other option but to send the army and liberate it, he said.

The swift and clinical operation by the Indian Army put paid to the Nizams plans and forced him to surrender. It also ended the violence unleashed by Razaakars, the private militia of the Nizam which was led by Qasim Razvi, who later fled to Pakistan, Naidu added.

He urged the Telangana government to officially celebrate Hyderabad Liberation Day as was being done in some districts of Maharashtra and Karnataka, which were then part of the Hyderabad state.

It is unfortunate that some political parties are viewing from the prism of vote-bank politics, even in matters related to the nations integrity. There should not be any kind of politics, leave alone vote-bank politics, when it comes to unity and integrity of the nation and all Indians should speak in one voice, he added.

Union labour and employment minister Bandaru Dattatreya, the Bharatiya Janata Party leaders of Telangana, party activists and school children participated in the Tiranga Yatra.
At the half-way mark of his tenure, Prime Minister Narendra Modi in an interview to CNN-News18 spoke about a whole range of important issues like the Kashmir strife, the communal politics across the country and and his partys chances in the upcoming Uttar Pradesh elections.

Heres the full transcript of his interview with the Network18 group editor Rahul Joshi:

NM: My namaskar to all your viewers

RJ:My first question. Two years ago you came with a historic mandate. How do you view the last two years and What do you think has been your biggest achievement?

NM: After getting the responsibility of becoming the Prime Minister it has been about two years and three months. India is a democratic country and the people evaluate governments regularly. Media also evaluates. And these days professional survey agencies also do this.

And I think this is good thing and thats why I leave it to the people to evaluate how my government has performed. But I will definitely want that whenever my government is evaluated, the situation of the government before we came to power must be kept in mind, what the state of the country was, what the media was discussing.

If we keep that in view, newspapers were filled with news of corruption, despair. People had lost hope, they thought everything has sunk. If a patient, however good the doctor, is despondent, medicines will not cure him. And if the patient is hopeful, then even an average doctor can cure him. The reason for that is the patients inner belief.

My first priority after forming the government was that the atmosphere of despair should be removed and create hope and belief in the country. That doesnt happen with speeches, steps need to be taken, it has been shown to be done. And today after more than two years, I can say with certainty that there is hope not just in the people of this country, the trust of the entire world in India has grown

There was a time when we were being seen as a sinking ship. In the BRICS, the I was seen as if it had toppled over. Today it is said that if there is a bright spot, it is India. I think this in itself will be a good way to evaluate.

RJ: You had come to power on the issue of development, so a question on the economy. After a lot of effort you succeeded in passing the GST bill. How big a success do you see this as and what is the common man going to gain from it?

NM: This is perhaps the biggest tax reform since the independence of India. This reform will bring a big change in India. Very few people in the country pay taxes. Some people pay taxes because they are patriotic, they want to to do something for the country. Some pay taxes because they dont want to break the law. Some pay to avoid any trouble. But most dont pay because the process is no complicated, they think they might get stuck in the process and wont be able to come out.

GST will simplify tax payments so much that anyone who wants to contribute to the country will come forward.

Secondly, today if you go and eat at a hotel, the bill will come with this cess, that cess... And people send on WhatsApp, so much bill and so much cess... all this will end. And then we see at octroi and state to state (border) check posts, miles of vehicles standing. When vehicles are standing, it hurts the countrys economy. Now all of it will become seamless, movement of goods from one state to another.

Taxation systems will also be simplified and this will not only benefit the common man, the revenues will help develop the nation. Today there are sometimes incidents of mistrust between states. This will end that situation, it will be transparent and strengthen the federal structure.

Read | Reform, perform and transform: Modis mantra for his government

RJ:After coming to power, your biggest challenge was the economy. You not only had to bring back on track but also increase the pace of growth. How do you assess the situation and your own achievement?

You are right, there was a negative atmosphere and that had an echo effect. The countrys traders and industrialists had started looking out. There was a paralysis in government. On one hand it was this situation on one hand. On the other we had to face two successive droughts.

Third, there was a slowdown in the global economy. So there were a series of challenges. It wasnt only after we came to government, even after that there were challenges. But our intention were strong, policies were clear, there was decisiveness... because there was no vested interest. The result of this was that positivity spread very quickly.

Today, we have the most amount of foreign direct investment after Independence.

The entire world says that at 7% growth, we are the fastest growing economy, whether it is the World Bank, IMF, credit agencies, even UN agencies, they all say India growing rapidly.

So those policies which are helping growth has been emphasised. All obstructions are being removed with policies. All this has resulted in speeding up the economy.

This time the rains have been good and this helps agriculture, which is driving force for the economy. This has raised hopes that the coming days will be much better.

Usually it is one or two things that are talked about, but today growth has being talked about in all sectors.

Electricity production has gone up and so has demand.

Infrastructure work is also growing rapidly and that happens when there is demand in the economy. From all this it looks like we have moved ahead to better days.

RJ: You are absolutely right that the monsoon is very encouraging and stock markets are also up. Would you like to tell us what the next wave of reforms will be?

First of all, in our country, whatever is talked about is seen to be reform. If it isnt talked about, it isnt seen as reform. It shows our ignorance.

Actually, reform to transform. I say in my government: Reform, Perform and Transform. And since I am siting for an interview, I would say Reform, Perform, Transform and Inform.

Take ease of doing business. Our ranking is improving very quickly. This is not possible without reform. Our systems, processes, forms were so complicated. Now there were reformed, so our rankings are going up. A UN agency has said that from 10 in the next two years, we could be at number three.

These small things need to be improved. Even today there is licence raj in some areas, that needs to go. This is an important reform that is happening at every level, administrative, governance, legal. Like we removed 1,700 laws that were from the 19th and 20th centuries. I have asked states also to do so.

These are very big reforms that people, because of lack on information, dont consider reforms.

Take education, where we have taken an important step that no one gave attention to. We have said that 10 government and 10 private universities will be freed of all University Grants Commission rules. We will give them money and they must move towards becoming world class universities. If rules were holding them up, we will remove the rules, now do it and show us. This is a major reform but doesnt get peoples attention.

Direct benefit transfer is a big reform. Earlier who knew where MNREGA money was going. Now it is sent by DBT. So is gas subsidy and student scholarships. All these for me are reforms in governance, transparency. We are getting in more technology. These have to be done at a larger scale. At the centre of this is the common man.

How to make life easier for the common man, how they will get what is their right, we want to stress on these.

RJ: There has been economic growth and improvement but private investment is still a little slow. Some sectors are still in trouble, like real estate. Venture capital funding of start ups has slowed. What message would you like to give to private industry and foreign investors?

I see that because of your integrity and decorum, you didnt ask me this question bluntly. Most people do... Modiji in the last two years what mistake did you make? Today I think, before presenting the first Budget, I should have placed a White Paper in Parliament on the economic situation in the country.

This thought had come to me. I had two paths. Politics told me that I should put out all the details. But the nations interest told me that this information would increase the hopelessness, the markets would be badly hit, it would be big blow to the economy and the worlds view of India would get worse... it would have been very difficult to get the economy out of that... I chose to stay silent at the risk of political damage in the national interest.

At that time the situation in public sector banks was coming out and how budget numbers were moved around... I didnt put these details out in public. It hurt us, we were criticised, it was made to look like it was my fault. But I took the political damage in the countrys interest and the result of that I am being able to fix things, despite shortcomings.

The impact of all these issues from the past have impacted private investment, like non-performing assets of banks, that I am trying to fix now. I held a session with bankers and told them there will be no call from the government to you. These things would have tightened the screws.

Despite that, the pace at which roads are being made, railways is expanding, six fold increase in electronic goods manufacturing, these things show we havent taken short cuts.

And my motto is, as it says on railway platforms, short cut will cut you short. We dont want to take any short cuts and the results are showing.

Anyway the situation has improved, we dont have to worry about these things but let me tell you about the days in the beginning, in May 2014, I chose the tough path. And when unbiased people analyse the situation, I am confident they will be surprised.

Read | Poison of casteism, communal votebank did enough damage: PM

RJ:Modi Ji, you seem to have cracked down. In fact, it is reported that because of your crackdown on black money, small businessmen are hiding either in Dubai or London. you havent spared political dynasties either. will this process continue?

First, from a political standpoint, i have neither thought about this and nor will I do so in the future. I have been a state CM for 14 years. And history is testimony to the fact that I have never opened any file due to political considerations. I have never been accused of this either. It has been over two years here too. the government has given no instruction to open any file. The law will take its own course. I have no right to indulge in any cover up. You saying that we havent spared any dynasty isnt correct.

DIRECT TAKEAWAYS

On his Black Money warning window: Dont blame me if I act after Sept 30th

We have made requisite legal changes so that the black money circulating inside the country can also be curbed. Theres a scheme which is running till the 30th of September. For all those who are still willing to come in the mainstream. I have said this in public, that 30th of September is your last date. You may have made mistakes with whatever the intention may be, whether it has been done willingly or unwillingly, here is your chance. Come in the mainstream. I have this plan for people to sleep peacefully at night. people must accept this. And no one should blame me if I take tough decisions after the 30th. This money belongs to the countrys poor. No one has the right to loot this. This is my commitment. I am working with full force and will continue the effort.

To BJP leaders making reckless comments: Be extra vigilant

And I want to tell the politicians also..I will ask my party leaders also.. reckless statements, saying anything about anyone or any persons community...media will come to you... they need their TRP.. but you are answerable to the nation... and that is why, all those living in public life.. whether political or social workers.. even if we are representing a particular community... for the benefit of the countrys unity, societys unity... for the sake of bonhomie.. we must be extra vigilant

On violence against Dalits: Self-appointed guardians creating trouble

All those who were self appointed guardians were trying to create tension in the country did not like this. That Modi is with the Dalits. That Modi devotes himself to tribals. I am. I am devoted to the development of all the dalit, oppressed, underpriviledged and deprived. Those who see this as an obstruction to their politics are the ones creating trouble. And this is why they are levelling baseless allegations. All those who have fed this country the poison of caste divide have destroyed this country. They must stop giving political tones to social problems. We must go forwards with a purpose. And I want to ask the society also...are these incidents befitting of a civilised society?

RJ:Modi Ji, you seem to have cracked down. In fact, it is reported that because of your crackdown on black money, small businessmen are hiding either in Dubai or London. you havent spared political dynasties either. will this process continue?

First, from a political standpoint, i have neither thought about this and nor will I do so in the future. I have been a state CM for 14 years. And history is testimony to the fact that I have never opened any file due to political considerations. I have never been accused of this either. It has been over two years here too. the government has given no instruction to open any file. The law will take its own course. I have no right to indulge in any cover up. You saying that we havent spared any dynasty isnt correct. Second point, The first decision of my first cabinet immediately after assuming office...a matter stuck for 4 years in the previous regime... a matter that was raised by the SC also...the matter of setting up an SIT on the issue of black money. We have constituted the SIT, it is doing its work also. The SC is monitoring the progress also.

Another important work that we have done is to have such a strong black money law that no one dare send black money abroad. So this is a job that we have done. No new black money. Secondly, we have made requisite legal changes so that the black money circulating inside the country can also be curbed. Theres a scheme which is running till the 30th of September. For all those who are still willing to come in the mainstream. I have said this in public, that 30th of September is your last date. You may have made mistakes with whatever the intention may be, whether it has been done willingly or unwillingly, here is your chance. Come in the mainstream. I have this plan for people to sleep peacefully at night. people must accept this. And no one should blame me if I take tough decisions after the 30th. This money belongs to the countrys poor. No one has the right to loot this. This is my commitment. I am working with full force and will continue the effort.

RJ:Mr Prime Minister, let us move away from the economy and talk a little about politics. Many states go to polls next year. Social discrimination and fundamentalism is raising its ugly head again. Dalits and members of backward classes have in fact started saying that the BJP and Sangh are anti-Dalits. How will you assure the people that your agenda is development and development alone?

The country has full faith. That our agenda is only development. There is no confusion in the minds of countryfolk. But all those people who never wanted that a government like this come to power.. those who never wanted the previous regime to go.. they are the ones who have trouble. So, development is our only issue and it will remain so. And this is not a political issue. This is my conviction. If we want to free this country of poverty then we need development. We will need to empower the poor. As far as some incidents are concerned, they need to be condemned. It has no place in any civilised society. But we must not forget that law and order is a state subject. Some are selectively picking issues and blaming Modi for it. I dont know what purpose does it serve for those who are doing this. But this is surely hurting the interest of the country. such incidents must not happen. From a statistical point of view.. whether it is communal violence...quomi hullad...atrocities against Dalits, atrocities against tribals...data shows that such incidents have gone down in number as opposed to the previous government. But the issue is not of what happened in their government and our government. The issue is that this is not befitting as per our society. We have a culture dating back thousands of years.. we have seen some imbalance in our society...we have to intelligently take our society out of this imbalance. This is a social problem. It is deeply rooted. Politics on social imbalances is disservice to society.. to all those who have faced injustice for generations. this is why, whenever any incident happens anywhere... today, in this country...Dalit MPs and Dalit MLAs.. tribal MPs and tribal MLAs.. the BJP has a sizable presence...and ever since I celebrated the 125th anniversary of Babasaheb Bhim Rao Ambedkar... when UNO also celebrated Babasaheb Bhimrao Ambedkars anniversary...102 countries observed the 125th anniversary...Parliament for two days discussed the life and works of Babasaheb Ambedkar. Many people thought that Modi is a devotee of Babasaheb Ambedkar. They started having problems. When we identified 5 sacred places associated with Babasaheb Ambedkar, whether it was Mau -- the birthplace of Babasaheb Ambedkar, Nagpur, Mumbai.. where we set up his memorial on Indu Mill, memorials at two places in Delhi, converting the place where he stayed in London as a memorial. In a way we set up five pilgrimage spots, and we did it. All those who were self appointed guardians were trying to create tension in the country did not like this. That Modi is with the Dalits. That Modi devotes himself to tribals. I am. I am devoted to the development of all the Dalit, oppressed, underprivileged and deprived. Those who see this as an obstruction to their politics are the ones creating trouble. And this is why they are levelling baseless allegations. All those who have fed this country the poison of caste divide have destroyed this country. they must stop giving political tones to social problems. We must go forwards with a purpose. And I want to ask the society also...are these incidents befitting of a civilised society? i spoke from the ramparts of the Red Fort.. on the incidents of rape...I said that parents must ask their sons also. Where they are going, what they are doing? We ask our daughters this.

RJ:Mr Modi how important is social harmony for economic progress?

Economic progress alone is not the solution. Peace, unity and harmony is essential for society. Even in a family, no matter how well off you may be...even if you are sitting over a heap of arabs of rupees...the familys unity is important. This is true for the society also. We dont need unity to fight poverty alone. We need to be united and harmonious for whatever it takes. We need to be committed to social justice. And that is why, unity for economic progress alone is not important. peace, unity and harmony are useful in family, life, society and for the nation. And to all those who believe in Vasudhaye Kutumbakam...the whole world is one.

RJ:All political parties Mr Modi talk about removing poverty. But poverty is an issue of grave concern in our country. Job creation is a major challenge for you and you have kept this in mind too. what will be your strategy on both these counts.

You are right. Poverty alleviation has been a political slogan also. A lot of politics has also happened on poverty. And a lot of programmes for poverty alleviation have also been started keeping elections in mind. I do not want to get in a controversy on whether it was good or bad. But my path is a little different. We have to empower the poor to end poverty. if the poor is empowered, then he has enough power to alleviate poverty. Politics can be done by keeping the poor poor. But freedom from poverty can only come by empowerment. The biggest tool for empowerment is education. The next point is employment. if we get economic empowerment, then it can serve as a tool to change things on its own. All the initiatives that we have taken over the past few years, like the mudra scheme - at least 3.5 crore people have taken the benefits of the mudra scheme and they got about 1.25 lakh crore Rupees through this scheme. Many of them are those who have got money from the bank for the first time. These people will do something or the other. They will get sewing machines, stitch clothes. They will do something. it is possible that they might employ a few. This empowerment will give these people a lot of power. To educate their children. Suppose a person buys a taxi. Then they would feel they must educate their children. They will move forward. One of the things that we have done is called Stand Up India. I have told banks that every branch must give financial aid to a Dalit, a tribal and a woman. They must make them an entrepreneur. The country has 1.25 Lakh branches of banks. If they empower even 3 people each, they will benefit 4-5 Lakh families. People who did not have this sort of financial empowerment, will feel empowered. They will be an economic strength. This is the Stand Up programme. Start Up... To give employment to the young, I have started this scheme. These are small decisions. I have also sent an advisory to the states. That they must move forward in this direction. We have big malls in our country. Lakhs and crores of rupees are spent in constructing them. There is no time restriction for them. They can run toll 10 pm, 12pm, 4am...but there will be a government representative with a stick in his hand and ask a small shopkeeper to shut his shop... that its evening now.. why? we have said that these small traders who have small enterprises.. they are free to be open 365 days, 24/7..so that they can go about doing their business and also employ a few. And these are the people who drive the economy in our country. This is where we are working to empower. We have laid a lot of stress on skill development. Skill development is the need of the hour. We have changed systems. Skilled development is a ministry. it has a different budget. And work is being done at a huge scale. Skill development by government, skill development through public private partnership, skilled development through skilled universities, collaborating with other countries who have done good work in developing skills. the country has 80 cr youth. they are below 30 years of age. if the youth has the skill, they can change the fortunes of this country. And we are laying stress on this. the countrys youth & employment are at the centre of all the economic activity. in the agriculture sector also, if you move towards value addition, it will create more opportunities to generate employment. A youth from the village who has had to go to big towns under pressure, if he is given value addition and agriculture centric rural development, if we empower him, then employment opportunities shall be created. We are laying stress on this. And we can see some good results.

RJ:I think you are the first prime minister.. Who has had a direct communication with Indians abroad... How has this benefitted the country ?

Everything should not be measured on a scale of profit and loss. In any other country in the world, who is Indian.. at whatever post he may be.. he has a feeling in his heart..that my country must progress. And if they get unfavourable press about their country then they are the most upset. Because they are away, it pricks them even more. We get used to a lot of things. They get effected. They have a lot of effection for India. But they dont get an opportunity or a channel. We have acknowledged the power of the diaspora in Neeti Ayog. In its basics. This is such a global strength. they have global exposure. They have academic quality and qualifications. a zeal to work for the country. And wherever they are, their love for the country has not diminished. Why should we disassociate with them? We must establish a link with them. And there will come a time, when they will be a true ambassador of the India. And I have seen that more than the governments mission, Indias strength is largely due to their (diaspora) attitude and contacts. Mission plus diaspora, when they get together our strength grows manifold. So this was my role and we are getting good results.

RJ: The nation would be keenly watching the UP elections unfold next year. It is being said that it will be like a mini national election. So what do you think will be the biggest issues in the election. And what according to you is the possibility of your win?

First, it is the misfortune of our country that whatever we say or do is always linked to the elections...if elections are 16 months away, people would say that you are doing something with those elections in mind. So, these political pundits, the super political pundits cannot take politics out of their mind.

RJ: Entire country is keenly looking forward to the upcoming UP elections. It is beinng dubbed as mini national elections. What do you think are the key issues and what are the BJPs prospects in UP?

Firstly, its unfotunate that in our country everything we do is immediately linked to elections. UP elections are a year and three months away, still all our elections are being linked to that. Super political pundits cant get politics out of their minds. Their minds buzzing with politics run faster in AC rooms. ... Again, in our country there are frequent elections. Elections here, elections there...elections, elections, elections. Every decision is weighed in the election balance. There will only be adverse for our country impact till the time we continue to keep linking issues, decisons to elections. Its high time we de-linked the two. Parties will come up with their manifestos after polls are announced. Why link them now?

Leaders of political parties, when they meet me, emphatically tell me let us please keep elections aside. They tell me why dont we club assembly elections with Lok Sabha polls. And why dont we hold local body elections as well during that time, so that the entire election process gets over in a week to 10 days time and the for five years the country runs uninterruptedly. There will be decisions, momentum and the bureaucracy will work effectively. Every party is saying this but no single party can decide this. All parties will have to unitedly do this. Government alone cant do this. Election commission has the lead this effort and all parties have to agree on this. I can have my own ideas but I cant do anything about it. This has to be done democratically. But I do hope, some day, there will be comprehensive discussions, debate. Time has come to discuss what good things to add and what to remove from this process.

There will be elections in five states in coming days and Uttar Pradesh is one of them. As far as the BJP is concerned, we will fight on development issues only. Our focus will be welfare of farmers, villages, jobs for the youth and we will stay committed to the cause of social justice. Our focus will be to maintain peace, unity and brotherhood in our country. We will take steps in these regards and move forward.

RJ: There is apprehension that there could be an environment of polarisation in Uttar Pradesh.

The poison of casteism and communal vote bank have caused enough damage in our country. The biggest obstacle to strengthening our democracy is the vote bank politics. There was no atmosphere of vote bank politics in last general elections, there was the atmosphere of development of politics. After 30 years people of section of our society unitedly voted for a majority government. An entire section of our society has made a shift. Its possible that the people of UP will do a similar thing for betterment of UP, they will vote keeping development in their mind.

RJ: J&K is burning now. Your party is part of the state government there and the situation is worsening there. What should be done done according to you to improve the situation there?

Whenever we talk about J&K, we should take the entire picture of Jammu, the Valley and the Ladakh region into account. The seeds of the problem was sown ever since independence and division of our country. Every government had to battle with this problem. This is not a new problem, it is an old one. I believe, the youth of Kashmir will not be distracted. We will proceed together maintaining peace, unity and goodwill so that the heaven called Kashmir will remain heaven. Problems will also get solved. Thats why I always maintain that people of Kashmir need both development and trust. And the billion strong Indians has always stayed committed to both development and it has never wavered from its commitment of trust. This belief is still there today and it will always be there in future as well. We will march on the path of development and trust. And we will succeed.

RJ: Its widely believed that high level corruption has come down drastically under your rule but low level corruption is still rampant.What will be your strategy to check this?

Im grateful to you that you have accepted that there is no high level corruption . If Ganga is clean at Gaumukh then Ganga will gradually become pure while flowing down. You may have noticed that we have taken many steps which have neutralised chances of any corruption. For instance we have shifted the gas subsidy system into the Direct Benefit Scheme. Ghost clients who used to wrongly enjoy the benefits of gas subsidy are no longer there. Chandigarh was being supplied 30 lakh litres of kerosene. Using technology we stopped providing kerosene to those houses which have gas connection and electricity. And we provided gas connections to those who earlier didnt have. Thats how we made Chandigarh kerosene free and saved 30 lakh litres of kerosene from being sold in the black market. The Haryana chief minister was telling me he is going to make eight districts kerosene free by this November. You would know our farmers used to be desperate for urea and used to buy from black market. Black marketeers ruled. In some states the farmers buying urea from black market were even lathicharged. You must have noticed there is no news of urea shortfall these days. No queuing up of farmers anywhere, no lathi-charge anywhere and black marketing has stopped. And why it is not happening anymore. Earlier the urea meant for farmers used to land up in chemical factories on the sly. Chemical factories used to process this as raw material and brought out finished products. They used to get urea cheap. Chemical factories and middlemen enjoyed the cream. We started neem coating of urea. As a result even one gram of urea cannot be used by chemical factories and now entire urea is 100 per cent being used for cultivation only. Additionally, we raised production of urea by 20 lakh tonnes. We also neem coating imported urea. No only that, tribals in Gujarat who were engaged to collect neem seed for this purpose have started extracting neem oil while neem coating and they have earned up to 10 to 12 crore rupees . This is a win-win situation. Corruption and difficulties both gone. Likewise we can do away with low level corruption through policy decisions and using technology. You will start liking at low level what you liked at top level.

RJ: Mr Prime Minister, its being said that Lutyens Delhi did not like you, but have you started liking Delhi?

As you know the position of Prime Minister is such that theres no question of liking or disliking Lutyens Delhi. But theres is a need to deliberate on this. In Delhis power corridors theres an active group of people which is dedicated to only a few. It could be because of their own reasons or personal gains. Its not a question of Modi. Look back at history, what happened with Sardar Patel. This group presented Sardar Patel as a simple peson from a village with simple intellect. Look at what happend to Morarji Desai. This same group never talked about his abilities, achievements. It always talked about what he drank. What happened with Deve Gowda? A farmers son became the PM yet they said he only sleeps. And what happened with the supremely talented Ambedkar who are praising today. They made fun of him. What happend with Chaudhury Charan Singh. They again made fun of him. So Im not surprised when they make fun of him. These custodians who are dedicated to a select few will never accept anyone who is linked to the roots of this country. So I too do not want to waste my time addressing to this group. The welfare of the billion people is my biggest task and I will not lose anything if I do not associate myself with the Lutyens Delhi. Its better if I live with the poor people of this country who are like me.

RJ: Its being talked about in media circles that if TRP rating are down then cut to Modi rallies, still you have a bitter-sweet relationship with media. Yes sometimes but no most of the times. What do you have to say about media

Media has major contributions towards whatever Im today. Yes, I dont give sound bytes here and there. Media may complain that Modiji doesnt make spicy, controversial remarks. This is a genuine complains. Im mostly involved in my work and my work speaks. For a long time I was involved with organisational work. So I have strong freindly association with the media world. There is not a media personality with whom I havent had tea and not had fun. I know many of them by their names. So the expectations are natural. Mostly media has seen big personalities becoming PM, not someone like me who have spent time among them as a friend.

Media is doing its job and it should. I believe, media must strongly criticise governments work. Otherwise democracy wont work. But unfortunately, in this TRP rat race, media doesnt have enough time for research. Criticism is not possible without research. For 10 minutes of criticism you meed 10 hours if research. Instead of criticism it gets into levelling allegations. As a result democracy gets weakened. Government must be afraid of media criticisms bu thats fast going away. I want media to be very critical based on facts. The country will benefit from this. Its right that media has its compulsions. It has to win the TRP race. So Im glad that at least Im useful to them this way. More than my rallies, to win TRP they get people to abuse me.

Like media you seem to have a strained relationship with the judiciary. Why?

This is a totally wrong perception. This government goes by rules, law and the constitution. There is no scope for any confrontation or tension with any constitutional institution. There must be as much warmth with judiciary as needed for constitutional decorum. I try my best to maintain as much decorum as possible.

RJ: Thank you for giving us so much time. I would like to ask you few some personal questions. We got a strong leader in you. But couple of times your emotional side came out. People would like to know what kind of human being you are. Viewers would like to know what is the real Narendra Modi like? Or there are many layers to Modis character.

NM: A soldier at border who bravely fights on and the same soldier when he plays with his daughter cannot behave in the same manner. Narendra Modi whatever he is, after all a human being. Why should I suppress or hide whats inside me. Im what I am. Let people see what they see. As far s my duties and responsibilities are concerned, I have to fulfill them with the best of my abilities. If I have to take strong decisions for the countrys sake then I will have to make those decisions. If I have to work hard for that then I will have to. If I have to bend Ill bend. If I have to walk fast then Ill walk fast. But these are noir facets of my character, these are part of my responsibilities. There is nothing like real or fake Modi. Human being is a human being. If you take off your political glasses, then you will see the real Modi. But you will do a mistake if you continue to judge Modi through your perceived notions.

RJ: Modiji, I have met you many times in Gandhinagar when you were CM and even in PMO. I have never seen any fille, paper or even phone on your table. No one ever intervened during our meetings. You function like a CEO. Some say you hear more and speak less. Whats your working style.

You have made right observations. I have been painted as one who doesnt listen and only talks down. I actually hear a lot and observe a lot, thats I have evolved as a person. I have benefitted a lot through this. Im a workahlic but basically I always like to live in the present. If you have come to meet me then I get immersed in that meeting. I dont touch the phone or see the paper and I dont lose focus. When I see files similarly get immersed and get lost in those files. Ditto my tours. I live every moment in my present. The person who meets me always statisfied that I have given him quality time.

Secondly, one must give justice to ones work, I have always tried that. One must always learn and understand. One must have the courage to leave those ideas that were relevent five years back and not now. One must have the courage the change oneself. This is how I developed my style of functioning.

RJ: Sir, you have punishing schedule of 16 to 18 hours. So how do you relax?

My relax through working only. I never get tired of working, the opposite tires me. If you have to write 10 letters and you may start feeling tired after writing two. But you feel satisfied if you have finished writing all 10 letters and skipped your meal - because you feel the work is finished. Actually we get tired by not working and work gives you satisfaction. That satisfaction gives you energy. I have felt this and always tell this to my youth friends. Tiredness is more psychological. Everyone has the same capacity as needed for the volume of the work. You keep accepting new challenges and your inner self will always back you. This is in built.

RJ: Who has influenced you the most?

My village belonged to the Gaikwad estate and as a child I gained a lot from that environment. The speciality of Gaikwad king was that he used to build libraries and primary schools in every village. I studies in that school. Usually poor students studied there and teachers generally paid attention to them. I developed an interest in reading books. Now theres no much time to read. Those books made an impact them. From 12 years od age I started taking part in oratory competitions. I used to like Vivekananda quotations, his tyle of delivery a lot. I had taken a liking for the Hindi language. I can say Vivekanandas thought had made a huge impact on me which could still be true.

RJ: Last question, where does Narendra Modi find himself in Indian history?

Why the person who loves to live in his present should worry about history? One must not make that mistake in ones life. Unfortunately, in our country, governments, political parties, leaders always tried hard to make their own image. What if we had dedicated to build the image of our country rather than our own? Image of this country is the unending legacy of 1.25 billion people. Modi is just one of those 1.25 billion Indians, nothing more. Modis identity must get lost among those 1.25 billion people. There will be no greater joy if Modi is lost in the pages of history.

RJ: Modiji thank you so much for giving me your time. This is my first camera interview and I feel privileged and honoured to interview the Prime Minister.

Your are from the financial world yet you did a political interview. I liked your confidence. I congratulate you and keep doing the good work.

RJ: You please giving interviews...

Why only politicians only, there are so many others from other walks of life. During election time, reporters start shooting from your bedroom and start asking about breakfast etc. But not many know the sacrifices of our sportsmen. Instead of wasting time on politicians, we should spend more time on our sportsmen. How they control their food, sleep...How they still stay committed even after losing. Our youth must be shown those sacrifices. I would like to your channel to choose 30 sportsmen from the Rio contingent and show their life story. That way we can change the way we see our sportsmen. Also, I feel there are so many personalities to interview beyond politics.

Hindustan Times has reproduced this transcript in partnership with CNN News 18

You can watch the full interview on CNN-News 18 channel on Saturday: 9 am, 2pm, 9pm and Sunday: 9am, 12pm, 8pm
Ram Chandra Dabas, principal of a government school in Delhis Janakpuri, has a unique task list for his teachers. Housing survey, economic survey, industrial survey, Census duty, voter identity card duty, he rattles off, before pausing to catch his breath. There are other tasks lined up too: Aadhaar card registration duties, opening bank accounts for school children, and managing the mid-day meal scheme.

Tell me, is this what teachers are for? asks an irate Dabas.

The long list of such tasks or non-teaching duties is just one of the many issues that confront government school teachers in the country. At 46 lakh  out of a total of 77 lakh teachers  government school teachers constitute a bulk among teachers in the country.

Despite these seemingly huge numbers, an acute shortage of teachers continues to plague government schools. According to the Ministry of Human Resource Development, there are 5.84 lakh vacancies in primary schools alone, and an additional 3.5 lakh posts are vacant in upper primary schools.

Teacher shortages are not new though, particularly after the Right to Education (RTE) Act led to a rise in school enrolments and a demand for teachers. Under the Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan (SSA), the Pupil:Teacher Ratio (PTR) was set at 40:1, or, one teacher for every 40 students. In 2009, with the RTE, however, the ratio was revised to 30:1. While the average PTR in the country at the primary level stands at 25:1, experts say that the ratio obfuscates the real story of shortages: first, it doesnt reveal the inter-state, as well as intra-state disparities in the country. For instance, in Uttar Pradesh, the average ratio is close to 40:1 (the state also has 2 lakh vacancies for teachers), while in Punjab, theres one teacher for every 17 students. Also, some schools in Delhi report more than a 100 students for a single teacher, says C P Singh, president, Government Teachers Association, Delhi.

Read:'Teachers' career, status and self-esteem badly mauled', says professor Krishna Kumar

Besides, as Vimala Ramachandran, professor at the Delhi-based National University of Educational Planning and Administration (NUEPA) says, the ratio doesnt reflect the acute shortage of teachers in subjects such as Maths and Sciences, especially at the secondary level, where the crisis turns severe.

Last month, when a new report tabled in Parliament revealed that more than 1 lakh schools in the country were run by a single teacher (who also doubled up as clerk, mid-day meal manager, administrative staff, and filled in for other functionaries that a typical school requires), the crisis only became more apparent. In Delhi alone, there are 13 such schools that are run by a teacher single-handedly, sometimes operating out of just a room. One can only imagine the conditions in remote areas in the country, says Dabas, president of the All India Primary Teachers Federation.

Quality matters

The crisis in the teaching profession also reflects in the shortage of trained professionals. Ambarish Rai, national convenor of the RTE forum, says that 6.6 lakh teachers in the country need training. Rai says that the lack of well-trained teachers is evident from the fact that less than ten per cent of candidates who appeared for the Teachers Eligibility Test (TET), managed to crack it. The TET was introduced after the enactment of the RTE Act, when the National Council of Teacher Education laid down the minimum qualifications required to become a teacher, and introduced the test as a qualifying exam. While the percentage of those who cleared the test varies across states, in some states such as Maharashtra, only 2 per cent candidates managed to clear the test.

Read:Student ethics, values going downhill, feel Delhi teachers

Many such as Krishna Kumar, professor of Education at Delhi University, say that the lack of trained professionals can be attributed to the rampant commercialisation in teacher training  close to 90 per cent of the teacher training institutes lie in the private sector, where standards of training are low. States such as Haryana, for instance, have institutes that offer teacher training with price gradations depending on whether a candidate would like to skip classes or design teaching aid kits, and even forego the mandatory training in classrooms, says Dabas.

To recommend suggestions to reform the teacher education system, in 2011, the Supreme Court appointed a committee under former chief justice J S Verma. The committee came out with a three volume report in 2012, and most of its recommendations are yet to be implemented.

105,630 schools are run by a single teacher. The teacher performs a range of tasks in these schools.

schools are run by a single teacher. The teacher performs a range of tasks in these schools. 5.86 lakh vacancies for teachers in India. Teacher shortages have increased after the Right to Education Act in 2009.

vacancies for teachers in India. Teacher shortages have increased after the Right to Education Act in 2009. 46 lakh is the number of government school teachers. There are 10 lakh government schools in India.

is the number of government school teachers. There are 10 lakh government schools in India. 28:1 average pupil: teacher ratio. The ratio can be as high as 100:1 in some schools though.

teacher ratio. The ratio can be as high as 100:1 in some schools though. 4.18 This is the percentage share of the countrys GDP that is spent on education.

This is the percentage share of the countrys GDP that is spent on education. 5,000 crore is the budget cut for Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan in 2015. This year, it was restored by only 500 crore.

is the budget cut for Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan in 2015. This year, it was restored by only 500 crore. 13% teachers in the country are on contracts. They are low paid, and at times, not qualified enough.

teachers in the country are on contracts. They are low paid, and at times, not qualified enough. 90% close to 90 per cent teacher training institutes are in the private sector Many are low on quality.



Kumar says that the current crisis in the profession can be traced to the late 80s and 90s, where, pushed by a fiscal crisis, states started to ignore regular appointments, and instead began to hire contract teachers. These teachers were paid a fraction of the salaries paid to regular teachers, were often not qualified, and had less rights and accountability within the system.

Despite pressures from the teachers unions, court judgments and RTE norms of qualified professionals, many states continue to flout norms and rely on contract or para teachers, says Rai. In Jharkhand, for instance, close to half of the teachers are on contract, according to a nine-state study done on teachers in India by NUEPA. Despite a 40 per cent vacancy rate in Jharkhand, the state government has decided that all new recruitments will be of contract teachers, says the report.

The move to regularise contract teachers never happened on the ground, at least in Delhi, claims Singh. The trouble is that guest [contract]teachers have no responsibility. For example, they are not accountable for students results, he says.

Missing in Class

On their part, even regular teachers are also often accused of shirking responsibility, and teacher absenteeism is common, especially in remote areas. In some states, for instance, there has been a trend of proxy teachers  where teachers appoint someone on their behalf, according to the NUEPA report.

The report says that one of the most recent authoritative research studies on teacher absenteeism was the World Bank National Absence Survey (2004), which found that roughly one in four teachers were absent in rural areas. Only four per cent of the absences were owing to official non-academic duties, the study says.

A file picture of a state government-run school in Ranchi, Jharkhand. In Jharkhand, close to half of the teachers are hired on contract, instead of regular teachers. (Parwaz Khan/HT)

Ramachandran, one of the lead authors of the NUEPA report, says that while teachers often tend to exaggerate their non-teaching duties,counting even things like maintaining registers as not part of their jobs. She concedes, however, teachers are often the subject of the administrations high-handed attitude that reflects in, for instance, ad-hoc transfers. In many states such as Rajasthan, if a government changes, a huge number of teachers appointed by the previous government will be transferred randomly, she says. Some states such as Karnataka and Tamil Nadu have a policy on transfers, where you get points for serving in a rural area. This makes the transfer policy transparent. But most states dont have a policy, she says.

Read:Minor reforms in education will not work, need major overhaul, say experts

Aside of transfers, the NUEPA report cites other reasons such as overcrowding in classrooms, poor infrastructure, lack of adequate training, and the decline in the social status of the profession to explain the lack of motivation.

Many such as Saugata Basu, joint secretary of West Bengal Government School Teachers Association, feel that the delays in recruitment are frustrating and also affect motivation. The recruitment of government school teachers is done through Public Service Commission which takes about two years to complete the process. The school education department takes another year for police verification and other mandatory tests. Deserving candidates find it hard to wait for three years for a job, says Basu.

For others, a delay in salaries also affects a teachers motivation. In Delhi, for instance, there are issues of teachers being paid differently, while in Bihar, some teachers report a delay in salaries for several months.

Many such as Singh and Dabas argue that among other issues, school infrastructure is a big factor that affects a teachers morale. Making do with a computer lab that has not been fixed for five years, over-crowded rooms where fans dont work, broken tables, unclean toilets, and corridors double up as classrooms  these issues too affect a teachers ability to perform.

Read:To Sir, with love: Assams Umesh Chandra Sarmah made even Maths fun for students

Back in Janakpuri, on the eve of Teachers Day, Dabas says that among his recent achievements in his school is a change in the uniform. These things matter too. The uniform should make a child feel good about school, he says.

Tomorrow, however, teachers here must return to figuring out another of their tasks: finding out how many bank accounts from the school are linked to the Aadhaar card.

With inputs from

Mou Chakraborty (Kolkata), Arun Kumar (Bihar)

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More than a hundred thousand people are expected at Sundays canonisation ceremony for Mother Teresa at the Vatican City, marking the culmination of a process described as long, complex, opaque and often contentious.

The service to declare the Nobel Peace prize winner a saint will be led by Pope Francis in front of St Peters basilica. A 12-member delegation led by external affairs minister Sushma Swaraj and two other teams from Delhi and West Bengal led by chief ministers Arvind Kejriwal and Mamata Banerjee will attend the event.

A group of around 50 nuns and some 45 bishops from across India will also join the ceremony. The nuns will be led by Mary Prema, superior general sister of the Missionaries of Charity, the order founded by Mother Teresa.

The Catholic Church posthumously confers sainthood on people considered so holy during their lives that they are now believed to be with God and can intercede with Him to perform miracles.

Actors perform as nuns of the Missionary of Charity, the Religious family founded by Mother Teresa at St Peter's square at the Vatican. (AFP)

Mother Teresa died in 1997 and the late Pope John Paul, who met her often, bent Vatican rules to grant a dispensation allowing the procedure to establish her case for sainthood to be launched two years after her death instead of the usual five.

He had even considered making her a saint immediately but cardinals convinced him it would set a dangerous precedent, even though in the early Church people were acclaimed saints upon their death.

The canonisation procedure requires at least two miracles. In 2002, the Vatican officially recognised a miracle linked to Mother Teresa after her death - the healing in 1998 of a tribal woman, Monika Besra, who was suffering from an abdominal tumour. The second miracle was from Brazil, where a person was healed miraculously as a result of her earlier prayers.

Greg Burke, an official at the Vaticans press office, said it would be impossible to predict how many people will attend Sundays canonization. All 100,000 tickets for the mass had been distributed but the crowd would likely be far greater, spilling into the streets around St Peters Square, he said.

More than a dozen heads of state or government will be among the dignitaries attending the event, which will be covered by some 600 journalists from around the world.

At the Mother House in Kolkata, a special mass will be organised and the nuns will celebrate the occasion with the poorest of the poor.

Marcilio Haddad Andrino, the Brazilian man who was declared miraculously healed through Mother Teresas intercession, told a news conference at the Vatican that he was suffering from a viral brain infection and doctors had lost all hope of saving his life when his wife Fernanda prayed to Mother Teresa.

Soon afterwards, he said he found himself miraculously healed from the illness. He said he was just one example of Gods mercy and that he did not feel special.

Within a year, Andrinos wife became pregnant and they had two children even though he had been told the powerful drugs he had taken had made him infertile. He called his two children the extension of that miracle.

One city that will be particularly proud when Mother Teresa is made an official saint of the Roman Catholic Church is Skopje, the capital of Macedonia where she was born on August 26, 1910.

Her parents were Albanian and she was christened Gonxha Agnes Bojaxhiu. At the time, Skopje was part of the Ottoman empire.

On the streets of Skopje, stalls sold postcards and memorabilia with the nuns picture while visitors took in sites dedicated to the Nobel prize winner such as a memorial museum and statues.

The canonization ceremony will be beamed on the Vaticans YouTube channel, on the player of Vatican Radio and on the website of the Vatican Television Service (CTV).

Read | Mother Teresas mission survives beyond her life

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Uzanbazar, one of Guwahatis oldest localities by the river Brahmaputra, is the address of many an elite. But the locality  among its neighbours are the Raj Bhavan, Gauhati High Court and a British-era recreation club  was known more for its underbelly, almost like New Yorks Harlem.

The localitys reputation rubbed off on Lal Singh Academy, a government-recognised Assamese medium high school. Students, mostly boys, were prone to picking up the trademark traits of the area, such as using slang Assamese and raring to flex their muscles.

As Guwahati grew, Uzanbazar lost its reputation as a dangerous place to go. The boys of Lal Singh Academy too arent as belligerent, but the school rarely produces quality students these days.

This is because, past pupils say, there arent too many teachers like Umesh Chandra Sarmah around.

Sarmah, 65, taught mathematics at the academy until he retired as headmaster in 2011. Students recall him as an educator whose strictness was soaked in friendliness.

Lal Singh Academy is not among the best of government-run schools, and many students are from underprivileged groups. But there is no such thing as a bad student; it is the responsibility of a teacher to bring the best out of the slowest of learners as well as motivate the unruly ones, Sarmah told Hindustan Times at his residence in Bonkowar Nagar adjoining Uzanbazar.

Read:Teaching children has boosted my confidence: Paathshala volunteer

After joining the school in 1975, it did not take long for Sarmah to break the mental block students develop for mathematics. He alluded to the locality, objects of everyday use and wit to drill integers, BODMAS, angles, coefficients, logarithms, calculus and probability in the minds of the students. He injected jokes to drive home the point that mathematics wasnt as serious as the students thought.

Teaching is about relating to students as their equal, learning from them and devising constructive tricks to ensure the students get the concept and not learn by rote. It is also about getting to know the students individually, and visiting their homes to know how they are progressing, Sarmah said.

On one such visit 40 years ago, Sarmah came across primary school student Jiten Kalita. I went to their house to enquire about his elder sister, one of my students who is now a senior officer in the Indian Railways, he said.

Kalita, who now teaches mathematics at Indian Institute of Technology-Guwahati, recalled being drawn by Sarmahs personality to choose Lal Singh Academy as his only high school option. Words cannot describe the influence Sarmah Sir has had on me. He is one of a kind, Kalita said.

Kalita is in regular touch with Sarmah, as are scores of other past pupils who made it in life. And some often bring their wards, studying in private schools, along for Sir to bless.

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Sudder Street in Kolkata is a place where every alternate building boasts of hotels or B&Bs, restaurants, travel agents, money exchange outlets and shops selling curios and local textiles, its a place mostly frequented by foreign tourists, many of whom like to club charity work with their India tour.

And their route to do some social service while in the city is through the Missionaries of Charity, an organisation founded by Mother Teresa. At Rajs Spanish Cafe, almost 80 to 90 per cent of customers are those volunteering at Missionaries of Charity.

The number of volunteers, many of whom are foreigners, is increasing every year, says Missionaries of Charity spokesperson Sunita Kumar, adding that the number has nearly tripled in the years since Mother Teresas death.

By working here for a few weeks or months, we can in a small way be a part of the wonderful work being done by the Missionaries of Charity, says 33-year-old Inigo from Spain, who was inspired after a friend spent some time working at a Missionaries of Charity centre in Ireland.

Read: Muslim couple in Kolkata helps keep Mother Teresas legend alive through their shop

On a sunny August morning, a Missionaries of Charity Sister at Nirmal Hriday, the first home for the dying and destitute opened by Mother in Kolkata, points at a man giving the inmates a shave. He comes twice every year to volunteer with us, she says.

Marianne Allen Holmbraker has sold off her house in the US to come and volunteer at the Missionaries of Charity in Kolkata. I wanted to do this since I was 20, but never managed to do so owing to family responsibilities. Now, that my children have grown up, I can finally do what I want, says the professional nurse and message therapist, aged in her fifties. She intends to work at the Missionaries of Charity centres not only in India, but across the world, wherever they feel they need help.

At Nirmala Shishu Bhavan and Daya Dan, volunteers take care of children with special needs. These children are amazing. They can bring us something beautiful, says Mareon, a 19-year-old student from Paris, in her halting English.

While Mother draws people from across the world, eager to share in the cause, Spain holds her in special reverence, feels 23-year-old Iciar, partly because we are a Catholic country,. The elementary school teacher from Spain is volunteering in Kolkata with a group of six friends. We all have someone in our family or among our friends who has done it before, she says.

The volunteers are as excited as the Sisters of Missionaries of Charity about Mother Teresas upcoming canonization on September 4.

I think the canonization was only to be expected, says Begona from Spain, on her second volunteering stint with the Missionaries of Charity. The 40-year-old says she constantly prays to Mother and her prayers are always answered.

Read: Mother could be the patron saint of traveller, says her postulator



Click here for full coverage

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Two youths have been arrested for stealing 17 exotic pigeons valued at Rs2.50 lakh from a village near Bhiwandi. These pigeons are breeds that originated in Hungary and Lahore and were bought from Kolkata by a breeder, Vaibhav Mhatre, who lives in Pimplepar village in Kongaon, Bhiwandi, and kept in special cages at his home.

The two accused, one of whom is a minor, also kept pigeons but they could afford only local breeds. So they decided to steal Mhatres pigeons over two days last week. It was only on the second day that Mhatre noticed the thefts, said Pawan Nandre, investigation officer from Kongaon police station.

After an informer alerted the police, they laid a trap and caught the two near Mankoli Naka trying to sell the pigeons. Three of the pigeons have so far been recovered.

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The Mumbai crime branch investigating the radicalisation case suspect that 32-year-old Abdul Rasheed Abdullah, a teacher of Peace International School in Calicut, was ISIS point man in Kerala. They suspect he was in touch with ISIS handlers directly.

Abdullah, a native of Trikaripur in Kasaragod district, allegedly played a key role in identifying the 21 men  mostly from the same or neighbouring villages  who were later indoctrinated with Salafi preachings and induced to join ISIS. The group was last traced to the Afghanistan border, said police sources.

The funds required to book air tickets were arranged for by Arshi Qureshi, guest relationship manager of Zakir Naiks Islamic Research Foundation (IRF), Rizwan Khan and Mohammad Haneef  both preachers and Abdullah, who is part of the group that has allegedly joined ISIS, the probe revealed.

The crime branch is investigating the chain of funds to determine the source of the money. The police suspect that either Qureshi, Khan or Haneef paid for groups air tickets from Kerala to Dubai. As Khan and Haneef are not well-off financially, investigators suspect that it was Qureshi.

The source of the funds is yet to be established. There needs to be greater clarity at whose behest the monetary help was provided, said a police officer.

Hindustan Times had reported that Qureshi sponsored trips to Sri Lanka for Ashfaq  one of the 21 missing men  and his family. Ashfaq had been to Sri Lanka twice to study the Quran there.

All transactions were carried out in cash to avoid leaving a paper trail, said officials.



Officials said they were still verifying details of transactions carried out from the accuseds bank accounts. A team of the crime branch returned from Kerala late on Tuesday after recording the statements of the missing peoples family and friends. The investigators are trying to ascertain the missing peoples relationship with Qureshi, Khan, Haneef and Abdullah. They have asked the missing peoples families if they knew of money being received by radicalised youth.

The crime branch will conduct a joint interrogation of Haneef, Qureshi and Khan, whose custody will end on Thursday. Haneefs is currently in judicial custody.

Haneef, who was based in Kerala, met Khan as both of them are preachers. Khan, a native of Tamil Nadu, had been staying in Kerala for several years before coming to Mumbai.
Shiv Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray on Saturday demanded a full-time home minister for the state and also suggested that a special assembly session should be called to debate the Atrocities act.

Thackeray stressed that he did not doubt the capability of chief minister Devendra Fadnavis, who also holds the home ministry portfolio.

The chief minister is competent but owing to work pressure, he is not able to give adequate attention to the home department. We need a capable person who can take care of the police department, he added. The Sena has been critical of Fadnavis saying that the law and order department needed a full time minister.

With regards to the change in the atrocities act demanded by both NCP chief Sharad Pawar and Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) president Raj Thackeray, Uddhav demanded a special session to debate this act.

The act should not be the cause of tension between different communities. Today, the Maratha community is angry and the government should ensure that the tensions do not escalate, he added. He took potshots at Pawar saying the Marathas are very well aware of Pawars intentions. In the unfortunate rape incident, in Ahmednagar, the girl belonged to the dominant Maratha community while the accused were allegedly Dalits.

The villagers prevented Dalit leaders like Ramdas Athawale and Prakash Ambedkar from visiting the village, though both condemned the incident in strongest terms.

The Scheduled Caste and Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act were framed by the Union Government in 1989 to prevent atrocities against the members of the SC and ST and help to bring them in the mainstream. However the act has not been very successful deterrent to prevent crimes against the Dalits.

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Forces loyal to Libya's Government of National Accord (GNA) said Saturday they have launched a new attack on diehards of the Islamic State group in the coastal city of Sirte.

Backed by weeks of US air strikes, the pro-GNA forces have recaptured nearly all of what had been the jihadists' main stronghold in North Africa.

The city's fall would be a huge setback to IS's efforts to expand its self-proclaimed "caliphate" beyond Syria and Iraq where the jihadists have also suffered losses.

"The fighting has begun. We are attacking the last Daesh positions in district three" where the jihadists are cornered, a GNA fighter told AFP, using an Arabic acronym for IS.

The GNA forces media centre confirmed on Facebook that the new push had begun to retake Sirte, located 450 kilometres (280 miles) east of the capital Tripoli.

"Our forces are advancing inside the areas where Daesh is, in district three, and so far have taken control of" two banks and a hotel, the media centre said.

It also said they had thwarted an attempted suicide bombing.

One pro-government fighter had been killed, the Misrata hospital's Facebook page said.

An AFP journalist saw ambulances leaving Sirte -- hometown of dead dictator Moamer Kadhafi -- for Misrata to the west.

Since the offensive against Sirte began on May 12, more than 400 fighters loyal to the government have been killed and around 2,500 wounded.

It is not yet known how many IS militants have been killed, but the GNA media centre said the bodies of 10 jihadists had been found in a school in district one, which was being combed after being retaken on Monday.

The forces loyal to the UN-backed GNA had said last weekend they were preparing to "liberate" the entire city after seizing several IS positions, including its headquarters.

On Wednesday, GNA head Fayez al-Sarraj visited Sirte for the first time since loyalist forces launched their offensive more than three months ago to drive the jihadists from the city.

Sarraj and some of his ministers toured former front lines as well as the Ouagadougou conference centre which IS had used as its base.

"We will continue to chase, with the help of God, the Daesh remnants and strike them wherever they may be in our country," Sarraj said this week.

The capture of Sirte by IS last year sparked fears that the jihadists would use it as a springboard for attacks on Europe.

The Sunni extremists took advantage of the chaos in oil-rich Libya after the 2011 uprising to seize Sirte in June 2015, hoisting their black flag above the city.

The offensive on the ground has been backed by US air power.

On Friday, the United States Africa Command said that since the US campaign began on August 1, US drones, helicopters and bombers had carried out a total of 108 air strikes against the jihadists in Sirte.

It said that on August 31, targets including five "enemy fighting positions" and a vehicle bomb were hit.

Fewer than 200 IS jihadists remain in Sirte, Pentagon spokesman Captain Jeff Davis said on Thursday, and they are essentially surrounded by GNA forces and the sea.

The GNA has been struggling to assert its control over all of Libya.

France on Friday urged Sarraj to find a compromise with the Tobruk-based parliament in the far east of the country, which does not recognise the unity government.

"He must find a compromise with the Tobruk parliament and General (Khalifa) Haftar" who controls the armed forces in the east, Foreign Minister Jean-Marc Ayrault told a gathering of French ambassadors in Paris.

On Tuesday, French President Francois Hollande said Sarraj would visit Paris "in the coming days".

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It is that time of the year again. The Delhi University Students Union (DUSU) election process has begun and the billboards, streets and walls are, once again, festooned (or littered) with hoardings and posters of various candidates. While there is nothing new about this, one cannot help but notice that a few letters are repeated in their names. Why, you ask? Well, were wondering the same! Is it numerology? Candidates wont tell. In the quest to solve the mystery of extra letters, HT City spoke to some of the contestants, heres what they say.

Upon asking Priyaanka Chhawri, an Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) leaders who is filing her nomination, says the extra a in her name after y has always been there. Although her Facebook profile says it otherwise. She says, That is how I have always spelt my name. However, on her Facebook profile, her name is Priyanka Chhawri. When asked if it were upon a numerologists suggestion that she added it, she says, No, I havent consulted anyone.

Vishal Yadav, an ABVP candidate, says he has no idea who has installed the posters and hoardings with the wrong spellings. (Amal KS/HT)

Vishal Yadav, another ABVP candidate whose name is spelt as Vishaal in the posters, says he has no idea about the extra a that has been added to his name. In fact, he says that he doesnt even know where the posters have come up from. Mujhe pata nahi ki kisne ye posters aur hoardings lagaye hain. Main apne naam mein bas ek a lagata hu, do nahi, he says. It should be noted that according to Lyngdoh committees guidelines, no candidate is allowed to spend more than Rs 5,000 on campaigning. As a result, several candidates say that their supporters have come up with the posters, without their knowledge, lest they should face the consequence.

Read: DU students share their mann ki baat on NOTA

Hoarding of Nikhil Yadavs name, with an extra I. (Amal KS/HT)

Rohit Chahal, a student leader, who has contested in DUSU elections twice in the past, says, Everyone who files a nomination wants to win the election. So, I wont be surprised if students have consulted numerologists. Consulting astrologers isnt unheard of. However, he points out that it could be to avoid confusion with another DUSU hopeful with the similar name. In the past, contestants would earlier prefix an a or aa before their names so that their names would be on top of the ballot paper which has names in alphabetical order. That practice has stopped but candidates seem to be repeating some letters in their names probably to attract attention or to stand out. It could also be because some times similar names appear in the ballot paper, so supposed their are two Rohits one could spell his name as Roohit to stand out.

Read: DU campus littered with posters as student union elections near

Banners and posters of most candidates seem to have extra letters in the names. (Amal KS/HT)

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Bihar chief minister Nitish Kumar said on Saturday that having learnt from problems caused by the Farakka barrage, the Centre must first address serious environmental concerns before going ahead with the ambitious inland waterway plan. The plan would require more barrages along the Ganga stretch, which would only impede its natural flow.

Kumar, who strongly raised the issue of dismantling Farakka with Prime Minister Narendra Modi following unprecedented flooding in Bihar, said previous studies had suggested at the very outset that Farakka was never in the interest of the Ganga. Experts had warned about its disastrous consequences over five decades ago, he added.

The move for the Ganga waterway could further play havoc with the river regime, especially in Bihar, and reduce it to a mere pond, defeating the very objective of Namami Gange project. The emphasis should be on maintaining the natural flow of the river all through. I, therefore, urge the Centre to get a detailed environmental assessment done, else the fate of the river could be catastrophic. The Bihar government will have to look for other remedies also to protect states interest, he added.

Citing a report on the impact of Farakka barrage on the human fabric by Manish Banerjee, he said no environmental impact assessment was done before constructing the barrage. Problems like poor flow of the river due to obstructions causing siltation, flooding, are now coming to light he added.

The chief minister pointed out that the river had lost its water retention capacity due to a rising bed caused by constant siltation.

The capacity of the barrage is just 23-lakh cusecs, while even Rajendra bridge in Mokama has a capacity to cascade 30-lakh cusecs, he added also saying that criticism had been ignored.

Instead, as studies point out, the then chief engineer in the West Bengal governments irrigation and waterways directorate, Kapil Bhattacharya was maligned, for echoing the same feelings on the barrage as mine. But today, all the predictions are proving true and I will continue to raise it, he added.

Bhattacharya had blamed the dams on Damodar and Rupnarayan rivers for heavy silting in the Hooghly and warned of serious consequences in the form of more excessive silting in the Ganga and flooding in Bihar and West Bengals Malda and Murshidabad districts if the government went ahead with Farakka. Yet, the Centre ignored the grave warnings, he added.

He said, rising river beds were a cause of serious concern.

Thats why I have called for the need of proper silt management under experts keeping rivers ecology and environmental impact under consideration. If the carrying capacity of rivers are impeded, even slightly high discharge will overspill and bring ruination... he explained.

Kumar added that those who were not ready to hear the alarm bells today would have to answer tomorrow. Guess what happened to Bhattacharya for his realistic assessment? Instead of being applauded, I have read he was declared a Pakistan spy and a traitor to clear the decks for the barrage, he said.

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After being clueless for four days into the heist of 10 kilogram gold worth Rs 3 crore and Rs 30,000 in cash at unguarded Manappuram Finance Company in Rama Mandi on Monday, the city police on Friday got a clue about the robbers and conducted a raid at a house in Sainik Vihar on Dakoha road, just one kilometre from the looted branch.

A CCTV camera installed on the Dashmesh Nagar road in Rama Mandi has reportedly captured one Honda Activa scooter-borne robber that led the cops into Sainik Vihar locality. The area is majorly resided by retired and serving police officials, ex-servicemen, and others.

As per sources, senior cops with their force also visited a house which left the residents of the area surprised. The residents said the house is inhabited by a few boys who were from Ludhiana. The cops also questioned the neighbours about the tenants who were reportedly living in this accommodation.

Requesting anonymity, the residents told the media that the cops had seized a Honda Activa scooter from the house.

However, the police refused to share the details of the raid. When quizzed, deputy commissioner of police (DCP) Harjit Singh said, We have some clues in the gold loot case which are being examined by teams there.

Meanwhile, the posters of six accused robbers have been put up on the walls in several localities of the city.

A special investigation team (SIT) headed by additional deputy commissioner of police (ADCP-I) Jasvirr Singh along with ACP central DD Sharma, SHO Rama Mandi police station Naresh Kumar Joshi and head of CIA-II Inderjeet Singh have been working to crack the case.

Since the robbery news spread, worried people who had stored their gold with the firm against loan continue to visit the branch. As per records, 528 people had kept their gold ornaments at the branch.
Six Aam Aadmi Party workers were injured in a clash with Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) supporters, who had gatecrashed the rally of Sangrur MP Bhagwant Mann in Malout town, about 32km from here, on Saturday.

Mann was addressing the rally in support of AAP candidate Baldev Singh when a group of SAD workers, who were allegedly already sitting in the gathering, started raising slogans against the MP. When AAP workers confronted them, a clash ensued. Mann had to leave the venue abruptly and couldnt complete his speech.

Also read | AAP MP Bhagwant Mann booked for his remarks against media

Akali, AAP workers pelted each other with stones and police had a tough time in controlling the situation. The SAD workers had also burnt an effigy of Mann before the rally. Later, agitated AAP workers blocked a road and staged a protest in-front of the Malout police station.

Mann said it was a planned attack by Akali Dal workers who were carrying sharp-edged weapons and were already sitting in the gathering when he started his speech. He said Akali workers hurled chairs at him even as he was appealing for maintaining calm.

Mann said he had to skip three rallies on Friday as he had information that Akali workers could create trouble.

Muktsar chief of Akali Dal, Dyal Singh Kolianwali, said he was not aware of the clash as he was visiting villages of Lambi assembly constituency with chief minister Parkash Singh Badal for sangat darshan.

Malout SP Balraj Singh said police were recording the statements of injured AAP workers and a case will be registered. He said of the six injured, one AAP worker was serious.

Mann is under Akali fire ever since he made a statement on Tuesday that the Punjab government was not distributing blue cards, but beggar cards to the poor for availing subsidies. When asked if he meant blue-card holders were beggars, he had clarified that Akalis were making beggars out of people by putting them on doles. Instead of giving people the ability to earn, the Akalis are making them dependent, Mann had said.
Patiala Media Club decided to boycott the media coverage of Aam Aadmi Party MP Bhagwant Mann for his utterance against the mediapersons at Bassi Pathana in Fatehgarh Sahib district and for asking party workers to chase away journalists who had gone their for the coverage of the event last evening.

Meeting which was presided over by the club president Sarbjit Singh Bhangu condemned the behavior of the member of Parliament. General secretary Rajesh Panjola, treasurer Gupreet Singh Chattha and other members present on the occasion felt that it was not the first time when he has misbehaved with the media fraternity and said the boycott would continue till he apologises to the fraternity

It was decided that the members of the club will hold a protest demonstration by showing black flags to him during his proposed Ghanour rally on September 6. It was also felt that a memorandum on the issue could also be handed over to AAP supremo Arvind Kejriwal when he comes to Patiala later this month.

It was also decided a letter be written to Punjab Police for registration of case against the AAP leader.
Condemning AAP workers attack on journalists at Bassi Pathana on Thursday, Punjab Congress chief Captain Amarinder Singh said, Sangrur MP Bhagwant Mann should undergo mental health check-up and also be prosecuted for inciting workers.

Mann should be booked for rioting and assault, Amarinder said in a statement here. These are the signs of utter frustration on part of AAP leaders, who seem to have lost their mind over the developments in their party. The Sangrur MP should be referred for medical examination before being pronounced fit to go to address the public, he said.

Attacking AAP national convener Arvind Kejriwal, the state Congress chief said minister Sandeep Kumar was sacked deliberately as the Delhi CM wanted to divert the public attention from the ongoing crisis in Punjab.

Kejriwal knew about the CD long before he appointed Kumar as a minister, Amarinder said.

Read: AAP leaders indulging in immorality, says SAD
Expressing concern over the drug menace in the state, former Congress member of Parliament Santosh Chowdhary said the Congress would rehabilitate the drug-hit families if voted to power.

She was addressing a womens conference organized at Thathian Mahantan village, which falls in the Patti assembly segment, by Punjab Pardesh Congress Committee (PPCC) general secretary Harminder Singh Gill.

She said, Thanks to the SAD-BJP government, the drug addiction had destroyed youth of the state casting shadow on its future. Still, the state government is not taking this issue seriously. In view of this, interests of state are safe only in the hands of the Congress and the women should do their best to ensure the victory of the party in the upcoming assembly elections.

Strengthening the women cadre ahead of the polls, Mahila Congress state president Mamta Dutta stressed that it was in womens hands to save Punjab and that they need to actively participate in the same.

Taking pot-shots at the Badal government, she urged all to save Punjab by bringing in Captain Amarinder Singh to power.

Patti Mahila Congress president Kuldip Kaur and Patti ward in charge Harjit Kaur were some of the prominent leaders who among others were present on the stage.

CONFERENCE HELD AT TARN TARAN

A similar conference was held at Dhillon Resort in Tarn Taran, which was addressed by Tarn Taran Mahila district president Anita Verma, Tarn Taran, district president Sukhpal Singh Bhullar, PPCC general secretary Dr Dharamveer Agnihotri.

Anita Verma raised the issue of misgovernance in all government departments under the Badal government and how basic public schemes like the atta dal, pension and shagun schemes etc were not being implemented effectively and fairly.
Declaring that former MP and her husband Navjot Singh Sidhu, along with Pargat Singh and Bains brothers, will announce the future course of Awaaz-e-Punjab on September 8, BJP MLA from Amritsar (east) Dr Navjot Kaur Sidhu said the front emerged as third front (Aam Aadmi Party) has failed. Hindustan Times talked to Dr Sidhu on front and beyond. Excerpts:

Does this front put an end to the talk of your husband joining the AAP?

Yes. Talks did happen between Sidhu and Kejriwal, but only for 10 minutes and there were no conditions. There is no chance of his joining the AAP now.

Do you feel this front will be able to satiate the aspirations of Punjabis? Whats on offer?

The front will disclose what it has on offer in Chandigarh on September 8. Pargat, Sidhu and Bains brothers are known for taking a stand on pro-public issues. They look good. We should wait till September 8. Lets hear from them only.

Your take on the AAP in Punjab...

The recent developments have disheartened the people. Once being seen as an alternative to the Akalis and the Congress, the controversies involving its leaders have made the people believe that it is no different from the mainstream parties. Kejriwal has failed to deliver to the satisfaction of the people and, hence, the fourth front.

Read | The Chhotepur sting has stung back: Dip in AAP funds from Punjab

Dont you feel this front will split anti-incumbency votes, which will in-turn go in SADs favour?

No. It will not split anti-incumbency. There is a lot of vacuum in Punjab. The Akali Dal has failed; Congress is a non-performer, AAP, too, is on a shaky ground now. Bhagwant Mann is embarrassing the party time and again. So, there is lot of scope for the fourth front.

Read | Attack on media: Bhagwant Mann booked by Punjab Police

The front has no pan-Punjab cadre and funds; how will it fight the established parties?

If the people of Punjab are to bow before moneybags, they should brace up for hellish days ahead. I feel, people of Punjab are wise enough and they will support well-meaning people.

What about Sidhus television show engagements? Will he sacrifice that?

Yes, for sure. He is very clear that if he takes a responsibility in Punjab, he will put in all his time and energy into it.

Will you join the front?

Obviously. There is no doubt about that. I have always believed that parties are not bad, people who run them can be.

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A Hoshiarpur panchayats decision to lease out 21 acres of shamlat land to the son of Punjab minister Sohan Singh Thandal has come under the judicial scanner.

Acting on the petition of a villager, Karam Singh, the high court bench of justices Mahesh Grover and Shekher Dhawan has put 14 respondents arrayed in petition (including Thandal, his son Ravinder Singh, several district officials and Panchayat members) on notice for November 10.

As per the petitioner, on February 27, 2015, cultivable shamlat land (21 acres) at Marula village in Garshankar was leased out to Thandals son for seven years at a rate of `2.51 lakh per annum.

Petitioners counsel Bhanu Pratap Singh told the court that the lease order was contrary to the Punjab Village Common Lands (Regulation) Rules-1964, aimed at favouring Thandals son. The court was told that as per Rule 9, Shamlat Deh land lease cant exceed 10 acres, which in the said case was 21 acres. Out of the total shamlat land proposed to be leased, 1/3rd of the land has to be kept for Scheduled Caste and Schedule Tribes, but in the said case the same has not been done, the petition says.

Listing out other alleged violations, the court was told that as per rules, the auction process needs to be publicised at least 15 days in advance, specifying the description of land, the date, time and the place. However, none of these pre-requisite conditions were fulfilled at the time of leasing out of the said land, it was alleged.

The entire process took place in violation of the rules. The lease order is only a paper transaction as nothing actually took place on the spot and the entire exercise was done to please the minister. The land can fetch much more rent than it was leased out for, the petitioner said, alleging that there was no video of the process as panchayat members acted at the behest of the minister and his son.

It has also been argued that being cultivable land, the lease could not have been leased out for more than two years. The court was further told that auction was announced only an hour before the process started in the presence of only 20 persons. Block Development and Panchayat Officer (BDPO), Hoshiarpur, was not present and entire exercise took place in the presence of local secretary, it was alleged.

The petitioner has sought that the leasing order of the said land be revoked and the government be asked to order a probe into the case.

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Representatives of 11 unions from Fatehgarh Sahib district staged a protest against the Union and stage governments here outside district administrative complex on Friday.

A day-long nationwide strike call was given by central trade unions to oppose Union governments anti-labour policies.

Unions including Asha workers, Khet Majdur Sabha, MNREGA workers, Mandi Gobindgarh labour and steel workers unions shouted slogans against governments and alleged them of being anti-workers. They burned effigies and demanded minimum fixed wages and regularisations of posts.

Citing recommendations of different labour conferences, they demanded minimum wage to be set at Rs 18,000. They also demanded at least 2 crore job openings in different departments nationwide.

CONTRACTUAL WORKERS PROTEST

The contractual workers committee held a protest rally and demanded regularization of posts.

We are working from last several years on contract basis. We demand regularization of posts, said, Amrinder Singh, Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan (SSA) union member. Protesters also included representatives of Water Supply and Sanitation Contract Workers Union, Powercom and Transco Union, Rashtriya Madhyamik Shiksha Abhiyan (RMSA) etc. They threatened to stage a bigger protest in chief minister Parkash Singh Badals constituency Lambi on September 18.

BANKING STAFF OBSERVES DAY-LONG STRIKE

Bank staff under the banner of All India Bank Employees Association and All India Bank Officers Association (AIBEA) participated in full-day strike in Patiala. A massive rally was held in front of State Bank of Patialas head office.

Addressing the rally SK Gautam, General Secretary, AIBEA said over 8 lakh workmen and officers observed strike completely paralysing normal banking services all over the country. He said routine banking operations were not carried out on Friday.

He said they opposed the Central governments attempts to push through their reforms agenda aimed at privatization, consolidation, and merger of banks, etc. He alleged that Reserve Bank of India has announced on tap bank licensing policy to allow more and more private banks and licenses have been given to big corporate houses to start small banks and payment banks.

Yadvinder Gupta, general secretary, SBOPEU said State Bank of Patiala was 99-year-old bank serving the banking needs of the region. He said the agitation would be further intensified. The protesters said about 30% of branches would be closed after the merger, which means 7,000 branches will be shut down.
Thousands of Kurds, including many carrying flags with the image of jailed PKK leader Abdullah Ocalan, have gathered for a demonstration in the German city of Cologne.

Organizers say Saturday's demonstration is aimed in part at protesting against Turkey's military intervention in northern Syria and what they call the "dictatorial" behavior of Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.

Cologne police put more than 1,000 officers in place to prevent trouble. City police chief Juergen Mathies told news agency dpa that pictures of Ocalan were allowed but demonstrators would not be allowed to show symbols of the banned PKK, or Kurdistan Workers' Party.

A month ago, up to 40,000 people rallied at the same site to denounce the attempted military coup in Turkey and show support for Erdogan.

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Life came to a standstill for more than two hours as thousands of protesters from around a dozen trade unions thronged the city bus stand and blocked the Link Road on Friday.

The commuters bore the brunt of protesters ire as they were left high and dry in sweltering conditions at the bus stand and on the Link Road.

As the cavalcade of protesters representing different trade unions marched to the city bus stand, Link Road was clogged from both the sides. The elevated road adjacent to the city bus stand remained dotted with vehicles till a distance of about 800 meters for more than an hour.

Dharmendar Singh had come from Faridkot to appear in an interview and said, I had to reach Focal Point, Phase 8 for a job interview at a bicycle company at 11:30am, but the road was blocked, so I could not make it on time. Conducting a peaceful protest is understandable, but choking routine affairs will not get their demands met and it should not come at the expense of somebodys job.

Helpless commuters were seen sitting inside their cars and two wheelers for hours, waiting patiently for the roads to clear. Commuters on Ferozepur Road, Link Road, among other busy junctions, also felt the heat of the strike as cavalcade of members of trade unions marched in the middle of roads, causing traffic snarls.

Police personnel walking alongside protesters tried to prevent utter chaos.

Another passenger, Jaswinder Kaur, along with her daughter, alighted from a private bus opposite city bus stand area and said, We boarded the bus around 11am from Sherpur Chowk and it took us more than 90 minutes to reach city bus stand, while usually it takes 15 minutes. It was unbearable in the sweltering weather for my daughter who had fever.

Sanjeev Yadav, a private bus conductor, said, It took us more than one and a half hour to reach at the city bus stand after getting stuck in the traffic.

The traffic cops deployed at the venue were seen steering the commuters through alternative routes. Assistant commissioner of police, Buland Singh, said, In view of the strike we had made adequate prior arrangements for traffic diversion and deployed traffic cops to divert the traffic to alternative routes.

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A day after deputy commissioner reviewed the development works of Nabha, Youth Congress members burnt the effigy of Punjab government, slamming their claims of development at Railway road here. The road has worn-out within one year of construction.

The protesters raised slogans against Nabha municipality and state government and demanded the resignation of the council president Gursewak Singh.

Alleging corruption, Youth Congress leader Bunny Khora, who has also applied for Nabha assembly ticket, said the council was established on mainly two promises: sanitation and roads; the public received no relief from garbage spread all around, stagnant sewage waters and worn-out roads in two and half years. He claimed that the SAD block in charge and council president were involved in the irregularity.

Yesterday my daughter fell from the activa as it lost balance while passing through the pond created by the government, said a resident of Modi mill colony.

Look at the material used in the road. Even a layman can tell that the quality has been neglected, said Sandeep Kumar, a passerby.

The protesters warned to lock down the municipality if the issue of the garbage, drainage and such roads are not solved within a week.

Gursewak said the partial payment of the contractor of the railway road was on hold, which will be released only after he fixes it. On the interlocked tiled streets with depression, he said if heavy vehicles pass over them they were bound to get pressed down.
At least ten people, including a woman, were injured in Bangladesh when a clash erupted between Hindus at an Iskon temple and Muslim devotees from a nearby mosque, forcing police to fire blank shots to disperse them.

The clash took place after Friday prayers when Muslim devotees went to the temple to request the authorities to stop playing the devotional songs that were being played on occasion of Kirtan at the temple, said Sylhet Metropolitan Police additional commissioner SM Rokan Uddin.

Muslim devotees went to the temple before the Jumma prayers and had requested the temple authorities to stop the devotional songs while the prayers are held. However, when the songs were not stopped, the devotees went there again and locked in an altercation, Uddin said.

At one point, both groups started hurling bricks at one another leaving ten people injured, he added.

On being alerted, police rushed to the spot and fired several blank shots to disperse the crowds.

An eyewitness said banners at the entrance of the temple were torn up during the clash.

When contacted, Iskcon temple principal Gaurango Brahmachari said: Sylhet civisional commissioner Jamal Uddin Ahmad is visiting the spot and this is why I am unable to make any comment at this moment.

But he said the temple authorities were considering filing a case in this matter.

We were attacked and we want justice. Until justice is done, we will keep protesting, he said.

Former ward councillor Jebunnahar Shirin and International Society for Krishna Consciousness (Iskcon) temple employee Rajendra Keshob Das were injured in the clash.
Authorities in Bangladesh executed on Saturday a top Jamaat-e-Islami party leader convicted of war crimes involving Bangladeshs independence war against Pakistan in 1971, an official said.

Proshanto Kumar Bonik, a senior jail superintendent, told reporters that Mir Quasem Ali, known as a business tycoon and top financier for the party, was hanged at 10.30pm. (Bangladesh time) inside Kashimpur jail in Gazipur district.

Hours after his family members met Ali inside the jail house, the excursion happened amid tight security.

The execution took place as Ali on Friday told authorities that he would not seek presidential clemency for his crimes.

It followed Tuesdays rejection by the countrys Supreme Court of a final appeal for scrapping the death sentence given by a special tribunal in 2014.

The Jamaat-e-Islami party has called an eight-hour general strike across the country on Monday to protest against the execution.

Relatives of Mir Quashem Ali arrive at Kashimpur Central Jail to meet him. (AP)

Ali is the sixth man to be hanged since 2010 when Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina formed the special tribunal to try suspected war criminals. Five of them were from Jamaat-e-Islami party, which is the main partner of opposition Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP).

Ali became a business tycoon with connection in Saudi Arabia and other middle eastern nations and turned out to be a top financier of Jamaat-e-Islami that was banned after Bangladesh gained independence. But later the party returned to the political landscape following the assassination of independence leader Sheikh Mujibur Rahman in 1975.

Ali built businesses from real estate to shipping to media over the last few decades.

On Tuesday, Chief Justice Surendra Kumar Sinha rejected the appeal by Ali, clearing the last legal barrier. Still he had the option to seek presidential clemency but on Friday he refused to do so.

In November, 2014 a special tribunal had sentenced Ali to death for abduction, torture and murder.

Ali was a member of Jamaat-e-Islamis highest policy-making body. He was found guilty on eight charges including murder.

Jamaat-e-Islami had openly campaigned against independence in 1971.

Bangladesh says Pakistani soldiers, aided by local collaborators like Ali, killed 3 million people, raped 200,000 women and forced 10 million people to flee to refugee camps across the border in India.

Read | Rise of extremism: Struggle for the soul of Bangladesh
Brock Turner, the former Stanford University swimmer convicted of sexually assaulting a young woman on campus, was handed a package by guards as he exited a California jail on Friday after serving half of his six-month sentence: A big packet of hate mail.

Turners early release for good behaviour was the latest turn in a case that sparked a widespread outcry by many who believed he was given preferential treatment and too light of a sentence for the January 2015 assault. For hours after his pre-dawn release from the Santa Clara County jail, about 200 people demonstrated outside, calling for the judge in the case to resign.

Wearing a wrinkled dress shirt, Turner walked with his head down and didnt say a word as he made his way through a gauntlet of television camera lights and into a waiting SUV. The 21-year-old intends to live with his parents near Dayton, Ohio, where he is required to register for life as a sex offender.

There, about a dozen protesters stood outside the Turners home in Sugarcreek Township, as police watched. One mans hand-lettered sign said Let only pain & misery fall upon those who rape their fellow person.

Turner was convicted of assaulting the woman near a trash bin after they drank heavily at a fraternity party. The woman had passed out and Turner was on top of her when confronted by two graduate students passing by on bicycles. They chased and tackled him when he tried to flee, holding him on the ground until police arrived.

A jury in March found Turner guilty of three felony sexual assault counts. Judge Santa Clara County Judge Aaron Persky sentenced him to six months in jail, citing the extraordinary circumstances of Turners youth, clean criminal record and other considerations in departing from the minimum sentence of two years in prison. Prosecutors had argued for six years.

Sofie Karasek, who says she was sexually assaulted by an instructor during her freshman year at the University of California, Berkeley, calls for the removal of Santa Clara County Judge Aaron Persky from the bench, at a protest outside the Santa Clara County Jail in San Jose, California, Friday. (AP)

Turners case exploded on social media and ignited a debate about campus rape and the criminal justice system after the victims 7,200-word letter to Turner that she read in the courtroom during sentencing was published online.

I want to show people that one night of drinking can ruin two lives, she wrote. You and me. You are the cause, I am the effect.

Following Turners release from jail, Sheriff Laurie Smith said she believed his sentence was too light. He should be in prison right now, but hes not in our custody, she told reporters.

Smith said jail guards gave Turner a big package of hate mail sent to him over the last three months and that Turner lived in protective custody in jail after receiving threats.

She also urged Gov. Jerry Brown to sign a bill passed by California Assembly that would require harsher punishment for the same crime Turner committed. Brown hasnt said whether he will sign it.

The law has to be that if you rape someone who is unconscious and intoxicated you go to state prison, she said. And that bill is on the governors desk right now, and were urging the governor to sign it.

A well-funded campaign also is underway to recall Persky. The judge voluntarily removed himself from hearing criminal cases, starting next week.

But supporters of the recall campaign said that is not enough.

We need judges who understand sexual assault and violence against women, Stanford law professor Michele Dauber, a friend of Turners victim and the chair of the recall campaign, said Friday while demonstrating outside the jail. Judge Persky does not.

Brock Turner leaves the Santa Clara County Jail in San Jose (Reuters)

Persky didnt respond to requests for comment Friday and hasnt responded to numerous requests since Turners sentencing. He has launched a campaign website soliciting campaign donations to help retain his seat.

California jail inmates with good behavior typically serve half their sentences. Ohio prison officials earlier this month agreed to take over supervision of Turners probation.

Greene County Sheriff Gene Fischer said Turner has five days to register as a sex offender with his office in Xenia, Ohio, 15 miles east of Dayton. He will have to report to a probation officer for three years and must avoid alcohol and drugs during that time.

Fischer said his department will notify Turners neighbors informing them that a convicted sex offender is moving nearby. Turner will be required to register every three months in person at the sheriffs office, reaffirming that he is still living with his parents, the sheriff said.

Deputies also will check on Turner without warning to ensure he has not moved without permission from authorities.
India is likely to come under increasing international pressure on climate change after China and US ratified the Paris Agreement on the eve of the 11th G20 Summit, with Beijing reiterating its pledge to tackle the issue that is bringing about irreversible changes to the worlds environment.

Just as I believe the Paris agreement will ultimately prove to be a turning point for our planet, I believe that history will judge todays efforts as pivotal, US President Obama said here after he and Chinese President Xi Jinping handed their respective ratified documents to UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon.

We have a saying in America that you need to put your money where your mouth is. And when it comes to combating climate change, thats what were doing. Both the United States and China, were leading by example, Obama said.

Xi said the joint action speaks to the shared ambition and resolve of China and the United States in addressing global issues.

Chinas parliament, the National Peoples Congress (NPC), had ratified the document on Saturday at its meeting in Beijing.

Ratifying the agreement accords with Chinas policy of actively dealing with climate change, official news agency Xinhua quoted the proposal a saying, adding that addressing climate change would help the country realize sustainable development.

The ratification will further advance Chinas green, low-carbon development and safeguard environmental security, it said.

Speaking to the Indian media on Saturday, Niti Ayog chairperson Arvind Panagariya, who is here for the Summit, said India is not expected to ratify the agreement any time soon.

We are not yet sure whenwe will not do it by 2016, he said, adding that every country has its own domestic procedures to complete before ratifying international agreements.

The most difficult contentious issue this time ended up being climate change. Ratification done by enough countries this year so that agreement comes into force this year. My stand is, we could not commit for 2016.

On Indias insistence, lifestyle changes will be added in the joint communique at the end of the Summit, Panagaria said, pointing out that simple things like postponing switching on central heating in countries where it is used could contribute in tackling climate change.

The Xinhua report said: Vice Premier Zhang Gaoli, the special envoy of President Xi Jinping, signed the document and announced that China aimed to finalise domestic legal procedures to ratify the pact before the G20 summit in Hangzhou.

China has committed to reduce its carbon emissions per unit of gross domestic product by 60-65% by 2030 from 2005 levels, increase non-fossil fuel sources in primary energy consumption to about 20%, and peak its carbon emissions by 2030.

China and India had issued a joint statement during Prime Minister Narendra Modis visit to the country in May 2015, signaling a convergence of views on climate change and pressing developed countries to take the lead in the problem.

The two sides urged the developed countries to raise their pre-2020 emission reduction targets and honour their commitment to provide $100 billion per year by 2020 to developing countries, the statement had said.

China and India are undertaking ambitious actions domestically on combating climate change ... despite the enormous scale of their challenges in terms of social and economic development and poverty eradication, it added.
An al Qaeda online magazine has created a buzz by claiming that Pakistani authorities freed three women, including two daughters of Ayman al-Zawahiri, in exchange for the son of former army chief Ashfaq Parvez Kayani.

The Arabic magazine Al Masra, in an edition posted online in late August, made the claim on its front page.

It claimed that Zawahiris daughters -- Fatimah and Umayma, and a third woman were released weeks ago in exchange for the son of Kayani, who stepped down as army chief in 2013 and earlier headed the Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) agency.

Some Pakistani journalists had quoted al Qaeda sources as saying in early August that the three women had been released from a Pakistani jail. At that time, there was no mention that the women were freed in exchange for Kayanis son.

Al Masra is published by an organisation linked to al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP) but it reports on the terror groups operations around the world.

The magazines claim could not be independently verified.

The Long War Journal, a website that closely tracks jihadi and terror groups and organizations affiliated to them, reported on the claim in Al Masra and noted there was apparently no reporting in the Pakistani media about Kayanis son being kidnapped or involved in a high-profile hostage swap.

Read | Al Qaeda chief Zawahiri vows allegiance to new Taliban leader Akhundzada: SITE

Pakistans former army chief Gen. Ashfaq Parvez Kayani (L) stepped down as army chief in 2013 and earlier headed the Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) agency. (AP file photo)

In the past, there were reports that al Qaeda had tried to secure the release of Zawahiris daughters in exchange for the kidnapped kin of Pakistani leaders such as former prime minister Yousuf Raza Gilanis son Ali Haider.

Ali Haider was rescued in Afghanistan in May, three years after al Qaeda fighters kidnapped him in 2013 while he was campaigning in Multan for Pakistans last general election. After returning home, Ali Haider told the media his abductors had spoken to him about their demands for the release of high-profile al Qaeda prisoners, including women from Zawahiris family.

The Long War Journal reported that the editors of Al Masra included a box highlighting the report on the magazines front page and saying that detaining the son of the Pakistani Army Commander led to the release of the three women.

The magazine also said a series of tweets from mid-August provided insider details of the story. These tweets included graphic images of an alleged Pakistani spy beheaded by al Qaeda for supposedly leading authorities to Zawahiris daughters.

The tweets were posted by the handle @muhager_0, which was suspended by Twitter.

@muhager_0 criticised the apostate Pakistani Army for selling out high-profile al Qaeda operatives to the US, including Abu Firaj al Libi, Khalid Sheikh Mohammed and Abu Zubaydah.

The handle also accused the Pakistani Army of detaining Zawahiris daughters as part of its infidel war on the mujahideen. The handle tweeted that al Qaeda detained the son of the Pakistani Army commander to exchange him for the sisters. The tweets included a picture of Kayani to emphasise which army commander he was referring to.

The report said the Pakistani Army initially refused the proposed exchange, but agreed after lengthy negotiations. Zawahiris daughters and the other woman, along with their children, were returned to Egypt, the report added.

Zawahiris daughters Fatimah and Umaymah were married to Abu Basir al Urduni and Abu Dujana al Basha, both fallen al Qaeda commanders. The third woman released with them was identified by Long War Journal as Sumaiya Murjan Salem, the widow of Adnan al Shukrijumah, the chief of al Qaedas North American operations until he was killed in a Pakistani operation in late 2014.

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Hillary Clinton told federal investigators she did not recall all the briefings she received on handling government records while US secretary of state because of a concussion suffered in 2012, according to a summary of the probe released on Friday.

The Federal Bureau of Investigation released an 11-page account of the three-and-a-half-hour interview it conducted with the Democratic presidential candidate on July 2, as well as other details of its investigation into her use of an unauthorized private email system while running the State Department.

Clinton, who is challenging Republican Donald Trump for the White House in the November 8 election, has been dogged by the fallout from her private email account for more than a year.

Republicans have repeatedly attacked Clinton over the issue, helping drive opinion polls that show many U.S. voters doubt her trustworthiness. Trump has repeatedly used the issue as part of his claims that Clinton is dishonest, and his campaign on Friday said the notes from the FBI report reinforced her tremendously bad judgment and dishonesty.

Clinton has said that in hindsight she regretted using a private email system while secretary of state. The FBIs investigation found that she mishandled classified government secrets, but it did not think a criminal prosecution was appropriate.

Clinton told investigators she could not recall getting any briefings on how to handle classified information or comply with laws governing the preservation of federal records, the summary of her interview shows.

However, in December of 2012, Clinton suffered a concussion and then around the New Year had a blood clot, the FBIs summary said. Based on her doctors advice, she could only work at State for a few hours a day and could not recall every briefing she received.

The concussion was widely reported at the time, and Republicans have since used it to attack the 68-year-old candidates health in a way her staff have said is unfounded.

According to the report, Clinton told the FBI that she did not set up a private email server to sidestep the law requiring her to keep her business communications a matter of public record. At least one federal judge is examining whether this was the case as part of a lawsuit against the State Department concerning public access to Clintons government records.

The documents also show that Clinton contacted former Secretary of State Colin Powell in 2009 to ask about his use of a personal BlackBerry phone.

In his reply to Clinton via email, Powell told Clinton to be very careful because the work-related emails she sent on her BlackBerry could become public record.

I got around it all by not saying much and not using systems that captured the data, Powell said, according to the summary.

After her use of a private email system became public knowledge in March 2015, Clinton repeatedly said she did not use it to send or receive classified information. The government forbids handling such information outside secure channels.

The FBI has since concluded Clinton was wrong to say that: At least 81 email threads contained information that was classified at the time, although the final number may be more than 2,000, the report says. Some of the emails appear to include discussion of planned future attacks by unmanned U.S. military drones, the FBI report shows.

CLINTON believed the classification level of future drone strikes depended on the context, the FBIs interview summary said. The US government requires that military plans be classified.

The FBI released its report on Friday afternoon before the Labor Day holiday weekend, a time many Americans are preparing to travel.

State Department spokesman John Kirby said he would not comment on the FBIs findings because the department does not have full insight into the FBIs investigation.

Furthermore, it is not appropriate to consider pieces of evidence outside of the broader context, he said in a statement. So the State Department is not going parse every individual piece of evidence that may be characterized through the media.

Spokesmen for Clinton did not respond to questions about the concussion and other aspects of the FBIs summary, but released a statement welcoming the summarys release.

While her use of a single email account was clearly a mistake and she has taken responsibility for it, these materials make clear why the Justice Department believed there was no basis to move forward with this case, Brian Fallon, a campaign spokesman, said in his statement.

Some Republicans saw the files as confirming their belief that the Department of Justice should have prosecuted Clinton.

These documents demonstrate Hillary Clintons reckless and downright dangerous handling of classified information during her tenure as secretary of state, Paul Ryan, the Republican speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives, said in a statement. This is exactly why I have called for her to be denied access to classified information.
Amid a crackdown on suspected Islamist militants, police in Bangladeshs capital have killed an alleged military commander of a banned group blamed for a string of attacks including the July 1 Gulshan bakery attack that killed 17 foreigners, authorities said.

The latest raid took place at Rupnagar residential area in Dhakas Mirpur zone late on Friday when police killed Murad alias Jahangir alias Omar after he allegedly opened fire at security officials before using a knife. Until early Saturday, details remained sketchy and the mans family and personal background was still being investigated. Police said he was the military commander of the Jamatul Mujahidin Bangladesh (JMB).

Monirul Islam, head of a counterterrorism unit, said police raided the six-storey house on a tip-off that the man entered the home to take his belongings on Friday night. He had left the rented home after an August 27 raid outside Dhaka in which a leading JMB figure was killed along with two accomplices. Local media described the man as Major Murad, but it was not immediately clear whether he held any military post in Bangladesh Army. Officials would need more time to confirm the matter.

Islam said he was the man to train militants who opened fire on Holey Artisan Bakery on July 1 in Dhakas upscale Gulshan area, leading to the death of 29 people.

The counterterrorism chief said they came to know about the man after the August 27 raid in Narayanganj, but he became traceless from the next day as he left the rented home along with family.

We wanted the landlord to inform us if he comes back. We apprehended him as he came last night, he said.

The official said the man first opened fire at police from a pistol before using the knife. But he died on the spot after police shot back, he said.

The official said the man regularly frequented a militant hideout in Narayanganj district where Tamim Chowdhury, a Bangladeshi-origin Canadian and mastermind of the July 1 assault, was killed along with two associates in the August 27 police raid.

Chowdhury was thought to be the Islamic State groups head in Bangladesh. Reports said he left Canada for Syria to join the IS and then came to Bangladesh years ago to lead the group. The Bangladesh government has denied the existence of IS in Bangladesh.

The IS has claimed responsibilities for several attacks Bangladesh experienced since last year, including the one on July 1. The claims could not be verified independently.

Security officials are looking for sacked army major Syed Ziaul Huq, who, the authorities described, was another mastermind of the recent attacks, including the July 1 shootout.
Malaysia reported its first locally transmitted Zika case on Saturday, a 61-year-old man who has died of heart-related complications, the government said.

The patient was a resident of the eastern Malaysian state of Sabah, the ministry of health said, and already was in fragile health due to heart problems, high blood pressure and other maladies.

But the case, coming two days after authorities reported the countrys first case of Zika, is likely to add to fears of a full-blown outbreak of the mosquito-borne virus in the tropical nation.

The ministry said local transmission was highly likely because the man had no recent history of travelling outside Malaysia.

Ministrys director-general Noor Hisham Abdullah told state news agency Bernama his prior health problems were the cause of death on Saturday afternoon, but that the results of a full investigation were pending.

On Thursday, Malaysia reported the first Zika case on its soil -- a 58-year-old woman who is believed to have contracted it on a visit to neighbouring Singapore, where 150 cases have been confirmed.

A study published Friday in The Lancet Infectious Diseases journal said at least 2.6 billion people could be at risk from the virus in mosquito-ridden parts of Africa, Asia and the Pacific.

Zika, which is spread mainly by the Aedes mosquito, has been detected in 67 countries and territories including hard-hit Brazil.

It causes only mild symptoms for most people such as fever and a rash, but infected pregnant women can give birth to babies with microcephaly, a deformation marked by abnormally small brains and heads.

Malaysia already has struggled in recent years to control the spread of Aedes-borne dengue fever.

It has been bracing for Zika after Singapore reported a surge in cases beginning a week ago.

Malaysia has stepped up screening of travellers from abroad, particularly Singapore, and fogging with mosquito-killing chemicals while urging the public to eliminate mosquito breeding sites such as stagnant water.
The UN Security Council on Saturday urged South Sudan to drop its opposition to the deployment of a regional protection force to beef up a large UN peacekeeping mission in the war-scarred country.

Echoing a call made earlier Saturday by South Sudanese religious leaders, ambassadors from the council's 15 member states met with senior government ministers in Juba and all spoke in favour of sending an additional 4,000 troops to the 13,000-strong mission, known as UNMISS.

One of the ambassadors, who asked not to be named, told AFP he thought the South Sudanese ministers "were surprised to see that the Security Council spoke with one voice.

"They were surprised by the tone of Russia, and also of China, which acted like someone who lost two peacekeepers."

The two died when artillery fire hit a UN base during July clashes between forces loyal to President Salva Kiir and those of rebel leader Riek Machar.

The upsurge threatened a fragile peace accord signed last year to end a devastating 18-month civil war which left tens of thousands dead.

China and Russia abstained from an August 12 Security Council vote on the resolution that authorised deploying a protection force with a more robust mandate than that of UNMISS.

UNMISS faced considerable criticism over its failure to protect civilians during the July fighting.

So far Kiir's government had rejected the idea of a new force, saying it would violate national sovereignty.

Those at Saturday's meeting emerged on a conciliatory note.

"I want to assure the people of South Sudan that the rumour that the UN has come to impose on us and bring in foreign forces to take the freedom of our country is not there," said Government Affairs Minister Martin Elia Lomoro.

Lomoro said the "modalities" of deploying the new force were being discussed but he did not state that his government had dropped its opposition.

US Ambassador Samantha Power said the meeting was "useful" because "we got to debunk, as the Security Council, some of the myths that have existed about what the Security Council has intended.

She added that proponents of the force had "one constituency in mind, and that is the people of South Sudan...with an eye to protecting them, to ensuring they get the humanitarian assistance they need. Some are facing famine-like conditions."

Earlier Saturday, Catholic Archbishop Paulino Lukudu Loro told AFP: "This force should come, and it should come now. I think this force will help us to further implement this (peace) agreement," .

"As a country, we cannot address this mess alone, we cannot put the country back on track alone. And there is no humiliation in this need to be assisted," he said.

South Sudan descended into war in December 2013 after Kiir accused his former deputy Machar of plotting a coup.

Anglican Archibishop Daniel Deng Bul backed the intervention call, saying "the UN is momentarily the father of the people of South Sudan".

Church leaders -- both Catholic and Protestant -- carry strong moral authority in Christian-majority South Sudan and bishops have played an important role in brokering past peace deals.

During the fighting in July, Machar, who had been persuaded to return to Juba as part of the national unity government agreed under the peace deal, fled the country and is now in Khartoum, having been replaced by Taban Deng Gai in Juba.

Aside from the tens of thousands of people killed, the United Nations has reported shocking levels of brutality including gang-rapes and the wholesale burning of villages.

An estimated 16,000 children have been recruited by armed groups and the national army in the conflict and 2.5 million people have been driven from their homes.

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The Dalit issue facing UK Prime Minister Theresa May took a new turn on Friday after her government announced a full public consultation on the matter  a process that usually precedes parliament legislation, but is taking place on an issue that has sharply divided the Indian community.

The issue also has implications for India-UK relations, with the Indian government opposed to Britain codifying caste in law. Groups opposed to legislation on the issue welcomed the new consultation, while those supporting it reacted with fury on Saturday, accusing the May government of pandering to upper-caste individuals and groups.

A key aim of the consultation will be to obtain the views of the public on whether additional measures are needed to ensure victims of caste discrimination have appropriate legal protection and effective remedies under the 2010 Equality Act, official sources said.

Before taking any decisions, the government will carefully consider the responses to the consultation, which will run for 12 weeks from its commencement date, they added.

Rival groups have been lobbying the government intensely this week, with some denying the existence of caste-based discrimination in Britain and as such rejecting any law for the purpose, and others seeking the law to deal with the alleged discrimination.

Governments headed by David Cameron since 2010 have supported the view of Hindu-Sikh-Jain groups opposing the legislation, not acting on the issue after it was written into the Equality Act of 2010. The groups see Mays decision on Friday as another positive step.

Caste-based discrimination is not expressly prohibited under the equality legislation, but section 9 of the Equality Act 2010, as amended, requires the government to introduce secondary legislation to make caste an aspect of race, thereby making caste discrimination a form of race discrimination.

As per the timetable announced under the coalition government (2010-2015), the key secondary legislation was to be introduced in the summer of 2015, but that did not happen.

The consultation meets the demands of groups opposed to the law. They say there was no proper, wide consultation with the very community that would be affected by including caste in the Equality Act, 2010. They informed May that caste had not been defined even in India.

Ravi Kumar of the Anti-Caste Discrimination Alliance told HT: Theresa May has shown that all her talk on being committed to fighting injustice in the UK, and promoting a vision of a country that works for everyone  not just the privileged few is just empty rhetoric.

The Prime Minister had the opportunity to finally implement legislation that has been passed through Parliament, designed to provide protection to victims of caste-based discrimination here in the UK, but instead she has decided to consult again.

Consultation after consultation, excuse after excuse, the government just doesnt get it that the only way to rid British society of caste discrimination is by enabling this passed legislation, he added.

Dalit communities in Britain are estimated to be 480,000-strong, and according to two reports commissioned by the government, they face discrimination in education, employment and the provision of public goods and services.

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Philippines President Rodrigo Duterte declared on Saturday a state of lawlessness in the country after an explosion in a market killed 14 people in his home city of Davao where he was on a regular weekend visit.

Duterte, who ran Davao for more than two decades as its crime-busting mayor, said the explosion late on Friday outside a high-end hotel intensified what was an extraordinary time in the Philippines, and police and military would redouble efforts to crush crime, drugs and insurgency.

Bodies lie on the ground while police investigators inspect the site of explosion (Reuters)

I must declare a state of lawless violence in this country, its not martial law, Duterte told reporters on a Davao street at daybreak.

Its not martial law until its a threat against the people and against the nation ... I have this duty to protect this country.

There was no immediate claim of responsibility for the explosion, which police said killed 14 people and wounded 67. They did not reveal any findings from their initial investigation.

Duterte was not near the scene of the blast when it happened.

It comes as the uncompromising president wages war with just about anyone from drugs kingpins and street dealers to Islamist rebels and corrupt bureaucrats, scoring big points in opinion polls, but at a risk of making powerful enemies.

It was not immediately clear what a state of lawlessness entailed.

Dutertes office said it was rooted in an article of the constitution that puts the president in charge of all armed forces and states that when necessary, he may call out such armed forces to prevent or suppress lawless violence, invasion or rebellion.

A Philippine soldier keeps watch at the blast site (AP)

Death threats

Rumours have swirled in recent days of a plot to assassinate Duterte, 71, which he has shrugged off as part of his job. The talk has been intensified by a crackdown on drugs that has killed more than 2,000 people since his June 30 inauguration.

Asked on Thursday about death threats, his spokesperson, Ernesto Abella said: He eats that for breakfast, its not something new.

The explosion went off at about 10.30pm at a night market outside the Marco Polo hotel, a place Duterte visits often and used for meetings during his national election campaign. He typically spends his weekends in Davao.

Asked if he thought the blast was the work of drugs gangs, Duterte said: It is also being considered ... At least we know who made the threats.

The White House expressed condolences to the families of victims and offered assistance, which National Security Council spokesperson Ned Price said President Barack Obama would convey when he meets Duterte at a summit in Laos next week.

Philippines President Rodrigo Duterte (C) visits the explosion site at a market in Davao City, Philippines. (Reuters)

Dutertes communications secretary Martin Andanar said the president would forge ahead with what would be his first overseas trips, although he was initially reluctant.

He was due to visit Brunei and Indonesia before going to an Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN) and East Asia Summits in Laos starting on Tuesday.

Though Davao itself is relatively safe, it is in Mindanao, a large southern island province beset by poverty and decades of Muslim insurgency.

Operating in the jungles of some of its smaller islands is the Abu Sayyaf, a rebel group loosely linked to Islamic State and notorious for kidnappings, which Duterte has promised to flush out with stepped-up military offensives.
LONDON: Britains regulator of charity organisations criticised the Hindu Swayamsevak Sangh (HSS) on Friday for not following procedures after a television sting operation revealed a speaker making anti-Islamic comments at a camp organised by the group.

The Charity Commission concluded after an investigation that there was mismanagement in HSS administration, with indications of a potential breach of the duty of trustees, but added there was insufficient evidence that the views expressed by the speaker were endemic or systematic in the organisation.

Ideologically inspired by the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), HSS has been operating in Britain since 1966. Its structure, principles and activities are similar to those of the RSS, whose head, Mohan Bhagwat, attended its mahashibir in Luton in early August to mark 50 years of the groups existence in Britain.

The sting operation showed a teacher at a Sangh Shiksha Varg (SSV) event for children, organised by HSS in Herefordshire during July-August 2014, making strong remarks against Muslims. It was telecast on ITV in January 2015.

The report added: The commission also identified that the most offensive and inappropriate comments recorded at the SSV event were included in the programme and the commission found some of these to be particularly objectionable and anti-Islamic. The inquiry also considered the relationship between the HSS and RSS. During the SSV event, the speaker was asked by the undercover reporter if he considered himself to be part of RSS or HSS and the speaker was quoted as saying: See they are both the same, only thing is that here (in the UK) we cannot call RSS as RSS, so we call it HSS.

However, when asked the same question during the inquiry, the speaker said: I acknowledge that perhaps it would have been more accurate to say (that the two organisations are) similar or founded on some common principles.

HSS trustees told the inquiry that the group neither funds nor is funded by RSS; none of the trustees of HSS are members of RSS and RSS has no control, influence or governance over HSS or HSS over RSS...The two entities are separate and independent from one another...

The report said: However, the inquiry has advised the trustees that they need to take proactive steps to ensure RSS has no control or influence over the charity and... that if links arise due to any personal links individuals may have, that these are separated from the charity and do not damage it or its reputation.

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The strong signals, believed to be emanating from advanced alien civilizations, were actually from a Soviet military satellite, according to a Russian news agency.

Earlier reports disclosed that those signals intercepted by radio astronomers in Russia were emanating from a cluster of stars 94 light years away -- the Hercules constellation.

The power of the signals and their frequency seemed to indicate a message from "advanced aliens". There was a wave of excitement everywhere.

"This could be a type II civilization," buzzed many aspirants. It seemed to be a great SETI (Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence) breakthrough.

So this seemed to be pretty much on top in the Kardashev scale. This interesting scale was named after its astronomer creator, who was trying to find out the "technological advancement" of a civilization.

Now we humans seem to be pretty low on the scale, as type 1. Although we harness solar energy, the use of fossil fuels is still widespread. We become completely type I when we use just renewable power.

The other kind is the type II civilization that can completely harness the sun's energy. The comforting news is that there has never been another alien world to compete with ours so far. But now follows the scary news---the alien signal seemed to give an energy output on a massive scale, much beyond the earth's fossil record. Did this alien source belong to that type of civilization then?

It did look like a great breakthrough. But then there was a blow, and the Russians blew it.

In a press release from the Russian Academy of Sciences, we first read that "...an interesting radio signal at a wavelength of 2.7 cm was detected in the direction of one of the objects (star system HD164595 in Hercules) in 2015."

That got everyone up in excitement.

But the following lines were a big wet blanket: "Subsequent processing and analysis of the signal revealed its most probable terrestrial origin."

But the "terrestrial" origin turned out to be a Russian military satellite that was alien to everyone -- an earthling creation, that of the Russians.

The Russian News Agency TASS spoke to Alexander Ipatov, from the Russian Academy of Sciences. "We, indeed, discovered an unusual signal," he told TASS. "However, an additional check showed that it was emanating from a Soviet military satellite, which had not been entered into any of the catalogs of celestial bodies."

RAS writes, "It can be said with confidence that no sought-for signal has been detected yet."

Oh dear and well---back to the aliens. Goodbye till we meet---if we ever do.

@ 2022 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
Planet 9 is touted to be the villain of the solar system. When the sun dies---and it will---that star is expected to swallow the earth and nearby planets and take on a new avatar as a white dwarf. But if you are still around in space 7 billion years later, you may be safer if you live on Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus or Neptune, as they are expected to be pushed to outer space and remain secure.

However, a new study shows that the rogue Planet 9 will destroy them all. At first, a scientist from the University of Louisiana said that Planet 9 would set off comet showers and bomb the earth, snuffing out life on earth. But another study by Dimitri Veras at the University of Warwick explained that the planet is going to destroy the entire solar system. It may not be pushed out like the safe planets, but might implode.

Hence, the mass of the planet and orbital properties of Planet 9 might force the larger planets into a "collision course" with the sun. Or the planet may even throw out its schoolmates from its gravitational grasp.

The existence of the Planet 9 is a bit controversial. Some people think that it is a figment of the imagination. But another professional, Scott Sheppard, a lead author of a new study from the Carnegie Institution for Science, is sure that it exists.

Still, Veras and Sheppard agree that it is not confirmed, yet the strange movement of objects in the solar system's remote corners tends to make the experts sure of certain theories.

"The existence of a distant massive planet could fundamentally change the fate of the solar system," Dr Veras said. "Uranus and Neptune, in particular, may no longer be safe from the death throes of the Sun. The fate of the solar system would depend on the mass and orbital properties of Planet Nine, if it exists."

"The future of the Sun may be foreshadowed by white dwarfs that are 'polluted' by rocky debris. Planet Nine could act as a catalyst for the pollution. The Sun's future identity as a white dwarf that could be ' polluted' by rocky debris may reflect current observations of other white dwarfs throughout the Milky Way," he said.

The study was published in the Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society.

YouTube/NASA.gov Video

@ 2022 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
Designed by Bruner/Cott & Associates, Hampshire Colleges R.W. Kern Center in Amherst, Massachusetts has been considered as an environmental milestone. The 17,000-square-foot center is one of the greenest buildings in the world  as it is able to produce its own heat, electricity, and water. It can generate as much energy as it uses throughout the year.

This building is constructed to meet the standards set by Living Building Challenge, which calls for the creation of building projects as natures architecture. To reach the desired self-sustaining goals, the eco-friendly center has been outfitted with solar panels, composting toilets and a rainwater harvesting system.

Jonathan Wright, the builder of the project, has installed solar panels on the roof to meet the buildings electrical requirements. The heating is geothermal, and glass windows surpass a top opening standards. The wooden flooring is finished with reclaimed ash from distant barns.

The self-contained rainwater harvesting system collects rainwater on a roof of a building. It further delivers the collected water to one of the dual vast tanks where its treated onsite. After that, water is pumped into a clean tank for drinking and cleaning purposes. There is also a doorway that leads to odor-less bedrooms that are installed with composting toilets. The students and visitors can comfortably stay in these rooms, and enjoying landscape views from the huge glass windows.

Kern Center now functions as a hub for student life with a community living room and cafe, and it also serves as a welcome center for parents and staff. Moreover, it also houses a learning and teaching laboratory for both students and visitors. This green building is aiming to bring Hampshire closer to its goal that is to be completely carbon-neutral in coming years.

Via: Inhabitat
Evan Walsh tells Hot Press all about what to expect from their set, some of his favourite acts playing and a few funny EP stories.

This is our fifth year playing the Picnic. It is probably of favourite festival to play anywhere. It has the best buzz, and doing things like the Hot Press Chatroom is always great craic. Whenever you wander through EP, it's always on the smaller stages that you discover the most interesting stuff.

For our appearance on Saturday we are hoping to mix some old and some new material into our set. We've started working on the third album, so there's plenty of new stuff knocking around that we're thinking of throwing into the set. We'll keep it varied with a few raucous, bluesy covers, and play a mixture of stuff from the first two albums, 'Snapshot' and 'Little Victories'.

Myself and bassist, Peter O'Hanlon, are playing with two acts this year. We are performing with my sister's garage-rock band, The Outer Limits, on the Jerry Fish stage, on the same day.

We are really looking forward to seeing Toots and the Maytals and Noel Gallagher, I've never seen him live before.

Last year, we were on the Jerry Fish Stage and the set up was fantastic. They'd a great selection of bands playing. We were on at midnight and the crowd were so up for it, people were moshing from the first song to the last, it was mayhem. Peter went crowd-surfing for the last song and when he got back, he dashed off on stage with no bass, we looked up, and the bass guitar was making it's way out of the tent floating on the audience's fingertips.

The Strypes play the Jerry Fish Electric Sideshow Stage:

Saturday 3 September, 23:00 - 00:00
More than 100 Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) militants were either killed or wounded in clashes with Turkish security forces on Saturday, the military said,

It was one of the highest casualty tolls in a single day of the conflict in recent years.

The military said in a statement that more than 100 PKK militants had been "neutralised" in clashes, without specifying how many were killed and how many wounded. Most had been taken back to northern Iraq, where the PKK has mountain camps.

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Few today remember the flood that ruptured a 40-inch pipeline in Harris County and sent "pools of burning gasoline down the rain-swollen San Jacinto River and setting fire to homes and boats on the banks." This October 1994 nightmare which looked like "hell opened up on the water and the whole river was gasoline," as quoted in the Los Angeles Times - illustrates the unpredictability of nature.

This time-honored principle of nature's unpredictability should be the Environmental Protection Agency's guiding star when deciding what to do about a contemporary problem on the San Jacinto River: the federal Superfund site known as the San Jacinto waste pits. The pits, located immediately upstream of the Interstate 10 Bridge in Channelview came into being in the mid-1960s when they received wastes containing dioxin from the former Champion Paper mill.

Abandoned afterward, the pits, like the rest of the surrounding area, subsided as the result of groundwater pumping, leaving the dioxin-laden wastes exposed for decades to the waters and sediments of the river.

EPA began overseeing cleanup, to be performed by the responsible companies, after the pits were added to the National Priorities List of hazardous waste sites in 2008. To counteract an immediate threat to human and environmental health, EPA directed the installation of a temporary armored cap on the pits, which was completed in July 2011.

EPA is expected to announce whether it will allow the waste to be secured by the armored cap or to require removal. This decision will have ramifications not only for the people living and recreating in the neighborhood but also for all of Galveston Bay.

A river in a low-lying area prone to flooding and hurricanes is no place to store toxic sludge, even under the security of an armored cap. The agency should choose the permanent solution and compel responsible parties to dig up and haul away the toxic sludge in the waste pits.

An Army Corps of Engineers report released in August assessed the options without taking a side, and the effect of a hurricane on the cap was one of the risks considered. The Corps predicted the armored cap would be reliable "except under very extreme hydrologic events which could erode a sizable portion of the cap."

For our hurricane-prone area, that is like saying we'll all stay dry except when it rains. Sooner or later, we'll get hit by "the big one." The only way to protect residents and to keep this area safe is to remove the waste.

Advocates for the less expensive armored cap, which include the parties responsible for the clean-up, cite it as the safest option. Removal does pose risks - toxic chemicals can leak into our soil and water. But so does leaving the toxic sludge in place, even when secured by an armored cap. To date, the cap has undergone several repairs.

The science is complicated but one area official is in a good position to evaluate what makes the most sense. Mike Talbott, the retiring head of Harris County Flood Control District, has more than 30 years' experience in Harris County fighting floods. He let his strong views be known in an Aug. 9 letter to the EPA, "The highly toxic waste at the site, in this major river's floodway and subject to extreme forces of flood flow, tides and storm surge, should not be allowed to remain there," he wrote as reported by Chronicle reporter Mihir Zaveri ("Official urges feds to remove toxic waste pits" Page A3, Aug. 19).

Talbott's knowledgeable assessment affirms what seems obvious even to the layman: The EPA should act to prevent future catastrophes by compelling removal of the waste now.
The following are excerpts from reports generated by the Texas County Sheriffs Department:

A 26-year-old Houston woman came to the TCSD office at about 4:20 p.m. Sept. 1 to report that numerous items with a total value of $7,915 had been stolen from her Grandview Road residence.

The woman named a 42-year-old woman as a suspect and stated the suspect was living at her home at the time of the theft. The victim said she had been in the hospital and when she returned home the goods were gone.

The victim told an investigating officer the suspect was now living in Licking. Investigation continues.

At about 8:30 p.m. Aug. 27, an 18-year-old inmate at the Texas County Jail who was being moved from one cell to another assaulted two jailers who were involved in the move.

An investigating deputy reported that the inmate punched one jailer multiple times in the head, and while the second jailer was trying to subdue him, the inmate struck him in the head multiple times. The officer reported that he stepped around a corner and observed the second assault, and at that point used his taser on the inmate. The inmate then willingly walked to the new cell.

Surveillance video recorded the incident, and a report was sent to the county prosecutor.

A Licking woman reported on Sept. 1 that several items with a total value of $1,050 had been swiped from a storage building at a Boiling Springs Road property she had moved out of.

The woman told an investigating officer the man who owns the property had allowed her to use the building for 30 days during her moving period. She stated that she moved out on Aug. 16 and when she returned to get her belongings out of the building, they were gone

There are no suspects.

Texas County Jail admissions

Aug. 29

Adam E. Smith  theft, drug possession

Robert B. Singleton  MDOC hold

Candice D. Mitchell  MDOC hold

Baron K. Mallory  DWI

Shantel N. Howard  Rolla PD hold

Aug. 30

Ronald L. Coleman  writ (to appear before judge)

Jacob S. Gilpatrick  writ

Nathan C. Young  writ

Michael P. Deardorff  leaving scene of an accident

Michael S. Skouby  no license, resisting arrest by fleeing

Aug. 31

Mark D. Griffith  involuntary manslaughter

Austin E. Sears  possession of controlled substance

Paul G. Wilson  DWI

Sept. 1

Irene S. Williams  House for Dent County

Albert L. Terrill  writ
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Related First mosquitoes carrying Zika detected in US

Malaysia reported its first locally transmitted Zika case on Saturday, a 61-year-old man who has died of heart-related complications, the government said.

The patient was a resident of the eastern Malaysian state of Sabah, the Ministry of Health said, and already was in fragile health due to heart problems, high blood pressure and other maladies.

But the case, coming two days after authorities reported the country's first case of Zika, is likely to add to fears of a full-blown outbreak of the mosquito-borne virus in the tropical nation.

The ministry said local transmission was highly likely because the man had no recent history of travelling outside Malaysia.

Ministry Director-general Noor Hisham Abdullah told state news agency Bernama his prior health problems were the cause of death on Saturday afternoon, but that the results of a full investigation were pending.

On Thursday, Malaysia reported the first Zika case on its soil -- a 58-year-old woman who is believed to have contracted it on a visit to neighbouring Singapore, where 150 cases have been confirmed.

A study published Friday in The Lancet Infectious Diseases journal said at least 2.6 billion people could be at risk from the virus in mosquito-ridden parts of Africa, Asia and the Pacific.

Zika, which is spread mainly by the Aedes mosquito, has been detected in 67 countries and territories including hard-hit Brazil.

It causes only mild symptoms for most people such as fever and a rash, but infected pregnant women can give birth to babies with microcephaly, a deformation marked by abnormally small brains and heads.

Malaysia already has struggled in recent years to control the spread of Aedes-borne dengue fever.

It has been bracing for Zika after Singapore reported a surge in cases beginning a week ago.

Malaysia has stepped up screening of travellers from abroad, particularly Singapore, and fogging with mosquito-killing chemicals while urging the public to eliminate mosquito breeding sites such as stagnant water.

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There are things you walk by on the street that makes you think they have fallen from the sky, or were left behind by extraterrestrial beings.

This pile of plastic dog poop on a Montreal bus shelter is neither, but still has citizens scratching their heads.

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Yes, the city thought it would be a good idea to put a pile of crap atop a bus shelter pic.twitter.com/Mamxj7m29B  Andy Riga, Montreal (@andyriga) August 31, 2016

As part of a campaign to address street cleanliness, the city of Montreal has installed several ads around the city, as well as a few unconventional fixtures, the Montreal Gazette reports.

One of those is a large plastic pile of dung with orbiting "flies" for added effect, along with the tagline Ton caca de chien, ce nest pas rien. (Your dog poop, its not nothing.)

Montreal's not going to take your crap anymore. pic.twitter.com/JjWQi4yyh3  Andy Riga, Montreal (@andyriga) August 30, 2016

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Dog owners not cleaning up after their pets is a problem the city has dealt with as far back at 2013, but street cleanliness also has been an issue.

If your eye isnt attracted by this campaign, we wont know what else to do, Anie Samson, the vice chair of Montreals executive committee, tells the Gazette.

This initiative is meant to get residents to keep the streets tidy.

The city had five sculptures installed around downtown, including a crumpled coffee cup, a pile of graffiti and spray paint cans and, of course, a load of dog poop, according to Global News.

The city has created videos and has hired circus performers as part of the $950,000 campaign, the Gazette reports.

Francois Limoges with opposing group Projet Montreal tells Global he thinks the money would have been better used hiring more inspectors.

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So far the shock factor has got people talking and many tourists were amused by the sculpture.

"I think it's quite creative, and a lot of fun and it made me smile," Rhonda Levy a tourist from the U.S. told radio station CJAD. "I think it shows that the city has a good sense of humour."

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Bangladesh was set to execute a wealthy tycoon and top financial backer of its largest Islamist party late Saturday, as his family paid him a final visit.

Mir Quasem Ali, a key leader of the Jamaat-e-Islami party, faces the gallows after being convicted by a controversial war crimes tribunal for offences committed during the 1971 independence conflict with Pakistan.

Police told AFP all preparations have been made to execute Ali, who is imprisoned at the Kashimpur high security jail in Gazipur, some 40 kilometres (25 miles) north of Dhaka.

"It (the hanging) is likely to take place tonight," Gazipur district police chief Harun-or-Rashid told AFP.

After the Supreme Court rejected his final appeal against the penalty on Tuesday, Ali declined to seek a presidential pardon, which would require an admission of guilt, paving the way for his execution.

Two other police officials speaking on condition of anonymity told AFP that the execution would occur between 10:00 pm Bangladesh time (1600 GMT) and midnight.

Prosecutors said Ali was a key commander of the notorious pro-Pakistan militia in the southern port city of Chittagong during the 1971 war, and later became a shipping and real estate tycoon.

Russel Sheikh, a senior Gazipur police official, told AFP that officials have taken "highest security measures" ahead of the planned execution for fear of violence by his Islamist supporters.

"More than 1,000 police have been deployed in the district," Sheikh said.

Hundreds of paramilitary border guards were also deployed outside the prison and in the capital Dhaka, a director of the Border Guard Bangladesh told AFP.

Past convictions and executions of high-profile Jamaat leaders have triggered violence in Bangladesh, which is polarised along political lines.

"All along he said he was innocent. He said he is being killed unjustifiably," said Tahera Tasnim, one of Ali's daughters after 23 members of his family went to meet him in the jail.

"He said this repressive government is killing them (Islamist leaders) to stop Islam being established in the society and the country," Tasnim told AFP.

The Supreme Court's decision to reject Ali's appeal was a major blow for the Jamaat-e-Islami party, which the 63-year-old tycoon had helped to revive in recent decades.

Five opposition leaders including four leading Islamists have been executed for war crimes since 2013. Ali is the last prominent Islamist leader to face execution.

The war crimes tribunal set up by the government has divided the country, with supporters of Jamaat and the main opposition Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) branding it a sham aimed at eliminating their leaders.

Ali was convicted in November 2014 of a series of crimes during Bangladesh's war of separation from Pakistan, including the abduction and murder of a young independence fighter.

His son Mir Ahmed Bin Quasem, who was part of his legal defence team, was allegedly abducted by security forces earlier in August, which critics say was an attempt to sow fear and prevent protests against the imminent execution.

The Islamist party, which is banned from contesting elections has labelled the charges against Ali "false" and accuses the government of exacting "political vengeance".

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LinkedIn founder Reid Hoffman has thrown his weight  and his money  behind a Crowdpac campaign to recall the Judge Aaron Persky, who delivered the sentence in the Brock Turner rape case, Business Insider reports.

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LinkedIn founder Reid Hoffman graduated from Stanford University, where Brock Turner was a student.

Hoffman has committed $25,000 to the campaign funding efforts to recall the California judge who was re-elected for six years in June, after running unopposed.

The Stanford alumnus explained his motivation for supporting the recall campaign in a blog post yesterday.

"This woefully unjust sentence sends a powerful message about how our culture systematically discounts and excuses sexual violence against women," the LinkedIn founder writes. "To counteract that message, we must send equally powerful messages that signal our demand for reform."

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A campaign to recall Judge Aaron Persky was launched by a Sanford law professor, following his light sentence in the Brock Turner case.

Judge Persky sentenced Turner to six months in jail, a sentence which has been called unusually lenient by legal experts.

Turner, a 21-year-old former Stanford University swimmer, was convicted on three counts of sexual assault of an unconscious woman outside of a frat party earlier this year.

The crime would normally carry a minimum of two years in prison, to a maximum of 14 years. Turner was released Friday on good behaviour after serving just three months.

Demonstrators lined up as he left prison chanting: "Hey hey, ho ho, Judge Persky has got to go," CNN reports.

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"This woefully unjust sentence sends a powerful message about how our culture systematically discounts and excuses sexual violence against women."

Hoffman noted that the deadline to register as an opponent against Judge Persky passed in March, before he issued Turner's sentence in June.

The recall campaign is being led by Michele Landis Dauber, a Stanford law professor who has been outspoken about sexual assault on campus, according to The Guardian.

The earliest a recall election can be held is November 2017 and requires signatures from 20 per cent of registered voters or about 80,000 signatures.

In response to the campaign and in an effort to keep his job, Judge Persky has started a counter-campaign and fundraising effort, "Retain Judge Persky."

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His fundraising efforts have so far yielded about $3,600, compared to $300,000 from various recall efforts, Mercury News reports.

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"If a man going down into a river, swollen and swiftly flowing, is carried away by the current, how can he help others across?" -- Buddha

Racism, nativism, xenophobia -- and Donald Trump, oh my! Novelist Richard North Patterson summarizes the current situation we face: "Trump personifies a fear and hatred of 'the other' embodied by some of our history's more frightening and despicable figures: Father Coughlin, Joseph McCarthy, George Wallace. This has led to some of our most shameful chapters -- lynchings, anti-immigrant violence, the internment of Japanese-Americans. Because such tragedies are so searing, we view them as unique. But they do not arise from nowhere. Nor did Donald Trump."

Indeed. Fear of the other, authoritarian responses to social unrest, and the rise of demagogues do not appear from nowhere. They are historical forces, angry ghosts lingering from our collective past. And at the heart of these forces is often an individual's tribal identification with a group, an identification so powerful it can often take precedence over an individual's own safety and lead to support of sociopathic leaders promising the tribe's survival and ultimate victory. In the United States, we are witnessing an upsurge of this tribal identification with the candidacy of Donald Trump. We are also witnessing associated ideologies revolving around tribal beliefs of white superiority, rooted in the notion that white Europeans are responsible for civilization and therefore worthy of respect above all others. And this belief did not come out of nowhere.

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Most recently it was voiced by Rep. Steve King, R-Iowa, who spontaneously declared during a panel discussion that he was sick and tired of fellow panelists dissing white people and suggested that whites were actually responsible for most of the good in the world. "I'd ask you to go back through history and figure out where are these contributions that have been made by these other categories of people that you're talking about. Where did any other subgroup of people contribute more to civilization?" When asked to clarify if he meant white people, King retorted: "Than Western civilization. It's rooted in Western Europe, Eastern Europe, and the United States of America, and every place where the footprint of Christianity settled the world. That's all of Western civilization." In other words, what is good about civilization is rooted in the history of white Christians. His comments may have startled the other panelists, but they were not without historical context.

During the formative years of our nation's history, there was no ambiguity regarding white superiority over other races -- or men over women, for that matter. Both Native Americans and blacks were assumed to come from an inferior species, socially incapable of being civilized, intellectually not as good as whites, and legally less than a sovereign nation in the case of Native Americans and less than fully human in the case of African Americans.

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The intolerance, fear, injustice, and negative stereotyping that we now call racism arose from the systematic prejudice of this past. Nineteenth-century studies declared that whites had superior intelligence based on their cranial size. Fears of the other were enshrined in our very own Declaration of Independence. In a cruel irony, the same document proclaiming the equal rights of all to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness was also a public statement chronicling the threat that white colonialists felt from other races. Among the grievances set out against George III and the British government was the accusation of exciting rebellion among the slave population, referred to as domestic insurrection, and encouraging attacks from Native Americans, referred to as "merciless Indian Savages." The final grievance used to justify our war with England states: "He [George III] has excited domestic insurrections amongst us, and has endeavoured to bring on the inhabitants of our frontiers, the merciless Indian Savages, whose known rule of warfare, is an undistinguished destruction, of all ages, sexes and conditions."

From this history of unconcealed racism arose a new strain of institutional racism, a complex and interconnected set of policies, attitudes, and beliefs that first rang out as legalized segregation and then echoed into our educational institutions, and our health care, police, legal, and financial establishments. It was only in 1954 that separate-but-equal laws were overturned and only in the past 50 years that efforts have been made to reconcile past injustices.

There is still such a long way to go. In my own city of Oakland, there is a less than 10% likelihood that a graduating eighth-grade African American male will complete a bachelor's degree and a greater than 30% chance that he will be doing time in prison or caught up in the criminal justice system. Unless we believe in genetic inferiority -- the stamp of racist beliefs -- we must accept the fact of overwhelming social conditions that give rise to such outcomes.

As horrific as this is at a social level, something just as devastating is happening at a psychological level. The very impulse to address historic wrongs at the institutional level has been countered by an unwillingness to accept social and moral responsibility at the personal level. The attitude among many is "The past is over -- just get over it" or "I wasn't around for those injustices, so I have no need to feel responsible now." This has created a painful schism in the collective, a wound now igniting into violence and attracting a demagogic strong man to vie for the presidency.

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Most significant, the impact of the past on the present has receded into the collective unconscious, so that we are simply unaware of it. Rather than striving to make the past a creative tension and source of renewal, we substitute a romanticized image of days gone by, a sentimental journey into a make-believe world where all was right, and whites, especially white men, reigned supreme.

One result of this fantasy is the emergence of a blunt-talking billionaire come to save white people, a personification of the collective's shadow. What would seem to many of us to be disqualifying personality characteristics -- blatant narcissism and a sociopathic disposition -- appear for others to be the very qualifications necessary to get the job done.

Somehow we have arrived at a moment in time when the entrance of a perceived tough and cunning figure with no need to talk in full sentences has become the advent of a savior, or at least a version of one from the bowels of World Wide Wrestling. What kind of savior is this? What collective pain can account for something so bizarre that if someone told me this was occurring in a parallel universe, I would ask how it was possible?

And so I did. I began asking what was behind the media's focus on the angry white electorate, as if anger somehow explained the collective pull toward driving off a cliff and yelling "Freedom!"

What struck me was how little I knew about the physical and psychological suffering that are pervasive in many white communities. It seems almost ridiculous to mention this in light of the institutional and physical violence directed at minorities and immigrants on a daily basis, but I have come to believe that it is a critical missing piece in progressive thought. It is far too easy to disrespect others we don't understand, to question their intelligence, to stereotype, and to even casually call people we don't agree with "rednecks" without awareness that this term is as implicitly racist as any other slur that suggests a group's inferiority.

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We need to consider the possibility that fear has inflamed a tribal identity with racist consequences at the same time that we need a deeper awareness of the pain and grief that underlie such inclinations. Although I am white, I have always felt a double nature, never identifying fully with either majority or minority subgroups. It has allowed me to question both sides and seek a higher principle that honors our collective dignity.

I fear we have reached an unfortunate fork in the road where expressing concern for others whom we disagree with appears as betrayal to our own tribe. This is a most dangerous situation in a nation made up of so many diverse groups. I would like to break that pattern and take the road less traveled. Although it's true that whatever economic and psychological suffering of whites that I might speak of is equaled or intensified in most minority communities, this is exactly the problem. Empathy, the very glue that holds social relationships together, is being fractured by the dueling banjos of suffering and oppression that each group holds dear for itself alone. Can we instead seek a greater canvas on which all human suffering is drawn, and paint in brighter colors our collective aspirations for dignity? I believe this is the path with heart.
Labor Day is a time to pay tribute to the contributions workers have made to the prosperity of our country. But you probably don't think about workplace safety much. Most of us show up to work each day and we take it for granted that we will return home safely. Sadly, that is not always the case. The reality is someone is hurt at work every 7 seconds, and each one of these injuries is preventable. Whether you work in an office, on a construction site or behind the wheel of a truck, safety should be an important part of every workday.

The National Safety Council asked average American workers what they thought about safety in their workplace. What we found is concerning: One third of U.S. workers surveyed said their employers prioritize productivity over safety. While it seems like "doing more with less" is the norm these days, it should not come at the cost of safety - especially when workplace deaths and injuries are completely preventable.

Listening to workers

Our survey found that 62% of construction workers and those in agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting - all high-risk industries - believe management does only the minimum required by law to keep employees safe. The survey respondents are relying on their employers to provide safe systems. At the National Safety Council, we know the organizations that take safety seriously - in any industry, not just those that are dangerous - have committed leadership and engage their employees.



One of my former colleagues used to say, "You sweep the stairs from the top," and I always found this to be a helpful visual. If everyone in the organization is to commit to safety, it starts with a CEO communicating a safety vision for the organization, leading by example and conveying that safety is a shared responsibility. Safety training and resources must be provided to workers to ensure they are equipped to work safely.

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And employees should always be empowered to speak up if unsafe conditions exist. Another sobering finding from our survey was that more than 40% of workers in high-risk environments - transportation, construction and the healthcare sector - were afraid to report safety issues. While fear of reporting problems can stem from multiple factors, everyone in the organization, their customers and the public is at risk if employees are worried about losing their job if they raise a safety concern.



How does your workplace compare?

Take a step back and evaluate your own workplace. Are there things that can be improved to make you feel safer? If your employer is not communicating with you about safety on a regular basis, are there safety topics you and your co-workers could bring up for discussion?

If you want to know about the biggest risks you face on and off the job, take advantage of our Safety Checkup tool to receive a snapshot of your personal risks based on your age, gender, occupation and where you live.

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The happy couple is looking at each other

The first time I got married, it was 1971. I was in junior college and I hated it.

I didn't even apply to a four-year college because I didn't care. All of my friends were going to UC campuses and my parents had saved for me to go to college. My aunt and sister had gone to Berkeley...it just wasn't in me.

I did not find school to be a learning experience, but rather a corral for the young. I'm young, why do homework? It wasn't until I was 33 and wanted to go to cooking school that I found passion for learning. Cooking kept me out of jail. While others needed socialization or philosophy or life learning, I only needed to know the secrets to a perfect bernaise. I'm simple in the head.

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My mother invited 400 of her closest friends to my wedding, my father reserved his club, (a beautiful old mansion in my hometown) and mailed fancy, expensive ecru wedding invitations. The invitations also included stamped enclosure cards, steak or chicken entree options, and a piece of silky see-through paper that I never did know the purpose of. I promised my mother I would shave under my arms and maybe, maybe my legs. And yes, get a manicure.

I was a semi-hippie. I met Janis Joplin, knew Bill Graham, wore ugly sandals, but still loved luxuries. Marin County princesses die hard, even during the societal revolution.

We went to Saks Fifth Avenue in Union Square to shop for THE dress. Of course we did. My mother was raised poor and both of my sisters eloped. This wedding was her moment. Her parents killed her pet rooster during the depression, and served it. I think his name was Pepe. She needed beauty. Handmade lace, an ecru veil and a huge train were in order.

I did not care. I loved my mother, deeply. I understood her. Sometimes as tastefully as she could, she showed off. "There is no such thing as vulgar when it comes to the size of a diamond."

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Fine. I would look like an ecru meringue for a day.

My groom was handsome. I loved him more than bacon. He was the college boyfriend, after my high school dream boyfriend left. Looking back, we were just too fucking young to get married. But we held love in buckets. Our life would be a beautiful dream. Our first home really was a dream. We ordered Harvest Gold appliances and matching shag carpet. It's almost impossible not to be jealous, even now.

The dream choked to death after seven years. We got divorced. It hurt. So much. The appliances were still under the premium warranty program.

I lived for more than a decade as a single woman. I built my own life. Then, a second marriage. New dreams. Husband number two and I will celebrate our shiny, silver anniversary next year. It has been what I wanted the first time. I just had to grow up to get there and respect it.



I have a sister who has always been my angel. Always. Pretty, sensitive and so very kind. She left the first message, "Neesey, call me. I don't want to leave this on your voicemail." (Remember, we are Italians, we like to build the drama. It's operatic, really.)

"Honey, Randy died." I had no idea who she was talking about. Then she said, "Randy, Randy Kline died." Crap. My first husband. He had a heart attack in his car, on the way to Oregon where he volunteered his time as a dentist on an Indian reservation. Crap. I have to look at the old dream.

I was fine all day. I did my work. I did my job. I ran my business. I pushed my life forward. At about four in the afternoon, I emailed my original bridesmaids and my dear friend that caught my wedding bouquet and said, "I'm almost widowed." Then I cried.

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I felt weird and sad and my darling girlfriends sent me all the right messages. "Of course you're sad, you grew-up together.'' "He was your husband, how could you not be sad?" And unexpected kindness came from hometown people. The world did not seem so very big or my past so far away.

The nicest moment was when Randy's sister, Becky, responded to an email to tell me how lovely it was to hear from me and said that she often told her kids what I taught her. "Denise, my first sister-in-law, made this delicious chicken dish. She called it, Almost Chicken Divine."
North Korea and nuclear

Washington long has told the rest of the world what to do. But the world usually pays little attention. When ignored, U.S. officials typically talk tougher and louder, with no better result.

That describes American policy toward North Korea. It would be better for Washington to say less than frantically denounce every provocation. The U.S. and its allies typically respond with angry complaints and empty threats, which only encourages the Democratic People's Republic of Korea to provoke again.

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North Korea recently launched two missiles. One exploded shortly after launch, while the other landed about 160 miles from Japan. It was more of the same, barely worth a second thought.

However, UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon declared that he was "deeply troubled" by the North's action. The United Nations Security Council met, at which there were "strong condemnations across the board," according to U.S. ambassador Samantha Power.

White House spokesman Josh Earnest announced that "The United States continues to believe that our response to North Korea's destabilizing activities is stronger when the international community remains united." Pentagon spokesman Gary Ross said "This provocation only serves to increase the international community's resolve to counter prohibited activities." Pyongyang should "focus instead on taking concrete steps toward fulfilling its commitments and international obligations."

Japan's UN representative, Koro Bessho, called the North's actions "totally unacceptable" and advocated international unity against the DPRK. Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe termed the test "is an unforgivable act of violence toward Japan's security." He said he expected "resolute measures" in response.

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South Korea's UN representative, Oh Joon, denounced Pyongyang, contending that the latter's missile program "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." Everyone, he added, had an interest in stopping "this dangerous series of provocations immediately." The South Korean military warned that the North "directly and blatantly demonstrated its provocative ambition to target seaports and airfields across South Korea."

Even NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg joined the chorus, taking the "North Atlantic" Treaty Organization way out of area. He declared that North Korea should "immediately cease and abandon all its existing nuclear and ballistic missile activities" and "refrain from any further provocative actions."

It's almost charming to think that Stoltenberg imagined his words would shame into repentance the North's communist emperor Kim Jong-un, fresh from executing the managers of a Chinese restaurant whose staff had defected. How very Norwegian of Stoltenberg.

Alas, the rebuke from the Pentagon, which positions nearly 30,000 troops in the South, was even less likely to cause Pyongyang to reverse course. Kim & Co. seem far more likely to enjoy than regret Japanese ululations over the horrid threat posed by Tokyo's former colony.

Just what do the allies believe they are achieving? Over the last five years the DPRK has shot off 31 missiles. Every one violated a Security Council resolution. And every one was denounced in equally florid language.

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Without the slightest impact on the North's behavior.

"The regime may be isolated, but remains unbowed. Indeed, Western whining plays to Kim's worst instincts."

No doubt, Pyongyang has noticed that many of its chief critics and military antagonists deploy such missiles without apparent shame. The Security Council has strengthened sanctions over time, but so far the North can rely on People's Republic of China to limit their worst impacts.

As for the tsunami of verbal criticism, the DPRK is far better at loosing insults. The regime may be isolated, but remains unbowed. Indeed, Western whining plays to Kim's worst instincts.

After all, the DPRK ably fills the role of a "shrimp among whales," far smaller, poorer, and less powerful than South Korea, let alone Japan, China, and Russia. Yet the Kim dynasty has gained the world's attention, causing wailing and gnashing of teeth in capitals across the world--and now even in the headquarters of NATO, the world's greatest military alliance. From the regime's standpoint, it obviously is doing something right.

In fact, despite the ill words which greeted its latest missile shots, observers predict that the North is preparing a fifth nuclear test. Pyongyang has dismissed American threats. Last month Foreign Minister Ri Yong-ho criticized the U.S. for its "never ending nuclear blackmails." As a result, America "will have to pay dearly a terrifying price."

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Nor can Washington count on the PRC to "solve" the North Korea problem. After the latest DPRK provocations, Beijing's ambassador to the UN, Liu Jieyi, chose not to focus on the North, but instead said "the situation is tense and we need to do everything to de-escalate the situation." He implied that the U.S. and its allies had provoked the North to arm, noting that "the factors contributing to the tension in the Korean peninsula" are "self-evident."

Obviously neither North Korea's neighbors nor anyone who imagines themselves in Pyongyang's gunsights wants the DPRK to develop missiles or nuclear weapons. However, if the allies lack a means to disarm the North, they should stop wailing after every weapons test. Doing so reinforces North Korea's inflated sense of importance and perception of allied weakness.

Better would be to greet such tests with silence. Any policy response, such as tightened sanctions, should be adopted with little rhetorical fanfare. Questions about the North's tactics should be answered dismissively. The allies should react in ways which diminish the benefits to Pyongyang from confrontation. That wouldn't make the North Korea problem go away. But it might at least stop encouraging the DPRK to do more.
Anyone familiar with Japanese politics would know that MP Taro Kono never shies away from swimming against the tide, whenever needed. This Japanese Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) member has famously opposed the government nuclear policy, plans for nuclear fuel and building new stations. He also supports an amendment of the Japanese Constitution, which allows the self-defense forces to engage in warfare and "conflicts with the official position" on the issue of US Marine Corps Air Station in the Okinawan City of Futenma. In fact, so different are his views that the Wall Street Journal labelled him a "LDP Rebel with a Cause" in a profile piece about him published in 2011.

There is also another aspect to this politician. By Japanese standards, he is uniquely internationally-minded. Despite a long history of tensions with South Korea, he was the only lawmaker in his country to have had a Korean version on his official website. Korean interns regularly work with him and he maintains interesting views on the future of relations with both Korea and China.

Caption: MP Taro Kono meets with Deputy Crown Prince Mohammad bin Salman (Courtesy: @konotarogomame)

More interestingly, Kono has a deep-rooted and genuine interest in Middle Eastern affairs. When I visited his office at the Japanese Parliament last year, I was fascinated to see that he possesses more books about the Arab world than I do. He almost always has an intern working at his office who hails from the Middle East, and speaks Arabic. He has visited a number of Arab countries including Syria, Lebanon, Jordan, UAE and Saudi Arabia.

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Currently, a senior Saudi delegation, led by Deputy Crown Prince Mohammad bin Salman, is in Tokyo as part of a high-profile Asian tour, which will conclude next week at the G20 Conference in China. The delegation has signed MoUs, business deals and has been engaging in cultural diplomacy activities in a bid to strengthen the Kingdom's alliances in the East.

MP Taro Kono is scheduled to meet with Saudi Arabia's Deputy Crown Prince Mohammad bin Salman, who is also the country's defense minister and the architect of Vision 2030; an ambitious reform plan which aims to balance the kingdom's financial sheets, end the reliance on oil by diversifying the economy, open-up the country and improve the standards of living of Saudi citizens.

Caption: MP Taro Kono meets with Deputy Crown Prince Mohammad bin Salman (Courtesy: @konotarogomame)

Mr. Kono has agreed to answer a few questions via email prior to his meeting with Prince Mohammad. Having been the chief cost-cutter for Japan's national budget for over a decade, and a Minister for Administrative Reform, the meeting with Prince Mohammad is expected to be fruitful, considering that Mr. Kono says that he understands how hard Riyadh is trying to transform its role and streamline the budget.

"We hope to share our experience and work together," he says. Contrary to the mainstream political views in Japan, Mr. Kono believes that his country should take in Syrian refugees and be "more politically involved in the Middle Eastern affairs."

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Furthermore, Mr. Kono (who has served as Chairperson of the National Public Safety Commission under current PM Abe) believes Japan and Saudi Arabia can cooperate in areas such as combatting terrorism, particularly given the Japanese security emphasis in the build up to the 2020 Olympics, which his country will host.

This, of course, goes hand-in-hand with Saudi Arabia leadership of the Riyadh-based coalition of more than 30 countries called the Islamic Alliance to Fight Terrorism (IAFT), which Prince Mohammad oversaw the formation of, with the objective to defeat international violent extremism militarily, ideologically, financially and electronically.

WATCH: MP Taro Kono, Al Arabiya English's Faisal J. Abbas and Jordan's Bassem Awadallah discuss future of Middle East at Tokyo's G1 Conference in 2015:

Complete transcript of the interview:- Al Arabiya English: In December last year, you went on record saying that Japan needs an integrated immigration policy to cope up with its shrinking policy, or risk losing to China in competition for vital foreign workers. To what extent is the Japanese society willing to accept an influx of foreign workers? And do you think the society would have a preference for or against Arab immigrants?

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TK: Japan is fast losing its population, and its birth rate is still around 1.4, which means unless Japan allows immigration, it cannot sustain its economy. Immigration, however, is still a very touchy issue in Japan.

Although many Japanese people might be skeptical about accepting immigrants, and the official government policy still denies foreign workers, in reality, there are many foreign workers, or cheap foreign workers to be exact, already in Japan. Many Chinese and South East Asians have come as "trainees" and many Japanese-Peruvians and Japanese-Brazilians have been admitted under the pretext of having the Japanese blood. They are, nonetheless, nothing but cheap workers. Without them we will not be able to build facilities necessary for the Tokyo Olympic Games in 2020 and the lettuce and cabbage will go rotten in the field.

If, or when, Japan is to open up for immigrants, what matters most is the language capability. We have learned that hard way. In the 1980s many Japanese descendants came from South America to work in factories in Japan. They all had the Japanese blood but most of them were not able to speak the language. They were not able to assimilate into the society. It is not the blood that matters, but the language.

Japan today is non-religious country, or the Japanese people are not religiously dedicated. Many Japanese have their wedding in the Christian church, most funerals in Japan are held with the Buddhist monks. The Japanese kids believe in Santa Claus and every town has a Shinto shrine where people enjoy the Shinto festivals. Even Halloween and St. Valentine's Day are celebrated by young Japanese. When you talk about the word "religion" in Japan, you need to understand the same word probably means very different culturally from your country. That is something both the Japanese society and a foreign immigrant need to understand and work together to overcome.

So anyone who can speak or is willing to speak the Japanese language and understands the Japanese idea about religions should be welcome.

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- Al Arabiya English: Workforce aside, Japan has made negative headlines with regard to its position which doesn't favor bringing in Syrian refugees. This position is strange coming from a major country which is both well-off and in need of immigrants. What are your thoughts on this and what can be done to convince the Japanese to do more for Syrian refugees?

TK: It is true that Japan has not accepted many refugees. I believe this needs to be changed. The Japanese society needs to change so that we can accept immigrants or refugees as new members of the community.

- Al Arabiya English: There is a major Saudi delegation visiting Japan at the moment, and you have been to the kingdom on several occasions and you have said that Japan is seeking multilayered relations. What are the points on your agenda for the upcoming meeting in Tokyo and how do you see Japanese-Saudi relations developing and working together to resolve regional issues?

TK: As said earlier, Japan is religiously very neutral; there are almost no Muslims and Jews, and the Christian population is about 1%. Japan sells no weapon systems to anybody on this planet. Japan has had a very good relationship with the United States. The Japanese economy depends on the oil and gas from the Middle East. So Japan can be an honest broker in the Palestine peace process and can agree to disagree with the United States.

It is time for Japan to be politically more involved in the Middle Eastern affairs and play an independent role in solving the regional conflicts. In order to take such steps, I believe we need to create much stronger personal relationship with Arab nations at many levels. Politicians should be able to pick up a phone and call their counterparts when necessary.

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We have established an organization called the Japan-Arab Leadership network, and its members have visited Arab countries every year for last fifteen years. We would like to extend this network to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia as well.

Japan is transforming its economy. Much of manufacturing has moved out of the country to near the market. Japan is more heavily relying on automation as the supply of the labor contracting. On the other hand, Saudi Arabia has an exploding population especially at the young generation. There are a lot to complement each other's economy.

I have been the cost-cutter for the national budget for last 10 years and had been Minister for Administrative Reform. The Saudi government is now trying hard to transform its role and to streamline the budget. I hope to share our experience and work together.

- Al Arabiya English: Late last year, you mentioned that ISIS could mount a cyberattack in Japan. Also Japan - like Saudi Arabia and other Arab countries - was a victim of terrorism when Japanese hostages were murdered by ISIS. As you know KSA has established and is leading a new Islamic Anti-Terror coalition. Do you see room for more and active cooperation with Japan on this front? And what can be hoped to be achieved?

TK: We all need to fight against terrorism. As the host of the 2020 Olympic Games, Japan is stepping up anti-terrorist measures. We shall exchange information and work together to prevent terrorism in the real world and in the cyber world. The possible damages caused by the cyber terrorism is limitless. We need to closely cooperate with each other to protect our people and economy from cyber-attacks.

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All religions, except some forms of Buddhism, recommend prayer.

From the Latin precare, which means to beg, prayer is just that: begging, pleading, imploring a God, or some other otherworldly figure, such as a saint.

If your heart is made of penetrable stuff, seeing people in prayer will move you to tears. Why? Because prayer is perhaps the single most communicative gesture a person may enact, encompassing, as it does, all the hopes and wishes, all the longings and desires, of the entire human race, collapsed into the feeling and utterance of private or public begging.

Do you realize that most people you see, sometime during the course of their seventeen hours of daily wakefulness, beg the otherworld for something? Billions of prayers go up daily.

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If someone earnestly begged you for something, on their knees and in a pitiable tone, wouldn't you be moved? Wouldn't you, moreover, if it were in your power to do so, grant the request?

It would depend, you say, on what was being begged for. People beg for guidance in major and minor life choices. Would you grant your guidance? People beg for health, for themselves and for children and for friends and family. Would you give them health? People beg for their lives. Would you extend their lives? People beg for forgiveness. Would you forgive? People beg saints to intercede with even higher powers. Would you intercede?

Some ancient currently dead religions and some variations of current living religions devise formulaic prayers for various uses and stitch and bind them together into prayer books. This religious sensibility invests each word of a prayer with efficacious power, so that the formula of the prayer cannot be deviated from without enervating the effect. In this view, God and the saints are persnickety judges of proper form.

Philosophical theologians have always been bothered by the notion that human emotion and words, evinced in the begging of prayer, can alter an immutable being such as God. Unchangeableness was supposedly one of God's perfect attributes. But if God answered a prayer, God would have been moved to...change. This was deemed a problem. The problem was solved through this clever construction: prayer does not move or change God but it puts the petitioner in a position to be moved or changed by God.

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Smoke and mirrors.

It's no matter though because plainly most prayers go unanswered, having neither moved God, nor the saints, nor possibly even the supplicant. Were you to guess a billion prayers go unanswered for every one that is, you'd probably have a rough estimate of the reality. You yourself might always respond to a beggar, but obviously others will not.

A priest I know had a dream wherein the Pope witnessed God unresponsive to prayer. The priest's shrink said the woman in the dream was none other than God. Here is the dream:

The Pope watched a woman who was purported to be wise as she stood behind a curtain. People sat on the other side of the drape and were unable to see her. They importuned her about many things, for she was said to be powerful and generous and sapient and in possession of much knowledge. She did not answer all the people, however. At first she seemed to answer only those who called her by her correct name. Her correct name was Azra. But some called her Ella, and some called her Kiro, and some called her Brett, and some called her Lupe, and some called her Charise, and other names. She appeared not to answer questions from those who misnamed her. Later, she ceased answering those who did not evince enough emotion in the vocal delivery of their requests. She seemed to require passion in each query. Later still, she apparently answered only those requests that interested her, and these were few indeed. Finally, seemingly pococurante, she responded to no one. Brow to brow the Pope demanded of the woman why wisdom should be parsimonious and mute in the face of beggars. The woman responded in Latin: Taciturnitas stulto homini pro sapientia est. "For a dim person, silence is a substitute for wisdom."


America's newspaper of record ran a front-page article this past Thursday, "How Russia Often Benefits as Assange Reveals Secrets" that exemplifies the "New McCarthyism" at work.



The article insinuated without providing any concrete proof that Russian intelligence was behind the leaked emails pertaining to the Democratic National Committee's efforts to sabotage the campaign of Bernie Sanders and ensure the nomination of Hillary Clinton.



The allegations are based on the claim by an unnamed CIA official that Wikileaks materials had the same bit of code and telltale metadata traced to previous intrusions attributed to Russian spy agencies.



The New York Times' article quotes critics of Assange, the WikiLeaks founder, who said he had become blinkered in his worldview while confined in the Ecuadorian embassy in London and a one dimensional critic of U.S. policy. The authors noted that Russian leader Vladimir Putin had taken up Assange's cause and they criticized Assange for taking a critical view of Western political interference in the Ukraine.



During the era of Joseph McCarthy critics of U.S. government policy were similarly maligned for being anti-American or pro-Russian or communist if they raised serious ethical questions about U.S. policy. Many were also accused of being spies unfairly, including Ethel Rosenberg, who was executed by the state unjustly as recent evidence has confirmed.



FDR's Vice-President Henry Wallace, one of the victims of McCarthyism, was smeared as a pro-communist and an apologist for Soviet premier Joseph Stalin simply because he believed that the Russians did not have the capacity to attack the U.S. and could be engaged with through diplomacy like any other country.



A trademark of McCarthy was to accuse someone of being a communist agent based on rumor, conjecture or fabricated evidence. The New York Times appears to have lowered itself to Mr. McCarthy's standards as the article on Assange does not contain one bit of hard evidence the email leaks came from Russian government sources. There is only speculation and "belief" by U.S. intelligence agencies, which have a history of planting misinformation in the media in order to shape public opinion.



A cardinal rule of journalism is to present evidence to back up one's story. Rumor or hearsay is no basis for charging somebody with something.



In this case, the Times employs a coy rhetorical trick. Since they have no actual evidence against Assange, they frame it that Russia "benefits" from his revelations and that the "agenda of Wikileaks and the Kremlin often overlap." The effect is to equate Assange with Russia and vilify him, while blocking discussion about the Wikileaks revelations themselves and their implications.



Noam Chomsky and Edward S. Herman in their 1989 book, Manufacturing Consent: The Political Economy of the Mass Media, emphasize the Times' historical role in promoting U.S. government interests in foreign affairs and marginalizing critics of the capitalist system. The Assange case fits directly into their analysis.



The "newspaper of record" and its pundits have supported Hillary Clinton from the beginning of the election campaign, and want to whitewash any evidence that the primary process was flawed. Fitting the interests of the military-industrial complex which needs an excuse to keep arms sales going, the Times has adopted a vendetta against Putin and supported the reckless Obama administration policies that have resulted in a new cold war.



The Nation Magazine, which has a proud tradition of standing up to McCarthyism, penned a strong editorial last month "Against Neo-McCarthyism." It emphasized how critics of U.S. foreign policy and NATO expansion in Eastern Europe, including at varying points in his campaign, Donald Trump, have been accused of being Putin surrogates. Liberal Times writer Paul Krugman as a case in point asked in one of his columns if "Donald Trump would be Vladimir Putin's man in the White House if elected?," insinuating he was some kind of Manchurian candidate.



James Kirchick in The Daily Beast meanwhile accused progressive critics of Clinton's foreign policy of being closet Trump supporters" and by implication "Putin's pawns."



This is another example of a disturbing trend whose net effect is to limit rational dialogue and debate on major social problems and to threaten revival of a political culture reminiscent of America's dark-age.
If you look at Donald Trump's website you'll find an application form for election monitors "to help stop crooked Hillary from rigging this election." It is Trump's purpose to undermine the fair electoral process as a face-saving alibi for his impending electoral defeat.

Trump has said that he expects fraud in "certain areas of states". Given all of his campaign rhetoric it is not unreasonable to expect that Mr. Trump's vigilante "monitors" would harass and intimidate voters specifically in black, Asian and Hispanic communities where he has little support. The resulting images of chaos, and the possibility of violence, that would likely ensue would undermine the very sanctity and legitimacy of American democracy.

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Given the hostility between Trump and the Republican National Committee, it is highly unlikely that these so- called monitors would receive appropriate instruction or education, but rather would simply be turned loose on these "certain areas of states", Trump's euphemism for minority districts. As a long-time poll watcher in the United States, South Asia and South America, I have seen how electoral processes can be disrupted by frivolous challenges, malicious signature and ID checking, and other forms of voter intimidation.

Such harassment would likely lead to huge back-ups, multi-hour-long voting lines and even potential violence. It would ultimately undermine the confidence of the American people in the election outcome.

And this is exactly what Mr. Trump wants - a preemptive alibi for his anticipated electoral catastrophe.

Electoral violence is rare in the United States but not uncommon in the developing world. Violence abroad is most often incited by incumbent governments who believe that they will lose a fairly contested election, or by opposition parties that know they are about to lose and thus attempt to preemptively delegitimize the outcome.

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International Federation of Election Services (IFES) officials William Sweeney, Chad Vickery and Katherine Ellena have recently noted that they have "witnessed the emergence of a campaign strategy whereby candidates...cast doubt on the integrity of the electoral process and the institutions that manage it during the pre-election period...to derail or establish lasting doubts about the legitimacy of the outcome."

Let's look at Pennsylvania as one case in point. Although Donald Trump has said the only way he can lose Pennsylvania is by election rigging, the Pennsylvania voter ID law, enacted by a Republican legislature and governor, was overturned by the court when not a single case of voter fraud could be produced as evidence to support the restrictive law. So when Trump claims that he can only lose Pennsylvania to Clinton as a result of rigging - despite polls consistently showing him ten points behind her - we should assume his comments are deliberate attempts to undermine the legitimacy of the Pennsylvania election.

And Pennsylvania is only one of many possible examples. Seventeen Republican-controlled states have enacted restrictive voter ID laws ostensibly to prevent fraud. But given the absence of any credible evidence of fraud, we must assume that voter suppression is the agenda. In case after case challenging these restrictive state laws, courts have found them to be unconstitutional, most recently in North Carolina.

There are approximately 185,000 precincts where Americans will vote in this year's Presidential election. In the more closely contested states of Arizona, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Iowa, Michigan, Missouri, Nevada, North Carolina, Ohio and Virginia there are over 45,000 precincts. Arizona, Colorado, Georgia, Iowa, Michigan, Missouri, Nevada, New Hampshire, North Carolina and Ohio allow citizens to carry concealed weapons anywhere.

Let us assume that 20% of the precincts in contested states are in areas where a majority of the voters are black, Hispanic or Asian. That would leave 9,000 precincts as ripe targets for harassment and intimidation. If goon squads provoked violence even in only 5% of these precincts, America and the world would see a spectacle of political chaos in 450 U.S. voting precincts.

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The danger of violence is real. Mr. Trump shouts at his rallies for his supporters to "beat the crap out of them [demonstrators]" and "take them out on stretchers" significantly contribute to this danger. A coalition of 76 civil rights organizations has thus recently urged both the Republican and Democratic Parties to denounce attempts to have untrained citizen monitors positioned at or near polling centers on election day.

Is the possibility of harassment, intimidation and violence far-fetched? Anyone who has observed Trump rallies where Trump's hyperbolic rhetoric has turned crowds into mobs, cannot but be concerned that the rabidity of his most ardent supporters could morph into such a result on election day. A Pew survey recently found that only 11% of Trump supporters believe that the presidential vote will be accurately reported all across the country. Thus close to 90% of Trump supporters already accept Mr. Trump's declaration that the election will be rigged against him. These are the people that Donald Trump wants to fan out across America in black, Hispanic and Asian neighborhoods on November 8th. And thousands of them could be armed. In the biggest contested electoral prize - Florida - over one million citizens are licensed to carry concealed weapons.

What can be done to prevent this threat to American democracy? Local and state officials must immediately rise to the unfolding challenge. Clearly, Democratic and Republican state parties should carefully train and educate monitors for election day, and certify only legitimate poll watchers. Any group of de facto Trump election monitors, not trained and certified by responsible party committees, should not be permitted on or near polling sites. Police should be assigned to polling places in minority areas to make sure that voters who are waiting in line to vote are not harassed or have their identities frivolously challenged.

In addition, if it appears that significant harassment and possible violence are likely at polling places, state governors should preemptively mobilize their National Guards. And if governors refuse to act, the President should be prepared to federalize the National Guard.

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The press should be positioned at black, Hispanic and Asian neighborhoods to record incidents of harassment and incitement to violence.

The League of Women Voters, the Urban League, the NAACP, La Rasa, CAIR, various Hispanic and good government groups all across the nation should prepare to have their own monitors at potential flash points in minority precincts.
We met when I was 20, just starting my senior year of college. I didn't know what was happening to me at the time. I was suddenly gripped with overwhelming anxiety at the sound of airplanes flying overhead. And that anxiety was beginning to seep into other areas of my life.

I knew you were the right therapist for me as soon as I heard your voice. I didn't know how to find a good therapist really. This was 1984 and there were no Google searches, Yelp reviews, or Healthgrades. The internet wouldn't be a reality for most of us for another decade. I had a big yellow phone book and looked up psychotherapist. I called and left messages for about five of them. That's all the energy I had. The first one that called back wanted me to tell her my life story over the phone before she would schedule with me. Stating my problem over the phone made me feel awkward and ridiculous, and I knew I would not choose her to share my deepest thoughts. The second call was you.

I liked your voice immediately. You were calm and reassuring. No pressure to explain what my problems were over the phone. Just, yes, you'd be happy to see me.

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That began a 24-year-relationship - not continuous, but sporadic. As a college student, you helped me understand my panic attacks and anxiety, and lo and behold, they diminished. Together, we opened a Pandora's box and over time, you helped me deal with all of it. You were unflappable and compassionate throughout the process, which in therapy, is never linear and often comes in bursts.

You were there the day the Challenger exploded. I had come to therapy numbed from watching TV coverage, the sight of the explosion in the air seared into my memory. Even more traumatic was the sight of Christa McAuliffe's parents looking into the sky with pain etched on their faces. I still see those images in my mind. But your presence reminded me that while horrible things happen in the world, safety still existed.

Fifteen years later, you were there again to remind me that the world was not coming to an end when two planes crashed into the Twin Towers. You were there for all the pain and grief that entered my life. I knew I could call and you would always be there, a touchstone whenever I needed you -- a reminder that I could face what was coming next with grace and might.

I hadn't seen you in eight years, but I felt the need to return to therapy recently. Each stage of life seems to bring new challenges and I knew it was time. Even though I had moved across the country, I was planning a visit back east anyhow, so I could just pop in like I always had.

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Your email telling me that you had retired hit me hard, I cannot lie. In my mind, you will always be somewhere around the age of 50, so how could that be possible? The reality of time passing for both of us came into full view. I was genuinely happy for you. At last you can live easy, not responsible for others' care, instead just relaxing and enjoying your grandchildren.



I came face-to-face with the fact that I was looking at this next phase of life without my steady guide, without the person who had all my history, knew my blind spots, and could quickly put me on the path to clarity and purpose. But in all those years of therapy and having your strength to draw from, I knew that I could face what came next, that the foundation had been built steadily and securely.



Several years back, I remember reading about Jennifer Aniston's grief when her therapist died. It was so strikingly candid, and it touched me. If you've been lucky enough to find the right therapist for you, you guard it like a precious secret. But you always know in the back of your mind that it will not last forever.

And that time has come for me.

Which brings me to this: Thank you. Thank you for being the professional you were. Thank you for calling me back that September day in 1984. Thank you for becoming a psychologist and dedicating your career to helping others. I'm trying to pay that forward.

Author's note: Ginette Langer, PhD was in private practice for many years in Worcester, Massachusetts. I am sure I am not alone in missing her.
It has been a decade since the death of Naguib Mahfouz, Egypt's most famous novelist and the only Arab writer to have won a Nobel Prize, and yet he still dominates the Egyptian literary scene

Young writers idolise him or hold him up as an authority figure to rebel against, his novels remain on the bestseller lists, or are turned into successful television series.

The reason for the novelist's continued vivid presence, as Gaber Asfour, the renowned critic puts it, lies in the fact that "he digs deep in the moment that he is dissecting to reach to the depth of the human struggle and emotions.

"He connected well to his time in a way that connected him to time in general; he started from a certain temporal and spatial point but he digs deep to reach the human dimension of this point."

"He lives through his literature even now and will keep on living for hundreds of years," said Asfour.

The literary scene has changed a lot since Mahfouz died in 2006; a new generation of young writers have emerged as publishing has become easier, and they are reaching new readers.

These writers have always had some kind of a relationship with Mahfouz's works, either by taking him as an example or by trying to rebel against his way of writing and the traditions he has set.

"That's normal and very healthy when you are in a dialogue with a rich and large phenomena like the Mahfouzian one," Asfour says.

Ahram Online spoke to three young writers to find out how Mahfouz has affected their work.

New generation feels weight of Mahfouz's shadow

"Mahfouz's legacy has left a very deep trace on the writers who read his works without extremism, and by that I mean without sanctification or prejudice, and without taking what he wrote lightly," said Mohamed Abdel-Naby, the author of the novels In the Spider's Chamber and The Return of the Sheikh.

But there could also be negative effects, he believes, if writers try to avoid the path Mahfouz took and achieve an effect that is artistic and aesthetic but lacks the sense of belonging to the real world that marks Mahfouz's works.

Abdel-Naby doesn't believe that there is a direct relationship between his writing and Mahfouz's oeuvre, except for references in his works to certain lines from Mahfouz.

"Some of Mahfouz's characters have left their own fingerprints on characters that I have created in my novels also," he adds.

The young writer believes that Mahfouz's work will be rediscovered many times and inspire yet more writers and critics in the future.

Writer and translator Mohammed Sayed Abdel-Rehim, by contrast, has always engaged with the works of Naguib Mahfouz; they have served as inspiration and motivation, but have also been a source of frustration.

"Motivation comes when you feel the challenge he poses for you as a young writer, who wishes to present works that the readers respects, just like your master did; but you get frustrated when you discover that he wrote every idea and emotion in all the narrative ways that you can imagine," says Abdel-Rehim.

Such a vision of your favourite writer makes you swing between the two moods, but when Abdel-Rehim re-read Mahfouz's books after the 2011 revolution, a third mood was added to that; a feeling of bewilderment, similar to the one that caused Mahfouz to stop writing for seven years after the 1952 revolution, though he was a very well-established writer at the time.

"A feeling of bewilderment overwhelmed me; how can I write about the present and put my ideas to readers through my literature while writers and intellectuals are being imprisoned, sued and books are confiscated?" he says.

But the lesson that Abdel-Rehim learned from the writer of The Palace Walk was his persistence and faith that a writer's job is writing and that good writing is capable of making change happen.

Ahmed Shawqi Ali has always been struck by how strict Mahfouz was in his lifestyle and writing, but what surprised him is how experimental he was.

"Despite his strictness he created three of the most experimental works in Arabic literature: Morning and Evening Talk, Dreams of the Rehabilitation Period and Echoes of a Biography," the writer of the novel Tales of Beauty and Sadness said.

Shawqi wonders how a 70-year-old writer could have the strength to experiment like a younger person, creating this exotic literary structure that is still hard to fathom.

Shawqi doesn't have any hostility to Mahfouz's style of writing though he uses the term "Mahfouzian style" sarcastically to describe any modern novel written in a classical way.

He says that the term isnt meant to devalue Mahfouz's style but instead as criticism of the kind of writer who uses the master's style instead of discovering his own voice.

"In the end Mahfouz developed the primitive form of the novel to make his own form and style, so why don't we walk in Mahfouz's path to reach new roads?" asks Shawqi.

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Date: August 30, 2016

No: 563-LR-1301

The Right Honourable Justin Trudeau

Prime Minister of Canada

80 Wellington Street

Ottawa, ON K1A 0A2

Dear Prime Minister:

It is with a sense of urgency that I write to you regarding the detainment and imprisonment of my fellow compatriot and yours, Iranian-Canadian professor and scholar, Dr. Homa Hoodfar.

The recent news of Dr. Hoodfar's hospitalization after being in solitary confinement in prison has once again shaken our community's beliefs in international human rights and justice. Dr. Hoodfar has been held in an Islamic Republic prison without due process, or access to her lawyer and her family.

The news of Dr. Hoodfar reminds us of another Iranian - Canadian woman, Zahra Kazemi, who in 2003 was tortured and killed while illegally detained by the regime's secret police. We hope that Dr. Hoodfar does not meet the same tragic fate at the hands of the theocratic judiciary.

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The election of a so-called moderate president of the theocratic state has only resulted to an increase in the number of executions carried out against Iranian dissidents and those fighting for a more just and democratic society in Iran. Although Dr. Hoodfar is not an activist, the arbitrary detainment of an internationally renowned scholar speaks to the brutal nature of this regime.

Currently, another Iranian resident of Canada, Saeed Malekpour, has been imprisoned for more than 8 years by the regime, far from his family in Canada and without any due process.

The Islamic Republic should not be allowed to act with impunity against the human rights of its own citizenry as well as the citizenry of other countries.



I trust that your government will do everything in its power to guarantee the safe return of Dr. Hoodfar and Saeed Malekpour and that you will continue to raise the issue of human rights in the international community and demand that the Islamic Republic be held accountable for its abysmal human rights record and violations of international laws, treaties and conventions.

Sincerely,

Reza Pahlavi

President of the Iran National Council for Free Elections
Silhouette of construction workers carrying shovels

Workers who make things in America always get a lot of love from the lips of politicians. Always. Before Clinton and Trump, there was Reagan, Bill, Bush, and Obama. Because shaking hands with a hardhat is always a good photo opportunity for an elected official.

The love these workers get is well-deserved. America's manufacturing workforce play an outsized role in our economy. Even though they represent just 11 percent of the U.S. workforce, they produce most of our exports; their engineers and scientists perform roughly two-thirds of private-sector R&D; and they produce 90 percent of new patents.

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They support more jobs in the community than any major service sector occupation.

And they tend to pay better wages than non-college educated peers in other occupations, which means that they spread more money around local stores.

These workers deserve more than lip service. They deserve economic opportunity, and they deserve respect.

What should that mean for politicians? Practice what you preach.

If you say you love American manufacturing and also put your name on a product, make sure it's made by American workers.

If you say you love American workers, don't blame them for our problems.

And don't say they aren't skilled enough, because workforce training is a shared responsibility.

Look forward, and not backwards. Don't spend all of your time acting stymied by increasing automation and global competition; they're facts on the ground, and they're nothing new. You want to see countries with walls? Look at North Korea, and you'll get a taste.

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Here's what we really need to figure out: How do we capture more of the global economic pie on behalf of American workers, and how do we shape the rules so that we have a level playing field? Current efforts to shape that playing field seem to be misguided. And it's not enough to just say "no" to trade.

Finally, more politicians would do well to acknowledge all workers, around the world, should be treated with dignity and respect. Chinese and Mexican workers aren't responsible for American job loss. Policies set by governments and corporate decision-making play a far larger role.
At the core of our concerns is what we believe is a lack of will on the part of the government to initiate any meaningful process for transitional justice. From the beginning we have articulated the need for the government to put forward a coherent policy on transitional justice that lays out the inter-linkages between the different mechanisms. The government has in various statements by the President [Maithripala Sirisena] and Prime Minister [Ranil Wickremesinghe] indicated that it will not initiate any criminal prosecutions that target the Sri Lankan armed forces. As a result, we are skeptical that the delay in the government releasing a coherent policy is merely part of the sequencing the transitional justice mechanisms. We are afraid that the strategy is to undermine the need for tackling impunity [for wartime abuses] through criminal prosecutions. The government and certain civil society actors have also been suggesting that the constitutional process currently underway should not be disrupted by demands for criminal prosecutions. This only repeats the discredited dichotomy of 'peace versus justice'. In fact, we believe that the government could demonstrate its commitment to transitional justice by incorporating a chapter or clauses that make reference to the same into the new constitution. Overall we are concerned that for the government transitional justice is just a tool for managing foreign policy goals.
U.S. President Barack Obama and Chinese President Xi Jinping announced today that the United States and China are formally joining the Paris Agreement on climate change. This caps a remarkable two years of bilateral cooperation on climate change following their joint announcement in 2014, when they revealed their respective greenhouse gas emissions reductions targets, and their joint announcement in 2015, when they agreed on key provisions for what would become the groundbreaking Paris Agreement on global climate change.

As the world's two largest economies and two largest emitters, one an industrialized economy and the other an emerging economy, this announcement sends an unprecedented signal to the business community, that the agreement reached in Paris is now set to be grounded in domestic law and that climate policy will become a common factor for companies as they assess regulatory risk and opportunity.

The joint announcement continues the unprecedented cooperation between the United States and China on climate change. That these economic powerhouses have become co-champions of a global agreement is itself striking; that climate, energy, and environment is now a cornerstone of their bilateral cooperation is even more so. Climate is prominent in the outcomes of the U.S.-China Strategic and Economic Dialogue, and their bilateral Climate Change Working Group fosters collaboration in every emitting sector, from supporting low-carbon power generation and clean transport fuels and freight, to promoting energy efficiency in buildings, to reducing deforestation.

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With other countries planning similar announcements in the coming weeks, the Paris Agreement is on course to pass the threshold required to come into effect and be legally binding, which is 55 countries representing 55 percent of global emissions. Moreover, the public policy commitment to climate action now transcends diplomatic agreements among nation states. Almost 40 countries and more than 20 cities, states, and provinces already use carbon pricing mechanisms or are planning to implement them to improve the economics of climate action. And last week, California, which is the seventh largest economy in the world, voted to extend its commitment to climate action by setting a target of reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 40 percent below 1990 levels by 2030.



This volume of government commitment to climate action is defining for the global economy. By binding themselves to the provisions of the Paris Agreement and to their own Paris targets, the United States and China will incentivize trillions of dollars in low-carbon investment through domestic legislation and regulation. All countries joining the agreement must update their targets and communicate new national climate plans every five years. When the United States and China do so in 2020, they will again unleash investment to reduce emissions and build resilience.



The US-China announcement will have an immediate impact on businesses and investors. It gives strength to domestic efforts to reduce emissions, whether through China's 13th Five-Year Plan or a series of executive actions in the United States. Businesses selling to American markets or with supply chains running through China will face the impact. And it is a shot in the arm for those businesses and investors managing climate risks and building resilience to climate impacts.

Together this means the nature of corporate climate leadership in a post-Paris world has changed.

Corporate leadership now requires reducing emissions, building resilience, and catalyzing investment in line with the agreement's long-term goals. Companies that want to get ahead of climate regulation will choose to set science-based emissions reduction targets that follow the Paris trajectory. And true climate leadership will require multinational collaboration to reduce emissions and build resilience in supply chains spanning the globe.

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This post has been written by BSR's Edward Cameron, David Wei and Samantha Harris.


Happy Labor Day Weekend, folks!

Summers nearly over, but my travels are just getting started! Last week, there was a quick trip to Denmark for the Copenhagen Cooking & Food Festival, and an even quicker trip to Hershey, Pennsylvania to visit Chocolate World and bake in the Hershey Test Kitchen. Next week, there will be a short stop in Seattle before I head out on an apple picking trip in Washington State with one of my blogging besties, Molly Yeh. Then, were hopping down to Oregon for Feast Portland!

Ive been to Feast almost every year since it started, and its been really fun watching the festival grow and become the crazyawesomesuccessful event it is today. The festival kicks off with Sandwich Invitational, where chefs from Portland and all around the country compete to make the best mini sandwiches ever. Its basically an outdoor picnic but bigger, better, and with more famous folks cooking away!

Last year, one of my favorite restaurants in Portland, Olympia Provisions (formerly known as OlympiC Provisions before the IOC came after them for using Olympic  seriously guys?! maybe focus your energies instead on making sure athletes dont dope or make up lies about being mugged in this years host city, but I digress) whipped up this crazy hot dog topped with potato salad and their famous charcuterie:

And, to get in the spirit of Feast, I thought it would be fun to make it at home for all the folks who missed out last year! Check out the recipe below, and get your stretchy pants on:

Thanks Feast Portland and Alaska Airlines by sponsoring this post by providing me with the travel and accommodations to attend Feast Portland this year! YOU can still make it to Feast too! Fly Alaska Airlines to Portland, Oregon for Feast festivities and save 10% on flights from any U.S. city served by Alaska Airlines (excluding Hawaii and Prudhoe Bay). Just click here, book by September 21, 2016, and youll automatically receive your discount. Applies to travel between September 12, 2016 and September 21, 2016. Restrictions apply, see site for details. Thanks for supporting Hummingbird High and all my sponsors!

Some makers notes:

Soooo disclaimer: Im a baker, not a cook. When it comes to baking, Im precise to a fault. I make the same recipes over and over and take notes until I get it exactly right. When it comes to cooking not so much. I tend to squirt an ingredient here and there without measuring things. I taste as I go and add more or less depending on what I feel like. Im encouraging you to do the same for this recipe  everybody likes their potato salad differently. Some like it super mayonnaisey, others mustardy. You get to be the chef here and figure out how much of each flavor you want in your salad. Or if you cant stand my wishy washy instructions, check out Debs more precise ones (I used her recipe as my guideline). Sound good? Lets go!
Hutchinson steamrolls Liberal 35-7, setting up rematch with Bishop Carroll

The Hutchinson Salthawks overcame several Liberal short-field opportunities in the first half to beat the Redskins 35-7 Friday night at Gowans Stadium
The school held a watermelon social on Thursday afternoon that included tours. PreviousNext

Williamstown Elementary Welcomes New Faces for School Year

WILLIAMSTOWN, Mass.  As the School Committee held its second meeting in the month of August, Williamstown Elementary School's principal reminded the committee members they're not the only ones devoting time to the school in the "off season."



"People think that summer comes and teachers go on vacation, and it's just not true," Brookner said. "I've seen everybody. Some days, I want to say, 'What are you doing here? Go home.'



"But the classrooms are already looking beautiful. People are really excited about new ideas. It's a yearlong commitment from our teachers."



The WES faculty and staff officially reported for duties on Thursday, Sept. 1, a day that ended in the school's annual watermelon social. After an off day on Friday to create a four-day holiday weekend, the pupils in Grades 1 through 6 arrive on Tuesday, Sept. 6.



Those pupils will find several new faces in the classrooms and hallways of the K-6 school.



Brookner reported to the School Committee on Monday that most of the new hires are in place for the 2016-17 academic year. Aside from a math support position created just two weeks ago, the school has no vacancies, she said.



The newcomers will abound everywhere from the art room to the nurse's office to the custodian department.



Emily Beaulieu takes over in the art department after introducing youngsters to the visual arts in South County. Kathy Hynes is the new nurse, coming to North County from the Pittsfield school system.
Students in the Leading Minds program at Williams College were in North Adams on Friday doing community service. Aanya Kapur, left, and Yaznairy Cabrera are painting the pole. Roger Eurbin welcomes the group, including co-leaders Olivia Jackson, to his left, and Joseph Wilson, far right. Heavy lifting at Hillside. Painting light poles. The newly painted cross walk at Holden Street. Cleaning up brush near the Hoosic River. PreviousNext

Williams College Students Cleanup, Paint Up in North Adams



Leading Minds students had lunch at the UNO Center.

NORTH ADAMS, Mass.  At Hillside Cemetery, William College students set to work straightening out gravestones and scrubbing them clean.



On Main Street, they were painting the vintage-looking light poles shiny black and a crosswalk in bright colors. Still more were over at Christopher Columbus Drive clearing brush around the Hoosic River.



The green T-shirt clad students on Friday morning were participating in the Leading Mind program, one of a half-dozen "EphVentures" designed to introduce the class of 2020 to the bucolic Williamstown college and the Northern Berkshires.



"We welcome all these students to Williamstown and we call it the Purple Bubble," said Benjamin Lamb, the college's assistant director for student organizations and involvement. Lamb's also president of the North Adams City Council, so who better to introduce the young Ephs to the Steeple City?



"There's two goals of getting them over here in North Adams: one, to show them what North Adams has to offer so they get to see all the things that are happening here, so they see our Main Street but also just to learn from the different people who are doing really cool work here locally, whether that's at the cemetery or the Hoosic River Revival or right here on Main Street."



Ephventures offers opportunities from learning about the area to getting involved in issues of culture and sustainability. For the Leading Mind group, it was a chance for learning about leadership and community service with upper classmen



Mid-morning Friday, Roger Eurbin of the Hillside Restoration volunteer group was giving some history of the cemetery to the seven or so volunteers. It was the resting place of one of their own, he said: archaeologist John Henry Haynes, Williams class of 1876. Something of a non-traditional student  he was at least 23 when he entered the college  he would be considered the "father of American archaeological photography" and become the first U.S. Consul to Baghdad.



"Don't lean against the stones whatever you do," cautioned Eurbin. "Don't push against them."



Joseph Wilson, a sophomore, had suggested working at Hillside, where volunteers have been repairing and straightening stones dating to 1798.



"The freshman had to choose their EphVenture and they chose Leading Minds," he said. "Over the summer, we, the leaders, had to decide what service projects to do and we chose the cemetery."



His co-leader, senior Olivia Jackson, a senior from Connecticut, was fully on board.



"We did this last year, too. When Joe wanted to come here as the project, I said, 'yes absolutely,'" she said. "We had a really good time and it's a really good way for everyone to bond over something ...



"Even if it's not their top choice activity, I think it's a really good way to sort of come together and help the community."


China has allocated 100-billion yuan (15 billion dollars) in structural adjustment funds for the steel and coal industries, making the country one of the first major economies to tackle excessive industrial capacity, said Chinese vice finance minister Zhu Guangyao on Sep. 2, two days before the G20 Hangzhou Summit opening.

Zhu, at a press conference on Sep. 2, said China has implemented the strongest measures to tackle industrial overcapacity, including enterprise mergers and reorganizations based on market rules or bankruptcy laws.

China is also promoting the use of nationwide bankruptcy courts, he added.

Zhu said the G20 Hangzhou Summit comes at a time when world economic recovery is slow and unbalanced. The world economy is full of uncertainties, such as Brexit, is increasingly divided by the develop worlds monetary policies, and is experiencing downward pressure.

He expressed his hope that the world can come together to spur economic growth.

This is also why the world sets its eyes on Hangzhou and expects the summit to boost global economic growth and improve global financial market stability, said Zhu.

Specifically, Zhu pointed out that one of the key focuses of this years summit will be international tax reform, especially on the coordination of policy on tax evasion, base erosion, and tax havens.

China announced that the G20 Hangzhou Summit will, for the first time in history, encourage the establishment of a new international tax system that is fair, just, inclusive, and orderly.

Zhu stressed that under Chinas presidency, much discussion has focused on the use of taxes to support economic growth and increase government tax revenue.

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The 11th G20 summit is set to convene in Hangzhou, East China's Zhejiang Province, on September 3-4. In order to host a successful summit, China has made thorough preparations. Since assuming the G20 presidency on December 1, the country has hosted a series of high-level meetings, where many valuable suggestions were made, laying a foundation for the success of the summit.

The present-day G20 is the world's primary platform to discuss global economic issues and is the most representative global economic governance mechanism. The success of the Hangzhou summit hinges on whether it can solicit a consensus on global economic development, lead the world out of economic doldrums and inject vigor into the world economy for long-term development.

Multiple reasons account for the lackluster global economy. There has been a lack of new emerging industries or impetus to drive growth. Against the background of globalization, coordination, fair systems and rules, and long-term planning are absent in the world economy.

Besides, the uneven distribution of social interests and unbalanced economic development have given rise to trade protectionism and even a trend of de-globalization.

In view of those conundrums, China has proposed building an innovative, invigorated, interconnected and inclusive global economy. It hopes to revive the world economy and growth through driving structural reform, enhancing economic connectivity and infrastructural construction, re-boosting international trade and investment, as well as creating fairer and more reasonable rules for economic growth.

From this point of view, the agenda setting of the Hangzhou summit is highly relevant. Besides, China has coordinated relevant parties and taken into consideration their interests and concerns. Therefore, it's likely that most of the Chinese proposals will be supported by the other G20 members.

The success of the summit also depends on whether the G20 mechanism itself can see innovation. The G20 was initially founded to tackle issues of global crisis. Nevertheless, given the problems plaguing the global economy, its functions are not only confined to crisis-solving. It also needs to advance reforms of the current international systems and rules to prevent crisis effectively.

The G20 transformation includes reforming the international systems and restructuring the international order. Emerging countries, including China, don't want to totally topple the prevailing systems. Instead, they push for gradual reforms. G20's transformation is destined to be a time-consuming process, but it must have a clear-cut objective.

The Hangzhou summit has made at least two breakthroughs. Firstly, it gives priority to development for the first time in global macro policy framework; secondly, it offers the most seats to developing countries than ever before. This shows the representativeness and inclusiveness of the G20 summit. Besides, it indicates that the agenda of the G20 no longer only pays attention to the short-term problems that concerned the G7, but is turning to deep-seated and long-term ones. The G20 is no longer the extension of G7, but will truly become the center of global economic governance.

But the Hangzhou summit may not fulfill all designed goals. So far, the G20 members have failed to make a progress in coordinating macroeconomic policies. Although they will express their willingness for macroeconomic coordination in the joint statement of the summit and come up with concrete action plans to bolster the morale of global economy and display a united stance, it is highly concerned whether the willingness and plans can be put into practice. The G20 summit joint statement is not binding.

The success of the summit also requires some countries to restrain their impulse for geopolitical competition. It is possible that geopolitical topics such as the South and East China Seas will be raised at the summit by a very few countries with ulterior motives.

Including controversial geopolitical issues into the agenda doesn't conform to the purposes of the G20. China has learned from the G20 St. Petersburg summit in 2013, which was distracted by the Syria issue. Any attempt to use geopolitical conflicts to disturb the Hangzhou summit is doomed to fail.

The author is a senior fellow of Shanghai Institutes for International Studies and a visiting fellow of the Chongyang Institute for Financial Studies, Renmin University of China.

In partnership with China's People's Daily

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U.S.-China Cooperation on Climate Change

Washington, DC - Today, the United States and China formally joined the Paris Agreement in a ceremony in Hangzhou, China. President Obama and President Xi deposited each countrys official instrument to join the agreement with United Nations Secretary General Ban-Ki Moon.

Todays announcement marks another milestone in President Obama and President Xis legacy of climate leadership and represents a significant step towards the Paris Agreement entering into force this year. The leaders also affirmed their commitment to work together to reach successful outcomes this year in adopting an ambitious amendment to the Montreal Protocol to phasedown HFCs and on a market-based measure to reduce carbon emissions from international aviation, and announced continued bilateral climate cooperation and domestic action.
Building Upon the Legacy of Labor Day

Washington, DC - In this weeks address, President Obama commemorated Labor Day by highlighting the economic progress weve made over the course of his administration. Over the past seven and a half years, we've rescued our economy from another depression, cut our unemployment rate in half, and unleashed the longest string total job growth on record.

The President said that although the country has made significant progress, theres still work to do in the years to come. He emphasized that despite the boisterous political season, we must not lose sight of the policies that will actually help working families get ahead. President Obama said if we are going to restore the sense that hard work is rewarded with a fair shot to get ahead, we must build on the legacy of those who came before us  that means exercising our right to speak up in the workplace, to join a union, and to vote.

Remarks of President Barack Obama as Prepared for Delivery

Weekly Address

The White House

September 3, 2016

Hi everybody. Before you fire up the barbecue for the long weekend, I want to talk a little bit about the reason we get to celebrate Labor Day  and thats the labor movement that helped build this country and our middle class.

For generations, every time the economy changed, hardworking Americans marched and organized and joined unions to demand not simply a bigger paycheck for themselves, but better conditions and more security for the folks working next to them, too. Their efforts are why we can enjoy things like the 40-hour workweek, overtime pay, and a minimum wage. Their efforts are why we can depend on health insurance, Social Security, Medicare, and retirement plans.

All of that progress is stamped with the union label. All of that progress was fueled with a simple belief: that our economy works better when it works for everybody.

Thats the spirit thats made the progress of these past seven and a half years possible. Weve rescued our economy from another depression, cut our unemployment rate in half, and unleashed the longest string total job growth on record. And weve focused on making sure that the gains of a growing economy dont just flow to a few at the top, but to everybody.

Its why we took action to help millions of workers finally collect the overtime pay theyve earned. Its why I issued a call to raise the minimum wage, and when Congress ignored that call, 18 states and the District of Columbia, plus another 51 cities and counties went ahead and gave their workers a raise. Its why the very first bill I signed was the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act; why we gave paid sick days to federal contractors; why weve fought for worker safety and the right to organize.

And weve made good progress. For a few years after the recession, the top one percent did capture almost all income gains. But that share has been cut by almost half. Last year, income for everybody else grew at the fastest pace since the 1990s. And another 20 million Americans know the financial security of health insurance.

Ill be the first to say weve got more work to do in the years ahead. Now, I know were in the heat of a more raucous political season than usual. But we cant get so distracted by the latest bluster that we lose sight of the policies that will actually help working families get ahead. Because the truth is, thats whats caused some of the frustration thats roiling our politics right now  too many working folks still feel left behind by an economy thats constantly changing.

So as a country, weve got some choices to make. Do we want to be a country where the typical woman working full-time earns 79 cents for every dollar a man makes  or one where they earn equal pay for equal work? Do we want a future where inequality rises as union membership keeps falling  or one where wages are rising for everybody and workers have a say in their prospects? Are we a people who just talk about family values while remaining the only developed nation that doesnt offer its workers paid maternity leave  or are we a people who actually value families, and make paid family leave an economic priority for working parents?

These are the kinds of choices in front of us. And if were going to restore the sense that hard work is rewarded with a fair shot to get ahead, were going to have to follow the lead of all those who came before us. That means standing up not just for ourselves, but for the father clocking into the plant, the sales clerk working long and unpredictable hours, or the mother riding the bus to work across town, even on Labor Day  folks who work as hard as we do. And it means exercising our rights to speak up in the workplace, to join a union, and above all, to vote.

Thats the legacy we celebrate on Labor Day. And Im confident that thats the legacy that well build upon in the years ahead.

Thanks everybody. Happy Labor Day. Enjoy the long weekend.
President Obamas Meeting with President Xi Jinping of China

Washington, DC - The President met today with President Xi Jinping of China. The two leaders commended the progress achieved in strengthening the foundation of the bilateral relationship and committed to continuing to manage differences constructively and expand practical cooperation on regional and global challenges.

Both leaders expressed satisfaction with jointly joining the Paris climate agreement and pledged to work together and with other parties to bring the Paris agreement into force as early as possible. They also committed to achieving other successful climate outcomes this year in international negotiations to reduce HFC emissions and address international aviation emissions. The President emphasized the importance of strengthening the global humanitarian system to deal with stresses in the international system. To this end, the two leaders committed to enhance cooperation on peacekeeping, refugee issues, development cooperation, global health, and humanitarian assistance and disaster response. Both leaders resolved to improve coordination of assistance to Iraq and Afghanistan. Recognizing the stabilizing effect on the bilateral relationship of progress over the past two years in the area of military-military confidence-building measures, both leaders committed to intensify cooperation on space security and to establish rules of behavior for interactions between their respective coast guards. They also committed to enhance counter-narcotics cooperation, including on fentanyl precursors. On cyber issues, the leaders reaffirmed their commitment to implement fully their September 2015 cyber commitments, the President reiterated that the United States will continue to monitor Chinese adherence to the commitments, and both leaders pledged to develop a tracking mechanism to improve bilateral law enforcement cooperation on cyber issues.

The leaders reaffirmed the threat presented by North Koreas pursuit of nuclear weapons and ballistic missile systems, and resolved to strengthen coordination in achieving the denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula, including through full implementation of UN Security Council Resolution 2270 and other relevant Security Council resolutions. The President reiterated Americas unwavering support for upholding human rights in China and stressed the need for China to protect religious freedom for all of its citizens. The two leaders had a candid exchange on the recent arbitral tribunal ruling on the case between the Philippines and China, with President Obama emphasizing the importance for China, as a signatory to UNCLOS, to abide by its obligations under that treaty, which the United States views as critical to maintaining the rules-based international order. The President also underscored the United States' unwavering commitment to the security of its treaty allies, and noted that the strength of those alliance relationships has contributed to the security and stability of the Asia Pacific region. The President reaffirmed that the United States will work with all countries in the region to uphold the principles of international law, unimpeded lawful commerce, and freedom of navigation and overflight. The President encouraged efforts by all parties to lower tensions and create conducive conditions for the peaceful resolution of disputes.

The President additionally emphasized the importance of establishing a level playing field for all firms to compete fairly in China and stressed that non-discrimination and an open trade and investment environment are essential to fostering innovation. The President urged China to advance reforms, including state-owned enterprise reforms, efforts to strengthen the financial system, and an orderly transition to a market-determined exchange rate. In this context, the two Presidents discussed Chinas role in addressing industrial excess capacity, including in the steel and aluminum sectors, as part of a global effort. The President expressed confidence that these efforts would support Chinas rebalance toward a more sustainable consumption-driven economic growth model, which would serve both countries interests.

Both leaders looked forward to upcoming discussions with their fellow leaders at the G-20 Summit, recognized their shared interest in strengthening the existing international order, and affirmed that both sides, and the world, benefit from greater cooperation to address transnational challenges. The two leaders resolved to sustain regular communication to address differences and strengthen cooperation.
Watch: Man's Fire Stunt Goes Horribly Wrong, Beard Up in Flames
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Pressure is growing on the UK to ratify the Paris climate change agreement after both China and the US announced they had done so at a joint ceremony ahead of the G20 Summit.

The landmark deal obligates countries to cut emissions to keep the global average rise in temperature to below 2C. The UK, one of the signatories in Paris, has yet to formally adopt the deal.

With China and the US both ratifying the deal, it moves a step closer to becoming a legally binding, international treaty, which will happen once countries which between them produce 55 per cent of global carbon emissions adopt the treaty.

China and US collectively produce 40 per cent of the world's greenhouse gas emissions.

Robin Willoughby, Oxfam's head of food and climate change, stressed that the UK must ratify the deal as soon as possible if it wanted to be seen as a global leader.

"If the UK is to continue to justify its reputation as a global leader on climate change, the Government must ratify the Paris Agreement as soon as possible. This deal can offer a lifeline for the world's poorest people who are already feeling the full force of our changing climate," he said.

Camilla Toulmin, a senior fellow at the International Institute for Environment and Development (IIED), said: Theres no reason now for the UK not to ratify the agreement as soon as possible.

"Doing so would help cement our reputation for leadership on climate change and send a strong signal to countries globally that were looking to build stronger links with in a post-Brexit world that were working with them towards a common goal."

Climate change protests around the world Show all 25 1 /25 Climate change protests around the world Climate change protests around the world People rally to promote climate protection in Rome, Italy Climate change protests around the world Hundreds of demonstrators gather in front of City Hall in Los Angeles, California EPA Climate change protests around the world People hold hands to form a human chain during a gathering called by ecologist organisations in Marseille, southern France, to protest against global warming a day ahead of the United Nations Conference on Climate Change (COP21) held in Paris Climate change protests around the world Demonstrators clash with French riot police during protests on Place de la Republique, ahead of the COP21 World Climate Change Conference 2015 in Paris, France Climate change protests around the world Demonstrators clash with French riot police during a protest on Place de la Republique ahead of the COP21 World Climate Change Conference 2015 in Paris, France Climate change protests around the world A group of people perform during a rally to promote climate protection in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil Climate change protests around the world A protester sits next to his sign that reads 'Monsanto the Devil Incorporated ' as he joined hundreds of demonstrators who gathered in front of City Hall in Los Angeles, California EPA Climate change protests around the world Environmentalists dance during a protest near the Place de la Republique after the cancellation of a planned climate march following shootings in the French capital, ahead of the World Climate Change Conference 2015 (COP21), in Paris, France Reuters Climate change protests around the world People protest next to characters dressed as wild animals during a march against climate change near the Monument to the Revolution, in Mexico City AP Climate change protests around the world Protesters carries a banner while they take part in a protest about climate change at New York City Hall steps in lower Manhattan, New York Reuters Climate change protests around the world People take part in a protest about climate change around New York City Hall at lower Manhattan, New York Reuters Climate change protests around the world People rally to promote climate protection in Piazza Castello, Turin, Italy Climate change protests around the world A woman holds a globe during a protest for the global climate day in Lugano, Switzerland Climate change protests around the world Yemenis hold banners as they participate in the Global March for Climate in the old city of Sanaia, Yemen Climate change protests around the world Protesters dressed as Santa Claus take part in a protest about climate change at New York City Hall steps in lower Manhattan, New York Reuters Climate change protests around the world People gather at the Legislative Palace in Montevideo, during the Global Climate March to demand action on climate change telling world leaders on the eve of a crunch UN summit that there is "no planet B". From Sydney to London, humid Rio to chilly New York, at least 683,000 hit the streets in 2,300 events across 175 countries at the weekend, co-organiser and campaign group Avaaz said, calling it the largest number of people to protest over climate change all at once Getty Images Climate change protests around the world Climate change protests around the world Demonstrators participate in the Global March for Climate in Athens, Greece Climate change protests around the world A man wearing a Bernie Sanders mask leads hundreds of demonstrators who marched near City Hall in Los Angeles, California EPA Climate change protests around the world Patricia Hauser joined hundreds of demonstrators who gathered in front of City Hall in Los Angeles, California Climate change protests around the world A woman holds a poster of a sick Earth as she joined hundreds of demonstrators who gathered in front of City Hall in Los Angeles, California EPA Climate change protests around the world Hundreds of demonstrators march around City Hall in Los Angeles, California EPA Climate change protests around the world A demonstrator holds cut-out of US Democratic Presidential candidate Bernie Sanders as she joined hundreds of demonstrators who gathered in front of City Hall in Los Angeles, California EPA Climate change protests around the world George Patten holds a sign that reads 'No Fracking Ever!' as he joined hundreds of demonstrators who gathered in front of City Hall in Los Angeles, California EPA Climate change protests around the world Gabrielle Sosa wears 'Rising Sea Levels' sign as she joined hundreds of demonstrators who gathered in front of City Hall in Los Angeles, California EPA

Greenpeace UK's chief scientist Dr Doug Parr said Britain had led the way on the issue in the past and must now do so again.

"It's the UK's turn to help push it over the finishing line. Britain showed its climate leadership with the Climate Change Act and the crucial role it played in the Paris negotiations. It's now time to show that leadership once again," Dr Parr said.

"Every extra tonne of CO2 released into the atmosphere makes it harder to reverse the impacts of climate change already unfolding all around us, leaving a greater burden to future generations.

"There are no excuses left for the UK government to delay the ratification of the Paris deal, least of all Brexit. If anything, the UK has never been more in need to demonstrate it's a reliable partner on its international commitments."

The UK has also been urged to ratify the agreement by Pacific islanders who face losing their homes as sea levels rise.

The Marshall Islands are only two metres above sea level and will face significant issues if climate change is not tackled. Rising waters have already engulfed a number of small islands in the Pacific.

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. 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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. 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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. 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A spokesperson for the Department of Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy said: Climate change remains one of the most serious long-term risks to our economic and national security and one of the most serious threats facing our world. The UKs commitment to tackling it, internationally and domestically, is as strong as ever.

We are committed to ratifying the Paris Agreement as soon as possible.

A Greenpeace petition calling on Theresa May to ratify the Paris climate deal has gathered over 100,000 signatures.
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China and the US have formally ratified a historic climate change agreement drawn up in Paris to cut emissions and fight climate change. Presidents Barack Obama and Xi Jinping delivered documents to the UN Secretary-General entering their countries into the pact during a ceremony on Saturday.

The document certifies that the two countries  the world's worst polluters for carbon dioxide emissions  have taken all necessary domestic steps needed to join the agreement.

Mr Obama said the US was committed to being a global leader in the fight against climate change, hoping the Paris agreement would be remembered as the moment the world united to stop global warming.

Recommended Read more Climate change is finally being taken seriously

This is not a fight that any one country no matter how powerful can take alone, he said. Some day we may see this as the moment that we finally decided to save our planet.

Mr Xi called the agreement a milestone that marks the emergence of a global government system for climate change. Our response to climate change bears on the future of our people and the wellbeing of mankind.

Erik Solheim, director of the United Nations environment programme, said the ratifications bring significant additional momentum to the drive against global warming.

And by putting the wellbeing of our planet at the top of the agenda, the two largest economies in the world are also showing that our economic future is low-carbon and green," he said. The fight against climate change remains difficult and urgent, but having heavy-hitters like China and the US on your side is extremely heartening.

 First climate draft released

Andrew Steer, president and CEO of the World Resources Institute, said Saturday's announcement raised the bar for other nations.

"Cooperation between the US and China on climate change was once unimaginable but now stands as the brightest spot in their relationship, he added. "In joining the Paris agreement in tandem, these two leaders have reconfirmed their responsibility to lead by example.

China and America's move has increased pressure on the British Government, which has not yet signed the landmark deal.

Camilla Toulmin, a senior fellow at the International Institute for Environment and Development, said: Theres no reason now for the UK not to ratify the agreement as soon as possible."

The Paris agreement will only come into force after a threshold of 55 signatories producing more than half of emissions has been passed, possibly by the end of this year. It came on the sidelines of the G20 summit in Hangzhou, China, where issues including the Syrian civil war, the Ukraine conflict and the refugee crisis are on the table for discussion.

Tensions remain high between Beijing and Washington, with issues including cyber hacking, Chinese military expansion in the South China Sea and the planned deployment of an American anti-missile system in South Korea souring relations that had recently been improving.

But combating climate change is one area where both countries have stressed they can work together, producing 38 per cent of the world's man-made carbon dioxide emissions.

Both China and the US were key to reaching an agreement with 195 nations in Paris last year, where they set a 2030 deadline for emissions to stop rising and announced their shared conviction that climate change is one of the greatest threats facing humanity".

Heavy pollution hangs in the air over elevated motorways in Shanghai (Getty) (Getty Images)

The Chinese government announced its intention to ratify the deal in April, following 23 other countries.

Li Shuo, senior climate policy adviser for Greenpeace, said the move by the US and China was a a very important next step toward a truly global climate agreement that will bind the two biggest emitters in the world.

The agreement's long-term goal is to keep global warming below 2C as compared with pre-industrial times. Temperatures have already risen by almost 1C since the industrial revolution, causing a pattern of climate change scientists blame for catastrophic droughts, extreme weather and melting of polar ice caps.

Paris climate talks in pictures Show all 12 1 /12 Paris climate talks in pictures Paris climate talks in pictures A man is covered with a multi-coloured banner with the message, "Climate" as environmentalists attend a demonstration near the Eiffel Tower in Paris, France, during the World Climate Change Conference 2015 (COP21) that meets in Le Bourget, December 12, 2015 Reuters Paris climate talks in pictures French President Francois Hollande (C) and French Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius (R) applaud after a statement at the COP21 Climate Conference in Le Bourget, north of Paris, on December 12, 2015. The years-long quest for a universal pact to avert catastrophic climate change neared the finish line today with conference host France announcing that the final draft had been completed in the early hours of the morning. Getty Paris climate talks in pictures US Secretary of State John Kerry (C) speaks with China's Special Representative on Climate Change Xie Zhenhua (R) and officials at the COP21 Climate Conference in Le Bourget, north of Paris, on December 12, 2015. The years-long quest for a universal pact to avert catastrophic climate change neared the finish line today with conference host France announcing that the final draft had been completed in the early hours of the morning. Getty Paris climate talks in pictures Delegates and members of NGO's read and work on copies of 'The adoption of the Paris agreement' is pictured after the announcement of the final draft by French Foreign Affairs minister Laurent Fabius at the COP21 Climate Conference in Le Bourget, north of Paris, on December 12, 2015. The years-long quest for a universal pact to avert catastrophic climate change neared the finish line with conference host France announcing that the final draft had been completed in the early hours of the morning Getty Paris climate talks in pictures UN climate chief Christiana Figueres (C) speaks with French President Francois Hollande (L), United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-moon (2ndL) and French Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius (R) after a statement at the COP21 Climate Conference in Le Bourget, north of Paris, on December 12, 2015. The years-long quest for a universal pact to avert catastrophic climate change neared the finish line today with conference host France announcing that the final draft had been completed in the early hours of the morning Getty Paris climate talks in pictures A Swiss Dominican priest poses with activists dressed as polar bears as activists gather for a demonstration to form a giant red line at the Avenue de la Grande armee boulevard in Paris on December 12, 2015, as a proposed 195-nation accord to curb emissions of the heat-trapping gases that threaten to wreak havoc on Earth's climate system is to be presented at the United Nations conference on climate change COP21 in Le Bourget, on the outskirts of Paris. Getty Paris climate talks in pictures Activists hold up a giant banner reading 'Climate justice' by association 'ourpowercampaign' during a demonstration near the Arc de Triomphe at the Avenue de la Grande armee boulevard in Paris on December 12, 2015, as a proposed 195-nation accord to curb emissions of the heat-trapping gases that threaten to wreak havoc on Earth's climate system is to be presented at the United Nations conference on climate change COP21 in Le Bourget, on the outskirts of Paris. Getty Paris climate talks in pictures Representatives of indigenous peoples demonstrate in Paris, France, as the World Climate Change Conference 2015 (COP21) continues at Le Bourget, December 12, 2015. Reuters Paris climate talks in pictures Environmentalists demonstrate near the Arc de Triomphe in Paris, France, as the World Climate Change Conference 2015 (COP21) continues at Le Bourget, December 12, 2015. Reuters Paris climate talks in pictures Environmentalists demonstrate near the Arc de Triomphe in Paris, France, as the World Climate Change Conference 2015 (COP21) continues at Le Bourget, December 12, 2015. Reuters Paris climate talks in pictures Activists form a giant red line during a demonstration on the Avenue de la Grande armee boulevard in Paris on December 12, 2015, as a proposed 195-nation accord to curb emissions of the heat-trapping gases that threaten to wreak havoc on Earth's climate system is to be presented at the United Nations conference on climate change COP21 in Le Bourget, on the outskirts of Paris ALAIN JOCARD/AFP/Getty Images Paris climate talks in pictures The slogan "No Plan B" is projected on the Eiffel Tower as part of the World Climate Change Conference 2015 (COP21) in Paris, France, December 11, 2015. Reuters

Under the Paris agreement, countries are required to set national targets for reducing or reining in their greenhouse gas emissions. Although the figures are not legally binding, countries must report on their progress and give an update every five years starting in 2020.

The plan has provoked controversy over possible its impact on trade, agriculture and manufacturing in developing countries, who are encouraged  rather than required  to reduce emissions as their capabilities evolve over time.

Additional reporting by AP
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Smokers and obese people will be denied surgery on the NHS by cash-strapped hospitals trying to save money, senior health officials have warned.

Vale of York Care Commissioning Group has announced it will make people wait up to a year for non-essential surgery if they are overweight, until their body mass index (BMI) drops to 30. The group said the decision has been made as the best way of achieving maximum value from the limited resources available.

The Royal College of Surgeons has described the decision as the most severe the modern NHS has ever seen amid concerns the NHS funding crisis is seriously impeding its ability to function.

Chris Hopson, head of NHS Providers, told The Daily Telegraph: I think we are going to see more and more decisions like this. Its the only way providers are going to be able to balance their books, and in a way you have to applaud their honesty.

You can see why theyre doing this  the service is bursting at the seams.

Luton Care Commissioning Group and East and North Hertfordshire also require a patient to have a BMI of 30 or lower in order to qualify for an operation. Others have reportedly refused surgery to smokers, requiring them to quit before operations can go ahead.

Earlier this year, research by the Royal College of Surgeons found a third of local NHS health trusts put restrictions on access to surgery  contrary to official guidance on how patients should be treated.

Critics say this can result in some patients being subjected to prolonged pain, without due justification. Others have raised concerns the move is motivated by desire to save money, instead of patient safety. The NHS overspent by 2.45bn in 2015-16.

Health news in pictures Show all 40 1 /40 Health news in pictures Health news in pictures Coronavirus outbreak The coronavirus Covid-19 has hit the UK leading to the deaths of two people so far and prompting warnings from the Department of Health AFP via Getty Health news in pictures Thousands of emergency patients told to take taxi to hospital Thousands of 999 patients in England are being told to get a taxi to hospital, figures have showed. The number of patients outside London who were refused an ambulance rose by 83 per cent in the past year as demand for services grows Getty Health news in pictures Vape related deaths spike A vaping-related lung disease has claimed the lives of 11 people in the US in recent weeks. The US Centre for Disease Control and Prevention has more than 100 officials investigating the cause of the mystery illness, and has warned citizens against smoking e-cigarette products until more is known, particularly if modified or bought off the street Getty Health news in pictures Baldness cure looks to be a step closer Researchers in the US claim to have overcome one of the major hurdles to cultivating human follicles from stem cells. The new system allows cells to grow in a structured tuft and emerge from the skin Sanford Burnham Preybs Health news in pictures Two hours a week spent in nature can improve health A study in the journal Scientific Reports suggests that a dose of nature of just two hours a week is associated with better health and psychological wellbeing Shutterstock Health news in pictures Air pollution linked to fertility issues in women Exposure to air from traffic-clogged streets could leave women with fewer years to have children, a study has found. Italian researchers found women living in the most polluted areas were three times more likely to show signs they were running low on eggs than those who lived in cleaner surroundings, potentially triggering an earlier menopause Getty/iStock Health news in pictures Junk food ads could be banned before watershed Junk food adverts on TV and online could be banned before 9pm as part of Government plans to fight the "epidemic" of childhood obesity. Plans for the new watershed have been put out for public consultation in a bid to combat the growing crisis, the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) said PA Health news in pictures Breeding with neanderthals helped humans fight diseases On migrating from Africa around 70,000 years ago, humans bumped into the neanderthals of Eurasia. While humans were weak to the diseases of the new lands, breeding with the resident neanderthals made for a better equipped immune system PA Health news in pictures Cancer breath test to be trialled in Britain The breath biopsy device is designed to detect cancer hallmarks in molecules exhaled by patients Getty Health news in pictures Average 10 year old has consumed the recommended amount of sugar for an adult By their 10th birthdy, children have on average already eaten more sugar than the recommended amount for an 18 year old. The average 10 year old consumes the equivalent to 13 sugar cubes a day, 8 more than is recommended PA Health news in pictures Child health experts advise switching off screens an hour before bed While there is not enough evidence of harm to recommend UK-wide limits on screen use, the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health have advised that children should avoid screens for an hour before bed time to avoid disrupting their sleep Getty Health news in pictures Daily aspirin is unnecessary for older people in good health, study finds A study published in the New England Journal of Medicine has found that many elderly people are taking daily aspirin to little or no avail Getty Health news in pictures Vaping could lead to cancer, US study finds A study by the University of Minnesota's Masonic Cancer Centre has found that the carcinogenic chemicals formaldehyde, acrolein, and methylglyoxal are present in the saliva of E-cigarette users Reuters Health news in pictures More children are obese and diabetic There has been a 41% increase in children with type 2 diabetes since 2014, the National Paediatric Diabetes Audit has found. Obesity is a leading cause Reuters Health news in pictures Most child antidepressants are ineffective and can lead to suicidal thoughts The majority of antidepressants are ineffective and may be unsafe, for children and teenager with major depression, experts have warned. In what is the most comprehensive comparison of 14 commonly prescribed antidepressant drugs to date, researchers found that only one brand was more effective at relieving symptoms of depression than a placebo. Another popular drug, venlafaxine, was shown increase the risk users engaging in suicidal thoughts and attempts at suicide Getty Health news in pictures Gay, lesbian and bisexual adults at higher risk of heart disease, study claims Researchers at the Baptist Health South Florida Clinic in Miami focused on seven areas of controllable heart health and found these minority groups were particularly likely to be smokers and to have poorly controlled blood sugar iStock Health news in pictures Breakfast cereals targeted at children contain 'steadily high' sugar levels since 1992 despite producer claims A major pressure group has issued a fresh warning about perilously high amounts of sugar in breakfast cereals, specifically those designed for children, and has said that levels have barely been cut at all in the last two and a half decades Getty Health news in pictures Potholes are making us fat, NHS watchdog warns New guidance by the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE), the body which determines what treatment the NHS should fund, said lax road repairs and car-dominated streets were contributing to the obesity epidemic by preventing members of the public from keeping active PA Health news in pictures New menopause drugs offer women relief from 'debilitating' hot flushes A new class of treatments for women going through the menopause is able to reduce numbers of debilitating hot flushes by as much as three quarters in a matter of days, a trial has found. The drug used in the trial belongs to a group known as NKB antagonists (blockers), which were developed as a treatment for schizophrenia but have been sitting on a shelf unused, according to Professor Waljit Dhillo, a professor of endocrinology and metabolism REX Health news in pictures Doctors should prescribe more antidepressants for people with mental health problems, study finds Research from Oxford University found that more than one million extra people suffering from mental health problems would benefit from being prescribed drugs and criticised ideological reasons doctors use to avoid doing so. Getty Health news in pictures Student dies of flu after NHS advice to stay at home and avoid A&E The family of a teenager who died from flu has urged people not to delay going to A&E if they are worried about their symptoms. Melissa Whiteley, an 18-year-old engineering student from Hanford in Stoke-on-Trent, fell ill at Christmas and died in hospital a month later. Just Giving Health news in pictures Government to review thousands of harmful vaginal mesh implants The Government has pledged to review tens of thousands of cases where women have been given harmful vaginal mesh implants. Getty Health news in pictures Jeremy Hunt announces 'zero suicides ambition' for the NHS The NHS will be asked to go further to prevent the deaths of patients in its care as part of a zero suicide ambition being launched today Getty Health news in pictures Human trials start with cancer treatment that primes immune system to kill off tumours Human trials have begun with a new cancer therapy that can prime the immune system to eradicate tumours. The treatment, that works similarly to a vaccine, is a combination of two existing drugs, of which tiny amounts are injected into the solid bulk of a tumour. Nephron Health news in pictures Babies' health suffers from being born near fracking sites, finds major study Mothers living within a kilometre of a fracking site were 25 per cent more likely to have a child born at low birth weight, which increase their chances of asthma, ADHD and other issues Getty Health news in pictures NHS reviewing thousands of cervical cancer smear tests after women wrongly given all-clear Thousands of cervical cancer screening results are under review after failings at a laboratory meant some women were incorrectly given the all-clear. A number of women have already been told to contact their doctors following the identification of procedural issues in the service provided by Pathology First Laboratory. Rex Health news in pictures Potential key to halting breast cancer's spread discovered by scientists Most breast cancer patients do not die from their initial tumour, but from secondary malignant growths (metastases), where cancer cells are able to enter the blood and survive to invade new sites. Asparagine, a molecule named after asparagus where it was first identified in high quantities, has now been shown to be an essential ingredient for tumour cells to gain these migratory properties. Getty Health news in pictures NHS nursing vacancies at record high with more than 34,000 roles advertised A record number of nursing and midwifery positions are currently being advertised by the NHS, with more than 34,000 positions currently vacant, according to the latest data. Demand for nurses was 19 per cent higher between July and September 2017 than the same period two years ago. REX Health news in pictures Cannabis extract could provide new class of treatment for psychosis CBD has a broadly opposite effect to delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), the main active component in cannabis and the substance that causes paranoia and anxiety. Getty Health news in pictures Over 75,000 sign petition calling for Richard Branson's Virgin Care to hand settlement money back to NHS Mr Bransons company sued the NHS last year after it lost out on an 82m contract to provide childrens health services across Surrey, citing concerns over serious flaws in the way the contract was awarded PA Health news in pictures More than 700 fewer nurses training in England in first year after NHS bursary scrapped The numbers of people accepted to study nursing in England fell 3 per cent in 2017, while the numbers accepted in Wales and Scotland, where the bursaries were kept, increased 8.4 per cent and 8 per cent respectively Getty Health news in pictures Landmark study links Tory austerity to 120,000 deaths The paper found that there were 45,000 more deaths in the first four years of Tory-led efficiencies than would have been expected if funding had stayed at pre-election levels. On this trajectory that could rise to nearly 200,000 excess deaths by the end of 2020, even with the extra funding that has been earmarked for public sector services this year. Reuters Health news in pictures Long commutes carry health risks Hours of commuting may be mind-numbingly dull, but new research shows that it might also be having an adverse effect on both your health and performance at work. Longer commutes also appear to have a significant impact on mental wellbeing, with those commuting longer 33 per cent more likely to suffer from depression Shutterstock Health news in pictures You cannot be fit and fat It is not possible to be overweight and healthy, a major new study has concluded. The study of 3.5 million Britons found that even metabolically healthy obese people are still at a higher risk of heart disease or a stroke than those with a normal weight range Getty Health news in pictures Sleep deprivation When you feel particularly exhausted, it can definitely feel like you are also lacking in brain capacity. Now, a new study has suggested this could be because chronic sleep deprivation can actually cause the brain to eat itself Shutterstock Health news in pictures Exercise classes offering 45 minute naps launch David Lloyd Gyms have launched a new health and fitness class which is essentially a bunch of people taking a nap for 45 minutes. The fitness group was spurred to launch the napercise class after research revealed 86 per cent of parents said they were fatigued. The class is therefore predominantly aimed at parents but you actually do not have to have children to take part Getty Health news in pictures 'Fundamental right to health' to be axed after Brexit, lawyers warn Tobacco and alcohol companies could win more easily in court cases such as the recent battle over plain cigarette packaging if the EU Charter of Fundamental Rights is abandoned, a barrister and public health professor have said Getty Health news in pictures 'Thousands dying' due to fear over non-existent statin side-effects A major new study into the side effects of the cholesterol-lowering medicine suggests common symptoms such as muscle pain and weakness are not caused by the drugs themselves Getty Health news in pictures Babies born to fathers aged under 25 have higher risk of autism New research has found that babies born to fathers under the age of 25 or over 51 are at higher risk of developing autism and other social disorders. The study, conducted by the Seaver Autism Center for Research and Treatment at Mount Sinai, found that these children are actually more advanced than their peers as infants, but then fall behind by the time they hit their teenage years Getty Health news in pictures Cycling to work could halve risk of cancer and heart disease Commuters who swap their car or bus pass for a bike could cut their risk of developing heart disease and cancer by almost half, new research suggests  but campaigners have warned there is still an urgent need to improve road conditions for cyclists. Cycling to work is linked to a lower risk of developing cancer by 45 per cent and cardiovascular disease by 46 per cent, according to a study of a quarter of a million people. Walking to work also brought health benefits, the University of Glasgow researchers found, but not to the same degree as cycling. Getty

However, doctors have argued that the restrictions are in place as surgery on obese people can result in complications and pose a risk to patients health. Recovery from an operation can also be affected as obese people may be less able to participate in physiotherapy or other forms of physical exercise as part of their rehabilitation.

Shadow Health Secretary Diane Abbott said: This is an unacceptable breach of the NHS principle of a universal service. We have a major public health crisis in this country. The answer is not rationing access to the NHS by weight or by lifestyle.

The Governments underfunding of the NHS is leading to this crisis. I call on Jeremy Hunt to end the false economy of cutting investment in public health, and to fund the NHS properly.

 Impact of smoking on lungs

A spokesperson for NHS England told The Independent: Major surgery poses much higher risks for severely overweight patients who smoke. So local GP-led Clinical Commissioning Groups are entirely right to ensure these patients first get support to lose weight and try and stop smoking before their hip or knee operation. Reducing obesity and cutting smoking not only benefits patients, but saves the NHS and taxpayers millions of pounds.

This does not and cannot mean blanket bans on particular patients such as smokers getting operations, which would be inconsistent with the NHS constitution. Vale of York CCG is currently under special measures legal direction, and NHS England is today asking it to review its proposed approach before it takes effect to ensure it is proportionate, clinically reasonable, and consistent with applicable national clinical guidelines."
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There are certain truths about the housing market that hardly need repeating, they are so widely accepted. First-time buyers cant afford their homes (a recent survey by Halifax revealed that in some parts of Britain house prices are on average more than 12x local earnings), theres a shortage of rental properties pushing up rents (new research from referencing company HomeLet reveals the average cost of renting outside London rose by 5.1 per cent in the 12 months to April, while in the capital it rose by 7.7 per cent) and, a particularly juicy one, post-referendum uncertainty is going to cause the housing market to crash and burn (former chancellor George Osborne warned that house prices could fall by between 10 per cent and 18 per cent in the event of a leave vote  an average drop of 50,000 in the first two years).

Yet in the last few days a number of reports have shown that all those firmly held beliefs could be wrong. In fact, new Nationwide figures show that house prices actually rose in the weeks following the vote, although the building society was quick to point out that this does not necessarily mean everything is rosy.

Robert Gardner, Nationwides chief economist, said: The pick-up in price growth is somewhat at odds with signs that housing market activity has slowed in recent months. New buyer inquiries have softened as a result of the introduction of additional stamp duty on second homes in April and the uncertainty surrounding the EU referendum.

At the very least, the situation is rather more complicated than we thought. Heres why:

First-time buyers are buying

Theres no doubt that its a difficult time for new buyers. Recent research from the Resolution Foundation shows that home ownership is at its lowest level in 30 years and analysis from the Priced Out campaign reveals that 3.5 million people are trapped in rented accommodation because of unaffordable house prices. In fact, while 31,000 buyers have been assisted by Help To Buy, a further 258,000 were priced out by house price rises in the schemes lifetime alone.

However, while theres concern that government help is simply supporting rising prices with its new buyer help, there has undeniably been positive movement in the market.

The number of first-time buyers achieving a mortgage on their first home in June was up 17 per cent compared to the same month last year, according to figures from the Council of Mortgage Lenders.

First-time buyers are continuing to drive house purchase lending, outperforming home movers for the third month running. More loans were advanced to them in June than at any time since August 2007, commented Paul Smee, director general of the council.

Rents are stable (for now at least)

The rental market also remains complicated, with rising rents pushing many tenants into difficulties or forcing them to move frequently. The Priced Out campaign warns that renters pay 30 per cent of their income on accommodation, rising to 43 per cent in London.

High rents have been attributed to supply outpacing demand, thanks to insufficient home building and people renting for longer. There has been speculation that the Brexit vote, combined with changes to landlords tax breaks will harm the supply of private rented accommodation

However, new analysis from the Association of Residential Letting Agents (Arla) shows that in the month following the Brexit vote rental supply rose to the highest level so far this year, up 5 per cent on the previous month.

That number is still down 3 per cent on the same month last year, but it at least seems to indicate that the situation is not deteriorating further or faster.

David Cox, managing director of Arla, says: Supply is up, as wed expect at this time of year, and the number of tenants experiencing rent hikes hasnt changed in three months. While we obviously need new houses to balance the growing gap between supply and demand, whats positive is that the situation isnt worsening as a direct result of Junes Brexit result.

The post-Brexit (lack of) blues

House prices have not dropped off a cliff following the Brexit vote. The latest Nationwide survey of prices shows that they edged up 0.6 per cent between July and August, bringing the annual rate up to 5.6 per cent.

Alex Thorpe, managing director of the estate agent comparison site netanagent.com, says the lack of an immediate property market reaction to the Brexit vote is because that relies on sentiment. And sentiment is positive.

Despite warnings pre-Brexit, we have seen homeowner confidence remain steady, he comments. Its easy to ignore the fact that there are a large number of people in the UK who believe Brexit will benefit the nation and, whilst predictions have been dire, weve seen property listings and valuation requests on site remain stable, with little to no impact on our business.

In fact, the company recently surveyed 1,000 UK homeowners and found that 40 per cent believe Brexit will not affect property value, while 5 per cent believe their home would increase in value specifically because of Brexit.

Theres a quick jump to pin everything on Brexit, which is understandable, but its also too early. The data isnt there to support a negative outcome and until it is  if it is  consumers will retain confidence.

Whilst Brexit has the potential to develop into a strong headwind, we have three powerful tailwinds, namely mortgage availability which remains solid, high levels of employment, and a chronic lack of residential property stock. These three combined continue to drive the property market.

Many analysts agree that the shortage of housing is bolstering the market, with some even suggesting its the only reason prices didnt plummet as predicted. That may be good news for home owners but its likely to cause future problems for tenants and first-time buyers.

Ian Thomas, co-founder and director at online mortgage lender LendInvest, says: That house prices went up last month, despite the post-Brexit uncertainty, is a reflection of the sharp imbalance between supply and demand of property in the UK.

The House of Lords Select Committee on Economic Affairs suggested we need to build 300,000 homes a year to have a moderating effect on house prices, but last weeks housebuilding figures from the Department for Communities and Local Government show we are nowhere near that.
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Q I am looking to travel to Tokyo in September 2017 for a 50th. Which is the best airline? I can fly from anywhere in the London/South/Midlands area.

Richard Elliott

A If all you want is to get there and back swiftly, then its a straightforward trade-off between convenience and cost. A non-stop flight on a quality airline will cost the most. But if you are prepared to change planes en route you will save hundreds of pounds, especially if you are happy to fly on a less-favoured airline or a particularly circuitous route.

The prices for this month should give a fairly good indication of what awaits in September next year. The best non-stop option is out from Heathrow on British Airways and back on its partner JAL, for around 850. Crucially, those flights serve the Japanese capitals handiest airport, Haneda, a far better prospect than distant Narita. In the context of our capital, its like comparing London City with Southampton.

However, if you are prepared to fly in and out of Narita, and connect en route, the cheapest fare is 500 or so on Turkish Airlines via Istanbul. This goes out of Gatwick and comes back to Heathrow, but you did say you didnt mind about the exact airport. Indeed, because of the lower fees at Birmingham there may be an even better deal on Turkish from the Midlands.

Turkish Airlines is currently experiencing a slump in demand because of the turmoil in Turkey, and prices may well be higher next year. But the airline does offer the option of a stopover in Istanbul, which is well worth considering: pause for at least 24 hours outbound in Turkeys largest city, and Air Passenger Duty falls by 60.

Other stopover options range from one of the Gulf hubs (too hot for my liking in September) to Manila (a very indirect route).

Balancing price, quality and stopover, my clear favourite is Cathay Pacifics new link from Gatwick to Hong Kong with onward connections to Haneda for around 600. Even if you spend only a day in Hong Kong, it will provide an invigorating addition to your trip. Make it two days, and our most recent '48 Hours in Hong Kong' may help.
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Mia Ayliffe-Chung is the 21-year-old British backpacker who was stabbed to death in Australia at the hostel she was staying in.

Mia, from Wirksworth in Derbyshire, was working on a farm in Queensland in order to fulfil requirements for her Australian visa.

Mias mother Rosie has written a blog every day in The Independent over the past week as she travelled to Australia to collect her daughters ashes.

Here, in their own words, the people who knew Mia pay tribute to her life.

Mias family is raising money to create a fund for charity in her memory. Click here to donate or find out more.

My family and friends are all in awe of the wonderful youngsters in Surfers Paradise and at Bond University, where Mia began her backpacking experiences of Australian workplaces, as a dinner lady, as she described herself. She was much loved at Bond and the chef once said, they don't come here for my food Mia, they come to see you!

Her work at Bedroom was ostensibly more glamorous, but the people she met there were as down-to-earth and capable as I could wish for her to meet.

Their incredible ingenuity to crowd fund her funeral, then arrange such touching gestures as the speeches extracted below, a slide-show and balloon launch, touched all of Mia's family and southern hemisphere friends.

We were also moved that Chris Porter, Mia's travel companion and friend, who was also injured on that tragic day, could make the journey to be with us despite being on crutches.

Unfortunately, Les Jackson, the father of Tom Jackson who was tragically killed along with Mia, could not be with us, but he is hoping to attend Mia's commemorative ceremony in the UK.

Representatives from the Australian High Commission and consulate attended and laid wreaths, and have since conveyed condolences from Australia's Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull who has apparently been following Mia's story closely in the press. Rest in peace my lovely girl, you are sorely missed by so many people.

Jamison Stead, Mia's boyfriend in Australia

Life's too short to be doing things that don't make you happy, take a risk and enjoy the little things. On one of our first dates I skipped work, went and picked her up and we went to Currumbin Rock pools and bathed in the sun, relaxed in the water and then did some bush bashing. She asked if there were spiders and snakes. I told her there weren't any, when really there were spider webs everywhere with a few spiders in them, but she didn't see. If I hadn't taken the risk to skip work I wouldn't have had some of my most cherished moments with Mia.

Rachel Jackson, a family friend

Mia had spread her wings with characteristic dry humour, contagious smile and particular courage and it sounds as though she carried her gift of unfettered joy with her as she travelled. She was stronger than she knew. More deeply beautiful than a camera could capture. More grounded and rich in wisdom than many with years of experience. My father would say she was happy in her own skin - and it would have been the greatest compliment he could bestow.

Mia lived her life to the full and her loss will leave an empty space in all who met her. Please fill that space with love and the fondest of memories...not with regret, or blame, or anger. Please do the inadequate and impossible things that give strength to those around you and gift the respect and peace to her family that she would want for them. For Mia. For Rosie. For us all.

I loved her. I miss her. Goodbye beautiful lady.

Sam Gostelow, a colleague at Bedroom Nightclub

She'd be the ear you could confide in, the shoulder you could cry on if you needed. You didn't really hear Mia talk about herself. She was always more interested to hear others, and how they are.

So how do we live life now without Mia? There is without a doubt a hole in everyone's lives: she was the kind-hearted happy girl from the Midlands who in a second could become this incredibly tough, strong and decisive young woman who had found herself through spreading her wings and embracing more of the world than she could have known. That is what we have to hold on to. That is how we live on through this. Allow Mia's life to be a lesson to us all. She lived without limits, without regrets.

Mia had a trait you dont see these days with as much sincerity: that she genuinely cared for the people in her life, she loved children and said that would always be her future.

Jesse Tahwi, a close friend, colleague and confidante:

I first met Mia at work, in Bedroom. I was in the bar, and in the corner of my eye I saw a little person struggling to hold a tray up in the air. I walked over and asked if she was ok as I giggled. She turned around with that great big cheeky smile of hers and said: Hello, I'm Mia.

She had such a strong presence about her and I felt instantly drawn to her.

For me, I think confidence was the root of the many attractive qualities Mia had. Her sense of humour, her willingness to be who she was, no matter what anyone said or thought. She was caring, feisty, passionate and opinionated, yet very wise for her age.

She always carried herself so well and this is so rare to see in young girls, so it is one of the many reasons why I admired her.

In honour of her, I will always keep Mia in my heart and live life as she did. To the absolute fullest, having fun, being open and most importantly loving.

Chris Carr, Mia's science teacher

I actually do still remember her arrival in an already established class. And she shone instantly. I teach hundreds of kids and only a few really connect. And only a tiny few connect like Mia. So it wasn't me or my style, it was Mia that was open, bright and responsive.

Jordyn Barakin, Mia's room mate and colleague

She was strongly independent, free-spirited, fierce and always gave off a vibrant glow.

We all loved her stupid humour that would make us laugh so hard. We all loved her weird funny facial expressions that she would pull in almost every photo, as well as all the crazy Snapchats of her on nights out where she's being an absolute goose.

And for me, it was when she was just mucking around the apartment like an idiot but yet bringing so much joy and energy into our home.
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World War Two veteran Eileen Younghusband  who helped track down launch sites for German V2 rockets after D-Day  has died in hospital in Cardiff at the age of 95.

Ms Younghusband wrote an award-winning book about her experiences as part of the Womens Auxilirary Air Force (WAAF) during the Second World War.

Aged only 19, Ms Younghusband worked at Bletchley Park, where German secret codes were cracked.

After the 1944 invasion of France by the Allies, she travelled to Belgium with a small team of women, using her mathematical skills to locate mobile launchers for V2 rockets.

Carwyn Jones, First Minister of Wales, tweeted a tribute to Ms Younghusband.

"Very sad to see that Eileen has died. A lovely lady and a real character. She will be sorely missed," Mr Jones said.

UK news in pictures Show all 50 1 /50 UK news in pictures UK news in pictures 28 October 2022 A cosplayer attends the MCM Comic Con London 2022 at the ExCel Centre in London Reuters UK news in pictures 27 October 2022 98-year-old D-Day Veteran Bernard Morgan, whose story is among those featured on the giant poppy wall, during the launch of The Royal British Legion 2022 Poppy Appeal, at Hay's Galleria in central London PA UK news in pictures 26 October 2022 A meerkat explores a pumpkin in the enclosure at Wild Place, Bristol, where some of the animals are having pumpkin treats as part of their environmental enrichment PA UK news in pictures 25 October 2022 King Charles III welcomes Rishi Sunak during an audience at Buckingham Palace, where he invited the newly elected leader of the Conservative Party to become Prime Minister and form a new government PA UK news in pictures 24 October 2022 Rishi Sunak celebrates with Tory MPs outside the Conservative Campaign Headquarters after becoming the new leader of the Conservative Party Reuters UK news in pictures 23 October 2022 The Green Man at October Plenty, Borough Market's annual Autumn Harvest festival, in London, which returns for the first time post pandemic PA UK news in pictures 21 October 2022 Sculptor Peter McKenna puts the finishing touches to a pumpkin that will form part of the Planet A Hebden Bridge Pumpkin Trail in the West Yorkshire town PA UK news in pictures 20 October 2022 Britains Prime Minister Liz Truss delivers a speech outside of 10 Downing Street in central London to announce her resignation AFP/Getty UK news in pictures 19 October 2022 Salmon leap up Stainforth Force on the River Ribble in the Yorkshire Dales as they swim upriver to their spawning grounds during the annual Salmon migration PA UK news in pictures 18 October 2022 Just Stop Oil protesters continue their protest for a second day on the Queen Elizabeth II Bridge, which links Kent and Essex and which remains closed for traffic, after it was scaled by two climbers from the group PA UK news in pictures 17 October 2022 Hundreds of students take part in the traditional Raisin Monday foam fight on St Salvator's Lower College Lawn at the University of St Andrews in Fife PA UK news in pictures 16 October 2022 A protester holds a placard during a march into central London at a demonstration by the climate change protest group Extinction Rebellion AFP/Getty UK news in pictures 15 October 2022 A member of the public drags an activist who is blocking the road during a "Just Stop Oil" protest, in London, Britain REUTERS UK news in pictures 14 October 2022 Germanys Womens double skulls during day one of the World Rowing Beach Sprint Finals at Saundersfoot beach, Pembrokeshire PA UK news in pictures 13 October 2022 Family and mourners arrive at St Michael's Church, in Creeslough, for the funeral mass of 49-year-old mother of four Martina Martin, who died following an explosion at the Applegreen service station in the village of Creeslough in Co Donegal on Friday PA UK news in pictures 12 October 2022 Motorists in Coventry pass trees showing autumnal colour PA UK news in pictures 11 October 2022 A woman and her dog in the the North Sea at Tynemouth Longsands beach before sunrise PA UK news in pictures 10 October 2022 Police officers remove a campaigner from a Just Stop Oil protest on The Mall, near Buckingham Palace, London PA UK news in pictures 9 October 2022 A drummer plays during the Diwali on the Square celebration, in Trafalgar Square, London PA UK news in pictures 8 October 2022 Timothee Chalamet attending the UK premiere of Bones and All during the BFI London Film Festival 2022 at the Royal Festival Hall, Southbank Centre, London PA UK news in pictures 7 October 2022 Two young male fallow deer lock antlers in Dublins Phoenix park as rutting season begins PA UK news in pictures 6 October 2022 The Princess of Wales during a cocktail making competition during a visit to Trademarket, a new outdoor street-food and retail market situated in Belfast city centre, as part of the royal visit to Northern Ireland PA UK news in pictures 5 October 2022 Greenpeace protesters interrupt Prime Minister Liz Truss as she delivers her keynote speech to the Conservative Party annual conference PA UK news in pictures 4 October 2022 Prime Minister Liz Truss and Britains Chancellor of the Exchequer Kwasi Kwarteng wearing hard hats and hi-vis jackets, visit a construction site for a medical innovation campus in Birmingham AFP/Getty UK news in pictures 3 October 2022 British artist Sam Cox, aka Mr Doodle, reveals the Doodle House, a twelve-room mansion at Tenterden, in Kent, which has been covered, inside and out in the artist's trademark monochrome, cartoonish hand-drawn doodles PA UK news in pictures 2 October 2022 Erling Haaland celebrates after scoring Manchester City's second goal against Manchester United at Etihad Stadium. Haaland went on to score a hattrick, his third of the season in the Premier League. City beat United 6-3. Manchester City FC/Getty UK news in pictures 1 October 2022 Protesters hold up flags and placards at a protest in London. A variety of protest groups including Enough is Enough, Don't Pay and Just Stop Oil all demonstrated on the day AFP/Getty UK news in pictures 30 September 2022 British Prime Minister Liz Truss, who has not been seen in days, leaves the back of Downing Street after a meeting with Office For Budget Responsibility following the release of her governments mini-budget Getty UK news in pictures 29 September 2022 The Virginia creeper foliage on the Tu Hwnt i'r Bont (Beyond the Bridge) Llanwrst, Conwy North Wales, has changed colour from green to red in at the start of Autumn. The building was built in 1480 as a residential dwelling but has been a tearoom for over 50 years PA UK news in pictures 28 September 2022 Criminal barristers from the Criminal Bar Association (CBA), demonstrates outside the Royal Courts of Justice in London, as part of their ongoing pay row with the Government PA UK news in pictures 27 September 2022 David White, Garter King of Arms, poses with an envelope franked with the new cypher of King Charles III 'CIIIR', after it was printed in the Court Post Office at Buckingham Palace in central London AFP/Getty UK news in pictures 26 September 2022 A gallery staff member poses next to a painting by Lucian Freud - Self-portrait (Fragment), 1956 - on show at a photocall for the Credit Suisse exhibition - Lucian Freud: New Perspectives at the National Gallery in London PA UK news in pictures 25 September 2022 Labour leader, Sir Keir Starmer is interviewed by Laura Kuenssberg in Liverpool before the start of the Labour Party annual Conference which he opened with a tribute to Queen Elizabeth II and sang the national anthem PA UK news in pictures 24 September 2022 Handout photo issued by Buckingham Palace of the ledger stone at the King George VI Memorial Chapel, St George's Chapel, Windsor Castle PA UK news in pictures 23 September 2022 A climate change activist protests against UK private jets while lighting his right arm on fire during the Laver Cup tennis tournament at the O2 Arena in London EPA UK news in pictures 22 September 2022 Woody Woodmansey, Lee Bennett, Kevin Armstrong, Nick Moran and Clifford Slapper attend the unveiling of a stone for David Bowie on the Music Walk of Fame at Camden, north London PA UK news in pictures 21 September 2022 A flock of birds in the sky as the sun rises over Dungeness in Kent PA UK news in pictures 20 September 2022 Flowers which were laid by members of the public in tribute to Queen Elizabeth II at Hillsborough Castle in Northern Ireland are collected by the Hillsborough Gardening Team and volunteers to be replanted for those that can be saved or composted PA UK news in pictures 19 September 2022 The ceremonial procession of the coffin of Queen Elizabeth II travels down the long walk as it arrives at Windsor Castle for the committal service at St Georges Chapel AFP/Getty UK news in pictures 18 September 2022 A man stands among campers on The Mall ahead of the Queens funeral Reuters UK news in pictures 17 September 2022 Wolverhampton Wanderers Nathan Collins fouls Manchester Citys Jack Grealish leading to a red card. 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In more recent times, Ms Younghusband campaigned against cuts in adult education and was awarded the British Empire Medal for her work.

Ms Younghusbands latest book, One Womans War, was published in 2011 and won the Peoples Book Prize.

It depicts her journey through the war and the secret work behind Britain's wartime radar network.

To help future generations understand the consequences of war, she rewrote her wartime memoirs with younger audiences in mind.

Speaking to WalesOnline earlier this year, she said: It is my hope that all children will read my book. I think it is really important to engage with young people about World War Two,

World War Two was a pivotal moment in our history. I feel my book helps to make a sense of the insecurities we all face at the moment.

In truth I am not going to be around forever but if my story can live on from generation to generation this will be wonderful."
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A Church of England bishops announcement that he is gay has been condemned by conservative Anglicans, who say they now believe his appointment was a major error and promised to pray for him.

Nicholas Chamberlain, Bishop of Grantham, came out after a newspaper threatened to reveal his sexuality. He has confirmed he is in a celibate same-sex relationship, telling the Guardian: People know Im gay, but its not the first thing Id say to anyone. Sexuality is part of who I am, but its my ministry that I want to focus on.

The conservative Anglican group Gafcon has issued a statement condemning the announcement as a serious cause for concern. They said: We note with prayerful concern the revelation that Nicholas Chamberlain, Bishop of Grantham, is in a same-sex relationship.

We do not doubt that he has many gifts as a leader and pastor. However, there are aspects of this appointment which are a serious cause for concern for biblically orthodox Anglicans around the world, and therefore we believe that this appointment is a major error.

They added: This news will be seen by many orthodox Anglicans as yet more evidence that the clear biblical teaching in the Church of England on sin and salvation, human personhood, singleness, sex and marriage is being eroded and conformed to the values of secular society. While we pray for Bishop Chamberlain, our confidence in the processes by which he was appointed are sadly further diminished.

The Church of England has been fiercely divided over same-sex relationships in recent years. More liberal elements of the faith have proposed allowing clergy to marry same-sex spouses, whereas groups such as Gafcon have been vocal in their stance that any same-sex unions are sinful.

World's most popular religions Show all 7 1 /7 World's most popular religions World's most popular religions Christians Source: Pewforum Getty Images World's most popular religions Muslims Source: Pewforum World's most popular religions Hindus Source: Pewforum World's most popular religions Buddhists Source: Pewforum World's most popular religions Folk Religions Source: Pewforum Getty Images World's most popular religions Other religions Source: Pewforum World's most popular religions Jews Source: Pewforum Getty

For the past two years, the Church has undertaken internal discussions on the issue. Speaking at a conference recently, Archbishop Justin Welby has said he is consumed with horror at the churchs treatment of some LGBT people.

Following Bishop Chamberlains announcement, Archbishop Welby issued a statement in support of him, saying: His sexuality is completely irrelevant to his office.
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Hundreds of child refugees are missing in the UK, The Independent can reveal, amid fears they have fallen victim to human traffickers or other forms of exploitation such as sexual abuse or modern slavery.

Authorities have no idea of the whereabouts of 360 of the vulnerable children, or even if they are safe. More than 200 have been missing for over two years, prompting serious concerns for their safety.

Campaigners and MPs say the figures, released to The Independent by the Home Office under freedom of information rules, show the children have been failed by Theresa Mays government and are being let down by a system which is meant to keep them safe.

Over the past five years, 9,287 children have sought safety in the UK as unaccompanied minor asylum seekers travelling alone, without a parent or guardian. Many of the children are fleeing war, poverty and persecution in their home countries. During this period, 360 have gone missing and are still unaccounted for. Of these, 81 of the children have been missing for five years, a further 77 children have been missing for four years and another 87 children have been missing for three.

When an unaccompanied child asylum seeker arrives in the UK, immigration or border staff have a duty to inform the local authority who is responsible for the childs welfare. After an assessment by duty social workers, some children are placed in childrens homes, while others are placed with foster families. After this, social workers are required to regularly check up on the children through routine meetings or phone calls to ensure they are safe and remain in their childrens home or with their foster family.

Authorities, including the Home Office, are alerted when social workers are unable to contact child refugees, for instance if they do not answer phone calls, fail to attend scheduled meetings or if a childrens home reports they have disappeared from the care arrangement.

 Aylan Kurdi - A year on, has anything changed

Child refugees may disappear for many reasons, including falling prey to traffickers, running away due to trauma or distress, serious mistrust of authorities or fear of deportation.

The figures were released a year after the death of Alan Kurdi, the three-year-old boy who drowned in the Mediterranean sea while his family were trying to flee Syria. Following a campaign by The Independent in the aftermath of Alans death, then Prime Minister David Cameron announced Britain would do more to accept refugees.

However, it was revealed earlier this year that fewer than 20 children had been granted asylum in the first three months of 2016. Campaigners and politicians now say these new figures on the number of missing child refugees shows that of the few who are granted asylum, the UK is failing to provide adequate support to ensure their safety once they arrive.

Research by the EUs criminal intelligence agency Europol earlier this year found 10,000 child refugees have gone missing across Europe since registering with state authorities. 5,000 children are missing in Italy, while a further 1,000 are missing in Sweden.

The Childrens Commissioner for England, Anne Longfield, told The Independent that the Government must act to trace those missing in the UK. She said: Any child who goes missing can be exposed to people who seek to harm them, so there is certainly no room for complacency when it comes to tracing them.

Authorities must carry out proper risk assessments and put in place safeguarding plans for all children who are in their care and there needs to be clear communication about responsibilities when they move between areas. They must also work with the police to ensure that any child who goes missing child is located as soon as possible so that they can be protected.

Labour MP and former shadow home secretary Yvette Cooper said the figures show children are being let down by a system turning a blind eye to their vulnerability. She said: We are failing victims of child trafficking, effectively turning a blind eye to their disappearance. They are being let down by a system which is meant to keep them safe.

For years, the government has been warned about vulnerable children, often victims of the most heinous crime of child trafficking, disappearing from the system. As Shadow Home Secretary, I called on Theresa May to implement a nationwide system of legal guardians to monitor child victims of trafficking living in the UK, as part of the Slavery Bill. The governments trial ended last September, so why do we still have no concrete policy change to protect these children?

If the now Prime Minister is serious about addressing modern slavery, she would urgently address this crisis.

The other Alan Kurdis: Refugee children who survived the journey Show all 8 1 /8 The other Alan Kurdis: Refugee children who survived the journey The other Alan Kurdis: Refugee children who survived the journey Basheer Basheer, a 3-year-old Syrian boy, lying on his father leg, lives with his family in a rent-free house as part of NRC's shelter programme in the village of Bair-Ras, in Irbid governorate, northern Jordan. Photo 11 October 2015 NRC/Hussein Amri The other Alan Kurdis: Refugee children who survived the journey Hisham Mustafa has fled from Aleppo, and is currently at Idomeni in Greece. Here he is playing with his nephew Hisham, 3 NRC/Tiril Skarstein The other Alan Kurdis: Refugee children who survived the journey Ahmaydi Bouchra Little Ahmaydi, 3, and her family of eight fled from fighting in Mali to the Goudebo camp in Burkina Faso in 2013. Neither of her two older sisters went to school in Mali. The whole family lives in a tent that is approx. 7m x 6m. The family bed is stored outside to make space inside the shelter during day time. In the evenings, they carry the bed back in. NRC/Ingrid Prestetun The other Alan Kurdis: Refugee children who survived the journey Farah Farah, 4, lives with her family in Irbid in a rent-free apartment. She stays home with her mother as her four sisters and three brothers leave for the day to their various schools. Photo 11t October 2015 NRC/Hussein Amri The other Alan Kurdis: Refugee children who survived the journey Batane Yacouba Batane Yacouba, 4, lives with his two older sisters and his mother in the Goudebo camp in Burkina Faso. A Tuareg family, they were forced to flee Mali fearing for their lives. Their father is dead NRC/Ingrid Prestetun The other Alan Kurdis: Refugee children who survived the journey Hassan Syrian boy Redor, 12, plays with Hassan, 3, after arriving at the port in Chios, Greece NRC/Tiril Skarstein The other Alan Kurdis: Refugee children who survived the journey Fatin Fatin, 4, and her family fled Syria to Irbid, northern Jordan. Her father has issued a birth certificate for her, in order for her to have access to health centres. NRC/Hussein Amri The other Alan Kurdis: Refugee children who survived the journey Born a refugee Alice Digama (24) sits on the tent floor with her two-week-old baby. Her son is one of many children born a refugee. Alice was heavily pregnant when she escaped South Sudan and crossed the border into Uganda, after her husband left her for another wife NRC/Sofi Lundin

Leader of the Liberal Democrats Tim Farron said the numbers were "absolutely disgraceful" He added: "Unaccompanied refugee children are some of the most vulnerable in our society and it is likely that many of these missing children will now be in the hands of traffickers and gangs.

The government must urgently review its processes to ensure that children cant simply vanish from care."

Child welfare experts have warned missing children refugees are extremely vulnerable and often suffering from severe trauma, while lacking any family or support networks to turn to. It is feared trafficking gangs may therefore prey on them.

Frances Trevena, of Coram Childrens Legal Centre Migrant Childrens Project, said: "Trafficking gangs run sophisticated networks in order to traffic children into or within the UK for the purposes of exploitation, including sexual exploitation, forced labour and domestic servitude. Those who do go missing are at a great risk of exploitation from their traffickers or others who may seek to exploit them further.

In response, a Government spokesperson said: Vulnerable children must be kept safe  that is why when a child goes missing from care, agencies work closely with local authorities and local police forces to find them.

We have been clear that a national response is necessary to deal with the sharp rise in the number of unaccompanied asylum seeking children faced by some councils. We have established the National Transfer Scheme to promote a fairer distribution of caring responsibilities across the country in a way that protects the best interests of children.
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Hundreds of people have marched through the town of Harlow in silent defiance and remembrance after the brutal killing of Polish national Arek Jozwik.

Mr Jozwik, 40, was beaten to death in an unprovoked attack in The Stow area of town. Six local teenagers have been arrested on suspicion of his killing, which police have said may have been racially motivated.

The killing comes after a dramatic increase in recorded anti-immigrant hate crimes following the European Union referendum result, particularly in areas that voted strongly for Brexit.

Polish community groups and Poles living in Britain were joined in solidarity by other supporters and well-wishers from the town and elsewhere in the country. The group met at The Stow, a run-down open-air shopping centre, at 4pm and marched through the town in silence, some people flying Polish flags.

People at the event were said to have to have travelled as far as from Edinburgh, Leeds and London to pay their respects.

The purpose of the march is that we meet to honour Arek who has died, Reverend Robert Findlay, one of the co-organisers of the silent march told the BBC.

We also pray that our gathering will bring comfort to the family and friends of Arek and beyond that we want to affirm to all Polish citizens that they are welcome here.

It began as a local vigil but it has expanded nationally.

An estimated 800,000 people born in Poland live in the United Kingdom, while many other people have Polish ancestry following a migration of 200,000 people after the Second World War.

The British Government has however pointedly refused to confirm that EU nationals, including Poles already living in Britain, will definitely retain their right to reside in the UK after Britain leaves the European Union.

A picture of Arek Jozwik at the centre of a floral tribute on the side of his killing (Getty Images)

The Polish government has launched its own investigation into Mr Jozwik's murder. Prosecutors in the country have said that, under Polish laws, those accused of his killing are liable to face trial there.

Under Polish law, foreigners who commit crimes against Polish citizens are subject to trial before a Polish court, Warsaws regional prosecutor, Jakub Romelczyk, told Polands TVP Info public broadcaster.

Brexit racism and the fightback Show all 9 1 /9 Brexit racism and the fightback Brexit racism and the fightback Demonstrators protest against an increase in post-ref racism at London's March for Europe in July 2016 PA Brexit racism and the fightback These cards were found near a school in Huntingdon, Cambridgeshire, the day after the EU referendum Twitter/@howgilb Brexit racism and the fightback Getty Brexit racism and the fightback Romford, Essex, June 25 @diamondgeezer Brexit racism and the fightback A worker at this Romanian food shop was asleep upstairs at the time of this arson attack in Norwich on July 8, but escaped unharmed. Hundreds later participated in a love bombing rally outside the shop to express their opposition to racism and their support of the shop owners. JustGiving/Helen Linehan Brexit racism and the fightback This neo-Nazi sticker was spotted in Glasgow on June 26 Courtesy of Eoin Palmer Brexit racism and the fightback But after news emerged of neo-Nazi stickers appearing in Glasgow, some in the city struck back with slogans of their own. Courtesy of Eoin Palmer Brexit racism and the fightback Getty Brexit racism and the fightback More signs began to appear in some parts of the UK, created by people who wanted to show their opposition to post-referendum racism Courtesy of Bernadette Russell

Our investigation is independent from legal action taken in the state where the crime was committed.

Separately, the Polish foreign ministry raised the issue with Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson on his visit to Warsaw on Saturday.

Speaking at the scene of the killing on Wednesday, Arkady Rzegocki, Polands ambassador to the UK, said the tragedy could not be seen in isolation.

Unfortunately there is much more after Brexit. We have found about 15 or 16 such situations. It is a very important tragedy and we have to work together on this issue, he said.

Elsewhere anti-racist campaigners organised dozens of community events around the country in an attempt to bring local communities together in memory of the killed Labour MP Jo Cox.

Ms Cox, a tireless campaigner for migrant and refugees rights, was killed during the European Union referendum campaign. The man charged with her murder Thomas Mair, told a court hearing that his name was freedom for Britain, death to traitors.

Ahead of one event in Ms Coxs former constituency of Batley, the MPs sister, Kim Leadbeater, said it would be a day of celebration.

Nick Lowles, the chief executive of Hope Note Hate, which organised the events, said they were about celebrating what was best about local communities.

Jo Cox was killed during the European Union referendum campaign (Getty)

Over the last few months we've seen Britain divided and split as never before. We see MoreInCommon as the start of a process to bring communities back together once more, he said.

As Jo Cox famously said, we have far more in common, and there is much more that unites us than divides.

More generally, thousands of people took to the street on Saturday in cities including London, Edinburgh, Cambridge and Birmingham in support of Britains European Union membership.
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Theresa May will warn world leaders they must move quickly to stop Isis gaining a foothold in other African countries, in a bid to demonstrate that the UK is still at the forefront of the fight against terrorism.

In a speech she is due to give at the G20 summit in China, she will suggest inaction could allow the terror groups fighters to establish themselves in sub-Saharan nations.

It will see the Prime Minister sticking to what she knows at her first major international conference, having dealt in detail with the terror threat and extremism as one of the longest serving Home Secretaries.

A UK official said: She will be warning leaders that as we make progress against Daesh [Isis] in places like Iraq and Syria and Libya and squeeze down the territory they can occupy there, we need to watch for terrorists moving to other countries in that region.

Mrs May will highlight how action in Libya supported by US air strikes has reduced the Daesh footfall from 200km of coast line in April to just one square kilometre in Sirte now.

 Libya: ISIL loses a strategic base in Sirte

The official added: What we are starting to see is some flows of terrorist fighters heading south out of Sirte towards sub-Saharan Africa.

Mrs May will push world leaders to work together as they have been doing to recapture territory in Syria and Iraq.

The Prime Minister will make tackling the terror threat a key part of her G20 summit after warning that a UK strike was highly likely in the wake of recent attacks on mainland Europe.

Terrorism in 2016: Terror attacks in Europe claimed by Isis Show all 9 1 /9 Terrorism in 2016: Terror attacks in Europe claimed by Isis Terrorism in 2016: Terror attacks in Europe claimed by Isis Policemen outside Rouen's cathedral during the funeral of Jacques Hamel, the priest who was killed in a church in Saint-Etienne-du-Rouvray in Normandy on 26 July during a hostage-taking claimed by Islamic State group Joel Saget/AFP/Getty Images Terrorism in 2016: Terror attacks in Europe claimed by Isis Two jihadists, both 19, slit Hamel's throat while he was celebrating mass in an attack that shocked France as well as the Catholic Church Joel Saget/AFP/Getty Images Terrorism in 2016: Terror attacks in Europe claimed by Isis Muslims place flowers and hold a minute of silence in front of the church if Saint-Etienne-du-Rouvray, western France, where French priest Jacques Hamel was killed on 26 July Charly Triballeau/AFP/Getty Images Terrorism in 2016: Terror attacks in Europe claimed by Isis Two people hold each other by the new makeshift memorial in Nice, in tribute to the victims of the deadly Bastille Day attack at the Promenade des Anglais Valery Hache/AFP/Getty Images Terrorism in 2016: Terror attacks in Europe claimed by Isis The Islamic State group claimed responsibility for the truck attack that killed 84 people in Nice on France's national holiday. Mohamed Lahouaiej-Bouhlel, 31, smashed a 19-tonne truck into a packed crowd of people in the Riviera city celebrating Bastille Day Valery Hache/AFP/Getty Images Terrorism in 2016: Terror attacks in Europe claimed by Isis Police work at a site where a Syrian migrant set off an explosive device in Ansbach, southern Germany, on 25 July, killing himself and wounding a dozen others Daniel Roland/AFP/Getty Images Terrorism in 2016: Terror attacks in Europe claimed by Isis A Syrian migrant set off an explosion at a bar in southern Germany that killed himself and wounded a dozen others in the third attack to hit Bavaria in a week. The 27-year-old, who had spent a stint in a psychiatric facility, had intended to target a music festival in the city of Ansbach but was turned away because he did not have a ticket Friebe/AFP/Getty Images Terrorism in 2016: Terror attacks in Europe claimed by Isis Police officers walk along train tracks in Wuerzburg southern Germany on 19 July, a day after a man attacked train passengers with an axe. German authorities said they had found a hand-painted IS flag among the belongings of the man, an asylum seeker from Afghanistan, who seriously injured four members of a family of tourists from Hong Kong in his rampage Daniel Roland/AFP/Getty Images Terrorism in 2016: Terror attacks in Europe claimed by Isis German police killed a teenage assailant after he attacked passengers on a train in Wuerzburg, southerg Germany with an axe and a knife on 18 July, seriously wounding three people Karl-Josef Hildenbrand/AFP/Getty Images

The threat from international terrorism has been "severe" since 2014, when it was upgraded from "substantial".

The fight against Isis is also likely to come up in key bilateral meetings with US President Barack Obama and Russian President Vladimir Putin.
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The newly elected Green Party leader Caroline Lucas will not be entitled to a salary from the partys headquarters as she is already a paid full-time politician, it has been confirmed.

Ms Lucas, the party's only representative in Westminster, won the leadership contest on Friday on a joint ticket with Jonathan Bartley, the welfare spokesperson, with 86 per cent of members votes.

They take over from Natalie Bennett, who has led the Greens for four years, and it will be the first job-share at the top of major political party in Britain.

Recommended Read more Caroline Lucas and Jonathan Bartley elected Green leaders

But, unlike his colleague, Mr Bartley is entitled to receive a salary of 24,700 - one of the lowest salaries of political leader in the UK - as it will be his main form of income.

A party source added the new co-leader stepped down from his role as director of Ekklesia, a religious think tank, before the leadership contest. He is also responsible for the razor sharp rhythm section of band called the Mustangs, which formed in Hampshire in 2001.

It doesnt take any money, the party source added. Probably quite the opposite."

A spokesperson for the party told The Independent: Caroline Lucas MP will not be taking a salary and Amelia Womack will continue to receive the deputy leaders salary which is line with the London Living Wage, The current Living Wage stands at 9.40 per hour in London.

The Green rule book adds: Where the leader is also a paid full-time politician, this allowance will not be paid. According to party source Ms Bennett was the first leader in the party's history to actually receive any kind of salary from the party's coffers.

 Natalie Bennett on her own and Green Party's future

In her victory speech on Thursday Ms Lucas addressed the fallout from the European Union referendum and pledged to campaign for a second referendum on the terms of Britains exit from the European Union. She added that her party could not accept a deal that doesnt offer hope and security to both those who voted to Leave and those who voted to Remain.

Addressing the 1,200-strong audience Ms Lucas, the partys only MP in Westminster for Brighton Pavilion, said the since we last met as a Party, our country has been shaken by the bitterly fought EU referendum campaign and its political fallout.

Trust has been shattered and the truth lies buried. And at what point did it become OK to produce posters so dehumanising, so degrading and so despicable that they are compared to 1930s propaganda  even by a Conservative Chancellor of the Exchequer?

Our political class  so gravely out of touch that they are surprised when years of scapegoating migrants for our social and economic ills come home to roost.
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Thousands of people have taken to the streets in cities across the UK in protest against Brexit.

Simultaneous demonstrations were called in London, Edinburgh, Birmingham, Oxford, and Cambridge in support of a closer relationship between Britain and the continent.

In London, campaigners marched from Park Lane to Westminster, staging a rally in front of the Houses of Parliament.

Recommended Read more Green Party leader Caroline Lucas calls for second EU referendum

MPs will return to Westminster from recess Monday here they will debate whether a second European Union referendum should be held. The Government has already ruled out holding another plebiscite.

A sea of blue European flags filled Parliament square shortly after lunchtime, with marchers singing along to The Beatles' song 'Hey Jude', replacing the title words instead with "EU".

Homemade banners were also popular on the route, with many cracking jokes in support of the EU.

A minor scuffle erupted in the afternoon on Whitehall, near Downing Street  when a masked man stole comedian Eddie Izzards hat. The man was restrained by police as Izzard gave chase in his high-heel shoes.

He ultimately recovered his hat with the assistance of police and supportive members of the public.

Scotland Yard could not immediately confirm this afternoon whether the man had been arrested or simply restrained.

Brexit racism and the fightback Show all 9 1 /9 Brexit racism and the fightback Brexit racism and the fightback Demonstrators protest against an increase in post-ref racism at London's March for Europe in July 2016 PA Brexit racism and the fightback These cards were found near a school in Huntingdon, Cambridgeshire, the day after the EU referendum Twitter/@howgilb Brexit racism and the fightback Getty Brexit racism and the fightback Romford, Essex, June 25 @diamondgeezer Brexit racism and the fightback A worker at this Romanian food shop was asleep upstairs at the time of this arson attack in Norwich on July 8, but escaped unharmed. Hundreds later participated in a love bombing rally outside the shop to express their opposition to racism and their support of the shop owners. JustGiving/Helen Linehan Brexit racism and the fightback This neo-Nazi sticker was spotted in Glasgow on June 26 Courtesy of Eoin Palmer Brexit racism and the fightback But after news emerged of neo-Nazi stickers appearing in Glasgow, some in the city struck back with slogans of their own. Courtesy of Eoin Palmer Brexit racism and the fightback Getty Brexit racism and the fightback More signs began to appear in some parts of the UK, created by people who wanted to show their opposition to post-referendum racism Courtesy of Bernadette Russell

The incident occurred after a group of Brexit campaigners tried to block the route of the march with a banner.

The nationwide protests follow a larger march held in the weeks immediately following Junes referendum.

Britain voted to leave the European Union by 52 per cent to 48 per cent. The Government has yet to outline the details of what Brexit will entail; when asked, Government spokespeople say that Brexit means Brexit.

* This article originally referred to Britain having voted to leave the EU by 53 per cent to 47 percent. It has now been corrected to refer to the correct figures of 52 per cent (rounded up from 51.9) and 48 per cent (rounded down from 48.1). 7/9/16
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Owen Smith is pledging to maintain Britains commitment to spending on international aid for poorer countries.

The Labour leadership candidate said the 0.7 per cent of GNI commitment was important and that recent moves by the Government to shift spending towards other projects were unwelcome.

The Conservatives under David Cameron brought in the 0.7 per cent target despite polls suggesting widespread public unpopularity with some aid spending.

Theresa May however recently appointed Priti Patel to the role if International Development Secretary. Ms Patel has previously suggested aid money could be spent of a wider range of projects not always traditionally considered to be aid.

Though Ms Patel has not questioned the target itself some campaigners have worried that she might spend the money earmarked for the development budget on other things.

Aid must mean aid. Our international development budget is not a lever to gain trade deals, or a slush fund for the Ministry of Defence to dip into, Mr Smith said.

Its a commitment to the worlds poorest people which we have a duty to uphold - not undermine, he said.

My commitment to aid is unambiguous - but by appointing Priti Patel, who has called for the abolition of her own department, Theresa May has made clear that she is more interested in pleasing the Tory right than in doing the right thing.

Our aid budget is at risk under the Tories - thats why we need a strong, competent opposition with a serious plan to get Labour back into government again. Thats how we can do what all Labour members and supporters want: make a real difference for the poorest people in the world.

Labour is already committed to the aid spending target as a matter of party policy.

On her appointment to her new post Ms Patel said: I am delighted to have been appointed International Development Secretary by the Prime Minister and will make sure we invest UK aid firmly in our national interest, while keeping the promises weve made to the worlds poorest people.

Successfully leaving the European Union will require a more outward looking Britain than ever before, deepening our international partnerships to secure our place in the world by supporting economic prosperity, stability and security overseas. Thats why my department will be working across government, with the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, the new Department for International Trade, the Home Office and others.

We will continue to tackle the great challenges of our time: poverty, disease and the causes of mass migration, while helping to create millions of jobs in countries across the developing world - our trading partners of the future.
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Theresa May has said she wants Britain to begin a golden era of relations with China  echoing a promise made by George Osborne.

The Prime Minister used the phrase for the first time as she boarded her plane at Heathrow to travel to the G20 summit in Hangzhou.

The term was coined by the ex-Chancellor as he sought trade links with China that critics at home and abroad have suggested were too close for comfort.

Human rights groups criticised the policy and accused Mr Osborne of turning a blind eye to human rights abuses and a lack of democracy in the one-party state.

But Ms May did not hesitate to use the words as she travelled to her first major international summit  where she will do her best to convince other world leaders of the merits of Brexit.

As she boarded her RAF Voyager plane at Heathrow on Saturday morning, the Prime Minister said: This is a golden era for UK China relations, and one of the things I will be doing at the G20 is obviously talking to President Xi about how we can develop the strategic partnership that we have between the UK and China.

But Ill also be talking to other world leaders about how we can develop free trade around the globe and how Britain wants to seize those opportunities. My ambition is that Britain will be a global leader in free trade.

Pressure on Britain to cosy up to regimes like China will likely grow as it leaves the European Union and looks elsewhere to trade. A UK official has already said that Ms May will continue to raise difficult issues with the world leaders that she meets.

Human rights attacks around the world Show all 10 1 /10 Human rights attacks around the world Human rights attacks around the world China Escalating crackdown against human rights activists including mass arrests of lawyers and a series of sweeping laws in the name of national security. Getty Images Human rights attacks around the world Egypt The arrest of thousands, including peaceful critics, in a ruthless crackdown in the name of national security, the prolonged detention of hundreds without charge or trial and the sentencing of hundreds of others to death. Getty Images Human rights attacks around the world Gambia Torture, enforced disappearances and the criminalisation of LGBTI people; and utter refusal to co-operate with the UN and regional human rights mechanisms on issues including freedom of expression, enforced disappearance and the death penalty. Getty Images Human rights attacks around the world Hungary Sealing off its borders to thousands of refugees in dire need; and obstructing collective regional attempts to help them. Getty Images Human rights attacks around the world Israel Maintaining its military blockade of Gaza and therefore collective punishment of the 1.8 million inhabitants there, as well as failing, like Palestine, to comply with a UN call to conduct credible investigations into war crimes committed during the 2014 Gaza conflict. Getty Images Human rights attacks around the world Kenya Extrajudicial executions, enforced disappearances and discrimination against refugees in its counter-terrorism operations; and attempts to undermine the International Criminal Court and its ability to pursue justice. Getty Images Human rights attacks around the world Pakistan The severe human rights failings of its response to the horrific Peshawar school massacre including its relentless use of the death penalty; and its policy on international NGOs giving authorities the power to monitor them and close them down if they are considered to be against the interests of the country. Getty Images Human rights attacks around the world Russia Repressive use of vague national security and anti-extremism legislation and its concerted attempts to silence civil society in the country; its shameful refusal to acknowledge civilian killings in Syria and its callous moves to block Security Council action on Syria. Getty Images Human rights attacks around the world Saudi Arabia Brutally cracking down on those who dared to advocate reform or criticise the authorities; and committing war crimes in the bombing campaign it has led in Yemen (pictured) while obstructing the establishment of a UN-led inquiry into violations by all sides in the conflict. Getty Images Human rights attacks around the world Syria Killing thousands of civilians in direct and indiscriminate attacks with barrel bombs and other weaponry and through acts of torture in detention; and enforcing lengthy sieges of civilian areas, blocking international aid from reaching starving civilians. Getty Images

But a planned bilateral meeting with Mr Xi may be awkward as the British Government reviews whether to go ahead with the 18 billion Hinkley nuclear power project, which China is heavily invested in.

A decision is expected this month, but Ms Mays own advisor has raised security concerns.

 What happened on the first day of the G20 summit

Asked about the implications for Brexit, Ms May continued: The message for the G20 will be that Britain is open for business. As a bold, confident, outward-looking country, well be playing a key role on the world stage.

But Ill be talking to other world leaders about the opportunities for trade around the globe that will open up for Britain following Brexit.

Ill be talking about how Britain will be seizing those opportunities because my ambition for Britain is that we should be a global leader in free trade.

Ms May will spend the weekend in China at the G20 summit, as well as meeting world leaders one-on-one.

The visit is the first for a British prime minister since Brexit.
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Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe arrived at the capital's main airport from abroad on Saturday, according to a Reuters witness, following intense rumours that he was gravely ill and had sought medical help in Dubai.

Mugabe, 92 and Africa's oldest leader, looked jovial as he disembarked in the company of security aides.

"I had gone on a family matter to Dubai concerning one of my children," he told reporters in the local Shona language, without giving details.

"Yes, I was dead, it's true I was dead. I resurrected as I always do. Once I get back to my country I am real," Mugabe added tongue-in-cheek in English, referring to speculation on some online news websites that he had succumbed to illness.

Reports that Mugabe's health is declining have become common but he has often referred to himself as "fit as a fiddle."

Mugabe rejects accusations by his political opponents that he has brought one of Africa's most promising economies to its knees since coming to power at independence from Britain in 1980.

Zimbabwe is struggling to pay salaries to soldiers, police and other public workers, fuelling political tensions including within his ruling ZANU-PF party.

Reuters
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South Africa's murder rate increased by 4.9 per cent in the last year, to more than 50 people killed every day.

In total, there were 18,673 homocides in the 12 months to March 2016, official statistics show. This is up from 17,805 in the previous year.

The police minister said the country was struggling with a prevalent culture of violence, AFP report.

Police minister Nathi Nhleko said the sharp increase was largely down to domestic violence and alcohol abuse.

What it says about us South Africans is that we are violent, we have a prevalent culture of violence, he told journalists.

It's not about what the government can do, it's about what we can [all] do. It's a huge societal issue that we have to deal with.

Officials said most murders occurred indoors, in urban areas, and involved people who knew each other.

The statistics also showed 142.2 sexual offences per day over the last year. This is a slight drop on a the previous year, but police speculated the decrease was down to underreporting rather than an improvement in the situation.

The prevalence of rape and domestic violence in South Africa, along with the high murder rate, make it a particularly dangerous place to be a woman.

The country has previously been labelled the rape capital of the world, with one in four men admitting to having raped someone.

South Africa's murder rate has risen by nearly 20 per cent in four years, although officials said the numbers are still lower than before the end of apartheid in 1994.

The high crime rate is seen as hampering the country's social cohesion, economic growth and international reputation - especially as a tourist destination, AFP said.

Carjacking, which is one of the most prevalent crimes in South Africa, increased by 14.3 per cent last year, while house robberies were up 2.7 per cent.

Mine 'bloodbath' shocks post-apartheid South Africa Show all 5 1 /5 Mine 'bloodbath' shocks post-apartheid South Africa Mine 'bloodbath' shocks post-apartheid South Africa 28-southafrica1-rt.jpg Reuters Mine 'bloodbath' shocks post-apartheid South Africa AN7610420MARIKANA-SOUTH-AFR.jpg Getty Images Mine 'bloodbath' shocks post-apartheid South Africa AN7609906Mandatory-Credit-P.jpg Rex Features Mine 'bloodbath' shocks post-apartheid South Africa AN7609853Mandatory-Credit-P.jpg Rex Features Mine 'bloodbath' shocks post-apartheid South Africa AN7611310MARIKANA-SOUTH-AFR.jpg GettyImages

South African police have been heavily criticised for failing to reduce crime levels. Recently, the government announced that crime statistics would be released quarterly in the future, instead of once a year, in an effort to improve policing.

But the Institute for Security Studies (ISS) think tank said that a more holistic approach needed to be taken.

"Violence - whether it's murder, rape or assault - is not something that the police can prevent or reduce on their own," said department director Gareth Newham, adding that social workers and teachers are also a necessary part of building "better communities".
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Brock Turner, the 21-year-old man sentenced to six months for the January 2015 sexual assault of an unconscious woman at Stanford University, was released from jail early on Friday morning after serving just half of his controversially brief sentence.

Recommended Read more Brock Turner released from jail after serving only three months

Turner, formerly a student at the California university and an aspiring Olympic swimmer, had claimed in court that his victim consented to their encounter. The jury disagree and convicted him on three sexual assault counts, including digital penetration of an unconscious woman.

But the case generated widespread outrage after Santa Clara County Judge Aaron Persky handed down his lenient sentence, citing Turners youth and clean record in a ruling many saw as pandering to Turners wealth and privilege  and as ignoring the seriousness of college rape.

What happens to Turner now?

Turner left Santa Clara County Jail at dawn on Friday in a rented SUV, which took him to the local hotel where he planned to stay briefly with his parents before the family returns to their home in Ohio. He is expected to live with his mother and father, at least for the time being, in the house near Dayton where he grew up.

The authorities in Ohio will take over monitoring the 21-year-old as he serves out three years of supervised probation. During that period he must regularly report to a probation officer, attend substance abuse counselling and avoid alcohol and drugs.

He will be subjected to random drug and alcohol tests, and sheriffs deputies in Greene County, Ohio, can also visit his home at any time to check he has not moved without informing the authorities. Turner has also been ordered to pay restitution to his victim, the amount of which has yet to be determined.

His lawyer has said he plans to appeal his conviction but, in the meantime, Greene County Sheriff Gene Fischer told the Associated Press that Turner had five days in which to register with his office as a sex offender, and will remain on the sex offenders registry for life.

What does being a registered sex offender entail?

Fischer said Turner would be treated no differently than any other sex offender, which means he cannot work with children or live close to places where children gather, such as parks, schools or playgrounds. He cant leave Ohio without telling the authorities first.

He will have to take a sex-offender counselling course, which could last up to three years. He must take polygraph tests whenever officials demand one.

Turners neighbours will receive postcards from the sheriffs office to inform them that a sex offender is living nearby, and his name, address and photo will remain publicly available on the states online sex offender registry.

I bet Judge Persky is unpopular.

He sure is. Following Turners release on Friday, demonstrators gathered outside the San Jose jail to demand Persky be recalled from the bench. The protest group UltraViolet has said it will try to collect sufficient signatures to decide the judges fate at the ballot box next year.

Persky has defended his record in an online post on a website set up to support him, Retain Judge Persky. I have a reputation for being fair to both sides, he insisted.

All the same, he has said he will voluntarily cease hearing criminal cases.

Isnt it remarkable that he could get away with giving Turner such a brief sentence?

Thats what state politicians thought, too. On Monday, the California Assembly voted unanimously to create mandatory prison terms for crimes like Turners.

Until now, anyone convicted of rape using additional physical force must serve time in prison, but Turner benefited from a loophole excluding those who sexually assaulted unconscious or heavily intoxicated victims from mandatory incarceration. The new measure, Assembly Bill 2888, was inspired by the Turner case and would make sure such crimes were also punished with prison time.

California Governor Jerry Brown has not yet indicated whether he will sign or veto the bill before the deadline of 30 September.
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It was little short of a horror scene when police officers responded to a call that led them to an apartment in central Birmingham, Alabama. A young man was dead, apparently from a a drug overdose and a young woman lay unconscious, seemingly for the same reason.

Then there was the matter of the couples anxious children  a seven-year-old girl, two boys aged three and two, and a one-month baby girl dressed in a tiny purple dress. Help, shouted the older girl, as she was being comforted by next-door neighbours. We cant wake mum and dad up.

The officers sprung into action. Grabbing whatever they could  nappies, an unopened can of infant formula and a baby bottle  the officers took the children to the Birmingham South Precinct where they would liaise with officials from the Child Protective Services of the Alabama Department of Human Resources (DHS).

At the precinct, officers bought whatever the other kids wanted to eat from a vending machine. One officer, Michelle Burton, removed her vest and other police gear so she could comfortably hold the infant and give her a bottle.

A lot of us are parents, Birmingham police spokesman Lt Sean Edwards told Washington Post. We just go into parent mode and not necessarily police mode... Officer Burton, she just really wanted to grab the baby and just cuddle the baby.

Ms Burton, who has two children of her own, spent much of the night caring for the child before it was handed over to officials from the DHS. At some point somebody took a photograph and Ms Burton's husband, Brian Burton, himself a police sergeant, posted it to his Facebook page, with a message of praise for his wife.

Last night, my wife Michelle Burton told me she would be late getting off work because of a call she was on where the parents of four small children had both overdosed, he said.

Michelle said the father was dead and the mother was critical. She spent the rest of the night taking care of these babies. She got home at 4 this morning. Ive never seen her more beautiful than in this picture. What an incredible woman.

The girls mother was taken to a local hospital where she is said to be in a critical condition. Meanwhile, the photograph of Ms Burton went viral, and people came up to her to praise her actions.

Im overwhelmed about the whole thing, she said. I dont want people to think that its only me that does this. We all do things like this... It was one of those nights where everybody worked together and everybody did what they needed to do.
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Donald Trumps attempt to reach out to African American voters by visiting a black church was met by any protesters who said they did not believe the New York tycoon was genuine.

Several dozen protesters gathered outside the Great Faith Ministries International church in Detroit, where he spoke to the congregation and recorded a question-and-answer session with its minister. I am here to listen to you, Mr Trump told the enthusiastic congregation. As I prepare to campaign all across the nation, I will have the chance to lay out my economic plans which will be so good for Detroit.

The Republican candidate said he believed it was time for a civil rights agenda of our time.

I want to help you build and rebuild Detroit, he said. I fully understand that the African American community has suffered from discrimination and there are many wrongs that should be made right.

In recent weeks, Mr Trump has appeared to be reaching out to black voters, saying they have nothing to lose by voting for him and the the Democratic Party has long taken minority voters for granted. Polls show that Mr Trump has virtually no support among African American voters. Some political commentators have said they believe the true intention of the black outreach is to appeal to moderate white Republicans.

On Saturday, demonstrators held placards and shouted slogans as Mr Trump arrived. One of the protesters, Rosendo Delgado, 62, of Detroit, who said she is Latino, told the Detroit News that Mr Trump shoots from the hip without analysing what he is saying.

Another protester, Toni McIlwain, said that many people in the city were still stung by the Republican presidential nominees visit to Michigan last month, when he went before a mostly white audience and declared: You live in your poverty, your schools are no good, you have no jobs, 58 percent of your youth is unemployed.

She said: People picked up on Trump saying you're all just crap.

He generalised the total black community. How dare you talk to us like that and talk about us like that, she said.

Seated in the front row of the church was Omarosa Manigault, a former contestant on his reality television series who has been helping guide his outreach to the black community. Also in the audience was Detroit native Ben Carson, the retired neurosurgeon who ran against the New York tycoon in the primaries and is now advising the campaign. This a great man he said of Mr Carson.

 Dwayne Wade: Trump tweet left a bad taste in my mouth

Unlike his usual campaign stops where he confidently has addressed mostly white crowds that supported him and his plans for the country, Mr Trump's visit to Detroit on Saturday was intended to be more intimate.

Before appearing before the congregation, Mr Trump recorded a question and answer session with Bishop Wayne T Jackson, the pastor of the church. Ahead of the event, The New York Times revealed that a leaked document showed Mr Trumps answers had been prepared in advance by his aides.

I want to make race disappear as a factor in government and governance, Mr Trump was advised to say at some point.

To a question submitted by Mr Jackson about whether his campaign is racist, the script advised Mr Trump to avoid repeating the word, and instead speak about improving education and getting people off welfare.

The proof, as they say, will be in the pudding, Mr Trump was advised to say.

To a question about whether he believed in God, Mr Trump was told to say: As I went through my life, things got busy with business, but my family kept me grounded to the truth and the word of God. I treasure my relationship with my family, and through them, I have a strong faith enriched by an ever-wonderful God.
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Venezuela has been stunned by video images that appear to show the countrys president being chased by a group of angry, pot-banging protesters.

Grainy cellphone footage caught what is said to be President Nicolas Maduro being pursued on Friday night by residents of Margarita Island, a celebrated holiday destination about 25 miles north of the mainland.

The Associated Press said that Mr Maduros visit to the island was broadcast nationwide. Images of the protest were later posted by residents of the town where it reportedly occurred. That footage shows residents from Villa Rosa banging pots and pans and jeering the socialist president during a visit to inspect state housing projects.

Mr Maduro had been visiting a state housing project (Reuters)

There was no way to independently confirm the veracity of the footage.

After Maduro left Villa Rosa, a rundown area known in the past as a pro-government stronghold, intelligence agents moved in, opposition and rights campaigners said. Reuters said that more than 30 people were detained.

The rare confrontation with the president, who succeeded President Hugo Chavez, came just days after hundreds of thousands of anti-government protesters demonstrate in Caracas on Thursday. Amid an economic crisis that has created a food shortage in the country, opponents are pushing for a recall vote of the president.

Right now, there are more than 30 people detained ... as a result of the incident in Villa Rosa, Alfredo Romero of Penal Forum rights group said on Twitter.

Opposition leader Henrique Capriles published three videos of the incident on his Twitter feed. The people loathe him and last night they made that very clear with the pots-and-pans protest, he said.

The government did not comment on the incident in detail, but Information Minister Luis Marcano published a video on Twitter showing Maduro blowing kisses, pumping his fist and being cheered in Margarita.

What you didnt see in the videos manipulated by the right wing, Mr Marcano wrote.

Buoyed by Thursdays self-styled Takeover of Caracas, the opposition is planning further street actions to demand a recall referendum against Mr Maduro this year. On Thursday, Mr Maduro mocked what he said was just a mall number of protesters and claimed they were trying to oust him in a coup.
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The number of white nationalists and self-identified Nazi sympathisers on Twitter have multiplied more than 600 per cent in the last four years, outperforming the so-called Islamic State (Isis) in everything from follower counts to number of daily tweets, a new study found.

Recommended Read more White Lives Matter to be listed as a hate group by SPLC

Researchers at George Washington Universitys Programme on Extremism analysed 18 accounts belonging to major white nationalist groups and organisations  such as the American Nazi Party and the National Socialist Movement  mostly located in the US.

These accounts saw a sharp increase in followers, from about 3,500 in 2012 to 22,000 in 2016. The study notes that while Isis stood out for its outreach and recruitment using Twitter since the groups emergence a few years ago, white nationalist groups have excelled in the medium.

The report underscores the declining influence of Isis on the social media platform as Twitter continues to crackdown on the Islamist militant group. In August, the company said that it shut down roughly 360,000 accounts for what they saw as promoting terrorism.

Yet, the GWU study said that white nationalists are using the site with relative impunity.

On Twitter, Isis' preferred social platform, American white nationalist movements have seen their followers grow by more than 600 per cent since 2012, the study, authored by JM Berger, stated. Today, they outperform Isis in nearly every social metric, from follower counts to tweets per day.

George Washington University Programme on Extremism

When questioned about the report, a representative for Twitter referred Reuters to their terms of service that prohibit hateful conduct.

Donald Trump is a prominent subject among white nationalists on Twitter. According to the study, white nationalist users are heavily invested in the Republicans candidacy. Tweets mentioned Mr Trump more than other popular topics among the groups.

America unmasked: The images that reveal the Ku Klux Klan is alive and kicking Show all 11 1 /11 America unmasked: The images that reveal the Ku Klux Klan is alive and kicking America unmasked: The images that reveal the Ku Klux Klan is alive and kicking America unmasked: The images that reveal the Ku Klux Klan is alive and kicking America unmasked: The images that reveal the Ku Klux Klan is alive and kicking America unmasked: The images that reveal the Ku Klux Klan is alive and kicking America unmasked: The images that reveal the Ku Klux Klan is alive and kicking America unmasked: The images that reveal the Ku Klux Klan is alive and kicking America unmasked: The images that reveal the Ku Klux Klan is alive and kicking America unmasked: The images that reveal the Ku Klux Klan is alive and kicking America unmasked: The images that reveal the Ku Klux Klan is alive and kicking America unmasked: The images that reveal the Ku Klux Klan is alive and kicking America unmasked: The images that reveal the Ku Klux Klan is alive and kicking

Republican candidate has emerged as a favourite of white supremacist leaders, such as former Ku Klux Klan Grand Wizard David Duke, due in part to his hard-line stance against immigration from Mexico and his proposals to prohibit immigration of Muslims from countries like Syria and Afghanistan.

Mr Trump has been publicly rebuked by Democratic rival Hillary Clinton for taking hate groups mainstream.

 HIllary Clinton eviscerates Donald Trump in latest speech

But mentions of Mr Trump and the use of Trump-related hashtags were second only talk of the white genocide  the belief that the influx of non-white cultures and increasing diversity in the US are fuelling the extinction of the white race.

Social media activists tweeted hundreds of times per day using repetitive hashtags and slogans associated with this trope, the study said.

Another finding indicated that racist violence connected to the white nationalist movement  such as Dylann Roof, who shot and killed nine black people inside the Emanuel AME church in Charleston, South Carolina  has increasingly been tied to online activity.

Despite links to violence, however, it remains challenging for Twitter to curtail the use of its platform by white nationalist users because their communities are less cohesive than Isis networks and present more complications regarding freedom of speech.

As public scrutiny on the pervasiveness of white supremacy in social media increases, critics call on Twitter to do more to curb racist abuse on the site  yet it continues to thrive.

In July, following the release of the Ghostbusters reboot, a star of the film, Leslie Jones, became the victim of vicious racist attacks on the site. She quickly condemned Twitter for the lack of response to the harassment.

Twitter I understand you got free speech I get it, she tweeted, calling for guidelines to stop the spread of hate speech on the platform.
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Bangladesh authorities on Saturday executed a top Islamist party leader convicted of war crimes involving the nation's 1971 independence war against Pakistan, officials said.

Proshanto Kumar Bonik, a senior jail superintendent, said Mir Quasem Ali, a leader of the Jamaat-e-Islami party, was hanged at 10:30 pm local time, hours after several dozen family members and relatives met him for the last time inside Kashimpur Central Jail near the capital, Dhaka.

"We are doing our necessary formalities now. We will send the body soon to the ancestral home in Manikganj district for burial," Bonik said after the execution.

Immediately after the execution, Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan said security measures would be put in place to prevent unrest by Ali's supporters.

Authorities deployed para-military border guards and additional police in Dhaka and other cities late Saturday.

The Jamaat-e-Islami party in a statement late Saturday protested Ali's execution and called for an eight-hour general strike beginning Monday morning.

The execution took place a day after Ali refused to seek presidential clemency. It was his last chance to see mercy. The president had previously rejected appeals for clemency by other Islamist party leaders facing execution.

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

On Tuesday, the Supreme Court rejected a final appeal for reviewing Ali's death sentence handed out by a special tribunal two years ago.

After the Supreme Court ruling, the Jamaat-e-Islami party called for a daylong general strike across the country last Wednesday, but got little response.

A special tribunal dealing with war crimes sentenced Ali to death in November 2014 for abduction, torture and murder.

The 63-year-old Ali was a member of Jamaat-e-Islami's highest policy-making body. He was found guilty on eight charges, two of which carried the death sentence, including the abduction and murder of a young man in a torture chamber. Ali was sentenced to 72 years in prison on the other charges.

Ali built his fortune by establishing businesses from real estate to shipping to banking, and he was considered one of the party's top financiers.

Ali is the fifth Jamaat-e-Islami party leader to be executed since 2010 when Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina formed the special tribunal to try suspected war criminals. Also executed was a close aide of former Prime Minister Khaleda Zia from the main opposition Bangladesh Nationalist Party. Jamaat-e-Islami is a key partner of Zia's Bangladesh Nationalist Party in the opposition against Hasina.

Hasina's government says Pakistani soldiers, aided by local collaborators, killed 3 million people and raped 200,000 women in the 1971 independence war.

Jamaat-e-Islami, which had openly campaigned against independence, has denied committing atrocities.

Hasina has called the special tribunal trials a long overdue effort to obtain justice for the victims of war crimes, four decades after Bangladesh split from Pakistan. Her government has rejected criticism from abroad that the trial process did not meet international standards.

The international human rights group Amnesty International noted that the United Nations had raised questions about the fairness of the trials of Ali and other Islamist party leaders.

"There is no question that the people of Bangladesh deserve justice for crimes committed during the War of Independence, but the death penalty is a human rights violation and will not achieve this. It is a cruel and irreversible punishment that most of the world's countries have now rid themselves of," said Champa Patel, Amnesty International's South Asia Director, in a statement released Saturday.

AP
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British Government officials travelling to the G20 summit in China have been warned to excercise vigilance against 'honeypot' spies, who may attempt to lure them in using sex.

Strong security warnings have been issued to members of Theresa Mays entourage in Hangzhou, where the summit is being held.

Security officers fear Chinese agents and hackers will attempt to use the G20 as an opportunity to steal intelligence from the British Government.

China has a fearsome reputation for aggressively pursuing cyber-espionage on visiting politicians, and for utilising some more old fashioned tactics.

Officials have been warned their hotel rooms are likely to be bugged. We have been told that if you feel uncomfortable about people seeing you naked, you should get changed under your bedclothes, a Whitehall source told The Telegraph.

 White House and Chinese officials clash at start of G20

Staff have also been issued with temporary phones and email accounts, the newspaper reported, in an attempt to thwart potential hackers. In addition, they are being urged not to hold onto any gifts  particularly electronic  given to them by their Chinese hosts, such as USB sticks and phone chargers.

In addition, beatiful female agents - known as 'honeypots' - have allegedly been used by Chinese intelligence services to lure in foreign politicians' parties before. British officials have apparently been no exception to this - the most well-known reported incident was in 2008 when a member of Gordon Browns entourage took a woman to his Shanghai hotel room and woke up without his Blackberry and documents.

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

As expected, security around this years G20 is extremely tight. Many Hangzhou residents have been moved out of the city all together, taking advantage of extra holiday time and free travel vouchers distributed by the authorities. Remaining residents were reluctant to speak to journalists visiting the city.

The tense atmosphere was demonstrated by an argument between a Chinese official and Susan Rice, national security advisor to Barack Obama, soon after the presidents plane landed. The unnamed official attempted to prevent Ms Rice walking to the official motorcade as she crossed a media rope line, Reuters reported. It is unknown if the Chinese official believed Ms Rice to be a journalist.
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Isis affiliate in the Philippines has claimed responsibility for a bombing that killed at least 14 people and wounded 70 more at a bustling market.

President Rodrigo Duterte declared a nationwide state of lawlessness in the wake of the terror attack targeting his hometown of Davao, next to a hotel he frequently visits.

Visiting the scene of the blast on Friday night, he said the army and police would be deployed across the country but claimed the measures did not amount to martial law.

President Rodrigo R. Duterte inspecting the site of a bomb blast at the night market in Davao City on 2 September (AFP/Getty Images)

These are extraordinary times and I'm authorised to allow the security forces of this country to do searches, Mr Duterte added, asking the public to cooperate and be vigilant.

We're trying to cope up with a crisis now. There is a crisis in this country involving drugs, extrajudicial killings and there seems to be an environment of lawless violence.

The explosion hit at around 10.30pm local time (3.30pm BST), sending screaming shoppers running for their lives from the scene littered bodies, shrapnel and the remnants of destroyed market stalls.

Armando Morales, 50, said the blast threw him off his chair, adding the blast had an upward force and emitted smoke but no fireball that could have killed more people.

He saw at least 10 people lying bloodied on the ground, mostly masseurs and their customers.

I helped tie their wounds to prevent blood loss, he told the Associated Press. They were pale like dead already.

Adrian Abilanosa, another witness, told the AFP news agency: The force just hurled me. I practically flew in the air.

A woman cries in front of a body bag after an explosion at a market in Davao City, Philippines September 3, (Reuters)

Officials believe an improvised explosive device was used, possibly constructed using a mortar round.

The attack came as the Philippines armed forces continue a military offensive against Isis-affiliated Abu Sayyaf militants in the southern Sulu province, which intensified last week after the militants beheaded a kidnapped villager.

The jihadists had threatened to launch an attack after the military said 30 of their gunmen were killed in the weeklong offensive

Delfin Lorenzana, the defence secretary, said the group was attempting to gain revenge for heavy losses.

We have predicted this - and warned our troops accordingly - but the enemy is adept at using the democratic space granted by our constitution to move around freely and unimpeded to sow terror, he added.

An Abu Sayyaf spokesman, Abu Rami, claimed responsibility for the blast near the Jesuit-run Ateneo de Davao University, but Mr Duterte said investigators were looking at the possible involvement of drug syndicates.

According to police figures released on Thursday, more than 1,000 people have been killed by vigilantes and another 900 more in police operations over the past two months.

Mr Duterte was elected President in June, launching a campaign he claimed would kill so many drug users and dealers that fish will grow fat from bodies dumped in Manila bay.

Filipino soldiers man a military checkpoint near the site of an explosion at a night market in Davao city, Philippines, on 3 September (EPA)

Police immediately set up more checkpoints in key roads leading into Davao on Friday, about 600 miles south of Manila, where the police force went on full alert at midnight.

With an estimated 400 members, Abu Sayyafs jihadists have been waging an insurgency in the Philippines since the early 1990s with the aim of creating a regional Islamic state.

It funds itself through kidnappings and ransoms and has carried out numerous bombings, ambushes, public beheadings and assassinations, as well as killing several foreign hostages.

In July 2014, leader Isnilon Hapilon  designated a most-wanted terrorist by the FBI - pledged allegiance to Isis and its caliph Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi.

The Philippines military says there has been no evidence of a direct collaboration between Isis forces in the Middle East and Abu Sayyaf attacks.

The Foreign and Commonwealth Office warns against travel to southern provinces where the group is most active  including Mindanao where Davao is located  and says a high threat from terrorism exists throughout the country.

Barack Obama is expected to offer his personal condolences to Mr Duterte when the two leaders meet at the Association of Southeast Asian Nations summit in Laos next week
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Samia Shahid, the British woman who died in a suspected honour killing in Pakistan, was raped before she was killed, investigators have said.

The 28-year-old beautician, from Bradford, was allegedly strangled while visiting family in the village of Pandori in the northern Punjab region in July.

Local police also told the BBC that they believe that Ms Shahids father and former husband were responsible for her murder.

The pair appeared in court in August but the case was adjourned until 5 September. Both men have been remanded in custody.

Ms Shahids former husband, Chaudhry Muhammad Shakeel, is accused of murder. Her father, Chaudhry Muhammad Shahid, is being held as an accessory.

The mother and sister of Ms Shahid are also being asked to travel to Pakistan to face questions from police investigators.

Mukhtar Syed Kazam, the second husband of Ms Shahid, alerted the authorities after the wife of his family said she had died of natural causes in Pakistan. Ms Shahid had divorced Mr Shakeel against her familys wishes, marrying Mr Kazam in 2014.

The authorities initially said Ms Shahid's death was caused by cardiac arrest. But a second examination, brought about after photos emerged of bruising on her neck, concluded that strangulation was to blame.

Over 1,000 so-called honour killings were recorded in Pakistan in 2015, though the true number is likely to be higher.
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Millions of public sector workers have gone on strike in India to protest against the governments economic policies.

Public transport was disrupted and state-run banks, power stations and factories were closed as 10 trade unions called nationwide walkouts.

Reports suggested more than 150 million workers were taking part in the industrial action but the figure had not been confirmed.

"This strike is against the central government, this strike is for the cause of the working people," Ramen Pandey, president of West Bengal Indian National Trade Union Congress, told Al Jazeera.

"Our strike will be 100 per cent successful ... we will prove that this strike is the world's largest ever."

The strike was called after union leaders rejected the governments offer to increase the minimum wage for unskilled workers from 6,396 rupees (72) a month to 9,100 rupees (102).

There are also concerns that raising caps on foreign investment could lead to privatisation and eventually to the loss of jobs.

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

Prime Minister Narendra Modi's government has argued the reforms are needed to improve the economy.

Protestors took to the streets to campaign against the reforms and more than 20 people were arrested after two government buses were damaged, police official Anuj Sharma told the AFP news agency.
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Politicians in Australia spent over three quarters of a million dollars on flags in a six month period.

A total of $763,391.78 (434,000) was spent on flags by MPs and senators between July 1 2015 and December 31 2015, according to the latest figures.

Matt Thistlethwaite, Labour MP for Kingsford Smith, topped the list spending just short of $23,000 during the period, according to ABC.

There is no limit to the number of flags a politician is permitted to purchase, as long as it is within the constraints of their budget, the Finance Department clarified.

Some have suggested the vast amount being spent on flags in the past few years can be attributed to increased terror threats, the Sydney Morning Herald claimed.

In the previous year, over the same six month period, politicians spent over $500,000, according to the Australian Financial Review.

The expenditure report has been released in the run up to Australias National Flag Day.

On 3 September every year, Australia commemorates the day on which the national flag was first flown.

As part of the celebrations people have been encouraged to join the Commonwealth Flag Network by Assistant Minister to the Prime Minister James McGrath, according to ABC.

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

Following Britains vote to leave the EU there have been increased calls to remove the Union Jack from the Australian flag.

Peter FitzSimons, the chairman of Australias republican movement, argued that "Great Britain" hardly exists and scrapping the monarchy and changing the flag would distance the country from the divisive and horrible campaign as was Brexit.

"From the moment that Brexit came through, social media came alive, with people saying 'this is ridiculous, let us be our own people, let us get away from this', the Telegraph reported Mr FitzSimons as saying.
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Comapnies like online retailer Amazon and coffee chain Starbucks pay less tax in Austria than one of the country's tiny sausage stands, the republic's centre-left chancellor has lamented.

Chancellor Christian Kern, head of the Social Democrats and of the centrist coalition government, also criticised internet giants Google and Facebook, saying that if they paid more tax subsidies for print media could increase.

Every Viennese cafe, every sausage stand pays more tax in Austria than a multinational corporation, Mr Kern was quoted as saying in an interview with newspaper Der Standard, invoking two potent symbols of the Austrian capital's food culture.

That goes for Starbucks, Amazon and other companies, he said,

Recommended Read more Irish government agrees to appeal EU Apple tax ruling

Mr Kern praised the European Commission's ruling this week that Apple should pay up to 13 billion (11bn) in taxes plus interest to Ireland because a special scheme to route profits through that country was judged to amount to illegal state aid.

Apple has said it will appeal the ruling, which Chief Executive Tim Cook described as total political crap. Google, Facebook and other multinational companies say they follow all tax rules.

Mr Kern criticised EU states with low-tax regimes that have lured multinationals - and come under scrutiny from Brussels. What Ireland, the Netherlands, Luxembourg or Malta are doing here lacks solidarity towards the rest of the European economy, he said.

He stopped short of saying that Facebook and Google would have to pay more tax but underlined their significant sales in Austria, which he estimated at more than 100 million euros each, and their relatively small numbers of employees - a good dozen for Google and allegedly even fewer for Facebook.

They massively suck up the advertising volume that comes out of the economy but pay neither corporation tax nor advertising duty in Austria, said Mr Kern, who became chancellor in May.

Reuters
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Satirical French magazine Charlie Hebdo has been criticised for publishing a cartoon portraying Italian earthquake victims as pasta dishes.

The cartoon particularly upset residents of the hardest-hit town of Amatrice, which is famous for producing a tomato-based pasta sauce.

The mayor of Amatrice, where more than 230 people died in the 6.2 magnitude earthquake, called the cartoon tasteless and embarrassing, according to Italian news agency ANSA.

How the f*** do you draw a cartoon about the dead? Mayor Sergio Pirozzi said, adding he didn't believe the unpleasant" satire reflected French sentiment.

The cartoon depicts an injured man and woman standing side by side, and next to them a pile of rubble and bodies. The man is described as "penne sauce", the woman as "penne gratin", and the pile of dead bodies as "lasagne". All appear underneath the heading Italian earthquake style.

Social media users expressed disgust at the image, branding it outrageous, direspectful and inhumane.

The Italian Minister for Justice Andrea Orlando also condemned the images, but said he would not comment further as he believed Charlie Hebdo wanted to create a scandal and attract media attention.

The French embassy in Rome was forced to release a statement on Friday, saying the cartoon was not representative of France's attitude to the disaster.

Calling the suffering of Italian people an immense tragedy, the embassy offered sincere condolences on behalf of the French people, who it said are close to Italy in this difficult trial".

 From the Charlie Hebdo attack to Nice - the moments that have rocked France

Charlie Hebdo, however, did not apologise and instead released a second offensive cartoon on its official Facebook page on Friday night, further antagonising critics.

The cartoon caption read: Italians, it is not Charlie Hebdo that built your homes, its the mafia!

In pictures: Reaction to Charlie Hebdo attack Show all 39 1 /39 In pictures: Reaction to Charlie Hebdo attack In pictures: Reaction to Charlie Hebdo attack Reaction to Charlie Hebdo attack Pencils, representing the freedom of expression, placed in tribute in Nantes Reuters In pictures: Reaction to Charlie Hebdo attack Reaction to Charlie Hebdo attack France's Jason Lamy Chappuis soars through the air over a message that reads "Je suis Charlie" Getty In pictures: Reaction to Charlie Hebdo attack Reaction to Charlie Hebdo attack Solidarity in Nice AP In pictures: Reaction to Charlie Hebdo attack Reaction to Charlie Hebdo attack Turkish citizens organised a vigil in front of the French consulate in Istanbul AFP In pictures: Reaction to Charlie Hebdo attack Reaction to Charlie Hebdo attack Graffiti decorates a London wall in solidarity with the victims of the attack in Paris AFP In pictures: Reaction to Charlie Hebdo attack Reaction to Charlie Hebdo attack A tribute of flowers and candles outside the French Embassy in Prague, Czech Republic AP In pictures: Reaction to Charlie Hebdo attack Reaction to Charlie Hebdo attack Messages of sympathy near the Charlie Hebdo office in Paris AFP In pictures: Reaction to Charlie Hebdo attack Reaction to Charlie Hebdo attack Workers install a poster reading 'Je suis Charlie' (I am Charlie) on the Palais des Festivals facade in Cannes In pictures: Reaction to Charlie Hebdo attack Reaction to Charlie Hebdo attack A woman looks at floral tributes left outside the Charlie Hebdo magazine offices in Paris In pictures: Reaction to Charlie Hebdo attack Reaction to Charlie Hebdo attack A woman places flowers near the offices of French satirical newspaper Charlie Hebdo in Paris In pictures: Reaction to Charlie Hebdo attack Reaction to Charlie Hebdo attack Journalists of international press agency Agence France-Presse (AFP) hold signs reading "Je suis Charlie" (I am Charlie) at their headquarters in Paris as they observe a minute of silence for the victims of an attack by armed gunmen on the offices of French satirical newspaper Charlie Hebdo in Paris which left at least 12 dead and many others injured In pictures: Reaction to Charlie Hebdo attack Reaction to Charlie Hebdo attack Pens and pencils are placed in the form of a peace sign over the names of late French cartoonists Cabu, Tignous, Wolinski and late Charlie Hebdo editor Charb on the Place de la Republique (Republic Square) in Paris In pictures: Reaction to Charlie Hebdo attack Reaction to Charlie Hebdo attack Australia mourns victims of the Paris massacre at Federation Square in Melbourne In pictures: Reaction to Charlie Hebdo attack Reaction to Charlie Hebdo attack Indian artist Sudarsan Pattnaik is pictured with his sand sculpture, in tribute of those who lost their lives in the attack by gunmen on French satirical weekly Charlie Hebdo in Paris that killed 12 people, at Golden Sea Beach in Puri, some 65 kilometers from Bhubaneswar In pictures: Reaction to Charlie Hebdo attack Reaction to Charlie Hebdo attack A man holds a placard that reads "I am Charlie" as members of the European Parliament and citizens gather during a minute of silence for victims of the shooting at the Paris offices of weekly newspaper Charlie Hebdo, in front of the EU Parliament in Brussels In pictures: Reaction to Charlie Hebdo attack Reaction to Charlie Hebdo attack A painting of the 'Marianne', the national symbol of the French Republic is placed between candles to commemorate the victims killed in an attack at the Paris offices of the weekly newspaper Charlie Hebdo, in front of the French Embassy in Berlin In pictures: Reaction to Charlie Hebdo attack Reaction to Charlie Hebdo attack Pencils and flowers of condolance are placed at the French embassy at Pariser Platz in Berlin In pictures: Reaction to Charlie Hebdo attack Reaction to Charlie Hebdo attack Mourners hold signs depicting victim's eyes during a rally in support of Charlie Hebdo, a French satirical weekly newspaper that fell victim to an terrorist attack, at Union Square in New York In pictures: Reaction to Charlie Hebdo attack Reaction to Charlie Hebdo attack People hold up placards reading 'I am Charlie' during a gathering in Nice Getty Images In pictures: Reaction to Charlie Hebdo attack Reaction to Charlie Hebdo attack A man lights candles set near the portrait of three of the four cartoonists killed, in Paris Getty Images In pictures: Reaction to Charlie Hebdo attack Reaction to Charlie Hebdo attack A man holds the French national flag tied a black ribbon as he and others gather in Lyon to pay their respects Getty Images In pictures: Reaction to Charlie Hebdo attack Reaction to Charlie Hebdo attack Parisians gather to pay respect for the victims of a terror attack against 'Charlie Hebdo' Getty Images In pictures: Reaction to Charlie Hebdo attack Reaction to Charlie Hebdo attack People gather in front of the 'Club de la presse' in Montpellier, to show their solidarity for the victims of the attack by unknown gunmen on the offices of the satirical weekly, 'Charlie Hebdo' Getty Images In pictures: Reaction to Charlie Hebdo attack Reaction to Charlie Hebdo attack A drawing depicting cartoonist Jean Cabut, left, Charlie Hebdo editor Stephane Charbonnier, center, and cartoonist Georges Wolinski, is placed outside the French Embassy in Berlin, Germany. The message reads 'Victims of their success, R.I.P.' AP In pictures: Reaction to Charlie Hebdo attack Reaction to Charlie Hebdo attack A woman lays a candle during a gathering at the Place de la Republique in Paris Getty Images In pictures: Reaction to Charlie Hebdo attack Reaction to Charlie Hebdo attack People take part in a vigil in Trafalgar Square, London, following the deadly terror attack on French satirical magazine Charlie Hebdo in Paris PA In pictures: Reaction to Charlie Hebdo attack Reaction to Charlie Hebdo attack People light candles forming the name Charlie during a gathering in Strasbourg, eastern France Getty Images In pictures: Reaction to Charlie Hebdo attack Reaction to Charlie Hebdo attack People stand stand in Marseille, southern France, next to a portrait of French cartoonist Georges Wolinksi, killed during an attack by unknown gunmen on the offices of the satirical weekly, 'Charlie Hebdo' Getty Images In pictures: Reaction to Charlie Hebdo attack Reaction to Charlie Hebdo attack People hold placards reading in French 'I am Charlie' during a gathering at the Place de la Republique in Paris Getty Images In pictures: Reaction to Charlie Hebdo attack Reaction to Charlie Hebdo attack A man holds a placard reading 'With all our heart with Charlie Hebdo, Freedom of the press: Our freedom' during a gathering in Marseille, southern France Getty Images In pictures: Reaction to Charlie Hebdo attack Reaction to Charlie Hebdo attack The French and European union flags fly at half-mast at the French Embassy in Washington, DC Getty Images In pictures: Reaction to Charlie Hebdo attack Reaction to Charlie Hebdo attack People gather at the Place Royale in Nantes to show their solidarity for the victims of the attack in Paris Getty Images In pictures: Reaction to Charlie Hebdo attack Reaction to Charlie Hebdo attack Flowers, candles and a sign reading 'I am Charlie' are placed against a wall during a demonstration in Paris AP In pictures: Reaction to Charlie Hebdo attack Reaction to Charlie Hebdo attack Journalism students hold a banner reading in French: 'Journalism students : Solidarity' as they raise pens during a gathering at the Place de la Republique in Paris Getty Images In pictures: Reaction to Charlie Hebdo attack Reaction to Charlie Hebdo attack People gather for a rally in solidarity with the killed Charlie Hebdo employees, in Geneva, Switzerland EPA In pictures: Reaction to Charlie Hebdo attack Reaction to Charlie Hebdo attack A man holds a placard reading: 'Freedom of the press is priceless, fundamentalism, of any kind, will not pass' as others hold up placards reading in French, 'I am Charlie' during a gathering at the Place de la Republique in Paris Getty Images In pictures: Reaction to Charlie Hebdo attack Reaction to Charlie Hebdo attack Journalists raise their press cards as others hold up pens during a gathering at the Place de la Republique, following the terrorist attack on the offices of the satirical weekly, 'Charlie Hebdo' Getty Images In pictures: Reaction to Charlie Hebdo attack Reaction to Charlie Hebdo attack People hold candles at a rally in support of the victims of Wednesday's terrorist attack, at the Place de la Republique in Paris Getty Images In pictures: Reaction to Charlie Hebdo attack Reaction to Charlie Hebdo attack People gather in front of the city hall of Rennes, western France, following the attack in Paris Getty Images

Charlie Hebdo is still under police protection after 10 staff members were murdered by terrorists in January 2015.

The two gun men opened fire on an editorial meeting after the magazine published cartoons depicting the Prophet Mohamed.

In January, Charlie Hebdo caused outrage when it published a cartoon suggesting Alan Kurdi, the Syrian child who was photographed lying dead on a Greek beach last summer, would have grown up to be a rapist if he had lived.
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Mother Theresa, one of the most famous holy women of recent years, is due to be recognised as a saint by the Catholic Church. This process, known as canonisation, is complex and can take many years, even centuries to complete.

People who become saints do not intend to become recognised as such. Instead, they are considered devoutly religious people who have dedicated their lives to their faith and doing its works.

There are several stages to sainthood.

Firstly, the persons life is investigated by a bishop, usually of the deceaseds diocese. This is usually done five years after the death of the person, to allow for calm reflection on their life, works and writings. The bishop will look for evidence of a life lived devoutly and virtuously.

Then, the evidence is submitted to a panel  known as the Congregation for the Causes of Saints - for further consideration. They will ensure none of the persons writings or works go against the teachings of the Church. They may also interview witnesses who knew the person.

When a person is formally considered for sainthood, they are known as a Servant of God.

This Congregation will further investigate the evidence presented by the bishop. On their approval, the Pope will then decide if the person was of heroic virtue. If the Pope decides this is the case, the person is declared venerable and is a step closer to sainthood.

Ancient articles of faith: Catholic antiquities Show all 7 1 /7 Ancient articles of faith: Catholic antiquities Ancient articles of faith: Catholic antiquities 617987.bin Ancient articles of faith: Catholic antiquities 617981.bin  The Walters Art Museum Baltimore Ancient articles of faith: Catholic antiquities 617982.bin  The Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York Ancient articles of faith: Catholic antiquities 617983.bin  Musee National du Moyen Ages - Thermes de Cluny, Paris Ancient articles of faith: Catholic antiquities 617984.bin  The Trustees of the British Museum Ancient articles of faith: Catholic antiquities 617985.bin  The Cleveland Museum of Art Ancient articles of faith: Catholic antiquities 617986.bin

It is possible to be considered venerable but not to become a saint because of the next stage in the process: miracles.

Saints must have two miracles attributed to them across two stages in order to be canonised. These are usually mysterious medical recoveries which cannot be explained by science. Doctors are consulted in this process.

One of the miracles attributed to Edith Stein, also known as Saint Teresa Benedicta of the Cross, involved a young girl. In 1987 the child suffered from liver damage which led to a continual decline in her health. However, her father, a priest, reportedly prayed for the intervention of Saint Teresa and the child made a miraculous recovery. The Congregation for the Causes of the Saints decided in 1998 that as the recovery lacked any other explanation, it must have been due to Saint Teresa.

Once a miracle has been attributed to the person, they can be beatified  a papal statement which declares the deceased is in a state of bliss and a significant step towards full sainthood. The person is given the title blessed.

However, if a candidate for sainthood his considered a martyr, because they died for their faith, they do not need to be associated with miracles.

To complete the process and be canonised, a second miracle must be performed, after beatification. This is seen as the hardest step in the process to sainthood. However, it can be waived by the Pope.

Canonisation ceremonies usually take place in St Peters Square in Vatican City and can attract many thousands of people.
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Mammoths could become a protected species, despite dying out more than 4,000 years ago.

But there are no plans to bring back the extinct mammal, the proposal is instead intended to protect their closest living relative, the elephant.

Smugglers have allegedly used mammoth tusks to disguise the illegal sale of elephant ivory, encouraging poaching and making it harder to enforce the ban.

Melting permafrost in the Siberian tundra in far-eastern Russia has revealed up to 150 million mammoth carcasses.

It is estimated that 100 tonnes of mammoth tusk is exported by the country every year, primarily to China - the world's largest market for ivory.

Strict rules have controlled the sale of elephant ivory since 1989, when 182 signatory countries to the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) agreed to ban the sale of the material.

But these restrictions don't apply to mammoth ivory, giving smugglers a way to launder elephant ivory, passing it off as belonging to the elephants' prehistoric ancestors.

Iris Ho, the wildlife programme manager at Humane Society International, said: "You can sell a mammoth tusk and transport it without any proof of documentation, so you can import and export it very easily.

"So, sellers will ship both elephant and mammoth tusks in the same containers to try and smuggle illegal ivory in with the legal mammoth tusks."

Smugglers have allegedly gone as far as colouring elephant ivory to make it look more like mammoth tusk, which tends to be a darker colour and streakier than elephant ivory.

According to the International Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW), it is extremely difficult for customs officers to differentiate between real and fake ivory, let alone elephant and mammoth ivory.

"This profusion of substances aiming to mimic ivory, and the dozens of terms for them, can make this area extremely difficult for police and Customs officers, who are unlikely to have specialised knowledge" IFAW said in a report.

"Although various tests can be used to differentiate between elephant ivory and that of other mammals, and to tell the difference between ivory and most synthetic substances, none of these methods are foolproof."

No extinct animal has ever before been given protected status by CITES, which accords varying degrees of protection to more than 35,000 species, but a proposal to curb the trade in mammoth tusks will be voted on at the CITES meeting in Johannesburg this month.

Corridor allows India's threatened elephants to roam in peace Show all 3 1 /3 Corridor allows India's threatened elephants to roam in peace Corridor allows India's threatened elephants to roam in peace 11832.bin IFAW/The News Market Corridor allows India's threatened elephants to roam in peace 11766.bin Alamy Corridor allows India's threatened elephants to roam in peace 11833.bin IFAW/The News Market

The proposal by Israel states: "The rise in trade in mammoth ivory poses an indirect threat to elephant populations in the wild by creating a simple way to enable trade in 'laundered' elephant ivory."

The secretary-general of CITES, John Scanlon, said: "This is the first long-extinct animal considered for a restriction in trade.

"We have to work out how we might legally do this."

In 2010, US first lady Michelle Obama wore a mammoth tusk necklace, soon after a journal report had cautiously endorsed the material, saying it woud reduce demand for elephant ivory from Africa. Probably.

But animal rights groups said anything that encourages the fashion for ivory is problematic.

All ivory, even if legally sourced, fuels the ivory trade, Save the Elephants stated in a campaign.

A third of the population of African elephants has been wiped out over the last decade, a recent survey found, with only 350,000 wild elephants now remaining on the continent.

Africa once had an estimated 20 million elephants. In 1979, there were only 1.3 million.
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The Syrian Kurdish leadership vows to defend their de facto state in north east Syria to the end, but is fearful of a growing understanding between the Syrian and Turkish governments in opposition to Kurdish separatism at a time when US support for the Kurds is faltering.

In an exclusive interview with The Independent, a senior Syrian Kurdish official says that the Kurds will fight to the death to stop Turkey invading the region and speaks of possible reconciliation between Damascus and Ankara on the Kurdish question.

The Syrian Kurds, who have been the most effective US ally in the war against Isis in Syria, now see themselves as possible victims of international betrayal. The US support for the Turkish military intervention in Syria on 24 August and demand that the Syrian Kurdish Peoples Protection Units (YPG), who had just captured the strategic town of Manbij from Isis after a hard-fought siege, should pull back east of the Euphrates river, were bitter blows to the Kurds. Without whole-hearted US support, they are vulnerable to attacks by the numerous enemies who encircle them, notably Turkey and possibly, in future, the Syrian government.

 Turkey denies reaching ceasefire with Kurdish forces in Syria

Sihanouk Dibo, senior adviser to the Syrian Kurdish leader Salih Muslim in Qamishli, the de facto Syrian Kurdish capital, says in an email interview that he views fighting between the YPG and Syrian government forces in the northeastern provincial capital of Hasakah as a sign that Syria and Turkey are increasingly on the same side when it comes to the Kurds. On 18 August, the Syrian Air Force attacked YPG targets in and around Hasakah for the first time in five years of war. What happened in Hasakah is not a mere local conflict, its a game by regional powers says Mr Dibo. More precisely, the Syrian government and Turkey, though currently hostile to each other, are against [any form of Kurdish separatism including local autonomy]. Recently, Turkey has hinted it may move to normalise relations with [Syrian President Bashar al-] Assad. The Syrian governments response to Turkeys suggestion was also a hint to return the relations as they were before 2011 not by statements, but by action, which is shelling Hasakah.

Mr Dibo says he doubts that Turkey has a coherent plan on how to deal with the Syrian Kurds. He believes that a full-scale invasion of the Kurdish region will fail because of the Kurdish resistance and because Turkey has not thought through what it is doing and acts haphazardly.

Foreign observers believe that here the Syrian Kurds may be detecting a co-ordinated conspiracy against themselves which does not really exist. But there is no doubt that in August, the Syrian Kurdish leadership, whose forces have been making spectacular advances on the ground since they won the battle of Kobani against Isis in early 2015 so they control a swathe of northern Syria, were in trouble on several fronts. The fighting in Hasakah came after the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), whose main component is the YPG, captured Manbij, a strategically-placed town in north Aleppo province, on 13 August. Four days earlier, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan had met with Russian President Vladimir Putin and appears to have reconciled him to the prospect of limited Turkish military intervention.

In the event, Russia was surprisingly restrained in its reaction to the Turkish action. It may be that the very success of the Kurdish-US military combination  50,000 YPG fighters on the ground backed by the massive fire power of the US Air Force  had alienated Russia. Its previous reason for supporting the Syrian Kurds was simply that they were anti-Turkish at a time of extreme Turkish-Russian hostility in the wake of the shooting down of a Russian fighter-bomber by a Turkish jet on 24 November last year. Once Moscow and Ankara were reconciled, the Russians had less need for the Kurds.

In pictures: Civilians freed from Isis in Manbij Show all 11 1 /11 In pictures: Civilians freed from Isis in Manbij In pictures: Civilians freed from Isis in Manbij Women and children celebrating after being freed from Isis in Manbij, Syria, on 12 August Reuters In pictures: Civilians freed from Isis in Manbij A man cuts the beard of a civilian who was freed from Isis by the SDF in Manbij on 12 August Reuters In pictures: Civilians freed from Isis in Manbij Women carry newborn babies while running after being freed from Isis in Manbij, Syria, on 12 August Reuters In pictures: Civilians freed from Isis in Manbij A woman freed from Isis hugs an SDF fighter in Manbij on 12 August Reuters In pictures: Civilians freed from Isis in Manbij A woman adding her veil to a pile of niqabs burning in Manbij, Syria, after being freed from Isis on 12 August Reuters In pictures: Civilians freed from Isis in Manbij Children celebrating on top of a lorry after being freed from Isis in Manbij, Syria, on 12 August Reuters In pictures: Civilians freed from Isis in Manbij A man and child freed from Isis by the SDF in Manbij on 12 August Reuters In pictures: Civilians freed from Isis in Manbij A woman carrying her children walks towards SDF fighters after being freed from Isis in Manbij, Syria, on 12 August Reuters In pictures: Civilians freed from Isis in Manbij A woman and child freed from Isis in Manbij, Syria, on 12 August Reuters In pictures: Civilians freed from Isis in Manbij An SDF fighter kisses a crying man who was freed from Isis in Manbij, Syria, on 12 August Reuters In pictures: Civilians freed from Isis in Manbij Hundreds of civilians freed from Isis in Manbij, Syria, on 12 August Reuters

The Kurds may have been too successful for their own good. Their victory at Manbij and the advance of YPG-led forces north towards the Isis-held town of Jarabulus on the Syrian-Turkish border and west towards the Kurdish enclave of Afrin were steps too far for several of the multitude of powers now involved in the Syrian conflict. The complex mosaic of shaky alliances, tacit understandings, deep-seated rivalries and age-long hostility began to shift. Mr Dibo says that it is significant that the Syrian armed forces attack on Hasakah came after liberating Manbij and the reconciliation of Turkey and Russia.

Complicated though this is, the real story of what happened is even more murky. The Syrian Kurds, the much praised ally of the US and the international community against Isis, did not appreciate  and the Americans probably deliberately did not make clear  that there were limits to US protection against Turkish intervention on the ground. This had been on the cards since the summer of 2015, but had been delayed because of US doubts about the project and then Russian determination to punish Turkey at the first opportunity for shooting down its plane.

Recommended Read more Turkey may be overplaying its hand with Syria ground offensive

The fighting in Hasakah, a Kurdish-Arab city close to the oilfields of north east Syria, started for local reasons. The city is mostly held by the YPG which fought Isis in combination with pro-Syrian government Arab militia and Syrian soldiers, but relations between the two was always fraught. Fighting began between the militia and the Kurdish Asayish police force. The Syrian army supported the militia with heavy weapons and the YPG counter-attacked successfully and surrounded the city. The Syrian Air Force then bombed YPG targets, killing several Kurdish civilians while others fled the city.

For over a year the Syrian Army had been co-operating in Aleppo and elsewhere against Isis and the Syrian armed opposition, but both sides now swiftly emphasised their deep-felt and undying hostility. Mr Dibo says the Kurds simply want a decentralised federal system giving them autonomy while the government is a traditional dictatorship that has carried out dozens of massacres. He says the two sides can never be allies, though both are fighting Isis.

The war in Syria has been full of decisive moments and game changing events which turn out to be of much less significance than had been supposed. The murderous conflict continues unabated. But the Turkish military intervention 10 days ago is changing the relationship between the antagonists in the war, with opposition to the Kurds and the US-Kurdish military alliance playing a greater role.

Shadi Ahmed, an economic and political analyst in Damascus, agrees that the ground rules of the Syrian conflict are shifting. He says: Turkey has now started to understand that Turkey adopted and supported Isis in order to weaken the Syrian government. But this is now reflecting back on Turkey because a weaker Syria means that the Kurds are stronger. He argues that the Kurdish factor is reducing tension between Russia, Turkey, Iraq and Iran, all of whom believe that whatever Kurdish leaders in any country in the region say about autonomy or federalism, in practice they want an independent state.

 US criticises Turkish offensive in Syria

Mr Ahmed points out that Turkey and Russia have modified their language towards each other. Turkey has always claimed that the YPG and the rulers of the Kurdish enclave in northern Syria are simply the Syrian branch of the Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) against which the Turkish state has been waging war since 1984. But it was only recently that Syrian military referred to Kurdish forces as the PKK. For their part, Turkish leaders are putting less emphasis on the departure of Mr Assad as a precondition for ending the war. But Mr Ahmed says he is sure that Mr Erdogan will not stop supporting and supplying the armed opposition in Syria, some 80 per cent of whom are under his control and are one of his main political cards in the conflict.

There are now so many international players involved in the multiple crises and confrontations being fought out in Syria that everybodys room for advance  and even manoeuvre  is constrained. Isis will be hoping that so many countries and parties in the conflict are pursuing their own interests, while pretending to fight the jihadis, that Isis will continue to survive. The Syrian Kurds have little choice but to continue with their US alliance and hope that the Americans do not wholly abandon them  though doubtless with much wringing of hands  to Turkey or any future Syrian government.

Mr Dibo says that, despite the US support for a limited Turkish intervention and a YPG withdrawal east of the Euphrates, the YPG attacks on Isis will not be reduced. As for an attack on the Isis Syrian capital of Raqqa, he says that liberating Raqqa is a strategic goal for the SDF and its [YPG] allies who would do their best to take the city, though this would be more difficult following the Turkish intervention.

Mr Dibo did not say so, but the danger for the two million Syrian Kurds is that they are isolated apart from the unsteady and largely military relationship with the US. As for Turkey, it may have made itself an important player in Syria through its military intervention, but it has not solved its basic problem. It has stopped Kurdish expansion westwards, but there is a de facto Kurdish state in northern Syria that will be an inspiration and a sanctuary for the embattled Kurdish minority in Turkey. Given that Turkey has chosen a military solution to its Kurdish question at home, it can only hope to win there by also defeating the Syrian Kurds across the border. The Turks may find that they are like the Americans in Vietnam half a century ago, who intervened in Cambodia only to find that they had spread the war rather than ending it. The political kaleidoscope in Syria changes, but looking through it, the prospect is still for more war.
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More Turkish tanks have crossed into Syria as rebels open up a new front against Isis ever-shrinking territory.

Troops with armoured personnel carriers entered the town of al-Rai on Saturday as howitzers pounded extremists positions to clear the way for Free Syrian Army (FSA) rebels.

The strategic town has changed hands between Isis and the FSA several times during the Syrian civil war because of its strategic position near a border crossing and on the former Baghdad railway.

It fell under rebel control again last week after battles supported by Turkish ground forces and the US-led coalition, and is now being used as a base to drive jihadists further from the border.

 Turkey denies reaching ceasefire with Kurdish forces in Syria

The state-run Anadolu Agency described the push as a new phase in operation Euphrates Shield, which started on 24 August with an advance on the former Isis stronghold of Jarablus.

Al-Rai is almost 20 miles west of the Turkish-backed forces other frontline near the town of Qundarah, which was captured from Isis on Friday, and battles are expected to focus on clearing Isis from the border region lying between.

The operations are to work from al-Rai towards the villages that were liberated to the west of Jarablus, Colonel Ahmed Osman of the Sultan Murad rebel group told Reuters.

The Hamza Brigade, part of the FSA, said it had taken control of Arab Ezza on Saturday, while the Islamist Faylaq al-Sham alliance announced the capture of villages including Fursan, Lilawa, Kino and Najma.

The Turkish Armed Forces said the villages of Idalat and Talyah Garbiyah along with the Kubba Turkuman airport were also captured by advancing FSA units during the day.

Fighting between rebels backed by Recep Tayyip Erdogans government and groups supported by the US-led coalition have calmed in recent days.

In pictures: Turkey launches operation in Syria Show all 9 1 /9 In pictures: Turkey launches operation in Syria In pictures: Turkey launches operation in Syria Turkish tanks driving to the Syrian-Turkish border town of Jarabulus yesterday AFP/Getty In pictures: Turkey launches operation in Syria Turkish-backed gather on the outskirts of Jarabulus, Syria, ahead of an offensive on 24 August 2016 Reuters In pictures: Turkey launches operation in Syria Turkish army tanks make their way towards the Syrian border town of Jarabulus, Syria August 24, 2016 Reuters In pictures: Turkey launches operation in Syria Turkish soldiers return from Syria to Turkey with tanks after a military operation at the Syrian border as part of their offensive against the Islamic State (IS) militant group in Syria, Karkamis district of Gaziantep, Turkey, 25 August 2016 EPA In pictures: Turkey launches operation in Syria Turkish army tanks and Turkey-backed Syrian opposition forces move toward the Syrian border as pictured from Karkamis, Turkey, AP In pictures: Turkey launches operation in Syria Turkish tanks on their way to the Turkish-Syria border during an operation against Isis on 24 August 2016 EPA In pictures: Turkey launches operation in Syria Syrian opposition fighters being transported during preparations to enter Jarabulus in Karkamis, Turkey, on 24 August 2016. EPA In pictures: Turkey launches operation in Syria An air strike hitting Isis-controlled territory near Jarabulus, near the Turkish border, on 24 August 2016. EPA In pictures: Turkey launches operation in Syria A Turkish army tank and an armoured vehicle stationed near the border with Syria. Turkish media reports say Turkish artillery has launched new strikes at Isis targets across the border AP

There were concerns over a developing proxy war between the US and Turkey after rebels in the Jarablus offensive started advancing on territory controlled by the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF).

Recommended Read more Turkey may be overplaying its hand with Syria ground offensive

The predominantly Kurdish group had been armed and trained by members of the US-led coalition for a successful advance that drove Isis out of swathes of northern Syria, including the key city of Manbij.

But the SDFs main component, the Peoples Protection Units (YPG), are regarded as terrorists by Turkey, which was alarmed by advances enabling Kurdish groups to control of land stretching almost the entire length of the Syrian border.

YPG fighters have been bombed by Turkish jets and attacked by the FSA rebels it supports in recent days but a tentative lull in fighting set in last week after the US called on the SDF to pull back east of the Euphrates River.

But Kurdish fighters speaking to The Independent have vowed to fight to the death to defend the territory they have gained in Syrias long civil war.

John Kirby, a spokesperson for the US State Department, said the calm continued on Friday.

We continue to call on everybody to focus their efforts on Daesh [Isis] inside Syria, he told a press briefing. The clashes were doing nothing to help us focus our efforts against Daesh.

Turkish troops head to the Syrian border to contain the expansion of Syria's Kurds (AP)

On Saturday, Euphrates Shield officials released footage purporting to show battles between Turkey-backed rebels and Isis militants, with heavy gun battles seen on frontlines near Tilalayn, outside Azaz.

Activists have reported protests in Syrian towns near the border in recent days against what demonstrators have called imperialism, being met by tear gas and water cannon fired by Turkish security forces on Friday.

There have also been allegations of civilian casualties during the FSA advance, dismissed by Turkish officials as false newsspread by terror organisations.

President Erdogan has said the incursion into Syria, which came without approval from Damascus or the United Nations, was justified as self-defence following a series of terror attacks by both Isis and Kurdish separatist groups.

He called both groups terrorists while speaking in China ahead of the G20 summit.

There is no good terrorist - all terrorists are bad, Mr Erdogan said. All organisations involved in terrorism are cursed. This is how we see things and how we put up our struggle.

Strikes byTurkey near the Syrian border (AFP/Getty Images) (AFP/Getty)

The Turkish border town of Kilis was also stuck by three rockets fired from Isis-held territory on Saturday, wounding one person.

Turkey responded with howitzers, striking two weapons pits and bunkers, and destroying the locations and the Daesh terrorists there, Anadolu reported.

Elsewhere in Syria, air strikes and battles continued around the city of Hama, where opposition and Islamist rebels were clashing with troops loyal to President Bashar al-Assad.

The al-Qaeda linked Jund al-Aqsa group released a video purporting to show its first air strikes using a homemade bombs dropped from a drone. The explosives did not appear to cause any casualties.

Air strikes were also reported in Isis' de-facto capital of Raqqa. The so-called Islamic State has suffered a series of territorial losses in Syria and Iraq in recent months, including the cities of Manbij, Fallujah and Palmyra.
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Dubbed a "business necessity" rather than a leisure destination, Newark in New Jersey, US, has landed the top spot as the world's least friendly city.

Newark's "extreme traffic and poor signage" have been cited as reasons for the city's lack of congeniality, while its status as an airport city is said to make it crowded and overpriced.

One disappointed traveller recently said Newark was "one of the saddest looking cities" they had ever seen.

America and Africa both fared poorly in the rankings, compiled by US travel magazine Conde Nast Traveler.

Tijuana, Mexico, came out second, denounced for its reputation of being "dirty" and "unsafe", while Oakland in California was ranked third, with one visitor describing it as "scary".

Dar es Salaam in Tanzania cam out in fourth place, branded "much too crowded and chaotic", while Maputo in neighbouring country Mozambique was ranked seventh for not being "user friendly" enough.

Top 10 most unfriendly cities in the world 2016 Show all 10 1 /10 Top 10 most unfriendly cities in the world 2016 Top 10 most unfriendly cities in the world 2016 Newark, New Jersey Newark, New Jersey Flickr/A.Duarte Top 10 most unfriendly cities in the world 2016 Tijuana, Mexico Tijuana, Mexico Flickr/xiquinhosilva Top 10 most unfriendly cities in the world 2016 Oakland, California Oakland, California Flickr Top 10 most unfriendly cities in the world 2016 Dar es Salaam Dar es Salaam Flickr/imke.stahlmann Top 10 most unfriendly cities in the world 2016 Atlantic City, New Jersey Atlantic City, New Jersey Flickr/momentcaptured1 Top 10 most unfriendly cities in the world 2016 Caracas, Venezuela Caracas, Venezuela Flickr/Julios Cesar Mesa Top 10 most unfriendly cities in the world 2016 Maputo, Mozambique Maputo, Mozambique Flickr/Rosino Top 10 most unfriendly cities in the world 2016 8) Detroit, Michigan Detroit, Michigan Flickr Top 10 most unfriendly cities in the world 2016 Lagos, Nigeria Lagos, Nigeria Flickr/Juju Films Top 10 most unfriendly cities in the world 2016 Doha, Qatar Doha, Qatar Flickr/Larry Johnson

Also in the slated list were Atlantic City, also in New Jersey, Carcacas in Venezuela, Detroit in Michigan, Lagos in Nigeria and Doha in Qatar.
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I had high hopes, at the Cabinet meeting on Wednesday, that Theresa May was going to conduct the whole of her premiership in rhyming couplets. Against the grand, wood-panelled backdrop of the Prime Ministers country house, Chequers, she said: Brexit means Brexit and were going to make a success of it.

But she continued in free verse: That means theres no second referendum; no attempts to sort of stay in the EU by the back door; that were actually going to deliver on this. These were important words, even if they didnt rhyme; even if she seemed to be saying what we knew already; and even if she slightly mangled the back door metaphor.

We know what she means. Brexit does not mean leaving the EU by the front door and then returning by the back door of the EEA, the European Economic Area, which includes Norway and Iceland. They are part of the single market, which includes the free movement of EU workers, but they are not members of the EU.

 Inside Theresa May's cabinet meeting at Chequers to discuss Brexit

It has been suggested, even by some Brexit supporters, that EEA might be an off-the-shelf status that Britain could adopt as a transitional way out of the EU. The significance of the Chequers Cabinet was that this has now been ruled out.

The official summary of the discussion made this explicit. The decisive view of cabinet ministers was that the model we are seeking is one unique to the United Kingdom and not an off-the-shelf solution. This must mean controls on the numbers of people who come to Britain from Europe but also a positive outcome for those who wish to trade goods and services.

There you have it. This column deduced it a few weeks ago, but now we have it in writing from the Prime Ministers office: control of immigration comes first, and so the Government will not try to stay in the single market, because it cannot do both.

That also means that all the agonising over when to trigger Article 50, the start of the formal two-year timetable for leaving the EU, is over. I dont think Theresa May has decided definitely yet, but it looks as if, having bought time by ruling it out until the end of this year, she will do it straight away in January.

That is what Angela Merkel and Francois Hollande expect, and there is no good reason to delay. The pause has given Ms May time to work out that Article 50 is a Catch-22. She doesnt want to trigger it until she knows the outlines of the deal between Britain and the EU, but the rest of the EU dont want to start negotiating the deal until she has triggered it.

So she just has to get on with it and try to get the best deal she can. Delay will not change the fundamental asymmetry of the relationship. That is why it doesnt matter much whether or not Parliament has a vote on Article 50. Government lawyers are confident that they will win when the Supreme Court rules next month on this question, but even if Parliament did have to vote, I dont think it would try to delay the will of the people as expressed in the referendum.

Emma Reynolds, one of Labours most articulate pro-EU MPs, wrote on Friday that, although she thought Parliament must have a say, this should not be an attempt to block the process of leaving the EU. She sees a parliamentary debate merely as a chance to influence the UKs negotiating strategy.

Thats a forlorn hope. The Government doesnt have much influence over its own negotiating strategy. If we want to know what kind of deal to expect with the Continuity EU, we have to look at ourselves through German, French and Bruxellois eyes. We had a lot of this during the referendum campaign, about how German car makers wouldnt stand for tariffs on their exports to the UK. But now that the referendum is over, German politicians dont seem to be taking that line.

Brexit reactions  in pictures Show all 10 1 /10 Brexit reactions  in pictures Brexit reactions  in pictures Supporters of the Stronger In campaign look at their phones after hearing results in the EU referendum at London's Royal Festival Hall AP Brexit reactions  in pictures Leave supporters cheer results at a Leave.eu party after polling stations closed in the Referendum on the European Union in London Reuters Brexit reactions  in pictures Mr Cameron announces his resignation to supporters Getty Brexit reactions  in pictures Donald Tusk proposes that the 27 remaining EU member states start a wider reflection on the future of our union Getty Brexit reactions  in pictures Ukip leader Nigel Farage greets his supporters on College Green in Westminster, after Britain voted to leave the European Union PA Brexit reactions  in pictures Supporters of the Stronger In Campaign react as referendum results are announced today Getty Brexit reactions  in pictures Boris Johnson leaves his home today to discover a crowd of waiting journalists and police officers Getty Brexit reactions  in pictures Leave EU supporters celebrate as they watch the British EU Referendum results being televised at Millbank Tower in London Rex Brexit reactions  in pictures Supporters of the Stronger In Campaign react as results of the EU referendum are announced at the Royal Festival Hall Reuters Brexit reactions  in pictures Supporters of the Stronger In campaign react after hearing results in the EU referendum at London's Royal Festival Hall PA

We cannot give them any concessions because others will then demand the same, said Thomas Oppermann, parliamentary leader of the Social Democrats, Ms Merkels coalition partners.

So all the earnest discussion in Britain about whether we want hard Brexit or soft Brexit is irrelevant. There is only Brexit, plus whatever we can recover from the wreckage. Which is whatever the other 27 countries want to give us. We have to hope they think free trade is in their interest, but there is little we can do to stop them picking and choosing what to have free trade in (cars) and what barriers to keep up (financial services).

I am not saying this to try to be negative. I am with Philip Hammond, the Chancellor, whose prediction of lower economic growth next year provoked Boris Johnson at the Chequers Cabinet into saying it was important to be confident, according to James Forsyth of The Spectator. Hammond coldly replied that the Government had to be confident and realistic.

The British people voted for Brexit knowing that there would be an economic price to pay. Theresa May knows that the political price she would pay if she failed to deliver Brexit would be higher.

But if she were to honestly express herself in rhyming couplets, she would say: Brexit means Brexit and were not in control of it.
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A new Donald Trump? It cant be. The arrival last month of the right wing iconoclast Steve Bannon as his new campaign chief was held as proof of a reversion to the Let Trump be Trump formula that had annihilated every opponent in the Republican primaries. A definitive end, surely, to the efforts of Paul Manafort  the man Bannon replaced  to house-train the Manhattan businessman in the ways of conventional politics?

And this theory was only vindicated by the snarling immigration speech Trump delivered in Arizona on Wednesday, studded with his trademark lies (or factual inaccuracies as they are known) and in which he extolled deportation task forces and vowed to build his beautiful wall, paid for 100 per cent by Mexico, to keep the illegals out. Look a little closer however and a new method may be emerging from the madness.

A few hours earlier Trump had been in Mexico City, neatly upstaging Hillary Clinton, as he held talks with the Mexican president Enrique Pena Nieto. Admittedly he was helped by a stunningly feeble performance from his host. But there was Trump on the world stage, saying the right things at the joint press conference afterwards, nodding sagely at points made by his interlocutor, the personification of diplomacy and politeness. Heavens, one thought, maybe he wouldnt be so bad after all, maybe he wouldnt press the nuclear button at a perceived insult during an international summit.

 Trump Vows Again That 'Mexico Will Build That Wall'

Yet, back in Phoenix, he seemed his old self  behaving, it could be argued, like the classic bully: fawning when on foreign soil and out of his comfort zone, but hectoring, mendacious and vicious when safely returned to home turf, addressing his adoring followers.

However forget the presentation. Forget too the playing fast and loose with facts (no amount of fact-checking will overcome the eternal human truth that people believe what they want to believe.) Instead, parse the speech more closely. Set aside the Mexican-financed wall, and Trumps policies are not so different from those of Barack Obama, the supposed immigration softie who in fact has deported or prevented from entering the US more people than any president before him. Like Obama, Trump would focus on criminal elements, leaving the fate of the 11m illegals who pursue a law-abiding if precarious existence for a later date.

In essence, Trump is not ruling out the bargain at the core of various attempts at immigration reform on Capitol Hill over the last few years: a truly watertight border, coupled with de facto amnesty and a path to citizenship for those who are already here  and without whom, everyone knows, swathes of the US economy would cease to function.

Or take the economy, by far the most important consideration for ordinary voters (for all Trumps fulminations, only 8 per cent of Americans regard immigration as the elections most important single issue). Hes had plenty to plenty to work with these last few months: feeble growth, still stagnant earnings and a pervasive feeling that things are not as good as the employment statistics imply.

Naked Donald Trump Statue Appears Across The States Show all 11 1 /11 Naked Donald Trump Statue Appears Across The States Naked Donald Trump Statue Appears Across The States SAN FRANCISCO, CA - AUGUST 18: A passerby kisses a statue depicting republican presidential nominee Donald Trump in the nude on August 18, 2016 in San Francisco, United States. Anarchist collective INDECLINE has created five statues depicting Donald Trump in the nude and placed them in five U.S. cities on Thursday morning. The statues are in San Francisco, New York, Los Angeles, Cleveland and Seattle. (Photo by Justin Sullivan/Getty Images) Getty Images Naked Donald Trump Statue Appears Across The States SAN FRANCISCO, CA - AUGUST 18: A passerby looks at a statue depicting republican presidential nominee Donald Trump in the nude on August 18, 2016 in San Francisco, United States. Anarchist collective INDECLINE has created five statues depicting Donald Trump in the nude and placed them in five U.S. cities on Thursday morning. The statues are in San Francisco, New York, Los Angeles, Cleveland and Seattle. (Photo by Justin Sullivan/Getty Images) Getty Images Naked Donald Trump Statue Appears Across The States SAN FRANCISCO, CA - AUGUST 18: A passerby takes a picture of a statue depicting republican presidential nominee Donald Trump in the nude on August 18, 2016 in San Francisco, United States. Anarchist collective INDECLINE has created five statues depicting Donald Trump in the nude and placed them in five U.S. cities on Thursday morning. The statues are in San Francisco, New York, Los Angeles, Cleveland and Seattle. (Photo by Justin Sullivan/Getty Images) Getty Images Naked Donald Trump Statue Appears Across The States SAN FRANCISCO, CA - AUGUST 18: People gather around a statue depicting republican presidential nominee Donald Trump in the nude on August 18, 2016 in San Francisco, United States. Anarchist collective INDECLINE has created five statues depicting Donald Trump in the nude and placed them in five U.S. cities on Thursday morning. The statues are in San Francisco, New York, Los Angeles, Cleveland and Seattle. (Photo by Justin Sullivan/Getty Images) Getty Images Naked Donald Trump Statue Appears Across The States SAN FRANCISCO, CA - AUGUST 18: People gather around a statue depicting republican presidential nominee Donald Trump in the nude on August 18, 2016 in San Francisco, United States. Anarchist collective INDECLINE has created five statues depicting Donald Trump in the nude and placed them in five U.S. cities on Thursday morning. The statues are in San Francisco, New York, Los Angeles, Cleveland and Seattle. (Photo by Justin Sullivan/Getty Images) Getty Images Naked Donald Trump Statue Appears Across The States SAN FRANCISCO, CA - AUGUST 18: A passerby hugs a statue depicting republican presidential nominee Donald Trump in the nude on August 18, 2016 in San Francisco, United States. Anarchist collective INDECLINE has created five statues depicting Donald Trump in the nude and placed them in five U.S. cities on Thursday morning. The statues are in San Francisco, New York, Los Angeles, Cleveland and Seattle.(Photo by Justin Sullivan/Getty Images) Getty Images Naked Donald Trump Statue Appears Across The States SAN FRANCISCO, CA - AUGUST 18: A passerby has a picture taken with a statue depicting republican presidential nominee Donald Trump in the nude on August 18, 2016 in San Francisco, United States. Anarchist collective INDECLINE has created five statues depicting Donald Trump in the nude and placed them in five U.S. cities on Thursday morning. The statues are in San Francisco, New York, Los Angeles, Cleveland and Seattle. (Photo by Justin Sullivan/Getty Images) Getty Images Naked Donald Trump Statue Appears Across The States SAN FRANCISCO, CA - AUGUST 18: A passerby has a picture taken with a statue depicting republican presidential nominee Donald Trump in the nude on August 18, 2016 in San Francisco, United States. Anarchist collective INDECLINE has created five statues depicting Donald Trump in the nude and placed them in five U.S. cities on Thursday morning. The statues are in San Francisco, New York, Los Angeles, Cleveland and Seattle. (Photo by Justin Sullivan/Getty Images) Getty Images Naked Donald Trump Statue Appears Across The States NEW YORK, NY - AUGUST 18: Park authorities haul away a statue of a naked GOP presidential candidate Donald Trump that appeared in Union Square Park this morning on August 18, 2016 in New York City. The illegally placed statue drew hundreds of curious onlookers, who took selfie picture with the statue, which was signed "Ginger." A published report attributed the work to the anarchist collective INDECLINE, which titled the project "The Emperor Has No B--s." (Photo by Spencer Platt/Getty Images) Getty Images Naked Donald Trump Statue Appears Across The States NEW YORK, NY - AUGUST 18: A molded foot is all that remains of a statue of naked GOP presidential candidate Donald Trump that appeared in Union Square Park this morning on August 18, 2016 in New York City. The illegally placed statue drew hundreds of curious onlookers, who took selfie picture with the statue, which was signed "Ginger." A published report attributed the work to the anarchist collective INDECLINE, which titled the project "The Emperor Has No B--s." (Photo by Spencer Platt/Getty Images) Getty Images Naked Donald Trump Statue Appears Across The States NEW YORK, NY - AUGUST 18: Park authorities haul away a statue of a naked GOP presidential candidate Donald Trump that appeared in Union Square Park this morning on August 18, 2016 in New York City. The illegally placed statue drew hundreds of curious onlookers, who took selfie picture with the statue, which was signed "Ginger." A published report attributed the work to the anarchist collective INDECLINE, which titled the project "The Emperor Has No B--s." (Photo by Spencer Platt/Getty Images) Getty Images

But previously hes blown it. At the end of July, the government announced some pretty lousy GDP news, a bare 1.2 per cent annual growth in the second quarter, which any self-respecting Republican candidate would have leapt on. And where was Trump? Bogged down in a disastrous, unwinnable quarrel he had picked with a Muslim-American couple whose son had died fighting for the US in Iraq.

On Friday, when some uninspiring August unemployment figures were released, Trump didnt make the same mistake. He responded instantly with a tweet blaming the Obama-Clinton administration for failing to create jobs and boost pay in American industry.

A small detail, but a sign perhaps of a new Trump focus. It all adds up to the best week Trumps had since the conventions. Admittedly thats not saying much. With Hillary Clinton largely confining herself to lavish summer fundraisers among her friends in the Hamptons, hes had the field pretty much to himself. Yet he still trails her by several points overall and  more important  by larger margins in most of the swing states where the election will be decided. In terms of money and state-by-state organisation Clinton leads by a country mile.

Nonetheless, on the eve of the Labor Day holiday that traditionally marks the start of the general election campaign proper, Trump has clearly narrowed the gap since the dark days of early August, when a Democratic landslide looked on the cards. Finally, things are moving in the right direction.

But is it too late? In this bizarre campaign, nothing is certain. Last week Clintons approval rating sunk to an unprecedented low, underlining the miserable paradox that underlies this contest between the great unloved. Clinton, given all her baggage, is probably the only Democratic candidate Trump has a chance against  while he, even more flawed, is probably the only Republican she could be confident of beating.

But for Trump the bottom line hasnt changed. He and his advisers still appear to believe that victory lies in turning out in record numbers Americas white silent majority, the forgotten people, trampled on by globalisation and diversification, the people who attend his mass rallies. But that ignores the huge numbers of white women, and white people with university degrees, who cant abide him, not to mention Hispanics and black people.

Somehow, hes got to allay fears. Trump must persuade voters to give him a second look, to turn at least some Never Trumpers into Well, Maybes, without upsetting true believers by toning down his message. Hence the apparently conflicting messages on immigration: the red meat in Phoenix, the projection of moderation and statesmanship in Mexico City. And thus, the Steve Bannons of this world calculate, a New Trump, who hasnt changed, but whos perhaps not so bad after all. After everything Trump has said and done these last 12 months, its a long shot. But barring some terrible new revelation about Hillary or the Clintons, its the best shot hes got.
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Donald Trump is so terrifying that its tempting to use every tool in the box to fight him and everyone around himincluding his wife, Melania Trump. Its tempting to mock her for her appearance, or to lambast her by implying that she broke immigration rules. And its tempting to add to the howling din of people who falsely claim, based on a report in the Slovenian tabloid magazine, Suzy, that Melania Trump was a sex worker, an escort working with wealthy businessmen, when she first emigrated to the United States. Lawyers acting for Melania Trump have put out statements denying the allegations in full and legal proceedings have been commenced against the Daily Mail and a US blogger in connection with them.

What does this whole controversy say about how we see women  and how we see sex workers? Melania may not have ever been one, but that doesnt mean false reports suggesting she was one dont tell us something about societys view of sex work.

When you share those allegations, pointing and laughing, saying Look!, calling her a liar, calling her a whore, saying that she is unfit for the White House because some newspaper claimed she was photographed sexually, you are stepping on everyone who really does do sex work in this country every day  most of whom are very vulnerable.

 HIllary Clinton eviscerates Donald Trump in latest speech

Meg Vallee Munoz, a former sex worker and trafficking survivor who works as an advocate and activist, is furious at liberals who are forwarding the false reports with a sense of gleeful schadenfreude: For some reason, its still acceptable public practice to shame people by perpetuating the idea that sex work is the absolute lowest you can go. But who does that really hurt? It doesnt hurt high-end escorts who work indoors, rarely get arrested, and charge $1,000 an hour. It hurts women of colour, runaways, LGBTQ [people], those being trafficked, street-based sex workers, and sometimes all of the above. Thats who is at the most risk for violence, arrest, police harassment and abuse, rape, health-related issues, and sexual/labour exploitation. When we amplify that shame, what were doing is not only sexist, but racist, homophobic, transphobic, and classist as well.

I know this feels like a subtle point to a lot of liberals.

Not surprisingly, Donald Trumps reaction to the allegations has only intensified the stigmatisation being perpetuated by those on the left who are joyously sharing this story. His lawyersincluding Charles Harder, who spearheaded Hulk Hogans lawsuit against Gawker for publishing a sex tapeare undertaking an effort to have every mention of the allegations of sex work scrubbed from the internet. Donald Trump is tweeting the retractions triumphantly; as we know, he hates the media, and loves to defeat it.

Naked Donald Trump Statue Appears Across The States Show all 11 1 /11 Naked Donald Trump Statue Appears Across The States Naked Donald Trump Statue Appears Across The States SAN FRANCISCO, CA - AUGUST 18: A passerby kisses a statue depicting republican presidential nominee Donald Trump in the nude on August 18, 2016 in San Francisco, United States. Anarchist collective INDECLINE has created five statues depicting Donald Trump in the nude and placed them in five U.S. cities on Thursday morning. The statues are in San Francisco, New York, Los Angeles, Cleveland and Seattle. (Photo by Justin Sullivan/Getty Images) Getty Images Naked Donald Trump Statue Appears Across The States SAN FRANCISCO, CA - AUGUST 18: A passerby looks at a statue depicting republican presidential nominee Donald Trump in the nude on August 18, 2016 in San Francisco, United States. Anarchist collective INDECLINE has created five statues depicting Donald Trump in the nude and placed them in five U.S. cities on Thursday morning. The statues are in San Francisco, New York, Los Angeles, Cleveland and Seattle. (Photo by Justin Sullivan/Getty Images) Getty Images Naked Donald Trump Statue Appears Across The States SAN FRANCISCO, CA - AUGUST 18: A passerby takes a picture of a statue depicting republican presidential nominee Donald Trump in the nude on August 18, 2016 in San Francisco, United States. Anarchist collective INDECLINE has created five statues depicting Donald Trump in the nude and placed them in five U.S. cities on Thursday morning. The statues are in San Francisco, New York, Los Angeles, Cleveland and Seattle. (Photo by Justin Sullivan/Getty Images) Getty Images Naked Donald Trump Statue Appears Across The States SAN FRANCISCO, CA - AUGUST 18: People gather around a statue depicting republican presidential nominee Donald Trump in the nude on August 18, 2016 in San Francisco, United States. Anarchist collective INDECLINE has created five statues depicting Donald Trump in the nude and placed them in five U.S. cities on Thursday morning. The statues are in San Francisco, New York, Los Angeles, Cleveland and Seattle. (Photo by Justin Sullivan/Getty Images) Getty Images Naked Donald Trump Statue Appears Across The States SAN FRANCISCO, CA - AUGUST 18: People gather around a statue depicting republican presidential nominee Donald Trump in the nude on August 18, 2016 in San Francisco, United States. Anarchist collective INDECLINE has created five statues depicting Donald Trump in the nude and placed them in five U.S. cities on Thursday morning. The statues are in San Francisco, New York, Los Angeles, Cleveland and Seattle. (Photo by Justin Sullivan/Getty Images) Getty Images Naked Donald Trump Statue Appears Across The States SAN FRANCISCO, CA - AUGUST 18: A passerby hugs a statue depicting republican presidential nominee Donald Trump in the nude on August 18, 2016 in San Francisco, United States. Anarchist collective INDECLINE has created five statues depicting Donald Trump in the nude and placed them in five U.S. cities on Thursday morning. The statues are in San Francisco, New York, Los Angeles, Cleveland and Seattle.(Photo by Justin Sullivan/Getty Images) Getty Images Naked Donald Trump Statue Appears Across The States SAN FRANCISCO, CA - AUGUST 18: A passerby has a picture taken with a statue depicting republican presidential nominee Donald Trump in the nude on August 18, 2016 in San Francisco, United States. Anarchist collective INDECLINE has created five statues depicting Donald Trump in the nude and placed them in five U.S. cities on Thursday morning. The statues are in San Francisco, New York, Los Angeles, Cleveland and Seattle. (Photo by Justin Sullivan/Getty Images) Getty Images Naked Donald Trump Statue Appears Across The States SAN FRANCISCO, CA - AUGUST 18: A passerby has a picture taken with a statue depicting republican presidential nominee Donald Trump in the nude on August 18, 2016 in San Francisco, United States. Anarchist collective INDECLINE has created five statues depicting Donald Trump in the nude and placed them in five U.S. cities on Thursday morning. The statues are in San Francisco, New York, Los Angeles, Cleveland and Seattle. (Photo by Justin Sullivan/Getty Images) Getty Images Naked Donald Trump Statue Appears Across The States NEW YORK, NY - AUGUST 18: Park authorities haul away a statue of a naked GOP presidential candidate Donald Trump that appeared in Union Square Park this morning on August 18, 2016 in New York City. The illegally placed statue drew hundreds of curious onlookers, who took selfie picture with the statue, which was signed "Ginger." A published report attributed the work to the anarchist collective INDECLINE, which titled the project "The Emperor Has No B--s." (Photo by Spencer Platt/Getty Images) Getty Images Naked Donald Trump Statue Appears Across The States NEW YORK, NY - AUGUST 18: A molded foot is all that remains of a statue of naked GOP presidential candidate Donald Trump that appeared in Union Square Park this morning on August 18, 2016 in New York City. The illegally placed statue drew hundreds of curious onlookers, who took selfie picture with the statue, which was signed "Ginger." A published report attributed the work to the anarchist collective INDECLINE, which titled the project "The Emperor Has No B--s." (Photo by Spencer Platt/Getty Images) Getty Images Naked Donald Trump Statue Appears Across The States NEW YORK, NY - AUGUST 18: Park authorities haul away a statue of a naked GOP presidential candidate Donald Trump that appeared in Union Square Park this morning on August 18, 2016 in New York City. The illegally placed statue drew hundreds of curious onlookers, who took selfie picture with the statue, which was signed "Ginger." A published report attributed the work to the anarchist collective INDECLINE, which titled the project "The Emperor Has No B--s." (Photo by Spencer Platt/Getty Images) Getty Images

Melania has every right to combat those false claims against her  but unfortunately, it seems to me that this response, and Trumps crowing, only reinforce social whorephobia and sexuality shaming. It advances the damaging and false narrative that an escort is something that it is not OK to be, and a good husband like Trump can feel rightly proud of setting the record straight, protecting the reputation of his delicate wife. If society didnt see sex work as shameful, the media wouldnt have used those claims to try and discredit the Trumps in the first place.

Meanwhile, other sex workers are hit by the shrapnel. I work independently as a dominatrix in Britain, where my work is legal, but I know that it is still not safe for me to come out to my American family. The stigma is still too strong.

When liberals react with shock and horror to allegations of someone partaking in sex work, they hit me with their bullets of shame. More importantly, they hit sex workers in far more precarious positions than minesex workers facing police violence, rape and raids, predators posing as clients or managers, and the constant risks of disclosure, assault, robbery, rape, and death. A report by the Sex Worker Organising Project noted a study out of New York showing that 80 per cent of sex workers reported experiencing violence or threats in the course of their work; another study they cited noted that people doing survival sex or street-based sex work are most likely to face violence.

Liberal shaming hits multiple marginalised sex workers, such as people of colour, trans women, drug users, street-based sex workers, and disabled sex workers hardest, simply because of their vulnerability; inundated by violence from predators and cops who hate them, they are also patronised as victims without agency by many who claim to be on the left or radical. Shaming makes our fight as sex workers for recognition of our dignity and rights that much harder. It hits sex workers who migrate for work, or who work on the street, or who travel for work, facing risk and stigma daily. They, and all sex workers, are being hit by those bullets of shame, and it really doesnt matter that its friendly fire meant to destroy Trump.

The full decriminalisation of sex work, which is opposed by Clinton and Trump alike, would give sex workers the chance to organise, to fight for our rights, to demand dignity. Its the first step toward a society where anyone can speak openly, or even proudly, of their sex work. And it would also, in doing so, mean that media outlets would never try to publicly shame someone by falsely claiming that theyd been sex workers in the past. Surely thats something the Trumps should be able to get behind.

Margaret Corvid also writes for The Establishment and New Statesman
An artists impression of I-REs Reits plans for Rockbrook in the South Dublin suburb of Sandyford

Irish Residential Properties Reit is looking to increase the number of apartments on its books by almost 500, bringing its overall Irish portfolio to just under 2,900 units.

Yesterday, the company, which is controlled by Canada's largest residential landlord, CAPREIT, announced its submission of a planning application to Dun Laoghaire/ Rathdown County Council for a mixed-use development of 492 apartments and retail and commercial space at Rockbrook in Sandyford, south county Dublin.

Should the council give the go ahead for the plan, I-Res would increase its existing foothold at Rockbrook to 827 apartments.

The company already owns 335 units in the completed section of the scheme, which was originally commenced before the crash by the Cork developer, John Fleming. The Rockbrook scheme's intended centerpiece, the 14-storey Sentinel Tower office block was acquired separately by Galway-born developers, Luke and Brian Comer for less than 1m in 2012. The building has yet to be completed.

In terms of its own plans, I-Res says the 492 apartments it wishes to build would consist of 82 one-bedroom and 410 two-bedroom units divided between three buildings.

The proposal also includes a creche and retail and commercial accommodation.

I-Res ceo David Ehrlich said Housing Minister Simon Coveney's initiative to "rationalise planning regulations" had had a "positive effect" on the ability of I-Res to progress its plans.

He added that his company's construction of 68 apartments at Block B2B at Beacon South Quarter in Sandyford would be completed by July 2017.
EUROPEAN Commissioner for Competition Margrethe Vestager assured the world that the Apple tax decision was not political - but it appears that the Commission is increasingly flexing its muscles in the area of competition policy.

This fervour includes the pursuit and sanctioning of cartels. Only recently, it imposed a record fine of 2.93bn on several of the EU's biggest truck manufacturers for participating in a cartel for 14 years.

The Commission found that MAN, Volvo/Renault, Daimler, Iveco, and DAF colluded on truck pricing and on passing on the costs of compliance with stricter emission rules.

The total amount of the fine was twice the previous record, 1.4bn levied in respect of a TV and computer monitor tubes cartel in 2012.

Ms Vestager stated that the fines were justified on the grounds that the cartel involved entities holding a large market and that it continued for a long time. Daimler received the largest fine of 1.1bn, while DAF, Volvo/Renault and Iveco were fined 752.7m, 670.4m and 494.6m, respectively.

The trucks case has been received as reflecting the strong stance of the Vestager Commission to competition enforcement. The basis for the fines was the EU prohibition on agreements which have as their object or effect the distortion of competition in the EU internal market.

Cartels, virtually by definition, are not efficiency enhancing and do not benefit consumers. At a local level, businesses and individuals found guilty of so-called hard-core cartel offences can face criminal penalties, including fines and imprisonment.

Read More: Tarnished State needs to take the fight to Europe

Regarding state aid, the Commission has been investigating the tax ruling practices of Member States since June 2013. In October 2015, the Commission concluded that Luxembourg and the Netherlands had granted selective tax advantages to Fiat and Starbucks, respectively. In January 2016, the Commission concluded that selective tax advantages granted by Belgium to least 35 multinationals, mainly from the EU, under its "excess profit" tax scheme, are illegal under EU state aid rules.

The Commission is also carrying out two in-depth investigations into concerns that tax rulings in Luxembourg may have given rise to the provision of illegal state aid to Amazon and McDonald's.

While Ireland acknowledges and accepts the Commission has a legitimate role, under the Treaties, in enforcing competition rules, the Department of Finance has stated it is "not appropriate that EU state aid competition rules are being used in this new and unprecedented way in the area of taxation, which is a Member State competence and a fundamental matter of sovereignty".

There are concerns surrounding the approach of the Commission, which some believe is undermining the international consensus, impeding reform and creating uncertainty for business and investment in Europe. To bolster this point, the US Treasury has raised significant concerns in its recent White Paper on the European Commission's state aid investigations. The US Treasury has stated that: "The Commission's new approach is inconsistent with international norms and undermines the International tax system."

Finance Minister Michael Noonan has "disagreed profoundly" with the Commission's decision in the Apple case, stating that "our tax system is founded on the strict application of the law, as enacted by the Oireachtas, without exception." On an appeal, he said: "This is necessary to defend the integrity of our tax system; to provide tax certainty to business; and to challenge the encroachment of EU state aid rules into the sovereign Member State competence of taxation."

The Commission decisions regarding Amazon and McDonald's in Luxembourg are still pending. However, the Starbucks Netherlands, Fiat Luxembourg and Belgium tax scheme cases, as well as the record-making truck cartel cases against MAN, Volvo/Renault, Daimler, Iveco, and DAF, reveal a hard-edged approach on the part of the Commission's which has divided opinions.

In terms of compliance, Irish businesses must be aware of competition rules in their dealings with national tax and grant aid authorities but also when interacting with competitors.

The proactive approach of the European Commission is likely to be replicated at the domestic level, so businesses seeking special treatment from state authorities or cooperating, rather than competing, with their rivals do so at their peril.

Marco Hickey is partner and head of the EU, competition and regulated markets team at LK Shields
Most of tidal wave of opinion since the European Commission's decision on Apple landed is wrong.

The Commission's decision looks back to the past, to a world that is gone. What the commentators have missed is that Ireland has long seen the writing on the wall and has already put in place a new economic strategy for this new world that looks more to Boston than to Brussels or Berlin.

Tax schemes like the notorious Double Irish that did us such reputational damage in the past were decisively shut down by the last government, and Ireland is strongly committed to clamping down on aggressive tax avoidance strategies that artificially shift profits to low or no-tax locations through the OECD's so-called BEPS process. In place of using tax as our USP for attracting inward investment, the last government and the current one fundamentally changed Ireland's offering to one that emphasises our highly skilled labour force, excellent quality of life, ease of doing business and location - post-Brexit - as the only English-speaking gateway to the largest market in the world.

Of course tax is still part of the mix, but it is now one of many factors. And Boston is buying it - as evidenced by the ever-increasing levels of foreign-direct investment into Ireland by US companies.

However, the unprecedented attack on our reputation and sovereignty by the Commission has done plenty of damage and it is critical that the Government pushes back more strongly than it has done to date.

The Government's fightback should be three-pronged: firstly it needs to highlight to the public and investors that the economic strategy the Commission's decision implicates has long ago been consigned to the dustbin of history. Secondly, it needs to draw a line under this by reassuring the public that our corporate tax rate of 12.5pc means just that - no more, but equally no less.

Finally, it needs to build alliances with other nations and stakeholders that take issue with the Commission's overreach into matters that are properly the domain of national governments - both by appealing the decision and questioning the very assumptions that underpin it.

The Commission has a long history of using EU law to extend its writ far beyond what was originally intended by Member States. The Apple case is the thin end of the wedge.

However post-Brexit, there is no support among European citizens or their governments for what advocates of greater integration like to call 'More Europe'. What we would like to see instead is a 'Better Europe' that improved the living standards of its citizens, equipped them with the skills needed for the 21st century economy and didn't stand in the way of investing in badly-needed infrastructure. Think of it as a kind of 'Boston with Benefits'.

As the Member State that most closely reflects this vision, Ireland is best-placed to use the Apple decision as a platform to make the case for it at EU level.

Ed Brophy is practice leader at Accreate Executive Search. He was previously chief of staff to Tanaiste Joan Burton
Woody Allen will turn 81 in a couple of months, but his enthusiasm for film-making seems undimmed. He could be kicking back, avoiding the gutter press and enjoying the proceeds of almost 60 years in showbiz, but instead he continues to knock out at least a film a year.

He's been doing so since the early 1970s, and by my count Cafe Society is his 47th film as director. I've always found his work ethic admirable, but annoying, because one has the nagging suspicion that if he'd made a few less films, he'd have produced better ones.

Cafe Society is a perfect case in point. Like a lot of the features he's released over the last couple of decades, it has a slightly rushed and unfinished feel. Allen's strength has always been his writing, in fact he could stake a claim to being the single greatest screenwriter there's ever been, but this film's script veers from the functional and workaday to, on occasion, the sublime.

As usual, his reputation has attracted an impressive ensemble cast - I mean, what actor other than Mia Farrow doesn't want to work with Woody? - and their sterling efforts, allied to a lively enough plot, make Cafe Society pleasant to watch. You feel, though, that a bit more time and attention to detail could have turned it into something special.

The leading men in Woody's films tend to play roles the younger Allen would have played himself. Jesse Eisenberg has never hidden his admiration for the great man, and turns out to be the best Woody proxy since Owen Wilson in 'Midnight in Paris'. Eisenberg is Bobby Dorfman, a perky but unemployed young Brooklyn Jew who strikes out for California to make his fortune.

It's the 1930s, Hollywood is booming, and Bobby has an in: his Uncle Phil (Steve Carell) is a legendary talent agent who represents the likes of James Cagney and Barbara Stanwyck .

At first, Phil avoids meeting Bobby at all, and seems anxious not to be reminded of his blue collar eastern roots. But eventually he relents, gives Bobby a job as his runner, and over time the two men become close.

Meanwhile, Bobby falls in love with his uncle's secretary, Vonnie (Kristen Stewart), a beautiful Nebraskan who shows him the ropes and becomes a kind of confidante. But Vonnie has a boyfriend, an older married man she meets in secret, so Bobby can only watch and wait. What he doesn't know, however, is that the married man in question is Uncle Phil, who's prevaricating endlessly about whether or not to leave his wife.

No Woody Allen film would be complete without a vaguely creepy older man/younger woman romance - Ms Stewart is 26, Mr Carell 54. But in Cafe Society there are plenty of other things going on in the background. Blake Lively (looking a little lost) plays a New York socialite to whom Bobby gravitates, Corey Stoll plays his brother Ben, a New York gangster with a nasty habit of executing anyone who argues with him, and Ken Stott and Jeannie Berlin are his elderly, bickering parents.

If all of this sounds vaguely familiar, that's no surprise: Allen has always been simultaneously attracted to, and repelled by, Hollywood, and has explored the America of his childhood before in films like 'Bullets Over Broadway', 'The Purple Rose of Cairo', 'Radio Days' and 'Annie Hall'. Cafe Society isn't a patch on any of those, and its constant name-dropping of now-forgotten stars like Adolphe Menjou, Joan Blondell and Robert Taylor will baffle younger viewers.

If Cafe Society is a nostalgic film, it's also a world-weary one: Allen himself provides a framing voice over which sounds both tired and wise. There are good performances, from Eisenberg and especially Kristen Stewart, whose portrayal of Vonnie is luminous and intriguing. The screenplay flags at times, and feels unedited, but every now and then it fizzes to life and reminds you who's writing it.

At one point Bobby's dad sighs and says, "I accept death, but under protest." "Protest to who?", his mother replies.

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Films coming soon...

Hell or High Water (Jeff Bridges, Ben Foster, Chris Pine); Ben-Hur (Jack Huston, Ayelet Zurer, Morgan Freeman); Captain Fantastic (Viggo Mortensen, Frank Langella, Kathryn Hahn, Steve Zahn); Anthropoid (Cillian Murphy, Jamie Dornan).

Cafe Society

(12A, 96mins)

3 Stars
Microwave media hot takes and first listen reviews by influencers, often baloobas on their own ego, winning the internet by nanoseconds. Its an Im first, Im king mentality. As a result, most reviewers don't give the album the attention or research it deserves. Lets proceed straight to the Google Analytics masturbation session - 1,500 views on screen. Show me your clicks, baby.

Sadly, these boil-in-the-bag, no effort, no research reviews of albums, particularly sudden drop and event albums, such as Frank Ocean's Blond and Beyonces Lemonade are becoming more and more frequent, bestowing Instant Classic or Basement Bin status upon albums before metaphorically speaking, the arm of record player has returned to its cradle.

This is a dangerous development for both the public and artists alike. For many albums that excite on first listen, soon wane, and in a week or two are put away never to be played again. Other albums can be jarring and abrasive to the ear on first listen and surprise you later by slowly revealing their quality to you.

Surely your readers and the artists at your mercy deserve more than a one listen or less reaction to a piece of work that may have taken several years to create.

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Even if you hated every single one of the 17 tracks on Frank Oceans Blond and even if it transpires to be in retrospect the most preposterously overhyped album of 2016. Wouldnt you need to listen to it several times to pin down exactly what it was that you hated or indeed loved about it?

Could you really spot every sample, including The Beatles, Stevie Wonder, Gang of Four and The Mohawks? Decipher every lyric, on a myriad of themes, delivered by over ten voices and consider how their meaning and messages reflect both Oceans personal state of being and wider societal issues  from just one listen?

If so, congratulations you are a ninja level critic. Lester Bangs will meet you at the gates of heaven. And also lets not forget to take the original instrumentation into consideration in this one post-midnight listen.

Now that youve considered the album so ineptly, sorry I mean in-depthly, its time to consider its position in the R n B cannon beside its contemporaries such as Blood Oranges Freetown Sound. But of course youve done that already

Dont worry Lester, itll be a short line of zero because its simply impossible to deliver a well-balanced and considered review of an album, having only heard it once.
"Their many lies include, among others, that Mrs. Trump supposedly was an 'escort' in the 1990s before she met her husband. Defendants' actions are so egregious, malicious and harmful to Mrs. Trump that her damages are estimated at $150m," Charles Harder, Trump's lawyer said in a statement.

Trump's lawyers filed suit against Mail Media, Inc., the parent company of the Daily Mail, in a Maryland court Thursday seeking to collect $150 million in damages for what they called "tremendously damaging" statements made by the website.

U.S. Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump's wife, Melania Trump, is suing the Daily Mail Online over stories it published claiming she worked as an escort in New York in the 1990s.

The suit was filed after the Daily Mail issued a retraction of the story it published on August 20 with a headline that read: "Naked photoshoots, and troubling questions about visas that won't go away: The VERY racy past of Donald Trump's Slovenian wife."

In its retraction, the Daily Mail said it never intended to "suggest that Mrs. Trump ever worked as an 'escort' or in the 'sex business.'" Instead, it said, "The point of the article was that these allegations could impact the U.S. presidential election even if they are untrue."

Also named in the suit is blogger Webster Tarpley, who posted an article on his website, Tarpley.net, calling Trump a "high-end escort."

The suit seeks a minimum of $75,000 from each defendant.

Harder recently represented Hulk Hogan in a similar, successful lawsuit against the now-defunct website Gawker after it posted a video of Hogan having sex with his friend's wife, and refused to take it down.

A judge in that case awarded Hogan $140 million in damages, which forced Gawker to close its doors and sell off its assets after it filed for bankruptcy.
Gareth Bowes had been abused as a child

A Dublin man became "fixated" on child pornography he found online while buying drugs following a relationship break-up, a court heard.

Gareth Bowes (30) turned himself in to gardai and handed over his computer when he became "disgusted with himself".

Pictures and films of children, ranging in age from toddlers up to 16-years-old, being sexually abused were found on the computer.

He avoided jail after Judge David McHugh suspended an 11-month sentence at Blanchardstown District Court.

Bowes pleaded guilty to one count of possession of child pornography at his home at Foxborough Manor, Lucan, on a date unknown between January 7, 2012 and January 1, 2013.

Sgt Maria Callaghan said the accused presented himself at Ronanstown Garda Station on January 12, 2013 and told gardai at the public counter that he had been viewing child pornography on his laptop.

When the laptop was examined, 54 images were found of boys and girls engaging in sexual acts with other children and adults.

Voluntary

There were 18 movies of children engaging in sexual activity and 13 link files.

Sgt Callaghan confirmed to the judge that the accused's handing himself in was "entirely voluntary".

The offence happened after the break-up of a relationship, said defence solicitor Simon Fleming.

Bowes began buying drugs online and, as a result of accessing these sites, "the other material became available to him and he became fixated on it".

"He turned himself in, disgusted with himself," said Mr Fleming.

This had had life-changing effects on him. When people became aware of it, he lost his whole circle of friends.

However, he accepted he was the "author of his own misfortune".

Bowes himself had been abused as a child.

The court heard the accused had not come to garda attention before, apart from minor motoring offences, and had a long employment history.

Judge McHugh suspended the sentence for two years and registered Bowes as a sex offender for five years.
Revellers from Meath at the entrance to Electric Picnic Photo: Caroline Quinn

Armed with wheelbarrows, wellies and wet wipes, the first festival goers arrived at the Stradbally gates at 7am. And they were delighted to see blue skies.

"It's definitely hot pants weather," one lady in a feathered headdress said.

Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Previous Next Close Roz Purcell at the 3Live experience at Electric Picnic in 2016. Photo: Sasko Lazarov/Photocall Ireland Ruth O'Neill and Cassie Stokes at the 3Live experience at Electric Picnic. Photo: Sasko Lazarov/Photocall Ireland Ruth O'Neill and Cassie Stokes at the 3Live experience at Electric Picnic. Photo: Sasko Lazarov/Photocall Ireland Maria Walsh and Shauna Keogh at the 3Live experience at Electric Picnic. Photo: Sasko Lazarov/Photocall Ireland Maria Walsh and Shauna Keogh at the 3Live experience at Electric Picnic. Photo: Sasko Lazarov/Photocall Ireland Claudine Keane at the 3Live experience at Electric Picnic in 2016. Photo: Sasko Lazarov/Photocall Ireland Blathnaid Tracey at the 3Live experience at Electric Picnic. Photo: Sasko Lazarov/Photocall Ireland Rosanna Davison at the 3Live experience at Electric Picnic. Photo: Sasko Lazarov/Photocall Ireland Rosanna Davison at the 3Live experience at Electric Picnic in 2016. Photo: Leon Farrell/Photocall Ireland Eoghan McDermott and Blathnaid Tracey at the 3Live experience at Electric Picnic. Photo: Sasko Lazarov/Photocall Ireland Rozanna Purcell at Casa Bacardi section at Electric Picnic in 2016. Photo: Patrick O'Leary Ruth O'Neill & Cassie Stokes, at day two of Electric Picnic. Picture: Fergal Phillips Pictured is (LtoR) Sarah Anderson and Uriah Wilkie Harvey at the 3Live experience at Electric Picnic. Photo: Sasko Lazarov/Photocall Ireland Simon Harris Minister for Health & Leo Varadkar Minster for Social Protection, at day 3 of Electric Picnic. Picture by Fergal Phillips Rosanna Davison and Wesley at the 3Live experience at Electric Picnic. Photo: Leon Farrell/ Photocall Ireland Claudine Palmer and her mother Joan (on far right ) with Zoe Drogook and Lorraine Taylor at the 3Live experience at Electric Picnic. Photo: Leon Farrell/ Photocall Ireland Pictured was Aoibhinn McGinnity at Electric Picnic's first ever swimming-pool-come-dance-floor, brought to Stradbally by Orchard Thieves alongside The Bold mOTel. Picture Jason Clarke Pictured was Roisin O at Electric Picnic's first ever swimming-pool-come-dance-floor, brought to Stradbally by Orchard Thieves alongside The Bold mOTel. Picture Jason Clarke Rachael Prendergast, Rachel Purcell and Corina Gaffey at Casa Bacardi. Photo: Patrick O'Leary Louise Johnston at Casa Bacardi. Photo: Patrick O'Leary Stylish in leopard print at Casa Bacardi. Photo: Patrick O'Leary Dressed for the weather at Casa Bacardi. Photo: Patrick O'Leary 2 Sept 2016: Sandra Tierney, left, 30, from Cavan, and Sandra Nestor, 28, from Galway. Electric Picnic Festival - Friday. Stradbally, Co. Laois. Picture: Caroline Quinn 2 Sept 2016: Amy McCormack, left, 19, from Lucan, and Eimear Byrne, 19, from Blanchardstown. Electric Picnic Festival - Friday. Stradbally, Co. Laois. Picture: Caroline Quinn 2 Sept 2016: Revellers arrive for first day of Electric Picnic. Electric Picnic Festival - Friday. Stradbally, Co. Laois. Picture: Caroline Quinn 2 Sept 2016: Ciara Kennedy, 18, from Laois, arrives at festival. Electric Picnic Festival - Friday. Stradbally, Co. Laois. Picture: Caroline Quinn 2 Sept 2016: Girls take a selfie at their tent. Electric Picnic Festival - Friday. Stradbally, Co. Laois. Picture: Caroline Quinn 2 Sept 2016: Revellers from Stradbally at their tents at festival. Electric Picnic Festival - Friday. Stradbally, Co. Laois. Picture: Caroline Quinn 2 Sept 2016: Revellers from Athlone in the campsite. Electric Picnic Festival - Friday. Stradbally, Co. Laois. Picture: Caroline Quinn 2 Sept 2016: Revellers from Abbeyleix, Laois, at their tents. Electric Picnic Festival - Friday. Stradbally, Co. Laois. Picture: Caroline Quinn 2 Sept 2016: John Hanlon, from Rathcoole, Dublin, enjoying Electric Picnic. Electric Picnic Festival - Friday. Stradbally, Co. Laois. Picture: Caroline Quinn 2 Sept 2016: l-r; Zoe Whelan, 19, Mary Doyle, 20, Katie Reddin, 19, from Laois, Alan Greenan Brennan, 19, from Drogheda, Katie Fitzpatrick, 19, from Laois, Amy McMahon, 19, from Monaghan, and Aoife Brassil, 19, from Kilkenny, enjoying Electric Picnic. Electric Picnic Festival - Friday. Stradbally, Co. Laois. Picture: Caroline Quinn 2 Sept 2016: Elaine O'Donoghue, 33, from Cork, enjoying Electric Picnic. Electric Picnic Festival - Friday. Stradbally, Co. Laois. Picture: Caroline Quinn 2 Sept 2016: Revellers enjoying the music at The Incredible De Programming Machine at the Electric Picnic. Electric Picnic Festival - Friday. Stradbally, Co. Laois. Picture: Caroline Quinn 2 Sept 2016: Revellers from Meath at the entrance to Electric Picnic. Electric Picnic Festival - Friday. Stradbally, Co. Laois. Picture: Caroline Quinn Al Porter at Electric Picnic Festival. Picture: Caroline Quinn 2 Sept 2016: l-r; Zoe Whelan, 19, Mary Doyle, 20, Katie Reddin, 19, from Laois, Alan Greenan Brennan, 19, from Drogheda, Katie Fitzpatrick, 19, from Laois, Amy McMahon, 19, from Monaghan, and Aoife Brassil, 19, from Kilkenny, enjoying Electric Picnic. Electric Picnic Festival - Friday. Stradbally, Co. Laois. Picture: Caroline Quinn 2 Sept 2016: Louise Duffy enjoying Electric Picnic. Electric Picnic Festival - Friday. Stradbally, Co. Laois. Picture: Caroline Quinn 2 Sept 2016: Revellers from Cork l-r; Sara Daly, 23, Caitlan Owens, 23, Emma Tuomey, 23, Hazel Bransfield, 22, Rebecca Baxter, 22, and Aisling Doyle 22, enjoying Electric Picnic. Electric Picnic Festival - Friday. Stradbally, Co. Laois. Picture: Caroline Quinn 2 Sept 2016: Revellers from Cork l-r; Sara Daly, 23, Caitlan Owens, 23, Emma Tuomey, 23, Hazel Bransfield, 22, Rebecca Baxter, 22, and Aisling Doyle 22, enjoying Electric Picnic. Electric Picnic Festival - Friday. Stradbally, Co. Laois. Picture: Caroline Quinn 2 Sept 2016: Thais Muniz of Turbane-se (Turban Yourself) with happy client Maria from Dublin. Electric Picnic. Electric Picnic Festival - Friday. Stradbally, Co. Laois. Picture: Caroline Quinn 2 Sept 2016: Holly Carroll, left, 5, and pal Katelyn Higgins, 5, from Stradbally, enjoying Electric Picnic. Electric Picnic Festival - Friday. Stradbally, Co. Laois. Picture: Caroline Quinn 2 Sept 2016: Mary Clara Hutchinson, from Kansas City, USA, enjoying Electric Picnic. Electric Picnic Festival - Friday. Stradbally, Co. Laois. Picture: Caroline Quinn 2 Sept 2016: Emma Sothern, 30, from Carlow, enjoying Electric Picnic. Electric Picnic Festival - Friday. Stradbally, Co. Laois. Picture: Caroline Quinn 2 Sept 2016: General view of Electric Picnic. Electric Picnic Festival - Friday. Stradbally, Co. Laois. Picture: Caroline Quinn 2 Sept 2016: Louise Duffy enjoying Electric Picnic. Electric Picnic Festival - Friday. Stradbally, Co. Laois. Picture: Caroline Quinn 2 Sept 2016: Rosie Ponder, 28, from Carlow, enjoying Electric Picnic. Electric Picnic Festival - Friday. Stradbally, Co. Laois. Picture: Caroline Quinn 2 Sept 2016: Reveller enjoying Electric Picnic. Electric Picnic Festival - Friday. Stradbally, Co. Laois. Picture: Caroline Quinn 2 Sept 2016: Kate Shields, 26, from Galway, enjoying Electric Picnic. Electric Picnic Festival - Friday. Stradbally, Co. Laois. Picture: Caroline Quinn 2 Sept 2016: Sarah Kelly, 23, left, and Jessica Berney, 23, from Newbridge, enjoying Electric Picnic. Electric Picnic Festival - Friday. Stradbally, Co. Laois. Picture: Caroline Quinn / Facebook

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By midday, 30,000 had crowded through the gates and started setting up camp.

Weighed down with tent poles and pallets of beers, festival goers trekked through fields.

Eimear Ryan was regretting her choice of footwear. She admitted wearing a new pair of Dr Martens for the long trek through the campsite had been an error in judgment.

"I should have broken them in beforehand," she said holding her boots. "That's why I'm just wearing the socks now."

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Festival veterans Danny Ryan (30), Eoghan Ryan (31) and friend Craig Berkeley (31) were better equipped with a stash of spare socks and pallets of beer. "We have been coming here for 10 years, we are seasoned pros," Eoghan said. "We come prepared, yoga mats, boots, the lot."

Blaithin O'Driscoll (20) from Clare was looking forward to partying the night away before finding her inner sense of zen.

"I'm also going to do some yoga to balance out the late nights and booze."

And indeed, for those nonplussed by headline acts and acoustic sets, there are heaps of things to do and see if you want to miss the bands at Electric Picnic.

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Deep in the Hazel Wood - one of Electric Picnic's new areas - picnickers are invited to take a trip through a "Cerebral Maze".

Don Conroy, best known for his rapport with Zig and Zag, his colourful knit jumpers and his passion for drawing owls, will be sketching over the weekend at Surf's Laundry Club.

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And for those who haven't gown tired of RTE continually screening episodes of 'Father Ted', there is a day of celebrations for the 20th anniversary of 'My Lovely Horse'.

Yogi will rejoice at the plethora of practises they can try out at EP this weekend.

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And once you've got your detox, you can head back into the main site and re-tox.

Those wishing to get a glam make over after journeying to Laois headed to Pamper Street, where you can get your hair "sculpted" to look like a mermaid, your body painted with temporary tattoos, and your nails filed.

As dirty grey clouds appeared on the horizon last night, it was clear the good weather wasn't going to last.

"It doesn't matter," said Ciara Kennedy (18), from Laois. "We'll just dance in the rain."
Large numbers of people on the dole stopped claiming their welfare payments over the summer because they were on holiday.

More than 2,200 jobseekers notified the Department of Social Protection that they would not able to sign on because they were either leaving the country, or heading off for a break in the sun.

Many of those who consider themselves to be among the hard-pressed, so-called squeezed middle will allow themselves a wry and doleful simile that those on the dole can afford to go on holidays at all.

A recent Irish League of Credit Union-commissioned survey found two thirds of parents sacrifice a family holiday to meet back-to-school costs.

We all need a holiday. And it may well be that the holidays of the dole recipients were paid for by a partner or spouse who is in employment.

But the fact that so many in receipt of unemployment benefit can afford to leave the country for a summer break perpetuates the troubling belief among the wedged middle that they are expected to shoulder an unreasonable burden, with many others hitching a free ride.

Never mind phrases like the squeezed middle, the hard-pressed, or the coping classes.

Middle-income, middle Ireland would be better described as the mugs.

These wedged ones are not wealthy enough to employ clever lawyers to wriggle out of their tax commitments, nor are they at a low enough income level to argue that they are entitled to a free house, free college education, or free whatever.

The middle-income mugs are mostly those one million people who ponied up for water charges, because they recognise that treating water is expensive, because they realise that we need to broaden the tax base beyond income tax and the universal social charge (USC), and because it was the law.

These mugs rescued the country after the calamitous collapse in 2008, and continue to pay the price to save the situation.

Remember that the economy got out of control due to bankers, but also because public spending was too high, and the tax base too narrow.

So the suckers in the middle are being charged an extra 5bn a year in income tax and the USC since the bust.

That is to without even mentioning higher pay-related social insurance (PRSI) payments.

A series of adjustments to tax bands, the introduction of the USC, and the restriction and abolition of tax reliefs, has hiked the amount of income tax paid by households.

Income taxes in the last year amounted to almost 19bn, up by 5.2bn since the peak of the boom in 2007/2008.

The controversial USC makes up 4bn of the income tax take.

And this does not include another 8.45bn in pay related social insurance payments (PRSI) paid by workers.

All of this means that a family on a modest income of 55,000 is paying 2,000 more in income tax and USC since 2008, according to Irish Tax Institute calculations.

Ordinary, middle-income families in this country have been hammered by austerity.

What do we get for the extra 5bn, in terms of benefit? Squat diddly, is the answer.

Benefits in this country are worst than in the likes of Britain or Germany, and they have been reduced further here since 2008.

Workers here may pay less income tax than a middle-income earner in Germany, but they get a lot more in terms of benefits than we do.

The big problem with our income tax system is that you hit the higher rate at relatively low levels of earnings.

Single people pay the higher 40pc rate on income over 33,800.

A married couple, with one earner outside the home, hits the high rate on income over 42,800.

But it is not just on income taxes that we have been hammered by austerity.

We used to have a system that supported home-owners, but we abolished mortgage interest relief and bin charges relief.

We introduced property taxes and water charges instead.

We used to encourage people to provide for their retirement with a liberal pensions tax relief system, but we started to whittle that away and increased the retirement age.

Remember that the Government stole 2.5bn from private pensions, mislabelling it as a pensions levy.

We used to pretend education was important, then introduced college fees and denied tax relief on most of them.

We used to give people full tax relief on their medical bills, then we halved the relief, but still leave them queuing for hours in A&E.

Worst of all, we told the population we had a fair and progressive tax system, and then left just 20pc of earners paying three quarters of all the tax.

Or to put in more starkly - some 36pc of earners pay no income tax at all.

When it comes to the USC, some 29pc of earners avoid paying it.

USC may be resented as the epitome of an austerity tax, but one of its big plusses initially was that it applied to all - even the rich could not use reliefs and allowances to avoid it.

The whittling away of the numbers paying USC has added to the pressure on middle earners to take up the slack, as has the immature decision to abandon water change.

The indefensibly low amounts of tax paid by the likes of Apple and the vulture funds that have bought up distressed loans and assets are equally resented by those holding up the system through high income taxes, and other charges.

These are examples of how we have failed to broaden the tax base.

The pity is that the wedged ones, who deserve it most, can expect little relief in the Budget.

Never mind that incomes have been cut, pensions are a distant promise, childcare costs are among the highest in the Western world, school and college costs a nightmare, and offspring can't afford a home, the pinched ones will be told to keep pushing the rock up the hill.

Some claim that taxes are only for the little people.

Nonsense. In Ireland, taxes are only for the middle people.
His native Dubs aren't in Croke Park tomorrow and Fine Gael have no TDs in Tipperary, so what else could Leo Varadkar do other than provide two Kilkenny pals with tickets for the big game?

The Social Protection Minister was snapped with an envelope on his lap yesterday as he arrived at Government Buildings.

"Hurling tickets, payment on collection 160," was the writing on the front, along with the names of TD John Paul Phelan and Cllr Mick Doyle.

Both Fine Gaelers hail from Kilkenny. Mr Phelan said Mr Varadkar texted him on Thursday to say he had tickets and asking if he wanted them.

"He contacted me there to say he had two tickets there if I wanted them and I said I have a guy here who would love them.

"Myself and (councillor) Mick Doyle actually played hurling together. He was one of the best hurlers I ever played," he said.

When asked if Mr Varadkar would be pulling on the black and amber of Kilkenny for the final at Croke Park, Mr Phelan said as far as he knew the minister would be at the Electric Picnic festival and couldn't attend the final.
Family and friends were last night praying for a Bible College librarian who suffered horrific injuries after she was attacked by a cow in Co Fermanagh.

Caroline Somerville, aged in her 40s from south Belfast, had been visiting Devenish Island with family members walking their dog when there was an incident with the farm animal.

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It is believed Mrs Somerville went to the aid of the family pet when she was attacked. The dog later died.

The mother-of-three was initially airlifted to the South West Acute Hospital in Enniskillen and later transferred to the Royal Victoria Hospital in Belfast.

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It is believed she had surgery on her colon and back.

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Her family were at her bedside last night where her condition had improved from critical to stable.

The family had been enjoying a bank holiday weekend break at one of their favourite destinations, and it is understood that it was down to their quick actions that she was able to be rushed to hospital in good time.

A Belfast Bible College spokesman described her as a popular member of staff and said many of their students are extremely distressed about the incident.

A friend that Caroline loved to holiday in Fermanagh.

"Our thoughts and prayers are very much with Caroline and her family," he said. "She has been on a bank holiday weekend break, she loves it down there in that part of the world.

"Caroline has been on staff for almost 10 years and is very popular. Very helpful.

"A quiet person in some ways, yet an invaluable asset for the students. Many of our students are very distressed about the news. We look forward to her recovery and we will be praying for that."

Along with college principal Patrick Mitchel, Caroline helped to raise 5,000 for the college by jumping out of a plane over the north coast recently.

She studied Library and Information Studies at The Robert Gordon University in Aberdeen before returning to Belfast.One of her neighbours in the Malone area of south Belfast and described the family as quiet.

A spokeswoman for the Department for Communities said it is undertaking inquiries.

"The incident occurred on private land," she said. "The department is involved with discussions with relevant authorities and the landowner to ascertain exactly what happened."

The Health Service Executive for NI said it was "aware of an incident in Co Fermanagh involving cattle in which a member of the public was injured" and said it was investigating the matter.
Fine Gael Social Protection Minister Leo Varadkar as he arrives at Government Buildings in Dublin this morning.

Fine Gael Social Protection Minister Leo Varadkar as he arrives at Government Buildings in Dublin this morning.

Social Protection Minister Leo Varadkar arriving at Government Buildings with the All-Ireland hurling final tickets on his lap marked for two Fine Gael politicians

HE'S hotly fancied to be next Fine Gael leader - and it seems Leo Varadkar is already currying favour.

The Social Protection minister was snapped with an envelope containing precious All-Ireland hurling final tickets on his lap yesterday as he arrived to Government Buildings.

"Hurling tickets, payment on collection 160," was printed on the envelope. Kilkenny play Tipperary tomorrow in Croke Park.

The names of TD John Paul Phelan and councillor Mick Doyle were also written across the front.

Political observers were quick to point out that both Fine Gael politicians hail from Kilkenny.

With Mr Vardakar's native Dublin not featuring and Fine Gael left with no TDs in Tipperary, it seems the minister has made an astute choice of support for this Sunday's All-Ireland final.

Played

Mr Phelan said Mr Varadkar had texted him on Thursday to say he had tickets and asked if he wanted them.

"I said I have a guy here who would love them.

"Myself and (councillor) Mick Doyle actually played hurling together.

"He was one of the best hurlers I ever played," he said.
Angela Merkel has expressed fears the 13bn Apple tax ruling will hurt investment in Europe, putting her on the same side as Ireland in a looming showdown over the limits of national sovereignty and the rights of the federally minded European Commission.

In Brussels, a shockingly blunt attempt by a Commission official to denigrate former Competition Commissioner Neelie Kroes signalled the rising tensions around the issue.

It is understood that Ms Merkel's concerns are about the impact on the European Union's investment environment, not motivated by a desire to protect Irish tax sovereignty.

She is understood to be taking particular issue with the retroactive nature of the ruling - which seeks payment of 13bn in past taxes dating back over a decade, based on standards and rules introduced later.

The German Chancellor told her Italian counterpart that the ruling on Apple risks becoming a deterrent for multinationals that want to invest in the EU, Italian newspaper 'La Repubblica' reported.

She warned that EU Competition Commissioner Margrethe Vestager's ruling could become an "extraordinary opportunity" for non-EU countries to grab investment from companies scared out of the EU by the ruling.

Finance Minister Michael Noonan said Ms Merkel was the only EU politician to have spoken out on the issue, saying that she has concerns about the ruling because it might drive investment in the EU into tax havens.

Asked if he had the backing of other countries in Europe in challenging the Commission, he said: "Yes, that would be a general concern that's being expressed privately."

He noted that on Thursday, former EU Competition Commissioner Neelie Kroes had written in the 'Guardian' newspaper that the Apple ruling issued this week by her successor marked an attempt to rewrite global tax rules - and would harm rather than boost competition.

"One of the best Competition Commissioners ever was the Dutch Commissioner between 2004 and 2010 (Ms Kroes) and she said yesterday that her successor was incorrect on the basis of this ruling because she shouldn't have used competition law to collect tax retrospectively," Mr Noonan said.

Brussels, however, looked to shoot down the intervention by Ms Kroes, now a director of US-based Uber and Salesforce.

Commission spokesman Margaritis Schinas said: "We have seen the op-ed by Neelie Kroes on the application of EU state aid rules to tax rulings.

"We understand that it may be sometimes challenging to reconcile the role as a former commissioner with the temptation to publicly express the views of those in Silicon Valley or elsewhere who oppose the Commission's decisions.

"The piece seems to criticise how the Commission applied EU state aid rules, but the fact is that they were not applied in the way it was alleged.

"This is clear from Commissioner Vestager's statements here in the press room and the Commission's decisions."
A man who injured three generations of a family - one of whom was assaulted with a bag of potatoes - was handed a five-year sentence.

Gareth McAllister's offending took place over a four-day period last June, during which he attacked a teenager, his father and his grandfather.

The youngest victim was slashed across the forehead by a knife-wielding McAllister, who also assaulted police during his arrest.

The 19-year old, from Rogan Manor in Newtownabbey, Co Antrim, initially attacked the father with a bag of potatoes on June 6 outside the family home and four days later he knifed the son.

When the son's father and grandfather intervened in the knife attack, they were injured while disarming McAllister.

Branding McAllister's offending as "extremely serious", Judge Gordon Kerr QC handed him a five-year sentence - half of which will be served in custody, with the remainder on supervised licence upon his release.

Prior to sentencing, Belfast Crown Court heard the first incident occurred in the early hours of June 6 last year, when McAllister approached a house on Antrim Road. When the father answered the door, McAllister asked about the whereabouts of another family member, before punching the man in the face and hitting him with a bag of potatoes.

Four days later, the father's teenage son was attacked by McAllister in the forecourt of a garage on the Antrim Road. McAllister slashed the teenager's forehead and when the young victim's father and grandfather intervened, they suffered hand and other wounds trying to disarm the attacker.

The cut to the teenager's forehead required 13 staples, has left him with permanent scarring and was branded a "very substantial injury".

McAllister was restrained at the scene, and when police arrested him he spat at several officers, as well as assaulting two civilian custody officers at the police station. He initially told police he hadn't hurt anyone with a knife, then refused to answer any questions.

He subsequently pleaded guilty to 10 offences including wounding and assault occasioning actual bodily harm.

Defence barrister Denis Boyd, representing McAllister, confirmed his client was "clearly out of his head on drink and drugs", adding that at the time he had a "substance abuse problem".

Mr Boyd also said that McAllister armed himself with a knife as he was "suffering from a degree of paranoia about being attacked".

Regarding the offences, Mr Boyd said his client was only 18 at the time and "deepy regretted his actions".

He also told the court that whilst in custody on remand, McAllister has passed several drugs tests.

Sentencing McAllister, Judge Kerr said it was clear he had addiction issues.

Judge Kerr also said: "He accepts what he did, but doesn't fully accept or understand the effect his actions had on these people."
It was "completely inappropriate" to refuse a caesarean section request from a mother whose baby was later stillborn, a coroner's court has heard.

Dr Tara Fairley said if a woman with a previous history of a c-section asks for the procedure during another pregnancy, she should be facilitated.

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The experienced medic was giving evidence during the fourth day of an inquest into the death of baby Cara Rocks in 2013.

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Appearing via videolink, she told Belfast Coroner's Court: "If any patient who has had a previous caesarean section said they wanted an elected c-section I would have acceded to that request and planned the elective c-section for around 39 weeks' gestation."

Baby Cara was stillborn at the Causeway Hospital in Coleraine, Co Londonderry on June 26 2013.

The Northern Health and Social Care Trust, which runs the hospital, has already apologised for her death and accepted a series of failings.

Dr Fairley, a consultant obstetrician and clinical director with NHS Grampian, was tasked to independently review the care provided to the infant's mother, Michelle Rocks.

Representing the Rocks family, barrister Fiona Doherty QC said Mrs Rocks had a very clear view about the mode of delivery.

The lawyer said: "She was quite clear that the best thing for her, in this her third pregnancy, was to have a c-section.

"She communicated that at 32 weeks and 36 weeks but was told she was more than capable of delivering the baby herself and the request was refused."

When asked for her view on the scenario, Dr Fairley answered: "I would consider that to be completely inappropriate."

Mrs Rocks was well overdue when she was admitted for induction of labour on June 25 2013. Baby Cara was stillborn the following day at 4.33pm.

According to Dr Fairley, medics failed to spot "obvious" signs of foetal distress following that induction and did not act accordingly by proceeding for an emergency c-section.

"Unless birth was imminent vaginally you would deliver the baby by c-section," she added.

The court has previously heard how heart rate traces were incorrectly recorded as suspicious and not pathological, meaning critical.

Meanwhile, Dr Fairley was also asked to provide opinion on an earlier hospital consultation when Mrs Rocks presented with her baby lying in the wrong position at 38 weeks' pregnant.

"It would not be appropriate to discharge someone at 38 weeks' gestation with a transverse lie because the chances of a chord prolapse are fairly substantial," she said.

The high profile inquest is the first in Northern Ireland to focus solely on the examination of a stillbirth.

Coroner Joe McCrisken has described the case as "historic" and said the region now had legal powers which were the envy of other jurisdictions.

On Thursday it emerged that despite being considered high risk, Mrs Rocks never saw the consultant to whom she was assigned.

Manchester-based obstetrics expert, Dr Leroy Edozien was also highly critical of the care provided.

He highlighted a number of missed opportunities and said Mrs Rocks should have been seen by a consultant at a much earlier stage.

"It was clearly a high risk situation and a transverse lie at 38 weeks is always a risk but add that to the risk of uterine scar rupture it is even more of a high risk situation," said Dr Edozien.

"The advice she was given was inappropriate and on the balance of probabilities had she been seen by a consultant the management would have been different."

When difficulties in tracing Cara's heart rate developed following the induction of labour, Mrs Rocks should have been assessed by a more senior doctor, Dr Edozien concluded.

"I think it was not right, given the risk of the situation for the assessment and decision making to be in the hands of an ST1 doctor. If there were strong reasons why a registrar could not go and assess her (Mrs Rocks), if they were busy on the labour ward, that's fair enough.

"But, the midwives recognised that (risk) and they knew the level of seniority of who to bleep," he said.

Meanwhile, the court heard that a successful normal delivery is achieved by between 67% and 75% of women who have had a previous c-section.

The coroner stressed that natural births for many women who had previously had a caesarean section were safe.

The risk of uterine rupture exists for between two and seven in every 1,000 for women who go into spontaneous labour, but, when a prostaglandin is used to induce labour that risk increases to around two in every 100 women.

Throughout the hearing, Mrs Rocks and her husband Barry were supported in court by their parents and other relatives.

The coroner is expected to delivery his findings on Monday.
School vice-principal Alan Hawe with his wife Clodagh and their children Liam (13), Niall (11) and Ryan (6)

Outside the funeral home, two women stood in an embrace of dazed grief for a long, long time.

Twenty minutes must have passed. And still the women stood, oblivious to all around them. Unable to comprehend the monumental scale of this horrifying tragedy - a loving mother slain, the lives of her children snuffed out as they lay sleeping in their beds.

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And a father who had, by all accounts, doted on them all.

In a devastating Facebook post, Jacqueline, Clodagh's sister, paid tribute to her brother, Tadhg, who died in 2010, saying: "Remembering my little brother Tadhg. Always the life and soul. May he and Richie look after Alan, Clodagh, Liam, Niall and Ryan."

Last night, thousands of mourners made their way steadily to the Lakelands funeral home in the town, where the five bodies were laid out side by side, the three children in poignant white coffins.

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Tragic Liam (13), Niall (11) and Ryan (6) died from stab wounds, while their beloved mother, Clodagh had been attacked and died from head wounds, according to an autopsy carried out by deputy State Pathologist Dr Michael Curtis.

Her body was discovered downstairs in the sitting room of the family home in Ballyjamesduff, Co Cavan.

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Alan Hawe took his own life after wiping out those of his family.

A studio photograph of the family in happier times was released yesterday.

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It showed the smiling faces of the family, dressed as if for a wedding - Clodagh in a pretty dress of peach lace, the faces of the children brimming with wide-smiling mischief, young Liam already as tall as his mother.

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In a pointed display of unity, Clodagh's family, the Colls, along with Alan Hawe's family, have requested mourners to donate to a leading suicide charity, Pieta House, in lieu of flowers.

The funeral for all five will take place at Saint Mary's Church in Castlerahan, Co Cavan, at 4pm today. Burial will take place after Mass in the adjoining cemetery.

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As friends, relatives and a wide-flung pool of mourners came from all over the country to pay their respects yesterday, the mood was one of hushed shock.

Nobody could say a word.

Amongst the mourners were local councillors and former Agriculture Minister Brendan Smith but he, too, did not wish to make any comment.

As evening fell, a chill rain began to spit but still the mourners continued to arrive by the carload, their faces stricken, many streaked with tears.

The relatives had arrived early and had private prayers with Bishop Leo O'Reilly over the remains of their loved ones.

At the Hawe's dormer bungalow, a makeshift shrine had been erected of candles and over a dozen bunches of flowers. One bore the message: "To my beautiful, beautiful boys and wonderful parents. You will be sadly missed and loved."

Women's Aid has reported an increase in the number of women calling its helpline, distraught over the deaths of Clodagh Hawe and her children in such circumstances.

Meanwhile, local people are struggling to come to terms with Monday's unspeakable tragedy, discovered by gardai after they were alerted by a relative who found a note pinned to the back door of the family home.

Just 48 hours before the bodies were found, Mr Hawe and his children attended an anniversary Mass for his grandmother in Windgap, Co Kilkenny - where he was from.

Clodagh worked as a school teacher in Oristown National School in Kells, Co Meath.

Principal Ann O'Kelly Lynch said that she was "a much-loved and valued teacher" at the school and "will be greatly missed by all who knew her".

One parent described her as the "best teacher in the world", while former pupil, Shauna Sheppard (14), paid tribute to Clodagh, who she said was a "very special person".

"Ms Hawe taught me in junior infants and then after that I had her every day to help me with English and maths so she was there for me every day," said Shauna, who also knew 13-year-old Liam, the eldest of the three Hawe brothers.

"She was so, so caring. If you had a problem you could go to her any time. She was very motherly towards me, always wanting to help me. She was just brilliant."

In a statement, Castlerahan National School - where Alan Hawe taught and where two of his children, Niall and Ryan, were pupils - paid tribute to the boys as "wonderful children who will be greatly missed by all who knew them."

"This is a terrible tragedy for the family, our school and our community. We are deeply saddened by this event. Our sympathy and thoughts are with the extended family and friends,' said principal, Anne Foley.

The Hawe's family home remains sealed off for technical examination, which is expected to take several days to complete.

Meanwhile, psychologists from the National Educational Psychological Service (NEPS) have been assigned to the primary schools to support and advise teachers in their efforts to try and help the children and staff process the events which unfolded.

The schools, it has been said, will also be open to parents to support them and offer them advice and guidance following the tragic deaths of the Hawe family.

Gardai have said they are not looking for anyone else in relation to the deaths, with Assistant Commissioner John O'Driscoll telling a press-briefing at Ballyjamesduff Garda Station: "We believe all the answers are within that house."

He added that the "most likely scenario" was that of murder-suicide.
The car is recovered from the pier at Kerrykeel

The body of a 36-year-old woman has been recovered from the water, after her car went off the pier in Co Donegal today.

Her body was taken to Letterkenny General Hospital for a post-mortem examination.

The woman was last seen in Kerrykeel just a few minutes before the incident at the pier.

She lived locally but was originally from Letterkenny.

It emerged this evening that a teenage boy tried to save the woman.

Local people say he dived into the water shortly after the car went off the pier into Mulroy Bay.

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However he was unable to save the woman.

He had to be treated for shock by paramedics at the scene.

A major search was launched to locate the woman earlier today.

The alarm was raised by another motorist who witnessed the incident at the pier just outside Kerrykeel on the Fanad peninsula.

It's understood the vehicle is a Fiat Punto and the female motorist is from the local area.

The Sligo 118 rescue helicopter has located the vehicle and Coast Guard divers are at the scene.

They are being assisted by Mulroy Coast Guard lifeboat crews as well as fire service personnel.

Ambulance crews and Gardai are also at the scene of the incident.

Local people say the incident happened around 12.30pm.
Dublin: What can reboot the city as a tourist attraction?

Derelict buildings on Moss Street, just yards from the IFSC.

A pint and a packet of crisps cost 8.75 at a Temple Bar pub this summer. Photo: Pol O Conghaile

Derelict buildings on Moss St., Dublin - just yards from the IFSC.

Pictured launching the 10 Leap Family Card was Anne Graham, CEO of the National Transport Authority with Megan Cronin age 7 and Darragh McCormick age 7. Picture Jason Clarke.

Capel Street: Is this Dublin's most surprising street?

A pint and a packet of crisps cost 8.75 at a Temple Bar pub this summer. Photo: Pol O Conghaile

Critics say Dublin is expensive, dirty and trading on former glories. What can be done to reboot it for a new generation?

Tourism is booming in Ireland, but Dublin is in danger.

The city clocked 4.5 million visitors last year. But prices are rising. There's a shortage of hotel rooms. Brexit has hit the spending power of our biggest visitor market.

Failte Ireland, Dublin City Council and others are working hard to develop the city and its brand, but there's a lack of investment in new visitor attractions, and decision makers don't always connect with a dynamic younger generation.

If Dublin stands still, similarly-sized (but cheaper) cities like Amsterdam, Valencia and Prague will storm ahead. Visitors will vote with their feet.

Here are ten suggestions for change.

1. Stop the rip-offs

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A pub receipt from Temple Bar.

It's a free market, right?

Maybe. But a free market in which you can pay 7.25 for a bog standard pint of Heineken in a Temple Bar pub (above) doesn't exactly scream 'value'.

The same pint rises to 7.60 after 12am, staff confirmed. The Temple Bar did not respond to several messages and requests for a comment.

It's not alone. In 2013, another pub receipt showing Oliver St. John Gogarty's charging 7.15 for a pint went viral after it said customers "rarely complain".

A recent survey comparing the cost of food, drink and accommodation in European cities found Dublin to be more expensive than Oslo or Reykjavik.

For sustainable tourism, we need to stay competitive.

2. Get a night mayor

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Amsterdam and Paris have night mayors. What about Dublin?

Dublin has very different needs by day and night.

The capital is a buzzing after-dark, but can also be messy and dangerous, especially when clubs end at the same time and revellers spill out onto the streets.

Amsterdam, Zurich, Paris and Toulouse have all benefited from the services of a night mayor - a go-between who recognises that nightlife is important but must be balanced with the community's need for safety, peace and quiet.

Dublin DJ and event curator Niall Byrne (Nialler9) explains:

"Night-time culture is a neglected part of the city - often ignored, often misunderstood or only thought of in negative terms. A night mayor would act as a mediator between clubs, venues and council, understanding both sides.

"He or she could also highlight the value of nightlife economy and oversee strategy, i.e. closing times, late licensing in certain areas, city patrols, tourist information volunteers with a knowledge of nightlife, increasing night safety, spotting trends and opportunities to grow creatively and economically."

Dublin City Council is considering a night mayor. Could it be fast-tracked?

3. Go North

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Capel Street - Dublin's most surprising street?

A great Dublin needs a great northside.

Arguably, it already has one - with highlights ranging from Croke Park to Chapter One, Glasnevin Cemetery to Georgian set-pieces like Henrietta Street. But there has been a singular failure to inspire visitors (not to mind locals) to give it a go.

Heck, if people wont even make the 50m trek from Temple Bar to Capel Street, one of the citys most exciting strips, what hope is there for Phibsborough or Stoneybatter?

The Dublin Northside Attractions Alliance is a major step forward, and the Victorian fruit and vegetable market could turn into a real catalyst for change (Dublin City Council aspires to have a redeveloped facility open by 2018).

But key northside streets need more grassroots investment.

What about start-up grants to give cafes, restaurants and other businesses the confidence to move north, drawing some of the footfall and momentum?

Think of it as Europe's hippest 'hood, just waiting to happen.

4. Build something brilliant

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The Guggenheim Effect in Bilbao.

The Guggenheim in Bilbao (above) turned around a down-at-heel industrial city, creating a 'Guggenheim effect' that is felt to this day.

Dublin has a new brand (' Dublin - A Breath of Fresh Air'), decades of visitor goodwill and an engaged tourism bureau (Visit Dublin), but it hasn't unveiled a genuinely inspiring, ambitiously-scaled, world-class capital project in years.

Sure, EPIC Ireland (see inside here) and GPO Witness History are welcome new openings, but they are subtler, softer additions to the cityscape.

Imagine a bold, brilliantly designed gallery or museum that would put the city on front covers of magazines all over the world. Picture a legacy building, like Titanic Belfast or Eli & Edythe Broad's contemporary art museum in Downtown LA.

Of course, the process and spend would be divisive (Dubliners wouldn't have it any other way). But the results could be epic.

5. Add more pedestrianised zones

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Rue des Bouchers, Brussels: Could this be South William Street?

Dublin lacks the plazas and piazzas of many European cities - open spaces that come alive at night, with summer crowds or Christmas markets.

But what about after-hours pedestrianised zones? Couldn't areas like the Creative Quarter (Drury Street, Exchequer Street, South William Street and Wicklow Street) or Capel Street could be closed off to motorists after, say, 7pm?

At night, these places could pulsate with markets, street food, entertainers, live music and pop-up bars. Sure, we don't have a Mediterranean climate - but awnings and outdoor heaters could protect punters from the rain and cold.

It can be done. Last year, a swathe of Brussels city centre was closed permanently to traffic, creating Europe's largest urban pedestrian area after Venice.

A new wave of no-car zones would offer something for all ages.

6. Make food the new drink

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Great sandwiches at the Green Bench Cafe.

Once upon a time, Lima was a city people bypassed. Today, it's one of the world's most exciting cities, with three eateries in the World's Top 50 restaurants.

The reason? Food.

Dublin can be the next Lima. Irish produce and chefs are that good.

Sure, price can be a problem, the city lacks a cracking street food scene, and it's still as easy to find a bad meal as a good one. But Dublin can be Europe's next hot food city - it just needs belief, and a marketing budget to shout it from the rooftops.

Alcohol offers brilliant images of Ireland, but also a host of embarrassing stereotypes. It's time for Dublin's grub to take its place alongside the pubs.

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7. Join up public transport

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There's a family Leap Card. But what can tourists buy online?

Picture a visitor trying to figure out Dublin's public transport.

How do the city's bus, DART and Luas services join up? Dublin has no airport rail link ( Metro North? 2026, at the earliest), and that's not even starting on cycle lanes.

A tourist version of the Leap Card (the city's integrated transport ticket) exists, but can't be bought online - unlike London's Oyster Card, for example.

Dublin needs a card that can be downloaded to mobile devices (Copenhagen's Citypass can be sent direct to mobile), and can be easily topped up without having to visit vending machines or specific physical locations.

Younger visitors expect it. Let's just do it.

8. It's the youth, stupid

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A street sign outside The Bernard Shaw for Bodytonic's Beatyard festival.

There's more to Dublin than U2, trad music and the Book of Kells.

Right now, the city's cultural scene is being transformed by collectives and artists' groups, by young people doing things differently.

Independent music promoters and bloggers like Choice Cuts, Bodytonic, Happenings, Homebeat, Nialler9, GoldenPlec and more have filled the cultural vacuum created by recession, breathing life into Dublin through niche events, festivals and gigs.

The excitement and energy is palpable. So why aren't most visitors (and even locals) aware of our multi-layered offerings? And what can we do to change that?

We need to amplify the voice of Dublin culture, and raise awareness of more authentic and lesser-known places through local and international media. We need to tell fresh stories and put culture centre stage.

Juxtaposing the old and new could be a big selling point to tourists who are looking for more than just tick-the-box attractions. It would be fun, too.

9. Fix the streets

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City Quay: The view just a few hundred yards from O'Connell Bridge.

Cities like Berlin, London, Madrid and New York are famed for their creative communal spaces; off the beaten track venues that act as cultural complexes.

In Dublin, most of these places have disappeared.

Since July 2014, eight studios and/or art spaces have closed in the city, including Block T, Mabos Project, Bio Space, Broadstone Studios, The Joinery, Market Studios and Basic Space Moxie Studios. The Iveagh Market is derelict since the mid-90s.

Can abandoned eyesores be developed for local communities and tourism?

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Victorian flats on Moss Street, in Dublin's City Centre.

Sure, vacant lots can be legal minefields. But short-term projects like the Dominick Street pop-up park or long-term developments like a buzzing Epicurean Food Hall - along the lines of the Mercado de Ribeira in Lisbon - are needed.

Street art could also radically transform the appearance of the city's derelict spaces with adventurous design and powerful social commentary.

Dublin needs to introduce a more intelligent, forward-thinking way of viewing the city. It should be cultural hub, not just a commodity.

10. Think beyond hotels

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Punk bunks at The Dean.

Dublin has a hotel shortage. In the last five years, according to a recent Failte Ireland report, tourist arrivals grew 33pc, but hotel space fell 6pc.

If nothing is done, the city faces a shortage of 5,500 rooms by 2020.

Building new hotels is one solution, but it's time to think outside the box. Pop-up hotels. B&B and guesthouse reboots. Luxury hostels. Smaller rooms (see The Dean's ' Punk Bunks', above). The fast-tracked transformation of existing buildings. A concerted decision to either work with, or against, Airbnb.

The last thing we need is for room rates to rise even further, earning Dublin a San Francisco-style reputation as one of Europe's most expensive cities.

"Dublin is in danger of standing still," according to Destination Dublin - A Collective Strategy for Tourism Growth to 2020, a 2014 report published by the Grow Dublin Taskforce. Its brand, Failte Ireland has noted, is a bit stale.

Here's another opportunity to change that.

Agree or disagree with our suggestions? Let us know! Post your comments below, email travel@independent.ie or get in touch on Facebook here.
Murder-suicide has occurred with alarming regularity in Ireland since I first came across it in Cork back in the early 1980s.

Yet there seems to be little or no research into what appears to be a particularly Irish phenomenon.

"People seem to think they are rare, but they're not," Una Butler, whose husband killed their two children, told Sean O'Rourke on RTE radio last week. "There have been 27 cases since 2000."

She went on to say that there was not enough investigation into murder-suicide in Ireland and there appears to be a tendency to brush such killings under the carpet.

Although there is, as yet, no explanation why Alan Hawe killed his wife and three beautiful boys in Co Cavan, many of the murder-suicide cases that have cropped up in the last three decades involve mental illness or failed relationships.

The nearest we have come to establishing how these tragedies unfold has come from Gregory Fox, who killed his wife Debbie and two young sons, Trevor (9) and Cillian (7), on a Friday night in July, 2001.

That night after they put the boys to bed the couple, who ran a shop and filling station in the Westmeath village of Castledaly, went to Fitzgerald's pub in the village for a few drinks.

Life seemed to have reached the stage where they were content, rearing the two boys and enjoying a decent standard of living.

But beneath this veneer of respectability and normality, the Fox marriage was falling apart. Sitting in the corner of the pub, Debbie Fox told her husband that it was over; she was leaving him and would be taking the boys.

Greg's reaction, at first, was calm and rational. He told Debbie he loved her, that they could get over this and appealed to her, for the sake of the boys, to stay and work out their difficulties together.

Later that night, Gregory Fox went into the kitchen where Debbie was making herself a cup of tea before going to bed. He smashed a beer bottle off the wall and slashed her with the jagged remains. He then grabbed a kitchen knife and stabbed her before beating her over the head with a hurley stick.

Gregory Fox left his wife dead, or dying, in the kitchen and went into the bedroom where his son Trevor was sleeping and stabbed him 31 times before moving to the next room and stabbing Cillian 16 times.

He then went into his own bedroom, and tried to take his own life. But Greg Fox didn't die. He later tried to explain the savage events of the night.

"I loved the three of them. I loved my wife. She didn't love me. She was going to leave.

"I pleaded with her not to go. I only killed the kids because I didn't want them to wake up in the morning to see that," he said.

That seems as close as we have got to a rational explanation for the litany of murder-suicides that have afflicted this country in recent decades.

Most of the perpetrators are ordinary, law-abiding and outwardly normal citizens who have never done anything violent in their lives.

Their crimes involve extraordinary levels of violence and afterwards they mostly succeed in killing themselves, leaving behind a yawning unanswered question: Why?

One psychiatrist has identified 'jilted lover syndrome' for crimes perpetrated by Gregory Fox and many murder-suicides. "They adopt a position of 'If I can't have you nobody else will. I can't live without you and I won't let anybody else live with you'."

Such possessiveness, or jealousy, is often fuelled by lack of self-confidence, potentially combustible when sex is involved. The man is convinced that he has been tried and found wanting by his lover and that's why she's moving on. He can't handle the sense of inadequacy, or is distraught at the thought of having to make it on his own.

What drove John Gorman of Saggart, Co Dublin, to kill his wife Martina and his eight-year-old daughter Sarah Jane with an axe on a pleasant May afternoon?

Gorman had a history of anxiety and alcoholism but had beaten the drink and become an active member of Alcoholics Anonymous. Having been unemployed for years, he had just got himself a reasonably good job.

He gave up the job one day, went home and out of the blue killed those he loved.

Afterwards, he cycled from the village where they lived along the Naas dual carriageway in heavy early-morning traffic before throwing himself in front of a truck.

"It would not be productive for you to look into the reasons why this happened," said the coroner at the inquest. "I don't think we will ever know why this terrible tragedy occurred."

Because of family and community sensitivities, murder-suicide is among the last taboo subjects in Ireland, and particularly in close-knit rural communities it is easier to grieve for the dead than answer the questions raised by such events.

With the alarming regularity that such incidents have happened in recent years in different parts of Ireland, it is time perhaps to go deeper to find an explanation - whether it be mental illness or jealousy or other causes - of why fathers and sometimes mothers take such extreme measures against those they love most.

Only by understanding can we hope to prevent such incidents happening in the future.

Liam Collins is the author of 'Irish Crimes of Passion'.

Anyone affected by issues discussed in this article can contact the Samaritans on 116123
Michael Noonan: 'I thought the communications were very good. I was proud of my colleagues in explaining this very complex issue since the start of the week' Photo: PA News

'Paschal and myself, the finance team, are here to say a few words and answer any of your questions," Michael Noonan advised the waiting press in a shaded corner of the courtyard of Government Buildings.

And that's exactly what he did for just less than 25 minutes until everybody was satisfied that the key issues had been addressed.
Once upon a time, in a land far, far away, there was a press conference. A media briefing that would deliver a ruling so fundamental to the sovereignty of Ireland's economic independence that the Irish government decided it required careful consideration and meticulous reaction. Many tireless hours were spent assiduously assessing every possible scenario to ensure that no matter what the outcome of the ruling, the Irish Government would be ready to save all the people of the kingdom.

In preparation for the event, scores of political advisors worked furiously behind the scenes all summer, craftily checking out the views of their colleagues. Civil servants scoured their rolodexes on a pan-European intelligence-gathering mission that would leave Jason Bourne in the shade. Ministers worked tirelessly at clandestine Cabinet meetings, searching for agreement. No stone was left unturned. Because this ruling would not only be crucial today, it could prove crucial for all of our tomorrows.

Alas, that is just a fairy story, a fallacy that was in fact replaced by an epic political horror show of ineptitude and bungling.

On Tuesday morning, Competition Commissioner Margrethe Vestager ordered tech giant Apple to pay 13bn in unpaid taxes to Ireland. What followed was the political mishandling of a well-flagged set piece that culminated in the minority element of the Government eventually carving out a strategy.

Ultimately, an agreement was reached to appeal the decision and that in future Ireland would have no such nasty "immoral" tax arrangements.

Here are how things should have played out.

The press conference in Brussels should have been followed by a press conference on the steps of Government Buildings - an optical offering to show the world (and the electorate here) that the Government is in control of our own destiny when it comes to taxation; a crystal-clear signal to foreign companies investing in Ireland that our word is our bond. More importantly from the Government's perspective, it would have been a demonstration to the electorate that this new political arrangement is working.

Foolishly, perhaps, I assumed we might see a refreshed and confident Taoiseach flanked by his Ministers for Finance, for Enterprise and Jobs and for Foreign Affairs, who would deliver an antidote to our latest international problem. The Independent Cabinet ministers could have nominated a spokesperson of their own to outline their feelings on this matter and have a presence at Government briefings. A Coalition of togetherness.

Some members of the aforementioned should then have gone on to various news programmes with agreed speaking points and identikit slogans for ministers to ensure they were all singing from the same hymn sheet.

Opinion pieces should have been offered to national newspapers from our ministers, outlining the implications of the ruling and possible challenge, which would have helped balance coverage.

Perchance a fact sheet about the importance of multinationals could have been published in advertorials. Government spokespeople should have been present in Brussels to refute the arguments made by the EU and to deal with the foreign media. Press conferences and media appearances happened eventually yesterday but they were days late and thirteen billion short.

Perhaps the most remarkable thing about all of this is that the information was available to the Government and its officials for weeks. In fact, the only single thing missing was the figure. Much groundwork could have been done before the ruling, rather than after it. Why, then, did the Government allow itself to be bounced into doing all of its housekeeping over the airwaves for days?

One wonders what systems - if any - are in place behind the scenes to prevent the political machinations overtaking the practical aspects of policy. For example, who is in charge of ensuring the Independents are kept onside or in line? Government advisors and backroom boffins can get a hard time in the press but they are an essential part of the process. So too are the civil service. It is incumbent on them to provide support and long-term planning for their political masters.

From afar, it looks as if they are all happy to sit back and let politicians take the lead on matters. If that is the case, things can only get worse.

As soon as Michael Noonan told the 'News at One' on Tuesday that the Government would be appealing the decision, all hell broke loose. Understandably, the Independent Cabinet ministers felt not only insignificant, but inconsequential. Fine Gael's first opportunity to convey that it had learned lessons from the Cabinet split on the issue of the Attorney General's advice on the repeal of the Eight Amendment was lost.

Either Michael Noonan did not get it or, worse, he doesn't even care. No one wants to criticise the man who fought a valiant war to save us from the IMF. But now, he appears to be sitting in the corner, throwing brickbats when we need someone who can go over the top for us when jousting with the Europeans on Apple and on Brexit. It is time for fresh blood at the Department of Finance.

Another summer has passed with leaders and ministers who should have gone long ago. As we pat ourselves on the back for being a politically polite nation who do not ruthlessly hound people from office, nevertheless there are international developments happening which have cataclysmic consequences for us all.

Politics is a rough and brutal business. Polite platitudes are useless.

We simply cannot keep sitting on fences allowing political parties and individuals to do the decent thing in their own time.

We need people out in front who are ambitious for themselves, for their parties, and for this country. We need someone to take charge, before we get completely trampled on by the ogres at the EU, who look determined to ensure a very Grimm ending to our fairy tale with Europe.
Hopes that a woman might next lead the United Nations have been dealt a blow as the opaque process to elect a new secretary-general enters its final stages. Last month, incumbent Ban Ki-moon said it was "high time" for a woman take the helm of the UN for the first time since its foundation more than 70 years ago. His words heartened campaigners, including a group of 56 nations, that have been pushing for the next secretary-general to make history in this way.

"We have many distinguished and eminent women leaders in national governments or other organisations or even business communities, political communities and cultural and every aspect of our life," Ban said, adding: "There's no reason why not in the United Nations."

Many hoped a women would be selected in 2006 when Ban, then a South Korean diplomat, was chosen. As the race for the next secretary-general heated up earlier this year, initial signs suggested that it might happen this time, after eight men have held the position.

High-calibre candidates, including the former New Zealand prime minister Helen Clark, who is now head of the UN development agency, Irina Bokova, the head of Unesco, the UN education and cultural organisation, and UN climate chief Christiana Figueres, held the promise of a tight race that could very well bring a woman to the job.

The decision on who gets what many might consider to be the toughest job in the world is made by the UN's 15-member Security Council, which must recommend a candidate to the 193-member general assembly for its approval.

A series of straw polls by secret ballot, the third of which was held on Monday, narrows the field. Security Council members vote on whether to encourage, discourage or not express a view on a candidate.

In Monday's ballot, Portugal's former prime minister, Antonio Guterres, no stranger to the architecture of the UN, given that he served as the UN high commissioner for refugees for a decade, emerged in the lead, with 11 members voting to 'encourage' him.

Irina Bokova was the highest polled among the five women candidates and the third favourite overall, although five member states voted to "discourage" her.

Some expect Helen Clark to withdraw after polling seventh place in this third ballot, with eight "discourages".

To be in with a chance, a candidate must have at least nine positive votes, with no veto from any of the five permanent members of the Security Council. That rules out Christiana Figueres, who came 10th out of 10 candidates in Monday's vote. A fourth straw poll is due to take place in September, with the expectation that some consensus might then be clear around a particular candidate by October.

By tradition, the world's top diplomatic post has rotated - unofficially - among regions of the world. Officials from Asia, Africa, Latin America and western Europe have all served as the UN secretary-general.

Eastern European member states, including Russia, have argued that it is their turn this time. Because of this, Bokova, who is Bulgarian, was considered an early frontrunner but she is still trailing in the third poll, partly, some believe, because a number of member states think she is too close to Russia.

The argument that it is time for a secretary-general from eastern Europe is also playing in favour of Miroslav Lujcak, foreign minister of Slovakia, who surged unexpectedly to reach second place to Guterres.

Russia and the four other permanent council members - the US, UK, France and China - all have the power to veto a candidacy. Many believe Lujcak may be the compromise candidate that all five could agree on as Moscow is known not to be keen on Guterres. If the Security Council fails to reach consensus ahead of the deadline of late October, it could plunge the council into another crisis at a time when Ban is due to step down at the end of the year.

With Guterres' place in the lead considered shaky, there is still the possibility that one of the remaining women candidates could rise, particularly if some candidates drop out of the race. The horse-trading will continue in the corridors of UN headquarters in New York in the coming weeks as diplomats weigh national interests and geopolitical dynamics, while assessing who might be best for what was once described as the most impossible job in the world.
The body of Aylan Kurdi has gone beyond the 'iconic'.

Being small and dressed like a little European boy, and being white rather than brown-skinned, his very name posthumously and subtly shifting to the homely English 'Alan', the son of the Kurdish refugee family fleeing across the Mediterranean from Turkey to Europe became 'our' child.

The moment his tiny body washed up on the beach near Bodrum and appeared on front pages around the world, the closet racism of our politicians was briefly stilled. What stone heart could condemn this little boy as part of a 'swarm', a word used about the occupants of the Calais camp by a former British prime minister?

But the image of Aylan Kurdi obscured a host of lessons which we ignored - and continue to disregard - at our peril.

Firstly, of course, he was a mere representative of the thousands of other Aylans whose remains lie today on the sea bed of the Mediterranean, forever unrecorded and unfilmed. Aylan was a symbol, perhaps even a representative, of this army of dead children. But he also became a sacrificial three-year-old, thrown up by the waves as a 'martyr' rather than a victim of political violence and betrayal, while the Turkish police officer in rubber gloves gently taking his body from the sand became a kind of male version of the 'pieta'. But if grief was depicted thus by Michelangelo half a millennium ago, it was nonetheless odd that we regarded the Syrian Kurdish child as the victim of a frightening new phenomenon.

The refugee, the fearful emigrant - soon to become, for us, the threatening immigrant - was portrayed as a uniquely 21st-, or at least 20th-century burden. We could look back to the millions of 'displaced persons' of post-war 1945 Europe, even to the Armenian refugee survivors of the 1915 genocide or the victims of the Bolshevik revolution, but there history dribbled away. Being a college classicist - in Latin, not Greek - I was struck this week, after the Italians rescued those 10,000 migrants from the sea, by how very central the story of Aylan Kurdi's family and a million others really is in the history and culture of the Mediterranean.

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We can read, for example, the epic story of a refugee family launching its equally unstable boat into the Mediterranean only a few hundred miles from the very same Anatolian coast from which the Kurdi family set sail so tragically last year.

A son records how he and his father "took to the open sea, borne outward into exile with my people", leaving behind only corpses and a burned landscape.

And, having left what is now Turkey, they arrived at last, after a final treacherous crossing of the Mediterranean from what is now Tunisia - how the parallels shout at us across the ages - in the sanctuary of Italy.

Only in this ancient text, the refugee is no 'migrant' to burden the EU's social services - and conscience - but the first hero of Rome, son of Anchises and relative of King Priam, ancestor of Romulus and Remus. Virgil's 'Aeneid' - and I was quoting from Robert Fitzgerald's glorious translation - does not refer to Aeneas as a migrant.

He is in the original Latin an 'exsul' - an exile, a banished person - or 'fato profugus', a 'fugitive by destiny' or by 'fate'. Today, we might call Aeneas and his father 'self-exiles'. The Latin for refugee would have been 'fugitivus', but this would have implied a criminal on the run from justice - which may be how Donald Trump regards Mexicans, but scarcely applies to Trojans or Syrian Kurds.

What both also have in common is the war which drove them from Anatolian shores. For burning Troy, read burning Aleppo. For the destruction of the ancient city of King Priam, think of the pulverisation of the Great Mosque and the soukhs of Syria's largest city, and the slaughter of its peoples. Fire and the sword, shell and the barrel-bombs.

The Trojans and the peoples of the Middle East today were and are fleeing for their lives. And so we come to the flip side of this tragedy.

Not the history of the past, but the history of the future. In the age of the internet, we have stopped thinking about this. The question is rarely 'how did this come to pass?' but 'what should we do NOW?'. Don't ask why 19 men who claimed they were Muslims committed the international crimes against humanity of 9/11. Invade Afghanistan! Don't question how Saddam achieved power in Iraq. Invade Iraq!

Aylan Kurdi's father condemns politicians for failing to act: "People are still dying and nobody is doing anything about it."

A year on from the death of Aylan Kurdi, we've still not done enough to solve the refugee crisis.

Aylan Kurdi's father says his son "died for nothing" as refugee disasters put 2016 on course to be deadliest year ever.

Whether or not the Trojan wars were a Greek (and later Roman) myth or the husk of a real 12th century BC conflict, the story - whether it be of Homer's Odysseus or Virgil's Aenias - is as contemporary as the present Arab tragedy in the Middle East. Muslims and Christians leave their mosques and churches behind. Along with his father and friends, Aeneas could take with him only his household gods, his 'penates'.

All were fleeing the folly of kings and warlords, militia leaders and dictators. Which brings us to the next, even vaster fleets of refugees who will trek from their homelands in the decades to come, victims of the ferocious Saddam-like autocrats and satraps whom we currently support in a different part of the Muslim world. I'm talking here of the little emperors - complete with praetorian guards, statues and president-for-life status - in the 'Stans' that lie between Afghanistan, Pakistan, Russia and Iran.

Daniel McLaughlin, among the best correspondents in central and eastern Europe, has drawn attention to the dangers inherent in the Muslim Asian states which emerged from the ruins of the Soviet Union a quarter of a century ago. In a region of oil and gas wealth and strategic importance, their leaders, courted by both Moscow and Washington, are guilty of appalling human rights crimes, massacres and torture of their own peoples in their war - you guessed it - against Isis.

For just as the brutality and corruption of the Arab dictators, whom we largely armed and financed, spawned the Islamic cult 'caliphates' of the Middle East - the Trojan Horse of our own time - so Islam Karimov, Nursultan Nazarbayev, Emomali Rakhmon and the rest are all fighting the same nebulous black and purist enemy in the 'Stans'. In Uzbekistan, the brutal Karimov, whose cops specialise in torture - boiling victims alive is a favourite - has suffered a stroke. Some say he is dead, which will be good news for the Islamic Movement of Uzbekistan, ally of both Isis and the Taliban.

In Tajikistan, where a civil war in the 1990s claimed - with statistics as wild as Syria's - up to 100,000 dead, a thousand of Rakhmon's citizens have joined Isis, along with Gulmurod Khalimov, the former Tajik police commander. Khalimov, I should add, was trained in the US. The Americans maintained post-9/11 air bases in Uzbekistan and Kyrgyzstan. The ghastly Nazarbayev of Kazakhstan, a creature whose torture chambers and abuse of civil rights are close to Karimov's standards, pays millions to his hard-working adviser and would-be scourge of dictators, Tony Blair. You get the point.

And when these vicious Ruritanias explode, the refugees will come again, the 'exiles by fate' and the 'fugitives of destiny'; Uzbekistan's 30-million population is almost a third larger than Syria's. And they will drift across their frontiers and many will come to us, mixed up with more Afghans, Syrians and Arabs. And then we will ask not 'why?', not 'how did we come to this?', but 'what do we do NOW?'. And it will be too late again. What was the name of that little chap on the beach, we'll ask ourselves then? Aylan, wasn't it? Or Alan? And behind those refugees will be the burning cities of the ancient Silk Road, as surely as Aleppo burns today, and Troy long ago. ( Independent News Service)
There's no definitive etiquette to follow in starting a war. Some throw down a gauntlet, while others go straight for the blunderbus, a favoured weapon of choice in Brussels this week.

Margrethe Vestager's attack on Ireland's tax policy will in time be recognised as a clumsy and inept incursion into our internal affairs.

The covert intent was clearly to take out our corporate tax policy. Having no right to trespass on tax, the Commission targeted the infrastructure of our tax infrastructure, deeming it to be illegal.

And after a week of stuttering disarray, the Government finally spoke with one voice, enabling the Taoiseach to formally declare that we will be appealing the ruling.

Finance Minister Michael Noonan followed on, saying some member states were trying to "establish a bridgehead" to bring down our 12.5pc corporation tax.

The Commission has made a mistake. Even Chancellor Merkel has looked askance at the over-reach. She expressed concern that it could damage foreign investment across Europe.

Swatting a small fry like Ireland with some shock tactics by Commission storm troopers is one thing; opening up an all-out transatlantic trade fire-fight with the EU is quite another. This is a very dangerous game, just as the union has been rocked to its foundations by Brexit.

In 'The Art of War', Sun Tzu advises: "Supreme excellence consists of breaking the enemy's resistance without fighting." Margrethe Vestager may not be fully familiar with the ancient Oriental classic; if she was, she might have tried more subtle means.

The application of knuckle-dusters to knock a peripheral member into line will have done serious damage to perceptions about how Brussels views the union's smaller states.

Asked if he regarded the Commission's move as an attack on our tax regime, Mr Noonan was commendably forthright: "There is a lot of envy across Europe about how successful we are in putting the HQ of so many companies into Ireland and especially into Dublin."

The mandarins in Frankfurt and Brussels may well scoff at Ireland's "persecution complex", but there is no denying that this has been a defining week for EU relationships.

Ours is arguably the most open economy in the zone. It was the transfusion of foreign direct investment that got the flat-lining heart of the economy pumping again.

In the depths of the crash, when we needed assistance from Brussels on debt relief and when we also sought some easing of the burden by burning bondholders, Brussels was implacable.

Frankfurt feared that the euro could fall through the floor, the plight of the currency was the priority. Thus the Irish taxpayer endured the biggest transfer of private debt on to the backs of a sovereign nation in recent economic history. The toll of this is seen even in the figures published today, where middle-income earners are paying vastly more tax than they did before austerity measures kicked in.

A typical earner on 55,000 is paying over 2,000 more in income taxes than in 2008. For all these reasons, the irresponsible dangling of a 13bn illusory carrot before the people was a dazzling but dangerous stunt. The cost of grabbing it could be the future of 150,000 hi-tech jobs should overseas investors take flight.

Besides, Ms Vestager invited other EU countries to have a bite of it, should they see fit. The clumsy handling by the Commission also exposed the parlous state of the Coalition bringing it to the brink.

Issac Newton, famous for another apple landing on his head, said: "Tact is the knack of making a point without making an enemy." The Commission might take note.
The recent Apple ruling has highlighted that an 'IRE-OUT' discussion about whether Ireland should quit the EU needs to begin.

Ireland, the country which has been the poster boy of Europe since the credit crisis, has now become subject to a very dubious European Commission ruling which will undoubtedly affect the country's ability to attract investment and create employment in the future.

That the EU - through the European Commission - is deciding to attack the Irish taxation policy at this moment in time is truly astonishing.

The British have decided to opt out. The Greeks reluctantly decided to opt in. The Italians are trying their utmost to forego European bank regulatory and capital requirements. All of which has created market turmoil and uncertainty across the EU region.

Ireland, on the other hand, has taken the severe pain that was enforced upon us, and more than any of the other crisis-hit countries has begun to come out the other side.

It is clear to me that the Irish economic improvement since the most recent crisis has had very little to do with strong relationships and aid from the European Union. Whether we like it or not, our economic recovery has largely been due to multinationals such as Google, Apple, Facebook, LinkedIn and so forth, basing themselves here, expanding offices here and creating employment, directly and indirectly, and boosting the local economy.

The European Union's approach now seems to be, rather than concentrating on efforts to right the wrongs of other EU nations, let's try to get a piece of the pie that has served to slightly improve economic conditions in Ireland.

The discussion about IRE-OUT needs to begin.

Daniel Kelly, Kerry

We should embrace ties with UK

There seems to have been a seismic shift in the thinking of the republican Left in Ireland due to Brexit.

Gone, seemingly, are their concerns over sovereignty, neutrality, austerity, and the big, bad bankers. There hasn't been a peep out of them about water charges since the EU dictat that they must be paid. The days of No to Nice and No to Lisbon are well and truly over for them, and the EU are now their new best mates.

This is an instinctive reaction on their part, based on fear, because they have realised that any break in ranks with the EU leaves Ireland with only one way to go - back towards the UK and Commonwealth.

Fear is evident right across the Irish political spectrum regarding any decision-making (What will the EU think? What will the EU say? What will the EU do?). The formulation of policy based on fear is not a good thing, except, perhaps, for the unelected EU officials that dictate it to elected governments in countries like Ireland.

Instead, let Ireland embrace and exploit its social, cultural, historic, and economic links with the UK and nations such as Canada, Australia, New Zealand, and South Africa, among others.

Peter Keating, Charleville, Co Cork

Hypocrisy of EU Commission

It seems somewhat hypocritical for the EU Commission to chastise Apple et al for legally managing their tax affairs to their advantage when they enjoy tax advantages, such as salaries exempt from national income taxes, not available to the general public.

Indeed, does the EU's secretive 'Economat' store in Brussels still exist, where access to an extensive range of low-priced (VAT free?) goods was strictly restricted to card-carrying members of the EU glitterati?

R Blackburn, Naul, Co Dublin

Jobs Minister's silence

The decision by the United Kingdom to withdraw from the European Union coupled with the Apple tax ruling could have a significant impact on Ireland's ability to retain and create jobs in the future.

It is therefore very surprising to me that we have had little if any input from the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation, Mary Mitchell O'Connor.

Pat Buchanan, Ballsbridge, Dublin

Slow response to Apple decision

There is an old saying in sporting circles: "fail to prepare, prepare to fail''.The lack of a full and robust Government response to Tuesday's EU 13bn tax ruling seems to have caught them all ''off-side''.

There appears to have not been enough preparation work done in advance, to find out what the judgment was going to be, agree a response - with full Cabinet backing - come out all guns blazing in the world media in an immediate and very strong defence of Irish tax laws, and get some support from our allies in Europe.

All this should have been done in advance, as it was well known for quite some time that this ruling was coming down the tracks. That it happened during the holiday season shows that we took our eye off the ball at a critical time in this very crucial game.

Now that we are playing catch-up, I hope that hard lessons can be learned, to avoid ever falling into this trap again, when future EU rulings are imminent.

Tom Towey, Cloonacool, Co Sligo

Stand up for older women

I regularly see articles about the unkind things said about the change in the appearance of women as they get older - as discussed by Lorraine Courtney (Irish Independent, September 1) - and it seems that usually women are most likely to be the unflattering commentators.

Ladies, you may be amazed to hear that there are many ageing men like myself who look beyond the surface and like to be in the company of women our own age, for all sorts of reasons - not least because they are likely to be more interesting. And anyway why would a younger women necessarily be attracted to an older man?

Please stop beating yourselves up about a natural progression that also happens to men, but with little comment, and which many men are happy to accept and appreciate in women. The vast majority of women, especially Irish women, do not become 'invisible' - to normal men at least - and are still attractive after 'a certain age'. So please let's stand up for the older women rather more often than we do.

Michael Buckley, White Hart Lane, London
Third time's no charm for director, writer and actor Noel Clarke as he concludes his streetwise London-set trilogy, which began 10 years ago with Kidulthood and continued forlornly two years later with Adulthood.

The final chapter is self-indulgent and lacks dramatic momentum, with a sluggish running time that feels considerably longer than 105 minutes.

The youthful swagger and urgency of earlier pictures has completely evaporated from Brotherhood, which returns to the unforgiving streets of the capital in the company of a beleaguered father, who is trying to break the cycle of violence that landed him in prison.

Clarke's penchant for spewing 20 words of dialogue when five will suffice is still in evidence and at least one scene teeters on the brink of risibility for its tearful earnestness.

The script gives pitifully short shrift to the female characters, who are two-dimensional and repeatedly objectified.

Clarke relishes superfluous shots of sex workers strutting around naked or performing degrading acts.

Were it not for a memorable supporting turn from Arnold Oceng and an amusing running gag about the desirability of a supermarket reward card, this would be an interminable slog from beginning to laughable end.

Sam Peel (Clarke) has pieced his life back together following his spell behind bars with the help of his mother (Adjoa Andoh), lawyer girlfriend Kayla (Shanika Warren-Markland) and their two children.

'My job is to protect and provide for this family,' Sam angrily tells Kayla when she questions his commitment to their future.

Ghosts of the past return to haunt the former jailbird when gun-toting thugs shoot his brother and leave behind a threatening message that reads WE'RE NOT DONE.

It transpires that old adversary Uncle Curtis (Cornell John) and local gangland leader Daley (Jason Maza) are determined to lure Sam back to the dark side by threatening the safety of his loved ones.

A femme fatale called Janette (Tonia Sotiropoulou) tests Sam's loyalty, while Daley unleashes his underlings including the menacing Hugs (Leeshon Alexander) and whip-smart Poppy (Rosa Caduri).

Faced with losing everything, Sam feels he has no choice but to revert to threats and intimidation to survive, and he calls upon wisecracking best friend Henry (Oceng) as his brother in dire straits.

'It's funny,' angrily remarks Kayla. 'You keep saying you want to protect us, but whose going to protect us from you?'

Brotherhood is one slice of gritty urban angst too far for Clarke.

The leading man puts himself through an emotional wringer without once tugging our heartstrings.

John's supporting turn as the vengeance-seeking antagonist is one wide-eyed snarl short of thigh-slapping pantomime villain.

Explosions of violence don't always serve the ramshackle narrative and any pertinent moral conundrums about meeting force with greater force are lost amid the navel-gazing and gratuitous nudity.
Maxi Zoo is inviting Bray kids to a free Responsible Pet Ownership event.

The event will take place at the store on Saturday, September 10 from 12 midday to 4 p.m.

This is free educational event for local children on the subject of responsible pet ownership.

The day will provide children from 4 to 12 years of age with a real understanding of what is involved in owning and caring for a pet.

Parents, children and teachers will also have the opportunity to learn about Maxi Zoo's Responsible Pet Ownership Roadshow and how they can arrange for Maxi Zoo's pet experts to visit their local school to talk to students on the subject.

'Our goal is to educate children about the responsibility that comes with owning and caring for a pet. We teach them about pet safety, how to feed and play with pets and the time, love and respect required as pet owners,' explained Alice Cross, Executive Director of Maxi Zoo Ireland.
A reader has written to me with a query that justifies a public reply, as there are lessons in the answer that are worth passing on to other readers.

'Our sixth consecutive Golden Cocker died three weeks ago. He was 14 years old and my wife and I miss him very much. My first Golden Cocker was obtained as a birthday present in 1952 and I have rarely been without one since. However, we have failed to trace a Golden puppy this time. What's the best way to find a pedigree puppy?'

This is a common dilemma. People often set their hearts on a particular breed of dog, and when they can't find one immediately, they don't know what to do. They are vaguely aware of the risk of accidentally buying a puppy farmed dog, so they don't want to go straight to an online sales website where hundreds of puppies may be for sale at different outlets. So what can they do to find a healthy specimen of the type of dog that they want?

My first answer is not the one that people want to hear: consider changing the type of dog that you're looking for. There are hundreds of rescued dogs that urgently need homes across the country. If you want a dog with a particular appearance, you may be pleasantly surprised, and there could be a rescue dog that fits the description. There are even breed rescue societies that have pedigree dogs that did not work out in their first home, and are now looking for a new home.

A well established website (rescueanimalsireland.ie) lists more than 200 rescue groups and dog pounds across Ireland. You can easily search through a number of organisations within driving distance of your home.

This answer will not suit everyone: some people have already made up their mind, and they are determined to get a puppy of the particular breed that they desire. So how do they do that?

My starting point for this task has always been to contact the Irish Kennel Club (www.ikc.ie), which maintains a list of the clubs and societies for each breed, along with contact details for the secretary of each club. These are usually enthusiasts for the breed in question, with experience and knowledge that is helpful for somebody new to the breed. They also often have their ear to the ground, so they may know about litters of pups that are not yet advertised publicly.

An alternative contact point is a website that has been set up specifically to act as a market place for reputable pedigree dog breeders to let people know that they have puppies available: pedigreedogs.ie.

A final possibility is to go through the broader channel of online sales websites, with the proviso that you do need to be very careful to ensure that you are not accidentally buying a puppy-farmed dog.

As I've said before, the problem with puppy farmed dogs is that they are bred in large numbers with the sole purpose of making money. In comparison, traditional dog breeders produce small numbers of puppies because of their fondness for a particular breed or a particular individual dog. The money they make from puppy sales is secondary to this.

The main problem with puppy farmed dogs is that they are more likely to be deprived of socialisation opportunities when young, which makes them more likely to grow up as nervous, frightened or aggressive dogs. Puppies that are reared in a small scale, in a family home, are more likely to have good socialisation experiences when young, and they are more likely to become friendly, relaxed family pets.

How do you spot a puppy farmed dog? This can be difficult, as puppy farmers are aware that people may be trying to avoid them, so they may find ways of disguising the origins of their puppies.

Typically, a puppy farmer may ask to meet you in a car park or a lay by, with the excuse that it's easier than giving you complex directions to their home. Anybody buying a puppy should avoid making a purchase in this way.

Sometimes, the disguise may be more complex: I have even heard of puppy farmers renting a house to give the impression that they are a family set up. Or they may use a friend's house, or ask a friend to sell the pups on their behalf.

So what should you do to avoid a puppy farmer? Most importantly, you should always be able to see the puppy's mother (and preferably the father). This has the added advantage of giving you a sense of what the puppy will turn out like as an adult. As with humans, most puppies turn out to be similar to their parents when they grow up.

Secondly, always visit where the puppy was born, regardless of how far you have to travel to do so. It may be inconvenient, but in the long run, it's worth it.

The simplest way to avoid buying a puppy farmed dog is to follow the advice of a new anti-puppy farming website, and the clue is in the website title: seethemsuckling.com. Seeing a puppy, with its mother, while it is still young enough to suckle, will ensure you are not being sold a puppy farmed animal and that the breeder is genuine. Obviously you won't be able to take the puppy away at that stage, but that's a good thing: you have more time to reflect and consider your choice, rather than rushing into the decision.

Remember that your new puppy may be a part of your life for the next 15 years or more. It's worth making a big effort to get this decision right.
Co Wicklow Public Participation Network and Co Wicklow Volunteer Centre are to join forces to provide support sessions free of charge to community and voluntary groups across County Wicklow in the autumn.

Volunteers are constantly juggling their various tasks and responsibilities, looking after their families and still finding the time to provide a service and look after other people in their community. This can become a little stressful at times and it is important for people to take time to look after their own health and wellbeing.

Mind Your Mental Health, is an interactive adult learning workshop facilitated by Mental Health Ireland which includes presentations, discussions, case studies and group activities through four modules: Understanding Mental Health and Wellbeing; Stress and Thinking Patterns; Mental Health Difficulties and Recovery and Support and Minding Your Mental Health Strategies.

Mind Your Mental Health sessions will run in Bray, Dunlavin, Kilcoole, Avoca and Glenealy.

Because there are important changes coming down the line for community groups in relation to Garda vetting, the support session on Garda vetting, Managing Your Volunteers and Insurance will provide all the information community groups must know to look after themselves.

An experienced representative from BHP Insurance will also be present.

This support session will run in Rathdangan, Rathdrum and Kilcoole.

Booking is essential. For more information contact Helen Howes on (087) 1895145, email countywicklowppn@gmail.com or Fiona Downes on (086) 3258803.
The first girls to attend Woodbrook College, formerly St Brendan's, with their principal John Taylor and year head Grainne Coffey

The first ever girls to go to Woodbrook College joined the first year boys at the school last Monday morning to take their first steps in their secondary school career.

The boys and the girls received a warm welcome from school principal John Taylor and their year head Grainne Coffey.

The school, formerly known as St Brendan's, has previously been for boys only.

The parents were invited to a coffee morning at the school last Friday to meet each other and see where the first year boys and girls would be going to school for the coming years.

Each first year from now on will take girls as well as boys.

The official opening of the new building and facilities took place last academic year, prior to the re-naming of the school.

Invited guests on that occasion included staff members, parents representatives, Board of Management, Local TD's and councillors, past parents and staff, representatives of the Congregation of Irish Christian Brothers, the Edmund Rice Schools Trust as well as other local dignitaries were in attendance. The official opening was performed by Mary Mitchell O'Connor TD and the blessing was performed by Monsignor Dan O'Connor from Archbishops House. Part of the ceremony included the screening of a specially made DVD by the students looking back at the old school and forward to the new school. Once the formalities were completed, the guests adjourned to the school assembly area for a reception.
'I think everybody was shocked,' said Paulina Urbanska. 'This is not something any of us were expecting to get. The place has been here for so many years, that was not what we expected.

Pauline was speaking after the news that Fairfield mobile park in Greystones is to close. Residents received a letter from landlord Bill Fenelon of Haven Homes telling them that the park will shut within a year due to changes in legislation.

'A year seems like a long time but it will go very fast. Life does in general anyway. A day goes by, another day so quick. After Christmas it's just going to fly by to next August.'

Paulina and her boyfriend have lived at Fairfield Park for just over three years. She was expecting Lily when they moved in.

'It's a lovely area, it's very quiet. That's what every mum wants, to bring up her children in a quiet and peaceful area. Everyone here is gutted.'

She described the estate as 'absolutely amazing' during the summer. 'It can get cold during the winter,' she said. 'It all depends on what sort of heating you have. I think the majority of houses here have a really good fire, sort of a stove. It does get cold. You have to have the heating on to have it warm. You get what you pay for though in a way.'

Paulina lives in a two bedroom unit. 'Two get that elsewhere in the area you're looking at 1,300 at least,' she said.

Lily is going to preschool this year and it won't be long before she needs her own space. '1,300 is crazy,' said Paulina, who won't be in a position to pay that much.

'I don't think any of us know yet what we will do. We're still trying to get over the shock.'
It is with great sadness that her loved ones say goodbye to fire service campaigner Margaret Cahill-Ward, who died last Friday at St Vincent's Hospital, following a short and bravely borne illness.

Margaret had maintained a 15-year-long peaceful protest outside the Town Hall in Bray at each monthly council meeting after the death of her sister Teresa and baby nephew Christopher who perished in a fire in Oldcourt in 2001.

A native of Kilmacanogue, Margaret is survived by her mother Christine, husband Brendan, son Geoffrey and siblings Elizabeth, Christine, James and Bernard. She was predeceased by her father James and her sisters Teresa and Elizabeth. She will also be sadly missed by all her extended family members, in-laws and friends.

Members of Margaret's family said that they will continue her active fight in her memory and in memory of Teresa and Chris.

Margaret's big heart didn't stop with the fire service. She went above and beyond for everyone she met, from fostering rescue dogs until they could be re-homed, to supporting her son, nieces and nephews in their respective sports.

Margaret's funeral will take place today (Wednesday), with Mass at 11 a.m. at St Mochonog's Church, Kilmacanogue, followed by cremation at Mount Jerome.

Margaret stood outside the monthly meetings of Bray Town Council, then Bray Municipal District, until recently. She would carry a placard demanding justice and changes for her sister and nephew and others who died at the Boghall Road estate.

She was polite and quiet on each occasion though resolute and determined.

She sought a full-time fire service for Bray, a dream Margaret would not see realised in her lifetime.

Nine people have died in fires at Oldcourt since 1988, when Kitty Cassidy and her four children Lisa (9), Jason (4), Keith (3) and Graham (18 months) died in a blaze there. Teresa and Christopher died in February 2001. In November 2005, teenager Lisa Kelly (13) passed away. And most recently, David Costigan (55) died in a house fire at the estate in September 2014.

On the morning Teresa and 13-month-old Chris died, firefighters travelled up to 20 minutes from various locations to the station, before taking a further five to reach the blaze.

Margaret has always passionately maintained that if the town had been served by a full-time fire service, her sister's and nephew's deaths would have been avoided.

She stood as a monthly reminder to officials and elected members, of the series of tragedies that had befallen Oldcourt.

'You can't stop, because who else is going to stand up for Teresa and Chris?' Margaret told this newspaper, six years after the start of her campaign. 'At the end of the day, living so close to the station, they both should have been protected.'

Deputy John Brady paid tribute to Margaret and said that he was deeply shocked to hear the sad news.

'She was a trojan campaigner who single-handedly led the campaign for a full-time fire service and improvements to Oldcourt. She was front and centre for 15 years and at times ploughed a lonely furrow. She never gave up and did her sister and nephew very proud. She never let the issue leave the agenda. My condolences to her husband, son and her whole family.'
St Gerard's School, Bray is the top ranked school in the county and is among the top 400 schools in the country according to the annual 'Schools Guide' published in the Sunday Times.

St Gerard's comes in at 70th place with 97.5 per cent of graduates pursuing third level education.

Gaelcholaiste na Mara is ranked second in the county at 83rd place nationally. It jumped from 140th place last year and has 81.4 per cent of past pupils attending third level institutions.

East Glendalough School also increased its position this year to claim 159th place from 182nd last year. The school has 91.3 per cent of pupils pursuing third level education. Loreto Bray jumped one place to 198th position and has a total of 80.9 per cent of pupils moving to third level. Colaiste Raithin remained within the top 400 list but saw its rank fall to 213th position from 181. The school has 88.8 per cent of pupils progressing to third level. Dominican College also fell in the ranking from 252 in 2015 to 274 this year with 77.5 per cent of pupils at third level this year. Presentation College, Bray retained 324th place while St Mary's College, Arklow jumped from 375th place to 35th position with 89.2 per cent of pupils moving to third level.

Colaiste Bhride, Carnew moved up the rankings to 352th place to 377th place with 74.1 per cent of pupils at third level.

The rankings are determined by the number of Leaving Cert students enrolled in universities in Ireland and Northern Ireland in the past three academic years. Where schools have the same percentage at university, the number at third level decides the ranking. The list does not take into account colleges abroad, private third level courses, colleges of further education, or institutions providing PLCs.
A Date for Mad Mary cast members pictured with Colin and Darren Thornton at the Dublin premiere of the film

The good, the bad and the mad turned out for the Drogheda premiere of 'A Date for Mad Mary' at the ARC cinema last Thursday night.

The film, which is set in Drogheda and directed by local man Darren Thornton, has already received rave reviews from critics and was jointly awarded the 'Best Irish Feature' at the Galway Film Fleadh alongside 'The Young Offenders'.

Speaking to the Drogheda Independent this week, Darren said he has been 'overwhelmed' by the response to the film.

'We are thrilled with the way it has been received so far and we hope people will come and see it but when you are competing with these huge movies with so much money behind them it is so hard,' he said. 'It does target quite a broad audience but it is very hard to motivate people to get up and go to the cinema.'

Darren has stayed true to his local roots and after the success of 'Love is the Drug' and short film 'Frankie', 'A Date for Mad Mary' once again features his home town of Drogheda as a backdrop, will many scenes filmed in local restaurants, pubs and nightclubs.

The film was written by Darren and his brother Colin and the inspiration for it came from local woman Yasmine Akram's one woman play '10 Dates for Mad Mary'.

The film centres on Mary McArdle (played by Seana Kerslake) as she comes home to Drogheda after her release from prison.

Her childhood best friend is about to get married but Maid of Honour Mary is dismayed to discover that she isn't a 'plus one' for the big day and sets out to prove everyone wrong and find a date for the big day.

The film was first screened at the Karlovy Vary Festival in the Czech Republic back in July where it was warmly received.

'The festival just takes over the city for a week and a half and the first thing we saw when we got there was a huge billboard for A Date for Mad Mary which was just bizarre,' said Darren. 'We weren't sure if it would translate but then we went to the screening and there was an amazing response to it and afterwards all these people were hanging back for a question and answer session.

He said one of those who attended the screening was none other than a Drogheda man who made no bones about quizzing the makers on the accents of those starring in the film and why they sounded more Dub than Drogheda.

'What are the chances of someone from Drogheda being there and of course his first question was about the accent!,' laughed Darren.

'At the next screening there was a queue for return tickets which was fantastic to see there was such a good response to it. So we had this kind of crazy week over there when the first reviews came out from Variety and Playlist in America.

'Because it had so much buzz over there it made bringing it to Galway so much easier.

'It was such a relief to see that people like it because when you editing it you are just in a room with one other person and you are going stir crazy you don't really know what you have until you put it out there,' said Darren.

However, despite the amazing response the film has received so far Darren said the most difficult part of the process is getting people to go to the cinema to see.

The challenge of getting people in to the movies is a very real thing,' he said. 'So with small films they can burn out really quickly. We really need people to show there support and come out and see it, especially in the first week.

'A Date for Mad Mary' opens in the Arc Cinema in Drogheda on Friday, September 2nd.
There was something for everyone at the 2016 Boomerang Cafe summer camp as members learned a host of new skills over the course of the week.

The themes covered over the course of the summer camp included fashion fix where the students learned how to transform their old and tired clothes.

With a few tricks of the trade, Margaret from The Sewing Shop showed them how easy it is to revamp the clothes that they already have.

The students also took part in a 'Hair and Beauty' class which covered skin analysis, cleaning make-up brushes, types of brushes and their uses and make up tips. Apply make-up professionally. They then learned about hair care and created up-styles and down-styles that are simple and easy to manage.

Photography was a fun and practical course where students had support from professional local photographer, Terry Collins as they learned how to use their cameras and take amazing photographs.

'Cakes & Bakes' covered how to make chocolate moulds, fillings and sweets.
Unleash that story within you and get feedback on your writing in a course in Creative Writing for adults being run in Ardgillan Castle, Balbriggan.

Beginners and Improvers are welcome. The course will start on September 12th and runs for 10 weeks from 10.30am-12.30 with tutor Ross Campbell promising that participants will find an exciting and fun way to learn the craft of writing hands on. Weekly assignments are given and encouraging feedback is provided in a fiendly and relaxed atmosphere.

Students will have the chance to learn and discuss the art of writing in the beautiful surroundings of Ardgillan Castle an ideal location for a writing course. Various aspects of writing are covered on the course such as narrative and descriptive writing and short story writing, memoirs and personal writing.

According to Ross, the class is very relaxed and informal and participants are gently encouraged and the emphasis is on building on the skills and abilities of the participants rather than criticism. Ross Campbell who has a BA honours in English Literature from UCD has taught creative writing to adults in the VEC and other schools and centres for 4 years and writes for newspapers and magazines.

For more details or to book your place please contact Ross at 085 1395 320 or Email: ros1_@hotmail.com. For further info see www.ardgillancastle.ie.
Hundreds of people are wanted for a world record attempt in Tullyallen on Friday September 16th.

Tullyallen Pharmacy along with Tullyallen National School are hoping to break the record for the most people gathered in one spot, wearing mismatched or odd socks.

The current record is 250 people but they want to make it 500!

The aim is to help raise funds for Tullyallen Parents association, Tullyallen Carers and also Gary Kelly Cancer support unit.

To participate on the day a small donation of 2 would be greatly appreciated to go toward these great causes. The event is scheduled to take place in the Glen Emmets Pitch on Friday September 16th at 2pm.
Pictured are members of the Termonfeckin and Clogherhead Family Carers group at the recent launch and open day

The recent launch and open day of the Louth Family Carers Support Group in the Termonfeckin and Clogherhead area was a great success.

Held in Community Hall, Chapel Road, Clogherhead the Group were delighted to be joined by the Mayor of Drogheda Cllr Oliver Tully and Constituency TD Declan Breathnach.

The meeting was also very well supported by local area public health personnel.

The Support Group provides time out for the family carer to receive both emotional and practical support, the opportunity to share their experiences and concerns and learn about benefits and entitlements and much more and all over a cup of tea and a chat.

The event which was well supported with new members from both Clogherhead and Termonfeckin signing up on the day.

The Group has since held its first meeting in the same venue. Going forward meetings will be held on the 3rd Tuesday of the month at 8.00pm.

The Group is open to those involved with care of the elderly, adults or children with special needs, disability, family members caring for a family member living with/experiencing Cancer, Dementia, MS, etc.

The group also intends to have an ongoing social aspect with outings and events planned in the run up to Christmas. Louth Family Carers Support Group members from across the County recently attended the Miriam O Callaghan Show in RTE Studios. A great evening was held by all.

The event which was well supported with new members from both Clogherhead and Termonfeckin signing up on the day.

The Group has since held its first meeting in the same venue. Going forward meetings will be held on the 3rd Tuesday of the month at 8.00pm.

The group also intends to have an ongoing social aspect with outings and events planned in the run up to Christmas. Louth Family Carers Support Group Members from across the County recently attended the Miriam O Callaghan Show in RTE Studios. A great evening was held by all

If you interested in learning more about the group, just call 087 316 1323 or e-mail: louthfamilycarers@gmail.com
Agreement has been reached between eflow and the Celtic Roads group which means eflow tags will continue to be accepted by the M1 Toll outside Drogheda.

It is understood that Celtic Roads Group put forward a significant revised proposal to Transport Infrastructure Ireland (TII) dealing with the key outstanding areas of difference between the two parties last week.

Local TD for Louth and East Meath, Fergus O'Dowd has warmly welcomed the agreement reached between eflow and the Celtic Roads Group.

O'Dowd said that he is pleased that 'common sense' has prevailed and that a huge number of local users of the M1 toll will not have to go through the hassle of changing providers at the last minute.
A member of Drogheda gardai was assaulted after responding to a call about a man causing criminal damage at a house in Tredagh View on Saturday morning.

Gardai were called to the house at approximately 8am on August 27th following reports of a man in his early 20s causing damage to the property.

During the course of his arrest the man became violent and aggressive and assaulted one of the gardai at the scene.

Meanwhile, gardai are warning the public of the importance of locking windows and doors at night time following two opportunistic thefts last week.

The first incident happened in Marian Park on Monday, August 22nd. A number of items of pieces of electronic equipment and cash were taken after the burglar entered the premises through a door that had been left open between 9am and 2pm.

On the same date, a Sat Nav was taken from a car which had been left unlocked in the Five Oaks estate.

The incident happened sometime between 5pm on the 22nd and 9am the following morning.

'We would remind people to keep cars locked overnight and also to take any expensive items out of the car because thieves will think nothing of smashing a window which could cost as much to repair as whatever is stolen,' said a spokesperson for the gardai.

One person was arrested under Operation Eady after gardai stopped and searched a car driven by a male in his 20s.

He was found in possession of cannabis to the value of 300. After carring out a more detailed search the man was also found to be carrying a knife.
The former Drogheda Youth Development building on Narrow West Street has been earmarked as the site of a new Driving Test Centre for Drogheda, it has been revealed.

The Office of Public Works (OPW) have offered the site to the Road Safety Authority (RSA), who said they are keen to open a driving test centre in town and have included the project in their five year plan.

Louth and East Meath Fine Gael TD Fergus O'Dowd held meeting with the CEO of the Road Safety Authority, Moyagh Murdock, last week to further progress the provision of a Driver Test Centre in Drogheda.

'We discussed the suitability and practicality of the site offered by the Office of Public Works to the Road Safety Authority that is available in the Abbey car park opposite the Drogheda Garda Station,' said Deputy O'Dowd.

'This is a very welcome development. The Office of Public Works have offered the site to the RSA who will now complete a full survey on the viability and suitability of that site to become Drogheda's driver test centre.'

He said the provision of a Driving Test Centre at this location would also help to revitalise Narrow West Street.

The RSA said that they are willing to invest financially into a test centre for Drogheda and it is now part of their National Development Plan.

It is hoped that the provision of a new driving test centre in Drogheda would help to lower the numbers and waiting times for driving tests in the local area.
Wexford County Council plans to spend around 20m on significant tourism and economic projects around the county over the coming years.

County Manager Tom Enright said: 'We have received approval recently to borrow money for our economic initiatives and we can borrow 8m to provide match funding for tourism and economic infrastructure. Failte Ireland has brought back capital grants for the first time in years for tourist attractions and we can also apply for these grants.'

The money will be spent developing historic sites, business parks and leisure areas across the county.

The local authority plans to buy a small enterprise centre in New Ross town, which would meet the need for a business incubation and hot desk premises in the town.

Mr Enright said: 'We would hope to partner with Waterford Institute of Technology in identifying suitable small companies that are emerging for the centre. We have also gone for planning for two advance factories in Butlersland in New Ross and we are talking with the IDA to persuade them to develop one of these units. If one was built we feel we would be able to attract a large company into it.'

A business park site is being acquired in Enniscorthy, while a 30,000 sq ft innovation centre is being built in Enniscorthy.'

30 months into his job, Mr Enright said he is convinced of the potential of County Wexford.

'Wexford is a wonderful place to live and there is a great quality of life here and with all of the big infrastructure projects that are happening like the bypasses it will make the county so much more accessible.'
The NWSPCA and all of the animals in its care, have sent a big thank you all the volunteers for all of their hard work and dedication. The summer is a very challenging time when kitten season is in full swing and the increased number of stray dogs can seem to be endless. However with enthusiasm, a good sense of humour and a healthy dose grit and determination, they rise to the continuing challenge.

Over the last week there have been several confirmed adoptions in the kennels with the adoptions being finalised for Fudge, Rocco, Titch, Dio and Missy. The cattery has been incredibly busy with new additions and farewells to Pidge, Jewel, Jeff, Samson, King, Ed and Gigi.

Mouse is a young wirehaired terrier who would love his own home. He is just four-months-old and full of love and cuddles. He and his mammy were straying locally. Neither were microchipped. Mouse is now hoping to find a forever family. A happy and social puppy, Mouse loves everyone. He demonstrates this affection daily.

Jerry is another young puppy. This little guy is just 10-weeks-old. A little collie, he is quite small and loves fun just as much as Mouse. Jerry is currently in foster care with four other dogs and loves the daily buzz of family life. Both Mouse and Jerry are microchipped and have started their vaccinations.

If you would like to volunteer with the Society, call 087 6392531, email nwspca@hotmail.com or see the society's Facebook page.
Tuaisceart Loch Garman's U18 ceili band came second in the All Ireland Fleadh in Ennis last week

The musicians of CCE Tuaisceart Loch Garman returned from Fleadh Cheoil na hEireann in Ennis last week with smiles on their faces.

The small North Wexford branch already had a great year at the Leinster Fleadh where many of its individual players and three of its ceili bands and a grupa cheoil qualified for the All Ireland.

The branch had a great start to competitions in Ennis, when on the first day, Paddy Doyle secured first place in the U18 bodhran competition.

Paddy was swiftly followed by Chulainn O Fhaolain who took first place in the U9 comhra gaeilge competition. To top that off, Katie Cunningham took third place in the U12 piano competition.

'We had almost given up hope on Sunday evening of being placed in any group competition as the standard was extremely high,' said Sinead Tobin of Tuaisceart Loch Garman. 'To our delight we were placed second in the U18 ceili band competition.'

She commented that it was a huge achievement by all competitors to even play in the All Ireland, let alone be placed.

Congratulations were sent from Tuaisceart Loch Garman to all in the county who took part.

'Thanks to our teachers for the extra hard work they always put in and thanks to the parents and kids for all the miles and hours dedicated to music,' concluded Sinead.
Gorey Community School has made a return to the list of Ireland's top 400 schools.

That's according to the annual 'Schools Guide' published in the Sunday Times at the weekend.

The local school is ranked at 384 in the list, with 35 per cent of GCS Leaving Cert students attending university, and almost 69 per cent at third level.

Colaiste Bhride in Carnew also makes the list, at 352, an improvement on last year's placing of 377th.

According to the guide, 36.7 per cent of Colaiste Bhride students go on to university, with over 74 per cent attending a third level institution.

The top Wexford school is Loreto Wexford, 39th in the country and third in the Leinster table of best schools, excluding Dublin.

The Wexford school is named 17th best girls' school in the country - eighth if fee-paying schools are taken out of the equation.

Almost seventy per cent of Loreto students go on to university, with 92.5 per cent furthering their education at third level.

Irish speaking secondary school, Meanscoil Gharman, located in Browswood House south of Enniscorthy, is the second ranked Wexford school, with just over 56 per cent of the school's students attending university. It sits in 117th place, a big improvement on its previous placing of 155.

Our Lady of Lourdes in New Ross has dropped 26 places to 140 and is the third-ranked County Wexford school, with almost 54 per cent of its students attending university and a whopping 91.9 per cent at third level.

Other Wexford schools to make the grade are: St. Peter's College (155), FCJ Bunclody (183), St. Mary's, New Ross (281), Good Counsel, New Ross (285), Presentation Wexford (306), and Colaiste Bride, Enniscorthy (357).

The rankings are determined by the number of Leaving Cert students enrolled in universities in Ireland and Northern Ireland in the past three academic years. Where schools have the same percentage at university, the number at third level decides the ranking.

The list does not take into account colleges abroad, private third level courses, colleges of further education, or institutions providing PLCs.
Pictured is the 2016 Diageo Baileys Champion Cow winner Philip Jones from Killowen, Gorey, with his cow Hallow Advent Twizzle 3. Presenting him with the trophy are: Henry Corbally Chairman Glanbia Ingredients Ireland; Minister for Arts Heritage, Regional and Rural Affairs Heather Humpreys T.D., and Breffni O'Reilly Quality Director Diageo Ireland

The majestically-named Hallow Advent Twizzle 3 has been crowned the Irish Dairy Champion Cow for 2016.

Twizzle has spent her life on the lush pastures of North Wexford and breeders Philip and Linda Jones from Killowen, Gorey, entered her in the search to find Ireland's finest Holstein Friesian dairy cow, the final of which was held at the Virginia Show in Co Cavan last week.

For renowned breeder Philip Jones, the top award at Virginia was particularly special.

'We have won at all the national shows, from Millstreet to Belfast, and this was the one that I never won before,' he said. 'I won the award for best dry cow for the last couple of years, but never won the overall award.'

Eight-year-old Hallow Advent Twizzle 3 has impressed wherever she went. 'She has five calves now and she's looking very well,' said Philip. 'They were impressed with her longevity. I'm absolutely delighted.'

Earlier this year, Twizzle won champion at the Balmoral Show in Belfast, and champion at the Emerald Expo in Virginia.

Twizzle has been good to the Jones family. One of her daughters, sold to a farmer in Italy, won an award at a European Show in France.

'She's breeding well,' added Philip, explaining that Twizzle came about through an embryo brought in from Canada eight years ago.

'She's always been lucky,' he said. 'We've sold a lot of progeny from her.' Twizzle now gets a well earned rest before she is shown again.

The competition, sponsored by Diageo Baileys and Glanbia Ingredients Ireland Virginia, rewards strength and form in body conformation as well as proven excellence in quality milk production. Judge Kevin Wilson said that this year's entrants 'were tremendous cows.'

'The standard was very high,' he said. 'They would grace any show in the world.'

The top awards in the 10,000 prize fund were presented by Minister for Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs, Heather Humphreys TD, alongside Breffni O'Reilly, quality director for Diageo Ireland and Glanbia Ingredients Ireland Ltd. chairman Henry Corbally.
A dedicated Victim Support Unit staffed by one lay person and a female garda which opened in Wexford Garda Station in 2015 has been fielding hundreds of calls from victims.

The divisional victim support unit provides information and a contact point for victims of crimes like robberies and burglaries. Chief Superintendent John Roche, who was the victim of two burglaries in Dublin and in his County Wexford home, said the unit is a point of contact for victims helping them from the start of a case through court, if a suspect is apprehended.

He said in the past the first responder guard who deals with incidents of domestic violence, burglaries etc was not always available to victims as they were busy working on other cases, but the new service means there are two dedicated staff to handle calls and queries.

He said similar victim support units have been established across the country in an effort by An Garda Siochana to reach out to victims and involve communities more in fighting crime.

Supt Roche said: 'We need to up our game. It doesn't take away from the responsibility of the guards to keep the victims informed of any developments. The unit is a point of contact for all victims of crime. The guard who calls to your house after a crime is the first responder. If a victim wants an update a few days later they often can't reach the guard who could be away. When you ring this office you will receive a letter signed by the superintendent.'

There is a dedicated phone number, 053 9146490, for the victim support unit.

'The unit gives people the opportunity to talk to someone about their experience and get advice. We will be able to update them about progress in the investigation. Often we get complaints that they don't understand the court system so we give them basic information.'

Supt Roche said there will be cases we won't be able to solve but this will be a link between the guards and the victims. 'It arose locally from feedback from victims. The one complaint we get is that guards don't keep victims up to date on the progress of cases. We've fallen down in the past in the way we've dealt with victims of crime.'

He said the effects of crime stay with victims for a long time.
The stars are getting set to shine in Carnew once more.

Carnew Musical Society is getting ready to present its popular 'Stars in their Eyes' talent show in St. Brigid's Hall, Carnew, on Saturday, September 17, next.

The society is encouraging local clubs and groups to put forward an individual or group to represent them by dressing up and taking to the stage and performing in the style and sound of their favourite act.

The winner will receive an impressive 500 for their group, club, or charity. All groups are asked to confirm their acts by Monday, September 5. If you would like to win 500 for your group or club, please contact Mandie on 087 210 2878.
Listowel Writers' Week is going global with news that the inaugural 'sister' festival will be held in California in October.

The Californian town of Los Gatos was twinned with Listowel since 1994 - initially instigated by Jimmy Deenihan - and it is hoped that the latest development will further strengthen existing relationships.

Over the past number of decades, several delegations have travelled between the two towns, creating positive links particularly in the Silicon Valley area that have led to an Irish Innovation Centre being opened in the San Jose area.

Having visited the 'literary capital of Ireland' in June to gain an insight into how the festival is run in the North Kerry town, organisers in America felt it appropriate to set up a mirror event in their home town.

Programming assistants from Listowel will accompany some of Ireland's best contemporary writers Stateside where Listowel Writers' Week will be showcasing a Limited Edition Portfolio entitled, 'HOPE'.

The collection is a direct result of a collaboration between the festival and Stoney Road Press.

Comprising five original pieces of written work from Eavan Boland, Anne Enright, Jennifer Johnston, Brendan Kennelly and Colm Toibin, the portfolio will be accompanied by a limited edition print especially created and signed by Irish artist, Donald Teskey.

Festival co-fouder and director, Catherine Barry, said organisers are very proud to showcase Ireland's top contemporary literature.

Of the inaugural festival, Chairperson of Listowel Writers' Week, Liz Dunn, said the committee is delighted to be facilitating greater contact with our twin town of Los Gatos through its association with these events.

"We wish Catherine Barry and her committee a happy and fulfilling festival this year and look forward to hearing all about it from our Listowel Writers' Week representatives on their return," she said.
Tralee woman Evelyn Donnellan has lost an amazing 11-and-a-half stone and dropped from a size 28 to a 12 in the process.

Evelyn's journey began in April 2015 after scouring the shops for size 28 pants. "I knew I had to turn my life around, I had tried everything to lose weight but nothing had ever worked, she says."

"I cried my eyes out the first day I attended Slimming World, terrified that I would fail again but this time it was different. Cheryl (class organiser) was so welcoming and reassuring and when I stepped on the scales I was 23 stones and 4 llb's Cheryl didn't even blink. She said, " we can get you there" and for the first time ever I believed.

"The support I get from Cheryl, and all the other girls every week is incredible I would never miss a meeting. My new favourite hobby is clothes shopping for size 12's and yes they fit!"

Cheryl's group meet on Tuesdays at The Brehon in Killarney 9.30am, 11.30am, 5.30pm and 7.30pm and on Wednesdays at The Meadowlands in Tralee at 9.30am, 11.30am, 3.30pm, 5.30pm and 7.30pm. Cheryl can be contacted on 089 2263767.
Minister of Public Expenditure and Reform Paschal Donohoe is set to participate in a session on the 2017 budget and disucss Brexit and its potential impact for Ireland at the 2016 annual Kennedy Summer School in New Ross this September.

Minister Donohoe will be joined by Sinn Fein TD Eoin O'Broin, Fianna Fail TD and head of the Dail Finance Committee John McGuinness and Independent Senator Lynn Ruane at 2 p.m. on Saturday, September 10, for the discussion titled 'Budget, Brexit and Better Politics A Questions and Answers Panel on Ireland's "New Politics" at St Michael's Theatre in New Ross. The talk will be chaired by RTE Current Affairs Political Correspondent Katie Hannon and along with and address from the Minister on the upcoming budget for 2017 and the recent Brexit vote result it will address topical issues raised by members of Kennedy Summer School audience at a question and answers session.

Speaking ahead of the upcoming summer school, curator of the programme Noel Whelan said: 'With the Dail due to resume shortly and the Budget then just five weeks away the Kennedy Summer School will provides useful and high profile opportunity for Minister Donohoe and the other politicians to set out their stall on the budget priorities.'

Other highlights of the 2016 Kennedy Summer School include a keynote address by the former Governor of Maryland and Democratic Presidential Contender, Martin O'Malley, along with addresses by Tanaiste Frances Fitzgerald, Garda Commissioner Noirin O'Sullivan and U.S. Ambassador to Ireland Kevin F. O'Malley. There will be close to 40 guest speakers with global experts participating in three days of talks and debates on a wide range of different topics including the hot topic of the US Presidential race.

The school is billed as 'A festival of Irish and American history, politics and culture', and 2016 is set to be a dramatic year on all three of these fronts on both sides of the Atlantic. Events also include the Kennedy Summer School Tea Party at Dunganstown which will be hosted by celebrity chef Edward Hayden and baking expert Catherine Leyden on Friday, September 9, at the Kennedy Homestead. The Kennedy Summer School is run in association with the John F. Kennedy Trust New Ross and with Wexford County Council. For further details and tickets for the 2016 events see kennedysummerschool.ie or call St. Michael's Theatre on 051 421255.
Our Lady of Lourdes in New Ross is the third-ranked secondary school in County Wexford.

That's according to an annual 'Schools Guide' published in a national newspaper on Sunday.

The Rosbercon school dropped 26 places year-on-year in the list of top 400 schools published in the Sunday Times, but ranks 140th in the overall table.

According to the guide, almost 54 per cent of Our Lady of Lourdes students attend university, with a whopping 91.9 per cent at third level.

St. Mary's New Ross and Good Counsel also make the grade, ranked 281 and 285 respectively.

The top Wexford school, according to the newspaper, is Loreto Wexford, 39th in the country and third in the Leinster table of best schools, excluding Dublin.

The Wexford school is named 17th best girls' school in the country - eighth if fee-paying schools are taken out of the equation.

According to the newspaper guide, almost seventy per cent of Loreto students go on to university, with 92.5 per cent furthering their education at third level.

Irish speaking secondary school, Meanscoil Gharman, located in Browswood House south of Enniscorthy, is the second ranked Wexford school, with just over 56 per cent of the school's students attending university. It sits in 117th place, a big improvement on its previous placing of 155.

Other County Wexford schools in the list are: St. Peter's College (155), FCJ Bunclody (183), Presentation Wexford (306), Colaiste Bride, Enniscorthy (357), and Gorey Community School (384).

The rankings are determined by the number of Leaving Cert students enrolled in universities in Ireland and Northern Ireland in the past three academic years. Where schools have the same percentage at university, the number at third level decides the ranking.

The list does not take into account colleges abroad, private third level courses, colleges of further education, or institutions providing PLCs.
At a presentation of Bene Merenti medals to four parishioners in Templetown Church on Saturday were left to right Fr Oliver Sweeney p.p. Poulfur, Larry Bird, Patricia Silkstone, Bishop Denis Brennan, Maureen Flanagan and Frances Doyle

Four Bene Merenti medals were presented to exceptional parishoners in South West Wexford at a special ceremony held in Templetown Church recently.

Bishop Denis Brennan presented the medals to Larry Bird, Patricia Silkstone, Maureen Flanagan and Frances Doyle in front of a packed church, while Fr Oliver Sweeney celebrated Mass.

Fr Sweeney said: 'The ceremony went very well. It was a lovely evening and a special day for the four recipients and their families.'

The Bene Merenti Medal is an honour awarded by the Pope to members of the clergy and laity for service to the Catholic Church. Originally established as an award to soldiers in the Papal Army, the medal was later extended to the clergy and the laity for service to the church.

The medal is a gold Greek Cross depicting Christ with his hand raised in blessing. On the left arm of the cross is the tiara and crossed keys symbol of the papacy. Bishop Brennan was welcomed to the church by Dr John Cox. There was beautiful music by the youth choir and musicians. Fr Sweeney invited everyone to St Mary's Hall for food and refreshments and a great evening was enjoyed by all.
Sunbathers in need of some cool relief during this warm spell are unable to take a dip at Rosslare Strand as reports of Lion's Mane Jellyfish forced lifeguards to raise the red flag.

The red flag has been flying at Rosslare Strand since Thursday August 25 due to a large increase in jellyfish numbers. Water Safety Development Officer with Wexford County Council Tom Doyle said that Rosslare Strand is receiving a much larger amount of the creatures compared to beaches elsewhere in Wexford.

'This is new for us. We have never experienced this quantity of jellyfish in Rosslare before,' he explained. 'They are quite unusual on Wexford beaches. It is more common to find a type that just gives a mild sting.'

According to Mr Doyle, bathers are being warned to stay out of the water in Rosslare for the foreseeable future. He also said that the lifeguards have received basic first aid to treat anybody who has been stung.

This summer, only several incidents of stings in Rosslare Strand have been reported.

Earlier this summer, warnings about the jellyfish were issued by Irish Water Safety following reports that they had been spotted in waters around the country. The creature delivers a painful sting which has been known to cause anaphylactic shock in certain people.

Irish Water Safety advise those who have been stung to go to their lifeguard when possible. To treat the sting, it is advisable to rub the affected area with sea water and seek medical attention if the pain persists.
A 20 hectare solar farm at Tomfarney, Clonroche has been refused permission because of inadequate sight lines at the proposed entrance which is on a sweeping bend.

The application for the farm sited on 19.9 hectares of land, 2km west of Clonroche on the N30, had been submitted to Wexford County Council by Highfield Solar and proposed siting of the farm was on four fields, two of which are currently used for growing Christmas trees. It was proposed that the farm have a maximum export capacity of 12MW.

One submission had been received by Christopher and Marie Heavey, Tomfarney Lodge, Tomfarney in respect of the application and the planners at Wexford County Council summarised their concerns saying 'the proposed development will negatively impact on the residential and visual amenity of their home and that alternative sites are available on the landholding which won't impact on their home to the same degree'.

In the application Highfield Solar had committed to maintaining a 30m buffer zone around a holy well that is sited on the lands.

Looking at the development plan policy the planners noted that the site is currently 'unzoned and is outside any designated settlement boundary. It is not subject to any specific spatial or environmental designation.'

It was also noted that the area around the proposed farm has a 'relatively low population density as compared with coastal areas and areas around the towns'.

The application was for a relatively simple design and mainly comprised linear arrays of mounted solar panels 2.5m in height over the site area. The site boundary would consist of 3.2m high mesh fencing sited inside the existing hedgerow.

The associated substation and control building would be sited to the northern end of the site.

In assessing the application planners felt that the site is well screened from the N30 due to separation distance and the existing hedgerows and trees which form a 'high level of visual containment. Overall the site is well contained and there exists a high level of visual screening'.

Similarly it was felt that 'given the topography of the area and the low lying nature of the site, combined with both existing and proposed natural screening, as well as the limited times of the day and year that glint and glare can occur it is unlikely that there will be possible glint and glare impacts from the proposed development'.

Access to the site was proposed from the N30 using an existing farm entrance. However the roads department at Wexford County Council recommended that the location for the farm be refused because the entrance is 'on a sweeping bend where maximum speed limit applies and at a location where there is a history of accidents, in addition it had not been shown that minimum sight lines are available.'

In making its report the planning authority said that 'while it had no objection in principal to the proposed development at the location the issue of traffic safety outlined in the roads report must be address before any further consideration can be given to the application'.

It went on to say that the development would not be in accordance with the proper planning and sustainable development of the area because it would 'endanger public safety' as a result of the traffic hazard on the proposed access. 'Notwithstanding the fact that there is an existing access, the required sight lines for new development is 230m and are not available from the proposed access'. Permission was then refused on that basis.
Judges were singing the praises of several young Wexford musicians as they reeled in the awards at the 65th Fleadh Cheoil na hEireann in Ennis.

This year almost 6,000 competitors played, sang or danced for All Ireland titles in 180 competitions before the judges whittled it down to the winners.

Members of Bannow CCE left Ennis on a high note after four of their members took home awards. Jamie Walsh scooped third prize in the Mouth Organ category for 12 to 15 year-olds. Fellow Bannow musician Caoimhe Moran impressed the judges in the under 12 Accompaniment contest and took home first prize for her beautiful harp performance. Conall Clancy was delighted to be placed second in the Whistling competition for 15 to 18 year-olds while Domini An Mhic Oda did her county proud by coming third in the Newly Composed Irish Song competition.

Ballyfad CCE also proved their talent when they scooped four awards in Ennis. It was a double win for Uinseann O Murchu, who was placed first in the Over 18 Button Accordion competition and third in the Over 18 Melodeon contest. Meanwhile, Caolan De Paor proved that he can play a winning note when he came third in the Whistle competition for 15 to 18 year-olds. Ciarna Power played to a different beat and scooped third prize in the Ceili Band Drums contest for 15 to 18 year-olds.

Musicians from other areas of Wexford impressed the judges with their musical abilities during the competition, especially members of Tuaisceart Loch Garman CCE who took home four prizes. Katie Cunningham from Tuaisceart Loch Garman CCE came third in the Under 12 Piano competition. Fellow club member Paddy Doyle hit a high note when he scooped first prize in the Bodhran competition for 15 to 18-year-olds. Club band Craanhill banded together for an impressive performance which won them second place in the Ceili Band contest for 15 to 18 year-olds. Finally, the young but talented Chuilainn O Faolain took home first prize in the Comhra Gaeilge under nines competition.

Kelley Doyle from CCE Enniscorthy showed that she has the key to success when she came third in the Piano competition for 15 to 18 year-olds.

An estimated 400 people flocked to Ennis for this year's Fleadh, which along with the competition, featured the Scoil Eigse summer school, storytelling and other events. This year's 'Green Fleadh' initiative made it easy for guests to reduce and segregate waste, minimise water and energy use, reduce carbon emissions and source goods and materials sustainably.

Speaking after the event, Chairman of the Fleadh Executive Committee Micheal O Riabhaigh said: 'It has been a great privilege and an even greater responsibility to host this incredible event. We thank all the visitors to Ennis and sincerely hope the music and the craic was mighty and that everybody had a happy and a safe time in our town and county.'

The countdown is now on for next year's Fleadh, which will make its return to Ennis from August 13 until 21.
A 22-year-old New Ross man who has continued in his parents and grandparent's footsteps by opening an Italian eaterie in the town has spoken of the unbelievable experience he has had being in business for the first time.

Raymondo Forte, opened Raymondo's pizzeria and take away on North Street on the site of his grandfather Elio's The Marini restaurant, in the summer of 2015. He made the decision the previous November having become frustrated with his college course and because he always wanted to be in business. Ray said people say people being in business as a risk, financially and personally, but he doesn't see it that way. The third generation Italian, who was born and reared in New Ross, said: 'Everything is a risk. Waking up in the morning and travelling to work is a risk. We are here on earth for a short time so we may as well try do something spectacular while we're here.'

His grandfather opened The Marini in 1973 on North Street and all of the family worked there over the years. Nonno and Elio retired in the 1990s and Ray's aunt Gilda and her husband Vinny took over the business, which became famous for its pizzas.

'The recipe is still the same. People liked it so I wanted to bring it back.'

Describing his first year in business as amazing, Ray said: 'I have not been reaping in the rewards just yet, in fact, I am persevering. You must. It's the only way to accomplish something. My journey in the business world began in November of 2014. It was that period of time I decided to reopen a family business which my grandparents started which was then taken over by my aunt who had decided it was enough after 20 years. The building was vacant, much of the equipment was there but a major renovation job was needed.'

Ray's parents told him to think long and hard about opening a business letting him know about the responsibilities involved. Today Ray employs five staff and works long days.

'You're never off as you have to meet suppliers and text or email in orders. I'm in the building from 2.30 p.m. to 11.30 p.m.'

He said he has been welcomed into the business community in New Ross, but said New Ross Municipal District is not doing enough for businesses.

'They spent 330,000 on a pen and a park. That kind of money would have done a lot for business owners like me. Look at all of the vacant properties on this street. Very few people walk past as a result. There is no parking in the town. A lot needs to be done.'

He said his first year has been difficult.

'Running a business is a major responsibility and times can get tough and for a young man it is hard being under pressure. My little mind wasn't fully ready for it but we are still open and things are on track and I am lucky my family and friends supported me and gave me advice and a giving out to when needed.

'Business at the start was fun and exciting. I was the new kid on the block. For the first couple of months we had all the buzz. The money came in and everything ran smoothly. This was coming to the end of the summer months, the busier time of the year for the fast food industry. The quiet spell came, a couple of big bills came in, the buzz died down, a couple new places opened. Now, we are just another take away for people to choose from. That's okay and that's normal. It had a bad effect on me. It was my lack of experience in business and life that I didn't take it too well. It got me down a little bit. I made a lot of mistakes and the business suffered because of it. Now, things are back on track and we are getting much more organised than before.'

Ray has learned that every detail in business counts. 'It is just hard to manage everything. You have to build relationships with your customers, staff, suppliers and everyone around one. You learn more and more about people every day. The hardest part is keeping everybody happy. It starts from the staff. They are your team and your business is in their hands. You must make sure they are treated with respect. If the kitchen is upset and a customer walks in and senses a bad atmosphere they might not come back again. 99 per cent of the time you walk into Raymondo's, the staff are in a good mood. It's much better to order from a place where you can have a laugh with the staff. Customer service is extremely important. It has been a very challenging first year in business but I am looking forward to many more!'

Ray thanked his family, friends, customers and partner for their support.
The Strand Tavern in Duncannon was announced as the best Local Bar of the Year at the Sky Bar of the Year Awards, which were held at the Mansion House in Dublin on Monday, August 22.

These are national awards and the pub was the only establishment in County Wexford to be selected as finalists. The Strand Tavern were finalists in two categories - Bar Food of the Year (with nine other finalists) and Local Bar of the Year (with eight other finalists).

Hal and Dervella Reburn said: 'We were thrilled to be awarded Local Bar of the Year 2016. Independent judges came unannounced to the premises in July and it was only when they had finished their meal that they advised us who they were. They later returned to experience the Irish music session with Hal's Ceili Band.'

Following the presentation of the award, one of the judges informed Hal and Dervella that a huge amount of research goes into every premises and they felt that the Strand Tavern team were very much deserving of the award.

Hal and Dervella said: 'Everything is taken into consideration for the Local Bar of the Year Award including the food, your involvement in local community, what you have to offer your customers and the service provided by the staff.

'In 2015, we were awarded Best Modern Irish Cooking in a Bar with Sky Bar of the Year Awards also, so to receive awards two years in succession has been wonderful. It's a great tribute to our loyal staff members also and to our children Rachel and James for being such a great help and for entertaining the customers. We have received enormous support from our customers having been awarded Local Bar of the Year and we thank them most sincerely for their continued support.'

Hal and Dervella now have a handsome plaque to place on the wall of their popular bar and eatery.

The bar, located facing the beach in the picturesque seaside village, is one of a number of pubs in County Wexford which have a food offering. Mr Reburn said most pubs now serve food as the sale of beverages has fallen greatly in recent years. 'You can't just rely on drink anymore.'
Spanish navy vessel the OPV Centinela will lead a flotilla of local boats for a Parade of Sail from Mullaghmore to Streedagh beach at this year's Celtic Fringe Festival.

The navy ship will sail into Sligo Bay for the duration of the festival between September 22 - 25 next.

The annual festival commemorates the 1,100 sailors of the Spanish Armada who perished when three ships sank off Streedagh in the winter storms of 1588.

"We are thrilled to be part of this celebration and be given the opportunity to pay respect, together with the people of Sligo to all those sailors who paid the ultimate sacrifice serving our country," said OPV Centinela Commanding Officer Lieutenant Commander Miguel Romero Contreras.

"The Parade of Sail will be an opportunity to remember all of the Spanish sailors who were part of the Armada, as we seek to continue to uncover one of the great untold stories of the history of this county," said the festival chair Eddie O'Gorman.

"The Spanish Embassy is delighted to be part of the Celtic Fringe Festival," Ambassador Rodriguez-Cuso said. "The Participation of OPV Centinela will highlight the fact that the Festival has great emotional value for Spain, since the STreedagh wrecks happen to be the resting place for more than a thousand Spanish soldiers and sailors," he said.

The Ambassador will not be able to attend but Deputy Head of Mission Rafael Soriano will represent the Embassy at the festival instead.

Mayor of Sligo Municipal District Cllr Marie Casserly said it was a 'great honour' to have the Spanish guests of honour attending the Celtic Fringe Festival.

The Parade of Sail will be the highlight of the festival which will see a series of events and lectures take place in Sligo town, Grange and Streedagh.

The Santa Maria de Vision, the Juliana and the Lavia lie in the Atlantic waters off Streedagh. Artefacts and nine cannon were recovered from them last year.

Boat owners interested in forming part of the flotilla on Sunday afternoon September 25th are asked to contact the festival in advance on www.celticfringefest.com.
Large numbers are expected to assemble at the site of Gralton's "Pearse Connolly Hall" at Effrinagh, Co Leitrim, on Saturday morning next when President Michael D. Higgins formally unveils a monument to the memory of the famous Leitrim Socialist Jimmy Gralton. Proceedings will commence at 10.45. a.m. on Saturday morning.

Members of Leitrim County Council, Oireachtas members, political activists and a number of leading trade unionists are expected to be present for the occasion.

The General President of SIPTU Mr Jack O'Connor, the President of the IMPACT Trade Union Mr Pat Fallon, the General Secretary of the Communist Party of Ireland Mr Eugene McCartan and Professor Luke Gibbons have already accepted invitations to attend.

Mr Jim Gralton, a cousin of Jimmy Gralton said "this will be a very special and proud day for all the members of the Gralton family.

"When my late parents, Maggie and Packie, witnessed Jimmy's dreadful deportation back in 1933 little did they think that 83 years later the President of Ireland would be unveiling a monument to his memory. We are most grateful to the President and to all who have helped to make this day possible."

The Secretary of the Gralton Labour History Commemorative Committee Cllr Declan Bree, said "Thirty years have passed since we first assembled at the site of Jimmy's Hall in 1986 to pay tribute to his memory.

"Quite a number of those who were involved in organising events then and in the intervening years have passed on and we will also be remembering them when we assemble at Effrinagh at the weekend. President Higgins has kindly agreed to plant an Irish Oak tree to honor their memory." Socialist Gralton was deported from Ireland in 1933 by the Government.
Sligo County Council has granted planning permission to An Post for a new mails sorting and distribution unit at a yard at Camross, north of Ballymote which is adjacent to the Sligo to Dublin rail line.

It is planned that 20 to 30 postal staff will be based at the new single storey delivery services unit with ancillary offices, loading area to the side with canopy in an enclosed service yard.

In its submission seeking planning, architect Conor McBrien on behalf of JSA Architects for An Post said: "in preparation for full liberalisation of the postal market, An Post is currently implementing a business transformation strategy to improve efficiency and further develop the range and quality of mail services to business and residential customers.

"A facility must be located reasonably centrally in the geographical area that it services for economic and sustainable reasons in order to minimise journey times and the carbon footprint."

Postal delivery services units are an essential part of the service infrastructure of the city and community and serve both business and domestic customers, stated the submission.

The new unit will be taking the central part of the existing yard of about 0.5 acre which is just off the R293, the road from Sligo into Ballymote.

The yard is currently used for plant and machinery.

Access will be through the existing entrance while an office on the site is to be demolished.

The new mails sorting and distribution unit will be set back in on the site which will allow for 29 staff parking spaces, four public ones and ten spaces for bikes to the front. Irish Rail had no objection to the development. An Post employs over 9,600 people through its national network of retail, processing and delivery points. It provides agency services for Government Departments, the National Treasury Management Agency, An Post National Lottery Company and other commercial bodies. Cllr Dara Mulvey has welcomed the new mail services and distribution depot.

"This is a welcome announcement for Ballymote and the south Sligo region as Ballymote is a growing town with excellent facilities, located between the N4 and N17 and fifteen mins from Sligo City," stated Cllr Mulvey.
A man in his mid-forties was arrested and detained in Garda custody overnight after gunshots were allegedly fired in Tubbercurry.

The incident was reported to Gardai who attended the scene at a halting site in Tubbercurry at 11.30 on Saturday morning, August 27th.

Three shots were allegedly fired.

The middle-aged man was arrested under Section 30 of the Offences Against the State Act and held overnight for questioning. He was released the next day without charge.

A Garda spokesperson told The Sligo Champion that no one was injured in the incident.

Gardai are now investigating the incident and preparing a file for the DPP. Gardai did not reveal if they had recovered a firearm at the scene.
A chief superintendent has been appointed to investigate the circumstances surrounding the failed prosecution of a superintendent by one of his gardai.

Judge Kevin Kilrane dismissed the prosecution of Carrick-on-Shannon Superintendent Kevin English for an alleged parking offence taken by Garda Sinead Killian and accused the garda of being driven "out of malice".

Gda Killian rejected this claim in court and said she was simply doing her job. Judge Kilrane, in his ruling at the district court in Carrick-on-Shannon, said at the time Gda Killian was the subject of a disciplinary action brought by Supt English. He said it was "completely inappropriate" for her to have involved herself with an investigation into Supt English.

The court heard Gda Killian was the observer in a patrol car being driven by a colleague, Garda Dermot O'Connell, in Carrick-on-Shannon, on August 20, 2015.

Both gardai said an elderly woman motioned at them to stop and told them a car was parked on a footpath at the side of the Landmark Hotel and they went to investigate. Gda Killian said the car was parked the whole way up on the footpath and she knew that it belonged to Supt English. She said she had filed a fixed charge penalty notice for an alleged parking offence, but that it was not paid and a summons was issued. Judge Kilrane said he believed that the elderly lady mentioned by both gardai did not exist. In his ruling, he urged authorities "up as far as the Garda Commissioner" to investigate the case.

A spokesman at Garda HQ said they had been made aware of the case and the judge's comments.

He confirmed that a chief superintendent from another division had been appointed by the commissioner to conduct an investigation.
AP Construction Services had applied for permission to build two houses on the site

Sligo County Council has refused planning for the construction of two houses adjacent to the Dublin rail line at Treacy Avenue.

AP Construction Services had applied for permission to build two three bedroom two storey town houses with a shared entrance on a triangular shaped site close to the railway bridge on a bend on the opposite side of the road from Maugheraboy Post Office.

The houses would have backed on to the Dublin rail line underneath. Irish Rail had no objection to the proposed development but had made a number of submissions in the interest of safety to be included in an award of planning.

These mainly dealt with safety concerns during the construction phase.

Council Area Engineer, Michael Conway recommended refusal of planning in the interest of the safety of pedestrians and motorists.

In his report, the Executive Engineer said a fixed railing was in place on both sides of the road at present which enhanced pedestrian safety and discourages pedestrians from the crossing the road at the bend.

To facilitate vehicular access to the proposed houses three sections of the barrier would need to be removed making four lengths of it to the east redundant. Mr Conway said this would create an opportunity for a shortcut for some pedestrians which was precisely what the barriers should be preventing.

Mr Conway also states that having two houses using the same entrance would likely result in a conflict between entering and exiting traffic on occasions.

This would result in queueing traffic on the public road in the vicinity of the bend and humpback bridge.

There was also little room for turning of vehicles off road which results in vehicles reversing out on to the public road.

Also, due to the layout of the parking on the site, it was likely that vehicles entering and exiting the houses and travelling eastwards would encroach on the westbound lane.

Mr Conway further stated that insufficient parking spaces (four) had been provided for two three bedroom houses and further increases in on-street parking should not be encouraged in the vicinity of this proposed development.

The engineer also pointed out that the sightlines to the west of the proposed entrance were hampered by a bend in the road, a humpback bridge, the bridge's parapet wall, pedestrian barriers and the gradient of the approaches to the bridge.

An objection to the planning appliction was made by John and Nieve Thackrah who live at 78 Treacy Avenue.

They state that the boundary walls will obstruct vision and that the new contour levels would obstruct vision to numbers 78 and 79 Treacy Avenue. There was also little or no recreational area at the rear of each house while the owners of number 79 Treacy Avenue had been refused entrance gates for car parking on site due to its proximity to the blind bend.

The also point out about the pedestrian railings needing to be broken which would endanger pedestrians while the floor levels of both houses far exceed the existing levels and may cause diminished sunlight especially in the evenings in their recreational area.

"The proposed dwellings will alter greatly the streetscape of the existing avenue and the proposed elevations are contrary to the existing house types," said the submission.
The orange balloons were released from the front of Russborough House

Russborough House in Blessington was awash with colour last Saturday as it hosted a family fun day and balloon release.

The event was held by Buplex Junior and eumom to mark the launch of Buplex Junior. The day included a sheepdog demonstration and lots of fun activities for all ages as well as a visit from Today FM's Alison Curtis, who broadcast her popular 'Saturday Breakfast' show live from the west Wicklow venue.
An order transferring Wicklow Port Company to Wicklow County Council was signed this week by Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport Shane Ross T.D..

Wicklow Port now becomes the first port to transfer under National Ports Policy which was approved by the Government and published in 2013.

Previously Cllr Irene Winters had been critical of the delay in plans to finalise the transfer of the port to Wicklow County Council.

'This decision means Wicklow Port is no longer left in a state of limbo now that Wicklow County Council is in charge.

'Now we can go to look for solutions to the problems of erosion at the Murrough. Before the transfer the council couldn't undertake any work along the port area because it wasn't under our control. Now it will make things easier for us to approach Europe for funding because we are all under the one entity. There is a substantial crack on the wall at the East Pier which needs some remedial works. Instead of a patch and repair job we can look at something more long term which could help with the Murrough and how the tides hit that particular area. Hopefully, we can also bring more life to the port as well.'

The National Ports Policy recommended that ports of regional significance should be transferred to more appropriate local authority led governance structures. These include Wicklow, Drogheda, Dun Laoghaire, Galway and New Ross ports.

Speaking after singing off on the transfer, Minister Ross commented, 'today marks an important milestone as Wicklow Port is the first Port of Regional Significance to transfer to a local authority.

'Wicklow Port is a thriving regional commercial port and the transfer will provide new opportunities for the development of marine-related activities and regional freight, and to further develop marine leisure and tourism, cultural and recreation amenities in the area, offering significant potential for local employment creation. I also wish to commend the work undertaken by the Chief Executive and his staff in Wicklow County Council, as well as the work undertaken by the Board and staff in Wicklow Port, who have actively engaged in the due diligence process over a number of months in preparation for transfer.'

He added that Wicklow Port could serve a niche market and provide an important function.
An 8-year-old girl has been arrested for committing lesbianism in Uganda, it has been reported.

The girl is understood to be in police custody after her neighbour reported her to the police for engaging in romantic relationships with other girls. Catherine Wobuyaga, officer at Jinja Police Child Family Protection unit, in the eastern region, confirmed the girl had been arrested, Gay Star News reports.

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A neighbour alleged the girl had been spotted luring other girls to a nearby farm, whereupon she enacted various sex acts with her fingers.

As the girl is a minor, she cannot be named for legal reasons.

Same-sex sexual acts are illegal in Uganda, which has some of the most restrictive anti-LGBT laws in the world.

International human rights activists condemned the alleged arrest. Victor Odero, Amnesty Internationals East Africa Campaigner told The Independent: The girl should be immediately and unconditionally released if she is still in detention. What she needs is protection and respect for her privacy, rather than being treated as a criminal. The states responsibility here is to protect the childs welfare, not to arrest her.

The penal code criminalising same-sex acts in Uganda dates back to laws passed under colonial British rule. While they initially referred only to acts between men, they have now been extended to also include lesbian and bisexual women.

In February 2014, the laws were extended further so that not only is homosexuality a criminal offence but also promoting homosexuality or knowing someone had committed a homosexual act and failing to report it to the police.

Signing the bill into law, President Yoweri Museveni said: No study has shown you can be homosexual by nature. Thats why I have agreed to sign the bill.

LGBT relationships are illegal in 74 countries around the world, including in 12 countries where they are punishable by death.
A police dog named JJ who has been presented with a PDSA Commendation for tracking down a robber who had stolen an iPhone from a 15-year-old girl at knifepoint

A "fearless" police dog who tracked down a knife-wielding robber has been awarded for his devotion to duty.

German Shepherd JJ was honoured by the vet charity PDSA after managing to sniff out the phone thief who was hiding in bushes, West Midland Police said.

Dog handler Pc Wayne Mellings and JJ were called to Saltley, Birmingham, after reports that a 15-year-old girl had been robbed of her iPhone at knifepoint.

The pair set off in pursuit of the teenage suspect and t hree-year-old JJ tracked his scent into a cul-de-sac where two other mobile phones and a credit card had been hidden in undergrowth.

They then scaled railings during the search for the robber and found him lying low in bushes with the iPhone.

Pc Mellings said: "This was typical of JJ. He is fearless and has a real nose for sniffing out evidence and catching criminals.

"JJ managed to follow the scent to a commercial estate then lead us to some bushes where the suspect was hiding in the undergrowth. He was still holding the young girl's mobile phone.

"JJ played a vital role in catching the offender and recovering the stolen phone. He fully deserves this recognition."

The police dog was presented with the PDSA Commendation as part of the charity's animal awards programme on Thursday.

Rebecca Thorne, senior vet at the charity's Aston Pet Hospital, said: "PDSA has a long tradition of honouring animals and JJ's story really epitomises the value that animals bring to our lives."

Police said a 17-year-old was put on a youth rehabilitation order - including a 16-week overnight curfew - and ordered to pay compensation for the offences.

JJ was named after Private Jeff Doherty who was killed while serving with the Parachute Regiment in Afghanistan in 2008.
Uzbek President Islam Karimov has died aged 78 after suffering a stroke, three diplomatic sources said on yesterday, leaving no obvious successor to take over the Central Asian nation.

The Uzbek government did not immediately confirm the reports.

Earlier on Friday it said the health of Mr Karimov (pictured), who has been in hospital since last Saturday, had sharply deteriorated.

Long criticised by the West and human rights groups for his authoritarian style of leadership, Karimov had ruled Uzbekistan since 1989, first as the head of the local Communist Party and then as president of the newly independent republic from 1991.

"Yes, he has died," one of the diplomatic sources said when asked about Mr Karimov's condition.

Turkish Prime Minister Binali Yildirim became the first foreign leader to offer condolences over the death of Mr Karimov. The two countries have close ethnic, cultural and linguistic ties.

Mr Karimov did not designate a successor and analysts say the transition of power is likely to be decided behind closed doors by a small group of senior officials and family members.

If they fail to agree on a compromise, however, open confrontation could destabilise Uzbekistan, which shares a border with Afghanistan and has become a target for Islamist militants.
Colombian President Juan Manuel Santos with Cuba's President Raul Castro during a ceasefire signing ceremony in Havana in June (AP)

Colombia's president has announced he will sign a peace deal with the country's main rebel group later this month.

Juan Manuel Santos said the signing ceremony with the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) will take place in Cartagena on September 26.

"This is perhaps the most-important announcement I've made in my entire life," he said.

Last week, his government and the FARC reached a historic deal bringing to an end 52 years of hostilities by Latin America's largest insurgency.

The agreement must still be endorsed by Colombians, who will vote on the accord in a nationwide referendum on October 2.

The signing of the 297-page agreement will trigger the gradual demobilisation of the FARC's estimated 7,000 fighters.

Under the terms of the accord, FARC units must deploy to 28 rural areas across the country where they will turn their weapons over to a United Nations-sponsored mission over a period of six months.

As part of the accord, rebels who confess to war crimes will be spared jail time and ordered to carry out community service in areas hard-hit by the conflict.

The rebels' future political movement will also be given 10 seats in congress for two legislative periods lasting until 2026. After that they will have to demonstrate their political strength at the ballot box.

Even before the deal's final ratification the government and rebels are taking steps to wind down the conflict.

On Friday, negotiators in Havana, Cuba announced that beginning on September 10 child soldiers under the age of 15 will begin leaving guerrilla camps.

The minors will be handed over to representatives from Unicef and taken to temporary shelters run by the government. It is unclear how many child soldiers the FARC has.

The move follows a decision this week by the rebels and the government to declare a definitive ceasefire ending all hostilities in a conflict that has taken 220,000 lives and displaced more than five million people.

AP
Scottish First Minister Nicola Sturgeon launched a new survey on independence, saying the Brexit vote had changed the conditions that existed when Scotland voted against secession in 2014. Photo: AFP/Getty Images

Nicola Sturgeon has said Scotland needs a new conversation about independence. The Scottish first minister said she would trigger the "biggest ever political listening exercise" to convince voters that a second referendum is needed.

This would include a new website to gauge opinion, town hall meetings and a "growth commission" to work out how Scotland can remain financially viable on its own.

Ms Sturgeon, who knows she cannot afford to lose a second referendum, said recent polls had shown increased backing for leaving the UK.

She added: "I suspect support for independence will be even higher if it becomes clear it is the best or only way to protect our interests."

Ms Sturgeon was to say in Stirling that "seismic changes" following the UK's decision to leave the EU would have a "deep impact" on Scotland.

Her speech comes nearly two years on from the September 2014 referendum, which saw Scots vote by 55pc to 45pc in favour of remaining in the UK.
Donald Trump is being praised by a group of supporters for coming to "the hood" to meet with local black leaders in Philadelphia.

Calvin Tucker, a local Republican leader, thanked Mr Trump at the end of a meeting "for being brave enough to come" to North Philadelphia.

Renee Amoore, a local business leader, said Mr Trump has support in the community, despite polls showing otherwise.

She told him: "People say, Mr Trump, that you have no African-American support. We want you to know that you do."

She added that: "Pennsylvania has your back, and Philly in particular."

Ms Amoore said: "You are the man", and thanked him for "coming to the 'hood'."

Mr Trump was met with tears and gratitude as he sat with African-American supporters, including the mother of a young woman who was killed by a man living in the US illegally.

The back-to-back meetings, held in a ballroom in Northwest Philadelphia, underscored the balancing act the Republican nominee is playing as he tries to expand his support in the race against Democrat Hillary Clinton.

While Mr Trump works to broaden his appeal among more moderate and minority voters, he is also working to maintain his popularity with his core GOP base by pressing his hard-line views on immigration.

At the invitation-only roundtable discussion, he was warmly received by the group, including Daphne Goggins, a local Republican official, who wiped away tears as she introduced herself, saying she had been a Republican most of her life but "for the first time in my life, I feel like my vote is going to count".

But Mr Trump's meeting also highlighted the challenges he faces making inroads with African-Americans and Latinos. Protesters gathered in front of the building and a coalition of labour leaders met nearby to denounce his outreach to black voters as disingenuous and insulting.

Ryan Boyer, of the Labour District Council, said Mr Trump "has no prescription to help inner-city America".

"The best predictor of future behaviour is past behaviour," said Mr Boyer, speaking at the council's headquarters. "He did nothing for African-Americans in 30 years of public life. We reject his notion that we have nothing to lose by supporting him."

Next stop for Mr Trump is Detroit tomorrow, where black people make up some 83% of the population. He is expected to visit a church with a predominantly black congregation while there.

In addition to planning trips to urban centres, Mr Trump has re-vamped his campaign pitch to include a direct appeal to African-Americans and Hispanics, making the case that decades of Democratic policies have failed them.

"You live in your poverty, your schools are no good, you have no jobs," he recently argued.

But so far, his outreach has largely fallen flat. Many minority voters have found Mr Trump's dire description of their lives to be condescending - and African American community leaders have dismissed his message, delivered largely in front of predominantly white rally audiences - as more intended to reassure undecided white voters that he is not racist than actually help communities of colour.

Public opinion surveys show Mrs Clinton polling far ahead of Mr Trump with minority voters.

Mr Trump also continued to take a hard-line stance on immigration, which he highlighted once again today. The New York billionaire met Shagla Hightower, whose daughter, Iofemi, was killed along with two friends in a 2007 attack in a Newark, New Jersey school yard.

In an emotional exchange, Ms Hightower said her daughters' killers "should have never been here" and praised Mr Trump for giving her daughter recognition. "I truly, truly thank you from the bottom of my heart," she said.

He has been featuring parents whose children have been killed by people living in the US illegally at his events to try to underscore the risk they pose.

Ms Hightower's is "a horrible story", Mr Trump said, "but it's a story a lot of people are going through". He added that Mrs Clinton "has no clue and doesn't care".
Police search Valley of the Moon Park, where two people were found dead last weekend (AP)

A rash of unsolved murders in Alaska's largest city is putting residents on edge.

The deaths of nine people who were killed on Anchorage's outdoor trails, parks and isolated streets since January remain unsolved - among them three cases involving two victims each.

"It's terrifying," said Jennifer Hazen, who lives near Valley of the Moon Park, where two people were found dead last week, one of them on a park bike trail.

Hazen walks in the park regularly, and finds some comfort in knowing the unsolved killings happened in the middle of the night when she would not be out there anyway.

"I'm just really shocked about all this happening," said another resident, Yegor Christman, as he walked his dog on the bike trail. "I thought I lived in a pretty safe area."

Adding to the feeling of vulnerability, Anchorage has had 25 killings this year, the same number the city had for the entire year in 2015.

Even though the number is high, police point out that 1995, with 29 killings, had the highest number in the last two decades.

With 15 murders since late June, police issued an unusual public advisory this week urging residents to be "extra aware" of their surroundings, noting that crimes often increase at night and early in the morning.

Three of the victims were found alone. Two of those victims had been shot, according to police, who will not say how the other seven died. They will not say what details have been shared with the families of the victims.

Police have released few details on any of the cases, saying investigators have not made any clear connections between the victims. Asked if police believe a serial killer could be on the loose, police spokeswoman Jennifer Castro said police always try to determine if unsolved crimes are related.

The only common denominators found among the victims are that the deaths occurred outdoors, in the early hours and in isolated places such as trails and unoccupied streets.

John McCleary is a long-time volunteer with the city's Trail Watch programme, which was started in 2006 after a string of assaults, mostly against women, on local trails.

Trail Watch volunteers serve two purposes, to be the eyes for the police department, reporting any problems, and to create safer conditions on 300 miles of trails with such efforts as cutting down vegetation.

But McCleary said he has never seen a situation with so many unsolved killings, and he has been connected with city trails since the late 1970s. He says he feels angry and frustrated that people cannot enjoy the trails like they could a decade ago.

"This is so abnormal," he said. "It doesn't seem like I'm in the same city."

Randall Alcala walks almost daily along the central Ship Creek Trail, where two victims were found dead in July. But those deaths, even though unsolved, do not make him feel unsafe.

He saw a black bear on the trail about a week ago, and is more wary of run-ins with one of the city's hundreds of bears.

AP
A Philippine soldier keeps watch at a blast site at a night market that southern Davao City (AP)

A "state of lawlessness" was declared in the Philippines after suspected Abu Sayyaf extremists detonated a bomb that killed 14 people and wounded about 70.

Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte inspected the scene of Friday's attack at a night market in central Davao City, his home town.

He said his declaration that covers the southern Mindanao region did not amount to an imposition of martial law.

It would allow troops to be deployed in urban centres to back up the police in setting up checkpoints and increasing patrols, he aid.

An Abu Sayyaf spokesman, Abu Rami, claimed responsibility for the blast near the Jesuit-run Ateneo de Davao University and a five-star hotel.

But Mr Duterte said investigators were looking at other possible suspects, including drug syndicates, which he has targeted in a bloody crackdown.

"These are extraordinary times and I supposed that I'm authorised to allow the security forces of this country to do searches," Mr Duterte told reporters at the scene of the attack, asking the public to co-operate and be vigilant.

"We're trying to cope up with a crisis now. There is a crisis in this country involving drugs, extrajudicial killings and there seems to be an environment of lawless violence."

Mr Duterte served as mayor of Davao for years before elected to the presidency in June.

Police immediately set up more checkpoints in key roads leading to the city, a regional gateway about 610 miles south of Manila. Police forces in the capital also went on full alert at midnight.

The attack came as Philippine forces were on alert amid a military offensive against Abu Sayyaf extremists in southern Sulu province, which intensified last week after the militants beheaded a kidnapped villager.

The militants threatened to launch an unspecified attack after the military said 30 of the gunmen were killed in the week-long offensive.

Some commanders of the Abu Sayyaf, which is blacklisted by the US and the Philippines as a terrorist organisation because of deadly bombings, ransom kidnappings and beheadings, have pledged allegiance to the Islamic State group.

The military, however, says there has been no evidence of a direct collaboration and militant action may have been aimed at bolstering their image after years of combat setbacks.

Communications secretary Martin Andanar said the bomb appeared to have been made from a mortar round and doctors reported many of the victims had shrapnel wounds.

Despite the emergency, Mr Duterte said he would proceed with a trip to Brunei, Laos and Indonesia starting on Sunday.

US National Security Council spokesman Ned Price said that local authorities in the Philippines continue to investigate the cause of the explosion, and the United States stands ready to provide assistance to the inquiry.

President Barack Obama will offer his personal condolences to Mr Duterte when the two leaders meet on the sidelines of the annual summit of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations leaders with some Western leaders in Laos next week.

AP
Turkey would fully implement its part of a deal meant to keep migrants from Europe's shores even if the European Union refuses to abolish visas for Turkish citizens, a senior official has said.

The pledge from Europe Minister Omar Celik should have eased EU fears but he warned that expanded cooperation on migration depended on that demand being met.

He spoke after his meeting with EU foreign ministers in Bratislava, Slovakia, eased immediate concerns that the agreement now crimping the flow of migrants into Europe was in danger.

Mr Celik said it ended with "very strong consensus about focusing on the positive agenda and to further enhance the cooperation between Turkey and EU".

Still, the talks yielded no apparent indication of substantial progress on relieving tensions that have worsened in the aftermath of the July coup attempt against President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.

Turkey has instituted a sweeping crackdown of wide segments of society since then, sharpening anti-terror legislation to include critical journalists, conducting mass arrests and firings from public sector jobs, as well as flirting with the possibility of reintroducing the death penalty.

The EU sees such moves as contradicting European human rights norms. It says visa-free travel for Turkish citizens is tied to Ankara rolling back its crackdown.

With both sides standing firm there had been fears ahead of the meeting that Turkey might retaliate by backing out of the deal committing it to take back migrants from Syria and elsewhere attempting to enter the EU illegally from Turkey.

Mr Celik appeared to banish those concerns. He said Turkey would "continue to implement" the deal even if its demands on visa liberalisation are not met. At the same time, he warned that without a visa deal, Ankara would not be part of any new arrangement to manage what he said were expectations of a greater migrant influx in the future.

"The (migrant) mechanism will not be enough ... so we need a new mechanism," he said. "And if (there is) no liberalisation, Turkey will not be very positive in setting up a new mechanism."

He invoked the security problems inherent in Turkey's borders with Syria and Iraq, saying "it is not rational to expect from Turkey to make any change in the anti-terror law" as long as radical insurgencies rage in those countries.

"We can make some commitments for the future" on the law, he said, without offering anything specific. Meanwhile, said Mr Celik, the EU should move ahead on visa liberalisation.

Federica Mogherini, the EU's top foreign policy official, suggested that would happen only if Turkey meets existing EU "benchmarks" on human rights.

Mr Celik said he also complained at the meeting of slow and tepid expressions of EU support for Mr Erdogan and Turkish democracy in the wake of the coup attempt.

"Faced with a serious attack, the EU sent out a weak message with respect to democracy," he said.

German foreign minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier said the complaint had some merit. Speaking separately, he described EU expressions of empathy and support after the coup attempt as potentially lacking "the necessary form and intensity".

At the same time, he urged Turkey to prosecute those involved in the coup attempt "with moderation and application of the rule of law".

Ankara is also angry over calls by several EU government officials to suspend, or even end, more than a decade of talks on Turkey's entry into the EU, again because of concerns about the state of human rights. Mr Celik said such demands put "the future of Europe into jeopardy".

Ahead of the meeting with Mr Celik, several ministers appeared keen to walk a fine line between pushing Turkey to heed their concerns without further worsening relations.

Linas Linkevicius, Lithuania's foreign minister, called Turkey "very important for the solution of current challenges facing Europe and the world", adding: "There are many, many reasons we have to talk."

But Belgian foreign minister Didier Raynders pulled no punches in his criticism of the crackdown on wide segments of Turkish society following July's abortive coup.

"When you have seen the number of arrests, the developments in the country, we are worried," he said, expressing particular concern about Mr Erdogan's flirtation with reintroducing the death penalty.

That, he said, would spell "the end of ... (Turkey's) hopes for joining the European Union".

AP
One of the dreaded patches in the continent is the risky terrains of Myanmar, especially under the threat of an impending earthquake. Music director Ghibran and director Abbas Akbar had set out to Singapore, all the way from Chennai, by road, to promote their upcoming Chennai 2 Singapore. The plan was to release one of the six tracks from the album, as a single, at each stop, until they finally wrap the trip in destination Singapore.

Two down with 'Poda' by RJ Balaji, the next in queue to hit our ears is 'Pogadhe'. But as fate would have it, the crew was advised to abort their mission and return to safe land, given that a threatening earthquake is about to hit the route they will take. Currently in Myanmar, already having faced a tough time with riots and a relatively minor quake, Ghibran and co almost took the advice; but it is the good wishes and prayers from all the supporters, for Chennai 2 Singapore, that now the team has decided they will tread forward.

Considering safety, with minor changes to their route, making the travel longer, Ghibran and Abbas Akbar are going ahead with their trip, crossing Myanmar borders, and into Thailand, to release the third track, 'Pogadhe'. So the plan for destination Singapore is still on. Such dedication! We at Indiaglitz, wish the Chennai 2 Singapore team all good!
What are the key trends in the Agri-Logistics business?

How many commodities do you handle and what is the current capacity?

What does the MoU with Global Treasure Bank bring to the table?

You incepted your Delhi set up with your own money in the space that your father lent you. What were the challenges?

Brief us about your business model and how it has evolved over the years.

What are your capex plans and how would they be funded?

You applied for a patent for AGRI REACH. How will it help in your business?

Which are the new verticals you have forayed into? Any diversification plans in the offing?

What is the rationale behind acquiring an NBFC?

What are your expansion plans?

What are your views on proposed uniform warehousing norms?

You were in talks with Rabo Equity Advisors, IDFC Private Equity and others to raise some money. You were also reportedly planning an IPO. Could you elaborate on this?

What are some of the regulatory changes needed to boost the warehousing sector?

What is the total warehousing capacity in India, Whats the share of the private sector? Whats the progress on the larger cause of waste reduction?

is a leading Agri-Logistics player specializing in post-harvest services and equipped with best-of-breed technology for commodity storage and protection. It covers about 446 agriculture commodities across India including Rice, Wheat, Maize, Mustard, Pulses, Cotton, Barley, Bajra, Castor seeds and Spices. As of today, SLCM manages a technology enabled network of more than 1300 warehouses and 20 cold storages pan India with a total capacity of over 3.51 Million MT spread over 19.0 Mn sqft areas generating a throughput of more than 406 Million MT. The Group has also applied for patenting this scientific technology of storage under the brand name of AGRI REACH.The Group also has a wholly owned NBFC christened as "Kissandhan" which has changed the paradigm of collateral financing by financing across diversified agri products. Though agnostic to the borrowers balance sheet, it fully complies with the RBI prudential norms. In only a years time, Kissandhan has financed more than Rs 671 crores across 58 locations and multiple commodities in India impacting 1,48,734 farmers till date., is an MBA from FMS, Delhi is a veteran with rich experience of more than three decades in the areas like commodity storage, procurement, commodities market, trading, processing, warehousing & financial services in the agriculture sector. A well known thought leader, he was conferred with the Most Innovative CEO award by Inc India in recognition of his pioneering industry innovation. He has also been conferred with Certification on US Warehouse Receipt System from The Norman Borlaug Institute for International Agriculture and Texas A & M University. He is a member of Executive Committee of Warehouse Development and Regulatory Act (WDRA). He is also a member of FICCI Committee which was appointed by the Government of India to study the warehousing model of United States of America. Excerpts of his interaction withIndias agriculture sector has made rapid strides in the last few decades. Modern farming methods and technologies have enabled farmers and allied stakeholders to increase per hectare yield. The industry outlook is positive as the government is now serious about the need for scientific warehousing. One of the biggest trend shifts is the amalgamation of the service offerings under one window in the form of a complete supply chain model.Till recently, we had different providers for different services like Procurement, Freight Management, Financing, Labour Provision, Warehousing, Quality Assaying and Quality Management. Now a single service provider manages the entire spectrum from a single window. Like in our case, we offer end-to-end logistics solution and are the pioneers in providing financial support for the managed crops as well. Our NBFC vertical has bridged the missing link of financial inclusion and empowerment to the supply chain.SLCM has been handling more than 446 agri commodities including Cotton, Barley, Bajra, Castor Seeds, Wheat, Pulses, Maize, Spices, Aloe Vera, etc. across India. We manage a technology enabled network of more than 1317 warehouses and 19 cold storages pan India with a total capacity of over 3.51 Million MT spread over 19.7 Million sq ft. and throughput of more than 408 Million MT.With the view to offer scientific support to agricultural economies of developing nations, the Group forayed into Myanmar market in April 2014. In a short span, the wholly owned subsidiary (WOS) in Myanmar proved the scalability of its proven warehousing model and expanded its footprints to 29 Industrial Zones spanning an area of 7.78 Sq ft, handling 134 commodities with a throughput of 1.63 Million MT. The WOS changed the paradigm of collateral financing by including agriculture & non-agriculture commodities in its fold, in a country where hitherto only fixed assets were considered as collaterals for financing. The WOS has tied-up with five leading banks for collateral management including Yoma Bank, CB Bank, United Amara Bank, Myanmar Apex Bank & Global Treasure Bank. The subsidiary has facilitated loans worth USD 25 Mn on different commodities through these tie-ups.Apart from the criticism from my peer group for treading on an offbeat path, I faced family pressure as well, given that I was closing down our well established family business into food processing and setting up a new business. The scepticism continued for two years even though I had managed to post good revenues, as they were way lower than what we earned in the family business. I won my fathers faith only when SLCM received the first funding from Nexus Venture Partner in May 2010. The rest was history.Explaining the virtues of our model is still a challenge given the complete ignorance on the need for scientific warehousing. My first customer was sourced only through an acquaintance from the previous business. I started with one warehouse with 16 lakhs as seed capital, which came from my savings and some borrowed money, and two employees who are still with us.SLCM Group has redefined the sector by shifting an infrastructure-driven model to an asset-light model irrespective of warehouse condition, and bringing down post-harvest losses to merely 0.5%. The Group has the ability to use vacant infrastructure and even open spaces as warehouses as Agri Reach (Technology) operates agnostic to infrastructure. We have time and again proved that through a distinguished mindset, we can address the concerns of the sector. The group has brought positive and scientific change in the warehousing scenario of India.SLCMs unmatched capabilities of crop management also include financing facility to farmers with crop as collateral, irrespective of their balance sheet position or net worth, through its NBFC named Kissandhan. Given our expertise in crop management, we are able to provide loans purely on crop as a collateral, and have impacted about 1,48,734 farmers in two years of operations by disbursing Rs 671 crore of loans, thereby ensuring real financial Inclusion in the sector. SLCM Group has successfully addressed two major global problems of the sector i.e. Post Harvest Losses & Credit Availability. The Group has proven its scalability and measurable value of our scientific warehousing technology with our foray into Myanmar Market, that addressed the issues of enormous post-harvest losses, which in Myanmar ranged from 15% - 20%We work on asset-light model so the capex plans are generally non-existent in our case. But, with four successful rounds of funding; PE investors have instituted their trust year-on-year. SLCM got its first institutional investor  Nexus Venture Partner in May 2010; Mayfield in March 2011; Everstone Capital & Emerging India Fund (a fund under ICICI Bank) in November 2012 & latest being an impact investor, Creation Investments Capital Management in September 2015.Technology is a key enabler of growth for this sector. India has just awakened to the tremendous potential of technology-driven innovation. Agriculture forms the backbone of the country and majority of the rural population depends on it for livelihood. The role of technology in agri sector is invaluable. After eight years of rigorous research, the SLCM has ensured that it takes merely 48 hours to step in and commence warehousing operations irrespective of infrastructure, location and commodity. AGRI REACH is an algorithm which combines a series of crucial processes, audits and real-time tracking of facilities to fetch error-free results and minimize risk of crop damage. It uses techniques like geo-fencing to real-time tracking, bar-coded storage receipts to avoid thefts, 70 internal audits along with a Maker & Checker policy at each level. In short, it is the culmination of defined processes, deviation-free execution and comprehensive monitoring. We sent it for patenting about 3 years back & today it has reached the stage of "patent pending"In 2012, the Group went for forward integration into warehouse receipt financing; studies were initiated on the subject and deliberations amongst KMPs were held. The thought was to establish an NBFC again with a differentiator matching with the SLCM philosophy. Our market surveys concluded out that majority of Financial Institutions extend agriculture loans on collaterals and insist upon securities like land, house, vehicle, etc. And the Turn around Time for disbursement of loans is between anywhere 7 to 30 days. The financial statement of the borrower is considered to evaluate the credit worthiness of the borrower.With this clear picture of the market scenario, SLCM thought of creating the differentiator in three ways. Firstly, the agri loans to be provided without keeping any security, the loans to be purely based on crop as collateral. Secondly, the TAT should not be more than 24 hours as the farmer is in real need of money. Thirdly, focus would be on underlying collateral rather than the financial statement of the borrower while sanctioning the loan.Kissandhan was commercialized in March 2014. Our team firmly believed that Risk Management is the key to success and this belief enabled the group to report zero NPAs even in the most turbulent times of the industry in the past 9-10 months. The progress was quick but steady proving the model was correct. SLCM also got the leverage of its warehousing division as the custodian of the pledged commodities.Agri financing has not yet evolved to reach out to small and marginal farmers. It does not give farmers / Agri intermediaries the benefit of using crop as collateral delinked with their credit worthiness. Today, credit is abundantly available but the terms do not take the agriculture business into consideration. Agri intermediaries do not have a balance sheet but they do have crop. Kissandhan is facilitating farmers to get loans against their crop. This not only gives the agri fraternity a supplementary source of income but also provides them with crop storage till they are ready to sell of their produce in the market at a better price.As we have mapped all the major geographies of India with our services, SLCM made a conscious decision to expand and replicate the model overseas, in a country that mirrors the DNA of India.. We launched our wholly owned subsidiary in Myanmar in April 2014 to engage into warehousing and other allied services. We aim to take our model to other ASEAN and African countries and are exploring agriculture-centric regions.SLCM welcomes the initiative taken by SEBI; the guidelines will enable required corporate governance in the sector & improve warehousing systems at commodity exchanges. There are many points calling for deliberation between SEBI and the stakeholders to improve the mechanism. We hope the norms will regulate the market and prove beneficial for all market participants.The company evaluates fund raising options from time to time. Fund raising activity is an integral part of our business plan to attain our business goals and to sustain the healthy growth. The Board of Directors will take need-based decisions of fund raising activity including IPO. Investments in any sector are the key stimuli. Agri logistics is no exception. But the financial ecosystem - be it private equity, banks or the capital markets  need to use different parameters for judging the performance of the Agri industry, not the ones used for judging the manufacturing or software sectors. I believe that a sustainable and scalable model built on technology alone has the power to redefine the agri sector.A major roadblock in the system is our tendering process which right now favours the lowest bidder. It would be better to change to a performance-based bidding that makes a proper comparison of service level agreements. This is most important for crop protection and measuring the real benefits of post-harvest loss reduction.There is indeed a dearth of warehouses in India, especially in the agriculture sector. For a country, primarily an agrarian economy, there is immense potential in the agri-logistics and cold chain industry. According to an Ernst & Young report, agri warehousing accounted for about Rs. 80-85 billion in FY 13 and grew at 12 per cent in previous three years and in terms of warehousing capacity, the industry was pegged at 120 MMT (Million MT) during the period. Since the industry is fragmented, its not possible to know the exact warehousing capacity held by private players but approximately it is about 20% as 70% - 80% is under the government fold.Unfortunately, the focus of our peer groups has not been on reducing post-harvest losses or wastage due to non-existence of Real-Time information. We have built & implemented these processes in our system and the results have been proven globally. I am glad that the industry has now woken up to a new sunrise and people are now conscious about the losses. As far as we are concerned, we will continue to tread on the path of innovation in everything we do. What differentiates us from the competition is our proprietary SOP AGRI REACH.
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Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton and her running mate, Sen. Tim Kaine of Virginia, on the campaign trail. Photo from Facebook



#NativeVote16  The test of an indispensable nation is when Standing Rock is not left out or left behind

By Mark TrahantTrahant Reports

My ears perked up when I heard that Hillary Clinton was giving a speech on American Exceptionalism . I cringe every time this is a topic; the idea is far too close to Manifest Destiny

The United States is an exceptional nation. I believe we are still Lincolns last, best hope of Earth. Were still Reagans shining city on a hill. Were still Robert Kennedys great, unselfish, compassionate country, Secretary Clinton said Wednesday . She went on to say that we are the indispensable nation. People all over the world look to us and follow our lead.

If thats true, thats not a bad thing. But it all depends what happens over the next few weeks and months near Cannon Ball, North Dakota. If the United States is to be that indispensable nation it has to lead on the most important crisis Mother Earth faces, climate change.

This is not what Clinton was talking about. Her speech was all about global security, the military, and global alliances. But her words were exactly on point on the issue of climate change. As she put it: Because, when America fails to lead, we leave a vacuum that either causes chaos or other countries or networks rush in to fill the void. So no matter how hard it gets, no matter how great the challenge, America must lead. The question is how we lead. What kind of ideas, strategies, and tactics we bring to our leadership. American leadership means standing with our allies because our network of allies is part of what makes us exceptional.

And those should be the same themes when it comes to the global reaction to climate change.

Last year Clinton praised the Paris Climate Change Agreement . The Paris agreement is testament to Americas ability to lead the world in building a clean energy future where no one is left out or left behind, she said  we will only succeed if we redouble our efforts going forward to drive innovation, increase investment, and reap the benefits of the good-paying jobs that will come from transitioning to a clean energy economy. The next decade of action is criticalbecause if we do not press forward with driving clean energy growth and cutting carbon pollution across the economy, we will not be able to avoid catastrophic consequences.

So lets be absolutely clear here: The tribal community of Standing Rock and the people downstream on the Cheyenne River Indian Reservation are those who would be left out and left behind unless the Dakota Access Pipeline is stopped.

Lets connect the dots. Paris Mismatches: The Impact of the COP21 Climate Change Negotiations on the Oil and Gas Industries , a report last month by The Chatham House, says that in order to meet global targets (you know, the ones the United States agreed to reach) the impact on the oil and gas sector will intensify.

Three key points from that study.

First, the United States and other nations that signed must apply additional and more stringent measures on fossil fuels going forward. Second, as a result, the impact of regulation on the oil and gas sector is set to intensify. And, third, in language that should say in b0ld, No Dakota Access Pipeline, avoid over-investment in potentially unnecessary projects.

The report says if nations do not do this then investment in consumption and production of fossil fuels will continue and oil and gas companies will make risky investments to meet unsustainable demand.

That is exactly the problem in North Dakota. The same day Secretary Clinton was outlining American Exceptionalism, the chief executive officer of Chevron, Steven S. Watson, was posting on LinkedIn why he thinks oil and gas are indispensable. (Theres that word again.) Ours is a long-term business, so we know that eventually supply and demand will come back into balance and prices will stabilize. The global economy depends on it, he says. The energy we produce enables light, heat, mobility, mechanized agriculture, modern communications, the health system that keeps us well, and the many electronic devices that keep us connected and entertained. Its also the feedstock for everything from crayons to contact lenses, not to mention the basis of our roads and runways.

Watson argues that change will come slowly and even with reductions in emissions, oil and natural gas will still account for 44 percent (of all energy use), with coal providing an additional 16 percent.

Yesterday in NH, @timkaine urged the courts to take the Standing Rock Sioux's #NoDAPL court case "very seriously." pic.twitter.com/vjOSoPSXp9  350 Action (@350action) September 2, 2016

I disagree. I think this whole line of thinking misses the impact of disruption. And, as I wrote in my recent piece for Yes! magazine , I think the events at Standing Rock are a disruption of the norm.

But that logic of we all need more oil is a recurring theme used to belittle the actions at Standing Rock. The line goes: Folks drive to the camps using gas; they mark up signs with oil-based writing instruments; and, sleep under fabrics made from petroleum. The charge is, how can you be against the Dakota Access Pipeline when you use these things?

But no one. Not the people at Standing Rock. Not the Paris agreement signers, again, including the United States, are saying we will stop using fossil fuel-based products. Whats being said and not heard is that we as humans have to reverse course. Instead of consuming more oil every year, we need to start using less, and leave more oil, gas, and especially coal, in the ground. And significantly less. As the Chatham House report says to send a strong signal to those who consume and produce carbon-based fuels so that their investment plans can be amended to reflect the shape of a lower carbon economy.

And especially ending the construction of potentially unnecessary projects.

Tim Kaine, the Democrats Vice Presidential nominee, was asked yesterday if he would stand against the Dakota Access Pipeline. According to a video posted by 350 Action on Twitter < he replied thats one I have to educate myself on. But he said the court should take the tribes complaint very seriously.

But its more than that. You see the Clinton-Kaine would-be-administration has already said what it thinks about this issue when it promised an energy future where no one is left out or left behind.

So the question is whether or not those words have meaning.

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While Delhi roads were flooding due to incessant rains this week, a situation that could have turned fatal was avoided by the timely action of a police constable.

As it rained and vehicles were getting stuck in the rising water, Delhi police got an emergency call seeking help.

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"The school bus had about 70 children and two woman teachers. They were shouting for help as water had entered into the bus which had suffered a breakdown and the water level was gradually rising inside," said Additional DCP (PCR) RK Bansal.

Wednesday's heavy downpour had led to pooling of several feet deep water at the Pul Prahladpur underpass on MB Road in the morning.

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The bus of Eicher School in Sector-46 of Faridabad got stuck in the water, Mr Bansal said.

He said police received a PCR call around 9.45 am about the school bus stuck in the water with children and their teachers onboard.

"A PCR van immediately rushed to the spot," said the officer.

The PCR van in-charge head constable Murari Lal jumped into the water and rescued 16 children one by one from the bus by carrying them on his shoulder.

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Other children were also rescued and safely transferred in another bus, said the officer.

The PCR van personnel head constable Murari Lal and ASI Chokhe Lal will be suitably rewarded for their timely and professional intervention in saving the stranded children, he added.
A Committee appointed by the Bombay High Court has rejected all applications to be appointed as honorary animal welfare officers to serve as eyes to monitor the beef ban in the state.

The committee headed by retired Justice C S Dharmadhikari, which went through the 2,371 applications which were filed since May, said they should be scrapped.

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We have decided to return all the applications to the animal husbandry office in Pune. Orders have been passed to ensure that none of them are considered, a committee member told The Indian Express.

According to the report, despite being specified in the notification that the applicants should not be linked to any political or religious outfits many applications received include those with links to various Hindutva outfits, including Vishwa Hindu Parishad, Bajrang Dal, Ram Sena, Hindu Sena, Shiv Sena, Durgavahini, Akhil Bhartiya Vidyarthi Parishad and the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh.

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In fact over 60 percent of the applicants had affiliations to existing gaushalas and gau rakshan samitis.

The committee also noted that the applications were forwarded by the officers concerned without proper verification.

Ever since the government invited application, there were apprehensions that the move will only legitimise self-styled cow vigilante groups.

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Even though it is mentioned as a honorary post, the selected volunteers will be responsible for making the police accountable to act on a complaint.

Meanwhile the Maharashtra police have reportedly been asked to stop harassing those who transport cattle in the name of checking.

According to DNA, the decision was taken after a high-level meeting between Chief minister Devendra Fadnavis and beef and mutton dealers on Friday.

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Beef and mutton dealers had alleged that while beef and mutton are being transported in or out of the state by their men, they are being harassed by government agencies and anti-social elements sometimes. The dealers have also alleged that they are also extorted. DNA quoting a police official reported.

The traders also alleged that the government officials are using these instances of checking as a method to extort money from them.
The Supreme Court has asked the Sahara group to disclose the source from where it raised Rs 23,000 crore in 2013 to refund three crore investors who were duped.

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Such a large amount cannot fall from the heavens, the court observed.

"You (Sahara Group) tell us what is the source of this money? Did you get the money from other companies or other schemes to the tune of Rs 24,000 crore? Withdrew it from bank accounts? Or sold property to get it? The court asked Kapil Sibal, who was representing Sahara.

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The court was responding to Sahara's submission that the group had raised money and refunded its investors.

Though we dont doubt your clients ability to distribute crores in two months to millions of investors, we find it difficult to digest, Chief Justice of India T.S. Thakur observed.

Sibal said the Sahara Group was open to any probe and even assuming that there was an apprehension that it was a case of black money, the group can be investigated.

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However, the bench said the onus was on the business house to reveal the source of the money, whether it is accounted money or unaccounted money.

The court also asked Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) has been seeking to recover the money and refund investors in two Sahara Group companies; Sahara India Real Estate Corp. Ltd (SIREC) and Sahara India Housing Investment Corp. Ltd (SHIC)that raised the money through schemes the capital market regulator ruled were illegal.

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Roy, who was arrested and sent to judicial custody in New Delhis Tihar jail in March 2014, has been out on parole since May, when he was allowed to attend the last rites of his mother. The court has set Rs.10,000 crore bail for his release, half of it cash and half in the form of a bank guarantee.
The controversy surrounding former AAP minister Sandeep Kumar  after a CD showing him with a woman in compromising position surfaced  is refusing to die down. A probe into the incident is learnt to have been initiated by a team of Crime Branch of the Delhi Police.

The team was constituted after a BJP delegation on Thursday met Delhi Police Commissioner Alok Kumar Verma and lodged a complaint against the sacked AAP minister, Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal and Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia.

1. Man Walks With Daughter's Body After Ambulance Leave Them Midway

An ambulance driver forced a couple to get down from the vehicle after their seven-year-old daughter died on way to the hospital. The couple had asked the driver to drop them at their village in Malkangiri district, which he refused.

The parents then had to carry their deceased daughter for a while before locals took notice. They informed the media who in turn called up the administration which arranged for another ambulance to take them back to their village. Read more

2. 100 Kgs Of Plastic And Other Waste Found In The Stomach Of A Cow In Ahmedabad

The doctors of the Jivdaya Charitable Trust in Ahmedabad were shocked when they found nearly 100 kg of waste including iron nails, plastic bags and socks from the stomach of the cow that was brought to the trust for treatment.

Kartik Shastri from Jivdaya Chartiable Trust said "The cow was rescued from Sabarmati area and was brought for treatment at the trust hospital. During the treatment the doctors realised that the cow was pregnant and was weak. But the cow was not able to even walk and after diagnosis, the doctors decided to operate the cow." Read more

3. Triple Talaq Saves Women From Being Killed, Ban On Polygamy Encourages Illicit Sex, Says Muslim Personal Law Board

The All India Muslim Personal Law Board (AIMPLB) in its argument against the demand to ban the Islamic practice of Triple Talaq or oral divorce has vehemently opposed the plea.

In an affidavit filed in the Supreme Court, the board said triple talaq was part of Islamic religious practice protected by fundamental right to religion. It also claimed that the court had no jurisdiction to annul it. Read more

4. BSNL Takes On Reliance Jio, To Launch Unlimited Wireline Broadband Plan At Rs 249

Days after Reliance Jio's 4G created quite a storm by offering Rs 50 per GB data plan, state owned BSNL is looking to hook new customers to its wireline broadband offering.

BSNL today said it will soon launch a promotional unlimited wireline broadband plan that effectively translates into less than Re 1 per GB download cost for subscribers if they use up to 300GB data in a month. Read more

5. Money Can't Fall From Heaven, Show Us The Source, SC Tells Sahara After It Offers Rs 23,000 Cr Refund To Duped Investors

The Supreme Court has asked the Sahara group to disclose the source from where it raised Rs 23,000 crore in 2013 to refund three crore investors who were duped. Such a large amount cannot fall from the heavens, the court observed.

"You (Sahara Group) tell us what is the source of this money? Did you get the money from other companies or other schemes to the tune of Rs 24,000 crore? Withdrew it from bank accounts? Or sold property to get it? The court asked Kapil Sibal, who was representing Sahara. Read more

6. Bombay High Court Panel Rejects Over 2000 Applicants Who Wanted To Be Beef Ban Volunteers

A Committee appointed by the Bombay High Court has rejected all applications to be appointed as honorary animal welfare officers to serve as eyes to monitor the beef ban in the state.

The committee headed by retired Justice C S Dharmadhikari, which went through the 2,371 applications which were filed since May, said they should be scrapped. Read more
After a CD surfaced showing former Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) minister Sandeep Kumar in compromising positions with two women, the Arvind Kejriwal-led party has once again hit headlines for wrong reasons.

The AAP has been facing controversies since the time it came to power in Delhi earlier this year, call it the internal rift, clash of ideas, blame-game or a lust to rule the city.

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The churning in the AAP reached a climax in April 2015, with the party expelling senior leaders Yogendra Yadav, Prashant Bhushan, Anand Kumar and Ajit Jha for allegedly violating partys constitution and indulging in anti-party activities.

On their part, the four maintained that the AAP has moved away from its ideals and had turned into a party run solely by Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal and his coterie.

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Blaming a lack of inner party democracy in the AAP, its another founding member Shazia Ilmi resigned from all party positions in May 2014.

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Addressing a press conference, Ilmi praised the contribution of the party to the Indian politics but added that Kejriwal is guided by an inner coterie which does not allow democracy within the party.

In another development, party member Captain (retired) GR Gopinath also resigned the same year, citing shoot and scoot politics of Kejriwal and growing differences within the party leadership.

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In another jolt to the AAP, one of its National Executive member Ashok Agarwal resigned from the party in March 2014, saying it has become directionless and functions like a private limited company.

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The educationist and lawyer  who was associated with the party since its founding days  said in a letter to Kejriwal, AAPs national convener, that he joined the party for strong principles, but the goals for which it was created for are getting lost.

The movement seems to have become directionless causing doubts in the minds of people and even people like me who are today feeling the party is functioning like a private company. The connect of aam aadmi (common man) is on wean and a group of elite individuals is promoted to take over the party. Aam Aadmi has taken a back seat and what is on the mind of such individuals is personal projection at the cost of that very aam aadmi vision, Agarwal had said in the letter.

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Shortly before the ouster of senior AAP functionaries like Yogendra Yadav, Prashant Bhushan, Professor Anand Kumar and Professor Ajit Jha, AAP leader from Mumbai Anjali Damania resigned from the party in March 2015 after allegations of horse trading surfaced against Kejriwal.

I quit.... I have not come into AAP for this nonsense. I believed him.... I backed Arvind for principles not horse-trading.

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Her decision followed allegations of horse-trading against Kejriwal. Earlier, former AAP MLA Rajesh Garg released an audio of his conversation with Kejriwal with the AAP convener allegedly discussing horse-trading in 2014.

The audio tapes date back to the days before the dissolution of the Delhi Assembly in 2014 and allegedly have Kejriwal asking Garg to convince six Congress MLAs to quit the party and form a new party so that they can lend support to AAP for a full majority.

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After the audio recording surfaced in the public domain, the AAP leadership suspended Garg  the former MLA from Rohini  from the party in March last year pending an inquiry against him for indulging in anti-party activity.

Two of AAPs four MPs  Dharamvir Gandhi from Patiala and Harinder Singh Khalsa from Fatehgarh Sahib  were suspended earlier this year for indulging in anti party activities.

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They had accused the party of following use and throw policy. They alleged that AAP has a habit of dumping old faces every few months and then shopping for new ones.

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In yet another major jolt to the party, 376 members of its Maharashtra unit claimed to have resigned from the party. The list includes several office-bearers as well who now say the party has deviated from its core values.

Aam Aadmi Party founder member and former MP Ilyas Azmi quit the party in May this year citing lack of inner democracy in the organisation and Kejriwals alleged autocratic style of functioning, almost a week after he was dropped from partys top decision-making bodies.

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Azmi accused Kejriwal of indulging in caste and community-based politics and of ignoring Muslims and people from backward classes.

After being chided for his comments on Jain religious leader Tarun Sagar, music director and AAPs star campaigner Vishal Dadlani quit all active political work/affiliation on August 27 evening.

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AAP MLAs who were recently embroiled in controversies

1. Two AAP lawmakers, Sanjeev Jha (from Burari) and Akhilesh Tripathi (from Model town), booked for rioting and injuring police personnel in February last year. Clashes between the police and nearly 500 alleged supporters of the ruling AAP in North Delh's Burari area on February 20 night left nine policemen injured.

Six volunteers of the party were arrested in connection with the incident.

2. An FIR was filed against Sadar Bazar MLA Som Dutt Sharma for assaulting a person.

3. Mangolpuri MLA Rakhi Birlan was booked for allegedly preventing sanitation workers from doing their job in Rohini and assaulting them in October 2014.

4. Already engaged in a row over his academic qualification, AAP MLA from Delhi Cantt Surinder Singh Commando landed in another controversy in August 2015 when an FIR was registered against him at the Tughlaq Road police station for allegedly making castiest remarks against a New Delhi Municipal Council sanitary inspector belonging to schedule caste and obstructing him and other NDMC employees from performing government duty.

He was arrested and released on bail from court.

5. The Income Tax (IT) Department is said to have unearthed unaccounted money worth Rs 138 crore in raids conducted at the premises of AAP MLA from Chhatarpur Kartar Singh Tanwar. The department carried out a search-and-seizure operation at the MLAs house and his aides in July and claims to have recovered papers showing these transactions.

6. Cases of attempt to murder, domestic violence and cheating were registered against Malviya Nagar MLA and former Delhi Law Minister Somnath Bharti on the complaint of his wife Lipika Mitra in October last.

7. Delhi Police February 2015 announced that the 8000 bottles of liquor, which were recovered from a warehouse in west Delhi the same month, had been smuggled into Delhi allegedly by AAP candidate Naresh Balyan to lure voters in the assembly elections.

He was quizzed and cases were filed under relevant sections of the IPC.

8. Vikaspuri MLA Mahendra Yadav was arrested in January this year on charges of rioting and assaulting a public servant during a protest seeking action against an alleged sexual offender in West Delhi Nihal Vihar area.

According to the police, Yadav led a violent protest in Nihal Vihar area on January 29 evening, a day after a three-year-old girl was allegedly raped by a 45-year-old relative. The police also alleged that the mob attempted to set a vehicle on fire.

9. Kondli MLA Manoj Kumar was booked for allegedly outraging a womans modesty, land grabbing and causing hurt. A total of four FIRs registered against him at three east Delhi police stations. He was arrested after 14 months of the incident in July 2015.

10. AAP MLA from Okhla Amanatullah Khan was arrested recently for allegedly threatening a woman after she visited his residence to raise the issue of power cuts. He was later granted bail by a Delhi court.

11. Punjab Police on July 24 night arrested Mehrauli constituency AAP MLA Naresh Yadav, who has been booked in connection with the alleged Malerkotla sacrilege incident on June 24, from his house in Delhi.

Yadav has been booked under relevant sections of the IPC after one of the accused, Vijay Kumar, arrested in connection with the incident, claimed he had done it at the behest of the AAP MLA.
The education system in India is, and has been in a pretty bad condition. We often hear stories of students being misinformed by teachers who don't know any better themselves. Some schools don't even have teachers for certain subjects. But it's not only the underprivileged getting affected here. We seriously lack visionary teachers and mentors who truly care about students and don't teach just to finish the syllabus. In rural areas, millions of students suffer because of this. They might be studying, but are they really learning? In such times, these two stories in Uttar Pradesh really comes as a surprise.

Avanish Yadav joined as a primary school teacher in Gori Bazar, Devria, Uttar Pradesh in 2009. He was shocked to see the surprisingly small number of students present in the school. Upon investigation, he found that most of the residents of the village were daily-wage labourers and took their children to work along with them. Trying to make a change, he personally went to every house in the village and convinced the parents about the importance of schools and education. In 6 years, his teachings completely transformed the kids. Those who couldn't even spell their name right were talking about international matters. His bond with the villagers and his students was so strong that when the news of his transfer came in, the entire village, unable to control their emotions, came to see him off.

The other story comes in from Rampura, a small town in Shahbad, western U.P. Manish Kumar was the principal in a local primary school there. His hard work, efficiency and dedication not only made him a favourite in the village but also made the school one of the best in the entire district. Such was the impact of what he professed that his transfer made both, parents and students break down in tears.

A good teacher teaches us more than just what's on the syllabus. The lasting impression that these two left on the students will not be forgotten so easily.

The story was originally reported by Patrika. All images have been sourced from Patrika.
The Madurai bench of the Madras high court has directed the Tamil Nadu government to pay Rs 28.37 lakh as compensation to the family of a woman who died in 2012 due to medical negligence at a hospital in Kanyakumari district.

BCCL/representational image

Rukmani, 34, was administered nitrous oxide, better known as laughing gas, instead of oxygen while admitted at Government Nagercoil Medical College and Hospital at Asaripallam.

The judgment came on a petition filed in 2013 by Rukmini's husband S Ganesan, who had sought Rs 50 lakh as damages for himself and the couple's two children.

BCCL/representational image

"The factual matrix clearly shows that the hospital authorities administered nitrous oxide to the deceased instead of oxygen. The doctors and paramedical staff of Government Nagercoil Medical College Hospital were involved in acts of medical negligence. Because of their negligence, the petitioner's wife went into a vegetative state. Thus, the state is bound to pay compensation," Justice said while delivering the verdict.

parentinfo/representational image

Rukmani, a tailor, was admitted to the hospital for a tubectomy on March 18, 2011. She suffered heavy blood loss the next day after being administered nitrous oxide. Despite subsequent treatment at two other hospitals, she died on May 4, 2012.
The All India Muslim Personal Law Board (AIMPLB) in its argument against the demand to ban the Islamic practice of Triple Talaq or oral divorce has vehemently opposed the plea.

In an affidavit filed in the Supreme Court, the board said triple talaq was part of Islamic religious practice protected by fundamental right to religion. It also claimed that the court had no jurisdiction to annul it.

BCCL

The 68-page affidavit made some rather unusual claims like "Sharia grants right to divorce to husbands because men have greater power of decision making. They are more likely to control emotions and not take hasty decisions."

It also defended triple talaq saying that the practice provided an easy mode to end marriages that had irretrievably broken down.

"When serious discords develop in a marriage and husband wants to get rid of the wife, legal compulsions and time-consuming judicial process... in extreme cases husband may resort to illegal criminal ways of getting rid of her by murdering her. In such situations `triple talaq` is a better recourse," AIMPLB told the apex court.

BCCL/ Representative Image

The board also added that triple talaq was a very private method of divorce without going to court and making public the differences between the couple and then awaiting a long process for the outcome.

The affidavit also defended the polygamy among Muslims and said the practice, which allows a Muslim man to have four wives, was necessary to curb illicit sex and was meant to protect women.

"Quran, Hadith and the consensus view allow Muslim men to have up to four wives. However, polygamy meets social and moral needs and the provision for it stems from concern and sympathy for women," it said.

PTI/ Representative Image

"Since polygamy is endorsed by primary Islamic sources, it cannot be dubbed as something prohibited," it said.

"Where women outnumber men and polygamy is not permitted, women will be forced into leading spinster's life. In sum, polygamy is not for gratifying men's lust, it is a social need," the board said.

"Women should appreciate this point that if the ratio of women is higher, would they prefer wedlock , or let them be illicit mistresses of men, without any of the rights which a wife gets," it said.

PTI/ Representative Image

The AIMPLB's affidavit was in response to a group of petitions in the SC by women activists and triple talaq victims seeking a ban on the controversial practice, which they claim is heavily in favour of men and is against fundamental rights.
In a story where love has blossomed amid unrest in the state, a young policeman from Srinagar has married a girl who hails from the Pakistan-occupied-Kashmir (PoK) area. The state of Jammu and Kashmir and its police are grappling with pro-Pakistan protests, disturbing the law and order situation in the land.

Owais Geelani, a sub-inspector with Jammu & Kashmir Police, tied the nuptial knot with Faiza Geelani, a resident of Muzaffarabad which comes under PoK. The wedding ceremony was solemnised at a function in Srinagar where only the groom's close relatives and friends were in attendance due to the ongoing unrest.

The two families are related to each other but were separated during the partition. The 'Nikkah' was performed in Muzaffarabad in 2014 when Shabir Geelani, father of the groom, had travelled to PoK to visit his divided family on the 'Karavan-e-Aman' (the Peace Caravan) bus service between Srinagar and Muzaffarabad.

"The wedding ceremony had to be cancelled several times due to the prevailing situation during which the cross-LoC bus service was suspended for many days. Finally, when the bus service resumed, the bride and her close family members arrived here on Monday for the function," Geelani senior, who himself retired from police department as SSP in 2014, said.

Owais' marriage with Faiza, a postgraduate in education, planning and management from National University of Modern Languages, Islamabad was solemnised on Tuesday.

AFP

The wedding comes at a time when the local cops, who are battling the protesters across the Valley, have been threatened by militants to stay away from their duties.

Houses of some cops have been ransacked by mobs since the current unrest began in Kashmir on July 9, a day after Hizbul Mujahideen terrorist Burhan Wani was killed in an encounter with security forces.

The groom's father, who hails from Karnah town near the Line of Control (LoC), said it was his longing to visit members of his divided family - due to the 1947 war between India and Pakistan - in Muzaffarabad that led to the marriage of his son to the girl from PoK.

"In 1947, our family got divided and only my father was left on this side while rest of his family were left on the other side. Most of our lands and estate are in Muzaffarabad ... in fact, Karnah was part of Muzaffarabad till 1947.

AFP



"I had heard a lot of things from my father about my grandfather and other relatives in Muzaffarabad ... When my grandfather died, my father could not attend his funeral as there was no cross-LoC movement allowed. So it was my desire to pay my respects at the grave of my grandfather," Geelani said.

During the visit to PoK, Geelani felt the need for bringing close the divided family and proposed the match between Owais and Faiza. "I called Owais on phone and he give his nod and we performed the Nikkah," he said.

Geelani expressed the hope that marriages like his son's case would help bring the divided parts of Jammu & Kashmir closer. "The people living along the LoC have been worst sufferers of the conflict and acrimony between India and Pakistan. I think opening of all traditional routes along the LoC would increase people-to-people contact, leading to better understanding between the people on two sides of the LoC. Once that happens, may be one day, the governments of two sides will also understand each other better and find a way out of the decades-old uncertainty," he added.
BRICS is in a coma. What's surviving is RC: the Russia/China strategic partnership. Yet even the partnership seems to be in trouble  with Russia still attacked by myriad metastases of Hybrid War. The  Exceptionalist  Hegemon remains powerful, and the opposition is dazed and confused.

Or is it?

Slowly but surely  see for instance the possibility of an ATM (Ankara-Tehran-Moscow) coalition in the making  global power continues to insist on shifting East. That goes beyond Russia's pivoting to Asia; Germany's industrialists are just waiting for the right political conjunction, before the end of the decade, to also pivot to Asia, conforming a BMB (Berlin-Moscow-Beijing) coalition.

 AP Photo/ Evan Vucci, Pool

Germany already rules over Europe. The only way for a global trade power to solidify its reach is to go East. NATO member Germany, with a GDP that outstrips the UK, Canada, Australia and New Zealand, is not even allowed to share information with the "Five Eyes" secret cabal.

President Putin, years ago, was keen on a Lisbon-to-Vladivostok emporium. He may eventually be rewarded  delayed gratification? by BMB, a trade/economic union that, combined with the Chinese-driven One Belt, One Road (OBOR), will eventually dwarf and effectively replace the dwindling post-WWII Anglo-Saxon crafted/controlled international order.

This inexorable movement East underscores all the interconnections  and evolving connectivity  related to the New Silk Roads, the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO), the BRICS's New Development Bank (NDB), the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB), the Eurasia Economic Union (EEU). The crux of RC, the Russia-China strategic partnership, is to make the multipolar, post-Atlantic world happen. Or, updating Ezra Pound, to Make It New.

Containing RC

Russia's pivot to Asia is of course only part of the story. The core of Russia's industries, infrastructure, population is in the west of the country, closer to Europe. BMB would allow a double pivot  simultaneously to Europe and Asia; or Russia exploiting to the max its Eurasian character. Not accidently this is absolute anathema for Washington. Thus the predictable, ongoing no holds barred exceptionalist strategy of preventing by all means necessary closer Russia-Germany cooperation.

In parallel, pivoting to Asia is also essential because that's where the

overwhelming majority of Russia's future customers  energy and otherwise  are located. It will be a long, winding process to educate Russian public opinion about the incalculable value for the nation of Siberia and the Russian Far East. Yet that has already started. And it will be in full fruition by the middle of the next decade, when all the interpolated New Silk Roads will be online.

"Containment" of RC will continue to be the name of the exceptionalist game  whatever happens on November 8. As far as the industrial-military-security-surveillance-corporate media complex is concerned, there will be no reset.

Proxies will be used  from failed state Ukraine to Japan in the East China Sea, as well as any volunteering Southeast Asian faction in the South China Sea.

Still the Hegemon will be in trouble to contain both sides of RC simultaneously. NATO does not help; its trade arm, TPP, may even collapse in the high seas before arriving on shore. No TPP  a certainty in case Donald Trump is elected in November  means the end of US economic hegemony over Asia. Hillary Clinton knows it; and it's no accident President Obama is desperate to have TPP approved during a short window of opportunity, the lame-duck session of Congress from November 9 to January 3.

Against China, the Hegemon alliance in fact hinges on Australia, India and Japan. Forget about instrumentalizing BRICS member India  which will never fall into the trap of a war against China (not to mention Russia, with which India traditionally enjoys very good relations.)

Japan's imperial instincts were reawakened by Shinzo Abe. Yet hopeless economic stagnation persists. Moreover, Tokyo has been prohibited by the US Treasury Dept. to continue unleashing quantitative easing. Moscow sees as a long-term objective to progressively draw Japan away from the US orbit and into Eurasia integration.

Dr. Zbig Does Desolation Row

The Pentagon is terrified that RC is now a military partnership as well.

Compared to Russia's superior high-tech weaponry, NATO is a kindergarten mess; not to mention that soon Russian territory will be inviolable to any Star Wars-derived scheme. China will soon have all the submarines and "carrier-killer" missiles necessary to make life for the US Navy hell in case the Pentagon harbors funny ideas. And then there are the regional details  from Russia's permanent air base in Syria to military cooperation with Iran and, eventually, disgruntled NATO member Turkey.

No wonder such exceptionalist luminary ideologues as Dr. Zbig "Grand Chessboard" Brzezinski  foreign policy mentor to President Obama  are supremely dejected.

When Brzezinski looks at progressive Eurasia integration, he simply cannot fail to detect how those "three grand imperatives of imperial geostrategy" he outlined in The Grand Chessboard are simply dissolving; "to prevent collusion and maintain security dependence among the vassals, to keep tributaries pliant and protected, and to keep the barbarians from coming together."

Those GCC vassals  starting with the House of Saud  are now terrified about their own security; same with the hysteric Baltics. Tributaries are not pliant anymore  and that includes an array of Europeans. The "barbarians" coming together are in fact old civilizations  China, Persia, Russia  fed up with upstart-controlled unipolarity.

Unsurprisingly, to "contain" RC, defined as "potentially threatening" (the Pentagon considers the threats are existential) Brzezinski suggests  what else  Divide and Rule; as in "containing the least predictable but potentially the most likely to overreach." Still he doesn't know which is which; "Currently, the more likely to overreach is Russia, but in the longer run it could be China."

Hillary "Queen of War" Clinton of course does not subscribe to Brzezinski's "could be" school. After all she's the official, Robert Kagan-endorsed, neocon presidential candidate. She's more in tune with this sort of wacky "analysis".

 AP Photo/ Mikhail Metzel, Pool

So one should definitely expect Hillary's "project" to be all-out hegemony expansion all across Eurasia. Syria and Iran will be targets. Even another war on the Korean Peninsula could be on the cards. But against North Korea, a nuclear power? Exceptionalistan only attacks those who can't defend themselves. Besides, RC could easily prevent war by offering some strategic carrots to the Kim family.

In many aspects, not much has changed from 24 years ago when, only three months after the dissolution of the USSR, the Pentagon's Defense Planning Guidance proclaimed.

"Our first objective is to prevent the reemergence of a new rivalThis requires that we endeavor to prevent any hostile power from dominating a region whose resources would, under consolidated control, be sufficient to generate global power. These regions include Western Europe, East Asia, the territory of the former Soviet Union and southwest Asia."

Talk about a prescient road map of what's happening right now; the "rival", "hostile" power is actually two powers involved in a strategic partnership: RC.

Compounding this Pentagon nightmare, the endgame keeps drawing near; the next manifestations and reverberations of the never-ending 2008 financial crisis may eventually torpedo the fundamentals of the global "order"  as in the petrodollar racket/tributary scam.
An Army of Dead Children. We Ignore Them at Our Peril



One year on, has the world learned the lesson of the three-year-old boy washed up on a Turkish beach?



By Robert Fisk September 02, 2016 " Information Clearing House " - " The Independent " - The body of Aylan Kurdi has gone beyond the iconic. Being small and dressed like a little European boy, and being white rather than brown-skinned, his very name posthumously and subtly shifting to the homely English Alan, the son of the Kurdish refugee family fleeing across the Mediterranean from Turkey to Europe became our child. The moment his tiny body washed up on the beach near Bodrum and appeared on front pages around the world, the closet racism of our politicians was briefly stilled. What stone heart could condemn this little boy as part of a swarm, a word used about the occupants of the Calais camp by a former British prime minister? But the image of Alan Kurdi obscured a host of lessons which we ignored  and continue to disregard  at our peril. Firstly, of course, he was a mere representative of the thousands of other Alans whose remains lie today on the sea bed of the Mediterranean, forever unrecorded and unfilmed. Alan was a symbol, perhaps even a representative of this army of dead children. But he also became a sacrificial three-year-old, thrown up by the waves as a martyr rather than a victim of political violence and betrayal, while the Turkish police officer in rubber gloves gently taking his body from the sand became a kind of male version of the pieta. But if grief was depicted thus by Michaelangelo half a millennium ago, it was nonetheless odd that we regarded the Syrian Kurdish child as the victim of a frightening new phenomenon. The refugee, the fearful emigrant  soon to become, for us, the threatening immigrant  was portrayed as a uniquely 21st, or at least 20th century burden. We could look back to the millions of displaced persons of post-war 1945 Europe, even to the Armenian refugee survivors of the 1915 genocide or the victims of the Bolshevik revolution, but there history dribbled away. Being a college classicist  in Latin, not Greek  I was struck this week, after the Italians rescued those 10,000 migrants from the sea, by how very central the story of Alan Kurdis family and a million others really is in the history and culture of the Mediterranean. We can read, for example, the epic story of a refugee family launching its equally unstable boat into the Mediterranean only a few hundred miles from the very same Anatolian coast from which the Kurdi family set sail so tragically last year. A son records how he and his father took to the open sea, borne outward into exile with my people leaving behind only corpses and a burned landscape. And, having left what is now Turkey, they arrived at last, after a final treacherous crossing of the Mediterranean from what is now Tunisia  how the parallels shout at us across the ages  in the sanctuary of Italy. Only in this ancient text, the refugee is no migrant to burden the EUs social services  and conscience  but the first hero of Rome, son of Anchises and relative of King Priam, ancestor of Romulus and Remus. Virgils Aeneid  and I was quoting from Robert Fitzgeralds glorious translation  does not refer to Aeneas as a migrant. He is in the original Latin an exsul  an exile, a banished person  or fato profugus, a fugitive by destiny or by fate. Today, we might call Aeneas and his father self-exiles. The Latin for refugee would have been fugitivus, but this would have implied a criminal on the run from justice  which may be how Donald Trump regards Mexicans, but scarcely applies to Trojans or Syrian Kurds. What both also have in common is the war which drove them from Anatolian shores. For burning Troy, read burning Aleppo. For the destruction of the ancient city of King Priam, think of the pulverisation of the Great Mosque and the soukhs of Syrias largest city, and the slaughter of its peoples. Fire and the sword, shell and the barrel bombs. The Trojans and the peoples of the Middle East today were and are fleeing for their lives. And so we come to the flip side of this tragedy. Not the history of the past, but the history of the future. In the age of the internet, we have stopped thinking about this. The question is rarely how did this come to pass? but what should we do NOW? Dont ask why 19 men who claimed they were Muslims committed the international crimes against humanity of 9/11. Invade Afghanistan! Dont question how Saddam achieved power in Iraq. Invade Iraq! Whether or not the Trojan wars were a Greek (and later Roman) myth or the husk of a real 12th century BC conflict, the story  whether it be of Homers Odysseus or Virgils Aenias  is as contemporary as the present Arab tragedy in the Middle East. Muslims and Christians leave their mosques and churches behind. Along with his father and friends, Aeneas could take with him only his household gods, his penates. All were fleeing the folly of kings and warlords, militia leaders and dictators. Which brings us to the next, even vaster fleets of refugees who will trek from their homelands in the decades to come, victims of the ferocious Saddam-like autocrats and satraps whom we currently support in a different part of the Muslim world. Im talking here of the little emperors  complete with praetorian guards, statues and president-for-life status  in the Stans that lie between Afghanistan, Pakistan, Russia and Iran. Daniel McLaughlin, among the best correspondents in central and eastern Europe, has drawn attention to the dangers inherent in the Muslim Asian states which emerged from the ruins of the Soviet Union a quarter of a century ago. In a region of oil and gas wealth and strategic importance, their leaders, courted by both Moscow and Washington, are guilty of appalling human rights crimes, massacres and torture of their own people in their war  you guessed it  against Isis and the Taliban. For just as the brutality and corruption of the Arab dictators whom we largely armed and financed, spawned the Islamic cult caliphates of the Middle East  the Trojan Horse of our own time  so Islam Karimov, Nursultan Nazarbayev, Imomali Rakhmon and the rest are all fighting the same nebulous black and purist enemy in the Stans. In Uzbekistan, the brutal Karimov, whose cops specialise in torture  boiling victims alive is a favourite which out Saddams Saddam  has suffered a stroke. Some say he is dead, which will be good news for the Islamic Movement of Uzbekistan, ally of both Isis and the Taliban. In Tajikistan, where a civil war in the 1990s claimed  with statistics as wild as Syrias  up to 100,000 dead, a thousand of Rakhmons citizens have joined Isis, along with Gulmurud Khalimov, the former Tajik police commander. Khalimov, I should add, was trained in the US. The Americans maintained post-9/11 air bases in Uzbekistan and Kyrgyzstan. The ghastly Nazarbayev of Kazakhstan, a creature whose torture chambers and abuse of civil rights are close to Karimovs standards, pays millions to his hard-working adviser and would be scourge of dictators, Tony Blair. You get the point. And when these vicious Ruritanias explode, the refugees will come again, the exiles by fate and the fugitives of destiny; Uzbekistans 30 million population is almost a third larger than Syrias. And they will drift across their frontiers and many will come to us, mixed up with more Afghans, Syrians and Arabs. And then we will ask not why?, not how did we come to this?, but what do we do NOW?. And it will be too late again. What was the name of that little chap on the beach, well ask ourselves then? Aylan, wasnt it? Or Alan? And behind those refugees will be the burning cities of the ancient Silk Road, as surely as Aleppo burns today, and Troy long ago.  2016 The Independent
Brazils Parliamentary Coup and the Progressive Media By Peter Koenig Transcript of Interview with Sputnik September 02, 2016 " Information Clearing House " Sputnik What is your view on the parliamentary impeachment of Dilma Rousseff? PK What happened in Brazil is just the most horrifying and flagrant illegal foreign-led parliamentary coup that has happened in Latin America since a similar coup, also foreign-led, deposed Jose Mujica of Uruguay in June 2009. Why foreign-led? Washington was behind it then  and Washington is behind the coup in Brazil today. What amazes me most though is that the so-called progressive media do hardly mention the long and bloody hand of Washington in this coup. This reality is conveniently left out. Just a year ago, international legal authorities were clear about the unlawfulness and baselessness of impeachment. They all saw the illegitimacy of launching an impeachment procedure. Nevertheless  the local ultra-corrupt and ultra-neo-Nazi oligarchy succeeded  with the help of the US. What the so-called progressive media tell us today, is that a group of corrupt right-wing parliamentarians, led by Eduardo Cunha, former speaker of Brazils lower house, who is himself prosecuted for corruption in the so-called Car-Wash scandal, drove the move to impeachment. Cunha was  maybe still is  a client of Washington. Not only the mainstream but also the progressive media shun this fact. Cunha is accused of perjury, money laundering and receipt of at least $5m in bribes. The former Vice-President and now President, Michel Temer, who has alleged crimes of high corruption on his shoulders -in excess of US$ 40million  is likely to escape criminal prosecution, and so is his pal Cunha  under Temers new leadership. Dilma was never accused of corruption. They would have liked to, but couldnt find anything. All they could find is that she may have embellished government accounts, a common habit, done throughout the world, no criminal offense and especially no impeachable offense. However, some media still say she was found guilty of corruption. What a lie!  She wasnt even accused of corruption. So the real criminals are escaping justice and stay in power. Thats precisely what Washington wants; free access to all the countries riches, hydrocarbons, tropical forests  and not least, almost endless resources of fresh surface water in the Amazon Basin and huge underground water reserves. Lets not even talk about the countless quantities of Brazils mineral resources. Privatization on a massive scale is what will take place in the coming two years  perhaps comparable to Greece, or what Macri is proposing for Argentina, or worse. Temer has already said so. This may include privatization of all kinds of public assets, the Amazon waters, as the US has already once attempted to put them under UN auspices  so that Washington could control them, as they do with whatever is linked to the UN system. Lula at that time has said firmly NO WAY. Privatization will be accompanied by equally massive austerity programs, cutting of health and education benefits, of pensions and other social safety nets  leaving behind masses of unemployed people, abject misery  one just has to look at IMF-ECB-EU/EC devastated Greece; and at what Washington-directed Macri has already done to Argentina, i.e. increased the countries poverty level from about 12% in November 2015, before his election, to close to 40% in July 2016, with soaring unemployment. Temer has two years to complete his neonazi manifesto. And he will get all the help he needs from Washington and the financial institutions that will soon call the shots in Brazil  IMF, World Bank, Wall Street, all of them the extended fist of the FED, US Treasury and the secretive Rothschild controlled BIS (Bank for International Settlement) in Basel, Switzerland  also called the central bank of central banks. Why is Washington and its financial institutions behind the coup?  Already more than a year ago secret talks between the IMF, WB and the current coup-makers have taken place. Brazil is going to be handed over first to the IMF, which makes sure that the austerity programs are implemented  a la Greece  then to Wall Street which will make sure that the debt level is so that privatization of public assets is justified and unavoidable. The newly Temer appointed head of Brazils Central Bank, Ilan Goldfajn, who also has a history with the IMF, will make sure that Brazil follows the financial oligarchys prescribed line. By controlling Brazil, Washington has its claws again firmly on Latin America, almost as if the renowned Latin America democratic revolutions towards independence never took place. And thirdly, also a key for sub-doing Brazil is that Brazil is an important member of the BRICS  crucial for its economic strength and potential as well as for its geographic equilibrium it will bring to the BRICS. The BRICS are led by Russia and China  countries which have already largely detached their economies from the western dollar-based system, and are developing their own, linked to economic output and to gold  yes, gold. Both Russias and Chinas currencies are gold backed. While the western fiat money is made of thin air. In the western world, its the fake dollar-euro based monetary system that makes the economy, its not the economy that makes the monetary system, as it should be, since the economy should serve as the base for any monetary system that is supposed to reflect a healthy, honest, and fair economy within and between countries. That is what the BRICS would promote. Therefore, the BRICS have to be eliminated  one by one. They are a danger for the US-led western financial hegemony over the world. With foreign intervention proven in the coup, the case could even be taken to the International Criminal Court (ICC) in The Hague  perhaps as a test case to see how independent the ICC still is. Sputnik Brazils Senate decided that former President Dilma Rousseff, who was removed from office earlier on Wednesday, should not be barred from holding public office. What will be her next steps? PK Yes, after Dilma was remorselessly removed from the Presidency, most everybody believed that she would also be barred from holding public office for the next 8 years. This was not the case. The Senate had mercy, so to speak. As if it recognized the blunder it produced  I repeat  on orders from abroad, they spared her this humiliation. What Ms. Rousseff will do next  I have no idea. In any case she has already declared that she will take the case to Brazils Supreme Court. How successful this will be, is questionable. Especially since Mr. Temer now is clearly a US puppet, at the command of Washington. He will direct Brazils Supreme Court to follows orders from above. Where I see a better chance is taking the case to The Hague. Even though it is well known how dependent on the White Houses wishes the ICC is, it would be interesting to see the arguments the Court uses to uphold Brazils Senate verdict.  In any case the world at large might learn something about (in)justice imposed on the unaligned by the empire and their masters, the masters of globalized finance. Whatever Dilma decides to do, however she decides to proceed, I hope she will not give in, that she stays the course, her course of integrity for which she is known and that she stays in politics. Brazil needs her. My guess is that she would have massive, but I mean massive, like in tens of millions of peoples support throughout Brazil, perhaps enough to bring about a revolution; to send a firm message to her Latin American neighbors  and to the rest of the world. Peter Koenig is an economist and geopolitical analyst. He is also a former World Bank staff and worked extensively around the world in the fields of environment and water resources. He writes regularly for Global Research, ICH, RT, Sputnik, PressTV, The 4th Media, TeleSUR, The Vineyard of The Saker Blog, and other internet sites. He is the author of Implosion  An Economic Thriller about War, Environmental Destruction and Corporate Greed  fiction based on facts and on 30 years of World Bank experience around the globe. He is also a co-author of The World Order and Revolution!  Essays from the Resistance .
A subdued Donald Trump on Saturday directly addressed a largely African-American audience for the first time as a presidential candidate, delivering a warmly received message of unity that focused on fixing economic hardship in the black community.

Trump spoke to members of the Great Faith Ministries, a nondenominational church in Detroit, part of his outreach to what is typically a sizable Democratic voting bloc. His visit, however, was greeted by protests outside of the church ahead of his arrival.

Sitting in a pew at the front of the congregation, Trump took a selfie with a church member and at one point held up a baby over his shoulders. He then addressed the congregation.

For centuries, the African-American church has been the conscience of this country. So true, Trump said, reading from prepared remarks. He added, The African-American faith community has been one of Gods greatest gifts to America and its people.

Trump told the audience he was there to listen to your message and said he hoped his appearance would also help your voice to reach new audiences in our country. He said he would lay out his plans for economic change and school choice  issues that he said would benefit black communities  in the future.

When I see wages falling, people out of work, I know the hardships this inflicts and I am determined to do something about it. I will do something about it, Trump said. I do get things done, I will tell you. Im going to get things done. Speaking in a measured tone, Trump lamented what he said was a nation that was too divided. We talk past each other and not to each other. And those who seek office do not do enough to step into the community and learn whats going on. Im here today to learn, so that we can together remedy injustice in any form, and so that we can also remedy economics so that the African-American community can benefit economically through jobs and income and so many other different ways. I believe we need a civil rights agenda for our time, said Trump, before he concluded by citing 1 John 4:12. No one has ever seen God, but if we love one another, God lives in us and his love is made complete in us, Trump said, adding, Thats so true.

After Trump finished speaking, the churchs pastor, Bishop Wayne Jackson, draped a prayer shawl over Trumps shoulders, much to the crowds delight, and handed him a Jewish Heritage Study Bible. This is a prayer shawl straight from Israel. Whenever youre flying from coast to coast  I know you just came back from Mexico and youll be flying from city to city  there is an anointing. And anointing is the power of God, Jackson said. Its going to be sometimes in your life that youre going to feel forsaken, youre going to feel down, but the anointing is going to lift you up. I prayed over this personally and I fasted over it, and I wanted to just put this on you. Later, Trump swayed along with the music as the congregations chorus sang.

Source: CNN
The Lagos State Government on Saturday said it would intensify efforts to rid the State of illegal structures.

It also said owners of the buildings demolished in Ikoyi were duly served with contravention, removal and quit notices before the exercise was carried out.

In a statement issued by the Commissioner, Ministry of Information and Strategy, Mr. Steve Ayorinde, the Government said it had noted with dismay, the flagrant disobedience of Building Regulations, and has therefore resolved to ensure removal of all structures that are in contravention of the law.

Speaking against the backdrop of recent demolition of some illegal structures in Ikoyi, Ayorinde reiterated Governments determination to rid the State of Illegal developments saying In our effort to maintain a sustainable, organized, liveable and friendly environment, the Government will not renege on its declared stance of zero tolerance for structures and properties without development permit or approved building plans.

He also warned that all those who choose to erect illegal structures in violation of our laws in order to take advantage of third parties will not only have those structures removed but will also be prosecuted to the full extent of the law.

According to the Commissioner, the buildings in question were situated in an area originally designated as residential area, but the developers unilaterally and without recourse to the State Government commenced development of industrial and commercial concerns in these locations thereby distorting the master plan of the area; causing environmental nuisance, traffic snarls and more importantly a security threat to the neighbourhood.

On the allegation that the buildings were not duly served with necessary contravention, stop work and removal notices, the Commissioner said that the State Government will not succumb to blackmail in any form.

We have documentary evidence of service of all statutory notices, the buildings were also marked with the X red oxide to also call the attention of the owners to physical planning contraventions.

Source: Punch
A Muslim cleric, Kabir Ibrahim aka Akewusola, has been arrested for allegedly killing a client, a 25-year-old farmer, Lukman Adeleke, who sought spiritual supports for his farming business.

The suspect who is in police detention at the Osun State Police Command allegedly butchered Adeleke, cut off the deceaseds hand and dumped his remains along the Akure-Ilesa Expressway, it was reported.

The report says late Adeleke was a cocoa farmer and had N300,000, which he approached Akewusola to pray for him over. But the cleric asked him to come and sleep in his house with the money so that he could pray over it.

Akewusola then killed his client in the middle of the night in the room he put him, dismembered the corpse and dumped the body parts packed inside a sack along the expressway.

He told them how he killed and butchered the man. The alfa said he wanted to use the right palm of the deceased for money ritual for another client. So he and the client were arrested, a police source told Punch.
Ailing Nollywood actor, Leo Mezie was recently visited by some of his colleagues as he continues his battle with Kidney disease.

READ: Famous Nollywood Actors Two Kidneys Collapse, Needs Urgent Help

The actor, whos in need of over N10m for a transplant was pictured smiling as he pose for a photograph with them.
Sokoto State Government has given approval for the transfer back home of its 39 students currently studying in various schools in Dubai, the United Arab Emirates.

Governor Aminu Tambuwal made this known on Friday in Sokoto when he received the report of the committee instituted to advise government on the issue.

According to the governor, the move is expected to save the state government over N500 million.

He said that governments action signalled a change of priorities in the payment of scholarships to indigent students to study abroad.

The transfer/relocation of the students was necessitated by the need to conserve funds and apply same to more critical areas in the education sector, Tambuwal said.

He said that admission had been secured for all the students in Nigerian schools as he added that arrangements had been concluded to ensure that none of them miss a grade level upon their return home.

As at the time we sent the children to Dubai to study last year, the state government was spending over N400 million per annum to maintain them there.

The last administration had good intentions when it sent them to Dubai to further their studies.

But the current financial situation of the state can no longer allow us to continue with this burden.

We explained to the parents and guardians of the students that as at today, Sokoto state government spends over N500 million to maintain 17,000 of its citizens on scholarship in various schools in Nigeria, he said.

Tambuwal said that to pay N400 million for 39 students in Dubai was weighing heavily on the scarce resources of the state.

The governor thanked the students and parents for their understanding.
Four militants of the Islamic State have been arrested by Somali security forces during operation in the southwestern town of Baidoa.

Mohamed Iska Aflow, Southwest Administrations head of intelligence and security agency, told journalists late on Friday that the groups commander in Bay and Bakool regions is among those arrested alongside his three collaborators.

He said the detained leader was in charge of ISs terror operations in Bay region of southern Somalia.

Mahad Nuh Sidow, Abdiasis Hassan Mural and Mohamed Sheikh Isak were dispatched to terrorize and carry out bomb attacks in this regional state, we successfully held them and we are displaying them to the media at the moment, Aflow added.

The arrest comes a day after the United States added Abdulkadir Mumin, the Somali IS leader, to the terror list in East Africa.

Source: Punch
Several major political figures in the All Progressives Congress (APC) told SaharaReporters that there were serious apprehensions about former Governor of Lagos State who has not been seen in public for several weeks. Some of the politicians wondered whether the former governor had taken ill, noting that there were political challenges in the partys south-west zone that they expected Mr. Tinubu to be on ground addressing.

In the wake of their concerns, a source close to Mr. Tinubu told SaharaReporters that the former governor left Nigeria two weeks ago and flew to the United Kingdom for personal reasons. The source added that Mr. Tinubu was supposed to have returned a week later, but his whereabouts remain unknown to party apparatchiks.

The APC leaders aides did not initially return our correspondents phone calls and ignored text messages inquiring about his whereabouts and requesting to interview him. However, in a short text to SaharaReporters just before we went to press, Mr. Tinubu dismissed concerns about his health, stating that he was abroad on vacation and to attend to some long neglected personal affairs.

Several APC politicians who spoke to our correspondent said their concerns grew when Mr. Tinubu, a former senator who serves as the national leader of the APC, became noticeably absent during yesterdays visit to Osun State by President Muhammadu Buhari.

Mr. Tinubu had issued a statement yesterday assuring the people of Ondo State that the APC was prepared to win the forthcoming governorship election in the state, but there were unanswered questions about the politicians location.

In Ondo State, where APC primaries are expected to hold tomorrow to choose the partys governorship candidate, Segun Abraham, a contestant who is known to be Mr. Tinubus anointed favorite, was described as deeply worried by his main backers prolonged absence. A political source in the state said Mr. Abrahams campaign appear troubled by Mr. Tinubus absence. The candidates aides impatiently rebuffed efforts to interview him.

Mr. Tinubus text message said he was very well, adding, I may be returning today. According to him, he was spending part of his summer holiday and taking care of previous neglected personal affairs.

Before going to press the APC National Leaders aides said he has arrived Lagos from the UK.

Source:Sahara Reporters
Ali Modu Sheriff, factional chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), earlier today held a closed door meeting with former President Olusegun Obasanjo at his hilltop mansion in Abeokuta, Ogun state.

The elder statesman served his two terms as president on the platform of the now weakened party between 1999-2007, but left as a result of disagreement with the immediate past president and leadership of the opposition party.

According to Channels Television, Sheriff said he visited the elder statesman for consultations over the leadership crisis rocking the PDP.

Both Sheriff and Ahmed Makarfi are laying claims to the chairmanship of the party.

Watch Obasanjo address the press after his close door meeting with Sheriff.
by Lucy HookThe number of vehicle thefts in Canada is on the rise, despite a general trend of improvement in technology and anti-theft measures  an unlikely combination.Auto insurance broker Shop Insurance Canada highlighted the surprising trend, and questioned how thefts could be rising in the face of better measures of security.The company, which offers an online auto insurance quoting tool, said that little was being done to combat the problem of thefts, and that the subject of prevention needs to be higher on the agenda.Fraud and road safety are correctly hot topic discussions, however, theft prevention should be too, the company said in a statement.The broker suggested that fraud may play a part in the rising theft rates.It is clear Canada has a problem with auto thefts, it said. With increased prevention technology, numbers should be declining, not growing. The organized crime element cannot be ignored and it places an intriguing link between thefts and fraud.Car theft in Canada increased by 6% from 2014 to 2015, according to Statistics Canada.The only province which saw a fall in theft rates was Quebec, which saw a significant decrease in numbers  thefts fell by 14% that year.However, the overall numbers in Quebec remained high, at around 13,123.Within the area, Montreal is the hub of car theft  more than half of all Quebec thefts happened in the city.
Nel terzo trimestre del 2016 il prodotto interno lordo, espresso in valori concatenati con anno di riferimento 2010, corretto per gli effetti di calendario e destagionalizzato, e aumentato dello 0,3% rispetto al trimestre precedente e dello 0,9% nei confronti del terzo trimestre del 2015. Lo sostiene lIstat.

La crescita congiunturale e la sintesi di un aumento del valore aggiunto nei comparti dellindustria e dei servizi e di una diminuzione nellagricoltura. Dal lato della domanda, vi e un contributo ampiamente positivo della componente nazionale (al lordo delle scorte), in parte compensato da un apporto negativo della componente estera netta.

Nello stesso periodo il Pil e aumentato in termini congiunturali dello 0,7% negli Stati Uniti, dello 0,5% nel Regno Unito e dello 0,2% in Francia. In termini tendenziali, si e registrato un aumento del 2,3% nel Regno Unito, dell1,5% negli Stati Uniti, dell1,1% in Francia. Nel complesso, il Pil dei paesi dellarea Euro e cresciuto dello 0,3% rispetto al trimestre precedente ed dell1,6% nel confronto con lo stesso trimestre del 2015.

I dati Istat sul Pil sono in linea con le stime del governo ha commentato il ministro dellEconomia, Pier Carlo Padoan, arrivando alla Camera per lincontro con il gruppo Pd sulla legge di Bilancio. ll titolare di via XX Settembre in un tweet, poco prima, aveva sottolineato come i dati Istat confermano che leconomia e sulla strada giusta e le stime di crescita sono affidabili. Ma occorre spingere per accelerare
What Is a Stafford Loan?

Stafford loan is a type of federal, fixed-rate student loan available to college and university undergraduate, graduate, and professional students attending college at least half-time. These loans are also called direct loans and are given out under the William D. Ford Federal Direct Loan Program. They are intended to supplement existing personal and family resources available for higher education costs, including scholarships, grants, and work-study. Federal direct loans can be used to pay for the costs of education, including tuition, room and board, books, and other education-related expenses.

Federal student loans were called Stafford loans under a previous program run by the Federal Family Education Loan Program. Effective July 1, 2010, all new federal student loans started coming directly from the U.S. Department of Education under the William D. Ford Federal Direct Loan Program (Federal Direct Loans). Both Stafford loans and direct loans refer to the same loans.

How a Stafford Loan Works

Federally guaranteed student loans can be either subsidized (subsidized Stafford loans or direct subsidized loans), which means the federal government pays the interest during certain periods, or unsubsidized (unsubsidized Stafford loans or direct unsubsidized loans).

Direct subsidized loans are only available to undergraduates with demonstrated financial need, whereas both undergraduate and graduate students can take out direct unsubsidized loans and financial need is not a factor. Depending on their circumstances, students may borrow larger amounts, but the maximum amounts that may be subsidized are $3,500 per year for freshmen, $4,500 per year for sophomores, $5,500 per year for juniors, and $5,500 per year for senior or fifth-year students. The student's dependency status also affects how much they can borrow.

Stafford loans, now called direct loans, provide low-cost, federally guaranteed financing for students attending college at least half-time.



Students must first be accepted into a college or university accredited to accept federal loans and complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) prior to applying for the loan. In order to use any federal loan to pay for your education, you must be enrolled in a program offered by an accredited school. Search this site to see whether the school you are considering is accredited for federal loans.

Interest rates on Stafford loans are usually lower than those on private loans, there is no credit check for most federal student loans, and repayment doesn't begin until after a student leaves college or drops below half-time.
Donald Trump is the son of an immigrant mother from Scotland, married two immigrants (not at the same time) and lived all his life in New York, a city built and sustained by immigrants.

He could easily have been present in Celtic solidarity at the Irish Lobby for Immigration Reform fundraiser held in New York last week. Instead railing against him was the cause of the most successful fundraising event in years.

Donald Trump will be remembered for all the wrong reasons, said ILIR leader Ciaran Staunton. As businessman and employer of immigrants legal and illegal over the years he could have been a powerful force for good and fairness. Instead he choose hatred and division.

Given his recent foaming at the mouth speech against immigrants maybe it is mother hate or two wife hate or some such clinical condition that is causing his irrational fear of immigrants.

Maybe there is a recessive gene going back to his fathers alleged membership of the KKK?

In 1927, the New York Times reported that a Fred Trump was arrested in Queens during a Klan rally of about 1,000 people. The address matched the address of Fred Trumps childhood home. To the New York Times itself, Donald Trump replied, Its unfair to mention it, to be honest, because there were no charges. They said there were charges against other people, but there were absolutely no charges, totally false.

Here's a transcript where Trump denies it. Judge for yourself.

Q. Have you seen this story about police arresting a Fred Trump who lived at that Devonshire address in 1927 after a Ku Klux Klan rally turned violent?

A. Totally false. We lived on Wareham. The Devonshire  I know there is a road Devonshire but I dont think my father ever lived on Devonshire.

Q. The Census shows that he lived there with your mother there. But regardless, you never heard about that story?

A. It never happened.

Hmm, sure sounds like something happened.

Then there was the New Yorker Magazine story from a Trump casino worker who remembered blacks being swept off the floor when Trump and Ivanka arrived.

When Donald and Ivana came to the casino, the bosses would order all the black people off the floor, Kip Brown, a former employee at Trumps Castle, told the New Yorker for a 2015 September article. It was the eighties, I was a teen-ager, but I remember it: they put us all in the back.

Ku Klux Klan links, keeping blacks hidden, it's a small leap to greasy dagos. no doubt immigrants were a pokey and undesirable bunch to the Donald also.

And so it has proved. Due to an idiotic President of Mexico who gave Trump the perfect platform, the billionaire reverted to racist Trump after a week or so of kinder gentler and getting the international stage with a visit to Mexico. He has no reason to hate or dislike immigrants many of whom, including undocumented labored on his sites, built his buildings and dug his foundations.

Somehow, though, he sees political advantage bashing them even though polls show otherwise, or is he just racist at heart?

Hmm ... Trump's stance on immigration is a tad confusing. pic.twitter.com/ygdPexRhi1  AJ+ (@ajplus) September 3, 2016

Trump is no idiot so his rapid turn back to Neanderthal policies on immigration is surely puzzling better minds than mine.

He has lost a slew of defections from his campaign led by members of his Hispanic outreach group. It seems even the Hispanic Uncle Toms have had enough part from the top lackey.

Marco Gutierrez is founder of Latinos for Trump was on MSNBC and referred to problems with his own community in relation to illegal immigration.

"My culture is a very dominant culture," Gutierrez said. "And it is imposing, and it is causing problems. If you don't do something about it you are going to have taco trucks on every corner."

After Trump's immigration speech last night it is clear he has given up on the Hispanic vote. But he can't win the WH without Latinos.  JORGE RAMOS (@jorgeramosnews) September 1, 2016

Taco trucks on every corner-- this is coming from a Hispanic leader? What next ban Irish pubs in every city, Oktoberfest celebrations, Polish Pope John Paul remembrances?

The politically bankrupt campaign that Trump keeps running will go down in history as the worst in presidential history. What damage it has done to the permanent psyche of America remains to be seen. Trump and his chinless wonder sons and ice queen daughter have disgraced the party of Lincoln with their racist claptrap. Eric Trump actually acted surprised that Hispanics were resigning after the Trump speech

Meanwhile, the latest Hispanic poll has Trump at 19 percent, Romney won 27 percent.

Trumps immigration speech resonated with one target audience: The alt-right & white supremacists. https://t.co/0FFhecYJnX  The Briefing (@TheBriefing2016) September 2, 2016

As the Washington Post noted, Trump is on track to do worse than Romney with Hispanics, African Americans, women, whites and college-educated voters.

All thats left is the angry old white guy, like the guys who voted against the Democrat for governor in Kentucky then found their healthcare slashed by the incoming Republican. Smart move that.

Long after he has chased the last nanny, dishwasher, taco maker, apple picker and meat deboner out of the country if elected and built his Hadrians wall to keep the barbarians out, Trump will go down in history as the worst candidate ever to run for president. He is splitting America open with an appeal to racial animus that is both disgraceful and dangerous.

Trump is a nightmare waiting to happen and only the American voter can prevent it.
The Dail will be recalled next week to rubber stamp the Government's decision to appeal the Apple tax ruling.

The Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform says the decision follows 'a lot of debate and a lot of soul-searching'.
The Bishop of Grantham has become the first in the Church of England to publicly reveal that he is gay and in a relationship.

Nicholas Chamberlain said he is in a long-term, celibate relationship with his male partner.

He made the announcement to the Guardian newspaper after an unnamed Sunday paper reportedly threatened to publish a story about his sexuality.

"It was not my decision to make a big thing about coming out," he said.

"People know I'm gay, but it's not the first thing I'd say to anyone. Sexuality is part of who I am, but it's my ministry that I want to focus on."

He said the church was aware of his sexual orientation when he was appointed in November last year.

"I was myself. Those making the appointment knew about my sexual identity," he added.

Mr Chamberlain said he adheres to church guidelines.

Most Rev Justin Welby, the Archbishop of Canterbury, said Mr Chamberlain's sexuality is "completely irrelevant".

"I am and have been fully aware of Bishop Nick's long-term, committed relationship," he told the Guardian.

"His appointment as Bishop of Grantham was made on the basis of his skills and calling to serve the church in the diocese of Lincoln.

"He lives within the bishops' guidelines and his sexuality is completely irrelevant to his office."

A Church of England spokesman said: "The Church has said for some time that it would be unjust to exclude from consideration for the episcopate anyone seeking to live fully in conformity with the Church's teaching on sexual ethics or other areas of personal life and discipline.

"Whilst Bishop Nick's appointment is notable in the gifts and talents that he brings to the episcopate, it is wholly consistent and unexceptional in other regards given the testing of that call by those responsible for the selection process in each case."
Already, over 35 former workers at the landmark store have lodged individual objections against the plan by OCS Properties Ltd to transform the property into a six-storey retail and office scheme, including an outdoor dining area.

Documents lodged with the city council by OCS Properties show the so-called Project D1 will create 3,990 direct and indirect and other jobs.
Announcing a 4% growth in revenues to over 1.3bn in the year and an underlying 5% increase in Ebitda  earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortisation, to 505m, the telecoms firm said it was starting to make inroads into the retail broadband market.

However, it said it continues to talk with the Department of Communications about clarifying the extent of the tender of rural areas to be reached under the National Broadband Plan.

Eir now expects the Governments tender will likely be ready at the end of this year and awarded by the early summer of next year.

The telecoms firm said it was now hoping that the debt rating agencies would in time upgrade its credit ratings, which would lead to a reduction in the servicing costs of its huge debt pile.

Eir has debts of 2.3bn, including a 700m bond issue and loan of 1.6bn.

Chief executive Richard Moat said there was no sign of any major change in its ownership over the next two years.

Eir had cancelled plans for an IPO two years ago.

The shareholder base looks pretty stable and the shareholders look pretty happy with the progress of the business. Obviously, they are looking at further improvements in future quarters, but I wouldnt see any major change from this vantage point, Mr Moat said.

Around 90% of the firm is owned by four large investors, including the New York hedge fund Anchorage Capital, which has a stake of 35%, and GIC  the Singapore wealth fund, which holds 16% of the telecoms firm.

GIC bought into Eir in June, paying 232 per share. Blackstone sold its large stake but is a big lender to the company. Eir estimates it controls 67% of the retail and wholesale broadband market in the Republic.

It said its 34% share of the retail broadband market, which had slipped slightly in the year, was now starting to grow again following its purchase of the rebranded Eir Sport, formerly known as Setanta.

Eir said that Eir Sport was talking to the GAA to potentially extend its coverage of Gaelic sports.
Charities have had a terrible knock and its hard enough to raise money as it is, she told the Irish Examiner.

But I think that with recent news stories its been very difficult.

She was talking at the ISPCC Brown Thomas Fashion Show and luncheon in Dublin yesterday.

Commenting on the annual lunch, now in its 16th year, she said every fundraiser is important, especially ones for the ISPCC.

I think every fundraising event is really important.

This is one great charity and everybody should support this.

Children need this.

The annual event has raised almost 1,000,000 for the childrens charity.

The president of the ISPCC, Caroline Downey, hosted the event.

She told the Irish Examiner she was very grateful the childrens charity continued to receive support.

Its just amazing that [the support] still continues after all these years  the support of Brown Thomas and how important it is to the ISPCC and how crucial these events are, said Ms Downey.

Every woman in there is supporting us and its fantastic.

ISPCC ambassador Amanda Byram launched the event yesterday, which had almost 400 guests at the Intercontinental Hotel in Ballsbridge, Dublin 4.

The work that the ISPCC does is unbelievable and the support they give to children is instrumental, she said.

In a sense, their job is to give every child the opportunity to be happy and be safe.

To be, thats their birthright, and its our responsibility to give them that.

Also in attendance yesterday was X Factor judge and ISPCC ambassador Louis Walsh, who is a long-time supporter of the charity.

Commenting on the Irish contingent in the reality show, he said viewers would recognise some of the performers.

There are about 10 Irish people, different acts. Im not giving you names, he said.

Youll know one or two of them. There are about 10 different acts that we saw, that got through in Dublin. I expect one or two of them to go to live shows.

Also in attendance yesterday were Moira Ryan, Jane Given, Yvonne Connolly, and Sharon Smurfit.

They were given a viewing of the new autumn winter 2016 international collections from Brown Thomass Designer Rooms.
Former prison governor Jim Collins, said the new purpose-built prison eliminates the defects of the old system. There is a separate area for prisoners who have mental health issues and are vulnerable or suicidal.

CCTV is also in place in all walkways and TVs do not project from the wall but are instead flush with it. This lessens the risk of the TVs being used for self-harm.

Mr Collins said the prison authorities always have to be mindful of being humane in terms of housing vulnerable prisoners: If you are trying to make a cell or room totally restrictive it would be inhumane.

Mr Collins comments came at the third day of the hearing of the inquest into Roy ODriscolls death.

Mr ODriscoll, aged 25, of Summerhill in Mallow, Co Cork, was found dead at Cork Prison on May 10, 2013. He was serving a seven-year sentence for assault and had been transferred from Portlaoise Prison just days before he took his own life.

Mr Collins said he was shocked to learn at an earlier hearing that Mr ODriscoll had not been in a safety observation cell at Portlaoise Prison given that staff deemed him high risk.

Mr Collins said he informed Mr ODriscolls relatives of his death over the phone, as he was worried they would hear via the media.

You must appreciate news filters around fairly quickly, he said. I couldnt get an answer from Roys father. I got his brother [on the phone] and told him. If I was not to do that he would have gotten it via newspapers or TV and that is not fair on the family.

Prison officer Pat Desmond said Mr ODriscolls partner, Jenna Lane, had expressed concern for his welfare two days before his death. Mr Desmond spoke to Roy and informed him of his loved ones worries about his wellbeing.

Prison officer Noel OConnor said he assumed that as Mr ODriscoll was in the D unit that he was fragile in some way. He said the prisoner was monitored every 15 minutes and that he was highly vulnerable.

The case was adjourned until later this month to facilitate the hearing of evidence of a paramedic who assisted at the prison on the day of Mr ODriscolls death.

An earlier inquest sitting heard that Mr ODriscoll got an anonymous note in the days before his death urging him to kill himself. This followed on from an altercation with a fellow inmate on April 29 on the C Block landing of Portlaoise Prison.

Mr ODriscoll attended a disciplinary hearing with the governor and a nursing officer where he admitted he started the fight. Nurse officer Karl Shelley told the inquest that Roy requested a transfer to Cork Prison where he was moved a short time after.

Mr Shelley said Mr ODriscoll had a history of depression. By mid-April 2013 he was struggling to cope mentally. He was assessed by Central Mental Hospital staff. Mr Shelley told Cork City Coroner Myra Cullinane that by April 30 there was a heightened risk of suicide. On May 1, Mr ODriscoll was transferred to Cork Prison.

Mr Shelley said he was not aware that the inmate was being transferred to Cork. However, his health care documents were in the system and would have been available to staff at Cork Prison. He conceded certain entries in the notes did not convey that Mr ODriscoll was at risk of suicide.

Majorie Farrelly, barrister, representing the family, said it would have been better if Mr ODriscolls mental health issues had been conveyed orally to staff.
They claimed the European Commission was bullying Ireland in the same way it did during the bailout, as the Cabinets unanimous decision to appeal was undermined after two ministers said they still believe multinationals are not paying enough to the State.

After 72 hours of crisis talks and two Cabinet meetings, Government agreed to appeal Tuesdays European ruling that technology giant Apple owes this country 13bn in taxes.

In addition to the decision and on the insistence of the Independent Alliance and unaligned minister Katherine Zappone, Cabinet also agreed to seek Dail approval on the matter; set up a review of other multinationals tax bills; and to discuss plans to make our tax system more transparent.

The deal is almost certain to be signed off after the Dail is recalled to vote on Wednesday. However, after the agreement was announced, Mr Kenny and Mr Noonan launched a dramatic attack on Europe, saying Brussels is attempting to use the controversy as a bridgehead to force Ireland to increase its 12.5% corporation tax.

I do, I think they are establishing a bridgehead, Mr Noonan said when asked at Government Buildings if the European Commission was using the Apple tax controversy as a proxy attack on the 12.5% rate.

Michael Noonan

There is a lot of envy across Europe, said Mr Noonan. You will recall the Taoiseachs first meeting in Europe in 2011, there was an attempt to bully him by [French] president [Nicholas] Sarkozy to drive the corporation tax rate up to 15% as a quid pro quo for the bailout.

Referencing European competition commissioner Margrethe Vestager, who has been to the forefront of Europes Apple probe, he said: There will be no change in Irelands 12.5% rate. It is in our competence to fix the rates and no bridgehead by any commissioner is going to change that.

His decision to increase tension between Ireland and the European Commission was backed up by Mr Kenny, who repeated the claim that Ireland is being bullied.

Speaking on RTEs Six One, he said he would make no apology whatsoever for challenging the ruling, as the move is about us as a sovereign nation.

This [the Apple tax situation] is about the right of a small nation, he said.

Enda Kenny

Im not sure whether the European Commission want to ingratiate themselves with more powerful countries than ours, but this is a small country.

The comments were made after a second Cabinet meeting in 72 hours over the crisis ended after 35 minutes with unanimous agreement the ruling must be appealed.

However, Independent Alliance TD John Halligan said he personally still believed multinationals probably dont pay a reasonable amount of tax.

Describing the situation between Apple and Revenue as unethical, Childrens Minister Ms Zappone similarly said the European Commission was acting in the public interest, adding that countries who feel robbed or cheated can use this appeal to make their case.

Independent Alliance TD and Disabilities Minister Finian McGrath defended the Cabinet deal, saying: When youre in power you have to make compromises.

Opposition parties accused the Government of contradicting its own position.

Resignation row

A long-standing Fine Gael TD has reignited the debate over when Taoiseach Enda Kenny should leave office by insisting the issue needs to be discussed as early as next week.

Fergus ODowd told RTE Raidio na Gaeltachta everything should be discussed when Fine Gael holds its next parliamentary party meeting, which could take place next week.

Asked about the short-lived summer debate over Mr Kennys departure date, the Louth TD said: Thats Endas decision.

However, he added he will absolutely raise the matter at the next party meeting.
Ms ODoherty, who is showing her documentary on Irelands longest-missing person, six-year-old Mary Boyle, in towns around Ireland, was ordered out of Ballyshannon District Court by Judge Kevin Kilrane when he was threatening to jail one member of a family, Joe McNulty, for contempt of court.

Ms ODoherty stepped from the back of the court as Mr McNulty was asking the judge to make a letter from a deceased garda, Michael Lawless, available for his defence and that of his father Thomas McNulty and mother Florence McNulty.

Ms ODoherty said: I think as an Irish citizen I have a right to give evidence in relation to this letter.

The judge, who said this was the first time the letter had been mentioned after a series of adjournments for discoveries, said discovery was now closed.

He ordered Ms ODoherty out of the court.

Her interruption in the case came during a series of allegations by the McNulty family, including a claim of injustice, and about the charges being on file since February 2014 despite their efforts to get a hearing.

Thomas McNulty, 58, and his son Joseph, 34, both of Bundoran, are accused of threatening behaviour to provoke a breach of the peace in Bundoran on February 10, 2014.

Ms McNulty, 57, is also accused of assaulting Garda Helen Munnelly on the same date.

She said: We need that letter to defend ourselves. Michael Lawless was a good, honest garda.

He talked about untouchables, she added.

The familys defence solicitor James Corbett told the court that he was withdrawing from representation.

Ms McNulty said: We are getting legal advice from Gemma ODoherty.

Judge Kilrane adjourned the hearing to September 30 and requested gardai to attempt to find the letter.
Clodagh, a national school teacher from Cavan was murdered in her home last Monday, by her husband Alan Hawe, 40, along with her children Liam, 13, Niall, 11, and Ryan, 6.

Because of the meticulous nature of the murders, they were at a particular time, more than one note was prepared, she didnt get to write a note, so what I believe is that this woman was very controlled, said Mr Hennessy.

Her life would have looked normal. She had a full-time job. By the sounds of it, she was a dedicated teacher. She was rearing three boys. Only when the door was closed in the home, were things different.

Mr Hennessy is the author of How He Gets into Her Head: The Mind of the Male Intimate Abuser.

In terms of what is going on in the mind of a man who kills his partner and children, he said it comes down to control.

Alan Hawe with his wife Clodagh and their children Liam, 13, Niall, 11, and Ryan, 6. Picture: Hawes/Coll families/PA Wire

The man feels a) he knows the solution to the problem, b) he is arrogant enough to do it his way, and c) his children and wife have no say in the solution, he stated.

These killers are often perceived as pillars of the community and even their partners remain loyal to that image of them.

Outside of the house they arent aggressive, thats the skill of these people.

In the clubs, at GAA, in the community and the church he is the pillar of society and behind the hall door its a different story. And the partner remains loyal to him and that image, Mr Hennessy told the Irish Examiner.

He added that many women live in deeply abusive relationships, where their existence is extremely controlled, and yet they are not physically assaulted. Therefore, it is difficult for friends, family or neighbours to see any signs.

If you live in a semi-detached house a neighbour can hear the shouting or the verbal abuse, which is obvious, but theres very little to be seen outside the home, said Mr Hennessy.

He explained that the basic building block for any abuse is mind-control. This brings the victim to a place where they can no longer ascertain whether they are being abused or causing the abuse.

Abuse is always two-fold. Only when the first step is put in place, the mind-control, where she now believes she is the cause and the solution to the problems and she spends her whole existence trying to measure up, she then loses her instinctive ability to know the difference between what is right and what is wrong, he said.

He added that men who kill their partners and family carry a sense of entitlement.

There is a sense of entitlement. Theres a sense of arrogance, that they are God of their own world.

Of offenders I have met, they have no remorse, absolutely none. They have an explanation for it, it is not their fault.

He also said that it can be difficult for people to reconcile the man they knew publicly with the act that he has committed privately.

I meet women every day who are threatened. Its being ignored because people have a viewpoint of the man, the hed never do anything like that.

Nobody who attacks a childs mother can be regarded as a good father.

Commenting specifically on the murder-suicide in Cavan, Mr Hennessy said we must not minimise it as a society.

A note left with flowers outside the home of the Hawe family, who died in a suspected murder-suicide. Picture: Brian Lawless/PA Wire

It is far more important to focus on the murders than the suicide here. He took their right to life from them. They had absolutely no say in it, he had absolutely no right to do it.

The first thing that needs to happen is honesty, what we are getting is fudge, he said.

Some people need to sit down and ask how this could have happened. This was a man in complete control of his faculties.

The essential thing is that we a) dont minimise it, b) that we dont normalise it and it is essential that we focus on the victims.
Non-government TDs issued the demand after the second emergency cabinet meeting in three days yesterday ended with the Government agreeing to appeal the ruling, allow a Dail vote, and begin a wide-ranging review of other multinationals tax bills.

After a four-hour emergency cabinet meeting on Wednesday failed to result in an agreed Government position, the Cabinet yesterday met for the second time this week to broker a deal to end the political stalemate.

Despite an expectation the meeting would last a number of hours, within just 35 minutes ministers announced they had agreed to appeal the decision, provided a series of additional points, insisted on by the Independent Alliance and unaligned Independent Katherine Zappone, were included.

In return for backing the Fine Gael-sought appeal, the Independent ministers said they wanted the matter to be voted on by the Dail next Wednesday; for the Government to set up a review of other multinationals tax bills within six months; and for a more transparent tax system to be established.

Despite vocal criticism of the decision, Independent Alliance members and Childrens Minister Ms Zappone yesterday insisted they had negotiated the best deal possible in order to allow full clarity on Irelands tax laws.

However, while Independent Alliance members Transport Minister Shane Ross, Disabilities Minister Finian McGrath, and junior ministers John Halligan and Kevin Boxer Moran in particular stressed the value of the Dail debate as it will return power to parliament, opposition TDs last night warned it will mean little if the still unpublished Apple ruling remains private.

Sinn Fein deputy leader Mary Lou McDonald said unless the 130-page document  which outlines the exact reasons for the European Commission ruling but is commercially sensitive  is released immediately, Wednesdays vote will be an act of theatre.

I do accept there may be some necessary redactions, but if youre going to have a debate youre going to have to facilitate that debate with the full facts.

How do you have a meaningful debate if Government come into the chamber to say we are privy to information you dont have, she argued.

Ms McDonalds view was mirrored by the Social Democrats and the Green Party, with both saying they want to see vital information relating to the Apple tax controversy before the debate takes place.

However, despite the criticism, Finance Minister Michael Noonan has made it clear there is no prospect of the report being released as it is commercially sensitive.

The Dail debate  which will be under parliamentary privilege  is likely to focus heavily on both the level of tax large multinational companies pay in Ireland and the number of jobs they provide to this country.

However, it is also expected to include significant discussion on claims by Taoiseach Enda Kenny and Mr Noonan last night that the Apple ruling has been an attempt by Europe to attack Irelands 12.5% corporation tax rate.
Judge Olann Kelleher yesterday recalled the accused from a previous court case in January, saying: Youre the man who wanted to play guitar on his community service.

However, there was no second offer of community service made by the judge to Alfred Purcell yesterday.

The judge imposed a two-month prison sentence on the accused for a burglary.

Inspector John Deasy said the crime was committed on August 21 at a house at Ryefield, Whitechurch, Co Cork.

While Purcell admitted the crime, he claimed that the house was deserted.

Purcell had more than 100 previous convictions.

In January, Judge Kelleher said the accused could do community service for causing a drunken disturbance. Purcell asked if he could play guitar.

Judge Kelleher told Purcell at the time it was a matter for the probation service to decide the nature of the work which would have to be done as part of the community service order.

Purcell explained that he played guitar for a community group. Your honour, if I can carry on playing the guitar, Purcell suggested when ordered to do 220 hours of work.

Donal Daly, solicitor, said Purcell believed his drink was spiked on the occasion, prompting him to cause the public disturbance.

Inspector John Deasy said in January that the accused was seen at Great William OBrien St, Cork, acting aggressively, and being verbally abusive. He raised his fists in an aggressive manner at gardai.

His past convictions include aggravated burglary, blackmail, and assault causing harm.

If Purcell is to play guitar in the next two months, it will have to be behind bars.
Anthony West, of 7 Pophams Rd, Cork, was sentenced by Judge Marie Keane at Cork District Court to a total of 12 months in jail backdated to June, as he was arrested and remanded in custody since then, on the arson charges.

Insp Finbarr OSullivan said West broke windows at the various premises, lit firelighters, and threw them in.

The inspector said it was only fortunate that the firelighters burned out before the fires took hold in the buildings.

One of them was a building at the Lee Rd waterworks, which controls the main water supply for the entire city. The inspector said a fire there could have had serious consequences.

It was heard that one of the other properties  the HSE building on Model Farm Rd  would have contained important documents and computer records related to medical care and that fire damage could have been a very serious matter.

The judge noted from a psychiatric report prepared on West while in custody the conclusion that he still did not appreciate the consequences of his actions.

I am left with no option but to impose a custodial sentence to protect society, Judge Keane said.

The third building where West admitted causing property damage was at the OPW building on Centre Park Rd.

All three offences were committed on June 15.

Joseph Cuddigan, solicitor, said that West recently got an eight-month jail sentence for waving around an imitation handgun outside his home in Cork.

Mr Cuddigan said West had no animosity towards those who worked at the buildings.

He said the buildings were not occupied at the time and that very little damage was caused.

The solicitor said that the defendant had unresolved grief following the death of his mother in 2011 and the more recent death of his father.

I think he wanted to be caught for this, he said. I think he wanted to be taken into some kind of state care.

Insp OSullivan said that a witness saw West breaking windows at the HSE building and trying to start a fire and the gardai were alerted.

Mr Cuddigan said West admitted the offences when interviewed.

He said West required a regime of medication to deal with his personality disorder and also needed to stay off alcohol and cannabis.

Mr Cuddigan said the accused was committed to staying on medication and off intoxicants.
David Gibney of Right2WaterIreland told the Irish Examiner that Dublin South-Central Joan Collins TD will present a bill this autumn.

We are launching a campaign calling for a referendum enshrining public ownership of water in the Constitution, he said.

Joan Collins will present the bill, and so far it has been signed up to by almost 40 TDs.

We need Fianna Fail TDs to sign up to it. They campaigned vehemently against water charges in the lead-up to the general election.

However, Mr Gibney pointed out that while there was currently an expert commission in place looking at water funding, the referendum is about a different issue entirely.

The referendum is not about water charges. Its about whether a public or private entity is running our water [service], said Mr Gibney.

He was speaking after a Right2WaterIreland meeting in Dublin yesterday.

The group met ahead of the next scheduled water demonstration, on September 17.

Joan Collins

The last demonstration had been held on February 20, before the general election.

The planned march will coincide with ten demonstrations that are being carried out across 10 German cities on the same day.

One of the reasons we are holding this demonstration is because of basic democracy, said Mr Gibney. Almost 70% of TDs, when they were canvassing, gave a mandate to unequivocally abolish Irish Water.

But this has been kicked down the road with a so-called water commission.

Another reason for the September 17 demonstration is the matter of taxation.

Mr Gibney believes that there is an agenda in Ireland where private companies are promoted and this is done in a way that allows them to avoid paying tax.

Mr Gibney said it was about benefiting a private cohort of people, and that this was happening with the privatisation of water.

He pointed out that water is currently the most profitable consumer good in the world outside of the financial services.

In the UK, since 1989 when water was privatised, the cost per household has gone up by 350%, double that of the UK price index, said Mr Gibney.

The demonstration will have three meeting points in Dublin in two weeks time.
Sinn Fein, the Social Democrats, and the Green Party made the claims in response to the Fine Gael-led coalitions decision to appeal the European Commissions 13bn Apple ruling.

Deputy Mary Lou McDonald insisted the cabinet deal was the wrong decision for the public and shows the clear contempt of those in power for tax compliant Irish citizens.
Out the Other Side: Stories of Breast Cancer Survival is a collection of photographs and stories of Irish women who have not only survived breast cancer but thrived in its wake.

It has just come to Cork University Hospital (CUH), where it will be on view for September, with the aim of providing hope and reassurance to women dealing with the often devastating diagnosis that they have cancer.

All the women who feature know how hard it is to hear those words and to endure the arduous treatments that follow. However, they have gone on to regain their health and embrace new challenges such as taking to the stage and completing the Camino de Santiago trek.

Prof Seamus OReilly, consultant oncologist at CUH, fully endorses the idea of letting art assist medicine.

In Ireland today, the majority of women with breast cancer will be cured and it is important for them and their families to see a life beyond cancer, he said.

The exhibition was developed by the Marie Keating Foundation with the help of Roche Pharmaceuticals, and the images are by photographer Gerry Andrews, who was driven to get involved after losing his wife to breast cancer 12 years ago.

If she had been diagnosed today, the chances are that with the huge advances in research and development of new medicines, she would come out the other side. I wanted to contribute in whatever way I could to highlight the issue, he said.

Liz Yeats, chief executive of the Marie Keating Foundation, said she hoped the exhibit would be a comfort and support to women going through cancer treatment.

All of the women featured in the exhibition are living proof that it is possible not only to come out the other side of a breast cancer diagnosis, but to thrive and grow after it. 
According to a report by Tuairisc.ie, Golden Era Productions, a sub-company of the controversial Church, recently wrote to a number of translators looking for people to render its literature and programmes in Irish.

In addition to the many languages we already provide, we will also now be making our materials available in Gaelic and thus we are looking for qualified and interested translators, it said.
Judge John OConnor heard at the Dublin Childrens Court yesterday that gardai had no objection to bail being granted to a boy aged 15 who was accused of stealing 4,500 during a burglary in Dublin.

The teenager has been in voluntary care since last year and has already been placed in a number of childrens homes. However, he had spent the past four weeks in a juvenile detention facility after breaching bail terms set down earlier by the Childrens Court, where he is also facing criminal proceedings.

He had been held at the Oberstown youth detention centre, the same facility where trouble broke out earlier this week among detainees and a fire was started, causing extensive damage.

When the case resumed yesterday, Judge OConnor heard that gardai were consenting to the teenagers release on bail with conditions. However, the judge was told that Tusla, the Child and Family Agency, did not have a place for him to live.

The boy, who did not address the court, was accompanied by his mother, social worker, and barrister.

A solicitor for Tusla told the court the boy has complex needs and requires stability. The teen did well while on remand in Oberstown and going home is not in his best interests. His mother is worried about him, the court heard. Some of his problems relate to his peers and he needs to refrain from drug-taking, but he has emotional and language issues, the judge was told.

Within the care system there is nowhere for him to go today. A community service which helps troubled youths would be able to include him in diversionary projects, but this does not include accommodation.

Defence counsel Anna Bazarchina said the teens mother was willing to take him and there was no objection to bail.

Counsel said the court is aware of what happened at Oberstown earlier this week and the teenager has been traumatised.

Judge OConnor was furnished with welfare reports on the boy and said the youth has huge needs including clinical and therapeutic intervention.

He said it is unforgivable that the State did not have a suitable place for a child in care and he was not going to allow the criminal justice system to act as a substitute.

He added that Irish and international law would not allow it to happen and he was not going to put the youth into detention because the State cannot come up to the mark.

The teens social worker said the boy went into voluntary care last year. He ran away from care in July and August. The court heard the teen has a pro-criminal peer group. She also said that, at present, there is no emergency placement for him. An application is being prepared to have him placed in special care. His mother loves him and all her children but struggles to manage, the social worker explained.

Judge OConnor granted bail with conditions that the boy must reside for the time being with his mother, obey a 9pm to 7am curfew, and co-operate with welfare agencies. The case was adjourned for two weeks.

The boy has not yet entered a plea to his charge. The court heard it is alleged he broke into a shop in Swords and took money. He returned a short while after to take more cash, it is alleged, making off with 4,500 and being arrested after gardai obtained CCTV footage. The court heard he made certain admissions to gardai.
After almost five hours of discussions, unions emerged to say no progress had been made. Unless there is another intervention, three 48-hour strikes will now go ahead on September 8 to 9, 15 to 16, and 23 to 24.

A recent Labour Court decision recommending 8.2% increases over three years was comprehensively rejected by the two driver unions at the company, Siptu and the National Bus and Rail Union (NBRU).

They want increases of at least 15% over the same period, as well as the payment of a 6% increase which they say they are due from 2008. There has also been a call for pay parity with Luas drivers, who were given increases amounting to 18% following a protracted dispute with management earlier this year.

Dermot OLeary, general secretary of the NBRU, said it had warned in advance of talks that parading all parties through the door to create what has now transpired to be a false and misleading impression that the issue of pay could be magically resolved, was something that staff and commuters would find intolerable.

He said his members were committed to finding a resolution to the pay dispute. But he said it took more than the commitment of one party to effect an agreement.

Shirking responsibility, or remaining aloof is not conducive to settling this dispute, he said. The onus is now on the shareholder to unshackle the restraints on Dublin Bus and allow it the opportunity to work with its staff towards finding a solution.

Dublin Bus management said it had advised the trade union group of the adverse financial implications of funding any pay increase over and above the Labour Court recommendation.

However, management advised that it is prepared to engage with all grades of employees in exploring all areas of productivity that can achieve cost savings to fund additional increases in pay over and above the Labour Court Recommendation, it added.

Having come through years of financial instability and change, Dublin Bus has a responsibility to continue to manage its finances in order to safeguard the economic and financial stability of the company.

It said the strikes will inconvenience in excess of 400,000 Dublin Bus customers each day.

Meanwhile, Irish Rail and driver unions appear to be coming closer to reaching an agreement on a reduction in the working week and on productivity. Mr OLeary said more progress had been made in the the last few weeks than in the last 18 months, and he believed the discussions would reach their final stages in three days of talks starting on September 7. The company said it was optimistic the talks would have a satisfactory conclusion for both sides.
The talks at the Workplace Relations Commission mean a further strike planned for Monday has been suspended.

As long as the talks remain in the WRC, and despite no resolution, there will be no strikes.

However, if the talks break down without agreement, the staff unions Impact and Siptu could advise their members to return to the picket line.

The gulf of opinion on health and safety between management and staff had closed considerably before the events of last Monday s industrial action.

According to Pat Bergin, campus director, an agreement was reached between the two sides on August 21 on a framework to address the health and safety issues.

However, a stumbling block then emerged.

Residents at the Oberstown Detention Campus, Dublin, who recently climbed onto the roof of one of the buildings. Picture: Gareth Chaney Collins

After another meeting between staff representatives and management on August 22, the unions were unhappy about a plan to separate young people on remand and young people on committal.

While they had specific health and safety concerns over that proposal, management said it had measures in place to address those concerns.

In fact, Mr Bergin said it was a positive and successful development which would support the stabilisation of the operations of the campus further.

Management pressed ahead with the relocation of the remand unit which led to last Mondays action proceeding.

It was supposed to be an eight-hour stoppage during which residents would be closed in their rooms and throughout which full emergency cover would remain in place.

However, the young people were not happy about being confined to their rooms. It subsequently emerged a number of detainees took control of a residential unit that afternoon when a set of keys had been taken from a staff member.

The youths made their way to the roof where a fire broke out around 8pm.

Impact trade union, in a letter this week to the Childrens Rights Alliance, said that when the incident occurred about 12 staff voluntarily left the picket line and immediately offered their assistance.

This meant that there were more staff on-site responding to an incident than there would be in the course of a normal working day. the union pointed out.

It is anticipated when the two sides meet at the Workplace Relations Commission at 11am on Monday, the separation of the remand and committal residents will be the main topic on the agenda.

However, this weeks violent scenes, during which one staff member was injured, will be seen as underscoring the health and safety concerns which staff and their unions have been raising for a number of months.

The unions have argued the campus is badly designed and understaffed, with inadequate safety equipment and procedures to deal with a mix of vulnerable young people and violent offenders. They say the result is that staff and detainees face a daily risk of serious assault.
In just two seasons, Red Rock has proved a ratings winner for TV3, securing deals with the BBC and Amazon Prime to bring it to international audiences. Esther McCarthy joins the team on set.
Theres hardly one among us who doesnt possess a vase, that functional household object with the luxury of a name with two pronunciations, often to be found lurking in the back of a cupboard in most kitchens, or attired in a fur coat of dust on a high shelf.

Then again, the vase has enjoyed celebrity too, thanks to poet John Keats and his earnest verse, Ode on a Grecian Urn.

Fast forward 200 years later, and meet craft curator Brian Kennedy, who tackles the subject of the vase and its perception by bringing together nearly 30 ceramicists with their particular approach to the object in a new exhibition entitled, VASE: Function Reviewed, currently taking place at the National Craft Gallery in Kilkenny until November 6.

Philip Eglins Looking For Mr and Mrs Andrews made from earthenware with lead glaze (2013).

For me, the vase and its pronunciation have a lot to do with snobbery and class. One is posh, the other is not, Brian explains.

I wanted to poke fun slightly at how the word vessel is used in ceramic making rather than vase.

Two themes bring all the works together  narrative and story-telling, and an object that holds something, done through the work of leading ceramic artists from Europe, Africa and Asia, sitting alongside an Irish offering by some of our most talented ceramicists including Sara Flynn and Derek Wilson.

The best in Ireland can stand up to the best in the world, says Brian.

I wanted to show a range of different tendencies in the work so theres English and European, and I wanted something oriental so theres Chinese and Japanese also.

I wanted it to be a big, meaty show with a focus on contemporary ceramics but with functional work. For some reason there seems to be less value on functional objects.

Lucinda Mudges Baby I Live for Danger in ceramic with gold platinum lustre (2016).

The big meat hes talking about includes three English ceramicists, a move which has particular significance for him.

These women who are now in their late 60s and 70s have very different approaches but they personify a major shift in the making of studio ceramics, he says.

Karen McNicolls work is political, with a piece using found objects that cites the British invasion of Iraq time for the second time.

Janice Tchalenko, on the other hand, links the ceramic making studio with industry.

She worked with Dartington Pottery so shes creating a dialogue between the object and industry and mass production.

The third is Alison Britton whose work is contemplative. Alison is a thinker, says Brian.

She raises the question, what is a vessel; why is it necessary for the object to be attractive when we dont expect painters to be happy and make pretty work.

Akiko Hirais Blue Moon jar in stoneware with glaze (2015).

It seems this isnt the only area where art and craft, especially functional craft and some of the most attractive at that, are treated differently.

Brian recalls taking ceramic craft to Geneva some years ago to show in an exhibition and his encounter with Swiss customs and excise.

I had a large vessel that they decided looked like a jug which meant to them it had a clear function, so that meant duty had to be paid on it, whereas art doesnt carry duty.

Blurred boundaries in the worlds of art and craft, no question, but when it comes to the vase, function is absolutely at its core, something that is demonstrated beautifully by the inclusion of a separate exhibition within the main show.

Master Florist Lamber de Bie has designed a floral installation called Verdant Vessels. Visitors can expect to see an abundance of blooms on display in stunning ceramic vases.

A range of floral techniques will be embraced, from the traditional to the modern, reimagining the vases and reinterpreting them through use.

Lamber will explore the theme of shape and form from September 15 to 20, and the topics of heritage and materials from September 22 to 28, looking at where craft and art meet and how the vase finds its purpose with the addition of flowers.

Hitomi Hosonos Petite Mangrove Bowl in porcelain with palladium leaf (2015).

Many years ago I saw an exhibition of work by a Japanese ceramicist, Brian explains.

It was of tea bowls and vases with all of the vases having simple and elegant floral arrangements. In the catalogue he said that for him the vase was never complete until it held flowers. I have long forgotten his name but his thought has always remained with me: Does use enhance or diminish the ceramic object?

Pop along to the National Craft Gallery, Kilkenny and decide for yourself.

Throwing Shapes

Cork born ceramicist Sara Flynns arresting work in clay has seen her launch onto the international craft scene in recent years.

With gallery representation in London for her award-winning work, it has now been bought for private collections worldwide and those of galleries as far away as Shanghai and Canberra.

Ongoing development and growing confidence have seen her move from small scale functional pots to one-off vessels which are purely sculptural in their intent, like the Esker collection which forms a series of sculptural decorative vessels now on show at Vase: Function Reviewed at the National Craft Gallery, Kilkenny.

In December, she moves on to London for her third solo show at the Erskine, Hall and Coe gallery.

Esker vessels by Sara Flynn in thrown and altered porcelain with a manganese rich glaze.
HELL fight them on the beaches. Hell fight them on the landing grounds and bridgeheads. Hell fight them in the fields and in the streets.

Hell fight to defend his island, with growing confidence and growing strength in the air, whatever the cost may be.

Hell never surrender.

But... and whisper it in case he hears... at the heart of the arsenal of weaponary he will use to perform such feats will be a glaring contradiction dressed up as compromise which calls into question his entire argument.

Finance Minister Michael Noonan was in Churchillian mood after the Cabinet decision yesterday to appeal the European Commissions 13bn tax ruling against Apple.

Michael Noonan

Speaking in the picturesque courtyard of Government Buildings before a horde of Irish and foreign journalists, the senior Fine Gael minister insisted that Ireland is not for turning, no matter the consequences.

Explaining Governments decision to reject the money that has been drooled over by just about every voter and more than a few TDs in recent days, the long-standing Limerick TD summoned his best Winston Churchill impression, added a sprinkling of Nigel Farage, and insisted Ireland is the victim of an EU conspiracy and must not bow down to Germany and France over our national tax rules.

Comparing the current stand-off with Taoiseach Enda Kennys first meeting with then French president Nicholas Sarkozy in spring 2011 in which the latter attempted to force Ireland into hiking our coveted 12.5% corporation tax rate in return for a better EU/IMF bailout deal, Mr Noonan said the current battle is just the latest attempt by foreign forces to establish a bridgehead to attack our tax system.

Asked if Tuesdays jaw-dropping 13bn ruling by European Commissioner for Competition Margrethe Vestager against Apple and  technically  in favour of Ireland was a proxy attack on our values (or at least how we value them), Mr Noonan took a deep breath and launched into a modern-day impression of the long-deceased Second World War British prime minister.

I do, I think they are establishing a bridgehead, he growled.

There is a lot of envy across Europe about how successful we have been in putting the head-quarters of so many companies into Ireland.

Minister for Finance Michael Noonan, right, and the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform Paschal Donohoe. Picture: Getty

You will recall the Taoiseachs first meeting in Europe in 2011, there was an attempt to bully him by [French] president [Nicholas] Sarkozy to drive the corporation tax rate up to 15% as a quid pro quo for the bailout programme that was being offered.

There will be no change in Irelands 12.5% rate. It is in our competence to fix the rates and no bridgehead by any commissioner is going to change that.

We will fight at home, abroad, and in the courts.

For those of a similar mind, it was a convincing argument, one which paints Ireland as a small country which is being pushed around by its larger neighbours who are jealous of our lucrative, honestly innocent relationships with multi-national firms.

How dare they try and give us a whopping big cheque for 13bn that we could really do with, while simultaneously shining a worldwide spotlight on our corporate tax gymnastics, you could almost hear him mumble under his breath, between coughs.

Unfortunately, although the tone will play well to his Fine Gael base and be a welcome relief to at least one technology giant chief executive frantically checking for updates on his iPhone, it doesnt quite ring true.

While Government has finally agreed to appeal the EU ruling after much earnest contemplation and more than a little fretting over its political future, it  thanks to those lovable rogues, the Independent ministers  has also agreed to argue the exact opposite in the small print.

In order to convince the Independent Alliance and unaligned Independent minister Katherine Zappone to back the appeal, Fine Gael has had to agree to a review of other multi-nationals tax bills and the introduction of a fair and transparent tax system that does not have any hint of cozy but disputed deals.

Tim Cook

In other words, Fine Gael is saying there is nothing wrong with Irelands tax system but wants  under the wording of the deal  to look under every multinational stone in case there is and to reform the tax system so it is transparent despite already believing it is; while Independents want the eye-catching transparency for a system they now insist already has nothing to hide.

Logic dictates you cannot want the detailed reforms without admitting there is something that needs reforming.

And while Mr Noonans full-blooded speech managed managed to move the debate onto a different issue, for now, it is a contradiction the opposition quickly leaped on and which risks damaging Irelands now imminent EU ruling appeal.

The Governments Independent members are, officially, now all in favour of standing guard on our beaches under the flag of Apple. Sorry, we mean Ireland.

But you still have to wonder if their hearts are firmly in it, particularly when one  John Halligan  openly said yesterday multinationals probably dont pay a reasonable sum of tax.

The difference between Mr Noonan and Mr Churchill is that while both can deliver a rabble-rousing speech regardless of the facts bearing down on them, only the Second World War leader could be sure of his armys undying support.

As the contradictions dressed up as compromise in the Government deal show, even when our own Limerick leaders top brass commit to standing full square behind him he cant be certain theyre not equally ready to shoot him in the back.
Burma State Counselor Tells Peace Conference Participants Not to Dwell on the Past

State Counselor Daw Aung San Suu Kyi delivers her closing remarks at the Union Peace Conference in Naypyidaw on Saturday. / Pyay Kyaw / The Irrawaddy

NAYPYITAW  State Counselor Daw Aung San Suu Kyi delivered the closing speech at the 21st Century Panglong peace conference on Saturday, in which she encouraged participants not to dwell on the past, but to look to the future with courage..

The first installment of the Union Peace Conferencewith other peace conferences to follow at six-month intervalsbegan on Wednesday and ended after three-and-a-half days of sessions featuring 750 participants from ethnic armed groups, the government, parliamentarians, political parties and the Burma Army, among others.

Members of civil society organizations, including womens groups, attended as observers, numbering 50. With support staff for participants, attendance swelled to 950notwithstanding the opening day, which was attended by 1,400 people in total.

One notable upset was the abrupt departure on Thursday of the United Wa State Army delegation, who were offended at having being issued observer nametags at the outset, even though the conference organizers were quick to put it down to a management error.

Across sessions, a total of 72 stakeholders each delivered ten-minute presentationssometimes contrasting in contentwhich touched on principles for establishing federalism, changing the constitution, regional development, governance, womens participation in political leadership, and formal programs of security sector reform/disarmament, demobilization and reintegration.

The ethnic armed alliance the United Nationalities Federal Council delivered its draft federal constitution, which conceives an eight state model with a Burman state being formed out of several existing divisions, to add to the roster of current ethnic states. Other statements revolved around the commitments and spirit contained in the original 1947 Panglong Agreement, which promised autonomy for ethnic frontier areas.

The presentations delivered by the Burma Army, however, upheld the 2008 Constitution and stated that any amendments should be in accordance with its procedures.

The State Couselor in her closing remarks lauded the conference as a proud landmark and a testament to joint effort. She hoped that those who looked only to the past would think more for the future.

It is up to the individual whether we remain stuck in the past, or whether we face the future with courage, she said.

With the conference over, further discussion will take place over how to include all groups in a national-level political dialogue, which would pave the way for a federal restructuring of the state.

Although the conference included both armed groups that have signed and those that have not signed the Nationwide Ceasefire Agreement, three armed groupsthe Taang National Liberation Army, the Myanmar National Democratic Alliance Army and the Arakan Armywere not invited because they refused to publicly commit to disarming, as demanded by the Burma Army (a demand not made of other ethnic armed groups.)

Participants told The Irrawaddy that they acknowledged that the current conference was only an introduction to peace negotiations, which they believed could span over three to five years.

State Counselor Daw Aung San Suu Kyi told attendants that peace talks were not for individual organizations or ethnic groups, but for all people in the Union, and particularly for future generations.

She urged participants and the wider public to think of peace-building as everyones responsibility instead of leaders only. She said that all presentations in the conference had been broadcast live, to let the public understand they must take part in the process.

She acknowledged that there had been mishapsa likely reference the departure of the United Wa State Army delegationbut she thanked the organizers for their tireless efforts under pressure.

Lt-Gen Yar Pyae, who chairs the 21st Century Panglong organizing sub-committee (1), said in his closing speech that, Our aim is conflict resolution. He urged everyone to help transform contrasting opinions into a common vision.

Before the next peace conference, scheduled for six months time, the political dialogue framework will be finalized and national-level political dialogue will begin, according to current plans.
News This Week in Parliament (August 29-September 2)

The gates to the compound of Burmas national Parliament in Naypyidaw, Nov. 2014. / Reuters

Monday (August 29)

In the Lower House, lawmakers debated a proposal submitted by Dr. Hla Moe of Aung Myay Thazan Constituency, which urged the Union government to provide appropriate payments and allowances for election commission members at different levels who are not civil servants. The Lower House approved the proposal.

The Upper House passed the senior citizens draft law.

Tuesday (August 30)

In the Lower House, lawmakers donated their collective daily allowance of 8,520,000 kyats (US$7,000) for the renovation of pagodas and stupas in Bagan that were damaged in a recent earthquake. The house speaker also donated 6,480,000 kyats ($5,300).

Lawmaker Aung Kyaw Zan of Pauktaw Constituency submitted an urgent proposal stating that including three foreigners on the Arakan State Advisory Commission formed by the State Counselors Office would turn an internal problem into an international issue, and the commission should only be formed with local experts.

In Union Parliament, lawmakers debated the signing of the second revised Asean comprehensive investment agreement by Burma. Parliament approved the signing of the agreement.

Wednesday (August 31)

Parliament was not in session because of the Union Peace Conference.

Thursday (September 1)

In the Upper House, lawmaker Saw Moe Myint from Karen State asked about the operation of coal-fired power plants in Burma. The Union Minister for Electricity and Energy replied that the environmental and social impacts of coal power plants are assessed in line with environmental impact assessment procedures adopted by the Ministry of Resources and Environmental Conservation.

Tenders were invited to upgrade the Tigyit coal-fired power plant in Shan State, which has been in operation since 2004. It was leased to Chinas Wuxi Huaguang Electric Power Engineering Co. Ltd. for 22 years in late 2015. The Chinese company is now undertaking environmental and social impact assessments, he said.

Coal-fired power plants in Tenasserim Divisions Kawthaung and Shan States Nawngkhio are small or medium scale and are not connected to the national grid. They are under the management of concerned state and divisional governments.

Friday (September 2)

In the Upper House, the Bill Committee explained its review of the draft law to annul the 1950 Emergency Provisions Act sent by the Lower House. The bill was already approved by the Lower House on August 24.

Lawmakers debated the proposal of Khin Aung Myint from Mandalay Constituency (8), which urged the Union government to adopt a special plan to eliminate illiteracy among ethnic minority groups and enable them to obtain higher education, as well as promote ethnic literature.
Interview Dateline Irrawaddy: No Party Can Fully Represent the People

The Irrawaddy speaks with Thwin Lin Aung, a member of the CSO forum organizing committee, and Chin human rights activist Cheery Zahau about whether the peace conference can fulfill the wishes of the people.

Ye Ni: Welcome to Dateline Irrawaddy! This week well discuss to what extent the current Panglong peace conference can fulfill the wishes of the Burmese people. U Thwin Lin Aung, member of the temporary committee to organize the 21st Century Panglong civil society organization (CSO) forum, and ethnic Chin human rights activist Mai Cheery Zahau will join me for the discussion. Im editor of The Irrawaddys Burmese edition Ye Ni.

The 21st Century Panglong Conference is going on now. Except for four groupsthe Kokang [MNDAA], Palaung [TNLA], Arakan [AA] and Naga (NSCN-K) all other NCA [nationwide ceasefire agreement] signatories and non-signatories are attending the conference. We have seen events supporting the peace conference here and there. Mai Cheery, as an ethnic Chin who is continuously engaged in ethnic issues, what do you think of the peace conference?

Cheery Zahau: The 21st Century Panglong Peace Conference is part of the peace process initiated in 2011. Both NCA signatories and non-signatories were invited to it and it is fair to say that there is greater inclusion in terms of ethnic armed groups. But in terms of the inclusion of political partieswhich played a role in the peace process from 2011 to 2016it is not inclusive.

The government has set the criteria that only the political parties that won seats in the 2015 election could attend the conference. This is problematic. You cant use the election as the single yardstick to determine who should participate in the peace process. The election is about electing representatives to Parliament. But the peace conference is about finding a solution through all-inclusive dialogue, and including people who dont have parliamentary representatives and who have different views from the mainstream.

Excluding political parties makes them think that they need to take up arms to be recognized. The government needs to be aware of this. In a democracy, no party can fully represent the people. In the November election, people voted for other parties. They did not only vote for the National League for Democracy [NLD].

In some states, the NLD won by a margin of 30 percent, and in Chin State, by about 70 percent. So, where are the voices of the remaining 30 percent? Chin ethnic armed groups alone cant represent the voices of that 30 percent; the parties need to be included. Currently, the representation of many people is lost because of a criterion that allows only the winning parties to participate. If this continues, Im concerned that the saying might makes right could become justifiable in a democratic crisis.

YN: As you have said, most of the delegates to the conference are ethnic armed groups. Throughout the entire peace process, it is the people who have been suffering. Ko Thwin Lin Aung, we heard that a forum would be held to represent the voices of the people. How is progress on that forum, which will represent civil society and community based organizations?

Thwin Lin Aung: The government informed us in July that we could organize a CSO forum so we started to make preparations. At that time, we did not have division of responsibility (DOR) guidelines for holding the forum. We started to work out a DOR. Then, the government said that it would draw up the DOR and we could present our requirements.

The problem is that we are not allowed to discuss all topics. The government prohibits CSOs from discussing political or security issues. Another question was how we could send the results of the CSO forum to the Panglong conference. We were only allowed to present the forum results by mail or as recommendations to Panglong conference committees. This frustrates us.

We told the Panglong Conference organizing committees that we would like to discuss all topics. People should be allowed to discuss any problems they are concerned with. On the surface, politics and security seem unrelated to the people, but it is because of political and security issues that ordinary people are suffering. It is ordinary peoplepeople without gunswho have to bear the brunt of wars. I told the organizing committees that the forum should represent the voice of the people.

We said that rather than sending the forum results by mail, we would like to send representatives. We had good reason to make this demand, because Article 22(g) of the NCA states that CSOs should be included in the peace process. But when the framework for political dialogue was adopted, CSOs were left out. So we pressed for our demands and waited for approval. But the review of the political framework has reached an impasse and since the DOR cant be developed without a firm framework, we are still waiting.

YN: I heard that CSOs released a statement about the conference and the CSO forum, which remains undecided. Can you tell me about it?

TLA: I heard that about 50 CSOs were invited to the first round of the conference, but most of them were invited as observers to witness the opening ceremony. I also heard that participants would not make decisions at the conference.

We are happy that the conference is spearheaded by the governmentwhich was elected by popular vote in the 2015 electionand hope that there will be good prospects. But much remains to be done if a truly peaceful democratic federal Union that can guarantee equal rights for all is to be built. We have pointed out six things to them.

First, clashes were still going on just days before the peace conference and we suggested that military and ethnic armed groups release a joint ceasefire statement on the day when the peace conference convened.

Second, we demanded a guarantee of security for people who were affected by clashes.

Third, we welcome that many NCA non-signatories were included in the conference, but there are groups that are not yet included. So, it cant be said that it is inclusive. If these groups cant join the conference this time, they should be allowed to join next time.

Fourth, we demanded that CSOs be allowed to discuss all issues. There are some barriersfor example Article 17(1) of the Unlawful Association Actwhich bar us from discussing certain subjects and being involved in the peace process. Suppose we hold discussions with an ethnic armed group and are charged with Article 17(1). We demanded the abolition of this article.

As far as I am concerned, there have been about five similar peace talks so far. This conference has improved a lot in terms of the form. Previously, for example during the peace negotiations in 1980, general amnesty was granted to political prisoners ahead of the conference. We demanded such a general amnesty be granted this time also.

Fifth, we called for coordination to create the landscape needed to build a federal Union, which the nation aspires to.

Sixth, we called for equality. But sadly, when we were about to release a statement to demand these six points, we found that [state-run newspapers] had mentioned the titles of Burma Army representatives but not the titles of ethnic armed group leaders.

Im concerned by this negative trend. It reminds me of a horrible past. In prisons, the authorities do not use honorifics for the inmates, as a way of degrading them. I am shocked to see this practice. I dont want to see it.

YN: It has been said that women are playing a very limited role in Burmas peace process. It is women and children who are hit hardest in wars. What do you want to say about their voices not being reflected in the peace process?

CZ: Of Burmas 51 million people, more than 26 million are women. They constitute more than half of the countrys population. Therefore, women must be included in all of the countrys affairswhether politics, social issues or the peace process.

Unless and until the voices of half of the countrys population are reflected, democracy wont be real. The government, ethnic armed groups and political parties need to recognize this fact.

We have seen that womens voices were starting to be heard after the Mai Ja Yang ethnic summit. Previously women could only hold informal discussions; now they can hold some formal discussions.

I want women to be included in all sectors, but not just for show. Women who can really represent the voices of the people should be included. They will be able to link upper level discussions with what is happening on the ground. For the time being, I still do not see effective representation of women, but there has been some improvement.

YN: We have many things to discuss, but the duration of this program is limited so let us conclude here. Thank you for your contributions.
9 Critical Questions to Ask Your IT Service Provider

Its fair to say that the cloud is fast-approaching the tipping point as the dominant means of deploying enterprise infrastructure. But while the broad outlines are coming into view, the exact architecture and the hosts location are still very much up in the air.

The latest estimate on cloud deployments came from 451 Research this week, which pegged the current cloud workload at about 41 percent of the enterprise total with a likely rise to 60 percent by the middle of 2018. In breaking down the numbers, the firm noted that the majority of deployments are taking place on private clouds and public SaaS infrastructure, and that going forward the private side will see largely flat growth while SaaS will jump by 23 percent. As well, IaaS deployments, currently only 6 percent of the total, will double to 12 percent in the next two years.

While this is good news for public cloud service providers, it by no means supports the notion of some in the industry that on-premises infrastructure is doomed. As the size and cost of hardware come down, organizations should find that capex and opex of local resources will not be nearly as burdensome as they are today. And with their own modular systems supporting scalable private clouds, enterprises should be able to blunt the more ominous trend among knowledge workers these days: the preference for so-called shadow IT. According to the Ponemon Institute, a good half of all cloud services holding corporate data today are not governed or even vetted by IT departments.

Clearly, however, the enterprise is going to have to come to terms with the public cloud. This wont be as easy as it sounds because, as Oracles Chuck Hollis noted on Forbes recently, its not the technology nor the security that prevents most CIOs from pulling the trigger, but the processes. The fact is, most public clouds do not support enterprise workloads as they are now. This forces organizations to recreate their processes and procedures for an entirely new environment  something most business executives are extremely loath to do. Offloading unimportant data is one thing; replacing a tried-and-true sales management platform in the cloud is something else, especially when all of the migration, integration and other transitional factors are taken into account.

Unfortunately, economic pressures are likely to force most enterprise hands sooner rather than later. New cloud- and mobile-facing business models like Uber and Airbnb provide easier and less expensive services to an increasingly tech-savvy customer, and companies that do not move in the same direction are sure to suffer. As HPEs Mark Potter points out on InfoWorld, the natural inclination to preserve the status quo is a real danger to future productivity when forward-leaning companies like Google and Facebook are building their business models around breaking things. This is why companies like HPE advocate hybrid clouds, which afford the highest degree of flexibility when it comes to deploying new services without disrupting the old. (Disclosure: I provide content services to HPE.)

Whenever something new comes along, it is hard to view it in terms of the possibilities it presents rather than immediate problems it purportedly solves. In the cloud, too much of the focus to date has been on how it provides a more flexible, cheaper alternative to the expensive, silo-ridden data center. What the enterprise industry really needs to do is recognize that the cloud is not just a better way to support legacy applications and workloads, but a means to remake the business model around entirely new applications and workloads.

Many start-ups have already accepted this notion, and they are not waiting until the rest of the business world catches on.

Arthur Cole writes about infrastructure for IT Business Edge. Cole has been covering the high-tech media and computing industries for more than 20 years, having served as editor of TV Technology, Video Technology News, Internet News and Multimedia Weekly. His contributions have appeared in Communications Today and Enterprise Networking Planet and as web content for numerous high-tech clients like TwinStrata and Carpathia. Follow Art on Twitter @acole602.

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Bea Smiths character in the drama series Wentworth is a big hit to the viewers especially to her fans that couldnt accept her downfall. Danielle Cormack, who incredibly portrayed the strong-willed role of Bea, seems to give in to the requests of the shows supporters to let Bea live.

Danielles recent Twitter post sparks hope and excitement about her possible comeback on Wentworth season 5. The actress re-tweeted a post from Taz Thornton, who is believed to be an avid follower of the famous show and apparently, wants Danielle to reprise her Bea Smith role.

The photo shows Bea and her inmates in prison with a caption screaming about her return to Wentworth. Interestingly, the fan referred to Ambrosia that brought back Bea to life. In Greek mythology, ambrosia is a food or drink of the Greek gods, used for immortality.

To assume that Danielle re-tweeted the post of her fan as a teaser of her highly anticipated comeback is imaginary as of this writing. She could have done it for fan or courtesy, at the very least. The actress has not made any statements about the fate of her significant character in the series.

In a previous report of iTech Post, the confirmation of Smiths character was highlighted to end further speculations about a possible alternate season 4 finale or that she will have less screen appearances in the fifth installment brought by her coma condition.

It is always an incredibly difficult decision to say farewell to a much-loved and revered character like Bea Smith, said showrunner Jo Porter.

Which is why this storyline has had such a huge impact on us all and we are sure fans will feel the same. This decision was particularly hard as it meant also saying goodbye to Danielle Cormack, the producer added.

Should Beas character ended in season 4, we just have to take the bite. New beginnings then for season 5.
Netflixs Making a Murderer gets the green light on its second season and what could be more defining than seeing significant unexpected turn of events. Steven Averys case is a clear illustration of heart  tugging scenes and just recently, the latest evidence to his highly publicized case points to a new suspect.

The second season of the controversial documentary TV series is expected to highlight the recent happenings in Averys case led by his lawyer Kathleen Zellner. These interesting updates will get along well with Brendan Dasseys overturned life sentence.

According to Newsweek, Zellner, an Illinois-based attorney who specializes in wrongful convictions has filed a motion that accuses investigators of framing her client. She also requires access to a lengthy list of physical evidence so she can have them carefully and critically analyzed using advanced scientific tests that are non -existent during Averys 2007 trial. Furthermore, she plans to divulge the real murderer once she has the results of the latest tests.

Mr. Avery has already completed a series of tests that will conclusively establish his innocence, Zellner stated.

In a previous report of iTech Post, it was noted that the phenomenal series features the real life story of Steven Avery and the potential mistreatment of his murder case. Brendan Dassey (Steven Averys nephew) was tried as an accomplice in the second case for the killing of Teresa Halbach and was sentenced to 41 years in prison.

To recall, Steven Avery was convicted in 2007 and sentenced to life imprisonment in the death of photographer Teresa Halbach, who disappeared after a visit to the Avery familys Manitowoc County salvage yard in 2005.

The millions of viewers who intently follow every shocking details of the blockbuster documentary hope that truth will prevail. Should Avery and Dassey are proven innocents, both deserve the overdue freedom.
Dell has come out with new gaming notebooks at PAX West 2016. These new gaming notebooks would not only come with the usual Nvidia graphic cards, but they are VR-ready as well. The new gaming notebooks from Alienware would be a welcome addition for gamers who would want to be mobile in their gaming.

Dell's Alienware division has come out with three new gaming notebooks. The new notebooks are the Alienware 13, Alienware 15 and Alienware 17. The Alienware 13 is the lowest among the three notebooks out. It is also the smallest at 13 inches. The Alienware 13 would be for gamers who want to have something more portable and less expensive, as Ubergizmo notes.

The Alienware 15, though, is where the real action begins. This notebook brings in more performance with its ability to support the Nvidia GeForce GTX 1060. At 15.6 inches, it is a little bit larger than the Alienware 13 yet still manages to be portable.

Though the Alienware 13 can support the Nvidia GeForce GTX 10-series cards, the Alienware 15 has the Intel i5 processor, making it far better in terms of gaming than the Alienware 13. Its screen is an FHD, anti-glare display with 300-nits. It is also VR-compatible with the GeForce GTX 1060 graphics card.

The high-end among these is of course the Alienware 17 which has the Intel i7 6820HK processor. For gamers, this means that the processor can be overclocked, according to Yahoo Sports. This would then take gaming to a whole new level. It can support up to 32GB DDR4 RAM, making it a fast gaming notebook. It is also not shy on storage as it has 3TB HDD and 1 TB SSD. Just like the Alienware 15, it is VR-compatible.

The Alienware 17 has the IR Tobii eye-tracking technology and Overwolf app that can help gamers keep track where they are looking. This is most useful for gamers who are into first-person shooters (FPS) where the ability to see ahead can be crucial.

All of the new Alienware notebooks have RGB lighting on their keyboards, which has become a feature for many gaming keyboards both on the PC and laptop. It is designed to be sturdy as well with its body made from a mix of anodized aluminum and magnesium alloy. This ensures that the notebooks would be durable yet at the same time light as well.

As if these aren't enough, the new Alienware notebooks also come with an option to support the new AMD RX 470 graphics card. With these features Alienware hopes to get gamers into the new gaming notebooks, which promise to deliver hardcore gaming in portable gaming devices.

If you are into gaming, the iTechPost has the latest on Sony and the new PlayStation 4 variants coming out.
Following the reports of battery explosion incidents, Samsung announced a global recall of its Galaxy 7 on Friday.

Samsung revealed that as of Sept.1, there have been 35 reported cases of the said incident globally. The company has conducted thorough investigation and learned that a battery cell issue is the culprit behind it. This has led to the company's decision to halt sales of the Galaxy Note 7. The company also pointed out that customers' safety is "an absolute priority" thus putting the sale on hold is deem fit.

The Aftermath Of The Recall

On Friday, Koh Dong-jin, President of Samsung's mobile business, expressed regret over the recall. The incidents have an unfortunate timing especially since the Galaxy Note 7 was just released last month.

The company puts its sale on hold in 10 markets including South Korea and the United States. However, China can push through with its sale since its models utilize a different battery.

Samsung plans to replace units sold to consumers as well as retailer inventories and those still in shipments. Koh refused to comment on the total damage cost.

"I can't comment on exactly how much the cost will be," Koh reiterated "but it pains my heart that it will be such a big number."

It was believed that Samsung already sold 2.5 million of the Galaxy Note 7.

What To Do With Your Galaxy Note 7?

Samsung has already offered to voluntarily replace affected device with a new one over the coming weeks. But for consumers who don't want to wait until next week, some US carriers are ready to help starting Friday.

Here are the instructions for each carrier.

Go to Samsung

Samsung will give the option to exchange recalled Galaxy Note 7 for a brand new and fixed unit. Users also have the option to exchnage the Galaxy Note 7 for a Galaxy S7 or S7 Edge with a refund for the price difference. Samsung advises users to return the device to where they originally bought it or call 1-800-SAMSUNG.

Customers are also entitled of a $25 gift card or bill credit for the inconvenience.

Sprint

Sprint has made an announcement via Twitter that customers can visit their local Sprint store to return the defective Galaxy Note 7 and will be given a "similar device" to use temporarily until the said issue is fixed.

Verizon Wireless

Verizon customers can return the Galaxy Note 7, with Verizon waiving the restocking fee through September 30

AT&T

The company has released a statement, "strongly encouraging" customers to exchange the device along with any accessories purchased with it.

T-Mobile

T-Mobile will issue full refunds for the Galaxy Note 7 and accessories. Visit your local T-Mobile store or call 1-800-937-8997. Replacement is expected "in the next two weeks".

Best Buy

Galaxy Note 7 bought in Best Buy can have a full refund as well.
Ceres might be a dwarf planet, but it is dominated by a single feature. On Ceres is what astronomers thought to be a mountain. Now, however, the planet's iconic mountain might turn out to be a large ice volcano. This has been the conclusion arrived upon recently by its researchers.

Ceres is one of the larger asteroids in our Solar System's Asteroid Belt, which has been reclassified as a dwarf planet. Most of its features are rather stark, though one stands out in the planet's otherwise barren landscape. That is Ahuna Mons, which is a lonely mountain on Ceres. Or at least that's what scientists used to think.

Ever since its discovery by NASA's Dawn spacecraft, astronomers have been wondering how Ahuna Mons has been formed, according to Astronomy Magazine. Many have tried to find out how it was formed. Studies were conducted regarding tectonics, volcanoes and other such scenarios.

The most likely answer is that Ahuna Mons is an icy volcano. Such volcanoes are more common in the Solar System's outer planets' moons. However, it might turn out that such volcanoes also exist much closer to the Sun. Lead researcher Ottaviano Ruesch and his team at NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center in Maryland came to this conclusion based on observations made on it.

The data from these observations came from the Dawn spacecraft, which approached and studied Ceres in 2015. Ahuna Mons has been classified as a volcano with a dome over it. Instead of its contents spewing out, it instead comes out slowly until it forms a dome. In the case of Ahuna Mons though, what comes out is a rather slushy form of ice than lava, as Nature reports.

Ceres has a surface temperature of -113 degrees Celsius, which is extremely cold. Ice there could then be hard as rocks here. What comes out of Ahuna Mons is a mixture of chloride and salt which then comes up as salty ice. While what might come out is ice, scientists think that there is an internal heat source that contributes to this. This is because the cryomagma came from below, suggesting that some heat mechanism is driving it upwards.

Ahuna Mons is about 4 kilometers in height, about half the height of Mount Everest. It is estimated to be about only a few million years old. The volcano then is quite young when compared to Ceres' age, which is estimated to be about 4.5 billion years old.

Jeffrey Moore, planetary scientist at NASA's Ames Research Center in California thinks that Ahura Mons might have been the result of the large impact created on Ceres. However, he does agree that the mountain remains a mystery that requires further research.

iTechPost also reports that our solar system might have a ninth planet that could impact it in the future.
The Nvidia GeForce GTX 1070, despite the price hike over its predecessor, could prove to be the best-selling gaming graphics processor for the company.

GeForce GTX 1070

Graphics specialist company Nvidia began launching new GPUs back in May. Their new graphics processors are based on the Pascal architecture and they are mostly targeted at gamers.

These new Nvidia processors offer significant power and performance efficiency improvements over their predecessor graphics processors based on the outdated Maxwell architecture. Market analysts have noticed that Nvidia has increased pricing generation over generation by about $50 when comparing each gaming-oriented graphics processor in the Maxwell family with the corresponding Pascal replacement.

According to The Motley Fool, based on numbers from the Steam Hardware Survey, Nvidia's $329 GeForce GTX 970 graphics card was the best selling product during the Maxwell product cycle. Now it would seem during the Pascal cycle, based on Amazon's best selling graphics card ranking, that the $379-plus GTX 1070 is on its way to become Nvidia's best-selling product.

GeForce GTX 1070 In Amazon's Top 10 Rankings

The best-selling graphics card list at online retail mega site Amazon is updated on an hourly basis. However, as of a recent check, the Nvidia GeForce GTX 1070 has been the top 10 sellers on the list.

Out of the top 10 sellers, four graphics cards are based on the Nvidia GeForce GTX 1070. The rest of the positions on the list are occupied by Nvidia GPUs 1060 and 1080. It's difficult to estimate if total GTX 1070 volumes are actually greater than total GTX 1060 volumes without knowing the absolute sales numbers for these cards. However, Nvidia's GeForce GTX 1070 shows up twice as many times among the top 10 sellers.

Alienware VR-Ready Laptops With Nvidia GeForce GTX 1070

To the big sales of GTX 1070 are also contributing the OEM manufacturers using Nvidia's graphics cards in their gaming computers. This is the case of the Alienware VR-ready gaming laptops Alienware 15 and Alienware 17.

According to Gadgets NDTV, both the Alienware 15 and Alienware 17 will come with an option for the GeForce GTX 1070. The specialized gaming laptops will be available with processors up to Intel's Core i7 6820HK Skylake, with a 4.1GHz overclocked speed. Both models can be upgraded up to 1 TB of storage and 32 GB of RAM.
It wasn't too long ago when the names Google Nexus Marlin and Google Nexus Sailfish came to surface. Now, the two names that were associated to Google's phone line are being replaced. The two handsets, which were referred to as the Sailfish and Marlin, are now allegedly being called the Pixel and Pixel XL. This means that the Nexus brand is ditched for this season. This brings in speculations that Google is also highly likely to stick with the Pixel brand that the company has used a few times in the past.

Google Pixel And Google Pixel XL Specifications

According to a report from an Android blog, the Pixel phone, previously dubbed as the Nexus Sailfish device, will have a 5-inch screen. The Pixel XL phone on the other hand, also referred to as the Marlin device, will be bigger with a 5.5-inch display.

Furthermore, another source says that the Google Pixel XL will sport two different sensors from Sony for its front and back cameras. This also somewhat coincides with older rumors saying that the Marlin could sport great cameras with 13 MP for the rear and 8 MP for the front specifications.

Another report prior to the acknowledgement of the Pixel name said that the new Google phones will come with a tweaked system. Meaning, on top of the Android operating systems of the Google Pixel and Pixel XL, there will be an additional software tweak. It won't be purely Android, so it's expected to offer more than what the previous iterations of the Google phones had offered.

These new additions would include a new launcher, an improved AI experience, and new button designs. If true, then Google is obviously walking away from the image the Nexus has established and is giving the Pixel brand an identity of its own.

Google Pixel and Google Pixel XL Release Date

Rumors state that Google is expected to hold an October 4th event this year to announce their upcoming devices. This goes without saying that the announcement date of the new Google Pixel phones has not yet been confirmed. But if Google indeed holds an even in the coming month, the new Pixel phones are highly likely to show up. Apart from the new phones, Google smartwatches are also expected to be made available before the year ends.
The cabinet of the Republic of Ireland has decided on Friday, Sept 2, to appeal against the EU tax ruling stating that Ireland granted undue tax benefits to Apple.

Ireland and Apple Against EU Tax Ruling

According to Reuters, the European Commission has ruled this week that Ireland granted up to 13 billion euros ($14.5 billion) undue tax benefits to the U.S. high-tech giant Apple. The Commission has also ruled that the U.S. company must pay up the tax to Dublin.

The decision has angered Washington. The U.S. government accuses the European Union (EU) of claiming tax revenue that should rightly go to the U.S.

The transatlantic tensions between America and EU are rising. In this context, the White House said President Barack Obama will raise the issue of tax avoidance by multinational corporations this weekend in China, at a summit of the G20 leading economies.

In a move that might seem as a paradox, Ireland is determined not to accept the tax windfall. The amount in unpaid taxes by Apple would be equivalent to the country's spending on funding its health service last year.

According to BBC News, the Irish cabinet agreed on Friday, Sept 2, on the decision to appeal the EU tax ruling. Taoiseach Enda Kenny declared that he doesn't have to make any apology for defending the Irish government's right to appeal. Speaking after the cabinet meeting, he said that the issue is in fact about Ireland and its people as a sovereign nation.

A Irish government spokesman also said on Friday that a motion will be sent to the parliament on Wednesday. The motion is seeking a parliamentary endorsement of the government's decision to join Apple in its fight against the EU tax ruling.

Meanwhile, Apple chief executive Tim Cook called the EU decision "political" and "maddening" and he said that he feels confident that the ruling would be overturned on appeal.
If you're an avid fan of Sony, better check this out! The Japanese tech giant has recently introduced a gold-plated Walkman that costs a hefty $3199.

The gold-plated Sony Walkman MW-WM1Z is the newest addition to Sony's roster of portable music players. So what's so special about this walkman? Well, if the high-grade gold-plated oxygen-free copper chassis is not impressive enough, take a look at the specs below.

Sony Walkman MW-WM1Z: What We Know So Far

The Sony Walkman MW-WM1Z is not just about the looks or the price. It's also about high quality audio performance.

The golden Walkman has a separate analog and primary digital circuitry that enables a more effective noise reduction. It also has a "dual clock circuit with low phase noise quartz oscillator" that improves digital to analog conversion. It also includes a new S-Master HX digital amplifier, connection cables to prevent signal loss and sound deterioration as well as the DSEE HX technology that was also used in the new Sony MDR-1000X headphones.

It measures 72.8mm x 124mm x 19.8mm and weighs around 455 grams. The newest walkman also features a standard 3.5mm headphone jack and the new 4.4mm balanced jack which supports Hi-Res Audio. Users can also see a 4-inch touchscreen TFT display with a resolution of 854 x 480.

As for its battery life, it was said to last up to 33 hours of music playback (MP3 128kbps), 26 hours playback of FLAC 192kHz/24 bit audio files and 11 hours of playback in DSD 11.2 MHz format. It can support various audio file formats such as AAC, AIFF, ALAC,DSD, FLAC, HE-AAC, Linear OCM, MP3 and WMA.

Users can expect to get 256GB of on-board storage for all music needs. This new device also runs in Android OS.

The Sony Walkman MW-WM1Z is slated for release on October for a whopping $3199.
Get unlimited access to all content and features at ivpressonline.com with our Full Online Access Subscription. Read our E-Edition, the digital replica of the print newspaper online, access content in exclusive sections including Family, Teen, Business, Databases, Farm and more. This option does not include daily home delivery of the Imperial Valley Press newspaper. For home delivery service, please select Premium or Premium Plus.
Thailand welcomed over 29 million foreign visitors in 2015 while Indonesia only had 10.41 million. Almost 3 times less.





This is quite an abnormal situation considering Indonesia is a much larger country with better beaches, better surfing, better diving and better hiking. The cultural and natural diversity of Indonesia is unmatched in Southeast Asia. There are 8 UNESCO World Heritage Sites in Indonesia and only 5 in Thailand. If only Indonesian cuisine was more famous, it could compete with Thai food (similar Malaysian food was named 6th Best in the World by CNN ). Indonesians are just as nice as Thai people, and they speak English better.





Despite this potential, why are there so few foreigners visiting Indonesia compared to Thailand?





1) Bad Location and Less Flights

As with any businesses, location is always the main factor to explain success or failure. Thailand is closer from China, from the rest of Asia and from Europe. Unsurprisingly, it receives more visitors from all the countries in those areas.



For a European, a Chinese, an Indian, a Japanese or a Russian, it is always shorter, cheaper and easier to go to Thailand.





Logically, the only two nations that send more tourists to Indonesia are Singapore and Australia, both its direct neighbors. Unfortunately they are dwarf countries with a combined population of less than 30 million people.



Being wider, Indonesia is more difficult to visit. You often need to take an additional internal flight, making a trip even more long and costly. For instance, the famous diving site of Raja Ampat in Papua is 4 hours and 300$ away from Jakarta.





China

The impact of China alone is crucial. In 2015, Thailand received over 7,9 million Chinese visitors, 27,5% of all their tourists. In the meantime, Indonesia had only about a million.





The number of direct flights from China to Thailand is impressive. There are over 30 cities in China with direct flights, arriving to 8 Thai destinations (Bangkok, Chiang Mai, Phuket, Chiang Rai, Pattaya, Koh Samui, Krabi, Surat Thani). Direct flights from China to Indonesia are much more rare: Only Jakarta, Bali and Manado have some, from only 10 Chinese cities.





The prices from China to Thailand are much lower as well, not only because it is shorter, but also because there are a few low-cost airlines operating on these routes (Thai Smile, Air Asia, Spring Airlines).





A Chinese can get a return ticket to Thailand for less than 100$, but he'll need to pay at least $400 if he wants to travel to Indonesia.





2) Poor Infrastructure





Reading the



With a GDP Per Capita about 30% lower than Thailand, Indonesia is also a few years behind Thailand in terms of economic development. Jakarta is still waiting for its first mass transportation system whereas Bangkok has had one since 1999. Bangkok has cheap and world-class hospitals while Flights and location cannot explain everything. Americans are just as far from Thailand as they are from Indonesia: Both destinations require a 24-hour flight that costs about 500$ one way. Yet, in 2014, Indonesia was visited by 251,000 Americans and Thailand by 763,000.Reading the 2015 Global Tourism and Travel Report , the major difference between the two countries resides in the "Tourist Service Infrastructure" (number of hotel rooms, car rental companies, ATMs, etc). On this criteria, Thailand ranks 21st globally and Indonesia 101st.With a GDP Per Capita about 30% lower than Thailand, Indonesia is also a few years behind Thailand in terms of economic development. Jakarta is still waiting for its first mass transportation system whereas Bangkok has had one since 1999. Bangkok has cheap and world-class hospitals while in Bali any serious accident requires medical evacuation . Modern highways connect Thai cities, while in Java, it takes an hour to drive 30 kilometers.

7) Less Sex Tourism
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By Juan Cole | (Informed Comment) |  

The death of Islam Karimov, the president for life of Uzbekistan who came to power in 1990 after the collapse of the Soviet empire had begun in 1989, has been confirmed. His stroke six days ago was a badly kept secret.

I saw a headline from CNN that Americas partner in counter-terrorism was gone and threw up a little bit in my mouth.

Karimov was only one dog-eaten uncle short of running a North Korea. His seedy police state deployed systematic torture. His repressive policies in the Ferghana Valley radicalized a generation of Uzbeks. Those forced out went on to destabilize Afghanistan, northern Pakistan and Syria. Karimov wasnt a partner in counter-terrorism; he was a one-man terrorist-creation machine.

Most Uzbeks are conventionally religious in attitude but hardly fundamentalist or very observant (all those decades of determined Communist rule had an effect), and the men seem to like their vodka. A bigger proportion of the population tells pollsters they arent religious than is the case in the US.

Deniz Kandiyoti and I staged a conference in Tashkent in 1996 when we were with the Social Science Research Council, and I enjoyed visiting the country, in the archives of which I was interested, as a historian. The conference participants were very sharp and I learned a great deal from them. But there was a tenseness to the proceedings, since it was clear that some of the scholars were nervous about how far they could go in their analyses without having someone report them to the secret police. As an intellectual, I could tell it was a place where I had no future.

Karimov took the US and the UK for a ride after 9/11, reporting to them that his political opposition, whom he arrested and tortured (sometimes to death) was all al-Qaeda.

Former UK ambassador Craig Murray lost his career because he tried to tell Tony Blair about Karimovs torture and the counter-terrorism fraud.

I remember reading in the early 1990s about the Birlik Party in Uzbekistan and seeing it tagged as Muslim fundamentalist. Then I looked into it and its members were trying to learn how to pray. (Uzbekistan is not fertile territory for piety). So, no. Karimov wasnt a bulwark against Central Asian Muslim hordes of Gog and Magog.

In 1989, 44 percent of Uzbeks were under the poverty line. The most recent statistic I could find was 47%. The Uzbek economy has seen fairly strong growth in the past decade, mainly off relatively high prices for natural gas, but the extra income hasnt exactly trickled down. Even with the growth, Karimov never generated many good jobs (it only takes so many people to export natural gas). As a result, ten percent of the labor force in this country of 30 million are working abroad mainly in Russia but also in Kazakhstan.

The government is one of the more corrupt in the world, which has limited direct foreign investment. The closely guarded borders and currency restrictions also affect companies ability to repatriate profits.

There is little industry. The automobile factories are just places to assemble the car, with the parts made in South Korea or elsewhere, which limits profit margins.

With Uzbekistan mainly dependent on gold, cotton and natural gas, and given that energy prices are half what they were a couple of years ago, the country could face severe problems. The slowing of the Russian and Chinese economies is also a threat. China doesnt need as much natural gas this year as it did last. And salaries for guest workers in Russia have plummeted and the number of available jobs for them has fallen.

A bright spot is that the population growth rate has fallen to below replacement levels, so GDP growth actually starts to mean something. But two decades ago the birthrate was high, which means that there are enormous numbers of young people hitting the job market every year, and the median age of the population is very young.

CNN is worried about Uzbekistans stability in the wake of Karimovs death. But if it does go unstable, it wont be because the strongman is gone, but because he put the country in the pressure cooker of a quarter century of repression. What could go wrong?



Related video:

Channel 4 News: Death in Uzbekistan
[JURIST] Former Brazilian president Dilma Rousseff [Reuters profile] has appealed to the Federal Supreme Court [official website] following her removal from office. Arguing that her right to due process had been violated, Rousseff appealed [Reuters report] to the Supreme Court to issue an injunction on the impeachment. Rousseff, by way of counsel, Jose Eduardo Cardozo, also asked the court to amend the budgetary law from the 1950s that laid the ground for Rousseffs impeachment.

Rousseff was removed from office [JURIST report] on Wednesday following a 61-81 Senate vote in favor of impeachment. Shortly after the decision, Rousseff took to Twitter, proclaiming her innocence and describing the impeachment as a coup, saying that it was racist, misogynist and homophobic. While awaiting the ruling during her suspension, Rousseff made an impassioned speech [JURIST report] on Tuesday, in which she claimed she was innocent of the accusations against her and that the evidence against her is only a pretext to overthrow a legitimate government. Brazils political establishment has been in turmoil as many powerful politicians have been brought to the center of embarrassing corruption investigation and trials. Earlier this month the Senate of Brazil officially indicted [JURIST report] Rousseff, marking the beginning of an impeachment trial against the embattled president. Rousseffs opposition claimed that she doctored documents to hide the size of the national deficit in order to spend more government funds as her re-election neared. It is also believed she continued to forge documents in her second term and spent over USD $210 million without the legislatures approval.
A court in Nice, France, on Thursday struck down the ban on full-body burkini swimsuits in the city of Nice after the city authorities continued with the ban, defying last weeks ruling [JURIST report] by Frances highest administrative court. The top court of France had struck down the ban on burkinis that was in effect in 30 towns in the south-eastern region of France. However, many of the towns, including Nice, ignored the ruling. The chief lawyer for the city of Nice argued on Wednesday [Guardian report] that burkinis posed a risk of public disorder, even going as far as stating that the city was almost on the brink of civil war. But the Nice court rejected this claim stating that burkinis posed no risk to hygiene, decency or safety when swimming.  In the absence of such risks, the emotions and the concerns resulting from terrorist attacks, and especially from the attack on July 14, are insufficient grounds to legally justify the contested ban.

Tensions in France have been high since an event in Nice in July in which more than 84 citizens were killed [BBC report] by a truck that drove through a crowd celebrating Bastille Day. Nice was one of the first cities [Guardian report] to ban the burkini, with city authorities claiming that wearing the garment was a risk to public order. Tensions were further increased last week when photographs from a Nice beach showing police surrounding a woman in a headscarf [Guardian report] and a long-sleeved top surfaced last week. Nice authorities denied the woman had been forced to remove clothing. At least 30 fines [Guardian report] have been issued in Nice since the burkini ban was introduced during the summer. Last week Frances highest administrative court, the Council of State [official website, in French], overturned [JURIST report] the ban on burkinis in the French city of Cannes. The court held that imposing a burkini ban is an affront to fundamental freedoms, including freedom to come and go, and freedom of conscience and personal liberty. Former French president Nicolas Sarkozy [BBC profile] stated to the press that he would amend the constitution to ban full-body burkini swimsuits if re-elected next April. His comments [JURIST report] came after a statement was made by Interior Minister Bernard Cazeneuve, who said a ban on burkinis would be unconstitutional [La Croix report, in French]. In response, Sarkozy said: Well, then we change the constitution. Weve changed it thirty odd times, its not a problem.
[JURIST] Malaysian government minister Abdul Rahman Dahlan confirmed on Friday that Prime Minister Najib Razak [official website] is the unnamed official involved in the nations recent national wealth fund scandal. In 2009 Razak established the fund [BBC report] known as 1MDB to promote economic growth in Malaysia, but the fund has since been considered a failure due to the countrys extraordinary debt. Complaints recently arose accusing high level officials of conspiring to misappropriate USD $3.5 billion from 1MDB. The US Department of Justice (DOJ) [official website] filed a lawsuit [press release] in July to seize assets involved in the scandal and specifically named a Malaysian Official 1 who allegedly received USD $681 million of the stolen money before returning most of it. While it was universally understood that Razak was Malaysian Official 1, Malaysian citizens subsequently rose in protest demanding that Razak identify himself officially. Dahlan stated that Razak has always clearly been the unnamed party. Furthermore, Dahlan stressed that Razak was unnamed in the lawsuit because he is not involved in the investigation. The Malaysian Attorney Generals Office had already cleared [JURIST report] Razak of corruption charges over the USD $681 million upon finding that the money was actually a personal donation from the Saudi royal family. Protests against Razak will likely take a toll on his international reputation and his upcoming run for reelection.

Razaks corruption allegations have caused controversy over the past several months. In March former Malaysian prime minister Mahathir Mohamad filed a lawsuit [JURIST report] against Razak alleging corruption and abuse of power. In July two major opposition parties in Malaysia called for an emergency [JURIST report] sitting of parliament in order to discuss the future of the countrys prime minister. A police report has also been lodged against Razak by many opposition members, including representatives [Reuters report] of political parties. In 2006 Razak, who has served as the countrys prime minister since 2009, was accused [BBC report] of being connected to the murder of Mongolian model Altantuya Shaariibuu, after her remains were found in October of that year in Kuala Lumpur. Razak, who was deputy prime minister at the time, denied having any connections to the murder or even knowing the model.
In a press release [test] Friday a UN rights expert expressed on-going concerns for the safety of persons with albinism in Mozambique, while at the same time recognizing that the nation had taken successful steps to improve conditions. Specifically, the UN commended the Mozambique government in its work toward preempting and prosecuting crimes committed against persons with albinism. However, an Independent Expert for the UN, Ikponwosa Ero, warned of the precarious situation still experienced by those with albinism in the region. Around the world, Albinism is subject to mystification and people living with the condition are harassed, attacked, or killed for their body parts. The expert urged Mozambique to identify the masterminds behind such crimes.

The treatment of albinos in Africa and neighboring countries has been a highly contested human rights issue for many years. Earlier this year Ero noted the increasing violence [JURIST report] against people with albinism triggered by fallacious witchcraft beliefs. Last year the UN Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) launched a website [JURIST report] aimed at disproving the myths of albinism. In 2014 the OHCHR said that the Tanzanian governments system of placing children with albinism in government care centers does not provide this vulnerable group with adequate protection [JURIST report] from those who target albinos. In May 2014 then-UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Navi Pillay called for increased protection [press release] for people with albinism after the murder of a 40-year old woman with albinism, adding that the killing demonstrated that the human rights situation for people with albinism in Tanzania and other countries remains dire.
[JURIST] US President Barack Obama and Chinese President Xi Jinping [profiles] on Saturday formally committed their nations to the Paris Agreement [Nature backgrounder], a pact seeking to reduce carbon emissions and halt climate change. The worlds first comprehensive climate pact, the Paris Agreement will only come into force after it is ratified by at least 55 nations comprising more than half of the worlds carbon emissions. The US and China signings are a big step forward for the Paris Agreement, as the two nations are responsible for roughly 40% of the worlds total carbon emissions. Leaving to the particular signatories how, the agreement seeks to keep global warming below two degrees Celsius.

The Paris Agreement was reached during the twenty-first annual conference of parties, known as COP21 [official website] and achieved the goal of limiting global temperature rise to 2 degrees Celsius, aiming for only a 1.5 degree temperature rise. According to many experts, climate change [JURIST backgrounder] as a result of global greenhouse gas emissions is one of the most pressing and controversial environmental issues facing the international community today. In July US President Obama and Brazilian President Dilma Rousseff announced an agreement [text] to address climate change [JURIST report]. Both countries pledged to reduce carbon emissions by increasing the use of wind and solar power sources to 20 percent of each nations electricity production by 2030.
[JURIST] German automaker Volkswagen (VW) [corporate website] on Thursday appealed the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) [official website] decision to support union representation for workers at the VW plant in Chattanooga, Tennessee. The United Automobile Workers (UAW) [union website] in December won the right [Reuters report] to represent 160 of the plants 1,500 workers and planned to negotiate wages and benefits with VW. The automaker argued that it could not support the UAWs efforts because all of its workers should vote on union representation as a group. The matter was subsequently brought to the NLRB, and VW had stated outright its intention to appeal an unfavorable decision. German metalworkers union IG Metall [corporate website], a supporter of the UAW, has called on VW to respect labor laws and cooperate with the UAW immediately.

VW is facing legal difficulty around the world over allegations that the automaker misled customers in relation to the significantly higher nitrogen oxide emissions being produced by its vehicles. On Thursday the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission [official website] sued [JURIST report] VW for misleading customers to believe that the vehicles were environment friendly and complied with Australian and European standards and regulations. In August a district court in Germany ruled [JURIST report] that a collective complaint against VW may move forward. Like US-style class-action lawsuits, the collective complaint was launched on behalf of multiple investors who lost money following the diesel emissions cheating scandal. In July a judge for the US District Court for the Northern District of California gave preliminary approval [JURIST report] to a $15 billion settlement between VW and the US Environmental Protection Agency, California officials and consumers. In June VW agreed [JURIST report] to spend up to $14.7 billion to settle allegations of cheating emissions tests and deceiving customers in a settlement with US regulators. In March the Federal Trade Commission filed suit [JURIST report] against VW for false advertising.
It is estimated that 1,00,000 people flocked to Itaewon streets for the Halloween festivities.
LINCOLN  On Aug. 23, all 83 Runza Restaurants in Nebraska, Colorado, Iowa and Kansas donated 10 percent of sales to purchase books for libraries, schools and school foundations in communities with a Runza location.

The fundraiser, titled Great Books for Great Kids, promotes the importance of reading and literacy. This years effort raised $28,609.

In the 14-year history of the fundraiser, over $435,000 has been donated.

Runza operates and franchises 83 restaurants in Nebraska, Colorado, Iowa and Kansas. Runza has Kearney locations at 815 Second Ave. E. and 325 W. 39th St.
LINCOLN (AP)  A conservative Nebraska state senator who had admitted to having cybersex on a state laptop with a woman he met online refused to resign by a deadline of Friday set by a legislative committee.

Sen. Bill Kintner released a letter shortly before the 5 p.m. deadline saying he had considered the issue carefully but believed many of the constituents in his district wanted him to stay.

I have not tried to hide from my sin, Kintner said in the letter to fellow lawmakers. I fully understand the gravity of my action and how it reflects upon the fact that I carry the title and responsibility of a state senator. I have taken personal responsibility for my action. I have apologized to God, to my wife, to you and to my constituents.

Members of the Legislatures Executive Board had threatened to recommend that he be impeached or expelled from office, but the boards chairman said Friday that he doesnt know whether there are enough votes to do so in the Nebraska Legislature, which has one chamber.

Kintner was fined $1,000 by a state accountability board after admitting to the online sexual encounter with a woman he met on Facebook. The

woman, who is believed to have ties to an Ivory Coast crime syndicate, later threatened to expose the encounter unless Kintner paid her $4,500.

The bipartisan Executive Board voted 9-0 on Monday to send Kintner a letter calling for his resignation. Republican Gov. Pete Ricketts has also urged him to leave office.

Im disappointed, said Sen. Bob Krist of Omaha, the Executive Boards chairman and a fellow Republican. Its proof positive that Mr. Kintner is not listening to his colleagues.

Krist said he intends to put restrictions on Kintners computer use and will look very closely at the senators future travel requests.

Kintner has a reputation as a blunt-spoken conservative who relishes taking on high-profile topics, including opposition to gay rights and advocating restrictions on immigration. He is not up for re-election until 2018.

Board members had been scheduled to meet Thursday to decide how to proceed, but Krist said he canceled the meeting. He said he instead plans to see if theres enough support to convene the full Legislature for a special meeting before November.
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Turkish tanks stationed near the Syrian border, in Karkamis, Turkey, Saturday, Sept. 3, 2016. Turkey's state-run news agency says Turkish tanks have entered Syria's Cobanbey district northeast of Aleppo in a "new phase" of the Euphrates Shield operation. Turkish tanks crossed into Syria Saturday to support Syrian rebels against the Islamic State group, according to the Anadolu news agency. (Ismail Coskun, IHA via AP)


Yoruba actor, Odunlade Adekola, has addressed rumours that his career success has been as a result of his reliance on metaphysical powers.

According to Punch , the actor denied the story, adding that his belief in God had been the reason for his success.

I never knew I would be successful as an actor; my belief has always been that God should elevate me in my endeavours. I always prayed that God should make me a successful person.

Some people say that I used voodoo or metaphysical powers to be successful. I hear when they say such but I tell everyone that I can never do such.

To clear any doubt about his sincerity concerning the voodoo rumour, the actor swore in front of a crowd.



During the graduation of my students last year, I addressed this issue because it was during that time people were peddling rumours of my demise.

When the rumour of my death hit town, some people said that I did jazz to be successful. That was why during the graduation of my students last year, I said it in public that if I had ever thought of doing jazz to succeed God should make me lose everything I had ever worked for.

I hear these comments but they do not move me at all. I am a writer, director, producer and an actor. It is normal for people to talk but it has never upset me.
Although the lawsuit between George Altgelt and the city has been settled, the city is still paying for it.

The expenses of the lawsuit have totaled up to nearly $20,000.

About three quarters of that amount will go to Altgelt's attorney and the other will go toward paying the attorney the city hired from Austin.

On Friday, the city made out a check for George Altgelt's Attorney Doanh "Zone" Nyugen in the amount of $15,050.

The city hired out-of-town attorney Randall Buck Wood and had paid him a retainer of $5,000.

He says he estimates the total to be around $4,000, so the city might see a return of about $1,000.

This comes as a result of the settlement the city reached with Altgelt on Wednesday.

Although the councilman submitted an incomplete form to participate in the November election, it was determined the city secretary's office had failed to inform him of the oversight.

After reconsideration, Altgelt's name will be allowed to appear on the November ballot.
SHARE Huyen Tran pours broth on an order of steak pho during a recent busy lunch rush at Pho T&N in Poulsbo. Tran and her family fled Vietnam following the war, living in a refugee camp and at one point returning to their homeland before finally arriving in the United States in 1998. (MEEGAN M. REID / KITSAP SUN) Egg rolls are served up at Pho T&N in Poulsbo. (MEEGAN M. REID / KITSAP SUN) Orders of steak and chicken pho await their broth in the Pho T&N kitchen. (MEEGAN M. REID / KITSAP SUN) Huyen Tran pours broth on chicken pho recently at Pho T&N in Poulsbo. (MEEGAN M. REID / KITSAP SUN)

By Terri Gleich, Special to the Kitsap Sun

POULSBO  The secret to good pho, according to Trinh Nguyen at Poulsbo's Pho T&N, is perfectly seasoned broth.

And even though the Vietnamese noodle soup is typically served with an enticing array of condiments, Nguyen said the flavorful base should shine all by itself. "Good broth does not need sriracha. It does not need hoisin. It does not need jalapeno, lime or basil."

At T&N, the broth simmers up to 24 hours in a pot that yields 400-500 bowls. Pronounced fuh, the soup is served with rice noodles, a choice of meats or tofu, white onions, green onions, bean sprouts, cilantro, basil, jalapenos and lime. It's pure comfort food that's especially soothing for patrons with a cold.

"During flu season, we see as many patients as the The Doctors Clinic," Nguyen joked.

As T&N celebrates its 11th anniversary in October, the restaurant is coming off a year of transitions. It nearly doubled in size and staff in 2015, as it switched from a fast food-style eatery to a full-service restaurant.

Nguyen said the change is emblematic of a bigger shift as she and her brother, Joe, take over management of the restaurant from their parents, dad Rang Nguyen and mom Huyen Tran.

"Our parents' generation created the American dream," said Trinh Nguyen. "It's up to Joe and I to retain that American dream."

Trinh was 3 and Joe was 7 when the family fled their homeland after the Vietnam War. They spent seven years in a Thai refugee camp and had to return to Vietnam before finally making it to the United States in 1998.

"We were the last of the Vietnamese boat people," said Trinh Nguyen. "We were fleeing communism. We were fleeing for a better opportunity."

Her mom and dad worked in restaurants in Seattle and Kitsap, including Chung's Teriyaki, before saving enough money to open their own place in Poulsbo Village. T&N stands for their last names, Nguyen and Tran.

The restaurant continues to be a family affair, with mom, dad and Trinh's husband, Marlon Moquia, cooking recipes that came from the Nguyen family. Joe, who served in the Marines and has a degree in business, runs the financial side, while Trinh, who got her degree in business management and finance online while working at the restaurant, handles operations and marketing. The family also includes younger siblings, Thai, who is going to culinary school in Seattle, and Linda, a senior at Central Kitsap High School.

T&N has about 50 dishes on the menu and offers seasonal specials, including luscious oxtail pho during the winter. Nguyen said the restaurant focuses on providing consistently high-quality dishes and serves only authentic Vietnamese food.

"The only thing we Americanize are the portions," said Nguyen. "The flavors and the preparations are the same."

Fall and winter are the restaurant's busiest seasons. In addition to pho, popular dishes include vermicelli noodle bowls, lemon grass with beef or tofu and shaking beef, so named because the cubes of marinated beef are constantly shaken in the hot pan to ensure they are properly browned on the outside and rare in the middle. Most entrees cost $10-13.

While the food has remained the same, the restaurant underwent a major face-lift in 2015, going from a brightly colored takeout spot to an inviting space with dark wood and deep terra cotta-colored walls. Nguyen said T&N transformed from a "hole-in-the-wall" to a place where people want to linger or have meetings.

Steffi and Bob Pencovic are longtime customers, who rave about the restaurant's pho, noodle bowls, garlic butter wings and Vietnamese crepes.

"I have for years said this is the best restaurant in Poulsbo," said Bob Pencovic. "I'm a Vietnam vet, so I know good Vietnamese food."

Steffi Pencovic said one of her favorites is the noodle bowl with grilled beef. "The beef is tender as can be and so flavorful."

Another regular customer, Lisa Girkin, loves the steak pho and rice with short ribs. "The food is just better quality than other pho places we've gone to. It's fresher," she said.

Pho T&N

Where: 19689 7th Ave. NE, Poulsbo

Hours: 10:30 a.m. to 9 p.m. Mondays through Saturdays

To-go orders: 360-394-1601

Info: http://photnpoulsbo.com/
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By Andrew Binion of the Kitsap Sun

PORT ORCHARD  Two men charged with aggravated murder in separate high-profile homicide cases from 2014 had their trials pushed back Friday, one to allow a new lawyer time to investigate an alternative defense and another to allow for a response from the state Court of Appeals.

Gabriel Z. Gaeta, 19, is accused of raping and killing 6-year-old Jenise Wright, a neighbor of the former Olympic High School wrestler. DNA evidence found on Jenise's body matches Gaeta's, according to court documents. At the time of Gaeta's arrest in August 2014 he was 17, but was charged as an adult.

Attorneys on the case indicated Friday both sides may be interested in resolving the case short of trial after hearing the results of an appeal. His trial date was pushed back from Oct. 10 to March 6.

David M. Kalac, 35, was accused in November 2014 of strangling Amber Coplin, 30, with whom he lived in Port Orchard. Kalac then allegedly posted photos of Coplin to an Internet site and fled to Portland, where he turned himself in a day later. His trial date was pushed back from Sept. 19 to Oct. 31.

Both judges expressed reluctance at postponing the trials, given that the cases are each about two years old.

Kalac's attorney, Ron Ness, died of natural causes in August, putting Adrian Pimentel in charge. Pimentel told Kitsap Superior Court Judge Jeannette Dalton on Friday that he had retained an expert on the effects of alcohol abuse and mental health.

If Kalac uses a "mental health defense"  where he would not contest the state's factual case but claim that the effects of alcohol abuse rendered him incapable of planning to kill Coplin  a jury could find him guilty of a lesser murder charge, and Kalac could receive a sentence where he would not spend the rest of his life in prison. If convicted of aggravated first-degree murder, he would be sentenced to life without parole.

Pimentel, who was "second chair" on the case but advanced to lead counsel after Ness' death, said he did not want to delay the trial any longer than necessary. He told Dalton on Friday that, depending of the results of an evaluation of Kalac, he could have his case ready by the end of this month. Prosecutors would then have a month to prepare.

Dalton agreed, saying though she wanted the case the proceed but noted that Ness' death was "untimely and unexpected" Kalac had to be assigned a new lead attorney who had the right to re-evaluate the case.

"Weighing the two, I would rather not risk the case being overturned on appeal if I foreclosed the opportunity to investigate that defense," Dalton said.

Deputy Prosecutor Ione George, who had previously objected to any further delay, did not argue against a delay.

However, Dalton encouraged George to "light a fire" under Western State Hospital, which would evaluate Kalac for the state's case.

A family member of Coplin's said the delays have been frustrating and have weighed heavily on Coplin's five sons and her family.

"Trying to explain to a 7- and an 11-year-old why we keep having to come to court is hard because they don't understand," said Rebecca Coplin, grandmother to Amber Coplin's children, two of whom she is raising.

In Gaeta's case, his lawyers are asking the state Division II Court of Appeals to review a state law, and Judge Jennifer Forbes' decision to uphold the law, that allows juveniles convicted of aggravated first-degree murder to be sentenced to life in prison without parole.

Attorneys on both sides said Friday it was a technical legal question that, when resolved, could clarify the minimum sentences Gaeta could face and allow negotiations to proceed.

Deputy Prosecutor Kelly Montgomery told Judge Jennifer Forbes that Jenise's family did not object to a delay if it could result in Gaeta pleading guilty.

"They don't want to see a trial if it can be avoided," Montgomery told Forbes.

Forbes said since the delay could result in a "good faith" effort to resolve the case, she agreed to postpone the trial.
Stuff reports:

Labour is apparently close to endorsing a tax on sugary drinks  with health spokeswoman Annette King saying there is growing evidence and support for such a measure.

Once again Labour looks to steal a policy from the Greens and move further to the left.

The commission  co-chaired by the Prime Ministers chief science adviser Professor Sir Peter Gluckman  cited research by Mexican health officials on the 10 per cent surcharge on sugary drinks that was introduced there three years ago. Health advocates and some Mexican senators are now urging for that tax to be doubled, as sales of fizzy drinks have largely recovered after an initial drop.

So the tax has failed, which means the activists demand it be increased. If the tax reduces consumption they will demand it be retained as working, and if it fails to reduce consumption they demand it be doubled!

And as it happens the focus is on the wrong thing. If you want to reduce obesity you need to reduce calories, not just one small source (1.6% on average) of calories.

In NZ even if a sugar tax reduced consumption of soda drinks by 10% (being generous) it would reduce average daily calories by 3 a day!! Now the activists will argue obese people drink more soda drinks that the average. So let us again be generous and assume an obese person drinks twice as much as the average. They will consume six fewer calories a day!

And this is all dependent on a third generous assumption  that there is no substitution.

So how long does it take for a sugar tax to get someone who is obese to be non-obese?

Well if we make the three generous assumptions of:

A sugar tax will reduce soda consumption by 10% An obese person drinks twice as many sodas as the average person There will be zero substitution

The sugar tax will take 64 years to get an obese person non-obese!!

Remember this when Labour announces their support for a new tax.

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The Carl Sandburg home is part of a National Historic Site in Flat Rock, N.C.

By Clayton Hensley, Special to the News Sentinel

Main Street curves past wide sidewalks, large beds of flowers and small trees as it passes through downtown Hendersonville, N.C. It's a Thursday evening in the middle of summer, and hundreds of people roam around this inviting town on the edge of the Blue Ridge Mountains.

Hendersonville is easy to overlook as it's only about 30 minutes from Asheville and just a bit further from the bustling metropolis of Greenville/Spartanburg, S.C. Being this close to the mountains, visitors are sure to see a bear or two, but don't worry. The bears here welcome you with open arms usually while standing on their back legs. Spread throughout town, the bears are part of a public art project providing a colorful splash of hospitality and wonder. A variety of themes are represented: there's a polka-dotted bear, a bear filled with care and compassion and even one that looks like he's just out of Hogwart's Academy.

Beyond the bears, books, boutiques and a bevy of restaurant choices make Hendersonville a great place to spend the day or the weekend. On the north end of Main Street, a stunning sculpture welcomes people downtown. Created by Berry Bate in 2013, "Mountain Memory" symbolizes the city's deep roots in its natural setting. Mountains made of copper sit atop the sculpture while streams of water run down over the rocks underneath. In sharp contrast, the historic Henderson County Courthouse with its stately columns and golden dome stands as a monument to the city's role as a seat of government and commerce.

North Carolina's own Mast General Store has set up shop in the historic Syndicate Building along Main Street. Its bright red brick and dark green awnings harken back to another time when the downtown was booming. According to the Mast Store website, Maxell Brown's Fancy Grocery was the first store located in the vintage structure, circa 1909. Now, more than 100 years later, Mast continues offering goods that Maxell Brown's might have had on hand.

Large black letters spell out "Ewbank and Ewbank" on the outside of the building at 408 N. Main. Just below the historic name for the building is a sign simply saying "BOOKS." Novels and Novelties is an independent bookstore that showcases all the area has to offer alongside great reading for people of all ages. There is more to explore on the second floor where whimsical notes on some doors leave folks curious as to what is behind them. One of them reads "Students of the finishing school for etiquette and espionage only please."

In the basement of another building, the glow of a few rocks makes a trip down the stairs worth it. The Mineral and Lapidary Museum showcases the geologic side of the area with an extensive collection of fluorescent minerals, fossils, geodes and petrified wood. There's even a "life sized"casting of a T-Rex.

Whether it's fine dining or a sweet treat from an old-fashioned soda shop, you'll likely find something to please your palette along Main Street or just beyond. Being in the heart of North Carolina's Apple Country, the craft brewery craze takes a decidedly different twist with the Flat Rock Cider Works, an establishment focused on hard cider.

As summer nears an end, cravings for fresh apples reach a peak. All that's needed to feed those cravings is a drive out on U.S. 64 east of town. Just about everywhere you turn there's an orchard or fruit stand offering apples in baskets or ones you pick on your own. One of the largest apple operations is in the appropriately named community of Fruitland. Visitors can grab a wagon at the store and head out between the dozens of rows of trees to pick apples or buy them at the orchard store. You might even be able to pick up apple cider, apple cider donuts, berries and peaches during a visit. This weekend, Hendersonville presses its love for apples even more with its annual Apple Festival downtown, a tradition that's been going for 60 years. It continues through Monday (www.ncapplefestival.org/)

Beyond Hendersonville

"I'm an idealist. I don't know where I'm going, but I'm on my way." That's a quote from revered American poet and writer Carl Sandburg, who found his way to this part of North Carolina, calling it home for many years. Located in the Village of Flat Rock, the Carl Sandburg Home National Historic Site provides a glimpse into one of the country's literary giants. Sandburg, who penned a biography of Abraham Lincoln and wrote the endearing "Rootabaga Stories," called his farm Connemara. Today, visitors can sit by a serene lake, tour Sandburg's home on the hill or meet the herd of goats out at the bright red barn. Even if you've never read any of Sandburg's works, a visit here is sure to inspire you to recite one of his many poems or even write one of your own.

Great writers aren't the only people inspired by the surroundings in Flat Rock. This small town's eclectic and artsy vibe is evident at nearly every turn. It's hard to miss the brightly colored creations sitting in front of the "Wrinkled Egg," a collection of artistic goods and culinary creations. Just a short distance away is the Flat Rock Playhouse, a favorite for lovers of the theater. Inspiration of a spiritual nature comes on a visit to the St. John in the Wilderness Episcopal Church. This stately house of worship nestled back in the woods has been there since 1836.

Hendersonville is a gateway community to an array of natural wonders. Chimney Rock and Lake Lure are just down the other side of the Continental Divide about 30 minutes from downtown. In the other direction, Dupont State Forest welcomes tens of thousands of visitors each year in search of the exhilaration that waterfalls can provide. Start your visit there at the relatively new visitor's center before heading to places like Triple Falls, which was featured in the first Hunger Games. Hooker Falls is a favorite spot to cool off, and High Falls features a covered bridge crossing at the top. Another favorite spot for locals is Jump Off Rock in the Laurel Park community. The rock outcropping draws people there for the panoramic views of the Blue Ridge Mountains.
Charles Lee Burley Jr.

By Megan Boehnke of the Knoxville News Sentinel

Three years before Charles Lee Burley Jr. was fired in April for texting while driving a school bus, he was accused of inappropriately touching a Karns Middle School girl and then charged with going to students' homes to confront them about the accusation, documents show.

Knox County Schools officials this week defended their decision to rehire Burley in 2014  even after he was indicted for criminal trespassing  because he had been cleared in the original child abuse complaint. Burley ultimately pleaded guilty to the trespassing charge in December 2014, more than a year after the incident and four months after he had been reinstated by the school district.

Related: Officials: Knox Schools bus driver fired for texting, another under investigation

"The superintendent approves all these reinstatements," said Knox County Schools Transportation Director Rick Grubb, referring to then-Superintendent Jim McIntyre. "He agreed and I felt like he (Burley) was a legitimate candidate."

Burley, 56, said this week he was innocent, but had been advised to plead guilty to avoid the costs involved with a trial.

"I went through a year of emotional hell, crying, seeing a therapist, depression, because it really upsets me when I have done nothing wrong," he said. "My family was telling me to take the charge, my partner at the time was telling me to take the charge. I did what everyone told me to do.

"Do I regret taking that charge? You bet your life I do."

The News Sentinel learned of Burley's April firing for texting and his other problems with the district after reviewing hundreds of pages of documents released by Knox County Schools in response to multiple public records requests, as well as from court documents.

Those records show Knox County Schools first received a complaint that Burley had touched the female student on Sept. 18, 2013. School officials said they pulled him from his route immediately while a Tennessee Department of Children's Services investigation began.

The next day, school officials received a call that the Knox County Sheriff's Office had been summoned to a Karns mobile home park to confront witnesses about the child abuse claim, according to a letter in Burley's file.

Burley was told multiple times to leave the park by the witnesses, neighbors and police, according to an arrest warrant. On Sept. 20, 2013, Burley returned to the mobile home park, driving by the witnesses' homes and honking his horn, which led the witnesses to "feel intimidated and frightened," according to the arrest warrant.

Burley was indicted on a charge of aggravated criminal trespassing, a misdemeanor, in May 2014.

Five days after his lawyer sent a letter to school officials saying the attorney expected the charge to be reduced, the district, on Aug. 4, 2014, reinstated him as a driver on a different route on "indefinite conditional status," according to a letter Grubb sent Burley.

Burley pleaded guilty in December 2014 to criminal trespassing, according to court documents. He was sentenced to 30 days of unsupervised probation.

"I know a lot of factors associated with the situation that played a part in our decision-making," Grubb said. "I talked with the families involved in the scenario. I talked with  we had interviews with  students. We spoke with the employer and Mr. Burley multiple times. ... Each one of these kinds of situations that come up are all different. You can't measure someone's intent when you get involved. ... Everything that happens is not the same, so it's not the same result or the same consequence."

Because Burley was reinstated on a conditional status, he "would receive more scrutiny," according to Grubb.

"There's people that would be found guilty of similar misdemeanors who have been put on the roster over the years," Grubb said, adding that the district had been in business more than 90 years. "When Mr. Burley made the decision to go on down and visit and ask questions, he was not a driver with Knox County Schools, he was an individual."

Burley on Thursday said he was frustrated by his experience at the school system. He questioned the legitimacy of the texting and driving charge  insisting that he only used talk-to-text programs, that he would text only when no children were on the bus and that he had no memory of ever texting while transporting students.

Burley said he was temporarily removed from his route four times during the last school year for incidents not documented in the schools' files before being permanently removed in April. Each of those times, he said, he was reinstated.

But most upsetting, Burley said, was the 2013 experience. He said he went to the mobile home park to talk to the family of the girl who lodged the complaint.

"I wanted to make her grandmother know I didn't do anything wrong," he said. "They did not know I was gay, and they said I was accused of touching a female between her legs ... If I was a pedophile, it'd be boys. I've done nothing wrong. I've been put through hell."

The Tennessee Department of Children's Services ruled the child abuse complaint was unfounded.

Though he has been married to a woman for years, Burley said he had a male partner at the time of the accusation.
SHARE Wanda Sobieski in her Gay Street office with a model of the Burn Memorial she hopes to build and place in a downtown Knoxville location. Fundraising efforts are underway by the Suffrage Coalition for the Burn Memorial honoring state Rep. Harry Burn and his mother, Febb Ensinger Burn. (MICHAEL PATRICK/NEWS SENTINEL)

By Georgiana Vines of the Knoxville News Sentinel

Harry T. Burn Jr., the son of the Tennessee legislator who cast the "aye" vote in 1920 that ratified the 19th Amendment giving women the right to vote, died of stomach cancer Thursday at his residence in Athens, Tenn.

Burn, 78, was an only child, never married and had no children, Knoxville lawyer Wanda Sobieski said Friday. She knew Burn from working with him on a statue of his father, Harry Burn Sr., and grandmother, Febb Burn, proposed for the grounds of the East Tennessee History Center in Knoxville.

Febb Burn has her own place in history for writing a letter to her son urging him to vote for suffrage. The Republican from Niota originally had voted "nay" but changed his vote after reflecting on her note.

One of Burn's cousins, Tyler Forrest of Niota, Tenn., notified Sobieski of his death. Forrest represented him in a parade in Knoxville 10 years ago that included a story line on the suffrage movement.

An obit on Burn said he was a graduate of the McCallie School, Harvard College and the University of Tennessee in Knoxville. He served as a page for the state Senate during his father's tenure in the Legislature. He also was an editorial associate of the Andrew Johnson Papers, published by UT Press, had retired from Oak Ridge Associated Universities and was active on the McMinn County Living Heritage Museum board of directors.

He had a reputation for contacting journalists writing about the suffrage movement to fill in gaps in stories and correct their spellings.

A graveside service will be conducted at 11 a.m. today at Niota Cemetery.

Sobieski, who also was the driving force behind the Tennessee Woman's Suffrage Memorial on Market Square, said she and other supporters of the new statue plan to be at the Fried Green Tomato Festival in Niota next week.

"We need to do some fitting tribute to Harry's son," she said.

She said she was still thinking it through, but a chair his father used in Harry Burn Sr.'s legislative office is in her possession, and she might take it to display with a picture of Harry Burn Jr.

A maquette, or model, of the Burn Memorial also is available, she said. Nashville sculptor Alan LeQuire is the artist.

Sobieski's group dresses as suffragists of the 1920s, most recently at the East Tennessee History Center's fair in downtown Knoxville where they distributed brochures on the Burn Memorial.

Sobieski said the group has taken time to work out details on the Burn Memorial and its location.

The memorial will face Krutch Park looking north, just as the Suffrage Memorial on Market Square looks south toward the park.

She said a lease agreement is being drawn up by Charles Sterchi in the county law director's office and is scheduled to go to the Knox County Commission for approval on Sept. 24.

"That is my benchmark to start fundraising," she said.

The fundraising is under the Suffrage Coalition, a nonprofit group and special project of the East Tennessee Foundation.

About $400,000 is needed, she said.
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By Kristi L. Nelson of the Knoxville News Sentinel

Sixteen Tennessee community coalitions  including five in East Tennessee  have received renewed federal grants to prevent youth substance use.

On Friday, Director of National Drug Control Policy Michael Botticelli announced a total of $85.9 million in grants for 698 Drug-Free Communities Support Programs across the country.

Locally, grants will again go to the Blount County Substance Abuse Prevention Action Team; Anderson County Allies for Substance Abuse Prevention; Roane County Anti-Drug Coalition Inc.; Hamblen County Substance Abuse Coalition; and Schools Together Allowing No Drugs in Oneida.

"The evidence-based prevention work led by local DFC community coalitions is critically needed to reduce youth substance, particularly in the midst of the national prescription opioid and heroin epidemic," Botticelli said. "To fully address the opioid crisis, however, Congress must act to provide funding to make lifesaving treatment available to everyone who seeks it. The President has called for $1.1 billion in new funding for States to help expand access to treatment. Every day that passes without Congressional action to provide these additional resources is a missed opportunity to save lives."

The federal government issued a report on the coalitions in 2014 that showed a significant decrease in past-30-day use of prescription drugs among youth in communities with the coalitions. The report also cited a significant decrease in past-30-day use between the first and most recent data reports for alcohol, tobacco, and marijuana use among middle school and high school youth in those communities.

The Drug-Free Communities Support Program, created by the Drug-Free Communities Act of 1997 is directed by the White House Office of National Drug Control Policy with the federal Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration.

National data for 2014 show an estimated 3,800 youth ages 12-17 per day used drugs for the first time in the preceding year. High-school seniors are more likely to smoke marijuana than cigarettes, the data indicates, and nonmedical use of prescription or over-the-counter drugs remains high.

In Knox County in 2013, the latest year the Youth Behavioral Risk Survey was given, 22 percent of high school students  18 percent of boys, and more than 13 percent of girls  and 5 percent of middle-school students said they had taken prescription painkillers without a doctor's prescription. Among high-schoolers, 22 percent said they were sold, given or offered the drug on school property.

More than 23 percent of Knox County high-schoolers and 10 percent of middle-schoolers said they used marijuana. About 5 percent of students said they had used cocaine.
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As expected, much has been made of U.S. Sen. Tim Kaine's Spanish fluency and what it will mean for the Democratic presidential ticket. If the Democratic Party is to win its third consecutive presidential election, Latino support is indispensable and Kaine's pick may solidify the vote  or so the narrative goes.

Speaking Spanish is great. As an immigrant from Cuba and the executive director of Latinos for Tennessee, a statewide organization committed to advancing faith, family, freedom and fiscal responsibility, it's always nice to hear public elected officials speaking Spanish.

But let's be clear: Kaine's pick can't hide the many broken promises made to Latinos by President Barack Obama and by extension former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton.

By most economic indicators, Latinos are faring worse than the general population. More Latinos are unemployed relative to other population groups. The fortunate ones who are employed haven't seen a pay increase in some time, even as it becomes more expensive to live in growing and thriving cities.

And despite promises to make college more affordable, the opposite has happened. This is especially the case for young Latinos who are finding themselves with thousands upon thousands of dollars of college debt as a result of increased government involvement in the student loan industry.

The Latino community has also not forgotten that Obama did not live up to his promise to enact an immigration reform law in his first year in office. When the president finally did get around to pushing for an immigration law, the well of bipartisanship had been poisoned after muscling through Congress the Affordable Care Act with absolutely zero Republican support.

As a result, Republicans had little appetite to work with a partisan White House that showed scant interest to make concessions with members of the opposite party.

And then, even after saying repeatedly that he could not go around Congress, Obama unilaterally decided to shield undocumented immigrants from deportation proceedings. Even if done with the best intentions, the president's actions were unconstitutional.

The Latino community is hurting. Despite heavily favoring Obama twice in presidential elections, Latinos have not seen the creation of jobs we were promised. And although more Latinos have health insurance, more Latinos are paying more for health care premiums or being pushed into Medicaid.

Kaine and Clinton will have to convince the American people, including the many Latinos who call Tennessee home, how their policies will differ from the very same policies enacted under Obama. They will also need to respond to the insensitivity Democratic Party staff members showed when referring to Latino engagement as "Taco Bowl engagement."

It will not matter if they respond to this in English or in Spanish.

To be sure, it's great that Kaine speaks Spanish. We wish that more and more of our fellow Americans also spoke Spanish and other languages. But at the end of the day, the Latino community is more interested in results. And on this, the Clinton-Kaine ticket has a mountain to climb to explain why the results of the last eight years have been so underwhelming.

Raul Lopez is the executive director of Latinos for Tennessee. This column first appeared in The Tennessean.
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Since the birth of our nation, religious liberty has laid the foundation for America to become the freest society in the history of mankind.

This spirit of freedom began when the Pilgrims fled to the New World to practice their faith freely. It continued when America's Founding Fathers ratified the Bill of Rights, which begins with the declaration that "Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof." It was strengthened when Congress almost unanimously adopted the Religious Freedom Restoration Act of 1993, ensuring that interests in religious freedom are protected. And it thankfully endured through the Supreme Court case Burwell v. Hobby Lobby.

At issue in Burwell v. Hobby Lobby was the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act's Health and Human Service Mandate, which would have required our family business to provide and facilitate four potentially life-terminating drugs and devices in our health insurance plan, against our religious convictions, or pay severe fines of $1.3 million a day. Unlike the 16 contraceptives we do provide, these four drugs can take effect after conception, which is where we believe life begins.

Just as religious liberty laid the foundation for America, my family's Christian beliefs laid the foundation for our business. First and foremost, as Christians, we are called to love people. As individuals and business owners, we try our best to be true to that calling. We provide excellent benefits to our 30,000 employees and a starting wage for full-time hourly employees that is more than double the federal minimum wage. We have also donated half a billion dollars to philanthropic endeavors. Our Christian beliefs also guided my family's decision not to pay for the termination of life.

Fortunately, the Supreme Court issued a 5-4 ruling in favor of Hobby Lobby in 2014, but it's frightening to think that we  and all Americans  were just one judge away from losing our religious freedom. Make no mistake, the vacancy left by Justice Antonin Scalia and the subsequent appointment to fill his seat makes this presidential election one of the most significant in modern times. During a 2015 speech at the Women in the World Summit, Hillary Clinton declared that religious beliefs "have to be changed."

What I fear she really means is that the beliefs of people of faith across our nation will be discounted, and those people will be forced to violate their consciences under her presidency  a philosophy that would be carried out by anyone she nominates for the Supreme Court.

The Constitution was created for the express purpose of protecting certain fundamental rights  not just when they're aligned with the current administration's policies, and not just when they're convenient, but as the highest priority for our lawmakers and elected officials.

Clinton has made no secret she believes government interests supersede the protection of religious liberty.

In contrast, Donald Trump has been steadfast in expressing his commitment to uphold the Constitution, and his list of possible Supreme Court nominees inspires confidence that there is hope in my future  and in my grandchildren's future  for a country that will value those most fundamental rights.

America's foundation of religious liberty is already at risk. With Clinton as president, our foundation will surely crumble. For Americans who value freedom of religion, we must elect a president who will support a Supreme Court that upholds not only this freedom, but all that have emanated from it. That president is Donald Trump.

David Green is the CEO and founder of Hobby Lobby Stores Inc. This column first appeared in USA TODAY.
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The universal admonition from parents to their children is "be careful whom you choose as your friends." Over 50 years the new friends the Republican Party has chosen are dragging the party to possible oblivion.

The first addition to the GOP was the Old South, then the newly politicized religious right, followed by Rush Limbaugh, Roger Ailes and Fox News, the Neocons, Grover Norquist, the tea party and Ronald Reagan's 11th commandment. The latest addition is reckless charlatan Donald Trump. The party has morphed into an angry, regressive sectional party.

In addition to a negative cultural change to the party, the newbies have brought serious liabilities. The conservative Old South, basically a ward of the federal government, loves Medicare, Social Security, food stamps, federal subsidies, military bases and people who look like them. Reagan's 11th commandment inhibits truth. The tea party claims it is true to the Constitution but hates negotiation. Norquist came up with his "no new tax" pledge. The Republicans have surrendered their communications agenda to Fox News.

To attract and maintain this new group, the GOP has sacrificed its principles. Those principles were small government, pay as you go, reduce spending (which was changed to no new taxes), lead with your values, strong military, no foreign entanglements, no nation building and personal responsibility. Most of us agree with many of those principles.

With false promises and righteous appeals, the party has convinced its members to both forgo their principles and vote for mediocrity personified. Trying to persuade voters that George W. Bush, Sarah Palin and Trump are competent is deceitful. Even the "party's future savior," Paul Ryan, may be the dumbest smart guy in the party. His big idea is to strip $750 billion out of Medicare and Social Security and give it to the wealthy in reduced taxes. He also wants to strip banking and business regulations so the economy can redo the 2007-2014 debacle.

The intellectual base has been purged from the Republican Party. The religious and political rhetoric of the new friends are driving entire demographics out of the party: young people, women, secular adults, Easterners, Hispanics and African-Americans. Rational Americans view the party as in denial, hostile to truth and anti-science. With the exception of wealthy contributors, most American people seem to be just a nuisance to Republicans.

While the GOP focused on settled issues, it has missed globalization, technology, erosion of our infrastructure, climate change, health care and the fact that there are 300 million more low-wage workers in the global workforce today than 30 years ago. Our American workers have had their backs to the wall, and the Republican Party has offered not one iota of help or empathy. Mitt Romney thinks 47 percent of Americans are laggards looking for a handout. Mitch McConnell called an eight-year timeout until reckless charlatan Trump arrives to do what he claims he alone can do.

The very worst thing that could happen to the Republican Party or America is to turn our resources, problems and opportunities over to Trump. America needs the Republican Party to get back to its tested principles. It was a better party when its members thought of themselves as Republicans rather than conservatives. There is a great center-right America out there waiting for a party.

Before asking God to bless America again, we need to make sure we have our oars in the water.

Gil Smith has lived in East Tennessee for the past 12 years.
Former Cocke County employees indicted on drug charges

SEPTEMBER 2, 2016 at 1:54 p.m.







Autumn Davis. Image by TBI.



Shayelan Scheffers, Image by TBI





JOHNSON CITY  Two former Cocke County employees have been indicted on drug charges following a joint investigation by investigation by Special Agents with the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation and the Cocke County Sheriffs Office. The individuals, both females, are accused of using their positions to illegally obtain controlled substances.



Autumn Davis who was employed as a nurse at the Cocke County Jail and Shayelan Scheffers who was employed as a correctional officer allegedly worked together to fraudulently obtain the controlled substances.



On August 30th, the Cocke County Grand Jury returned indictments charging Scheffers, 22, of Newport, with Obtaining a Controlled Substance by Fraud and Conspiracy to Possess a Controlled Substance in Excess of 2,000 grams. She was arrested on Wednesday and is being held in the Cocke County Jail on a $25,000 bond.



Davis, 43, of Newport was also indicted on charges of Obtaining a Controlled Substance by Fraud and Conspiracy to Possess a Controlled Substance in Excess of 2,000 grams. She was arrested today and booked into the Cocke County Jail on a $50,000 bond.

Published September 2, 2016
Hamilton County deputy nabbed for possession of child pornography

SEPTEMBER 2, 2016 at 8:03 p.m.









John Bruce Spaulding. Image by TBI. NASHVILLE  A Hamilton County Sheriffs Deputy has been indicted on charges of sexual exploitation of a minor following an investigation by Special Agents with the Tennessee Bureau of Investigations Technical Services Unit.



On June 22nd, TBI Special Agents received information from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children. That tip indicated that on May 2nd, an individual was in possession of images suspected to be child pornography on his cell phone. As a result of that investigation, Agents developed information that John Bruce Spaulding, a deputy with the Hamilton County Sheriffs Office, was that individual with those images on his phone.



On Wednesday, the Hamilton County Grand Jury returned an indictment charging Spaulding, 49, with six counts of Sexual Exploitation of a Minor. The Chattanooga man was arrested Thursday and booked into the Hamilton County Jail on a $10,000 bond. Spaulding has been suspended without pay from the Hamilton County Sheriffs Office.

Published September 2, 2016
Galaxy Note 7 at the IFA trade fair in Berlin, Germany / EPA-Yonhap



Samsung Electronics has begun the U.S. exchange program for the Galaxy Note 7 smartphones amid concern over a battery problem, the local sales arm of the Korean tech giant said.

On Friday, Samsung announced its findings that some of the new devices that went on sale two weeks ago caught fire due to a "battery cell issue."

Samsung announced a global recall of all Galaxy Note 7 phones sold worldwide in a quick and bold response.

"Samsung is taking a proactive approach to address customer needs around the Note 7," Tim Baxter, president of Samsung Electronics America, said in a statement issued on Friday (local time). "We are encouraging customers to exchange their Note 7 by taking advantage of our Product Exchange Program. The safety and satisfaction of our customers is Samsung's top priority."

There are two options: Customers can replace their current device with a new Galaxy Note 7 or exchange it for a Galaxy S7 or Galaxy S7 edge, plus receive a refund of the price difference.












By Choi Sung-jin



In 2003, the Korean government began to designate free economic zones (FEZs) to help strengthen national competitiveness and ensure balanced regional development by attracting foreign capital.



Thirteen years later, most of these FEZs are struggling to stay afloat mired deeply in sluggish growth, industry sources said Saturday.



Out of the eight FEZs in the nation, some have failed to find developers for years and lost their status as free economic zones. Others have begun to create industrial parks without securing a sufficient number of businesses that will move into these FEZs, only wasting taxpayers' money.



A few of them have succeeded in luring businesses but only one out of 10 investors is foreign, contrary to the original purpose of the FEZ policy. "Most of these FEZs are in name only," said one industry watcher.



Take the cases of two latecomers _ East Coast Free Economic Zone (EFEZ) and Chungbuk Free Economic Zone (CFEZ).



Officials had expected the two FEZs would spark 17.2 trillion won ($15.3 billion) worth of industrial production in a combined total and create 6.4 trillion won worth of added value. Three-and-a-half years into the designation as FEZs, things have fallen far short of such expectations, however.



In February, officials cancelled the designation of one of the four districts in EFEZ, Gujeong District. Planners had wanted to create the foundation for a global educational and cultural city with a cost of 150 billion won but failed to find a developer. A British investor briefly showed interest in developing Gujeong District but later gave up.



The Bukpyeong District reduced the area of development from 4.61 to 2.14 square kilometers, too, as it failed to draw investment into sites for logistics and distribution facilities, as well as reducing the amount of land allotted exclusively for foreign businesses.



Also facing the crisis of cancellation is the plan to construct the Cheongju Aeropolis District, one of the three subzones in CFEZ. Asiana Airlines, which had planned to create a maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) complex there, gave up the plan on Aug. 26. The Cheongju Aeropolis project, once called a "100-year plan to feed Chungbuk (North Chungcheong Province)," has turned into a headache after swallowing up 22.8 billion in taxpayer money.



In addition, out of the six districts within the Incheon FEZ, two districts have seen their designation cancelled. Yongyu Blue Lagoon planned to build a water park and hotel while Mueui Healing Resort wanted to construct a condo and spa. They had also selected preferred bidders but the latter failed to present their business plans at the last stage.



Out of the 2,189 businesses that had moved into the eight FEZs as of Dec. 31of last year, 1,952, or 89.2 percent, are local businesses with the other 237, or 10.2 percent, being foreign. The figures on attracting additional foreign investors in the first eight months of this year are not all in, but the FEZs are experiencing difficulties in luring foreign investment.



Some Korean businesses are calling for the government to provide local firms with the same benefits given to foreign businesses, such as the exemption or reduction in corporate taxes, leases of national and public land for 50 years and exemptions from labor regulations.



The government is finding it difficult to accept their demands for fear of possible controversy over special treatment of these local investors compared with Korean companies operating in other industrial complexes.



At a recent meeting with government and business officials, Minister of Trade, Industry and Energy Joo Hyung-hwan acknowledged the FEZs' poorer-than-expected performances, saying, "The FEZs have contributed to the national economy but it is also true the outcome has fallen short of expectations." The foreign direct investment attracted by FEZs totaled $5.6 billion _ a mere 5 percent of the total FDI the nation has drawn over the past 13 years.



The ministry is racking its brains trying to improve the implementation of the FEZ policy but seems to be stuck in a deadlock.



Industry watchers noted that unless the eight FEZs come up with their respective differentiated and specialized blueprints and the government provides more extensive support, it will be difficult to draw the interests of developers, local or foreign.




By Choi Sung-jin



Korea's tourism industry is so dependent on Chinese visitors that it is driving out other foreign, and even local, tourists from major attractions, and it will hurt the sector in the long run, industry experts say.



Nowhere else is showing this better than Myeong-dong in downtown Seoul.



Almost all of the cosmetic and shoe stores lining the main street of this shoppers' paradise are covered with Chinese signboards and are run by Korean-Chinese and other employees fluent in Chinese. When a Western tourist asked about the information on an advertising board, a clerk said, in Chinese, "May I ask what you're talking about?"



The number of Chinese visiting Korea in the first half of this year totaled 3.81 million, 47 percent of the all foreign tourists. Korea's reliance on Chinese tourists, called "youke," is one of the highest in the world. The comparable ratios for other Asian countries are 25 percent for Japan, 26 percent for Thailand and around 10 percent each for Indonesia and Singapore.



Duty-free shops depend on Chinese tourists even more. Three duty-free shops of Lotte Department Store in Seoul relied on Chinese visitors for 71 percent of their sales in 2014, and for 78 percent in the first half of this year.



The Korea Tourism Organization also spent 4.5 billion won ($4 million), or 33 percent of its total outlay for overseas marketing, on the Chinese market. Situations are not much different for local governments and private enterprises.



"As the Chinese market is so close and huge that cost-effectiveness there is higher than anywhere else," said an official at a municipality in the southeastern region. "It is only natural that cash-short local administrations stick to the Chinese market."



Foreign tourists coming from other regions are complaining about insufficient infrastructure, including food and language services. Indonesian visitors, for instance, hope there will be more halal-food restaurants and places for Islamic prayers. A large department store in Seoul considered installing facilities for Muslim prayers, but gave up the plan later because eight out of 10 visitors are Chinese.



"As long as the Korean tourism industry relies on low-priced Chinese package tourists, it will lose the opportunity for a qualitative take-off and face headwinds before long," an expert said. "Before it gets too late, the sector should improve infrastructure, such as transport and accommodation as well as diverse language services."



Even Korean tourists are going abroad rather than visiting local attractions, sick and tired of unkind services and being overcharged. "It is desirable that Koreans find new local attractions first and make them famous among foreigners through word of mouth," said Professor Lee Hun of Hanyang University. "Such a virtuous cycle is hard to find in the current industrial atmosphere."



In the first-half of the year, 8.11 million foreigners visited Korea but 10.63 million Koreans went abroad, resulting in a deficit of $6.1 billion in the tourism trade, compared with surpluses of $8.8 billion for Japan and $13 billion for Hong Kong.



Korea is losing too much by focusing on only attracting Chinese tourists.




By Choi Sung-jin



The education level of Korean women and their control of the domestic economy are higher than in other Asia-Pacific countries but their entry into society falls short of the regional average, research shows.



MasterCard recently released its "female entrepreneur indexes," which quantify and compare women's participation in the economy and management in 16 Asia-Pacific nations.



The index measured five major elements of social advance, including participation ratios in labor, politics and business management, and combined them with secondary and tertiary education levels and the percentage having cash cards, and other factors related to the household economy.



As a result, Korean women ranked ninth on the entrepreneurial index with 46.2 points.



New Zealand was highest in the Asia-Pacific region with 53.9 points, followed by Australia (51.7) and Thailand (50.9). China (47.7 points) was seventh and Japan (40.6) 12th.



Korean women were ranked high in control of the household economy (second place) and level of higher education (fourth). But their participation rates in labor and business management were low at 12th and 14th places, respectively.



Although Korean women's educational and economic levels are high, these do not lead to an increase in their social advance, MasterCard said.



"In emerging economies, in particular, the expanded social participation by women can lead to pivotal changes for the development of the national economy," said Georgette Tan, MasterCard's chief vice president for communication in the Asia-Pacific region. "In order to connect changes in awareness to substantive expansion of economic activities, societies have to change their traditional and outdated perceptions about gender roles deeply rooted in society, culture and customary practices."



Meanwhile, separate research here has found that half of Korean women either are not engaging in work they aimed to do or don't have any objectives related to their jobs.



The Gyeonggi-do Family and Women Research Institute surveyed 1,523 female workers aged 20-34 in the province in late June and 35.7 percent said: "My current job has no relationship with what I have aimed to do."



Less than a quarter, or 23.7 percent of respondents, said they were doing what they wanted to do, while 12.7 percent said they had no job-related objectives in the first place, the survey showed.



Nearly two-thirds (63.8 percent) said they wanted to quit their jobs, with 43 percent expressing the intention of leaving immediately, provided there are other opportunities.



Half the women (50.2 percent) had experience of being regarded as assistant staff and 41.9 percent heard remarks appraising or denigrating their appearance. A similar share (42 percent) said they were the objects of sexual jokes, words and behavior.



Up to 85 percent of women workers said they felt as if they were treated as assistants doing simple jobs, or short-term part-time workers.



"Young women often prove to be weak in designing their job careers, starting their professional life with work unrelated with their learning or personal objectives," said Choi Yun-seon, a staffer at the institute who conducted the survey. "Society should help them more positively to cope with these disadvantages."




Korea has confirmed an additional cholera infection, raising the official number of people with the waterborne virus to four, health authorities said Saturday.



A man in his 40s, a Busan resident, has been diagnosed with the disease after eating seafood at a local restaurant earlier this week, shortly after he returned from a trip to the Philippines, they said. He traveled to the Southeast Asian nation with two other Busan residents.



He is now receiving treatment at a Busan hospital, while his wife and other family members have shown no unusual symptoms.



Earlier, Korea reported three cholera patients in the latest outbreak of the disease. All three, who live in South Gyeongsang Province, were confirmed to have contracted cholera after eating seafood.



The diarrheal disease, which annually affects 3-5 million people worldwide, is known to be curable with proper medication and treatment. (Yonhap)




By Kang Seung-woo



VLADIVOSTOK, Russia -- President Park Geun-hye urged Russia to aggressively participate in the international pressure on North Korea over its nuclear program, calling the North a disconnected node undermining Eurasia's prosperity.



She made the remark during her visit to the Far Eastern Russian city -- the first leg of her three-nation trip that will also take her to Hangzhou, China, and Vientiane, Laos.



"In order to steadily develop the Far East and expand its ties with the Asia-Pacific region, it is essential to maintain peace and stability in Northeast Asia," Park said in her keynote speech at the Eastern Economic Forum, which Russian President Vladimir Putin and Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe also attended.



"In this respect, North Korea's series of provocations have emerged as the biggest threat to the region, while becoming a disconnected node to Eurasia's prosperity, stopping trilateral projects between South Korea, Russia and the North, including the Rajin-Khasan' project," she said.













The project is a three-way logistics scheme involving the countries, but it has made little progress after Pyongyang's nuclear test in January and long-range rocket launch the following month.



"Should the North stop its threats, the trilateral joint project could resume," she said, adding that it may broaden cooperation that will include Japan and China.



Russia has growing interest in developing Eurasia, including the Far East, that is so far undeveloped economically, though it has huge potential, which is the main emphasis of Putin's New Eastern Policy.
President Park Geun-hye called North Korea a "disconnected node in Eurasia and the greatest threat," on Saturday, saying the country is getting in the way of Russia's Far East realizing its full potential.

During her keynote speech at the Eastern Economic Forum in Russia's eastern port city of Vladivostok, the president urged continued global efforts to pressure Pyongyang into renouncing its nuclear ambitions and becoming a responsible member of the international community.

"Although the Far East cannot realize its tremendous potential energy for now due to the disconnected node, North Korea, this region will, someday, become a bridge for prosperity and peace that links Eurasia to the Asia-Pacific region," she said.

Upbraiding the communist country for ignoring its abysmal human rights record and its people's worsening economic travails, Park stressed that the international community must send a "stern and unified message" to Pyongyang against nuclear adventurism.

"If we cannot block the North from developing nuclear arms with a sense of urgency, North Korea's nuclear threats will, in the near future, become an irreversible reality," Park said












By Kang Seung-woo



VLADIVOSTOK, Russia -- President Park Geun-hye and her Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin reaffirmed their stance against North Korea's nuclear weapons program, Saturday, agreeing to further enhance strategic communication to resolve the issue.

The two heads of state held a bilateral summit in the far eastern Russian city on the sidelines of the Eastern Economic Forum (EEF).

"North Korea has threatened to carry out additional nuclear tests and launch a preemptive nuclear strike while advancing its nuclear capabilities. For South Korea which lies within minutes' distance of North Korea's possible strikes, it is a matter of life or death," she said in a joint press conference following her fourth summit talks with Putin.

Putin also said, "We had in-depth discussions about the current situation on the Korean Peninsula and reached an agreement that the two nations do not tolerate the North's self-proclaimed nuclear power."

Seoul, Moscow to speed up efforts for Korea-EAEU FTA




President Park Geun-hye on Friday defended the planned deployment of an advanced U.S. antimissile system on South Korean soil, reiterating it is an "inevitable, self-defense" measure to counter North Korea's evolving nuclear and missile threats.



In an interview with Russia's state-run news agency, Rossiya Segodnya, Park stressed that if Pyongyang's escalating military threats are eliminated, the need for the deployment of a Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) system will "naturally" dissipate.



The interview was published before Park leaves for Russia's far eastern port city of Vladivostok to attend the Eastern Economic Forum and a summit with Russian President Vladimir Putin, as part of an eight-day trip that will also take her to China and Laos.



"There is no reason, nor practical benefit, for the THAAD system to target any third country, and the Korean government does not have any such intentions or plans," Park said in the interview.



Since Seoul and Washington announced their plan in July to station THAAD in South Korea by end-2017, Moscow, along with Beijing, has strenuously opposed it, arguing the deployment would only escalate military tension in East Asia and hurt its strategic security interests.



During her summit with Putin, slated for Saturday, Park is expected to seek understanding from Moscow over the deployment plan.



In the interview, Park said she would hold "heart-to-heart" talks with Putin over North Korea-related issues, underscoring that Pyongyang's nuclear and missile programs pose a "hefty stumbling block" to bilateral cooperation in the development of Russia's Far East.



Park, in addition, said that Moscow is in a "special position" to lead the efforts to pressure Pyongyang to end its nuclear ambitions given that it is a veto-wielding member of the U.N. Security Council and strong advocate of the global nuclear nonproliferation regime.



"Since the resolution of North Korea's nuclear and missile issues would provide significant thrust for the mutual development of our two countries and the Far East, I look forward to continuing bilateral cooperation in bringing about such changes with a long-term vision," she said.



Park then voiced hope that the scope of bilateral economic cooperation will expand into more diverse fields in Russia's Far East, including fisheries, agriculture, infrastructure, health care and medical services.



She also expressed her expectations for increased cooperation between South Korea and the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU), an economic alliance consisting of Russia, Armenia, Belarus, Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan.



South Korea and the economic union have been conducting a joint feasibility study on their free trade agreement over the last nine months.



"I anticipate that a Korea-EAEU FTA will give impetus to economic integration and trade liberalization in Eurasia, thereby contributing to achieving shared economic growth and promoting consumer benefits," she said. (Yonhap)




The Nigerian Army and the Multinational Joint Task Force (MNJTF) are tightening the noose round the neck of Boko Haram in the Lake Chad area, according to indications yesterday.

The troops have blocked all supply routes to the insurgents in the build-up to the next stage of liberating the over 200 Chibok girls abducted two years ago by the terrorists. The blockade covers arms, ammunition and other logistics, highly placed sources told The Nation.

The number of MNJTF troops deployed in the Lake Chad Basin by Nigeria, Cameroon, Chad and Niger Republic had hit 10,500 by yesterday. The MNJTF forces are receiving intelligence and reconnaissance assistance from France, Britain and the United States.



A top military source confirmed last night that the blockade was part of the ongoing Operation Crackdown against the insurgents.

But he explained that the troops could not move now into the targeted part of Sambisa Forest because of the rains. Sources said the marshy nature of the area makes movement difficult at this time of the year.

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No time she is already campaigning for her husband! Wife of the governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Mr Godwin Obaseki, Mrs Betsy Obaseki, has said the failure of past PDP governments pushed Edo girls into prostitution in Italy.

Saturday Vanguard cornered her shortly after her husband got the endorsement of over 40 men of God across the state and women groups across the 18 Local Government of the state Thursday. When asked about her view on child trafficking in the state she said:

Before we castigate our daughters who are engaging in trafficking or travelling to Italy, I think we should first sit down and ask why the situation is like that, it cannot happen like that. The obvious reason to me is that previous governments have failed in Edo state. It is the failure of government that caused it. People leave the country to go to another country in search of greener pastures. A child who is comfortable in his fathers house will not leave for another mans house. Continue



Children go out when they are badly treated at home, when they are not happy. So rather than government castigating these our women they should look inwards and accept that they have a responsibility to these girls. If you fix this state and make it attractive our girls will not leave. You can see that the trend started abating when Governor Oshiomhole came to power, they started seeing hope in Edo state and they are living here today doing one thing or the other.

So past governments in this state failed our people and that is why they were all going to Italy.

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Two breakaway factions of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) say they will work together to surrender the Biafran flag to the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

The original plan was to burn the Biafran flag on October 1, 2016, but the groups  Re-branded Indigenous People of Biafra (TRIPOB) and Renegade Indigenous People of Biafra (RENIPOB)  have jettisoned that, and will instead surrender the defunct Republic of Biafra flag on the symbolic date of January 15, 2017 to the Nigerian government at the Eagle Square Abuja.

The chosen date, January 15, 1970, was the day the Nigerian Civil War, also known as the Biafran War, ended.

In a statement they released on Friday, TROPOB and RENIPOB nominated Charles Okah, who is in Kuje prison and is standing trial on the allegation of masterminding the 2010 Independence Day bombing, as their leader to handle the surrender.



The Re-branded Indigenous People of Biafra (TRIPOB), gladly and warmly welcomes into its fold, the Comrade Emma Powerful-led breakaway faction from the Nnamdi Kanu-led Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), who now go by the name Renegade Indigenous People of Biafra, or RENIPOB.

Following this development, all subsequent TRIPOB/RENIPOB statements shall be jointly signed by Comrade Emma Powerful and the undersigned. Any statements from IPOB using Emma Powerful as its signatory are that of an impostor.

And following appeals by well-meaning Nigerians across the world, especially civil war veterans of the defunct Biafra Republic, TRIPOB shall no longer burn the flag of the defunct Biafra Republic as earlier planned for October 1, 2016, a date which has also been rescheduled.

Replacing the burning of the flag ceremony shall be the surrender ceremony of the defunct Republic of Biafra flag on the symbolic date of January 15, 2017 at the Eagle Square Abuja, FCT. The general public as well as all relevant agencies of the Federal Government of Nigeria, particularly, the Presidency is please, advised to take note of the date.

With a view to actualizing the January 15, 2017 surrender ceremony, and subject to their acceptance, TRIPOB/RENIPOB hereby wishes to nominate Mr. Charles Okah, an Ijaw from the Niger Delta axis as its Leader, and Dr. Dozie Ikedife as Deputy Leader.

We strongly believe that the leaders we have nominated shall use their respective offices to help propagate an intense campaign of inclusiveness, love, peace, progress, industry and free enterprise, social justice and democracy within and amongst our compatriots in an indivisible, united and prosperous Nigerian federation.

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The price of LITRO gas cylinders would be further reduced in the first week of November in accordance with the

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PRESS RELEASE

Media Picks Up on Senator Grahams Press Club Intervention

Sept. 2, 2016 (EIRNS)Former Sen. Bob Grahams dramatic National Press Club appearance on Wednesday, Aug. 31, in which he called for the House to immediate pass the JASTA (Justice Against Sponsors of Terrorism Act) as soon as it returns to Washington next week, and demanded the release of all of the still-classified files of the FBI and other agencies on their 9/11 investigations, was given wide media coverage, starting with the fact that the press conference was broadcasted live, in its entirety, on CSPAN, and was picked up as well by some National Public Radio outlets.

The widely-read Capitol Hill publication, The Hill, also featured significant coverage of the Newsmakers event under the headline "Former senator: Inquiry over Saudi involvement in 9/11 is not over." Reporter Kristina Wong detailed Grahams harsh criticism of the FBI, who withheld over 80,000 pages of their Sarasota, Fla. investigation into a prominent Saudi family that supported the 9/11 hijackers, and then misrepresented the documents to a Federal Judge when they were forced to reveal their existence. Wong noted that Graham is pressuring Hillary Clinton to expand the probe into the Saudi 9/11 role, and he also praised GOP presidential candidate Donald Trump for his call for the release of the files on the Saudis.

The Sarasota Herald-Tribune published an editorial Aug. 30 highlighting the planned Graham appearance at the National Press Club and endorsed the former Florida governors quest for the full truth about the Saudi Monarchys role in 9/11. The article, "Truth of Saudi link to 9/11 seeps out," focused on the evidence of the role of former Saudi Ambassador to the U.S. Prince Bandar Bin Sultan, including the links of Bandars personal security to leading Al Qaeda figure Abu Zubaydah. The lengthy editorial reviewed the role of two Saudi intelligence officers, Omar Al Bayoumi and Osama Basnan, in providing critical logistical and financial support to the hijackers who operated out of southern California.

The editorial concluded, "We hope Grahams appearance at the Press Club makes national news, so the liquid of truth continues to flow.

Andrew Kreig, a Washington journalist and Press Club activist, wrote a 500-word precise summary of Grahams remarks, which have been circulated by the National Press Club.

Sputnik News also gave prominent coverage to the Graham press appearance, and a website, WhoWhatWhy/Real News Project, also gave strong detailed coverage. Yahoo News reported on the Graham event, but in the context of an hysterical statement, issued by the Saudi Embassy in Washington, denouncing the Graham charges.
PRESS RELEASE

Putin Commends Kerry, Says U.S.-Russia Agreement Is Possible Soon, If U.S. Breaks from Jihadis

Sept. 2, 2016 (EIRNS)Talks between Russia and the United States are "gradually, gradually" moving "in the right direction" toward an agreement over Syria, President Vladimir Putin said in an interview yesterday with Bloomberg news at the start of the Eastern Economic Forum. But,"the negotiations are very difficult," because Russia insists that the "so-called healthy part of the Syrian opposition" should be separated from the terrorist organizations such as Jabhat al Nusrawhich has merely taken a new name, while "nothing has changed" in the brutal terrorist nature of the group.

[Russia and the UN Security Councilwith the agreement of the United Stateshas Al Nusra on the same terrorist list in Syria as the Islamic State, but the Saudi-backed group changed its name in a phony renunciation of its ties to Al Qaeda.]

The need for this separation, Putin said, is "not denied by our American partners," but "they do not know how" to bring this about. Indeed, even as Putin was giving the interview, State Dept. spokesman John Kirby was admitting at the State Dept. to the "marbling" of the terrorists with the U.S. backed opposition. Putin said the jihadis are not a real opposition, but are "alien fighters, who receive arms and ammunition from abroad."

Putin had praise for the efforts of Secretary of State John Kerry who "did a great job" in the still-ongoing talks with Russia, and whose "patience and persistence" surprised him.
Construction companies no longer fret over finding work. They increasingly worry about finding enough skilled workers.

The industrys workforce challenge is primarily a craft-worker shortage, said Stephen Sandherr, chief executive of the Associated General Contractors of America, adding that skilled hourly workers represent the bulk of construction workers.

The worker shortage, highlighted by the groups new survey of members, is all the more pronounced because of indications that demand will grow for roofers, plumbers, electricians and concrete masons  the very positions in shortest supply.

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The U.S. Labor Department projects that demand nationwide for all those categories except carpenters will grow considerably faster over the next decade than the pace of overall job growth.

Presidential candidates Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump are promising infrastructure spending to boost employment, but where are the prospective workers who could build new bridges and highways?

You can throw money at it, but youve got to figure out a way to train people to build these projects, said Ron Brown, executive vice president of State Utility Contractors in Monroe, N.C., which installs water and sewer pipelines. You can put in all the money in the world, but if there arent enough people out there to build it, it cant get built.

Labor Department data show that demand for masonry workers is expected to grow 15% from 2014 to 2024. Thats more than twice the rate of projected overall 7% job growth in the same period, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Similarly, demand for electricians is projected to grow 14% over that 10-year period. Demand for roofers is expected to grow 13% and for plumbers 12%. Only demand for carpenters nearly matches the overall growth, projected to rise 6%.

The government data line up neatly with what construction firms are reporting in the survey results released by the contractors group.

These worker shortages are occurring at a time when many construction firms have a low opinion of the pipeline for recruiting and preparing new craft workers, the group said in an analysis of the survey results. Three-quarters of construction firms that responded to this survey rated that pipeline as poor or fair, while only 14% said the craft-worker pipeline was good or excellent.

The availability of people, theyre just not out there, Brown said. We have a lot of baby boomers but there just arent enough younger people coming in.

Based on the survey of about 1,500 members, the association said companies were dealing with the shortage by increasing hours, pay and benefits.

Almost half of the companies surveyed  48%  reported that they had increased base pay for craft workers because of shortages. Some 47% said they were increasing overtime hours.

I dont think there is a worker shortage as much as a shortage of exceptionally cheaper labor, said Jay Hodges, who runs programs in western Missouri and Kansas for the Laborers-Employers Cooperation and Education Trust, which works with contractors and the Laborers International Union of North America to bid on projects. There is a lot of work going on, and the guys are not stupid. What theyre finding is they can get more than $8 or $10 an hour to do the work.

The contractors survey found that hourly craft construction workers were reported in short supply in all four regions of the country. It was most pronounced in the Midwest, where 77% of firms reported shortages, and the South, where 74% did. About 71% of companies in the West and 57% in the Northeast reported worker shortages.

Companies are grooming entry-level workers with an eye toward retention.

The quality of our entry-level craft workers is of concern, and companies have to spend more time and money training these entry-level workers, said Nancy Munro, executive manager of MidMountain Contractors Inc. in Kirkland, Wash., which specializes in utility and roadway construction.

One potential solution to the shortage is allowing more skilled migrants into the country or finding a way to legalize those who are already here.

The association has long championed immigration reform, said Brian Turmail, spokesman for the contractors group, which favors a temporary loosening of restrictions to address the worker shortage. We see, as a short-term measure, making it easier for persons with construction skills to legally come into the country.

Contractors say the current approach puts the onus on them to determine whether someone is in the country legally; they want the government to take responsibility.

One longer-term solution is more vocational training in high schools and community colleges, something manufacturers and contractors have been pushing for a decade. The nature of manual labor has changed. Perceptions have not.

The equipment we run is computerized. When youre moving dirt, the machines are computerized. We use lasers, Brown said. They think, Ill be digging a ditch with a shovel the rest of my life. And its nowhere near that.

Hall writes for the McClatchy Washington Bureau.

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SpaceX said Friday that an investigation is underway into the cause of Thursdays launch pad explosion that destroyed one of its rockets and a $200-million satellite.

The Hawthorne company said it invited NASA and the Air Force to participate in the investigation, which will be overseen by the Federal Aviation Administration.

The fiery failure at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida destroyed a Falcon 9 rocket and an Israeli communications satellite that was set for launch this weekend.

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We are currently in the early process of reviewing approximately 3,000 channels of telemetry and video data covering a time period of just 35-55 milliseconds, SpaceX spokesman Phil Larson said in a statement.

Under federal law, SpaceX is allowed to conduct its own investigation. SpaceX, whose full name is Space Exploration Technologies Corp., and other companies lobbied successfully to extend the law last year. The FAA oversees such investigations.

 NASA said SpaceX was conducting a test firing of its unmanned rocket when the blast occurred.

The Elon Musk-led company did its own investigation of a previous midair explosion on June 28, 2015, that destroyed its rocket carrying cargo to the International Space Station. A committee made up of 11 SpaceX employees and one FAA official determined that the rocket exploded after the failure of a 2-foot-long steel strut purchased from a supplier that had been holding a helium bottle in the rockets second stage.

The report was not publicly released.

In June, NASAs Office of Inspector General said that having SpaceX do its own investigation raises questions about inherent conflicts of interest.

The internal investigation could leave out contributing factors that may not be fully addressed to prevent future failures, the watchdog warned.

According to analysts, one thing is clear  SpaceX must take its time in determining the root cause to avoid a domino effect of potential problems down the line.

But the fact that the explosion occurred before launch should help narrow down potential causes, though analysts cautioned there are still any number of possibilities.

The incident occurred early Thursday morning during a standard pre-launch static fire test. SpaceX said that the anomaly happened around the upper-stage oxygen tank while propellant was being loaded into the vehicle.

No one was injured in the incident.

Analysts and industry experts said the culprit could include a fuel leak in a hose, unknown contaminants in the liquid oxygen propellant or a problem with the pyrotechnics located between the first and second stages of the rocket that allow for separation during flight.

Anything is speculation at this point, said Justin Karl, coordinator of the commercial space operations degree program at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University.

The investigation will likely delay future launches. SpaceX has so far launched eight missions this year, with an additional nine scheduled through December.

In addition to the investigation, SpaceX is also assessing the damage to its launch pad, Space Launch Complex 40. Larson of SpaceX said the pad clearly incurred damage but that the scope has yet to be fully determined.

Our No. 1 priority is to safely and reliably return to flight for our customers, SpaceX President Gwynne Shotwell said in a statement released Friday.

Depending on the amount of damage, SpaceX could opt to speed up modifications to its alternate launch complex at Cape Canaveral  scheduled to be operational in November  which is intended for the Falcon Heavy rocket that has yet to launch, said Marco Caceres, senior space analyst at the Teal Group, an aerospace and defense analysis company.

SpaceX said its launch pad at Vandenberg Air Force Base, which is in final stages of an upgrade, is also capable of Falcon 9 launches.

Caceres said the investigation will likely be shorter than the six-month period last year when another SpaceX rocket disintegrated just moments after lift-off while laden with supplies for the International Space Station.

But, he said, SpaceX shouldnt succumb to the pressure of a full launch schedule.

The emphasis here ... is that they need to take their time and not rush it, Caceres said. Unless its a major, major long delay, I think most customers will decide to stick it out. Theyre not going to get a better price.

Satellite operator SES, which earlier this week announced it would launch a communications satellite aboard SpaceXs first reused rocket, said Friday that the explosion does not change the companys plans.

samantha.masunaga@latimes.com

melody.petersen@latimes.com

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A Famous sculpture causes an art market hubbub. A Renaissance painting that may come to L.A. (Maybe.) And a 20th century playwright declared the Shakespeare of our time. Im Carolina A. Miranda, staff writer at the Los Angeles Times, with lots of great arts and culture stories for Labor Day weekend:

Kanye Wests Famous sculpture

Kim Kardashian and Timothy Blum of Blum & Poe gallery. (Rachel Murray / Getty Images )

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Because theres nothing like kicking off the weekends newsletter with some Yeezy: A story published in the New York Times on Wednesday reported that the sculpture of naked wax celebrities from Kanye Wests Famous video, on view at Blum & Poe in Culver City over the weekend, was on the market for $4 million. But thats not the case, reports the L.A. Times Deborah Vankin. The sculpture, she writes, does not cost $4 million. It is not even for sale right now. Musta been a typo. Los Angeles Times

A new Renaissance painting for the Getty?

The Getty Museum is trying to acquire a 16th century canvas by the painter known as Parmigianino from a private collector in Britain  but first they must secure an export license to get it out of the country. That will be a delicate process, writes The Times David Ng, since British law allows for the veto of a foreign purchase of artwork if a British institution can offer a competitive price and the work is deemed of significant cultural value. Los Angeles Times

Chinese paintings capture expressive life

A stately, absorbing overview from a tumultuous, invigorating era in art, is how Times art critic Christopher Knight describes the new exhibition of paintings by 17th century Chinese master Dong Qichang at the L.A. County Museum of Art. The landscapes on view feature the expressive brushstrokes common to the Southern School of Chinese painting, in a show that defies casual perusal but rewards close looking. Los Angeles Times

Innovative printmakers open downtown gallery space

Mixografia, the downtown printmaking studio known for inventing a bas-relief printing process that allowed for the creation of mural-sized works with three-dimensional texture, will soon debut an expansive new exhibition space in downtown L.A. The gallery, says Mixografia founder Luis Remba, will help educate people about different printmaking processes, because now, with the Internet, theyre forgotten. Los Angeles Times

August Wilson as the Shakespeare of our time

Ma Raineys Black Bottom director Phylicia Rashad, third from left, with cast members, from left: Damon Gupton, Keith David, Lillias White, Jason Dirden and Glynn Turman. (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)

Ma Raineys Black Bottom by Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright August Wilson is set to open at the Mark Taper Forum this month. (It is currently in previews.) And it offers a fine opportunity to observe the ways the writer imbued his dialogue with poetry and lyricism taken from blues music. There is a rhythm in this language that if you betray, you wont find the truth of, actor Keith David tells Times contributor Gary Goldstein. Its inherent in the language. Los Angeles Times

Why L.A. needs a classical music festival

Times classical music critic Mark Swed has spent quality time this summer soaking up Mahler and Gounod at classical music festivals in Switzerland and Austria. He says its time for L.A. to think about reviving the biannual Los Angeles Festival (which went dormant in 1993), since the city has long served as an important incubator for classical music. What will it take? Plenty of civic support. Los Angeles Times

The architecture of Sandy Hook

How to rebuild and commemorate the site of a mass shooting? Times architecture critic Christopher Hawthorne pays a visit to the new Sandy Hook elementary school in Newton, Conn., where a shooter in 2012 killed 20 first-graders, six adults and himself. The new school, designed by Svigals + Partners, writes Hawthorne, gestures toward a surprising and bracing idea: that in contemporary American culture we can no longer find reliable security by turning away from the wild, metaphorical or otherwise, and toward the civilized. Los Angeles Times

Plus: Design writer Karrie Jacobs offers a detailed report on the architects process, which entailed a close working relationship with the Sandy Hook community. Architect

Avant-garde performance about a 4th century hermit

Four Larks theater company is restaging its award-winning junkyard opera about the temptations of the Egyptian monk known as St. Antony in an undisclosed warehouse space in downtown Los Angeles. Inspired by a book on the subject by Gustave Flaubert, it is, writes Times contributor Tim Greiving, part of a wave of site-specific, hidden-location, hard-to-define work that has been on the rise in Los Angeles. Los Angeles Times

The art of digital death

I attended my own funeral last weekend as part of a two-day performance and installation by artist Gabriel Barcia-Colombo at LACMA. It was all part of a project, funded by the museums Art + Technology Lab, that looks at what happens to our digital data when we die. Needless to say, the whole experience was pretty weird. Los Angeles Times

IN OTHER NEWS

Hundreds of female artists pose for a group portrait in the courtyard of Hauser Wirth & Schimmel. (Carolina A. Miranda / Los Angeles Times )

 More than 700 women artists gathered for a group portrait organized by artist Kim Schoenstadt at the downtown gallery Hauser Wirth & Schimmel last Sunday. And it was joyous! Los Angeles Times

 William Poundstone reports that Los Angeles is well-represented in the Whitney Museums permanent collection re-hang. Los Angeles County Museum on Fire

 The upcoming Modern art exhibition at the Louis Vuitton Foundation in Paris is set to take the city by storm. New York Times

 The mysterious smudge on Edvard Munchs Scream is  candle wax. The Guardian

 Charles Desmarais gets an advance peek at what may ultimately be the core of a great museum, the planned Museum of Narrative Art by George Lucas. San Francisco Chronicle

 Since downtown L.A. clearly has a shortage of art spaces, Hollywood talent shop United Talent Agency has seen fit to open yet another. New York Times

 The German apartment building where Robert Capa made one of his most iconic World War II images has been restored to its former glory. The Guardian

 An architect imagines new designs for bombed-out Syrian cities. New York Times

 Shakespeares Globe theater in London is planning an expansion. The Stage

 Next to Normal, the Pulitzer Prize-winning musical centered on a woman with bipolar disorder, lands at L.A.s Pico Playhouse. Los Angeles Times

 Klingons and an aria: The Pacific Opera Project has updated Mozarts Abduction From the Seraglio, setting it in the Star Trek universe. Los Angeles Times

 A performance held at the Hollywood Bowl on Thursday not only served as an elegy to composer James Horner, but also showed how composers straddle the classical music/film score divide. Los Angeles Times

 I was sort of sabotaging myself. Sergei Polunin, ballets notorious bad boy, has had a change of heart. New York Times

CANT-MISS SHOW

A group exhibition of collage-style work that riffs on the dystopic is the best group exhibition of the summer, maybe the year, writes Times reviewer David Pagel. Phantom Limb, at Shulamit Nazarian in Venice, packs a punch. On view through Sept. 9. 17 N. Venice Blvd., Venice, shulamitnazarian.com.

AND LAST BUT NOT LEAST

Director Spike Jonze has filmed a wondrously strange perfume ad for Kenzo that involves the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion and lasers. Dig. It.

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Find me on Twitter @cmonstah.
The new Roddenberry Prize encourages participants to create a #boldlybetter future

Star Treks influence is not felt just in entertainment circles, and the Roddenberry Foundation aims to make sure that the innovative themes and ideas started fictionally are backed by real encouragement.

The foundation has launched a new award program, the Roddenberry Prize, an annual $1-million gift in support of solutions that address humanitys greatest challenges. The inaugural honor consists of one $400,000 grand prize and four $150,000 innovation awards, disbursed in lump sums to five recipients. And those recipients can be anyone who has an idea or invention that could benefit humanity in areas as diverse as poverty, obesity, education or the environment.

We launched the Roddenberry Foundation to build on my fathers legacy and philosophy of inclusion, diversity and respect for life to meaningfully improve the lives of people around the world, said Rod Roddenberry, son of Star Trek creator Gene Roddenberry, in a statement. With todays launch of the Roddenberry Prize, we hope to heighten awareness of the critical needs that many face on this planet, and unleash the imagination and drive of those inspired to do something about it.

The spork is already invented, but surely some enterprising person will submit a game-changing project -- this years application period opened yesterday and closes Nov. 16.

Applications and rules are posted at The Roddenberry Foundations prize website at RoddenberryPrize.org. Winners will be announced in January 2017 -- just in time for the debut of CBS new Star Trek: Discovery series.
The nexus between hot Hermosa Beach and cool Scandinavia may not be immediately apparent to most, but for architect and interior designer Farnaz Reneker the link is a natural one.

Our lifestyles are similar, the homes are similar, everything is very small, she says. Scandinavian product design puts quality and functionalism first. And because were also limited with space here, everything needs to be functional.

Equipped with this less is more outdoor lifestyle aesthetic, Reneker and her builder husband Steve, a cyclist and surfer, opened their first retail shop, Hermosa Design. It is a cheerful, fresh spot in a mainly blank-faced industrial/warehouse neighborhood clearly in transition. Theyve temporarily expanded north: Until Oct. 31, much of Hermosa Designs inventory will also be on display at a pop-up store in Santa Monica.

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A stones throw from the Strand, in the bright converted warehouse that serves as retail shop, art gallery, workshop and community gathering spot, Reneker displays her carefully curated array of clean-lined, mostly sustainable goods from mainly northern European countries, with a dash of Japanese, Canadian, Italian and American items that share the beach-minimalist/functional aesthetic.

The selection is largely inspired by the couples visits to their Scandinavian families. She has relatives in Sweden; his family background is Finnish. My contribution is more the interior design, the housewares, the lighting, the furniture, Reneker explains. His spin is more the lifestyle aspect, which is going to the beach on your bike, going surfing, bonfires on the beach.

And so, a strapping Dutch bike sits next to slender hanging shelves filled with Scandinavian bar- and glass-ware. A paddle board leans against a wall hung with local artist Jill Paiders surfer art photography. There are clever folding chairs with seat backs shaped like coat hangers so they can hang in the closet, gleaming indoor and outdoor teak furnishings, modernist and industrial lighting, brilliant wool blankets. Reneker is particularly partial to hanging storage solutions, for personal reasons. I need things to be off the floor, she says simply, because our house is 1,000 square feet, and were a family of four with a dog.

As devoted as they are to their retail and sizable e-commerce efforts, as well as to Farnazs Studio Argente architecture and design office located upstairs, the couple from the start wanted more from their 1,400-square-foot space. Such as a gathering place that can hold 250 to 300 people, Reneker explains: We just decided it was important to us to create that community space.

The Renekers regularly exhibit the work of local artists, and host monthly professional happy hours. Their themed events have celebrated local nonprofits and their volunteers, and spotlighted local business and government green initiatives. They hosted an after-screening party for the new Hermosa Cinema Society, and  with evident pride  a giant slideshow for their 7-year-old sons macrophotography class. The kids got to see their images blown up on a huge warehouse wall, she says. Thats stuff we enjoy doing.

Hermosa Design, 618 Cypress Ave., Hermosa Beach; (310) 374-4300, open 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday and Saturdays by appointment only. The pop-up store is at 1728 Ocean Park Blvd. in Santa Monica. www.hermosa-design.com
President Obama, often frustrated in his efforts to contain Chinas regional power, advance human rights and open markets, has settled for progress elsewhere in relations between the worlds leading economies: tackling climate change.

In an announcement Saturday that virtually no one predicted when Obama began to draw up his foreign policy goals after taking office in 2009, he and Chinese President Xi Jinping officially committed their nations to a landmark global climate agreement years ahead of schedule.



For the record: An earlier version of this article incorrectly spelled China analyst Dean Chengs last name as Chen.

And Obama and Xi, despite their many other differences, cemented their leadership crafting tough environmental standards and prodding others to follow.

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Just as I believe the Paris agreement will ultimately prove to be a turning point for our planet, I believe that history will judge todays effort as pivotal, Obama said in a ceremony with Xi ahead of the Group of 20 summit to make the ratification formal. Today we are moving the world significantly closer to the goal that we have set.

Xi said he hopes other countries will step up their timelines for committing to the Paris accord, following the example of China. When the old path no longer takes us far, we should make use of new methods, Xi said. China is a responsible developing country and acts as a participant in global climate change efforts.

Joint progress in the fight against climate change was far from certain at the beginning of the Obama presidency, and the White House had not expected this breakthrough amid other failed attempts at cooperation.

For decades previously, it was as if China and the United States were the captains of two opposing teams in a match over greenhouse gases, said Brian Deese, a key Obama advisor and negotiator in the climate talks. The president was always optimistic, he said, but clear-eyed.

When he crafted his China policy, Obama sought out issues on which the U.S. could cooperate with the Chinese, as well as areas in which the two nations would compete.

The strategy was part of Obamas plan to shift U.S. focus from the Middle East to East Asia, a strategy often termed as his Asia pivot.

The approach was predicated on nurturing strong lines of communications between Obama and Xi, who took office in 2013.

The effort began in earnest with a summit that year between Obama and Xi at the Sunnylands presidential retreat in Rancho Mirage, a meeting that gave Obama his first real glimpse into the mind of the Chinese leader.

Xi used that meeting to propose a new type of great power relations between the two countries.

Xis phrase revealed how China views its resurgent global role, as the White House saw it, just as Obamas refusal to echo it demonstrated his trepidation.

The two leaders kept talking, meeting eight times over the last 3 years and sanctioning scores of bilateral talks between their governments.

At the same time, though, Xi began pushing a much more aggressive stance in Asia that by its nature would limit the influence of the West.

China provoked its neighbors with confrontations in the South China Sea, an area claimed by other countries in the region, and has moved to build a military facility on an artificial island there.

From the Chinese side, theres much less of a perception that they need anything out of the U.S., said Arthur Kroeber, managing director of the Beijing-based research firm Gavekal Dragonomics. So that means, conversely, the U.S. has less leverage to get things it wants.

That has become plain in other ways too. China refused to participate in the Trans-Pacific Partnership, the signature trade pact Obama is still trying to pass.

American businesses complain of greater restrictions and murky laws that make it harder to compete in China.

China also passed a law requiring greater scrutiny of foreign nonprofit organizations and their local partners, and launched a campaign against so-called Western values.

The country has clashed with the U.S. over investment rules and currency exchange rate policy. Tensions remain high over Chinese breaches of American cybersecurity systems.

And, in a striking rebuke of free speech, the Chinese government last year rounded up more than 300 lawyers and human rights advocates.

China is a richer, more diverse and more self-confident country than it used to be, Kroeber said. It can be more assertive going after what it wants. And theres not much anyone else can do to change that.

That made climate change an unlikely issue where the two superpowers might cooperate.

But a popular Chinese revolt may have achieved what diplomacy alone could not.

After a wave of choking air pollution in Beijing inspired a sharp backlash from the Chinese people in 2011, the country began to promote investments in renewable energy and stepped up plans to set up a carbon trade market to discourage pollution.

Critics of Obamas foreign policy have asked whether the U.S. should be so deeply involved in collaborative projects with the communist nation.

And human rights advocates continue to question whether the administration is imposing any real penalties on China for imprisoning and killing dissidents.

Others say theres not enough credible information to determine whether gains from the climate agreements are all that significant.

Do we believe that the Chinese are actually operating under that accord? asked Dean Cheng, a China analyst at the conservative Heritage Foundation think tank. Do we really see them as cutting back, when they are now the biggest global greenhouse emitter?

But Obama advisors point to the climate agreement as validation of the presidents approach.

They say Obama is under no illusions about why Chinese officials have come to the table to talk about any of the issues on his agenda. The Chinese concluded, for example, that it was in their interest to not join the trade deal.

The climate agreement stands out because the Chinese government did its own analysis and determined that cooperation suited the nation. In that sense, said Deese, its an example of how Obama thinks about using American power as a force for good.

Obamas approach has always been to identify areas of mutual interest and then try to work something out, Deese said.

We have been very clear throughout this whole process that where there are areas where we can work together, were going to seek to do that, and seek to leverage that cooperation as much as we can, Deese said. But there are lots of areas where we have disagreements, and were going to be very clear and very resolute about those disagreements as well.

Times staff writer Jonathan Kaiman and special correspondent Jessica Meyers in Beijing contributed to this report.

Follow @cparsons for news about the White House.

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CHAPTER SIX: RUIN

A tall, lanky man sat alone on a bench outside Courtroom 62. He was absorbed in the yellow legal pad balanced on his lap, silently mouthing what he had written there.

Following the Framed series? Read it from the beginning >>

He was recognizable to many of the attorneys who passed through this third-floor wing of the Central Justice Center in Santa Ana. By now he was accustomed to the stares of curiosity and contempt. The white-shoe rainmakers in the $1,000 suits, the personal-injury guys hustling a living on slip-and-falls, the overworked public defenders  they knew his mug shot from the news.

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Until recently Kent Easter had been one of them, a member of the tribe in good standing, a sworn Officer of the Court. He sat atop the roiling, competitive heap of Orange Countys 17,000 practicing lawyers  a $400,000-a-year civil litigator, an equity partner in one of the countys biggest firms.

His career had been a trajectory of prestige schools and status gigs, from Stanford to UCLA Law to a big Silicon Valley firm, and finally to a 14th-floor office in a Newport Beach tower overlooking the Pacific.

This was before the arrests and the trials and the cameras, before his pedigree became a cudgel with which to flog him, before strangers were writing him letters urging him to kill himself. Now he sat alone in the din of the courthouse hallway wearing ill-fitting pants and a homely purple sweater.

It was February 2016. His lips moved as he studied his legal pad. He was rehearsing a plea for mercy  his closing argument to jurors weighing his financial fate. Absent was the top-dollar legal talent that had flanked him through two criminal trials. Finally, representing himself, he would face his fellow Orange County citizens alone. He would paint a picture of his almost total ruin and beg them not to make it complete.

***

To Rob Marcereau, the attorney representing the plaintiff and her family, Kent Easter brought back memories of the William Macy character in Fargo  a man flailing to extricate himself from the web of his own doomed criminal scheme, losing more with each entangling lie. Here, as compensation for emotional distress, Kelli Peters wanted millions from him.

Some of Marcereaus lawyer buddies had told him the case was a long-shot. Peters had suffered no physical injury and had kept her role as a school volunteer. But the more Easter tried to duck what he had done, Marcereau thought, the more the jurors would hate him.

Easter sat alone at the defense table, without his co-defendant and ex-wife, Jill. When Marcereau chatted with him during court breaks, he found him oddly affable  low-key, disarmingly polite, with a sense of humor  and had to remind himself he was the enemy.

Kent Easter and his wife, Jill Easter, plotted and planned and schemed to destroy the life of Kelli Peters for a full year, Marcereau told jurors in his opening remarks. He detailed their futile campaign to oust her from her volunteer job at Plaza Vista elementary, and their ill-fated plot to disgrace her by planting drugs in her car.

When his turn came, Easter told jurors that Peters tale of suffering was full of exaggerations and embellishments. He said he took responsibility for what happened to her, though he did so only in the vaguest terms. And he added: The fact that something very bad was done to a person does not give them a winning Powerball number.

Marcereau put Easter on the stand. Had he conspired with his wife to plant drugs in Peters car?

Very stupidly and very unfortunately, yes, Easter replied.

Marcereau pressed for specifics.

Which one of you, you or your wife, actually planted the drugs in Mrs. Peters car? Or was it both?

It was my wife.

That was in keeping with his failed defense during his criminal trials, in which he had cast her as the culprit.

She had not testified at those trials, and no one knew what she might say. When Easter put on his case now and called her to the stand  with a sign-language interpreter on hand for her claimed hearing loss  he did not seem angry at the woman he claimed had ruined him.

Instead, his tone seemed almost wistful, his gaze tender. She was now calling herself Ava Everheart, and so he began, Good afternoon, Ms. Everheart.

Good afternoon.

He began by acknowledging the damage hed done to her name.

I probably could have treated you a little better, couldnt I have? he said.

Yes.

Despite all of that you have still been kind to me and havent sought revenge, right?

No.

I have known you since you were young. I dont know if you remember those days.

Yes.

She was living with her parents in Newport Beach. Her father was an astrophysicist and inventor, but she did not mention this. She insisted she was not a child of privilege. She had worked three jobs to put herself through school.

She surveyed the courtroom and said, I think I am the person that went to the best law school in this room, to be honest with you, and I am proud of that. Doesnt mean I am spoiled, or a bad person.

But now her reputation was ruined, she complained. She had done nearly two months in jail. She was disbarred, her law degree from Berkeleys Boalt Hall useless. I lost everything. I mean everything, she said. I am not a school terrorizer, as I have read about myself.

She wanted to dispel a misconception about her self-published crime thriller, Holding House, which Marcereau had invoked to illustrate her preoccupation with the perfect crime.

The point of the book is these people think they have the perfect crime, and then it gets really messed up, she said. So the point is there is no perfect crime. You cant think of one in your head because you will always be fooled, and that is the point of the book.

Marcereau did not see much value in a lengthy cross-examination. He thought she had already buried herself.

Maam, on Feb. 16, 2011, you planted illegal drugs in Kelli Peters car, true?

I pled guilty to that.

Did you do it?

No.

That is what I thought. No more questions.

It was time for Kent Easter to call his most important witness, and so he uttered one of the most melancholy sentences jurors would hear: At this time I would just be calling myself.

He took the stand, wearing one of the unassuming sweaters that had seemed his sole wardrobe through the trial.

He turned to the jury box and explained that he was, at 41, a broken man. A UCLA Law grad who was sharing an apartment with his parents. His savings eviscerated by a quarter-million dollars in legal fees. Barred even from driving for Uber or Lyft because of his felony conviction. Relying on acquaintances to throw him a little work. And still the sole breadwinner for his three kids, aged 8, 10 and 12.

All this education that I had is now completely useless to me, by and large, he said. I have no expectation that I will be a lawyer ever again.

Marcereau was convinced Easter was hiding money, somewhere. Soon after his arrest, he pointed out, Easter had transferred ownership of his Irvine house to his father-in-law.

He told jurors not to be deceived. You know, I think he has a good act. He comes in here wearing the same sweater three days in a row, Marcereau said. He probably has a dozen tailored suits at home, and yet he is in here wearing the same sweater trying to tell you that he is poor. Dont believe it.

For Kelli Peters, the run-in with the Easters amounted to the worst experience of her life, Marcereau said. Her daughter Sydnie, who was 10 when the Easters tried to frame her mother, had refused to sleep alone for fear the Easter monster would abduct her, Marcereau said. She had grown isolated from her friends and had finally asked to change schools.

Even now, Kent Easter was still waffling on what he did, while his ex-wife showed not an ounce of remorse, Marcereau said. He turned again to the crime novel. He reminded jurors that a promotional spot had appeared on YouTube, right around the time drugs were planted. It had featured a dramatic voice-over by Kent Easter: If you knew how to commit a perfect crime, would you do it?

Kelli Peters is cowering in her house, crying with her daughter and her husband, scared out of her mind, worried she is going to be thrown in jail for God knows how long, and Kent and Jill Easter are toasting to the perfect crime, Marcereau said. We did it, honey. Clink. The perfect crime.

Kent Easter sat in the hallway during the lunch break, clutching the legal pad on which he had scratched out his closing argument.

I should never have hurt Kelli Peters, he told jurors when they returned. Still, he said, everybody had stood by her. The school had supported her. A policeman had detained her but had not arrested her, handcuffed her, pulled a gun on her, locked her in his squad car or taken her to jail. The polite and professional cop had not even raised his voice.

Now came the abject plea for mercy. Im simply a parent of a young family that is broke, Easter said. So I really come here already having lost everything I have except for my family, and I submit there is no further point to additional punishment.

His words were plaintive, but his tone nearly robotic. It was if he were talking about someone else, a character named Kent Easter that he did not particularly love.

Nor did jurors, who returned with a verdict of $5.7 million. He sat alone, looking stunned.

***

To celebrate the verdict, Kelli Peters friends threw her a party. They had bought a heart-shaped pinata and decorated it with blown-up copies of the Easters mug shots.

Someone gave Peters a stick. She held it tentatively, embarrassed, and administered some half-hearted thwacks. Her daughter, now 15, took the stick. The girl whose childhood had been blighted by the ordeal told her mother to step back. Some of the people in the room were laughing, and some of the same people were already beginning to cry.

She swung the stick full-force. Paydays and 100 Grand bars tumbled through the gash.

***

Four months after the verdict Easter was back in court, this time in a handsome dark suit, telling the trial judge, Michael Brenner, that the damages were excessive, that Peters attorney had failed to show he had means to pay. The case law is clear on this, he argued, rattling off legal citations.

Brenner thought the damages were just about right, the jurys reasoning sound. It was easy to imagine how they figured it, he said. They saw two top of the heap lawyers  a couple of real legal smarties, sophisticated people  who had used their legal acumen in an attempt to destroy a woman who lived in a little apartment, and who had quit her job to volunteer at her daughters school.

The judge noted that Kent Easter could reapply for his law license after a five-year suspension.

Musing on his half-century in the law, the judge called this the most incomprehensible case Ive ever seen, and said: I cant figure out why you and your ex-wife did what you did.

The judge worked a rubber band with his fingers, gazing quizzically down at Kent Easter. He was struck by Easters flat affect during trial, and reminded him that hed never taken unambiguous responsibility for planting the drugs.

Your position on this is always very vague, the judge said. The jury could easily think, You know, Mr. Easter has a plan and what hes gonna do is keep it just as vague as he can.

He came right out and asked what everyone wanted to know: Who dreamed up this idea?

The judge let the question hang there, while Kent Easter, sitting nearly motionless, said nothing.

Its just nuts, the judge continued, twisting the rubber band. Theyre not exactly master criminals out of Boalt Hall and UCLA.

***

More than five years after the drug-planting, the upheavals ripple outward still. Kent Easter has filed for bankruptcy and appealed the civil verdict, so finding a way to get Kelli Peters her money has spawned another legal battle.

In that effort, Peters lawyers recently sued Jill Easters father, 74-year-old Paul Bjorkholm, a retired scientist for EG&G Astrophysics who owns a $2-million Newport Beach home.

Summoned to answer their questions, Bjorkholm sat uneasily across from the lawyers amid the clamor of the busy third-floor cafeteria at the Santa Ana courthouse.

The lawyers grilled him about what happened in the summer of 2012, when  weeks after the Easters were arrested  they gave him their Irvine home.

The house was sold, and the $171,000 proceeds were split between Jill and Kent Easter, in trusts Bjorkholm had agreed to oversee.

That money rightfully belongs to Peters, the lawyers maintain. They are also asking for punitive damages against Bjorkholm, contending that because he participated in the homes fraudulent transfer, they may lay claim to his own assets.

During the questioning, Bjorkholm said he had been reluctant when Kent Easter asked him to become trustee so soon after the arrests. Nevertheless, hed agreed to do it.

At the time you were asked to do this, you were concerned that it might appear to be a fraud? Marcereau asked.

No, other people might think so, Bjorkholm said. Youre badgering me pretty hard, and Im not happy with that.

Marcereau pressed for an answer. Why did it seem odd to you?

Kent Easter was sitting beside his former father-in-law, and now he did as a lawyer would. He interjected: Objection, asked and answered.

Marcereau said, Youre not his attorney. Youre not a lawyer.

Easter said, Im a party here. Youre taking a record.

Marcereaus co-counsel, Roger Friedman, told Easter he could stay if he kept quiet, but threatened to get a court order if he interfered.

As if Easter needed reminding, he added, Youre not an attorney.

***

Ask Kent Easter about it today, and he answers in urbane, unfailingly polite tones that his criminal defense was a pack of lies and distortions, that he demonized his wife, that he pressured her into pleading guilty in the hope he might go free. Nor was he her dupe. She was made out to be a cartoonish villainess, he says. This master-planner ice queen from Gone Girl  it makes this great archetype. She writes these crime novels and planned this whole thing. But its just absolutely not true.

For his trials, he says, he embellished one of the defense exhibits without his attorneys knowledge  the hectoring email in which his wife demanded that he get serious about destroying Peters. He says the all-caps last line, with its 68 exclamation points, was his work, not hers. To beef things up, he says.

Its hard to keep track of his shifting stories. In criminal court, he denied conspiring to plant the drugs and said his wife had done it alone. In civil court, he said he conspired with her but that she had done the actual planting. Today, he says, She was not out there that night, but will not supply details. He worries about perjury charges for changing his story. He points to the county jail and says, I dont want to go back over there. He acknowledges that the crime was really not thought out very well, and adds: I didnt expect that half the Irvine Police Department would be working on this.

He speaks of his ex-wife as if he still loves her. When he met her at their Silicon Valley firm in the mid-1990s, she was not like other women he met, laser-focused on a legal career. She was a hiker, a student of history, the owner of a pet bunny. She turned out to be a great mother who used flashcards with their kids and got them reading by age 5.

All the best moments in my life have been with her, he says. All the worst moments have been with her too.

He is scratching out a living, he says, doing odd law-related jobs and freelance writing.

Some time ago, he says, he met a woman and developed a romantic interest in her. He asked her out. They made plans. Then came the cancellation he half-expected, expressed in four words:

I just Googled you.

***

One day this spring, Kelli Peters drove to Hollywood to tape a segment of the Dr. Phil show. She hoped to promote a book she was co-writing called Ill Get You! Drugs, Lies, and the Terrorizing of a PTA Mom.

She brought a mock-up of the cover, featuring herself in the cross-hairs of a rifle scope beneath Jill Easters glaring mug-shot eyes.

Dr. Phil obliged by holding it aloft, which she hoped would bump up the advance sales. She needed the money. Her husband had leukemia and was out of work, and the Easters had not paid a penny of the civil judgment.

Entering the publicity circuit exacted a price, however. The producers had taped an interview with Jill Easter and filmed Peters as she watched, fighting nausea.

Easter was unrepentant. She accused Peters of having mistreated her son, leaving him crying and dirty. Easter portrayed the presence of her genetic material on the planted drugs as innocent, mere transfer DNA  an explanation that elicited little more than ridicule.

It was not clear why Easter agreed to the interview; she came off so badly that the host asked, at one point, Whats wrong with this woman?

***

For Peters, it is a relief, now that the Easters have left the neighborhood, even if  last she heard  they are just one city over, in Newport Beach.

She walks her dogs along Irvines trim streets and watches geese on the banks of the big, artificial lakes. She smiles at the same people she has been passing for years. She asks about their families, and pets.

It is friendly but dull. She misses beach cities. Maybe when her daughter graduates from high school, she says, shell find a more exciting place.

Now and then, she runs into a member of the Police Department, the agency that saw through the lies and put 20 detectives on the case and saved her. They greet her like a friend, but act a little surprised to see her. Why hasnt she left town, considering all the bad memories?

I feel safe here, she says.
Sex education can be a fraught chapter in a young persons life.

It usually involves clinical diagrams, uncomfortable discussions and possibly the unforgettable experience of watching your gym teacher stretch a condom over a banana.

In some parts of the world, schools have kicked it up a notch by giving teenagers robotic babies to take care of for an entire weekend. Its the high-tech version of babysitting an egg for the weekend. Either way, the exercise is meant to emphasize how all-consuming it is to care for an infant  and hopefully motivate students to do everything in their power to make sure they dont become teen parents.

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Ironically, the lifelike baby dolls may do just the opposite by glamorizing the life of a teen mom.

Researchers tracked 2,834 young women who went to non-Catholic schools in Perth, Australia. Among them, 1,267 participated in the Virtual Infant Parenting program when they were between the ages of 13 and 15, caring for their crying, eating, pooping infant facsimiles.

The other 1,567 girls didnt get dolls to take care of, and they served as controls.

The researchers kept track of the young women until they turned 20 (and thus were too old to qualify as teen mothers). In particular, the researchers checked the students medical records to see if they had given birth or had an abortion.

Overall, they found that 13% of the study participants became pregnant during the course of the study. One-quarter of these young women got pregnant more than once.

Being saddled with a robot baby didnt have its intended effect  210 of the young women who participated in the VIP program went on to become pregnant. That compares with 168 pregnancies among the larger group of young women who didnt get the high-tech dolls.

Alumnae of the VIP program were also more likely to give birth  8% of them did so, compared with 4% of young women from the control group.

Even when the researchers made allowances for factors like socioeconomic status and history with vices like alcohol and cigarettes, the students who went through the teen pregnancy prevention program were 51% more likely to become pregnant teens than their peers who didnt go through the program.

There was only one conclusion for the researchers to make: The infant simulator-based VIP programme did not achieve its aim of reducing teenage pregnancy, they wrote in the journal Lancet.

In commentary that accompanied the study, Julie Quinlivan of the Institute for Health Research at the University of Notre Dame Australia suggested there may be a good reason for this.

The virtual infant parenting program exaggerates the positives and diminishes the negatives of caring for an infant, Quinlivan wrote. In doing so, it makes teen parenthood seem more appealing, not less.

Teenagers playing with their dolls receive positive feedback from their peers and family at an age when they crave such attention, she explained. But in real life, being a parent is more than just feeding, burping, and nappy changes.

Among the programs other drawbacks is the fact that it only targets girls, and it takes place when those girls are already in adolescence. she said. By that point, the socioeconomic, environmental and educational factors that contribute to the likelihood of teen pregnancy have been set.

The cure for teenage pregnancy is more difficult than a magic doll, wrote Quinlivan, who decried the Virtual Infant Parenting program as a quick fix.

In the United States, teen pregnancy has declined continuously over the past two decades, hitting an all-time low in 2014 (the most recent year that data is available) according to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. A study from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention released in 2014 credited improved access to and education about contraception and abstinence for the decline.

MTV may also deserve some credit: A 2014 study found that the unscripted show 16 and Pregnant, which details the decidedly unglamorous reality of teen pregnancy and motherhood, may have contributed to as much as a 6% decline in the teen pregnancy rate.

Maybe Australia should lose the robot babies and screen the MTV series instead.

jessica.roy@latimes.com

Follow me on Twitter @jessica_roy and like Los Angeles Times Science & Health on Facebook.

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With election day just a couple of months away, we were not lacking for evidence that this is one of the battiest presidential campaigns in history.

But who among us didnt expect more?

Last week, GOP presidential candidate Donald Trump made another tough-guy speech about deportations and immigration. Then Marco Gutierrez, a founder of Latinos for Trump, got nearly as much attention for a comment he made in defending his candidate of choice.

My culture is a very dominant culture and its imposing and its causing problems, Gutierrez said on national television. If you dont do something about it, youre going to have taco trucks on every corner.

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Well, here in Los Angeles, we can tell the rest of the nation what thats like.

First of all, it smells really, really good, all the time. Lets say you cant sleep, so you roll out of bed and decide youre hungry, but its 2 a.m.

No problem.

Open a window, take a deep breath and follow the scent of sizzling meat, onions and peppers to the nearest taco truck.

Taco trucks are like palm trees here. Part of the landscape, and not hard to find.

Im not saying youll be able to sleep after you eat, but for just a couple of bucks youll have a full belly and a smile on your face.

Clearly, though, some people are going to remain terrified at the prospect of proliferating taco trucks  because the real message isnt about more tacos, but more Latinos.

Thats the whole point of identity politics. Create villains. Draw lines. Reinforce fears.

On Friday morning, at my own risk, I drove into the heart of the dominant culture.

In Boyle Heights, I parked behind a bright red taco truck with El Monchis painted on it.

Ramon Flores, 23, told me the days are long and the work is hard, but he likes being in the business and hopes to take it over when his dad retires.

Ramon Flores with his fathers truck in Boyle Heights. (Francine Orr / Los Angeles Times )

Im out at 6 a.m. every day, said the East L.A. resident, who drives to downtown Los Angeles in the morning to buy food for the day. Then I have to open the truck and cook the meat.

Flores, a Garfield High School graduate, parks in his regular spot on Cesar Chavez Avenue, next to an Auto Zone and across from Station 2 of the L.A. Fire Department. The bright red truck has the names of family members painted on it.

Junior. Yessica. Ayleen.

Floress father and brother operate the familys other truck, which is anchored in East L.A.

On a typical day, Flores said, he and his assistant chef will shut down and clean the truck in the early evening, and he gets home around 8 p.m.

So how many days a week does he pull such a long shift?

Seven, he said. We have to work every day to make enough money.

Youd think any Trump supporter would appreciate rather than loathe this kind of initiative. Its the American entrepreneurial spirit on display.

And the tacos are made in America, unlike some of the clothing sold under Trumps name.

Theyre good, said Mike Contreras, a firefighter who works across the street from El Monchis and favors the cemitas  a taco-like sandwich made on Mexican bread.

Fire Capt. Alex Arriola couldnt think of anything negative to say about taco trucks.

Theyre awesome, he said, telling me the crew often eats at another one that pulls up to the neighborhood after El Monchis rolls home for the night.

Farther south in Boyle Heights, I spotted a white truck with the name Milagro painted on it, with a middle-aged woman serving up tacos and other food to factory workers.

Ive been doing it 25 years, said Milagro Orellana, who had no time for chitchat. She hustles from one work spot to another, scaring up business wherever she can.

Outside Keck-USC Hospital, I asked the elderly gent behind the window of Neiros Hot Lunch truck how long hes been in business.

Me? Thirty years, said Juan Hernandez, who took orders at the window while his son, Gerardo, prepared tacos and burritos.

Juan said he hadnt heard the taco truck comment from Trumps Latino cheerleader, but one of his customers, Samantha Vernal, had.

Its ridiculous. Theyre super convenient, said the patient care coordinator, who said she has been put off by the campaign targeting of ethnic groups.

A mile south of the hospital, Leo Llamas of Leos Mariscos Colima was flying American flags from his truck, as if it were Fourth of July.

How long has he been in business?

Forty years, he said, telling me he raised a family on sales of seafood cocktails.

I figured I needed to hit one last taco truck and order lunch, so I drove west. When I got to MacArthur Park, I spotted a brightly painted truck with religious figurines propped up in the front window. The name of the truck?

Love & Peace Seafood and Mexican Grill.

It was parked outside a Bank of America. I moved in close enough to hear the owner speaking in Spanish to his customers, and when he was free for a moment, I asked if he had heard the taco truck comments.

No, he said. Im too busy working to pay attention to politics.

I asked if he was from Los Angeles.

No, he said. Egypt.

He told me he came to this country seven years ago, learned to speak Spanish and made friends with someone who taught him how to cook Mexican food. Three years ago, he said, he bought his own truck, and the woman cooking at the grill was his Guatemalan wife.

I ordered two carne asada tacos  which were excellent, by the way  and thought to myself, I know what would truly make America great again.

More taco trucks.

steve.lopez@latimes.com

Read more of Steve Lopezs work and follow him on Twitter @LATstevelopez

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A motorcyclist was killed in a fiery accident Friday afternoon on westbound I-10 in El Monte, Los Angeles County fire officials said.

The accident occurred at about 3:15 p.m. near Santa Anita Avenue and blocked the express lanes in both directions for several hours, according to California Highway Patrol incident logs.

The motorcyclist was pronounced dead at the scene. No other injuries were reported, fire officials said.

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The Los Angeles County coroners office had not identified the victim Friday night. No other details were available.
Commerce Mayor Ivan Altamirano has agreed to pay $15,500 in fines for multiple violations of the states political ethics law, including conflicts of interest, failure to timely file campaign finance reports and inaccurate recording of campaign expenditures.

According to the California Fair Political Practices Commission, Altamirano had conflicts of interest when he voted on three occasions from 2012 to 2015 to appoint his sister Julissa Altamirano to the citys planning commission. The agency pays a $50 stipend and Julissa Altamirano had been paying rent as a tenant at Ivan Altamiranos property, making his sister a source of income.

Ivan Altamirano also had a conflict of interest when he voted with the City Council to place a stop sign at Fidelia Avenue and Jillson Street, within 150 feet of his home, according to FPPC documents.

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The decision also included an improvement to a street that altered traffic close to Altamiranos home and rental property, the documents state.

Altamirano, in supporting the stop sign, said at a council meeting that the intersection was the only one on Jillson Street without a stop sign, creating a dangerous situation, according to the documents. Altamirano knew or should have known  he had an impermissible conflict of interest.

As for the disclosure violations, the documents state that Altamirano did not file a pre-election campaign finance statement for the March 2013 Commerce council election until three months after. And when the statement was filed, it underreported Altamiranos expenditures by more than $3,000, the documents said.

Altamirano said he couldnt comment immediately on the fines until he gathered more information.

Altamiranos fines and agreement are scheduled to be ratified at the FPPCs Sept. 15 meeting.

On the same agenda, Commerce Councilwoman Tina Baca Del Rio is facing a $55,000 fine for failing to timely file campaign finance reports, accurately record spending and for personal use of campaign funds.

Baca Del Rios possible fine was reduced from the originally proposed $104,000 penalty. The lower fine was set to be approved at the Aug. 18 FPPC meeting, but the commissioners deadlocked in a 2-2 vote and it was held over. At $55,000, the penalty is still the largest ever against a sitting local elected official, according to an FPPC spokesman.

Baca Del Rio could not be reached for comment.

Adam.Elmahrek@latimes.com

@adamelmahrek

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At 7:22 a.m. Saturday, crane operator Josh Wiggins received his instructions on the radio.

All free and clear. Coming up.

From his cab 1,000 feet above downtown Los Angeles, Wiggins pulled back the hoist level and began raising the last piece of steel at the Wilshire Grand job site.

The 58-foot, hollow cylinder, weighing 20,000 pounds, glided vertically into the space above the street, almost in levitation.

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Eight minutes later, Wiggins lowered his 4-foot diameter load into position, bringing it to rest atop its partner, a 236-foot cylinder that had been raised earlier, one straw on top of another. The spire for the Wilshire Grand, 1,100 feet above Figueroa Street, was complete, and Los Angeles could claim title to home of the tallest skyscraper west of the Mississippi River.

Nearly 50 construction workers in yellow-and-orange fluorescent vests congregated on the high-rises unfinished floors, gazing skyward. A pair of helicopters circled beneath gray skies, photographers leaning through open doors to document the occasion, and on the roof of the nearby Aon Center, 62 stories high, architects, engineers, construction managers and media crowded the parapet, cameras poised.

Positioned inside the spire and out of sight, two iron workers, Eric Madrigal and Dan Cobbs, began torque-wrenching the nearly 70 bolts that would hold the two sections together. Wiggins held the cranes load steady.

In addition to its height, the Wilshire Grand has the added distinction of changing the skyline of Los Angeles with a rooftop that is neither truncated nor flat. The spire, designed in tandem with a 10-story steel-and-glass crown, rises above an outdoor terrace on the 73rd floor. The architectural features of the spire, which is illuminated at night, are mostly ornamental and were developed in negotiation with city officials and the Los Angeles Fire Department.

Los Angeles flat-topped skyline had been required since the 1970s as a safety feature to accommodate landing sites for helicopters in the event of emergencies. Architects for the Wilshire Grand, however, proposed an alternative that reflected a more modern approach to high-rise design. It included a tactical landing platform, an elevator designed exclusively for firefighting and a video surveillance system to monitor each floor in the event of a fire.

With half the bolts in place, Wiggins began to let the weight of his load settle into place. Madrigal climbed the ladder inside the spire to the top, where he stepped through a small hatch. Standing on a narrow lip just beneath the tip  18 feet of burnished and perforated stainless steel that soon will be lit red, blue, green or gold  he unfastened the spreader to the crane. The spire was in place.

At 8:06 a.m., Wiggins delivered two blasts from the cranes air horn, and Madrigal lifted his arms over his head.

With a red navigation beacon glowing at its peak, the Wilshire Grand had entered the history books.

thomas.curwen@latimes.com

Twitter: @tcurwen

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A former University of San Diego student is suing the school, saying she was drugged, choked and raped in her dorm room and the school mishandled the investigation.

The student, who requested that she be identified only by her nickname Niki, reported that she was attacked in February 2014.

I thought the people at the school would be willing to help me, said Niki, who was a student athlete. I thought that theyd be there for me and do what they could to make me feel somewhat safe, and they treated me like I was the one who had done something wrong.

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USD spokeswoman Pamela Gray Payton said that the private Catholic university does not comment on open investigations or pending litigation. She said, however, that the university disputes the description of events by Nikis attorney.

One of our most cherished values at USD is our commitment to the dignity of each human being, Payton said. Sexual violence in any form is antithetical to our mission, and we take very seriously our obligations under Title IX.

The year Niki reported the attack, USD reported six rapes on campus. By comparison, the much larger San Diego State University reported 12 rapes on campus in 2014.

Niki was hanging out with her new roommates and their friends in her dorm on Feb. 8, 2014, according to court papers. One of the friends offered to make her a mimosa, Niki recalled.

When he gave it to me, after drinking a little bit of it, I started to feel very dizzy, very weak, she said in a telephone interview. It was getting hard to move.

Niki said that her roommates went to bed shortly after, and thats when the man choked and raped her.

She said that as soon as she was able to move again, she fled her dorm room and called a friend for help. In a nearby campus parking garage, she met with an officer from the universitys Department of Public Safety.

Niki said she told the officer she was drugged and raped and that she wanted him to call the police. He arranged for an ambulance to take Niki to the hospital.

The officer who wrote the report went to Nikis dorm. From there, according to Nikis lawyer, Carla DiMare, the university botched the investigation.

At Nikis dorm, the officer let himself in and found a naked man asleep in Nikis bed, according to his report. He asked the man what Niki had had to drink that night, and the man answered Four Loko, a malt beverage.

The officer noticed a nearly full can of Four Loko and asked the man if that was Nikis drink, according to the report. The man said no, she had actually had wine and whiskey, the report said.

Two more public safety officers arrived at the dorm. One asked the man if he had sex with Niki. He said, Yes, the report says.

That officer then gave the man a ride home.

There is no mention in the report of the officers asking follow-up questions or collecting evidence, such as to test the drinks for drugs, or of trying to keep the man from contaminating the crime scene.

Asked about the apparent omission, Payton said, the Department of Public Safety responded immediately and in a manner consistent with its protocols.

According to court filings by USD, the public safety officers were only aware that Niki might have been drugged when she left in the ambulance. Only later did the hospital inform the university that she said shed been sexually assaulted, the filings say.

A San Diego police officer came to the hospital to see Niki around 5:19 a.m., according to a police report. Nikis mother said the call to police was made by the hospital. Court filings from the university assert that the SDPD was notified.

DiMare said that the delayed call to police and the lack of evidence gathered by the university public safety officers hamstrung the investigation.

The district attorneys office decided not to proceed with charges, according to an email written from the police detective to a university public safety officer.

They definitely believe her that the assault occurred; however, they feel they dont have enough to prove the allegation beyond a reasonable doubt... As you know, [he] admitted to the sex acts, but denies it was forced. It is unfortunate there was not some justice for the victim, the May 1, 2014, email from Det. Tracey Barr says.

The police department did not respond to a request for comment.

kate.morrissey@sduniontribune.com

Morrissey writes for the San Diego Union-Tribune.
Indiana Gov. Mike Pence set to release tax returns next week; no word on release by Donald Trump

(Michael Conroy / Associated Press)

Republican vice presidential hopeful Mike Pence is ready to release his tax returns.

But dont expect the same for Donald Trump.

In an interview with NBCs Meet the Press, set to air Sunday, the Indiana governor said he will release his returns next week.

When asked whether Trump also will release his returns, however, Pence said no, citing an ongoing audit of the Republican presidential nominees taxes.

Donald Trump will be releasing his tax returns at the completion of an audit, said Pence, adding well see if Trump releases his returns prior to election day.

Trump has repeatedly said he wont release any of his recent returns, citing the Internal Revenue Service review.

But the IRS says all taxpayers are free to make their returns public, regardless of whether they are being audited.

And every major party nominee since Richard Nixon has released tax returns.

Trumps refusal to follow precedent has fueled speculation that the tax records show he pays little or no taxes, makes scant charitable contributions or is not as wealthy as he has claimed.

In August, Hillary Clinton, the Democratic presidential nominee, released 2015 tax returns that showed she and her husband, former President Bill Clinton, earned $10.6 million.
Californias death penalty is a dysfunctional mess, and the November ballot offers California voters two starkly different options for dealing with it. Proposition 62 would end the practice altogether, converting existing death sentences to life without parole and closing the largest death row in the nation. Proposition 66 takes the opposite approach, offering a menu of supposed reforms that proponents say would slash the decades-long delays between sentence and execution.

How dysfunctional is the system? Since voters reinstated the death penalty nearly 40 years ago, 1,039 convicted murderers have received death sentences, but the state has executed only 13, in part because death penalty appeals take about 25 years, according to experts. During the same period, 104 condemned inmates died of natural causes, suicides or other non-execution means  and the system has cost taxpayers about $5 billion.

Something clearly has to be changed. The answer, however, is not to speed up the machinery of death, but to dismantle it. Thats why The Times urges a yes vote on Proposition 62 and a no vote on Proposition 66.

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The chief reason to abolish the death penalty in California is that it is cruel and unusual punishment, both immoral and inhumane and out of step with evolving standards of decency in the United States. It has little deterrent effect, by most accounts, and is administered so capriciously that it makes a mockery of the concept of equal justice. Poor people and people of color are disproportionately put to death for crimes that bring other defendants merely a long prison sentence. Indeed, whether a murderer is ultimately executed often depends less on the gravity of his offense than on whether he committed it in a particular county or a particular state or was represented by a decent lawyer. The process is open to manipulation and mistakes, yet once the appeals process is complete, miscarriages of justice can never be corrected, for obvious reasons.

Even those who do not object to capital punishment on principle ought to support abolition because of the systems inefficiency, exorbitant costs and long delays. Proponents of Proposition 66 say they can speed up the process and make the death penalty work, but there are serious doubts that their proposal would achieve the kind of fast-tracking they promise, and critics argue persuasively that the system might become even more expensive. And if it does succeed, it would likely require unacceptable compromises of basic constitutional rights, increasing the chance that innocent people might be put to death. In fact, about one in 10 of California death sentences eventually get overturned. There is too much at risk to speed up the process.

Among the biggest contributors to the slow appeals process is a lengthy delay  often five years or more  in assigning appellate lawyers for the automatic direct appeal to the state Supreme Court. About half of current death row inmates are still waiting for a lawyer because of a lack of trained capital appeals attorneys and insufficient funding to pay them to handle such labor-intensive cases. To try to address that, Proposition 66 would create an expanded pool of attorneys by requiring any qualified lawyer cleared to argue appellate cases to take capital cases or lose the right to practice before the appeals court. Proposition 66 opponents say most lawyers would forego appellate work rather than take on a long, arduous and poorly remunerated death penalty appeal assignment.

Proposition 66 also directs the courts to conclude both the direct state appeal and any habeas corpus petitions  a second form of appeal to which condemned inmates are entitled  within five years. That would be achieved in part by sending the habeas filings back to the original court rather than to the Supreme Court, under the theory that more courts hearing more cases would speed up the process. But that also means that it is the court where the initial error may have occurred that would be asked to determine whether there was indeed an error, which creates an inherent conflict of interest. And since those cases could still be appealed, its hard to see how the changes would lead to any meaningful reduction in the time it takes to handle death penalty appeals.

The state of Colorado tried a similar, though more aggressive reform nearly 20 years ago, setting a two-year limit on appeals. It has failed miserably. Two current appeals are in their eighth year with no end in sight. Im almost to the point where I would say, Lets do away with it and save the taxpayers the money, former state representative Jeanne Adkins, the sponsor of the speed-it-up law, recently told the Denver Post.

As a cost-cutting measure, Proposition 66 also would dismantle death row and sprinkle the condemned inmates around the states prisons as the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation sees fit. But transferring inmates from San Quentin to maximum-security facilities around the state would make it harder for the inmates to consult with their lawyers. Pelican Bay, for instance, is a more than six-hour drive from San Francisco, where the Habeas Corpus Resource Center that handles about half of the habeas petitions is. And sending the petitions back to the original court also puts many miles between the courtroom and lawyers trained for such specialized arguments.

There are numerous other shortcomings with the measure, including making it more difficult for condemned prisoners to sue the state over whether the states lethal injection protocols meet constitutional requirements. Such lawsuits have indeed slowed Californias ability to carry out executions. But if there is a problem with the process, the solution is to fix the process, not remove it from public scrutiny.

Ultimately, Proposition 66 offers a menu of mostly distasteful ideas  all in the service of making it easier for the state to execute people, which it shouldnt be doing in the first place. And in fact, rather than streamlining the process, Proposition 66 is most likely to add yet more delays.

Supreme Court Justice Harry Blackmun was right: Its time to stop tinkering with the machinery of death. So vote yes on 62, and no on 66.

Follow the Opinion section on Twitter @latimesopinion and Facebook
To the editor:It is now apparent that it is not just the Republicans who have lost touch with their voter base, but the California Democrats as well.

( Coast with the most, Column, Aug. 28 and Two coastal agency reform bills rejected, Sept. 2)

Obviously they are very much in touch with their lobbyists and major business contributors, even as they ignore the wide popular support for Coastal Commission transparency.

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Mike Post, Winnetka

::

To the editor: I would like to thank Steve Lopez for his summer series on the state of our public and not-so-public coast. Now if Lopez could just get to the bottom of the question of Jerry Browns silence on the whole matter.

Paula Van Gelder, Thousand Oaks

::

To the editor: I just wanted to thank you for your good work concerning our coastline and the State Coastal Commission board.

I left Hermosa Beach in the early 70s for the Sierra Neveda mountains. Hermosa was no longer the quaint town of my youth. Unfortunately, the same thing is happening here in the mountains; progress, they tell me.

Mary Hansen, Mammoth Lakes

Follow the Opinion section on Twitter @latimesopinion and Facebook
To the editor: Its easy to go with the flow of the masses and to display ones patriotism publicly.

It takes courage and conscientiousness, however, to go against the grain of such nationalistic exhibitions.

( The furor over Kaepernick, Editorial, Sept. 1)

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If there is such a thing as an American ideal, surely it includes the right of people to pick and choose if and how they express their love of and loyalty to the country.

Kudos to The Times and to Colin Kaepernick for recognizing this elementary precept.

Ben Miles, Huntington Beach

::

To the editor: Here in San Diego, the boo-birds are out en masse, ready to attack Kaepernick when he declines to stand for the national anthem.

Perhaps those boo-birds would sing a different tune if they took the time to observe their fellow fans behavior as the national anthem is played at Qualcomm Stadium.

Conduct is spelled out in Title 36 of the U.S. Code: During a rendition of the national anthem, persons present should face the flag and stand at attention with their right hand over the heart, and men not in uniform, if applicable, should remove their hat and hold it over the heart. Few in the stadium conform to these clear rules.

Most fans misconduct during the national anthem is the product of ignorance, indifference or indolence. When Kaepernick refuses to stand, however, hes standing on principle, and thats admirable.

Watson Branch, La Jolla

::

To the editor: Fox News Sean Hannity and Donald Trump criticized Kaepernick for his disrespect for the flag and the country. Your editorial said, Oh, for goodness sake . . . citizens are free to express their opinions. Im looking forward to an editorial that might say, Oh, for goodness sake. We forgot. Trump and Hannity are entitled to that right also.

James E. Bie, Palm Desert

::

To the editor: Has it occurred to the uber-liberal Times editorial board that while Kaepernick has a perfect right to protest conditions in this country by refusing to stand for the national anthem, the rest of us have the perfect right to strongly criticize his actions and statements, boo him at games, refuse to buy his jersey, even burn his jersey in protest of his protest, and call him a spoiled ingrate without raising the hackles of the board?

Wilburn Smith III, Laguna Niguel

Follow the Opinion section on Twitter @latimesopinion and Facebook
Republican Rep. Darrell Issa is supporting his colleague Rep. Loretta Sanchez in this falls Senate race, a contest that pits two Democrats against each other and gives GOP voters no obvious choice.

The two appeared together in Issas congressional district this week, giving Sanchez an opportunity to publicize her expertise on national defense in a part of the state where she needs to do well with Democrats, Republicans and independents alike if she hopes to overtake her rival, Atty. Gen. Kamala Harris.

For Issa, the bipartisan event may help soften his image as congressional Republican leaderships attack dog on the Obama administration.

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He said that despite their differences on most issues facing the nation, he respects Sanchezs knowledge of military and world affairs and they both support efforts to keep the country safe.

Reps. Mike Turner, left, Darrell Issa, Loretta Sanchez and Scott Peters hold a news conference in Oceanside. (Mark Boster/Los Angeles Times )

The Vista Republican said that background makes the choice clear for Republicans and other voters about whom to support Nov. 8.

Hurting for support in her own party, Rep. Loretta Sanchez tilts her Senate campaign to the right >>

Ive already long ago figured out that Loretta Sanchez, her work on national security, probably tips the scale for a lot of us, Issa told The Times. Shes also very well aware of our problems with water. So those are, in my particular case, making a difference that is pretty measurable.

The comments were made after he and Sanchez toured San Diego military installations, saying they found common ground when it comes to national defense and protecting the troops.

The visit also provided both with ample, mostly positive news coverage in a region loaded with Navy and Marine bases and defense contractors, an added benefit for two politicians facing tough elections.

Theres nothing wrong with coming back and paying attention to your district. I think all congressmen should do that, said San Diego Republican political consultant Jennifer Jacobs. Yes, it will be good for his constituents, and, yes, Im sure it will help him with the voters.

Election 2016 | California politics news feed | Sign up for the newsletter

They were in the region as part of a bipartisan congressional delegation assessing the needs of the military. Joining them were Reps. Mike Turner (R-Ohio) and Scott Peters (D-San Diego). Sanchez, Turner and Peters are members of the House Armed Services Committee. Issas district includes the Camp Pendleton Marine base, and he is a member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee.

The four joined together for a news conference in Oceanside to voice concerns about the aging Marine Corps F-18 Hornet aircraft. So many planes are out of service for maintenance that pilot flying time has been seriously curtailed, they said.

Although they all insisted that the event was not political, it provided a dose of positive publicity. Their concerns were aired on two local television stations and picked up by the San Diego Union-Tribune.

What most people dont understand, because they see politics and Republicans and Democrats fighting all the time, the reality is that we need to do our work in the Congress, Sanchez said after the tours, which were not open to the media. And to do that you have to work with both sides of the aisle, and thats what we do especially on the military committee.

Issas Democratic challenger in his 49th congressional district, retired Marine Col. Doug Applegate, has criticized the congressman as a Washington insider not mindful of the people he represents in a race that has drawn attention as a potential surprise this fall.

phil.willon@latimes.com

Twitter: @philwillon

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Updates on California politics
Individuals who for years have visited the Upper Newport Bay Ecological Reserve will soon be required to pay for the experience.

The California Fish and Game Commission voted in August requiring visitors to obtain a Lands Pass  at a cost of $4.32 per day or $24.33 per year  before entering the state-owned, 752-acre reserve, of which about 50 acres are accessible to the public via a trail system.

The commissions decision particularly affects users of the roughly 800-year loop trail at the lower end of Big Canyon and visitors of Vista Point, a viewing area off Eastbluff Drive, members of the Newport Bay Conservancy said.

Children younger than 16 and those with a hunting, fishing or trapping license are not required to purchase a pass to enter the reserve. School and organized youth groups also are exempt from the fee, according to the California Department of Fish and Wildlife website.

There are still a lot of unanswered questions, namely how the agency plans to enforce the regulation, said Howard Cork, a Newport Beach resident and former president of the Newport Bay Conservancy. He said it also could result in people avoiding certain areas of Upper Newport Bay.

People will have to apply online to obtain the pass prior to visiting, which is very impractical, regardless of whether its justified or not, Cork said. If people see that going on this little loop trail will cost them 4 bucks versus nothing in another area, I know which people will choose.

Carla Navarro, reserve manager at the Back Bay Science Center, said the Lands Pass regulations will likely be implemented in spring 2017.

The pass requirement for Upper Newport Bay has been in place since 1988. However, the agency never enforced collecting the fee.

In June, Newport Beach city officials expressed concern to the state that the Lands Pass requirement would create confusion and frustration for visitors.

Respectfully, we think that California Department of Fish and Wildlifes effort to collect the Lands Pass fee at Upper Newport Bay Ecological Reserve will be minimally successful at best, City Manager Dave Kiff wrote in a letter. At worst, thousands of individuals and groups will be confused as to precise Lands Pass requirements depending upon their use patterns.

The push to collect an entry fee was prompted after the Department of Fish and Wildlife determined it doesnt receive enough revenue to manage its land, according to a staff report published in August. In response to the revenue shortfall, officials decided to expand the Lands Pass program to 36 new areas, including the Bolsa Chica Ecological Reserve in Huntington Beach, and begin enforcing entry fees on seven sites, including Upper Newport Bay.

This isnt the first time the state officials have attempted to enforce the entry fee.

In 2013, the agency put signs up along Back Bay Drive explaining that visitors would be required to pay an entry fee to use the reserve, Cork said.

Some of us thought it was a spoof, he said. The fact their reserve has no boundary and you have no idea when youre in it and when youre not ... it struck us as rather humorous.

When Cork realized it was a real regulation, he wrote a letter in protest. State officials told him they agreed that there were a lot of practical issues related to levying a fee.

Lands Passes are available on the Department of Fish and Wildlifes website and can be purchased in person at several boating stores in Newport Beach. For more information, visit wildlife.ca.gov/licensing/lands-pass.

hannah.fry@latimes.com

Twitter: @HannahFryTCN
In the 1960s, two neighboring communities by the coast came together with the desire to merge three school systems into one.

The result? The birth of the Newport-Mesa Unified School District.

Following a vote of the people, on July 1, 1966, the new K-12 district formed as a product of the Costa Mesa Union School District, the Newport Beach City School District and the Newport Harbor Union High School District.

Now, for its 50th anniversary, throughout the coming school year the 32-campus district plans to hold activities to commemorate the milestone. Events include inviting former trustees to board meetings and burying a time capsule at the districts Costa Mesa administrative offices.

District staff will also roll out student research presentations for middle and high schoolers, having them describe what it was like to be in school during each of the last five decades, said district spokeswoman Annette Franco.

Thank you to everyone who has contributed to the success of our students, district Supt. Fred Navarro said in a statement. We appreciate your unwavering commitment, support and partnership as we look forward to continued success.

Newport-Mesa Unified came to be partly due to a group of community members from Newport Beach and Costa Mesa who promoted their support for unification by establishing the Orange Coast Civic Assn.

Hank Panian, a 60-year Costa Mesa resident and former professor at Orange Coast College, was the groups president.

We were very much in favor of a unification, Panian said. Our main concern was to have a school system that had a continuity and a unified curriculum policy from elementary through high school, rather than having three separate school systems that had their own tracks and own agenda. We thought that having a unified curriculum would enhance the education of our children, particularly when they went on to college.

As Panian remembers it, the former Costa Mesa districts superintendent and four of its five school board members came out in favor of unification. Their support carried a lot of weight in the community, Panian said, and their approval meant they would lose their district positions.

At the time, Panian asked the trustees why they supported such a cause. Their response, even 50 years later, he still remembers.

All four replied that it would be the better thing for our students and it will give them a balance of education, Panian said. Very few politicians are ever willing to give up their seat, but they were willing to do that and openly so.

Photographed in 2004, a sundial sits on the roof at the Newport-Mesa Unified School District complex in Costa Mesa. The district is celebrating its 50th anniversary this year. (File photo / Daily Pilot)

In 1967, one year following the formation of Newport-Mesa Unified, Joe Robinson started his first school year teaching at Ensign Intermediate School in Newport Beach.

Two years later, he began teaching half a mile away at Newport Harbor High School, where he still molds young minds.

Robinson started at Harbor as a Spanish teacher, but soon moved into instructing a different subject.

I starting teaching history because, well, I lived through most of it, Robinson said with a laugh. Now he teaches Latin and art history.

Photographed in 2002, the Costa Mesa High School Concert Choir rehearses under the direction of Jon Lindfors for a concert at the South Coast Repertory Theatre. (File photo / Daily Pilot)

In his early years working at the campus, Robinson used to have lunch with his father in the campus bus garages because he worked as a bus mechanic for the district.

He also remembers his European history class, which his son Gary took. Now, Gary is teaching the class at Harbor.

This school has had three generations of Robinsons, he said.

Having taught at the district for more than four decades, Robinson has experienced changes in the classroom, including the now-ubiquitous presence of technology.

At its best, technology is wonderful, Robinson said. When kids are sitting at lunch with their phones watching videos of cats riding zebras, I worry about that. But at the same time, I could be teaching and Ill ask when Beethoven was born because I cant remember, and a student says, Ill look it up. Then I say, Look it up!

Like Harbor, which opened its doors for the first time in September 1930, the districts three other comprehensive high schools were founded before the formation of the Newport-Mesa Unified: Costa Mesa High in 1958, Estancia High in 1965 and Corona del Mar High in 1962.

Photographed in 2003, from left, Estancia High School graduates Krystal Farthing and Karleen Curran get ready to receive their diplomas. (File photo / Daily Pilot)

Pam Mattson-East, who was part of Corona del Mars first graduating class to have attended all four years at the campus, recalls the quad area at the center of the school, where lunches, pep rallies and graduation ceremonies took place. Her graduating class of 1966 had 480 students.

Since then, the school has experienced a few facelifts, including the construction of the Corona del Mar Middle School enclave.

Theres so much growth happening for teenagers who are learning about relationships and who they are those memories are really vivid and theyre lasting said Mattson-East. When you go away to college, especially if its a big one, you can feel kind of lost. High school can feel much safer, where youre just able to connect with your teachers and friends. Its your home.

Panian said in the long term, Newport-Mesas unification was the right one.

In my viewpoint, all the hopes of the people I mentioned in 1966 have been more than fulfilled, Panian said. All three of my children went through elementary to high school in the district and have done exceptionally well in college. My hopes for them have been fulfilled.

alexandra.chan@latimes.com

Twitter: @AlexandraChan10
When is enough finally enough?

With the huge, new residential projects going up along the 405 Freeway from Costa Mesa to the Irvine Spectrum, is that not enough?

With the densely packed complexes replacing industrial buildings on the Westside of Costa Mesa and Newport, is that not enough?

With the equivalent of a small town being built along overcrowded Ortega Highway in San Juan Capistrano by Ranch Mission Viejo, is that not enough?

Was it not enough for Newport Coast mansions to cover most of the hills between Corona del Mar and Laguna not too long ago?

With traffic impacts through formerly peaceful neighborhoods seemingly doubling every few years, is that not enough?

The relentless pressure for more development has been allowed to rule while other priorities and values are left to struggle. The root cause is a system tied too closely to real estate profits, city and county coffers and political campaign donations.

Now, development of Banning Ranch is before the Coastal Commission. Since the very wise intent of the Coastal Act was to preserve places like this, a better outcome is possible if we show up to encourage commissioners.

We teach our kids to plan ahead for the future. It is for those kids at a place in coastal Orange County with no real imperative for development that this line must be drawn. Banning Ranch has clear borders of open wildness on one side and endless development on the other. It is one of the few places where local leaders could be standing up for something of lasting value, though not of the economic kind. Where are they?

The line is a simple way to escape the fudging excuses and technical arguments of developers who can call their project green and responsible all they want, but the fact is they chose the wrong place to cover with more cement.

Banning Ranch has the size and diversity of grasslands, bluffs, arroyos and rare animal species to serve as a nature preserve of statewide importance.

It has given profit enough to the local oil company that sold the development rights to the larger corporate partnership of Shell, Exxon, Aera Energy and NBR. It deserves a different fate because it is this areas last chance to deliver a responsible outcome of balance with the natural world that is our history, our source of beauty and our gift to the future. There are no other places along the coast left for this kind of choice.

That group of companies may own the land rights at the moment, but we own the bigger picture. That picture is to leave Banning Ranch unfragmented by structures. It waits for our local leaders to stand up and seize the opportunity to create a new and important nature preserve.

It also waits for your voice to be added to those at the Coastal Commission hearing on Sept. 7 at the Newport Beach Civic Center.

KEVIN NELSON is the head of the Nature Commission.
Much has been written about Donald Trumps dysfunctional admiration for Russias Vladimir Putin, but relatively little has been chronicled about Rep. Dana Rohrabachers support of Putin.

My home is in Orange County, but I live and work in Kyiv, Ukraine. I have developed a unique view of Russian interference and aggression in Ukraine and am opposed to reelecting Rohrabacher this November because, in part, of his support for Vladimir Putins dangerous, revanchist, unreliable Russia.

Rohrabachers support of Putin, as documented by the New York Times, puzzles me as the Russian leader is a career Soviet KGB officer who has intimidated and invaded his neighbors while crushing democratic dissent and bungling the Russian economy at home. This demonstrates Rohrabachers basic lack of respect for international law and pluralistic democracy.

Go no further than Rohrabachers full-throated countenance for Russian aggression in Crimea, a Ukrainian region illegally and militarily annexed by Russia in early 2014, where native Tatars are harassed and imprisoned, their language actively discouraged by Russian occupation authorities and the Tatar parliament, the Mejlis, outlawed by the Kremlin-controlled Crimean Supreme Court.

The 48th Congressional District deserves better representation in the U.S. House. In November, there is an opportunity to retrieve our congressional representation by electing Democrat Suzanne Savary (drsuesavary.com), who does not support or make excuses for Putins repressive regime and showing the door to Rohrabacher and his misguided values.

Michael Getto Jr.

Aliso Viejo

*

Council candidate improved Westside

I am an Hispanic American who grew up on Center, Pomona and Placentia avenues. I have lived in Costa Mesa for 50 years.

Early on, my family lived just above the poverty level. We lived in locations that consisted of mostly hardworking immigrants.

Unfortunately, we also lived side-by-side with the criminal element. And we saw a lot! What people dont realize is that these criminals rarely went away from their neighborhood to find their victims.

Very few immigrants reported the crimes against them because of fear of retaliation, which was common. Mind you, many of the criminals were gang members with affiliations to the Mexican mafia and cartels.

This activity was rampant in Costa Mesa until former mayor Allan Mansoor decided to do something about it. Mansoor, in my opinion and in the opinion of many, was a lifesaver. Cleaning up the criminal element was and is something he should be very proud of. Until he started, our city leaders talked about how bad the situation was, but did nothing about it.

Many speaking against him really have no idea what Hispanic residents of the Westside went through. Just knowing that when criminals were arrested they would not be sent back to the neighborhood was a relief. A man who has guts like this should be elected as a Costa Mesa council member.

Louise Rose

Costa Mesa
I was shocked to read that the L.A. Times gave Norwegian Airlines a grade of A-minus in Jenn Harris Aug. 28 article, The Costs of Flying Cheap.

I flew the airline from Copenhagen to New York the beginning of July and had the worst service I have ever experienced during a flight. The plane was 3 hours late. The flight attendant was just plain rude. He pointed to a piece of paper in the aisle and demanded to know who put it there, as if someone would deliberately throw paper in the aisle.

When he began a beverage service, a man was rummaging in the overhead bin, temporarily blocking his progress. With hand on hip, he chastised the man with, You had six hours to get into that bin, and now you decide to get something out?

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My suitcase was not on the JFK carousel upon arrival, and there was no one available to report the loss to for half an hour. My suitcase was missing for a week, with no progress report despite my efforts to get information.

It was finally located, and it took a full week to get it from the East Coast to the West Coast. Total time without 18 days of packed clothes: two weeks.

I can understand that on any given flight, on any given airline, there can be unexpected problems. However, there were too many incidents of poor service on this flight to think that this was unusual.

Sue Peelle, Westlake Village

::

I agree, in most part, with Harris about her flight on Wow airlines. I flew round trip from LAX to Reykjavik, Iceland to Amsterdam. My savings, compared with other airlines, at the time, were substantial  almost half the cost of the other airlines.

I was willing to sacrifice comfort and convenience for the reduced fare. It worked for me.

Cathy Gardikas, Lakewood

Seat pains

Catharine Hamms Aug. 21 On the Spot column [Ouch! This Airline Ride Is Hurting Me] really touches a nerve about the ever-diminishing airline seat comfort in economy class.

I continue to experience the inhumane and nearly impossible seat and pitch dimensions the airlines are using. Just Google airline seats for a comprehensive study of the airline industrys shrinking seat accommodations.

Its not about weight and space as suggested in the article as designers struggle with dimensions. Its all about how many passengers can be crammed into the tube for maximum profit.

The tortuous result is an uncomfortable and physically impossible seating space. Couple this with a reclining seat in your face and it only gets worse.

A recent 11-hour trip on a 747 from England was an example of tight, uncomfortable seats. I suppose I could save up a few more bucks and buy an extra 3 inches or, better yet, a business class area for thousands more. We should not have to pay for what should be a reasonable seat.

Hamms article mentions the many medical problems that can be encountered when a traveler is crammed for hours in a small area. I feel that flights of more than four hours should have seats with increased dimensions to ensure traveler comfort and to mitigate possible medical problems.

Additionally, reclining seats should not be allowed if no allowances are made for needed extra space. It is a maddening situation with no recourse.

Travelers need to complain to the airlines regarding this terrible packaging of passengers into their aircraft. Too bad we cant revolt. Theyve got us nailed.

Tony Di Bona, San Diego

Oceans balm

I enjoyed the article Soothing Seas [Aug. 21, by Catharine Hamm].

It reminded me of the delight I felt when I first put a stethoscope to a pregnant abdomen and heard the sound of blood rushing through the umbilical cord. It sounded like the ocean and immediately made me think that since it is the first sound we hear in our development, it would certainly make the ocean a familiar and soothing sound.

Marilyn Alexander, Santa Monica
For more than a century, Chinese typewriters have been objects of curiosity, confusion and even a fair bit of ridicule  after all, how do you type a language that has no alphabet?

On The Simpsons, smarty-pants Lisa was confounded by an imaginary one that featured countless buttons covered in complicated-looking characters. One of hip-hop artist MC Hammers frenetic, high-stepping dance routines was nicknamed the Chinese Typewriter because its furious moves supposedly mimicked the flailing that would be required of a Chinese typist trying to quickly hop about a massive keyboard.

But now, an associate professor at Stanford University is trying to give these esoteric contraptions a bit more of their due, arguing that the misunderstood machines  long dismissed as less practical and less efficient than alphabetic typewriters  actually pioneered familiar smartphone-era technologies, including predictive text and autocomplete.

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The Western typewriter has become a cult object; there are hundreds upon hundreds of collectors and museums. People collect and fetishize them, professor Tom Mullaney said. But Chinese typewriters are exquisite machines. They are very different. They are typewriters without a keyboard, and that often confounds peoples imaginations.

The Chinese-manufactured Double Pigeon typewriter from 1971 became the standard for Chinese typewriters. It featured a moveable tray holding nearly 2,500 interchangeable characters. (Myung J. Chun / Los Angeles Times )

Chinese typewriters look something like a cross between a deli-meat slicer and a small printing press. There are no keys, just thousands of little metal characters arranged in a grid system. Because Chinese has no alphabet and no alphabetical order, the operator must essentially memorize the location of each character  about 2,500 on a typical machine.

Theyre heavy  roughly 30 to 40 pounds.

The Chinese-manufactured Double Pigeon typewriter from 1971. (Myung J. Chun / Los Angeles Times )

Sort of by accident, Mullaney has become an expert on, collector of and evangelist for Chinese (and Japanese) typewriters after obtaining his first specimen from a man who was getting rid of one once used by a Chinese American church in San Francisco.

Since he caught the typewriter bug in 2008, Mullaney has collected 12 machines  which might not sound that impressive, but thats four times as many as Chinas only typewriter museum, in Shanghai. Hes lectured about them at Google and around Silicon Valley.

Tom Mullaney, associate professor of Chinese history at Stanford University. (Myung J. Chun / Los Angeles Times )

Mullaney has delved so deep down the rabbit hole he has not one but two related books in the works: The Chinese Typewriter: A Global History of the Information Age, Part I, will be published next year, followed by The Chinese Computer: A Global History of the Information Age, Part II.

Three of his machines are on display at Stanfords East Asia Library until Sept. 10, and he recently raised almost $13,500 on Kickstarter to help take the collection on tour across the world. Eventually, he hopes to be able to transfer the devices to an institution for research and safekeeping.

Tom Mullaney says Chinese typewriters were an engineering marvel as designers had to build a typewriter without keys. (Myung J. Chun / Los Angeles Times )

The tinkerers and inventors who struggled for decades to develop a Chinese typewriter were taking on a fascinating engineering puzzle, Mullaney said. The various solutions they came up with  even those that never won commercial popularity  may hold valuable lessons for todays IT engineers.

With the Chinese typewriter, there was a constant process of optimization, and some of the most brilliant and penetrating analysis of human-machine interaction, data structuring, he said. This is a machine whose history is a repository of design inspiration.

::

Zhang Haiyan still remembers the frenzy that ensued at her state-owned company in the 1980s when one of its subsidiary factories asked to borrow a typewriter from the Beijing headquarters to draft some business letters in Chinese.

The factory director had to collect lots of approval stamps from different departments and even the [government] ministry, the 59-year-old retired clerk said. The rare and expensive contraption, she recalls, was normally kept in a locked office, and only two big bosses had the key. She had never really laid eyes on one. Everything in that room was mysterious to us  so I was always very curious and tried to take a peep when the door was unlocked.

A Matsuda Japanese kanji typewriter from 1950, with characters on a spool that the user would spin. Tom Mullaney, associate professor of Chinese history at Stanford University, says Japanese manufacturers dominated the Chinese typewriter market during the 1930s and 40s. (Myung J. Chun / Los Angeles Times )

When the loan was finally approved and workers came to collect the machine, Zhang figured shed finally get to see it. Unfortunately, it was put in a big box, and covered with a piece of cloth, so even today I still didnt know what exactly it looked like, she said. It was gently put in a car just like a VIP guest.

It wasnt for people like us, clearly.

As Zhangs story illustrates, few Chinese ever saw a Chinese typewriter, let alone learned to type on one. But today, hundreds of millions of Chinese speakers type  on desktops, laptops, tablets and smartphones.

The most common way is by spelling the word using a typical Qwerty keyboard. So if you want to type hello, or ni hao, you enter n-i-h-a-o. A menu then appears with a list of characters that are pronounced ni and hao, and you must select the right ones.

Another way is to draw the character you want on the devices touchscreen; again, a menu will pop up with a selection of characters that most closely resemble what you sketched. Once you recognize the one you want, click it, and move on to drawing the next character.

Both these systems, though, require a two-step process of inputting and selecting thats impossible without software. So how did Chinese typewriters work?

NEWSLETTER: Get the days top headlines from Times Editor Davan Maharaj 

Starting in the late 1800s, various systems were pioneered  and a lot of the work was done by students and academics from American institutions, including MIT and New York University. Companies such as IBM and agencies including the CIA also worked on developing Chinese typewriters.

The models that were commercialized most widely, under brands with names such as Double Pigeon and Seagull, had a tray of about 2,500 commonly used Chinese characters arranged in a grid; typists would move a selector-lever over the tray to hunt for the character they needed, then press a bar, which would trigger a lever to pick up the character, ink it, type it and return it to its place.

Yet in a language with no alphabet, and thus no alphabetic order, how to arrange the characters in the tray became a question. Traditional organizational methods, such as by number of strokes in the character, or general frequency of use, were inefficient  even the fastest typists could manage just 20 or 30 words a minute.

Typists started reorganizing their trays to suit their needs. One who worked in an office dealing with agriculture might put characters used to make words such as farm, crops and harvest near the top of the tray because those words were used frequently; a typist in a police station would have a totally different arrangement, with characters used in words such as officer, and crime close at hand.

Given that communist leaders names were typed often, the character for Mao was put near those for his given name, Ze and Dong. The characters for chairman were situated near Mao as well. In this sense, these trays anticipated what characters the typist was most likely to need along with Mao.

Cutting the distance between characters that were often used together allowed typists to increase their speed to as many as 80 words per minute. Todays smartphones do much the same thing  suggesting Washington as the next word to follow if you type George, for example.

::

Like Mullaney, Jackson Lu is a typewriter geek. He started collecting in Europe and opened the Lu Hanbin Typewriter Museum in Shanghai in 2010. Though he personally has over 500 typewriters from across the world, he has just three from China.

Fewer were produced and theres not the same amount of variety, Lu said. Many of them were destroyed in the Cultural Revolution.

In China, typewriters were never common objects. While American authors such as Mark Twain, Jack Kerouac and even Hunter S. Thompson had their Remingtons, Underwoods and IBM Selectrics, their Chinese counterparts were still writing by hand. One issue was price  a Chinese typewriter would cost 20 times what an average worker would make in a month. And once the Communist era began, even if an individual wanted to buy a typewriter, it wasnt allowed.

Only institutions could have them, and they had to be registered with police, Lu said. In addition, he said, typists (along with locksmiths and rubber-stamp makers) had to have a license and be politically reliable.

The government controlled typewriters like they controlled guns, Lu said.

Such rules aimed to keep the state firmly in control of information. But in 1959, Maos wife, Jiang Qing, received an anonymous, typed letter from someone scolding her over humiliating details of her romantic history. The missive was so distressing to Jiang, it reportedly caused her to faint.

More than 20 investigators from the Ministry of Public Security were tasked with tracking down the author.

Experts concluded that the letters were typed on a Baoshi-brand typewriter that was at least 10 years old, and the typist was not a professional. Other details such as the paper and glue quickly led them to the East China Sea Fleet, which had such a typewriter registered to it.

A disgruntled navy lieutenant, Jin Bolin, was fingered as the perpetrator, and sent to prison for several years for leaking state secrets.

These days, no restrictions are placed on who can have a typewriter in China; Chinese authorities have moved along with the times and now put their efforts into censoring the Internet.

Although the Chinese typewriter may be functionally obsolete, Mullaney argues the technology needs to be saved and analyzed, and may even hold some seeds of inspiration for communication devices of the future.

Studying history is not just looking at old stuff, he said. Its about innovation, disruption. For people out there who are trying to think far, far ahead  or getting out of certain mindsets, one of the best places they can go looking for inspiration is back in time  before a certain kind of standard or convention took shape.

Yingzhi Yang and Nicole Liu in The Times Beijing bureau contributed to this report.

julie.makinen@latimes.com

Twitter: @JulieMakLAT

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Philippines leader declares state of lawlessness after deadly market bombing

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Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte on Saturday declared a nationwide state of lawlessness, granting the military special powers to aid in police operations after an attack in the countrys southern region killed 14 people.

At least 71 people were injured in the explosion Friday night at a market in Davao, a city Duterte led as mayor for 22 years before he assumed the presidency. National Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana blamed the Philippines Islamist extremist group Abu Sayyaf for the attack; a presidential spokesman said that parts of an improvised explosive device were found at the scene.

The declaration permits the police and military to set up checkpoints and patrols, and to search cars and pedestrians.

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Its not martial law, but it would require nationwide, well-coordinated efforts of the military and the police, Duterte said, according to the Philippine Daily Inquirer newspaper.

Analysts said that Dutertes declaration also could abet his brutal  and intensifying  war on drugs, which has killed nearly 2,000 suspected drug users and pushers since he took office June 30. Duterte promised that 100,000 drug dealers would be killed in his first six months in office; since then, the country has seen an increase in both police shootings and summary executions by shadowy vigilantes.

Were trying to cope with a crisis now. There is a crisis in this country involving drugs, extrajudicial killings, and there seems to be an environment of lawless violence, Duterte told reporters at the scene of Fridays attack, according to the Associated Press.

Jose Torres, a Manila-based journalist and author, described the presidents declaration as a double-edged sword.

With the state of lawlessness, he has declared everything to be under the police and the military, said Torres, who wrote Into the Mountain: Hostaged by the Abu Sayyaf.

He can be tougher and crack down on lawless elements. But at the same time, anything that can happen under the state of lawlessness can be blamed on him. He can no longer blame vigilante groups, or drug syndicates killing people from other syndicates.

Some Philippine politicians have called on Duterte to exercise caution.

I condemn in the strongest terms the dastardly act of killing and wounding innocent civilians, but I see it as an isolated incident, acting Senate President Franklin Drilon said in a statement quoted by the Philippine Daily Inquirer.

I defer to the judgment of the president who has access to intelligence information, Drilon continued, but he urged Duterte to be prudent about making such declarations because of its effect on our economy, investment and business climate, especially our tourism.

Abu Sayyaf is one of three major separatist groups in the southern Philippine island of Mindanao, an impoverished, majority-Muslim region that long has chafed at Manilas rule. (More than 80% of Filipinos are Roman Catholic.)

Philippine armed forces ramped up an offensive against the group on the southern island of Jolo in late August, after it beheaded a village chief.

The groups spokesman, Abu Rami, took credit for Fridays attack, saying it was a call for unity to all mujahideen in the country, according to the Philippines ABS-CBN News. He warned of more attacks in coming days.

Abu Sayyaf and some smaller militant groups have pledged allegiance to Islamic State. They wave Islamic State flags, echo Islamic State ideology and, like the extremist group, produce gruesome, Internet-ready videos of their victims. Experts say that there is no evidence, however, that Islamic State is actively supporting Abu Sayyaf.

The group beheaded two Canadians this year after demands for millions of dollars in ransom were not met. The incidents reverberated around the world, drawing an international spotlight to the region and its capacity for violence.

Whoever was behind [Fridays bombing] was actually tempting Duterte, or courting him, because hes been so tough, Torres said.

They could have done it in another place, but they did it in Davao because thats where he was from, and where he said it was very safe.

jonathan.kaiman@latimes.com

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Obama makes progress on climate change, the bright spot in his China policy

13 killed, dozens wounded as suicide bombers target a Christian colony and a courthouse in Pakistan

U.S. and China ratify sweeping climate deal and urge other nations to follow their lead
Islam Karimov, one of the worlds most repressive leaders whose generation-long rule in the Central Asian nation of Uzbekistan was marked by Orwellian purges and Shakespearean family squabbles, was laid to rest Saturday in the ancient Silk Road city of Samarkand.

The heavily guarded funeral capped an odd few days during which Uzbek officials refused to confirm Karimovs death, even as leaders from Turkey, Iran and Georgia offered condolences.

The official announcement said that Karimov, one of the last Soviet-era strongmen to retain power, died of a stroke Friday at the age of 78. But rumors of his death had been circulating online since he was hospitalized Aug. 27.

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State-run television showed thousands of people lining the streets of the capital, Tashkent, as the funeral cortege carried Karimovs body to the airport for the short flight to Samarkand, the city of his birth. They stood silently under blue, white and green Uzbek flags, many of them weeping and throwing flowers.

Official accounts described the scene as a spontaneous expression of grief, but several Uzbeks reached by phone said government employees, medical workers and school teachers were ordered to turn out and given flowers for free.

We were forced to do things when he was alive, and even after his death, we are forced to pretend were mourning him, said a math teacher, who asked to be identified only as Azamat, for fear of retribution.

Flowers are thrown at the funeral cortege carrying the body of Uzbekistans longtime leader, Islam Karimov, to the airport in Tashkent. (AFP/Getty Images )

At the airport, Karimovs wife, Tatyana Karimova, and younger daughter, Lola Karimova-Tillyaeva, both dressed in black and wearing head scarves, were shown crying as the body was loaded onto a plane. His older daughter, Gulnara Karimova, once seen as the heir apparent but now believed to be under house arrest, did not appear to be present.

Thousands of men and dignitaries from 17 countries filled Samarkands historic Registan square to pray in front of a palanquin containing Karimovs body. (Women did not participate in the Muslim funeral rites.) Some of the men took turns to carry the body to the Shah-i-Zinda necropolis for burial.

Many Uzbeks have known no other leader than Karimov, who rose to power in 1989, when the country was still a Soviet republic. He ruthlessly repressed all opposition: His forces machine-gunned hundreds of peaceful protesters to death during a 2005 uprising, jailed thousands of dissidents  and even boiled some of them to death, according to human rights activists.

As a politician, Karimov was a Soviet apparatchik with the brutality of a nomadic chieftain.  Daniil Kislov, editor of the Fergana News site

Muslims who did not practice their faith in government-sanctioned mosques were also rounded up as suspected members of banned Islamist groups, a crackdown that intensified after eight car bombs exploded near key government buildings in Tashkent in 1999.

As a politician, Karimov was a Soviet apparatchik with the brutality of a nomadic chieftain, said Daniil Kislov, a Moscow-based political analyst whose Fergana News site was among the first to report Karimovs suspected death Monday and was the target of a hacking attack four days later.

Karimov came up through the ranks of the Communist Party and was appointed the countrys effective leader by Soviet President Mikhail S. Gorbachev. But after the collapse of the Soviet Union, he distanced himself from the Kremlin and proved adept at playing Russia, the United States and China off one another.

After the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks, Karimov allowed U.S. forces to use Uzbekistans Karshi-Khanabad air base for combat missions in Afghanistan. But he evicted them after coming under sharp criticism for his 2005 crackdown.

The two countries later resolved their differences, with Karimov allowing Uzbekistan to be part of the Northern Distribution Network, a supply route for Afghanistan, and the U.S. agreeing to the sale of nonlethal military equipment to his government.

Karimov once had aspirations to make Uzbekistan the main power in Central Asia. With more than 30 million people, it is the regions largest country and sits at a strategic crossroads near Russia, China and Afghanistan.

But the country he leaves behind is desperately poor, despite significant gold and natural gas reserves. The decline in global energy prices is one reason, along with the loss of remittances from large numbers of workers who can no longer find employment in Russia. But analysts also blame years of corruption and heavy-handed state policies.

Under Karimov, the Uzbek economy remained tightly centralized, with government workers, university students and, until recent years, even schoolchildren reportedly forced to take part each year in the cotton harvest.

Convinced that the countrys high birthrates were stalling development, Karimov is said to have ordered tens of thousands of women who agreed to caesarean sections to be secretly sterilized, according to rights groups.

Suspicious of any potential rival, Karimov did not name a successor. According to the constitution, his responsibilities will pass to the head of the Senate until elections are held within three months.

But such votes have always been a foregone conclusion. Karimovs only challenger in 2000, Abdulkhafiz Dzhalalov, said he voted for Karimov.

The Senate leader, Nigmatulla Yuldashev, is not seen as a contender for permanent office.

Also out of the running is Karimovs oldest daughter, a high-profile businesswoman, fashion designer and pop singer who fell from grace around 2013 after being accused of pocketing bribes in connection with telecom licenses in Uzbekistan. In social media posts at the time, she lashed out at top officials in her fathers government and accused her mother and sister of being friends with sorcerers.

The opacity of the presidential selection process has some analysts dusting off the old Soviet playbook to try to figure out who might become the countrys new leader.

A key signal could be the selection of Prime Minister Shavkat Mirziyoyev, rumored to be the Kremlin favorite, to oversee Saturdays funeral.

In the Soviet period, the person who was chairman of the funeral commission was the successor, said William Courtney, a Eurasia specialist at the Rand Corp. who served as the U.S. ambassador to Georgia and Kazakhstan. Things are so Soviet-like in Uzbekistan, that may be a tipoff.

Mirziyoyev, who comes from the same Samarkand clan as Karimov, on Saturday hailed the late president as a great and dear son of our people.

Our people and Uzbekistan have suffered an irreplaceable loss, he was quoted as saying at the funeral.

Mirziyoyevs deputy, Rustam Azimov, who serves as finance minister, and Rustam Inoyatov, the aging head of the powerful National Security Service, are also seen as candidates to succeed Karimov. That could mean jockeying for power.

The death of Islam Karimov may open a pretty dangerous period of unpredictability and uncertainty in Uzbekistan, Alexei Pushkov, head of the Russian parliaments foreign affairs committee, told the Tass news agency Friday.

The fear is that Islamist militants in the predominantly Sunni Muslim country could take advantage of any infighting to gain a foothold, or that a conflict might be unleashed with the countrys Tajik minority.

Faced with such uncertainty, Courtney said the countrys governing elites would want to project an image of strength, and any power plays were likely to remain firmly behind closed doors.

My guess is that we are going to see a controlled succession without a whole lot of surprises, and a government policy thats not going to be much more open either politically or economically than they have had, he said, at least initially.

alexandra.zavis@latimes.com

Special correspondent Mirovalev reported from Moscow and Times staff writer Zavis from Los Angeles.

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President Juan Manuel Santos announced on Friday that he will sign a peace accord with the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia later this month in Cartagena.

This is perhaps the most-important announcement Ive made in my entire life, Santos said in a speech, adding that the signing ceremony with the countrys main rebel group will take place Sept. 26 in the Caribbean city.

Last week, Santos government and the FARC reached a historic deal bringing to an end 52 years of hostilities by Latin Americas largest insurgency. The agreement must still be endorsed by Colombians, who will vote on the accord in a nationwide referendum Oct. 2.

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Santos didnt provide any details about the ceremony.

The signing of the 297-page agreement will trigger the gradual demobilization of the FARCs estimated 7,000 fighters. Under the terms of the accord, FARC units must deploy to 28 rural areas across the country where they will turn their weapons over to a United Nations-sponsored mission over a period of six months.

As part of the accord, rebels who confess war crimes will be spared jail time and ordered to carry out community service in areas hard-hit by the conflict. The rebels future political movement will also be given 10 seats in congress for two legislative periods lasting until 2026. After that they will have to demonstrate their political strength at the ballot box.

Even in advance of the deals final ratification the government and rebels are taking steps to wind down the conflict.

On Friday, negotiators in Havana, Cuba, announced that beginning Sept. 10 soldiers under the age of 15 will begin exiting guerrilla camps. The minors will be handed over to representatives from UNICEF and taken to temporary shelters run by the government. Its unclear how many child soldiers the FARC has.

The move follows a decision this week by the rebels and the government to declare a definitive ceasefire ending all hostilities in a conflict that has taken 220,000 lives and displaced more than 5 million people.

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President Obama and Chinese President Xi Jinping on Saturday formally joined a sweeping global agreement to cut greenhouse gases, moving the world toward a dramatic reduction in climate-warming emissions on a quicker time frame than previously imagined.

The ratification of the accord by the worlds two biggest polluters, announced shortly after Obamas arrival here, jump-starts enactment of the landmark deal reached last year in Paris that commits virtually every country to lowering greenhouse gas emissions and slowing irreversible harm to the planet.

Just as I believe the Paris agreement will ultimately prove to be a turning point for our planet, I believe that history will judge todays effort as pivotal, Obama said in a ceremony with Xi to make the ratification formal. Today we are moving the world significantly closer to the goal that we have set.

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Xi said he hopes other countries will step up their timeline for committing to the Paris accord, following Chinas example.

When the old path no longer takes us far, we should make use of new methods, Xi said. China is a responsible developing country and acts as a participant in global climate change efforts.

The leaders made their acts official by handing their documents of ratification  Obamas in a black folder, Xis in red  to United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon.

The grand moment of diplomacy came on the heels of an awkward one. Upon his arrival at the airport, Obama was greeted by a short set of stairs at a side door to Air Force One, not the usual tall set of stairs that enable him to stand at the grand front door and enter a foreign country with the White House press corps recording the moment.

As soon as the pool of White House reporters came off the plane and onto the tarmac, a member of the Chinese delegation began yelling at White House staffers and demanding that the media leave the area right away.

A White House official protested, pointing out that this was the American president and airplane. The man replied, This is our country, and moved to block senior White House officials from walking closer to the arrival scene, according to a pool reporter who was present.

The scene was a rocky precursor to the diplomatic highlight  not just of the week, but of Obamas entire record of achievement in China.

The joint proclamation by Obama and Xi cements their nations commitments much more quickly than either side thought possible when the pair agreed in 2014 to a plan to cut carbon, which was designed to serve as a model for the larger accord. After their announcement two years ago in Beijing, most analysts believed it would take three to five years for a broad global deal to take effect.

The Paris agreement, named for the site of the U.N. summit where it was agreed upon in December, reflects each nations individual promise to reduce greenhouse gas emissions with the ultimate goal of limiting global temperature rise. Though the final pledge fell short of its target of 2 degrees Celsius, it calls for signatories to regularly report on and revise targets to build in ambition for further progress, as Obama has said.

Backed by almost 200 nations, the pact would go into force when 55 countries representing 55% of the worlds emissions give their formal assent. Only 23 other nations that account for about 1% of global emissions had done so before the U.S. and China joined in ratification. Together, the two nations emit nearly 40% of the worlds carbon dioxide, and thus their pledges represent the most significant stride yet toward the pact taking effect.

The swift action is likely to spur other nations to move with more dispatch, both to formalize the deal and to cut emissions, said Jake Schmidt, director of international programs for the Natural Resources Defense Council.

It creates a momentum, Schmidt said. If you want to be a good global citizen, you need to act on climate change, and you need to do it now.

Brian Deese, Obamas top climate advisor, noted that Japan, South Korea, Brazil and Argentina are nearing completion of their ratification processes. The four represent an additional other 9% of global emissions.

Ratification entails varying degrees of difficulty in each nation.

Obama anticipated before the Paris deal was struck that ratification by the Senate was highly unlikely. Some Republican lawmakers question the role of humans in causing global warming, while others oppose Obamas climate change agenda for what they see as placing heavy burdens on business and threatening longstanding energy interests like coal.

As a result, the presidents negotiators helped shape the Paris accord so it would not be defined as a treaty, which would require support from two-thirds of the Senate and legislative approval in some other countries as well.

The president is acting on what is instead called an executive agreement, which administration officials note has become increasingly common on environmental policy. But the decision infuriates critics, who say Obama sidestepped Congress to commit the U.S. to major carbon cuts.

Without enforceable provisions, the deal is symbolic, said Sen. James Inhofe of Oklahoma, chairman of the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee and a prominent climate change skeptic.

This is another attempt by the president to go around Congress in order to achieve his unpopular and widely rejected climate agenda for his legacy, the Republican lawmaker said this week ahead of the ratification.

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.), another top Obama critic who represents a state that still closely identifies itself with its once-thriving coal industry, has long warned that Obama was making promises he was not in position to see through.

The U.S., under its commitments as part of the accord, will seek to reduce its greenhouse gas emissions more than a quarter by 2025, or to 28% below their 2005 level.

Ratification does not ensure the U.S. will be able to follow through on its promise, however. The primary mechanism to achieve that, the Clean Power Plan, is under legal challenge. In February, the Supreme Court issued a temporary stay of the plan.

Deese defended the strategy, saying the administration has carefully scrutinized the U.S. commitments and noting that Presidents George H.W. Bush and Ronald Reagan joined international environmental pacts using the same process.

For China, ratifying the Paris agreement was in some ways a natural decision, experts say  the initiative dovetails with the countrys domestic effort to clean up its extreme air pollution, and lends its leaders international prestige.

China hit an environmental turning point in 2011, when a wave of horrific air pollution in Beijing sparked a popular backlash. Chinese media began reporting on the chronic smog, and its deleterious effects on public health; the government began gradually rolling out measures to monitor and disclose air pollution levels across the country.

Since then, China has become a world leader in renewable energy investments, introduced a detailed plan to control pollution and accelerated adoption of a nationwide carbon trade market, due to open next year.

Public support has been high, said Ma Jun, director of the Beijing-based nonprofit Institute of Public and Environmental Affairs.

In the West, where you have blue skies every day and  you can drink from the tap, its much harder to get the public behind you, she said. But in China, the air, the water, all these concerns about safety from pollution, have created a public opinion in favor of environmental protection.

Experts say that China is likely to follow through on its promises. The countrys coal consumption dropped in 2014 for the first time in more than a decade, according to Chinas National Bureau of Statistics. It fell even further in 2015. As part of Saturdays announcement, China is committing for the first time to release a long-term strategy for low-greenhouse gas development.

For environmental activists, the Obama-Xi meeting in Beijing was shaping up as a way to prod other nations along, as the two leaders did in April when they vowed to sign the Paris accord as soon as it opened for signatures and to formally join it this year.

Four years ago, we started saying that Chinas coal consumption should peak in 2030, and most people said, Youre crazy,  Schmidt said. Now the debate is, How soon before 2030? Its quite clear that coal has already peaked.

Parsons reported from Hangzhou and Memoli from Washington. Times staff writer Jonathan Kaiman in Beijing contributed to this report.

Follow @cparsons and @mikememoli for news about the White House.

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Hillary Clinton has maintained her commanding electoral college vote lead over Donald Trump in the latest 2016 Freedom Lighthouse poll. With 270 votes needed to ascend to the White House, pollsters now find Clinton tops Trump 263 votes to 154 with 121 votes remaining too close to call.

Clinton Leading in Several key States

Among the states considered safely in the former first lady's column are California, Oregon, Colorado, New Mexico, Minnesota, Illinois, Michigan, Pennsylvania, New York, Maine and Virginia.

Nevada, Arizona, Iowa, Wisconsin, Ohio, North Carolina, Georgia and Florida area all still considered tossups, while Trump leads in Idaho, Montana, Utah, Wyoming, North Dakota, South Dakota, Kansas, Oklahoma, Texas, Arizona, Louisiana, Tennessee, Mississippi, Alabama, Kentucky, West Virginia and South Carolina.

The following poll obtained from website 270ToWin tracks the electoral vote count based on individual state polling. As per the website, close states where the difference between Trump and Clinton is less than 5 percent is shown in gray. This map was last updated on September 2, 2016.



Click the map to create your own at 270toWin.com

Clinton on top in Suffolk General Election Survey

Meanwhile, a recent Suffolk University/USA Today poll general election poll also bodes well for Clinton, finding the onetime secretary of state besting Trump 48 percent to 41 percent head to head among likely voters with just over two months remaining before Election Day.

When third party candidates Gary Johnson and Jill Stein are added to the mix, Clinton still tops Trump by seven points at 42 percent to 35 percent. Libertarian candidate Johnson polls at 9 percent and the Green Party's Stein is at 4 percent.

The last Suffolk poll back in June showed Clinton leading by six points at 46 percent to 40 percent. Back then, Johnson stood at 8 percent and Stein at 3 percent.

The Suffolk University/USA Today telephone poll was conducted Aug. 24-29 from among 1,000 general election voters. The survey has a margin of error of plus or minus three percent.

Part of Trump's struggles have revolved around his lack of widespread support among minority voters. The republican nominee has taken a hardline stance on immigration vowing to deport millions of undocumented immigrants if he is elected, a pledge he recently reaffirmed during a fiery speech in Arizona.
2016 presidential candidates Democrat Hillary Clinton and Republican Donald Trump held their first presidential debate on Monday Sept. 26, with reporter Lester Holt as moderator.

Holt, the 2016 Journalist of the Year for the National Association of Black Journalists, continues to excel in his career after taking over NBC Nightly News following Brian Williams departure.

Presidential Debates 2016 Moderators

After Holt moderates the first presidential debate in New York, other journalists will host the following 2016 presidential debates.

For the second presidential debate 2016, ABCs Martha Raddatz and CNNs Anderson Cooper will moderate on Oct. 9.

And for the last presidential debate, Chris Wallace will be the first Fox News anchor to moderate a presidential debate.

As for the Vice Presidential debates, CBS news correspondent Elaine Quijano will moderate the event on Oct. 4.

Presidential Debates 2016 Issues

The commission formerly stalled their decision to pick the 2016 presidential debates moderators for fear of criticism from conservative parties. Given candidate Trumps attack on minority groups in America and on the media, it was not clear if any of the moderators would have approached the event with a biased opinion about the billionaire.

This years most diverse line of moderators  an African American, two women, a Filipino and a man that is openly gay  can mean that Trump will be faced with tough questions. But journalists are expected to be objective as possible, and to ask some questions from potential voters as well.

The Commission on Presidential Debates Schedule

First Presidential Debate

The first presidential debate, on Sept. 26, will be held at Hofstra University. The debate will be divided into six segments, 15 minutes each. Moderators will ask a set of questions that are announced one week prior to the debate.

Candidates will have two minutes to answer questions on major U.S. issues. They will also have time to respond to each other.

Second Presidential Debate

The second presidential debate will be held on Oct. 9 at Washington University in a town hall meeting style. This is the debate that will answer half of the questions from potential citizen voters selected by the Gallup Organization.

Third Presidential Debate

The third presidential debate will be held on Oct. 19 at the University of Nevada-Las Vegas where candidates will have an hour and half to discuss with no commercial breaks. Moderators will mainly ask questions about the canidates.

Stay tuned.
Florida's first hurricane in over a decade left at least one person dead and hundreds of thousand of people without power Friday morning.

Hurricane Hermine hit Florida's Gulf Coast around 1:30 a.m. ET, destroying numerous buildings with heavy rainfall and 80 mph winds. More than 70,000 Tallahassee residents lost power, along with about 183,000 others statewide.

In Marion County, located south of Gainesville, a man of undetermined age was killed when a tree fell onto a tent in a homeless camp, according to county officials.

The National Weather Service reports that Pinellas County recorded 22.36 inches of rain over the past 72 hours; 15.23 inches fell in nearby Largo.

With heavy rains already flooding areas of St. Petersburg and Tampa - and counties ranging from Wakulla to Leon - local authorities are warning Floridians about the risks of braving such conditions, given the dangers of downed trees and power lines

"We will spend the coming days assessing the damage and responding to the needs of our communities and Florida families," Gov. Rick Scott said at a press conference. He urged against driving on flooded streets and to avoid travel unless "absolutely necessary."

"You can rebuild a home. You can rebuild property. You cannot rebuild a life," Scott said.

Recuerde no conducir ni caminar sobre aguas estancadas. Cuidado con las carreteras inundadas y los caminos bloqueados  Rick Scott (@FLGovScott) September 2, 2016

Hurricane #Hermine was bad. Look at these boats all over the road in #Steinhatchee! pic.twitter.com/5BksvT9AJC  Vic Micolucci - WJXT (@WJXTvic) September 2, 2016

Not exactly the safest way to experience #Hermine. Via Mike Bailey at Coquina Beach. #Florida pic.twitter.com/S5Ol1YWql4  Paul Dellegatto FOX (@PaulFox13) September 1, 2016



Hermine Moves through Georgia, the Carolinas

Initially a Category 1 hurricane, Hermine was downgraded to a tropical storm as it whirled up the eastern seaboard into Georgia and South Carolina. The NWS predicted 5-to-10 inches of rainfall over southern Georgia with isolated areas seeing as much as 15 inches.

The flood threat in Charleston eased throughout the morning, from an anticipated 10 inches to somewhere between 3-to-5 inches. South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley did not issue a state of emergency, though there are reports of flooded roads and toppled trees.

In North Carolina, all but the most northwest corner of South Carolina is under a weather warning after Gov. Pat McCrory declared a state of emergency in 33 counties.

"We are working together across multiple agencies through North Carolina to make sure we are over-prepared and underwhelmed for this storm because we want people to safely enjoy their Labor Day vacation," McCrory said, adding that he is optimistic damage will be at a minimum.

11aET Adv: #Hermine winds down to 50mph, moving NE at 18mph. Will move over SC & NC today/tonight & offshore SAT. pic.twitter.com/BpOn8A6aBT  The Weather Channel (@weatherchannel) September 2, 2016

Holiday Warnings Across the East Coast

Tropical storm warnings are in effect as far north as Norwich, Conn. The threat of coastal flooding heavy rainfall prompted Virginia Gov. Terry McAuliffe to declare a state of emergency, warning that Hermine could bring "life-threatening" conditions to heavily populated areas like Virginia Park. "We strongly encourage everyone in Virginia to prepare for the possibility of damaging winds, downed trees, power outages and flooding in much of the Commonwealth," McAuliffe said in a press release. "I urge Virginias to limit travel as the server weather arrives and evacuate if recommended by officials." Virginia can expect heavy rain and gusty storms through Sunday, when Hermine is expected to stall off the Atlantic coast. A tropical storm warning covers the Chesapeake Bay and Maryland's east shore. The Washington D.C. metro area will be relatively unaffected with light to moderate rain through the Labor Day weekend. Hermine's impact in the nation's capital will be limited to clouds and the possibility of strong winds. Meteorologists aren't as optimistic for New York and New Jersey. New York City will see sunny skies and temperatures in the mid-to-upper 70s on Saturday. By Sunday morning, the NWS expects torrential downpours and 30-to-35-mph winds. New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio announced beaches will be closed to swimmers, and the U.S. Coast Guard is advising boaters to use caution. Residents along the Jersey Shore are preparing for the worst. "We're just on standby right now," an emergency management coordinator told ABC 7 New York. "We have our hardware vehicles prepared, ready to go. We have our shelters in place, and we're just going through our checklist, making sure everything is ready to go." Hermine may hover over the New Jersey coast beyond Labor Day, meaning the Tri-State area could see tropical storm-like conditions throughout the week.

UPDATE: New satellite animation shows #Hermine as the storm makes landfall and progresses: https://t.co/V1LhNxLjcj pic.twitter.com/YAZOIctyME  NASA (@NASA) September 2, 2016
As summer winds down, different parts of the U.S. prepare for some potentially devastating storms that are a result of changing weather. Florida kept a look out for Hurricane Hermine earlier this week but it has now died down to a tropical storm. And as Floridians are in the clear, residents in Hawaii are preparing for Hurricane Lester to hit over Labor Day weekend 2016.

Hurricane Lester Watch

Hawaii residents are preparing for Hurricane Lester after they were just in the clear for Hurricane Madeline. As the storm moves toward Hilo, weather forecasts say it is expected to weaken before it hits the Big Island.

There is still a chance for Maui County and Oahu to face strong winds and a possible hurricane. The Big Island, Maui and Molokai received major wind gusts and big surf.

Waves reached as high as 18 feet in the late afternoon. By Saturday night, waves will reach up to 35 feet on the islands of Maui and Molokai.

Hurricane Lester Preparation

Hawaii residents are warned to stay in safe areas as the storm approaches. Businesses along the shorelines are expected to board up their windows as the dangerous surf grows, threatening to damage anything in its path.

High surf warning for the east shores of the Big Island, Maui and Molokai are effective. All islands are under high surf advisory while Maui County and Oahu are under a hurricane watch.

No small ships should be in any of Hawaii waters at this time.

Florida Hurricane Watch

As the big island prepares for a potentially dangerous storm, the sunshine state just got over Hurricane Hermine clashing into its coast. Now Hurricane Hermine, weakened into a tropical storm, is headed for Georgia and the Carolinas.

Hurricane Hermine Damages

Thousands of Florida residents were left without power after the hurricane hit Friday morning. Parts of the east coast are flooded and the state is under constant flash-flood warnings. A lot of the flooding is expected to stay through Labor Day weekend, leaving Wakulla County to clean up the mess.

Theres nothing open in our county right now, Sheriffs Maj. Trey Morrison told CNN Friday after hearing a report about a drivers crashing into a fallen tree.

One men slept in a tent behind a gas station when a tree fell on him Thursday night. The county is looking into to the case to see if the storm caused his death.
A West Easton man was ordered held in lieu of $100,000 bail Friday, after he allegedly set fire to a vehicle during a domestic dispute in Wilson Borough.

Jared A. McLoughlin, 19, of the 200 block of Seventh Street, was arraigned before District Judge Antonia Grifo on eight crimes, including four felony counts, in the weekend incident.

McLoughlin had been taken to an area hospital for a mental health evaluation and treatment of minor injuries following the incident about 8:55 p.m. Saturday in the 1500 block of Liberty Street, Wilson police had said.

At his arraignment after he was discharged, Grifo sent McLoughlin to Northampton County Prison to await a preliminary hearing tentatively scheduled Sept. 12 before District Judge Richard Yetter III in the borough.

McLoughlin allegedly threatened to kill a 25-year-old man with whom his wife, who is 24, was found on Liberty Street. The 2005 Nissan McLoughlin set fire to belongs to the male victim, according to police.

McLoughlin was also uncooperative with police during the incident, repeatedly telling officers to shoot him, spitting into the face of an officer and banging his head against a partition in a police car.

He is charged with felony reckless burning or exploding, aggravated assault, criminal mischief and risking catastrophe, in addition to misdemeanor of simple assault, resisting arrest and terrorist threats (two counts).

Wilson Borough firefighters extinguished the vehicle fire.

Kurt Bresswein may be reached at kbresswein@lehighvalleylive.com. Follow him on Twitter @KurtBresswein. Find lehighvalleylive.com on Facebook.
Bodies found in Salisbury Township home identified

The 1306 Byfield St., Salisbury Township, home where the bodies of William K. McConnell, 47, and Corrinia Rismiller, 44, were found is seen the night of Thursday, Sept. 1, 2016, shortly after the Lehigh County Coroner's Office had announced the discovery. (Kurt Bresswein | For lehighvalleylive.com)

The bodies found Thursday in a Lehigh County home were those of a man and woman who lived there, authorities said Friday.

William K. McConnell, 47, and Corrinia Rismiller, 44, were pronounced dead Thursday afternoon at home in the 1300 block of Byfield Street in Salisbury Township, Lehigh County Chief Deputy Coroner Andrew Kehm said.

Autopsies were done Friday morning, but the cause and manner of death remained pending toxicology testing, Kehm said.

Lehigh County District Attorney Jim Martin had said earlier Friday there was no risk to the public in relation to the deaths.

Kehm pronounced McConnell dead at 2:55 p.m. Thursday and Rismiller, at 2:57 p.m.

Neighbors had described suspicious circumstances at the home, and a stench of rot evident Thursday suggested the pair were dead for some time, The Morning Call had reported.

Salisbury Township police, Pennsylvania State Police and the Lehigh County District Attorney's Office and county homicide task force were continuing to investigate the deaths, in conjunction with the coroner's office.

Kurt Bresswein may be reached at kbresswein@lehighvalleylive.com. Follow him on Twitter @KurtBresswein. Find lehighvalleylive.com on Facebook.
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An intoxicated woman was being lewd in a parked car outside a Lehigh County Wawa, according to Pennsylvania State Police.

Police say an intoxicated woman was caught -- literally -- with her pants down as she was being fondled in a parked car outside a Lehigh County Wawa, the vehicle's windows open as customers walked in and out of the store.

Pennsylvania State Police were called about 8:45 p.m. to the convenience store on Willow Lane in Lower Macungie Township, according to a news release.

There a trooper allegedly found 25-year-old Samantha Dier, of Allentown, in the car with a female passenger performing a lewd act.

Police say Dier had been drinking -- she allegedly shouted profanities at the trooper in the parking lot and, when asked for identification, provided a credit card.

Dier is charged with indecent exposure, public intoxication and disorderly conduct. She had her first appearance in district court in Emmaus, where her bail was set at $5,000.

Steve Novak may be reached at snovak@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @type2supernovak and Facebook. Find lehighvalleylive.com on Facebook.
#flight resumption Flights from Gimpo airport to Osaka, Taipei to resume Sunday Flights from Seoul's Gimpo International Airport to Osaka and Taipei will resume later this week, the state-run airport operator here said Saturday, more than two years after the r...

#football Daejeon earn promotion to top division in S. Korean football After eight years of toiling in the second division in South Korean football, Daejeon Hana Citizen FC will be playing with the big boys in 2023. Daejeon routed Gimcheon Sangmu F...
Irish Water believes that a warning that Portlaoise's drinking water could become contaminated with a bug dangerous to health is overly conservative.

That is what the state utility company has told the Environmental Protection Agency in response to a warning that the town's supply could become contaminated byCryptosporidium.

The EPA told the Leinster Express that it listed the Portlaoise public water supply to its Remedial Action List (RAL) in the third quarter of 2014 due to inadequate treatment for Cryptosporidium.

The agency said that while the water supply currently meets the quality standards set out in the European Union (Drinking Water) Regulations 2014, the Cryptosporidium risk score for this groundwater supply is very high and there is currently no Cryptosporidium treatment barrier at Kilminchy water treatment plant.

The EPA said it carried out a Drinking Water Audit of Portlaoise public water supply in October 2015 to assess the progress of Irish Waters action programme to remove this supply from the RAL. The audit found that Irish Waters action programme had been delayed and very little progress had been made at that time to undertake works to remove this supply from the RAL. A copy of the audit report is available on the EPA website.

Following on from the audit, the EPA said Irish Water has committed to completing the action programme to facilitate the removal of Portlaoise from the RAL by July 2017.

The EPA said it is monitoring Irish Waters progress in carry out these works. However, the latest update from Irish Water received by the EPA on June 30, 2016 states the following: Irish Water believe that the Crypto risk assessment for the Portlaoise supply is overly conservative and are looking to undertake an expert assessment of the sources supplying Kilminchy WTP to determine the true Crypto risk.

Irish Water said its plan was to appoint a consultant hydrogeologist to review / update the existing Crypto risk assessment for the Kilminchy supply. It said an interim Crypto risk for Kilminchy WTP will be submitted to the Agency in Q3 for review ahead of the complete Crypto Risk Assessment which will include for review of 12 months raw water characterisation data which is being collected simultaneously.

Irish Water says online UVT monitoring has commenced on each of the raw water bore holes in addition to monthly Crypto monitoring.

Irish Water said it is in the process of appointing a Contractor to carry out upgrade works of PLCs at Kilminchy WTP and integration to the county wide SCADA. It is anticipated this will be completed by the fourt quarter of 2016.

The water company said a Contractor is being appointed for the Upgrade of the Disinfection process with works expected to commence in Quarter 3 2016.

Crypto can cause cryptosporidiosis include watery diarrhoea, stomach cramps, upset stomach and a mildfever. The impact can be more severe on people who are already ill or whose immune systemes are low.

A UV light filtration system must be installed to kill off the bug a the treatment works to prevent it entering the supply.
Two Leading Laois companies who specialise in plant hire have joined forces.

Both Laois Hire and Hinch Plant Hire are two well-known and respected brand names within the construction industry.

The two companies, originating from neighboring towns in county Laois, complimented each other so well that a joint partnership was an obvious route.

Laois Hire was established over 25 years ago and is now the leading plant and tool hire company in Ireland. The Laois Hire Group provides a comprehensive range of services and has ten different specialist divisions in the group including, plant and tool hire, pumps division, site services, VMS division, traffic management divisions, portaloo division, and numerous agencies.

Hinch Plant Hire Ltd was established in 1968 and operates from its main premises in Mountmellick, Co. Laois. The company is run by Trevor Hinch and is mainly a plant hire and civil contracting company but it is also involved in quarrying, on-site crushing, road haulage and site development among others.

Michael Killeen, MD for Laois Hire / HSS Hire Group explains, Our teams on the ground are constantly getting requests from our vast customer base to supply heavy earthmoving plant. We get in early to construction sites with things like portaloos, portacabins and temporary fencing and as a lot of customers now want a one-stop supplier, they will look for us to supply the heavy plant. To fulfill the demand we realised we could only give the high standard of service required by partnering with a highly reputable firm like Hinch Hire.

Our clients have the need for both heavy plant and smaller plant and tools, says Trevor. We were being asked to supply smaller equipment that we didnt have and were passing on the business contacts to Laois Hire. They were being asked for bigger equipment that they were passing on to us at Hinch Plant. So it made sense to form a partnership with each of us offering our clients a much needed all around service.

We have known each other for years and have a great working relationship, says Killeen, and it has added an extra level to the service for us. We have a great sales team on the ground and it gives us another great service and offering for customers, adding another dimension to our business and theirs. Customers will have the convenience of a one-stop shop for all their plant hire needs when dealing with Laois Hire or Hinch Hire. It will also open up a new direction for the company and be a great way to build new business, says Michael Killeen

With both companies being in contact for so long and with a great trading relationship between the people behind the businesses we are confident that this is a move in the right direction, says Hinch.

With the Irish construction market showing great signs of recovery and more house-building and infrastructure projects coming on line as well as good business to be found in the utilities sector the time looks opportune for the Laois Hire/Hinch partnership.
Were going to be hearing quite a lot from Nick Clegg over the next couple of weeks in the run up to his book being published on 15 September.

Today he has a long interview with the Guardian in which he talks at length about some of the key moments of the Coalition. Just to get this over with. I come from the Highlands of Scotland. If any journalist had written about some of the villages I love in the same patronising way that Cleggs interviewer, Simon Hattenstone, did about Miriams home town in Spain, Id be furious.

Whilst I have often disagreed with decisions that Nick took during the Coalition years, I stand by my long held view that he was often unfairly criticised, too. We can see with ever-increasing clarity that he brought a lot of common sense and stability to government. The minute he and the Liberal Democrats vacated Whitehall, everything started to fall apart. We are suffering the consequences of an arrogant Tory party governing exclusively in its own interests.

Naivety

Any feeling that we might have had that we could have been a lot better prepared for the realities of government is confirmed by the interview. However, the caveat is, of course, that we onlookers have the benefit of hindsight now and detachment at the time. Nick does admit to what appears to be astonishing naivety. It perhaps underlines the fact that he should maybe have had more people around him who had spent years fighting the Tories and knew first hand what they were capable of.

Yes. I did not cater for the sheer brazen ruthlessness with which the Conservative party would hoover up any good news.

Of course they did. Although a lot of the key decisions on the economy were influenced by us, the Tories got all the credit. In an extract from his book, he talks about how the Tories had an expectation of power and had spent their lives preparing for it:

But, like Westminster itself, many of the so-called trappings of power  grace-and-favour mansions, grand offices, ministerial Jaguars  can seem completely alien to people who have not spent their lives preparing for power. As such, it is easy to underestimate their importance.

He talks of the importance of symbolism and how things look. While this wasnt the most important factor in our downfall, by far, it all added to the mood music.

When it was suggested that I take an office with no publicly recognisable entrance of its own, I didnt mind, as I thought I wouldnt need an equivalent of the Number 10 door at which to receive guests. When it was decided where I would sit in the House of Commons at Prime Ministers Questions, I thought it made sense to sit supportively next to the PM, to show that the coalition could work smoothly. Big mistakes. All of them.

Contradictions

Both in reading David Laws Coalition and this interview, there are times when I want to scream with frustration. Now, I know that they held the Tories back on many of the stupid things they wanted to do to social security and there is a limit to what you can do as a junior coalition partner, but why, when the Tories explicitly expressed their contempt towards the poorest, did they agree to things like the Bedroom Tax?:

Welfare for Osborne was just a bottomless pit of savings, and it didnt really matter what the human consequences were, because focus groups had shown that the voters they wanted to appeal to were very anti-welfare, and therefore there was almost no limit to those anti-welfare prejudices. I found that very unattractive, very cynical.

Why on earth would you not want to try and do s**t?

Part of the answer to that can be found in the above quote. We heard Nick talk a lot during the coalition years about turning us from a party of protest to a party of power, always a spurious claim when wed run Scotland and councils all over the place. There is no doubt that we did do a lot of good stuff, from giving extra money to disadvantaged kids in school to same sex marriage to more apprenticeships than the Tories would have done to work on FGM and giving consumers more rights to all the environmental stuff that the Tories are now dismantling with indecent haste.

Not team players

Hes quite blatant about Vince Cable and Chris Huhne.

Well, I dont think Vince and Chris would ever count themselves as great team players, Clegg says. If I was skippering the Lib Dems, I say, Id want team players on my side. Well, its not like that, is it? Vinces strength, and the reason hes liked by the public, was precisely because he stood apart. So there was no point in me saying, Oh, Vince, can you put in a shift in the boiler room with the rest of the team? What I did was give them both big departmental responsibilities.

I found the need to rebuke his office publicly for briefing against Vince several times during the coalition years, so this clearly works both ways.

Worse than the 2015 election

I get what Nick says about the referendum result. In some ways, I felt the same because of the wider consequences for our country. However, I think he should be very careful about how he phrases such comments:

I felt more wretched after the referendum than after the election. Political parties go up and down. Dare I say it, its not the end of the world. I immediately fell on my sword after the election, took responsibility, but we will come back. We already are. But on the 23rd of June we lost something for good as a country, which I feel much more strongly about. You cant undo a lot of that damage.

Try telling the many Lib Dems who lost their jobs  at HQ, in parliamentary offices, as well as the MPs themselves, and those who had seen the work they had done over decades smashed to smithereens that it wasnt the end of the world. Really.

We do have to remember, though, that he hasnt had an easy time of it either. Hes had effigies burned of him in the street, protests outside his home and five years of progressive types calling him names rather than look at what he had actually managed to achieve. Ive always thought history will be kinder to Clegg than contemporary commentary. The Brexit vote will accelerate that process. I just wish hed actually acknowledge the party  the majority of whom stuck with him through thick and thin  and the consequences weve had to bear together.

* Caron Lindsay is Editor of Liberal Democrat Voice and blogs at Caron's Musings
A CULTURAL reawakening is set to take place on Ellen Street, when local legends Grannys Intentions reunite for a commemorative performance.

It is hoped that one of Irelands finest beat groups will perform on September 20, as part of the Culture Night programme, following the unveiling of a special mural on Ellen Street.

Organised by Limerick School of Art and Design senior lecturer, Paul Tarpey, Grannys Intentions founder, Cha Haran will unveil a mural dedicated to the former mod clothes shop, Miss Ellen, which he operated in the 1960s.

Originally called The Intentions, the band first consisted of Cha Haran, Johnny Hockedy, Jack Costelloe, Guido DiVito and Johnny Duhan.

Grannys Intentions, formed in the late 1960s, was once one of Irelands most promising bands  signed to Londons Deram Records, sharing the same roster as David Bowie, Cat Stevens, Brotherhood of Man and The Move.

Mr Tarpey said that they were a great inspiration for other teenagers and young musicians at the time.

They were living how they believed. They believed in an expression for their own generation that had nothing to do with De Valera or something like that. They looked at the no compromising bands; they looked at the Kinks and the Rolling Stones. They were considered one of the best bands in Ireland, and were much better than some of the Dublin bands. The lads were very good at what they did. While Elvis and rock n roll was big, these guys were listening to Motown and soul, which was something you never heard on the radio, and they played those songs. Even at the age of 17, Mr Tarpey explained.

When Mr Haran returned from London, after releasing a number of singles on Deram, his unique, imported sense of style influenced his decision to open Miss Ellen. It was considered to be one of the only mod clothes stores in the country.

When he came back from London in 1969, we brought back a load of clothes, and he wanted to open up a place in Limerick. And when he had that shop open, it was very different. The place made a great difference in Limerick, and it was the only shop at the time that played music, for example. He brought back all the music and the records, and it was a happening spot. But it was one of those places in Limerick where only the people who were involved actually remember it, said Paul.

The special mural will be produced by Piquant Media, and it is hoped that there will be a Northern Soul DJ gig after the performance at Cobblestone Joes.

Mr Tarpey is currently undergoing a PhD at LSAD on generational resistance, with a strong emphasis on Limericks alternative venues at which bands, like Grannys Intentions, performed in the 1960s, including the Go-Go Club, on Post Office Lane.
A LIMERICK mother who suffered seven miscarriages and the loss of a prematurely-born baby has described the HSEs newly launched national standards of bereavement care following pregnancy loss and perinatal death as badly needed.

Noreen Thompson, Murroe, had the miscarriages and a premature baby who died shortly after being born, before Ellianna was born to herself and husband Ger four years ago .

The changes, she said, were a brilliant idea and could definitely help people and improve things for those who have suffered pregnancy loss.

The standards, which will impact the hundreds of Limerick parents who are affected by this type of loss each year, will establish how parents who experience loss through miscarriages, ectopic pregnancies, stillbirths or perinatal death will be treated and supported in each of the maternity hospitals around the country.

While Mrs Thompson spoke highly of the help she received from hospital counsellors to cope at the time of her losses, she believes the updated standards would have benefited her when she went through that difficult time.

You feel that youre on your own when these things happen. You feel like theres nothing there to help you through it.

A lot of people wouldnt take it [the counselling] because some people find it hard to talk about it or might not know what services are available to them.

The parents, she said, need to know that theyre not the only ones who are going through this and theyre not going through it alone.

Clinical midwife manager and bereavement midwife at the University Maternity Hospital Marie Hunt said that the standards will provide specific rules and guidance about the standard of care that should be given for bereaved parents and will see specialised bereavement care teams introduced in the hospitals.

The aim is that these teams will be composed of a clinical midwife specialist and a bereavement care coordinator to implement these standards, she explained.

The updated standards, she said, will focus on four main elements: bereavement care, the hospital, the baby and parents, and the staff. With regard to bereavement care, they will involve supporting and providing compassionate care for parents and how we would go about that, she explained.

They will make sure that the hospital will have systems in place to ensure that the bereavement care and end of life care for the babies is central to the mission of the hospital and is organised around the needs of the particular baby and their family.

In relation to the baby and parents, they will ensure that each baby will receive high quality palliative and end of life care that is appropriate to his or her needs and to ensure that there is compassionate care and comfort provided for babies born with a life-limiting condition or who may not survive after birth. They will also give care for the family and provide counselling throughout the pregnancy.

They will also require that all staff must have education and training to make them aware of the fact that we need to provide care for these families and staff will be supported in providing that care, said Ms Hunt.

One of the main changes that the new standards will bring about, she said, is the structure of the hospital for us here in Limerick.

Some of the standards do have recommendations about the parents in waiting areas with pregnant women waiting on their scans. They do recommend that anyone who is bereaved wouldnt be cared for in a ward with pregnant women.

The highly anticipated new hospital, which will be based on a site alongside the University Hospital Limerick, will be designed to ensure that at no point will a bereaved parent going to come across somebody who is pregnant, said Ms Hunt.

The updated standards will also change how the parents are informed about the condition of their babies.

There are structures that we need to put into place with regards to information for parents with babies who have a life-limiting condition or may not survive after birth. We do provide care and support for those women already but we need to put in more structures for those, explained Ms Hunt.

The standards, she said, will give guidance for the hospital and the professionals on the standard we should be aiming for, for this particular group of parents.

From the time they come into the hospital, the aim is that they would be greeted with compassion from all staff, and that we create an environment where everybody feels safe and supported in their grief.

We also acknowledge that their loss is huge and has a huge impact on them and we care for them in a very sensitive way and create a sensitive environment for them.

Mrs Thompson spoke highly of the counselling services already available at the hospital and encouraged parents to avail of them.

We [Noreen and her husband, Ger Thompson] did use the counsellor there at the time. She was actually very good. Shed always ring up if she didnt hear from you to see how things were going and Ive never had a problem with them. It did help big time, she recalled.

Because I suffered so many miscarriages over the years, it did help to talk to someone, because a lot of people dont talk about things and try to just get on with their lives. It was nice being able to talk to a stranger because I think that you get more out and feel more comfortable when youre in a room with someone who knows what theyre talking about.

Mrs Thompson added that there definitely could be improvements, and hopes that the new national standards will benefit parents in Limerick who experience this terrible loss.
You're mad. You're not talking to someone without a US visa because I might just pull up on you - Nkechi Blessing Sunday fires back at Nina after she called her out over her post
Apr 28, 2021, 6 AM

By Michael Baadke

Groundbreaking United States war correspondent and news reporter Marguerite Higgins was born Sept. 3, 1920, in Hong Kong, the daughter of a U.S. businessman who was a World War I veteran, and his wife, a teacher from France.

Higgins grew up in California and attended the University of California Berkeley, where she graduated in 1941. She studied further at Columbia University and was named the campus correspondent for the New York Herald Tribune.

She continued her work with the Herald Tribune after earning her masters degree in 1942, and in 1945 she reported from the Dachau concentration camp in Bavaria as Allied troops arrived to liberate its prisoners. She was named the papers Berlin bureau chief, and later served as bureau chief in Tokyo.

Higgins reported from the Korean War after convincing Gen. Douglas MacArthur to rescind a ban on female correspondents, and won a Pulitzer Prize in 1951 for international reporting. She reported many important international news stories in a career that continued until her death in 1966 from leishmaniasis, a disease she contracted in Vietnam the previous year.

Higgins is one of four reporters honored Sept. 14, 2002, in a set of 37 Women in Journalism stamps (Scott 3668).
Apr 30, 2021, 3 AM

The engraved vignette on the 18 stamp in the 1894 set is based on this 1841 drawing of Mount Kinabalu, the highest peak on Borneo, by Royal Navy Midshipman Frank S. Marryat.

The other eight stamps produced by Waterlow & Sons in the 1894 North Borneo set display a lively assortment of styles and subjects.

The first of the set of nine 1894 North Borneo stamps portrays a Dyak chieftain. The Dyak are the indigenous people of the island of Borneo. At right is the basis of the design: an illustration from an 1889 travel book by Baroness Brassey.

By Kathleen Wunderly

Philatelists always have been deeply critical of any postal issues perceived as existing mainly for profit, sometimes even sold by postal officials directly to dealers in wholesale lots, and/or with cancels that never saw a post office any more than the stamps had.

Although it is likely that no collector has ever been forced to purchase a stamp, these speculative issues have been viewed by many as essentially extortion attempts on hapless philatelic customers.

The 1894 pictorial stamps of North Borneo often are cited as prime examples of such efforts to swindle collectors, though they are colorful and interesting engraved stamps that probably have piqued many a young collectors interest in the hobby over the years.

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After labeling North Borneo philatelically abominable, Ernest A. Kehr (The Romance of Stamp Collecting, 1947) added, Such tiny places as North Borneo, Liberia, Labuan, and Persia were the first to prostitute their postal paper. And so thoroughly did they do their job that today very few serious collectors will recognize the stamps issued by these countries as legitimate, except when they are found on original letters with the proper postmarks to prove they served a genuine postal purpose.

Neatly combining scorn and praise, the British writer Stanley C. Johnson (The Stamp Collector: A Guide to the Worlds Postage Stamps, 1920) called the 1894 stamps the exquisite though undesirable issues of North Borneo.

Market speculation aside, some collectors condemned the new 1894 stamps simply because of the novelty of their designs.

Johnson blamed the 1893 Columbian Exposition issue for being poor role models: Soon after the Columbus stamps of the United States set the fashion in pictorial designs, many colonies cast aside their Sovereigns features and ran riot with local views and customs.

Most postage stamps up to that time had been portraits or symbols in rigidly structured frames, and there was a collector-audience who felt that all new stamps should continue the classic patterns.

Only a few critics have recognized an important point about the North Borneo stamps, beginning with the first issues in 1883: namely, that these were not produced by a national postal administration, funded by the citizens as an essentially nonprofit function of government.

North Borneo, now a Malaysian state known by its original native name of Sabah, occupies the northernmost part of the tropical island of Borneo in the South China Sea. After early incursions by the Spanish, Dutch and Portuguese, the area attracted British interest.

On Nov. 1, 1881, the British North Borneo Provisional Assoc., Ltd., received a royal charter, and the British North Borneo Co. was formed the following March.

In 1888, the area became a British protectorate called the State of North Borneo, but the BNBC continued to administer and control it. The BNBC existed until July 15, 1946 (when the region became a crown colony), having succeeded as the longest lasting of the 19th-century British chartered companies, and credited by many with bringing general peace and comparative prosperity to North Borneo.

The BNBCs mandate was to set up a government and enforce law and order through policing and courts, plus encourage agriculture and trade and build railways. The company understood the need for postage stamps as part of the process of building nationhood (it had joined the Universal Postal Union in 1891), but in a poor and illiterate country, massive quantities of stamps certainly had no legitimate purpose.

The BNBC had no compunction about breaking into the growing market of stamp collectors, and benefiting commercially from postage stamps as another commodity of North Borneo.

That said, the BNBC seemed willing to spend some money for quality work on the new 1894 issues. The 1883 North Borneo stamps had been produced by Blades, East & Blades, Ltd., in London, printed by lithography with a traditional style of design showing the BNBCs coat of arms. Those stamps had been redrawn and surcharged and overprinted over the years, until the BNBC sought a bid in 1893 from De La Rue & Co. for new issues for North Borneo, again using the BNBC coat of arms. De La Rue had been printing stamps for Labuan, a group of islands northwest of North Borneo that came under BNBC administration in 1890.

De La Rue submitted several designs for consideration, but meanwhile the BNBC had noted the re-entry of Waterlow & Sons, Ltd., also of London, into the stamp-printing business.

Waterlow had produced some much admired stamps for Siam in 1883 (Thailand Scott 1-5), for example, showing off the fine results of direct-plate printing (aka line-engraved or recess printing).

The BNBC had second thoughts, and while De La Rue was working on its proposal, the company approached Waterlow in March 1893, and that firm took the ball and ran with it, quickly suggesting a set of nine bicolor pictorial designs.

The new stamps became Scott 59-67, from 1 to 24 and valid for postage or revenue use (the denominations from 25 to $10, and a $25 revenue-only stamp, continued to be printed by lithography by Blades, East & Blades).

Each of the nine Waterlow designs is different from the others, with various styles of framelines and formats for the inscriptions; some stamps are vertical rectangles and others are horizontal.

Waterlows proposal of unusual formats and designs (even the Columbians had been consistent in size and basic framing) captured the BNBCs fancy, and by mid-May 1893 the latter had informed De La Rue that the postage-stamp contract had been awarded elsewhere. BNBC approved Waterlows final designs and colors in June 1893.

Renowned British philatelic writer and stamp-printing expert L. Norman Williams, in A Century of Stamp Production, 1852-1952: Waterlow & Sons Ltd., said the 1894 stamps were a forerunner of the modern pictorial stamps, and originated the idea of placing a vignetted design within the borders of the framework.

Some necessary changes in wording from the 1886 and subsequent issues included dropping British from the country name and using the official name at the time, State of North Borneo.

In the excitement, the BNBC and the designers failed to add Malay inscriptions in addition to English ones, as had been combined on previous issues. This omission was remedied on re-engraved stamps of the same designs issued in 1897.

The nine new 1894 stamps were printed on unwatermarked white-wove paper in sheets of 100 and perforated gauge 15.

The Waterlow artists who produced the designs are not recorded, but the sources of a few of the vignettes are known, as are the engravers names.

The 1 bister-brown and black stamp (Scott 59) pictures a Dyak chief. The Dyak are the indigenous peoples of Borneo, from a Malay word meaning up-country. The design was based closely on an illustration in a book by Baroness Anna Brassey (1839-87), world traveler and bestselling author of books based on her adventures, many of them in her familys yacht, Sunbeam.

The Dyak chief in full war paint was illustrated in Brasseys The Last Voyage, published in 1889. The Dyak were, among other things, headhunters, and human hair is shown on the scabbard at the chiefs waist and the handle of his parang (sword).

The 2 stamp (Scott 60), rose and black, is filled with an antlers-and-head portrait of a native Sambar deer in an asymmetrical frame that places Postage & Revenue in an arc in the lower-left corner.

The 3 stamp (Scott 61), in violet and green, has a sago palm in an oval frame and cheerful swirls and curlicues outside the oval to the edges of the stamp. Its easy to imagine the Waterlow artists having fun with this set of stamps, seemingly having been encouraged to let their imaginations go.

On the 5 stamp (Scott 62), orange red and black, a Malaysian Great Argus pheasant is in full display, and in a philatelically unprecedented move, the tail feathers of the vignette cut into the upper frameline. The mating dance of the Great Argus, with fully erect tail feathers, is the birds most identifiable element, and the designer did not want to crop the image to fit the frame, so he or she didnt do so.

The same refusal to conform is evident on the 12 ultramarine and black stamp (Scott 65) of a saltwater (estuarine) crocodile, the largest living reptile on earth. Male crocodiles routinely reach 20 feet long, so its unsurprising that one would not easily fit on a stamp.

Various stamp writers over the years described the image as fearsome and of peculiarly voracious aspect. In another break with stamp-design tradition, the crocodiles tail cuts through the frameline at left. The croc image could have been moved slightly to the right to allow the tail to be fully inside the frame, so the decision to have the tail break the line seems deliberate.

Were the pheasant and the crocodile placements intentional artistic acts? Not until 1998, more than a century later, did the United States break the line for artistic effect.

Commenting on the 32 Sylvester and Tweety stamp (Scott 3204a), in which Sylvesters hand and part of the birdhouse break out of the subject area, and the 32 Bright Eyes issues later that year (3230-3234) in which the dogs head and one ear each on the cat and the hamster protrude, U.S. Postal Service art director and head of stamp development Terrence McCaffrey said these were a graphic device for a three-dimensional effect.

The Waterlow artists simply may have been trying to make the art fit, certainly not aiming for 3-D, but the fact remains that this was interesting and unprecedented stamp design.

Returning to the order of denominations, the 6 stamp (Scott 63) bears the arms of the British North Borneo Co., in brown and black, on the most normal looking of the nine stamps. Even so, the arms are drawn more elaborately and with much more shading than on the more subdued 1883 and subsequent versions of the same subject.

A Malay proa or prahu, a boat with sails and numerous oars, is shown on the 8 lilac and black stamp (Scott 64). It has the appearance of an illustration from a book, but it is not from the Brassey book and its source is not recorded.

The 18 stamp (Scott 66), in green and black, displays a landscape with Mount Kinabalu, the highest peak on Borneo. This image was based on a drawing made by Midshipman Frank S. Marryat while serving on HMS Samarang, surveying the coast of Borneo in 1841. Marryats book, Borneo and the Indian Archipelago, was published in 1848, and can be accessed on various Internet e-book websites. The illustration on which the stamp was based follows page 58 in the book and was titled Keeney Ballu by Marryat.

Another version of the BNBC arms appears on the 24 stamp (Scott 67), in claret and blue. Two Malay figures support the design, which is not inside a frameline. Rays of sunshine blaze out all around the image, and the numerals and Postage and Revenue are on small diagonal lozenges at the corners.

Waterlows records indicate that three engravers worked on the nine stamps: Joseph Rapkin, Sr.; Joseph Rapkin, Jr.; and someone listed only as Bain. The latter must have been James Bain, age 50 at the time, listed in the 1871 through 1911 decennial censuses of the United Kingdom as an engraver or art engraver.

Reaction to the new stamps, which reached the post offices in North Borneo by late February 1894, was not just positive but effusive, at least from one quarter. The London Philatelist received advance examples of the stamps from the London office of the British North Borneo Co. in early December 1893, and published its reactions in that months journal, as follows: The Company are to be congratulated upon the issue, as regards the nine lower values, of as beautiful a set of stamps as has ever emanated from any country. In delicacy of design, in engraving, and in colouring they are in our opinion quite unsurpassable, and at once take the highest rank as regards the artistic side of Philately.

Alas, only a few decades later, they were abominable and undesirable.

Despite their modern bad press, North Borneo Scott 59-67 are respectably valued in the Scott Classic Specialized catalogue of Stamps and Covers 1840-1940. Imperforate examples of some of the denominations command prices of hundreds of dollars each, but a set of mint examples of the basic nine stamps should run about $139; used, about $11.

Longtime collectors might be able to retrieve a used set from their childhood albums, where they probably were much enjoyed at the time.
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Jund al Aqsa, an al Qaeda front group in Syria, has released a video showing one of its small drones dropping a bomb on Syrian regime forces in Hama province. The unguided bomb doesnt appear to have been especially effective, but the video is noteworthy because it documents the Sunni jihadis further experimentation with explosives. Irans chief terrorist proxy, Hezbollah, was reportedly an early adopter of drones for use in its operations.

Over the past year, Al Qaeda-linked groups and others have increasingly used commercial drones and similar technology to record their propaganda videos. The Long War Journal has previously noted that, in addition to Jund al Aqsa, jihadi groups such as Al Nusrah Front (now known as Jabhat Fath al Sham), the al Qaeda-affiliated Turkistan Islamic Party (see here and here), the Mujahideen Shura Council in Derna, the Islamic State and multiple others have used drones to record propaganda scenes.

The overhead footage can provide a dramatic look at the battles being waged, including the use of suicide bombers. The jihadis are also probably using the drones for surveillance purposes, as they can get a better perspective on the targets they seek to assault.

Jund al Aqsa is playing a major role in the rebel offensive in Hama. The group led the charge by dispatching a pair of suicide operatives against Syrian regime positions in late August. In the days that followed, Jund al Aqsa has claimed the capture of various regime checkpoints and towns.

One map posted on the organizations Twitter feed (and seen below) provided an update on the fighting in Hama province. Other groups are taking part in the Hama operations as well. According to Reuters, factions fighting under the banner of the Free Syrian Army (FSA), including Jaysh al Nasr, are allied with Jund al Aqsa during the battles.

Jund al Aqsa remains loyal to al Qaedas senior leadership and supports Al Nusrah Fronts relaunch as Jabhat Fath al Sham (Conquest of the Levant Front).

In a carefully worded statement released on July 31, members of Jund al Aqsas general command said they were optimistic about Al Nusrahs new garb, or new appearance. According to the statements authors, Al Qaedas emirs and clerics must have carefully deliberated the move, determining that it was in the best interest of both the people and the jihad in Syria. In so deciding, Jund al Aqsas men said, al Qaedas leaders have once again proven their sacrifice in service of the ummah (worldwide community of Muslims). The jihadists can [use] any name they want, the statement continued, so long as they stay true to the principles of the prestigious first generation of mujahideen and follow the Prophet Mohammeds methodology.

Jund al Aqsas leadership wrote that they hoped Al Nusrahs rebirth as Jabhat Fath al Sham would lead to the creation of a new Islamic authority that governed according to sharia law, protected the lives of the people, and yet remained truly independent. The al Qaeda-linked group did not say that Jabhat Fath al Sham was such a government, but instead that it would hopefully be a prelude to the creation of one.

Screen shots from Jund al Aqsas video of a drone dropping a small bomb:

Map of fighting in northern Hama:

Thomas Joscelyn is a Senior Fellow at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies and the Senior Editor for FDD's Long War Journal.

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Hanoi : India today extended USD 500 million Line of Credit to Vietnam for facilitating deeper defence cooperation with the south east Asian nation, as the two countries elevated their ties to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership to respond to emerging regional challenges. "Our decision to upgrade our Strategic Partnership to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership captures the intent and path of our future cooperation. It will provide a new direction, momentum and substance to our bilateral cooperation," Prime Minister Narendra Modi said after talks with his Vietnamese counterpart Nguyen Xuan Phuc here. He said the two sides recognised the need to cooperate in responding to emerging regional challenges.

Vietnam had earlier Strategic Partnership only with Russia and China. Modi, who arrived here yesterday on his maiden visit to the country, described his talks with Vietnamese counterpart as "extensive and very productive" and said they covered the full range of bilateral and multilateral cooperation. "I am also happy to announce a new Defence Line of Credit for Vietnam of USD 500 million for facilitating deeper defence cooperation," he said. Our common efforts will also contribute to stability, security and prosperity in this region," he said.

The two countries signed 12 agreements in a wide range of areas covering IT, space, double taxation and sharing white shipping information. An agreement on construction of offshore patrol boats was also signed by the two sides, signalling a step to give concrete shape to defence engagement between the two nations. The range of agreements signed just a while ago point to the diversity and depth of our cooperation," Modi said, adding the agreement on construction of offshore patrol boats is one of the steps to give concrete shape to bilateral defence ties. He said as the two important countries in this region, India and Vietnam feel it necessary to further their ties on regional and international issues of common concern. Modi also announced a grant of USD 5 million for the establishment of a Software Park in the Telecommunications University in Nha Trang.

PTI
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The port of Antwerp and the port of San Pedro in Cote dIvoire are to collaborate over the next few years to manage further expansion of this West African entrepot.

San Pedro, the leading cacao port in the world, aims to develop at regional level so as to become a logistics hotspot for handling commodities such as fertilisers, cashew nuts and cacao, among other things. To achieve this ambition, work will start next year on construction of a logistics platform under the name of San Pedro Logistique.

Part of the capital cost will be financed by Port of Antwerp International (PAI), the consultancy and investment subsidiary of Antwerp Port Authority. While PAI has already been active in West Africa for many years now, this will be the first time it has made a financial investment in the region.

Already in 2011 the ports of San Pedro and Antwerp signed an agreement for collaboration between them. Since then the freight volume handled by San Pedro has expanded to 4.9 million tonnes annually, a master plan for development of the port has been drawn up, logistics zones have been developed and mutual promotion has been carried out. This positive balance has now led the parties to renew the agreement for a further period of five years.

A new five-year Memorandum of Understanding was therefore signed on 1 September by Eddy Bruyninckx, CEO of Antwerp Port Authority, Kristof Waterschoot, director of PAI and Hilaire Lamizana, general manager of San Pedro Port Authority.

In addition to supplying the necessary technical expertise for the development, the agreement also specifies that APEC, the training centre for the port of Antwerp, will hold two training seminars per year for San Pedro port personnel.

One of the components of the master plan for development of the port of San Pedro is the creation of a logistics platform. The Belgian group Sea-Invest, which already operates in Cote dIvoire in the port of Abidjan, will take the lead for this initiative. On Thursday this week Sea-Invest presented its detailed plans for the new platform, construction of which is scheduled to begin early next year.

The overall price ticket for the project is 5.5 million euros, 35% of which will be financed by PAI. In exchange the latter will have two directorships in the company behind San Pedro Logistique. The platform is expected to be operational around the summer period of next year.

This is the first concrete investment by the port of Antwerp in West Africa, says Eddy Bruyninckx, CEO of Antwerp Port Authority. With this clear commitment we are emphasising our belief in the potential of San Pedro. Its geographical location and its connections with Liberia, Guinea and Mali represent enormous potential benefits for Antwerp which is already the market leader for West Africa, he concludes.
The retirement of veteran Federal Maritime Commission senior executive Mr. Vern W. Hill, who has served as the Managing Director of the agency since 2013, has set in motion staff changes in three key offices.



In consultation with his fellow Commissioners, Chairman Mario Cordero has appointed Ms. Karen V. Gregory to serve as the Commissions Managing Director and Mr. Peter J. King to serve as the Deputy Managing Director. In their most immediate previous positions Ms. Gregory was the Secretary of the Federal Maritime Commission, while Mr. King was the Director of the Bureau of Enforcement. Both are members of the Senior Executive Service.



Ms. Gregory and Mr. King begin their new roles today, September 1, 2016.



"Vern has been a dedicated, selfless, and hard-working member of the Federal Maritime Commission career staff for 30-years. He has repeatedly distinguished himself professionally and has always sought to serve all constituents of the Commission," said Chairman Cordero. "Vern represents the very best qualities of a public servant. The Commission and the shipping public have benefitted from his commitment to the mission of this agency and we are grateful for his many years of service. He is going to be missed."



As a result of Ms. Gregory and Mr. King moving to the Office of the Managing Director, the Office of the Secretary will be managed by Assistant Secretary Ms. Rachel E. Dickon and the Bureau of Enforcement will be managed by Deputy Director, Mr. Brian L. Troiano.



"We are very fortunate to have Karen Gregory and Peter King take over the responsibilities of the Office of the Managing Director. They each possess considerable experience in every aspect of the Commissions operations and are uniquely qualified to take on the demanding responsibilities assigned to the Managing Directors Office," said Cordero. "This is going to be a seamless transition and I have every confidence that the shipping public will experience nothing less than continued excellent service from the Federal Maritime Commission as our senior executives take on their new roles."
Revolutionary Wind Assisted Propulsion design will be applied to 8,000 DWT General Cargo vessel.



The Dutch shipping company family Switijnk has contracted C-Job Naval Architects to develop a Rotor Sail-equipped design to meet their specific loading and sailing profile. The contract follows the substantial media attention for the 4,500 DWT Flettner Freighter (the FF4500) which C-Job Naval Architects developed as part of the European Union Interreg project SAIL.



Taking the project name of FF8000, the design will be for a dry cargo ship with 8,000 ton deadweight. Although based on the existing FF4500 design, the new design will include numerous modifications.



Sustainable development is part of our future-proof philosophy as a family business



Norsepower, the Finnish company that markets rotorsails (also known as Flettner rotors) is also involved in the initial stages of the innovative ship. The company has performed accurate estimates of the FF8000s sailing profile based on the positive test results from the existing car carrier MS Estraden. Director Stefan Switijnk says: Sustainable development is part of our future-proof philosophy as a family business.



Being innovative

Despite the current low price of oil, Switijnk values the importance of thinking ahead and being innovative. Moreover, the company wants to leave the world in a decent state for the next generation. Unlike the FF4500, alternative fuel options are being examined for the FF8000. Switijnk: Although still fossil-based, LNG could be a link in the current energy transition to more sustainable energy sources. We are also considering other alternatives such as biofuels. By selecting Rotor Sails, the family will lead the way in the next phase of the transport industry.



Hybrid design by Magnus effect

The Flettner Freighter is a 131-metre long vessel design for an 8,000 DWT dry cargo ship. The combination of the specially designed hull, the rotorsails and the LNG propulsion forms a sustainable concept by which energy costs and emissions are reduced. This form of Hybrid Wind Assisted Shipping consists of vertical rotating cylinders that convert crosswinds into forward thrust by means of the Magnus effect.



The first

It is the first time in which the combination of modern rotorsails, a C-Job optimised hull and alternative fuels has been applied to the commercial shipping market. The design can therefore be classified as very sustainable. Switijnk is currently focusing its attention on finding partners to develop and finance this innovative ship. The company currently has two other ships in service.



Convincing design

C-Job Naval Architects, known for other innovative ships such as the hybrid CNG-Electric ferry Texelstroom and the LNG-powered TSHD Bonny River for DEME, is currently putting the finishing touch to the FF8000 design. Jelle Grijpstra, Business Manager at C-Job comments: We often find that a design really comes to life through a 3D design, which we always use in the Concept Design phase. It really sparks peoples interest and makes for a convincing design.


After successfully acquiring a controlling interest in NOL, CMA CGM has consolidated the Singapore-based company since 14 June, says a press release from the company.

Singapores Neptune Orient Lines (NOL) is the parent company of container carrier APL.

As part of the NOL integration process, CMA CGM reviewed the portfolio of brands deployed on its various lines and concluded that only two brands should be used on each trade.

By 30 June, the total stake had risen to nearly 93%. Since that date, a compulsory acquisition process has been initiated, which will result in CMA CGM owning all of the company's outstanding shares. Subsequently, as previously announced, NOL will be delisted.

The acquisition has made CMA CGM a driving force behind market consolidation, while enabling the Group to strengthen its competitive position and resilience in a challenging market environment.

APL will now serve as the core brand alongside CMA CGM on the Transpacific, Transatlantic and Asia-Gulf lines. ANL will be repositioned on the Asia-Oceania trade. Reorganisation of the APL and CMA CGM lines will be further improved when Ocean Alliance is implemented next April.

In addition, the synergy and rationalisation programme is now being implemented, with the goal of enabling APL to reduce its costs and enter a new phrase of growth.

Work is continuing apace in preparation for the start-up of the Ocean Alliance operating partnership with Cosco Container Lines, Evergreen Lines and Orient Overseas Container Lines.

As previously announced, the Alliance is scheduled to start operating in April 2017, once the regulatory approvals have been granted. Like the other CMA CGM subsidiaries, NOL will be part of Ocean Alliance from the beginning.
Today at Gondan Shipyard in Figueras, at high tide, the second Dual Fuel tug ever built in Europe  and the second of a series of three currently under construction for the Norwegian shipowner stensj Rederi - has been successfully launched.



Designed by the Canadian company Robert Allan, the new escort tug, with 40.2 meters length and 16 meter beam, will provide tug services to Norwegian state-owned energy company Statoil, at the far-north terminal located at Melkya. Built to withstand freezing cold, the vessel is shaped specifically to grant full operational availability at temperatures of 20C below zero and combines environmental sustainability trough the use of LNG in most of its operations, with the flexibility of diesel power to ensure a high level of operational security.



For the next few months, this new vessel will be moored at the Yards quay while being outfitted according to the best shipbuilding standards, until completion, when she will be ready for the thorough sea trials and her following delivery in 2017.

The Second of a series of three tugs currently under construction for the Norwegian shipowner stensj Rederi
PAO Sovcomflot, Asea Brown Boveri Ltd. (ABB) Company and the Admiral Nevelskoy Maritime State University (MSU) have signed an agreement for research, technological and educational partnership. The document provides for the establishment of the Marine Propulsion Simulation Centre at MSU in Vladivostok. The operations of this centre which will be focused on preparing staff for work on vessels equipped with Azipod propulsion units.



The agreement was signed by Sergey Frank, President and CEO of Sovcomflot, Sergey Ogay, Rector of MSU, and Anatoly Popov, Managing Director of ABB in Russia.



As part of this agreement, ABB will provide MSU with the equipment designed to simulate the operation of Azipod vessel electric power and propulsion units and provide further assistance with its installation, along with software. ABB will also assign engineers and instructors to operate the simulator.



Thanks to its experience in operating vessels equipped with Azipod propulsion units, as well as needing to meet its existing and future needs for training navigational officers, Sovcomflot will help prepare simulator specifications and develop appropriate programmes with an emphasis on the operation of vessels in the Arctic and sub-Arctic marine basins.



It is expected that the new simulation centre will be used to train MSU students, as well as to retrain and provide advanced training to commissioned officers of shipping companies' fleets. It will also conduct research, scientific and experimental activities in the area of vessel power supply automation and electric propulsion processes.



With its motor located in the submersible nacelle outside the hull, Azipod propulsion units are based on a unique technology that enables a significant improvement on energy efficiency and manoeuvrability of vessels, which is crucial under complicated ice conditions. The SCF Group, which operates the world's largest fleet of Azipod-equipped high ice class vessels, has substantial experience in their operation under the difficult ice conditions of the Barents Sea, the Pechora Sea, and the Sea of Okhotsk.



Sergey Frank, President and CEO of Sovcomflot, commented: "With the intensity of navigation in the Arctic and sub-Arctic Seas of the Russian Far East increasing from year to year, shipping companies now have a strong incentive to use the latest global shipbuilding technologies, as well as to develop human resources and scientific potential. In fact, the expansion of operations of offshore energy projects and the growing demand for navigation on the Northern Sea Route go hand in hand with the adoption of adequate measures for the energy shipping aimed at the unconditional adherence to high standards of maritime safety, environmental protection, and energy efficiency of maritime transportation."



"ABB's technology and developments in the area of electric propulsion have a good record in operation on Sovcomflot vessels in the Arctic and Russian Far East marine basins, and we are pleased that ABB has partnered with Sovcomflot and MSU, whose Department of Propulsion is historically considered one of the best of its kind within the Russian system of maritime education, to create this unique simulation centre," said Sergey Frank.



He added, "As we see it, the new centre will serve as an educational platform, where not only will students be instructed, but also commissioned skippers will build up their competences. The implementation of the Centre project will make a tremendous contribution to the development of a large-scale scientific and educational cluster in the area of maritime professions in the Russian Far East, to the development of which Sovcomflot and MSU have consistently dedicated so much work."



Sergey Ogay, Rector of MSU, said, "Electromechanics is routinely considered one of the most advanced educational and scientific areas of the University. Since the electromechanical department was established there back in 1961, it has established an entire scientific school represented by eminent scientists and professors that continues an active research and educational work. Today this area is represented by a number of specializations, ranging from vessel motors to systems engineering. I believe that it represents a great potential for the development of cooperation with such companies as Sovcomflot and ABB."



He added, "The signing of the trilateral agreement between ABB, Sovcomflot and MSU is a truly historic event. It marks a new stage in the development of the University ushered in by technological changes in the fleet associated with the partnership between Sovcomflot and ABB, leaders in their respective segments. We are grateful to Sovcomflot for active participation in the development of joint educational projects in recent years. We also express our gratitude to ABB, a world leader in marine propulsion, for its response to our offer. I hope that, in the near future, our joint work will come to fruition through effective educational programs."



Anatoliy Popov, Managing Director of ABB in Russia, said: "Whether it is ice-going LNG tankers for the Yamal project or port icebreakers, ABB's power systems and Azipod thrusters are powering the new generation of vessels operating in the Arctic region. This collaboration will ensure the operators will realize the full potential of their vessels and, most importantly, increase safety."


In light of the recent bankruptcy filing by Hanjin Shipping, The Port of Virginia has updated its policies and processes regarding the movement and loading of Hanjin vessels and containers.



The following policy is effective as of Sept. 1, 2016:



 The port will not load any cargo from Cosco Container Lines, "K" Line, Yang Ming Line and Evergreen



Line onto a Hanjin vessel.



 No Hanjin cargo will be loaded onto Cosco Container Lines, "K" Line, Yang Ming Line and Evergreen



Line vessels.



These restrictions were requested by Cosco Container Lines, "K" Line, Yang Ming Line and Evergreen Line, which with Hanjin, compose the CKYHE shipping alliance. After careful consideration, the port agreed today to comply with the request.



Beginning Aug. 31, 2016, the port enacted its own restrictions regarding the movement of Hanjin freight. Those restrictions include:



 Not accepting any Hanjin containers for export at any of the ports marine or intermodal terminals.



 Only accepting empty Hanjin containers at the Pinners Point Container Yard (PPCY).



 Hanjin containers that are currently in transit by rail to the port will be accepted until Monday, Sept. 5;



any and all Hanjin containers arriving after that deadline will be rejected.



 The port is not ramping or loading any Hanjin containers at the rail operations.



600 World Trade Center I Norfolk, VA 23510 I ph (757) 683 8000 I toll-free (800) 446-8098 I portofvirginia.com



 Rail service to VIP is available for Hanjin containers, but only if the consignee provides prepayment or



the written guarantee of payment.



 All use of HRCPII chassis for Hanjin business will be considered merchant haulage, billable to the



respective motor carrier under their applicable contract with HRCPII (effective Sept. 1, 2016).



 Any HRCPII chassis out-gated under Hanjin carrier haulage terms prior to Sept. 1, 2016, and not returned by Sept. 7, 2016, will be converted to merchant haulage, billable to the respective motor carrier from



Sept. 8, 2016, forward.



 Hanjin export containers may be picked-up at the terminals by the original shipper only with release/authorization from Hanjin Shipping. In these occurrences, all terminal service charges shall be waived and the shipper will be responsible for all associated chassis charges/fees.



 All vessel-import Hanjin containers, or those Hanjin containers already on terminal by Tuesday, Sept. 6,



2016, and that have the appropriate documentation, shall be available for merchant haulage to exit the marine terminal per normal. Any accompanying chassis charges/fees will be applicable.



 At the start of business on Wednesday, Sept. 7, 2016, the charge to release any/all Hanjin import containers will be $325; all demurrage charges will be waived. Any/all Hanjin containers leaving the terminals under this rule must have a release/authorization from Hanjin. All chassis charges/fees will be applicable.



As this is situation evolves, the port will continue to review its policies and processes for handling Hanjin cargo and all changes will be communicated to all port customers, users and stakeholders as soon as they have been finalized. Port leaders are meeting daily to assess the situation and have committed to providing regular briefs/updates outlining any additions to the ports policy regarding this matter. Any change in the ports policy on the handling of Hanjin containers can be seen at:



 Website: http://www.portofvirginia.com/category/newsroom/



 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/portofvirginia/



 Twitter: https://twitter.com/PortofVirginia



Hanjin Shipping, South Korea's biggest shipping firm, announced the filing for receivership and a request to the court to freeze its assets, which the Seoul Central District Court planned to grant.


John Maynard Keynes General Theory Eighty Years Later

To the economic and political detriment of the Western world and those economies beyond which have adopted its precepts, 2016 marks the eightieth anniversary of the publication of one of, if not, the most influential economics books ever penned, John Maynard Keynes The General Theory of Employment, Interest and Money. Sadly, even to this day, despite its thorough refutation by lights such as Henry Hazlitt and other eminent scholars, The General Theory, which spawned Keynesianism and its later variants, remains supreme in academics, financial markets, and public policy.

Despite its outlandish theoretical flaws and nonsensical economic jargon and the catastrophic empirical evidence of its failure to prevent financial downturns or stimulate sustainable growth, Keynesianism remains the ruling paradigm of economic thought.

Why?

A number of trenchant reasons have been given for the General Theorys continued dominance, however, one stands above all else: Keynesian economics provides the intellectual justification for economists, statisticians, technocrats, bureaucrats, and policy wonks in their exalted positions as fine tuners of economies the world over. Since markets are to Keynes and his disciples inherently unstable from erratic investment spending and aggregate demand, it is up to these theoreticians steeped in the knowledge of their masters teachings to ameliorate any economic fluctuations.

The General Theory came on the scene at a propitious time during the height (or more accurately the depth) of the Great Depression, which in 1936, despite Roosevelts New Deal and other Western nation states initiatives, had not improved conditions. Keynesianism was actually a middle way between all out Soviet-style central planning and that of laissez-faire capitalism. Primarily through fiscal policy, the economy would be kept on an even keel under the astute management of Keynesian-trained economists. Naturally, this appealed to academics and intellectuals the world over who correctly envisioned positions of power and influence in expanded state apparatuses.

As history has shown, Keynesianism was to become more than a remedy for the Depression, but would be applicable after the crisis dissipated. The General Theory was based, in part, on the (false) notion that the capitalist system is inherently unstable and is, therefore, in need of state intervention. Keynes deliberately ignored the scholarship at the time, which demonstrated that the instability was not a market failure, but a monetary disorder caused by artificial credit expansion generated by the central banks, especially the Federal Reserve.

The enthusiasm for The General Theory came at first from younger economists while it was (rightly) dismissed by many of their elders as incomprehensible. Yet, its lack of clarity was appealing to the novices, since they would become the Creeds interpreters.

Not all, however, were entirely overwhelmed by their mentors magnum opus as Paul Samuelson candidly admitted:

[The General Theory] is a badly written book: poorly organized. . . . It abounds in mares nests of confusions. . . . I think I am giving away no secrets when I solemnly aver  upon the basis of vivid personal recollection  that no one else in Cambridge, Massachusetts, really knew what it was all about for some twelve to eighteen months after publication.*

Despite such an assessment, Keynesianism was never seriously challenged by its adherents, it opened too many lucrative policy making doors to be refuted.

That Keynesianism continues to reign supreme, despite its theoretical and empirical bankruptcy, speaks volumes of the state of Western intellectual and academic life. Instead of the pursuit of truth and the refutation of error, Western intelligentsia is primarily concerned with securing privilege and power for itself. At one time such status was gained by honest inquiry into social questions and issues, now it is obtained in the justification of the expansion of state power. Very few turn down such enticements!

Societies are the product of ideas. Since the release of The General Theory, the Western world has been under the destructive sway of Keynesianism, which has resulted in stagnation, financial turmoil, and eventual collapse. Until Keynes and his nutty theories have been refuted, the economic malaise will continue.

Quoted in Murray N. Rothbard, Keynes, the Man. In Mark Skousen, ed., Dissent on Keynes: A Critical Appraisal of Keynesian Economics. New York: Praeger Publishers, 1992, p.184

Antonius Aquinas@AntoniusAquinas

By Antonius Aquinas

http://antoniusaquinas.com

 2016 Copyright Antonius Aquinas - All Rights Reserved Disclaimer: The above is a matter of opinion provided for general information purposes only and is not intended as investment advice. Information and analysis above are derived from sources and utilising methods believed to be reliable, but we cannot accept responsibility for any losses you may incur as a result of this analysis. Individuals should consult with their personal financial advisors.

 2005-2019 http://www.MarketOracle.co.uk - The Market Oracle is a FREE Daily Financial Markets Analysis & Forecasting online publication.




SPX Uptrend Extending?

The week started at SPX 2169. After a rally to SPX 2183 on Monday the market pulled back to 2161 by Wednesday. Thursday started off with a rally to SPX 2174, dropped to 2157, then the market rallied to 2185 by Friday. For the week the SPX/DOW gained 0.50%, and the NDX/NAZ gained 0.45%. Economic reports for the week had twice as many gainers as losers. On the downtick: the ADP, ISM, auto sales, monthly payrolls and weekly jobless claims increased. On the uptick: personal income/spending, the PCE, Case-Shiller, consumer confidence, the Chicago PMI, pending home sales, factory orders, the Q3 GDP estimate, plus the trade balance improved. Next weeks reports will be highlighted by the FEDs beige book and ISM services. Best to your week!

LONG TERM: uptrend

For the past several weeks we have been offering three different counts regarding the US market. Last week we upgraded one count, posted on the DOW charts, to the primary count. In probability terms we suggested 40%-30%-30% for the three counts. We have not observed anything new to change these probabilities.

The DOW count suggests a Primary I bull market unfolded from 2009-2015. Then over a 9-month period into February 2016 a Primary II bear market unfolded. This suggests a Primary III bull market is now underway from that February 2016 low. With the DOW in new high territory, and having a difficult time to even establish a correction, we see no reason to alter this view.

The SPX count suggests the advance from the February 2016 low is a Primary B wave of an ongoing, unorthodox bear market. While this is a fairly popular count among the bears, it suggests the upside limit for Primary B is SPX 2336 (1.618 x Primary A). Should the SPX exceed that level the count will be eliminated.

The NYSE count is clearly the most popular among the bulls. It suggests Primary waves I and II ended in 2011, Primary III ended in 2015, Primary IV ended in 2016, and Primary wave V is currently underway. We have explained in previous weeks why we do not find this count to be representative of the US stock market. It looks more representative of a foreign index than a US index. All of the major US indices have already made new all time highs, while none of the foreign indices have. And as you can see, neither has the NYSE.

MEDIUM TERM: market resists entering a correction

The current uptrend began in late-June at SPX 1992 and rallied to 2194 by early-August. After counting five waves up from that low to the high we expected a correction. It has been nearly three weeks and we are still waiting. Thus far all the SPX has done is a series of three 3-wave declines with slightly lower lows, while remaining in a SPX 2157-2194 2% trading range. Each time the market has dropped below the OEW 2177 pivot it has turned right around and rallied above it again.

After three weeks of choppy activity we perused the charts Friday to look for any deterioration in either the SPX sectors or the foreign markets. We didnt find any. Typically when a SPX downtrend is underway the SPX sectors start breaking down first then the SPX follows. As of Friday only 33% of the sectors are in downtrends, and 44% are close to, or at, their uptrend highs. Also the foreign markets usually lead to the downside as well. As of Friday only 15% of the foreign markets are in downtrends, and 35% made new uptrend highs on Friday. It looks more like strength than weakness. Also the TRAN, SOX and R2K, are at or close to their uptrend highs.

Looking at the technicals, we see all the major indices displayed a daily positive divergence at Thursdays low. Which was the lowest low of the pullback across the board. This usually occurs at end of downtrend lows. If it wasnt for the strength in the foreign indices we would think we just completed an A wave of the correction, with a B wave now underway, and a C wave down to follow. After a two month 200-point uptrend the market has worked off the overbought condition by just drifting lower for three weeks. All these factors suggest the market may be ready to extend its uptrend without a correction at this time. Medium term support is at the 2177 and 2131 pivots, with resistance at 2212 and 2252 pivots.

SHORT TERM

As noted above we counted five waves up into the uptrend high: 2109-2074-2178-2148-2194. Then we counted three 3-wave declines into the low: 2169-2193-2160-2183-2157. Then after setting up the daily/hourly positive divergences on Thursday the market rallied, with a gap up, to SPX 2185 on Friday.

Reviewing the entire uptrend we observe three large pullbacks, in order: 35 points, 30 points, and 37 points. The first two took a couple of days. This last one has taken nearly three weeks. With declines this similar it also suggests this uptrend may extend. With the market closing at SPX 2180 on Friday, and the uptrend high only 14 points away, it may not take long to find out.

Short term support is at the 2177 pivot and SPX 2157, with resistance at SPX 2194 and the 2212 pivot. Short term momentum ended the week just above neutral. Best to your trading, come Tuesday!

FOREIGN MARKETS

Asian markets were mixed on the week and gained 0.2%.

European markets were all higher and gained 2.0%.

The Commodity equity group were mixed but gained 1.3%.

The DJ World index is in an uptrend and gained 0.9%.

COMMODITIES

Bonds are in a downtrend but gained 0.2%.

Crude is trying to uptrend but lost 6.7% on the week.

Gold is trying to reverse its downtrend and gained 0.1% on the week.

The USD is also trying to uptrend and gained 0.3%.

NEXT WEEK

Monday: holiday. Tuesday: ISM services at 10am. Wednesday: the FEDs beige book. Thursday: weekly jobless claims and consumer credit. Friday: wholesale inventories. Best to your 3-day weekend and week!

CHARTS: http://stockcharts.com/public/1269446/tenpp

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After about 40 years of investing in the markets one learns that the markets are constantly changing, not only in price, but in what drives the markets. In the 1960s, the Nifty Fifty were the leaders of the stock market. In the 1970s, stock selection using Technical Analysis was important, as the market stayed with a trading range for the entire decade. In the 1980s, the market finally broke out of it doldrums, as the DOW broke through 1100 in 1982, and launched the greatest bull market on record.

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Senator Jon Tester announced today that the Montana Community Development Corporation http://mtcdc.org/ (MCDC) will receive nearly $800,000 in federal funding to help kick start Neptune Aviations http://www.neptuneaviation.com new job creation and training program.

The $769,639 grant comes from The Department of Health and Human Services Office of Community Services.

Neptune Aviation will receive this money in the form of a low-interest loan, which they will use to train and hire low-income workers as entry-level mechanics. The money will eventually be repaid and go back into MCDCs revolving loan fund to help other local small businesses grow and create new jobs.

Full Story: http://www.abcfoxmontana.com/story/33006847/tester-announces-funding-for-job-training-program-in-missoula

Current Career Opportunities: http://www.neptuneaviation.com/index2.php#/rtext_12/
Technology entrepreneurs from Bozeman and Missoula have launched a project that aims to educate Montanas electorate on some of the most important issues in this years gubernatorial election http://opensourcemt.org/faqs/ . OpenSourceMT http://www.opensourcemt.org/ is a political committee supporting Governor Bullocks reelection and emphasizing the economic benefits of diversity and inclusion, public education, infrastructure investment and access to public lands.

While the group was founded by business owners and well known figures in the technology community, OpenSourceMT welcomes everyone who values an inclusive and vibrant economy. By highlighting Governor Bullocks support for public education, diversity, infrastructure investment and public land access, the organization makes the case that these policies are the "core tenets of successful communities and businesses," as reflected in Montanas #1 ranking in entrepreneurial activity for the fourth consecutive year.

So far over 150 people have signed on to OpenSourceMTs "Whos In" page http://opensourcemt.org/whos-in/ according to the groups treasurer, Bill Stoddart, "were working to get our message across to thousands of Montanans to make them aware of the stark differences between the candidates and the impact their respective policies could have on our quality of life and the technology industry here in Montana."

One of the groups founders is Susan Carstensen, the former CFO of RightNow Technologies and a technology entrepreneur who also happens to be a 5th generation Montanan. She said of the groups efforts, "I currently am involved in the startup community and businesses all across Montana and can say with conviction that there has never been a better time to be an entrepreneur in Montana. I look to the state to support and protect the core things that are what make Montana great place to live and work: public education, environment/access, diversity and infrastructure."

The purpose of the group is to "educate Montanas electorate and to advocate for candidates such as Governor Bullock who will promote and protect those qualities that already make Montana the best place to live, raise families and grow our businesses." More information can be found on the OpenSourceMT website at http://www.opensourcemt.org/.

###

For more information, please contact:

Susan Carstensen, [email protected]

Bill Stoddart, [email protected]
Billboards for the movie were rejected while a TV ad has also been prohibited from being aired.

Ad agencies in St Petersburg refused to put up billboards for Bad Moms due to sexual implications in the slogan.

Reportedly, the caption on the ad read Do you want some Kunis?, with the leading actress surname bearing resemblance with the Russian word for cunnilingus.

According to the Hollywood Reporter, St Petersburg legislator Vitaly Milonov, known for his conservative views, praised the ban and said the ad agencies were saving the citys pride.

We couldn't care less about the distributor's interests and opinion, he said. St Petersburg is the cultural capital, and you shouldn't bring all kinds of trash here.

A major Russian television station has also declined to air a commercial for Bad Moms on day time TV due to sexual content, pointing to a shot in which Kunis' character strokes a male torso.

Such actions, however, have been aimed solely at advertising for the movie as the film itself has not been banned from theatres in Russia.

Via Hollywood Reporter
Using a new, lightning-fast camera paired with an electron microscope, University of Maryland School of Medicine scientists have captured images of one of the smallest human proteins to be "seen" with a microscope.

The protein - called STRA6 - sits in the membrane of our cells and is responsible for transporting vitamin A into the cell interior. Vitamin A is essential to all mammals and is particularly important in making the light receptors in our eyes, and in the placenta and fetus where it's critical for normal development.

"Being able to visualize this protein, and understand how it works to move Vitamin A, is a really fantastic leap," said one of the paper's co-authors, David J. Weber, PhD, professor of biochemistry and molecular biology at the University of Maryland School of Medicine (UM SOM). "And there is so much more we can do with this technique. It's exciting."

Images of the protein, which revealed several unusual features, were published in the August 26 issue of the journal Science. The work is a collaboration among several scientists around the country. Structural biologist Filippo Mancia, PhD, assistant professor of physiology and cellular biophysics at Columbia University Medical Center, led a team of other scientists, including Dr. Weber of UM SOM, along with Wayne Hendrickson, Larry Shapiro, Joachim Frank and Bill Blaner at Columbia University Medical Center, Loredana Quadro at Rutgers University, and Chiara Manzini at George Washington University.

Until the new study, the way STRA6 transports vitamin A into the cell had been a mystery. Unlike most transporters, which interact directly with the substances they transport, STRA6 uses an intermediary protein that carries vitamin A in the bloodstream. Revealing the structure of STRA6 may provide insight into how other, related transporters work.

A new type of camera technology was a key element to getting the STRA6 images. When paired with an electron microscope, the camera allows biologists to see tiny, never-seen-before structural details of the inner machinery of our cells.

"We can now get near atomic resolution because the new camera is much faster and allows us to take a movie of the molecules," says Oliver Clarke, PhD, an associate research scientist in the Hendrickson lab at Columbia University Medical Center. "Even under the electron microscope, the molecules are moving around by a tiny amount, but when you take a picture of something moving, it comes out blurry. With such a movie, we can align the frames of the movie to generate a sharper image."

The researchers used approximately 70,000 individual pictures of STRA6 to generate a 3-dimensional map of the protein, which was used to construct an extremely accurate atomic model. The images and model reveal that STRA6 is "a bit of a freak," says Dr. Clarke.

Though this needs to be verified, the mechanism may be a way to protect cells from too much vitamin A. "Vitamin A is actually somewhat toxic," says Dr. Mancia. "Trapping vitamin A inside the membrane may keep control of the amount inside the cell." The research may help researchers understand how other, still mysterious cellular components, work.

"This collaboration among research institutions has yielded fascinating insight into the cellular pathway of vitamin A," said UM SOM Dean E. Albert Reece, MD, PhD, MBA, who is also vice president for medical affairs at the University of Maryland and the John Z. and Akiko K. Bowers Distinguished Professor. "When scientists work together like this, great accomplishments occur. The technique developed here will clearly reap future discoveries in other domains as well."
Researchers at Helmholtz Zentrum Munchen, a partner in the German Center for Lung Research (DZL), have discovered that the number of myeloid-derived suppressor cells (MDSC) is increased in the blood of patients with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF). The higher the number of MDSC, the more limited the lung function. The findings on this new biomarker have now been published in the European Respiratory Journal.

Patients with fibrotic lung diseases*, such as idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF), show progressive worsening of lung function with increased shortness of breath and dry cough. To-date, this process is irreversible, which is why scientists are searching for novel biomarkers or indicators, which enable earlier diagnosis of this disease, with the aim to better interfere with disease progression.

A team of scientists at the Comprehensive Pneumology Center (CPC) at Helmholtz Zentrum Munchen headed by Professor Oliver Eickelberg, Chairman of the CPC and Director of the Institute of Lung Biology as well as the DZL at the Munich partner site, have now discovered that myeloid-derived suppressor cells (MDSC)** may serve as such biomarkers. "The role of MDSC has been most extensively studied in cancer, where they suppress the immune system and contribute to a poor prognosis," explained first author Isis Fernandez, MD. The current study suggests that similar mechanisms are also at work in IPF.

In collaboration with the Department of Internal Medicine V (Director: Professor Jurgen Behr) of the Munich University Hospital, the team examined blood samples of 170 study participants, including 69 IPF patients, in terms of the composition of circulating immune cell types. In each patient, these were correlated with lung function. Strikingly, the MDSC count in IPF patients was significantly higher than in the healthy control group. At the same time, the researchers observed that there was an inverse correlation between lung function and circulating MDSC counts: the poorer the lung function, the higher the MDSC count. In control groups of patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) or other interstitial lung diseases, this inverse correlation was not found. "We conclude that the number of MDSC reflects the course of the disease, especially in IPF," said Fernandez.

To obtain an indication of whether the cells themselves could be the cause of the deterioration in lung function, the researchers measured the activity of genes that are typically expressed by immune cells. They found that these genes were expressed less frequently in samples that exhibited high MDSC counts. This indicates that MDSC - similar to their role in cancer - also compromise the immune system in IPF, according to the scientists.

A look into the lung tissue of IPF patients supports this assumption. "We were able to show that MDSC are primarily found in fibrotic niches of IPF lungs characterized by increased interstitial tissue and scarring, that is, in regions where the disease is very pronounced," said Eickelberg. "As a next step, we seek to investigate whether the presence of MDSC can serve as a biomarker to detect IPF and to determine how pronounced it is." In addition, the researchers want to investigate the mechanisms of accumulation in more detail. "Controlling accumulation or expansion of MDSC or blocking their suppressive functions may represent a promising treatment options for patients with IPF," said Eickelberg.

Article: Peripheral blood myeloid-derived suppressor cells reflect disease status in idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis, Isis E. Fernandez, Flavia R. Greiffo, Marion Frankenberger, Julia Bandres, Katharina Heinzelmann, Claus Neurohr, Rudolf Hatz, Dominik Hartl, Jurgen Behr, Oliver Eickelberg, European Respiratory Journal, doi: 10.1183/13993003.01826-2015, published online 1 September 2016.
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And, Das says, it might someday gain approval as a tracker during combat training at Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri.Looking like an oversized watch, the sensing device has four basic functions. Like a fitness tracker, it records fine-grained movement. It also measures the wearer's direct physical environment for temperature, humidity and barometric air pressure. It also will track health status through heart rate, respiration rate and galvanic skin response (a person's skin reacts to stimuli through the sympathetic nervous system, producing a weak electrical current that indicates the wearer's emotional state, such as being startled or agitated, De says). Finally, the sensing device has a functions like GPS and communication with Bluetooth beacons in proximity for various location contexts.The multi-modal sensor data can reveal fine-grained user activity and behavior contexts, powered by machine learning-based analytics. The wearable device has real-time data communication and analysis capability. The entire system is designed to support body multi-positional sensing applications as well, where the device can be worn on other body parts.For those rehabilitating and those with dementia, the ability to track their fine-grained activities and behavior, measure their heart rate and locate them indoor or outdoor helps healthcare providers keep tabs on their patients. The GPS function is especially helpful with dementia patients, who can wander away from home and not know how to return.For the Army, the device has different functions, says Steve Tupper, Missouri S&T's liaison at Fort Leonard Wood."The device De and Das are working on would be part of a suite of technology the Army is very interested in," says Tupper, who touted the tracker in early August at the U.S. military's Aberdeen Proving Ground in Aberdeen, Maryland. It costs the Army about $80,000 to train each recruit in the 10-week course at the fort, Tupper says. With about 30,000 trained every year, that works out to nearly $2.4 billion.If a recruit has a concussion that debilitates them, they'll have to be held back and go through the training again, Tupper says. But if the head trauma can be caught earlier, it could mean the recruit just needs a few days off before rejoining the training instead of taking the whole course again. That saves money."If you reduce inefficiency, you start to drive the cost down," Tupper says.There are other benefits to such a device, he says.With the heart rate monitor, respiration tracker and GSR functions, it can see if a recruit is gun shy  afraid and hesitant to squeeze the trigger during rifle training  because of the recoil or noise when it fires. It also could study soldiers' physiological responses for traumatic brain injuries or if they're exposed to pathogens and how they respond, such as twitching eyes or ragged respiration, Tupper says."The potential implementation of a multi-modal sensing device could significantly enhance the effectiveness of behavioral modifications required to facilitate rifle marksmanship training as part of the basic training program of instruction," says Fort Leonard Wood's Lt. Col. Jeffrey Bergmann. "For example, many drill sergeant training corrections boil down to increasing the level of self-awareness to increase controlled breathing, accurate site picture and overall relaxation while simultaneously decreasing trigger jerking, muscle tensing and distracting extraneous limb movements. This device would be the objective, continuously monitoring honest broker for drill sergeants and trainees to identify and target the root cause of the failed fundamentals of rifle marksmanship."Although De's device is currently constructed for wrist wear, smaller versions could be implanted in dog tags or a uniform.Ultimately, the goal is to make better soldiers."The great benefit for the Army is, at the individual level, they get discrete information on soldiers," Tupper says. "They try to make each thing they put on the battlefield be easily functional in a simple manner."Designing and manufacturing the device is partly supported by a Missouri S&T Innovation Grant, which was awarded to De in February during his presentation at a Miner Tank event. The work with PCRMC is part of the Ozark Biomedical Initiative, a partnership between Missouri S&T and the hospital, designed to promote collaboration in research and education and to facilitate the exchange of ideas.Source: Newswise


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Today and yesterday we talked about Turkey. Today the Turkish Minister for EU Affairs attended the meeting as well. We also expressed our solidarity to our friends, the people of Turkey. I elaborated on the consequences the coup would have had, had it succeeded. At the same time I highlighted the fact that, based on our experience, no matter how angry or upset people may be about dealing with coups and those involved in them, we learnt from the Greek experience of 1974 that calmness and composure are called for in dealing with putchists. In order to tackle them we need to apply Democracy as a method, to enforce the rule of law and not to inflict new wounds which we will have to revisit in the future. I do understand the furry there is vis-a-vis terrorists and the putchists in Turkey, yet Democracy is always magnanimous, poised and treats them through democratic means.

I welcomed the fact that certain reforms of the military police are already underway but also efforts are being made aiming at restricting the role of the army in Turkey so that it may not be able to attempt a coup again. Also, in the face of Gulen, to an extent, attempts at enforcing religious beliefs over and above the state, were also defeated.

What is needed, whenever there is a coup, is to tackle it while standing up for Democracy, defending democratic institutions and furthering the rights of the people rather than punishing and holding onto power, as the latter could also possibly lead to authoritarian means and methods opted for by the putchists. The problem with the European Union is not endlessly discuss information and evidence we have, for this was the turn the discussion took to a degree. Analyzing is not enough. We must have a strategy in place, one focused on maximizing democracy in the entire region.

Furthermore, I pointed out that the events in Turkey, and those in Egypt, seem to indicate there is an overall issue regarding the dissemination of Democracy, on the one hand, and the importance of stability and security in the region, on the other. Which is why, after all, we are hosting the Rhodes Conference for Security and Stability.

Lastly, I touched upon Syria and problems in our borders that are pertinent to Syria. We are now having discussions with the Eastern Partnership countries about future E.U. enlargements, whenever and however they actually take place.
BAD AXE  No two work days are ever the same, and no two clients are ever the same.

That's what keeps Steve Allen's job as Huron County's public guardian interesting.

"We take care of people, that's the nutshell version (of what we do)," Allen said.

This could mean anything from moving furniture into or out of a ward's apartment to arraigning to put someone into an adult foster care home.

"It's the damnedest job I've ever had," Allen said, soon after he described walking out of a client's apartment building to find that he was covered in fleas.

He and his staff have been on top of a landfill throwing things out, as well as sweat-drenched from moving furniture. But most of the staff's time is spent in the office.

"We are the guardian and conservator of last resort. When somebody petitions the probate court for a guardian and/or conservator and the family members or other people close to that proposed ward are not appropriate or don't want to do it, then the court will end up appointing this office as the guardian and/or conservator," he said. "A guardian takes care of the decisions that a person would make to attend to their daily needs in life, like where they're going to live, who they're going to doctor with. And the conservator takes care of the business side of someone's life."

"I've go two rules: We do what we have to do to get the job done, and we do it honestly, because we deal with other people's property," he said.

Allen's office has 306 wards in Michigan, and one in Missouri and one in North Carolina. He depends on help from his team, caseworkers Karen Case and Jenifer Peyerk, and part-time workers Maria Guza and Margaret Calender. Guza is ending her time with the office to attend Central Michigan University to pursue a career in child protective services. When she started two months ago, she had "no clue" of what she was walking into.

"Everyone is hard working," she said. "It's just constant chaos."

As chaotic as the office gets, Alan says the work they do makes other people's lives easier.

"Not because we're perfect at what we do, but we're proficient at what we do," he said.

Case has been with the county for 26 years, 10 of which she has worked in the Huron County Public Guardian's Office. She spent many years before that working in Huron County District Court, where she gained a lot of experience needed to work with the personalities that her current position requires.

Peyerk has an education and internship in child protective services, and has been working full time since 2010.

Allen discussed why a person may need the help of a public guardian.

"If you can't tend to your daily needs of life, and/or you can't pay your bills  you can't manage your money  someone may petition you, he said. "We do not like to petition to get people on the caseload because the single biggest bone of contention on my caseload and on this office is financial."

His wards do not have much money, and many don't understand why they can't have more, he said. The law provides guidelines for finding the best environment for people to function.

"We have a duty to put them into the most appropriate, least restrictive environment," Allen said.

The vast majority of clients are quiet, he explained.

"They just need someone to help them out  pay the bills, make appointments for them, make arrangements for them to get to the appointments, buy clothes for them," Allen added. "But out of the 308, we always have a certain percentage that are problematic. The ones who cause us the most problems are those people who are high functioning, but due to some aspect of their personality, they fall into a circumstance where they don't make the most appropriate decisions."

For example, one can end up on the caseload for drug or alcohol abuse, Allen said.

"Most people in that circumstance, if they're not under the influence, are fully capable of making appropriate decisions. At that point in time, they don't want me meddling in their affairs."

He put one woman in an adult foster care home because "when I left her to her own resources, she ended up with a blood alcohol of 0.43."

Allen is now looking to hire someone else full-time to work in the office, but is having a hard time coming up with an adequate job description and requirements.

He calls the Public Guardian's office a "slice of life" type of service.

"Anything that you would do for yourself, that's what we're expected to do."
DEFORD  Rural postal workers do deliver in "snow, rain and heat," but not the dark of night, and that saying is not the oath of postal workers.

"I did take an oath but that wasn't the one," said United States Postal worker Kathy Elizando,, who has worked at the Deford Post Office for about 10 months.

The oath that is taken is to uphold the U.S. Constitution. Despite popular belief, the phrase, "Neither snow nor rain nor heat nor gloom of night stays these couriers from the swift completion of their appointed rounds," is not the creed of postal workers.

The creed came from an inscription on the General Post Office in New York City done by architects McKim, Mead & White. It is a paraphrase quote from the works of Herodotus' describing the dedication of Greek couriers in 500 B.C.

The Deford Post Office has three part-time workers. The post office is open 7:30 to 9:30 a.m., and 2 to 4 p.m., Monday through Friday.

Elizando, 46, has worked part time at the Deford Post Office counter since November. Rural driver Kathy Peruski has worked in Deford for 22 years, and Cheryl Laming has worked there about six months.

With the downsizing of post offices over the last few years, smaller offices are only open part time, and each post office no longer has a postmaster. Cass City Postmaster Chad Gill, who started the postmaster position earlier this month, oversees the post offices in Deford, Gagetown and Cass City.

Elizando said she gives being a postal worker a stamp of approval because she didn't have retirement benefits working as a beautician.

"I graduated from Howard's Beauty Academy in Caro, and have been a beautician for 16 years," she said.

In-between her shifts at the post office, Elizando operates her beauty shop, Family Styles Salon, in Reese.

"I enjoy working in the post office and with the customers. It was a challenge learning everything  especially international mailing. There was a lot to learn," said Elizando, who oversees the 30 post boxes inside the office.

Being a rural-route mail carrier, is challenging as well.

According to Peruski, it takes skill to drive a vehicle with one hand while sitting in the passenger seat.

"Back when I started, I went to Clare to learn to drive like that. There are some (postal workers) who have their cars set up with the gas and breaks on the passenger side. I don't," she said.

A postal worker is a civil service job. The minimum job requirements include the applicant must be at least 18 years of age, be a U.S. citizen or have a Green Card, a high school diploma or GED, no criminal background, and must pass the Postal Battery Exam test. A passing score on the Postal Battery Exam is 70. There are four sections to the exam: Memory, number sequencing, coding and verbal comprehension.

The Deford postal workers say the best part of their job is their customers because they are "friendly, caring and like family."

"When I first started driving the Deford route, I got lost and had car trouble, so I had to finish making deliveries when it was dark. They don't want us out doing that in the dark," said Peruski. "And, one time, I got stuck in the snow and one of my Amish customers pulled my car out using a horse. I appreciated it.

"When I make a door delivery with a package, I enjoy talking to the customer," she added.

The Deford Post Office is located at 1522 Railroad St., which is a side street.

"The post office used to be located east of the (Tuscola County) road commission building on the main high way. That building became a rental unit when this post office was built. The sign on the former post office stayed for awhile after we relocated ... until there was a mix up with a newspaper delivery," explained Peruski. "One of the newspapers  I don't remember which one now  had a new carrier who dropped the papers off at the old office. No one could figure out what happened to the papers until the person living in the old post office dropped them off here. The sign on that building came down after that."

The unincorporated community of Deford is in southern Novesta Township in Tuscola County.
To the editor:

The three letters in the Aug. 27 weekend edition were spot on. I am, also, tired of the editorial cartoonists in the media disparaging and insulting the conservatives in our country. I totally agree with Harry Booms on this issue.

The letter about the youth at the Huron County Fair was encouraging to read. Huron County was always known to have a strong work ethic. When I was hired by Ford Motor Co. in 1964, I was told that Ford liked to employee people from Huron County because they knew how to work hard, could fix anything with baling wire and had common sense, which is very uncommon today.

The letter from Robert Peruski brought to mind my ancestors. When they came to this country from Poland they learned English, worked hard at honest jobs and became assimilated to our culture.

Our younger generations better get their faces out of their I Phones playing Pokemon-Go and pay attention to all of the serious issues and problems in our country, or we will no longer have a country as we know it.

Len Gajewski

Harbor Beach
I just can not get enough of Dianne Harman's books! They always keep me reading non stop and trying to guess who committed the murder. I am pretty sure I have read all of them. The recipes in this one--oh my. Maybe she should make up a cookbook with all of them--they are all so tempting.Kelly really gets into the middle of a murder investigation this time--and all because she went to a friends graduation. She is still crossing her fingers behind her back when she knows her husband-Sheriff Mike-isn't going to like what she is up to-even when he is not around. But rest assured he knows her!!Scroll down and fill up the Rafflecopter for a chance to win either a $25 Amazon or PayPal and a E-book copy of this amazingly quick, easy and wonderful read!(from Amazon)Seven time Amazon All Star Author with her latest book in the best selling Cedar Bay Cozy Mystery Series.Kelly, the owner of Kelly's Koffee Shop, and her husband, Sheriff Mike, fly to Virginia to see a friend, Stephanie, receive her doctorate degree. What Kelly didn't plan on was becoming involved in trying to solve the murder of Stephanie's friend, Julie. The mystery of who killed Julie leads Kelly to Boston, Massachusetts, York, Maine, and Portland, Oregon, as she tries to track down and identify the killer.Was the ten million dollars Julie's mother gave her as a graduation present the reason she was murdered? And just who would profit from her murder? The quirky cast of suspects includes Julie's soon-to-be ex-husband, her worthless brother, a jealous co-worker, and the daughter she'd given up for adoption just after she graduated from high school, but with whom she'd recently been reunited.Julie's mother is the multimillionaire owner of a huge insurance company and convinces Kelly to try and help find her daughter's killer. She has stage four pancreatic cancer, and her doctors don't give her much time to live. Can Kelly find the killer before Julie"s mother dies of cancer?(from Amazon)Dianne Harman draws her stories and characters from a diverse business and personal background. She owned a national antique and art appraisal business for many years, left that industry, and opened two yoga centers where she taught yoga and certified yoga instructors. She's traveled extensively throughout the world and loves nothing more than cooking and playing with her new puppy, Kelly.Being a dog lover and having attended numerous cooking schools, she couldn't resist writing about food and dogs. She is the author of three cozy mystery series: Cedar Bay, Liz Lucas, and her newest, High Desert. Each of these books contains recipes from her travels. She is also the author of the award-winning suspenseful Coyote Series.A number of books in her cozy mystery series have been designated by Amazon as All-Stars because of their sales, and Dianne has been named by Amazon seven times as one of their most popular authors.She invites you to visit her web site at: www.dianneharman.com and sign up for her newletters. You'll receive a free book and have a weekly chance to win an autographed boxed set of the Cedar Bay Cozy Mystery Series. You may also visit her on Twitter: @DianneDHarman or email her at: dianne@dianneharman.comThe winner will be chosen by Rafflecopter-you must be 18 years of age or older. I will e-mail the winner who must respond with48 and tell me the email address(s) where the prizes are to be sent. I will forward this info to the author who is responsible for getting the prize to the winner.
Behind the scenes in the fight against Islamic State militants in Iraq are Marine intelligence analysts who work around the clock to produce what are called, in military euphemism, "target development products" -- essentially, information about enemy equipment and personnel to be destroyed.

As Iraqi security forces, supported by a U.S.-led coalition, fight ISIS militants with hopes to retake Mosul in the north by year's end, troops with Special Purpose Marine Air-Ground Task Force Crisis Response-Central Command provide "intelligence surge support," developing from one to six or more targets in a given week, task force commander Col. Kenneth Kassner told Military.com this week.

Speaking via phone from a location in the Middle East, Kassner said operational tempo had maintained its intensity since the unit rotated into the region in April.

Deploying in six-month rotations, the unit was created in 2014 as a contingency force for the region, based in six countries and on standby for operations in 20.

But since the 2,300-man task force stood up, operations in support of the fight against the Islamic State have dominated its responsibilities.

Four months into this rotation, Marine F/A-18D Hornets with the unit have conducted more than 1,500 sorties to take out enemy targets in Iraq and Syria.

Task force Marines also provide security at the Al Asad and Al Taqaddum air bases in Iraq, enabling training of Iraqi troops and advisory support at key locations near the fight.

And while the unit's Marines are not in combat on the ground, they quietly perform a number of background roles in the warfighting machine against ISIS.

"We have a very robust intelligence capability here in the [Marine air-ground task force] and what that enables us to do is, my intelligence analysts are able to better assess targets in support of the Iraqis' ground maneuver," Kassner said. "And once we develop that target, we're looking for different types of patterns of analysis associated with that target."

The intel, derived through air reconnaissance and other methods Kassner declined to describe, is submitted through coalition channels and used to inform the fight.

"Whether or not it is identified for a particular strike, that doesn't reside with this MAGTF," he said. "What we are providing is really a supporting effort to that larger target development process."

U.S. airstrikes have wiped out more than 26,000 individual ISIS targets in Iraq and Syria since the fight began, according to U.S. Central Command data compiled by Time Magazine. On the ground, Iraqi troops have celebrated several high-stakes victories; in June, they reclaimed Fallujah after nearly two years in the hands of enemy forces.

Kassner said the MAGTF also continues to keep its squadron of MV-22 Ospreys at the ready for tactical recovery of aircraft and personnel (TRAP) missions in support of the ISIS fight.

Amid constant and complex drills and training, both at home and downrange, he said, Marines had been able to "dramatically improve" TRAP response time, shaving minutes off every step of the mission, from equipment preparation to runway taxi.

While the task force has not been called to recover downed coalition aircraft or personnel since Ospreys deployed to recover an Air Force MQ-1 Predator drone in southern Iraq last June, Kassner said, the unit has forward-positioned aircraft at the ready in support of coalition strikes multiple times.

"Every minute is precious when conducting a tactical recovery of aircraft and personnel," he said.

-- Hope Hodge Seck can be reached at hope.seck@military.com. Follow her on Twitter at@HopeSeck.

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No third-party presidential candidates will participate at next week's forum dedicated to veterans issues.

NBC's Matt Lauer will host what's being billed as the first-ever "Commander-in-Chief Forum" 8 p.m. Wednesday in New York City at the Intrepid Sea, Air & Space Museum, site of the decommissioned aircraft carrier USS Intrepid.

The hour-long event, organized by the veterans organization Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America, will air on the NBC and MSNBC cable channels and live-stream on IAVA's Facebook page.

During the event, Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump and his Democratic opponent Hillary Clinton will make separate appearances to field questions from Lauer and veterans rather than debate issues together on stage.

Third-party candidates Gary Johnson, a former Republican governor of New Mexico running on the Libertarian ticket, and Jill Stein, a physician backed by the Green Party, won't participate in the forum but may do so at a future event, according to IAVA.

"We are a non-partisan organization and IAVA members are extremely diverse," Paul Rieckhoff, founder and chief executive officer of the organization, said in a statement on Friday after speaking to Johnson the day before.

"IAVA has always been committed to the most robust public conversation around veterans issues and we are eager to engage Gov. Johnson and all candidates further in the days to come," he added.

The group has said it extended a formal invitation to Johnson to participate in a separate event and also reached out to Stein. A spokeswoman didn't immediately return an email and call requesting comment on Friday evening, nor did a spokesperson Stein campaign.

Joe Hunter, a spokesman for Johnson, confirmed the Libertarian candidate was not invited to participate in next week's IAVA event. "He has, however, spoken with IAVA CEO and Founder Paul Rieckhoff, and we are exploring possibilities with IAVA for a future event," Hunter said in an email.

Clinton and Trump carry sizeable leads over the third-party candidates in national polls of likely voters.

A recent poll by USA Today and Suffolk University of a four-way presidential ballot showed Clinton leading with 42 percent of the vote, followed by Trump with 35 percent, Johnson with 9 percent, Stein with 4 percent. About 10 percent of respondents were undecided.

The poll of 1,000 likely voters was conducted Aug. 24 through Aug. 29 and has a margin of error of plus or minus 3 percentage points.

Even so, the majority of likely voters want to see third-party candidates on the debate stage, even if they don't hit the 15-percent threshold to do so, according to David Paleologos, director of the Suffolk University Political Research Center in Boston, who helped conduct the poll.

Johnson has reportedly received slightly higher support from U.S. military members -- 13 percent of almost 2,000 active-duty, Guards and reserve respondents in a Military Times survey conducted in July. And some veterans have reacted strongly to his exclusion in the upcoming IAVA forum.

-- Brendan McGarry can be reached at brendan.mcgarry@military.com. Follow him on Twitter at @Brendan_McGarry.
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.
De Parkies Pub & Grill in Awoshie, Accra, will today host some of the finest hiplife artistes such as Rulers, Akatakyie, Yaa Pono, Asa Khalifa, SK Originale, Nhyiraba Kojo, King Vuvu and several others at the 'Homowo Festival Bash'.



The event which is being organised by Rulers Empire Forever, in partnership with A-Mak Ent, will give residents of Anyaa market and its environs an opportunity to have a good moment with the music stars and also to give up-and-coming artistes in the community a platform to showcase their talents in music.



According to the organisers, all the artistes on the bill will charm the audience with their stage performances.
The leader of the BHIM nation, Stonebwoy has released a track to celebrate his enskinment by the regent of Tamale.

The track, which is titled 'Sapashini [Dancehall Warrior],' has an intro in which he gives glory to God.

Glory Glory Glory

ArrBwoy

Giving Jah Jah Glory

Cz where would I ever be

What can I ever say

If it no be Jah Yeah Yeah.



He then goes on to thank the Gukpegu Naa.





Stonebwoy was enskinned as the Dancehall Warrior of Ghana when he went to Tamale for a concert.

Prior to that, he had been touring Australia.

By: Jeffrey Owuraku Sarpong/citifmonline.com/Ghana
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Bamako (AFP) - Mali's defence minister Tieman Hubert Coulibaly was fired Saturday, officials told AFP, a day after jihadists briefly took control of a town in the country's centre.

"The decree nominating members of the government is revoked as regards Tieman Hubert Coulibaly, minister of national defence and veterans," an official communique said.

Meanwhile a senior official in the Malian defence ministry told AFP it came after "the latest waves of insecurity in central Mali," referring to the seizure by jihadists of the town of Boni on Friday and an attack on a military base in Nampala, also central Mali, that left 17 soldiers dead in July.

Abdoulaye Idrissa Maiga, formerly land minister, was named to replace Coulibaly, according to the government statement.
Sirte (Libya) (AFP) - Forces loyal to Libya's Government of National Accord (GNA) said Saturday they have launched a new attack on diehards of the Islamic State group in the coastal city of Sirte.

Backed by weeks of US air strikes, the pro-GNA forces have recaptured nearly all of what had been the jihadists' main stronghold in North Africa.

"We are attacking the last Daesh positions in district three," a GNA fighter told AFP, using an Arabic acronym for IS. The GNA forces media centre confirmed on Facebook that the attack had begun.

"Our forces are advancing inside the areas where Daesh is, in district three, and so far have taken control of" two banks and a hotel, the media centre said.

It also said they had thwarted an attempted suicide bombing.

One pro-government fighter had been killed, the Misrata hospital's Facebook page said.

An AFP journalist saw ambulances leaving Sirte -- hometown of dead dictator Moamer Kadhafi -- for Misrata to the west.

The forces loyal to the UN-backed GNA had said last weekend they were preparing to "liberate" the entire city after seizing several IS positions, including its headquarters.

On Wednesday, GNA head Fayez al-Sarraj visited Sirte for the first time since loyalist forces launched their offensive more than three months ago to drive the jihadists from the city.

Sarraj and some of his ministers toured former front lines as well as the Ouagadougou conference centre which IS had used as its base.

"We will continue to chase, with the help of God, the Daesh remnants and strike them wherever they may be in our country," Sarraj said this week.

The capture of the city by IS last year sparked fears that the jihadists would use it as a springboard for attacks on Europe.

The Sunni extremists took advantage of the chaos in oil-rich Libya after the 2011 uprising to seize Sirte in June 2015, hoisting their black flag above the city.

The offensive on the ground has been backed by US air power.

On Friday, the United States Africa Command said that since the US campaign began on August 1, US drones, helicopters and bombers had carried out a total of 108 air strikes against the jihadists in Sirte.

It said that on August 31, targets including five "enemy fighting positions" and a vehicle bomb were hit.

Fewer than 200 IS jihadists remain in Sirte, Pentagon spokesman Captain Jeff Davis said on Thursday, and they are essentially surrounded by GNA forces and the sea.

The fall of Sirte, 450 kilometres (280 miles) east of the capital Tripoli, would represent a significant setback to IS, which has also faced a series of setbacks in Syria and Iraq.
Gabons opposition says it was cheated of victory, after official results showed a turnout of 99.93% in President Ali Bongos home region, with 95% of votes in his favour. Elizabeth Blunt has witnessed many elections across Africa, as both a BBC journalist and election observer and looks at six signs of possible election rigging. Too many voters

Watch the turnout figures  they can be a big giveaway.

You never get a 98% or 99% turnout in an honest election. You just dont.

Voting is compulsory in Gabon, but it is not enforced; even in Australia where it is enforced, where you can vote by post or online and can be fined for not voting, turnout only reaches 90-95%.

The main reason that a full turnout is practically impossible is that electoral registers, even if they are recently compiled, can rarely be 100% up-to-date.

Even if no-one gets sick or has to travel, people still die. And when a register is updated, new voters are keen to add themselves to the list.

No-one, however, has any great enthusiasm for removing the names of those who have died, and over time the number of these non-existent voters increases.

I once reported on an election in the Niger Delta where some areas had a turnout of more than 120%.

Theyre very healthy people round here, and very civic-minded, a local official assured me.

But a turnout of more than 100%, in an area or an individual polling station, is a major red flag and a reason to cancel the result and re-run the election. A high turnout in specific areas

Even where the turnout is within the bounds of possibility, if the figure is wildly different from the turnout elsewhere, it serves as a warning.

Why would one particular area, or one individual polling station, have a 90% turnout, while most other areas register less than 70%?

Something strange is almost certainly going on, especially if the high turnout is an area which favours one particular candidate or party over another. Large numbers of invalid votes

There are other, more subtle ways that riggers can increase votes  or reduce them.

Keep an eye on the number of votes excluded as invalid. Even in countries with low literacy rates this isnt normally above 5%.

High numbers of invalid votes can mean that officials are disqualifying ballots for the slightest imperfection, even when the voters intention is perfectly clear, in an attempt to depress votes for their opponents. More votes than ballot papers issued

When the polls close, and before they open the boxes, election officials normally have to go through a complicated and rather tedious process known as the reconciliation of ballots.

After they have counted how many ballot papers they received in the morning, they then need to count how many are left, and how many  if any  were torn or otherwise spoiled and had to be put aside.

The result will tell them how many papers should be in the box. It should also match the number of names checked off on the register..

The first task when the box is opened is to count the number of papers inside, this is done prior to counting the votes for the different candidates.

If there is a discrepancy, something is wrong. And if there are more papers in the boxes than were issued by the polling staff, it is highly likely that someone has been doing some stuffing.

Thats a good enough reason to cancel the result and arrange a re-run. Results that dont match

Mobile phones have made elections much more transparent.

It is now standard practice to allow party agents, observers and sometimes even voters to watch the counting process and take photographs of the results sheet with their phones.

They then have proof of the genuine results from their area  just in case the ones announced later by the electoral commission dont match.

It has clearly taken crooked politicians some time to catch up with the fact that people will now know if they change the results.

In south-eastern Togo, local party representatives told me that they witnessed the count in 2005 and endorsed the result; they saw the official in charge leave for the capital, taking the signed results sheet with him. Yet the results announced later on the radio were different.

The same thing happened in Katanga Province of the Democratic Republic of Congo in 2011. The results announced on the radio were not the same as those international observers saw posted outside the polling stations.

But this transparency only works if the official announcement of results includes figures for individual counting centres  and this has become an issue in the current Gabonese election . Delay in announcing results

Finally something that is not necessarily a sign of rigging, but it is often assumed to be so.

Election commissions, particularly in Africa, can appear to take an inordinately long time to publish official results.

This is not helped by local observer networks and political parties who, tallying up the results sent in by their agents on mobile phones, have a good idea of the result long before the more cumbersome official process is completed.

But the official process takes time, especially in countries with poor communications, and the introduction of modern electronic transmission systems has not necessarily helped.

The introduction of new technologies and computer systems has not been as beneficial as hoped

Where these systems have proved too demanding for the context, as in Malawi last year, they can actually increase delays as staff struggle to make the technology work.

In that particular case the results eventually had to be transmitted the old fashioned way; placed in envelopes and driven down to the capital under police escort.

By then, allegations of rigging were flying.

Delay is certainly dangerous, fuelling rumours of results being massaged before release and increasing tensions, but this is not incontrovertible proof of rigging.

-bbc
A major part of the largest emergency vaccination campaign against yellow fever ever attempted in Africa has been completed, with more than 7.7 million people vaccinated in record time in the city of Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).

In less than two weeks, the campaign successfully reached the targeted population of Kinshasa, most of them (7.3 million people) using an emergency vaccine  one fifth of the full dose of yellow fever vaccine. This dose sparing strategy was recommended by the WHO Strategic Advisory Group of Experts on Immunization (SAGE) as a short-term emergency measure to reach as many people as possible given limited supplies of the vaccine.

WHO commends the Government of the DRC for this significant achievement to roll out such a complex campaign in such a short period of time, said Dr Yokouide Allarangar, WHO Representative in the DRC.

Planning a mass vaccination campaign on this scale usually takes up to 6 months. This complex and ambitious emergency campaign was put in place in a matter of weeks to end transmission of yellow fever before the rainy season starts in September.

The dose sparing strategy required the purchase and shipment of 10 million specialized syringes as well as specific training of more than 40 000 vaccinators to use this new method.

The Ministry of Public Health, WHO and more than 50 global partners, worked closely together through the complex planning and logistics needed to roll out the campaign in more than 8000 locations across the country  both in dense, urban areas and in hard-to-reach, remote border regions.

WHO played a key role in ensuring technical soundness and feasibility of the strategy, the availability of millions of vaccine doses, syringes and other materials, as well as maintaining the cold chain to ensure vaccines are stored and transported in the right conditions. Together with national health authorities, WHO led the coordination efforts during the planning and implementation phases of the campaign, trained health workers and engaged with communities and leaders in disseminating information about the campaigns.

UNICEF helped to ensure that vaccines and injection devices were in place and led social mobilizers on the ground to engage with communities and encourage people to get vaccinated. World Food Programme (WFP) was a key logistics partner in providing temporary safe storage of the huge volumes of waste generated by this campaign that will be sent for incineration in mid-September.

Medecins sans Frontieres (MSF) mobilized 200 staff from 20 countries to manage the vaccination of over 710 000 people in three health zones in Kinshasa in collaboration with Ministry of Health staff, including training of the vaccination teams, supervision, logistic support, waste and cold chain management.

The Red Cross of the Democratic Republic of Congo, supported by the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies, mobilized thousands of volunteers across affected areas to promote and support the campaign and share yellow fever prevention and protection information.

Save the Children deployed a team of specialists from their Emergency Health Unit to provide technical and operational support to the Ministry of Public Health in Binza Ozone health zone. The team, with help from national staff, assisted the Ministry to vaccinate more than 360 000 people, more than half of them children.

The US Centers for Disease Control (CDC) has supported the international response and vaccination campaigns, deploying more than 45 experts to support these efforts since February 2016, in roles including: Incident Manager in Angola, Response Team Leads, Emergency Management Specialist, Laboratory experts, Public Health Advisors, Vaccine Specialists, Communications Specialists and Epidemiologists. CDC is also working with the Institut National de Recherche Biomedicale (INRB) in DRC to support the dose sparing approach used in the Kinshasa campaign, including facilitating an evaluation of the immune response it provides. This study, funded by USAID, will help provide more information and inform decisions on future use of this method for yellow fever vaccination.

Through its US$ 20.3 million contribution to the global yellow fever vaccine stockpile, Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, has supported the majority of vaccine doses used in DRC and Angola outbreak response. Overall Gavi has contributed 16.5 million vaccine doses to the stockpile this year. Additionally, the Vaccine Alliance is providing US$ 8.7 million to support the operational costs of the campaign in DRC.

The World Bank provided US$ 3 million to co-finance the yellow fever vaccines as well as other services needed as part of the overall plan prepared by the Government. The World Bank also has contributed US $5 million to the Government of Angola to finance the yellow fever vaccination programme in the country.

On 16 August, the Government of DRC launched the vaccination campaign in Kinshasa with the goal to vaccinate 7.5 million people within 2 weeks in order to interrupt viral circulation and prevent the outbreak from escalating.. From the first day and throughout the campaign, thousands of people have been turning up to get vaccinated at posts across the huge city. By 28 August, the Government reported that 7.7 million people had been vaccinated in the capital city, and a further 1.5 million people in DRC's border regions with Angola. Of the 7.7 million people vaccinated in Kinshasa, around 400 000 pregnant women and babies received the full dose under SAGE recommendations.

Over the next few weeks, vaccination teams will focus on completing the campaign in remote border regions and reaching people at risk who may have missed out on vaccination the first time around. In Angola, vaccination campaigns are ongoing, with an estimated 3 million people vaccinated since mid-August.

This latest campaign that aims at prevention builds on previous emergency yellow fever reactive vaccination campaigns that have already reached more than 13 million people in Angola and more than 3 million in DRC since the beginning of the outbreak in December 2015.

Since the beginning of this year, almost 1000 people in both countries have had confirmed yellow fever, with many more suspected cases and more than 400 deaths reported.

The yellow fever outbreak in both countries appears to be declining  no new cases have been confirmed in either country for over a month  However, given that there may still be viral circulation in the mosquito vector, and in other animal reservoirs, and in anticipation of the upcoming rainy season that will result in increased risk of transmission, it is critical to continue to provide support to ensure the countries have the capacity to detect and respond to any further cases of yellow fever.
The Chairperson of the African Union (AU) Commission, Dr. Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma, is following the evolving socio-political situation over the last few months in the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia with great concern. Protests have taken place in some regions following disputes over the allocation of farmland for development.

The socio-political situation in Ethiopia has led to a number of reported deaths, temporary disruptions of public and private businesses, as well as occasional interruption of telecommunication services. Dr Dlamini Zuma expresses her condolences to the families of those who have lost their lives, and also wishes a speedy recovery to the injured.

The Chairperson of the Commission calls for a high level of restraint as well as for calm to reign. She encourages dialogue among all stakeholders in Ethiopia, in order to find peaceful and lasting solutions to the social, political and economic issues motivating the protests.

The AU Commission Chairperson reiterates the AUs support for the respect of the rule of law, and peaceful demonstrations which are critical tenets in the upholding principles and culture democracy.
By Dr. Michael J.K. Bokor

Friday, Sept. 2, 2016

Folks, those who have been carefully monitoring our public comments on ex-President Kufuor will agree that we have more often than not been harsh toward him when it comes to either his viewpoints on how to govern Ghana (especially to rid it of corruption) or what the NPP can do to undo the NDC that has remained its albatross at the polls all these years.

Of course, the United Party tradition that undergirds Kufuor's political bravado had since being overshadowed in the pre-independence erathrough the 1966 coup against the Great Osagyefofound a quick and easy, if not cheap, means to decimate the Nkrumahist front, thus, reducing it to a mere spectator in the political battle going on in our time between its offspring (the NPP) and the Rawlings phenomenon.

The problem of the UP/NPP ("Mate Me Ho") front is that they cannot read deeper meanings into their narrow-minded bigotry and politically misguided overtures driven by petty ethnic sentiments to know that politics in contemporary times demands more than an appeal to elitism and hereditary. We know how the main architects of that front raise their shoulders, counting on the traces left behind by their fathers, uncles, or whatever, to demand their pound of flesh from the voters to be put in power so they can perpetuate their politics of inheritance or heirloom. A short "Tweeaaa" to them for now.

Additionally, their modus operandi as far as political mobilization is concerned is so tattered as to make them come across as rampaging scaremongers instead of portraying themselves as people to be counted on to move Ghana where it should go in our time. This particular scare-mongering posture has been given much substance at this time that the NPP is being led by a team that knows nothing other than arm-twisting and issuing of high-sounding threats to turn Ghana upside down if their plea to be "tried" is not accepted at Election 2016. No need to provide specific pieces of evidence of such posturing. It's public record to be scoffed at.

While they are at it, they fail to reflect on the lessons that the history of elections in our Fourth Republic teaches. I will help them here. At Election 1992, the NPP presented a jaded Professor Albert Adu Boahen to lock horns with the military strongman Jerry Rawlings whose renown at the time was too glaring to be discounted. How did Prof. Adu Boahen become the choice?

Just because of his academic standing as an accomplished academic well known for his handle on history (especially the history of our part of the world that interested many, particularly the European marauders who attacked us and subjugated us to all kinds of inhuman treatment at the time that they didn't even know who/what we were).

And he craftily created the paradigm for the discourse that would project him as the precursor of everything relevant to our existence, even if he cunningly circumscribed it all within his concept of an Akan hegemony to the disadvantage of all the thousands of ethnicities there were at the time. If you doubt it, Go and read, re-read, and continue to read his handy book, Topics in West African History (a virtual summary of all his pursuits in his profession).

That account favours the discourse of the European marauders. All that they focused on was to exploit our human and material resources to build their own systems. And prof. Adu Boahen's work really revealed the true values of our Africanness, which amazed them. And he made a great named out of it all. Good for him academically but not politically). But the NPP at the time thought that it could count on his international renown as a scholar to beat their nemesis, whom they had characterized as an academic failure (having already presented him as someone who failed his "O" level exams and chose the military as a way out).

Yet another asset that Prof. Adu Boahen held for the NPP. His address at the Danquah Memorial Lecture in 1987 at the British Council Hall in Accra (which I covered fully as a journalist at the time) and his presentation of the "Ghanaian Sphinx", which would raise his objection to the "culture of silence" that he accused the Rawlings phenomenon of imposing on the Ghanaian political landscape, clearly stood him out in good stead to lead the very forces that were bitterly opposed to Rawlings.

I recall that moment when he condemned that "culture of silence" and called for action to confront Rawlings only to be told by the then General Officer Commanding the Ghana Armed Forces (and later a PNDC member), General Albert Quainoo (whom they later announced as dead!!) that the "fire" that he had quoted from Dante might turn out to be an "inferno" in Ghana if he went overboard in the pursuit of his political ambitions or those of the political force that he thought could overthrow the Rawlings one. Folks, very interesting moments, then. It's history that I am reporting here. Only those with a clear head and a clean mind will follow logically.

At the NPP's congress in 1992 to choose the candidate to challenge Rawlings, Prof. Adu Boahen defeated Kufuor and went with high hopes to seek the mandate of the voters. What happened when he challenged Rawlings at the 1992 polls in November? A total massacre beyond the NPP's belief!! He lost passaaaa; but refused to accept his fate, choosing to mobilize material and human resources (including this Akufo-Addo) to write a trite and useless book (The Stolen Verdict) that no voter valued. The truth about the NPP's unattractiveness had already been told at the polls. Why waste time reading lamentations about it from sore losers?

Folks, I want to cut everything short here to say that Prof. Adu Boahen faced whatever his Destiny had in store for him and faded away into nothingness, paving the way for others. From the NPPs own stables, we heard how Kufuor refused to have anything to do with Prof. Adu Boahen on his stroke-ridden death-bed, even as his wife and children fought over his legacy. Eventually, he faded away, remembered in his last days as a plantain farmer in some weird part of the Western region. I dont know about that; but I did visit his wifes residence in Cape Coast in 1992 and saw how wealth could be celebrated. The source of that wealth? I dont know!!

The NPPs own history, pitting Kufuor against Akufo-Addo thereafter, is intriguing. I wont go into it, having already exposed it in previous opinion pieces. What business does a goat have in a fight that involves sheep? Kufuor emerged after brushing aside Akufo-Addo, for Election 1996. He knew how formidable the tasks were and conditioned himself as such. True to his very nature, he is telling us today what he faced and why he had to bid his time for the crown at a later time wished for him by his God. (See http://www.myjoyonline.com/politics/2016/September-2nd/superman-rawlings-was-unbeatable-in-1996-election-kufuor.php).

I admire Kufuor for being so forthright and for offering ideas to guide Akufo-Addo which, I hope, he will latch onto and know better how to reach out to the electorate. Of particular interest is this part of Kufuor's opinion: "... God helps those who help themselves to demonstrate the relevance of personal efforts... Grace should be there but it is the same God that endowed us with knowledge [therefore] if God has given you the wherewithal you will also do what is right to get where you want.

Other aspects of his ideas are relevant: "Mr. Rawlings made it appear near impossible to unseat him, yet he gave it his best shot.... it became clear that he would have to wait until 2000 when the two terms of Mr Rawlings would come to an end...They [New Patriotic Party (NPP) supporters] said since he provided the Constitution, let us see if he will not sit down after the end of his tenure.

And Rawlings left the scene thereafter for Kufuor and Mills to step in. Kufuor has made very strong suggestions here that any reasonable observer of the Ghanaian political scene should appreciate. Winning general or Presidential elections in Ghana is not about how much muscle one can flex, how much security arrangements one can put in place against one's opponents, or how much intimidation one should encourage. It is all about one's ability to connect well with the voters and how one sells one's self to them. I appreciate Kufuor for this insight.

Kufuor is being very philosophical here, giving us glimpses into why Akufo-Addo hasn't succeeded in achieving his childhgoow ambition of becoming Ghana's president "at all costs". Any careful analyst of the utterances that Kufuor made at the time he was leaving the scene can put two-and-two together to know the drift of his wisecrack here. Snatching political power from the NDC demands more than what Akufo-Addo has invested himself in.

I believe strongly that Kufuor is pointing him in a different and more purposeful direction, which he won't appreciate because he is not positioned to see what Kufuor saw in his confrontation with Rawlings (the "Superman"). After all, Kufuor served under Rawlings in 1982. He knows what he is stepping on today to make such observations.

In Akufo-Addo's case, John Dramani Mahama is a "superman" that he won't acknowledge as such and go about fighting with weapons that can't pierce his tough political skin. Indeed, Kufuor has distinguished himself here, and I respect him for the deep philosophical insight.

Having fought the battle to return the Danquah-Busia tradition to the political limelight after 30 years of being in the underworld, he surely has a lot that Akufo-Addo and Co. should tap into. He is not to be dismissed as the leader of a faction that hates Akufo-Addo.

Now using a walking stick to prop himself up, he knows what the battle is but may not be available to participate in the vigorous electioneering campaign stunts. Only his words of advice matter at this point. Heeding them can turn the tide for those who know his worth. I respect him as such.

I shall return
Geneva (AFP) - Almost eight million people in the Democratic Republic of Congo capital Kinshasa have been vaccinated against yellow fever in under two weeks, the World Health Organisation announced Friday.

"WHO commends the Government of the DRC for this significant achievement to roll out such a complex campaign in such a short period of time," said Dr Yokouide Allarangar, the world health body's representative in the country.

There is no specific treatment for yellow fever, a viral haemorrhagic disease transmitted in urban settings mainly by the Aedes aegypti mosquito, which also spreads Zika, dengue and chikungunya.

The disease can have a mortality rate of up to 50 percent, but is often not considered as big a threat as Ebola or Zika, since there has long been a very efficient vaccine against it.

However the percentage of people immunised against yellow fever remains low in many parts of Africa.

The massive vaccination campaign in Kinshasa used an "emergency vaccine" -- one fifth of the full dose -- "as a short-term emergency measure to reach as many people as possible given limited supplies of the vaccine," WHO said in a statement.

A total of 7.7 million people in the Congolese capital were vaccinated. Normally such a campaign would take six months, it added.

The campaign was carried out by the country's health ministry, the WHO and more than 50 global partners, with vaccination centres at more than 8000 locations across the country -- cities and remote border areas.

Over 1.5 million people were vaccinated outside the capital.

In neighbouring Angola a similar vaccination effort is underway, and around three million people have been vaccinated there since mid-August.

Yellow fever has been raging in Angola since December, especially in the capital Luanda, where there have been 3,552 suspected cases, 875 confirmed cases and 355 deaths.

The epidemic in both countries appears to have subsided, the WHO said, with no new cases reported for over a month.
03.09.2016 LISTEN

By Kofi Ata, Cambridge, UK September 2, 2016

The outgoing Moderator of the Presbyterian Church of Ghana, the Rt Rev Prof Emmanuel Martey claimed on Tuesday that, politicians tried all means to muzzle him to get him but they could not. According to him, politicians came with bribes, fat envelopes, $100,000. I want everybody to listen that politicians came to my house with $100,000 and also with the promises that if you keep quiet we will give you a house at Trasaaco with swimming pool. We will give you Four Wheel drive but you know what, these people were lucky that I do not have big dogs in my house else I would have released the dogs for them to bite them. He added, the politicians have tried all means to muzzle me but they couldnt and I tell you they cant. (see, Presby Church not for NPP - Prof Martey, Ghanaweb, August 30,206). This article is a discussion of Rev Prof Marteys confession and the fight against corruption in Ghana.

Initially, I assumed the man of God had been misreported as it often happens in Ghana until I listened to a video clip of his confession. I was disappointed but not surprised because there are certain groups in Ghana that sometimes do not make sense. The first on the list are politicians, closely followed by the clergy. In fact, this is not the first time I am writing about Rev Prof Martey on his outbursts. The first was in March 2015 when he claimed he could end dumsor in six months if he were in charge (see my article, Is Rev Prof Martey Dishonest on how to end dumsor?, Ghanaweb, March 23, 2015). Bishop Duncan Williams claimed Ghanaian women are nothing without a husband. Even the most respected and successful including Pastor (Dr) Mensah Otabil sometimes come out with the irrational when he asked the state to get out of schools and hospitals for the private sector (see my article, Does Pastor Otabil really want the state out of hospitals and schools in Ghana?, Ghanaweb, March 23, 2016), Dont even mention the fake ones and the likes of Obinim, Owusu Bempa and others. However, this time Prof Martey truly hit below the belt for the reasons below.

The office of the Moderator of the Presbyterian Church of Ghana is one of the most revered Christian leadership positions in Ghana and a leading member of the Christian Council. As Rev Prof Martey rightly said, the Presbyterian Church of Ghana has played and continues to play key roles in the socio-economic and political development of Ghana (pre and post-independence), especially in education and health. According to Rev Opuni Frimpong, the General Secretary of the Christian Council of Ghana, the church has made considerable contributions toward good governance in the Fourth Republic and these could be attested by all Ghanaians (see, The church will not be cowed by politicians  Christian Council, Ghanaweb, August 31, 2016). There is no doubt that all the above are facts, but, if so, why has Rev Prof Martey failed the cardinal principles of his faith and good governance?

The Presbyterian faith teaches honesty, probity, humility and kindness among others whilst good governance requires determined and consistent efforts to fight corruption. As we are all aware, corruption is a major problem in Ghana and on daily or weekly basis, religious leaders including Rev Prof Martey use their pulpits to preach against this societal menace. So how come when politicians attempted to bribe him with huge sums of money and a mansion, he lost his voice until Monday 30 August 2016? Rev Prof Martey did not indicate when politicians attempted to bribe him, neither did he identify the politicians involved.

The next question is, if no mean person like the Moderator of the Presbyterian Church of Ghana could not have the guts to expose official corruption, how could he expect members of his congregation to fight against corruption or the corrupt politicians to stop their nefarious activities? Was it by mere coincidence that Rev Prof Martey could not muster the courage to expose the politicians or he became compromised by his initial assumption that the presents were birthday gifts to him until her realised that they were bribes?

Another sad aspect of Rev Prof Marteys disturbing behaviour was his intention to set loose big dogs on the politicians who visited him at his home if he had some. What sort of a man of God would exhibit such wicked and inhuman treatment on his fellow human being? Where is his humanity and the godly fear in him? Of course, it is recorded in the New Testament scriptures (Matthew 21:12-13, Mark 11: 15-19, Luke 19: 45-48 and John 1: 13-16) that Jesus drove away sinners (money changers and traders) from the Temple for using the house of the Lord for such activities. For that reason, Rev Prof Martey had every right to turn away the politicians from his home but no justification whatsoever to be violent against them. That would have been against the law and criminal. Is that what is written in his Bible?

By his failure to expose the corrupt politicians earlier as well as his refusal or inability to disclose the identities of the politicians who offered him bribes at his press conference, Rev Prof Martey has caused more harm than good to the fight against corruption in Ghana. He has also damaged his own credibility and tarnished the reputation of the leadership of the Presbyterian Church of Ghana. It would have been better if he had continued to keep his silence over the issue rather than open his mouth and raise more questions than answers.

There is nothing wrong with the clergy speaking their minds on issues of national importance and in fact, it is their religious duty to do so. I therefore do not fault Rev Prof Martey for talking about dumsor, corruption and the December 7, 2016 presidential and parliamentary elections. However, the problem with Rev Prof Martey is not the issues he raised but his dishonesty on those matters that turns national issues into partisan politics instead of discussing such matters with objectivity and integrity.

Perhaps, as the then Moderator of the Presbyterian Church, Rev Prof Martey was restricted in what he could or could not say in public. Thank God, as he is no longer the Moderator, some of the restrictions may no longer apply and it would be in his best interest to repair the damage he has caused to his goodwill by coming out to substantiate the alleged attempt by politicians to muzzle him through bribery. Otherwise, at best his words will remain mere allegations and at worst, there would be speculation in the minds of many that he himself is not beyond reproach in the fight against corruption. Until then, Rev Prof Martey will be considered a coward who did not stand up to corrupt politicians, let down his flock and nation or perhaps, a reverend minister who misused his cassock and pulpit for partisan politics. The ball is in your court.

Kofi Ata, Cambridge, UK
An Accra circuit court has set August 8, 2016 to deliver judgement in the case in which two persons are standing trial for attacking and robbing Bext Nascent Forex Bureau at Mpamprom in Accra.

The decision by the court follows the denial of the charges by Yakubu Alhassan, a welder and the first accused person in the case, compelling the court to have a full trial.

The court, presided over by Aboagye Tandoh, last month handed a 21-year jail term with hard labour to the second accused  Haruna Abdulai aka Borbor  unemployed, after he had changed his plea.

The duo, including two others currently on the run, are said to have at about 2:30 pm on March 23, this year, robbed the Forex Bureau, managed by Bismark Boateng, an amount of GH150,000.

At the hearing of the case yesterday, Yakubu insisted on his innocence over the conspiracy to rob and robbery charges when he opened his defence.

In his defence, the accused among other things, vehemently denied his involvement in the robbery.

Under cross-examination by the prosecutor, Chief Superintendent Duuti Tuaruka, Yakubu, who was represented by his lawyer, Joseph Kaponde, said he did not lead Borbor and two others currently on the run to the Forex Bureau for the robbery.

He said he did not also play any part in taking the money from the staff of the Forex Bureau at the counter.

According to Yakubu, he did not jump into the yard of Metro Mass Transit Limited where he was reportedly arrested.

C/Supt. Tuaruka said on the said date the accused persons and the others on the run went to the Bureau under the pretext of doing business.

He said in the process, the accused persons pulled a locally made pistol on Boateng and two other workers at the Bureau, took them hostage and made away with monies in both local and foreign currencies totaling GH150,000.

C/Supt. Tuaruka noted that after the robbery, a staff at the Bureau raised an alarm and with the assistance of a police patrol team and the people in the vicinity, the accused persons were arrested while the two others escaped.

He said when Yakubu and Haruna were being chased by the mob, they fired indiscriminately and in the process 14 persons sustained gunshot wounds and were rushed to the police hospital.

He stated that GH58,000 and a locally-manufactured pistol were retrieved from Haruna and Yakubu.

By Jeffrey De-Graft Johnson

[email protected]
Braimah Kamoko aka Bukom Banku is said to have breached the law again. Even before the details were let out, those who heard the headline could bet it had to do with assault. They were not wrong. The man assaulted a lady who resisted his attempt at kissing her.

In an area where such resistance calls for a physical attack from him, we wonder whether the Police have given up on him.

We are pained to revisit the impunity this man has consistently put up over the years. He said there is no reason he would be jailed for such misconduct. He is a leading supporter of the ruling National Democratic Congress (NDC) and we think his possession of the membership card is enough to secure freedom for him; which is true.

We pray that for once the suspect is investigated thoroughly so that when it is established that he breached the law, the appropriate sanctions are applied.

He has other cases, all of which relate to assaults. Nothing came out of them because orders came from outside the political establishment that he be released.

His appearance before a court could not be possible because the law enforcement agents who were charged with the task of facilitating it were stopped from proceeding with the case beyond the station diary. This, without doubt, has emboldened the miscreant to continue to unleash his imbecility on innocent ladies.

Until we pull the brakes on such impunity, we would not make the necessary progress as a nation. We are rendering our institutions impotent when we encourage persons like Bukom Banku to think that being a supporter of a ruling party is enough to make you breach the law with impunity as he has done over the years with nothing happening to him by way of time in jail or even monetary fines.

When COP George Akuffo Dampare was the Greater Accra Regional Police Commander, Bukom Banku assaulted some ladies, a story which made the headlines. Many shrugged their shoulders when they read the story because they knew nothing would come out of it.

Political interference indeed soon let the boxer off the hook even as the law enforcement agents wished they could be allowed a free hand to deal with the case.

In our part of the world, some cases are fraught with political interferences and woe betides a police officer who seeks to be professional in handing such matters. They would soon find themselves on transfer to the remotest part of the country at a time when they least expect such a movement.

We want to be proved wrong this time around that the law will be allowed to take its course with no politician threatening a police officer if Bukom Banku is not released from custody.
The convoy of the flagbearer of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, got stuck in what looks like a gully between Yendi and Saboba on the Eastern Corridor stretch of the Northern Region due to the bad nature of the road.

It took almost two hours for the convoy and the vehicle carrying journalists to continue the journey.

A similar incident happened during Nana Addos tour of the Mampurugu area where the convoy got stuck in mud near Gambaga-Nalerigu for several hours in the night before a truck was brought in to pull the vehicles to a safer side of the road.

The presidential candidate was on a tour of the Eastern Corridor area where he addressed party supporters from Saboba, Kpalbe, Salaga and other areas.

Nana Akufo-Addo told DAILY GUIDE that having communities submerged by rivers makes the NPPs 'one community, one dam' policy feasible; and believed the project would ensure an all-year-round farming.

He noted that the Oti River overflows its banks during the rainy season, pointing out that it could be a good source for a dam.

During his campaign tour of the Eastern Corridor area recently, President John Dramani Mahama used two helicopters from one destination to the other because of the bad road network.

The president stated that the Eastern Corridor roads had been constructed and that it was a credit to his government.

The road linking Yendi to Saboba is nothing to write home about and the only bridge that connects the two communities is a death trap.

A head teacher of Kugnani in Saboba, James Ansawuni, said farmers find it difficult to transport their farm produce when they get to that particular portion of the road.

He stated that the situation causes low productivity in the communities because people do not go to work, as they cannot get access road to their work places.

He appealed to the presidential candidate of the NPP to do something about the road when he is voted into power on December 7.

FROM Eric Kombat, Saboba
03.09.2016 LISTEN

In fulfilment of section 37(1) of the Local Government Act, Act 462 of 1993, parliament in 2003 enacted Act 656 to give birth to the youngest Public Service of Ghana today, in accordance with paragraph (d), clause (1) of Article 190 of the 1992 constitution  the Local Government Service. The membership of the Service as contained in Act 656 comprises persons holding NON-ELECTED public office in Regional Coordinating Councils, District Assemblies, Sub-Metropolitan District Councils, Urban, Zonal, town and Area Councils, staff of the Secretariat of the Service and such other persons as maybe employed for the Service. The object of the Service as contained in section 3 of the Act is to secure the effective administration and management of local government in the country.

In promulgating Act 656, a certain corporate governance structure was envisaged for the Service. On top of that structure is the Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development (MLGRD) which is related to the service through the Local Government Service Council (i.e. the governing board) in matters of policy and regulations as contained section 12 and 32 and implied in section 6(a), (c), (I) and such other relevant provisions of the Act. Below the Minister of MLGRD is the governing board (in the real corporate world this can be equated to the Board of Directors) called the Local Government Service Council (LGSC) which is fifteen (15) in membership and appointed by the President in consultation with the Council of State.

The LGSC according to Act 656 shall have general management and control of the Service. The rest of the functions are contained in section 6 of Act 656 of 2003. Directly below the LGSC is the Local Government Service Secretariat (LGSS) head by a Head of Service (can be likened to CEO in the corporate world) appointed by the President in accordance with article 195 (Read Section 13(2), 15(1) and 15(2)). Then follows the Regional Coordinating Councils (RCCs) headed by Regional Ministers, Metropolitan, Municipal, District Assemblies (MMDAs) headed by Chief Executives, Sub-Metropolitan District Councils, Urban, Zonal, and town Area Councils headed by Chairmen in that order.

As a practitioner and student of local governance, I have observed and followed with keen interest developments in the service and it leaves much to be desired. The evidence on the ground suggest a complete disregard for this corporate structure envisaged by the Act establishing the service and a tendency towards one-man-showmanship and self-aggrandisement leading to, in my opinion, severe lapses in some documents emanating from the service. Most of these lapses do not only worry but appear to breach codes of the service and the law as I know it. I have in previous write-ups touched on some of them and brought some of them to the attention of those who matter and I will continue to do so as I have elected to do until some sanity is brought to bear.

To start with, I will revisit a point made in an earlier write-up and bring a different perspective to it. As per the functions of the LGSC, section 6(a) stipulates that the council shall recommend to the Minister matters of policy relating to the management of the Service. Reading this with section 32 of Act 656, it is clear that things like code of conduct, human resource operations manuals, conditions of service, scheme of service, staffing norms etc only emanate from the council but the final authority in developing such documents is the Minister of Local Government and Rural Development. And if such documents should bear a Foreword and signature at all, it should be that of the Minister. The Head of Service does not come in at all.

The Head of Service is a member of the Local Government Service (LGS) and is bound by the code of conduct for Public Servants and that for the LGS. This is buttressed by the code of conduct for the LGS (itself problematic) in the following sentence under the heading Scope and Purpose: The Code applies to the governing body of the Local Government Service Council, and all persons holding non-elected public offices..., all staff of the Secretariat of the Service... Note the problem with this statement though not the substance of this point  governing board of the Local Government Service Council.The point is all the recent documents emanating from the service bear a foreword from the Head of Service and his name and signature. The Forewords on all these documents has nothing to show the involvement of the Council or the Minister.

Apart from the clear violations and disregard for the corporate governance structure indicated above, there is also a clear violation of the code of Conduct for Public Servants and the LGS. I will use that of the LGS even though I have serious problems with it. One of the principles which public servants, as defined under chapter fourteen of the 1992 constitution, are to be guided by is ANONYMITY and the code of conduct for LGS captures it under canon (1). The statement of principle for ANONYMITY in this code states: Officers and staff of Local Government Service shall serve the State with neutrality and ANONYMITY in the national and local government processes. The code goes further in what is called ANONYMITY TEST to state: In the discharge of your duties, do you draw attention to your contribution by styling your designations in written or oral communications beyond your official capacity for discharging the said duty; and would it appear to any reasonable mind that you wish to be acknowledged as having been the author of the said work or the brain behind the achievement of outcomes? From the foregoing, there is no answer to this test than an emphatic YES if applied to the instances stated above. It is for this anonymity that the Conditions of Service developed way back in 2007 had no signature or Foreword. It is for this same anonymity that the brains behind the Scheme of Service of 2010 did not put their names and titles on them. Read the preamble of the conditions of service for LGS and it tells you the difference.

Another area of this disregard for the corporate governance structure of the LGS which is quite troubling and has a bearing on the constitution is in the area of appointments, disciplinary processes and related matters. Article 297 (a) of the 1992 constitution states: In this Constitution and in any other law, the power to appoint a person to hold or to act in an office in the public service shall include the power to confirm appointments, to exercise disciplinary control over persons holding or acting in any such office and to remove the persons from office. In the Service, posts are divided into six (6) categories  A to F. The appointing authority for category A post is the President and category B to F is the Local Government Service Council (LGSC). So if you look at the appointment letter of any Local Government Service employee, the opening paragraph reads I have the honour to inform you that the Local Government Service Council has decided to offer you appointment in the Local Government Service as ... in the ... Class subject to medical fitness and other checks, with effect from ... and the Head of Service signs the letter. In conformity with Article 297(a) as stated above, Act 656 in section 11(3c) provides for the council to form Disciplinary Committees in consultation with the relevant RCCs and MMDAs.

Despite all these clear provisions of the law, what is observed on the ground is contrary to these provisions. Take for instance, the Human Resource Operational Manual (HROM) developed in 2013 and you will see clear provisions in that manual that stand contrary to the law as stated above. Section 2.6.5 (iii) of the HROM states: The HEAD OF SERVICE SHALL MAKE APPOINTMENTS to positions required for effective and efficient management of the Service and when necessary in consultation with the Council and the Public Services Commission, setting out the terms and conditions of employment. This cannot be. It is not in the place of the Head of Service to be making appointments. Appointments are in the remit of the LGSC. Functions of the Head of Service are clearly stipulated in section 15 and by extension section 14 of Act 656 where the functions of the secretariat are stated.

Again, section 6.6.3 (a)(i) of the same HROM states: Notwithstanding the provisions of section 9.5, the Head of Service may terminate the appointment of any employee, where she/he is satisfied that on the basis of results of investigation or inquiry, it is in the interest of the Service to do so. And 6.6.3 (a)(iii) Says: The Head of Service may at any time and for sufficient reason terminate the appointment of any employee on trial or probation.. It is my considered opinion that these provisions are contrary to the Provisions of Article 297(a) of the constitution. It is just not for anything that council is the appointing authority and hence must be the once to discipline and if necessary terminate appointments. It is meant, I believe, to check bullying and arbitrariness which is widespread in the public services and is part of the check and balances in the system. These provisions of the HROM which are contrary to the law have not only been merely put on paper but have actually been put to practise in several instances and must stop.

The logical question that flows from all the above is if all these things said above is true, why is the council or Minister doing nothing about them. With my experience in the public services, it is no wonder to me. It is all about the Strongman phenomenon which President Barack Obama so eloquently talked about in 2009 when he addressed our parliament. In my recent activism to get things changed for the better, I have spoken to many and many who matter in the service have spoken to me. You can just feel the sense of powerlessness in their voices yet the statutes tells them they have the power. The grapevine hasnt been quiet either. The rumour mill has been rife with stories of how people tried to assert their authority and lost their positions or got themselves reassigned for others to have their way. The aura that was coincidentally bestowed on people was misapplied; had it been properly applied, the achievement would have been great.

Again, it is also about the kind of constitution and systems we have adopted for ourselves which many have talked about. Why would the President appoint all the members of the council and at the same time appoint the Head of Service? In the real corporate world, the Board of Directors appoints the CEO so that they can have control over him. In this case, we expect the Head of Service to be under the control of the LGSC yet they dont have the power to discipline as contained in 297(a). In the words of Lord Acton, power corrupts and absolute power corrupts absolutely. We must begin to look for time tested systems that will provide true checks and balances. It is necessary for a total system overhaul if we are serious about making the needed progress. I rest my case here for today but I shall surely be back.

Charles A. Akurugu

[email protected]
Perhaps I should not have been surprised when I heard that the Speaker of the National Assembly, The Right Honourable Doe Adjaho, had disallowed the Motion the Minority wanted to present to the House, asking it to investigate reports that President John Mahama had received a Chevrolet car as a gift from a Burkinabe contractor. The contractor subsequently obtained some contracts from the Government of Ghana, and so, the gift can be considered a bribe-- and in its oversight role, that's a proper issue fior Parliament to be concerned with.

I should not have been surprised at Adjaho's action because the Government of which he is a member (he was put in the job of Speaker of the Legislature by the Majority NDC, which is in power at the executive level as well as in the Legislature) is so notorious for flouting normal rules with impunity that it is almost naive to expect it to do anything else.

Indeed, Mr Adjaho had set a precedent for himself in impunity by acting in precisely the same manner, over the sale of Merchant Bank to a company called Fortiz in 2014. He got away with that, thanks to the ability of the Opposition to demonstrate that he had flouted the Constitution in blocking the parliamentary scrutiny of a transaction that involved public funds, namely, capital taken from the Social Security and National Insurance Trust. How can one man impose his understanding of what the functions of Parliament are, on the elected representatives of the people? After all, was it not Parlaiemtnt that voted him in as its Speaker? How can the "servant" force his point of view upon his employer?

But even though in blocking Parliamentary scrutiny of the sale of Merchant Bank to Fortiz, Mr Adjaho acted ultra vires, (that is, he acted beyond the powers of his office) he at least had the fig leaf of the sub judice rule to cover his patently partisan act. (In fairness to the Opposition, they might have bowed to a rather narrow interpretation of the sub judice rule.)

A narrow interpretation of the sub judice rule? Yes -- it is a well-known stratagem for clever lawyers, to rush to file a writ in court, when they want to gag both the media (and in this case, even Parliament) on realising that embarrassing disclosures might ensue from an open, public and privileged discussion of a matter  especially one relating to a dubious business deal.

In the Mahama/Chevrolet car matter, however, no recoursethe issue is not even before a court! It is only before the Commission for Human Rights And Administrative Justice (CHRAJ). So, in preventing Parliament  which has so much power that a popular adage says it can do anything except change a man into a woman!)  Mr Adjaho has dealt two deadly blows to Ghana's 1992 Constitution: (1) he has unilaterally upgraded the status of the Commission on Human Rights and Administrative Justice to full judicial status, in direct contravention to the Constitution and (2) he has thereby unilaterally abolished the power of the Parliament of Ghana given to it by the people of Ghana!The Opposition says it is "embarrassed". Well, it shouldn't be --Joe Adaho deserves to be brought down for committing treason against the Parliament of Ghana, and thereby, against the people of Ghana.

For what he has done is totally unacceptable, because in the very first words of the Constitution, it is clearly stated that:

The Sovereignty of Ghana resides in the people of Ghana in whose name and for whose welfare the powers of government are to be exercised in the manner and within the limits laid down in this Constitution.

In other words, SOVEREIGNTY RESIDES IN THE PEOPLE, AND THEREBY, THEIR ELECTED REPRESENTATIVES; i.e. PARLIAMENT!

Indeed, CHRAJ would be the first body to express shock at the way Mr Adjaho has used a CHRAJ investigation to block an investigation by our sovereign Parliament. For on its own webpage, the CHRAJ acknowledges unambiguously that:

The Commission is not a judicial bodyand cannot review decisions that have previously been decided by a competent court.

So, if the CHRAJ does not consider itself either as a "judicial body" or a "competent court", where did Adjaho get the idea that a CHRAJ investigation can preclude Parliament from scrutinising any behaviour of a person holding public office? Who gave Mr Adjaho the power to clothe the proceedings of the CHRAJ with the mantle of sub judice? (By the way, as a matter of interest, the sub judiceprinciple is, itself, under severe attack, on the grounds that it is antiquiated and that no modern judge worth his/her salt would take the slightest notice of anything said elsewhere about a case before him or her, when judges are enjoined to consider only evidence adduced before their courts.)

I have to remind Mr Doe Adjaho  again (as I did when I put him on my "New Year Honours List" in January 2015)  that the position of Speaker of the National Assembly is not one to be dignified only with silk hoses and patent leather shoes (the garb favoured by the Speaker of the House of Commons and adopted, to my knowledge, by Speakers of the Parliament of Ghana, following a precedent set by Sir Emmanuel Charles Quist!)

Despite the superficial frills, the position of Speaker is one of great trust. To be given the power to oversee the propriety of what is said and done by the elected representatives of the people on behalf of their electors, is to be placed in charge of the most important right that any people can possess  freedom of speech. The Speaker must facilitate and protect this right, not impede it.

That is why, if I were an MP, I would go straight to the Supreme Court to seek an interpretation of the notion that if the CHRAJ is seized of a matter, then Parliament is automatically prevented from delving into it. Indeed, if we were in a country where people cared enough about their constitutional rights, a public appeal would be launched immediately asking for donations to finance a suit at the Supreme Court to declare the Speaker's assault on democracy unlawful.

May I point Mr Adjaho (and the Clerk of Parliament, whose technocratic name Mr Adjaho ingloriously invoked in making his outrageous and scandalous ruling) to what the website of the House of Commons  the location from which the mystifying notion of a Speaker who does not speak in debates originated (!)  has to say about the office of the Speaker:

The Speaker is the chief officer and highest authority of the House of Commons and must remain politically impartial at all times. [emphasis added]....The Speaker keeps order and calls MPs to speak. Speakers still stand in general elections. [But] They are generally unopposed by the major political parties, who will not field a candidate in the Speaker's constituency. [emphasis added]. During a general election,Speakers do not campaign on any political issues [emphasis added].

It is the enforcement of rules like the above that enables the British to have confidence in the integrityof their high officials. Even so, they are not fully satisfied with their democracy, and keep tinkering with it.

If our democracy is to last; if it is to be respected by the populace as a system that can effectively prevent corruption from occurring in our nations's affairs; then we must force our public office-holders to exhibit the same integrity

as their British counterparts do. And we can only do that if we ensure that officials like the Speaker of Parliament understand and operate our system, both according to the words written in the Constitution and the spiritbehind those fine words.

In other words, Mr Speaker, we don't call you 'Panin' (Elder) for nothing (as our talking drums would tell you, if you knew how to listen to them!). You are supposed to repay the privileges inherent in your position, by acting in a manner that would not disgrace your counterparts in other democratic domains. For, after doing what you have done, how can you -- and your Clerk -- hold your heads high, if you are invited to conferences of the Inter-Parliamentary organisations of the democratic world?

www.cameronduodu.com
Three persons have appeared before an Accra Circuit Court for allegedly robbing six people of various amounts of money and valuables worth several thousands of Ghana Cedis.

They are Stephen Bediako, 30, aka Skyro/Mawuli, unemployed; Kwaku Nuworkpeh, 35, aka Olugbemi/Stephen, farmer and Abass Fuseni, 23, unemployed.

The three were said to have laid ambush near the Cosmos Forex Bureau, Teshie and attacked the complainants.

They reportedly conspired and robbed one Sani Abubakar at Teshie on August 24, 2016 of his GH40,000, CFA 67,000, Naira 20,000 and an HP laptop.

The trio also robbed one Yusif Issah Mohammed of his HP laptop.

Quist Abbey and Esther Quist on August 14 were also robbed of their mobile phones and assorted credit cards worth GH2,700.

Appearing before trial judge Aboagye Tandoh, the accused persons, who spoke in Twi and English, denied the charges and were remanded into police custody until September 26.

This was after the court had deferred ruling on the bail application filed by the lawyers of the accused persons.

The accused persons became friends about three months ago. Skyro, who resides at Teshie, went round during the day and assessed places where he deemed fit to rob and invited the two from Volta Region.

On August 23, Skyro invited Olugbemi, who also asked Abass to meet them at Teshie to embark on robbery spree.

Olugbami and Abass arrived at about 6pm, but Olugbami lodged with Skyro in his house while Abass spent the night elsewhere.

At 8am on the next day, the accused persons met at Fertilizer Road, Teshie and waited patiently opposite the Forex Bureau for the arrival of Sani and Yusif and attacked them immediately they entered.

Olugbami, who was wielding a pump action gun, positioned himself at the entrance of the Forex Bureau, while Skyro and Abass, armed with locally manufactured pistols, entered the Forex Bureau and ordered the complainants to surrender their monies, mobile phones, Dell and HP laptops.

Abass hit the forehead of Yussif, who did not resist, with the butt of his pistol and collected the said monies from him.

The complainants raised alarm which attracted a lot of people to pursue them for their arrest.

Skyro fired a shot to scare the people who were pursing them.

The accused persons fled in different directions in a bush.

Owing to the fact that the accused persons were armed, the complainants could not search the bush.

Police patrol teams, which arrived on the scene 45 minutes later, arrested the accused persons in different parts of the bush.

A sack containing GH4,388 and pump action gun were retrieved from Olugbami, while a bag containing a single barrel gun, a locally manufactured pistol and 13 Lion BB cartridges were retrieved from Abass.

Skyro abandoned his locally manufactured pistol in the bush and hid in a bathroom of a house.

The locally manufactured pistol was later retrieved from the bush with one empty shell of Lion BB cartridge in the barrel.

Investigations further revealed that Olugbami brought the cartridges from Kpetoe and gave them to one Kojo who lives at Teshie.

The GH40,000, CFA 67,000 and Naira 20,000 could not be accounted for when the accused persons were arrested.

During interrogation, Olugbami and Abass admitted that they and one Zila, now at large, robbed one Doris Okai another complainant in the case who deals in assorted drinks at Nungua of her GH11,000 and Infinix Hot Note mobile phone.

By Jeffrey De-Graft Johnson

[email protected]
Two men have been arrested by the police for allegedly contracting a famous pastor to pray over a trunk full of ritual money but they ended up swindling him of God GH15,000.

They are Theophilus Siaw, a 19-year-old unemployed, Francis Tetteh Tsu; Freedom, 21, a mechanic apprentice and Isaac Amay aka Rasta, currently at large.

The pastor, who is the head pastor of a famous church at Ashaiman Lebanon and often preached on Rite Fm, Somanya, was said to have been contracted to pray over the money after which they would all share it.

A source at the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) headquarters told DAILY GUIDE that the pastor, in the month of June 2016, was preaching on Rite Fm when he received a phone call from Theophilus that he had a problem and wanted to discuss it with him.

The two agreed and met at a Hotel at Somanya when Theophilus narrated to the pastor that he visited a spiritualist for the ritual money.

Theophilus said the money, which was in dollars, was in a trunk in his house but any time he touched the trunk, he had 'electrical shock.'

The pastor agreed to see the said trunk containing the money so that he could pray over it and also to sanctify it.

Theophilus took the man of God to where the said trunk was and when the pastor attempted to pray over it, Isaac Amay, a friend of Theophilus, stopped him and further told him that the spiritualist ordered them not to allow anybody to pray over the money and that if they defied the order, Theophilus would die.

Isaac told the pastor that the spiritualist, who is in the Republic of Benin, had ordered that a life cow be buried at a cemetery as a sacrifice before any person could touch the money in the trunk.

The suspects then suggested to the pastor that he provide the financial assistance for the ritual so that when it was done, they could all share the money equally when the trunk was finally opened.

The pastor agreed and provided an amount of GH3,000 for the purchase of the cow.

He again raised an account of GH2,000 to the suspects and further led then to Benin to see the said spiritualist for the rest of the rituals to be performed.

On their return to Ghana, the suspects again collected various sums of money amounting to GH10,000 from the victim as well.

The police source said while the pastor was waiting for the suspects to give him the go-ahead for the trunk to be opened, he received a call from them demanding an amount of $3,000 for final rituals to be performed; and it was at this point that the pastor realized that the suspects were fraudsters and reported the matter to the police.

By Linda Tenyah-Ayettey

( [email protected] )
Debris of the house in which the money was burnt

03.09.2016 LISTEN



An amount of GH6,000.00 was yesterday reportedly destroyed in a house that caught fire at Kukuom in the Asunafo South District of the Brong-Ahafo Region.

Though no human casualties were recorded, properties worth thousands of Ghana cedis, including electronic and electrical gadgets, were burnt into ashes.

According to eyewitnesses, smoke was seen coming out of the roof of the seven-room apartment when all the occupants had either left for work or the farm. The only fire tender in the district located at Goaso, the Asunafo North District capital, took several minutes to reach the scene at Kukuom to put off the fire.

The owner of the cash, Madam Selina Adu Nyarku, a health worker, told newsmen that she kept the money in her room.

Residents believe the blaze was caused by the frequent power outages known in the local parlance as dumsor.

All efforts to get the Goaso district fire officer for comment proved futile.

FROM Daniel Yao Dayee, Kukuom

[email protected]
As election 2016 looms, the well-placed members of the NDC party and their agents and assigns have hit the campaign trail. What message have they got for the suffering Ghanaians, thus, the ordinary Ghanaians? Nothing, but the usual deceits called in their own political parlance or jargon as propaganda.

How on earth, should one who has been suffering all these years, forced to pay unbearably high utility (electricity and water) bills, constantly increasing transportation fares, been witnessing practice of selective justice where members of the NDC get away with blue murder while others belonging to the other political parties get mercilessly punished for same offence, allow themselves to be fooled by these NDC fat cows?

The ordinary Ghanaians form the majority of people who have become victims to the institutional corruption glaringly being perpetrated and perpetuated by the NDC fat cows.

Why then should you, a victim, let go your only chance to set yourself free from the obviously divide and rule administration by President Mahama and his NDC government which has detrimental effect on your person, family and the majority of your fellow Ghanaians, by not exercising your franchise prudently on 7 December 2016?

Why should you allow President Mahama and the NDC fat cows to come to deceive you with insignificant one-off incentives or gifts like few kilos of fertilizers, tins of sardines, machetes, cloths etc. to get your votes for nearly free to get them re-elected only to start making your lives worse than before?

If we should allow ourselves to be influenced by such minor gifts to do the unthinkable, to continue to be mired in suffering, then I am afraid we may not be far from fishes that are baited with pieces of worm on a hook into their death.

Now, a person like Koku Anyidoho has been talking with all the force that he can muster. He has as usual been impersonating, publishing his views and lies in the names of Margret Jackson and Nana Akua Tweneboah Kodua. This is somebody that some poor and suffering people will listen to and then be influenced to do his bidding. While he gets well paid, drives around in expensive cars, puts up houses and probably is able to commit crimes with impunity, you the poor person gets nothing yet, you want him to fool you with his sweet lies.

Look at Madam Akua Donkor, that typical stomach politician, the lapdog of President Mahama, who recently announced to the entire world in a video recorded interview granted to Kofi Adoma Onwawani of Adom TV and FM radio, that President Mahama has given her two expensive cars and a house in a posh location in Accra.

For what Akua Donkor has got and continue to get, an accomplice in the corruption President Mahama has visited upon Ghanaians, she will go every length to defend President Mahama and the NDC despite the fact that the President is corrupt, incompetent, and clueless and is mismanaging the affairs of Ghana. She will also move Heaven and earth to tell lies aimed at discrediting the NPP and Nana Akufo Addo, all for what she stands to gain as an individual person.

Why should you, a suffering and poor Ghanaian who has the same voting power (one man or one person one vote) as any of the mentioned two people and their other like-minded rogues, allow them to feed fat at your expense if not ignorance?

Please, now is your chance to set yourself free from the shackles of suffering and slavery that President Mahama and the NDC have psychologically put around your wrists and legs.

LET THE BLOWING WIND OF CHANGE BE YOUR PORTION, OH, FELLOW SUFFERING GHANAIAN.

Do not allow sweet lying words from Kofi Adams, President Mahama Koku Anyidoho, Johnson Asiedu Nketiah, Akua Donkor, Omane Boamah etc., fool you. They will use those lies to keep you stagnating in poverty and ignorance whilst they prosper to position their families to rule you for ever.

Let election 2016 bring a positive change in your life. However, remember that the anticipated positive change can never be brought about by the NDC and President Mahama but by Nana Akufo Adofo and the NPP.

I leave you with the words, Once bitten, twice shy and Had I known is always at last

I hope you will muse on my admonition to you to decide in a manner that your White peers will see you as intelligent persons who know when and how to bring about positive changes in their lives seizing an opportunity offered to them.

Rockson Adofo
Accra, Sept. 2, GNA - Nii Ako Nortei IV of the Osu Ashante quarter has been inducted into the Osu Traditional Council as the Osu Mankralo after swearing an oath of allegiance to the Osu Mantse, Nii Okwei Kinka Dowuona VI.

This signified the smoking of a peace pipe by the traditional leaders after the long standing chieftaincy litigations.

Nii Ako Nortei said his swearing was a demonstration of unity and a new road-map for Osu's progress and that the traditional leaders should be sincere in their dealings with each other in order for peace to reign in the area.

'I call on Nii Kinka Dowuona today that he shouldn't hide anything from me; he shouldn't put me in darkness and do something that will harm both us. He should not turn his back to me when I call him in the morning, in the afternoon and in the evening,' he said.

Nii Ako Nortei asked the citizens of Osu to put an end to rumour mongering which has the tendency of breaking families and the society but should rather hold their hands together to move the community forward in development.

In his response, Nii Kinka Dowuona said all that the people need is love for one another for them to live in peace and happiness to propel Osu in its endeavours.

He urged the people to put the past behind them and go ahead in unity and accord each one the due respect for the community to regain its reputable position among its peers.

'Any citizen who looks down upon Nii Ako Nortei by extension has done same to me. We need to embrace each other with love and humbleness which open doors for success,' Nii Kinka Dowuona said.

GNA
By Hafsa Obeng, GNA

Accra, Sept. 2, GNA - A Taxi Driver, Daniel Quaye, was on Thursday arraigned for attempting to commit crime, to wit robbery.

Daniel attempted to rob the complainant of his Taxi, on August 21, at the Korle Nurses Training school area.

He pleaded not guilty to the charge but was remanded by the court to reappear on September 15, for trial.

Police Chief Inspector, Kwabena Adu, the Prosecutor told the court that the complainant is Taxi Driver and lives at Tema Community 1, while the accused person also claims to be a taxi driver and resides at Dansoman.

He said on August 21, at about 1200 hours the complainant's brother, who is the driver of a Toyota Corolla Taxi, gave the car to the complainant to drive as spare.

He said at 1630 hours on the same day, while the complainant was driving around community 10, Junction, the accused person stopped him, to take him to Korle Bu and he charged him GHa 50.00.

The prosecution said upon reaching Tema Station, in Accra, the accused asked the complainant to stop for him to attend to natures call at a public toilet which he obliged.

Daniel spent about one and half hours in the toilet before he came back and told the complainant to continue with the journey.

Police Chief Inspector Adu told the court that when they got to Korle Bu, Daniel asked the complainant to drive him to the Nurses Training School area for him to meet his master and collect money to pay the fare.

He said the complainant noticed that the road was blocked, but Daniel still directed him to turn left, but he slowed down because the road was bad, then immediately the accused person opened a polythene bag he was holding and picked an enamel syringe containing acid and sprayed on the complainant.

The complainant stopped and got out of the car took to his heel and shouted for help, but Daniel also got out of the car, chased the complainant with a wood also shouting for help.

Prosecution said the scene attracted residents in the area and both the complainant and accused person were arrested. When questioned, Daniel claimed that the taxi belonged to him and accused the complainant of being an armed robber.

The complainant also told them that, the said taxi was given to him as spare by his brother and showed his driver's license in the car to them.

Police Chief Inspector Adu said Daniel was handed over to the Korle Bu police after which it was transferred to the Regional CID for further investigations.

He said during interrogation, Daniel initially denied the offence but later admitted the offence in his investigation caution statement and further stated that, his intention was to snatch the taxi from the complainant but did not succeeded.

He also admitted ownership of the polythene bag he was carrying containing a rope, knife, a piece of wood, enamel syringe, containing acid and two plastic bottles containing a liquid suspected to be acid, were items he decided to use in his robbery expedition.

GNA
The Central Region is ready to receive the president, His Excellency John Dramani Mahama in the Region from Monday the 5th to Friday 9th September as the President embarks on phase one of his 2016 campaign tour in the Region.

The visit, which would mark the first phase of the Presidents tour in central region would be expected to take His Excellency John Mahama to 15 out of the 23 constituencies in the Region.

The constituencies are: Awutu/Senya East and West, Agona East and West, Gomoa Central, Gomoa East and West, Mfantseman and Abura /Aseibu /Kwamankese constituencies.

The rest are; Cape Coast North and South, Komenda/ Edina /Eguafo /Abrem, Asikuma/ Odobeng/Brakwa and Ajumako/ Enyan /Essiam constituencies.

It is envisaged that rallies would be held in all the constituencies that the President will visit alongside campaign launch for some of the constituencies.

It is also expected that the President would address a large gathering of party faithfuls, supporters and sympathisers at all the rallies.

Also, the President is expected to meet with Central Region fishermen, fishmongers, canoe owners, wives of fishermen and fish sellers in the Region at Moree and address them accordingly.

Additionally, the President would use the opportunity to commission three modern day Senior High Schools, popularly known as Mahama Secondary Schools" at Agona Namanwora in the Agona East constituency, Gomoa Gyaaman in the Gomoa Central Constituency and Agona Abodom, the home town of famous comedian, Super O. D. in the Agona West Municipality.

The fever of the tour has already gripped the Region as party paraphernalia and flags are already flying high in Cape Coast, Elmina, Agona Swedru, Ekumfi Esuehyia, Ajumako, Kasoa, Winneba and other places.

In an exclusive interview, the Central Regional Communication Officer of the NDC, Mr. Kwesi Dawood explained that branch, ward, constituency and the Regional Executives under the able Chairmanship of Mr. Bernard Allotey Jacobs have planned and prepared adequately ahead of the Presidents tour and that the "Toaso" flavour was all over the region.

He hinted that His Excellency John Dramani Mahama would visit the other constituencies that do not form part of the phase one of the campaign at a later date that would be communicated in due course.

This would mark the second time in a couple of three weeks that the president would be visiting the central region.

It would be recalled that the president stormed Cape Coast when the National Democratic Congress NDC launched it campaign for the 2016 elections on the 14th of last month.

The tour would be the third in succession of the president since the party officially launched it campaign for the 2016 electioneering.

The president immediately after the official campaign launch moved to the western region with his campaign before he continued to the Northern region where he was given a rousing welcome by the people.

.
03.09.2016 LISTEN

Ghana has been blessed with a lot. Aside the natural resources, we can as well boast of great tourist sites and holiday destinations. No need to grab a ticket abroad for a vacation or honeymoon treat. Here are five vacation and honeymoon destination for family and loved ones.

1. Zaina lodge.

Zaina lodge can be located in the Northern region of Ghana precisely very close to the Mole National park and Larabanga mosque. Its natural feel alone allows you to enjoy nature's best. It is situated close to the two above mentioned tourist sites and beautiful waters. If you are a friend of nature then I suggest Zaina lodge to you this weekend and any other weekend.

2. Aqua Safari resort.

If you love beaches then I suggest Aqua Safari to you. Your eyes will remain gazed on the beautiful blue waters. A refreshing and natural feeling. It is located at Big Ada in the Eastern Region on the beautiful waters of Ada. Grab your cupcake, your sunglasses and swim suits and enjoy nature.

3. Holy Trinity Spa And Health Spa.

The first Spa, the best. At the mention of Holy Trinity Spa and Health farm, that's the first statement that rings a bell in your ears. It is the first Spa in West Africa and inarguably one of the best if not the sole best. It is located in Sogakope in the Volta region along the Volta river. Beautiful atmosphere and very serene. If you want to distress yourself from the busy schedules, then pay a visit to the Holy Trinity Spa and Health Farm.

4. Coconut Groove hotels

Coconut Groove can boast of beautiful resorts and hotels in the nation. With their resorts and hotels scattered all over the country, there is sure a place for you anywheew, anytime. The coconut groove resort in Elmina and Axim are sites to enjoy. With a very serene atmosphere, you just couldn't ask for more. This is value for money. The coconut groove hotel in Accra is not an exception. Pass by anytime and enjoy quality services.

5. Dodi Island

The last but definitely not the least is the Dodi Island situated along the Volta lake. Cruise on the lake in the Dodi Princess ferry and enjoy the beautiful sites. True definition of nature it is. Pass by anytime you are around Akosombo or the Volta lake.

Life can never be better without Love. Love is a gift of nature. You can only enjoy life to its full by marrying love with your dreams. Love truly, adore family and enjoy nature.
The central regional communication officer of the National Democratic Congress, Mr. kwesi Dawood says the people of central region will demonstrate their sincerest appreciation to the NDC, by voting massively for president John Dramani Mahama in the December elections to help retain the party in power.

This, he said, would go a long way to ensure that the region would become the next World Bank for the NDC after the Volta region.

Mr Dawood stated this in an exclusive interview ahead of the first phase of the presidents campaign tour in the region which starts from Monday 5th to 9th September.

According to Mr Dawood, under the leadership of president Mahama, the central region has benefitted immensely from the better Ghana agenda, in terms of infrastructural development and other social intervention programmes that have transformed the lives of the citizens of the region.

He continued that the president made the people of the region proud when he selected His Excellency Paa Kwesi Amissah-Arthur, a true son of the region as his running mate in 2012 and his vice for 2016 as well.

Mr. Dawood intimated that President John Dramani Mahama has fulfilled all the infrastructural and other promises that were made by the late Prof. Atta Mills to the people of the region and has even added more.

He mentioned the New Cape Coast Stadium, the Komenda Sugar Factory, Essuakyer Water Project, Elmina Benya Bridge, Elmina Fish Processing Plant and the Kotokoraba Market in Cape Coast as some of the major infrastructural developments that the region has benefitted under president Mahamas administration.

Today the NDC has become very attractive in the region. Every single district or constituency in the region has benefitted from at least one developmental project which the citizenry can attest to. This is the evidence based achievement we are talking about. He stressed.

We can boast of several Senior High Schools in the region today. In fact, the developments projects we have in the central region under the NDC are unprecedented and these are what the good people of the central region are going to vote. He posited.

The communications officer emphasised that several vulnerable ladies and women in the region have been supported by the first lady, Mrs Lordina Mahama through her Live Changing interventions.

He said, the regional executive of the party under the chairmanship of indefatigable Mr. Allotey Jacobs are working assiduously to ensure that their projected target of winning over 20 parliamentary seats in the region could become a reality.

Also, the party, he said, was poised for winning over 60 per cent of the total valid votes that would be cast in the region in December.

Currently, the NDC has 16 out of a total of 23 parliamentary seats in the central region
The Majority in Parliament has indicated that they will reject any move by the Minority to remove President John Dramani Mahama from office before December's general elections.

The Speaker, Edward Doe Adjaho, dismissed a motion filed by the Minority on Thursday] to initiate a probe into the Ford gift saga by Parliament.

The Minority believed that the President acted inappropriately, given his position, by accepting the gift from the Burkinabe contractor.

The Ranking Member for Legal, Constitutional and Parliamentary Affairs Joe Osei-Owusu said on Friday that the Minority was putting some evidence together against President Mahama as it tried to reach a desired end.

When we get there, when we put the evidence together and the body that is responsible and has brought its conclusions out, that is when the desired end issue will arise, he explained.

He added that the Minority is totally capable of putting the evidence together and making a presentation that will persuade anybody that is listening to us. We will be willing to do the work, that there is evidence, that conduct of the president in this matter brought the office of the President into disrepute.

However, according to the Majority leader, Alban Bagbin, any attempt to remove the president from office with negative politics' will not be successful.

I never underestimate the intelligence of my colleagues in the opposition, I never do. But sometimes you are compelled to say that because you don't underestimate their intelligence, you know that they know. So when somebody knows the right thing but proceeds to do the wrong thing, there must be a reason. In many cases you'll see that it's rather meant to play negative politics, he said.

Politics is a double-edged sword; and so it is for everything in the world; democracy is the same. If we decide to focus on the negatives of democracy, we'll reap the consequences. My colleagues know that if they proceed along the way of impeachment, there's no way they are likely to succeed. If with that knowledge, you still decide to embark on a wild goose chase, that's your own issue.

Minority motion distracting

Alban Bagbin echoed the comments made by the Speaker, that the Minoritys motion was redundant given the fact that petitions had already been submitted by three parties, including the Progressive Peoples Party (PPP), and the youth wing of the Convention Peoples Party (CPP), to the Commission for Human Rights and Administrative Justice, (CHRAJ) to look into the matter

He argued that the fact that the body mandated to handle such cases has already commenced investigations, it was unnecessary for the minority to call for independent parliamentary investigations into the issue.

The good people don't want politicization so they established a constitutional commission to handle such matters. That's why we have CHRAJ because they know the nature of party politics and that is why they took those issues away from part of the functions or duties of parliament and decided that CHRAJ should take such issues, he said.

Those that are left on the plate of oversight is for Parliament to do. Those that have been identified and given to other institutions of state are for those institutions of state and not Parliament.

He said the Minoritys actions were creating a distraction from the actual issues that were vital to the development of the country.

It's going to distract the attention of the whole country from focusing on laying down, not just the process to a successful election, but the culture of making sure that we start looking at issues. The media rather focused on shaping the thinking and minds of people on the process to impeach, Alban Bagbin said

That is going to distract the country from focusing on the serious issues that are confronting us which we would have to discuss and find solutions to. There's no government that will come and will not face those issues because there are global crisis, global security, unemployment and economic crisis. That's what led to the Arab uprising and these are issues that as a country, we should have the political space to discuss. People want to see the solutions being offered by the various political parties before we get to the elections.



By: Edwin Kwakofi/citifmonline.com/Ghana
Overlord of the Gonjaland Traditional Area, Yagbonwura Tuntumba Boresa I, has renewed calls for the split of the Northern Region into two.

He suggested that the Gonjaland Traditional Area endowed with mineral resources and tourism potentials deserves to be a region on its own. The request comes after Nana Addos promise to split the Western Region into two.

The Yagbonwura made the demand when the Presidential nominee of the opposition New Patriotic Party (NPP), Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo paid a courtesy call on him at the Jakpa palace in Damongo.

Yagbonwura Tuntumba Boresa I prayed for Nana Akufo Addos victory and advised him to continue with his peace mission. He also admonished Nana Akufo Addo to ignore his detractors who use intemperate language to denigrate his personality.

He tasked politicians to safeguard the nations peace and stability by avoiding hate speech on their campaign platforms.

Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo praised Gonjas for their peaceful coexistence and promised to deepen his relationship with the clan.

The Yagbonwura raised concerns about infrastructure deficit in the area especially the lack of adequate portable water. The NPP Presidential nominee assured the Yagbonwura of fulfilling all his campaign promises when elected President.

Nana Akufo-Addo praised Gonjas for their peaceful coexistence and promised to deepen his relationship with the clan.

He said Gonjalands development will remain his topmost priority for which reason Gonjas should change position at the December 7 polls.

Nana Akufo Addo further paid courtesy calls on the chiefs of Daboya, Bole and Yapei and later addressed teeming party supporters.

The NPP Presidential nominee, Nana Akufo Addo, has since left for the Upper West Regional campaign tour.



By: Abdul Karim Naatogmah/citifmonline.com/Ghana
Juba (AFP) - South Sudan's religious leaders called Saturday for the deployment of a protection force in Juba, during a meeting with ambassadors from the UN Security Council currently on a trip to the war-scarred country.

Representatives from the 15 nations of the Council are in South Sudan to try to persuade President Salvia Kiir to accept the deployment of a regional force -- or face sanctions.

The US ambassador to the UN Samantha Power insisted as she arrived in Juba that 4,000 additional African peacekeepers were needed.

The South Sudan government opposes the proposed additional peacekeepers on the grounds that their mandate violates national sovereignty.

A fresh wave of violence erupted in South Sudan in July, pitting Kiir's troops against former rebel chief Riek Machar's forces in Juba. The upsurge threatened a fragile peace accord signed last year to end a devastating 18-month civil war which left tens of thousands dead.

Force needed 'now'

"This force should come, and it should come now. I think this force will help us to further implement this agreement," Catholic Archbishop Paulino Lukudu Loro told AFP.

"As a country, we cannot address this mess alone, we cannot put the country back on track alone. And there is no humiliation in this need to be assisted."

The UN mission in South Sudan currently has over 13,000 troops but has faced criticism for failing to protect civilians, including dozens of women and girls who were raped near a UN base in Juba after a flareup of violence in the capital in early July.

South Sudan descended into war in December 2013 when Kiir accused his former deputy Machar of plotting a coup, and a peace deal signed last year was left in tatters during the flare-up in Juba in early July.

Anglican Archibishop Daniel Deng Bul backed the intervention call, saying "the UN is momentarily the father of the people of South Sudan".

Church leaders -- both Catholic and Protestant -- carry strong moral authority in Christian-majority South Sudan and bishops have played an important role in brokering past peace deals.

During the fighting in July, Machar, who had been persuaded to return to Juba as part of the national unity government agreed under the peace deal, fled the country and is now in Khartoum, having been replaced by Taban Deng Gai in Juba.

Aside from the tens of thousands of people killed, the United Nations has reported shocking levels of brutality including gang-rapes and the wholesale burning of villages.

An estimated 16,000 children have been recruited by armed groups and the national army in the conflict and 2.5 million people have been driven from their homes.
03.09.2016 LISTEN

A former Clerk of Parliament has said Speaker Edward Doe Adjaho erred in his outright dismissal of a motion brought before him by the Minority in respect of the controversial Ford gift scandal involving President John Mahama.

Samuel Darkwa who served in the House from 1961 to 1997 said Parliament is the highest forum to debate matters and the best the Speaker could have done on the controversial Ford scandal was to have the matter debated.

He was speaking on Multi TV and Joy FM's news analysis program Newsfile, Saturday, in reaction to the drama on the floor of Parliament on Thursday.

Speaker Edward Joe Adjaho within 15 minutes shot down a motion filed by the Minority under Article 112 (3) of the Constitution requesting a bipartisan parliamentary probe into the circumstances under which a Burkinabe contractor and business man gifted President John Mahama a Ford vehicle after winning a contract from the government of Ghana.

The Minority averred that even though the aspects of their motion were before CHRAJ, any conclusion or report from CHRAJ will be sent to the Attorney General, an appointee of government and the matter would be dead on arrival.

They therefore urged the Speaker to invoke the powers of the House to exercise its oversight responsibility over the Executive especially when the matter in question [the award of contract to the Burkina Faso contractor to construct a $650,000 wall around Ghana's mission in Burkina Faso] was already before the house.

However, the Speaker on Thursday dismissed the motion with the explanation that CHRAJ by the constitutional arrangements and rulings of the Supreme Court is clothed with the power to investigate issues of corruption, conflict of interest and abuse of power.

He said the motion which the Minority was inviting the House to interrogate was not fundamentally different from what was before CHRAJ. He would rather have CHRAJ investigate the matter than have a bipartisan parliamentary probe.

Speaker Doe Adjaho therefore dismissed the motion and adjourned the House sine die.

His conduct has been hailed by the Majority and lampooned by the Minority, whose leader described the action as "whimsical and capricious."

On Newsfile, SN Darkwa told host Samson Lardi Anyenini ordinarily any motion brought before the House is filed, seconded, debated and then the Speaker rules on it.

SN Darkwa (R) Standing by Speaker DF Annan

He said it is only when motions are subjudice (under judicial consideration and therefore prohibited from public discussion elsewhere) that a matter cannot be debated on the floor.

Even though by his training he was not supposed to, publicly criticize the Speaker, even after exiting Parliament, SN Darkwa said for the public good and for education, the Speaker ought to have allowed the matter to be discussed on the floor before taking a decision.

He said there is always a majority in the house who would win the debate anyway if it is allowed on the floor.

He was also quick to add that the speaker has sole responsibility for the admissibility of a motion but stated unequivocally that it must be done in accordance with law.

But the Majority Leader Alban Bagbin who called into the show said the former Clerk has been misled into making the comments he made.

He stated that the matter was not before the Parliament and that it was only a request to the speaker who has the right to admit or reject it.

He said if the speaker had admitted the motion, he would have sent it to the clerk for onward submission to the business committee of Parliament to be tabled for discussion on the floor.

He however added that the Speaker had taken the position that the motion was not admissible and that is why he did not pass it on to the business committee of Parliament. He was unequivocal that the Speaker did nothing wrong in quashing the motion.
A former member of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), who is contesting the parliamentary seat in the Akatsi South Constituency, Lawyer Evans Djikunu, has said he is leaving no stone unturned to snatch the seat from the incumbent NDC MP, Bernard Ahiafor in the upcoming elections.

The deep rivalry between followers of the incumbent MP, Bernard Ahiafor, and his main challenger in the recently held NDC primary, Prince Kassim, is still very much alive with no evidence of attempts to resolve the problems.

Also, the old blocks; Speaker Edward Adjaho and his long term rival, Evans Dzikunu, who is now an independent Parliamentary aspirant in this year's race, still attracts massive following from some loyalists of the governing NDC, a situation that continues to deepen the divisions.

The independent candidate, Evans Djikunu, says he is leaving no stone unturned. Just yesterday [Thursday], he inaugurated a brand new office space in the constituency to run his campaign and also instituted a new welfare Association called Friends of Gadeto Djikunu (FOGAD) to cater for the needs of his followers.

Your office is a reflection of the vision you have for the people. I know very well that since I am taking this elections very serious I need to have the confidence of the people. The people should know that I am battle ready for this years general elections; I mean business, I want to go to parliament and these are some of the measures I am putting in place he said.

Residents who live around the new party office located adjacent the Akatsi Magistrate court in Tatorme seem quite impressed.

Our friend has done well, so far this is the first of its kind in the constituency. Weve never seen this kind of political party office so it tells us that he is prepared a resident told Citi News.

The internal troubles within the NDC makes the scramble for Akatsi South Parliamentary seat quiet an intriguing one to watch out for.

The burden seems firmly on the shoulders of the incumbent MP, Bernard Ahiafor, to either resolve the problems by uniting the NDC or struggle through the divisions to retain the seat.



By: King Norbert Akpablie/citifmonline.com/Ghana
The Member of Parliament for Wa Central, Dr. Rashid Pelpuo, has chastised the Minority over its failed attempt to get Parliament to investigate President John Mahama for his acceptance of the Ford Expedition gift from a Burkinabe contractor.

It was good the Speaker threw it out because we don't have time for that because CHRAJ is the constitutional body mandated by the to do exactly that and they are doing it, he said.

Pelpuo, who doubles as a Minister of State at the Presidency, argued that the timing was wrong since the issue had been dealt with when it first came up in the Auditor Generals report in 2013.

The story as we know came out in the Auditor General's report in 2013, dealt by the Public Accounts Committee, and was brought to the House. We debated it and nobody raised an issue about investigating the presidency. Manesseh's story came out and we went back to Parliament on and off, nobody thought about raising an issue or calling for investigations.

They failed in all these instances, three years after the report, only to wait, three months to the election, when we are on recess working to win our seats, you have brought the matter back, and didnt even do background checks, he lamented on The Big Issue on Saturday.

He thus commended the Speaker for the decision he took.

Speaker throws out motion

The Speaker of Parliament, Edward Doe Adjaho on Friday threw out the motion filed by the minority to demanding the setting up of a special by-partisan parliamentary committee to probe the issue.

Adjaho explained that the right body to investigate the matter was the Commission on Human Right and Administrative Justice (CHRAJ), which he said was already doing same.

But the minority in Parliament insisted the Speaker was wrong, and have vowed to gather more evidence to pursue the President on the matter.

NPP doing disservice to Ghana

He again argued that, the minority were doing Ghanaians a disservice by filing the motion.

There's so much sloppiness about what happened. The speaker has done so well. Just imagine us taking this matter up close to the elections with people spewing out lies, unsubstantiated accusations, throwing them all at the presidency, close to the election. This is timed to create confusion so that nobody can resolve it before the election. I must add that they did a lot of disservice to the people of Ghana, he added.

Agyarko fights back

Meanwhile, the opposition New Patriotic Party (NPP) MP for Ayawaso West Wogon, Emmanuel Kyeremateng Agyarko, who was also on the programme insisted that they did the right thing.

He also explained that the issue was a golden opportunity for President John Mahama to prove his innocence in the matter.



By: Godwin A. Allotey/citifmonline.com/Ghana

Follow @AlloteyGodwin
The Accra Royale chapter of the Junior Chamber International (JCI) organization, last Saturday embarked on an anti-malaria campaign at La Kaklamadu in the La Dadekotopon municipality in Accra.

The project dubbed 'Nothing But Nets' was geared towards raising awareness for and fight malaria, which is a leading cause of death among children in Africa.

The activities for the day included clearing and fumigating gutters in the area, free malaria screening, distribution of treated mosquito nets and education on how to properly hang the nets.

Speaking to Citi News, the 2016 president of JCI Accra Royale, Sylvia Sefakor Senu, said they embarked on the project following a request from residents after the organisation conducted an analysis in the New Kaajaano Electoral Area.

She also mentioned that the activities were aimed at achieving the third Sustainable Development Goal (SDG #3).

JCI is one big advocate of eradicating malaria. JCI Accra Royale is affiliated to the La Dadekotopon Municipal Assembly, under which the La Kaklamadu Community falls. After conducting an analysis in the area, we realized that the root cause of malaria for them was a huge gutter which also served as a dumping site for some households. So we're here today to fumigate their gutters, screen them for malaria, distribute mosquito nets and educate them on the need to sleep under nets, as well as how to properly hang them.

JCI is in partnership with the United Nations (UN) and whatever we do is in line with the global agenda. This particular Health and Sanitation project we are even embarking on is aligned to the third SDG of Ensuring healthy lives and promoting well-being for all at all ages Senu added.

The Assemblyman for the area, Emmanuel Nyarko Baah, was extremely grateful to the Accra-based local organization for their visit to his community.

He revealed that malaria was a huge problem for the area since they suffered with mosquitoes and flies a lot in the area.

He further attributed heavy filth clogged up in their gutters to the prevalence of malaria in the area and urged his people to engage in regular clean-up exercises.



By: Akosua Ofewaa Opoku/citifmonline.com/Ghana
The medical doctor for the New Patriotic Party flagbearer Nana Akufo-Addo has dismissed claims by a UK based Africawatch Magazine that his client his sick with acute cancer and kidney problems.

Prof Adu Gyamfi said on Joy FM's Newsfile program Saturday, the claims in the magazine can only be a fabrication and a figment of someone's imagination.

The August edition of the Africawatch Magazine headlined "NPP Campaign in jeopardy: Akufo Addo has cancer" makes copious revelations it claimed were gleaned from medical records of the Wellington Hospital in UK where Nana Addo was said to have received treatment.

The magazine which had an artist impression of Akufo-Addo sitting on a hospital bed, in a hospital gown and wearing a pair of NPP designed socks made emphatic claims that the NPP leader had acute cancer and kidney ailments.

"Nana Akufo-Addo was diagnosed with prostate cancer in June 2013 with a very high Prostrate-Specific Antigen (PSA) count of 89.9, very much above the 3.72 upper range that it should have been, according to his British doctors," the magazine reported.

"Internationally, many doctors are now using the following PSA ranges as determinants of possible risk to prostate cancer: 0 to 2.5 ng/mL the risk is low. 2.6 to 10 ng/mL the risk is slightly to moderately elevated. 10 to 19.9 ng/mL the risk is moderately elevated. 20 ng/mL or more the risk is significantly elevated. Remarkably, from several tests done on Akufo-Addo at the Wellington Hospital, the NPP presidential candidates PSA readings have consistently been around 89.9 or 89.8, which are peculiarly high and are very clear indications of a serious prostrate cancer," the paper added.

It went on to challenge the NPP flagbearer to follow the example of the Dr Papa Kwesi Nduom, the leader of the Progressive People's Party by making public his medical record, insisting the health of a person campaigning to become president is a public interest story.

Taking up the challenge somewhat, the doctor of the NPP leader Prof Adu Gyamfi told Joy FM's Newsfile program the claims by the magazine are a bit outlandish.

"Every man has a prostrate....The levels are usually from point something to about four.. which is normal. If it is from four to ten, you are observed and [then you] plan what to do if it exceeds 10.

"Nana Addo's PSA as done in June [2016] is 0.03 well below the four level and its well well below the 89.3 mentioned in the article.

"He doesn't have any cancer. Anybody with that kind of cancer will not be able to run around as he is doing.

"...When you have acute renal failure usually you are unable to pass urine.... If your kidney fails it can kill you in days. What is done is that you undergo dialysis at least three or four times a day."

The doctor said if Nana Addo has any of the ailments the paper claims he has, he would not be doing the things he is doing now.

"Nana is very safe. He is campaigning. Anybody seriously sick as the paper claims will not be able to stand up, let alone undertake this rigorous campaign," Prof Adu Gyamfi said.

Asked if the Wellington Hospital mentioned in the paper, is the medical facility Nana Addo uses, the doctor could not confirm or deny that, except to say that he has been taking care of the NPP flagbearer over the last two years and cannot say if Nana Addo had used that hospital in the past.

Meanwhile Joy FM contacted the hospital to ascertain the truth or otherwise of the claims made in the Magazine. The hospital spokesperson Andrew Mildren said the hospital does not release medical records of its patients.

For reasons of patient privacy and confidentiality, The Wellington Hospital is unable to disclose details of individuals who may or may not have been treated at our facilities.

"This applies to the claims that medical records have been disclosed and it would be good to see copies of these documents," the statement said.

Story by Ghana|Myjoyonline.com|Nathan Gadugah
By Samuel Akapule, GNA

Pusu-Namongo (U/E), Sept. 3, GNA - The Center for Indigenous Knowledge and Organizational Development (CIKOD), has organised a four day marketing strategy training programme for some selected women drawn from the Upper East and Upper West Regions.

The women empowerment Non-Governmental Organization said the training programme targeted women farmers who are into basket weaving, soap making, pottery and soyabeans processing.

It was aimed at empowering the beneficiaries with marketing strategies including how to effectively brand of their products.

Speaking to the Ghana News Agency at Pusu-Namongo in the Talensi District of the Upper East Region, Ms Elham Mumuni, the Manager of CIKOD in charge of Women Empowerment, said the project, dubbed "Women's Leadership for Economic Empowerment and Food Security', was to help improve the efforts of the women.

'The project, which is also being implemented in Ethiopia and Zambia, by Canada based Global Affairs, is also aimed at promoting the leadership of rural women and to address food security and sustainable economic livelihood concerns.

Madam Margaret Ayamga, 49, who is a leader of a basket weaving women group in Sumbrungu in the Bolgatanga Municipality in the Upper East Region, said apart from the marketing strategies training being offered to them, they also studied different ways of weaving their products.

'Prior to the training we used to carry our baskets from our homes to the Bolga market and sell at very low prices but now our clients come to us to place orders due to the quality of the baskets we weave. We are very grateful to the CIKOD and its partners', Ms Ayamga said.

Madam Goladeri Stella, a soap maker from the Upper West Region, said the training would help improve their sales.

GNA
By Albert Futukpor, GNA

Tamale, Sept. 3, GNA - Agricultural Advisory Services Network of Ghana (AASN-Ghana) has been launched to provide accurate, timely and reliable information along the agricultural value chain to stakeholders in the country.

The AASN-Ghana, which is a network of experts and stakeholders in the agricultural value chain, will work to bring together actors in the agricultural sector to share data and best practices as well as strategize on ways to reach farmers for better results.

Chief Issahaku Yabyure Jesiwuni, Coordinator of AASN-Ghana, who spoke during the launch in Tamale, said AASN-Ghana became necessary to streamline the provision of agricultural services including extension to smallholder farmers to improve production.

Chief Jesiwuni said AASN-Ghana would work to promote and facilitate access of members to innovative technologies and improved advisory service provision to agricultural producers, processors, marketers and other value chain actors spread across the country.

He said AASN-Ghana would champion the cause of smallholder farmers adding it was currently conducting a research on the impact of agricultural extension services delivery in the country.

Mrs Cecilia Addae, a representative of Africa Lead, urged AASN-Ghana to work closely with the youth and women groups to promote agricultural production.

AASN-Ghana is hosted by the Business and Development Consultancy Centre (BADECC), a Tamale-based organization, and supported by Africa Lead.

GNA
By Laudia Sawer, GNA

Tema, Sept 3, GNA - Mrs Dzifa Abla Gomashie, Deputy Minister of Tourism and Creative Arts, has urged Ghanaians to celebrate and appreciate each other's culture.

Mrs Gomashie, speaking at the 20th Anniversary launch of the Ghana Ports and Harbours Authority's (GPHA) Tourism Club in Tema, said Ghanaians could only market their culture and traditions to the World when they celebrate and appreciate each other.

The theme for the one month long celebration is, "Promoting tourism through maritime industry".

She stated that "it is important to celebrate more about who we are" adding, it was regrettable that most Ghanaians do not celebrate and appreciate the good in each other.

The Deputy Minister noted that this was evident in people's choices of foreign foods over the Ghanaians dishes even though the local foods were nutritious and have less calories.

She reminded Ghanaians that people visited the country because they wanted to celebrate the traditions and culture of the country which differs from their own.

She commended the GPHA Tourist Club for the initiative to promote tourism among staff of the Authority.

Mrs Gomashie challenged GPHA to emulate examples of other ports such has Lome, Togo,, to create a tourist conducive environment and facilities to attract people to the Ghana's ports and harbours.

Mr Jacob Adorkor, Director of Port, GPHA, and founding member of the club encouraged the public to engage in tourist activities including hiking, attending festivals and visiting monumental sites.

Mr Adorkor stressed that participating in tourist activities releases work tension and stress as well as enable people to learn and share ideas with others.

Madam Mercy Akonnor, GPHA Tourist Club President, said the club was founded in September 1996 to afford members the opportunity to learn about the rich culture and traditions of the country.

Madam Akonnor stated that over the past 20 years, club members have embarked on trips to tourists sites in the country and attended many festivals.

She projected that they would be visiting some ports outside Ghana including Kenya, South Africa and Dubai to learn some of their good practices.

GNA
03.09.2016 LISTEN

Nkroful (W/R), Sept. 3, GNA - Mr Kofi Anaman, the NDC Campaign Coordinator for the 2012 elections in the Ellembelle Constituency, has said the party has targeted 80 per cent of votes in the area in the December polls.

He said initiatives of Mr Emmanuel Armah-Kofi Buah, the incumbent Member of Parliament (MP), in the area, would lead to the expected landslide victory.

Mr Anaman was speaking in an interview with the Ghana News Agency after the party launched its campaign at Awiebo.

He said that the Ellembelle Constituency has witnessed various development schemes since the MP took the seat in 2009.

Mr Anaman said the operation of a mobile clinic project and an elder care center are some of the major social interventions introduced by the MP.

He said another key project on the drawing board of the MP after the 2016 elections, is the establishment of a food bank to assist the vulnerable in the society.

Mr Anaman said the election is all about the presentation of ideas which would lead to development and asked the electorate not to be deceived by other politicians peddling falsehood.

GNA
By Philip Tengzu, GNA

Funsi (U/W), Sept. 3, GNA - Mr Abdul-Karim Abudu, Wa East District Chief Executive, has appealed to political parties to mount their campaigns with development discussions and avoid the use of abusive language.

'Let us ensure that campaigns messages dwell on development issues devoid of insults and personality attacks'. Let us join forces together to ensure a holistic development of the nation', he said.

Mr Abudu made the appeal at the second session meeting of the Wa East District Assembly at Funsi on Wednesday.

He said a peaceful atmosphere is a prerequisite for the development of Ghana and all must ensure that this peace is protected to enhance national development.

Mr Abudu called on the public to report all persons with suspicious characters to the security agencies, and urged state institutions such as the National Commission for Civic Education to continue educating the public on all relevant issues.

He said the district assembly has provided a police post and a mini barracks at Funsi and Kundungu to help maintain law and order.

Mr Abudu said the Funsi Senior High School, under the Senior High School Improvement Programme, has also received some infrastructural assistance and these include the construction of a girls' dormitory, head master's bungalow, dining hall and kitchen as well as a classroom block.

The District Chief Executive said 21 Community Based Health Planning and Services (CHPS) Compounds had been constructed in the District with two quarters at Funsi being renovated to accommodate health personnel in the area.

Mr Aaron Asante-Addai, an Environmental and Social Safeguards Consultant at the World Bank and Ministry of Education, appealed to the assembly to provide roads and sanitation facilities at the Loggu Day Senior High School.

GNA
03.09.2016 LISTEN

By Samuel Akapule, GNA

Bolgatanga, Sept 3, GNA - Beneficiaries of the Youth Employment Agency (YEA), have been assured of regular inflow of allowances to enable them discharge their duties efficiently.

Mr Roger Abolinbisa Akantagriwen, the Upper East Regional Coordinator of YEA, said this when the Agency distributed 313 bicycles to 313 Community Protection Assistants (CPAs) in the Region.

He said the previous delay was because the bill on the Youth Employment had not been passed but with its passage, it has been given a legal backing to address the financial challenges and urged the beneficiaries to work hard.

Mr Akantagriwen said the Agency which is mandated to oversee the development, coordination, supervision and facilitation of employment for the youth in the country, realized that one of the major challenges confronting the youth in CPA module was transportation hence the presentation of the bicycles.

He said as part of the Agency's mandate, it has recruited and deployed 1,349 Community Health Workers , 121 Prison Assistants ,122 Fire Protection Assistants , 60 E-Health Technicians and 409 CPAs to various communities to work.

Mr Akantagriwen urged the beneficiaries to abide by the ethics of their professions and terms and conditions of their engagement.

DCOP Simon Yao Afeku, the Upper East Regional Police Commander, said the recruitment of the CPAs, had contributed effectively to complementing the work of the police in region.

He told the CPAs that the police administration had put in place monitoring mechanisms to monitor their conduct saying the possibility of them getting a permanent and good job in future would depend on their good conduct.

The Upper East Deputy Regional Minister, Dr Robert Kugnab -Lam, asked the beneficiaries to use the laid down internal structures to address their grievances.

GNA
Libreville (AFP) - Post-election violence in Gabon has claimed two more lives, sources said Saturday, after President Ali Bongo was proclaimed winner of last week's vote while main challenger Jean Ping claimed victory for himself.

One of the two new victims was a policeman, the first member of the Gabonese security forces listed as killed in the violence sparked by the announcement on Wednesday of Bongo's victory in last weekend's election.

"I deplore the death of a police officer who was shot in Oyem," the main town in the north, Interior Minister Pacome Moubelet-Boubeya told AFP.

The attackers, who shot the policeman in the head, were arrested as they attempted to cross the border with Equatorial Guinea.

A funeral procession for Axel Messa, killed in Gabon's post-election protests, passes through the Libreville district of Nzeng Ayong on September 2, 2016

The interior minister added that, despite the ongoing violence, "we are seeing life returning to Libreville", with businesses beginning to reopen their doors.

However the Gabonese capital has been without internet access since Wednesday.

The body of Axel Messa, 30, is wrapped in Gabon's national flag while a campaign banner for President Ali Bongo is unfurled, before the funeral procession in Libreville on September 2, 2016

Tension was also high in the economic capital Port-Gentil where a youth was shot dead by security forces overnight, according to witnesses.

"The parents wanted to march with the body up to the government building with many other people. They were dispersed by security and defence forces," one witness told AFP.

Several residents said the death was just one of several in Port-Bentil in recent days caused by the security forces.

"They shoot, they take the bodies away, we are traumatised," one mother said.

Such claims have not been independently verified, but according to an AFP count the latest deaths bring the recent death toll to seven.

'Imminent crisis'

The archbishop of Libreville on Saturday called on both the ruling party and the opposition to avoid an "imminent crisis".

Gabon shaken by election violence

Bongo was declared victorious by a razor-thin margin of just under 6,000 votes, but his main challenger Ping, a veteran diplomat and former top African Union official, has insisted the vote was rigged and on friday claimed victory for himself.

"The whole world knows who is president of the republic, it's me Jean Ping," he said.

Ping is calling for a recount at every polling station and has highlighted the election result in the Bongo family stronghold of Upper Ogooue, where official figures showed the president won 90 percent of the votes case on 99 percent turnout.

The Gabonese authorities have categorically refused his request for a vote recount, invoking the country's electoral law which includes no such procedure.

Bongo himself hasn't spoken publicly since Thursday.

International concern

The post-vote violence in this small but oil-rich central African nation has sparked international concern, with top diplomats calling for restraint as rights groups raised the alarm over the use of "excessive force".

Around 1,000 people have been arrested during rioting after Ali Bongo was declared the winner of Gabon's presidential election by a razor-thin margin over rival Jean Ping

In a special session on Gabon late Thursday, the UN Security Council expressed "deep concern" about the situation, urging all sides to "to refrain from violence or other provocations".

And Washington has urged all parties to work together to "halt the slide towards further unrest."

Security forces stormed Ping's HQ late on Wednesday evening, after the announcement of Bongo's victory sparked riots in the capital during which the national assembly was set ablaze.

Bloodstains, bullet marks, broken windows, smashed furniture and documents tossed all over the floor bear witness to the attack.

Under a campaign poster promising to protect the people of Gabon from "need and fear", a large patch of blood lay congealing on shiny white tiles.

"He was a lad of around 25 whom they shot through the window," explained opposition politician Fulbert Mayombo Mbenbjangoye as he escorted journalists late Friday around Ping's headquarters.

Across the country, the unrest has paralysed transportation, with bread and other fresh foods in short supply, the situation further aggravated by widespread looting.
The Overlord of the Gonjaland in the Northern Region, Yagbon-Wura Tuntumba Boresa II has called on the flagbearer of the New Patriotic Party Nana Akufo-Addo to save his people from retrogression when he wins power.

The chief through his linguist told the NPP leader that things have become difficult for his people in the past few years and cannot get any worse.

You said you will move Gonja forward, we use to be better but now we are backwards. So if you say you will move us forward then [the] chiefs offer you a warm embrace, the Yagbon-Wura said.

He added that even though president Mahama constructed roads for the people in the area which they appreciate, they do not have potable water.

The town, with a population of about 11, 258 according to the 2010 population census depends on four mechanized boreholes with the Akpeteshie dam serving the larger community.

Majority of the residents depend on the Akpeteshie dam as their source of water since the Ghana Water Company Limited stop producing water in 2003.

Since then the residents have had to suffer during the dry season which spans from October to May each year because of the shortage of water.

Minister of Water Resources Dr Kwaku Agyemang-Mensah, visited the area last year and promised that government was looking for funding to work on the project but nothing has since been done.

At the inauguration of the Fufulso-Sawla road, the Overlord of Gonjaland, Yagbon-Wura Tuntumba Boresa II described the water situation as a human security threat.

The Yagbon Wura in desperate need of water for his people appealed to the NPP leader and his campaign team that in the event he wins the elections he should not forget about them.

He said both the president and the NPP flagbearer are his sons and will pray for them, adding the one with good intentions for Ghana and gonjaland will win the December polls.

Yagbon-Wura Tuntumba Boresa invoked the gods of the area for Nana Addo as he continues his campaign. He appealed to the NPP leader to conduct his campaign devoid of insults.

Nana Addo on his part appealed to the overlord of the area and his people to support him in the December polls.

He said even though he is not a Gonja, the people must rally behind him for victory.

Yapia Wura

The NPP flagbearer also paid a courtesy call on the Yapia wura, Suale Alhassan to seek his blessing for the December polls.

The chief predicted victory for the NPP leader and went ahead to make his requests in the hope that Nana Akufo-Addo will fulfil those requests after the elections.

The Yapia Wura also demanded the provision of potable water, a new district and a Senior High School if the NPP leader wins the polls.

Nana Addo on his part said it was disheartening that Ghanaians lacked the basic necessities of life after 58 years of independence. He said the NPP government, will through its flagship programme, the infrastructure against poverty eradication, resolve issues like water and other basic amenities in the area.

The NPP leader also visited the bole chief where he highlighted some of the development programme the NPP will undertake if voted into power. He appealed for support to enable him win the polls.

The party then held rallies at Yapie, Bole fulfuso among other communities.
President John Dramani Mahama on Saturday joined the chiefs and people of Oguaa to celebrate this year's Oguaa Fetu Afahye at Cape Coast in the Central Region.

He was accompanied by the Central Regional Minister, Kwaku Rickett Hagan, First Deputy Speaker of Parliament Ebo Barton Odro, Chairman of the National Democratic Congress in the region, Allotey Jacobs and other government officials.

The paramount chief of the Oguaa Traditional Area, Osabarima Kwesi Atta II, bemoaned the falling standards of education in the country which he said reflected in this year's West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE).

But the President rejected the claims saying this year's WASSCE results have been one of the best in the last decade.

He however advised parents to prioritize the education of their wards urging them to treat it as a key venture.

We must take interest in the education of our childrenencourage them to do their homework and not to watch TV all day. I am convinced that with the support of teachers, parents, traditional leaders.such trend can be reversed, the President added.



By: Akwasi Koranteng/citifmonline.com/Ghana
By Iddi Yire, GNA

Accra, Sept. 3, GNA - Mr Jon Benjamin, the British High Commissioner to Ghana, has said with an interim Economic Partnership Agreement duly ratified by the Ghanaian Parliament, Ghana will continue to enjoy duty and quota free access to the United Kingdom (UK) market.

This, he said, could create the much needed employment opportunities amongst Ghanaian export companies.

Mr Benjamin said this during the launch of the UK-Ghana Chamber of Commerce (UKGCC) in Accra.

He said the UKGCC would promote, foster, and represent UK business interest in Ghana; directly helping UK companies to identify market opportunities and providing them with a first point of call when looking to do business in and trade with Ghana.

Mr Benjamin said this would also be another avenue for UK exporters to access high quality market support.

"It will represent the interests of UK investors looking to bring investments to Ghana and provide tailored support to existing UK investors," he stated.

He said the Chamber would also support Ghanaian companies who want to connect with the UK to help their companies grow.

He said as the Chamber develops, it would be able to provide services to help Ghanaian companies who want to export to, and invest in, the UK.

Mr Benjamin said it is important to recognize that UK companies have a huge choice as to where they trade and invest worldwide, as such; they were naturally driven by hard business calculations, not sentiments.

He said, however, market conditions and sound economic management in Ghana would be a key consideration for those companies; they were encouraging to become involved here.

The High Commissioner said in that respect, they have noted the continued progress the Government of Ghana has made in tackling various macroeconomic challenges in line with its programme with the International Monetary Fund.

He said such progress was essential to boost investor confidence and growth, along with action to tackle other potential barriers to business, such as the regulatory environment, including licensing rules, customs procedures and land registration issues.

Mr Benjamin said they were happy to be making a major investment through its Department for International Development to promote some of Ghana's most promising start-ups with the best potential for creating jobs for young Ghanaians, and to build up a more structured public-private dialogue.

He said it was also aimed at further improving the overall business environment; adding that as an example of that support, their Business Enabling Environment Programme would be hosting a Better Regulation Forum in Accra later this month.

Ms Hannah Tetteh, Minister for Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration, tasked UKGCC to establish a common platform where both countries could promote trade in all products that could penetrate through the UK market from Ghana and vice versa.

She said Ghana is the fifth largest trading partner of the UK in Sub- Saharan Africa and are both members of the Commonwealth; which implies they have shared values within the greater frame of the Commonwealth.

The Foreign Minister said it was important to make use of this relationship to be able to set a framework that does not only creates a platform for increased business between Ghana and the UK, but Ghana, UK and other Commonwealth countries.

In his remarks, Mr Tony Burkson, Chief Executive Officer for UKGCC, expressed gratitude to his colleagues at the British High Commission and particularly the Department for International Trade who have been supportive and helpful during the process of setting up the Chamber.

He said the Chamber currently has a membership of 20 companies and was hopeful of seeing more companies would be joining with time.

He said in the coming weeks, UKGCC would be organizing investment tours from the UK, breakfast meetings with business leaders and networking events.

GNA
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Drug overdoses have surpassed car crashes as the leading cause of accidental death in Burke County. While there are no easy solutions, one drug could save the life of those affected.

North Carolina is ranked No. 4 in the nation for its drug-related fatalities, and Burke Countys rate is even higher. To help combat the problem, Table Rock Pharmacy recently held an information session on Narcan, a drug that already has saved hundreds of lives in the area.

Narcan, which is the brand name of the drug naloxone, is sprayed into the nose or given as an injection when someone overdoses on opioids. Naloxone then strips the persons opioid receptors in their brain. Withdrawal and a complete reversal of symptoms happen within two to five minutes, according to the N.C. Harm Reduction Coalition.

In June, Gov. Pat McCrory along with legislators, health care officials and law enforcement officers gathered at the Guilford County Sheriff's Office and signed Senate Bill 734 into law, making naloxone available to the general public without a prescription.

Sarena Bumbarger, a Pharm D candidate who works at Table Rock Pharmacy, said that educating the public was important since anyone who takes narcotics is potentially at risk of an overdose.

For instance, Oxycodone is an opiate commonly prescribed for pain that interacts with many other medications. Certain anti-fungal drugs can bring the Oxycodone to a toxic level when the two drugs are combined, Bumbarger said.

Simple forgetfulness can also lead to an overdose, with patients accidentally taking more medicine than they should. Children can easily mistake pills for candy, which can have devastating consequences, and even a persons genes play a role in how quickly he or she metabolizes medications. All of these scenarios are a reason to be on alert and aware of what to do in case of an emergency, according to Bumgarger.

The signs of an overdose include:

 The person is awake, but unable to speak.

 a low pulse (60-100 beats per minute is normal)

 slow breathing (12-20 breaths per minute is normal)

 blue lips or fingernails

 gurgling or raspy breathing

 choking

 passing out

 throwing up

 a pale face

 a limp body

 having tiny, pinpoint pupils

If any of the symptoms are observed and an overdose is suspected, Narcan should be administered right away. The drug will not work on other types of overdoses such as cocaine or benzodiazepines, but giving the drug to someone who hasnt overdosed on opiates will not cause any harm, Pharmacist Richard Owensby said.

The drug only works on the receptors in the brain for opioids, he said. It wouldnt hurt anyone who hadnt overdosed on opiates. It wouldnt have any effect whatsoever.

Since Aug. 1, 2013, NCHRC has distributed more than 26,000 overdose prevention kits containing naloxone. As of May 23 of this year, at least 3,000 overdoses have been reversed in North Carolina. The NCHRC said the number of lives saved is probably much higher since the organization relies on information gathered from individuals and agencies that use the free kits it provides.

Maj. Jason Black with Burke County EMS said the department doesnt report to NCHRC, but it does keep track of the number of times a particular medication is administered.

In June, Narcan already had been used 74 times, according to Black.

Over the course of 12 months, its been given 144 times, he said.

Thats 144 people whose lives have been saved by naloxone, but Black said the number of overdoses is even higher. According to EMS protocol, the No.1 goal is to get patients stabilized and breathing again, so not all overdose patients receive the reversal drug.

Black said that all EMS bases and most fire departments have carried Narcan on board for years. While the availability to the public may be new, the drug isnt.

Its not new for us, he said. Ive worked with EMS for 16 years, and it was here before me.

While the drug isnt new, Bumbarger, Owensby and others are still working to let the public know it is available at their local pharmacy without a prescription.

The drug is around $150, without insurance, but Bumbarger said Medicaid patients could get naloxone for a $3 copay.

Under North Carolinas Good Samaritan laws (SB 20 and SB 154) individuals could take advantage of a standing order for naloxone. Now, with the passage of SB 784, pharmacists can dispense naloxone to anyone in a position to assist someone experiencing an overdose. This includes family members, friends and fellow drug users.

Along with providing easy access, the N.C. Good Samaritan laws also provide protection for pharmacists and physicians against legal action for prescribing the drug or filling the prescription.

The Good Samaritan laws also protects victims of overdose and anyone who tries to help them. People who call 9-1-1 as well as the victim are protected from prosecution for possession of small amounts of most drugs, possession of drug paraphernalia, underage possession or consumption of alcohol and violating conditions of parole, post-release or probation.

Also in N.C., anyone who uses naloxone to reverse an overdose is immune from civil and criminal liability as long as they do so in good faith.

Although some may be leery of administering the drug, the NCHRC says naloxone has been available since 1996. According to a CDC report, more than 26,000 successful overdose reversals have been reported by nonmedical personnel. More than 80 percent of those were done by active drug users.

Naloxone may be easy to obtain and relatively simple to administer, but its not without its side effects. When administered at full strength, the patient goes immediately into opiate withdrawal, according to NCHRC. Its also important to note that the drug is not a substitute for medical attention. Naloxone only lasts for a short time, and overdose victims need immediate medical follow up.

Its not a substitute for medical treatment, Bumbarger said. Even when its administered, 9-1-1 needs to be called.

Thats because the drug lasts a couple of hours, and the effects of the opiates in someones system could outlast the medicine.

Currently, Narcan is available as both a nasal spray and an injection. Owensby said he recommends people practice giving the injection just like nursing students are taught, by injecting saline into an orange. He said the sensation is the same and, by practicing, it can become more second-nature when an actual emergency strikes.

The staff at Table Rock Pharmacy said theyre more than happy to teach patients how to administer the drug safely. Bumbarger said shed recently sat down with a 10-year-old boy and explained how to administer the drug as a spray and a shot, since his primary caregiver is his grandmother who takes opioids.

To get naloxone in N.C., no prescription is required and the person buying the medicine doesnt have to be the one using it. Whoever picks up the drug will have it billed to their insurance.

So people can have it onhand for themselves, a loved one who is at risk, or a friend, Owensby said.

To find out more, visit Narcan.com or nchrc.org.
Molly Eller knows a thing or two about the military and its service men and women.

Thats because she retired from the military after serving 14 years, with four of those years spent in the Navy and the remainder of her time spent in the Army. She served a 15-month deployment in Iraq and a nine-month deployment in Afghanistan.

Her experience seems to make her a perfect fit as the new officer for Burke County Veterans Services. She started the job Aug. 1.

Im loving this job, Eller said. I have met some awesome veterans and some awesome people in general.

Burke County Veterans Services office is a resource for veterans, spouses, dependants and survivors. Its a good starting point for them when it comes to getting health care and dental benefits, medical disability, pensions, legal services, survivor benefits, Veterans Administration loans, employment, adaptive housing, home care or military and veterans discounts, Eller said.

The county office Veterans Services office was closed after Valerie Keffer, who formerly served as the officer for the Burke County Veterans Services, left that position in February.

Eller joined the Navy in 2002 at the age of 27.

I was the oldest in my boot camp, Eller said. I was nicknamed the grandma.

Thats because the average age of recruits at that time was 19, Eller said.

She floated after high school  going to college but then dropping out to work  but eventually finding the right fit in the military.

I decided I needed to do something more stable, Eller said about finally settling on the military. I was tired of floating.

Starting out as an airman in the Navy, she eventually wound up a quartermaster, which is shipboard navigation.

But she wanted to get her certification as a veterinarian technician assistant and the Army was the only military branch that has animal care services, Eller said. She ended up getting the certification on her own, not through the Army.

In the Army, Eller ended up working in patient administration, working for combat and Army hospitals and clinics. During the first week of her deployment to Afghanistan, the combat hospital where she was working came under attack. She talked about how the hospital shook from the impact and she ended up under her desk like many of her co-workers.

Thats a scary thing, Eller said.

While there were some dark times during her deployments, there were brighter moments , too . She got to work in the veterinarian clinics taking care of service animals.

Eller ended up in Germany and received a medical discharge from the Army. She moved from Germany to McDowell County a year ago with her husband, James, and their two children, Azi and Addie. She is originally from South Beach, Florida , but James grew up in McDowell County. The two met when they were serving in the military.

The Burke County Veterans Services office is open from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Thursday, according to the county website. The office is located inside the Morganton-Burke Senior Center, located at 501 N. Green St., Morganton.

To contact Eller, email molly.eller@burkenc.org or call 828-439-4376.

Sharon McBrayer is a staff writer and can be reached at smcbrayer@morganton.com or at 828-432-8946.
Donald Trump's immigration "pivot" has been more like a whirling dervish act these past few weeks. He's gone from meeting with Hispanic leaders, promising to soften his position, to sending out his surrogates to make mutually contradictory promises that he definitely would or would not find a way to allow some undocumented immigrants to stay in the U.S. Then on Wednesday, he jetted off to Mexico for a photo-op with President Enrique Pena Nieto. He held a short and mild-mannered news conference afterward but ended the day delivering a rant in Phoenix that reiterated his commitment to deport everyone here illegally and also his goal of restricting legal immigration in radical ways. So what are voters left with, besides a bad case of vertigo?

Most commentators after Trump's speech focused on his tough line on getting rid of immigrants already here illegally. Indeed, he broke new ground in his Phoenix speech, promising to revoke not only President Barack Obama's executive action giving temporary reprieve from deportation to the undocumented parents of American-born children but also Obama's earlier, mostly noncontroversial executive action that temporarily shielded undocumented immigrants who were brought here as children. The courts struck down President Obama's executive action for parents of American-born children but did not touch the exemption for young adults who came illegally as children. Trump now seems ready to deploy his new "deportation force" to rid the country of law-abiding young people who've lived here for as long as they can remember and know no other home.

This callousness has already prompted some of Trump's National Hispanic Advisory Council to quit, most notably Alfonso Aguilar, former chief of the U.S. Office of Citizenship in the George W. Bush administration, businessman Jacob Monty and Pastor Ramiro Pena, who offered a stinging rebuke after the speech. "The 'National Hispanic Advisory Council' seems to be simply for optics and I do not have the time or energy for a scam," Politico reports Pena as writing to campaign and Republican National Committee officials.

Less noticed in Trump's speech were his words on legal immigration  but in many ways, they are the most radical thing he said. Trump has, from the beginning of his campaign, surrounded himself with immigration hard-liners, not just people concerned about illegal immigration. It's no coincidence that accompanying Trump on his visit south of the border was Sen. Jeff Sessions, arguably the most anti-immigrant politician since Sen. William Paul Dillingham, whose opposition to immigrants from southern and eastern Europe resulted in the first mass restriction legislation in the early 1900s. And whenever Trump cites studies on the supposed ill effect of immigration, they are usually from the restrictionist Center for Immigration Studies, which not only opposes illegal immigration but, more importantly, wants to put strict limits on legal immigration, as well.

Conservatives have tried to argue for years that they are not anti-immigrant, just anti-illegal immigration. And most, I believe, are sincere. But goaded by Sessions and restrictionist organizations such as CIS, Trump made clear in Phoenix that he wants to return to the days of Dillingham.

"We take anybody," Trump said, referring to current law. "Come on in, anybody. Just come on in. Not anymore," he vowed. What he was promising was to roll back the 1965 immigration law that abolished quotas on national origins put in place a half-century earlier to favor immigrants from northern Europe. In its place, Trump says he wants "to keep immigration levels measured by population share within historical norms," and he's not talking about recent years or even the levels of the early 20th century. He wants fewer immigrants, period, and he wants to make sure immigration does not upset the historical racial balance of the U.S.

Trump also said he will "select immigrants based on their likelihood of success in U.S. society." The language may sound benign, but the sentiment is not all that different from what prompted Dillingham and others in the early 20th century to want to keep out Italians, Slavs and others deemed inferior to people of northern European descent.

It's easy to forget that anti-immigrant fervor isn't new. Trump and his most fervent followers may want to bar Mexicans and other Latinos now, but the grandparents of many of the people gathered in Phoenix this week to hear Trump speak faced the same opposition when they came from Ireland, Italy, Greece, Czechoslovakia, Hungary, Poland  and, yes, Germany, where Trump's grandfather was born.

Donald Trump's runaround on immigration the past week leaves him right about where he started  demonizing people based on not just how they got here but where they come from.

Linda Chavez is the author of "An Unlikely Conservative: The Transformation of an Ex-Liberal." To find out more about Linda Chavez, visit www.creators.com.
OPECs crude production climbed to a record last month as increased output from Gulf members made up for persisting losses in Nigeria and Libya, according to a Bloomberg survey.

Supplies from the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries rose by 120,000 barrels a day to average 33.69 million a day in August amid increases by Iran, Iraq and Kuwait, the survey of analysts, oil companies and ship-tracking data showed. The group is due to hold informal talks in three weeks in Algiers, where Russian President Vladimir Putin says an agreement can be reached to limit output.

Iraq led the increases, boosting supplies by 70,000 barrels a day to 4.48 million a day, after the government resumed flows from Kirkuk through a northern export pipeline controlled by the nations Kurds, signaling progress in a long-standing dispute over payments. Iran raised production by 60,000 barrels a day to 3.62 million as it continues its return to global markets after the end of international sanctions in January.

Saudi Arabia, the groups biggest and most powerful member, raised output by 30,000 barrels a day to an all-time high of 10.69 million a day. The kingdom increased production to meet both domestic consumption -- which peaks in the summer with surging air conditioning use -- and demand from customers overseas, Energy Minister Khalid Al-Falih said in an interview with the Saudi Press Agency last month.

OPEC nations will meet Russian Energy Minister Alexander Novak for informal talks on the sidelines of an industry conference in Algiers scheduled for Sept. 26 to Sept. 28. Putin would like Russia and OPEC to reach a deal on freezing supply, he said in an interview on Thursday. Any dispute over Irans participation which thwarted a previous effort can be resolved, he said.

Still, with OPEC members already producing at, or close to, their maximum capacity, any accord they reach on a freeze will have little relevance for actual supplies, according to Mike Coleman, founder of Singapore-based hedge fund, RCMA Asset Management Pte Ltd.

Its more symbolic, Coleman said. The production freeze doesnt do anything. To have a meaningful impact on prices, you need a production cut.

Nigeria suffered the biggest production decline among OPECs 14 members last month, sliding by 130,000 barrels a day to 1.44 million a day. Companies are struggling to repair pipelines in the oil-rich Niger Delta following attacks claimed by militant groups.

Libya experienced the next-biggest losses, sliding 40,000 barrels a day to 260,000 a day as the countrys political factions continued to feud over the control of oil export terminals. Output restarted at the Sarir oil field, Arabian Gulf Oil Co. said Thursday, following the receipt of payment from the state-run oil company.

Last months production figure exceeds last years level even when adjusted to exclude Gabon and Indonesia, which joined the group this year. Estimates for most members production in July were revised from the previous survey.
A gas flare on an oil production platform is seen alongside an Iranian flag in the Gulf July 25, 2005. REUTERS/Raheb Homavandi/File Photo

DUBAI (Reuters) - Iran is ready to support any decision to help restore balance to the oil market after it regains its pre-sanctions market share, the Iranian oil ministry's SHANA news agency reported on Saturday, quoting a minister.

Algerian Energy Minister Nouredine Bouterfa said after talks in Tehran with his Iranian counterpart, Bijan Zanganeh, that the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) wanted an oil price of between $50-60 (38-45) a barrel, according to SHANA

"Deputy Petroleum Minister in International Affairs and Trading Amir Hossein Zamaninia voiced Iran's support for any decision that would help restore balance in the oil market, saying the country can only be cooperative in this field once it regains its pre-sanctions oil market share," SHANA said.

Global oversupply in oil had knocked crude prices down from mid-2014 highs above $100 a barrel to a 12-year lows earlier this year of around $27 a barrel. Brent has since rebounded and was trading at around $49 a barrel last week.

Iran, OPEC's third largest producer, has been sending positive signals that it may support joint action to prop up the oil market, potentially aiding efforts to revive a global deal on freezing production levels.

Members of OPEC will meet on the sidelines of the International Energy Forum (IEF), which groups producers and consumers, in Algeria on Sept. 26-28.

Zanganeh has confirmed that he will attend the Algeria meeting.

Zamaninia said OPEC countries need to find a way to revive the quota system.

"Naturally, if a country wants to produce at its full capacity, there will not be any balance in the market," Zamaninia said, without naming any country, but in an apparent reference to Saudi Arabia.

SHANA said that after the meeting with Zanganeh, Bouterfa told the agency that a crude oil price of $50 per barrel was "unacceptable".

"OPEC members want a $50-$60 price per barrel," SHANA quoted Bouterfa as saying.

(Reporting by Dubai newsroom; Editing by Sami Aboudi and Andrew Bolton)
We have been cursed with leaders ...
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Michael Johnson of Campbell, an acclaimed author, humorist and playwright who has offered stories of encouragement throughout North America, will keynote at this years scholarship dinner for the Plainview FFA Alumni Association.

Billed An Evening of Hope with Michael Johnson, the catered dinner begins at 6 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 10, at the Plainview County Club. Tickets are $75 for adults and $25 for students, and available from Joe Mustian at 806-685-4640 or John Browning at 806-729-1728. VIP seating and sponsorships are also available.

Event organizers feel that Johnson, a popular motivational speaker, will be as warmly received as Duck Dynastys John Godwin and Justin Martin, who keynoted Ducks in High Cotton in 2015.

Jim Stovall, president of the Emmy winning Narrative Television Network, calls Johnson The best storyteller I ever heard in my life.

Johnson has performed more than 1,200 live stage shows during the past 10 years across the United States and Canada, and his magazine column, Throwing My Loop, is read by thousands each month. His stories of encouragement are heard on radio throughout North America, and he hosts a weekly radio broadcast, Reflections of a Cowboy.

Born in New Boston, Texas, Johnson graduated from New Boston High School in 1965 and received a B.S. in psychology from Texas A&M - Commerce in 1971, his M.S. in 1972 from Texas A&M - Kingsville, and a doctorate in counseling from Texas A&M - Commerce and 1974.

Among his books are The Most Special Person, Susie, The Whispering Horse, Cowboys and Angels which was named Best Non-Fiction Book of 2002 by the Oklahoma Writers Federation, Tad Pole and Dr. Frog to help students deal with the pressures of third grade, A Gift for Ida and Bell, a story of the name origin of Idabel, Okla., and Healing Shine - A Spiritual Assignment, chronicling a 7-year journey of a man and a horse. That book won the Western Writers of America Spur Award and the Hollywood Book Festival as well as receiving honorable mention at the New York Book Festival and the London Book Festival, all in 2007. His Reflections of a Cowboy received an honorable mention at the Hollywood Book Festival in 2005.

Johnson was named Oklahoma Author of the Year in 2005.
On the night of June 12, 1942, eight German agents arrived at the United States to spy and commit acts of sabotage. They landed on the shore of Long Island in rubber boats. They had been brought to the coastal waters of the U.S. by U-boat.

They brought with them more than $100,000 in U.S. currency and a large amount of dynamite along with fuses and timing devices. Their instructions were to commit acts of sabotage against U.S. factories and businesses.

The leader of the group decided to surrender to the Federal Bureau of Investigation a few days later and he turned in all of his accomplices who were quickly rounded up and arrested.

Their arrest was front-page news and was especially topical due to the fact that a motion picture with a very similar theme had been released only about six months earlier, All Through the Night, starring Humphrey Bogart.

In 1943, Hollywood would release a motion picture detailing the events of the failed sabotage act and called it They Came to Blow Up America. A part of the advertisement for the movie read It happened before! Will it happen again?

In the Feb. 1, 1943, edition of the Plainview Evening Herald, the Civil Air Patrols work in countering enemy submarine threats and incursions by enemy agents into the United States was lavishly praised.

The work of the Civil Air Patrol, and the part of a Texan in developing the valuable defensive role it is playing, was described by U.S. Rep. (Hatton W.) Sumners (of Dallas) (D-Tex) on the House floor.

According to data released by Sumners, the Texas Wing of the CAP ranked seventh in size among all states, continued the Herald.

Compiled as of Oct. 31, 1942, there were 3,060 members enrolled in the Texas CAP. They comprised 14 separate command groups, made up to 45 local squadrons scattered from the Rio Grande to the Red River.

Rep. Sumners credited Maj. D. Harold Byrd of Dallas as having much to do with the creation of the CAP in Texas. Byrd was currently serving as the commanding officer of the Texas Wing.

Each of the 48 states has a local CAP or wing, and the total membership is 62,979, as of Oct. 31, 1942. The number now is estimated at approximately 67,500.

One of the primary functions of the CAP, observed Sumners, is to patrol along coastal waters in search of Axis submarines. Recently, many of the civil planes have been equipped to carry bombs to release on enemy undersea craft.

Sumners continued by stating that one of the first assignments given to the CAP was to patrol coastal waters searching for German U-boats which had been taking a very heavy toll on Allied shipping. The number of blimps for this type of duty were few and U.S. Army and Navy aircraft were urgently needed elsewhere, said the Herald.

The flying minutemen flew their little ships to hastily improvised bases, continued Sumners.

They brought their own radios, repair parts, tools and equipment, starting from scratch to fly their single-motored landplanes over the winter ocean unarmed and with no more protection than their kapok life jackets.

The picture of the CAP in Plainview was just as rosy and its job also was to keep vigil over Hale County and the area and report suspicious activity.

Truman C. Meinecke, who was a first lieutenant in the CAP and commander of squadron D-1, commented that he was justly proud of his units showing when compared with the average over Texas, reported the Plainview Evening Herald on Feb. 26, 1943.

Meinecke drummed for aviation in Plainview when chance planes in this direction had to land on cow pastures, and it is to be expected that his organization would be among the best.

According to an article written by Harry Igo entitled, Plainview in the Air, Truman Meinecke indeed was instrumental in creating Plainviews aviation future.

In 1940, a group of air-minded citizens, headed by Mr. Truman Meinecke, formed a flying group and this started the history of aviation in Plainview. The group purchased an Aeronca coupe plane and used a plowed wheat stubble field southeast of the city for an airport.

Furthering Plainviews push towards an aviation status was Emmett Morris of Lubbock. Emmett Morris came to Plainview from Lubbock in October 1940 and captivated 10 students into flying in the Civilian Pilot Training (CPT) program. They decided to use a sod pasture about five miles north of Plainview at the small community of Finney.

Although the CAP requests that squadron membership and number of planes not be publicized, Meinecke said it could be stated that squadron D-1 is well supplied with both fliers and ships, continued the Herald.

In the squadron are several inveterate fliers (businessmen and farmers) who take the stick at every opportunity. They have been doing formation flying and in many ways keeping in practice.

When speaking of the future direction of the CAP, Meinecke added, There is a possibility that the Army will take the CAP in hand sooner or later.

That will not mean, Meinecke says, that CAP fliers will be in the Army, but it will mean that they will have to deliver the goods, attend meetings, study and drill, or get out.

He is not afraid of his squadrons ability to come up to scratch, nor of its determination to keep its good standing.

Prior to starting pre-glider training at Finney Field on June 1, 1942, Clent Breedlove was named head of the Civil Air Patrol unit in Lubbock.

Organization, purpose, program and enlistment details were announced Wednesday by Clent Breedlove, who Tuesday was informed by the Eastern Wing command he had been appointed group commander for this area of the Civil Air Patrol, stated the Lubbock Morning-Avalanche on Jan. 1, 1942.

The article noted that President Roosevelt had ordered that the CAP was to marshal civilian aviation resources of the country for national defense service.

More about the history of Finney Field will be discussed in the next article.

Readers are asked to visit the Breedlove-CPTP website at www.breedlove-cptp.com for more details about the glider program of WWII.

Anyone with information about the Plainview Pre-Glider School at Finney Field should contact John McCullough at 806-793-4448 or email johnmc@breedlove-cptp.org.

NOTE: This is the 50th article in a series on Clent Breedloves Plainview Pre-Glider School at Finney Field which was used to train combat glider pilots during World War II. The series is researched and written by John W. McCullough, a graduate student in history at Texas Tech University in Lubbock.
SOUTHINGTON  Two public wells shut down as a precaution after a chemical spill near the Quinnipiac River last week were reopened Friday.



Water Superintendent Frederick Rogers released a statement saying the wells reopened after a review of the state Department of Energy and Environmental Protections cleanup process, as well as test samples from the river.



The water department is confident there is no imminent threat to its ground water supply, Rogers said. As a result, the two wells that were temporarily turned off will be reactivated.



Rogers closed the wells as a precaution on Aug. 24 after about 350 gallons of hexavalent chromium spilled from a tank on the roof of Light Metal Coloring, 270 Spring St. The dangerous chemical flowed off the roof, into the road and down a storm drain connected to the nearby Quinnpiac River. Local, state and federal cleanup crews responded. DEEP issued an advisory warning residents not to eat fish from the river. After several days of cleanup and testing, DEEP lifted the advisory.



Rogers said his department will continue to perform weekly tests of the river and well sites for the next three months and then assess whether monitoring will continue.



Officials say it appears a crack in a heating water jacket caused a boiler to overfill, causing a pressure release that cracked the tank on the roof of Light Metal Coloring.



Hexavalent chromium is a chemical compound with industrial uses. The chemical contaminated drinking water in Hinkley, California, leading to a lawsuit dramatized in the 2000 movie Erin Brockovich.



Its unclear what, if any, enforcement action will be taken against Light Metal Coloring. Jeff Chandler, director of DEEPs emergency response unit, characterized the spill as an unforeseen accident during a press conference last week. He said the company immediately responded and has been cooperative.



Due to the accidental nature of the spill, generally speaking, our department doesnt issue penalties, Chandler said. DEEP has an enforcement division that handles penalties, which he is not affiliated with, Chandler added. OSHA and the federal Environmental Protection Agency are also investigating.



aragali@record-journal.com 203-317-2224 Twitter: @Andyragz






Not all works of history have something to say so directly to the present, but Heather Ann Thompsons Blood in the Water: The Attica Prison Uprising of 1971 and Its Legacy, which deals with racial conflict, mass incarceration, police brutality and dissembling politicians, reads like it was special-ordered for the sweltering summer of 2016.

But theres nothing partisan or argumentative about Blood in the Water.

The power of this superb work of history comes from its methodical mastery of interviews, transcripts, police reports and other documents, covering 35 years, many released only reluctantly by government agencies, and many of those rendered nearly unreadable from all of the redactions, Thompson writes.

She has pieced together the whole, gripping story, from the conditions that gave rise to the rebellion, which cost the lives of 43 men, to the decades of government obstructionism that prevented the full story from being told.

Thompsons book has already been in the news because she names state troopers and prison guards who might have been culpable in these deaths.

But the real story here is not any single revelation, but rather the total picture, one in which several successive New York governors are called to account as much as anyone on the ground that week in September 1971 in Attica, New York.

More Information Blood in the Water: The Attica Prison Uprising of 1971 and Its Legacy By Heather Ann Thompson Pantheon, $35 See More Collapse

The inmates at Attica Correctional Facility had not planned to riot.

True, some inmates considered themselves Black Panthers or Maoist revolutionaries. Everyone knew about George Jackson, the Panther, prison radical and author of Soledad Brother, who had been shot to death by prison guards in San Quentin, California, earlier that year. In July, there had been a strike in the Attica metal shop. In a prison sociology class, inmates in a racially mixed group were reading Adam Smith and Karl Marx.

Conditions were ghastly. Inmates were underfed. Each got one bar of soap and one roll of toilet paper a month and was permitted one shower a week. Broken bones went untreated, and prisoners lost teeth for want of basic dental care.

But what finally turned Attica the town or prison into Attica the uprising was a misunderstanding, not discontent.

On Sept. 8, 1971, a prisoner had been accused of hitting a guard. The next morning, after more prisoner infractions and a miscommunication among guards, a group of prisoners was locked in a tunnel connecting one part of the prison to another.

Believing themselves sitting ducks, with guards coming to beat them up in reprisal, the prisoners attacked the guards in the tunnel and, in some cases, each other.

From Sept. 9, when the uprising began, to its brutal end on Sept. 13, about half the inmates gathered in D Yard. They created a society, good and bad. They made some rules by consensus, elected leaders and listened to speeches. They cooked and ate.

Early in the riot one guard, William Quinn, died after a blow to the head; he fell and was trampled. After that, guards taken hostage were treated well. At least two inmates were raped by fellow inmates. Some prisoners beat up their least favorite guards. Others raided the dispensary for drugs to shoot up.

There are vivid villains and heroes. For every vicious guard, for every Gov. Nelson A. Rockefeller, who peddled the lie that prisoners had cut the hostages throats, there is a Dr. John Edland, the medical examiner who told the truth about who killed the hostages, or a Malcolm Bell, the Wall Street lawyer who, seeking a little adventure, became a special prosecutor, then blew the whistle on how his superiors were thwarting cases against state troopers.

Thompsons sympathies are with the prisoners. In her epilogue, she draws a straight line from the trauma of Attica to the Rockefeller drug laws, whose sentencing guidelines have caused the prison population to mushroom up to the present.

But she is just as concerned with the undertrained, overworked guards. They knew what had caused Attica. After the uprising, Jerry Wurf, president of the correction officers union, called for more secure and humane penal facilities rather than the decaying relics of penal theories discarded long ago.

And yet in 1971 the state of New York had only 12,500 prisoners, a number that grew, by the year 2000, to almost 74,000. None of them can vote. But they can still strike or riot, and its Thompsons achievement, in this remarkable book, to make us understand why this one group of prisoners did, and how many others shared the cost.
Express-News file photo

Very good friends of ours who had four boys were a seasoned camping family. We had two boys and a girl and none of us had ever been camping. Our friends encouraged us to join them on a camping trip to Big Bend National Park.

While we had a Dodge van that would sleep all of our family, we didnt have the other requisite camping gear. We were told not to worry, as they had sufficient gear for all of us.
Guilderland Library hosts Bach program

GUILDERLAND  Guitarist, musicologist and author Steven Hancoff provides a multimedia presentation on Johann Sebastian Bach entitled "From Tragedy to Transcendence: Bach, Casals, and the Six Suites for Cello Solo" at 2 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 18 at the Guilderland Public Library.

Tickets are free with a limit of four per person and can be picked up at the adult reference desk. Details at www.guilpl.org/bachtranscendence.

Music of hope at Bethlehem Library

BETHLEHEM  "To Life!" a celebration of the songs of optimism from Broadway scores by Rodgers and Hammerstein, Stephen Sondheim, Cole Porter and others is the Friday, Sept. 9, program in the Bethlehem Public Library's Coffee & Conversation series.

From 1 to 2 p.m., Richard Feldman discusses the ways American musicals have encouraged listeners to make the most of every day. A one-hour coffee and social hour follows. Co-sponsored by Bethlehem Senior Projects.

Stephentown group recalls 'School Daze'

STEPHENTOWN  The Stephentown Historical Society meeting at 7:30 p.m. Monday, Sept. 12, features audience members recalling "School Daze" at Stephentown Heritage Center, 4 Staples Road.

People can share memories of heading to school in September or other school happenings from their youth. For directions or details, call 733-0010.

St. Kateri is topic of history presentation

EAST GREENBUSH  The Greenbush Historical Society presents attorney, author and historian Jack Casey for a program about Kateri Tekakwitha at 2 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 18 at the East Greenbush Library.

Casey has written a book "Lily of the Mohawks" about Kateri, a 17th century Mohawk woman from the village of Ossemenom, now Auriesville, who is now a saint.

The program is free but call 477-7476 to register.

Blessing of animals set in Coxsackie

COXSACKIE  The annual Blessing of the Animals is 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 10, at the Coxsackie Riverside Park.

The blessing is in remembrance of St. Francis of Assisi who had a love for all creatures. All pets are welcomed to attend and be blessed.

For details , call Jeffrey Haas at 478-5414. In the event of bad weather the event will be 1 to 3 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 11.

 Staff reports
Facing record-low approval, the General Assembly heads into election season with Republicans salivating for a return to power.

The GOP hasnt held a legislative majority in 20 years, and there hasnt been a Republican in the governors residence in six years.

But with two huge tax increases under Gov. Dannel P. Malloy and his Democratic majorities in the House and Senate, and the still lagging state economy, Republicans think the time is right to grab at least one chamber of the General Assembly. The entire state Legislature is up for election every two years.

This year, anything is possible, said Rich Hanley, who heads the graduate program in journalism at Quinnipiac University. Theres the recent news about Sikorskys layoffs, corporations leaving with high taxes. It all plays into the Republican narrative.

Republicans need to pick up four seats in the Senate to gain a 19-17 majority, which they last enjoyed during the 1996 legislative session. The current 87-64 split in the House may be a heavier lift, with the GOP needing to gain 12 seats. Republicans havent held a House majority since 1974.

But GOP leaders have been sniping at Democrats for months and the last Quinnipiac University Poll indicates rock-bottom approval ratings of 24 percent for both Malloy and the entire General Assembly.

Democrats are expecting GOP mailers in their districts pointing out high taxes, the lingering recession and the departure of General Electric headquarters to Boston. But Democrats also have Connecticuts blue-state reputation, as well as the habit of voters to dislike the General Assembly but support their individual members of the House and Senate.

More Information Twenty years Democratic domination in the state Legislature* House Senate 2016 Dems 87-64 21-15 2013 99-52 22-14 2010 114-37 22-14 2008 107-44 23-13 2007 107-77 24-12 2005 99-52 23-12 2000 96-55 19-17 1995-96 91-60 GOP 19-17 See More Collapse

Presidential coattails

Ronald Schurin, associate professor of political science at the University of Connecticut, said he believes Hillary Clinton might generate enough voter interest to possibly yield down-ballot support for Democratic General Assembly candidates. But with Malloys falling popularity, Republicans could finally regain the Senate, he said.

Gov. Malloy is extremely unpopular, primarily because of the state budget, and for other reasons as well, Schurin said. It can be to the Republicans advantage to make this a referendum not on the presidency but on the governor and if the Republicans asked me for their advice, that is what I would give them.

The wild card, Schurin said, is whether outside political groups will make substantial independent expenditures that could affect enough races to make a difference either way. The Connecticut Business & Industry Association recently announced that for the first time it has created a $400,000 fund to support more than a dozen, mostly Republican, candidates for House and Senate seats.

Hanley said he doubts that Connecticut Republicans will use Trumps tactics, which could turn off moderate Northeastern voters.

Basically, this will be a referendum on Malloy more than anything else, he said. Democrats are going to have to defend the governor in a way to make it positive, and Im not sure whether thats possible. Theres a palpable anger among the electorate. The Republicans have a lot to campaign on, and the Democrats not so much.

Senate Majority Leader Bob Duff, D-Norwalk, said he expects to retain the majority because of the years of daily constituent service performed by his 21-member caucus.

There is a lot of shoe leather we go through to speak to voters, answer their questions, to talk about our collective record and to talk about our vision for the future, Duff said. Im confident we will hold on to a majority, but were going to have to work against the negativity machine that has been part of the Republican game plan for the last two to three years.

Senate Minority Leader Len Fasano, R-North Haven, believes his caucus has a chance to expand into the majority by pointing out the truth to the Democrats power.

I think the climate is such that people are now recognizing the bad decisions made by the Democratic majority, who have followed lock-step with Gov. Malloy, Fasano said. Theyre feeling it in their wallets. Theyre seeing it in their health care, no matter what their economic strata is. People are realizing that the only way to stop that is to have one or both chambers go Republican.

One advantage House members have is close connections to their communities, said House Majority Leader Joe Aresimowicz, D-Berlin, who is expected to succeed Rep. Brendan Sharkey as speaker of the House if Democrats maintain control. The Quinnipiac Poll and its 65 percent disapproval rating of the General Assembly in June, an 8 point drop since October of last year, doesnt faze him.

The organizations always poll lower than their individual legislators, said Aresimowicz.

He doesnt expect CBIA to have much of an effect on individual races. I have had a great relationship with them for the last 12 years, he said, noting that the business association this year endorsed the Democrats budget and its drastic reductions in state spending. House Democrats will soon announce an election platform, he said.

Some Democrats are bracing for a negative campaign.

There will be a lot of boo hoo hoo, were driving business out of the state, but Republicans have yet to offer a better plan, State Rep. Bob Godfrey, D-Danbury, running for his 15th two-year term, said.

With only three House members with more seniority than he has, Godfrey said the secret to longevity is going out into the district, knocking on doors and meeting people. He sends voters in his downtown district annual surveys of their interests, needs and desires.

Theres this long history in the U.S. of disapproval of legislatures, but everyone loves their own legislator, Godfrey said. Im running to represent my constituents in the district, not Hartford.

House Minority Leader Themis Klarides, R-Derby, finishing her first two-year term as caucus leader, said she hopes to match the 12-seat gain House Republicans won two years ago.

Clearly, thats the goal, she said. Weve beaten 27 Democrats in the last three elections. There has certainly been momentum.

Klarides believes that while legislative Democrats are trying to distance themselves from Malloy, they can run but cant hide.

People are sick and tired of their elected officials saying one thing and doing another, she said. All the attention is being paid to the people running for president, but the people that affect your daily life are your state representative, state senator, mayor or first selectman. Weve been highlighting that at the Capitol.

kdixon@ctpost.com
BRIDGEPORT  Here we go again.

That was ex-city redevelopment chief Nancy Hadleys reaction when told by a reporter that federal officials wanted the mayor to replace the board overseeing Bridgeports Housing Authority.

The five-person group  four mayoral appointees, one elected by tenants  helps professional staff manage a $51 million budget and low-income housing for 12,000.

The Bridgeport Housing Authority has been plagued by fiscal, personnel, infrastructure and security woes and is considered troubled by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.

As reported earlier this week, HUD in a letter to Mayor Joe Ganim portrayed board members as inept and sometimes even unethical for allegedly steering jobs, contracts and housing to friends and family members.

Suzane Piacentini, director of HUDs Hartford office, asked Ganim to overhaul the board within 30 days.

Ganim inherited the board when he defeated incumbent and fellow Democrat Bill Finch last year.

Hadley in the early 2000s was tasked by then-Mayor John Fabrizi, who was similarly responding to a federal demand, to blow up the housing board.

After securing resignations from then board members, the hunt was on for qualified replacements.

We found really, really capable people, Hadley recalled. We searched different chambers of commerce, the lawyers association, a cpa (certified public accountant) group, a property management group. We just kept searching around until we found people that were interested in it.

Hadley cautioned the choices need to be based on qualifications, not connections.

Its the direct responsibility of the mayor to make sure the appointments to that board are not made politically - You worked on my campaign or You made a donation or something like that, Hadley said.

-

In her letter to Ganim, Piacentini wrote that current housing board members have social ties in the community but lack the professional skill set and judgment to oversee a complex housing agency.

She did not name names. Of the four mayoral appointees, Board Chairman Dulce Nieves is a retired corrections officer who works with foster children; Sulton Stack is a reverend with a masters degree in psychotherapy and psychoanalysis; Richard DeJesus is a former councilman and owner of an auto repair business; and Janet Ortiz is a community leader with a career in social work.

So what is the ideal professional background for a housing commissioner? HUD Spokesman Rhonda Siciliano said there are no stated requirements or pre-requisits, but professional backgrounds in finance, management, real estate, law and human services offer skill sets that are useful.

Bettie Cook, president of the Housing Authoritys resident advisory council, would like to see more tenants or ex-tenants on the board who are aware of what the people are going through.

Cook said the only effective current board member is Hadassah Nightingale, elected by tenants last year.

Ganim spokesman Av Harris said the mayors goal is to identify board candidates who fill some of the deficiencies HUD pointed out and also have strong ties to the community.

Not every individual has to have that balance, but the board as a whole should, Harris said.

He said Ganim will be relying on advice and counsel of various people within the administration and in consultation with community leaders, but that there has been no official committee named to find new appointees to the board."

George Mintz, head of the Bridgeport NAACP, would love for that group to be involved. Mintz said the NAACP had been examining a recent allegation of housing discrimination lodged at the authority.

I think we should get the best and the brightest, Mintz said.

And, Hadley added, individuals who understand theyre under a microscope.

-

That public nature of the housing board can make any shakeup a politically delicate thing for a mayor.

In September 2014 Finch booted Americo Santiago, a prominent Democrat, from the board. In April, 2015, Santiago attended and spoke at the first fundraiser of Ganims successful primary campaign against Finch.

Stack, who also supported Ganim, has been housing board member on and off for 25 years.

I dont know where she (HUDs Piacentini) gets her information, but if the mayor proceeds, they better have some facts - not make allegations, Stack said. Nobody will be dragging my name through the mud.

Stack noted that Ortiz just joined the board in late 2014, replacing Santiago, and that Finch added DeJesus last winter. Ortiz and DeJesus declined to discuss the HUD letter. Nieves could not be contacted.

Another Ganim ally, Councilwoman Rev. Mary McBride-Lee, said, I think HUD is trying to find somebody to kick under the bus by targeting current board members.

They want him (Ganim) to do their dirty work, McBride-Lee said of HUD.

But Ganim has publicly blamed an uptick in violent crime on what he alleges was the Housing Authoritys decision to re-neg on a deal to pay for more police patrols.

However in a recent interview just-departed Housing Authority Director George Lee Byers  the third person in three years to occupy that position  accused the mayor of trying to milk the cash-strapped authority for money to help with Ganims own municipal budget deficit.

Whether Ganim would have ousted the board on his own, HUDs letter provides him political cover which the mayor appears happy to embrace.

They (HUD) didnt leave me much choice, Ganim said Thursday.
BAD AXE  A Port Austin man accused of providing drugs to his wife, which resulted in her death, is scheduled to stand trial in two weeks after a final court proceeding this week.

Brandon Scotty Lopez, 34, appeared before Huron County Circuit Judge Gerald M. Prill on Thursday afternoon for a hearing. Lopez was charged with delivery of a controlled substance causing death, possession of cocaine and possession of fentanyl stemming from the death of his wife, Carol Lopez, on or about March 9 or 10, 2015.

Walt Salens, Lopezs attorney, argued that his client was out of consciousness two to three days  between March 9-12, 2015  following Carols death. Salens told the judge the interview conducted by detective Daryl Ford and deputy Ryan Swartz  both of the Huron County Sheriffs Office  on March 12 should be inadmissible because his client couldnt recall the conversation.

Salens called Lopez to the stand to review a timeline of March 9-17, 2015. Lopez told the court on the evening of March 9 and into March 10, he overdosed on a drug.

I lost consciousness, Lopez said.  The last thing I remember, it was around 7:30 or 8 p.m.

After overdosing, Lopez said he didnt remember being taken to Scheurer Hospital or speaking to anyone there. He was later transferred to Bay City Medical Center and couldnt recall speaking to Ford or Swartz on March 12. He did, however, recall a conversation with the two on March 17, 2015, because he called them to find out more information on what had happened.

Huron County Assistant Prosecutor David Wallace questioned Lopez about several factors on the March 12 conversation, of which Lopez couldnt remember most of what happened.

I remember having a conversation, but I dont know or remember what was said, Lopez told Wallace.

Salens then called Ford to the stand who told the court he, along with Swartz, spoke with the defendant at Bay Medical Center on March 12. Ford said a staff member from the hospital called to inform them that Lopez was conscious and it was three to four hours later when the investigators met with Lopez.

Ford said they didnt read Lopez his Miranda rights, but did advise Lopez he didnt have to speak to them if he didnt want to.

He was very soft-spoken, Ford recalled the March 12 conversation. His volume was very low.

... He was much louder, Ford added, comparing the difference in tone between conversations on March 12 and March 17  the second time investigators spoke with Lopez at the hospital.

After hearing from all parties, Prill ruled the statements made on March 12 were inadmissible and cant be used during the trial. He also ruled the evidence of other crimes to be inadmissible and cant be used either.

Lopez will appear next for trial on Sept. 13 and its anticipated to last two to three days.

An investigation revealed Carol Lopez was unresponsive when a Huron County Sheriffs Office deputy found her on or about March 9 or 10, 2015. Authorities searched the home Carol was found in and seized substances later found to be cocaine and fentanyl.

An autopsy was performed and fentanyl was found in her blood. According to previous testimony, Brandon cooked up what he thought was heroin, loaded the syringe and gave it to his wife. The heroin, however, ended up being fentanyl, a synthetic painkiller the Drug Enforcement Agency says is 100 times more powerful than morphine and up to 50 times that of heroin.
The logo of Russia's Rosneft oil company is pictured at the central processing facility of the Rosneft-owned Priobskoye oil field outside the West Siberian city of Nefteyugansk, Russia, August 4, 2016. REUTERS/Sergei Karpukhin

VLADIVOSTOK, Russia (Reuters) - Russia may consider privatisation of the country's largest oil firm Rosneft (ROSN.MM) and its small rival Bashneft (BANE.MM) "as an integrated project", First Deputy Prime Minister Igor Shuvalov said on Saturday in a televised interview.

"There is a proposal from the advisers to consider the privatisation of Rosneft and Bashneft in one take, a bit separated by time but in one united project," Shuvalov he told a Rossiya-24 TV news channel.

Italy's biggest retail bank Intesa Sanpaolo (ISP.MI) is advising on the sale of Rosneft. Russia's second-largest bank VTB (VTBR.MM) has submitted its proposal on Bashneft's stake sale.

After privatisation of a 19.5-percent stake, the government will keep 50 percent plus one share in Rosneft, the world's largest oil firm by reserves among listed companies.

The sale of a 50 percent plus one share in Bashneft was unexpectedly mothballed in August, with the government saying that privatisation of Rosneft is a priority.

Shuvalov said there have been several proposals from the advisers on how to sell the stakes, including privatisation of Rosneft first and then Bashneft, or the other way around.

"If (market) conditions stay the same for the next two-three months, we will be able to complete the deals," he said.

Russian Economy Minister Alexei Ulyukayev said on Saturday that Rosneft's sale was "a highly probable scenario" this year and that there was a huge interest in the privatisation, including from China National Petroleum Corporation (CNPC).

Ulyukayev said earlier that a valuation of around $11 billion for the stake in Russian oil producer Rosneft (ROSN.MM) that the government plans to privatise was close to reality

(Reporting by Lidia Kelly, writing by Denis Pinchuk)
NORWALK  A meeting between families of Norwalk Public School students with special needs and the districts new chief of specialized learning and student services, Lynn Toper, has been rescheduled for Sept. 19.

The meeting was originally slated for Aug. 15, prior to the start of the new school year, but was canceled after school officials said Toper experienced a family emergency.

Dr. Toper had an emergency the day before or day of  and we had to postpone, said Brenda Wilcox-Williams, a spokeswoman for Norwalk Public Schools.

Though the meeting was originally scheduled prior to the first day of classes in order for Toper and other school officials to proactively address concerns of parents and start the school year with a better expectation of communication, Williams said the event was rescheduled a month after the original date to avoid open houses and other previously planned beginning-of-the-year events.

The calendar this time of year tends to get busy with a lot of stuff going on at the school level, Williams said. So we needed to make sure to pick a date to avoid major conflicts as well as possible.

The public is invited to attend the meeting, set to run from 6-8 p.m. in room A300 of Norwalk City Hall, to get better acquainted with Toper and her vision as she embarks on her first year in the position.

All of the families who have students with special needs are invited, Williams said. It will be a good opportunity to meet her in person and hear more about her background and these plans.

Toper joined Norwalk Public Schools in July, vowing to improve Norwalk Public Schools special education and repair the somewhat tumultuous relationship between the parents of special education students and the school district.

Previously, Toper was principal of Capitol Region Education Council Discovery Academy, a Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics elementary school; the principal of Jumoke Academy Charter Schools; and a special education consultant for the Connecticut Department of Education.

Superintendent of Schools Steven Adamowski; Peg McDonald, one of the authors of the 2015 Capitol Region Education Council (CREC) Report on Special Education in Norwalk; and attorney Terri DeFrancis, who served as a mediator with the Connecticut Department of Education, will accompany Toper at the event.
A F/A-18E/F Super Hornets of Strike Fighter Attack Squadron 211 (VFA-211) is lined up for take off on the flight deck of the USS Theodore Roosevelt (CVN-71) aircraft carrier in the Gulf June 18, 2015. REUTERS/Hamad I Mohammed/File Photo (Reuters)

By Tom Finn and Andrea Shalal

DOHA/BERLIN (Reuters) - The United States is poised to sell $7 billion worth of Boeing Co fighter jets to Qatar and Kuwait after years of delays, and it may start notifying U.S. lawmakers as early as next week, four U.S.- and Gulf-based sources familiar with the matter told Reuters.

The sales had stalled amid concerns raised by Israel, Washington's closest Middle East ally, that equipment sent to equipment sent to Gulf Arab states would be used against it.

U.S. officials have criticized Qatar for alleged ties to armed Islamist groups.

Boeing said it was encouraged by continued progress and hoped to see movement on the two big arms sales soon. The State Department said it could not comment on any ongoing government-to-government arms sales requests.

A senior U.S. administration official said it was U.S. policy not to comment on proposed U.S. defense sales until they had been formally notified to Congress, but Washington remained committed to the security and stability of the Gulf region.

"For decades, we have demonstrated this commitment through continual efforts to enhance our diplomatic relationships and build defense capacity across the region, particularly through promotion of security agreements, foreign military sales, exercises, training, and exchanges," the official said.

Delays in the process have caused frustration among U.S. defense officials and industry executives, who have warned that Washington's foot-dragging could cost them billions of dollars of business if buyers grow impatient and seek other suppliers.

The expected approval of the fighter jet sales comes as the White House seeks to shore up relations with Gulf Arab allies who want to increase their military capabilities. They fear Washington is drawing closer to Iran, their arch-rival, after its nuclear deal with world powers earlier this year.

"It is imminent. We expect a decision next week," said an official from Qatar's defense ministry, who declined to be named as he was not authorized to speak publicly.

Story continues

An adviser to Qatar's military also said the deal was moving ahead.

Neither commented on the cost or number of jets that would be delivered.

The Pentagon and the State Department have been considering the sale of 36 Boeing F-15 fighter jets to Qatar valued at around $4 billion. They are also considering the sale of 28 F/A- 18E/F Super Hornets, plus options for 12 more, to Kuwait in a deal valued at around $3 billion.

Sources said officials at both agencies had largely agreed to the deals some time ago, but had been awaiting final approval from the White House, which is now on board.

"A decision by the administration is very close," said one of the sources, who was not authorized to speak publicly.

Once the White House gives its formal approval, U.S. officials will start to informally notify U.S. lawmakers before sending a formal notification to Congress 40 days later, at which point the deals will be publicly announced.

A third deal, the sale of F-16 fighters built by Lockheed Martin Corp to Bahrain, remains under consideration, but approval is not as far along, said one of the sources.

Qatar - home to the largest U.S. air base in the Middle East - and Kuwait have ramped up military spending after uprisings across the Arab World and amid rising tensions between Gulf Arab states and Iran.

Both Qatar and Kuwait are part of a 34-nation alliance announced by Saudi Arabia in December aimed at countering Islamic State and al Qaeda in Iraq, Syria, Libya, Egypt and Afghanistan.

(Reporting by Andrea Shalal and Tom Finn; Editing by Larry King and Andrew Hay)
By Jason Lange

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. President Barack Obama will urge leaders of the world's major economies to use fiscal policy and other tools to boost growth while paying more attention to angry citizens who feel left behind, Treasury Secretary Jack Lew said on Wednesday.

The United States will also call for the Group of 20 leading economies to keep their steel industries from getting so big that factories are underused, Lew said in a preview of the U.S. message to the Sept. 4-5 G20 summit in Hangzhou, China.

Lew's comments suggest Washington could press Beijing at the summit on excess capacity in China's giant state-backed steel industry. The remarks also point to the rising awareness among leaders of advanced economies that support for global trade and financial integration cannot be taken as a given.

"There are very real concerns about globalization and technology, but the answer cannot be to close ourselves off," Lew said in prepared remarks at the Brookings Institution.

In the campaign ahead of the U.S. presidential election in November, both major candidates have expressed skepticism over free trade pacts both new and old. Britain voted in June to leave the European Union, another sign of discontent with globalization.

The G20 needs to find ways to boost the living standards of poor and middle-class families, Lew said, saying Obama will press G20 leaders to make banking services universally available.

America has been pressing other G20 governments to spend more when possible to boost the global economy, which has cooled as weaker growth in China reduced demand for commodities like copper and iron. Europe and Japan have also been growing at lackluster rates.

Obama will also urge more countries to launch reviews of fuel subsidy programs, part of a commitment at the G20 to phase out inefficient programs supporting fuel purchases, Lew said.

(Reporting by Jason Lange; Editing by Chizu Nomiyama and W Simon)
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The missing 16-year-old daughter of conservative radio talk show host Joe Pags Pagliarulo was found safe with an older co-worker in Mexico late Friday, several days after she was reported missing, law enforcement officials said.

The 29-year-old Comal County man she was with has been booked into jail in San Diego, California, on an arrest warrant for unlawful restraint, a state jail felony, but is not yet formally charged, said Capt. Tommy Ward of the Comal County Sheriffs Office.

Gabriella Gabby Pagliarulo had last been seen Wednesday about 30 miles north of San Antonio in the Comal County town of Spring Branch, where she lives with her parents. Her father, a nationally syndicated talk show host, had issued public pleas for her to return home.

The teen and the man who was arrested worked together at a fast-food restaurant in Bulverde, Ward said.

The law prohibits taking a minor younger than 17 out of state without the consent of that childs parents, Ward said.

U.S. Customs and Border Protection agents were alerted that the mans vehicle had crossed from California into Mexico through the Otay Mesa Port of Entry around 8 p.m. Pacific Standard Time on Friday, said Mark Endicott, supervisory border agent for the federal agencys San Diego sector.

Mexican authorities later found the car and stopped it in their jurisdiction around 10 p.m., when they found the missing girl, Endicott said. After border patrol officials provided the arrest warrant showing the man was wanted in Comal County, he and Gabriella Pagliarulo were returned to the United States around 2:20 a.m. Saturday.

Border patrol agents took the man to the San Diego Central Jail, where his bail has been set at $225,000, records show. His vehicle was seized.

An airline ticket was purchased for the 16-year-old girl to travel back to Texas, Endicott said.

In a video broadcast on his Facebook page Saturday morning, Joe Pagliarulo announced his daughter had been found, but did not disclose the location or circumstances.

She is safe. She is healthy  Were heading out now to go get her, the talk show host said during the broadcast.

Ward said he didnt know why the girl left town, noting that Comal County sheriffs investigators have not yet had a chance to interview her.

Joe Pagliarulo thanked the Comal County Sheriffs Office, San Antonio Police Department, U.S. Customs and Border Protection, U.S. Marshals Service and everyone who shared information about the search for his daughter.

His radio show, known as Joe Pags, is broadcast locally on News Radio 1200 WOAI.
Courtesy Bexar County Sheriff

Two deputies are recovering at a downtown hospital after they were assaulted by an inmate Friday at the Bexar County Adult Detention Center, authorities said.

The Bexar County Sheriffs Office Criminal Investigations Division is investigating to determine exactly what happened during the 1:15 p.m. incident between inmate Devante Robinson-Woods, 22, and the deputies.
Courtesy of the City of Seguin.

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A 28-year-old man is in critical condition after a drive-by shooting in the 900 block of South Cherry Street left him with four gunshot wounds.

San Antonio Police Department Sgt. Gary Pelfrey said officers responded to multiple calls for gun shots at 7 p.m., and arrived to find the victim laying in the street. The man was transported to San Antonio Medical Center.

RELATED: DA: 2 men indicted in shooting death of 7-year-old Iris Rodriguez

Police are still looking for two vehicles, a beige Chevy SUV and a red sedan, that allegedly fled the scene in opposite directions after the shooting.

Witnesses said the cars were racing around, shooting at each other, Pelfrey said.

The injured man was not a passenger in either car but was part of a meeting, which police believe started the incident, between at least three males  the two drivers and the victim, Pelfrey said.

There were several males out here, Pelfrey noted. The crime scene looks like there was something going on ... they were possibly making some kind of deal.

Police believe the injured man was standing on a nearby sidewalk when the bullets started flying.

Officers are still investigating the cause of the shooting.

Police have not released a description of the sedan driver, but said that the beige SUV driver was short and chubby.

jgerlach@express-news.net
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A mother of three was found stabbed to death in her San Antonio apartment Saturday morning and a suspect is being evaluated in a hospital, San Antonio police said.

The names of the woman, 29, and the suspect were not released.

Police were first called to the woman's apartment at 1602 Jackson Keller Road Friday night because her mother was unable to reach her.

Officers did not force their way into the apartment because there were no exigent circumstances at the time, San Antonio police Chief William McManus said at a news briefing near the scene.

The concerns surfaced because the woman had not shown up to pick up her children from day care by 10 p.m. Friday, said April Garcia, a friend of the victim.

Police returned to the apartment Saturday morning and found the victim dead inside. She had been stabbed multiple times, McManus said.

The suspect was found in the apartment's bathroom and had injured himself. Police convinced him to come out of the bathroom and took him to an area hospital, the chief said.

The suspect was in a relationship with the victim, police said.

Garcia identified the suspect as the woman's boyfriend.

No charges have been filed as of this afternoon.

The woman's three children  ages 7, 3 and 2  were not at the apartment at the time of the incident.

The slain woman had previously been a victim of domestic violence in the relationship, Garcia said.

pohare@express-news.net
In July, the Texas Senate Committee on Education announced it will be studying a school choice program using education savings accounts, or ESAs.

ESAs may be a new concept to many Texans, but theyre simply a new form of vouchers that already exist in Arizona, Florida, Mississippi, Nevada and Tennessee.

What ESAs amount to is another effort to spend public money on narrow private interests and convert traditional public schools into businesses. This ultimately turns our children into dollar signs and exacerbates already deep racial and socioeconomic inequities.

So how do ESAs function? State Sen. Don Huffines, R-Dallas, and John D. Colyandro, executive director of the Texas Conservative Coalition Research Institute, wrote an op-ed in the Dallas Morning News in June describing how ESAs would work:

Parents apply for the program and un-enroll their child from public school. Next, the state funds an account that parents can use to pay for numerous services related to their childs education. Parents could pay private school tuition or a tutor, purchase curriculum for homeschooling or a digital learning class, or save some money for college tuition, for example. If parents dont use all of their ESA dollars in one year, they can roll over the remainder to the next school year.

So what does this equal in state funding? When school choice proponents propose ESAs in any state, they usually suggest the state provide up to 90 percent of the funding that public school districts receive per student for yearly maintenance and operations.

In Texas, thats about $7,800 per student. Additionally, students receiving special education services would be eligible for up to 100 percent of that funding.

ESAs have inherent fiscal issues that remain unaddressed.

Will ESAs be taxable or provide tax benefits like other government savings plans offered to individuals, such as health savings accounts and 529 college plan accounts?

Will ESAs keep up with increasing educational costs?

Will ESAs drastically increase noninstructional education costs, creating more overhead for taxpayers?

How do we safeguard against students being mislabeled for special education, thus giving parents more money than they need?

Additionally, no one has acknowledged students who need additional funding through Title I and bilingual education programs in traditional public schools. Will they receive extra funds?

These questions all need adequate explanations.

Another crucial issue is where this money will come from. Legal issues arise if funding for ESAs comes out of taxpayers pockets. ESA proponents in other states have asked for ESA funding to come from public school funds.

While there is no explicit prohibition in Texas on funding education outside of the public school system, ESAs are prohibited from receiving funding from Texas school funds.

ESAs fail to meet Texas narrow constitutional mandate to establish and make suitable provision for the support and maintenance of an efficient system of public free schools.

Diverting funds from the support and maintenance of our already underfunded schools and toward private schools that almost always have parochial interests and arent held to the standards we set for public schools would be the opposite of that mandate.

ESA proponents want to make the accounts available to all families, including wealthy ones. This means taxpayers could be subsidizing private school tuition for the children of wealthy families, thus giving an unnecessary public handout to the wealthy.

There is also no promise that the best private schools will participate. Do we wish to give handouts to subpar private schools? And what if unsatisfied families bring their children, behind in the curriculum, back to public schools? Wed be setting up those students for failure while later spending additional taxpayer money on their remediation.

This creates problems for those who argue traditional public schools are plagued by wasteful spending and that corporate reforms such as establishing vouchers, charter schools and ESAs would force a more efficient system of public free schools.

Those who make this claim argue that forcing schools to compete for students  as private businesses compete for customers  pressures traditional public schools to improve academics and frugality, or die in competition. This, according to the theory, benefits students still attending public schools. This hypothetical pressure is often called the tide that lifts all boats. But the tide is unfounded. Recent peer-reviewed empirical research has found damning evidence.

Larger school districts most often dont feel competitive pressures from other school-choice options (of charter schools) for a variety of reasons. In many large urban areas, charter schools effectively enroll additional students from the growth in the school-age population. When charter schools actually drew significant numbers of students from traditional public schools, the effect was dispersed throughout the city and did not produce competitive pressure.

When schools responded to competition, spending more money on academics wasnt the typical response. Instead, it inspired a variety of responses, with most schools spending more on marketing. Competing schools realized their academic program might be a top-notch product but that it wouldnt sell without great marketing, just as in the real business world.

In a recent study by Huriya Jabbar, an education researcher and assistant professor at the University of Texas at Austin, in New Orleans, where the entire district is made up of charters and parents choose where taxpayer money is spent (as with vouchers), marketing was by far the largest response by schools facing competition.

Other responses to competitive pressures included researching the market for better competitive strategies and avoiding competition by either offering something other schools dont or circumventing regulations to cherry-pick the best students.

That is one of the worst things about competition in education. It turns kids into good and bad financial investments.

In New Orleans, one principal told Jabbar that every kid is money.

In other words, children become small piles of cash for school budgets instead of young humans to develop. Further, students with low test scores become liabilities, making those schools less able to compete in the market. This results in those students being locked out of the best schools and exacerbating already deep racial and socioeconomic inequities.

The imaginary rising tide of school choice only offers these results: schools turning into businesses, kids becoming good and bad money, and an increase in social inequity  all unconstitutionally funded by the taxpayer.

Whether school choice proponents recognize these effects of competition on our education system, the consequences are real and damaging. We dont need more competition or for our schools to be run like businesses.

Our education system has always needed reform, but not by private corporate interests. Schools dont need to be owned by corporations. They need to be democratically controlled by the communities they serve.

Schools shouldnt compete but collaborate, especially with educators.

More important, policymakers and schools should radically increase collaboration with those communities that suffer most from our broken educational system  communities that are largely poor and have extremely high concentrations of minorities.

To this day, listening to these communities and their educators is an educational option weve never chosen.

Greg Worthington is a Ph.D. student in the Educational Policy and Planning Program in the Department of Educational Administration at the University of Texas at Austin.
Behold the kinder, gentler Donald Trump.

The latest of Trumps pivots is more far-reaching than a stab at greater message discipline. It is an effort to make him more appealing to minorities and college-educated whites by adopting a more inclusive message. It is an attempt to engineer on the fly a compassionate populism.

Someone at the campaign clearly has run the numbers and figured out  belatedly  that Trumps demographic base is too narrow to win a national election. Trumps theory in the primaries was that he had to light up white working-class voters, and his theory for the general election was that he had to keep doing it, only more so.

The new iteration of Trumpism is a last-minute adaptation awkwardly grafted onto the existing campaign. Trumps still-evolving shift on immigration and his play for black voters recalls the Samuel Johnson gibe (well before the days of political correctness) about a woman preaching: Sir, a womans preaching is like a dogs walking on his hind legs. It is not done well; but you are surprised to find it done at all.

On immigration, Trump is at sea on a signature issue. If he cares about immigration (which he had given very little indication of prior to running for president), Trump obviously has no idea what he really thinks about it, besides the most obvious cliches.

His most distinctive positions in the primaries were wholly impractical political symbolism. Now that the electoral calculation is different and there is more of a premium on realism, they are dropping like flies. The Muslim ban has become extreme vetting. Mass deportation is getting deep-sixed. Trump still insists that he will build a wall and Mexico will pay for it. There are only two problems: 1) The wall isnt going to be built; and 2) Mexico isnt going to pay for it.

In an interview with Sean Hannity of Fox News, Trump sounded at times like Jeb Bush as he floated an amnesty  although he didnt call it that  for otherwise law-abiding illegal immigrants.

CNNs Anderson Cooper asked Trump campaign manager Kellyanne Conway about the 11 million undocumented immigrants already here, and she replied, We need to find the mechanism that works and that is fair. Someone probably should have thought about this before launching a campaign that is, in part, a crusade on immigration.

Trump also is making a new pitch to black voters. This is welcome and sensible. It behooves a Republican candidate to try to reach every voter in the country, and Hillary Clinton doesnt have the same deep connection to black voters that her husband, Bill, did.

George W. Bush got 16 percent of the black vote in Ohio in 2004, after years of concerted courting of African-Americans. For Trump to show up one day after running a consistently incendiary campaign and say, Oh, by the way, Id like to win black voters is to invite charges of insincerity.

That said, anything Trump can do to take the edge off minority opposition to him is a good thing, and seeing what hes doing, some suburban white voters might find him more palatable.

Trumps turn is an implicit acknowledgment that the Republican Party cant just be a Trump party and hope to win. It has to have broader reach than working-class whites, and avoid positions and rhetoric that convince people already inclined to believe such things that the GOP is thoughtless and retrograde.

In other words, the party needs the likes of Paul Ryan  so scorned by Trump allies  who has invested the time in coming up with a serious anti-poverty policy agenda.

If Trump loses, one of the tragedies of the campaign will have been that a more populist Republicanism could, in theory, have won over working-class voters of all races.

This is something that should have been a focus of the campaign many pivots ago, if not when Trump first descended his escalator.

comments.lowry@nationalreview.com
Why risk danger and uncertainty to leave home in Central America for the U.S. border?

Tough choices face young parents and their children: lack of economic opportunities, and insecurity because of crime and oppression. Stay to suffer and perhaps die, or leave to possibly find safe haven and hope for their family? Who gets treated as refugees, and who are classic immigrants just seeking a better life?

And what is the best mix of U.S. policy; should we just play defense on the goal line, as Congressman Henry Cuellar, D-Laredo, characterizes the problem? Or can we attack the root causes to prevent them from leaving their home in the first place?

Having recently traveled to El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua and Mexico, clearly the biggest migration driver is insecurity and impunity.

What would you do if gangs appeared at your door demanding your 12-year-old son or daughter be delivered in 24 hours?

What if the same guys shot and killed a local shop owner who refused extortion payments a few weeks ago?

This May, 635 homicides were registered in El Salvador; around 90 per 100,000 population yearly is worse than most active war zones.

Going to the police would lead to certain and violent retribution. This is a scary and common reality in many barrios. Only the rich in gated neighborhoods are protected. And the poorest families cant escape. Mostly the lower-middle class who can scrape up coyote funds by liquidating everything they own are the ones who naturally jump at migration to save their families.

Basic economics and jobs are the other big migration driver.

Very simply, if Central Americas workforce needs 500,000 new jobs per year and only half that is reached, what options exist for the rest of the workers trying to survive economically?

Urban youth, 15 to 24 years old, are the most problematic, with a reported 30 percent unemployment rate. They are known as the famous Ni-Nis  ni-estudian/ni-trabajan in Spanish (not studying, not working). But they dont have options to either study or work.

When young people leaving school cant find work to make a living, this imbalance of labor supply with labor demand has three main pressure relief valves: the informal economy; drugs and crime; and migration. And since the informal economy is already high at around 40 percent, the crime and migration options are not conscious choices but often imperatives.

The Border Patrol reports that 2016 will probably exceed the migration record from 2014, when 68,000 families with children were apprehended. Notably, Mexican migration is now relatively low, because that countrys economy is creating jobs, and families from insecure areas can still migrate to more secure areas within Mexico.

Nicaragua also receives many immigrant families, because authorities stop gang members from entering the country. You can still walk the streets in Managua. Job options are low, but your family can survive.

Costa Rica is another frequent option for escape.

This massive flow of immigrant families is costly to the U.S. in both budgetary and human terms, considering the enforcement required to catch them, detention centers to guard them, and the complicated adjudication and repatriation processes.

While we believe this is an important step, the Border Patrol wrote in a 2016 report, we recognize the ultimate solution to the humanitarian situation in Central America is long-term investment to address the underlying conditions there.

UTSA is engaged in strengthening economic development in Central America. Our Institute for Economic Development is a top performer among Small Business Administration and Commerce Department programs in the U.S., and has been tapped by the State Department to translate best practices for Central American governments to grow businesses and jobs at home.

As consultants to Ministries of Economy in Central America, UTSA has collaborated to establish 44 Small Business Centers, based on the U.S. Small Business Development Center model, across Central America.

Last year, this network provided business consulting and training to 16,500 entrepreneurs, resulting in 11,500 new jobs from startups and existing business scale-up growth.

As part of President Barack Obamas Small Business Network of the Americas initiative, the countries reorient their own economic development strategies and programs to be more effective and inclusive, with an aim to provide economic opportunities at home as an alternative to migration.

The U.S. State Department provides training support and technical assistance through UTSA for Central American economic development groups, universities and chambers of commerce, but it stops short of paying for their programs. Central American presidents and legislators have stepped up to support their own programs more intensively because they are now more effective and demonstrate strong results.

Through this strong program, America can export our economic know-how without breaking the bank, said U.S. Rep. Joaquin Castro, D-San Antonio. UTSAs leadership is helping empower Central American nations to carry out change themselves, a strategy that improves the odds of sustained future success.

UTSA has actively led similar initiatives in Mexico, the Caribbean and South America, with 20 Western Hemisphere countries now participating in the Small Business Network of the Americas.

The domestic benefit is to South Texas small businesses, too, which UTSA helped gain more than $600 million in expanded trade deals last year, leveraging our connections with Latin America.

Clearly, to the degree we can help Central America stand on its own feet economically through more effective development and trade, fewer families will be forced to make the dangerous trip north to our borders.

Robert McKinley is senior associate vice president for economic development at the University of Texas at San Antonio. He has directed the universitys Institute for Economic Development for more than 26 years and serves as UTSAs expert in economic and business development.
At the very least, questions of judgment arise from state Sen. Carlos Urestis involvement with FourWinds Logistics, a bankrupt San Antonio frac-sand company that is at the center of charges of defrauding investors.

But there are also disturbing allegations involving Uresti himself. If true, they point to something that goes beyond mere errors in judgment.

The case of FourWinds and Urestis involvement are contained in an exhaustive report in the Aug. 21 Express-News by Staff Writer Patrick Danner. He relied heavily on court documents and interviews.

Uresti is alleged to have referred a former client to the company without disclosing that he was receiving a commission on finding such investments. Uresti got a 3 percent commission. He initially told Danner that he also took a 10 percent ownership stake in her investment, but now says he didnt. He said he disclosed all what was due him to the former client in a joint venture agreement.

Uresti is not a registered securities broker and says that an attorney he consulted said he did not need to be one to attract investors on commission. But thats actually unclear. An investment is also a security if sold for the purpose of raising money for the general use of a company, one expert says. And that is what appears to have happened here.

Uresti served on the legal team representing Denise Cantu after her Ford Explorers rear tire blew out, causing a rollover, and the death of her son, daughter and two others. He helped win a settlement for Cantu. She invested the bulk of that  $900,000  in FourWinds.

Another investor, Richard Thum, says that he turned to Uresti for assurance when he was considering investing in FourWinds, for which the state senator served as counsel, at least for a time, and from which he was awarded stock.

Thum, who runs a dry-cleaning business, alleges that Uresti told him in a meeting that the company is doing good. Eagle Ford Shale is booming. They may not know FourWinds but they know Im a state senator. Thum added that Uresti told him if there was a problem that (FourWinds) had, he could make a call and get past the secretary.

This has the whiff of using his office for personal gain, not to mention a conflict of interest. For much of his 10 years in the Texas Senate, Uresti has served on the Natural Resources Committee, which oversees public policy on oil and gas. He disputes Thums recollection of the conversation and says he resigned as FourWinds outside general counsel before the 2015 legislative session.

And there is the $40,000 loan FourWinds gave him. Uresti said it was an advance on future commissions and legal work. He does list shares of FourWinds stock on his personal financial statement filed with the Texas Ethics Commission. but not the loan. Uresti said he has amended his 2015 filing to disclose the loan and also that he was manager in the joint venture with Cantu. Such violations can lead to both civil and criminal penalties.

Some of the damaging allegations about Uresti come from Stan Bates, FourWinds CEO, whose own credibility is compromised. He is mired in claims that he defrauded investors and ran the company into the ground while living lavishly. But they dont come exclusively from him. There are Cantu and Thum.

Uresti aligned himself with a company that, court documents and testimony indicate, was operated recklessly. It was operated so recklessly that Bexar County District Attorney Nico LaHood, whose business partner in Trinity Global Funding & Consulting LLC was brought on by FourWinds to raise more money, returned $5,000 to Bates in June 2015. Bates had donated money to LaHoods 2014 campaign.

Bates said LaHood recommended his business partner and former client Gary Cain for the job. LaHood disputed that and said he will also return to Bates the other $5,000 or so in contributions that he has since discovered also came from the embattled CEO.

For his part, Thum said Urestis involvement lent the firm a measure of credibility.

There are no criminal charges in this case, though the FBI has seized corporate records, according to Bates personal bankruptcy lawyer.

Even if Uresti was conned along with others, the senators judgment was questionable.
(Adds comment from Hollande, para 13)

By Roberta Rampton and Nathaniel Taplin

HANGZHOU, China, Sept 3 (Reuters) - China and the United States ratified the Paris agreement to cut climate-warming emissions on Saturday, marking a major step toward the enactment of the pact as early as the end of the year and setting the stage for other countries to follow suit.

The world's two biggest emitters of greenhouse gases made the landmark announcement as heads of state from the Group of 20 biggest economies, or G20, arrived for a summit in the city of Hangzhou, parts of which resembled a ghost town as Chinese security locked down the area.

U.S. President Barack Obama's last scheduled trip to Asia before leaving office however got off to an awkward start. Soon after Air Force One landed, a Chinese security official blocked National Security Adviser Susan Rice on the tarmac, speaking angrily to her before a Secret Service agent stepped between the two.

China has gone to great lengths to try to make the Sept 4-5 G20 summit a success, hoping to cement its standing as a global power, but a range of thorny diplomatic topics could overshadow the agenda.

G20 leaders are likely to renew their promises to use tax and spending policies to invigorate the sluggish world economy, although a new pro-growth push was unlikely.

Overcapacity in the global steel industry, a sore point for China as the world's largest producer of the metal, barriers to foreign investment and the risk of currency devaluations to protect export markets will also figure in the discussions.

Beyond economics, there may be friction over territorial disputes in the South China Sea and a U.S.-South Korea decision to deploy a missile defence system in South Korea to counter missile and nuclear threats from North Korea.

When Obama met Chinese President Xi Jinping, he told him they would have candid talks on cyber, human rights and maritime issues.

Nevertheless, the climate deal set a positive tone. .

Story continues

"Just as I believe the Paris agreement will ultimately prove to be a turning point for our planet, I believe that history will judge today's efforts as pivotal," Obama said after he and Xi handed ratified documents to UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon.

"We have a saying in America that you need to put your money where your mouth is. And when it comes to combating climate change, that's what we're doing. Both the United States and China, we're leading by example."

At a joint ceremony, Xi said it "speaks to the shared ambition and resolve of China and the United States in addressing global issues".

French President Francois Hollande said it was an important step that would pave the way for the implementaton of the Paris agreement at the end of the year.

RESIDENTS LEAVE IN DROVES

The stakes are high for China to pull off a trouble-free G20 summit, its highest profile event of the year, and security in Hangzhou was intense.

Volunteer security agents prevented journalists from filming in deserted parts of the normally bustling city of 9 million people. Residents left in droves after authorities declared a week-long holiday for the summit, shut down the city's famous West Lake beauty spot and offered free travel vouchers worth up to 10 billion yuan ($1.5 billion) to encourage people to visit out-of-town attractions.

More than 200 steel mills in surrounding districts were shut as part of a bid to limit pollution.

With the summit wedged in between the Brexit vote and the U.S. presidential election, G20 leaders will be keen to mount a defence of free trade and globalisation.

Concerns about subduded growth will be a major concern.

The world's biggest economies have pulled out the monetary policy stops to promote growth, but central banks are now "pretty close" to the limits of their ability to stimulate economies, said Angel Gurria, head of the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD).

In the absence of "breakthrough, collective" policies, global growth was likely to remain weak, he told Reuters.

"We have left our good central bankers to do all the heavy lifting."

In separate remarks to Reuters, Pascal Saint-Amans, the director of the OECD's Centre for Tax Policy and Administration, addressed the thorny issue of multinational corporate tax liability, which the European Commission's recent decision against Apple Inc has brought into sharp relief.

The European Commission said this week that Apple owed up to 13 billion euros ($14.50 billion) in back taxes to Ireland, based on existing regulations, a decision that both Apple and Ireland, which relies on low taxes to attract investment, have vowed to fight.

China is using the G20 to push its diplomatic agenda with a raft of bilateral meetings.

China and Turkey pledged earlier in the day to boost counter-terrorism ties, setting aside previous disagreements over China's treatment of a Turkic-speaking Muslim minority.

(Reporting by Kevin Yao, Sue-Lin Wong, Michael Martina, Roberta Rampton, Engen Tham, Ruby Lian and Ben Blanchard; Additional reporting by Dominique Vidalon in Paris; Writing by John Ruwitch; Editing by Raju Gopalakrishnan)
BANKS have agreed with the Government on the modalities of the opening Foreign Currency Accounts (FCAs) for civil servants at zero costs and also to charge minimal costs so that the US$75 is not demeaned by banking and transactions costs.

This comes as civil servants and pensioners are set to get US$75 and US$30 respectively in allowances to cushion them against inflation and the Covid-19 pandemic.

Apart from the cushioning allowances, Government also announced a 50 percent salary increment for its workers.

In order to ensure that civil servants get value for money, which will come in plastic form to prevent leakages onto the parallel market, President Mnangagwa last week directed that the Ministry of Finance and Economic Development, along with the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe (RBZ) engage banks.

Under a facility that has been agreed between banks and Government, the FCAs can be opened online and in some cases free of charge, Presidential spokesperson Mr George Charamba said.

I happen to know that quite a number of banks have already offered a zero cost FCA facility to civil servants, but also offered to say the FCAs can be opened online, so you dont have to go to the nearest town and thirdly to link those accounts with the employment numbers of every civil servants and the bank he or she uses, he said.

It costs anything between US$10 and US$20, depending on the bank, to open an FCA in Zimbabwe and many civil servants were worried that they might not be able to secure such accounts.

Determined to ensure that civil servants who have no other source of income, apart from their monthly salaries, get the best of the US$75 cushion allowance, which will run for three months subject to review, President Mnangagwa assigned the Ministry of Finance and RBZ to ensure that the implementation of the facility will be tailored to benefit the worker wholesomely.

Some civil servants are asking how do we open Foreign Currency Accounts, how do we do this inexpensively, by way of the cost of opening an FCA and also by way of doing so. His Excellency the President gave a directive to the Ministry of Finance and Economic Development and the Reserve Bank to say the execution or implementation of this facility of US$75 and US$30 should not have the unintended effect of demeaning the welfare threshold of civil servants.

He said go and confer with the banks and retailers and come back with modalities of implementing this facility which is least onerous on the beneficiary, in this case the civil servant and the pensioner.

I also happen to know that the Governor last week met with the bankers, the Governor met with retailers on the instruction of the Finance Minister who was responding to a directive from the President.

The whole idea is to make sure that opening an FCA is at the least cost, the transaction is also at least costs and that it brings greater value and convenience to the civil servants, said Mr Charamba.

To guard against the potential misuse of the US denominated cushion allowances, that come to a combined US$32 million per month for both civil servants and pensioners, the Government decided to secure the money through forms of FCA accounts.

Key considerations that the Government took include the market shocks implied in an increase on its wage bill from 30 percent of annual revenue to 40 percent.

Apart from having to contend with an increased wage bill, the Government, which is already stretched by the novel pandemic that entails lots of imports, also wanted to minimise the disruption on its balance sheet.

 NewsDay

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Apologies to readers for posting this post closer to lunch than to breakfast. (Its ironic that given the content of this post, as I tried to post, I experienced my own internet access problem.)

By Jerri-Lynn Scofield, who has worked as a securities lawyer and a derivatives trader. She now spends most of her time in India and other parts of Asia researching a book about textile artisans. She also writes regularly about legal, political economy, and regulatory topics for various consulting clients and publications, as well as writes occasional travel pieces for The National (http://www.thenational.ae).

A three-judge panel of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit issued a sweeping decision, Federal Trade Commission v AT&T, on Monday that drastically restricts the Federal Trade Commissions (FTC) consumer protection authority over companies that offer common carrier services (e.g., telephone services, mobile data, and internet services) whether or not these services comprise their core business. Moreover, since no other federal agency currently has the necessary scope of regulatory authority over this area, if this decision stands, significant activities of such companies would be essentially unregulated.

As the Washington Post reports:

The ruling could wind up giving Google and Facebook  not to mention other companies across the United States  the ability to escape all consumer-protection actions from the FTC, and possibly from the rest of government, too, critics claim, unless Congress intervenes.

Background and What the Decision Says

The FTC had brought an action against AT&T over the adequacy of the companys disclosures regarding its data throttling plan, under which AT&T intentionally and substantially reduced the data speed of customers to whom it had sold unlimited mobile data plans.

Its worth quoting from the opinion at length; the court clearly understood what type of behavior AT&T had engaged in:

AT&T offers mobile voice service and mobile data service to its customers. Mobile data service allows customers with smartphones to access the internet using AT&Ts mobile data network. Customers with mobile data service can, among other things, send and receive email, use GPS navigation, and stream videos. In 2007, AT&T became the exclusive service provider for the Apple iPhone in the United States. At that time, AT&T began offering iPhone customers an unlimited mobile data plan, allowing users access to an unlimited amount of data for a fixed monthly rate. Starting in June 2010, however, AT&T stopped offering unlimited mobile data plans to new customers. Since then, it has required new customers to select one of various tiered data plans, under which a customer has a set data allowance per month for a fixed monthly rate and incurs additional charges for any data usage in excess of the set data allowance. Customers with preexisting unlimited data plans were grandfathered into the new system to avoid encouraging them to switch to a different service provider. In July 2011, AT&T decided to begin reducing the speed at which unlimited data plan users receive data on their smartphones. Under AT&Ts data throttling program, unlimited data plan customers are throttled for the remainder of a billing cycle once their data usage during that cycle exceeds a certain threshold. Although AT&T attempts to justify this program as necessary to prevent harm to the network, AT&Ts throttling program is not actually tethered to real-time network congestion. Instead, customers are subject to throttling even if AT&Ts network is capable of carrying the customers data. AT&T does not regularly throttle its tiered plan customers, no matter how much data those customers use.

The FTC filed an action against AT&T, relying on its regulatory authority under Section 5 of the FTC Act. The FTC has long used this authority to regulate deceptive advertising over many years in a wide range of situations.

So, it seems that what AT&T was providing a throttled service was by no stretch of the imagination unlimited. Instead, what we see here is a textbook example of a crapification of a service, after the initial contract was entered into, with AT&T opting to provide a less crappy service the so-called tiered plans to subsequent customers, under new contracts, and for whom it could charge more for the pleasure. And AT&T neglected to inform those original customers the ones who thought theyd purchased and continued paying for an unlimited plan that they werent getting what they paid for.

So why did the court toss the FTCs case?

First, its necessary to understand that section 5 of the FTC Act includes an exemption from regulation for common carriers. The FTC had argued for an activity-based exemption. Translated into plain English that means that a company even if a common carrier would be exempt from the FTCs consumer protection authority only when it engaged in common carrier activities.

But the court rejected this argument and decided instead that based on the language and structure of Section 5 of the FTC Act, the common carrier exception was a status-based exemption. That means a common carrier was exempt from regulation purely based on its status as a common carrier, regardless of the type of activities it engaged in. The court decided that since AT&T was as a common carrier, it was not covered by the FTCs consumer protection regulatory authority, and so it dismissed the FTCs lawsuit.

Implications

This decision is hugely significant, and according to the law firm Davis Wright Tremaine:

reflects a major rebuke of the FTCs prior interpretation of its authority under Section 5 under which the agency regulated the non-common carrier activities and services of companies otherwise classified as common carriers. . . . The decision also raises a host of new questions regarding who falls within (or outside of) the FTCs jurisdiction.

The decision effectively creates a regulatory gap over any activity a company wants to engage in, for companies deemed to be common carriers. The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has authority to regulate common carrier activities, but that is narrowly defined, and it doesnt cover many activities at issue.

Now, what does this have to do with Facebook and Google? They werent parties to the lawsuit, nor is either mentioned in the opinion. Well, since the FTC cannot touch common carriers, and the FCC currently can only regulate those aspects of telecommunications companies that offer either internet and telephone services, the decision means that any company that creates or purchases either a phone company or an internet service provider (ISP) can escape federal consumer protection regulations entirely. The FCC currently seeks to impose comprehensive privacy and data security regulations on ISPs, and conceivably, these could fill some but not all of the regulatory gap.

The Bottom Line

Again from the Washington Post:

Consumer protection advocates say [the decision] would allow any company to evade FTC oversight simply by launching or buying a small telecom service. Google already benefits from this line of reasoning because it operates Google Fiber. A company such as Facebook, whose goal is to connect a billion additional people to the Internet, could acquire its own broadband provider and claim common-carrier status.

Verizon has recently acquired AOL and Yahoo and since it already provides telephone and internet services, qualifies as a common carrier. Under this decision, the broad range of its activities would be similarly exempt from FTC regulation. Other companies are also attempting to figure out the implications of the decision for their activities.

I emphasize again the wide scope of the decision. The court says the FTC lacks authority to regulate common carriers. So no matter how egregious the company conduct however false, deceptive, misleading, or otherwise problematic it might be the FTC would be unable to do anything about it. Nor, at the moment, would any other federal agency.

The AT&T case concerned regulation of advertising. But since the courts decision rejected outright the FTCs claim to be able to regulate any activities of companies deemed to be common carriers, it is not limited to deceptive advertising alone. Facebook and Google gorge themselves on their access to your personal data and the decision prevents the FTC, the agency that has a record of regulating privacy issues, from exercising any oversight of these activities (provided that these or other companies make the appropriate acquisitions or otherwise position themselves to qualify as common carriers).

The FTC is reportedly pondering an appeal of this decision and the issue may eventually find its way to the Supreme Court. Whether or not that court weighs in, to correct the situation and allow for regulation to occur by the FTC (or the FCC for that matter), it may be necessary for Congress to act.
Meet the mouse-bunny that could vanish from the US Treehugger

Antibacterial soap is a lie, just like everything else in your life Marketwatch

The Audacious Plan to Save This Mans Life by Transplanting His Head The Atlantic. What could go wrong?

How to change your mind: our writers on what they got wrong New Statesman

The Revenge of Rogers Angels New York magazine

The Birth of Conservative Media as We Know It New Republic

Lunch with the FT: Nick Denton FT

The world wide cage aeon

What the Spacex Explosion Means for Elon Musk and Mark Zuckerberg New Yorker

Why everything from Samsung phones to hoverboards are (literally) exploding Marketwatch

Worlds longest glass bridge closes for maintenance two weeks after opening Guardian

How Congress Makes Regular Taxpayers Foot the Bill for Oil Pipeline Fat Cats Daily Beast

How Should We Read Investor Letters? New Yorker. John Lanchester is always worth reading both the journalism, and the novels.

Two miracles and 19 years later: why Mother Teresas journey to sainthood took so long The Conversation

Class Warfare

As Obamas Presidency Enters Final Months, Thousands Behind Bars Hope for Clemency Truthout

Obama urges China to stop flexing muscles over South China Sea South China Morning Post. I cant resist highlighting this quote from the Nobel Peace Prize president: If you sign a treaty that calls for international arbitration around maritime issues, the fact that youre bigger than the Philippines or Vietnam or other countries  is not a reason for you to go around and flex your muscles, Obama said. Youve got to abide by international law. Glad thats settled then!

Indias Nuclear Riddle Al Jazeera

Brexit

British government to confirm ban on microbeads water pollutant Independent

Hospitals to cut costs by denying surgery to smokers and the obese Guardian

Beneath the surface of tourism in Bali The Conversation

Why are Kenyas students torching their own dormitories? Guardian

Maltese MP faces awkward EU post interview Politico

Amnesty: Honduras, Guatemala Deadliest Countries for Environmental Activists Foreign Policy

Millions of Indian workers strike for better wages Al Jazeera

Cultural Imperialism and Perception Management: How Hollywood Hides US War Crimes Strategic Culture

2016

Syraqistan

Antidote du jour:

See yesterdays Links and Antidote du Jour here.
Backseat Drivers: Tight points make Martinsville Mayhem Kyle Petty joins the Backseat Drivers to discuss the final Round of 8 race at Martinsville Speedway and the potential chaos at the end of each stage.
Tipperary manager Michael Ryan has recalled Killenaule's John 'Bubbles' O'Dwyer to the team for Sunday's All Ireland final against Kilkenny.

O'Dwyer came off the bench to score a crucial goal in the semi-final win over Galway and all the speculation about the team for the final centred on whether he would start or be kept in reserve as an impact sub again.

However Ryan has opted to use him from the start with Niall O'Meara dropping to the bench.

It's a big call from the Tipp boss but one that many Tipp fans will support in view of the influence O'Dwyer can have on a game.

He comes in at top of the right with John McGrath moving to top of the left.

In all there are five All-Ireland Final debutants in Tipp's starting XV combining a mix of youth and experience as Tipperary go in search of their first title since 2010.

The Tipperary team lines out as follows;

1. Darren Gleeson - Portroe

2. Cathal Barrett - Holycross-Ballycahill

3. James Barry - Upperchurch-Drombane

4. Michael Cahill - Thurles Sarsfields

5. Seamus Kennedy - St. Mary's

6. Ronan Maher - Thurles Sarsfields

7. Padraic Maher - Thurles Sarsfields

8. Brendan Maher (Capt.) - Borris-Ileigh

9. Michael Breen - Ballina

10. Dan McCormack - Borris-Ileigh

11. Patrick Maher - Lorrha-Dorrha

12. Noel McGrath - Loughmore-Castleiney

13. John ODwyer - Killenaule

14. Seamus Callanan - Drom & Inch

15. John McGrath - Loughmore-Castleiney

Meanwhile, Tipperary minor hurling team manager Liam Cahill has also named his side to face Limerick in their All Ireland Final clash which throws in at 1.15pm.

Showing one change from the their semi-final also, Tom Murphy returns to corner back having recovered from injury.

The Tipperary Minor team to take on Limerick lines out as follows;

1. Ciaran Barrett - Clonmel Og

2. Killian O'Dwyer - Killenaule

3. Michael Whelan - Carrick Davins

4. Tom Murphy - J.K. Brackens

5. Cian Flanagan - Newport

6. Brian McGrath (Capt.) - Loughmore-Castleiney

7. Jerome Cahill - Kilruane MacDonaghs

8. Paddy Cadell - J.K. Brackens

9. Ger Browne - Knockavilla Donaskeigh Kickhams

10. Rian Doody - Cappawhite

11. Jake Morris - Nenagh Eire Og

12. Colin English - Fr. Sheehy's

13. Cian Darcy - Kilruane MacDonaghs

14. Mark Kehoe - Kilsheelan-Kilcash

15. Lyndon Fairbrother - J.K. Brackens
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Guinea pigs

(NaturalNews) For years the federal government and others have labeled those who warned about chemicals being sprayed on populations  chemtrails  as conspiracy theorists, but the nation's space agency has just admitted that the "conspiracy" theorists were 100 percent correct.As reported by, a NASA scientist has admitted that his agency is placing lithium in rocket exhaust ( listen here ), which is then dispersed through the atmosphere. What's more, lithium release has been taking place on and off since the 1970s, Rowland admits on the video, which is actually a taped recording of a phone call.Though Rowland said that lithium does not hurt the environment, the compound itself was used as a psychiatric medication for decades. It works by altering levels of serotonin and norepinephrine that are secreted by the human endocrine system. Lithium strongly alters brain patterns, but in the recording Rowland claimed that "it is not dangerous."The reality is that even physicians who regularly prescribe the drug for psychiatric reasons don't understand how it works , or what the proper dosing levels should be. So how can spraying large amounts of the compound into the atmosphere indiscriminately ever be a good thing?NASA has the explanation. On the space agency's website , it claims that NASA pursues lithium releases in order to study wind movement in the upper atmosphere, with the purpose being to analyze data about charged  or ionized  gas (called plasma), as well as the neutral gas that it travels through.The agency says that the variations matter, because all GPS and communications satellites send their signals through the ionosphere, and "a disturbed ionosphere translates to disturbed signals," so it is necessary to know what causes the ionosphere to act in certain ways.Besides mind-altering lithium, others have tried aerosol vaccines  spraying populations with vaccines without their knowledge or permission  as this study abstract denotes. Several thousand people have been aerosol-vaccinated "for many years" in Russia with "live-attenuated strains against many diseases." Also, there have been exhaustive field trials in South America using live-attenuated measles vaccine, which were reported successful. Good results were also reported using an aerosol to vaccinate against influenza A."The aerosol mode of vaccine introduction, which best follows the natural route of many infections, may first lead to development of immunity at the portal of entry, and may also induce a more generalized defense," the researchers stated.The study noted further that the optimal method of aerosol vaccine is through the nose, which is considered better for pediatric and geriatric populations."We conclude that aerosol immunization seems a promising method of vaccination," the study's authors conclude.As for the lithium, it is not a drug that should be spread throughout the atmosphere, because, again, doctors and scientists really don't know what dose levels are effective and which are too much.Rowland, in his taped conversation, promised to respond to specific questions if he was emailed. He also said that the space agency welcomed such inquiries from the general public because informing people is a core mission of NASA.If that's true, then why are other government employees in key agencies under gag orders regarding discussions of chemtrails If you're still not ready to believe that the U.S. government is capable of distributing aerosol lithium thermite via chemtrail, this public document  Code 840 RMMO from the Wallops Range and Mission Management Office  should put your doubts to rest. It specifically states in a 2013 mission statement that the "purpose" of the launch is "to test the loading methods for lithium canisters" that were to be flown in subsequent missions. The results? "Thermistor data looked nominal. Good report from airborne optical platform ofalso visible by ground observation."The U.S. government has treated Americans as guinea pigs in the past; anyone who would think that it has discontinued the practice is just naive.
Coconut oil shows promise in preliminary trials; more research now underway

What makes coconut oil an effective treatment for fighting Alzheimer's?
"It's great that it's finally getting done here," Randall Martin said.

Steve Spurrier -Florida Field when they return home. This chair remains unoccupied to symbolize that those still listed as Prisoner of War or Missing in Action will always have a seat awaiting them at-Florida Field when they return home.

Cmrd. Randolph Wright Ford

GAINESVILLE, Fla.  It's a tribute, a cause that has been done in several stadiums around the country.Martin, 32, is a veteran of the U.S. Marines. He did three tours of Iraq. He's now a UF student, but also has been a point player in the University of Florida's Collegiate Veterans Society's endeavor of putting a "Chair of Honor" in Ben Hill Griffin Stadium to honor POW and MIA soldiers. His work and that of his colleagues at CVS officially will come to fruition this weekend when a seat in the stadium concourse near Gate 16  located in the southeast lower bowl  will be dedicated in their memory when UF opens its 2016 season Saturday night against Massachusetts.And there it will stay, marked by a plaque with the following inscription:It's a tribute the likes of which has been done in an estimated 200 ballparks by franchises in various sports, all at the behest of CVS, an organization dedicated to helping fellow veterans in the transformation from military to college life by enriching communities and campuses with veteran-sponsored and patriotic events.One such chair sits at Tropicana Field, home of the Tampa Bay Rays. The New England Patriots did the same at Gillette Stadium.Now, the Gators are doing their part.As part of Saturday's dedication, the family of Cmrd. Randolph Wright Ford will be recognized. Ford, who lived in Gainesville and attended UF in 1954-55, was commissioned as a Naval officer, earned his Wings of Gold and was attached to Attack Squadron 86 on aircraft carrier USS America during the Vietnam War.In the early morning hours of June 11, 1968, Ford was forced to eject from his aircraft over North Vietnam. After nearly losing a Navy rescue helicopter to enemy fire, Ford did not want to put any more of his fellow soldiers at risk and called off the efforts to rescue him. He was captured and died of his wounds several days later. Ford was 32 years old. His remains were not repatriated to American soil until Aug. 14, 1985.Now buried at St. Augustine National Cemetery, Ford is survived by his wife, Emma Frances, three children, seven grandchildren and one great grandchild. Several members of his family will be present for the dedication Saturday, as well as some who served alongside Ford in fellow Squadron 86.Saturday will be a day to honor and remember Ford.Others will follow."It's important to realize there are people who are always serving somewhere. Americans are always fighting for freedom and not all of them come home," Martin said. "It'll be great to know that this this symbol will be there for them. Hopefully, younger generations will take the time to walk by and give it even just a few seconds of thought."
(NaturalNews) The new executive director of the UN Environment Program (UNEP), Erik Solheim, recently laid out key issues that are currently facing the international community. One of these issues includes the pollution crisis, which is having disastrous effects worldwide.Solheim told reporters in Geneva that the World Health Organization (WHO) has estimated that upwards of 7 million people die each year because of pollution . That figure is nearly equal to estimates of annual cancer deaths.This news, while unsettling, is not shocking. In 2013, UN officials stated that air pollution was killing more people than some of the world's deadliest diseases. reported that former director general of the UN Industrial Development, Kandeh Yumkella, told a conference in Oslo that, "Air pollution is causing more deaths than HIV or malaria combined." At that time, Yumkella suggested that new UN energy goals should also include cutting the number of premature deaths caused by indoor and outdoor pollution in half by 2030. However, it would appear that the new guy is not quite so ambitious.Solheim, a former Norwegian politician and diplomat, appears to be more concerned about creating partnerships with those whom hecould play a role in UNEP's mission. In the true fashion of a politician, Solheim says that, "At the very minimum we will be ready to go into partnerships with companies who either behave well or are ready to change." Then he goes on to describe a recent agreement that was made in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia's capital. A budding partnership is currently being discussed with Ethiopian Airlines, supposedly to help them increase their fuel efficiency.One has to wonder: What kind of benefits is UNEP going to receive in return for "assisting" those they deem worthy of their "partnership?" Perhaps "ready to change"means "ready to pay."Solheim goes on to say that the second issue at hand is the intersection of environment, war, migration and conflict. He says that more reaching out needs to be done to help bring these issues "closer to people's hearts." Mr. Solheim goes on to suggest that as a first step he is considering changing UNEP's name to simply, "UN Environment." That seems like a brilliant waste of time and resources, doesn't it?While Solheim goes about gathering "partnerships" with businesses that are "ready to change"  whatever that is supposed to mean  people will continue to die. recent study found that more than half of the 5.5 million deaths worldwide that are attributed to air pollution alone, occur in India and China. Researchers from the University of British Columbia estimate that 1.4 million people in India, and 1.6 million in China, died from air pollution-related causes in 2013. That's a total of 55 percent of all air pollution-related deaths in just two countries.If Solheim and his cronies were serious about reducing the number of people who died each year because of the polluted environment they live in, they would start there. However, instead of targeting areas where pollution-related deaths are at all-time highs, Solheim wants to "partner with businesses," and we all know what that is code for: "I'm going to make myself rich." The UN is no stranger to corruption , especially when businesses are involved. In 2005, the former head of the UN's oil-for-food program in Iraq was found to be guilty of receiving kickbacks from oil companies; he was also helping them to win contracts. Another senior UN official was accused of soliciting bribes at that time.More recently, in 2015, a former top UN official, and a billionaire real-estate developer from a Chinese territory, were accused of participating in a "broad corruption scheme," according to the. Diplomat and former president of the United Nations General Assembly, John W. Ashe, was actually one of six people to be identified in the corruption scheme. The criminal complaint outlined bribery plans that involvedfrom Chinese sources. Ashe was also accused of using bribes to support a lavish lifestyle, filled with tailored suits and fancy watches.What is it with the UN and corruption? Clearly, any relationship between the UN and business is not to be trusted.
Judges making it up

Congress must act

(NaturalNews) Court watchers know that the Ninth U.S. Circuit is one of the most liberal, most-overturned of all circuit courts. So it wasn't a surprise to many when leftist judges there recently ruled to uphold a ban on gun sales and possession to anyone who uses marijuana for medical purposes  even if it's legal in their respective state.As reported by, an organization that is working to reform laws governing the use of marijuana , the judges' decision backs The Gun Control Act of 1968, a federal law that prohibits the sale of guns to any "unlawful user" of a federally controlled substance. To that end, though the Obama administration's Justice Department refuses to pursue legal action against the states of Colorado and Washington over recently approved ballot measures allowing recreational use of marijuana, the White House has allowed the Drug Enforcement Agency to continue to classify pot as a Schedule I controlled substance In making their ruling, the judges further determined that their ban "furthers the government's interest in preventing gun violence," because cannabis users are supposedly more likely to be involved in violent gun-related crimes. They concluded: "[The plaintiff in this case] does not have a constitutionally protected liberty interest in simultaneously holding a [medical cannabis] registry card and purchasing a firearm."That's the great thing about being a federal judge: If you are anti-gun and a judicial activist you don't have to cite any evidence in your rulings; you can just make it up as you go along. And, obviously, you don't have to follow the Constitution unless you want to. There is no language in the Second Amendment that serves as a qualifier  like, for instance that Americans only have the right to keep and bear arms "if it furthers the government's interest."The federal government itself is no better. In 2011,noted, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms sent out a memorandum to all gun dealers instructing that anyone who uses marijuana, irrespective of state laws that allow it for medicinal purposes, is nevertheless an "unlawful user of or addicted to a controlled substance," and therefore is prohibited by federal law from having a gun or ammunition.Paul Armentano, the deputy director of, was justifiably disappointed with the ruling. He said he could find "no credible justification" for an exception to gun ownership because of pot use in the Constitution. He also noted that "responsible adults" who are cannabis users in compliance with state laws that the federal government obviously has no problem with, "ought to receive the same legal rights and protections as do other citizens." He further called on Congress to act quickly to amend the criminal status of marijuana usage in a manner that matches public and scientific opinion, as well as "its rapidly changing legal status under state laws."As reported bythe Ninth Circuit's ruling came as a result of a lawsuit filed by S. Rowan Wilson, a Nevada woman who tried to buy a firearm for self-defense in 2011, after first obtaining a legal medical marijuana registration card. But she said that the gun store refused to sell to her, citing the 1968 law.The problem is that marijuana use remains illegal as per federal law, and as such, the mechanisms remain in place to continue eradicating it. For instance, as reported by Big Government , the DEA has ramped up funding for eradication efforts in recent years, despite the fact that more states and jurisdictions are decriminalizing its use. That makes no sense, and it is up to Congress, ashas noted, to intervene and correct this obvious legal and constitutional imbalance.
Studies show the color of a beverage can have psychological effects on the expectations and experience of a consumer (Flavour 2015;(4)21.DOI: 10.1186/s13411-015-0031-3). Color can affect whether a consumer finds a beverage enticing or unappealing. Color also may affect the consumer's expectation of a beverage's flavor and intensity.

For example, a colorless beverage can give the impression of blandness, while red or blue can signal that a beverage is flavorful. Because of this, beverage manufacturers often use color as part of their product's branding; however, base ingredients themselves often do not result in the desired color.

In many cases, color in beverages is achieved by the addition of natural or artificial color additives. These additives often contribute no flavor or nutritional value to a product, but instead serve solely as a visual purpose. Manufacturers cannot simply use any substance to color their beverages. Color additives intended for use in foods and beverages marketed in the United States are regulated by the FDA.

FDA defines a color additive as "any dye, pigment or substance which, when added or applied to a food, drug or cosmetic, or to the human body, is capable (alone or through reactions with other substances) of imparting color." Unlike other types of food ingredients, color additives are not considered GRAS (generally recognized as safe). They must be specifically approved for their intended use by FDA through the color additive petition process. Manufacturers may only use color additives in ways that comply with FDA's approved uses. For example, if a beverage manufacturer wants to color a product red, cochineal extract or astaxanthin could be used. Cochineal extract is approved to be used in foods generally, but astaxanthin is approved solely for use in salmonid fish feed in order to redden the flesh of the fish. Use of astaxanthin in any other product could result in an adulterated product that could be refused entry at a U.S. port. Similarly, sodium copper chlorophyllin may only be used in dry citrus-based beverage mixes, while FD&C Green No. 3 is approved for use generally in foods. Use of sodium copper chlorophyllin in a liquid energy drink would result in an adulterated product, while use of FD&C Green No. 3 would be considered appropriate.

FDA has two parts in the Code of Federal Regulations for color additives approved for use in foods and beverages: those exempt from certification and those subject to certification.

Color additives subject to FDA certification are typically synthetically produced and have been recognized by FDA as posing a risk to public health if manufactured improperly. Additives subject to certification must undergo what is called "color batch certification." Manufacturers must send FDA a sample from each batch of a color additive that it intends to use in food or beverages marketed in the United States. FDA will analyze the batch for safety, purity and other compliance standards as outlined in its regulations, and will either certify or reject the batch. Once FDA receives a sample, the process typically takes five to seven business days. If the sample passes, the batch will be issued a unique lot number that confirms that the color additive being used in the product is from a certified batch.

Manufacturers should familiarize themselves with additives that require certification, as foods and beverages that contain a certifiable color additive from an uncertified batch are considered adulterated, making it a prohibited act to market those products in the United States. Generally, color names that are prefaced with "FD&C" will require batch certification. Manufacturers also must be cognizant of the fact that many "E number" and Color Index ("CI") color additives are non-certified versions of FD&C colors. Allura Red (E129/CI 16035) requires certification as FD&C Red No. 40. Tartrazine (E102/CI 19140) requires certification as FD&C Yellow No. 5.

FDA has published numerous warning letters and an import alerts regarding use of illegal or undeclared colors in foods. To avoid costly disruptions to supply chains, manufacturers should verify the regulatory status of their color additives prior to shipping or marketing their products in the United States. Products that contain illegal color additives can be detained by FDA in port and cannot be reconditioned to make them admissible. Therefore, products that don't meet FDA's requirements for color additives should be reformulated before being marketed in the United States.

Looking for more on the regulatory issues and formulation considerations around the use of natural colors? Join us for the Natural Colors: Overcoming Technical Challenges & Consumer Perceptions panel discussion on Thursday, Oct. 6, at 2:00 p.m., at SupplySide West.

Anna Benevente is a senior regulatory specialist at Registrar Corp. (registrarcorp.com), an FDA consulting firm that helps companies comply with FDA regulation. She has been assisting companies with U.S. FDA regulations since 2009 and has researched over 370 products to determine whether they meet the FDA requirements for compliance.
A team of researchers has unveiled the most prevalent illnesses in Finnish cats through a unique survey. The group discovered that the cats' most common health issues involves the mouth, skin and kidneys.

According to Science Daily, in Finland, the most beloved domestic animal is a cat. Even though most of the Finnish housecats are mixed-breed, there are over 4,000 purebred cats that are registered in the country every year. Despite such large population of felines, there are actually little information about their health issues.

So what makes this survey unique? Unlike doing series of experiments, the researchers, led by Professor Hannes Lohi of the University of Helsinki and Folkhalsan Research Centre, turned to social media to ask cat owners about their pets' health issues.

"There is much less information about feline illnesses than, for example, canine ones. We used social media to gather our data, and the study benefitted greatly from the active participation of cat enthusiasts. Most of the data was collected in just over six months. Our research material is unique in its structure and scope, and it highlights important breed-specific genetic illnesses which are ripe for further study," explains researcher Katariina Vapalahti, one of the study's authors.

The research material's scope is broad. It includes studies of more than 8,000 cats, 1,500 of which are housecats. According to the researchers, their study also touches new information about cats that can be used as a basis for genetic study. Lohi said that they discovered nearly 60 breed-specific or hereditary diseases and six genetic mutation associated with six cat breeds, Newslocker reports.

"The study provides useful information for preventing disease and developing breeding programmes. The results reflect the findings of previous research in part, but they also provide a great deal of new information on the health of purebred cats and housecats alike," Lohi concludes.

As for these felines' prevalent disease category, dental and oral diseases come on the first spot with 28 percent, according to the journal published in Frontiers in Veterinary. It is followed by skin disorders with 12 percent, the urinary system with 12 percent, the digestive tract with 11 percent, eyes, and the musculoskeletal system (10 percent). For individual diseases, the most common are dental calculus and gingivitis, parasites, vomiting, urinary tract infection, kidney disorders, urinary stones, diarrhea, and cystitis.
Recent changes to the Black Sea have stripped oxygen from the bottom 40 percent of the oxygenated water, rendering it inhabitable.

The Modelling for Aquatic Systems (MAST) group at the University of Liege recently completed a study about the oxygen decline in the Black Sea. The group is worried about the negative ecological and economic outcomes related to their findings. Their paper, published in the open access journal Biogeosciences, links the decreased oxygen levels to global warming.

The Black Sea is made up of different layers. The bottom layers are much saltier, denser and lack oxygen. Conversely, the river-fed upper layers have more oxygen and less salt, which allow oxygen needing creatures to thrive. A boundary keeps the layers separate. In the past sixty years, the boundary moved from a depth of 140 to 90 meters, thereby causing the loss of more than 40 percent of the sea's habitable water.

"The oxygenated and therefore habitable area of the Black Sea is a very restricted space. This is the case horizontally, because the basin is almost completely closed, and also vertically, owing to this permanent stratification. Compared with other seas, this restricted volume is exposed to major external influences. It is therefore more sensitive and capable of evolving rapidly," lead author and researcher at MAST Arthur Capet said in a release.

"In winter, lower temperatures accompanied by higher winds make the surface water colder and richer in oxygen. However, cold water is denser than warm water. Therefore, this cold water sinks and takes the oxygen it contains with it. This creates a ventilation effect," he added.

The researchers tied the depletion of oxygen to man-made activities, namely eutrophication and climate chang-induced warmer waters. Eutrophication is a type of water pollution that occurs when runoff from land introduces a critical mass of nutrients in the water that kills animals by depleting oxygen in the water.
After news of African forest elephants taking over 90 years for its population to recover due to slow breeding, its cousin, Africa's savanna elephants, are dwindling in numbers too.

According to a continent-wide survey released in the journal Peer J called the Great Elephant Census, Africa now only has 352,271 savanna elephants left in the wild. The massive decline mainly attributed to two things: ivory poaching and habitat destruction.

The aerial survey, called the Great Elephant Census, went across 18 countries in Africa and found out that between 2007 and 2014, in a span of seven years, the numbers of Savannah elephants experienced a 30 percent decline (144,000 elephants). Researchers estimate that 8 percent of the species or 27,000 elephants die every year from ivory poaching,

The effects of ivory poaching worsen as according to the survey, the elephant population in Mozambique's Niassa Reserve in Tanzania decreased by a dramatic 75 percent in the past decade. This massive decline was attributed to poachers wiping out family herds, CNN reports.

Meanwhile, in Ethiopia, the Babile Elephant Sanctuary only has one single heard of elephant remaining in its premises.

The Savannah elephant populations in central and west Africa were excluded in the study as these areas were difficult to survey on air. However, National Geographic notes that there have been reports that elephants here are facing the problem of habitat loss.

"When you think of how many elephants occurred in areas 10 or 20 years ago, it's incredibly disheartening," said ecologist Mike Chase, the founder of Elephants Without Borders and lead scientist of the study via CNN. "Historically these ecosystems supported many thousands of elephants compared to the few hundreds or tens of elephants we counted."

Paul G. Allen, Microsoft founder who backed up the ambitious three-year project, told National Geographic that the information from studies, such as the Great Elephant Census, would lead us to "to make faster, smarter, better decisions about how and where we direct limited resources.

This news comes at a great time as the welfare and regulation of animal species will be at the forefront of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) in Johannesburg, South Africa later this month.
Two veteran correctional officers were in critical condition Sunday after being shot in the lobby of a central California county jail Saturday morning by an alleged gang member.

Juanita Davila and Toamalama Scanlan were shot in their heads and necks around 8:30 a.m. after the suspect, 37-year-old Thong Vang, entered the lobby of the Fresno County Jail and became disgruntled when officers told him to wait patiently in line. As law enforcement attempted to restrain him, Vang opened fire, according to a sheriff's spokeswoman.

Davila is listed as being in critical, but stable condition while Scanlan remains in critical condition, according to a Sheriff's spokeswoman.

Vang, from Fresno, has been arrested in connection with the shooting. He has a prior criminal history and was sentenced to 14 years in prison for a 1998 Fresno rape case, according to a sheriff's spokeswoman.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.
Police have three suspects in custody for the rape and sexual assault of two Antioch girls earlier this year at an Antioch motel.

The assaults took place on Feb. 8 and Feb. 14 at the Economy Inn at 520 E. 18th St., according to police.

Police have arrested 43-year-old Cori Murphy and 23-year-old Sarah Denzer, both of Antioch, and 27-year-old Rose Ann Pennell of the unincorporated Contra Costa County community of Bay Point. The three are being held in the county jail on $4 million bail each, police said Friday.

On Feb. 13, one of the girls, who is 16 years old, and an 18-year-old friend from Brentwood bumped into Pennell, a family acquaintance of one of them, police said.

Allegedly, Pennell invited the two to a hotel room to hang out. When the three got to the room, Murphy and Denzer were there. The girl and her friend did not know Murphy or Denzer, according to police.

Allegedly, both were given alcohol and drugs. The 16-year-old became unconscious that afternoon and the 18-year-old was dropped off at a business for her father to pick her up, police said.

She was in an altered state of mind, but police do not believe she was assaulted.

Upon waking up the next day, the 18-year-old realized that her friend may still be at the hotel and expressed concern. Her father took her to the hotel where she found her friend groggy and partly unclothed. Police were called to the scene.

The girl recalled being sexually assaulted and raped throughout the night by Pennell and Murphy, police said.

Officers arrested Pennell and Murphy and took them to the county jail. But the pair and Denzer denied all allegations levied against them.

Police said they presented the case to the Contra Costa County District Attorney on Feb. 16, but not enough evidence was available to charge the two suspects.

On July 19, as police were examining evidence, they identified another victim.

Allegedly, the victim, a 14-year-old Antioch girl, had been drugged, raped and sexually assaulted at the same hotel on Feb. 8.

Police implicated Denzer in this assault and officers arrested her on Aug. 19.

On Aug. 23, police again presented evidence to the District Attorney.

Murphy was arrested again on Aug. 24. Before he was taken to jail, police checked his van where allegedly they found a 32-year-old Martinez woman who was incoherent and partly unclothed.

The woman was taken to a hospital. Police are currently investigating the incident.

Pennell was arrested again on Aug. 27 after she was located in the State of Washington.

All three defendants have been charged with forcible rape, two counts of human trafficking, six counts of sexual penetration by a foreign object, two counts of lewd acts on a child, aged 14 or 15, and two counts of oral copulation of a minor, according to the Contra Costa County district attorney's office.

Any other possible victims are asked to call Detective Perkinson with the Antioch Police Department at (925) 779-6932.
The State Bar of California announced this week that for the first time in almost 20 years, it will ask the state Supreme Court for authority to collect attorneys' dues next year.

The announcement comes after a bill aimed at reforming the bar failed to pass through the states most recent legislative session, which ended on Wednesday. The bill, SB-846, sought to divide the bar into two agencies, since it currently serves as both a trade group for lawyers and a regulatory body that is supposed to discipline attorneys.

The bill called for a shake up on the bars board of trustees, calling for the majority of seats to be held by those who dont practice law. It also included a proposal to determine the bars annual dues. Those dues are paid by all lawyers in the state, and must be approved by the legislature each year.

According to a statement issued by the California State Bar on Thursday, the agency will ask for a court decision by early December so that fees can be collected on the usual schedule.

The State Bars mission is public protection and we will continue to prioritize that work with as little disruption as possible, said Elizabeth Parker, the executive director of the State Bar of California. Were going to get through this.

The California State Bar has come under harsh criticism in recent months over mismanagement and misspending. Last week, the Investigative Unit revealed that a recent state audit shows the agency is overpaying its employees, all while the bars fund to repay victims of corrupt lawyers is millions of dollars short.

The audit points to a lack of transparency and inappropriate financial decisions that the agency tried to keep hidden from lawmakers.

According to the May 2016 state audit, not only did [the California State Bar] fail to take steps to address the problem or to communicate the funds true financial situation, it did the opposite.

In May, the Investigative Unit revealed how the bar was accused of failing to keep watch over some of the states worst attorneys.

According to a separate state audit released in June 2015, in trying to clear its backlog of consumer complaints against attorneys, the bar allowed some lawyers to continue practicing, even though they should have been disciplined or disbarred.
Every year on Sept. 2, the city of San Francisco raises a red, communist Vietnam flag to commemorate Vietnam's independence from France in 1945, but that action has many folks irritated.

Protesters, which included refugees from Vietnam, stood outside San Francisco City Hall Friday afternoon singing in Vietnamese and carrying the old yellow and red flag of anti-communist South Vietnam while simultaneously condemning the city for flying a flag that they say commemorates the communist history in Vietnam.

Demonstrator Son Pham proclaimed that he doesn't like seeing the red flag fly above the city. Fellow protestor Jane Dobui added that communism should not be represented in a free country such as the United States.

San Francisco Mayor Ed Lee was perched atop the steps of city hall addressing a proposed soda tax while the protesters took their stance, but he did not address those protesting the flag.

Although the protesters were not recognized by the mayor, they say that they hope Lee and other city leaders heard their message.
An off-duty San Francisco Police Department officer was awarded with a bravery medal Friday for his heroic actions in a neighboring department's jurisdiction.

Riley Brandy was walking near Lake Merritt in Oakland on July 8 when he witnessed a suspect pull a rifle, which was later determined to be a BB gun, and demand that the victim cough up their cellphone during an armed robbery attempt, according to a press release.

Bandy jumped into action, but immediately had the weapon drawn on him by the suspect. The off-duty officer identified himself as a member of the San Francisco police force and demanded that the suspect lower the gun, but the teenage suspect took off running, police said in a press release.

After having the suspect's rifle repeatedly pointed at him during a subsequent foot chase, Bandy decided to call the Oakland Police Department and notify officers of the suspect's location, according to police.

The San Francisco cop stayed within reach and, after the suspect dropped the weapon, managed to tackle him to the ground and assist Oakland authorities with bringing the teenager into custody, police said in a press release.

San Francisco's Acting Police Chief Tony Chaplin and Oakland's Acting Assistant Police Chief David Downing presented Bandy with the Oakland Police Department Silver Star for bravery on Friday, according to police.

Bandy's commanding officers are trying prolong the praise for their comrade by nominating him for a San Francisco Police Department Medal of Valor, police said in a press release.
A student body leader at San Jose State University is behind bars for alleged domestic battery, police said.

A photograph by the universitys newspaper, the Spartan Daily, shows police officers arresting Joshua Romero on campus Thursday night. He was taken into custody at the universitys event center, according to Lt. Jim Renelle with the SJSU police department.

Romero, whose biography says he is from San Francisco, is the Associated Students Vice President. The fourth-year political science major said he dreams of one day working in politics.

Romero was booked into Santa Clara County Jail for felony false imprisonment, misdemeanor domestic battery and violating a restraining order, also a misdemeanor, Renelle said.

Further details were not immediately available due to the holiday weekend.
A Vacaville woman was sentenced to a lengthy prison term Friday for sexually abusing her 10-year-old son.

Michelle Victoria Souza, 43, was convicted of the continuous sexual abuse of a child under 14, Solano County District Attorney Krishna Abrams said.

Solano County Superior Court Judge E. Bradley Nelson sentenced her to 16 years in prison and a consecutive term of 25 years to life, Abrams said.

Souza forced her 10-year-old son to have intercourse with her beginning in December 2013 until he was 11 years old, Abrams said.

The boy's father found out about the sexual abuse from text messages on his phone and called police.

Souza claimed her boyfriend forced her to have inappropriate contact with her son but denied having sex with him, Abrams said.
A trip to a San Francisco dog park turned violent Thursday, when a man was caught on camera as he kicked a dog and was then tackled by witnesses.

The scuffle at Duboce Park began when the owner of a basset hound went after a black Labrador.

Hal Fischer said he grabbed the dog by its collar really hard. She freaked out, and a tug of war ensued.

Other dog owners come to the womans aid, but the man kicked her dog really hard when she tried to leave the park, Fischer said. Bystanders were shocked and that really set people off, he said.

Witnesses confronted the man and called police, but he fled before officers arrived at the scene.

Jon Kim said he started recording the incident because it was escalating.

I was worried about her safety, he said. I didn't think he'd kick the dog.

Kim, whose video alarmed dog park regulars, added that everyone was really scared because the man was acting crazy.

Witnesses say the dog involved in the incident did not appear to be hurt. But Fischer delivered a strong message to the basset hounds owner.

I went up to him and said, Don't come back to this park, he said.

Police and San Francisco Animal Care & Control officials are now investigating the incident. Once identified, the man who kicked the Labrador could face animal abuse charges.
Donald Trump swayed to songs of prayer, read scripture, and wore a traditional prayer shawl Saturday on a visit to a predominantly black church in Detroit, as he called for a "civil rights agenda of our time" and vowed to fix the "many wrongs" facing African-Americans.

"I am here to listen to you," Trump told the congregation at the Great Faith Ministries International. "I am here to learn."

Trump has stepped up his appeals to minority voters in recent weeks, but the visit was the first time Trump has addressed a largely black audience since winning the Republican nomination.

Trump was introduced by Bishop Wayne T. Jackson, who wrapped a traditional prayer shawl, around Trump and told his congregation that, "This is the first African-American church he's been in, y'all! Now it's a little different from a Presbyterian church!"

Seated next to him in the front row was Omarosa Manigault, a former contestant on Trump's reality television series, who has helped to guide his outreach to the black community. Also accompanying him was Detroit native Ben Carson, the retired neurosurgeon who ran against Trump in the primaries and is now advising the campaign.

While protesters were a vocal presence outside, Trump made a pitch inside for support from an electorate strongly aligned with Democrat Hillary Clinton.

"I want to help you build and rebuild Detroit," he said. "I fully understand that the African-American community has suffered from discrimination and there are many wrongs that should be made right."

He also said the nation needs "a civil rights agenda of our time," with better education and good jobs.

Unlike his usual campaign stops where he confidently has addressed mostly white crowds that supported him and his plans for the country, Trump's visit to Detroit on Saturday was intended to be more intimate.

Some protesters tried to push through a barrier to the parking lot but were stopped by church security and police.

Rev. Horace Sheffield who led a march from his church blocks away said: "I walked up to the gate and said I was going to church. I was immediately confronted and was told I needed a ticket. You need a ticket to get in church? Anybody who is in this church should be appalled."

Ahead of his trip, Toni McIlwain said she believes that as a candidate, Trump has a right to go anywhere he wants. But, she said, it takes a lot of nerve for him to visit Detroit.

Many black people in the city, she said, are still stung by his stop in Michigan last month, when he went before a mostly white audience and declared, "You live in your poverty, your schools are no good, you have no jobs, 58 percent of your youth is unemployed." He asked, rhetorically, what blacks had to lose by voting for him instead of Clinton.

"People picked up on" Trump saying "you're all just crap," said McIlwain, who for years ran a community center that offered education and drug prevention programs in one of Detroit's most distressed neighborhoods.

"He generalized the total black community. How dare you talk to us like that and talk about us like that?" she said.

But the risky nature of the visit was underscored by what appeared to be unusually cautious planning by the Trump campaign.

On Thursday, The New York Times published what it said was a script of pre-approved questions Trump would be asked in his interview with Jackson, along with prepared answers.

Jackson told CNN on Friday that he "didn't see anything wrong" with clearing his questions with the campaign and hadn't offered softballs. Trump's intention was to meet and speak with local residents while he's in town "because he's been criticized," Jackson said, "for preaching to African-Americans from a backdrop of white people."

Among the members of the clergy denouncing Trump's visit was the Rev. Lawrence Glass, who said Trump's heart was not into helping blacks.

Glass said Trump represents "politics of fear and hate" and that "minorities of all kinds have much to lose taking a chance on someone like" Trump.

After the church visit, Trump made a brief stop at Carson's childhood home in southwest Detroit. Surrounded by security and a swarm of reporters, Trump spoke briefly with the home's current owner, Felicia Reese, wishing her luck.

"Your house is worth a lot of money." he told her, thanks to the Carson connection.

For Trump, courting black voters is a challenge. Most polls show his support among black voters is in the low single digits. Many blacks view some of his campaign rhetoric as insulting, and racist.

Detroit is about 80 percent black, and many are struggling. Nearly 40 percent of residents are impoverished, compared with about 15 percent of Americans overall. Detroit's median household income is just over $26,000  not even half the median for the nation, according to the census.

The city's unemployment rate has dropped, but is still among the highest in the nation. And public school students have lagged behind their peers on statewide standardized tests.
Rock's top-selling duo Daryl Hall and John Oates were honored Friday with the 2,587th star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.

Their star is in the 6700 block of Hollywood Boulevard in front of the Musicians Institute. The ceremony included a surprise horn honk salute from a passing truck during Hall's speech.

"Rock on, man," Hall said. "I love Hollywood Boulevard."

Longtime music executive Jerry Greenberg was the event's guest speaker.

"I want to thank the Hollywood Hall of Fame for picking a spot on the Boulevard for these guys instead of putting them on a side street," Greenberg siad. "This is where they belong."

Hall was born in Pennsylvania and Oates was born in New York before his family moved to Philadelphia, where the two met in the late 1960s. Hall's band, the Temptones, and Oates' band called the Masters weres scheduled to perform at a ballroom in Philadelphia when a fight broke out. In a 2009 NRP profile, they explain how they both ran for the same elevator in a chance meeting that led to the musical partnership built on a mutual love of soul music.

They formed their partnership in 1972, going on to record 21 albums, which have sold more than 80 million copies. They came to Southern California in the early 1970s and signed their first record contract.

"LA has a real special place in my memories," Oates said. "We recorded three albums out here in the mid-70s and it's always been a blast to come out here."

They were recognized as rock's all-time top selling duo in 1987 by the music industry trade organization the Recording Industry Association of America, a distinction they still hold.

From the mid-1970s to mid-1980s, they had six No. 1 singles -- "Rich Girl," "Kiss on My List," "Private Eyes," "I Can't Go For That (No Can Do)," "Maneater" and "Out of Touch."

Hall also wrote "Everytime You Go Away," which Paul Young made a No. 1 hit in 1985.

Hall and Oates were among the artists performing on "We Are the World" and closed the Philadelphia portion of Live Aid, both in 1985. They were inducted in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2014 and the American Songwriters Hall of Fame in 2005.

Since 2007, Hall has hosted the monthly web series and MTV Live show "Live From Daryl's House," which stemmed from his idea of "playing with my friends and putting it up on the internet." He mentioned his love for the early days of television at Friday's Walk of Fame ceremony.

"The pioneers of television are represented here," Hall said, looking around at the surrounding Walk stars. "I feel like, wow, I'm part of this. This is a bit of a surprise."

Oates released his latest solo project in 2014, "Good Road to Follow," a three-disc set of genre-specific extended play albums.

"We are proud to welcome Daryl Hall & John Oates to the world-famous Walk of Fame," said Hollywood Chamber President-CEO Leron Gubler. "Fans from all over the world are excited to know that these two great music influencers will be immortalized in history with a star in the Hollywood Walk of Fame."

They're currently on tour with Sharon Jones & The Dap-Kings and Trombone Shorty & Orleans Avenue.
It is one of the Chicagoland areas most enduring mysteries: the 1966 murder of 21-year-old Valerie Percy.

Percy was stabbed and bludgeoned to death in her familys Kenilworth home, in the waning weeks of her father Charles Percys successful bid for U.S. Senate. The crime was never solved.

Fifty years later, Kenilworth refuses to open the case files, insisting that the case is still a very active investigation. And now, the leafy North Shore suburb is the target of a lawsuit filed by New York attorney John Kelly, demanding that police open the books on a crime which has haunted Chicago for five decades.

We dont even believe there is a pending investigation, says Matt Topic of the Chicago law firm Loevy and Loevy, which represents Kelly in the Cook County case. At least, they havent shown that there is a pending investigation.

At one time, the case occupied the public consciousness in Chicago like no other. On the night of September 18, 1966, someone cut a hole in a French door of the Percys Kenilworth mansion, and worked his way upstairs where Valerie Percy was asleep near her parents second floor bedroom.

Percys second wife Lorraine said she heard moans down the hall, and when she stepped into the bedroom, she encountered the killer standing over Valeries bed. Percy said she was blinded by the light of the intruders flashlight, and that while she ran to summon help, the man escaped.

Percy went on to serve 18 years in the United States Senate. He died in 2011, never knowing the truth about his daughters murder.

Its unsolved, says Topic. But just because its unsolved, doesnt mean that its really being actively investigated any more.

In court documents, Kenilworth insists the case is an ongoing investigation, and that the case files in question constitute some 20,000 pages of reports, crime scene photos, witness statements, tips, and interviews.

The investigation into Ms. Percys murder is ongoing and currently active, attorneys for the Police Department wrote. Release of any portion of the Investigation File would obstruct and jeopardize that investigation.

Topic disagrees, and disputes that there is any active investigation.

Are there individual things that maybe should be withheld? We grant that maybe there are some things that could, he said. But to withhold the entirety of the file is just completely not what the law allows.

A hearing on the case is set for September 7th in Cook County Circuit Court.

The vast majority of this information should be released, Topic said. If law enforcement is allowed to withhold the entirety of their files even 50 years after a crime has occurred simply because it hasnt been solved yet, it really interferes with the ability to monitor law enforcement, and hold law enforcement accountable.

City officials and attorneys for the Village of Kenilworth did not respond to inquiries for comment on the lawsuit.
Seven children were taken to area hospitals from a carnival on Chicago's South Side Saturday afternoon, according to fire and police officials.

Around 3:30 p.m., a rollercoaster came to an abrupt stop at a carnival in the 8800 block of South Lafayette in the city's West Chatham neighborhood, according to police. Fire officials originally said the address they responded to was the 200 block of West 87th Street.

Six children on the ride hit their heads, while another child was taken to the hospital at the request of a parent, according to Chicago police.

Four of the children were taken to Comer Children's Hospital, and three were taken to St. Bernard Hospital, fire and police officials confirmed. All were listed in good condition, police said, and none of the children's ages were released.
Chicago police arrested 77 people in an organized takedown on Labor Day Weekend, according to a release from the Chicago Police Department.

CPD's Bureau of Organized Crime conducted a "narcotics unified enforcement mission" in the 11th and 15th districts on the city's West Side, authorities said Saturday.

Within those districts, specific areas were targeted based on feedback from aldermen and residents, past incidents of crime, and known areas of gang activity.

The raids resulted in 77 arrests, as well as the recovery of numerous guns and narcotics, according to police.

45 of the suspects arrested are documented gang members, 57 are convicted felons, 10 were out on parole, and 17 were previously arrested for gun charges, police said in a statement.

63 of the offenders were on CPD's Strategic Subject List, which calculates the likelihood that an individual will be a victim of gun violence based on contact with police, affiliations with gang members, and location, authorities said. 53 of those arrested also received enhanced charges of selling narcotics within 1000 feet of a school.

"I made a commitment to hold offenders that contribute to violence in Chicago accountable and that includes how they fund their criminal activity," Police Superintendent Eddie Johnson said in the release. "The number of individuals that were arrested in this mission with previous gun offenses shows a clear need to impose stronger sentences for repeat gun offenders."

11 weapons, 1 vehicle, $2,200 dollars in cash, and $65,000 worth of narcotics were also seized during these raids, police said.

The mission came at the beginning of a historically violent long holiday weekend. Labor Day Weekend in 2015 left 8 dead and 46 others wounded across Chicago, and authorities as well as activists braced themselves in preparation for this year's violence.

In the first 7 hours of the weekend, 11 people were wounded in shootings on Chicago's South and West Sides, according to police.
A police operation recovered more than half a million dollars in electronics, much of it stolen, from a cell phone store on Chicagos West Side, police said Friday.

Headphones, FitBits, cellphones, speakersand even two gunswere recovered from ABC Choice cellphone store.

In this business here, we discovered evidence they were fencing, conducting a large scale fencing operation, said Chicago Police Cmdr. Karen Konow. They were trafficking in counterfeit merchandise. We have recovered over 100 smartphones we believe to have been stolen.

The months-long investigation, Operation Hot Corner, resulted in the arrest of 25-year-old Mohammad Hejaz, of Burbank, and 27-year-old Bakr Shahen, of Oak Lawn.

It was pretty blatant, there was other activity, selling loosies (individual cigarettes) and other things that undermines the retail, the retailers who are on this block legally, said Sgt. Nelson Perez.

Now the buildings department has shut the business down.

This location had reduced means of egress which were impacting the means of egress in the rear and creating obstructions for the businesses, as well as dangerous and hazardous electrical, said Marlene Hopkins of the citys building department.

The building department checked out other neighboring businesses in the same complex and shut some of them down for violations as well. Some residents around the intersection of Roosevelt Road and Pulaski say that is not fair.

We definitely need these stores, neighbor Samuel Johnson said.

Willy Hix, also a neighborhood resident, told NBC5 I just want quality merchandise for my money.

But police say the cell phone store was contributing to neighborhood violence and encouraging thieves to steal phones that they could fence through the store.

We know that stolen smartphones is a motivating factor in numerous robberies that have been happening as well and a driver of violence, Konow said.
The city is bracing itself before the beginning of a historically violent holidayLabor Day Weekendwith some communities holding peace marches and demonstrations to voice their concern.

At St. Sabinas weekly walk and bike ride for peace in Auburn Gresham, the Rev. Michael Pfleger kicked things off Friday night.

We refuse to give into the fear, he said.

The Fraternal Order of Police has urged Chicago cops to reject taking overtime shifts this weekend in response to what it says is a lack of support fore and disrespectful attitude toward law enforcement.

We know were way down on police in this city, said Pfleger. We know that we had an FOP guy come out and tell people dont do overtime this weekend.

Police say they feel totally prepared for the weekend.

I think we are absolutely, 100 percent ready and prepared for the weekend, said Chicago Police Cmdr. Karen Konow. The superintendent has 100 percent confidence that we have the man power and aready to roll.

In different parts of the city residents are seeing whats being called the Black Star Project, where upside down American flags are put on display as a distress call to President Obama, activists like Phillip Jackson say.

This is not disrespecting the flag or America, Jackson said. This is asking for help.
In a new feat of what could be considered oversharing, two convicted felons on parole face new charges after streaming themselves shooting guns at an Illinois firing range over Facebook Live, the Evanston Police Department announced in a news release Friday.

Demarcus Curtis, 25, of the 1300 block of Fargo Avenue in Des Plaines, and Nicholas Mayfield, 25, of the 3900 block of West 167th Street, Country Club Hills, both face charges of aggravated unlawful use of a weapon by a felon.

Evanston Police say they regularly check social media to keep an eye on ongoing conflicts in the north Chicago suburb. On Wednesday an investigator saw Curtis, who was known to police as a gang member on parole, on a Facebook stream at a firing range in Winthrop Harbor with individuals who were firing guns, which is against the law in Illinois due to Curtis parole status.

Evanston Police Cmdr. Joe Dugan said gang members often use social media to boast or to antagonize rivals, which can fan the flames of feuds and cause them to become more serious.

Evanston Police contacted Winthrop Harbor Police about the alleged illegal activity being broadcast on the social media platform. When Winthrop Harbor cops arrived at the shooting range, they discovered a second convicted felon, Nicholas Mayfield, who also has Evanston ties and was seen shooting by police. Both men were taken into custody by Winthrop Harbor Police.

"We have had shootings that were started on social media," Dugan said in an email. "Our intel unit monitors social media and have used what they found as evidence in precious cases, but they continue to post."

Winthrop Harbor Police officials were not immediately available for comment.
One of three men accused in the brazen kidnapping and robbery of a Wheaton College student last week has been arrested and charged as the hunt for the remaining suspects continues.

Prosecutors claim a 21-year-old student was terrorized for an hour and half, trapped inside a vehicle while his alleged kidnappers went on a crime spree that spanned from the suburbs to Chicago.

The victim had just left a Starbucks in downtown Glen Ellyn and was walking to class just before 10 a.m. on Aug. 26 when he was allegedly approached by a small SUV with three men inside, prosecutors said. Two of the men exited the vehicle, allegedly displayed a handgun and ordered the victim into the car.

The three then drove to several ATMs and withdrew more than $1,500 from the victims bank account using his ATM card, officials said. They then drove to Chicago and just before 11:30 a.m. released the victim.

The student ran to the nearest building and called 911, authorities said.

An investigation by several agencies led to 18-year-old Abeet Ramos arrest Tuesday.

Ramos, accused of being the getaway driver in the case, was charged with aggravated kidnapping, aggravated armed robbery and aggravated unlawful restraint in connection with the alleged kidnapping that happened in broad daylight in a Chicago suburb, authorities announced Friday.

DuPage County State's Attorney

Police say his alleged accomplices, who are considered armed and dangerous, are still on the loose. Authorities said Friday they are searching for 23-year-old Jeremy Jones and an unnamed juvenile.

The allegations against Mr. Ramos and his alleged accomplices are completely outrageous, DuPage County States Attorney Robert Berlin said in a statement. The brazen abduction of an innocent man at gunpoint in broad daylight will not be tolerated and will be met with the full force of the law.

Ramos, who was out on bond for another crime in Kane County when the alleged kidnapping took place, appeared in court Friday and his bond was set at $3 million. He is expected to appear in court again Sept. 13.

It was not immediately clear if he had an attorney.
Authorities are searching for a man who sexually assaulted a 5-year-old girl on Chicago's South Side on Wednesday.

The incident occurred between 6:30 and 7:30 p.m. in the 6300 block of South Lake Shore Drive, according to a community alert from the Chicago Police Department.

The girl was in a parking lot next to the Jackson Park beach house when an unknown man approached her and "made inappropriate sexual contact," police said.

The girl's mother, who was nearby, called for her, causing the offender to run toward his car and flee the scene.

The suspect is described as a black man of unknown age, with dark eyes and a dark complexion. Police said he has shoulder-length braids or dreadlocks, mostly grey with black and silver.

He was wearing black pants, a gold necklace and bracelet, and a blue shirt with a word on it that contained the letters B, C and Y.

The suspect was driving a blue, full-size pickup truck with a black cab, according to police.

Anyone with information on this incident is asked to contact the Chicago Police Department at (312) 492-3810. Anonymous tips can be submitted via TipSoft.com.
Authorities in central Minnesota say the remains of Jacob Wetterling, missing since 1989, have been found.

Patty Wetterling said in a text message to NBC affiliate KARE Saturday morning that 11-year-old Jacob Wetterling "has been found and our hearts are broken." She did not immediately respond to calls and text messages from The Associated Press.

The Stearns County Sheriff's Office said in a statement hours later that Jacob's remains were identified on Saturday.

Jacob was riding his bicycle with his brother and a friend on Oct. 22, 1989, when a masked gunman abducted him from a rural road near his home in St. Joseph, about 80 miles northwest of Minneapolis.

No one has been arrested or charged in his abduction, which led to changes in sex offender registration laws.

[NATL] Top News Photos: Pope Visits Japan, and More

But last year, authorities took another look at the case, and were led to 53-year-old Danny Heinrich, a man they called a "person of interest" in Jacob's kidnapping.

Heinrich denied any involvement in Jacob's abduction, and was not charged with that crime. But he has pleaded not guilty to 25 federal child pornography charges and is scheduled to go on trial in those counts in October.

A law enforcement official told The Associated Press that Heinrich took authorities to a field in central Minnesota last week. The official, who spoke on condition of anonymity because of the ongoing case, said remains and other evidence were found.

The FBI has said that Heinrich matched the general description of a man who assaulted several boys in Paynesville from 1986 to 1988. Earlier this year, Heinrich's DNA was found on the sweatshirt of a 12-year-old boy who was kidnapped from Cold Spring and sexually assaulted nine months before Jacob's abduction.

Heinrich's attorney did not respond to an emailed request for comment Saturday.

Patty Wetterling always kept hope her son would be found alive. She became a national advocate for children, and with her husband, Jerry Wetterling, founded the Jacob Wetterling Resource Center, which works to help communities and families prevent child exploitation. In 1994, Congress passed a law named after Jacob Wetterling requiring states to establish sex offender registries.

Officials with the Jacob Wetterling Resource Center posted a statement on its website Saturday, saying they are in "deep grief."

"We didn't want Jacob's story to end this way," the statement said. "Our hearts are heavy, but we are being held up by all of the people who have been a part of making Jacob's Hope a light that will never be extinguished. ... Jacob, you are loved."

A timeline of events related to the abduction of 11-year-old Jacob Wetterling of St. Joseph, Minnesota:

Oct. 22, 1989: Jacob Wetterling, 11, is abducted him from a rural road as he rode bikes with his brother and a friend by a masked gunman near his home about 80 miles northwest of Minneapolis.

Oct. 26, 1989: Deputies on horseback and hundreds of people search for Jacob, but find nothing.

Oct. 29, 1989: About 225 National Guard troops and 80 Minnesota Department of Natural Resources workers unsuccessfully search for clues. Supporters of the boy's family release more than 1,000 white balloons after a church service.

December 1989: Investigators are deluged with tips after they release a new sketch of a suspect. Authorities also say they believe the man who kidnapped Jacob was responsible for the January 1989 abduction and sexual assault of a boy in nearby Cold Spring.

1990: Jacob's parents, Patty and Jerry Wetterling, set up the Jacob Wetterling Resource Center, which works to help communities and families prevent child exploitation. Patty Wetterling becomes a national advocate for missing children.

October 1990: An FBI spokesman says about 2,000 people have been interviewed. More than 700 people attend an anniversary vigil less than two miles from where Jacob was taken.

1994: Congress passes the Jacob Wetterling Act, legislation for a sex offender registry.

2004: Patty Wetterling runs as a Democrat against Republican U.S. Rep. Mark Kennedy in Minnesota's 6th District. She loses by 30,000 votes in her first political campaign but does not rule out a future run.

2006: Patty Wetterling again runs for Congress but loses to Republican Michele Bachmann.

2010: Investigators spend two days searching and digging at a farm near where Jacob Wetterling was last seen. The sheriff later says forensic tests on items taken from the farm show no link to the crime.

Oct. 29, 2015: Federal authorities say a Minnesota man is a "person of interest." Danny Heinrich, of Annandale, is arrested on unrelated child pornography charges. Heinrich denies involvement in Jacob's disappearance and has not been charged in the case.

Sept. 3, 2016: Patty Wetterling says in a text message to KARE-TV that Jacob's remains have been found "and our hearts are broken."
A new study shows firefighters are more prone to getting cancer because of the necessities of their job. Now a Connecticut senator is proposing a bill that could potentially help monitor firefighters health in order to help increase cancer awareness.

Vice President of the Hartford Firefighter Association Russell Cook said he's seen a lot of fires in his 14 years. But it's the invisible toxins hidden in billowing smoke that worries him for the future

"There is different routes of exposure. We can get it through our skin even through our hands when we touch our dirty gloves. Theres so many different ways, said Vice President of the Hartford Firefighter Association Russell Cook.

Cook along with his comrades crowded outside Hartfords South Green Station Friday morning as senator Richard Blumenthal introduced the Firefighter Cancer Registry Act.

The act would introduce a health database for firefighters to voluntarily share information with the CDC. The database aims at monitoring potential risks and causes of cancer from fighting fires.

"Cancer is a cause for concern for every firefighter who runs into a burning building, said Senator Richard Blumenthal.

A five year study headed the by National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health shows firefighters are more prone to getting digestive, oral, respiratory, and urinary cancers. Also, the study shows the more runs firefighters make, the higher the chance of death from leukemia.

"It's an opportunity to track during our entire careers, this is where I may have been exposed to this, this is how I could've gotten cancer, said Cook.

Blumenthal did not have the exact cost of the database and says the program would make use of computer systems the CDC already has.

As for cook who knows looks can be deceiving. He hopes the database finds hidden risks and trends he may miss.

"When we leave we expect to be safe, we expect to be healthyWe don't know what we're taking home with us, said Cook.

If passed, Connecticut would be the first state to have this database. Blumenthal said it could be up by the end of the year.
Three people are dead after a police pursuit that ended in a crash in Danbury, Connecticut, early Saturday morning.

The pursuit began in New York state and crossed into Danbury where it crashed on Mill Plain Road, according to Danbury Mayor Mark Boughton.

According to the Putnam County Sheriffs office, a deputy sheriff noticed a car driving on Route 6 in Southeast, New York, around 4 a.m. Police said the vehicle was moving erratically and swerving over the center line of the road. The deputy tried to pull the car over but the driver did not stop and continued driving east toward Connecticut.

Authorities said the deputy followed the car, which was initially driving under the speed limit. The deputy reported that the car then accelerated about a quarter mile from the Connecticut line. The deputy turned off his lights and sirens, but the suspect car continued to accelerate until it ran off the road and collided with a utility pole at the intersection of Route 6 and Milestone Road in Danbury.

The car had Connecticut license plates, Boughton tweeted. He said there were five people in the car and that three were killed. Boughton called the crash "horrible."

The sheriff's office confirmed the male driver and two male passengers were killed in the crash. Two female passengers were transported to Danbury Hospital for treatment of non life-threatening injuries. None of them have been publicly identified.

Accident on Mill Plain result of a pursuit that began in New York state. 5 occupants in car. 3 fatalities. Car has CT plates. #Danbury #FB  Mayor Mark Boughton (@MayorMark) September 3, 2016

The deputy involved was not injured, but was taken to the hospital for observation and has since been released, the sheriffs office said.

Danbury police are investigating the crash and the Putnam County Sheriffs Office is conducting an internal review of the pursuit leading up to it. The office said initial investigation shows that the deputy followed the vehicle for less than two minutes with an average speed of less than 65 miles per hour, and a top speed of 80 miles per hour which was sustained for about 15 seconds.

The investigation is ongoing.
In the United States, drug-resistant gonorrhea is a public health problem of national concern. But untreatable gonorrhea isn't the only STD that has health officials worried, according to an NBC News report.

Earlier this week, the World Health Organization released new treatment guidelines for three common sexually transmitted diseases  chlamydia, gonorrhea and syphilis  in response to increasing antibiotic resistance.

Gonorrhea has developed the strongest resistance to drugs, according to the WHO, but the worries about untreatable syphilis and chlamydia come at a time when rates for the three STDs are rising rapidly in the U.S, especially among young people ages 20 to 24.

Gonorrhea is even starting to show decreased susceptibility to a "last line" treatment option. This makes this bacterium a multidrug-resistant organism, often called a "superbug."
The families of two U.S. mountain climbers missing for almost two weeks in Pakistan ended the search and rescue effort late Saturday.

Kyle Dempster, 33, and Scott Adamson, 34, well-known alpinists from Utah, were ascending a mountain peak known as Ogre II on Aug. 21 and were supposed to return to their base three days later, said Black Diamond Equipment, an outdoor company sponsoring Dempster.

They were trying to scale the 23,901-foot mountain's North Face, the company said.

Global Rescue, a travel risk and crisis management firm involved in the search, said a Pakistan military helicopter conducted flights over the the climbers' likely locations Saturday. A second helicopter was dispatched after the first one had to refuel, but there were no immediate signs of the men, NBC News reported.

The last confirmed sighting was of the men's headlamps on Aug. 22 by a Pakistani member of their base camp team. Neither climber was believed to be carrying satellite communication or messaging capabilities, Global Rescue added.
During the Battle over the Bathroom, the Briggle family became very vocal about transgender rights.

Their son, MG, transitioned in first grade.

The Briggles were in the courtroom when the state argued against new federal guidelines stipulating transgender students must be able to use the bathroom of their choice.

Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton called it an overreach, and Texas and 12 other states filed a lawsuit to stop it.

Briggle said she wanted Paxton to join her family for dinner and to learn more about them. I asked Paxton if he would meet them, and he replied I am happy to do that.

Last night, Paxton and his wife made good on the promise and had dinner at the Briggles' home, spending about two hours with them.

I had hoped that he would get a glimpse of our family and see we were like any other normal Texas family out there. We have been married for 15 years, we have got two kids and a dog we got from the shelter -- and [we] sat around the table and we just got to know each other, said Amber Briggle.

Briggle said they found they had a lot in common and talked a lot about kids and dogs.

MG showed Mr. and Mrs. Paxton one of his magic tricks and then General Paxton showed MG a magic trick, she added.

It took them an hour and a half to get down to the reason for the invitation; Briggle brought it up at the end of the evening.

When you see discriminatory legislation coming this way ... if you could maybe just think of MG when thats coming along. He said, 'Well, I dont have anything to do with legislation anymore.' I looked right at him and said, 'But you know the people who do,' said Briggle.

Briggle showed the attorney general a photo album of MG growing up. With the table now cleared, she hopes what is leftover is better understanding.

I can't see any bad coming from it. I mean, if you are starting at the bottom you can only come up right, she added.

NBC 5 did not hear back from Paxton's office Friday, but last week, when we checked on whether the dinner would happen, a spokesperson said, The AG regularly meets with citizens around the state of Texas and the details of such meetings are not discussed in the media.
A grieving mother pleaded Friday for help to find the driver who killed her son then burned the van involved to cover up the crime.

William McGill was riding his bike in Inglewood when he was struck and killed Thursday night.

"Where do I go from here?" said his mother, Jesgena al-Uqdah. "To put my baby down in the ground? Where do I go from here?"

Her son was the youngest of three and had just celebrated his 20th birthday on Saturday. He dreamed of joining the U.S. Coast Guard.

A van struck him on Crenshaw Boulevard and 109th Street around 2:30 a.m. The driver took off. Police found the van nearby, but it was on fire. It had damage consistent with hitting a bicycle.

"You've killed my child," his mother said. "You've killed my baby boy. You need to turn yourself in. Your time will come."




Police say a mentally ill homeless man sneaked through a vehicle entrance at a Los Angeles airport, boarded an executive jet  and then when confronted put out a cigarette, causing $5,000 in damage to the plane's interior Thursday.

The man walked through an unmanned gate at the Van Nuys Airport fence line which had opened for a vehicle. The airport serves noncommercial flights.

Once inside, the man walked to a hangar, where he boarded a Gulfstream G4.

That's where employees found him, smoking. He extinguished the cigarette in a bandanna, which began smoldering.

Police arrested him on suspicion of trespassing and vandalism.

The airport has seen several other intrusions in recent months. An Associated Press investigation showed that, nationally, people breach airport perimeter security more often than authorities acknowledge.
Pursing a Mercedes-Benz leaving the scene of a reported home burglary Friday afternoon, officers arrested three men believed to be members of a crew involved in multiple home burglaries in the San Fernando Valley, police said.

The arrests were made in three different locations as occupants of the car bailed out during the course of the pursuit.

It began in the Dona neighborhood of Studio City, after a resident reported seeing a group of men going around to the back of a neighbor's home. A responding police helicopter spotted a group of men leaving that address on Dona Dorotea Drive and getting into the late model Benz, and when it failed to pull over for a patrol unit, the pursuit began, said Sgt. Leonid Tsap of the Los Angeles Police Department's North Hollywood Division.

The Benz headed south through Laurel Canyon into Hollywood, then continued south on Fairfax Ave., one occupant seen exiting near Willoughby Boulevard, another just beyond the Farmers market at Third Street.

The pursuit finally ended in Koreatown when the Benz veered onto the sidewalk of Sixth Street between Harvard Boulevard and Kingsley Drive and crashed into a tree.

The driver jumped out and ran, making it across busy Sixth and around the corner onto Harvard before officers caught up and took him into custody. At the two locations where the others got out, officers set up perimeters, and with the assistance of police dogs, arrested two men believed to be the others from the Benz.

Like much of California in recent years, the Valley has witnessed a surge in home burglaries by crews using a similar MO.

The targets generally are suburban homes in more affluent neighborhoods, the burglars often dressing nicely and renting or borrowing new cars to better blend in. The burglars pick houses where it's believed no one is home, knock on the door to make sure, then look for a rear entry.

"We have some evidence of burglaries inside the vehicle," Tsap said.

The Benz is registered to the mother of one of the suspects, he said.

Exactly a week ago, a task force of 18 law enforcement agencies conducted a series of raids, arresting 13 alleged members of a South Los Angeles street gang suspected of carrying out hundreds if not thousands of home burglaries in Los Angeles and neighboring counties.
Actress Gabrielle Union, a vocal sexual assault survivor, found herself on the defensive as some questioned why she was appearing in the upcoming film "Birth of a Nation" with co-star and director Nate Parker, who was accused and acquitted of sexual assault in 1999.

Parker admitted he had sex with his accuser, but claimed it was consensual in an interview with Variety. The woman said she was unconscious, and did not consent to having sex with Parker. She also claimed that she was stalked and harassed by Parker after she reported the incident to the police.

In 2012 Parker's accuser committed suicide.

The revelation about Parker's past has prompted some to call for a boycott of the film, and others to hurls barbs at Union for being affiliated with the production.

Union penned an op-ed piece for the Los Angeles Times where she addressed the controversy head on.

"Twenty-four years ago I was raped at gunpoint in the cold, dark backroom of the Payless shoe store where I was then working. Two years ago I signed on to a brilliant script called The Birth of a Nation, to play a woman who was raped," Union wrote. "One month ago I was sent a story about Nate Parker, the very talented writer, director and star of this film. Seventeen years ago Nate Parker was accused and acquitted of sexual assault. Four years ago the woman who accused him committed suicide."

Union says she was unaware of the past allegations against Parker when she signed on the film, which depicts the slave revolt led by Nat Turner, played by Parker.

The actress, married to Chicago Bulls star Dwayne Wade, said since Parkers past was revealed to her she has been in a "state of stomach-churning confusion"

Thank you. I hate this "club" of which we are members. #NoMore https://t.co/13ouLWPOXB  Gabrielle Union (@itsgabrielleu) September 2, 2016

"As important and ground-breaking as this film is, I cannot take these allegations lightly. On that night, 17-odd years ago, did Nate have his dates consent? Its very possible he thought he did. Yet by his own admission he did not have verbal affirmation; and even if she never said "no," silence certainly does not equal "yes."

Union added after reading 700 pages of the trial transcript, she'll never know what actually occurred between Parker and his accuser that night. "But I believe that the film is an opportunity to inform and educate so that these situations cease to occur on college campuses, in dorm rooms, in fraternities, in apartments or anywhere else young people get together to socialize," she said.
An elderly woman was able to fight off her attacker Wednesday, with the help of a local mailman in Hollywood.

Recalling the terrifying encounter still brings Betty Ann Curtis to tears.

"It was horrible I thought he was going to kill me," Curtis said. "I was screaming call 911."

Her sense of security shattered after falling victim to a violent robbery.

The incident unfolded Wednesday afternoon on the 1800 block of Funston Street in Hollywood. Curtis parked her car and was approaching her house when 27-year-old Anthony English tried to grab her handbag.

"He dragged me to the middle of the street and I was trying to kick him," Curtis explains.

In pain and fear for her life, Curtis started screaming for help. That's when a mailman made his delivery right on time.

"I took out my phone to call 911 and pursued the guy until we caught up to him," said Louie Golden.

Police say the suspect will no longer be terrorizing anyone anytime soon. English is behind bars charged with robbery and battery.

This is good news for Curtis, who's also grateful her mailman was in the right place at the right time.

"I am just so happy," Curtis said. "We all depend on police officers and law enforcement, but this mailman was my law enforcement and he really helped save my life."
A Miami Beach preschool teacher accused of hitting young children faced a judge Friday.

Clara Quintero-Gonzalez, 54, was arrested Thursday on four counts of child abuse and one count of child neglect.

Detectives say the preschool teacher at Lincoln-Marti School on Jefferson Street in Miami Beach was seen hitting several toddlers.

"The defendant then maliciously pushed the child by slapping the 3-year-old's right arm twice," Miami-Dade Judge Mindy Glazer said in court Friday, reading the arrest report.

Glazer also watched a video from the surveillance cameras inside the school.

"I did not just witness an aggravated battery from what I observed," Glazer said, adding she only found probable cause for the child neglect charge.

Glazer ended up giving Quintero-Gonzalez a total bond of $25,000. She will be under house arrest if she bonds out and will also have to wear a GPS ankle monitor pending her next court date.

"The allegations deal with young children so everybody takes it seriously and it pulls on your heartstrings no matter what side you're on," defense attorney Jordan Redavid said.

The teacher's family was in court but left saying they had no comment.

Lincoln-Marti School released a statement Friday saying they immediately reported the allegation to police as soon as the incident occurred.

"Lincoln-Marti voluntarily provided video footage of the incident to police and has fully cooperated with the investigation since it began," the statement read. "Since its founding in 1968, the safety of the children in our care has been, and will continue to be, an overarching concern. Lincoln-Marti has an established policy prohibiting corporal punishment. Due to privacy considerations and to preserve the integrity of the investigative process we have no further comment at this time.

At the school Friday, a woman picking up a child said she wasn't worried about the allegations against the teacher and was in fact happy bringing her child to the school.
A notorious beer bandit wanted for a recent rash of thefts in South Florida was arrested after he dropped his cellphone at the scene of one of his crimes, police said.

Gabriel Gelpi Rodriguez, 25, was arrested Wednesday on multiple theft charges, Miami Police said. He was being held on more than $12,000 bond Friday, and it's unknown if he's hired an attorney.

According to Miami Police arrest reports, Rodriguez walked out of a Publix grocery store at 911 Southwest 1st Avenue Tuesday with several boxes of Corona beer in a shopping cart without paying.

He was followed by a store's general manager, who confronted him. Rodriguez fled the scene but dropped his cell phone, which was recovered by the manager, the reports said.

Later that night, Rodriguez was able to steal beer from the Winn-Dixie at 1525 Coral Way, the reports said. He was arrested after information on the phone led police to his home, the reports said.

Police said the Broward Sheriff's Office is looking at Rodriguez as a possible suspect in similar cases in Broward, including a theft at a Weston Publix last month.
Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump met with some leaders of the African-American community in North Philadelphia on Friday afternoon, with protesters demonstrating outside.

The round table meeting with 14 African-American business, civic and religious leaders happened around 2 p.m. inside The View at 800 N. Broad Street, a reception hall affiliated with Greater Exodus Baptist Church.

Calvin Tucker, a GOP delegate and member of the Pennsylvania Republican Party, was scheduled to introduce the candidate. At the end of the meeting, he thanked Trump "for being brave enough to come" to North Philadelphia.

Renee Amoore, a local business leader, said Trump has support in the community, despite polls showing otherwise. "Pennsylvania has your back, and Philly in particular," she said, and thanked him for "coming to the 'hood."

Donald Trump made his way to Pennsylvania on Friday, and didnt head out before taking time to speak one-on-one with NBC10s Lauren Mayk. The Republican nominee talked about sanctuary cities, immigration, and his opinion on Phillys mayor.

[[361723771, C]]

Trump's visit is a move to reverse cavernously unpopular support among minorities, including the black community.

Trump's base has long been white men, but he's recently talked about making the GOP the 'home of the African-American voter." At his rallies, he often asks of black communities "what the hell do you have to lose" by voting for him.

A recent NBC News/Survey Monkey poll found just 8 percent of African Americans would vote for Trump. His opponent, Hillary Clinton, has support of 87 percent of the black community, according to the survey.

A Franklin and Marshall poll of Pennsylvania voters released Thursday listed non-white support for Trump at 25 percent, though it didn't specifically break out support by race.

NBC10

Outside the venue, about 50 protesters lined up on Broad Street holding signs about slavery and bigotry. Some people dressed up as sections of a brick wall and chain-link fencing.

At one point, a Trump supporter got into a scuffle with one of the protesters over a sign. Philadelphia police officers quickly separated the two men.[[392200431, C]]

"He assaulted me," Jerry Lambert, the lone Trump supporter, angrily shouted to reporters following the tussle. Protester Asa Khalif, a local Black Lives Matter activist, had grabbed Lambert's "Democrat for Trump" sign, starting the confrontation.

Lambert was eventually hit over the head with the sign. The Bucks County resident asked for charges to be filed, but police declined to make an arrest, saying the shoving match didn't warrant legal action.

Lambert came back a short time later holding up a new handwritten poster that read, "I love walls."

A pro-Trump supporter and anti-Trump protester got into a short scuffle outside a North Philadelphia reception hall where the Republican presidential candidate was meeting with African-American leaders Friday.

Following the roundtable, Trump met with the family of Iofemi Hightower, a young woman who was murdered execution-style along with two others outside a Newark, New Jersey, school in 2007. According to the New York Times, prosecutors said the 20-year-old was brutally slashed with a machete.

The murders were linked to a violent gang and the men accused were in the country illegally, the girl's mother said.

"[They] should've never been here," Shagla Hightower said during the meeting, which was open to the press and included the mother's son and another daughter.

Trump called meeting the family an honor, saying people "have no idea the consequence of [undocumented immigrants] coming in."

"I think we're the only hope," he added. "Hillary Clinton has no clue and doesn't care."

The Clinton campaign fired back, with state director Corey Dukes describing Trump's Philadelphia visit an "offensive gimmick."[[392211501, C]]

"While pushing a hateful, divisive and dangerous agenda, his photo-op in Philadelphia today is nothing more than an offensive gimmick," Dukes said in a statement. "Donald Trump is extremely out of touch with the African-American community."

In a one-on-one interview with NBC10's Lauren Mayk, Trump said Democratic leaders have given the African-American community "nothing."

"All they want is their votes," he said. "They're having a tremendously hard time, and we will make things so good."

The candidate then turned his criticism to the Philadelphia Police Department and mayor Jim Kenney, giving them failing grades for tackling crime.

"The guns on the street, they have to take them away from criminals, they know who they are. You have criminals who are carrying guns and beyond guns...they're carrying bombs," Trump said.

NBC10s Lauren Mayk went one-on-one with Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump following a meeting with black leaders in Philadelphia on Friday. Trump blasted police and city officials saying citizens arent safe and that Democratic leaders have long neglected minorities.

He said the department needs to use stop-and-frisk, a controversial surveillance technique where officers search people without reasonable cause. Opponents say the practice is nothing more than profiling and has led to unjust arrests and shooting deaths.

Moreover, Philadelphia officers already do practice stop-and-frisk and Kenney has gotten flack for failing to do away with the policy, as some say he promised during his run for mayor.

The candidate went on to blast Kenney, saying he's done a "terrible" job running the city, even though Philadelphia has reversed a population decline, saw increased business and residential investment and experienced drops in violent crime in recent years.

Kenney's office responded calling Trump a "nincompoop."
Hermine was continuing its slow, destructive journey up the East Coast Sunday morning. Although it is no longer a hurricane, it may still bring hazardous weather to the tri-state.

Storm Team 4 saw the greatest risk for dangerous surge along the western shoreline of Long Island Sound.

Here's what to expect as the storm moves into our region this holiday weekend:

At 8 a.m., Hermine was throttling a region located 295 miles east-southeast of Ocean City, Md., still carrying maximum sustained winds of 65 mph, according to the National Hurricane Center.

The storm is moving east-northeast at 12 mph. The latest models and satellite data suggested a slight eastward track to the storm, potentially reducing many of its impacts.

As it continues to move north over the Atlantic Sunday morning, winds in the storm could reintensify before it affects the tri-state region.

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What to Know Hermine made landfall in Florida early Friday morning as a Category 1 hurricane; it was downgraded to a tropical storm hours later

The storm may stay over the tri-state for days due to its sizable bands; it moves in on Saturday and could last until Tuesday

Rain, wind, flooding and storm surges threaten NYC, Long Island and the Jersey Shore; thunderstorms could topple trees, cut power NW of city

One person is dead and 250,000 lost power after Hurricane Hermine made landfall in Floridas Big Bend early Friday morning, and a Tropical Storm Watch was issued for New York City and parts of New Jersey and Connecticut.

On Friday afternoon, the Tropical Storm Watches were upgraded to Tropical Storm Warnings in two New Jersey counties.

Warnings were issued for Monmouth and Ocean counties, where tropical storm conditions are expected within 36 hours.

"I don't want anyone to take this one lightly," New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio said at a hastily called news conference Friday morning. "There are some elements of this storm that are very, very troubling."

He said city beaches would definitely be closed for swimming on Sunday, and possibly on Monday and Tuesday as well. The city is also considering bridge restrictions.

The National Weather Service issued a prototype storm surge watch covering the entire New Jersey coastline, New York City, parts of both shores of Long Island and extreme southwest Connecticut. Storm surge at some parts of the Jersey shore could be historic.

"This storm could be very dangerous, particularly to people in coastal communities," de Blasio said.

The storm hit as a Category 1 storm just east of St. Marks, Florida, around 1:30 a.m. Friday with winds around 80 mph, according to the U.S. National Hurricane Center. The storm was downgraded to a tropical storm just before 5 a.m., though it is expected to regain hurricane status by Monday morning.

The latest models still take the storm offshore, but it looks like the system may stall out for 48 to 72 hours, leading to a multiday stretch that could include heavy rain, strong winds and coastal flooding for parts of New York City, Long Island and the Jersey Shore through Tuesday, Storm Team 4 said.

"I's unusual for a storm to have a real direct impact for such a long period and that's what is causing us some real concern," de Blasio said.

Although Friday is expected to be calm and beautiful in the tri-state, the weather will take a turn for the worse on Saturday night. Clouds and winds will move in overnight Saturday into Sunday morning and the worst of the weather will hit during the day on Sunday.

The New York City Department of Buildings is advising property owners, contractors and crane operators to secure buildings and equipment. All cranes will be ordered to stop operations on Saturday afternoon.

But the sheer scope of the storm means that the wicked weather, especially rain, could last well into Labor Day on Monday. The storm is wide enough that its outer bands extended up to the Carolinas as it made landfall in Florida.

In the tri-state, the Jersey Shore could get hit the hardest. Storm surges and coastal erosion are a serious concern on Sunday and Monday, and maybe even on Saturday as the storm moves in. Rainfall along the coast could top 6 inches and gusts may reach more than 40 mph.

A major storm off the tri-state's coasts would likely exacerbate strong rip currents that have been observed at beaches across the region in recent days. This is especially true along the Jersey Shore.

On Wednesday, lifeguards at Long Island beaches had to rescue two women and one boy from rip currents.

Across the tri-state, residents braced for the possibility of heavy rains and strong winds.

In parts of Long Island that are still recovering from Hurricane Sandy four years ago, residents are already preparing for the storm.

In Lindenhurst, where some homes damaged by Sandy have yet to be rebuilt, residents tell NBC 4 New York they are already gathering extra food and water.

It's a similar story on Staten Island, where empty plots of land where houses once stood before Sandy dot neighborhoods.

Residents there told NBC 4 New York they are packing emergency bags with essentials like water, food and important documents like passports and insurance papers.

On the Jersey Shore, resident took boats out of the ocean and public works crews pulled up plastic walkways at public access points.

Grocery stores in New Jersey were also preparing for the storm, stocking large quantities of bottled water Friday night.
A few years back, I was invited to go to Outside Lands in San Francisco. There were dozens of amazing bands the year I went -- Arctic Monkeys, Jagwar Ma, Death Cab For Cutie, Haim -- but the most memorable was Chromeo. I guess I'd always had this idea that they were just DJs and it wouldn't really be my thing, but these guys are amazing performers. They've got live instruments along with all of the laptops and effects that you'd expect with dance music, but they also totally rock out. Today, they're playing free after the last race at the Del Mar Racetrack and I can only imagine how amazing it will be. After that, head to the Belly Up for a more chill vibe with Skye & Ross of Morcheeba. If you're in the central SD area, Casbah has Punk Rock Karaoke, which is a total blast, Awesome Fest night two goes down at Soda Bar and the Hideout (and the Office and U-31 in the early evening), and Ja Rule and Ashanti play a sold out show at Observatory.

Saturday, Sept. 3:

Chromeo @ Summer Concert Series, Del Mar Racetrack

Skye & Ross from Morcheeba, Earth Moon Earth @ Belly Up

Punk Rock Karaoke, Cruz Radical, Johnny Madcap & the Distractions @ Casbah

Awesome Fest 10: Ash Williams, Caffiends, Madison Bloodbath, Great Apes, Turkish Techno, Shang-A-Lang @ U-31

Awesome Fest 10: Crow Baby, Winter Break, Dyke Drama, Shellshag, Underground Railroad to Candyland, RVIVR @ The Office

Awesome Fest 10: Post/Boredom, Bad Future, the Heartaches, the Fur Coats, Low Culture, Toys That Kill, the Arrivals @ The Hideout

Awesome Fest 10: Hermanas Y Hermanas, the Maxies, Daydream, Nato Coles & the Blue Diamond Band, DFMK, Western Settings, Red City Radio @ Soda Bar

Ja Rule and Ashanti @ Observatory North Park (sold out)

No Mames Weeekend feat. Zombie Barbie, Gone Baby Gone, the Mice, AIDS Cop, Russian Tremors @ Ken Club

Nena Anderson @ Bar Pink

The Memories, the Dream Ride, the Soaks, DJ Ryan Hand @ Blonde

The Young Wild, Mainland, War Girl @ Music Box

LED Presents Slander @ Quartyard

Future Standing feat. Noodles @ House of Blues

Lola Demure's Burlesque & Variety Show @ Voodoo Room, House of Blues

Nothingful, Son of Radul, Crow Squak, Bantam Feather @ The Bancroft

Tedeschi Trucks Band, Nicki Bluhm & the Gramblers @ Copley Symphony Hall

Gloomsday, Duping the Public @ Tower Bar

Best of My Love: A Tribute to the Eagles @ Winston's (5 p.m.)

Tee Pee Records' West Coast Showcase with Death Alley, Volcano, Ocelot, Petyr, Mother @ Til-Two Club

Popvinyl @ V Lounge, Viejas Casino

Rising Star @ The Park, Viejas Casino

Abner, Fuzz Huzzi @ Lestat's

Lindsay White, Noelle Pederson @ Java Joe's

Fighting Sides, the Dangerfield, Stick Bitz, Headstone @ Che Cafe

Sika, Melvus @ 710 Beach Club

Sabor Caliente @ Tio Leo's

Kimberly Jackson @ Humphreys Backstage Live (5 p.m.)

Wildside @ Humphreys Backstage Live (9 p.m.)

Kronic @ Fluxx

Eric D-Lux, DJ Five @ Omnia

Datsik @ Bassmnt

Mstrkrft @ Bang Bang

Ascension: The Best in Dark Underground Music @ Kava Lounge

Rockstar Saturdays @ Henry's

Rosemary Bystrak is the publicist for the Casbah, the content manager for DoSD, and writes about the San Diego music scene, events and general musings about life in San Diego on San Diego: Dialed In. Follow her updates on Twitter or contact her directly.
Good Samaritans helped rescue 26 passengers from a sinking fishing boat near the Coronado Islands Saturday morning, U.S. Coast Guard officials in San Diego confirmed.

At around 5 a.m., watchstanders at the Coast Guard Sector San Diego Joint Harbor Operation Center (JHOC) received a report that Invicta, a 63-foot sportfishing boat, struck rocks near the Coronado Islands and was taking on water.

Those aboard the boat had deployed their life rafts in the waters off the Mexican coast after initially being jolted awake by the collision, according to one of the people who was rescued.

The Coast Guard said the JHOC quickly transmitted and urgent marine information broadcast and obtained permission from the Mexican government to enter Mexicos airspace and territorial waters so they could rescue the passengers.

A Sector San Diego MH-60 Jayhawk helicopter crew was launched and the crew of the Coast Guard Cutter Sea Otter was diverted to assist the passengers and crew.

Meanwhile, a civilian crew aboard a 35-foot commercial fishing boat called Sweet Marie overheard the urgent broadcast and diverted to also help the passengers of the sinking boat.

Sweet Marie's crew got to the group in distress first, and the good Samaritans were able to help transport all 21 passengers and five crew members onto Sweet Marie.

Sweet Marie then began making its way toward San Diego. En route, the Coast Guards Sea Otter crew arrived and transferred all of the passengers onto the cutter, and took them to the San Diego Harbor Police dock on Shelter Island, near H&M Landing, where the group arrived safely between 8 a.m. and 9 a.m.

All passengers and crewmembers were wearing lifejackets, Coast Guard officials confirmed. One passenger suffered a back injury, but declined medical treatment. Everyone else was unharmed.

The Invicta was reported to have broken apart.

A passenger on the doomed Invicta, Darian Fox, told NBC 7 on Saturday that the ship sunk before his eyes.

Fox told NBC 7 the vessel was on out on a plumbing companys annual fishing trip at the time of the incident.

The boat left Friday night and Fox said most, if not everyone, on board was asleep when the boat struck the rocks. They quickly outfitted themselves with life vests before the boat began taking on water.

Fox said the boat was going in circles right before it hit the rocks near Coronado Island. He had just woken up when the crash happened.

"I was walking out of the bathroom - that's when the boat went full on collision with the islands, the Coronado Islands, and it threw everybody and just put everybody in a frenzy," he recalled.

Everyone on board put on their life jackets and hopped off the boat and onto emergency rafts.

"[We] stayed calm and made sure everybody else was calm, Fox recounted. "[We] worked as a team to get out of it.

A flare was then shot into the air, the passenger said. The Sweet Marie saw the flare and got the passengers onto their vessel where they all safely waited for the U.S. Coast Guard crews to arrive.

Fox told NBC 7 people aboard the sinking boat lost all of their fishing gear, phones, wallets, keys and other personal items in the incident.

He's grateful everyone made it out alive.

Its a cool story. Nobody can beat that one, Fox added.

Coast Guard officials said the incident is under investigation.

The Coast Guard is speaking with Mexico's Secretaria de Marina (SEMAR) regarding any environmental impacts of the sunken vessel. Officials said the crew aboard Sweet Maries was able to collect all life rafts from the Invicta.

NBC 7 reached out to H&M Landing in San Diego, a booking agency for boats. A rep from the Landing told NBC 7 Invicta was one of the boats booked out by the agency. All of the boats that go through the Landing are independently owned and operated, the rep said.
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) moved forward on Friday with plans to change a flight path for planes leaving Lindbergh Field. But the decision is upsetting some Point Loma residents who say their concerns are being ignored.

They haven't really listened or considered the general public or the people that live under these circumstances. It's loud, said Point Loma resident Russ Valone.

The FAA says the new flight path will expand the number of entry and exit points into Southern California airspace and improve airspace safety and efficiency.

But residents told NBC 7 the flight path will add to noise pollution and impact the environment.

Opposition to the FAAs proposed flight plan gained momentum last year. Since then, resident have been voicing their concerns.

Protesters rallied against a new flight path that would send more air traffic over their neighborhoods. NBC7s Liberty Zabala reports.

According to the agency, that plan would have led to an increase in the number of flights traveling over Point Loma. However, Fridays decision eliminates last year's proposal.

The new departure flight path routes planes south of Point Loma, away from most neighborhoods in the area.

This doesnt solve all the problems related to flight noise for residents but its something the community and elected officials have been working together to achieve, said San Diego County Supervisor Greg Cox, who also serves on the San Diego County Regional Airport Authority.

But Point Loma residents disagree.

They're not concerned about the impact of the noise and pollution and I think they hired their own research company or their consultants. I think they've obtained the results they asked for, said Richard Houston.

Russ Valone says when he moved to Point Loma in 2009, he knew what he was buying into because city leaders had already established a set flight departure plan

You bought a home assuming the flight path was at the 275. Now with the flight path encroaching south, you now find yourself being impacted by planes and pollution noise much more so than you did when you first moved into this area, Valone said.

The agency says it will continue to reach out to the community to inform residents about the changes. But as of now, it will phase in those changes starting in November.
A San Diego man who hacked a friend to death with a machete is a very scary individual who has shown the least remorse of a defendant in her court, the judge said Friday.

Vincent Salas Garza pleaded guilty in June to a second-degree murder charge for the death of Vicente Carrera. Garza used a machete to chop up Carreras body after the men got into an argument at a home in Rolando in November.

As she sentenced Garza Friday to the term of 15 years to life, Judge Kathleen Lewis mentioned his callous demeanor during court hearings.

Just watching his demeanor in court I dont think he has any remorse, its some of the least remorse Ive ever seen in anyone in 25 years, Lewis said.

She also remarked on the lack of a motive for the attack.

Garza did not allude to what prompted the violence when he made a short statement before his sentencing.

I would like to say sorry to the family of the deceased, he said quietly. I would like to tell my family that I love them.

A body was found in the back patio of a home in Rolando. NBC 7s Artie Ojeda has the details.

The victims sister Lina Castellano cried when she described how her heart aches every day. She said she cant get over the brutal way in which her brother was killed.

I think that's one of the cruelest ways a person can die, she said.

Carrera's lifeless body was discovered the day after his death buried beneath clothing and boxes on the back patio of the home.

A week after the killing, detectives had recovered the murder weapon  a machete  and honed in on a suspect.

Shortly thereafter, Garza was arrested in Phoenix, Arizona, and extradited to San Diego.

According to police, Garza was a heavy methamphetamine user at the time of the killing.

Garzas family said the defendant and the victim were close friends and ran errands together on the day of the murder.

A man slain in San Diegos Rolando community last week was killed with a machete, and now police are searching for the murder suspect. NBC 7s Liz Bryant talked with the suspects family and has more.
Tim Kaine says Donald Trumps refusal to release his tax returns fails to clear even the low ethical bar set by Richard Nixon as a candidate. But Kaine gets some history wrong.

Nixon never publicly released his tax returns as a presidential candidate, though he did amid a swirling tax controversy during his presidency.

Kaine, the Democratic vice presidential nominee, has made comparisons with Nixon a regular feature of his stump speeches. Nixon has an interesting history regarding tax returns, but Kaine is botching the facts some.

Heres what Kaine said in a speech in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, on Aug. 30.

Kaine in Lancaster, Aug. 30: Candidates for 40 years, both parties, this is not a partisan statement, have released their tax returns. Richard Nixon released his tax returns. If you cant come up to the ethical standard of Richard Nixon, you should not be within 10 time zones of being commander in chief.

Kaine made a similar claim the same day at a rally in Erie, noting that Nixon was even under an IRS audit when he released his tax returns, undercutting Trumps stated reason for refusing to release his own.

Kaine in Erie, Aug. 30: Richard Nixon released his tax returns when he was under audit. Its hard to get kind of  not get over a low hurdle of the Nixon standard for ethics. But Donald Trump cant even get over the Nixon standard for ethics.

For questions related to tax returns, we turn first to Tax Analysts Tax History Project, which has compiled an online archive of tax returns publicly released by presidential candidates. It shows tax returns for Nixon from 1969 to 1972, but Nixon didnt release those when he was a candidate. Rather, he released them near the end of his presidency in 1973 amid speculation about tax improprieties.

Nixons tax woes are a fascinating chapter in presidential history that has been largely overshadowed by the unrelated Watergate scandal, which ultimately led to Nixons resignation.

But in 1973 and early 1974, Nixons tax scandal was a big deal. Although the IRS had signed off on an audit of Nixons returns, public interest was sparked by an IRS leak that called into question Nixons use of a charitable deduction  to the tune of $500,000  for vice presidential papers he deeded to the National Archives.

In an attempt to clear the air, Nixon asked the Joint Committee on Internal Revenue Taxation to review his tax returns. The IRS also decided to reopen its audit. As a result of their joint investigation, the taxation committee and IRS determined that Nixon had underpaid on his taxes, and owed $476,431 in back taxes and interest. That was about half of Nixons net worth at the time, Joseph J. Thorndike, a historian at Tax Analysts, told us in a phone interview.

At the time, Democrat Wilbur Mills, chairman of the powerful House Ways and Means Committee and vice chairman of the House-Senate committee investigating Nixons tax returns, predicted the tax scandal would lead to Nixons resignation. It didnt. Watergate did.

Nonetheless, those are the circumstances surrounding Nixons release of tax returns.

As a candidate, Nixon never did publicly release his tax returns, although there is one asterisk. In the 1968 Republican primary, Nixon squared off against Michigan Gov. George Romney, and Romney took the unprecedented step of releasing a dozen years of his tax returns to Look magazine, according to an article in Bloomberg View by Stephen Mihm, an associate professor of history at the University of Georgia. In response, Nixon allowed a Look writer to inspect photocopies of three years worth of tax returns, Mihm wrote. But they were never publicly released.

The whole point about publicly releasing them is the public part, Thorndike said. You dont get the crowd-sourcing. Either you are going to release them publicly or not.

A reporter quickly reviewing tax returns without the ability to take notes is not the same as the public  including tax experts  being able to carefully pick over them, he said.

There is another interesting footnote to Nixons role in the history of presidential disclosure of tax returns. While running as a vice presidential candidate in 1952 as Dwight Eisenhowers running mate, Nixon got in hot water over questions about some campaign finance issues. Nixon delivered his famous Checkers speech  named after his dog, who was featured in the address  in which he laid out his personal finances, and challenged his Democratic opponents to do the same.

Democratic presidential candidate Adlai Stevenson upped the ante by releasing 10 years worth of tax returns. Stevenson then called on Nixon to do the same. Nixon refused, but Eisenhower released a summary of his tax returns.

So in a way, Thorndike said, Nixon helped spur the trend toward candidates publicly releasing tax returns. The later tax scandal in 1973-74 cemented the precedent. Since then, Thorndike said, candidates have provided returns to show, Im not Nixon.

So Kaine is wrong that Nixon released returns as a candidate. Hes also technically wrong when he says, Candidates for 40 years, both parties, this is not a partisan statement, have released their tax returns. In 1976, Jimmy Carter released his. But his opponent, Republican Gerald Ford, refused, and instead only provided a summary of his return. Every presidential nominee from both parties has released some tax returns since then.

Kaines history is a bit off, Thorndike said, but his broader point about the longtime precedent for releasing tax returns is valid.
The man driving the SUV that fatally struck a 5-month-old baby and injured his mother while they were crossing an intersection in Landsdowne, Virginia, appeared to be looking at his phone, according to search warrant documents.

The mother was pushing her son in a stroller in a crosswalk on Riverside Parkway after dropping another child off at school when they were hit just after 8:15 a.m. Wednesday, a Loudoun County Sheriff's Department spokesman said.

A teenager who was driving behind the Jeep SUV told police he could see the driver was "holding a phone in his left hand as if he was watching or reading something," the documents say.

The witness also said the Jeep was tailgating the vehicle in front of him and it appeared the driver was trying to get ahead of the mother with the stroller, speeding up fast as if to go in front of her. As the woman crossed with her baby, the "walk" sign was illuminated, according to the witness.

After the SUV struck them, the witness said the driver pulled onto a grassy shoulder area and crouched next to his vehicle.

When police arrived to the scene, the driver's lawyer was there and told investigators the driver would not provide a statement.

Police obtained a search warrant for the driver's two cellphones after the driver and his attorney refused to hand them over, the search warrant states.

News4 has learned the driver has hired a lawyer who is not the same attorney who met him at the scene. The lawyer declined to comment.

Law enforcement sources told News4 authorities will likely make a decision regarding charges sometime next week.
Residents of a Montgomery County neighborhood say they are concerned about a proposal that would permit the county to install 30 foot cell phone towers in front of their homes.

County officials are considering amending zoning laws so Crown Castle, a wireless infrastructure company, can erect "small cell solutions" towers in residential neighborhoods in Gaithersburg, Germantown and North Potomac, Maryland.

According to Crown Castle's website, there are nine proposed tower sites in the area of Gaithersburg, Maryland.

The towers would go on small pieces of land owned by the county, known as public right-of-way.

"Between the sidewalk and the curb is technically county property," said community activist Andy Spivak.

Spivak has created a petition urging county officials not to approve the amendment. So far, it has more than 200 signatures.

He said he's not against new cell towers, but doesn't believe they should be so close to homes.

"To add these to these communities, aside from the unknown health risks and safety risks for children playing, is the decrease in home value," Spivak said.

"I don't think this is a good idea," said homeowner Feng Yang.

Yang said he is shocked by a proposal to put a 30 foot cell tower in front of his house.

"I just worry about people's health because the radiation, or something like that, so...this is like radiation pollution," Yang said.

According to Crown Castle's website, "most scientists agree that there are no adverse health effects from cellular signals."

News4 reached out to the office of Montgomery County Council Member Nancy Floreen. Her office said she is out of the office, but will comment when she returns.

The council is expected to have a closed hearing to discuss the cell towers on Sept. 12.
What to Know While the D.C. area experienced little to no effect from Hermine, the storm created blustery conditions at the beaches Sunday

A tropical storm warning remains in effect for Rehoboth Beach in Delaware, which could experience wind gusts of up to 50 mph.

Virginia Beach also remained under a tropical storm warning Sunday, with the weather service describing conditions as "breezy to windy."

The Sun made a welcome return to some of the beaches on Sunday afternoon, but Hermine wasn't done creating blustery conditions.

Hermine spun away from the East Coast, removing the threat of heavy rain but maintaining enough power to keep beaches at risk for dangerous waves and currents and off-limits to disappointed swimmers and surfers during the holiday weekend.

The National Weather Service said a tropical storm warning remains in effect for Rehoboth Beach in Delaware, which could experience wind gusts of up to 50 mph and life-threatening storm surges during high tide late Sunday and into Monday.

This will be a very dangerous storm along the #MD #VA and #DE beaches. Again, good idea to cancel plans there! https://t.co/CrAvvDFwnA  Doug Kammerer (@dougkammerer) September 2, 2016

Has Hermine changed your plans this weekend? How so? Beaches are not a good idea  Amelia Draper (@amelia_draper) September 2, 2016

Tropical Storm Warning in red including St. Mary County & MD/VA beaches for winds, storm surge, and flooding. pic.twitter.com/9CrqZDknw3  Amelia Draper (@amelia_draper) September 2, 2016

Again very limit impact from this storm from #DC to the West. No need to cancel plans in those areas. only Bay and Beach areas affected  Doug Kammerer (@dougkammerer) September 2, 2016

Virginia Beach also remained under a tropical storm warning Sunday, with the weather service describing conditions as "breezy to windy." No significant rainfall was expected for the area, although scattered rain may occur in parts of southern New England and in the mid-Atlantic states.

Ocean City, Maryland, officials advised residents on Sunday that despite sunny skies and calm conditions, the beach would still experience strong rip currents and a high chance for beach erosion. The beach reopened, but swimming was still prohibited, officials said Sunday afternoon.

Ocean City previously warned residents, particularly in Zone A (see zones here), to prepare for moderate to severe flooding starting early Saturday. Residents should secure water vessels and anything susceptible to wind and flooding, and bring in outdoor furniture, officials said.

Hermine already caused two deaths, damaged properties and left hundreds of thousands without electricity from Florida to Virginia. It spawned a tornado in North Carolina and closed beaches as far north as New York.

Forecasters expected Hermine to regain hurricane force as it travels up the coast before weakening again to a tropical storm by Tuesday.

Storm Team4 said the storm is now far enough away that storm surge flooding and beach erosion wont be as big of a threat along the Eastern Shore and beaches.

Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan declared a state of emergency for the state's Eastern Shore and southern Maryland on Friday.

Virginia Gov. Terry McAuliffe had earlier declared a state of emergency for that state's coastal communities.

Amtrak said it has cancelled or altered some service on the East Coast as the storm approached.

Latest on Labor Day in D.C.



In the D.C. area, there has been little to no impact Sunday and Labor Day will be partly sunny and warm with temperatures in the mid to upper 80s, Storm Team4 said.

The mountains will be virtually dry over the holiday weekend.

After Hermine, there's potential for near record heat later next week into the second weekend of September.

Stay with News4 and Storm Team4 as we continue to update this developing forecast.
necn and www.necn.com hosted the Boston Harbor Association's Labor Day Weekend Fireworks on September 3, 2016.

We explored the harbor's rich history, celebrated the iconic lighthouse's 300th anniversary and said goodbye to summer while watching a spectacular fireworks show across the night sky.

About 500 man hours went into the production. An estimated 1,200 pounds of explosives were used to set off the 2,500 colorful fireworks.
Emergency crews on Cape Cod say they will be on standby Labor Day weekend as Tropical Storm Hermine inches closer to New England.

The storm may bring rain, wind and high waves to the coastline. The Coast Guard is warning mariners to use caution on the water.

Fisherman John Tuttle says he and his friends are getting prepared.

"We're putting extra lines on the boats and stuff like that," he said. "And some of the guys are moving their boats toward a cove where it's a little bit safer."

Orleans Fire Chief Anthony Pike says he's not too concerned, but he did brief town representatives about the upcoming storm Friday morning.

"It does give us an opportunity to dust off some of the plans that we have, in case we do have a dangerous storm," he explained.

Tourists and residents who spoke with necn say they won't let the storm affect their holiday weekend plans.

"Tomorrow is supposed to be a beautiful day and we're going to enjoy what we can," said Massachusetts resident Maura DiMarco.

Pike says it is always best to be prepared.

"You should have some emergency preparations in your home," he said. "Flashlights with good batteries, provisions, water and food."

Emergency officials say if you plan on heading to the beach Labor Day weekend, keep a close eye on your small children. Waves may get as high as 15 feet.
A MassDOT worker was taken to the hospital this morning after a driver crashed into the Verizon construction zone he was working in. The worker suffered minor injuries, but the accident has prompted some bigger concerns.

It's become a familiar picture around the state. A work zone, and a crash, says Marcy Goldstein-Gelb, Executive Director, MA Coalition for Occupational Safety and Health. This has been an issue for years, but it's a preventable one, says Goldstein-Gelb

Since June, the coalition says there have been 6 work zone crashes. One worker was killed on site this summer. The group say the state should consider adding on to federal safety regulations already in place

The MassDOT worker hit was inside his car at the time and was treated and released from a hospital this morning.

Boston police say the driver who hit him was reaching for something that had fallen in his car when he veered off course
Police are searching for a man who allegedly stabbed his teenage son and injured a woman on Friday in Sturbridge, Massachusetts.

Authorities said officers responded to a home on Vinton Road at 6:50 p.m. where the teenager was in the driveway with a stab wound to his arm. He was taken to the University of Massachusetts Medical Center where he underwent surgery and is listed in stable condition.

Also at the residence was a woman who police say needed to be transported to a nearby hospital with non life threatening injuries. It was unclear how she was injured.

Police identified the suspect in the incident as Brent Young, 42. They said he fled the scene on foot with a self-inflicted wound to his neck area.

"We do not know the extent or the seriousness of this self-inflicted injury," said Sturbridge Police Sergeant Kevin R. Mercier.

Young is described as 6 feet two inches tall, approximately 150 pounds, with blue eyes and salt and pepper hair. He was last seen wearing blue jeans and black and white sneakers. Police said he may be shirtless.

Police said Young was last seen at about 4:15 a.m. Saturday at the Pilot truck stop in Sturbridge. Search crews had been looking for him in a heavily wooded area prior to that.

Anybody with information on Young's whereabouts can contact 911 or the Sturbridge Police Department at 508-347-2525.
An Uber driver in Massachusetts faced a judge Friday afternoon after allegedly sexually assaulting a woman in Boston early Wednesday morning.

Thirty-two-year-old Michael Vedrine of Brockton was released on personal recognizance by a judge after being arraigned on two counts of rape and two counts of indecent sexual assault on Friday in Dorchester Municipal Court.

The incident has neighbors concerned.

"I've grown up here my entire life and never had a bad experience," said Celia Quinn. "It is kind of crazy, you never think it could happen."

"It is shocking when stuff like this happens," said Matthew O'Connor, who has lived in the area for 19 years.

It's unclear if he has an attorney. Vedrine's next court date is Oct. 13.

An Uber spokesperson says the company is cooperating with Boston police in the investigation.
Protectors of Maine's image as Vacationland - an identity so dear that it's on the state's license plates - want to make sure their outspoken governor doesn't turn off tourists.

The concern over Republican Gov. Paul LePage has cropped up among people who make their living persuading people to come to Maine - either to work or to play - since he made racially charged remarks and left an obscene, threatening voicemail last week for a Democratic lawmaker.

David Weeda, owner of the Williams Pond Lodge bed and breakfast in Bucksport, said LePage's behavior frequently comes up for discussion among his guests. He just hopes it doesn't start keeping them away.

"If anybody thinks the world does not watch these sort of antics when they play out on the national stage, let me assure people that the world is watching," he said.

Tourism is vital to Maine's economy, employing nearly 100,000 people. The sector is riding high, having grown during LePage's administration to a $5.6 billion industry last year, according to the Maine Office of Tourism. The state has also struggled to attract major employers, and employment has been slow to recover since the recession.

The words "Worth a visit, worth a lifetime" appear on highway road signs near the state border, projecting an attitude that is friendly toward relocating workers. The governor's comments could damage that reputation, said Charles Colgan, professor emeritus of economics at University of Southern Maine.

"I think all the attention that the governor's remarks have gotten has not helped - they've been noticed by people who might come here and become part of the workforce," he said.

LePage's office did not respond to a request to comment for this story. The governor, elected in 2010, vowed Wednesday never to talk to reporters again.

David Goldberg, an advertising and public relations executive for a firm in Portland that manages some prominent Maine brands, said the LePage controversy represents a "brand crisis" for the state. But he said it's one Maine is prepared to weather if business leaders put the state's best face forward to potential newcomers.

"People are paying attention now, directly or in their minds, about what's going on up there in Maine," he said. "Getting out in front of this thing and having strong leadership, that matters a lot."

Greg Dugal, director of government affairs for the Maine Restaurant Association and the Maine Innkeepers Association, said the state's tourism industry needs to lean on the majority of its tourists who are repeat visitors.

Tourists who are hooked on Maine won't be easily dissuaded from returning, Dugal said.

"People will continue to come based on the product and not on anything any politician says," he said.

But some people are already saying they will stay away because of the governor. Dozens of people have posted on Twitter using #boycottmaine since Aug. 24.

That was the day LePage, who's white, said during a town hall meeting that he keeps a three-ring binder of photos from drug busts and most "are black and Hispanic people from Waterbury, Connecticut; the Bronx; and Brooklyn."

Some occasional Maine tourists interviewed by The Associated Press said they are canceling plans or avoiding coming to the state because of LePage's actions. One, Greg Mercer of Arlington, Massachusetts, even said he would avoid Maine lobster.

"His most recent words and actions are building to a crescendo, and people are looking for new ways that they can effect change," said Collin Rees, a Washington, D.C., resident who changed his Labor Day weekend travel from Maine to New Hampshire.
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Cranston East no match for Portsmouth

With their 36-6 victory on Friday night, the Patriots clinched the top seed in their half of Division II.
Champaign, IL (61820)

Today

Partly cloudy skies early will give way to cloudy skies late. Low near 45F. Winds light and variable..

Tonight

Partly cloudy skies early will give way to cloudy skies late. Low near 45F. Winds light and variable.
Reporter

Mary Schenk is a reporter covering police, courts and breaking news at The News-Gazette. Her email is mschenk@news-gazette.com, and you can follow her on Twitter (@schenk).
New Delhi: Newspaper 'The Australian' has been restricted from publishing any more of leaked documents related to India's Scorpene submarine project by the Supreme Court of New South Wales.



A statement by the French shipbuilder DCNS on its website said on Thursday that the court has "confirmed" its preliminary decision taken on Monday, which was supposed to expire at 5 p.m. on Thursday.



The Australian had already withdrawn the documents from its website after Monday's order. The newspaper was also asked to hand over the leaked data of India's Scorpene submarine to DCNS.



"The Supreme Court of the State of New South Wales (Australia) confirmed today the preliminary decision it had rendered on Monday, August 29, 2016 against "The Australian". The Australian newspaper, which has already withdrawn, after this first decision, the documents published on its website will provide DCNS with all the documents in its possession and is prohibited from publishing any additional document,' the statement said.



"Confidentiality of information and communication is a matter of upmost importance and DCNS welcomes this decision of the court," DCNS said.



"In parallel to this action, DCNS filed a complaint against unknown persons for breach of trust, receiving the proceeds of an offence and aiding and abetting before the Paris Public Prosecutor."



The journalist who broke the story, Cameron Stewart, in response to an email from IANS on Tuesday had said the newspaper will handover the documents that are on The Australian's website.



"We will handover those few documents which we have placed on the web in redacted form," Stewart told IANS.



DCNS, which is at the centre of a global submarine data leak scandal, wanted to prevent The Australian from releasing any more confidential data contained in the leaked 22,400 secret documents because it may cause harm to its customer -- the Indian Navy.


Hanoi: India and Vietnam on Saturday signed 12 agreements in a wide range of areas covering defence, IT, space, double taxation and sharing white shipping information, signalling a strong upward push in their strategic ties.



The agreements were signed by officials of the two sides in presence of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his Vietnamese counterpart Nguyen Xuan Phuc.



"12 for togetherness! India & Vietnam sign a dozen agreements for further strengthening the Strategic Partnership," External Affairs Ministry Spokesperson Vikas Swarup tweeted.



Vietnam has shown a keen interest in air and defense production. India's L&T will build offshore high speed patrol boats for Vietnamese Coast Guards, while an agreement was signed on programme of cooperation in UN peacekeeping matters.



Indian Navy and Vietnam Navy will cooperate in sharing of white shipping information.



The pacts included agreement on exploration and uses of outerspace for peaceful purposes, agreement on avoidance of double taxation, health cooperation, IT cooperation, cyber security and agreement on contract and design, building of boat in India, equipment supply and technology transfer.



In addition, MoU between Vietnamese Academy of Social Science and Indian Council of World Affairs, MoU between BIS and STAMEQ for mutual recognition of standards, agreement on setting up of sustainable IT Infra for advanced IT training and protocol between Vietnam and India on celebrating 2017 as 'The Year Of Friendship' were also signed.
Hanoi, Sep 3 (PTI) Prime Minister Narendra Modi was accorded a ceremonial welcome in front of the majestic Presidential palace on Saturday morning.



Modi, the first Indian prime minister to visit the communist nation in 15 years, was welcomed by Vietnamese president Tran Dai Quant.



Modi flew in here last night for a day long packed visit to Vietnam. He leaves this evening for the G20 talks in China.



After national anthems of both India and Vietnam were played by the armed forces band, dressed in sharp white with gold tassels and black gum boots, the prime minister inspected a guard of honour by the three armed forces of the host country.



Immediately afterwards Modi, in white churidar kurta with grey jacket, was taken to the humble traditional stilt house near the palace where Vietnam's beloved leader Ho Chi Minh lived intermittently between 1958-1969. He was shown the place by the Vietnamese president.



Later he will hold talks with his Vietnamese counterpart Nguyen Xuan Phuc.


New Delhi: India on Friday termed as "erroneous and misleading" the reports of floods in Bangladesh caused by the release of water from the Farakka Barrage on the Indian side.



External Affairs Ministry Spokesperson Vikas Swarup also said that the gates of Farakka Barrage are operated to smoothly pass the flows of Ganga river through it as per the clarification from the Water Resources Ministry.



Swarup also noted a Bangladeshi media report of August 31 that quoted Bangladesh's Water Resources Minister as saying that, "India did not open the gates of Farakka Barrage suddenly, and there is no possibility of fresh floods in the country. All the gates of Farakka Barrage remain open during the monsoon to release water through the Farakka Barrage  it is nothing new".



Swarup stated that the media reports regarding release of water from Farakka Barrage contributing to floods in Bangladesh are "erroneous and misleading".



The Farakka barrage gates remain open during the monsoon for smooth passage of flows of Ganga river which is a routine and unavoidable activity, he said.



In accordance with the standing arrangement between India and Bangladesh, flood alerts during the monsoon season are communicated for Farakka and Sahibganj sites by field offices of Central Water Commission of India to their Bangladesh counterparts.



Being a routine procedure no special intimation or alert regarding opening of gates is issued.



Swarup also pointed out that the Flood Forecasting and Warning Centre of Bangladesh has been quoted in the media as stating that the latest water rise was natural and not unusual or abnormal in the month of August.
















New Delhi: Sharing insights about the stardom of Raj Kapoor across the world, his son and veteran actor Rishi Kapoor on Friday said that once the late legendary actor-filmmaker was welcomed in Russia without visa when he was in talks with a Russian circus troupe for his blockbuster film Mera Naam Joker in the mid-1960s.



Rishi was in the national capital to attend the opening ceremony of the 1st BRICS Film Festival, where he was felicitated by Union Minister of State for Information and Broadcasting Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore and Minister of State for External Affairs Gen. VK Singh for his and the Kapoor family's contribution to the field of cinema.



While receiving the honour, Rishi got nostalgic and recalled a few of his late father's fruitful memories.



"Raj Kapoor was making Mera Naam Joker and I think it was in the mid-1960s when he was negotiating with a Russian circus to be part of the film. He was in London and certainly he had to be in Moscow, Russia, which was then Soviet Union," Rishi said, adding that Raj Kapoor landed in Moscow thinking he had the visa.



"But he didn't have visa to come into Moscow. Still they welcomed Raj Kapoor. There was no welcome committee for him because he landed unannounced. So he got outside and waited for a taxi, by then people started recognising that Raj Kapoor is in Moscow. His taxi came and he sat in. Suddenly what he saw was that the taxi is not moving forward and instead is going up. The people took the car on their shoulders," Rishi said.



Sharing another anecdote of Raj Kapoor's life, Rishi said: "Much later in mid-1980s, we didn't really have great ties with China. So China requested the Indian government that they want Raj Kapoor to travel there."



"When the ministry spoke to Raj Kapoor, he got excited like a young boy. He was very fond of Chinese food. He told my mother, Krishna Kapoor, that I am going to China and you are coming with me."



However, he added, that Raj Kapoor didn't go to China.



Rishi shared: "After five or 10 days, he became a little glum. He said to my mother that, 'No, I will not go to China'. When she asked why, he said that the people of China have watched that Raj Kapoor of the 1950s the young and handsome guy."



"Today I have become old and become fat, so I don't want to break their heart with this look. He never went to China afterwards," Rishi added.



Raj Kapoor, credited with films like Awaara, Shree 420, Anari and Sangam, died at the age of 63 in 1988.



The 1st BRICS (Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa) Film Festival, which is part of the special events planned in the run-up to the 8th BRICS Summit to be held in India, kick-started here at Siri Fort Auditorium Complex with the screening of National Award-winning filmmaker Jayaraj's multilingual film "Veeram".



The festival will end on September 6 with the screening of Jackie Chan's "Skiptrace".
Veteran actor Rishi Kapoor was on Friday felicitated at the opening ceremony of the 1st BRICS Film Festival here by Union Minister of State for Information and Broadcasting Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore and Minister of State for External Affairs VK Singh for his and the Kapoor family's contribution to the field of cinema.The festival, which is part of the special events planned in the run-up to the 8th BRICS Summit to be held in India, kick started here at Siri Fort Auditorium Complex with the screening of National Award-winning filmmaker Jayaraj's multilingual film Veeram."I may be politically little incorrect, but I am an actor not a politician. I want to thank BRICS for giving me this opportunity to be here. In all humility, I would like to introduce myself as a member of a film family," Rishi, son of legendary actor-filmmaker Raj Kapoor and Krishna Kapoor, said on stage."The Indian film industry has been existing for over 100 years in which the Kapoors have contributed 88 years. This is the magic of cinema. Cinema is everything to me. It gives us opportunity to see another land, another people and their culture. Cinema is the ambassador which cuts across various barriers and builds bridges and most importantly, it entertains," he added.Also present on the opening ceremony were Directorate of Film Festivals Senthil Rajan and film delegates from other BRICS countries - Brazil, Russia, China and South Africa.The opening ceremony witnessed performances by Beleza Pura from Brazil, Theatre Leningrad Centre Dreams of Russia, MBZ Music Production from South Africa and a culture showcase on Indian behalf by renowned classical dancer Sonal Mansingh.The festival which is an initiative announced by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in the last BRICS summit that was held in Russia has a competition section in which 20 films will be screened.The jury of the festival will include one member from each country. These include journalist, producer and curator of film shows Francis Vogner do Reis from Brazil, Academic Secretary of the National Academy of Motion Pictures Arts and Sciences of Russia Kirill Razlogov, professor Hou Keming from Beijing Film Academy, China, member of the British Academy of Film and Television Arts (BAFTA) Xoliswa Sithole from South Africa, and Indian writer, director and actor TS Nagabharana."Films know no boundaries. Tears know no language. Stories are always universal. The BRICS countries in total cover 43 per cent of the world population, 37 percentage of the GDP of the entire world and 17 per cent of the world trade," Rathod said at the event."Films are one of the best ways of taking our culture across the border," he added.The films that will be competing from India include magnum opus Baahubali: The Beginning, Bengali film Cinemawala, Kannada film Thithi and Bollywood film Bajirao Mastani."Films are a reflection of people of any country. Films tell a lot about the culture of the nation it belongs to. Bollywood films have had a wide reach across the world. Also, many have learnt Hindi by watching Indian films," Singh said.The closing ceremony of the festival will focus on the journey of Indian cinema and a cultural performance from China, the host for the next edition of the film festival.The first edition of the BRICS film festival will end on September 6 with the screening of Jackie Chan's Skiptrace.
Two events in the last one month - cow-protection and Goa rebellion - underscore RSSs dilemma in meeting the demands of a core right-wing constituency while striking a delicate balance in its perceived larger role as the ideological mentor of the party in power.



On both issues, the saffron front has had to do some fine balancing act and take some hard decisions at the risk of annoying its very own.



The rebelling in the Goa unit of the RSS was in the making for almost two years. But the first signs of a clampdown came last week in faraway Agra when Sarsanghchalak Mohan Bhagwat disapproved of public criticism of the Prime Minister by an affiliate organisation. Bhagwat was addressing a motley group of pracharaks from UP and Uttarakhand. Whatever be your grievances, voice them at the right forum, he said; otherwise it gives an impression that the parivar is at loggerheads within.



The message many felt was made public to assuage many ruffled feathers after Praveen Togadias recent diatribe against Prime Minister Modis take on cow vigilantes. The quantification - as high as 80% - of vigilantes as anti-social elements had the VHP chief fuming.



That there was a sense of discomfiture within the sangh on the use of this figure - 80% - was apparent from RSS general secretary Bhaiyyaji Joshis statement which pared the figure down of such elements to a mere handful. So was the firebrand VHP leader merely articulating RSS concern on cow-protection in that press conference in Delhi when he openly took on the Prime Minister? And did he in the process exceed the brief?



Speculations were rife in this regard when BJP president Amit Shah flew down to Bhopal last week for a long drawn out discussion with Bhaiyyaji Joshi and Joint General Secretary Dr. Krishna Gopal. A few days later a mellowed-down Togadia issued a statement expressing confidence that there are gau-bhakts in the BJP committed towards the cause. Somewhere, it seems, a rapprochement had been reached.



But the trouble in Goa unit was far from over. That things were getting out of control was evident when RSS Goa chief Subhash Velingkar and his Bhartiya Bhasha Suraksha Manch showed black flags to Amit Shah when the later visited the state earlier this month. Velingkar, an educationist by profession has mentored many BJP leaders including Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar.



He is now Parrikars most vociferous critic, accusing the Goa heavyweight of reneging on his pre-poll promise to restrict grant-in-aid to only Marathi and Konkani medium schools.



RSS relieved Velingkar of all responsibilities this week when reports came in from Goa that BBSM was planning to take a political plunge in the next elections. As the reports of the extant and depth of the rebellion tricked in, the Sangh again had to issue a clarification. In a press release issued late in the evening, the RSS Prachar Pramukh Dr Manmohan Vaidya said, RSS is of the firm opinion that all efforts should be made to strengthen the system of primary education in mother tongue in all parts of the country. The RSS has supported and will continue to support the cause of agitation in Goa by BBSM.



The damage however had already been done.



When BJP is in opposition, it is always much easier for the RSS to maintain a loosely coupled relationship - at least in public perception- with the BJP. In power, the cadre demands delivery, from the BJP, and concomitantly from the ideological fountainhead RSS which is seen to exercise clout over the political executive.



Both cow-protection and Goa rebellion are vintage examples in this genre.


The Prime Minister has no understanding of the economy. Former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh had left the economy in a strong condition. The average GDP growth rate was 8.5% during the 10 years of UPA," Sharma said.

Govt should publish the

contemplated White Paper. Before they withdraw the Economic Survey of 2014-15  P. Chidambaram (@PChidambaram_IN) September 3, 2016

Today, we have the highest amount of foreign direct investment after Independence. The entire world says that at 7% growth, we are the fastest growing economy. Whether it is the World Bank, IMF, credit agencies, even UN agencies they all say India is growing rapidly," Modi had said in an exclusive interview to Network18 Group Editor Rahul Joshi.



Sharma also sought to dismiss the PM's condemnation of attacks on Dalits by cow vigilantes as "too late and too little". Referring to BJP leaders who backed gau rakshaks he asked, "Has he acted against Sakshi Maharaj? Yogi Adityanath? Sadhvi Prachi? The Prime Minister of India is not that helpless."

: The ruling BJP engaged in a war of words with the Congress after the opposition party said Prime Minister Narendra Modi "misled" the country on the economy in his interview to Network18.Congress leader Anand Sharma called a press conference on Saturday and challenged the PM to come out with a white paper on the economy saying falling investment rates dip in manufacturing and non-creation of jobs were a matter of great concern.The Congress also countered Modi's claim of attracting the largest foreign direct investment during his tenure, and said this had actually happened in 2011 during UPA rule.Former finance minister P Chidamabaram too tweeted a demand for a white paper on the economy and also indicated that PM Modi's claim had gone against the RBI's annual report and the CSO Report for 2014-15.BJP leaders sparred with Congress spokespersons over criticism against the PM with senior minister Prakash Javadekar saying that the opposition does not want to accept facts."The Congress has lost it. We made a mistake. We should have brought out a white paper on the economy. Price rise, corruption and unemployment were all a legacy of the Congress," Javadekar said.The Congress also rejected the PM's assertion in the interview that he never indulged in vindictive politics."The Congress is harassed in the National Herald case. Enforcement Directorate was sent after Himachal Pradesh chief minister Virbhadra Singh. The Congress governments in Uttarakhand and Arunachal Pradesh were dismissed, but were restored later by the Supreme Court. What is vindictive politics then? Sharma asked.The ruling Samajwadi Party (SP) in Uttar Pradesh also joined issue with party general secretary Naresh Agarwal saying, It is unfortunate that Dalits have always been seen as a vote bank. First Congress used to do so, now the BJP is doing the same. If all are so concerned about Dalits, why the community is in distress.In Bengal, Trinamool Congress minister Firhad Hakim said, "The PM belives in the politics of revenge. He will not accept anything on camera. He always targets the opposition."Modi's interview however struck a chord with JDS leader and former prime minister Deve Gowda who thanked the PM for "exposing the despicable culture" of the elites of Lutyen's Delhi and said they had schemed against him too while he was in power as he came from a rural background.Also read: PM Modi to Network18: Self-appointed Guardians Don't Like That I'm With Dalits
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Taipei, Sept. 3 (CNA) About 120,000 retired military personnel, civil servants and public school teachers took to the streets in Taipei Saturday to call for dignity and to protest against what they described as the government's smearing of them in controversy over the country's retirement pension system.
When Pope Francis canonises Mother Teresa on Sunday, two Balkan countries will be celebrating the sainthood of a woman they both fiercely claim as their own. While she is famed for her work with the poor in the Indian city of Kolkata, the late missionary's origins have been hotly disputed in southeastern Europe, where she grew up.



Born Agnes Gonxha Bojaxhiu in 1910 in multi-cultural Skopje, then part of the Ottoman Empire and now capital of the Republic of Macedonia, Mother Teresa had an ethnic

Albanian mother whose family came from Kosovo.



Her father's roots are more debated: most people, especially in Albania, say he too was ethnically Albanian, although some Macedonians have argued he was a Vlach, another Balkan ethnic group.



The squabble exposes old ethnic rivalries in the Balkans, with neighbours Albania and Macedonia taking competitive pride in the Nobel Peace Prize winner - both countries have statues, roads, hospitals and other monuments in her name.



"Mother Teresa was born in Skopje but she never declared herself a Macedonian," said Albanian historian Moikom Zeqo, author of a study on the nun's links to Albania. She "always spoke about her Albanian origins and her universal mission," Zeqo told AFP. Macedonians, however, suggest her birthplace is all important.



"We call her 'Skopjanka' (citizen of Skopje) because we know she is ours," said Valentina Bozinovska, director of the national commission for relations with religious communities. The region changed dramatically in Teresa's lifetime, with the end of Turkish rule, two world wars, the rise and fall of communism and Yugoslavia, and the nationalistic Balkan wars of the 1990s.



Teresa was baptised Roman Catholic, a minority religion in Skopje, where she spent her childhood and decided early on she would take up a religious life. She left home aged 18 for a spell at an Irish abbey before travelling to India in 1929.



In the 1930s her mother and sister moved to Tirana in Albania, where communist dictator Enver Hoxha barred Teresa from visiting. She eventually made her first of three trips to Albania in 1989, after Hoxha's death and a year before communism began to fall, to visit the graves of her family and the house where they lived for many years.



Genc Zajmi, 78, still resides in the building and recalls Teresa's loving letters to her mother, insisting the nun never forgot her Albanian roots. Muslim-majority Albania celebrates a public holiday on the anniversary of Teresa's beatification in 2003. As for Teresa, she was quoted describing herself both as a "Skopjanka" and as an Albanian "by blood", but insisting she belonged to the world.



She was given citizenship by India in 1951. Her adopted home country flatly refused Albania's request in 2009 to hand over her remains, saying she was "resting in her own country, her own land."


Washington: Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton's lead over her Republican rival Donald Trump in the race for the White House has been cut in half in the last one month, according to a latest poll.



However, the 68-year-old leader continues to maintain lead in some of the key battle ground states, other polls said.



Clinton holds an average of 42 per cent support to Trump's 37 per cent across five nationwide telephone polls conducted between August 9 and 30, CNN said, releasing the findings if its Poll of Polls on Friday.



While this five-point lead represents a strong starting point for Clinton heading into the fall campaign season, it said.



But a similar Poll of Polls earlier in the month averaging polls conducted in the week after the two back to back conventions found the Democrat leader ahead by 10 points, 49 per cent to 39 per cent.



According to RealClearPolitics, which tracks all major polls, Clinton's lead over Trump on an average has come down to 4.1 percentage points.



But when it comes to polls in some of the key battleground States, Clinton continues to lead over the 70-year-old real estate mogul.



In New Hampshire, Clinton is leading by 11 percentage points, while in Virginia she is ahead by one points.



But in Iowa, Clinton trails Trump by five percentage points, indicating that the race to the White House is tightening now.



Clinton continues to lead in most of the states, according to RealClearPolitics.



These include Florida, Pennsylvania, Ohio, Nevada, New Hampshire, North Carolina, Michigan, Wisconsin, Colorado, Virginia, and Georgia.


Dhaka: Bangladesh police on Friday raided a militant hideout and killed a top Islamist extremist who helped plan the Dhaka cafe siege and was the deputy of attack 'mastermind' Tamim Ahmed Chowdhury.



The militant was killed during a raid on a house in Dhaka's Rupnagar area and the terrorist was identified by police as top Neo-Jama'atul Mujahideen Bangladesh (JMB) leader Chowdhury's 'second-in-command'.



Detective Branch Additional Deputy Commissioner Sanwar Hossain identified the deceased as 'Murad' or 'Major Murad' as referred to by the members of his outfit.



"We raided the house on information that he had rented it," Hossain was quoted as saying by BD News.



Joint Commissioner Abdul Baten said police raided the house around 9:30 PM local time.



Three policemen, including the officer in charge of the nearby police station, were also wounded in the gunfight with the terrorist.



Syed Shaheed Alam, officer in-charge of Rupnagar Police Station, Inspector Shaheen Fakir and Sub-Inspector Md Momenur Rahman were also injured, Baten said.



They were being treated at Dhaka Medical College Hospital. Police's counter-terrorism unit chief Monirul Islam said Murad was the 'military trainer' of Jama'atul Mujahideen Bangladesh (JMB). "He was known as Major Murad in the organisation."



Sanwar said police found out about Murad in the investigations after the death of Tamim, the suspected mastermind of Gulshan cafe terror attack who was killed in a raid on a house in Narayanganj on August 27.



He said police raided the house in Rupnagar also on Thursday but found it locked.



"We asked the landlord to inform us when the tenant returns. The landlord locked the house from outside and called police," Sanwar said.



"He (Murad) stabbed police officers when they entered the house. He died after being hit by a bullet during a scuffle that ensued when he tried to flee," the police official said.



Police had named Tamim, a Canadian-Bangladeshi who led the 'Neo-JMB', as the one who orchestrated the July 1 attack on the upscale Holey Artisan Bakery and O' Kitchen restaurant in Dhaka's diplomatic zone in which 22 people, including an

Indian girl, were killed.



ISIS had claimed responsibility for the cafe attack. But police believe that Neo-Jamaat-ul-Mujahideen Bangladesh, which is close to the ISIS, was involved in organising the attack.
Washington: The United States has strongly condemned the terrorist attack in Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte's home city Davao, saying they are ready to provide any assistance in the investigation.



"The United States offers deep condolences to the families and other loved ones of the victims of the explosion in the Philippines' Davao City, and our thoughts and prayers are with the injured," spokesperson of the National Security Council Ned Price said.



At least 10 people died and many others injured when a bomb tore through a night market in the centre of Davao.



"We understand that local authorities continue to investigate the cause of the explosion in the night market, and the United States stands ready to provide assistance to the investigation," Price said.



The US President will have an opportunity to offer his personal condolences to his Philippine counterpart next week, when the two leaders plan to meet on the sidelines of the ASEAN Summit in Laos, he said.








PM: Obstruction of CoP appointment

The Prime Minister said he advised Opposition Leader Kamla Persad-Bissessar that the Police Service Commission (PSC) is now open, to proceed to start the process so that we as a country could end up appointing a CoP. following recent proceedings in court regarding the Order to appoint a CoP.

Rowley told reporters he further advised Persad-Bissessar,that my understanding is that the PSC is attempting to get the process going but there are obstacles in the way. The Prime Minister continued, Those obstacles seem to multiply. its like a Hydra... you cut off one head...another one comes on. He added, The Government is very frustrated on the fact that with all the will in the world...there seems to be no pathway towards a CoP who will effectively move on certain particular matters which are before the CoP.

Rowley said he was, reluctantly coming to the conclusion that there are obstacles in our way which may have their root in a conflict of interest. He said a nonsense which came to Cabinet from the Public Service, was a reluctance to move forward unless the Government provides $6 million to allow a local firm to commit to evaluate the applications. The Prime Minister explained this figure was,  the cost of doing it through Penn State abroad and a whole set of hoops and costs...that was what we eliminated by changing the Order and confining the search to using a local firm and confining the search to nationals at home or abroad.

Indicating that only the Public Service Department could justify this figure, Rowley said, My understanding is the latest holdup is, is that the Public Service is taking the position that some important part of the process must be done by the Central Tenders Board (CTB). However he added, Then elements of the CTB are not put in place or are to be put in place by the same people who say it must be done by CTB.

Questioning whether there were certain inherent conflicts of interest in this particular matter and whether the obstruction is deliberate, Rowley said, I am reluctantly coming to the conclusion that there are obstacles in our way which may have their root in a conflict of interest. The Prime Minister also confirmed that earlier this week, he met with the leadership of the Police Service and had a frank discussions with them as to how the Government sees the Police Service in 2016.

That meeting took place at the Diplomatic Centre in St Anns on Tuesday. Rowley was optimistic that arising from that meeting, we expect to see the fruit of that as the Police Service becomes more open and you get more information and they become more effective in discharging their duties
Police Association welcomes Carmonas support

He has echoed just what President (Barrack) Obama has said, that when persons are sleeping at night, the police are out protecting lives in the best way that they can, Seales said.

We also want to suggest that the external agents, particularly the stakeholders, really come to terms and grasp the expression by the President and understand that, without the police, they run the risk of a threat to democracy.

We appeal to all stakeholders to partner with the police to preserve democracy and to ensure public safety. On Thursday, San Fernando Magistrate, Natalie Diop, slammed some police officers saying that they were not doing jobs properly, when confusion arose as a man accused of marijuana possession was told that he had matters pending before the court from similar incidents three years earlier.

The accused denied the claims and alleged that he faced the court and was convicted for the previous offences. Seales said that while the situation was regrettable, he did not agree with Diops remarks, saying that the error which occurred was more an administrative error of the police service, due to faulty record keeping, and not necessarily with the investigations of the police.

To me it really seems to be an issue with the persons convictions not being properly recorded.

That by itself is a flop.

But what the Association would say, simply by observation, that the bureaucracy is presenting a deficiency in relation to the case.

It just so happens that the police got the brunt of it. It speaks to more of an administrative issue than anything else, because the record of fingerprints is always delivered consistently.

Unfortunately we hear of just one incident and the magistrate comes out and makes a criticism that is unwarranted.
TTUTA doubtful all schools would re-open on Monday

Education Minister, Anthony Garcia, has been visiting schools to get a first hand look at their readiness for the new school term. Last week, speaking at a tour of the New Grant Anglican School, which was demolished to be replaced by a prefabricated building, Garcia gave assurances that despite the challenges, all primary and secondary schools would be ready for the start of the new term.

The main challenge being faced by the Ministry that has hampered the timely repair of schools over the holiday period, was the $800 million debt owed to the Education Facilities Company Ltd (EFCL). Regarding the prefabricated building for the New Grant Anglican School, however, Garcia assured that funds were identified for the matter. According to Bishop Claude Berkeley of the Anglican School Board, he was informed by the secretary of the board that the prefabricated building was completed and would ready for the first day of school on Monday.

However TTUTA President, Devanand Sinanan, expressed his reservations.

We are not 100 percent sure that all the necessary work will be completed, Sinanan said.

He added that he remains cautiously optimistic and that TTUTA is keeping our fingers crossed. Regarding the readiness of school buildings for the opening of school, Garcia called on the various religious boards of the denominational schools to take up some responsibility for the repairs and maintenance of their schools.

Chairman of the Presbyterian Primary School Board, Carlyle Mulchan took issue with Garcias call, saying that infrastructure was the responsibility of the Ministry of Education. I dont understand that statement.

How do we take responsibility for infrastructure when we are at the mercy of the contractors that are signed by the Ministry? Sinanan agreed with Garcias call for denominational schools to assist in the maintenance of their schools.

He referenced the Concordat of 1960, saying that denominational schools are considered the property of the religious boards. Asked whether the Concordat defined whose responsibility it was to repair and maintain school buildings, Sinanan chuckled.

That has always been a contentious issue over the years, but it cant be a case of convenient ownership. Asked whether denominational schools should be expected to raise funds to assist in the maintenance of their physical infrastructure, Mulchan said we are a faithbased institution. We are not a business.
State Watchdog Agrees With NTSB on Blame in Limo Crash

Stampede at Halloween Event Kills at Least 146 in Seoul

Airline Gets Creative in Getting

Travelers to Take Middle Seat

IN CASE YOU MISSED IT
(Newser)  Ouch. A study out of Columbia University suggests that Walmart deliberately runs much better stores in white neighborhoods than in minority neighborhoods. The study found that stores in lower-income neighborhoods have considerably lower customer service ratings than those in wealthier ones. More specifically, the higher the percentage of black or Latino residents in an area, the lower the Walmart rating, reports Consumerist. The researchers suggest one reason is that the chain generally doesn't staff stores in low-income neighborhoods adequately because it doesn't need to do soWalmarts in such neighborhoods are often the only place people can shop, and thus competition and customer satisfaction aren't priorities.

When Walmart moves into the South Side of Chicago, its not really displacing numerous other businesses, study author Adam Reich tells the Atlantic. So it can shortchange investments in staff, and force people to work harder. Consumers dont have a choice about where theyre shopping. The authors, who published their study in the American Sociological Association journal Contexts, analyzed Yelp reviews of 2,840 stores and found that those in predominantly black areas tend to be rated with words like "nasty," "terrible," and "unorganized," while those in white areas tend to be described as "friendly," "clean," and "pleasant." A Walmart spokesperson tells Business Insider that the analysis is both "flawed" and "without merit," and the publication notes a few "holes," including that reviewer bias and outside influence can't be accounted for. (More than 200 violent crimes have been reported at Walmarts so far this year.)
(Newser)  The plight of a Canadian boy who just wanted to eat a hamburger is drawing attention to a risk that many backyard barbecuers may not realize even exists: wire brush bristles ending up in people's throats. CBC reports 6-year-old Anthony Fiore took a bite of a burger in June only to feel a sharp pain. "It felt like a needle," he says. Twelve hours later, Anthony was in surgery having a wire bristle removed from his throat. His mom, Nadia Cerelli, spoke out about the incident this week to draw attention to what is a growing problem. "I hope to have these brushes removed from the shelves, have them banned," she says.

Bristles coming loose from barbecue brushes, then finding their way from grill to food to throat is getting to be such an issue that the Canadian Society of Otolaryngology addressed it at its annual meeting this year. "None of us have figured out a surefire way to get rid of them, so wed prefer just to prevent it from happening in the first place," Munchies quotes one otolaryngologist as saying. While surgeons in Canada are recommending no one use barbecue brushes with wire bristles, it's also a problem here in the US. One study found nearly 1,700 injuries from wire bristles in the US since 2002, the Austin American-Statesman reports. And according to CTV, researchers believe that number is an underestimate. (Another unexpectedly deadly item: these kites.)
(Newser)  The inventor of the Carolina Reaperthe world's hottest pepperdescribes it as "kind of like eating molten lava." "That's the best way to put it," he tells PRI. So you can only imagine what happened when a batch of Reapers made their way into a middle-school lunchroom. ABC News reports more than two dozen students at New Castle Middle School in Indiana were "sickened" after a student whose father grows the spicy peppers passed a few around at lunch. Teachers noticed something was wrong when one student touched his eyes after touching a Carolina Reaper and started "flailing around." Reports of burning mouths and faces spread from there.

The Carolina Reaper is made by crossbreeding ghost peppers and red habaneros, WRTV reports. They can reach 1.57 million units on the Scoville scale, while even the hottest of jalapenos maxes out at about 10,000 units. New Castle principal Jaci Hadsell tells ABC they gave the suffering students "milk to try and coat their stomachs" then called the EMTs. After making sure none of the students went into anaphylactic shock, the school released them to their parents. None were believed to have been seriously injured. Hadsell says the pepper-providing student was "appropriately disciplined." (Gaining the "world's hottest" title was a four-year quest.)
(Newser)  In August, Homeland Security secretary Jeh Johnson said the amount of time illegal immigrants spend at family detention centers is 20 days. But the New York Times has a look at 67 women and children who have been held in a Pennsylvania detention center for months on end, some of them longer than a year. "We wake up and we see the same walls, the same ceiling, and we think to ourselves, 'When will this end?'" one 16-year-old girl at Berks County Residential Center tells the Times. State Sen. Bob Casey says the families fled "unspeakable horrors" in Honduras, El Salvador, and Guatemala. One 6-year-old has been diagnosed with PTSD from violence in his home country. Casey says America "can do better than the treatment they are receiving."

In Berks, the families have no social media, aren't allowed outside a fence, and can't send their children to outside schools. They are paid $1 a day to clean the detention center. Nearly 30 of the women at Berks are suing over their denial of asylum due to what they claim were improper hearings. That suit was rejected Wednesday when an appeals court ruled they had no right to sue as they entered the country illegally. The ACLU and others say this is a massive shift in US law, as slaves and even detainees at Guantanamo have been given the right of habeas corpus in the past. The women are appealing the decision and launched a hunger strike in protest. Read the full story here. (Read more asylum seeker stories.)
(Newser)  The Telegraph has the story of a very good dog in Spain who is waiting patiently outside a hospital while her owner recovers from emergency appendix surgery inside. As of Friday, Maya the 2-year-old Akita Inu had been sitting outside the hospital's doors for six days. Her owner's father, Andres Iniesta, tried to take her away, but she wasn't having it. I think she knows what is happening and she is showing that she can be patient, says Iniesta, who describes Maya as a "fully paid-up member of the family." Sandra Iniesta, 22, says Maya always does this whenever she goes in anywhere; it's just usually not for days on end. After the hospital posted about Maya online, people started visiting her and bringing her treats. Read the full story here. (Read more uplifting news stories.)
(Newser)  Hermine has been downgraded from a hurricane to a tropical stormbut forecasters warn that it is still an extremely dangerous and possibly life-threatening storm that could do a lot more than ruin Labor Day weekend beach trips. It is expected to strengthen to hurricane status again as it moves over the Atlantic and the Washington Post reports that the entire mid-Atlantic coastline, from Georgia all the way up to Connecticut, is under a tropical storm warning, with damaging winds, beach erosion, and flooding all strong possibilities. The Post, among others, warns strongly against visiting Virginia, Delaware, New Jersey, or Maryland beaches. The latter state has already declared a state of emergency.

Virginia Gov. Terry McAuliffe warned Friday that hurricane center officials had shown him a "chilling map" that "shows storm surges going all the way up the Chesapeake Bay," CNN reports. "We have been told of a very strong likelihood of a life-threatening storm." In a Facebook post, Weather Channel expert Bryan Norcross warned that Hermine could become a "freak show" storm when it hits warmer than usual water off the Delmarva or New Jersey coasts, pushing ocean water in rivers and bays throughout the mid-Atlantic. In Florida, meanwhile, the Miami Herald counts the cost of the first hurricane to make landfall in the state since 2005 as one dead, 235,000 without power, and a "soggy mess." (Read more hurricane stories.)
(Newser)  Police in Memphis say 14 people were injured when they were thrown from an amusement ride at Tennessee's Delta Fair, the AP reports. Shelby County Sheriff's office spokesperson Earle Farrell says 14 people were transported on Saturday afternoon to local hospitals from the fair. Farrell says they were on a ride called the Moonraker. (The spinning ride looks like this.) The cause of the accident is not yet known. Farrell says the injured riders were all in stable condition. He did not know how many adults and children were on the ride. (Read more Tennessee stories.)
The world's longest and the highest glass bottom bridge connecting two mountains which was opened in China two weeks ago was closed on overwhelming volume of tourists.

The bridge is four hundred thirty meter long and six meter wide which stretches between two mountains having a valley of over three hundred meter deep in the Tianmenshan National Forest Park, is only able to handle 8,000 visitors per day Zhangjiajie Grand Canyon's marketing and sales department. The scenery visible from the bridge was inspired by the famous Hollywood movie 'Avatar.'

According to Cn traveler, Zhangjiajie Grand Canyon's marketing and sales department said that the bridge can withstand 8,000 visitors per day. But, the bridge is attracting huge visitors for its 10 world records which china has made in this bridge. The overwhelming volume of tourists has made the closure of glass Bottom Bridge for update and improvement reasons. The current visitors to this scary bridge are ten times than the capacity which bridge designers have specified.

The official announcement was made on a Chinese news site, saying there was an "urgency to improve and update" the facility and that the bridge would be closed starting September 2. There was no indication as to when it would reopen.

When asked about the safety concerns about the bridge, the officials replied "there was no problem" with the bridge in Zhangjiajie.

"There were simply too many people. For example, we can't expand our parking area properly, and people started scalping tickets" said by the spokesman.

Visitors are disappointed with the decision of closing the glass bottom bridge well within two weeks.

Few statements from the people were reported on Edition CNN,

"I have booked everything and now you are saying you are closed... Are you kidding me?" wrote Weibo user XiaoMOMOYa in response to the official statement.

"The Scenic Area is deficient. There's trash everywhere and no bottled water for sale. It's right to reopen only after they've cleaned up the place," wrote another user, Fashiwanying.
Microsoft, a tech giant joins with Liebherr household appliances to introduce smart refrigerators into the world market known as 'SmartDeviceBox.'

The two companies are in making the world smarter and better to live. The US technology giant, Microsoft and Liebherr collaborated to come up with a smart refrigerator called as 'SmartDeviceBox' which enables the kitchen users to check the groceries inside the fridge any time, any place or any moment through their smartphones and to market it, if necessary.

According to Ms Power User, Microsoft is using computer vision capability for developing SmartDeviceBox. Microsoft Cognitive Services Computer Vision API can annotate new images with a wide variety of generic category labels and object tags. With this technology future Liebherr refrigarators will allow the kitchen users to monitor the stored groceries and other things using internal cameras and object recognition as developed by Microsoft. An app on your smartphones devices which uses SmartDeviceBox voice module that allows the customers to add the groceries which are needed additionally on the shopping list.

Microsoft research team is in continuous research to make this device sense or recognize the items which are generally difficult ones. The image captured for bottles, eggs and some easy items are recognizable. But the other difficult items are under research for recognizing.

Microsoft's Cognitive Services Computer Vision API powers the image-recognition technology, as published on a blog post on Friday

"The Microsoft system can learn to recognize new types of objects - milk cartons, ketchup bottles, pickle jars and much more - from example images," it says. "When a new image from inside a refrigerator is provided to the newly learned model, it can detect the presence of the objects it has seen before during training."

"Although the current system is a prototype, the deep learning technology it uses is already very powerful and rapidly maturing," the announcement says.

"Liebherr and Microsoft are actively improving these technologies to turn the newest generation of refrigerators into smart appliances that don't just cool your food but interactively help you with your food management." -as per Geek Wire

SmartDeviceBox is a prototype and it needs developments for more applications as required in future.
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A deal that doesn't go anywhere. Buying carbon credits is the only viable solution and for that to happen a country has to be living in 3rd world conditions. It is a replacement for the petro-dollar. Plants love CO2 and they would grow bigger if CO2 was a danger. That being said the O2 content could be raised a few % and that would be good for us.Methane is also being promoted as being on the rise and that it is also a greenhouse gas. That may be but that is not why it is a danger to people and other living things.Human erythrocytes were exposed to high concentrations of methane and nitrogen through the application of elevated partial pressures of these gas molecules. Cell leakage (haemolysis) was measured for cells exposed to these gases under a wide range of experimental conditions. Application of methane produces haemolysis at pressures far below the hydrostatic pressures known to disrupt membrane or protein structure. The effects of changes in buffer, temperature, diffusion rate and detergents were studied. Methane acts co-operatively with detergents to produce haemolysis at much lower detergent concentration than is required in the absence of methane or in the presence of nitrogen. At sufficiently high concentrations of methane, all cells are haemolysed. Increased temperature enhances the effect. Methane produces 50% haemolysis at a concentration of about 0.33 M compared with about 7.5 M methanol required for the same degree of haemolysis.It isn't that Trump will take the US so they act alone it will be over nobody wanting to do business with a 'former bully' for the way she conducted foreign policy since the end of WWII. The only jobs will be producing goods for internal consumption, there will be no magic button that makes the US a contributor to any of the reconstruction contracts that always follow the end of a war, even Gaza will be included this time.Iceland and Russia both had to hit the 'reset button' and both are in better shape because of it. Doing business the 'old way' doesn't work anymore as the closed door meetings that went with it are no longer acceptable as it sets dual standards and only the smaller group gets to call the shots while claiming that they represent the wants and desires of the majority.Think of it as Trump inheriting a broken down business that needs an overhaul from the top down or bottom up, whichever you prefer. The end result will be better and the final picture might be quite different than it is now. In the Hobo years of the late 20's (financial collapse) and the 30's (no markets) it could work out that they return even as far as rail travel goes. Under the 'Trump version' the 'upper tier is free and made comfortable with windscreens and cots or lawn chairs for the 'riders'. The stops would also be free soup kitchens and the atmosphere is more carnival in town than lawless bandits coming to town. JFK brought in the 'moon mission' as a make work project and Trump would most likely be doing the same but the local needs come before anything outer-space projects, that can be left to China and Russia if that seems to be a worthwhile goal. They will be more interested in raising the living standards for the people that are presently called 3rd world nations.Since our recovery is based changing what is wrong that has to be defined first, basically big corporations have a tendency to lie to get their agenda pushed through 'the public'.Climate change and CO2 are two issues that at headlines today and they represent the expenditure of billions and billions of dollars to 'undo something' that is equal to a fat in a hurricane as far as global impact is concerned. Before a solution can be promoted there has to be some solid science behind it, at present the solid science seems to indicate it is more propaganda than fact so that would be the first task. Currently we are conditioned to accept that conditions today and in the very recent past are optimal as far as being able to support a certain number of humans. Any change is promoted as being detrimental to the existence of mankind and the hard science behind that theory is missing. Any change that is not accounted for and planned for will be harsh on the people going through the changes. Plan accurately for it and the changes could turn out to be a blessing rather than a curse. In North America it might mean changing crops in certain places as the rainfall patterns shift due to local climatic changes. (like the north Pacific Rift spreading faster as well as the one in the Arctic which results in much warmer weather than the past has been. That would indicate global warming as the water and the land is heated by moving magma if it was not for other parts of North America cooling down as much as the warming is. The average temp might not be much different but the local areas would experience new highs or lows depending where you are. If there is a place that is too hot and another that is too cold then someplace between the two is an area that is just right and it could be a larger than what is 'just right' at the present.As the Pacific Rift spreads magma is pushed under the west coast of North America. That would heat up the Rockies and the wind coming over them would be warmed up so Alberta would be warmer than usual except for the Arctic winds that come south occasionally, Manitoba and all points east would get those winds more often than not. The solution would seem to be a mass migration of people to the west without crossing the Rockies. In the US it might be west of the Mississippi.
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Hanoi:

Prime Minister Narendra Modi was accorded a ceremonial welcome in front of the majestic Presidential palace in Hanoi on Saturday morning.



Modi, the first Indian prime minister to visit the communist nation in 15 years, was welcomed by Vietnamese president Tran Dai Quant.



After national anthems of both India and Vietnam were played by the armed forces band, dressed in sharp white with gold tassels and black gum boots, the prime minister inspected a guard of honour by the three armed forces of the host country.



Immediately afterwards Modi, in white churidar kurta with grey jacket, was taken to the humble traditional stilt house near the palace where Vietnams beloved leader Ho Chi Minh lived intermittently between 1958-1969. He was shown the place by the Vietnamese president.



Later held talks with his Vietnamese counterpart Nguyen Xuan Phuc. More updates on talks waited.

Earlier in the day, Prime Minister Modi paid homage at the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum and the Monument of National Heroes and Martyrs in Hanoi, Vietnam.

PM Modi is on his maiden visit to the Vietnamese capital to hold wide-ranging talks with the countrys top leadership on ways to bolster strategic bilateral ties in key areas like defence, security, counterterrorism and trade.



Reached Hanoi. This is a special visit & will go a long way in deepening the strong bond between India & Vietnam, Modi tweeted on September 2.



The visit, that marks the first by an Indian premier to the country in 15 years, takes place on his way to Hangzhou, China to attend the G20 Summit beginning Sunday.

Also read: Prime Minister Modi arrives in Hanoi for strategic bilateral ties



Modi will hold extensive talks with Vietnamese Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc and call on President Tran Dai Quang.



He is also scheduled to meet Communist Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong and National Assembly Chairwoman Nguyen Thi Kim Ngan.



Defence, security, science and technology, trade and culture are some of the issues on the plate for the talks.



Vietnamese Prime Minister Phuc and I would also be discussing regional cooperation and stability and our multilateral cooperation, Modi told Voice of Vietnam Radio network earlier.



The thrust of our multifaceted relationship is to work towards stability, maintenance of peace, economic growth and prosperity in our countries, Asia and beyond, he added.



Modi emphasised that Indias Act East Policy aimed to forge partnerships with its eastern neighbours to encompass security, strategic, political, counter-terrorism, and defence collaboration in addition to economic ties.



It was crystallised to underscore the importance of East Asian neighbours of India and to make them a priority in our foreign policy engagement, he told the radio, adding that Vietnam was an integral member of ASEAN and is a very important pillar in our Act East Policy.



We wish to forge a strong economic relationship with Vietnam that can mutually benefit our citizens.



Strengthening the people to people ties will also be my endeavour during the Vietnam visit, the premier said on his Facebook page on September 2.



Indias ONGC Videsh Limited is engaged in oil exploration projects in Vietnam for over three decades and there may be announcements about new projects in the sector during the bilateral visit, which is taking place after a gap of 15 years.

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Honolulu (US):

United States President Barack Obama is set to meet Chinese Premier Xi Jingping on Saturday, the first day of his final trip to Asia. The two leaders are expected to in announce that their countries are formally taking part in a historic global climate deal.



Yet thornier issues like maritime disputes and cybersecurity shadow Obamas visit.



The president departed on Friday for Hangzhou, China, where he will meet with Xi on Saturday ahead of a summit of the Group of 20, a collection of industrial and emerging-market nations.



Environmental groups and experts tracking global climate policy said they expected the two leaders would jointly enter the sweeping emissions-cutting deal reached last year in Paris. Unlikely partners on addressing global warming, the US and China have sought to use their collaboration to ramp up pressure on other countries to take concrete action as well.



Entering the climate agreement has been an intricate exercise in diplomatic choreography. The deal was reached in December, and the US, China and many others signed it in April, on Earth Day. Even the third step formally participating in the deal doesnt bring it into force in the US or China.



That wont happen until a critical mass of polluting countries joins. Aiming to build on previous cooperation, the US and China have also been discussing a global agreement on aviation emissions, though theres some disagreement about what obligations developing countries should face in the first years.



The aviation issue is expected to be on the agenda for Obamas meeting with Xi, along with ongoing efforts to phase out hydrofluorocarbons, another greenhouse gas.



The alliance on climate has been a rare bright spot between the US and China in recent years, a relationship otherwise characterized by tensions over Chinas emergence as a key global power.



Washington has been deeply concerned about Chinas territorial ambitions in waters far off its coast, while Beijing looks warily at Obamas efforts to expand US influence in Asia, viewing it as an attempt to contain Chinas rise.



Obama, in a CNN interview, said hed told Chinas leaders repeatedly that with more global power comes more responsibility.



Part of what Ive tried to communicate to President Xi is that the United States arrives at its power, in part, by restraining itself, Obama said. When we bind ourselves to a bunch of international norms and rules, its not because we have to, its because we recognize that over the long term, building a strong international order is in our interests.



Of Chinas artificial island-building in the South China Sea, Obama added: Weve indicated to them that there will be consequences.

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New Delhi :

Personal laws of a community cannot be re-written in the name of social reforms, All India Muslim Personal Law Board (AIMPLB) on Friday told the Supreme Court, while opposing pleas issues including alleged gender discrimination faced by Muslim women in divorce cases.

The AIMPLB, in its counter affidavit filed in the apex court, said the contentious issue relating to Muslim practices of polygamy, triple talaq (talaq-e-bidat) and nikah halala are matters of legislative policy and cannot be interfered with.

The board said that practices provided by Muslim Personal Law on the issues of marriage, divorce and maintenance were based on holy scripture Al-Quran and courts cannot supplant its own interpretations over the text of scriptures.

AIMPLB said the presumption that triple talaq was arbitrary and unreasonable was a fallacy of reason and it was a misconception that Muslim men enjoyed unilateral powers in respect of divorce.

Regarding polygamy, the board said that though Islam permitted it, but it does not encourage the same and referred to various reports, including World Development Report 1991, which had said that polygamy percentage in tribals, Buddhists and Hindus were 15.25, 7.97 and 5.80 per cent respectively as compared to 5.73 per-cent in Muslims.

The board further said that Islam always regarded divorce as a condemnable practice and the focus was also on the fact that both parties should maintain the marital bond as far as possible.

It is clear that Muslim Personal Law adequately provides for the rights of Muslim women and the basis of this petition, which assumes that a Muslim man has right to unilaterally pronounce irrevocable talaq or to not pay any maintenance after iddat period, are myths and thus the present petition is entirely misconceived and deserves to be dismissed, the board said in its counter affidavit filed in the apex court.

The apex court had also taken suo moto cognizance of the question whether Muslim women faced gender discrimination in cases of divorce or due to other marriages of their husbands and a bench headed by Chief Justice of India T S Thakur is examining the issue.

Subsequently, various other petitions including one by triple talaq victim Shah Bano were filed challenging the age-old practice of triple talaq among the Muslim community.

AIMPLB and Jamiat-e-Ulema had defended triple talaq and said it was part of Quran-dictated personal law which was beyond the ambit of judicial scrutiny.

In its counter affidavit, the board said that rights of Muslim women were already protected by virtue of Muslim Women (Protection of Rights on Divorce) Act, 1986 and if the court prescribed other parameters to govern these rights, it will amount to judicial legislation, which is not permissible.

Referring to an ancient Urdu book, it said, Whenever polygamy has been banned, it emerges from history that illicit sex has raised its head. Amid ancient civilizations, the Greek were forced to practice monogamy, yet there was no check on unlawful mistresses.

The following are quotes from the AIMPLB's petition in Supreme court

If there develops serious discord between the couple, and the husband does not at all want to live with her, legal compulsions of time-consuming separation proceedings and expenses may deter him from taking the legal course. In such instances, he may resort to illegal, criminal ways of murdering or burning her alive,.

The board also said that divorce proceedings instead of triple talaq could damage a womans chances of remarriage if the husband indicts her of loose character in court.



On polygamy, the board said, "Quran, Hadith and the consensus view allow Muslim men to have up to four wives." It said Islam permitted polygamy but did not encourage it.

Granting a husband the right to divorce indirectly provides security to the wife. Marriage is a contract in which both parties are not physically equal. Male is stronger and female weaker sex. Man is not dependent on woman for his protection.

On the contrary, she needs him for her defence, stated the affidavit, adding that triple talaq wards off the possibility of a rise in murders of women whose husbands want to divorce them.

"However, polygamy meets social and moral needs and the provision for it stems from concern and sympathy for women,"

"Since polygamy is endorsed by primary Islamic sources, it cannot be dubbed as something prohibited,"

"Where women outnumber men and polygamy is not permitted, women will be forced into leading spinster's life. In sum, polygamy is not for gratifying men's lust, it is a social need,"





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New Delhi:

The Anti-Corruption Branch has launched a preliminary inquiry into alleged recruitment scam in Delhi Wakf Board, prompting its chairman and AAP MLA Amantullah Khan to term the move as an interference in working of the body by Lt Governor Najeeb Jung.



We have sent a letter seeking details of serving personnel as well as recruitment process of Delhi Waqf Board on a complaint received by us. We are doing preliminary inquiry and sought the details for the purpose, said a senior ACB officer.



The complaint of recruitment scam at Delhi Wakf Board has been filed by one Mohammad Mustafa.



The Delhi Waqf Board chairman Amantuallah Khan said recruitments at the Board were conducted with due legal process and alleged Jung was creating hindrance in working of the body.



We have followed all the due legal procedures in recruitments and not only ACB, even a CBI inquiry cannot find any irregularity in it. The LG is knowingly creating hurdles in working of Waqf Board, Khan told reporters.



He also alleged that since Delhi Waqf Board is trying to take back its 300 properties encroached by DDA, the Central government was trying to deviate it from its goal.



The 14-point letter by ACB has also sought details of procedure of appointment of Chairman of the Board.



Besides, it seeks sweeping details about the Board, including its function, sources of expenditure, payment of salaries to employees, total strength of staff and procedure of their appointment.



The letter by ACB inspector JS Mishra has sought specific information whether any posts for recruitment were advertised in 2016 and if so details of those recruited, including their date of appointment and salaries drawn by them.



Delhi Wakf Board has made recruitments on several posts since Khan became chairman of the body in March.Board 'recruitment scam', AAP MLA targets LG.
New Delhi:

India will soon sign treaties with Russia and South Africa for film production, Minister of State for Information and Broadcasting Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore said on Friday.

He said this at the inaugural ceremony of BRICS Film Festival here.



This festival is the time when filmmakers and technicians (from different nations) can interact with each other and develop collaborations and friendships. This is the time when they can think about producing movies together. We have already signed co-production treaties with China and Brazil and now soon we will have treaties with Russia and South Africa, he said.



Rathore further said such a festival also widens market for Indian films in Brazil, Russia, South Africa and China.



Last year itself, 1,000 Indian films did a business of more than USD 2 billion. Now a 43 per cent of the world population (BRICS nations) could be the market for Indian films and even for movies from other four nations. Imagine what sort of potential ere is for the cultures of these five nations to reach out to the world. This is the reason we are celebrating this festival, he said.



BRICS was opened by Kunal Kapoor-starrer Veeram and Chinese superstar Jackie Chans Skiptrace will bring cutains down on the festival on September 6.

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New Delhi:

Prime Minitser Narendra Modi on Saturday announced a new defence Line of Credit of US$ 500 million for facilitating deeper defence cooperation between India and Vietnam.



Adressing the joint press conference after a bilateral meeting with Vietnams Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc in Hanoi, PM Modi said that India and Vietnam signed total 12 agreements for cooperation in areas, including defence and IT, to boost bilateral ties.



PM Modi, who flew to Hanoi on Friday, is on a two nation diplomatic tour and is scheduled to fly to China for G20 summit later in the day.



Speaking at the conference, the Prime Minister expressed gratitude for the warm and ordial welcome by the host President Tran Dai Quant at his presidential palace on Saturday morning. He thanked his counterpart Nguyen for personally escorting him to Ho Chi Minh's house in Hanoi.



PM Modi further revealed that the India-Vietnam delegation level talks covered the full range of bilateral and multilateral co-operation issues, including defence and security engagements.



Terming Vietnam as rapidly developing strong ecoomy, the Prime Minister also announced that India has offered a grant of US$5 million for the establishment of a software park in the Telecommunications University in Nha Trang in Veitnam.



He expressed hope that under Vietnam's leadership as ASEAN Coordinator for India, the two nations will work towards a strengthened India-ASEAN partnership across all areas.

Also Read:

PM Modi gets ceremonial welcome in Hanoi; meet with Vietnams PM Nguyen Xuan Phuc underway

Prime Minister Narendra Modi was accorded a ceremonial welcome in front of the majestic Presidential palace in Hanoi on Saturday morning. Modi, the first Indian prime minister to visit the communist nation in 15 years, was welcomed by Vietnamese president Tran Dai Quant.

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New Delhi:

Aam Adami Party on Saturday suspended Sandeep Kumar from the party's primary membership following the objectionable CD case. CBI on Saturday carried out searches at the residences of former Haryana Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda and a sitting UPSC member along with 18 other locations in a case of alleged irregularities in acquisition of land in Gurgaon in which farmers were cheated to the tune of Rs 1,500 crore. India and Vietnam on Saturday signed 12 agreements in a wide range of areas covering defence, IT, space, double taxation and sharing white shipping information, signalling a strong upward push in their strategic ties. Here are the top 5 news of the hour.



1. Sandeep Kumar CD case: AAP suspends MLA from primary membership



Aam Adami Party on Saturday suspended Sandeep Kumar from the party's primary membership following the objectionable CD case. Kumar, who was caught on camera in a compromising position with a woman, was earlier asked to resign from the post of woman and child development minister on September 1. Speaking to media after deciding to suspend Kumar, Deputy chief minister of Delhi Manish Sisodia said that what he has done cannot be defended.

2. Manesar land scam: CBI raids 20 properties of Bhupinder Singh Hooda and his close aides



CBI on Saturday carried out searches at the residences of former Haryana Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda and a sitting UPSC member along with 18 other locations in a case of alleged irregularities in acquisition of land in Gurgaon in which farmers were cheated to the tune of Rs 1,500 crore. CBI sources said besides Hoodas residence, premises of the then Principal Secretary ML Tayal, UPSC member Chattar Singh, both former IAS officers, and a serving IAS SS Dhillon were also searched by the team.



3. Hanoi: India, Vietnam sign 12 agreements on defence, space, IT and others



India and Vietnam on Saturday signed 12 agreements in a wide range of areas covering defence, IT, space, double taxation and sharing white shipping information, signalling a strong upward push in their strategic ties. The agreements were signed by officials of the two sides in presence of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his Vietnamese counterpart Nguyen Xuan Phuc. 12 for togetherness! India & Vietnam sign a dozen agreements for further strengthening the Strategic Partnership, External Affairs Ministry Spokesperson Vikas Swarup tweeted.



4. Opposition sets agenda for Kashmir talks, advocates Hurriyat's presence to resolve issue



The CPI(M) on Saturday said that the government should invite Hurriyat Conference for talks with the all-party delegation and announce confidence building measure during its visit to Kashmir. Coming out of a briefing held by the government for members of the delegation, CPI(M) general secretary Sitaram Yechury said, Government should invite Hurriyat for talks with the all-party delegation when it visits Kashmir from Sunday.



5. CM Fadnavis woos North Indian voters ahead of BMC polls with song 'Nazar Ke Samne Jigar Ke paas...'



Reaching out to North Indians ahead of the BMC polls next year, Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Friday said people from that region and other parts of the country, who reside in the state have not only imbibed Maharashtras culture, but have also enriched it. Whenever a north Indian asks me where his place was in the state, I reply to him with a song - Najar ke samne, jigar ke pass koi rahta hai wo tum..., Fadnavis said to a round of applause.

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Fatehgarh Sahib:

In fresh trouble for Bhagwant Mann, the AAPs Sangrur MP was booked on Saturday along with some of his party activists by Punjab Police on a complaint alleging that they had misbehaved with media persons at a rally in Bassi Pathana.

After receiving the report of the DSP to whom an inquiry had been marked and after getting legal opinion in this regard, we registered a case against Mr Bhagwant Mann and some of his party activists, Fatehgarh Sahib SSP H S Bhullar said.

A case was registered on the statement of journalist Ranjodh Singh and other media persons against Mann under various sections of the IPC including 109, 153, 323, 341, 352, 355, 356, 427, 500, 504 and 149.

Some of these sections pertain to promoting enmity between different groups, punishment for voluntarily causing hurt, punishment for wrongful restraint, assault or criminal force with intent to dishonour person and mischief and intentional insult with intent to provoke breach of peace.

The media persons had yesterday filed a complaint against Mann who along with his supporters allegedly misbehaved with them and used derogatory remarks against the media at a political rally in Bassi Pathana here on Thursday.

After receiving a complaint, Fatehgarh Sahib SSP had directed Bassi Pathana DSP to conduct an inquiry and submit the report at the earliest. The media persons told the SSP that Mann had arrived four hours late for Thursdays rally.

He allegedly instigated AAP volunteers against media persons present there and they manhandled the scribes and even damaged the camera of one of them, the complaint read.

Mann even used the word paid media which hurt the feeling of journalists, it said. After the incident, Congress activists had burnt an effigy of Mann at Bassi Pathana.

Mann has been mired in controversies. The AAP MP recently drew flak for alleged security breach after he streamed a video of him entering the Parliament Complex in Delhi. The Lok Sabha Speaker had formed a panel to probe the issue and Mann was asked to stay away from proceedings of the house, pending the inquiry.

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New Delhi:

Mother Teresa said: The poor give us much more than what we give them. She narrated how once a beggar had given money for her work. She remained undaunted seeing the enormity of the task before her.

Mother Teresa will be officially declared a saint at the Vatican on Sunday, September 4. It was my privilege to be present in Rome for her beatification on October 19, 2003. Despite the weather forecast for a rainy day, the skies remained clear. Did one need another miracle?

The ancient tradition of the Church, however, requires two scientifically proven extraordinary acts (miracles) attributed to the person that natural causes could not explain and which should have occurred due to prayer to the person being considered for sainthood. One miracle is required for beatification  a pre-requisite for sainthood, and the second similarly proved for canonisation. Since both science and theology have to strictly scrutinise the said acts, it usually ends up with a case of some person cured of an incurable disease through the sole intercession to the holy person and to no other. It normally takes decades  sometimes even centuries  to complete the exhaustive inquiries that the Church deems necessary to confirm without a shred of doubt purported miracles of potential saints. Some claims of miracles dont stand up to the scrutiny and are dropped during investigations. In the case of Mother Teresa, however, it took only 19 years, a relatively shorter period compared to many other saints in the Churchs history. It must be said here that such a process is exclusive only to the Roman Catholic Church.

Mother Teresa is more than just a saint. She became a legend in her own lifetime. Born in Albania in 1910, a faraway land from India. She joined the Loreto sisters in Ireland and was not yet 19 when she landed in Kolkata, which eventually made her a saint. And long before making her final journey to her eternal home on September 5, 1997, she had won nearly every Indians heart. And not just in India, but the world over.

At her beatification, a well-known Indian journalist who was critical of the Churchs canonisation process said that her life itself was a miracle and that for most Indians she was already a saint. Do we then require this tedious process of the Church? he had asked. While obviously not familiar with the stringent Church procedures, he did make a point. For, much before the Vatican started the long process, her statues had begun to appear next to Ma Durga at many of Kolkatas street celebrations.

The late Pope John Paul II had approved the first finding that the healing of a Bengali tribal woman, Monica Besra, was a miracle. It is claimed that a locket with Mother Teresas photo on it had cured the woman of a stomach tumour in Kolkata in 1998. The second miracle, according to sources in the Vatican, involved the healing of a Brazilian man with several brain tumours in 2008.

Former chief minister of West Bengal Jyoti Basu had cherished a personal friendship with this Saint of the Gutters. No wonder then that Missionaries of Charity, first for women and then for men, had been the fastest growing religious order in the lifetime of its founder. At the time of her death, there were 3,842 sisters serving in 594 homes across 120 countries. Today, there are 5,150 sisters serving in 758 homes in 139 countries.

Despite having been accorded such incredible honours, she had her own share of criticism too. British atheist Christopher Hitchens, who made a film against her work titled Hells Angels for a TV channel, was not the only one who was critical of her. She was also an object of criticism by the RSS, whose chief Mohan Bhagwat last year questioned the motive of Teresas charitable work.

It was in May 1987 that she visited Indore to inaugurate the first convent of Missionaries of Charity sisters. I had the unbelievable but the covetous task of translating her speeches into Hindi. I sensed distinct spiritual vibrations passing through my being as I stood next to her. It was a day filled with sheer inspiration. A great humbling experience was when I later sat with her. She not only served me tea but also removed the used cup later.

The most powerful story I heard that day, which has been often used in my sermons and writings, is about the generosity of the poor. Once she had brought food to a poor family who had not eaten for two days.

On receiving the food, the woman went out and returned with only half the portion. When asked where she went, instead of first serving her children, she replied: Mother, my neighbours too have not eaten for two days. They are as hungry.

Thats why Mother Teresa was convinced: The poor give us much more than what we give them. She also narrated how once a beggar had lovingly contributed money for her work.

She remained undaunted seeing the enormity of the task before her. We ourselves feel that what we are doing is just a drop in the ocean. But the ocean would be less because of that missing drop, she would tell her sisters. On her canonisation, if we could only follow her little piece of advice: Not all of us can do great things. But we can do small things with great love.

The writer is a founder-member of Parliament of Religion and former spokesperson, Catholic Bishops Conference of India.

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Srinagar:

On the eve of the visit of an all-party delegation to Jammu and Kashmir, Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti on Saturday called for engaging all sections of the society, including Hurriyat Conference, in a credible and meaningful political dialogue for resolution of the problems in the Valley.



Mehbooba calls for dialogue with Hurriyat Conference On the eve of the visit of an all-party delegation to Jammu and Kashmir, Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti on Saturday called for engaging all sections of the society, including Hurriyat Conference, in a credible and meaningful political dialogue for resolution of the problems in the Valley.



The countrys political leadership must, without any further delay, reach out to and engage all sections of the society, including leaders of the Hurriyat Conference, in a productive dialogue process to resolve the issue and make peace a reality in Jammu and Kashmir, she said while visiting the family of a person killed in firing by security forces.



Seventy people have been killed and thousands injured in violence in Kashmir Valley following the killing of Hizbul Mujahideen militant Burhan Wani in an encounter on July 8.



Visited the family of late Mashooq Ahmed, firing victim of Kund, Kulgam and offered heartfelt condolences to the bereaved family... The loss of human lives is a colossal tragedy and every one should strive for peace in J&K, she posted on Facebook.



The Chief Minister said it is perhaps for the first time that the Kashmir issue has been, during the past two months, discussed in so many forums and at so many levels including Parliament and at all-party meetings where judicious views were put across by all shades of the countrys political opinion on how to end the stalemate.



The need of the hour is to build on this larger political consensus within the country and initiate tangible measures to address the issue, she said.



Mehbooba said the present situation in Kashmir calls for every right thinking party, group or individual to rise to the occasion and strive for finding ways and avenues for the restoration of peace and resolution of the problem.



Right now Kashmir is again embroiled in a burning situation and we have hope that all sides will pick up elements of sanity and pragmatism and strike a new benchmark towards the resolution of the problem in light of the global and sub-continental realities, she said.



While the separatist leadership shall also have to take a step forward, the Centre on its part shall have to put off the fire on internal discontent, Mehbooba said.



Congress, CPI(M) and many other parties pitched for holding dialogue with all stakeholders, including Hurriyat, to douse the unrest in Kashmir, at a meeting held by the government in New Delhi today to brief the MPs who are part of the 30-member delegation about the visit to the state on September 4-5.

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New Delhi:

Congress Vice-President Rahul Gandhi today said his mahayatra from Deoria in eastern Uttar Pradesh to Delhi from September 6 is a campaign to help secure rights of the poor, farmers and labourers in government resources.

My Yatra from Deoria to Delhi starting September 6 - is a campaign to secure the rights of the poor, farmers and labourers in government resources, he said on twitter.

The Congress vice president will launch his month-long mahayatra traversing 2,500-km through Uttar Pradesh, ahead of assembly elections in the state slated early next year, from village Panchlari Kritpura in Rudrapur on September 6.

Rahul Gandhi also tweeted his programme for the first day of the yatra, during which he will meet people along the way in a door-to-door campaign collecting kisan maagpatras (farmers demand charters) and will hold one-to-one interactions with farmers at Khaat Sabha in Rudrapur.

He will also undertake a roadshow in Deoria and will hold another interaction with farmers in Kanchanpur village and another khaat sabha in Kasia.

Rahul will do a night halt in Gorakhpur before embarking further on the journey. He will hold similar interactions with farmers and roadshows the next day and will spend the second night at Basti.

During the mahayatra, the Congress leader will cover as many as 233 assembly constituencies to reach out to people ahead of crucial polls slated early next year.

The mahayatra comes after successful road show of Sonia Gandhi earlier last month and the two yatras of state party leaders in various districts of the state. Rahul will hold khaat sabhas in 21 districts and also road shows in numerous large towns and cities.
Hangzhou:

A group of Indians today gathered at a hotel here to greet Prime Minister Narendra Modi as he arrived in this Chinese city for the crucial G20 summit.

The Prime Minister was greeted with chants of Modi, Modi by the group of Indian men and women when he reached the hotel here after his arrival.

As he went around greeting the people, a number of them raised Modi, Modi slogans. The group came from neighbouring Yiwu, the commodity hub which has several hundred businessmen residing there. The Prime Minister greeted the people after getting out of his vehicle and then walked into the hotel.

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New Delhi:

Sacked AAP minister Sandeep Kumar was on Saturday arrested by Delhi Police, just hours after a complaint of rape was registered against him.

A woman filed a police complaint against Kumar and accused him of spiking her drink during her visit to his house.

The victim alleged that she was called there on the pretext of getting ration card and was later offered a drink which was spiked. The victim recorded her statement before magistrate under 164 CrPc.

According to the woman, it was only after intoxication that the act was recorded. The complaint has been filed at Sultanpuri police station in Delhi. Soon after the video surfaced up, Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal sacked the minister. The woman was taken for a medical test.

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THE WALL OF SHAME

"The only thing [Trump's] mouth is good for is being Vladimir Putin's c--k holster."

--STEPHEN COLBERT

"[Ivanka Trump] Your father is a racist birther. Steve Bannon an anti-Semitic opportunist. You and your husband are enabling hatred. F--- your shoes."

--BRADLEY WHITFORD

"Melania [Trump] is a hooker."

--JACOB BERNSTEIN

"And my job is to shut other white people down when they want to interrupt."

"We have to, at the DNC, provide training. We have to teach them how to communicate, how to be sensitive, and how to shut their mouths if they're white."

--SALLY BOYNTON BROWN

"And to our detractors that insist that this march will never add up to anything: F--- you! F---you!

"Yes, I have thought an awful lot about blowing up the White House."

--MADONNA

"Barron Trump looks like a very handsome date-rapist-to-be."

--STEPHEN SPINOLA

"Barron [Trump] will be this country's first homeschool shooter."

--KATIE RICH

"Hollywood is crawling with outsiders and foreigners, and if we kick 'em all out, you'll have nothing to watch but football and mixed martial arts, which are not the arts."

--MERYL STREEP

"There's a billion to one chance we're living in base reality."

[That means we're almost positively living in a simulation, like a video game.]

--ELON MUSK

"When I would deny that there was a significant racist component in some of the politics on our side, it was because the people I hung out with were certainly not. When suddenly, this rock is turned over, there is this'Oh shit, did I not see that?'"

----------------------------

"In any other scenario, Hillary Clinton's lying about her emails, and her pay-for-play relationship with the Clinton Foundation would be disqualifying issues. The only reason they're not disqualifying is because Donald Trump is a fundamentally more repellent, dishonest figure."

--CHARLIE SYKES

"I made a mistake in recalling the events of twelve years ago... I said I was traveling in an aircraft that was hit by RPG fire. I was instead in a following aircraft."

--BRIAN WILLIAMS

"I'm here to tell you if you elect me governor of this state, I will end the civil war."

--TOM BARRETT

"I would not look to the U.S. Constitution, if I were drafting a constitution in the year 2012. I might look at the constitution of South Africa. That was a deliberate attempt to have a fundamental instrument of government that embraced basic human rights, had an independent judiciary. It really is, I think, a great piece of work that was done."

--RUTH BADER GINSBURG

"Callista Gingrich. Karen Santorum. Ann Romney. Now, do you really think our country is ready for a white first lady?"

--ROBERT DE NIRO

"The death of Andrew Breitbart disproves the adage that only the good die young."

--JULIAN BOND

"The National Institute of Health has said that it is a danger to women's health and safety of their families that for 30 years to be exposed to the prospects of pregnancy."

--GWEN MOORE

"[Tea Party Republicans] have acted like terrorists."

--JOE BIDEN

"Why did- Couldn't the President have said at that moment, way back in December of last year, 'no game playing. No hostage-taking. No terrorizing this country with the debt ceiling. I'm not going to negotiate with you guys. You can't play it that way.' Could he have done that?"

--CHRIS MATTHEWS

"[T]he tea-party Hobbits could return to Middle Earth having defeated Mordor."

--WALL STREET JOURNAL EDITORIAL

"I remember distinctly an image of--we were sitting on his couches, and I was looking at [Obama's] pant leg and his perfectly creased pant, and I'm thinking, a) he's going to be president and b) he'll be a very good president."

--DAVID BROOKS

"I feel like calling her back and smackin' her around."

--FRED CLARK, DEMOCRAT

"The picture was of me, and I sent it."

--ANTHONY WEINER

"[I]f you go back to the year 2000, when we had an obvious disaster and - and saw that our voting process needed refinement, and we did that in the America Votes Act and made sure that we could iron out those kinks, now you have the Republicans, who want to literally drag us all the way back to Jim Crow laws and literally - and very transparently - block access to the polls to voters who are more likely to vote Democratic candidates than Republican candidates. And it's nothing short of that blatant."

--DEBBIE WASSERMAN SCHULTZ

"This is probably one of the worst times we've seen because the numbers of people elected to Congress. I went through this as co-chair of the arts caucus. In '94 people were elected simply to come here to kill the National Endowment for the Arts. Now theyre here to kill women."

--LOUISE SLAUGHTER

"The protesters have proven today that theyre not going away. It was a pretty rough night last night. You can imagine if people said, well, we just cant fight the power. Instead, this morning, they came by tens, by hundreds, by thousands. By midday today, it was easily more than 10,000, perhaps as many as 15,000 people on the square here in Madison. Not organized by anyone, just grassroots citizens who came out just like the Minutemen in 1776."

--JOHN NICHOLS

"They're sitting on the money, they're using it for their own -- they're putting it someplace else with no interest in helping you with your life, with that money. We've allowed them to take that. That's not theirs, that's a national resource, that's ours. We all have this -- we all benefit from this or we all suffer as a result of not having it. I think we need to go back to taxing these people at the proper rates."

--MICHAEL MOORE

"Why don't we just raise the taxes and let these folks have their collective bargaining, have their union representation and go back to their jobs? Raise the taxes on the wealthy."

--DAVID LETTERMAN

"In 1933, [Hitler] abolished unions and that's what our Governor [Scott Walker] is doing today."

--LENA TAYLOR, Democrat State Senator

"So I would urge my Republican colleagues, no matter how strongly they feel -- you know, we have three branches of government. We have a House. We have a Senate. We have a president. And all three of us are going to have to come together and give some, but it is playing with fire to risk the shutting down of the government."

--CHUCK SCHUMER

"Well, when you start off with the Preamble of the Constitution, you talk about the pursuit of happiness."

--JOHN LEWIS

"I'm Rebecca Kleefisch. I performed fellatio on all the talk show hosts in Milwaukee. And they endorsed me and that's how I became lieutenant governor."

--SLY SYLVESTER

"Do you think this Constitution-loving is getting out of hand? I mean, is it a nod to the Tea Party?"

--JOY BEHAR

"We cant just leave it up to the parents."

"[Military leaders] tell us that childhood obesity isnt just a public health issue; they tell us that it is not just an economic threat -- it is a national security threat as well."

--MICHELLE OBAMA

"Actually, I did not take part in [the assassination of Sarah Palin]. I led it."

--KATHLEEN PARKER

"[The repeal of ObamaCare is] a kind of creeping genocide."

--JESSE JACKSON

"[Obama] has to realize that Mitch McConnell has virtually said so that politically he wants to cut out his heart and throw his liver to the dogs."

--DAN RATHER

"And the instructions are not to improvise a comedy sketch, but to elect a group of unqualified, unstable individuals who will do what they are told, in exchange for money and power, and march this nation as far backward as they can get, backward to Jim Crow, or backward to the breadlines of the '30s, or backward to hanging union organizers, or backward to the trusts and the robber barons.

"Result: the Tea Party. Vote backward, vote Tea Party. And if you are somehow indifferent to what is planned for next Tuesday, it is nothing short of an attempted use of democracy to end this democracy."

--KEITH "Reagan's dead and he was a lousy President" OLBERMANN

"I gotta wonder when people are gonna start wearing uniforms. I mean they've got an army out there in Alaska of militia people. You've got these guys going around acting like street thugs. I mean it isn't far from what we saw in the thirties, where all of a sudden, political parties started showing up in uniform."

--CHRIS MATTHEWS

"[Sharron Angle] is a moron on top of being evil... I'd like to see her do this ad in the South Bronx. Come here, bitch. Come to New York and do it. I'm not praying for her. She's going to hell. She's going to hell, this bitch."

--JOY BEHAR

"So people have been hurting and I understand that. And it doesn't give them comfort or solace for me to tell them, you know, but for me, we'd be in a worldwide depression."

--HARRY REID

"And to play Dick Cheney, all I had to do was find my Dick Cheney. And you can find all the villainy in the world in your own heart, and that's what an actor's job is. I always say to kids, inside you is Hitler and Jesus. And you got to find the appropriate person and bring them out."

--RICHARD DREYFUSS

"Because I live in the District of Columbia which is so predominantly Democratic, I am a registered Democrat. But I am an avowed neutral. And to put that into practice, I take my young daughter into the voting booth and she votes for me. She's now 14. We've been doing this since she was about age 4. She's now quite informed."

--BOB WOODWARD

"Sarah Palin's an idiot. Come on. This is a remarkably, stunningly, jaw-droppingly incompetent and mean woman."

"The Democrats may have moved into the center, but the Republicans have moved into a mental institution."

--AARON SORKIN

"Perhaps the greatest threat of all is the undermining of our Constitution and the systematic attack against the inalienable rights of the citizens of this nation, rights that are guaranteed by our Constitution. At the vanguard of this insidious attack is the Tea Party. This band of misguided citizens is moving perilously close to achieving villainous ends."

--HARRY BELAFONTE

"[Christine O'Donnell is] a witch who doesn't masturbate."

--JOY BEHAR

"Ah, the Tea Party, the nativist bed-wetters who somehow control our national dialogue. Yes, I call them the Pee Party, Jay, because they're always peeing in their pants about something. They're just, they're afraid of a mosque being built in New York. They're afraid of guns. You know, they think Obama, who like every other pussy Democrat has never said a single word about gun control, but they are very sure that he and his Negro army are coming after their guns. You know what? If you think that he's coming after your guns, you need to get out of your chat room and have your house tested for lead. He's not coming after your guns or your Bible or your fishing pole or your chewing tobacco."

--BILL MAHER

"That's a trade-off society is making because of very, very high medical costs, and a lack of willingness to say, you know, is spending a million dollars on that last three months of life for that patient, would it be better not to lay off those ten teachers and to make that trade-off in medical costs. But that;s called the 'Death Panel' and you're not supposed to have that discussion."

--BILL GATES

"NOT the 'whiteman's bitch'"

--IESHUH GRIFFIN

"[If Rush Limbaugh suffered a heart attack in my presence, I would] laugh loudly like a maniac and watch his eyes bug out. I never knew I had this much hate in me. But he deserves it."

--SARAH SPITZ

"You want freedom, you going to have to kill some crackers. You going to have to kill some of their babies."

--KING SAMIR SHABAZZ

"If this was Texas, which is the state that, that is directly on the border with Mexico, and they were calling for a measure like this, saying that they had a major issue with, you know, with undocumented people flooding their borders, I would say I would have to look twice at this. "But this is a state that is a ways removed from the border. And, um, it just, it doesn't make sense to me that when you google this subject, if you put in 'Arizona S.B. 1070,' that you see a picture of the governor of Arizona meeting with President Obama in May of 2010. If you have direct linkage to the president, there are already National Guard troops on the border in Arizona."

--PEGGY WEST

"Tell [the Jews] to get the hell out of Palestine. Remember, these people are occupied and it's their land. It's not German. It's not Poland. [The Jews] can go home. Poland. Germany."

--HELEN THOMAS

"After the last eight years, it's good to have a president that knows what a library is."

--PAUL McCARTNEY

"By the way, I just want to point out I'm wearing my splash shield because I was told I was going to be in the splash zone (during Harry Smith's colonoscopy on live TV)."

--KATIE COURIC

"And that Word is, we have to give voice to what that means in terms of public policy that would be in keeping with the values of the Word."

----------------------------

"Think of an economy where people could be an artist or a photographer or a writer without worrying about keeping their day job in order to have health insurance or that people could start a business and be entrepreneurial and take risk, but not job loss because of a child with asthma or someone in the family is bipolaryou name it, any condition  is job-locking."

--NANCY PELOSI

"Back in World War II, we viewed the Japanese as 'yellow, slant-eyed dogs' that believed in different gods. They were out to kill us because our way of living was different. We, in turn, wanted to annihilate them because they were different. Does that sound familiar, by any chance, to what's going on today?"

--TOM HANKS

"The 'White Right' is trying to set Barack up to be assassinated.... Here are Christians praying for God to kill Barack Obama."

--LOUIS FARRAKHAN

"I refuse to accept the notion that the United States of America is not going to lead the world economically throughout the 20th Century."

--JOE BIDEN

"Obama's critics keep blasting him for Chicago-style politics. So, fine. Channel your inner Al Capone and go gangsta against your foes. Let 'em know that if they aren't with you, they are against you, and will pay the price."

--ROLAND MARTIN

"Martha Coakley is running to fill the rest of Ted Kennedy's term, and her opponent is a far-right tea-bagger Republican."

--CHUCK SCHUMER

"I tell you what, if I lived in Massachusetts, I'd try to vote ten times. I don't know if they'd let me or not, but I'd try to. Yeah, that's right, I'd cheat to keep these bastards out. I would. 'Cause that's exactly what they are."

--ED SCHULTZ

"We also see how revved up the tea baggers are at the thought of hijacking health care reform and every chance we have at making progress in Washington."

--JOHN KERRY

"A few years ago, this guy (Obama) would have been getting us coffee."

--BILL CLINTON

"I didn't realize I had written a column defending Roman Polanski and minimized his crime - are you sure it was me? I mean, I? There is, apparently, more to this crime than it would seem, and it may sound like a hollow defense, but in Hollywood I am not sure a 13-year-old is really a 13-year-old."

--TOM SHALES

"Joe Wilson yelled 'You lie!' at a president who didn't. But, fair or not, what I heard was an unspoken word in the air: You lie, boy!"

--MAUREEN DOWD

"One awkward moment for Sarah Palin at the Yankee game... During the 7th inning, her daughter was knocked up by Alex Rodriguez."

--DAVID LETTERMAN

"I would hope that a wise Latina woman with the richness of her experiences would more often than not reach a better conclusion than a white male who hasnt lived that life."

--SONIA SOTOMAYOR

"We all considered sexual abuse of minors as a moral evil, but had no understanding of its criminal nature."

--REMBERT WEAKLAND, Archbishop of Milwaukee 1977- 2002

"You know, you might want to look into this, [President Obama], because I think maybe Rush Limbaugh was the 20th hijacker, but he was so strung out on Oxycontin he missed his flight."

"Rush Limbaugh -- 'I hope the country fails.' I hope his kidneys fail."

----------------------------

"[Obama] told me I did a great job. The first lady said the same thing. I got a 'well done' from the president, I'm on cloud nine."

--WANDA SYKES

"Americans are looking for more government in their life, not less."

--COLIN POWELL

"[Tea Party goers are] just a bunch of wimpy, whiny, weasels who don't love their country."

--PAUL BEGALA

"I wouldn't want [gay marriage] to go to the United States Supreme Court now because that homophobe Antonin Scalia has too many votes on this current court."

--BARNEY FRANK

"Going forward, my mind will be open to every solution -- except one. We should not -- we must not -- and I will not -- raise taxes."

--JIM DOYLE, Liar

"He's a terrorist. Rush Limbaugh is a terrorist."

--JOY BEHAR

"You know, I just want to say to her (Sarah Palin), just very quickly...F--- you."

--JON STEWART

"Should I be worried about being a slave and being returned to slavery?"

--WHOOPI GOLDBERG

"I also believe that America is the greatest sin against God."

--FR. MICHAEL PFLEGER

"Those who think they can revive the stinking corpse of the usurping and fake Israeli regime by throwing a birthday party are seriously mistaken. Today the reason for the Zionist regime's existence is questioned, and this regime is on its way to annihilation."

--MAHMOUD AHMADINEJAD

"We'll be eight degrees hotter in ten, not ten but 30 or 40 years and basically none of the crops will grow. Most of the people will have died and the rest of us will be cannibals."

--TED TURNER

"Look, [Mitt] Romney comes from a religion founded by a criminal who was anti-American, pro-slavery, and a rapist. And he comes from that lineage and says, 'I respect this religion fully.'"

--LAWRENCE O'DONNELL

"Mexico does not end at its borders... Where there is a Mexican, there is Mexico."

--FELIPE CALDERON

"The planet has a fever. If your baby has a fever, you go to the doctor. If the doctor says you need to intervene here, you don't say, 'Well, I read a science fiction novel that told me it's not a problem.' If the crib's on fire, you don't speculate that the baby is flame retardant."

--AL GORE

"Don't fear the terrorists. They're mothers and fathers."

--ROSIE O'DONNELL

"Is America ready for a black president? Well, I say we just had a retarded one. When did being black become a bigger deterrent than being retarded?"

--CHRIS ROCK

"Shut the f--- up! Shut up if you can't take a joke [about President Bush]!"

--BARBRA STREISAND

"Right, oh, yeah, Happy 9/11! Celebrate the day, right?"

--JAMES BROLIN, Mr. Barbra Streisand

"I think President Bush very well may have signed an authorization for the 9/11 attacks."

--KEVIN BARRETT, UW-MADISON Lecturer

"I said what I said. I am not guilty."

--SADDAM HUSSEIN

"Terri will not be starved to death. Her nutrition and hydration will be taken away."

--MICHAEL SCHIAVO

"On the eve of the election last month my wife Judith and I were driving home late in the afternoon and turned on the radio for the traffic and weather. What we instantly got was a freak show of political pornography: lies, distortions, and half-truths -- half-truths being perhaps the blackest of all lies. "

--BILL MOYERS

"I hate the Republicans and everything they stand for."

--HOWARD DEAN

"The Iraqis who have risen up against the occupation are not 'insurgents' or 'terrorists' or 'The Enemy.' They are the REVOLUTION, the Minutemen, and their numbers will grow -- and they will win."

--MICHAEL MOORE

"And there is no reason, Bob, that young American soldiers need to be going into the homes of Iraqis in the dead of night, terrorizing kids and children, you know, women, breaking sort of the customs of the--of--the historical customs, religious customs."

--JOHN KERRY

"F---ing retarded."

"[Republicans] can go f--- themselves!"

--RAHM EMANUEL

"I'm not going to have some reporters pawing through our papers. We are the president."

--HILLARY CLINTON

"It depends on what the meaning of the word 'is' is."

--BILL CLINTON

"And let me tell you something -- for the first time in my adult lifetime, I am really proud of my country. And not just because Barack has done well, but because I think people are hungry for change. And I have been desperate to see our country moving in that direction and just not feeling so alone in my frustration and disappointment."

--MICHELLE OBAMA

"If asking a billionaire to pay the same tax rate as a Jew, uh, as a janitor, makes me a warrior for the working class, I wear that with a badge of honor."

----------------------------

"If you love me, you got to help me pass this bill."

----------------------------

"[F]or most of my lifetime, the United States was such a dominant economic power, we were such a large market, our industry, our technology, our manufacturing was so significant that we always met the rest of the world economically on our terms. And now, because of the incredible rise of India and China and Brazil and other countries, the United States remains the largest economic and the largest market but theres real competition out there. And that's potentially healthy. It makes -- Michelle was saying earlier I like tough questions because it keeps me on my toes. Well, this will keep America on its toes."

----------------------------

"If Latinos sit out the election instead of saying, 'We're gonna PUNISH OUR ENEMIES and we're gonna reward our friends who stand with us on issues that are important to us,' if they don't see that kind of upsurge in voting in this election, then I think it's gonna be harder and that's why I think it's so important that people focus on voting on November 2."

----------------------------

"We don't mind the Republicans joining us. They can come for the ride, but THEY GOTTA SIT IN BACK."

----------------------------

"We can absorb a terrorist attack. We'll do everything we can to prevent it, but even a 9/11, even the biggest attack ever... we absorbed it and we are stronger."

----------------------------

"We're buying shrimp, guys."

----------------------------

"We are the ones we've been waiting for."

----------------------------

"We talk to these folks because they potentially have the best answers so I know whose ass to kick."

----------------------------

"We're not trying to push financial reform because we begrudge success that's fairly earned. I mean, I do think at a certain point you've made enough money. But, you know, part of the American way is, you know, you can just keep on making it if youre providing a good product or you're providing good service. We don't want people to stop fulfilling the core responsibilities of the financial system to help grow the economy."

----------------------------

"If you've got a business, you didn't build that. Somebody else made that happen."

----------------------------

"It is a vital national security interest of the United States to reduce these conflicts because whether we like it or not, we remain a dominant military superpower, and when conflicts break out, one way or another we get pulled into them. And that ends up costing us significantly in terms of both blood and treasure."

----------------------------

"But I -- I think that the most important thing for the public to understand is, we're not handling any of these cases any different than the Bush administration handled them all through 9/11."

----------------------------

"One such translator was an American of Haitian descent, representative of the extraordinary work that our men and women in uniform do all around the world -- Navy CORPSE-MAN Christian [sic] Brossard. And lying on a gurney aboard the USNS Comfort, a woman asked Christopher: 'Where do you come from? What country? After my operation,' she said, 'I will pray for that country.' And in Creole, CORPSE-MAN Brossard responded, 'Etazini.' The United States of America."

----------------------------

"I hear that Dr. Joe Medicine Crow was around, and so I want to give a shout-out to that Congressional Medal of Honor winner. It's good to see you."

----------------------------

"We are God's partners in matters of life and death."

----------------------------

"[T]he Cambridge police acted stupidly."

----------------------------

"I am going to teach [my daughters] first about values and morals, but if they make a mistake, I don't want them punished with a baby."

----------------------------

"The reforms we seek would bring greater competition, choice, savings, and INEFFICIENCIES to our health care system."

----------------------------

"Over the last 15 months, weve traveled to every corner of the United States. Ive now been in 57 states? I think one left to go. Alaska and Hawaii, I was not allowed to go to even though I really wanted to visit, but my staff would not justify it."

--BARACK OBAMA
Kintner waded into controversy in late July when a cybersex scandal became public, a year after he engaged in sexual activities over Skype with a woman he met on Facebook.

Now, after many requests for his resignation -- from the governor, legislative leaders and many voters -- an investigation by the State Patrol, and a fine by the Nebraska Accountability and Disclosure Commission for misusing his state computer, he still refuses to give up his District 2 seat.

"I have carefully considered your request. I have listened to, and understand, your concerns," he told Executive Board Chairman Bob Krist in a letter on Friday.

And he has listened to the views of his constituents in District 2, he said, some of whom oppose him but many who have asked him to remain in office. Kintner encouraged the board to honor and respect the decision of the majority of those voters who elected him two times in three years.

In his letter he said he has openly admitted he committed a sin, cooperated with two state agencies, paid his fine, apologized to his wife, God, fellow senators and constituents. He understands the gravity of his action, he said.

But he doesn't appreciate those who have portrayed him as stubborn, defiant or unrepentant.

The Legislature's Executive Board sent a letter to Kintner on Tuesday, signed by all 10 members, requesting that he resign by 5 p.m. Friday. If he failed to resign or respond to the letter, the board said, it would meet next week to consider and recommend other legislative options.

"I am very disappointed," said Speaker Galen Hadley, a board member.

A significant group of people have studied the violation and asked for his resignation, Hadley said. But apparently that's not enough.

Krist said Friday he will cancel the Executive Board meeting and will go instead to the Legislative Council, made of up the 49 senators, as a next step.

"It's apparent to me that Mr. Kintner does not respect the advice of the Executive Board and I don't think there's anything else we can or should do at this point, except to arrange for the entire legislative body to reconvene on this matter," he said.

A meeting of the Legislative Council, all 49 senators, is scheduled for November. Or a council meeting could be called before that, if senators agree, Krist said.

He will begin looking at censuring Kintner, he said, and at technology changes, such as close monitoring of Kintner's computer to ensure no illegal programs or activities are used or happening. Any travel outside of Nebraska could also be scrutinized.

There are options of impeaching or expelling Kintner, too.

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And, he said, the Legislature needs to consider a law that would allow for a recall process to remove state legislators.

Kintner misused his laptop when he was out of town on business to engage in sexual activities via Skype with a woman he had been corresponding with online for about a week. She then tried to extort money from him, threatening to expose the cybersex.

He initially just apologized for the misdeeds to God and his wife. Then after further consideration, he sent letters of apology to his constituents and to his fellow senators.

Gov. Pete Ricketts, Speaker of the Legislature Galen Hadley, Krist and numerous senators have asked or advised him to resign.

Ricketts repeated his call Friday for Kintners resignation through his spokesman.

As the governor has previously stated, Senator Kintner should resign before the Sept. 8th deadline to let the voters decide, Taylor Gage stated in a text message.

A resignation prior to that deadline would allow candidates for the vacated legislative seat to file by petition in the November general election.

Several citizen petitions have been started asking Kintner to step down as well. And about a dozen people showed up early in the week to oppose a special session to deal with the Kintner violation.

Marsha Bobcock, chairwoman of the Cass County Democrats who led one of the petition drives, said the people of Cass County deserve to be represented by someone who can devote their full attention to effectively advocating for their issues without the distraction of defending against this controversy.

Omaha Sen. Ernie Chambers, who is a member of the Executive Board and has written a series of what he calls Kintner-grams, criticizing and poking fun at the senator, even sending him a template of a resignation letter, said he knew Kintner wouldn't resign.

And so, those writings will continue, he said, despite a complaint that was filed with the Nebraska Accountability and Disclosure Commission against Chambers by Andrew Sullivan, an Omaha conservative activist, saying Chambers misused public resources and criminally harassed Kintner with the poems and pictures distributed to senators.

"I find (Kintner's) letter of rejection to be sickening," Chambers said. "He's not making a making a confession to a preacher where he keeps referring to a sin he committed. He committed a crime, and he does not want to use that word."

Having been elected, even twice, does not give him carte blanche to violate the Constitution, laws and regulations, he said.

"I intend to continue trying to oust him from the Legislature since he is not willing to go gently into that good night," he said.

Reach the writer at 402-473-7228 or jyoung@journalstar.com.

On Twitter @LJSLegislature.
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DANBURY  Police are piecing together clues as to why the driver of a car full of young people fled from police early Saturday morning before crashing into a utility pole on Mill Plain Road, killing three occupants and leaving two others injured.

Authorities had not yet officially identified the five victims Saturday evening, but said the three who were killed included the driver and two other men.

Saturday afternoon, three mens names were written at an impromptu memorial near the utility pole for the victims of the crash: Nelson Osegueda, Ray Rivera and Waner Nunez.

An official familiar with the investigation, who was not authorized to confirm them, recognized them but could not confirm the spelling.

Two women who were also in the car were hurt, but neither suffered life-threatening injuries, officials said. One of the women sustained serious leg fractures, said Assistant Fire Chief Mark Omasta.

Few details have emerged about the victims, but Osegueda and Nunez appear to be Danbury residents in their mid and late twenties based on searches of public records and social media accounts.

Danbury Mayor Mark Boughton said the mangled white Nissan Maxima, which crashed into a metal pole at the intersection of Mill Plain and Milestone roads, was registered in Danbury. Boughton believes those inside were in their 20s.

It was a horrific scene, Boughton said. When any young people are caught up in this, it makes it that much more tragic. Ive never seen a car destroyed as badly as that car was.

Any time you ride to a (crash) site and there are fatalities like that, and you have three people under sheets, its sad and tragic.

The chase began around 4:20 a.m. when a Putnam County, N.Y., deputy sheriff saw the Maxima swerving over the center line of Route 6 in Southeast, N.Y., heading toward Danbury.

The officer tried to pull the car over about three-quarters of a mile from the Connecticut state line believing the driver was intoxicated, but the Maxima continued toward Danbury below the speed limit, according to a news release from the Putnam County Sheriffs Department.

According to the release, the Maxima accelerated about a quarter-mile from the border. As the chase moved into Connecticut, the officer slowed down and alerted Danbury police, but the Maxima sped up, police said. About 15 seconds later, it sideswiped the utility pole on the drivers side, police said.

Danbury Police Lt. Joseph LeRose said his department was alerted to the chase at 4:23 a.m. and arrived at the crash site at 4:31 a.m. LeRose said the chase began near Kass Restaurant and Bar on Route 6 (also known as Danbury Road) in Southeast, about two miles west of the crash site.

According to Putnam County police, the officers average speed during the chase was about 65 miles per hour with top speeds of over 80 miles per hour for about 15 seconds. The Maximas speed at the time of the crash is not yet known.

The Putnam County Sheriffs Office is conducting an internal review of the events preceding (the crash), the release said.

Putnam County police said the officer who pursued the crash was not injured in the accident, but was taken to Putnam Hospital Center in Carmel, N.Y., for observation and released.

Boughton said toxicology results would eventually determine if the driver had been drunk or on drugs, but said whatever the case, people must obey police.

Frankly, when an officer turns their lights on and asks you to pull over, you have to pull over, he said.

All five passengers were extricated from the car by the Danbury Fire Department, which tore the roof off the Maxima, LeRose said. He added it was difficult to describe the damage because of the extrication, but there was quite a debris field.

LeRose said the investigation would take a long time.

Its a very, very complicated accident, so its going to take some time, LeRose said. As the investigation unfolds, we will give more of the details. Right now, we need to take care of the families as best as we can and be respectful to them.

Boughton praised the citys response to the accident.

The first responders and public safety officials did an outstanding job cutting the people out of car and cutting the individuals out as fast as possible, Boughton said.

awolff@newstimes.com; 203-731-3333; @awolffster

Staff writer Cedar Attanasio contributed to this report.
Reuben Abati, spokesman to ex-President Goodluck Jonathan, has told Femi Fani-Kayode and Reno Omokri, both supporters of the immediate pas...

Reuben Abati, spokesman to ex-President Goodluck Jonathan, has told Femi Fani-Kayode and Reno Omokri, both supporters of the immediate past president, that Mark Zuckerberg, founder of Facebook, does not care about local fights.The duo were recently involved in a public spat over Zuckerbergs description of the Hausa Language as unique.Fani-Kayode had expressed reservations, but Omokri, who saw nothing wrong with the Facebook founders position, bared his mind on the issue.Reacting to the hot exchanges between his two friends, colleagues and brothers, Abati said the major object of interest for the tech guru is Facebook.The Facebook CEO had said Facebook will promote the use of Hausa Language, some reports indicated he had said he loves Hausa language, and then a storm followed, resulting in a hot, healthy spat between two friends, colleagues and brothers of mine, Femi Fani-Kayode(@realFFK) and Reno Omokri (@renoomokri), with one claiming that Americans are promoting Northern hegemony (John Kerry, now Zuckerberg and Facebook), and the other saying it is not a big deal, and in the exchange, we got some lectures about Nigerias ethnic and hegemonic politics, said Abati in a recent piece.Eyin boys, FFK and Reno, Zuckerberg doesnt really care about the local fights we fight: he wants to create new markets and if promoting Hausa on Facebook will create more customers in that part of Nigeria, so be it.Abati said Zuckerberg, who has Igbos, Yorubas and other Nigerians in his team, is interested in their intellect, and not where they come from.On the billionaire businessmans promise of adopting more Nigerian languages on Facebook, Abati advised him to take into consideration, the multiplicity of languages in the country.On Wednesday at a town hall meeting, Zuckerberg more or less edited himself by saying I am glad we support Hausa, and we are planning on supporting more languages soon. He didnt specify what those other languages are, he wrote.I hope he knows Nigeria has over 400 languages and ethnic groups, and they all form part of the Nigerian Facebook community. He should tread carefully here, because I am not too sure Facebook can adopt Yoruba language before Igbo, or vice versa, without a social media war on its hands, and if Facebook chooses to accommodate the three major languages in Nigeria, it could be confronted with a major battle over minority rights on its platform. We are like that in this country, Mark.The writer also highlighted the significance of the visit, emphasising how it could correct the erroneous impression that Nigeria is unsafe.
A factional national chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party, (PDP), Senator Ali Modu Sheriff has asked the Independent National Electora...

A factional national chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party, (PDP), Senator Ali Modu Sheriff has asked the Independent National Electoral Commission, (INEC), to recognise his candidate, Mathew Iduoriyekwemwen as the partys candidate for the September 10 Edo State governorship election or face the music at the end of the day.Member representing Egor/Kpoba-Okha Federal Constituency, Ehiozuwa Johnson Agbonayinma who submitted a letter, yesterday, on behalf of Sheriff to the commission, explaining why Iduoriyekwemwen should be accorded recognition however, declined to be specific on the kind of music INEC would face if it does not recognise him.The lawmaker said the commissions decision to publish the name of Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu who emerged from a primary election conducted by the PDP National Caretaker Committee led by Senator Ahmed Makarfi as PDP candidate for the election was illegal.Today, Hon Iduoriyekwemwen is the rightful candidate. So there is nothing more to say about this than for INEC to be on the side of the law, obey the law of the land. Anybody that refuses to obey the law of the land will face the music at the end of the day, he said.
It was for noble intentions and the need to placate the restive Niger Delta (ND) militants when former Nigerias President, Late Alhaji U...

It was for noble intentions and the need to placate the restive Niger Delta (ND) militants when former Nigerias President, Late Alhaji Umaru YarAdua exercised his constitutional power by granting amnesty and unconditional pardon to all Niger Delta militants in June 2009. On acceptance, the militants were expected to renounce militancy and embrace the Federal Government of Nigerias (FGN) package for their rehabilitation.The amnesty has survived till date, with FGN spending billions to train and empower ex-militants. However, what has refused to change is the absolute denunciation of militancy in the ND, as the amnesty has turned into a festering sore with more splinter groups emerging from former militancy camps or organizations.Its now difficult, if not impossible to establish an effective census of militant groups in the Niger Delta. Neither the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) nor the National Population Commission (NPC) dare venture into such an exercise. That is the extent Niger Deltans have rubbished one of the very laudable efforts of government to bring succor to people of the region.Before YarAduas amnesty, the Niger Delta paraded militant groups like the defunct Niger Delta Volunteer Force (NDVF), Niger Delta Vigilante (NDV) and the Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (MEND). Leaders of these groups claimed to have embraced amnesty and renounced militancy.But now, militant groups have duplicated to the extent, even militants themselves are amazed. There is the Reformed Egbesu Boys, Egbesu Water Lions and Egbesu Mythier Fraternity to Niger Delta Avengers (NDA) Adaka Boro Avengers (ABA) Niger Delta Liberation Front (NDLF) to Former Forest Soldiers, (FFS), aka Isaac Boro Last Born among others. And their common denominator is that they are splinter groups from earlier militancy camps.Beyond this, the emerging militant groups differ in almost all nuances, but hold firm to claims of fighting for the emancipation of the impoverished Niger Delta.Agreed that the Niger Delta region is the base of Nigerias oil wealth. And since 2006, renewed agitations for the control of the oil resources of the region has violently heightenedThe familiar trademark of militancy in the ND has been bombing or blowing up of oil installations and facilities, kidnapping or abduction of oil workers, mostly foreign nationals, and the near blackmail of the FGN with outrageous demands for cessation of hostilities. The cost of the ND restiveness on the economic fortunes of Nigeria has been enormous.But Leaders of the country, (including South-South leaders) seems confused on the best way to placate the region. History is replete with attempts by successive leaders of the country to genuinely revisit the ND question and their agitations.But the directionless pattern of the militancy in the region has forced the impression that the age-long sensation is prompted by greed rather than an honest desire to salvage the region.So, even under military dictatorships, Nigerias most dreaded dictator, Late Gen. Sani Abacha, extended solace to the Niger Delta. Gen. Abacha granted the ND 13% derivation formula; President Ibrahim Babangida created the Oil and Mineral Resources Producing Areas Development Commission (OMPADEC) and later on, the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) emerged and in 2008, an independent ministry for Niger Delta Affairs was created. These have been efforts of the FGN to redress the perceived injustices in the region.And to further ice the cake, Late President Umaru YarAdua introduced the Presidential Amnesty Programme (PAP). Through it, dozens of repentant militants have been trained in various fields and others paid monthly stipends. Some ex-militants have actually distinguished themselves in their field of study both within and outside Nigeria.But it appears the PAP has sparked more trouble than it was intended to solve. It is quite strange, that only in the ND region multiple groups which claim to be fighting a common populist cause have no uniformity of ideology, cohesion or consensus on any matter. Each emerging group has its separate agenda and feels the only way the FGN can listen to its grievances is by attacking and destroying oil facilities and crippling the national economy.And from the pronouncements of some of these groups, it is clear PAP was misconstrued by many as a permanent appeasement, an instrument of blackmail and a national largesse for the inhabitants of the ND. Consequently, most emerging militant groups mouthed that their exclusion in the amnesty programme is reason for their renewed aggressions.But in the last few years of FGNs intervention in the ND, through the special agencies and the ministry created for the region, over $40 billion have been expended in improving the lives of people of the region in the last four years. Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Dr. Ibe Kachikwu dished out this information and no leader from the region has contested it veracity. Despite these huge sums expended, there is little or no impact because of poor utilization.Besides, Buhari has started the clean-up of areas despoiled by oil spillage, through the implementation of the UNEP Report on Ogoniland. Yet, the militants have remained resolute to hold the country to ransom. There is no more justification for this aggressiveness, except it is meant to deliberately distract the government.But in advertising a somewhat criminal enterprise and inclination, which appears to be the second identity of militancy in the ND, they freely dabble into political issues, each time they list conditions for cessation of hostilities. Part of their ridiculous demands include the release of corrupt politicians like Col. Sambo Dasuki who is on trial for the alleged arms scandal and the unconditional release of a secession campaigner like leader of the Independent Peoples of Biafra (IPOB) Nnamdi Kanu and the de-freezing of the accounts of ex-militant leader, Government Ekpemupolo among others.So, the struggle is no longer about the emancipation of the Niger Delta or restoring its dignity as the militants delight in postulating. It is about vested personal interests of their sponsored leaders, who identify with government in the day time, but romance the militants at nights.Based on the mounting pressure on the FGN and with the silent voice of America which is pushing for dialogue, President Buhari seems to be bending backwards by announcing its readiness to dialogue with the NDA militants.And that is where the trouble lies because further granting of amnesty or recognition of emergent militant groups and cash patronage by the FGN would instigate fresh problems. Therefore, the extension of another amnesty to NDA and even similar other groups in the region would amount to succumbing to blackmail of the militants. It would inevitably give birth to more such militant groups, who would also demand for same treatment as evidenced by the experiences of PAP under former President YarAdua. In addition, this step would signpost the reward of gangs guilty of economic sabotage or crimes against the Nigerian state.Attah contributed this piece from Yenegoa, Bayelsa State.
The Minister of Communication, Adebayo Shittu says a proposal by the Nigerian government to impose a 10 percent tax on phone calls, text m...





The Minister of Communication, Adebayo Shittu says a proposal by the Nigerian government to impose a 10 percent tax on phone calls, text messages, data and more, would help enhance telecommunication services in the country.Mr. Shittu told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Friday in Osogbo, Osun State, that the proposed tax would also help to improve telecommunication infrastructure.We have a lot of deficiency in the provision of infrastructure in the telecommunication sector.And I believe that those who proposed the bill must have thought that government centrally relies on tax because without tax, government cannot operate, he said.The minister said the ministry was proposing a workshop to sensitise the public on the new bill.The plan has been widely criticised by Nigerians.
NEWARK -- A Rutgers University law school student was killed when she was hit by a car while she was crossing the street in Newark early Saturday morning, authorities said.

Christina E. Cassidy, 25, of Jersey City, was struck by a Honda Civic while she was crossing the street near McCarter Highway and Raymond Boulevard at 3:25 a.m., said acting Essex County Prosecutor Carolyn Murray and Newark Public Safety Director Anthony Ambrose.

The driver of the Honda, who was later identified as Mauricio Silvera, 23, of Elizabeth, did not stop, Murray and Ambrose said. Cassidy was rushed to University Hospital in the city where she died at 8:43 a.m

Silvera was charged with leaving the scene of a motor vehicle incident involving a death. He was taken to the Essex County Correctional Facility in Newark where he was being held on $150,000 bail, authorities said.

Ronald Chen, co-dean of Rutgers University's School of Law in Newark, identified Cassidy as a member of the Class of 2018.

In an email Saturday to the law school community, Chen said counseling would be available for those who need it.

"It is with an indescribably heavy heart that I must inform you that Christina Cassidy '18 passed away early this morning from injuries received as a pedestrian in a traffic accident during the night," Chen wrote. "Christina's parents were able to be with her before she passed, and I know that the Cassidy family are all in our thoughts and prayers."

He called Cassidy "a cherished member of our community" who "had a clear vision of how she wished to dedicate her tremendous gifts to improve the lives of others."

Chen said Cassidy, who was specializing in criminal law and law enforcement, had been an investigator with the FBI and at the Public Defender's Office in Washington, D.C., before she started law school.

MaryAnn Spoto may be reached at mspoto@njadvancemedia.com. Follow her on Twitter @MaryAnnSpoto. Find NJ.com on Facebook.
BAYONNE -- With the new school year fast approaching, Bayonne teachers still don't have a new contract, their union recently made clear at a city school board meeting.

At the Aug. 24 meeting, Bayonne Teachers Association president Al D'Angelo took board members to task for giving 2 percent raises to some Central Office staff but not being willing to -- according to him -- give similar raises to teachers.

Based on "what's on the table (as an offer for the teachers contract), 700 of the teachers would get four-tenths of 1 percent, at best," D'Angelo said.

The district has a total of roughly 800 teachers, who have gone without a contract since last July.

Board attorney Robert Clarke contested D'Angelo's "four-tenths of 1 percent" figure, saying there is enough money appropriated in the board's current offer "for everyone to receive 2 percent if the increment structure is adjusted."

"It will still be a very fair contract and will also continue to progress teachers up to maximum salary," he said. "I don't think it's a fair representation to make reference to four-tenths."

Clarke and board trustee Christopher Munoz said the board's current offer is a three-year deal that would increase the money allocated for teacher salaries by 2.5 percent, 3.8 percent and 3.8 percent for years one through three, respectively.

"I just want everyone in the audience to understand: it's not like the board's not moving, it's not like we're not trying to work at the problem," Munoz said.

But D'Angelo objected to the length of the proposed contract, saying the offer was originally four years long.

Clarke responded by saying the size of the proposed pay increases precludes the board from offering a longer contract, since "the funding is up in the air" in New Jersey.

Toward the end of the back-and-forth between D'Angelo and school officials, the union president said he didn't want money diverted to junior teachers from the existing contract's "bubble steps," which are substantial pay increases given to teachers after they work for roughly 12 years in the district.

But D'Angelo stressed that he also didn't want junior teachers to see no improvement in the much smaller, much more gradual pay increases they currently receive each year.

"If I give them what you've given me, none of them are going to get any more than (an increase of) $250 a year. Do you really think they're going to stick around?" D'Angelo said.

The union president also complained that the three board trustees on the board's contract negotiation team either weren't at the most recent negotiation session or arrived late, and that the team has also changed members repeatedly over time.

Clarke replied that some of the board members -- whose positions are unpaid -- have full-time jobs that sometimes conflict with negotiation sessions, and that changing ethics rules on conflicts of interest have necessitated changes in the team's composition over time.
Hudson County Courthouse

A judge has dismissed all charges against former Jersey City Police Chief Robert Cowan in a lawsuit filed by a city police officer who was charged with drunken driving in 2013 and claimed his arrest was an act of political revenge.

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JERSEY CITY -- A judge has dismissed all charges against former Jersey City Police Chief Robert Cowan in a lawsuit filed by a city police officer who was charged with drunken driving in 2013 and claimed his arrest was an act of political revenge.

Officer Michael Lang, a 10-year veteran of the department, alleged officers violated his civil rights when they arrested him on June 9, 2013 after a night drinking at Healy's Tavern celebrating a friend's birthday. Lang, a supporter of former Jersey City Mayor Jerramiah Healy, filed a five-county lawsuit in Hudson County in August 2014 alleging his DWI arrest was a result of not supporting Mayor Steve Fulop in his bid to unseat Healy in the 2013 election.

The drunken driving charges lodged against Lang were dismissed in 2014 by a judge who found the officers who arrested him had no probable cause.

In a 77-page ruling filed Wednesday, Superior Court Judge Daniel D'Alessandro wrote that Lang had not provided sufficient evidence to support his claims. Lang's lawsuit -- which also names Jersey City and Cowan's brother, Capt. Thomas Cowan as defendants -- alleges political association retaliation, malicious prosecution, false arrest, abuse of process and municipal liability.

"(Lang) has no evidence that Robert Cowan's involvement in plaintiff's situation from June 9, 2013 through May 5, 2014 was motivated by (Lang's) friendship with or support of Mayor Healy, or by (his) lack of support for Mayor Fulop," the judge states.

The judge notes that in a deposition, Lang was asked "You agree that you have no evidence that Robert Cowan has knowledge of your political support for Jeremiah Healy?"

Lang's reply was, "Correct."

"I think the judge just got it wrong," Lang's attorney, Luis Zayas, said of the judge's ruling.

In addition to dismissing all claims against the former chief, the court dismissed Lang's claim of political retaliation against Thomas Cowan and the city. However, D'Alessandro denied the motion to dismiss the claims for malicious prosecution and false arrest against Thomas Cowan.

"We have enough evidence to show the existence of an unlawful policy of political patronage by Mayor Fulop in which political supporters got benefits and those that didn't support him were retaliated against," Zayas said. "We presented evidence from Chief Cowan himself that the mayor was involved in retaliation against him and other officer."

Jersey City spokeswoman Jennifer Morrill did not respond to a request for comment on the case.

Fulop defeated Healy in the May 2013 mayoral election and took office on July 1, 2013. Fulop then appointed Robert Cowan to the position of chief effective Oct. 1, 2013. But on June 25, 2014, Fulop announced the chief's demotion.

Fulop cited low morale on the police force, Cowan's "refusal" to implement "structural changes" sought by the Fulop administration and a growing number of lawsuits accusing Cowan of political retaliation as reasons for the change.

Lang's lawsuit was one of several brought against Robert Cowan by officers. However, in his reaction to D'Alessandro's dismissal, Cowan said there are now no outstanding lawsuits against him.

"As I stated previously, after Senator (Robert) Menendez was indicted last year for multiple federal crimes Mayor Fulop publicly asserted Senator Menendez's right to due process to which I agree," Robert Cowan said.

The now retired former chief continued saying "I would like to ask Mayor Fulop this one question, 'Why did I not have that same right of due process for frivolous lawsuits filed against me?'"
Army Corps and Port Authority celebrate completion of NY & NJ Harbor Deepening Navigation Program

Sen. Robert Menendez called Donald Trump's visit to Mexico a "farce" and said the Republican presidential nominee's immigration speech in Arizona closed the "door" on Hispanic and other minority voters after an appearance at an event in Bayonne (pictured above) on Sept. 1, 2016. Reena Rose Sibayan | The Jersey Journal

BAYONNE -- Sen. Bob Menendez Thursday called Donald Trump's recent visit to Mexico a "farce" and said the Republican presidential nominee's immigration speech in Arizona closed the "door" on Hispanic and other minority voters.

Asked after an event in Bayonne about Trump's visit to Mexico, Menendez, D-NJ, accused the candidate of not being truthful about what was discussed between Trump and Mexican President Enrique Pena Nieto.

Trump said during a news conference following the Wednesday meeting that he and Nieto had discussed Trump's proposed wall along the U.S. southern border but that they did not discuss who would pay for it, CNN reported.

But Nieto later tweeted that he had told Trump that Mexico would refuse to pay for the wall. Menendez railed against the apparent discrepancy, saying it showed Trump "doesn't understand diplomacy."

"That's misleading your allies,and lying about it to the American people is a poor quality for the president of the United States," the senator said.

Citing Trump advisers, the Wall Street Journal reported that Trump and Nieto had agreed prior to the meeting that there would be no discussion about who would pay for the wall -- but that Nieto then surprised Trump by bringing it up.

When it was brought up, former New York City mayor and current Trump adviser Rudy Giuliani, who was at the meeting, immediately responded for Trump, saying "That's off the table," according to WSJ.

Trump then moved onto a different topic, WSJ reported.

The Trump campaign couldn't be reached to respond to Menendez's remarks.

Jason Mills, the campaign's senior communications adviser, said in a statement on the campaign website that the meeting represented "the first part of the discussion and a relationship builder" between the two sides.

"It was not a negotiation, and that would have been inappropriate. It is unsurprising that they hold two different views on this issue and we look forward to continuing the conversation," he said.

In an immigration speech that Trump delivered in Phoenix right after visiting Mexico, the candidate said illegal immigrants who want U.S. citizenship will need to leave the country and head to the back of the line in their home countries, the Associated Press reported.

Menendez told The Jersey Journal that Trump's speech did more than just "seal his defeat" in the presidential race.

"I think he sealed for the Republican Party, a decade or more of wandering in the wilderness, because the road to the White House comes through Hispanic and minority communities in the key states that are battlegrounds and he just closed that door forever," the senator said.

Menendez's remarks came as some Hispanic leaders who thought the candidate had signaled a willingness to moderate his immigration plans reacted to his speech by saying they felt they had been misled by him, the AP reported.
HOPEWELL TWP-- An 85-year-old woman who used a medical alert device to call for help in a house fire, couldn't escape and died before police responding to the scene could rescue her, according to a statement from the police department.

The woman was identified as Patricia Gennett, the widow of a former Burlington County fire chief. Her dog also died in the blaze, police said.

Three police officers, William Gaskill, Vincent Amabile and James Klesney, responded to the scene at Gennett's house on 46 Coleman Lane around 10:15 p.m. Friday. Gennett, who had a medical alert button, had pushed the button and told a dispatcher that her house was on fire, according to the Mercer County Prosecutor's Office.

The officers broke down a door of the house but flames and heavy smoke prevented them from getting inside at first, the statement said.

When they were able to enter the home, the officers found Gennett's body on the first floor and pulled her oustide, the statement said. She was the only person in the house.

The Union Fire Company, Pennington Fire Company, Hopewell Fire Department and others from New Jersey and Pennsylvania responded to the blaze and shut down Coleman Lane and a section of Route 29 Friday night.

Firefighters and the Mercer County Prosecutor's Office were investigating the fire Saturday morning.

Gennett was on oxygen and had been a smoker, but prosecutors said they did not know whether either of those contributed to the fire.

Anna Merriman may be reached at amerriman@njadvancemedia.com. Follow her on Twitter @anna_merriman
TITUSVILLE -- Authorities are investigating a two-alarm fire at a residence at 46 Coleman Lane that claimed a life late Friday night, officials said.

Hopewell Police set up police lines marking the area as a crime scene.

Companies from surrounding areas helped fight the blaze.

In order to reach the scene, firelighters ran lines for over 1000 ft. up the length of Coleman Lane from Rt. 29 where members of the Hopewell Fire Company were filling portable pools to supply water.

Michael Mancuso may be reached at mmancuso@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @michaelmancuso Find The Times of Trenton on Facebook
Ala. teacher charged with raping student after others see video of sex act
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MINNEAPOLIS (AP)  The remains of Jacob Wetterling, an 11-year-old boy kidnapped from a rural Minnesota road nearly 27 years ago, were identified Saturday, authorities said, providing long-awaited answers to a mystery that has captivated residents and sparked changes in sex offender laws.

A masked gunman abducted Jacob in October of 1989 near the boys home in St. Joseph, about 80 miles northwest of Minneapolis.

The Stearns County Sheriffs Office confirmed in a statement that Jacob Wetterlings remains have been located and that the Ramsey County medical examiner and a forensic odontologist identified them Saturday.

Timeline of events in Jacob Wetterling abduction A timeline of events related to the abduction of 11-year-old Jacob Wetterling of St. Joseph,

Things to know about 1989 abduction of Minnesota boy MINNEAPOLIS (AP)  The 1989 abduction of 11-year-old Jacob Wetterling from a deserted road h

Additional DNA testing will be conducted and investigators are continuing to evaluate new evidence in the case, the sheriffs office said, adding that authorities expect to be able to provide more details early next week.

A law enforcement official told The Associated Press that a person of interest in Jacobs abduction took authorities to a field in central Minnesota last week. The official, who spoke on condition of anonymity because of the ongoing case, said remains and other evidence were recovered.

Jacobs mother, Patty Wetterling, sent a text message to KARE-TV earlier Saturday, saying that Jacob has been found and our hearts are broken.

She did not immediately respond to calls and text messages from The Associated Press.

Jacobs father, Jerry Wetterling, is a 1967 graduate of Mason City High School.

Jerry Wetterlings parents, Erwin Erv and Lillian Wetterling, were longtime Mason City residents until their deaths in 1997 and 2008.

Jacob was riding his bicycle with his brother and a friend on Oct. 22, 1989, when a masked gunman abducted him from a rural road near his home in St. Joseph, about 80 miles northwest of Minneapolis. He hasnt been seen since.

You cant help but think about it, Lillian Wetterling told the Globe Gazette in 1989. We think, what are they doing with him? We wonder, will we ever see him again? Thats the thing of it. Thats whats so hard.

No one has been arrested or charged in his abduction, which led to changes in sex offender registration laws.

But last year, authorities took another look at the case, and were led to Danny Heinrich, a man they called a person of interest in Jacobs kidnapping.

Heinrich, 53, of Annandale, denied any involvement in Jacobs abduction, and was not charged with that crime. But he has pleaded not guilty to 25 federal child pornography charges and is scheduled to go on trial on those counts in October.

The FBI has said previously that Heinrich matched the general description of a man who assaulted several boys in Paynesville from 1986 to 1988.

Earlier this year, Heinrichs DNA was found on the sweatshirt of a 12-year-old boy who was kidnapped from Cold Spring and sexually assaulted just nine months before Jacobs abduction.

Heinrich was questioned by authorities shortly after Jacobs disappearance, but he denied involvement.

Court documents say his shoes and car tires were consistent with tracks left near the site of Wetterlings abduction, but couldnt be ruled an exact match.

Authorities also searched the home where Heinrich lived with his father at the time and found scanners, camouflage clothing and a picture of a boy wearing underwear.

Heinrichs attorney did not respond to emailed requests for comment Saturday.

Jacobs abduction shattered childhood innocence for many in rural Minnesota, changing the way parents let their kids roam. His smiling face was burned into Minnesotas psyche, appearing on countless posters and billboards over the years.

Each year, Minnesota residents were asked to keep their porch lights on for Jacobs safe return.

Patty Wetterling always kept hope her son would be found alive. She became a national advocate for children, and with her husband, Jerry Wetterling, founded the Jacob Wetterling Resource Center, which works to help communities and families prevent child exploitation.

In 1994, Congress passed a law named after Jacob Wetterling that requires states to establish sex offender registries.

Officials with the Jacob Wetterling Resource Center posted a statement on its website Saturday, saying they are in deep grief.

We didnt want Jacobs story to end this way, the statement said. Our hearts are heavy, but we are being held up by all of the people who have been a part of making Jacobs Hope a light that will never be extinguished. ... Jacob, you are loved.
Man is believed to have absconded from the Lincoln County jail in stolen Toyota Corolla

Name: Troy O'Brian

Date of Birth: 07/16/1974 - 42 years old

Height: 6'1"

Weight: 180 pounds

Hair color: Brown

Eye Color: Brown

A vehicle stolen from the Lincoln County Detention Center was spotted in Morrill County Thursday evening, but the two people in the car eluded officials.

Lincoln County officials believe the car was stolen by an inmate who escaped the jail in North Platte earlier Thursday.

Authorities believe Troy OBrian, 42, of Gary, Indiana, left North Platte in a white, four-door 2011 Toyota Corolla.

About 7:30 p.m. the Morrill County Sheriffs Office received a report that the vehicle had been spotted near Bridgeport.

Morrill County officers attempted to pull over the Corolla, but it drove through a field off U.S. Highway 385.

Two occupants exited the vehicle on foot and took off southwest in a field, Morrill County officials said in a press release. Authorities believe the occupants were OBrian and Melissa Sancillo, 27.

Authorities warned residents, especially those in southern Morrill County near Dalton, to take extra precautions, lock doors and cars, and report any suspicious activity.

OBrian is 6 feet 1 inch, 180 pounds, with brown hair and brown eyes. He was last seen wearing a white T-shirt and khaki pants. Sancillo, who is 5 feet 2 inches and 125 pounds, was last seen wearing a white shirt.

OBrian and Sancillo were arrested together July 25 in North Platte, also in a stolen car, said North Platte Police Investigator John Deal.

Sancillo drove through a red light at Leota and Dewey streets in a 2002 Ford Escape. When asked for identification, OBrian gave a Social Security card that belonged to someone else, Deal said. Sancillo was arrested on suspicion of driving under the influence of alcohol and being in possession of stolen property.

OBrian, who tried to run away from police, was arrested on suspicion of obstructing police, possession of stolen property and criminal impersonation. Deal said the two werent arrested for auto theft because the Ford Escape had been reported stolen out of Indiana, outside the North Platte departments jurisdiction.

OBrian was ultimately convicted of three misdemeanors for false reporting, obstructing a police officer and theft by receiving stolen property. He was sentenced to 60 days in jail.

OBrian was scheduled to leave jail at 11:30 p.m. Thursday, said Chief Deputy Roland Kramer of the Lincoln County Sheriffs Office.

Sancillo had been released earlier in the day, he said. Jail officials didnt realize Sancillo, also of Indiana, had spent much of the day at the Lincoln County Courthouse waiting for OBrian. She has no ties to the community.

According to Indiana court documents, OBrian was convicted of auto theft in 2003 and 2007. Less than two weeks before he gave North Platte police false information and attempted to flee, Indiana documents indicate that he was arrested on suspicion of the same thing in Tippecanoe County. A warrant was issued for his arrest. He also has a string of prior offenses including theft, burglary and receiving stolen property. Despite the outstanding warrant, Kramer said, there were no plans to extradite him.

At the time of his escape, OBrian was completing hours as part of the jails inmate worker program. A Lincoln County Courthouse maintenance worker had briefly left his keys in the Corolla, parked behind the detention center.

Kramer said jail officials will review protocol and all aspects of the inmate worker program.

It will probably have some changes to avoid any future problems, he said, but added that given the thousands and thousands of hours inmates have completed without incident, the program is pretty successful.
HAMMOND  A Portage man has admitted his role in a conspiracy to deal illicit drugs to enrich members of the East Chicago-based street gang Dark Side Two Six Nation.

Anthony P-Nut Cresencio Aguilera, of Portage, pleaded guilty Thursday in U.S. District Court to one count of participating in the gangs racketeering activity, according to a plea agreement made public this week.

In exchange, federal prosecutors dropped an additional charge of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute marijuana, cocaine, crack cocaine, heroin and Ecstasy, court records stated.

Aguilera, who faced life in prison, will see a reduction in sentence to no more than 20 years in prison. He must forfeit 30 firearms seized by federal authorities as part of their investigation of the gang.

Aguilera had signed an earlier plea agreement in 2014, but withdrew from it and demanded to go to trial, until signing the new agreement.

His sentencing is set to take place Dec. 2.
Valparaiso Universitys Christ College  The Honors College presents its annual symposium, featuring internationally distinguished speakers to stimulate dynamic discussions on this years theme: What is Faith?

The speaker series presents lectures by acclaimed scholars, artists and public figures.

This years speakers include:

Mark W. Roche, The Arc of Faith: The Minds Journey Away from God and the Possibility of Return, 6:30 p.m. Sept. 8 at Duesenberg Recital Hall, Center for the Arts. Roche is distinguished for his publication of nine books, which have received several awards, as well as personal awards for excellence in undergraduate teaching.

Marie Howe, Eros, Affliction and Joy, 6:30 p.m. Oct. 27 Chapel of the Resurrection. Poet Marie Howe has authored three volumes of poetry, served as the Poet Laureate of New York State, has poems in several publications, and recently received the Academy of American Poets Poetry Fellowship in 2015 in acknowledgement of her poetic accomplishments.

Leymah Gbowee, Mighty Be Our Powers, 6:30 p.m. Nov. 2, Chapel of the Resurrection. Leymah Roberta Gbowee received the Nobel Peace Prize after her work in leading the Christian and Muslim womens peace movement that helped to bring an end to the Second Liberian Civil War in 2003. Gbowee is also the founder and president of Gbowee Peace Foundation Africa and author of Mighty Be Our Powers. This event is co-sponsored by the Valparaiso University Institute for Leadership and Service and the Office of the Assistant Provost for Inclusion.

Tal Howard, The Past and the Good: Reflections on History and the Moral Life, 6:30 p.m. Feb. 1 Harre Union Ballrooms B & C. Valparaiso Universitys own Thomas Albert (Tal) Howard is a professor of humanities and history and holds the Phyllis and Richard Duesenberg Chair in Christian Ethics. He has authored or edited eight books, is a leading scholar of the Reformation, and is presently working on two projects: Modern Theology: An Intellectual History and The Riddle of the Religious Other: On the Past, Present and Purpose of Interfaith Dialogue.

Kaethe Schwehn, Navigating the In-Between: A Journey of Grace, 6:30 p.m. Feb. 23, Brauer Museum of Art, Center for the Arts. As a creative nonfiction writer and poet, Kaethe Schwehn has been published in journals such as Crazyhorse, Jubilat, Pleiades and the anthology Fiction on a Stick. Recently she released a memoir entitled A Year in the Village about her experiences as a young woman in a Lutheran Retreat Center in the Cascade Mountains.

All events are free and open to the public.
HIGHLAND  The world of fine arts is about to leave the drawing board and head for the Highland downtown business district.

The Redevelopment Commission has announced a large mural will soon be painted on a town-owned building on Jewett Street and is also calling for a public sculpture to help create a Sculpture and Art Walk.

The projects are being done by the commission through its Main Street Committee and the Highland Community Foundation, said Redevelopment Commission Assistant Lance Ryskamp.

The winning mural proposal was submitted by Highland resident Liz Mares, who will paint it at 2821 Jewett.

Mares said the mural she chose will connect both with the community and its visitors.

This is what builds strength within a people, to cut out the divides, Mares said. Highland has a lot to offer its community and visitors. The arts and culture it brings is just an added bonus.

Ryskamp said Mares will receive a $500 stipend funded by a Spring Into Summer grant from the Legacy Foundation.

The projected timeline for completion of the mural is on or before Sept. 30, Ryskamp said, adding that Mares will also receive up to $400 for her supplies.

The new mural will be joined by another one in the spring, Ryskamp said.

The owners of the adjacent business, Miles Books, have agreed for a mural to be painted on their east wall, Ryskamp said.

Before submitting proposals for the sculpture by Sept. 16, artists should check the town website at: http://www.highland.in.gov, Ryskamp said.

Up to three proposals can be sent to Ryskamp at: lryskamp@highland.in.gov.

The winning sculpture will probably be an existing one, Ryskamp said, although a new creation will also be considered.

The sculptor will retain ownership of the work during the loan period.The finalists will be chosen by a curatorial committee during the Festival of the Trail on Oct. 15.

Residents can also vote at this time and the committees final selection will be based on the publics preference, Ryskamp said.

The winning sculptor will receive a $500 stipend from the NWI Forums For The Love Of The Region grant.

Ryskamp said the Sculpture and Art Walk concept is similar to one in Decatur, Indiana, which has a permanent walking area of indoor and outdoor art that changes each year.

Here in Highland, the idea would be to begin to place works of sculpture and public art at various locations within walking distance in and around downtown Highland, the downtown section of the towns bicycle trail and within the proposed Arts and Cultural District.

A final location for the sculpture has not yet been chosen, but Ryskamp said a cement pad already exists by a kiosk on the south side of Highway Avenue.

We anticipate installation to be in the spring.
GARY  A Merrillville man died late Friday after driving into a water-filled ditch on westbound Interstate 80/94, police said.

Two Indiana State Police troopers pulled Nicholas S. Melegos, 57, from a 2009 Honda but their efforts to revive him were unsuccessful and he was pronounced dead at the scene near the Grant Street exit, officials said.

A good Samaritan reported just before midnight Friday that the Honda went off the north side of the road into a ditch, police said.

Troopers Jason Pratt and Andy Rasala located the Honda about 30 feet from the road. The car had traveled up a small embankment, off the north side of the road into the water-filled ditch, which contained thick brush, police said.

Both troopers went into waist-deep water to get to the Honda and found an unconscious man who was not breathing from the drivers seat. The water was too deep and murky to pull the man out, so troopers began CPR as the Honda was towed out and until Gary Fire/EMS personnel arrived, police said.

Melegos was pronounced dead at 1:27 a.m. Saturday, according to the Lake County coroners office. He suffered no visible injuries, and he manner of death was pending.

Police said a preliminary investigation indicates Melegos death may be medically related.
WEST GLACIER, Montana  The Portage man who lost his life earlier this week hiking Mount Jackson in Glacier National Park was a grandfather-to-be eager to return home.

Danny R. Pilipow, 56, of Portage, was killed Tuesday when he and his son fell off a trail on the east face of Mount Jackson, the Glacier County Sheriffs office said Friday. His 27-year-old son survived with minor injuries, officials said.

He wanted to get home in time to see the baby, his mother, Jackie Stanley, 77, of Portage, said Friday night.

Pilipow and his son, Chris, were no strangers to Glacier National Park. The father and son traveled there often for vacation, and Pilopow himself would return several times throughout the year to hike other Glacier peaks, she said.

Pilopow  who had childhood ties to Griffith and Hessville and attended Morton High School  also had an unmatched fascination with the railroad that stretches to childhood, Stanley said.

The day he turned 18, the [Indiana Harbor Belt Railroad] hired him on, she said.

When he died, Pilipow was just three years from retirement from the Indiana Harbor Belt. He has traveled every Amtrak line, she said, and clocked in at least one million miles on the railroad.

Ask anybody on the railroad. They all loved him. When I called and told the office, they announced it and they said they had all eyes crying there, she said. I had guys calling me, crying. Grown men crying.

Glacier Park spokesman Tim Rains said Pilipow fell 80 to 100 feet.

His 27-year-old son was able to self-arrest on the snowfield, a mountaineering term for using a combination of the climbers boots, hands, feet, knees, elbows and, if available, ice axe, to stop a fall down a snowfield, ice field or glacier.

Pilipows son was unable to locate his father, and hiked to a backcountry campground at Gunsight Lake. The incident was reported to Park Dispatch at 11:08 p.m. Tuesday.

The son was taken by helicopter from the backcountry to West Glacier, and transported by ambulance to North Valley Hospital in Whitefish.

Two Bear Air and Minuteman Aviation helped park rangers locate Pilipows body Wednesday, and a technical rescue team worked with Minuteman Aviation to recover it Thursday.

Mount Jackson is one of half a dozen of the approximately 175 mountain peaks in Glacier that are 10,000 feet or higher. At 10,039 feet, it ranks fourth on the list.

Rains said Mount Jacksons climbing routes are considered arduous, with an approximate elevation gain of 4,800 vertical feet, high amounts of loose scree, (and) a significant amount of exposure on narrow ledges with steep drop-offs.

In a photograph at the Glacier Mountaineering Society website, Dan Pilipow and Chris Pilipow are identified as two of nine hikers pictured making their way along a very narrow trail on a cliff face on Mount Clements during a different hike.

Chris Pilipow is taking the train back to Indiana, she said. Funeral services are pending.

He was the best. Im not ready to let him go, Stanley said. He was the most outgoing. Never raised his voice. He always wanted to make sure everybody was happy.
WASHINGTON  Hillary Clinton told the FBI she relied on her staff not to send emails containing classified information to the private email server she used as secretary of state.

The revelation came Friday as the FBI, in a rare step, published scores of pages summarizing interviews with Clinton and her top aides from the recently closed criminal investigation into her use of a private email server in the basement of her Chappaqua, New York, home.

The Democratic presidential nominee told the FBI she never sought or asked permission to use a private server or email address during her tenure as the nations top diplomat from 2009 to 2013. A prior review by the State Departments internal watchdog concluded the practice violated several polices for the safekeeping and preservation of federal records.

The latest developments highlight competing liabilities for Clinton. Either she made a conscious effort to prevent a full public accounting of her tenure at State or she was nonchalant about decisions with national security consequences and risks. The first scenario plays into Republican arguments and voter concerns about her trustworthiness and transparency, while the second casts doubt on her pitch as a hyper-competent, detail-driven executive.

Clinton campaign spokesman Brian Fallon said Friday the campaign was pleased the FBI had released the documents.

While her use of a single email account was clearly a mistake and she has taken responsibility for it, these materials make clear why the Justice Department believed there was no basis to move forward with this case, Fallon said.

GOP presidential nominee Donald Trump countered that Clintons answers to the FBI about her private email server defy belief.

After reading these documents, I really dont understand how she was able to get away from prosecution, Trump said in a statement.

Clinton has repeatedly said her use of private email was allowed. But over a 3-hour interview in July, she told investigators she did not explicitly request permission to use a private server or email address, the FBI wrote. Clinton said no one at the State Department raised concerns during her tenure, and she said everyone with whom she exchanged emails knew she was using a private email address.

The documents also include technical details about how the private server was set up. It is the first disclosure of details provided by Bryan Pagliano, the technology staffer who set up and maintained Clintons IT infrastructure. Pagliano secured an immunity agreement from the Justice Department after previously refusing to testify before Congress, invoking his constitutional right against self-incrimination.

Large portions of the FBI documents were censored. The FBI cited exemptions protecting national security and investigative techniques. Previous government reviews of the 55,000 pages of emails Clinton returned to the State Department found that about 110 contained classified information.

Clinton and her legal team deleted thousands more emails she claimed were personal and private. The FBI report details steps taken by Clintons staff that appear intended to hamper the recovery of deleted data, including smashing her old Blackberry smartphones with a hammer and using special software to wipe the hard drive of a server she had used.

Fridays release of internal investigative documents by the FBI was a highly unusual step, but one that reflects extraordinary public interest in the investigation into Clintons server.

The FBI focused on whether Clinton sent or received classified information using the private server, which was not authorized for such messages. Clinton told the FBI she relied on others with knowledge about handling classified files not to send her emails inappropriately.

Clinton said she was unfamiliar with the meaning of the letter c next to a paragraph and speculated that it might be referencing paragraphs marked in alphabetical order. That particular email had been marked as classified at the confidential level, the lowest level of classification. Clinton said she did not pay attention to the level of classification and took all classified information seriously, according to the FBI.

After a yearlong investigation, the FBI recommended against prosecution in July, and the Justice Department then closed the case. FBI Director James Comey said that while Clinton and her aides had been extremely careless in dealing with sensitive materials, there was no evidence they intentionally mishandled classified information.

The FBIs review also found no direct evidence that Clintons server was hacked but said her system would be a high-value target for foreign intelligence agencies and a sophisticated attacker would have been unlikely to leave behind evidence of a breach. Clinton told the FBI she was unaware of specific details about the security, software or hardware used on her server.

Clinton also told the FBI she never deleted emails, nor instructed anyone else to do so, to avoid their potential release under the Freedom of Information Act.

However, the FBI report says Clinton contacted her predecessor, former Secretary Colin Powell, in January 2009 to inquire about his use of a BlackBerry. Powell, who also used a private email account, warned Clinton that if it became public that she used a smartphone to do business, her emails could become official government records subject to disclosure.

Be very careful, Powell cautioned Clinton in an email. I got around it all by not saying much and not using systems that captured the data.

Clinton said she later directed her aides to create a private email account and said it was a matter of convenience to use the home server shared with her husband, former President Bill Clinton.

She added that everyone at State knew she had a private email address, though in separate interviews several on her team told agents they had no idea she was using a private account.
BLOOMINGTON, Ind.  Indiana University officials say the school still has strict restrictions on using drones on campus despite a recent move by the Federal Aviation Administration to relax regulations for commercial drone pilots.

Hobbyists are only allowed to fly drones on the Bloomington campus in a field along Union Street, and they have to get permission.

Otherwise, someone who sees a drone on campus should call police, university insurance director Larry Stephens told The Herald-Times.

The new FAA regulations that went into effect Monday are aimed at giving businesses a less cumbersome certification process. Under the previous regulations, one department had been waiting for about six months for an exemption.

The department is trying to obtain a Part 107 certification, which requires the pilot to pass a test online and get Transportation Security Administration clearance. Stephens said the test isnt too difficult but that he is trying to figure out how to get TSA clearance.

Ive asked two FAA offices, he said. Neither one answered.

Anyone flying a drone for university activities must get permission from the university in addition to the Part 107 certification because of liability issues.

The universitys policy restricts pilots from using drones to record or monitor areas where there is an expectation of privacy, such as locker rooms and restrooms.

We dont want people to fly them and take pictures in peoples windows, Stephens said.

But Stephens said he doesnt expect most people at the university to use drones for voyeurism. Instead, faculty members already have applied to use drones for measuring temperatures above wooded areas and geomapping.
One man is dead and another is critically injured after an early morning shooting in Brooklyn.

Police responded to calls of shots fired around 4 a.m. Saturday at the Kingsborough Houses in Crown Heights. They found a 22-year-old man with several gunshot wounds. He was rushed to the hospital, where he died.

A 32-year-old man was shot once in the chest and is in critical condition.

Sources tell NY1 the shooting may have stemmed from a dispute at a party.

No arrests have been made.

Anyone with information on the case should contact the Crime Stoppers hotline at 1-800-577-TIPS, or text CRIMES and then enter TIP577, or visit www.nypdcrimestoppers.com.
COLUMBIA, S.C.  A former South Carolina sheriffs deputy will face no charges for tossing a student across a classroom, a prosecutor announced Friday in a case that focused attention on the consequences of bringing law enforcers into classroom confrontations.

In a 12-page report, Solicitor Dan Johnson said he found no probable cause to charge the former deputy, Ben Fields. A school resource officer, he was recorded last October by students at Spring Valley High School flipping a female student to the floor and dragging her across a classroom after she refused to surrender her cellphone.

Mr. Fields was fired by the Richland County Sheriffs Department. Videos of the confrontation between the white officer and black student stirred such outrage that Sheriff Leon Lott  who said what Mr. Fields had done made him want to throw up  called the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Justice Department for help.

The student videos posted online showed Mr. Fields telling the girl to leave her seat or he would forcibly remove her. The officer then wrapped his forearm around her neck, flipped her and the desk backward onto the floor, tossed her toward the front of the room and handcuffed her.
Mr. Ropacs Paris and Salzburg dealerships represent major international artists including Antony Gormley, Adrian Ghenie, Anselm Kiefer and Gilbert & George. He expects his Ely House branch to concentrate on historical shows by his gallery stable, artists estates, secondary sales of works that have already appeared on the market and shows by artists who are not yet represented in the city. His inaugural show in the spring, for example, will feature new work by the young British sound sculptor Oliver Beer.

We have wanted to have a stronger secondary market for a while, Mr. Ropac said, adding that it was easier to sell such works in London than in Paris. The art market is more strongly developed in London.

In 2015, Britains auction houses and dealers generated 21 percent of the worlds art and antiques sales, compared with 6 percent in France and 2 percent in Germany, according the 2016 Tefaf Art Market Report, published in March.

The Paris and Brussels gallerist Almine Rech is another European dealer lured by the strength of the London art market. Having opened a first-floor gallery in Savile Row in 2014, she is expanding into an additional 2,400-square-foot ground floor showroom at Grosvenor Hill, opposite Gagosians new flagship Mayfair gallery. She is also opening in New York on the Upper East Side, debuting on Oct. 27 with a show devoted to Picasso and Calder.

I was surprised there was such a quick and good response to our Savile Row space, said Ms. Rech, who added that her London gallery had attracted at least 10 collectors whom she had never met before. But I needed to present larger shows.

Her inaugural exhibition at Grosvenor Hill, which opens on Oct. 4 during the week of the Frieze art fairs in London, is devoted to Jeff Koons, who is also represented by Gagosian. The show will include at least four new Gazing Ball paintings and sculptures (the former inspired by old masters, the latter by Duchamp ready-mades) and at least one stainless steel Ballerina sculpture. Prices range from about $1 million to about $8 million.
Jon Polito, a character actor who often played law enforcement figures and gangsters and had memorable turns in many films by Joel and Ethan Coen, died on Thursday in Los Angeles. He was 65.

The cause was complications of multiple myeloma, his husband, Darryl Armbruster, said.

A mustached, balding, husky and burlap-voiced presence onscreen, Mr. Polito appeared in more than 200 films and television series, often as the heavy. He could convey the swagger and haplessness of a two-bit crook, the authority of a hardened homicide detective, the unctuous ingratiations of a yes man  as well as a sense of vulnerability, desperation and weakness.

Mr. Polito said he was fine with being typecast, as long as he could bring some depth to his roles.

I dont mind playing a gangster as long as its redefined in some way, he said in an interview on the website Groucho Reviews in 2005.

The Coen brothers used Mr. Polito in a string of films. He played a gangster in Millers Crossing (1990), a beaten-down studio employee in Barton Fink (1991), a demanding executive in The Hudsucker Proxy (1994), a private eye confronted by Jeff Bridges in The Big Lebowski (1998) and a corrupt businessman in The Man Who Wasnt There (2001).
CUSTER, S.D.  If you drive through the western edge of South Dakotas Black Hills, youre likely to see some brightly painted yellow road signs that read: Bighorn Sheep Crossing  Be Prepared To Stop.

Unfortunately, the colorful steel billboards are mostly wishful thinking. And if you suddenly do have to slam on your brakes, it will likely be for some other reason than avoiding a sheep.

The tragedy of the matter is that as recently as 11 years ago, the Black Hills National Forest was home to a thriving population of wild bighorns  the nearest the iconic species gets to Iowa. But your random chances of spotting a wild sheep here today are slim or none.

Decimated by a catastrophic 2005 outbreak of bacterial pneumonia, an estimated 80 to 90 percent of Black Hills bighorns perished in a single season.

The outbreak ignited after bighorns crossed paths with domestic sheep. Wherever and whenever the scenario occurs, the outcome is the same: If a wild bighorn comes into contact with a domestic sheep, the bighorn will die  plain and simple.

In the Black Hills, as elsewhere, the bighorn recovery has been slow and painful. Following a full decade of restoration efforts, the post-outbreak population hovers at a mere 30 sheep in the 71,000 acre Custer State Park which lies in the epicenter of western Dakotas bighorn country.

There are smaller bands scattered elsewhere in the Black Hills; another 100 or so bighorns survive in the Badlands near Wall. The story is not unique. Its been tough sledding across much of the bighorns range as populations have suffered similar, pneumonia-induced declines across large portions of the Rocky Mountains. So much for the bad news.

The good news is that government wildlife agencies are partnering with private sector conservation organizations to establish a more secure future for Americas beleaguered bighorns.

One of the more aggressive measures is being launched by the National Wildlife Federation and its state affiliates which passed a joint resolution endorsing the separation of domestic and bighorn sheep as the most effective means of preventing the transmission of bacterial pneumonia.

To aid in implementing those critical barriers, the Wildlife Federation is promoting the incentive-based, voluntary retirement of domestic sheep grazing allotments on public lands or, in some cases, to convert those allotments from sheep grazing to cattle grazing.

The Wildlife Federations Adopt a Wildlife Acre program provides funding to aid in retiring more than 1 million acres of grazing allotments on public lands. In addition to providing a disease-free environment for wild bighorns, the retired public acres will benefit a host of other wildlife species.

Meanwhile, bighorns have already received a substantial boost when South Dakota Game & Parks transplanted 26 wild sheep from Alberta, Canada, to the Black Hills Deadwood area.

Efforts to establish the new herd was made possible by hunters who generated more than $180,000 during two special fundraising events. The funds far exceeded the actual amount needed to cover relocation expenses, and a portion of the excess money was used to fit 24 wild bighorns with GPS tracking devices.

The state-of-the-art trackers are aiding personnel with South Dakota State University in monitoring the herds movements, reproduction, habitat preferences and survival.

So far, the bighorn recovery has been an ongoing series of victories and setbacks. Last year, for example, the production of four lambs was documented at Custer State Park. Unfortunately, a female cougar took a liking to the sheep, killing two of the ewes and their lambs.

Although wildlife officials encouraged local hunters to focus on the lion during the legal hunting season, the cat eluded its pursuers. But although the cougar was not killed, it apparently took the hint and moved on.

This year, the production of four more lambs has been documented within the park and all sheep have survived so far.

Following days of hopeful looking, I finally obtained a brief encounter with the Custer bighorns late last week near the trailhead of the Grace Coolidge Walk-In Area, the same area where Ive been able to photograph bighorns during three of the past four summers. The group contained 13 sheep (nearly half of the 71,000-acre areas total population) and included all four lambs from this years production.

Although the sighting of ewes with lambs provides some exhilarating hope for the future, the reality is that the majestic bighorn still faces a long and challenging path to recovery. For now, it remains one of North Americas rarest species of big game.
Jeh Johnson, the Homeland Security secretary, said last month that a committee would conduct an internal review of the privately run family detention centers by November. Immigration and Customs Enforcement officials said that the Berks center, run by the county, would be evaluated in a separate review.

Image The detention center in Berks County, Pa., about 70 miles northwest of Philadelphia, where the women and children are being held. Credit... Mark Makela for The New York Times

When Mr. Johnson said last month that the average length of stay at a family detention center was 20 days, that upset the women in Berks and prompted their hunger strike.

I have been here for 320 days, Amparo Osorio, 26, who came from Honduras and has a 2-year-old son, said on Tuesday. Like all the women detained at Berks who spoke in telephone interviews conducted in Spanish, she asked not to be identified by her complete name, for fear of retaliation by staff members.

What we want is for our voices to be heard, Ms. Osorio said.

Senator Bob Casey, a Democrat from Pennsylvania, sent a letter on Aug. 24 to Mr. Johnson about the prolonged detentions and the conditions at Berks.

The families detained there have in many cases escaped unspeakable horrors in their countries of origin and are seeking asylum and a better life,  Mr. Casey wrote. We can do better than the treatment they are receiving.

Bridget Cambria, one of three local lawyers who represents the detainees, said there are limited services available to the families at Berks. Children, who range in age from 2 to 16, are divided into two classrooms, but are not allowed to attend an outside school. (The government said it provides five full-time teachers.) The families have access to outdoor recreation, but are prohibited from going outside a wooden fence. They can use the internet, but social media is not allowed. The detainees must clean the center themselves  for which they get paid $1 a day.

The mothers say the monotony is hardest on their children. We wake up and we see the same walls, the same ceiling, and we think to ourselves, When will this end? said Estefani, 16, the oldest child at Berks. She and her sister and their mother, Maria Leiva, who came from El Salvador, had been in detention for 373 days as of Friday.
New York City said on Friday that it would adjust its procedure of testing for lead in the water supply of schools, after experts said the citys methods could lower the levels found.

Between March and June, the city tested the water in all 1,520 occupied school buildings. The night before taking samples, the contractors who conducted the testing arrived at the buildings and let the water run from all outlets for two hours, a practice known as pre-stagnation flushing. An investigation by The New York Times uncovered the practice, which cleans pipes of soluble lead and lead particles, and thus can result in samples with lower than normal lead levels.

The Environmental Protection Agencys voluntary guidelines for testing water in schools do not mention pre-stagnation flushing, and the agency has recommended against it when testing water in peoples homes.

In July, the city said that less than 1 percent of samples tested had lead concentrations that exceeded the agencys action level of 15 parts per billion.
STATE ASSEMBLY DISTRICT 65 Lower Manhattan. Mr. Silver dominated this district for 40 years, until his conviction caused his automatic expulsion. He chose Alice Cancel to fill his seat, and she won a special election in April. But she is unequipped for the job and seems detached from the community. In her very short time in Albany she supported a dreadful bill to make it easier for check-cashing shops to offer loans at exorbitant rates. Any of Ms. Cancels five challengers would be an improvement.

At the top of that list is Yuh-Line Niou, who has worked to gain support in the district, which includes Chinatown. She was an aide to Assemblyman Ron Kim of Queens and in that capacity often helped residents of Chinatown who got no response from Mr. Silvers office. Another strong candidate is Paul Newell, a community organizer fighting for rent regulation and affordable housing. Gigi Li, departing chairwoman of the local community board; Jenifer Rajkumar, a human rights lawyer; and Don Lee, a local businessman, are the other candidates. Ms. Niou would bring the energy, dedication and political independence that Albany and this district sorely need.

STATE ASSEMBLY DISTRICT 44 Central Brooklyn. Assemblyman James Brennan, a staunch reformer and budget expert, retires this year. The best candidate to fill his seat is Robert Carroll, a lawyer with deep progressive roots in Brooklyn, who promises to push for reforms like closing the loophole that allows lavish spending by limited-liability corporations. He also wants to require legislators to reveal their schedules, including meetings with lobbyists. His main opponent, Troy Odendhal, has been a vocal advocate for affordable housing and Native American issues. But Mr. Carrolls experience makes him the better choice.
Arrayed against the Brexiteers is a loose coalition of political, business and grass-roots groups, including one called Scientists for E.U., that have continued to campaign fervently for remaining in the union. Their strategy includes a legal challenge demanding a parliamentary vote on invoking Article 50 and public demonstrations of the benefits of E.U. membership, including a March for Europe this weekend in London and several other cities.

The Remain advocates argue that leaving the E.U. will hurt British business, financial services, diversity and innovation. Their hope is that sentiments about Brexit will change once people come to better understand its costs and ramifications. Bolstering the Remain agenda is a report from the Electoral Reform Society, a British advocacy group, which found a variety of flaws in the referendum, including voters who felt ill informed by a negative campaign on both sides.

Mrs. May has given little indication as yet what her priorities may be in exit negotiations  whether, for example, she might be prepared to compromise on free movement and E.U. budget contributions in exchange for as much access to the European market as possible. There is no indication whether the other 27 E.U. members are prepared to give Britain any leeway.

In any case, the prime minister has said she will not invoke Article 50 before the end of the year. That, at least, allows time for the government to come up with a game plan and for the country to debate it before irreversible steps are taken.
Today, when many Americans think of Vietnamese-Americans as a success story, we forget that the majority of Americans in 1975 did not want to accept Vietnamese refugees. (A sign hung in the window of a store near my parents grocery: Another American forced out of business by the Vietnamese.) For a country that prides itself on the American dream, refugees are simply un-American, despite the fact that some of the original English settlers of this country, the Puritans, were religious refugees.

Today, Syrian refugees face a similar reaction. To some Europeans, these refugees seem un-European for reasons of culture, religion and language. And in Europe and the United States, the attacks in Paris, Brussels, San Bernardino, Calif., and Orlando, Fla., have people fearing that Syrian refugees could be Islamic radicals, forgetting that those refugees are some of the first victims of the Islamic State.

Because those judgments have been rendered on many who have been cast out or who have fled, it is important for those of us who were refugees to remind the world of what our experiences mean.

I was  I am  the lucky kind of refugee who was carried along by his parents and who had no memory of the crossing. For people like my parents and the Syrians today, their voyages across land and sea are far more perilous than the ones undertaken by astronauts or Christopher Columbus. To those watching news reports, the refugees may be threatening or pitiful, but in reality, they are nothing less than heroic.

They will remain scarred by their history. It is understandable that some do not want to speak of their scars and might want to pretend that they are not refugees. It is more glamorous to be an exile, more comprehensible to be an immigrant, more desirable to be an expatriate. The need to belong can change refugees themselves both consciously and unconsciously, as has happened to me and others.

A Vietnamese colleague of mine once jokingly referred to his journey from refugee to bourgeoisie. When I told him I, too, was a refugee, he stopped joking and said, You dont look like one.

He was right. We can be invisible even to one another. But it is precisely because I do not look like a refugee that I have to proclaim being one, even when those of us who were refugees would rather forget that there was a time when the world thought us to be less than human.
SEATTLE  Dozens of allies threw their weight behind Microsoft on Friday in a case that challenges law enforcements use of secrecy orders to cloak its pursuit of digital communications in investigations.

Amazon, Google, Snapchat, Salesforce and several others filed a brief on Friday in support of Microsoft in its case against the United States Justice Department, while Apple, Mozilla and others made their own filing. Civil liberties groups and media organizations like Fox News, National Public Radio and The Washington Post submitted their own briefs.

Microsoft was also backed by a collection of law professors and a group of former United States attorneys who worked in the Western district of Washington, where Microsoft filed its federal lawsuit in April.

Microsofts effort to rally support is part of a growing resistance by technology companies to government attempts to snoop on the electronic communications of their customers.
For the second time this week, Spanish lawmakers on Friday rejected a bid by Mariano Rajoy, the caretaker prime minister, to form a government, increasing the likelihood that Spain will have to hold its third national election in a year to break its political stalemate.

Lawmakers turned down Mr. Rajoys proposed government by a vote of 180 to 170, the same result as a vote on Wednesday.

Fridays vote followed another acrimonious debate during which party leaders sought to highlight their differences rather than offer any new concessions.

Mr. Rajoys attempt to form a government was scuttled by the votes of the main left-wing opposition parties, led by the Socialists.
Seeking a thrill? Choose among The Talented Mr. Ripley; its French precursor, Purple Noon; and Carol, all adapted from Patricia Highsmith novels. Ride the roller coaster at Walley World in Vacation. Or venture into deep space with Building Star Trek, a 50th-anniversary special.

Whats Streaming

THE TALENTED MR. RIPLEY (1999) on Hulu, Amazon and iTunes. Starting with the loan of a Princeton jacket, Tom Ripley, a mens room attendant played with ruthless obsequiousness by Matt Damon, begins his ascent of the social ladder  then murders his way up the rest of the rungs. Its a gorgeous thing, starring Jude Law, Gwyneth Paltrow, Philip Seymour Hoffman and Cate Blanchett as the impossibly glamorous circle of expats Tom longs to join, and set on the island of Ischia in the Bay of Naples. Anthony Minghellas thriller, spun from the Patricia Highsmith novel, offers diabolically smart surprises wherever you care to look, Janet Maslin wrote in The New York Times. For a double dose of menace, check out Alain Delon as Tom  the role that made him a star  in Purple Noon, Rene Clements 1960 French version, also on Hulu, Amazon and iTunes.
Too many of these people get out, they hit a blind wall everywhere they turn, and they give up, Mr. Bailey said. They say, Well, I guess I better go rob a bank or Ill go hungry, or more likely a 7-Eleven or a liquor store.

Mr. Bailey recalls that his speech highlighted a program in which businesspeople gave jobs to carefully chosen early-release convicts and mentored them while they got back on their feet. It had been particularly successful in Minneapolis, where, Mr. Bailey said, it was able to reduce the recidivism rate to 19 percent from 73 percent.

Ms. Walsh approached Mr. Bailey after the speech and asked how she could set up a similar program in Maine.

Margo, no one will hire them, she recalled him saying. Thats why Im here talking about it.

Mr. Bailey wasnt aware of any for-profit businesses that were fully devoted to this model, so Ms. Walsh decided she would fill the gap. But she had a problem: a lack of start-up capital.

I was a single mother, head of household, on MaineCare and SNAP benefits, which is food stamps, Ms. Walsh said. (MaineCare is the states version of Medicaid.) I had no assets, nothing, she said. Not even a 401(k). I blew that all when I was drinking.

In the beginning, she worked out of her home to keep expenses low. She turned to her two sisters for help, each of whom lent her $2,000. And she secured a $2,500 asset-backed loan against her Subaru  money she used to make her first payroll.
HANGZHOU, China  In Dream Town, a collection of boxy office buildings on the gritty edge of this historic city, one tiny company is developing a portable 3-D printer. Another takes orders for traditional Chinese massages by smartphone. They are just two of the 710 start-ups being nurtured here.

Anywhere else, an incubator like Dream Town would be a vision of venture capitalists, angel investors or technology stalwarts. But this is China. The Chinese Communist Party doesnt trust the invisible hand of capitalism alone to encourage entrepreneurship, especially since it is a big part of the leaderships strategy to reshape the sagging economy.

Which is why the government of Hangzhou  a former royal capital that has been a major commercial hub for more than a millennium  built Dream Town and lavishes resources on start-ups. The businesses here get a slate of benefits like subsidized rent, cash handouts and special training, all courtesy of the city.

Chemayi, which offers car repair services through a smartphone app, is staying rent-free at Dream Town for three years and is applying for as much as $450,000 in subsidies from city authorities to help pay salaries and buy equipment.
MASON CITY  During 25 years as the Mason City Public Librarys historian and archivist, Terry Harrison has presided over a collection that includes nearly 200,000 photographic images, rare books, newspapers and maps dating back to the 19th century.

Now Harrison is ready for his position to also become part of history as he plans to retire in January.

Harrison, a Sedalia, Missouri, native, has degrees in classical archeology and American history. He took over this local history project in 1991 at the urging of his friend, then Mason City Library Director Andy Alexander, according to Globe Gazette archives.

When he got the call for the job, Harrison said, he was installing stained-glass windows in Kansas City.

The role originally was planned to be a four-month contract job.

Terry didnt grow up here, but you wouldnt know that from talking to him, said Mason City Public Library Director Mary Markwalter.

He did so well and acclimated himself, she said. Thats no small thing. He has been a wonderful resource to the community.

Markwalter would not say if his position will be replaced. She said the library would know closer to January.

Among the treasures in the library archives is a seven-minute short film from 1934, shot on the day John Dillinger and crew robbed the First National Bank.

Unfortunately, theres none of the robbery. Its the before and after, Harrison said.

But, it is a wonderful document, because it shows all the people gathered around the bank. It shows everyone moving around, everyone gathering around and congratulate themselves on surviving.

Its unlike just about anything that weve got, he said.

The archive collection also contains a 1911 letter from Frank Lloyd Wright to George Stockman, asking him to have the Stockman House photographed for a collection of Wrights work.

It was discovered by the late Art Fischbeck, whom Harrison credits for gathering many of the archives early materials.

The letter was just shoved in the trash along with everything else, Harrison said. We were digging through 52 boxes of material.

The archives also contains a few three-ring binders with information on Meredith Willson and his family.

I fought with the guys across the street good-naturedly for years, Harrison said, referring to organizations dedicated to the Mason City native who wrote The Music Man.

1912 Mason City did not look like The Music Man, Harrison said. Had no relationship at all. That streetscape over there (at The Music Man Square) was a Hollywood streetscape.

Mason City was a town of 15,000 people in 1912, he said. It was a very cosmopolitan town.

Almost 20 percent of the population was born someplace other than the United States, Harrison said. There were Mexican, Greek, Serbian, groups from everywhere in this town.

Also among the archives is evidence of a rougher past than The Music Man depicts, he said.

An early twentieth century court document shows all the episodes of disorderly conduct, which was a euphemism for prostitution, he said.

This was the norm in this town  lots of prostitution, lots of bootlegging, lots of everything.

But he also cites a 1850s-era general store ledger as one of his favorite pieces in the collection.

It tells what people were buying in 1856, he said. You get that whole attachment to peoples cultural history.
Enlightened urbanism is not the first thing that comes to mind when a prestigious jeweler owned by a multinational luxury goods conglomerate throws open its doors. Yet with the reopening this week of the Cartier flagship on Fifth Avenue, after a renovation of more than two years, it is the city itself that reclaims a gem.

Last of the private mansions to remain from a time when that particular stretch of Midtown, just north of St. Patricks Cathedral, was a preferred address for New Yorks moneybag set, the Cartier store had lost its luster over the decades, as indeed had Fifth Avenue itself.

A variety of factors drove the decision by Compagnie Financiere Richemont  which counts among its holdings Van Cleef & Arpels, Dunhill, Chloe and many major watchmaking houses  to restore the 1904 landmark, designed by Robert W. Gibson as the residence of Morton F. Plant.
His mother is a founder of Bellecore, a Boston-based manufacturer of beauty, fitness and wellness products. His father, a former chief of emergency medicine and the medical director at Lowell General Hospital, is the president of the Merrimack Valley Addiction Service in Lowell, Mass., which treats addiction disorders.

The couple first got to know each other at the Standard Hotel in New York in July 2013, though they were already aware of each other, having crossed paths twice in the previous three months while bouncing around the city with mutual friends.

I saw him once at a restaurant and another time at a house party, and he seemed like such an energetic and charismatic guy, Ms. Willkie said of Mr. Pasanen.

Mr. Pasanen said: She was gorgeous, that much I knew. We had been sort of quickly introduced, but we were never in a situation where we had a moment to sit down and talk.

That moment arrived at the Standard, where a mutual friend reintroduced Ms. Willkie to Mr. Pasanen.

They spoke for about an hour, she said, before Mr. Pasanen took her to a nearby restaurant, with several of their mutual friends in tow. My adrenaline was pumping the moment she sat next to me, he said. Although we were with other friends, she was never more than an arms length away from me the entire night. It was electric right from the start.
Since many potentially vulnerable Republican congressional seats are in safely blue states like California and New York, a serious effort to end Republican majorities would of course require expenditures that will have no impact on the Electoral College vote. In the standard way of thinking about trade-offs like these, it would be rational to tolerate a slight increase in the risk of losing the electoral vote if doing so would sufficiently increase the odds of ending congressional gridlock.

But because a campaigns budget is not a fixed sum, the trade-off may be more apparent than real. As economists have long stressed, the amount that people are willing to pay for something depends on what they expect to get in return. Democratic donors understand that their biggest concerns cant be addressed until Republicans lose their congressional majorities. They also understand that if the House doesnt flip this year, there will be virtually no chance of it flipping in the 2018 midterm elections. And until Democrats win enough seats in state legislatures to undo Republican gerrymandering  which could take decades  a wave election is the only near-term hope.

The candidacy of Donald Trump offers a unique opportunity. If Mrs. Clinton made the case clearly in these terms, many donors would step up. Democrats could compete for every vulnerable Republican seat without diverting a single dollar from the Electoral College battle.

Some argue that money in politics doesnt matter. Thats true in the sense that when both sides spend equally, their efforts tend to be mutually offsetting. But thats why the current opportunity is unique. Democratic donors, who have already been giving generously, have both the means and the inclination to pay for an advertising blitz that Republicans probably cannot match this time around.

If Mrs. Clinton wins the presidency, she has pledged to appoint Supreme Court justices sympathetic to laws curtailing campaign spending. But this election is governed by current laws. A certain rough justice would be served if those laws helped dislodge the Republicans who favor them.

Again, the most urgent reason for a serious effort to flip the House is that longstanding Republican hostility to climate science has blocked steps that could parry the biggest threat to our planets survival. Estimates suggest that taxing carbon could slow greenhouse gas emissions by enough to stabilize global temperatures by the middle of this century. In a rational world, we would have long since taken that step. But Republicans have persistently refused even to discuss that possibility.

REPUBLICAN opposition to greater investment in clean energy and infrastructure refurbishment is rooted largely in their hostility to higher taxes. But supporting such investments would be less difficult than most people realize. Thats because of the seemingly plausible, but essentially false, belief that higher taxes would make it harder for prosperous people to buy what they want.
Dissident is a loaded word in Cuba, a label used to discredit and punish. Those who have embraced the term can be shut out of public jobs and are often subjected to arbitrary detentions and beatings.

This year, with expectations reset by the normalization of relations between Cuba and the United States, Luis Manuel Otero and Yanelis Nunez Leyva, a couple in Havana, figured it was time to redefine what it means to be a dissident. They created the Museum of Dissidence in Cuba, a website that chronicles the long line of people who have stood in opposition to the government throughout history.

Among the dissidents they feature are President Raul Castro and his brother, Fidel, who took power through an armed revolt, along with prominent leaders of modern opposition groups, who have been suppressed by the Cuban government. The project carries an implicit message: The current ruling class, which seems so rigidly entrenched, will most likely be replaced one day.

Mr. Otero, who is a sculptor, has pushed the boundaries of free speech before through performance art. But Ms. Nunezs involvement with the website was particularly gutsy, since she worked as a staff writer at a magazine published by the Ministry of Culture when the site was created in April.
A big part of the problem is the inequality embedded in Americas health care system. The 2010 Affordable Care Act made health insurance more available, but millions of families still cannot afford the care they need. And lawmakers in many states and many Republicans in Congress have repeatedly shortchanged reproductive health programs because of ideological opposition to contraception and abortion.

The surge in maternal mortality in Texas defies easy explanation. Such increases typically happen during war, natural disasters and severe economic distress. State Republican lawmakers sharply reduced spending on womens health care in 2011 in an effort to eliminate government funding of Planned Parenthood. The cuts, which took effect at the end of that year, dont account for all of the increase, but they certainly dont aid maternal health.

The biggest killers during and after pregnancy in Texas are cardiac problems and overdoses involving prescription opioids and illegal drugs, according to a recent report by a task force created by the Texas Legislature. It also found that maternal mortality was much higher for black women in Texas than for white and Hispanic women.
In his famous essay about New York, E. B. White distinguished among three cities and three types of New Yorkers. The first two  the city belonging to people born here, and that of commuters who work here by day and leave by night  were, he said, less compelling than the third, the city of final destination for those who come here in hope and nervousness.

Much has changed since 1948, when Whites essay, Here Is New York, appeared. More has remained the same. The sidewalks have retained their beauty and ugliness. The city still draws its influx of eager young people fresh from the farm, the small town and the university, in search of excitement, employment or love.

But it is not only young people who see Manhattan, as Nick Carraway did, as the symbol in its first wild promise of all the mystery and the beauty in the world. It can also be the final destination (final in two ways) for people at the other end of the age spectrum. Since moving here part time in 2012 at age 67, I count myself among the senior eccentrics.

Most Americans with the urge to retire elsewhere go where children and grandchildren live. They flee from the North to the South or West in search of warmth, less expensive housing, lower taxes. They get rid of their snow shovels. Theyll never sand their driveways again.
To the Editor: I am appalled that much of the national discourse after the University of Chicago dean of students, John Ellison, denounced trigger warnings fundamentally misunderstands what trigger warnings are. Trigger warnings are issued before material that could harm students with mental illness or dealing with trauma (e.g., graphic rape scenes and suicides). However, Mr. Ellisons letter to freshmen insists that trigger warnings and safe spaces are a way for individuals to retreat from ideas and perspectives at odds with their own.

This could not be further from the truth. I am a queer rape survivor at Columbia University. When I am given a trigger warning, it gives me time to ground myself in my surroundings. Contrary to how Mr. Ellison misconstrues trigger warnings as censorship, a two-second trigger warning is the difference between my being able to discuss Toni Morrisons novel The Bluest Eye and silently spending hours reliving my rapes. Students requesting trigger warnings do not want censorship; we want to engage with contentious material, but cannot unless we have time to ground ourselves.

AMELIA ROSKIN-FRAZEE

San Francisco

To the Editor: The University of Chicago should be commended for its letter to incoming students reaffirming that its commitment to free speech will not be subordinated to demands for trigger warnings, safe spaces and disinvitations. As a recent college graduate, I know all too well the degree to which the climate on college campuses has become inhospitable to intellectual diversity and free thought, especially on issues relating to race and gender. True tolerance derives not from coercion but rather from mutual understanding. It cannot thrive unless all members of the community  majority and minority alike  work to understand the perspectives of those with different backgrounds, experiences and ideological persuasions from their own. This will not happen if large segments of the population feel that they have been silenced. The University of Chicago letter is not a publicity stunt but rather should serve as a model for institutions across the country.

DAVID GOLUB

New York

The writer is a graduate of Yale (B.S.) and Columbia (M.S.).

To the Editor: As a Stanford University engineering student in the 1970s, I jumped at the chance to hear a presentation by the Nobel laureate William Shockley, whose contribution to the invention of the transistor changed the world. His presentation turned out to be hateful, white-supremacist pseudo-scholarship about the supposed intellectual inferiority of black people. I learned some of the most important lessons of my college career at that presentation. I learned that high I.Q. does not imply wisdom or character. I learned what can go wrong when everyone tells you how brilliant you are, and you believe them. And I learned that the smartest guy in the room can be wrong. To this day, I am grateful there were no protesters on hand to prevent a racist from teaching me those lessons.
She is in danger of losing the hold-your-nose vote, those who might choose to stay at home or cast a protest vote for Jill Stein, the Green Party candidate. This could also be a problem with prospective Clinton supporters who have a history of not turning out, including Latinos, young voters and African-Americans. She is going to need a big turnout among Latinos in particular if she wants to win Nevada, and have any hope of finally doing what Mr. Messina attempted in 2012 in Arizona.

And then there are the supporters of Bernie Sanders, the Vermont senator she defeated for the nomination, who have always been wary of her, and many of whom have watched with concern as she has reached out for support from Republican leaders and voters. She has to make sure Democratic turnout is strong enough, said David Plouffe, who managed Mr. Obamas 2008 campaign for the White House. Its tricky because there are clearly a whole bunch of Republicans and moderate-leaning independents available to her that shed like to get.

Mr. Trumps supporters certainly seem energized, and all the more so after his immigration speech. Ann Coulter, the conservative commentator, called it the most magnificent speech ever given.

2. Trust matters.

At this point, can Mrs. Clinton turn around all those voters who dont like or trust her? Does it even matter? It might, especially if Mr. Trump crosses the acceptability hurdle at the first debate. To this end, she might hold a news conference to offer a clear explanation of what was going on with the Clinton Foundation, and her own role with it, and attempt to account for what appear to be her inconsistent responses during the email investigation.

Its not only a matter of winning the White House. She should do whatever she can to whittle down the suspicion that she is not honest or trustworthy, as much for governing as for winning the election, said Whit Ayres, a Republican pollster. When two-thirds of the people think shes dishonest and untrustworthy, thats a real problem.

One force working against that is that Mrs. Clinton is a politician who has  since her first run for the Senate in New York  tended to play it safe. And given Mr. Trumps troubles, the temptation to coast is understandable.

But playing it safe is sometimes not the safest thing to do in a campaign. Mr. Trump has captured the imagination of voters with his bold if unconventional approach to politics, and he certainly has dominated the campaign.
YALTA, Crimea  My quest to unearth my Russian roots brings me regularly to Crimea, where my ancestors cultivated a vineyard along the spectacular southern coast for generations until the 1917 Revolution.

This resort was the summer playground of the czar and the aristocracy during the last gilded decades of the empire. In 1954, the Kremlin offered Crimea as a gift to what eventually became an independent Ukraine, and then seized it back in 2014.

Squinting past the Soviet-era concrete excesses, one can sense what drew the elite here: the glittering sea, the mountain air mingling with the perfume of cedar trees and pink mimosa.

On my last visit, I had unexpected company in trying to uncover traces of that bygone era: the Crimean viceroys running the place under President Vladimir V. Putin are now presenting themselves as the heirs to that history.
ONE puzzle of the world is that religions often dont resemble their founders.

Jesus never mentioned gays or abortion but focused on the sick and the poor, yet some Christian leaders have prospered by demonizing gays. Muhammad raised the status of women in his time, yet today some Islamic clerics bar women from driving, or cite religion as a reason to hack off the genitals of young girls. Buddha presumably would be aghast at the apartheid imposed on the Rohingya minority by Buddhists in Myanmar.

Our religions often stand for the very opposite of what their founders stood for, notes Brian D. McLaren, a former pastor, in a provocative and powerful new book, The Great Spiritual Migration.

Founders are typically bold and charismatic visionaries who inspire with their moral imagination, while their teachings sometimes evolve into ingrown, risk-averse bureaucracies obsessed with money and power. That tension is especially pronounced with Christianity, because Jesus was a radical who challenged the establishment, while Christianity has been so successful that in much of the world it is the establishment.

No wonder more and more of us who are Christians by birth, by choice, or both find ourselves shaking our heads and asking, What happened to Christianity? McLaren writes. We feel as if our founder has been kidnapped and held hostage by extremists. His captors parade him in front of cameras to say, under duress, things he obviously doesnt believe. As their blank-faced puppet, he often comes across as anti-poor, anti-environment, anti-gay, anti-intellectual, anti-immigrant and anti-science. Thats not the Jesus we met in the Gospels!
ROCKFORD  The Cedar Valley Engine Club will host the 52nd Thresher's Reunion over Labor Day weekend, September 2-4.

The club grounds are located at 2097 210th St, Rockford, Iowa (seven miles west of Charles City on Highway 14).

This years event will feature IHC - Chapter 5 IHC Collectors State Show.

There will be Barn Talks in the Red Barn behind the Roseville General Store. Topics include Gelatin & Jell-O, Iowa Prohibition, Magneto Design and Repair and Trains in the Farm and Train Safety.

Over the weekend, music will be provided by Char's Band, Lonesome Ron, Gary Froiland, "Restored," the Hemmers Family, Jackie Schmitt and Jack Tynan & Dick Knight.

For more information, visit www.cedarvalleyengineclub.com.
Across the country, municipal governments have signed contracts with police unions including provisions that shield officers from punishment for brutal behavior as well as from legitimate complaints by the citizens they are supposed to serve.

That may soon change, as public outrage over police killings of civilians is ratcheting up pressure on elected officials to radically revise police contracts that make it almost impossible to bring officers to justice.

The most striking case in point is Chicago, which has been roiled by a police scandal stemming from a cover-up in the case of a 17-year-old named Laquan McDonald, who was executed by a police officer nearly two years ago.

The Police Department first claimed that Mr. McDonald was brandishing a knife and moving toward officers when he was killed. A video  probably available to the city within hours of the shooting but not made public until last November, more than a year later  showed that Mr. McDonald was moving away from the cops when they shot him 16 times, and that the police were obviously lying.
The problem is ageism  discrimination on the basis of age. A dumb and destructive obsession with youth so extreme that experience has become a liability. In Silicon Valley, engineers are getting Botox and hair transplants before interviews  and these are skilled, educated, white guys in their 20s, so imagine the effect further down the food chain.

Age discrimination in employment is illegal, but two-thirds of older job seekers report encountering it. At 64, Im fortunate not to have been one of them, as I work at the American Museum of Natural History, a truly all-age-friendly employer.

I write about ageism, though, so I hear stories all the time. The 51-year-old Uber driver taking me to Los Angeles International Airport at dawn a few weeks ago told me about a marketing position he thought he was eminently qualified for. He did his homework and nailed the interview. On his way out of the building he overheard, Yeah, hes perfect, but hes too old.

Im lucky enough to get my tech support from JK Scheinberg, the engineer at Apple who led the effort that moved the Mac to Intel processors. A little restless after retiring in 2008, at 54, he figured hed be a great fit for a position at an Apple store Genius Bar, despite being twice as old as anyone else at the group interview. On the way out, all three of the interviewers singled me out and said, Well be in touch,  he said. To his disappointment, he didnt hear anything immediately, and he says that he called to follow up. Though he did get an email from a recruiter some days later to set up a second interview, he stopped pursuing the opportunity.

Recruiters say people with more than three years of work experience need not apply. Ads call for digital natives, as if playing video games as a kid is proof of competence. Resumes go unread, as Christina Economos, a science educator with more than 40 years of experience developing curriculum, has learned. I dont even get a reply  or they just say, Weve found someone more suited,  she said. I feel that my experience, skill set, work ethic, are being dismissed just because of my age. Its really a blow, since I still feel like a vital human being.
Murray Hill, Manhattan

Serving on a co-op board is a thankless job: You do not get paid for your efforts, and people love to hate whatever decisions you make. So it is no wonder that few of your neighbors have stepped up to the plate. But even unpleasant tasks need to be done, and in a co-op, joining the board is one of them.

As collective owners of the building, you all have a shared responsibility for maintaining and operating it. If you buy a house, you either have to do the maintenance yourself or pay someone else to do it; if you do nothing, your home will deteriorate.

It is no different with a co-op. In a large building, many people can get away with doing very little. But shareholders in smaller buildings do not enjoy that luxury.

While some or many owners may wish to avoid taking responsibility for what they own, ultimately they are either going to participate in the decision-making or pay for the consequences if they do not, said Marc J. Luxemburg, a Manhattan lawyer who represents condo and co-op boards.

Your co-op could enact a rule requiring all shareholders to run for a seat on the board every certain number of years or pay a fee, Mr. Luxemburg said. Depending on your co-ops governing documents, the board might be able to make this change by amending the house rules, which would require a vote by board members, or it might need to amend the proprietary lease, which could require a supermajority vote of two-thirds of the shareholders. Most bylaws prohibit paying board members for their time, but your board could consider changing that rule to encourage engagement, Mr. Luxemburg said. Changing the bylaws also usually requires the support of a supermajority of shareholders.



Who Owns the House Plans?

We recently finished plans to build a new house to replace one that was flooded during Hurricane Sandy, and our prospective contractor informed us that he intends to build the same model home on another lot in town, a few blocks from ours. This design is based on a plan presented to me by the contractor and the architect, which they have used to build other homes, but it incorporates changes that I made, including rearranging bedrooms and adding a balcony and windows. I signed an agreement with the architect, but it makes no reference to ownership of the plans. Do we have any rights regarding the unauthorized use of these modified plans?
In Miami Beach, the city engineer, Bruce A. Mowry, has come up with a plan for combating the flooding. He rips up problematic streets, raises them with extra dirt and repaves them, installing new drains and giant pumps that can push water back into the bay. The approach has already been shown to work in several neighborhoods.

A controversy has erupted about whether Miami Beach is polluting Biscayne Bay with the water, but the city is pushing ahead. Miami Beach plans to spend at least $400 million on its plan by 2018, raising the money through fees imposed on homes and businesses.

The huge county government for the region, Miami-Dade County, is developing its own resilience strategy, one likely to cost billions. It has committed to rebuilding some of its decaying infrastructure, like a sewage plant, in a way that safeguards against sea-level rise and storm surges.

I dont see doom and gloom here; I see opportunity, said Harvey Ruvin, the clerk of courts for Miami-Dade County, who has been a leading voice on the environment in Florida for a half-century, and who recently led a county task force on sea-level rise. Were talking about the most robust possible jobs program you can think of, and one that cant be outsourced.

Many of the Republican mayors in the region are on the same page as Democrats in requesting national and state action on climate change, as well as pushing local steps. James C. Cason, the Republican mayor of Coral Gables, has convened informational sessions that draw hundreds of residents, and he has received no complaints for his stance.

I hope in coming years when we have to spend a lot of money, the citizens will still support it, Mr. Cason said in an interview.

Still, his city, and others in South Florida, have some hard decisions to make.

Some property owners cannot afford to raise their sea walls, putting their neighborhoods at increased risk of flooding. Will they be held legally responsible when floods do occur? A strict policy could force some people from their homes. Conversely, should public money be spent to do the work, even if it largely benefits private property?
For eight years, Peter Coles had an economists dream job at Harvard Business School.

His research focused on the design of efficient markets, an important and growing field that has influenced such things as Treasury bill auctions and decisions on who receives organ transplants. He even got to work with Alvin E. Roth, who won a Nobel in economic science in 2012.

But prestige was not enough to keep Mr. Coles at Harvard. In 2013, he moved to the San Francisco Bay Area. He now works at Airbnb, the online lodging marketplace, one of a number of tech companies luring economists with the promise of big sets of data and big salaries.

Silicon Valley is turning to the dismal science in its never-ending quest to squeeze more money out of old markets and build new ones. In turn, the economists say they are eager to explore the digital world for fresh insights into timeless economic questions of pricing, incentives and behavior.

Its an absolute candy store for economists, Mr. Coles said.

The pay, of course, is a lot better than you would find in academia, where economists typically earn $125,000 to $150,000 a year. In tech companies, pay for a Ph.D. economist will usually come in at more than $200,000 a year, the companies say. With bonuses and stock grants, compensation can easily double in a few years. Senior economists who manage teams can make even more.
We connect to that day in our own way, and the storyteller in the broad-brimmed rangers hat is no different. He was born into the military, his father an Army lifer who served in World War IIs European theater, his mother a daughter of the French underground. They were married at the Cathedral of Notre-Dame in Paris, and went on a short honeymoon in an Army jeep.

Their son Rob spent the better part of two decades flying Army Hueys and Black Hawks and training other soldiers how to fly helicopters. He left the service in early 2001, and was at home on Cape Cod, Mass., that Tuesday, watching the news. He thought of those he had trained, and felt guilt for not being among them for the deployments sure to come.

Mr. Franz focused on a real estate career, volunteered with the local veterans committee and worked briefly as a police officer. Then, in late 2011, he spotted a listing on a government website for a seasonal job as an interpretive park ranger at the Flight 93 Memorial. He quickly applied, he recalls, sensing a chance to complete the circle.

Soon he was driving about 600 miles west to Shanksville every April, and staying until October. He proved to be such a powerful storyteller, his presentation informed by his knowledge of aeronautics, that he was recently offered permanent employment, which he accepted.

He told this story unlike anyone I had heard, says Stephen Clark, the superintendent for the national parks in western Pennsylvania. And, of course, being a veteran makes it all the more special.

Sometimes Mr. Franz stands at the memorial plaza, answering questions about the time of the crash and the location of the bathrooms. He commiserates as people recount their own connections to the day, and keeps his counsel as conspiracy theorists question whether such a crash even occurred. If somebodys made up their mind, theres nothing I can do, he says.
The remnants of what had been Hurricane Hermine swept up and along the Eastern Seaboard on Saturday, disrupting the holiday weekend in much of the coastal South while preparing to bedevil the Northeast well into the week.

The storm, which made its landfall early Friday near St. Marks, Fla., as a Category 1 hurricane, led to hundreds of thousands of power failures and flooded roadways. In Florida, dealt its first direct strike by a hurricane in nearly 11 years, the Tallahassee area was particularly hard hit, and officials said it could be almost a week before electricity was fully restored.

We still have a lot of work to do following the storm, Gov. Rick Scott of Florida said at a news conference on Saturday in Tallahassee, the state capital. Well continue to spend the coming days assessing the damage and responding to the needs of our Florida families.

Mr. Scott said there was significant damage in the state, including a lot of downed power lines. Residents and officials described destroyed businesses, boats set adrift, crumbled sea walls and battered homes.
Far more than a typical Republican presidential candidate, Mr. Trump faces a wall of opposition from nonwhite voters. He records virtually no support from black voters in the polls. Their resistance has emerged as one of the most important impediments to Mr. Trumps candidacy, threatening to put several major swing states, like Michigan and Pennsylvania, entirely out of reach.

Mr. Trumps appearance on Saturday, long billed by campaign aides as a pivotal opportunity to reintroduce himself to black voters, was swathed in uncertainty up to the last minute, as the Trump campaign and the pastor deliberated over whether the Republican nominee would actually speak at the church. Plans for stops in nearby neighborhoods were announced, then retracted; Mr. Trump ultimately paid a short visit to Mr. Carsons childhood home before flying out of Detroit.

And a scheduled interview with Mr. Jackson, Mr. Trumps host on Saturday, became a source of embarrassment when it was revealed that both the questions and Mr. Trumps answers had been scripted in advance. Mr. Trump taped the television appearance before the church service on Saturday, and it is expected to air in the next few days on Mr. Jacksons Christian cable network.

Mr. Jackson acknowledged offhand the unusual spectacle of Mr. Trumps presence in his church. Introducing Mr. Trump, Mr. Jackson noted with a chuckle, This is the first African-American church hes been in.

Mr. Jackson had planned to let Mr. Trump speak for just one minute, but at a reception before the service, aides to Mr. Trump asked Mr. Jackson for more time, and he granted it.
At a private fund-raiser Tuesday night at a waterfront Hamptons estate, Hillary Clinton danced alongside Jimmy Buffett, Jon Bon Jovi and Paul McCartney, and joined in a singalong finale to Hey Jude.

I stand between you and the apocalypse, a confident Mrs. Clinton declared to laughs, exhibiting a flash of self-awareness and humor to a crowd that included Calvin Klein and Harvey Weinstein and for whom the prospect of a Donald J. Trump presidency is dire.

Mr. Trump has pointed to Mrs. Clintons noticeably scant schedule of campaign events this summer to suggest she has been hiding from the public. But Mrs. Clinton has been more than accessible to those who reside in some of the countrys most moneyed enclaves and are willing to spend hundreds of thousands of dollars to see her. In the last two weeks of August, Mrs. Clinton raked in roughly $50 million at 22 fund-raising events, averaging around $150,000 an hour, according to a New York Times tally.

And while Mrs. Clinton has faced criticism for her failure to hold a news conference for months, she has fielded hundreds of questions from the ultrarich in places like the Hamptons, Marthas Vineyard, Beverly Hills and Silicon Valley.
Adding to the feeling of vulnerability, Anchorage has had 25 homicides this year. That is the same number the city had for the entire year in 2015. Even though the number is high, the police point out that 1995, with 29 homicides, had the highest numbers in the past two decades.

With 15 homicides since late June, the Anchorage Police Department issued an unusual public advisory last week urging residents to be extra aware of their surroundings, noting that crimes often increase at night and early in the morning.

A.P.D. wants to remind our citizens to be cautious when they are out during these hours, especially if they are in isolated areas like our parks, bike trails or unoccupied streets, the Police Department wrote. If you plan to be out late at night, make sure you travel with several friends and not alone.

Chief Chris Tolley played down the significance of the advisory, saying that the police often remind the public to be safe, sometimes through a text messaging system.

This year, the police issued a similar safety alert after a series of car break-ins and thefts, Chief Tolley said. The goal was the same in this weeks advisory, to inform the public.
RICEVILLE  In 1945, Anita Minnis, who was raised on a farm east of Riceville, developed two of her endearing relationships: the love for her husband, Roger, and the love for her church, David Baptist Church.

The first relationship began on Aug. 19, 1945, when she married Roger Minnis in the Little Brown Church, near Nashua. The couple would engage in farming for many years, northwest of Riceville.

Her second long-term relationship evolved from her marriage to her husband, when she joined the church where he had attended since his birth. The Free Will Baptist Church was located where the town of David once thrived.

Though the small church was a worship center for many area families, it had no electricity, running water or indoor plumbing. It now has electricity but no running water or plumbing.

The couples family grew with the arrival of their daughter, Iris, and son, Leland.

Minnis began teaching Sunday school for the first and second graders in the early 1950s. During those years, young families in the church produced large Sunday school classes.

We had one big room and a curtain divided it, and you got a little bit of learning from the other room, but it worked, Minnis said. Our Christmas programs were held during the day since there was no electricity.

She recalls many changes in the church and congregation during her seven decades of attendance.

In her early years, the building was heated with a coal stove. Somewhere in the 40s or 50s, we got an oil burner that had to be started the night before to warm it up, she said. Now they have a wall furnace that was put in four years ago.

She also recalled the name of the church being changed from The Free Will Baptist Church to David Community Church in 1954, because people came from diverse religious persuasions, Minnis said.

Another major change for the congregation came in 1962, when electricity was connected to the church. Electricity made a big difference in our church, she said. We started having Christmas Eve programs after it came.

Minnis, who celebrated her 90th birthday this year, has also been involved with the churchs Ladies Aid group and has been clerk of the church for the past 25 years.

The church has changed considerably, Minnis said. We have no children going today. Our youngest member is probably 25.

She pointed out the congregation currently supports the Red Cross, the Salvation Army and a couple of foreign missions.

One of the major events at the church is the ladies salad luncheon, which is held each July. The average attendance for the event is near 45. Because the church still has no water supply, members provide water for such events.

Whatever water we need, we take, Minnis said. We dont have many members, but everyone does something. We have a cooperative spirit.

Minnis also fondly recalled the churchs 100th anniversary celebration held in 1986. One hundred people attended their noon meal, and more than 200 came for cake in the afternoon. The women of the congregation also compiled recipes for a cookbook to celebrate the event.

Five ministers have served David Community Church since Minnis began attending. The current pastor, Gary Gilbert, has served the congregation since 1996.

The church closes seasonally in November, reopening in April.

Minnis husband died in 2014, and, today, the church means a lot to her.

The church has meant everything to me, Minnis said. If something happened to it and I had to go somewhere else I would be lost.

Life is good, but I am looking forward to something better.
CARACAS, Venezuela  President Nicolas Maduro was chased at a routine political event by a crowd of angry protesters banging on pots and yelling that they were hungry, just days after thousands of Venezuelans took to the streets to call for his ouster, local news media reported on Saturday.

Scenes from the confrontation late Friday, which also appeared in videos uploaded to social media, captured the attention of Venezuelans, many of whom blame the unpopular president for the countrys food shortages.

In one video, Mr. Maduro tries to calm the pot-bangers by walking among them, only to be surrounded as the furious crowd yells obscenities.

What is this? an astounded voice behind the camera asks in one of the video clips.

Mr. Maduro had traveled from the capital, Caracas, to Margarita Island off Venezuelas northern coast to inaugurate a number of new public housing units and give a televised address.
DHAKA, Bangladesh  Bangladesh on Saturday executed a leading figure in an Islamist party after he was convicted of committing atrocities during the 1971 war of independence from Pakistan, the law minister said.

The man, Mir Quasem Ali, 63, a financier for the Jamaat-e-Islami party, was hanged at a prison on the outskirts of Dhaka, the capital, Law Minister Anisul Haq said. Mr. Ali was convicted of murder, confinement, torture and incitement to religious hatred during the war.

The war crimes tribunal set up by Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in 2010 has set off violent protests and drawn criticism from opposition politicians, who say it is being used to silence her political foes, a charge the government denies.

Human rights groups say the tribunals procedures fall short of international standards. The government rejects that assertion.
NAYPYIDAW, Myanmar  A peace conference convened to find a way to end decades of ethnic conflict in Myanmar concluded Saturday without any breakthroughs, but the countrys leader contended that it was a step toward resolving intractable disputes.

At the closing ceremony, Myanmars leader, Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, expressed optimism about the peace process despite disagreements among delegates at the conference, including ethnic rebel groups and members of the government, political parties and the military.

During the conference, some delegates openly criticized and attacked others, Ms. Aung San Suu Kyi said. But we shouldnt worry about that. We should worry about pretending we dont have a problem.

The military controlled Myanmar for five decades before some democratic changes were initiated in 2011 by U Thein Sein, then the president. Last year, Ms. Aung San Suu Kyis party, the National League for Democracy, took power after winning national elections.
You see a fancy two-story or three-story house, and you ask, Whose is it? They name a prosecutor working in some corner of the attorney generals office here, Masroor Lutfi, a law student in Parwan Province, told Mr. Hamidi during a recent official visit to the province. Everyone who finds out that I am studying law questions my real intentions, because the law has come under question.

Mr. Hamidi nodded in pained agreement. When it was his turn to speak, he acknowledged that the failure of the justice system had alienated people from the government, sometimes driving them to take their grievances to the Taliban even in areas under government control.

What is the point of controlling districts when we dont have peoples hearts? he said.

Mr. Hamidi, a 48-year-old father of three who has been in office for seven months, is a police academy graduate who later took to civilian life and studied law. For a decade, he served as a well-respected human rights commissioner, investigating some of the earliest injustices of the political elite that set the tone after the United States invasion.

He had been working on a masters degree at Harvard for eight months, his only time living outside Afghanistan, when he was called home after the confirmation of his appointment by the coalition government to be attorney general.

Bluntly, he says he has inherited an institution that he feels is in the same shape it was the morning after the Taliban government was overrun in 2001. Despite millions of dollars spent, there has been no attention to its most basic infrastructure, or to building the capacity of the staff; only one-third of its members have higher education.
HANGZHOU, China  President Obama and President Xi Jinping of China formally committed the worlds two largest economies to the Paris climate agreement here on Saturday, cementing their partnership on climate change and offering a rare display of harmony in a relationship that has become increasingly discordant.

On multiple fronts, like computer hacking and maritime security, ties between China and the United States have frayed during the seven and a half years of Mr. Obamas presidency. The friction has worsened since the ascension of Mr. Xi as a powerful nationalist leader in 2013.

Yet the fact that he and Mr. Obama could set aside those tensions to work together yet again on a joint plan to reduce greenhouse gases attests to the pragmatic personal rapport they have built, as well as to the complexity of the broader United States-China relationship, a tangle of competing and congruent interests.

At a ceremony in this picturesque lakefront city, the two leaders hailed the adoption of the Paris agreement as critical to bringing it into force worldwide. Though widely expected as the next step in the legal process, the move could provide a boost to those who want to build momentum for further climate talks by bringing the December accord into effect as soon as possible.
HANGZHOU, China  Air Force One had a bumpy landing in Hangzhou on Saturday, but it was nothing compared with what happened after the plane rolled to a stop.

As the reporters who traveled to the Group of 20 summit meeting with President Obama from Hawaii piled out and walked under the wing to record his arrival, we were abruptly met by a line of bright blue tape, held taut by security guards. In six years of covering the White House, I had never seen a foreign host prevent the news media from watching Mr. Obama disembark.

When a White House staff member protested to a Chinese security official that this was not normal protocol, the official shouted, This is our country.

In another departure from protocol, there was no rolling staircase for Mr. Obama to descend in view of the television cameras. Instead, he emerged from a door in the belly of the plane that he usually uses only on high-security trips, like those to Afghanistan.
MANILA  President Rodrigo Dutertes declaration of a state of lawlessness in the Philippines after a blast that left at least 14 dead raised fears on Saturday that it could lead to a curtailment of basic freedoms.

The declaration of a state of lawlessness would allow the military to carry out some police operations, including patrolling urban areas, conducting searches, enforcing curfews and setting up checkpoints, Mr. Duterte said.

A presidential spokesman, Ernesto Abella, said Saturday that the declaration was limited and allowed for the use of troops only to deal with security threats and to suppress violence.

Mr. Abella emphasized that the president was not declaring martial law, which he could do only in response to an invasion or rebellion, and when the public safety requires it.
TOKYO  Prime Minister Shinzo Abe of Japan made an impassioned plea on Saturday to President Vladimir V. Putin of Russia for their two countries to resolve a dispute over a group of islands that has been a sore point in their relations since the end of World War II.

During a panel discussion in the Russian city of Vladivostok, at which Mr. Abe appeared with Mr. Putin and President Park Geun-hye of South Korea, Mr. Abe called for an end to the unnatural state of affairs that has continued these 70 years. Because of the territorial conflict over the islands, which Soviet troops occupied after Japan surrendered in 1945, Japan and Russia never signed a formal peace treaty after the war.

The panel featuring the three leaders was part of the Eastern Economic Forum, an investment conference sponsored by the Russian government to encourage foreign companies to develop business partnerships in Russias far east, whose port city of Vladivostok is much closer to Seoul and Tokyo than to Moscow. All three countries have their own reasons for seeking closer economic ties with one another, including a mutual desire to find counterweights to a rising China in Asia.

Although Mr. Abe and Mr. Putin had held a bilateral meeting on Friday to discuss negotiations over the disputed islands  which Russia calls the southern Kurile Islands and Japan calls the Northern Territories  Mr. Abe took the opportunity while sharing the stage with the Russian president to address him directly.
LONDON  In the rural village of Ambridge on the British radio show The Archers, nothing much changes, and listeners like it that way.

They find comfort in the pace and traditions of country life, and in the villagers peccadilloes intertwined with conversations about badger culls, jam making, the campaign to save a local shop or a cows giving birth to triplets. Class differences, when they surface, are usually respected.

Yes, over the nearly seven decades that the BBC has broadcast the program, plots have included at least one same-sex marriage, the wedding of a Hindu woman to a vicar who rides a motorcycle and a childs birth out of wedlock. And yes, some characters have turned out to be snobs, bigots, adulterers and even criminals. But the shows old tagline  an everyday story of country folk  still seems appropriate.

Yet a trial that begins on Sundays episode has much of Britain buzzing and has divided listeners. The defendant, Helen Titchener, is charged with trying to kill her husband, Rob, after years of abuse.
CAIRO  Martin Kobler, the United Nations envoy to Libya, used to regularly joke that the only functioning government in Libya was the Islamic State. Unlike the countrys other three governments, it not only held territory but ran the courts, provided services to the public and ensured security  however harsh its rule.

Fortunately, Mr. Kobler said recently, his joke is now out of date, with the Islamic State reduced to three neighborhoods in the coastal city of Surt, and its headquarters in the hands of militias supporting the new United Nations-backed government. This is over now, he said.

The problems of governing Libya, however, are far from over, particularly as its many remaining factions try to figure out what comes next at a potential second round of talks this month, presided over by the United Nations. Surts future will loom large in the discussions.

Ever since Libyas longtime ruler, Col. Muammar el-Qaddafi, was deposed and killed in Surt in 2011, the country has been divided by tribal and militia rivalries. With a population slightly larger than that of Miami, Libya has no clear central government and scant possibility of exploiting its enormous oil reserves, the ninth largest in the world.
LOS ANGELES  U.S. Sen. Barbara Boxer is leaving Capitol Hill, but the record of her work will find a new home at UC Berkeley.

The retiring senator announced Thursday that she is donating more than two decades of her congressional papers to the schools Bancroft Library.

The liberal Democrat announced in January she would not seek a fifth term.

Boxer, first elected to the Senate in 1992, says in a statement she hopes the archive will provide insights for future generations who want to study the era when women were ascending in greater numbers to political power in Washington.

The school is also establishing the Barbara Boxer Lecture Series, featuring the senator as its inaugural speaker next year.
SANTA ANA  A Yorba Linda man was sentenced this week to nine years in prison after admitting to defrauding friends and neighbors out of more than $100,000 and posing as a mafioso.

Angelo Castello, 61, during a hearing at the Santa Ana courthouse, pleaded guilty to more than a dozen felony counts, including fraud, extortion, grand theft and making criminal threats. Along with the prison time, he was ordered Thursday to pay an unspecified amount of restitution to his victims.

Prosecutors allege that between July 2012 and February 2014 Castello passed himself of as an investor who befriended people to tell them about investment opportunities.

Among his reported victims was a pawn shop owner who paid Castello $19,500 to buy diamonds. Castello took the money, prosecutors said, but never bought the jewels.

Castello also tricked a neighbor, a criminal defense attorney, into believing that he was a mafia member who knew another mafioso who needed representation, prosecutors said.

Authorities say that Castello asked for a $5,000 loan from the attorney in order to pay the mafia crew; it was unclear what the payment was for.

He later told the attorney that $800 of the money had been invested with insider trading knowledge, making the lawyer a part to a crime, prosecutors said. Castello endd up extorting the attorney of about $100,000, authorities added.

If the case had gone to trial, Costello would have faced up to 17 years and four months in prison.

Contact the writer: semery@ocregister.com
In the 1985 dystopian science fiction movie, Brazil, the plot centers on the authorities apprehension of an innocent man named Archibald Buttle. He was mistaken for the outlaw, Archibald Tuttle, after a fly landed on a printer head in a government office, thus causing the T to print as a B on the arrest warrant.

Typical of its dark humor, the movies real criminal is an unlicensed heating and air-conditioning repairman played by Robert De Niro. Its a satire of our modern societys impenetrable bureaucracies and the powerlessness we can feel when were at their mercy. No wonder the Register named it one of the best libertarian movies of all time.

Im reminded of Brazil as I read news about federal efforts to crack down on bad guys. Conservatives often express support for the waterboarding of terrorists. That sounds OK, provided the bureaucrats actually got the right guy.

Same goes with those no fly lists that the Transportation Security Administration uses to keep suspected terrorists off of airplanes. The lists and their criteria are secret. Theres no due process, meaning that if you get pulled out of line you have no way to appeal that decision. The New York Times reported on an 8-year-old who a few years ago was stuck on a TSA watch list. Often, people with names similar to someone elses  think Buttle versus Tuttle  get stopped.

Liberals can be just as unconcerned as conservatives over the veracity of these lists. For instance, California is the only state with the Armed Prohibited Person System (APPS). Its a state Department of Justice database used to send agents to peoples homes to confiscate their weapons after the state determines they no longer are eligible to own them (e.g., after being convicted of a crime or being the subject of a restraining order).

No one wants dangerous people to have access to an arsenal, but we again run up against the problem of lists. Anyone who has compiled lists realizes how quickly they become out of date, or how easy it is for a clerk to misspell a name. An analysis of the APPS list from the state auditor and a gun-rights group found that anywhere from 37 percent to 60 percent of the people on the list actually had a legal right to still own firearms.

In a free society, its not OK for an innocent person to have guns confiscated or kept from flying because of some mistaken entry on a ledger. Its infuriating how difficult it is to clear ones name after an error is detected. There are few things more aggravating than clearing up bureaucratic snafus  whether its with a government agency or health insurance company.

In August, the California State Auditor looked at the CalGang program, which is a database, or list, used voluntarily by the states law enforcement agencies to track gang members. The recent audit  focusing on four agencies, including the Santa Ana Police Department  found wild inaccuracies that are causing real harm to real people.

For instance, the auditor analyzed the names of 100 people entered into the database and found they lacked adequate support for including 13 people on the list. Furthermore, we found 42 individuals in CalGang who were supposedly younger than one year of age at the time of entry.

Again, no one has sympathy for gang members. But what about people who arent gang members who are included in the list? They are monitored by the police, potentially violating their privacy rights, the Auditor notes. It can also harm their job prospects, given that a number of agencies use the database to disqualify applicants. Santa Ana police officials agreed with the recommendations and vowed to correct the problems, which is the right attitude.

But I have little faith in any government list of the citizenry thats been created without due process. We all want to get tough on criminals, but we have to be sure that innocent folks dont land on the list because of a bad printer, a dead fly or an inaccurate typist.

Steven Greenhut is Western region director for the R Street Institute. He was a Register editorial writer from 1998 to 2009. Write to him at sgreenhut@rstreet.org.
The landmark PCH water tower of Sunset Beach, converted into a private home and once listed for $8 million, quietly sold in August for $1.5 million, property records show.

Set above the 87-foot-high tower, the water tank replica is a 2,800-square-foot, three-bedroom house with 360-degree views, from the Pacific Ocean to the mountains.

Stories about the quirky home described a 145-gallon curved aquarium and, at the center of the party room, a fire pit that could double as a table  or be mechanically lifted to the ceiling to make way for a dance floor.

The old tower once held 75,000 gallons, or more than 300 tons, of water.

It sat empty in the late 1970s and early 80s, until a pair of investors decided to save the landmark and replicate its look.

In 1995, they sold it to Gerald Wallace for $800,000.

Wallace, a retired fire chief for South Pasadena, closed sale on August 5, according to property records. They show the buyers were OERP LLC and Barret Woods, whose address matches that of a Lee & Associates commercial real estate office on Inland Empire Boulevard in Ontario.

Wallace tried to sell the property, bordering Sunset Beach and Seal Beach along Pacific Coast Highway, in the late 1990s for $3.5 million. He tried again in 2004 for $5 million, in 2006 for $8 million and in 2008 for $4.5 million. But no one ever bought it.

In recent years, he rented it out for parties or vacations, at about $4,000 a week.

I dont want to claim its the greatest house in the world, but for a beach house, its the absolute ultimate, Wallace once told an Orange County Register reporter.

Is this a house you want to live in for 15 years? he said. Maybe not. But youd love it for a week.

Did you miss?

Elrod House, Palm Springs home seen in James Bonds Diamonds are Forever, sells for $7.7 million
Spattered throughout the bowels of Twitter, people are, as always, embroiled in a heated argument. Unlike much of the back-and-forth on social media, however, the weight of the presidential race is becoming a serious concern. Between #NeverTrump and #HillaryForPrison, many Americans feel that they are stuck between two uninspiring choices. The unconventional Republican candidate, Donald Trump, is making questionable comments, while the Democratic candidate, Hillary Clinton, is tarnished with numerous scandals and political intrigue  with disapproval for both reaching record-breaking highs.

In our countrys current political reality, we have bifurcated choices: Republican or Democratic, Clinton or Trump. Of any presidential cycle, this would be the year where a third choice  a third party, perhaps  could act as a real option, an alternate to the lesser of two evils feeling that now plagues many Americans.

Enter the Libertarian and Green parties, third parties with presidential nominees Gary Johnson and Jill Stein, respectively. But for either Johnson or Stein to gain traction or credibility amongst the larger electorate, they would need to be in the presidential debates, which some analysts estimate will have higher viewership than the Super Bowl this year. But to be granted a spot in the debates each candidate would have to garner 15 percent in select presidential election polls.

More specifically, the Commission on Presidential Debates announced in August the five nationwide polls that will be averaged to determine whether a candidate meets its threshold to be offered a seat on stage in the debates, the first of which is scheduled for September 26. The five polls the commission will average are ABC-Washington Post, CBS-New York Times, CNN-Opinion Research Corporation, Fox News and NBC-Wall Street Journal.

Both Johnson and Stein are well below the 15 percent threshold. Johnson is polling somewhere around the 8 percent mark  just past the halfway point to the 15 percent that would allow him to be recognized as a legitimate candidate by the Commission on Presidential Debates.

Jill Stein lags further still behind Johnson, at around 4 percent, according to both the Washington Post and Fox News polls. Both are a far cry from seeing themselves on stage against Trump and Clinton.

As of now, the best a third-party candidate can do is play spoiler. And, according to Fox News, the third-party candidates take more from Clinton than Trump, a fact Gov. Johnson shared with the Southern California News Group Editorial Board during an August meeting.

The question then becomes: Is that what we want out of our third parties? Do we want them to be an afterthought, someone thrown into the mix to potentially have a slight disruption that leads to the election of a major party president? Do we want Libertarians and Green Party members to be content hearing that their candidate  a candidate whose views they closely align with  mentioned casually in the news for a few months before fading back into obscurity?

These questions are especially relevant today when the two top contenders for the presidency are two of the most disliked figures in American politics. A new poll released August 31 conducted by ABC News and the Washington Post found that 59 percent of registered voters view Clinton unfavorably, while 60 percent view Trump unfavorably. As the Wall Street Journal noted, that affirms this election season as the one with the least popular candidates in over 30 years of polling.

Its ironic that, even in this peculiar election cycle, a third-party candidate has little chance to win the presidency. Americas first president, George Washington, even issued concerns about the countrys political party system.

Writing for the Washington Post, Dennis Jamison analyzed President Washingtons words on the party system and then offered his own sobering synopsis our countrys state of affairs. America is at the mercy of two powerful political parties. If a strong candidate wants to get elected to office in this country, one usually needs some affiliation to the major parties, he wrote. We see from history that third-party forays are limited in strength and often serve only to undermine one or another of the major parties in the capacity of a spoiler.

An independent candidate has little to no chance to gain debate access, and thus little chance to affect the electorate. Without the national spotlight of a debate, a third-party candidate is not only entirely unlikely to ever win an election, he or she is unlikely to even carry a single state. To find the last time a third-party candidate won a state youd have to flip your history book open to 1968, when George Wallace won five states.

Beyond the obvious goal of being elected president, candidates like Johnson and Stein continue to run year after year in hopes of spreading their message. They are simply message candidates, espousing tangible principles that transcend mainstream ego-driven politics.

Year after year, Americans are being asked to choose not the candidate that they believe will best run this country, but the one that they believe will ruin it the least. Perhaps 2016 is the ultimate lesser-of-two-evils election. It doesnt have to be that way, and maybe this election will be the catalyst for a broader change in how we view the election of presidents.

Brian Calle is the opinion editor for the Southern California News Group. Yuri Vanetik is a private investor and philanthropist.
DAVAO, Philippines  An explosion killed at least 12 people and wounded at least 24 at a night market in President Rodrigo Dutertes hometown in the southern Philippines, a region under a heightened security alert because of a military offensive against Abu Sayyaf militants, officials said.

Regional military commander Lt. Gen. Rey Leonardo Guerrero said it was not immediately clear what caused the explosion at a massage section of the market, which was cordoned off by police bomb experts and investigators.

Police Chief Superintendent Manuel Gaerlan said witnesses gave contrasting accounts, with some saying that a cooking gas tank exploded while others suggested it may have been some kind of an explosive. Police set up checkpoints in key roads leading to the city, a regional gateway about 610 miles south of Manila.

TV footage showed plastic chairs strewn about at the scene of the blast, where witnesses said the bodies of some of the dead lay scattered a few hours after the explosion. Ambulance vans drove to and from the area following the blast.

Police forces in the capital Manila went on full alert at midnight following the deadly blast.

Duterte, who served as a longtime mayor of Davao before assuming the presidency in June, was in the region but has not issued any statement. His spokesman, Ernesto Abella, urged the public to be vigilant.

While no one has yet claimed responsibility it is best that the populace refrain from reckless speculation and avoid crowded places, Abella said. There is no cause for alarm, but it is wise to be cautious.

National Security Council spokesman Ned Price said in a statement Friday that local authorities in the Philippines continue to investigate the cause of the explosion, and the United States stands ready to provide assistance to the investigation.

President Barack Obama will have an opportunity to offer his personal condolences to Duterte when the two leaders plan to meet on the sidelines of a regional summit in Laos next week, Price said.

Philippine forces were on alert amid an ongoing military offensive against Abu Sayyaf extremists in southern Sulu province, which intensified last week after the militants beheaded a kidnapped young villager. The militants threatened to launch an unspecified attack after the military said 30 of the gunmen were killed in the weeklong offensive.

Some commanders of the Abu Sayyaf, which is blacklisted by the United States and the Philippines as a terrorist organization for deadly bombings, ransom kidnappings and beheadings, have pledged allegiance to the Islamic State group. The military, however, says there has been no evidence of a direct collaboration and militant action may have been aimed at bolstering their image after years of combat setbacks.
FULLERTON  Nobody answered Christine Montgomerys phone calls.

The 55-year-old Santa Fe Springs resident had called several potential owners of the engraved 1982 Granada Hills High class ring she recently found treasure hunting in Fullerton.

On Thursday, she made another round of calls.

This time, Charlotte Lee answered. She had deleted Montgomerys earlier email, assuming spam.

Ive been looking for you for a long time, Montgomery told Lee, who had been Charlotte Kim in high school, arranging a meeting to return the lost ring.

On Friday, the two women met in the vacant Fullerton lot that was once the Hanmaum Presbyterian Church, at the spot where Montgomerys metal detector had locked in on the buried keepsake.

Oh my gosh, said Lee, tearing up as she put the ring on her left ring finger. I cant express how this feels. Im very happy, very touched. This brings back old memories, good memories.

While volunteering at the church 10 years ago, the ring had fallen off a necklace. Lee hadnt realized until she was home.

Once you lose something that like, what can you do about it? she said.

The gold ring, a gift from Lees father, was soon forgotten. Life moved on.

Most people who treasure hunt, Im sure, wouldve kept the ring, added it to their collection, Lee said. But she was actually looking to return it, which is so awesome. Im grateful, and happy to know there still are nice people out there.

She didnt give up looking for me, either, Lee added. That made me feel special.

Montgomery and her husband, Dennis, are longtime treasure hunters.

Over the years, theyve found thousands of coins, trinkets, rings and medallions in the dirt. Most have been unearthed around Whittier College  near their Santa Fe Springs home.

On more than one occasion, Dennis Montgomery has wondered how much pocket change hes lost searching for lost pocket change.

Its a weird kind of hobby, he said.

Most of what we find is junk, his wife added, but its still fun.

Christine Montgomery used to work for the La Habra Depot Theatre. Currently, shes a special education teacher at Granada Middle School.

In her spare time, she hunts for things others have long forgotten.

If shes lucky, she gets to return them.

I always want to pay things forward, Montgomery said. Everybody loses something. People lose stuff all the time. Ive lost stuff, but luckily, Ive been able to find it.
NABLUS, West Bank  The brother of the dead man sat in a plastic chair, smoking cigarettes and drinking coffee as mourners approached to pay respects. On the wall was a poster of the slain man, the latest Palestinian to meet an untimely, violent end.

But this man, Ahmed Halawa, was not killed in a clash with the hated Israeli military. A Palestinian police officer accused of plotting the murder of two other officers, Halawa was beaten to death while in the custody of Palestinian security forces.

Were living under Israeli occupation, said the brother, Abdullah Halawa, but to be honest with you, weve never seen anything like this from the Israeli soldiers.

Not that anyone in Nablus, the second-largest city in the occupied West Bank, has grown fond of the Israelis, but Halawas death underscored the internal divisions tearing at Palestinian society with the approach of municipal elections next month. It came after weeks of violence between the Palestinian authorities and what they call outlaw groups, touching off a wave of unrest marked by stone throwing, tear gas and a raucous funeral procession for Halawa of thousands of people marching through the streets this week.

The riots and protests reflect the challenge for Palestinian security forces to maintain order in West Bank cities under the full control of the Palestinian Authority amid disenchantment with the authority and its leader, President Mahmoud Abbas.

Some stalwarts of Abbas Fatah party are calling on him to postpone or cancel the Oct. 8 elections, fearing losses to rival factions within the party or to candidates sympathetic to Hamas, the militant Islamist group that controls Gaza.

When I see these protests that are taking place, its an indicator that theres a lot of discontent with Fatah and its rule, and Mahmoud Abbas and his rule and specifically with where this government is not taking us, said Diana Buttu, a lawyer in Ramallah who once worked for Abbas but has become one of his harshest critics. Hes got nothing to show after all these years, and so increasingly hes turning inward, and so hes trying to suppress dissent.

Akram Rajoub, the governor of Nablus  who has been targeted by protesters demanding that he and Abbas resign  acknowledged the public frustration. We feel we have made mistakes in the past, he said in an interview in his office the day after the funeral, so we had a buildup which led to what we just experienced in Nablus.

Rajoub counted Halawas death at the hands of security officers as one such error, and said it would be investigated. Of course this was a mistake, he said. The officers should not have reacted this way.

But Rajoub, who himself has been at odds with Abbas at times, said Palestinian critics were playing into the hands of Israel by undercutting the president. He vowed not to let up on what he called criminal elements, asserting: The Palestinian National Authority is getting serious on trying to enforce the law in the Palestinian streets.

The instability has consequences for Israel, which depends deeply on cooperation with the Palestinian security forces, and for the United States and other countries that have invested in the success of the Palestinian Authority to establish security in the West Bank and serve as a negotiating partner with Israel. With the peace process long stalemated, many Palestinians see a calcified leadership plagued by corruption and financial problems and, in their view, too aligned with the Israeli authorities and outside influencers.

The coming municipal elections have highlighted the fault lines. Palestinians have not held national elections since parliamentary contests in 2006 resulted in surprise victories by Hamas. West Bank cities like Nablus last elected new councils and mayors in 2012, with Fatah posting mixed results, in some cases having its mainstream slates outpolled by renegade factions of its own party.

Abbas, 81, and in his 12th year of what was supposed to be a four-year term, surprised many by calling the October balloting. In roughly half of the jurisdictions, the filing deadline passed with only one slate of candidates, or even none, making the elections something between a coronation and a joke. But in the most populous cities, like Nablus, rival factions will compete for office.

Jamal Tirawi, a Fatah central committee member from Nablus, said Abbas should cancel the vote. I dont think this is the time for the Palestinians to have municipal elections, he said. The streets are restless.

The streets in Nablus bristle with an edgy energy. Home to the Palestinian Stock Exchange, Nablus has a bustling center in a narrow valley surrounded by a sea of hillside residences. It was founded by the Romans and has a 2,000-year history marked by revolts and conflict. Its record of violent resistance to Turkish, British and Israeli rulers earned it the nickname Mountain of Fire.

The day after the funeral procession, Palestinian security officers wearing flak vests and armed with semi-automatic rifles were stationed outside Nabluss Old City. In the market, shoppers expressed cynicism about the elections.

I dont think the elections will take place, and if they do I dont believe in them, said Areej Khader, 47, who was buying parsley, mint and thyme. Theyre all part of the system.

The latest violence has roots dating to June, when local gunmen clashed with Palestinian security forces. Last month, two Palestinian police officers trying to arrest fugitives in the market were shot and killed. That night, Palestinian forces responded by raiding the market, killing two men they say were armed.

One of them was Fares Halawa, 24. Within days, Palestinian security forces arrested his uncle, Ahmed Halawa, 50, a burly, balding man with a salt-and-pepper mustache who was a police officer and former member of Al Aqsa Martyrs Brigades, Fatahs armed wing. The Palestinian security forces called Ahmed Halawa the mastermind of the killing of the two officers in the market. By morning, he had been beaten to death in Jneid prison. Other family members were arrested and released.

Rajoub, the governor, described the Halawa family as a clan of troublemakers. Supporters of the government, while condemning the beating of Halawa, said the authorities had to pursue killers of police officers or risk losing control of the territory altogether.

The Palestinian National Authority is enforcing the law, showing the people what they can do, said Raed Amer, president of the Nablus Prisoners Club, an organization that supports Palestinians locked up by Israeli forces. Because if they dont, its game over for them.

But the fact that Ahmed Halawa had been part of Fatahs security structure suggests just how deep the schisms go. At his mourning tent, relatives denied that their family was a criminal faction and said they had a long history of resisting Israeli occupation alongside the same Fatah leaders with whom they are now at odds.

We dont know why theyre doing this, said the slain mans brother Abdullah, who was also the father of Fares, the young man killed in the market. Were a family filled with freedom fighters. If were a family filled with outlaws, then the 20,000 citizens of Nablus who marched in the funeral of my brother are also outlaws.

He said the battle was not over. We are not going to remain silent. We want the whole world to know.
SAN CLEMENTE  Leb Orloff has picketed a sober living home starting up in his exclusive Shore Cliffs neighborhood. He sent a letter to San Clemente Mayor Bob Baker. Hes talked with the citys code enforcement.

On Thursday, Orloff, 43, was among more than 300 San Clemente and South Orange County residents at a regional panel discussion led by Congressman Darrell Issa (R-Calif.) to look at options cities and the state might have to require zoning and licensing of sober living homes.

Issa discussed a bill he has proposed that amends the Fair Housing Act to specifically allow any local, or state or federal government body to enact and enforce a zoning ordinance or other regulation that limits the number of sober homes within a particular neighborhood.

Sober homes are supposed to be a safe place for people to get help and build the support network crucial to overcoming addiction, Issa said at the meeting. But too often these homes are failing to provide a suitable place for either those recovering or the communities they are supposed to serve.

Orloff recounted a recent incident in which a man who had graduated from a sober living home, high on drugs, broke into several homes in his neighborhood. He said he understands there is a need for people to recover, but worries about safety impacts and what it could mean for his and other residents children.

I came here to learn what our course of action can be, he said. I understand there is a need but it needs to be regulated. They need to think about the neighborhood theyre in.

Similar discussions have been held across Orange County in the past few months in Laguna Woods, Mission Viejo and Orange. Thursdays panel included State Sen. Pat Bates, R-Laguna Niguel; Assemblyman Bill Brough, R-Dana Point; San Clemente Councilman Tim Brown; legal representatives and sober living home operators from Santa Ana and San Diego County.

Issa said he will introduce his bill to the House next week. It would prohibit overall caps on the number of sober homes in a city and require a sober home, its owner and operator to obtain a license or permit to operate, meet a set of consumer protection standards and register with the government.

The bill also would require homes to provide residents with a safe and sober living environment that is free of illegal drugs, alcohol abuse and harm. It requires homes to be licensed, registered and meet state standards.

Sober-living homes, under state law, do not provide any services, medical or non-medical, to their residents as they attempt to recover from drug or alcohol addiction and are not required to seek licenses from the state departments of Social Services or Health Care Services, said Todd Leishman, an attorney with Best Best & Krieger, who has helped represent the cities of Aliso Viejo and Lake Forest and San Clemente.

However, those recovering from addiction are considered disabled under state and federal law, which is what has prevented local legislation against the homes, Leishman said.

Bates said Issas legislation would help local governments develop oversight in regard to the sober living homes. She spoke of her own experiences and the recent proliferation of these homes, especially in south Orange County neighborhoods.

Deanne Tate, who heads up Veterans First, a Santa Ana nonprofit that provides shelter to homeless veterans, said she understood residents concerns in San Clemente and would like to see some rules for sober living homes.

There are a lot of really good sober living homes that do it the right way, she said. When people want to do something good for the community and open up a sober living house there are no set rules.

She applauded the lawmakers for their efforts to bring some sort of oversight.

If there is no management, then theyre just flop houses, she said. If they dont abide by the rules, they have to shut them down.

Most recently, Dana Point filed two lawsuits seeking to shut down two sober-living houses affiliated with two treatment centers in Capistrano Beach, saying their operation violates state law and the citys zoning code. Those lawsuits follow a spate of legal action from Malibu to San Clemente in an area that has become nationally known as the Riviera of Rehab because of the hundreds of drug and alcohol addiction treatment centers and sober-living houses concentrated there.

Newport Beach adopted a law that imposes permit requirements with restrictions. The city was sued and the Court of Appeal issued an injunction. The case was settled but cost the city about $10.2 million in damages and legal fees.

Costa Mesa adopted a variation of the Newport Beach ordinance that attempted to regulate sober-living homes, with changes to resolve issues raised with the Court of Appeal. The same appeals court issued an injunction against the enforcement. But the city reached a settlement with one operator and 30 homes were shut down.

In San Clemente and San Juan Capistrano, a moratorium was adopted. But the moratorium has ended in San Clemente.

Brent Panas, a code enforcement supervisor in San Clemente, said while the city does not regulate sober living houses it has amended its code to address those that could fall under the category of operating as a boarding house.

San Clementes boarding house ordinance is only allowed in neighborhoods with higher density, excluding areas like Shore Cliffs, southwest San Clemente, Forster Ranch and parts of Talega.

Still, Panas said the sober living houses are in every neighborhood of San Clemente. While they are not regulated, city officials receive a barrage of complaints weekly. Those smaller homes with fewer than six beds arent the issue. Its the ones with 14 or more people and no supervision that cause problems.

Citywide, there are more than 30 residential treatment facilities that fall into this category, he said.

Larry Corwin, 57, of San Clemente, had a personal stake in the panel discussion. He said a cousin who was addicted to heroin recently came from the East Coast to live with him and his family.

I had never heard of sober living houses and went through the process of finding her a place to detox, he said. Its something thats very necessary. We have a national problem but there has to be some reasonable regulation so people can get the help they need but dont become a preferred class and change the character of a neighborhood.

Contact the writer: 714-796-2254 or eritchie@ocregister.com or on Twitter:@lagunaini
The Guinness world record for plate spinning is held by David Spathaky, who kept 108 plates spinning on sticks in a TV appearance in Bangkok in 1996.

Hillary Clinton might break that record. Although the FBI closed a year-long investigation into her private email server without recommending criminal charges, she is still standing in the middle of a forest of spinning plates that threaten to come crashing down before election day.

Before Clinton was nominated to be secretary of state in 2009, she and her husband agreed to abide by strict ethics rules to avoid any conflict of interest between Hillarys work as secretary of state and Bills work raising money for the Clinton Foundation.

Thats when the private e-mail server was set up.

Secretary Clinton used the private server for all her government e-mail, which meant the State Department could not search her email correspondence when it was responding to Freedom of Information Act requests for public records. The State Department asked Clinton for her email records in 2014. She turned over 55,000 printed pages of what she called work-related emails and deleted about 30,000 e-mails she said were personal.

But 14,900 deleted emails were recovered by the FBI and are in the hands of the State Department. People who had filed FOIA lawsuits to get State Department records went right back to court to get them.

Meet the federal judges who are enforcing the Freedom of Information Act:

U.S. District Judge James E. Boasberg (Judicial Watch v. U.S. Dept. of State, No. 1:15-cv-00687) has ordered the release of all the deleted Clinton emails starting on Sept. 13.

U.S. District Court Judges William P. Dimitrouleas (Larry Kawa v. U.S. Dept. of State, No. 9:15-cv-81560) and Amit P. Mehta (Judicial Watch v. U.S. Dept. of State, No. 1:15-cv-00692) have ordered the release of Benghazi-related emails to begin on Sept. 13 and 30, respectively.

U.S. District Judge Emmet G. Sullivan (Judicial Watch v. U.S. Dept. of State, No. 1:13-cv-01363) has ordered the release by Sept. 30 of emails related to the dual employment of Clintons deputy chief of staff, Huma Abedin, who worked for a consultant with ties to the Clinton Foundation at the same time she worked for the government. Sullivan allowed Judicial Watch to send Clinton written questions about the private server (answers due back Sept. 29), and to question (by October 31) a State Department official who warned employees never to speak of the secretarys personal e-mail system again.

Still more plates are spinning.

U.S. District Judge Richard Leon (Associated Press v. U.S. Department of State, No. 1:15-cv-00345) is overseeing the release of the Clinton daily schedules that the AP is using to connect the dots between foundation donors and government meetings.

And more: The State Department inspector general is investigating Clinton Foundation projects, the families of two Americans killed in Benghazi have filed a wrongful death lawsuit against Clinton over insecure communications, and two congressional committees just sent subpoenas to three tech companies that worked on Clintons private server.

And Wikileaks has promised to release the Clinton emails collected by hackers.

We dont yet know the content of Clintons deleted emails, but we do know two things: She set up the private server right after she promised to abide by strict ethics rules to avoid the appearance of selling influence.

And she has been spinning like crazy ever since we found about it.

Susan Shelley is a columnist for the Southern California News Group. Reach her at Susan@SusanShelley.com. Follow her on Twitter: @Susan_Shelley.
RichaChampion wrote:

Despite the criticism in the early 1890s that if journalists use pictures the intellectual quality of publications would diminish , by the late 1890s photographs were found in most newspapers and magazines.



(A) that if journalists use pictures the intellectual quality of publications would diminish,

(B) that if journalists use pictures it will diminish the intellectual quality of publications,

(C) that the use of pictures by journalists would diminish the intellectual quality of publications,

(D) of the intellectual quality of publications being diminished by the use of pictures by journalists,

(E) of the use of pictures by journalists diminish the intellectual quality of publications,



This is a GMAT Prep Question and the answer is C.



In Option A and Option B do you think that the usage of present tense "use" correct? Because the criticism happened in the past and the criticism is not continued till date.

Apart from this the If___ Then___ construction is correct in B, but incorrect in A. Right?



Three Conditionals tested -



Likely - If Simple Present then Simple future.

Unlikely - If Simple Past then Clause beginning with Would.

Impossible- If Past Perfect then Clause beginning with Would



I request you sir to please help me with Option C, D and E.



I couldn't understand how "would" is correct in Option C.

use

In the US today, if a person refuses to pay his income tax, he will be arrested and thrown in jail.

In the 1840s, if a person refused to pay his poll tax, he would be arrested and thrown in jail

would

"would" + [verb]



Magoosh Test Prep





Education is not the filling of a pail, but the lighting of a fire.  William Butler Yeats (1865  1939) Mike McGarryEducation is not the filling of a pail, but the lighting of a fire.  William Butler Yeats (1865  1939) Signature Read More
Tremors from the seismic power struggle in Turkey are being felt in Orange County and Los Angeles, a region that thousands of Turkish Americans call home.

The Register reported last month about more than 100 people who have arrived in Irvine seeking asylum since mid-July after the attempted coup in Turkey. The asylum seekers the Turkish government is targeting are members of the Hizmet movement, followers of religious leader Fethullah Gulen.

Turkey accuses group members and their leader of orchestrating the July 15 coup that left nearly 300 dead and 2,100 wounded.

Now, some Turkish Americans say these asylum seekers must not be welcomed because they are traitors who threaten the very fabric of democracy that holds their motherland together.

Gulen, who has lived in self-exile on a Pennsylvania ranch for the past 17 years, and his followers have repeatedly denied allegations that they were behind the coup. But Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan says there is more than enough evidence to link it to Gulen and the Hizmet movement.

Those who fled Turkey, leaving behind family members, say they are not terrorists, but teachers, philanthropists and students who want the freedom to live their lives and practice their religion in peace.

The Gulen movement says it has millions of followers around the world. It runs hundreds of charter schools in countries including Turkey and the U.S. But opponents say the schools and charities are means to raise money for the groups eventual goal: taking over Turkey.

Since the coup, Erdogans government has imprisoned tens of thousands of Gulens supporters and Hizmet sympathizers, even making room in prisons by releasing nonviolent offenders.

Many Turkish Americans, at least 100 of whom gathered Aug. 28 at William R. Mason Regional Park in Irvine to celebrate Victory Day, a national holiday in Turkey, say they support Erdogan and join him in denouncing Gulen and his followers.

Ahmet Atahan said the Gulen movement doesnt reflect the views of a majority of Turks who uphold modern secular values and desire democracy.

We support the state of Turkey and still call it home, he said. We believe in the principles of our founder, Mustafa Kemal Ataturk.

Many who were gathered at the celebration called Hizmet a cultish movement whose practice is different from the religious unity they preach.

Several wore T-shirts with sketches or pictures of Ataturk on them. The Turkish flag hung at the picnic shelter where the group feasted on kebabs, rice and baklava.

During the celebration  which commemorates Turkeys victory in the Battle of Dumlupinar, a decisive moment in the Turkish War of Independence in 1922  attendees also sang the Turkish national anthem.

Erkan Demiragci, president of the Orange County Turkish American Association, choked up as he led the group.

Would the United States spare a group of people who attempt to threaten our democratic government and our very way of life? he said, getting emotional. We wouldnt and we shouldnt.

Demiragci challenged accusations by Gulen supporters and reports by world media and organizations such as Amnesty International that the Turkish government is violating human rights.

If they are raping women and torturing people, even if we dont agree with those people, we will be the first to defend them, he said. But thats not the case here.

So far, the Turkish government has only asked for the extradition of Gulen from the U.S., said Raife Gulru Gezer, Turkeys consul general in Los Angeles. She expressed frustration at what she called foreign medias lack of understanding about events in Turkey.

People are failing to comprehend what happened, she said. The Parliament was bombed. Two bridges were blocked by military tanks. (Gulens people) opened fire on innocent civilians. They kidnapped several army generals and even the presidents chief adviser.

Erdogans reaction is proportionate to what happened on July 15, Gezer said.

The evidence against Gulen is plentiful, she said, including testimony from those who orchestrated the coup and videos of Gulen asking followers to slowly infiltrate state organizations and take action at the right time.

All measures being taken by the president are within the framework of international conventions and the Turkish constitution, she said, challenging Amnesty Internationals reasoning and sincerity in citing human rights violations.

The Hizmet movements actions speak for itself, said Attila Kahveci, vice president of Pacifica Institute, which is part of the Hizmet movement and is helping asylum seekers in Southern California.

We help people of different races, religions and backgrounds, he said. Blaming us is just a convenient way for the government to consolidate power in Turkey. The Turkish Americans here just dont know what the truth is. They only hear one side of the story.

Susan Kurda, a longtime Irvine resident who moved to Istanbul nine years ago, says she doesnt agree with Erdogans policies, but is more fearful of the Hizmet movement.

These are not real Turks, she says about Gulens supporters. The U.S. should not be welcoming these people.

Contact the writer: 714-796-7909 or dbharath@ocregister.com
ISTANBUL  Turkish tanks crossed into Syria to the west of a frontier town seized from Islamic State last week, in a new phase of an operation aimed at sealing off the last stretch of border controlled by the extremists.

By nightfall, Syrian rebels backed by the Turkish forces seized seven villages from Islamic State, according to local journalist Ahmad al-Khatib.

The private Dogan news agency reported at least 20 tanks and five armored personnel carriers crossed at the Turkish border town of Elbeyli, across from the Syrian rebel-held town of al-Rai. The new incursion is unfolding about 34 miles west of Jarablus, where Turkish forces first crossed into Syria 10 days ago.

A spokesman for one of Turkish-backed Syrian factions said 100 Turkish troops accompanied 30 tanks across the border, linking up with the rebels at al-Rai. He spoke on the condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to talk about the Turkish troops.

Rebels and Turkish forces are now advancing in two directions, to the east from al-Rai and to the west from Jarablus, to seal the border. The rebels advancing from Jarablus say they captured three more villages from the extremists on Saturday.

Islamic State, which once controlled hundreds of miles of territory along the Turkish border and used it to bring in foreign fighters and supplies, now only rules a 13-mile stretch of the frontier. The group has suffered a string of defeats in recent months in both Syria and Iraq.

Some 5,000 U.S. and Turkish-backed Syrian rebels have crossed into northern Syria from Turkey to participate in the so-called Euphrates Shield operation, according to local journalist Adnan al-Hussein, who is embedded with the groups.

Three rockets fired from Islamic State-held territory in Syria meanwhile struck the Turkish border town of Kilis, some 19 miles from Elbeyli, according to the Turkish governors office, which said one person was lightly wounded. Dogan says rockets have killed 21 Kilis residents and wounded scores since January.

The Turkish military responded to the rockets on Saturday with howitzers, striking two weapons depots and bunkers, and destroying the locations and the Daesh terrorists there, the state-run Anadolu news agency said, referring to Islamic State by an Arabic acronym.

Turkeys military says its right to self-defense as well as U.N. resolutions to combat the Islamic State group justify its Syria incursions.

Turkey and allied Syrian rebels have also fought U.S.-backed Kurdish forces known as the Peoples Protection Units, or YPG, around Jarablus. Turkey views the YPG as an extension of the Kurdistan Workers Party, or PKK, which Turkey and its allies consider a terrorist organization.

The U.S. has provided extensive aid and airstrikes to the YPG-led Syria Democratic Forces, which have proven to be highly effective against Islamic State. The Syria Democratic Forces, which also includes Arab fighters, has taking a large swath of territory from the extremists along the border with Turkey and closed in on Raqqa, the de facto capital of the extremist groups self-styled caliphate.
SACRAMENTO  A November ballot measure backed by Gov. Jerry Brown would allow earlier parole for thousands of California inmates, but critics say it could result in the very situation that led to public outrage in the case of former Stanford University swimmer Brock Turner.

The proposal is aimed at controlling overcrowding in state prisons and reining in costs, and is limited to nonviolent offenders. But in California, nonviolent is broadly defined.

It applies to certain rapes and sexual assaults, such as Turners conviction, along with vehicular and involuntary manslaughter, assault with a deadly weapon, domestic violence, exploding a bomb with intent to injure and other crimes.

Because of that, the ballot measure could mean less time in prison for people like Turner, prosecutors say. The one-time Olympic hopeful swimmer was released Friday after completing half of a six-month jail sentence for sexually assaulting an unconscious woman behind a trash bin near a fraternity house hosting a party.Many already were upset that the law allowed him to avoid hard time.

But Under Browns initiative, Turner would have been eligible for earlier parole consideration even if he had been sentenced to prison, said Ventura County District Attorney Greg Totten, speaking on behalf of the California District Attorneys Association, which opposes the Democratic governors plan.

Its being represented as something that applies only to nonviolent offenders, and really nothing could be further from the truth, Totten said.

Supporters say the ballot measure promotes rehabilitation programs and allows corrections officials to decide who gets early parole and who stays behind bars.

Turners brief jail term sparked an outcry from numerous politicians, sexual-assault survivors and others who are now seeking to recall Santa Clara County Superior Court Judge Aaron Persky.

I think that this really raises the same concern thats at the heart of the recall campaign, which is how the legal system treats sexual assault and violence against women, said recall campaign chairwoman Michele Dauber, a Stanford University law professor who is friends with the woman Turner assaulted. Treating any kind of sexual assault of an unconscious person as a nonviolent offense, thats an injustice to women everywhere.

Turner originally was charged with raping an intoxicated or unconscious person, which also is considered a nonviolent crime because, according to California law, it does not involve force.

State law considers 23 crimes to be violent, including murder and kidnapping. But Dan Newman, a spokesman for the campaign in favor of the ballot measure, called the list merely a starting point.

Under Proposition 57, the state corrections department could administratively rule out registered sex offenders like Turner for early release, and parole officials could reject anyone with a dangerous history, Newman said. He noted the violent crimes list includes any felony in which a gun is used or that causes great bodily injury.

Other crimes are considered nonviolent, including solicitation to commit murder, injuring a child, human trafficking involving a minor, criminal threats, hate crimes and shooting at an occupied building, vehicle or aircraft.

Turner faced a minimum two-year prison sentence, and prosecutors sought six years. Persky cited extraordinary circumstances in following a probation department recommendation and sentencing him to jail.

The judge is stepping aside from hearing criminal cases. The outcry also prompted legislation sent to Brown last week that would effectively require prison for anyone convicted of raping or sexually assaulting an unconscious or intoxicated person.

National organizations representing lawmakers and law enforcement could not say if other states consider such crimes nonviolent. What constitutes a violent crime varies widely across the nation and even within states, according to the Washington, D.C.-based Justice Policy Institute, a nonprofit group that advocates for reducing incarceration.

Nearly a quarter of Californias 130,000 prison inmates could be eligible for earlier parole if the measure passes, according to the nonpartisan Legislative Analysts Office.

The initiative expands on an existing federal court order requiring earlier parole consideration for some offenders convicted of nonviolent and nonsexual crimes. Browns administration calculates that the initiative would require immediate parole hearings for 1,300 inmates, about half of whom are likely to be released earlier.

Additionally, the legislative analyst projects that about 7,500 new convicts each year could seek reduced sentences. They could be considered for release about 18 months into a typical two-year sentence.

Newman referred to San Diego County District Attorney Bonnie Dumanis to counter criticism from other prosecutors. But she, too, expressed reservations in a statement, after declining an interview.

Nothing is perfect, and there are clearly some issues and language that need to be addressed, Dumanis said.

Dumanis, a Republican and the sole district attorney to publicly support the governors plan, praised another part of the ballot measure that would give corrections officials broad authority to award sentencing credits, including to inmates convicted of violent crimes, if they complete rehabilitation programs. The initiative would require judges instead of prosecutors to decide if juveniles should be tried in adult court.

The group Chief Probation Officers of California also supports the measure, as an incentive for inmates who work to improve themselves behind bars.

I do think overwhelmingly it will be used with what we all agree will be nonviolent offenders, Loyola Law School professor Laurie Levenson said. We have to take some risk, otherwise well never have any reform. The real question here is, Are we taking too much risk?
Profile Review - GMAT Score 690 [ #permalink

Hi guys! I would really appreciate an evaluation of my profile for admission to following schools (courses):



- St. Gallen (MiM)

- HEC Lausanne (Msc. in Management)

- University of Mannheim (MiM)

- WHU Beishem (Msc. in Management)

- HHL Leipzig (Msc. in Management)



Profile:



- Male, 25, Indian

- GMAT: 690 (Q49,V35)

- Education:

=> Diploma in Marketing Management from NMIMS (Currently Pursuing)

=> Bachelor in Technology from Mumbai University (Graduated in 2013)



- Extracurriculars:

=> Served in a Not-for-profit organization called AIESEC for 3 years; wherein I started as a new recruit and ended my experience as the president of the office in Mumbai.

=> Handled responsibilities such as project management, business operations, sales & marketing, recruitment and organizational governance.

=> Managed large teams and the entire local office eventually of ~80 members.

=> Currently serving as a mentor for underpriviliged youth in a Mumbai based NGO



- Full Time Work experience:

=> Worked for a global digital advertising agency as a business operations & sales executive for around 2 and half years

=> Got promoted within 12 months of joining to a Sr. Executive and handled the largest projects for the company at the time (Annual Projections worth over $5million)

=> Played a key role in product development, training, recruitment & mentorship for new joinees, besides my primary job role.



- Languages: Native English, Native Hindi (Plan to learn German in the coming few months; A1 & A2)



- International experience: No work experience. However, was selected by the international committee of AIESEC to be a part of the International Congress in 2013, which was hosted by Egypt and represented by over 130+ nations.





I know that schools in Germany & Switzerland require a prior degree in business for the program I have selected. In this case, will my work experience in business operations throughout my professional career help? Also, the reason for me to choose tech for my undergraduate program was so that I could work in the tech industry and understand the operations of the industry better. If not, does that mean an MBA is the only option for me?



Additionally, I am not confident in my score and I am currently studying towards a target of 740 (Which I happened to score in my GMAT Prep mocks). My current financial situation is not the best and will need financial aid for my education. Does my current profile stand a chance to receive scholarships in any of these schools?



I desperately am searching for some advice. Any help?
OMAHA  Dawn Grace got to hear her sons heartbeat again.

Grace, of Crofton, Kentucky, and her family made the 10-hour trip to the metro to meet Joe Hansen of Council Bluffs. After Graces son, Calen, died at the age of 14 in 2012, Hansen received his heart.

Ive waited for four years for this, Grace said Friday at Nebraska Medicine.

There were a lot of hugs and a lot of tears as Hansen met the Graces. Their public meeting ended with Dawn Grace using a stethoscope to listen to Calens heartbeat once more.

Oh, its beautiful, Grace said. It sounds beautiful.

Grace, Hansen and Nebraska Medicine Dr. Eugenia Raichlin, Hansens cardiologist, discussed their journey.

On Aug. 31, 2012, Calen Grace attended a school dance. Afterward, he and a few friends returned to the Grace home, where they lifted weights in the garage. At one point Calen grabbed his older brothers .22 pistol from the house.

Calen told his friends it was defective, even as they asked him to put it down. He pulled the trigger once, and it didnt go off. He pulled it again, and it didnt go off.

He told them, see, Dawn Grace said.

Calen put the gun to his head and pulled the trigger again. It went off.

At the Kentucky hospital, staff told the Grace family Calen wouldnt make it.

It didnt register, Dawn Grace said. He had goosebumps and a heartbeat.

Grace admitted she was apprehensive at first about donating her sons organs. The family went home to rest, and she dreamed about Calen.

He said, Momma, what would I do? she said. Thats who he was: Calen was that type of person that helped people.

After she woke up, Grace called the hospital and told them to use Calens organs to help save lives.

Hansen is happy, healthy and alive because of that decision.

The Council Bluffs man was born with a hereditary heart disease that doctors diagnosed as hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, in which his heart muscle was abnormally thick, making it difficult for the heart to pump blood.

I wasnt able to do everything in my life kids my age were doing, he said of his youth.

As an adult, he started having heart attacks. Surgery at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota, was unsuccessful.

By 2012 things were dire.

Raichlin was in tears when she talked with Hansen on Friday. She discussed how bleak his outlook was four years ago.

He was in the very, very end stage of heart failure, she said.

Hansen said he was resentful toward the world, full of able-bodied men and women. Before the transplant, he was bedridden.

Your life really changes when youre on the brink of death. When Id go to bed, Id wonder, if I wake up, What am I going to lose that I could do yesterday? Hansen said. It was miserable.

Then came the call.

On Sept. 2, 2012, Hansen went into surgery at the Nebraska Medical Center. The operation was completed the next day.

Doctors told Hansen hed received the heart of a young boy. He later sent a letter to the Graces, the beginning of a long-distance friendship. In Dawns first letter to Hansen, she included a photo of Calen.

When I open my wallet, hes the very first thing I see, Hansen said. We talk quite a bit. Because of Calen, Im in college, Im back to work. I try to honor his memory.

The 55-year-old said he feels healthier than he has in years, maybe ever. Hes working again, back at Dollar Tree in Council Bluffs, a job he enjoyed but reluctantly left when his heart just wouldnt let him work. And hes going to Iowa Western Community College, studying both business and education with an eye toward moving on to a four-year school.

After the transplant, his hair is thicker than it was before the transplant, while his shoe size jumped from 10 to 13. Hansen said he never used to like steak but now has it often. The former French fry lover cant stand the smell of them anymore. Hansen used to hate Parmesan cheese, but now he loves it.

Grace beamed as she mentioned Calen loved steak and hated fries.

Its unbelievable, the changes, Hansen said.

Raichlin said a transplant can change a persons eating habits, though not usually to this extent, especially in line with the organ donors tastes.

This story is amazing, she said.

The meeting came after years of letters and phone calls, with the Graces deciding to make the 10-hour trek from Crofton to the Council Bluffs-Omaha metro area. Dawn Grace brought along husband Shannon, sister Michelle English, mother Bobbie Hesson and Calens best friend, Kalie Lyle.

It was very scary, Dawn Grace said of that first face-to-face meeting, which happened Thursday at the Red Roof Inn in Council Bluffs.

Very, Hansen echoed.

But very exciting, Grace said. It had to be done. And Im glad we did it. I heard my babys heartbeat, and its strong as ever.

Through Joe, Calen is living on.

Hansen said meeting the Graces removed a burden.

A big weight was lifted, he said. I needed this.

Throughout an hourlong press conference, Grace, Hansen and others stressed the need for organ donors.

Approximately 120,000 people in the United States are on the waiting list for an organ transplant, according to Nebraska Medicine, and another person is added to the list every ten minutes.

Theres a shortage of registered organ donors, meaning about 22 people die each day waiting for their transplants, Nebraska Medicine said. To register as a donor, visit donatelife.net.

What if it was you? Hansen said. You never think its going to happen. But it means so much. People take life for granted. I took life for granted. But life is fleeting. Enjoy it.
johnnguyen2016 wrote:

With California expected to see severe electricity shortfalls and perhaps blackouts on as many as 30 days this summer, the administration has grown increasingly concerned about public health and safety there.





A. With California expected to see severe electricity shortfalls and perhaps blackouts on as many as 30 days this summer, the administration has grown increasingly concerned about



B. With California expecting to see severe electricity shortfalls this summer, and there will possibly be blackouts for as much as 30 days, the administration's concern has grown increasingly about



C. As California is expected to be seeing severe electricity shortfalls and perhaps blackouts on as much as 30 days this summer, the administration's concern is increasing for



D. Insofar as California is expected to see severe electricity shortfalls this summer, and there will possibly be blackouts on as many as 30 days, the administration has increasing concern about



E. Insofar as California expects to see severe electricity shortfalls and the possibility of blackouts for as much as 30 days this summer, the administration has grown increasingly concerned about





Experts, please help me explain:

- Why not D? What wrong with it?

- in A: "has grown increasingly concerned about" is it redundancy? I hear it a little strange

- The generally using of "With"



Thank you so much!

In so far means ' to the extent that' and it does not fit in ..

if you look at the original Q it talks of both severe electricity shortfalls and perhaps blackouts on as many as 30 days this summer, D removes the summer from 30 days and it seems now these 30 days are in complete year..



here GROWN means BECOME..

so it is-- "the administration has grown become increasingly concerned about.. thats OK

Yes, I have read people talking about structure 'preposition + noun + participle' to be considered wrong on GMAT. But now it seems they are flexible on it..

Since you have queries on the OA and D, I will touch upon them only..D. D. Insofar as California is expected to see severe electricity shortfalls this summer, and there will possibly be blackouts on as many as 30 days, the administration has increasing concern aboutOA -With California expected to see severe electricity shortfalls and perhaps blackouts on as many as 30 days this summer, the administration has grown increasingly concerned about..there is no redunancy in grown increasingly.._________________
Teri Roberts had to relearn basic skills after she lost her hands and feet to a rare skin bacteria in 2014.

It was roughly a year after her daughter, Andrea Kruger, was murdered by Nikko Jenkins in far northwest Omaha.

In a speech to thousands of students Friday, Roberts, standing on prosthetic legs, recalled a proud moment when she was able to grab a bag from a pharmacy drive-thru  without dropping the sack.

My next drive-thru will be Scooters, she said jokingly.

Roberts said that humor has helped her deal with setbacks in life, but most of all her faith helped her accept the things for what they are.

Roberts preached a message of perseverance to about 4,500 high school and middle school students from at least four area school districts gathered Friday at the Ralston Arena.

Her speech was part of the fourth American Spirit Summit, an event presented by Bill and Evonne Williams of Patriotic Productions, that highlighted positive role models for teens.

Mark and Joni Adler, whose son Reid committed suicide in January, and Marine Corps Sgt. Maj. Brad Kasal also spoke.

Roberts recounted how she grieved her daughters death in August 2013 and focused on caring for her grandkids.

In December 2014 Roberts was admitted to the hospital after contracting streptococcal toxic-shock syndrome. She was in a coma for 14 days.

Roberts woke up four hours before doctors were going to disconnect her from the ventilator.

Her hands and feet were infected by gangrene and had to be amputated.

She told students Friday that she was determined to regain independence.

I had two choices: I could give up or I could dig deep and give it everything I had, Roberts said.

Roberts, who first had to use a power wheelchair, learned to walk and can drive. She said she would like to serve as a mentor to others going through rehabilitation.

Theres going to be setbacks and losses in your life, she said. Its how you deal with those losses that I feel is important.

Jared Buckley, a junior at Papillion-LaVista South High School, said he related to Roberts because of her strong faith.

Buckley spoke to Roberts after the event, thanking her for her positive spirit and expression of faith in God.

Shes had a rough life, Buckley said. Ive learned someone always has it worse and someone always has it better. See everything as a blessing.
A 24-year-old man was seriously injured late Thursday in a shooting near North 43rd and Evans Streets.

Police said officers found James Moore with gunshot wounds that did not appear to be life-threatening. Moore told police he had just arrived in the area about 10:35 p.m. when he heard gunshots and then took cover, fearing for his safety.

Moore was taken to the Nebraska Medical Center for treatment, police said.

Two other people, Tammy Ray, 24, and Shavaughn Davis, 27, reported damage to their residences after the shooting.

Police said that nobody was arrested and their investigation into the shooting continues.
A Time to Heal  for people who have just finished cancer treatment, whose cancer has reoccurred and who have chronic or metastatic cancer,  is taking registration for upcoming support programs.

Cancer programs and support groups are free for the patient and caregiver. Programs offered include: 12 Week Holistic Wellness Recovery Program, Brain Fog Program, Support for People With Recurrent or Metastatic Cancer, A Time to Heal 2 and The Art of Living With Cancer Conference.

For information and to register, go online to ATTH.org or call 402-401-6083.

Other community events include:

Grief support group to meet Wednesdays

Dundee Presbyterian Church, 5312 Underwood Ave., will host a Grief Share class on Wednesdays at 6:30 p.m. The classes begin Wednesday and run through Dec. 7.

For more details, call Regina Wilson at 402-558-2330.

Beer tasting and auction to benefit conservation

The annual Go Wild for Conservation beer tasting and auction will be Sept. 15 at the Mid-America Center.

The 6 p.m. event includes specialty brews, food and both a silent and live auction.

Proceeds will benefit Pottawattamie Conservation Foundation efforts.

Buy tickets, $40 each, at 712-328-5638 or online at pottawattamieconservationfoundation.com.

Free opera performance set for Friday in Turner Park

Opera Omaha will host a free outdoor performance at Turner Park on Friday.

The 6:30 p.m. event opens with a performance by the Omaha Conservatory of Music. The performance will feature operas greatest hits.

Lawn chairs and blankets are encouraged.

VNA senior speaker series continues this Thursday

Visiting Nurse Association will host the third of its four-part free Senior Speaker Series from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Thursday at VNA headquarters, 12565 West Center Road.

The topic of the September presentation is End of Life Decisions, featuring speaker Dr. Howard Edwards from Palliative Care Associates PC.

To register for this free event, or for additional details, go online to theVNAcares.org or call 402-930-4021.
Estimados amigos,

Les doy cordialmente la bienvenida a este Blog informativo con articulos, analisis y comentarios de publicaciones especializadas y especialmente seleccionadas, principalmente sobre temas economicos, financieros y politicos de actualidad, que esperamos y deseamos, sean de su maximo interes, utilidad y conveniencia.

Pensamos que solo comprendiendo cabalmente el presente, es que podemos proyectarnos acertadamente hacia el futuro.

Las convicciones son mas peligrosos enemigos de la verdad que las mentiras.

There are decades when nothing happens and there are weeks when decades happen.

You only find out who is swimming naked when the tide goes out.

No soy alguien que sabe, sino alguien que busca.

Only Gold is money. Everything else is debt.

Las grandes almas tienen voluntades; las debiles tan solo deseos.

Quien no lo ha dado todo no ha dado nada.

History repeats itself, first as tragedy, second as farce.

If you know the other and know yourself, you need not fear the result of a hundred battles.

We are travelers on a cosmic journey, stardust, swirling and dancing in the eddies and whirlpools of infinity. Life is eternal. We have stopped for a moment to encounter each other, to meet, to love, to share.This is a precious moment. It is a little parenthesis in eternity.
LINCOLN  State Sen. Bill Kintner will not resign from the Legislature, despite calls that he do so after his use of a state-issued computer to participate in cybersex with a woman he met online.

Kintner, 55, made the announcement Friday, about an hour before a deadline set by the Legislatures Executive Board.

In the letter to members of the Executive Board, Kintner said hes listening to the people of his district, some of whom oppose me but many of whom have contacted me and have asked me to remain in the Legislature.

I was elected two times in three years, being very clear about my goals and values, Kintner said. He later added, I encourage you to honor and respect the decision of the majority voters of Legislative District 2.

Both Speaker of the Legislature Galen Hadley and Omaha Sen. Bob Krist, chairman of the Executive Board, said they were disappointed that Kintner didnt listen to the 10-member committee.

Krist said hes canceled a meeting of the Executive Board set for next week and instead will now focus on a gathering of all 49 senators as a Legislative Council, either during a scheduled meeting in November or earlier.

Im disappointed, Krist said. I think Mr. Kintner is not listening to his colleagues, but thats his prerogative. I believe that his inference that his constituents want him to stay may be miscalculated, but I cant speak for District 2.

During a meeting of a Legislative Council, senators could discuss censure or expulsion, Krist said. He said he does not believe theres support for a special session, which can be called by the governor or 33 lawmakers, to address the matter.

Krist said he also wants to explore allowing voters to recall state senators. Current state law allows the recall only of local elected officials.

That would give the voice back to the people who elected him, he said. By my calculations, I think itd be darn close.

Constituents have circulated petitions seeking Kintners immediate resignation, though those cant force out Kintner.

Kintner has repeatedly refused calls to resign, saying he was being obedient to God. On Monday, he said he would not rule out a resignation, saying he planned to talk and pray with his wife and try to come up with what we think is the right thing to do.

Krist said he plans to make sure Kintner doesnt have any unauthorized programs on his state-issued computer and will look very closely at any of the senators future travel plans for official business.

He will also make sure Skype has been removed from Kintners computer, and will look into other instances when that program may have been used on his computer.

In a statement, Taylor Gage, a spokesman for Gov. Pete Ricketts, again urged Kintner to resign before Sept. 8., which would allow voters to decide on a replacement in the November election. If he resigns, Kintner could get on the November ballot as a write-in candidate.

The Governors Office also continues to keep open lines of communication with legislative leadership regarding a special session to handle the matter, Gage said.

Kintner, who lives in Papillion, has been under fire since admitting that he engaged in the cybersex while in Boston in July 2015. He reported the incident to the Nebraska State Patrol after the woman attempted to extort money from him.

Kintner and the woman conducted a sexually explicit conversation on Skype, which resulted in both participants engaging in masturbation.

Last month the Papillion senator reached a settlement agreement with the Nebraska Accountability and Disclosure Commission over his misuse of state equipment. As part of the agreement, Kintner was assessed a $1,000 fine.
Humanities Nebraska has chosen an outstanding honoree, Marian Andersen, to salute this year with its Sower Award in the Humanities. The annual award honors a Nebraskan who has made major contributions to public understanding of history and culture in the state.

Andersens decades of leadership, service and philanthropic support have enriched the lives of Nebraskans greatly.

The energetic support she has given to important institutions  including Nebraska Shakespeare, the University of Nebraska, the Nebraska State Historical Society and the Nebraska Cultural Endowment, among others  will have benefits extending far into the future.

Her leadership achievements include being the first woman to chair the University of Nebraska Foundation board and to lead the Heartland Chapter of the American Red Cross. She has held governing board positions with institutions including the Joslyn Art Museum and the Literacy Center of the Midlands and, nationally, with the American Red Cross and the Public Broadcasting System.

The Nebraska Press Womens Hall of Fame is named in her honor. Andersen and her late husband, Harold, former publisher of The World-Herald, together received many honors for their civic contributions, including the top awards from the University of Nebraska Foundation and the Nebraskaland Foundation.

Mary Ann Bamber, executive director of Nebraska Shakespeare, noted in her nomination: Marians contagious enthusiasm, insightful leadership, pioneering spirit, energy for lifelong learning and measurable impact on the quality of life for thousands of Nebraskans model the qualities that earn recognition of this caliber.

Exactly so.
Arunachal Governor reportedly asked to step down

India

oi-PTI

New Delhi, Sep 3: Arunachal Pradesh Governor Jyoti Prakash Rajkhowa has been reportedly asked to step down from his post, weeks after the Supreme Court restored the Congress government in the northeastern state.

Rajkhowa has been told "verbally" by a junior Union Minister and a senior official of the Home Ministry to step down on "health grounds", sources said here today. The Governor's office, however, said there has been no formal communication from anyone asking Rajkhowa to resign from his post.

"There was no formal communication from anyone asking the Governor to resign from his post. But I have come to know that two-three individuals have spoken to the Governor and verbally indicated that," PRO to the Governor Atum Potom told PTI over phone from Itanagar.

After getting the two calls from Delhi asking him to step down, Rajkhowa apparently had approached Home Minister Rajnath Singh to seek clarification on the issue. But the Home Minister did not ask Rajkhowa to step down, sources said.

However, sources said, if Rajkhowa does not resign on his own, there is a possibility of central government asking President Pranab Mukherjee to withdraw his "pleasure", leading to his sacking. By rule, Rajkhowa is entitled to a five-year term but it is subjected to the "pleasure of the President.

71-year-old Rajkhowa was appointed as Governor in May last year. The reported move by the Centre to seek Rajkhowa's resignation came weeks after the Supreme Court restored the Congress government in Arunachal Pradesh and censured the Governor for "humiliating the elected government of the day".

The move comes against the backdrop of the political crisis in Arunachal Pradesh triggered by the revolt by Congress MLAs. Congress rebel Kalikho Pul had become chief minister in February and was in power for five months after revolting against the then Congress government led by Nabam Tuki.

Pul was subsequently dislodged from power by the apex court. BJP was providing outside support to Pul, who was found dead in mysterious circumstances in Itanagar last month. The Apex Court had criticised Rajkhowa for advancing the assembly session and fixing its agenda saying he cannot take away the House's discretion on the basis of "mere apprehension".

Sources claimed that there were efforts to woo dissident Congress MLAs, led by Pul, to the BJP side for installation of a BJP government in Arunachal Pradesh. But it did not materialise, sources said.

Later, following a Supreme Court directive Pul had to resign and all dissident Congress MLAs return to the parent party, leading to installation of a Congress government.

"The return of a Congress government could have been checked had all dissident Congress MLAs joined the BJP instead of continuing as a separate regional outfit," sources said.

Meanwhile, Rajkhowa fell ill and could not attend the swearing-in ceremony of Pema Khandu government, which succeeded Pul government. When Khandu expanded his Ministry on August 3, Rajkhowa again showed inability to come for swearing-in ceremony of the new Ministers citing his ill health.

PTI
BRO Recruitment 2022: Check details for 328 vacancies, last date and salary details here

Pune: College student hacked to death; two youths held

India

oi-PTI

Pune, Sep 3: A 17-year-old Class XII student was allegedly hacked to death on the premises of his college in Talegaon near here this morning, district police said.

Two youths allegedly attacked Chetan Pinjan who had gone to the college on his motorbike.

He later succumbed to injuries in a hospital.

A station duty officer at Talegaon police station said they are yet to ascertain the motive behind the attack and said two attackers, who are minor, have been detained in this connection.

"The incident took place at around 11.30 am on the campus of Indrayani College, when two minors, who are apparently not students of the same college, attacked Pinjan with sharp weapons and fled away," the officer said.

He said Pinjan was taken to the hospital, where he succumbed to injuries.

"We are investigating the exact reason behind the attack.

However, it seems that they had some previous enmity with the deceased," he said.

A case of murder has been registered and investigation into the case is on, police said.

PTI

For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications

Story first published: Saturday, September 3, 2016, 10:51 [IST]
Come up with pro-people IT products: Prasad to scientists

India

oi-PTI

Pune, Sep 3: Union Minister for Electronics and IT Ravishankar Prasad today said with a vast digital eco-system in place, scientists should focus on innovation and come up with more "pro-people" information technology products.

"Through Make In India, Start Up India, Stand Up India, Skill Development and Smart Cities, we have created a vast digital eco-system and scientists need to be more innovative and out-of-the-box and should come up with more pro-people IT products and empower the citizens," he said.

Prasad was speaking at the inauguration of a new research centre of Centre for Development of Advanced Computing here and launch of e-Hastakshar, its e-signature service, which enables signing of digital documents in a legally acceptable manner.

C-DAC is a premier R&D organisation of the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology. Addressing the C-DAC scientists, Prasad said, "Our vision is to make India an intellectually empowered society and initiatives like Make In India, Start Up India, Stand Up India, Skill Development and Smart Cities are designed to make India a knowledgeable and intellectual country."

The philosophy behind all these initiatives of the Modi Government was that India missed out on industrial and entrepreneur revolutions, but now it should not miss out on digital revolution, he said.

"We want to become a leader in digital revolution and that is our vision," Prasad added. Applauding C-DAC for its contribution in electronics and computing, the minister said government will give all kind of encouragement, and the scientists should focus on innovation alongwith the conventional research.

"You have enough substance in you...Pour your substance of talent in abundance and people of the country will lap it. I am happy with e-sign and other achievements of C-DAC, but come up with innovative pro-people IT products and work in the areas such as education, healthcare and cyber security," he said.

PTI
ED attaches Mallya's properties worth Rs 6,600 crore

India

oi-Vicky

The Enforcement Directorate today attached property worth Rs 6,600 crores belonging to liquor baron Vijay Mallya. The ED which carried out raids attached properties belonging to Mallya at Bengaluru and Mumbai.

Enforcement Directorate seeks transfer of Vijay Mallya to India from UK

Enforcement Directorate officials told OneIndia that the total seizure of properties belonging to Mallya is now Rs 8,044 crore. The ED says that the properties attached are in connection with the bank fraud case. Mallya has been accused of cheating banks by not repaying loans to the tune of Rs 9,000 crore. The properties attached today is worth Rs 6,600 crore as per the existing market value, the ED also said.

ED officials say that apart from attaching properties they are also in the process of sending a request to the United Kingdom where Mallya currently is residing. The Mutual Legal Assistance Treat is being invoked after the UK rejected a demand to deport Mallya. The MLAT is being sent through the Ministry for External Affairs.

Mallya has already been declared a proclaimed offender and absconded by the courts. The banks too had moved the Supreme Court of India seeking a directive to get Mallya back to India. The banks had also rejected an offer made by Mallya to settle the loan amount in several instalments stating that they did not true him.

OneIndia News
Not Collegium, but lack of infrastructure which is a concern says Supreme Court

Judge Chelameshwar blows a hole in judiciary's Collegium system

India

oi-Vicky

In the midst of a face-off between the judiciary and the Centre over the appointment of judges to the higher judiciary, a senior judge of the Supreme Court has stopped attending meetings of the collegium. Justice J. Chelameswar has said he finds the procedure most opaque and the majority gangs up to shoot down objections against undeserving candidates.

The revelation made by Justice Chelameswar to the Times of India is likely to complicate matters further between the judiciary and the Centre, which is locked in a battle over the appointment of judges and the Memorandum of Procedure.

It may be recalled that OneIndia had recently reported that the Intelligence Bureau had flagged four names suggested by the collegium for appointment as judges.

Judges' appointments: 'Not argued any major case', IB note on candidate

The IB had said in the case of one name that he had not argued any major case, while in the case of two others, it had left the intergirty column blank.

In the case of another, the IB had said that he had lived with his brother whose name figured in the Essar tapes scandal.

Legal experts say that the statements by Justice Chelameswar will have an impact on the ongoing tussle between the Centre and the judiciary.

An official in the Law ministry says that the Memorandum of Procedure was brought out to ensure transparency in the appointment of judges to the higher judiciary.

"We are awaiting the nod the Chief Justice of India on this", the officer said, adding that it had been sent for approval in August.

Centre's stand vindicated

Justice Chelameswar was the only judge who had recorded his dissent while the National Judicial Appointments Commission (NJAC) Act was struck down by the Supreme Court earlier this year.

While the NJAC Act was struck down, the Bench had suggested to the Centre to come up with an MoP to ensure transparency in the appointment of judges.

There are several points made by the Centre that the judiciary is not agreeable to. Recently, the Chief Justice of India Justice T.S. Thakur had issued a warning to the Centre in the court over the issue.

Justice Chelameswar says he has written a letter to the CJI stating he would not attend the collegium's meetings henceforth. The system of selection of judges is not at all transparent, he has said.

Senior advocate Sadashiv Naik says that it is now time for the judiciary to take note and go through with the MoP.

Justice Chelameswar's statements are a reminder that the appointment process needs to be more transparent.

The Centre and the judiciary need to sit across the table and iron out differences and there is no point in letting ego stand in the way, Naik said.

A senior Law ministry official said that "while this is an internal matter of the judiciary, it also shows that the process of appointments need to change and be more transparent. We have made suggestions in the draft MoP but are yet to hear back from the CJI. We have agreed to several suggestions made by the judiciary. Hope our suggestions are taken onboard, too."

It will be interesting to see what transpires in the court later this month when the CJI hears the matter on judicial appointments after the Centre files its

statement.

OneIndia News
Mehbooba calls for dialogue with Hurriyat Conference

India

oi-PTI

Srinagar, Sep 3: On the eve of the visit of an all-party delegation to Jammu and Kashmir, Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti today called for engaging all sections of the society, including Hurriyat Conference, in a credible and meaningful political dialogue for resolution of the problems in the Valley.

The country's political leadership must, without any further delay, reach out to and engage all sections of the society, including leaders of the Hurriyat Conference, in a productive dialogue process to resolve the issue and make peace a reality in Jammu and Kashmir, she said while visiting the family of a person killed in firing by security forces.

Seventy people have been killed and thousands injured in violence in Kashmir Valley following the killing of Hizbul Mujahideen militant Burhan Wani in an encounter on July 8. "Visited the family of late Mashooq Ahmed, firing victim of Kund, Kulgam and offered heartfelt condolences to the bereaved family...

The loss of human lives is a colossal tragedy and every one should strive for peace in J&K," she posted on Facebook. The Chief Minister said it is perhaps for the first time that the Kashmir issue has been, during the past two months, discussed in so many forums and at so many levels including Parliament and at all-party meetings where judicious views were put across by all shades of the country's political opinion on how to end the stalemate.

The need of the hour is to build on this larger political consensus within the country and initiate tangible measures to address the issue, she said. Mehbooba said the present situation in Kashmir calls for every right thinking party, group or individual to rise to the occasion and strive for finding ways and avenues for the restoration of peace and resolution of the problem.

"Right now Kashmir is again embroiled in a burning situation and we have hope that all sides will pick up elements of sanity and pragmatism and strike a new benchmark towards the resolution of the problem in light of the global and sub-continental realities," she said.

While the separatist leadership shall also have to take a step forward, the Centre on its part shall have to put off the fire on internal discontent, Mehbooba said.

Congress, CPI(M) and many other parties pitched for holding dialogue with "all stakeholders", including Hurriyat, to douse the unrest in Kashmir, at a meeting held by the government in New Delhi today to brief the MPs who are part of the 30-member delegation about the visit to the state on September 4-5.

PTI
Barack Obama to meet with Theresa May at G20

International

oi-PTI

Washington, Sep 3: US President Barack Obama will meet the new British Prime Minister Theresa May on the sidelines of the G-20 summit in Hangzhou, China, a White House official has said.

"This will be the first formal meeting between the two leaders since Prime Minister May took the office in July," the official said.

In Hangzhou, the President and the Prime Minister "will discuss a range of bilateral and global issues, and as close friends and steadfast allies, the United States and United Kingdom continue to enjoy an enduring special relationship, he said.

Modi, Xi to meet on Sunday, may discuss China-Pak corridor

Obama is also scheduled to have a bilateral meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping during the G20 meeting. He will also meet his Turkish counterpart Recep Tayyip.

PTI


Russia's Illusion of Influence in the Middle East



Moscows position in the region is not as dominant as it might seem.



By Kamran Bokhari





Over the past several months, media reports have made it seem like Russias influence is growing in the Middle East. After all, Russian air support helped Syrian President Bashar al-Assads regime regain the upper hand against the rebels in Syria. Then, Turkey suddenly and intensely moved to improve ties with Russia  at a time when Turkish-American relations have deteriorated. Finally, and most recently, Russian strategic bombers conducted airstrikes in Syria after taking off from an Iranian air base.



Today, however, the serious geopolitical constraints that Russia faces in expanding its influence in the Middle East became quite apparent. The Kremlins Foreign Ministry spokeswoman said that Russia and Turkey remained at odds over Syria. Turkish Justice Minister Bekir Bozdag said that anyone who accuses Turkey of aiding the Islamic State  which Moscow has done quite loudly  is an enemy. Elsewhere, within days of allowing Russian aircraft to take off from one of its bases, Iran rescinded the permission. Defense Minister Hossein Dehghan accused Russia of a betrayal of trust for publicizing the deal. These different but definitive signs underscore how uncomfortable Turkey and Iran are with getting too close to Russia.



Russian-Iranian Relations



Russia and Iran are on the same side as far as Syria is concerned. They are the principal allies of the Syrian regime and cooperate closely to ensure that Assad remains in power. Tehran and Moscow also have very close bilateral relations in a number of fields. Russia has helped Iran on the international front with regards to the latters controversial nuclear program.



That said, there is a huge debate within Iran on trusting Russia. Here we are not talking about the reformists versus hardliners. The mistrust runs deep within Tehrans conservative establishment. Just the other day, Heshmatollah Falahatpisheh, a ranking hardline member of the powerful parliamentary committee on national security and foreign policy, warned that, in recent years, Russia had demonstrated a different and volatile foreign policy.



Criticizing the decision to allow Russian aircraft to use the Shahid Nojeh air base, the lawmaker remarked that whenever Iran was faced with a crisis, Russia had sided against it.



The Iranians are well aware that Russia views Iran as a bargaining chip for extracting concessions from the Americans. Indeed, Russia supported the most recent wave of U.S.-led crippling sanctions against Iran in 2012 and for many years delayed the supply of the S-300 missile system to Tehran.



Irans problem with Russia really goes back centuries. The Russians and Persians fought a number of wars between the 17th and 19th centuries. In addition, in 1941, the Soviet Union (in coordination with Britain) invaded and occupied Iran. Even after the end of World War II, the Soviets supported the creation of the short-lived Kurdish and Azeri republics carved out of territory in Irans northwest. Contemporary Iran is well known for its hostile relations with the United States, but its relations with Russia have also been quite troublesome  though it is far less apparent.



Russian-Turkish Ties



Ever since the outbreak of civil war in Syria in 2011, Turkey and Russia have found themselves increasingly at odds. Turkey has been trying to oust Assad and is a principal supporter of the various rebel groups fighting the Russian-backed Syrian regime. Tensions remain contained until last year for many reasons  chief among them the fact that Turkey depends on Russia for more than half its natural gas needs. But when Russia began conducting airstrikes against the Turkish-backed rebels, Turkey shot down a Russian warplane last November.



Though they managed to avoid open conflict, Turkish-Russian relations were extremely hostile for the next six months. In June, the two sides cleared the air, with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan offering a written apology for the downed plane to Russian President Vladimir Putin. Turkey needed to improve ties with Russia because its relationship with the U.S. had soured over differences on how to deal with Syria, and especially the threat from the Islamic State.



Then came the Turkey's July 15 coup attempt, which Turkey accused the United States of being involved in given that the founder of the Gulen movement is based in Pennsylvania. At the same time, Russia was the first nation to issue a statement of support to Erdogan after the coup, and it appeared that the die was cast for a realignment of Turkish foreign policy.



Indeed, there has been massive anti-American rhetoric in the past six weeks along with the warming of ties with the Russians. Erdogan even met with Putin in St. Petersburg. But those were all atmospherics, because in the end Turkey, like Iran, cannot rely on Russia. Todays developments have only made apparent what was the case all along. If Iran, which has had a close working relationship Russia, cannot fully trust the Kremlin, Turkey has many more reasons not to. Turkish and Russian interests have historically collided in the Black Sea region, where the two have fought wars and territories have exchanged hands. Even today, Turkish and Russian proxies are at war.



More important, Turkey needs the United States, which is why we see Ankara backpedaling on the demand for Fethullah Gulens extradition. Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu today denied that Ankara ever accused Washington of being involved in the coup. Turkish media is arguing how getting a hold of Gulen is not worth the trouble. The Turks know that they can better pursue their interests by working with the United States than by flirting with Russia.



Conversely, Turkey cannot afford to simply rely on the United States. Ankara reached out to Moscow in part because of the need to balance the U.S. But the Turks swung too far away from the United States and now are repositioning. The miscalculation is to be expected in a country that is dealing with the fallout of an attempted coup. In the end, while Turkey will not get too close to the Russians, it will also keep its distance from the Americans.



These developments show how the Russians are at best a secondary player in the Middle East.



Thus, moving forward, it will be more important to watch what the real regional powers, Turkey and Iran, do to come to terms with each other and the future of the Middle East.
India hopes Musk's Twitter will comply with country's rules

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From being a victim of terrorism to exploring global solutions: India praised at UN's Counter Terrorism meet

India and Vietnam sign 12 agreements

International

oi-PTI

Hanoi, Sep 2: A total of 12 agreemnets have been signed between India and Vietnam during Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to the country.

India and Vietnam sign 12 agreements for cooperation in areas,including defence and IT, to boost bilateral ties.

"12 for togetherness! India & Vietnam sign a dozen agreements for further strengthening the Strategic Partnership," tweeted Ministry of External Affairs ministry spokesperson Vikas Swarup.

Modi meets with Vietnam PM

12 for togetherness!

India & Vietnam sign a dozen agreements for further strengthening the Strategic Partnership pic.twitter.com/Fu4Er17udQ  Vikas Swarup (@MEAIndia) September 3, 2016

PM highlights: Decided to upgrade our Strategic Partnership to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership pic.twitter.com/xh7DaDvZ4S  Vikas Swarup (@MEAIndia) September 3, 2016

PM:We agreed to deepen defence & security engagement.Happy to announce new defence LoC of US$ 500 mn for facilitating deeper defence coop'n  Vikas Swarup (@MEAIndia) September 3, 2016

PTI
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Indians greet Modi at Hangzhou hotel

International

oi-PTI

Hangzhou, Sep 3: A group of Indians today gathered at a hotel here to greet Prime Minister Narendra Modi as he arrived in this Chinese city for the crucial G20 summit.

The Prime Minister was greeted with chants of 'Modi, Modi' by the group of Indian men and women when he reached the hotel here after his arrival.

As he went around greeting the people, a number of them raised 'Modi, Modi' slogans. The group came from neighbouring Yiwu, the commodity hub which has several hundred businessmen residing there.

The Prime Minister greeted the people after getting out of his vehicle and then walked into the hotel.

PTI
IT industry veteran appeals to PM for a 'corruption-free' Karnataka

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UK PM Liz Truss resigns after 45 days in office, successor to be elected next week

Iraq gets a new government after a year of deadlock

Modi calls on Vietnam National Assembly Chairperson

International

oi-IANS

By Ians English

Hanoi, Sep 3: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday called on Vietnam National Assembly Chairperson Nguyen Thi Kim Ngan here.

"Afternoon meetings begin with a call on Nguyen Thi Kim Ngan, Chairperson of the National Assembly of Vietnam," External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Vikas Swarup tweeted.

Earlier in the day, Modi held delegation-level talks with Vietnamese Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc following which the two sides signed 12 agreements while giving a strong boost to bilateral defence ties.

India, Vietnam must jointly face regional challenges: Modi

Modi arrived here on Friday ahead of his visit to China to attend the G-20 Summit to be held on September 4-5.

This is the first bilateral prime ministerial visit from India to Vietnam in 15 years since the visit of then Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee in 2001.

IANS
NSG, China-Pakistan economic corridor on table during Modi-Xi meeting

International

oi-IANS

By Ians English

Hangzhou (China), Sep 3: India's entry into the Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG) and its concern over the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) are expected to be raised by Prime Minister Narendra Modi when he meets with Chinese President Xi Jinping on the sidelines of the G20 Summit in Hangzhou here on Sunday.

Though India is set to push for structural reforms to shore up the flagging global economy, poverty and green finance among others in the forum of the world's largest 20 economies, Modi will once again try to persuade Xi to back India for membership of the 48-member NSG -- an exclusive grouping that controls global nuclear trade.

In June, Modi had, during a meeting with Xi in Tashkent on the sidelines of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation summit, asked for China's backing for India's NSG membership.

But China, leading a group of 10 countries, blocked India's entry at the plenary of the NSG in Seoul in June, citing New Delhi's non-signatory status to the Nuclear Proliferation Treaty. Beijing has, however, been a keen backer of Islamabad's entry to the bloc.

Intransigent then, Beijing now looks amenable to India's admission into the elite grouping.

Modi is to reach Hangzhou, the capital and most populous city of Zhejiang Province in east China, on Saturday evening to attend the two-day summit that begins on Sunday.

Chinese experts hope the meeting between the two leaders would be "good".

"We are not against India's entry into the NSG. After the Chinese Foreign Minister's (Wang Yi) visit to India (in August), the two sides have agreed to establish a new channel to touch upon all these kind of issues," Hu Shisheng, director, Institute of South and Southeast Asian and Oceanian Studies at the China Institute of Contemporary International Relations, a government think tank, told IANS.

He was referring to the new "mechanism" between India and China under which Joint Secretary of Disarmament Division Amandeep Singh Gill and Ambassador Wang Qun, Director-General of the Arms Control Division of the Chinese Foreign Ministry, will discuss the NSG issue.

Read More: If India has to sign NPT to enter NSG, China must respect sea law to remain in UNCLOS

"It's because not to let these issues bother the top leaders (Modi and Xi). Earlier, they could not reach understanding because of lack of information. I hope the meeting would be good," he added.

Asked if China would be more open to India's admission to the NSG, Hu said: "Of course".

The change in Beijing's stance may also have to do with a UN court ruling on the South China Sea dispute in July. The rejection of Beijing's claims over the so-called Nine Dash line -- almost 90 per cent of the disputed South China Sea -- was a blow to China in its dispute with the Philippines, as also Vietnam, Malaysia, Taiwan and Brunei. China has rejected The Hague Court's ruling.

India asking the "parties concerned to show utmost respect to the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) has sort of miffed China", which is worried about its image being sullied in the world.

It has been suggested that Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi's visit to India last month was to ensure that New Delhi does not raise the South China Sea issue at the G20, in a sort of quid pro quo deal -- which could see Beijing giving its backing for the NSG membership.

However, even if India keeps quiet on the issue, the US and Japan are highly likely to bring it up, much to the embarrassment of China which has said an emphatic no to "political discussion" at the G20.

The $46 billion China-Pakistan Economic Corridor is also likely to figure in the meeting between the two leaders.

India has strongly opposed the proposed economic corridor which will pass through Pakistan-held Kashmir and Gilgit-Baltistan, which New Delhi claims as its own.

Modi's reference to the two regions, as well as Balochistan, in his Independence Day speech has Beijing worried. Beijing fears New Delhi's tacit support to the separatist sentiment in the region -- a charged levelled by Islamabad and denied by New Delhi -- may hit the already-delayed project.

Chinese experts have warned that China may come to Pakistan's aid if India creates trouble in these regions.

Besides, global structural reforms, inclusive growth and climate financing will be the major issues to be brought up by India at the summit.

"There will be emphasis on appealing to the countries to carry forward the commitment to the issue of climate change and climate change finance. There was a $100 billion commitment which has been made by developed countries -- that $100 billion is nowhere near sight. We would like to again stress the importance of developed nations making available that $100 billion," Shaktikanta Das, Economic Affairs Secretary told IANS earlier.



IANS
UK PM Liz Truss resigns after 45 days in office, successor to be elected next week

Iraq gets a new government after a year of deadlock

Pics: Modi on a special visit to Vietnam

International

oi-PTI

Hanoi, Sep 3: Prime Minister Narendra Modi reached the Vietnamese capital on his maiden visit to hold wide-ranging talks with the country's top leadership on ways to bolster strategic bilateral ties in key areas like defence, security, counterterrorism and trade.

"Reached Hanoi. This is a special visit & will go a long way in deepening the strong bond between India & Vietnam," Modi tweeted.

The visit, that marks the first by an Indian premier to the country in 15 years, takes place on his way to Hangzhou, China to attend the G20 Summit beginning Sunday.

Modi will hold extensive talks with Vietnamese Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc and call on President Tran Dai Quang tomorrow.

He is also scheduled to meet Communist Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong and National Assembly Chairwoman Nguyen Thi Kim Ngan.

Defence, security, science and technology, trade and culture are some of the issues on the plate for the talks.

The premier will also pay homage to revered leader Ho Chi Minh, whom he described in his Facebook post as one of 20th century's tallest leaders. He will lay a wreath at the Monument of National Heroes and Martyrs as well as visit the Quan Su Pagoda.

PM Modi being received on his arrival at Hanoi The Prime Minister Narendra Modi being received on his arrival, at Hanoi, Vietnam on September 02, 2016. PMM Modi being welcomed at Presidential Palace in Hanoi The Prime Minister Narendra Modi being welcomed on his arrival, at the Presidential Palace, in Hanoi, Vietnam on September 03, 2016. PM Modi feed fish in Uncle Ho's pond in Hanoi The Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the Prime Minister of Socialist Republic of Vietnam Nguyen Xuan Phuc feed fish in Uncle Ho's pond, in the Presidential Place Compound, in Hanoi, Vietnam on September 03, 2016. PM Modi meets with Vietnam PM Nguyen Xuan Phuc The Prime Minister, Narendra Modi meeting the Prime Minister of Socialist Republic of Vietnam, Nguyen Xuan Phuc, at the Presidential Place, in Hanoi, Vietnam on September 03, 2016. PM Modi and Vietnam PM at signing of agreements between India and Vietnam The Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the Prime Minister of Socialist Republic of Vietnam Nguyen Xuan Phuc witnessing the signing of agreements between India and Vietnam, in Hanoi, Vietnam on September 03, 2016.

Ho Chi Minh, who is often called "the Vietnamese George Washington" by Communist Vietnamese, has a city named after him. After his death, Ho's followers embalmed his body and put it in a tomb, the mausoleum, where he is still worshipped today.

"Vietnamese Prime Minister Phuc and I would also be discussing regional cooperation and stability and our multilateral cooperation," Modi told Voice of Vietnam Radio network earlier.

The thrust of our multifaceted relationship is to work towards stability, maintenance of peace, economic growth and prosperity in our countries, Asia and beyond, he added.

India and Vietnam sign 12 agreements

Modi emphasised that India's Act East Policy aimed to forge partnerships with its eastern neighbours to encompass security, strategic, political, counter-terrorism, and defence collaboration in addition to economic ties.

"It was crystallised to underscore the importance of East Asian neighbours of India and to make them a priority in our foreign policy engagement," he told the radio, adding that Vietnam was an integral member of ASEAN and is a "very important pillar in our Act East Policy".

Modi meets with Vietnam PM

"We wish to forge a strong economic relationship with Vietnam that can mutually benefit our citizens. Strengthening the people to people ties will also be my endeavour during the Vietnam visit," the premier said on his Facebook page today.

India's ONGC Videsh Limited is engaged in oil exploration projects in Vietnam for over three decades and there may be announcements about new projects in the sector during the bilateral visit, which is taking place after a gap of 15 years.

PTI

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Story first published: Saturday, September 3, 2016, 11:38 [IST]
Fire breaks out in BEST AC bus, no passenger hurt | VIDEO

As the countdown clock struck zero, rocket of Aakash BYJUS took off from Bandra Bandstand

Police job extends beyond surveillance of rivals: Sena

Mumbai

oi-PTI

Mumbai, Sep 3: In a veiled attack at the Home Department which is headed by Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, Shiv Sena today said the job of police is "much more than just keeping political rivals and one's own people under surveillance".

"The job of police extends beyond surveillance of political rivals and one's own people (those within BJP)," an editorial in Sena mouthpiece 'Saamana' said.

BJP's bickering ally cited the case of policeman Vilas Shinde who died when he was assaulted while on duty.

"If such attacks on policemen continue, then police will have to be provided an armour instead of helmets," it added.

"The dent to the image of khaki uniform won't stop merely by according deceased policemen the status of martyrs. The moral of police force is down and political interference has increased," the editorial said.

"After seeing all this, one remembers late Balasaheb Desai's work as Home minister," the Sena said.

"In the last few years, the work of the Home Department is only recruitment and promotion of the chosen few," the party said.

Sena's attack comes against the backdrop of a demand by Leader of Opposition in State Assembly Radhakrishna Vikhe Patil that the state needs a full time Home Minister.

"Law and order is not an issue to be dealt weekly or fortnightly. Fadnavis is not able to spare time to deal with the Home issues. He should hand over the work to a full time minister for the sake of the state," he had said.

6,226 rapes, 17,234 molestation and 3,771 murder cases were registered between January, 2015 and June, 2016.

Fadnavis, who took reigns of the state in October 2014, is being dubbed by his opponents as a "failed Home Minister".

Former CM and senior Congress leader Narayan Rane had also said Fadnavis has left the law and order situation at the police officers' mercy.

"Brutal crimes like the Kopardi gangrape and murder can't take place without political patronage. The CM is more interested in delivering speeches, inaugurating seminars and clearing files at the behest of his bosses in Delhi," he had said.

PTI

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Story first published: Saturday, September 3, 2016, 14:50 [IST]
PM Modi who is in Vietnam on his 2-day visit Announces $500 Million Credit Line For Vietnam for defence cooperation. India extended $500 million Line of Credit to Vietnam for facilitating deeper defence cooperation with the south east Asian nation. Vietnam's Prime Minister praised its close friendship with India during PM Modi's visit.
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Though 12-year-olds already seem more technologically advanced thanks to their admirable Snapchat skills, one tween seems to have risen above the frayhe's enrolled at Cornell University for his freshman year.

Jeremy Shuler, 12, has earned the distinction of being the youngest person ever to attend Cornell, having earned his spot at a school that did not accept me, thanks to his very high SAT and advanced placement scores in math and science. Jeremy, who grew up in Texas, was homeschooled by his aerospace engineer parents, which explains some of his mathematical prowess. "We were concerned about him socializing with other kids, his mother, Harrey Shuler, told the Associated Press. "At the playground he was freaked out by other kids running around screaming. But when we took him to Math Circle and math camp, he was very social. He needed someone with similar interests."

As a toddler, Jeremy mastered English and Korean, and could read. When he was five, he read both "The Lord of the Rings" and "The Great Theorems of Mathematics." He taught himself chemistry before he was 10, and finished a high school curriculum by the time he was 11. In the spring, Jeremy graduated with a high school diploma from Texas Tech University; now, he and his parents have moved to Ithaca so he can attend school without being subjected to dorm life. "I wanted to make sure he had a nice, safe environment in terms of growing up," Cornell Engineering Dean Lance Collins told reporters.

Anyway, now Jeremy's in college, without being able to enjoy all the actual fun parts of college. Still, he's making friends: "As Mommy said, all the kids in math camp were older than me, so Im used to having older friends. As long as they like math."

Being a boy genius seems lonely, but at least there's a pretty big payoff.




by  Graham Pierrepoint



While the cosmetic, health and beauty industry has seen considerable changes over the years, there have been considerable rumblings over the past few months as to the legality of a certain substance in creams and lotions alike  microbeads, which are said to be facing an all-out ban in beauty products in the UK from 2017 onwards. But why is this  and why should the average consumer be concerned about whether or not their favorite skin products contain them?

Microbeads have been found in various gels and exfoliating products for some time, and it is only recently that there has been considerable movement in the encouragement of their outright removal from UK shelves  this is due to the effect upon the environment that they may have once they have been used and flushed out into the worlds oceans. Microbeads are, essentially, tiny orbs of plastic that can be found in various products on sale in UK stores and elsewhere  and a ban proposed to come into force by the end of next year will aim to see wildlife greater protected against the plastic beads.

The US has already exercised a ban on microbeads, meaning that the UK is essentially following precedent  and following a widely signed petition and lobbying from MPs, beauty products will no longer contain them in the UK by law. The move has been welcomed by concerned campaigners such as Greenpeace, though they have also raised concerns that the ban should extend to other products that also contain the potentially harmful plastic.

One beauty product alone can contain veritable communities of microbeads, meaning that flushing away of certain gels and products could cause considerable damage to an environment which does not know how to handle such man-made material. Plastic cannot biodegrade naturally, meaning that an increase in the use of such products could choke ecosystems even further.

The ban has been welcomed by various quarters who have advised that the existence of microbeads in such products is fairly moot in comparison to the damage that they could be inflicting upon the world around us. Whether or not you enjoy them, or will miss them when they are gone, it must be argued that our natural world is of greater importance  but it does mean that several beauty and cosmetic lines will now need to rethink a few recipes to be able to stay within the law from late 2017 onwards.

How do you know if a product contains microbeads?

Products that contain the tiny bits of plastic won't necessarily say "microbeads" in the list of ingredients. Instead, check the list of ingredients for words like polyethylene, polypropylene (often labelled as PP, PE) and polymethylmethacrylate - the chemical names for plastics. Nylon may also be listed as well as the abbreviations PET, PTFE and PMMA.
A car thief ended up setting a vehicle on fireafter molesting a woman sleeping in the backseat. Now police have surveillance video of the suspect and hope the public can help identify him.

The grand larceny occurred last Sunday, at 2 a.m. in Queens. According to the NYPD, around Springfield Boulevard and Merrick Boulevard, the suspect "sat inside the 29 year-old male victim's unattended running car and drove away. A second victim, a 26 year-old female, was asleep in the back seat of the vehicle and awoke to find the suspect groping her."

She managed to fight him off and get out of the car near 135 Street and Farmers Boulevard, police say. Then, the suspect allegedly "drove off and parked the car in front of 140-45 Coombs Street where he set it on fire before fleeing on foot in an unknown direction."

Police describe the suspect as bald and 220 pounds and was last seen wearing a black shirt, green and black plaid shorts and blue socks.

Anyone with information in regards to this incident is asked to call the NYPD's Crime Stoppers Hotline at 1-800-577-TIPS (8477) or for Spanish, 1-888-57-PISTA (74782). The public can also submit their tips by logging onto the Crime stoppers website at WWW.NYPDCRIMESTOPPERS.COM or by texting their tips to 274637 (CRIMES) then enter TIP577. All calls are strictly confidential.


A con artist is sending fraudulent Department of Health and Mental Hygiene letters to New Yorkers claiming they must pay a $120 fee for a violation of "vermin control" rules.

Word of the scam surfaced Friday morning in a posting on Reddit, and a tipster from the north Bronx later wrote in to Gothamist that she'd received one of the scam letters on Thursday.

The not-particularly convincing "Notice of Violation" instructs the recipient to send a check or money order for $120 to "Vermin Control of New York," at an address in Queens.

The letter warns that under the city's Housing Maintenance Code, the violation cannot be challenged. It also lays out extortionate penalties for delinquency, beginning at $120 for 1-15 days late and rising to $280 for 16 - 30 days late. After 30 days, the letter claims, the violator will face a "court hearing of lein [sic] to be place on property."

A quick Google Maps search reveals there is no Vermin Control of New York at the listed address, 1255 150th Street. We called the Law Offices of George Kosnik, which has a storefront at 1255, to ask if they'd heard about the scam, but no one answered the phone. (Kosnik's hold music is "Firework.")

In a press release issued to media Friday, Assistant HMH Commissioner Mario Merlino warned New Yorkers about the fraud.





The signature at top is the forgery. The real signature, found on a 2011 DOB document, is below.

"New Yorkers should know that the Health Department never issues a notice of violation demanding immediate payment," Merlino stated. "A notice of violation cannot result in a fine or penalty without there being an opportunity to contest it in a hearing. Further, the Health Department never requests that it, or its programs, be paid directly for violations it issues."

The scam letter is signed by "R. Limandry, commissioner of buildings." The scammer apparently was too lazy to do some basic research, since the current DOB commissioner is Rick Chandler. LiMandri was the Department of Buildings commissioner under Mayor Bloomberg. As you can see, the scammer also wasn't a very good forger.

When Gothamist called the phone number on the letter, it was immediately directed to a recorded message saying the line was busy. The area code is for the Albany area.

A Redditor with an sense of humor, writing under the handle droy0, claimed to have purchased the URL listed at the bottom of the letterwww.vcbnyc.comwhich now redirects to the Reddit thread about the letter.

The full letter :




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Optimove Connect 2016: Customer Retention Conference for Market Leaders

Published September 3, 2016 by Ivan P

Optimove Connect 2016 will bring together a number of market leaders to discuss customer marketing and retention strategies

The leading Customer Marketing Cloud, Israeli company Optimove announced their Optimove Connect 2016 Conference. The Conference, which takes place on September 13, will be fully devoted to customer marketing and retention techniques and strategies.

Optimove Connect 2016 Key Facts

Optimove Connect 2016 will bring together a number of experts on customer marketing and retention who will deliver speeches and presentations throughout the entire day. Some of the names on the list include Matt Dyson, Senior CRM Manager at Delivery Hero, Kris Kukula, Director of CRM at Jumpman Gaming, Pini Yakuel, Optimove's founder and the CEO, and many more.

In the PR from the company, Pini Yakuel underlined that Optimove has been searching for better, more intelligent approaches to customer marketing since the company's foundation in 2009. The Conference will present a great opportunity to share what they have been able to learn and discuss possible future techniques and innovations.

Optimove and Online Gaming

Optimove's business encompasses a number of market leaders and it naturally stretches to online gambling sector as well. The company cooperates with brands like Amaya, bwin.party, Playtech, Zynga, and a number of other big names.

Many of Optimove's marketing techniques can be applied in the online gaming sector, which makes the company a perfect partner for these brands. Their knowledge, experience, and constant innovation are exactly what these online gambling giants are after.

The software provided by Optimove is built in such fashion as to track specific user behaviors and use these to predict future actions. Based on these predictions, marketing campaign and offers are designed to engage and motivate the customer to take action. The idea, however, is not only to get users to interact but to offer them what they are looking for, creating an environment which benefits providers and clients alike.

Optimove's developments in customer retention strategies and their fresh ideas are certain to attract many gambling companies to the Optimove Connect 2016 as good marketing is one of the crucial factors for the success of online casino games providers.
This piece was reprinted by OpEd News with permission or license. It may not be reproduced in any form without permission or license from the source.

Reprinted from Consortium News

Better late than never, Jesuit-run Georgetown University has acknowledged that the school has "been able to hide from the truth" that it was built, literally, on the institution of slavery, according to its president John DiGioia.

Yet, decades ago, when a small group of us asked the Maryland Jesuits to confess openly to those crimes of their predecessors, we were rebuffed (apparently out of financial liability concerns). We saw the crucial role of slavery (and the sale of African-American slaves to help Georgetown meet its financial needs) as a moral issue. We also saw a scandal in the Jesuits' refusal to show moral leadership before they were finally forced to this year by a public shaming.

I dealt with the backstory of this sorry affair last spring when the "news" about Georgetown University's Jesuits' callous treatment of their slaves "broke" in the mainstream media, with a New York Times report about the 1838 sale of 272 slaves into the Deep South.

On Thursday, DiGioia announced that Georgetown will implement a number of remedial (though clearly belated) steps, including the creation of an institute to study slavery, the dedication of a public memorial honoring the slaves whose sacrifices benefited Georgetown, and granting descendants of the 272 slaves admissions preference if they seek to attend the university in Washington, D.C.

Below is the article that I wrote last April:

Anti-war prophet Rev. Daniel Berrigan, S.J., was onto something with his "hunch" -- in his 1987 autobiography, To Dwell in Peace -- that "the fall of a great enterprise," the Jesuit university, would end up "among those structures whose moral decline and political servitude signalize a larger falling away of the culture itself."

Berrigan, a Jesuit himself, lamented "highly placed" churchmen and their approval of war, "uttered " with sublime confidence, from on high, from highly placed friendships, and White House connections. Thus compromised, the Christian tradition of nonviolence, as well as the secular boast of disinterested pursuit of truth -- these are reduced to bombast, hauled out for formal occasions, believed by no one, practiced by no one."

But that "moral decline" among Jesuit institutions of higher learning may have had deeper roots than even Berrigan understood. One of those deep roots is drawing national attention, an 1838 decision by the Jesuit leaders of the Jesuits' Maryland Province and Georgetown College to improve the school's financial health by selling 272 African-American men, women and children as slaves into the Deep South.

As New York Times writer Rachel L. Swarns described the scene, "The human cargo was loaded on ships at a bustling wharf in the nation's capital, destined for the plantations of the Deep South. Some slaves pleaded for rosaries as they were rounded up, praying for deliverance. But on this day, in the fall of 1838, no one was spared: not the 2-month-old baby and her mother, not the field hands, not the shoemaker and not Cornelius Hawkins, who was about 13 years old when he was forced onboard."

Rev. Thomas Mulledy, S.J., the Provincial (head) of the Maryland Jesuits, sold the 272 enslaved African-Americans to Henry Johnson, the former governor of Louisiana, and Louisiana landowner Jesse Batey for $115,000, the equivalent of $3.3 million in today's dollars, according to the Times account.

Documents show that $90,000 went to support the "formation" of Jesuits (the preparation of candidates spiritually, academically and practically for the ministries that they will be called on to offer the Church and the world); $17,000 to Georgetown College; and $8,000 to a pension fund for the archbishop of Baltimore.

There is now a campaign among Georgetown professors, students, alumni and genealogists to discover what happened to those 272 human beings and whether Georgetown can do anything to compensate their descendants.

An Earlier Alert

But there is also a sad backstory to this telling slice of Jesuit history, in which I became personally involved after I first learned of this scandal two decades ago from Edward F. Beckett, a young Jesuit who had the courage to speak out and summon his superiors to conscience. Beckett published his research in "Listening to Our History: Inculturation and Jesuit Slaveholding" in the journal Studies in the Spirituality of Jesuits (28/5, November 1996).

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Reprinted from Consortium News

Mirror, mirror, on the wall, who's the most right-wing presidential candidate of all?

The answer used to be Donald Trump, famous for his naked bigotry toward Mexicans and Muslims. But that was before Hillary Clinton supporters took a page from the old Joe McCarthy handbook and began denouncing their Republican opponent as "an unwitting agent of the Russian Federation" or arguing that criticism of Clinton and NATO somehow emanates out of Moscow.

Now comes Clinton's speech at an American Legion convention in Cincinnati, her most bellicose to date, in which she savages Trump for failing to embrace the ultra-imperialist doctrine of "American exceptionalism."

"My opponent in this race has said very clearly that he thinks American exceptionalism is insulting to the rest of the world," she said Wednesday. "In fact, when Vladimir Putin, of all people, criticized American exceptionalism, my opponent agreed with him, saying, and I quote, 'if you're in Russia, you don't want to hear that America is exceptional.' Well maybe you don't want to hear it, but that doesn't mean it's not true."

Good people, she went on, do not take exception to the doctrine -- only enemies do:

"When we say America is exceptional, it doesn't mean that people from other places don't feel deep national pride, just like we do. It means that we recognize America's unique and unparalleled ability to be a force for peace and progress, a champion for freedom and opportunity. Our power comes with a responsibility to lead, humbly, thoughtfully, and with a fierce commitment to our values. Because, when America fails to lead, we leave a vacuum that either causes chaos or other countries or networks rush in to fill the void."

It's either American tutelage or Armageddon, in other words, which is why countries that are smart and sensible know better than to resist. To round out her pro-war package, Clinton also promised to respond to foreign cyberattacks with military means -- perhaps sending out drones to bomb Wikileaks? -- and promised to deal with the world's bullies as well.

"I know that we can't cozy up to dictators," she said. "We have to stand up to them."



U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton meets with Saudi King Abdullah in Riyadh on March 30, 2012.

(Image by [State Department photo]) Details DMCA



All this from a woman whose family foundation has received up to $25 million from the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, perhaps the most repressive government on earth, plus up to $50 million from other Persian Gulf sources. (The Saudis also donated $10-million to the construction of the Bill Clinton presidential library.)

American Legion's Dubious History

Moreover, it was before an organization, born amid the post-World War I Red Scare that:

--So admired Mussolini that it invited him to address its annual convention in 1923.

--Proclaimed to the world that "the Fascisti are to Italy what the American Legion is [to] the United States," in the words of founder Alvin Owsley.

--Took part in the notorious Centralia massacre in Washington State in which Wesley Everest, a member of the Industrial Workers of the World, or Wobblies, was lynched from a railway trestle and then shot for good measure.

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Acetylene Gas Market will reach USD 6 Billion by 2020, Globally

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Smart Building Market will reach USD 36.0 Billion by 2020, Globally

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Rare Earth Metals Market will reach USD 9.0 billion in 2020, Globally

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This in turn resulted into strong growth of rare earth metal in Asia Pacific region, especially in China. Strong growth prospectus of global wind turbine and automotive industry is also expected to boost demand for rare earth metals in the near future. Catalysts and metallurgy also accounted for significant share of the global rare earth metals market.Rare earth metal market was dominated by Asia Pacific with over 75% share in total volume consumption in 2014. Asia Pacific was followed by North America and Europe. China dominated the production and consumption of rare earth metals. Strong demand from China, India, Japan and South Korea is expected to fuel growth of this industry in the years to come. Rare earth metals market in North America is mainly driven by strong demand from defense industry. The military uses night-vision goggles, precision-guided weapons, communications equipment, GPS equipment, batteries and other defense electronics. 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Hot Melt Adhesives Market: Global Industry Analysis and Forecast, 2014  2020

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This market research report analyzes estimates and forecast the global Hot Melt Adhesives market demand. The demand is estimated in terms of both volume and revenue during the forecast period of eight years from 2015 to 2020. The study offers a holistic view of the market with the review of market drivers, challenges and opportunities. It also provides the level of impact of drivers and restraints on the market between 2015 and 2020.Request Sample Report:This study analyses the market in and across value chain. Value chain analysis begins with analysis of feedstock materials and ends with the analysis of end-user industry. The report uses Porters Five Forces Model and Market Attractiveness Analysis to analyze the different factors affecting the growth of the market. Porters Five Forces Model analyses the factors such as degree of competition, bargaining power of suppliers and buyers, threat of substitutes and threat of new entrants. Market attractiveness analysis provides the information about the most attractive and least attractive market segments by product, application and region.The report includes detailed competitive landscape of the global Hot Melt Adhesives market. It includes company market share analysis, product portfolio of the major industry participants and buying criteria of the buyers. The report provides detailed segmentation of the Hot Melt Adhesives market based on product segment, application segment and region.Do Inquiry before buying:Above mentioned product and application segment has been further bifurcated into major regions. A major regional segment analyzed in this study includes North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, Latin America, and Rest of the World. This report also provides further bifurcation of region on the country level. Major countries analyzed in this reports are U.S., Germany, UK, France, Italy, Spain, Russia, China, Japan, India, and Brazil.The global market has been segmented for products, applications and regions as below:Hot Melt Adhesives Market  Product Segment AnalysisEVAStyrenics Block CopolymersPolyolefinPolyurethanePolyamideOthersHot Melt Adhesives Market  Application Segment AnalysisPackagingNon-WovenPressure SensitiveConstructionBookbindingOthersBrowse detail report at:Hot Melt Adhesives Market - Regional Segment AnalysisNorth AmericaU.S.EuropeGermanyU.K.FranceAsia PacificChinaJapanIndiaLatin AmericaBrazilMiddle East and AfricaAbout UsSyndicate Market Research provides a range of marketing and business research solutions designed for our clients specific needs based on our expert resources. The business scopes of Syndicate Market Research cover more than 30 industries includsing energy, new materials, transportation, daily consumer goods, chemicals, etc. We provide our clients with one-stop solution for all the research requirements.Contact Us:Syndicate Market Research3422 SW 15 Street, Suit #8138,Deerfield Beach,Florida 33442,USATel: +1-386-310-3803GMT Tel: +49-322 210 92714USA/Canada Toll Free No.1-855-465-4651Email: sales@syndicatemarketresearch.comWebsite:
Microfluidic Device System Market: Global Industry Analysis and Forecast, 2014  2020

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Microfluidics device system deals with the several systematic applications areas including medicine, cell biology research and protein crystallization. It is a developing scientific field having significant commercial potential. Microfluidic device system helps to reduce side effects and improve the efficacy of medical treatments. Scientifically, microfluidic study involves study of the behavior of fluids in micro-channels and technically, it deals with the manufacturing of microfluidics devices for applications. Microfluidic device system has many applications in other areas such as inkjet printers, blood-cell-separation equipment, biochemical assays, chemical synthesis, genetic analysis, drug screening, electrochromatography, surface micromachining, laser ablation and mechanical micromilling.Request Sample Report:Increasing demand of microfluidic device system from point of care testing and pharmaceutical industry are the major factors driving the microfluidic device system market. Rising demand of microfluidic device system in genomics and proteomics strongly associated with the growth of microfluidic device system market. However, harsh regulatory requirements may hamper the growth of this market.The report includes detailed competitive landscape of the global microfluidic device system market. It includes company market share analysis, product portfolio of the major industry participants. The report provides detailed segmentation of the microfluidic device system market based on material, industry, application and region. Glass, polymer and silicon are the material segments of microfluidic device system market. These materials are used in manufacturing of microfluidic devices.On the basis of industry segment microfluidic device system market can be segmented into three major industries include in-vitro diagnostics, pharmaceuticals and medical devices. Due to increased demand from in-vitro diagnostics industry, it is the largest industry segment of microfluidic device system market.Do Inquiry before buying:Point of care testing, pharmaceutical and life science research, drug delivery, analytical devices, clinical and veterinary diagnostics, environment and industrial are the key applications involved in the microfluidic device system market. The microfluidic device system is widely used in clinical and veterinary diagnostics application. Therefore clinical and veterinary diagnostics applications segment was the leading segment of global microfluidic device system market in 2014.Major regional segments analyzed in this study include North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, Latin America, and Middle East & Africa. This report also provides further bifurcation of region on the country level. Major countries analyzed in this reports are U.S., Germany, France, UK, China, Japan, India, and Brazil. Microfluidic device system market was dominated by North America. Asia Pacific region is expected to exhibit the rapid growth of this market in coming years.The report covers detailed competitive outlook including company profiles of the key participants operating in the global market. Key players profiled in the report include Abbott Laboratories, Roche Diagnostics, Becton Dickinson and Company, Agilent Technologies, Bio-Rad Laboratories, Siemens Healthcare, Fluidigm Corporation, and Johnson & Johnson.Browse detail report at:The report segments the global microfluidic device system market into:Global Microfluidic Device System Market: Material Segment AnalysisGlassPolymerSiliconGlobal Microfluidic Device System Market: Industry Segment AnalysisIn-vitro diagnosticsPharmaceuticalsMedical DevicesGlobal Microfluidic Device System Market: Application Segment AnalysisPoint of care testingPharmaceutical and life science researchDrug deliveryAnalytical devicesClinical and veterinary diagnosticsEnvironment and IndustrialGlobal Microfluidic Device System Market: Regional Segment AnalysisNorth AmericaU.S.EuropeUKFranceGermanyAsia PacificChinaJapanIndiaLatin AmericaBrazilMiddle East & AfricaRead Report TOC:About UsSyndicate Market Research provides a range of marketing and business research solutions designed for our clients specific needs based on our expert resources. The business scopes of Syndicate Market Research cover more than 30 industries includsing energy, new materials, transportation, daily consumer goods, chemicals, etc. We provide our clients with one-stop solution for all the research requirements.Contact Us:Syndicate Market Research3422 SW 15 Street, Suit #8138,Deerfield Beach,Florida 33442,USATel: +1-386-310-3803GMT Tel: +49-322 210 92714USA/Canada Toll Free No.1-855-465-4651Email: sales@syndicatemarketresearch.comWebsite:
Cloud Access Security Brokers Market: Global Industry Analysis and Forecast, 2014  2020

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Cloud Access Security Brokers (CASB) are cloud accommodated software that perform as a control point to protect cloud services. It provides a range of capabilities including encryption, auditing, data loss prevention (DLP), and access control & anomaly detection. It is a visibility and control point located between employees of an organization and the cloud services or applications like SaaS that posses box, dropbox, google drive, office 365, sales force, workday, etc.Request Sample Report:The cloud access security brokers market is mainly driven by the growing adoption of cloud-based applications. Cloud access security brokers provide different security solutions like control and monitoring cloud services, risk and compliance management, data security etc. Data Security can be further categorized into data leakage prevention, cloud data encryption etc. This has fueled the growth of global cloud access security brokers market.The global cloud access security brokers market is segmented on the basis of solution, services, service model, organization size, application and region. Based on different services, market is segmented as professional service, support, training and maintenance. Professional service segment holds the largest market share in this market because it offers data security policies which help to protect critical business data and sensitive information.Do Inquiry before buying:The report provides a comprehensive view on the cloud access security brokers market we have included a detailed company market share analysis, product portfolio of the major industry participants. To understand the competitive landscape in the market, an analysis of Porters Five Forces model for the cloud access security brokers market has also been included. The study encompasses a market attractiveness analysis, wherein application segments are benchmarked based on their market size, growth rate and general attractiveness.Application segments have been analyzed based on historic, present, and future trends, and the market has been estimated from 2015 to 2020 in terms of revenue (USD Million). Banking, financial services and insurance (BFSI), education, government, healthcare, retail and other applications like telecommunication and IT etc. are the application segments of cloud access security brokers market.Major regional segments analyzed in this study include North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, Latin America, and Middle East & Africa. This report also provides further bifurcation of region on the country level. Major countries analyzed in this reports are U.S., Germany, France, UK, China, Japan, India, and Brazil. Geographically, North America is expected to lead the market during the forecast period.Browse detail report at:Some of the key players for global cloud access security brokers market includes Bitglass, Imperva, Inc., Skyhigh Networks, Protegrity , Cloudlock, Ciphercloud, Netskope, Adallom, Perspecsys and Cloudmask.This report segments the global cloud access security brokers market as follows:Global Cloud Access Security Brokers Market: Solution Segment AnalysisControl and Monitoring Cloud ServicesRisk and Compliance ManagementData SecurityEncryptionTokenizationData Leakage PreventionThreat ProtectionGlobal Cloud Access Security Brokers Market: Service Segment AnalysisProfessional serviceSupport, training and maintenanceGlobal Cloud Access Security Brokers Market: Service Model Segment AnalysisInfrastructure as a ServicePlatform as a ServiceSoftware as a ServiceGlobal Cloud Access Security Brokers Market: Organization Size SegmentAnalysisSmall and Medium Businesses (SMBs)Large EnterprisesGlobal Cloud Access Security Brokers Market: Application Segment AnalysisBanking, Financial Services and Insurance (BFSI)EducationGovernmentHealthcareRetailOthers (Telecommunication and It etc.)Read Report TOC:Global Cloud Access Security Brokers Market: Regional Segment AnalysisNorth AmericaU.S.EuropeUKFranceGermanyAsia PacificChinaJapanIndiaLatin AmericaBrazilMiddle East & AfricaAbout UsSyndicate Market Research provides a range of marketing and business research solutions designed for our clients specific needs based on our expert resources. The business scopes of Syndicate Market Research cover more than 30 industries includsing energy, new materials, transportation, daily consumer goods, chemicals, etc. We provide our clients with one-stop solution for all the research requirements.Contact Us:Syndicate Market Research3422 SW 15 Street, Suit #8138,Deerfield Beach,Florida 33442,USATel: +1-386-310-3803GMT Tel: +49-322 210 92714USA/Canada Toll Free No.1-855-465-4651Email: sales@syndicatemarketresearch.comWebsite:
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Two people were injured in a drive-by shooting on State Route 500 in Vancouver early Saturday, Sept. 3, 2016.

(The Oregonian/OregonLive/file)

VANCOUVER -- Two people were injured in a drive-by shooting on State Route 500 in Vancouver.



A Honda was heading east at about 2 a.m. Saturday when a passenger from a passing vehicle fired at the car, KGW in Portland reports.



Will Finn of the Washington State Patrol says the Honda's driver was shot in the left knee. A bullet grazed the back of the head of a man in the front seat.



Finn says both injuries are considered non-life-threatening. Investigators say at least eight shots hit the Honda.



The driver said an unknown vehicle was following closely before moving to the left lane to pass. A passenger fired a handgun at the Honda so the driver pulled over to the shoulder and called 911. The suspect fled the scene and has not been found.

-- The Associated Press
When Matthew Simmons heard that the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife was moving forward with plans to kill an entire wolf pack after repeated attacks on livestock, he was incensed.

Simmons, who runs an animal rescue center in California that specializes in wolves, wasn't content to register his disgust with the plan from afar. He hopped in his car, drove to Los Angeles "faster than I should have" and booked a flight to Washington on Tuesday in hopes of stopping the state from taking lethal action against the Profanity Peak pack.

And he didn't travel to rural Ferry County, in the northeast corner of Washington, to passively protest. Simmons went there with a plan that he said could save the remaining wolves at no cost to the state.

"I'm showing up ready to have a helicopter in the air, with four guys and another six guys on the ground, to track this pack, tranquilize them and get them out of here," he told The Oregonian/OregonLive by phone from the town of Republic on Wednesday. "We can do it in five days and we can do it at no cost to the taxpayer."

The ongoing issues with the wolves started in early August when two members of the pack were killed after a spate of attacks on livestock, but how the strained relationship between the wolves and the ranchers got to this breaking point has a much longer history.

***

The wolf population in Washington has made a resounding comeback after once being nearly extinct. In 2008, there was just one pack of two animals, but as of early this year, there were at least 90 wolves in at least 19 distinct groups.

The locations of Washington's 19 wolf packs.

In 2012, the entire Wedge pack, consisting of at least eight wolves, was wiped out in Stevens County, just across the Columbia River from where the Profanity Peak pack lives. The move came after wolves were suspected in an estimated 17 attacks that cost ranchers more than $100,000 in lost revenue, according to the Stevens County Cattlemen's Association.

In the aftermath of the Wedge pack's extermination, the state formed the Wolf Advisory Group, or WAG, which operates under the jurisdiction of the Department of Fish and Wildlife. The 18-member group -- made up of ranchers, hunters, conservationists and environmentalists -- formed guidelines for when lethal action could be taken against wolves.

Wolves need to be confirmed responsible for four or more attacks in a given year, or six in two years; one of those events must be fatal; the state must believe that the attacks will continue without any action; and the public must be notified of the pack's activities and apprised of possible management scenarios.

Ranchers are required to take measures to try to prevent wolf attacks, including hiring riders to watch over their cattle. They're also encouraged to put calves out to pasture when they're older and better able to deter an attack. Measures like this need to be tried before the state will authorize lethal action, which officials said were carried out in regards to the Profanity Peak pack.

But despite those measures, a number of circumstances came together this year that made a confrontation between wolves and people almost inevitable, said Ferry County Sheriff Ray Maycumber.

"Wildfires last year displaced these wolves from their dens and eradicated much of the small game that would have been available within their area," he said in an email. "The fires all but eliminated our hunting season last year and there was nothing to drive them back into the mountains; now their population has increased near and around the farms and human populated places."

That confluence of factors left the wolves with little to prey upon, save for cattle grazing on public lands.

"It's not difficult to see how we got here," Maycumber continued. "Without prey animals, and with the cattle coming off range soon, the wolves will be drawn to populated areas to find food."

***

After the attacks in early August, state officials said they would be happy to leave the remaining wolves alone, provided there were no more attacks. But with the discovery of several more dead animals a few weeks later, the county declared a state of emergency naming the wolves as a public nuisance and demanding the state take action to remove the pack, by lethal means or otherwise.

"The Ferry County Commissioners have not only declared a state of emergency, but have demanded the department complete a full removal of the pack," said Justin Hedrick, whose ranch lost four calves to the pack, in a post on the cattlemen's association website. "Considering the ongoing damage these wolves have caused over the last three years, we feel that request is reasonable and should be met."

State officials agreed.

"The department is committed to wolf recovery, but we also have a shared responsibility to protect livestock from repeated depredation by wolves," said Donny Martorello, the lead for the state's wolf policy, in a statement earlier this month announcing that the state planned to kill the entire pack.

The pack, which was originally estimated at 11 animals -- six adults and five pups -- was effectively cut in half after gunmen in helicopters killed six of the wolves over the past few weeks.

In a proposal sent to fish and wildlife director Jim Unsworth, Ferry County Sheriff Ray Maycumber and a county commissioner, Simmons outlined his plan to remove the wolves without killing them, one he said he is uniquely qualified to execute.

The Lockwood Animal Rescue Center, which Simmons runs with his wife and co-founder Lorin Lindner, works with more than a dozen volunteers through the center's "Warriors and Wolves" program, which provides help to former members of the military through working with animals.

"Since the Profanity Peak Wolf Pack has been scheduled to be eliminated, (the center) has come to realize that another option is possible: relocating them to our wolf sanctuary where they can live out their lives," Simmons wrote in the proposal. "We will use non-lethal methods to rescue the wolves from the area, utilizing two expert trackers, a helicopter, and personnel on the ground."

Once the animals are tranquilized, under Simmons' proposal, they would be taken to the 3,800-acre rescue north of Los Angeles. Simmons said the plan would be paid for by the center, which is licensed by the state of California and privately funded through donations from individuals and philanthropic organizations. He said it would not cost the taxpayers of Washington a dime.

The rescue center currently houses roughly 30 wolves or wolf-dog hybrids in enclosures ranging from half an acre to 20 acres.

Simmons said the offer was warmly received by the folks he met in Republic, the seat of Ferry County, including a number of county commissioners and Sheriff Maycumber.

"It is my sincere hope that Ferry County does not have to take any action regarding the animals," Maycumber said. "His offer presents an opportunity to remove the offending wolves without either destroying them or putting them in a place where they may endanger other communities."

But the decision to rescind the kill order does not rest with the sheriff or the county commissioners. That responsibility rests on the Department of Fish and Wildlife, so on Thursday Simmons and Lindner flew from the rugged eastern part of Washington to Olympia, where the department is headquartered, in the hopes of meeting with Unsworth to present the plan.

***

Any time wolves are killed to protect livestock, it raises the hackles of those who argue for the rights of wild animals over those of domestic ones. A petition calling on Washington Gov. Jay Inslee to stop the lethal action had garnered more than 45,000 signatures by Friday afternoon.

After The Oregonian/OregonLive published a previous story on the Profanity Peak pack, emails and phone messages flooded in with emotional pleas, ranging from anguish to outrage, over the plan to kill the wolves.

That emotional reaction reached a boiling point earlier this week when a professor from Washington State University said state officials began receiving death threats after the professor claimed that a rancher had turned his cattle out in close proximity to the Profanity Peak pack den, the Seattle Times reported.

The university later apologized for the professor's statements and disavowed them, telling the Times that the move "contributed substantially to the growing anger and confusion about this significant wildlife management issue."

Lindner condemned the threats, but said she understood the sentiments behind them.

"All of that is totally unnecessary, but it just shows the raw emotions that are involved with this stuff," she said.

***

It was that anger and confusion that kept Simmons out of the Fish and Wildlife building on Thursday after the agency had itself received death threats and put the building on lockdown. It didn't help that dozens of wolf advocates showed up for a boisterous demonstration at noon.

Still, Simmons was determined to have his voice heard and, after a long day of waiting secured a brief meeting with Unsworth.

Simmons said he asked the director if he's seen the proposal and if the department was willing to consider it, to which Unsworth answered yes to both. But asked if he would consider rescinding the kill order, Simmons said Unsworth was noncommittal.

"I am blown away by the fact that ranchers and bureaucratic government officials would say yes," Simmons said referencing the people he spoke with in Ferry County. "But I can't get a commitment of yes or no out of the DFW."

Repeated calls and emails to Unsworth, Martorello and public affairs officials with the department were not returned. The advisory group has not issued a press release on the status of the pack since it announced the wolves were slated to be killed.

"I'm very frustrated," Simmons said Friday after he returned to California. "If they gave me a no at least then I could know what the issues are and work on them."

Simmons said he understands the concerns of the ranchers and the monetary losses that come when wolves kill cattle -- each calf can represent more than $1,500 in lost revenue -- but the manner in which the wolves are killed, by painful snare traps, poison or gunned down with shotguns from a helicopter, which Simmons said can be imprecise and unnecessarily painful, is what bothers him the most.

Lindner and Simmons concede that not every situation is amenable to non-lethal removal. Large groups of adult wolves can have trouble adjusting to life in a sanctuary, but given that the surviving wolves in the Profanity Peak pack are mostly pups, the situation seemed perfect for Simmons' team to intervene.

"I don't ever want to put a wolf in a sanctuary," Simmons said. "But when the other option is death, it makes the decision easy."

***

Despite the fact that they did not come away with a commitment from the state to stop killing the wolves, Lindner said the trip was a stepping stone in an ongoing process as the wolf population grows and the state learns to moderate between the concerns of conservationists and ranchers.

"It's always worth it when lives are at stake," she said. "And the window isn't closed yet (on the Profanity Peak pack). You want to make sure that whatever intervention is done is in as humane a way as possible. Hopefully we've at least bought (the wolves) some time."

As Oregon's wolf population has seen a similar rebound to those in Washington, familiar problems have arisen. The state is home to at least 110 of the animals, according to the last count, which was conducted in 2015. But four wolves from the Imnaha pack were killed earlier this year in Wallowa County after repeated attacks on livestock.

Whether the intervention will save the Profanity Peak pack remains to be seen, but it's likely not the last time this type of situation comes to a head.

"As northeast Washington becomes saturated with wolves over the next few years, I fear we may face situations like this until the wolf populations are more evenly spread through the state," he said.

Correction: A previous version of this story indicated that a Washington State University professor had received death threats for his comments about the Profanity Peak pack when in fact the threats were directed at state officials. The story has been changed to correct the error.

-- Kale Williams

kwilliams@oregonian.com

503-294-4048
Tuna and schooling sardines

Pacific bluefin tuna hunting sardines. Sardines and other forage fish are a critical food source for economically important marine species such as tuna and salmon.

(File photo)

The tiny fish who form one basis of the world's ocean ecosystem earned new protections Friday in Oregon. It is now illegal to fish for many species of what are called "forage fish" from Oregon's shores to 300 miles into the ocean.

The Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife adopted the protection, which mirrors a new federal policy, Friday morning. Oregon has very few fishing operations that target these kind of forage fish, which are less commercially sought-after than sardines, anchovies or herring -- the most popular forage fish species.

Thus, there was little pushback and lots of support from conservation groups.

Forage fish swim in "bait balls," which is a defense mechanism against predators, but also means they are prime prey for all kinds of ocean animals and sea birds. Under the new rule, these forage fish won't be able to be caught by recreational or commercial fishers without proving that can be down without harming the entire ecosystem that relies on them.

State marine resources manager Caren Braby said the plan will "allow our existing fisheries to thrive while preventing new forage fish fisheries from forming without thorough consideration and review," in a June article about what was then the proposed ban.

The Pacific coast is now almost entirely covered. Washington put this same policy in place in the 1990s. California is expected to follow suit next year. Some Mid-Atlantic states are also on board.

"It's the way of the future to take this more holistic approach," said Paul Shively, director of ocean conservation work in the Pacific Ocean for Pew Charitable Trusts.

-- Molly Harbarger

mharbarger@oregonian.com

503-294-5923

@MollyHarbarger
travis2.jpg

Travis Cottrell and his battle buddy, Ranger

(Steve Duin)

There is so much loss.

Travis Cottrell lost his anchor, his roommate, his battle buddy. Jan Paullin lost her son, another of the 22 anguished U.S. military veterans who commit suicide each day.

There is so much found.

Shannon Walker launched a mission to repair and console the men and women who serve.

Travis and Ranger found one another ... and devotion to inspire the rest of us.

A year after returning from Army tours in Iraq and Afghanistan, Cottrell met Jeffrey Allen Paullin at a Memorial Day barbecue in 2012.

Paullin was everything he missed about deployment: The guy had his back. He was a Navy Corpsman who understood the nightmares and the post-traumatic stress disorder.

They were inseparable. "Sam, Jeff's girlfriend, always said, 'It's like I'm dating both of you,'" says Cottrell, 31. "We lived together, worked together at UPS on Swan Island, and went to school together.

"It was like having a permanent battle buddy, that unfaltering brother by your side. It was like you were full active again."

Camaraderie. Common purpose. Maybe Cottrell didn't leave all that behind with the 10th Mountain Division.

"Life in the civilian world," he told himself, "won't be that bad."

Jan Paullin and her son, Jeffrey, who died in 2013.

On a Saturday in November 2013, they went snowboarding on Mount Hood. "The fresh air and open spaces did wonders for us both," Cottrell says. "You check your problems at the freezing point."

Returning to the house they shared with two friends in north Vancouver, they took naps, thawed out, rested up for a night out.

Cottrell's alarm went off at 5 p.m. He went to Paullin's room to wake him. When he didn't respond, Cottrell reached to slap his knee:

"That's when I noticed his eyes had fogged over, and the blood coming out of his mouth."

"I knew he had PTSD. They all have PTSD," says Jan Paullin, a former Navy nurse. "I knew he had flashbacks, nightmares, and that the nightmares had changed. They went from him trying to save people to the parents of the soldiers he lost asking him, 'Why didn't you save my son?'

"He was on and off different meds, and being treated at the VA. But I thought he was doing pretty well ... until he committed suicide."

'Devastated' doesn't cover where Jan Paullin and Travis Cottrell landed.

Turtle, the cat? 'He's the commander. He's here at HQ,' Travis Cottrell says. 'He sends out his LT, Ranger, to go out on missions with me.'

"I felt, and I still feel, it was my fault," Cottrell says. "He was my battle buddy. I was supposed to look out for him. Like he did for me."

Convinced he'd also let Jan down, Cottrell withdrew: "My drug of choice was isolation. I'd wait until 3 a.m. to go shopping, so I'd talk to the bare minimum of people. Worked out in the middle of the night. Stopped going to school."

But Jan pursued him: "I told him, 'I lost one boy. I'm not going to lose another."

She convinced Cottrell to spend a month in Denver, dealing with the depression and stress. Then she introduced him to Shannon Walker at Northwest Battle Buddies.

Walker, the daughter of a Korean War veteran, has trained service dogs for 20 years. In 2011, she trained a yellow Lab for a Purple Heart recipient fresh out of Iraq, and was fiercely moved by the dog's impact.

"His friends saw the change in him," Walker says. "They started coming to me, looking for help, looking for service dogs. I didn't have any dogs to give them."

She found them. In the last five years, Walker has trained 31 more - pit bulls, German shepherds, brown Labs - and paired them with veterans at no charge.

When she read Travis's application, she turned immediately to Ranger, then a 10-month-old Golden Retriever.

Travis and Ranger, on the morning they met.

"I knew they'd be perfect for each other," Walker says. "Ranger's personality. His energy level. The dog's zest for life. I've been doing this for 20 years. I know what fits."

Like all of Walker's dogs, Ranger went through 350 hours of training, including many field trips with Cottrell.

"When he was in training and I told him we were going to the mall with Ranger for the first time," Walker says, "within three minutes he was in the bathroom throwing up, because of the stress of going out in public."

It wasn't the last time. Cottrell has scars, but no self-pity. Knowing so many other veterans have it worse, he worked too hard to drive solo through the pain. "Eventually, I couldn't drive anymore," he says. "I went down some dark pathways."

Then, thanks to Jan, the woman who loved Jeff Paullin just as much as he did, Ranger arrived.

"He got his battle buddy back," Walker says.

No one thinks the battle is over. No one knows when the nightmares end. "I still have them," Cottrell says.

And when he does? "Ranger wakes me with his paws, so I don't have to go through the whole thing."

That's not all. In the joy and devotion of that dog, Cottrell has found reason to get up in the morning: "A reason to think before I react. A reason to keep on. He follows me everywhere. I'm never alone."

-- Steve Duin

stephen.b.duin@gmail.com
By David Sarasohn

It was nearly a big presidential week in Oregon, a moment projecting us to the center of the 2016 campaign, a time when the biggest phenomenon of the race was going to appear here. It was in line to be the biggest Oregon political story in years that didn't involve sex or health insurance websites.

Last Wednesday, Donald Trump was scheduled to be in Oregon for a fundraising event and a public rally, although his campaign never actually settled on where the rally was going to be. The Trump campaign had reportedly eliminated Portland, presumably on the grounds that there were too many people here. Then three people listed as sponsors of his Portland fundraising event declared they had no idea how their names had gotten on the program.

Shortly afterward, the campaign announced that Trump's Oregon appearances were canceled, citing an unexpected visit to Louisiana 10 days before Trump was booked to appear here.

The connection wasn't clear, unless the campaign only had space for one crawfish state. But it was hard not to take it personally -- like your prom date suddenly remembering that she had to wash her hair that evening.

A promised major campaign occasion in Oregon ended up as No Trump Day.

And Trump had told us he cared. In fact, he'd been making passionate overtures to the entire West Coast.

"We're going to come in -- we're going to work California hard," Trump promised in Sacramento June 1. "We're going to work the state of Washington hard. We may even work Oregon hard, because we've been really treated up there great."

Be still, our Gore-Tex-covered hearts.

Presumably, "really treated up there great," refers to Trump's single appearance here, in Eugene before the primary, when, indeed, nobody threw anything.

After the conventions, Paul Manafort, then Trump's campaign head, told The Washington Post that Connecticut and Oregon "are not states that are on my front burner, but (Clinton's) going to have to put resources into those states in order to carry them."

Trump even campaigned in Connecticut -- although people did wonder if he'd somehow gotten lost.

And then, after he promised to show up here Wednesday, Trump stood us up in favor of Arizona, where he wanted to make a major immigration speech. Apparently, he had to explain his policy on immigration, because he'd only been talking about it nonstop for a year.

Reportedly, the Trump campaign has been pressured to focus campaigning on states he might carry. By most estimates, Trump has always had about as much chance of carrying Oregon as becoming pope, although he would, of course, be a fantastic, amazing, unbelievable pope, and everybody -- everybody! -- wants him to take the job.

But Tuesday, he did hold his scheduled rally in Everett, Washington, where his prospects might not be much better -- although Trump did promise the crowd that he would carry the state, and he raised more than $1 million at a fundraising event. Apparently, it was a busy political day, because somehow none of the Washington statewide GOP candidates could make the event.

In Everett, Trump challenged claims of racism by pointing out that Republicans were the party of Lincoln, while Democrats had supported slavery.

He could have said that here. We like 19th-century history, and back then Oregon was even a state, which Washington wasn't.

Possibly warming up for his immigration speech, and his meeting with the president of Mexico (the day when he was supposed to be here), Trump addressed immigration in Everett by reciting an old rock song about the dangers of taking in a snake.

He could have done that in Oregon.

We like rock songs.

But then on Wednesday, in a joint press conference with the president of Mexico, the Republican nominee declared: "I happen to have a tremendous feeling for Mexican Americans. ... Spectacular, spectacular hardworking people. I have such great respect for them and their strong values of family, faith and community."

Nothing about snakes.

Or about how he'll make Mexico pay for the wall.

Then Trump flew to Phoenix Wednesday evening and told the crowd: "Mexico will pay for the wall, 100 percent. They don't know it yet, but they're gonna pay for the wall."

He also repeated that all undocumented immigrants would have to leave and that he would have a special deportation force to remove what he called 2 million undocumented criminals: "Day one, my first hour in office, those people are gone."

Once again, there's absolutely no reason Trump couldn't have made those speeches here.

If there's one thing Oregonians understand, it's confusion.

*

David Sarasohn's column appears on the first and third Sundays of the month. He blogs at davidsarasohn.com.
Delta.JPG

Delta airlines finds itself competing with Norwegian Air International.

(AP Photo/File)

By Leonid Bershidsky

An upstart transportation company with unorthodox hiring practices and suspiciously low prices has disrupted its home market and would like to do the same to foreign ones, but faces regulatory problems and fierce resistance from incumbents. While Uber fits that description, the company I'm talking about flies rather than drives and is European, not American.

Norwegian Air, the low-cost carrier based in Oslo, has been around 1993, but it's only been actively expanding since the early 2000s, raising cash in an initial public offering and buying a fleet of the latest Boeings and Airbuses. Three years ago, it started long-haul flights, mostly to the U.S., setting apart from most other European discount airlines including industry leaders RyanAir and easyJet which haven't braved that market.

Norwegian's fares to U.S. cities are refreshingly low thanks to the usual discount airline tricks: more seats are squeezed into a plane (as many as 344 for a Boeing 787 Dreamliner, compared with 240 in a traditional set-up), and charges for basic amenities such as blankets and headphones. The Dreamliners the company uses on long-haul routes boast good fuel efficiency, giving Norwegian lower costs per passenger mile.

Norway, however, is not the best home for a budget airline. It has strict labor laws and high taxes. Besides, it's not a European Union member, and it doesn't have bilateral open-sky agreements with as many countries as the EU bloc does, which makes it impossible for Oslo-based Norwegian to use, say, London as a base for flights to Canada or Latin America. Since the company's business model depends on keeping its planes in the air for longer than most competitors, having such limited options is inconvenient.

So from the start of its long-haul expansion, Norwegian has wanted to use its Irish subsidiary, Norwegian Air International (NAI), for transatlantic flights. It asked the U.S. Department of Transportation for permission to do so in December, 2013, but still hasn't got it even after the process taking a record amount of time. More recently, the company applied for another permit -- for its U.K. subsidiary. That hasn't been forthcoming, either.

Norwegian' opponents in the U.S. include the three major airlines -- American, Delta and United -- as well as labor unions. The point they make is that Norwegian's U.K. and Irish operations use an ingenious arrangement to hire pilots and cabin crew. Pilots are employed through a Singapore company, and flight attendants through a Thai one. The salaries they make are in line with the traditional airlines, but it's easier to lay off staff, with benefits such as pension contributions much lower than in Europe.

The controversy, similar to the one Uber faces over the employment terms of its drivers, is ostensibly what has delayed the application. Norwegian, however, has offered only to use crews under European contracts for U.S. flights -- and that hasn't helped much. "Somebody has got it wrong in the U.S.," Bjorn Kjos, Norwegian's chief executive officer, said during the company's July earnings call. "They tried to prevent us from competing in the U.S. market."

The motivation of Norwegian's opponents is transparent. The company's ticket prices are nothing special in Europe, where low-cost airlines are commonplace, but they scare U.S. competitors, especially when Norwegian talks about $69 transatlantic flights. On its existing routes, Norwegian has grabbed market share from incumbents. The airline hasn't been able to do that on London-based flights yet, and U.S. permits would allow it to be more competitive.

In a recent report, CAPA -- Center for Aviation, an airline research company -- argued that major U.S. carriers wouldn't suffer from increasing Norwegian's market access. Their route networks wouldn't overlap much, and Norwegian would largely attract new customers not available to the legacy carriers because of their pricing. But, CAPA added, "those opposing NAI's application cannot really be blamed for trying. They are serving their own interests by attempting to restrict competition."

Norwegian's efforts to expand in the U.S. have the support of the EU. Violeta Bulc, the bloc's transportation commissioner, wrote an angry letter to U.S. Transportation Secretary Anthony Foxx in July, saying the airline's problems could damage bilateral trade relationships. Bulc said the EU would seek arbitration in the case. In response, she received a missive from Bill Shuster, head of the congressional transportation committee , repeating the labor arguments and accusing Norwegian of trying to "plant the weed of this unsustainable business model in the fertile soil of our international aviation system."

If this seems reminiscent of Uber's treatment by many European regulators, ostensibly for the same reasons, that's because the both situations involve government attempts to dress up protectionist policies as socially-oriented shields. One notable difference between Uber and Norwegian is that the latter is consistently profitable: Regardless of what Shuster says, the discount airline model has proved sustainable, and Norwegian is one of the few companies that have honed it to near-perfection.

The U.S. has the Uber model for urban transportation, but many European countries don't want to import it: They'd rather back local players using much the same technology, but in a less disruptive fashion. Europe has the budget airline industry with truly low prices and well-developed methods of keeping costs down, but the U.S. is not particularly interested in importing that model.

Americans probably wouldn't mind flying at European prices, just as Europeans don't mind Uber undercutting their taxi services. Low prices, of course, do come with uneasy compromises on fair dealing -- compromises that most consumers accept as economically rational. It's the governments' business to protect workers and consumers, and Uber and Norwegian both comply when regulators force them to temper their cost-cutting in favor of following socially oriented rules. Provided they do so, they should be allowed to compete without further hypocrisy -- or the protectionist motives should be made explicit, with inevitable consequences for both trade relationships and governments' moral authority.

(c) 2016, Bloomberg View

Leonid Bershidsky is a Bloomberg View columnist.
Shark fin.JPG

In this photo taken last month in waters off Gansbaai, South Africa, the fin of a great white shark glides by a research boat. The practice of "finning," or removing the fin from the fish, sometimes while it is alive, feeds an international trade of animal parts that includes elephant tusks and turtle shells.

(AP Photo)

By Brad Nahill

Oregon is generally considered a pro-environment state and, in many ways, it is. Our state is rich in windmills, protected natural areas and wildlife.

But there is one way that the Beaver State falls short: It is currently legal to sell parts of endangered wildlife, including things like turtle shell jewelry (made from the shell of the critically endangered hawksbill sea turtle), ivory from elephants and shark fins.

Wildlife trafficking is a huge problem. It rivals the drug trade in size, decimating wild areas around the world and providing revenue for terrorism. An estimated 35,000 elephants are killed every year, turtle shell jewelry can be found for sale in 70 percent to 90 percent of souvenir shops in Latin America, and 100 million sharks are killed annually for their fins and other parts.

These aren't just numbers. Without hawksbill turtles, coral reefs suffer from overpopulation of sponges. Ocean ecosystems around the world need sharks at the top of the food chain to keep populations in balance. Elephants, lions, cheetahs and other animals are important for both wild places and tourist economies across Africa.

The good news is that Oregonians have the chance to act. Measure 100 will outlaw the sale of parts from 12 different kinds of wild and endangered animals, covering dozens of species from around the world. But the measure's provisions won't affect people who have things like ivory handed down as family heirlooms, antiques or musical instruments.

Voting yes on measure 100 will have a real impact on wildlife conservation efforts around the world. Our neighbors in Washington, California and Hawaii have all passed laws restricting the sale of endangered animals. Oregon is the last holdout.

If Measure 100 passes, Oregon closes a gap by helping to create an important barrier along the entire contiguous West Coast, making it harder to illegally import these animal parts into the country.

It's time for Oregon to step up and help reduce the illegal trade in endangered species. Measure 100 is the way to do it.

*

Brad Nahill is director and co-founder of SEE Turtles, based in Beaverton.
Bridges program returns as 'Lunch 'N Learn'

On Wednesday, Sept. 7, Helena United Methodist Ministries resumes its popular first Wednesdays Bridges luncheon program. Now named Lunch N Learn, the September luncheon features a program titled Bustin Myths About Aging. This series is hosted by Covenant United Methodist Church, 2330 E. Broadway. All are welcome.

A free catered lunch is provided by Chili OBrien's compliments of AARP Montana. Lunch is served at noon, the program begins at 12:30 p.m. and concludes at 1:30. Come and enjoy meeting others in the second chapter of life and learn from presenters how to increase fulfillment, joy and happiness in life.

Register for your free lunch by Tuesday, Sept. 6, by calling AARP Montana at 1-877-926-8300. No need to be AARP member. Helena United Methodist Ministries (HUMM) supports Helena Food Share, and is pleased to receive your gifts of nonperishable food items at each Bridges event. Come 30 minutes early and receive a free confidential blood pressure reading by a registered nurse. For more information, call 442-6501.

Art is in the air at Helena Alliance

In the high school classroom, Nancy Runzheimer, in collaboration with former youth pastor, Kevin Schafer, has painted a mural to help inspire the students.

Paintings by Jim Howard and Sheri Schofield adorn the offices.

Schofield has also concentrated on painting murals for the younger students that depict a mountain stream, a beach scene, and a mountain lake with wildflowers.

In the sanctuary, Shirley Hoving designed and directed the painting of delicate, golden hills at sunset as a backdrop for the cross. She was inspired by the Scratch Gravel Hills at sunset.

The fall schedule begins the Sunday after Labor Day, with Sunday school at 9 a.m. and children's church beginning after worship and praise at the 10:15 service. The church is located on the corner of Henderson and Stuart.

Montana Catholic Bishops to host speakers

The Catholic bishops of Montana announce their fourth Affirming the Culture of Life Conference, to be held at the Helena Civic Center on Friday, Sept. 9 and Saturday, Sept. 10. Four nationally acclaimed speakers headline the conference, including Cardinal Daniel DiNardo, Camille Pauley, Sen. Colby Coash and Melissa Ohden.

Six years ago, the bishops initiated this series of conferences with the expectation that they would serve as fora to raise awareness and educate on issues that pose a threat to human life and dignity.

This years speakers will address the issues of abortion, assisted suicide and euthanasia, as well as the death penalty. Both of Montanas Catholic bishops -- The Most Rev. George Leo Thomas (Diocese of Helena) and The Most Rev. Michael W. Warfel (Diocese of Great Falls-Billings) -- will also address conference participants.

Keynote speaker Cardinal DiNardo is the archbishop of the Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston, home to 1.3 million Catholics.

Pauley is the president of Healing the Culture, an internationally renowned nonprofit organization that she co-founded with Fr. Robert Spitzer in 2003.

Coash is a Republican member of the Nebraska state Senate. During Nebraskas 2015 legislative session, Sen. Coash garnered national attention for leading the effort to repeal the states death penalty.

Ohden is the founder of The Abortion Survivors Network.

More information about the speakers and the event is available at www.montanalife.org.

Rally, picnic at Spring Meadow Lake

St. Peter's Episcopal Cathedral will celebrate the beginning of the fall program year with a 10 a.m. Mass and Rally Sunday picnic on Sept. 11 at Spring Meadow Lake.

The liturgy will be at the Pavilion (no services at the church that day). Afterwards there will be a picnic, music and games. All are invited.

Call 442-5175 for more information.
Every family has traditions that bring them together.

Maybe its rooting for your favorite team at a ballgame or watching a beloved movie classic at the holidays.

For my family, its the Labor Day parade.

Every year for as long as I can remember (and even longer), weve attended the Threshermens Reunion Parade in Pontiac. My mother has attended every parade since it began, including the year I was born. (She proudly claims, I went in labor on Labor Day, but I still made it to the parade.)

This year will be no different. Well be sitting in the same place, in front of the Hallmark store on Madison Street.

Even though the sun gets pretty hot there, weve camped out at that spot for more than 30 years. This year, Im quite excited because my husband has purchased a portable pop-up umbrella for shade. (It doesnt take much to excite me.)

The parade kicks off at 1:15 p.m. Sunday and will wend its way across the Vermilion River, through the downtown area and north on Main Street.

This years theme, Route 66 The Road to Happiness, honors the 90th anniversary of the famed Mother Road.

According to Mindy Terrell, executive director of the Pontiac Area Chamber of Commerce, which organizes the parade, anywhere from 10,000 to 15,000 people are expected to attend, depending on the weather.

Nathan Joerdnt of Pontiac is grand marshal. Local residents know Nathan, a special needs individual, as the always-friendly greeter at Wal-Mart.

Nathan has a smile on his face all the time, said Mindy. No one demonstrates happiness more than Nathan.

It takes a lot of work to coordinate an event this size. About 150 entries are expected tomorrow, including several bands. The U.S. Navy Band Great Lakes returns to entertain the crowds, along with favorites such as Pontiac Municipal Band, area high school bands and the South Shore Drill team. As a bonus, the drill team will give a 20-minute performance at the courthouse square immediately following the parade.

The parade is an outgrowth of the Central States Threshermens Reunion, which began in 1949 to honor our local farming heritage. The five-day reunion -- canceled this year because of flooded grounds -- features antique tractors and farming methods, a craft show and a flea market at Thresher Park, Illinois 23 just north of Pontiac.

Seeing, smelling and hearing the steam engines reminds me of my late grandfather, who remembered the days when the great machines were in the field and hailed as the latest in farming technology.

The parade is not too different from when I was a kid. My favorite entry is the Bloomington Shriners car with the pipe organ in back. In 1973, the organist played Happy Birthday for me and Ive been waiting for a repeat performance ever since.

Another childhood favorite was the Oscar Mayer Wienermobile, a car shaped like a giant hot dog on a bun, but its been years since it last drove up Main Street.

Cant we bring back the Wienermobile? I asked Mindy. She agreed the vehicle would be a terrific entry, but reservations are hard to get.

Last years parade had a twinge of sadness for me; it was the first year since my dad died. My last photo of him was taken as he rode in the parade and handed out balloons to kids.

But traditions help us carry on, dont they? Theres deep comfort in continuity, even when things arent exactly the same.

Ive said before, a Labor Day parade anywhere is a great thing; it personifies the hard-working spirit of America. But the Threshermens parade, with its tribute to our agriculture heritage, is one of a kind.

Mindy says parade planning has started for 2017, the year of the chamber organizations 100th anniversary.

Im thinking of themes already, she said.

Sounds good. Hey, maybe we can get the Oscar Mayer Wienermobile?
SAYBROOK  A Gibson City man is in custody after a double stabbing Friday night in Saybrook. One of the victims remained in critical condition Saturday.

Authorities said Arthur J. "AJ" Corry, 47, knew the man who was more seriously injured. A woman had "non-life-threatening" injuries, said police, who said a motive was unclear.

Corry was arrested without incident Saturday morning during a traffic stop in Champaign, McLean County Sheriff Jon Sandage said. Sandage said Corry showed signs of injury, but did not know the extent.

Corry faces initial charges of attempted murder, home invasion and aggravated battery with a deadly weapon. Sandage said he will be transferred to McLean County Jail with bond set at $3 million.

The charges follow a fight Friday night at a home in the 900 block of West Harrison Street. Officers, including crime scene technicians from the Illinois State Police, remained at the home early Saturday.

The male victim, 54, was wounded in the chest, neck, flank and back, police said. The woman, 46, had lacerations, police said.

Assisting in the investigation were the Colfax and LeRoy police departments and the McLean County state's attorney's office.
Aug. 31

At 11:53 p.m., officers were dispatched to the 50 block of Last Chance for a report of a male trespassing. While on the scene, officers also observed a different male breaking a phone that did not belong to him. This case is active.

Sept. 1

At 12:35 a.m., officers responded to the hospital for a report of an assault that had occurred earlier. Officers met with the parties involved. The case is active.

At 7:43 a.m., an officer responded to the 600 block of Rodney for a report of a theft. The case is active.

At 8:23 a.m., an officer responded to the 2800 block of Airport Road for a report of a theft. The case is active.

At 9:50 a.m., officers responded to the 500 block of Last Chance for a report of a disorderly female. At the conclusion of the investigation, a 43-year-old woman was cited and released for disorderly conduct.

At 9:53 a.m., an officer responded to the 200 block of Miller for a report of a juvenile smoking. At the conclusion of the investigation, a juvenile was cited and released to a guardian for minor in possession of tobacco.

At 11:36 a.m., an officer responded to the 1000 block of Broadway for a report of trespass and criminal mischief. There is suspect information and the case is active.

At 1:04 p.m., an officer responded to the 2000 block of Prospect for a report of a theft. The case is active.

At 3:17 p.m., officers responded to the 500 block of Last Chance for a report of a disorderly female. At the conclusion of the investigation, a 43-year-old woman was cited for disorderly conduct and obstructing a Police Officer.

At 4:44 p.m., an officer met with a complainant concerning the theft of a wallet. The case is active.

At 5:41 p.m., an officer responded to the 900 block of Idaho for a report of a theft. The case is active.

At 5:51 p.m., an officer responded to the 100 block of Billings for a report of a trespass to property. There is suspect information and the case is active.

At 6:41 p.m., an officer responded to the 1000 block of Jackson for a report of a found bicycle. The officer placed a teal colored mountain bike into evidence for safe keeping.

At 6:29 p.m., officers responded to the 2700 block of Prospect for a report of a physical altercation. There is suspect information and the case is active.

At 9:33 p.m., an officer responded to the 600 block of fee for a report of a theft. The case is active.

As of Friday morning, the county jail held 96 inmates (86 for felonies and 10 for misdemeanors). In total, the county has 134 inmates at various detention facilities.
LINCOLN  With more than three decades of law enforcement experience under his belt, Larry Smith has plenty of stories and wisdom to share with his new charges  the 32 high school students who signed up for his criminal justice classes at Lincolnland Technical Education Center.

When Smith retired in 2008 after 18 years as Menard County sheriff, he stayed in law enforcement work, first as a security officer at the federal courthouse in Springfield and later as deputy director of the Illinois Law Enforcement Training and Standards Board.

But it was the chance last year to serve as a substitute teacher in his hometown of Greenview that put Smith onto his new path, teaching teenagers about the criminal justice system and life in general.

While most of the students in Smith's two classes at the Primm Road center are considering a career in some aspect of law enforcement or the military, all the teens are learning first hand about the the joys and tragedies of community police work from a guy who's seen it all.

"I tell them the truth. We need good people to be cops. I couldn't wait to go to work as a young deputy. But they're also going to see tragedies and they have to learn to deal with that," said Smith.

In a recent class, Smith wrote two words on the blackboard that he considers the most important words in the America today: Run Away.

"We now live in a society where strangers kill strangers," said Smith, advising students that escaping a dangerous situation is the best outcome.

Illini Central High School student Nicholas Rainville helped Smith demonstrate the most effective way for a cop to approach a young subject an officer may encounter at 2:30 in the morning.

Staying several feet away from Rainville, Smith asked to see the teen's identification and asked a few questions about why he out past curfew.

"Mind if I give you a ride home? I'm gonna make sure I say hello to Mom and Dad," Smith told him.

In a discussion on the 1963 Miranda case that put in place requirements that police tell suspects they have a right to remain silent and have an attorney present during questioning, Smith asked Illini Central student Chad Gilmore to play a suspect seated in a squad car.

Gilmore was not told he had a right to a lawyer and his statements could be used against him. During a casual chat with Smith, Gilmore pretended to confess to killing two women, illustrating Smith's point that issuing the Miranda advisory soon after a person is in custody allows police to use everything a suspect says as evidence.

"My unintentional, somewhat arrogant decision to not give the Miranda warning cost me the ability to get evidence in two murders," Smith told the class.

Smith's curriculum includes plans for mock trials to show students how courts operate and a visit to the law enforcement training academy.

Daniel Hawkins, a student at Lincoln High School, said he's looking at several career options and Smith's class "is probably one of the most interesting classes the school offers."

Matt Puckett, director of the career center that offers eight programs to students from seven area schools, said Smith "was an outstanding substitute teacher. When we were looking for a candidate, he had the most experience with kids and was an outstanding fit."

Budget constraints forced the school district to drop the criminal justice course several years ago, but feedback from law enforcement agencies, including the FBI, that recruitment numbers were down "started a conversation here to bring it back," said Puckett.
NORMAL  Illinois State University's seal is back on the east side of the Bone Student Center in bold red and white colors.

It not only displays the university's revised motto, Gladly we learn and teach, but it showcases the talents of graduate student George Barreca, who was commissioned to create the new ceramic-tile seal.

The seal, unveiled and installed Friday morning, replaces one that was a gift from the class of 1984. The original seal had deteriorated and faded after being outside for decades. It also contained an older version of the ISU motto, And gladly would he learn and gladly teach.

The original plan was to refurbish that seal, but it was too damaged to be repaired, university officials said.

Barreca said the project was done in multiple stages, taking about three months.

The steps included projecting an image of the seal on a wall to the size that was needed, accounting for shrinkage of the ceramic tile when it was fired; producing the ceramic tile; and then tracing, cutting and assembling the seal, which is about 5 feet in diameter.

Barreca's work was done under the direction of Albion Stafford, associate director of the ceramics program. Barreca said he also was helped by his partner, Jenny Clay, who has experience with tile fabrication.

I was just honored to be able to give something back to the university, said Barreca, who is in his third and final year of the master of fine arts program.

About 20 people gathered to watch the seal being installed. A few sang the ISU fight song as others joined in rhythmic clapping. Nearly everyone is dressed in red  a Friday tradition at ISU.

Mike Wille, director of the School of Art, said, Every time I walk by with a prospective student, I'll be able to point to this and say, 'This was done by one of our graduate students.'

The wall with the seal faces Milner Library on the plaza, which is crossed by crowds of students, faculty and staff each day.

Earlier this year, Barreca was involved in a project in which he gave away about 200 handmade ceramic mugs.

We call him 'Generous George,' said Wille. His legacy as an artist is going to extend to students who follow  not just art students, but all students.
Has anyone thought about trying to interest Bloomington Gold  the nations premier event for Corvette owners and lovers  in the closed Mitsubishi plant property?

Think about it: More than two million square feet of potential exhibition space under one roof; about a hundred acres of paved parking; and a mile-long oval test track  all located within sight of where three interstates connect and Route 66 beckons.

The annual event began in Bloomington and spent 22 of its 43 years here, most recently in 2001. Its also been held in Springfield, St. Charles and Champaign before last years relocation to the Indianapolis Speedway  always in search of suitable facilities. But Bloomington Gold endures as the events name and the title of the coveted certification granted select Corvettes.

About 30,000 attended Junes show in Indy. A scaled-down version will take place next month in Charlotte, N.C.

The fact Bloomington Gold is still headquartered here tells me this is where its heart is. Owner Guy Larsen, a Chicago businessman, is a smart marketer who also heads a Midwest trade show for the pool and spa industry.

I know wed all prefer the unused Mitsubishi property be occupied by heavy industry with lots of good-paying jobs. But rather than see the complex leveled, maybe Larsen or other investors  if the price is right  could convert it into an expo center kept busy with annual industrial exhibitions and car shows with Bloomington Gold being the crown event.

It could mean some full-time positions, lots of part-time jobs and a boon to local hotels, restaurants, gas stations and tax receipts.

Forward progress

Two weeks ago I wrote about baby steps that take downtown Bloomington forward, sometimes backward. Downtown doubters should note several strides forward:

 Last month saw the successful launch of whats expected to be an annual Front Street Music Festival.

 *Epiphany Restaurant has classy new signage on its 114-year-old building.

 Three traffic control boxes have been transformed by the Downtown Bloomington Associations public art program (with plans for several more).

 Downtown will be the site of next months Route 66 Miles of Possibility Conference, a four-day event held in Edwardsville last year.

 Lucca Grills parking lot has been resurfaced.

 And an 8 Bit Beercade is hoping to locate yet this year at 236 E. Front, duplicating the one in Peorias warehouse district. It offers 160 beers and free play of vintage video games.

Now if someone can just rid the windows inside the old Illinois Brewing Co. of those long-lifeless houseplants. Not a flourishing image to greet visitors leaving U.S. Cellular Coliseum for downtowns restaurants and bars. Illinois Brewing closed more than two years ago.

And speaking of the Coliseum, it may not be long before we hear about a new name. U.S. Cellulars 10-year naming rights contract expired three months ago. It hasnt had a store in McLean County since 2012.

U.S. Cellular Field, home of the Chicago White Sox, becomes Guaranteed Rate Field in November. Heres hoping we can do better than that.

Big parades

Perfect weather is predicted for Monday mornings McLean County Labor Day parade.

I always feel sorry for parade participants (especially the bands) in the latter part of the line-up. A lot of parade-watchers leave before the last quarter of the really good, but whats become a just-too-long parade, passes by. Maybe less-than-baking temperatures will keep them around this year.

Also happy to know the Threshermens Parade will go off as scheduled Sunday afternoon in Pontiac, even though the five-day Threshermens Reunion itself has been canceled because of wet grounds. Expect drivers of the antique tractors to feel a need to let off extra steam along the parade route.
SPRINGFIELD  An administrative law judge has recommended that the Illinois Labor Relations Board send Gov. Bruce Rauners administration and a union representing 38,000 state workers back to the bargaining table to continue negotiating over wages and health care benefits.

The Rauner administration asked the labor board in January to declare that contract talks with the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees Council 31 have reached an impasse, which could clear the way for the administration to impose its terms on the union. That, in turn, could precipitate a first-ever strike by state workers.

In a 250-page recommendation issued Friday, Administrative Law Judge Sarah Kerley found that the state and AFSCME have reached an impasse on many issues, including wages and health care, but she recommends against allowing the state to unilaterally impose its final contract proposal in full.

If the state were able to implement its entire last, best, and final offer, the implications and impact would be so enormous that, when applied to this case, it would be destructive of the collective-bargaining process, Kerley wrote.

While wages and health care are among the issues on which Kerley believes the sides are at an impasse, she recommended that negotiations continue on those subjects because the state hasnt provided the union with sufficient information about its proposals.

On wages, the state has sought a pay freeze and the implementation of a merit pay system, while the union has sought across-the-board raises for its members.

On health care, the state has pushed for union members to take on a greater share of their insurance costs, but the union believes those proposals would shift too much of the burden onto its members.

Negotiations had been ongoing for nearly a year when the Rauner administration moved to have an impasse declared. The union has said for the past several months that it is still willing to negotiate.

The administration has accused the union of making unreasonable demands at a time of unprecedented fiscal challenges for the state, but AFSCME counters that Rauner has an ideological bias against the collective-bargaining rights of public workers.

While negotiations have been acrimonious, Kerley said both sides generally have bargained in good faith.

Despite their many differences in philosophy and approach, I find that record before me, taken as a whole, reflects that each side sincerely hoped to reach agreement, though they had vastly different views of what that agreement should look like and had varying levels of optimism about whether they would actually be successful, she wrote.

Rauner spokeswoman Catherine Kelly said the administration appreciates that Kerley concluded that we have been bargaining in good faith for a fair deal on behalf of taxpayers.

We are reviewing her opinion to evaluate the next steps as the rest of the agreed-to process continues, Kelly said in a prepared statement.

Meanwhile, the union says it was largely vindicated by Kerleys recommendation.

We are pleased that todays recommendation underlines what AFSCME has been saying all along, AFSCME Council 31 Executive Director Roberta Lynch said in a written statement.

The union says it too is reviewing the recommendation, noting that it doesnt believe the two sides are at an impasse on some of the issues cited by Kerley.

We hope the labor boards final ruling will affirm the hearing officers recommended order to resume negotiations, Lynch said. But there is no need to wait  Gov. Rauner should direct his representatives back to the bargaining table now, to work with AFSCME and develop a compromise agreement that is fair to all.

The state and the union now have time to respond to the recommendation and to each others responses. The labor board could make a final determination at its November meeting.
SPRINGFIELD  When Gov. Bruce Rauner announced at last months Illinois State Fair that a nonprofit foundation had formed to help pay for maintaining the state fairgrounds in Springfield and Du Quoin, he touted it as an effort of private individuals in agriculture and business.

This is not going to be a government agency in any regard, Rauner said. This is all private money, all private management, all private control.

But emails and other records obtained by The Pantagraph's Springfield bureau under the Illinois Freedom of Information Act show that officials with the Illinois Department of Agriculture and Rauner's administration were heavily involved in the groups formation.

The state withheld some requested records, citing exemptions for preliminary drafts, notes, recommendations, memoranda, and other records in which opinions are expressed, or policies or actions are formulated, and communications between a public body and its attorneys.

Records show state officials have been meeting since at least early June to discuss the foundation and that they played a role in assembling the organizations board. State officials also put together a Facts & FAQs document detailing how the foundation would function and set the agenda for a conference call with board members five days before the effort was publicly announced.

Grant Hammer, chief of staff for the Department of Agriculture, invited board members to the Aug. 11 conference call and set the agenda that had Illinois Department of Agriculture printed at the top, and which begins with introductions from the governors office and the department.

Hammer said he couldnt comment because he is not authorized to speak to the media. Department spokeswoman Rebecca Clark didnt respond to a request for comment.

The foundations articles of incorporation were filed with the Secretary of States office on Aug. 15, the day before the announcement.

John Slayton, a vice president at U.S. Bank in Springfield who has long been involved with the Governors Sale of Champions auction at the state fair, is one of the foundations board members.

Slayton said hes been involved in many conversations over the years about establishing a private group to raise money for much-needed repairs at the fairgrounds.

The most recent attempt, I would say, came from Department of Ag, who basically put the group together, said Slayton. Its truly something thats needed out there. It wasnt done as an end-run around the Legislature.

Several bills to create a similar foundation have stalled in the General Assembly, most recently one that Sen. Bill Brady, R-Bloomington, sponsored this spring. In his fair announcement, Rauner said, Were not going to wait.  The General Assembly wont do it; private citizens are going to do it.

The state has identified a $180 million backlog of repair projects at the two fairgrounds. While most of the work is needed in Springfield, at least $12 million worth of the projects are in Du Quoin.

Once the foundation is up and running, the Department of Agriculture will inform the board of its priorities, and it will be up to the board to evaluate the needs and match them with the available resources, according to the Facts & FAQs document.
Avid "Pirates" fans are already excited about the imminent release of the much-talked about and highly anticipated sequel, "Pirates of the Caribbean 5: Dead Men Tell No Tales." As the premiere looms, the movie and its actors constantly found themselves in the middle of nasty rumors and controversies.

Based on the latest "Pirates" scoops, Disney still reportedly putting its trust on actor Johnny Depp aka Capt. Jack Sparrow and considers him as the major lead of "Pirates of the Caribbean 5: Dead Men Tell No Tales." This statement comes from Movie News Guide following the previous reports of production delays and conflicts connected to Depp's personal life's struggles.

As Parent Herald previously reported, an Australian morning radio program made some shocking claims last month about Depp's work ethics while the whole "Pirates of the Caribbean 5: Dead Men Tell No Tales" team was filming on location in Gold Coast, Australia. According to Yahoo! Movies, Depp displayed a "nightmarish" working attitude that had made the lives of the production team and other cast members a living hell.

Another reason for the production delay was the Depp's hand injury surgery in the U.S. that halted the shoot for four weeks, The Global Dispatch noted. But in spite of the speculations, Disney reportedly assured fans that Depp remains the lead "Pirates of the Caribbean 5: Dead Men Tell No Tales."

Meanwhile, "Pirates of the Caribbean 5: Dead Men Tell No Tales" has finally concluded its production on Apr. 15. The movie has also been on post-production phase since Jul. 22, 2015 but new scenes were filmed on Mr. 24 to Apr. 13 in Canada.

As for "Pirates of the Caribbean 5: Dead Men Tell No Tales" lead cast member Johnny Depp, the 53-year-old "The Lone Ranger" actor was recently seen enjoying a luxurious yacht ride on the Spanish island of Ibiza. According to Daily Mail, Depp was photographed onboard the $200-million vessel, which was reportedly among the prized possessions of Saudi Prince Abdul Aziz.

As of writing, Disney has yet to officially promote its upcoming flick, "Pirates of the Caribbean 5: Dead Men Tell No Tales." However, the company has previously revealed a release date, which will be on May 26, 2017.

Are you looking forward to "Pirates of the Caribbean 5: Dead Men Tell No Tales" premiere? Sound off below and follow Parent Herald for more news and updates.
An 18-year-old Helena man is facing a felony charge for allegedly having sex with a 13-year-old girl.

Cody James Thompson was arrested Thursday after the girl told staff at a psychiatric inpatient center that she had sex with him multiple times, according to court documents. The girl said she never told Thompson she didnt want to have sex, the documents say.

Under Montana law, individuals younger than 16 are not able to consent to sexual intercourse.

The girl said she told Thompson she was 16, court documents say. Thompson told a detective she told him she was 17.

-- Independent Record
The "GTA 6" map to be used by Rockstar for the newest "Grand Theft Auto" iteration is perhaps one of the more exciting aspects of this waiting game. Especially with the mill buzzing that Rockstar could take "GTA 6" outside of the US borders and onto its first main non-American map, the new "Grand Theft Auto" in Manila is now contending with a London map.

Although "Grand Theft Auto" fans are largely happy to see Rockstar continue exploring maps within the US borders, a significant number expressed their hope to see "GTA 6" in an overseas map. Of the "GTA 6" possibles London has, by far, retained a strong lead over such proposals as Moscow and Rio de Janeiro.

This week's Premium Stunt Race: Trench II

GTA$ prizes for the top 3 finishers#GTAOnlinehttps://t.co/CqdYqHyvPt pic.twitter.com/aLYAZbVxOV  Rockstar Games (@RockstarGames) September 2, 2016

In a recent GTA 5 Cheats analysis, Rockstar taking the new "Grand Theft Auto" iteration to Manila was interestingly given a fairly decent grade of A+. According to GTA 5 Cheats, "GTA 6" with a Manila map would offer Rockstar the opportunity to create a "stunning" "Grand Theft Auto" iteration.

This week in #GTAOnline 2X GTA$ & RP Racing Playlist 50% off Benny's Upgrades & Morehttps://t.co/CqdYqHQ7e3 pic.twitter.com/5fdXi4lmfP  Rockstar Games (@RockstarGames) September 2, 2016

Citing story potential, GTA 5 Cheats proposed taking the multiple protagonist model of "Grand Theft Auto" 5 and scaling back to a two-person lead for "GTA 6." According to the media outlet, Rockstar could make one of the "GTA 6" leads a vigilante, while the other could link to a crime syndicate.

The media outlet qualifies that having a "GTA 6" protagonist play a drug dealer in the Philippines is begging for public protest against "Grand Theft Auto." However, the media outlet maintains that a dual-lead approach for "GTA 6" in Manila could fly.

GTA 5 Cheats proposes exploring the geographical potential as well as the crime profile available with a "GTA 6" Manila map to appreciate the "Grand Theft Auto" franchise in Asia. Parent Herald cites reports that in the past, Rockstar reportedly explored taking "Grand Theft Auto" to Tokyo, but were deterred by the road system in Japan.

At the moment projections for the "GTA 6" release date by Rockstar tag 2018 as the earliest release and 2020 as the latest. Would you play a "GTA 6" set in a Manila map?
When people hear the name Pablo Escobar, only one thing definitely comes to their mind - the notorious leader of the Medellin drug cartel. Dubbed as "The King of Cocaine," Escobar was a world-renowned Colombian drug lord who established a multibillion-dollar cocaine-dealing empire.

Even though Pablo Escobar had already died in December 1993, his name still bears significance, especially when it comes to drugs. As the whole world knows Escobar as the ruthless drug kingpin and trafficker, only a few people know how Escobar was a father.

With that said, Pablo Escobar's 39-year-old son Sebastian Marroquin aka Juan Pablo Escobar wrote and published a book titled, "Pablo Escobar, My Father," after years of living in peace as an architect in Buenos Aires, Argentina. According to CNN, Marroquin detailed how he accepted the truths that he had an "excellent father" who was also known for his great cruelty.

In the book, Pablo Escobar's son acknowledged his father for showing him not to take the same path as his. He also tried his best efforts to ensure that his father's life was never repeated.

Pablo Escobar, however, was far from being the ruthless criminal he was known for when it comes to fatherhood. People may have heard the story that Escobar burnt millions of cash just to keep his daughter warm while they're in hiding and Marroquin could attest that Escobar was indeed an excellent dad who showered his family with unconditional love and grandiose affluence.

Despite his evil reputation, Pablo Escobar was also known for his "Robinhood"-like image. As a matter of fact, Escobar donated money and housing to the less fortunate communities in Medellin, Colombia.

Marroquin, however, admitted that telling the world how a great father Pablo Escobar was never easy, especially when he has caused terrible suffering too. In his book, Marroquin also detailed the price they had to pay while living in luxury from drug money and that was living with no freedom.

What was admirable though was the fact that Pablo Escobar never pushed, persuade or pressured his son to be involved in his massive drug business. In fact, Marroquin stressed that his father made it clear that he never wanted any of his children to follow the path he had taken with drugs.

Meanwhile, Marroquin, who was 17 when his father died, also shed some light on Pablo Escobar's death in December 1993. As reported by New York Post, Marroquin said his father's death was by suicide after he shot himself on the right side of his head using his own Sig Sauer pistol when he was cornered by soldiers on the roof of a safehouse in Medellin.

Marroquin also recalled the time Pablo Escobar told him about the 15 bullets in his pistol, in which 14 bullets were intended for his enemies and the last shot was for him. Marroquin also insisted that the suicide claim was not a theory but it was what the forensic investigators who performed the autopsy told them but was covered up by the Colombian authorities.

In other Pablo Escobar-related news, the English translation of Marroquin's book was published in the United States this week just days before "Narcos" season 2 premiered on Netflix on Friday, Sept. 2. The popular series depicted Escobar's story and starred by Wagner Moura, The Hollywood Reporter noted.

Do you think a ruthless drug lord can be an excellent and loving father? Share your thoughts below and check out Parent Herald for more news and updates.
While the exact air date of "Prison Break" Season 5 is yet to be announced but it won't be long before the brothers are back. The Fox series, however, provided insights on what fans can expect from the upcoming fifth season.

According to Fox, the show is still in post-production so expect that "Prison Break" Season 5 will air before the year ends or possibly in December. Fans will be able to enjoy the most action packed season of the year with a possible additional new cast.

Possible character returns beside from the main cast Wentworth Miller and Dominic Purcell are Sarah Wayne Callies (Dr. Sara Tancredi), Robert Knepper (Theodore 'T-Bag' Bagwell), Amaury Nolasco (Fernando Sucre), Paul Adelstein (Paul Kellerman) and William Fichtner (Alex Mahone).

The upcoming "Prison Break" Season 5 will be a 10 episode series, according to TV Line with Wentworth Miller as escape artist Michael Scofield and Dominic Purcell as onetime Death Row inmate Lincoln Burrows.

Miller and Purcell are also on CW's "Legends of Tomorrow so the two actors will mostly have their hands full as they will be pretty busy keeping up with their shows. Fox CEO Dana Walden also acknowledge that the upcoming "Prison Break" Season 5 will mostly come from the original concept of writer Paul Scheuring.

"At the point that Paul left the show, he had certain [storyline] ideas but was not interested in staying with the show full-time," Walden said. "So I would say to those fans, 'This is the pure vision of the creator of the show.' It's going to take a little detour from where we left off, but it should feel very satisfying."

Expect the upcoming "Prison Break" Season 5 to be set in a different location where Michael will be in a Morocco prison with his brother Dominic planning his escape. The tides have turned between the brothers and it will be excited to see how these two would escape prison once again.
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No human rights rapporteur warranted on Iran: Official

09/03/16

Source: Press TV

A senior Iranian official slams as unjustified and invalid the appointment of any UN special rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Iran.





The Universal Declaration of Human Rights





The Islamic Republic of Iran has always maintained a fundamental stance on the appointment of a special rapporteur with a country mandate, Mohammad Javad Larijani, the secretary of Iran's High Council for Human Rights, said on Saturday.

He criticized the Wests dual policies that had led to such an assignment.

Iran believes that such an appointment stems from double standard policies and selective approaches of certain countries within the framework of the UN Human Rights Council, Larijani added.

He made the remarks after the UN Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Iran, Ahmed Shaheed, said in his twitter account on Wednesday that Pakistani human rights activist Asma Jahangir will replace him. Shaheed also expressed his congratulations to Jahangir and said she will start her work in November.





Asma-Jahangir



Jahangir has been served as former UN special rapporteur on freedom of religion, former special rapporteur on extrajudicial executions, Chair of the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan, President of the Supreme Court of the Pakistan Bar Association and member of the UN Fact-Finding Mission on Israeli Settlements.

On June 17, 2011, the UN Human Rights Council, under pressure from the United States and its allies, named former Maldivian Foreign Minister Shaheed as its human rights investigator on Iran. On March 24, 2016, he was appointed for the sixth year running as the task.
World knows Saudi Arabia is source of terrorism: Iran

09/03/16

Source: Press TV

The world has learned that Saudi Arabia and Wahhabism, the radical ideology freely preached in the Arab country, are to blame for the violent acts of extremism in the Middle East region and elsewhere, says an Iranian official.



Bahram Qassemi, the Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman



Speaking on Thursday, Bahram Qassemi, the Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman, said Saudi Arabias attempts to cover up its role in terrorism have failed.

Despite Saudi Arabias constant attempts to hide such realities as [its] involvement in the worlds most horrific terrorist operation and child-killing in Yemen by using petrodollars, today, the world has well learned that the source of these scourges is the Saudi regime and the fake ideology of Wahhabism, which is the basis for the countrys political livelihood, Qassemi said.

By the worlds most horrific terrorist operation, Qassemi was referring to the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks in the US, which were carried out by 19 individuals, 15 of whom were Saudi Arabian nationals and said to be linked to Saudi authorities. A total of 3,000 people were killed in the attacks.











The Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesmans remarks came in reaction to Wednesday comments by Saudi Foreign Minister Adel al-Jubeir in the Chinese capital, where he accused Iran of backing the Houthi Ansarullah movement in Yemen.

Iranian and Yemeni officials have repeatedly rejected the accusation as baseless.

Saudi Arabia has been waging war on Yemen since March 2015 in an attempt to bring back to power Abd Rabbuh Mansur Hadi, a Saudi ally who has resigned as Yemens president. The Houthis and allied army units are fighting back the Saudi invaders and their mercenaries.





cartoon by Ali Jahanshahi





Judeir had also accused Iran of attempting to smuggle explosives to Bahrain, Kuwait and Saudi Arabia.

Qassemi said, Saudi officials, who have gotten themselves bogged down in the bloody slough of terrorism and the killing of innocent children and women in Yemen, Syria, and Iraq with grave strategic mistakes, had better think of correcting their ways instead of... repeating hackneyed allegations against others.

He said the fates of such international seditionists as slain Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein should serve as salutary lessons to the Saudi leaders.

Saudi Arabia is widely believed to be providing support for militant groups operating against legitimate governments in Syria and Iraq as well as for terrorists conducting sporadic attacks in Europe and the US.

Most groups radicalizing people in the West are believed to be directly affiliated with Wahhabism. It is the main ideological feature of Takfiri terrorist groups - particularly Daesh - which declare people of other faiths and beliefs as infidels and, based on decrees from Saudi clerics, rule that they should be killed.
Lets all pretend for a second that Duke Nukem Forever never happened. Lets pretend Duke Nukem 3D was the Kings last ride, and that the Nukem family name remained perfect and unsullied in our minds for the last twenty years. Got it?

Good. Now maybe you can be suitably excited for the news that Gearbox is releasing Duke Nukem 3D: 20th Anniversary Edition World Tour on October 11.

Announced during Gearboxs PAX panel Friday afternoon, the remaster will include the usual graphical bells and whistlesbetter resolution, better textures, and the ability to toggle back and forth between the original graphics and the new. But World Tour will also include a pack of eight brand-new levels, appropriately dubbed Hail to the King, Baby!

Thats Gearboxs exclamation point, not mine.

Created by Duke 3D veterans Allen Blum III and Richard Gray, the levels feature new one-liners voiced by the Duke himself, Jon St. John. How they convinced him to return post-Duke Nukem Forever I have no idea, but hes back. Hopefully these eight levels constitute a better sequel, per se.

We have plans to go hands-on with the Duke this weekend at PAX in Seattle, and will return soon enough with our impressions. In the meantime, happy birthday Dukeand please dont break our hearts this time. Please.
A probation and parole compliance check netted 36 arrests in Riverside County for investigation of crimes ranging from vehicles thefts and participating in a street gang to possession of nunchucks.

The sweep was conducted Thursday, Sept. 1, in Hemet, San Jacinto and nearby unincorporated areas, a Hemet Police Department news release states.

Several departments were involved in the operation, including the Riverside County Regional Gang Task Force, California High Patrol K-9 team, and police from Hemet, Beaumont and Murrieta.

Officials conducted 56 home-compliance checks, resulting in the recovery of guns and other weapons, a stolen motorcycle and drugs.

Police have also requested warrants for several suspects who provided a false address to law enforcement officials, the release states.
A judge has upheld the federal government's decision not to designate Montana's Arctic grayling as a threatened or endangered species  after environmentalists sought to force its protection.

U.S. District Judge Sam Haddon said in an order Friday that the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service's 2014 decision was based on the best available science and considered all the factors required under the Endangered Species Act.

Montana Tech professor Pat Munday along with the environmental groups the Center for Biological Diversity and Western Watersheds Project as well as Montana fishing guide George Wuerthner filed a lawsuit against U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service in February 2015. They claimed the Arctic grayling population in the Big Hole was in decline and called the 2014 decision arbitrary.

Haddon ruled there was no evidence the agency ignored the best available science in its 2014 decision.

U.S. Department of Justice attorneys say 15 new Arctic grayling populations have been identified since 2010 and a successful landowner program has improved grayling habitat.

FWP spokesman Ron Aasheim previously told The Montana Standard that 33 landowners are in the landowner program that has been ongoing for 25 years with state and federal agencies to improve conditions.

Ryan Moehring, a U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service public affairs specialist, previously said that stakeholders voluntarily completed over 250 conservation projects improving grayling habitat since 2006.

Claiming the fish are at a 90 percent decline, the environmentalists say the program is not working.

The environmentalists argued the fish are being adversely impacted by low flows and warmer water temperatures. The past two years have broken records for being the hottest years since temperatures were recorded, and 2016 is already likely to break the last two records, according to National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.

The Fish and Wildlife Service found evidence that the Arctic grayling will likely adapt to climate change and found the fish has an inherent ability to adjust spawning time with changing water temperatures, which makes it particularly adaptable to warming climate conditions.

Haddon stated that the agency reasonably concluded the fish will likely adapt to climate change.

Munday said from his home in Walkerville Friday that the Arctic grayling -- only found now in the Big Hole River in the lower 48 states -- was thriving within the entire upper Missouri River watershed, which included the Ruby, Beaverhead and Big Hole rivers in the 1800s.

Munday called the Big Hole the last best cold-water refuge for these fish.

Theyre in trouble because of a host of human-caused activities, global warming being only the most recent one, Munday said.

A call to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service was not returned Friday by press time.
Hilliary Salley was teaching kindergarten students how to form sentences when a shy 5 year old approached her with a question in Spanish.

Espera un momento, Salley replied, telling the girl to wait a minute while she helped another child.

Those three words were the only time Salley used Espanol while instructing English learners during a recent 30-minute lesson at West Riverside Elementary School in Jurupa Valley.

It was no accident that few Spanish words were heard in the classroom.

The passage of Prop. 227 in 1998 required English-only classrooms in California. Since then, students who dont speak English have received little help in Spanish or other native tongues unless parents asked for it.

Some say the approach has failed. English learners, who comprise about one in five students in California and the Inland area, lag behind other groups based on test scores and other data, the measures critics say.

The year before voters passed Prop. 227, about 30 percent of the states English learners were in programs that used their native language. A decade later, the number fell to 5 percent.

Over the years, we have really seen the impact negatively on English learners, said Jan Gustafson-Corea, CEO of the California Association for Bilingual Education. Although we have pockets of strong programs, the English-only approach has not worked successfully for students and hasnt given educators the tools and resources to meet their needs.

Gustafson-Coreas group backs a new ballot measure that would remove the restrictions set by Prop. 227. Prop. 58 on the Nov. 8 ballot, would eliminate the states requirement that English learners be taught only in English.

The proposal would allow schools to greatly expand the use of Spanish and other languages. Parents would no longer have to sign waivers to put their kids into bilingual or dual immersion programs that teach them in English and Spanish.

A BAD IDEA?

Some think that bringing back bilingual education for English learners is a bad idea.

Im horrified by this whole thing, said Ken Noonan, a former superintendent of the Oceanside Unified School District who switched sides on the issue. I cant imagine people would want to do it.

Noonan was a bilingual teacher and directed an English learner program in the Pomona Unified School District before becoming superintendent in Oceanside from 1997 to 2007.

He opposed Prop. 227, but changed his mind after it passed and he saw how the English-only approach worked in a second-grade classroom. He asked a Latino boy whose first language was Spanish questions about a book he read in English. The child answered perfectly. The same thing happened with many other kids, he said.

Within four years after the initiative passed, English learners reading scores soared on state tests, California Department of Education data show.

I believed this was the wrong way to go, Noonan said. It turned out to be extremely effective.

GLOBAL ADVANTAGES

Bilingual education advocates disagree.

They say children who speak one language are being left behind in a global economy.

A June report from The Civil Rights Project at UCLA concluded that bilingual workers outside the United States are winning the battle for jobs over people in the country who speak one language.

The children of immigrants who lost their skills in Spanish and other languages saw their earnings drop by $5,000 a year because of foreign competition, the report said.

California is the worlds sixth-largest economy and our kids will compete with kids from China, India and Europe, said state Sen. Ricardo Lara, D-Bell Gardens, who wrote the bill on which Prop. 58 is based. We know that in those economies, their children are graduating from elementary school already being multilingual.

Lara said the measure would encourage students to keep their native language and learn English as quickly as possible. The proposal allows schools to craft their own English learner programs. They would have to offer English-only classes if enough parents want them.

Supporters point to data that show most students in English-only classes are struggling. More than 60 percent of the states English learners in grades 6 to 12 have been in the program six or more years despite being immersed in the English language, state education department data show.

FACING CHALLENGES

Children need to gain listening, speaking, reading and writing skills in their first language so they can learn English successfully, said Lilian Jezik, supervisor of teacher education and coordinator of English learners at UC Riverside Extension.

Many English learners face more challenges in an English-only program and need more support in order to be successful, Jezik said. Unfortunately, it just doesnt happen as often as we would like it to.

Silicon Valley software entrepreneur Ron Unz, author of Prop. 227, said that if Prop. 58 passes, it will open the door to a new era of bilingual education that will lead to a parent revolt.

The wars been over for, like, 15 years, he said. If parents want bilingual programs, they can ask for a waiver now. But its hard to persuade them to sign it because they dont want it.

Lara said theres so much red tape and paperwork involved in the waiver process that parents are discouraged from seeking them.

Noonan, the former Oceanside superintendent, said Latino students are graduating from high school and finishing college in higher numbers since Prop. 227 passed. He attributed the trend to the English-only system.

English is the language of this nation, Noonan said. Its our obligation to teach that, not to teach the home language if its other than English.

Some Inland school districts have embraced Prop. 58. For example, San Bernardino City Unified School District trustees passed a resolution supporting the measure in August.

The proposal is in line with the districts multilingual initiative, which the board approved last year and includes efforts to expand foreign language classes in middle school and possibly add Mandarin Chinese, Farsi and other languages in high school. The district hopes to grow its popular dual immersion programs in English and Spanish, said Ana Applegate, director of English learner programs.

A VALUABLE RESOURCE

Theres always been a little bit of stigma because of Prop. 227, she said. I think a lot more people will want their children in those programs if Prop. 58 passes. Word is going to get out that other languages are a valuable resource to have.

Jesus Holguin, president of the Moreno Valley Unified School District board, backs the new measure and plans to ask his board to support a resolution supporting Prop. 58.

He predicts students will do better if it becomes law.

We have all these Spanish speakers who are falling behind who dont get it because of the language, not because they cant understand the topic, Holguin said. This will move them into the mainstream faster.

In Salleys West Riverside classroom, she worked with a small group of English learners to find the main idea in the story, Pete The Cat. She asked questions to help them answer orally and write complete sentences.

Salley and co-teacher Latressa McCullough didnt want to talk about Prop. 58. They said what theyre doing is working, though theres always room for improvement.

I think its very effective, McCullough said. By the middle of the year, they pick (English) up and its academic. Its the English they need to be successful in school.

Contact the writer: 951-368-9292, stwall@scng.com, @pe_swall
Police are investigating a shooting at the Little Zion Manor apartment complex where a father of five was shot and killed less than three weeks ago.

At least one person was wounded, said San Bernardino police Lt. Richard Lawhead Saturday morning. It wasnt immediately clear Saturday morning if anyone else was shot during the incident. No deaths were reported.

RELATED: Man remembered as good dad  to his kids and the community

Officers were called to the complex on California and 20th streets around 12:30 a.m. for reports of several shots fired, officials said.

It appears officers arrived at the scene of the shooting as suspects were leaving the scene, said Lawhead in an email. Officers attempted to stop the suspect vehicle, however the vehicle failed to yield to emergency vehicles and a pursuit ensued.

Initial reports show the pursuit continued into Rialto.

The San Bernardino County sheriffs helicopter was called to assist with the pursuit, Lawhead said.

Eventually the vehicle crashed and suspects fled, he said.

Several people were detained and arrested. Police allegedly found weapons and other evidence at the crash scene, Lawhead said.

One of the suspects did suffer a gunshot wound, but it was prior to police arrival, he said.

On Aug. 15, Shonta Edwards, was shot and killed in the parking lot just outside his Little Zion Manor unit.

The 33-year-old father was shot several times and was taken to an area hospital where he later died.

A motive in Saturdays shooting was not released.

Residents of the complex say they heard about five gunshots and then several people running from the scene.

Both shootings are still under investigation.
State Sen. Ed Hernandez and his wife Diane are optometrists.

Diane handles some insurance matters for their practice, and she recently told him that a health plan had emailed to request more information: It wanted confirmation that they were both participating providers, he says.

I didnt say anything because I was afraid shed be mad at me, says Hernandez, D-West Covina.

Thats because the additional paperwork was probably his doing.

Hernandez, who chairs the Senate Health Committee, is author of a newly enacted state law that aims to improve provider directories, long riddled with out-of-date and inaccurate information.

Under the law, insurance companies  and health care providers like the Hernandezes  must comply with new requirements to keep directories updated and accurate.

The law, which took effect July 1, also gives you some firepower to fight surprise medical bills that result from directory errors.

The laws reach is broad: It applies to Covered California and private market plans, as well as Medi-Cal managed care and most job-based insurance policies.

The inaccuracy of directories, Hernandez says, has been and  seems to continue to be a problem that needs to be rectified.

A recent study in the journal Health Affairs found that provider directories for some health plans sold through Covered California and in the private market are so inaccurate that they create a disheartening situation for consumers trying to find doctors.

That finding was confirmed this month when the Department of Managed Health Care announced that Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield of California  which were previously fined for inaccuracies in their Covered California provider directories  still had disappointing directory problems.

We are optimistic and hopeful that the law  will help, says department director Shelley Rouillard.

Among the laws new rules:

 Health plans must update their printed directories at least every quarter and their online directories at least every week if providers report changes.

 Provider directories must be posted online and be available to anyone, not just enrollees. Print directories must be available upon request.

 The directories must prominently display directions for consumers who want to report inaccuracies. Upon receiving complaints, plans have 30 business days to makes changes, if necessary.

 Providers must inform plans within five business days if they are no longer accepting new patients  or, alternately, if they will start accepting them.

 Health plans can delay payments to providers who fail to respond to attempts to verify information.

The law also gives consumers recourse. Lets say you use a provider directory to find a doctor but youre billed the out-of-network price because the directory was wrong. In that case, health plans must reimburse you the amount beyond what you would have paid to see an in-network doctor.

If you find yourself in this situation, first take your complaint to your plan, advises DMHCs Rouillard.

You will have at least 180 days from the date you received the bill to file a grievance.

Youll probably have to make a case to the plan, Rouillard says. You should explain what you did, when you looked at the directory, and that you relied on that information.

Documentation could help your case.

Thats something to consider when youre searching for a provider in the first place. It wouldnt hurt to save a screen shot from the online directory showing the doctor is in-network, or take detailed notes if you call your plans customer service line.

Keep copies of everything, and note the date, time and name of anyone you speak to, says Nancy Kincaid, spokeswoman for the state Department of Insurance.

Plans have 30 days to investigate and respond to your complaint. If the situation isnt resolved to your satisfaction, your next step is to take your grievance to a regulator.

The correspondence you receive from your plan during the grievance process will explain who your regulator is.

Or start with the DMHC, which regulates most health plans in California. You can submit an online complaint at www.HealthHelp.ca.gov or call the departments help center at 888-466-2219.

The states other health insurance regulator is the Department of Insurance. Its consumer hotline is 800-927-4357, or you can file a complaint at www.insurance.ca.gov.

While most Californians with job-based insurance are covered by this law, some arent. If you have a plan through your employer and are struggling with directory errors, the regulators  or your human resources department  can tell you where you stand.

Since the law went into effect, the DMHC has helped one consumer get reimbursed as a result of this law.

But Im hoping consumers dont have to go through that process. Im hoping the directories are accurate, Hernandez says.

It might take time to get there, as health plans implement the new requirements  as well as others that will take effect in the coming months  and work with providers to update the information.

This is so early and there are so many errors, Rouillard says.

This report was produced by Kaiser Health News, which publishes California Healthline, a service of the California HealthCare Foundation.

Contact the writer: AskEmily@kff.org
For Labor Day 2016, Inland residents have an improved economy over the past year, but are still behind their coastal neighbors in terms of income, education and working in the same county where they live.

There are more people employed than last year; a seasonal spike in Julys regional unemployment rate is expected to head down as summer-layoff education jobs restart for the school year.

Big layoff not a trend

Local officials were shocked by the announcement last month that Colton-based Ashley Furniture was moving operations out of state and discharged about 840 employees.

But while the move was high profile, it is not the trend some suggest. The state had 717,133 business establishments in 2008, and 889,646 in 2014, according to the U.S. Census Bureau.

State called attractive

Other local manufacturers say there are more reasons to stay in California than leave, and numbers back them up  Californias $2.2 trillion gross domestic product in the first quarter of 2016 was up 4.7 percent from the same period of 2015.

It is the planets sixth-largest economy. California is not competing against other states. California is competing against the rest of the world, said Brook Taylorof the Governors Office of Business and Economic Development.

In fiscal 2016-17 the offices tax-credit program called GO-Biz has allocated $243 million in tax credits for California companies to help them expand or add jobs.

But Still

Its tough. Wages are high, taxes are high. Its tough, Gary Tolar, founder and president of Tolar Industries in Corona, said in a recent interview. The company makes bus shelters.

We have a good labor pool here  we have to be as best and competitive as we can out here, keep our labor costs down as much as we can to compete with the companies in the Midwest and the East Coast. Its not always easy.

Nobody works nights

At Paulson Manufacturing in Temecula, which makes plastic shields and other protective gear used by medical teams as well as police and military forces, management struggles to keep an overnight shift populated by offering a bonus, and has split how its workforce is hired.

Rising employee costs, workers comp and health benefit insurance increase every year, said Miriam Mesina de Gutierrez, the companys executive vice president.

Action for temp agency

Its mandatory, so we comply with the regulations, she said. But to help meet the costs, about half the companys workers are now hired through a temporary agency which separately handles those expenses.

While the $11-an-hour with a $120-a-month bonus for reliably showing up is not enough to keep some workers on the overnight shift, we do get some skilled applicants, and there have been cases where employees will come in assembly or injection or molding and get promoted within 90 days, she said.

Wanted: Jobs That Make A Difference

The Inland area does face a challenge regarding the kinds of jobs that are increasing in Riverside and San Bernardino counties, said Robert Kleinhenz, research director for the the Center for Economic Forecasting and Development at UC Riverside.

Lower-paying jobs such as food preparation and serving, transportation and material moving, production and office and administrative support and health care support dominate the workforce numbers.

Cash doesnt travel

Money from those occupations are local-serving  meaning they dont bring in dollars from elsewhere, a key to generating economic growth, he said.

If you look at restaurant and fast-food establishments, part of the leisure and hospitality category, it sounds like tourism. But 90 percent of the eating and drinking patrons are local, not visitors. Same with retail, he said.

Area needs boost

Research medicine  the Inland area has two university medical schools  can bring in outside money, Kleinhenz said, but other health care services are more local in their economic effect.

Bottom line: The Inland area needs a boost in higher-paying job categories such as management, business and financial operators, and computer and mathematical categories.

Traveling and Earning

While most Inland commuting takes place between or within Riverside and San Bernardino counties, the area also sends tens of thousands of workers into Los Angeles, Orange and San Diego counties.

That skews tidy take-home pay numbers limited by region.

People are commuting to better-paying jobs in adjacent counties. It may very well be that wages paid to people who live in the IE does not reflect the wages of IE residents who have jobs from other parts of the region, Kleinhenz said.

Median incomes falling

And there are the larger economic issues that affect Inland residents: The real median household income for the United States has been heading downward for several years, according to U.S. Census Bureau figures released by the Federal Reserve Bank, or FRED, of St. Louis.

The adjusted amount was nearly $58,000 in 1999; its most recent was $53,657, in 2014, the FRED chart shows.

And while personal income from all sources has risen, the paycheck average hourly earnings have dropped for Inland employees from nearly $23 an hour in 2008, down during the Great Recession, back to nearly $22 in 2016.

A state of flux

Our economy is in a real state of flux, Kleinhenz said. That is the real reason why wage increases have not been as robust. I dont want to let businesses off the hook entirely  the share of corporate profit is higher than previous years.

But keep in mind how technology and the way everyone does business, and how they do their jobs, is having an effect on wage increases over time, he said.

Contact the writer: 951-368-9573 or rdeatley@scng.com
A Cherry Valley museum exhibit on childrens literature  dubbed Once Upon a Time  celebrates the importance of turning youngsters into readers.

The exhibit at the Edward-Dean Museum is part of a celebration of the facilitys recent admission into the Riverside County Library System. Once Upon a Time runs through Oct. 29.

An event to promote the exhibit 11 a.m.- 4 p.m. Sept. 24 will include a book fair, with volumes available for sale from The Frugal Frigate childrens bookstore in Redlands and Riversides Downtowne Bookstore. Literary characters from Mother Goose and Disney stories will be on hand to entertain visitors, along with food vendors and craft purveyors. Redlands author Darryl Womack will read from his book, Tales of Westerford.

The event is sponsored by the museum and county library system.

A book fair and literary arts program will take place at the museum 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Sept. 23 for school classes and their teachers. There is no cost to attend the event, which will include a free museum tour. The first 100 students to schedule a tour for the day will receive free interactive student notebooks. Books will be available for purchase and bus scholarships are available. The museum is seeking classes to attend the event.

The exhibit traces early versions of books used in childrens education along with the history of beloved classics. Newer books destined to become classics for future generations are highlighted as well.

Some 125 books are displayed in categories such as classics, fantasy and science fiction, history and historical fiction, fairy tales and adventure. The oldest volume is a leatherbound Aesops Fables from 1669, but there is also an edition of The Pilgrims Progress dating to 1800.

Many bear colorful, evocative covers and illustrations as examples of a bygone era in book publishing. Volumes are on loan from the American Museum of Ceramic Art in Pomona, the Leatherby Libraries at Chapman University in Orange, the Riverside County Library System and private collectors Charles Schoenknecht and Ward Paul and Gary and Anita Ecker.

One corner of the exhibit is furnished with comfortable leather chairs and books for reading to children. An official story time, including craft projects, is held 11 a.m.-noon each Saturday through the run of the exhibit.

The museums collection of rare and vintage books became part of the county library system this summer.

We have a huge resource library, which will now be made available to the public on a noncirculating basis, said Kathie Dillon, the museums exhibits and events coordinator.

Patrons may visit the museums library, located on the lower level, to browse its eclectic collection of about 2,700 books. Some are first editions dating to the 1600s, with an emphasis on art and history. The collection includes vintage Bibles, rare Chippendale and Hepplewhite furniture catalogs, Shakespearean material, early magazine editions and myriad art books.

The Edward-Dean Museum is at 9401 Oak Glen Road in Cherry Valley and is open 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Thursdays-Saturdays. Admission is $5 for adults and free for children under 12 and veterans with ID. For more information, call 951-845-2626 or visit edward- deanmuseum.org.

Contact the writer: community@pressenterprise.com
Retired Orange County Superior Court Judge Jim Gray, who was the Libertarian Partys 2012 vice presidential nominee, will speak to a pro-marijuana legalization group in Riverside on Wednesday, Sept. 7.

Gray will be discussing the Libertarian Partys answer to the current presidential conundrum with information on their candidate for president, Gary Johnson, as well as how the Libertarian Partys position on marijuana law reform bodes well for marijuana consumers, read a press release from the Marijuana Anti-Prohibition Project.

Johnson, a former Republican governor of New Mexico, supports legalizing marijuana and has used the drug in the past.

The meeting Gray will speak is free and open to the public. It starts at 7:30 p.m. at the THCF Patient Center, 647 Main St., Unit 4D in Riverside.
The Riverside County sheriffs deputy involved in a 20-hour standoff with law enforcement agencies  including the one he works for  will remain on paid administrative leave as two investigations both internal and criminal run their course.

Deputy Mike Vasquez said during that time, 49-year-old Alcide Galley, who worked out of the departments southwest sheriffs station cannot present himself as a law enforcement officer in any setting.

Galley was identified in a news release Thursday as the suspect in a standoff that started late Wednesday morning and ended after sunrise the following day.

Deputies were called to a French Valley home in the 35100 block of Nightingale Street just after 11 a.m. on a report of a domestic disturbance. The standoff was initiated after Galley refused to talk with deputies.

The standoff prompted the evacuation of nearby homes as a precautionary measure.

When the standoff ended, Galley was arrested on suspicion of three felony charges related to domestic violence and resisting a public officer.

The deputy was taken to Robert Presley Detention Center where he remained Friday. His bail is set at $500,000.
Update: Residents complaints addressed. To read how their complaints were solved, click here.

During the first full night of festivities of the Nocturnal Wonderland electronic dance music festival deputies arrested 111 people, including one person booked on suspicion of driving under the influence after the attendee crashed into a marked sheriffs traffic unit working the event.

The unidentified attendee was arrested following the crash, according to a San Bernardino County sheriffs statement released Saturday morning. The deputy was not injured.

Amid concerns about deaths, illnesses and arrests at music festivals in the past year in Southern California, security was tight  but from attendees perspective mostly gentle  on the first day of the Nocturnal Wonderland electronic dance music festival Friday at San Manuel Amphitheater in Devore.

In the first hour after the gates opened at 4 p.m., people who got into trouble appeared to have brought it with them. Two people were handcuffed who appeared to be under the influence. One, a highly emotional woman, was told she could go inside after she sobered up.

Another, a man, was told he was going to jail.

RELATED: Best and worst of Nocturnal Wonderland 2016  Day 1

A San Bernardino County sheriffs deputy told another detained man, whose socks and shoes were searched, I can give you a one-way ticket out of here. Or you can be quiet and get with the program.

The man was eventually allowed to enter.

Not so for another man, who was bleeding from the face as he was taken away in handcuffs by two deputies, with three others trailing behind. Sheriffs spokeswoman Deputy Olivia Bozek said the incident was not reported to her.

A spokesman at the medical tent refused to describe what sorts of injuries or illnesses had been treated Friday, saying that inquiry would have to be made after the show ends.

A security guard at the tent says there had been nothing major treated, however, sheriffs officials did say Saturday morning two people were taken to the hospital for various medical reasons. One had already been released by morning, the sheriffs statement said.

A deputy suffered minor injuries during an arrest, but few details were released on the incident including what the arrest was for. The deputy was taken to the hospital and later released.

In November 2015, 26 people were hospitalized and 180 were arrested in San Bernardino at a two-day electronic dance music festival at the National Orange Show Events Center. In March, nearly 250 people were arrested at the Beyond Wonderland rave-like event at San Manuel. And in July, three people died who attended the Hard Summer Music Festival at Auto Club Speedway in Fontana.

Officials with Nocturnal Wonderland, promoters Live Nation and Insomniac, and the Sheriffs Department tried to keep the problems outside the gates. Vehicles entering the campgrounds  which are under video surveillance  were searched. Guests had to show identification proving they were at least 18 at one checkpoint, and their bags were searched for drugs, weapons and other prohibited items and their bodies patted down at another.

Before showing their tickets, guests had the opportunity to put contraband inside a no-questions-asked Amnesty Box.

Once inside the gates, deputies handed out cards warning of the danger of the drug Ecstasy.

(Deputies) really stress to them, stay hydrated, Deputy Bozek said. We stress to the guests we are their friends. Get friends help and not worry about getting arrested.

Bozek said 100 law enforcement officers were on hand. Some were dressed to blend in with the crowd. K-9s were also on patrol.

Insomniac had a command post with six maps and a large monitor showing the feed from five cameras. The Sheriffs Department also had a command post that included a large trailer.

The concert promoter also addressed resident concerns over noise and concert traffic.

Additional law enforcement officers, paid by Insomniac, were assigned to patrol the Devore and Rosena Ranch areas to minimize the amount of concert traffic driving through the neighborhoods.

Remote security cameras and Automated License Plate Readers have been deployed in the area as an extra measure of security, officials said.

Last night we could hear some bass thumping with the windows closed, said Brent Chapin, who lives about 5 miles from the venue. It did not keep us awake when we went to bed after 9 p.m.

Heavy bass thumping is pretty standard for nearly all shows at San Manuel Amphitheater, said Chapin.

In my opinion the last country concert was the loudest, he said. We could hear the lyrics and kept us awake past 10 p.m.

According to the Sheriffs Department, only two noise complaints were made Friday night.

A deputy and sound engineer investigated the complaints and found the noise level was within the county noise ordinance.

Back at the amphitheater, none of the guests interviewed found the restrictions onerous. A long list of prohibited items was posted on the event website.

As long as you know what to bring, it makes the line move real well, said Phillie Estrada, 41, of Paramount.

A check of the trash cans at the bag check one hour after opening showed only some opened bottled water and open cigarette boxes.

Security confiscated two scepters with Mickey Mouse heads because the lights inside could be distracting, a supervisor said.

Estrada described the pat down as handsy, but not where they shouldnt be.

Eraceni Zuniga, 23, of La Mirada, didnt find the searches intrusive. The short lines moved quickly early on, with the pat downs taking mere seconds.

It was pretty easy. It was pretty quick, she said.

Nic Dean and Emma Byers had the same experience when they and their vehicles were searched.

The festival workers were lounging in the campground Friday, about two hours before the gates opened. Dean, 23, from Los Angeles, helps inspect the grounds. Byers, 25, from Las Vegas, is an aerial performer on the Labyrinth stage.

It was super simple. It was great, Byers said.

Its nice that they are looking out for people, Dean said.

Marvin Chang, 19, of Lake Elsinore, and others waiting in line before the gates opened said many people fall ill when they fail to drink enough water. He carried a pack with 2 liters of water inside.

Chang said he wished he could have brought food inside, but nevertheless appreciated the attempts to keep drugs and alcohol out.

Its pretty cool. It keeps people in check. (Otherwise) theyll do over-the-top things.
One of my creative-writing professors at Cal Poly Pomona used to say that if you want to know if a rock concert is any good, look at the audience. If they are having fun, its a good show.

And if you want to know if youre hearing a great jazz performance, look at the musicians. Jazz is improvisational, with more complicated chords, than in rock, so if the musicians are having fun, its a good show.

But what about a poetry reading? As a poetry fan and longtime member of the poetry performance troupe, Poets in Distress, Ive been to scores of readings, presenting my own poems at many and scouting other poets at many, many more.

Ive heard a few great poems and plenty of bad. Ive seen audiences overlook good poets who are poor presenters and laud terrible poets who are strong performers.

There are just as many shy geniuses as there are over-confident knuckleheads. So dont look to the poets for clues about the caliber of their poems.

And dont look to the audience. They dont know. Many are unsure of the scene, hoping to be wowed with wonderful wisdom and glad to be out of the house, away from the vapid drone of the TV.

At most readings, the audience laughs and applauds regardless of whether theyre hearing the next Allen Ginsberg or the next Rod McKuen. Both read their work well and both honed their performance skills in San Franciscos North Beach in the 1950s.

Ginsberg, one of the original Beat poets, wrote revealing poems that continue to inspire. I doubt youll find many poets today who dont consider him an influence.

But do you remember McKuen? He sold millions of poetry books, but is considered a lightweight today. Newsweek called him the King of Kitsch and magazine Mademoiselle described him as the marshmallow poet. He also wrote the lyrics to that overly sentimental hit song from the 1970s, Seasons in the Sun.

So how can you tell if youre at a good reading or a stinker? Listen to the verbs!

If the poet has used commonplace, passive voice, to-be verbs, most likely the poems are weak, possibly trite. Thats because using average verbs is a wasted opportunity. Every word counts in a poem and good poets know that.

The best poems compress writing into puzzles, mysteries and adventures  with great opportunities to surprise the reader and listener through fresh imagery and interesting language. And the verbs the thing, especially when reading or hearing a poem for the first time.

At poetry readings, the words can fly past your head quicker than a NASCAR racer, and concentrating on the verbs helps your brain track the poetic tale, providing checkpoints to understanding.

Moreno Valley poet and journalist Johnny Bender is a longtime member of the performance troupe, Poets in Distress.

For more literary journeys, go to InlandiaInstitute.org

Contact the writer: jbender@scng.com or 951-368-9445
The Hemet school board will meet in Aguanga on Tuesday, Sept. 6.

The Hemet Unified School District, the largest geographically in the region, holds annual board meetings in Aguanga, Anza and Idyllwild, making it easier for parents in those areas to attend.

Good Apple Awards will be presented to Cottonwood School student Angel Dominguez and employee Maria DiFranco as part of as agenda that also includes a budget report.

The 6:30 p.m. meeting is in the multipurpose room at Cottonwood School, 44260 Sage Road.

Contact the writer: 951-368-9086 or cshultz@scng.com
A group of state lawmakers is still asking if having a contractor form a strategic plan to address the high rate of suicides among Montanas American Indian children is the best way to fix the problem.

On Wednesday a member of the State-Tribal Relations Interim Committee questioned why a company contracted to create an American Indian youth suicide prevention plan left elders out of the process. This spring the same group of lawmakers urged the state Department of Public Health and Human Services to look at ways to send money to the tribes and local programs instead of hiring a company to form a plan.

The state hired Kauffman & Associates Inc. of Spokane, Wash., to develop the plan. In a letter asking for nominations for people to serve on a coalition, Kauffman asked people to submit the names of elected leaders, health directors or community members with experience in the area of youth suicide, as well as a youth representative. The letter encouraged diverse nominations including women, veterans and LGBT tribal members.

The elders, however, were left out, said state Rep. George Kipp III, D-Heart Butte.

The letter went to tribal chairmen and health facility leadership from Montanas eight tribes and five urban areas with American Indian populations.

The contractor did not identify our main counselor, educator, adviser, Kipp told the committee. In this foremost issue, in order to resolve issues and plan things out, (one of the things) Native communities take into great consideration is elders.

Kipp told Richard Opper, director of the state Department of Public Health and Human Services, this was a critical oversight. Kauffman was hired by the state with $100,000 set aside from the $250,000 written into the states main budget bill last session to address Indian youth suicides. The funding lasts until 2017.

In our Native community these are individuals that have the most weight, the most influence, the most knowledge, Kipp said. The definition of elders is not old person. Elder is a person that has previously experienced certain items.

Iris Heavy Runner Pretty Paint, who is a project liaison for Kauffman, said Thursday that tribes should and are encouraged to have elders participate on the coalition. The letter, she said, just didnt use the word elders when listing examples of people to nominate.

There are so many different titles and roles that everyone can play, Pretty Paint said. So many of these individuals serve multiple roles in the community. Elders our a key element of our resilience.

This year Montana regained the title of the state with the highest suicide rate in the nation, Karl Rosston, the states suicide prevention coordinator, said last week.

Native Americans, to keep that title for the state of Montana, contribute quite a few lives, Kipp said.

A report produced by a team that reviews every suicide in the state showed that the rate of suicide among American Indian children ages 11-17 is 26 percent. Its 7 percent for white children in the same age group.

Lawmakers on Wednesday also rehashed why DPHHS brought in an outside company at all.

Why outside company?

This past spring, the interim committee sent a letter to Opper asking him to strongly reconsider hiring a contractor. The committee's letter said it believed money would be better spent if given directly to tribes to support programs at the local level.

State Rep. Alan Doane, R-Bloomfield, revisited the issue Wednesday, asking if any Montana companies submitted bids.

We have double-digit unemployment on many reservations, Doane said. Sending 40 percent of this money to Washington state to study the problem  Im just curious why that money couldnt have stayed in state and created jobs here if were going to create jobs with this money.

The selection of a contractor went through the states standard process, said DPHHS spokesman Jon Ebelt. Only one other company applied, B. Kuzmic Consulting in Kalispell. Kauffman's bid was $99,235.

Opper told the committee that the state has to pick a contractor based on several factors, including experience and the cost plan they submit.

Kauffman has been working on youth suicide and substance abuse prevention since 2000 and has worked with Montana tribes in the past, including a year-long intensive model on suicide prevention on the Blackfeet reservation, where Pretty Paint grew up and is an enrolled tribal member.

A plan is critical to any success, Pretty Paint said. Without a strategic plan, without an inventory, we continue to be fragmented. We do good work when we have plans.

Pretty Paint said nominations for committee members are starting to come in from the tribes. By late October or November Kauffman will hold a two-day training. It is required to submit the strategic plan to DPHHS by February 2017.

State Rep. Edward Greef, R-Florence, questioned the need for a contractor at all. Opper said the tribes were more comfortable working with a contractor instead of DPHHS.

State's efforts

Kipp said the states efforts to combat suicide can often fall flat on the reservation. He used a billboard on his reservation that advertises the number for the states suicide hotline as an example

I looked at that and thought in my community theres all sorts of dead spots out there, he said. Families often cant afford cellphones for their children. Thats a major thing you have to take into consideration.

Kipp also questioned state agencies previous efforts on the reservations. For three or four decades now agencies are involved in our issues and theyre not having any effect, he said.
A group of students at Rim of the World High School in Lake Arrowhead have created a stir for displaying Confederate flags, staked into the beds of their pickup trucks, in the school parking lot.

On Friday, two Ford pickups sat parked side-by-side in the school parking lot, one Confederate flag and one American flag displayed in the bed of each truck. The black pickup also sported stickers from Patriot Alliance, an online retailer of clothing, National Rifle Association, and Donald Trump campaign signs.

Also on Friday, Running Springs resident Jennifer Celise-Reyes, whose daughter began her freshman year at the high school last month, said she sent emails to school board president Cindy Gardner, school district Superintendent Giovanni H. Annous, and the ACLU expressing her ire over the issue.

California, along with other states, has declared that the Confederate flag is being used by racist hate groups to represent white supremacy, Celise-Reyes said in her email. This hate speech is not protected under the First Amendment and will not be tolerated or protected in our public schools.

Gardner, in her reply email to Celise-Reyes, said school district administration was working closely, and daily, with the districts attorneys for legal counsel on the matter.

The matter is being taken very seriously and being handled at this time in accordance with the counsel given by our attorneys, Gardner said in her e-mail to Celise-Reyes.

First Amendment rights and all rulings regarding these rights are being reviewed and considered by the attorneys and the district administration in the handling of this situation.

Tony Marcano, spokesman for the ACLU of Southern California, said Friday the organization had just been made aware of the issue and was therefore declining comment until they have more time to review the matter.

Neither Annous nor Rim of the World High School Principal Derek Swem responded Friday to repeated telephone calls and emails seeking comment.

Celise-Reyes also alleged in her email that Rim of the World High School has been inundated by hate speech, bullying and intimidation by a group of white male students, many of whom are on the wrestling team.

Racial slurs, including white power, are being yelled at minorities, Celise-Reyes alleged in her e-mail. These students are writing WP on their chests and raising their shirts at minorities.

In a statement Friday, Lawrence King, assistant superintendent of personnel/pupil services for Rim of the World Unified School District, said student safety and welfare remains the Districts highest priority.

In response to concerns brought to the districts attention regarding students rights to display flags on their vehicle, we are working closely with our legal representation to ensure all aspects of this matter are fully considered, King said in his statement.

We are working expeditiously by immediately responding to parent and student concerns that are brought forward. Additionally, the Sheriffs department has been made aware of this situation and we will provide them with any information that they may request.

Celise-Reyes, a former Redlands resident who served on the citys Human Relations Commission, said she did not send an email to high school principal Swem on Friday because he already knows about the

controversy.

Theyve already had a meeting about it and are still deciding what to do about it, Reyes said. She insisted in her email that the school district adopt a policy similar to a state law passed in 2014 stating that the Confederate flag may not be flown on state property.

I love the community. Its a tight-knit group of people. But not everybody is like that, Celise-Reyes said. A small percentage of people insist on being apathetic to other peoples views.

Brian Levin, executive director for the Center for the Study of Hate and Extremism at Cal State San Bernardino, said displaying the Confederate flag, as distasteful as it may be, still falls within the realm of freedom of speech.

He said the Confederate battle flag had renaissance during of the civil rights movement in the 1950s and 1960s as a counter-symbol against those fighting racial segregation. After Dylann Roof, who embraced that flag, was accused of killing nine African-Americans on June 17, 2015 in Charleston, South Carolina, it came down from state houses across the South.

The Confederate flag belongs in a museum. It is extremely offensive to people of good will, and not only African Americans, Levin said. But our First Amendment protections must also protect speech that we hate. It is the right of all Americans to exercise their freedom of expression, even if its offensive and hateful, which this certainly is.

Contact the writer: jnelson@scng.com, @SBCountyNow on Twitter
Andrew Tachias stood up and removed his suit jacket, his short-sleeved shirt revealing arms that werent quite right.

See my arm looks a little funny here? he told his audience, pointing to a scar. You can see my tendons on the outside? You guys probably have them in the middle. They got switched out, and this allows the tendons to do what the nerves cant do anymore.

Tachias, the Riverside police officer who was critically wounded in the February 2013 shooting that killed partner Michael Crain, showed members of the state Legislatures Assembly Insurance Committee scars from bullet wounds and surgeries, flexed his fingers as much as they would and held out the underside of both arms.

Tachias testified at a hearing in June in Sacramento in support of a bill that would add a second year of workers compensation for California peace officers and firefighters who are catastrophically injured in the line of duty. The bill, SB897, is sitting on Gov. Jerry Browns desk, awaiting a signature or veto.

State Sen. Richard Roth, D-Riverside, authored the legislation after meeting with Tachias and members of the Riverside Police Officers Association, which brought the proposal to Roths attention.

I was really moved by the efforts that he was making to overcome his injuries and the dedication that he had to his career as a peace officer, Roth said in an interview Thursday, Sept. 1.

I thought it was the righteous thing to do. We have to do all we can for those who sacrifice so much to take care of us. In this situation, when you have an officer who for a year has remained temporarily disabled and at the end of the year he is faced with the loss of his health care benefits, I thought these individuals should be given just a little more time to regain their strength and return to duty, Roth said.

Brown must act on the bill by Sept. 30, the deadline for him to attend to bills that reach his desk after Aug. 19, said Deborah Hoffman, his deputy press secretary. She declined to state Browns opinion of the bill.

I really hope that the governor does the right thing, said Riverside police Sgt. Brian Smith, president of the Riverside Police Officers Association.

EXTRA YEAR

Currently, police and firefighters are eligible for one year of leave without loss of salary when they are temporarily or permanently disabled because of injury. The bill would provide an additional year if they suffer injuries at the hands of another that are limited to severe burns, severe bodily injuries in a building collapse or severe injuries resulting from a shooting or stabbing.

Tachias made gradual process during his first year of recovery, but after that 12 months, doctors were unable to form an opinion as to whether he could ever be healthy enough to return to patrol. Tachias faced the possibility of taking a medical retirement, but the City Council voted to extend his benefits for another year.

Thats one of the arguments that the opponents of the bill  which include the cities of Chino, Chino Hills, Lake Elsinore and Rancho Cucamonga, and the California State Sheriffs Association and California Police Chiefs Associations  have made.

Local governments already can provide additional paid leave for officers on a case-by-case basis, as was done in Riverside, Ventura Police Chief Ken Corney, president of the California Police Chiefs Association, wrote in an email.

Another argument is that small departments cannot afford to have officers or firefighters on leave for a second year while remaining on the payroll. Unlike businesses, the cities cannot simply hire temp workers for these positions.

The state should not create a new mandate that will result in fewer officers patrolling our streets, especially in light of the recent rise in crime, Corney wrote.

Roth and Smith vehemently reject both arguments.

They doubt many other cities would follow Riversides example in how it supported Tachias. And, they said, there is no evidence that the legislation would create a hardship. No one, they said, could cite examples of employees in situations similar to Tachias.

I dont view this as a giveaway. I view this as righteous and something as a legislature, we have to do to protect this very narrow classification of employee, Roth said.

SURPRISE AT HEARING

Smith first discussed the possible legislation with Roth at a ceremony in December before signs on the 91 freeway were dedicated to Crains memory.

We didnt want another incident to happen like this where the employee would have to worry about their return to work, Smith said.

Tachias, meanwhile, had made a low-key return to work in October. He has since spoken to police academy classes and other groups about his ordeal, but otherwise has mostly shied away from the public spotlight.

But Smith wanted Tachias to help push the legislation.

I knew that it would take Andrew to be involved, Smith said. From the beginning he said You stood by me so I will do whatever it takes. He was a little anxious about the testimony, but once he got there, he was full in.

Tachias described taking nine bullets in an ambush by rogue ex-cop Christopher Dorner. He said he was shot in the right humerus, right leg and his back. He had graze wounds to his head and left hand, as well as shrapnel injuries. Tachias was hospitalized for 18 days.

And then the mental toll took over.

I gained 60-plus pounds and suffered from depression. I went through several periods where I would seclude myself from the majority of people I knew, Tachias said.

But in the second year of his recovery, he lost 40 pounds and quit his medications. A star runner at UC Riverside, Tachias returned to racing.

Said Smith: I think that the piece that workers comp misses, its not just the physical wounds but the mental wounds, and if you dont take care of the emotion, the kids got no shot of healing.

Tachias told Smith the night before his testimony that he had a surprise for the sergeant. Then at the hearing, with Smiths assistance, Tachias unexpectedly removed his jacket and described his injuries to the committee members.

I will tell you, I was moved to tears, Smith said. It was surreal for him to do it and talk about it.

Contact the writer: brokos@scng.com or 951-368-9569
Maria Dadian was brought to the United States legally from Mexico as a 4-year-old girl by her immigrant mother and U.S. citizen father.

The Chino Hills retiree  who switched her party affiliation from Democrat to Republican in the 1990s  isnt offended by Donald Trumps views on immigration and believes the real estate mogul is the best candidate to lead and protect the nation.

My opinion is when people cross the border and dont cross properly, then theyve already committed the first crime, Dadian, who once worked as the city manager of Artesia, said by phone Thursday. If those laws are not intended to be enforced, then dont have them.

But some Republican Latino leaders dont feel the same way and are reconsidering their support of the Republican presidential nominee.

Alfonso Aguilar, president of the Latino Partnership for Conservative Principles, told CNNThursday he was withdrawing his support after Trump failed to soften his stance on undocumented immigrants.

And Jacob Monty, a member of Trumps National Hispanic Advisory Council, was said to have resigned from the council shortly after the Wednesday night speech in which Trump said any person who entered the U.S. illegally is subject to deportation.

Recent polls vary as to the percentage of Latinos who support Trump for president. A Wall Street Journal/NBC News poll published in July found that 14 percent of Latinos surveyed around the country said they would vote for Trump. A Fox News Latino poll said last month that 20 percent of Latinos would pick Trump.

Whatever the percentage, political analysts argue that the real estate moguls recent actions  including his visit to meet with the president of Mexico and his long-awaited immigration speech  had little to do with trying to appeal to eligible Latino voters, who will make up about 12 percent of the total U.S. electorate by November.

Dan Schnur, director of the Jesse M. Unruh Institute of Politics at USC, said Trumps tough-talking immigration speech in Phoenix was an attempt to reassure and motivate his strongest existing supporters, which are white, male working-class voters.

Historically, white, working-class men have not turned out to vote in particularly high numbers. Trumps only chance of winning in November is to turn out that support base in very large numbers, he said.

Past polling has shown that first-generation Latinos tend to be more supportive of comprehensive immigration reform than those whose families have been in the country for longer, Schnur said. Its likely then that many Trump supporters would be third-and-fourth generation Latinos, who are somewhat older and share other demographic characteristics with working-class voters, he said.

Those Latinos who do support Trump are probably motivated by an idea of a strong leader the Republican party and its values around free markets, individual responsibility and socially conservative values, said Manuel Pastor, director of the USC Center for the Study of Immigrant Integration.

In contrast to African Americans who tend to heavily support Democrats, Republicans do have some appeal among Latinos. A number of Latinos became Republicans as a result of President Ronald Reagan, who pushed for immigration reform and made several Hispanic appointments while in office, Pastor said.

While its not surprising that some Latinos would support a Republican candidate, it would be interesting to see if this changes as a result of the (immigration) speech and the abandonment of these conservative Latinos who were defending Trump until now, Pastor said.

Those who believe that Latinos would never vote for Trump because of his anti-immigrant rhetoric forget that most voters No. 1 concern is often the economy  something Trump has consistently emphasized, said Jose Moreno, associate professor of Latino Education and Policy Studies at Cal State Long Beach.

Latinos want to hear about the economy as much as anyone else, Moreno explained, adding that education and public infrastructure are also top concerns among Latinos.

Santa Ana resident Lupe Moreno says her backing of Trump was buoyed by his immigration speech.

He said everything I wanted him to say. Once you talk strong, you cant back down, the office manager said. Hes a mans man. He reminds me of John Wayne.

But for Freddy Bedoya, a first-generation Mexican-American who lives in Santa Clarita, voting for Trump would never be an option.

From the beginning, Trump has pushed a campaign underscored with fear tactics, propaganda and flip-flopping. Bedoya said. I cant take someone like Trump seriously.

Staff writer Martin Wisckol and senior editor Anita Bennett contributed to this report.

Contact the writer: bgazzar@scng.com or @bgazzar on Twitter
It is fashionable today in Ghana for Men of God to put on an emblem of distinction, with a view to according them respect and treat them like second-in-command to the Creator. This in itself was heavenly-ordained because as Messengers of God, they are to be referenced.



They are to be holy at all times, so as to be found worthy by God to receive divine instructions that will subsequently be delivered to other human beings. Any leader that emerged through such a neutral process usually had no choice than to work in tandem with peoples expectations.



Today my worst fear has been confirmed about politicians hiding in cassocks, who instead of doing the work of God, subtly use the pulpits to engage in partisan politics and rather leave national issues aside .Especially their love for Nana Addo and the NPP growing wilder than that of a bush fire in a dry season.



Some few days ago the outgoing Moderator of the Presbyterian Church of Ghana, Professor Emmanuel Martey was at it again saying that a politician attempted to bribe him with a $100,000, a V8 and a house at Trasacco to the leadership of the church.



The Presbyterian Moderator who is exiting office at the end of November 2016 is in the news for claiming at a press conference that some politicians tried gagging him with an amount of $100,000, a V8 and a house at Trasacco.



They wanted to bribe me with $100,000 with promises that if you keep quiet, we will give you a house at Trasacco with swimming pool. Four wheel drive [but] these people were lucky I did not have big dogs in my house else I would have released the dogs to bite them, he said at the press conference.



The claim of the Moderator has been disputed by a former PRO of the church, Dr. Emmanuel Osei Acheampong who insists Prof Martey took the money and the vehicle offered by the politician.



In July 28, 2013, around 8:15pm, he (Prof Martey) invited me to the office of one of the leading opposition parties not the ruling government, when I got there he had received the 100,000 dollars and a V8 he is claiming to have rejected. And he gave me 50,000 dollars, I am speaking on authority that he received the money, he said on Kasapa FM.



But I realize that some of them have mixed theology with politics. Some of them are the highly controversial Moderator of the Presbyterian church Rev. Prof Emmanuel Martey .Their messages have been pro-Nana Addo and anti-John Mahama in form and content.



Recently the highly outgoing controversial Moderator of the Presbyterian church Rev. Prof Emmanuel Martey wrongfully stripped an immediate past Moderator of the Presbyterian Church of Ghana (PCG) the Very Reverend Dr Yaw Frimpong-Manso of his status as an ex-moderator of the church.



This is unprecedented in the PCG had been unfair in stripping Rev Frimpong Manso status as a former Moderator of the church as well as denying him all his entitlements.



It was therefore, a contention that the decision to strip him of the title of former Moderator of the church invalidates all that he had done during his tenure which also meant that the outgoing Moderator of the Presbyterian church Rev. Prof Emmanuel Martey lacked any locus since he was the one that signed the current Moderators chronicle of induction as a Moderator.



Rev. ministers like Prof Emmanuel Martey have decided to literally suspended their ecclesiastical mandate and without caution dabbled into the murky waters of Ghanaian politics and have fallen from their exalted position and jumped into the political theater and no longer speak from from the scriptures.



But I want him to know that election results in Ghana do not depend on prophecy. The truth of the matter is that election is fought and won on the fields and not inside churches or prayer grounds.



Yes, right to freedom of speech is guaranteed by the constitution but such a right is never a license to abuse a priestly platform and cast aspersions on the presidency. In other words, there is a limit to freedom of speech. Freedom of speech does not condone the making of highly incendiary and inflammatory statements as hes doing.



The outgoing Moderator of the Presbyterian church Rev. Prof Emmanuel Martey, for some time now have been on the toes of government for their personal reasons.



When a party chairman is killed by some of his party members they go silent. When religious and moral education found its way out of the Ghana education service curriculum ,he also went mute under the ester while President Kuffour regime .Now he attends NPP secret meetings to resolve issues.



Recently the Moderator of the Presbyterian Church of Ghana, Prof. Emmanuel Martey, in one of his latest hate-attack on President Mahama and his government on the energy crisis states If I were in charge, within three months I will solve the problem. In addition to this he claims it is the President  being a politician who is building the religious/tribal tension in the country.



Sometime back this same man yelled,  Nyansafuoyeei, mowo he? (Men of knowledge, where are you)current leadership of state equally lack knowledge. He also assesses the government as people with no wisdom to lead? Such an insult from a moderator.



That is why today, we have prosperity churches that have virtually become Centres of commerce. It is so bad that the children of poor members of the congregation, who are even exceptionally brilliant, are driven away from such institutions on ground of poverty.



The Moderator of the Presbyterian church Rev. Prof Emmanuel Martey, is notable among the selected individuals who attended the meeting at President Kufours house and the selection of the clergymen was based on their affiliation with the NPP.



The outgoing Presby moderator per his meeting in former President Kufours house to resolve the Nana Addo-Afoko problems, gives him up .



I am of the view that it's time for those who want to become Political Pastors to come out boldly and tell us the truth.



The outgoing Presby moderator should also know that the discerning Ghanaian mentality would not vote for someone with the I was (Born to Rule) attitude and take over Nkrumah's Ghana and the issues that made the NPP and Nana Addo lose the election that existed then, still exists today.





Source: Maxwell Okamafo Addo/ 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.

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Airtel Ghana played host to 100 pupils and teachers from schools within the Ablekuma Circuit at its Data Centre as part of an educational tour for STEM Club members drawn from schools within the Circuit under Airtels Evolve with STEM initiative.



The pupils were given a guided tour of the back-end operations of the Smartphone Network with a clear demonstration of how calls are originated and terminated among others.



The tour was part of efforts by the company to whip up the interest of the club members in the area of science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) by giving them hands-on experiences in these fields.



A mobile phone is one of the most common device we use in our daily lives, even among young people. As the Smartphone Network, we are proud to have the opportunity to explain the mechanism and technology behind making and receiving a phone call, sending and receiving txt messages as well as accessing information on the Internet. We have shared insights into how these devices work and the technology that goes into them. Their bright faces throughout the tour and insightful questions were very inspiring, I must say. Director of Networks and IT at Airtel Ghana, Maruf Lawal remarked.



He added, We believe that a solid background in science, technology, engineering and mathematics will not only launch these pupils into great careers in the future, but will also give them the right orientation to become problem solvers for this country and the continent as a whole.



Prior to the visit to Airtel, the club members toured the factory of Seven-Up Beverages Companys (SBC) to learn how Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) is used in making some of their favourite soft drinks.



Over hundred pupils and teachers from three schools within the Ablekuma Circuit signed up in June this year to join STEM Clubs set up by Airtel Ghana under the companys Evolve with STEM initiative. [Read more here]



The company, which is renowned for its contribution to education in Ghana, is currently carrying out a campaign on social media dubbed STEM Champions campaign. The platform is promoting people and organisations that are using STEM to solve local problems as living proof of what STEM education can do to leapfrog development on the continent.



The Evolve with STEM initiative has impacted some 2,000 young minds since its inception in December 2015. Airtel Ghana has received several awards in CSR including Best CSR Company for Education at the Ghana CSR Excellence Awards 2015.

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.

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Members of the Bawku Inter-Ethnic Peace Committee, have renewed they are resolute to sustain peace in the area ahead of the December 7 presidential and parliamentary elections.



The two major tribes, the Kusaasis and Mamprusis, who were hitherto, rivals by virtue of the protracted chieftaincy disputes, have reassured Ghanaians of their commitment to ensuring violence-free elections, promising they are ready to support the security to punish anybody who attempted doing something untoward in the area in the run-up to the elections.



Bawku is always tensed up during general elections as some war mongers and violent extremists wipe for war in such times in the name of chieftaincy disputes.



But, this year may disappoint the pessimists as the two major tribes, have pursued all plans and strategies to collaborate with the security to nip prospective violent people in the Bad.

Addressing a mammoth crowd at a forum organised by Belimwusa Development Agency, BEWDA, a local Non-Governmental Organisation, NGO in Bawku of the Upper East Region, Thomas Abilla, a Spokesperson to the Paramount Chief of Bawku, Naba Asigri Abugrago Azoka, recounted his ordeals in the aftermath of the prolonged Bawku conflicts, and said a replica of that would cause the area to sink in its development prospects.



He, however, expressed optimism the Inter-Ethnic Peace Committee would continue to work diligently to maintain peace in the Bawku community and its environs.



He said, since the establishment of the committee in 2009, not even "a knife wound" had been inflicted on somebody because of violence and appealed to all stakeholders, including assemblymen and women, members of the political divide and the youth to rise up vigorously to maintain the status quo in the build-up to the December 7 polls, adding he was envisaging a spectacular and relentless fight against disputes during the elections.



He ascribed the successful restoration of Peace in the area by the committee to the unrelenting support from the National Peace Council and the Upper East Members of Parliament, MPs caucus.



He acknowledged their financial support rendered to the committee to discharge its anti-violence advocacy and appealed to other philanthropic individuals and organisations to also come to its aid to work towards ensuring everlasting peace in the area.



Mr. Abilla further added the conflicts contributed largely in reversing the development fortunes of Bawku, saying " we are recovering from the conflicts that befell us. It really hurt us so much. So, we ought to collectively curse the conflicts so it will not recur to worsen our plight".



A private legal practitioner, Mohammed Tahiru Nambe, who is a member of the Inter-Ethnic Peace Committee, expressed overwrought over the dominance of Bawku in the flash points in the country.



He said it was evident the conduct of the people in the area was blameworthy, adding " we all have to work collectively to redeem the image of Bawku". Because of our violent acts in the past, the community is topping the list of flash points in the country".



The legal luminary amplified his call for peaceful elections and charged the youth to augment the efforts of the security in ensuring peace in the country by exposing people with diabolical mindset to foment troubles in the area on elections day.









The Bawku Municipal Police Commander, Chief Superintendent Tetutor Kaletsi, disclosed his personnel are armed and prepared to "go to battle" with recalcitrants who were causing confusion in the lead-up to the elections.



Emphasising his outfit would not backtrack on its pledge to confront criminals, he advised political gurus and chiefs to eschew interfering with the police anytime they caught a criminal and arraigned him or her before the law court to face the full rigours of the law of the land.



He bemoaned some revered stakeholders who harboured criminals and bad boys and underscored the need for stakeholders to help the police by exposing the criminals so they would be dealt with accordingly to serve as deterrent to others.



Superintendent Kaletsi, however, declared zero tolerance of security lapses during the elections, hinting security would be beefed-up on the election day to scare people from causing troubles.



"All the vigilante groups established by the political parties to intimidate people are disbanded", he confirmed, stressing they would never be active any longer to stir violence.

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.

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The One-village-one-dam campaign promise of the Presidential Candidate of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Nana Akufo-Addo is impracticable, the Managing Editor of the Insight Newspaper has said.



He thus described the promise as outlandish.



Nana Addo during his campaign tour of the Upper East region, pledged to create a dam a dam, in every village in the Northern region, should he emerge President after the December 7, polls.



This, he argued will boast agriculture in Ghana which currently stands at a paltry 30,000 out of 14million hectres of arable land. You have been hearing me talking about 1-District-1-Factory. As far as this part of the country is concerned, I even want to go further and talk about One-village-one-dam, to make sure that in every village, we have a functioning dam to support agriculture.



If Ghanas agriculture is working well, the nation is capable of feeding West Africa, he stated.



But According to Mr. Pratt the promise from the NPP presidential candidate is an impossibility.



He further observed that it may even be unnecessary as it is not every single village in the North that is into farming.



Mr. Pratt, who is President John Mahamas representative on the governing board of the National Media Commission (NMC) observed on Accra based Atinka FM on Monday that the promise sounds like an insult because of its unfeasibility.



Lets put politics aside and say the truth, is it in every village that you can build a dam? Its not possible...its not possible to build one dam in every village...let somebody show me it is possible...even if its necessary, its not possible so why do you promise the impossible? he quizzed.



He continued Even with dams that are constructed like boreholes, there are areas you cant build them because of the geology of the place so geographically its impossible to have a dam in every village.



Number two, it may not even be necessary because not all villages are farming villages and not all villages have water problems an example is the one near the Volta river...how can you construct a dam near such a village?



He thus urged Akufo-Addo to slow down on such promises because they sound like insults...they make promises like they want to insult us because they may not be possible and necessary.



Meanwhile, the NPPs Member of Parliament for Nabdam in the Upper East region revealed that the One dam, One Village promise made by Akufo-Addo was done as a result of demands from the indigenes of the region, hence the lack of a detailed execution plan.



Speaking on Morning Starr Monday, Boniface Gambila said The public came to us with their needs when we arrived that we want a dam and we said, is it possible to do a dam and they said yes, so we said okay then it can be done.

Source: starrfmonline.com









Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority.

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Steps taken by the Minority in Parliament to cause a Parliamentary probe into a controversial gift to the President was rejected on Thursday.



Speaker of Parliament, Edward Doe Adjaho, single-handedly shot down the Minoritys motion which occasioned a recall of Parliament.



Below is the Minoritys full statement



I thank you for the opportunity to move the motion advertised on the order paper, today Thursday, September 1, 2016. The motion which I submitted on behalf of the Minority group in Parliament reads:



In respect of this motion a request, signed by an overwhelmingly larger number than the 15% of Members of Parliament as provided for under Article 112 (3) in the 1992 Constitution was submitted to Mr Speaker.



The notice for the motion has been duly signed by my humble self on behalf of the group of Members of Parliament as the members proposing the motion as required by Order 79(2). The motion thereafter was duly submitted as provided

under Order 79(1).



Article 112(3) provides for the Speaker to summon Parliament within seven days after the receipt of the request. Order 38(1) provides further amplification by stating The Speaker shall, pursuant to clause 3 of Article 112 of the Constitution, upon a request of 15% of Members of Parliament, summon a Meeting of Parliament within 7 days after the receipt of the request, except that the meeting shall commence not later than 7 days after the issue of the summons.



The combined effect of the two provisions is that, Mr Speaker is required to act within a maximum of 14 days for Parliament to meet in such a circumstance.



All the persons involved in this motion have been compliant with the provisions of both the Constitution and the Rules of Procedure of the House, the Standing Orders. That is commendable. Mr Speaker, the antecedent to this motion is a report of the Auditor-General which was submitted to Parliament and which covered this matter.



Facts



The facts of the matter as we understand, are the following, that:

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs had procured a parcel of land at Ouagadougu to facilitate the construction of a new structure for Ghanas embassy in that Republic.



In order to secure the land before construction began a perimeter wall was to be erected. Bids were invited for the construction of the perimeter wall.



Ghanas Ambassador to Burkina Faso at the time preselected three (3) bidders for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to award the contract to any of the three that the Ministry deemed fit.



The firm of one Mr. Djibril Kanazoe was eventually chosen to construct the wall at a cost of six hundred and fifty-six thousand, two hundred and forty-six United States of America dollars and forty-eight cents (US$656,246.46), the equivalent of about two million and six hundred thousand Ghana Cedis (GHC2,600,000.00).



The parcel of land is about four (4) standard plots, i.e. about one (1) acre or 0.4 hectare.



The wall which is about two (2) metres high has two (2) security posts. The Managing Director of the successful construction company Mr. Djibril Kanazoe had, until he won the bid to construct the perimeter wall around the parcel of land described, submitted bids for some construction projects earlier in 2010 all of which had been unsuccessful.



Mr Kanazoe after his unsuccessful bids got introduced to the then Vice President of Ghana, H.E. John Dramani Mahama by a Ghanaian contractor friend, Mr. Mike Aidoo, Managing Director of Mikado Co. Ltd, a Ghanaian Construction Company. Mr Kanazoe became friends with the then Vice President after the meeting facilitated by Mr. Mike Aidoo.



That, at that meeting with the then Vice President, Mr. Kanazoe told the former about his business as a contractor and the fact that he had on occasions submitted bids for contracts on Ghanaian projects but had not been successful.



Mr. Kanazoe won the bid to construct the perimeter wall after the friendship with the then Vice President was courted.



That, after the friendship had been established the said Djibril Kanazoes company won a second bid, the construction of a section of the Eastern Corridor road, in particular, the Dode Pepeso  Nkwanta road, at a cost of Twenty-five million Euros (25,000,000.00).



That, after the payment of the first (1st) tranche of the cost of the construction of the perimeter wall in Ouagadougou, which payment was effected in the last quarter of 2012 the Managing Director of the company that had executed the contract Mr. Kanazoe Djibril procured and donated to his friend the former Vice President, who had then become the President after the transition of President JEA Mills, a Ford Expedition vehicle with chassis number IFMJUIJ58AEB748 and Engine number: E173A1905101.



That the said Ford Expedition country vehicle entered Ghana on October 29, 2012 through the Paga entry point (border). That clearance of the vehicle was done at the Tema port on February 13, 2013 by Vision Logistics Ltd a private Clearing House.



That the name of the importer of the said vehicle was listed as Sheik Mohammed Ouadrago.



That subsequent to the presentation of the said vehicle to the President, H.E. John Dramani Mahama the contractor was chosen to do the following major contract works: a) the Dode-Pepeso-Nkwanta road at a cost of 25million; and b) a 28km portion o the Wa-Hamile road at a cost of Eighty-two million Ghana cedis (GHC82,000,000.00).



According to the Hon. Minister for Roads and Highways, the justification for the award of the sole-sourced contract for the 28km stretch of the Wa-Hamile road to Mr. Djibril Kanazoes company was that:



that Mr. Kanazoes company had excellently executed the works on the Dode-Pepeso-Nkwanta road and had, accordingly, received high commendation from the President of the Republic at the commissioning of the project in-question upon its completion; That the Wa-Hamile road was very close to Burkina Faso the home country and base of Mr. Kanazoe.



Observation



That within one month after the commissioning of the Dode-Pepeso-Nkwanta road, the road had started to deteriorate and the DCE for the area had admitted to that fact and accordingly informed the Volta Regional Minister.



That after the publication of the outcome of a private investigative journalist in respect of the donation of the said Ford Expedition vehicle to the President John Dramani Mahama, various comments have been made by various groups, private citizens as well as activists of various political parties.



Some of these comments have sought to indicate that the President conducted himself in a manner which had brought or was likely to bring his office into disrepute, ridicule or contempt; some of the comments attributed plain corruption to the conduct of the President whilst others indicated that the Presidents conduct was in breach of some provisions of the Constitution.



Some other comments sought to vindicate the President and saw nothing untoward in the conduct of the President in his acceptance of the donation of the Ford Expedition vehicle, and pointed to an earlier incident in a previous administration involving the donation of a Mercedes Benz saloon to the Presidency.



His Excellency the President on at least one occasion has had cause to state that his conduct in that particular incident was above board and that he had nothing to hide.



The President on at least one occasion has further stated that if inspite of his declaration there were doubts then the persons who are not satisfied could apply themselves to the relevant constitutional provisions.



In spite of the Presidents own denial of any wrong doing, and inspite of the stoic defence mounted by many persons, agents and assigns of the President for the President there are still many Ghanaian who, on virtually daily basis continue to castigate and pour invectives on the President for what they consider as a misconduct.



Prayer of motion



Parliament is the body that is vested with the oversight authority over the Executive in such matters. Article 1(1) of the constitution vests sovereignty in the people of Ghana.



Indeed the said article reads: The Sovereignty of Ghana resides in the people of Ghana in whose name and for whose welfare the powers of government are to be exercised in the manner and within the limits laid down in the Constitution.



The powers of government are to be exercised for the welfare of the people, the governed, not the government! Parliament is the House that is composed of persons, Members, who represent the people of this country.



The Preamble of the constitution is the soul and spirit of the entire constitution. That the preamble which is an encapsulation of the vision and aspirations of the people declares and affirms our commitment to Probity and Accountability, among other things.



It has been argued by some people, including some Members of this House, that aspects if this matter that we have raised today have gone before the Commission for Human Rights and Administrative Justice (CHRAJ) and that Parliament should therefore not do anything that may tend to undermine the authority of CHRAJ.



The response to this is that the constitution per Article 187(5) makes Parliament the ultimate destination of the reports of the Auditor-General and not CHRAJ.



Some have also indicated that if the matter is before the Public Accounts Committee, why not allow the matter to rest before the Committee. Our response is that Article 187(6) fortifies our request to set up an ad-hoc committee.



Indeed Article 218(e) of the constitution provides for the report of CHRAJ in the matters to be submitted to the Attorney-General the appointee of the President to deal with the conclusions of CHRAJ. The matter would be dead at birth. That is why Parliament must assume its legitimate role.



This motion seeks to invite this House to invoke our powers of oversight to constitute a bi-partisan committee to delve into the matters raised ensuing from which many people in the country have proffered various comments, to establish at the end of its inquiry, whether or not the conduct of H.E. the

President is above aboard.



If the Presidents conduct is found to be above board the President shall stand vindicated eternally. If, on the other hand, the Presidents conduct is found to be inappropriate, Parliament in its wisdom, within the ambit of the constitution could proffer the relevant recommendation in order that such conduct shall not have further procreation.



This is the purpose of this motion. It is not meant to humiliate anybody. It is meant to establish truthfulness in order to broaden and deepen our democratic governance.



Mr. Speaker, the members who have appended their signatures to this motion are not unaware of the import of Article 69 which is on the removal of a President: We are not unaware of the fact that Article 69(2) does not call for the summoning of Parliament to debate the matter submitted to the Speaker.



We have elected to invoke the general oversight functions of Parliament in this matter in order to elicit a buy-in from the House, if indeed we are purposed not to abdicate our responsibility but to hold fast to our oaths.

We are aware of the fact that in the motion on the Offer, Sale and Purchase of Merchant Bank, one of the reasons assigned by colleagues on the other side of the divide was that the Minority group had not consulted the Majority.



This motion is aimed at providing the platform at the level of the Committee to be established to be very consultative in the effort to unravel the truth.



Mr. Speaker, Article 103(6) of the Constitution and indeed Order 155 of our Standing Orders vests in committees established by Parliament the powers, rights and privileges of the High Court or a Justice of the High Court at a trial for  a) enforcing the attendance of witnesses and examining them on Oath, affirmation or otherwise; b) Compelling the production of documents; and issuing a commission or request to examine witnesses abroad.



A committee of Parliament is specifically vested with such authority.



An individual Member of Parliament is not clothed with such authority. An individual member could only invoke Article 21(1)(f) which states:



All persons shall have the right to information subject to such qualifications, and laws as are necessary in a democratic society.



Clearly, if an individual member or a group of Members of Parliament undertake to delve into the issue, to the extent that the individual does not, or the group does not constitute a committee of Parliament, the individual Member or that particular group of Members would not be clothed with the powers of a committee and may therefore neither be able to compel attendance or the production of documents.



Conclusion



It is for these reasons why this motion is moved today so that Parliament would be seen to be standing together in the discharge of our oversight responsibilities. Mr. Speaker, I so move.

Source: The Chronicle









Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority.

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Victorian man Mark Tromp has been found in the town of Wangaratta, bringing what police have called the most bizarre case in 30 years one step closer to a positive resolution.

It is believed Tromp, 51, was spotted by a member of the public earlier this evening, before police brought him to the local station.

The moment Mark Tromp is taken into Wangaratta Police Station @bordermail @theage pic.twitter.com/0C0rBzKu99  Ellen Ebsary (@EEbsary) September 3, 2016

He is believed to be suffering dehydration, but is apparently in a healthy condition otherwise.

Tromp was the last member of his family still missing in the aftermath of an extremely bizarre family road trip.

Tromp, wife Jacoba, and adult children Mitchell, Ella and Riana left the family home in Silvan on Monday for a technology free drive. It was later discovered the family left the home in a rush, even leaving keys in car ignitions.

Mitchell abandoned the trip a day in, returning home after his parents displayed considerable paranoia. He later said his parents appeared as if they were fleeing something.

After arriving at Bathurst, Ella and Riana also left their parents, stole a car and drove to Goulburn.

From there, the two split up. Ella returned to the family home, while Riana was found hitching a ride in the tray of a ute. The driver delivered her to Goulburn police in a confused and stressed state on Tuesday.

Meanwhile, its thought Mark and Jacoba drove from the Jenolan Caves to Yass, where Jacoba admitted herself to hospital for stress-related health issues on Thursday.

On his fathers discovery tonight, Mitchell said this is the best news that could ever happen.

Monbulk police sergeant Mark Knight, who is also a family acquaintance, said there is no history of mental illness diagnoses in the family, nor is there any evidence of drug use.

Both Riana and Jacoba remain under the supervision of mental health services in Goulburn.

We anticipate well find out exactly what happened, and why, in the coming days.

Source: Brisbane Times / ABC / The Age.

Photo: Dougal Beatty / NSW Police / Twitter.
Brock Turner, the 21-year-old former Stanford University student and convicted rapist whose sexual assault case ignited debate on the issues of privilege and a systemic bias against victims, has walked from Santa Clara County Jail a free man.

Back in March, Turner was found guilty of the January 2015 sexual assault of a 22-year-old woman. He was sentenced in June for intent to commit rape of an intoxicated / unconscious person, penetration of an intoxicated person, and penetration of an unconscious person.

For those crimes, he served just three months of his unconscionably lenient six month sentence due to good behaviour behind bars.

Video footage from the Californian facility shows Turner avoiding questions from a flock of reporters before climbing into an SUV.

Brock Turner leaving jail pic.twitter.com/9jglfnxhYD  Ellen Cushing (@elcush) September 2, 2016

It makes sense why hed choose to dodge questions, considering the mass condemnation of his lenient sentencing and the furore surrounding the entire case.

Judge Aaron Persky, who has since removed himself from adjudicating criminal cases, continues to face widespread criticism for handing down the six month sentence.

Of course, the prosecutor originally pushed for Turner to serve six years in state prison, and Turner would likely have served at least two if not for Judge Perskys intervention.

Critics, including state politicians, continue to rail for voters to recall Judge Persky from serving at all.

Speaking outside the jail, Senate hopeful Loretta Sanchez said today, Brock Turner is a free man, and yet women who have been sexually assaulted are still prisoners of fear due to the continued service of judges like Persky.

Protesters also camped outside the facility yesterday, chanting for Judge Persky to resign or be removed from his post due to his apparent bias towards white, affluent offenders.

While the results of that campaign are yet to be seen, US lawmakers recently voted 66-0 to close the loophole that allowed the six month sentence to be handed down at all.

At the time of Turners sentencing, minimum sentences without probation only applied to sexual assault cases involving penile penetration; Turner committed the assault digitally, allowing Judge Persky to opt for more lenient sentencing

However, the new law will apply the same punishment to those convicted of rape, sodomy, penetration with a foreign object and oral sex if the victim was unconscious or incapable of giving consent due to intoxication.

Thats great news for redressing a glaring systemic fault, but there is still so, so much work to be done in fixing the culture that emboldened Judge Persky to hand down that sentence  and the culture that contributed to Turners abhorrent actions in the first place.

Source: ABC / CNN / LA Times.

Photo: Ellen Cushing / Twitter.

If you or someone you know has experienced sexual assault or abuse, call 1800 RESPECT on 1800 737 732.


State wildlife officials euthanized a problem grizzly bear on Thursday that was captured in August northwest of Boulder and relocated to Lincoln, west of Helena.

The bear had a history of accessing unsecured attractants at homes sites and eventually began breaking into structures over the past month in search of food, according to a news release.

The 240-pound sub-adult male grizzly bear was captured in the Basin Creek area northwest of Boulder on Aug. 16 after returning to a private residence several times looking for food and causing property damage. The Department of Fish, Wildlife and Parks relocated the bear to a remote area northwest of Lincoln in the Upper Blackfoot Valley in hopes that it would return to natural food sources and stay away from residences.

However, on Aug. 29, the bear returned to home sites west of Lincoln and stayed in the area for several days, and in some occasions, close to homes and human activity. The grizzly attempted to break into a horse trailer and successfully pulled a box of grain out of a shed at another home.

FWP and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service decided to remove this grizzly bear from the population because of the degree of food conditioning.

We had hoped this bear would stay away from homes after we relocated it to a remote spot, says Region 2 FWP Bear Management Specialist, James Jonkel. But, sadly, this bear was very habituated to food sources found around homes, and had to be removed in the interest of public safety.

Jonkel says that some grizzly bears are staying in the valley bottom this time of year to feed on any remaining berries. Residents should pick fruit from trees as soon as possible and also make sure other attractants such as garbage, pet food, and bird feeders are not available.
By Jim T. Ryan

Staff Writer

Perry County's veterans organizations kicked off a countywide Military Share food program on Aug. 25 to encourage fellow vets and their families to take advantage of the nutritional food offered by the Central Pennsylvania Food Bank.

"There's nothing better than serving your fellow veterans," said Greg Stegall, manager of the Military Share program and mobile distribution for the Central Pennsylvania Food Bank in Harrisburg.

Planning for the Perry County arm of the program began in June when Terry Mullen, commander of the New Bloomfield Veterans of Foreign Wars, began sending out ads and flyers about the program and contacting other veterans organizations.

Twenty-eight participants -- veterans or families of active military personnel who need food assistance -- signed up almost immediately, Mullen said. "That's a big chunk of the total."

The program received 55 participants for the August food pick-up at the VFW on Soule Road.

Each participant receives more than 50 pounds of food, including a 25-pound box with dry and canned goods, milk, eggs, vegetables and other produce. This summer participants received a watermelon and sweet corn.

"This is one of the largest first events we've seen," Stegall said.

He pointed out that there is a substantial need among veterans and military families. Last fiscal year, Central Pennsylvania Food Bank distributed more than 50 million pounds of food to families in a 27-county area. Of the families served, 26 percent were identified as having veterans or active duty military.

There's a pride issue for veterans and their families, Mullen said. They aren't easily going to admit they need help buying groceries, or accept food from the church pantry.

However, he noted, the Military Share program is vets helping vets. That hopefully reduces the stigma and gets more to come out for the nutritious food they deserve.

Other organizations participating include the county's Veterans Affairs office, American Legion, Disabled American Veterans, Vietnam Veterans of America, and The American Veterans (AMVETS).

The county is providing transportation through the Perry County Transportation Authority, said Jim Scott, county VA director.

"They're opening the avenue for the vets who can't get here on their own," Scott said.

County Commissioner Stephen Naylor, himself a VFW member, said the Military Share program is a great idea.

"I'm happy to see things are coming together to help our veterans," he said last Thursday while helping to distribute food, along with Commissioner Paul Rudy.

The schedule of distribution and registration dates is:

For Sept. 29 pick up, register by Sept. 22.

For Oct. 27 pick up, register by Oct. 20.

For Dec. 1 pick up, register by Nov. 17.

For the Dec. 29 pickup, register by Dec. 22.

Participants in Military Share must register by calling Bob Snook at 582-7776, Dion DeNault at 589-4209 or Jim Scott at 582-5133.

Distribution takes place at VFW Post 7463, 71 Soule Road, New Bloomfield.

Jim T. Ryan can be reached via e-mail at jtryan@perrycountytimes.com
Pittsburgh Steelers LB Tyler Matakevich

Pittsburgh Steelers linebacker Tyler Matakevich starred is one of several names to keep an eye on as the Steelers trim their roster to 53 men on Saturday. (AP Photo/Keith Srakocic)

(Keith Srakocic)

The

will be down to a 53-man roster, like the rest of the

NFL,

by 4 p.m. as they make their final cuts.

We've already taken a look at which players helped themselves in Thursday's preseason finale against the Carolina Panthers and how injuries might be a factor.

Below are our running updates of who we're hearing is safe, reportedly cut or anything in between:

Steelers cut watch 2016:

Some practice squad insights for you:

Lyons spent the first month of last season on the #steelers' 53, was released and re-signed to the P-squad. Futures contract in January.  Jacob Klinger (@Jacob_Klinger_) September 3, 2016

Travis Feeney is also a #steelers practice squad candidate, per source close to that situation. @pasports  Jacob Klinger (@Jacob_Klinger_) September 3, 2016

Well then.

Browns trading former first-round CB Justin Gilbert to the Pittsburgh Steelers, per league source. Rare in-division trade.  Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) September 3, 2016

It's worth clarifying that if the Steelers put Senquez Golson (lisfranc) on IR that's one less active roster spot that needs to be cleared, but for the purposes of these updates, he still counts toward the 53.

Steelers waived DB Montell Garner

Steelers waived DB Montell Garner  Jeremy Fowler (@JFowlerESPN) September 3, 2016

Brings CBs, not counting Sean Davis, down to 7, leaves the active roster at 66.

OLB Jermauria Rasco's agent hasn't heard anything yet. Travis Feeney reportedly released, A. Chickillo injured his foot Thursday. #steelers  Jacob Klinger (@Jacob_Klinger_) September 3, 2016

Also worth noting that Bud Dupree is nursing a groin injury. That leaves Arthur Moats, James Harrison and Jarvis Jones as the only other healthy outside linebackers. Rasco was signed partway through training camp.

Confirmed the Vinopal cut through his agent.

Steelers waived DB Ray Vinopal.  Jeremy Fowler (@JFowlerESPN) September 3, 2016

67.

WR/PR Demarcus Ayers' rep has also yet to hear from the team. Was a 7th-rd pick this year #steelers @pasports  Jacob Klinger (@Jacob_Klinger_) September 3, 2016

"They've done a nice job in terms of making decisions, one, and that's the most important thing. You got to be a good decision maker, feeling the ball, too. And then they've done a nice job of creating -- Eli has a nice return average. I think it's up over 10 yards per. And Demarcus has done a really nice job of always seemingly making the first one or two guys miss. And those are attributes you look for in quality return people." -Mike Tomlin on Ayers, Eli Rogers on punt returns last week

#Steelers CB Al-Hajj Shabazz's agent  er, one of them  said his client has not been cut at this point.  Jacob Klinger (@Jacob_Klinger_) September 3, 2016

Shabazz is one of eight cornerbacks on the roster. That's counting Doran Grant, who has played some safety this preseason, as a corner. Pittsburgh carried five corners on its 53-man roster into Week 1 last year.

Jacob Presser, Tyler Matakevich's agent, hasn't heard anything about his client yet; no news, good news so far. #steelers @pasports  Jacob Klinger (@Jacob_Klinger_) September 3, 2016

Matakevich made 15 combined tackles, a pass breakup and caught an interception in four preseason games. He was a seventh-round pick out of Temple this year.

Sixth-round pick Travis Feeney is another cut, according to ESPN, bringing our count down to 68. He was hurt for much of camp and never looked big enough to contribute on defense.

Another OT in Matt Feiler has also been cut, per ESPN. This bodes well for B.J. Finney, who spent last year on the practice squad and can play both center and guard. Maurkice Pouncey calls him "Spongebob."

Running back Brandon Brown-Dukes, defensive tackle Lavon Hooks and guards Antoine Everett and Shahbaz Ahmed are also out, according to ESPN. With Hansen, that puts the roster down to 70.

Friday

Offensive tackle Wade Hansen was the first to be reported to go. This is his agent:
This Aug. 18, 2016 photo shows what remains of an oil-extraction operation in Banning Ranch, on what is believed to be the biggest piece of privately-owned vacant land on Southern California's coast in Newport Beach. Developers want to build 895 homes and a 75-room resort hotel on the 401-acre swath of land in upscale Newport Beach. Proponents say they would rehabilitate and preserve much of the scenic site, but opponents say the land should be left as open space. Native American groups have also begun to look into whether the site might be sacred ground. (AP Photo/Nick Ut)
A Philippine soldier keeps watch at a blast site at a night market that has left several people dead and wounded others in southern Davao city, Philippines late Friday Sept. 2, 2016. The powerful explosion in Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte's hometown in the southern Philippines took place amid a security alert due to a major offensive against Abu Sayyaf militants in the region, officials said. (AP Photo/Manman Dejeto)
Heather Mogg to take plea deal in murder case

Heather Mogg is scheduled to make a plea deal with Emmet County prosecutors for the murder of her boyfriend, Jonathan Tippett.
DECATUR  When the AT&T Pioneers first planned their annual dictionary project 11 years ago, they met to discuss what they would say to the third-graders who receive the dictionaries each year.

(Kathy) Moore was thumbing through one of the dictionaries and came across a word she'd never seen before, said Marsha Mower, vice president of the Decatur Life Member Club. I'd never heard of it before, either, and when we went to classrooms, most teachers hadn't heard of it.

That word, shibboleth, is one the ancient Hebrews used as a kind of password, according to the Book of Judges. If someone pronounced it wrong, they were clearly not part of the community and were not allowed to cross into tribal lands over the Jordan River.

Today, its meaning is a slogan or catchword, and it's the one the Pioneers have the kids look up in their new dictionaries for practice using the books.

At Stevenson School on Friday, Mower asked the kids to identify the companies whose shibboleths she recited, from I'm Lovin' It to Just Do It, and the kids readily identified McDonald's and Nike.

She told them, when they went home after school and told their families about their new dictionaries, they could also have fun puzzling their parents by telling them they had learned about McDonald's shibboleth at school that day.

About four years ago, the Golden K Kiwanis joined the Pioneers in the dictionary project and they also help with the annual shoes project in December each year, where the two groups buy new shoes for students in area schools whose families are low-income. The joint effort started because Don Meyer, who is a member of both groups, suggested the Golden K would be a good partner.

You're never too old to need a dictionary, Mower told the third-graders at Stevenson on Friday. I would hope we're all learning new things every day.

Teachers Carrie Sager and Olivia Mannlein said they want their students to keep the dictionaries at school for use in class during the school year, after Mower told students that these dictionaries were their very own to keep.

Mower was accompanied by Pioneers Sharon Lee and Kathy Moore, and Golden K member Cheryl Boss. The two groups provide dictionaries to all Decatur's public and private schools and several county schools, among them Argenta-Oreana, Maroa-Forsyth, Sangamon Valley, Mount Zion and Warrensburg-Latham.

At the presentation, Mower told the kids the adults hope they'll take very good care of their dictionaries, and keep them throughout their school years and even into adulthood. Mower sometimes bumps into recipients in the schools she visits or at a store, and they remember her as the dictionary lady, she said with a laugh.

How long do we want you to keep your dictionary? she asked the students.

Through your whole life, said Kristiona Hinton.
READ: Court Issues Arrest Warrant for Poker Pro Ted Forrest

September 02, 2016 PokerNews Staff

According to an article published by the Las Vegas Review journal, Las Vegas authorities have issued an arrest warrant for long-time poker pro, Ted Forrest.

The article states that Forrest has been "charged with one count of drawing and passing a check without sufficient funds with the intent to defraud and one count of theft at Wynn Las Vegas, according to a criminal complaint filed Friday in Las Vegas Justice Court."

A full breakdown of the charges, as well as quotes from Forrest's attorney can be found here.

Be sure to complete your PokerNews experience by checking out an overview of our mobile and tablet apps here. Stay on top of the poker world from your phone with our mobile iOS and Android app, or fire up our iPad app on your tablet. You can also update your own chip counts from poker tournaments around the world with MyStack on both Android and iOS.
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*The following is an opinion column by R Muse*

When an insignificant know-nothing without anything constructive to say makes outrageous statements, it is usually the case that anyone within earshot ignores the idiot or laughs them into obscurity. Although it is true that Republican standard bearer Donald Trump is a monumental know nothing that has made a living spewing deliberately outrageous statements, he is embarrassingly not insignificant; a fact not lost on Mexican President Enrique Pena Nieto. In fact, during an appearance and brief interview on a Mexican television program, President Nieto explained exactly why he took valuable time out of his busy schedule to meet with Americas know-nothing loudmouth extraordinaire, Donald Trump.

It is unclear who, exactly, initiated the idea of a Trump visit to Mexico, and although it was obvious that Trump was making an appearance to blunt the nastiness of the impending and highly-anticipated speech on immigration, no small number of Americans wondered why the Mexican President would waste his precious time meeting a significant malcontent who has demeaned and insulted the Mexican people on both sides of the border. As it turns out, President Nieto wanted to meet with Trump and confront him head on because as is the case with world leaders who are not Vladimir Putin, Nieto knows a president Trump would be a risk and a threat, specifically to Mexico and the Mexican people.

Of course Trump made out like the storied meeting between an avowed racist like himself and an articulate leader was productive and friendly, but one suspects it was highly strained and a shock to the Donalds sense of his own awesomeness. Why? Because President Nieto was brutally frank and let Trump know exactly what he as President of Mexico, and the Mexican people, think of the loudmouth big-time wrestling celebrity. Probably concerned that the only reporting about the meeting came from Trumps mendacious mouth, Nieto sat down and explained to the Mexican people on both sides of the border precisely why he took time to meet with Trump and what he told the blowhard.

The interviewer didnt even offer any warm salutations or thanks for the interview and immediately asked President Nieto a question that some Mexican-Americans and likely every citizen of Mexico wondered:

Why was Trump here, in our country?

President Pena Wasted no time with pleasantries about the meeting and replied:

Let me be very clear regarding the comments that I have heard and the dozens of statements that candidate Trump has made in Arizona. I was very clear, because we did discuss payment of the wall and I was very clearly emphatic that Mexico will not pay for that wall. I was also clear that every government has the right to do whatever they decide to do with their borders, in accordance to the rules of their government. But Mexico, by no means, will pay for that wall. I was clear and emphatic on that point.

Secondly, I confronted the candidate, and made it known that the Mexican community has been greatly offended by his many indignant remarks made about Mexicans and Mexicans in the United States. There was only one reason I did this, and the reason was to confront the risk and threat to Mexico head on. As the president of the republic, I have one sole responsibility; to care for the people of Mexico and fight for Mexico.

Evidently, something has happened that has never happened before in the history of the United States presidential election; Mexico is a part of the debate. And with that have come things that frankly are a risk and threat to Mexico. (author bold)

At this point the interviewer, seemingly taken aback that President Nieto actually dared to intimate that Trump is a threat to Mexico after just meeting with the candidate asked pointedly:

Donald Trump is a threat? Specifically, is Donald Trump a threat to Mexico?

President Nieto replied: His positions, some of his positions, yes they represent a direct threat to the future of Mexico.

It is probably the case that Donald Trump is seldom, if ever, confronted by anyone much less a Mexican man representing a nation of Mexicans Trump has perpetually insulted over the past year. It is also probably the case that Mexican President Nieto was anxious for the opportunity to confront Trump head on over his demonizing comments about Mexican immigrants and citizens alike. There is no doubt that high on President Nietos list was telling the loudmouth Trump very emphatically that in no universe was Mexico going to pay for a border wall and then to call out Trumps dirty lie that there was no conversation about paying for a wall.

What is too bad, really, is that President Nietos remarks about Trump being a threat to Mexico and the Mexican people was on a Spanish-language program because Trumps supporters might be surprised to learn that their loudmouth racist hero was actually confronted head on by a Mexican and that getting in Trumps face was the only motivation for the Mexican President to meet with the bully and let him know precisely what the Mexican people on both sides of the border think of him.

Many world leaders have weighed in on the risk and threat Donald Trump poses to the entire world if he were elected, but the only one to actually look the racist bully in the eyes and set him straight on his signature issue was President Nieto; for that reason alone he deserves high praise. One is confident that his nations citizens have heaped praise on their President for waiting patiently to confront a bigoted bully head on and fulfilling his one sole responsibility of caring for the people of Mexico, fighting for Mexico and confronting the risk and threat to his nation and people living in America.
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All too often since the election of Barack Obama, conservatives have gone unchallenged by the mainstream media; and even when the left wing is offered a voice on a broadcast, the conservative usually gets the last word, and that is the word that sticks in viewers heads.

This time, however, a mainstream media reporter, ABC News Chief Foreign Correspondent Terry Moran, flat out called Alt-Right champion Milo Yiannopoulos, an idiot. To his face. On air.

Anyone not understanding the significance of this has not been paying attention. This is Milo Yiannopoulos, tech editor of Breitbart, newly come to mainstream prominence by Trumps hiring of Breitbarts Steve Bannon as CEO of his campaign. He is, in the words of The Daily Beasts Jack Hunter, a beast.

The 31-year-old, boastfully gay Breitbart writeror dangerous faggothas quickly become a hero to young conservatives and libertarians for smacking down the ridiculous out-of-control social justice warriors who troll college campuses.

Yiannopoulos is used to throwing the punches, not receiving them. The context here is the harassment campaign against Leslie Jones that got Yiannopoulos banned from Twitter  permanently (he also went after comedian Amy Schumer).

His public beating went down like this:

Terry Moran: If Leslie Jones were right here, would you say, You look like a dude?



Yiannopoulos: Yeah, probably.



Moran: You would say that to her.



Yiannopoulos: I probably would, insisted.



Moran: Then youre an idiot.

This is meaningful simply because it does not happen. People dont stand up to the right wing trolls peppering the mainstream media. And Yiannopoulos is a troll, and admitted as much to Moran, Moran asking, Are you a troll? and Yiannopoulos responding with a smirk, Of course.

Trolling is very important. I like to think of myself as a virtuous troll, you know? Im doing Gods work.

Trump, of course, is the biggest troll of them all, trolling all of America. The media tolerates people like Katrina Pierson when what should be happening is the camera being shut off and the segment abruptly ending.

And Moran wasnt finished with the self-styled conservative firebrand:

Moran: Youre going to go after somebodys body to denigrate their ideas? What grade are you in? Are you a 13-year-old boy? Because somebody doesnt have a weight that you think is proper? Thats revolting.

Yiannopoulos: Ill tell you whats revolting. Whats revolting is the body positivity movement. Whats revolting is this idea now that you can tell women that theyll be healthy at any size.

Breitbart says Twitter will end up losing by banning Yiannopoulos for doing something they said he didnt do. There is apparently a problem with anti-abuse bias at Twitter. Imagine that.

Conservatives feel they have the right to say anything, no matter how offensive, but that nobody else has the right to be offended, or to respond to the offensive things that are said. Its rather bizarre to hear harassment championed as some sort of positive social cause, but thats what Breitbart wants you to believe.

Of course, they also want you to believe that Trump doesnt lie to you, that hes not a racist, and that he has the best people working for him.

And they get really upset when you use your First Amendment rights to set them straight. Milo Yiannopoulos took to Facebook  because he cant go to Twitter  to post in response to Morans unfavorable ruling, Ruuuuuude.

Its almost as if the mainstream media suddenly discovered the ugliness lying at the heart of the Republican Party, though its been there for years. And Breitbart may have just discovered they dont get a free pass from actual journalists.

In the end, Yiannopoulos hardly has cause for complaint. And in the alt-rights own words, its not an insult if its true.

Photo: Screen capture  ABC News Nightline
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By Dave Graham

MEXICO CITY (Reuters)  A Mexican senator is proposing legislation to empower the government to retaliate if a U.S. administration led by Donald Trump inflicts expropriations or economic losses on his country to make it pay for a border wall.

Republican presidential nominee Trump has vowed to have Mexico fund the planned wall to keep out illegal immigrants if he is elected, and threatened to fund it by blocking remittances sent home by Mexicans living in the United States.

Armando Rios Piter, an opposition senator for the center-left Party of the Democratic Revolution (PRD), will next week present the initiative he hopes will protect Mexicans, and highlight the risks of targeting them economically.

The plan offers a taste of the kind of tit-for-tat measures that could gain traction between the two heavily-integrated economies if Trump wins the presidency at the Nov. 8 election.

In a preliminary summary of the proposal, which also foresees giving the Senate the power to disavow international treaties when the interests of Mexico or its companies are threatened by other signatories, it states:

In cases where the property/assets of (our) fellow citizens or companies are affected by a foreign government, as Donald Trump has threatened, the Mexican government should proportionally expropriate assets and properties of foreigners from that country on our territory.

Total remittances to Mexico from abroad  most of which come from the United States  were worth nearly $25 billion last year, according to the central bank. Bilateral trade between the two nations is worth about half a trillion dollars a year.

Trump has also threatened to tear up a trade deal with Mexico if it is not recast in the United States favor. He met President Enrique Pena Nieto in Mexico City this week, sparking fierce criticism in Mexico of the government for hosting him.

Afterwards, Trump repeated his pledge to make Mexico foot the bill for the wall. Mexico says it will not pay.

It is yet to be established how such expropriations could work, nor is it clear what chance the bill could have of passing. The PRD and other leftist parties hold less than a quarter of the 128 seats in Mexicos Senate.

Rios Piter said his aim was to counter threats by Trump to target Mexicans in the United States and to stress that the economic welfare of both nations is at stake.

At a time like this, its vital for us to understand why this relationship benefits both. Were neighbors, were friends, were partners, he said. Hes putting (that) at risk.

The initiative also seeks to protect Mexico against unilateral changes to the 1994 North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA), which Trump has threatened to ditch.

(Editing by Alistair Bell)
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Republicans are having themselves a Labor Day weekend meltdown after President Obama formally committed the US to participation in the Paris climate change agreement.

Video clip of President Obama:

https://youtu.be/TPEf1eXtaz0

The President said:

Now, just as I believe the Paris Agreement will ultimately prove to be a turning point for our planet, I believe that history will judge todays efforts as pivotal. For the agreement to enter into force, as has already been stated, 55 countries representing 55 percent of global emissions must formally join. Together, the U.S. and China represent about 40 percent of global emissions. So today, we are moving the world significantly closer to the goal that we have set.

We have a saying in America  that you need to put your money where your mouth is. And when it comes to combatting climate change, thats what were doing, both the United States and China. Were leading by example. As the worlds two largest economies and two largest emitters, our entrance into this agreement continues the momentum of Paris, and should give the rest of the world confidence - whether developed or developing countries - that a low-carbon future is where the world is heading.



The Republican reaction to President Obama achieving a historic agreement that could pave the way for more clean energy jobs in the US was to freak out.

The Heritage Foundation reacted by screaming power grab. Steven Groves, a senior research fellow at Heritage, said, President Obamas decision today to ratify the Paris Agreement on climate change in conjunction with China is a shameful, unilateral power grab. The White House has long sought to call the Paris Agreement anything other than a treaty in order to avoid the Senates advice and consent role under Article II of the Constitution. But lets be clear  the Paris Agreement is a treaty by every definition of the word and should be submitted to the Senate for its consideration. This action by the president is an intentional end-run around the American people and their elected representatives, done to advance an ineffective, expensive climate agreement. The U.S. should stay out of the Paris Agreement.

Climate change denier Sen. Jim Inhofe (R-OK) said, Its no wonder Americans will never support this deal, especially when our president promises unrealistic and economically harmful emission reductions of up to 28 percent that will send more jobs overseas and reduce our global competitiveness in the marketplace.

It would have been nice to hear from the Republican presidential nominee on this issue, but Donald Trump has been busy posting tweets trying to spin the polls to make it look like he is winning the election.

When Republicans use the words the power grab in relation to President Obama it is a synonym for progress. Republicans oppose all progress. The practical outcome of their ideology is visible in the fact that not a single significant piece of legislation has been passed since they took control of both the House and Senate.

The Republican Party is not a party of ideas or legislation. Republicans are an anti-progress collective. President Obama committed to progress and a future that the Republican Party may have already lost.

The GOP freakout isnt about climate change or Obama. Republicans are freaking out because the country is passing them by, and they are being left behind.
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Democratic Party Strategist Julie Roginsky came up against a fact-defying conservative wall on Fox News Outnumbered when she tried to explain a simple fact to white male Tucker Carlson, that Donald Trump will not be speaking to a black audience when he meets with Bishop Wayne Jackson of Great Faith Ministries International today.

He will be speaking to a single man in a closed room from which media will be barred, the results of which will then be edited and released.

This, even though Trump has no problem going to a town in Wisconsin that is vastly white and discussing the plight of the black community in front of a huge white audience.

Trumps Campaign said the candidate would speak to the crowd for 5-10 minutes but Bishop Jackson said, no, thats not allowed:

When we have guests, whether they are a celebrity, an actress, an actor, or whether its just somebody who is well known, we do allow them to say, Im here today. A greeting. Thank you very much and sit down. There is not going to be a 10 minute speech from nobody. No.

So even if Trump wanted it to, his appearance at a black church would not mean he is speaking to a black audience (and yes, Trump has to be hoping this works better than his visit to Mexico).

It is doubtful he wants to speak to a black audience. He has had plenty of opportunity to include blacks, but he prefers to talk about them, rather than to them.

Watch the discussion courtesy of Media Matters for America:

JULIE ROGINSKY (CO-HOST): Lets be clear. He is not speaking to a black audience. He is going to a back room with a pastor. He has gotten the questions pre-submitted to him 



[CROSSTALK]



ROGINSKY: Listen, let me finish my point. Let me finish my point. He has designed the answer. He has no problem going to a town in Wisconsin that is vastly white and discussing the plight of the black community in front of a huge white audience but he has no ability to do that in front of a black audience, to look them in the face and repeat those same points.



TUCKER CARLSON: What is wrong with speaking to white audience?



ROGINSKY: Nothing is wrong speaking to a white audience, but 



CARLSON: Then why did you note it twice?



ROGINSKY: I noted it twice because he was talking to white audience about the issues that plagued the black community.



CARLSON: Whats wrong with that?



ROGINSKY: Why doesnt he do that to the black community?



CARLSON: Well I guess hes going to do it.



ROGINSKY: No hes not, actually, Tucker. Hes actually not 



[CROSSTALK]



CARLSON: But everyone has television, you can see what he says by turning it on.



ROGINSKY: No, it is not television. Im sorry, its behind closed doors, no press allowed.



DAGEN MCDOWELL (CO-HOST): No, its being broadcast after the fact.



ROGINSKY: After the fact, after its been edited. They have editing rights.



CARLSON: Whatever, we know what Trump thinks, hes going to tell you on Twitter. I mean, hes not hiding what he thinks.



ROGINSKY: No, excuse me, excuse me, no. Its a huge difference. He has editing power over this tape. You know what this is, this is a campaign commercial.



MCDOWELL: There are questions and then he will also make remarks after the fact and it will be seen.

According to Tucker Carlson, Donald Trump speaking to a African-American pastor without any press present, and with full editorial rights to edit the conversation as he sees fit, is the same as speaking to a black audience with media present and cameras rolling.

Worse yet, there is an actual script for the interview, a draft of which The New York Times possesses. It makes entertaining reading. And it demonstrates that again, Trumps real audience is not black, but white.

As Jamelle Bouie wrote at Slate, Trumps goal is to look tolerant, to look patient and gracious while he takes praise from a black religious leader and gives boilerplate about equal opportunity.

Julie Roginsky has correctly identified Trumps reason for appearing at a black church  its a campaign spot designed to offset his repeated non-appearance in front of black audiences, an opportunity through a heavily scripted interview and thoroughly edited video, to portray Trump as something he is not, as a guy who actually cares about African-Americans.
Floodwaters that have inundated southern Louisiana are a reminder to small business owners of the need to prepare for possible disasters.

Many businesses across the country have no flood insurance, making it hard or even impossible for some to rebuild and repair following a flood. Less than a third of Louisiana companies are insured against flood damage, state Insurance Commissioner Jim Donelon said.

Disaster planning includes protecting employees, business data and buildings, and creating a plan to get everyone working again as soon as possible. Resources available online include:

 www.preparemybusiness.org: The site sponsored in part by the Small Business Administration includes information on parts of disaster planning like ensuring that company records are backed up at a remote location, and creating a plan to communicate with staffers.

 www.sba.gov: This includes information on disaster loans, which can be obtained by businesses and homeowners in places that have been declared federal disaster areas. Parts of Louisiana have already received disaster declarations. It also has tips for planning and recovering from specific types of disasters, including floods. For that, it suggests being cautious even where floodwaters have receded, disinfecting anything that got wet and checking on whether the water supply is safe for drinking.

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 www.fema.gov: The Federal Emergency Management Agency has a Small Business Toolkit containing information on planning and implementing disaster plans.

 www.iii.org: The Insurance Information Institute, an industry organization, has information on the types of insurance business owners should consider buying. Owners should note that flood insurance must be purchased separately and is not included in standard business policies that cover damage from wind, rain, fire and other threats.

 www.readyrating.org: The American Red Cross has information and videos to help businesses assess their readiness in case of emergency.
New Braunfels, TX (78130)

Today

Some clouds this evening will give way to mainly clear skies overnight. Low 51F. Winds NW at 10 to 20 mph..

Tonight

Some clouds this evening will give way to mainly clear skies overnight. Low 51F. Winds NW at 10 to 20 mph.
NEW YORK  Wal-Mart is cutting about 7,000 back-office store jobs over the next few months as it centralizes its invoice and accounting departments, expanding a test it announced in June.

The nation's largest private employer said Thursday the cuts will take place in all its namesake stores, confirming the move reported by The Wall Street Journal. The goal is to get workers out of the backrooms and onto the selling floors as Wal-Mart faces increasing competition from online leader Amazon.com.

Wal-Mart said it believes most of the displaced workers will find new jobs that involve direct contact with shoppers and that the change was not a downsizing move. The customer-facing jobs would include positions like working in the online pickup department or as pharmacy technicians.

The company said it was too soon to be specific about wage levels for the displaced workers. Spokeswoman Deisha Barnett said it would depend on what new positions they obtained. "It will be guided by the roles that will be available and the roles that associates choose to go after," Barnett said.

But Making Change at Wal-Mart, a campaign backed by the United Food & Commercial Workers International Union, said displaced employees who do get store jobs likely will take pay cuts, calling the back-office jobs "some of the better positions at Wal-Mart."

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"They could come with a higher salary, and also allowed a worker to be at a desk as opposed to be on their feet all day," Jess Levin, a spokeswoman for Making Change at Wal-Mart, said in a statement.

Bentonville, Ark.-based Wal-Mart tested the program in 500 stores earlier this year, which it said would affect as many as 1,500 workers. Stores typically employ several hundred workers and the move affects about two or three people per store.

Wal-Mart is trying to improve customer service as a way to boost sales in the face of increased competition from traditional and online competitors. It has been working to declutter the stores and shift workers out of stock rooms and onto store floors. It's also in its second year of a $2.7 billion investment in wages increases and training for its hourly employees.

The flurry of changes is showing results. The company just reported its eight straight quarterly increases in revenue at stores opened at least a year and the seventh straight quarterly gain in customer traffic at its Wal-Mart U.S. namesake business.
As we cast off from the Mackinac Island dock I looked at all the Fishing gear in and attached to the 26' boat and asked my brother, Curt, "Where are the bobbers?"

We had just decided the night before to charter a fishing trip out onto one of the Great Lakes, probably Huron, not Michigan, although we were essentially located in the straights separating the two.

With only six seats available, and a dozen of us talking it over, somehow I made the cut, or got the short straw, depending on how you looked at it. So, the next morning we had to be on the dock at 7 a.m. to meet Captain Denny.

With overcast skies, Denny had almost canceled the trip, but decided to give it a try anyway. We headed out with the two hidden inboards throttling us rapidly to our first spot on this open inland "ocean," one of five Great Lakes that have 80 percent of all surface water in North America.

After a 20-minute ride we slowed down and Captain Denny began preparing things for fishin'.

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Needless to say, there were not any bobbers, and we didn't even have to bait a hook. And, with about 20 rods and reels hanging around us and a dozen rod holders mounted on the side, I assumed we'd all be responsible for at least a couple.

But, soon Great Lakes fishing would start with Captain Denny putting a sonar transducer over the side to tell four downriggers how deep the water was. We began at about 120 feet, which meant the downriggers would automatically drop our lines with artificial lures to 115 feet, as the fish we were most likely to find hang around the bottom.

For those who aren't aware of what downriggers do, they are big-rig fishing "sinkers." Originally made from rocks or concrete poured into can molds, they are now high-tech, vinyl-encased hunks of lead and come in many shapes. The function they serve is to get the lure to the desired depth, often hundreds of feet.

But, because you don't want to reel in a 10-pound hunk of concrete or lead, your line attaches to the outrigger weight with a clip that will hopefully let your line pull away if a fish hits it. And, each of the outriggers was computerized and hooked to the depth finder to automatically adjust as the depth changes while the boat was moving.

So, with all of us watching, Captain Denny hooked a line to each of the four downriggers and sent them down. Our main task was to watch the bent rod tips to see some slight jerks indicating a fish might be on. If one did, Denny would pull the rod out of the holder, give it a big jerk to get the line off the clip and then hand it to one of us to begin reeling in.

Oftentimes, until the flashy metal spinner two feet behind the lure surfaced, we weren't sure if we had a fish on or were just "reeling through water." If it was indeed a fish, usually lake trout, Denny would retrieve it with a long-handled net as it got near the boat, unhook it, and toss it in a cooler of ice.

We only fished an hour, netting four lakers that weighed 3-5 pounds and two pink salmon at 1-2 pounds, before distant lightning and impending rain sent us back to the dock. By then I was kind of hoping the rains would shorten our fishing. But, after an hour we were back at it for another three hours before coming in with a dozen fish, the biggest an 8-pound laker. Fortunately, they made for three good meals of fish before we left the Island.

But, for me the highlight of the trip was watching and photographing a bald eagle that swooped down right behind our boat to grab one of the carcasses that Captain Denny had thrown out while cleaning the fish. And, it was on the way in that Curt leaned over and whispered to me "our fishing trip for walleyes in Canada was more like fishin."

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Two days after returning from Mackinac I had more fun helping my grandkids catch a couple dozen fish under the bridge below the Silver Lake dam, so I couldn't have agreed more.
A man accused of using a knife to threaten a woman he knew  then threatening her again so she wouldn't report him  has been sentenced to six months in jail.

Roland Ned Outlaw, 45, was charged with felony second-degree assault and gross misdemeanor stalking-intent to injure after the May 25 incident. He was charged the next day with first-degree tampering with a witness, a felony.

He pleaded guilty Thursday to the stalking charge and immediately was sentenced to 180 days in jail, with credit for 96 days already served. In exchange for the plea, the felonies were dismissed.

The incident began about 9:30 p.m. May 25, when the 55-year-old woman got into Outlaw's van to talk to him at a business in the 1800 block of Assisi Drive Northwest. Outlaw was upset with the woman, said Capt. John Sherwin, "and that's when the trouble began."

According to the police reports, Outlaw pulled out a knife and tried to drive away with the woman; she was able to jump out of the moving vehicle.

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After the initial report was made, Outlaw continued to contact the alleged victim, threatening her, Sherwin said.

Outlaw was paroled in 2014 from prison in Chicago, where he served a sentence for attempted murder and aggravated domestic battery.
A Rochester woman with several arrests for drug crimes, including two in a six-month span within the last year, has pleaded guilty in three cases.

Meredith Amber Dirksmeyer, 27, entered the pleas Friday in Olmsted County District Court, where she faced two counts of second-degree controlled substance crime and one count of third-degree controlled substance crime, all felonies, as well as one count each of providing the name of another to a peace officer, a gross misdemeanor, and driving after revocation, a misdemeanor.

She pleaded guilty to the third-degree controlled substance crime and the gross misdemeanor; in exchange, the remaining counts are expected to be dismissed.

Dirksmeyer also pleaded guilty to one count of third-degree controlled substance crime and fifth-degree possession, both felonies.

She'll be sentenced in all three cases on Jan. 23. In the meantime, she must complete treatment, court documents say.

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The most recent case began in July, when police received a tip that Dirksmeyer, who had warrants for her arrest, was driving without a license. She was stopped in the 2600 block of 18th Avenue Northwest and initially identified herself as someone else, the complaint says.

Dirksmeyer said there "might" be drugs in a cooler in the car; a search of the vehicle turned up several small bags, 0.6 grams of methamphetamine, a blend of marijuana and meth that weighed 4 grams, a digital scale and $100 in cash, the reports say.

In April, authorities had issued an arrest warrant for Dirksmeyer after she failed to appear at three different hearings that month.

The appearances were for a drug case stemming from August, when Dirksmeyer was charged with a felony count of storing meth paraphernalia in the presence of a child.

She posted $7,500 conditional bail in November.

Three months later, she was arrested after a search warrant executed at a Rochester home turned up about 4 grams of meth.

Dirksmeyer, who posted $12,500 conditional bail five days later, was charged with the third-degree controlled substance possession crime in that case.
OMAHA, Neb.  A Hayfield man was killed in a semitrailer rollover, while his wife suffered injuries in Nebraska early Thursday.

At about 5:55 a.m., Danny Ryan, 66, of Hayfield and his wife, Debra Ryan, 61, were eastbound on Interstate 80 and 50th Street in a semitrailer, according to the Omaha Police Department.

Danny Ryan swerved to the left, overcorrected and drove off the road. The semi kept going for several hundred feet before it rolled and landed on its roof near a ravine.

Danny Ryan was pronounced dead at the scene. Both of Debra Ryan's legs were broken in the rollover crash, according to a news release. The Omaha Fire Department and Arrow towing used "a significant" amount of equipment and personnel to extricate the victims.

The crash remains under investigation.
MINNEAPOLIS  The mother of a Minnesota boy missing since 1989 said Saturday that his remains have been found, potentially providing answers to a mystery that has captivated people in the state and around the country for decades.

Patty Wetterling said in a text message Saturday to KARE-TV that 11-year-old Jacob Wetterling "has been found and our hearts are broken." She did not immediately respond to calls and text messages from The Associated Press.

A law enforcement official told The Associated Press that a person of interest in Jacob's abduction took authorities to a field in central Minnesota last week. The official, who spoke on condition of anonymity because of the ongoing case, said remains and other evidence were recovered.

Jacob was riding his bicycle with his brother and a friend on Oct. 22, 1989, when a masked gunman abducted him from a rural road near his home in St. Joseph, about 80 miles northwest of Minneapolis. He hasn't been seen since.

No one has been arrested or charged in his abduction, which led to changes in sex offender registration laws.

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But last year, authorities took another look at the case, and were led to Danny Heinrich, a man they called a "person of interest" in Jacob's kidnapping.

Heinrich, 53, of Annandale, denied any involvement in Jacob's abduction, and was not charged with that crime. But he has pleaded not guilty to 25 federal child pornography charges and is scheduled to go on trial on those counts in October.

The FBI has said previously that Heinrich matched the general description of a man who assaulted several boys in Paynesville from 1986 to 1988. Earlier this year, Heinrich's DNA was found on the sweatshirt of a 12-year-old boy who was kidnapped from Cold Spring and sexually assaulted just nine months before Jacob's abduction.

Heinrich's attorney did not respond to emailed requests for comment Saturday.

Jacob's abduction shattered childhood innocence for many in rural Minnesota, changing the way parents let their kids roam. His smiling face was burned into Minnesota's psyche, appearing on countless posters and billboards over the years. Each year, Minnesota residents were asked to keep their porch lights on for Jacob's safe return.

Patty Wetterling always kept hope her son would be found alive. She became a national advocate for children, and with her husband, Jerry Wetterling, founded the Jacob Wetterling Resource Center, which works to help communities and families prevent child exploitation. In 1994, Congress passed a law named after Jacob Wetterling that requires states to establish sex offender registries.

Officials with the Jacob Wetterling Resource Center posted a statement on its website Saturday, saying they are in "deep grief."

"We didn't want Jacob's story to end this way," the statement said. "Our hearts are heavy, but we are being held up by all of the people who have been a part of making Jacob's Hope a light that will never be extinguished. ... Jacob, you are loved."

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___

Associated Press writer Jeff Baenen contributed to this report.
After two decades of sustained increases, Minnesota's obesity rate took a welcome tumble in 2015.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said the state's obesity rate saw a "statistically significant drop" from 27.6 percent in 2014 to 26.1 percent in 2015.

Minnesota's obesity rate is significantly lower than its neighboring states, none of which have an obesity rate of less than 30 percent. Minnesota was one of just four states to see a decrease in 2015.

It is just the second time in the last decade that any state has reported a decrease.

Minnesota Commissioner of Health Ed Ehlinger said "achieving healthy weight for all Minnesotans is one of the key objectives for our Statewide Health Improvement Program (S.H.I.P.)," which the Minnesota Legislature passed in 2009 as a way to combat obesity. S.H.I.P. spends $17.5 million per year to expand healthy eating and active living opportunities in all 87 counties and 10 tribal nations, according to the Minnesota Department of Health.

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Pete Geisen, director of Olmsted County Public Health, celebrated this week's report while applauding S.H.I.P., which he describes as a "coordinated, collective, long-term commitment" to combat obesity.

"This is great news," Geisen said. "We are very pleased to see the numbers moving in the right direction. This information validates the hard work being done by so many all across the state."

Minnesota's obesity rate jumped from 10.3 percent in 1990 to 25.5 percent in 2009 but has leveled out since S.H.I.P. was approved in a bipartisan effort to address what had become a health care crisis with "skyrocketing" costs, according to MDH.

Minnesota has the 13th lowest obesity rate in the United States.

While Minnesota's obesity situation has plateaued in recent years, it remains in crisis stage across the country. According to StateofObesity.org , a website that tracks national trends, four states have obesity rates of more than 35 percent, and 25 states are more than 30 percent. Every state exceeds 20 percent.

Louisiana has the highest adult obesity rate at 36.2 percent, and Colorado is the lowest at 20.2 percent, according to the website.

Geisen said Olmsted County's obesity rate is determined every three years through its Community Health Needs Assessment program. The 2015 study revealed 45 percent of local residents believe they're overweight, but the numbers suggest 69 percent actually are overweight, as determined by Body Mass Index; 41 percent are considered "overweight," and 28 percent are "obese."

Obesity can lead to significant long-term health concerns, such as diabetes, hypertension, heart disease and cancer. Minnesota's diabetes and hypertension rates  7.6 percent and 26.3 percent, respectively  both rank among the lowest in the country, but cases are expected to rise significantly by 2030, according to State of Obesity's projections.

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Heart disease cases are projected to have the largest increase, jumping from about 300,000 cases in 2010 to 1.3 million in 2030.

Despite those projections, Geisen said he is hopeful the state's ongoing dedication to S.H.I.P. and other obesity-fighting initiatives leads to more positive news in the years ahead.

"In Minnesota, community partners such as cities, schools, neighborhoods, businesses and health care are investing in obesity prevention through policy development, systems improvements and environmental changes," Geisen said. "This helps to make the healthy choice the easy choice. Assuring that everyone has access to healthy foods and places to play, walk and ride, helps to promote a culture of health and wellness."
Budget season is looming in Rochester City Hall and an early look at staffing requests showed what could be tough choices ahead  city department heads have requested 30 new positions to be funded by city tax levy, at a cost of $2.2 million.

Public safety positions make up the largest share of the new city staffing requests. The Rochester Police Department has requested 10 new positions, including four patrol officers, two dispatchers, a records technician and a crime analyst.

The Rochester Fire Department has requested six new positions, all firefighters.

A portion of the staffing requests for 2017 were renewed from positions left unfunded in the last budget cycle. Four positions from the police department and three from the fire department were cut from the budget last year.

The city added 17 new positions to be funded by tax levy last year, of 26 positions that had been requested. The positions added about $1.14 million to the city tax levy.

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In addition to the 30 positions requested for tax funding this year, city staff has requested an additional seven positions to be funded by city fees. Last year, the Rochester City Council approved 13 new fee-funded positions.

City human resources director Linda Hillenbrand presented the position requests to the council at a Monday city council meeting.

Council member Ed Hruska suggested the Rochester Area Chamber of Commerce review the position requests before the council's next discussion on the matter.

Hruska referred to Truth in Taxation hearings last year when Rob Miller, chamber executive director, led business owners in pointing out a high proportion of the tax burden placed on commercial properties.

"I know last year, during Truth in Taxation, you know there was a lot of finger pointing and comments," Hruska said.

City administrator Stevan Kvenvold asked the council to give some idea of how much money it would allocate to new positions before Sept. 26, when the council is required to set a preliminary maximum amount for the city's upcoming tax levy.

"I'm assuming that you're not going to do the $2.2 million, but you should be thinking of giving us some direction at that time how much extra money you may put to any additional positions," Kvenvold said.
I am a

Canna



What Flower

Are You?



table width="145">"You stand up for what you believe in, even if it gets in the way of what other people think. You are proud of yourself and your accomplishments and you enjoy letting people know that."
MINNEAPOLIS  Negotiators have returned to the bargaining table in hopes of averting a nurses' strike at five hospitals in the Twin Cities area.

The Minnesota Nurses Association and representatives from Allina Health began negotiations Friday morning at a hotel in Bloomington. Representatives for the nurses and Allina said the talks were ongoing late Friday afternoon.

The union says nurses will strike starting Monday, if an agreement cannot be reached. Main issues of the negotiations include health insurance, workplace safety and staffing.

MNA spokesman Rick Fuentes said Allina's latest health insurance proposal still shifts too many costs to nurses.

The union represents about 4,800 nurses at Abbott Northwestern and the Phillips Eye Institute in Minneapolis, United in St. Paul, Unity in Fridley and Mercy in Coon Rapids.
MINNEAPOLIS  The federal government on Thursday posted steep proposed health insurance rate increases averaging 36 percent to 66 percent for policies sold to individual Minnesota residents, including consumers who buy coverage on the state-run MNsure exchange.

The federal Affordable Care Act requires most individuals to have health insurance or pay penalties. About 5 percent of Minnesotans meet that obligation in the individual marketplace. Here's a look at the proposed increases for 2017 and the implications:

Premiums jump

Minnesota health insurers are proposing rate increases of up to 66 percent for most policies sold to individuals for 2017.

Seven carriers filed rates for 2017. The number of insurers offering individual policies is down from eight last year because Blue Cross Blue Shield is pulling out of the individual market, except for its Blue Plus HMO plans.

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The increases range from 36 percent for some Blue Plus plans to 66 percent for UCare and certain other Blue Plus plans. While PreferredOne proposes average increases of 63 percent, it says premiums for certain products could reach 100 percent.

Not a surprise

The steep increases were expected because the costs of providing health care to patients who buy their policies on the individual market in Minnesota and other states have outstripped the premiums they pay. A major reason is that patients who buy individual policies tend to be sicker than average. Other factors include high costs for prescription drugs, the expiration of a federal subsidy to hold down premiums and declining competition. Blue Cross Blue Shield's withdrawal will force 100,000 customers to shop for new plans.

Who's affected

Roughly 300,000 state residents get their insurance on the individual market, or about 5 percent of all Minnesotans. That includes self-employed people and residents who don't get their coverage from plans offered by employers. Only about a fourth of them buy their policies on MNsure. People who get their insurance through their employers  or who are in the government-run Medicare, Medicaid or MinnesotaCare programs  aren't affected.

Increases aren't set in stone

The Minnesota Department of Commerce must approve the rate increases, and it can roll them back if it finds they're not justified. The final rates will be announced Sept. 30. Open enrollment for 2017 begins Nov. 1.

Swift reaction

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Democratic Gov. Mark Dayton said he was "alarmed." But he added that Minnesota has the lowest rate of uninsured residents in the country thanks to the Affordable Care Act. And he said anyone who thinks the country would be better off without it is "seriously mistaken."

But Republican House Speaker Kurt Daudt called the increases another reminder of "broken promises" from Democrats that Minnesotans would save money under the Obama administration's health care overhaul and MNsure.

Blunting the impact

MNsure says it can help soften the blow. As many as 107,000 state residents are eligible for federal tax credits to subsidize their insurance costs but aren't taking advantage of them because they didn't buy their coverage on MNsure. The tax credits are available to Minnesotans only via MNsure.

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services has said people enrolled through exchanges will largely be shielded from big rate hikes because they'll be eligible for higher tax credits. The subsidies are offered on a sliding scale. The income limits to qualify for subsidies will be $47,520 for individuals and $97,200 for families of four.

MNsure's website allows side-by-side comparison shopping. The exchange also has certified brokers and navigators statewide who can provide free, in-person help to consumers who are looking to control their costs.

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Online:

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The proposed rates are available at: https://ratereview.healthcare.gov
ST. PAUL  The latest accountability scores designed to identify low performing schools were released with less fanfare than usual Thursday by the Minnesota Department of Education. And because the accountability system is poised to undergo changes, no new schools were added to the state's lists of schools labeled "focus", "priority" or "continuing improvement" this year.

Some school leaders say the current measurement isn't useful, and they're eagerly awaiting an overhaul.

The Multiple Measurement Ratings system, or MMR, is designed to show how a school is doing in one number. Every Minnesota school gets a score from 0 to 100 based on four categories: test scores, progress on tests, graduation rates, and progress closing the achievement gap.

Schools get a separate score showing how students of color are doing compared to white students. The state labels the lowest-performing 25 percent of schools, which have to write plans and get help from the state to improve.

Some may consider the numbers useful because they are an easy way to compare schools. But among school leaders, the reaction to these numbers was mixed.

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"Honestly, we don't put a lot of stock in that because of the complexity of the calculations," said Richfield superintendent Steve Unowsky. His district does its own data crunching of state test scores, district-level tests and those given in classes instead.

Don Pascoe, the director of research, assessment and accountability for Osseo Area Schools, usually isn't surprised by the scores because they depend on data that has been out for months. But Pascoe appreciates the statewide perspective.

"It gives us the opportunity to call another school, another district and say, 'Wow, we were looking at this and we saw this. What are you guys doing?'"

Helpful or not, the way schools are measured in Minnesota is about to change. The current system was the 2012 replacement for parts of the federal No Child Left Behind law. It was supposed to be a more nuanced way to hold schools accountable, relying on multiple factors instead of just test scores. Now the federal law has changed, so states have to re-write their systems.

It's high time for a re-write, said Kent Pekel, president and CEO of the Search Institute, an education research nonprofit. Pekel was on the committee that helped develop the current system. He says it turned out to be too complex: when schools got their scores back, they weren't sure what they should do to improve.

"I think that this new opportunity Minnesota has is just wildly important because as much as some might wish it could be the case, people will pay attention to however schools are ranked in this new system," Pekel said.

State education commissioner Brenda Cassellius said the system could use some tweaks, and her department is exploring what changes should be made.

"The current system is a good system to measure the growth and proficiency," she said. "I just believe strongly there's better ways to report that out to parents so it's easier to understand."

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It's unclear how much of Minnesota's plan will change under the re-write since much of the current system already lines up with the new federal law. One thing that will be different  a more meaningful measure of "school quality".

Elaine Salinas, who leads a group that works with American Indian students in Minneapolis and other districts, hopes the added measure includes culturally relevant curriculum.

"Are the young people sitting in the seats in the classrooms at that school, are they reflected in the curriculum of that school? Does the teaching force reflect the diversity of the student body?"

With two re-writes in about five years, there's been a lot of change lately in Minnesota school accountability. Richfield superintendent Steve Unowsky said the amount of change is telling.

"If we had a successful working system, I don't think we would change it. So I think the largest evidence that things aren't working exactly as designed is that the system does keep changing," Unowsky said.

The deadline for new proposed state plans is in 2017. The Minnesota Education Department said it's going to continue holding meetings to gather feedback on the changes.
After reviewing $2.2 million in new payroll requests, Rochester City Council member Ed Hruska asked that the Rochester Area Chamber of Commerce review the requests, citing business concerns about rising tax rates last year.

Why should the chamber be singled out? Other interested groups and individuals in the city should also be invited to do the same.

With 29 positions requested in departments as varied as human resources and the police department, the proposed hires could have far-reaching impact.

The list represents what department heads see as "the minimum for the city," said Human Resources Director Linda Hillenbrand.

City Administrator Stevan Kvenvold, however, noted that doesn't mean all the positions will be in the 2017 budget. "You may be at the minimum, but I don't think it's economically viable to add $2.2 million," he said of the figure, which includes salaries and benefit expenses.

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That knowledge is likely why Kvenvold also voiced concern when council members asked about seeking chamber input and posting the information on the HR website . "I have some difficulty putting out a budget request at this time for public input," he said, noting he is not ready to make a recommendation to the council.

While Kvenvold is right in saying his recommendation should come without outside influence, the council should seek other views as it weighs the consequences of a budget. Those views will be best served if they are informed opinions.

We understand a spreadsheet can be misinterpreted easily. That risk, however, could be minimized by providing background material with the spreadsheet, as well as a link to the recorded discussion of the document.

Anyone who has watched city budget talks in recent years knows a request in merely the first step and all requests don't necessarily make the cut.

Despite allegations to the contrary, Rochester's council has attempted to be frugal. Last year, it rejected about $750,000 of $1.9 million in payroll requests, so it wouldn't be surprising to see a similar number nixed this year.

The process will be better understood when those residents have access to the information along the way and take the time needed to understand it.
Will Donald Trumps pivot on immigration and his trip to Mexico change the way Hispanic voters view him? I dont know. But quite apart from anything Trump is doing, Hispanics view Hillary Clinton less favorably than they did earlier this year.

According to the Washington Post, a new Latino Decisions poll found that 70 percent of registered Hispanic voters say they will definitely vote for Clinton or were leaning towards doing so. Thats not a bad number, but its down 6 points from April.

Moreover, the same survey found that only 55 percent of Hispanics view Clinton favorably. Thats down from 71 percent in April.

The poll indicates that the decline is Clintons favorability rating has not produced a corresponding movement away from Clinton in favor of Trump  presumably because Trump is so unpopular among Hispanics. Imagine if the Republicans had nominated a more palatable candidate who took the same position Trump now holds on dealing with illegal immigrants.

But the poll also suggests that Trump has an opening  one that his new position on immigration might help him exploit, the dishonest portrayal of that position by the mainstream media notwithstanding.

Clinton, though, is not going to stand still when it comes the Hispanic vote. According to the Post, unlike the 2012 Obama campaign, Team Clinton has not been airing Spanish language ads in battleground states. However, this is about to change, with ad buys now slated to target Hispanic voters in Arizona, Florida, and Nevada.

In the end, I think we can expect Clinton to at least match Barack Obamas margin over Mitt Romney among Hispanics. The big question is whether her turnout of Hispanic voters will match Obamas. If her favorability rating remains at 55 percent, this seems like a tall order.

One more point. Polls, the Post says, show that Clinton is weakest among Hispanic voters who are English-dominant and U.S. born. Spanish-dominant and foreign born Hispanic voters are more likely to support her.

This finding will surprise no one, least of all the Democrats who have long supported citizenship for illegal immigrants. Whats surprising is that so many Republicans have supported a path to citizenship.
Following her victory over 22-term incumbent Minnesota state Rep. Phyllis Kahn in Minnesota in the August 9 primary, Ilhan Omar emerged as the Democratic Partys hot new thing. The Star Tribune touted her victory under a huge banner headline. Two follow-up stories analyzed the sources of Omars not particularly surprising success in a district whose demographics have markedly shifted toward the Somali community.

At the end of that week we raised the question whether Omar was married to two men  one her advertised husband and the father of her children (hereinafter husband number 1), the other her brother (hereinafter husband number 2). We expressly asked Omar campaign officials whether the second marriage had been entered into for dishonest purposes.

The Omar campaign responded to our inquiries through a Minneapolis criminal defense attorney. The campaign declined to provide a substantive response to our inquiries. Rather, it implied that the questions were bigoted.

When the Star Tribune and other local media followed up, Democratic pro Ben Goldfarb was airdropped into the campaign for a day or two to implement best Democratic scandal management practices. The following Wednesday, the campaign issued a statement characterizing the gist of our questions false and ridiculous.

The campaign declined to produce Omar or husband number 1  the father of her children, the celebrated love of [her] life  for an interview on the subject. Omar has declined interview requests from every local media outlet doing its own reporting on the story. We noted several questions that Omars statement left unanswered here. Omar and her campaign have declared the subject closed for discussion.

You got a problem with that? I do.

The local media have left the story there so far. At Alpha News, however, Preya Samsundar has advanced the story through analysis of social media and email correspondence with husband number 2.

I posted an account of my meeting with a local Somali source who told me under a promise of confidentiality that he knew husband number 2 to be Omars brother in Ilhan Omar stonewalls. Samsundar infers that husband number 2 is indeed Omars brother.

The sound of silence envelops the local media. It also envelops the Somali community.

We can make a reasonable guess why the local media would prefer not to pursue this story, but why is the Somali community silent? Samsundar is one dogged reporter and she is back on the Omar beat to offer what may be a partial explanation in A community forced into silence.
CAPE TOWN, South Africa, September 1, 2016/ -- The Honourable Marie-Claude Bibeau, Minister of International Development and La Francophonie, has announced that Canada will contribute CA$22.6 million over five years to the African Institute for Mathematical Sciences  Next Einstein Initiative (AIMS-NEI) to train African mathematical scientists to develop climate change adaptation and mitigation solutions.



With the funding, AIMS will expand its successful model of training African post-graduate students in advanced mathematical sciences to incorporate a greater focus on climate change. The funding will be delivered via Global Affairs Canada (CA$19.6 million) and the International Development Research Centre (IDRC) (CA$3 million). IDRC will manage the funding on behalf of the Government of Canada.



With this Government of Canada funding, AIMS will develop a specialized program in climate change at AIMS-Rwanda and a climate change course option will be offered at all AIMS centres.



AIMS will also support up to three research chairs to lead some 50 African researchers to build a specialized body of knowledge in addressing the impacts of climate change in Africa. AIMS will create a climate change internship program for its students and alumni, as well as research fellowships for outstanding African women mathematical scientists to conduct climate change research. An additional AIMS centre will be opened in Francophone Africa.



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Already, AIMS alumni have demonstrated their impact on climate change research. For instance, alumni have developed crop models to estimate the future of food security in the face of a changing climate, used mathematical modelling to help industry convert waste to energy, and developed models to understand the diffusion patterns of infectious diseases as warming climates lengthen transmission seasons.



Quotes



This initiative demonstrates Canadas commitment to Africas youth and their ability to find lasting solutions to the worlds most pressing challenges, like climate change. AIMS will make great strides to increase the recruitment and advancement of young mathematical scientists, especially women, in Africa.

- Marie-Claude Bibeau, Minister of International Development and La Francophonie



Climate change adaptation and mitigation solutions depend on expert mathematical scientists who understand the local and regional context. This investment by the Government of Canada will build local capacity in science and mathematics that will contribute to solutions for Africa as it faces the challenges of a changing climate.

- Kirsty Duncan, Minister of Science



We support AIMS belief that the next Einstein will be African. This initiative is of that spirit and will show that Africans are both better able to understand and solve their regions unique climate challenges as well as capable of producing the worlds next big climate change innovation.

- Jean Lebel, President, IDRC



We are thrilled to receive this investment from the Government of Canada at a time when the world and Africas efforts are focused on the sustainable development of the continent and its most valuable human resourceits youth.

- Thierry Zomahoun, President and CEO, AIMS



Quick facts Canada is contributing CA$22.6 million over five years to the African Institute for Mathematical Sciences  Next Einstein Initiative (AIMS-NEI) so it can train African mathematical scientists to develop climate change adaptation and mitigation solutions.

This funding includes CA$19.6 million from Global Affairs Canada and CA$3 million from the International Development Research Centre (IDRC).

AIMS has six centres, located in South Africa, Senegal, Ghana, Cameroon, Tanzania, and Rwanda. AIMS has produced 1,211 graduates, 32% of whom are women.

This new funding builds on past contributions, managed by IDRC, from the Government of Canada (CA$20 million, 2011-2015) and the UKs Department for International Development (CA$29 million, 2012-2017), in addition to CA$2 million in IDRC funding, to expand the AIMS network.

IDRC has supported more than CA$190 million in climate change programming since 2006, while strengthening the capacity of more than 165 institutions and more than 1,000 researchers to conduct climate change research.

















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Managed to make up to Kinloss, so glad I did, as it was a fantastic day. Would like to thank all who made it possible.



If you had anything to do with the organisation please say a heart felt "thank you" to everyone who helped (in any capacity - large or small) to make this such a fantastic couple of days and a wonderful tribute to our lost friends.



WM
Former President Olusegun Obasanjo on Saturday warned a factional chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party, Modu Sheriff, that the party was dying, and he just be responsible for its final rites.

Mr. Obasanjo spoke to Mr. Sheriff who visited him in Abeokuta on Saturday. He later explained to journalists what he said had been the subject of their closed-door meeting.

He called me yesterday and said where are you and I said, I am in the country and he said, May I come and see you? and I said my house is open to all Nigerians of goodwill and even non-Nigerians of goodwill. And I said, he can come, Mr. Obasanjo said.

I have said to my brother that I wish him well with the dying baby they have put on his laps because PDP is comatose and he was of course not in PDP, he has never been in PDP until now. When I was in PDP, I tried and encouraged him to come and join PDP, but he did not come, but the PDP they have given him now is a dying PDP, a dying baby, it needs to be in intensive care, otherwise, he will just be an undertaker, Mr. Obasanjo said.

Speaking further, the former president said he had not rescinded his decision to renounce partisan politics.

Let me make it absolutely clear once and again, I have renounced partisan politics, I dont belong to any political party, not to talk of his own faction of PDP or any other faction of PDP. But he came and I am very very happy to receive him and I said look, for my own education, for my own knowledge, tell me what exactly is happening, and he briefed me, he said.

And, as they all want to say now, well, you were once the father of PDP, I was once the leader, for eight years, I was the leader of PDP but the PDP that I was the leader of is not the PDP of today. The PDP of today, if you can talk of a party again as PDP, its soul has been taken out of it and those who allowed that to happen are, unfortunately, either in the country or out of the country unperturbed about the fate of the party and indeed the fate of the country.

The former president said for democracy to thrive in the country there must be strong political party as opposition.

For our democracy to thrive we need strong political party in government and strong political party in opposition. Today, PDP cannot claim to be a strong party in opposition, I dont know if APC can claim, at the national level, to be a strong party in government either. Now that is part of the misfortune of this country today.

That being the case, it must be the concern of all Nigerians that the present democratic dispensation must not be allowed to be derailed and for it not to be derailed, we must have a strong political party in government and a strong political party in opposition.

When they talk about institution, a political party is an institution and in a democracy, it is a very important institution that we must all nourish and we must all cherish.

But like I said, it is the responsibility of all Nigerians of goodwill and all friends of Nigeria that wish this country well that we should ensure that the institution that will underpin a virile, dynamic, thriving democracy are put in place, he said.

In his own remarks, Mr. Sheriff said he called on Mr. Obasanjo to help solve a problem within the crisis-ridden party.

Baba has spoken everything, Baba said the PDP given to me is a dying PDP, he built the PDP that everybody cherished; Baba, whether today in politics or outside politics, he has a role in Nigeria nation and every one of us that is looking up to him, Mr. Sheriff said.

If we have a problem, we must come to him for solution, therefore, since we are looking for solution whether he is inside, he has said hes not going to play any partisan politics, we agree but he is our father, father of the Nigeria nation and the grandfather of PDP, therefore, the soul that has gone, he has to bring it back to us and through his advice, we will get through.

You know, Baba is very correct, so many things have gone wrong and it will be alright Insha Allah. Making it right is a matter of concentration and talking to the right people.

Baba told you already, Nigeria needs a strong party in government and outside government and he also told you that both are needed for democracy to survive, he keeps saying this as a practical experience as a two-time president of Nigeria, every wisdom that we want to lead our party, he has it and that is why we come to consult him, Mr. Sheriff told journalists.
The UK Government has awarded Chevening scholarship to 53 Nigerians for the 2016/2017 Chevening cycle, the UK High Commissioner to Nigeria, Paul Arkwright, has said.

Arkwright stated this at the pre-departure orientation programme in Abuja, organised for Chevening scholars to commence their study programmes in the UK this September, according to the High Commission.

For the 2016/2017 Chevening cycle, Nigeria recorded the highest number of applications globally, with about 4000 eligible applications.

Following this, a total of 53 Chevening scholarship and fellowship awards were made available to Nigerians this year.

This is a massive upgrade from the 12 scholars who were selected in 2014, further demonstrating the UKs commitment to Nigeria, he said.

Arkwright said Chevening currently boasts of an influential global alumni network exceeding 43,000 members, of which over 1,000 are Nigerians.

He said some notable Nigeria alumni included Amb. Sola Enikanolaye, Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Dr Habiba Lawal of the Ecological Fund.

Others were Mohammed Babandede, Comptroller-General of Nigerian Immigrations Service; John Momoh, founder of Channels Television, Dr Adesola Adeduntan, Group Managing Director, First Bank and Valentine Ozigbo (Managing Director, Transcorp Hotels.

On my travels around the country, I constantly meet individuals who are at the top of their careers; it is always pleasant to hear them introduce themselves as Chevening scholars.

This further demonstrates the fact that the mission of Chevening is being met  a scholarship programme which aims to train exceptional individuals.

Chevening also provide a prestigious platform to further activate the potential of future leaders for greater impact in the development of Nigeria, he said.

The UK envoy said the Chevening Scholarship programme was an important element of Britains public diplomacy effort.

Young professionals with outstanding academic and leadership talents are given the opportunity to study for a one-year Masters degree at any UK University of their choice.

Afterwards, they are required to return to Nigeria to assist in further development of the country. Chevening Scholarships are therefore, structured to create lasting positive relationships with Nigeria.

He said application for the 2017/18 Chevening cycle was now open and would close on Nov. 8, 2016.

He advised prospective applicants to visit the global Chevening website (www.Chevening.org).

Our aim is to further increase the scholarship slots available to Nigerians and we hope to achieve this through Chevening Local Partnerships.

Im delighted to announce our first local Chevening Partner, Ladol Integrated Logistics Free Zone Enterprise, who are co-funding an award in the energy sector, starting 2017/18, he said.

He said the average cost of an award is 30,000, adding a Chevening Local Partnerships allowed Chevening, through the High Commission, to partner with an organisation to co-fund specific Chevening awards.

(NAN)
Ekiti State Governor, Ayodele Fayose, has reacted to Saturdays visit of former Governor Ali Modu Sheriff to former President Olusegun Obasanjo, saying it was a coming together of collaborators in the total annihilation of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

The governor said it was on record that both Mr. Obasanjo and Mr. Sheriff

collaborated to destroy the All Nigerians Peoples Party (ANPP) and their meeting Saturday must be to further collaborate to destroy the PDP.

Governor Fayose, who reacted to the visit through his Special Assistant on Public Communications and New Media, Lere Olayinka, said, Sheriff can as well begin to sleep in Obasanjos house, it is good riddance to bad rubbish.

Since Obasanjo is no longer a member of the PDP and he has consistently maintained that he can never return to the PDP, only those in the same league with him can go about visiting him.

He said it was hypocritical and deceitful for Sheriff to have said he

went to see Mr. Obasanjo to seek advice on the way forward for the PDP because he (Obasanjo) was among those who made the PDP to lose the presidency, despite the fact that no one benefited from the party more than him.

Governor Fayose said Mr. Sheriff only visited Mr. Obasanjo as part of his plot

with the All Progressives Congress (APC) to destroy the PDP, adding that; no genuine lover of the PDP will go to the house of a man who openly destroyed his PDP membership card and worked assiduously to ensure the partys failure in the 2015 presidential election to seek advice on how the way forward for the PDP.

He reiterated his call to Nigerians to beware of Mr. Obasanjo, saying; The result of Obasanjos imposition of President Mohammadu Buhari on the country is the hunger and sufferings that Nigerians are facing now.
The Super Eagles will be battling for pride as they take on the Tafia Stars of Tanzania in their final 2017 Africa Cup of nations qualifiers.

The Afcon ticket is off the grabs of Nigeria and Tanzania, thus Saturdays game has been labeled a dead rubber encounter.

However, with a new Technical Adviser in place for the Eagles in person of Genort Rohr, many want to see a new Nigeria team display.

By record, Nigeria has never lost to Tanzania.

Stay here for live updates from the Akwa Ibom International stadium in Uyo as the Eagles battle for pride.

Kickoff is 5pm..

Live Updates

0: Kick off!!

The Eagles attack is dominated by Premier League stars  Mikel, Victor Moses (Chelsea), Odion Ighalo (Watford), Kelechi Iheanacho (Manchester City) and Ahmed Musa (Leicester City)

Turkey-based Musa Mohammed will make his official Eagles debut, while Wolves goalkeeper Carl Ikeme has managed a back problem to start for the home team.

Tanzania gets us underway. Nigeria in all-green, while Tanzania are wearing all-white with green and blue trimmings. Nigeria 0-0 Tanzania.

The Taifa Stars attack but goalkeeper Ikeme cuddles the ball and moments later, Odion Ighalo blasts into the stand after he was set up by Kelechi Iheanacho. Nigeria 0-0 Tanzania.

Eagles win a free kick after a Tanzania defender handles the ball on top of his box, but Victor Moses effort misses the target.

Nigeria have taken over the attacking initiative , but Musa Mohammeds cross from the right fails to get the needed connection.

Chance! Header by Mikel off a Musa Mohammed cross is off target. Nigeria 0-0 Tanzania.

Though the Super Eagles have been the better side of the two teams they need to translate their dominance to scoring goals Still.

Approaching the half-hour mark and still goalless in Uyo. Ahmed Musa tries a shot at the Tanzania goal, but his effort is wide off the target yet again!

Struggling against Tanzania at home while tougher opponents are waiting in the World Cup qualifiers is not a good omen for the Super Eagles.

Tanzania Goalkeeper Manula who has been outstanding today takes a dive at the feet of Victor Moses right inside the six-yard box to deny Nigeria yet another scoring opportunity.

End-to-end action Nigeria and Tanzania battling to see who gets the curtain raiser in this final group match of the 2017 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers. Both teams out of contention though.

There will be two minutes of additional time now as the first half nears the closing stages.

Similar scenario that played out in Dar Es Salam last September repeating itself in Uyo at the first half ends Nigeria 0-0 Tanzania.

Second Half

Second half is underway and both teams have continued from where they stopped in the first 45 minutes.

Ahmed Musa flips across from the right wing but Mikels header goes over the bar.

Close Very close Ahmed Musas effort from close range stopped by the Tanzania goalkeeper And Manula even does better parrying the resultant corner kick.

Having waited for an hourfans at the Akwa Ibom stadium singing All we are saying give us one goal.

Mikel tried a shot but keeper saves it.

Substitution: Mikel goes out for Wilfred Ndidi.

Ahmed Musa now with the captains arm band with the exit of Mikel.

Tanzania substitution Farid Mussa in for Yahayya

Ighalo pulled out and Ideye is in now.

Goal!!!!! Kelechi Iheanacho takes shot from 25 yards hits the upright and into the net.

Nigeria unable to add to the tally as the assistant referee raises the board up for three minutes additional time.

Leon Balogun gets a late yellow card.

Final whistle. Nigeria 1-0 Tanzania
The National Working Committee, NWC, of the All Progressives Congress, APC, on Friday inaugurated the newly-appointed Caretaker Officers for the Gombe State Chapter of the Party.

The inaugurated Caretaker Officers are: Lawan Shetima  State Chairman; Bala Jibrin  State Deputy Chairman; Sule Yakubu  State Secretary and Joseph William  Legal Adviser.

The Caretaker Officers will serve for a three-month renewable period.

APC Deputy National Chairman, North, Lawal Shuaibu, who inaugurated the Caretaker Officers on behalf of the NWC, urged the appointees to provide good leadership for the APC in Gombe.

Mr. Shuaibu also asked them to take stock of all officers of the Party to ensure they are in tandem with the outcome of the Nationwide Congresses held in 2014, except those that resigned or relieved of the offices, using the authentic list given to you by the National Secretariat.

He also asked them to ensure the streamlining of all parallel offices and shutting down of illegal party offices that exist at ward, local government and even at state levels and reinstall what the party has in its records at the National Secretariat.

He also called on them to consult widely with top leaders of the party, but to also only obtain meaningful advice for a way forward which, in the opinion of the Committee, will improve the fortunes of the Party and restore peace and unity.

Mr. Shuaibu also directed the caretaker committee to submit monthly reports to and receive directives from the National Secretariat of the APC.

The APC had said that arising from the irreconcilable differences in the top hierarchy of the Gombe State Chapter of the Party which led to its factionalisation, its NWC accepted the resignation of Karu Ishaya and Sallau Pindiga as State Deputy Chairman and State Secretary respectively.

The NWC also relieved Muhammad Doho and Dauda Manu as State Chairman and State Legal Adviser respectively.

Apart from Mr. Shuaibu, other NWC members present at the inauguration include the National Secretary, Mai Mala Buni; National Auditor, George Moghalu and National Youth Leader, Ibrahim Jalo.

Also present are other top members of the party from Gombe state including former Governor and current Senator, Danjuma Goje; Minister of Environment, Amina Mohammed.
I bow my head before your professionalism and commitment, President Andrzej Duda said Saturday addressing security officiers distinguished for their work during July's World Youth Day event in Krakow and NATO summit in Warsaw.

Speaking to several hundred officers from various uniformed services in the Police Training Centre in Legionowo by Warsaw, Andrzej Duda said their work during the two events helped build Poland's image as a safe, efficiently-run and strong state.

"I bow my head before your professionalism and commitment, you showed that Poland is a safe, well-functioning country", the president said.

Earlier in the Legionowo centre 390 security officers from the Government Protection Bureau (BOR), the police, the border guard, the national fire brigade and the voluntary fire brigade received congratulatory letters from Interior Minister Mariusz Blaszczak.

Also attending the ceremony were National Security Bureau (BBN) head Pawel Soloch, deputy Interior Minister Jaroslaw Zielinski and national police chief Jaroslaw Szymczyk.

(PAP)


Saturday, September 3, 2016

By Mohamed Olad



A moderator (R) and participant of VOA's Somali Service "Mogadishu-Minnesota" town hall meeting are seen in a screen grab from its Facebook stream.

WASHINGTON  Somalia's president, Hassan Sheikh Mohamoud, answered questions about terrorism and the Somali diaspora in a town hall hosted by VOA's Somali Service. The program is the first of its kind to connect Mogadishu, the capital city of Somalia, with Saint Paul City, in Minnesota, home to the largest Somali community in the United States.

Both venues hosted crowds of Somali youth who asked the president questions on extremism, unemployment and education. The town hall was streamed live over the VOA Somali Facebook page.

When asked whether the government's policies have failed to protect Somalis, the president staunchly said no - citing terrorist attacks around the world to prove that such violence can happen anywhere.

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"Things that are happening in Mogadishu happen in Paris, Turkey, and other major cities in the world...we did our best," he said.

One Minneapolis resident, Ayduruus Ahmed Abdirahman, a teenager starting high school this fall, asked the president in English how he would make the country safer so that kids such as himself would be able to return to his parents' homeland for vacations.

"Were tired of going to Ohio or Seattle for vacations when we have so many beautiful cities back home, but we hear about things blowing up there every day," Ahmed said. "How can you convince our parents that want to bring us home for vacations that safety isnt a concern?"

The boy's question was met with applause, and the president answered that though the country faces insecurity and is at war with terrorists, "you can come back to Mogadishu - nothing will happen to you."

Somalia's ongoing civil war has displaced thousands of people and crippled its economy. The government continues to struggle to end attacks by the al-Qaida affiliated terrorist group al-Shabab. Observers say some Somalis turn to extremist groups because they face difficulties in finding jobs.

In Minnesota, men and women with ties to the Twin Cities have traveled to Syria to fight for the Islamic State terror group. Another dozen or so have tried to travel there before authorities intercepted them. Since 2007, at least 23 young men from the twin cities have left for Somalia, allegedly to take up arms and join al-Shabab, a ruthless and radical Islamic militia vying to topple Somalia's U.S.-recognized government.

But Hodan Hello, a psychotherapist in Saint Paul, Minnesota, and a panelist at the Town Hall, stressed that many positive things are happening in the community as well.

"We do not have only negative things," she said. "We have successful young people who are lawyers, doctors, and some who joined politicians. Extremism and crime are only a tiny part of our major challenges as a community."

The town hall meeting was being aired live on Somali National Television and broadcast on Radio Mogadishu, Kulmiye Radio, and other stations throughout the region.

In addition to hosting such town halls, VOA Somali produces programming for Somalias youth. Just recently, the service began a 30-minute daily radio program for young listeners, providing a new platform for exploring social issues and getting the latest news along with music and technology features.
Question: Years ago, my late sister was given a set of Dwight and Mamie Eisenhower dolls. Both are 18 inches tall, have hand-painted china heads and glass eyes. Mamie wears a pink silk gown and shawl and President Eisenhower is dressed in formal evening clothes. Their cloth bodies are marked "Martha Thompson." Anything you can tell me about Ms. Thompson, the dolls and their worth is appreciated. - R.G., Galloway Township.

Answer: Noted American doll maker Martha Thompson (1903-1964) was an artist, sculptor and seamstress. She began her career as a creator of elegantly costumed porcelain and cloth portrait dolls in 1949, working at her home in Wellesley, Massachusetts.

Thompson's dolls, modeled after real people, have lifelike painted porcelain faces, muslin bodies and molded clay limbs.

Favorites included many members of early and recent British royalty as well as famous Americans John and Priscilla Alden, George and Martha Washington, Princess Grace of Monaco and the Eisenhowers.

A founding member of the American Doll Artists group, Thompson continued to create popular portrait dolls until her death.

The President and Mamie Eisenhower dolls are a 1956 set that currently commands premium prices when in excellent condition. Recent asking prices have ranged from $1,000 to $1,500, and one set fetched $1,350 at auction.

Question: In 1957, my grandparents bought a brown ceramic pitcher tagged "Rockingham" at a house sale.

It is 10 inches high, decorated with a molded hunting scene and has grapes and leaves around the spout. Its long handle is a three-dimensional hound-dog figure, stretched upward, bending over the pitcher's top and peering inside. "Harker Taylor & Co." and "East Liverpool O." are marked inside a circle on the pitcher's bottom.

Please tell me what "Rockingham" means as well as information about the pitcher's maker, age and worth. - J.P., Ocean City

Answer: Rockingham is durable, deep-brown glazed earthenware originally produced at the Rockingham Pottery in Yorkshire, England, from the 1820s to 1842.

By 1847, the American pottery Harker, Taylor & Co., of East Liverpool, Ohio, was making similar decorative and utilitarian Rockingham ware.

The company's most popular piece was your hound-handled pitcher decorated with a stag hunting scene, produced from 1847 to 1851.

Although made by other American potteries, the Harker Taylor & Co. hound-handled pitcher presently is the one most sought after by many of today's Rockingham collectors, who pay $245 to $445 for examples in excellent condition.

Alyce Hand Benham is an antiques broker, appraiser and estate-liquidation specialist. Send questions to: Alyce Benham, Life section, The Press of Atlantic City, 1000 W. Washington Ave., Pleasantville, NJ 08232. Email: treasuresbyalyce81@gmail.com. Letters may be used in future columns but cannot be answered individually, and photos cannot be returned.
August Rain Totals Reach Highest In Over 40 Years Hill County residents experienced much soggier and cooler weather conditions than a typical August brings.



Normally, Hill County receives barely enough precipitation to battle the typical dry, hot conditions brought on during the dog-days of summer.



This year, residents saw 6.15 inches of rainfall in the month of August, the fifth-largest amount of precipitation ever recorded to fall during the month, according to records kept at KHBR 1560 Radio Studios in east Hillsboro.



The last time Hill County saw this much rainfall was in 1974 with 8.54 inches of rain. The most ever recorded in the month of August was in 1915 with 11.75 inches.



As of Wednesday, August 31, Hillsboro has received 33.46 inches so far this year. On average, by the end of August, there is a total of 24.30 inches.



The increased amount of rain helped keep the intense heat at bay with only 11 days of triple-degree weather so far this year.



According to records found at KHBR 1560, the average high temperature for this August was 93 Fahrenheit, three degrees lower than the normal average.



The wet month was due to an atmospheric wind pattern that pumped a lot of deep, moist tropical air into the state, according to state climatologist John Nielsen-Gammon.



September and October are historically among the wettest months of the year in Texas, so if normal conditions continue, we will see several more inches of rain, he said.



Forecasters with the National Weather Service (NWS) are predicting a slight chance of showers and thunderstorms after 1 p.m. today (Monday, September 5) but then a break from the wet weather should follow for the next several days.



According to the forecasts, Hill County residents will see partly sunny skies, Tuesday through Thursday, with highs in the low 90s.


ATLANTIC CITY  A city police officer is in critical condition at AtlantiCare Regional Medical Center after being shot near the Caesars Atlantic City parking garage on Arkansas Avenue early Saturday morning.

The officer, who was not named, was shot and injured as he exited his vehicle after observing an armed robbery taking place near the parking garage at about 2:30 a.m., acting Atlantic County Prosecutor Diane Ruberton said. A second police officer returned fire and hit at least one suspect, killing him, Ruberton said.

All of the suspects fled in different directions. The suspect who was shot was found about 1.5 blocks away at Missouri and Pacific avenues, Ruberton said. Officials later identified him as Jerome Damon, 25, of Camden.

It was unclear whether Damon was the one who shot the officer. Later Saturday, New Jersey State Police arrested Martel Chisholm, 29, of Millville, and Demetris Cross, 28, of Bridgeton, without incident, according to a news release. Chisholm was arrested in Bridgeton and Cross was arrested in Millville. According to the prosecutor's office, the three men were attempting to rob three other men. Those men, the robbery victims, were identified and cooperated with police.

Chisholm and Cross are charged with two counts of attempted murder, three counts of robbery, two counts of conspiracy to commit robbery, two counts possession of a weapon for an unlawful purpose and two counts of conspiracy to commit possession of a firearm for an unlawful purpose.

These charges are the result of an unprecedented effort by law enforcement from local, county, state and federal agencies who worked tirelessly throughout the day to identify and locate the suspects," Ruberton said.

The officer who was shot has yet to be identified and is still in critical condition.

The shooting drew a strong response from city officials.

A sad commentary on the amount of assault weapons so readily available, Mayor Don Guardian said. Two policemen (were) doing their job and they saw an altercation and approached the scene and they didnt even have the opportunity to get out of their car before one was shot and the other police officer shot and killed one of the suspects.

There was no word on what type of weapon was used in the shooting.

Everyone from the chief of Pleasantville to state troopers, they all jumped in quick on this and that this is something we need to do to protect South Jersey, Guardian said. Theres a pretty big manhunt right now, and I think this is progressing as good as you could expect. We want to make sure we apprehend everyone responsible for this.

Following the shooting, shell casings littered Arkansas Avenue, while city SWAT team members canvassed the area.

Our hearts are heavy at this hour, but our resolve to capture these suspects remains undeterred, said Patrick Colligan, president of the New Jersey State Police Benevolent Association. We ask for prayers for the officer, his family and the Atlantic City Police Department.

The shooting is the second in three days in the citys Tourism District.

On Thursday, a store manager at the Zumiez skatewear shop was shot and killed in what authorities described as a domestic-related incident at Tanger Outlets The Walk. Luis Maisonet, 55, of Somers Point, fatally shot Christopher Romero, 26, of Absecon, at the store where Romero worked and later shot himself at White House-Black Market, officials said. The shooting put stores into lockdown for an hour and detoured motorists heading into the resort on the Atlantic City Expressway for the start of the Zac Brown Band beach concert and Labor Day weekend.

City officials said the issue of gun violence in the city needs to be addressed.

Councilman Jesse Kurtz said the city needs to put more police officers in the area of the shootings.

Gov. Christie declares state of emergency for South Jersey counties Gov. Chris Christie declared Saturday a state of emergency for Atlantic, Cape May and Ocean 

I would like to see a more uniform police presence in the area to make people feel safer, Kurtz said.

Councilman Moisse Delgado said recent incidents might scare some people away from the city in the short term.

I think that people who are nervous are going to stay away, Delgado said. But those who know the city are going to continue to come. Its a sad situation. People come to the city to gamble and go to restaurants. These are incidents that happened on the streets and not in those places.

The Prosecutors Office released a video taken in Atlantic City about 2:26 a.m. Saturday that shows two groups of three men walking past a camera.

The first group appears to be three black men wearing, from left to right, a white shirt, a light-colored shirt and a dark-colored shirt. The man in the dark shirt appears to be taller than the other two men.

The second group appears to be three black men, the one to the right wearing a dark sweatshirt with the words Atlantic City on the front, and the other two men wearing baseball hats.

The New Jersey COP SHOT Program posted a reward of $20,000 for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the suspects responsible for shooting the officer. The Jersey City Police Officers Benevolent Association offered an additional $5,000.

Council President Marty Small called the incident unfortunate.

We pray that the officer makes a full recovery, Small said. Its magnified that the things happened in the Tourism District. There is war that is going on that needs to be dealt with.

The Prosecutors Office is leading the investigation and coordinated the search for the suspects with the assistance of the State Police, the FBI and the Atlantic City, Pleasantville, Galloway Township and Hammonton police departments.

Anyone with information about the shooting can call the Prosecutors Major Crimes Unit at 609-909-7666, Crime Stoppers at 800-658-TIPS (8477), the anonymous tip line at 609-652-1234 or text TIPCOP plus your tip to 274637.

Staff Writers Donna Weaver and Maxwell Reil contributed to this report.

The original version of this story incorrectly stated the age of Martel Chisholm due to incorrect information provided by the Atlantic County Prosecutor's office.

Contact: 609-272-7046

Twitter @ACPressHuba
OCEAN CITY  Silt continues to build in boat slips and channels, a significant problem for a city whose economy relies on tourism and the water.

For some, the ongoing effort to dredge the entire back bay of the city cant pay off soon enough.

We need it dredged. The water depth is just to the point where the boats are restricted, said Bill Waddell, vice president of the Bay Club Condominium Association, which gets income from renting slips to owners and to others.

Waddell has been in constant contact with ACT Engineers to get work completed at the Bay Club at Fourth Street, which has a marina.

Engineers last week announced three lagoons would be dredged in a program the city started last year.

Snug Habor lagoon just north of the Ninth Street bridge, Glen Cove just south of the bridge and the mouth of South Harbor north of the airport will be cleared to a depth of 6 feet as part of a $796,550 contract awarded Aug. 11 to Trident Piling Co., of Longport.

The contract calls for 4,130 cubic yards of silt to be removed from Snug Harbor and Glen Cove, and 4,020 cubic yards from South Harbor.

Engineers estimate 900,000 cubic yards must be removed to bring lagoons and channels to a navigable depth.

Its vitally important to the whole bayfront community, so even though its small, it is progress, said city Public Information Officer Doug Bergen.

City Director of Finance Frank Donato said the shallow water in the bay also threatens property values since a large chunk of the ratable base borders bayfront and lagoon areas.

The 8-mile stretch of bay behind Ocean City has been in need of dredging for more than a decade. Before 1970, the city owned a dredge and completed its own maintenance before regulations were put in place to prevent it.

Since 2000, three dredging projects were undertaken, removing about 232,770 cubic yards of material.

The city last year hired ACT Engineers to develop a long-term dredging plan. Donato said the contracted amount to date is $2.06 million.

The cost of dredging the entire bay is still being determined, Donato said. The city pledged $20 million back bay and lagoon dredging in the 2016-2020 capital plan.

Dave and Patricia Munion, of Haddon Township, have a summer home in Ocean City and keep their boat at Blue Water Marina at 34th Street. Dave Munion said he was glad to hear the city was stepping up the plate.

I know its expensive, but without it, youre going to see a lot of marinas go out of business and other related businesses go away, Munion said.

He said he ran aground July 4 behind Ocean City and damaged his propellers.

Brian Isen, who owns Blue Water Marina, said dredging impacts all the boaters in the area.

The 160-slip marina was dredged to a depth of 4 feet two years ago, Isen said, but that work is quickly filling in due to the amount of material that has built up in the nearby basin at Crook Horn Creek.

For us, financially, if everything (fills) in and we cant dredge, we cant rent out our slips, he said.

Isen said he has been contacted by several homeowners near his marina looking for slips to rent, because they cant access the channel from their own slips.

Wickberg Marine last fall started a Snug Harbor dredging project to remove 14,000 cubic yards, but it was not completed before the permit deadline of Dec. 31. Donato said that was due in part to the amount of time it took the material to dry at the Route 52 disposal site for it to be trucked out. He said the contractor was not paid the entire contract amount as a result.

They completed and will be paid for approximately two-thirds of the contracted quantity that was to be dredged, Donato said.

The current contract calls for dredging to be done by Oct.1 in Snug Harbor and Glen Cove, and by Dec. 1 in South Harbor as per the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection. ACT Engineering is filing a permit extension on behalf of the city.

Thats the Department of Environmental Protection windows for work based on endangered species, Bergen said. ACT Engineers is pushing for both deadlines and, in past years, they have received extensions, so theyre hopeful that we can get relief on both deadlines.

Bergen said that the plan is to eventually dredge the entire, 8-mile bayfront.

In this phase, owners will be able to contract with Trident to dredge their private slips at their own expense if time allows.

In a recent meeting with homeowners from the Noreaster marina at Seventh Street, ACT engineers and city officials discussed the citys plan to apply for a dredge permit that includes all private and public areas on the bay side. The city hopes to have a tip-to-tip permit in place by summer 2017.

Previously, permits for private slips and marinas were obtained and maintained privately.

As for what areas will be dredged next, ACT Engineering will come up a plan in the fall based on depths, Bergen said.

Many residents and visitors utilize the bay and lagoons regardless of whether they live or rent on the bay, Donato said. To have the use of the bay and lagoons limited to certain times of the day when tides are favorable is a detriment to the city that the mayor, council and administration are determined to address.

Contact: 609-272-7251
Gov. Chris Christie declared Saturday a state of emergency for Atlantic, Cape May and Ocean counties, in advance of Tropical Storm Hermine and its impending severe weather conditions.

In addition to the expected moderate-to-major coastal flooding, heavy surf and beach erosion, the severe weather may also bring power outages and impede the flow of traffic in the state, the statement said.

The declaration broadens the power of the New Jersey State Police, including their traffic control, as well as giving the National Guard a way to assist with rescue or cleanup, if needed.

Power outages hit South Jersey as Tropical Storm Hermine moves in UPDATE 6:53 p.m.: No reported outages along the coast right now, according to Atlantic City 

This situation may become too large in scope to be handled by the normal county and municipal operating services in Ocean County, Atlantic County and Cape May County, and this situation may spread to other parts of the State," Christie said in a statement. "So as a result, in order to protect the health, safety and welfare of the people of the State of New Jersey, Ive signed an Executive Order declaring a State Of Emergency in Ocean County, Atlantic County, and Cape May County effective immediately, giving emergency management personnel the tools they need to ensure a speedy and orderly response.

The New Jersey Regional Operations Intelligence Center, as of 6 p.m. Saturday, was elevated to a Level II operational status to help respond and monitor Hermine.

Several shelter locations, while not open right now, are as follows. Residents are encouraged to follow local government updates if the need to shelter elsewhere comes up.

Cape May County Woodbine Developmental Center 1175 Dehirsch Avenue. Woodbine NJ Upper Township Middle School 525 Perry Rd, Woodbine, NJ 08270

Atlantic County Atlantic City Convention Center 1 Convention Blvd, Atlantic City, NJ 08401

Ocean County

Southern Regional High School, 90 Cedar Bridge Rd. in Stafford Twp. Pinelands Regional High School, 590 Nugentown Rd. in Little Egg Harbor Twp.



As of 1:30 p.m., NJ Transit bus and light rail operations were unaffected, but the release said service "may be suspended depending on road conditions in certain locations."

"NJ TRANSITs top priority is passenger safety of the traveling public. Anyone planning to travel during the storm is urged to allow extra time and be extremely careful traveling in and around stations, on platforms and on-board trains, buses, light rail vehicles and Access Link vehicles," the statement said.

The Island Beach State Park in Ocean County will be closed at 8 p.m. Saturday and will remain closed through Sunday and Monday. The Allaire State Park in Monmouth County will close starting at 4 p.m. Sunday through noon on Tuesday.
Growing up in Wildwood, Mayor Ernie Troiano remembers how the bustling resort turned into a ghost town right after Labor Day.

The Boardwalk, the shops, the hotels and restaurants  all closed.

Or, as Troiano puts it, Wildwood was so empty, it was like ground zero for a nuclear attack.

But since the 1990s, the Wildwoods have invested in bringing people to the shore after the traditional end of summer, and its generally worked. For example, an estimated 250,000 people will filter through the Wildwoods in late September for the annual Irish Fall Festival and the classic car show on the Boardwalk.

For North Wildwood, the biggest event of the year comes three weeks after Labor Day, said Patrick Rosenello, the citys mayor, referring to the Irish Fall Festival.

Troiano said officials from the three municipalities along the coast  Wildwood, Wildwood Crest and North Wildwood  try to plan events for every weekend in September and October.

If we have an open weekend, what can we do? he said.

There arent many open weekends, at least in September and October. Among the bigger events after Labor Day are the Roar to the Shore motorcycle rally, the New Jersey Firemens Convention and parade and the Italian Festival.

And, of course, the Irish Fall Festival, which will feature a parade this year led by Joe Maloy, the Wildwood Crest native who competed in this years Olympic mens triathlon in Rio de Janeiro.

The Greater Wildwoods Tourism Improvement and Development Authority calls the after-Labor-Day period the islands second season, said Ben Rose, the agencys director of marketing and public relations.

He said one of the authoritys main missions when it was founded in 1993 was to extend the tourism season in the Wildwoods.

Right now, we have huge revenue streams coming in September and October that we didnt have in the past, he said.

Rose said the agency spends the majority of its money promoting events outside the traditional Memorial Day-to-Labor Day season.

One of the first post-Labor Day weekend events in Wildwood was the firefighters convention, which moved from Atlantic City about 40 years ago, according to New Jersey State Firemens Association President George Heflich.

He said about 20,000 firefighters and their families travel to Wildwood from all over the state for the convention, which takes place Sept. 16 and 17 this year. Heflich said the organization is happy to come back to Wildwood year after year.

Its more family-oriented (than Atlantic City), he said. Theres not a lot of convention centers that can hold a convention as large as ours.

Contact: 609-272-7411

Twitter @ACPressTomczuk
Instead of concertgoers listening to music all day, Atlantic Citys beach on Saturday was filled with workers tearing down the concert stage and lifeguards pulling stands and boats onto the Boardwalk as Tropical Storm Hermine approached.

Gov. Chris Christie on Saturday declared a state of emergency for Atlantic, Cape May and Ocean counties in advance of the storm, which is expected to bring rain, wind and coastal flooding through Monday.

Press meteorologist Jonathan Carr is forecasting moderate to major levels of flooding on the beaches and in the back bays and lagoons along the barrier islands, through multiple tidal cycles.

In declaring the state of emergency, state officials also said to expect power outages and traffic problems.

The declaration broadens the power of the State Police, including their traffic control, and gives the National Guard authority to assist with rescue or cleanup if needed.

Lt. Gov. Kim Guadagno and Department of Environmental Protection Commissioner Bob Martin are expected to visit Cape May, Atlantic and Ocean counties for briefings from local emergency management officials at 2, 3:30 and 5 p.m. Sunday, respectively.

As the winds picked up, Atlantic City prepared for the worst while businesses planned to offer shelter to locals and visitors.

Mayor Don Guardian said AltantiCare had set up an emergency center for Sunday. He said it will be easier for the city to communicate and to track problems throughout the day.

Guardian said he and Director of Emergency Management Angelo DeMaio had tried to keep Saturdays Florida Georgia Line beach concert running but decided it would be too dangerous.

We didnt need to wait for the state of emergency, Guardian said, This is a dangerous situation.

Mondays Blink-182 show also was canceled. One last beach concert, headlined by Bell Biv DeVoe and En Vogue, is scheduled for Sept. 22.

Guardian and DeMaio said the city was in preparation mode Saturday. Patrol, fire, rescue boats, EMS and State Police are all in constant communication, DeMaio said.

He recommended people stay inside and out of the water for the weekend.

Stay indoors. For tourists, get out of the city early and let it pass and then come back. This already ruined our Labor Day weekend, so get home safe, and if youre staying at one of our properties here in the city, then enjoy yourself but please stay inside, DeMaio said.

But for some who may feel stuck on the island, businesses are offering a helping hand and shelter.

John Exadaktilos, owner of Ducktown Tavern at Atlantic and Georgia avenues, said the bar will remain open throughout the storm.

We never lose power. We arent going to close. If anyone needs a place to stay, then this is high ground at this point of the city and we have the parking lot across the street. If you cant leave, then come by here and hang out with everybody else, Exadaktilos said.

Liz Salerno works at Harrys Oyster Bar and said the restaurant brought in their outdoor seating early Saturday afternoon due to high winds. Salerno said the storm, along with the cancellation of the concerts, will cause businesses to take a financial hit.

A lot of money for Atlantic City is gone because of that. Were still opening tomorrow, but we let out early today. Well see what happens, she said.

Indira Zhakus family is staying at Resorts Casino Hotel. They had planned to go to the Florida Georgia Line concert on the beach. Instead, she sat on a bench at Tanger Outlets The Walk, trying to take advantage of a rain-free Saturday before the storm.

Just getting some shopping done before the storm comes. Its definitely put a damper on the weekend, Zhaku said.

Chris Dyre was selling hot dogs at a cart at The Walk. He said he saw less foot traffic Saturday and didnt expect to open Sunday.

I definitely need to get some money in my pocket today. I have a feeling well be off tomorrow, which is very rare, Dyre said.

Officials in Barnegat Township, Ocean County, said Saturday they were recommending a voluntary evacuation for lagoon and bayfront residents. Police said flooding would make Bayshore Drive and East Bay Avenue impassable between the beach and East Bay bridge.

Cape May County officials urged residents and tourists to head to the mainland if possible.

The biggest concern is tidal flooding starting with the high tide tonight (Saturday) to Monday, county spokeswoman Diane Wieland said. The general advice is if you dont need to be on the barrier islands, leave.

North Wildwood Mayor Patrick Rosenello said it seemed like people were heeding the warning and watching the forecast.

It appears to me that, as the day went on, the town became less and less crowded, he said.

Rosenello said North Wildwood saw a little bit of beach erosion but no significant tidal flooding during the day Saturday.

Gov. Christie declares state of emergency for South Jersey counties Gov. Chris Christie declared Saturday a state of emergency for Atlantic, Cape May and Ocean 

It could be a whole lot worse, said Wildwood Mayor Ernie Troiano, before adding: Tomorrows another day.

Troiano advised those remaining in Wildwood during the storm to stay inside, listen to first responders and move their vehicles to higher ground if they live in low-lying areas.

The biggest thing is, look, dont be stupid, he said. Make sure you pay attention.

The Wildwood Boardwalk, usually teeming with people on Labor Day weekend, was not totally empty as Hermine approached. Dozens of storm-watchers crowded onto the deck at Ocean Oasis Water Park to watch the powerful waves and rough surf, while others looked around the Boardwalk shops, which remained open.

Anyone on the beach was monitored closely by lifeguards and police throughout the county. In Wildwood, police trucks drove near the waters edge telling people to move away from the water. Other towns with less expansive beaches, like Avalon, were not allowing anyone to step foot on the sand. The wind gusts in Stone Harbor discouraged most from walking onto the beach for fear of getting caught in a sandstorm.

Hermine may even deter some from attending weekly church services Sunday. The Rev. Joseph Perreault, pastor of St. Josephs Catholic Church in Sea Isle City, warned residents to stay safe and listen to instructions from police.

Due to the storm this weekend, I ask that you use caution and common sense in determining whether you will be able to navigate through potentially high water to attend Mass, Perreault said in a statement on the churchs website.

Mass at St. Joes will still be held at the regularly scheduled times, but other events have been called off. An Ocean City Pops concert in tribute to composer John Williams scheduled for Sunday at the Music Pier was canceled.

Contact: 609-272-7258

Twitter @acpressmreil

Contact: 609-272-7411

Twitter @ACPressTomczuk
Decorating Contest Planned This Week



The chamber is hosting a decorating contest for businesses and prizes will be awarded to the most decorated business as well as the most uniquely decorated and best incorporation of business information into Hillsboro dcor.



Interested persons are asked to email Vicki Hidde, chamber director, at



All decorations should be in place before 10 a.m. Friday, September 9, when judging begins. The Hillsboro Area Chamber of Commerce is encouraging all businesses in Hillsboro to decorate their storefront this week in preparation for Hillsboro Independent School District (HISD) homecoming activities.The chamber is hosting a decorating contest for businesses and prizes will be awarded to the most decorated business as well as the most uniquely decorated and best incorporation of business information into Hillsboro dcor.Interested persons are asked to email Vicki Hidde, chamber director, at [email protected] ber.org or call the chamber office at 254-582-2481 no later than 10 a.m. Thursday, September 8, to confirm participation in the con-test.All decorations should be in place before 10 a.m. Friday, September 9, when judging begins.


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.




Hill Family Medicine To Reopen The Hill Family Medicine clinic, located on Jane Lane in Hillsboro, will reopen its doors with a new physician Tuesday, September 6.



Hill Regional Hospital is excited to welcome new internal medicine physician Dr. Sweta Narasimhan.



Dr. Narasimhan graduated from Chicago Medical School and completed her residency training at the University of Arizona College of Medicine at Phoenix.



With her, Dr. Narasimhan brings her husband and daughter.



Dr. Narasimhan joins Dr. Craig Thompson, general surgery, in the family of physicians.



As an internist, she specializes in treating patients 18 years and older with chronic conditions such as arthritis, diabetes, heart disease and high blood pressure.



Additionally, she will offer adult preventive and wellness visits, yearly physicals and womens health visits.



New advances continue to change the practice of medicine and treatment options for our patients, said Mike Ellis, Hill Regional Hospital CEO.



We are delighted to welcome Dr. Narasimhan to our medical staff, which means our community now has local, convenient access to internal medicine services for complex illnesses, he continued.



Dr. Narasimhan is currently scheduling appointments. However, for patients needing to be seen right away, Hill Family Medicine is offering same-day and walk-in appointments starting Tuesday, September 6.



For more information or to schedule an appointment, contact Hill Family Medicine at 254-582-8006.


LITTLE ROCK, Ark., Sept. 2, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- A $45 million Settlement has been reached in a class action lawsuit against Philip Morris USA Inc. ("Philip Morris") about, among other things, whether Marlboro Lights and Marlboro Ultra Lights cigarettes were deceptively advertised, marketed and sold as healthier to smoke than regular cigarettes. Philip Morris denies the allegations in the lawsuit, and the Court has not decided who is right.

The Settlement includes all persons who purchased Marlboro Light or Marlboro Ultra Light cigarettes in the state of Arkansas for personal consumption from November 1, 1971 through June 22, 2010.

Class Benefits include the $45 Million Settlement Fund, which will be used to make payments to Class members and for the cost of administration of the Settlement, attorneys' fees and litigation costs, and Class Representative fees.

Payments will be made to Class members who file valid claims and will be calculated as follows:

10 cents per pack for each pack purchased between November 1, 1971 and April 17, 1998 ;

per pack for each pack purchased between and ; 25 cents per pack for each pack purchased between April 18, 1998 and April 18, 2003 ; and

per pack for each pack purchased between and ; and 10 cents per pack for each pack purchased between April 19, 2003 and June 22, 2010 .

The final value of each claim may be adjusted up or down pro rata depending on the number of claims filed.

In addition to the cash benefits to the Class, Plaintiffs claim to have benefited the Class through the litigation activity, publicity and public awareness, which helped result in the removal of Marlboro Lights and Marlboro Ultra Lights from the market.

Class Members can easily file a claim online at www.MarlboroLightsClass.com. Class Members may also download a Claim Form from the website or call the toll-free number or request a Claim Form be mailed to them. Claims must be filed online no later than midnight Central Time on December 1, 2016. Claim Forms sent by mail must be postmarked on or before December 1, 2016.

Class Members who do not want to be legally bound by the Settlement, must exclude themselves by November 1, 2016. Class Members who exclude themselves from the Settlement cannot file a claim and will not get a payment from the Settlement Fund. Class Members who do not timely exclude themselves will release any claims they may have against Philip Morris relating to the lawsuit. Class Members may object to the Settlement by November 1, 2016. A Detailed Notice available on the website explains how to exclude or object. The Court will hold a Hearing on November 21, 2016 to consider whether to approve the Settlement. Class Members may appear at the hearing, either by themselves or through an attorney hired by them, but don't have to. Class Counsel will also request an award of attorney's fees and Service Awards for the Class Representatives to be paid from the Settlement Fund, plus reimbursement of reasonable expenses. For more information, call the toll free number or visit the website.

SOURCE Circuit Court for Pulaski County, Arkansas

Related Links

http://www.marlborolightsclass.com


AUBURN HILLS, Mich., Sept. 3, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- On August 1, 2016, Guardian Industries Corp. and its Spanish subsidiary Guardian Industries Navarra SL ("Guardian") announced that the Venezuelan government had seized control of Guardian de Venezuela SRL ("Guardian Venezuela").

On August 19, the Venezuelan government published a resolution granting a government-sponsored Special Administrative Board full authority to control and operate Guardian Venezuela, thereby reaffirming the government's expropriation of Guardian Venezuela and its assets. These actions by the Venezuelan government have been taken without the consent or involvement of Guardian or any of its affiliates and in violation of applicable investment treaties.

The Venezuelan government seized control of Guardian Venezuela when the company attempted to implement an orderly and safe cool-down of its glass melting furnace to protect the safety of its employees and the community in general, while otherwise continuing commercial operations. Float glass plants operate at extremely high temperatures, continuously, 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, throughout their operational life. All float glass plants must be temporarily shut down at the end of their operational life in order to undergo major repairs requiring specialized and technical expertise. Contrary to what has been asserted by the Venezuelan government, Guardian Venezuela never abandoned or closed its operations.

Guardian has warned the Venezuelan government of the grave safety risks to plant employees and the community in general should it continue to operate the plant without completing major repairs.

Guardian and its affiliates cannot be responsible for the safety of employees or any liability or damages resulting from the government's continued operation of the plant.

Should the Venezuelan government produce and sell glass from the plant, Guardian cannot be held responsible for product quality and will consider any use of Guardian's name, Guardian product names, or Guardian trademarks to be unauthorized and a misappropriation.

Throughout this process, Guardian and Guardian Venezuela have acted to protect the safety and best interests of plant employees and the community.

Guardian Industries Corp., Guardian Industries Navarra SL, Guardian de Venezuela SRL and their affiliates continue to reserve their rights under all applicable laws and treaties.

About Guardian Industries Corp.:

Guardian Industries Corp. is a privately held, diversified, global company headquartered in Auburn Hills, Michigan, United States. Guardian, and its family of companies, employ 17,000 people and operate facilities throughout North America, Europe, South America, Africa, the Middle East and Asia, with a vision to create value for customers and society through constant innovation using fewer resources. Guardian Glass is a leading international manufacturer of float, value-added, and fabricated glass products and solutions for architectural, residential, interior, transportation and technical glass applications. SRG Global is one of the world's largest manufacturers of advanced, high value coatings on plastics for the automotive, commercial truck and consumer goods industries, providing solutions for greater surface durability, structural integrity, functionality, vehicle efficiency and design flexibility. Guardian Building Products is a leading U.S. based distributor of specialty building products. Visit www.guardian.com.

SOURCE Guardian Industries Corp.

Related Links

http://www.guardian.com


BERLIN, Germany, Sept. 3, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- IFA2016 is being held in Berlin from September 2nd to 7th. It has drawn thousands of technology companies to Germany from all over the world. "2016 IFA Product Technical Innovation Award", as a global CE-product selection, has attracted the attention and participation of many enterprises such as Samsung, LG, TCL, CHANGHONG, etc. One of the most famous smart TV brands in China, LeTV(a LeEco company) emerged from fierce competitions with other major players of Internet TV Solutions and was awarded the "Internet TV Solutions Gold Award" of "2016 IFA Product Technical Innovation Award". This is also the highest honor that LeTV has attained to date. IFA is regarded as the world's leading trade show for consumer electronics and home appliances; hence winning the award makes the Chinese smart TV the flashiest product in this year's event.

Back in April, LeTV was awarded the Best Industrial Design Award in the first ever CE China, an IFA Global event in China. If LeTV's victory in the Internet TV Solutions Gold Award represents the recognition for its "soft" power, then the Best Industrial Design Award would be a celebration of the "hard" power of this amazing product.

IFA is one of the world's largest and most influential trade shows for consumer electronics and home appliances. "IFA Product Technical Innovation Award" is organized by International Data Group (IDG) and German Industry & Commerce Ltd., in an effort to build a series of award-giving events for global consumer electronics brands. The results of the awarding sessions consists of three parts with different weights respectively: product review with a weight of 60%, 30% for professional judges and 10% for online votes, which serves as a major comb-through and appraisal for the entire global consumer electronics industry of that year.

Crowned with the Internet TV Solutions Gold Award -- Technology Shapes our Future

This year's "IFA Product Technical Innovation Award" is themed "Future x Innovation", which aims to further promote connected innovations and technological upgrades among consumer electronics companies. It also encourages going a step further in terms of functionality, product image and user experience so that companies are motivated to make adjustments to their technologies and service models in order to offer products that have longer life cycle yet forward-looking, delivering convenience and comfort achieved through technological innovation.

The soon-to-arrive 85-inch LeTV has outpaced its many competitors in this year's Internet TV Solutions Gold Award of "2016 IFA Product Technical Innovation Award". LeTV is a perfect integration of technology, culture and the internet. Every generation of its product lineup represents the best specs and highest performance of the industry, leading the trend of future TV design.

In addition to its top of the range hardware specs and industrial design, LeTV, as an EcoTV, also aims to provide a complete internet solution for its users. EcoTV is not a TV, but an open-loop, big-screen and connected ecosystem which is built through vertical integration of the industry chain and a reorganization of cross-industry value chain. Through cross-industry innovation and ecosystem-based operation, LeTV never pauses its pursuit of unique product experience and more user value. It continues to create Eco-services based on segmentation of users and strives for offering more user value and constantly leading industry trends.

For instance, LeEco's multi-desktop eUI TV operating system has achieved idea flow interaction for the first time, which circumvents APPs by turning smartly recommended content into desktops, bringing users what they want. The 9-channel HD HW acceleration backs Super LIVE wall, sync-up home theater, Le View, Sports, Gaming, Kids, shopping, music among other desktops, on which segmented user operation can be done to present users with customized content desktops. In the eyes of film fans, to put a LeTV in their living room gives them the experience of a theater; For gamers, a LeTV saves them the toil of going to the arcade. And for shopping enthusiasts, a LeTV brings them a Shopping Mall right in the living room.

LeTV is no Stranger to IFA -- It has won the Best Industrial Design Award in CE China before

This is not the first time for LeTV to be given this award. In April of this year, LeTV won the Best Industrial Design Award in CE China, an IFA Global event in China. Back then, it was IFA executive director and SVP at Messe Berlin Jens Heithecker and IFA global branding director Dir Koslowski who awarded LeTV. They paid a visit to LeEco's booth to experience the Super 4 Max70 featuring a split-body design and the second generation of LeMobile. The two gentlemen spoke highly of LeEco's consumer electronic products for their amazing appearance and black technology offerings.

Shaping itself as the "disruptor" of TV industry, LeEco has created countless number ones within only three years time: the annual 100% growth rate secures the first place in growth rate terms; data from LeEco Smart Device Institute has shown daily power-on rate to reach 65% and a 5.8 average daily use (signal source 6%, Le Channel 15%, Le.com VOD 45%, others 34%). Weekly VOD timespan reached 21 hours, which makes LeTV number one in user activeness; data from Nielsen Ccdata indicates that the LeTV user base is more concentrated in young families with certain levels of affordability. Users of 20-45 years old accounts for 94% of total users. 86% of users are households with at least two family members and 58% of users boast family monthly income above RMB10,000 while 89% users own their own apartments. All the data have shown the unparalleled value user base of LeTV tops the industry. LeTV has also become the most valuable platform that covers a high percentage of Chinese celebrities as its users.

SOURCE LeTV
KYIV, Ukraine, Sept. 3, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Minex is a secure, investor friendly platform created by a team of Ukrainian developers. The platform is designed to solve some of the recurring issues faced by the modern investment sector. The centralized nature of present day financial system makes it vulnerable to certain events that can bring down the whole economy or at least cause significant losses to investors. Many investors are constantly living under the fear of stock exchanges being hacked, hostile takeover of joint-stock companies, bank thefts, etc. This has resulted in the creation of an uncertain atmosphere where people are apprehensive about investments and long-term storage of wealth.

Minex Platform Opens Subscription of MineCoin Cryptocurrency

Centralization of registration and data storage in investment systems makes critical data vulnerable to security breaches and destruction due to unforeseen events. The Minex team's revolutionary solution uses blockchain technology to protect investments by eliminating the risk of outside influence and data loss.

Minex is more than just a cryptocurrency platform. It is a whole system of investments, payments, distributed trade registries and smart contracts built on blockchain technology. Minex Crowd-business Management and Investment (CBMI) is an open source platform that allows investors to efficiently invest in small and medium businesses as well as startups. From idea stage, Minex CBMI platform is currently entering the development phase. The team will soon have a working model ready for the market. Once ready, the platform will enable investors to finance some of the most dynamic and flexible market segments including small and medium businesses, non-profits and charitable organizations while factoring expenses and interim payments.

What Makes Minex Different from Other Platforms?

Unlike other existing solutions, Minex is the world's first platform to eliminate all the risks and shortcoming associated with centralized investment systems. The Crowd-business Management and Investment platform incorporates crowdfunding and crowd-investing functionalities which make it possible for any individual to invest in the projects of their interest. In addition, investors don't have to be silent observers anymore. The platform allows investors to take a hands-on approach and get involved in the operations of the business they have invested in. They will have the power to control how the investments work for the benefit of both the investors and their business of interest.

The Minex project will include a fully functional support structure to ensure smooth and efficient operation. The platform will be supported by:

 a decentralized exchange

 a decentralized bank

 payments system and debit cards

 global MineCoin cryptocurrency network

All transactions on Minex platform will be made using MineCoin (MNC), a MARS algorithm based cryptocurrency. The platform will allow companies to create digital stocks in the form of crypto-tokens. These digital stocks can be used to raise funds by organizing a crowdsale (ICO) on the integrated decentralized exchange. Upon successful fundraising, the digital stocks will be made available on leading cryptocurrency exchanges where investors can trade their digital stocks at market value.

Minex decentralized bank acts as a bridge between the fiat based traditional financial system and the MineCoin ecosystem. It facilitates the flow of capital between both systems through debit cards and cryptocurrency. It also offers loans through smart-lending

Minex has made MineCoin available for subscription. Those who are interested in being part of the Minex project early on can subscribe to the digital currency on the website.

MineCoin Team

Boris Shulyaev (Chief Executive Officer  Founder)

email: [email protected]

Ruslan Babych (Chief Technology Officer  Founder)

email: [email protected]

Vladyslav Zaichuk (Blockchain developer)

email: [email protected]

Know more about Minex and MineCoin at  https://minecoin.org/

Media Contact

Contact Person: Daniel Shulyaev, Community Manager

Contact Email: [email protected]

Location: Kyiv, Ukraine

MineCoin is the source of this content. Virtual currency is not legal tender, is not backed by the government, and accounts and value balances are not subject to FDIC and other consumer protections. This press release is for informational purposes only.

Related Links

Bitcoin PR Buzz

MineCoin

This content was issued through the press release distribution service at Newswire.com. For more info visit: http://www.newswire.com

Photo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20160902/403993

SOURCE MineCoin

Related Links

https://minecoin.org


NEW DELHI, Sept. 2, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- "Tough times don't last, tough people do"- this statement traces the life of father-son duo, R.S Jaura and Yuvraj Jaura quite well, who opted the hard way of life intentionally. They could have asked for parental favor but their sheer self-belief and deep rooted conviction didn't let them to do so. With their own set of values and a desire of accomplishing something big, they created their list of 'to-be-achieved' goals and eventually realized them with dedicated efforts. Though there exists a generation gap between the two but it only complements their personal and professional bond.

Photo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20160902/403809

Jaura senior has led a life that is nothing short of a 'rags to riches' story. With dramatic twists and turns, lead by morals and righteousness, R.S Jaura paved a path of success for himself over the decades. As a youngster, he got inspiration from an old man living in his locality "Shri Lala Jagat Narayan" (Owner of Punjab Kesari) and took him as his mentor, where during emergency he learned the value of media and journalism which brought the much needed direction to a young virgin mind.

A filmy tale as it can be rightly said, Jaura senior, at a tender age of 14 years took a leap of courage and voiced against the unruly tradition at his school in Jalandhar, where teachers used to compel students to buy guides and take tuitions from them in order to clear the exams. A self-made boy, who used to insert leaflets in Punjab Kesari, Jalandhar to earn money for his books couldn't bother his parents to buy him additional guides and arrange for tuitions. Having been unable to afford those guides, he protested against the school's prevailing system, went on a strike with fellow mates as a leader and made the wrong, right. This brave act of his that was directed towards a greater good of students inspired the big & powerful Sikh leader, Jathe Dar Santokh Singh (who was very close to then Prime Minister, Indira Gandhi) so much so that he invited Jaura to join him in Delhi.

The rest went like a filmy story where the hero is shown a direction and he treads the path facing all the odds, finally to win against his destiny and carve one on his own. Remember the Amitabh Bachchan from 1970s hit flick 'Deewar', where Bachchan eyes a building, asks for its price while not even having a penny in his pocket only to buy it later on. Similarly, Jaura senior too had his tryst with time when he traveled to Delhi without a train ticket as he couldn't arrange the money for it, only to form his own aviation company with multiple jets almost two decades after the incident. However, in these two decades no magic happened as Delhi did give him luxurious dreams just to break his sleep. With Santokh Singh's murder, Jaura senior became directionless and had to try his hands on many petty businesses for his survival. He entered video cassettes' business by converting piracy into copyright in the 1980 and launched brands like Bambino, Shemaroo, Shine Star and Sun Star. By the late 80s, he established and expanded video library chains in North India. But soon digitalization entered India fading the video cassettes and he quickly moved to electronics by broadcasting programmes like 'Cinema Cinema' on Doordarshan. Almost 15 such programmes ran on DD and earned him loads of money.

With his wit, will and passion, he invested in mining business and soon emerged as a big shot businessman. During the late in 1990's he dreamed of buying a chopper and in 2013 his dream came true as he owned his own chopper. His rising success showered new ideas and directions on him and then came the time when he realized his vision of owning an airplane. He formed an aviation company in the year 2013 and today he also owns a hangar at Indira Gandhi International Airport, New Delhi.

Having diversifying themselves into different areas and industries, the father-son duo found their true calling in real estate venture. But as it is said that the genes travel to different generations leaving their traits behind, Yuvraj didn't build his company on his father's mettle. With self-belief and values inherited from his father, he went on to work for five years in the market gaining all possible insights and tracing the vertical map of growth before joining Jaura senior as the leading chairman and managing director of Jaura Infratech. in 2007.

Symbolizing growth, this company aspired to expand across the country and abroad and within a short span of less than three years, Jaura Infratech today has traced the trajectory of growth the graph of which is only moving higher.

Blending his father's conventional expertise to his new age strategies, Yuvraj is breaking the monotony of regular products in the real estate industry. Seeing his son's futuristic approach and ethical practices, Jaura senior too let the scion take charge imposing full confidence in him. According to R.S Jaura, in this fast pacing technological world, there is a dire need of innovative ideas not only in terms of promoting the business but also in terms of delivering the best. And, under the leadership of Yuvraj, an active, futuristic and focused young team, capable of tapping all the possible resources to bring out the best in this real estate has taken shape.

Jaura Infratech has recently entered into joint venture with realty giant Amrapali Group and launched a residential project called 'Amrapali-Jaura Heights' in Greater Noida West (Noida Extension). Spread over 105 acres of area, the residential project consists of two types of dwellings - villas and high rise apartment buildings. Amrapali-Jaura Heights consists of various towers of elegance, providing world class amenities, which offer a fine conglomeration of luxury and fine living.

Under the Jaura junior's command, the standards of the pre-sale strategy, customer satisfaction, construction quality and timely delivery have improved. He brought in new age techniques of engineering, innovative designing, architectural finesse, quality and timely completion to redefine the already established business of his father and has set a benchmark of excellence in the contemporary scenario. His leadership has taken the commitment of employees and the clients towards the company to a different level where world class projects and plans of expansion takes birth to achieve further growth and brings in confidence to foray into new regions.

Progressing with the guiding force of his father, Yuvraj is consistently bringing in results with an ever increasing goodwill for their business. And as it is said that wise men learn from the experience of others, Yuvraj too takes pearls of wisdom from the life of his father, who has seen ups and downs in business during his initial years. This makes challenging the old successful recipes easier for Jaura Junior as he believes in giving way to change in this unprecedented time where technology changes the formula of survival and success every other second.

Now that a perfect mix of experience and dynamism is being created to achieve greater heights in business, the Jauras are looking forward to bring in the youngest family member in the brigade as well. Moving on the path created by his father and brother, Navraj Jaura, the youngest of the Jaura clan, has completed his studies and has done numerous internships at different firms across the world. He too, like his father and brother, has gained his own life's experiences so as to become a wise decision maker. Steadily learning the real-estate business under his elder brother, he looks quite promising for his age and will soon tread along with him in taking the business to new heights.

Related Files

Media Book 2016-Additional Pictures & Resources.pdf

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SOURCE Property For Sale Magazine

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TEA Releases Prelimi-nary FIRST Ratings For ISDs The Texas Education Agency (TEA) has released preliminary financial accountability ratings for approximately 1,200 independent school districts (ISD) and charters across the state, with almost 98 per-cent of all Texas school districts and charters earning the highest preliminary rating possible for 2015-2016.



Created by the 77th Texas Legislature in 2001, the School Financial Integrity Rating System of Texas (FIRST) is designed to encourage public schools to better manage their financial resources to provide the maximum allocation possible for direct instructional purposes.



The 2015-2016 ratings are based on annual financial reports provided to TEA by districts and charters from the 2015 fiscal year.



The financial accountability sys-tem requires TEA to review the audited financial reports from all districts and charters.



The FIRST ratings are based on 15 financial indicators, such as administrative cost expenditures; the accuracy of a district or charters financial information submitted to TEA; and any financial vulnerabilities or material weaknesses in internal controls as determined by an external auditor.



Based on the submitted information, a school district or charter is assigned one of four possible letter grades (A, B, C or F), as well as a coinciding financial management ratingssuperior, above standard achievement, meets standard or sub-standard achievement.



Most school districts in Hill County earned superior preliminary ratings, with the exception of Hub-bard ISD, which received a preliminary rating of above standard.



Grandview and West ISDs were also rated superior.



Hubbard ISD Superintendent Dr. Stu Musick said that Hubbard ISD did not achieve the superior rating due to its debt related to a bond for construction that passed several years ago.



Dr. Musick said that the school not having huge amounts of money in its fund balance also played a role in the rating.



Superior preliminary ratings for Covington and West ISDs were an improvement this year, as both schools were rated above standard last year.



Covington Superintendent Diane Innis attributed the improvement to an increase in the number of students enrolled in the district and a change in the state indicators that are used to determine the ratings.



West ISD Superintendent David Truitt said the school is proud of its preliminary rating.



For our taxpayers, we always strive for high-quality and transparent financial management practices and are always seeking ways to improve in those areas, Truitt said.



Truitt said that the FIRST system was designed to help school districts across Texas better manage financial resources and provide the maximum allocation possible for classroom teaching and learning purposes.



With all that has occurred in West ISD since the fertilizer plant explosion, we have done our best to ensure our student and classroom needs were still the number one focus of our budget work, he added.



In 2015-2016, no district or charter in the state received a meets standard (C) rating.



All school districts and charters are required to report information and financial accountability ratings to parents and taxpayers. In addition, districts and charters must hold a public discussion or hearing regarding its financial report.



TEA has formally notified school districts and charters of their preliminary FIRST rating. Any district or charter wishing to appeal its rating must submit a written appeal, with supporting evidence, to TEA by Thursday, September 8.



Following a review of all the submitted appeals, final 2015-2016 school FIRST ratings are expected to be released in October.










Washington, Aug 31 : China's dissidents have urged US President Barack Obama to confront his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping over the latter's worst human rights crisis since the 1989 Tiananmen crackdown, during his visit to the country for G20 economic summit in Hangzhou this week.

During a meeting at the White House on Tuesday, prominent Chinese activists told Susan Rice, Obama's national security adviser, that Xi had presided over a dramatic offensive against opponents of the Communist party since taking power in late 2012.

Teng Biao, an exiled human rights lawyer who was among those invited to address Rice, told the Guardian that he had called on Obama to publicly speak out on his final presidential visit to Asia, the Guardian reported.

"China is experiencing its worst human rights crackdown since the Tiananmen massacre in 1989," Teng said.

"Especially since Xi came to power, many human rights lawyers and activists were detained and disappeared; many, many NGOs were shut down; and other civil society organisations, universities, media, internet, Christian churches and other religious groups were also targeted. It is obvious that the Chinese government has violated human rights and the current situation is very, very worrying," he said.

World leaders will fly to Hangzhou, the capital of Zhejiang province, later this week to attend the two-day summit which kicks off on Sunday.

Obama and Xi will meet for the first time on Saturday for what the White House called "an extensive bilateral meeting".

Officials said the pair would then share a "small dinner" on Saturday night.

Speaking on Monday, Ben Rhodes, Obama's deputy national security adviser, said the US President would use his time with Xi to review "all of the issues that have been front and centre in the US-China relationship for the last seven and a half years" including flash-points such as the South China Sea, cyber espionage and "our longstanding differences on human rights".

Teng, who fled China in September 2014 and lives in exile in New Jersey with his family, said White House officials had summoned a small group of activists "to talk about the G20 summit and what Obama should do when he is in Hangzhou".

Zhang Qing, wife of the democracy activist Guo Feixong, who has been on hunger strike in a prison in China, was also present.

Speaking after the meeting, which lasted about 80 minutes, Teng said he had told Rice he hoped Obama would publicly call for the release of a series of "political prisoners" and activists.

They included the jailed Uighur scholar Ilham Tohti and Nobel laureate Liu Xiaobo as well as Li Heping and Wang Quanzhang, two civil rights lawyers caught up in a Communist party crackdown on their trade.

Teng also urged Obama to highlight the plight of dissidents being held in prisons in Hangzhou, the G20's host city, and to draw attention to local political activists who have been placed under house arrest to prevent them speaking out ahead of the summit.

Rice had not indicated to her guests how Obama planned to handle human rights issues during his visit to China, Teng added.

Political opponents also urged Obama to confront Xi over human rights abuses, although an anticipated joint announcement that the US and China will ratify the Paris climate agreement makes it unlikely he will be overly critical of his hosts.

In a statement, Republican senator Marco Rubio said: "I am glad the Obama administration is meeting with men and women who can speak authoritatively about the Chinese government's gross human rights abuses, but I urge the President to meet these freedom fighters himself and then press Xi directly at the G20 summit regarding his government's failure to uphold the rule of law and its violations of the Chinese people's basic human rights."

Chris Smith, a Republican congressman who chairs the congressional-executive commission on China, said: "[Obama] should consider doing something radically different on his last trip to China, something that will give hope to Chinese dissidents and freedom advocates. Mildly raising human rights issues is important, but not enough anymore."
New Delhi, Aug 31 : In the wake of the ruling by an international arbitration tribunal in favour of the Philippines in a dispute with China over the South China Sea, India and the US on Wednesday urged all parties concerned to respect international law.

In a joint statement issued following Tuesday's Second India-US Strategic and Commercial Dialogue, the two sides "stressed the importance of maintaining freedom of navigation, freedom of overflight, and unimpeded lawful commerce throughout the region, including in the South China Sea".

Tuesday's talks were co-chaired by External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj and US Secretary of State John Kerry with Minister of State for Commerce and Industry Nirmala Sitharaman and US Secretary of Commerce Penny Pritzker also in attendance.

"They (India and the US) urged the utmost respect for international law, as reflected in the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (Unclos)," the statement said.

"They reiterated that states should resolve disputes through peaceful means, and exercise self-restraint in the conduct of activities that could complicate or escalate disputes affecting peace and stability."

An international arbitration tribunal in the Permanent Court of Arbitration in the The Hague ruled on July 12 that China violated the Philippines' rights in the South China Sea, one of the busiest commercial shipping routes in the world.

The court accused China of interfering with the Philippines' fishing and petroleum exploration, building artificial islands in the waters and failing to prevent Chinese fishermen from fishing in the zone.

The tribunal held that fishermen from the Philippines had traditional fishing rights in Scarborough Shoal in the South China Sea and that China had interfered with these rights by restricting their access.

The court held that Chinese law enforcement vessels unlawfully created a serious risk of collision when they physically obstructed Philippine vessels in the region.

China is locked in disputes over the Spratly and Paracel groups of islands in the South China Sea with other countries of the region.

While the other claimants over the Spratly islands are Brunei, Malaysia, the Philippines, Taiwan and Vietnam, the Paracel islands are also claimed by Vietnam and Taiwan.

The most heavily contested are the Spratlys, a group of 14 islands, islets and cays and more than 100 reefs that are strategically located.

The South China Sea is a resource-rich strategic waterway through which more than $5 trillion worth of world trade is shipped each year.

The Philippines, which brought the dispute to the tribunal in 2013, welcomed the ruling while China reacted angrily.

China said it has historic rights over the resource-rich sea and declared that the tribunal award "is null and void and has no binding force".

"China neither accepts nor recognises it," Beijing stated.

India has said that its official position on the issue was a principled one, deriving from India being a state party to the Unclos.

According to the External Affairs Ministry, as a state party, India believes that all parties should show utmost respect to the Unclos which establishes the international legal order of the seas and oceans.

In Wednesday's joint statement, India and the US also reaffirmed their commitment to work together as priority partners in the Asia Pacific and the Indian Ocean regions in accordance with the road map for cooperation under the India-US Joint Strategic Vision for the Asia Pacific and the Indian Ocean Region.

"In this regard, they welcomed the convening of the inaugural Maritime Security Dialogue in May 2016 and engagement on maritime domain awareness, including through a White Shipping Agreement," the statement said.

"They also decided to strengthen cooperation in the area of connectivity."
Washington, Aug 31 : The upcoming meeting between Chinese and US leaders will focus on narrowing and managing differences and expanding practical cooperation between the two countries, an official said.

US President Barack Obama will have an "extended" bilateral meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping ahead of the G20 summit in China, Xinhua news agency quoted Daniel Kritenbrink, senior director for Asian affairs at the US National Security Council, as saying here on Tuesday.

Obama will make clear as he has in the past that the US welcomes a rising China that is peaceful, stable and prosperous, and is a responsible player in global affairs, Kritenbrink said.

The US President will also make sure that when China invests itself in resolving regional problems, the US and the world will benefit, the official said.

Kritenbrink recalled the previous engagements between the two Presidents, including their first informal summit held at the Sunnylands estate in California in 2013, Obama's state visit to Beijing in 2014 and Xi's state visit to the US in September last year.

"The high frequency of leaders-level engagement with Chinese counterparts has been a deliberate part of our strategy for building a more constructive and productive relationship with China," Kritenbrink said.

The 11th G20 summit is to be held in the eastern Chinese city of Hangzhou on September 4-5, under the theme of "Toward an Innovative, Invigorated, Interconnected and Inclusive World Economy".
Colombo, Aug 31 : The Sri Lankan cabinet on Wednesday agreed to ratify the Paris agreement in order to minimise the impact and risk of climate change.

The Paris Agreement on Climate Change was signed by 178 countries including Sri Lanka at the UN headquarters on April 2, Xinhua news agency quoted Media Minister Gayantha Karunathilleke as saying.

Sri Lanka has been identified by the agreement as an island state that face the impacts of climate changes such as prolonged droughts, flash floods, rise in the sea level, landslides, and inundation of lowlands.

Accordingly, the proposal by President Maithripala Sirisena, in his capacity as the Minister of Mahaweli Development and Environment, to ratify the Paris Agreement was approved by the Cabinet, Karunathilleke said.
Ranchi, Aug 31 : A Maoist commander who carried a reward of Rs 5 lakh for capture surrendered to the police here on Wednesday.

Deepak alias Tilakman surrendered before Jharkhand Director General of Police D.K. Pandey.

He was given Rs 50,000 under the surrender policy of the state and handed over a cheque of Rs 5 lakh -- the reward money announced for his arrest.

This year, a dozen Maoists have surrendered in Jharkhand.
Thiruvananthapuram, Sep 1 : The LDF government in Kerala does not pass muster in the first 100 days of its office even with "grace marks," said Congress leader Ramesh Chennithala here on Thursday.

He said on the 100th day -- Thursday -- of the government led by Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, even the the Left Demoratic Front's (LDF) own leaders are keeping mum.

"Even (veteran CPI-M leader) Achuthanandan has got nothing to say about the government. No one heard any comments from the CPI, the second biggest party in the ruling LDF, and the LDF Convenor (Vaikom Viswan) is also silent," said Chennithala.

Asked on Thursday by reporters what he thought about 100 days of the Vijayan government, former Chief Minister V.S. Achuthanandan said, "The time hasn't yet come to make an assessment."

Following the assembly elections earlier this year, Vijayan pipped Achuthanandan, 92, to the chief minister's chair.

The veteran Marxist leader was appointed on August 3, 2016, the Chairman of the Administrative Reforms Commission, a position that comes with cabinet minister's status, but has not yet taken office.

"Can someone tell why is Achuthanandan not taking up the post," asked Chennithala, who is Leader of Opposition in the Kerala assembly.

While the whole world is moving towards decentralisation, Vijayan is staying put for "some strange reason", Chennithala said.

"His style of functioning is like dictatorship and he is the master of all and unwilling to delegate," he said.

Meanwhile, Vijayan did a Narendra Modi on Thursday, going live on the All India Radio and FM radio channels. In his address to the people of Kerala, he thanked them for "fully supporting" him.

"Sustainable development on all fronts is the agenda of my government and another key area is to tackle the menace of substance abuse, especially among the youth. Organic farming is also a top priority on our agenda," said Vijayan in his radio address.

Vijayan was sworn-in as the Chief Minister on May 25, completing 100 days in office on Thursday.
New Delhi, Sep 1 : It's not only the common people who are down with chikungunya and dengue here in the national capital -- even the doctors are suffering from the vector-borne diseases, leading to staff crunch in the city hospitals.

Authorities told IANS on Thursday that they are witnessing a shortage of staff as many doctors, including senior faculty members, have tested positive for the vector-borne diseases, keeping them from discharging their duties.

According to government-run Safdarjung Hospital, while a total of 10-12 senior faculty members have tested positive for chikungunya, at least 25 junior doctors, including senior and junior residents, are suffering from chikungunya and dengue.

Notably, Safdarjung already has a staff shortage of over 30 per cent.

"A good number of our doctors are badly suffering from chikungunya and dengue, including senior faculty members and resident doctors. While a few of them are admitted to the hospital, many are on leaves and undergoing treatment at home as the dengue wards are flooded with patients and there is no space," A.K. Rai, Medical Superintendent of Safdarjung Hospital, told IANS.

"We are managing with very less number of doctors right now," Rai added.

Rai said that there is also a shortage of beds which is creating a havoc-type situation in the hospitals.

Out of the 175 chikungunya patients in centrally-located Ram Manohar Lohia Hospital, over 30 are doctors of the hospital itself, an official said.

"I personally know five senior faculty members of RML hospital who were badly ill with chikungunya and dengue. However, the total number of doctors suffering from chikungunya and dengue is somewhere between 30-35," V.K. Sinha, spokesperson of RML Hospital, told IANS.

According to him, RML has a dengue ward having 110 beds. One fever clinic has also been started at the hospital to attend to the rising number of patients with viral fever, which is a major symptom of both dengue and chikungunya.

According to the South Delhi Municipal Corporation, which monitors the number of dengue and chikungunya cases across Delhi, a total of 487 cases of dengue and 432 cases of chikungunya have been reported in the national capital till August 27.

While North Delhi has recorded the highest number of dengue cases at 98, South Delhi has recorded the highest number of Chikungunya cases at 25.

However, the unofficial figures tell a different story, with the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) alone witnessing over 450 cases of chikungunya.

"This season over 50 medical staff of AIIMS, including 10-12 senior faculty members and many junior and senior residents, are suffering from chikungunya and dengue," said a senior doctor of the medicine department at AIIMS, wishing he not be identified.

A total of 20 doctors at Ganga Ram Hospital are also suffering from chikungunya and dengue.

"Twelve of our senior doctors are suffering from chikungunya while eight of the doctors are suffering from dengue," Atul Gogia, senior consultant at Ganga Ram Hospital, told IANS.

According to Punita Mahajan, Medical Superintendent of Ambedkar Hospital, in north-west Delhi, 10 per cent of the doctors working in the hospital have been reported to be suffering from viral fever.

However, she was unable to confirm the exact number of staff members down with the vector-borne diseases.
New Delhi, Sep 1 : Defending party Vice-President Rahul Gandhi on his comments on the RSS, the Congress said on Thursday this was a "battle of principles" for him that would eventually decide "who is a true Hindu".

"We believe this is not a battle of courts, this battle will decide who is a true Hindu. RSS will have to give a statement with regard to this because a true Hindu could never have killed Mahatma Gandhiji," said Congress leader Kapil Sibal, briefing reporters.

"We want to ask them (RSS) whether Nathu Ram Godse was a true Hindu? Can they say that any Hindu could not have killed Gandhiji? Can they say because of this Godse was not a Hindu? So, the battle lies here. Who is a true Hindu? The fight is against divisive agenda, against identity politics, against caste-based and religion-based politics.

"We believe that Hinduism is a way of life. It is fight for humanity. We want to prove that we stand by humanity. It is a political battle. RSS is doing this because they want to make it a political agenda before the Uttar Pradesh elections," said Sibal, who is also the lawyer in the case for Rahul Gandhi.

Gandhi's lawyer Sibal told the Supreme Court that the Congress Vice President stood by what he had said about the RSS and the 1948 assassination of the Mahatma.

Rahul Gandhi withdrew a petition before the apex court that had sought quashing of the defamation proceeding in a Maharashtra trial court.

"We took the decision to withdraw the petition before the apex court because Rahul Gandhi stands by his statement and it is true," said Sibal.

"RSS today in the court demanded a statement from us that Rahul Gandhi should say that RSS has not killed Mahatma Gandhi and RSS is not culpable. Then we said, we'll not back off from our position. We'll not give any more statement. And we are ready to face the trial," he added.

Rahul Gandhi on Thursday told the Supreme Court that he stood by his remarks blaming the RSS for the assassination of Mahatma Gandhi and said he was ready to face a trial for alleged defamation of the ideological parent of the ruling BJP.

"This is a fight of principle and ideology. Both Rahul Gandhi and the Congress party will continue to fight this battle," said Congress spokesperson Randeep Singh Surjewala.

"On March 6, 2014, Congress Vice-President Rahul Gandhi had said in a public speech in Bhiwandi, Maharashtra, that 'RSS people had killed Mahatma Gandhi'," Surjewala added.

"There were misconceptions being raised by people of BJP and RSS in the public domain. On clear, specific and unequivocal instructions of Rahul Gandhi, his counsel Kapil Sibal, told the apex court that Rahul Gandhi stands by his statement on murder of Mahatma Gandhi," said Surjewala.

"Rahul Gandhi had said it earlier and will repeat his statement in future as he believes that this is the truth of this nation, a historical truth that cannot be denied," he added.
Guwahati, Sep 1 : Assam Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal on Thursday sought the help of the central government in sealing the porous Indo-Bangladesh border in Assam, and said that sealing of the international border must be completed under the supervision of the Indian Army.

"The Indian Army had sealed the 700-km-long Indo-Pak border in Kashmir within six months. It has also turned out to be an effective one. We have already written to the central government to ask the Indian Army to supervise the border fencing works along the Indo-Bangladesh border in Assam," Sonowal told a press conference here.

The sealing of Indo-Bangladesh border is one of the core issues of Bharatiya Janata Party's election campaign in Assam.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi during his visit to Assam before the 2014 Lok Sabha polls and ahead of the 2016 assembly polls in Assam also assured to effectively seal the border to stop the illegal infiltration in the state from Bangladesh.

While the former Congress government in Assam claims to have sealed effectively 97.75 per cent of the 268-km-long Indo-Bangladesh border in Assam, most of the portion of the international border still remains porous.

"There must be a strong fencing on the border that can not only stop infiltration but also stop smuggling and other illegal cross border activities. The Indian Army has done it in Jammu & Kashmir and I am sure they can do it here in Assam too," Sonowal said.

The Assam Chief Minister, who addressed the media for the first time on Thursday since he took charge as Chief Minister in May, also reiterated the government's commitment to free Assam from illegal Bangladeshi citizens, and said that the government had prioritised the updation of National Register of Citizens (NRC) to make Assam free of illegal Bangladeshi citizens.

He said the NRC will be updated by 2017.

"We have just completed 100 days in office. I along with my colleagues have been working in full swing to fulfil all the aspirations of the people. However, 100 days are not sufficient to fulfil all the aspirations," he said.

He said his government has been trying to make the system of governance in Assam transparent and corruption free so that all the schemes and programmes can be implemented properly across the state.

"We have adopted a zero tolerance policy against corruption and we are working hard to make the system corruption free," he said while appealing the people for cooperation.
New Delhi, Sep 1 : Congress Vice-President Rahul Gandhi on Thursday told the Supreme Court that he stood by his remarks blaming the RSS people for assassination of Mahatma Gandhi and was ready to face trial for alleged criminal defamation.

The Bharatiya Janata Party and RSS attacked Rahul Gandhi and accused him of making a U-turns while the Congress indicated that it will take the battle to the people, saying its leader was fighting a political battle which will eventually decide who is "a true Hindu".

Rahul Gandhi withdrew a petition before the apex court that had sought quashing of the defamation proceedings in a Maharashtra trial court.

His lawyer Kapil Sibal told the Supreme Court that Rahul Gandhi stood by his remarks that people associated with Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh, considered the ideological fountainhead of BJP, killed Mahatma Gandhi.

While allowing Gandhi to withdraw his petition, the bench of Justice Dipak Misra and Justice Rohinton Fali Nariman declined his plea for exemption from appearing before the trial court in defamation case.

The Congress Vice-President had moved the Supreme Court challenging the Bombay High Court order refusing to interfere with the criminal defamation case instituted by an RSS activist Rajesh Mahadev Kunte before a Bhiwandi court in Thane district of Maharashtra.

Kunte is the secretary of the Bhiwandi unit of RSS.

Rahul Gandhi had said in a speech at Bhiwandi in 2014 that "RSS people killed Gandhiji.."

On August 24, Rahul Gandhi had told the Supreme Court that he had not blamed the RSS as an institution for the assassination of Mahatma Gandhi, but the people associated with it. However, a day later he tweeted that he stood by every word he said and "will never stop fighting the hateful & divisive agenda of the RSS".

During the last hearing the apex court bench took note of Gandhi's statement before the Bombay High Court that he had not blamed the RSS as an institution for the assassination of Mahatma Gandhi but the people associated with it. However, on Thursday the matter took a different turn when senior counsel Umesh R. Lalit said that to prove his bonafides, Rahul Gandhi should say that he did not intend to involve RSS for the assassination of Mahatma Gandhi.

At this, senior counsel Sibal appearing for Gandhi told the bench that he (Rahul Gandhi) stands by every word he had said before the High Court. "RSS ke logon ne goli mari. (RSS people shot at Mahatma Gandhi) I stand by my every word. I am ready to go to trial," he said.

Sibal later told reporters that it was a "political battle" and a "battle of principles" for Rahul Gandhi who is Congress lead campaigner for the upcoming assembly elections in Uttar Pradesh and Punjab.

"We believe this is not a battle of courts, this battle will decide who is a true Hindu. RSS will have to give a statement with regard to this because a true Hindu could never have killed Mahatma Gandhiji," Sibal said.

"We want to ask them (RSS) whether Nathu Ram Godse was a true Hindu? Can they say that any Hindu could not have killed Gandhiji? Can they say because of this Godse was not a Hindu? So, the battle lies here. Who is a true Hindu? The fight is against divisive agenda, against identity politics, against caste-based and religion-based politics.

"We believe that Hinduism is a way of life. It is fight for humanity."

Another party leader Randeep Singh Surjewala said Rahul Gandhi's fight is not a personal one against any party, but against the ideology "which is divisive in nature." He added that the same divisive ideology was guiding many people in the BJP.

BJP leader Shahnawaz Hussain said the country knows what the RSS is doing for the country.

"He (Rahul) has taken U-turn twice over the issue. Some day he will definitely apologise," he added.

BJP Secretary Srikant Sharma said RSS was invited to join the Republic Day parade by first Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru.

"Does the Congress party under Rahul Gandhi disagree with what Nehru did," he said.

He also asked if entire Congress should be held responsible for the anti-Sikh riots in 1984.

RSS publicity department chief Manmohan Vaidya tweeted: "Then why R. Gandhi avoided the trial for two years under one pretext or other? Is he scared to face truth? He keeps on taking U-turns."
New Delhi, Sep 1 : As dengue and chikungunya cases continue to soar, affecting hundreds in the national capital, many doctors in the city hospitals have also fallen prey to the vector-borne diseases.

Authorities told IANS on Thursday that they are witnessing a shortage of staff as many doctors, including senior faculty members in many hospitals, have tested positive for dengue and chikungunya, keeping them from discharging their duties.

In a review meeting, Union Cabinet Secretary P.K Sinha on Thursday asked all stake holders in both the Centre and Delhi government to take action for the prevention and management of the vector borne diseases.

He said that more public awareness programmes should be run and availability of medicines ensured.

In a meeting with the health authorities, Centre, State and Municipal corporations, Sinha asked the bodies to intensively use the helpline facilities started for dengue and chikungunya cases in the national capital and the adjoining areas.

"I hope that the residents will also participate by taking necessary preventive measures by maintaining cleanliness and the local bodies will use necessary increased fogging in the area," said a statement quoting Sinha.

The authorities were informed that there was no scarcity of dengue testing kits, as reported by a few media houses.

According to the South Delhi Municipal Corporation, which monitors the number of dengue and chikungunya cases across Delhi, a total of 487 cases of dengue and 432 cases of chikungunya have been reported in the national capital till August 27.

While North Delhi has recorded the highest number of dengue cases at 98, South Delhi has recorded the highest number of chikungunya with 25.

Even doctors have fallen victim to the vector-borne diseases, leading to staff crunch in the city hospitals.

According to government-run Safdarjung Hospital, over 10 senior faculty members have tested positive for chikungunya, while at least 25 junior doctors, including senior and junior residents, are suffering from chikungunya and dengue.

Notably, Safdarjung already has a staff shortage of over 30 per cent.

"A good number of our doctors are badly suffering from chikungunya and dengue, including senior faculty members and resident doctors. While a few of them are admitted to hospital, many are on leave and undergoing treatment at home as the dengue wards are flooded with patients and there is no space," A.K. Rai, Medical Superintendent of Safdarjung Hospital, told IANS.

Among the hospitals whose doctors have fallen prey to chikungunya and dengue include Ganga Ram Hospital with 20 doctors suffering from chikungunya and dengue, while Ram Manohar Lohia Hospital has over 35 of its doctors suffering from the vector borne diseases.

Medical Superintendent of City based Ambedkar Hospital Punita Mahajan said that 10 percent of the hospital doctors are suffering from fever, a major symptom of dengue and chikungunya.
New Delhi, Sep 2 : Ahead of his departure on Friday to Vietnam on a bilateral visit, Prime Minister Narendra Modi described the southeast Asian nation as "friendly", India's relationship with which will benefit Asia and the whole world.

"Greetings to the people of Vietnam on their National Day. Vietnam is a friendly nation with whom we cherish our relationship," Modi said in a series of Facebook posts.

Stating that he would be reaching Hanoi on Friday evening, the Prime Minister said his government attached a high priority to bilateral relations with Vietnam.

This will be the first prime ministerial visit from India to Vietnam in 15 years since the visit of the then Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee in 2001.

"The India-Vietnam partnership will benefit Asia and the rest of the world," Modi stated.

"During the visit, I will hold extensive discussions with Prime Minister Mr. Nguyen Xuan Phuc. We will review complete spectrum of our bilateral relationship."

Modi said that he would also meet Vietnamese President Tran Dai Quang, General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam Nguyen Phu Trong, and National Assembly of Vietnam's Chairperson Nguyen Thi Kim Ngan.

"We wish to forge a strong economic relationship with Vietnam that can mutually benefit our citizens," he said.

"Strengthening the people-to-people ties will also be an my endeavour during the Vietnam visit."

During the visit, Modi will pay homage to Ho Chi Minh, whom he described as "one of 20th century's tallest leaders".

From Vietnam, the Prime Minister will proceed to Hangzhou in China on Saturday evening to attend this year's G-20 Summit to be held on September 4-5.

"During the G-20 Summit, I will have an opportunity to engage with other world leaders on pressing international priorities and challenges," he said.

"We will discuss putting the global economy on the track of sustainable, steady growth and responding to emerging and entrenched social, security and economic challenges."

Modi said that India would "engage constructively on all the issues before us and work towards finding solutions and taking forward the agenda for a robust, inclusive and sustainable international economic order that uplifts the socio-economic conditions of people across the world, especially those who need it most in developing countries".
Seoul, Sep 2 : South Korean President Park Geun-hye on Friday made her first mention of a conditional deployment of the US missile shield, or Terminal High Altitude Area Defence (THAAD), before leaving for Russia to participate in the Eastern Economic Forum.

"The essence of the problem in this matter is the North's nuclear and missile threats. If these threats are eliminated, the need to deploy the THAAD system would naturally disappear," Xinhua news agency quoted Park as saying.

It is the first time that South Korean leader mentioned the conditional THAAD deployment, showing signs of a slight change in her hard-line position ahead of her trips to Russia and China that have strongly opposed the US missile defence system in their neighbourhood.

Park is set to visit Vladivostok for two days to attend the second Eastern Economic Forum and hold a bilateral summit with Russian President Vladimir Putin. The forum was launched last year to speed up development of the Russian far east.

She will move to China to attend Group of 20 (G20) summit scheduled to be held in Hangzhou on September 4-5.

Park, however, reiterated that the THAAD deployment is a measure of self-defence to protect from North Korea's "ever-escalating" nuclear and missile threats.

Chinese and Russian objections to THAAD in South Korea came as the US missile shield's X-band radar can break strategic balance in the region and damage security interests of the two countries.
New Delhi, Sep 2 : Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday left here for Vietnam on a bilateral visit.

"An eastern journey for strengthening bilateral and multilateral diplomacy. PM departs for Vietnam and China for G20," External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Vikas Swarup tweeted.

This is the first prime ministerial bilateral visit from India to Vietnam in 15 years after the visit of then Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee in 2001.

On Saturday, Modi will meet with the top Vietnamese leadership, including General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam Nguyen Phu Trong, President Tran Dai Quang, Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc and Chairman Nguyen Thi Kim Ngan.

Later in the day, he will depart for Hangzhou in China where he will attend this year's G-20 summit on September 4-5.
Beijing, Sep 2 : China welcomed Philippines President Rodrigo Duterte's plan to visit the country as early as possible, officials said on Friday.

Duterte said recently that bilateral talks between the Philippines and China may start "within the year", Xinhua news agency reported.

The friendly ties between China and the Philippines are in accordance with the fundamental interests of the countries and the expectations of their people, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Hua Chunying said.

China values its ties with the Philippines, Hua said, adding that the high-level visits are important to improve bilateral ties, enhance understanding and trust.

Responding to a report on Duterte and Chinese Premier Li Keqiang's meeting on the sidelines of the upcoming East Asia Summit, Hua said China had an open attitude.

In July, an arbitral tribunal constituted under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) ruled against China's maritime claims in the South China Sea.

China does not acknowledge the tribunal nor abide by its ruling, insisting that any resolution should be through bilateral negotiations with other claimants.
Vladivostok (Russia), Sep 2 : The second Eastern Economic Forum (EEF) opened on Friday in the Russian city of Vladivostok, with 2,500 guests and investors from 28 countries attending.

Deputy Prime Minister of Russia Yury Trutnev welcomed everybody at the opening ceremony of the EEF and named its main goal as "attracting investment to the Russian Far East region and creating new economic projects", Xinhua news agency reported.

Top managers from 200 Russian and 57 foreign companies from 28 countries joined the EEF to explore more opportunities for economic cooperation.

The Ministry for Development of the Russian Far East expected 200 agreements, worth about 1.7 trillion rubles (about $2.5 billion), to be signed at the forum.

"It's our job to provide simplified administrative procedures and assistance with the projects. The Russian Far East region can offer the best conditions for investors who want to work here," the ministry said.

Russian President Vladimir Putin invited his South Korean counterpart Park Geun-hye and Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe to the forum and is expected to meet them on the sidelines of the EEF.
Los Angeles, Sep 3 : Model Ashley Graham says she didn't have sex with her husband Justin Ervin until their wedding night.

The top model talked about her personal life with ELLE Canada. She said she wanted to wait until her wedding night to retain some 'power' in the relationship, reports dailymail.co.uk.

She said: "My husband and I waited; call me crazy, but it worked. Our sex is amazing! It made me feel like I had the power back in my dating life. He respected me more because I wasn't willing to just give it up."

Graham, 28 - who met cinematographer Justin Ervin at a church in 2009 and got hitched the following year, advises other women to wait before getting intimate.

"I tell my friends to wait three months. Just see if he can wait. If he can, he's a good guy. And, again, it's not for everybody, but for me it was great. It's something I'm actually really proud of," she added.
Moscow/Washington, Sep 3 : Russian President Vladimir Putin and Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev expressed condolences over the death of Uzbekistan's long-time leader Islam Karimov, the Kremlin and the Cabinet press services said. US President Barack Obama also reaffirmed his country's support to Uzbekistan "at this challenging time".

"At this challenging time of President Islam Karimov's passing, the US reaffirms its support for the people of Uzbekistan," the White House quoted Obama as saying in a statement on Friday.

As Uzbekistan begins a new chapter in its history, the US remains committed to partnership with Uzbekistan, to its sovereignty, security, and to a future based on the rights of all its citizens, Obama added.

The Uzbek authorities announced in a televised statement earlier on Friday that Karimov, 78, died in a hospital after suffering a stroke last week.

Both Putin and Medvedev highly praised Karimov's role in maintaining strategic partnership between Russia and Uzbekistan, as well as in strengthening security and stability in Central Asia, Sputnik reported.

His (Karimov's) departure from life is a great loss for the people of Uzbekistan, as well as the Commonwealth of Independent States and the countries-partners of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization. Islam Karimov was a prominent statesman, a true leader of the country," the statement by Putin said.

"The most important milestones in the history of modern Uzbek state are associated with his name," the statement said.

Medvedev's spokeswoman Natalia Timakova said the prime minister will head the Russian delegation at Karimov's funeral in native Samarkand on September 3.
United Nations, Sep 3 : UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said that he is saddened to learn of Uzbekistan President Islam Karimov's death and extended condolences to the latter's family.

"The secretary-general pays tribute to the late president's efforts to develop strong ties between Uzbekistan and the United Nations as well as strengthen regional and global peace and security, through the promotion and entry into force in 2009 of the Treaty to establish the Central Asian Nuclear Weapon-Free Zone," said a statement issued here on Friday by Ban's spokesman, Xinhua news agency reported.

"The secretary-general reiterates the commitment of the United Nations to continue working closely with the government and the people of Uzbekistan," the statement said.

Karimov died on Friday at the age of 78 after being hospitalised following a stroke on August 27, the Uzbek government confirmed.

His funeral will be held on Saturday in the historic town of Samarkand, where he was born, a government statement said, adding that a three-day period of mourning would start on the same day.

Karimov, who had served as president of the newly independent republic since 1991, suffered a brain hemorrhage on Saturday.
Washington, Sep 3 : Scientists are set to name a new fish after US President Barack Obama honouring his decision to create a new protected area off the Hawaiian coast.

The National Geographic reported on Friday that the maroon and gold creature, which was discovered 300 ft deep in the waters off Kure Atoll, is the only known fish to live within Papahanaumokuakea, an expanse of coral reefs and seamounts home to more than 7,000 species, CNN reported on Saturday.

Last week, Obama established the largest protected marine sanctuary in the world when he more than quadrupled the size of the Papahanaumokuakea Marine National Monument to protect reefs, marine life habitats and other resources.

The expansion will add 442,781 sq.miles to the monument, making it now a total of 582,578 sq.miles.

The dorsal fin coloration of the male is a circular red spot ringed with blue which scientists said reminded them of Obama's campaign logo, CNN reported.

"It's very reminiscent of Obama's (campaign) logo," Richard Pyle, a marine biologist, told the magazine.

"How appropriate that a fish we were thinking about naming after him anyway, just to say thank you for expanding the national monument, happens to have a feature that ties it to the President."

The species was discovered this past June during a research trip to Kure, the world's northernmost atoll, CNN reported citing the National Geographic.

This is not the first time Obama has had a fish named after him.

Scientists named an aqua and orange speckled freshwater darter found in the Tennessee River Etheostoma Obama in 2012, CNN added.
Bogota, Sep 3 : The agreement ending more than five decades of war between the Colombian government and leftist FARC rebels will be signed on September 26.

President Juan Manuel Santos on Friday revealed the date in a speech to the final session of the national congress of chambers of commerce, EFE news reported.

The president highlighted that September 26 is the feast day of Saint Peter Claver, a "great defender of human rights".

The Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia, or FARC, has battled a succession of governments since the mid-1960s and at its peak had some 20,000 fighters under arms.

The day after the accord is signed will mark the start of a 180-day period (D-Day+180) for the FARC to lay down their weapons, which are to be turned in to a UN mission.

Different sections of the agreement have already been signed by the government's chief negotiator, Humberto de la Calle, and his FARC counterpart Ivan Marquez, but it still must be inked by Santos and FARC chief Rodrigo Londono, better known by the nom de guerre Timochenko.
New Delhi, Sep 3 : Politicians set to visit Kashmir as part of an all-party delegation met here on Saturday to discuss the situation in the restive valley and the possibility of holding talks with people from various sections of society there.

Home Minister Rajnath Singh chaired the meeting and also discussed the itinerary of the Kashmir visit that begins on Sunday.

The Home Minister-led all-party delegation is expected to meet political groups, trade union leaders, civil society members and individuals to discuss ways and means of restoring peace in the valley caught in an unending cycle of violence triggered by the July 8 killing of Hizbul Mujahideen militant commander Burhan Wani.

The delegation comprises 28 MPs and some senior government officials. They include Finance Minister Arun Jaitley, Food and Public Distribution Minister Ram Vilas Paswan, Congress leaders Ghulam Nabi Azad and Mallikarjun Kharge, and MP Asaduddin Owaisi.

Normal life has remained disrupted in the Kashmir Valley for the last nearly two months amid recurring pro-freedom stone-throwing protests and counter-violence by security forces. At least 73 people, including two policemen, have been killed in the weeks of violence.
Agra, Sep 3 : Actor Sanjay Mishra started shooting in this city of the Taj on Saturday for a short film by Shamika Tomar titled "The Grief".

Produced and directed by Tomar, the film will present the struggles and frustrations of a carriage driver who ferries tourists between the Taj Mahal and Agra Fort.

Talking about her project, Tomar told IANS: "It is much more challenging to power pack a message in a short 10-minute film. But my script is tight and I have done enough homework in selecting locales.

"The cameraman is from Spain. People fall in love with the Taj and the romantic story that goes with it, but little concern is felt for those 'small men' who do a whole lot of things to keep the tourism going. The tonga (carriage) driver epitomises those feelings of agony and disappointment in a drudgery-ridden life of an aam admi (common man)."

Tomar, who is doing her graduation at an American institution in cinematography, has produced many short films and has bagged two short Hollywood films within 15 months of her stay in the US. Her future plans are to make "quality" movies in India.

When she flew to Los Angeles, little did she know whether her decision to pursue her dream was the right thing to do or not.

Her parents were apprehensive about her career plans, but her determination yielded results and she got "Awaken" and "On the Verge".

"'Awaken' is the story of a young girl, who faces life-changing consequences of drunken driving by losing her best friend. The remorse and guilt leads her on the path of artistic epiphany and lends a new meaning to her life," she said.

In both the films, former Miss India Shilpa Tripathi plays the central roles.

"'On the Verge' is about Marie, a girl who sneaks out of her house without her mother's consent on a holiday with her boyfriend, who betrays her," said Tomar.
Beijing, Sep 3 : China's legislature on Saturday ratified the Paris Agreement on climate change, officials confirmed.

Lawmakers voted to adopt "the proposal to review and ratify the Paris Agreement" at the closing meeting of the bimonthly session of the National People's Congress Standing Committee, Xinhua news agency reported.

The agreement is the third document to attempt to address climate change, following the 1992 UN Framework Convention on Climate Change and the 1997 Kyoto Protocol.

"Ratifying the agreement accords with China's policy of actively dealing with climate change," said the proposal. Ratification will "advance China's green, low-carbon development and safeguard environmental security", it added.

Ratifying the agreement is in China's interests and will help the country "play a bigger role in global climate governance," according to the proposal.

China signed the Paris Agreement at UN Headquarters in New York on April 22. Vice Premier Zhang Gaoli, who signed the document, had announced that China would ratify the pact before the G20 summit in Hangzhou.

On December 12, 2015, after nearly two weeks of talks, 196 parties to the UN conference on climate change in Paris (COP21) reached the agreement on holding the average global rise in temperature below 2 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels, and preferably below 1.5 degrees.

To fulfil its commitments, China will have to cut carbon emissions per unit of GDP by 60-65 per cent by 2030 from 2005 levels, increase non-fossil fuel sources in primary energy consumption to about 20 per cent, and peak its carbon emissions by 2030.
New Delhi : India is 35 tanker-trucks short of the blood it requires for medical procedures, yet some areas of the country wasted blood because there was too much of it, according to an IndiaSpend analysis of government data.

The shortage was estimated at 1.1 million units -- as blood is measured, with a unit being either 350 ml or 450 ml -- in 2015-16, Minister for Health and Family Welfare J.P. Nadda told the Lok Sabha in July 2016. We converted these data into tankers, assuming a standard tanker-truck of 11,000 lt and a 350 ml unit.

In percentage terms, India is 9 per cent short of its needs -- the shortage reducing from 17 per cent in 2013-2014.

The 9 per cent national shortfall hides local shortages and oversupply.

Bihar is 84 per cent short of its blood requirements, more than any other state, followed by Chhattisgarh (66 per cent) and Arunachal Pradesh (64 per cent). Chandigarh had almost nine times the blood it needed, Delhi three times, Dadra and Nagar Haveli, Mizoram, and Pondicherry twice, according to government data.

India has 2,708 blood banks, but 81 districts still lack one, according to government data. Chhattisgarh has the most districts without a blood bank (11), followed by Assam and Arunachal Pradesh (9).

Blood donations are largely from and for the same community, said Zarin Bharucha, pathologist and Chairperson of Federation of Bombay Blood Banks.

Rural areas find blood supplies harder to access. "India has a huge rural population, almost 70 per cent, and we need to be able to provide blood in the most remote areas also," Bharucha said.

Shortages may also be due to the fact that there is no central collection agency, leaving the logistics of collecting blood to single blood banks and local governments.

Some areas may collect too much blood at the same time, instead of doing it at a constant run.

"This leads to two issues," said Bharucha. "First, that area is likely to experience a shortage of donations in the future. In a country without a donation culture, if everyone donates at the same time, they won't show up for a while. Second, you might have so much blood that you won't need it. So, a part of it will be wasted."

Between January 2011 and December 2015, 63 blood banks across Mumbai wasted 130,000 litres of blood, the Asian Age reported in May 2016, quoting a reply that Right to Information (RTI) activist Chetan Kothari received from the Mumbai District AIDS Control Society, which revealed that the blood was discarded because it was stored for too long.

World Health Organisation (WHO) guidelines on blood donations require all blood to come through voluntary donations from low-risk populations.

The National Aids Control Organisation (NACO), a division of the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, running HIV/AIDS control programmes, reported that blood donated voluntarily increased from 54 per cent in 2006 to 84 per cent in 2013-2014.

Activists said this figure is misleading. They argue that NACO started counting family donations as voluntary, a practice that goes against WHO's definition of voluntary donation.

Paid "donations" were banned by a Supreme Court ruling in 1996, but the practice continues. Hospitals that are short of blood often ask a patient's family to find what are called "replacement donors".

"Not everyone has a donor available, so they might land up getting a paid donor, someone masked as a family member who already knows the question they will be asked," said Bharucha.

Getting paid donors may not be safe: donors might either not be tested or provide a false medical history just in order to get paid, increasing the chances for the blood-receiver of getting a transfusion-transmitted infection (TTI) such as HIV, hepatitis A and B and malaria.

Shortages of blood also lead to a black market. In 2008, 17 people were kidnapped for two-and-half years and forced to donate blood so that the kidnappers could sell it to blood banks and hospitals, some of which were accused of being complicit, the BBC reported in January 2015.

They were forced to donate blood three times a week. The Red Cross says blood should be donated no more than once in 8-12 weeks.

"Since the need for blood is increasing, not least because the surgery field is improving and medical tourism is expanding, we need to spread awareness through the communities," said Bharucha. "We need to create a culture of regular donations: giving blood every three months will increase blood supply as well as blood safety."

(In arrangement with IndiaSpend.org, a data-driven, non-profit, public interest journalism platform. Silvio Grocchetti is a multimedia journalist. The views expressed are those of IndiaSpend. Feedback at respond@indiaspend.org)
New York, Sep 3 : In a bid to repair the damage done by the global recall of its flagship premium device Galaxy Note 7 over battery faults, Samsung said they would start exchanging the smartphones as early as next week and customers could swap it with either the Galaxy S7 or S7 Edge.

Samsung late Friday issued an official statement on exchange of the Galaxy Note 7 devices for customers in the US.

"The US carriers have already halted sales and offered ways for customers who have already purchased the device to get refunds. Now Samsung has announced its own exchange programme, which will provide customers with a new device as soon as next week," The Verge reported on Saturday.

According to Samsung's exchange programme, customers can either exchange current Galaxy Note 7 device with a new Galaxy Note 7 as early as next week or they can exchange current Galaxy Note 7 for a Galaxy S7 or S7 Edge and replacement of any Note 7 specific accessories with a refund of the price difference between devices.

"In addition, affected customers will receive a $25 credit on their phone bill or a $25 gift card for their troubles. Samsung did not say when the Note 7 will be available for general purchase," the report added.

The global recall was a setback for Samsung and somewhat happy news for Apple as it prepared to launch iPhone 7 (on September 7), experts said.

After just two weeks on sale and 35 faulty phone batteries reported so far, Samsung on Friday issued a global recall of Note 7 and promised to replace every unit already sold.

"To date (as of September 1) there have been 35 cases that have been reported globally and we are currently conducting a thorough inspection with our suppliers to identify possible affected batteries in the market," the company had said in a statement.

According to experts, this is bad news especially at a time when Samsung had the momentum going in its favour.

"Market sentiments are not with Apple at the moment and Samsung had to have a good run in months to come, buoyed by its super-successful S7 and S7 Edge devices and now Note 7. The global recall news is a godsend for Apple which is prepared to unveil another flagship device iPhone 7 on September 7," Tarun Pathak, Senior Analyst, Mobile Devices and Ecosystems, Counterpoint Research in New Delhi, told IANS.

Giving a refreshing look to its Note series, the South Korean giant last month launched its Galaxy Note 7 in India for Rs 59,900 with iris biometric scanner for enhanced security, upgraded S Pen and a dual-curved screen.
Kolkata, Sep 3 : The West Bengal government may have promised to return the Tata Nano project land to farmers in Singur, but experts have voiced doubts over the "ecological and economical viability" of restoring the land to its pre-acquisition status.

"The Supreme Court verdict restores the land right of the farmers. But, ecologically converting the land into the cultivable state as it was earlier would not be possible," said A.K. Chakravarti, professor at the Soil and Water Engineering Department at Bidhan Chandra Krishi Viswa Vidyalaya.

"As per the apex court order, it would be possible to return the land to peasants but to do so in a cultivable state and restore the earlier topography would be extremely difficult. Yield would not be what cultivators used to get before the acquisition," he said.

"In fact, during the development of the land for the Tata Nano project, some water bodies were created to use the soil from them in land filing, as the area had mostly low-lying agricultural land. The water bodies have been retained to ensure additional sources of surface water. From the economic point of view, water bodies of a particular size have more yield than an agricultural land," Chakravarti told IANS.

Two days after the Supreme Court quashed the land acquisition for the Tata Motors' small car project by the erstwhile Left Front regime, the present Trinamool Congress government of Mamata Banerjee started the land survey on Friday and said it would complete the process of returning land within the time stipulated by the Supreme Court.

On Thursday, Chief Minister Banerjee chaired a high-level emergency meeting at the state secretariat Nabanna to decide on follow-up actions for implementing the judicial order.

The state government has announced that all land-losers will get the same plot of land which they owned before the acquisition in 2006. Banerjee also announced that her government would make cultivable whichever plot of land has become uncultivable.

"It is a daunting task to convert such land into a cultivable state. Nature of most of the land within the project area has surely changed because the land was acquired 10 years ago and in some parts of the project area, constructions were also carried out," said Abhijit Kumar Nandi, a professor at the Agricultural Economics Department at the Bidhan Chandra Krishi Viswa Vidyalaya.

"Developers will have to source top soil from other areas. The major challenge will be to source the top soil which is the most important ingredient for cultivation," Nandi told IANS.

"I will be surprised if even half of about 1,000 acres of land acquired for the project can be converted into a properly cultivable state," Nandi said.

He also said sourcing of the top soil could lead to a surge in its prices. While it could be sourced by deploying workers under the 100-day work programme, a huge amount of top soil would be required for development of such a large tract of land.

"About Rs 15 lakh per acre may have to be pumped in over a period of one-and-a-half years. Then the land has to be left in that state for a year to season it and make it properly cultivable. I don't know whether the investment will be worth it, and what the return on such investment will be," Nandi said while estimating the cost of developing the land.

Both experts agreed that "the stipulated time-frame for returning land to farmers and that too in a cultivable state seems to be impossible".

The apex court, which delivered its landmark verdict on August 31, has ordered that the land be returned within 12 weeks of receiving the copy of the judgement.

Ashis Ghosh, Director of the Centre for Environment and Development, said the top soil -- the first two inches of soil -- and the sub-soil, usually a layer of 12-24 inch (varying from place to place and depending on the condition of the soil nutrient), was destroyed within the project area where construction has taken place.

Citing the example of restoration of land at Suri in Birbhum district after the unsuccessful attempt of a coal-bed methane exploration project in 2010, Ghosh said: "In this particular project, British Petroleum did not find the project economically viable.

"As per the agreement with land-givers, they restored the land. In this connection we have worked there. Fortunately, after excavation of the plot, the project developers kept the top and sub-soil in the adjacent areas.

"It helped to restore the land and we didn't have to source it from other places. We have also restored the nutrition of the land to a large extent by employing our traditional methods.

"However, the size of the land that was restored was hardly about three acres and it took more than six months to complete the development," Ghosh added.

(Bappaditya Chatterjee can be contacted at bappaditya.c@ians.in)
Hanoi, Sep 3 : Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday called on Vietnam National Assembly Chairperson Nguyen Thi Kim Ngan here.

"Afternoon meetings begin with a call on Nguyen Thi Kim Ngan, Chairperson of the National Assembly of Vietnam," External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Vikas Swarup tweeted.

Earlier in the day, Modi held delegation-level talks with Vietnamese Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc following which the two sides signed 12 agreements while giving a strong boost to bilateral defence ties.

Modi arrived here on Friday ahead of his visit to China to attend the G-20 Summit to be held on September 4-5.

This is the first bilateral prime ministerial visit from India to Vietnam in 15 years since the visit of then Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee in 2001.
Srinagar, Sep 3 : The 28-member all-party delegation headed by Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh arriving here on Sunday should not expect a red carpet welcome in the Kashmir Valley, which has been bleeding for almost two months now.

On the contrary, the delegation should be prepared for some unpleasant experiences if its members step out of protocol and protection to meet the common man.

Some of the most seasoned and experienced members of parliament are part of the delegation coming here to find out ways and means so that the valley is saved from further bloodletting and destruction.

Besides Rajnath Singh, the ministers in the delegation are Arun Jaitley (Finance), Ram Vilas Paswan (Food and Public Distribution) and Jitendra Singh (Minister of State in the PMO).

The other members include Ghulam Nabi Azad, Mallikarjun Kharge and Ambika Soni (all Congress), Sitaram Yechury (CPI-M), D. Raja (CPI), Asaduddin Owaisi (AIMIM), Sharad Yadav (JD-U), Tariq Anwar (NCP)and and Saugata Roy (Trinamool Congres).

The delegation members were given a presentation by senior home ministry officials in New Delhi on Saturday to give them a feel of the overall situation in the valley, which has been on the boil since the July 8 killing of Hizbul Mujahideen militant commander Burhan Wani.

The separatists have asked Kashmiris, including civil society members, trade and travel organisations and other sections of the society, not to meet the delegation.

Hardline senior separatist leader Syed Ali Shah Geelani, who is spearheading the protest shutdown, has said the delegation was coming on "an officially conducted tour of the blood-littered valley".

Trade organisations, including the Kashmir Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KCCI) and Kashmir Economic Alliance (KEA), have said they won't meet the delegation unless the members meet the separatists first.

Mainstream politicians, in a delegation led by former Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, had met national party leaders in New Delhi last month.

Expecting that solutions would be found by meetings of the delegation members with leaders of state's mainstream parties would be naive, observers say.

The problem lies on the other side of the political divide in Jammu and Kashmir although representatives from every region, including those from Jammu, Ladakh and the valley, have stakes in restoring the peace.

While the exact numbers of those inciting the youth to violence or those taking part in stone-pelting and demonstrations voluntarily in the valley may be debated, the fact remains that an overwhelming number of angry youth have been out on the streets protesting for the last 57 days.

The unending violence has left 73 people dead. But the fact that more than 11,000 have been injured proves the situation is highly alarming.

Unless at least some members of the all-party delegation choose to move out of their secured lodgings during their visit and meet the man on the street, they would not get to know anything about the situation other than what they learn through official briefings.

If the delegation members choose to stay put in secured accommodations during their two-day valley visit, they would only have seen autumn setting in over the gloom-ridden valley.

(Sheikh Qayoom can be contacted at sheikh.abdul@ians.in)
London, Sep 3 : American tech giants Microsoft, Google and Salesforce have officially adopted the EU-US Privacy Shield framework, enabling them to receive personal data from the European Union (EU) in compliance with the new standards.

They are now among the 103 companies -- out of the 5,526 signatories -- that have so far signed up to replace the defunct Safe Harbour framework.

Facebook, Apple and Twitter are yet to adopt Privacy Shield, Britain-based Ars Technica website reported.

The European Commission adopted the Privacy Shield in July to facilitate the transfer of personal data from the EU to the US.

Privacy Shield is a voluntary scheme, whereby companies promise to treat European citizens' personal data in compliance with European Union data rules. Those pledges are then enforced by the US Department of Commerce.

According to the EU, the arrangement was necessary because the US does not meet the data protection standards required by Europe. The European Court of Justice annulled the previous law in October 2015.

Since its introduction in 2000, the previous agreement had come to be relied on by 4,400 businesses, including internet giants such as Facebook, Google and Amazon.

But an Austrian law student argued that since Facebook data was subjected to mass surveillance by US intelligence agencies, it did not offer an adequate level of protection.

The student lodged a complaint with the Irish supervisory authority, in the light of the revelations made in 2013 by American whistleblower Edward Snowden concerning the activities of the US intelligence services, in particular the National Security Agency (NSA).

The case was later transferred to the European court.

After investigation, European Court of Justice concluded the agreement invalid, saying "the transfer of the data of Facebook's European subscribers to the US should be suspended."

Recently, in a setback to US tech giant Apple, the European Commission announced that Ireland must demand 13 billion Euros in taxes from the Cupertino, San Francisco-based company.

The White House has termed the order for tech giant Apple as unfair.
Hanoi, Sep 3 : From health to defence, India and Vietnam on Saturday signed 12 agreements following delegation-level talks headed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his Vietnamese counterpart Nguyen Xuan Phuc here.

"12 for togetherness! India & Vietnam sign a dozen agreements for further strengthening the Strategic Partnership," External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Vikas Swarup tweeted.

One agreement was signed with L&T for utilising $100 million of the $500 million defence line of credit India offered to Vietnam to build patrol boats.

MoUs were signed for cooperation in the field of health, mutual recognition of standards, cooperation between the Vietnamese Academy of Social Science and the Indian Council for World Affairs, cooperation in the field of cyber security, and cooperation in information technology.

An agreement was signed on cooperation in exploration and use of outer space for peaceful purposes.

Another agreement was signed on sharing of white shipping information while another called for setting up a sustainable IT infrastructure for advanced IT training.

One agreement on cooperation in UN peace keeping operations.

Agreements were also signed on double taxation avoidance and celebrating 2017 as the "Year of Friendship" to mark 45 years of India-Vietnam diplomatic ties.

Modi arrived here on Friday ahead of his visit to China to attend the G-20 Summit to be held on September 4-5.

This is the first bilateral prime ministerial visit from India to Vietnam in 15 years since the visit of then Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee in 2001.
Dhaka, Sep 3 : Bangladesh on Saturday executed another top Jamaat-e-Islami leader Mir Quasem Ali for war crimes committed during the country's Liberation War in 1971.

"Ali has been hanged to death at 10.30 p.m. (local time)," the superintendent of the Kashimpur Jail said, reported Xinhua.

Bangladesh on Saturday evening ordered execution of death row war criminal Quasem as he chose not to seek presidential pardon after losing the final legal battle.

Earlier in evening, his family was asked to meet Quasem one last time at the Kashimpur Central Jail.

In a Facebook post, Quasem's daughter Sumaiya Rabeya said her father was a soft-hearted person who would cry every time he made a speech.

She said the family was going to meet him, probably for the last time, and had come to terms with his impending execution.

This would only make him a martyr, something that he had struggled for during his entire life, the Dhaka Tribune quoted Sumaiya as saying.

Quasem's wife Khandaker Ayesha Khatun was asked by the prison authorities to meet her husband on Saturday afternoon.

The 63-year-old Jamaat-e-Islami leader and business tycoon's atrocities during the 1971 Liberation War in Chittagong earned him the nickname "Bangali Khan".

On Wednesday, a day after the Supreme Court upheld his death penalty for war crimes, Quasem had sought time to decide his next course of action.

He was sentenced to death in 2014 by the country's specially constituted International Crimes Tribunal (ICT), for the atrocities he committed during the 1971 Liberation War as an Al-Badr commander.

His last review petition was rejected by the Appellate Division of the apex court on Tuesday.
Bhubaneswar, Sep 3 : As in rest of India and the world, Mother Teresa is much revered in Odisha, where she is remembered with fondness by people from all walks of life ahead of her canonisation in the Vatican on Sunday.

Among those who knew Mother Teresa well is Sister Merry Olivet, the regional superior of the Missionaries of Charity in Odisha.

"She was a loving mother who cared for her children. She was an open-minded person who trusted God and people. Prayer was her strength," recalled Olivet who was associated with Mother Teresa since 1973 in Kolkata, when it was called Calcutta.

"I first met the Mother in 1973. I was young and I was deeply touched by her personality. I got later got trained and worked with her," Olivet reminisced.

She recalled how Mother Teresa cared for them.

"When she was ill, doctors advised her against negotiating staircases or holding babies in arms. But, she had a mother's heart. She didn't stop loving anyon"," said Olivet.

"For her, meeting people and serving them was a great joy," she added.

And that continued even till the last day of her life when she signed the prayer card for a Mumbai couple.

Not only the sisters of the Missionaries of Charity, everyone who felt blessed by the Mother remember their meetings with her.

"I first met Mother Teresa when I was pursuing my graduation in Kolkata in 1994. My experience was very memorable. It was a great feeling meeting he"," said Father Dibakar Parichha, Director of Catholic Charities in Bhubaneswar.

Mother Teresa had visited Odisha several times during her lifetime and interacted with people across the social spectrum.

"She used to visit Odisha as there are several branches of the Missionaries of Charity. I had a chance to meet her while she visited Sundargar"," recalled journalist Susim Chandra Sahani.

"When she was paying her obeisance to the grotto of Mother Merry, which was just beside the main road connecting the Rourkela branch, I touched her feet. She caught hold of my hand. I think she had a healing touch. When she embraced me, I could feel an aura in her," Sahani said.

Surely, there will be many across Odisha glued to their TV sets hoping to catch glimpses of her canonisation at the Vatican on Sunday.

(Chinmaya Dehury can be contacted at chinmaya.d@ians.in)
Hanoi, Sep 3 : Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday called on Vietnam National Assembly Chairperson Nguyen Thi Kim Ngan here during the course of which both leaders called for greater parliamentary exchanges between India and Vietnam.

Sources here said that both leaders recalled the visit of Lok Sabha Speaker Sumitra Mahajan to Vietnam last year for the Inter-Parliamentary Union conference "They called for greater parliamentary exchanges between the two countries," the sources said.

Ngan said that she would be visiting India in December.

She also recalled the long standing historical and cultural ties with India and said as a young girl she used to watch Indian films.

"They applauded the decision to upgrade the relationship to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership," the sources said.

Earlier in the day, Modi held delegation-level talks with Vietnamese Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc following which the two sides signed 12 agreements while giving a strong boost to bilateral defence ties and upgrading the bilateral relationship from Strategic Partnership to Strategic Partnership.

Following a luncheon hosted in his honour by Phuc, Modi visited the Quan Su Pagoda, also known as the Ambassadors' Pagoda, here.

Modi arrived here on Friday ahead of his visit to China to attend the G-20 Summit to be held on September 4-5.

This is the first bilateral prime ministerial visit from India to Vietnam in 15 years since the visit of then Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee in 2001.
Hanoi, Sep 3 : Capping his visit to Vietnam, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday called on General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam Nguyen Phu Trong here.

"Final engagement for PM in this key visit is a call on Nguyen Phu Trong, General Secretary of the Communist Party ," External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Vikas Swarup tweeted along with pictures of the two leaders.

Earlier in the day, Modi held delegation-level talks with Vietnamese Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc following which the two sides signed 12 agreements while giving a strong boost to bilateral defence ties and upgrading the relationship from a Strategic Partnership to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership .

Following a luncheon banquet hosted in his honour by Phuc, Modi visited the Quan Su Pagoda, also known as the Ambassadors' Pagoda, here.

He then called on Vietnam National Assembly Chairperson Nguyen Thi Kim Ngan.

He also met Vietnamese President Tran Dai Quang who voiced his support for India's Act East Policy.

Modi arrived here on Friday ahead of his visit to China to attend the G-20 Summit to be held on September 4-5.

This is the first bilateral prime ministerial visit from India to Vietnam in 15 years since the visit of then Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee in 2001.
Guwahati, Sep 3 : Expressing concern over the porous Indo-Bangladesh border in Mankachar sector of Assam, Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal said that his government will take action on a war footing to seal the international border.

Sonowal said this on Saturday while visiting the Mankachar sector of the Indo-Bangladesh border along with a delegation of the All Assam Students' Union (AASU), several MLAs of the ruling alliance government in the state and top bureaucrats including the Director General of Assam Police.

The Chief Minister who embarked on the two-day visit since Friday visited riverine border areas on Saturday and said that lots needed to be done to seal the porous border areas in synchronisation with the expectations of the people of Assam.

"The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-led government in the state attaches top priority to sealing the Indo-Bangladesh border in order to make Assam a state free from illegal foreigners," said Sonowal after visiting the border and added that sealing of the Indo-Bangladesh border has been a long pending demand of the people.

"The government shall take exhaustive and all inclusive measures to seal the porous riverine border areas on a war-footing. We also seek cooperation from all sections of the people to fortify our international borders and create a protective shield against all cross border movements including smuggling," Sonowal said.

The Chief Minister also travelled around for three hours on the Brahmaputra river along the riverine borders and had his boat anchored on several sandbars to interact with the people and get a first hand account and view of the status of the international border and of the people living near it.
Kolkata, Sep 3 : In a series of seizures at the city airport, customs officials have nabbed several persons and seized contraband including gold and 1,300 mobile phones worth nearly Rs 2 crore, an official said on Saturday.

The Air Intelligence Unit (AIU) of Kolkata Customs on Saturday detained a Bangkok bound Kolkata man for travelling with foreign currencies equivalent to Rs 6.28 lakh without valid documents.

On Friday, a man from Maharashtra's Thane was nabbed with 1.2 kg of gold worth over Rs 38.59 lakh.

The sleuths late on Friday seized 1,300 mobile phones of various brands valued at around Rs 1.5 crore from eight passengers who arrived from Bangkok.
New Delhi, Sep 3 : Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Saturday recommended "exemplary" punishment to former minister Sandeep Kumar who was sacked after a video showing him in an objectionable position with a woman emerged.

Kejriwal's remarks came after reports that the woman being shown in the video has allegedly lodged a complaint against Kumar.

"If the woman's allegations are correct, this is very serious. Strongest exemplary punishment should be given to Sandeep," Kejriwal tweeted while quoting a tweet from a news channel which said that the woman shown in the sex video lodged a complaint against Kumar at Sultanpuri police station.

Police sources said that the woman reached at Sultanpuri police station with an NGO to register a complaint against Kumar for sexually harassing her earlier and making an objectionable video of the incident.

The woman reportedly alleged in her complaint that she was sexually harassed by Kumar at his office where she had gone to get her ration card made. She also alleged that Kumar had offered her a spiked cold drink following which she could not recall what exactly happened with her and how she had acted.

Senior police officers however refused to comment on the issue saying, "it cannot be revealed right now."

Kejriwal on Wednesday had sacked former Social Welfare and Women and Child Development Minister Sandeep Kumar after a video emerged showing him in an "objectionable position" with a woman.

The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) on Saturday suspended the primary membership of Kumar. The decision was take at a high-level meeting held in the morning.

A day after his removal from the cabinet Kumar defended himself, saying he had resigned on his own and that he had been targeted because he was a Dalit.
Hanoi, Sep 3 : India and Vietnam on Saturday stressed the need to reform the United Nations and expansion of its Security Council, with "enhanced representation" from developing countries, a joint statement issued by the two countries said.

According to the statement issued after a meeting between visiting Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Vietnam Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc, Modi reaffirmed India's interest in promoting defence industry cooperation between the two sides.

He also committed to provide a new Line of Credit for Vietnam in this area.

Modi announced a grant of $5 million for the construction of an Army Software Park at the Telecommunications University in Nha Trang.

"Both Vietnam and India stressed the need for reform of the United Nations and expansion of the UN Security Council in both the permanent and the non-permanent categories of membership, with enhanced representation from developing countries," the joint statement said.

The statement said Prime Minister Modi has expressed gratitude for Vietnam's consistent support to India's candidature for permanent membership in a reformed and expanded UNSC.

"The Prime Ministers reaffirmed support for each other's candidature for non-permanent membership of the UNSC -- Vietnam for the term 2020-21 and India for the term 2021-22".

Modi also reaffirmed India's significant interest in promoting defence industry cooperation between the two sides and committed to provide a new Line of Credit for Vietnam in this area.

Both sides welcomed the signing of the contract for Offshore High-speed Patrol Boats between Larsen & Toubro and Vietnam Border Guards utilizing the $100 million Line of Credit for defence procurement extended by India to Vietnam.

The two countries also expressed the desire to work together to maintain peace, stability, growth and prosperity "in Asia and beyond".
Dhaka, Sep 3 : Amnesty International on Saturday demanded the release of a Bangladeshi student activist who was detained for allegedly making "derogatory remarks" about Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and the ruling Awami League on Facebook.

Dilip Roy, 22, a student activist at Rajshahi University in western Bangladesh, was booked on August 28 after a student body linked to the government filed a case against him under Section 57 of the country's Information and Communications Technology Act (ICT) for his alleged offence of writing two Facebook posts critical of the Prime Minister's support for a controversial coal power plant.

"Bangladesh's authorities should immediately drop this case. By invoking draconian laws to hound critics for Facebook posts, they are not just cracking down on peaceful dissent but courting embarrassment," said Director for South Asia, Amnesty International Champa Patel.

Amnesty International has called on the Bangladesh authorities to repeal section 57 of the ICT Act and pointed out that section 57 of the ICT Act is "vaguely formulated" and "used by the authorities to target and imprison critics". This stands in violation of Bangladesh's obligations under international human rights law.

The ICT Act - first passed in 2006 and amended in 2013 - has for years been used by the authorities in Bangladesh to choke freedom of expression.

According to the human rights organisation Odhikar, at least 59 people were arrested under the ICT Act between January 2014 and July 2016.

Roy could face a 14 year jail sentence for his offence. He is set to appear at a bail hearing on September 4.
Ranchi, Sep 3 : : Jharkhand Governor Draupadi Murmu announced on Saturday that she will donate her eyes at the Run of Vision programme organised by Kashyap Memorial Eye Hospital (KMEH), Ranchi.

Talking to IANS, Dr Bharti Kashyap, Medical Director of the KMEH said: "We are obliged that governor madam announced to donate her eyes so that a blind person can see the world. We express our deep gratitude to the governor."

"We have been organising Run For Vision programme for the last 11 years to create awareness among people of the state to donate their eyes. According to reports, in our country every year 25,000 to 30,000 people suffer from blindness due to cornea related problems. Cornea cannot be purchased and can only be transplanted from one human being to another," she added.

Till now 426 people have donated eyes to KMEH out of which 366 have been transplanted successfully.

Leaders who have announced to donate eyes to KMEH include Congress leader Jairam Ramesh, former Chief Minister and BJP leader Arjun Munda among others.

Speaking on the occasion, the governor said: "Of the 37 million people suffering from blindness in the world 10 million are from India. There is a need to create awareness by organising camps."
Gurgaon, Sep 3 : Farmers here celebrated the CBI raids on Saturday at the Who's Who of Delhi and Haryana's homes and offices. After several years of continuous struggle the farmers rejoiced at the outcome.

The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) raided the homes and offices of former Haryana Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda, two former IAS officers and others over the alleged irregularity in the purchase of 400 acres of land from these farmers.

People in the villages of Manesar, Nakhdola and Naurangpur have expressed happiness and hope that finally they would get justice.

Former Village head and one of the two complainants in the case, Om Prakash Yadav said, "Farmers were cheated by the nexus of ruling political leaders, builders and their agents with full-proof planning."

The CBI raided 20 locations in Delhi and Haryana over the alleged irregularity in the purchase of land from Gurgaon farmers during 2004-2007 at throw away prices causing a loss of over Rs 1,500 crore to the national exchequer.

"We are sure that many people involved in the fraud will have to face jail after fair investigation and trial," said Pradeep Yadav, another affected farmer.

The CBI conducted raids in at least four places in Gurgaon and Manesar, including offices of two realtors.

"Farmers from Manesar, Nakhdola and Naurangpur approached the Punjab and Haryana High Court for justice, the court on Dec 17, 2011 ordered for status quo but farmers lost the case on Dec 15,2014," Om Prakash Yadav said.

He said that farmers than approached the Supreme Court, which on April 24, 2015 ordered status quo in the favour of farmers.

An FIR was then registered at Manesar police station on the complaint of Om Prakash Yadav and one Naresh Kumar from Rampura village against unknown political leaders, builders and their agents under various sections of Indian Penal Code on August 12, 2015.

"CBI registered the case on September 15, 2015 and started investigation," Yadav added.

The land whose market value at that time was above Rs 4 crore per acre, totalling about Rs 1,600 crore, was allegedly purchased by the private builders from the land owners in only about Rs 100 crore.
New Delhi, Sep 3 : Director Raam Reddy, whose Kannada-language drama film "Thithi" was screened at the 1st BRICS Film Festival here on Saturday, says all the countries present at the fest are so diverse that the hinterlands and their uniqueness need to be explored.

The 1st BRICS (Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa) Film Festival, which is part of the special events planned in the run-up to the 8th BRICS Summit to be held in India next month, kick-off here at Siri Fort Auditorium Complex on Friday.

And on the second day, at a panel discussion titled Stories From Hinterland, Going Global, Reddy opined that there is an immense amount of raw talent in the small unexplored lands that are wanting to tell something unique.

"Realism is a style, it's something in India that captivated me. Diverse and interesting in so many ways. In hinterlands if you are collaborating with people, they are natural," Reddy said, adding that he also collaborated with people from the villages, behind the camera.

Reddy is best known for his National Award-winning film "Thithi", but has also impressed many with his short films including "Ika" - a Telugu short film.

"The countries that have come together for this festival are so diverse, with so much of diversity within each of their own countries that we need to go into the hinterlands. We need to start exploring the real heroes," he said.

Reddy also finds the common man interesting, and has had a number of real life people portraying themselves.

"I found the common man very cinematic and wanted them to be on the screen. I also like to work with people whom I know in some way. In 'Ika', children from a slum community who were attending a school that my mother runs... I knew them personally. They were so interesting and full of life and dynamic, and had so much to tell," he said.

The discussion had three panellists including Brazilian producer Ana Stella de Almeida Quesado and Mandla Dube, director from South Africa.

The festival will end on September 6 with the screening of Jackie Chan's "Skiptrace".
Dhaka, Sep 3 : A close aide of slain Dhaka cafe terror attack mastermind Tamim Ahmed Chowdhury was killed during a raid in a house in the Bangladesh capital, media reports said.

Tamim's 'second-in-command', identified as 'Murad', or called 'Major Murad' by the members of the "Neo Jamaat-ul Mujahideen" (Neo-JMB) terrorist outfit, was killed during a raid in Dhaka's Mirpur city on Friday evening.

Murad gave arms training to the terrorists who attacked the Holey Artisan Bakery on July 1-2, killing 22 people, including mostly foreign hostages. He had also trained the attackers of the Eid congregation on July 7 at Sholakia, in which four people were killed.

Detective Branch Joint Commissioner Abdul Baten said police raided the house in Rupnagar Residential Area around 9.30 p.m. on Friday.

Two police officials were also injured in the attack.

Murad was using aliases 'Jahangir' and 'Omar', said police.

He was found carrying a knife and a pistol during the raid. "He used both of them," police said.

Police found out about Murad during investigations after the death of Tamim, the suspected mastermind of Gulshan cafe terror attack, in a raid on a house in Narayanganj on Aug 27.

Police raided the house in Rupnagar also on Thursday but found it locked, bdnews24 reported.

Police lay in wait of Murad on Friday. "He (Murad) stabbed police officers when they entered the house. He died after being hit by a bullet during a scuffle that ensued when he tried to flee," a police officer added.

The injured police officials were taken to Dhaka Medical College Hospital.

Aged between 40 and 45, Murad was a retired army personnel, the police official said.

According to the Daily Star, Bangladeshi investigators also said that Murad was known as an arrogant man and capable of carrying out attacks causing massive destruction.

Murad was not popular in the militant group, a JMB offshoot called by law enforcers "Neo JMB". He was ill-tempered and used to order his trainees to do push-ups 20 to 25 times for minor mistakes, said an investigator.

During a routine search in July, police had come under attack from militants holed up in an apartment at Dhaka's Kalyanpur. A SWAT team later stormed the apartment and gunned down nine suspected militants.

Flags similar to those of the Islamic State terrorist group, which purportedly claimed the Gulshan attack, were found in Kalyanpur.

According to reports, citing several Islamic State publications, have described Tamim as the coordinator of Middle East-based group's Bangladesh operations.

The Bangladesh authorities said that Tamim, a Canadian-Bangladeshi, led the "Neo-JMB", which emerged after the JMB split on the issue of backing the Islamic State terrorist group.

The "Neo JMB" was formed by leaders and operatives of mainstream JMB who did not accept the leadership of Saidur Rahman.

The police said they have identified the second man and third-in-command in Neo-JMB after Tamim.

"We are trying to arrest them," the police official said.
Moscow, Sep 3 : Russian President Vladimir Putin on Saturday said his country hopes to develop mutually beneficial cooperation with South Korea.

"We appreciate the cooperation between our countries, and South Korea is one of our priorities in the Asia-Pacific region," Xinhua news agency quoted Putin as saying during a meeting with President Park Geun-hye on the sidelines of the Eastern Economic Forum.

He said that the two countries' economic relations were "very versatile" in such fields as energy, electronics, mechanical engineering and chemistry.

"We support your initiative for the Year of Korean Culture in Russia," Putin told Park.

For her part, Park said it was necessary to strengthen the relationship of trust between the two countries for cooperation development.

The Eastern Economic Forum can create a "solid foundation for our cooperation development of the Russian Far East", she said.

The second Eastern Economic Forum opened on Friday in the Russian Far Eastern city of Vladivostok, with 2,500 guests and investors from 28 countries attending.
Gaza, Sep 3 : Egyptian authorities on Saturday opened the Rafah border crossing with the Gaza Strip in both directions for the first time in two months, an official said.

Hisham Edwan, head of the operations at the crossing, told Xinhua news agency that the first bus had already left the Palestinian side and those stranded on the crossing can cross back to Gaza.

The Borders Control Commission run by the Islamic Hamas movement in Gaza said the crossing would be open only on Saturday and Sunday and only for those already registered at the Hamas Interior Ministry as well as humanitarian cases.

Hundreds of Palestinians gathered in Khan Younis, south of Gaza Strip, to take bus to the crossing.

Deputy Interior Minister Kamel Abu Madi said opening the crossing for only two days was not enough for the registered and humanitarian cases.

Last Tuesday, Egypt opened the borders exceptionally for three days to allow 2,329 Muslim pilgrims to leave Gaza to Saudi Arabia, but did not allow Palestinians to cross back into Gaza.

The last time the crossing was opened in both the directions was on June 29 for five days. That was one of the four times the borders opened this year.

Gaza's Interior Ministry data said there were over 25,000 humanitarian cases registered for travelling through the border crossing.

The coastal territory, home to some 1.9 million people, has been blockaded by Israel since Islamic Hamas movement seized control of the tiny enclave by force in 2007 after routing troops loyal to Palestinian president Mahmoud Abbas, who now rules the West Bank.

Egypt, which also shares border with Gaza, has been imposing restrictions on opening the Rafah crossing with the enclave after the removal of Islamist President Mohammed Morsi in 2013.
New Delhi, Sep 3 : On the eve of an all-party delegation's Kashmir trip, the government on Saturday said members were free to hold talks with anyone, including separatists, but urged them to speak in one voice during their two-day visit to the Valley, which has witnessed nearly two months of unending violence.

Opposition leaders made a strong case for holding talks with the separatist Hurriyat Conference, an immediate ban on use of pellet guns and withdrawal of the controversial Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA) from civilian areas in Jammu and Kashmir.

Home Minister Rajnath Singh held a preparatory meeting with delegation members here to discuss their engagements in Kashmir, official sources said.

Senior home ministry officials briefed the delegation and shared the roadmap for the visit that begins on Sunday.

The delegation of about 28 members includes leaders of over 20 political parties. These include Congress' Ghulam Nabi Azad and Mallikarjun Kharge, CPI-M's Sitaram Yechury and AIMIM MP Asaduddin Owaisi.

Saturday's meeting also took note of possible individuals and groups with whom the delegation may interact.

The sources said that a group of MPs from major opposition parties could also meet some groups separately.

"The government seemed to favour strongly that all-party delegation not only show single-minded determination to bring peace in Jammu and Kashmir, especially in the Valley, but it also wants that the members of the delegation speak in one voice," a source said.

At the meeting, the opposition parties supported the government move to send the delegation of elected MPs aiming to bring peace to the valley, which has been on the boil since the July 8 killing of Hizbul Mujahideen militant Burhan Wani. At least 73 people, including two policemen, have been killed in the weeks of violence.

CPI-M leader Yechury suggested that confidence-building measures should be announced during the visit of the delegation.

The government has said while the members of the delegation are free to meet anyone, including separatists, delegation leader Rajnath Singh's meetings will be "restricted" and he will meet only those who are ready to resolve all issues within the framework of the constitution.

Azad, also a former Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister, said his party and other constituents of the UPA want "dialogue with all stakeholders".

"It is important the centre and the state government identify the stakeholders," Azad said.

Yechury said the government "should invite Hurriyat for talks with the all-party delegation."

He also insisted that the government must ban pellet guns and withdraw AFSPA from civilian areas as also adequate rehabilitation and compensation for the families of those who lost their lives in the recent violence.

The government representatives maintained that all efforts will be made to implement Prime Minister Narendra Modi's statement of taking the peace initiative to the trouble-hit state on the basis of "insaniyat, jamhuriyat and Kashmiriat".

Rajnath Singh said the delegation would chalk out a list of suggestions and recommendations for the government based on their inputs from the meetings in Kashmir.

"On return, the delegation will meet in Delhi and submit the recommendations. Subsequent government actions will be based on their suggestions," an official source told IANS.

Surprisingly, two major Uttar Pradesh-based parties, Samajwadi Party and Bahujan Samaj Party, said they would not nominate any party leader to go to the valley. The parties have, however, supported the move to send the delegation to Kashmir.

NCP leader Tariq Anwar also supported the Congress line and said that the dialogue should be open to all stakeholders.

NDA constituent, Akali Dal leader Prem Singh Chandumajra, said the "state needs a political framework. It is not merely a law and order issue".

The delegation would also include central ministers Arun Jaitley, Ram Vilas Paswan and Jitendra Singh besides Ambika Soni (Congress), JD-U leader Sharad Yadav and D. Raja (CPI), Saugata Roy (Trinamool Congress), Shiv Sena's Sanjay Raut and Anandrao Adsul, TDP's Thota Narasimham, BJD leader Dilip Tirkey, AIUDF leader Badaruddin Ajmal and Muslim League's E. Ahamed.

Jitendra Reddy of TRS, N.K. Premchandran (RSP), P. Venugopal (AIADMK), Tiruchi Siva (DMK), Y.B. Subba (YSR-Congress), Jaiprakash Yadav (RJD), Dharamveer Gandhi (AAP) and Dushyant Chautala (RLD) are others in the delegation.
Srinagar, Sep 3 : A day before an all-party delegation arrives here from Delhi, Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti strongly pitched for talks with separatist leaders for peace in the Kashmir Valley.

"The country's political leadership must, without any further delay, reach out and engage all sections of the society including the leaders of the Hurriyat Conference in a productive dialogue process to resolve the issue and make peace a reality in Jammu and Kashmir," Mehbooba said.

She was interacting with the people in a south Kashmir village where she had gone to offer condolences to the bereaved family of Mashooq Ahmad Sheikh who was killed in firing by security forces last month.

The Chief Minister said it is perhaps for the first time that the issue has been discussed in so many forums and at so many levels during the last two months, including parliament.

"The need of the hour is to build on this larger political consensus within the country and initiate tangible measures to address the issue," she said.

The chief minister said during her meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi last month she suggested a three-pronged approach including talks with all sections of society, including the separatist leadership and also with Pakistan to put the reconciliation and resolution process back on track.

She expressed the hope that the upcoming visit of the all- party delegation to the state would facilitate revival of the much needed peace and resolution process.

The Chief Minister said the people have given the present government a mandate to voice their aspirations and seek resolution of the problems.

"The same has been reiterated in the government's 'agenda of alliance' wherein it has been made clear that the state government will create conditions to facilitate resolution of all issues and will help initiate a sustained and meaningful dialogue with all the stakeholders."

An all-party delegation is visiting the Kashmir Valley on Sunday. It is expected to have talks with cross sections of society there.
Kolkata, Sep 3 : Braving incessant rain and employing drones and satellite mapping technology, the West Bengal government is carrying out the survey expeditiously for initiating the process of returning land taken from peasants of Singur for the Tata Motors Nano project, an official said on Saturday.

Following the Supreme Court verdict, the Mamata Banerjee government started the land survey within the project area on Friday. The survey is to be completed within ten weeks.

"So far, we have cleaned up and cut wild grasses and bushes in about 150 acres of land in the project area. We will have to make requisite arrangements so that works can be done at night," said Hooghly's Additional District Magistrate (Land Revenue) Purnendu Maji.

"We are taking the help of drone and GPS satellite mapping for aerial survey and works for plotting is expected to commence in a day or two," he said.

State Education minister and Trinamool Congress secretary general Partha Chatterjee visited the site on Saturday.

Later interacting with media persons, Chatterjee said Chief Minister Banerjee will visit Singur and hold a public meeting on September 14.

After the Supreme Court quashed the land acquisition done by the erstwhile left Front government, Banerjee, who is also the Trinamool supremo, on Thursday had chaired a high level emergency meeting at the state secretariat Nabanna to decide on follow-up actions for implementing the judicial order.

Banerjee said physical possession of cultivable land would be given to the land owners within the stipulated time frame of 12 weeks.

Singur lawmaker Rabindranath Bhattacharya said: "The government is committed to return the land to farmers within the stipulated time. Officials of Land and Land Revenue department and Directorate of Land Records and Surveys have been working at a war footing."
Mumbai, Sep 3 : Acclaimed lyricist-writer Javed Akhtar, who is vocal about his thoughts, says he condemns the All India Muslim Personal Law Board (AIMPLB) for justifying instant divorce system.

The AIMPLB on Friday defended the practice of triple talaq and polygamy, professing that polygamy is a social need and a blessing and not a curse for women.

"I condemn Muslim personal law board in the strongest words for justifying instant divorce. They are the worst enemies of their own community," he tweeted on Saturday.

Saying that "polygamy is a blessing, not a curse for women", the AIMPLB, in its affidavit filed in the Supreme Court on Friday, said that if the option of polygamy was not available to a husband, then he may divorce his existing wife or indulge in illicit affairs.

"An unlawful mistress is more harmful for social fabric than a lawful second wife," the AIMPLB said in its response to a suo motu petition on the rights of Muslim women concerning marriage, divorce and maintenance and whether the current practices under Muslim Personal Law were violative of the fundamental rights guaranteed under the Constitution.

Defending the Shariah granting right to divorce to the husband, the AIMPLB said that "men have greater power of decision making. They are more likely to control emotions and not to take a hasty decision."

IANS

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Gurgaon, Sep 3 : Fortis Organ Retrieval and Transplant (FORT) on Saturday hosted India's first national summit on best practices in organ and tissue donation, which saw participants from private and government agencies from all the states gather at the Fortis Memorial Research Institute (FMRI) here.

"Specialists and healthcare professionals from different hospitals need to know all aspects around organ donation and transplant to achieve best results and improve outcomes," Marti Manyalich, President of International Society for Organ Donation and Procurement -- a Canada based organisation which encourages the growth of organ transplantation globally, said in a statement.

The day-long summit followed the launch of the "Wall of Tribute" on Friday to pay homage to those families who had the courage to say yes to deceased organ donation, the report said.

"We hope that this initiative helps us bridge the wide gap between demand and supply of organs significantly through knowledge-sharing and dissemination of the right messages to larger stakeholders," added Avnish Seth, Director at FORT.

Experts at the summit discussed new initiatives such as use of smartphones for counselling families of donors, experiences with hand and face transplant, organ care systems for transporting organs after donation and the challenges faced in transportation by road as well as air.

According to various health experts, only 0.08 per cent of Indians donate their organs.

The low proportion of organ donors in India can largely be attributed to ignorance, superstition and an absence of conducive regulatory framework.
Hanoi, Sep 3 : India and Vietnam on Saturday called for peaceful resolution to disputes in the South China sea, and that China should adhere a decision by a UN tribunals on a dispute between it Philippines in the area.

In a joint statement issued after a meeting between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his Vietnamese counterpart Nguyen Xuan Phuc, the two sides reiterated their desire and determination to work together to maintain peace, stability, growth and prosperity "in Asia and beyond".

The statement mentioned the award (judgment) by the Hague-based Permanent Court of Attribution (PCA) over strategic reefs and atolls that Beijing claims would give it control over disputed waters of the South China Sea. The judgment in favour of the Philippines was given on July 12.

The two countries called upon "all states" to resolve dispute through peaceful means.A

Noting the award, both sides "reiterated their support for peace, stability, security, safety and freedom of navigation and over flight, and unimpeded commerce, based on the principles of international law, as reflected notably in the UNCLOS (United Nations Convention on the Law of Sea)".

"Both sides also called on all states to resolve disputes through peaceful means without threat or use of force and exercise self-restraint in the conduct of activities that could complicate or escalate disputes affecting peace and stability, respect the diplomatic and legal processes, fully observe the Declaration on the Conduct of parties in the South China Sea (DOC) and soon finalize the Code of Conduct (COC)," the joint statement said.

They also recognised that the sea lanes of communication passing through the South China Sea are critical for peace, stability, prosperity and development.

"Vietnam and India, as State Parties to the UNCLOS, urged all parties to show utmost respect for the UNCLOS, which establishes the international legal order of the seas and oceans," the joint statement said.

Prime Minister Modi is now on an official visit to China, after Vietnam.

Earlier this week, US Secretary of State John Kerry, who was on a tour to India, had on Wednesday called upon China to follow India's example and accept the order of the tribunal.
Hanoi, Sep 3 : India and Vietnam on Saturday called for peaceful resolution to disputes in South China Sea, and also stressed on the need to reform the United Nations, including expansion of its Security Council, with "enhanced representation" from developing countries.

According to a joint statement issued after a meeting between visiting Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his Vietnamese counterpart Nguyen Xuan Phuc, Modi reaffirmed India's interest in promoting defence industry cooperation between the two sides.

The statement also referred to a judgment by an international tribunal on July 12 this year, which was on a dispute between China and Philippines over some strategically located reefs and atolls. The judgment is in favour of Philippines and China has rejected it.

India and Vietnam, in their joint statement called upon "all states" to resolve dispute through peaceful means.

Noting the Award, both sides "reiterated their support for peace, stability, security, safety and freedom of navigation and over flight, and unimpeded commerce, based on the principles of international law, as reflected notably in the UNCLOS (United Nations Convention on the Law of Sea)".

"Both sides also called on all states to resolve disputes through peaceful means without threat or use of force and exercise self-restraint in the conduct of activities that could complicate or escalate disputes affecting peace and stability, respect the diplomatic and legal processes, fully observe the Declaration on the Conduct of parties in the South China Sea (DOC) and soon finalize the Code of Conduct (COC)," the joint statement said.

This also comes as Prime Minister Modi is visiting China.

On the need of reforms in the UN, the statement said: "Both Vietnam and India stressed the need for reform of the United Nations and expansion of the UN Security Council in both the permanent and the non-permanent categories of membership, with enhanced representation from developing countries."

The statement said Prime Minister Modi has expressed gratitude for Vietnam's consistent support to India's candidature for permanent membership in a reformed and expanded UNSC.

"The Prime Ministers reaffirmed support for each other's candidature for non-permanent membership of the UNSC -- Vietnam for the term 2020-21 and India for the term 2021-22".

Modi also reaffirmed India's significant interest in promoting defence industry cooperation between the two sides and committed to provide a new Line of Credit for Vietnam in this area.

Both sides welcomed the signing of the contract for Offshore High-speed Patrol Boats between Larsen & Toubro and Vietnam Border Guards utilizing the $100 million Line of Credit for defence procurement extended by India to Vietnam, and also expressed the desire to work together to maintain peace, stability, growth and prosperity "in Asia and beyond".

The joint statement also stressed on enhancing bilateral economic engagement asked ministries and agencies on both sides to take "practical measures" to achieve the trade target of $15 billion by 2020.

The two Prime Ministers urged leaders of business and industry to explore new business opportunities, and Prime Minister Modi invited Vietnamese companies to take advantage of the various schemes and facilities offered under the 'Make in India' programme.

The two sides have identified priority areas for cooperation, which include hydrocarbons, power generation, renewable energy, infrastructure, tourism, textiles, footwear, medical and pharmaceuticals, ICT, electronics, agriculture, agro-products, chemicals, machine tools and other supporting industries.
Hanoi, Sep 3 : Ahead of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to China, India on Saturday elevated its relationship with Vietnam from "Strategic Partnership" to "Comprehensive Strategic Partnership" while significantly deepening defence and security engagement with the southeast Asian nation "to advance our common interests".

"Our decision to upgrade our Strategic Partnership to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership captures the intent and path of our future cooperation," Modi said a joint press statement with Vietnamese Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc following delegation-level talks here.

"It will provide a new direction, momentum and substance to our bilateral cooperation. Our common efforts will also contribute to stability, security and prosperity in this region."

Russia and China are the other two countries with which Vietnam has comprehensive strategic partnerships.

India also offered a $500-million defence credit line part of which will be used for the construction of offshore patrol boats by L&T and the Vietnam Border Guards.

Vietnam is among those countries in the region which have disputes with China over the South China Sea.

A joint statement issued stated that "both sides reiterated their desire and determination to work together to maintain peace, stability, growth and prosperity in Asia and beyond".

"Both sides also called on all states to resolve disputes through peaceful means without threat or use of force and exercise self-restraint in the conduct of activities that could complicate or escalate disputes affecting peace and stability, respect the diplomatic and legal processes, fully observe the Declaration on the conduct of parties in the South China Sea and soon finalise the Code of Conduct," it stated.

In July, an international arbitration tribunal ruled in favour of the Philippines in its dispute with China over the South China Sea.

While the Philippines welcomed it, China reacted angrily calling it null and void with no binding force and that "China neither accepts it nor recognises it".

Calling for "utmost respect" to the UN Convention for the Law of the Sea, Saturday's joint statement said: "They (India and Vietnam) also recognised that the sea lanes of communication passing through the South China Sea are critical for peace, stability, prosperity and development."

In his joint press statement with Phuc, Modi, stressing on the economic prosperity of the people of both countries through steps to secure them, said: "Prime Minister and I have, therefore, agreed to deepen our defence and security engagement to advance our common interests."

He said the agreement on construction of offshore patrol boats was "one of the steps to give concrete shape to our defence engagement".

"I am also happy to announce a new defence line of credit for Vietnam of $500 million for facilitating deeper defence cooperation."

The Prime Minister also said that the Asean region was "important to India in terms of historical links, geographical proximity cultural ties and the strategic space that we share".

Vietnam is India's country coordinator for the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean).

"It (Asean) is central to our Act East Policy. Under Vietnam's leadership as Asean Coordinator for India, we will work towards a strengthened India-Asean partnership across all areas," Modi said.

India and Vietnam signed 12 agreements, including on cooperation in the field of cyber security and on exploration of outer space for peaceful purposes.

As part of his day's engagements, the Prime Minister called on Vietnamese President Tran Dai Quang who expressed his support for India's Act East Policy.

He also met with Vietnam National Assembly Chairperson Nguyen Thi Kim Ngan and General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam Nguyen Phu Trong.

Earlier in the day, Modi was accorded a ceremonial welcome at the Presidential Palace in Hanoi.

After attending a luncheon banquet hosted in his honour by Prime Minister Phuc, he visited the historic Quan Su Pagoda, also known as Ambassadors' Pagoda here.

Modi arrived in Vietnam on Friday in what was the first prime ministerial visit from India to Vietnam after the visit of then Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee in 2001.

On Saturday evening, he left Hanoi for Hangzhou, China, to attend the two-day G-20 Summit starting Sunday.
Panaji, Sep 3 : Power point presentations on soon-to-be-saint Mother Teresa and her work in India, special prayer services and recitation of poems and songs dedicated to the Albanian-origin nun, will be the highlights of September 4, the day she will be canonised as saint at the Vatican, a church spokesperson said on Friday.

"All churches in Goa will conduct a special mass, a special programme, power point presentations, video, skits and poems," Fr. J. Loyola Pereira, Secretary to the Goa Archbishop, told reporters here.

"Our schools and colleges, around 150 of them, have been told to celebrate Mother Teresa's canonisation during assembly time with poems, competitions and talks for three days," Pereira added.

Mother Teresa will be canonised as a saint at Vatican City at a formal event on Sunday.

Goa deputy Chief Minister Francis D'Souza as well as Goa Archbishop Filipe Neri Ferrao will be participating in the ceremony.

D'Souza will be attending the event as part of the official Indian government delegation headed by Union External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj.

"The Archbishop will be here on September 13, to celebrate in the name of the Church in Goa and to thank God for the great gift of Mother Teresa's canonisation," he said.

Pereira said that Mother Teresa, may have been born in Albania, but her services to the poor across the globe, had made her a global citizen.

"Mother Teresa comes from Albania. But the moment she came to India, she made India her country and became an Indian national. But today, she is a citizen of the whole world and the whole world admires her and venerates her as the Saint of gutters who dedicated her whole life to the poorest of the poorer," he said.

On September 4, a chapel at Chorao village near Panaji, will also be dedicated to Mother Teresa.
New Delhi, Sep 3 : French company DCNS, which has been in the line of fire after its documents containing sensitive data on the Indian Scorpene submarines were leaked, has said there were talks going on for more submarines, even as the Indian Defence Ministry denied that any such negotiations were on.

According to reports, DCNS had offered to build three more submarines, besides the six Scorpene submarines which are under construction, and the deal was under negotiation for two years.

The report, quoting unnamed officials, said after the leak, Indian Navy is focusing on determining the damage done, and no orders will be signed now, implying that the leak had damaged the negotiations.

The Defence Ministry in India however denied the report, noting that the deal with DCNS is for only six submarines, and there are no other negotiations going on. It said there are several "unsolicited proposals" which does not mean there is a negotiation going on.

"Indian Navy has ordered only six Scorpene submarines and orders have not been placed for three more as reported by some media," Defence Ministry spokesperson Nitin Wakankar said.

"Therefore question of cancellation does not arise," he said.

The spokesperson added that the Indian Navy receives "many unsolicited proposals from companies (both Indian and foreign) for many projects as per requirements of the service".

"This cannot by any stretch of imagination be construed as negotiations by Indian Navy or Defence Ministry," he said.

Asked about the report, DCNS said it was "surprised" as the talks were "ongoing".

"We were very surprised by this information. The talks are ongoing with the government and our Indian partners. We have not been informed in anyway of such a decision," DCNS' Media Relations head Emmanuel Gaudez said in response to an email query from IANS.

He added that he cannot make any "additive comments" at this stage.

Data leaked from DCNS that runs over 22,400 pages including crucial details of Scorpene submarine programme of India was reported by Australian newspaper The Australian.

An order by the Supreme Court of New South Wales in Australia has not restricted the newspaper from publishing any more of the leaked documents, and asked them to hand over the documents to DCNS.
Kochi, Sep 3 : Former Excise Minister K. Babu, whose house was raided by the Kerala Vigilance and Anti Corruption Bureau on Saturday, said this was "political vendetta".

I was totally surprised to know about the charges registered against me regarding my assets, the senior Congress leader told the media after the nearly eight-hour raid ended.

"This is a political vendetta. I am a person who files income tax and have declared all my assets. If there is anything which they find that I have not listed, it can be taken by the government. I will initiate legal steps against it," Babu said.

Simultaneous raids were also carried out at the houses of two of his close aides in Ernakulam district and also at his two married daughters' houses.

"The FIR against me mentions that I had benami deals with two people whose homes were raided. I have nothing to do with them," said Babu who lost his Tripunithura assembly seat for the first time in the May assembly polls.

Babu represented Tripunithura constituency for the past 25 years.

The raid that began at 7 a. m. on Saturday morning, ended after noon. At least Rs 8 lakh cash was seized which included Rs 1.5 lakh from Babu's house and 6.5 lakh from the residence of a businessman.

Babu is the second minister after former Finance Minister K. M. Mani from the former Oommen Chandy cabinet to face a vigilance probe.

In the first 100 days of his government, Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan has made it clear he means to weed out corruption from the state.

Babu had come under severe pressure as the Excise Minister after Biju Ramesh, a bar owner, alleged that he bribed the minister at his office.

Talking to the media in Delhi, Vijayan said his permission was not needed to raid Babu's house.

"May be the officials did it because that was the next thing to be done in the probe. We will not do anything vindictive in nature, but the law will take its course," said the Chief Minister.

Jacob Thomas, the Director General of Police who also heads the vigilance bureau, worked under Babu as Ports Director.

Thomas said that his priority was to end corruption and things were going in the proper way.

The raid was based on an FIR filed in a vigilance court in Ernakulam district saying that Babu had accumulated wealth disproportionate to his known sources of income.

Reiterating his claims, Ramesh said: "The truth will come out as everyone knows what has happened. A lot had happened during Babu's term as the minister."

Both Babu and Mani have been under the spotlight after the bar scandal broke in October 2014.

After the vigilance officers questioned him last week, Mani accused Thomas of carrying out a personal vendetta against him as the former minister had ordered an inspection into the DGP's department during his term.

Thomas was shunted out of vigilance under Chandy's rule.

Meanwhile, Chandy said that any probe was welcome, but if nothing came out of the witch hunts then the state government should take action against "such" officials.

Former Home Minister Ramesh Chennithala, who handled vigilance earlier, said such actions could not take place without the concurrence of the ruling leadership.

According to sources, a few more colleagues of Chandy could soon be subjected to similar probes.
New Delhi, Sep 3 : The demand for home healthcare services has increased 20 to 30 per cent as government as well as private hospitals have been flooded with Dengue and Chikungunya patients.

According to the service providers and the health experts, healthcare at home was helping the hospitals in balancing the flow of patients.

The patients subscribe to the home healthcare services after the doctors provide initial consultation to them, the experts said.

Health Care At Home (HCAH), one of the major home healthcare providers, has recorded between 150 and 200 Dengue and Chikungunya patients subscribing to the services.

HCAH, which has an annual subscriber base of three lakh patients every year, said the services were best used during the epidemic situations of Dengue, Swine Flu and Chikungunya whose cases have suddenly risen manifold.

"Health Care at Home Services are helping in a big way. During epidemic situations, not even the nurses are able to attend to all the patients admitted in the hospitals. Such services allow patients to recover faster and comfortably at home itself," Gaurav Thukral, Vice President of HCAH, told IANS.

Medical superintendents of Safdarjung and Ram Manohar Lohia hospitals said they recorded over 100 suspected patients every day who insisted on admission even when the beds in the Dengue wards were only between 120 and 130 in each hospital.

According to Vishal Bali, chairman and co-founder of Nightingales Home Health Services, home healthcare gives immense mental peace and satisfaction helping in faster recovery.

"With plenty of advantages our team ensures holding hands of patients and family, gives facility on time by maintaining protocols, constant personal attention towards health which saves expensive hospital treatment and treats you better," said Bali.

Bali's company has recorded over 25,000 subscribers in the past one-and-a-half-year.

The services are not only affordable but also help in improving the patient's health faster as they spend time with their family, unlike in a hospital.

Apart from setting up the ICU infrastructure, such organisations also provide post-surgical care, post-joint replacement care, post-cardiac surgery care, pulmonary care, elderly care and physiotherapy.

Commenting on the home healthcare services, Piyush Jain, a senior doctor of internal medicine at Ram Manohar Lohia Hospital, said: "No doubt such services help during the outbreak of Swine Flu and Dengue every year."

"Patients hardly understand that we have limited beds. Through such services they undergo treatment at home comfortably after initial consultation with the doctors," Jain said.
New Delhi, Sep 3 : Prasar Bharati CEO Jawhar Sircar, who is reportedly being replaced by the NDA government, on Saturday evening gave fresh credence to the speculation as he posted on social media that he "hopes" to be back home before winter.

"Too many queries, since 4 news today: let me clear the air, to friends. This one is closest to truth: I hope to be back home before winter. Retire after 41+ years: to read, write and relate," Sircar posted on social networking site Facebook.

There has been strong speculation that Sircar, appointed in 2012 by the Congress-led Manmohan Singh government, is being eased out by the year end. Officials in the Information and Broadcasting Ministry indicated to IANS on Friday that Sunil Arora, a former I&B secretary, may be appointed to the post.

The CEO, Prasar Bharati is considered a key post with autonomous powers as the individual is responsible for running state-owned Doordarshan and public broadcaster All India Radio (AIR). Prasar Bharati is itself however, headed by a chairman.

A section of BJP leaders were not happy with the manner Doordarshan and AIR discharged their responsibilities especially in the context of current affairs programmes under Sircar.

"Arora is an experienced hand and he can easily fit into the Prasar Bharati CEO post," a source said on Friday.

Arora was recently appointed as an advisor in Prasar Bharati.

Sources also said that Sircar, whose tenure ends in February 2017, has told I&B ministry officials of his desire to relinquish the post before the end of 2016.

Sircar, who had retired as Secretary Culture in the Union government in 2012, reportedly first developed differences with the Information and Broadcasting Ministry when the Modi government launched the Kisan Channel on DD dedicated to farm affairs.
Hangzhou, Sep 4 : Chinese President Xi Jinping on Saturday urged the United States to "play a constructive role" in maintaining peace and stability in the South China Sea.

Xi made the remarks when meeting with his US counterpart Barack Obama in Hangzhou on the eve of a G20 summit, Xinhua news agency reported.

Xi said China will continue to unswervingly safeguard its territorial sovereignty and maritime rights and interests in the South China Sea.

In the meantime, China will stick to peaceful settlement of disputes through consultation and negotiation with parties directly concerned, and safeguard peace and stability in the South China Sea along with ASEAN member states, Xi said.
Hangzhou, Sep 4 : US President Barack Obama on Saturday urged China to abide by its obligations under an international treaty in its activities in the South China Sea.

He made the comments during a "candid exchange" with his Chinese counterpart, Xi Jinping, here in China before the G20 summit, the BBC quoted the White House as saying.

In July, an international tribunal ruled against Chinese claims to rights in the South China Sea.

China dismissed the ruling and said it would not be bound by it.

The ruling was made by an arbitration tribunal under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), which both China and the country that brought the case -- the Philippines -- have signed.

The White House said Obama emphasised "the importance for China, as a signatory to UNCLOS, to abide by its obligations under that treaty, which the United States views as critical to maintaining the rules-based international order".

China claims almost all of the South China Sea, including reefs and islands also claimed by other nations, and has caused dismay in the region by building artificial islands and restricting access.

Earlier on Saturday, the US and China -- together responsible for 40 per cent of the world's carbon emissions -- formally joined the Paris global climate agreement.

"History will judge today's effort as pivotal," Obama said.

In December, 2015, countries agreed to cut emissions in an attempt to keep the global average rise in temperatures below two degrees.
Los Angeles, Sep 4 : Actor Joseph Gordon-Levitt travelled to Russia to meet US political exile Edward Snowden secretively before playing him on camera.

The 35-year-old, who stars as the controversial former CIA employee who leaked classified information in 2013 in a Oliver Stone-directed movie, recalled his experience of meeting Snowden, reports people.com.

"A few months before shooting the movie, I did have a chance to sit with him in person. It was honestly not as crazy as you would imagine," said Gordon-Levitt whose visits were arranged by Snowden's attorneys in US and Russia, where he lives in exile.

"I flew to Moscow and went and met him at an office," he added.

The actor, who stars in the movie alongside Shailene Woodley, shared that he relished the chance to study Snowden in person and learn more about his character.

"One of the first things I noticed actually was, he's got really good manners. He's sort of old-fashioned, in a way. You don't necessarily expect that in today's world, or when you think of someone who's really good at computers," Gordon-Levitt added.
MONETA COOKWARE USA

Moneta Cookware USA/Range Kleen Mfg., Inc. is donating 20% of all sales during the month of September that any consumer makes using the Code HELPITALY in the shopping cart at our website, MONETA-COOKWARE.COM. This will be provided to ItalianAmericanRelief.org for the sole purpose to assist in Italys time of need after the devastating earthquake that struck central Italy on August 24, 2016.

Moneta Cookware USA/Range Kleen Mfg., Inc. is promoting their endeavors through NIAF (National Italian American Foundation) as well as through our social media and on our website. Consumers shopping at MONETA-COOKWARE.COM simply add the code HELPITALY at checkout and at the end of September, 20% of all sales using this code will be donated to the relief fund by Moneta Cookware USA/Range Kleen Mfg., Inc.

For further information, contact:

Dana Swearengin, Director of Marketing Range Kleen Manufacturing 419.331.8000 x159
Line listing certification on air conditioner product lines allows us to provide the level of safety protection required for our equipment, but at a much reduced cost for our customers

Custom Air Products & Services, Inc. (CAPS), a leading commercial, industrial and off-shore heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) company based in Houston, Texas (US) recently established a 3rd Party Compliance Department. This week CAPS completed certification testing for their third line listing of products for the year.

The three Class 1 Division 2 line listings added this year are for 7.5/10 ton wall mounts (Groups B, C, D, and T3C), 70 ton self-contained industrial cooling equipment (Groups C, D, and T3), and 12.5/15/20 ton wall mounts (Groups B, C, D, and T3). These are in addition to CAPS existing ordinary and/or hazardous locations line listings for 1 to 6 ton wall mount mounts, .5 to 2 ton window units, 30 ton industrial package unit, and several product lines for general purpose.

CAPS related experience and expertise with 3rd party certifications continues to grow and now includes standards of Nationally Recognized Testing Laboratories (NRTL), UL 1995, UL 1203, ISA 12.12.01 and NFPA 496. CAPS has also been working toward the North American Hazardous Locations (HazLoc) certification as well as certification to the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) standards.

The IEC reports completed this year include the Wall Mounted Electric Heater, certified to IEC 60335-2-30, and 20 Ton Package Units, certified to IEC 60335-2-40. CAPS experiences with safety certification standards, and with the companies that evaluate those standards, has allowed CAPS to react quickly and appropriately to the sometimes indistinct aspects of the standards and certifications process.

Field certifications for general purpose or hazardous locations on a job can be quite costly, explained CAPS Vice President of Engineering Larry Novak. Line listing certification on air conditioner product lines allows us to provide the level of safety protection required for our equipment, but at a much reduced cost for our customers. He went on to explain how it is these factors, those that provide benefit to both the company and their customers that continue to drive CAPS toward product and service excellence.

ABOUT CUSTOM AIR PRODUCTS & SERVICES, INC.

Custom Air Products & Services, Inc. is a full-service HVAC company that specializes in the design, construction, installation, modification, and servicing of industrial, commercial and off-shore air conditioning equipment. CAPS employees are committed to providing exceptional custom design and quality workmanship at competitive prices.

Custom Air Products & Services currently occupies five (5) modern facilities totaling over 200,000 square feet in size. These buildings include administrative and engineering offices, training facilities, parts department, and manufacturing. CAPS services are provided to customers throughout the United States and Mexico while their manufactured products have been delivered to sites around the world. Currently CAPS has equipment operating on six (6) continents and in 52 countries.
Speed film, THE RIVER was honored with eleven nominations and three wins, including Best Film, at the Annual 168 Film Festival at Regal Cinemas Premiere House at LA LIVE (Aug. 20-21). The River was produced by first-timer, Jeffrey Hamm, who also won for Best Director and Best Editor.

Hamm teamed up with a Dallas-Ft. Worth crew, including award-winning writer-producers Jason Walter Vaile and Mark Blitch (WASHED UP Best Comedy 2015) to tackle this years 168 Film Competition theme, Work.

THE RIVER is based on Proverbs 31:31, Honor her for all that her hands have done, and let her works bring her praise at the city gate.

Its the story of a family -- Christian Heep as the father and Anne Beyer as the mom -- on a camping trip in the wilderness. Their little girl Abby, played by Kelsey Walton is lost and as the sun sets, her chances for survival grow dim. But, the wise woman will not give up on her daughter, who has learned well from her mother.

According to producer Jeff Hamm, Our skeleton crew battled a storm that destroyed one set and stopped production a few times. We were running out of time, money, and resources but God gave us the strength to persevere, and it was worth every second! My team and I are so thankful for the opportunity to use our gifts and abilities to continue to build the Kingdom of God. We look forward to the 168 festival in 2017!

The Best Speed Film Runner Up was nine-time-nominated, THE PAPERCLIP, by Producers John Lockmer and Justin Manntai. Writer Lee Kovel won Best Screenplay and Best Scriptural Integration and William Kircher (Bifur and Tom Troll in THE HOBBIT films) won for Best Supporting Actor.

The film is based on Exodus 18:18, You and these people who come to you will only wear yourselves out. The work is too heavy for you; you cannot handle it alone.

PAPERCLIP writer Lee Kovels often-comedic story deals with inter-generational values like care of the family outside of work, teamwork, the emptiness of wealth and the true measure of success.

Younger viewers of the film have expressed the need to spend more time with family, while older people have been reminded of the need to mentor younger people. Lockmer and Manntai expect to impact their world with this gently convicting film.

Aaron Kamp and Maggie Meyers CAGED IN swept the non-speed awards, with Best Director going to Kamp. Acting winners are Best Supporting Actor Robert Hartburn as Luke, Best Supporting Actress, Melissa Meyer as Lily, Best Actress, Maggie Meyer as Sara and Best Actor Jeremy Levi as Jack.

168 veteran Aaron Kamp plans to use the (literally) hard-hitting film to help raise awareness of domestic violence issues. 168 has been a great training ground, its hard work, you sometimes feel like giving up, but ultimately its inspiring and a great event to be a part of," Kamp said.

The speed film award for Best Actress went to 168 veteran, Tea McKay for her role as Emma in THE CHOICE. According to McKay, "Not only has (the 168 competition) allowed me to network with amazing people all over the world, it has also helped me launch my career. 168 has greatly built up my reel and got me noticed. It played a key role in booking the lead in my latest film UNBRIDLED," starring McKay, Eric Roberts and TC Stallings.

Best Actor went to Tony Lo Bianco (The French Connection) as Johnny in BLONDIE. Best Supporting Actress Leslie Thurston as Dr. Morris in STROKE OF FAITH.

Best Comedy went to husband and wife writer/producer/actor team, Jason and Megan Marsh for BEHIND THE SCENES, the story of what really happens behind the scenes on a 168 Film set.

Best Write Of Passage Spotlight Film, went to THE LAWN BOY written by Penny Gibben and produced by 168 veteran Mark Baird, who entered a record five films into the 2016 competition. He received three awards Best Write of Passage, Evangelista Award (best evangelistic tool) and the 169 Award for distinguished service to 168 Film.

Best Kid Vid went to CARDED by veteran producer Susan Shearer, who teamed up with Baird as a writer, winning the Evangelista Award for the film.

Best International Film was won by AFTER by Ben Whimpey from Australia. The film won six awards, including Best International Film, Best Make-up and Hair to Jessica Taylor, Best Making Of 168 Film, Best Sound Design to Peter Brewer, Best Production Design to Alexa Harrington and Simone Wake and Best Cinematography to Sam Bennett.

Woodsy drama, THE VOICE IN THE WILDERNESS won Best Original Score for Olivia Davies. Written, produced and directed by Andrew Thorn, the film featured 168 favorite, Jack Jovcic in the lead role and two Best Actor Nominations - one for Jovcic and one for eight-year-old Orlando Borg. The film was nominated 12 times including Best Film, Best International Film and Best Director.

Best Music Video went to THE LAST SONG ON EARTH by Joshua Barker and Jahmal Holland. Barker gave a hip-hop acceptance speech at the awards show.

Best Documentary went to LITTLE ANGELS by Nellie Gonzalez for her explosive expose on child abuse.

Audience Awards went to I AM by Anthony Varon (writer Jon Moch received Best Comedy Screenplay) and We Are Loved by Sharelle Hall.

Honorable Mention awards went to two Downs Syndrome actors, Evan George Vourazeris and Cristina Sanchez for their work in THE LAWN BOY. Jonathan Loria was also commended for his role in La Svolta, Shot in Italy.

The Best Super Hero Award was won by Zachery Michael Burgess for ZACH AND MYHRE for his acting and his bravery in fighting a terrible disease. 168 Executive Director Dwayne Tarver said It is our privilege to give encouragement to all of our actors and crew in this way.

The 168 Film Project has inspired over 1000 films created by an estimated 17,000 cast and crew. 168 Film is also a launching pad for emerging artists like Tea McKay star of UNBRIDLED, Maggie Jones, actor in WE BOUGHT A ZOO, and Joshua and Rebekah Weigel, writer/producers of THE BUTTERFLY CIRCUS with over 45 million Downloads, starring Nick Vujicic. http://www.168film.com

For interviews with filmmakers or Founder John David Ware or for more information: info(at)168film(dot)com.

THE WINNERS 2016:

Best Speed Film: The River - Jeffrey Hamm

Best Alumni Film: Caged In - Aaron Kamp, Maggie Meyer

Best KidVid: Carded - Susan Shearer

Best Music Video: The Last Song on Earth - Joshua Barker, Jahmal Holland

Best Documentary: Little Angels - Nellie Gonzalez

Best Write of Passage: The Lawn Boy - Mark Baird

Best International Film: After - Ben Whimpey - Australia

Best Comedy: Behind the Scenes - Jason Marsh

Best Director: Jeffrey Hamm - The River

Best Director: Aaron Kamp - Caged In (non-speed)

Best Supporting Actor: William Kircher as Ed - The Paperclip

Best Supporting Actor: Robert Hartburn as Luke - Caged In (non-speed)

Best Supporting Actress: Leslie Thurston as Dr. Morris - Stroke of Faith

Best Supporting Actress: Melissa Meyer as Lily - Caged In (non-speed)

Best Actress: Tea McKay as Emma in The Choice

Best Actress: Maggie Meyer as Sara - Caged In (non-speed)

Best Actor: Tony Lo Bianco as Johnny - Blondie

Best Actor: Jeremy Levi as Jack - Caged In (non-speed)

Audience Award 1: I AM by Anthony Varon

Audience Award 2: We Are Loved by Sharelle Hall

Best Make-up and Hair: Jessica Taylor - After

Best Making Of: Making of After - Ben Whimpey

Best Sound Design: Peter Brewer - After

Best Original Score: Olivia Davies - The Voice in the Wilderness

Best Production Design: Alexa Harrington, Simone Wake - After

Best Screenplay: The Paperclip - Lee Kovel

Best Screenplay Comedy: I AM - Jonathan Moch

Best Scriptural Integration: The Paperclip - Lee Kovel

Evangelista Award: Carded - Mark Baird

Best Editor: Jeff Hamm, Matthew Clark - The River

Best Cinematography: After - Sam Bennett

Honorable Mention: Evan George Vourazeris as Sherman - The Lawn Boy

Honorable Mention: Cristina Sanchez as Kelly - The Lawn Boy

BEST SUPERHERO: Zachery Michael Burgess as Super Hero Zach - Zach and Myhre

169 Award: Mark Baird
Paul R. Ried, MBA, CFP Our goal is to build lifelong relationships with each client, maintaining the highest standards of quality, professionalism and integrity

The list of distinguished advisors was posted August 3, 2016 on Forbes online. The Forbes ranking of Americas Top Wealth Advisors, developed by SHOOK Research, is based on an algorithm of qualitative and quantitative data, rating thousands of wealth advisors with a minimum of seven years of experience and weighing factors like revenue trends, assets under management, compliance records, industry experience and best practices.

"Our team is honored to be selected as part of this elite group of advisors", said Ried. Ried is the founder of PRRFG. The firm specializes in Retirement Planning, Investment Management and Estate Preservation. The native Seattle area resident has served in the financial services profession since 1986. He is a Certified Financial Planner (CFP), an Eagle Scout and holds a Masters Degree in International Business.

"Education is the key to sound financial decisions". Ried is passionate about taking the complexity out of finances through education and consulting. As an instructor, he has developed and taught over five hundred corporate sponsored retirement classes to thousands of participants over a twenty-one year period. As an advisor, he brings three decades of experience to the individual retirement planning and consulting process. For Ried and his team Our goal is to build lifelong relationships with each client, maintaining the highest standards of quality, professionalism and integrity.

ABOUT PRRFG

Founded in 1986, PRRFG is based in Bellevue, Washington with clients in 35 states. They represent a dedicated and experienced financial team committed to independence and objectivity.

Paul Ried is a Registered Principal and Regional Director of Cetera Advisor Networks LLC, a full service securities broker / dealer. Securities and Advisory services are offered through Cetera Advisor Networks LLC. Member FINRA/SIPC. Cetera is under separate ownership from any other named entity. Additional information is available at http://www.paulried.com.

Recognition from rating services or publications is no guarantee of future investment success. Working with a highly rated advisor does not ensure that a client or prospective client will experience a higher level of performance of results. These ratings should not be construed as an endorsement of the advisor by any client nor are they representative of any one client's evaluations.
Rumble for Child's Play at PAX West

RumbleMonkey, the head-to-head eSports platform for all gamers, today announced its company debut and exclusive preview of its real-money eSports technology at PAX West in Seattle, September 2-5. The early reveal invites casual to competitive gamers to Up Their Game and pit their skills against one another for pride and prizes in live, head-to-head matches all weekend long at booth #7311. RumbleMonkey will also be donating a portion of the winnings to Childs Play, an organization that works to better the lives of children in domestic violence shelters and hospitals.

The eSports industry is exploding in the U.S. and around the world, with viewership skyrocketing to an estimated 19.4 million by 2020. According to Eilers Research, this burgeoning market is ripe to also develop into a market for real-money wagering, with viewers estimated to wager $23.5 billion on eSports events by 2020. Backed by angel funding, RumbleMonkey is uniquely positioned to carve out a portion of this growing industry by giving all gamers a chance to participate in the eSports community and compete for real money. With patent-pending technology, RumbleMonkey will give players a seamless, transparent and secure process to be matched up with opponents, choose a comfortable buy-in amount and compete.

Were at the cusp of an emerging sector experiencing explosive growth. eSports is really the next frontier of video games, and the community demand is growing for more ways to join in, said Jacob Rapoport, founder and CEO of RumbleMonkey. With RumbleMonkey, were working to get in on the ground floor to build these user-centric experiences and grow alongside the community.

Visitors to RumbleMonkeys booth at PAX will have the opportunity to enter a match for $5 or $100, with all proceeds going to Childs Play. To up the competition, a few of the regions best gamers will also be at the booth and ready for head-to-head play. Players who win will get bragging rights and the option to keep their prize money or exchange a donation to Childs Play for swag.

About RumbleMonkey

RumbleMonkey is a Seattle-based startup delivering proprietary technology for the eSports market. RumbleMonkeys software allows all gamers to easily compete in their favorite eSport against other players for real money. The company was founded in 2016 and is backed by notable angel investors in the Seattle technology industry.

Press Contact

Michelle Isacson

Barokas PR for RumbleMonkey

RumbleMonkey(at)barokas(dot)com

(206) 264-8220
Veterans lining up outside of a Florida stand down event

The Disabled Veterans National Foundation (DVNF) (http://www.dvnf.org) is praising the Department of Veterans Affairs recently announced $300 million commitment in grant funding through Supportive Services for Veteran Families (SSVNF), a program that aims to help thousands of low-income veteran families throughout the country to keep them in a home.

The SSVF funding, is a program that the VA says, supports outreach, case management and other flexible assistance to prevent Veteran homelessness or rapidly re-house Veterans who become homeless. This new round of funding will be distributed to 275 organizations throughout all 50 states, as well as the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, Guam, and the U.S. Virgin Islands.

According to the VA, their Housing First strategy has resulted in 360,000 veterans and their families to remain in a home or to be rehoused in the last five years, and SSVF is a major factor in ensuring the success of this initiative.

With nearly 50,000 veterans without a home on any given night, it truly is a national tragedy that so many of our men and women who have served our country are in such desperate circumstances, said DVNF CEO, Joseph VanFonda (USMC SgtMaj Ret.). DVNF remains committed to the national efforts to combat homelessness, and we are glad that the VA continues this fight as well.

DVNF has been a major supporter of community organizations throughout the country who work to help homeless veterans. Of all homeless veterans, approximately half suffer from a disability, and more than half suffer from some type of mental illness. An additional two-thirds of homeless veterans have a substance abuse issue, which is why DVNF has been so adamant about helping this particular demographic of veterans.

One of the biggest challenges is getting these veterans into transitional housing at the very least, so they can begin taking the steps necessary in order to get back on their feet.

About DVNF:

The Disabled Veterans National Foundation exists to provide critically needed support to disabled and at-risk veterans who leave the military woundedphysically or psychologicallyafter defending our safety and our freedom.

We achieve this mission by:


Evas Village helped organize the first Recovery Celebration in 2010 to showcase the impact of behavioral health issues on the community, & to raise awareness about prevention, treatment and recovery. The message we want to share with a very loud and unified voice is simply this: people can and do recover from substance use and mental health disorders,. Mike Santillo, Director of Integrated Care Services at Evas Village. Past News Releases RSS Evas Village Hosts New Event to...

Partnership Supports Culinary...

Evas Village Gala honored...

The 6th Annual Passaic County Recovery Walk & Celebration, scheduled for September 10 in Paterson, will celebrate individuals in recovery and demonstrate support for the recovery community. Elected officials, community leaders and treatment providers will join friends and families to send a message that help and prevention, treatment and recovery support services are available for those members of our community affected by substance use and mental health disorders.

The event also celebrates those who are in recovery leading healthy and productive lives, and those who support themtreatment providers, family members, and friends. The message we want to share with a very loud and unified voice is simply this: people can and do recover from substance use and mental health disorders, said Mike Santillo, Director of Integrated Care Services at Evas Village.

Mental & Substance Use Disorders Affect Millions

Mental and/or substance use disorders affect millions of Americans and directly touch the lives of individuals, family members, neighbors, and colleagues. Families often deal with the complex dynamics of supporting a loved one in recovery while at the same time learning how to take care of their own well-being. Given the widespread impact and societal cost of these behavioral health conditions, its important for communities to make prevention, treatment, and recovery support services available and accessible for all who need them. The prevalence of mental and/or substance use disorders in the United States is high. Among adults aged 18 or older, 43.6 million (18% of all adults) struggled with mental illness in the past year and approximately 21.5 million people age 12 or older were classified with a substance use disorder in 2014, according to information published by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration.

Event Honors Leaders in Fight Against Opioid Abuse

Eva's Village helped organize the first annual walk and celebration in 2010 to showcase the impact of behavioral health issues on the community, to raise awareness about prevention, treatment and recovery support services and to celebrate the supporters and services that sustain recovery. The celebration has grown each year. Our first event drew a crowd of approximately 160 supporters; last year over 1,000 people turned out to support the recovery community in Passaic County, noted Evas Village Executive Director, Marie Reger.

Each year the event honors a service provider and a member of the recovery community. This years celebration will honor Michael Pinckney, a person in long-term recovery who is a Recovery Specialist and Chair of the Peer Advisory Board at Evas Village Recovery Community Centers, as well as St. Josephs Regional Medical Center and Dr. Mark Rosenberg, Chairman of Emergency Medicine and Medical Director for Population Health at St. Josephs Healthcare System. The honorees will be recognized for their achievement and leadership in the battle against opioid abuse. Dr. Rosenberg led the establishment of the Alternatives to Opiates Program (ALTO) at St. Josephs this January; it is the first program of its kind in the United States. St. Josephs also partnered with Evas Village this April to initiate the Opioid Overdose Recovery Program (OORP), a two-year pilot program which places Evas Recovery Specialists, in recovery themselves, in the emergency room to connect patients who have been reversed from opioid overdose with treatment and recovery support options. The OORP program is one of the first in the nation to offer peer-to-peer recovery support to overdose survivors and to maintain follow up contact for three months.

Local Officials Will Address Rally

Passaic County Freeholders Hector Lora and Bruce James, Passaic County Mental Health & Addiction Services Director Francine Vince, and Paterson Councilman Luis Velez, will address the crowd and join hundreds of Passaic County residents at 10 am to walk from the Hamilton Street Courthouse in Paterson to Pennington Park. Festivities end at 6 pm. The event will feature music and food, including barbeque prepared by students from The Culinary School at Evas Village.

Participants are encouraged to pre-register; on-site registration is also available beginning at 8:30 am on the day of the walk. For more information about registration and sponsorship, visit the webpage for The Community Recovery Center at Evas Village or call 973-754-6784.

Passaic County, the Diocese of Paterson, Catholic Charities Straight and Narrow, Turning Point, Summit Oaks, and the Governors Council on Alcoholism and Drug Abuse join Evas Village to sponsor the event.

More About National Recovery Month

Every September since 1989, the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration sponsors National Recovery Month to increase awareness and understanding of mental and substance use disorders, to celebrate people in recovery, and to honor the family, friends and communities that support them. There are millions of Americans whose lives have been transformed through recovery. Since these successes often go unnoticed by the broader population, Recovery Month provides a vehicle for everyone to celebrate their accomplishments. Throughout September, events like the Passaic County Recovery Walk & Celebration are organized across the nation to promote the message that behavioral health is essential to overall health, prevention works, treatment is effective, and people can and do recover from mental and/or substance use disorders.

More about Evas Village

Founded by Msgr. Vincent E. Puma in 1982, Evas Community Kitchen began by serving 30 meals a day in Paterson to feed the hungry. In response to the related issues of poverty, addiction, mental illness and homelessness in the community, additional programs and services grew out of the Community Kitchen to become Evas Village, a non-profit, social service, anti-poverty organization that is one of the most comprehensive in New Jersey. For more than 30 years, Evas Village carried out its mission to feed the hungry, shelter the homeless, treat the addicted, and provide medical and dental care to the poor with respect for the human dignity of each individual. Today, Evas Village helps thousands of individuals rebuild their lives each year through 20 integrated programs addressing needs in the community for Food & Housing, Medical & Recovery Services, and Education & Training.
GymDandy LLC and WeightUp Solutions moved in to the Madison Enterprise Center, 100 S. Baldwin St. in Madison on Sept. 1.

GymDandy LLC was founded in August 2015 by Nick Kartos and Joe Fahrenkrug. The company helps space administrators manage online listings and create available time blocks for space usage, inventory searches, and online payments.

WeightUp Solutions was launched in January 2015 by Daniel Litvak. WeightUp Solutions creates custom fitness sensors that attach to barbells, dumbbells, and weighlifting machines, which measures athletes' performance in real-time.

The center was launched in 1987 in partnership between Madison Gas and Electric and Common Wealth, a non-profit community development corporation, to provide space for start-ups and expanding small businesses.
This State Journal editorial ran on Sept. 1, 1936:

Over the radio and through the columns of the newspapers we are being told that President Franklin Roosevelt had a patch on the clothes he wore when visiting the drought-stricken areas of North Dakota.

Costuming with old clothes and the advertisement of patches upon them is a stage play often assumed by politicians when they are traveling the country seeking votes.

Dave Rose in his heyday played the old clothes racket to the limit in his campaigns. When he was touring Milwaukee in mayoralty campaigns and the state in his gubernatorial campaign of 1902, suits and hats of ancient vintage were worn by him whenever he spoke to audiences.

Even the late Robert M. La Follette was not entirely free from costuming for his campaigns. An old brown hat was used by him effectively to give the impression his dress was not better than that of the plain people. The late Sen. La Follette also took great pains to make his speaking tours of Wisconsin in a Ford car, and he was wont to say in his speeches that like the members of his audiences he had an inexpensive automobile.

The late Calvin Coolidge in his famous economy campaign when he was president had press agented stories sent out that the seat of the trousers of the suit most worn by him was patched. ...

Perhaps these political leaders believe old clothes make all the world akin.
Rodale Books has announced plans to launch Rodale Kids, a new imprint that will publish a variety of fiction and nonfiction titles geared to infants, children, and teens. The new imprint will release its first 10 titles in fall 2017, with plans to eventually publish 3045 titles per year. The books will be distributed by Macmillan, Rodales longtime distribution partner.

Rodale Kids will be headed by Rodale v-p and publisher Gail Gonzales, along with Eric Wight, Rodales creative and editorial director of childrens media. In an interview, Gonzales said the imprint will focus on picture books, chapter books, early-reader titles, graphic novels, and gift books, with an emphasis on Rodales specialty: fitness, self-help, and health.

Describing the launch of Rodale Kids, Maria Rodale, who is the company chairman, CEO, and president, said that a childrens imprint has long been a dream of mine. She said the new imprint would expand the Rodale Books publishing program into the childrens space and added that its time to nurture our missionto inspire health, healing, and happinessamong young readers and their families.

Rodale is best known as a publisher of books and magazines focused on health and fitness for adults, and this is its first effort to target the childrens and YA market. Gonzales said the imprint is being launched because now we have the right people in place. She specifically named Wight, who is an Eisner Awardwinning cartoonist and a highly regarded childrens book illustrator, and Rodale associate publisher Kathleen Schmidt, who joined the company this spring after overseeing marketing for Running Press.

Rodale Kids will have a dedicated staff. Gonzales said she has hired digital, marketing, and design personnel for the line who will work along with the [general] Rodale staff of over 30 people. Though Wight is based in Rodales headquarters in Emmaus, Pa., the Rodale Kids staff, she said, will be mostly based in Rodales Manhattan office.

Among the launch titles is an as yet untitled teen fitness book by star health and fitness author Tracy Anderson; Chef Ginos Taste Test Challenge, a book focused on kids cooking by chef Gino Campagna; and Backseat Yoga by childrens music and yoga expert Kira Willey, which will focus on movement and breathing exercises, designed for kids ages four to eight. The Rodale Kids line will also publish graphic novels where it makes sense, Gonzales said. She said the imprints first graphic novel will be part of what the publishers publicity materials described as an action-packed Team Taekwondo series, which Rodale will produce in collaboration with the American Taekwondo Association. The book will feature a cast of animal characters that learn life lessons via martial arts training.

Weve discussed [starting an imprint] with our partner Macmillan, which has a great kids program, and weve hired a consultant and done focus groups on both coasts, Gonzales said. When you look at how the kids category has grown, it makes sense to do this now, she said. Theres no better time to start a kids line.

Correction: an earlier version of this article had an incorrect start date for the imprint and misidentified author Tracy Anderson.
Congratulations and happy Labor Day! If you are reading this, chances are you are one of the millions of Americans living in one of 26 right to work states, including Wisconsin.

You might not know it from the rhetorical posturing of opponents, but right to work laws are simple and to the point. They simply ensure that no employee can be forced to join or pay dues to a union, leaving the decision of union membership and financial support where it belongs  with each individuals working person.

Simply on the basis of protecting each workers freedom of association, right to work should be embraced, but the advantages dont stop there. Enshrining workplace freedom also brings significant economic benefits to the 26 states that have passed these laws.

According to data compiled by the National Institute for Labor Relations Research, right to work states have enjoyed higher private-sector job growth and larger wage increases over the past decade than their forced-unionism counterparts. Not only that, but after adjusting for states differing costs of living, residents in right to work states enjoy more disposable income than their non-right to work neighbors.

CNBC released its list ranking the best states for business in 2016 recently. Fifteen of the top 20 are right to work states, but the connection between right to work and better economic performance shouldnt come as much of a surprise. Business experts consistently rank the presence of right to work laws as one of the most important factors companies consider when deciding where to expand or relocate their facilities where they will create new jobs.

Right to work laws also encourage unions to be more flexible and responsive in the workplace. Where workers cant be forced to join or pay dues, union officials have to work harder to retain employee support. This encourages union officials to put workers interests first, rather than promoting their own power or pushing an agenda that is out of step with the rank-and-file.

Right to work laws make economic sense, but protecting employee freedom has always been their most important feature. No worker should be forced to join or pay money to an organization he or she has no interest in supporting. Right to work laws do nothing to impede employees from voluntarily joining or paying dues to a union. They simply ensure that no worker can be forced to hand over a portion of their hard-earned paycheck to union officials just to keep a job.

If youre still unsure where you stand on the right to work issue, ask yourself a simple question: Why shouldnt union officials play by the same rules as every other private organization? A labor union that enjoys genuine employee endorsement will continue to thrive with members voluntary support. A union that has alienated the rank-and-file or outlived its usefulness will need to adapt to survive.

Across the country, churches, civic associations, and thousands of other private organizations thrive on voluntary association. And despite the protests of union officials, there is no reason a union  made up of individual workers who freely choose to band together  cannot do the same.

Workplace choice, employee freedom and better economic performance are part and parcel of the right to work package. So whats not to like? This Labor Day, citizens of right to work states including Wisconsin have much more to celebrate than a three-day weekend.
Since before Melvil Dewey invented his decimal system in 1876, there has been the urgeeven the needto categorize books. This is a hurdle for those who write, publish, and sell books that are not easy to classify, such as my upcoming book, Inga: Kennedys Great Love, Hitlers Perfect Beauty, and J. Edgar Hoovers Prime Suspect.

Much as Hollywood spits out sequels to successful films, the publishing industry likes what is tried-and-true and easily understood. I learned this with my first book, Almost President: The Men Who Lost the Race but Changed the Nation, when I noted in my proposals to prospective publishers that no one had ever done a book quite like it before. Wrong approach, I was told. Instead, the key to a good proposal was to identify books that had sold well and were similar to mine. Then it would be possible to understand and find the target audience.

People like to read about people, a wise editor told me, so I retooled the book, making it less a meditation on losing and more a series of short biographies of losing presidential candidates who still influenced American history. But the problem remained of where to shelve such a book: U.S. history, political science, biography, or current events? Fortunately, the book was well reviewed, so it sold well, even though it might have been hard to find.

I didnt learn my lesson. Having written about losing, I wanted to write about two of the greatest winners in American politics: John F. Kennedy and Ronald Reagan. My thinking was that we could learn something new by taking a fresh approach to a familiar subjectbut by doing what I called a comparative biography, I again made marketing difficult.

Where do you put a book titled Kennedy and Reagan: Why Their Legacies Endure? In biography under K, for Kennedy, or R for Reagan? Usually neither, I found out, and the categories chosen by booksellers were even more varied than they were for Almost President.

So for my third and newest book, I decided to focus on just one person, but it turns out this one is tough to categorize too. Its the story of Inga Arvad, Miss Denmark of 1931, who was an actress, a foreign correspondent, an explorer who lived among tribes in the East Indies, a Washington reporter, a Hollywood gossip columnist, and a screenwriter for MGM. She was adored by Adolf Hitler and John F. Kennedy wanted to marry her.

Arvads historical significance is that she was perhaps the love of Kennedys life: they shared a romance at the beginning of World War II. But because she had been shown favor by Hitler while she was a journalist in Nazi Germany (and also because of the not inconsequential detail that she was still married to her second husband, filmmaker Paul Fejos, whom Charlie Chaplin considered a genius), Arvad and Kennedys relationship faced all sorts of complications.

The FBI suspected Arvad of being a Nazi spy and put her under surveillance, tapping her phone, bugging her apartment, and recording her most intimate encounters with Kennedy and others. This nearly led to Kennedy, then an officer in Naval intelligence, being court-martialed. Instead, it set in motion a chain of events that led to Kennedys eventual transfer to the South Pacific, where he became the war hero that made his political career. As he recovered from the sinking of the PT-109, Kennedy continued to pine for Arvad and hoped one day to marry her. That, of course, did not happen.

Arvads is a remarkable story, and I hope I have told it well, but now I wonder how readers will find it. Its a little about Hitler and the Nazis; a little about Hoover, F.D.R., and civil liberties; a little about Hollywood during the war; a lot about Kennedy, his family, and how he became a politician; and all about Arvad, a woman no novelist could invent.

So where will Arvad be displayed? In biography, alongside books on the Kennedy presidency, or even in womens studies? There is no obvious cubbyhole to place herwhich is the magical aspect of her life.

Until a new shelf is created, called Remarkable Women Weve Never Heard of Before, my solution is that booksellers feature her in the front store windows or the front page of their websites. For any author, undeniably, front and center is the best category of all.
When David Bowie died on Jan. 10, 2016, the publishing industry was quick to address grieving fans. At the end of June, Dey Street published On Bowie by Rolling Stone contributing editor Rob Sheffield, author of 2007s Love Is a Mix Tape. In August, Gallery released The Age of Bowie by British music journalist Paul Morley, who was artistic advisor to the curators of David Bowie Is, a retrospective organized by Londons Victoria & Albert Museum in 2013.

The coming season brings various reissues, novelty titles, and books including David Bowie: The Last Interview and Other Conversations (Melville House, Nov.). This title paints a portrait of the musician via a collection of interviews, beginning with his first, with the BBC in 1964 (when he was 17-year-old David Jones and not yet a public figure), to his last, which Melville House is keeping a secret until publication.

In January 2017, St. Martins is releasing Spider from Mars by Woody Woodmansey, the drummer for and last surviving member of Bowies backing band in the early 1970s, the Spiders from Mars. Woodmansey played on a quartet of albums that brought Bowie to international stardomfrom 1970s The Man Who Sold the World to 1973s Aladdin Saneand in this memoir, he gives a firsthand account of recording sessions, tours, and the excesses that eventually broke the band apart. Tony Visconti, Bowies longtime producer, contributed the foreword.

Expect plenty more titles to follow; heres a sampling of whats on the way.

Life on Tour with Bowie

Sean Mayes. Music Press, Oct.

Mayes, who died in 1995, played keyboard on Bowies 1978 world tour. Kevin Cann, a Bowie biographer, edited Mayess diaries for this book, originally published in 1999.

David Bowie Retrospective and Coloring Book

Mel Elliott. Watson-Guptill, Nov.

British artist Elliott specializes in celebrity-focused adult coloring books, which shes published with mainstream houses as well as under her own brand. Color Me Swoon (TarcherPerigee, 2013), which depicts Ryan Gosling, Jake Gyllenhaal, and many others, has sold more than 12,000 print copies per Nielsen BookScan; Colour Me Good: Benedict Cumberbatch (I Love Mel, 2014) has sold more than 9,000 copies, per BookScan.

David Bowie Play Book

Matteo Guarnaccia and Giulia Pivetta.

ACC Editions, Dec.

This activity book aimed at adult Bowie fans features paper dolls to cut out, illustrations of 1970s platform boots to color in, and much more.

Strange Fascination

David Buckley. Chicago Review, Jan. 2017

First published in 1999 and most recently updated in 2005, the new

edition of this biography provides details about the last dozen years of Bowies life and work, through new interviews conducted by the author.
Following the success of the book Quien se ha llevado mi queso? (Who Moved My Cheese?) in 2001, Urano Publishing, a midsize publisher from Spain, opened a small office with a warehouse in Miami. However, the cost of running a business on only a few titles, in a market that had not fully developed, became quite challenging. Urano owner Joaquin Sabate decided that in order to make the U.S. operation viable he would have to partner with other publishers. Soon after, Editorial Tusquets joined Urano (Tusquets would leave the partnership in 2010 following its purchase by Grupo Planeta).

By 2004, Spanish publishers Ediciones Obelisco, Editorial Sirio, Roca Editorial, and Ediciones B had joined Urano in Miami. Five years later the five publishing companies decided to form Spanish Publishers, a consortium that allows them to share in the cost of doing business while giving them the opportunity to expand in the U.S. and Puerto Rico. In the past couple of years, the consortium has taken on distribution for three additional Spanish publishers: Anagrama, Edaf, and Salamandra.

PW spoke with Lucia Laratelli, president of Spanish Publishers. Laratelli has been working with the companies that created Spanish Publishers since 2002, and prior to that she was with Santillana U.S.A., a Spanish publisher also based in Miami.

Since Spanish Publishers model is unique, could you please explain how it works?

The model has worked beautifully for publishers. It allows publishers to release their titles in the U.S. at the same time as they are released in Spain and Latin America. Readers no longer have to wait months for a distributor to obtain the books and ship them to the U.S. It also allows the publishers to select the titles they would like to sell in the U.S., versus the distributor choosing a handful of titles from each publisher.

How often do you release new titles?

Every month we receive a shipment from Spain that includes the titles of all of the publishers. This allows Spanish Publishers to provide new titles on a regular basis and keep prices competitive with books published in the U.S.

How so?

The shipment in consolidated in Spain, so we are able to keep shipping costs down. This is also why we are currently only working with publishers from Spain. We have been approached by publishers in Mexico, but in order for this model to work, we would have to have several publishers interested so we can do one monthly shipment from Mexico. We are currently in conversation with a couple of publishers from Mexico. Soon we hope to have some news to share with you.

You offer books from different publisherswhat are some of your bestselling titles or authors?

Some of our bestselling authors are those that are bestsellers in English, such as Nicholas Sparks, David Baldacci, James Patterson, Christine Feehan, and Brian Weiss. Of course the Harry Potter series as well as Percy Jackson and Hush Hush sell well. We have over 10,000 titles and bring in about 20 to 30 new titles per month, in quantities that range from 200 to a few thousand copies of each title. We have something for everyone. And Who Moved My Cheese? in Spanish is still selling very well.

Do you sell directly to libraries or work primarily through distributors?

We dont sell directly to libraries but do send them a weekly email on the latest titles as well as a quarterly printed catalogue. We have found that many librarians still prefer to browse a printed catalogue. We work with distributors and resellers such as Baker & Taylor, Ingram, Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Target, Walmart, and a series of independent bookstores. We are Baker & Taylors number-one supplier of books in Spanish. Part of the reason for this is our offering of new titles every month, and that is something that is of high interest for librarians. We are also present at BEA, ALA, and FILthe conferences where librarians, distributors, and retailers can find out about our upcoming titles. We also have the opportunity to hear from buyers as to what is working or not working for them, and this we communicate to all of our publishers. It helps all of us make a better selection for the U.S. market.

Which category sells best for you?

Actually, they all sell rather evenly. Nonfiction is about 38% of our sales, fiction is around 30%, and childrens and YA is about 32%. It changes a bit every year, as one title can completely take over. We also offer a significant number of romance novels, and we have seen an increase from 5% of our sales to 8% year-to-date [in romance]. Now I am bringing to the U.S. every romance novel available from our publisherssales do not show signs of slowing down.

What is your big fall release?

On September 28 the new Harry Potter book, Harry Potter y el legado maldito (Harry Potter and the Cursed Child: Parts 1 and 2), goes on sale, and we expect the book do very well for us. But beyond sales, it is exciting to have this book come out in the U.S. on the same date as in Latin America and Spain.
CORDOVA -- Twenty Girl Scouts, in grades sixth through 12, visited Exelon's Quad-Cities Generating Station north of Cordova on Aug. 27 to learn about nuclear energy and careers in science, technology, engineering and mathematics.

They learned about the variety of careers offered in nuclear energy and met women working in the field, such as Jennifer Nelson, Design Engineering  Drafting, who coordinated the event with Girl Scouts of Eastern Iowa and Western Illinois.

Its so important for girls to see women working in the STEM field, said Ashley Arnold, Program Specialist for Girl Scouts. The Girl Scout Program is designed to prepare girls for the future and events like this are great for girls to develop an interest in this growing field.

Beyond experiencing the careers available at the plant, the girls learned about how nuclear plants produce reliable energy and atoms by participating in activities that represented half-life, fission, fusion and building elements.

They also experienced a control room simulator and were able to dress in the gear necessary to go inside the plant.

"The presentations that Exelon gave were very informative and interesting, covering everything from the science surrounding the operation of the facility to what the company is doing to benefit the community," said Erin Morley, sixth-grade, at Hopewell Elementary School in Bettendorf.

"Each employee encouraged the girls to look at the nuclear industry when thinking about careers as the opportunity for advancement is great, especially for girls."

"Hoo Haven, an organization dedicated to rehabilitating and releasing sick, injured and orphaned, North American wildlife, also spoke to girls about careers in nature and wildlife. The girls helped release two American kestrels, one sea gull and one goose.

The girls finished their day with a tour of the fish hatchery outside of Exelon and learned about the environmental impact of the plant on the river and other animals.

The career-focus event was inspired by the career initiative Girl Scouts have adopted. Events throughout the year provide girls at all age levels the opportunity to experience a variety of career fields.

To learn about other events in eastern Iowa and western Illinois, visit Visit GirlScoutsToday.org.
HAMPTON -- The Great River Road bike path will be closed through Illiniwek Forest Preserve on Monday because of the 49th Annual Salute to Labor Picnic.

Hampton Police Chief Terry Engle said the path is being closed for safety reasons because of the size of the event, which will include visits by Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton, International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers President Lonnie Stephenson and United Auto Workers President Dennis Williams.

Chief Engle said that stretch of the bike path will reopen on Tuesday.
ROCK ISLAND -- Twelve members of the Rock Island High School orchestra spent Friday evening performing in the downtown streets -- sort of.

The members set up fences ahead of this weekend's Xtream Rock Island Grand Prix powered by Mediacom. On Sunday., they will be back to help tear it all down.

Rock Island Grand Prix president Roger Ruthhart said every year organizers offer an opportunity for various groups to earn money for their cause.

"This is our first time setting this up, so we are learning on the job," orchestra director Katie Benson said Friday night.

Next spring, the 50-member orchestra will join the Rock Island High School band and choir on a Florida trip where they will perform at Walt Disney World in Orlando. It costs each student $1,300 to attend.

In addition to helping orchestra members earn money, Mrs. Benson said this weekend's work is a great way for her to get to know the freshmen outside of the classroom.

"This is a great team-building exercise," she said.

Asrielle Allen, a senior and four-year orchestra and marching band member, said she was happy to have the opportunity to help the Grand Prix and earn some money. She said she's been busy splitting time between the orchestra and being the horn chair with the band, leaving little time for a job.

"I am very excited," Ms. Allen said. "It is a nice way to earn some money, and just something (to do) with my orchestra members, some bonding."

Pits open at 7 a.m. today with practice racing 8 a.m. to 1 p.m., followed by heat races until 6. Practice racing starts again at 8 a.m. Sunday, with opening ceremonies at 10:45 and racing at 11:20 p.m.

Cable TV giant Mediacom Communications debuts this year as the event's first naming-rights sponsor.

As part of a three-year deal, the newly named Xtream Rock Island Grand Prix powered by Mediacom will receive more than $55,000 in TV advertising across several Midwestern states. The races, which feature speeds approaching 100 miles per hour, were tabbed to help promote the swiftness of Mediacom's 1-Gig residential broadband Internet service available in the Quad-Cities early this fall.

Mediacom again is providing high-speed access for the online site, Ekartingnews.com, to support its live coverage of the racing. It also is offering high-speed Wi-Fi in the downtown area this weekend.

While celebrating the new sponsor, the Grand Prix also plans to mark its past by honoring the memories of Travis DeVriendt and Jim Murley.

Mr. DeVriendt, whose suicide before last year's event shook the local racing community, continues to have a premier race named after him. Some of last years race proceeds were donated to the National Suicide Prevention Association, and the Grand Prix committee wants to continue to work with the Coal Valley driver's family to use the tragedy to raise awareness about suicide in young adults.

Mr. Murley, who died earlier this year, was instrumental in helping build up gearbox kart racing, both at Rock Island and across the country. The prestigious King of the Streets race will be run in his honor this year.
I have learned the hard way not to put my personal life on the Internet. But suffice it to say that, God willing, things should be pretty much back to norm...

2 weeks ago
MOLINE -- They've been building faith and values behind the altar for 110 years.

Members of Moline's Sacred Heart Catholic Church's Altar and Rosary Society will celebrate its anniversary during an annual September Fest from noon to 3 p.m. Sept. 11. A 1 p.m. style show, sponsored by society members, will highlight fashions from each decade.

Ten models, wearing costumes borrowed from the Quad City Music Guild, "will strut their stuff" at the style show in Culeman's Hall, 1400 16th Ave., Moline, church and society member Pami Triebel said. Costumes include one featuring plenty of Belgian lace to represent the society's 1906 founding year and a Jackie Kennedy outfit symbolizing the 1960s, she said.

Fashions change but the society's values haven't, colleague Kathy Schneider said.

"We have the same mission statement," she said. "Our mission is to develop a deep Catholic spirit among our members in their home life and personal life, as well as in their social life, and to assist the parish in providing financial support for various liturgical needs," according to materials provided by Ms. Schneider and Ms. Triebel

Members contribute to the costs of altar wine, breads and linens, and for vestments and candles. Other duties include making baptismal gowns and stoles, providing a monthly Mass for living and deceased society members, praying a group rosary for deceased people the day before a funeral and an annual Mother Teresa collection on Holy Thursday.

They also send greeting cards to people celebrating anniversaries and birthdays and sponsor special activities through the year.

They have two fundraisers per year to pay for supplies they provide Sacred Heart. A traditional bake sale was replaced by a "No-Bake" sale at which members are just asked to donate without the lure of baked goods. It raised about $2,000 last year, Ms. Triebel said.

The other major fundraiser is an annual card party and salad luncheon, she said.

The 200-member society has changed its organizational style, creating more of a "committee-of-the-whole approach, than an officers and board members style," Ms. Schneider said.

It also has begun a book club to reach younger members on Saturdays, "when husbands are available to baby-sit," she said.

The group's oldest member is 105.

"We're perceived as a group of little old women," Ms. Triebel said. "But we're getting a lot of young women in in their early to mid-30s."

The younger generation thinks the advice they get from women in their 80s and 90s is wonderful, she said. "After all, they once were in their 30s, too," she added.

Ms. Triebel said she has pored over church record books to gather a variety of fun facts. She shared how society members once collected 1,176 books of Green Stamps to buy a car for the nuns, at their request. The nuns wanted a red car but had to settle for a black one, per the priest's request, Ms. Triebel said.

She added she couldn't glean anything from the first 20 years of church records, because they were written in Flemish.
MOLINE -- Volunteers are being sought as the Special People Encounter Christ program marks its 40 years of sharing love and faith.

SPEC staff, students and volunteers will celebrate the 40th anniversary with a 7 p.m. Mass Oct. 12 at Christ the King Church, 3209 60th St. A reception will follow, with present and former volunteers, staff, board members and teachers invited.

SPEC coordinator Linda Matheis also asked that anyone who has been involved with the program call 309-235-4614 with their name and address so an invitation can be mailed to them.

The program began with about 40 students, Mrs. Matheis said, and has grown to about 115, with an equal number of volunteers.

"The main goal of the program is to address the spiritual needs of persons with disabilities, and we are in need of volunteers to help us continue to do that, she said. In-service training for new volunteers is planned from 6:30 to 8 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 14, and for new and returning volunteers from 6:30 to 8 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 28, at the Believers Together Center.

SPEC meets from 6:30 to 8 p.m. Wednesdays, September through April, in the Believers Together Center at Christ the King Church. Volunteer applications and the SPEC calendar are online at christthekingmoline.org.

Mrs. Matheis cited a quote from Mother Teresa which states, The miracle is not that we do this work, but that we are happy to do it.

"What that quote says to me," she said, "is that working with people with special needs makes everyone feel good about themselves and about what they are doing. "My background is in teaching and working with students with special needs and that has always given me lots of joy. I see how much they love God and want to praise Him.

Begun in 1975 as part of the Peoria Diocese of the Catholic Church, SPEC now is sponsored by the Catholic Church but is ecumenical. People of all faiths are welcome. SPEC began in the Quad-Cities in 1976.

Students who attend SPEC can receive sacraments, attend liturgy and religious education sessions and go to Mass once per month. They also have social functions such as holiday parties and an Elvis Night complete with an impersonator.

"Some of our volunteers are eighth-graders performing service hours in preparation for confirmation, Mrs. Matheis said. Other volunteers include high school students and adults in the community.

"They all learn about giving of themselves and helping persons with special needs," she said. "Many of the young volunteers stay with the SPEC program throughout high school, and some choose the field of special education as a career.

Mrs. Matheis said many adult teachers have donated up to 35 years to the SPEC program.

SPEC receives financial support from the Knights of Columbus, the Catholic Order of Foresters and the Vicariate, as well as individuals and other groups.

"SPEC is a one-on-one program, Mrs. Matheis said. We have almost as many volunteers as students. Our time together is a way for those volunteers to share their love and faith.

"Many of the students do not get to go to church, and the SPEC program is a church to them," she said. "It is a program that happened because there were some parents of special needs children who wanted religious education for their children and that was not available at churches.

"The weekly SPEC gatherings offer a worship time as well as a social time for the students," she said. "Many of the adult students started with our program 40 years ago, and they continue to attend each week.

"It also gives the parents of the children a time to share and socialize.

David DeWaele, a former student who is now a SPEC teacher, said he liked teaching, especially the Bible stories.

"It is a great thing to be here every Wednesday night, he said.

Samantha Sharp, a senior at Alleman High School who began volunteering for SPEC when she was in seventh grade, said shed learned much from the program's participants.

"I absolutely receive more than I give," she said.

Mrs. Matheis, who has worked with SPEC for 13 years, said she is amazed that "almost everyone who comes to see what SPEC is about gets hooked, and ends up staying with us for a long time.

"And we like that." she said.
MOLINE -- Quilts will blanket foster kids in kindness and let their voices be heard through a four-member Foster Care Alliance project launched this week.

"Roaming Quilts: Voices of Foster Children" is a project by the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services, Bethany for Children and Families, Lutheran Social Services of Illinois and The Center for Youth and Family Solutions.

Foster children will design quilt squares that will be joined together to make twin-sized, 63-by-87-inch quilts by quilt guild members in Henry, Mercer and Rock Island counties. On Monday, guild volunteers led by Terry Austin, of a Quilts of Valor organization, cut out squares of cloth covered in freezer paper, which foster kids can use to draw designs of their choosing.

"It could be anything -- their parents, their school, their pets, anything," said alliance chairman Bob Stone. "The kids are excited about this. Give them a marker or crayon and watch out."

Drawing on their blankets usually isn't allowed, he said, but this time, it is being encouraged.

Foster kids will decorate their squares during child-and-parent meetings, in counseling sessions with agency representatives or at parties, such as one from 3 to 6 p.m. Sept. 23 at St. John's Lutheran Church, 4507 7th Ave., Rock Island. Monday's quilt-square work occurred at the Believer's Together Center at Christ the King Catholic Church in Moline.

Volunteers from the Mississippi Valley Quilting Guild in Moline, the Geneseo Quilting Guild and the Mercer County Quilting Guild in Aledo will spend the winter turning the squares into quilts.

A quilt tour is scheduled to start in May, with the finished works displayed in Rock Island, Henry and Mercer county courthouses. Other planned tour stops include the Quad City International Airport, Quad City Arts, Quilts-N-Blooms in Geneseo, U.S. Bank, the Martin Luther King Center in Rock Island and the 2017 Festival of Trees.

"This is a project to bring awareness to the Quad-Cities about the need for more foster parents," Mr. Stone said.

"We have about 170 foster homes in the three county area, and about 271 kids needing a home," he said. "It takes a lot of foster homes to make good matches and choices for school. It's less traumatic for kids when they get to stay in their own schools when placed in foster homes."

The alliance works together to make sure foster parents are trained to deal with children who enter the system traumatized, he said. Alliance members began planning the quilting event in January and kicked it off Monday, Mr. Stone said.

"They're a popular part of American culture," he said of quilts. "They impact people visually and comfort the hearts of everyone involved. It covers them all -- the children, parents and people who work with them.

"It's also a way for children to express themselves in a safe way, while protecting their anonymity," he said. "It's unfortunate when children have to come into foster care. But we can blanket them in the kindness of a warm quilt."
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Comigo will introduce artificial intelligence with the Experience Intelligence (EI) Mind at IBC 2016.

The cloud-based platform-as-a-service (PaaS) offering for content discovery support includes TV artificial intelligence (AI) capabilities. Implementing big data and deep learning capabilities on top of natural language processing (NLP), Comigo's EI Mind employs video, audio, closed captions and metadata analysis, enabling pay-TV operators and broadcasters to offer unique television experiences.Working as part of Comigo's EI Cloud platform, EI Mind offers scene bookmarking capabilities, content enrichment and content discovery experience beyond traditional programming guides  driving viewer engagement."EI Mind understands video on a scene level. Using the full power of the Internet, it extracts relevant information and creates a much fuller and richer experience," said Motty Lentzitzky, CEO at Comigo "EI Mind boosts television experiences well beyond electronic programme guides. Aside from exciting viewers, this innovative new technology helps pay-TV operators and broadcasters alike to be more competitive and better monetise their service offerings."




Bethany Lutheran Videos at Each Live Worship Service

Such is the contrast between the Bible of the old and the Bible of the new theologies. That there are compromise systems between the twoor at any rate attempts at a compromise  is certainly true; but it is impossible to effect a compromise between systems fundamentally and essentially at variance. This is a case of either  or, Delitzsch was right when he maintained that a deep chasm existed between the old and the new theology, and this chasm exists because there is a chasm between the Bible of the old and the Bible of the new theologies. In one word, the Scriptures of the one is the Bible without God; the Scriptures of the other is the Bible of and with God.

The Bible Of The Old And The Bible Of The New Theology. By Rev. Professor George H. Schodde, Ph. D., Columbus, O. in Loy, ed. The Columbus Theological Magazine. Vol. 18, 1898. LutheranLibrary.org
Cartesian has introduced the Farncombe Security Audit Mark.

Two content security vendors, Irdeto and Verimatrix, are the first companies to sign up to use the mark, which signifies to operators and service providers that the digital media content system has undergone an extensive security review, and that a report is available on request.The multi-phase audit includes an on-site review by the Cartesian content security audit team and a detailed assessment report with the audit results. Companies that pass the audit can display the mark in their marketing materials and websites.Cartesian, through its acquisition of Farncombe in July 2015, provides independent content security consulting and advisory services to the digital video sector. The company has performed content security audits in support of the major Hollywood studios for more than 12 years. Cartesians methodology assesses support against studios rigorous standards, including the MovieLabs Enhanced Content Protection specification.As part of our broader security audit service, we introduced the Farncombe Security Audit Mark to fulfil the need for a reliable and verifiable way to inform the public that the user of the Mark has undergone an independent assessment of their content security system, said Jean-Marc Racine, SVP at Cartesian.With content security a significant concern across the industry, the Farncombe Security Audit Mark now gives buyers visible assurance of completion of an independent and recognised security assessment.
How $1 Billion Made Its Way to the Prime Minister of Malaysia

Every time Malaysian government investment fund 1Malaysia Development Bhd, or 1MDB, borrowed money, large amounts of the cash were quickly misappropriated, according to investigators. The money followed a circuitous path among private banks, offshore companies and funds, bank records show, and roughly $1 billion landed in the private bank accounts of Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak.
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Rob Kardashian is counting down the days until he becomes a dad.

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The 29-year-old "Keeping Up with the Kardashians" star paid tribute to his late dad, Robert Kardashian , while celebrating his own impending parenthood with fiance Blac Chyna

Robert Kardashian died of cancer at age 59 in 2003.

"Can't wait !! Miss you pops," he captioned a throwback photo of himself with his dad on Instagram.

Kardashian and Blac Chyna got engaged in April after three months of dating and announced the model's pregnancy the next month.

The reality star said in the Sept. 12 issue of People that he thinks his dad is "definitely happy, looking down."

"I had a really close bond with my dad," he told the magazine.

"I was only with him for 15 years. That's why I'm looking forward to having that long-term bond with my child and being funny and goofy like my dad was."

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Blac Chyna had told the Daily Mail in June that she thinks Kardashian will make a great father.

The model is already mom to 3-year-old son King Cairo with her ex-fiance, Tyga, who is dating Kardashian's half-sister Kylie Jenner.

"He's a genuinely loving person and he's really supportive," she said at the time. "He's been supportive with me and even, like, the people that I'm around. I think he's going to do good."

"Pregnancy is treating me really, really good right now. I can't complain," the star added.

"[The best part is] just knowing that you have somebody that loves you unconditionally and you love them unconditionally."

Kardashian and Blac Chyna will give fans a glimpse into their relationship on the new E! series "Rob & Chyna."

The model said in the October issue of Elle that she hopes the show will help change the public's perception of who she is.
There has been an explosion in a crowded open air marketplace in Davao City in the Philippines. At least a dozen people are dead and scores wounded, with the verified numbers of each climbing as rescue personnel and emergency services continue their work. Conflicting reports have the explosion occurring sometime between 10:30pm (22h30) and 11:00 pm (23h00) local time. A spokesman from the Southern Philippine Medical Center says all the fatalities suffered multiple shrapnel injuries.

The Philippine military's Eastern Command has been tasked with assisting the Philippine National Police respond and maintain order. All units have been put on alert and all Davao City Police have been recalled to duty, with days off and vacation canceled. You can follow the PNP on Facebook here.

As of this writing no one has taken responsibility for the bombing and EOD personnel are on site. The blast is likely the work of either an Islamist group or a narcotics organization. Military officials are leaning towards the former, as just four days ago at least 15 soldiers were killed in fighting with Abu Sayyaf militants on Jolo Island (a little less than 600 miles from Davao City).

Explains Defense Sec. Delfin Lorenzana,

While nobody has come up to own the act we can only assume that this was perpetrated by the terrorist group Abu Sayaff that has suffered heavy casualties in Jolo in the past weeks.

The drug connection, however, cannot yet be discounted. Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte is originally from Davao City and his son is Vice Mayor there. Since his election just a few months ago nearly 1,000 people have been killed in anti-drug police operations. At least ten police officers have also been killed.

Interestingly, the Manila Bulletin is reporting that Facebook has initiated a well-being function for people to advise their contacts they're safe (you can find that here).

Davao City, named for the Davao River, is a metropolis of some 1.6 million souls toward the southern end of the archipelago, on the island of Mindanao. It is the third most populous city in the country and the largest on the island. The official city website can be found online here.

A broadcast from local news:

Learn more on Reuters. Cover photo courtesy CNN Philippines.
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James F. Brooks, a historian and professor of anthropology and history at the University of California, Santa Barbara, visited the University of Georgia Sept. 2 to give a speech on his take of the mystery of the Awatovi people.
In this undated photo provided by the MR Research Center some trained dogs involved in a study to investigate how dog brains process speech sit around a scanner in Budapest, Hungary. Scientists have found that dogs use the same brain areas as humans to process language. A study published in the journal Science showed that dogs process words with the left hemisphere and use the right hemisphere to process intonation. (Borbala Ferenczy/MR Research Center via AP)

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By FRANK JORDANS and ALICIA CHANG, Associated Press

BERLIN (AP)  Scientists have found evidence to support what many dog owners have long believed: Man's best friend really does understand some of what we're saying.

Researchers in Hungary scanned the brains of dogs as they were listening to their trainer speaking to determine which parts of the brain they were using.

They found that dogs processed words with the left hemisphere and used the right hemisphere to process pitch  just like people.

What's more, the dogs only registered that they were being praised if the words and pitch were positive. Meaningless words spoken in an encouraging voice, or meaningful words in a neutral tone, didn't have the same effect.

"Dog brains care about both what we say and how we say it," said lead researcher Attila Andics, a neuroscientist at Eotvos Lorand University in Budapest, said in an email. "Praise can work as a reward only if both word meaning and intonation match."

Andics said the findings suggest that the mental ability to process language evolved earlier than previously believed and that what sets humans apart from other species is the invention of words.

While other species probably also have the mental ability to understand language like dogs do, their lack of interest in human speech makes it difficult to test, said Andics.

Dogs, on the other hand, have socialized with humans for thousands of years, meaning they are more attentive to what people say to them and how.

Researchers imaged the brains of 13 dogs using a technique called functional MRI, or fMRI, which records brain activity.

The dogs six border collies, five golden retrievers, a German shepherd and a Chinese crested  were trained to lie motionless in the scanner for seven minutes during the tests. The dogs were awake and unrestrained as they listened to their trainer's voice through headphones.

"The most difficult aspect of this training is for dogs to understand that being motionless means really motionless," said Andics, who published the findings in the journal Science.

While dog owners may find the results unsurprising, from a scientific perspective, it's a "shocker" that word meaning seems to be processed in the left hemisphere of the brain, said Brian Hare, associate professor of evolutionary anthropology at Duke University, who had no role in the research.

Emory University neuroscientist Gregory Berns cautioned that the study involved a small number of dogs. Before concluding it's a smoking gun for word processing, "they should have looked for other evidence in the brain," he said in an email.

___

Chang reported from Los Angeles.
In this Friday, Aug. 26, 2016, photo, construction continues on the Lucky Dragon Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas. Lucky Dragon executives said the new casino, projected to open in fall 2016, will focus on domestic Chinese gamblers. (AP Photo/John Locher)

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By SALLY HO, Associated Press

LAS VEGAS (AP)  Sin City and Asian investors are going all in on Chinese tourism as some of Las Vegas' latest developments on and off the Strip target Chinese nationals and Chinese-Americans.

The Chinese have been regulars along the resort corridor for decades. Now, officials and developers intent on capitalizing on burgeoning Chinese wealth and Asian-American population growth are courting them in a major way.

Nonstop flights from mainland China are planned for the first time, and two Asian-themed casinos will be among the first post-recession additions to Sin City's glittering skyline.

The new hotel-casinos boast of plans for what some other resorts such as the MGM Grand, Wynn and Venetian have quietly offered for years. Guests will be treated to familiar foods, Chinese-speaking service employees and the table game of choice, baccarat.

"The Chinese do quite enjoy a very Chinese experience. They do gravitate toward Asian amenities. At Wynn Macau, it's mostly Chinese restaurants and menus in Chinese," said Alex Bumazhny, gambling analyst with Fitch Ratings.

The Lucky Dragon Hotel and Casino is expected to open this fall, and Resorts World Las Vegas is set to begin construction in earnest by year's end.

By Las Vegas' standards, Lucky Dragon is a modestly sized property set on 3 acres just off the Strip. It will have 200 hotel rooms and a casino floor spanning 27,000 square feet.

Lucky Dragon executives said the new casino will focus on domestic Chinese gamblers, calling them an underserved niche market made up of Chinese people who live in America's ethnic enclaves, including local Las Vegans, the reliable weekend hordes from California, and tourists from the Pacific Northwest and East Coast.

The mega resorts catering to Chinese gamblers target "ultra-high-end players," while the more casual Chinese bettors are left with more generic amenities designed for "American white people," said Dave Jacoby, Lucky Dragon's chief operating officer.

"We're playing on the existing market that isn't served well," Jacoby said.

The developer is a privately held entity known as the Las Vegas Economic Impact Regional Center. The casino is financed with money from Chinese investors through the EB-5 visa program, which grants green cards to foreigners in return for investments of at least $500,000 on job-creating projects. Lucky Dragon was an easy sell given Las Vegas' appeal in China, Jacoby said.

For the years-delayed Resorts World on the Strip's northern end, the blossoming Chinese tourism business will be a bonus by the time it opens, now projected for March 2019.

The $4 billion casino resort property has been in the works since 2013, with an original opening date of 2016. It is planned to have 3,100 rooms and 100,000 square feet of gambling space, along with restaurants and shops spread across its 88-acre site. Plans for a convention center, panda habitat and 4,000-seat theater are on hold for the initial construction phase.

Resorts World marks the latest entry into the U.S. market for the Malaysia-based Genting Group, which owns resort and casino properties around the world.

Gerald Gardner, the casino's general counsel and senior vice president of government affairs, said Resorts World expects to build its Las Vegas business through its existing branding among Chinese already familiar with its Asian properties. In Sin City, the primary target will be domestic visitors because no other Asian-themed properties exist on the Strip. On the radar, though, is a plan to capture Chinese tourists as they begin to visit in greater numbers.

"The real spikes in Las Vegas revenue occur when several things happen in a short period of time," Gardner said.

China's Hainan Airlines announced Aug. 4 that it was seeking final U.S. approval to start nonstop flights between Las Vegas and Beijing. The service is expected to begin in December with flights three days a week at McCarran International Airport. The only other direct flights to or from Asia are offered on a Korean Air route out of Seoul.

Just 16 percent of Las Vegas' record 42 million tourists in 2015 came from other countries, according to the city's tourism board. The most recent figures from 2014 also show that while the Chinese account for a large share, travelers from Canada, Mexico and the United Kingdom make up the bulk of international visitors.

Officials said Chinese tourists largely have been undercounted because of the lack of nonstop flight service. Those travelers come to Las Vegas after entering the U.S. through other hubs, such as Los Angeles, Seattle or Chicago, according to Joel Chusid, Hainan Airlines' executive director in the U.S.

"The market is there," Chusid said. "It just hasn't fully been touched."

Tourism officials and experts said that although Macau's casino empire remains a competitor for Las Vegas' gambling revenue, the new nonstop flight will be a catalyst for the Chinese to see  and spend their money on  other parts of the state and region, such as the Grand Canyon, Lake Tahoe and Death Valley.

"The growth opportunity is just so huge," said Bethany Drysdale, spokeswoman for the state tourism board, which has deployed marketing efforts in China for more than a decade. "It's huge for Las Vegas, and since Las Vegas is a gateway to the rest of the state, it's huge for Nevada."
JIM SCHULTZ/RECORD SEARCHLIGHT Timothy Wilkins worked as an emergency room doctor at Mayers Memorial Hospital in Fall River Mills.

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Dr. Timothy William Wilkins surrendered his medical license effective Tuesday, the California Medical Board announced Friday.

Wilkins pleaded no contest in February to four felony counts of unlawful sex with a minor, a misdemeanor for providing lewd materials to a minor, and two misdemeanor counts of contributing to the delinquency of a minor.

Wilkins was sentenced to 210 days in jail and three years' probation, with a court order to not practice medicine while on probation.

"The Medical Board's primary mission is public protection and this action reflects the board's ongoing commitment to that mission," board Executive Directory Kimbery Kirchmeyer said in a news release issued Friday.
Jim Schultz/Record Searchlight Jason Olson speaks with Deputy Public Defender Melissa Fanoe during his Friday arraignment in Shasta County Superior Court.

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By Sean Longoria and Jim Schultz of the Redding Record Searchlight

A Redding travel agent pleaded not guilty Friday during his arraignment in Shasta County Superior Court to 60 felony charges and 10 additional misdemeanors that included allegations of using of clients' credit cards to pay for others' vacations and embezzlement.

In one instance, prosecuturs say travel agent Jason Jonathan Olson, 39, used a couple's credit card without their knowledge to pay for a $1,081 trip he then donated to KIXE-TV as part of a fundraising effort.

In still another of many alleged incidents, a San Jose high school choir used Olson's business, True Vacation Travel, to arrange a trip to Austin, Texas, in May 2015, paying him more than $56,000. When the schoolchildren and their chaperones arrived at their hotel, they discovered that Olson's $10,671 check for their rooms had bounced, according the arrest warrant affidavit filed in Shasta County Superior Court.

As a courtesy, hotel officials allowed them to stay at the hotel and then sought payment from Olson, the affidavit states, adding that Olson has so far refused to pay them.

Olson was arrested Thursday and is being represented by the Shasta County Public Defender's Office. He was ordered released at his arraignment from Shasta County Jail without having to post bail. Senior Deputy District Attorney Lucky Jesrani did not object to Olson being released due to his lack of a criminal record.

Olson faces a maximum of 42 years, four months in prison if convicted of all the charges at trial.

Although free, Olson is forbidden from leaving Shasta County and a judge ordered that he surrender his passport.

Olson, however, told Superior Court Judge Dan Flynn he has a pre-paid family trip planned for this weekend in the San Francisco area.

"Well, it's not happening," Flynn said.

Olson is trying to hire a private attorney. He'll return to court Sept. 14 to see whether he's retained a lawyer and to possibly set a preliminary hearing date.

He's also been ordered to stay away from his alleged victims, of which there are at least 25, prosecutors said.

"It's a lot," Jesrani said about the number of victims, adding that there might be even more.

Olson was arrested after an investigation started last year by DA Investigator Joseph Hendrix.

In his arrest warrant affidavit, Hendrix said he has uncovered victims in Texas, Alaska and Virginia, as well as "numerous" victims here in Shasta County.

Olson is accused of 70 charges, including grand theft, embezzlement of more than $400, unauthorized use of someone's personal information and other charges, including a special allegation of white collar crime over $100,000, which applies to all but nine of the charges.

Jesrani said one of Olson's employees tipped off authorities about the alleged crimes in June 2015 before she quit.

According to a Record Searchlight 2014 "Business Spotlight," Olson relocated to Redding in 2008 after owning a technology company in Silicon Valley.

He purchased Cruise Holidays in 2013, which was renamed True Vacation.
Greg Barnette/Record Searchlight Members of the Health Information Management Advisory Committee attend a meeting Thursday at Shasta College's facility in downtown Redding.

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By Alayna Shulman of the Redding Record Searchlight

A four-year degree from a community college? It's happening in Redding  for now.

Shasta College's first-ever baccalaureate degree program started with the new school year after it was chosen to be part of a pilot project through the state. If successful, the Health Information Management degree and similar ones launched at nine other California community colleges could become permanent  a change that would have major implications for the many Californians who want a degree but either can't afford a four-year school or don't have one near them.

"There are quite a few people who start college and never finished a program, so we're trying to find more ways of helping them," Shasta College Superintendent and President Joe Wyse said.

Other states already have four-year community college programs, but oft-trailblazing California has never had any until now. Spurred by a state Senate bill, the pilot program offers relatively low tuition  $10,000 for a degree, with lower-level courses costing $46 and upper-division classes at $84. To contrast, undergraduate tuition and fees alone for only one year at California State University Chico are over $7,000, according to the school's website. And that doesn't count housing, books and other related costs.

The pilot programs have to be in subjects that aren't already offered at a public four-year school in California and that are considered "career technical education," where students get a hands-on degree in a niche career. Mortuary science and respiratory care, for example, are on tap at other state community colleges.

In Shasta College's case, the health information management program's focus on electronically stored medical information seemed like a good fit because of the area's strong healthcare workforce.

"It's become a new field," said Kathy Royce, Health Sciences dean at Shasta College. "In this area, health is one of our major industries, and you ... we are trying to meet the needs of the health community in all ways, not just with the programs we already have, but by developing additional programs for what they need."

The program has 28 students in the introductory course, Wyse said, and about 40 enrolled overall. Classes are conducted online, so many of the students live in different parts of California or even out of state, Royce said.

While there's been a long-standing push to get more local kids to obtain four-year degrees, Royce said opening the program to people in other areas still will produce important job-holders without over-saturating the market in Redding.

"It's a health-care need across the nation," she said of health information management. "You don't want to put out 60 people and the community can only employ 20, because that's not helping the community, either."

It's also financially risky for the school to develop an entire on-site degree program and all the related costs without a strong indication enough spots will be filled to keep it afloat, Royce said.

"Programs are costly," she said. "That's part of the problem with local colleges like us. There are all kinds of ways we could be providing courses, but to put the money into developing the program and to have a large enough cohort to have it effective ... it's a real balancing act."

Buffy Tanner, an interim senior project coordinator for two programs at Shasta College, said having a local four-year degree can make a difference for students who either give up or spend a significant amount of time commuting to places like Chico  all while missing out on the morale-boosting events and extracurriculars that make school bearable if you live in the same town as your campus.

"I've had a number of students who have commuted; it's just tough," she said. "To be able to actually offer a baccalaureate degree  that's huge."

The programs are expected to last until 2023, when state officials will decide whether it's worth it to keep them. The independent Legislative Analyst's Office will assess the programs twice before then to gauge how they're doing  once in 2018 and again in 2022.

Wyse said he's confident Shasta College's will be renewed.

"I'm optimistic (termination) won't happen," he said. "There's a lot of energy being poured into this here at the college."
Andreas Fuhrmann/Record Searchlight A fire destroyed a garage Friday at the home of Mike and Ginny Stover on Bass Pond in Millville.

SHARE Andreas Fuhrmann/Record Searchlight Friends and family react to a fire that destroyed a garage Friday at the home of Mike and Ginny Stover on Bass Pond in Millville.

By Amber Sandhu of the Redding Record Searchlight

Chantele Sahli was at the local Millville church with her mother Friday morning when she received a text message from a friend  her parents' garage was on fire.

Sahli and her mother immediately headed home, driving down the dirt road that leads to the 8000 block of Bass Pond Road and found fire crews at the scene, working to tame the blaze.

"The fire was shelling from all the windows," said Todd Garber, incident commander with the California Department of Forestry and Forest Protection.

Although crews extinguished the fire just before 10 a.m., the damage was already done. Fire officials are investigating the cause.

Built in 2003, the garage was lovingly known in the community as the "g'barn," short for garage-barn. But it was more than just a name, Sahli said. It was a place where her parents hosted many parties and gatherings, fitting in 50 to 70 people at a time.

It was also where Sahli got married.

"When I got married, it was just a roof and a frame," she said.

Sahli's father, Mike Stover had the idea to build the g'barn in 2003.

"I needed a space for my daughter's wedding," he said pragmatically. So he decided to put his efforts toward building the structure.

After Sahli married, Stover's friends and neighbors continued to work on the g'barn. It took about two years to complete, and by the time it was finished, it was a 2,400-square-foot structure complete with a pool table room, office room, serving area, kitchenette and a storage area where the family kept all the tools and family pictures.

But none of those items were saved.

"All the baby pictures were in there," Sahli said. "They're just gone. Those can't be replaced."

Sahli said she's not worried about the material items, but she's saddened about the sentiment behind what the g'barn represented.

Her father just celebrated his 70th birthday there. Her sister's children played there.

Stover's neighbor, Kami Clayton, 47, said her husband celebrated his 40th and 50th birthdays there.

"It was a wonderful extension of their love, of their home," Clayton said.

For now, Stover said he has no plans to rebuild the g'barn.

"I can't do it again, I'm retired," he said. "I feel it's a pretty big loss.  I don't think I'll be able to replace it."
Nurses in government hospitals across the country on Saturday called off their indefinite strike after reaching a compromise with the Centre, in a major relief for Delhi and some other cities battling rising cases of dengue and chikungunya.

The strike called by the All India Government Nurses Federation on Friday had severely crippled health services at hospitals in the national capital and some other cities in the last two days.

After after the strike began, the Delhi government had invoked the stringent Essential Service Maintenance Act and declared the stir as illegal. Two male nurses of Dr Ambedkar Hospital in outer Delhi were on Saturray arrested under the act.

"We have been given assurance by the central government that our outstanding issues would be resolved by September 12. Also, the Delhi chief secretary has assured us that the police cases against the two nurses would be withdrawn and they would be released. So, we are calling off our nationwide strike," said AIGNF spokesperson Liladhar Ramchandani.

The Centre has constituted a committee headed by the finance secretary to look into the outstanding demands which has invited the nurses federation on September 12 for talks.

"We received a call from Union Health Minister J P Nadda and he asked us to withdraw the strike as Delhi and many other cities are grappling with rising cases of dengue and chikungunya. This health crisis was one of the major reasons we decided to call off the stir," he said.

The nurses have been demanding revision in pay and allowances for quite some time now.

Earlier in the day, Delhi hospitals, hit the hardest by the strike, managed with contractual nurses and interns to make up for the shortage of nursing, while Centre and the nursing federation held talks to find a way out of the crisis.

"We had talks with the government till late night. Members of the nursing federations discussed the issue with the joint secretary at Nirman Bhawan after talks with the nursing advisor earlier in the day," Ramchandani said.

Several routine operations in hospitals were cancelled, surgeries postponed, OPD timings curtailed and emergency services affected too.

At least 487 cases of dengue have so far been reported in the national capital this season, with 368 of them being recorded last month. Eight deaths due to it have also been reported. At least 432 people have been diagnosed with chikungunya in Delhi so far.

Till July 28, 9,990 suspected chikungunya cases were recorded in the country, with Karnataka reporting 7,591 cases. Also, over 15,000 cases of dengue have been reported across the country this year.

Ramchandani, however, said, "We will resume duty from Sunday morning and things will get back to normal."

The decision to call off the strike comes as a major relief for Delhi particularly, as the situation here had become "critical".

Delhi Chief Secretary K K Sharma held a meeting earlier in the day with principal secretary-home, commissioner of police and health department officials to take stock of the situation. Sharma was informed during the meeting about the shortage of nursing staff at city hospitals.

"Major hospitals are having only one-third of the staff strength. The situation has become critical on account of the strike," a Delhi government statement said.

During the meeting, medical superintendents of hospitals reported that there was an increased rush of patients at fever clinics and the OPDs on account of the upsurge in dengue and chikungunya cases.

The city health department had issued a "public notice" asking the striking staff to resume duty "immediately".

Government hospitals in Delhi, including those run by the Centre, the city government or civic bodies employ about 20,000 nurses, and the federation claimed that most of the staff had joined the strike.

During the strike, nurses only attended to emergency and critical cases. Besides Delhi, we got support from nurses in Chandigarh (PGIMER), Punjab, Rajasthan and Puducherry (JIPMER), the AIGNF spokesperson said.

The Centre had, however, claimed on Friday that only Maharashtra, Delhi and Uttar Pradesh were "partially affected" by the strike.

The Delhi government runs nearly 40 hospitals out of which LNJP Hospital is the biggest. Other major hospitals under it include GTB Hospital, DDU Hospital, Dr Baba Saheb Ambedkar Hospital and Chacha Nehru Child Hospital.

Among centrally-run hospitals, Safdarjung Hospital which employs 1,100 nurses, including 160 on contract, too suffered on account of the stir.

RML Hospital employs about 840 nurses of whom 236 are on contract and the hospital said it managed with contractual nursing staff and interns.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday flew into Chinese city of Hangzhou for the crucial G20 summit and talks with top world leaders, including Chinese President Xi Jinping on irritants in bilateral ties like India's Nuclear Suppliers Group bid and the ChinaPakistan Economic Corridor which runs through Pakistan-occupied Kashmir.

"Hello Hangzhou! PM lands in China to attend the G20 Summit," Modi tweeted, along with a photo showing Modi shaking hands with officials after landing.

External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Vikas Swarup also tweeted about the prime minister's arrival in China, saying: "Morning in Hanoi, night in Hangzhou."

Modi, who reached here after a two-day maiden visit to Hanoi, begins his programme on Sunday by holding talks with Xi, in their second meeting in less than three months. The two leaders had last met on the sidelines of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation Summit in June in Tashkent.

Sunday's meeting is viewed as important in the backdrop of steady decline in the bilateral relations over a raft of issues including the $46 billion China-Pakistan Economic Corridor which runs through Pakistan-occupied Kashmir.

The two leaders, who enjoy a good rapport, would discuss contentious issues, which will also include listing of Pakistan-based terrorist organisations in the United Nations and China stalling India's membership at the elite Nuclear Suppliers Group.

This would be followed by a meeting of the BRICS (Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa) leaders ahead of the G20 summit, which would begin later in the day.

Modi will also hold bilateral meetings with Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull and Saudi Arabia's Deputy Crown Prince Mohammad bin Salman.

He will attend the G20 summit with this year's theme of "Strengthening Policy coordination and Breaking a new path for growth" followed by a number of cultural programmes organised by the Chinese government.

On Monday, he will take part in the second and concluding session of the G20 and hold bilateral meetings with British Prime Minister Theresa May and Argentinian President Mauricio Macri before returning to Delhi.

In all, he would reside in this picturesque city for about 48 hours, officials said.

A meeting between Modi and United States President Barack Obama is, however, not on the cards during this trip, they said.

Photographs: MEA/Twitter
Chinese President Xi Jinping on Saturday asked the United States to "play a constructive role" in maintaining peace and stability in the disputed South China Sea, asserting that Beijing will "unswervingly" safeguard its sovereignty over the area.

Xi made the remarks during a meeting with US President Barack Obama in Hangzhou on the eve of the key summit of G20 nations, where the leaders of the world's 20 strong economies will meet.

Xi said China will continue to "unswervingly safeguard" its territorial sovereignty and maritime rights and interests in the South China Sea.

"In the meantime, China will stick to peaceful settlement of disputes through consultation and negotiation with parties directly concerned, and safeguard peace and stability in the South China Sea along with ASEAN member states," Xi was quoted as saying by state-run Xinhua news agency.

After several hours of talks, the White House said the leaders had a "candid exchange" over the arbitration case between China and the Philippines.

Obama also told Xi that the US would keep monitoring China's commitments on cybersecurity, the White House said.

In the meeting, Xi also said that China is willing to work with the US to ensure bilateral ties stay on the right track.

He urged the two countries to follow the principles of non-conflict, non-confrontation, mutual respect and win-win cooperation, deepen mutual trust and collaboration, and manage and control their differences in a constructive manner, in order to push forward continuous, sound and stable development of bilateral ties.

Noting that the city of Hangzhou holds historic significance to Sino-US relations, Xi spoke highly of his previous meetings with Obama since 2013, which "produced important consensus."

The US has voiced concern over Beijing's growing assertiveness in key waterways in the region.

The US has urged China to accept an international arbitration panel's ruling that sided with the Philippines in a dispute over claims in the SCS.

Beijing claims almost all of the South China Sea despite partial counter-claims from the Philippines, Vietnam, Malaysia and Taiwan.

IMAGE: Chinese President Xi Jinping and US President Barack Obama shake hands during their meeting at the West Lake State Guest House in Hangzhou, China. Photograph: Wang Zhao/Reuters
Use of chilli-filled grenades as an alternative to pellet shotguns, which will be used in rarest of rare cases, was cleared on Saturday by Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh for crowd control ahead of the visit of an all-party delegation led by him to restive Kashmir on Sunday.

The home minister cleared the file for use of Pelargonic Acid Vanillyl Amide also called Nonivamide as an alternative to the pellet guns, official sources said.

They said as many as 1000 shells would be reaching the Kashmir Valley on Sunday.

During his two-day visit to Kashmir on August 24-25, Singh had said an alternative to pellet guns will be given to security forces in the coming days.

Pellet shotguns are, however, unlikely to be banned completely but will be used in "rarest of rare cases", they said.

The use of PAVA was recommended by a seven-member expert committee, headed by Joint Secretary in the Home Ministry T V S N Prasad, in its report submitted on August 29.

The panel was constituted after scores of protesters were blinded by the use of pellet guns in the Valley.

The Kashmir Valley is witnessing unrest following the killing of Hizbul Mujahideen militant Burhan Wani on July 8.

'PAVA shells', a chilli-based ammunition, is less lethal and immobilises the target temporarily.

The 'PAVA shells' were under trial for over a year at the Indian Institute of Toxicology Research, a Council of Scientific and Industrial Research laboratory in Lucknow, and its development has come at a time when Kashmir is on the boil.

Photograph: PTI Photo
Capping a day of dramatic developments, sacked Delhi Minister Sandeep Kumar was on Saturday arrested on rape and other charges hours after he surrendered before police following a complaint by a woman, who purportedly figured in an "objectionable" CD with him.

"Kumar was arrested on rape and other charges as per details that emerged during preliminary investigation," said Deputy Commissioner of Police-Outer Delhi Vikramjeet Singh.

Kumar, who was suspended by theAam Aadmi Party, will be produced in a court on Sunday.

The 40-year-old woman's statement was recorded before a magistrate under Section 164 of CrPC.

After recording statement of the woman and Kumar, he was booked on charges of rape, transmission of material containing sexually explicit act and taking illegal gratification.

In her complaint, the woman alleged that around 11 months ago, she was raped by Kumar when she had gone to his office in Outer Delhi's Sultanpuri seeking help to obtain a ration card.

She alleged that Kumar had offered her a spiked drink and, when she fell unconscious, she was taken to his house adjacent to the office and raped. The woman alleged that Kumar had told her that he will get a ration card for her and also ensure jobs for her children.

Kumar was booked under IPC sections 376 (rape), 328 (Causing hurt by means of poison with intent to commit an offence), 67A of the IT Act (punishment for publishing or transmitting of material containing sexually explicit act) and Section 7 of the Prevention of Corruption Act (Public servant taking gratification other than legal remuneration for an official act), said a senior police official.

Earlier in the day, AAP's Political Affairs Committee suspended the first-time MLA from the party and referred the matter to its disciplinary committee.

Kumar was removed from the council of ministers on August 31 by Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal after the CD purportedly showing him in compromising position with the woman surfaced.

The MLA from Sultanpur Majra had surrendered before the investigators at the office of DCP-Outer in Pitampura where his statement was recorded, senior police officials said.

Kejriwal had tweeted that if the allegations were found to be true, Kumar should be given "exemplary punishment".

"If woman's allegations are correct, this is v serious. Strongest exemplary punishment shud be given to Sandeep," Kejriwal who is in Rome to attend Mother Teresa's canonisation tweeted.
Mother Teresa will be declared a saint by Pope Francis of the Roman Catholic Church in a canonisation ceremony in Vatican City on Sunday in the presence of over a lakh of her followers from all over the world.

From India, a 12-member central delegation led by External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj and two state government-level delegations from Delhi and West Bengal led by Chief Ministers Arvind Kejriwal and Mamata Banerjee, respectively, will be in attendance during the function.

Nuns at the Missionaries of Charity, founded by the late Nobel laureate nun, said the canonisation in Rome will have a special universal significance because of the Mother's popularity.

A group of around 40-50 nuns from different parts of the country will be present at the ceremony led by Missionaries of Charity Superior General Sister Mary Prema.

Besides Archbishop of Kolkata Thomas D'Souza, about 45 bishops from all over India are now in Vatican.

In March, Pope Francis had announced that the Mother, who spent 45 years serving the poor and sick on the streets in Kolkata, will be elevated to sainthood after the Church recognised two miracles attributed to her after her death.

To mark the occasion a series of events are being held in the city where the Mother lived and worked all her life.

At the Mother House in Kolkata, a special mass will be organised on Sunday and the nuns have promised to celebrate the occasion with the poorest of the poor.

In 2003, Teresa was beatified by then Pope John Paul II in a fast-tracked process which is the first step to gaining Sainthood.

In 2002, the Vatican officially recognised a miracle she was said to have carried out after her death, namely the 1998 healing of a Bengali tribal woman, Monika Besra, who was suffering from an abdominal tumour.

The traditional canonisation procedure requires at least two miracles.

The second miracle was from Brazil, where a person had been healed miraculously as a result of her earlier prayers.

IMAGE: Mother Teresa and her Missionaries of Charity have brought hope for countless people all over the world. Photograph: Rupak De Chowdhuri/Reuters
The CH-47F version of the Chinook that India is buying from the United States is a high-tech marvel.

Ajai Shukla reports from Philadelphia.

IMAGE: A CH-47 Chinook lifts a vehicle into the air. Photograph: Staff Sergeant Nicholas Oposnow/Michigan National Guard

On August 31, wrapping up his three-day visit to the United States, Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar flew from Washington to Philadelphia to visit Boeing's rotorcraft facility, where India's Chinook helicopters will be built, starting next year.

Business Standard visited the Philadelphia unit ahead of that visit.

Parrikar was taken to a former locomotive manufacturing plant, which Boeing has transformed into a state-of-the-art Chinook production line.

An empty section is draped with an Indian tricolour and a poster that read: 'India: Restarting the Alt(ernate) Line in 2017.'

India's billion-dollar contract for 15 Chinook CH-47F medium lift helicopters, signed on September 28, 2015, requires Boeing to deliver the first chopper in 36 months and the final one before 48 months -- in 2018 and 2019, respectively.

This will mark another shift in the Indian Air Force, which has traditionally used Soviet and Russian aircraft for medium and heavy airlift.

IMAGE: US army CH-47 Chinook helicopters take off laden with paratroopers. Photograph: Spc Michael Cox/US Army

Over the last five years, American C-130J Super Hercules and C-17 Globemaster III muscled into the fixed wing aircraft fleet.

From 2018 onwards, Russian Mi-17 helicopters will be joined by that iconic American workhorse -- the CH-47F Chinook.

Simultaneously, the IAF will induct 22 Apache AH-64E attack helicopters, which Boeing builds in Arizona.

Since 1962, when the Chinook first appeared on the Vietnam battlefield, its ungainly shape and tandem rotors have made it the world's most recognisable combat helicopter.

Fifty-four years and numerous versions later, the US Army has declared the Chinook will remain in service into the 2060s.

By then, it would have been in active service for a century.

Yet, the CH-47F version of the Chinook that India is buying is a high-tech marvel, a world removed from the CH-47A of the 1960s.

The CH-47F has an electronic brain called the Digital Flight Control System that precisely positions a hovering Chinook at the edge of a cliff, or above the roof of a mud hut, enabling soldiers or cargo to be discharged with unmatched precision.

Explains Leland Wight, a former Chinook pilot, who is now a Boeing manager: "In the CH-47D, I would be hovering, while a crewmember would look through a vent in the floor and call out directions: 'back, three feet; left two feet'."

"In the CH-47F," he adds, "the DFICS does it all. The pilot just presses a 'beep switch' that shifts the helicopter in precise one-foot increments -- up, down, sideways. We hover with total precision."

IMAGE: US army officers discuss route options while flying a newly acquired CH-47F Chinook helicopter. Photograph: Staff Sergeant Roby Di Giovine/US Army National Guard

What most impressed Indian test pilots, say the Chinook veterans working for Boeing, was its ability to carry 10 tons of cargo, or up to 50 troops.

In a conventional helicopter, 10 per cent of the power is wasted in driving the tail rotor, which prevents the helicopter from spinning.

The Chinook is stabilised by two contra-rotating main rotors, so all the engine power translates into lift.

IAF pilots tell Business Standard that the Chinook's best feature, given India's high Himalayan border, is its superb high-altitude performance.

Boeing pilots in Philadelphia recount flying a Chinook over the top of Mount McKinley in Alaska -- America's highest mountain at 20,300 feet.

Its power allows the Chinook to air-transport a 155-millimetre howitzer, hanging from a sling under the helicopter.

This lets tactical commanders move artillery guns to inaccessible areas, providing crucial fire support to troops in extreme altitudes.

Another thoughtful Chinook feature is the positioning of its rear rotors, 18 feet above the ground. That allows large trucks to drive up to the helicopter's rear ramp, and load or unload, while the rotor is spinning.

IMAGE: US army paratroopers from the 173rd Airborne Brigade hook a bundle to a CH-47 Chinook helicopter. Photograph: VI Specialist Massimo Bovo/US Army

India's billion dollar order has generated about $300 million in offset liabilities for Boeing.

To discharge these, Boeing is sourcing parts from three Indian private manufacturers.

Dynamatic Technologies builds ramps and pylons for every Chinook being built today; Rossell Techsys fabricates wire harnesses and Tata Advanced Systems supplies crowns and tailcones.

Boeing executives say, "Every Chinook unit that returns from Afghanistan or Iraq comes to us for 'after action reviews'. We ask the pilots, the crew and maintenance crews what works well; what would they like changed, and what would you tell us to never, ever change. The one thing that everyone praises is DFICS. They say they can do missions today that they would never have tried earlier."
When Pope Francis canonises Mother Teresa at the Vatican on September 4, she will officially be recognised as a saint of the Roman Catholic Church.

However, for the legion of her followers in Kolkata, the title is a mere formality. Says one of them, I think her whole life is one big miracle and a deity does not need to be deified, does she?

Rediff.com reproduces this feature that was first published in 2003 in which people close to the Mother spoke lovingly of the woman who touched and changed the lives of thousands, nay, millions.

IMAGE: Mother Teresa attends to a patient in her home for the dying in Calcutta. File photograph: S Akatsuka/Reuters

She gave shelter to dying destitutes, a refuge to abandoned babies. Discarded lives found solace in the warmth she radiated. She faced criticism for highlighting poverty and tarnishing the image of Kolkata. Undeterred, Mother Teresa and her band of blue-bordered sariclad sisters continued to strive: To serve the poorest of the poor.

A year after her death in 1997, then Archbishop of Calcutta Henry DSouza first raised the issue of sainthood. He wrote to Rome asking for permission to start the process. It was refused. According to the rules of the Church the process could not be initiated for five years -- during this period it was presumed that the euphoria surrounding the personality would die down.

Explains Archbishop Henry DSouza, After a year, the Church had a change of heart. The Holy Father made an exemption because of the innumerable requests for Mothers beatification. I was asked to set up a commission of inquiry. For the process of beatification, the life and virtue of the person should be exemplary and should give spiritual guidance and strength. Then the Church waits for a sign from God. A miracle is a sign from God. An event which cannot be explained by natural causes.

Mother Teresa is just one miracle away from sainthood.

Monica Besra, a resident of Nakore village in West Bengals South Dinajpur district, is one such miracle case. In her mid-30s she suffered from stomach cancer. Eleven months of excruciating agony came to an end when she saw a blinding flash while looking at Mother Teresas photograph during the first death anniversary prayer at Mothers home in Patiram village, about 100 kilometres away from where she stayed. Fatigued, she fell asleep. When she woke up her swollen stomach had disappeared, the pain forgotten. Sceptics view it with suspicion but for Monica, Mother Teresa is a saint, her saviour.

Like Monica, there are many, many others who say they owe a new lease of life to Mother Teresa. A school teacher in Calcutta, R C Vincent says his agonising back pain was diagnosed as 90 per cent cancer, My wife and I prayed to Mother. She took away my pain and I was healed.

On the eve of her beatification, Kolkata fondly remembers its Angel of Mercy. For those who knew her, she has always been a saint.

Canonisation is a concept of the Western Church. Even before the whole process started people revered Mother as a saint.

Father Pat Eaton, who was closely associated with Mother Teresa, says, Canonisation is a concept of the Western Church. Even before the whole process started people revered Mother as a saint. She has a tomb in Calcutta and every day people are going to Mother House to pray, to ask for her blessings.

There is one quality of Mother Teresa that always impressed him. Even though she was a world figure dealing with so many people when you were in front of her you were the centre of her attention. It was never that she was mechanically dealing with people one after another. There is a certain Sister who started a project in Calcutta and she was living in a small house, three in a bed as it were. Her arm was always grazing against the wall as it was a small house and a small bed. She would go to Mother House for Mass every morning. One day Mother called her and said, You know Sister, I have noticed how for over a month you are wearing that band-aid. Why is that band-aid there? What is the problem? And this actually started a whole process by which eventually a Sister got her own place and her own accommodation. But it just shows you know there are so many foreigners coming for Mass from Japan, from Europe, from all over the world. And Mother notices one simple Sister who has a band-aid and she takes the initiative to call her and ask her what her problem was. This was an amazing characteristic of Mother Teresa. She could focus on you and you were the centre of her attention.

IMAGE: A nun of the Missionaries of Charity order, which was founded by Mother Teresa, feeds a mentally disabled patient at a mission home in Kolkata. Photograph: Kamal Kishore/Reuters

Memories of Mother Teresa light up Sister Marjories face as she recalls her first encounter more than 10 years ago. The first time I met her she was so tender and loving. And then she said , What do you plan to do? I said, I plan to join you in a few years. Few years? she said, You come immediately. That was Mother. Everything was immediate. She didnt wait for years.

Sister Marjorie, then a teacher at the Convent of Jesus and Mary in Pune, put in her resignation and joined the Missionaries of Charity. In charge of the childrens home Shishu Bhavan, Sister Marjorie enjoys holding the children in her arms and singing to them. I always wanted to have a big family. And slowly I found that God was calling me to serve him. So I said yes and he fulfilled that great desire of mine to have so many children. I am so happy that Mother entrusted this work to me.

Mother Teresa probably sensed Sister Marjories overwhelming love for children. A love Mother Teresa too shared. Vociferously against abortion, she would urge women, You keep your heart clean from the killing of your child. Give me your child and I will give the child to a family that will take care and love the child.

Mother Teresa constantly showed the way. She taught the nuns to tenderly touch the maggot-infested, disease-ridden bodies that came for help. Sister Andrea, the first non-Indian nun to join the Missionaries of Charity, says, Mother used to say whatever we do to any of his people you must in your touch show the respect that you would show to God Almighty. For us, this is the broken body of Jesus. So that was our inspiration. Even when Mother put me with the leprosy patients, she had a motto: Touch the leper with your compassion.

She read about Mother Teresa and her group who worked in slums and served the poorest of the poor in a Catholic magazine in Germany. I just felt this was what God wanted me to do with my life. So I wrote to Mother I didnt know where to write. So I just wrote Mother Teresa, Calcutta. This was in 1958. She wasnt a world figure then. But you know when God wants something, itll happen. My letter reached. Mother replied, Come.

IMAGE: A nun with the Missionaries of Charity interacts with kindergarten children inside the Nirmala Shishu Bhavan, a children's home founded by Mother Teresa. Photograph: Rupak De Chowdhuri/Reuters

Today hundreds of volunteers from different countries come to Kolkata each year to work at Mother Teresas different homes: with dying destitutes, orphans, leprosy victims. They say they go back home with much more than what they gave. This experience gives a deeper meaning to their lives. The bliss of bringing a smile to the faces of those breathing their last. The joy of seeing them recover from a state of hopelessness.

Eva Kleekamm, a volunteer from Germany, who gave up her 12-year-old job with a bank to do something more meaningful, works at Nirmal Hriday in Kalighat, the home for dying destitutes often referred to as Mothers first love. She has been here for three-and-a-half years and has a visa till 2007. Take the case of Pushpa in bed number five. She was on the verge of dying at least four times and every time we thought it was the end. She was sitting in bed and smiling at us. When I went for my two-month holiday, I just thought to myself. I will never see her again. Now just see. Shes cleaning up her bed on her own, shes dressing up herself. And I would call that a miracle. Someone almost stops breathing and then they are alive again.

Inspired by Mother Teresa, volunteers take a break from the hustle-bustle of their daily lives.

Mother always welcomed everybody with the same love. All were children of God to her. All were children of one loving father.

Anne Guery, a philosophy student from Paris, says, I had a two-week break and wanted to work among dying destitutes. This work here exposes us to suffering, to death. It brings us closer to God. They return home stronger and armed with Mother Teresas guiding force: To do ordinary things with extraordinary love.

Sunita Kumar, co-worker and the official spokesperson for the Missionaries of Charity, first met Mother in the mid-sixties. She treasures memories of Mother Teresas radiant smile, the warmth of her hands, the strength her presence exuded. She narrates an incident that has left an indelible imprint on her mind. This was during the Bangladesh War. Mother called up and asked if I would come with her to the border. I was pretty scared and not sure if I would be able to face the situation. Mother always gave us strength and my husband and I both decided to go with her. There was a young mother with a dead baby in her arms. She was hysterical and was throwing herself in a drain. She just could not accept the loss of the baby. She had gone crazy with grief. Mother walked up to her. Gently picked her out of the drain, touched her with tenderness, consoled her and slowly a calm descended on her. The lady was suddenly at peace. It was amazing to see that sort of thing happening. There was something in Mother definitely.

Providing solace was second nature to Mother Teresa. Her love for the poor was very special, says Sister Georgina. Mother always welcomed everybody with the same love. When a rich person came to Mother for her blessings she would come out and give them blessings and say a few words to them and when a very poor person came, Mother would do the same. All were children of God to her. All were children of one loving father.

IMAGE: Mother Teresa and her Missionaries of Charity have brought hope for countless people all over the world. Photograph: Rupak De Chowdhuri/Reuters

Artist Ritu Singh, who knew Mother Teresa for over 40 years, is one of the many who have travelled from Kolkata to witness Sundays beatification ceremony at the Vatican. She vividly remembers the day in 1979 when Mother Teresa won the Nobel Prize. My mother and I were with Mother on that glorious day. Just after sunset, the bell rang furiously. I went to open the door. Hordes and hordes of people from the press with cameras were standing there. They all rushed in. Somebody put a mike in front of my face. And asked, What do you think of the wonderful news? We had no clue. I asked him What news? And he said, You dont know? Mother has got the Nobel Prize! We were overjoyed. Mothers reaction was as she always reacted. She folded her hands and thanked God. We are all rejoicing for her beatification. But for us she is already a saint. She is a goddess and we pray to her. As a matter of fact, I do and I have her in my temple.

A life dedicated to the service of the poor, while most of the world looked away. Completely immersed in chasing their own dreams. As a Kolkata resident Piali Dey says, I think her whole life is one big miracle and a deity does not need to be deified, does she?

But the Church has its reasons, says Mother Teresas successor Sister Nirmala, Superior General of the Missionaries of Charity who is now in the Vatican.

We have to go through this formality. This formality and the investigation that has taken place will prove historically that Mother is a saint. That Mother lived her live with extraordinary love.

While for the world Mother is just one step away from sainthood, for Kolkata she was always a saint.
'It is not how much we do, but how much love we put in the doing.'

'It is not how much we give, but how much love we put in the giving.'

Payal Mohanka reports for Rediff.com from the Missionaries of Charity in Kolkata.

IMAGE: "Mother lived in the present moment. It was all for Jesus. That was Mother. She was Mother to all. For us she was already a saint. We have lived with her," says Sister Blessila, who is supervising arrangements at Mother House. Photograph: Payal Mohanka

A pencil-thin alley leads to the main entrance of Mother House, the 4-storeyed grey building with brown-shuttered windows.

54A AJC, Bose Road in central Kolkata -- the worldwide headquarters of the Missionaries of Charity, the order founded by Mother Teresa -- radiates peace and a palpable sense of energy.

On Sunday, September 4, St Peter's Square in Vatican City witnessed a historic event as Pope Francis canonised Mother Teresa who made Kolkata her home and served the 'poorest of the poor'.

Sister Blessila, who is supervising arrangements at Mother House, remembers the one quality of Mother she most admired.

"Mother lived in the present moment. It was all for Jesus. That was Mother. She was Mother to all. For us she was already a saint. We have lived with her."

Born in Skopje, Mother Teresa came to Kolkata as an 18-year-old Loreto nun and made the city her home. She stayed on in the city till her death in 1997 selflessly served the sick and the dying.

Today, 5,100 sisters of the Missionaries of Charity and a few hundred novices manage 758 homes in 139 countries.

Dedicating their lives to prayer and service, they tend to those discarded by society: Abandoned orphans, dying destitutes and leprosy victims.

IMAGE: At Mother House, large screens were put up in the courtyard and the chapel where the nuns watched the event unfold. Photograph: Payal Mohanka

"The Vatican is now putting an official stamp on what I had already known," says Sunita Kumar, the 74-year-old spokesperson for the Missionaries of Charity.

"I always prayed that it would happen in my lifetime. I am amazed that the Vatican put her on the fast track for both beatification and canonisation," she adds.

The announcement of Mother Teresa's canonisation has filled those who knew her intimately with a sense of joy. And once again brought back memories of her grace and dignity.

Kumar, who was associated with Mother Teresa for three decades, recalls her first meeting in 1967. Vivid memories come rushing back.

Kumar was at a meeting of co-workers -- a body of volunteers who helped the nuns with various jobs like making packets of medicines for leprosy victims.

"Mother would occasionally come to these meetings to familiarise herself with the co-workers. I was introduced to her. We shook hands. I cannot forget the warmth and strength that passed through me. I can't even explain it," says an emotional Kumar.

Over the years, they developed a special bond. Kumar diligently followed Mother's instructions. She helped Mother in the office and typed receipts. She would sort medicines that arrived from countries like Switzerland and Germany and seek help from the consulates to translate the instructions.

Watching Mother from close quarters, Kumar was amazed at her boundless energy.

"She worked in very depressing conditions, she tended to the sick, the handicapped and always did it with a smile."

Mother's words live on, 'It is not how much we do, but how much love we put in the doing. It is not how much we give, but how much love we put in the giving.'

This is what Mother taught the nuns and co-workers. "Over the years, Mother became my role model and a great inspiration. She was a true saint," adds Kumar, also an accomplished artist.

IMAGE: "Mother always said 'No matter what you do, there will always be criticism. Let the critics continue. What is happening in my homes, I know for sure. Give love and care and happiness to the poor.' Mother never got hassled with any criticism," says Sunita Kumar, the 74-year-old spokesperson for the Missionaries of Charity. Photograph: Payal Mohanka

In the 1980s, French author Dominique Lapierre became a close associate of Mother Teresa's.

He was also given permission by Mother to write a film on her life and the work of the nuns. The film was Mother Teresa -- In the Name of God's Poor.

Following Lapierre's visit, the nuns were inundated with requests from the media. This interfered with their work schedule.

Mother asked Kumar to become the congregation's official spokesperson, "Mother called me and said, 'Each one of you can help'," remembers Kumar.

Mother's words come rushing back,

'You can do what I cannot

I can do what you cannot

But together we can do

Something beautiful for God.'

For Kumar, the role of a spokesperson was not easy.

"Mother always said 'No matter what you do, there will always be criticism. Let the critics continue. What is happening in my homes, I know for sure. Give love and care and happiness to the poor.' Mother never got hassled with any criticism."

When Christoper Hitchens, a stringent critic flung accusations at her, Mother calmly said, 'I will pray for him'.

An irate Hitchens replied, 'Who is she to pray for me?'

Mother was criticised for accepting money from those mired in controversy.

Her reply, 'Tomorrow if you give me Rs 100, I don't know where it is from. Who am I to judge? Everyone has a right to give to charity.'

Once a beggar gave her Rs 5. She accepted it with a smile.

IMAGE: Kolkata always knew what the Vatican has now formalised. Photograph: Payal Mohanka

Conversions were another area where Mother was constantly attacked.

"If an abandoned baby is picked up and they know for sure he or she is a Muslim,"Kumar points out, "the baby is definitely brought up as a Muslim. There is no question of conversion. She was above religion. She looked after everyone."

Almost three times a year Mother House holds an All Faiths Prayer.

Unperturbed by criticism, Mother Teresa went about her task with humility.

She often said that 'her work was just a drop in the ocean'. But those who value her efforts maintain that the ocean would be less because of that missing drop.

Kolkata always knew what the Vatican has now formalised.
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SATURDAY

Breakfast at the DAC

DESDEMONA  "Breakfast at the DAC" will be served from 7-10 a.m. at the Desdemona Activity Center. The suggested donation is $7.

Community sale

A community sale will be open from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the First Christian Church activity building, 1420 N. Third St. Proceeds will go to the church's children's programming.

Citywide garage sale

HAMLIN  An annual fall citywide garage sale will begin at 8 a.m. at locations around Hamlin. Maps will be available at the Hamlin Chamber of Commerce office, 245 S. Central Ave.

Chili Super Bowl

BUFFALO GAP  The 35th annual Chili Super Bowl benefiting the Ben Richey Boys Ranch will open at 9:30 a.m. at the Old Settlers Grounds. Callahan Divide will present a concert at 8:30 p.m. Admission to the cook-off is $4 for adults and free for children age 12 and under. Concert admission is $10.

Big Country Conference

The 36th annual Big Country Conference, featuring several AA speakers, will continue at 10:30 a.m. at the Abilene Civic Center, 1100 N. Sixth St. Registration is $25, and includes meals. For information, email 2016BigCountryConference@gmail.com.

Other ...

Overeaters Anonymous, 10 a.m., Shades of Hope, 402A Mulberry St., Buffalo Gap. 800-588-4673.

Abilene Society of Model Railroaders, 10 a.m. to noon, 2043 N. Second St.

SUNDAY

Big Country Conference

The 36th annual Big Country Conference will continue with an AA meeting at 9 a.m. at the Abilene Civic Center, 1100 N. Sixth St. Registration is $25, and includes meals. For more information, email 2016BigCountryConference@gmail.com.

Chili Super Bowl

BUFFALO GAP  The 35th annual Chili Super Bowl benefiting the Ben Richey Boys Ranch will continue at 9:30 a.m. at the Old Settlers Grounds. Admission to the cook-off is $4 for adults and free for children age 12 and under.

MONDAY

Farewell square dance

TYE  A farewell square dance, featuring longtime caller Marshall Flippo, will begin at 2 p.m. at the Wagon Wheel, 1023 North St. Dance sessions will be presented from 2-4 p.m. and 7-9 p.m., with a dinner served at 6 p.m. Admission is $5 per session. For more information, call 325-829-1517.

Dance

SWEETWATER  A dance featuring Second Chance will begin at 7:30 p.m. at the Nolan County Coliseum Annex. Admission is $6.

Other ...

Overeaters Anonymous, noon, Hinds Square Building, 100 Chestnut St., Room 112.

Schizophrenia Support Group, 1-2 p.m., Mental Health Association of Abilene, 333 Orange St. 325-673-2300.

Free swim class for people with multiple sclerosis, 5:30 p.m., YMCA, 3250 State St.

Anorexics Bulimics Anonymous, 6 p.m., Shades of Hope, 402A Mulberry St., Buffalo Gap. 800-588-4673.

Central Texas Gem & Mineral Society of Abilene, 7 p.m., 7607 Highway 277 South. 325-692-0063.

Abilene Toastmaster's Club 1071, 7 p.m., Conference Center, Texas State Technical College, 650 E. Highway 80. 325-692-7325 or abilene.toastmastersclubs.org.

Al-Anon, 7 p.m., First United Methodist Church, 1501 N. Broadway, Ballinger. 817-689-2810 or 325-977-1007.

Mid-City Al-Anon, 7 p.m., First Christian Church. 325-670-4304.

Memory Men (4-part a cappella singing), 7 p.m., Calvary Baptist Church, 1165 Minter Lane. Park on east side, enter through kitchen. 325-676-SING.

Taylor County Libertarian Party, 7 p.m., Winery at Willow Creek, 4353 S. Treadaway Blvd. 325-675-0266.

Abilene Community Band rehearsal, 7:30 p.m., Bynum Band Hall, McMurry University. 325-232-7383.

South Pioneer Al-Anon Group, 8 p.m., 3157 Russell Ave.

Alcoholics Anonymous/Narcotics Anonymous, 8 p.m., Avoca United Methodist Church. 325-773-2611.

Survivors of Childhood Sexual Abuse Group. 325-676-1400.

TUESDAY

Bone health workshop

Dessire Armstrong with present a free workshop, "Bone Builders and Bone Breakers," at 11 a.m. at the Abilene Public Library, 202 Cedar St.

Coffee with CASA

Big Country Court Appointed Special Advocates will conduct a "Coffee with CASA" informational meeting at 2:30 p.m. at The Birdhouse Coffee Shop, 500 Chestnut St., Suite 101. For information, call 325-677-6448.

Public meeting

TxDOT will conduct a public meeting regarding possible safety enhancements to the Interstate 20 corridor from 4-8 p.m. at the TxDOT Training Center, 4210 Clack St.

Informational meeting

BRECKENRIDGE  TxDOT will conduct an informational meeting regarding the reconstruction of U.S. 180 at 6 p.m. at the TSTC Technology Building, Room 129, 307 N. Breckenridge Ave.

Square dance workshop

TYE  The Key City Squares will conduct a square dancing workshop at 6:30 p.m. at the Wagon Wheel.

Other ...

Veterans benefit meeting, 10 a.m. to noon, Disabled American Veterans, 2555 Grape St. 325-793-9699 or 325-480-6175.

Mission on the Move Soup Kitchen, 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., Southwest Drive Community United Methodist Church, 3025 Southwest Dr.

Abilene Southwest Rotary Club, noon, Beehive Restaurant, 442 Cedar St.

High Noon Al-Anon, noon, Southern Hills Church of Christ, 3666 Buffalo Gap Road (south end; follow the yellow signs).

Blood drive, noon to 6 p.m., Knox County Hospital.

Blood drive, noon to 6 p.m., Munday Clinic.

Stroke/Aphasia Recovery Program support group, 1:30-2:30 p.m. West Texas Rehabilitation Center boardroom, 4601 Hartford St. 325-793-3535.

Dystonia Support Group, 5:15-6:15 p.m., Not Without Us, 3301 N. First St. Suite 117.

Take Off Pounds Sensibly (TOPS), 5:30 p.m., Brook Hollow Christian Church, 2310 S. Willis St. 325-232-7444.

Legacies Al-Anon Family Group, 5:30-6:30 p.m., Open Door Building, 3157 Russell Ave. 325-280-7584.

Dining For Women  Abilene Chapter, 6 p.m., First Christian Church, 1420 N. Third St.

Family (of Mental Health Consumers) Support Group, 6-7 p.m., Mental Health Association in Abilene, 333 Orange St. 325-673-2300.

MHAA Bipolar/Depression Peer Support Group, 6-8 p.m., Ministry of Counseling & Enrichment, 1502 N. First St. 325-673-2300.

Free certified nurturing parent class (pregnancy to toddler), 6-8 p.m., Mission Church, North Third and Mockingbird streets. 325-672-9398.

Abilene Star Chorus, 6:15 p.m., Wisteria Place Chapel, 3202 S. Willis St. 325-829-1470.

Overeaters Anonymous, 6:30-7:30 p.m., Exodus Metropolitan Community Church, 1933 S. 27th St.

Al-Anon Parents Group, 7 p.m., Hillcrest Church of Christ, 650 E. Ambler Ave. Use Church Street entrance.

Al-Anon, 7 p.m., Doug Meinzer Activity Center, Knox City. 940-658-3926.

Abilene Society of Model Railroaders, 7-8:30 p.m., 2043 N. Second St.

Parents, Family, Friends of Lesbians and Gays (PFLAG) of the Big Country, 7-9 p.m., Unity Church, 2842 Barrow St. 325-232-4726, www.pflagbc.weebly.com.

Unity Group of Alcoholics Anonymous, 8 p.m., Episcopal Church of the Heavenly Rest, 602 Meander St.

WEDNESDAY

Square dance workshop

TYE  The Wagon Wheel Squares will conduct a square dancing workshop at 6:30 p.m. at the Wagon Wheel.

Other ...

Overeaters Anonymous, 8 a.m., Hinds Square Building, Room 112, 100 Chestnut St.

Abilene Cactus Lions Club, 11:45 a.m., Cotton Patch Cafe, 3302 S. Clack St.

Abilene Wednesday Rotary Club, noon, Abilene Country Club, 4039 S. Treadaway. $12 for lunch. Jo Ann Wilson, 325-677-6815.

Kiwanis Club of Abilene, noon, Abilene Country Club, 4039 S. Treadaway Blvd.

Clearly Speaking Toastmaster Club, noon, Westgate Church of Christ, 402 S. Pioneer Drive. 325-795-5570.

Free swim class for people with multiple sclerosis, 5:30 p.m., YMCA, 3250 State St.

Veterans Peer Support Group, 6 p.m., 765 Orange St. 325-670-4818.

Mid-week Al-Anon Family Group, 6-7 p.m., Open Door Building, 3157 Russell Ave. 325-698-4995.

Advanced Square Dancing, 6:30-8:30 p.m., Wagon Wheel.

Al-Anon, 7 p.m., First United Methodist Church, 1501 N. Broadway, Ballinger. 817-689-2810 or 325-977-1007.

DivorceCare support group, 7 p.m., Hillcrest Church of Christ, 650 E. Ambler Ave. 325-691-4200.

THURSDAY

Women's luncheon

A Christian Women's Connection luncheon will begin at 11:30 a.m. at the Abilene Country Club, 4039 S. Treadaway Blvd. Beverly Dillon will be the guest speaker. Tickets are $16. For reservations, or for information, contact 325-370-6567 or AbileneCWC@aol.com.

Class for iPhones and iPads

Tom Miller will present a free class for iPhone and iPad users at 1 p.m. at the Mockingbird Branch of the Abilene Public Library, 1326 N. Mockingbird Lane. Registration will begin at 12:30 p.m. Information: 325-692-1087.

United Way kickoff

The United Way of Abilene's will celebrate the start of its 2017 campaign at 4 p.m. at the Paramount Theatre, 352 Cypress St. Admission is free. To RSVP, call 325-677-1841. For information on volunteering, visit www.unitedwayabilene.org.

ArtWalk

ArtWalk, a program of the Center for Contemporary Arts, will take place from 5-8 p.m. in downtown Abilene. The theme will be "The Shape of Things to Come," and will celebrate sculpture and architecture in Abilene. Art activities and walking tours of downtown sculptures and buildings will be presented.

West Texas Fair & Rodeo

The West Texas Fair & Rodeo will begin with a sneak-a-peek night from 5-11 p.m. at the Taylor County Expo Center. Gate admission will be free.

Square dance workshop

TYE  A-Team will conduct a square dancing workshop 6:30-8:30 p.m. at the Wagon Wheel.

Grace After Dark

Screenings of several short films will be presented during Grace After Dark at 9 p.m. on the roof of The Grace Museum, 102 Cypress St. Food trucks will open at 6:30 p.m., and a cash bar will be available. Admission will be free, but will be limited to 100 viewers. Participants must be 18 or older.

Other ...

Abilene Garden Club, 10 a.m., 300 Westwood St.

Chronic Pain and Depression Group, 11 a.m. to noon, Mental Health Association of Abilene, 333 Orange St., 325-673-2300.

Abilene Founder Lions Club, 11:30 a.m., Al's Mesquite Grill, 4801 Buffalo Gap Road.

Kiwanis Club of Greater Abilene, noon, Beehive Restaurant, 442 Cedar St. 325-695-0092.

Mental Illness Open Support Group, 1-2 p.m., Mental Health Association of Abilene, 333 Orange St. 325-673-2300.

Abilene 42 Club, 6 p.m., Rose Park Senior Center.

PEP (People Enjoying People) Club, 6 p.m., Wylie Baptist Church, 6097 Buffalo Gap Road 325-692-4909.

Teen Recovery Group, 6-7 p.m., Mission Abilene, 3001 N. Third St.

Free certified nurturing parent class (all ages), 6-8 p.m., Mission Church, North Third and Mockingbird streets. 325-672-9398.

Take Off Pounds Sensibly, 6:30 p.m. Brook Hollow Christian Church. Weigh-in begins at 5:30 p.m. 325-665-5052.

Free swim class for people with multiple sclerosis, 6:30 p.m., YMCA, 3250 State St.

Gambler's Anonymous, 6:30 p.m., Unity Spiritual Living Center, 2842 Barrow St. 325-338-2575.

West Texas Genealogical Society, 6:30 p.m., Rose Park Senior Citizen Center.

Round Dancing, 7 p.m., Wagon Wheel. 325-829-1517.

Tea Party Patriots of Eastland County, 7 p.m., Myrtle Wilks Community Center, Cisco.

South Pioneer Al-Anon Group, 8 p.m., 3157 Russell Ave.

Unity Group of Alcoholics Anonymous, 8 p.m., Episcopal Church of the Heavenly Rest, 602 Meander St.

Hendrick Hospice Care sponsors a "Gone But Not Lost" support group the second Thursday of each month for any bereaved parent who has lost a child of any age. Information: 325-677-8516 or 1-800-622-8516.

FRIDAY

West Texas Fair & Rodeo

The West Texas Fair & Rodeo will be open from 8 a.m. to 11 p.m. at the Taylor County Expo Center Admission will be free until 1 p.m. The midway will open at 5 p.m. Admission is $8 for adults and $4 for students, and free for college students with I.D.

Dance

DESDEMONA  A dance will begin at 7 p.m. at the Desdemona Activity Center. Admission is $5. Concessions will open at 6 p.m.

'Bringing Up Baby'

As part of the Paramount Film Series, "Bringing Up Baby" will be shown at 7:30 p.m. at the Paramount Theatre, 352 Cypress St. Film historian Robert Holladay will give a lecture on the film at 6:30 p.m. Tickets are $6 for adults and $5 for students, seniors, military and children. For information, visit paramount-abilene.org.

Dance

OPLIN  A dance featuring Midnight Blue will be 7:30-10:30 p.m. at the Oplin Community Center. Admission is $5. Information: www.grandoleoplin.com.

Other ...

Blood drive, 9 a.m. to noon, Abilene Dermatology, 3190 Antilley Road.

Abilene Chinese Corner, 5:30-6:30 p.m., Abilene Christian University library. lld09a@acu.edu.

Disabled American Veterans and Auxiliary, 6 p.m., 2555 Grape St. 325-793-9699 or 325-480-6175.

Mid-City Al-Anon, 7 p.m., First Christian Church. 325-670-4304.
COLORADO CITY  It's a little ruff around the edges.

More specifically, it's a little dog running 'round the edges of a pen, barking up a storm. About 8 months old with a short gold coat, flappy ears and a yippy voice, he's chasing the lady who named him Sue.

Sue? Well, how do you do ?

'It just felt right, and he answers to Sue,' explained Brandie Allen, cutting into my thoughts. She's a volunteer at the Colorado City Animal Shelter.

'He can be all the way out there, and I can go 'Suuu-eee!' and he comes running.'

Sue doesn't appear to mind. Allen picked him up after a couple of moments and got her face washed for her troubles. Yep, Sue is like all puppies; he doesn't care what you call him just so long as you don't call him late for dinner.

It's been exactly one month since the animal shelter opened in the former water maintenance barn. At the tall silver Quonset hut just south of the railroad tracks off Concho Street, eight dogs of all sizes cheerfully await someone to adopt them. Or at least to come out and play.

'I think the whole building is somewhere around 4,600 feet,' said Rustine Lendermon, animal control officer for the city. 'Everything we've got has been donated. Our big 6-foot pens, air conditioners for the animals, food, beds and everything.'

Opening the roll-up doors at both ends of the building allows for a nice volume of air to blow through. The large yard around the building allows for off-leash runs safely away from the highway.

Lendermon said there are plans to blow insulation on the inside of the corrugated tin walls of the building to better control the temperature inside. She said they can take in 12 dogs now and still have plenty of room and pens to expand into if needed.

The city previously was taking strays to Snyder's shelter. That didn't allow for the kind of personal service Lendermon can now give to locals who lose their pets.

'A lot of people don't get off work until late; they'll call and say, 'Oh, my dog is missing,' ' she said. 'They can call the police department here, who will call me, and then I'll let them know if I do or don't have their animal.'

If she does, she might bring the pet to them.

'I don't have a problem with that whatsoever, just as long as they get home,' Lendermon said. 'I'd rather take (the dog) back and get them in compliance than be ugly and keep writing tickets or keep picking up their dog.'

Most dogs don't stay long in the shelter.

'I try to get them adopted, I try not to keep them too long,' Lendermon said. 'I want them to have a good home where they're well taken care of.

'They're all just wanting love; they just want attention.'

It took most of the summer for Lendermon and former animal control officer Donna Overton to get the 'Water Barn' ready for its new life. With that work behind them, things have settled into a routine.

'Every morning, the first thing I do of course is I have to greet my babies,' Lendermon said. 'I make sure they have plenty of food and water.'

After they eat, Lendermon lets the dogs run in a large pen while she sterilizes the individual kennels.

'I want to keep them a clean pen,' she said. 'I don't want them to have any kind of sickness or anything.'

Every dog seems to have a name on its kennel, though a few are simply labeled with a question mark.

'That's my fault,' Allen confessed. She likes to name the unclaimed dogs as they come in. Question-mark dogs are the ones she just hasn't figured a name out for yet.

Lendermon said the dogs seem to interact better when called by a name. Allen also takes them out to walk on a leash.

'I figure if they are leash-broken, then they are more adoptable, and they seem to enjoy being walked,' Allen said.

While the shelter could always use more dog food, chew toys and the like, what it really lacks are just more volunteers.

'We've got people that will donate money, items like dog food and stuff. But what we need is somebody that can donate their time,' Allen said.

'Yeah, time is the big thing,' Lendermon agreed. The shelter is a seven-day-a-week operation. Each day those animals have to be fed, watered and cleaned.

'That's why I've been doing a lot of volunteering on the weekends, so (Lendermon) can take off,' Allen said.

'Oh yeah, Brandie's been a blessing, I'm telling you. I can't express that enough,' Lendermon said.

So far only dogs are in the shelter, though it can handle cats if needed. It's also a no-kill shelter, at least for the present.

'We haven't really had that many that we would have to put down,' Lendermon said. 'We get them adopted faster than anything, so that's a good thing. I don't like putting them down.'

So does everybody get a home eventually?

'Oh yeah. Some will take longer than others, but I'm going to try to make sure every one of them gets a good, loving home,' Lendermon said. 'They deserve it.'
Russia is pushing ahead with plans to try to raise over $11 billion through the sale of nearly one-fifth of state oil company Rosneft before the end of the year, President Vladimir Putin said.

Putin said in an interview with Bloomberg News published on September 2 that Moscow is looking to sell a 19.5 percent stake in Rosneft to strategic investors through a private placement rather than through a public securities offering, in an effort to maximize revenue for the government.

"I think we should be aiming precisely for that type of investment. We are getting ready and are planning to do it this year," Putin said.

The Rosneft sale will show Russias continued commitment to reducing the states role in the economy despite setbacks since 2014 caused by a collapse in oil prices and western sanctions on Russia over its aggression in Ukraine, he said.

We are committed to carrying out our plans, Putin told Bloomberg. The question isnt whether we want to or not, the question is whether it makes sense or not, and at what moment?

Rosneft is Russia's most valuable company and its partial privatization would raise considerably more revenue for the cash-strapped government than the sale in July of a 10.9 percent stake in diamond miner Alrosa.

After privatization, the government would retain 50 percent plus one share of Rosneft, which is the world's largest oil firm by reserves and produces over a third of Russia's output of 10.7 million barrels a day.

At its first public offering of securities a decade ago, Rosneft was worth nearly $80 billion. But its market value has fallen to $55 billion since then as a result of low oil prices and the sanctions imposed on Russia, Rosneft, and its chief executive Igor Sechin, who is one of Putin's closest allies.

The sanctions will make it difficult for western investors to purchase a stake in Rosneft, but their place could be taken by Asian investors, including from China and India, which have been seeking to help develop Russia's vast natural resources.

Russia last month postponed the sale of a 50 percent stake in Bashneft, a smaller state oil firm, after Rosneft indicated its interest in joining the bidding, pitting Kremlin insider Sechin against rival bidders and posing a dilemma for Putin.

Probably its not the best option when one company under state control acquires another purely state company, Putin told Bloomberg.

But he left the door open for Rosneft participating in the Bashneft sale, saying it wasnt strictly speaking a state company because Britains BP owns almost 20 percent of its shares.

In the end, the important thing for the budget is who gives the most money, he said. In this sense we cant discriminate against market participants, not a single one of them.

With reporting by Bloomberg News, TASS, and Reuters


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."
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Germany took steps on September 2 to soothe Turkish anger over a parliamentary resolution declaring the Ottomans committed genocide in killing more than a million Armenians during World War I.

German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier and other top officials pointed out that the vote, while reflecting the opinion of lawmakers, was "not legally binding."

Turkey admits many Christian Armenians were killed in clashes with Ottoman forces, but denies the killings were orchestrated and constituted a genocide.

It responded to the June Bundestag vote by blocking German lawmakers from visiting 250 German troops at Incirlik Air Base.

Turkey insists Berlin must first distance itself from the Armenia resolution before it will change its mind.

Ilnur Cevik, a media adviser to Turkish President Recept Tayyip Erdogan, told German broadcaster ARD on September 2 that official statements explaining the non-binding nature of the genocide resolution would not suffice to free up visits by members of Germany's parliament.

Some German lawmakers, including members of the ruling right-center coalition, have said they would press for withdrawal of German troops from the base unless they are allowed to visit.

Based on reporting by AP, Reuters, and AFP


Pakistani police say they have charged the former husband and the father of a British-Pakistani woman -- suspected to have been the victim of a so-called honor killing -- with her murder.

The announcement was made by the regional police in the northern Punjab Province on September 3.

Samia Shahid, 28, died in July in Punjab, where she was visiting relatives. Police say she died as a result of being strangled.

Her husband, Mukhtar Kazam, says she was murdered because she married him against the family's wishes.

Shahid's first husband, Muhammad Shakeel, has been arrested on suspicion of her murder while her father, Chaudhry Muhammad, has been held as an accessory to murder.

"The ex-husband has also been charged with raping her," Abubakar Buksh, a high-ranking police official, told AFP.

Hundreds of Pakistani women are killed each year by relatives who accuse them of violating conservative social or religious norms.

Based on reporting by AFP and dawn.com
Russian President Vladimir Putin and his Turkish counterpart Recep Tayyip Erdogan discussed resuming complete diplomatic relations on the eve of the G20 summit in China.

Relations were damaged after Turkey shot down a Russian warplane in November 2015, killing the pilot.

"There is still a lot to do in order to completely reestablish cooperation in all areas," Putin said after the bilateral meeting in Guangzhou, adding that we can go forward on our path of cooperation" once the situation in Turkey is "completely normalized.

The two countries patched up relations after Erdogan sent a letter to the Russian leader in June that expressed condolences to the killed pilots family.

Erdogan said he and Putin would take certain measures to move bilateral ties forward, notably on their joint TurkStream project, which aims to increase Russian gas exports to Southern Europe via Turkey.

After Turkey shot down the Russian plane at the Turkish-Syrian border, Russia imposed travel restrictions on Russians and economic sanctions against Turkey.

Based on reporting by AFP and dpa
The first Russian charter plane carrying tourists to Turkey since the two nations mended relations landed in the Mediterranean resort of Antalya with 309 passengers on September 2.

Russia banned charter tourist flights to Turkey after Ankara shot down a Russian war plane in November 2015 near the Syrian border.

But the ban was lifted under a normalization of ties between Turkey and Russia in June made possible by Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan's letter of regret to Russia over the incident.

The loss of Russian sunseekers was a severe blow to Turkey's tourism sector. Mediterranean resorts are particularly dependent on Russian business.

The number of foreign tourists in Turkey fell 30.3 percent in the first seven months of the year, according to official data.

Turkish travel agents expect only about 600,000 Russian tourists this year because the lifting of the ban came late in the holiday season. That compares with pre-ban levels of visitors of around 4.5 million a year, AFP reported.

Turkish Airlines has increased the number of daily flights from Ankara, Antalya, and Istanbul to Moscow to 11, making the Russian capital its top daily international destination.

Based on reporting by AFP, TASS, and Interfax


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Richmond Mayor Dwight C. Jones is proposing a $500,000 grant for Jims Local Market, a grocery store planned for the corner of Nine Mile Road and North 25th Street in the East End.

The project was first announced in May. The mayors office has said it will provide healthier food options for residents in an area with high unemployment and poverty rates.

The overall project is expected to draw $26 million in private investment and will employ 30 full-time employees and between 30 and 50 part-time employees, the mayors office said.

If approved, the grant money would be transferred to the Richmond Redevelopment and Housing Corp., which is developing the project in partnership with Church Hill North Retail Center Inc.

To make room for the project, the city is also proposing closing to travel a portion of North 25th Street between Nine Mile Road and T Street. The city is also proposing closing four alleys in the vicinity. The total value of the land is estimated to be $115,951, according to city planning documents.

Steven A. Markel, vice chairman of Henrico County-based specialty insurer Markel Corp., is personally financing the project.

Jim Scanlon, president of Jims Local Market and a former Martins Food Markets executive, would operate the store.

In addition to a full-service grocery store, the development will include retail space and 25 residential units.

The Planning Commission will take up a rezoning request and the street closures Tuesday at a 1:30 p.m. meeting.
Virginia Attorney General Mark R. Herring and Gov. Terry McAuliffe have joined advocates calls for a federal civil rights investigation into Hampton Roads Regional Jail in Portsmouth, after a second suspicious death renewed scrutiny of inmates access to medical care.

Herring on Friday asked the U.S. Department of Justice to examine possible constitutional rights violations at the facility where Jamycheal Mitchell died last year and Henry Clay Stewart died last month.

These deaths have generated serious allegations, and the lack of clarity surrounding these now repeat incidents shows an acute need for an inquiry to determine whether there are practices that are incompatible with ... guarantees (pre- and post-conviction) provided to all citizens of the United States Constitution, Herring stated in a letter to U.S. Attorney General Loretta Lynch.

McAuliffe supports the request of (Attorney) General Herring 100 percent, said Christina Nuckols, a spokeswoman for the governor. He looks forward to a response from the Department of Justice Civil Rights Division and hopes that an inquiry will provide clear-cut findings that will assist the commonwealth and its communities in meeting that goal.

The calls for federal scrutiny of Hampton Roads Regional Jail began with civil rights groups in March and continued through early summer with formal requests from advocates and Mark Krudys, a lawyer representing the families of Mitchell and Stewart, whose death was reported by the Richmond Times-Dispatch this week.

Stewart, 60, died two days after jail officials denied his emergency request for medical treatment, according to paperwork returned to his family after his Aug. 6 death. He had blacked out, been in pain and unable to eat or drink, Stewart scrawled on the form that officials later ruled did not represent an emergency.

I hope they do a thorough job and really investigate this, because peoples lives are depending on them, said Roxanne Adams, Mitchells aunt.

Her nephew was found dead in his cell in August 2015 at age 24 of complications a medical examiner later determined stemmed from wasting syndrome. Mitchell, who had been diagnosed with bipolar disorder and schizophrenia, lost 46 pounds over the 101 days he spent in custody at the jail for allegedly stealing $5 in snacks from a 7-Eleven.

The Department of Justice has yet to contact jail officials, said spokesman Lt. Col. Eugene Taylor.

We have no concerns or issues with Herrings request, Taylor said. We have nothing to hide.

The type of pattern-or-practice probe Herring requested is routinely used to ferret out instances of biased or otherwise unconstitutional or unfair police practices across the country and was recently deployed in Baltimore. Investigators in that case found that the Baltimore Police Department had routinely violated citizens constitutional rights, the agency revealed in findings released last month.

Rep. Robert C. Bobby Scott, D-3rd, whose congressional district includes the Hampton Roads Regional Jail, issued a statement late Friday welcoming the scrutiny.

I commend Attorney General Herring for requesting a federal pattern-or-practice investigation of the Hampton Roads Regional Jail, Scott said. The circumstances surrounding the death of Jamycheal Mitchell last year and the recent death of Henry Clay Stewart raise serious questions and concerns about this facility.

It is unclear whether the Department of Justice will accept Herrings request.

The agency did not return requests for comment. A spokesman for the U.S. attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia, Dana Boente, who is copied on the letter from Herring with Vanita Gupta, division chief of the Justice Departments civil rights division, declined to comment.

We have been asking for this kind of scrutiny here for months, and I think we need that in order for us to get to the bottom of what has happened and is happening, said James Boyd, president of the Portsmouth NAACP.

Boyd said he is in contact with the family of another Hampton Roads Regional Jail inmate who was not given medicine needed for a life-threatening condition.

This is just the right thing to do, Boyd said of the investigation, especially after the way these various investigations (of Mitchells case) have been handled.

Several agencies have reviewed the circumstances surrounding Mitchells death and the failure to provide him court-ordered mental health services. But those reports have not answered basic questions about why and how he was allowed to deteriorate, Adams said.

From last year to now there have been so many investigations, and we still have no idea what actually happened to him  not a clue, Adams said. Theres such a need for someone to step up and do something instead of saying, Its not in my jurisdiction.

More than a year later, it remains unclear who should be providing those answers.

The jail conducted an internal investigation that Taylor has said cleared its employees of wrongdoing, but officials have not released the report to the public or state lawmakers.

The Virginia Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services and the Office of the State Inspector General conducted separate inquiries, but neither revealed what led to Mitchells death.

Officials from both agencies have said they were unable to complete thorough investigations because of a lack of access to records and key employees.

Moreover, State Inspector General June Jennings has said the agency lacks authority to investigate a death that occurs in jail  an issue state lawmakers have pledged to address in the coming General Assembly session by clarifying who should conduct such reviews.

Legislators, civil rights advocates and Jennings own employees have criticized her offices handling of Mitchells case. Longtime agency employee Cathy Hill and contractors with the inspector generals office in July filed an 18-page complaint with Herring detailing concerns about the leadership of Jennings and Priscilla Smith, who oversees the agencys behavioral health division.

Among their misgivings: that Jennings and Smith misled lawmakers by implying the Mitchell review was thorough, when in fact 80 percent of the offices review of his case was completed from behind a desk, according to the complaint.

Boyd said that although he was encouraged to learn that Herring had invited federal scrutiny, he was disappointed by the states handling of a whistle-blower complaint that focused in large part on state employees investigation of Mitchells case.

McAuliffe last month expressed confidence in Jennings  whom he reappointed to a four-year term this summer  and said through a spokesman that no personnel action was needed as a result of the complaint.

Hill has said neither she nor the other writers of the letter were contacted by any state employees after filing the complaint.

Their concerns should have been given due consideration, Boyd said. Moving forward we need to operate in the spirit of openness and transparency and get the job done.
Bill Anderson of Charlottesville loved to sing all of his life and often raised his rich tenor in the cause of world peace.

He did his very first solo at Gravel Hill Baptist Church, which came out of Four Mile Creek Baptist Church (in eastern Henrico County), said his sister and only immediate survivor, Jacqueline Lawrence of Henrico. He was 5 years old or something like that. My family came from freed slaves and worshiped in the balcony of Four Mile Creek. As an adult, he had sung professionally with groups in some of the great spaces of Europe.

Bill always was for peace, she noted. During the Vietnam War, he became a conscientious objector. I remember him going to Richmond and all these papers he wrote about why it was not right to go to war, she said. He was not drafted.

Later in life he joined Trinity Episcopal Church in Charlottesville, which led to his service on the National Executive Committee of the Episcopal Peace Fellowship, the Peace Commission for the Episcopal Church and the National Council of the Fellowship of Reconciliation. He was president of the Richmond Chapter of The Union of Black Episcopalians.

When he died of cancer Monday at a hospice in Chesterfield County, he was chairman of the Charlottesville Center for Peace and Justice, which he helped found.

A service of burial and thanksgiving for the 68-year-old retired University of Virginia staff psychologist and peace activist will be at 11:30 a.m. Saturday at Four Mile Creek Baptist Church, 2950 New Market Road in Varina. Burial will be in Washington Memorial Park.

Bill was truly one of the finest souls who ever lived, opined Dr. Shamim Sisson, retired associate dean of students at U.Va.

A fluent French- and Spanish-speaker, he traveled to 15 countries on peace missions, singing with groups from the Peace Commission and Zephyrus, a Charlottesville choral group.

In South Africa, he stayed as the guest of Bishop Desmond Tutu for several days, Lawrence recalled. They went to villages to carry school supplies and to speak about peace. To see people so poor, it broke his heart. He spoke out for peace everywhere he went.

My parents were so afraid. He went into areas where there was worry (for safety), people werent getting along and where Americans were not well thought of. Bill wasnt afraid. He went in anyway to try to make a more peaceful world. His last trip was to Dublin from July 3 to 11 this year. He also had sung with Charlottesvilles Virginia Consort.

Born March 23, 1948, in Varina, Dr. William Henry Anderson Jr. was a serious child who loved to read and kept two single-space spiral notebooks documenting every book he had read since the age of 6.

His first year of education came at a segregated Rosenwald school four months after the U.S. Supreme Court desegregated the nations schools in its Brown vs. Board of Education ruling. While attending the all-black Gravel Hill and Henrico Central elementary schools, he began to read and love Shakespearean works.

After his first two years of high school at the all-black Virginia Randolph School in western Henrico County, my parents said they got tired of sending him to a school on the other side of the county, his sister said.

When he was in the tenth grade, he and his sister became two of the first 11 blacks to attend Varina High School, his sister said.

It was challenging. My brother always was very strong. In many of my classes, I was the only black student. It felt like I was alone.

In 1963, Dr. Anderson was one of the first blacks to graduate from Varina High School, where he was in the National Thespian Society and the Quill and Scroll and the Beta Club honorary societies.

Dr. Anderson went on scholarship to Virginia Tech, where he earned a bachelors degree in psychology in 1970.

Why psychology? He felt that his career was a sacred vocation. Bill felt it would not only be a profession but also would allow him to share his religious beliefs, Lawrence said. He thought psychology would allow him to reach a lot of young people and families.

He went on a four-year fellowship to State University of New York at Stony Brook, where he earned a doctorate in clinical psychology in 1974 and did post-doctoral studies in pediatric psychology at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, where he subsequently was associate professor of psychology for seven years.

In 1981, Dr. Anderson joined the University of Virginia faculty as assistant professor in the Institute of Clinical Psychology. He became an associate professor and director of training at the U.Va. Counseling Center from 1985 to 1986, when the center merged with Student Mental Health to become Student health Counseling and Psychological Services. He capped his career as a licensed staff psychologist, doing individual and group therapy, supervising clinicians in training and providing outreach to the wider U.Va. community.

In doing so, he helped thousands of students, according to a U.Va. online memorial post.

He loved working with people of all ages, his sister said. He did not see color. He saw people and had friends from every walk of life.

Far more than a mentor, Bill was a teacher whose lessons keep appearing year after year, said Dr. Barbara Rubin, a former U.Va. Counseling Center intern. His zest for savoring each moment is an eternal gift I deeply cherish.

His sister recalled how much he loved teaching and sharing his knowledge with others. All of the cards he received told how he had influenced so many students and changed their lives, she said. People were calling and would tell about how he would take them to the grocery store, out to eat, counseled them and helped them through some difficult times.

As the university became more diverse, his work focused on multicultural issues, sexuality concerns and the integration of spirituality and psychotherapy.

The Charlottesville community awarded Dr. Anderson, who also was a life member of the NAACP, its Martin Luther King Jr. Award in 1997.

The year he retired, U.Va.s Serpentine Society, the LGBTQ alumni network, gave him its 2014 Outstanding Service Award for positive contributions to LGBTQ causes on campus.
Virginia Democrats charged on Friday that Senate Majority Leader Thomas Norments proposed state constitutional amendment on voting rights would permanently marginalize ex-offenders who committed violent crimes.

Norment, R-James City , said Thursday that he will propose a state constitutional amendment to automatically restore the voting rights of some nonviolent felons who have served their terms. Norments measure would permanently bar violent offenders from voting.

By excluding ex-offenders who committed violent crimes, the amendment would permanently marginalize an entire class of Virginians, Susan Swecker, chairwoman of the state Democratic Party, said on a conference call organized by state Democrats.

Earlier this week, Norment and Speaker of the House Bill Howell, R-Stafford, urged the state Supreme Court to make Gov. Terry McAuliffe show why he should not be held in contempt.

They accuse the governor of trying to circumvent the courts July 22 ruling that overturned McAuliffes April 22 blanket order automatically restoring the rights of more than 200,000 felons who had completed their terms.

Democratic U.S. Rep. Bobby Scott, who represents the 3rd District, said that under Norments proposal, Bernie Madoff, who defrauded thousands of investors, could get back his voting rights, but a college kid who got into a bar fight would never be able to get their rights restored, ever.

Scott also asserted that there is a fuzzy line between what constitutes violent and nonviolent crimes.

He charged that Republicans are trying to win elections by denying people the right to vote.

State Sen. Donald McEachin, D-Henrico, the Democratic nominee for Congress in the 4th District, accused Virginia Republicans of mounting a campaign of hysteria.

Theyre afraid of this new voting group, he said.

Under Norments proposal, automatic restorations would apply only to felons who have finished their sentences, including probation, parole and suspended sentence, and fully paid their fines, court costs and restitution.

In order to pass, a state constitutional amendment must clear the General Assembly twice, with an election for the House of Delegates in between, and then go to the states voters in a referendum.

The House of Delegates is up for election in 2017, so the earliest the measure could be on the ballot is November 2018.
The U.S. Forest Service has written the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission to express concerns about an access road to the proposed Atlantic Coast Pipeline in Bath County that parallels a stream channel as well as access roads and stream crossings of three tributaries in Augusta County.

The letter from Forest Supervisor Clyde Thompson of the Monongahela National Forest to FERC was dated Thursday.

Thompson asks that the pipeline re-evaluate the proposed stream crossings and locations of access roads while considering forest plan standards and best practices relating to soil and water.

The Forest Service requests in Augusta County include the streams that would be crossed by the pipeline and access roads on George Washington National Forest lands.

The locations include an unnamed tributary of the Calfpasture River (at Dowells Draft Trail), near mile post 117, and two unnamed tributaries to Jennings Branch (at White Oak Draft Trail), between mile posts 120 and 121. All are wild brook trout streams.

In Bath County, the Forest Service said an access road that impacts a wild brook trout stream, Laurel Run, is unacceptable because it parallels the stream channel with the riparian corridor for much of its length and has numerous stream crossings.

The letter says the access road is inconsistent with forest plan standards and best management practices concerning soil and water.

Dominion Resources, the lead utility in the 600-mile natural gas pipeline project, said the requests from the Forest Service are normal.

This a normal part of the process, said Aaron Ruby, a Dominion spokesman. The FERC is developing a draft environmental impact statement and is seeking input from the coordinating agencies involved in the process.

Ruby further said as we progress through the environmental review, we will continue working with the coordinating agencies, including the U.S. Forest Service, to address concerns or minimize or avoid environmental impacts.

He said Dominion has worked very closely with the Forest Service over the last year to minimize or avoid impacts to environmentally sensitive areas, and we will continue to do so as we move forward.

FERC released a timetable last month that calls for the draft environmental impact on the Atlantic Coast Pipeline to be completed by December. A comment period after the draft statement is anticipated in early 2017. A final draft environmental impact statement could be finished by the summer, and FERC could approve the project in time for construction to start by late summer, if that scenario holds up.

The proposed path of the 600-mile natural gas pipeline includes 55 miles of Augusta County.
Virginia Attorney General Mark Herring and Gov. Terry McAuliffe have joined advocates calls for a federal civil rights investigation into Hampton Roads Regional Jail after a second suspicious death renewed scrutiny of inmates access to medical care.

Herring on Friday asked the U.S. Department of Justice to examine possible constitutional rights violations at the facility where Jamycheal Mitchell died last year and Henry Clay Stewart died last month.

These deaths have generated serious allegations, and the lack of clarity surrounding these now repeat incidents shows an acute need for an inquiry to determine whether there are practices that are incompatible with ...guarantees (pre and post-conviction) provided to all citizens of the United States Constitution, Herring stated in a letter to U.S. Attorney General Loretta Lynch.

McAuliffe supports the request of General Herring 100 percent, said Christina Nuckols, a spokeswoman for the governor. He looks forward to a response from the Department of Justice Civil Rights Division and hopes that an inquiry will provide clear-cut findings that will assist the commonwealth and its communities in meeting that goal.

The calls for federal scrutiny of Hampton Roads Regional Jail began with civil rights groups in March and continued through early summer with formal requests from advocates and Mark Krudys, a lawyer representing the families of Mitchell and Stewart, whose death was reported by the Richmond Times-Dispatch this week.

Stewart, 60, died two days after jail officials denied his emergency request for medical treatment, according to paperwork returned to his family after his Aug. 6 death. He had blacked out, been in pain and unable to eat or drink, Stewart scrawled on the form that officials later ruled did not represent an emergency.

I hope they do a thorough job and really investigate this, because peoples lives are depending on them, said Roxanne Adams, Mitchells aunt.

Her nephew was found dead in his cell in August 2015 at age 24 of complications a medical examiner later determined stemmed from wasting syndrome. Mitchell, who had been diagnosed with bipolar disorder and schizophrenia, lost 46 pounds over the 101 days he spent in custody at the Portsmouth jail for allegedly stealing $5 in snacks from a 7-Eleven.

The Department of Justice has yet to contact jail officials, said spokesman Lt. Col. Eugene Taylor.

We have no concerns or issues with [Herrings request], Taylor said. We have nothing to hide.

The type of pattern-or-practice probe Herring requested is routinely used to ferret out instances of biased or otherwise unconstitutional or unfair police practices across the country and was recently deployed in the city of Baltimore. Investigators in that case found that the Baltimore Police Department had routinely violated citizens constitutional rights, the agency revealed in findings released last month.

Rep. Bobby Scott, D-Newport News, whose congressional district includes the Hampton Roads Regional Jail, issued a statement late Friday welcoming the scrutiny.

I commend Attorney General Herring for requesting a federal pattern or practice investigation of the Hampton Roads Regional Jail, Scott said. The circumstances surrounding the death of Jamycheal Mitchell last year and the recent death of Henry Clay Stewart raise serious questions and concerns about this facility.

It is unclear whether or not the Department of Justice will accept Herrings request.

We have been asking for this kind of scrutiny here for months and I think we need that in order for us to get to the bottom of what has happened and is happening, said James Boyd, president of the Portsmouth chapter of the NAACP.

Several agencies have reviewed the circumstances surrounding Mitchells death and the failure to provide him court-ordered mental health services. But those reports have not answered basic questions about why and how he was allowed to deteriorate, Adams said.

From last year to now there have been so many investigations and we still have no idea what actually happened to him  not a clue, Adams said. Theres such a need for someone to step up and do something instead of saying, Its not in my jurisdiction.

More than a year later, it remains unclear who should be providing those answers.

The jail conducted an internal investigation that Taylor has said cleared its employees of wrongdoing, but officials have not released the report to the public or state lawmakers.

The Virginia Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services and the Office of the State Inspector General conducted separate inquiries, but neither revealed what led to Mitchells death. Officials from both agencies have said they were unable to complete thorough investigations because of a lack of access to records and key employees.

Moreover, State Inspector General June Jennings has said the agency lacks authority to investigate a death that occurs in jail  an issue state lawmakers have pledged to address in the coming General Assembly session by clarifying who should conduct such reviews.

Legislators, civil rights advocates and Jennings own employees have criticized her offices handling of Mitchells case. Longtime agency employee Cathy Hill and contractors with the inspector generals office in July filed an 18-page complaint with Herring detailing concerns about the leadership of Jennings and Priscilla Smith, who oversees the agencys behavioral health division

Among their misgivings: that Jennings and Smith misled lawmakers by implying the Mitchell review was thorough, when in fact 80 percent of the offices review of his case was completed from behind a desk, according to the complaint.

Boyd said that although he was encouraged to learn that Herring had invited federal scrutiny, he was disappointed by the states handling of a whistle blower complaint that focused in large part on state employees investigation of Mitchells case.

McAuliffe last month expressed confidence in Jennings  whom he reappointed to a four-year term this summer  and said through a spokesman that no personnel action was needed as a result of the complaint.

Hill has said neither she nor the other writers of the letter were contacted by any state employees after filing the complaint.

Their concerns should have been given due consideration, Boyd said. Moving forward we need to operate in the spirit of openness and transparency and get the job done.

Said Adams: Its been a long time coming.
Eight soldiers and 11 militants were killed in overnight clashes between Turkish forces and Kurdish militants in the Southeastern Turkey on Friday, the state-run Anadolu news agency reported.

Eight servicemen were also wounded in the Tendurek area. The injured were taken to nearby hospitals.

Military operation involving aircraft was continuing in the region, the agency said.

This comes after violent clashes in the Hakkari province on Friday, which killed 27 PKK militants and injuring 27.

Tensions between Turkish security forces and the Kurdistan Workers' Party, or PKK, resumed last year, following the collapse of the ceasefire in July 2015.

For comments and feedback contact: editorial@rttnews.com

Business News
At least 15 persons were missing and thousands became homeless in North Korea by flooding from Typhoon Lionrock that hit across the region in the recent days.

Heavy rains along with strong winds ravaged across North Korea from August 29 to September 2, affected by Typhoon Lionrock combined with low atmospheric pressure formed in the northwestern area, Korean Central News Agency reported Saturday.

Torrential rains of up to 320 mm per hour were recorded in Kyonghung and Puryong counties of North Hamgyong Province between early Tuesday and mid-Friday, it said.

The flooding from River Tuman that borders China heavily hit Hoeryong City, Musan and Yonsa counties, leaving 15 people missing in Hoeryong.

In North Hamgyong Province, the floods had damaged or destroyed 17,180 houses, while 44,000 people had been evacuated.

Authorities had launched a campaign to help victims and had deployed rescue missions in the flood-stricken areas, it added.

For comments and feedback contact: editorial@rttnews.com

Business News
At least 14 people were killed and 71 injured in an explosion at Davao City in the southern Philippines on Friday.

The blast occurred after 10 pm local time at a crowded market close to the Marco Polo hotel that President Rodrigo Duterte visits frequently and conducts meetings.

The cause of explosion is immediately not clear.

Although the terrorist group Abu Sayyaf has claimed responsibility for the blast, investigators are targeting other possible suspects, including drug gangs, which he has attacked in a bloody crackdown.

For comments and feedback contact: editorial@rttnews.com

Business News
By SA Commercial Prop News

Neil Gopal, CEO of SAPOA.



The City of Johannesburgs new town planning scheme is unworkable, will have significant negative effects on the property industry and has ignored virtually all input from SAs property professionals.

This is according to the South African Property Owners Association (SAPOA), the voice of commercial property in SA.

SAPOA also points to a number of alarming bombshells buried in its fine print.

An effective appropriation of rights without compensation arises from a clause that provides for approved rights which are not exercised within 24 months to become null and void.

The scheme also states that the municipality is not bound by its own town planning scheme.

The City of Joburg implemented a new town planning scheme last week - The Consolidated Johannesburg Town Planning Scheme 2011 - intended to combine over a dozen different planning schemes or zoning regulations in the municipal area of Johannesburg into one set of uniform zoning provisions, without altering existing zoning or development rights attached to any particular property.

However, SAPOA argues that instead of streamlining town planning in this growing city, the errors and inadequacies of the scheme are so severe that the city needs to go back to the drawing board.

We acknowledge that there is a need for a town planning scheme that ensures the regulation of land is uniform and more efficient throughout the municipal area, but this is not what this document does" says Neil Gopal, CEO of SAPOA.

According to SAPOAs professional and legal advice, the 2011 Joburg Town Planning scheme contradicts itself in numerous places, refers to schedules and annexures not in the document, contains an abundance of inadequate and confusing definitions, and even contradicts other legislation, such as its definition of an Erf which doesnt conform with the Land Survey Act.

SAPOA also contests that the scheme doesnt adequately protect existing zoning rights or deal with any unforeseen consequences and its application particularly to undeveloped or partially developed land results in a most serious inadequacy which could adversely affect the future development value of countless properties.

In general the new scheme is poorly compiled. The meaning and interpretation of many provisions is impossible to understand  either logically or legally, says Gopal, who elaborates that this is the conclusion reached by a large number of professionals and practitioners in the field of town planning.

In fact, three full sections were missing from the copy supplied to SAPOA and despite repeated efforts requesting this information; we have yet to receive it.

The lack of interaction in terms of acknowledgement of letters, submissions made, requests for information, and so forth, from the City of Johannesburg is a worrying trend.

And this is a big part of the mounting frustration for the citys property owners. SAPOA submitted comments, objections and concerns regarding the scheme from the property industry in 2010 and again in March 2011 - almost all of which have been entirely ignored by the municipality.

In short, the city implemented the scheme without the buy-in or consultation of its property owners and property developers, who are partners in the development of the city. This does not bode well and every property owner in the city, current and future, stands to suffer as a result, Gopal points out.

He notes that this is only one in a long chain of events where the city has switched off to the needs of its commercial property owners and homeowners, who are the largest rates payers.

We, and other professionals, intend to lodge an appeal to the Townships Board, says Gopal.

SAPOA promotes and protects the commercial interests and activities of its members. SAPOAs membership consists predominantly of commercial property owners and related enterprises. It represents 90% of all commercial property owners in South Africa.
Mustangs hold off Andover in 5A playoff opener

Salina Central made all the right plays at the right time Friday night to edge Andover, 21-15, in its Class 5A playoff opener.
This is a really good programme so we can share our opinions and especially for us youths as well, 28 year old Steve Utumai, from the village of Lufilufi tells the Village Voice.

Life as a youth here in the village is different from Apia. The problems that have been caused by the youths in Apia are a waste of time.

I am not telling the government what to do, but I know that they (government) make all the decisions for our country.

Life here in the village is peaceful. This is because we are well protected by the strong village councils and Matais.

But what is life like for a young man in the rural villages?

I went to school but because I didnt do too well and I didnt obey my parents; thats why I have turned to the plantation, Steve says.

To my belief, life as a farmer is easy. This is because we can also get money from it.

I think the government should do something with the problems (fights) caused by our youths in Apia. I feel that if a kid attends the colleges in their districts, there will be no more conflicts and fights.

Most of the young people back here in our village have plantations. And I know that its a great help for our families.

As a hard working, young man, do you have a message for all the youth out there?

Youths are the future of tomorrow, Steve says.

We all have different purposes in life and my advice to my brothers and sisters who are not using their time wisely; there are a lot of things out there that we can do to earn money to help out our families.

Its not just education. Agriculture is also another way to earn money. Our government also has programmes where we can go and get loans to start up a small business to help our families.

Many of us think that if we dont do well in school, all were good for is just staying home and do nothing.

But I believe that there are a lot of things that we can do to earn money (if you dont do well in school).

Its true that the cost of living is expensive nowadays but I think that is a great thing to motivate our people to go and do something useful to help out their families and also their children.

So that when the children grow up, they will know that their parents did a good job in raising them up and they will do the same as well.

It will motivate them to work harder.
Meet 56-year-old Tuitoga Taufao Meauli. He is a matai of Faleapuna who stays with his wife Faapisa and nine children at Falefa.

He thinks village and church contributions have made our people suffer.

However, he believes that our customs and culture cannot be changed anymore.

He says, People have different perspectives and different opinions on this matter.

To me, we are not living in the past anymore.

We cannot hide in the shadow of the tree. Our culture and customs were there before we were born. It was something that was done by our ancestors.

Its true that it contributes to poverty. But if you look at it, if you dont pledge with your family, it shows that you have no love.

First of all, in life, if I am the head of the family and if I dont serve my family and dont have any contributions to the church, whats the point?

The truth is, faith comes from hearing. And God will only do something for you based on the things you do. And thats the same with family and the way we live in the Samoan culture. If you dont serve, no one will know you or remember you.

He added that actions speak louder than words and that people will know from the things you do in life. Like I said before, different people have different opinions. To me, if you dont serve your family and God, there is no point of you living.

When he was asked about how life is for him in the village compared to Apia, he replied, I have my own testimony on this. I know you guys should know from all the places you visit for this programme, that life here in the village is not the same as the life in Apia.

Back here in the village, everyone has their own duties each and every day. You wake up in the morning and you go do whatever you have to do. And thats life here in the village. Not only that, but here in the village, the plantation is the usual chore you do if you are unemployed.

For our family, we only have one person who is working in Apia. But the rest of us work on the plantation, tidy up our land, and prepare our houses for the different inspections we have in our village.

Its the same thing every day here in the village. We all have different chores. And thats life here in the village. And its different from life in Apia. Tuitoga also added that life in the village is easygoing and that there are no challenges in the village.

We do have some minor challenges but thats not a big issue for us. There is no more darkness in this day and time.

Most of our people are educated not like before where we used to have conflicts and arguments all the time.

But the best thing is, every morning, we start our day with a morning devotion to give thanks to our Heavenly Father for His guidance and protection and love.
St. Marys College celebrated their 60th anniversary yesterday with a parade on Beach Road that was led by the Police Band.

The parade was divided into five groups of students; 1956-1977 (Orleans), 1978-1988 (Avila), 1989-1999 (Deporres), 2000-2012 (Aquinas) and current dressed students in their uniforms.

At the end of the parade, Prime Minister Tuilaepa congratulated the school for reaching their 60th anniversary. As weve come here today to celebrate together this great milestone of the school, your contributions have been borne of many of the brightest minds in this country.

St Marys students have never caused any fighting or other misbehavior but you have continued to stay spiritually strong.

Tuilaepa thanked the school for their great contributions to the government.

Saint Marys School together with the Sisters provides a good education for those whove been educated in this school, Tuilaepa said.

There have been countless good works witnessed, many pupils have secured good jobs, and as of today, former students are still carrying the good name of the school that educated them.

Remember that its not us, but to God the glory and praise. Once again, Happy Anniversary!

The president of Saint Marys Old Girls Association, Mataia Gaonotele Julia Schmidt thanked the past and presents students together with the Sisters for the ongoing success of the school. I know that many of you have graduated from various universities with degrees and with numerous other accomplishments.

And serving our country from where youre appointed to work, with is a great joy to our school. Not only that but we want to acknowledge the excellent work of all the Sisters for their time while teaching in the school.

We also want to thank the government for their continuous support in so many ways. Thank you and congratulations for all the achievements, she said. The government also promised a donation for the schools 60th anniversary.

The parade was followed by mass at the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception at Mulivai. The celebration will continue with the schools ball this evening at the Faleata Multipurpose Gym at six oclock with the theme of Glamorous.

Throughout its history, St Marys school in Samoa has maintained their commitment to provide a high standard of education.

St Mary School opened at Savalalo in 1956, and by 1958, they decided to shift the school to Vaimoso. In 1969, the first new school building was built and in the same year, Peace Corps volunteers started to teach at St Marys College.

The first principal of the school at that time was Mrs. Emeritiano. In 1980, the Parent Teachers Association was set up, and the late Tupua Tamasese Lealofi was the first Chairman while Tupua Tamasese Efi was the Vice Chairman of the committee.
MIDWAY ATOLL, Northwestern Hawaiian Islands (AP)  Halfway between East and West, President Barack Obama traveled Thursday to one of the most remote corners of the Pacific Ocean to amplify his call for global action on environmental protection.

Few Americans have ever visited Midway Atoll, a far-flung speck of coral reef with black-footed albatrosses and spinner dolphins  and that's exactly Obama's point. As he nears the end of his presidency, he has sought to use the wonder of natural treasures to instill his pleas for climate action and conservation with a sense of real-life urgency.

Air Force One landed on an airstrip that gained prominence half a century ago, when the Battle of Midway became a turning point in World War II. Obama's first stop was the small visitor center where U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service officials briefed him on Midway's wildlife refuge. During his afternoon tour, the president hoped to go snorkeling if weather permitted, the White House said.

In his latest push on conservation, Obama is expanding the Papahanaumokuakea Marine National Monument, which includes Midway, to four times its current size. Speaking to leaders of Pacific island nations ahead of his trip, Obama said that 7,000 species live in the waters, and 1 in 4 are found nowhere else in the world.

"Ancient islanders believed it contained the boundary between this life and the next," Obama said. "This is a hallowed site, and it deserves to be treated that way. And from now on, it will be preserved for future generations."

Ahead of Obama's visit, the White House announced modest new steps to help Pacific island countries prepare for climate change, including $9 million from the U.S. Agency for International Development for resilience programs in places like Fiji, Kiribati and Papua New Guinea.

The marine monument, created in 2006 by President George W. Bush, will grow to 582,578 square miles under Obama's expansion, an area more than twice the size of Texas. The world's largest, the monument reflects Obama's strategy of using his executive powers to put lands and waters off-limits to development, despite concerns from critics who argue his heavy-handed approach comes at the expense of vulnerable local economies.

Obama's decision to expand the monument was the subject of fierce debate within Hawaii, with both sides invoking Native Hawaiian culture to argue why it should or shouldn't be expanded. Supporters argued the larger monument was needed to protect a place considered sacred by Native Hawaiians by making it off-limits to commercial fishing and recreational activities. But opponents argued the region is heavily dependent on fishing and can't afford the hit, adding that a federal ban would infringe on the traditions that ancient Hawaiians used to protect natural resources.

The unusual visit to Midway, a place where just a few dozen people live, comes as Obama uses his final months in office to try to galvanize global action on climate change, which he says is inherently linked to conservation. After Midway, Obama planned to open his final trip to Asia on Saturday with a visit to China, a chance to showcase his unlikely partnership with Chinese President Xi Jinping on global warming.

Obama and Xi have been strident advocates of the sweeping global emissions-cutting deal struck in Paris last year. Officials in both countries were hoping enough progress had been made that both the U.S. and China could announce they're formally joining that agreement during Obama's visit.

"When it comes to climate change, there's a dire possibility of us getting off-course, and we can't allow that to happen," Obama said.

Midway derives its name from its location roughly halfway between Asia and North America, which made it a strategic place for trans-Atlantic flights to refuel. Though part of the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands, it's the only one not part of the State of Hawaii, instead grouped with the U.S. Minor Outlying Islands. Claimed by the U.S. in the middle of the 19th century, Midway became a hub of activity in the early 20th century amid efforts to lay a telegraph cable spanning the Pacific Ocean.

The U.S. began pouring military resources into Midway in the early 1940s, building a Naval Air Station equipped with runways, housing and medical facilities. The Japanese attack in 1942 was a pivotal moment in World War II, with the U.S. delivering a resounding defeat that degraded the Japanese Navy's capacity in the Pacific. In the 1990s, authority shifted from the U.S. Navy to conservation authorities to protect it as a wildlife reserve.

The wealth of biological diversity is nearly unparalleled: millions of birds, hundreds of species of fish and marine invertebrates, green sea turtles and Hawaiian monk seals. More albatrosses live on Midway than anywhere else in the world, and wildlife authorities have worked to prevent a number of endangered species from disappearing from the atoll.
MOSCOW (AP)  Islam Karimov, who crushed all opposition in the Central Asian country of Uzbekistan as its only president in a quarter-century of independence from the Soviet Union, has died of a stroke at age 78, the Uzbek government announced Friday.

Karimov will be buried Saturday in the ancient city of Samarkand, his birthplace, the government said in a statement.

His younger daughter, Lola Karimova-Tillyaeva, said in a social media post Monday that he had been hospitalized in the capital of Tashkent after a brain hemorrhage Aug. 27. On Friday, she posted again, saying: "He is gone."

Little other information was available. Media freedom and human rights have been harshly repressed ever since he became leader in 1989 while it was still a republic of the Soviet Union.

One of the world's most authoritarian rulers, Karimov cultivated no apparent successor, and his death raised concerns that the predominantly Sunni Muslim country could face prolonged infighting among clans over its leadership, something its Islamic radical movement could exploit.

"The death of Islam Karimov may open a pretty dangerous period of unpredictability and uncertainty in Uzbekistan," Alexei Pushkov, head of the Russian parliament's foreign affairs committee, told the Tass news agency.

Given the lack of access to the strategic country, it's hard to judge how powerful the Islamic Movement of Uzbekistan might be. Over the years, the group has been affiliated with the Taliban, al-Qaida and the Islamic State group, and it has sent fighters abroad.

Under the Uzbek constitution, if the president dies his duties pass temporarily to the head of the senate until an election can be held within three months. However, the head of the Uzbek senate is regarded as unlikely to seek permanent power and Karimov's demise is expected to set off a period of jockeying for political influence.

Karimov was known as a tyrant with an explosive temper and a penchant for cruelty. His troops machine-gunned hundreds of unarmed demonstrators to death during a 2005 uprising, he jailed thousands of political opponents, and his henchmen reportedly boiled some dissidents to death.

He came under widespread international criticism from human rights groups, but because of Uzbekistan's location as a vital supply route for the war in neighboring Afghanistan, the West sometimes turned a blind eye to his worst abuses.

Noting Karimov's death, President Barack Obama said in a statement the U.S. "reaffirms its support for the people of Uzbekistan."

"This week, I congratulated President Karimov and the people of Uzbekistan on their country's 25 years of independence," Obama said in the statement. "As Uzbekistan begins a new chapter in its history, the United States remains committed to partnership with Uzbekistan, to its sovereignty, security, and to a future based on the rights of all its citizens.

U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon was "saddened" at Karimov's death and paid tribute to his efforts "to develop strong ties between Uzbekistan and the United Nations as well as strengthen regional and global peace and security," U.N. spokesman Stephane Dujarric said.

Ban singled out Karimov's promotion of the treaty to establish the Central Asian Nuclear Weapon-Free Zone which entered into force in 2009.

Uzbekistan, a country of 30 million people famous for its apricot orchards, cotton fields and ancient stone cities along the Silk Road, had been one of the Muslim world's paragons of art and learning.

But Karimov cracked down on any form of Islam that wasn't patently subservient to him. His leadership style was epitomized by propaganda posters often displayed in Uzbekistan that depicted him alongside Tamerlane, a 14th-century emperor who had conquered a vast region of West, South and Central Asia.

He was known to shout and swear at officials during meetings and it was widely rumored that in bursts of anger he would beat officials and throw ashtrays at them.

Under Karimov, the economy remained centralized, with a handful of officials controlling the most lucrative industries and trade. A 1996 ban on the free convertibility of the national currency, the som, blocked trade and foreign investment, while unemployment soared and poverty was widespread.

Endemic corruption stymied development, despite considerable resources of natural gas and gold, along with its cotton exports. Millions of Uzbeks have flooded into Russia and neighboring Kazakhstan to support their families with remittances that amount to a sizable part of the country's GDP.

Karimov was suspicious of the West and infuriated by its criticism of his human rights record, but he also dreaded Islamic militancy, fearing it could grow into a strong opposition.

He unleashed a harsh campaign against Muslims starting in 1997 and intensifying in 1999 after eight car bombs exploded near key government buildings in Tashkent. The explosions killed 16 people and wounded more than 100.

"I am ready to rip off the heads of 200 people, to sacrifice their lives, for the sake of peace and tranquility in the country," Karimov said afterward. "If a child of mine chose such a path, I myself would rip off his head."

In the next few years, thousands of Muslims who practiced their faith outside government-controlled mosques were rounded up and jailed for alleged links to banned Islamic groups.

In 2004, a series of bombings and attacks on police killed more than 50 people and sparked a new wave of arrests and convictions.

Following 9/11, the West overlooked Karimov's harsh policies and cut a deal with him in 2001 to use Uzbekistan's Karshi-Khanabad air base for combat missions in Afghanistan.

During a May 2005 uprising in the eastern city of Andijan, Uzbek troops fired on demonstrators, killing more than 700 people, according to witnesses and human rights groups. It was the world's worst massacre of protesters since the 1989 bloodbath in China's Tiananmen Square.

Angered by U.S. criticism of the crackdown, Karimov evicted U.S. forces from the base.

He later quietly softened his position, allowing Uzbekistan to be part of the Northern Distribution Network supply route for Afghanistan, whose utility declined when Russia dropped out of the network in 2015. The United States in turn agreed to start the sale of non-lethal military goods to his regime.

Islam Abduganiyevich Karimov was born on Jan. 30, 1938, and studied economics and engineering in what was then a Soviet republic, rising through the Communist Party bureaucracy.

In 1989, Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev made Karimov Uzbekistan's Communist Party chief in the wake of a huge corruption scandal that involved top Uzbek officials. At the time, Karimov was seen as a hard-working and uncorrupt Communist.

On March 24, 1990, the local parliament elected him president of the Uzbek Socialist Republic, and in December 1991, just days after the Soviet Union ceased to exist, Karimov won the presidency in a popular vote.

Shaken by a series of ethnic and religious riots in the turbulent years surrounding the Soviet collapse, Karimov was obsessed with stability and security. He said Uzbekistan would follow its own path of reform and would build democracy and a market economy without the turmoil and crises of most other former Soviet nations.

After his 1991 election, the fledgling democratic opposition was banned and forced into exile. The media were muzzled by censorship. Law enforcement and security services grew increasingly powerful and abusive, and the use of torture in prisons was labeled "systematic" by international observers.

Karimov's death would "mark the end of an era in Uzbekistan, but almost certainly not the pattern of grave human rights abuses, said Denis Krivosheev, deputy director for Europe and Central Asia at Amnesty International. "His successor is likely to come from Karimov's closest circle, where dissenting minds have never been tolerated."

Karimov was a distant leader. His annual New Year's address to the nation was always read by a TV anchor. His wife rarely appeared in public, and his vacations were never announced.

But the public was constantly reminded of his leadership by banners with quotes from his speeches posted on buildings and billboards.

All of his election victories were landslides, but none were recognized as free or fair by international observers. His only challenger in 2000, Abdulkhafiz Dzhalolov, said he himself voted for Karimov.

His nephew, opposition journalist Jamshid Karimov, was forcibly committed to a psychiatric institution after a series of articles criticizing his uncle and other officials.

Karimov's oldest daughter, Gulnara, generated media buzz over her immense wealth, fashion shows and music videos done under the stage name GooGoosha. Sometimes touted as a potential successor, she was both admired and despised at home.

In 2014, she used her Twitter account to accuse Uzbekistan's security services of orchestrating a campaign of harassment against her and deceiving her father. Her tweets then stopped, prompting speculation that she and her 15-year-old daughter were under house arrest in Tashkent.

Word of Karimov's death began spreading even before the Uzbek government announced it Friday night, with officials in Kyrgyzstan and Afghanistan saying leaders from those countries would attend his funeral and the Turkish prime minister offering condolences. Uzbekistan celebrated its Independence Day on Thursday, which is perhaps why the government had delayed any news about Karimov.

Photos carried Friday by the respected Central Asian news website Fergana.ru showed what appeared to be undertakers in Samarkand working on a plot in the cemetery where Karimov's family is buried.

The Samarkand airport said it would be closed to all flights except specially approved aircraft Saturday, according to U.S. Federal Aviation Administration's website.

Uzbek opposition blogger Nadezhda Atayeva said Friday that Uzbek authorities appeared to be cracking down on communication channels. Speaking from western France, she said an opposition contact told her via Skype that government officials had been told to turn off their phones and Internet speeds had slowed. As he spoke, she said, the signal went dead.
Dear Editor

Re: You need to sweat in order to live

The land certainly provides. Malo Alofa. I think money is important for the extras in life but for the essentials of l ife, Samoa is blessed with fertile land and abundant seas. I sometimes feel sorry for our Samoan people living overseas with so many bills to pay and loans to pay off.

If they dont have money, they are in deep trouble. However, in the villages, if you dont have money, you wont go hungry. The land is always there. The sea is always there. Every Samoan has genealogical links to their family lands. Every Samoan owns land. 80% of Samoa is customary land. If the government sends services to the villages, and improve the roads out in the villages, Samoas growth pattern would be great.

Urbanisation will lead to social problems. We are already seeing fighting and gangs in Apia.

PS Jeffery
The descendants of a German couple who undertook a three month journey to reach Samoa in the late 1900s, gathered together in Apia over the last few days

Maximilian George Schmidt and his wife, Marie Denigna Prell, originally from Bamberg, Germany arrived in Samoa on 22nd July 1890.

Their four children were; Gustav Julius Theodor Schmidt, Betty Barbara Justine Schmidt, Ludwig Karl Schmidt and Marie Babette Schmidt.

The couple had owned a Printers Plant in Germany which had been in the family for generations before they decided to sell it in 1876.

In that same year, the family moved to Dortmund for one year before settling in Nuremberg where their youngest daughters were born. The family left Germany on May 14th 1890 for Sydney, and the South Seas on the Salier. With stopovers at Antwerp, Southampton, Genoa, Port, Suez, Adelaide, Melbourne, and Sydney, it wasnt until July that they reached Samoa.

Apparently, their first choice was to travel to Tahiti but further connections were unavailable. Soon after the family arrived in the country, Mr. and Mrs. Robert Louis Stevenson arrived in Apia, according to their diaries.

Many of the details of the Schmidt family were recorded by Mrs. Fanny Stevenson in her book, Our Samoan Adventure where the Schmidt family was mentioned many times. The family established a store that sold souvenirs and stamps and the women took in sewing as well.

Max also operated a plantation that raised cocoa and coconuts for copra.

Great-great-great granddaughter of the late Ludwig Karl Schmidt, Aliitasi Muliagatele Schmidt said that this is the second reunion they have had. Our first reunion was held in Maui, Hawaii in 2014 and well continue getting together every two years in the future. Trying to bring together our family was kind of hard but were so thankful that weve slowly managed to get in touch with many of our relatives in Samoa and overseas.

After many generations as a family, we need to have reunions and get to know each We look forward to another gathering in the next two years. Family member, Lemalu Sola Tiumalu Muliagatele Vaofusi Faatau acknowledged Gods faithfulness in bringing their family together.

Were forever grateful for everything, God is still in control and in His own timing, nothing is impossible, Lemalu said.

It all about belief and sharing good times with all our family members.

The three-day reunion will end today with a faigalotu at the Methodist Church at Talimatau and a family toonai.
The employees of the Ministry for Revenue were told to work smarter rather than harder during the launch of the Compliance Improvement Plan 2016  2018 on Friday.

The launch was held at the Development Bank of Samoa building conference room and witnessed by representatives from the different government ministries and those from the private sector.

Chief Executive Officer for Revenue, Avalisa Viali Fautuaalii said the Ministry has limited resources and staff and the C.I.P. document is crucial to assist them in their work.

The document sets out major strategic risks that Revenue will put its priority focus on over the next two years.

The Ministry doesnt have the luxury of required resources such as more personnel, more funds, sophisticated equipment and systems to manage those compliance risks, said Mrs. Fautuaalii.

We dont have enough staff to audit every customer, to examine every container, to collect all outstanding returns and arrears, to prosecute all the non-compliant customers. We dont have the money to even buy a container X-ray or even a scanner at the airport.

Therefore its absolutely a must for us to work smarter not harder with the very limited resources we have in our reach.

The C.E.O. said its crucial for the Ministry and its partners to work together and communicate more frequently.

We also need to understand you and your situation; why you dont comply, why you didnt pay on time, why you didnt register when you should so that we understand you and you understand us and most importantly we understand where we each stand in our relationship.

She emphasised the importance of the support of customers and how the collected revenue goes to fund public works for the benefit of the country.

A revenue advisor and specialist from the Pacific Financial Technical Assistance Center, Stan Shrosbree applauded the milestone Revenue has reached.

He pointed out government nowadays has realised how important revenue administration is in generating money and budget.

Mr. Shrosbree said becoming more efficient is the key to revenue administration to create an environment where taxpayers and people can see the benefit of taxation and why they pay tax.

However there is always another side to the story.

According to the specialist, revenue administration needs to be professional to have staff who are confident and approachable.

Having these staff will mean the taxpayer can feel they are people they can talk to, he said.

It will reduce compliance for taxpayers and make things easier for them and a priority to make tax friendlier where people can submit their returns on file.

As the C.E.O. mentioned, taxpayer education is very important and is equally important to have an organisation that can provide good taxpayer education so people know what their responsibilities are and what they have to do.

Mr. Shrosbree said he also understands that there will always be problems.

He pointed out there will always be those taxpayers who do comply with their tax obligations and those who dont.

Tax fraud and tax evasion are fundamentally unfair, he said.

That is where the MFR compliance strategy comes in. A compliance strategy that focuses on risk and most importantly what the C.E.O. pointed out.

That the CIP is not a secret document. Its for everyone to look at.

He added the document is a step in the right direction and will help the office in meeting the tax and customs requirements.
The Central Bank of Samoa (C.B.S.) has issued a warning to the public and bank customers to be extra diligent when using ATM machines.

This follows a report of theft involving three suspects, two of whom are now in Police custody.

The third has reportedly left the country. The C.B.S. report says: At times, there may be certain devices on the ATM machine that have been installed by a professional fraudster in order to read your ATM card details. These skimming devices are installed into the ATM machine in the slot area where you insert your ATM card.

According to the report, this issue was first raised by the commercial banks late last year as the ATM card skimming criminal activity initially reached the shores of Fiji at that time. It was a matter of time before ATM card skimming arrived in Samoa, hence all banks were made aware of this issue and told to prepare to counter ATM card skimming methods and devices.

The C.B.S. report continued, We have also recently held radio programmes on 2AP Tafesilafai Programme for the awareness of the public at large.

What are ATM card skimmers? These are people who can extract personal information from your ATM card once you insert it into an ATM machine. They can extract your pin number and then create another ATM card that contains your pin number and then use it to take money out of your account.

The recent case of two Chinese nationals who allegedly stole monies from ATM machines had a significant number of duplicate or counterfeit cards (namely Master and visa cards) in their possession.

We (C.B.S.) suspect that these counterfeit cards were originally created overseas, and these cards were being used to withdraw money here in Samoa. This is the cause of their arrests by the police. It must be noted that Samoas domestic or local customer accounts are safe and sound, and have not been affected. The only accounts that have been affected by this scheme are foreign accounts. However, we should still be extra vigilant when using ATM Machines and their card skimming devices.

How can you spot an ATM card skimming device?

There are three (3) ways you can identify credit card skimming.

1. The ATM machine does not look normal. That is, the slot area where you insert your ATM card into looks odd and is quite loose (this is called a magnetic card reading device that captures your cards details). Please report it to the Bank or the Police if you come across these features and do not insert your ATM card into this machine until it is properly cleared for usage.

2. A micro camera positioned within eyesight of the keypad where you punch your pin number.

If you see a micro or small camera in that area, please report it to the Bank or the Police as these micro cameras will record you punching your pin number details in the ATM machine keypad.

3. Someone is using different multiple cards on an ATM machine. If you see that a person is inserting different cards into the ATM machine and all of those cards are being swallowed by the machine, please report it to the Bank or the Police. At times, ATM card skimmers extract card information from ATM machines overseas, and then they create ATM cards and then use it to withdraw money from another country so it is hard to detect their fraudulent activities. At times, the ATM machine swallows these counterfeit cards and sometimes, the money can be withdrawn.

All that aside, the Central Bank and the commercial banks will be working collaboratively with all law enforcement agencies in Samoa to ensure that we are well prepared to address ATM skimming in Samoa. Theft is theft is theft as the saying goes, no matter what type of method it is being used.
The newly-crowned Miss Health Faafafine Association 2016-2017 Precillia Mulinuu Ulberg believes that faafafine deserve a special day in Samoa in line with Mothers Day, Fathers Day and White Sunday.

Ulberg who won the best interview, based on the opinion as to whether Samoa should declare a special day for faafafine, was adamant that they should.

We deserve to have a special day to acknowledge our work, said Ulberg.

We faafafines have contributed a lot to the community and we have lived to serve and live to love, Ulberg added.

Ulberg said they have served their families, their villages and their churches and that is the kind of work that merits a special day as there is for mothers, fathers and children.

The reigning Miss Faafafine added that they are high achievers and they are serving in many government ministries as A.C.E.O.s and C.E.O.s and their work should be acknowledged.

On being selected as the winner for 2016, Ulberg was shocked but very excited.

This is the third time I have competed. I entered in 2014 and 2015 and now I have finally got the crown in 2016.

The 2016 Miss Faafafine believes that experience from the previous competitions has built the self confidence needed to walk on that stage.

I didnt expect this tonight because we are all winners and all the girls are beautiful.

Ulberg will turn 24 this week and winning has been an early birthday present from the Samoa Faafafine Association.

The eldest of five siblings, Ulberg grow up under the care of grandparents at Tuaefu.

I thank my mum Salaevalu my grandparents Faaniusami and Tuisila Paul Ulberg especially for their support.

Ulberg also acknowledged the great support of SSAB Samoa especially to the Managing Director, Fiti Leung Wai and the supportive staff.

Ulberg took out four prizes, best swimwear, best talent, best evening gown and best interview.

Miss Samoa Faafafine New Zealand, Ms Jessica Hunt Auvaa was the winner of the Speech Competition.

Miss Internet went to contestant No 9 Ms Barbra Tiufea Vaa who also won the best tutti frutti creative wear.

Miss Photogenic was contestant No 2. Celine Knowel Hunter.

With the overall winners, the 4th runner up went to contestant No 3 Tara Poumare.

Third runner up was contestant No 9 Barbra Tiufea Vaa.

Second runner up was contestant No 7 Maxine Faamoe Etene and the first runner up was contestant No 4, Jessica Hunt Auvaa.
Prime Minister Tuilaepa Sailele Malielegaoi believes the writing in Ancient Hebrew by a young woman who claims to bear the marks of Jesus Christs suffering, is genuine.

The Hebrew writing from Toaipuapuaga Opapo was done a month ago at her home in Vaitele, witnessed by a crowd.

Ms. Opapo does not understand Ancient Hebrew, but claims it is a message from God.

The Prime Minister told the media on Thursday that he had verified the writings with the Jewish High Commission in New Zealand.

Rev. Opapo Oeti, who is the father of Toa had sought his help by using his contacts to verify the Hebrew writings on several occasions.

I informed Samoas High Commission in Wellington to contact the Jewish Ambassador about the writing, said Tuilaepa.

I have received the translation of the writing and the Jewish Ambassador was shocked about the accuracy of the writing, and sent a translation.

Tuilaepa said the translation reads that on the 21st August you will be given a message.

I have chosen you on the mission of peace because of the division amongst (people) and the differences in (their) views and you are the messenger of peace, Tuilaepa said about the translation.

On the 18th December the message of peace should be made public. Do not worry but believe in me for there is no fear in love and perfect love expels fear. Jehovah is by my side.

According to Tuilaepa, two weeks ago another event occurred where Ms. Opapo was praying and the statue of Jesus was seen with blood and water coming from it.

He said if any event like this happens to a country, it means Samoa is blessed through Ms. Opapo.

So on the 18th December the mission of peace will be revealed through Toa who is chosen as the servant of God to reveal this.

There is no doubt a lot of people do not believe in the claims from Ms. Opapo and Tuilaepa is aware of it.

A lot of people do not believe it when a young woman is chosen but the most shocking thing is the spiritual leaders have forgotten that God does not call the qualified but those who are not qualified to send his message.

He also made reference to the Apostle Paul and pointed out that in the bible he too had borne the suffering of Jesus Christ.

In the bible under the book of Galatians 6 verse 17 reads, From now on let no one trouble me for I bear in my body the marks of our Lord Jesus.

Furthermore, he said there is also the belief from others that even Satan can also do things like this.

Tuilaepa said he is reminded of the Galatians scripture whenever he hears about people who do not believe and the miracles done by Jesus when he raised Lazarus from the dead.
When I lived and worked in the States, I basically lived from vacation to vacation. Sure there was a stressful job in betweenbut as soon as I returned from a vacation (usually somewhere warm and sunny), I was off planning the next trip.

It wasnt until I first visited Belize in August 2006  HOLY MOLY 10 YEARS AGO!!!  that I wanted to immediately repeat a vacation. I was back in Belize less than 2 months later  and living here less than one year later.

There was something about Ambergris Caye that just felt righteven for a single 33 year old New Yorker. And I know there are lots of people out there that feel the same way.

But even if moving here is not in the cardsor it is but not for a while

This might help.

or if visiting once a year is enoughhere are some cute things I found on the Internet that will keep you thinking about Belize while at home.

Want to remember your first trip to Belize or another meaningful trip in your lifehoneymoon? This is pretty great.

You can customize the colors and the paper.

LOVE.

And more gifts. The internet just told me that there are only 112 days left until Christmas!

Etsy shop LoosePetals makes these super cute cards or posters. The one of Belize is great.

As are lots of other ones

Stand alone or a collage of places that youve visited, these are SUPER cute.

Bonus: Can anyone name the resort in the Belize card?

Or these more graphic prints

Theres Ambergris Caye! All found at this store on Etsy.

Are people wearing cuff links anymore? If sothis enameled pair, made from the feather-weight 1 cent coin of Belize are pretty snappy.

You can even pick your color from Etsy store Mondus.

Im not sure this is a gifta gag gift? And Im guessing that it is totally useable in Belize. Its sold on Etsy as a prop ID for a film or theatre.

Seems like a good way to get yourself in trouble.

How about a customized jar for saving for your next trip to Belize

I like these ringsand man! Do they look solid. The type of jewelry that Id be like to be wearing when walking down a dark alley alone.

For more, check out this Etsy shop  the selection is pretty neat.

Okaynow Im getting to inspired by Belize. These tops, dresses, kids clothingall Mexican embroidery, all hand done, are about the most beautiful things you can find. They are not cheapbut manare they pretty. The brand is called Mi Golondrinaand updates beautiful Mayan/Mexican hand sewn items.

photo from blog: A Piece of Toast

If you like this look  Erica Maree also does some amazing stuff  bags and clothing  at a bit lower price point. Look at this bag.

Sigh. Or a $20 change purse.

And one more quickie inspired by Mexico, these GORGEOUS paper cut outs from AyMujer. Wedding or no wedding, these are the prettiest most festive decorations ever.

Keep your place looking warm & sunny even in the winter?

And if you want to focus on made in Belize  check out MayaBags in Punta Gorda. Beautiful modern design and local craftsmanshipthis company is helping entire villages in the south of Belize while making GORGEOUS items.

I obsessed over this one that I saw in my 2010 Vogue for years.

Thats all from me. In the states, it is Labor Day weekend and everyone is away and no one is reading my blog.

I get it. Wear your white shoes, put on your seersucker suit and enjoy the unofficial end of summer!

And if 112 days seems like EONS to you, as it does me, PIN this post for later.
The dreaded Ebola virus has been found to remain present in semen much longer than what experts originally though, a study involving more than 400 men revealed. According to the study, researchers detected viral RNA 565 days after the patient has already recovered from Ebola symptoms. Researchers in the past believed that Ebola virus stays in the semen up to nine months after recovery.

According to Stat News, after finding enough data to confirm that some people in the outbreak of Ebola in West Africa were being infected through sexual intercourse, the World Health Organization (WHO) advised male survivors to be tested so that they would know their status. They were also told to abstain from sexual contact or use of condom until they have tested negative for the virus twice.

Researchers found that among the 429 participants in the study, 38 tested positive at least once for traces of Ebola in their semen. The paper published in The Lancet Global said that the 9 percent ratio is a little suspicious. Dr. Mary Choi, one of the lead authors of the article, said that the program was only made in July of 2015 which was six or seven months after the peak of Liberia's Ebola outbreak.

Choi also said that if the testing was started earlier, it would have found more men who were positive of the virus. However, the results of the tests surprised her since a lot of time has already passed. "We just figured we'd be open for a couple of months, and then we would test everybody and everyone would test negative and then we would close," said Choi, a medical epidemiologist in CDC's viral special pathogens branch.

Meanwhile, The Scientist reported that Ebola can carry on in different tissues where the immune system is less active, even if the virus is not detected in the blood stream. It is possible for the virus to be transmitted after several months of lying low, and may potentially trigger an outbreak in an area which had been cleared of Ebola.

Daniel Bausch and Ian Crozier in a commentary: "A documented case of sexual transmission in Liberia six months after acute Ebola virus disease, along with accumulating evidence of similar events, remind us that even low levels of virus can result in transmission."

The study was based on the testing done by Liberia's Men's Health Screening Program, which Bausch and Crozier think "will have broad importance and provides opportunity for strengthening health systems" as the country work toward preventing future Ebola outbreaks.
When it comes to dealing with shyness, one common thought is that shy people need to change. Worse, some believe they need to be "repaired". While shyness can be alarming due to its connection to the development of mental illnesses, researchers say that parents can certainly help their kids without necessarily changing their nature. It has something to do with knowing how to stand between overprotectiveness and allowing the child to explore.

According to Live Science, studies link shyness and extreme caution about new situations to anxiety disorders. And when parents overprotect their children, things are more likely to get worse. For this, child development specialists and psychologists suggest ways to support shy children. Such ways are centered to allowing the kids to go out of their comfort zone without changing their fundamental natures. According to Sandee McClowry, a psychologist, acceptance is very important in helping a child.

Findings from previous studies showed how having a wallflower personality greatly affects the lives of people concerned. In a research done in 1988 which focused on people born in the late 1920s, experts found that shy men were less likely to marry and had less stable careers compared to outgoing men. The results were opposite for women, wherein the shy ones were more likely to marry and stay at home compared to outgoing women. According to researches, the findings may be different today due to the change in gender roles.

In 2012, studies published in the Journal of the American Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry revealed that children who have the most extreme behavioral inhibition have the greatest chance of developing social anxiety disorder. For this reason, the American Psychological Association suggests seeking professional help for children with extreme shyness. And while parents tend to protect their kids "against new situations", experts said they should not go too far. The best thing to do is observe balance, which specifically means supporting the kid in the beginning then allowing them to be independent little by little. Having a nurturing relationship is also important.

Meanwhile, Babble published an article about being the shy kid. The article promoted the need to improve people's perception about shy people. According to the author, who admitted to be "painfully shy", people especially parents should stop "making our shy kids feel like they need to be fixed when really, it's our attitude towards them that needs to be repaired".
Most of us have never heard of CASIS. Well, it's a nonprofit that gets $15 million of NASA's budget every year along with that half share of the US-controlled part of the ISS. With that investment, it's supposed to get scientists, businesses, and educators to take full advantage of the station.

On July 13, 2011, NASA released a cooperative agreement notice to solicit proposals and had chosen the Center for the Advancement of Science in Space (CASIS) to be the sole manager of the International Space Station US National Laboratory.

Goals:

The mission of CASIS is to maximize use of this unparalleled platform for innovation, which can benefit all humankind. To accomplish these goals, CASIS has at its disposal several tools, resources and capabilities:

Seed money -Some $3 million is available to help fund promising research projects and product development. CASIS can also connect researchers with third-party investors and financiers.

-Some $3 million is available to help fund promising research projects and product development. CASIS can also connect researchers with third-party investors and financiers. Expertise -Seasoned professional aerospace teams are on hand to help develop payloads and integrate systems.

-Seasoned professional aerospace teams are on hand to help develop payloads and integrate systems. Access to launch -CASIS works with proven launch providers around the world to get your payload to station.

-CASIS works with proven launch providers around the world to get your payload to station. Administrative support -CASIS is set up to cut through red tape to facilitate quick access to space.

-CASIS is set up to cut through red tape to facilitate quick access to space. Educational outreach-By working with NASA, commercial partners, foundations, universities and new technology companies, CASIS can create projects and curricula to teach and inspire students across the country.

What's the Progress?

According to its metrics, CASIS has given 129 scientific projects access to the ISS. It has helped provide STEM programs to nearly 180,000 participants. Each year it has funded, supported, and sent more projects into space. Since 2011, CASIS has helped launch over 7,000 pounds of stuff into low Earth orbit.

What do Critics say?

"It's a classic case of a creature of Congress, created without the appropriate oversight and with a lot of murkiness in terms of what its reporting requirements are," says Keith Cowing, who runs the blog NASA Watch. He has spent years calling out CASIS for taking the ISS for granted. "My ongoing rant is, how does CASIS make decisions? How does NASA vet their reports?" he says.

GAO and OIG report questioned how well NASA and CASIS were coordinating their research efforts. The 2010 law that essentially created CASIS also required NASA to create a committee:"The ISS National Laboratory Advisory Committee" to act as a liaison between the nonprofit and the agency. But so far, NASA has refused to staff this board.

"Here's my editorial vector on this: You've got a space station in outer space and you're doing stuff like this?" says Cowing. He's frustrated that the majority of CASIS' measurable activities are things that NASA could just as easily do.The House science committee is also waiting for CASIS to do more, according to its staffers."Because the coolest science project ever has less than a decade before it goes cold."
The U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration warns the communities to be on alert for carfentanil, which heightens the drug overdoses in the Midwest. This powerful drug is 100 times more potent than fentanyl.

Carfentanil is the drug that is used to tranquilize elephants. It is the same drug that led to the death of the pop star Prince earlier this year. According to NPR News, carfentanil is being sold on American streets and some of the buyers didn't even realize they were buying carfentanil. The drug is mixed with heroin or constrained into pills to look like prescription drugs.

Nearly an ounce of heroin laced with carfentanil was seized by narcotics agents near Cincinnatihttps://t.co/ExdDx2myh3  NewsChannel 5 (@WEWS) September 2, 2016

Tom Synan, a police chief in Newton, Ohio and who leads the Hamilton County Heroin Coalition Task Force in Southwest Ohio said that instead of having four or five overdoses in a day, they're having these 20, 30, 40, maybe even 50 overdoses in a day. He also said that there was an overwhelming number of carfentanil overdoses in Cincinnati in July.

Meanwhile, in Ohio, Hamilton County Health Commissioner Tim Ingram explained that it takes hours for the body to metabolize carfentanil, which means that this drug is a longer-lasting high. When someone overdoses on the said drug, they are difficult to revive and save their lives.

"We've been getting lots of reports that they're using two or three doses to get people to come back," says Ingram. He's trying to apply a stronger version of naloxone.

Carfentanil is also referred to as synthetic opioid analgesic fentanyl. It is about 10,000 times more potent than morphine, which makes it the most potent commercially used opioids. It is also marketed with a trade name Wildnil, which is used as an anesthetic agent for big animals. Its side effects include nausea, itching and serious respiratory depression, which is life-threatening.
The EmDrive is a new type of rocket engine first proposed by British scientist/electrical engineer Roger Shawyer in 1999. Unlike conventional space rocket engines, the EmDrive doesn't require any kind of propellant (also known as a reaction mass) to make propulsion possible, and hence partially disobeying Newton's Third Law: "To each action there's an equal and opposite reaction".

Despite the fact that this seems to violate the known laws of physics, a prototype device was submitted to NASA's Eagleworks lab for testing which came back positive, reports Digital Trends. The paper resulting from the test, "Measurement of Impulsive Thrust from a Closed Radio Frequency Cavity in Vacuum" by Harold White et al., was accepted for publication in the peer reviewed Journal Of Propulsion And Power, by AIAA according to Dr. Jose Rodal, NASA Spaceflight forums.

How does it work?

The idea is that electricity is converted into microwaves, and the microwave photons are fired into a truncated cone-shaped closed metal cavity. When fired into the cavity, the microwave photons push against the large end of the cone, causing the small end to accelerate in the opposite direction yet obeying a part of Newton's Law.

Controversy

Many academics in the international scientific community don't believe it is remotely possible for the EmDrive to work. They say that according to the law of conservation of momentum, in order for a thruster to gain momentum in one direction, a propellant must be expelled in the opposite one, and since the EmDrive is a closed system with no propellant, it violates our understanding of physics.

In 2006, an article by the New Scientist caused massive backlash from readers, academics and armchair scientists, and Shawyer waseven accused of fraud. Despite this, the UK government was satisfied that Shawyer's results were legitimate and continued to fund his work until the research project was completed in 2007. In 2009, Boeing paid the UK government to licence the technology so that they could develop it for the US military, but their progress is still being kept under wraps.

What's next

Guido Fetta CEO of Cannae Inc, and inventor of the Cannae Drive (related to the EmDrive) plans to settle the argument about reactionless space drives for once and for all by sending one into space to prove that it really generates thrust without exhaust. Even if mainstream scientists say this is impossible. No launch date has yet been announced, but 2017 seems likely. "Once demonstrated on orbit, Theseus will offer our thruster platforms to the satellite marketplace," says the optimistic conclusion on their website.

There is competition. In addition to the Chinese, and Shawyer himself, a lively open-source community of EmDrive enthusiasts has sprung up. They're building their own drives, and the online discussion on nasaspaceflight.com now runs to many hundreds of pages of informed technical comment.

A good and easily-proven theory would certainly make it easier for the scientific community to take claims of propellantless drives more seriously. But what really matters is whether Cannae can really get the drive to work in space. The payoff would be impressive but it would be a success against long odds.
Australia's many coral reefs had had a rough year, with the protected site reported to have been damaged by rising temperatures just this April. In fact, reports said that about 93 percent of the reef had been bleached extensively for the first time.

The good news is that a follow-up study of the Sydney Coral found that nearly all the coral in the area is showing signs of recovery just a few months after the incident. Samantha Goyen of the University of Technology, Sydney, one of the researchers regarding the incident said in a statement, "Up to 45 percent of corals at selected sites were bleached in April, which was unprecedented this far south of the tropics. However, as of now, almost every single coral we tracked is showing signs of recovery."

In an explanation earlier this year, Fiona MacDonald, director of Content at Science Alert said, that corals usually get their vibrant color from the tiny algae that live in their tissue and provide them food in return. "But when water temperatures get too warm, the corals become stressed and eject the algae, which turns the coral bone white and also leaves them starving and vulnerable to destruction."

The longer the algae is gone from the coral, the less likely they are to survive -- which is to say that bleaching is a symptom of a coral struggling to live. However, it seems that there are signs of recovery in the Sydney Harbour corals as the waters return to normal temperatures.

Unfortunately, not the same can be said about the Great Barrier Reef. Although some of the coral had been repairing itself, over 30 percent is already dead or dying, leading researchers to believe that the Sydney coral might be more handy.

Today, researchers are looking into long-term experiments regarding the corals and see how they can recover over greater periods of time.
The scientists found fossils, which they called Minden Monster, of the largest predatory dinosaur in Germany. They also theorize that the discovery is an entirely new genus that belongs to a higher evolutionary grouping.

According to IFL Science, this large dinosaur, which dates to about 163 million years ago, in the Middle Jurassic, belongs to Megalosauridae, which is a family of carnivorous theropod dinosaurs. From the fossils recovered---the fossilized teeth and fractured skeletal remains, the dinosaur was approximately between 8 and 10 meters in length and weighed over than 2 tons,according to Phys.Org.

According to the researchers, the creature was probably not fully grown when it died. They also thought that dinosaur lived on an island because the sea levels in the Middle Jurassic were higher and most parts of Central Europe were underwater. This region comprised of islands, which likely be the home of the range of apex predators, this includes Minden Monster or technically known as Wiehenvenator albati. The family of Megalosauridae is known as the earliest large carnivorous dinosaurs.

Oliver Rauhut, the lead author of the study and a paleontologist in the Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences at the Ludwig-Maximillian's the University of Munich said that all the major groups of predatory dinosaurs originated during this period. These include the tyrannosaurs---which, however, only gave rise to their really gigantic representatives some 80 million years later and the first direct ancestors of the birds.

The Megalosauridae became extinct when the Cretaceous period began 145 million years ago. They were replaced by other horrifying predators, which ruled the world for over 79 million years. On the other hand, all these predators were exterminated with the impact of the asteroid that annihilated them all.




DARLINGTON, S.C.  Ronda Rhodes had a tough time getting her workout in Saturday morning before racing got underway.

Everywhere you go, you smell bacon, she said of her jog during breakfast time. If you stopped, you might not make it back.

She and her husband, Barry, come down to Darlington every year from their home in Winnabow, North Carolina, as they have for the past 20 years.

Weve been here since Tuesday, Barry said. Weve been in this spot 14 years.

Theyre both big Richard Petty fans, consider themselves old school and theyre diggin the throwback paint schemes.

This is our favorite race, Ronda said.

Archie Braxton first came to Darlington Raceway in 1965.

At the age of 16, said the St. George, South Carolina, resident and Army veteran. Im cheering for Chase Elliott. I was a fan of his dad (Bill) forever.

His wife Betty has been coming to Darlington for seven years.

Oh, I love it. I wouldnt trade it for nothin, she said. Good, friendly people  its like a big family reunion.

Accompanying them was first-timer Maude Waggoner, also from St. George, along with Karen Gunter and Crystal Odom.

Since Dale Earnhardt Jr. isnt racing, theyll be cheering for Jeff Gordon. Peanut Rudd is worried that NASCAR has seen the last of Junior.

I think he might announce his retirement, Rudd said. But I hope not.

Brian Davey came down to Darlington on Thursday morning with some friends. The Pasadena, Maryland, resident is a big Richard Childers fan, and was enjoying his first time camping out.

Its very interesting, he said. Inifield camping is all new to me.

Tony Stewart fan Skip Baugher, from Sussex County, Delaware, is also camping out in the infield for his first time.

I love it, he said. I go to three or four races every year.

Debbie and David Pessoni from Palm Bay, Florida, are originally from Connecticut. Shes a Joey Logano fan. Her husband has favored Jeff Gordon since he was a rookie.

After Darlington, theyll head to Richmond, Virginia, with a shopping stop at outlet stores in Selma, North Carolina, before heading to Nashville to see family.

We left Palm Bay on July 24, Debbie said. Whats the hurry?
FLORENCE, S.C.  With Tropical Storm Hermine in the past, the Pee Dee can look forward to a partly cloudy and breezy day Saturday with a slight chance of isolated showers.

It's an almost perfect weather forecast for racing at the Track Too Tough to Tame.

Friday, though, was less than perfect as Hermine blew through and was forecast to bring up to seven inches of rain and 40-plus mph winds across much of the Pee Dee.

Both the Sprint Cup Series and the Xfinity Series had scheduled practices Friday and were supposed to qualify Saturday. However, in the revamped weekend schedule, Friday activity at the track was canceled and both series will line up the field based on points in the standings.

Kevin Harvick will lead the Sprint Cup field from the pole position with Brad Keselowski second, then defending Darlington champion Carl Edwards, Kurt Busch and Joey Logano in Sunday night's race.

While the rains of Hermine started early Friday morning, the high winds didn't arrive until later Friday afternoon and were forecast to last through the night until the early hours of Saturday.

Anticipating the chaos that water-logged ground and high winds could cause, Duke Energy sent additional line crews into Florence to be on hand Friday to clean up power lines downed by falling trees and other such events.

The Florence County Emergency Management Division started Friday out with a wait-and-see approach to the storm and later in the day moved to OPCON (Operation Condition) 4  a limited activation, said Andrew Golden, public information officer for the agency.

Golden said county officials had planned for such a storm and were ready with the resources they thought they'd need in place. The Emergency Operations Center, he said, would be staffed overnight to make sure that the resources were sent where and when needed.

And though there is no way to plan a long-dry period ahead of a storm such as Hermine, Florence County will benefit from having its rivers at low levels and its ground dry and ready for water, Golden said.

"Even though we're going to get a lot of rain, there's not going to be a big buildup of water," Golden said.

Black Creek at Quinby is forecast to rise to 2 feet over its 10-foot flood stage by Sunday night while the Lynches River at Effingham is forecast to crest below flood stage by Sunday morning, according to a briefing issued by the National Weather Service office in Wilmington, North Carolina.

The Great Pee Dee River at Pee Dee is forecast to reach minor flood stage by Sunday morning, and the Black River at Kingstree is expected to reach minor flood stage by Monday night, according to the briefing.

The Waccamaw River at Conway and the Little Pee Dee River at Galivants Ferry are both forecast to crest below flood stage.

Lake City closed some streets Friday because of rain and street flooding.

Weve already closed a portion on Carlisle Street near J. Paul Truluck Middle School, and weve put out some barrels closing parts of Thomas and Moore Streets, as well, Lake City Administrator Shawn Bell said.

The fire department and police department in Lake City are monitoring the streets in areas that tend to flood. The city has also taken efforts to ensure drains are cleaned out, Bell said.

Were ready if we get a lot of water, Johnsonville City Administrator David Hanks said Friday afternoon. Everything is ready to go.

Hanks said the city had equipment fueled and folks on standby.

Were just hoping its not going to be super bad, he said.

Williamsburg County, closest to the direct path of the storm, was equally vigilant.

Alex Edwards, Williamsburg County Sheriffs Office public information officer, said the countys special response team conducted a roads assessment Friday afternoon to determine which roads were passable and which were not.

School Street in Kingstree was already closed because of flooding, Edwards said.

Theres a flood warning for the rivers in our county, he said. So theyre keeping an eye on the river levels also. With all this rain, the rivers will rise, also. It may be an issue for citizens living in low-lying areas.

Edwards said shelters in Williamsburg County opened in case residents need to evacuate and will remain open until 9 a.m. Saturday.

Open shelters included Chavis One Stop in Hemingway, Williamsburg County Recovery Center and C.E. Murray High School.

Shamira McCray, editor of the Lake City News & Post and The Weekly Observer in Hemingway, contributed to this report.
Political positioning has already started for next years state budget, not that you should be surprised.

The culprits are two big numbers causing some confusion before the debate even begins.

Roughly one week ago, the state Board of Economic Advisors projected South Carolina lawmakers would have about $440 million in new revenues for the 2017-18 budget. Its not the $1.2 billion they had to craft the current budget, but its not small potatoes either. The lower number  which would have been a dream come true during the Great Recession a few years ago  reflects a slowing economy, perhaps. But its important to note this: The economy is still growing.

And then earlier this week, Gov. Nikki Haley issued a grand pronouncement that caused head scratching in light of the growth: Its time to consider budget cuts, she said.

Huh? With more money?

The likely explanation is the old game of political chicken, as Haley is looking for an advantage over legislators who face a triple funding threat caused by needs for billions of tax dollars from serial under-funding of roads and education and billions more to shore up the states pension system, which has underperformed to the tune of $20 billion.

In the most recent legislative session, lawmakers put off the serious work of dealing with billions in road funding needs by coming up with a way to borrow $200 million a year for the next decade or so to plow into highway and bridge fixes. But thats not enough by a long shot.

So expect renewed clashes over an increase in South Carolinas relatively paltry $0.1675 per gallon gas tax. Raising the tax, which hasnt been adjusted in more than 25 years, by just a dime a gallon would keep S.C. below rates in Georgia and North Carolina but bring in approximately $340 million in new revenue every year. Double the increase to North Carolinas rate and the state would generate $678 million annually for roads, some paid by out-of-state truckers and travelers.

Haley, who is so opposed to a gas tax that she cant see straight, knows the public wants something done on roads and that a majority supports a hike. So shes desperately trying to find an alternative to muddy the waters. The whole notion of budget cuts really isnt about working to keep under-spending for decades under control. Its about the gas tax. She doesnt want a legacy that reflects taxes went up big while she was governor.

By forcing state agencies to figure out ways to come up with $200 million in budget cuts  half of which potentially would hit public and higher education  Haley will have a weapon: Reams of paper that show exactly how the state could save money without raising the gas tax. Left unsaid would be cuts that would impact services.

Meanwhile, legislators will face a different climate in 2017. Some Republicans, particularly in the Senate, are mumbling they might consider a gas tax increase. When you count votes, it doesnt take a rocket scientist to figure out the Senates Democrats only have to peel off six moderate Republicans to pass a tax.

And thats what has anti-gas tax advocates such as Haley and Sen. Tom Davis, R-Beaufort, worried. Which brings another level of politics to the whole mess: the governors race in 2018.

Just as Haley is using the budget cut ruse to develop an alternative to a gas tax, Davis already is working to gin up opposition to a gas tax in what is seen as a probable bid for governor.

With all of this is going on, the House is working on comprehensive tax reform, which might include a gas tax hike, to fuel all of the needs of the state. A special committee is looking at ways to make the states high sales tax rate more equitable, perhaps by removing hundreds of millions of dollars of special-interest sales tax exemptions; how to balance the states income tax; and how to redress wrongs created by a property tax swap that hurt businesses.

More than anything, what really needs to happen is for reason to be brought into tax debates. Not more dramatic, political cockfighting.

Andy Brack is editor and publisher of Statehouse Report. Have a comment? Send to: feedback@statehousereport.com
I am very concerned about the State Employee Pension Fund.

I have been keeping tabs on this issue for some time in hopes someone would step in say, "Enough is enough!" and then actually do something to change its direction before it joins the Titanic!

The plan lost $6.2 BILLION in 2008 and $1.5 BILLION so far in FY 2016.

I see billions of reasons why something needs to be corrected in the management, investment options and overall stewardship of South Carolina employees' future retirement funds.

Why has no one in management lost their jobs? Why has no commissioner lost his or her job?

Maybe I have misunderstood their duties and responsibilities.

I thought their job was to have a plan that made money for the fund. Now, if their job is to bankrupt the fund, they have earned a bonus!

Why isnt the Legislative Oversight Commission investigating the significant losses of the $6.2 billion in 2008 and $1.5 BILLION in 2016?

If the the commissioners are looking into this issue, why have they not taken steps to stop the loses? Why have they not taken steps to rebuild the fund's assets? Why are they not taking measures to stop the bleeding?

Where is the state of South Carolina going to get the funds to make up these loses?

Perhaps it is time to look for other investment organizations with a better track record.

Will any legislator put his/her political future on the chopping block to recommend new tax revenue and/or debt to fund any shortages?

Someone needs to step up and do what is necessary protect state employees and taxpayers from the catastrophe that lies before us.

BILL PICKLE

Florence
Well, that was fun while it lasted. The world's highest and longest glass-bottomed bridge, which spans the Zhangjiajie Grand Canyon in China's Hunan province, finally opened to visitors on August 20.

Not even two weeks later, officials announced that the bridge needed to be closed.

RELATED: 20 Mega-Tall Buildings By 2020

The closure isn't due to an accident or problem with the bridge's structure, a spokesperson for the attraction told CNN. Instead, unexpectedly intense demand simply outstripped capacity. Although the bridge was built to handle an impressive 8,000 visitors daily, CNN reported that demand has been 10 times that.

"We're overwhelmed by the volume of visitors," the spokesperson told CNN's Serenitie Wang and Elaine Yu, after an official announcement about the closure appeared on the Chinese microblogging site Weibo. Designed by the architectural firm Haim Dotan, the bridge stretches a little over 1,400 feet from one cliffside to the other. Thick glass underfoot offers a clear view of the canyon about 984 feet below.

Once the bridge is closed to visitors on September 5, park officials said they plan to make improvements to parking lots, customer service, and the system for booking tickets. One commenter on Weibo responded positively to the closure, saying that previously there was trash littering the scenic area, and no bottled water for sale.

RELATED: Longest, Tallest Glass Bridge Will Have Crazy-High Swings

A date for the bridge to be reopened hasn't been announced yet, but in the meantime you can venture out onto it vicariously through videos of the lucky first visitors.

Amid all the people smiling for photos on the newly-opened bridge -- some doing yoga and at least one guy braving push-ups -- there was a little boy near the tall railing who cried loudly. I get it, kid. That's one long drop.
Advances in technology, especially air travel, have boosted international travel to an enormous degree in the last 100 years. But some destinations are more popular than others, naturally. In today's Seeker Daily dispatch, we boldly go where no one -- well, very few people -- have gone before.

Moldova, in Eastern Europe, is one of the least-touristy countries on the planet. In 2008, it hit an all-time low of just 7,000 annual visitors. (Consider that, in the U.S., the city of San Francisco alone had 24 million visitors last year.)

Travel agents in Moldova, both of them, have to get creative. In recent years, the country has attempted to re-brand itself as the "road less traveled" in Europe. It's partnered with several non-profits and the U.S. Agency for International Development to aggressively promote its peculiarities and niche industries, like its small wine industry and its dubious collection of relics from the Soviet era.

RELATED: Why Do Tourists Vacation In War Zones?

Over in Africa, the nation of Guinea has been feeling lonesome of late. The country hosted only 33,000 visitors in 2014, a comparatively minuscule number for a nation of 12 million people. Guinea has several PR problems, including a reputation for political instability, poor infrastructure and facilities, and inefficient transportation.

Disease is a major deterrent, as well. The U.S. travel bureau requires visitors to Guinea to get several vaccines before they travel, and even then tourists are at risk from mosquito-borne illnesses including malaria and yellow fever. It also doesn't help that Guinea was home to the most recent Ebola outbreak.

But in terms of proportionally bad tourist numbers, Bangladesh is the undisputed king of unpopular destinations. The country averages about 125,000 tourists per year, relative to a population of more than 159 million. Like Guinea, Bangladesh suffers from an extremely poor public profile -- most headlines coming out of the country concern poverty, political strife and natural disasters. Despite the government's recent "Beautiful Bangladesh" campaign, forecasts are not optimistic.

Keep in mind that these examples represent least-visited destinations relative to overall population. There are, of course, countless more desolate locales on the planet that have trouble retaining residents, never mind tourists. The temptation is to make a Detroit joke at this point, but we're trying to run a classy operation here.

-- Glenn McDonald

Learn More:

Check out Discovery GO!

CNN: International Tourists Hit Record 1.2 Billion in 2015, says UNWTO

The Guardian: How Tourism is Taking Off in Bangladesh

Lonely Planet: Moldova: Embracing its Status as Europe's Least-visited Country
Press Release

September 2, 2016 'Dagdag pulis, baril,' new patrol cars better than new Alsa Masa Instead of seeking inspiration from defunct vigilantes, government should prioritize the hiring of more policemen and buying them enough equipment to combat crime and maintain peace in communities, Senate Minority Leader Ralph Recto said. Recto said the latest official data from Malacanang shows that the Philippine National Police (PNP) will still have 22,046 vacant positions by the end of 2017, belying reports that the undermanned PNP will step up recruitment to put more boots on the ground. And instead of the expected fund augmentation for equipment and buildings, Recto said PNP's capital outlays budget for 2017 has in fact been slashed by almost P500 million, or to P3.37 billion, from P3.82 billion this year. "If we really want to give the policemen the help they deserve, then we should give all the equipment they need. Organizing better logistics for them takes precedence over the organization of volunteer groups," he said. Recto made the call following the disclosure in the House by the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) that it is planning to revive "non-violent" Alsa Masa-type groups that will gather intelligence on the drug trade in their barangays. While Recto concedes that there is a need to engage the citizenry in the war against drugs, he stressed that "formal institutions and government agencies must be strengthened first." "More police with more cars, more guns and more communication equipment. Better-equipped barangay tanods. More CCTV cameras and better lighted streets. And a functioning and free 911 system. Ito ang mga dapat unahin," Recto said. "Without these, then how can citizens' complaints be acted upon immediately?" Recto asked, referring to the DILG justification that volunteer groups can forward their reports to the police for proper action. Although the PNP's 2017 proposed budget will jump by 25 percent, to P110.4 billion from this year's P88.7 billion, or by an "impressive" P21.7 billion, "there are areas which I think can stand improvement," Recto said. "For example, if we are creating 10,000 new police positions, which means our authorized troop ceiling will be increased to 184,000, then why just target a fill up rate of 162,364, which leaves a vacancy of 22,046?" Recto was referring to the hike in the authorized number of PNP positions from the present 174,410 to next year's 184,410 but not all of which will be filled. "Why not aspire for a higher target? Why only fill one in three vacant positions? Ano yung kinks sa recruitment? Kung, halimbawa, kulang ng training areas, baka pwede hiramin ang sa military?" he said. He explained that filling the projected vacancies will result in each of the 1,489 towns getting an additional 15 police officers. Recto said he welcomes the P3.3 billion allocation for capital outlays for 2017 but this is about half a billion below what is authorized this year. "It's good that the transportation equipment outlay for new patrol cars will be increased from P65 million to P525 million, pero kulang pa rin ito, kasi sa mga bayan na lang we lack 1,500 na kaagad," he said. He said next year's outlay should wipe out the minimum backlog of 16,140 side arms, "because 'gunless' policemen cannot stop crimes." In his testimony before the Senate, PNP Director General Ronald de la Rosa, upon questioning by Recto, gave a higher estimate of equipment lack, saying they lack "18,000 short firearms, 10,000 long firearms, and 16,356 vehicles."
Press Release

September 2, 2016 Don't pack Con-Com with 'federalism halleluiah squad' Senate Minority Leader Ralph Recto said he will not oppose the creation of a Constitutional Commission, calling it "a study group whose output will have to be submitted to Congress for consideration, and whatever Congress recommends will still have to be ratified by the people in a plebiscite." But for the "Con-Com" to be credible, its membership must be drawn "from various sectors, all regions, from parties of different, even clashing, political persuasions, from Left to Right, from former outlaws to legal luminaries," Recto said. "If it is packed by partisans whose marching order is to rubber-stamp pre-conceived plans, then it will have a serious credibility problem. If it is straitjacketed toward certain conclusions, then it will lose respect," Recto said. "The Con-Com must have no prior biases, no script to be followed. For the discussion among members to be vibrant, it must be given complete freedom to revisit the basic law, find its weaknesses, and recommend the cures," Recto said. One necessary element for the commission to do its work as "an impartial body" is to appoint known "personalities who have reservations about the proposal to shift to a federal form of government." "If the commission will be overrun by the federalism halleluiah squad, then the independence required of such a body to do an important task is compromised from the very start," he stressed. "And if the proposed commission will vote, upon exhaustive review, that a federal form of government is not feasible, then the one who formed it--Duterte, and proposed it--Alvarez, must respect the body's findings," Recto said. Recto reminded Malacanang to follow the example of its previous occupants in commissioning experts to review the constitution's flaws. "Presidents Estrada and Arroyo formed Charter study groups. Their members were given a free hand to study and recommend. Erap and GMA never attempted to influence their work. The members were never shepherded toward certain conclusions," Recto said. "That must also be the code of conduct of the Duterte administration towards the proposed Con-Com. A 'hands off' policy so that its output is not tainted by a partisan political agenda," Recto said. It is because of the precedents that such a body had been formed in the past that Recto said he is supporting the formation of "a multi-sectoral Con-Com" by an executive order. "If it is truly independent and broad-based, then it can help distill and crystallize the areas in the constitution which need revision or changes. Malaking tulong 'yan sa House at Senate," Recto said. Recto said that while the Con-Com is doing its work, "nothing prevents the Senate or the House from calling for hearings, consultations, debates on matters related to constitutional amendments." "Hindi naman porke't na-form na yan ay mayroon nang legislative moratorium in discussing Charter change. Congress retains that right and initiative. Kaya nga yang Con-Com is just a Palace-formed study group. It doesn't shut down Congress from doing its work on that subject," Recto said.
Statement of Senate President Pro-Tempore Franklin M. Drilon on the declaration of a state of lawlessness

I condemn in the strongest terms the dastardly act of killing and wounding innocent civilians. But I see it as an isolated incident.

While I do not see any widespread lawless violence in other parts of the country to justify calling on the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) to suppress such lawless violence, I defer to the judgment of the President who has access to intelligence information.

The President, however, must be prudent in such declaration because of its effect on our economy, investment and business climate, especially our tourism. Under our Constitution, a declaration of lawless violence has no implication on civil liberties.

There is need, however, for the Palace to clarify its parameters to allay the fears of our people.
Press Release

September 3, 2016 PREPARE FOR POWER GAP, INCREASED ENERGY DEMAND:

GORDON TO DOE In view of the brownouts that have been hitting some parts of the country, Senator Richard J. Gordon has pressed the Department of Energy (DOE) to prepare for a looming power gap that the recurring power outages appear to herald. During the hearing of the Senate Committee on Energy, Gordon also questioned the DOE about its options as to power sources for an increase in demand should the Philippines achieve a higher growth rate. "We have to prepare for a power gap which is coming and we have to make a decision. From what you are saying, we are running in order to stay in place. In other words, we're just running to have a reserve for the moment. What I'm talking about is 'what is the national interest?' What is the policy? Right now, we are approaching 7% growth rate, we could go to 9%, we could go to 10%. But when we reach 9% or 10% growth rate, you will have greater energy demand. And that is what I'm trying to get out of this. Kanina sinabi ko, ano ba talaga ang problema natin? Present tense. Down the line, ano ang future tense natin?" he asked the DOE. The senator pointed out that the government should make preparations to ensure that there would be sufficient power supply to support an increased growth rate. "What are doing to look for power here? Saan natin kukunin? Ilan ang kakailanganin natin pag nag-8% GDP tayo, pag nag-9% GDP tayo ilan ang kakailanganin nating power? Saan natin kukunin? Kasi ang China, ganyan magplano, Amerikano, ganyan magplano, so they went into trade. Tayo, wala tayo ni ano kaya kailangan ang national security concern natin is that we must be able, kaya natin magdala ng sufficient power para may kabuhayan ang tao natin. Kung hindi, titigil yan," Gordon said. "What does it augur for the country then if we don't look for a continuity of supply for the next years? We should look at the situation not only nationally but also geographically - continuity of supply not only in Luzon but also in the Visayas and Mindanao. We must have sufficient resources to run these factories, to run the houses. Kailangan natin ang certain amount of power. Ito ang kailangan natin para continuously we will not be dependent on other countries," he further explained. The senator also expressed inclination towards nuclear power plants as energy source despite its unpopularity. He added countries like France, China, and Taiwan, among others are using nuclear plants as efficient sources of energy. "I don't care if nuclear energy is unpopular as long as it provides uninterrupted power supply. Other countries are doing it...I think we have national mental dwarfism. Mayaman ang bansa natin, mamimili tayo tapos hindi natin gagamitin. Yung Bataan Nuclear Power Plant, built in the 1970s at $2 billion and is being maintained at an annual cost of P27 million, has never produced a single kilowatt," he pointed out. The DOE said nuclear power was among options that the DOE was pursuing to ensure long-term energy stability for the country, along with other power sources. Energy Secretary Alfonso Cusi said nuclear power was viable as it is cheap to produce and has greater longevity than other depletable sources such as natural gas and coal. The current national energy supply is at 17,925 MW, sufficient for the demand for 13,500 MWs. Cusi said the supply is only compromised by unexpected outages and simultaneous maintenance shutdowns of powerplants, a situation that led to the supply shortage in Luzon a month ago.
Press Release

September 3, 2016 VIEW OUR HISTORY FROM A DIFFERENT ANGLE AND BE PROUD

OF OUR HISTORY - GORDON As the nation commemorates the Battle of Imus, Senator Richard J. Gordon called on Filipinos to view our country's history from a different perspective and be proud of our rich heritage. Gordon said we should look back at our country's victories rather than defeats, and remember the brave and courageous people behind them. "We are a nation that has forgotten our heroes. We bask in victimization. We only remember defeats and we fear to look back at our past. But that is not the way we should view our history. We have to look at history from our victories and not defeats. We must look back at our history without fear and inhibition," he said. Colonel Jose Tagle led the Battle of Imus, which was the first victory of Filipino revolutionary forces in the Philippine revolution against Spanish rule, and rallied all of Cavite and other provinces to fight the Spanish colonial government. The three-day historic battle that unified Cavitenos is considered as the "first victory" that saved the Philippine revolution from near collapse. In September 1896, Tagle led some 1,000 guerilla volunteers from Imus and Kawit in fighting the strong Spanish forces from Manila then massing off Bacoor. His victory paved the way for Gen. Emilio Aguinaldo to defeat Spanish General Ernesto de Aguirre, who, in his haste to escape after he fell from his horse, left behind his "Sable de Mando" (Command sabre) crafted in Toledo in 1869. Gordon, the great grandson of Col. Tagle, laments that many Filipinos, especially the young, are familiar with the fall of Bataan and Corregidor but not so much with the Battle of Imus where Filipinos had achieved victory. He stressed that these events in Philippine history and the people behind them should always remain in the minds and hearts of the Filipino people, especially the young generation, to keep flame and fervor of nationalism burning. "We should look back at our history and how our forefathers fought for our nation's democracy. Let us make them our models and exemplify the kind of patriotism that they had. Our history is our identity, and we should be proud of it," the lawmaker said. "The unifying thread in all our history from our seafaring Datu forbears to our overseas Filipino workers and from our fight against imperial tyranny to our fight against the tyranny of defeatist mentalities is this: It is our search for the realization of our dream of an enabled, empowered and ennobled existence," he added. According to the senator, Col. Tagle has painted a picture of who we must be as a people - dignified, patriotic, and ready to stand ground in defense of our freedom and democracy. Gordon had embraced these same traits when, as Mayor of Olongapo City, he had turned his hometown from Sin City to Model City and had risen from the successive disasters of the Mount Pinatubo eruption and the abandonment of the then American-controlled Subic Naval base. When Gordon was elected back to the Senate last May, he was armed with different measures aimed at ensuring peace and order, promoting education, promoting trade, investments and tourism, and other bills that will contribute to, and usher in, more growth and development in the country.
Statement of Senate President Aquilino "Koko" Pimentel III on the Davao blast

I condemn in the strongest possible terms the dastardly and cowardly attack last night against the peace-loving people of Davao City. There is no excuse for hurting and killing civilians who were simply enjoying a night out with friends and family.

My prayers are with the victims of the terrorist attack and their families. Justice must be served and the Senate will be supportive in achieving this Justice. The Police should be supported in solving this crime so that they can bring the perpetrators to Justice.

All of us should help and find ways to improve our security measures in order to forestall a similar event in the future.
Press Release

September 3, 2016 Bigger blast fallout if Digong cancels Laos trip - Recto Senate Minority Leader Ralph Recto is backing President Duterte's decision to scratch his Brunei trip but is urging him to attend the ASEAN Leaders' Summit in Laos "as cancelling it might lead to the international impression that terrorists have succeeded in grounding the Philippine leader." "If he goes to Laos as planned, then the President is heeding his own call that terrorism should not disrupt our daily lives," Recto said. He warned that "any cancellation of the President's debut in the world stage would globalize the fallout"from Friday night's Davao City night market explosion as "terrorists would surely seize the free publicity and brag that they have effectively detained the President." Recto described the Laos meet--where 10 ASEAN leaders will join U.S. President Barack Obama, Russian president Vladimir Putin and other world leaders in a summit from September 6 to 8--as "more than an opportunity for selfies and groufies, but a great chance to state our cause." "We need him there to assure the world, especially investors, tourists and businessmen, that while we have been hit by terrorism, government is on top of the situation and everything is under control," Recto said. "The alternative is that if he fails to make it there, his absence will be more pronounced, the opportunity to assure the world will be forfeited, and the problems we are facing will be blown out of proportion," he added. "The best place to make comforting statements and correct disinformation is where the international media will descend, and that will be in Laos," he said. It is also in Laos that "he can receive messages of solidarity, aid and support" from world leaders who arealso battling terrorism," Recto said. Skipping the Laos summit will also allow China to dominate the discussions on the South China Sea, Recto said. "He must be there to serve as a foil when China spins its own take on the issue." If Duterte's first trip abroad as president will be scrapped, "then we will play right into the hands of the terrorists who would like to magnify the mayhem they have created," Recto said. Recto said Duterte will only be away "for about 100 hours. He is not going to the moon, but to places not more than 4 hours away by air from Manila." "And during that time, he can be updated in real-time. Pwede sya i-text, i-Skype o i-Viber. He will always be online. One important thing that should not be forgotten is that he has a competent national security team here," he stressed. Recto said the Laos summit also provides the Philippine president with the chance to have either formal talks or informal "pull-asides" with the leaders of Australia, China, India, Japan, New Zealand and South Korea.
Press Release

September 3, 2016 Zubiri condemns Davao bombing Condoles with families of victims General Santos City. - Sen. Juan Miguel Zubiri condemns the Friday night bombing in Davao City which according to latest police reports resulted to 14 deaths and 67 wounded. Zubiri said, "I condemn in the strongest possible terms the Friday night bombing in Davao City. Whoever perpetrated this dastardly act should be hunted and held accountable before our courts. I call on our police and other law enforcement agencies to exert relentless efforts in the investigation of the incident. I condole with the families of victims and let us offer prayers to the wounded for their speedy recovery." Zubiri who was in General Santos City after attending a Tuna Congress at the time of the bombing also said, "We should, however, remain calm but vigilant and conduct our normal daily lives. Let us refrain from spreading unverified information, especially in social media, that will slow down pursuit of the criminals and even endanger witnesses. The soul-less criminals who did this bombing want to sow fear and terror among our citizens and are trying to derail the gains of the Duterte administration in its war on drugs and its recent offensives against the Abu Sayyaf. We should not let them prevail."
Theyre furry and cute and most of the time bring smiles to people who get a glimpse of them in the wild, but southern sea otters in recent weeks have become the target of deadly gunfire that has animal-rights advocates up in arms.

Authorities doubled a reward Friday to $20,000 for information leading to the arrest and conviction of whoever shot and killed three of the marine mammals last month in Santa Cruz County.

We are all just aghast that something like that would happen, said Dave Feliz, manager of the Elkhorn Slough Reserve, a field laboratory for scientific research and estuarine education.

The shooter, or shooters, he said, are breaking the law, and they are killing this animal that is just loved by people.

The California Department of Fish and Wildlife, the Monterey Bay Aquarium and a private donor have joined forces to boost the reward from the $10,000 the federal government put up last week.

The sea otters are protected under the Endangered Species Act, the Marine Mammal Protection Act and California state law.

But since Aug. 12, the bodies of three male southern sea otters have washed up on shore between Santa Cruz Harbor and Seacliff State Beach in Aptos, officials reported. All were killed by gunshots.

Steve Shimek, the executive director of the Otter Project, said shooting ocean animals isnt entirely uncommon, especially when fishermen are having a hard time catching certain fish like sea urchin and abalone  the delicacies of choice for sea otters. He added that some fishermen will deliberately run over otters with their boats to keep them from interfering with their fishing.

Even if a person is angry, it has to take a certain amount more than anger to just start going out and shooting animals, Shimek said. But it also happens with California sea lions. It just happens.

Drought Map Track water shortages and restrictions across Bay Area Updated to include drought zones while tracking water shortage status of your area, plus reservoir levels and a list of restrictions for the Bay Areas largest water districts.

Before the recent rash of fatal shootings, the last time so many sea otters were found shot in rapid succession was in 2013, when three sea otters were found dead at Asilomar State Beach near Monterey, said Mike Harris, a senior environmental scientist for the Department of Fish and Wildlife. Over the past 10 to 15 years, an average of one sea otter has been found shot every year along the California coast, he said.

While Shimek isnt sure whether the recent series of sea otter shootings is linked to fishermen or just obnoxious behavior, he warned that the punishment can be harsh for anyone caught killing one. The maximum fine is $100,000 and possible jail time.

The sea otter population is barely growing, if at all, Shimek said. Every animal is precious, and every animal is needed to help the population survive, so every single type of mortality  especially stupid mortality like this  is harmful to the population as a whole.

Anyone with information regarding the sea otter shootings in Santa Cruz County can call the CalTIP line at (888) 334-2258 or the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service at (650) 876-9078.

Sarah Ravani is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: sravani@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @SarRavani
CHICAGO  On the day he was reinstated from the disabled list, Matt Cain sounded as if hes all in with his new role of long reliever.

Albert Suarez was chosen over Cain as the fifth starter and pitched five innings Friday at Wrigley Field.

Were worried about winning games. Thats the only thing were worried about, Cain said. I think I can help out in the bullpen, Suarez will go about his business on his day, and well try to find a way to get in the playoffs.

Cain, 31, has made just three relief appearances in his 12-year career, two last year and one in 2006. He said he can learn from teammate Jeff Samardzija and others with experience in both starting and relieving.

Itll be a little adjusting, just figuring out what works for me, Cain said. Obviously, I have to do that pretty quickly, be a quick learner.

Weve got guys who have been down there. They have their roles. So its about figuring out where youre going to be used and making sure youre prepared as the game goes along.

Its possible Cain could be summoned back to the rotation if manager Bruce Bochy needs a replacement, but the pitcher said the focus is contributing out of the bullpen.

Right now, whats best for all of us, from chatting with Bochy and them, as long as everything goes as its going, Ill stay in the bullpen for the month, Cain said. You never know. Things could change, but right now that looks like its the plan.

Briefly: The Giants havent called up a third catcher, but manager Bruce Bochy said theyd summon somebody in an emergency. Tony Sanchez is the likely choice. He was signed last month and has 43 at-bats with Triple-A Sacramento. He played parts of the past three seasons with the Pirates and was the fourth overall pick in the 2009 draft.  The beaten-up Wrigley turf wasnt a factor the first two games of the series after several concerts  including those featuring Pearl Jam and Billy Joel  were held during the Cubs last trip. Its torn up pretty good, said Giants center fielder Denard Span , adding that he needs to be careful charging grounders because balls could take bad hops on the rough surface.

John Shea is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer.

Leading off

The right guy: Madison Bumgarner, Saturdays pitcher, has good career numbers against the Cubs: 7-2 with a 2.19 ERA in 11 starts, including 4-0 and 1.53 in his past five starts.

 John Shea

On deck

Saturday

at Cubs

11:20 a.m. CSNBA

Bumgarner (13-8) vs. Arrieta (16-5)

Sunday

at Cubs, 11:20 a.m.

CSNBA, TBS

Cueto (14-5) vs.

Lackey (9-7)

Monday

at Rockies

1:10 p.m., CSNBA

Moore (2-3) vs.

TBD
David McNew/Getty Images

California will do something no other state has done and Congress has banned  fund the study of gun violence in order to approach the crisis like the public health problem it is.

University of California President Janet Napolitano announced this week she intends to establish the UC Firearm Violence Research Center at UC Davis next month using a $5 million, five-year appropriation from the Legislature.
Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton is returning to San Francisco on Sept. 12 for another big-dollar fundraiser.

In an invitation to potential donors obtained by The Chronicle, organizers said this may be her last visit to the Bay Area before election day. The invitation says contributing at least $33,400 or raising $100,000 will give donors access to the chair reception with Hillary featuring an exclusive performance by a special guest, who is not identified.

A $10,000 contribution guarantees admittance to a reception with special guests and front-row seating.

The cheapest ticket is $250, but as is often the case with high-priced fundraisers, there is a limited availability of those offerings. The invitation did not say where the fundraiser is being held.

Clinton was in California in late August, headlining eight fundraisers over three days in Piedmont, Silicon Valley, Los Angeles and Orange County that raised more than $10 million. She had no public appearances then, and none is scheduled as of yet on the September trip.

Theres little need for Clinton to campaign publicly in California  she leads Republican nominee Donald Trump in the state by 22 points in the latest aggregation of major polls by RealClearPolitics.com.

President Obama is also expected to make a swing through California to raise campaign cash before the election, according to sources close to Democratic fundraising efforts.

In addition, former Vice President Al Gore will be in San Francisco for a Sept. 15 fundraiser for Iowa U.S. Senate hopeful Patty Judge, the states former lieutenant governor. Tickets run from $500 to $2,700.

Since the start of her campaign, Clinton has raised $327 million and spent $268 million, according to federal campaign finance filings through July 31. Through June, Clinton had raised $46 million of that total from California donors.

Trump has raised $128 million, including $52 million of his own, and spent $90 million. Through June, only $2 million of that had come from California. Trump was in the Bay Area on Monday for a $25,000-a-person fundraiser at the Woodside home of Saul Fox, CEO of the private equity firm Fox Paine and Co.

Joe Garofoli is The San Francisco Chronicles senior political writer. Email: jgarofoli@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @joegarofoli
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Oaklands waterfront, like many parts of the city these days, is changing rapidly.

New apartment buildings are popping up overnight, hip coffee shops seem to be on every corner, and wine boutiques are as common as office spaces.

Home to the Oakland Port and Jack London Square, the neighborhood has seen dense development, with residents and commercial interests moving into the historically industrial area. As a result, some of the citys oldest relics and most humble histories are rubbing elbows with all thats new to Oakland  out-of-towners, hipster shops and high-rise apartment buildings.

A free walking tour of Jack London Square and its surroundings captured this contrast Saturday morning, as tourists and residents gathered for a chance to explore the landmark and give historical context to a place too often known as that city across from San Francisco.

Downtown Oakland is changing so rapidly, especially in the past 10 years, said Annalee Allen, who coordinates the walking tours for the city. Its fun to go out and show people these things.

Oaklands waterfront is sleepy on Saturday mornings. Ships sit in their docks and the air is crisp and quiet, save for the long line of people waiting for the ferry to take them to San Francisco for the day. The Potomac, once a presidential yacht known as Franklin Roosevelts floating White House, sits docked nearby.

Just off the water, the area east of the port embodies Oaklands industrial history. A railroad runs parallel to the waterfront. A red-brick building, now empty, has a fading sign: Union Machine Works, machining since 1885. Graffiti covers the remaining wall space. An old train station converted into offices sits on Third Street.

Old and new coexist on each block in the historic district, now home to many a fancy restaurant and quaint boutique. But way back when, Jack London Square was not a place to grab a nice meal. It was a bustling center of industry, separated from the citys downtown and social life.

It was not a place people were attracted to, said tour guide Gary Knecht, who has lived in the area since 1982 and been leading tours since the 90s. It was a working port.

The hodgepodge of architectural styles and building types  a mix of high and low, brick and stucco  tracks the areas development. At the intersection of Third Street and Broadway, the citys oldest building, built in 1859, sits catty-corner from a spanking new 18-story condominium.

For much of Oaklands history, the waterfront was strictly industrial. But over the years, the area has become increasingly commercial. In 1950, a handful of lunch spots popped up in the area. In the 1960s, a motel was built on the waterfront. Now, a Bed, Bath and Beyond and Cost Plus World Market sit adjacent to abandoned industrial buildings. A huge parking structure sits across from a movie theater.

Theres this conflict down here: Do you intensify development, or do you celebrate the (areas) historic qualities? Knecht said.

The tour is part of a greater effort by the city to expose residents and visitors alike to the rich history of Oakland. On the 90-minute walking tours, scheduled every Wednesday and Saturday through October, guides take people around different parts of town, reviewing history and discussing modern day changes to the city landscape.

The city has been offering free tours since the 1980s, when then-Councilman Richard Spees suggested the idea.

The program has since expanded to offer eight tours in various parts of the uptown and downtown neighborhoods. Most recently, it added an African American-themed tour that chronicles the stories of Lionel Wilson, Oaklands first black mayor, and Robert Maynard, former owner of the Oakland Tribune, among others.

The tours capture both the citys past and its ever-changing present. A walk of the Uptown neighborhood features the historic Sears Building, which will soon house Ubers new headquarters. Several tours feature Latham Square, a historic plaza at the intersection of Broadway and Telegraph avenues that was restored and reopened just this summer.

Garrett Murphy has been going on the tours since the city started offering them. Born and raised in Oakland, Murphy said the tours help him understand the citys changing landscape.

It helps me keep up with the development, he said.

Berkeley resident Mary Marshall has been on three of the Oakland tours, which she said help her get to know the city in a new way.

It gives me a history of what happened in Oakland, Marshall said. Its a great place. Its underestimated.

Libby Rainey is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: lrainey@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @rainey_l
Oaklands proposed penny-an-ounce tax on sugary drinks got a boost Friday when a judge ruled that the ballot measure  despite the beverage industrys contentions  is not a tax on grocers, because they can pass the costs along to their customers.

Alameda County Superior Court Judge Thomas Rasch denied a request by opponents of Measure HH on the Nov. 8 ballot to delete a line from the supporters ballot argument that declares, The tax is not paid by your local grocer. His ruling also gives the supporters a counter to the message on fliers the beverage industry is regularly mailing to Oakland households, showing the faces of worried grocers along with pleas to Stop the Grocery Tax.

A tax on soda and other sugared beverages will be on November ballots in Oakland, San Francisco and Albany. Oaklands Measure HH would raise up to $12 million a year, which city officials plan to use for health and education programs, while seeking to reduce consumption of drinks that contribute to obesity and diabetes. Opponents say the measure would affect all grocery prices and hit hardest at low-income customers.

Foes of the measure challenged several statements in supporters ballot arguments, including the assertion that the new tax would not be paid by local grocers. That was untrue, opponents said, because Oakland grocers who buy sugared beverages from a distributor in the city would have to pay the tax on their purchases.

But under those circumstances, Rasch said in his ruling, local grocers and other retailers will likely pass the tax through the chain of distribution to the ultimate consumer. If the local grocers act as a pass-through entity, then they will suffer no economic harm from the soda tax.

He also rejected a challenge to a statement in the ballot argument that the new tax would not apply to small businesses. Opponents argued the everyday understanding of small businesses is considerably larger than definition in Measure HH, which exempts businesses with annual revenues of less than $100,000. But Rasch said voters can rely on the text of the measure as well as an analysis in the ballot pamphlet by City Attorney Barbara Parker, who cited the $100,000 threshold.

Dan Newman, a spokesman for the campaign supporting Measure HH, said the ruling amounted to a judicial declaration that Big Soda's entire $10 million ad campaign is based on a fundamental lie.

Joe Arellano, spokesman for the opposition campaign, said the ruling affects the ballot arguments but doesnt change the facts.

 Once voters do their own research and read the fine print, theyll see that theyre actually voting on a grocery tax that affects distributors like local grocery stores and mom and pop corner stores, not on a soda tax, he said.

Bob Egelko is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: begelko@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @egelko
Like so many bright, young entrepreneurs these days, Isaac Choi arrived in San Francisco last year, set up shop and promised employees that he would lead them to the Silicon Valley dream.

That dream is turning out mostly to be a mirage.

Last week, Chois company, WrkRiot, began unraveling in a highly public fashion. Its former head of marketing revealed that the startup had been mired in chaos and had sometimes paid employees in cashiers checks before delaying payment altogether. She also alleged that Choi had forged wire transfer documents to make it look as if compensation was on the way. By late Tuesday, WrkRiot had taken itself offline. The veracity of Chois credentials are also in question.

While WrkRiot is not widely known, the startups collapse has gripped Silicon Valley. Chois situation may be extreme, but the companys implosion has a familiar ring to many who came west to be the next Mark Zuckerberg  but ended up instead at the next WrkRiot. Silicon Valley is eager to celebrate its success stories, but the reality is that numerous tiny startups that few ever hear about form the tech industrys dysfunctional underbelly.

With the exception of the alleged fraud, almost anyone who has worked at a startup has experienced most everything that went wrong at WrkRiot, said Semil Shah, a Menlo Park startup investor. People dont realize the word startup is a broad concept that includes everything from a proven entrepreneur raising $15 million to a guy with money from friends and family. To an outsider, he said, theyre both the same.

On Hacker News, an online forum for techies, WrkRiots tale has exploded into one of the most popular threads, attracting more than 500 comments, including one from a poster who said that the startups experience was pretty much a rite of passage here. Tech blogs have also seized upon the tale; one called it one of the ugliest startup stories weve ever heard.

Penny Kim, the former head of marketing at WrkRiot who wrote about her experience at the company, including the forgery allegations, said, Id heard stories about late paychecks or startups failing, but who expects fraud in Silicon Valley?

WrkRiot terminated Kims employment in mid-August after she filed a wage claim. She has since filed a retaliation complaint against the company and moved to Dallas, where she previously lived.

In an interview last week, Choi, 35, said Santa Claras WrkRiot was like any company. If you want to talk startups, all startups have problems. When asked about the forgery claims, Choi said that Kim was a disgruntled employee who was fired for cause and that the accusations were unfair to my guys.

Chois credibility is on the line. As he built WrkRiot, the entrepreneur said that he had graduated from the Stern School of Business at New York University and that he had worked at JPMorgan for nearly four years as an analyst. NYU and JPMorgan both said they had no record of Choi. At least one company listed on his LinkedIn profile could not be found.

Choi, whose LinkedIn profile has since been wiped clean, did not respond to questions about his resume. His lawyer, Bernard Fishman, said he was not aware of the allegations against WrkRiot until contacted by the New York Times.

Choi set up his startup in June 2015 under the name 1For.One, with a mission of helping people find the perfect job online. He brought in advisers with expertise in recruiting and data science and eventually hired nearly 20 people, including Chinese citizens under work visas.

The company later changed its name to JobSonic, with a tagline, Finally, a lightning fast job platform that cares. Eventually, the startup settled on the vowel-challenged name of WrkRiot.

Choi said that the company had not raised any money from venture capital firms but that he had a bunch of private investors who are high-net-worth individuals who believe in the company. He said one investor was related to him and one was not, but he would not say how much money the company had.

WrkRiots former chief technology officer and co-founder, Al Brown, said Choi had intended to put $2 million of his own money into the company but that only $400,000 had materialized.

I did not find out till the beginning of August that the money for the last payroll came from one of the employees, Brown wrote in online comments.

In Kims post about her experience at the company, which she did not initially identify but later confirmed was WrkRiot, she wrote that the startup, without consulting her, had hired someone who would report to her, did not plan ahead on its business  and had no idea what its business really was  and was repeatedly turned down by investors. The CEO, later identified as Choi, also borrowed money from employees, she said.

Nothing about that startup surprises me anymore and it all seems like a horrible nightmare I was lucky enough to wake up from, she wrote.

Since Kims disclosures, others have told her they too were shortchanged by startups. Michelle Young, the founder of the online travel guide Untapped Cities, contacted Kim to tell her about an unnamed startup that had bought ad space from her company  but had then stopped paying.

Young was eventually offered $40,000 in guaranteed business by the startup if she agreed to a nondisparagement clause. She did not sign and is still waiting for some of the money she is owed.

At some point the checks stopped coming, said Young. There were warning signs. Offers that seemed too good to be true.

After Kims post, several of WrkRiots advisers and former employees moved to distance themselves from the company. Daniel Tunkelang, a former WrkRiot adviser who has worked at LinkedIn and been a consultant at Pinterest, terminated his relationship with the company and wrote in a blog post, I should have gotten to know the company and its leadership better before associating myself with them and lending them my credibility.

At WrkRiot, a handful of the startups remaining 10 or so employees gathered recently to discuss their situation, according to a person who attended the gathering and spoke on the condition of anonymity because he was concerned about retaliation.

A few were hopeful that Choi could save the company. Some of the Chinese employees whose work visas are tied to their employment said their visa extensions are in limbo, partly because WrkRiot had missed a payment to the paycheck-processing company ADP, making it impossible for the government to verify their employment through ADP.

By then, WrkRiot had shut down its website, its Facebook page and its Twitter account. Many of the employees are hunting for other Silicon Valley startup jobs.
Alphabet, the parent company of Google, is dropping its efforts to create a modular smartphone with interchangeable parts, two people briefed on the matter said last week.

The decision to shelve the effort known as Project Ara comes after the company announced plans in May to release an early version of the product for developers in the fall.

Google told partner companies on the project that senior management decided to rethink the undertaking as part of a consolidation of its hardware operations, said one of the people.

A Google spokeswoman declined to comment. Reuters initially reported the move to shutter the project.

Its the latest sign of Googles attempts to bring more financial discipline to a company that had long encouraged ambitious projects without much thought to profitability.

Last year, the company moved to a holding company structure, separating the profitable search advertising business from the money-losing moonshots. By forcing those projects to report losses publicly, the thinking was that it would help to rein in unlimited investment.

The idea of a custom phone generated a lot of excitement, because it offered the promise of extending a products life with replaceable parts, such as a new screen or battery.

But it proved difficult to execute and move beyond prototypes. Google had planned to begin offering the phone in a test program in Puerto Rico last year, but it canceled the release.

The project also suffered from some organizational upheaval. It was part of Google Advanced Technology and Projects, known as ATAP, a group headed by Regina Dugan, the former director of the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency. Dugan left Google to spearhead a similar group at Facebook.

This led many observers to speculate that Project Ara was dead, but Google said at its developers conference in May that it was moving forward with plans to get the modular phone in the hands of customers by 2017.
One of the most outlandish ideas to spring from Silicon Valleys boom was an attempt to disrupt the $200 billion a year U.S. fast-food industry with grilled cheese and soup. The Melt, a San Francisco restaurant chain backed by Sequoia Capital, was designed to combine smartphone ordering and high-tech ovens with a dining experience that evoked warm memories of elementary school lunches.

While the 5-year-old chain now has 20 restaurants in California, Colorado and Texas, nostalgia and new technology hasnt quite offered the competitive edge its backers hoped. In late 2014, it added more standard fast-food fare, like cheeseburgers and fries, to its menu.

Now Jonathan Kaplan, its 47-year-old founder and chief executive officer who previously created the innovative Flip camcorder of the mid 2000s, is leaving the helm of the company. He will be replaced as CEO by Ralph Bower, former head of Pei Wei, P.F. Changs fast-casual brand. Although technology will be an important component of our business, it wont be the reason why people come to the Melt, said Kaplan, who will remain chairman of the board. Ralph is a more conventional restaurant executive who knows how to operate a restaurant chain.

While it attracts long lunch lines at many of its outposts, the Melt was emblematic of a certain kind of Silicon Valley brashness. Startups aim to use technology to revolutionize everything from food delivery to supermarket mayonnaise. Kaplan won the support of top VCs for his fast-food vision after selling Pure Digital Technologies, the company that made the Flip camera, to Cisco Systems in 2009 for $590 million. With the Melt, he raised enough venture capital to open 50 restaurants, or around $25 million, from the same financiers who backed eBay and Airbnb.

But sometimes technology cant change the impetuous whims that govern peoples appetites. Kaplan says he made a few incorrect assumptions with the Melt. The company partnered first with Electrolux, then with Nemco Food Equipment, to modify panini grills to make grilled cheese. It also was among the first chains to introduce ordering on smartphones and to allow customers to pick up their food and leave without waiting in line.

Those innovations were either widely copied or too insignificant to offer an advantage. We originally thought that technology would provide us with an exclusive that would prevent others from making grilled cheese as good or fast or as inexpensively, Kaplan said. The reality is that while it was great, it didnt motivate people to have a grilled cheese.

Burgers and fries have apparently powered the Melts recent growth. Kaplan says sales are now increasing annually by double digits. Its goal is to establish 100 locations and reach $150 million in sales before holding an initial public offering.

Getting there will fall on Bower, who started at the Melt last week. Bower, 53, was previously the U.S. president of Popeyes Louisiana Kitchen before joining P.F. Changs. Meanwhile, Kaplan said he will devote himself to the election of Hillary Clinton, though he is not taking a formal role in the campaign.

Brad Stone is a Bloomberg writer. Email: bstone12@bloomberg.net.
Dean Bowden spent most of his childhood on a wheat farm and cattle ranch outside of Yuma, Colo. He attended UC Berkeley and fell in love with the Bay Area about 40 years ago. Dean is retired from the Vallejo Fire Department after 30 years of service. Hes lived in Novato for 25 years, and he has two daughters and a son.

I purchased my 1948 Hudson several years ago from an elderly man in Coarse Gold, Calif. He was an interesting fellow who had drag raced cars in Australia. He bought the car sight unseen from someone in Saint Louis, Mo., and though the paint was very nice, he soon discovered everything else about the car was a disaster.

He spent quite a bit of time and effort restoring the vehicle, and it came out quite well. The car has a completely rebuilt engine, new brakes, a new rear end and a beautiful mohair interior. The work I did on the vehicle was mostly replacing old weather stripping.

As a child I lived on a ranch in northeastern Colorado. My great-grandfather had purchased a 1948 Hudson, but sadly passed away that same year.

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My great-grandmother did not drive, so every Saturday my grandparents and I would drive 22 miles into town to do our tradin. We would haul butter, eggs and even milk cans in the trunk. After a full day in town, I would curl up in the back dash area as we returned to the ranch. It was like a small bed back there. As I lay there, I would look out the rear window up into the beautiful Colorado night sky and pretend I was in my own space ship. The movie Cars reminded me of those days and inspired me to purchase this car.

This car has some interesting features. The front wheels track quite a bit wider than the rear wheels. This gives the car road ability according to a Hudson ad. I mostly drive it on the country roads in Marin County where I live, and for such a boat, it handles curves very well. It has a 3-speed transmission with overdrive, which you can engage by stepping on a floor button. The car also has electric windshield wipers. Most cars from this era had vacuum wipers, which meant that the faster you drove, the slower they went. The AM radio still works, and the beautiful dashboard clock is correct twice a day.

The cars interior is huge. A family of 10 could probably ride in it comfortably. The interior floors are lower than most cars from this era. This was called the step down feature, creating lots of legroom. The front dashboard is made of rosewood. Its so large that there are two glove boxes, one for the driver and one for the passenger. All of the interior chrome is actually polished stainless steel. They had no worries about saving weight or getting good gas mileage in those days. The car does surprisingly well on gas though, even getting up to 17 mpg on the highway.

My 48 Hudson has been a very fun car for me, and I always enjoy taking it out for a spin out in the Marin countryside. I have taken it as far away as Santa Barbara without any trouble. Wherever I park, it always seems to draw a group of interested people. My good friend, Joe Perry, was attending Syracuse University in 1948. He got a summer job at the Hudson plant in Syracuse, working on the assembly line. He put the windshield wiper motors on this car. They still work after 68 years.

Attention Bay Area drivers

Were looking for submissions to the bi-weekly My Ride feature. We want to know what you drive and why. Send story ideas to cars@sfchronicle.com with the subject line My Ride.
San Francisco Police Department

A San Francisco police officer who interrupted an off-hours jog to tackle an armed robber has received a medal  from his counterparts in Oakland, where the showdown took place.

The Oakland Police Department on Friday awarded its second highest honor, the Silver Star, to Officer Riley Bandy as a recognition of the incident at Lake Merritt on July 8.
Theyre furry and cute and most of the time bring smiles to people who get a glimpse of them in the wild, but southern sea otters in recent weeks have become the target of deadly gunfire that has animal-rights advocates up in arms.

Authorities doubled a reward Friday to $20,000 for information leading to the arrest and conviction of whoever shot and killed three of the marine mammals last month in Santa Cruz County.

We are all just aghast that something like that would happen, said Dave Feliz, manager of the Elkhorn Slough Reserve, a field laboratory for scientific research and estuarine education.

The shooter, or shooters, he said, are breaking the law, and they are killing this animal that is just loved by people.

The California Department of Fish and Wildlife, the Monterey Bay Aquarium and a private donor have joined forces to boost the reward from the $10,000 the federal government put up last week.

The sea otters are protected under the Endangered Species Act, the Marine Mammal Protection Act and California state law.

But since Aug. 12, the bodies of three male southern sea otters have washed up on shore between Santa Cruz Harbor and Seacliff State Beach in Aptos, officials reported. All were killed by gunshots.

Steve Shimek, the executive director of the Otter Project, said shooting ocean animals isnt entirely uncommon, especially when fishermen are having a hard time catching certain fish like sea urchin and abalone  the delicacies of choice for sea otters. He added that some fishermen will deliberately run over otters with their boats to keep them from interfering with their fishing.

Even if a person is angry, it has to take a certain amount more than anger to just start going out and shooting animals, Shimek said. But it also happens with California sea lions. It just happens.

Before the recent rash of fatal shootings, the last time so many sea otters were found shot in rapid succession was in 2013, when three sea otters were found dead at Asilomar State Beach near Monterey, said Mike Harris, a senior environmental scientist for the Department of Fish and Wildlife. Over the past 10 to 15 years, an average of one sea otter has been found shot every year along the California coast, he said.

While Shimek isnt sure whether the recent series of sea otter shootings is linked to fishermen or just obnoxious behavior, he warned that the punishment can be harsh for anyone caught killing one. The maximum fine is $100,000 and possible jail time.

The sea otter population is barely growing, if at all, Shimek said. Every animal is precious, and every animal is needed to help the population survive, so every single type of mortality  especially stupid mortality like this  is harmful to the population as a whole.

Anyone with information regarding the sea otter shootings in Santa Cruz County can call the CalTIP line at (888) 334-2258 or the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service at (650) 876-9078.

Sarah Ravani is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: sravani@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @SarRavani
A convicted robber mistakenly released from San Francisco County Jail turned himself back in Saturday morning after complaining that authorities were trying to make me look like Im a monster.

Victor Rodriguez, who was serving a sentence for robbery and battery, was released Wednesday on a clerical error, said sheriffs spokeswoman Eileen Hirst.

On Thursday, after authorities realized the error and issued a warrant to rearrest Rodriquez, the former inmate called San Francisco TV station KRON to say he planned to surrender and that he had told authorities he should not have been released on Wednesday, but that they insisted he leave the jail.

They made a mistake. Now theyre trying to make me look like Im a monster, Rodriguez said in the TV interview. I told them I dont think Im supposed to get out and they were like, No, you gotta go, and I was like, All right, Ill leave.

Hirst said the error came about after Rodriquez appeared in court Wednesday in connection with two charges of threatening deputies while he was in jail on the robbery and battery charges. One of those threat charges was dismissed, but the other was not. Somehow, Hirst said, the dismissed charge led to a paperwork foul-up in which deputies believed Rodriquez was to be freed.

Were very pleased he turned himself in, Hirst said. Weve been looking for him.

It was not known how Rodriguez spent his three days of freedom before walking into the lobby of the Hall of Justice shortly before 9 a.m. and surrendering.

Steve Rubenstein is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: srubenstein@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @SteveRubeSF
More than 60 ivory figurines pilfered from a San Francisco art gallery remain missing despite police making an arrest, officials said Friday, as they asked for help tracking down the items.

Cameron Ybarra, 26, was charged with burglary in the heist on the 200 block of Jefferson Street at Fishermans Wharf. Employees at the gallery, which wasnt identified, placed the value of the stolen items at more than $210,000.
A 29-year-old Santa Rosa man was taken into custody after a police pursuit, officials said Saturday.

The incident began when police tried and failed to stop the driver after he allegedly sped through a construction zone in Santa Rosa on Friday night, according to a Santa Rosa Police Department statement.

The pursuit stretched into Rohnert Park, then into Sebastopol before the driver headed back into Santa Rosa, where officers there deployed spike strips that punctured several of the vehicles tires, they said.

When the car stopped, the driver allegedly ran into an apartment complex, where he was later found hiding and non-compliant, according to police. Authorities said they sent a police dog to find suspect. During the apprehension he was bitten by the dog.

The suspect, Jose Luis Hernandez Jr., was arrested and then taken to a local hospital where he was treated for minor injuries, police said.

Authorities later determined the car was stolen.

After he was treated at the hospital, Hernandez was booked into county jail on suspicion of felony evading, resisting a police officer, vehicle theft with priors, possession of a stolen vehicle and possession of burglary tools. Authorities also said that he had four outstanding felony probation violation warrants.

Hamed Aleaziz is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: haleaziz@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @haleaziz
KURT ROGERS/SFC

A mans body was found floating in Richardson Bay in Sausalito early Saturday, officials with the Marin County Sheriffs Office said.

Authorities went to the scene after receiving a call at around 8:15 a.m. from a boater who had come across the floating body, said Lt. Doug Pittman, a spokesman for the Sheriffs Office.
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Opponents of Californias new vaccination law, which requires virtually all schoolchildren to be inoculated against contagious diseases, have dropped their lawsuit against the state and said Friday they would not appeal a federal judges ruling allowing the law to be enforced.

Kim Mack Rosenberg, a lawyer for four antivaccine organizations and 17 parents who had challenged the law in San Diego, said they had dismissed their suit this week for strategic reasons, which she did not describe. But she and her colleagues said they werent giving up.

We are in the process of developing another case, which we plan to file shortly, said James Turner, another lawyer for the plaintiffs. He did not say how the new lawsuit would differ from the previous one.

The law, which took effect in the new school year, expands the states previous vaccination requirement by eliminating an exemption based on parents personal beliefs that inoculation is dangerous or didnt conform to their religious beliefs. It was prompted by a measles outbreak in 2014, traced to youngsters at Disneyland who hadnt been vaccinated.

With the law, California became one of three states, along with West Virginia and Mississippi, to require schoolchildren to be vaccinated against illnesses such as measles, mumps, tetanus, rubella and polio, regardless of their parents religious or personal opposition. The only exceptions are for students with doctor-certified medical exemptions and for disabled students in individual education programs.

The law, however, requires parents to provide immunization records only when a student is entering kindergarten or the seventh grade. That means an elementary-school student with a previously approved parental exemption does not need to be vaccinated until the seventh grade, and eighth-graders with a previous exemption can go through high school without vaccinations.

Opponents said 33,000 students whose parents oppose vaccinations were enrolling in either kindergarten or the seventh grade this year and would be expelled for following their beliefs. Their suit claimed violations of religious freedom, free expression and the right to an education.

But U.S. District Judge Dana Sabraw of San Diego ruled Aug. 26 that those claims were outweighed by the states need to protect the health and safety of all students.

Society has a compelling interest in fighting the spread of contagious diseases through mandatory vaccination of school-age children, Sabraw said in denying an injunction against enforcement of the law.

Bob Egelko is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: begelko@sfchronicle.com Twitter @egelko
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When fishing in Northeast Texas, these folks have one common goal: beat a more than 50-year-old world record.

Bubba Bedre's Garzilla Gar Guide Service takes anglers out on the Trinity River hunting for alligator gar and monster turtles. And they have the photos to prove it.

Click through the photos to see what the company has caught on its many trips so far this year.

RELATED: Texas Fishing: Matagorda Bay alligator gar is a real monster

Currently, the world record for alligator gar is a massive 279-pound animal caught in 1951 on the Rio Grande River in Texas, according to International Game Fish Association's online records. The world record also doubles as a Texas record for an alligator gar caught with a rod and reel in freshwater, according to the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department's website.

On the Garzilla Guide's Facebook page, they detail 180-200 pound catches their clients have caught. On the company's website, they write they only offer trophy gar fishing with a rod and reel.

The company did not immediately respond for comment.

RELATED: 12 facts about Texas' river monster  the alligator gar

"We guide strictly for pleasure of enjoying the sport with you," their website reads. "If you are wanting to go after (an) exotic fish but don't want to travel halfway around the world, then look no more. We can take you on (an) adventure you will never forget (right) here on the Trinity River where wild boar, alligator, deer and game run the banks!"

Alligator gars, which live in large rivers, reservoirs, coastal bays and backwater,s can grow up to eight feet long and weigh more than 300 pounds, according to the parks department. They live off of mostly fish but are known to eat birds and mammals, according to the department.

RELATED: Crazy photos of Texas longnose gar stuck in fences that will haunt your dreams

The oldest known alligator gar was at least 95-years-old when it was caught in 2011 in Mississippi, according to the department.

Texan anglers are limited to bagging one alligator gar per day, according to the department.

kbradshaw@express-news.net

Twitter: @kbrad5
1 Panda cubs: A 19-year-old giant panda gave birth to a set of twins Saturday at Zoo Atlanta. The zoo said in a statement that giant panda Lun Lun delivered the twin cubs at 7:20 a.m. and 8:07 a.m. The two are Lun Luns second pair of twins. Lun Lun was artificially inseminated in March. She and 18-year-old male panda Yang Yang have seven offspring together, all resulting from artificial insemination. The pairs first three cubs live at Chinas Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding. Twins Mei Lun and Mei Huan were born in 2013 and live at Zoo Atlanta. Officials expect zoo visitors to be able to see the cubs in December or January.

2 Flood damage: Louisiana Gov. John Bel Edwards says his state suffered more than $8.7 billion in damage from catastrophic flooding in August, and the figure will increase as officials finish assessing damage to roads and other public infrastructure. The governors office released a letter Saturday that Edwards sent to President Obama, asking that Congress this month approve $2 billion in federal aid for Louisiana for housing, economic development and infrastructure. Edwards said damage has been documented to more than 55,000 houses, and the number could double as aid applications and inspections continue. More than 6,000 businesses flooded.
Big urban cities in North America will be transformed by 2030 by artificial intelligence technologies, as self-driving cars, package-delivering robots and surveillance drones become commonplace, according to a new report.

The report, produced by an international panel of artificial intelligence experts convened by Stanford University, takes an in-depth look at how artificial intelligence is already impacting society and how it will continue to evolve over the next 14 years. It is the first report in a planned series of studies looking at artificial intelligence, or AI, that will continue for at least 100 years.

"Until now, most of what is known about AI comes from science fiction books and movies," said Peter Stone, a computer science professor at the University of Texas who chaired the panel that produced the report. "This study provides a realistic foundation to discuss how AI technologies are likely to affect society."

RELATED GALLERY: America's worst designed cities

One of the key takeaways from the report refutes a common depiction of artificial intelligence in Hollywood: It likely won't go rogue any time soon and wipe out society ala Skynet in the Terminator movies.

But humans using artificial intelligence in the wrong way can hurt other humans.

And we do face the likely scenario that the technology is poised to soon replace people in certain kinds of jobs, such as taxi and truck drivers, according to the report.

"However, in many realms, AI will likely replace tasks rather than jobs in the near term, and will also create new kinds of jobs," the report's authors wrote. "But the new jobs that will emerge are harder to imagine in advance than the existing jobs that will likely be lost."

So exactly what is artificial intelligence?

The report's authors concede that it can be difficult to define. In movies, artificial intelligence is most commonly depicted as self-aware robots.

"I think the first thing to understand is that AI is not a thing," Stone said. "That's an important part of this report."

The reality is artificial intelligence is nuanced technology. And it is already woven into our daily lives to the point most of us give it little thought.

For example, computer "vision" is a kind of this technology that drives the kind of video games that give players simulated experiences that appear to mirror the real world.

It's also the kind of technology known as "deep learning" that makes it possible for Siri and other programs to understand what we say and respond.

Similarly, artificial intelligence is at the root of what allows machines like "Watson" the supercomputer to amass knowledge, use reason, and then squarely drub past Jeopardy champions in a game of trivia.

Along those same lines, the U.S. government announced in March that it was awarding a $21 million contract to a team of neuroscientists, mathematicians and computer experts to map a portion of a mouse's brain in hopes of someday teaching a machine to learn as we do. A Baylor College of Medicine neuroscientist is one of three principal investigators in that study.

Between now and 2030, these kinds of artificial intelligence will continue to evolve in new and exciting ways, according to the report.

As cars become better drivers than people, city dwellers will own fewer cars, live further from work, and spend time differently, leading to cities that look vastly different than they do today.

Similarly, special purpose robots will deliver packages, clean offices and enhance security.

It's easy to understand how robots performing those kind of tasks would stoke fears about humans losing jobs to machines.

But Stone said history shows us that advances in technology often creates new jobs when it threatens others.

"Think about the advance of the modern dishwasher," he said. "Obviously, when it came along, some people lost their jobs. But it also resulted in the formation of several companies that make dishwashers that employ many people."

Artificial intelligence could also transform poor communities in coming years.

The report's authors say that by using data mining and machine learning, artificial intelligence is already helping government agencies do things like prevent lead poisoning and distributing food more efficiently. Likewise, drones already are being used for surveillance in border communities.

The latter certainly raises the specter of innocent people being unjustifiably monitored and special care must be given to systematizing human bias and protecting civil liberties, the report's authors say.

That's just one recommendation contained in the report. Others include making sure the government acquires more technical expertise in the artificial intelligence field and continues research that probes issues connected to fairness, security and privacy.

"Currently in the United States, at least 16 separate agencies govern sectors of the economy related to AI technologies," according to the report. "Who is responsible when a self-driven car crashes or an intelligent medical device fails? How can AI applications be prevented from racial discrimination or financial cheating?"
WASHINGTON (AP)  The federal government Friday banned more than a dozen chemicals long-used in antibacterial soaps, saying manufacturers failed to show they are safe and kill germs.

"We have no scientific evidence that they are any better than plain soap and water," said Dr. Janet Woodcock, the Food and Drug Administration' drug center director, in a statement.

Friday's decision primarily targets two once-ubiquitous ingredients  triclosan and triclocarban  that some limited research in animals suggests can interfere with hormone levels and spur drug-resistant bacteria.

The 19 banned chemicals have long been under scrutiny, and a cleaning industry spokesman said most companies have already removed them from their soaps and washes.

The FDA said it will allow companies more time to provide data on three additional chemicals, which are used in most antibacterial soaps sold today.

The agency told manufacturers nearly three years ago that they must show their products are safe and effective. Regulators said Friday that they either did not receive any data from industry supporting a chemical's use, or the data did not meet federal standards for proving safety and effectiveness. In the case of triclosan, regulators said they didn't receive either human or animal studies showing the drug is safe or effective.

"Consumers may think antibacterial washes are more effective at preventing the spread of germs," Woodcock said in a statement. "In fact, some data suggests that antibacterial ingredients may do more harm than good over the long-term."

Most of the research surrounding triclosan's safety involves laboratory animals, including studies in rats that showed changes in testosterone, estrogen and thyroid hormones. Some scientists worry that if it causes such changes in humans it could raise the risk of infertility, early puberty and even cancer  though no connection has been established.

Because the chemicals are known to kill some bacteria, even if they are no better than soap, experts also worry that routine use will help allow drug-resistant germs known a superbugs to emerge that cannot be killed by antibiotics.

FDA division chief Dr. Theresa Michele said these potential risks outweighed the potential benefits of the chemicals, since manufacturers were unable to document any.

The FDA ban comes more than 40 years after Congress asked the agency to evaluate triclosan and dozens of other antiseptic ingredients. Ultimately, the government agreed to publish its findings only after a three-year legal battle with an environmental group, the Natural Resources Defense Council, which accused the FDA of delaying a decision on the safety of triclosan.

"Consumers have waited a long time for this sensible safeguard," said Mae Wu, an attorney with the group.

Wu and others point to research by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention that found triclosan in the urine of three-quarters of Americans tested for various chemicals. However, the agency states on its website out that many chemicals show up in urine without having any effect.

The FDA is now undertaking a sweeping reevaluation of soaps and washes used by consumers and health professionals.

The American Cleaning Institute, a cleaning chemical association, disputed the FDA's findings, saying in a statement "the FDA already has in its hands data that shows the safety and effectiveness of antibacterial soaps."

The group's spokesman said companies are planning to submit data on three chemicals currently used by industry: benzalkonium chloride, benzethonium chloride and chloroxylenol. The FDA delayed making a decision on those chemicals for one year.

The FDA decision does not apply to hand sanitizers, most of which use alcohol rather than antibacterial chemicals.
You dont see many Californians when you look at lists of federal inmates whose sentences President Obama has commuted. The reason is simple: The mandatory minimum sentencing system effectively has allowed federal prosecutors to choose defendants sentences by deciding how to charge them. U.S. attorneys in California have been less heavy-handed than prosecutors in other states.

The feds sometimes can choose whether to charge buyers and sellers for dealing crack cocaine when its still powder  crack commands a longer sentence. Prosecutors can charge defendants for quantities that higher-ups trafficked. They can include past convictions to lengthen a sentence. Or not. Thus, when a jury convicts a drug offender, the charges have already determined the sentence.

On Tuesday, the Obama administration granted presidential commutations to 111 federal inmates  including Oaklands Darryl Lamar Reed, a.k.a. Lil D. So Reed stands out as the rare Californian to win a commutation, as well as an exception to the criteria for Obamas 2014 Clemency Initiative. Then-Deputy U.S. Attorney General James M. Cole explained that inmates applying for a sentence reduction should be nonviolent, low-level offenders without significant ties to large-scale criminal organizations, gangs or cartels.

Former Alameda County prosecutor Russ Giuntini was appalled to see Reeds name on a commutation list. This is not a guy that got caught up in the draconian federal sentencing guidelines, Giuntini wrote in an email. Lil D is the kind of guy the guidelines were made for. He headed the largest dope organization in Oakland, which was responsible for a lot of carnage, was caught red handed processing some 20 kilograms of cocaine into crack  and thus landed in the federal pen.

Reed was only 20 in 1988 when police raided his apartment and found the crack, a handgun and nearly $60,000 in cash. Reed had taken over the extensive drug operation of his uncle, Felix Mitchell, the onetime kingpin who died in federal prison. Reed was no low-level grunt. The Chronicle had reported he was the most powerful crack cocaine gang leader in the East Bay. The feds, however, didnt convict Reed of a violent crime. Ill assume he did not brandish the handgun, so one can argue he was nonviolent. Nor was he convicted for firearms possession. But low level and with no significant ties to gangs? Hardly. In 2010, Reed told the Contra Costa Times he had made millions of dollars dealing drugs.

Reed is not the only high-level offender among the most recent commutees. Four others were convicted of continuing criminal enterprise. Former prosecutor-turned-defense-attorney James Lassart told me, We only used it with the person who was heading the show. By definition, Lassart confirmed, these inmates are not low-level offenders.

Giuntini, who says he voted for Obama twice, wonders, Whos doing due diligence for the president?

The Pardon Attorneys Office would not talk on the record about Reed. Obama has said that he departed from his initial criteria on guns. If an inmate was convicted for firearms possession, but didnt use a gun during a drug deal, for example, he would qualify as nonviolent. Now it seems the administration is focusing on the first criterion alone  that an inmate would have received a substantially lower sentence if convicted of the same offense(s) today. Given changes in federal drug law, Reed probably would not have been sentenced to 35 years if convicted today.

Without this commutation, Reed would be eligible for release in 2019. With it, Reeds release date is Dec. 28  or 21/2 years early. He says he regrets his years peddling dope and has turned away from crime.

The pardon power is the rare power granted in the Constitution that the president can exercise with no check from Congress. Obama can devise whichever criteria he chooses. He is free to depart from his own standards. He can commute or pardon anyone for any federal offense. Thats why modern presidents at least start off using the power sparingly. Obama was absolutely stingy. In his first term, he released only one low-level offender serving a draconian federal sentence. In 2013, he stepped up to the plate when he commuted the sentences of eight crack offenders  six who were serving life terms, including Clarence Aaron, a first-time low-level nonviolent offender sentenced to life in prison. He became comfortable reducing the sentences of little guys who never should have been sentenced to decades behind bars, and that was good. Now hes using this power to release some drug-gang big shots. Why? As Giuntini muttered, these things only happen when people arent running for re-election.

Debra J. Saunders is a San Francisco Chronicle columnist. Email: dsaunders@sfchronicle.com.

Awesome pardon power

Article II, Sect. 2, Clause 1 of the U.S. Constitution states that the president shall have Power to grant Reprieves and Pardons for Offenses against the United States, except in Cases of Impeachment.

A commutation of sentence reduces a sentence, either totally or partially, that is then being served, but it does not change the fact of conviction, imply innocence, or remove civil disabilities that apply to the convicted person as a result of the criminal conviction.

A pardon is an expression of the Presidents forgiveness and ordinarily is granted in recognition of the applicants acceptance of responsibility for the crime and established good conduct after sentence is served.
Margrit Mondavi, the matriarch of the iconic Robert Mondavi Winery and a stalwart patron of the arts in Northern California, died on Friday. She was 91 years old.

If her husband, Robert Mondavi, who died in 2008, deserves credit for revolutionizing Napas wine industry, Ms. Mondavi deserves just as much for transforming the valley into a paradise of cultural sophistication.

Under her direction, Robert Mondavi Winery became something of an artistic hub in the valley, its Summer Music Festival drawing the likes of Ella Fitzgerald, Ray Charles and Tony Bennett and its Great Chefs Cooking School hosting Alice Waters, Daniel Boulud and  most notably  the Mondavis lifelong friend Julia Child, who co-founded with Robert the American Institute for Wine and Food.

She established the Napa Valley Wine Auction in 1981  still one of the two highest-grossing charity wine events in the U.S.  and took a leading role in funding the restoration of the Napa Valley Opera House. Other philanthropic efforts included patronage of the Napa art institution the Oxbow School; launching the now-defunct art and wine museum Copia; and, thanks to a $35 million gift in 2001, endowing a performing arts center and a wine and food science center at UC Davis.

Margrit Kellenberger was born in Appenzell, in northeastern Switzerland, in 1925. During World War II, she met U.S. Army Capt. Philip Biever, who was stationed near the finishing school where she was studying art, at Lake Geneva. They married, and after several military postings around the U.S. moved with their three children to Napa Valley in 1960.

ERIC RISBERG/Associated Press

Ms. Mondavi once recounted to The Chronicle what Napa Valley looked like upon her arrival.

Along the Silverado Trail then, it was all prune trees. And if you picked them yourself it was 5 cents a pound, she said in 2012. It was very rural. A third of the valley was still pastureland. And everything was for sale for about $1,000 an acre. Now planted, its $350,000 an acre. Can you imagine?

Her path soon intersected with the Mondavi family when she volunteered to organize a concert at their Charles Krug Winery, which led to a job as a winery tour guide  the first woman in Napa to hold such a role. I took the job for $2 an hour but gladly wouldve paid them $3, she recalled. But it opened up a whole new world for me.

She never met Robert Mondavi while at Charles Krug, but a few years later, after he had split off from the family business to found his own, eponymous winery, Ms. Mondavi went to work for him  at the encouragement of a former Krug colleague. She became director of public relations for Robert Mondavi Winery.

At the time, Robert Mondavi was married to Marjorie Declusin, his childhood sweetheart and the mother of their three children, Michael, Marcia and Tim. He and Ms. Mondavi entered a long affair, resulting in each obtaining a divorce from their respective spouses in the late 1970s. They married in 1980. (Marjorie died in 1979.)

Patrick Downs/Getty Images

By all accounts, the Mondavis 28-year marriage, which lasted until Roberts death, was a happy one.

An accomplished artist and passionate gourmet, Ms. Mondavi wrote books including Annie and Margrit: Recipes and Stories From the Robert Mondavi Kitchen, with her daughter Annie Roberts, published in 2003. Two others, composed of recipes, watercolor drawings and memoir vignettes, were written with Janet Fletcher: Margrit Mondavis Sketchbook: Reflections on Wine, Food, Art, Family, Romance and Life (2012) and Margrit Mondavis Vignettes: Stories and Recipes from a Life in Wine (2015).

Although Robert Mondavi Winery was sold to Constellation Brands in 2004, Ms. Mondavi continued to serve as the winerys vice president of cultural affairs and curate its art exhibitions. She recently donated $2 million toward the Jan Shrem and Maria Manetti Shrem Museum of Art at UC Davis, slated to open in November.

She is preceded in death by her husband, Robert, who died in 2008. She is survived by her children, Philip Biever, Annie Roberts and Phoebe Holbrook; her six grandchildren, Andrew Biever, Celeste Biever, Quinn Roberts, Nathan Roberts, Sasha Holbrook and Philip Holbrook; and three great-grandchildren, Maeve Roberts, Gemma Roberts and Landon Roberts.

In lieu of flowers, the Mondavi family asks that donations be sent to the Oxbow School, 530 Third St., Napa, CA 94559 or the American Cancer Society, 860 Napa Valley Corporate Way, Suite E, Napa, CA 94558.

Esther Mobley is The San Francisco Chronicles wine, beer and spirits writer. Email: emobley@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @Esther_mobley
NEW DELHI  Bangladesh police in an overnight raid killed a man who allegedly trained the Islamist militants believed to have carried out the July hostage-taking in Dhakas diplomatic quarter that left 20 people dead including 17 foreigners, officials said Saturday.

The raid follows increased international pressure on Bangladesh to crack down on militants who in recent years have staged violent attacks on diplomats, atheists, bloggers and other perceived enemies of Islam. Earlier last week, U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry visited the Sunni-majority South Asian nation and urged authorities to do more in the fight against radicalism.

Details of the Friday night raid in Dhakas Mirpur neighborhood emerged slowly, and authorities only confirmed the killing of the man identified as Murad early Saturday.

Police counter-terrorism chief Monirul Islam said the man was killed in a gunbattle outside of his rented apartment after he had come to collect some belongings.

We had asked the landlord to inform us if the man comes back. He came back last night, and we raided to arrest him, Islam said.

The man opened fire with a pistol on police, and then stabbed two officers with a knife as they surrounded him, Islam said. A third officer suffered bullet wounds, he said.

Islam described the man as a military commander of the banned group Jumatul Mujahedeen Bangladesh, or JMB, who trained fighters for the July 1 attack on the Holey Artisan Bakery in Dhakas Gulshan diplomatic zone, during which many of the foreign hostages were tortured and killed. Islam said the man also trained JMB militants who attacked an Eid congregation outside Dhaka a few days later.

The man used to frequent a militant hideout at Narayanganj district where Tamim Chowdhury, a Bangladeshi-born Canadian and suspected mastermind of the July 1 attack, was killed along with two associates in an Aug. 27 police raid, Islam said. Chowdhury was described in propaganda outlets of the Islamic State group as the head of the groups Bangladesh operations.

The Islamic State claimed responsibility for the attacks, saying the JMB fighters were working on their behalf.
BRATISLAVA, Slovakia  Easing EU fears, a senior Turkish official on Saturday said his country would fully implement its part of a deal meant to keep migrants from Europes shores even if the European Union refuses to abolish visas for Turkish citizens. But he warned that expanded cooperation on migration depended on that demand being met.

The pledge from Europe Minister Omar Celik after his meeting with EU foreign ministers eased immediate concerns that the agreement now crimping the flow of migrants into Europe was in danger.

Celik said his meeting ended with very strong consensus about focusing on the positive agenda and to further enhance the cooperation between Turkey and EU.

Still, the talks yielded no apparent indication of substantial progress on relieving tensions that have worsened in the aftermath of the July coup attempt against President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.

Turkey has instituted a sweeping crackdown against wide segments of society, sharpening anti-terror legislation to include critical journalists, conducting mass arrests and firings from public sector jobs.

The EU sees such moves as contradicting European human rights norms. It says visa-free travel for Turkish citizens is tied to Ankara rolling back its crackdown. With both sides standing firm there had been fears ahead of the meeting that Turkey might retaliate by backing out of the deal committing it to take back migrants from Syria and elsewhere attempting to enter the EU illegally from Turkey.

Celik appeared to banish those concerns. He told journalists that Turkey would continue to implement the deal even if its demands on visa liberalization are not met. At the same time, he warned that without a visa deal, Ankara would not be part of any new arrangement to manage what he said were expectations of a greater migrant influx in the future.

He invoked the security problems inherent in Turkeys borders with Syria and Iraq, saying it is not rational to expect from Turkey to make any change in the anti-terror law as long as radical insurgencies rage in those countries.
ISTANBUL  Turkish tanks have crossed into Syria to the west of a frontier town seized from the Islamic State group last week, in a new phase of an operation aimed at sealing off the last stretch of border controlled by the extremists.

The private Dogan news agency reported at least 20 tanks and five armored personnel carriers crossed at the Turkish border town of Elbeyli, across from the Syrian town of al-Rai. The new incursion is unfolding 34 miles west of Jarablus, where Turkish forces first crossed into Syria ten days ago.

The tanks linked up with Turkish-backed Syrian rebels at al-Rai, who are participating in the operation, dubbed Euphrates Shield. The official Anadolu News Agency said that with this new phase of the operation, the Azaz-Jarablus line is expected to be cleared of terror elements.

Turkish-backed Syrian rebels, meanwhile, said they captured three more villages to the west of Jarablus from the Islamic State group, bringing them within 13 miles of those positioned at al-Rai. The gap is the last remaining stretch of the Syrian border under Islamic State control.

Three rockets fired from Islamic State-held territory in Syria struck the Turkish border town of Kilis, some 19 miles from Elbeyli, according to the Turkish governors office, which said one person was lightly wounded. Dogan says rockets have killed 21 Kilis residents and wounded scores since January.

Turkeys military says its right to self-defense as well as U.N. resolutions to combat the Islamic State group justify its Syria incursions.

Turkey and allied Syrian rebels have also fought U.S.-backed Kurdish forces known as the Peoples Protection Units, or YPG, around Jarablus. Turkey views the YPG as an extension of the Kurdistan Workers Party, or the PKK, which Turkey and its allies consider a terrorist organization.

The U.S. has provided extensive aid and air strikes to the YPG-led Syria Democratic Forces, which have proven to be highly effective against the Islamic State. The Syria Democratic Forces, which also includes Arab fighters, has taking a large swath of territory from the extremists along the border with Turkey and closed in on Raqqa, the de facto capital of the extremist groups self-styled caliphate.
BENGALURU: All you need is your own transport and the secret island of Goa, Chorao will welcome you. The island is accessible by the free ferry from Ribandar or Divar Island. The countryside to the little Chorao village, with its whitewashed village churches and lovely Portuguese homes, all are divine to watch, so pack your back packs and off you to go to this beautiful place. Below are some points which will make you travel as soon as possible! (Credits: holidayiq)

The Largest Island

Chorao Island is the largest island among other 17 islands of Goa. It is a part of the twin river islands of Chorao and Duvar.

Diamond Legend

If mythological tales are to be believed it is said that goddess Yashoda, mother of Lord Krishna once threw away diamonds and those diamonds formed this island.

Historically called 'Chudamani'

The stunning beauty of this island would have made people name this place as 'Chudamani'. In Sanskrit, 'Chudamani' means a "stunning precious stone".

Portuguese colonizers history

Several old houses, catholic churches of the 16th century and dozens of newer Hindu temples will welcome you as soon as you enter this village. The village was first to be conquered by the Portuguese, and most of the population was Christians at that point in time.

Portuguese called it 'Chorao'

The Portuguese noblemen named this island as name 'Ilha dos Fidalgos' meant the 'Island of Noblemen'. They found the island, a pleasurable place to live and hence the name. Dom Joao Nunes de Barreto set up residence in Chorao in 1560, and henceforth it was known as 'Chorao'.

Mangroves

There were beautiful flowers in Chorao which grow in the water and then there are mangroves covering this area, enhancing its beauty.

Salim Ali Bird Sanctuary

The place is a home to Salim Ali Bird Sanctuary, which is the biggest bird sanctuary in Goa. There are over 400 species of migratory and local birds here.

Boat transport

The national park has no roads, so visitors have to hop on a willing fishing boat and explore on their own. The birds in the park include herons, waterfowls, crabs and mudskippers.

Read Also: Intriguing Facts About The Indian City Jodhpur

Tata Tiago Plus Makes its Way to the Market Around November
STATEN ISLAND, N.Y.

-- Despite grey skies and a sketchy weather forecast, the Richmond County Fair geared up for Day One of carnival action. By the looks of families strolling the Historic Richmond Town grounds and gawkers ogling man-and-monkey act "Jerry and Django," the three-day festival seemed off to a good start.

Baking contestants Angela King, Jen Siesto, Virginia Siesto and Lisa Grigliano made their way to the Courthouse second floor to have their cookies, cakes and pies judged. In the kitchen just a few feet away, fair volunteer Louis Maira boiled 100 hot dogs for the hot dog eating contest at 1:40 p.m. moderated by Miss Staten Island 2016 Amanda Rae Davis.

Maira racked up the hot dogs on paper plates and put them along a long table set up on a grandstand.

Bill Licurtis was first to take a seat. He is nine years the hot dog-eating champ at County Fair.

Bill sprinkled water on the dogs.

"I don't want to choke," he explained, adding that he pours more water on as the contest progresses.

"It can get a little disgusting as it goes on," said Bill.

Jackie Oddo, a Wagner College student, took a seat at the table. Next up, Chris Hunt, then Chris Buhta.

"Six hot dogs in two minutes is not bad," emcee Justin Holland of Partners In Sound told the crowd.

The Richmond County Fair is under way until 6 p.m. today (and continues Sunday and Monday from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.). Do you plan on going? Posted by Staten Island Advance on Saturday, September 3, 2016

"What am I getting myself into now? Thank God I didn't eat breakfast," Instagrammed Robert Rose as he sat in front of a half dozen franks.

Jeremiah Guilford was going to Facebook his efforts live.

The seats all filled.

"Here we go with the hot dog eating contest. Three, two, one...go!" said Holland.

Weird Al Yankovic's "Eat It" played over the sound system.

Long story short, Bill won.

Robert Lynch took second place.

Chris, the third place eater, said, "I had good manners. I kept my mouth closed!"

Now, back to the fair.

As zeppole fried and rides spun around, Ed Wiseman, Richmond Town's executive director, said that roving street acts like a fire juggler, a contortionist, stilt-walker and "Jerry and Django" themselves foster a carnival type of affair.

The weather was a pressing matter.

"Right now we're open all three days," said Wiseman. "Obviously safety is priority so it can change. We urge everyone to come out today while it's dry. We're set up and ready, so it's great!"

Results from contests on Saturday, Sept. 3, 2016

QUILT

First prize: Nancy Biggs

Second prize: Margaret Miller

Second prize: Ann Nova Conte

WALL HANGING

First prize: Maryellen Dotti

Second prize: Sue Quadrino

Third prize : Maryellen Dotti

COMMUNITY PROJECT

First prize: MY

SI.QUILTPROJECT

//EVERETT

Second prize: MY

SI.QUILTPROJECT

//EVERETT

KNITTING

First prize: David P. Lacagnina

CROCHETING

First prize: Dorothy Doyle

NEEDLEWORK

First prize: Anita Fein

CROSS STITCH

First prize: Anita Fein

BAKING CONTEST WINNERS

Pies:

No Entry

Cookies:

First prize: Angela King (Italian Chocolate)

Second prize: Lisa Cirigliano (Pumpkin Cookies)

Muffins:

No Entry

Cakes:

First prize: Virginia Siesto (Raspberry Chocolate Fudge)

Second prize: Lisa Cirigliano (Caramel Banana Upside Down Cake)

Brownies:

First prize: Angela King

Baker's Choice:

First prize: Jennifer Siesto (Coconut Cream)

SHOPPING CART SCURRY (Ages 2 -3):

First Place: Shayla Girshman

Second Place: Franklin Tan

Third Place: Herbst Lilly

SHOPPING CART SCURRY (Ages 4-5)

First Place: Jake Ryan

Second Place: Sharon DeVincenzo

Third Place: Andrew Davis

SHOPPING CART SCURRY (Ages 6-7)

First Place: Brendan Trudeau

Second Place: Destiny Velez

Third Place: Brian Magee

SHOPPING CART SCURRY (Ages 8-9)

First Place: Samantha Forcht

Second Place: Nikko Caracciolo

Third Place: Domenic Cercone

HULA HOOP CONTEST (Under 10)

First Place: Samantha Forcht

Second Place: Aaliyah Ann Madyun

Third Place: Haneef Madyun

HULA HOOP CONTEST (Ages 11 -15)

First Place: Abigail Cruz

Second Place: Trinity Jennings

Third Place: JoAnn

O'S

ullivan

HULA HOOP CONTEST (Ages 16 +)

First Place: Trinity Jennings

Second Place: Abigail Cruz

Third Place: Lizeth Padilla Cruz

PHOTOGRAPHY CONTEST WINNERS NATURE (PRINT)

First Place: Dawn Russell

Second Place: Shannon Bayard

Third Place: Megan Burows

S.I. LIFE (PRINT)

First Place: Louis Maira

Second Place: Madison Jones

Third Place: Megan Burows

HUMOROUS BABY (PRINT)

First Place: Linda Ollis

Second Place: Savannah McGuire

AMERICA THE BEAUTIFUL (PRINT)

First Place: John Terzioli

Second Place: Shannon Bayard

PET (PRINT)

First Place: Rebecca Rupp

Second Place: Ralph Giordano

MOST BEAUTIFUL BABY (PRINT)

First Place: Savannah McGuire

Second Place: Nicholas Bayard

Third Place: Dawn Russell

DIGITAL

First Place: Jason Headley -- Cityscape

Second Place: Lisa Cirigliano -- Egg Nest

Third Place: Maxine Wilde -- Shoreline

PIE EATING CONTEST (Kids Under 16)

First Place: Elaine Pollock

Second Place: Maddison Torres

Third Place: Scott Berntsen

PIE EATING CONTEST (Adults)

First Place: Frank Fico

Second Place: Michael Borgese

Third Place: Jeremiah Guilford

POTATO SACK RACE (Ages 5-7)

First Place: Lyndita Kupa

Second Place: Maria Simbiskaya

POTATO SACK RACE (Ages 8-10)

First Place: Ava Rabinovich

Second Place: Arrian Kupa

Third Place: Joey Pignatelli

POTATO SACK RACE (Ages 11-15)

First Place: Danielle Overton

Second Place: Scott Berntsen

Third Place: Julianna Raimonda

POTATO SACK RACE (Ages 16+)

First Place: Daniel Doville

Second Place: Yesenia Doville

Third Place: Ethan Rabinovich

3-LEGGED RACES

(Ages 4-7)

First Place: Ava & Aiden Nieves

(Ages 8-10)

First Place: Joey & Nicky Pignatelli

Second Place: Arrian & Lyndita Kupa

(Ages 11-15)

First Place: Francis Rivera & Jenevy Rivera

(Adult & Child)

First Place: Ariella & Ava Nieves

Second Place: Nicky & Joey Pignatelli

Third Place: Danielle & John Overton

WATER BALLOON TOSS (All Ages)

First Place: Scott Berntsen and John Raimonda

Second Place: Julianna Raimonda & Allison Jennings

Third Place: Rosa Maya & Jose Diaz
nws missing

Nestor Montero, 27, was last seen on Friday, September 2 at approximately 9:00 a.m. on Trumbell Place. (Photo courtesy of DCPI)

Nestor Montero, 27, was last seen on Friday, September 2 at approximately 9:00 a.m. on Trumbell Place. (Photo courtesy of DCPI)

STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- The NYPD is asking for the public's help locating a missing 27-year-old Tompkinsville man.

Nestor Montero, 27, was last seen on Friday, Sept. 2 at approximately 9:00 a.m. inside his home on Trumbull Place, according to a statement from the Deputy Commissioner of Public Information.

Montero is described as a black male, 5-foot-6, 200 pounds, with brown eyes and black hair, according to the statement. He was last seen wearing a blue t-shirt and blue shorts.

Anyone with information in regards to this incident is asked to call the NYPD's Crime Stoppers Hotline at 1-800-577-TIPS (8477) or for Spanish, 1-888-57-PISTA (74782). The public can also submit their tips by logging onto the Crime stoppers website at WWW.NYPDCRIMESTOPPERS.COM or by texting their tips to 274637 (CRIMES) then enter TIP577. All calls are strictly confidential.
STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- Tropical Storm Hermine was upgraded from a watch advisory to a warning this afternoon, according to the National Weather Service.

The storm gained strength as it moved into the Atlantic Ocean Saturday and is expected to get even stronger as it hits land from Sunday to Monday.

Significant storm surge with moderate to major coastal flooding is possible during high tide starting Sunday. The Weather Service is calling for a dangerous, rough surf and life-threatening rip current risks expected through the weekend and early next week.

Rainfall increased from approximately one inch to two inches, dependent on the track of the storm. If the storm tracks farther north, more rainfall may be possible.

Here are some potential impacts according to the National Weather Service:

SURGE

Possible damage to several buildings, mainly near the coast. Flood control systems and barriers may become stressed and roads may be flooded.

Major beach erosion with heavy surf breaching dunes are expected.

Possible moderate damage to marinas, docks, boardwalks and piers.

FLOODING RAIN

Impacts are limited to typical nuisance flooding, but will depend on exact track of Hermine.

If the storm shifts slightly north, higher rainfall may occur.

WIND

Possible damage to roofing and siding materials and damage to outdoor furniture and storage.

Possible large trees can snap or become uprooted.

Fences and roadways signs may be blown over.

Some roads may be impassable caused by large debris.

Possible scattered power and communication outages.

According to the NYC Office of Emergency Management, they are asking residents to prepare for possible flooding. If you live in a flood-susceptible area, check your insurance and have appropriate materials to protect your home.

Charge your cellphones and other appliances in case of a power outage.

To prepare for the storm and to figure out if you're in a flood zone, visit NYC's Emergency Management's website.
By PTI: From Anisur Rahman

Dhaka, Sep 3 (PTI) At least ten persons, including a woman, have been injured in Bangladesh when a clash erupted between Hindus at an Iskon temple and Muslim devotees from a nearby mosque, forcing police to fire blank shots to disperse them.

The clash took place after Friday prayers when Muslim devotees went to the temple to request the authorities to stop playing the devotional songs that were being played on occasion of Kirtan at the temple, said Sylhet Metropolitan Police Additional Commissioner SM Rokan Uddin.

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"Muslim devotees went to the temple before the Jumma prayers and had requested the temple authorities to stop the devotional songs while the prayers are held. However, when the songs were not stopped, the devotees went there again and locked in an altercation," Uddin said.

At one point, both groups started hurling bricks at one another leaving ten people injured, he added.

On being alerted, police rushed to the spot and fired several blank shots to disperse the crowds.

An eyewitness said banners at the entrance of the temple were torn up during the clash.

When contacted, Iskcon temple Principal Gaurango Brahmachari said: "Sylhet Divisional Commissioner Jamal Uddin Ahmad is visiting the spot and this is why I am unable to make any comment at this moment".

But he said the temple authorities were considering filing a case in this matter.

"We were attacked and we want justice. Until justice is done, we will keep protesting," he said.

Former ward councillor Jebunnahar Shirin and International Society for Krishna Consciousness (Iskcon) temple employee Rajendra Keshob Das were injured in the clash. PTI UZM AKJ UZM

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Centenarian Rena McCawley learnt photography at her father's knee and, on reflecting on her life spent in and out of dark rooms, remains in awe of the power of images.

In a fortnight's time, she will launch a photographic retrospective featuring portraits of her family leaving pre-revolutionary Russia, groovy bridal portraits she took of women in wedding day hot pants and striking shots of Australian icons such as Gough Whitlam and Germaine Greer.

100-year-old Canberran Rena McCawley is preparing for her solo photography exhibition. Credit:Elesa Kurtz

While sitting among the stills prepared for the show, she said each took her back to various chapters of her life.

"I'm a bit overcome by it all," Mrs McCawley said. "I wouldn't have thought there was a story there but looking through all the images really stirs up memories."
Addressing the media, Deputy Commissioner of Police, Vikramjeet Singh said, "We arrested him on the basis of evidence. He was on his way to surrender when we arrested him. He will soon be produced in the court."

By Shashank Shekhar: Sacked Delhi minister Sandeep Kumar raped her after slipping sedatives into her drink and there was nothing "consensual" about the activities recorded in a "sex tape" that he features in, a woman seen in the CD told police on Saturday.

Authorities arrested Kumar while AAP suspended him from the party days after Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal removed the scandal-hit lawmaker from the Cabinet.

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The development comes amid a raging controversy over the disk which has a video and photographs purportedly showing the Sultanpur Majra MLA in a compromising position with two women.



HE SPIKED MY DRINK, RAPED ME: VICTIM

"I used to live in G-block and wanted a ration card for myself," said the woman who approached the police and was taken for a medical test.

"While passing by I met Kumar and requested him for help in getting it made. I went to his residence to get a ration card issued. He offered me a soft drink which was spiked with sedatives. I fell unconscious after which he sexually exploited me."

Chief Minister Kejriwal tweeted that Kumar should be given "exemplary punishment" if the charges are proven.

"If woman's allegations are correct, this is v serious. Strongest exemplary punishment shud be given to Sandeep (sic)," tweeted the AAP convener who is in Vatican City for Mother Teresa's canonisation on September 4.

According to the complainant, the tape was made after Kumar became a minister. He was heading the city's woman and child development, social welfare and SC/ST departments.

SANDEEP WILL BE PRODUCED IN COURT: COPS

"Sandeep Kumar was on his way to the DCP office (to surrender) when we arrested him. He has been arrested on evidence collected. He will now be produced in court," said Vikramjeet Singh, DCP of outer Delhi.

The woman said the incident took place a year ago and she did not know a video was being recorded.

"During the meeting Sandeep Kumar promised me a job," she said in the complaint. "I wasn't aware of the video recording. I want action against him. I am a poor woman and because of him my image has been sullied. I want my identity not to be disclosed as I have little children." The victim said after the incident she was scared to discuss it with anyone or confront Kumar, fearing that he would rape her again.

SANDEEP IS A ROTTEN FISH: KEJRIWAL

Commenting on Kumar's actions, Kejriwal had said that his former Cabinet colleague had betrayed the party and the people of Delhi, while terming him a "rotten fish".

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The legislator, however, has denied the allegations, claiming the tape was fabricated and he was being targeted for being a Dalit.

"I come from a poor family. The poor are always trapped. Every time we rise, there are conspiracies to crush us. I am being targeted because I have set up a statue of Babasaheb Ambedkar in my house. I am ready for every agni-pariksha (trial by fire)," the 34-yearold MLA told the media.

The woman's statement was recorded before a magistrate under Section 164 of CrPC. Kumar was booked on charges of rape, transmission of material containing sexually explicit act and taking illegal gratification.

The Delhi Police's crime branch has initiated an investigation to determine the authenticity of the CD.

Before the woman approached authorities, the party appeared divided on action against him.

AAP DISTANCES ITSELF FROM ASHUTOSH'S REMARKS

AAP leader Ashutosh had said in a blog that the legislator's "consensual act" was not wrong and his sacking from the Cabinet was aimed at "perception management".

He also wrote that the row over the video exposes the "hypocrisy of the society and hollowness of the media" and wondered why the seemingly obvious "consensual act" should create ripples in the media and politics.

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Reacting to this, Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia said, "Ashutosh's opinion could be his own, but the whole party is very clear on it."

Kejriwal had said that he would prefer to forfeit his party but never tolerate corruption and wrongful activities, as AAP does not believe in hiding flaws of its members.



Also read:

Sex CD case: Had gone to Sandeep Kumar for ration card, says woman in video



WATCH:

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New dad Sebastian Zwalf has learnt very early on that parenting is about adapting to the unexpected.

He and partner Julia Woods were delighted their baby daughter Eva Maree decided to arrive three days early  a gorgeous Father's Day gift.

New parents Sebastian Zwalf and Julia Woods with baby Eva Maree born September 2nd. Photo Elesa Kurtz Credit:Elesa Kurtz

Cradling all seven pounds and three ounces of his baby girl and watching her grasp his hand Mr Zwalf said he was ecstatic to become a father.

"It seemed entirely academic until we had five minutes to go in the birth," he said.
The next serious infection Matt Taylor gets will probably kill him.

Rejected for a lung transplant last month, Mr Taylor will spend the time he has left with his wife Mallie doing what they can to ensure other couples do not have to share a similar story.

After being denied a lung transplant, Matt Taylor and wife Mallie will spending his remaining time travelling Australia and taking photographs of other people in need of donations to highlight the shortage. Credit:Elesa Kurtz

As photographers, the pair will criss-cross the country, blogging about and taking pro bono family portraits for people either in their situation or on the 1600-strong waiting list for a life-saving organ donation.

The end goal of their project is to bring about legislative change from the donation regime they believe is keeping the waiting list high.
Australia may have come 10th in the Rio medal tally, but two Narrabundah College students helped secure the country's first victory in another type of olympiad last month.

Claire Yung and Deepan Kumar made up half the country's team at the International Geography Olympiad in Beijing, helping lead Australia to victory as the best national team.

Claire Yung and Deepan Kumar were part of Australia's winning team at the International Geography Olympiad in Beijing. Credit:Jay Cronan

They returned to school to a hero's welcome this week after edging out multiple first-place winners Singapore and 44 other countries to claim the title, something Claire found to be a "complete surprise".

"I didn't have such high expectations for us, so it was quite a pleasant surprise when we won," she said.
Canberra's smokers are being urged to join a national campaign to quit the coffin nails at the end of month.

The campaign, run by the Lung Foundation, aims to help people around Australia quit smoking, and the ACT branch of the Pharmacy Guild is getting behind it.

Canberrans are being urged to quit smoking as part of a Lung Foundation campaign this October.

Some 290 pharmacists across Canberra have recently completed training in "smoking cessation counselling" with University of New South Wales tobacco treatment specialist Associate Professor Colin Mendelsohn and Cancer Council ACT.

ACT Guild branch president Amanda Galbraith said pharmacists could help people develop a personalised quitting plan, including 'pharmacotherapy' - or products designed to ease withdrawal symptoms during the quitting process.
Labor Senator Katy Gallagher has called the Canberra Liberals' plans to build two new public hospitals at Gungahlin and Tuggeranong "laughable" and said they would put lives at risk.

In a rare foray back into ACT politics, the territory's longest-serving health minister said the $118 million plan was contrary to advise she had received around 2008 when looking at the best hospital locations.

An artist's impression of the local public hospital in Tuggeranong, as proposed by the Canberra Liberals. Another would be built in Gungahlin.

"That work came back and showed very clearly a city of our size could only sustain two hospitals from a staffing point of view but also from a patient safety point of view," she said.

"The idea that you could staff four emergency departments, complete presumably with operating theatres, intensive care units, 24 hours a day seven days a week for a population our size is laughable, and at the time the AMA were very opposed to any further fragmenting of the health system."
Corrections Minister Shane Rattenbury has promised a full internal review as two men remain at large after the first successful escape from Canberra's jail.

ACT and NSW police are conducting a search for Jacob MacDonald, 21, and Patrick McCurley, 28, who were both being held on remand, after they escaped from the Alexander Maconochie Centre on Friday night, police said.

Prisoners Jacob McDonald andA Patrick McCurley

ACT Policing is seeking the public's assistance to locate the men who were last seen within the AMC about 11.15pm, with a "whole of ACT" search extending across the NSW border, a spokeswoman said.

It is the first successful escape from the AMC since it began taking prisoners in March 2009.
Seeking the trade certificate, Mr Barclay made an inquiry with Get Qualified Australia Pty Ltd, a consultancy that matches jobseekers with registered training organisations that can issue qualifications for a range of industries, such as construction, business or beauty.

The 39-year-old painter was applying for a new job in November last year, when he was informed he would need his 10 years' experience formally recognised by a Certificate III in Painting and Decorating.

It has been eight months since David Barclay was able to work as a painter after his experience with an education consultancy group left him out of pocket and without the qualifications he needed.

The company, which describes itself as "Australia's leading Skills Recognition & Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) Specialist," has been the subject of a successful freezing order brought against it by the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission pending possible legal action.

David Barclay at work. Credit:iPhotocommercial/Craig Burrow

"I would never touch an RPL process again...I would have to be crazy," Mr Barclay told Fairfax Media, after first dealing with Get Qualified Australia in November last year.

"After my first inquiry, Get Qualified called and texted me every day for two weeks, they seemed so intent on selling me something," Mr Barclay said.



"They told me there would be a fee of around $2500 for the certificate, and my experience made me eligible. But after I had already paid $1300 I found out I was not actually eligible for the certificate. They never should have issued it to me."

Mr Barclay has since been battling to obtain a refund from Get Qualified Australia, who he said "insists" the only way forward is to continue paying his account and claim the certificate, for which he is not qualified.
For myself and fellow volunteers from RESULTS Canberra, this year's Canberra Times Fun Run is more than just a walk in the park.

We are not only celebrating Father's Day and donating to local charities but racing to see another 8 million lives saved and 300 million infections from deadly epidemics averted worldwide.

The Canberra Times fun run is on Sunday and many participants will use the opportunity to raise awareness and funds for important causes. Credit:Jamila Toderas

One of the deadlines in that effort is September 16, 2016, when world leaders will gather in Montreal to make their financial pledges to the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, tuberculosis, and malaria.

The Global Fund, a partnership between the private sector, world governments and communities in need, has achieved transformational change in global health few would have thought possible 15 years ago.
The harrowing story of Matt Taylor and the loss of his last chance to continue his life is another reminder of the importance of organ donation.

The news he received recently that the lungs he was hoping for would go to someone with a better chance of life, thus condemning him, would be a reason to give up for most people.

But he and wife Mallie's decision to travel the country and raise awareness of the issue in the little life he has left so others don't have to go through it is truly commendable.

The goal they are pursuing is one familiar to many campaigners in the organ donation space and that is not only to encourage more donations, but also to change the legislation to help that happen.
A lesson in history Mark Kenny should stick to covering the antics of parliamentary question time. He's good at that. What he is not so good at is 20th century history, which he appears to get from the back of his cereal boxes ("Politics a fertile field for beat-ups", August 28, p19). This is evident when he says that after Joseph Goebbels arrived in Berlin in 1927 he focused on "ratcheting up the resentments of workers". Kenny might like to reflect upon the fact that with the destruction of the German economy in the 1920s, and the strong perception that the liberal government of the Weimar republic had betrayed German working people, there was not much "ratcheting" for Goebbels to do. Extremism on the left and right of German politics was the outgrowth of resentments arising from profoundly shocking realities, including mass starvation, not the confected creation of Nazi propaganda.

Curiously, Kenny notes that Goebbels held the first Nazi rally in the very same region as the rallies held by the communists. He says this implying that Goebbels' decision to hold the rally there was somehow an illegitimate provocation to the Bolshevik-inspired and funded communist revolutionaries. According to Kenny, the naughty Goebbels even conspired to create physical confrontation with the cuddly communists. From his sheltered perspective at the press gallery, it is perhaps no surprise that Kenny does not comprehend the existential threat that communism represented to Germany in the 1920s but there are history books. He should try reading them. Greg Ellis, Murrumbateman, NSW May she succeed What a sweet irony that British Prime Minister Theresa May, the Iron Lady's successor, is determined to examine the "difficult truth" by "shining a light on injustices as never before" ("Britain to examine whites' plight", August 28, p16).

Stating she wants to "make this country work for everyone, not just a privileged few", will have establishment figures running for cover and busying themselves with schemes to have her thrown in the Tower, as a traitor to the cause. Since Thatcher, and her merry billionaire neocon lackeys, the city (London's offshore, tax-evading privileged, untouchable corporations) financiers have become bloated on their exponentially appropriated wealth, principally at the expense of the great unwashed masses, from whose labours their wealth has grown. Never has the thought crossed their minds that they should perhaps render to Caesar a little of their ill-gotten gains, by way of taxes. The criminal justice system fills the role of protecting the oligarchs' booty, as is well illustrated by the outcome of Northern Rock collapse and the Royal Bank of Scotland debacle, with debts of 24.1billion. RBS chief Fred Goodwin, whose 2008 base salary was 1.3million, refused, even when leant on by Gordon Brown, to forgo some of his benefits. Subsequently, he and his henchmen escaped any censure. One has to wish Theresa May luck in attempting the Herculean task of cleaning this Augean stable, and returning some of the plutocrats' ill-appropriated plunder to the lumpenproletariat.

Albert M. White, Queanbeyan River corridor at risk The ACT government has said the development to the west of Tuggeranong's retail and employment hub would "breathe new life into the town centre and help stimulate urban renewal in the area". While this sounds good, the proposed development of a new suburb is within the Murrumbidgee River corridor. Any development here would be at odds with the National Capital Open Space System, which is designed to protect and enhance the environmental quality, landscape setting and the natural and cultural resources of the river corridor. It is to be conserved as an important national resource and a key open space element, which provides a definable edge to developed urban areas. The policy states that it will be protected from urban encroachment and inappropriate development.

So, with the ability to breathe new life into the Tuggeranong Town Centre achievable by implementing the recommendations of the 2012 Tuggeranong Town Centre Master Plan, where is the justification for the radical policy change to now urbanise the river corridor? Andrew Worel, Monash Health service decline I have just received two medical reports from appointments four months ago ... after multiple follow-ups by my GP. Both reports relate to debilitating, degenerative conditions, and both recommend additional treatment. I struggle with severe pain and try to avoid reliance on opiates. Previously, I strongly supported our public healthcare system as it has saved my life. But I notice a significant cliff-fall in services provided.
By India Today Web Desk: Akshay Kumar and Huma Qureshi had been shooting in Lucknow for Jolly LLB 2. The Rustom actor is finally done with shooting in the city. He tweeted a picture of himself from the shooting location with the caption: "About 2 give d last shot of my lucky Lucknow schedule of #JollyLLB2!What a place & experience,leaving with a heavy <3 (sic)".



About 2 give d last shot of my lucky Lucknow schedule of #JollyLLB2!What a place & experience,leaving with a heavy?? pic.twitter.com/DCT47rI6vj Akshay Kumar (@akshaykumar) September 3, 2016

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Akshay Kumar, fresh off the success of Rustom, is taking over the titular role from Arshad Warsi who had starred as lawyer Jolly in the 2013 film. The film was critically acclaimed and became a sleeper hit. The sequel set to release next year is also being directed by the first film's director Subhash Kapoor.

ALSO READ: Akshay Kumar and Huma Qureshi shoot for Jolly LLB 2 in Lucknow

ALSO READ: Akshay Kumar and Huma Qureshi send royal greetings from Lucknow



Arshad Warsi recently joked about swapping roles at the launch of the sequel of Anees Bazmee's Aankhen 2. He said he and Akshay Kumar had 'planned it long back in childhood.' He was referring to himself replacing Akshay Kumar in Aankhen 2, while Akshay replaced him in Jolly LLB 2.

In Jolly LLB 2, Akshay Kumar will don the garb of a lawyer for the first time in his career. He will be locking horns with a rival lawyer being played by Annu Kapoor in the social courtroom 'dramedy'. The film is being backed by Fox Star Studios, and is expected to release on February 10, 2017.



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The total number of tax havens isn't known, but it is estimated they are holding between $US21 and $US70 trillion on behalf of high-wealth individuals. In his 2015 book, The Hidden Wealth of Nations, economist Gabriel Zucman calculated that 8 per cent of the financial wealth of households, or $US7.6 trillion, is held in tax havens, and that the hidden money causes a loss to global tax revenues of $US200 billion a year.

Panama has been known as a tax haven for more than half a century  one of at least 70 tax havens throughout the world, including the British Virgin Islands, Gibraltar, Jersey, the Seychelles, the Isle of Man, a number of ex-British Commonwealth countries, and Delaware in the United States.

The 11.5 million pages recently released in the first tranche of what have become known as the Panama Papers revealed truly shocking global tax avoidance and tax evasion  but they dealt with the behaviour of wealthy individuals and their tax advisers. They did not deal with similar behaviour by multinational corporations and their very highly paid tax advisers. The latter is a much bigger problem.

Until the Panama Papers, governments had turned a blind eye to their existence and function, taking care not to press the havens to obtain information about the identity of account-holders.

The Panama Papers were exposed by an unprecedented leak from an unknown source to the German newspaper Suddeutsche Zeitung, which went on to share them with the International Consortium of Investigative Journalists. The documents came from the database of the world's fourth biggest offshore law firm, Mossack Fonseca, which acts for 300,000 companies  more than half of which are registered in British tax havens, as well as in the United Kingdom. It is the worldwide revelation of the beneficial owners of those offshore companies  including many wealthy and highly placed people in a number of countries  that has led governments to start working out what actions they can or should take against their citizens and the tax havens they use.

Transfer pricing is a completely different matter. This technique, developed by multinational corporations, has been out in the open for at least the last 25 years, with more and more devastating consequences for governments and their citizens around the world. The multinationals have perfected the practice of selling to their global affiliates at prices that would send the affiliates bankrupt if they were left on their own, trying to recover their inflated import costs in the marketplace.

The affiliates survive only because the banks of the world lend them money based on surety letters from their parent companies or regional head offices. This process has allowed multinational firms to dominate the markets for goods and services in around 180 countries, or to operate without permanent establishments and to have no tax obligations anywhere. This trick relates principally to internet operators such as Google, Amazon and Apple and to "sharing economy" companies such as Uber and Airbnb.

There are approximately 500 multinational companies in existence, who control about 60 per cent of world trade, and whose brand names are familiar to the media and the population. Most of the world's major economies are members of the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development, and have participated in its major meetings in Paris over the last two years, where the core problems caused by transfer pricing have been clearly expressed and discussed. As a result, the governments of many major economies have recently subscribed to a level of mutual tax co-operation that has never been previously known.
On Thursday morning, a woman whose name will mean nothing to you stepped over the threshold of Parliament House for the first time. Her arrival occasioned very little interest, aside from the slight challenge posed to Parliament's rigorous security guidelines by the fact that she carried no identification, and signed her admission form with an "X".

But of all the elaborate characters who gathered under that famous coathanger last week as the 45th Parliament roared into life, Nolia Napangarti-Ward has had by far the most extraordinary life.

Back in 1984, as Parliament House was being built, Nolia and her mother and siblings walked out of the Gibson Desert, where Nolia had spent her whole life completely unaware of white settlement.

She and her family made headlines globally as "The Pintupi Nine", or the "Lost Tribe", though they made it clear with great patience that they were not lost at all; indeed, they had been at home the whole time.
The slow-rising sun casts an orange glow over the tranquil waters of the Merimbula lake, encumbered only by oyster leases and hungry seabirds.

While it might seem like paradise, under the surface there are issues brewing.

Filmmaker Kim Beamish has set his sights on the Merimbula oyster industry for his next documentary.

Every six weeks internationally-renowned filmmaker Kim Beamish travels from Canberra to the far south coastal haven of Merimbula to document the lives of a young family of oyster farmers.

Oysters from Merimbula are a delicacy, often seen on the menu in fine restaurants across the south-eastern seaboard, but an invisible problem has growers concerned.
The Turnbull government should make saving the Great Barrier Reef "an absolute priority", and green groups should be able to use existing laws to protect the environment, new polling has found.

The ReachTEL survey of 2636 respondents commissioned by the Australian Conservation Foundation found broadbased backing for the reef and the use of the courts to challenge new mines, even among self-described as Liberal-National Party supporters.

The poll was taken Tuesday, a day after an ACF challenge failed in the Federal Court against the federal government's approval of the giant Adani coal mine in Queensland. Some conservative politicians have accused green groups of using "lawfare" to delay major projects by testing approvals in court.

Some 83 per cent of polled Coalition supporters, for instance, agreed with comments by Josh Frydenberg, the environment and energy minister, that protecting the reef was "an absolute priority". That tally was close to the 86 per cent of all respondents who "strongly agreed" or "agreed" with the statement.
Chinese bombers will be able to strike Australia from new artificial islands in the South China Sea as part of a major military modernisation that has also prompted calls for Australia to develop a ballistic missile shield.

Chinese H-6K long-range bombers can more easily target bases in the Northern Territory and even installations such as Pine Gap and Harold E. Holt naval communications station outside Exmouth by flying from 3000-metre runways being built in the Spratly Islands, senior analysts warn.

Fears will be heightened further after Chinese air force chief Ma Xiaotian announced on Friday China is developing a long-range bomber that will improve its ability to strike far from home.

Former national security adviser Andrew Shearer said China's rapidly improving ballistic missiles bolstered the case for Australia to "get much more serious" about missile defence, including a land-based shield similar to US Patriot missiles or the high-altitude systems being used by Japan and South Korea.
Theresa May is to open talks on a landmark new free trade deal with Australia, as she declares Britain will lead the world in global commerce outside the EU.

Mrs May will meet Australian PM Malcolm Turnbull at the G20 summit in China on Monday to shape the broad outline of what would be Britain's first new trade pact after Brexit.

She is expected to explore further trade opportunities in talks with President Obama and Narendra Modi, the Indian prime minister, during the two-day gathering of world leaders. She will also meet Xi Jinping, the Chinese president, for the first time, and will attempt to soothe relations with her hosts, which were damaged after her decision to pause the Chinese-backed Hinkley Point nuclear power plant project.

Mrs May insisted it was "a golden era for UK-China relations", echoing the choreographed rhetoric from Mr Xi's state visit to Britain last year.
Gary Packer has a rare form of lung cancer and he's going to die.

The only question is will he spend his final years working, travelling with his family and playing with his young granddaughter Mackenzie? Or will he spend them sick and bed-ridden, his body battered by chemotherapy and radiation?

The first option just became a little more likely as a result of a Turnbull government decision to give Australians with rare cancers and other fatal diseases early access to experimental drugs as part of major changes to the medical approvals system.

"My instant response is that's bloody wonderful. It's a marvellous result," says Mr Packer.
Thomas Brown wants to work in development and "Indonesia is a great place for Australians to get a start in development". Under the Kuliah Kerja Nyata (field study service) program, domestic university students have to complete community service work. International students studying development often choose to take part as well. This led Brown to his most challenging experience yet  Indonesian village life.  "Living in a village was really hard for me," he says. Firstly there was the language barrier. Despite intensive Bahasa Indonesia lessons Brown turned up for his community service in the province of Java only to find everyone speaking the local language  Javanese  a completely different language. (Bahasa Indonesia is spoken in the national capital Jakarta but there are more than 300 languages and dialects spoken across Indonesia's islands.) "There was seven of us and we lived in the head of the village's house, four boys in one room and three girls in the other room. It was really hot and were sharing a bathroom (with a squat not Western toilet) with 20 other people  it was not without its challenges," he says.

But village life gave Brown an important insight into the process of implementing aid programs and getting things done in Indonesia. "To see how much bureaucracy there is, even at a basic village level, you have to have meetings and there has to be a process  it's such a good experience to know that when you're trying to implement something how hard it can be even at that micro level," he says. "When I went back to Australia and I was in development classes I realised this is actually something a lot of people haven't seen for themselves." It's a far cry from what Rebecca Lawrence's friends think she's up to while abroad. "My friends would think I was in Bali the whole time and walking around in a bikini and drinking.It's a majority Muslim country  these are the two things you don't do," she laughs. Lawrence's grasp of local life is the sort of cultural insight the New Colombo policy is aimed at generating as Australia looks to deepen its trade, economic and services links with Asia. To date, 10,000 students have been supported to study in 32 countries including Mongolia, India and the Cook Islands.

There are basic life skills to learn: finding a boarding house (or kosan) to live in, buying water, electricity and Wi-Fi, adapting to a formal and respectful dress code in a tropical climate, but the quartet are unanimous in agreeing that life in Indonesia is, for the most part, extremely welcoming  and fun. Lawrence is on her second stay in Indonesia. The first six months was such a "culture shock" that she wanted to come back better prepared to navigate and enjoy Indonesia's complexity. "It's actually a fantastic place, university is challenging and learning the language is hard but you can travel, the cost of living is low and we have a lot of spare time and everyone gets along, everyone is so friendly," she says. All have developed a keen interest in Indonesia, its news and politics and dabble in online commentary on Indonesian-Australian issues. They are avid consumers of Indonesian news when back home in Australia and use Facebook and Snapchat to provide glimpses into Indonesian life, beyond Bali, for their friends and family. "The misconceptions are greater on the Australian side," Harilaou says. "I'm using social media and it's helped more than anything with my friends and geography, our little status updates, our photos: I think they make a difference."

This sort of soft diplomacy has the potential to transform public understanding of the relationship when political tensions arise, says Professor David Hill, who heads the Australian Consortium for In-Country Indonesian Studies (ACICIS). "When there's an event that creates tension between the two countries, it's often the conversation around the cafeteria or the lunchroom in a workspace which forms public attitudes in Australia just as much as it is pronouncements from government," he says. Hill wrote a report in 2012 declaring Indonesian language learning in Australian education was "in crisis" with fewer Year 12 students studying Indonesian in 2009 compared with 1972. Enrolments in Indonesian university studies dropped 37 per cent last decade, despite the overall undergraduate population growing by 40 per cent. His report predicted that without change, by 2022 Indonesian studies would be gone from all universities except in Victoria and the NT. It is the story of Australia's on and off again relationship with Asian and Asian language studies. In the '70s, Bahasa Indonesia was in vogue. Now politicians are stressing Mandarin studies given the economy's dependence on China. ACICIS itself hopes to expand and diversify and serve as a model for other organisations wanting to engage with countries like Vietnam and Indonesia. It received $2.16 million of funding under the New Colombo Plan in 2016.

The New Colombo Plan is a revived program that subsidises Australian students studying in Asian universities. It is Foreign Minister Julie Bishop's pet policy, although critics question why the Australian government would fund comparatively richer students to go to Asia, instead of concentrating on bringing Asian students to Australia to study. ACICIS confronts this perception, too. It has tried, unsuccessfully so far, to interest the business sector in helping fund and create programs placing Australian students in Indonesia. "A common response we get from organisations is that they are more attracted to providing scholarships to Indonesian students or to fund Indonesian educational institutions here rather than to support a program that benefits Australian students," Hill says. And on one crude metric this failure to stoke an Australian interest in Asia shows. In Susilo Bambang Yudohoyono's last Cabinet four ministers had either studied at or graduated from Australian universities. By contrast, the number of Australian Ministers who have studied in Indonesia is zero.

"I doubt any would be able to hold a basic conversation in Indonesian," Hill says. Some are learning. Last year, Chris Bowen, Labor's Treasury spokesman and potential future leader, began Bahasa Indonesia language studies. His NSW colleague Stephen Jones has also taken up lessons. They reflect the minority of Australians learning another language, despite the hype around the so-called "Asian Century". In almost all OECD countries, students finish high school with a foreign language except Australia and just 10 per cent of students here are studying a foreign language, compared with 40 per cent in the 1960s. Arresting this decline will take more than New Colombo.
Michelle Bridges has long been a pioneer. Not only did she help make fitness interesting enough for reality television but she also spearheaded the activewear trend. A look that made her feel like an outcast when she arrived in Sydney 20 years ago from the Northern Territory.

"When I first moved to Sydney I was working full-time as an instructor and personal trainer in the city, so I was going from gym to gym to gym with my backpack on dressed in my tights and workout gear," she said.

Michelle Bridges models her range of activewear for Big W.

"This was a long time ago and people would stare at me like I was some kind of strange person. I felt certain that the shopkeeper was thinking I was going to steal something but now it's the fashion to be wearing your fitness gear with your little backpack on."

The Biggest Loser trainer laughed at new research, conducted by ING Direct, which highlighted that Australians, on average, spend about $1400 on workout wear every year but only 19 per cent put it to use in the gym.
The staff members' alleged behaviour capped a string of racially charged incidents - including a white woman calling black beachgoers "monkeys" in a Facebook post - that have raised hard questions about the pace of change in race-related policies and attitudes here more than 20 years after apartheid ended. "They go around posting signs about the ethos of equality for all the girls at the school, but that is not true," said one 15-year-old student. "It feels like they don't want to accept the fact that we're African." "It's degrading," said a classmate, also 15, noting that the students' protests were about much more than rules on hair. "If we don't stick up for ourselves, no one's going to." Both students spoke on the condition of anonymity for fear of reprisals from teachers. After thousands signed an online petition supporting the Pretoria students, the head of Gauteng province's education department met with students, parents and staff at the school last week to hear the students' claims. The department later ordered the code of conduct clause dealing with hairstyles to be suspended.

The code includes a long list of rules governing students' general appearance. Its hairstyle guidelines had stipulated that all hair must be brushed, tied back in a neat ponytail if long enough, and that "cornrows, natural dreadlocks, and singles/braids... are allowed, provided they are a maximum of 10mm in diameter." The provincial education department also ordered an inquiry into the students' claims of racial discrimination and said "the mocking of learners' hairstyles" and "the mocking of African learners' usage of their mother tongue" must stop. Some see the students' allegations as a depressing sign that the promises of the Rainbow Nation - a term coined by Archbishop Desmond Tutu that came to encapsulate the hopes of a post-apartheid South Africa - are going unfulfilled for its youngest citizens. "It's not about just schools," said Yvette Raphael, a human rights advocate for young women and girls who attended one of the protests. "The Rainbow Nation is not a true thing. It's not reality... Behind closed doors, some of things of pre-1994 are still happening." Pretoria High School for Girls, founded in 1902, was an all-white school under apartheid, despite its founding headmistress' vision of it as a place where "girls of different races and different denominations might meet in that commonwealth of letters." The school admitted its "first black, non-diplomatic pupils" in 1991, according to its website.

The school, which said it could not speak to the media when contacted for comment, has said in a statement that it will work closely with the government to "resolve the issues which were raised" in the meeting. Nomfundo Parkies, whose daughter is among the school's black students, said she appreciates the institution's disciplined environment but that its rules "should be considerate." "There's a serious need for an attitude change," she said as she waited to pick her daughter up after classes. "We see it everywhere. It's not surprising that it's coming out here." South African Basic Education Minister Angie Motshekga said she didn't consider anything in the school's code controversial. "Those are standard rules that you find in most codes of conduct," she told the public broadcaster SABC.

"They look innocent," she said about the rules. "It's perhaps in the implementation where difficulties came." Other government officials, however, have been less equivocal in their concern. "Schools should not be used as a platform to discourage students from embracing their African Identity. #StopRacismAtPretoriaGirlsHigh," Arts and Culture Minister Nathi Mthethwa tweeted Monday. He also tweeted: "To assert our language & hair, is to assert one's cultural belonging. Schools must embrace cultural diversity #StopRacismAtPretoriaGirlsHigh." The South African Institute of Race Relations welcomed the government's decision to investigate students' claims.

The allegations "shouldn't be taken lightly," said Salaminah Kelebogile Leepile, a spokeswoman for the think tank, adding, "We need sufficient information from all parties." The widespread attention that the Pretoria events have generated may prompt other schools to take a closer look at what is happening in their own classrooms, according to Melissa Steyn, chair in Critical Diversity Studies at the University of the Witwatersrand in Johannesburg. "People become complacent with things as they are, until there is a sense of urgency," she said. "A lot of schools are doing some very quick footwork to fix up their own policies." In Johannesburg, Parktown High School for Girls said recently that it has decided to amend its rules to ensure that all girls "attend school feeling comfortable with what they consider to be their natural hair." "We do not have a problem with hairstyles," Anthea Cereseto, the school's headmistress, said in an email. "We believe the hair issue is the superficial manifestation of something deeper in the country which needs to be dealt with."
By Jugal R Purohit: It was a day when the Centre held a consultative meeting with delegates from different political parties who will depart from the National Capital for Srinagar on Sunday, in a bid to douse the flames that erupted following the gunning down of Hizbul terrorist Burhan Wani on July 8.

However, few people know that the delegation consisting of members of Parliament will not have the autonomy to interact with people as they please.

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Also read: Kashmir unrest: Rajnath Singh approves use of chilli-based PAVA shells as alternative to pellet guns



DELEGATION TO MEET PEOPLE AS PER PDP-BJP



The state government, itself in the dock for its mishandling of the situation in the valley, will determine the course of the delegation's interactions. This was revealed by All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen representative and MP Asaduddin Owaisi following the meeting.



Also read: Government briefs MPs of all-party delegation for Jammu and Kashmir



Speaking to this correspondent, Owaisi said, "The state government will decide who we will meet and we want them to make us meet even the separatists apart from ensuring that we can visit hospitals to see the injured protesters as well as our security personnel. We gave our opinion to the government that Hurriyat be invited to meet us. Hope there will no politicisation of this initiative."

When asked if it was appropriate for the state government to control the levers of the visit, he said, "We have said what we had to. Lesser we speak about them the better. More than 50 days of unrest and they are still cut off from the ground."

Also read: Ahead of all-party delegation's Kashmir visit, CM Mufti calls for unconditional talks with Hurriyat



INVOLVING SEPARATISTS



Reacting to this, Communist Party of India MLA from Kulgam in south Kashmir which is one of the worst affected regions, Mohammed Yousuf Tarigami said, "We hope the state government doesn't waste this opportunity. We would like to invite the separatists just like we would like to invite mainstream players. The state government should play the role of a facilitator."



Also read: Won't talk to all-party delegation, accept 'Kashmir is disputed' first: Hurriyat



While the separatists including Syed Ali Shah Geelani have decided to boycott all proceedings pertaining to this delegation, there are many who are hoping for surprises.

MPs from communist parties, Congress, LJP, BJP among others will be led by Home Minister Rajnath Singh. Briefing reporters following the consultative meeting, Singh said the delegation will spend two days starting Sunday morning and will return to Delhi on Monday. After returning, the delegation will formulate its report.

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Drug users concocted a story about a sick child to get into a Sydney woman's Airbnb apartment  before they turned it into a "junkies' den", ransacking the house and causing more than $10,000 damage.

A mystery green liquid had been smeared on the walls, her towels were covered in blood, and she found a crack pipe in her vase.

And she says Airbnb were totally ignoring her claim until Fairfax became involved.

"Michelle" told Holly and her boyfriend she had a sick child in the Sydney Children's Hospital in Randwick and was looking for a nearby apartment to stay in for 10 days in August.
One of her daughters died during a cosmetic procedure in Mexico. Now Maria Sarmonikas wants her other daughter to return home from her year-long mission of retribution.

Evita Sarmonikas, 29, died on the operating table in March last year while undergoing surgery to enhance her buttocks in the medical tourism hot-spot of Mexicali, leaving her mother, Maria, and sister, Andrea, bereft.

An initial autopsy found that Ms Sarmonikas had died of a heart attack, but a second autopsy commissioned by the family pointed to a more suspicious set of circumstances that roused heartbroken Andrea to leave her Gold Coast home and ensure the surgeon was held to account.

As part of that task, Andrea campaigned for education surrounding cosmetic surgery and began an investigation into the background of Dr Victor Ramirez which will culminate in a television confrontation on Seven's Sunday Night program on Sunday.
Devastating cases like a woman who was left infertile by a rape have sparked a call from a leading IVF doctor for the government to fully fund some fertility treatment.

Professor Robert Norman from the Women's Health Centre at the Royal Adelaide Hospital wants free IVF available for the most disadvantaged, including refugees, as long as they meet certain requirements such as age, weight and that they don't smoke.

IVF remains beyond the reach of disadvantaged families. Credit:Thinkstock

"I know I can help them, I know I can give them a fantastic result but they just can't afford it," said Professor Norman, who also sits on the board of a private IVF clinic.

"I would see two or three patients a week who need IVF because their tubes are blocked, husband's sperm is terrible and there's nothing I can do for them because they've got zero money," he said.
Could controversial former Auburn deputy mayor Salim Mehajer be planning a change of scenery?

A week after stealing the show at his sister Kat's opulent Sydney wedding, he is hinting at leaving the country.

Mr Mehajer posted a picture of a ship on Sydney Harbour with the caption, "Goodbye Australia" on his Instagram page on Saturday.

"Will be taking off to pursue my dream challenges," he wrote, adding: "I'll be back."
There were clashes as thousands of Chinese people and hundreds of Tibetans watched the 2008 Olympic torch relay in Canberra. Credit:Jason South Condolence motions in the NSW Parliament had MPs from both sides warmly espouse Mr Chiu's work for "the peaceful reunification of China", flatly contradicting Australian foreign policy on Taiwan. He donated big to universities, gave to NSW politicians' election campaigns, and sponsored MPs travel to Tibet and China with his medical charity. They reciprocated by becoming ACPPRC "advisers" (Liberal MPs Jonathan O'Dea, Daryl Maguire, Mr Coure and Labor's Sonia Hornery and Ernest Wong), attending dinners, and making Mr Chiu a life member of the NSW Parliament's Asia-Pacific Friendship Group. Premier Mike Baird attends the 15th anniversary dinner of the Australian Council for the Promotion of the Peaceful Reunification of China (ACPPRC) in March 2015. Mr Chiu gained regular access to NSW Parliament to launch events promoting China's "peaceful reunification" in front of Chinese government TV cameras.

The term is offensive to Taiwanese Australians, and the council's activities  exhibitions promoting China's control of Tibet, or visits by Beijing's substitute for the Dalai Lama  upset Tibetan Australians. Yet such was Mr Chiu's status that the ACPPRC pays for NSW Premier Mike Baird to flick the switch to turn the Opera House red for Chinese New Year. It paid $10,000 to fund the Premier's 2016 Harmony Dinner, and has paid $10,000 a year to sponsor the NSW government's Multicultural Marketing Awards since 2011. The first time Mr Smith sang for Mr Chiu, the money went to the Lions Club. In 2012 Mr Chiu was the only non-politician to become a member of the NSW Parliamentary Lions. Former premier Barry O'Farrell laid a wreath at Mr Chiu's Sydney Town Hall memorial. But it was his other funeral, at the Babaoshan Cemetery in Beijing, reserved for communism's revolutionary heroes, that was the clue to his past.

Rebel with a cause In 1974, Khoo Ee Liam's detention by Malaysian authorities under the Internal Securities Act sparked student protests across New Zealand and Australia. He had been a student activist here in the late 1960s. By December, the Malaysian Minister Mahathir Mohamed, hit out at Australian students "meddling" in his country's affairs. The US State Department appeared annoyed at the students, and sympathetic to Malaysia's claims that Mr Khoo had aided the guerilla Malayan National Liberation Army upon his return to Malaysia in 1971, Wikileaks cables revealed. Former activist David Cuthbert met Mr Khoo when they were officials for the student union at the University of Canterbury in Christchurch, New Zealand. Mr Cuthbert says when the New Zealand security agencies, decades later, showed him his surveillance file, it contained photographs of the pair at anti-apartheid rallies and protests against US submarine bases. He said he couldn't confirm Mr Khoo's links with the Malaysian Communist Party, but "suspects it is true".

By 1987, Mr Khoo was living in Hong Kong, but his business was Beijing. He visited Mr Cuthbert in New Zealand to ask for help setting up a New Zealand company called Golden Glory International. Mr Khoo had an 86 per cent stake in the Badaling Great Wall cable car project, and wanted Mr Cuthbert and trade union leader Dave Morgan to become directors of the NZ shelf company. Mr Cuthbert was unaware Mr Khoo had later settled in Australia, but unsurprised by his ACPPRC activity. "He had a real ability to get on and very good skills in mixing with people," he said. "Khoo would have no particular problem dealing with the conservative side of politics if the politicians could be helpful in a cause." Name change in Australia

Khoo Ee Liam arrived in Sydney in 2000 using the name William Chiu. Hong Kong court records show Khoo Ee Liam had spent the previous three years trying to raise cash through a backdoor listing and asset swap on the Australian Stock Exchange for Golden Glory. It struck problems when Deloittes valued his cable car business at $28 million, half of what Mr Khoo had hoped for. The ASX refused to let the new entity trade because it didn't have enough Australian-based shareholders. Despite Golden Glory's cash problems, Mr Chiu created international headlines in 2002 when he paid $1 million to host a World Congress on the Peaceful Reunification of China at Darling Harbour. He reportedly paid former US president Bill Clinton $300,000 to speak alongside Beijing cadres. Mr Clinton was accused of "selling out" by Taiwan media. There were violent clashes. In 2008, the ACPPRC organised the large-scale bussing of Chinese students to Canberra for the 2008 Olympic torch relay. The display of Chinese nationalism, and violent clashes with Tibetan protesters, again made headlines. It was reminiscent of Mr Khoo's student activist days. In Beijing, where he was a member of the National People's Consultative Congress, Mr Chiu was lauded for his idea to raise $140 million from overseas Chinese globally to fund construction of the Olympic Water Cube swimming venue as a display of loyalty. Meredith Burgmann, the former NSW Labor MLC, received $4000 from Mr Chiu. She said she worked out he was Mr Khoo and told him she had once marched in the streets for his freedom. "He was proud of his dissident activity, and talked openly about it," she said. "The Liberals didn't ask questions."

Mr Chiu accompanied Mr O'Farrell to Beijing when he made his first visit as premier in 2011, US intelligence cables released on Wikileaks noted. A spokeswoman for Mr Baird said the ACPPRC was a non-government non-profit community organisation. "The attendance of the Premier at such events recognises the contribution of our multicultural communities to the NSW fabric: it does not constitute a position on foreign policy, which is entirely a matter for the Commonwealth," she said. She said the use of Parliament facilities was a matter for the presiding officers "but the Parliament has always been used for engagement between MPs and community organisations". Mr Smith said: "There was never any suggestion you had to do anything for any small amount [Mr Chiu] had donated to my SEC. I like singing and he liked my singing. I see that as a legitimate way of fundraising."
The sex crimes of Brother Paschal Bartlett were as numerous as they were horrific.

A member of the Franciscan order, he supervised altar boys for almost 50 years in various locations around Australia and New Zealand, exploiting his position of authority to sexually abuse them.

The Franciscan Order will make a public statement about Brother Paschal Bartlett. Credit:Fairfax Media

"I genuinely believe there would be thousands of victims out there," said one former altar boy, who was abused by the friar in Sydney in the 1960s and '70s. "He had access to altar boys for almost 50 years and it would appear he was never challenged."

Brother Paschal joined the Order of the Friars Minor in the 1920s, moving through parishes in Victoria, Tasmania, New Zealand and Sydney, where he was at the Waverley parish on and off from the 1940s to the 1990s.
For some children it's the chance to just play and enjoy being a kid, for others it's a meeting point or shelter in a crisis, and for others it's where they get a friendly welcome and a healthy bite to eat.

Whatever their needs, children know they'll have a home away from home at the Wings drop-in Centre in Wilcannia, far west NSW.

Children from the Wings drop-in Centre in Wilcannia, the 2016 NSW winner of the NAPCAN "Play Your Part" awards.

Now, the centre has been honoured for its huge community contribution.

Wings is the NSW winner of the NAPCAN Play Your Part awards, a prestigious prize announced this weekend and given out annually as part of National Child Protection week.
Deputy Premier and Infrastructure Minister Jackie Trad has ruled out Lord Mayor Graham Quirk's plans to take over a crucial inner-city site for the Brisbane City Council's Metro project on Saturday.

The large piece of inner-city land is the former Go Print site, located on Stanley Street at Woolloongabba.

Cr Quirk said despite Saturday's setback, the metro would still be completed before the first sod was turned on the Cross-River Rail.

The state government's Cross River Rail would use land beneath the site and construct proposed apartments on the surface to offset costs, while the Metro project would entail an above-ground metro station on the site.

Brisbane Lord Mayor Graham Quirk said the Brisbane Metro, Cross River Rail and proposed high-rise development could all share the site, but Infrastructure Minister Jackie Trad disagreed.
An 18-year-old man has faced a Brisbane court accused of raping a woman and later sending her apologetic text messages asking her not to press charges.

The teenager, who can't be named for legal reasons, was refused bail in the Brisbane Magistrates Court on Saturday after he was arrested earlier that morning.

A teenager accused of rape was refused bail when he appeared in the Brisbane court on Saturday.

He's facing two counts of rape, assault occasioning bodily harm and deprivation of liberty over the incident on Russell Island.

Police allege he raped the woman over a period of 20 minutes and threatened her with violence.
Queensland's Deputy Premier Jackie Trad has promised the Labor party's policy to remove 17-year-olds from adult jails will be addressed during this term of government.

The cabinet will be presented with advice on how to move the teenagers from adult detention centres as soon as Monday, Ms Trad told reporters on Saturday.

Deputy Premier Jackie Trad. Credit:Chris Hyde

"We know that this is an election commitment," she said.

"Clearly seeing young people in detention and being restrained is disturbing, it's absolutely disturbing," she said following footage that emerged of a 17-year-old indigenous detainee being put in a spit mask at a Brisbane correctional centre.
Amnesty International has called on the Bangladesh authorities to repeal section 57 of the ICT Act and pointed out that section 57 of the ICT Act is "vaguely formulated" and "used by the authorities to target and imprison critics".

By Indo-Asian News Service: Amnesty International today demanded the release of a Bangladeshi student activist who was detained for allegedly making "derogatory remarks" about Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and the ruling Awami League on Facebook.

Dilip Roy, 22, a student activist at Rajshahi University in western Bangladesh, was booked on August 28 after a student body linked to the government filed a case against him under Section 57 of the country's Information and Communications Technology Act (ICT) for his alleged offence of writing two Facebook posts critical of the Prime Minister's support for a controversial coal power plant.

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"Bangladesh's authorities should immediately drop this case. By invoking draconian laws to hound critics for Facebook posts, they are not just cracking down on peaceful dissent but courting embarrassment," said Director for South Asia, Amnesty International Champa Patel.

Amnesty International has called on the Bangladesh authorities to repeal section 57 of the ICT Act and pointed out that section 57 of the ICT Act is "vaguely formulated" and "used by the authorities to target and imprison critics". This stands in violation of Bangladesh's obligations under international human rights law.

The ICT Act - first passed in 2006 and amended in 2013 - has for years been used by the authorities in Bangladesh to choke freedom of expression.

According to the human rights organisation Odhikar, at least 59 people were arrested under the ICT Act between January 2014 and July 2016.

Roy could face a 14 year jail sentence for his offence. He is set to appear at a bail hearing on September 4.

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Aristea loves her grandmother dearly. Much of her childhood has been spent at her the Northcote home of her 'yiayia', eating stuffed tomatoes and cheese cake, doing homework and trading secrets in Greek.

So it took enormous strength for the 12-year-old to fight for her yiayia's right to die.

"If she wants to end her pain, I think that's her choice."
Three young men allegedly led police on a Grand Theft Auto-style wild chase through an industrial park and up the wrong side of the Tullamarine Freeway that ended with a police officer pinned against the wall by a van  and one young man dead.

Guelah Ahokava, 23, younger brother Penisimani Ahokava, 22, and Joshua Iviiti, 18, all of Deer Park, were wanted by police for a series of burglaries they had allegedly committed in the western and northern suburbs during August.

Family and friends have paid tributes to Guelah Ahokava, shot dead on Friday morning after a police chase.

The three were seen in a car with allegedly stolen licence plates at 1am on Friday, leading to a 40-minute chase through St Albans and Tullamarine, Brimbank CIU Detective Sergeant Andrew Eyries told the Melbourne Magistrates Court on Saturday.

The trio fled up the Western Ring Road, getting off at the Tullamarine exit. They then drove up an embankment toward a factory park, where they jumped out and fled on foot through a series of factories towards Carrick Drive, the court was told during Mr Penisimani's bail application.
Anyone who believed that didn't know Marshall and wasn't considering the consequences of fully enlisting him in the 2014 election campaign. Peter Marshall is old school. He was raised working class in pre-gentrified, industrial Brunswick. He became a firefighter with the Metropolitan Fire Brigade  and a believer in class politics. He has run the UFU as a militant left union for more than 20 years. It is formally part of the Labor family, and pays affiliation fees, but Marshall has never looked comfortable in Bob Hawke-styled modern Labor. His relationship with the ALP is transactional. He threatens Labor people with destruction of their political ambitions or governments. And he means it. Some know it, too. Or do now at least. He has oscillated between Labor and the Greens for years. He backed the union's lawyer, the Greens' Adam Bandt, in 2010 and 2013 for the once-safe Labor heartland seat of Melbourne.

But at the state level, and especially in the 2014, the UFU fought hard for an Andrews government, turning out to doorknock, and gathering at the Collingwood Town Hall in honour of their man: Dan Andrews. The UFU is small but special. In an election campaign, firefighters are a dream come true. Everyone respects them. They are tribal and work together with military precision. Marshall was especially supportive of Garrett in the seat of Brunswick, his home turf, a traditional Labor stronghold under challenge from the Greens. The two had worked closely when Labor was in opposition from 2010-2014. Garrett's predecessor in the seat of Brunswick, Carlo Carli, recalls them together at campaign functions, and firefighters "thick on the ground" in polling booths across the Brunswick electorate in 2014. Marshall is renowned for his loyalty to those who back him  like Bandt  and fierce on those who cross him. Carli says the roots of the current CFA imbroglio lay in the closeness of the relationship in 2014.

"It was a terrible mistake to make Jane the minister responsible for emergency services, responsible for Peter, given their friendship and the support he gave her." As minister, Garrett agreed to many of the union's demands, including a substantial pay rise and a large increase in the number of professional firefighters. But she backed the CFA in resisting some of the union's more outlandish demands, assuming, probably, that there was ambit in its claims. There wasn't. At the core of the row is what CFA chiefs saw as a union bid to unreasonably extend its control over the volunteer-based CFA. Marshall denies a power grab.

In 2015 relations between Garrett and the union broke down, a rift that came to a head in an October meeting which, according to insiders, ended in disarray after a Marshall rant including a direct threat to the minister. Multiple departments, agencies, experts and labour luminaries had been brought into the fray to try and resolve the dispute. Among them Dean Mighell, the former firebrand union leader and Marshall friend. "You wouldn't meet anyone who would be more fanatical and work harder for his members," says Mighell, who worked as a consultant for the UFU last year. Still, despite his considerable negotiating skills and friendship with both antagonists  Marshall and Garrett  Mighell was not able to get the dispute resolved. He wasn't alone. The bamboozling thing for many involved has been Marshall's apparent lack of concern for the government and the wider Labor project. (It's a charge laid against Garrett also, especially since Andrews controversially intervened to settle the dispute in June by backing a union-friendly version of the agreement.)

Carli says many young Labor people struggle to understand Marshall's loyalties. "Peter is deeply dedicated to a cause and the cause is firefighters." "It's his life," is a comment made repeatedly by those who know him. There would not be many  if any  paid firefighters he has not met. "Putting aside everything that is supposedly happening between him and Jane Garrett, I actually kind of like Peter Marshall," says Cleary, who has devoted much of the past 20 years campaigning against violent treatment of women. "I see him as cut out of the old Labor rock, from the craft, manual labour unions. "He's like a worker from the coalface, he's got street smarts and the capacity to argue a point and argue it theoretically about the rights of his members." Sometimes though, Marshall's intensity is hard to be around. In full flight in negotiations or even with his own staff, he can be confronting. "It's bullying," says one observer.

This is also reflected in his aggressive class-war language preferred by the old warriors of the labour movement but deemed inappropriate in the 2000s  the kind of language is now at the centre of a serious rift between Andrews and Garrett. Some Labor MPs and union leaders are dismissive, saying Marshall's language is standard in the rough and tumble of the labour movement. And Garrett is, after all, very close to the CFMEU. Others point out that it is not just the language but also Marshall's alleged haranguing of Garrett night and day that got to her, and UFU members turning out to niggle her at public events. One senior Labor figure earlier this year described Marshall's approach as war declared "on a daily basis". It is a view that attracts sympathy, not just from supporters of Garrett, who are alarmed at the win-at-any-cost approach he takes. "He'd rather a fight than a feed," is how one union comrade puts it, affectionately. And says another: "The need to be at war seems greater than anything else. There's something driving it that's not normal industrial relations."
Victorians are living in a heightened state of fear. Crime, voters say, has got worse under the Andrews government, according to a new poll.

And it is a view shared by the state's Police Minister, Lisa Neville.

A recent poll shows that 65.5 per cent of Victorian voters believe crime has gotten worse in the past 12 months. Credit:Penny Stephens

"There is certainly a high level of fear in the community about crime at the moment, whether it is from the carjacking, home invasions the commercial burglaries," Ms Neville said on Friday in the wake of a fatal police shooting.

A ReachTEL poll of 1653 Victorian voters on Thursday night for The Age found a strong majority of voters believed that crime had worsened over the past 12 months.
South Carolina: One clown showed up on a roadside in a rain poncho, another waved money at children near woods.

The reported sightings of silent, menacing clowns in north-eastern South Carolina may be part of a publicity stunt for a horror movie or an elaborate hoax, but they are no laughing matter for parents and police.

Over the past two weeks, residents have told authorities they have spotted clowns, or people who looked like clowns, on at least eight occasions.

Investigators have failed to confirm a single sighting and the descriptions have varied in detail. But police are nevertheless urging parents to be cautious.
"We have predicted this and have warned our troops accordingly but the enemy is also adept at using the democratic space granted by our constitution to move around freely and unimpeded to sow terror," Mr Lorenzana told reporters. A Philippine soldier keeps watch at the bombing site in Davao, Philippines on Friday. Credit:AP Mr Duterte last week ordered the military to use "full force" to wipe out the Abu Sayyaf after the group rejected a call to lay down their arms. "Go out and destroy them. Kill whoever they are," he said. Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte bloody anti-drugs campaign has claimed thousands of lives. Credit:AP

More than two dozen Abu Sayyaf are believed to have been killed in battles in the past week. Presidential Communications Secretary Martin Andanar told reporters that investigators have found shrapnel from a mortar-based bomb, indicating Friday's attack was designed to inflict mass casualties. Abu Sayyaf spokesman Abu Sabaya, right foreground, with militants in Basilan, the Philippines. Credit:AP Mr Duterte said after visiting the bomb site at 4am on Saturday that "I have this duty to protect the country. I have this duty to keep intact the integrity of the nation." He said while the declaration is not martial law "it will require nationwide, well co-ordinated efforts by the military and police".

"This is not the first time Davao has been sacrificed in the altar of violence," he said citing past acts of violence, including a bombing at Davao airport in 2003 that killed more than 20 people and was blamed on Islamic extremists. Mr Duterte said he had ordered the military to conduct searches and set-up checkpoints in the city where he was mayor for 22 years before being swept into the presidency in May vowing to wipe out drug pushers and criminals. "Everybody can come in and out of Davao," he said. "Davao is safe, there is no criminality here except terrorism." Asked for his message to the people, he said "keep calm". The bomb is the first violent challenge to Mr Duterte's rule that has stoked deep divisions in the county although his crackdown on drug pushers has been hugely popular.

The Philippines has one of Asia's highest rates of illegal drug use and crime. Soon after becoming president Mr Duterte launched peace talks with communists, who last week agreed to an indefinite ceasefire. Only last week Mr Duterte shrugged off reports of a plot to assassinate him, saying threats were to be expected. Mr Duterte's son Paolo Duterte told Reuters his father was far from the site of the blast when the explosion took place. Davao is located in Mindanao, a large southern island beset by decades of Islamic insurgency. However the city has been seen as largely safe for years as Mr Duterte oversaw a brutal campaign to wipe out crime which human rights groups said include hundreds of extrajudicial killings.
Caracas: Venezuela's socialist government says it has thwarted a coup plot as opponents planned to build on their biggest protest in more than a decade with further street action demanding a referendum to remove the president.

Buoyed by rallies in Caracas on Thursday that drew hundreds of thousands, the opposition coalition is planning more marches on September 7 to demand a plebiscite against President Nicolas Maduro this year.

Police officers in riot gear during a protest in Caracas, Venezuela, on Thursday. Credit:Bloomberg

But with the election board dragging out the process and Maduro vowing there will be no such vote in 2016, it is hard to see how the opposition can force it.

"It was the day they wanted: massive, peaceful and inspirational. But that success leaves a key question in the air: 'What next?'" wrote pollster Luis Vicente Leon in the aftermath of Thursday's opposition-dubbed 'Takeover of Caracas'.
PHILIPSBURG:--- The prosecutors office confirmed that an official complaint has been filed against the current director of USZV Glen Carty and the Minister of VSA Emil Lee for mismanagement funds. Gino Bernadina spokesman for the Prosecutors office confirmed on Friday that the complaint was filed on Thursday. Bernadina said the prosecutor is now conducting a preliminary investigation into the case and the allegations made by Dr. Michel Petit who made his intentions public some two weeks ago.

Petit said on a radio station that the director of USZV mismanaged the AOV pension fund when he invested it in two projects illegally. He said back then that the situation he is faced with is very sad, because those involved in the illegalities are his friends but maintained that a man has to do what a man has to do. Since then SMN News wrote several articles regarding USZV, especially the new hospital that has to be constructed and the bid was awarded to a company that does not have a dialysis center included in their plans.
New trainsets to enter service in 2021

Amtrak is contracting with Alstom to produce 28 next-generation high-speed trainsets that will replace the equipment used to provide Amtrak's premium Acela Express service. The contract is part of $2.45 billion that will be invested on the heavily traveled Northeast Corridor (NEC) as part of a multifaceted modernization program to renew and expand the Acela Express service.

"Amtrak is taking the necessary actions to keep our customers, the Northeast region and the American economy moving forward," said Amtrak President & CEO Joe Boardman. "These trainsets and the modernization and improvement of infrastructure will provide our customers with the mobility and experience of the future."

The new trainsets will have one-third more passenger seats, while preserving the spacious, high-end comfort of current Acela Express service. Each trainset will have modern amenities that can be upgraded as customer preferences evolve such as improved Wi-Fi access, personal outlets, USB ports and adjustable reading lights at every seat, enhanced food service and a smoother, more reliable ride.

This procurement comes as demand for Acela Express service is as popular as ever, with many trains selling out during peak travel periods. The new trainsets will allow for increased service including half-hourly Acela Express service between Washington D.C. and New York City during peak hours, and hourly service between New York City and Boston.

"As more people rely on Amtrak, we need modernized equipment and infrastructure to keep the region moving," said Chairman of the Amtrak Board of Directors Anthony Coscia. "These trainsets will build on the popularity and demand of the current Acela Express and move this company into the future as a leader in providing world-class transportation."

The new trainsets will operate along the Washington  New York  Boston Northeast Corridor initially at speeds up to 160 mph and will be capable of speeds up to 186 mph and thus will be able to take advantage of future NEC infrastructure improvements.

Additionally, the trainsets use the base design of one of the safest high-speed trainsets. Concentrated power cars, located at each end of the trainset, provide an extra buffer of protection. The trainsets will also meet the latest Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) guidelines including a Crash Energy Management system.

"The next generation of Acela service will mean safer, faster and modern trains for customers throughout the Northeast," said U.S. Senator Charles Schumer. "This investment will pay immediate dividends for businesses and travelers from Washington D.C. to Boston, and the fact that these new trains will be built in Upstate New York makes this project a win-win. These New York-made Acela trains will soon be zipping along the Northeast Corridor and  as a regular customer  I can't wait for my first ride."

"The Northeast Corridor is a national economic engine that carries a workforce contributing $50 billion annually to the national GDP," said U.S. Senator Cory Booker. "Amtrak's continued investment in modernizing its fleet will only serve to enhance this vital rail link between Boston and Washington D.C. while allowing for safer and faster travel at a time when passenger demand is expected to rise. Strengthening our nation's infrastructure is essential to the economic growth of our region and the nation and this investment by Amtrak will help ensure the reliable service travelers expect."

Amtrak is funding the trainsets and infrastructure improvements through the FRA's Railroad Rehabilitation & Improvement Financing program that will be repaid through growth in NEC revenues.

"Amtrak is grateful for all of the support we have received from Congress, especially from Sen. Schumer and Rep. Reed who represents Hornell, New York  home of the Alstom facility," said Boardman. "We would also like to thank Senate Commerce Committee Chairman Thune and Ranking Member Nelson and House Transportation Committee Chairman Shuster and Ranking Member DeFazio for their leadership on the FAST Act. Additionally, we appreciate the efforts of Senators Booker and Wicker for their support on the inclusion of the rail title, the first time Amtrak reauthorization has been included in surface transportation legislation."

Amtrak Next-Generation First Class interior

In addition to the trainsets, Amtrak is also investing in infrastructure needed to improve the on-board and station customer experience that will accommodate the increased high-speed rail service levels. Amtrak will invest in significant station improvements at Washington Union Station, Moynihan Station New York, as well as track capacity and ride quality improvements to the NEC that will benefit both Acela Express riders and other Amtrak and commuter passengers. Amtrak will also modify fleet maintenance facilities to accommodate the new trains.

The trainsets will be manufactured at Alstom's Hornell and Rochester, N.Y., facilities, creating 400 local jobs. Additionally, parts for the new trainsets will come from more than 350 suppliers in more than 30 states, generating an additional 1,000 jobs across the country.

The first prototype of the new trainsets will be ready in 2019, with the first trainset entering revenue service in 2021. All of the trainsets are expected to be in service, and the current fleet retired, by the end of 2022.
Minton could've easily gone to another hospital, but insisted on a hysterectomy at Catholic Mercy San Juan. Why? Isn't it obvious

To the left, Evan Minton is the latest face in the ongoing struggle for civil rights, against those who would deny a person gender transition rights anywhere, anytime.

When Catholic Mt. St. Charles Academy said early this year, that it would not accept nor enroll Transgender Students, the left declared war. The Rhode Island School placed itself in the center of a national debate over an LGBT nondiscrimination ordinance that would protect transgender people's access to public accommodations.

On March 9, 2016, having received a petition with 1700 signatures from Change.org, and more importantly, having pissed off at least one major alum who donated money, MSC Academy folded. They apologized for hurting anyone's feelings, and admitted Transgender students despite their previous statements that they did not have the physical facilities to accommodate them.

The Daily Beast's article on the subject was even titled "hateful rhetoric." http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2016/03/04/catholic-prep-school-no-transgender-students.html Needless to say, the Daily Beast never addressed the obvious question of why a transgender person would want to attend a religious conservative catholic school.

Today's headline is "Transgender Man Denied Hysterectomy at Mercy San Juan Hospital." The hospital, which is Catholic, refuses to allow a surgeon with operating privileges at Mercy, to carry out a scheduled hysterectomy on this determined, though confused, person. From the Sacramento Bee:

Tuesday was supposed to be a big day for Evan Michael Minton. The Fair Oaks resident packed his bags for the hospital, said a prayer and counted down the hours until he would undergo the hysterectomy that would take him one step further in his transition from female to male.

Instead he spent the day on the phone with doctors and lawyers after Mercy San Juan hospital in Carmichael abruptly canceled the procedure on religious grounds.

The surgery, part of Minton's transition to a fully male body, had been scheduled for three weeks but was called off Monday as hospital officials were preparing his admissions paperwork.

Both Minton and his surgeon, Dr. Lindsey Dawson, said they were caught unawares by the hospital's decision.

http://www.sacbee.com/news/local/health-and-medicine/article98943597.html#storylink=cpy

In a statement, Dignity Health, which until 2012 was affiliated with the Roman Catholic Church, declined to discuss Minton's case, citing patient privacy laws.

"In general, it is our practice not to provide sterilization services at Dignity Health's Catholic facilities," said spokeswoman Melissa Jue, in an emailed statement. Sterilization procedures, such as hysterectomies or tubal ligations, she said, are permitted by Catholic hospitals only to cure or alleviate a "serious pathology and (if) a simpler treatment is not available."

In Minton's case, there is a clear, medical need for a hysterectomy, according to his surgeon."Gender dysphoria is very clearly a pathology," said Dawson. "It's a recognized state of health," noting that national obstetrics groups recommend that transitioning transgender patients be put on hormones and provided with appropriate surgeries.

She said Minton is her first patient seeking a hysterectomy as a part of gender transition care. So in other words, she wants to open up Mercy San Juan to future transgender surgeries. In her religion, the right to transition between genders, anywhere any time, should be a right, not a privelege.

http://www.sacbee.com/news/local/health-and-medicine/article98943597.html#storylink=cpy

Dignity Health Mercy San Juan Hospital was set up for national bad publicity by Even Minton and Dr. Dawson, as the culture wars continue

Personally, I doubt that they were "caught unawares" by the hospitals decision. Minton and Dr. Dawson knew full well that once the Catholic hospital figured out what was going down in their surgical theater, they would call a halt to it. Dr. Dawson in particular knew Mercy's ban on voluntary sterilizations.

To make sure they knew, Minton checked into the hospital insisting he be referred to as "he. Pronouns are very important to me. I told them to call me he or him, not she or her, which they started to call me after referring to my chart."

Yessir, Mr. Minton. When they saw you wanted a hysterectomy, the cat was out of the bag, and they knew you were born a girl.

Well, congrats on your 15 minutes of fame. And for standing up to say that anyone should be able to get a hysterectomy any time on demand, in any place. Because, you know, that's an important right. Despite the religious convictions of the folks who funded the hospital. Despite the fact that you could just go down the street to any other hospital in Sacramento.
While babysitting an 8-year-old, this man molested the little child on two separate occasions. Judge sentenced him to just a month of jail time. You read that right, it's just a month.

By India Today Web Desk:

How bad is too bad? Well, this man just got away with one-month prison time after he molested an 8-year-old on two separate occasions.

US man from Missouri, Joseph Presley, 23, will only spend one month in jail after pleading guilty to molesting the little child, who he was babysitting.

The judge Calvin Holden initially sentenced Joseph to 10 years behind the bars but suddenly changed his mind and gave him one month of jail time and five years of probation instead.

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Joseph's defence attorney Dee Wempler told the news channel KSPR, "do we really want to take a boy that's not institutionalized, that has not been in prison before, and put him in prison with some real sex molesters, and some real rapists? So that he can really learn the trade? Is that what we want?".

Everybody called Joseph a kid, and even the judge thinks so.

The US dailies and websites have covered many such cases and in this particular case, according to them, it shows how white sexual predators often get casually off with lax sentences.

Justice writer at NYC Daily News also tweeted on the issue.

Meet Joseph Presley. He's 23 Molested a 7 y/o boy. TWICE How white privilege set him FREEhttps://t.co/DlmJNhQe71 pic.twitter.com/ngBAmNHgNB Shaun King (@ShaunKing) August 31, 2016

FELONY AND THE SENTENCE

Joseph pleaded guilty to a Class B felony and it carries a maximum of 15-year sentence in Missouri, US.

Child Advocacy Center Executive Director, Barbara Brown-Johnson, said in response to the verdict, "you have to deal with the child victim in front of you, and saying that a perpetrator should get a lesser sentence because of their perpetration, when they're an adult, that makes no sense whatsoever".



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No fan of Donald Trump, Assange really hates Hillary Clinton. Release may come on eve of 3d debate

Julian Assange Claims to have the goods on Hillary, and is planning an election surprise.

He lives in exile in an embassy in London and considers himself a journalist, while the Obama administration and many Americans consider him to be a traitor.

Appearing on Megyn Kelly's Fox News program, WikiLeaks founder and editor-in-chief Julian Assange said on Wednesday that he planned to release "significant" information linked to the campaign of Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton.

Asked if the data could be a game-changer in the election, he said "I think it's significant. You know, it depends on how it catches fire in the public and in the media."

WikiLeaks released files in July of audio recordings taken from the emails of the Democratic National Committee. These were obtained by hacking its servers. That release, during the Democratic National Convention where Clinton was officially named the party's presidential nominee, was the second batch in a series that deeply rattled the Democratic party, and ultimately forced DNC chairwoman, Debbie Wasserman Schultz, to step down--which Assange seemed to brag about tonight.

Kelly speculated that the timing of the dump would be just before Clinton's third debate with Donald Trump. Everyone would be tuned in then and it would do the most damage to Clinton, she said, referring to the Obama administration's hunt for Assange. It was led by then Secretary of State Clinton.

On 4 July 2016, WikiLeaks tweeted a link to a trove of emails sent or received by then-US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton published on their website. The leak contained 1258 emails sent from Clinton's personal mail server which were selected in terms of their relevance to the Iraq War and were apparently timed to precede the release of the UK government's Iraq Inquiry report.

On 22 July 2016, WikiLeaks released approximately 20,000 emails and 8,000 files sent from or received by Democratic National Committee (DNC) personnel. Some of the emails contained personal information of donors, including home addresses and Social Security numbers. Other emails appeared to present ways to undercut Bernie Sanders and showed apparent favoritism towards Clinton.

WikiLeaks is an international non-profit group of journalists that publishes secret information, news leaks, and steals or appropriates classified media from anonymous sources.

Julian Assange Claims to have the goods on Hillary, and is planning an election surprise.

Its website, initiated in 2006 in Iceland by the organization Sunshine Press, claimed a database of more than 1.2 million documents within a year of its launch.

Julian Assange, an Australian Internet activist, is generally described as its founder, editor-in-chief, and director. Kristinn Hrafnsson, Joseph Farrell, and Sarah Harrison are the only other publicly known and acknowledged associates of Julian Assange. Hrafnsson is also a member of Sunshine Press Productions along with Assange, Ingi Ragnar Ingason, and Gavin MacFadyen.

The group has released a number of significant documents that have become front-page news items. Early releases included documentation of equipment expenditures and holdings in the Afghanistan war and a report informing a corruption investigation
Mexican President Nieto: "I told him I wouldn't pay for the wall." Trump: "I will build a great wall along our Southern Border."

It was the high point of a rough August for the Donald.

Towering over Mexican President Enrique Pena Nieto, Donald Trump managed to look downright presidential. He controlled the conversation by picking which reporters could ask him questions (a right ordinarily reserved to the host). He said nothing especially controversial, by Trump standards.

And most of all, he managed to meet with a foreign leader of an important US constituency. Benjamin Netanyahu famously refused to meet President Barack Obama in 2012, ostensibly because he was busy, but really because the two men despise each other and the Israeli PM hoped he would help challenger Mitt Romney with Jewish and Evangelical voters, by snubbing Obama

Experts (those nattering but friendly Nabobs of negativity on Fox), have been saying for a while that if Trump wants to win this election, it's still possible. But he has to reach out to groups either ignored or put off by his campaign, namely African Americans or Hispanics. They say that Ronald Reagan beat Ford in 1980, despite low poll numbers, by going into black and Latino neighborhoods. There, in front of TV cameras, candidate Reagan talked about how the Democratic Party has failed minority voters by creating "a culture of dependency and broken families." Some minority voters were convinced.

Trump took a longshot gamble, says Charles Krauthammer, and it paid off handsomely. http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2016/08/31/krauthammer-on-trumps-trip-to-mexico-took-risk-and-pulled-it-off.html

The invitation from Nieto was a surprise. Nieto's predecessor, Vicente Fox, advised Trump to skip the meeting, but he did not do so. It's actually rather surprising that Nieto would agree to meet with Trump, given that he's down in the polls, unlikely to win, and of course, has stopped just short of saying he would nuke Guadalajara.

Nieto flatly denied Donald Trumps statement that the two did not discuss who would pay for the GOP nominees proposed multibillion-dollar border wall, saying, I made it clear Mexico will not pay.

Who pays for the wall? We didnt discuss it, Trump said in response to a reporters question at a joint news conference after the closed-door meeting between the two in Mexico City. But in a tweet from Pena Nieto's official Twitter account sent later on Wednesday, the president said, At the start of the conversation with Donald Trump, I made it clear Mexico will not pay for the wall.

Mexicos foreign minister, Claudia Ruiz Massieu, tweeted that Pena Nieto had expressed the grievance and outrage of Mexicans for insults and offenses by Trump in their private meeting.

While Trump polls in the 60's with white voters, he polls under 5% with African Americans and under 15% with Hispanics. Both groups are socially conservative by nature, and it is entirely possible that Donald could shift the polling into his favor to say, 30% of each group. This could make the Great Excommunicator competitive in November.

Donald Trump concluded his first meeting with a foreign leader, and flew to Phoenix Arizona. There, he doubled down Wednesday night on his vow to build a "great wall along the southern border" -- and make Mexico pay for it -- while outlining a more focused mission for the deportation force he's promised to create.

In a speech in Phoenix meant to clarify his immigration positions after appearing to soften his stance, the Republican presidential nominee outlined a hardline set of proposals for tackling illegal immigration. He did not, however, definitively call for removing all illegal immigrants in the country.

He said he would focus on deporting the estimated 2 million "criminal aliens" on day one. He would also make a priority of certain groups like gang members and visa overstays for removal. He insisted that any illegal immigrant could be subject to deportation under his administration.

"There will be no amnesty," he said, adding that no illegal immigrant would be legalized without first leaving and coming in through "the front door."

Trump said that America's current immigration system "serves the needs of wealthy donors, political activists and powerful politicians. . . . . Let me tell you who it does not serve, it does not serve you the American people. It doesn't serve you," he said.

Trump Tweeted: Hillary Clinton didn't go to Louisiana, and now she didn't go to Mexico. She doesn't have the drive or stamina to MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN!

You know what would be a really HUGE gamble? Trump meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin. I'll bet you a Harriet Tubman $20 bill that we see The Russian strongman meeting Trump in October. But then again, the former Secretary of State has many foreign friends, so she could play this game too. Stay tuned. This is about to get interesting
Bangladeshi security personnel stand guard in front of Kashimpur Central Jail where Mir Quashem Ali, a senior leader of the main Islamist party Jamaat-e-Islami, was held. (Photo: AP)

By Sahidul Hasan Khokon: Bangladesh hanged a top leader from the Jamaat-e-Islami party today for atrocities committed during the 1971 Bangladesh Liberation War, Law Minister Anisul Haq said.

Mir Quasem Ali (63), who controlled a large portion of the finances of the Islamist party, was hanged at the Kashimpur Central Jail this morning on the charges of murder, confinement, torture and incitement to religious hatred during Bangladesh's war of independence from Pakistan.

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NO DOUBT THAT ALI COMMANDED RUTHLESS MILITIA AL-BADR



There was no doubt that he commanded the ruthless militia Al-Badr in Chittagong, an appeals bench had said, upholding his death penalty for the killing of freedom fighter Jashim Uddin Ahmed in 1971. Ahmed was abducted on November 8 and tortured until he died at Dalim Hotel, one of Al-Badr's several torture cells in the city.

In 2014, the second International Crimes Tribunal sentenced him to death after finding him guilty in eight out of the 14 charges brought against him by the prosecution.

He was pronounced guilty of the murder of Ahmed, Ranjit Das and Tuntun Sen at the Dalim Hotel which he used as a "death factory". He was also sentenced to 72 years in prison on eight other charges of torture, abduction and confinement.

ALI INNOCENT, WAS IN DHAKA WHEN CRIMES WERE COMMITTED: DEFENCE



Mir Quasem Ali appealed to overturn the verdict, and his defence claimed that he was in Dhaka when the atrocities were committed.

The Supreme Court bench headed by Chief Justice SK Sinha acquitted him of three more charges including the killings of Sen and Das reducing his prison sentence to 51 years.

He filed a review petition of as he was still facing the death sentence for the murder of Jashim.

Mir Quasem's review petition filed took the longest to dispose, almost twice the time taken to resolve pleas filed by other war criminals before him.

EXECUTION MAY CAUSE ANGRY REACTIONS FROM SUPPORTERS



His execution risked causing an uproar among his supporters.

"We don't feel there is any risk because of execution. But still the security has been rearranged after taking all matters into consideration," said the district's Superintendent of Police (SP) Harun-ur-Rashid.

A prison official said that Quasem Ali was escorted out of his condemned cell, bathed and given the chance to repent in the presence of a Muslim cleric.

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During the nine-month 1971 war, six people were given the death sentence for war crimes. One of them, Salauddin Chowdhury, was a leader of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party, whereas the other five were from Jamaat-e-Islami. They were all executed in the last three years, more than 40 years after the war.

(With inputs from Reuters)



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A 60-year-old Bangladeshi Muslim woman in headscarf was stabbed to death in the Jamaica Hills neighborhood of New York.

By Press Trust of India: In a suspected case of hate crime, a 60-year-old Muslim woman wearing a headscarf was brutally stabbed to death by unknown persons here, nearly two weeks after a Bangladeshi-origin imam of a mosque and his associate were killed.

Nazma Khanam, a former schoolteacher, was on her way home along with her husband Shamsul Alam Khan, 75, after closing their shop and picking up some groceries when she was attacked. They were just blocks away from their home when the attacker struck about 9:15 PM on Wednesday, New York Daily News reported.

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Her asthma-stricken husband found her on a Queens sidewalk in Jamaica Hills with a 4-inch knife lodged in her chest, the sources said. Khanam, married for 45 years to Khan, have three children. They moved to the US from Bangladesh with her husband and youngest son in 2009. They all became citizens in June.

"Somebody killed me," a mortally-wounded Khanam told her husband as he cradled her in his arms, her blood spilling out onto his hands, relatives said.

DECEASED WAS WEARING TRADITIONAL MUSLIM ATTIRE

She was wearing traditional Muslim attire -- headscarf -- when the assailants struck. She was rushed to a nearby hospital where she died.

"He (Khan) is screaming and crying, 'My wife just came to this country to just get killed! We had a better life in Bangladesh!," the victim's nephew Humayun Kabir, who is a policeman, said on Thursday.

The attack prompted Khanam's relatives to denounce the slaying as a hate crime. "They did not take her phone, pocketbook, bag, nothing. We feel this is a hate crime... We want justice," the victim's another nephew Mohammad Rahman said.

Investigators, however, believe Khanam may have been the target of a robbery attempt -- even though she was found with all of her possessions, police sources said.

HATE CRIMES TASK FORCE IS MONITORING PROBE

The NYPD Hate Crimes Task Force is monitoring the probe. The attack was not captured on camera but a man was recorded sprinting away moments later. Relatives will escort her body to Bangladesh for burial.

Kabir's uncle said "We want proper justice for this". Some in the Muslim community drew parallels to the murder of a Queens imam and his friend in Ozone Park.

A 55-year old Bangladeshi-American Imam at a mosque here and his assistant were shot dead from point blank range by a lone gunman in broad daylight amid growing concerns across America over rising Islamophobic rhetoric.

Police said Imam Maulama Akonjee and Thara Uddin, 64, were walking home after midday prayers at Al-Furqan Jame Masjid Mosque when they were approached from behind by a male with medium complexion who was dressed in a dark polo shirt and shorts.

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Also read:

Muslim women clad in hijab spit at, called ISIS in US



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The Atlas 5 payload fairing containing NASA's OSIRIS-REx spacecraft is installed on top of the rocket Aug. 29 at Space Launch Complex 41.

WASHINGTON  NASA said Sept. 1 that the launch of an asteroid sample return mission from Florida remained on schedule for next week despite the explosion of SpaceX Falcon 9 at a neighboring launch pad.

The Origins, Spectral Interpretation, Resource Identification, and Security-Regolith Explorer (OSIRIS-REx) spacecraft was inside its payload fairing atop a United Launch Alliance Atlas 5 at Cape Canaveral's Space Launch Complex 41 when the Falcon 9 at the neighboring Space Launch Complex 40, less than two kilometers away, exploded during preparations for a static-fire test on the morning of Sept. 1.

Mike Curie, a NASA spokesman at the Kennedy Space Center, said a few hours after the SpaceX incident that he was not aware of any effects the explosion had on OSIRIS-REx. The agency confirmed that assessment later in the day.

"Initial assessments indicate the United Launch Alliance Atlas V rocket and OSIRIS-REx spacecraft are healthy and secure in the Vertical Integration Facility at Space Launch Complex-41," NASA said in a statement distributed through social media.

OSIRIS-REx is being prepared for a launch at 7:05 p.m. Eastern Sept. 8. NASA announced Sept. 1 that the mission passed a flight readiness review that day "and concluded that there are no issues or concerns that would preclude continuing to target launch" for Sept. 8, NASA said in a separate statement. A launch countdown dress rehearsal is scheduled for Sept. 2, and a final launch readiness review for Sept. 6.

OSIRIS-REx is the third mission in NASA's New Frontiers program of medium-class planetary science missions. The spacecraft will travel to the near-Earth asteroid Bennu, collect samples from the asteroid's surface, and return them to Earth in 2023. Those samples will allow scientists to study asteroid's composition, including looking for traces of organic compounds that might have delivered the building blocks of life to the early Earth.

"This is really the driver of our science," said Dante Lauretta, the University of Arizona planetary scientist who is the principal investigator on OSIRIS-REx, at a NASA briefing in August. "We seek samples that date back to the very dawn of our solar system."

This story was provided by SpaceNews, dedicated to covering all aspects of the space industry.
Sale (Morocco), Sept 03, 2016 (SPS) Saharawi political prisoners of Gdeim Izik Group began Friday a hunger strike for 48 hours to request resolution of their situation and to protest against the inhuman conditions and ill-treatment perpetrated against them on the part of the Moroccan prison administration.

The Moroccan authorities have recently transferred 21 Saharawi political prisoners of Gdeim Izik group from Sale prison to El Aarjat, after the announcement of Moroccan Supreme Court on July 27, trial of 23 convicted Gdeim Izik group and the referral of the case before a criminal court of common law.

In November 2010, clashes erupted in the Western Sahara, when Moroccan security forces dismantled Saharawi camp of Gdeim Izik, where thousands of Sahrawis were protesting for social and economic demands.

Hundreds of Sahrawis were arrested and 25 of them were sentenced to heavy prison sentences ranging from 20 years to life in prison by a military court.

Saharawi political prisoners had conducted several times hunger strikes to protest against their arbitrary detention and unfair trial.

International organizations as well as the families of the prisoners had on several occasions requested a fair trial in accordance with the international law on this issue, as it is of political detainees, it should be recalled.

For its part, the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights expressed its concern at reports indicating that the Saharawis accused had been tortured and ill-treated in custody.

"The use of military or special courts to try civilians raises serious issues as to the fairness, impartiality and independence of the judiciary" declared the spokesman of the UN High Commissioner.

Three years after the trial verdict, Moroccan Supreme Court has ordered a new trial before a civilian court. (SPS)

062/090/TRA




By PTI: From Anisur Rahman

Dhaka, Sep 3 (PTI) Bangladeshs fundamentalist Jamaat-e- Islami leader and media tycoon Mir Quasem Ali was hanged tonight, the sixth Islamist to be executed for war crimes committed during the countrys 1971 Liberation War against Pakistan.

Ali was hanged in Kashimpur Central Jail on the outskirts of the capital.

"He was hanged at 10.35 PM (local time)," Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan told PTI.

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His execution came after 63-year-old Ali refused to seek presidential clemency yesterday.

The presidential mercy was the last resort for Ali, who was the infamous pro-Pakistan Al-Badr militias third most important figure, to save his neck after the Supreme Court rejected his final review petition on Tuesday.

Earlier, authorities had called Alis family to the prison to meet him.

"Twenty-two members of his family reached the jail to see him (Ali) for the last time," private TV channels reported.

Ali, who owned several business houses and media outlets including a now suspended TV channel, was a central executive council member of Jamaat-e-Islami.

He pumped billions into the Jamaat since the mid-1980s to put it on a firm financial footing in Bangladesh.

He was convicted of running Al Badrs torture cell that carried out killings of several people.

Three million people were said to have been massacred in the war by the Pakistani army and their local collaborators.

Alis hanging comes nearly four months after Jamaat-e-Islami chief Motiur Rahman Nizami was executed.

With the execution, Ali became the sixth top perpetrator to be hanged for the war crimes.

Before him, five war crimes convicts had been executed since Bangladesh initiated a trial process in 2010 for the 1971 war criminals. Of the five executed war crimes convicts, two had sought presidential clemency which was rejected. PTI AR ASK ASK

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STAMFORD  In the business world, research shows that diverse groups of workers outperform groups that are less so, and companies with a variety of leaders tend to be top performers.

School systems are taking a cue from that.

In places such as Stamford, where the student body is remarkably diverse, the body of teachers must catch up, critics say. It is crucial for students of color to see educators who look like them, because it promotes self-esteem and bolsters expectations, they say.

In the citys public schools, about 40 percent of students are Hispanic and 20 percent are black. But teachers who are Hispanic and black comprise less than 12 percent of the staff, district numbers show.

Most teachers  80 percent  are white, but white students make up only 33 percent of the student population.

Stamford, which ranks third on Niches list of the 100 most diverse districts in the state, is not the only city dealing with such disparity. Only 7 percent of public school teachers and 2 percent of administrators in Connecticut come from minority backgrounds, but more than a third of students in the state are minorities, according to the Capital Region Education Council.

Stamford has made little progress in the past few years. The number of Hispanic teachers grew from 4.1 percent of the staff in 2010 to 5.5 percent in 2016, but the share of black teachers remained at 6 percent, and Asian teachers at 1 percent.

The district added 10 Hispanic teachers and six black teachers this school year, but among the 112 new hires, 95 are white.

More Information Minority students vs. minority teachers Stamford's diverse public school population is nearly 40 percent Hispanic and 20 percent black, but less than 12 percent of the teaching staff is Hispanic or black. White Black Hispanic Asian Other/Unknown Students* 32.7% 18.6% 38.7% 8.7% 1.3% Teachers 80.3% 6.3% 5.5% 1.2% 6.7% See More Collapse

What that signals to us is a need to do a better job in recruiting, Superintendent Earl Kim told the Board of Education at a meeting last week. We still are looking for the best quality teachers for our students as our bottom line. But if we can meet some diversity goals at the same time, that would be a double win from where we sit.

Kim said the extremely high cost of living in southwestern Connecticut is a key obstacle in minority recruiting. He said some state initiatives to encourage teachers to apply for jobs, including mortgage subsidies and student loan forbearance, do help.

But I dont think its nearly enough when you look at the cost of housing in our town, Kim said.

Walkout

Gov. Dannel P. Malloy last year signed a bill to create a minority teacher recruitment task force and to require cultural competency training for teachers going through a certification program. U.S. Education Secretary John King Jr. visited Hartford last month to discuss diversity in schools.

The National Association for the Advancement of Colored People is planning a statewide school walkout on Sept. 19 to protest the lack of black and Hispanic teachers in Connecticut.

It makes it easier and more effective for (educators) to teach someone when they know about their culture, said Jack Bryant, president of the organizations Stamford chapter.

The NAACP has argued minority teachers make good role models, and they tend to have higher academic expectations for minority students, which results in better performance.

Bryant said the lack of diversity is not just a problem in schools. One of the main arguments in the national debate on police brutality is that police departments fail to reflect the racial makeup of a community.

Any profession needs some sort of mentorship, Bryant said. If they are familiar with (students) social issues, economic issues, the relationship will be a little better and they will understand the obstacles that students go through.

Living costs

Bryant, who recalls having only one nonwhite teacher when he attended Westhill High School in the 1970s, said there has been scant progress, and he has enlisted himself to help recruit minority teachers.

Stamford Board of Education President Geoff Alswanger said the district is working to create partnerships, such as the one with the NAACP, to help grow future teachers through high school programs.

We also need help in being able to provide affordable housing for beginning teachers, Alswanger said. While our salaries may be competitive within the Northeast, our cost of housing is not. Wouldnt it be great to have some of the affordable housing units set aside for shortage areas within teaching and other civil-service shortage positions?

Catalina Horak, executive director of the nonprofit Neighbors Link Stamford, said the disconnect between minority students and white teachers is not necessarily because of language barriers. Although more than 60 languages are spoken in the homes of Stamford public school students, many were born in America.

Its about understanding the culture, Horak said. Having those bicultural perspectives helps them connect with students better.

Staff writer Julia Perkins contributed to this report.

noliveira@hearstmediact.com, 203-964-2265, @olivnelson
NEWTOWN  Police have arrested a Stamford man who they say made a threatening phone call to Sandy Hook Elementary School last month.

Police arrested Pierre Beauvil, 28, of Euclid Avenue in Stamford, at about 2 p.m. Friday and charged him with breach of peace, harassment in the second degree and first-degree threatening after an exhaustive investigation, police said.
By Aravind Gowda: The Bengaluru police today arrested criminal David, who had escaped from the Bengaluru Central Jail on August 31. The government had suspended eight staff of the Central Jail on charges of dereliction of duty.



David was nabbed from his friend's home in Sanjaynagar in north of Bengaluru by the police. He was serving a 6-year prison sentence for petty crimes and was to complete his term in 60 days. He was mentally unstable and was being treated at NIMHANS.

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DAVID ESCAPED IN VEGETABLE TRUCK

The police initially suspected the role of the driver of the truck, who supplied vegetables to the jail every day. David had escaped from the jail by hiding in the truck. He managed to hoodwink the jail staff. The police, who grilled the driver, later monitored the movement of David's friends.



They eventually traced David in his friend's home in Sanjayanagar.

Also read:

Bengaluru: Convict escapes from Central Jail and cops have no clue how



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A new play about toilet attendants in a Woolwich nightclub has opened at the Theatre Royal Stratford East.

Counting Stars, the first show in a new season of theatre from playwright Atiha Sen Gupta, is set inside the toilets of a nightclub where Nigerian immigrants Sophie and Abiodun work, surviving on tips alone.

The play draws on immigrant experiences as it follows Sophie and Abioduns relationship during their busy Valentines Day shift at Club Paradise.

Director Pooja Ghai told London Live: Set in a nightclub in Woolwich, the story follows two loves and we are with them on their shift.

The whole night is building up to this surprise celebration of their one-year anniversary at the end.

The caveat is that their job in this club is as toilet attendants  its been really interesting to unearth these characters, to really talk about the political issue around it, ostensibly talking about immigration, racism, fear, judgement and the media.

Counting Stars centres on Sophie and Abiodun / London Live

And then to break it all away and come back to these characters, and find their love, heart, and soul.

Actor Estella Daniels, who plays Sophie, said: I would say its a love story  you meet these two characters in a world that we dont really explore that much.

Lanre Malaolu, who plays Abiodun, told London Live: Its very relevant I think in terms of stuff thats going on with Brexit and immigration  but it also explores one of the most important things we sometimes forget as a human race: just the human connection of things like love.

Counting Stars is on at Theatre Royal Stratford East until September 17.
W oody Allen works in a way unlike any other director, Jesse Eisenberg has said.

The Social Network star, who plays Bobby in Allen's latest film Cafe Society, said working with the Hollywood legend was dramatically different from his previous experiences of directors.

Set in 1930s LA, Cafe Society stars Eisenberg alongside Kristen Stewart, playing a secretary called Vonnie who breaks his heart.

Eisenberg said: Woody Allen is just so efficient and clever that hes able to make these wonderful movies in a way that no one else is working.

He shoots efficiently and yet the acting is wonderful and the film looks beautiful. He has just developed a process that I havent ever seen before.

I know when Im on a movie like a Batman movie, I have to pace myself in a way that I dont have to pace myself on a movie like Cafe Society where you get this one take of this five-page scene and you know that its only going to be in this one shot.

Cafe Society - Trailer

So you dont pace yourself  you give everything to this one shot.
H olborn might not be an area that most of us could afford to call home, but this West End district - which was recently rebranded Midtown by Boris Johnson - has long been an important commercial area for Londons media professionals.

Today, its main intersection Kingsway is a hive of activity, and these stunning black and white photos prove that this has always been the case: some of the earliest scenes in this gallery show a busy mix of horse drawn and motorised traffic weaving through pedestrians at rush hour in the 1920s.

From the familiar scenes of Christmas shoppers to customers crowding around a chestnut seller on the streets, plenty of the moments in this gallery are relatable to scenarios you might encounter in Holborn today.

But these fascinating photographs also highlight some of the characters that lived and worked in this neighbourhood over the past century.

Theres Ginger - the heaviest cat in London - being greeted by one of the staff at the restaurant where he lives

Ginger - the heaviest cat in London / Reg Speller/Fox Photos/Hulton Archive/Getty Images

Theres also 72-year-old Dolly Copsy who sells newspapers on her pitch in Kingsway in 1979. She spent over 64 years selling copies of the Evening Standard from her stall.

72-year-old newspaper seller Dolly Copsy / Evening Standard

Back in the 1960s, the Oasis lido proved to be a hotspot for young sunbathers, and in one photograph, a sun reveller is pictured doing a handstand with the Shaftesbury Theatre visible in the background

And it seems hard to believe now it ever happened, but in the 1950s Tommy Cooper was photographed wearing his trademark fez, riding a baby elephant through the streets of Holborn.

Want to see more of the area that Charles Dickens and William Morris called home?

These pictures span a period of five decades, taking us on a journey from the 1920s up until the 1970s.

Click through our gallery above to discover Holborn through the years.

Follow us on Twitter: @eslifeandstyle
P olice who seized a stolen moped in south east London left a cheeky note for the thief.

Officers in Greenwich borough came across the vehicle while working in Plumstead last night.

Before taking it away, they pinned up a note on a nearby lampost using police tape.

It read: "Bad luck. If you want to claim your stolen moped, come and see Sgt Cooley."

The note was even finished off with a smiley face.

Greenwich police tweeted a picture of the note this afternoon.

They wrote: "LPT Sgt recovers Stolen Moped, leaving a note for the criminal who tried to hide it #SgtCooleyIsWaiting"

Earlier this year, police in Camden performed a similar stunt when they found drugs stashed in a "hidey-hole" near the Grand Union canal.

Their note simply said: "Unlucky."
P olice want to trace a motorcyclist who stopped to help a family when they were hit by a car during a police chase in south London.

Child actor Makayah McDermott, 10, and his aunt Rosie Cooper, 34, died after they were hit by a Ford Focus as they walked to a Penge park.

Makayahs two sisters and Ms Coopers eight-year-old daughter were also injured and later released from hospital.

The twins were trapped underneath the black car but managed to crawl out when bystanders lifted the car off them.

Following the crash, police have launched a fresh appeal for witnesses.

Rozanne Cooper: Makayah's aunt also died / Facebook

In particular, detectives want to trace a motorcyclist who stopped to try and help the casualties.

He was white and was wearing a pair of shorts and a white crash helmet, police say.

An online fund-raising page in support of the family has raised just under 8,000.

Joshua Dobby, 23, of no fixed address, has been charged with two counts of causing death by dangerous driving.

He is also accused of one count of causing serious injury by dangerous driving, two counts of causing death by driving while unlicensed and uninsured, and two counts of aggravated vehicle-taking.

Anyone with information should call the Met's Roads and Transport Policing Command on 101 or call Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.
P olice officers screamed down their radios in a "chilling" call as they were assaulted in south-east London.

Two officers were attacked after responding to a call in Rushey Green, Catford, during last night's shift.

In a post on Twitter, Lewisham Police said: "The chilling moment you hear your friends and colleagues screaming down the radio calling for help as they are attacked...

"Two officers were assaulted as they responed to a request for help, regarding a fight, from members of the public in Rushey Green".

The @MPSLewisham account later posted an update to say the pair escaped with just "a few bumps to the head" from the ordeal.

It could not immediately be determined whether there were any arrests after the attack.
A man has been charged with attempted murder after a teenager was shot in the head in north London.

The 18-year-old was left critically ill in hospital after he was shot near his home in Turnpike Lane on Tuesday afternoon.

London's Air Ambulance landed in the middle of the junction with Wightman Road after the teenager's mother called emergency services to the scene.

Today, Denizen Karadag, of Boyton Road, Hornsey, was charged with attempted murder.

The 20-year-old is due to appear at Highbury Corner Magistrates' Court on Monday.

A second man, aged 20, was also arrested in Barking today on suspicion of the same offence.

He is currently in custody at a north London police station.
By Rohit Kumar Singh: Former Bihar deputy CM Sushil Modi has slammed the Bihar government after the National Crime Record Bureau released figures for the year 2015. He said the figures of the NCRB has exposed the state government's failure in controlling crime.

Modi said the state government was rejoicing at the moment as Bihar stands 22nd, much below other BJP ruled states as far as crime is concerned but pointed out that the state ranked two as far murders are concerned and number one in riots in the country.

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The BJP leader alleged that in the year 2015, Bihar ranked first in cases of riots with 13,311 incidents, second in cases of murder with 3,178 killings. Bihar also stood second in dowry deaths with 1,154 incidents and third in caste riots with 258 incidents taking place last year. With 1,609 kidnapping in 2015, the state ranked fourth in the country.

MODI SLAMS BIHAR FOR FAILING TO IMPOSE PROHIBITION



Modi lambasted the state for failing to impose prohibition in a strict manner. He said that though more than 14,000 persons have been arrested in last five months for violating prohibition. He said that huge recovery of liquor from various parts of the state on a daily basis highlighted that there was massive smuggling of liquor taking place in the state and the state has failed to put a stop on this.

"Despite prohibition imposed in the state, crime has increased in the month of June," said Modi.



Also read:

Bihar floods: Nitish may term Centre's financial aid as communal, says Sushil Modi

Bullet raj in Bihar

Is recent spate of crimes pushing Bihar back into dark ages?





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T wo people were injured after a bin lorry "lost control" near a west London farmers' market today.

Police said it was lucky no one was killed when the truck ran out of control as it was driven down Leeland Road this morning.

Vivien Boyes tweeted a photo of the beaten-up truck draped in police tape outside the Salvation Army building, close to Ealing Broadway

She wrote: "Bin lorry out of control in Leeland Terrace this morning alarmingly close to farmers' market."

Emergency services rushed to the scene at around 9.20am and the road was closed off for a short time by police.

Ealing police said two people were hurt in the collision, although they were not seriously injured.

One woman, believed to be in her 50s, was taken to a hospital in west London after the accident.

Ealing police tweeted: "2 persons injured after a truck loses control in West Ealing earlier today.

"Luckily no one seriously injured or killed #W13"

There have been no arrests.
A n elderly Polish couple who stunned clubbers when they danced at Londons Fabric until 5am have joined a campaign to save the superclub.

Nearly 110,000 people have now signed a petition to save the iconic Farringdon night spot, including top DJs and record labels.

The clubs licence was suspended last month following the drug-related deaths of two 18-year-old boys. Police launched an investigation and the club has carried out a review into its security.

But four months after Polish pensioners Wadysaw Nykiel, 82, and his wife Stanisawa Zapasnik, 79, danced all night at the popular club, they have now shown their support to the campaign to save it.

Clubber: DJ Jacob Hansen with the elderly couple / Jacob Hansen

The couple, from Warsaw, had been visiting their daughter in Watford and heard about Fabric from a newspaper review.

They bought 6 tickets to the underground house and techno party WetYourSelf, which runs every Sunday and drank tea while partying in the VIP area.

Fabric has earned support from high profile DJs as it faces the threat of closure

Now the couple, who are still in touch with Fabric resident DJ Jacob Hansen, have written a letter to Islington council in support of keeping Fabric open.

Mr Hansen posted a photo of elderly raver Mr Nykiel pointing to a sign saying #SaveFabric.

The DJ said: Bless him.

Wadysaw's wife is away at the moment but will apparently also be sending a picture in support.

I hope everyone who was touched or inspired by their story and shared it then will do so again, and sign our petition here.

Nearly 3,000 people have liked the photo on Facebook it has been shared over 800 times.

Ryan Vas wrote: Coolest thing Ive seen in years.

Rosie Joyce said: So cute. If that doesnt sway the verdict I dunno whats left.
A museum of curiosities in London is to close its doors for three years.

The Hunterian museum, whose exhibits include preserved foetuses, tumours and syphilitic skeletons, is to undergo a major refurbishment project from next Spring.

It is part of a wider plan to redevelop the Royal College of Surgeons (RCS buildings at Lincolns Inn Fields, to which the Hunterian belongs.

Celebrity illusionist Derren Brown was quick to react to the news, writing on Twitter that the Hunterian, which is free entry, is a favourite place.

He wrote: A favourite place. The Hunterian Museum is closing for 3 years.

The RCS redevelopment plans are still subject to planning permission, with public exhibitions to be held on September 13-14 and consultation to follow.

It will remain open until May 20, 2017 and then re-open in summer 2020.

According to the RCS, the current buildings, almost completely rebuilt following Second World War bomb damage, are uneconomical, inflexible, expensive to run and refurbish and an obstacle to future progress".

Nicola Kane, Media Relations Manager, said: We plan to transform our London base into a modern, light and flexible facility to provide the best possible education, examination and research facilities for the profession while embracing our prestigious heritage.

As well as modernising our inefficient and ageing estate, the redesign will reflect our changing functions as a home for surgical excellence in Britain and across the world in the 21st century.

We intend to minimise the impact of the redevelopment of the building to the services we provide to our members, customers and visitors, and we will continue to provide information on our website as the project progresses.

The museum also houses the full skeleton of the Irish giant Charles Byrne and various animal skulls as well as early anatomy tables and surgical equipment.
L abour leader Jeremy Corbyn will today promise to pump billions into towns in the south east of England if he wins power.

Mr Corbyn, who is fighting a leadership challenge from Owen Smith, is to pledge a 30 billion investment bank for the area, more emphasis on renewable energy for seaside towns and better broadband.

The embattled leader will announce the plans at a re-election campaign rally in Ramsgate in Kent today.

Mr Corbyn is expected to say he wants to bring back pride and prosperity in so-called left-behind Britain.

He will say: "For Ramsgate, like other coastal towns, that commitment to invest means opening up the opportunities that are there.

"We have huge natural resources in the UK, a world-beating history of scientific research and technological development - including for many years at the Sandwich centre, just down the road from here.

"And we have talent that is simply going to waste at present because of a lack of investment.

"We should be talking about how to restore pride and prosperity to those places in so-called left-behind Britain. But we won't get there with the failed old model.

He will cite Cornwalls 130 million project to bring superfast broadband as a good example  but will say the investment should be extended east to unlock potential in coastal towns.

"Small businesses in the South East have nearly 20 per cent of the national turnover, but receive only 13 per cent of bank lending. Our current banking system is letting our small businesses down.

"Labour will turn that around. With new institutions under local control, with a clear public interest mandate, we'll give real power back to local communities to determine their own futures to rebuild and transform Britain, to ensure that no-one and no community is left behind."
T his is the moment comedian Eddie Izzard grappled with a man who snatched his pink beret today as thousands took part in a pro-EU march through London.

Their bizarre scuffle took place during the March for Europe, an anti-Brexit rally through the capitals streets.

The man, who had a scarf covering his face, was wrestled to the ground by police after grabbing the comedians trademark headwear as the pair grappled in the street.

Officers sprang into action after the black-clad man appeared to race off clutching the hat.

Despite wearing a pair of high heels, Mr Izzard gave chase as the man who was pinned to the ground by a group of officers.

After catching up with them, the comedian calmly picked his bag up and adjusted the strap of his handbag.

Asked if he was ok, he muttered something before being led away by a friend.

Mr Izzard later addressed the crowds as thousands packed into Parliament Square, calling on the Government to protect their rights after the Brexit vote.

During his speech, he commended the police for apprehending the man who grabbed his hat.

When he left the stage, police officers sealed the brightly-coloured beret in an evidence bag.

He said afterwards: Somebody stole my hat. There were masked Brexit people, dark glasses, masked, skull teeth across.

"There was one guy, I was complaining about this to him, he went up and snatched my beret - which has a British flag and an EU flag on - and he marched off, he stole it."

Izzard said he "jumped on him to get it back and then he struggled more", saying that the police "did fantastic, there was an inspector, some other officers in there, they took him down".

He said: "I got my beret back, but it's gone off as evidence - my beret is now in evidence," adding: "I'm out, transgender for 31 years and if anyone steals my pink beret, I'll get it back."
A nationwide series of "march for Europe rallies" will demand keeping close ties with the continent.

On the anniversary of the outbreak of the Second World War on Saturday, demonstrations in London, Edinburgh, Birmingham, Oxford, and Cambridge, will demand a pause in the Brexit process.

The marches are aimed at rallying support for keeping tight economic, cultural, and social ties with the rest of Europe.

The protesters want to halt the Government formally invoking Article 50 of the Lisbon Treaty which triggers the two year deadline to withdrawal from the EU, and are backed by Labour's Chuka Umunna, co-leader of the Greens Caroline Lucas, and comedians Eddie Izzard and Josie Long.

Londoners react to Brexit: 'I'm upset, disappointed and disgusted'

The demonstrations are also calling for greater public consultation on every stage of the Brexit negotiations.

The rallies come after the Cabinet agreed immigration control would form a major part of Brexit negotiations, and ruled out a second referendum on the terms of withdrawal from the EU.

Activists in London were due to meet at Park Lane at 11am on Saturday, and will later arrive in Westminster.
T housands of protesters flooded the capitals streets this afternoon in support of the EU, but police were needed to keep them apart from pro-Brexit supporters.

Organisers of todays March for Europe hope it will increase pressure on the Government to delay activating Article 50, the formal process leading to Brexit.

Those addressing march included human rights campaigner Peter Tatchell, left-wing columnist Owen Jones and comedian Eddie Izzard.

At one stage of the protest, Izzard was involved in a bizarre scuffle with a man who snatched his pink beret before police stepped in.

Brexit: Leave supporters held a counter-protest / Chris Radburn/PA Wire

And a group of Brexit supporters taunted marchers from behind a police line, holding aloft Union Jack flags and signs saying "Hello brainwashed remainiacs".

Eddie Izzard's hat is stolen during a pro-EU march

A confrontation erupted in Whitehall when a cohort of Brexit campaigners yelled at the EU marchers as they passed each other in the street.

One group of men with hidden faces tried to block the passage of the march with a banner, but were moved aside by the blue-clad crowd.

Londoners react to Brexit: 'I'm upset, disappointed and disgusted'

Campaigners marched from Hyde Park and through Whitehall to the Houses of Parliament, where a debate on whether a second EU referendum should take place will be held on Monday.

It comes after an online petition garnered more than four million signatures after the vote to leave the EU in June, but an official Government response to the campaign said the Brexit decision "must be respected".

The demonstrations are also calling for greater public consultation on every stage of the Brexit negotiations.

Rally: One banner read "We're the 48%"

Simultaneous protests rallying support for keeping close economic, cultural and social links to Europe are taking place in Edinburgh, Birmingham, Oxford, and Cambridge.

Crowds: The rally went from Park Lane to Parliament Square / Chris Radburn/PA Wire

A sea of blue EU flags filled Parliament square shortly after 1pm, where protesters sang along to The Beatles' hit Hey Jude, replacing the title words instead with "EU".

Protesters held up banners with the words: We are European and Remain and reform the EU.

Others waved baguettes in the air, while some chose to have their face with the EUs blue and yellow flag.

But Leave voters have accused the marchers of sour grapes and wanting to overturn democracy.

March: Thousands joined the London protest / PA

Mr Jones said: In a democracy you don't get a situation when one person wins and everybody else shuts up and has to support them, we've all got to use our freedom of expression to have a say in this country and that's what this is about."

He added: "I think it's problematic arguing for a second referendum now. One side lost, relatively narrowly, but it was still a loss, you can't just have referendums until you get the right result.

"I think now the focus has to be on what the terms of Brexit currently are and that means people who voted remain having an input and being listened to, you don't have just one chunk of the country deciding our precise relationship with Europe and what Brexit means - all of us have to have that role as well."

LitcChick79 tweeted a picture of a blue EU armband, writing: The time is now. The 48% will never stop fighting for the Uks rightful place as a European nation.

New co-leader of the Green Party Caroline Lucas tweeted: Solidarity with #marchforeurope today - not about overturning referendum result but giving people right to a say on draft terms of #Brexit.
B ritish holidaymakers travelling will face travel chaos after French lorry drivers vowed to stage a huge protest over the Calais "Jungle" camp.

Shopkeepers, police, unionists and farmers are set to join hauliers in calling for the northern section of the camp at the French port to be demolished.

The protest, expected to take place on roads around the town on Monday, is likely to disrupt British cross-Channel travellers.

Talks took place between French organisers and French interior minister Bernard Cazeneuve on Friday.

Pressure has been growing on the French authorities to tackle the problem, which has seen the camp swell in size in recent months.

Jungle: An aerial view of the migrant camp in Calais (PA)

Despite efforts to reduce numbers by dismantling the slum's southern section earlier this year, up to 9,000 migrants from countries including Sudan, Syria and Eritrea are living there in squalor.

The Road Haulage Association (RHA) said it is disappointed that "despite assurances that the action by Calais hauliers would take the form of a go-slow, this now appears not to be the case".

RHA chief executive Richard Burnett said the organisation has spoken to a representative of the French road transport union, the FNTR, who said that on Monday at 7.30am (local time) lorries and tractors will be gathering at Dunkirk to the north of Calais and Bolougne to the south.

"Both groups will then travel along the A16 towards Calais, converging at the Eurotunnel exit," he said.

The RHA said 200 French farmers are joining in the protest, angry at migrant action that has resulted in destroyed crops and extensive damage to farms in the area.

Mr Burnett added: "It seems certain that traffic crossing from the UK will find it almost impossible to leave the port as access to the A16 is denied.

"The inevitable repercussions of this will surely mean that the authorities on this side of the Channel will have no alternative but to deploy Operation Stack. This will bring yet further misery to hauliers bound for mainland Europe and of course for the people and businesses of Kent."

Mr Burnett said: "It appears that the proposals made by the minister were not enough to placate local Calais businesses and hauliers. We have been told that those taking part in the protest are in it for the long haul and they will stay there until they see action to dismantle the camp."

The Freight Transport Association (FTA) said it had spoken "at length once again" on Saturday morning with David Sagnard - one of the protest organisers - and said he told them he is adamant that the blockade will go ahead as planned.

According to the FTA, Mr Sagnard said: "The meeting yesterday with Cazeneuve did not lead to any conclusions that the French hauliers could accept. We did not get anything new, and consider that what was said was empty promises with no timetables to actually clear the Jungle camp.

"Cazeneuve wasn't convincing enough and so we will still go ahead with the protest - nothing has changed and the blockade will be happening exactly as planned and nothing will deter us from it."

People traffickers are reported to be going to extreme lengths in Calais in their efforts to reach the UK, with reports of vehicles being torched, petrol bombs thrown and trees being cut down to block roads before drivers are threatened with chainsaws and machetes.

Gangs are paid thousands of pounds by vulnerable people to get them to Calais, from where some are smuggled to Britain to work to pay off huge debts to people traffickers.

Additional reporting by the Press Association.
A Japanese man who was mauled by a 6ft bear escaped by using his karate skills.

Atsushi Aoki, 63, was fishing in a mountain creek when he came face-to-face with the enormous Asian black bear in an unprovoked attack.

The 6ft 3in animal knocked fisherman Mr Aoki to the ground, turned him over and bit him on the leg.

But instead of trying to outrun it, Mr Aoki decided to use his karate skills to fight the bear. He hit out at the bears eyes and sent it running back into the woods.

"I thought it's either 'I kill him or he kills me,'" Mr Aoki told public broadcaster NHK.

Despite injuries to his head, arm and leg, he managed to hobble back to his car and drive to a hospital northwest of Tokyo.

A local police officer told AFP: "He drove himself to hospital, and he even remembered to grab the fish that he had caught.

Japanese media picked up Mr Aokis story and called it a triumph of man versus nature. But authorities in the country have warned against relying on karate when coming face-to-face with the animals.
T he father, ex-husband and uncle of a British woman raped and murdered in an alleged "honour killing" have all been arrested..

Samia Shahid, 28, from Bradford, was visiting family in July when she was found dead of what were initially assumed to be natural causes, and buried in a local cemetery in the village of Pandori in the Pakistan's eastern Punjab province.

But a fresh inquiry was ordered after her husband Syed Mukhtar Kazam publicly accused her family of killing her because they opposed Mrs Shahid's decision to divorce her first husband in 2014 and marry him.

The police inquiry concluded that Mrs Shahid had been strangled and her first husband Choudhry Shakeel has been detained.

Her father has also been detained by police, after his daughter was allegedly lured to Pakistan on the pretext he was seriously ill.

And her uncle, named as Haq Nawaz, is understood to have been held by police on suspicion of falsifying medical files, according to the BBC.

On Saturday Pakistani police spokeswoman Nabila Ghazanfar said a forensic examination confirmed the victim was raped before her death.

She also said a local police chief has been suspended for mishandling the case, and allowing Mrs Shahid's mother and sister to flee the country.

Investigators are seeking their return for questioning.

Mrs Shahid married her second husband in Leeds in September 2014 after she left her first husband, who was a cousin from Pakistan.

Mr Kazam said his wife moved to live with him in Dubai last year but had made trips to the UK to talk to her parents about the relationship and went to Pakistan on July 14 after being told her father was ill.

He said his wife had been healthy and he did not believe her family's initial claims that she died naturally.

An estimated 1,000 women are killed every year by family members in so-called "honour killings" in Pakistan.



Additional reporting by the Press Association.
According to Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar's guidelines, flood relief camps are supposed to provide food and clothes to flood-hit victims, but not many officials are sticking by it.

By Rohit Kumar Singh: Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar had issued clear guidelines as far as flood management and relief camps are concerned as several people got displaced recently due to one of the worst floods that hit the state since 2008.

After the Kosi floods of 2008, Nitish Kumar had prepared a standard operating procedure to provide relief to flood victims. According to the guidelines, flood victims should be provided food at relief camps in steel plates, water in steel glasses, a steel mug is to be given to them along with a plastic cover for shelter. Apart from this women are to be provided with a saree and men with lungi and a towel.

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Just when people in Bihar started to get displaced by recent floods as their houses got submerged under swelling Ganga, this guidelines was again issued by Nitish Kumar and all districts were directed to follow it.

However, there are relief camps in many parts of the state which are choosing to ignore the chief minister's guidelines.



WHO FOLLOWS THE GUIDELINES

Katihar, which is one of the worst affected district in the floods, there are relief camps that have been set up by the government to provide food and other relief material to flood victims but the fact is that food and water at relief camps are provided in paper plates and plastic glasses. Also women and men are not given sarees, lungis and towels respectively.

"We have been provided nothing by the government. We are simply provided food in paper plates and water in plastic glasses. Even sarees have not been given to us," said a flood victim at Dumar relief camp in Katihar.

But what comes as a shocker is a visit to local Kursela block office, just about 12 kms from Dumar relief camp.

India Today while doing a reality check on state of relief camps in Katihar found that at this office, thousands of sarees, steel plates, steel glasses, plastic covers, towels have been lying stocked. In fact steel mugs, food items like salt and plastic covers were found lying out in the open. It may be noted that Katihar has been experiencing rainfall in last 24 hours and the utensils meant for food victims were lying under open sky and rusting.

"Massive bungling of relief material has been taking place at this block office. Items which are going out of the block office are being sold in the open markets," alleged, Vinod Jha, a local leader.

The in charge of this block office also admits that there was mismanagement because of which many flood relief material was lying in the open.

"The block office in Kursela is very small and therefore there is a problem stocking relief material. So few things are lying in the open," informed Dheer Balak Rai, Circle Officer, Kursela.

Also Read

Tejaswi Yadav directs officials to maintain transparency in relief distribution to flood victims



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As a mark of protest, the BJP has decided to hold a hartal from 6 am to 6 pm tomorrow.

Vineesh was rushed to the hospital by the police but was declared brought dead.

By Revathi Rajeevan: A BJP worker was today hacked to death in Thillankery in Kannur district of Kerala.

The deceased, 25-year-old Vineesh, was found grievously injured near Thillankery panchayat office at around 8 pm today. The victim was rushed to the hospital by the police but was declared brought dead.

As a mark of protest, the BJP has decided to hold a hartal from 6 am to 6 pm tomorrow.

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The incident came an hour after a bomb was hurled at a car, in which a CPM worker was traveling, two kilometres away. Jijo was admitted to AKG hospital in Kannur.

"We were at the spot where the bomb was hurled. That's when we heard about an injured person in Thillankery. We found him with serious head and leg injuries," Circle Inspector Sajesh said.

Primary investigations revealed that the attacks are political and retaliatory, police said.



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By PTI: New Delhi, Sep 3 (PTI) CBI today carried out searches at 20 locations including the residences of former Haryana Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda in a case of alleged irregularities in acquisition of land in Gurgaon in which farmers were cheated to the tune of Rs 1,500 crore.

The search operation also covered the residential premises of UPSC member Chattar Singh who was then Additional Private Secretary to Hooda, CBI sources said.

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Besides Hoodas residence in Rohtak and Chandigarh, the premises of IAS officers--Additional Transport Secretary Haryana, S S Dhillon (then Director Town and country Planning), the then Principal Secretary of Hooda, M L Tayal (now retired)--were also searched in the operation spread across multiple cities, they said.

During the searches at Hoodas residence, CBI has found "fund transaction details worth crores of rupees" which are being scrutinised by the agency.

The sources said the agency team also searched premises of ABW Infrastructure Limited, its founder Director Atul Bansal in Rajokri and his brother Amit Bansal in Gurgaon was also covered in the operation resulting in the recovery of 22 items of forensic importance.

The role of firms associated with the builder like Innovative Infra Developers, Flair Private Limited among others is also under the scanner of the agency.

"In an ongoing investigation, CBI carried out searches at 20 locations in Rohtak, Gurgaon, Panchkula and Delhi in connection with allegedirregularitiesin the purchase of land from farmers in Gurgaon," CBI Spokesperson R K Gaur said.

The agency had registered the case last year in Septemberon allegations that private builders in conspiracy with unknown public servants of the Haryana government had purchased around 400 acres of land from farmers and land owners of village Manesar, Naurangpur and Lakhnoula, district Gurgaon at throw away prices, showing the threat of acquisition by the government, during the period of August 27, 2004 to August 24, 2007.

It was alleged that a loss of Rs 1,500 crore was caused to the land owners of village Manesar, Naurangpur and Lakhnoula of Gurgaon. (MORE) PTI ABS SRY RG SRY

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Cornell Wilson Jr. told a group of ROTC cadets to find their passion in life.

Wilson, the secretary of the N.C. Department of Military and Veterans Affairs, spoke to the South Iredell High School cadets last week, talking about the importance of education and the need to give back.

Wilson is a retired general from the U.S. Marine Corps. He took over the position of secretary of the states department of military and veterans affairs in 2015. He served 38 years in the Marines, including commanding a joint task force of coalition partners in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom based in Kuwait in 2003.

After earning a degree in chemistry from the University of South Carolina, Wilson received a commission in the Marine Corps through the Navy ROTC program.

He said the Marines provided the passion in his life, and he encouraged the young men and women sitting in front of him in the gymnasium at South Iredell to do the same.

Wilson offered a few other pieces of advice to the cadets, urging them to practice preparation and philanthropy in their lives.

He talked about taking command of the coalition partners task force in 2003. Wilson said he was in a situation of working with personnel from many different countries and dealing with a language barrier. He said preparation helped him deal with the challenges of the task force. They all served very well and they all went home, he said.

Philanthropy, he said, has always been a part of his life and he recommended the students do the same. If you cant give money, give of your talent and your time, he said. Wilson said he is a strong supporter of the U.S. Marine Corps Toys for Tots Foundation.

He said his strong belief in philanthropy is part of the motivation behind his visit to South. Somebody helped me out and I want to do the same, he said.
Local election officials are expecting large crowds at the polls, a normal occurrence during presidential election years, according to Iredell County Board of Elections Director Becky Galliher.

There are also a number of high-profile state and local races on the ballot.

Local races include three open seats on the Iredell County Board of Commissioners. Candidates for those seats include Republicans Gene Houpe, Tommy Bowles Jr., Jeffrey McNeely and Democrats Diane Hamby, Scott Kazura and Xavier Zsarmani.

The Iredell-Statesville Schools Board of Education will have elections in three districts.

Republican William Howell and Democrat Nickey Mott are running in District 2. Republican Doug Knight and Democrat Chuck Gallyon are running in District 4. Republican Charles Kelly and Democrat LaVerne Zachary will face off for District 6.

Other notable races include 10th and 13th U.S. Congressional Districts. Voters will also choose the next North Carolina governor, attorney general and secretary of state, among other state posts.

Seats for the N.C. 34th and 44th Senate Districts, as well as the state 84th and 95th Congressional Districts will also be up for grabs.

Galliher reminded voters about the recent U.S. Supreme Court ruling that photo IDs are no longer required to vote.

Voters are only required to state their name and address at the polls this fall, but Galliher said voters are still encouraged to bring their ID because it can help make the check-in process go more smoothly, especially for voters with longer names or addresses, she said.

We will not deny anyones ID or tell them to put it away, Galliher said.

KEY ELECTION DATES

 Sept. 9: Absentee voting by mail begins.

 Oct. 14: Voter registration and party change deadline. This includes voters who have changed addresses or names.

 Oct. 20: One-stop early voting begins. Voters can visit any polling location including the Iredell County Board of Elections office in Statesville.

 Nov. 1: Last day to request an absentee ballot by mail.

 Nov. 5: One-stop voting ends.

 Nov. 8: Last day to return an absentee ballot by mail.

 Nov. 8: Election Day. Voters must vote at their assigned polling location.

WANT TO LEARN MORE?

Voters can check their registration, view sample ballots and learn assigned polling places at www.co.iredell.nc.us/162/elections

Voters can also call the board of elections office at 704-878-3140.
David Ronaldo and Maurice Perron came to the Harold Littlefield Chapter of the Disabled American Veterans armed with files of paperwork.

The two men were among about two dozen veterans who attended the DAVs open house late last month on Bakery Lane. The event also featured the Veterans Administration mobile unit.

Rolando said he was trying to get assistance for a disability claim. He served during Desert Storm in 1991.

Perron, who served from 1965 to 1969, was also looking for help navigating the ins and outs of VA paperwork for a disability claim.

Charles Neal, past commander of the DAV, said that was the goal of the open house. The VA mobile unit personnel help veterans with filling out paperwork and other claims issues. Having a service officer trained to fill these forms is a big help, Neal said.

The state wanted to bring the unit to the chapter and members decided it would be a good time to invite people in to learn about the DAV, Neal said.

The DAV organization lobbies harder than any other veterans organization for veterans and their families, he said.

The DAV chapter is hoping to gain new members, particularly those from the Iraq and Afghanistan eras. It is also actively seeking women members.

The organization opted to change its meeting date from 6 p.m. the first Thursday of each month to 1 p.m. on the first Saturday and that has paid off, Neal said. People started coming back, he said.
The Chinese parliament today ratified the Paris agreement on climate change. The announcement came as leaders from G20 began to arrive in the country for a summit.

An elderly exercises in the morning as he faces chimneys emitting smoke behind buildings in China; Photo: Reuters

By Reuters: China's parliament today ratified the Paris agreement on climate change, the Xinhua state news agency said, which could help put the pact into force by as early as the end of the year.

The standing committee of China's National People's Congress voted to adopt "the proposal to review and ratify the Paris Agreement" at the closing meeting of a week-long session, the news agency said.

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The announcement came as leaders from the world's 20 biggest economies, the Group of 20 (G20), began to arrive in the Chinese city of Hangzhou for a summit on Sunday and Monday.

US TO FOLLOW SUIT

The G20 nations are responsible for about 80 percent of global carbon emissions.

The United States, the second biggest emitter, is also set to ratify the agreement in a bid to put the deal into legal force before the end of the year.

Nearly 200 countries agreed in Paris in December on a binding global compact to slash greenhouse gas emissions and keep global temperature increases to "well below" 2 degrees Celsius.

Experts have said the temperature target is already in danger of being breached, with the U.N. weather agency saying that 2016 is on course to be the warmest since records began, overtaking last year.

55 NATIONS HAVE STILL NOT RATIFIED THE AGREEMENT

While 180 countries have now signed the agreement, 55 nations - covering at least 55 percent of global emissions - need to formally ratify the treaty to put it into legal effect.

Before China, 23 nations had ratified it - including North Korea - but they collectively accounted for just 1.08 percent of global emissions, according to the U.N. Framework Convention on Climate Change.

China is responsible for just over 20 percent of global emissions while the United States covers another 17.9 percent. Russia accounts for 7.5 percent, with India pushing out 4.1 percent.

Countries that ratify the deal will have to wait for three years after it has gone into legal force before they can begin the process of withdrawing from it, according to the agreement signed in Paris last year.



Also Read

Paris accord may be in force this yr: US climate change envoy



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In 1888, Swedish playwright August Strindberg wrote the searing Miss Julie, a story of class and sexual struggle that remains a masterpiece of naturalistic theater.

In 2014, Pittsburgh playwright Mark Clayton Southers wrote Miss Julie, Clarissa and John, a drastically revised adaptation in which conflicts of class and sexual authority are amplified by race. In March, it opened to great reviews at the Pittsburgh Playwrights Theatre Company, which Southers founded in 2003. Now it debuts here, the opening production in the Black Reps 40th anniversary season.

The two plays have a lot in common. Both take place in the kitchen at a great house in 1888  one at the estate of a Swedish count, the other on a Virginia plantation. Both have three characters: Miss Julie, the privileged, headstrong daughter of the master, a servant with a top position in the household (a valet called Jean by Strindberg, a butler called John by Southers), and a cook (Strindbergs Christine, or Kristin, is Southers Clarissa). The two servants have been involved romantically for some time. But on the night when the play takes place, Miss Julie disastrously decides that she wants the man for herself.

Southers is not the first playwright to see the possibilities of adaptation. Versions of Miss Julie have been staged in Moscow, London, Cape Town and elsewhere. In fact, it was such an adaptation, in Dublin, that brought Miss Julie to Southers attention in the first place.

I saw Miss Julie at an Irish theater festival, recalls the playwright, 54. I had never even read it! This was an adaptation by (Irish playwright) Frank McGuinness. Until then, I did not even know you could adapt other peoples plays. But thats a big thing in Europe, and I watched the play with that in mind.

It might seem strange that he took so long to discover Miss Julie, a foundation stone of modern drama. But hes an exception to a lot of rules.

I have no formal training in theater, explains Southers, not only a playwright but a director, producer and scenic designer. To hear him tell it, his trajectory changed almost by accident.

Originally a photographer and then a steelworker, Southers had been hired by another theater company to take pictures of its shows. At a rehearsal, the director asked him to sit in for an actor who wasnt there and read his role.

The next thing he knew, hed been cast in a play, and his career took off in a new direction. Southers, his wife, Neicy, and their children live in Pittsburghs Hill District, the historic African-American neighborhood where the late playwright August Wilson grew up and where most of his plays are set. Pittsburgh Playwrights is one of the few theaters to have staged all the plays in Wilsons Pittsburgh Cycle; the Black Rep is another.

As soon as he saw the Dublin production, I thought, I could easily see this take place on a plantation, Southers says. Although he kept the kitchen setting and the character structure of Strindbergs play, he also added a few twists. In particular, he enlarged the role of the cook considerably, making Clarissa fully fleshed out. In some ways, the play is really about her. He also introduced an unseen fourth character, always offstage but an influence on the others.

He also kept the original time, 1888. Thats very important, says Andrea Frye, who directs the production here. (Frye, who has often acted with the Black Rep, conceived and directed its marvelous 2011 production of Shakespeares Pericles.) Southers play, she says, takes place somewhere between heaven and hell in the no-mans-land of post-Civil War Virginia.

At that time and place, the South during Reconstruction, Miss Julie and others of her class continue to assert their authority. But John, once a slave himself, and Clarissa, the daughter of a slave, are right there, part of a cultural shift of enormous consequence. The dynamics are changing before the characters eyes (and before the audiences eyes, too).

Miss Julie, Clarissa and John considers many issues that remain consequential  sex and economics and class. Monteze Freeland, who directed the Pittsburgh premiere, sums it up: This is a play about power. And about what happens when you arent sure who has it. Thats a question, Frye agrees, that we still struggle with today.
By PTI: Bhopal, Sep 3 (PTI) Cow vigilantes today torched a truck carrying chicken feed, and beat up the owner of the vehicle suspecting that it was carrying beef, at Zhora village, 40 km from here.

Following the incident, Bablu Thakur (22) and Gaurav Thakur (24) were arrested, local police inspector H C Ladiya told PTI. "We have lodged case against 15 persons. Two were arrested and the rest are being identified," he said.

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Asked to comment on media reports that said the accused were Bajrang Dal workers, Ladiya said he did not know about it. "We are going to take tough action in the case," he added.

The truck, carrying raw chicken feed and headed for Manpur in Uttar Pradesh, developed a snag at Zhora village. Its owner Rajesh Jain, resident of Dholpur in Rajasthan, asked his driver to fetch a mechanic, the inspector said.

But the stench raised due to dry animal bones and organs like intestines used in the preparation of chicken feed, attracted the attention of some locals.

They suspected that the truck was carrying beef out of Bhopal and knocked on its door. Jain, who was sleeping in the cabin, got down from the other side. The crowd got hold of him and bashed him.

Within minutes, kerosene was brought, poured on the truck and it was set on fire, inspector Ladiya said. A patrolling police jeep reached the spot about the same time and alerted the Bairasia police station and the fire brigade.

Police rushed there along with fire tenders and swiftly brought the situation under control, Ladiya said. The fire only damaged cabin of the truck before it was put out and Jain had been slapped only once and did not sustain injury, he added.

"We have booked the accused under sections 147 (rioting), 149 (unlawful assembly), 323 (voluntary causing hurt), 506 (criminal intimidation), 427 (mischief) and 436 (mischief caused by fire and explosive) and other sections of IPC," the inspector added. PTI LAL KRK BSA

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In August of last year, Deangelo Huffman pleaded guilty to two counts of driving on a revoked license and one count of possession of a controlled substance. He got four years. Before receiving that sentence, he had received a harsher one  a diagnosis of terminal lung cancer.

He is now in hospice care at the Jefferson City Correctional Center.

The Missouri Department of Corrections has had a small, almost informal, hospice program for almost 20 years, but last year, with an eye on an aging inmate population, the department decided to expand the program. Last spring, the department began offering a course on hospice care. Now there are more than 300 inmate hospice care workers in the prison system.

Theyre volunteers. They assist the patients however they can. Perhaps their most important job is just to be there for them. They do their hospice work in addition to having more standard prison jobs.

Kindness in unexpected places. I like that kind of thing. I asked the department if I could visit a hospice unit and talk with a patient and a worker.

Annie Herman, a medical unit manager at the prison in Jefferson City, took me to the infirmary where the hospice patients reside. There are currently seven of them. Six have chosen the relative privacy of small, spartan cells. These are not the old-fashioned barred cells of James Cagney movies. Think, instead, of a heavy iron door with a small plexiglass window.

Huffman has not opted for a room of his own. He has chosen to stay in a ward with four beds. On the day I visited, though, he had the ward to himself.

He was not in the ward when Herman and I arrived. He was outside having a smoke. A few minutes later, an inmate caretaker, Robert Cochran, brought Huffman, who was in a wheelchair, into the ward.

If you imagine a hospice care patient in prison, you might think of an older man serving a long sentence. Huffman is 50, and as I mentioned, he is doing a four-year sentence for relatively minor offenses. But multiply those offenses a few times and you have a summary of his life. Convictions for drugs and alcohol-related offenses, short stints in prison, paroles, parole revocations and more short stints in prison. A life sentence on the installment plan, they call it.

Cochran is 38. He was raised in Kansas City. On the day after his 18th birthday, he killed a man during an interrupted burglary. He received a life sentence, but with the possibility of parole. He was sent to the old Missouri State Penitentiary, also known as The Walls. Sonny Liston did time there. So did James Earl Ray, who escaped from MSP a year before killing Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

In his early time at MSP, Cochran mopped floors in the prison infirmary. He said that some of the guys were just lying in bed and staring out the windows. He said he began coming back to the infirmary in his off time, playing chess and talking to the guys.

MSP was shut down in 2004 and Cochran was transferred to the new Jefferson City Correctional Center where he volunteered to become a hospice care worker.

He also currently works in the graphics arts department, making stickers for the license plates that are made in another workshop in the prison.

Huffman is from Hayti, a small city in the Bootheel. He still has family there. He said he is close to an aunt and a half-sister. Neither visit because of the distance  310 miles or so  but both accept his collect calls, he said. Cochran nodded in affirmation.

All hospice workers care for all the hospice patients, and I wasnt able to get much of a feel for the strength of the relationship between Cochran and Huffman, but they have more in common than just being locked up. Both were raised by their maternal grandmothers. Cochran said his mother was in and out of trouble during his youth. Huffman said his mother was in prison for killing her boyfriend.

I tried to steer the conversation toward thoughts about mortality, but Huffman seemed reluctant to go too far in that direction. Its hard to think about death only if youre not ready, he said in a way that suggested he was quite ready.

Cochran was more helpful. He said some men wanted to talk about those things and some didnt. That makes sense. A man dying in prison, perhaps estranged from his family, has a lot to ponder.

Guys ask me, Will God forgive me? I always say yes, said Cochran.

Kindness in unexpected places.
The gunman was identified as Orlando Harris, 19, a recent graduate of the school. One survivor heard him say he was 'tired of everybody' in the school and that his gun jammed at one point.
MINNEAPOLIS  A black man who was shot by a Minnesota police officer in July will be laid to rest Saturday in St. Louis.

A memorial service for Philando Castile will be held at 9 a.m. Saturday at Ronald L. Jones Funeral Chapels in St. Louis. It will be followed by a funeral procession to Calvary Cemetery.

The 32-year-old Castile died July 6 after a St. Anthony police officer shot him during a traffic stop. Video of the shooting's gruesome aftermath was streamed live online by Castile's girlfriend, who said Castile was shot after he told the officer he was armed and had a permit to carry.

Authorities are investigating.

Castile was originally from St. Louis. A relative said moved from the area as a boy.

Also Saturday, community members in Minnesota are gathering at the site of Castile's shooting to demand justice for Castile and others killed by police.
While the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency moves forward with a new study to address radioactive waste at West Lake Landfill, critics say the federal agency is not paying sufficient attention to groundwater as a potential pathway for contamination. They also doubt the EPA has a clear understanding of the extent of contamination, given its failure to conduct a grid survey of the site.

Those concerns, which were voiced at a recent EPA-hosted meeting in Bridgeton, underpin the growing frustration with the agencys oversight of the matter  and the reason there are continuing calls for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to step in and assume control of the cleanup at the Superfund site in north St. Louis County.

Public pressure surrounding the cleanup process has intensified in recent years, after the detection of an underground fire in the adjacent Bridgeton Landfill in late 2010. According to EPA personnel, the fire peaked in 2013 but is currently smoldering more than 700 feet from any radioactive waste.

All those factors contribute to the uncertainty that has characterized West Lakes cleanup for years. Nearly a decade after the EPAs initial 2008 decision to place a cover over the unlined landfills radioactive contents, questions and concerns linger about what approach will ultimately be adopted at the site. Capping the landfill is still a possibility, but the EPA is also evaluating options for excavating the radioactive materials that were dumped there in the early 1970s.

The extent of excavation  how much contaminated material is dug up and removed  is one of the key decisions regional EPA officials are currently weighing. One option on the table is to partially excavate the landfill by digging to a maximum depth of 16 feet in a targeted area to remove the bulk of known radioactive contamination.

But community members at the Aug. 15 meeting in Bridgeton questioned whether some of the remediation proposals under consideration are broad enough, and by a show of hands, they overwhelmingly endorsed full excavation, the most comprehensive and expensive alternative.

I will tell you that the people I represent do not want anything short of a full excavation, said Doug Clemens, the chairman of the West Lake Community Advisory Group, one of many local organizations at the meeting.

Mapping the contamination

Others echoed that call, expressing concerns about what could be left behind in a partial excavation scenario. They argue that the EPA does not fully know the whereabouts of the sites radioactive waste, citing past examples of radioactivity being detected in unexpected areas of the landfill. Earlier this year, for instance, the agency said new mapping efforts identified radioactive material 600 feet farther south than previously believed.

A scientific study published in December also indicated that radon gas is migrating off-site, based on nearby traces of its radioactive isotope byproduct, lead-210.

While EPA officials acknowledge that a few cases (have) extended the boundaries of previously identified (radiologically impacted material), they said they have full confidence that the locations of radioactivity have now been mapped through targeted sampling of the site. The agency said it is confident that untested areas are not affected through a combination of aerial photos and other information that show the history of the landfill and by extrapolating the likelihood of further contamination based on swaths where testing has occurred.

Given past oversights, however, citizens have pressed for the entire landfill to be tested for radioactivity, with samples being taken from each section of an all-encompassing grid. EPA officials maintain that grid testing is not a necessary precaution.

While exceeding safety thresholds in many cases, the levels of contamination that have been identified have thus far been low enough that some experts have discounted the immediate risk to the public. They say the chances of the radioactivity causing cancer are low and would require ingesting or inhaling significant amounts of contaminated soil. But each new report suggesting that the full extent of the contamination has not been fully disclosed feeds public skepticism about the governments response.

The fact that they havent grid-tested the landfill is way up there on the list of concerns, said Ed Smith, policy director of the Missouri Coalition for the Environment. Theyre confident in a system thats failed them, and thats whats frustrating.

Beyond how much of the site is excavated, community members worry that groundwater contamination is being overlooked by current cleanup plans under consideration. The landfill is not lined by clay or other barriers and sits atop a porous layer of gravel, known as alluvium, in the flood plain of the Missouri River.

In its 2008 decision to cap the landfill, the EPA did not identify groundwater as a pathway for contamination at the site. While responding to public comments that year, the agency indicated that groundwater testing showed no evidence of significant leaching and migration of radionuclides from the landfill.

Leached barium sulfate  one of the landfills primary radioactive pollutants  is not water soluble. An estimated 8,700 tons of leached barium sulfate was added to the landfill in 1973, getting mixed with about 38,000 tons of soil used to cover trash.

But community members say other pollutants are originating from the landfill, pointing to unsafe levels of radium in 15 to 20 nearby groundwater wells.

The EPA and the state of Missouri are now routinely testing groundwater wells at and around the landfill complex. The states right to perform the tests was upheld in a court ruling on Thursday, Aug. 25, after Republic Services, the operator of the Bridgeton Landfill, had sought to block their efforts, arguing that jurisdiction belonged to the EPA.

Starting earlier this year, the EPA designated groundwater as its own operable unit of the landfill, devoting specific attention to how it is potentially affected. While the designation is awaiting approval from other parties responsible for the sites cleanup, EPA officials said they always intended to devote further analysis to groundwater. They were also encouraged to do so by a 2014 report from the U.S. Geological Survey, EPA officials said.

But the process of gathering groundwater data and assessing risks is likely years away from completion.

Correct, permanent results

Although patience is wearing thin for some members of the public, others say the slow process of identifying a cleanup plan is understandable and even tolerable  as long as a permanent solution is reached.

They heard what the community wants, which isnt fast results, necessarily. Its correct, permanent results, said Dawn Chapman, co-founder of Just Moms STL, a group advocating for local citizens.

Chapman worries that the EPA is damned if they do, or damned if they dont, thanks to the sites complications and what she believes are limitations of the Superfund system.

As she sees it, the agency could resolve contamination concerns by pursuing full excavation rather than other alternatives. But doing so would be a much costlier endeavor that she feels could lead to a legal clash between the agency and the parties responsible for the Superfund sites management and cleanup costs.

Those entities, formally identified as Potentially Responsible Parties, include Republic Services, the U.S. Department of Energy and Cotter Corp., a uranium mining company formerly owned by the energy corporation, Exelon. After selling Cotter in 2000, Exelon agreed to retain cleanup costs associated with West Lake. Republic Services and the Department of Energy are liable through either subsidiaries or historic predecessors.

With feasibility analysis ongoing, the EPA declined to provide a current estimate of excavation costs. Previous indications from 2011 suggested that costs for full excavation could exceed $400 million and may take decades, but that projected time frame was stretched by annual caps on cleanup spending. Now, the EPA has asked the Potentially Responsible Parties not to submit any cleanup proposals limited by yearly budget constraints.

At least one of those parties still favors the originally proposed solution.

We believe, and the science reaffirms, that a cap is ultimately the best outcome for Bridgeton, said Russ Knocke, Republic Services vice president for communications and public affairs.

He said the daunting costs and logistics of full excavation would present prolonged risks to workers and said that exposing the landfills contents would attract animals, including birds which could interfere with air traffic at nearby Lambert-St. Louis International Airport. That claim is disputed by others, who argue that there are ways to effectively control birds and that the landfill is mostly outside the area of concern for aviation.

But then theres the question of where the waste ends up.

Where does the excavated material go? Knocke asks. Thats going to involve a lot of movement that disrupts communities.

Cotter Corp. echoed support for an approach based on sound science that aims to protect the people who live and work in the area, but did not advocate for a specific cleanup strategy. The Department of Energy, the sites other Potentially Responsible Party, did not respond to requests for comment.

Different from Weldon Spring

Some community members have invoked Weldon Spring, a St. Charles County Superfund site containing radioactive material, as a possible model for West Lake to emulate. Weldon Springs waste was fully encased by barriers, rather than only capped.

Theyre distinctly different, said Brad Vann, the EPA official overseeing West Lake, comparing the situations at the two sites. Weldon was a completely different operation.

Vann said a similar method of entombment and on-site disposal was considered for West Lake in a 2011 report. That approach is not being currently considered, EPA officials say.

Collectively, concerns about the EPAs ability to promptly handle West Lake cleanup have led to a growing chorus calling for management to shift to the Corps of Engineers. Local congressional Reps. Ann Wagner, R-Ballwin, and William Lacy Clay, D-St. Louis, have co-sponsored federal legislation that would mandate a switch, earning support from many organizations following West Lake. The proposal has stalled in a House committee after passing the Senate this year.

Im less interested in assigning blame and more interested in making sure that the best possible government entity is in charge of decision-making at this site, said Smith, who supports the bill and argues that the St. Louis District of the Corps of Engineers has more experience dealing with radioactive waste than EPA Region 7.

EPA Region 7 personnel declined to comment on the legislation, but referred to a statement resisting the measure from the corps itself. In a document released in July, Karen Baker, chief of the corps environmental division, said transferring control would likely further unnecessarily delay the cleanup of the site and it will saddle the general taxpayer with the cost of cleanup and cost recovery as compared to the Potentially Responsible Parties at the site.

Looking forward, the EPA is aiming to pick a strategy for the sites cleanup by the end of the year. Before that time, a draft of a feasibility study is expected to emerge, outlining the details associated with various cleanup options.

The EPAs original 2008 decision to cap the landfill and leave its contents in place was never acted on amid public backlash and further studies by an internal review group called the National Remedy Review Board.

The review boards findings were finalized in 2013 but first made public in June. The report notably determined that removal of the sites most potent radioactivity would be feasible, meriting consideration along with the capping technique proposed originally.
NEW YORK  The hero, a police inspector, prowls a city known more for its political malevolence than its street crime. If you read the local newspapers, you could think its a city with almost no crime at all. There have been no murders reported there for years, no bank robberies, no muggings, no rapes.

The city is Pyongyang, the North Korean capital, which has long been hidden beneath layers of propaganda and isolation.

The hero is Inspector O, a policeman who knows those realities. And so does the policemans creator, the bearded man in the crowded Manhattan restaurant who calls himself James Church.

Church doesnt want you to know his real name, his nationality or the name of the organization where he worked for so many years. All hell say is that he was raised in California, that he spent decades watching North Korea as an intelligence officer for a Western country, and that he traveled there dozens of times.

Church has also, in novels about a tormented Pyongyang police inspector who loves his country despite its many failings, found a way to write about the country he studied for so long.

Inspector O  his first name is never given; his surname is common in Korea  is a hard-boiled, old-school investigator, a Raymond Chandler character trying to do the right thing in a brutal world. But he is also quick to defend that world, especially when outsiders criticize it.

We know how the world sees us, he tells a Swiss intelligence official in Bamboo and Blood, the third Inspector O novel. But we are not as weak as people think  or hope.

Inspector O is a good, solid police detective who just wants to do his work, said Church, whose sixth book in the series, The Gentleman from Japan, will be released this year. He really doesnt care about politics. He knows it gets in the way, that its annoying. He knows that sometimes he has to bow to it.

Churchs books often center around outsiders  an Israeli spy, a Scottish policeman, that Swiss intelligence guy  thrust into a North Korea they constantly misunderstand.

I couldnt pretend that I was writing from the inside. I couldnt pretend that I was a North Korean, said Church, whose first Inspector O novel was released a decade ago. Now retired from government work, he was in New York recently for a visit. What interested me was the point at which the North Korean reality and our reality meet. Because I have a lot of experience with that, and thats where it illuminates what they think.

The world has spent years misunderstanding North Korea, Church says, reducing it to cliches of goose-stepping soldiers, brainwashed people, and dictators waiting for the chance to reduce the world to a radioactive pulp.

But much of what Church pens would be familiar anywhere.

Churchs North Korea is a place of squabbling relatives, office bullies, bureaucratic turf wars and bitter spouses. Its a place where most people go along with the government, but a few find ways to quietly push back. Its a place where politics is a constant presence, but where most people are more worried about office politics or troublesome children.

Weve seen time after time, when authoritarian countries fall, that people pretty much live normal lives, he said. Some aspects of life are exaggerated in North Korea in many ways. But I think that when the end finally comes and we understand more fully how people live their lives, well be surprised.

Still, North Koreans do face myriad dangers, from arrests by the countrys web of security agencies to powerful bureaucrats who can upend a persons life in a moment.

There are always storm clouds on the horizon, said Church. There is a thunderstorm that could break at any moment.

Churchs real name and his background are widely known in the small community of North Korea watchers, where he is seen as one of the most insightful analysts of the isolated nation. Inspector O also has plenty of fans.

If you want to understand North Korea then you need to read Inspector O, said Michael Madden, who has spent years studying the North Korean leadership. Church is giving you the conversations that these people have, the bureaucracy there and just the North Korean mood and attitude. He gets that culture. Not many people do.

Church also understands that, beyond the propaganda, North Korea pulls powerfully at its people, including Inspector O.

We had something to believe in, a way to order existence, O says angrily in one book, when a South Korean derides North Koreas entire history. Maybe people didnt have much, most of them had very little, but for practically all of those years they felt they belonged to something.
By Shivendra Srivastava: Indian agencies are making fresh dossier against Dawood Ibrahim to hand it over to Pakistan. In its latest attempts to convince Pakistan about Dawood's presence in Pakistan, India has prepared a series of call records between Dawood and his business associates in India and other countries.

Most of these calls are IP Calls and India has managed to transcript them as proof against Dawood. It is believed that Dawood has diversified business links with many big businessmen in different countries and sometime he directly talks to them for business decisions.

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UNITED NATIONS CONFIRMS DAWOOD'S ADDRESS

Earlier a report from United Nations confirmed that six out of nine addresses of Dawood given by India were found correct. After that as per IB reports, this was noticed that Dawood's associates and relatives shifted from these addresses to unknown locations in Pakistan.

After this revelation immediate family members has also changed their mobile and other contact numbers that they have been using for years. The new dossier consists of his new business associates, his stake, addresses and contact persons who are looking after trade on his behalf and also in constant touch with Dawood Ibrahim for directions. As per sources this dossier will be handed over by India to Pakistan in the next scheduled meeting.



Also read:

Centre comes up with new blueprint to nab Dawood Ibrahim, constitutes 50-member special team

United Nations confirms Dawood Ibrahim's six addresses in Pakistan



--- ENDS ---
Sex education was controversial even when people knew only that there were two genders and that sex between them could lead to babies. Adding gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender sexuality to the curriculum has ignited controversy in high schools across the nation and is inflaming tension locally in the Parkway School District.

The topic covers new territory for those born in decades with less technology and fewer options for expression of sexual orientation. Parkway parents who dont like a newly adopted curriculum argue that the district is pushing a social agenda.

But it is the reality their teens will encounter in college, if they havent already. Teaching todays young people about the array of sexual identities, gender stereotypes and other issues they will face is an effort to give them useful life tools. A very necessary one is recognizing and combating sexual violence.

Sex educators are caught between competing interests. Some parents want a curriculum focused on abstinence, while others demand the spotlight be put on sexually related health concerns, and still others want teens to learn about the expanding range of sexual orientations theyre likely to encounter.

Some parents argue that such discussions take innocence away from children, but educators say students as early as middle school already have access to information about sex, often unreliable and inaccurate, via the internet and social media.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says high schools across the nation fall short on sex education because they dont give students enough important health and safety information on topics such as HIV, sexually transmitted diseases and pregnancy prevention.

CDC statistics show that nearly a fourth of HIV diagnoses and half of all sexually transmitted infections in the United States occur among those under age 25. Teens now are about 4 percent less likely to have used a condom the last time they had sex than a decade ago, and about 22 percent report they drank alcohol or used drugs the last time they had sex, the CDC says.

If it sounds like a minefield, thats because it is. Too little information and young people will not be prepared for the adult world. But give high school students an abundance of information and some parents contend their kids risk being overexposed to a world obsessed with sex.

Parents who think their kids dont need effective sex education, and hope they can get by with scanty biological information and details, are sticking their heads in the sand. But their rights need to be respected.

Thats why the Parkway School District is correct to keep the new curriculum optional. For forward-thinking parents who want their children to be better prepared for the reality out there, they too have viable curriculum options.
The University of Chicago has issued a healthy warning to incoming freshmen: Get over yourselves. At long last, an institution of higher learning is reminding students that they are entering the real world, where people engage and debate and, yes, disagree fervently with each other.

University life is supposed to be about the free exchange of ideas. But in recent years, campus life has been smothered by self-appointed thought police who seem bent on enforcing political correctness at all costs.

At the University of Missouri last year, assistant professor Melissa Click came to embody that Orwellian view. She stood guard at the perimeter of a public space that protesters had declared a safe space. Anyone who didnt think like them was not allowed in, as if it was their space to control.

Despite her role as an instructor in the Department of Communications, her most notable communication tactic was to call in muscle to interfere with a journalist covering the protest. The episode underscored how a warped mindset has taken hold at some campuses across the country.

Enough, says the University of Chicago. Administrators have correctly decided to take their campus back in the name of free thought.

Once here you will discover that one of the University of Chicagos defining characteristics is our commitment to freedom of inquiry and expression, John Ellison, the universitys dean of students, wrote in a letter to incoming freshmen. Members of our community are encouraged to speak, write, listen, challenge and learn, without fear of censorship.

Ellison emphasized the ongoing need for civility and mutual respect but warned that in the free exchange of ideas, there will be rigorous debate, discussion and even disagreement. At times this may challenge you and even cause discomfort.

These very words no doubt made some students uncomfortable. But it got worse: He advised them that the university wouldnt support the notion of trigger warnings  statements alerting readers or viewers about upcoming content that might cause distress.

We do not cancel invited speakers because their topics might prove controversial, and we do not condone the creation of intellectual safe spaces where individuals can retreat from ideas and perspectives at odds with their own, Ellison wrote.

Writing in The Atlantic this week, James Madison University religious studies professor Alan Levinovitz noted the concerns of some people that Ellison was playing to crotchety elites who have made up a caricature of todays college students as coddled and entitled to hide their fear of empowered students. But no, Levinovitz wrote, the stifling effect of wanton political correctness is real.

Its no caricature; we saw it played out on Mizzous campus. Students everywhere need to absorb Ellisons message. Life is a messy feast. Toss gently, serve and enjoy.
Take this job and love it

There is such a thing as a free lunch in the Old North neighborhood, as long as you're willing to make it. A trio of organizations seeking to revitalize the neighborhood north of downtown is holding a competition to give away a built-out restaurant across the street from Crown Candy Kitchen, a community fixture for 113 years.

The group includes Rise, a nonprofit community and neighborhood developer, Equifax Inc. and the Missouri Small Business Development Center. They want proposals from experienced restaurateurs and are scheduling workshops and informational sessions the next four months to help people with submissions.

A winner will be announced next year. More details at risestl.org. This is a great way to stimulate business interest in a neighborhood working hard to revive itself and potentially become an anchor for the broader recovery of north St. Louis. And who could argue with the opportunity to get a restaurant for free?

Dallas police chief calls it quits

David Brown has every reason to be exhausted. The demands of his job as police chief in Dallas have been unusually rigorous. In the past 15 months, his headquarters has come under armed attack from a deranged man in an armored vehicle, followed by the July 7 sniper attack in downtown Dallas that led to the deaths of five officers. The sniper expressed anger over police-involved shootings of blacks.

Brown, 55, responded to the July attack by admonishing the citys black residents: Instead of seething over perceived racial inequity, get involved by joining the force. Were hiring, he said.

He has successfully quelled racial tension during police-involved shootings, while police chiefs in other cities struggled to keep the peace. Only seven weeks after taking the chiefs job in 2010, Brown suffered the personal tragedy of his own sons death during a confrontation with police in a Dallas suburb.

On Thursday, Brown announced his retirement after 33 years of service. We can think of few other local American public servants who have done so much to earn the nation's gratitude for a job well done.

Not so secret

Missouri is already beginning to reap benefits from the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency's decision to expand in St. Louis. The spy agency announced Wednesday that it was awarding a $12 million, five-year contract to the University of Missouri's engineering college to train NGA employees.

NGA expects 1,800 working students in St. Louis and Washington will participate in the graduate certificate program. This is an excellent example of what our area anticipated NGA would create: opportunity, training and an improved work force for St. Louis and the rest of Missouri.

All this, and they haven't even broken ground yet on the agency's new $1.75 billion campus northwest of downtown.

Rapture? Or olive oil?

Here's a novel legal theory: According to a federal public defender in Utah, Lyle Jeffs, the polygamist cult leader accused in a $12 million food stamp scam, may have missed a court date because of the rapture.

The FBI isn't buying the idea that his earthly body was whisked off to heaven ahead of Christ's second coming. Agents found an olive oil-coated ankle bracelet a month ago and suspect he slipped away to a safe house run by his Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. It could be his wife is hiding him. Or wives.

Lyle Jeffs is believed to have taken over the cult's leadership after his brother, Warren Jeffs, was sentenced to life in prison in 2011 for raping teenage girls. The court disagreed with his defense of religious persecution.

Given the crimes that the Jeffs and their church are accused of, neither should count on being among the elect if and when the rapture comes.

Where bad news means no news

If you know anyone in Miami, please pass on this super-secret information: Venezuelan leader Nicolas Maduro has driven his nation to the point of economic collapse with anachronistic and unworkable socialist policies, and mass protests occurred on Thursday to demand his ouster.

The rest of America was allowed to learn this secret, but for some reason, the Maduro government decided that the Miami Herald should be banned from covering the protests. Reporter Jim Wyss, who had already been issued a journalists visa and permit to cover Venezuela, was detained upon arrival at the airport and subsequently deported to Panama.

Reporters from Al Jazeera and the French newspaper Le Monde were among at least six journalists barred from entering ahead of the protests, according to the Committee to Protect Journalists.

If youre into amazing contrasts, Wyss was banned only a day after a U.S. commercial passenger jet landed in Havana for the first time in more than 50 years as that communist nation reassesses its own direction. As a historical note, the Miami Herald had long been banned from Cuba as well.

SETI? Not yeti

Last weekend a report leaked among scientists in the SETI (Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence) community that 15 months ago, a radio telescope in southern Russia detected a strong signal from the direction of a sunlike star in the constellation Hercules, about 94 light years from Earth.

What began as an unremarkable report in the scientific community soon transmogrified into thousands of ET calling home alerts on cable news and social media.

Well, never mind. Probably. Gerry Harp, of the SETI Institute, told Wired.com that the signal is probably bogus, dismissing it as local interference.

Oh, sure. That's what you'd expect them to say, isn't it? Personally, we're laying in a supply of Reese's Pieces and dusting off our DVD of Jodie Foster in Contact. The truth is out there.
Free-standing chain-link fencing can be put up in a very short amount of time at very little cost, and we all should commit to this solution until the killings in our schools stop.
French company DCNS has claimed that said there were talks going on for more submarines, even as the Indian Defence Ministry denied any such negotiations.

By India Today Web Desk: French naval contractor DCNS has claimed that there were talks on for more submarines and it had offered to build three more submarines besides the six Scorpene submarines which are under construction.

According to reports, the deal was under negotiation for two years with DCNS, which has been in the line of fire after its documents containing sensitive data on the Indian Scorpene submarines were leaked.

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However, the Indian Defence Ministry denied any such negotiations and asserted that the deal with DCNS is for only six submarines. It said there are several "unsolicited proposals" which does not mean there is a negotiation going on.

"Indian Navy has ordered only six Scorpene submarines and orders have not been placed for three more as reported by some media," Defence Ministry spokesperson Nitin Wakankar said.

"Therefore question of cancellation does not arise," he added.



CLAIM AND DENIAL



The report, quoting unnamed officials, said after the leak, Indian Navy is focusing on determining the damage done, and no orders will be signed now, implying that the leak had damaged the negotiations.

Wakankar further stressed that the Indian Navy receives "many unsolicited proposals from companies (both Indian and foreign) for many projects as per requirements of the service".

"This cannot by any stretch of imagination be construed as negotiations by Indian Navy or Defence Ministry," he said.

Responding over India's denial over submarines deal, DCNS said it was "surprised" as the talks were "ongoing".

"We were very surprised by this information. The talks are ongoing with the government and our Indian partners. We have not been informed in anyway of such a decision," DCNS' Media Relations head Emmanuel Gaudez told IANS.

Data leaked from DCNS that runs over 22,400 pages including crucial details of Scorpene submarine programme of India was reported by Australian newspaper The Australian.

An order by the Supreme Court of New South Wales in Australia has not restricted the newspaper from publishing any more of the leaked documents, and asked them to hand over the documents to DCNS.

ALSO READ:

India shelves plan to expand French submarine order after Scorpene data breach



--- ENDS ---
AUBURN HILLS, Mich., Sept. 3, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- On August 1, 2016, Guardian Industries Corp. and its Spanish subsidiary Guardian Industries Navarra SL ("Guardian") announced that the Venezuelan government had seized control of Guardian de Venezuela SRL ("Guardian Venezuela").

On August 19, the Venezuelan government published a resolution granting a government-sponsored Special Administrative Board full authority to control and operate Guardian Venezuela, thereby reaffirming the government's expropriation of Guardian Venezuela and its assets. These actions by the Venezuelan government have been taken without the consent or involvement of Guardian or any of its affiliates and in violation of applicable investment treaties.

The Venezuelan government seized control of Guardian Venezuela when the company attempted to implement an orderly and safe cool-down of its glass melting furnace to protect the safety of its employees and the community in general, while otherwise continuing commercial operations. Float glass plants operate at extremely high temperatures, continuously, 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, throughout their operational life. All float glass plants must be temporarily shut down at the end of their operational life in order to undergo major repairs requiring specialized and technical expertise. Contrary to what has been asserted by the Venezuelan government, Guardian Venezuela never abandoned or closed its operations.

Guardian has warned the Venezuelan government of the grave safety risks to plant employees and the community in general should it continue to operate the plant without completing major repairs.

Guardian and its affiliates cannot be responsible for the safety of employees or any liability or damages resulting from the government's continued operation of the plant.

Should the Venezuelan government produce and sell glass from the plant, Guardian cannot be held responsible for product quality and will consider any use of Guardian's name, Guardian product names, or Guardian trademarks to be unauthorized and a misappropriation.

Throughout this process, Guardian and Guardian Venezuela have acted to protect the safety and best interests of plant employees and the community.

Guardian Industries Corp., Guardian Industries Navarra SL, Guardian de Venezuela SRL and their affiliates continue to reserve their rights under all applicable laws and treaties.

About Guardian Industries Corp.:Guardian Industries Corp. is a privately held, diversified, global company headquartered in Auburn Hills, Michigan, United States. Guardian, and its family of companies, employ 17,000 people and operate facilities throughout North America, Europe, South America, Africa, the Middle East and Asia, with a vision to create value for customers and society through constant innovation using fewer resources. Guardian Glass is a leading international manufacturer of float, value-added, and fabricated glass products and solutions for architectural, residential, interior, transportation and technical glass applications. SRG Global is one of the world's largest manufacturers of advanced, high value coatings on plastics for the automotive, commercial truck and consumer goods industries, providing solutions for greater surface durability, structural integrity, functionality, vehicle efficiency and design flexibility. Guardian Building Products is a leading U.S. based distributor of specialty building products. Visit www.guardian.com.

To view the original version on PR Newswire, visit:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/guardian-industries-issues-statement-on-venezuela-300322304.html

SOURCE Guardian Industries Corp.
(PRWEB) September 03, 2016

The Fundacion Instituto de Inmunologia de Colombia - FIDIC, Universidad del Rosario in Bogota, Colombia and United Scientific Group, takes great pleasure in hosting the International Conference on Vaccines Research & Development scheduled on November 10-12, 2016 at the Hotel Las Americas on the Caribbean beaches of Cartagena de Indias, Colombia.

This 3-day meeting will bring together experts, young researchers, education scientists, technologists and vaccine industry representatives to share and debate on the latest scientific developments and technology in the field of vaccines research supporting current and future challenges. The following are some of the eminent personalities attending the scientific gathering:

The 26th President of Colombia -Belisario Betancur Cuartas, will deliver the Inaugural Ceremony Speech at Vaccines R&D-2016 in Cartagena, Colombia. Betancur is currently an Honorary Member of the Club of Rome for Latin America, Chairman of the Truth Commission for El Salvador, President of the Pan American Health Organization in Washington, and President of the Santillana for Latin America Foundation in Bogota. He is also a founding member of the Pontifical Academy of Social Sciences.

Manuel Elkin Patarroyo developed the first chemically synthesized vaccine against malaria by 1987 that after a large series of human trials in different parts of the world provided 30-40% protective efficacy. He was awarded the Robert Koch and Prince of Asturias Prizes in 1994.

Nancy Sullivan was the first NIH/VRC, demonstrate vaccine protection of macaques against Ebola infection. Her work using a gene based vaccine to generate rapid immune protection was the first to center human clinical trials ( Why the Work of Dr. Nancy J. Sullivan Could Be Key to a Potential Ebola Vaccine) and has formed the basis of subsequent vaccine strategies. Dr. Sullivan and her team also discovered the mechanism of antibody protection against Ebola infection, and isolated a human monoclonal antibody that completely rescues macaques when delivered as a monotherapy.

Ana Flisser, Universidad Nacional Autonoma de Mexico. Over 40 years of studying, she received the Carlos Slim Award Life in Health Research in 2015 for her findings in the field of cysticercosids. She was the President of the XIII International Congress of Parasitology, held in Mexico City in August 2014. Her work has focused on the development of immunological methods for diagnosis of the diseases caused by Taenia solium and their application in field studies in order to identify risk factors and control cysticercosis, mainly through health education, treatment of tapeworm carriers and, especially, evaluation of a vaccine for swine cysticercosis. She will deliver a talk on "TSOL18 vaccine against swine cysticercosis: from design to commercialization"

Zelig Eshhar is an Israeli immunologist at the Weizmann Institute of Science and at the Tel Aviv Sourasky Medical Center. He has been the Chairman of the Department of Immunology at the Weizmann Institute. He is mainly known for his studies on T-cells and his pioneering work on chimeric antigen receptors. In 2013 he was awarded the CAR Pioneering award by the ATTACK European Consortium and in 2014 shared the Massry Prize with Steven Rosenberg andJames P. Allison. He also received Pioneer Award with Carl H. June. He is the recipient of the 2015 Israel Prize in Life Sciences.

Jorge E. Gomez Marin is Dean of the Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Quindio, Colombia. He obtained six national and two international awards for research (Infectious Diseases Society of America and American Health Foundation). He was President of the Colombian Association of Infectious Diseases (2011-2013), a member of the Colombian Association of Parasitology and Tropical Medicine, member of the Colombian Academy of Medicine and an honorary member of the Bogotana Association of Obstetrics and Gynecology. In 2012 he was invited to be part of the FAO and WHO Expert Meeting on Food-borne Parasites. In July 2013 he was nominated for the WHO expert elicitation on food-borne diseases on toxoplasmosis. He is particularly interested in developing methods to monitor and control water and food borne protozoa and in developing a vaccine for human toxoplasmosis.

These are renowned speakers from more than hundred high profiles from both academia and industry in the field of vaccines research and development, who will deliver their valuable presentations in Cartagena, Colombia in November 2016. For more details on speakers please visit http://www.unitedscientificgroup.com/conferences/vaccines/speakers

Vaccines R&D-2016 will be an unprecedented gathering of the world's most influential and creative thought leaders from universities, industry, government laboratories and agencies, not-for-profit organization laboratories in the field of vaccines, who will share their experience and expertise on a wide range of panel topics including basic vaccinology, influenza vaccines/virus, Ebola outbreak, vaccines discovery, development & formulation, novel vaccines, vaccines for the control of parasites, new vaccine adjuvants, clinical trials, emerging infectious diseases, passive vaccines-therapeutic antibodies against infectious diseases, HIV/AIDS vaccines, immunoinformatics, cancer vaccines, HPV vaccines and therapeutic vaccination for autoimmune diseases.

This meeting will emphasize on finding a solution to a common cause and the development of a therapeutic modality which will play a crucial role in bringing about development that will change the face of vaccine industry. The highlight at the Vaccines R&D-2016 would be the collaborations with local universities and industries. The lead supporters for the Vaccines R&D-2016 are The Fundacion Instituto de Inmunologia de Colombia - FIDIC, Universidad del Rosario in Bogota, Colombia, United Scientific Group and Integra IT.

The conference provides exciting opportunities for showcasing the new technologies and new products designed by vaccine companies to the global audience at the event and also provide scope for building network for future endeavors. To register or learn more about the conference please visit http://unitedscientificgroup.com/conferences/vaccines/

Read the full story at http://www.prweb.com/releases/2016/09/prweb13657917.htm
An ambulances drives on a road near the Holey Artisan restaurant after Islamist militants attacked the upscale cafe in Dhaka, Bangladesh in this July 2, 2016 file photo. REUTERS/Mohammd Ponir Hossain

By Ruma Paul

DHAKA (Reuters) - Bangladesh police on Friday killed the man they believe trained the militants who attacked a Dhaka cafe on July 1 killing 22 people, a senior police official said.

The man, known as Murad, was the head of the military wing of Jamaat-ul-Mujahideen Bangladesh, which has pledged allegiance to Islamic State, Additional Inspector General of Police Mokhlesur Rahman said.

"He trained the attackers who carried out the July attack," Rahman told reporters, adding police were still trying to identify his actual name.

He was killed in a shootout when police launched a raid after being tipped-off to his whereabouts just outside the capital. Four police officers were wounded when the militant attacked them with machetes, a pistol and grenades, Rahman said.

The raid came six days after Bangladesh-born Canadian citizen Tamim Ahmed Chowdhury, accused of masterminding the cafe attack, was killed when police stormed a militant hideout.

Analysts say Islamic State in April identified Chowdhury as its national commander. Islamic State claimed responsibility for the cafe attack where militants singled out non-Muslims and foreigners, killing Italians, Japanese, an American and an Indian.

The attack in Dhaka's diplomatic quarter was one of the most brazen in Bangladesh, where Islamic State and al Qaeda have claimed a series of killings of liberals and members of religious minorities in the past year.

The government denies that Islamic State or al Qaeda have a presence in the Muslim-majority nation of 160 million people.

But security experts say the scale and sophistication of the cafe assault suggested links to a trans-national network.

The scale of that attack and the targeting of foreigners has could hurt foreign investment in the poor South Asian economy, whose $28 billion garments export industry is the world's second largest.

On July 26, police killed nine militants believed to be plotting a similar assault.

(Editing by Robin Pomeroy)
BOGOTA (Reuters) - Colombia's Marxist FARC rebel group said on Friday it had rescheduled its conference to ratify a peace agreement with the government to Sept. 17-23.

After almost four years of protracted talks in Havana, the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia and the government agreed last week to end a five-decade-long war that has killed more than 220,000 and displaced millions.

The FARC's so-called Tenth Conference, its final as an armed group, was rescheduled for Sept. 17-23 after it postponed the meeting originally set for Sept. 13-19.

The rebel leadership will explain the contents of the accords to hundreds of rebel commanders at the conference.

President Juan Manuel Santos and long-time foe Rodrigo Londono, known by his nom de guerre Timochenko, will then sign the final peace accord on Sept. 26 in Cartagena.

Colombians will vote on whether they approve of the accords in a plebiscite on Oct. 2.

(Reporting by Helen Murphy; editing by G Crosse and Dan Grebler)
Czech Finance Minister Andrej Babis addresses an extraordinary parliamentary session to debate his alleged tapping of European Union subsidies for one of his companies in Prague, Czech Republic, March 23, 2016. REUTERS/David W Cerny

PRAGUE (Reuters) - Czech Finance Minister Andrej Babis apologized on Friday after facing calls to quit over comments denying the existence of a World War Two concentration camp for Roma people.

Babis' ANO party leads opinion polls ahead of a national election near the end of 2017 and the billionaire entrepreneur may become prime minister.

He was quoted as telling local residents on Thursday on a campaign stop for regional elections in October that the Lety concentration camp, 80 km (50 miles) south of Prague, had existed only as a labor camp for those avoiding work.

Lety started as a labor camp after the Czechoslovak government ordered its creation in 1939, weeks before Nazi forces occupied the country, for people "living off crime".

But in 1942, German occupiers ordered Roma to be moved into Lety and another camp. Overall, 1,309 people were interned in Lety, according to the Holocaust.cz website. Of those, 326 died in the camp. About a quarter escaped or were released while the rest were transported to Auschwitz.

Babis was quoted by Aktualne.cz as saying: "There were times when all Roma worked. What these morons write in newspapers, that Lety was a concentration camp, is a lie, it was a work camp. Whoever did not work, whoosh and he was there."

Roma in the Czech Republic and elsewhere in eastern Europe are often poor and targets of discrimination. Many live in secluded communities with high unemployment.

Prime Minister Bohuslav Sobotka, leader of the center-left Social Democratic party, which ANO rules in coalition with, scolded Babis for crossing the line in harsh comments that showed the tension in the ruling alliance.

"The regional election is getting close and Babis has decided to feed on problems in cohabitation with the Roma," he said his Facebook page.

"There is a very thin line between populism and Nazism. I am afraid the finance minister has now crossed it by these comments," he said, calling on Babis to apologize and brush up on history.

Babis said his comments came after visiting an area where mostly Roma live and he was asking why so many were out of work, as well as why the state has not been able to improve conditions a quarter of a century after Communist rule ended.

"I expressed myself poorly, it was taken out of context ... If I offended someone, then I apologize to everyone," Babis said in an ANO news conference Friday.

Babis said he condemned the Holocaust and concentration camps. Late on Thursday, he also addressed his comments in a Facebook post: "I do not doubt the horrors of Nazism and the World War Two and nobody who knows me could think that."

There is a memorial at the camp site but most of the area is a pig farm, despite long-time efforts by activists to close it.

(Reporting by Jason Hovet and Jan Lopatka; Editing by Alison Williams)
A sign of Mega Financial Holding Co is seen outside its headquarters in Taipei, Taiwan August 23, 2016. REUTERS/Tyrone Siu - RTX2MO7Q

By Faith Hung and Liang-Sa Loh

TAIPEI (Reuters) - Mega Financial Holding's <2886.TW> new chairman said the Taiwan state-controlled firm will strengthen risk management after its banking unit was hit by a U.S. fine for anti-money laundering violations, a case that has hugely embarrassed the island's government.

"There are lots of doubts about us. We'll do whatever we can to find out what has happened," Michael C.S. Chang, 68, told reporters on Friday. "We are going to have a deep review and thorough reform."

Chang, who took up his post on Friday, will have to clean up what Taiwan President Tsai Ing-wen has called a "ridiculous and incredible" matter, which is threatening to seriously undermine her three-month-old administration.

New York authorities in mid-August slapped Mega International Commercial Bank with a $180 million fine for violations that included lax attention to risk exposure in Panama, the first time in a decade that a Taiwan-based financial institution has been penalized by U.S. authorities.

Taiwanese financial regulators flew to Panama and New York this week to continue their investigation into whether Mega's activities led to breach of any Taiwanese laws.

In 2009, Megas banking unit also ran afoul of Australian authorities over compliance and anti-money laundering rules.

A trained accountant, Chang is known as a firefighter who has dealt with Taiwanese lenders in crisis before.

Taiwan's ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP), during its previous term in office, appointed Chang as chairman of First Financial Holding Co <2892.TW>, another major state-controlled financial firm, where he held the position from 2006 to 2008.

Changs predecessor, Shiu Kuang-si, quit on Wednesday two weeks after being appointed as chairman, in a bid to address allegations of conflicts of interest. Shiu was president of Mega when the suspect transactions took place, and he is the brother-in-law of Taiwans central bank chief.

Another former Mega chairman, Tsai Yeou-tsair, who resigned in March, has been banned from travel abroad, while a former finance minister has been questioned by prosecutors.

Taiwan Premier Lin Chuan has also had to weather calls to resign, with critics blaming him because the boards of state-controlled financial institutions are packed with government-selected appointees.

The case has embroiled the central bank, which prides itself on being an independent institution and has been headed by Governor Perng Fai-nan, 77, for 18 years.

This week the central bank was forced to issue rare statements stating Perng was involved in the Mega case only at the request of other financial regulators in Taiwan.

Financial Supervisory Commission Vice Chairman Kuei Hsien-nung in early August requested Perng's help to plead with U.S. authorities, including the Federal Reserve Bank of New York, for more time for Mega to deal with the case.

At the time, there was no information that showed Mega was related to any criminal liability, Kuei told Reuters this week. This was all done for the country. We would not have selfish intentions, he said.

(Writing by J.R. Wu; Editing by Stephen Coates and Muralikumar Anantharaman)
By Arvind Ojha: Hours before his engagement, a 24-year-old builder allegedly in drunken state driving BMW died in a road accident after his speeding car jumped from 20 feet flyover in Lodi Colony.

The victim has been identified as Abhijeet Singh, a resident of Azadpur. At the time of the accident around 5 AM he was returning home from his friend's place in Lajpat Nagar and was under the influence of alcohol. On Sunday he was supposed to get engaged but hours before the celebration he succumbed to his injuries.

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According to police, Singh was over speeding and at Lala Lajpat Rai Marg when he went to the Lodhi colony flyover before Lodhi Hotel his car lost balance and climbed on the railing of the flyover. It turned and the car fell from the flyover. The injured was admitted to the Moolchand Hospital where he was declared to be dead while providing treatment.

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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





September 2, 2016

Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported)





NORTHWEST NATURAL GAS COMPA NY

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)





Commission File No. 1-15973





Oregon 93-0256722 (State or other jurisdiction of incorporation or organization) (I.R.S. Employer Identification No.)





220 N.W. Second Avenue, Portland, Oregon 97209

(Address of principal executive offices) (Zip Code)





Registrants Telephone Number, including area code: (503) 226-4211





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 ( see General Instruction A.2. below) :





o Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)





o Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)





o Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))





o Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))









































Item 5.02 Departure of Directors or Certain Officers; Election of Directors; Appointment of Certain Officers; Compensatory Arrangements of Certain Officers





On September 2, 2016 Gregory C. Hazelton, Senior Vice President, Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer of the Company, voluntarily resigned his officer positions with the Company, effective September 2, 2016. Mr. Hazelton indicated to the Company that he will be returning to Hawaiian Electric Industries, Inc., where he was previously employed, to accept an executive position, as well as to relocate to Hawaii for family reasons. Mr. Hazelton will remain an employee of the Company through September 30, 2016 to provide for an orderly transition of his responsibilities to other employees.





On September 2, 2016, the Board of Directors of the Company appointed Brody J. Wilson as interim Chief Financial Officer and interim Treasurer, effective September 2, 2016. Mr. Wilson has served as the Companys Controller and Chief Accounting Officer since February 2013 and Assistant Treasurer since February 2016, and he will continue as Controller and Chief Accounting Officer. Mr. Wilson, 37, was a senior manager at PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP from 2009 until joining the Company as accounting director in September 2012.

























SIGNATURE





Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the Registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned thereunto duly authorized.









NORTHWEST NATURAL GAS COMPANY (Registrant) Dated: September 2, 2016 /s/ MardiLyn Saathoff Senior Vice President and General Counsel




































Delhi has so far reported 423 and 487 cases of chikungunya and dengue respectively.

By Astha Saxena: Hospitals in the city are swamped with patients as the number of cases of chikungunya and dengue are making it tough for them to accommodate the high number of patients.

Many others with high fever and symptoms similar to the two mosquito-borne diseases are also rushing to hospitals, adding to the woes.

According to estimates, more than 350 new patients are flooding hospitals in the capital on a daily basis. Delhi has so far reported 423 and 487 cases of chikungunya and dengue respectively. With such a large rush, many hospitals are setting up special fever wards to deal with the crisis.

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"We have opened a separate ward for the fever patients and 80 beds have been added to the existing strength. Also, we have a small private ward for the patients and the medical staff who are also falling ill in this fever," said Dr MK Dagga, medical superintendent of Lok Nayak Hospital.

HOSPITALS RECEIVING 300-400 NEW PATIENTS EVERY DAY



"We are doing a quick blood count of the patients wherever it is needed. On an average, we are receiving 300-400 new patients with fever symptoms every day," he added.

At Ram Manohar Lohia (RML) hospital, which is one of the biggest central government hospitals, it is a similar scenario with around 350 new fever patients coming to the department. "We were the first one to allocate separate wards for the fever patients in the capital. We have two wards- one for dengue and chikungunya and another for fever patients. A total of 110 beds have been added to the existing strength," said Dr VK Sinha, spokesperson, RML hospital.

The medical superintendent of Safdarjung hospital, however, refused to inform about the steps taken to deal with the fever patients.

AIIMS FACING ACUTE SHORTAGE OF DOCTORS



The country's premier medical institute, AIIMS, has also been facing an acute shortage of doctors with only seven senior residents left in the emergency department of the hospital. "There is acute shortage of doctors in the emergency ward. At present, there are only seven senior resident doctors who are managing the work for more than 1,000 patients. There are posts for 20 doctors in the department. We are equally helpless and cannot work in this situation," said a senior doctor from AIIMS, requesting anonymity.

Hospital authorities say that with the increasing awareness about the symptoms and effects of dengue ad chikungunya, many patients who are suffering from high-grade fever but do not require admission also insist on being admitted due to the panic.

DELHI GOVT STARTS SPECIAL MOHALLA CLINICS



The Delhi government has also started special mohalla clinics to help hospitals cope with such patients.

However, there could be an emergency situation in the coming months if the crisis is not resolved soon. The doctors say organism evolution and change in population spectrum could also be behind the increased virulence of different viruses.

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Last year, there was a dengue outbreak which claimed more than 60 lives in the city. Some patients died because they could not get beds in hospitals due to overcrowding. While chikungunya and dengue viruses are transmitted by mosquito bite, other viral illnesses can spread from contact with another infected individual or an infected surface.

Talking about the precautions needed to combat the diseases, doctors said that dehydration is to be avoided at all costs.

ALSO READ:

Killer mosquitoes continue havoc in Delhi: City hit with 487 dengue cases and 432 chikungunya cases

Distinguish between mild fever and dengue, doctors tell panicked patients

After dengue, Chikungunya cases spike in national capital



--- ENDS ---
According to the police, they were promised jobs and sent to Delhi's Mahipalpur area by the accused identified as Shobhin and Ramu Chaudhary.

By Sneha Agrawal: Authorities in Delhi rescued on Friday about two dozen Nepalese women who were allegedly being smuggled into the Gulf countries, some for sex slavery, at a time when the Himalayan nation is battling traffickers operating in regions hit by two devastating earthquakes last year.

WOMEN LURED WITH PROMISE OF JOB

Sources say the youngest among these women is 22-years-old. According to the police, they were promised jobs and sent to Delhi's Mahipalpur area by the accused identified as Shobhin and Ramu Chaudhary.

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Two quakes last April and May killed 9,000 people, injured over 20,000 and damaged more than nine lakh houses in Nepal. The devastation left thousands of women homeless, forcing them to search for work in countries with a demand for cheap labour and turning them into easy targets for traffickers supplying a network of brothels across south and west Asia. The 23 rescued women will record their statements before a court on Saturday and have been kept at the NGO Nari Niketan's shelter in the city. Delhi Police have registered an FIR under sections of human trafficking, criminal intimidation, wrongful confinement, insult to the modesty of a woman and criminal conspiracy.

DELHI COPS PROBE FLESH TRADE ANGLE

A senior officer said they are probing the possibility of the women being sent to the Gulf countries for flesh trade.

The incident came to light when Nepal embassy officials tipped off Delhi Police's crime branch after a 26 year-old victim approached them through a city-based social worker working for Nepalese nationals in India.

"I received a call from Nepal. A relative of a woman who was confined in Delhi had asked me to help her," said the social worker requesting anonymity. "I coordinated with her and helped her escape from there. She along with another woman reached my office and then we approached the embassy. With the help of the police a raid was carried out at 5 am on Friday and the women were rescued."

NEPAL BANNED WOMEN UNDER 30 FROM WORKING IN GULF STATES

Nepal had banned in 2012 women under the age of 30 from working in Persian Gulf nations amid increasing concerns over abuse and exploitation.

The victims were kept in a dimly lit building on Old Raja Puri Road. "Those rescued are mostly earthquake survivors," said a police official. "Most of them are alone or come from broken marriages, trying to make a living."

Some Nepal officials too said on the condition of anonymity that the victims were likely being pushed into the sex trade. The woman who had managed to escape told the police that she had been kept in Delhi for over a week.

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"They told us that we would be employed. But after a while I realised that there was something wrong. We were kept in a dingy location. More than 10 of us were living in a single room. My passport was also snatched," she said.

Joint commissioner of police Ravinder Yadav said there would be more clarity on the gang's modus operandi after the rescued women record their statements.

ALSO READ:

Bengaluru: Spa sex racket busted, 5 arrested



--- ENDS ---
Sri Lanka Tech Start-up Ecosystem: Need of the Hour By Ruwindhu Peiris & Piyumi Kapugeekiyana Guest Column View(s): View(s):

For eager tech entrepreneurs, investors and supporting institutions in Sri Lankas fast evolving start-up space, collective success is predicated upon the realisation that this is a market that rewards novelty, action and differentiation. Not only are consumers both discerning and savvy, but they also have very low switching costs. As the window to win grows ever shorter, entrepreneurs need more shots at goal just as much as they need a safety net to experiment. In the start-up scene, we often resort to the popular aphorism fail fast, fail cheap, which speaks to the need for companies to build a tolerance for failurearguably, the one guaranteed event in the life of any entrepreneur. It may seem counterintuitive at first glance, but the greatest need of the moment is to create a culture that is unfazed by failure.

This is not about the kind of monumental, lose the shirt off your back type of failure. Rather, it is about building the necessary margin in our thinking and ultimately, social fabric, to allow for incremental failures to take place such that individuals are free to explore what works without being afraid to confront what does nottreating the latter as an opportunity to correct course. A budding techie might enter the start-up scene with several pre-conceived notions about everything from prototyping to marketing but they must be prepared to rigorously test their hypotheses and allow for the small failures that signal a need to switch tracks. In this sense, fail fast, fail cheap is the antidote to failing big. What does this mean for aspiring entrepreneurs?

For starters, it means leveraging existing resources to validate, refine and secure buy-in for what seems like a promising idea. Local techies have easy access to tools like Google Forms for quick surveys to tap into their target market and app mock-up platforms to showcase designs. There is every opportunity at an early stage to either prime ones start-up for success or make mistakes with spare time to adjust course. A quick picture of success for a tech entrepreneur may look something like this: Validate an idea and its target market by using free survey tools in lieu of drawn-out legwork. Test popularity and inspire investor confidence by securing pre-release beta sign-ups via platforms like Facebook.

These actions must be embedded in a willingness to fail at an initial idea that does not prove as popular as expected or a target market that has already encountered a competing productprovided this exercise places entrepreneurs on the path to further improvement and differentiation.

The idea of leveraging existing tools is linked to being resourceful with time and money. Fail fast, fail cheap necessitates that start-ups increasingly push towards the Pareto Principle or the 80/20 rule in their thinking and actions. As the rule goes, 80 per cent of our results stem from only 20 per cent of our efforts. What entrepreneurs need to do is hone in on that 20 per cent.

If companies want to fail fast and reorient in a rapidly evolving space like tech, individuals need to consider what kinds of tradeoffs they are willing to make in order to facilitate that. For example, start-up founders may estimate that it would take three months of round-the-clock effort to pull together a functional prototype of their idea and attract the requisite buzz but they risk being outpaced by competitors in that time. The big question is whether there is a smaller subset of efforts or actions that will achieve comparable results in say, three weeks. If the 3-week run produces noteworthy results, it serves as a new benchmark for what is possible.

If not, there is room to fail fast, change the work plan and push ahead with another 3-week run. The Pareto Principle also lends itself well to cost-side considerations80 per cent of revenues are said to stem from 20 per cent of customers. If this is proven true, what might be the best use of a startups limited pool of funds? An early-stage venture that restricts its sales focus to high-potential customers is better poised to fail cheapshould the occasion demand itthan one that has doled out on an in-house marketing consultant. From an institutional vantage point, there needs to be a grassroots change in terms of incorporating IT entrepreneurship in educational curricula and inculcating at an early age, the culture of experimentation and incremental failure that makes for strong tech startups.

However, the most immediate need for assistance is on the cost-side. Recently, SLASSCOMs Start-up Sri Lanka survey canvassed the most pressing needs of ~225 entrepreneurs, 23 government/industry bodies, and 16 investorsonly to discover that ~57 per cent of respondents considered the lack of affordable work space a key obstacle to the growth of a start-up. The concept of shared workspaces is not unique. The first round of results from the 201516 Global Coworking Survey estimates the number of coworking spaces worldwide at around 7,800; with current spaces serving 46 per cent members than they did just two years ago.

In addition to helping start-ups channel funds away from rent and overheads towards the 20 per cent of efforts that entail actual development, co-working spaces lend a sense of legitimacy to startups, and contribute a platform for networking, trading and sharing skills. Sri Lankas tech ecosystem needs government actors to have a mechanism for selecting the best start-ups and providing them with shared spaces in which they have up to a year to incubate. Ultimately, it is this much-needed dovetailing of efforts by entrepreneurs and the government that will propel Sri Lankas start-up ecosystem forward.

Notes:

SLASSCOMs Start up Sri Lanka survey http://www.slasscom.lk/sites/default/files/Startup%20Sri-Lanka%20Report%202016%20(1).pdf

Global coworking survey http://www.deskmag.com/en/first-results-of-the-new-global-coworking-survey-2015-16

(Ruwindhu is SLASSCOMs Vice Chairman & Managing Director of Stax while Piyumi is a consultant at Stax. They could be reached at ruwindhup@stax.com and or

piyumik@stax.com)
Bans bombshell compares Lanka with Rwanda and Srebrenica View(s):

By Our Diplomatic Editor

UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon caused controversy this week by categorising Sri Lanka alongside Rwanda and Srebenica to make a case for increased intervention by the United Nations in internal conflicts.

Mr Bans comments were a departure from the prepared text of his speech Sustainable Peace and Achieving Sustainable Development Goals delivered in Colombo at the invitation of the Lakshman Kadirgamar Institute. It is widely accepted that the massacres that took place in Rwanda in 1994 and in Srebrenica the following year were genocides: the first targeted against the Tutsis by Hutus and the other against Muslim Bosnians by the Bosnian Serb Army.

The conflict in Sri Lanka has never been categorised as genocide (for obvious reason), despite a vehement campaign by fringe, pro-LTTE diaspora and Tamil extremist groups to have it defined as such. Some are now using the Secretary-Generals remarks to validate their claims of ethnic cleansing in Sri Lanka.

Looking up from his speech, Mr Ban told the audience that, Something more terrible, serious happened in the past. In 1994, in Rwanda, there was a massacre. More than one million people were massacred. United Nations felt responsible for that.

Of course, he continued, it was their war and massacres. But the United Nations was not able to act on it. We said repeatedly, Never again, never again. It happened just one year after in Srebrenica. Again, many people were massacred when they were not fully protected by the United Nations Peacekeeping Operations. So we repeated again, Never again.

How many times should we repeat never, never again? We did again in Sri Lanka. We have to do much more not to repeat such things in Sri Lanka, Yemen and elsewhere.

The comments, which were tweeted out by audience members while the speech was in session, caused glee among pro-LTTE campaigners who have long pressed the UN to categorise the military defeat of the terrorist group as ethnic cleansing.

But others pointed out that the massacres in Rwanda and Srebrenica were in no way comparable to what had happened in Sri Lanka. They predicted that the UN Secretary-Generals comments will only strengthen the voice of extremists in the North and South of Sri Lanka as well as abroad.

Mr Ban also called for a reduction in the size of the military in the North and East, rather than urging demobilisation and security sector reform. And he said that Sri Lanka was still in the early stages of regaining its rightful position in the region and the international communityimplying that the country remained a pariah State.

It is not the first time Mr Ban has caused controversy by going off-text or at press conferences. Earlier this year, there was a huge backlash after he used the word occupation in reference to Moroccos annexation of Western Sahara. In response, the incensed Moroccans threw out the UN Peacekeeping Force and the UN Secretary-Generals office later said he regretted what he said.

His use of the word was not planned, nor was it deliberate. It was a spontaneous, personal reaction. We regret the misunderstandings and consequences that this personal expression of solicitude provoked, his spokesman said of that incident.

Mr Ban said that the United Nations had made mistakes in Sri Lanka, especially during the last months of the war against the LTTE. We made big mistakes, he said. We learned very hard lessons on the part of the United Nations. I established internal investigations into what had happened, into what our people of the United Nations mission had been doing at the time.

We found serious mistakes in activities, he confessed. Had we been more actively engaged, we could have saved much more, many more human lives. He was, in effect, calling for the UN to take lessons from Sri Lanka, to be more intrusive in internal conflictsintrusiveness it had failed to use in Aleppo (Syria) or in Yementhe UN dare not exercise because its the West waging war against terrorists there. All Mr Ban could concede was that the UNs Sustainable Development Goals ring hollow in those countries when there is the fog of war.

The Secretary-General said Sri Lankas new regime had made significant progress in implementing an ambitious reform programme. He congratulated the Government on the passing of the 19th Amendment and the Right to Information Act; commended efforts to move forward on transitional justice and constitutional reform; and welcomed symbolic steps such as the singing of the national anthem in Sinhala and Tamil on Independence Day.

But much needs to be done to redress the wrongs of the past and to restore the legitimacy and accountability of key institutions, particularly the judiciary and the security services. He pushed for a speedier return of land to displaced persons.

Mr Ban also hosted a press conference on Friday evening that can only be described as a sham. Just four journalists were permitted to ask questions during the 30-minute press conference. Even of these, he pointedly evaded a direct question on whether there was a presumption on his part that war crimes had been committed at the end of the war in 2009.

He rejected that the UN had double standards. And he supplied a convoluted reply when asked what he felt regarding Sri Lankas position that there will be no international judges in any war crimes court that is set up. The country will have to work together with the international community and the United Nations on a transitional justice mechanism, he said, before launching into practised jargon about credibility.

Still, he was candid about problems with the former administration of President Mahinda Rajapaksa, admitting that, even for him, it had been rather difficult to speak with the former Government leadership.

The press conference was held in the ballroom of a Colombo hotel and attended, not only by a large number of journalists, but by some diplomats and others. Mr Ban acknowledged a huge difference between now and the situation he had encountered during his last visit in 2009, shortly after the defeat of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam. This change was brought about with the active involvement of the international community, particularly the United Nations through the Human Rights Council.

That means you are receiving recognition and appreciation, unlike in the past, he said. It had been rather difficult sometimes, even for me, to talk with the Government leadership. There was some gap between expectations of the international community and the level of what the Government had been doing.

Mr Ban admitted that reconciliation may take longer than expected. But that does not mean that you have to take as long as you want, he stressed. The only time the Secretary-General alluded to LTTE atrocities (and that, too, obliquely) was when he read from his prepared statement that reconciliation required Sri Lankans to overcome all the harm done, the torture, the murders and extrajudicial executions, the suicide bombings, the disappearances and forced recruitments, the suffering and violence, to transcend your grief and your pain.

Other highlights of Mr Bans trip was a visit to Galle to attend an event titled Reconciliation and Coexistence: Role of Youth participated by 100 young Sri Lankans. All are engaged in projects relating to peace, unity, reconciliation and coexistence.

Young people around the world are often depicted as potential terrorists and easy prey for recruitment by violent extremists, he said, in an address. But this distorted picture ignores the reality that the vast majority of young people want to be part of the solution to violent extremism.

The Secretary-General later went on walkabout on the ramparts of Galle Fort with his wife, Yoo Soon-taek, and happily posed for cameras, even snapping selfies on mobile phones. Indeed, handshakes and the taking of photographs received considerable priority throughout his visit.

Mr Ban also went to Jaffna where he met the Tamil National Alliance for a discussion at the historic Jaffna National Library. He held talks with Northern Province Governor Reginald Cooray and had a brief chat with Chief Minister C V Wigneswaran who had initially been invited to join the TNA discussion but was granted a separate appointment after complaining loudly about this apparent indignity.

The most notable aspect of the Jaffna leg was the gathering of protesters outside meeting venues in the hope of having a word with the Secretary-General. They had to make do with Juan Fernandez, the UNs Colombo-based senior human rights adviser.

Mr Ban met President Sirisena on Thursday. The President later told media that he had asked the Secretary-General for more time for reconciliation efforts. It remains unclear what prerogative Mr Ban has to set such timelines. He also said that the UNSG did not bring up matters related to the UN Human Rights Council resolution. I, too, did not talk about it, he said. But other reports attributed to the TNA said Mr Ban had taken up the implementation of the resolution with the President.

Politically, it remains a question why Mr Ban, an outgoing Secretary-General, was invited to Sri Lanka and what national interest has been served. The Government might have hoped for international mileage and currency but that has never been its problem.

The main challenge of the Sirisena-Wickremesinghe coalition remains delivering at home and Mr Ban has made that task even more difficult by providing ammunition to extremists in all parts of the country. There were organised demonstrations against his visit in Colombo and Jaffna, for different reasons, opening up old wounds.

Mr Banwho hasnt denied media speculation that he wants to be South Koreas next Presidenthas not learned the lesson of sticking to his job. As far back as 1999, Lakshman Kadirgamar, the late foreign minister assassinated by the terrorists that Mr Ban did not speak a word against, said the UN should concern itself with malaria and mosquitoes without trying to expand its mandate. This was after the UN chief in Sri Lanka said in a statement that it was deeply concerned about extensive civilian casualties during a spike in fighting in Sri Lanka.

Mr Kadirgamar also said he would not tolerate UN officials commenting on domestic issues; and that, apart from the UN High Commissioner for Refugees, the UNs mandate only allowed them to be involved in social and economic development.

And it is not only Mr Ban that needs castigation for overstepping his boundaries. Will incumbent Foreign Minister Mangala Samaraweerawho often cites Mr Kadirgamar as role modelnow tell the UN where to get off?
SL Army contingent invited for UN Peacekeeping in Mali View(s):

Under fire by UNHRC locally; maintaining world peace overseas

By Our Political Editor

A battalion of officers and men from the Sri Lanka Army have been invited to join the United Nations Peacekeeping Force for operations in the northern areas of the West African nation of Mali. A batch of 500 troops will leave first and the rest will fly thereafter, according to Defence and Foreign Ministry sources.Mali with a land area of more than 1.2 million square kilometres is the eighth largest country in the African continent.

A senior Foreign Ministry source told the Sunday Times the Government of Mali has sought a Sri Lankan peacekeeping contingent as against troops from Pakistan or Bangladesh. This, he has said, was because of the Sri Lanka Armys successful military defeat of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE), one of the worlds deadliest terrorist organisations at the time. The request has been made specifically to the UN Department of Peacekeeping and was conveyed to the Sri Lanka Government.

There are five main Islamist groups in Mali  Ansar Dine, Movement for Unity and Jihad in West Africa (MUJAO), al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM), the Signed-in-Blood Battalion and the Islamic Movement for Azawad (IMA). They have different objectives. Ansar Dine wants to impose Islamic law across Mali and its full name in Arabic is Harakat Ansar al-Dine. In contrast

The North African wing of Al QSaeda is rooted in the Algerian civil war of early 1990s but now wants to assume a more international Islamist agenda.

The preference to call upon the Sri Lanka Army to defend the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Mali comes in the wake of another UN agency, the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) in Geneva calling for an investigation into the conduct of the Sri Lanka Army and the then Government of Sri Lanka on the manner in which they defeated the LTTE.

Sri Lankan troops first served with the UNs blue-helmets in 1960 in Congo, and later in Haiti (2004), Lebanon (2010) and more recently in South Sudan. They are currently in seven peacekeeping missions overseas. A total of 12,210 Army and Police personnel have served with the UN over the years. Five men have died while serving with the UN Peacekeeping Forces.

The Sri Lanka Army has been an integral part of the UN Peace Keeping Force even during the LTTE led military campaign for a separate state . The LTTE which was crushed in 2009.
Sri Lanka should exploit its potential Soft Power- Foreign Sec. Colombo Defence Seminar - 2016 View(s): View(s):

The potential Soft Power that Sri Lanka could wield, considering its critical strategic location in the Indian Ocean region, is yet to be fully exploited, as it relies, to a large extent, on its capacities and capabilities, said Foreign Secretary Esala Weerakoon at the culmination of the two-day Colombo Defence Seminar  2016 organized by the Sri Lanka Army, on Friday.

Located as we are, at a meeting point between the East and the West, in the Indian Ocean, our location is of significant geo-strategic importance. In a modern context, one of the most important Sea Lanes of Communication runs just South of Dondra Head, where close to 200 ships traverse daily, taking energy supplies to other countries in East Asia and beyond, he said.

We have a responsibility to keep those Sea Lanes of Communication safe and ensure freedom of navigation. Any disturbance to this sea lane could have disastrous consequences to the global economy, he said.

Noting that todays Sri Lanka is a good fit for internal and external expression of Soft Power reality, he said, It welcomes peaceful engagement and remains open to friendship and persuasions. It does this all, while consolidating democracy; rule of law; reconciliation; upholding, promoting and protecting human rights; strengthening good governance; and rules-based systems. We are in fact enhancing the Soft Power of our State. Secretary Weerakon pointed out to the packed audience gathered from throughout the world, that Sri Lanka has continued to display considerable independence in the conduct of its foreign relations while remaining non-aligned. It also has a long history of diplomatic engagement characterized by a policy of friendship with all and enmity with none.

Ambassador for the Peoples Republic of China to Sri Lanka, Yi Xianliang, speaking on Soft Power and its pervading influence across the Asian continent, emphasised that, China is using all the aspects of Soft Power and expects to keep close relationships with all the Asian countries and help peace to prevail in the region.

Its a win-win cooperation that China expects and is the guiding philosophy China depends on. The vision of building a new type of international relations featuring win-win cooperation has received high appreciation from the international community, he said.

Ambassador Xianliang also noted that, if the Chinese government opted to seek a Hard Power solution over the recent tense South China Sea dispute, it would be a total disaster for the whole Asian region.

I was the head of the staff at the Chinese Foreign Affairs Ministry supervising this subject. I know every single truth behind this dispute. The reason China did not go for Hard Power relief is its belief in Soft Power and its concern for peace in the Asian region, he noted.

The annual two-day Colombo Defence Seminar  2016, themed on Soft Power and Its Influence on Global Issues, which drew to a close at the BMICH, saw diverse participation of local and foreign security experts, analysts and intellectuals, discussing a contemporary subject such as Soft Power- a new political theory developed in the late 20th century- considered enduring and sustainable, and equivalent to hard power which is unsustainable and destructive.

The seminar hosted nearly 800 participants, including representatives from 71 countries. Secretary of Defence Eng Karunasena Hettiarachchi, Secretary to Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Esala Weerakoon, Army Commander- Lt. Gen Crishanthe De Silva, Navy Commander- Vice Admiral Ravindra Wijegunaratne and Air Force Commander- Air Marshal Gagan Bulathsinghala took part in the concluding ceremony.
The attackers drove down in a Hyundai Santro and opened fire at Sushma Rathi (26) while she was on her way home . She is the wife of notorious gangster Ashok Rathi.

By Ajay Kumar: Three assailants gunned down the wife of notorious gangster Ashok Rathi in Alipur village on the outskirts of Gurugram on Friday morning.

The attackers drove down in a Hyundai Santro and opened fire at Sushma Rathi (26) while she was on her way home after droping off her six-year-old daughter at the school bus stop around 8 am.

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The local police suspect that the plan may have been hatched because her husband is serving life-term at the district jail at present.

The vehicle used in the crime was found abandoned in Dhatir village under the jurisdiction of the neighbouring Palwal district. The accused had allegedly set it on fire.

SUSHMA RATHI DIED OF MULTIPLE GUNSHOTS: POLICE



"The attackers had a clear idea about her whereabouts and movements and they opened fire indiscriminately as soon as she rode off on her scooter after her daughter boarded the school bus. Her daughter studies in GD Goenka school," said Deepak Shaharan, DCP east of Gurugram Police. "She received gunshot injuries on her head, chest and abdomen and died instantly on the spot," he added.

Her husband, Ashok Rathi, was charged with as many as 26 cases of murder, attempt to murder, dacoity, loot and kidnapping under different police stations across Haryana and Mathura.

He has been serving life-term for the murder of his mother-in-law and brother-in-law. He had also threatened his wife of dire consequences from jail around three months ago. The victim had reported the incident to the concerned Bhondsi police station.

"Investigations are underway and we are considering all possible angles including the threat made by her husband from jail," the DCP said.

Local police have registered an FIR under relevant IPC sections of murder and criminal conspiracy against three unknown assailants in Bhondsi police station. The accused are at large now.

ALSO READ:

Dacoit killed in encounter with Madhya Pradesh Police



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Labour has withdrawn its support for the Local Government Act 2002 Amendment Bill (No. 2) as National shows no signs of acknowledging the chorus of opposition from mayors and councils throughout New Zealand, says Labours Local Government spokesperson Meka Whaitiri.

Labour has expressed concerns that parts of this bill undermine local decision-making from the outset, yet we agreed with the stated intent of making local government more efficient and delivering better services to ratepayers.

We supported it through to select committee in good faith so the issues could be debated nationwide and important amendments could be made.

However, in spite of massive opposition from mayors and councils throughout the country, Local Government Minister Sam Lotu-Iiga shows no sign that hes listening at all. In fact, he recently accused South Island mayors of only being opposed because theyre electioneering.

That shows how completely out-of-touch the Minister is with the people we elect to represent us at a local level.

The local government sector werent properly consulted on this Bill, and the Government has tried to rush it through Parliament.

After eight years in government, National should understand that you cant reform a major piece of legislation like the Local Government Act without decent consultation first.

Labour believes in a partnership approach between central and local government. We back the Kiwi Dream and know we cant deliver those outcomes without a solid partnership with our councils, says Meka Whaitiri.

SOURCE: Office of Meka Whaitiri
By Tatsam Mukherjee: Don't Breathe is the most entertaining, rewarding film you will watch in a long time. Book away!

Director: Fede Alvarez

Cast: Stephen Lang, Jane Levy, Dylan Minnette, Daniel Zovatto

Rating

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How do you even explain the brilliance of movie as taut as Don't Breathe without spoiling it for the audience? As the trailer suggests, the movie is the story of three burglars entering the home of a blind war veteran. What appears to be a simple in and out job with a booty of USD 300,000 at stake, gets botched when they find out the 'blind old man' is more than capable of taking them down.



ALSO SEE: Jackie Chan to get an honorary Oscar next year

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The opening scene of the movie pretty much sets up the mood for the entire movie, as the camera zooms in from the sky to the roads of secluded Detroit as we see an old man dragging a woman by her hair along the road. The three burglars are given swift, efficient introductions. Just about enough meat for us to root for their survival. They find this house in the middle of nowhere, and look at it as their last hit before retiring from this line of work for good.

Don't Breathe might appear like just another home invasion thriller, and that's why it's so brilliant. Director Fede Alvarez, who rebooted Evil Dead in 2013, uses atmospherics to it's maximum capacity. The beauty of the film is how it ticks almost every cliche in the book for a claustrophobic psychological thriller and yet manages to surprise its audience at each and every step. Sound design is of utmost importance here, as each and every sound demands to be felt, the heavy breathing, the stifling of sobs, the footsteps, the bone-crushing violence.

Stephen Lang is all kinds of brilliant as the alpha blind war-veteran. So are the three burglars played Jane Levy, Dylan Minnette and Daniel Zovatto. The USP of Don't Breathe is how minimalistic it looks, but only if you pay close attention do you realise how everything has been executed to perfection. That random arm grabbing the burglar in the vent is not a gimmick. The film executes its thrills to perfection, making you jump in your seat nine out of ten times.

Fede Alvarez masterfully executes a satisfying climax leaving you with the dread as you leave the theatre, keeping options open for a sequel. And yet you're so satisfied with the movie, you almost wish a sequel doesn't spoil it. This might just be the most fun you have at the movies in 2016, go on.





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By PTI: Jayalalithaa

Chennai, Sep 3 (PTI) Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa today said the canonisation of Mother Teresa is a matter of great pride to the nation and she always draws sustenance for public service from her life and works.

"It is a matter of great pride for India that Mother Teresa, Bharat Ratna, Nobel Peace Prize awardee and the founder of Missionaries of Charity, set up with a mission of serving the poorest of the poor, will be canonised and finally known to the world as Saint Teresa after the ceremony to be held in the Vatican on September 4", she said in a statement.

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Referring to Mother Teresas visit to her house in 1994 and sharing the dais with her at a state function to mark International Womens Day, Jayalalithaa said, "It remains a memorable event in my life. I continue to draw sustenance for my own public service from the life and work of Mother Teresa."

Asserting that her government has taken inspiration from Mother Teresa and striven to provide compassionate governance in the state, she said the Mother Teresa Womens University, established in 1994, continues to serve the cause of womens education.

"The canonisation of Mother Teresa will again highlight the work that she has done among the poor and the downtrodden. Her life and work has inspired many and as Saint Teresa, she will continue to inspire many more," the Chief Minister said.

"The spirit of compassion and selfless service to the most unfortunate, the sick, the dying and the destitute will be greatly bolstered through keeping alive the memory of this great soul", Jayalalithaa said.

Mother Teresa will be declared a Saint by Pope Francis in a canonisation ceremony in the Vatican City tomorrow in presence of her followers from all over the world. PTI VIJ RC NSD

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Final scores: Week 10's high school football games on the Treasure Coast

Football teams hit field Thursday and Friday for Week 10 with SSAC playoffs beginning and District 12-4S title game between Treasure Coast and Vero.
Correction: This article has been modified from its original version. The winner will be sworn in Nov. 22.

ST. LUCIE COUNTY  Small business owner Cathy Townsend defeated incumbent Kim Johnson and challenger Alexander Tommie in the St. Lucie County Commission District 5 race.

Townsend, who owns Flat Land Moving with her husband James 'Bud' King, will be sworn in Nov. 22.

'I think the community is ready for someone who will be accessible and put their needs first,' she said.

Townsend, a former chair of the St. Lucie County Planning and Zoning board, hopes to use her experience running a small business to lure more businesses to the northern area of the county.

In the first year of her four-year term, Townsend said she wants to lower the impact fees for new businesses in hopes of sparking redevelopment in the area.

'The northern part of the county has been left behind during the economic boom,' said Townsend, 54.

Townsend out raised Johnson, a former educator turned motivational speaker, by a margin of 4 to 1.

Townsend collected $36,422 from donors, including $1,000 each from Phoenix Metals, a manufacturer of aviation parts at Treasure Coast International Airport, real estate agent Sandra Allen, surgical assistant Veronica Haines, Allen Family Real Estate, $500 each from Las Vegas billionaire Phil Ruffin who at one time proposed building a condo-hotel on North Hutchinson Island, Treasure Coast Builders PAC.

About a third of Townsend's donations  about $13,000  came from loans she made to her campaign.

Johnson, a former teacher turned motivational speaker, raised $9,920, mostly dozens of donations of $50 or less from various residents, $1,000 each from Fronton Holdings LLC, owners of the Fort Pierce Jai-Alai & Casino, retirees Stan and Cecilia Crippen and $250 from the Fetterman Firm.

Tommie, the general manager of the Chupco Landing Seminole Reservation in Fort Pierce, self-funded his campaign to the tune of $7,484
By PTI: From Sajjad Hussain

Islamabad, Sep 3 (PTI) The father and ex-husband of a Pakistani-origin British woman were today charged with her murder in Pakistan in an apparent case of "honour killing" here.

The former husband of 28-year-old Samia Shahid was also charged with raping her before strangling her to death.

Shahid, a resident of Dhok Pandori village, some 230 km from Lahore, had come to Pakistan from Dubai in mid July to see her ailing father and was found dead on July 20. Her father claimed that she died due to cardiac arrest.

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The murder would have gone unnoticed but British MP Naz Shah in a letter alerted Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif that it could be a case of honour killing following which Shahids father Muhammad Shahid and ex-husband Muhammad Shakil were arrested.

The two are in police custody where according to police, Shakil had confessed killing his former wife.

The police has charged Shahid and Shakil with Samias murder.

An autopsy report showed that she was raped before her murder.

Police is also trying to bring back Samias sister and mother who fled to the UK after the murder.

A high-level inquiry headed by Deputy Inspector General (DIG) Abu Bakar Khuda Bakhsh concluded that she was murdered.

The DIG also asked for action against Station House Officer (SHO) Aqeel Abbas for professional negligence.

A police official said that following the official procedure, a case was registered against Abbas yesterday and he was arrested and locked up in Mangal police station.

Police sources said that Shakil, who is also Samias cousin, confessed strangling her to death as she married another man of her choice.

Syed Mukhtar Kazim, second husband of Samia, had told police that his wife had been killed by her family members for marrying against the will of her parents.

Kazim and Samia, both British-Pakistani dual citizens, had been married for two years and were living in Dubai. A beauty therapist from Bradford, Samia had previously been married to her first cousin Shakil but the couple parted ways after divorce in May 2014. She then married Kazim. PTI SH UZM SAI UZM

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Officials in France and India have launched investigations of a massive data breach involving thousands of documents belonging to defense industry contractor DCNS, which was scheduled to deliver six Scorpene-class submarines to the Indian navy later this year.

Hackers stole more than 22,000 pages of documents that included detailed technical information on the vessels. They turned them over en masse to The Australian, which published some of the leaked information.

DCNS acknowledged it was aware of the press coverage of the leak about the Indian Scorpene submarine project, and said French authorities were investigating the case.

The investigation will determine the exact nature of the leaked documents, potential damages to DCNS customers, and responsibility for the leak, the company said.

Indian government officials took up the incident with the director general of armament of the French government. They asked for an investigation and for the findings to be shared with the Indian government.

The Indian government also is conducting an internal investigation to rule out any security compromise. However, the leak appears to have taken place outside of India, according to defense officials.

Possible Links

The evidence so far has led some to suspect a link to state-sponsored activity or even organized crime, noted Pierluigi Paganini, chief information security officer at Bit4id.

A government could be interested in leaking online such precious data only to interfere with commercial relationships between the DCNS and other governments, he told TechNewsWorld. It could be interested, for example, to benefit a company linked to it.

The Kalvari, the first submarine built in India, reflects a deal between DCNS and Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders to build six vessels in Mumbai.

DCNS also won the largest-ever contract awarded in Australian history, for an advanced fleet of vessels. Australia selected DCNS as the preferred international partner for the design of 12 future submarines for the Royal Australian Navy, the company announced this spring. The leakage of the India Scorpene data has created some unease over whether Australia should take delivery of those vessels.

The Australian government chose DCNS for its ability to meet all of its requirements  among them, superior sensors and stealth characteristics, as well as range and endurance similar to Collins class vessels.

NATOs main cyber-responsibility is to defend its own networks, noted Press Officer Daniele Riggio. Individual allies are responsible for protecting their own networks.

Sponsored Espionage?

The Scorpene cyberattacks follow a series of attacks launched late last year against several contractors who were in the running for the Australian submarine contract. Several reports linked China and possibly Russian hackers to those incidents, which targeted contractors in Germany and Japan, as well as Frances DCNS.

Torben Beckmann, spokesman for Thyssenkrupp Industrial Solutions, confirmed to TechNewsWorld that the company was one of three contractors in contention for the submarine contract, but he declined to comment on the reported data hack.
The latest ransomware intrusion that targets Linux servers, dubbed FairWare, may be a classic server hack designed to bilk money from victims with no intent to return stolen files after payment in bitcoins is made.

Tech support site Bleeping Computer earlier this week reported the threat, based on server administrator comments on its forum. Other reports followed.

The attack targets a Linux server, deletes the Web folder, and then demands a ransom payment of two bitcoins for return of the stolen files, according to BleepingComputer owner Lawrence Abrams.

The attackers apparently do not encrypt the files but may upload them to a server under their control, he noted.

Ransomware or Hack?

Victims first learned about FairWare when they discovered their websites were down. When they logged onto their Linux servers, they discovered that the website folder had been removed. Victims found a note called READ_ME.txt left in the /root/ folder, according to accounts on the forum.

The note contains a link to a further ransom note on pastebin. The link connects to a note telling victims how to obtain their files.

The ransom note on pastebin directs victims to pay two bitcoins to the bitcoin address 1DggzWksE2Y6DUX5GcNvHHCCDUGPde8WNL within two weeks. After paying up, victims were to send an email to fairware@sigaint.org with the server IP address and BTC transaction ID.

The hackers then would provide the victims with access to their files and delete them from the hacker server.

I am not sure this attack qualifies as ransomware, observed Chenxi Wang, CSO at Twistlock.

Even though a ransom demand was made, there is no evidence of an actual malware that infected a vulnerability on the host, she told LinuxInsider. This is really more of a classic hack as opposed to a malware-based attack.

Stern Warning

The FairWare attackers apparently tried to encourage victims to cooperate with their payment demands by including in their directions a link to FBI advice that victims should just pay the ransom if no other option existed and they needed access to their encrypted data.

The attackers also invited victims to email questions but warned against testing them with stupid questions or time wasters, according to the transcript of the note published on Bleeping Computers.

Questions such as: can i see files first? will be ignored. We are business people and treat customers well if you follow what we ask, the note says.

Sketchy Details

Not much is known about FairWare  either how it spreads or what methods it employs to hack into servers. That makes it difficult to issue definitive advice on protecting against it.

At this point, it appears that FairWare is being spread via a WordPress vulnerability, although other vectors are not out of the question, Core Security System Engineer Bobby Kuzma told LinuxInsider.

The details about the server hacks are still sketchy, Twistlocks Wang agreed. It appears to be a brute-force attack on SSH (Secure SHell).

The only way to prevent that is to increase your SSH key length. If you are using 2,048-bit keys, you should consider upgrading to 8,192, she said.

The sketchy details contribute to the notion that the ransomware label in this case is not accurate, said Chris Roberts, chief security architect at Acalvio.

Theres a lot of talk on both the surface Web and on some of the DarkNet forums that it is nothing more than a scam that has been set up by a team with the hopes of gathering funds, he told LinuxInsider.

No-Pay Strategy Supported

It appears that no money has been deposited into the digital wallet specified for ransom payments. It is possible that data has been taken, however, and it is also possible that the attackers will release it, Roberts said.

As an aside, I do love the fact the ransomware chaps quoted the FBI in their letter. Its awesome to basically cut that argument off at the pass: Standard user/company the FBI will solve it has just been nixed, he added.

Ransomware is a growing concern to enterprises on all levels.

Its important to first note that when dealing with ransomware, businesses should never pay the ransom, said Omer Bitton, vice president for research at enSilo.

Paying up motivates the threat actors to continue with the practice. Our advice: Stay vigilant for cyberthreats. Back up your data regularly. Share information on cyberattacks and best practices, and deploy technologies that can proactively protect against ransomware, he told LinuxInsider.

The costs of good backups are far less than paying a ransom, Core Securitys Kuzma pointed out.

Who Is at Risk?

At this point, it looks like workstations, laptops and desktops are unaffected by FairWare. That might not be the case for computers that host a publicly accessible WordPress site, however, said Kuzma.

This is interesting ransomware, since it appears to back up copies of the data offsite, then wipes it from the victims system  unlike the normal modus operandi of ransomware, which is to encrypt the data in place, he said.

Likely targets appear to be Web hosters with websites on Linux systems, said Greg Scott, owner of Infrasupport Corporation.

That makes him a potential victim, since he hosts the website for an IT security educational book he authored on a Red Hat Fedora virtual machine.

The book, Bullseye Breach, is disguised as an international thriller about how Russian mobsters penetrate a large U.S. retailer named Bullseye Stores and steal millions of credit cards. In his fictional world, a few good guys come up with a way to fight back.

Potential attackers might want his book website to go offline  and in fact, somebody at a Russian IP Address did attack the site a few months ago, Scott said.

I stopped it by blocking it at my firewall, he said, noting that its only exposure to the Internet is incoming Web requests for that site.

Protection Tips

FairWare targets mostly websites that are hosted on Linux servers. Unlike other ransomware, it It usually deletes the website content from the server instead of encrypting the files, which can be less problematic, according to Idan Levin, CTO of Hexadite.

Most companies have a backup of their websites, so in most cases the victim can easily recover the website files if he was able to clean the ransomware from the server, he told LinuxInsider. Linux desktops will probably not be affected by this ransomware since they are not running any website servers.

Keeping the servers current with software upgrades and security patches is critical. Although the FairWare infection methods remain a mystery, Levin suspects the attacker exploits server side vulnerabilities such as Shellshock or Heartbleed.

So I would suggest that people make sure their websites software is up to date and that they have an updated backup of their files, he said.

Placing an orchestration and automation solution into play also would be advisable, Levin added. That would make it possible to stop the ransomware in seconds, before any major damage could be done.
Apple cofounder Steve Wozniak recently said removing the headphone jack in the next version of the iPhone is going to tick off a lot of people. Its been rumored for months that Apple would be scrapping the 3.5 mm headphone jack in the iPhone 7 its expected to unveil next week.

Such a move, Wozniak said in an interview, could upset users who have invested in listening technology that uses the headphone jack.

Ditching the headphone jack could be the prelude to another rumored new product: Bluetooth earbuds based on a very-low-powered radio chip developed exclusively by Apple.

Wozniak prefers listening to music over wired headphones, he told The Australian Financial Review, because audio through Bluetooth wireless technology, which is used by most wireless headsets, sounds flat.

However, if Bluetooth could be improved to produce better sound, hed use wireless headphones, he said.

Such technology already exists, maintained Jeff Orr, senior practice director for mobile devices at ABI Research.

There is the ability in Bluetooth to deliver a very high-quality audio experience, he told TechNewsWorld. It depends on how much a company is willing to invest in it to deliver something an audiophile would appreciate.

Jackless Options

Without the headphone jack, the only headset option would be wireless, unless Apple introduces alternatives. One solution could be headphones that plug into Apples proprietary Lightning Connector, which is used primarily to charge the iPhone.

However, its rumored that Apple is changing that connector, too. The new connector would dock to the iPhone magnetically, similar to Apples laptop computer connectors.

Another alternative would be to offer a dongle that would plug into the Lightning Connector and add a 3.5 mm jack to the iPhone.

Apple used the adaptor approach before, when it went from using a 30-pin connector on its iOS devices to the present Lightning Connector.

Such an adaptor likely would be inelegant, maintained Kevin Krewell, a principal analyst at Tirias Research.

Apple does not make elegant dongles, he told TechNewsWorld.

The dongles are designed to be as inelegant as possible to convince people not to use them for an extended period of time and to move on to whats new, Krewell added.

Inelegant or not, Wozniak would use an adaptor with an iPhone so he could listen to music through his wired earphones with custom ear implants, he told the AFR.

Strong Foundation

Although the demise of the headphone jack has not been confirmed, the rumor appears to be very well established, as rumors go.

Its been a solid rumor for an extended period of time, so I believe it will be true, Krewell said.

There are still doubters, though.

I wouldnt be surprised if Apple floated the idea a year ago to get people talking about it and see how people would react to this type of change, ABIs Orr noted.

If Apple does scrap the standard headphone jack, it wont be the first company to do so. Lenovo removed the jack in its flagship Moto Z line of phones introduced earlier this year.

If youre going to remove the headphone jack, youd better have a compelling advantage for consumers, said Ian Fogg, senior director of the mobile and telecoms team at IHS Markit.

Lenovos pitch is that by eliminating the headphone jack it can create a thinner device to which optional modules can be attached. The problem is that the modules would add thickness to the phone.

That makes Lenovos proposition for dropping the headphone jack quite weak, Fogg told TechNewsWorld.

Backlash or Back Pat?

Although Apple has made bold moves to mothball legacy technology in the past, losing the headphone jack is different from going from a 30-pin to Lightning Connector.

The headphone jack is not just a port used by smartphones. Its used on many devices  laptops, TV sets, home stereos, radios. Its very, very ubiquitous, Fogg said.

It isnt like a change in the product line where people can get over the change fairly quickly. There are so many other devices where people use a headphone socket, it will take them many years to switch to something newer, he suggested. That makes it a tricky area for Apple to innovate in.

Will eliminating the headphone jack tick off customers, as Wozniak predicted?

There is certainly the risk that Apple will alienate some part of its audience if it removes the audio port from the iPhone, said Orr.

However, if the past is any predictor of the future, Apple should be able to keep its fans in line.

Apples customer base has never abandoned it when its made major infrastructure transitions in the past, observed Tirias Krewell. Theres always grumbling initially, but people eventually fall in line.
Facebook's Internet.org initiative to bring internet access to less developed areas is set back when the SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket explosion destroyed the satellite designed to push the social media company's venture.

Both Facebook and France-based satellite operator Eutelsat Communications SA worked together on the project, and the satellite was meant to get people in Africa to go online.

According to the president of the telecom consulting firm TMF Associates Tim Farrar, the satellite cost roughly $200 million, and it requires quite a lot of time to finish.

"It's a big, complicated satellite. It takes hundreds of people at least two years to build," he says, according to the Wall Street Journal.

Of course, Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg was disappointed about the turn of events, saying that in light of the incident, it's now going to take even longer to connect people.

"I'm deeply disappointed to hear that SpaceX's launch failure destroyed our satellite that would have provided connectivity to so many entrepreneurs and everyone else across the continent," Zuckerberg says, noting that Facebook is still committed to the project and reminding everyone that Aquila is still under development to bring internet access to remote areas.

For those who don't know, Aquila is a solar-powered drone that can soar up to 60,000 feet, and tests to get it off the ground started back in July. However, it's still under development, but with that said, the Facebook executive expects it to get a total of 5 billion users on Facebook by 2030.

Regarding the explosion itself, it happened while the engineers were fueling the Falcon 9 rocket up with kerosene propellant and liquid oxygen to get it ready for a test fire, but it should be pointed out that SpaceX CEO Elon Musk says that it wasn't an explosion but a fast fire.

@scrappydog yes. This seems instant from a human perspective, but it really a fast fire, not an explosion. Dragon would have been fine.  Elon Musk (@elonmusk) September 1, 2016

To sum up the events, Facebook won't be pushing its plans of bringing internet access to secluded areas via satellite just yet, but it does have a backup plan with Aquila. In other words, while the incident may have held up the initiative, Zuckerberg is far from abandoning the idea.

Feel free to drop by our comments section below and let us know what you think of the recent Falcon 9 rocket explosion that hindered Facebook's Internet.org efforts.

 2022 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
China's dominant ride-hailing service Didi Chuxing announced in August that the company was buying Uber operations in China. Within a month, China's antitrust body has started investigating the deal.

The Didi-Uber deal, which is worth $35 billion, is mainly aimed at reducing stiff competition in the ride-hailing service market in China.

"With the addition of the strong talents and experience of the Uber China team, Didi Chuxing will be even better-positioned to serve the Chinese people. Didi Chuxing will also continue to expand its international strategy. We look forward to working with our partners at home and abroad to create more value for drivers, passengers and communities," said Jean Liu, the president of Didi.

As part of the deal, Didi will fully buy Uber business operations in China. Uber will get a stake of 5.89 percent in the new entity. Additionally, Travis Kalanick, the CEO of Uber, will join Didi's board, and Cheng Wei, the chairman and founder of Didi, will become a part of Uber's board. Didi also announced that it will invest $1 billion in Uber.

Didi and Uber are the top two ride-hailing services in China. Didi claims to have about 87 percent of the market share while Uber operates in more than 60 cities in China.

After the announcement of the Didi-Uber deal, the Ministry of Commerce revealed that it has not received the necessary application for the merger. On Sept. 2, the Chinese agency announced that it has started an investigation into the deal. The agency wants to assess if the multibillion-dollar deal complies with the country's antitrust law.

Didi was not expecting an investigation. In August the company said that it did not apply for an antitrust review because the revenues of Uber's operations in China did not exceed the required threshold of $65 million in 2015.

Reports suggest that China's Ministry of Commerce has already had a couple of meetings with Didi, requesting more information about the deal and an explanation why the company did not apply for an antitrust review.

A spokesperson for the Ministry of Commerce says that the agency will continue with the investigation to protect fair competition in the Chinese market and safeguard the interest of consumers.

Uber has not commented on the government investigation but a Didi spokesman says that the company is in communication with the relevant authorities.

The investigation is ongoing and it remains unclear when the government probe will come to a conclusion. It is also unclear if the investigation will impact the Didi-Uber deal.

 2022 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
The SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket explosion at Cape Canaveral on Thursday has been described as a "fast fire" by SpaceX CEO Elon Musk. In a tweet, Musk downplayed the gravity of the incident and asserted that it was absolutely a fire and not an explosion.

However, some industry observers are of the view that SpaceX operations may be hit for a few weeks as the damage to the Launch Complex 40 can be serious.

Even as Musk asserted "fast fire" in the tweet, eyewitness accounts said the blast turned the Falcon 9 rocket into a bowl of fire. It was 9:07 a.m when SpaceX fueled the 230-foot Falcon 9 for a practice countdown to prepare for Saturday's launch of a satellite for Israel's Spacecom.

The fire incident destroyed both the rocket and payload. The Israeli satellite was to be used by Facebook for providing internet services in remote African countries.

The "static fire" test was to follow with a brief firing of the booster's nine engines. Suddenly, fire entered the rocket's upper stage, and explosions started. Many buildings in the vicinity trembled, and heavy plumes of smoke started billowing up.

Second Consecutive Loss for SpaceX

For SpaceX, Thursday's fire was the second consecutive loss within a little over a year. In June 2015, a SpaceX supply mission to the International Space Station (ISS) exploded in the Atlantic and lost the unmanned Dragon spacecraft and a Falcon 9 rocket. That was extensively reported by Tech Times.

There is concern that the fire incident may hurt SpaceX's reputation at a time when it is getting ready to launch a NASA astronauts mission in 2017. As mentioned, NASA has tied up with SpaceX to supply cargo to the ISS.

Despite the SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket fiasco, NASA expressed confidence in its supply partner and said this will be a learning experience.

"Today's incident  while it was not a NASA launch  is a reminder that spaceflight is an incredible challenge, but our partners learn from each success and setback," NASA officially said.

The SpaceX rocket was supposed to carry the Amos 6 satellite in which Facebook and French satellite provider Eutelsat have invested close to $100 million each for leasing bandwidth.

"I'm deeply disappointed to hear that SpaceX's launch failure destroyed our satellite that would have provided connectivity to so many entrepreneurs and everyone else across the continent," Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg said, adding that the destroyed satellite could have boosted the company's Internet.org initiative.

Photo: SpaceX | Flickr

 2022 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
When it's hot and humid outside, you pump up the air-conditioning in your car or inside your house to feel cooler. However, such electric devices carry environmental consequences.

Air conditioning units consume energy supplied by power plants, which generate electricity by burning fossil fuels. As a result, power plants can discharge clouds of pollutants such as soot, carbon dioxide (CO2) and mercury into the atmosphere.

And as we all know, too much CO2 in the atmosphere can increase Earth's temperature and cause a "greenhouse effect."

With that in mind, scientists from Stanford University have proposed a solution that may potentially reduce our reliance on energy-consuming devices that cool our homes and buildings.

Kitchen Wrap Material

When a person is at rest, half his body heat is dissipated into the atmosphere through infrared radiation. Blankets and clothes that keep us warm during the colder months can do so by trapping the radiation.

However, even light clothing can capture much of that infrared radiation and keep us warm when we want to cool down. Additionally, synthetic fibers in wicking technology that kick into gear when we sweat can still trap the infrared energy.

Now, as reported by Tech Times, Stanford researchers have invented a material that would dynamically cool our bodies if it were merged into clothing. They chose the material polyethylene because it has the property of allowing infrared energy to pass straight through.

The only problem is that kitchen wrap is transparent with respect to visible light and people would not want to appear naked in public, scientists said. Because of that, researchers used a polyethylene variant found in battery making as it has the benefit of being opaque.

The material's chemical properties were then modified so that the second issue was fixed: the fact that polyethylene does not permit water to pass through. Researchers then tested the material against a cotton fabric.

The Future Of Clothing

In the end, Stanford scientists found that the kitchen wrap material allowed the surface to cool more than a cotton garment by 3.6 degrees Fahrenheit (2 degrees Celsius). Although it may appear statistically insignificant, one expert believes that such a shift could save up to 45 percent of the energy required for cooling inside a building.

Indeed, Svetlana Boriskana, a nano-engineer who was not involved in the study, says the basis of the research already has precedents in nature: the hairs on the body of the Saharan silver ant.

Boriskana says the Saharan silver ant's hairs are fine enough to reflect and scatter sunlight, avoiding overheating by absorption.

"Removal of the hairs increased the ant temperature by a couple of Celsius degrees," says Boriskana, who is an expert from Massachusetts Institute of Technology.

So is the Stanford team's new material the fabric of the future? Po-Chun Hsu, one of the researchers of the Stanford study, says the findings confirm that such a material can permit freer flow of infrared energy and help a person stay cooler.

However, Hsu acknowledges that scientists are still in the early phases of finding the best method to incorporate the new material into clothing. The polyethylene material may either be added into conventional fabric or it may be turned into a woven textile.

"We're exploring all kinds of possibilities," added Hsu.

 2022 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
In 2013, the Food and Drug Administration issued a challenge to soapmakers: prove within a year that adding antibacterial chemicals to soaps enhanced their ability to kill germs, or else the new ingredient would be removed. It is now 2016, and with the lack of such proof, the FDA has decided to ban the sale of many soaps containing the chemical in question.

The new edict, which argues that the industry has failed to prove that antibacterial soaps were safe to use over the long term or more effective than using ordinary soap and water, requires companies to take the ingredients out of the products within a year.

"Companies will no longer be able to market antibacterial washes with these ingredients because manufacturers did not demonstrate that the ingredients are both safe for long-term daily use and more effective than plain soap and water in preventing illness and the spread of certain infections," the FDA said in a statement.

In total, the FDA took action against 19 different chemicals and the 40 percent of consumer soaps that contain them. The most common among these are triclosan and triclocarban, which are found in hand soaps and bar soaps, respectively.

On the other hand, benzalkonium chloride, benzethonium chloride and chloroxylenol have been given the okay for the time being, as the agency waits for more evidence before giving a final ruling.

Interestingly enough, Colgate Total contains one of the chemicals targeted by the FDA, but the company managed to prove to the FDA that its benefits  the reduction of plaque and gum disease  outweigh its risks.

The FDA's move is just a part of a potentially larger crackdown on an assortment of chemicals that companies place in its products.

For example, the agency is also checking the safety and efficacy of hand sanitizers and wipes, and have asked the respective companies to provide evidence that alcohol (ethanol or ethyl alcohol), isopropyl alcohol and benzalkonium chloride are as effective as they say they are. The deadline for that ruling, however, is unclear.

As one might expect, the FDA's ban has elicited a range of emotions.

For example, public health experts  like Rolf Halden from Arizona State University's Biodesign Institute  who have questioned the efficacy and safety of various antibacterials, applauded the ruling.

"It has boggled my mind why we were clinging to these compounds, and now that they are gone I feel liberated," he said. "They had absolutely no benefit but we kept them buzzing around us everywhere. They are in breast milk, in urine, in blood, in babies just born, in dust, in water."

On the other hand, at least one entity  a trade group known as The American Cleaning Institute  opposed the rule. It argued that the agency already had evidence proving the safety and efficacy of soaps and that manufacturers were in the midst of providing even more evidence to address any data gaps the FDA had identified.

Regardless of how they feel about it, however, now that they've failed to prove the effectiveness of various antibacterials, soapmakers are left with little choice but to remove the chemicals from their products. Fortunately, some of them already making steps towards doing so due to pre-existing consumer concerns. For example, Johnson & Johnson and Procter & Gamble had already announced their intention to phase out the chemicals in their products before the FDA issued the ban.

 2022 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
By Rohit Kumar Singh: Bihar Sharif Excise Inspector Deepak Kumar, who arrested local JD(U) leader Indrajeet Sen for stocking 168 bottles of liquor in his house, was arrested by the state police on Saturday. The police has arrested Kumar on charges of conspiracy to frame the JD(U) leader who also happens to be JD(U) President of Harnaut block in Nalanda district. Harnaut happens to be the home block of Bihar CM Nitish Kumar.

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NALANDA ADMINISTRATION GOT JDU LEADER RELEASED



Deepak Kumar acting on a tip-off had raided Indrajeet Sen's house on August 30 and recovered 168 bottles of liquor stocked there. Soon after the arrest of the JD(U) leader he was produced in court and sent to jail. This is where the trouble for the excise inspector began. After Indrajeet was sent to jail, Nalanda administration began all efforts to turn the case in favour of Indrajeet Sen and get him released.

EXCISE INSPECTOR DEEPAK KUMAR ARRESTED, QUESTIONED

Following up on their action plan, police detained the excise inspector for two days and interrogated him on charges of hatching a conspiracy against the JD(U) leader and planting liquor bottles in his house. Deepak Kumar was, however, released by the police on Friday after thorough grilling but he was again called for questioning by the DM and SP on Saturday evening and later arrested.

"The police is questioning me. I as an excise inspector whenever get a tip off, carry raids and seize liquor. I never ask who the person is or to which party he belongs when arresting the accused. This is for the first time that such thing is happening to me", said Deepak Kumar a day before he was arrested on Saturday.



JDU FALSELY IMPLICATED HONEST EXCISE INPECTOR: SUSHIL

BJP leader Sushil Modi alleged that the DM and SP of Nalanda were acting as agents of the JD(U) and had falsely implicated an honest excise inpector in this case.

"There cannot be a fair probe under the incumbent DM and SP. Both these officers should be removed. Office of DGP or Chief Secretary should investigate the case", demanded Sushil Modi.

On the other hand there is massive resentment amongst the locals in Nalanda as Indrajeet is considered very close to Bihar CM Nitish Kumar and allegations are being levelled that the government was misusing power to get the jailed JD(U) leader out who violated prohibition law. Nitish has been championing prohibition in Bihar and Sen's arrest has caused severe dent to JD(U)'s image in last few days.

ALSO READ:

Police grills excise inspector who arrested JDU leader for stocking liquor bottles, suspects conspiracy



--- ENDS ---

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Despite the recent SpaceX rocket mishap at Cape Canaveral, NASA still intends to push through with its asteroid-sampling mission, which is scheduled to launch from the same Florida facility next week.

The American space agency said it remains committed to sending the Origins, Spectral Interpretation, Resource Identification, Security-Regolith Explorer (OSIRIS-REx) spacecraft into space on Sept. 8.

The mission involves having the orbital probe blast off atop an Atlas V rocket and travel to near-Earth asteroid known Bennu for the next two years.

In a Twitter post sent out on Thursday, Sept. 1, NASA officials said that both the rocket and the probe remain secure and in good condition.

.@OSIRISREx launch remains on Sep. 8. Initial assessments show @ulalaunch rocket & spacecraft healthy & secure, 1.1 miles from @SpaceXs pad  NASA (@NASA) September 1, 2016

The OSIRIS Rex spacecraft is located 1.1 miles from the SpaceX launch where a Falcon 9 rocket blew up while being fueled.

United Launch Alliance (ULA), the company tapped by NASA to help launch OSIRIS-Rex, said it is now preparing the Atlas V booster that will carry the probe into space.

If everything goes accordingly, the orbital probe will reach Bennu's location in July 2018.

Asteroid-Sampling Mission

According to NASA, the main goal of OSIRIS-Rex is to collect organic materials from the surface of Bennu. Scientists believe that these samples can help provide more information about the origins of life in the solar system.

Daniel Scheeres, a professor of aerospace engineering at the University of Colorado Boulder and one of the researchers involved in the asteroid-sampling mission, explained that they chose the asteroid as their target because of the presence of carbon-rich materials, which may have originally been distilled out of gas during the early formation of the planetary system.

Once it arrives at Bennu's location, OSIRIS-Rex will use a specialized robotic arm known as the Touch-And-Go Sample Acquisition Mechanism (TAGSAM) to smash a portion of the asteroid and grab surface samples.

Observations from OSIRIS-REx will also help researchers understand just how much of a threat the 1,650-foot-wide (500 meters) asteroid poses to the safety of the Earth. Studies reveal that there is small chance that Bennu could smash into the planet in the 22nd century.

Scheeres said visiting Bennu will allow them to determine the asteroid's orbit and the various physical forces that affect it. These will give them a better idea on where the space rock will be in the next hundreds of years.

NASA said the asteroid-sampling mission could also reveal the type of mineral resources on Bennu, which could prove useful for asteroid mining in the future.

 2022 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
Starbucks and Google earn hundreds of millions in advertising money in Austria, yet the multinational enterprises pay smaller taxes than small businesses from the country.

Austrian chancellor Christian Kern pointed out that the nation's staple coffee houses or sausage stands end up paying more taxes than the corporate giants. Kern noted that Amazon only shelled out 1,400 euro ($1,562) in corporate taxes in 2014.

In an interview with Der Standard, he went on to chastise current laws that he considers outdated. Existing Austrian legislation makes use of fees on advertisements to fund the country's independent media. However, the laws do not apply to the online ads that rank titanic profits for the international companies.

"Every Viennese cafe, every sausage stand pays more taxes in Austria than a multinational corporation. That goes for Starbucks, Amazon and other companies," Kern affirms.

The interview and statement followed a European Commission ruling from earlier this week. The Commission asked Apple to shell out 13 billion euro ($14.5 billion) in back taxes in Ireland, and pointed fingers at European Union members that create better business environments (read: tax exemptions) to foreign companies.

The regulator ruled that Apple was subject to improper tax breaks in Ireland, generating a disadvantage to fellow EU members.

Both the company and Ireland stated that they will appeal the ruling. Tim Cook, the helm of Apple, was rather direct and called out the ruling as unfair.

In retort, Kern underlines that uneven business practices taking place in countries such as Ireland, Luxembourg, Malta or the Netherlands show a severe lack of solidarity with the European economy.

According to Kern, Facebook's earning in Austria rise to 120 million euro ($133.85 million), while Google scores 200 million euro ($223.09 million) in sales in the country, and very little of it goes into the local economy.

He mentions that the enterprises provide reduced personal income tax, as both Google and Facebook employ a few handfuls of people in Austria.

The local laws ask advertisers to contribute a 5 percent fee for advertisements, a percent that Kern thinks could use a bit more oomph. The money from the fee are used to back the country's media.

Austria is not the only country in Europe that collects fees from residents in order to support its national broadcasters, a good example being the British Broadcasting Corporation.

Apologists of the fee say that their existence makes it possible for national media to stay independent of commercial interests. Critics, on the other hand, claim that media can finance itself plainly by advertisements alone.

 2022 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
BlackBerry made a name for itself as a company that puts the mobile security of its users above all else, and now they are teaming up with Samsung in order to stay true to its creed.

The announcement was made during the IFA 2016 in Berlin, where the company unveiled that its cooperation with Samsung will bring on a "spy-proof" tablet specially crafted for the German government.

On the surface, the slate could be mistaken for a regular Samsung Galaxy Tab S2. However, under its hood sits a custom security card alongside advanced encryption and certification tools coded by BlackBerry's Secusmart. The features aim to keep all data from the SecuTABLET impervious to outsiders while also making it easy to transfer it between safe devices.

The German Federal Office already green-lighted the SecuTABLET. This means that the slate can be used with Information Security (BSI), as it complies with the security level "classified  for official use only" (VS-NfD).

All transfers of mobile data as well as information that is stationed on the tablet will benefit from encryption via Secusmart Security.

What is more, the tablet comes with mobile application management (MAM) technology, which plays nice with the Knox security package from Samsung. This will allow users to easily switch between personal and business apps on the same gadget while maintaining the elevated level of security required by the agencies that operate under the German government.

The leader of B2B Sales, IT & Mobile Communication at Samsung, Sascha Lekic, explains.

"Samsung Knox has allowed us to add an extra level of security to the use of Android on Samsung smartphones," he says.

By merging the best technology in security with the user-friendly Android, Samsung managed to craft one of the best mobile security solutions. He underlines that an outstanding example of this synergy is the SecuTABLET.

As you might have guessed from the title, the highly impenetrable variant of the Galaxy Tab S2 will be kept away from public availability, at least for the time being.

Secusmart is a BlackBerry subsidiary and a leading actor in building total solutions that protect businesses and public authorities from malicious eavesdropping. Secusmart does not only deal with encrypted governmental data, but it also protects agencies and organizations in charge of providing emergency services as well.

BlackBerry points out that it delivered the SecuSUITE solution for government security to more than 20 governments worldwide.

What do you think of the companies' deal to reinforce for state cybersecurity? Let us know in the comments section below.

 2022 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
Explosive Batteries Force Samsung To Recall The Galaxy Note 7 | TechTree.com

Following the reports of exploding Galaxy Note 7, Samsung has acknowledged a critical battery cell issue. Hoping to make things right, the South Korean brand will be recalling the handsets.



So far, this year has been quite excellent for Samsung. Its premium handsets such as the Galaxy S7 and S7 edge received glowing reviews from the world over. In fact, these handsets beat iPhone sales in Apple's home. Samsung kept on gaining momentum while Apple's shipments were on a decline. By launching the Note 7 in August, the Korea-giant got a vital head start over Apple's upcoming iPhone. Thanks to the extremely positive reviews, Samsung's latest Note sold well over 2.5 million units in just a couple of weeks. You can say that the Note 7's success has been explosive. Well, quite literally! Just as the handset topped the sales charts, users started reporting an undesirable "feature" in their phones  explosion.







According to company, there have been 35 cases where the Note 7 burst into the flames. Considering that teens these days sleep with their phones, this is one hell of a scary thing. Thankfully, Samsung has swiftly detected the problem and is now working towards replacing each and every Note 7 with a fresh unit. That's going to cost a lot of money. Worse, it will put a question mark on the reliability of Samsung products. As expected, the recent development has prompted Samsung to delay the Note 7 launch in India. While Koreans are trying hard to contain this mess, someone in Cupertino must be smirking during the keynote rehearsal.



Here's the official statement from Samsung India:



"Samsung is committed to producing the highest quality products and we take every incident report from our valued customers very seriously. In response to recently reported cases of the new Galaxy Note7, we conducted a thorough investigation and found a battery cell issue.



To date (as of September 1) there have been 35 cases that have been reported globally and we are currently conducting a thorough inspection with our suppliers to identify possible affected batteries in the market. However, because our customers safety is an absolute priority at Samsung, we have delayed sales of the Galaxy Note7 in India.



We acknowledge the inconvenience this may cause in the market but this is to ensure that Samsung continues to deliver the highest quality products to our customers. - Samsung India Spokesperson"

TAGS: Samsung, GALAXY
Elecciones presidenciales

El pais mas grande de la region elige este domingo a su proximo mandatario. Tras no lograr hacerse con la mayoria de los votos en los comicios del 2 de octubre, Luis Inacio "Lula" Da Silva y Jair Bolsonaro se disputan la Presidencia en una balotaje que enfrenta tendencias y valores contrapuestas. Con equipos en el terreno, Telam presenta una cobertura exclusiva con noticias, analisis, opinion, fotos y mas.
On the debate, two pollsters who conducted studies, agreed on Saturday that former president Lula defeated Bolsonaro. | Read More
PM Narendra Modi is likely to hold bilateral meetings with several G20 leaders during his 48-hour stay in China.

By Ananth Krishnan: When Prime Minister Narendra Modi arrived in Hangzhou, China's famed lake city, on Saturday night, he was rather a familiar face for Hangzhou's residents.

Spotted in the by-lanes of Hangzhou's renowned art district are 'Miniature Modis', the intricate dolls crafted by local artist Wu Xiaoli that have created quite a stir in this lake town.

Wu told India Today she spent more than a year painstakingly crafting the dolls of Modi and 19 other leaders to mark the G20 Summit, which opens in Hangzhou on Sunday.

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The dolls were produced with great detail, as she studied dozens of photographs and videos of Modi and other leaders.

"I was happy to know my town Hangzhou is going to host the G20, so I wanted to do something special to mark the event. I worked on this for

10 months to get this ready in time for G20," she said.

Also read: Exclusive: NSG, Pakistan in focus as Modi arrives in China for G20

The art shop of the Lemantu Culture Company, which sits right on the banks of the Grand Canal, was packed today morning, with most

visitors looking for the G20 dolls.

There was of course Chinese President Xi Jinping, depicted rather kindly as a lean figure, and US President Barack Obama who is a

favourite in China.

A last minute addition was of Theresa May of the UK, who was hurriedly prepared after David Cameron resigned. The Cameron doll had to be

discarded.



Also read: Modi, Xi to meet on Sunday, may discuss China-Pak corridor

Wu is particularly fond of Modi, who she describes as a "handsome" leader. She placed a dove for peace on his shoulder, and also

specially chose a lotus flower to be placed by his feet.

"This doll has been very popular with visitors," she said. "I placed this dove as a symbol of peace for India and China, and also placed a

lotus on the doll which I know is a special flower for India."





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Some Hindu students in Karnataka protested against students wearing burqa on college campus by wearing saffron scarves to the classroom.

By India Today Web Desk:

If burkini as an appropriate beachwear in France is being questioned, burqa and hijab as something wearable by Muslims to college is being questioned in Karnataka, as some Hindu students protested against burqa on campus worn by Muslim students.

These Hindu students protested against the hijab and burqas which the Muslim students are allowed to wear on campus.

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RECENT RUSTLE

Last week in Mangalore, Srinivas group of colleges sent a circular to the students stating that they cannot attend classes in burqas and soon the protests broke out in the college where Muslim students said that the college is denying them the right to practice their religion which is a basic fundamental right of constitution.

Although the college responded by ending the ban which infuriated many Hindu students in the region.



NOW HINDU STUDENTS PROTEST IN KARNATAKA

Some Hindu students in the small town of Bellare have started protesting against the Muslim students wearing burqas by wearing orange scarves to the college.

B V Seetaram, the editor of a local newspaper -- Karavali Ale -- called it "a tug-of-war" on campuses.

"It is an attempt by both sides to push college managements into a corner. Both sides want to assert their religious identity and muscle power through their attire," Seetaram told news portal Firstpost.com on Friday.



TENSION BETWEEN HINDUS AND MUSLIMS CONTINUES

The age old ruckus has seen no sigh of relief as the tension has been on the rise in Karnataka in the recent years.

If schools and universities aren't enough, the romantic relationships between Hindus and Muslims are also opposed by many conservative Hindu and Muslim groups.

They are also against the women going to bars.



SUPREME COURT LAST YEAR

Last year, the government's board of education imposed a ban on students wearing hijabs, burkas and long sleeved clothes to medical school entrance exams. The ban was imposed to prevent cheating in tests.

Several Muslim groups protested against the ban and even petitioned the court but the Supreme Court stood by the ban.

"Your faith won't disappear if you appear for exam on one day without a headscarf," the judge said.



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Vietnams government is taking an unprecedented step in divesting all it owns in the nations two leading beer companies as a growing budget deficit forces the leadership to accelerate a plan to reduce holdings in state-owned firms.

The government will sell its entire 89.59 percent stake in Saigon Beer Alcohol Beverage Corp. for $1.8 billion and its 82 percent holding in Hanoi Beer Alcohol Beverage Corp. for $404 million, according to a post on a government news website Wednesday. Saigon Beer, known as Sabeco, will be sold in two tranches in 2016 and 2017, while Hanoi Beer, or Habeco, will be divested this year, it said.

This is the first time the government is very clear cut in saying goodbye to major companies completely, without any stakes left, said Dinh The Hien, a Ho Chi Minh-based economist. The governments clear-cut determination matches its long-planned strategy to speed up state stake sales. But it also indicates how stressed the state budget is right now.

Vietnam, which needs billions of dollars in infrastructure investments for highways to airports, has seen state revenue drop this year with plunging oil prices and a drought that has hurt agriculture production. The budget deficit for 2016 may exceed the planned ratio of 4.95 percent of gross domestic product, according to National Financial Supervisory Commission.

Vietnams plan to slash holdings in companies dates back to the 1990s as a way to spur economic growth. The governments privatization plan fell short of its target in 2015, with 289 state-owned companies selling stakes compared with a goal of 514.

The process is slow and behind schedule due partly to executives concerns about their positions at these companies after the sales, Deputy Finance Minister Tran Van Hieu told Bloomberg last year.

The government plans to sell its Sabeco and Habeco stakes in auctions, according the government post. Vietnam will offer a 53.59 percent stake in Sabeco this year before its listing, and the remainder in 2017, according the government posting. Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc said Aug. 29 that the listings of Sabeco and Habeco must be done prior to their state stake sales.

Vietnams beer-swilling culture has made Sabeco and Habeco among the governments most-treasured assets.

Beer consumption in the Southeast Asian country jumped about 40 percent in 2015 from 2010, according to the Vietnam Beer Alcohol Beverage Association. Vietnamese are expected to consume more than 4.04 billion liters of beer this year, the most in the region and up from 3.88 billion liters in 2015, according to Euromonitor International. Its citizens of legal drinking age, 18 and above, is expected to increase to 72.4 million by 2021 from 68.7 million this year, according to Euromonitor.

The countrys thirst for beer has attracted interest from foreign companies. Thai Beverage PCL, Asahi Group Holdings Ltd. and Heineken NV are among companies interested in Sabeco, according to Euromonitor analyst Andrea Lianto.

Heineken, which in July acquired a brewery in the port city of Vung Tau from Carlsberg A/S, has a 20 percent market share, similar to that of Habecos, according to Nguyen Van Viet, chairman of the Vietnam beer association. Sabeco, brewer of Saigon Beer and 333 Beer, was Vietnams largest beer company with 40 percent of the market share.

The decision to hold auctions is an effort by the government to be more transparent, said Tony Foster, a Vietnam managing partner for law firm Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer LLP in Hanoi. It could also line up future sales including that of Vietnam Dairy Products JSC, Foster said. The company known as Vinamilk is one that foreign investors are most interested in, he said.

If you can get these done on this basis, it sets the stage for the same thing for Vinamilk and then others, he said.
Asian banks are either too hot for investors, or too cold. Here's a recipe for serving up one at room temperature.

First, it has to be growing rapidly, but still small. Next, the loan book must be of reasonable quality, yet earning a solid return. Finally, the lender ought to be getting a second look from other investors, but shouldn't be too pricey.

What's left, out of more than 500 big and small lenders in the region, is Bank for Foreign Trade of Vietnam JSC, a.k.a. Vietcombank, which just agreed to sell a 7.7 percent stake to Singapore's sovereign wealth fund for less than $400 million.

Source: Bloomberg

Expect more such deals.

From investors' perspective, Vietnam's banks are among the most palatable in Asia at present. After a deceleration in growth in 2012 and 2013, the economy is back on its feet, the property market is stable and the banking system, saddled with the highest soured debt in Southeast Asia four years ago, is in reasonable shape. Loan-book growth is once again accelerating. Publicly traded banks' assets are now 25 percent higher than they were five years ago.

It's capital that lenders don't have enough of. Hanoi-based National Citizen Commercial's tangible equity is less than 5 percent of its tangible assets, and current loan-loss reserves are barely enough to cover 40 percent of its nonperforming debt. Add to that a systemic under-reporting of problem loans, and the true capitalization of Vietnamese banks may be even weaker, according to Fitch Ratings. As the central bank pushes lenders to beef up capital in line with international standards, there could be more opportunities for offshore investors.

What gives Vietnam's banks an added luster is the rapid diversification of the country's trade basket. Thanks to Samsung, Vietnam has earned more this year by exporting smartphones and parts than by selling fish and textiles. Electronics exports so far in 2016 are up 11 from the same period last year, and that's after a 36 percent jump in 2015. The economy also promises to become more competitive as the communist party gradually withdraws from state-run businesses. Earlier this week, authorities announced plans to sell their entire stakes in two leading beer companies. Relinquishing complete control of major firms is an unprecedented step.

These are all good omens for Vietnam's banking system. But only so long as things don't heat up too quickly, especially in the property markets of Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City. That would risk scalding an appetizing investment.
The runway that China has built illegally on Truong Sa (Spratly) Islands in the East Sea. Photo: AFP

India has set up a satellite monitoring station in Ho Chi Minh City which is expected to be its strategic base in the East Sea region, according to media reports.

The Economic Times said New Delhi has spent about US$23 million to set up the Data Reception and Tracking and Telemetry Station, which will be activated soon and linked to an existing station in Indonesia.

It said the facility will help the Indian Space Research Organization track satellites launched from India and receive data from them. India also has a satellite tracking station in Brunei.

India since 2014 has expressed support for freedom of navigation and over-flight in the East Sea and concerns over Chinas aggressive tactics in the region like the illegal construction of an artificial island, the Economic Times reported.

The US, Japan and the Philippines governments on Monday have all spoken up against Chinas testing its illegal runway on Truong Sa (Spratly), one of the two major archipelagos in the area.

China claims most of the South China Sea, through which more than $5 trillion of world trade ships every year, Reuters reported. Vietnam, Malaysia, Brunei, the Philippines and Taiwan have rival claims.

China has reportedly sent armored boats to attack Vietnamese fishing boats in the latters waters over the past years.
Since it first rolled out of a Fort Worth factory in the 1970s, the F-16 has been a symbol of U.S. military power. If its manufacturer, Lockheed Martin, manages to win a big overseas contract, though, the F-16 might become the latest U.S. product to get offshored.

Lockheed is vying for a contract to sell fighter jets to India, part of Prime Minister Narendra Modis $150 billion plan to modernize the countrys armed forces. To sweeten the deal, Lockheed is willing to shift F-16 production to the country. What we are doing is putting India as the center of the supply base, says Randall Howard, director for aeronautics business development at Lockheed. Rivals Boeing and Saab have made similar offers to move production to India.

Such proposals show the lengths U.S. military suppliers are willing to go to win customers worldwide. With Pentagon spending hurt by sequestration, the across-the-board budget cuts that took effect in 2013, the biggest U.S. contractors are hunting for new markets. Foreign buyers accounted for 24 percent of sales for the five biggest U.S. contractors last year, according to Bloomberg Intelligence, up from 16 percent in 2009. Last year contractors sales to foreign customers jumped 10 percent, while U.S. revenue declined 2.4 percent. Raytheon expects international sales to account for 35 percent of revenue in 2016, up from 31 percent last year. Our global growth strategy continues to pay off, says Chief Financial Officer Toby OBrien. The bookings were really strong.

Asia is buying fighter aircraft, as countries such as Japan, the Philippines, and Vietnam respond to moves by China to assert territorial claims in the East and South China seas. India, which has its own border disputes with China and Pakistan, is concerned about Chinese attempts to expand Beijings influence in South Asia. And all countries in the region worry about unpredictable North Korea. Kim Jong Uns military on Aug. 24 fired a ballistic missile that flew about 300 miles and landed inside Japans air defense perimeter, the first time a North Korean missile has reached Japanese waters. Prime Minister Shinzo Abe called the launch impermissible and outrageous.

On Aug. 31, Abe unveiled his latest defense budget, proposing to raise spending by 2.3 percentthe fifth consecutive annual increase for the Self-Defense Forces. Japan was the biggest customer for U.S. military contractors in 2013 and 2014, according to Bloomberg Government, spending a combined $36.5 billion on aircraft, missiles, military electronics, and other equipment.

Lockheed has orders to supply Japan with 42 of its F-35 fighters, with most assembly taking place in Nagoya. The $379 billion F-35 program is the Pentagons costliest, and Lockheed is depending on Japan, Australia, and other U.S. allies to account for at least 20 percent of orders.

India is the worlds largest arms importer, according to the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute, and depends on imports for 60 percent of its defense requirements. During the Cold War, India was a reliable customer for Russian-made gear but is now more open to buying from the U.S. Lockheed already builds cabins for the companys S-92 helicopter as well as tail sections for its C-130J transport aircraft in India. There should be more opportunities for U.S. contractors as Modi tries to modernize the military. Quite a number of legacy systems are reaching their desperate sell-by date, says Bernard Loo, a professor at the S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies at Singapores Nanyang Technological University.

U.S. Defense Secretary Ash Carter on Aug. 29 met with his Indian counterpart, Manohar Parrikar, and talked of the two countries working together on jet engines, aircraft carriers, and other military projects. That collaboration will surely bring further cooperation, co-development, and co-production, Carter said at a news conference.

South Korean defense spending last year accounted for 2.6 percent of gross domestic productmore than Japan or Chinaand President Park Geun Hye plans on spending even more. Last October she announced a budget that increased military expenditures 4 percent, outpacing overall growth in government spending. In a move thats angered China, South Korea is deploying Lockheeds Terminal High-Altitude Area Defense missiles. Beijing says the systems radar can reach into China and threatens its security.

In May, President Obama announced the U.S. would end its embargo on arms sales to Vietnam. Given the high price tag of much U.S.-made equipment, Vietnam and other Southeast Asian countries are going to have trouble affording some of these platforms, says Kyle Springer, program associate at the Perth USAsia Centre at the University of Western Australia. But with U.S. business flat or down, Americas defense contractors must go to Asia.
Beijing is expanding its large-scale land reclamation in the disputed South China Sea, Philippine president Rodrigo Duterte said Friday, despite an international court ruling rejecting most of China's claims in the resource-rich area.

A UN-backed tribunal ruled in July that China's claims to almost all of the strategic sea had no legal basis and its construction of artificial islands in disputed waters was illegal.

But Duterte said he received an "unsettling" intelligence report showing China had sent barges to the contested Scarborough Shoal and had appeared to begin construction in the area for the first time.

China previously constructed artificial islands in the Spratly chain in the South China Sea. The United States warned in June of "actions" if Beijing extended its military expansion to the Scarborough Shoal.

"I think they are starting in (Bajo de) Masinloc and this will be another ruckus there," Duterte said, referring to the shoal by its local name.

He said the Philippine Coast Guard found "a lot of barges" near the area.

"There seem to be new barges coming in and they suspect that's going to be another construction."

China has sought to assert its claims in the South China Sea by building a network of artificial islands capable of supporting military operations.

Its massive land reclamation has prompted criticism from the US and claimant countries, with Washington warning it endangers freedom of navigation in international waters.

Vietnam, Malaysia, Brunei and Taiwan also have claims to the sea, through which over $5 trillion in annual trade passes.

The Scarborough Shoal, a rich fishing ground within the Philippines' exclusive economic zone and far away from the nearest major Chinese landmass, is a particular flashpoint. China took control of Scarborough Shoal in 2012 after a stand-off with the country's navy.

Duterte's comments come a week before a regional summit in Laos where the South China Sea dispute will be on the agenda.

He said he would consider bringing up the construction work during bilateral talks with Beijing, adding it would affect global commerce.

"If (China) continues building military installations there ... insurance would go up for the ships and the goods they transport. Because then it would be a source of conflict and thereby the threat is always there."

Duterte, who took office two months ago, has vowed to mend ties with China after his predecessor Benigno Aquino angered Beijing by filing the arbitration case in 2013.

He has said he would not raise the matter of the ruling in Laos to avoid escalating tensions. But on Friday, Duterte he said he would insist on China's compliance with the verdict during direct talks with Beijing.

He criticised the Asian giant's statements saying it would ignore the ruling.

"We can only take so much but you cannot be slapped every day with (those) kinds of words."
Dough figurines of G20 leaders made for the upcoming summit in Hangzhou, eastern China to be held from September 4 to 5

When China signed up two years ago to host the G20 summit starting on Sunday, it seemed like an ideal venue to showcase its financial accomplishments and assume the mantle of international leadership.

Since then it has struggled to steer its giant economy through a slowdown, the free-wheeling stock market went into convulsions, and concerns over chronic industrial overcapacity and massive government lending have deepened.

Beijing's aggressive stance in the South China Sea, where it has created artificial islands in disputed territory, has also created alarm and joins a list of awkward issues authorities are keen to leave off the agenda in the summit city of Hangzhou.

The Group of 20, which accounts for 85 percent of world GDP and two-thirds of its population, is the biggest international policy gathering the country has held, and it has made every effort to ensure it goes flawlessly.

The government has dramatically renovated Hangzhou, a tourist destination known for its scenic West Lake, shut down hundreds of factories to ensure telegenic blue skies, and rolled out restrictive security precautions.

"We all pin hopes on this summit to inject new life and impetus for world economic growth," foreign ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying said this week.

But China and its uber-confident President Xi Jinping have other, less selfless ambitions at a gathering that is expected to be short on breakthroughs.

"The whole exercise will be about giving China a lot of face," said Jean-Pierre Cabestan of Hong Kong Baptist University. Xi "wants to show that China will be at the centre of global governance, which the G20 is supposed to be".

To that end, Beijing is eager to promote its work on climate change, its new infrastructure bank which poses a potent challenge to the World Bank, and a massive spending plan to build a new Silk Road.

"Clearly, Xi will try harder to demonstrate that China is a responsible stakeholder and a responsible neighbour of Japan, South Korea and other Asian countries," Cabestan said.

He "will be very keen to demonstrate that China doesnt have any enemies".

'Don't cause trouble'

But an increasingly bitter dispute over the reefs and rocks of the strategic South China Sea is one of several geopolitical issues likely to present challenges to China's preferred narrative for the summit, which is themed around building a more interconnected and inclusive economy.

In July Beijing vehemently rejected an international tribunal ruling that its claims to most of the waters in the resource-rich South China Sea have no legal basis, drawing pointed criticism from a number of G20 members.

The territorial row is one of a handful of priority issues the US has said it plans to discuss.

President Barack Obama will also prod Xi to lean on North Korea, after the hermit state carried out a fourth nuclear test, followed by ballistic missile launches that sent tensions soaring across East Asia and beyond.

China, North Korea's main patron and protector, has tired of the country's intransigence, but remains wary of pushing Pyongyang too hard, fearing a regime collapse that could create a refugee crisis and swing the regional balance of power towards the US.

And then there is Japan, whose government has taken every opportunity recently to needle Beijing about the South China Sea, as well its own territorial tiff over the Senkaku islands, known as Diaoyu in China.

But the G20 -- taking place on September 4 and 5 -- is no place for tough talk about these issues, Gao Hong, a Japan expert at the official Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, wrote Tuesday in China's state-run Global Times newspaper.

"In East Asia, there is a saying that a guest should suit the convenience of the host," he wrote, adding that Tokyo should "act in tune with the theme of the summit instead of causing trouble."

Holding tongues

Despite their concerns, leaders will have to balance the desire to directly confront China about thorny strategic issues with other goals.

Washington has toned down its rhetoric ahead of the meeting, where Obama is hoping to make progress with Beijing on climate change and a long-stalled investment treaty as he seeks to cement his legacy before leaving office.

In recent months "the US has been deliberately restrained and hasn't put a lot of pressure on China on the South China Sea," said Bonnie Glaser, senior adviser for Asia at the Center for Strategic and International Studies in Washington.

After the summit, though, all bets are off said Graham Webster, a senior research scholar at Yale Law School.

"There are obviously good reasons to avoid diplomatic trouble before a prominent summit," he said.

"It seems very unlikely that Chinese authorities would take major action on the South China Sea before the G20. But the picture is far more uncertain afterwards."
Chinese President Xi Jinping (right) shakes hands with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan before their meeting at the West Lake State Guest House on September 3, 2016 in Hangzhou, China.

Chinese President Xi Jinping and his Turkish counterpart Tayyip Erdogan agreed on Saturday to deepen counter-terror cooperation, as the two set aside previous disagreements over China's treatment of a Turkic-speaking Muslim minority.

Hundreds, possibly thousands, of Uighurs keen to escape unrest in China's western Xinjiang region have traveled clandestinely via Southeast Asia to Turkey, where many see themselves as sharing religious and cultural ties.

Beijing says some Uighurs then end up fighting with militants in Iraq and Syria.

But Ankara vowed last year to keep its doors open to Uighur migrants fleeing what rights activists have called religious persecution in China. Beijing denies accusations that it restricts the Uighurs' religious freedoms.

Meeting on the sidelines of the G20 summit in the eastern Chinese city of Hangzhou, Xi told Erdogan he appreciated Turkey stressing that it would not allow its territory to be used for acts that harmed China's security.

China "hopes both sides can achieve even more substantive results in counter-terrorism cooperation", China's state-run Xinhua news agency cited Xi as saying.

Erdogan, in comments before reporters translated from Turkish into Chinese, said the emphasis should be on strengthening their ties.

"Fighting terrorism is a long-term issue, and is also a long-term topic discussed by the G20," he said.

Xinhua also quoted Erdogan as thanking China for its help in maintaining Turkey's security and stability, and that he hoped for greater counter-terrorism cooperation.

Turkey, a NATO member and part of the U.S.-led coalition against Islamic State, has seen a series of deadly bombings this year blamed on the radical Islamists. But it also fears Kurdish militias in Syria will seize a swathe of border territory and embolden Kurdish insurgents on its own soil.

Beijing blames Islamist militants, including those it says come from a group called the East Turkestan Islamic Movement (ETIM), for a rise in violence in Xinjiang in recent years in which hundreds have died.

Rights groups say the unrest there is more a reaction to repressive government policies, and experts have questioned whether ETIM exists as a cohesive militant group.

Officials in Xinjiang have stepped up regulations banning overt signs of religious observance, like veils or beards.

Turkey angered China by expressing concern about reports of restrictions on Uighurs worshipping and fasting during the holy month of Ramadan last year, and Turkish protesters have marched on China's embassy and consulate in Turkey over Beijing's treatment of Uighurs.

The two countries have also jousted over Thailand's deportation of Uighur migrants back to China.
Police investigators inspect the area of a market where an explosion happened in Davao City, Philippines September 2, 2016.

Philippines' President Rodrigo Duterte declared on Saturday a "state of lawlessness" in the country after an explosion in a market killed 14 people in his home city while he was on a regular weekend visit there.

Duterte, the crime-busting mayor of Davao City for more than two decades, said the blast late on Friday outside a high-end hotel intensified what was an "extraordinary time" in the Philippines, and security forces would redouble efforts to tackle crime, drugs and insurgency.

"I must declare a state of lawless violence in this country, it's not martial law," Duterte told a phalanx of reporters on a Davao street at daybreak after visiting the blast site.

"It's not martial law until it's a threat against the people and against the nation ... I have this duty to protect this country."

Duterte was at a meeting some 12 km (7.5 miles) away from downtown Davao when the explosion occurred.

It came as the uncompromising president wages war with just about anyone from drugs kingpins and street dealers to Islamist rebels and corrupt bureaucrats, scoring big points in opinion polls, but at a risk of making powerful enemies.

A loved one cries in front of a body bag after an explosion at a market in Davao City, Philippines September 3, 2016.

There was no claim of responsibility though suspicion centered on an Islamic State-linked militant group.

Police said 67 people were wounded in addition to the 14 dead.

Police have yet to disclose details of their initial investigation, but Davao Mayor Sarah Duterte - the president's daughter - said in a television interview it was a bomb.

Police and military promised to implement the nationwide "state of lawlessness", although there appeared to be confusion about what that actually entailed.

Duterte's office said it was "rooted" in an article of the constitution that puts the president in charge of the armed forces. Several officials said the declaration meant troops would assist police in anti-crime and anti-terror operations.

Death threats

Rumors have swirled of a plot to assassinate Duterte, 71, which he has shrugged off as part of his job. The talk has been fueled by his controversial crackdown on drugs that has killed more than 2,000 people since his June 30 inauguration, and has been condemned by activists and the United Nations.

Asked on Thursday about death threats, Duterte's spokesman Ernesto Abella said: "He eats that for breakfast, it's not something new."

The explosion went off at about 10.30 p.m. at a market outside the Marco Polo hotel, a place Duterte visits often and used for meetings during a campaign for a May election that he won by a huge margin. He typically spends his weekends in Davao.

Rescuers carry a body bag after an explosion at a market in Davao City, Philippines September 3, 2016.

Asked if he thought drugs gangs were behind it, Duterte said: "It is also being considered ... At least we know who made the threats."

The White House offered condolences and assistance, which National Security Council spokesman Ned Price said President Barack Obama would convey when he meets Duterte in Laos next week.

Duterte canceled a trip to Brunei on Saturday in what would have been his first overseas visit as president. Officials said he would still attend next week's Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN) and East Asia Summits in Laos.

Though Davao itself is relatively safe, it is located on Mindanao, a large southern island province beset by poverty and decades of Muslim insurgency.

Abu Sayyaf rebels linked to Islamic State and notorious for multi-million dollar kidnappings operate in the jungles of Mindanao's Jolo and Basilan islands.

They are being hit by stepped-up offensives after Duterte ordered the military to wipe the group out.

Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana said Abu Sayyaf would have good reason to retaliate and he had placed the military on high alert for possible attacks elsewhere.

"While nobody has owned up to this act, we can only assume that this was perpetrated by the terrorist group Abu Sayyaf that has suffered heavy casualties," he said.
Paul Manafort of Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump's staff listens during a round table discussion on security at Trump Tower in the Manhattan borough of New York, U.S., August 17, 2016. Picture taken August 17, 2016.

Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump has run an unusually cheap campaign in part by not paying at least 10 top staffers, consultants and advisers, some of whom are no longer with the campaign, according to a review of federal campaign finance filings.

Those who have so far not been paid, the filings show, include recently departed campaign manager Paul Manafort, California state director Tim Clark, communications director Michael Caputo and a pair of senior aides who left the campaign in June to immediately go to work for a Trump Super PAC.

The New York real estate magnate and his allies have touted his campaign's frugality, saying it is evidence of his management skills. His campaign's spending has totaled $89.5 million so far, about a third of what Democratic rival Hillary Clinton's campaign has spent.

But not compensating top people in a presidential campaign is a departure from campaign finance norms. Many of the positions involved might typically come with six-figure annual paychecks in other campaigns.

"It's unprecedented for a presidential campaign to rely so heavily on volunteers for top management positions," said Paul Ryan, an election lawyer with the campaign finance reform advocacy group Campaign Legal Center.

The Trump campaign said the Reuters' reporting was "sloppy at best" but declined to elaborate.

One of the 10 who were unpaid, Michael Caputo, told a Buffalo radio station in June after he resigned from the campaign, that he was not volunteering. Rather, he said he just had not gotten paid. Caputo confirmed to Reuters on Thursday that the Trump campaign has still not paid his invoices.

In another instance, two high-level former Trump campaign advisers, former Chris Christie campaign manager Ken McKay and Manafort lobbying associate Laurance Gay, departed the Trump campaign in June and went to work for the Trump-backed Super PAC, Rebuilding America Now. In June, the Super PAC paid each of them $60,000, the filings show.

Federal campaign law stipulates that people working for campaigns, who may possess strategic knowledge of a campaign or work as a campaigns agents, must wait for 120 days before going to work for a Super PAC, a political spending group that can accept unlimited sums of money from wealthy donors so long as it does not coordinate with a campaign.

Through a spokesperson, McKay and Gay said they were volunteering for Trump and did not possess strategic information so the rule did not apply to them.

Low payroll

Another example of free labor is Rick Gates, who was Manafort's deputy. According to two former high-level Trump staffers, Gates essentially functioned as the Trump campaign manager for more than two months, all while not collecting a paycheck.

Dan Scavino (C), who was executive vice president and general manager at the Trump Organization, from 2003 to 2013, was appointed his social media director in February. In July, Michael Glassner (R) was appointed National Political Director.

By contrast, Democratic nominee Hillary Clintons campaign manager Robby Mook earned roughly $10,000 in July, the same amount as President Barack Obamas campaign manager Jim Messina did in 2012. That same year, Republican nominee Mitt Romneys campaign manager, Matt Rhoades, was making nearly $7,000 bi-monthly.

Others who, according to the FEC filings, have not been paid include finance chairman Steven Mnuchin, national political director Rick Wiley and senior adviser Barry Bennett, who were not available for comment. Nor were Manafort, Gates and Clark.

Many campaigns have volunteers who work as low-level ground troops, knocking on voters' doors and passing out campaign buttons. There are instances in other campaigns of senior staff opting not to draw a paycheck. For example, John Podesta, a longtime adviser to Clinton who is now her campaign chairman, considers his role honorary and does not draw a salary.

What is unusual, however, is for a campaign to have such a large group of people in top positions who are unpaid.

After Manafort resigned in August, Trump promoted his senior adviser and top pollster, Kellyanne Conway, to become his new campaign manager.

Before then, Conway ran a Super PAC affiliated with Texas Senator and Republican presidential candidate Ted Cruz. For work from June 2015 to June 2016, the Super PAC paid the firm she owns more than $700,000.

She officially joined the Trump campaign July 1. But so far, according to campaign finance reports that detail spending through July 31, Conway has not been paid by the Trump campaign.

She did not respond to a request for comment.
Multinationals like coffee chain Starbucks and online retailer Amazon pay less tax in Austria than one of the country's tiny sausage stands, the republic's center-left chancellor lamented in an interview published on Friday.

Chancellor Christian Kern, head of the Social Democrats and of the centrist coalition government, also criticized internet giants Google and Facebook, saying that if they paid more tax subsidies for print media could increase.

"Every Viennese cafe, every sausage stand pays more tax in Austria than a multinational corporation," Kern was quoted as saying in an interview with newspaper Der Standard, invoking two potent symbols of the Austrian capital's food culture.

"That goes for Starbucks, Amazon and other companies," he said, praising the European Commission's ruling this week that Apple should pay up to 13 billion euros ($14.5 billion) in taxes plus interest to Ireland because a special scheme to route profits through that country was illegal state aid.

Austrian Chancellor Christian Kern addresses a news conference in Vienna, Austria September 2, 2016.

Apple has said it will appeal the ruling, which Chief Executive Tim Cook described as "total political crap". Google, Facebook and other multinational companies say they follow all tax rules.

Kern criticized EU states with low-tax regimes that have lured multinationals - and come under scrutiny from Brussels.

"What Ireland, the Netherlands, Luxembourg or Malta are doing here lacks solidarity towards the rest of the European economy," he said.

He stopped short of saying that Facebook and Google would have to pay more tax but underlined their significant sales in Austria, which he estimated at more than 100 million euros each, and their relatively small numbers of employees - a "good dozen" for Google and "allegedly even fewer" for Facebook.

"They massively suck up the advertising volume that comes out of the economy but pay neither corporation tax nor advertising duty in Austria," said Kern, who became chancellor in May.
By PTI: New Delhi, Sep 3 (PTI) Raising the quality of education and taking it to all in the country are major challenges before the government in the education sector, Minister of State for HRD Upendra Kushwaha said today.

The Union minister said this at a gathering where 33 teachers from across the country were conferred the CBSE Teachers Award for the year 2015.

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Raising the quality of education is a challenge. "We all including the Prime Minister are concerned about it," Kushwaha said.

Schools have been set up in villages, but more is needed to be done to take quality education to those living in rural areas, he said.

On the need for ensuring education for all, he said that there cannot be islands of developments in todays time.

The minister lauded CBSE, saying it has maintained a high standard. That is why it was being entrusted with additional responsibilities like conducting tests for admissions to medical colleges and hiring of teachers for organisations like Kendriya Vidyalayas and Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalayas, he said.

Secretary School Education in the HRD Ministry S C Khuntia noted that of the 33 teachers who won awards, 20 were principals, and suggested creating a sub-category for them. He also suggested a sub-category for teachers who work for inclusive education.

CBSE Chairman R K Chaturvedi, in his speech, expressed concern over aspects like commercialisation of education.

The CBSE award consists of a merit certificate, a shawl and a cash prize of Rs 50,000.

HRD Minister Prakash Javadekar could not attend the event as he was unwell. Sources said that Javadekar has been running high fever for the past couple of days. PTI ADS SMN RT SMN

--- ENDS ---
Suspected Uighurs from China's troubled far-western region of Xinjiang, sit inside a temporary shelter after they were detained at the immigration regional headquarters near the Thailand-Malaysia border in Hat Yai, Songkla March 14, 2014. Photo: Reuters

Some of the Uighurs deported to China last week from Thailand had planned to go to Syria and Iraq to carry out jihad, state television said, showing pictures of them being bundled out of an aircraft with black hoods over their heads.

Hundreds, possibly thousands, of Uighurs keen to escape unrest in China's western Xinjiang region have travelled clandestinely via Southeast Asia to Turkey.

China is home to about 20 million Muslims spread across its vast territory, only a portion of whom are Uighurs, who speak a Turkic language and are from Xinjiang.

Last week's deportation of 109 Uighurs from Thailand has sparked anger in Turkey, home to a large Uighur diaspora, and fed concern among rights groups and the United States that they could be mistreated upon their return.

In a report late on Saturday, state television said some of those deported had admitted to being incited by messages from the Eastern Turkestan Islamic Movement, which Beijing says is waging an insurgency for independence in Xinjiang, as well as the exiled group, the World Uyghur Congress.

"A fair number of them were stirred up and bewitched by terror videos issued by the East Turkestan Islamic Movement and World Uyghur Congress," the report said.

"While they were being trafficked, there were those who continued to impart and stress religious extremist thinking, instigating them to go to Syria and Iraq to take part in a so-called jihad", it added.

A senior Chinese police officer said on Saturday that some of the Uighurs who reached Turkey were being sold to fight for groups, such as Islamic State, as "cannon fodder".

At least 13 of those returned are suspected of terror offences, the report said.

It showed images of people with black hoods over their heads and large numbers pinned to their chests as they sat in a commercial aircraft surrounded by Chinese police in face masks. Upon landing, they were led out with their heads held down, and at least one apparently in chains.

Beijing denies accusations by human rights groups that it restricts the Uighurs' religious freedoms. It blames Islamist militants for violent attacks in Xinjiang in the past three years in which hundreds have died.

China has also denied allegations of mistreatment or torture.

Dilxat Raxit, spokesman for the World Uyghur Congress, said the pictures of Uighurs in hoods showed they had been "stripped of their dignity", adding that they wanted to leave China and live elsewhere without fear of discrimination.

"Their running away is all about a non-violent way to save themselves."

China has expressed anger at criticism of its handling of the expulsions.

China's Foreign Ministry said it had lodged a protest with the United States over its condemnation of the deportations.

The U.S. statement distorted the facts, was prejudiced and would only spur further illegal immigration, it added.
AARP Chapter attends worship service -- The AARP Mid-Town LA Chapter 5433 attended worship services Aug. 28 at Belfair Church, where they were welcomed by Pastor Jon D. Bennett, who delivered an inspirational and encouraging message of hope. Each year the chapter selects a member's church to attend on the fourth Sunday in August to foster spiritual uplifting and bonding within the chapter and with the community. Attending were, front row from left, members Harry Johnson, Ruby Johnson, Rita Johnson, Gloria Ingram, Elaine Handy, Lois Holloway, Bertha White and William White; and, back row, Mary Thompson, Judy Young, Eileen Kennedy, Pastor Jon D. Bennett, Audrey Celistan, Lottie Williams-Quiett and Albert Johnson.
BATON ROUGE (AP)  For nearly 50 days, James Tullier has barely left the Baton Rouge hospital where he's held vigil for his son, a sheriff's deputy wounded in an ambush that killed three other officers  not even when his family was hit by a second tragedy, their homes wrecked in historic flooding.

Tullier doesn't have time to mourn the damage to his house, or the neighboring homes of his other two sons. Doctors initially feared that Nick Tullier had less than 24 hours to live after the shooting.

"The house could have washed away. It's just not a priority to us. Nick is our priority," James Tullier said during an interview at Our Lady of the Lake Regional Medical Center, where James, his wife, Mary, and Nick's fiancee take shifts at his bedside.

Now, the family sees a miracle. James Tullier said his 41-year-old son is in a coma but began responding to relatives' words less than a week ago  by blinking an eye, moving toes and squeezing his mother's hand.

"Medically, he's not supposed to be here," Tullier said of Nick, who has two teenage sons, Trent and Gage.

Early estimates indicate more than 150,000 homes in south Louisiana were destroyed or damaged in the flooding. While tens of thousands of residents have returned to salvage waterlogged belongings and muck out their homes, James Tullier hasn't even set foot inside his.

He recently stopped by the property in Denham Springs  a Baton Rouge suburb where floodwaters damaged roughly 90 percent of homes and businesses  to fix his mailbox. It's all he's seen of the damage from water that topped the light switches on the home's first floor.

His 83-year-old mother is living with 10 dogs  nine of them hers, one she took in after the flooding  on the second floor of the damaged house because her trailer home flooded. James Tullier's other two sons also were displaced by the damage to their homes. Tullier, 62, is staying in a motor home parked outside the hospital, while his wife and Nick's fiancee sleep at the hospital.

James has taken breaks from the bedside vigil only a handful of times: to meet with President Barack Obama and Vice President Joe Biden during their respective visits after the flooding and the officers' shootings, and to attend funerals for two of the three slain officers.

The fate of his home is an afterthought, though his prayers for his son's recovery now extend to friends and neighbors who lost everything in the floods.

On the morning of July 17, Nick Tullier was working the day shift and eating breakfast with another East Baton Rouge Parish sheriff's deputy when they heard a radio call about an armed man near a convenience store about a mile away.

They drove to the store and stopped to check on a suspicious vehicle. It belonged to the gunman, 29-year-old Gavin Long, of Kansas City, Missouri.

Sheriff Sid Gautreaux said surveillance video shows Tullier looking into the car, which contained firearms, and walking back to his vehicle. That's when Long emerged from a wooded area and opened fire.

"They never saw him," Gautreaux said. "He hit Nick first."

A SWAT officer killed Long after he fatally wounded another sheriff's deputy and two Baton Rouge police officers.

James Tullier heard about the shootings from his mother, who saw a news report.

"We tried to call Nick and couldn't get him," he said. "Somebody with the department called my wife's phone number and told her we needed to get to the hospital quick."

There, they learned a bullet had shattered Tullier's skull and damaged his brain. Another shot pierced his abdomen, damaging his intestines. A third ripped through his left shoulder.

Nick Tullier underwent roughly a dozen surgeries, all to his abdomen, in the first week after the shootings. Doctors also have operated on his head at least twice.

His external wounds are slowly healing, but the internal damage remains a concern.

"He's in the hands of God," James Tullier said. "Nick is a fighter, and God is right in there with him fighting."

Relatives of the slain and wounded officers met privately with Obama on Aug. 23. The president also met with the family of Alton Sterling, a black man whose fatal shooting during a July 5 altercation with two white Baton Rouge police officers sparked widespread protests.

James Tullier said the president introduced him to his personal physician, who called him Monday to discuss options for transferring his son to a rehabilitation facility. The family doesn't have a timetable yet for a move.

"Wherever Nick goes, we go," his father said.

+2 Obama introduces injured EBR deputy Nick Tullier's father to personal physician During his visit to Baton Rouge Tuesday, President Barack Obama met with the family of injur

Tullier joined the sheriff's office nearly two decades ago, serving the past 10 years in the traffic division.

"He's a professional law enforcement officer, but he's more than that," Sheriff Gautreaux said. "He knows he was called to do this."

Dr. Steven Gremillion  chief medical officer at the hospital, where five of the six officers shot in the attack were taken  said Tullier's survival has lifted the spirits of staff there, too.

"In some ways, even though you never want events like these, it brings you together," he said. "It's black and white. It's nurse and physician. It's everyone coming together."

The night before the shootings, Nick Tullier was driving home to his fiancee, Danielle, when he stopped to help a woman with a flat tire. He used a spare from his own vehicle and followed her home.

The woman's daughter posted a video of the encounter on Facebook that night, writing, "Not all cops are bad cops."

Tullier's father was amazed to learn that the woman with the flat tire, Tyla Carter, is related to Montrell Jackson, one of the officers killed in the shooting. Carter is the aunt of his widow, Trenisha.

At Jackson's funeral, Carter and James Tullier hugged.

"Nick is a hero. He's our hero," Carter said. "We're like family now, all connected together."
A long-time Baton Rouge-based environmental activist and winner of the Heinz Award for her work in Louisianas industrial corridor, died Wednesday, according to her friends and environmental co-workers.

Florence Robinson, 77, was born in Monroe in 1938, and attended Southern University as an undergraduate, received a masters degree in zoology from the University of California and then attended Cornell University.

"She probably one of the smartest, most determined people I've ever met," said her son Micheal Robinson. "She did a lot of good work."

Robinson moved to Baton Rouge in 1971 and bought a house in Alsen, a community she knew because of her work in the nearby Devils Swamp during her time at Southern University, according to her account in the book Women Pioneers of the Louisiana Environmental Movement by Peggy Frankland and Susan Tucker.

In that same account, she said she became aware of environmental problems in the area a few years later as people started getting sick and she noticed strange smells in the air.

Within a short period of time you noticed changes in the swamp, she said in a video done for the site SoLa2050.org, that documents the experiences of people involved in Louisiana environmental work. I began to notice that things just werent right.

Website discusses La. environment From the coral reefs off the coast of Louisiana to the historical struggle for environmental

The community was surrounded by industrial waste pits and petrochemical plants as well as landfills, and she saw that it was taking a toll on the neighborhood.

Sometimes Id walk out of my house and my yard is full of dead birds, she said in the video. These kinds of strange things happened.

Robinson started advocating for environmental change, became a board member with the Louisiana Environmental Action Network and worked to educate people about some of the dangerous neighbors they were living among, said Willie Fontenot, conservation chairman with the Delta Chapter of the Sierra Club. For years, he was the community liaison in the Louisiana Attorney Generals office environmental section working with community on a variety of environmental issues.

She was really good at helping people understand what some of the more technical issues were, Fontenot said. In addition, her connection with the university system helped get more experts and graduate students involved in the work she was trying to do in the community.

Marylee Orr, executive director of the Louisiana Environmental Action Network, said Robinson was one of the pioneers of the environmental justice movement in the United States, a role model for women and a friend.

As a professor and environmentalist, she touched a lot of people, Orr said.

Known for her work with groups that rescue and foster Alaskan malamutes as well as her environmental activism, Robinson had retreated from public work in the last couple years because of her health to focus on her dogs, Orr said.

In an email from Orr to a number of people who knew Robinson, she wrote that although there will be no funeral, the LEAN and malamute family will have a celebration of her life in the near future with details to be announced later.

Included in the email was a prayer written by Robinson and used by LEAN for many years, Orr said. In part, the prayer reads, Give our affected brothers and sisters strength, ease their pain, and heal their wounds. And bless us all, Lord, that we might walk in health and wisdom.

It is to me one of the most powerful prayers I have ever read, Orr wrote. She was loved and that is a blessing.
The national election is just weeks away, but last spring Louisiana took some small but important steps that make it easier for students at pu
A navy officer said there had been a serious breach of data and the navy's efforts were focused on determining the damage done to the existing submarines.

A naval group headed by a three-star admiral is looking at altering some features of Scorpene submarine. (File photo)

By Reuters: India is unlikely to give French naval contractor DCNS a proposed order for three new submarines, in addition to the six it is already building in the country, following the leak of secret data about its capabilities, Indian defence officials said.

Details of the Scorpene submarine were published in the Australian newspaper last month, triggering concerns that it had become vulnerable even before it was ready to enter service.

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DCNS had offered to build three more submarines to help India replace its ageing Soviet-era fleet, and had held talks over the past year, sources said.

SERIOUS BREACH OF DATA

That offer will not now be taken up, according to the officials.

"We had an agreement for six, and six it will remain," a defence ministry official briefed on the navy's plans told Reuters, speaking on condition of anonymity.

A navy officer said there had been a serious breach of data and the navy's efforts were focused on determining the damage done to the existing submarines.

"No order will be signed, nothing is going to happen now," the officer, who is also been briefed on the submarine data leak, said when asked if the government planned to enlarge the order.

DCNS spokesman Emmanuel Gaudez said the company was "stunned" by the information. "The talks are ongoing with the government and our Indian partners. We have not been informed in anyway of such a decision," he said.

GOVT WRITES TO DCNS

India's defence ministry has written to DCNS asking for details about the extent of the leak and how data relating to the Scorpene's intelligence gathering frequencies, diving depth, endurance and weapons specifications had ended up in the public domain, both officials said.

A naval group headed by a three-star admiral is looking at altering some features of the submarine, the first of which began sea trials in May for induction later this year, to minimise any damage.

The remaining five are in various stages of production at state-run Mazgaon Docks shipyard in Mumbai and they were all due to enter service by 2020.

INVESTIGATION

An official at Mazgaon Docks said the firm was focused on completing the original order of six Scorpenes and that he was not aware of any plan to build more.

A DCNS spokesman had earlier said the firm was in close touch with "our key customers like India to keep them informed of the development of our investigation, respond to their questions and mitigate their legitimate worries".

"The investigation is still ongoing and one of its objectives is to determine the potential prejudice and minimize its potential consequences," the spokesman said.

DCNS is preparing to build a new fleet of submarines in Australia for A$50 billion ($38.13 billion). Australian defence officials have warned the firm to beef up security in the wake of the leak.

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DCNS has said that the leak, which covered details of the Scorpene-class model and not the vessel currently being designed for the Australian fleet, bore the hallmarks of "economic warfare" carried out by frustrated competitors.

Indian officials have pointed to a "non-disclosure of information" clause that was written into the 2005 contract at French insistence, the first defence ministry official briefed on the communication with the DCNS, said.

But the official said the government could only invoke that clause if it was established that the data was leaked and not stolen.

A French government source has said the firm had apparently been robbed, and it was not a leak, adding it was unlikely classified data was stolen.

NOISE SIGNATURE

Indian submarine experts say that, while the breach in information security was serious, it does not make the Scorpenes immediately vulnerable to detection.

The most vital data about a submarine is its unique "signature" of noise, heat and electro-magnetic emissions, and it is the combination of such signatures that determines the ability to detect them.

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"If that is gone, then you might as well say goodbye to the submarine. You are exposed," said former vice admiral and submariner A K Singh.

Such signatures are assembled in the course of the sea trials of a submarine, and in the case of the Scorpenes that has yet to happen, he said.

India's submarine arm is down to 13 vessels, only half of which are operational at any time, and is falling rapidly behind China, which is expanding its maritime presence in the Indian Ocean.

Even Pakistan, which operates Agosta submarines also built by DCNS and is in talks with China for a new set of submarines, is drawing close to the operational strength of the Indian navy.

DCNS EXPRESSES INTEREST IN NEW PROJECT

The Indian government has approved the acquisition of the next generation of submarines beyond the Scorpene, in an project estimated at $8 billion.

DCNS has expressed an interest in that project, as has Russia and Germany's ThyssenKrupp Marine Systems.

The first defence official said he did not expect any movement on that project until the investigation into the Scorpene leak was completed and new security measures put in place.

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Anxious, but India will induct Scorpene submarine without delay

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Two massive ships that function as floating hotels and that have sat empty on the Mississippi River near downtown Baton Rouge will depart soon, despite area hotels being booked solid following last month's historic flooding.

The ships, known as "flotels," are owned by Hornbeck Offshore in Covington and have room for as many as 500 people. Company executives sent the vessels to Baton Rouge nearly two weeks ago in hopes of helping meet the huge housing demand that arose as flood relief workers arrived.

The Federal Emergency Management Agency alone deployed more than 2,000 workers to help with recovery efforts.

But with the ships' rooms still unoccupied, the HOS Briarwood is set to leave Baton Rouge on Sunday and the HOS Achiever sometime early next week, said Leslie Hellmers, a Hornbeck Offshore representative.

+3 Flotels sit empty in downtown Baton Rouge despite hotel crunch. Why? Two ships sitting on the Mississippi River in downtown Baton Rouge that could house 300 to 5

"We are simply at a point where we need to put the vessels back in the market and we therefore committed the HOS Briarwood to an oilfield client," Hellmers said in an email. "We are planning for the HOS Achiever to also depart Baton Rouge next week."

Hornbeck officials have said they sent the ships to Baton Rouge despite having no contract with FEMA because of inquiries the federal agency had made to the U.S. Maritime Administration about the availability of passenger vessels. The company's ships have been used in disaster areas in the past, including after Hurricane Katrina and the Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill, and company officials said they thought they'd be needed in Baton Rouge as well.

The "flotels," which normally house offshore oil workers, have their own water and sewage, dining halls, laundry rooms, office spaces and fitness centers, among other features.
Geelong could be boosted by the return of Scott Selwood for Friday night's qualifying final against Hawthorn at the MCG.

Selwood took part in the Cats' open training session at Deakin University in Geelong on Saturday morning after missing his side's round 23 win over Melbourne with hamstring soreness.

The 26-year-old completed running drills away from the main group before doing some ball work and kicking off both sides.

"One of the things with our list this year is how healthy it is," Cats spearhead Tom Hawkins told reporters after the session.
Insurance company Youi has a simple advertising motto. "We get you," the company says  words that take on an entirely different complexion after allegations published by The Sunday Age about practices to charge prospective customers for coverage they didn't want and employ tactics to lower premium costs that could potentially void coverage.

Youi has achieved stunning revenue growth in recent years, from $71 million in 2011 to $654 million last year, making it one of Australia's fastest-growing insurers. In advertising, the company seeks to present itself as wanting a relationship closer to that of a friend. But a disturbing picture has emerged in claims that Youi has fostered a culture that rewards staff for exploiting the trust of its customers or people who just want to inquire how much insurance coverage might cost.

Youi has built a profitable Australian personal lines insurance business since its launch in 2008 and last year expanded into New Zealand.

Whistleblowers have described a high-pressure climate within Youi's call centres, where sales staff are encouraged to insist potential customers provide their bank account details, even before a person has agreed to take out a policy. Instead of a simple quote, some prospective customers have been charged for coverage they never signed up for, only to have to fight the company to get their money returned.

In other instances, whistleblowers described how insurance details for new customers have been changed in an effort secure a lower premium and win business. They said a common tactic has been Youi staff switching the colour of a car. When a customer informs the sales staff the car is black, this is switched to white, for example, to game the statistics on the type of vehicles more at risk of an accident. But customers have been left unaware of the change because they were previously provided with vague policy statements with limited details.
The apoplexy conservatives are experiencing over the prospect of same sex marriage has an echo in history: conservatives spluttering shock at women seeking the right to vote. What an outrage that the intelligent, considered vote of the male in the nation's affairs could be diminished by being granted to women. Put Coalition MPs in top hats and frock coats and we are back more than a century where prejudice dragged down the parliament. If Turnbull won't lead on this issue, the public's disrespect for parliament will increase. Current conservatives are making a joke of representative democracy. Des Files, Brunswick THE FORUM Back to the dark ages It seems the federal government will go to any length to punish society's most vulnerable for their misfortune. While outrage is expressed at the loss of tax concessions for the superannuation nest eggs of the privileged few, the government has quietly embedded in its omnibus budget savings bill a proposed cut to the welfare payments of mentally ill offenders held in secure psychiatric care, a group with no voice or influence. These individuals have not been convicted of an offence but have been found unfit to plead due to mental illness. Much work has been done to promote a more enlightened community approach to mental illness, but this government seems determined to take us back to the dark ages by again targeting people with a serious mental illness. The government is showing a disturbing and growing morality deficit to society's most defenceless.

Deanna Buck, Maldon Tony Abbott's agenda In pursuing the budget cuts that failed to pass in 2014, Mr Turnbull yet again gives his face to Tony Abbott's work. These cuts include a billion dollars taken from the Renewable Energy Agency's budget, one of the most important organisations that is helping Australia take up the opportunities of the future and also making a difference to the welfare of future generations. Furthermore, cuts to education, health, families, the aged and the unemployed demean the social contract and create poverty and division. Meanwhile, the billions being spent on illegal and pointless offshore detention continue and the unnecessary plebiscite on same sex marriage is funded. While Mr Turnbull carries the title of Prime Minister, Mr Abbott still runs the country. Di Cousens, Mount Waverley

Taxed join taxed-not Over two decades the value of Newstart has fallen greatly, and is now $100 below the poverty line. While economic experts and business groups have called for an increase, the Liberals are, unbelievably, cutting it. By calling Newstarters "taxed nots", the Liberals effectively call them dole bludgers. But Newstarters didn't send manufacturing overseas, sack workers in their thousands to increase profits, bring in foreign workers on 457 visas, sign trade agreements bringing in even more foreign workers or cripple our remaining industries. These "taxed nots" were once "taxed", paying for education, hospitals and pension systems. But now they've joined the Liberal-supporting "taxed not" corporations and wealthy. And our economy's in strife. Great budget managers, these Liberals. Lex Borthwick, Burwood Attack flow of money

Treasurer ScoMo is wrong. Money should be taxed, not people. There's enough money out there; it's the flow of that money that needs to be managed better. Peter Brown, Kawarren Unwilling to pay The fuss surrounding Senator Sam Dastyari's "expenses" underscores an all-pervasive problem in the political class. That is, despite their massive salaries and allowances, they believe they should never have to put their hand in their pockets to pay for anything. There will always be a way to find someone else (usually the long-suffering taxpayer ) to pay their bills. And if they do get caught out, the punishment is little more than a requirement to pay back the amount. Until serious punishment is introduced, such as a loss of seat in parliament, nothing will ever change. If that punishment seems harsh think what would happen if you tried to milk your company's expense account. Ross Hudson, Camberwell

Words can cause harm Racism, discrimination and suspicion of "the other" can be insidious. For example, the mildly offensive racist joke, if told often enough, becomes acceptable and a new base for less inhibition and a relaxation of old mores. The historical persecution of some minority groups often started with seemingly innocuous gestures and language. Who cares what Cory Bernardi and his fellow critics of Section 18C of the Racial Discrimination Act call each other within the confines of their own cliques. However, given the xenophobia encouraged by some of our political representatives, we should be very concerned at any relaxation of current legislation, designed to help us cohabit this largely successful multicultural society. People like Scott Morrison still have plenty of scope to disparage and offend  his "taxed and taxed not" nonsense is a good example. Sticks and stones can break your bones, but, sometimes, words can be at least as damaging. Norman Huon, Port Melbourne Beware access tax

Your article "Empty Nest" (New, 28/8), on people accessing superannuation to fund IVF or other medical procedures, was very interesting. However, if people are successful in doing this, they must pay tax on the amount, which can be up to 22 per cent for those under their superannuation "preservation" age, which is the age of 60 for anyone born after July 1, 1964. This penalty may be (much) higher than the interest due if a loan could be obtained. Julie Dalling, West End, Qld Insidious message A father of three daughters, I walked out of the documentary Embrace haunted, angry and hyper aware of the media's role in shaping the sad state of body image held by so many females. While the explicit Photoshopped images in fashion and gossip magazines are easy to spot, the subtle influences are more insidious. The article "Legacy of a First Lady" (Sunday Life, 28/8) was a case in point. A great one-page article celebrating Michelle Obama's intellect and humanitarianism was overshadowed by two pages celebrating her dress sense and how good her arms look in sleeveless dresses. We used your article to show our daughters what subtle body image pressure looks like  how to identify it and then dismiss it. Michelle Obama's legacy: smart; dresses well; nice arms. Matt Shanahan, Ocean Grove

Car-dependent site Battery packs and solar panels might be a standard inclusion in all three- to five-bedroom homes, but the Alphington redevelopment is not nearly as energy efficient as it should be ("Welcome to Tesla town," 28/8). The development is forecast to generate more than 18,000 trips a day when completed, with most taken by car because public transport in the area is so poor. There are no route bus services to speak of on the Chandler Highway corridor extending south of the Yarra into the City of Boroondara. Similarly, bus services to the CBD on Heidelberg Road and the Eastern Freeway are infrequent with no commitment from the government to improve them. Thus, many residents will be car dependent and more on-site parking will be required. The fact that the government is to widen the Chandler Highway to an excessive six lanes is also largely a product of inadequate public transport in the area. Ian Hundley, North Balwyn Pay to use content

I write in reference to Peter Martin's article "Government dithers, closing the book on millions" (Comment, 28/8). The government, libraries and organisations that represent Australian writers, musicians and film makers have agreed to make changes to copyright law to make it easier for people with disabilities to access published materials. Furthermore, the fair use regime in the US is opposed by writers, journalists, artists and Australian content companies because fair use would mean big tech companies would be able to use content without paying for it. This will make it much harder to support and nurture the next generation of stars and Aussie icons. Finally, the US Bookshare program is not provided under fair use but under a specific provision in the US Copyright Act for people with disabilities. Publishers provide, under voluntary permission agreements, more than 80 per cent of the thousands of books added each month to Bookshare's virtual bookshelves. Adam Suckling, chief executive, Copyright Agency Victim of Youi cult I, too, fell victim to the Youi cult (News, 28/8). My first year car policy renewal increased substantially and I took my insurance elsewhere, thinking the policy would lapse as did other policies. I later found the policy had been auto-renewed and funds debited from my credit card. I then began a fight lasting several days to have the policy cancelled and my money returned to me. After many tense phone battles I was successful, less 10 per cent of the policy cost for what was by then 10 days of insurance that I didn't want or ask for. Unreasonable and highly aggressive. Yes, they got me. Never again.
Father and daughter, Bella and Jim Buda, with Bella's daughter, Ruby. Credit:Janie Barrett The couple's goals include buying a home and to be able to afford to travel to Brazil once a year. The couple is receiving advice from a certified financial planner on how to grow business and achieve the couple's financial goals. Simon Clifford believes in teaching his children about money from a young age. Credit:Quentin Jones "Financial planners can help you understand what you're capable of," Bella says. "In our first year of opening we thought we'd reached our peak, but now, four years later, we still want to build it up; we want to open at nights and are working on how to do that."

Family influence The role of parents in determining how children relate to money is strong, says Mark McCrindle, a social researcher who has his own consultancy, McCrindle Research. "They see their parents' attitudes to spending and saving every day," he says. In fact, the influence is even longer lived today and extends into adulthood as more young people stay in the parental home well into their 20s," McCrindle says. It's not just about dads. Research from the United States suggests the mother's level of education is the most important factor in forming children's money habits.

Divna Haslam, senior research fellow at the University of Queensland's School of Psychology, says young adults whose mothers have higher education tend to have better financial literacy than those whose mothers are not so well educated. The education levels of fathers do not have as much effect on the financial literacy levels of their children, according to the research. Dr Haslam, a clinical psychologist and family researcher, says financial literacy in young adults is important because it affects financial behaviour. Low financial literacy is associated with higher debt and less retirement planning, among other things. The research suggests children's later success and upward mobility in life is influenced by parents' income, education, marital stability and where they live. It's what social researchers call the "birth lottery". However, the research also shows that children from less advantaged families can overcome some of the negative effects of the birth lottery if their parents teach them about money.

Dr Haslam says the effects of learning about money are significant over and above the effects of the birth lottery. "This suggests children from disadvantaged homes who are taught basic financial concepts may do as well as those children who are winners in the birth lottery but do not have good money habits," she says. Knowledge gap for parents The problem is many parents are not financially literate themselves so cannot pass on their skills to their children. In the latest of survey of the financial attitudes and behaviour of adults commissioned by the Australian Securities and Investments Commission, only one in three said that they understood the "risk/return trade-off"  that higher investment returns comes with higher risk.

Two out of five said they did not really understand it with just over one in four saying they had heard of the concept but did not really understand it. The results were better for basic investing concepts such as "diversification" but still not that good  only about 40 per cent saying they understood the concept of diversification. There also remains a gender divide with regards to money and confidence in making the big financial decisions. Recent research by McCrindle Research for the Financial Planning Association found women were more likely than men to defer to their partner to make financial decisions. About 17 per cent of women said they let their partner make most financial decisions while just 12 per cent of men said the same.

Dr Haslam says her "gut feeling" is that, historically, parents may have focused more on boys' financial literacy than girls' financial literacy. "Luckily, this seems to be changing", she says. Proactive parenting Simon Clifford, a father of three, takes a different approach to Jim Buda when it comes to money. As a certified financial planner by trade, Simon believes in teaching his children about money from a young age. His children, 12-year-old Angus and 10-year-old Olivia, started receiving pocket money from about age 5. "We started giving them pocket money equal to half their age, so that at age 5 they received $2.50 a week," says Simon.

"I would give the change to them in all sorts of dominations and they would learn to count it and then it would go into their money boxes." With the shift to the cashless society, children do not see as many people using notes and coins to buy things and handling cash helps them to learn the value of money, he says. When the children were a bit older Simon would pay them the wrong amounts and get them to check it. Every so often the money boxes would be opened on the dining room table and the money counted and they were surprised by how much had been saved. The children now have online accounts and the money goes into accounts directly.
Bindi Irwin with boyfriend Chandler Powell, mum Terri and brother Robert Irwin. Credit:Australia Zoo The couple, who met through a chance encounter in 1991 and fell immediately in love, married just eight months later. They filmed their first documentary on their honeymoon and even at that early stage they had big plans for their lives together. Bindi Irwin turned 18 this year. Credit:Ben Beaden "Steve and I made a deal when we got married that whatever we profited from what we were doing we would put back into conservation," she says.

For four years they made no money, but when the documentaries they were making got picked up in the US, suddenly their fortunes changed. Terri Irwin with daughter Bindi and son Robert watching the Steve Irwin memorial service at Australia Zoo in 2006. Credit:Paul Harris The boy from Beerwah was a big deal and the profits they were making through their growing Sunshine Coast Zoo and lucrative television deals was all being poured back into their conversation efforts. Despite their lives changing completely, their desire to change the world didn't. Terri Irwin at Australia Zoo. Credit:Russell Shakespeare

"Suddenly (Steve) became a big deal on the world stage, but he never, ever changed his ethics," Terri says. When he died, on September 4, 2006, the easy path for Terri would have been to take her children back to her home in America and raise them in relative anonymity in Oregon. Steve Irwin, crocodile hunter. Terri is a determined woman and that was never an option that was before her. "I didn't anticipate, at 42 years old, I would be at the helm of everything we created," she says.

Terri and Steve Irwin in a scene from The Crocodile Hunter in 1999. "That was the sad surprise. But I have really tried to step up. "I am doing the level best that I can, and for as long as I draw breath I hope I am able to make things a little bit better with the world." With the tragedy 10 years behind her, Terri says she still feels the loss of Steve every single day, but she chooses to be thankful for what she had rather than focus on what she has lost. "I am still really, really sad," she says, the still-thick American accent and wide smile breaking momentarily.

"We were lucky to have this great relationship. "But in the end, I got my happily ever after. We had a great marriage and a great adventure and I choose that to be my perspective rather than spending every day wishing he was here." That, almost obsessive, drive to find something positive in even the most negative of situations is something she has passed on to her children. Bindi Irwin was incredibly young when she lost her "hero". At just eight she experienced a sadness that children shouldn't. But with the help of her mother she was able to gradually move on and find her happiness again.

"Mum came up with this really great game when dad passed away," Bindi says. "She said, 'Every day we are going to find our favourite part of the day.' It was this little game but it developed into this huge life lesson. "We would sit down over dinner or whatever and she would ask us what our favourite part of the day was. "Some days we would have three or four favourite parts, other days when we were sad it might be something like having a warm shower or laying on the grass. "She was actually helping to instil in us, subconsciously, to look for the good parts of the day. Now we just tend to focus and dwell on the good parts of the day."

Terri and Steve's son Robert was just three when he lost his father. Sitting by the campfire on the Steve Irwin Wildlife reserve looking through photographs he has shot during his visit, he is surrounded by people who knew his dad well. April, who has worked for the Irwin family for years, pauses as she walks past. "He looks so much like Steve, it's uncanny," she says. Over Robert's shoulder is the iconic photo of Steve holding a crocodile and smiling at the camera.

She isn't wrong. As he ventures towards his teens, Robert's personality is beginning to evolve into the person he is going to be. He loves mountain bike riding, he has never met a lizard he didn't like and he is happiest when he is as close to nature as he can be. He is also becoming an expert wildlife photographer, just like his dad. "It's really cool," he says.

"I didn't know this when I first started getting interested in photography, but my dad was a really amazing photographer as well. "It was only when I told mum I wanted to do more wildlife photography that she told me and showed me some of the photos dad had taken." He is very aware of his role now in continuing the family legacy of documenting amazing wildlife experiences and it is one he is excited to share. But he is also aware of how important capturing the memories he has while he is making them. "It's a great opportunity because I can carry on in his footsteps and document incredible wildlife," he says.

"The other really cool thing in terms of how my whole life has been documented and how much of my dad's life was documented, if you ever forget something or a memory starts to fade you can press rewind and relive these amazing memories. "It's a great way to remember dad and enjoy those memories." With one of her children entering adulthood and the other not far away, Terri has a moment to reflect on the types of people they are becoming. And she is, justifiably, incredibly proud of the way she has managed to raise them both in Steve's image. "I love 'em so much it's crazy and I am so proud of them," she says.
By PTI: From Jaishree Balasubramanian

Hanoi, Sep 3 (PTI) India today extended USD 500 million Line of Credit to Vietnam for facilitating deeper defence cooperation with the south east Asian nation, as the two countries elevated their ties to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership to respond to emerging regional challenges.

"Our decision to upgrade our Strategic Partnership to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership captures the intent and path of our future cooperation. It will provide a new direction, momentum and substance to our bilateral cooperation," Prime Minister Narendra Modi said after talks with his Vietnamese counterpart Nguyen Xuan Phuc here.

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He said the two sides recognised the need to cooperate in responding to emerging regional challenges.

Vietnam had earlier Comprehensive Strategic Partnership only with Russia and China.

Modi, who arrived here yesterday on his maiden visit to the country, described his talks with Vietnamese counterpart as "extensive and very productive" and said they covered the full range of bilateral and multilateral cooperation.

"I am also happy to announce a new Defence Line of Credit for Vietnam of USD 500 million for facilitating deeper defence cooperation," he said.

"Our common efforts will also contribute to stability, security and prosperity in this region," he said.

The two countries signed 12 agreements in a wide range of areas covering IT, space, double taxation and sharing white shipping information.

An agreement on construction of offshore patrol boats was also signed by the two sides, signalling astep to give concrete shape to defence engagement between the two nations.

"The range of agreements signed just a while ago point to the diversity and depth of our cooperation," Modi said, adding the agreement on construction of offshore patrol boats is one of the steps to give concrete shape to bilateral defence ties.

He said as the two important countries in this region, India and Vietnam feel it necessary to further their ties on regional and international issues of common concern.

Modi also announced a grant of USD 5 million for the establishment of a Software Park in the Telecommunications University in Nha Trang.

"We agreed to tap into the growing economic opportunities in the region," said Modi, the first Indian premier to visit the country in 15 years.

Noting that enhancing bilateral commercial engagement is the strategic objective of the two nations, he said, "For this, new trade and business opportunities will be tapped to achieve the trade target of USD 15 billion by 2020." MORE PTI JB MP ABH ZH

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Ali's twin sons saw it all. They saw their dad shouting at their mother. They saw him smash a door and shards of glass glinting on the floor. And they saw the police officers, after their mum called for help.

And how did these six-year-old boys feel? Ali* clears his throat. This is not an easy thing to talk about. "Very frightened. They probably lost their trust with me."

Turning point: A new survey shows men's behaviour change programs are having a positive effect. Credit:Digitally altered image by Jamie Brown

But he says he was relieved, pleased even, his wife called the police to their Melbourne home after he shouted and smashed things. It was not the first time.

The visit from police became a line in the sand, a turning point.
The imam at a mosque in Melbourne's western suburbs has been abruptly summoned to return home to Turkey, where local authorities have detained thousands of people for investigations into July's failed coup.

Another imam in Sydney was also ordered back to Turkey last month, while a female religious instructor from Broadmeadows  initially told she must return  has since been allowed to stay.

Sunshine Mosque in Melbourne's western suburbs during an open day. Credit:Andrew De La Rue

The demand has left many in the Turkish community in Australia confused as they were given no official reason for the sudden recall.

"I'm as much in the dark as you," said Mustafa Ramadan, president of the Cyprus Turkish Islamic Community Committee in Melbourne.
Hong Kong: At least two large Chinese state-owned enterprises in Hong Kong have instructed staff how to vote in Sunday's legislative election, as Beijing seeks to thwart the chances of local democratic candidates.

The election is Hong Kong's most contentious since the 1997 handover to China, marking the most significant city-wide poll since the 2014 "Occupy Central" protests when tens of thousands took to the streets to demand full democracy.

An election campaign banner for pro-Beijing election candidates Tang Ka-biu, left, and Wong Kwok-hing are seen defaced days before legislative elections, in Hong Kong. Credit:AP

Pro-Beijing politicians are seeking to win enough of the 70 seats in the Legislative Council to break the one-third veto-wielding bloc held by pro-democrat parties in the freewheeling global financial hub of 7 million people.

Staff at the Bank of China (Hong Kong) have been given lists of pro-Beijing candidates and told to call their managers after voting, according to employees who have shown a list to Reuters.
Washington: Hillary Clinton's campaign struck back at assertions by Russian President Vladimir Putin that the hacking of Democratic Party groups was a public service and accused him of endorsing "foreign interference" in the US presidential election.

Clinton spokesman Jesse Lehrich said experts have concluded Russia was behind the hacking of Democratic National Committee e-mails that were released by WikiLeaks just before the former secretary of state was to formally accept the party's nomination. Lehrich sought to draw a connection to Republican nominee Donald Trump's campaign.

"Unsurprisingly, Putin has joined Trump in cheering foreign interference in the US election that is clearly designed to inflict political damage on Hillary Clinton and Democrats," Lehrich said in an e-mail. "This is a national security issue and every American deserves answers about potential collusion between Trump campaign associates and the Kremlin."

Lehrich was reacting to Putin's remarks in a Bloomberg News interview in which he called the DNC breach and subsequent publishing of the documents a service to the public. The release led to the resignation of top DNC officials and became a distraction for Clinton just before the Democratic convention in July.
TOKYOTDK Corporation (TDK, TOKYO:6762, Representative Director and President: Shigenao Ishiguro) and Toshiba Corporation (Toshiba, TOKYO:6502, Representative Executive Officer, President and CEO: Satoshi Tsunakawa) have agreed to establish a joint venture (JV), TDK Automotive Technologies Corporation, that will engage in the development, manufacture and sales of automotive inverters for hybrid vehicles, plug-in hybrid vehicles and electric vehicles, as detailed below.

I. Reasons for establishment of the JV

Many countries propose to impose more stringent regulation of automobile exhaust emissions in 2020 and after, in an effort to prevent air pollution and global warming. This trend to stricter regulation is expected to greatly affect the global automobile market, contributing to an increase in demand for hybrid and plug-in hybrid vehicles in the global market and greatly increased use of electric, fuel-cell, and other eco-friendly vehicles.

Under such market conditions, TDK is currently strengthening its energy unit* business, which mainly consists of hardware in power conversion for hybrid, plug-in hybrid, and electric vehicles, as well as software that controls such hardware as strategic growth products in the medium to long term. TDK offers a lineup of products, such as DC-DC converters, on board chargers and wireless power transfer systems that are currently being developed. The DC-DC converter in particular utilizes the magnetic material technologies that are the strength of TDK. They are one of the smallest in the industry and offer high efficiency and other product advantages that have won global recognition and a delivery record of more than 2.5 million units in aggregate.

Upon the establishment of the JV with Toshiba as described above, TDKs energy unit business is expected to expand tremendously, as the addition of automotive inverters to TDKs product lineup will broaden its product range and enable to meet diverse customer demand.

Toshiba develops technologies to meet automobile manufacturers requirements for low fuel consumption that combine advanced capabilities in automotive inverters with 120 years of cumulative know-how in motors. By integrating power semiconductor modules, Toshibas inverters secure high levels of heat dissipation in a short time, and also contribute to downsizing that reduces space requirements. Toshiba aims to strengthen its competitiveness in the growing market for automotive inverters and motors by combining its highly efficient automotive motors with automotive inverters developed by the JV and DC-DC converters developed by TDK, and proposing them as a system for hybrid and electric vehicles.

II. Outline of the JV 1) Company name TDK Automotive Technologies Corporation 2) Address of the Head Office 3-9-1 Shibaura, Minato-ku, Tokyo, Japan (within TDK Corporation) 3) Address of the business premises 2-15-7, Higashiohwada, Ichikawa-shi, Chiba, Japan (within TDK Technical Center)

2000 Nao, Mie-gun Asahi-cho, Mie, Japan 4) Main business Development, manufacturing and sales of automotive inverters 5) Stated capital 400 million yen 6) Ratio of capital contribution TDK: 75%; Toshiba: 25% 7) Date of establishment October 1, 2016 (scheduled) 8) Date of business start December 1, 2016 (scheduled)

*Energy unit

One of three strategic growth product areas (sensor/actuator, energy unit and next-generation electronic components) that TDK will strengthen in the medium- and long-term.

The energy unit develops hardware and software with power conversion, energy control and electricity storage functions.

About TDK Corporation

TDK Corporation is a leading electronics company based in Tokyo, Japan. It was established in 1935 to commercialize ferrite, a key material in electronic and magnetic products. TDK's portfolio includes electronic components, modules and systems* which are marketed under the product brands TDK and EPCOS, power supplies, magnetic application products as well as energy devices, flash memory application devices, and others. TDK focuses on demanding markets in the areas of information and communication technology and consumer, automotive and industrial electronics. The company has a network of design and manufacturing locations and sales offices in Asia, Europe, and in North and South America. In fiscal 2016, TDK posted total sales of USD 10.2 billion and employed about 92,000 people worldwide.

* The product portfolio includes ceramic, aluminum electrolytic and film capacitors, ferrites, inductors, high-frequency components such as surface acoustic wave (SAW) filter products and modules, piezo and protection components, and sensors.

About Toshiba Corporation

Toshiba Corporation, a Fortune Global 500 company, channels world-class capabilities in advanced electronic and electrical product and systems into three focus business fields: Energy that sustains everyday life, that is cleaner and safer; Infrastructure that sustains quality of life; and Storage that sustains the advanced information society. Guided by the principles of The Basic Commitment of the Toshiba Group, Committed to People, Committed to the Future, Toshiba promotes global operations and is contributing to the realization of a world where generations to come can live better lives.

Founded in Tokyo in 1875, todays Toshiba is at the heart of a global network of 551 consolidated companies employing 188,000 people worldwide, with annual sales surpassing 5.6 trillion yen (US$50 billion). (As of March 31, 2016.)

To find out more about Toshiba, visit www.toshiba.co.jp/index.htm

Contacts

TDK Contacts

TDK Corporation

Sumio Marukawa, +81-3-6852-7102

Corporate Communications

pr@jp.tdk.com

or

TOSHIBA Contacts

Toshiba Corporation

Aya Oshima/Yuu Takase, +81-3-3457-2100

PR & IR Division

media.relations@toshiba.co.jp
Monday 05 September, 2016 Reliable information reaching Biafra writers desk has it that the life of Nnamdi Kanu, the leader of the Indi...
The recent calamity at Ambilobe, a region about 140 Km from Antsiranana, saw bush fires resulting in extensive damage to property and livelihood.

By Manjeet Negi: Indian Naval Ship Trikand of the Western Fleet came as a rescue to fire disaster-hit Ambilobe during its visit to East Africa and Southern Indian Ocean. The ship was at Antsiranana from August to September 3 enhance bilateral ties with Madagascar.

The recent calamity at Ambilobe, a region about 140 Km from Antsiranana, saw bush fires resulting in extensive damage to property and livelihood. In support of the government and the people of Madagascar, the Indian Navy swung into immediate action to provide succor to more than five thousand affected citizens.

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INS Trikand donated essential food items and medicines to the affected populace. The ship is well equipped to provide humanitarian assistance and disaster relief (HADR) during such eventualities. Storage of HADR bricks on ships is a SOP and all operational ships carry it at all times. The ship provided rice, jam, tinned fruit, tea, milk, essential medicines etc to the Malagasy authorities at Antsiranana today.



The helping hand by the Indian Navy is in line with the Indian government's and the Navy's policy of immediate and sustainable assistance to all its neighbours in times of need.

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DETROIT  In September of 2012, Donald Trump was in the midst of a months-long quest to prove that President Barack Obama was not in fact from the United States. Wake Up America! See article: Israeli Science: Obama Birth Certificate is a Fake, he tweeted around this time that year to delegitimize the first black president.

Four years later, the birther found himself in the confines of a black church in Detroit awkwardly swaying with the congregation after a one-on-one interview with the bishop.

Polling at a dismal 1 percent in some national surveys with African-American voters and trailing Hillary Clinton by big numbers with minorities overall, Trumps campaign concocted a plan to correct his image among many voters, trying to erase the racial politics with which hes been engaged over the last four years in the final two months of his campaign.

Surrogate and liason to the black community, Ben Carson, first told The Daily Beast last Friday that the two men would travel to Carsons hometown of Detroit to reach out to voters of color and provide them with a new option in the presidential election.

The golden-haired real estate mogul arrived at Great Faith Ministries in Detroit on Saturday morning and briefly addressed the congregation, emphasizing his desire for unity after a year of campaigning as a divisive figure.

Our nation is too divided, Trump said, reading from prepared remarks. We talk past each other and not to each other. And those who seek office do not do enough to step into the community and learn whats going on. Im here today to learn, so that we can together remedy injustice in any form, and so that we can also remedy economics so that the African-American community can benefit economically through jobs and income and so many other different ways.

While at the church, Trump taped a private interview with Bishop Wayne T. Jackson, which was closed to the press and, at least initially, scripted. The New York Times also reported that the campaign would oversee the editing process of the video prior to it airing.

Speaking to reporters outside the church on Saturday afternoon, Jackson (a controversial figure himself), said that the interview went well and that what he asked him was from the heart.

According to a leaked script of the question-and-answer session, Jackson was expected to ask Trump whether he and his campaign were racist. He said that exchange never happened.

I felt that would have been disrespectful, Jackson said. He claimed that Trumps answers were not scripted and would not reveal whether the visit made him want to vote for the Republican candidate.

I knew this visit wasnt going to be popular, but God told me to do it, Jackson said.

He was right about the lack of popularity at least.

Hordes of protesters gathered outside the church, chanting Go home Trump and waving signs that read No hate in the White House and Stop the racist Trump. Charles Thomas, an African-American man from Detroit, joined the throng because he felt he needed to.

He told The Daily Beast that it was unusual for him to come to a political demonstration but that I didnt want such an important protest to be this close to me, and me not engage.

Although he's here in the black community, I think all the policies Trumps trying to implement would be damaging to the black community, and lead to further impoverishment, Thomas said.

He characterized the visit as contrived, saying that Trumps point wasnt really to speak to African-American audiences.

Its just a dog and pony show. And anyway, I dont believe that audience is the one hes really speaking to, Thomas said emphasizing that hes really talking to on-the-fence white voters uncomfortable with voting for a candidate widely perceived as a bigot.

The issue to which Thomas was speaking is one of the major criticisms of Trumps recent pivot to reaching out to people of color: He tries to address them in predominately white communities, often portraying African-American life as violent and using the line What the hell do you have to lose?

Part of the problem plaguing Trumps outreach is his unwillingness to address the central issue which propelled him into politics. When asked if he was still a birther in Philadelphia on Friday, Trump demurred, saying I dont talk about it anymore.

But for some voters who had already backed him, the church visit was a window into Trumps personal beliefs that may have been obscured on the grandstanding arena stage.

I dug deep and looked at the Constitution, and I just think he has a genuine love for the country, Carletta Griffin, an African-American adjunct professor at the University of Detroit Mercy told The Daily Beast. She decided to back Trump early in the primary.

He was just so loving and gracious. I saw his heart, Griffin said of the visit. Im more committed to him than ever.

Even in advance of the visit though, some people in the community already had a bad taste in their mouth at the mere prospect of Trumps arrival.

This is a joke, Tia Johnson-Shepherd, who grew up in the area, told The Daily Beast. This is disrespectful to the voters of our city, especially the minorities. Trump has been in Michigan quite a few times. He was just here in Detroit talking to a selected few at the Detroit Economic Club. If he wanted to talk to the people of all nationalities he should have held a public form.

Trumps circle of African-American advisers includes Carson, Omarosa Onee Manigault, and Pastor Mark Burns, whose biography came under fire in the hours before Trump made it to Detroit.

Burns admitted falsifying information on his personal website after being called out in a testy interview with CNN, during which he claimed he thought that the exchange was off the record.

To compound Trumps already near-impossible climb with black voters, early voting begins in a number of states this month, leaving little time to try to turn around a perception shaped by a DOJ investigation into racial biases in his apartment rentals and the very recent birther crusade, not to mention his previous refusal to speak to the NAACP during this campaign.

As the trip wound down, Carson took Trump to his childhood home in Detroit, providing for a brief photo opportunity outside.

He enjoyed it, Carson told The Daily Beast about Trumps visit. He was very pleased with the fairness of the bishop. He was warmly received by the congregation and the staff.

In terms of addressing the lingering birther issue, Carson suggested Trump need not dwell on it because the issues that we need to be dealing with are so much more important than that.

Overall, I think it was an excellent start for an initiative of actually spending time in some of the communities that the Republican Party has conceded to the Democrats, Carson said in a phone interview. I think there should be healthy competition for all of our citizens.

And that competition seems to exist in Carsons own backyard.

The current resident of his old home is reportedly supporting Hillary Clinton.
It is hard to fathom a public figure who is more universally despised in the African American community.

Now, as Donald Trump leaves Philadelphia and heads to Detroit, his campaign team believes they can turn the tide. But the highly scripted visit to the Motor City, notably Trumps first direct appeal to black voters, may not engender the response he might hope. Instead, the well-orchestrated string of photo ops is likely to stoke the flames of loathing already ablaze.

Arguably, given his low single-digit support among black voters, no one has been so widely reviled since General Sherman burned down Atlantas west end in 1864. According to a recent public opinion poll, Trumps favorability rating among African Americans is at zero percent. Even Alabama Gov. George Wallace, the segregationist and onetime presidential candidate, might have had an easier time luring black votes.

In the City of Brotherly Love, rather than meet with black elected officials and other prominent community leaders and activists, he rented a church catering hall and surrounded himself with a dozen hand-picked black Republicansincluding Calvin Tucker, one of only a handful of black delegates at the GOP convention in Julywho sat adoringly at the roundtable. According to The New York Times, the Friday meeting did include the mother of 20-year-old Iofemi Hightower, who was murdered by a group of men which included two undocumented immigrants. But, instead of addressing rape and gun violence, Trump focused his attention on the draconian anti-immigration policies he has proposed.

Trumps plan to attend a Saturday morning worship services at Great Faith International Ministries and then sit down for a one-on-one interview with Bishop Wayne Jackson has been met with a collective shrug. Skipping the opportunity to have a genuine conversation, there are reportedly no plans to address the congregants and the events are closed to the broader public.

Long on theatrics and woefully short on meaningful policy solutions, the pre-baked questions and answers were leaked to the media. Even the church service was a ticketed event.

Trump has been previously ridiculed for never once holding an event in a predominantly black neighborhood and declining invitations to speak before several prominent civil rights groups, including national conventions for the NAACP, National Urban League and National Association of Black Journalists, in over a year of active campaigning. Boasting that he is black Americas answer to generational poverty and violent crime, in city after city, the former reality television personality had previously taken his case to predominantly white audiences. Curiously, there were few non-white faces present at those rallies and the response from black voters has predictably ranged from frustration to anger.

It is difficult to imagine that Trump will garner more than 3  5 percent of the black vote come November and it is doubtful that this new strategy will have any impact on the real target: suburban white women.

However, the issue for Trump extends beyond the litany of political missteps in recent days. Years before the real estate developer hit the campaign trail, his public track recordincluding two Justice Department lawsuits citing housing discrimination and his attempts to delegitimize the nations first black presidentleft his reputation among black people in tatters. The choice to send Trump to largely black communities nowwith just 65 days left, no real campaign infrastructure and a small gaggle of no-name African-American surrogatesis like toting a gallon of kerosene to a camp fire.

If Donald Trump truly cared about black voters, about increasing his support from our communities, he would do more than show up for a scripted interview in Detroit. He would do more than slip on a custom tailored suit, don a silk tie and spew poorly hewed talking points before an all-white audience crowded into suburban gymnasium. He would certainly be able to recruit better surrogates than Omarosa Manigault, the newly installed director of African-American outreach who has no campaign experience and no credible constituencies among black voters, and Pastor Mark Burns, who is facing a tumult of criticism after CNNs Victor Blackwell revealed that the South Carolina televangelist falsified significant portions of his public biography. Then, of course, there is American Spectator editor and CNN political contributor Jeffrey Lord, who contends that Burns is being targeted because he left the plantation.

If he really wanted more black support, he would not have hired the publisher of a right-wing website that peddles racial animus for profit as his new campaign chief. And he most certainly would not be hop-scotching across the country and using African Americans as props in his charade.

Keep speaking, supporters Lynnette Hardaway and Rochelle Richardsonknown by their stage names Diamond and Silktweeted Saturday. While some dont want to face the truth, Black people are waking up and joining the Trump train.

She is not our slave master, the duo from North Carolina said of Hillary Clinton in a YouTube video released last week.

Rather than mount a slip-shod campaign, festooned with vicious stereotypes, including those advanced by Diamond and Silk, Trump would take the opportunity to get to know us, to know our families and our issues. If he was serious about courting African-American voters, Trump would then offer substantive policy solutions aimed at delivering liberty and justice to the communities that need them most instead of lacing his appeals with long-debunked statistics gleaned from conspiratorial websites run by white nationalists.

The real workbuilding relationships and support among black voterscould have and should have begun long ago and it would have started with a specific apology for his dodgy record on racial issues.
The explosive divorce between Hollywood icon Johnny Depp and his wife of less than two years, actress Amber Heard, was a particularly unnerving case of trial-by-media.

Heard filed for divorce from Depp, accusing the Edward Scissorhands star of serial domestic abuse, whilst providing photos of herself with a black eye to the court, as well as images of smashed wine bottles and glass along with a detailed story of being terrorized by a heavily inebriated Depp on the evening of May 21.

I endured excessive emotional, verbal and physical abuse from Johnny, which has included angry, hostile, humiliating and threatening assaults to me whenever I questioned his authority or disagreed with him, Heard stated in her request for protection filed May 27 in Los Angeles Superior Court.

Depp, on the other hand, denied the abuse allegations and claimed through his lawyer that Heard was after a chunk of his $400 million fortune. But more items in the media emerged, including a sneak-vid shot by Heard of a seemingly drunk and infuriated Depp raising hell in their kitchen, as well as a particularly odd story wherein Depp is said to have sliced off the tip of his finger in a jealous rage and scrawled messages in blood on a wall accusing the actress of cheating with Billy Bob Thornton. Friends from both sides of the fence also weighed in as character witnesses.

Now Marilyn Manson, a longtime friend of Depps whos said hes like a brother to me, is godfather to Depps daughter Lily-Rose, and who shares a skeleton tattoo with the actor from Baudelaires Les Fleurs du mal, has given his two cents on the split.

In an interview with The Daily Beast for a longer profile to run next week tied to his creepy upcoming role in the WGN drama Salem, the musician and artist stood by Depp, claiming that his pal was crucified by Heard in the press.

Lily-Rose is my goddaughter and I was there when [his son] Jack was born, so we go back, said Manson. Johnny is one of the nicest people that I knowto the extent where its almost heartbreaking how kind he is to his friends, and everyone around him. I know that he was completely crucifiedunjustly.

I would stand by him on anything, Manson continued. As my friend, I know that hes handling it the best he can and hes a great dad, too. It fills me with joy to see his kids grow up and be so smart, and so hilarious. We played a show together not too long ago. Its hard to say when you talk about your friends. Of course I think that all of it was bullshit, and I think that he is a great person. I wouldnt agree with any of it if someone were to put me on the stand and ask me what I know, or what Ive witnessed.

Heard and Depp recently reached a $7 million settlement in their divorce, with Heard dismissing the restraining order against Depp and then donating the money to the American Civil Liberties Union and the Childrens Hospital Los Angeles. The actress explained the donation of the divorce money by stating: Money played no role for me personally [in the divorce] and never has, except to the extent that I could donate it to charity and, in doing so, hopefully help those less able to defend themselves.

The former couple also released a joint statement reading: Our relationship was intensely passionate and at times volatile, but always bound by love. Neither party has made false accusations for financial gain. There was never any intent of physical or emotional harm.
ROME  A vial of blood, a splinter of wood from a confessional and two dubious medical miracles are the ingredients making Mother Teresa a saint not just figuratively but literally, and this Sunday in Rome she will be canonized with great fanfare. More than 100,000 tickets have been issued for an event that will be one of the spiritual highlights of Pope Franciss Jubilee Year of Mercy.

To some, the woman who was born Anjeze Gonxhe Bojaxhiu in 1910 in what is now Macedonia and who died on Sept. 4, 1997, in the Indian city of Calcutta, has long been known as the saint of the gutters. She founded the Missionaries of Charity congregation whose members wear the recognizable blue-rimmed white robes and headscarves.

But to others, she was a head-strong sister who put her unwavering devotion ahead of common sense when ministering to the poor, often cutting corners on hygiene and focusing on the virtue of suffering in lieu of the benefits of medical treatment.

She also admitted in letters published at the time of her beatification, that she suffered a major crisis of faith, known in religious circles as the dark night of the soul. For 50 years, most of her adult life, she apparently didnt feel the presence of God, which left her unable to pray, which, for a nun of her status, was surely rare.

There is so much contradiction in my soul. Such deep longing for God, so deep that it is painful, a suffering continual, and yet not wanted by God, repulsed, empty, no faith, no love no zeal, she wrote to the Jesuit cleric Ferdinand Perier, who was her archbishop at the time. Souls hold no attraction. Heaven means nothing, to me it looks like an empty place. The thought of it means nothing to me and yet this torturing longing for God. Pray for me please that I keep smiling at him in spite of everything.

Few criticized the Nobel Prize-winning nun more than the late Christopher Hitchens, author of The Missionary Position: Mother Teresa in Theory and Practice, who called her a fanatic, a fundamentalist and a fraud.

At the time of her beatification in 2003, he was asked by the Vatican to be the devils advocate, which was the practice of asking for testimony against a potential saints character. That office was later abolished by John Paul II, which has streamlined the saint-making business.

Hitchens says Mother Teresas sainthood was rushed by four years by the late John Paul II, who waived the usual five-year wait between death and the opening of a persons cause, which is the first step to sainthood. Hitchens wrote a damning essay about her alleged dark side and about what he called the medieval corruption of the Catholic Church.

MT was not a friend of the poor. She was a friend of poverty, he wrote. She said that suffering was a gift from God. She spent her life opposing the only known cure for poverty, which is the empowerment of women and the emancipation of them from a livestock version of compulsory reproduction.

Another naysayer of Mother Teresas sanctity is Aroup Chatterjee, a doctor who was born in Calcutta, now known as Kolkata, who lives in London. In his book Mother Teresa: The Final Verdict, Chatterjee says the nun defamed his city of birth. He spent his career searching for proof of her less-than-saintly work. I personally think that she did more harm than good," he wrote. She was very cruel in how she treated people at her home for the dying. I think she preached a very negative, very medieval, obscurantist ideology.

Still, there is no question that Mother Teresa offers the kind of hope for goodness and purity of heart that many Catholic faithful need. As hard as it is for the logical mind to accept the medical miracle aspect of making saints without raising an eyebrow, it is inarguably a fundamental part of the faith for many Catholics, who believe that miracles might save them, too.

In Teresas case, her first miracle happened when Monica Besra, a Bengali woman, apparently saw a beam of light shining from a picture she had of Mother Teresa one year after the nuns death (miracles only count if the would-be saint is dead). At that moment, she says she was relieved of her cancerous tumor. Doctors working for the Vaticans saint-making machine say there was no medical cure and deemed it divine intervention, although Besras own doctor, Ranjan Mustafi, has told countless reporters that the woman never had cancer in the first place, she had cysts.

''It was not a miracle,'' he told The New York Times when Teresa was beatified. She took medicines for nine months to one year.

The second miracle happened in 2008, but only came to the Vaticans Congregation for the Causes of Saints in 2013, when the office was notified that a Brazilian medical engineer named Marcilio Andrino was cured of a viral brain infection.

Apparently Andrino, who was a big fan of Mother Teresa, was in a coma awaiting surgery when his wife Fernanda and all the family started praying to Mother Teresa for an intercession. When the doctor arrived, Andrino was sitting up and asking why he was there. Marcilio was fine. He was sitting up. He was talking in intensive care and I realized that he was cured, that Mother Teresa had interceded on our behalf and cured Marcilio, his wife said, according to official reports on her cause. This was confirmed by the exams which proved the reduction of the abscesses and the disappearance of the hydrocephaly, making us sure that operations and drainage were no longer needed.

The couple went on to have a family for which they credit the soon-to-be Saint Mother Teresa.

On Sunday, it will likely be only true believers in St. Peters Square to celebrate Mother Teresas ascension from saint of the gutters to formal Catholic sainthood.
In The Founders, his new book about top charter schools, Richard Whitmire traces both the revolution these schools brought about in many American cities as well as a parallel phenomenon, "the charter pushback campaigns."

Consider the gathering storm over public charter schools in Massachusetts, which Whitmire deftly examines. In November, voters will decide whether to support a ballot initiative allowing the state to add 12 new or expanded charters annually. Low-performing districts get priority.

Voters from the Berkshires to Cape Cod will be able to weigh in, but in effect they will be determining educational opportunity for only a fraction of the state: low-income, mostly minority students in Boston and a few smaller cities.

Boston is projected to enroll 10,000 students in charters this year, about one-quarter of the state total, while keeping another 10,000 on waiting lists, according to state estimates.

Put another way, in the 2016-17 school year, more than one of every three Boston public school students will be in charters or will wish they were.

But because the district has reached its limit, most of those 10,000 kids wont get near a seat unless the cap is raised, which is tragic because Boston charters arent just good, or even very good. Theyre probably the best in the country.

Consider what researchers have found:

In a widely cited 2015 study of charter performance in 41 urban areas, Stanford University determined that the magnitude of the gains that charter school students in Boston received compared to their traditional public school counterparts is the largest weve seen in any area of the country we have studied..

More remarkably, the study found that Boston charter students achieved four times more growth in reading and six times more growth in math than their peers in Bostons traditional schools  a difference equivalent to hundreds of extra days of school. The biggest gains were made by low-income black and Hispanic students.

The findings echo a 2013 analysis showing Boston charter students learned at twice the rate of other public school students, making 12 months more progress in reading over a year and 13 months more progress in math. And these results werent concentrated in just a few schools run by the best-known operators. To the contrary, 83 percent of Boston charters outperformed traditional schools in reading and math and no charters performed worse than traditional schools.

Charter opponents often try to delegitmize strong testing results like those in Boston by attributing them to excessive test prep  as New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio did recently. (As if that were the only way poor students can excel!)

But a Harvard researcher found that despite perverse incentives for charters to focus on a narrow range of material because of accountability pressure, there was no evidence of this type of test preparation among Boston charters.

Finally, countering the notion that charters produce falsely impressive short-term gains only, a team led by MIT economists found that, in addition to improving academic achievement, attending Boston charters increases the likelihood that a student will take AP exams, improves SAT scores, and makes attendance at a four-year college rather than community college more likely.

Around now I should provide a spoiler alert for anyone who still believes evidence or good faith is important in public policy-making. Given the unrivaled gains made by Boston charters compared to district schools, the readiness of the charters to educate thousands of additional city students seems like a gift from the gods.

But heres how Barbara Madeloni, president of the state teachers union, feels about it: "Any cap lift portends the destabilization of public education in a profound way. And again: This proposal (for a ballot initiative) is a strike against democracy, against teacher and parent input into the education of students, and against the principle that all students are entitled to a high-quality public education.

Wow. For Madeloni, her union, and their supporters, Boston charters are an extraordinary menace. Not because they are failing poor children of color but because they are serving them so well. The $9 million that the Massachusetts Teachers Association has already pledged to spend in order to prevent even one more child from learning in a Boston charter school will be followed by millions more  its Washington, D.C.-based national union has already announced a $1.4 million contribution. It reflects the threat that Boston charters pose to the continued domination of unions over urban public education.

Think about it: spending millions of dollars to keep disadvantaged children in vastly inferior schools. Blocking entry into extraordinary schools so that poor ones arent destabilized.

The threat is not confined to Boston but matters most there. If Boston charters can be stymied despite their extraordinary success, charters anywhere can be stopped. Madeloni and her supporters are committed to preserving power. To succeed, she needs students in charter schools to fail.

The clear good here is to stand with poor kids in Boston and support the cap lift.
Three years ago, when Atria Books Editorial Director Peter Borland was sent the first 50 pages of a novel translated from the Swedish, he had no idea that what he held in his hands would become a national sensation. The book was by an unknown writer, but the story he told wasnt another brooding, Scandinavian mystery like Stieg Larssons The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo, a genre that had been selling like crazy over the past several years.

Fredrik Backmans A Man Called Ove was, in fact, a ray of sunshine compared to the dark night of those novelsa touchy-feely look at what it means to be human. Filled with humor and pathos, it was about a curmudgeonly and suicidal man in his late fifties who seemed at war with the modern world and his neighbors.

Borland liked the book, liked its sympathetic tone and subtle wit, liked what eventually became a tale of a suffering man who, thanks to those same neighbors, comes out of his shell. The book was charming but not corny. So Borland decided to take it on. Yet he was cautious: The 2014 first U.S. printing of Backmans novel was only 6,600 copies. And although the book enjoyed solid pre-publication reviews from the trades, it was ignored by major outlets like The New York Times, with sales that didnt exactly encourage confidence.

Then it caught fire. Atrias independent bookstore sales reps went out of their way to push the novel. The indie bookstore network started to get the word out, and when Ove came out in paperback in May 2015, a major store in Maine named it their book of the year and began selling copies by the truckload. That helped jump start Ove-mania, and it didnt hurt that People magazine gave it a rave, saying Youll laugh, youll cry, youll feel new sympathy for the curmudgeons in your life.

Six months after it came out in paperback, A Man Called Ove, which Borland calls a great word-of-mouth, reader driven success, hit the bestseller lists. It has remained there for more than 30 weeks, rising as high as #2 in The New York Times paperback rankings, and now boasts more than 650,000 copies in hardcover, paperback, and e-book editions.

Success bred more success. Backmans next book, My Grandmother Asked Me To Tell You Shes Sorry, in which a 7-year-old is assigned by her grandmother to deliver a series of letters to people the grandmother has wronged, also started slowly, but is also now firmly ensconced on the bestseller lists, with 240,000 copies in print.

But it is Ove that is the real underground sensation, and with a film version (already a hit throughout Scandinavia and Germany) due out in the States later this month, the book seems to be set for a long run of popularity. To further grease the skids, Sweden announced this week that the film of Ove would be its official selection for the Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film.

Jon Platt, owner of Nonesuch Books in South Portland, Maine, has sold 1,700 copies of Ovea total exceeded only by Harry Potterand credits the books success to the fact that Backman doesnt shy away from lifes difficulties, and how people are. There are difficult people everywhere, and thats what he writes about, and people relate to those characters.

Nancy Usiak of the Book Bin in Northbrook, Illinois, has also had great success with Ove and thinks it works because he is such an endearing character, even though he is a curmudgeon, and everyone has someone like that in their life.

Backman, interviewed from Sweden via email, feels pretty much the same way. He claims he really doesnt know what makes the book so popular, because most of the time I have no idea what Im doing. But I would hope people would respond to Ove because hes human. Hes a good person, hes just not very nice all the time. Most people I know are built that way.

The audience for the book seems to be all over the map. While Grandmother, which has a strong fairytale element, seems to draw a large teenage audience, the primary Ove readership appears to be Baby Boomers, both male and female, although both Platt and Usiak say every demographic imaginable is buying the book.

People in their twenties tell me how much they love it, says Borland. Its a way to connect with the older person in your life.

And theres this: Some of the reception for the book may have been helped byand at the same time is a reaction tothe enormous success of the bleak Scandinavian mysteries that have swept the country in the past few years. Authors like Stieg Larsson (The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo), Arnaldur Indridason (Jar City), Jo Nesbo (Headhunters), and Karin Fossum (Dont Look Back) have gained a strong following in the States with their taut, Nordic noirs, opening the door for the acceptance of other Scandinavian writers.

I think things have changed over the last five years, says Borland. Americans are much less averse to fiction in translation. The Tattoo trilogy showed you dont have to be scared of reading in translation. There is less of a strangeness to it.

And that must be the case, because booksellers claim the appeal of Backmans books has little to do with their country of origin. We didnt pitch him as a Scandinavian author at all, says Platt. Adds Usiak: I dont think people identify Ove as much as a Swedish character as an everyman character.

Ed Arentz of Music Box Films, which will be releasing the subtitled version of Ove this month in New York, Los Angeles, and a handful of other cities, agrees that the character has a universal appeal, and sees him in the same vein as the crotchety old men played by Jack Nicholson in About Schmidt and Clint Eastwood in Gran Torino.

There is something universal about the angry old man next door who is a pain for no apparent reason, Arentz says. But scratch the surface and he has his own emotional history, and he needs a little kindness to break through that barrier. Ove is your neighbor you dont talk to, but Ove is also us.
The queen is looking for a new cleaner.

At least, that is what we assume they mean by their job advert looking for a new live-in housekeeping assistant, whose duties include to clean and care for interiors and items from carpets and furniture to historic vases and irreplaceable paintings.

The advert goes on, This is no standard housekeeping role. Youll work, and live, in stunning historic settings, ensuring that theyre presented to their best for colleagues, guests and, of course, the Royal Family.

The downside is, predictably for those accustomed the royal way of doing things, the pay. With a salary of just 17,000 per annum, its fortunate that grace and favor lodgings are included in the package, as they are for another role of groundsman, which, from the description, appears to involve a lot of mowing for 16,500 per year.

Despite the paltry pay packet on offer, it is likely that the palace will be swamped with applicants for both jobs, with many would-be employees attracted by the prospect of working for the most famous family in the land.

Hard as it may be to fathom for many of us, there are plenty of people out there prepared to take a whopping pay cut for the pleasure of cutting the grass and cleaning up for royalty in the hope that one day they might just get blessed with a smile from Her Majesty.

Pay-wise, the royals are merely continuing a long traditionhistorically speaking, the posher the family, the less they have paid their servants.

The Cholmondeley family, based at Cholmondeley Castle near Crewe, for example, were famous for the minimal rates of pay offered to domestic servants; but the fact that employees got provided with a specially branded uniform and got to live in the castle made them important, so they are still to this day one of the most desirable families to work for in the North.

If you had done your time with the Cholmondeleys, you could, after a few years, take your pick of any other job.

The same holds true of working for the royals today, and is another reason why so many people are prepared to take very low wages to work for the queen or her progeny (see Darren McGrady, a former royal chef who now tours the world lecturing and speaking).

Although even regular servants are likely to get into the royal presence on an occasional basis right from the first days of their employment, being appointed to a position of trust and regular contact with a royallike the lucky servant mandated to stand next to the late Princess Margaret at all times with an ashtrayis the holy grail for royal servants.

Its usually a case of waiting for the former incumbent to retire or die. The long, drawn-out process is known below stairs in the palace as filling dead mens shoes.

So, promotion can take some time. And dont be fooled by that line about living in historic surroundings; accommodation provided to royal household staff may be old and well located, but it is far from regal.

Ryan Parry, the Daily Mirror reporter who famously got himself a job as a royal footman in 2003 and then exposed numerous royal secrets such as the queens habit of storing her breakfast cereal in Tupperware boxes, described his room as being basic, and like a university hall of residence; a single bed, a wardrobe and a sink.

In common with many large British houses, staff are required to sweep carpeted corridors in the morning; they are prohibited from using vacuum cleaners until after 10 a.m. to avoid disturbing sleeping family members.

Staff are also required to walk along the edges of the corridors rather than down the middle to avoid wearing out the threads.

Given the poor rates of pay, spartan living conditions, and the insatiable fascination with the royal family it is not surprising that several servants have sold secrets to the press over the years.

When they have gone public it has tended to be in a blaze of publicity, such as was the case with Dianas butler Paul Burrell or Prince Charless valet Ken Stronach.

Stronach gave an interview to the News of the World in 1995 in which he described at great lengths Prince Charless temper tantrums.

He related an incident in which Prince Charles dropped a cufflink down a sink while on holiday in the South of France and then ripped the sink from wall and smashed it to find the missing stud.

He then turned on Stronach, grabbing him by the throat. Stronach managed to break free, and dashed out of a door into what he thought was another part of the house.

Unfortunately, unfamiliar with the layout of the holiday villa, he had blundered into a linen cupboard, where he remained in hiding for half an hour until Charles had calmed down and left the bathroom.

Stronach claimed that one of his duties was to scrub grass stains from Charless pajamas after he had sneaked outside for meetings with Camilla Parker Bowles. There was mud and muck everywhere, Stronach told the paper. Theyd obviously been doing it in the open air.

Stronachs betrayal was extraordinary because he did it while still actually employed as Charless valet (he was immediately suspended and then fired).

Among the details he revealed in revenge, he said, for being made to cover up Charless affair for over a decade, was the fact that Prince Charles slept with a teddy bear.

Its entirely feasible that Stronach was asked to do these things. Even post-Ryan Parry, servants are often surprised by how quickly they are trusted. One source who has worked for the royal family described to me their astonishment at being told to grab a passport and board a private jet with the royal in question after just two days of employ.

While the big sensational sellouts have tended to grab the headlines, many servants stories have been gentler in tone, and sought to portray their masters in a positive light.

Paul Kidd, a royal butler from 1985 to 1992, claimed to have dropped a splodge of hot gravy down the queen mothers cleavage at dinner one night. Her beautiful blue eyes went cold, he recalled in the documentary Royal Servants. But when he apologized, Elizabeth gracefully replied, I am the one who is sorry, Paul. I actually nudged your elbow.

Kidd insisted she hadnt touched him.
PARIS  It was, yes, a dark and stormy night two centuries ago. Indeed, it was a dark and stormy summerso dark, so stormy, that those who lived through it remembered 1816 as the year with no summer at all.

But on one long night the horror that 18-year-old Mary Wollstonecraft Godwin confronted was writers block.

The would-be author was the daughter of the celebrated and notorious William Godwin, known as the father of philosophical anarchism, and Mary Wollstonecraft, a passionate advocate of womens rights who had died when little Mary was born.

Now the teenage Mary was vacationing on the shores of Lake Geneva with a group of very talented, famous, freethinking and free-loving friends.

Among them was the poet Lord Byron, 28, who was almost as well known for his womanizing as for his verse. His literate wit and handsome face made him a Romantic idol, his powerful body bespoke all kinds of prowess, and his clubfoot leant him an alluring vulnerability. One former lover called him mad, bad, and dangerous to know, which was about right.

It was Byron, in fact, who was the unwitting cause of the blank page tormenting Mary.

Several days earlier, Godwin and another rather more ethereal poet, Percy Bysshe Shelley, who would soon be Marys husband, had arrived in Switzerland for a rendezvous with Byron. With them was Marys stepsister, Claire Clairmont, who was not quite a year younger.

Byron, who had fled a crumbling marriage and crippling debts, was holed up in a luxurious lakeside property called Villa Diodati, and the young, hedonistic group expected a summer of mountain hikes with a bit of idyllic boating. But weirdly glacial temperatures and frequent storms kept them mostly confined indoors, where long philosophical discussions were rumored to have been accompanied with copious amounts of sex, wine, and laudanum, an opium-laced tonic.

What the debauched wordsmiths didnt know was that a global climate catastrophe had caused their wintry midsummer.

In 1815, Mount Tambora in what is now Indonesia blew upthe largest volcanic eruption in recorded history. Such enormous quantities of ash particles were blasted into the atmosphere that the earths temperature dropped by three degrees Celsius, and many areas of the world suffered an unseasonable chill that lingered for months. Widespread crop failure and food shortages plagued North America, while parts of Europe suffered hibernal storms and frosts.

The origins and extent of the disaster were unknown to Mary Godwin, Byron, and everyone else who shivered through the summer of 1816. What would become known throughout history as The Year Without a Summer, was, for this group of revelers just a mysterious spate of supernaturally awful weather.

One night we enjoyed a finer storm than I had ever before beheld, Godwin wrote in one of her letters. The lake was lit upthe pines on Jura made visible and all the scene illuminated for an instant, when a pitchy blackness succeeded, and the thunder came in frightful bursts over our heads amid the darkness.

As the wind beat against the windows and the rain churned up waves on the lake, the group spent the evening discussing the French translation of a German collection of ghost stories aptly titled Fantasmagoriana. Likely inspired by the sinister ambiance, Byron challenged each of his guests to craft his or her own tale of terror.

I busied myself to think of a story, Mary would write years later in the preface to one of the most famous horror novels of all time. One which would speak to the mysterious fears of our nature, and awaken thrilling horrorone to make the reader dread to look round, to curdle the blood, and quicken the beatings of the heart. Unfortunately, instead she felt that blank incapability of invention which is the greatest misery of authorship, when dull Nothing replies to our anxious invocations.

One night, after listening to Byron and Shelley have a long conversation about scientific experiments and the possibility of reanimating corpses, Mary suffered horrifying visions as she tried to sleep.

She imagined a doctor who had assembled a living thing from pieces of dead bodies: I saw the pale student of unhallowed arts kneeling beside the thing he had put together, she wrote. I saw the hideous phantasm of a man stretched out, and then, on the working of some powerful engine, show signs of life, and stir with an uneasy, half vital motion.

The nightmare put an end to her writers block, and, thanks to the ongoing storms, Mary Shelley, as she would soon be known, began penning the first pages of Frankenstein in the weeks that followed. Two centuries later, the novel is considered a Gothic masterpiece and its monster remains a potent fixture in popular culture, appearing everywhere from films to plays to cereal boxes.

It is actually the most-read novel in American high schools," Neil Fraistat, a professor of English at the University of Maryland told The Daily Beast. It might be the most read novel in the world.

Fraistat, who also acts as the general editor of the Shelley Godwin Archive, which contains digital copies of Mary Shelleys manuscripts, said he was nonetheless surprised by the worldwide interest the site generated.

When we launched the archive with the Frankenstein manuscripts, we had 60,000 unique visitors within 24 hours, and disproportionately those visitors were coming from Latin America and Eastern Europeplaces that any American scholar had no idea there was that kind of interest.

Ruth Wylie, the assistant director of the Center for Science and the Imagination at Arizona State University, told The Daily Beast that even though two centuries have passed since Mary Shelley took her pen to the page, her novel remains relevant.

Its a phenomenal story that still makes a lot of sense today, said Wylie, who is involved with the universitys Frankenstein Bicentennial Project. We dont have good answers to the questions Shelley poses 200 years ago. We are still trying to figure out how to balance this idea of innovation and ethical responsibility.

Although Mary Shelleys macabre creation cemented her place in literary history, a lesser-known member of the group brought an equally enduring monster to life. A fifth addition and something of a fifth wheel in the Villa Diodati crew was John Polidori (unfortunately nicknamed Polly Dolly). He had traveled to Geneva with Byron as the poets personal physician. Overshadowed by his famous peers, the 21-year-old wannabe writer nonetheless picked up the discarded draft of the story Byron had started on those dark and stormy nights.

Polidoris creation, The Vampyre, told of the mysterious Lord Ruthven, a suave aristocrat who seduces and murders pretty young things. Prior to Polidoris Ruthven, vampires were portrayed as ghoulish zombie-like creatures who preyed upon equally unsophisticated European villagers. His smooth and deadly nobleman (thought to be based on Lord Byron) paved the way for modern vampire lore, including Bram Stokers iconic Dracula.

Unfortunately for the father of the modern vampire, Polidori suffered rejection on both social and professional fronts.

Byron, having grown irritated with his sensitive young employee and his frequent bouts of ill health, shipped Polidori back to England before the summer on Lake Geneva ended. To add insult to injury, three years after The Vampyre was published, the work was falsely attributed to Byron.

He was looked at, by Byron especially, as a lesser-than-hanger-on, said Fraistat. Polidori was not as famous, not as wealthy, not as connected, and he was ostracized.

If the disastrous climate drove the party indoors, it was the early stages of a disastrous love affair that brought Mary Godwin and Percy Shelley to Byrons doorstep in the first place. Before he fled England for Switzerland, Byron had begun sleeping with Marys then-17-year-old stepsister, Claire Clairmont, who also is rumored to have had an affair with Shelley.

Having fallen fast and hard for Byron, poetrys bad boy, Clairmont traveled to Switzerland to seek him out, convincing Mary and Percy to come along. Although Byron was less-than-smitten with Clairmont, he wasnt about to toss his love-struck young admirer out of bed, either.

Now, dont scold, but what could I do? he wrote in a letter to his half-sister, who (surprise!) was also his lover. I could not exactly play the Stoic with a woman who had scrambled eight hundred miles to unphilosophize me.

In short order, the behavior of Byron and his bohemian cronies raised the hackles of Lake Genevas stuffier British visitors.

Our late great arrival is Lord Byron  and another family of very suspicious appearance, one English gentleman wrote in a letter home. How many he has at his disposal out of the whole set I know not, but different houses have been taken for both establishments.

He was insolent and repulsive, and his countenance is much disliked, insisted the man, identified only as J.S.

Even Byrons good friend Percy Shelley could be put off by his antics.

Lord Byron, is an exceedingly interesting person, Shelley wrote in a letter to the novelist Thomas Love Peacock that July. Is it not to be regretted that he is the slave to the vilest and most vulgar prejudices, and as mad as the winds?

As the chilly summer wore on, Byron grew increasingly tired of Clairmont and began avoiding her altogether. When she and the rest of the group left Switzerland at the end of August, Byron didnt even bother to bid his broken-hearted lover good-bye.

Complicating matters was the fact that Clairmont was pregnant with Byrons child. It was eventually decided that he would look after the baby while allowing Clairmont to visit under the guise of an auntan arrangement to which the impoverished young woman reluctantly agreed.

A mistress never is nor can be a friend, Byron is quoted as saying. While you agree, you are lovers; and when it is over, anything but friends.

Indeed, in the years that followed, Byron and Clairmonts relationship further deteriorated, with Byron cruelly denying Clairmont access to her daughter.

I have said before, you may destroy me, torment me, but your power cannot eradicate in my bosom the feelings of nature, made stronger in me by oppression and solitude, Clairmont wrote in a letter to Byron dated May 4, 1820. I beg from you the indulgence of a visit from my child.

However, Byron refused to relent, instead shipping the little girl off to a convent in Italy, where she contracted an illness (possibly typhus or malaria) and died at just five years old.

Despite the suffering Clairmont endured over the affair, it was she who had the last word.

Nearly two centuries after that scandalous summer by the lake, a Cambridge scholar uncovered Clairmonts unpublished memoir. In the document, an elderly Clairmont calls out Shelley and Byron for lying, meanness, cruelty, and treachery, and likens Byron to a human tiger who preyed on defenseless women. According to Clairmont, the true demons at Villa Diodati were not the fictional creatures on the page, but the Romantic poets themselves.

Under the influence of the doctrine and belief of free love, I saw the two first poets of England become monsters, Clairmont wrote. By preying on themselves and others, the worshippers of free love turned their existence into perfect hell.

Whether or not their existence was actually hellish, it was certainly brief.

In the years following their return to England, tragedy stalked members of the Geneva clique. Just five years after the summer at Villa Diodati, Polidori committed suicide in London at the age of 25 by ingesting poison. A year later, Percy Shelley drowned while boating off the coast of Livorno, Italy. Byron died after contracting an unknown illness in Greece in 1824. And prior to her husbands death, Mary Shelley lost three young children to illness. Decades later, she returned to the Villa Diodati and to her memories of her fateful summer there.

There were the terraces and vineyards, the upward path threading them, the little port where our boat lay moored, she wrote of the visit. I could mark and recognize a thousand slight peculiarities.

She continued:

Was I the same person who had lived there, the companion of the dead? For all were gone  storm, and blight, and death, had passed over, and destroyed all.

What Mary Shelley couldnt have fathomed is that both the fictional monsters that emerged from the summer of 1816 and the monstrous legends of their creators are, 200 years later, very much alive.
Arup Raha on Thursday had said that India has been reluctant in the use of military power, especially aero space power in deterring our adversaries.

By Mayuresh Ganapatye: Shiv Sena Chief Uddhav Thackeray today backed the statement of Air Chief Marshal regarding J&K. While talking to media during a press conference, Thackeray advised the central government to take his statement seriously.

"We should seriously consider what Air Chief Marshall had said that had we utilized the air force properly earlier, the situation would have been different now. The issue of J&K is not new but yes it is becoming complex day by day and we should find a solution to it soon," said Thackeray during a press conference at Matoshree.

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Also read: PoK a thorn in our flesh, would have been India's if we had opted for military solution: Air Chief Raha



ARUP RAHA ON J&K



The Air Chief Marshal Arup Raha on Thursday had said that India has been reluctant in the use of military power, especially aero space power or air power in deterring our adversaries or deterring a conflict.



DEBATE ON ATROCITY ACT IN MAHARASHTRA



For the first time today, Thackeray cleared Shiv Sena's stand on the much debated Atrocity Act in the state. "When we protect any community with the help of law, we should see that other communities shouldn't get affected by it or feel victimised."

Thackeray also took a jibe at NCP Chief Sharad Pawar on the Atrocity Act issue. He slammed Pawar for taking a U-turn on the Atrocity Act issue and suggested him to take one but a firm stand.



Also read: Sena demands special session to discuss SC/ST Atrocities Act

Thackeray demanded that there should be a special session of Maharashtra Assembly called to discuss this Act. Thackeray asked political leaders who felt that this Act was getting misused to come and discuss it in the Assembly. He also questioned that if the Congress and NCP was feeling that this act was getting misused, why didn't they do anything about it when they were in power?



DEMAND FOR FULL TIME HOME MINISTER



On the situation of law and order in the state, Shiv Sena Chief also reiterated the demand that there should be a full time home minister for the state. He added that the chief minister is over loaded with work and has other responsibilities also and that he feels people of Maharashtra should have a full time home minister.

Meanwhile, Thackeray also declared today that Shiv Sena will contest the upcoming UP and Goa elections. He added there have been no formal talks underway between the Shiv Sena and the BJP so far. "We will be contesting all possible elections of other states. Wherever we feel that we have good people, we will ask them to contest elections. However, we have not decided about any alliance in Goa election," said Thackeray.

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Karan Singh Grover, who was last seen in Qubool Hai, is all set to return to TV with a travel show.

By India Today Web Desk: Television's most admired actor Karan Singh Grover is all set to make a comeback on television with a new show, according to reports.

TV's heartthrob Karan Singh Grover aka KSG, has chosen to stay away from the limelight for a while after his marriage with Bollywood actress and bong beauty, Bipasha Basu.

But no more...

Reportedly, the handsome actor is all set to make a comeback. According to Pinkvilla, Karan has been approached to host a travel show.

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Also read: After UpMa's breakup, Bipasha Basu, Karan Singh Grover to host Love School?

"Karan is an avid traveller. He has visited several destinations across the globe. He also posts pictures online from his travels. The makers of the show thought he was the perfect choice for this show," a source told the daily portal.

"The first season will be shot at exotic destinations around North America. They want Karan to share his personal travelling experiences on the show," the source further added.

And looking at Karan's Instagram account we are sure that he will be the perfect host for the show.



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By Aravind Gowda: Karnataka police have arrested a man in the neighbouring Andhra Pradesh for allegedly kidnapping a minor girl from Hoskote in Karnataka and raping her.



Harish (20), who hails from Chittoor district in Andhra Pradesh, was employed with a construction firm in Hoskote, 25 kms from Bengaluru. He befriended a 15-year-old girl in the locality and often met her.



On August 25, he allegedly kidnapped the girl to his home-town and raped her in his farm house. The parents of the missing girl searched for a few days and lodged a complaint with the police on August 30.

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ACCUSED CLAIMED TO HAVE MARRIED THE VICTIM

The police, who conducted a probe, found out about Harish and traced him to his village in Chittoor district. When the police tried to apprehend him, he contended that he had married the girl at a local temple as they were in love. The police have recorded the statement of the girl, who has been handed over to her parents.



A case has been registered against Harish under the POCSO Act and he is now in judicial custody.

Also read:

Youth arrested for raping minor girl



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Mediapolis comes up 2-yards short in heartbreaking OT playoff loss

Mediapolis had numerous opportunities, but couldn't capitalize in season-ending playoff loss at Sigourney
In her letter, Mehbooba Mufti urged the separatist leaders to take the lead and engage with the all-party delegation of parliamentarians visiting the state today.

By Ashwini Kumar: Ahead of the visit of all-party delegation to Kashmir Valley on Sunday, Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) president and Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti on Saturday reached out to the separatist leaders.

Mehbooba reached out to leaders of Tehreek-e-Hurriyat, Hurriyat Conference, Hurriyat Conference Jammu and Kashmir, JKLF, National Front and Jamaat-e-Islami including Sayeed Ali Shah Geelani, Mirwaiz Umar Farooq, Mohammad Yasin Malik, Prof Abdul Gani Bhat, Moulvi Abbas Ansari, Shabir Ahmad Shah, Bilal Gani Lone, Aga Hassan, Naeem Ahmad Khan and Amir Jamiat-e-Ahli-Hadees and others reiterating their role and seeking their cooperation in the peaceful resolution of the issue of Jammu and Kashmir.

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Assalam-u-Alaikum!

All of us are deeply concerned, albeit in our own way, about the existing situation in the Valley. Notwithstanding the fact that you and I have different and divergent political ideologies, I have no doubt that all of us have the best interest of the people of Jammu and Kashmir in mind.

True, our politics and programs are at variance with each other, but our concerns for our people and society in general, and the future of our youth in particular, should not be any different.

As such, I write to you in my capacity as the President of the Jammu and Kashmir Peoples Democratic Party and request you to take the lead and engage with the all-party delegation of parliamentarians visiting the state tomorrow. This will be the start of a credible and meaningful political dialogue and resolution process to end the stalemate.

Cutting across party lines and political positions, the country's political leadership has reached out and it is for us to collectively lend it credence and credibility.

All of us, be it the mainstream political parties or political groups with a separatist agenda, voice the urges and aspirations of our people, as we understand those, and seek a resolution of the problems as we see them from our own perspectives.

My party has always believed that the Hurriyat Conference is a stakeholder in the peace, resolution and prosperity of the state. Indeed, right in the beginning in our Party's founding declaration we stood for dialogue with all stakeholders as the only way forward.

When we formed an alliance with the Congress Party, the cornerstone of our Common Minimum Program was dialogue with parties of all ideological hues. This was later followed by an unconditional dialogue, under the leadership of the then prime minster Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee, with deputy prime minster, Shri L K Advani.

In the manifesto of our party for the last parliamentary election, it was clearly mentioned that PDP will seek the resolution of the issue taking Hurriyat Conference on board. The same was reiterated in the manifesto our assembly election.

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Indeed, even in the 'Agenda of Alliance', which is the basis of our government formation with our alliance partners, the Bharatiya Janata Party, it has been made clear that the state government will create conditions to facilitate resolution of all issues and will help initiate a sustained and meaningful dialogue with all the stakeholders, including all political groups in Jammu and Kashmir irrespective of their ideological views and predilections to build a broad based consensus on resolution of all outstanding issues of Jammu and Kashmir.

To convert our conviction and commitment of a peaceful and prosperous Jammu and Kashmir into reality, it is important that you share your thoughts and beliefs with this distinguished group who represent the people of India and not only the government of India.

I do hope that you will give this suggestion of mine a thought and indicate a time and place of your convenience for an exchange of ideas with the delegation.





ALSO READ:



Kashmir unrest: Mehbooba Mufti urges separatists to engage with all-party delegation today

Hurriyat calls PDP's appeal to Geelani to consider Mehbooba his daughter an emotional blackmail

head of all-party delegation's Kashmir visit, Mehbooba Mufti calls for unconditional talks with Hurriyat



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By Shuja-ul-Haq : After Hurriyat conference, the Kashmir traders bodies and even Sikh coordination committee have announced that they won't be meeting the visiting parliamentarians.

The trade bodies have termed the visit of the delegation as a meaningless exercise. "Last time the government of India came here in 2010, which was followed by a parliamentary committee for discussions with various leaders and trade organisations. This was followed by appointment of interlocutors. These interlocutors submitted recommendations which were never released or taken any cognisance of," the Kashmir Economic Alliance said in a statement.

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Also read - Won't talk to all-party delegation, accept 'Kashmir is disputed' first: Hurriyat



All Party Sikh Coordination Committee (APSCC) on Saturday also said that they would boycott the all-party delegation headed by Home Minister Rajnath Singh visiting Kashmir tomorrow.

The APSCC chairman Jagmohan Singh Raina told news agencies in Kashmir, "Home Minister himself has visited Kashmir twice and promised ban on pellet guns but has failed to keep his promise and forces are using pellet guns randomly."

All party delegation is likely to visit the valley on September 4.

Also read - Kashmir unrest: All eyes on all-party delegation after Hurriyat's plan to boycott meet



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The Treaty of Paris, which ended the American Revolutionary War, was signed in Paris on September 3, 1783. By the treaty, Britain recognized the independence of the United States, and boundaries between the two countries in the New World were determined. Other issues addressed included navigation and fishing rights, outstanding debts, property rights, prisoners of war, and the evacuation of British forts in American territory. The treaty was signed for the Americans by Benjamin Franklin, John Jay, and John Adams; David Hartley signed for the British.

In the name of the most holy and undivided Trinity.

It having pleased the Divine Providence to dispose the hearts of the most serene and most potent Prince George the Third, by the grace of God, king of Great Britain, France, and Ireland, defender of the faith, duke of Brunswick and Lunebourg, arch-treasurer and prince elector of the Holy Roman Empire etc., and of the United States of America, to forget all past misunderstandings and differences that have unhappily interrupted the good correspondence and friendship which they mutually wish to restore, and to establish such a beneficial and satisfactory intercourse, between the two countries upon the ground of reciprocal advantages and mutual convenience as may promote and secure to both perpetual peace and harmony; and having for this desirable end already laid the foundation of peace and reconciliation by the Provisional Articles signed at Paris on the 30th of November 1782, by the commissioners empowered on each part, which articles were agreed to be inserted in and constitute the Treaty of Peace proposed to be concluded between the Crown of Great Britain and the said United States, but which treaty was not to be concluded until terms of peace should be agreed upon between Great Britain and France and his Britannic Majesty should be ready to conclude such treaty accordingly; and the treaty between Great Britain and France having since been concluded, his Britannic Majesty and the United States of America, in order to carry into full effect the Provisional Articles above mentioned, according to the tenor thereof, have constituted and appointed, that is to say his Britannic Majesty on his part, David Hartley, Esqr., member of the Parliament of Great Britain, and the said United States on their part, John Adams, Esqr., late a commissioner of the United States of America at the court of Versailles, late delegate in Congress from the state of Massachusetts, and chief justice of the said state, and minister plenipotentiary of the said United States to their high mightinesses the States General of the United Netherlands; Benjamin Franklin, Esqr., late delegate in Congress from the state of Pennsylvania, president of the convention of the said state, and minister plenipotentiary from the United States of America at the court of Versailles; John Jay, Esqr., late president of Congress and chief justice of the state of New York, and minister plenipotentiary from the said United States at the court of Madrid; to be plenipotentiaries for the concluding and signing the present definitive treaty; who after having reciprocally communicated their respective full powers have agreed upon and confirmed the following articles.

Article 1:

His Brittanic Majesty acknowledges the said United States, viz., New Hampshire, Massachusetts Bay, Rhode Island and Providence Plantations, Connecticut, New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Maryland, Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina and Georgia, to be free sovereign and independent states, that he treats with them as such, and for himself, his heirs, and successors, relinquishes all claims to the government, propriety, and territorial rights of the same and every part thereof.

Article 2:

And that all disputes which might arise in future on the subject of the boundaries of the said United States may be prevented, it is hereby agreed and declared, that the following are and shall be their boundaries, viz.; from the northwest angle of Nova Scotia, viz., that angle which is formed by a line drawn due north from the source of St. Croix River to the highlands; along the said highlands which divide those rivers that empty themselves into the river St. Lawrence, from those which fall into the Atlantic Ocean, to the northwesternmost head of Connecticut River; thence down along the middle of that river to the forty-fifth degree of north latitude; from thence by a line due west on said latitude until it strikes the river Iroquois or Cataraquy; thence along the middle of said river into Lake Ontario; through the middle of said lake until it strikes the communication by water between that lake and Lake Erie; thence along the middle of said communication into Lake Erie, through the middle of said lake until it arrives at the water communication between that lake and Lake Huron; thence along the middle of said water communication into Lake Huron, thence through the middle of said lake to the water communication between that lake and Lake Superior; thence through Lake Superior northward of the Isles Royal and Phelipeaux to the Long Lake; thence through the middle of said Long Lake and the water communication between it and the Lake of the Woods, to the said Lake of the Woods; thence through the said lake to the most northwesternmost point thereof, and from thence on a due west course to the river Mississippi; thence by a line to be drawn along the middle of the said river Mississippi until it shall intersect the northernmost part of the thirty-first degree of north latitude, South, by a line to be drawn due east from the determination of the line last mentioned in the latitude of thirty-one degrees of the equator, to the middle of the river Apalachicola or Catahouche; thence along the middle thereof to its junction with the Flint River, thence straight to the head of Saint Marys River; and thence down along the middle of Saint Marys River to the Atlantic Ocean; east, by a line to be drawn along the middle of the river Saint Croix, from its mouth in the Bay of Fundy to its source, and from its source directly north to the aforesaid highlands which divide the rivers that fall into the Atlantic Ocean from those which fall into the river Saint Lawrence; comprehending all islands within twenty leagues of any part of the shores of the United States, and lying between lines to be drawn due east from the points where the aforesaid boundaries between Nova Scotia on the one part and East Florida on the other shall, respectively, touch the Bay of Fundy and the Atlantic Ocean, excepting such islands as now are or heretofore have been within the limits of the said province of Nova Scotia.

Article 3:

It is agreed that the people of the United States shall continue to enjoy unmolested the right to take fish of every kind on the Grand Bank and on all the other banks of Newfoundland, also in the Gulf of Saint Lawrence and at all other places in the sea, where the inhabitants of both countries used at any time heretofore to fish. And also that the inhabitants of the United States shall have liberty to take fish of every kind on such part of the coast of Newfoundland as British fishermen shall use, (but not to dry or cure the same on that island) and also on the coasts, bays and creeks of all other of his Brittanic Majestys dominions in America; and that the American fishermen shall have liberty to dry and cure fish in any of the unsettled bays, harbors, and creeks of Nova Scotia, Magdalen Islands, and Labrador, so long as the same shall remain unsettled, but so soon as the same or either of them shall be settled, it shall not be lawful for the said fishermen to dry or cure fish at such settlement without a previous agreement for that purpose with the inhabitants, proprietors, or possessors of the ground.

Article 4:

It is agreed that creditors on either side shall meet with no lawful impediment to the recovery of the full value in sterling money of all bona fide debts heretofore contracted.

Article 5:

It is agreed that Congress shall earnestly recommend it to the legislatures of the respective states to provide for the restitution of all estates, rights, and properties, which have been confiscated belonging to real British subjects; and also of the estates, rights, and properties of persons resident in districts in the possession on his Majestys arms and who have not borne arms against the said United States. And that persons of any other decription shall have free liberty to go to any part or parts of any of the thirteen United States and therein to remain twelve months unmolested in their endeavors to obtain the restitution of such of their estates, rights, and properties as may have been confiscated; and that Congress shall also earnestly recommend to the several states a reconsideration and revision of all acts or laws regarding the premises, so as to render the said laws or acts perfectly consistent not only with justice and equity but with that spirit of conciliation which on the return of the blessings of peace should universally prevail. And that Congress shall also earnestly recommend to the several states that the estates, rights, and properties, of such last mentioned persons shall be restored to them, they refunding to any persons who may be now in possession the bona fide price (where any has been given) which such persons may have paid on purchasing any of the said lands, rights, or properties since the confiscation.

And it is agreed that all persons who have any interest in confiscated lands, either by debts, marriage settlements, or otherwise, shall meet with no lawful impediment in the prosecution of their just rights.

Article 6:

That there shall be no future confiscations made nor any prosecutions commenced against any person or persons for, or by reason of, the part which he or they may have taken in the present war, and that no person shall on that account suffer any future loss or damage, either in his person, liberty, or property; and that those who may be in confinement on such charges at the time of the ratification of the treaty in America shall be immediately set at liberty, and the prosecutions so commenced be discontinued.

Article 7:

There shall be a firm and perpetual peace between his Brittanic Majesty and the said states, and between the subjects of the one and the citizens of the other, wherefore all hostilities both by sea and land shall from henceforth cease. All prisoners on both sides shall be set at liberty, and his Brittanic Majesty shall with all convenient speed, and without causing any destruction, or carrying away any Negroes or other property of the American inhabitants, withdraw all his armies, garrisons, and fleets from the said United States, and from every post, place, and harbor within the same; leaving in all fortifications, the American artilery that may be therein; and shall also order and cause all archives, records, deeds, and papers belonging to any of the said states, or their citizens, which in the course of the war may have fallen into the hands of his officers, to be forthwith restored and delivered to the proper states and persons to whom they belong.

Article 8:

The navigation of the river Mississippi, from its source to the ocean, shall forever remain free and open to the subjects of Great Britain and the citizens of the United States.

Article 9:

In case it should so happen that any place or territory belonging to Great Britain or to the United States should have been conquered by the arms of either from the other before the arrival of the said Provisional Articles in America, it is agreed that the same shall be restored without difficulty and without requiring any compensation.

Article 10:

The solemn ratifications of the present treaty expedited in good and due form shall be exchanged between the contracting parties in the space of six months or sooner, if possible, to be computed from the day of the signatures of the present treaty. In witness whereof we the undersigned, their ministers plenipotentiary, have in their name and in virtue of our full powers, signed with our hands the present definitive treaty and caused the seals of our arms to be affixed thereto.

Done at Paris, this third day of September in the year of our Lord, one thousand seven hundred and eighty-three.

HARTLEY (SEAL)

JOHN ADAMS (SEAL)

B. FRANKLIN (SEAL)

JOHN JAY (SEAL)

The Imaginative Conservative applies the principle of appreciation to the discussion of culture and politicswe approach dialogue with magnanimity rather than with mere civility. Will you help us remain a refreshing oasis in the increasingly contentious arena of modern discourse? Please consider donating now.

The featured image is American Commissioners of the Preliminary Peace Agreement with Great Britain (unfinished oil sketch) by Benjamin West (17381820), and is in the public domain, courtesy of Wikimedia Commons.
Grand Island Public School teachers got to do something Friday that is rare for most of them: Watch another teacher present a lesson to students.

GIPS elementary teachers first got to see Adam Dovico work with younger students seated at desks and chairs placed on the stage in the Grand Island Senior High Auditorium, with secondary teachers getting to see Dovico work with older student during a later session.

Shanna Gannon, GIPS director of professional learning, introduced the program by noting a team of teachers decided the professional development for staff members during the 2016-17 school year should focus on student engagement. The theme mimics the districts mission statement which begins, Every Student, Every Day, A Success. Gannon said the professional development goal is to have every single student engage every single day.

Following his work with students, Dovico explained his techniques. He said all teachers likely have one, two or three students in their classroom who are easily distracted. Those students typically find it easier to get engaged with their cell phone or a squirrel scampering across the school lawn than in that days lesson. He said one possible solution for engaging easily distracted students is for the teacher to be the distraction your students want to follow.

Dovico, who is now a visiting professor in the Department of Education at Wake Forest University after beginning his career as an elementary teacher in North Carolina, gave his elementary students some preliminary rules after they took their seats on stage. His first rule was for the students eyes to follow him no matter where he went on stage. He noted that if people want to get respect, they most first show respect. Consequently, he wanted students to address him as sir. Finally, he said that whenever he called upon a student to give an answer, he wanted them to stand up to deliver that answer.

Dovico gave the students a math lesson, although the beginning seemed to be about everything except math. Noting that he wanted to start a new bakery that would make customized cakes, Dovico next asked students to name their favorite cake. The answers were chocolate ice cream, pistachio pudding, poppyseed cake, confetti cake, Oreo cookie and birthday cake.

Dovico then assigned numerical values to each flavor: One-eighth for chocolate ice cream, 2/8 for pistachio pudding, 3/8 for poppyseed, 4/8 for confetti, 5/8 for Oreo cookie and 6/8 for birthday. He next got students to tell him that the top number for the fractions assigned to each cake flavor was the numerator, while the bottom number  in this case, 8  was the denominator.

Dovico next drew a circle that represented a cake, with the circle divided. He then got one of the students to figure out that if they took a piece of chocolate ice cream cake, which had the numerical value of 1/8, they could be taking one slice of cake. He had another student figure out that if a person wanted pistachio pudding cake, with a numerical value of 2/8, that person would be getting two slices of cake.

When an individual got an answer right, Dovico would often lead the entire class in a yell or chant. For example, Dovico would begin a chant by saying (Student name) is  with the class then completing the phrase with the shout of AWESOME! Another favorite chant for a correct student answer was, Bada bing, bada boom. (Student name) lights up the room! The bada bing chant came with its own choreographed moves.

As the lesson progressed, Dovico asked students to name the cake they would need to choose to come up with a whole cake if the first flavor was Oreo Cookie. The correct answer was Poppyseed, which has a numerical value of 3/8. Dovico next asked students how they came up with the right answer. One student answered by saying addition, with another student saying it also was possible to use subtraction.

Because of his rules, students in the front row had to turn around to look at him whenever he walked to students in the back row to talk to them about a particular math problem. At one point, Dovico even stood on top of a student desk while addressing the class. Students also had to either stand or walk up to a whiteboard to give their answers to his questions.

When class ended, Dovico quizzed students about his methods. One or two said his style made them anxious, although that dissipated over time. When he asked one student how she viewed him and his methods, she answered goofy. After the students had departed, Dovico told teachers he was pleased at being called goofy because it meant the student was engaged. Dovico said he was most pleased when two students who had barely said a word to him backstage gave very complete answers during the lesson.

Dovico then reviewed the principles of engagement used during the lesson, including chants and cheers to celebrate success and to get students refocused; having students maintain eye contact no matter where he moved; using movement of both himself and students during the lesson; using a story as an anchor for the lesson; presenting open-ended questions instead of questions students could answer with a single word; and using roller coaster ride pacing.

Dialogue moved slower during the early, expository part of the lesson, but Dovico gave students only so many seconds to give their answers after they got more comfortable using fractions.

He also reviewed other techniques not used during his math lesson, such as using music and a drum to celebrate student success, occasionally teaching students outside the classroom, and using games.
Students from Central Community College-Hastings hospitality management and culinary arts program participated in the Beef Masters Culinary Challenge on Friday at the Nebraska State Fair.

The winning team was Marissa Amos and Garrett Cox. They prepared a beef entree using a flat iron steak with three mystery ingredients  beets, maple syrup and mangoes.

They had 30 minutes to prepare the dish and serve it to the three judges. They were judged for taste, cooking skills and presentation of the dish.

The contest is modeled after the popular television series Chopped, in which chef contestants compete to create the best dish using ingredients from a mystery basket.

The Beef Masters Culinary Challenge was presented by the Nebraska Beef Council and Central Community College-Hastings and took place at the demonstration kitchen in the Raising Nebraska section of the Nebraska Building.

Adam Wegner, director of marketing for the Nebraska Beef Council, was the challenges master of ceremonies.

This is an opportunity for us to showcase not only what the students ... can do but also to talk about beef so consumers can serve beef on their tables and eat beef at their favorite restaurants, he said.

This was the first year for the challenge at the State Fair. Wegner hopes to continue the program at next years fair.

He said some of the mystery items  such as graham crackers  came out of left field to challenge the young chefs creative thinking skills.

They were things that you could find in your pantry that you could throw together and make a meal out of, Wegner said.

He said the competition was also designed to show off the versatility of beef and how it can be prepared for many different types of meals.

There are 1 million different ways you can prepare beef, Wegner said.

Beef in Nebraska is a $12 billion industry and one of the states largest employers.

Lindsay Higel, hospitality management and culinary arts program director at CCC-Hastings, said the competition was a great opportunity for the students to use their creativity and show off the culinary skills theyve learned through the program.

You have to be able to think on your feet when youre a chef, she said. Sometimes you have to improvise and make adjustments along the way.

The hospitality management and culinary arts program at CCC-Hastings is a two-year program.

Higel said there are 60 students in the program, and they selected the top eight for the challenge.

Coming in second was the team of Jayde Behlke and Zack Berggren.
The prevailing ground situation in Jammu and Kashmir, positions and views of different stake holders, individuals and groups were conveyed to the parliamentarians.

By Press Trust of India: An interactive session to brief MPs who will be part of an all-party delegation to Jammu and Kashmir was held on Saturday to make them aware of the prevailing situation in the state and contours of the tour during which they will hold talks with a cross-section of people.

Home Minister Rajnath Singh, Parliamentary Affairs Minister Ananth Kumar, Minister of State in PMO Jitendra Singh and top officials were to make presentations at the meeting.

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The prevailing ground situation in Jammu and Kashmir, positions and views of different stake holders, individuals and groups were conveyed to the parliamentarians.

The exercise was undertaken to ensure that all MPs speak in tandem and there is consensus among the lawmakers while speaking to a cross-section of people, aiming to bring peace in the state, sources said.

READ| Won't talk to all-party delegation, accept 'Kashmir is disputed' first: Hurriyat



The meeting is expected to take note about possible individuals and groups with whom the delegation may interact during its two-day tour beginning on Sunday.

The source said the members of the delegation are free to meet anyone, including separatists.

However, Home Minister Rajnath Singh or any other central minister will meet only those who are ready to resolve all issues within the framework of the Constitution.

The delegation will interact with individuals and groups aiming to bring peace in the Valley, which has been facing unrest following the killing of Hizbul Mujahideen militant Burhan Wani on July 8.

Apart from the Home Minister and Jitendra Singh, those who will be part of the all-party delegation include Finance Minister Arun Jaitley, leader of opposition in Rajya Sabha Ghulam Nabi Azad, his Lok Sabha colleague Mallikarjun Kharge, senior Congress leader Ambika Soni, Union Minister Ram Vilas Paswan (LJP), JD-U leader Sharad Yadav, CPI-M general secretary Sitaram Yechury and CPI leader D Raja.

READ: Srinagar police officer marries girl from PoK amid unrest



NCP's Tariq Anwar and Trinamool Congress' Saugata Roy, Shiv Sena's Sanjay Raut and Anandrao Adsul, TDP's Thota Narasimham, Shiromani Akali Dal's Prem Singh Chandumajra, BJD's Dilip Tirkey, AIMIM's Asaduddin Owaisi, AIUDF's Badaruddin Ajmal and Muslim League's E Ahamed will be party of the delegation.

TRS' Jitendra Reddy, N K Premchandran (RSP), P Venugopal (AIADMK), Tiruchi Siva (DMK), Y B Subba (YSR-Cong), Jaiprakash Yadav (RJD), Dharamveer Gandhi (AAP) and Dushyant Chautala (RLD) are also in the team.

BSP and Samajwadi Party have extended their support but have not been able to nominate any of their members.

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Also Read:

Kashmir unrest: All eyes on all-party delegation after Hurriyat's plan to boycott meet

Hurriyat won't talk to all-party delegation, says accept 'Kashmir is disputed' first

Kashmir unrest: Curfew continues, Centre says governor rule or governor change not an optionKashmir unrest: CM Mehbooba loses cool, walks out of press conference

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When will gambling proponents ever learn that Nebraskans cherish our Good Life and we do not want to see it ruined by expanded gambling  especially in the form of casinos and slot machines? For 21 years expanded gambling has been defeated in the Legislature or by the voters. Our senators wisely examined the facts and came to the conclusion that the 3-to-1 cost of gambling is not worth it. Nationwide studies show that for every dollar a state gains in gambling revenue, it costs them $3 in social costs. Nebraska does not need increased crime, embezzlements, domestic violence, divorce, suicides and other problems. We value our families and businesses and are not interested in trashing our state.

But will the gambling proponents just stop the foolishness and leave us alone  never! The latest attempt by the Keep the Money committee was led by former state Sen. Scott Lautenbaugh. It was financed by the Winnebago Tribe, who put up $1.4 million trying to ram casinos and slots down our throats. The tribe did not put up that kind of money because they wanted to help horse racing. They did it because they knew if we changed our Constitution they would be allowed under federal law to have unlimited Indian casinos in any city or town they wanted  virtually untaxed and unregulated.

Caring citizens were not fooled and refused to sign their petitions. The proponents gambled and failed miserably to make their goal and they lied about their numbers when they submitted them on July 7. They claimed to have 130,000 but had less than 120,000, and 41,000 of those were invalid. This deception cost the state hundreds of thousands of dollars for county and state staff to count the signatures. How in good conscience could they abuse the taxpayers in this way? Is there any way we can send them the bill for this farce that was perpetrated on us? They should be ashamed of themselves and be held accountable.
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Linkedin Masajeng Rahmiasri (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Sat, September 3, 2016

Reading is a must for fashion blogger-turned-entrepreneur Diana Rikasari. Reading motivates us. Sometimes when we dont read, we drown in our own thoughts, she told The Jakarta Post at the launch of the Asian Luxury Index in Senopati, Jakarta, Thursday.

Diana, author of the motivational book #88 Love Life, said reading had taught her a lot in life, It taught me that effort is needed in life. If you want to reach a certain level in life, you cant just dream. You have to work really, really hard. Below she reveals five of her favorite books.

The World Is Flat: A Brief History of the Twenty-First Century (2005)

Author: Thomas L. Friedman

In The World is Flat, Friedman portraits the world as a place of commercial competition, where all business players have equal opportunities to succeed.(Book Depository/-)

The World Is Flat: A Brief History of the Twenty-First Century shares Friedman's views of the world as a place of commercial competition, where all business players have equal opportunities to succeed. As to why she likes the book, Diana stated, This book teaches us to think globally. When we do business, we cant only think about selling our products in the country. Our mindset has to be global.

(Read also: The whimsical world of Diana Rikasari)

Brains on Fire: Igniting Powerful, Sustainable, Word of Mouth Movements (2010)

Authors: Robbin Phillips, Greg Cordell, Geno Church and Spike Jones

In Brains on Fire, a marketing and identity company shares its views on how marketers should run their business: by focusing on their customers.(Book Depository/-)

Brains on Fire, a word-of-mouth marketing and identity company, shares its views on how marketers should run their business: by focusing on their customers. I like it, because it teaches me that if you do business, dont think of your customers only as customers, but think of them as a part of your family, said Diana.

What I Know For Sure (2014)

Author: Oprah Winfrey

What I Know For Sure is a collection of life lessons that talk show host/media mogul Oprah Winfrey has learned through her years of experience.(Book Depository/-)

What I Know For Sure is a collection of life lessons that talk show queen/media mogul Oprah Winfrey has learned through her years of experience. This book is important to Diana for teaching her to appreciate the little things in life, or as Diana puts it, "We often forget to be grateful for the little things."

(Read also: Six books you can actually finish)

#GIRLBOSS (2014)

Author: Sophia Amoruso

Sophia Amoruso, CEO of fashion online retailer Nasty Gal, explains how she lived her life from her dumpster-diving days to the day when her business earned more than US$100 million.(Book Depository/-)

Sophia Amoruso, CEO of fashion online retailer Nasty Gal, gives insight into her life from her dumpster-diving days to the day when her business earned more than US$100 million. She stressed in her book, A #GIRLBOSS is in charge of her own life. She gets what she wants because she works for it. Diana dubs Sophias way of creating her business very inspiring.

(Read also: Must-read Indonesian classic novels)

Delivering Happiness: A Path to Profits, Passion, and Purpose (2010)

Author: Tony Hsieh

Zappos.com CEO Tony Hsieh owned an e-commerce website for shoes and clothing that was acquired by Amazon for $1.2 billion in 2009.(Book Depository/-)

Zappos.com CEO Tony Hsieh manages a shoe and clothing online shop that was acquired by Amazon for $1.2 billion in 2009. In Delivering Happiness: A Path to Profits, Passion and Purpose, Hsieh shares the lesson he has learned from his business. Aside of recommending the book for its detailed way of writing, Diana also said, It reminds me, whenever I think it is very hard to run my business, that he had it harder than me. Its a reminder that we have to work hard. (asw)

We hope you love our recommendations. For your information, thejakartapost.com may collect a small share of sales from the links on this page.
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Linkedin News Desk (Associated Press) New York, United States  Sat, September 3, 2016

Former Playboy model Pamela Anderson has teamed with a rabbi to speak out against pornography.

An opinion piece by Anderson and Rabbi Shmuley Boteach published by the Wall Street Journal cites the latest sexting scandal involving former Democratic Congressman Anthony Weiner in calling for "an honest dialogue" about the dangers of pornography and "an honor code to tamp it down."

(Read also: Playboy magazine to end publishing fully nude female photos)

The essay calls pornography "a public hazard of unprecedented seriousness." It closes by saying "porn is for losers" and calls it "a boring wasteful and dead-end outlet for people too lazy to reap the ample rewards of healthy sexuality."

Anderson has appeared on the cover of Playboy 14 times, most recently in December for the magazine's final nude issue.
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Linkedin Zeynep Bilginsoy (Associated Press) Istanbul  Sat, September 3, 2016

Eleven soldiers were killed and 28 wounded in Turkey's east and southeast in clashes with Kurdish militants, state-run media said Saturday.

The casualties come from separate military operations in the southeastern province of Hakkari and eastern province of Van against members of the "separatist terror organization," Turkey's description of the Kurdistan Workers' Party or PKK. Turkey, EU and the U.S. consider the PKK a terrorist organization.

Turkey's state-run Anadolu news agency said three soldiers were killed and 20 wounded with three in critical condition in Hakkari Saturday morning. A Turkish Armed Forces statement said 33 Kurdish militants were killed and 30 wounded in the ongoing operations.

In a statement released Saturday, the governor's office of Van said eight soldiers were killed and eight wounded in Friday operations around Tendurek Mountain. The Turkish Armed Forces statement said 13 militants were "neutralized" in operations which Anadolu described as three airstrikes.

A precarious two and a half year ceasefire between Turkey and the PKK collapsed last summer, resuming the three-decade-long conflict that has killed an estimated 40,000 people. Since fighting resumed, more than 600 Turkish security personnel and thousands of PKK militants have been killed. Rights groups say hundreds of civilians have also been killed in the clashes and tens of thousands displaced.

Turkey sent tanks across the border to Syria last month to support Free Syrian Army rebels in capturing Jarablus from the Islamic State group. The cross-border operation also aims to stall the Syrian Kurdish militants from seizing more ground in northern Syria.

Turkey contends that the U.S.-backed Kurdish People's Protection Units or YPG in Syria are an extension of the PKK. Before departing to China Friday, the Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said "the Western world has to make a decision. Either you are standing with terror and terrorism, or you are standing against terrorism."
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Linkedin Arya Dipa (The Jakarta Post) Bandung  Sat, September 3, 2016

The mayor of Bandung, Ridwan Kamil, and the citys development planning agency are embroiled in an argument after Ridwan criticized the agency for setting unrealistic targets in its plan. For example, the agency has listed in its plan an ambition to create 100,000 new entrepreneurs and to free the city from floods within five years.

Emil, as Ridwan is known, said the agency did not involve him or the deputy mayor in the decision-making process for the 2013-2018 medium-term development plan (RPJMD).

An RPJMD is a legal reference point and political promise prepared by regional heads as a basis for a citys development.

In its development, the RPJMD process did not actively involve the mayor and deputy mayor. All of a sudden, the final draft was handed out, Emil told a focus group discussion (FGD) on the revision of the 2013-2018 development plan in Bandung, West Java, on Thursday.

Because he was not involved in the process, he said many of his ideas, and his general vision for the city, could not be found in the plan. Emil outlined his vision for the city during his mayoral campaign.

The mayor, who is entering into his third year in office, also asked the FGD participants to provide input for the revision of the citys RPJMD, particularly those parts that contain development targets that are too high or unrealistic.

One of the points Emil criticized was the ambition to create 100,000 new entrepreneurs in Bandung. The West Java provincial administration has also set the same target for all 27 regencies and cities.

Who is being unrealistic, Bandung or West Java? My feeling is its us, Emil said.

Moreover, he also asked that the target of completely liberating Bandung from floods and traffic congestion be changed into significant reductions in floods and traffic congestion.

Free of congestion and free of floods are promises that are too grandiose. In the process, the team did not discuss it thoroughly. Its our homework to revise and improve the RPJMD, said Emil.

Responding to the criticism, agency head Kamalia Purbani said her office was ready to make revisions.

Previously, Donny Setiawan, the citys RPJMD observer forum (FPR) coordinator, said many of the development targets in the RPJMD were unrealistic. He blamed it on data that he saw as not in accordance with official sources.

Providing an example, Donny said the human development index (IPM) was set at 82.02 by 2018. In fact, as of 2012, Bandungs IPM, according to 2013 macro economic data issued by the Central Statistics Agency (BPS), was 76.86.

Considering that the IPM growth trend from 2010-2012 was never above 0.5 points, Donny said, it will be difficult to have an IPM of 82.02 by 2018.

On the other hand, some development indicators stipulated in the RPJMD are too low compared to the targets set for the education index and for fertility figures.

Emil also recognized the use of inaccurate data in the RPJMD, arguing that the data on the number of economically poor people in Bandung had not changed from 2013.

The data at the social affairs agency and at the city development planning agency are all different. But the data on the recipients of rice for the poor remains 60,000, meaning that poverty never decreases, he said.

He urged his staffers to reconsider the development programs, starting from the policy on employers with capital of less than Rp 500 million not getting licenses but only letters of notification.

With this policy we have 30,000 new businesses, Emil said.

He said they had loans without collateral, in which every loan was distributed to groups with five members. It turns out that the bad debt is zero, he said.

There are 10,000 who have accessed it, of which some 3,000 were previously trapped by moneylenders, Emil said.
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Linkedin Richard Horstmann (The Jakarta Post)  Sat, September 3 2016

Promising to be the most important exhibition of the 2016 Bali art calendar, Merayakan Murni (Celebrating Murni) runs until Sep. 18 at Sudakara Art Space in Sanur.



Contextualizing the relevance and celebrating the legacy of woman Balinese artist I GAK Murniasih (1966-2006); the exhibition brings together the work of Murni along with 15 local and international artists.



An enormous project that from its conceptualization to the launch of a series of pre-event gatherings in 2015 consumed the passage of two years, Merayakan Murni has been successful due to community engagement.



The exhibitionorganized by Ketemu Project Space, a new art facility in Bali under the advisory committee of regional art maverick Valentine Willie, historian and art critic Jean Couteau and Murnis life partner, Italian artist Mondo Zanoliniwill be supported by discussions and workshops.



EXPLICIT AND naive



Speaking on local and global issues, gender politics and the language of the subconscious mind; Murnis outsider art is confrontational and daring, yet electrifying as well.



Murnis artworks have the power to start conversations on topics critical to our society, Ketemu co-founder Samantha Tio said. Our goal is to enable artists in the local and international community to give a voice to these subjects, so that they in turn can generate diverse perspectives and inspire their own social circles.



Explicit and naive, even violent; Murnis visual language evolved through her search for identity and reconciliation with her traumatic past. Suffering from the recollection of being raped, as well as other experiences of womanhood; her compositions are an exploration of her sexuality and biographical fantasies.



For Murni, art is a therapy, art is a diary, art is a retelling of a personal historynot in a narrative, but in picking very strong symbols: Scissors, high heels, the penis. She discovered this as a way of expressing herself, Valentine Willie said.



I paint to feel that I exist, Murni was quoted as saying.



Singaporean visual performance artist Ila presents Ruang, the most potent work of the exhibition, which was enclosed within a confined two-meter square in a dark space. Audience members entered while she performed in a traditional Balinese costume owned by Murni, slowly adding decorative pieces to her attire.



A pulsating strobe light assaulted the senses, while the atmosphere was dank and claustrophobic. Dripping in sweat, Ila stoically performed her routine for four hours, bringing to life a sense of emotional anguish within a harsh patriarchal society.



Pure Passion challenges the viewer to experience and feel the cruel, the scary, the funny, the erotic, the taboo, the real, the fake, Indonesia-based Dutch artist Mella Jaarsma said of her 2016 work inspired by Murnis 1997 painting I Am Longing for a Couple of Kids. Materials utilized in Jaarsmas work include goat leather, stuffed crocodiles and plastic plants.



Macabre? Unusual at least.



Thai artist Imhathai Suwatthanaslip exhibits four works, in both two- and three-dimensional formats, created by weaving and crocheting human hair, using some of Murnis hair, to reflect on the nature of family ties and domestic life, the female body and feminine identity.



Other works of note are by Mareike Warmelink from The Netherlands, Indonesian artists Natasha Lubis, Punia Atmaja and Ngakan Putu Agus Arta Wijaya (NPAW).



Included in the exhibition is an archival-like presentation of Murnis sketches and relics, and the 15-minute documentary Lost Murni, a heart-rending yet beautiful look at the final days of her life.



Murni is an outsider artist of a different genre. Raised in poverty in the Celebes; she bumped by accident, back in Bali, into the post-traditional painting world of the island to unwittingly become the foremost exponent of the womans condition, said Jean Couteau. Feminist in a twisty raw way: Not as discourse or protest, but as a partaking of the multifarious forms of the psychic experience.



Preceded by a rare buzz of anticipation and emphasized by the aura of an icon, the event will hopefully continue into 2017 as roving exhibition to Yogyakarta, Jakarta and Singapore.



COLLECTORS NOTE



This exhibition offers opportunities to purchase some outstanding contemporary artworks by the invited artists in the genres of painting, installations, video and photography.



This also includes outsider artworks of rare quality by Murnis contemporaries Putu Dewa Mokoh (1934-2010) and Oototol (1942-?), along with 50 works by Murni.



For the astute collector wishing to purchase a work of unique imagination by Balis current most promising artist, Citra Sasmita; her installation Mea Vulva, Maxima Vulva features ceramic vaginas within a set of scales and comments upon social class distinctions.



Seventy percent of the sales of Murnis will go to conserving and building Murnis archives.

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As Jammu and Kashmir gets ready for all-party meet, another youth was today killed the clashed between stone pelting mobs and security forces in Anantnag.

By Shuja-ul-Haq : A day before an all-party delegation reaches the state, another youth was killed on Saturday during clashes with the security forces in Jammu and Kashmir's Anantnag district, taking the toll to the ongoing violence to 74.

Basit Ahmad Ahangar, resident of Vessu village in Anantnag, died during clashes between stone pelting mobs and security forces in the village, police sources said.

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Reports said the youth had pellet injuries in his legs and a wound in the head when doctors at a local hospital where he had been taken for treatment declared him dead.

PDP BLOCK PRESIDENT'S HOUSE TORCHED

In another incident, mobs also torched the house of a ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) block president in Kund village of Kulgam district where Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti had gone during the day to offer condolences to a father whose son had been killed during the clashes.

Meanwhile, Mehbooba Mufti today wrote letters to separatist Hurriyat leaders inviting them to meet the all-party delegation led by Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh arriving in Srinagar on Sunday.

Reports said she wrote letters to Syed Ali Geelani, Mirwaiz Umer Farooq, Muhammad Yasin Malik, Shabir Ahmad Shah, Bilal Gani Lone, Aga Mehmood, Abbas Ansari, Nayeem Khan, Professor Abdul Gani Bhat, the chief of Jamaat-e-Islami organisation and some others in this regard.

Separatists have already announced boycott of any meeting with the delegation and also appealed to traders, industrialists, civil society members etc not to follow suit.

--- ENDS ---
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Linkedin (The Jakarta Post)  Sat, September 3 2016

Never drink alcohol before a job interview or you might do what my friend did and confuse the words lecturing and lactating in answer to the question: How do you earn your living?

In fact, better to not drink at all, I reckon, after finding three news reports about alcohol in my reader contributions inbox.

Staff working in a court recently realized that the heavy drinker in the dock spent more time at the premises than they did. Hes probably before this court more than I am, the courts duty lawyer said. The offender, who had clocked up 448 offenses, apologized to court staff and admitted he no longer leased an apartment, preferring the cells. They should really start charging him rent. This UK report was sent in by reader JS Hawe, who said: I cant decide whether the guy is very stupid or very smart.

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Linkedin Marguerite Afra Sapiie (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Sat, September 3, 2016

Imparsial, a human rights watchdog, says the nomination of Comr. Gen. Budi Gunawan for spychief could help to rejuvenate the National Police.

Should Budi take the helm of the National Intelligence Agency (BIN), the position of National Police deputy chief that he presently serves in will be left vacant, and thus someone younger than Budi could take his place, said Imparsial director Al-Araf.

"He could be replaced by a candidate whose age is not too far from pak Tito," Al-Araf told The Jakarta Post, referring to National Police Chief Gen. Tito Karnavian.

Tito, who graduated from the police academy in 1987, is four years younger than Budi, who graduated from the police academy in 1983. The current National Police chief is the first of his graduating year to be granted a four-star rank.

Aside from the rejuvenation of the National Police, Budi's nomination could begin the process of reforming BIN into a more professional institution led by civilians from one previously dominated by military officials, in accordance with the nation's intelligence reform agenda, Al-Araf added.

President Joko " Jokowi" Widodo nominated Budi as BIN chief through an official letter delivered by State Secretary Pratikno to the House of Representatives on Friday. (bbn)
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Linkedin Nethy Dharma Somba (The Jakarta Post) Jayapura  Sat, September 3 2016

Anticorruption activists have called for the dismissal of Papua Elections Supervisory Committee (Bawaslu) chairman Robert Horik from his post following his corruption conviction.

The Papua Anti Corruption Investigation group said Robert must be stripped of his position.

The Election Organization Ethics Council [DKPP] should have a hearing on this issue. He has no integrity by committing corruption, Papua Anti-Corruption Investigation director Anthon Raharusun said on Friday.

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Myra Lynn Williams (second right) of New Zealand is among the drug suspects shown to the media during a press briefing at the Bali office of the National Narcotics Agency (BNN) in Denpasar on Friday. The woman was arrested at Ngurah Rai International Airport in Bali for allegedly smuggling 0.43 grams of crystal meth (sabu-sabu) from Melbourne.(JP/Zul Trio Anggono)(second right) of New Zealand is among the drug suspects shown to the media during a press briefing at the Bali office of the National Narcotics Agency (BNN) in Denpasar on Friday. The woman was arrested at Ngurah Rai International Airport in Bali for allegedly smuggling 0.43 grams of crystal meth (sabu-sabu) from Melbourne.(JP/Zul Trio Anggono)
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Linkedin Manual Cayon and Jim Gomez (Assicaited Press) Davao, Philippines  Sat, September 3, 2016

Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte declared a nationwide "state of lawlessness" Saturday after suspected Abu Sayyaf extremists detonated a bomb that killed 14 people and wounded about 70 in his southern hometown.

Duterte, who inspected the scene of Friday night's attack at a night market in downtown Davao city, said his declaration did not amount to an imposition of martial law. It would allow troops to be deployed in urban centers to back up the police in setting up checkpoints and increasing patrols, he said.

An Abu Sayyaf spokesman, Abu Rami, claimed responsibility for the blast near the Jesuit-run Ateneo de Davao University and a five-star hotel, but Duterte said investigators were looking at other possible suspects, including drug syndicates, which he has targeted in a bloody crackdown.

"These are extraordinary times and I supposed that I'm authorized to allow the security forces of this country to do searches," Duterte told reporters at the scene of the attack, asking the public to cooperate and be vigilant.

"We're trying to cope up with a crisis now. There is a crisis in this country involving drugs, extrajudicial killings and there seems to be an environment of lawless violence," said Duterte, who served as mayor of Davao for years before elected to the presidency in June.

The attack came as Philippine forces were on alert amid an ongoing military offensive against Abu Sayyaf extremists in southern Sulu province, which intensified last week after the militants beheaded a kidnapped villager. The militants threatened to launch an unspecified attack after the military said 30 of the gunmen were killed in the weeklong offensive.

Rami, the Abu Sayyaf spokesman, is the son-in-low of Mohammad Said, an influential militant commander who used the nom de guerre Amah Maas and was killed in the ongoing Sulu offensive. Davao Vice Mayor Paulo Duterte, the president's son, also told reporters that militants linked to the Islamic State group had threatened the progressive city.

Some commanders of the Abu Sayyaf, which is blacklisted by the United States and the Philippines as a terrorist organization for deadly bombings, ransom kidnappings and beheadings, have pledged allegiance to IS. The military, however, says there has been no evidence of a direct collaboration and militant action may have been aimed at bolstering their image after years of combat setbacks.

Communications Secretary Martin Andanar said the bomb appeared to have been made from a mortar round and doctors reported many of the victims had shrapnel wounds.

Despite the emergency, Duterte said he would proceed with trips to Brunei, Laos and Indonesia starting Sunday, but a Department of Foreign Affairs official later told The Associated Press that the Brunei leg of Duterte's first foreign visits has been postponed. At an Asian summit in the Laotian capital of Vientiane, Duterte said in jest that most of the leaders he would meet, including President Barack Obama and Russian leader Vladimir Putin, have had a taste of terrorist attacks.

Armando Morales, a 50-year-old masseur, said the explosion threw him off his chair, adding the blast had an upward force and emitted smoke but no fireball which could have killed more people. He saw at least 10 people lying bloodied on the ground, mostly fellow masseurs and their customers.

"I helped tie their wounds to prevent blood loss," the still-dazed Morales said. "They were pale like dead already."

Police immediately set up more checkpoints in key roads leading to the city, a regional gateway about 980 kilometers (610 miles) south of Manila. The police force in the capital also went on full alert at midnight.

U.S. National Security Council spokesman Ned Price said in a statement that local authorities in the Philippines continue to investigate the cause of the explosion, and the United States stands ready to provide assistance to the investigation.

Obama will have an opportunity to offer his personal condolences to Duterte when the two leaders plan to meet on the sidelines of the summit of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations leaders in Laos next week, Price said. (bbn)

Gomez reported from Manila, Philippines. Associated Press writer Matthew Pennington in Washington contributed to this report.
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Linkedin Anton Hermansyah (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Sat, September 3, 2016

US-based General Electric (GE) aims to supply locomotives for railway services on Sumatra and Sulawesi islands.

The routes are still under development and targeted to be finished by 2019 for Sulawesi and 2021 for Sumatra. The government says the projects are not affected by the recent budget cut.

"We are still waiting for the tender, we will submit it immediately," GE Indonesia operations president director David Hutagalung told The Jakarta Post during a memorandum of understanding (MoU) signing between state-owned railway operator KAI and the US Trade and Development Agency (USTDA) in Jakarta on Friday.

Between 2014 and 2016, GE supplied 150 new locomotives to KAI. In June, GE received a maintenance order for 50 KAI locomotives made by GE with the contract value of US$60 million.

"Our locomotives local content reached 24 percent, the bogie is made by state owned PT Barata Indonesia and assembled by PT Industri Kereta Api (Inka)," David said.

Other than GE, KAI also has options to source the locomotives from Inka. The state-owned company has produced CC300 locomotives since 2013. (bbn)
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Linkedin Hans Nicholas Jong and Fadli (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta, Batam  Sat, September 3 2016

The government will monitor travelers from Singapore arriving at four major points-of-entry in Indonesia, namely Jakarta, Batam, Bali and Medan, following confirmation on Thursday that an Indonesian woman was being treated in Singapore for the disease.

The Health Ministry has ordered the Port Health Office (KKP) to tighten monitoring, including by installing thermal scanners and requiring all passengers arriving from Singapore to fill in health alert cards (HAC) to ensure the early detection of the virus.

The Health Ministry has also assigned paramedics to eight seaports in Batam, Bintan and Karimun in Riau Islands, regions that have close transportation links with Singapore.

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Linkedin Hans Nicholas Jong and Fadli (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta/Batam  Sat, September 3, 2016

The government will monitor travelers from Singapore arriving at four major points-of-entry in Indonesia, namely Jakarta, Batam, Bali and Medan, following confirmation on Thursday that an Indonesian woman was being treated in Singapore for the disease.

The Health Ministry has ordered the Port Health Office (KKP) to tighten monitoring, including by installing thermal scanners and requiring all passengers arriving from Singapore to fill in health alert cards (HAC) to ensure the early detection of the virus.

The Health Ministry has also assigned paramedics to eight seaports in Batam, Bintan and Karimun in Riau Islands, regions that have close transportation links with Singapore.

Despite the increased security measures, there are concerns over the governments preparedness and ability to handle the increasing threat from the Zika virus, with Indonesia being one of the countries most vulnerable to infection.

Recently, media reports said the thermal scanners installed at Ngurah Rai International Airport in Bali, a popular tourist destination for Singaporeans with up to 300,000 visitors per month, were broken.

Thermal scanners installed at entry points warn authorities if there is a passenger with a body temperature of more than 38 degrees Celsius.

I admit that some scanners are not working properly. But now we are helping so that they [the thermal scanners] are installed, especially in regions that experience high traffic from Singapore, such as Batam, Medan and Jakarta, Health Minister Nila F. Moeloek said.

She said the thermal scanners were important because fever was one of the symptoms of the virus.

The symptoms are fever and pain. So we focus on fevers. Thats why we need scanners. And if there are people suffering from a fever, we will ask for a blood test. The fever might not have been caused by the Zika virus so we need laboratory testing, Nila said.

While Nila said the ministry would try to ensure that the Zika virus would not infiltrate the country from major points-of-entry, she admitted that the risks of the virus entering the country were significant.

We have to remember that we have lots of ports in Indonesia,she said.

Furthermore, there are cases of people infected by the Zika virus who do not develop fever.

Another difficult aspect is that there are also people who do not have a fever. Thats why we ask people to fill out health alert cards. So if something happens, we can contact them and conduct a blood test, said Nila.

The government has stepped up its monitoring efforts after an Indonesian woman was infected with the virus in Singapore.

The woman, a domestic worker for a family in Singapore, has fully recovered.

She is recovering. Her condition is not too serious and she is receiving home treatment, the Indonesian ambassador to Singapore, I Gede Ngurah Swajaya, told The Jakarta Post on Friday.

There are around 200,000 Indonesians working in Singapore, he said citing data from the embassy. The embassy continues to monitor Indonesians living here and is asking them to take care of their health to prevent them being infected by Zika, Swajaya said.

He praised the Singaporean government for competently managing the outbreak of the Aedes mosquito-borne virus that has infected at least 151 people in the city-state as of Thursday.

So far, no cure for the virus has been found.

However, a group of scientists in Indonesia is looking into the possibility of using a bacterium called Wolbachia to stop mosquitoes from transmitting the Zika virus. Wolbachia already infects 60 percent of insects worldwide.

The bacterium has been tested in four villages in Bantul and Sleman, Yogyakarta, from early 2014.

So far, the bacterium has proven to be effective in blocking the proliferation of dengue, which is the main objective of the research program.
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Linkedin (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Sat, September 3 2016

Actress Nirina Zubir has made new friends with street thugs in a film location of her new movies Aku Ingin Ibu Pulang (I Want Mother to Come Home).

Nirina said that the shooting location was located not far from the Sudirman business district in Jakarta, where these thugs usually hung out.

I was kind of worried at first but after I got to know them, we became friends. They even said that if I have any problem, they were only one call away to help me, Nirina said, as quoted by kapanlagi.com.

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Linkedin Rendi A. Witular and Prima Wirayani (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Sat, September 3, 2016

Business conglomerate head Sofjan Wanandi was not only astonished but also relieved by the unprecedented services lavished by tax officials on Friday when he lodged an application for tax amnesty, President Joko Jokowi Widodos signature policy.



As long as the required documents are all submitted, it takes officials only about five minutes to process my application. No hassle and no red tape, said Sofjan, adding that this amnesty was only for his personal wealth, while his business group and children would lodge applications separately.



Sofjan filed for amnesty at the headquarters of the Finance Ministrys Directorate General of Taxation on Jl. Gatot Subroto in South Jakarta where a one-stop service facility for Indonesias richest wanting to partake in the program is provided.



The priority lane is aimed at potentially serving the countrys more than 120 top corporation owners when they are set to simultaneously apply for the amnesty in September  the last period to capitalize on the lowest penalty rate of 2 percent of declared net assets under the program.



Aside from bank representatives, the conglomerate owners in the priority lane will also be assisted by officials from the Indonesian Employers Association (Apindo), a powerful business lobby group.



If privacy is a concern, tax officials can come to the residences or offices of big taxpayers to process their amnesty applications, said North Jakarta tax office chief Pontas Pane.



We can also offer the amnesty to their family members as well there, he said.



The Finance Ministrys expert staff for tax supervision, Puspita W. Surono, said the ministry would go all out this month to serve the inflow of simultaneous applications from big taxpayers, who obviously had sophisticated asset management portfolios that required special

treatment.



APINDO has estimated that one conglomerate can consist of 50 companies, thus requiring the best officials at the tax office headquarters to swiftly process their applications.



September is a priority for big taxpayers, said Puspita. The ministry has prepared an array of contingency measures to resolve bottlenecks, IT problems and other force majeure in processing the

applications.



The government has projected some Rp 4 quadrillion (US$304 billion) worth of undeclared assets to be reported in the amnesty program, which will last for another seven months. Of the figure, some Rp 1 quadrillion is stashed overseas.



Launched in late June, around 2 percent of the targeted Rp 4 quadrillion in unreported assets had been declared last week. Of the Rp 1 quadrillion target of repatriated funds, only 0.76 percent had been realized.



The repatriated funds are particularly critical as the funds are desperately needed to jumpstart the sluggish economy.



I am not only declaring my unreported assets, but also repatriating a big chunk of them to be invested here. I hope my example will encourage others to follow suit, said Sofjan, whose empire, the Santini Group, deals in automotive parts, infrastructure, natural resources, property development and services.



When asked where he would invest his repatriated assets, Sofjan replied he would use them to buy companies and build a number of hotels in Indonesia.



Although Sofjan believed Indonesia was in dire need of the repatriated assets, he felt only as much as 35 percent of overseas assets would be repatriated and around Rp 1 quadrillion of unreported

assets declared.



Thats probably the most logical figure. The Rp 4 quadrillion target is not only too high but also lacks rationality, said Sofjan, Vice President Jusuf Kallas chief economic advisor and the prime initiator of the amnesty policy.



Later in the day, property magnate James Riady of the Lippo Group also received a red-carpet welcome at the Kebayoran Baru tax office as he submitted an amnesty application.



Sofjan and James are the first wave of high-profile tycoons to participate publicly in the program. Other business magnates such as Tahir of the Mayapada Group and the Bakrie family are also said to be keen

to partake.



Were exploring the possibility of participating, whether as family members or companies, said Anindya Bakrie, the eldest son of family scion Aburizal Bakrie.

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Mehbooba Mufti asks separatist groups to participate in the delegation meet and engage with Parliamentarians visiting the Valley today.

By Naseer Ganai: Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister, Mehbooba Mufti, today urged Hurriyat leaders to join the all-party delegation meet which is scheduled to take place today and on Monday.

Mehbooba Mufti asked separatist groups to participate in the delegation meet and engage with Parliamentarians visiting the Valley tomorrow.

In a letter to the groups, the chief minister sought their cooperation in the peaceful resolution of the Kashmir dispute.

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Also read | Won't talk to all-party delegation, accept 'Kashmir is disputed' first: Hurriyat

Political leadership of the country across the country has reached out to us and it is for us to lend it credence and credibility. All of us voice the urges and aspirations of people and we need to seek a resolution as we see them from our own perspective," the chief minister said in the letter.

"This will start of a credible dialogue process," she added.

"My party has always believed that Hurriyat is a stakeholder in peace resolutiion & prosperity of the state. Important that you share your thoughts and beliefs," the letter read.

Also read | Kashmir unrest: Rajnath approves use of chilli-based PAVA shells as alternative to pellet guns

This came after the Hurriyat Conference refused to meet the visiting Parliamentarians and urged other stakeholders to not participate in the same.

In a statement issued yesterday, Chairman of All Parties Hurriyat Conference, Syed Ali Geelani said, "Parliamentary delegation is coming to Kashmir after passing a resolution that Kashmir is an integral part of India. Therefore, this delegation neither has the mandate nor the intention to resolve the dispute of Jammu and Kashmir".

The separatist party also advised Parliamentarians to hold a special session in the Parliament and accept the 'disputed' nature of Jammu and Kashmir.

--- ENDS ---
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Linkedin Indra Budiari (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Sat, September 3 2016

Gloria Department Store in Glodok, West Jakarta, was one of the citys landmarks during the 90s for being one of the oldest department stores in the capital before a major fire tore through it in August 2009, reducing the building to ashes.

The incident not only led to around 300 of the stores tenants losing their businesses, but also subjected dozens of nearby street food vendors to long, quiet business days. As of today, the iconic Gloria Alley is still trying to bring back its golden era.

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Linkedin (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Sat, September 3 2016

Indonesia is among countries most vulnerable to the spread of the Zika virus in Asia and Africa according to a study published Thursday by The Lancet medical journal on its website.

The researchers identified countries with high numbers of travelers arriving from Zika virus-affected areas of the Americas from Dec. 1, 2014 to Nov. 30, 2015, those with large populations at risk of the mosquito-borne Zika virus infection  countries which are hot and humid, a potential breeding ground of the Aedes aegypti mosquito, the main carrier of the virus  and countries with low health expenditures per capita compared to their population size.

Based on these factors the researchers said, we found that India, the Philippines, Indonesia, Nigeria, Vietnam, Pakistan and Bangladesh have some of the highest expected risks for Zika virus importation and population health impact.

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Linkedin Ganug Nugroho Adi (The Jakarta Post) Sragen, Central Java  Sat, September 3, 2016

Over the past year, Sodimejo, alias Mbah Gotho, 146, a man thought to be the oldest living person in Indonesia, spent most of his time in his living room listening to a wayang program on his radio and smoking.

He looks frail. But for a really old person, Mbah Gotho is physically healthy. He has begun to use a walking stick only in the last year.

There arent any particular foodstuffs that he must avoid. He eats all kinds of food, said his grandson Suryanto. He has also never suffered a severe illness.

Mbah Gotho attributes his longevity to wholeheartedness.

Life is only a matter of accepting your destiny wholeheartedly. I have wanted to die for a long time. My wives, children and siblings all have passed away but Gusti Allah [God] has blessed me with a long life. I have to live my life patiently and accept my destiny wholeheartedly, he told The Jakarta Post at his home in Sragen, Central Java, recently.

According to his resident identity card (KTP), Mbah Gotho, who now lives in Cemeng village, Sambungmacan, Sragen, was born on Dec. 31, 1870. If the data is valid, Mbah Gotho is far older than Frenchwoman Jeanne Calment, the worlds oldest living person, who is now 122.

Although his vision and hearing have decreased, Mbah Gotho still can communicate smoothly and clearly. He admits he does not remember his exact year of birth.

One thing he can remember is that he watched the inauguration ceremony of the Gondang sugar factory built in Sragen in 1880. He predicts he was 10 years old at the time because he was still learning how to plow paddy fields.

Children in my village usually helped their parents plow paddy fields from the age of 10. This is my reason [for predicting my age], said Mbah Gotho.

Oldest living person  Mbah Gotho might be the worlds oldest living person. His identity card states he was born on Dec. 31, 1870. (thejakartapost.com/Ganug Nugroho Adi)

The question is: Is Mbah Gotho really 146 years old?

Cemeng village head Sriyanto cannot confirm this because he cannot find Mbah Gothos birth certificate. To process the issuance of Mbah Gothos KTP at the Sambungmacan district office, the Cemeng village office provided an introduction letter based only on his family card.

Sriyanto is certain Mbah Gotho is more than a 100 years old. He said five years ago, a Cemeng resident, known only as Mbah Dipo, died at 112. Before he died, Sriyanto said Mbah Dipo often stated that Mbah Gotho was far older than he was.

Mbah Dipo once told us that when he was still a child, Mbah Gotho was already married, said Sriyanto.

Mbah Gotho married four times and has five children, 12 grandchildren, 17 great-grandchildren and two great-great-grandchildren. His last wife, Rayem, died in 1997. Mbah Gotho now lives with his grandchildren, including Suryanto, and great-grandchildren because all of his wives and children have passed away.

Sragen regent Kusnindar Untung Yani Sukowati has promised to trace Mbah Gothos demographic documents as he might be the worlds oldest living person. (ebf)
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Linkedin Ina Parlina (The Jakarta Post) Hangzhou  Sat, September 3 2016

President Joko Jokowi Widodo held a meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping on Friday, his fifth in less than two years, a sign of deepening ties between the two countries in spite of disputes affecting their relationship that include illegal fishing activities in Indonesian waters by Chinese-flagged vessels.

Jokowi is in Hangzhou, China, for the G20 Summit, which will kick off on Sunday, and he met Xi in a bilateral meeting where the two leaders reaffirmed their commitment to improving bilateral ties, particularly in economic cooperation.

The South China Sea issue was not specifically on the table during the meeting as the two leaders focused more on economic cooperation.

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Linkedin Ina Parlina (The Jakarta Post) Hangzhou  Sat, September 3, 2016

President Joko Jokowi Widodo held a meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping on Friday, his fifth in less than two years, a sign of deepening ties between the two countries in spite of disputes affecting their relationship that include illegal fishing activities in Indonesian waters by Chinese-flagged vessels.

Jokowi is in Hangzhou, China, for the G20 Summit, which will kick off on Sunday, and he met Xi in a bilateral meeting where the two leaders reaffirmed their commitment to improving bilateral ties, particularly in economic cooperation.

The South China Sea issue was not specifically on the table during the meeting as the two leaders focused more on economic cooperation.

I believe that China also sees Indonesia as an important strategic partner, said Jokowi during the meeting. Jokowi also underlined that he wanted to assure China that it remained an important partner in various sectors, particularly trade, investment and tourism.

Responding to Jokowis remarks, Xi expressed Chinas willingness to maintain bilateral cooperation in the long run as he described Indonesia as an important country.

Xi said the fact that he and Jokowi met five times in less than two years was an indication of their seriousness in building trust.

Among issues discussed in Fridays meeting were efforts to reduce Indonesias deficit in the bilateral trade with China, which stood at US$9.74 billion between January and July, mainly caused by high imports of electronics from China.

Last year, Indonesia exported goods worth $13.26 billion to China and imported products worth $29.22 billion.

One of the efforts considered was boosting exports of Indonesian tropical fruit to China, which remains one of Indonesias leading trading partners.

He [Xi] said that he would push to ease the import of Indonesian tropical fruit [into China], Foreign Minister Retno LP Marsudi told reporters after the meeting.

As for investment, both Jokowi and Xi agreed to focus on the quality of investment, particularly in manufacturing and infrastructure.

The two countries also agreed to continue the bilateral currency swap agreement (BCSA) for the next three years, which is worth around $130 billion, as the existing deal is due to expire later this year.

The agreement is part of an attempt to reduce dependence on the US dollar.

Late last year on the sidelines of the G20 Summit in Turkey, the two leaders also held a bilateral meeting, which resulted in China agreeing to offer a $5 billion standby loan related to the BCSA.

Although Jokowi and Xi did not bring up the South China Sea on Friday, Retno said the issue was addressed in the meeting, with Jokowi saying in his remarks that the partnership between Indonesia and China should be able to contribute to world peace and prosperity.

Recent months have seen a series of open confrontations in the Natuna waters in the South China Sea between Chinese fishermen and the Indonesian Navy.

At least three confrontations were reported earlier this year. China includes waters off the Natuna Islands within its nine-dash line, meaning it claims sovereignty over the waters.

Jokowi flew to China soon after being inaugurated as president in November 2014 to have a meeting with Xi on the sidelines of the APEC meeting in Beijing.

Jokowi said after the meeting that he wanted the bilateral ties to materialize into more concrete outcomes to allow people of the two countries to reap mutual benefits.

Meanwhile Xi recognized Indonesia as an old friend and a strategic partner China could trust.
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Linkedin News Desk (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Sat, September 3, 2016

The government must launch a nationwide campaign against the spread of the Zika virus by ordering local health agencies to be alert for Zika cases in their respective regions, the Indonesian Doctors Association (IDI) says.

Local agencies should inform people about anything related to Zika, including the symptoms. If there is someone experiencing the symptoms, they should be encouraged to go to a hospital, Daeng Muhammad Faqih, IDI deputy chairman told The Jakarta Post on Friday.

According to the WHO, people affected with the Zika virus, which spreads mostly through the bite of an infected Aedes aegypti mosquito, will experience a fever, skin rash, conjunctivitis, muscle and joint pain, malaise and headache. The symptoms are usually mild and last for two to seven days.

Preventive measures such as regular draining of water tanks, covering tubs and burying or disposing used can or bottles are not enough, Faqih said. He argued that Aedes aegypti could be found in most areas in the country and their bites were undetectable.

To limit the spread of Zika, the government has installed thermal scanners to measure the temperatures of passengers arriving at airports, including Soekarno-Hatta International Airport, I Gusti Ngurah Rai International Airport in Bali and Hang Nadim International Airport in Batam. Besides airports, several ports in Batam, Bintan and Karimun, all in Riau Islands have also installed such scanners. (wnd/bbn)
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Linkedin Christopher Bodeen (Associated Press) Beijing  Sat, September 3, 2016

As Barack Obama embarks on what is likely to be his final trip to Asia as president, attention is returning to what is known as the US "pivot" to the continent launched during his first term.

The policy adjustment aimed to reinforce alliances and shift military assets to a region that has grown in importance alongside the rise of China as a global economic and political power. A look at some of the impacts on different countries in the Asia-Pacific region:

The US shift of focus to Asia has been driven by China's emergence as a global force and America's rival in the region. Such frictions have persisted despite an economic relationship that has seen the world's largest economies and biggest military spenders amass two-way trade of more than $600 billion in 2015.

On the military side, the US pivot chiefly involves the reassignment of 60 percent of the Navy fleet to Asia, the rotation of Marines through Australia and stronger cooperation with the Philippines, mainly as a response to China's robust assertions of its claim to virtually the entire South China Sea.

China has strongly criticized the US approach and pressed ahead with island-building including airstrips, harbors and other infrastructure of potential military use. The US has refused to recognize the new features as islands with sovereign rights and has repeatedly sent warships and planes near them in freedom of navigation missions.

Farther north in the East China Sea, the US has ignored China's declaration of an aircraft defense identification zone that encompasses islands controlled by American treaty partner Japan. South Korea's plan to deploy an American missile defense system has also aroused China's ire, sending relations between Seoul and Beijing to their lowest level in years.

China is also the largest foreign holder of US debt, and by some estimates, Chinese foreign direct investment into the US has started to outstrip the flow of US investment into China.

The American pivot to Asia coincided with increasing Philippine insecurity over China's assertiveness in the disputed South China Sea.

The symbiosis sparked an upswing in relations under former President Benigno Aquino III at the same time as ties with Beijing strained after Chinese ships seized the disputed Scarborough Shoal in 2012. The antagonism worsened when Aquino's government sued China the following year before an international arbitration tribunal over contested territories.

In 2014, the long-time treaty allies signed a defense pact allowing American forces to temporarily base in designated Philippine military camps. In July this year, the tribunal invalidated China's vast claims but Beijing dismissed the ruling as a sham.

By then, Aquino has been succeeded by Rodrigo Duterte, who made known his dislike for US policies and its ambassador and announced he will chart an independent foreign policy not dependent on Manila's former colonizer. While there hasn't been a sign that he will roll back defense cooperation with the US, Duterte has also refrained from pressing China to comply with the arbitration ruling and has cozied up publicly to Beijing.

Australia and the US have increased their military cooperation as part of the pivot, with American Marines now rotating through a training hub in the northern port city of Darwin. Meanwhile, an Australian army general was appointed to a senior position in the US Army Pacific contingent.

At the same time, Canberra remains strongly committed to its economic relationship with China. While China's economic slowdown has reduced its demand for Australian iron ore and other commodities, Chinese companies remain keen investors in the Australian economy. Wealthy Chinese also spend heavily on Australian higher education, vacations and real estate.

The balance between economic and security interests has not always been easy to maintain. Australia has been supportive of the US freedom of navigation exercises in disputed areas of the South China Sea, and has regularly sent its own air force patrols over the region, drawing anger from Beijing. Yet Australian public opinion remains strongly in favor of close ties with China.

Relations between South Korea and Japan, two key US allies in Asia, have seen numerous setbacks in past decades due to bitter rows over history. It appeared the ties had sunk to one of their lowest ebbs following the 2012 inauguration of Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, who, by taking a more hawkish and nationalistic stance, raised suspicions in Seoul that he was trying to obscure Japan's brutal colonial rule of the Korean Peninsula.

The Obama administration grew increasingly frustrated about the poor relations between its allies, which together host about 80,000 US troops and are critical to Washington's plans to better deal with a rising China and North Korean threats.

The US worked behind the scenes to bring together Abe and South Korean President Park Geun-hye for a summit with Obama in March 2014. It resulted in the opening of talks between South Korea and Japan over resolving the issue of South Korean women who were forced into sexual slavery by Japan's military in World War II.

In October 2015, on the sidelines of a trilateral summit that also included China, Park and Abe met for the first formal talks in more than three years. South Korea and Japan two months later reached an agreement for Japan to provide 1 billion yen ($9.9 million) to a South Korean foundation established to help support former sex slaves.

Like South Korea, Japan is host to a large US military presence, numbering about 50,000 troops at present, and has a formal mutual protection alliance with Washington.

There are concerns in Japan about the US commitment to its defense in light of US budget constraints and war fatigue after Iraq and Afghanistan. Specifically, there are questions over what the US would do if China were to attempt to seize control of uninhabited islands in the East China Sea that both countries claim.

Obama and other senior US officials have tamped down those concerns somewhat by publicly reiterating that the US is treaty-bound to defend Japan.

Despite China's strong objections, the government of Prime Minister Shinzo Abe has also pushed through contentious legislation to loosen post-World War II restrictions on the Japanese military to allow Japan to contribute more to regional defense. Japan has also deepened its security ties with Australia and Southeast Asia.

India has seen a major boost in its economic and defense ties with the United States at a time when both countries share concern about China's rise. The two sides reached a landmark civilian nuclear agreement in 2008, which allowed India to access sensitive technologies and fuels despite never signing the international Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty.

The two countries' leaders have established warm relations, even as some US lawmakers have criticized the record of the government of Prime Minister Narendra Modi on religious tolerance. Obama has visited India twice and even attended the country's annual Republic Day military parade. Modi has traveled four times to the US since taking office in 2014.

India fought a brief but bloody war with China in 1962 and their mutual border remains in dispute. Like most countries, however, India is reliant on its trade with China and wishes to avoid any moves that might spark a crisis with its northern neighbor.

While negative opinions toward the US remain among Vietnam's communist old guard, ties have advanced enormously since the normalization of diplomatic relations in 1995. Obama's Asian pivot has dovetailed conveniently with Vietnam's desire to build relations with powerful allies as a counterweight to China's influence.

Obama's personal touch has also given relations a big boost, particularly his May visit that was accompanied by a lifting of a ban on the sale of lethal weapons.

"The Vietnam-US relations have seen long steps forward over the past 21 years from former foes to friends and from friends to partners," said Tran Viet Thai, deputy director of the Institute of Strategic Studies at Vietnam's Foreign Ministry.

Although Vietnam continues to buy Russian military equipment and seeks stable ties with China, it views the US as a positive force in its development, Tran said. (bbn)

Associated Press writers Ashok Sharma in New Delhi, Kristen Gelineau in Sydney, Australia, Kim Tong-hyung in Seoul, South Korea, Ken Moritsugu in Tokyo and Tran Van Minh in Hanoi, Vietnam, contributed to this report.
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Linkedin (Associated Press) Davao, Philippines  Sat, September 3, 2016

An explosion killed at least 12 people and wounded at least 24 at a night market in President Rodrigo Duterte's hometown in the southern Philippines, a region under a heightened security alert because of a military offensive against Abu Sayyaf militants, officials said.

It was not immediately clear what caused the explosion late Friday at a massage section of the market, which was cordoned off by police bomb experts and investigators, said regional military commander Lt. Gen. Rey Leonardo.

Witnesses gave conflicting accounts, with some saying that a cooking gas tank exploded while others suggested it may have been some kind of an explosive, said police Chief Superintendent Manuel Gaerlan.

Police set up checkpoints in key roads leading to the city, a regional gateway about 980 kilometers (610 miles) south of Manila.

TV footage showed plastic chairs strewn about at the scene of the blast, where witnesses said the bodies of some of the dead lay scattered a few hours after the explosion. Ambulance vans drove to and from the area following the blast.

Police forces in the capital Manila went on full alert at midnight following the blast.

Duterte, who served as a longtime mayor of Davao before assuming the presidency in June, was in the region but has not issued any statement. His spokesman, Ernesto Abella, urged the public to be vigilant.

"While no one has yet claimed responsibility it is best that the populace refrain from reckless speculation and avoid crowded places," Abella said. "There is no cause for alarm, but it is wise to be cautious."

U.S. National Security Council spokesman Ned Price said in a statement Friday that local authorities in the Philippines continue to investigate the cause of the explosion, and the United States stands ready to provide assistance to the investigation.

President Barack Obama will have an opportunity to offer his personal condolences to Duterte when the two leaders plan to meet on the sidelines of a regional summit in Laos next week, Price said.

Philippine forces were on alert amid an ongoing military offensive against Abu Sayyaf extremists in southern Sulu province, which intensified last week after the militants beheaded a kidnapped villager. The militants threatened to launch an unspecified attack after the military said 30 of the gunmen were killed in the weeklong offensive.

Some commanders of the Abu Sayyaf, which is blacklisted by the United States and the Philippines as a terrorist organization for deadly bombings, ransom kidnappings and beheadings, have pledged allegiance to the Islamic State group. The military, however, says there has been no evidence of a direct collaboration and militant action may have been aimed at bolstering their image after years of combat setbacks. (bbn)

Associated Press writer Matthew Pennington in Washinton contributed to this report.
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Linkedin Annabel Tanya Nugent (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Sat, September 3 2016

The popular television series journeys across Southeast Asia in search of the regions best amateur photographer.

Asias leading televised photography competition is back for its third season and audiences have been assured that it will be bigger and bolder than ever before.



Season 3 of Photo Face-Off will be making a long, anticipated return to television screens across Asia on Sept. 8.



In the next season, Photo Face-Off host Kelly Latimer together with the shows beloved and feared resident photographer Justin Mott will travel across five countries in a search of Southeast Asias best amateur photographer in a series of five one-hour episodes. Each episode will be set in one of the five different locales: Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore, Indonesia and Vietnam.



The audience is expected to experience the thrill of competition in every episode, as they watch three local amateur photographers slug it out against each other for a chance at competing against the other finalists in the series finale.



Mott hinted that the upcoming season would push the contestants to their absolute limits just as in the previous episodes



Each episode will consist of three challenges, aiming to test the contestants on a variety of photography-based skills, including speed and theme-based tests. Through the tests, the judges will decide the countrys winner through a process of elimination. After passing the challenges, the countrys winners will enter the finale round to compete head-to-head with Mott himself, whose impressive resume includes shooting for top publications and brands such as New York Times, TIME Magazine, Forbes, Microsoft and Reebok.



If a competitor comes out successful against Mott, they will win a camera and camera bag and of course, the ultimate bragging rights. The series finale will see the four finalists, as well as a wild card contestant; meet in Da Nang, Vietnam where they will compete for exclusive prizes and the title as the winner of Photo Face-Off Season 3.



For this season, the contestants come from a variety of backgrounds as well as ages, making it a diverse and captivating series.



Representing Indonesia is Agus Supriyanto, Gusti Ngurah Bagus Wirajaya and Christianto Harsadi, all extremely talented but with their own sets of strengths and weaknesses.



In a recent press conference, the contestants spoke about the difficulties of balancing being part of an intense photography competition, while also being the subjects of a reality television show, especially emphasizing the challenging time limits that were imposed on their photo shoots.



Because time is so limited, you have to think extremely fast, on top of thinking creatively, Christianto said.



Agus, meanwhile, had a whole other set of difficulties on his mind, joking that the models were all extremely beautiful and so I got easily distracted.



Furthermore, the three Indonesian contestants, who cannot speak English fluently, at times would struggle to communicate with the judges, their models and those in their surroundings.



Gusti, for example, expressed his frustration when he had to speak to the becak (three-wheeled pedicab) driver in English for the sake of the television cameras.



Born deaf, Christianto, admitted communication was especially hard.

Continuous clicks: Behind the scenes of Photo Face-Off Season 3 shows a photographer trying to get a perfect shot. (Photo courtesy of History channel)



It was particularly difficult collaborating with the models, because I would have to sign the instruction to my translator who would then have to interpret and tell my models what to do. It can be time consuming, and during speed challenges where every second counts it was particularly difficult, said Christianto.



Yet, despite all, each contestant also spoke of rewarding aspects outside of photography such as becoming more confident, making new friends in other countries, leaving their comfort zones and developing personal skills after participating in the competition, in addition to the valuable and exciting photography experience they gained.



 The writer is an intern at The Jakarta Post

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Linkedin Panca Nugraha (The Jakarta Post) Mataram  Sat, September 3, 2016

West Nusa Tenggara Police, after teaming up with the Lombok Barat Police, arrested two men on Friday who were suspected of distributing black-dyed counterfeit dollars on Lombok.

The police confiscated 15,000 sheets of US$100 notes, amounting to US$1.5 million in fake money that had been dyed black to avoid detection.

West Nusa Tenggara Police spokesman Adj. Sr. Comr. Tribudi Pangastuti said the suspects were arrested when they were on their way to Mataram on Friday.

Both just arrived from Jakarta through the airport carrying thousands of banknotes. The police arrested them when they were going to Mataram from the airport, Tribudi said.

Tribudi said AB was a Mataram resident and a civil servant at the National Land Agency (BPN) in Lombok Utara while SY is a businessman from Bogor, West Java.

Police claim the two said they got the fake banknotes from a Nigerian named Anderson in Jakarta. They said they paid Rp 30 million [US$2,269], Tribudi said. (evi)
In a series of tweets, Omar Abdullah said that separatist leader Mirwaiz Umar Farooq and Yasin Malik, who are currently in prison, should be released if the CM wished to take the talks ahead.

By India Today Web Desk: Former Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah today said that Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti should have released the detained Hurriyat leaders instead of simply sending a letter to the press, in which she urged them to join the all-party delegation meet tomorrow.

In a series of tweets, Omar Abdullah said that separatist leader Mirwaiz Umar Farooq and Yasin Malik, who are currently in prison, should be released if the CM wished to take the talks ahead.

As CM she arrests them & as @jkpdp president she invites them to talk and then we wonder why Kashmir burns!!!! pic.twitter.com/3RyYBSmmKY; Omar Abdullah (@abdullah_omar) September 3, 2016

When the CM of J&K isn't clear in her own head about the way forward how do we expect her government to react & act as a cohesive unit?; Omar Abdullah (@abdullah_omar) September 3, 2016

Instead of releasing her letter to the press @MehboobaMufti should have released the detained Hurriyat leaders if she was serious abt talks.; Omar Abdullah (@abdullah_omar) September 3, 2016

Mirwaiz is in a Govt sub-jail, Yasin is in central jail, others are spread in various prisons & she asks them to suggest the time & place!!!; Omar Abdullah (@abdullah_omar) September 3, 2016

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Further slamming the chief minister for sending a letter to the press instead, Omar Abdullah said, "She should just give a list of the prisons used & the official visiting hours to the delegation and allow them to visit the detainees."

The opposition leader's remarks came hours after Mehbooba Mufti asked separatist groups to participate in the delegation meet and engage with Parliamentarians visiting the Valley tomorrow.

On Friday, the Hurriyat Conference refused to meet the visiting Parliamentarians and urged other stakeholders to not participate in the same.

Also read | Kashmir unrest: Rajnath Singh approves use of chilli-based PAVA shells as alternative to pellet guns

In a statement, Chairman of All Parties Hurriyat Conference, Syed Ali Geelani said, "Parliamentary delegation is coming to Kashmir after passing a resolution that Kashmir is an integral part of India. Therefore, this delegation neither has the mandate nor the intention to resolve the dispute of Jammu and Kashmir".



The separatist party also advised Parliamentarians to hold a special session in the Parliament and accept the 'disputed' nature of Jammu and Kashmir.

--- ENDS ---
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Linkedin News Desk (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Sat, September 3, 2016

A pair of men who had taken a family of four hostage in their home in Pondok Indah, South Jakarta, surrendered after hundreds of police officers surrounded the house on Saturday morning.

There was no need to use firearms as the two hostage-takers simply surrendered to overwhelming police force, said Jakarta Police chief Insp. Gen. Moechgiyarto at the Jakarta Police headquarters on Saturday.

The perpetrators had tried to create a scenario where there was nothing untoward in the house, ordering the members of the family to pretend that they were relatives of the family, said Moechgiyarto as reported by a television station.

The two suspects are currently being detained in the Jakarta Police headquarters for further investigation.

The incident occurred at a house on Jl. Bukit Hijau, Pondok Pinang subdistrict, Kebayoran Lama. The house is owned by a former oil company executive.

In the incident, five people were taken hostage, a husband and wife and their two children, as well as a domestic worker. The servant managed to escape at 5:30 a.m. on Saturday and raised the alarm.

Police are still investigating to motive of the incident but for the time being it is believed that the motive behind the hostage-taking was robbery, said Mochgiyarto, adding that the robbers were armed and had tried to hide the weapons but they were discovered by police officers. (bbn)
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Linkedin Hans Nicholas Jong (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Sat, September 3 2016

Quitting smoking is hard for anyone given the addictive quality of the nicotine found in cigarettes, but in Indonesia, where 67 percent of men smoke and cigarette advertising is ubiquitous, the challenge is even greater.



The prevalence of smoking in Indonesia has become so high that people who try to quit smoking are constantly surrounded by active smokers and easily relapse.



The reinforcement challenges in Indonesia are very strong. People who have quit smoking will start smoking again once they see their neighbors smoking and smell the smoke. They might also see cigarette ads and start smoking again, Widyastuti Soerojo of the Public Health Scholars Association (IAKMI) told The Jakarta Post.



This has led to an extremely low quitting ratio for smokers in Indonesia. According to data from the World Health Organization (WHO), the quitting ratio for men in Indonesia is only 9 percent and 23.2 percent for women.



Lioni Hendrawaty, a 30-year-old NGO worker, is an example of someone who finds that the temptation to smoke again after quitting is too hard to resist.



Lioni has been a smoker for 14 years. Throughout that time, she has tried repeatedly to quit smoking. She said she noticed her breath getting shorter and was later diagnosed with hypothyroid, a common disorder in which the thyroid gland does not produce enough thyroid hormone. Her doctor then asked her to stop smoking as her habit would only exacerbate her illness.



But she kept smoking. Actually I had succeeded in reducing my cigarette consumption to one daily. At the most, I smoked three cigarettes in one day, she said.



According to Lioni, the hardest part of quitting smoking is when she hangs out with her friends, most of whom are smokers. The most difficult part is when I hang out. If I am alone, I dont smoke, she said.



University of Indonesia (UI) demographic institute associate director Abdillah Ahsan said that Indonesians have a hard time giving up as smoking is the norm in the country.



Smokers who want to quit will be constantly seduced by people smoking around them as well as constant cigarette advertising.



Access to cigarettes is very easy. If I live in a housing complex, I will find a kiosk selling cigarettes just a few doors from me. Its also easy for children to buy cigarettes. If they step out of their schools, they will find food stalls. Above the foodstalls will be a banner advertising cigarettes, Abdillah said.



Furthermore, public officials are often shown to be smoking in public spaces, such as lawmakers in the legislative building.



They are public figures so they should have to follow the rules and not smoke inside the legislative building. Because its seen widely by the public and it becomes free advertising for the tobacco industry, said Abdillah.



Cigarettes are also dirt cheap in Indonesia, making it easy for people to buy them. All of these make smoking normal. So why should I quit smoking? Its normal anyway. The thing thats not normal is quitting smoking, Abdillah said.



Therefore, it is important to denormalize smoking, to make it uncool as the stakes are too high for Indonesia.



While the government often argues that the tobacco industry brings in much-needed revenue, with

Rp 148.86 trillion (US$11.3 billion) raised in tobacco excise this year alone, the economic loss from tobacco consumption is much greater.



In 2013, the total losses due to tobacco consumption reached Rp 378.75 trillion, according to the Health Ministry, resulting from lost productivity due to illness, disability and premature death and medical expenses.



Indonesias economy is also expected to lose $4.5 trillion by 2030 from tobacco-related diseases.



Therefore, experts have urged the government to increase tobacco prices to deter people from smoking as well as to help people reduce and even quit smoking.



The Health Ministry has also launched a series of public-service announcement (PSA) TV advertisements, with the latest launched on Thursday.



The latest PSA aims to turn smokers thoughts about quitting into active quitting attempts by showing graphic images of real health harm from tobacco use, starting with a cancerous mouth, rotting teeth, a cancerous throat and clogged arteries.

_____________________________________________

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Linkedin Marguerite Afra Sapiie (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Sat, September 3, 2016

The Commission for Missing Persons and Victims of Violence (Kontras) has questioned Comr. Gen. Budi Gunawan's nomination as the next State Intelligence Agency (BIN) chief, saying that Budi's integrity is questionable as he was once a graft suspect.

Kontras deputy coordinator for strategy and mobilization Puri Kencana Putri said that even though the South Jakarta District Court had invalidated Budi's status as a suspect in a pretrial petition, the graft case might be reactivated should other evidence be found in the future.

"It should be ensured that the next BIN chief doesn't have the potential to cause trouble [...] It would be shameful if in the future [Budi] was hit with legal cases as it would disturb the functioning of state institutions and decrease public trust," Puri said on Friday.

The rights group further criticized President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo for nominating Budi, who is currently serving as National Police deputy chief, saying that Jokowi had "again" decided to name a public official without considering his track record.

In the recent cabinet reshuffle, Jokowi appointed Wiranto, who has a questionable human rights track record, as coordinating political, legal, and security affairs minister, as well as giving the energy and mineral resources minister post to Arcandra Tahar, who shortly after his appointment was dismissed for allegedly holding dual citizenship, Puri said. (evi)
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Linkedin News Desk (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Sat, September 3, 2016

The Save Jakarta Bay Coalition, comprising traditional fishermen, lawyers, scholars and activists who oppose the Jakarta Bay reclamation project, have voiced their dissatisfaction with the very lenient sentence handed down by the Corruption Court to PT Agung Podomoro Land's former president director, Ariesman Widjaja.

The judges should have given him the maximum punishment allowed under Article 5 paragraph 1a, which says five years and a Rp 250 million fine because the corruption committed by Ariesman was grand corruption, the coalition said in a statement made available on Friday.

The court sentenced him to three years in prison and a fine of Rp 200 million (US$15,132) on Thursday.

The coalition said there were several reasons why Ariesmans crime constituted grand corruption: First, it was made by a top executive of a large property company. Second, his aim was only to make profit for his corporation from the Jakarta Bay reclamation project.

The coalition, which includes the Coalition of Indonesian Traditional Fishermen (KNTI), said the other indicator of grand corruption was that the Rp 2 billion bribe from Ariesman to Jakarta city councilor Muhammad Sanusi was given to influence the deliberation process of bylaws on detailed zoning and spatial planning of Jakarta Bay reclamation and islands.

They also said the bylaws were problematic in the first place because they served as justification for a controversial project that had involved maladministration and poor governance because many permits were issued before the bylaws were passed.

Lastly, they said the bribe was given to legalize a reclamation project that had irreversibly destroyed the environment and livelihoods of the traditional fishermen. This is a corporate crime that violates citizens Constitutional rights, the coalition asserted. (evi)
Education and Culture Minister Muhadjir Effendy (wearing peci) checks a card used in the disbursement of the education assistance fund at an elementary school in Malang, East Java, on Friday. Data from the ministry shows so far only 50 percent of the fund has been disbursed.(JP/Aman Rochman)(wearing peci) checks a card used in the disbursement of the education assistance fund at an elementary school in Malang, East Java, on Friday. Data from the ministry shows so far only 50 percent of the fund has been disbursed.(JP/Aman Rochman)
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Linkedin News Desk (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Sat, September 3, 2016

Hundreds of police officers have surrounded a house in Pondok Indah in South Jakarta, where robbers have taken a family of four hostage.

TVOne has reported that the robbers had initially taken five people hostage on Saturday morning, but one of them managed to escape and reported the situation to the police. A husband and wife and their two children remain in the home.

Community unit head Indra Rustam said the robbery and subsequent hostage situation occurred in a home in an upscale housing complex on Jl. Bukit Hijau.

The police have warned the robbers through loudspeaker to not harm their hostages. (bbn)
Heres to us: Vietnamese Ambassador to Jakarta Hoang Anh Tuan (right) and Law and Human Rights Minister Yasonna H. Laoly raise their glasses to another year of good relations between Indonesian and Vietnam during a ceremony in Jakarta on Friday celebrating the 71st anniversary of the independence of Vietnam.(JP/Sagara Kusuma)(right) and Law and Human Rights Minister Yasonna H. Laoly raise their glasses to another year of good relations between Indonesian and Vietnam during a ceremony in Jakarta on Friday celebrating the 71st anniversary of the independence of Vietnam.(JP/Sagara Kusuma)
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Linkedin (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Sat, September 3 2016

It was a rare Friday morning event at the main hall of the State Logistics Agency (Bulog) when hundreds of its employees gathered to taste various dishes made from buffalo meat imported from India.

Cici, a vendor at Bulogs cafeteria was seen eating buffalo stew, but it was not until The Jakarta Post asked her about the flavor that she realized she was eating buffalo meat.

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Linkedin (The Jakarta Post)  Sat, September 3 2016

The two next-door neighbors, India and Pakistan, should be friends, if not allies, but this cant happen if Sharif in military uniform is calling the shots in Pakistan and not Sharif in Sherwani.

Two families living in adjacent houses can shift to new houses if they find getting along with each other impossible, but that luxury is not available to two neighboring countries. They have to learn to live together as good neighbors. Indias best efforts to forge a good friendship with Pakistan seem to be fading even though Narendra Modi and Nawaz Sharif tried their best.

Sharif always talked about forging a friendship with India in his 2013 election campaign speeches. Modi invited him to New Delhi for his swearing-in ceremony and visited him to greet him on his birthday in December 2015 with a special stopover at Lahore. He also paid his respects to Nawazs aging mother to rekindle the friendship between them. But it seems that Nawaz himself is bent on spoiling all his own previous statesmanlike efforts by agreeing to, probably under pressure from the military, observing July 20 as Black Day in protest against (what Pakistan calls) violent deaths of innocent Kashmiris by Indian security forces in Indias Jammu and Kashmir state that Pakistan calls as occupied Kashmir.

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As many as 1000 shells would be reaching the Kashmir Valley tomorrow.

By India Today Web Desk: Ahead of the all-party delegation visit to violence-hit Kashmir, Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh today approved the use of chilli-based PAVA shells for crowd control measures as an alternative to pellet guns, officials said today.

The home minister cleared the file for use of Pelargonic Acid Vanillyl Amide (PAVA) also called Nonivamide and allowed it to be used in rarest of rare cases. As many as 1000 shells would be reaching the Kashmir Valley tomorrow.

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Also read: Eat this: The world's hottest chilli may soon replace pellet guns in Kashmir



This came after Rajnath, during his two-day visit to Kashmir on August 24-25, had said an alternative to pellet guns would be provided to security forces in the coming days.

Also read: Kashmir unrest: PDP-BJP to decide the course of all-party delegation visit



An all-party delegation, headed by Rajnath himself, will visit the region on September 4 and 5. The delegation met at the National Capital to discuss the situation in the restive valley and the possibility of holding talks with people from various sections of society there.

Also read: Scarred and blinded for life: Brutal repercussions of using metal pellets in Kashmir



Rajnath Singh chaired the meeting and also discussed the itinerary of the Kashmir visit. Also read: Ahead of all-party delegation's Kashmir visit, Mehbooba Mufti calls for unconditional talks with Hurriyat



The team comprises 28 MPs and some senior government officials. They include Finance Minister Arun Jaitley, Food and Public Distribution Minister Ram Vilas Paswan, Congress leaders Ghulam Nabi Azad and Mallikarjun Kharge, and MP Asaduddin Owaisi.

--- ENDS ---
On your next visit to Napa Valley, California, please make a stop at the Chappellet Winery and Vineyard - first place winner of this years USA TODAY and 10Best Readers Choice Award for Best Winery Tour.

For five decades, the Chappellet family has been producing world-class wines. It all began in the 1960s, when my friends, Donn and Molly Chappellet, moved to the rocky hillsides of the Napa Valley. There, they established their home, raised their family, and cultivated their vineyards. Chappellet was among the first to pioneer high-elevation hillside planting, making it one of the states most celebrated makers of Cabernet Sauvignon. At the same time, Chappellet developed Pritchard Hill as one of the regions most acclaimed wine-growing sites. In fact, the Chappellet family has long been passionate about preserving the land, and continues to focus on sustainable, organic and green practices, both in the vineyard and at the winery.

I recently visited Chappellet, while on a business trip to the west coast. It is a magical place - enjoy these photos.
(lead article, Message from SWP candidates)

Socialist Workers Party: Back coal miners fight!

Join pension, health care rally Sept. 8 in DC

UMWA

The livelihoods of tens of thousands of retired miners and their dependents are under attack. The coal bosses are shutting down mines  especially union mines  throwing miners out of work and forcing those who remain to toil longer hours under worse conditions to keep up production and profits. They are using bankruptcy courts to get out of their obligations to miners health care and pensions.

This is a central front in the assault by the bosses and their government to make the working class pay for the growing crisis of their exploitative and oppressive capitalist system.

The Socialist Workers Party backs the miners and calls on working people to join the Sept. 8 rally by the United Mine Workers union in Washington, D.C. Both of us will be there to join in demanding that the U.S. government guarantee retirement funds and health benefits for coal miners.

Coal production in the U.S. in the first quarter this year dropped 17 percent compared to the previous quarter. But its not true that coal is on the verge of extinction.

Over the last 10 years coal output in the U.S. has leveled off, even as the capitalist bosses closed mines and slashed the workforce by about 50 percent over the past six years. In the early 1980s, our normal workweek was basically 40 hours, miner Howard Cook, 54, told WBUR radio in March. But in the last 10 years it was more like a 60-hour week. At the same time the mine bosses used more and more high-powered machinery that pulverizes rocks and increases silica dust in the air.

Through union battles, miners won and enforced safety and health on the job, including the right to withdraw from dangerous conditions. This virtually eliminated black lung disease. But as a result of the bosses offensive and attacks on the union, today its at the highest level since the early 70s. We need to fight for workers control and the right of the union to shut down any mine that is unsafe.

As part of our campaign, we have been going door to door in West Virginia, Utah, Kentucky, Alabama and Illinois  and in towns small and large from coast to coast  talking to working people about the capitalist economic crisis. Working people face the same problems around the world and need solidarity.

Over the last several decades, unions won pensions and health care tied to the profits of their individual companies. The latest wave of mining bankruptcies underscores why we need to fight for something different  government-funded guaranteed health care and pensions for all, regardless of where you work.

The capitalist candidates and parties have no solution.

Hillary Clinton showed her scorn for working people, proclaiming, Were going to put a lot of coal miners out of work.

Donald Trump claims he will bring back coal jobs. But when he visits coal country he holds closed-door meetings with the same mine bosses who are closing mines, scuttling safety, pushing forced overtime, and using the bankruptcy scam to tear up union contracts.

Its true that generating energy from fossil fuels in pursuit of profit is detrimental to both the health of the workers involved and to the natural environment in which we live and labor.

Today one-third of the world does not have electricity, a basic requirement for reading, culture and political struggle. Miners will lead the fight for safe energy that is cleaner to meet the needs of workers around the world, while assuring jobs for all that are productive and socially worthwhile.

Actions like the Sept. 8 rally are an example of the solidarity the labor movement needs to organize, fight and push back the bosses unrelenting offensive. As working people organize to stand up to defend our interests, we learn that we are capable of countering the dog-eat-dog system of capitalism. That we can build a powerful movement of workers and farmers to take political power out of the hands of the propertied rulers and open the road to organizing a society based on human needs, not profits.





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Vice-president candidate visits McLeod County

SWP: Working class needs to take political power in US

Join the Socialist Workers Party campaign







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(front page)

Flood disaster in Louisiana is product of bosses greed

The heavy, relentless rains started Friday, Aug. 12 and continued for nearly five days. After more than 31 inches of rain fell on Central Louisiana, at least 13 people are dead, more than 20 parishes have been devastated, some 40,000 houses damaged or destroyed and tens of thousands forced from their homes.

Authorities say the catastrophe for working people is a natural disaster, a 1,000-year event, impossible to plan for. But in fact what happened is a social disaster created by the workings of capitalism.

After the last big flood in 1983, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and other agencies met and designed plans to make further social disasters less likely  constructing a canal, a dam and new reservoir to siphon off high water, new levees and other projects. None were ever carried out. Too expensive, they said.

But developers and banks found money to finance and build more houses on low-lying land near area rivers, putting more and more working people at risk.

Little notice was given before the rain hit. The storm dumped as much water as a hurricane like Katrina, Barry Keim, Louisianas state climatologist, told the press. Because it didnt have a federally designated name like Katrina, it just snuck up on people, he said.

The Louisiana Governors Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness estimated that as many as 160,000 homes have been affected by the flood. Already, more than 120,000 households have applied for federal disaster assistance. One of the hardest hit areas was Livingston Parish, just east of Baton Rouge, where 75 percent of the homes have been destroyed.

Across the region, more than 30,000 people needed rescue. Many were saved not by state or local officials, but by what locals call the Cajun Navy  working-class people and neighbors who had set out with their personal boats looking for people who might be in trouble. Many traveled miles, including Katrina veterans, to come to the devastated areas and help.

One of the volunteers from Baton Rouge was Abdullah Muflahi, owner of the Triple S convenience store, the place where Baton Rouge police shot and killed Alton Sterling two months ago, leading to outrage and public protests. Muflahi met Socialist Workers Party vice-presidential candidate Osborne Hart when he joined the protests there.

The flooding devastated this entire area. And for most people the crisis is ongoing, Muflahi told the Militant in a phone interview Aug. 28. People who lost their homes are now fighting for insurance payments and FEMA claims. Many people have complained to me that they were promised less than half of what they lost.

Many who live here are also renters  and they lost everything and literally have to start over again, he said. Their home is wrecked; their car is flooded and totaled out by the insurance company; and almost everyone else near you is in the same situation. These are problems faced by tens of thousands in this area.

When the rains slowed down, people brought out their personal boats and trucks to do the work, Muflahi said. Without this volunteer help, I fear many people would still be out there and things would be a lot worse.

If peoples homes were destroyed they have no place to go and no one giving them much help, he said. There are shelters, but they are mostly full.

Working people in the area face a devastating housing crisis. There simply arent habitable homes available for rent, National Public Radio reported Aug. 19. And if you didnt have flood insurance  and many didnt  you face economic calamity.

The state government and FEMA have announced a program along the lines of Rapid Repairs  a program initiated by FEMA in response to Superstorm Sandy in New York. The program was notable for one thing  workers hit by the storm said it was structured to reward contractors for doing substandard repair work.





Related articles:

Natural disasters are result of capitalist profit drive

Residents in deadly Maryland explosion point to landlord, city







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(front page)

Washington, Ankara push attack against Kurds in Syria

The Turkish government is expanding its military intervention in Syria, with the open aim of smashing Kurdish fighters who, for the first time, have begun carving out an autonomous territory of their own in Syria, along Turkeys southern border. Washington is backing the Turkish incursion, while still calling the Kurdish Peoples Protection Units (YPG) an ally in the fight to defeat Islamic State.

This latest seemingly contradictory position reflects the problems the U.S. rulers face as they seek a realignment of relations with Moscow, and with the largest governments in the Middle East  that of Iran especially, as well as Turkey  that Washington hopes can help achieve stability and defend its imperialist interests in the region. Its working people there, including the Kurds fighting for their sovereignty, who pay the price in blood.

At least 380 Turkish troops and 40 tanks are in Syria, fighting alongside roughly 1,000 combatants from the Free Syrian Army. The FSA is a loose coalition of groups that oppose the Syrian regime of Bashar al-Assad, most of whom have received aid from Washington. Backed by Turkish and U.S. airstrikes, they took the border town of Jarabulus, which had been occupied by Islamic State, on Aug. 24 with little or no resistance from the jihadist group.

Directed by Turkey, these forces immediately pushed south and west, into areas where the Syrian Democratic Forces, a coalition of Kurdish and Arab forces led by the YPG, have been winning ground from Islamic State.

All the powers intervening in Syria are pursuing their own interests, not Syrias, Saadeddine Somaa, an FSA combatant and former major in Assads army who entered the country with the Turkish forces, told the New York Times from Jarabulus Aug. 29. The problem is the same everywhere in Syria.

But within days of crossing into Syria, backed by Turkish planes, tanks and special forces troops, the Times said, Somaa found himself fighting Kurdish militias that, like him, counted the Islamic State and the government of Bashar al-Assad among their foes.

Ankaras aim is to control a 55-mile stretch of Syrian territory along the Turkish border from Jarabulus, on the west bank of the Euphrates River, to Marea. This would block the Kurds from connecting the autonomous region they have won in northeastern Syria with a Kurdish-controlled enclave around Afrin, north of Aleppo.

Vice President Joe Biden, meeting with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan in Ankara Aug. 24, demanded that the Kurdish forces pull back to positions east of the Euphrates. Since then, some U.S. officials have complained that Ankara is not paying enough attention to fighting Islamic State, while Washington continues to support the Turkish incursion.

The YPG says its combatants have withdrawn. Forces allied with the Syrian Democratic Forces remain in the area and have clashed with the Turkish-led operation. One of their spokesmen is Shervan Derwish, who earlier served with the Kurdish forces who fought off Islamic State in Kobani last year. We will defend ourselves, he told the Washington Post Aug. 27 as the Turkish and Free Syrian Army forces pushed toward Manbij, 20 miles south of Jarabulus.

In Geneva Aug. 26, Secretary of State John Kerry and Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov both stressed their opposition to an autonomous Kurdistan in Syria. They spoke at a news conference following talks seeking to put together military coordination in Syria.

Washington wants a united Syria, Kerry said. We do not support an independent Kurd initiative.

Kurds should remain an integral part of the Syrian state, said Lavrov, warning that any division of Syria will trigger a chain reaction throughout the region.

There are millions of Kurds in Turkey, Iraq and Iran as well as Syria.

U.S. rulers seek global realignment

Reaching a deal on Syria with Moscow has been a central focus of the Obama administrations Mideast policy for some time. A recent article by Zbigniew Brzezinski in themagazine, titled Toward a Global Realignment, points to some of the reasons why.

Brzezinski, national security adviser to President James Carter from 1977-81, had been a major proponent of the view that after the disintegration of the Soviet Union in 1991 Washington was firmly established as the one global superpower and should act aggressively to reshape the world in its interests. The attempt to do so, however, has led to the accelerated unraveling of the imperialist order, including the devastating wars that have torn up the Middle East, extending to North Africa and Central Asia.

He argues that the U.S. government must take the lead in realigning the global power architecture in such a way that the violence erupting within and occasionally projected beyond the Muslim world  can be contained without destroying the global order. This, Brzezinski says, can only be done by forging a coalition that involves, to varying degrees, Russia and China. Such a coalition would in turn encourage responsible use of force by the regions more established states (namely, Iran, Turkey, Israel and Egypt.)

A variant of this policy is what Obama is pursuing, and will be the course of the next administration, whoever occupies the White House. But the reality of conflicting interests of different ruling classes, amid a deepening worldwide crisis of capitalist production and trade, makes the prospect of a U.S.-dominated coalition stabilizing the world a pipe dream.

The civil war in Syria is a case in point. Washington intervened shortly after the Assad regime brutally crushed protests demanding democratic rights in 2011 and then bombed and unleashed chemical weapons against its opponents. The capitalist rulers in Moscow and Tehran back Assad, but also seek stability. The rulers of Turkey and Saudi Arabia  Sunni-dominated governments that see Shiite Iran as their major rival in the region  have in turn backed various factions fighting against Assad.

Washingtons moves, and others countermoves, have created space for the emergence of the reactionary Islamic State, many of whose commanders are former officers from Saddam Husseins regime in Iraq. All this contributes to a war that no side can win and has left hundreds of thousands dead and driven millions from their homes, with no end in sight.

Meanwhile, the Erdogan government continues its attacks on the Kurdish population in southeastern Turkey. Military curfews are continuing in many towns and villages, Ertugrul Kurkcu, a member of parliament for the Kurdish-based Peoples Democratic Party (HDP), told the Militant by phone Aug. 29. As many as 1 million people are affected, including 300,000 whove had to leave their homes.

Kurkcu condemned Ankaras actions in Syria, saying, The Kurdish inhabitants have been there for centuries, why shouldnt they decide their future?





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(front page)

Hundreds debate govt moves to keep mosque out of Ga. county

Johnny Kauffman/WABE

COVINGTON, Ga.The Socialist Workers Party condemns the attempt to prevent the congregation of Masjid Attaqwa in Doraville from building a mosque and establishing a cemetery in Newton County, said Sam Manuel, SWP candidate for U.S. Senate from Georgia, at an Aug. 22 town hall meeting here. It was organized by the Newton County Commission to provide a platform for people to ask questions or comment on the proposed project.

The county recently adopted a five-week moratorium on permits for places of worship that would prevent the mosque from being constructed.

Three hundred people packed each of two back-to-back meetings. The majority of the 70 people who spoke opposed the mosque. Some said they thought Islam was a death cult, others expressed concern that the congregation would impose Sharia law on the county, or that the land could be used for an Islamic State training camp. Several people said they were worried they could be poisoned by the drinking water because Muslims dont embalm their dead. Speakers were asked not to identify themselves.

Decades of war in the Middle East in Afghanistan, Iraq and Syria  that have killed tens of thousands of toilers, most of them Muslims  have been overseen by Democratic and Republican administrations alike, from Bush to Clinton to Bush and Obama, said Manuel, who did identify himself. The crisis unfolding in that part of the world is a result of the unraveling of the U.S.-imposed imperialist world order.

We also face the consequences of the world economic crisis, from continued high unemployment to lack of health care, Manuel said. We need a movement independent of both capitalist parties that fights for all workers, including those who are Muslims.

Half a dozen people joined Manuel in standing up in defense of the right of Muslims to build in the community. If this discussion was happening 100 years ago, theres a good chance it would be about my people, commented Kendra Miller, who said she was of Jewish descent.

I dont think many of you really know how they are as a people, said a 17-year-old African-American woman who didnt identify herself. I would like to say that not long ago people like me, Black people, were treated the same way.

Mohammad Islam is the Imam of Masjid Attaqwa mosque in Doraville, a suburb of Atlanta, who organized to purchase the Newton County land. He came to the United States from Bangladesh 24 years ago and now leads a congregation of some 200 members, mostly Bangladeshis. In an Aug. 24 meeting with SWP leaders, he explained that they have no place to bury their dead and to pray before the burial.

Land is very expensive, especially in Atlanta. We found this 135-acre site for sale in Newton County near another cemetery and at a price we thought we could raise, Islam said. Our plan was approved by the Newton County Commission, and we closed the deal last August.

Islam said that they were not invited to the Aug. 22 evening meetings and that they learned about the moratorium on the religious buildings from the news.

We are not in a hurry. It is more important for us to have good relations with those who will be our neighbors and to answer any questions or concerns that they have, Islam said. Yesterday a group of Newton County residents accepted our invitation to visit our mosque and get to know one another.

Over the past five years, officials in Lilburn, Kennesaw and Snellville, all cities across metro Atlanta, have used zoning laws to deter Muslim projects from being built.

Between 2009 and 2015, the Georgia Council on American-Islamic Relations has documented more than 40 incidents in which mosques faced interference, local building moratoriums, vandalism and harassment.

The NAACP, CAIR and more than a dozen Muslim groups have asked the Department of Justice to investigate the Newton County moratorium.

Ronnie Johnston, mayor of Covington, and the other four town mayors in Newton County, wrote to the county commission Aug. 26 urging them to remove the moratorium on places of worship and that a meeting be set up with leaders of the proposed mosque. We will all have to work to undo some of the ill will you created by your actions, they said.

On Aug. 27, supporters of SWP candidates Manuel and Alyson Kennedy and Osborne Hart for president and vice president campaigned door to door in Covington, introducing the party and its program. They discussed how to fight against the effects on working people of Washingtons imperialist wars abroad and capitalist depression conditions at home. They took the opportunity to discuss what workers thought about the proposed mosque and cemetery.

Steve Shope, an electrician, told SWP member Susan LaMont he was concerned that building a mosque in Newton County might attract terrorists to the area, even though he thought the people with the mosque are not terrorists themselves.

I dont want to label anybody, Shope said. I dont see how what the terrorists are doing accomplishes anything for the Muslim people.

Its important for us as workers to be conscious that anti-Muslim rhetoric and actions cut across working people coming together to fight in our common interests, LaMont said. And the seemingly endless U.S.-led wars in the Mideast are what have created the conditions in which reactionary terror groups like Islamic State recruit and grow. And they are responsible for hostility and discrimination against Muslims.

After the discussion, Shope said hed like to try a subscription to the Militant.





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Miami forum: Oppose attacks on Muslims, mosques







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(front page)

N. Carolina officials attack voting rights despite federal court ruling

North Carolina has been a crucial battleground in the fight to defend voting rights for African-Americans on the heels of the 2013 U.S. Supreme Court ruling that gutted key components of the Voting Rights Act. The act was a historic conquest of the mass struggle for Black rights in the 1950s and 60s that smashed Jim Crow segregation

Following the 2013 ruling, North Carolinas government adopted harsh new restrictions on the right to vote. Protests by the NAACP, unions and other groups as well as legal challenges followed.

The Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals July 29 struck down as unconstitutional the states 2013 voting law, one of the strictest in the nation, saying it violates the right to equal protection guaranteed by the 14th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution and its provisions target African-Americans. Government officials are fighting to undermine the decision.

The new state law imposed a strict photo ID requirement to vote, eliminated same-day voter registration, shortened the states early voting period from 17 to 10 days, cut Sunday voting days, prohibited extending voting hours, prevented your vote from being counted if you went to the wrong precinct, and allowed any voter to challenge ballots of other voters.

The laws restrictions are aimed at impeding rights, Donald Matthews, president of the NAACP in Randolph County, North Carolina, told the Militant by phone Aug. 26. People of color given the opportunity will vote in greater numbers on Sunday than other days, and they also tend to vote early.

On Aug. 15 the state of North Carolina filed an emergency appeal asking the U.S. Supreme Court to overturn the circuit courts ruling. It argued that making these eleventh-hour alterations to the rules officials have been implementing would put state and local election officials in an exceedingly difficult position and could create voter confusion.

At the same time North Carolina Republican Party Executive Director Dallas Woodhouse sent a memo to the majority-Republican county election boards urging them to continue limiting voting access. Among his plans: eliminate Sunday voting. There is no requirement to be open on the weekends except for the last Saturday (until noon), his memo stated. Six days of voting in one week is enough. The memo also calls for keeping just one site at the county board of elections office open for 17 days, instead of implementing the federal court-mandated seven-day extension to all voting locations, and removal of college campus polling sites.

County officials seek ways to maintain restrictions

County election officials have responded with zeal, plowing ahead with new schemes to keep in place the very same limitations the court overturned that deny African-Americans the right to vote.

In 2012, more than 2.5 million voted early in North Carolina, writes Ari Berman in Give Us the Ballot, nearly 100,000 used same-day registration and 300,000 registered voters didnt have government-issued IDs.

The Supreme Court ruling and ensuing North Carolina law has affected people deeply and across the board, said the NAACPs Matthews. Among those who contacted the NAACP was a woman on assisted living with cerebral palsy who couldnt vote because she didnt have an ID and lacked the ability to get one, he said. She finally succeeded in getting an absentee ballot.

Now, officials in Mecklenburg County, the largest in the state, have promptly cut 238 hours of early voting.

The right to vote is a fundamental issue for African-Americans throughout the history of this country, said Matthews, who emphasized the importance of standing up to fear tactics that prevent people from exercising their constitutional right to vote. Numbers of African-Americans have given their lives for this right.

The Supreme Court struck down the Voting Rights Acts provisions establishing a requirement for preclearance by federal authorities before states and local jurisdictions with a proven history of racist discrimination in voting rights could adopt new voting laws. Nine states, including North Carolina, others in the South, and in Arizona, along with sections of New York, Michigan and California, were covered.

Black rights fighters and other working people have been fighting against its effects ever since.

In a related development, a federal district court Aug. 11 struck down North Carolinas gerrymandered voting districts that keep Blacks from voting. Race was the predominant factor motivating the drawing of all challenged districts, the court ruled.





Front page (for this issue) | Home | Text-version home




(feature article)

Natural disasters are result of capitalist profit drive

[T]he social disaster that followed Hurricane Katrina in 2005ravaging low-lying parts of New Orleans inhabited largely by working people, most of them Black, as well as elsewhere along the Gulf Coastshined a spotlight worldwide on the values of U.S. imperialisms ruling families and the state that serves their class. The moneyed rulers had known for decades that flood levies would give way when a strong hurricane hit near the city, yet they refused to dip into the surplus value they wring from the unpaid labor of working people in order to rebuild and reinforce the seawalls. Workers across the region, despite the acts of solidarity they displayed toward each other throughout the crisis, bore the deadly consequences of wretched housing; lack of emergency flood protection, transportation, and evacuation procedures; and longtime, morale-sapping cop corruption and brutality so endemic to life under the city fathers.

Despite the rulers sentimental pretense of rebuilding New Orleans, toilers there continue to bear the brunt of capitalist greed and indifference to this day. Life or death, a home still habitable or forced diasporaa few feet above or below sea level marked the class divide. 

In late 2006 a number of daily newspapers carried obituaries of a prominent U.S. geographer named Gilbert White. Floods are acts of god, White had written in 1942, but flood losses are largely acts of man. Whites studies documented the fact that throughout most of the world the poorest layers of the rural and urban populations live on or near flood plains, either to scrape out a living or because better-protected areas are reserved for the propertied classes. 

The basic problem is how to get people off the flood plain, he said. And after all these years, here we are with Katrina. Perhaps we may envisage a new kind of army, White had said in his 1942 article, a global peace force, of young people recruited and trained under international direction for the task of building healthy and prosperous communities.

A worthy proposal. One deserving of the response, paraphrasing Ernesto Che Guevara: To have an army of revolutionary rebuilders, you must first make a revolution.1 To forge a new kind of army of young people recruited and trained for the task of building healthy and prosperous communities, working people must first have a revolutionary ethos, elan, discipline, and determination that is conquered only in the course of a successful fight for power. Without the victory of the Cuban Revolution in 1959, for example, the mass campaign that marshaled the enthusiasm and capacities of more than 100,000 youth in 1961 and wiped out illiteracy in a single year, transforming that generation of young people in the process, would have been unimaginable.

So long as the extraction of surplus value in warlike competition for profits dictates the production and distribution of wealth, land will remain private property and rental housing for the toiling majority will be built where the propertied classes dont want to live. It will be constructed where workers can afford the rent, including often on flood plains.

Only the leadership of a workers and farmers government, conquered in revolutionary struggle, can lead working people to even face confronting the vast worldwide pathologies of capitalism, let alone bring to bear their creativity, energies, discipline, and solidarity to cure them.

1. In August 1960 the Argentine-born leader of the Cuban Revolution, Ernesto Che Guevara, himself originally a physician, told a group of young medical students and health workers in Havana that to be a revolutionary doctor  there must first be a revolution. In Che Guevara Talks to Young People (Pathfinder, 2000), 2007, printing, p. 52.
SWP: Working class needs to take political power in US

WATERVLIET, N.Y.  Im registered as a Democrat, but it really doesnt matter. Theyre both awful, Mary Whitney told Socialist Workers Party presidential candidate Alyson Kennedy at her doorstep Aug. 22. Whitney is a member of the United Steelworkers union working at Saint Gobains nearby abrasive materials plant.

The media and liberals are frantic saying Trump has to be stopped, you have to vote for the lesser evil, Kennedy said. But both Trump and Clinton, the Democrats and Republicans, represent the capitalist class. Their economic system, capitalism, is in crisis and cannot meet the needs of the majority.

Whitney told Kennedy and SWP campaigner Dean Hazlewood about what workers at her plant and others in the area face  speedup, layoffs and decades of attacks by the bosses.

The Honeywell workers locked out in Green Island know me on the picket line, I bring them donuts, she said. Kennedy joined United Auto Workers Local 1508 members on the Honeywell picket line later that day.

My boss at Saint Gobain wants to get rid of me, said Whitney. Im always fighting for the rights of younger workers. But they dont know the importance of fighting.

Because the bosses have no answer for their problems, the deepening capitalist economic crisis will continue to bear down on the working class. Young workers, all workers, will explode into battles to defend ourselves and our class, Kennedy said. I dont know how long it will take, but Im confident this will happen.

At a certain point during the Great Depression in the 1930s, workers couldnt take it any more and launched massive strikes and organizing struggles, she said. The Teamsters union in the Midwest, whose leadership included members of my party, led in a way that maximized the workers power and won popular support from farmers, the unemployed and others, resulting in gains for the working class.

As part of advancing these battles, Teamster leaders pointed to the political course workers needed as a class, from opposing the rulers war preparations to the battle for equal rights for Blacks to the need for workers to build their own party and take power, Kennedy said.

Kennedy showed Whitney the new book Are They Rich Because Theyre Smart? Class, Privilege and Learning Under Capitalism by SWP National Secretary Jack Barnes. No, theyre rich because of us, Whitney said, laughing as she read the title.

Whitney got the book to go with a Militant subscription. She joked that had she met the SWP earlier, she would have been even more of a thorn in the bosses side. She said she would show the partys literature around on the job.

 Jacob Perasso





FRESNO, Calif.  It was probably more than 500 people who responded, Justice Medina told Osborne Hart, Socialist Workers Party candidate for vice-president, here Aug. 18. In July Medina helped organize a large and lively action to protest the June 25 Fresno cop killing of Dylan Noble, a 19-year-old unarmed roofer.

It was my first step for activism in Fresno, said Medina, who is 20. He called the action because I dont like violence and I hate abuse of authority.

Fresno cops arrested me right after the protest, he said. I was charged with organizing an event without a permit and with obstruction of the sidewalk. Medina has an Oct. 13 court date.

Ever since, police cars sit in front of my house and cops stop me and my relatives for no reason, he said.

The police are set up to protect and serve the tiny minority of capitalists, Hart said. Theyre not reformable. But our protests are very important. They build confidence and solidarity and can push back against the cops, getting some of them charged with a crime or fired. To end cop brutality, working people need to take political power out of the hands of the ruling rich.

Hart said workers and farmers in Cuba overthrew capitalism and U.S. domination in 1959, transforming themselves as they gained political consciousness and a sense of their own self-worth.

They reorganized society from top to bottom to meet the needs of working people, he said. The former regimes police, brutal guardians of the interests of the bosses under capitalism, were dismantled and replaced by revolutionary-minded workers.

When I was in Cuba a few months ago, Hart said, I saw a traffic stop in Havana where the driver got into a heated discussion with the officer. There was no violent attack or abuse, unlike what a cop here or in Philadelphia, where I live, would likely have done.

Working people create all the wealth, Hart said.

Yes, and its stolen from us, Medina responded. Lets keep in touch.

 Joel Britton





QUEENS, N.Y.  We are here to bring solidarity and join you in opposing attacks on Muslims and mosques, SWP presidential candidate Kennedy told Bazlur Rahman of the Al-Furqan Jame Masjid mosque here Aug. 21.

The mosques imam, Maulama Akonjee, and his assistant Thara Uddin were murdered in broad daylight Aug. 13. Kennedy was joined by a delegation from the party in New York, including Norton Sandler and Jacob Perasso, SWP candidate for U.S. Senate.

This is important for the working class, Kennedy said. An injury to one is an injury to all.

 Jacob Perasso





Join pension, health care rally Sept. 8 in DC
In response to a PIL which sought ban on pellet guns, the CRPF said that they had used 1.3 million pellets on protesters since July 8. The Kashmir police is now pushing for FN Herstal 303 riot guns as an alternative to pellet guns.

By Naseer Ganai: As the demands for banning pellet guns are increasing, the police authorities in Jammu and Kashmir are pushing for FN Herstal 303 riot guns for crowd control.

The pellet guns caused hundreds of eye injuries and several deaths since July 8 when mass protests erupted in the Kashmir Valley after the killing of Hizbul Mujahideen commander, Burhan Muzaffer Wani.

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Responding to a PIL filed by Kashmir Bar Association, which sought a ban on pellet guns, the CRPF told the Jammu and Kashmir High Court on August 17 that 3765 cartridges of 9 number have been fired from the pump action guns since the July 8.

As each cartridge contains 450 metallic balls, the CRPF have used 1.3 million pellets on protesters till August 11.

Also Read: Kashmir unrest: Centre approves use of chilli grenades, water slugs but pellet guns to stay

FN HERSTAL BEST BET? J-K POLICE THINK SO



Police sources said a presentation about the FN Herstal 303 was given to the officials of the Union Home Ministry in New Delhi with Jammu and Kashmir describing it as their best option to deal with the protesters in the Valley.

Sources said the state police argues that the Herstal, designed to incapacitate the suspects, was less lethal with optional optical sight and could reach the protesters from 50 meters distance and more.

PAVA SHELLS TO REPLACE PAVA GRENADES

They said the police were already using chilli-filled PAVA grenades as crowd control measure in Kashmir. But since the PAVA grenade is effective only when thrown from less than 20 meters, it is not a viable option.

"Any crowd control measure becomes successful if you could stop protesters from a distance. That is why PAVA grenades will be now replaced with PAVA shells as they could be fired like gas gun from a distance," said a source.

Also Read: Govt panel clears chilli grenades but pellet guns to stay in Kashmir as emergency measure

According to the health department, till August 23, 486 persons sustained pellet injuries in their eyes in various districts across Kashmir.

Of these 486, 195 were referred to SMHS hospital in Srinagar and others were managed at district hospitals and were discharged after initial treatment.

NO BAN ON SHOTGUNS ANYTIME SOON

Since several injured persons having pellet wounds in their eyes were directly rushed to the SMHS hospital from various districts, the hospital has received 527 such injured. Of 527, 29 have pellets in their both eyes, 498 have pellet wounds in one eye. The injured have undergone multiple surgeries.

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Police sources said there was no ban likely on the shotguns at least in the coming months. This is because the law enforcing agencies see it as the most potent weapon against the protesters.

Also Read: Kashmir unrest: No blanket ban on use of pellet gun, say MHA sources

In reply to the PIL by Kashmir Bar Association, the CRPF told the court that the pellet guns, introduced in 2010, are "riot control" weapons.

"In case this is withdrawn from the options available with the CRPF, CRPF personnel would have no recourse in extreme situations, but to open fire with rifles which may cause more fatalities," the CRPF affidavit says.

Also Read:

Kashmir unrest: Respect jawans, we are deliberating use of pellet guns, Rajnath tells Kashmiri youths

What went wrong in Kashmir and how to fix it



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By Press Trust of India: Congress leader Sheila Dikshit today launched an attack on Arvind Kejriwal over his former cabinet colleague Sandeep Kumar's alleged sex scandal and asked the Delhi Chief Minister to resign on moral ground.

The former Delhi chief minister accused Kejriwal of "shaming the country" after an "objectionable" CD emerged which showed Kumar in a compromising position with a woman.



If woman's allegations are correct, this is v serious. Strongest exemplary punishment shud be given to Sandeep https://t.co/P9TZuxJf1I Arvind Kejriwal (@ArvindKejriwal) September 3, 2016

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ALSO READ: Sex CD case: Sandeep Kumar arrested by Delhi Police after rape complaint



She was in the city as part of party's campaign team under the Congress' ongoing '27 Saal, UP Behaal' slogan.

SHEILA DIKSHIT SLAMS KEJRIWAL

Dikshit also slammed the remarks of AAP leader Asuthosh, who, while seeking to defend Kumar, had written, "Mahatma Gandhi, Jawahar Lal Nehru and Atal Bihari Vajpai too allegedly had relations with other women, which was on the basis of their mutual consent, though such issues in their personal life did not suffer their political career."

The party's chief ministerial nominee for Uttar Pradesh elections said the remarks are an "insult to the father of our nation" and asked the Union government to take punitive action against the AAP leader.READ: Sex CD case: Had gone to Sandeep Kumar for ration card, says woman in video; BJP seeks apology from Kejriwal

Dikshit, along with party state unit chief Raj Babbar and other leaders embarked on campaign march to Azamgarh and Ghazipur district. She headed the Yatra to Azamgarh and Raj Babbar to Ghazipur district. They addressed gatherings there.

On their way, the Congress leaders paid floral tributes to the martyrs of 1942 movement at 'Shaheed Smarak' here at Cholapur in Varanasi.

Asked to comment on Prime Minister Narendra Modi's reference to Balochistan on his I-Day speech and his Vietnam visit, Dikshit replied in a lighter tone saying, "As he is PM, so no comment."

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American women injured in Krabi mountain fall undergoing surgery in Phuket

Hannnah Michel Gavios, the 23-year-old American woman who fell down a mountain in Krabi on Thursday night (Sep 1) night while fleeing a man that was sexually harassing her, has been transported to Bangkok Phuket Hospital (BPH) to undergo surgery for a broken spine.

accidentscrimepolicetourismviolence

By Eakkapop Thongtub

Saturday 3 September 2016, 07:25PM

Suspect Apai Raingworchai, 28, a local guide, points to the spot where Ms Gavios fell down the mountain.

She is also undergoing treatment for leg injuries, but police say that her legs were not broken during the incident. (see original story here)

Ms Gavios told police that she hired local tour guide to lead her from Ao Railay to Ao Tonsai.

While they were hiking, the man made a sexual passes at her, causing her to panic and fall from the mountain.

Suspect, Apai Raingworchai, 28, a local guide who initially reported the incident, was taken by police to the scene of the incident today in order to conduct a re-enactment.

He has admitted his sexual advances towards Ms Gavios caused her to flee and subsequently fall from the mountain at Ao Railay in Krabi on Thursday night (Sep 1).

Ao Nang Deputy Police Chief, Lt Col Winai Poonsawas revealed this morning (Sep 3) that officers were taking Raingworchai to the area where the incident took place for a re-enactment.

Raingworchai lead officers to the spot where he first met Ms Gavois and agreed to walk her back to her accommodation at Tonsai - along mountain trail some 50 metres above sea level.

He then lead Police to a second spot along the mountain path, where he made unwanted sexual advances to Ms Gavios causing her to panic and flee.

He then led police to a rocky spot approximately 45 metres below the trail, where rescued workers found Ms Gavios after she spent the night unaided in the wild, just 15 metres from the water below.

He told police that after she fell he came looking her and found her lying still between rocks.

He admitted that he put his hand on her body, but that he walked away after she bit his ear.

He later reported the incident to police, claiming that he did not rape her.

Raingworchai was taken to Ao Nang Police Station to face assault causing injury and sexual harassment charges. He was later taken to a cell at the Krabi Provincial Court.
Overland borders to Myanmar open to e-visa travellers

BANGKOK : Myanmars Ministry of Immigration has announced that three border checkpoints are now open to foreigners entering from Thailand with e-visas.

Saturday 3 September 2016, 02:14PM

Tourism and trade between Thailand and Myanmar is dynamic at the border between Mai Sai district, Chiang Rai, and Tachilek. Photo by Bangkok Post / Pattarapong Chatpattarasill)

The Mae Sot-Myawaddy checkpoint is one of the three border crossings that are open to foreigners entering from Thailand with e-visas. Photo by Bangkok Post / Patipat Janthong

We are pleased to announce that starting from 1 September 2016, e-visas can be used to enter Myanmar [Burma] from the following three land border checkpoints, between Myanmar and Thailand  Tachileik, Myawaddy and Kawthaung, said the Ministry of Labour, Immigration and Population on its website, according to the Democratic Voice of Burma.

Previously, visitors to Myanmar could only enter the country with e-visas via international airports at Yangon, Mandalay and Nay Pyi Taw.

Fees for the overland visa are the same as before: US$50 for a tourist visa (28 days) and $70 for a business visa (70 days), payable online by Visa, MasterCard, Amex or JCB. Applicants can simply go online and fill in a form. The only addition requirement is a digital image of a passport photo. The waiting period, if accepted, is three days.

Its certainly going to facilitate and increase arrivals, said Mark Ord of UK-based tour operator All Points East, which specialises in off-the-beaten-track tours to Myanmar. Its a great initiative, though they seem to have omitted the Dawei crossing, which is the easiest from Bangkok.

The Dawei highway is still under construction, and several armed groups are active in the area  so security is the most likely reason that this route is not yet available. However, tourists can now weigh up any of three options  from northern, central or southern Thailand  if they are looking to make an overland trip to Burma.

South: Ranong-Kawthaung:

The bustling fishing port of Ranong is easily accessible from Phuket, Koh Samui and the other paradise beaches of Thailands south. You can also get an overnight bus to Ranong from Bangkok or, even better, Nok Air has recently launched cheap flights there from Don Meuang. Cross to Kawthaung (make sure you exchange money and have enough Burmese kyat in cash  you might not see an ATM for a long while), and then head for Myanmars tropical Andaman coastline. Tourist infrastructure is still not in place, but expect tours and hotels to start popping up everywhere in the near future around Myeik [Mergui] and its castaway islands in the archipelago.

North: Mae Sai-Tachileik:

Mae Sai is Thailands northernmost point, some 250 kilometres from Chiang Mai. It is located in the Golden Triangle area, named for the infamy of opium and heroin smuggling. After crossing the bridge to Tachileik in Shan state, visitors find themselves in a dusty bootleg village, where merchandise is available at knock-down prices. A four-to-five-hour bus ride from Tachileik will take you to Kengtung, an endearingly sleepy quasi-colonial town, which also offers an excellent introduction to some of Myanmars myriad ethnic groups. Kengtung has an airport with connections to Mandalay and Yangon.

Central: Mae Sot-Myawaddy:

Mae Sot is a wild west kind of town, plentiful in cross-border trade. It has a strong Myanmar and Karen population and is close to several refugee camps. Crossing the Friendship Bridge to Myawaddy, travellers can get a bus to the lovely town of Hpa-an in Karen state or Moulmein in Mon state, both of which are good connecting points to Rangoon.

Myanmar is making grand efforts to entice foreign tourists. Though it pains the authorities to admit it, a majority of their visitor numbers to the country  nearly five million last year  are truck drivers, merchants and businesspeople from Thailand and China. The actual number of sightseeing/ souvenir-buying tourists is far lower.

As both Thailand and Myanmar sign more agreements on trade, road-building projects and economic zones, more and more avenues are opening up for those with a sense of adventure  a chance to see some beautiful unspoilt locations in Myanmar before everyone else gets there.
Thawatchai death probe gets outside examiners

BANGKOK: Independent medical examiners will join an investigation into the death of land fraud suspect Thawatchai Anukul, who died mysteriously while in custody, to ensure transparency.

landpropertycorruptionhomicidedeathcrimepolice

By Bangkok Post

Saturday 3 September 2016, 11:26AM

A coffin containing the body of Thawatchai Anukul is moved from Wat Bang Luang in Pathum Thani to the morgue in Thammasat Hospital for storage after the family decided to delay the cremation indefinitely until the questions surrounding his death are cleared up. Photo: Bangkok Post / Pongpat Wongyala

Justice Minister Gen Paiboon Koomchaya said the ministry is admitting medical examiners from state hospitals to the investigation into the suspects death which has triggered speculation about possible foul play.

Thawatchai, 66, was a key suspect in several land fraud cases and was allegedly involved in unlawfully issuing land deeds to wealthy people.

He was arrested in Nonthaburi province on Monday (Aug 29) after having been on the run for almost a decade for his alleged role in numerous land fraud cases in Phuket and Phang Nga.

According to the Department of Special Investigation (DSI), Thawatchai tried to commit suicide by hanging himself with a pair of socks while in detention on the sixth floor of the DSIs headquarters on Chaeng Watthana Rd in the early hours of Tuesday. He died later at the nearby Mongkutwattana Hospital.

However, a document issued by the Police General Hospital which performed the autopsy indicates the cause of death was abdominal haemorrhaging and a ruptured liver from being hit by a solid, blunt object together with asphyxiation from hanging.

According to Gen Paiboon, the move for medical examiner participation was initiated by Ministry of Justice Permanent Secretary Charnchao Chaiyanukij, who wants other independent agencies to take part in the inquiry into the death of the land fraud suspect and believes the DSI, which is under the supervision of the Justice Ministry, should not single-handedly carry out the investigation.

Gen Paiboon said three DSI officials who were on duty when Thawatchai allegedly tried to commit suicide have been questioned and put through lie detector tests. The results of the tests have not been disclosed.

The justice minister said however the victims family was not invited to observe the questioning, so he instructed those in charge to allow Thawatchais family to have access to the investigation whenever appropriate.

Mr Charnchao said yesterday that a ministry-level committee will be established to look into Thawatchais death and their conclusions are expected within two weeks.

He said the ministry will invite medical examiners from major hospitals to serve as advisers while Thawatchais family will be allowed access to every step of the inquiry.

Thawatchais body is being kept at the Thammasat Hospital morgue in Pathum Thani after his cremation was postponed, the justice permanent secretary said. However, he noted that a second autopsy may not be necessary.

Thawatchais family on Thursday decided to postpone the cremation indefinitely until the suspicious circumstances surrounding his death were cleared up.

DSI Director-General Paisit Wongmuang said medical examiners from Chulalongkorn Hospital, Siriraj Hospital and Rama Hospital will be asked to join the probe.

However, he said the DSIs internal probe will proceed and the results will be announced when it is completed.

The DSI chief denied security cameras were removed from the detention room on the day Thawatchai died and said the DSI offices are open to inspection.

Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha said yesterday he had instructed authorities concerned to ensure transparency in the probe, while urging the public not to rush to conclusions.

If the circumstances are not normal, they will have to investigate. The justice minister is on the case and Ive asked authorities concerned to look at it. Just let them work first, he said.

He also allayed concerns that the land fraud cases would be closed following Thawatchais death which has triggered speculation he might have been silenced to kill the case investigations.

Gen Prayut said authorities concerned are pursuing the cases and action would be taken against those implicated in any wrongdoing, including both state officials and investors.

Pol Maj Gen Charoen Sirsaslak, Commander of Metropolitan Police Division 2, said the division has launched a probe into Thawatchais death.

Read original story here.
Kamaal Rashid Khan (KRK) bared all in a press conference on Friday (September 2) evening as he accused Ajay Devgn of making him a scapegoat in his fight with Karan Johar.

By India Today Web Desk: The ongoing controversy surrounding Karan Johar's Ae Dil Hai Mushkil, Ajay Devgn's Shivaay and self-styled film critic Kamaal Rashid Khan took a new turn when KRK held a press conference and came clear about the allegations against him that he took Rs 25 lakh from Karan Johar to promote ADHM and bash Shivaay.

KRK denied taking money from Karan and added that Ajay Devgn was making him a scapegoat in his fight with Karan Johar.

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ALSO READ: Kamaal Rashid Khan says he does not take money to promote films. Evidence suggests otherwise

ALSO READ: Did Karan Johar pay KRK Rs 25 lakh to promote Ae Dil Hai Mushkil?



ALSO READ: Here's all you need to know about KRK



Both Devgn and Johar's films are releasing on October 28 this year. Both are big films and are expected to eat away into each other's profits. That said the buzz and excitement around Ae Dil Hai Mushkil is, indeed, higher than Shivaay's. Shivaay's trailer released three weeks back has got a little more than 17 million views on YouTube whereas the teaser of Ae Dil Hai Mushkil has got almost 12 million views in four days.

According to a report in The Indian Express, KRK kicked off the press conference by displaying a cheque for Rs 3 crore issued by Kumar Mangat's company in his name. Then, he claimed a close professional and personal relationship with Kumar Mangat.

In fact, the audio clip released by Ajay Devgn on Thursday (September 1) was a recording of a telephonic conversation between Mangat and KRK, where Mangat, Devgn's business partner, offers KRK money to promote Shivaay on hearing KRK say that Karan Johar paid him Rs 25 lakh.

KRK, at the press conference, then reportedly attacked Ajay Devgn's claim of having an "emotional connect" with the industry, as per the actor's official statement.

"Ajay Devgn was a two rupees person (sic) before joining the industry and today he is a billionaire. He has no emotional connect with the industry. The only connect he has is that of money. He has not helped the old producers of Action Jackson after they suffered losses due to the movie flopping. He has never helped anyone. He has no emotional connect. He is only interested in money. During Jab Tak Hai Jaan after the demise of Yash Chopra, everyone requested Ajay to shift the date of Son of Sardaar but he didn't. That is his emotional connection with the industry," said KRK.

KRK then went on to accuse Ajay of making him a scapegoat to lock horns with Karan Johar and that it was a tactic similar to his unsuccessful ways to meddle with the release of the 2012 film Jab Tak Hai Jaan.

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"He had slapped a legal case against YRF in which his contention was that in a competition you can't do anything that is not fair. He wants to do something similar in this case too. He wants to fire the gun off my shoulders with Karan as the target. He wants to show that with Karan paying me money the rules of the competition have not been fair and wants to prove the same in the court of law," said KRK.

KRK then said that he mentioned Karan paying him Rs 25 lakh only as a way to stop Mangat from blaming him personally for tweeting against Shivaay. KRK said that neither is Karan a friend he is in touch with nor has he been paid any money by the Ae Dil Hai Mushkil director.

Both Devgn and Johar have a lot riding on their respective movies. Ajay makes a comeback to direction with Shivaay, which, he has said, is his most ambitious project, and Karan has gone behind the lens with his Ranbir Kapoor-starrer after a gap of four years.

Meanwhile Ajay Devgn released an official statement in response to KRK's press conference:

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"We have only made you aware of what KRK has said. KRK is contradicting himself in explanations about what he has said in the recording and what we all have just heard in his postured press conference.

He has not denied that it was his voice in the recording and he is now making excuses and contradicting himself. Where is the sanity here? You have heard what I have heard. It is upto you all to decide. Its his word against his own word.

I have never in my life spoken to nor met this man."



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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.
By Pankaj P. Khelkar: At the separated Army officers residence in Pune, 37-year-old Swati Mahadik, wife of martyr Colonel Santosh Mahadik, is busy answering phone calls. Her family friends have been ringing her after they came to know about Swati's name reflecting in the merit list of the cadets who have cleared the SSB (Service Selection Board) exam. In the coming days, Swati Mahadik is all set to wear the olive uniform for which her husband proudly lived throughout his life and laid down his life for the pride of the nation.

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On November 17, 2015, Col Santosh Mahadik, while he was heading a search operation wherein three dreaded terrorists had opened fire on search party in Kupwara of Jammu and Kashmir, succumbed to injuries in the exchange of fire with terrorists.

After 9 months of the tragic incident, now Swati proudly stands by her husband's olive green uniform. She explained how she made up her mind to join the Indian Army. Swati shared that after her husband's death when the mortal remains were in-front of her, emotionally shattered she was but she kept on saying to herself that she will serve the Indian Army the way her husband did.

November 17, 18 and 19th were the most painful days in her life and so she doesn't want to remember these days, when she lost her husband and her kids lost their loving father. Swati did not forget to say that Indian Army had lost one of their efficient officer. Swati shared how the initials days were very difficult to live thrugh. "I used to think how I am going to live whole of my life without him, many a times I used to think how the next day is going to be. The days started to appear longer, unending.

Martyr Col Santosh Mahadik.

Then Swati shared with us, what exactly made her to join Indian Army. "Initially when I had decided to join Indian Army it was absolutely emotional decision, like I want to see Santosh in mirror, I wanted to just wear his Uniform, by being with him, living with him "

Swati further explained as days passed, the decision to join Indian Army was not just emotional. She logically concluded that indeed she wanted to peruse with armed forces for couple of reasons. Here's how she justified her decision. "I want to give my kids same disciplined life what Santosh had followed, we as a family followed. Army is not just a job as such, Army is a way of living. I want my kids to follow their father's footsteps and so I made up my mind to join Indian Army, but this time not only my heart, the brain was also on same side."

When India Today posed her the question, that it must have been a proud moment that she got cleared the SSB, Swati explained though it's nice to get selected but the mind is absolutely blank. "Now there is nothing in my mind, there is no happiness, there is no sadness, I remember Santosh used to say you should stay in the sense of trupti (contentment). there is satisfaction in me, now I got a reason to live for, earlier the amount of pain that I used to have, all those things are settling now."

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SWATI TALKS ABOUT TOUGH SSB EXAM

A graduate from then Pune University Swati stated that its only the age concession that widows of martyrs get from Indian army but the sympathy ends then there itself with the age wavier after that each of the woman appearing for SSB is addressed by her chest number. Swati's chest number was 22.

Swati Mahadik, wife of martyr Colonel Santosh Mahadik with her children

"All of the officers I know had warned me that Swati hence forth there is no sympathy at all. You are not going there as Swati Mahadik, no one is going to ask you your name at the SSB. You are known there as chest number". Swati proudly shared whatever she wrote in the SSB was as a chest number, the stories, the group discussion, the panel discussion. She emphasised that the results of SSB are absolutely based upon what is done by the appearing candidate.

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PHYSICAL EXAM WAS NOT PAINFUL

Swati explained that she attempted all of the hurdles that were given to other girls appearing for the SSB board. Although all of the other girls were younger than Swati did all those physical exercises mentioned in the board. When asked was the physical exam painful, Swati said not painful than loosing Santosh. So each time she attempted any of the hurdle it did not cause any anxiety or fear. Swati narrated that after crossing hurdles that were more than 12 feet height she got a sense of confidence that she was able to cross such difficult hurdles.

TALKS ABOUT HER KIDS

As we were discussing about the changed life and the way the Mahadik family has adjusted to live with fond memories that Col Santosh Mahadik has left behind, Swati Mahadik received a letter from her elder daughter Kartikee, who studies at boarding school in penchant near Mahabaleshwar. The inland letter sent by her elder daughter had a drawing of a new happy family.

Swati Mahadik stated that once she joins the Indian Army as an officer then she will get the kids to live with her.

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An emotional drawing that has a mother and two kids. The letter even had a message "HAPPY FAMILY " with three members. Mother, Brother and herself. Swati explained that till she completes her training both her kids will be studying in boarding school. She has a daughter Kartikee who is 11 year of age and son Swaraj is 6 years old. She stated that once she joins the Indian Army as an officer then she will get the kids to live with her.

THE LAST SELFIE BY COL SANTOSH

Swati has a daughter Kartikee who is 11 year of age and son Swaraj is 6 years old.

Swati shared with India Today the good memories she and Santosh spent with each other, One of the photograph had last selfie pic that has a Swati's smile and Col Santosh next to her. Another selfie shows Swati in very angry mood as Col Santosh had arrived very late and that had annoyed Swati but as true Gentleman officer Col. Santosh did not waste a moment to apologise and even gave a comic pose along with Swati... Yet another happy moment pic has all four of the family members on each other. Now, Swati says that although there are just memories left behind, she has started life afresh ready to serve the nation the way her husband did. 100 per cent dedication. She is gearing up to join the Officers Training Academy (OTA) in Chennai as part of the SSCW (non-tech) course, and after completing the training, then she will be commissioned as in the Indian Army as a lieutenant.

MINDSET CAN BE CHANGED BY EDUCATION NOT BY BULLET

"Yes I feel the same, like in school nowadays we say that kids should not be beaten, they should be motivated, they should be shown with the right direction. They should be given options, thru dialogue they should be convinced what are the benefits, what are the drawbacks. They should be educated. So I have full confidence that if we adhere to this path we will surely get positive results. And if all of us have one mind set then it's for sure that one day the terrorism will be under control. When we pose Swati Mahadik whether discussion can bring the tense situation under control, Swati Mahadik said as of now she has not been trained to know all of the facts but she said that apart from discussions, actions will bring positive difference in the mindset. Like Col Santosh had started Kupwara tourism, he had even started motivating the kids in that region to join schools. At the end Swati Santosh Mahadik emphasized that "Action speaks louder than words". "Education - Employment will eventually curb terrorism and bring the positive change in the Kashmir Valley."

ALSO READ:





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Lalu's jibe comes a day after Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal in his tweets mocked Modi over front page newspaper ads that used his photo to announce the launch of Jio 4G services.

By India Today Web Desk: Rashtriya Janata Dal chief Lalu Yadav today took a dig at Reliance Jio ads featuring Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

"What will the poor eat: atta (wheat flour) or data? Data is cheaper, atta is dearer. This is their definition of changing the country. While you're at it, please explain who will solve the problem of call drops," the Rashtriya Janata Dal chief tweeted in Hindi today.

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ATTA Vs DATA

Lalu's jibe comes a day after Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal in his tweets mocked Modi over front page newspaper ads that used his photo to announce the launch of Jio 4G services.

"Modiji you keep modelling for Reliance ads. Labourers across the country will teach you a lesson in 2019," Mr Kejriwal said in a tweet in Hindi.

Meanwhile, Congress has suggested that Prime Minister should take action against Realiance Jio for using his photograph without taking permission from PMO.

"There are certain norms for displaying photo of the Prime Minister in an advertisement. As a former Union minister, I am aware that prior permission has to be taken. Had Reliance taken permission from the PM or the PMO?" Congress' leader Ajay Maken said.



On Thursday while launching its ambitious Jio 4G services, Reliance Industries Limited chief Mukesh Ambani had dedicated the services to Modi government's flagship Digital India project.

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"The institute which is given top status in India is orthodox. It is a slave of its own tradition, not willing to change, unwilling to become scientific. That is why it is India's top class, not the world's," Manish Sisodia said.

By Press Trust of India: The IITs are "slaves" of their own tradition and "orthodox", Delhi Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia said today, claiming these factors are major hindrances for the premier tech institutes towards attaining world class status.

Speaking at a seminar here, Sisodia cited the example of Malvika Joshi, who was rejected by IIT because as she does not have a 10th or 12th completion certificate, but was accepted by the prestigious Massachusetts Institute of Technology in the US.

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"The institute which is given top status in India is orthodox. It is a slave of its own tradition, not willing to change, unwilling to become scientific. That is why it is India's top class, not the world's," Sisodia said.

"We believe that only that person should get admission in IIT who has spent 20 years in school. This rigidity led IIT to lose one talented candidate. When I read about this girl the first thing that I thought was that is why IIT can never be the world's premier institute," he added.

Sisodia, who holds the Education portfolio as well, also pitched for a separate Education ministry in the Centre, saying a person should not be considered as a resource.

Education falls under the Ministry of Human Resources currently.

"The election season is going on in the United States and debates are going as to who will be the Education minister or the Finance minister and the debate is between professors of top institutes, educationists.

"Neither are they elected people nor are they bureaucrats or politicians. And look at our country where fake people rule the roost (number 2 ka aadmi)," he said.

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Verstappen has been a breath of fresh air for the sport since he arrived as a 17-year-old with Toro Rosso last season but his uncompromising attitude and aggressive tactics have caused controversy.

By Reuters: Lewis Hamilton has hailed Max Verstappen's stunning success in Formula One and called on those criticising the Dutch teenager's driving to keep a sense of perspective.

"He has grabbed the opportunity with both hands... Firstly, give the guy a break, he is 18 years old. What the heck were any of us doing at 18?" the triple world champion told British reporters at the Italian Grand Prix on Friday.

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"He has won a grand prix. The pressure on his young shoulders is something most people will not be able to comprehend."

Hamilton, who had a stunning Formula One debut of his own with McLaren in 2007 and on Sunday could become only the third driver to win 50 grands prix, said Verstappen had plenty to learn like any youngster.

But he said the man who became the youngest ever race winner in Spain this year on his Red Bull debut, and started on the front row in Belgium last weekend, was clearly an exceptional talent.

"I don't know what I would have been like at 18 on track, but I would have made lots of mistakes," said Hamilton. "I just see a young, talented kid who just seems to have an enormous amount of raw talent.

"At 18, the maturity hasn't caught up with your ability and that might go faster with some people or slower. Only time will tell."

Verstappen has been a breath of fresh air for the sport since he arrived as a 17-year-old with Toro Rosso last season but his uncompromising attitude and aggressive tactics have caused controversy.

He arrived in Monza after tangling with both Ferrari drivers and drawing the ire of Kimi Raikkonen after the Finn was forced to brake on the straight at Spa.

Hamilton said he had no personal issues with the Dutchman, whose father Jos was also a fierce competitor in Formula One, but had seen some videos of Spa.

"The one where he ran Kimi off, that was an interesting one, but thats just him learning. He is a young aggressive driver," he said, adding that he had witnessed far worse behaviour.

"We could all go out there and be reckless. You have to find a balance," said Hamilton.

"I have driven with people in the past where there was a guy in front who was a complete psycho. It was, like 'What the hell is this guy thinking?"

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FILE-In this file photo taken on Friday, July 10, 2015, Uzbekistan's President Islam Karimov gestures while speaking to Russian President Vladimir Putin during the SCO (Shanghai Cooperation Organization) summit in Ufa, Russia. The Interfax news agency Friday Sept. 2, 2016 cites an Uzbek government statement saying President Islam Karimov is dead. (AP Photo/Ivan Sekretarev, file)
A Tamil migrant worker from Malaysia was sent back to India, after he had a spat with his ex-employer who tried to set him on fire. He was admitted to a government hospital in Trichy.

By Pramod Madhav: A Tamil migrant worker who returned from Malaysia today with severe burn marks was rushed to a government hospital in Trichy in critical condition.

Kannan was a resident of Athiramapattinsm, Pattukottai district, who left for Malaysia to work as a kitchen help in a restaurant in Thungikillan two years ago.

He had a ugly spat within days of joining the restaurant and quit his job. He later found a job in a gas agency and began to work there.

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However, the spat between the restaurant owner and Kannan grew bigger with the former pouring petrol on him and setting him ablaze. Hearing Kannan's scream, authorities came to his aid and he was admitted at a hospital in Malaysia. But as his condition didn't get any better, Kannan was immediately sent back to India.

He reached Trichy on September 2 and was moved to Trichy Government hospital in burnt victims unit.

He is still under danger.



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Patnaik's close aides say that to understand him, one has to understand his empathy

By Pratul Sharma/Photos Sanjay Ahlawat
On the silver screen he might be a hero, anti-hero, villain or a comedian, but in real life he is always giving. For months now, actor Jayam Ravi and his wife Aarti have been packing carton boxes. No, they are not setting out for a leisure trip to a foreign country or moving homes, but they are packing used clothes, toys and stationary items for those who need them.

As one of the brand ambassadors of Chennai Gives, a charity initiative by the Madras Roundtable 1 and Ladies Circle India Area 2 in collaboration with Uber, on the occasion of International Charity day on Sunday (September 4), Ravi is happily donating. "Giving is always a pleasure," says Ravi, who last year donated around 200 items during the Chennai Gives drive. This year he is all set to give at least 350 articles.

Chennai Gives has been encouraging and fostering community of givers among individuals and corporate houses since last year. Donors can donate new or nearly new items like books, clothes, games, sporting equipment, household items, stationery and other items that will improve the lives of the less fortunate. All you have to do is pack the things you want to donate and call for an Uber car on the app. The cabs will pick up the donations from homes and corporate offices.

Last years drive saw the city coming together to donate more than one lakh items that helped impact nearly 10,000 lives. The generosity was such that the drive witnessed a donation of 36,000 toothbrushes, which were distributed to 9,000 children in 13 schools. Supported by celebrities like Suriya, Arvind Swamy, Trisha, Jyothika, Dulquer and Jayam Ravi, the initiative saw the commoners coming together to make sizable donations. This year, stars Simbu, Sarath Kumar, Srikant, Dhansika, Santhanam, Tarun Tahiliani, Sriya Reddy and Abhishek Bachchan have come out in support of the campaign. Arvind Swami is the brand ambassador for the second year.

"Powerful ideas that can impact our societies must be shared. All it took last year, was one ideato give, to impact approximately 10,000 peoples lives positively. When we conceptualised and executed #ChennaiGives2015, we understood collectively the power of an idea, the true spirit of giving and bonding amongst the citizens of Chennai and the immense power of a grassroots movement," says T.R. Narayanswamy, Chairman of Madras Round Table 1.

Talking about the spirit of oneness this campaign brings, Round Table India Area 2 Chairman, Akshay Dugar says, "The art of giving and the power of oneness come together in the form of Chennai Gives. If each privileged citizen came forward to donate to a needy person, that act is nothing short of a life changing experience for both. The event echoes every objective of Round Table India and Ladies Circle India and it is a proud moment for us to run this campaign in this wonderful city. Imagine the impact we are going to create with 32 chapters working hand in hand with our partners for the event; the magnitude of such an experience is unbelievable."
Neither Congress leader Capt Amarinder Singh nor Delhi Chief Minister and Aam Admi Party Chief Arvind Kejriwal would ever visit every village of state to meet people and redress the grievances of masses. For that matter, no other chief minister in the country will do that, claimed Punjab chief minister Parkash Singh Badal, in the course of a Sangat Darshan in his native Lambi village of Punjab on Friday.

Sangat Darshan literally translates to Appearance before the People. Badal, in his 90s, appears before people in different constituencies, as he campaigns for his Shiromani Akali Dal, fighting incumbency of ten years. What makes him beleagured is the anti- Sukhbir Badal wave sweeping the state.

Till last time around, the contests were straight-between the SAD-BJP alliance, and the Congress. The left parties and the BSP remained in the periphery. This time around, the AAP has jumped into the fray and intends giving a tough fight. Add to that Navjot Sidhu's new frontthe Aawaaz-e-Punjab.

If voted to power, both these parties will discontinue several pro-people schemes and subsidies being currently given to people. So before casting your vote, carefully distinguish between your sympathisers and enemies so that your future is in safe hands, says Badal before listing the schemes and initiatives launched by his government. He talks of the Atta-Dal, Pension, Shagun, Mai Bhago Vidya Scheme and Bhagat Puran Singh Sehat Beema Yojna He points out that the state government is giving free power to farmers and weaker sections of society worth several thousand crore rupees annually.

Badal lashes out at his rivals. Both Congress and AAP have a proven track record of being anti-poor and anti-Punjabi. If these parties are voted to power they would discontinue all these schemes thus leaving hapless beneficiaries in lurch. Citing the examples, he says that during his stint as chief minister, Captain Amarinder Singh had discontinued free power to people and welfare schemes were a distant dream. The AAP government in Delhi has done nothing tangible on the welfare front while its leaders in Punjab are insulting beneficiaries of pro- poor schemes by terming them as beggars, says Badal.

These people are virtually good for nothing and the future of people especially from poor strata of society can never be safe in their hands, he roars.

On the formation of new fronts in the state, the chief minister forseees many more such groups. People without any administrative experience, contribution and sympathy towards state are forming such groups, which would hardly have any impact on state's polity, he says. Many more such groups will emerge before the polls but the electorate will outrightly reject them, he adds.
India inched a little closer to Vietnam. The country that is the central pillar in Indias Act East Policy, was wooed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi with closer defence ties500 million dollars credit line for cooperation in this areabut it wasnt all guns. Modi had roses too in his bouquet for Vietnamwith the cement of culture and a dose of charisma.

The defence deal maybe the biggest tangible take-away from the visit, but India is also trying to reach out diplomatically through safer ways than defence. It was no coincidence that the two-day conference on Indian Ocean Conference in Singaporeorganised by think-tank India Foundationhappened around the same time as Prime Minister Modi visited Vietnam. The aim of the conference was for the big Ccooperation; it also aimed at the biggest C in the regionChina. India hopes to harness the power of the East to get countries to Act together. The formula is simple: closer ties through culturesome cashand civilisation.

So, Modi emphasised the 2000-year-old link between the two countries; he upped the relationship between the two countries and offered cooperation in areas that go beyond just defence. It is a matter of great satisfaction that, we have now decided to upgrade our relationship to a "Comprehensive Strategic Partnership," said Prime Minister Modi in a speech at the banquet held for him.

India has also offered a grant of US 5 million dollars for the establishment of a Software Park in the Telecommunications University in Nha Trang. And more. The framework agreement on space cooperation would allow Vietnam to join hands with Indian Space Research Organisation to meet its national development objectives. Enhancing bilateral commercial engagement is also our strategic objective. For this, new trade and business opportunities will be tapped to achieve the trade target of fifteen billion dollars by 2020, said Modi. He also thanked the Vietnamese government for its leadership in facilitating inscription of Nalanda Mahavihara as a UNESCO World Heritage site earlier this year.

Twelve MOUs were inked during the visit. Also, on the cards is Archaeological Survey of Indias team expertise on conservation and restoration work of the Cham monuments at My Son. It is also interesting that Modi chose to combine Vietnam with his visit to China for the G20 adding just that little bit to send a message to the dragon. He had done this last time when he combined Pakistan and Afghanistan.
CM Pinarayi Vijayan, it seems, has a liking for PM Modis style of functioning. After the LDF government in Kerala completed 100 days in office, Chief Minister Vijayan reached out to the people of the state through radio, a broadcast similar to Modis Mann Ki Baat.

Said Vijayan to journalists in Delhi on Saturday, I was not emulating Modi. I delivered the speech on being requested by Akashvani.

This is not the first time that Vijayan has tried to imitate Modi. In the last three months, the state government has flaunted advertisements in newspapers highlighting its achievements, featuring a grinning Vijayan.

Like Modi, Vijayan, too, has evaded the media on most occasions. Both of them have the final say on important matters, maintain discipline in the administration and have displayed boldness while taking crucial decisions.

Modi and Vijayan, who have risen from humble backgrounds, have an iron grip over their parties, having sidelined the critics.

Said BJP state president Kummanam Rajasekharan to THE WEEK, Pinarayi Vijayan is trying to imitate Modi so as to get popular. But, unlike Modi, Vijayan is not an honest politician. His intentions are not right. Let him imitate Modi as much as he wants, but it will serve no purpose.

The puzzling similarities between Modi and Vijayan are a talking point on social networking sites.

Said Sebastian Paul, political commentator and former MP, to THE WEEK: Such a comparison is natural. Pinarayi (Vijayan) could be emulating Modi. In a democracy, every chief minister or prime minister tries to gain as much publicity for his work. We know that Modi is a master in projecting himself as a popular leader. Pinarayi wants to follow him. There is no harm in such tactics.

Kodiyeri Balakrishnan, CPI(M) general secretary in Kerala, though, denies any such move on the part of Vijayan. Such discussions are unwarranted, he said to THE WEEK.
Philippines' President Rodrigo Duterte declared on Saturday a "state of lawlessness" in the country after an explosion in a market killed 14 people in his home city while he was on a regular weekend visit there.

Duterte, the crime-busting mayor of Davao City for more than two decades, said the blast late on Friday outside a high-end hotel intensified what was an "extraordinary time" in the Philippines, and security forces would redouble efforts to tackle crime, drugs and insurgency.

"I must declare a state of lawless violence in this country, it's not martial law," Duterte told a phalanx of reporters on a Davao street at daybreak after visiting the blast site.

"It's not martial law until it's a threat against the people and against the nation ... I have this duty to protect this country."

Duterte was at a meeting some 12 km (7.5 miles) away from downtown Davao when the explosion occurred.

It came as the uncompromising president wages war with just about anyone from drugs kingpins and street dealers to Islamist rebels and corrupt bureaucrats, scoring big points in opinion polls, but at a risk of making powerful enemies.

There was no claim of responsibility though suspicion centred on an Islamic State-linked militant group.

Police said 67 people were wounded in addition to the 14 dead.

Police have yet to disclose details of their initial investigation, but Davao Mayor Sarah Dutertethe president's daughtersaid in a television interview it was a bomb.

Police and military promised to implement the nationwide "state of lawlessness", although there appeared to be confusion about what that actually entailed.

Duterte's office said it was "rooted" in an article of the constitution that puts the president in charge of the armed forces. Several officials said the declaration meant troops would assist police in anti-crime and anti-terror operations.

Death threats

Rumours have swirled of a plot to assassinate Duterte, 71, which he has shrugged off as part of his job. The talk has been fuelled by his controversial crackdown on drugs that has killed more than 2,000 people since his June 30 inauguration, and has been condemned by activists and the United Nations.

Asked on Thursday about death threats, Duterte's spokesman Ernesto Abella said: "He eats that for breakfast, it's not something new."

The explosion went off at about 10.30 pm at a market outside the Marco Polo hotel, a place Duterte visits often and used for meetings during a campaign for a May election that he won by a huge margin. He typically spends his weekends in Davao.

Asked if he thought drugs gangs were behind it, Duterte said: "It is also being considered ... At least we know who made the threats."

The White House offered condolences and assistance, which National Security Council spokesman Ned Price said President Barack Obama would convey when he meets Duterte in Laos next week.

Duterte cancelled a trip to Brunei on Saturday in what would have been his first overseas visit as president. Officials said he would still attend next week's Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN) and East Asia Summits in Laos.

Though Davao itself is relatively safe, it is located on Mindanao, a large southern island province beset by poverty and decades of Muslim insurgency.

Abu Sayyaf rebels linked to Islamic State and notorious for multi-million dollar kidnappings operate in the jungles of Mindanao's Jolo and Basilan islands.

They are being hit by stepped-up offensives after Duterte ordered the military to wipe the group out.

Defence Secretary Delfin Lorenzana said Abu Sayyaf would have good reason to retaliate and he had placed the military on high alert for possible attacks elsewhere.

"While nobody has owned up to this act, we can only assume that this was perpetrated by the terrorist group Abu Sayyaf that has suffered heavy casualties," he said.
By Ashish Pandey: Hyderabad police on Friday recovered a charred dead body of 30-year-old non-resident Indian, S Gautham Reddy, who went missing on the day he landed in the city from Kenya on August 29.

Police found his severely decomposed body in the bushes near a dairy farm in Bowenpally police limits under North zone of city.

Gautham was the managing director of a private firm at Nairobi in Kenya. He was operating the business in Nairobi since 2010 and eight month ago had married

a girl there.

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On August 29, at around 3.30 pm Gautham had landed in the city but on August 30th, his brother S Venkat Reddy, a businessman, lodged a complaint with the Bowenpally police that his brother went missing from the residence on August 29 and did not return home.

BROTHER FILES MISSING COMPLAINT

Based on the complaint, police had registered a case of missing and took up investigation. On Friday, the Bowenpally police received information about a highly decomposed body and later identified it as of Gautham Reddy.

As per family members Gautham was suffering from depression and they were planning treatment for him but before that on Monday he left house saying that he is going for a walk and later went missing.

"The body was in highly decomposed condition and there were burns on the body. We sent the body to hospital for post-mortem. Based on post-mortem report, we will investigate and ascertain whether it was a suicide or murder," sub inspector B Srinivas told India Today.

Also read:

This NRI stabbed his wife as she was overweight, but was let off due to his 'Hindu culture'



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The credit offered by Modi was among a dozen cooperation agreements he signed in Hanoi alongside Vietnamese counterpart Nguyen Xuan Phuc.

By Indo-Asian News Service: India on Saturday signed an agreement to provide patrol boats and extended a $500-million line of credit in the defence sector to Vietnam in a clear sign of New Delhi boosting its presence in southeast Asia's geopolitical scenario.

India also upgraded its relationship with Vietnam from "strategic partnership" to "comprehensive strategic partnership" following delegation-level talks between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Vietnamese Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc.

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"My conversation with PM Phuc was extensive," Modi said in a joint press address with his Vietnamese counterpart.

"We agreed to tap into the growing economic opportunities in the region," he said.

Stating that the two sides have agreed to upgrade their strategic partnership to comprehensive strategic partnership, Modi said: "PM and I have agreed to deepen our defence cooperation."

He then announced an Indian line of credit of $500 million in the defence sector to Vietnam.

India and Vietnam signed 12 agreements, including provision of offshore patrol boats and cooperation in the field of cyber security

Modi arrived in Vietnam on Friday in what is the first prime ministerial visit from India to Vietnam in 15 years.

Earlier on Saturday, he was accorded a ceremonial welcome at the Presidential Palace in Hanoi.

Vietnam is in the midst of a major military buildup that analysts say is a deterrant as neighboring China grows more assertive in staking its rival claims in the South China Sea.



Also Read:

PM Modi accorded ceremonial welcome on arriving in Vietnam

Exclusive: NSG, Pakistan in focus as Modi arrives in China for G20

Modi, Xi to meet on Sunday, may discuss China-Pak corridor

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Narendra Modi, the first Indian prime minister to visit the communist nation in 15 years, was welcomed by Vietnamese president Tran Dai Quant.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi reviews the guard of honour with his Vietnamese counterpart Nguyen Xuan Phuc during a welcoming ceremony at the Presidential Palace in Hanoi, Vietnam. (Photo: Reuters)

By Press Trust of India: Prime Minister Narendra Modi was accorded a ceremonial welcome in front of the majestic Presidential palace in Hanoi this morning. In Pics



Modi, the first Indian prime minister to visit the communist nation in 15 years, was welcomed by Vietnamese president Tran Dai Quant.

Modi flew in here last night for a day long packed visit to Vietnam. He leaves this evening for the G20 talks in China.

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After national anthems of both India and Vietnam were played by the armed forces band, dressed in sharp white with gold tassels and black gum boots, the prime minister inspected a guard of honour by the three armed forces of the host country.

PM Modi and his Vietnamese counterpart Nguyen Xuan Phuc listen to national anthems during a welcoming ceremony at the Presidential Palace in Hanoi, Vietnam. (Photo: Reuters)

Immediately afterwards Modi, in white churidar kurta with grey jacket, was taken to the humble traditional stilt house near the palace where Vietnam's beloved leader Ho Chi Minh lived intermittently between 1958-1969. He was shown the place by the Vietnamese president.

Later he will hold talks with his Vietnamese counterpart Nguyen Xuan Phuc.

Also Read:

Exclusive: NSG, Pakistan in focus as Modi arrives in China for G20

Modi, Xi to meet on Sunday, may discuss China-Pak corridor

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Addressing Buddhist monks at the Pagoda temple, Modi said Vietnam was an inspiration for everyone to shun violence and follow Buddhas path of peace and harmony.

By PTI: Prime Minister Narendra Modi today visited the historic Pagoda temple here and the stilt house where revered leader Ho Chi Minh lived, apart from enjoying fishing with his Vietnamese counterpart Nguyen Xuan Phuc.

Addressing Buddhist monks at the temple, Modi said Vietnam was an inspiration for everyone to shun violence and follow Buddha's path of peace and harmony.

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"World should walk on the path of peace that brings happiness and prosperity, while war only brings transient greatness," the prime minister said.

"The advent of Buddhism from India to Vietnam and the monuments of Vietnam's Hindu Cham temples stand testimony to these bonds," Modi said.

He said the India-Vietnam ties were 2,000 years old.

Modi emphasised that his visit to Vietnam - the first by an Indian premier in 15 years - was to "nurture a relationship between our two societies and nations."

"These cultural bonds reflect themselves in many ways. Most prominently, in the connect between Buddhism and the monuments of the Hindu Cham civilization," he said.

"Some people came here with the objective of war. We came here with a message of peace which has endured," Modi said.

Modi said Buddhism, which took the sea route, travelled to Vietnam in its purest form from India.

#WATCH: Prime Minister Narendra Modi interacts with the monks at Quan Su Pagoda in Hanoi (Vietnam). pic.twitter.com/Oh0CRQnM23 ANI (@ANI_news) September 3, 2016

He invited all the monks to visit India - the land of Buddha - and especially to Varanasi "which I represent in the Indian Parliament."

He said he is fortunate to visit the Pagoda temple after first President Rajendra Prasad in 1959.

The Quan Su Pagoda, also known as Ambassadors pagoda, is said to have served emissaries that were sent from Champa and Laos to Vietnam in the past. The pagodas - a Buddhist heritage and popular tourist sites - are at the heart of Vietnamese Buddhism and are a precious treasure of Hanoi.

The pagoda is said to have served emissaries that were sent from Champa and Laos to Vietnam in the past.

Earlier today, Modi visited Ho Chi Minh's stilt house at the majestic presidential palace. He was accompanied by Premier Phuc and thanked him for his generous welcome.

"Earlier this morning, you made the special gesture of personally showing me Ho Chi Minh's house... Thank you, Excellency, for extending me the privilege. Let me also congratulate the people of Vietnam on their national day that you celebrated yesterday," he said.

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The stilt house was the residence of Ho Chi Minh from 1958 until his death in 1969 and is located inside the majestic Presidential Palace in Hanoi.

In Pics: PM Modi visits historic Pagoda temple on his Vietnam trip



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Hundreds of thousands are expected to gather in Rome on Sunday for a canonisation service led by Pope Francis, leader of the world's 1.2 billion Roman Catholics, in front of St Peter's Basilica.

By Reuters: On the eve of her canonisation as a Roman Catholic saint, and 19 years after her death, the order founded by Mother Teresa of Calcutta is going strong - even without her charismatic leadership.

The Missionaries of Charity gained world renown, and Mother Teresa a Nobel peace prize, by caring for the dying, the homeless and orphans gathered from the teeming streets of the city in eastern India.

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They also drew criticism for propagating what one sceptic has called a cult of suffering; for failing to treat people whose lives might have been saved with hospital care; and for trying to convert the destitute to Christianity.

While staying true to their cause, the Missionaries of Charity say they have responded to their detractors.

"There is no change in our way of treating the sick and dying - we follow the same rule that Mother had introduced," said Sister Nicole, who runs the Nirmal Hriday home in the ancient district of Kalighat, the first to be set up by Mother Teresa in 1952.

The nuns no longer picked up people "randomly" off the streets, she said, and only took in the destitute at the request of police.

"Any good work will be challenged - but if the work is genuinely good it will survive such criticism and carry on to be God's true work," said Nicole.

PRAYER AND WORK

Hundreds of thousands are expected to gather in Rome on Sunday for a canonisation service led by Pope Francis, leader of the world's 1.2 billion Roman Catholics, in front of St Peter's Basilica.

Kolkata, as the former capital of the British Raj is now called, is holding prayers, talks and cultural events. But no major ceremony is planned to mark the path to sainthood for the two miracles of healing attributed to Mother Teresa.

The low-key mood reflects an often-heated debate over religious intolerance in India, a predominantly Hindu country of 1.3 billion people.

Although Prime Minister Narendra Modi has said Indians felt "proud" about the canonisation, the head of a Hindu grassroots movement that supports his government provoked controversy last year by accusing Mother Teresa of seeking to convert people to Christianity. Her order denies this.

Kolkata Archbishop Thomas D'Souza played down any suggestion that Mother Teresa was not loved and respected by people of other faiths in a city that is home to 170,000 Roman Catholics.

"Mother is certainly not a goddess to them," he told Reuters. "But she is deeply venerated and people - cutting across caste, community and creed - are respectful to her work."

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The everyday work of the Missionaries of Charity goes on, meanwhile.

On a recent day at the spartan Kalighat home, male inmates with shaven heads and wearing green uniforms lay on bunks. Women ate in a canteen while others were cared for by volunteers.

One inmate, a man of about 40 called Saregama, had just died.

"Saregama died with dignity and care," said Sister Nicole. "We prayed for him."

The number of homes that the Missionaries of Charity run has grown to nearly 750 in India and abroad, from the 600 that Mother Teresa left when she died in 1997.

At Mother House, her old headquarters down a narrow lane, the mood was one of silent prayer. Inside, a notice still hung on the wall saying: "Time to see Mother Teresa: 9 am to 12 noon/3 pm to 6 pm. Thursday closed."

Mother House still attracts visitors to India like Pedro Afonso, a lawyer from Brazil who had come with a friend for evening mass. He gave thanks for the miracles that will bring sainthood to Mother Teresa and said that, in Kolkata, she "had chosen the right place for her work and charity".

Also read: Mamata Banerjee leaves for Rome, to attend Mother Teresa's canonisation on Sunday

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"Govt should publish the contemplated White Paper. Before they withdraw the Economic Survey of 2014-15," former Finance Minister P Chidambaram said.

By Press Trust of India: Virtually daring the Prime Minister, former Finance Minister P Chidambaram today said the government should publish the contemplated White Paper on the economic situation in the country before the Narendra Modi dispensation presented its first budget in 2014.

"Govt should publish the contemplated White Paper. Before they withdraw the Economic Survey of 2014-15."

"Also withdraw RBI Annual Report and CSO Report for 2014-15. They will be non-White Papers!", the senior Congress leader and Rajya Sabha MP said in a series of tweets.

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Also read: PM Modi: Our motto is to reform, perform, transform

The response of Chidambaram, who was the Finance Minister when the UPA went out of power in May 2014, came a day after Prime Minister Narendra Modi had said in an interview that he wanted to bring a White Paper before his government presented its first budget but opted against it in the national interest, even at the risk of political damage.

"...I think, before presenting the first budget, I should have placed a White Paper in Parliament on the economic situation in the country. This thought had come to me," Modi said an interview to an English news channel.

Senior Congress spokesperson Anand Sharma also sought to dismiss the Prime Minister's claim. He had said on Friday the Prime Minister had participated in an interview the questions and answers of which appeared to be "prepared by the PMO."

Accusing the Prime Minister of "misleading" the nation by targeting previous government on the economic situation, he told reporters "UPA had left a stable economy. Forex reserves were USD 300 billion. National income grew three-fold. Nearly 14 crore people came out of poverty".

Taking a dig at the Prime Minister, he said Modi knows "very little" about the economic situation in India.

"Indeed, it seems that people are circumspect to give him the real picture."

Seeking to puncture government's claims, he said the fact is that the economy is in a "worrying situation" with key parameters like National Saving Rate and National Investment Rate having fallen.

"After being in power for 27 months, these excuses are not expected. Instead of making comments on the previous Government, Modiji should instead talk about all of his electoral promises which have remained unfulfilled," Sharma said insisting that during the UPA term, GDP increased four-fold in 10 years.

He challenged the government to come out with a White Paper to tell the country about falling investment rate, falling manufacturing, non creation of new capacities, gross capital formation falling in double digits, job loss and fall in exports.

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Fifth senior most judge of the Supreme Court, Justice J Chelameswar has questioned the functioning of the collegium and sought documentation of its meetings.

By India Today Web Desk: Senior Supreme Court judge and a member of the SC collegium, Justice J Chelameswar has refused to attend the meetings of the judges' appointment panel. Justice Chelameswar cited as lack of transparency in the collegium in the matter of appointment of SC judges.

Justice Chelameswar has written to the Chief Justice TS Thakur expressing his view. He has sought that the SC collegium record minutes of the meetings, which have been confidential till now.

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The SC collegium comprises of the five senior-most judges of the apex court. The present collegium is comprised of CJI TS Thakur and Justices A R Dave, J S Khehar, Dipak Misra and J Chelameswar, who is fifth senior-most judge in the Supreme Court.

'COLLEGIUM'S FUNCTIOING IS OPAQUE'

Justice Chelameswar's letter to the CJI has left him confounded as Justice Chelameshwar has sought that the files pertaining to appointment of judges should come to him by circulation. He has said that the files should have recommendations of the members of the collegium.

This means that the other four senior-most SC judges will have to put their recommendation in writing before the files reaches Justice Chelameshwar. The immediate impact of his stance was seen in the calling off of Wednesday's meeting of the SC collegium, convened to discuss the revised Memorandum of Proceedings for the appointment of judges.

NJAC CASE: LONE DISSENTER

Justice Chelameswar was the lone dissenter in the last year's SC verdict striking down the National Judicial Appointments Commission. The Constitution Bench had given a 4-1 verdict. He had called the functioning of the collegium 'absolutely opaque and inaccessible both to public and history'.

The crack in the SC collegium has surfaced at a time when the government is at loggerheads with the apex court over appointment of judges. The CJI and senior ministers of the government have publicly expressed their differences over Memorandum of Proceedings that is yet to be finalized.

Justice Chelameswar is set to retire in June 2018.

CRISIS IN JUDICIARY

The judiciary is passing through a critical phase as the vacancies have been rising in various high courts. A Law Ministry report suggests that the vacancies have reached almost 45% of the total sanctioned strength for the high courts.

Against a total sanctioned strength of 1,079 judges in all the high courts, there are 485 vacancies. The Supreme Court has three vacancies itself.



ALSO READ:

SC collegium recommends transfer of two judges



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By Susan Steinberg

(Response to the Aug. 26 story Pakistani Christians endorse Trump at Jewish Center in the TimesLedger)

As a co-president of the Bellerose Jewish Center I want to make it clear that we have a great relationship with a diverse number of community groups to whom we rent space to run events on all sides of the political spectrum. The congregants of the Bellerose Jewish Center do not endorse the views, opinions or beliefs of any one group nor do we endorse any candidate.

I would appreciate if you could print this as well. We are very happy to work with our community but want to make it clear we have no political ties. Our individual congregants are very diverse in their political views, and we have many lively discussions about our differences, but the Bellerose Jewish Center as a religious institution does not endorse any one party or candidate.

Susan Steinberg

Bellerose
Hopewell Community Park remains a 'labor of love' for local community

The lush green park is a product of the combined efforts of the Hopewell Township community and a symbol of decades of conservation efforts in Beaver County.
Speaking at a business forum in Russia's Pacific port of Vladivostok, Putin said Moscow favoured bringing North Korea back to international negotiations over its nuclear programme.

By Reuters: Russian President Vladimir Putin urged countries on Saturday to show caution when dealing with North Korea and to avoid any actions that might further enflame tensions with Pyongyang.

Speaking at a business forum in Russia's Pacific port of Vladivostok attended by South Korean President Park Geun-hye and Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, Putin said Moscow favoured bringing North Korea back to international negotiations over its nuclear programme.

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Putin also urged Pyongyang to adhere to agreements backed by the United Nations, but he added: "I think that any actions that would provoke further escalation (of tensions) are counter-productive."

Earlier Park called on Russia and other major global players to increase pressure on North Korea to abandon its nuclear programme, saying this could open the road for cooperation with Pyongyang.

"In order for Pyongyang to take the decision to abandon its nuclear programme, it is important to give it a strong unified message," Park told the forum in Vladivostok.

Concerns about the threat posed by North Korea have spiralled since it conducted its fourth nuclear explosion in January and followed it up with a series of missile tests despite severe United Nations sanctions, which Pyongyang rejects as an infringement of its sovereignty.

In June North Korea test-fired what appeared to be two mobile Musudan rockets, one of which climbed to 1,000 km (600 miles), or enough to fly more than 3,000 km (1,800 miles) down range.

On August 24 Pyongyang also fired a submarine-launched ballistic missile (SLBM) toward Japan that travelled 500 km (311 miles).

"If North Korea abandons its nuclear programme and chooses the path to openness, we, together with the international community, will be ready to actively support it," Park said.



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After Mark Donham's wife, Chris, fell under the spell of early-onset Alzheimer's, he doubled down on his marriage vows. He quit his job as a well-paid sales representative in the printing industry and became his wife's 24-hour caregiver: dressing her, doing laundry and scheduling social visits with friends. Faith, hope and courage became his new mantra.

As Alzheimer's slowly progressed and Chris became frailer, their lives narrowed. To explain their painful emotional journey to friends and family, Donham, who lives in Portland, Oregon, began making videos and posting them on YouTube.

When his wife didn't recognize him anymore, he said he felt as if his heart was ripping apart.

But Donham, still in his 40s, was being ripped apart in other ways, too. One day, he landed in the emergency room because he thought he was having a heart attack.

"It turned out be stress and strain," said Donham, who also joined an Alzheimer's support group for men. "When you're in the middle of caregiving, you don't know what caring for yourself means."

Looking back, Donham, now 54, says that caregiving, painful as it was, made him a "richer, deeper person."

But five years after his wife's death, it also has proved costly emotionally and financially. When he finally returned to the workforce, Donham took a pay cut and began commuting to Los Angeles. Despite having long-term care insurance, Donham spent about one-third of his carefully built retirement savings while caring for his wife.

Though caregiving can be a profound and moving journey, caregivers' needs are often overlooked. The health care system is mainly focused on patients; caregivers who are slowly burning out can slip by unnoticed until it is too late.

"We're seeing that caregiving burnout is more prevalent," said Anne Tinyo, national manager of life management services at Wells Fargo Private Bank. "And it's happening over a longer period of time." Caregivers, she added, may even die before their loved ones.

Researchers have found that the human immune system can be weakened by stress and strain for up to three years after caregiving ends. As a result, caregivers can be more prone to having serious illnesses. Yet they rarely complain.

"Caregivers think that it's shameful or wrong to ask for help," said Mindi Golden, associate professor in communications studies at San Francisco State. "But I've seen many people with physical injuries, such as rotator cuffs that were damaged while helping someone."

The strains on caregivers have become more widely recognized lately and new efforts to help them are emerging. The National Alliance for Caregiving lists various resources on its website, including research on the impact of caregiving. Sites like Caring.com and the Family Caregiver Alliance offer online support groups.

The Alzheimer's Association also offers many services, including online communities, nationwide support groups and a 24-hour helpline.

Adult day care centers can offer some respite for caregivers. The Insight Memory Care Center in Virginia, which offers day care for people with Alzheimer's, began offering caregiver cruises last year. They let caregivers enjoy a vacation to the Caribbean without leaving their loved ones behind.

Men, who generally have smaller networks of friends than women, are at even greater risk. "They are less likely to maintain relationships and seek help," said Zaldy Tan, medical director of the UCLA Alzheimer's and Dementia Care Program. "They're less prepared for the caregiving role. So they have a higher burden and burnout rate."

After hearing many people's caregiving stories, Patti Davis, daughter of President Ronald Reagan, started a twice-a-week support group called Beyond Alzheimer's five years ago. Everyone who enters the group, now based in Santa Monica, California, has some level of burnout, Davis said.

"People take on too much," she said. "And so the stress becomes normal to them. The immune system is steadily eroded." Many caregivers feel more comfortable talking about the Alzheimer's disease rather than about themselves. "But they're patients, too," she said.

The symptoms of burnout can be hard for outsiders and the caregivers themselves to recognize. They include weight gain or loss, choppy sleep patterns, daily habits that get whittled away  and clinical depression.

Donham ended up recharging his system by taking a two-year trip to 26 countries on his BMW motorcycle.

"Take care of yourself," he counseled. "Have a plan. Get involved in support groups. And know what help you'll need, like mowing the lawn."

Perhaps the best antidote to burnout, many experts say, is building a team, rather than handling everything yourself.

The best family teamwork involves meeting, talking and sharing responsibility, Tinyo said. One team member, for example, can handle medical appointments, another might be good at preparing meals. "Have weekly phone calls if you're in crisis," she said.

Thomas C. West, a partner in the investment advisory firm SEIA, said caregivers can become so overwhelmed that they neglect basic financial responsibilities, like filing their taxes, contributing money to retirement accounts and the like.

He argues that society needs to come up with a way for caregivers to be paid for their work. "You can measure the impact of caregiving on not working professionally," he said.

Donham has not remarried. He has taken on a role as an advocate for the Alzheimer's Association, pushing for increased funding for research and greater attention to the needs of Alzheimer families. "It takes people standing up," he said.
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West Bridgewater, Mass.

State troopers in Chattanooga, Tenn., have been known to patrol in a tractor-trailer so they can sit up high and spot drivers texting behind the wheel.

In Bethesda, Md., a police officer disguised himself as a homeless man, stood near a busy intersection and radioed ahead to officers down the road about texting drivers. In two hours last October, police gave out 56 tickets.

And in West Bridgewater, south of Boston, an officer regularly tools around town on his bicycle, pedals up to drivers at stoplights and hands them $105 tickets.

Texting while driving in the U.S. is not just a dangerous habit, but also a widespread one, practiced both brazenly and surreptitiously by so many motorists that police are forced to get creative  and can't seem to make much headway.

"It's everyone, kids, older people  everyone. When I stop someone, they say, 'You're right. I know it's dangerous, but I heard my phone go off and I had to look at it,'" said West Bridgewater Officer Matthew Monteiro.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration estimates nearly 3,500 people were killed in crashes involving distracted drivers in the mainland U.S. and Puerto Rico in 2015, up from almost 3,200 in 2014. The number of deaths in which cellphones were the distraction rose from 406 in 2014 to 476 in 2015.

Many safety advocates say crashes involving cellphones are underreported. Police are forced to rely on what they are told by drivers, many of whom won't admit they were using phones.

"You don't have a Breathalyzer or a blood test to see if they are using their phones," said Deborah Hersman, president and chief executive of the National Safety Council and former chairwoman of the National Transportation Safety Board. "Certainly, law enforcement can ask people, 'Can I see your phone?' but people can refuse, so they then have to get a search warrant."

Forty-six states have laws against texting while driving that typically also ban sending or reading email, using apps or engaging in other internet activity. Fourteen states bar drivers from using hand-held cellphones for any activity, including talking.

While efforts to discourage texting have increased in recent years, the consensus among police, safety advocates and drivers is the problem is getting worse.

In New York, texting tickets soared from about 9,000 in 2011 to nearly 85,000 in 2015. In Massachusetts, they rocketed from about 1,100 to a little over 6,100 over the same period. In California, the number of people found guilty of texting while driving climbed from under 3,000 in 2009 to over 31,000 in 2015.

Everywhere they look, police see drivers staring at their phones.

"We did see one driver who had two phones going at one time  one in his left hand and one in his right hand, with his wrist on the steering wheel," said Lt. Paul Watts, a Virginia state trooper.

West Bridgewater Police Chief Victor Flaherty said: "We've seen cars in trees. We've had two houses hit within three weeks. We had a car off the road 100 yards before it hit a parking lot."

Enforcement is difficult, in part because it's hard to prove texting violations in states that allow drivers to talk on hand-held cellphones.

"For the normal officer, in a car, it's very difficult to tell if someone is texting or just using their phone in another way," Flaherty said.

In Florida, texting is a secondary offense, meaning that even if police spot drivers texting, they can't be stopped unless the officer sees another violation, such as speeding. Police gave out just 1,359 citations for texting in 2015.

Drivers have become sneakier. Instead of resting phones against the wheel, they hold them down low to make it more difficult for police to see what's going on.

"Some people call it the red-light prayer because their heads are bowed and they are looking down at their laps with a nice blue glow coming up in their face," said Chris Cochran of the California Office of Traffic Safety.

In New York, some lawmakers proposed equipping police with a device called the Textalyzer. An officer investigating a crash could use it to check the driver's phone for any activity before the wreck. The idea ran into legal objections.

Fines for first offenses range from $20 to $500. In some states, such as New York, drivers caught texting also get points on their driving record, which can lead to higher insurance rates.
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Bardstown, Ky.

Eulogized in the church where she took her vows decades ago, a slain nun was remembered Friday for her devotion to the poor and for the Donald Duck impression she used to comfort her young patients in Mississippi.

Sister Paula Merrill was laid to rest in Kentucky as her long-time friend and co-worker, Sister Margaret Held, also mourned Friday in Wisconsin, a week after the nuns were stabbed to death in their home in Durant, Miss.

"They needed the people of Mississippi, and the people of Mississippi needed them," said Darlene Nicgorski, a friend of Held's for 50 years.

Held was a member of the School Sisters of St. Francis in Milwaukee, where one of her eight siblings, Sue Zuern, told hundreds at her funeral that she feels comforted and at peace knowing that her sister has received her heavenly reward.

The Roman Catholic nuns worked as nurse practitioners at a clinic in Lexington, Miss., one of the poorest spots in the nation. They often treated uninsured patients with diabetes and other chronic conditions. Both were 68.

Along with praise for the lifelong commitment both women showed, mourners also heard a message of forgiveness for the defendant. Rodney Earl Sanders, 46, of Kosciusko, Miss., is charged with capital murder, burglary and grand larceny.
The Clark bus artfully dodges Prado nudes

Last summer, the converted school bus that the Sterling and Francine Clark Art Institute uses to shuttle visitors to and from Mass MoCA in nearby North Adams, Mass., was covered in Vincent Van Gogh art.

"Van Gogh and Nature" was the title of the summer exhibition, drawing thousands to the Berkshires.

What might they do for this year's exhibit, "Splendor, Myth and Vision: Nudes from the Prado"?

Would the bus carry an R rating?

The designers, we're pleased to say, did a tasteful job, with just the top of the back of one nude showing up near the bus' bottom panel. It was almost like she'd been thrown under the bus.

Port of Albany manager: 'Panama Canal a bust'

East Coast ports have spent billions of dollars by some accounts expanding their ability to handle large container ships that were expected after the Panama Canal was widened and deepened.

So far, the traffic hasn't developed.

"The Panama Canal is a bust," said Richard Hendrick, general manager at the Port of Albany, during a presentation Thursday to the Capital District Transportation Committee.

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One problem: A drought in Panama has lowered water levels, reducing the clearance, or draft, for the larger, so-called Panamax ships. That means ships can't ride as low in the water as expected.

In New York City, the Bayonne Bridge roadway deck is being raised to allow taller Panamax ships to enter the port. The $1.3 billion project has been delayed, with the larger ships not expected until next year.

The Port of Albany plans to handle the overflow of container cargo that would be shipped by barge up the Hudson and then transferred to trains and trucks for delivery throughout the Northeast.
THE ISSUE:

An initial state hearing on water contamination leaves big questions unanswered.

THE STAKES:

This isn't about blame, but about protecting public health the next time.

More Information To comment: tuletters@timesunion.com or at http://blog.timesunion.com/opinion See More Collapse

A full day of state Senate hearings on contaminated drinking water in eastern Rensselaer County left one thing certain: They need another hearing on this.

A hearing, that is, that gets questions answered.

Tuesday's hearing should have been a chance to understand the government's response to the crisis. But Gov. Andrew Cuomo's representatives seemed to see it as an occasion to deflect blame. In the hearing's aftermath, the Environmental Protection Agency, which didn't show, isn't doing much better.

This is of little public value. Governments that refuse to acknowledge errors are sure to repeat them.

We get that Mr. Cuomo would prefer to avoid the perception that his administration was less than perfect in handling the discovery of perfluorooctanoic acid, or PFOA, in the Hoosick Falls public water supply and surrounding private wells. The governor is keenly sensitive to criticism, as he shows by lashing out routinely whenever a state comptroller's audit questions a state agency's performance.

We get, too, that the EPA is similarly sensitive, in this case to criticism from the Cuomo administration. No federal agency besides the IRS is as vilified by politicians, particularly on the right, which talks of abolishing both.

The committee needs to cut through the resistance and focus on the central issue: that a long time passed from when state health and environmental officials first became aware of high levels of PFOA in drinking water  in August 2014  to the time EPA learned of it  in December 2014  to the time EPA finally told residents to absolutely not drink or cook with it  in December 2015.

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The Senate committee must come out of these hearings with a clear understanding of why a village of 3,500 people was drinking contaminated water for more than a year after officials first knew of the problem. What exactly was going on behind the scenes? A legitimate scientific and public health debate? Bickering? Confusion? Turf battles? Resistance?

We know there are at least two sides to this story  the state's blame of EPA and the EPA's blame of the state. It's the committee's job to get to the unspun truth.

And more: Why didn't EPA long ago change its guidelines on PFOA exposure? For its part, why didn't New York follow the lead of states like New Jersey  which instituted much more stringent guidelines on PFOA in 2007?

And most importantly, what could have been done differently, and how might that understanding affect what's done now? Should water supplies undergo mandatory testing in small communities like Hoosick Falls  not just those with populations over 10,000? Should New York become more proactive, as New Jersey was with PFOA, in looking at unregulated contaminants, of which there are 80,000? What kind of funding, realistically, would that take?

All this puts the onus on the Senate committee, joined by the Assembly next time, to prepare better, and sharpen its focus. We understand this first hearing was, in part, an opportunity to let citizens express concerns and frustrations. It's time, though, for hard questions, and real answers.
Barack Obama said that the United States supports the peaceful rise of China but that Beijing had to recognise that 'with increasing power comes increasing responsibilities'.

Obama said Washington had urged Beijing to bind itself to international rules and norms to help build a strong international order. (Photo: Reuters)

By Reuters: China needs to be a more responsible power as it gains global influence and avoid flexing its muscles in disputes with smaller countries over issues like the South China Sea, US President Barack Obama told CNN in an interview to be aired on Sunday.

Obama, who meets with President Xi Jinping at a G20 summit next week in China, told CNN the United States supports the peaceful rise of China but that Beijing had to recognise that "with increasing power comes increasing responsibilities," according to excerpts released on Friday.

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READ: China unhappy over India-US reference to South China Sea

"If you sign a treaty that calls for international arbitration around maritime issues, the fact that you're bigger than the Philippines or Vietnam or other countries ... is not a reason for you to go around and flex your muscles," Obama said. "You've got to abide by international law."

China, a signatory to the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea, recently lost an arbitration dispute over the South China Sea. A court in the Hague found China had no historic title over the waters of the South China Sea and had infringed on the rights of the Philippines. Beijing has rejected the ruling.

Obama said Washington had urged Beijing to bind itself to international rules and norms to help build a strong international order.

READ: Why South China Sea, through which half of India's trade passes, is the new diplomatic challenge



"Where we see them violating international rules and norms, as we have seen in some cases in the South China Sea or in some of their behavior when it comes to economic policy, we've been very firm," Obama told CNN. "And we've indicated to them that there will be consequences."

The US president said China could not expect to "pursue mercantilist policies that just advantage" itself now that China has become a more affluent, middle-income country.

"Even though you still have a lot of poor people, you know, you can't just export problems. You've got to have fair trade and not just free trade," Obama said. "You have to open up your markets if you expect other people to open up their markets."

Also Read:

Philippines hails India's South China Sea support as Modi heads to China

China vows to protect South China Sea sovereignty, threatens to set up air defence zone



--- ENDS ---
Two Smart Telecom phone boxes at the lower end of Liberty Square which have fallen into a dilapidated state of disrepair, have not been used by anyone or serviced by any company, in years.

The phones boxes have become an eyesore, and are not operational, as the handsets have been taken off.

There is no line out, and customers cannot make or receive calls. Yet mystery surrounds who owns them, as Digiweb - the company which acquired Smart Telecom in 2009 - says the equipment does not belong to them, and therefore they are under no obligation to maintain the phone boxes.

A Digiweb/Viatel spokesperson responded to our enquiries: This part of the Smart Telecom business was not purchased by Digiweb, and was sold to another party. I would not know who this other party was unfortunately. I do sympathise with you regarding the issue, but unfortunately there is nothing that we can do to assist you.

A local woman who works in a cafe nearby, told the Tipperary Star she had not seen anyone use or service the phones in a few years.

According to a spokesperson for Eircom: There are 26 payphones in Tipperary. There are two payphones in Thurles. We currently have no plans to remove any of these payphones.

However some payphones have fallen below ComRegs threshold for retention and will be removed when the next rationalisation programme takes place. We currently do not have a date for this. In the 12 months from July 2015 to June 2016 there were 3,981 calls from all 26 Tipperary payphones.

That equates to on average per payphone over the 12 months: 153 calls per year/ 13 calls per month/ .42 calls per day.
Four homes on Shamburg Street in Pleasantville are being told they need to hook in as part of the Oil Creek Township, Venango County, sewer expansion project. However, why a township is telling a neighboring boroughs residents what they need to do is not known.
[September 03, 2016] Alibaba Group and Canadian Government Sign Cooperation Agreement to Connect Small Businesses with Chinese Consumers

Alibaba Group Executive Chairman Jack Ma and Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau today unveiled a declaration of cooperation that will strengthen efforts to promote trade between Canadian small and medium sized businesses and Chinese consumers. Both Mr. Ma and Prime Minister Trudeau said at a ceremony at Alibaba Group's head office that the cooperation agreement empowers the Canadian Trade Commissioner Service and Alibaba to work together to expand the two-way flow of goods, services and people. The two sides will strategize on how to use e-commerce to stimulate trade, with opportunities for Canadian small and medium-sized exporters. "Today, I am pleased we are formalizing our efforts to have Alibaba serve as the gateway to China for Canadian businesses of all sizes," Mr. Ma said. "Our agreements today represent a great opportunity for Canada and for China. It is a new chapter in our future together." "Today is a very good day for Canadian businesses. They now have a permanent e-home on the world's biggest online shopping site - Alibaba - and with it, the ability to reach over 400 million Chinese consumers There is significant potential for further business development with Alibaba, which would encourage Chinese tourism to Canada, create jobs at home and strengthen our middle-class," said Prime Minister Trudeau.



The ceremony also highlighted two other milestones: Mr. Ma and Prime Minister Trudeau launched the Canadian Pavilion on Alibaba's shopping platform, Tmall Global. The Canadian Pavilion makes it possible for Canadian businesses large and small to directly reach Chinese consumers. It was launched with more than 30 businesses participating, selling more than 100 products. It will feature special promotions for unique Canadian products such as apparel, ice wine, maple syrup, seafood and health products.

Mr. Ma and Prime Minister Trudeau also witnessed the signing of a memorandum of understanding (MOU) between Air Canada, the country's largest air carrier, and Alitrip, Alibaba's online travel booking platform, providing Chinese consumers with a range of travel and vacation packages, as well as visa application services. The MOU links Air Canada with Alitrip's customer base and marketing resources to tap China's burgeoning travel demand for Canada. Air Canada agreed to open a flagship store on the Alitrip platform. Both agreed to work together to develop marketing initiatives and carry out joint marketing promotions. About Alibaba Group Alibaba Group's mission is to make it easy to do business anywhere. It is the largest retail commerce company in the world in terms of gross merchandise volume. Founded in 1999, the company provides the fundamental technology infrastructure and marketing reach to help merchants, brands and other businesses that provide products, services and digital content to leverage the power of the Internet to engage with their users and customers. View source version on businesswire.com: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20160902005734/en/

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Global Rescue Leading Rescue Efforts for Two Missing U.S. Climbers in Pakistan

Travel risk and crisis management firm Global Rescue is leading rescue efforts for two US climbers missing in Pakistan.

The firm has two helicopters and a medevac aircraft on standby. The next opportunity to launch, given favorable weather conditions, is tomorrow, 3 September, at daybreak in Pakistan (2 September, 9pm Eastern).

Poor flying conditions have hampered the search and rescue mission to date.

Global Rescue has contacted the hospital in Skardu and confirmed that a medical team and ambulance will be at the helipad upon completion of the mission.

The firm is keeping the US Embassy in Pakistan fully apprised of the mission progress.

Kyle Dempster and Scott Adason were climbing Ogre II, a 7285 meter peak in Pakistan. The pair left on their climb on the North Face on 21 August 2016. Their plan was to ascend the North Face and to descend on the northwest ridge with a return to base camp around 24 August. Global Rescue was contacted on 28 August after they failed to return to base camp. The last confirmed sighting was of their headlamps on 22 August by a Pakistani member of their base camp team. The pair are not believed to possess any satellite communication or messaging capabilities.







About Global Rescue

Global Rescue is the world's leading provider of integrated health, safety and travel risk management services to enterprises, governments and individuals. Founded in 2004, Global Rescue has a long-standing relationship with the Johns Hopkins Dept. of Emergency Medicine Division of Special Operations. The Company's unique operational model provides best-in-class services that identify, monitor and respond to member medical and security crises. Global Rescue has provided medical and security support to its clients, including Fortune 500 companies, governments and academic institutions, during every globally significant crisis of the last decade.

For more information, call +1-617-459-4200 or visit www.globalrescue.com

View source version on businesswire.com: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20160902005711/en/
[September 02, 2016] Prime Minister Trudeau and Jack Ma, Chairman of the Alibaba Group, announce initiatives to strengthen Canadian business presence on world's largest e-commerce platform

HANGZHOU, China, Sept. 3, 2016 /CNW/ - The Government of Canada is committed to represent Canada to the world as a strong and valuable trading partner, that is open for investment and business, in order to increase trade, spur international investment, and grow Canada's middle class. This means encouraging Canadian companies  especially small and medium-sized enterprises  to be more engaged in the Chinese economy. The Prime Minister, Justin Trudeau, and Alibaba Group Executive Chairman Jack Ma today announced a number of initiatives that will help Canadian companies connect with Alibaba's 400 million consumers. First, they launched the "Canada Pavilion" on Alibaba's online shopping site, which will help brand Canadian products and services. Additionally, the Prime Minister witnessed the signing of a joint declaration of cooperation by Minister of International Trade Chrystia Freeland and Michael Evans, Director and President of Alibaba Group, that will strengthen trade promotion cooperation between the Canadian Trade Commissioner Service and Alibaba Group. During their discussions, the Prime Minister and Mr. Ma agreed to further support collaboration in several areas, including facilitating the growth of tourism through the use of AliTrip and AliPay services. A cooperation agreement was signed between Air Canada and Alibaba's Alitrip to work jointly to expand the travel market between China and Canada. Finally, the two also committed to look into establishing a representative and commercial presence of Alibaba in Canada  which would create new export opportunities for Canadiansmall and medium-sized enterprises and other partners, and support the Canadian middle class.



While in Hangzhou, the Prime Minister and Minister Freeland had an opportunity to tour the Alibaba Xixi campus with over 30 Canadian companies present. Today's announcements highlight the importance of building relationships with international partners over time that result in new jobs for middle class Canadians.

Moving forward, the Prime Minister will continue to strengthen relationships with individuals  and companies  around the world in order to ensure that middle class Canadians have the greatest chance to succeed. Quotes

"China presents a large and growing market for Canadian businesses. That is why we're increasing our commercial presence in the Chinese market, and encouraging our small and medium-sized enterprises to tap into the enormous opportunities there. I will continue to promote Canada abroad, draw in international investment, highlight Canadian products around the world, and increase opportunities for our middle class."

Rt. Honourable Justin Trudeau, Prime Minister of Canada "Today is a very good day for Canadian businesses. They now have a permanent e-home on the world's biggest online shopping site  Alibaba  and with it, the ability to reach over 400 million Chinese consumers. There is significant potential for further business development with Alibaba, which would help encourage Chinese tourism to Canada, create jobs at home, and strengthen our middle class."

Rt. Honourable Justin Trudeau, Prime Minister of Canada "Increasing cooperation with Alibaba will support our small and medium-sized enterprises as they tap into the Chinese market. China is our second-largest trading partner, and we know that taking advantage of e-commerce will lead to greater middle class prosperity at home."

The Honourable Chrystia Freeland, Minister of International Trade Quick Facts The Prime Minister first met Mr. Ma during the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland , in January 2016 , where the two discussed the value of e-commerce to the success of small and medium-sized enterprises.

, in , where the two discussed the value of e-commerce to the success of small and medium-sized enterprises. The Alibaba Group includes a number of business lines, most notably e-commerce giants Tmall and Taobao Marketplace, which together held a nearly 80 per cent share of China's US$600 million e-commerce market in 2015.

e-commerce market in 2015. Alibaba has more than 400 million online consumers in China .

. A Memorandum of Understanding was signed between Air Canada and Alitrip to open a direct flagship store on the Alitrip platform, to work together to develop marketing initiatives, and to carry out joint marketing promotions with Air Canada, utilizing Alitrip's data resources. Associated Link Alibaba Canada Pavilion This document is also available at http://pm.gc.ca SOURCE Prime Minister's Office

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Do you feel overweight even if you are actually not? If yes, you may have your genes inherited from parents to blame, suggests new research.

Genes influence how you feel about your weight. Photo: Reuters

By Indo-Asian News Service: Genes contribute to self-perceived weight status among young adults, especially among women, the findings showed.

"This study is the first to show that genes may influence how people feel about their weight," said lead study author Robbee Wedow from University of Colorado Boulder in the US.

"And we found the effect is much stronger for women than men," Wedow said.

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The research measured the heritability of subjective weight status, which indicates what proportion of variation in a given trait is due to genes versus the environment.

Heritability estimates range from zero to one, with zero indicating that genetics are not a contributing factor at all, and one indicating that genetics are the only contributing factor.

Also read: When everyone's talking weight loss, this mom gained weight and now feels a 'millions times happier'

The study, published online in the journal Social Science & Medicine, showed that perceived weight status was 0.47 heritable.

"The heritability estimates provided us with the first evidence that weight identity may have genetic underpinnings," Wedow said.

For the study, the team used data from the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent to Adult Health that has sampled more than 20,000 adolescents into adulthood, including hundreds of twins who were first quizzed about their health beginning in 1994.

All participants in the national study were re-sampled during four subsequent in-home interviews running through 2008.

The new study is important since researchers have repeatedly shown that health assessments are strong predictors of adult mortality.

"One's own perception about his or her health is a gold standard measure - it predicts mortality better than anything else," co-author Jason Boardman from University of Colorado Boulder said.

"But those who are less flexible in assessing their changing health over time may be less likely than others to make significant efforts to improve and maintain their health," Boardman noted.

The researchers emphasised that even when there is a genetic connection to particular human behaviours or traits, social environments and personal choices will always play a major role in shaping outcomes.





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[September 03, 2016] Sustainable procurement: helping the Paris Agreement fulfill its promise

The Global Lead City Network on Sustainable Procurement shares its achievements at the Seoul Mayors Forum on Climate Change to inspire other local governments MONTREAL, Sept. 3, 2016 /CNW Telbec/ - Political representatives from the cities in the Global Lead City Network on Sustainable Procurement (GLCN on SP) gathered this Friday for the Network's Mayoral Second Annual Summit in Seoul. Representatives used the occasion to present their key achievements on sustainable public procurement and to announce their targets as GLCN cities. Seoul Metropolitan Government, Chair of the GLCN on SP, chose to include the Second Summit as part of the Mayors Forum on Climate Change to show the importance of sustainable procurement to combat climate change and to showcase the activities of the Network participants in attendance  Seoul, Auckland, Budapest, Cape Town, Helsinki, Montreal, Quezon City, and Warsaw. The purpose of the Mayors Forum on Climate Change was to outline how cities and local governments can support national and global efforts to raise the level of global ambition, to ensure a rapid entry into force of the Paris Agreement. In that sense, cities in the GLCN on SP are prepared to step up to the challenge of using procurement to address climate change and help ensure that the Paris Agreement lives up to its promise. "Governments play a lead role with regard to sustainable procurement. Their purchases represent a significant portion of the economy and provide powerful leverage to stimulate a demand for more ecological and social products and services. That is why Montreal plans to lead the way for the community and accelerate the transition to a green and sustainable economy ", said Mayor Coderre Seoul Metropolitan Government highlighted that in 2015, as a result of their mandatory requirement to purchase green products, procurement of sustainable products by the authority exceeded 50%. Len Brown, Mayor of Auckland, explained two major projects the city is involved in: a new metro rail which should help the city achieve 23% energy savings, nd the replacement of 43,000 street lights with LED bulbs which will save NZ$36 million over 20 years.



Joy Belmonte, Deputy Mayor of the City of Quezon, detailed how the City's Green Public Procurement Team, created in 2012, has been purchasing eco-labeled products and promoting the use of environmental friendly products. Johannes van der Merwe, Councillor of Cape Town Metropolitan Council, explained how the city has fully integrated energy efficiency requirements into IT procurement and used greener technologies for roads' projects. The South African city now plans to finalize and adopt the Sustainable Procurement Action Plan as part of the City's Green Economy Strategy and Action Plan. Montreal, one of the latest cities to join the GLCN on SP, announced quantifiable targets for the electrification of the city fleet. Roger Lachance, Director of the Department of Environment of the City of Montreal, presented the plans: between this year and 2020 the City will convert 30% of the Societe de transport de Montreal bus fleet to hybrid engines, and 230 municipal vehicles to 100% electric power in order to electrify and optimize the city's transport system. Montreal will also increase the sustainability of its building stock in order to reach its target of reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 80% by 2050.

Perttu Pohjonen, Special Envoy for the Deputy Mayor of Helsinki, explained how the city's environmental network for procurement has reinforced the cooperation and information exchange needed for Helsinki to reach its 100% SPP target by 2020. Peter Szegvari , Senior Advisor to the Lord Mayor of the Capital City of Budapest, introduced some of the SPP initiatives underway in the capital of Hungary. These include the inauguration of a public bicycle-sharing system to reduce GHG emissions and the use of green criteria in the procurement process for the lighting of the Liberty Bridge, which resulted in the purchase of more than 500 LED light bulbs. Marta Kesik, Inspector of the Department of Strategy and Development of the City of Warsaw, announced plans to invest in the city's public transportation and district heating. By 2020, the capital of Poland aims to bring 130 electric buses into operation and connect 229 social buildings to district heating. Improved energy efficiency in buildings is another key target, with guidelines for the proposed criteria to improve energy efficiency in buildings currently being developed. Background information The Global Lead City Network on Sustainable Procurement is a group of 14 cities committed to drive a transition to sustainable consumption and production by implementing sustainable and innovation procurement. Seoul (Republic of Korea)  Chair of the Network , Auckland (New Zealand), Budapest (Hungary), Buenos Aires (Argentina), Cape Town (South Africa), Denver (United States), Ghent (Belgium), Helsinki (Finland), Montreal (Canada), Oslo (Norway), Rotterdam (The Netherlands), Tshwane (South Africa), Quezon City (Philippines) and Warsaw (Poland), as part of the GLCN on SP, are taking an exemplary role globally by purchasing sustainably and setting ambitious targets. Building on its 20 years of experience on sustainable procurement, ICLEI acts as co-ordinator of the Global Lead City Network on Sustainable Procurement. Korea Environmental Industry and Technology Institute (KEITI) has welcomed the initiative. For more information: www.glcn-on-sp.org

Follow us on Twitter: @GLCN_on_SP SOURCE Ville de Montreal - Cabinet du maire et du comite executif

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If you havent heard, over the weekend a huge flood ripped through Baton Rouge, Louisiana destroying over 40,000 homes, claiming at least six lives. Since the flooding, roughly 20,000 individuals have already been rescued in the span of a few days.

8,000 of the rescued individuals are currently living in shelters scattered throughout Louisiana since they have no home to return to. Hearing about the Baton Rouge flooding, a man across the Mississippi River is doing his best to help the victims by feeding them.





Christian Dornhorst arrived to work at Dow Chemical around 7am on Monday when he requested to have the day off to feed the Baton Rouge victims. His boss upon hearing his motive happily agreed.

Dornhost then went to a local Sams Club with his family where they spent over $850 on 108 pounds of meat. Dornhorst said, By 9, I had the food at Sams Club, and By 11, my wife had seasoned it up.

By the time he purchased all the food, there was one small problem he didnt think about. Where do I bring all this food? Knowing that the brisket had to be in the smoker by noon to be ready by the time dinner rolls around, he decided to multi-task to be able to make it in time for dinner.

Multi-tasking meant throwing his whole griller, flame smoking and all in the back of his truck as he drove around looking for shelters. Noon eventually came around and no sights of any shelters

Dornhorst eventually pulled over to a parking lot because the brisket had to be thrown into the smoker when a curious business owner came by and directed Dornhorst to the Media Centre (a shelter for the victims).

By the time Dornhorst got to the Media Centre the meat was already smoking behind him. Workers at the Centre sent the family straight to the sound stage where they were serving food non-stop ever since.

The family was cooking to the grills maximum capacity the whole time. C hicken and sausage cooked on two small grills while three full pot roasts in another chamber and briskets being smoked in the final chamber. Unfortunately, by the time 7 p.m. came around, all 108 pounds of meat was consumed.

The father said it was a nice serving all these people, the young, old, black people and white people- they all happily lined up for barbecue.

Dornhorst also said he was glad his daughter came along because, I brought my 4-year-old so she could see what its like when you dont have a bed. A tough, but very caring father.

When asked about the reasoning behind his kind gesture he said, The Lord blessed us with all of these things, looking at his truck, his smoker, and his cooking utensils. There are enough people suffering here that I can do this to help.

What a touching story about a family who is making a positive impact on the world. Hats off to Dornhorst family, you have my thanks.
Meet Dinko Valev: A 29-year-old Bulgarian wrestler vigilante who patrols Bulgarias borders on horseback.





Hes a bounty hunter who rounds up immigrants trying to cross the countrys border with Turkey, and ISIS has placed a 38,000 price on his head.





Valev runs a team of equally beefy enforcers who patrol the border in armoured vehicles. When they come across migrants, they arrest the refugees and hand them over to authorities.

Hes apparently so famous in Bulgaria that hes been able to buy a Mercedes S-Class worth at least 72,000. Hes even been offered a place on the countrys version of Big Brother for 66,000, the Daily Mail reports.





But his deeds have caught the attention of ISIS, who want the 29-year-old dead.





And after images of him arresting migrants emerged, Bulgarian state security services have warned Valev that he is a prime target.

Messages on an ISIS site called him the leader of a paramilitary unit operating on the BulgarianTurkish border along with a dozen other men. They went on to promise a reward if confirmation of his murder is provided.





But Valev has defended his migrant hunts as sport and a public service.





Speaking earlier this year, he said:

I would describe it as simply a sporting activity. I am a sportsman, you cant describe sportsmen as violent.

I have to do a public service at the same time that protects Bulgarians.

He even has the backing of the countrys prime minister.





Boyko Borissov said:





I personally have talked to them and thanked them.

I sent the director of the Bulgarian border police to meet with them, so they can coordinate what they do.

At the end of the day, the country is ours and we should be united.

Human Rights committees, however, dont seem to agree.





Either way, I wouldnt want to mess with Valev.




A man had to talk six km with daughter's body after the ambulance allegedly dropped them midway after getting to know that the girl had died while going to the hospital.

By Press Trust of India: In a near rerun of the Dana Majhi incident in Kalahandi in Odisha , a man again was forced to walk 6 km carrying his seven-year-old daughters body today as the ambulance transporting them allegedly left them midway.

The ambulance driver had allegedly asked the girls parents to get down after coming to know that the girl has died on the way to Malkangiri district hospital.

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Also Read: Tribal man in Odisha had to walk 10 km carrying wife's body after being denied govt help

WHAT HAPPENED

Barsha Khemudu of Ghusapalli in Malkangiri died while being taken by her parents in the ambulance from Mithali hospital from where she was referred to Malkangiri district hospital following deterioration in her health condition.

"The driver asked us to get down from the ambulance as soon as he came to know about the girls death on the way," Dinabandhu Khemudu, the girls father, said.

The matter came to light when locals inquired about Khemudu and his wife walking carrying the body of their daughter. The villagers then contacted the local BDO and medical authorities to get another vehicle to carry the body to their village.

Also Read: Odisha again: Now, woman's body broken at hip to carry it on bamboo pole

Photo: ANI

IT WAS INHUMAN, PROBE ORDERED

Meanwhile, Malkangiri district collector K Sudarshan Chakravarthy has asked the chief district medical officer Uday Shankar Mishra to probe into the matter. The CDMO has filed an FIR at Malkangiri police station against the driver, a pharmacist and an attendant who were in the ambulance.

"It was totally illegal and criminal negligence on the part of the driver. Stringent action will be taken against persons responsible for the incident," Chakravarthy told reporters, adding the district administration has provided immediate financial assistance to the girls parents.

When contacted, Mishra said the act was "inhuman". "After coming to know the incident, I immediately sent another vehicle which dropped the girls family at their village," he said.

Dana Majhi had to walk about 10 km from Bhawanipatna in Kalahandi district along with his teenage daughter on August 24 carrying his wifes body on his shoulders after allegedly being denied a hearse by Kalahandi district hospital.

Also Read:

Odisha shocker: Woman delivers in auto, baby falls on road, dies

--- ENDS ---
Intel's Kaby Lake debut came with the usual amount of fanfare, but surprisingly, Intel slipped the low-power Apollo Lake SoCs out to market without an official press release (at least, one that we can find) or briefing. The taciturn launch features the latest 6W and 10W Atom-based Pentium and Celeron processors that address the low end of the market.

There is precious little information to go on, though we do know the six Apollo Lake SKUs feature 14nm Goldmont cores (no word if it is 14nm+), which supplant the previous-generation Braswell cores. The revamped line also features beefier Gen9 graphics cores, but there is no indication if the graphics feature the Gen9+ enhancements we covered during the recent Kaby Lake launch.

Pentium J4205 Pentium J3455 Celeron J3355 Pentium N4200 Celeron N3350 Celeron N3450 TDP 10W 10W 10W 6W 6W 6W Cores/Threads 4 / 4 4 / 4 2 / 2 4 /4 2 /2 4 / 4 Base/Burst Frequency (GHz) 1.5 / 2.6 1.5 / 2.3 2 / 2.5 1.1 / 2.5 1.1 / 2.4 1.1 / 2.2 Cache 2 MB 2 MB 2 MB 2 MB L2 2 MB L2 2 MB L2 Graphics HD Graphics 505 HD Graphics 500 HD Graphics 500 HD Graphics 505 HD Graphics 500 HD Graphics 500 Graphics Base/Boost (MHz) 250 / 800 250 / 750 250 / 700 200 / 750 200 / 650 200 / 700 Max Graphics Memory 8 GB 8 GB 8 GB 8 GB 8 GB 8 GB Memory Support DDR3L/LPDDR3 up to 1866 MT/s; LPDDR4 up to 2400 MT/s DDR3L/LPDDR3 up to 1866 MT/s; LPDDR4 up to 2400 MT/s DDR3L/LPDDR3 up to 1866 MT/s; LPDDR4 up to 2400 MT/s DDR3L/LPDDR3 up to 1866 MT/s; LPDDR4 up to 2400 MT/s DDR3L/LPDDR3 up to 1866 MT/s; LPDDR4 up to 2400 MT/s DDR3L/LPDDR3 up to 1866 MT/s; LPDDR4 up to 2400 MT/s Hyper-Threading No No No No No No

The 10W processors actually experience a substantial TDP increase; the previous-generation weighed in at 6.5W. The increased headroom is logical in the broader sense, as there wasn't much breathing room between the 6W and 6.5W SKUs in the previous alignment. However, the higher TDP boosts the 10W products into the space between the 4.5W Y-Series and 15W U-Series. The Y and U Series have configurable TDPs (cTDP). The U-Series can adjust to a "Down" TDP rating of 7.5W, which lands below the 10W Apollo Lake SKUs.

The specs are less than sexy, but that is to be expected with this class of product. The 10W parts are bound for low-end desktops, and the 6W processors will attack the low end of the mobility segment. The primary advantages stem from the increase in graphics capabilities (including 16 EU to 18 EU) and the addition of two extra PCIe lanes (total of 6).

Intel is in the midst of a restructuring effort, and the company is focusing resources on core strategic segments, which might explain the muted Apollo Lake launch. Intel recently killed its Broxton and Willow Trail Atom cores for mobile and laptops, primarily because the company reduced investment in the mobile market. The company re-purposed Broxton for its IoT-centric Joule platform.

The "standard" 14nm process isn't quite as impressive as the new 14nm+ process found with Kaby Lake, but it should serve the intended market segments well. We should expect end-user devices to come to market soon, but Intel has not provided an official launch schedule.
FORMER KANSAS CITY COUNCILMAN JOHN SHARP REPORTS THAT HE'S THE TARGET OF RECENT SHOOTING IN THE SOUTHLAND!!!

Former councilman Sharp said he heard 6 or 8 shots fired. He said one hit his garage door and another hit the back window of his car . . . Sharp's neighbor said her car and home were also shot up.





The escalating quotient of gunfire in the Southland now hits home for a longtime Kansas City leader and former elected official.Deets:Links:Police ask anyone with info about the shooting, to call
European Parliament President Martin Schulz expected that there will be a reunification of Cyprus soon

European Parliament President Martin Schulz expected that there will be a reunification of Cyprus soon, German media reported on Saturday.

Specifically, Schulz told the Rheinische Post: From what I was able to understand, Ankara for the first time has shown an honest disposition to settle the Cyprus problem between Greece and Turkey.

Schulz was in Ankara on Thursday, where he visited with Turkish officials, including President Tayyip Erdogan, and Prime Minister Binali Yildirim.

The EU Parliament President was also able to determine that the negotiators of both sides and the United Nations have expressed optimism on a reunification. Schulz added that therefore the important progress being made now needs to lead to the process completing as soon as possible.

The solution to the Cyprus problem would a great message in a time of difficult European crises, he said, adding that the EU should contribute financially as well.

In the end the EU needs to recognise and take care that it financially contributes to the reunification of Cyprus, especially with recompensing the properties, which were expropriated [in the occupied areas, Schulz mentioned.

Source: CNA

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
By PTI: From Sajjad Hussain

Islamabad, Sep 3 (PTI) Pakistans tax authority today issued notices to at least 450 people, including Prime Minister Nawaz Sharifs family members, whose names surfaced in the Panama Papers leak for owning offshore companies.

The Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) issued notices on a day when Imran Khans Pakistan Tehreek-I-Insaf party organised a huge rally in Lahore to protest alleged corruption by Sharif and failure of state bodies to proceed against his family after Panama leaks.

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Khan warned the FBR and National Accountability Bureau, the official anti-corruption watchdog, against failure to take against Sharif.

The FBR said in a statement that its Directorate General of Intelligence and Investigation had issued the notices to obtain official versions of the people under media scrutiny.

"The exercise will help to verify the authenticity of the reports that have been surfacing in the media for the past five months," according to FBR.

The Panama Papers surfaced in April following a massive leak of documents of Panama-based Mossack Fonseca company which reportedly deals with the offshore companies of worlds rich individuals.

Sharifs two sons and a daughter were mentioned as having offshore companies which operated their properties abroad and the FBR had issued notices to them.

Opposition says the foreign assets of Sharifs family were the result of illegal money transfers and has been asking the Prime Minister to resign to let a fair probe take place against his family.

Sharifs supporters blame Khan for targeting Sharif for political gains even though his name is not mentioned in the Panama papers.

The government has offered probe against all those mentioned in the leaks but opposition insists that first probe should take place against Sharif and later on others should be included in it.

Khans rally in Lahore created massive traffic jams as all major roads were blocked.

Private media reported that a child died when the ambulance taking him to hospital was stuck in the jam.

A similar rally was held in Rawalpindi by Canada-based cleric Tahirul Qadri who wanted justice for his 14 supporters who were killed in Lahore in 2014 during a protest.

Both Imran and Qadri are supporting each other with their basic objective being to dislodge Sharif. PTI SH ASK ASK

--- ENDS ---
A pair of Turkish fighter planes on Friday entered the Athens Flight Information Region (FIR), in the first infringement of the Athens FIR since a failed coup attempt in the neighbouring country. According the Hellenic National Defence General Staff (HNDGS), the Turkish Air Force F-16s entered the Athens FIR without submitting flight plans in the southeastern Aegean, committing one violation for air traffic regulations.

The two Turkish aircraft were not armed and were identified and intercepted by Greek fighter jets.

The last Athens FIR infringement was on July 14, the day before the coup attempt, when six Turkish fighter planes and three naval cooperation CN-235 aircraft had entered the Athens FIR without submitting flight plans, committing four violations of air traffic rules that turned into 16 violations of national airspace in various parts of the Aegean.

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

Photo Source: Wikimedia Commons Copyright: Helen Farrer License: CC-BY-SA
A dozen people have been killed and 52 wounded after a suicide bomber attacked a district court in the Pakistani city of Mardan

A dozen people have been killed and 52 wounded after a suicide bomber attacked a district court in the Pakistani city of Mardan on Friday, police said, the latest assault targeting Pakistans legal community.

The bomber threw hand grenades before detonating a suicide vest among the morning crowds at the court.

So far we recovered 12 bodies of lawyers, police personnel and civilians. Besides this, we rescued 52 injured, including lawyers, police personnel and civilians from the spot, Haris Habib, chief rescue officer, told Reuters.

So far, no group has claimed responsibility for the attack, which comes three weeks after a massive suicide blast killed scores of lawyers in the southwestern Pakistani city of Quetta in Balochistan. Pakistans legal community are frequently the subject of targeted killings and small-scale attacks by terrorists, who are also known to hit soft targets such as schools.

Earlier today, terrorists also attacked a Christian colony in the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa provincial capital of Peshawar, 60 km to the west of Mardan.

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

Photo Source: Wikimedia Commons Copyright:Eli J. Medellin License: CC-BY-SA
Security, guarantees, and the territory issues were discussed at the Cyprus negotiating table on Friday

Security, guarantees, and the territory issues were discussed at the Cyprus negotiating table on Friday, President Nicos Anastasiades has mentioned after his meeting with the Turkish Cypriot leader Mustafa Akinci.

Anastasiades, however, has said, regarding todays discussion, that he was not satisfied by a proposal put forward on the guarantees issue by the Turkish Cypriot side, adding that he would not detail anything more.

Anastasiades mentioned, when asked specifically about the issue. "I would not be able to answer that. I heard something different in regards to the guarantees of 1960, it does not mean that we agree."

Meeting added to intensified talks

The President has also announced that another meeting will be added to the intensified talks. Anastasiades has said that there will be an eighth meeting on September 10, four days before a joint press statement is expected.

The meeting, Anastasiades has mentioned, will cover some leftover issues, so as to deepen the discussion on the Cyprus issue.

Government sources added that todays meeting was held without minutes being kept as both leaders didnt want their recommendations to be binding.

Brainstorming session held on guarantees, security, territory

President Anastasiades has said in regards to todays meeting, which was a brainstorming session on the three chapters, that there was an exchange of concerns and how the red lines on certain issues have been drawn and affect the dialogue.

What is important about the brainstorming is that concerns, opinions, and red lines, have been exchanged by each side, which will guide how the discussion develops, the President said.

Asked if the same issues will continue to be discussed during the next meeting with the Turkish Cypriot leader, Anastasiades has said that a dialogue will continue on every part of the Cyprus issue.

Meeting with UN, T/C leader

When asked about a trilateral meeting in New York at the UN General Assembly, the President said, A general meeting, not a trilateral meeting, as there are not three members. Three parts do not exist. There is the UN Secretary General and the leaders of the two communities.

Political Party access to Cyprus documents

On whether or not there has been increased interest among the political parties in Cyprus to come and review the documents from the ongoing negotiations,

Anastasiades said that there is increased interest from some parties to review the minutes of the meetings, if they choose to.

Solution in 2016?

Regarding statements made by Akinci on achieving a solution to the Cyprus problem in 2016, before the elections in 2017, Anastasiades said that the Greek Cypriot side has been dealing with the Cyprus problem for 42 years, regardless of elections.

The Cyprus problem is not an issue of elections, it is an issue of national interest, he said.

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
Martin Schulz stated on Thursday that the EU wanted to deepen ties with Turkey after a meeting in Ankara with Tayyip Erdogan

European Parliament President Martin Schulz stated on Thursday that the EU wanted to deepen ties with Turkey after a meeting in Ankara with Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan, reported POLITICO.

Making the first visit by a leading EU politician to Turkey since the July 15 failed coup, the senior German Socialist politician reiterated that Ankara must protect basic human rights, but also praised the Turkish people after frank, open and productive talks with Erdogan, Prime Minister Binali Yildirim and other government officials.

I have paid tribute to the courage of Turkish citizens who took to the streets to defend democracy and derailed the plan of the plotters, Schulz said in a statement. Our ties are strong and must be deepened. Turning our backs to each other would only harm citizens on both sides.

However, without criticising the government directly, he warned that democracy required not only elections, but also a free press and separation of powers.

Schulz said that while he understood the governments response to the coup required exceptional measures to safeguard democratic institutions, the state of emergency should not fail the test of proportionality and of the rule of law.

NO CHANGE TO TERROR LAWS

Yildirim told Schulz that there would be no change in the country's anti-terrorism laws  a key condition of a visa-free travel agreement between the EU and Turkey, reported Anadolu Agency.

"We once again reiterated that we cannot make an adjustment to the anti-terror laws due to the circumstances that we face today," he told a joint news conference with Schulz.

Yildirim said the anti-terror laws were a matter of Turkey's security as well as Europe's fight against terrorism.

Both Yildirim and Schulz pointed to Europe and Turkeys difference of opinion on anti-terrorism practices.

Schulz outlined that there has been no progress towards the visa-free travel deal due to these differences, while Yildirim stressed that "flexibility in anti-terror laws is out of the question".

KEY PARTNERS

The EUs Migration Commissioner, Dimitris Avramopoulos, who is overseeing the Turkey-EU migration deal, was also in Ankara on Thursday and echoed Schulzs comments.

The EU is a key partner of Turkey, Avramopoulos told Omer Celik, Turkeys EU Affairs Minister, at a joint press conference.

Avramopoulos only hint of criticism was to warn that fighting against terrorism should never be at the expense of the fundamental rights of our citizens, reported POLITICO.

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
Barclays loaned Qatari investors $3 billion to help finance an emergency fundraising at the height of the credit crisis in 2008, court documents filed in London on Thursday allege.



The case brought by Amanda Staveley's PCP Capital Partners alleges that the bank failed to disclose the loan, which was used to buy Barclays shares, and that it paid Qatar 346 million ($459 million) in additional fees and payments.



The share sale was "a fraud on its shareholders", the lawsuit said.



"Contrary to the manner in which Barclays presented the Qatari participation in the October 2008 capital raising to the market, in fact the Qatari investors' entire investment was funded by Barclays," the court documents said.



Barclays denied any wrongdoing in the case over the bank's emergency fundraising from Gulf investors at the height of the credit crisis, which allowed it to avoid a state bailout.



"We believe the claim against Barclays is misconceived and without merit and Barclays will be vigorously defending it," the bank said.



Businesswoman Staveley, who played a prominent role in Abu Dhabi's Sheikh Mansour bin Zayad Al Nahayan's investment in Barclays at that time, is suing the bank at the High Court in London.



Staveley alleges in the lawsuit that she was given a written and verbal promise by Barclays staff that her syndicate would get the same terms as Qatari investors, whereas in fact the Qataris received extra fees to the tune of 346 million.



Her PCP private equity group is claiming $1 billion plus damages for alleged fraudulent misrepresentation in a civil case that hinges on the terms Qatari and Abu Dhabi investors received for helping Barclays raise about 7 billion in total.



The case is unfolding months before the Serious Fraud Office (SFO) is due to decide whether to charge Barclays and former executives in a separate criminal inquiry into financial arrangements with Qatar.-Reuters
International facilities management company Macro has won a four-year contract from The National Museum, Oman to provide key services to its brand new premises in capital Muscat.



Macro is the facilities management arm of Mace, a global consultancy and construction company offering highly integrated services across the full property and infrastructure lifecycle.



The National Museum, which was designed to bring Omans unique cultural heritage to life, has been built over 13,700 sq m and is located next to the Qasr Al Alam Palace, the main Royal ceremonial palace of the nation.



As per the deal, Macro will provide a host of services including technical solutions, cleaning, pest control, managed polices, a quality management system (QMS), computer-aided facilities management (CAFM), quality, health, safety and environment (QHSE) and resource management.



Acting director-general of The National Museum, Jamal Al Moosawi, said: "We are pleased to be working with an internationally renowned FM provider such as Macro Group. Their flexible approach and robust processes and procedures have helped us align our FM services."



"Both the museum and the Macro teams have worked hard to ensure the opening of the facility was a success and we look forward to maintaining our high standards for this cultural landmark," he noted.



On the win, Macro Group chairman Bill Heath said: "We are honoured to be working with The National Museum - Sultanate of Oman, which is set to be a world-class museum. This builds on Macros recent successes in the arts and culture sector."



According to him, the museum covers all aspects of Omans rich cultural heritage and displays maritime history, currency, weapons and armour within its large 14 galleries.



There is an UHD standard audio-video theatre, a conservation department along facilities for collections management, graphics, interactive displays and classrooms designed for teaching children who visit the museum about the artefacts held within the facility.



The museum houses one of the largest free-standing display cabinets in the world and caters for all visitors with special needs, he added.-TradeArabia News Service












Narendra Modi, who arrived after a two-day maiden visit to Hanoi, is expected to meet President Xi at 06:30 am tomorrow.

By India Today Web Desk: Prime Minister Narendra Modi today arrived at Hangzhou in China to attend the crucial G20 Summit and hold talks with top world leaders, including Chinese President Xi Jinping on issues such as India's Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG) bid and the CPEC, which runs through PoK. The two-day summit begins on Sunday.

However, sources say that Modi's bilateral with US President Barack Obama on the sidelines of the G20 may not happen.

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Modi, who arrived after a two-day maiden visit to Hanoi, is expected to meet President Xi at 06:30 am tomorrow. The meeting is viewed as important in the backdrop of steady decline in the bilateral relations over a raft of issues including the USD 46 billion China-Pakistan Economic Corridor which runs through Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK).

Hello Hangzhou! PM lands in China to attend the G20 Summit. pic.twitter.com/63Ko1oMr1z; PMO India (@PMOIndia) September 3, 2016

Also read: NSG, Pakistan in focus as Modi arrives in China for G20



The two leaders would discuss contentious issues, which will also include listing of Pakistan-based terrorist organisations in the UN and China stalling India's membership at the elite Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG). Top Chinese Foreign Ministry official Lu Kang had told India Today Television that both sides are looking forward to the meeting to get their bilateral ties on track.

This would be followed by a meeting of the BRICS (Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa) leaders ahead of the G20 summit, which would begin later in the day.

Modi will also hold bilateral meetings with Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull and Saudi Arabia's Deputy Crown Prince Mohammad bin Salman.

Also read: 'Miniature Modi' dolls a hit in Hangzhou ahead of G20 Summit



On Monday, he will take part in the second and concluding session of the G20 and hold bilateral meetings with British Prime Minister Theresa May and Argentinian President Mauricio Macri before returning to Delhi.

In all, he would reside in this picturesque city for about 48 hours, officials said.

A meeting between Modi and US President Barack Obama is, however, not on the cards during this trip, they said.

With inputs from agencies



--- ENDS ---
Abu Dhabi General Services Company (Musanada) said work was progressing well on the Dh5.3-billion ($1.44 billion) Mafraq-Ghuwaifat Road project and was on track for completion by the middle of next year.



The company said it has completed 72 per cent of the Mafraq-Ghuwaifat Road project.



The scope of work includes construction of 16 new interchanges, improvement work to the existing interchanges at Mafraq, Hameem, Abu Al Abyad and Madinat Zayed interchange, as well as huge improvements on the existing interchanges extending over a total length of 246 km from Mafraq to the international borders with Saudi Arabia in Ghuwaifat and the industrial hub in Ruwais.



As per the project plan, the delivery of Phase One of the project will be during this year, while the project is to be completed by mid-2017, said a statement from Musanada.



Hamdan Ahmed Al Mazrouei, the acting road director at Musanada, said the project teams are working 24/7 to deliver work as per the project plan in consideration of the road significance in linking the Western Region cities and facilitating the commercial transport on the international road.



"The project includes six packages, with a manpower of 8,500 consultants, engineers, and workers," he stated.



The project encompasses construction of new lanes in both directions, from two to four lanes in each direction along 182 km extending from Mafraq until Baynounah Forest Area, and from two lanes to three lanes in each direction along 64 km extending from Baraka until Ghuwaifat, added Al Mazrouei.



"Furthermore, the project encompasses construction of lay-by parking for road users. Work is in progress to execute a shoulder on the right side for both directions for emergencies," he noted.



"This is as well as construction of underpass for camels in areas of proximity to Silaa and Ghuwaifat, which will serve camel owners in areas adjacent to the road and the camel race track close to Silaa," he added.



Faisal Al Suwaidi, the director of Main Roads Division in the Department of Municipal Affairs and Transport, said: "In accordance with its plan to maintain safety of road users, proportional to the urban development and population and economic growth in the Western Region, the department delivers strategic projects contribute to the environmental sustainability of Abu Dhabi as well as the traffic safety."



The project completion rate could not have been achieved without the continuous and constructive cooperation of all strategic stakeholders, he added.



As part of Musanadas commitment towards the standards of Green Sustainability, the Mafraq-Ghuwaifat Road Project will be supplied with LED (light emitting diode) lighting, which will play part in reducing the power consumption to 60 per cent, he added.-TradeArabia News Service
Russia hopes to fetch more than $11 billion for a minority stake in the Kremlin's flagship oil producer Rosneft before the end of the year to plug budget holes caused by low crude prices, an industry source told Reuters on Friday.



The sale will be complicated by sanctions imposed on Moscow over its actions in Ukraine and by many investors' wariness of putting money into Russia as well as volatile commodity markets.



But Russia is hoping to repeat the success of Rosneft's initial share offering a decade ago when it raised $11 billion in one of the world's biggest such sales, despite concerns that investors would be spooked by Rosneft's purchase of most of the assets of oil firm YUKOS, bankrupted by the Kremlin.



On Friday, Economy Minister Alexei Ulyukayev said his ministry had received documents needed to kick start the sale of 19.5 per cent in Rosneft, including a valuation and proposals on terms of sale.



An industry source familiar with the sale process said the stake had been valued at over $11 billion. The documents were submitted this week by Rosneftegas, which controls Rosneft on behalf of the government. Italian bank Intesa is advising Rosneftegas on the sale.



In comments to Russian news agencies later on Friday, Ulyukayev said estimates the stake would be valued at around $11 billion were close to reality.



After privatization, the government will keep 50 per cent plus one share in Rosneft, the world's largest oil firm by reserves among listed companies.



Rosneft produces over a third of Russia's total output of 10.7 million barrels per day - a figure making Russia the world's biggest producer on a par with Saudi Arabia and the United States.



Russian President Vladimir Putin said the sale of the stake should take place before the end of the year and should involve strategic investors.



"I think we should be aiming precisely for that type of investment. We are getting ready and are planning to do it this year," Putin told Bloomberg News.



Oil major BP owns just under 20 per cent in Rosneft following the purchase of BP's Russian joint venture TNK-BP by Rosneft for $50 billion in 2013.



Rosneft's own market value has fallen to $55 billion since then as a result of low oil prices and sanctions imposed on Russia, Rosneft and its chief executive Igor Sechin, one of Putin's closest allies.



At its initial public offering (IPO), Rosneft was worth nearly $80 billion. Western majors will find it difficult to invest in Rosneft due to sanctions but their place could be taken by Asian investors, including from China and India, which have been seeking to develop resources in Russia.



Russia is effectively competing with many other resource rich countries for money from investors to compensate for low commodities prices.



The world's largest non-listed oil firm by reserves and output, Saudi Aramco, is planning to list up to a 5 per cent stake in the next two years, seeking an overall valuation of over $2 trillion.



The industry source said Rosneftegas was asking the government to issue a decree guaranteeing a stable tax regime during the sale of the stake and beyond.



"You cannot attract solid investors if the tax regime keeps changing," the source said.  Reuters
Philippines' President Rodrigo Duterte declared on Saturday a "state of lawlessness" in the country after an explosion in a market killed 14 people in his home city while he was on a regular weekend visit there.



Duterte, the crime-busting mayor of Davao City for more than two decades, said the blast late on Friday outside a high-end hotel intensified what was an "extraordinary time" in the Philippines, and security forces would redouble efforts to tackle crime, drugs and insurgency.



"I must declare a state of lawless violence in this country, it's not martial law," Duterte told a phalanx of reporters on a Davao street at daybreak after visiting the blast site.



"It's not martial law until it's a threat against the people and against the nation ... I have this duty to protect this country."



Duterte was at a meeting some 12 km (7.5 miles) away from downtown Davao when the explosion occurred.



It came as the uncompromising president wages war with just about anyone from drugs kingpins and street dealers to Islamist rebels and corrupt bureaucrats, scoring big points in opinion polls, but at a risk of making powerful enemies.



There was no claim of responsibility though suspicion centered on an Islamic State-linked militant group.



Police said 67 people were wounded in addition to the 14 dead.



Police have yet to disclose details of their initial investigation, but Davao Mayor Sarah Duterte - the president's daughter - said in a television interview it was a bomb.



Police and military promised to implement the nationwide "state of lawlessness", although there appeared to be confusion about what that actually entailed.



Duterte's office said it was "rooted" in an article of the constitution that puts the president in charge of the armed forces. Several officials said the declaration meant troops would assist police in anti-crime and anti-terror operations.



DEATH THREATS



Rumors have swirled of a plot to assassinate Duterte, 71, which he has shrugged off as part of his job. The talk has been fueled by his controversial crackdown on drugs that has killed more than 2,000 people since his June 30 inauguration, and has been condemned by activists and the United Nations.



Asked on Thursday about death threats, Duterte's spokesman Ernesto Abella said: "He eats that for breakfast, it's not something new."



The explosion went off at about 10.30 p.m. at a market outside the Marco Polo hotel, a place Duterte visits often and used for meetings during a campaign for a May election that he won by a huge margin. He typically spends his weekends in Davao.



Asked if he thought drugs gangs were behind it, Duterte said: "It is also being considered ... At least we know who made the threats."



The White House offered condolences and assistance, which National Security Council spokesman Ned Price said President Barack Obama would convey when he meets Duterte in Laos next week.



Duterte canceled a trip to Brunei on Saturday in what would have been his first overseas visit as president. Officials said he would still attend next week's Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN) and East Asia Summits in Laos.



Though Davao itself is relatively safe, it is located on Mindanao, a large southern island province beset by poverty and decades of Muslim insurgency.



Abu Sayyaf rebels linked to Islamic State and notorious for multi-million dollar kidnappings operate in the jungles of Mindanao's Jolo and Basilan islands.



They are being hit by stepped-up offensives after Duterte ordered the military to wipe the group out.



Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana said Abu Sayyaf would have good reason to retaliate and he had placed the military on high alert for possible attacks elsewhere.



"While nobody has owned up to this act, we can only assume that this was perpetrated by the terrorist group Abu Sayyaf that has suffered heavy casualties," he said.-Reuters
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi offered Vietnam a credit line on Saturday of half a billion dollars for defence co-operation, giving a lift to a country rapidly pursing a military deterrent as discord festers in the South China Sea.



The deal was among a dozen co-operation agreements Modi signed in Hanoi alongside his Vietnamese counterpart, Nguyen Xuan Phuc, on the first visit to the country by an Indian prime minister in 15 years.



India and Vietnam share borders and large trade volumes with China and have repeatedly locked horns with Beijing, over the territorial disputes in the Himalayas and the South China Sea, respectively.



Both are also beefing-up of their defences and in India's case, its defence industry, promoting heavily its supersonic BrahMos missile. India is keen to sell the missile to Vietnam and four other countries, according to a government note seen by Reuters in June.



It was unclear if the latest loan included the $100 million India had previously made available to Vietnam for four yet-to-be-built patrol vessels in a deal agreed in late 2014.



In an address to media, Modi said the credit was for "facilitating mutual defence cooperation" and the relationship between the two countries would "contribute to stability, securities and prosperity in this region".



Modi, who was en-route to a G20 Summit in China, made no mention of the patrol vessels, nor BrahMos missiles, and did not elaborate on what Vietnam would use the $500 million credit for.



The offer comes after a surge of almost 700 per cent in Vietnam's defence procurements as of 2015, according to the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute think-tank, which tracks the arm trade over five-year periods.



Vietnam is in the midst of a quiet military buildup analysts say is designed as a deterrent, to secure its 200 nautical mile Exclusive Economic Zone as China grows more assertive in staking its claims in the South China Sea.



Experts say Vietnam is in the market for fighter jets and more advanced missile systems, in addition to its six kilo-class submarines it has bought from Russia, the last of which it will receive late this year.



The 12 agreements signed on Saturday covered areas like health, cyber security, ship-building, UN peace-keeping operations and naval information sharing.



Both leaders said ties would be upgraded to the level of "comprehensive strategic relationship" and bilateral trade would be almost doubled to $15 billion by 2020.-Reuters
Samsung has decided to recall Galaxy Note 7 devices in Saudi Arabia and has also stopped sales of the product in the kingdom, the company said in a statement.



It said: "We have collaborated with the Ministry of Commerce and Investment in Saudi Arabia to announce this recall in order to get to all the consumers in the shortest time possible."



The announcement follows recently reported cases of the new Galaxy Note7 with a battery cell issue.



However, Samsung said: "To date (as of September 1) there have been no recorded cases in Saudi Arabia, and only very few cases that have been reported globally and we are currently conducting a thorough inspection with our suppliers to identify possible affected batteries in the market."



Customers who already have bought Galaxy Note7 devices, the company offered full refund of the retail price of SR2,899. Buyers have been asked to contact 8002474357 in order to know where to return the device.



"We acknowledge the inconvenience this may cause in the market but this is to ensure that Samsung continues to deliver the highest quality products to our customers," the statement said. - TradeArabia News Service
Kuwait has advised citizens to make sure their phones contain no material that might be seen as being linked to Islamist militants before travelling to the US, local media reported on Saturday, after three men were denied entry in July.



State news agency Kuna quoted a statement by the Kuwaiti embassy in Washington as saying that authorities at "some US airports may check the contents of mobile phones or other smart mobile equipment".



"The embassy of the state of Kuwait in Washington urged citizens to make sure that their phones do not contain any materials or photos of extremist nature, related to areas of conflict or terrorist organisations or footage of violence of all kinds before entering US territories," Kuna said, citing a statement.



"(This is) so that students and citizens may be spared questioning by authorities in US airports and to avoid any action against them that could result in cancelling their visas and banning them from entering US territories," it added.



The Arabic language al-Rai newspaper reported in July that three businessmen were questioned for 21 hours at Los Angeles airport and had their telephones checked before they were turned back, in the second incident of its kind this year.



The Gulf Arab Opec oil exporter is a key US ally and a member of an international alliance which is fighting against Islamic State in Syria.



In July, the UAE had told its male citizens to avoid wearing traditional white robes and head dress when travelling abroad, after a businessman was wrestled to the ground at an Avon, Ohio hotel and held as an Islamic State suspect.-Reuters
Jordan Projects for Tourism Development (JPTD), a public listed company, through its Swiss holding company Jordan Hotels Holding (JHH), has signed up Swiss-Belhotel International, a global hotel management company, as its exclusive partner to co-manage JHHs existing hotel portfolio and the upcoming new expansions in the Groups hospitality division.



The deal will begin with a take-over of multiple operating properties in the city of Aqaba comprising of 5-star hotels, mid-scale 4-star hotels, a collection of hotel apartments and boutique residential accommodation within the Royal Diving Centre.



On the deal, CEO Mahmoud Zuaiter said: "An association with Swiss-Belhotel International is a strategic move because of their excellence in managing hotels and resorts. Swiss-Belhotel International will play a crucial role in elevating tourism in Jordan to new heights and to overcome the difficulties that exist in the current scenario."



JPTD, he stated, plans to launch a range of activities to enhance the guest experience, for both, domestic and international visitors.



Our Group has made significant progress towards achieving its goals by developing long term plans which are adaptive to socio-economic changes, with a clear focus of understanding the needs of tourists and to construct exceptional real estate projects in Jordan, he said.



Tala Bay, one of the significant projects of JPTD, is only just beginning to realize its full potential as the ultimate exclusive beach destination in Aqaba.



With only 10 per cent of the complete land bank developed, there is further development on the horizon with a purpose designed destination planned to appear in the sprawling 2.35 million sq m area.



"JPTD has exciting future expansion plans, beyond the borders of Jordan, and both parties are looking for expanding cooperation in other countries as well," revealed Zuaiter.



Gavin M. Faull, the chairman and president of Swiss-Belhotel International, said: "I am proud to enter Jordan, which is one of the most ancient and culturally rich Arab nations."



"It is an opportunity for us to contribute to the countrys growing international reputation and to infuse our passion and professionalism in its hospitality sector," he added.-TradeArabia News Service
Airport International Group (AIG), the Jordanian company responsible for the rehabilitation, expansion and operation of Queen Alia International Airport (QAIA), welcomed the arrival of the first Tarco Airlines flight from Khartoum to Amman marking the beginning of two regular flights per week.



This step reaffirms the Groups ongoing efforts to provide new options to international destinations that expand QAIAs airline network, and stimulate traffic growth at the Kingdoms prime gateway to the world, said a statement from the airport operator.



The inaugural flight was welcomed with a customary water cannon salute in the presence of high-ranking officials from the Embassy of Sudan and members of Airport International Groups management team.



Tarco is the third scheduled airline to join QAIAs network since the beginning of the year, in addition to the Turkish low-cost carrier Pegasus Airlines and the recently-established Jordanian airline Fly Jordan.



We are very pleased to welcome yet another airline to QAIAs growing network, underlining our ongoing collaboration with the Government of Jordan to market the airport and the countrys tourism industry to airlines, as well as to introduce incentives for newly-established routes, commented Kjeld Binger, CEO of Airport International Group.



"We look forward to providing passengers with more flight options by attracting additional regional and international airlines, which subsequently help position Jordan as a dynamic destination for business, leisure and investment within the region," he added.-TradeArabia News Service
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"A packed day of diplomacy in Vietnam ends as PM Narendra Modi enplanes for Hangzhou to attend G20 Summit," External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Vikas Swarup tweeted along with a photo showing a red carpet goodbye for Modi.

By Press Trust of India: Prime Minister Narendra Modi today left Vietnam for China to attend the G20 summit beginning tomorrow after wrapping up his two-day maiden visit to the country that witnessed the signing of 12 agreements.

"A packed day of diplomacy in Vietnam ends as PM Narendra Modi enplanes for Hangzhou to attend G20 Summit," External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Vikas Swarup tweeted along with a photo showing a red carpet goodbye for Modi.

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MODI'S TWO NATION TOUR

The first leg of his 2-nation tour saw India extending a USD 500 million line of credit to Vietnam to deepen their defence cooperation, amid China's claims in the disputed South China Sea.

Bilateral ties were also upgraded to Comprehensive Strategic Partnership besides inking of 12 agreements including in defence, trade and sharing white shipping information. Vietnam currently has Comprehensive Strategic Partnership only with Russia and China.

ALSO READ: PM Modi accorded ceremonial welcome on arriving in Vietnam

"I thank the people and government of Vietnam for the very good hospitality during my visit," Modi said.

"Thank you Vietnam. I will remember this visit as a memorable and productive one, that laid the ground for even better India-Vietnam ties," he said in another tweet.

The Prime Minister's final engagement during the visit was a call on Nguyen Phu Trong, General Secretary of the Communist Party.

The two-day G20 summit beginning tomorrow in China's picturesque city of Hangzhou will see Modi join US President Barack Obama, Chinese President Xi Jinping along with other top world leaders to discuss global efforts needed to boost economic growth and trade.

--- ENDS ---
After Aaj Tak showed the plight of students from Jammu and Kashmir, who were denied further scholarship under Prime Minister Special Scholarship Scheme, Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh assured them of resolving their grievances.

By Jitendra Bahadur Singh: Aaj Tak showed on Friday the plight of students coming from Kashmir and Ladakh for study in Jaipur. And, on Saturday Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh assured the students to resolve their grievances.

Large number of students from Jammu, the Valley and Ladakh had enrolled themselves in various courses at Gyan Vihar University of Jaipur. These students had taken admission in the university under a special scheme of the Centre.

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But, on some technical grounds, the university asked most of the students to go back. Only the students of Hotel Management were allowed to continue their studies.

THE BACKGROUND

In 2010 the then Manmohan Singh government had launched a scholarship scheme for the students of Jammu and Kashmir. Under the 1,200-crore scheme the students of Jammu and Kashmir were to be given scholarships for their study in universities across the country.

These students of Gyan Vihar University availed the same Prime Minister Special Scholarship Scheme-Jammu and Kashmir and got admission in various courses in 2013. When they graduated to third year, they applied for renewal of scholarship.

The All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE) refused to grant scholarship saying that the Gyan Vihar University course was not funded or aided by the government. Now, the students are left with no option but return home in frustration.

CHANGE OF RULE

When the scheme was launched, it was to be run and monitored by the Ministry of Human Resource Development. But, with the change of government at the Centre, the scheme was placed under AICTE.

Rules governing scholarship were also changed in 2015 resulting in troubles for the currents students. These changes were reflected in the dwindling number of students availing the scholarship scheme. Compared to previous years, only 30 per cent students availed special scholarship this year.

RAJNATH TAKES NOTE

Learning of the plight of these Jammu and Kashmir students shown on Aaj Tak, the Union Home Minister called up the Education Minister of Rajasthan government and asked for phone numbers of some of the students.

Talking to them, Singh assured the students of resolving their grievances. He also told students to meet him in New Delhi on Tuesday (September 6) on his return from the Valley.

Singh is leading an all-party delegation to Srinagar on Sunday to hold political consultations in order to bring situation under control in the Valley. The Union Minister is learnt to have asked the Rajasthan Education Minister to sort out the operational difficulties at the university by Monday before his meeting with the grieving students.



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--- ENDS ---
Geetanjali Gayatri

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, September 3

The CBI on Saturday conducted raids at the residences of former Haryana Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda and a sitting UPSC Member along with 18 other locations in a case of alleged irregularities in acquisition of land in Gurgaon in which farmers were cheated to the tune of Rs 1,500 crore.

CBI sources said besides Hoodas residence, premises of the then Principal Secretary ML Tayal, UPSC Member Chattar Singh, both former IAS officers, and a serving IAS SS Dhillon were also searched by the team.

In an ongoing investigation, the CBI carried out searches at 20 locations in Rohtak, Gurgaon, Panchkula and Delhi in connection with alleged irregularities in the purchase of land from farmers in Gurgaon, CBI Spokesperson RK Gaur said.

Sources said the agency conducted raids at Hoodas flat in Chandigarh, Rohtak and Delhi, while residences, especially of the officers, were also learnt to have been raided in Gurgaon and Chandigarh.

(Follow The Tribune on Facebook; and Twitter @thetribunechd)

The raids began in the wee hours of Saturday and are still continuing at some places.

The CBI, on the recommendation of the Manohar Lal Khattar-led BJP Government in Haryana, had registered a case under sections 420, 465, 467, 468, 471 and 120-B of the Indian Penal Code and under Section 13 of the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988, against unknown public servants of the state government and unknown private persons.

The CBI had last year taken over the investigation of the case first registered at Police Station, Manesar, on allegations that the private builders in conspiracy with unknown public servants of the Haryana Government had purchased around 400 acres of land from farmers and land owners of Manesar, Naurangpur and Lakhnoula villages in Gurgaon district at throw away prices, under the threat of acquisition by the government between 2004 and 2007.

In this process, initially, the Haryana Government had issued a notification under sections 4, 6 and 9 of the Land Acquisition Act for acquisition of land measuring about 912 acres for setting up an Industrial Model Township at Manesar, Naurangpur and Lakhnoula villages in Gurgaon district.

Later, the land had allegedly been grabbed from the land owners by private builders under the threat of acquisition at meager rates. An order was also passed by the competent authority, the then Director of Industries, in 2007, releasing the said land from the acquisition process.

The land was allegedly released in violation of the government policy, in favour of builders, their companies and agents, instead of the original land owners.

The CBI has alleged in its FIR that in the said manner, land measuring about 400 acres whose market value at that time was above Rs 4 crore per acre approximately totalling about Rs 1,600 crore approximately was allegedly purchased by the private builders and others from the innocent land owners for only about Rs 100 crore.

It was alleged that a loss of Rs 1,500 crore was caused to the land owners of Manesar, Naurangpur and Lakhnoula villages. With PTI inputs
Sunit Dhawan

Tribune News Service

Rohtak, September 3

A CBI team raided a house, a farmhouse and a camp office of former Haryana Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda here today.

The focus was on Hoodas house located near D-Park in the heart of the town, where members of the team stayed for about eight hours.

The nine-member team, led by CBI SP Ram Gopal, took away two sealed boxes. They remained tight-lipped on the purpose of the raid, their findings and contents of the boxes. As per Hoodas aide, the CBI team took away a CPU, bank documents and a few other papers.

The team reached Rohtak early in the morning and raided Hoodas camp office and his farmhouse on the Gohana road in the outskirts of the town. The sleuths also visited a petrol station owned by Hoodas nephew. Around 8 am, the team reached Hoodas house near D-Park, which is occupied by the family of Hoodas nephew Bittu.

The CBI sleuths quizzed Bittu and other members of family. They examined bank papers, property-related documents and other papers for several hours. Curiously, a locksmith was called in the house during the raid.

As the local police learnt about the raid, they deployed police and RAF personnel outside Hoodas house. The personnel cordoned off the area by installing barricades.

Congress MLA from Kalanaur Shakuntala Khatak, former Rohtak MLA Bharat Bhushan Batra and other local leaders tried to enter the house while the raid was in progress. The police stopped them, but they were eventually allowed to enter the house after an altercation.

Batra said the sleuths took away a CPU and some documents. He said a few officials from a bank and BSNL accompanied the CBI team as independent witnesses.
Aditi Tandon

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, September 2

In a shocking move today, the Congress suspended a worker of 40 years for speaking to an unfriendly television channel, which the party has boycotted for six months.

Haryana Congress president Ashok Tanwar issued the notice of suspension to Khazan Singh, state unit general secretary, citing his engagement with the Times Now reporters as "as an act of indiscipline".

"We have suspended Haryana Congress general secretary Khazan Singh for six years for talking to the TV channel which the party has on principle been boycotting for months. No one in the party can on their own decide to speak to any TV channel. The person in question did not seek any permission and acted on his own against party line," Ashok Tanwar said.

Singh, meanwhile, was stunned by the move and said he was innocent as he did not even know the said channel was under boycott from the Congress. I will reply to the notice when I get it, he added.

Singhs suspension has the stamp of Congress general secretary in charge of Haryana Kamal Nath, who acted on a report by the party's media department sent about Singh's participation in a Times Now programme on the Dhingra Commission report on Congress chief Sonia Gandhi's son-in-law Robert Vadra's land dealings.

It, however, remains to be seen if the Congress will also suspend former Haryana minister Ajay Singh Yadav for participating in a Times Now debate on Rahul versus RSS battle on Thursday night. Sources said they had taken cognisance of Yadav breaking party discipline by visiting Times Now Studio. The department is likely to send a report on Yadav to Kamal Nath and Ashok Tanwar.
Gurgaon, September 3

Farmers here celebrated the CBI raids on Saturday at the homes and offices of Whos Who of Delhi and Haryana. After several years of continuous struggle the farmers rejoiced at the outcome.

The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) raided the homes and offices of former Haryana Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda, two former IAS officers and others over the alleged irregularity in the purchase of 400 acres of land from these farmers.

People in the villages of Manesar, Nakhdola and Naurangpur have expressed happiness and hope that finally they would get justice.

Former village head and one of the two complainants in the case, Om Prakash Yadav said, "Farmers were cheated by the nexus of ruling political leaders, builders and their agents with full-proof planning."

We are sure that many people involved in the fraud will have to face jail after fair investigation and trial, said Pradeep Yadav, another affected farmer.

The CBI conducted raids in at least four places in Gurgaon and Manesar, including offices of two realtors.

"Farmers from Manesar, Nakhdola and Naurangpur approached the Punjab and Haryana High Court for justice. The court on December 17, 2011 ordered for status quo but farmers lost the case on December 15, 2014," Om Prakash Yadav said.

He said farmers then moved the Supreme Court, which on April 24, 2015 ordered status quo in the favour of farmers.

An FIR was then registered at Manesar police station on the complaint of Om Prakash Yadav and one Naresh Kumar from Rampura village against unknown political leaders, builders and their agents under various sections of Indian Penal Code on August 12, 2015.

"The CBI registered the case on September 15, 2015 and started investigation," Yadav added.  IANS
Geetanjali Gayatri

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, September 3

Former CM Bhupinder Singh Hooda has termed the CBI raids on his promises as an act of pure political vendetta and vengeance.

It is not a prosecution. It is naked persecution, but I, too, shall not kneel or bend. When the going gets tough, the tough get going, he said when contacted for his reaction to the raids.

The CBI today raided various properties of Hooda and then Principal Secretaries to CM, ML Tayal, Chhatar Singh and SS Dhillon, in Chandigarh, Rohtak and Gurgaon.

Hooda was in Delhi when the raids were conducted. He was informed by his staff on phone about the CBIs arrival at his residence.

Insisting that no illegality had been committed during his two terms of chief ministership, he said: I told them not to interfere with the CBIs working and let the team do its work. I have nothing to hide.

Terming the raids a witch-hunt against opponents, Hooda asserted, We will oppose the oppression of the BJP government just the way my forefathers fought the oppression of the Britishers.

The CBI raided Hoodas paternal house and office in Rohtak and his official flat in Chandigarh in connection with the Manesar land acquisition between 2004 and 2007 during which nearly 400 acres were released just before the award for land was announced, allegedly to benefit builders.

Hooda said the BJP government in the state, too, had released 3,600 acres of acquired land for which award had been announced. From whatever I can recall, there was land with 400 houses. As a policy, we left out land with constructions, those under litigation and there was a piece of land for which the INLD government had given a CLU licence. I had asked the department to revisit acquisition and initiate proceedings to clear tracts of land, Hooda said.
Delivering a lecture on 'independence of the central bank' at the St. Stephens College, the outgoing governor said the central bank cannot be free of all constraints as it has to work under a framework set by the government.

By Press Trust of India: A day before leaving office, Reserve Bank Governor Raghuram Rajan on Saturday said the RBI's ability to say 'no' to highest echelons of government has to be protected as the country needs a strong and independent central bank.

Delivering a lecture on 'independence of the central bank' at the St. Stephens College, the outgoing governor said the central bank cannot be free of all constraints as it has to work under a framework set by the government.

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ALSO READ: Mini-bang reforms better than big-bang ones, says RBI Governor Raghuram Rajan



Here's what he said: Recalling his predecessor D Subbarao's comments on policy differences with the government, Rajan said he "would go a little further" as he believes that "the Reserve Bank cannot just exist, its ability to say 'no' has to be protected." "In this environment, where the central bank has to occasionally stand firm against the highest echelons of central and state governments, recall the words of my predecessor, Dr. Subbarao, when he said "I do hope the Finance Minister will one day say, 'I am often frustrated by the Reserve Bank, so frustrated that I want to go for a walk, even if I have to walk alone. But thank God, the Reserve Bank exists," the outgoing RBI governor said. He further said that freedom to take operational decisions is important for the central bank. "However, there are always government entities that are seeking oversight over various aspects of RBI's activities. Multiple layers of scrutiny, especially by entities that do not have the technical understanding, will only hamper decision making," he said. Instead, the government-appointed RBI Board, which includes ex-officio government officials as well as government appointees, should continue to play its key oversight role. "In this regard, all important RBI decisions including budgets, licences, regulation and supervision are now either approved by the Board or one of its sub-committees. Vacancies in the RBI Board, which have remained unfilled for many months now, should be filled quickly so that the full expertise and oversight of the Board can be utilised," he said. Rajan said central bank governors sit at the table along with finance ministers at G-20 meetings for a reason. "It is the central bank governor, unlike other regulators or government secretaries, who has command over significant policy levers and has to occasionally disagree with the most powerful people in the country."

ALSO READ:EXCLUSIVE: RBI Governor Raghuram Rajan counters shortsighted critics in last interview before exit

--- ENDS ---
Property dealer shot dead

Sonepat, September 3

Narender (45), a property dealer and resident of Bhaira Bankipur, was shot dead by unidentified armed youths near a temple in the village last night. He was returning to his village from Delhi in his car.

The police reached the spot and brought his body to the Civil Hospital for postmortem. Victims family members said they suspected the involvement of two youths of a village in Delhi.

Investigating Officer ASI Ranbir Singh said on the complaint of victims brother, Fateh Singh, a case of murder had been registered against unidentified youths. It was suspected to be a case of money transaction, he added.  OC
Our Correspondent

Sonepat, September 3

Infiltration of terrorists from the Pakistan side, fertiliser supply, farmers committing suicide and crop insurance scheme and Janani Sureksha Yojna were among various issues discussed in the 13th National Youth Parliament organised at BPS women university, Khanpur Kalan in the district today.

The event was organised under the aegis of the Union Ministry of Parliamentary Affairs. Student Neha Pundhir played the role of speaker; whereas Pallavi and Arju acted as the Union agriculture and home minister, respectively. Anjali Gupta represented Leader of Opposition. Shalini as opposition MP and Bhavna Sharma, Kartika and Kifi Gupta as MPs of the ruling party also participated in the deliberations.

Speaking on the occasion, chief guest Sonepat MP Ramesh Kaushik said after witnessing the proceedings, he was confident about the future of the country. He announced a grant of Rs 20 lakh for the purchase of a new bus.

University Vice-Chancellor Prof Asha Kadiyan said that such programmes were necessary for creating political awareness among youth. These programmes strengthen the roots of democracy and increase peoples faith in democratic process, she added.
Tribune News Service

Shimla, September 3

Protesting against the poor results of the first semester of BA, BCom and BCA of which examinations were held in December 2015, ABVP activists today burnt effigies of the Vice-Chancellor of Himachal Pradesh University on the campus and other affiliated colleges in the state.

Demanding that the minimum passing marks be reduced from 45 to 35 per cent as earlier, ABVP state secretary Ashish Sikhta said the revised result should be declared with 35 per cent as passing marks. The students also raised anti-university and anti-government slogans.

The ABVP demanded that the RUSA system should be scrapped and replaced with the annual system. HPU campus president of the ABVP Gaurav Attri said as the Controller of Examination had said the results would be re-evaluated and the students were not required to fill the re-appear forms, immediate notification should be issued in this regard.

The Himachal Pradesh University Teachers Welfare Association (HPUTWA) has welcomed the statement of the state BJP chief that the BJP would scrap the system in the interest of the students after coming to power. HPUTWA president Prof Shashi Kant Lomesh said a majority of the stakeholders opposed the RUSA system from day.

Results were delayed, no counselling was done and the consequences were not kept in mind whether degrees would be accepted by other universities who had not shifted to the RUSA system, he stated.

Topography of Himachal is different and it was not possible to complete the number of teaching days under the semester system in the tribal district of Lahaul and Spiti due to weather vagaries, he said, adding that even now if the semester system was rolled back to the annual system, the problems could be resolved.

Implemented in haste: Dhumal

Shimla: Former Chief Minister Prem Kumar Dhumal today lashed out at the government for implementing the Rashtriya Uchchtar Shishksa Abhiyan (RUSA) in haste without proper review of the system.

The future of students is in the dark due to adamant attitude of the government and the act cannot be pardoned, he said, adding that the BJP would fight until RUSA was reversed and accountability for spoiling the future of students would be fixed.

The switchover to RUSA without adequate infrastructure and teaching and non-teaching staff was crime against students and the BJP would not allow the government to play with future of the students, he cautioned. RUSA was conceived by former HRD Minister Kapil Sibal and the concept had imported content and the previous BJP government in the state had found it unsuitable and did not implement it.  TNS
Pratibha Chauhan

Tribune News Service

Shimla, September 3

The Kinnaur India-China Trade Association today urged Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh to persuade the Centre for getting a go-ahead to the trade of chiku, mules and horses.

Traders met the Chief Minister, who is on a visit to Kinnaur, and air their grievances. They said their repeated pleas to the Union Ministry of Commerce and Director General, Foreign Trade, (DGFT) had failed to yield positive results.

So far 96 trade passes have been issued and 26 people visited China with their products.

The traders pointed out that the trade of livestock was stopped in 2013 in the absence of the quarantine testing facility.

They demanded that a quarantine laboratory or some other alternative be provided so that animals like chiku, goats, horses and mules could be imported.

With the topography being the same on both sides of the border, the animals are in great demand, especially during the Lavi Fair at Rampur.

The association was formed two years ago. The traders urged the Chief Minister to urge the Centre to allow the trade from the Lepcha area of Sumdoh as it happened to be the shortest route to China. In the past, trade was permitted from Lepcha and it was most convenient, said Hishey Negi, president of the Kinnaur India-China Trade Association.

Though the trade between the two neighbours has picked up slightly in the last few years, it had not grown along the expected lines. To date, not even a single trader from China has crossed over to the Indian side with his trade items. The main reason for the Chinese traders not coming here is the absence of a trade centre and basic facilities like makeshift shelters for the trade season, food and electricity, said Hishey. He along with other traders urged the Chief Minister to take up all these issues with the Union Ministry of Commerce and Director General, Foreign Trade.

The traders, through a written representation, sought enhancement in the list of import and export items. They demanded that the Director General, Foreign Trade, should be approached to allow the import of items like thermo flasks, crockery, canned foods and herbal medicines from China. Similarly, they demanded that the export list should also be enhanced with addition of items like sugar, pulses and Thangka paintings. It was in 2012 that 20 items had been added to the trade list on the demand of the traders.
Lalit Mohan

Tribune News Service

Dharamsala, September 3

Despite the CUHP campus site in Jadrangal being inspected by a committee set up by the Union Ministry for HRD, Dehra still remains in the reckoning.

The fact was illustrated by the fact that a senior member of the committee, JS Sandhu, Secretary of the UGC, along with the CUHP VC, Kuldeep Agnihorti, also visited the site in Dehra.

The VC admitted that he had gone to the site in Dehra, but termed the visit informal. He said as far as the CUHP campus was concerned, the Union Government had already given a no objection certificate (NOC) for transferring 200 acres in Dehra. The state government, however, needed to complete some formalities so that the land could be transferred in the name of the CUHP, he said.

The VC said there was a misconception that 70 per cent campus would be brought up in Dehra and 30 per cent in Dharamsala. There was no such ratio.

Since the government is offering land for the university in Dharamsala, the first campus can come up there, he said. Later, if the land was provided in Dehra, another campus could come up there.

When asked if the twin-campus proposal of the CUHP was still in the reckoning, the VC said the university needed to expand with time and anything which was in the interest of the institute could happen.

The twin-campus proposal was tabled during the BJP regime. But after the Congress government came to power, Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh proposed one consolidated campus of the CUHP in Dharamsala. The government initially proposed a site in Dharamsala that was rejected by the Union Ministry for HRD on the plea that it was an active-sliding zone. Later, the government proposed 600 acres at Jadrangal with the idea that the consolidated campus would come up there. The inspection of the site was held on September 1. However, the visit of the UGC Secretary and the CUHP VC to Dehra has once again raised apprehensions that the Union Government might go in for twin campuses. BJP MP from Hamirpur Anurag Thakur and party MLAs from Dehra and Jaswan Pragpur have been strongly lobbying for Dehra.
Majid Jahangir & Suhail A Shah



Tribune News Service

Srinagar/Anantnag, September 3

Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti on Saturday reached out to Kashmiri separatist leaders and invited them for talks with that all-party delegation that is arriving on Sunday to find a way to resolve the nearly two-month unrest in Kashmir.

(Follow The Tribune on Facebook; and Twitter @thetribunechd)

True, our politics and programmes are at variance with each other, but our concerns for our people and society in general, and the future of our youth in particular, should not be any different. As such, I write to you in my capacity as the President of the J&K Peoples Democratic Party and request you to take the lead and engage with the all-party delegation of Parliamentarians visiting the state tomorrow, Mehbooba Mufti wrote to the separatists. This will be the start of a credible and meaningful political dialogue and resolution process to end the stalemate.

Read:



She wrote the letters to top separatist leaders, including Sayeed Ali Shah Geelani, Mirwaiz Umar Farooq, Mohammad Yasin Malik, Prof Abdul Gani Bhat, Moulvi Abbas Ansari, Shabir Ahmad Shah, Bilal Gani Lone, Aga Hassan, Naeem Ahmad Khan and Amir Jamiat-e-Ahli-Hadees.

An all-party delegation headed by Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh is arriving in Kashmir on Sunday.

Protests make Mehbooba cut short Kulgam visit

Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti had to cut short her visit to Kond Valley of south Kashmirs Kulgam district as angry villagers, amid unprecedented security measures, tried to march towards the place she was visiting and clashed with the security forces.

The police, however, have termed the reports baseless, saying the protests took place in other villages and not the one the Chief Minister was visiting.

Mehbooba visited the family of Mashooq Ahmad at Kreelu village of Kond valley, who was shot dead by security forces on July 9, as protests erupted in the village a day after the killing of Hizb-ul-Mujahideen Commander Burhan Wani.

The angry demonstrators in the afternoon set ablaze the house of a PDP leader, who accompanied the Chief Minister during her visit to the area. Earlier, he was given an ultimatum to get the arrested people released and resign from the PDP.
Majid Jahangir

Tribune News Service

Srinagar, September 3

On Sunday morning, when all-party delegation, led by Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh, lands on ground zero to find a way to resolve the nearly two-month-long unrest  all eyes will be on whether the delegation, comprising top national leaders, could start the process of reconciliation.

While Kashmiri separatist leaders, who have been leading the current agitation, have refused to meet the panel, Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti today pitched for the unconditional dialogue with them.

The countrys political leadership must, without any further delay, reach out and engage all sections of the society, including the leaders of the Hurriyat Conference, in a productive dialogue process to resolve the issue and make peace a reality in Jammu and Kashmir, Mehbooba said in south Kashmir.

With Mehbooba for unconditional dialogue with separatists, there is a possibility that the members of the all-party delegation may try to reach out to them. Two of the three main separatist leaders Mirwaiz Umar Farooq and Yasin Malik are in the police custody and hardline Hurriyat leader Syed Ali Geelani has been put under house arrest.

This (all-party delegation visit) should facilitate resolution of the Kashmir problem. We see it as a developing consensus at the national level to share our pain and facilitate resolution of the problem. We hope it will be a step forward, ruling Peoples Democratic Party leader and party general secretary Nizam-ud-Din Bhat said.

Apart from mainstream political parties, the all-party delegation will meet nearly 50 groups of people from the region. The invitations have gone to people from the trading community, some prominent citizens, youth leaders and some civil society members. All prominent trader union bodies have already refused to hold talks with the visiting delegation.

The opposition NC said the Central delegations first priority should be to meet separatists.

They should listen to the voices of dissent and it should be their first priority during the two-day visit, senior NC leader and former minister Ali Mohammad Sagar said.

The visit is taking place at a time when hundreds of policemen and security force personnel are deployed across Kashmir to curb the uninterrupted protests following the killing of militant commander Burhan Wani on July 8, that has so far left 73 people dead and nearly 10,000 injured.

Due to the unrest and separatists call to people to occupy the airport road on Sunday, the government has kept an option of flying the members of the delegation from the Srinagar airport to Nehru helipad. The move, sources said, was aimed to avoid the nearly 20-km road journey from the airport. The members of the group have also expressed their wish to visit some injured in the hospital. However, the delegation will be allowed to visit hospitals once there is security clearance.

The delegate members would have a one-night stay in luxurious The Lalit Grand Palace, overlooking the Dal Lake.

With mainstream pitching for dialogue, the people are cynical about the visit and the results.

Noted political scientist and coordinator of the Department of Politics and Governance, Central University, Prof NA Baba claims that people in Kashmir have no faith in the delegation.

People have lost faith in such initiatives and the reason is past experience. From common people to separatists to civil society members  none is enthusiastic about the visit. They have seen that the Centre did not act on interlocutors report or the five Working Groups recommendations formed by former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, so they believe that the panel objective is only to defuse the current crisis, Baba said.

On whether the Hurriyat leadership will talk to the delegation, former chairman of the All Parties Hurriyat Conference Abdul Ghani Bhat said they had delegated these powers to joint leadership of the separatists.

A collective separatist leadership has come in Kashmir. They will decide whether to talk to the delegation or not. As far as we as the Muslim Conference are concerned we cant interfere. We have taken position which is that Kashmir dispute can be resolved only through talks, but talks have to be purposeful and result oriented, he said.

The delegates
Aditi Tandon

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, September 3

The Congress has decided to push for a formal follow-up plan once the scheduled visit of the all-party delegation to the troubled Kashmir valley concludes.

The focus on the follow-up action after winding up of political delegations tour to the state emerged as a consensus point at an internal strategy meeting on Kashmir chaired by former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh at his residence on Friday night. Manmohan Singh chaired the meeting in the wake of Congress president Sonia Gandhis illness.

The meeting, attended by Sonias political secretary Ahmad Patel, Leader of Opposition in Rajya Sabha Ghulam Nabi Azad, former ministers AK Antony, P Chidambaram, Ambika Soni, Anand Sharma, Mallikarjun Kharge and Salman Khurshid, spoke at length about the contours of the all-party delegation meet and decided that the Hurriyat could be engaged if its leaders express a desire to meet the delegation.

If the Hurriyat wants, it can meet the delegation. The delegation is not going to go to the Hurriyat. A decision was taken to keep the dialogue within the perimeters of the Constitution. There was a lot of stress on the post-visit follow-up and what assurances the government will give to put in place a formal mechanism for review of the success of the delegation visit. We will seek such a follow-up plan, a Congress source said.

Asked whether the Congress took a view on recent overtures of some Baloch leaders who are urging India for an asylum, a leader said, No. But there was a talk about drawing from the wisdom and knowledge on Kashmir which exists. For example, to quell the violent protests of 2010 summer, the Congress government had sent an all-party delegation to the Valley under the leadership of then Home Minister P Chidambaram. This had resulted in the constitution of working groups which presented valuable reports. How far has the BJP government taken those initiatives is what we would like to know.
Ehsan Fazili and Suhail A Shah

Srinagar/Anantnag, September 3

One civilian protester was killed and over 100 injured in clashes between protesters and police personnel amid curfew, restrictions and continued shutdown called by separatists across Kashmir today.

With this death, the toll went up to 73 as the ongoing unrest in Kashmir entered the 57th day. Normal life continues to remain paralysed due to the curfew and restrictions and shutdowns called by separatists against the recent killings.

The civilian protester killed during firing in clashes at Vessu in Qazigund area of Kulgam district in south Kashmir this afternoon was identified as Basit Ahangar. Doctors at the district hospital in Anantnag said he Basit was brought dead with pellet injuries in the legs and deep wound in the head.

A police spokesman said 12 incidents of stone-throwing were reported from Srinagar, Budgam, Anantnag, Sopore and Kupwara.

He said curfew was lifted from Anantnag, Pulwama, Kulgam, Shopian and Baramulla and most parts of Srinagar. Curfew remained enforced in areas under the police stations of Maisuma, Batamaloo, Khanyar, Safakadal, Nowhatta, Rainawari and MR Gunj.

Nearly 50 persons were injured in clashes between protesters and security forces personnel in the Beerwah area of Budgam district.

At least 60 others were injured in south Kashmir as security forces personnel continued to foil rallies at various places. Three of them, including a 65-year-old man, were critically injured.

The police and CRPF reportedly vandalised the venue of a rally in the Kawarigam-Ranipora area of Anantnag district. They thrashed villagers and smashed windowpanes of houses and mosques, claimed local residents.

Agitated protesters were dispersed by security forces personnel using teargas shells and pellet guns. At least 35 persons were injured. One of them, a 65-year-old man, were taken to a Srinagar hospital in a critical condition.

Twenty persons were injured as security forces personnel used teargas shells and pellet guns to foil a rally in the Gulshanpora-Battegund area of Tral in Pulwama district.

Five persons were injured in Tukru village of Shopian district as youths threw stones at security forces personnel, who fired teargas shells and pellets in retaliation. Two of them were injured critically and were hospitalised in Srinagar.
By PTI: Bhubaneswar/Cuttack, Sep 3 (PTI) Sacked from his job as a home guard three years back in Odisha, a 45-year-old man attempted self immolation near Chief Minister Naveen Patnaiks residence here, sparking indignation among the lower-level security personnel in the state.

Sandeep Hati sustained about 60 per cent burn injuries after setting himself ablaze last night near Naveen Niwas in Bhubaneswar.

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Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik has announced free of cost treatment for the injured home guard who is battling for life at the SCB Medical College and Hospital in Cuttack.

Meanwhile, holding Patnaik responsible for their dismissed colleagues bid to immolate himslef, Odisha Home Guard Association President Prasanna Mallick today threatened that if their genuine demands were not met in seven days, all the home guards of the state would opt for such extreme steps.

"It was past midnight. We could not understand what the man was doing," a security personnel on duty said, adding that though police personnel intervened, Hati had already sustained serious injuries.

Hati had been dismissed in 2013 while working as a home guard from the Commissionerate of Police in the state capital.

He was dismissed during deployment at the residence of the then Bhubaneswar DCP Nitinjeet Singh for allegedly joining a protest rally of Home Guard Association against Singh.

"I had not joined the rally, but they dismissed me," he told police in a statement and added that he took the extreme step after he failed to get justice.

Police Commissioner Y B Khurania, who visited Hati at the SCB Medical College and Hospital in Cuttack said, "He was dismissed three years ago. The reason of his dismissal will be probed. Zonal ACP will investigate the incident."

Director General of Police (DGP) K B Singh said he will take up the case with the Commissionerate of Police.

"Hati attempted suicide by self immolation near the Chief Ministers residence. We will probe the incident," the DGP said. (MORE) PTI AAM SUS BSA LNS

--- ENDS ---
New Delhi, September 3

Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh has approved the use of chilli-filled grenades for mob control, sources said on Saturday.

The grenades, known as Pelargonic Acid Vanillyl Amide (PAVA) also called Nonivamide, would replace controversial pellet guns. The latter however are unlikely to be banned completely  sources said their use would be restricted to rarest of the rare cases.

Sources said 1,000 PAVS shells would be sent to the restive Kashmir Valley on Sunday.

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The development comes a day before Singh heads an all-party delegation to Kashmir, where ongoing protests have killed 71 people and left thousands  both civilians and security personnel  injured.

Read: Opposition favours delegation holding talks with Hurriyat

Singh had promised an alternative to the pellet guns  which have been blamed for many fatal injuries and deaths in the violent protests  when he visited the Valley in August as protests escalated.

A seven-member committee that Home Joint Secretary TVSN Prasad headed recommended PAVA guns in its report submitted on August 29.

The Valley has been witnessing violent protests since Hizbul Mujahideen militant Burhan Wani was killed by security forces on July 8.

'PAVA shells', a chilli-based ammunition, is less lethal and immobilises the target temporarily. The Indian Institute of Toxicology Research, a Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) laboratory in Lucknow, has been conducting trials on the shells since the past year.  PTI
Arun Joshi

The all-party delegation will on Sunday hear beyond the already known narratives that Pakistan is behind all this unrest and Indias intransigence in recognising Kashmir as a dispute and failing to resolve it under UN resolutions on Kashmir. The other versions will be focused on excessive use of pellet guns and stone-throwers being paid and instigated by enemies of peace.

In these contesting narratives, neither side will own responsibility. The question will remain whether who is accountable for the loss of more than 70 lives and thousands more injured in the ongoing unrest, the genesis of which lies in much earlier planning than the spark provided by killing of a militant commander on July 8.

Amidst all this, the Valley is staring ahead to stand on its own. The stark reality of what is happening and what will be its end result is that of an unimaginable horror.

We want azadi (freedom), but, we know India will never give it, says Tanvir, whose transport business is shut for almost two months now. But these stone-throwers have made our life hell, he says when he recalls with teary eyes that his vehicles have been stoned and drivers are scared to report to duty. Neither side is relenting, he explains, saying the forces are no less ruthless.

At this point a simple question is: Who will own these sacrifices of the young? Separatists describe them as victims of the brutal force used by the Indian forces. And, the government says the separatists and Pakistan have used them as cannon fodder to keep themselves relevant.

What will be the reward for those who lost their loved ones  some kind of flag atop their houses or withered flowers at the graves of their children!

The year 2016 offers a gruesome landscape where Kashmiri youth have died and suffered partial or full blindness by pellet guns. The pockmarked faces and bandaged eyes appear as recurring images of the Kashmir valley. These images, seen with smashed faces of policemen and CRPF personnel, are spine-chillingly horrifying ones. These are signs of brutalities at display.

How come the whole Valley was in flames? The encounters had taken place in the past and an encounter took on my watch too. Given the situation, such gunfights cannot be ruled out, so what mistake have I committed? Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti has asked. How could the Valley erupt with such intensity if the planning had not gone for months before the killing of militant commander Burhan Wani on July 8?

She asked, Please tell me whats my fault. To which her arch-rival and former Chief Minister Omar Abdullah asked, If I was responsible for all the events 2009-2014 (read alleged rape and murder of two women in Shopian and deadly year of 2010, which consumed 120 lives), but she is not responsible for what happened in four months.

This blame game is too familiar between Mehbooba Muftis PDP and National Conference, but the fact of the whole story lies in the answer to the question: whats the role of the NC? It is the same as what the PDP played in 2010.

Besides, militants and others are being held responsible. Government employees and religious-political groups are being blamed for instigating trouble. Children are off schools. They are watching the gory scenes on TV. But, who instigates the youth to take to the streets and face security forces with stones and petrol bombs is also is a question.

This is not the time to work, study or do business. It is struggle, is the argument of separatists, which other parties in the mainstream seem to be supporting because they dont want stability in Kashmir. At the end of the day, there will be no one owning the current phase of multiple tragedies.
Ajay Banerjee

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, September 3

Prime Minister Narendra Modis announcement of a $500 million line of credit for facilitating a deeper defence cooperation with Vietnam, is expected to open doors for a greater number of India-made warships and missiles to be supplied in what is Chinas backyard.

New Delhi with its $500-million offer has clearly landed in the next league to be counted as friends of Vietnam that is locked in a dispute with China over territorial rights in the hydrocarbon-rich South China Sea. The country uniquely enjoys a strategic relationship with the US, Japan and Russia. New Delhis Act East Policy clarifies that Japan, Vietnam and Australia are the pillars when it came to countering China.

In October 2014, New Delhi ignored expected protests from Beijing and agreed to supply military equipment, naval ships and launch a space satellite for Vietnam along with a $100 million line of credit.

So, a line of credit for Hanoi is not new, its the quantum jump in amount that will make Beijing take note. Since 1976, India has extended 17 lines of credit worth more than $165 million to Vietnam. India had in the past extended line of credit of $100 million for infrastructure and defence procurement, Modi has made it five times bigger. I am also happy to announce a new defence credit for Vietnam of $500 million for facilitating deeper defence cooperation, Modi told reporters in Hanoi.

This falls in line with a five-year (2015-2020) joint vision statement between India and Vietnam on defence cooperation to build closer strategic ties. Earlier this year, the US lifted a 50-year-old arms embargo on Vietnam. Japan is Hanois biggest bilateral donor, a large trading partner and the third largest foreign investor.

Japan has provided six vessels to Vietnam to boost maritime security. Vietnams Air Force operates Russian-made SU-30MK2 fighter jets while its tanks, helicopters and kilo-class submarines are from Russia. India, which operates the same subs, trains the Vietnamese Navy in operating the vessels and also provides English language training for the armed forces of Vietnam.
New Delhi, September 3

Hours after he was suspended from the party, former AAP minister Sandeep Kumar on Saturday surrendered before police after the woman who purportedly figured in an 'objectionable' CD with him accused him of allegedly raping her after spiking her drink.

The woman today filed a complaint against Kumar at Sultanpuri police station alleging that she was raped by him after being offered a spiked drink, official sources said.

She alleged in her complaint that the CD was made after Kumar became a minister.

The woman claimed she had gone to meet Kumar for his help in getting a ration card. She was asked to wait at the minister's office and then offered a cold drink which was allegedly spiked, the sources said.

After she lost consciousness, she was allegedly raped.

The woman claimed she did not know a CD had been made, they said.

Sanjay Singh, Joint Commissioner (Northern range), said the victim's statement was being recorded.

A case under IPCs Section 376 (rape) has been registered, police said.

Sandeep Kumar surrendered at the office of DCP (outer).

Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal tweeted that Kumar should be given "exemplary punishment" if the allegations turn out to be true.

"If woman's allegations are correct, this is v serious. Strongest exemplary punishment shud be given to Sandeep," he said.

Earlier in the day, AAP suspended Kumar from the party, days after he was sacked as Women and Child Development minister over the "objectionable" CD in which he was shown in a compromising position with the woman.

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Delhi Deputy Chief Minister and AAP leader Manish Sisodia, earlier, said, Party is taking action. Whatever Sandeep Kumar has done is wrong. He has been suspended from the primary membership. The matter has been sent to the disciplinary committee and whatever recommendations will come from it, the party will follow it. But, the PAC has suspended him from primary membership after discussing the issue this morning,"

Political Affairs Committee or PAC is the highest decision making body of the party.

In a video message, a day after Kumar's sacking, Kejriwal had asserted that he would prefer to die or dissolve the party rather than compromise with AAP's principles, adding, the same rule will apply to him and all other senior leaders.

Kejriwal said although the turn of events and the fact that "such people" were in the party "saddened" him, he takes "pride" from the fact that AAP did not attempt to "cover up" the transgressions.

On fellow party leader Ashutosh's stand on the issue, the Deputy Chief Minister today said, "Ashutosh's opinion could be his own, but the whole party is very clear on it."

Ashutosh in a blog for NDTV had said the legislator's "consensual act" was not wrong and his sacking from the cabinet was aimed at "perception management".

In the blog, he had also said the row over Kumar's "objectionable" video exposes the "hypocrisy of the society and hollowness of the media" and wondered why the seemingly obvious "consensual act" should create ripples in the media and politics.

After he was sacked from the ministry, Kumar had alleged that he was targeted under a conspiracy as he was a Dalit.  Agencies


New Delhi, September 3

The Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Saturday issued its second attachment order for assets worth Rs 6,630 crore against Vijay Mallya as it seized his farmhouse, flats and FDs in connection with its money-laundering case against him and his associates.

The agency had recently expanded the probe in this regard as it took over investigation into the alleged loan default of Rs 6,027 crore availed from a consortium of nationalised banks led by the SBI, a case also taken over by the CBI recently. The fresh action is an aftermath of the new case.

The total attachment made by the agency in this case has now shot up to Rs 8,044 crore as it had attached assets worth Rs 1,411 crore a few months ago.

The provisional attachment order, issued under the provisions of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), said it had ordered seizing of a farmhouse in Mandwa in Alibaugh worth Rs 25 crore, multiple flats in Kingfisher tower in Bengaluru worth Rs 565 crore, fixed deposits of Mallya with a private bank to the tune of Rs 10 crore and shares of USL, United Breweries Limited and McDowell Holding company, jointly held by the liquor baron and UBHL and his controlled entities, worth Rs 3,635 crore.

The total attachment under Saturdays order is worth Rs 4,234.84 crore but the present market value of these properties and assets is Rs 6,630 crore approximately, the agencys order said.

The agency alleged these assets were the proceeds generated out of criminal activity of the alleged default of bank loans as it claimed Mallya criminally conspired with Kingfisher Airlines (KFA) and United Breweries Holdings Limited to obtain funds through the consortium of banks and out of this total amount, the principal fund of Rs 4,930.34 crore still remains unpaid.

In addition, huge numbers of shares were also being held in the name of various other group companies controlled directly or indirectly by Mallya. Hence, it appeared that though sufficient funds were available with the promoters of KFA--Mallya and UBHL--they had no intention to make payment towards the bank loans from the consortium banks.

They deliberately and intentionally kept the huge number of shares approximately worth Rs 3,600 crore pledged with UTI Investment Advisory Services Limited and other financial institutions without substantial underlying liabilities and thus kept the consortium in dark, the ED said in the order. PTI
Hangzhou, September 3

Global economic slowdown, raising protectionism, structural reforms to expand global trade and creation of jobs, innovation, inclusive growth and climate finance are the key topics to be discussed at the two-day G-20 Summit starting in this picturesque Chinese city on Sunday.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will join US President Barack Obama and Chinese President Xi Jinping along with other top world leaders to discuss global efforts needed to boost economic growth and trade.

India will engage constructively on all the issues before us and work towards finding solutions and taking forward the agenda for a robust, inclusive and sustainable international economic order that uplifts the socio-economic conditions of people across the world, especially those who need it most in developing countries, Prime Minister Modi has said in his tweet on the G-20 Summit.

Modi, who is in Vietnam on a maiden visit, will arrive here tonight to attend the summit.

Ahead of the G-20 Summit, leaders of BRICS (Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa) will meet to finalise their strategy for highlighting issues exercising emerging economies.

Heads of the five countries will also be meeting in Goa next month during the BRICS Summit to work more coordinated strategy in the face of global economic slowdown and to counter protectionist measures.

Despite the political differences, emerging economies  India and China  are trying to work out more closer cooperation to oppose protectionism from the developed countries, increasing globalisation and expansion of global trade through structural reforms to create more jobs for their massive populations.

I see a very good opportunity for a coordinated action between India and China, Secretary Economic Affairs Shaktikanta Das told his Chinese counterpart Vice-Minister for Finance Shi Yaobin during the last months India-China Finance Dialogue.

It is very important to point out that the idea of inclusiveness has been retained and has been given greater focus in G-20 agenda under Chinese Presidency, he said.

Very rightly and in a timely manner, the Chinese Presidency is also giving importance to new industrial revolution on innovation as main drivers of economic growth in the current century, said Das, who took part in several G-20 meetings.

While the Chinese security agencies mounted a massive security operation including heavy scrutiny of the guests in top hotels, the majority of the citys over nine million population either left for holidays out of the city or stayed indoors reportedly on instructions to ensure a smooth summit.

In many parts of the city, only the authorised G-20 vehicles were seen plying on the well laid out roads besides few other vehicles.  PTI
Hanoi, September 3

India on Saturday extended $500 million line of credit to Vietnam for facilitating deeper defence cooperation with the southeast Asian nation, as the two countries elevated their ties to a comprehensive strategic partnership to respond to emerging regional challenges.

Our decision to upgrade our strategic partnership to a comprehensive strategic partnership captures the intent and path of our future cooperation. It will provide a new direction, momentum and substance to our bilateral cooperation, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said after talks with his Vietnamese counterpart Nguyen Xuan Phuc here.

He said the two sides recognised the need to cooperate in responding to emerging regional challenges.

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Vietnam had earlier comprehensive strategic partnership only with Russia and China.

Modi, who arrived here yesterday on his maiden visit to the country, described his talks with Vietnamese counterpart as extensive and very productive and said they covered the full range of bilateral and multilateral cooperation.

I am also happy to announce a new Defence Line of Credit for Vietnam of $500 million for facilitating deeper defence cooperation, he said.

Our common efforts will also contribute to stability, security and prosperity in this region, he said.

The two countries signed 12 agreements in a wide range of areas covering IT, space, double taxation and sharing white shipping information.

An agreement on construction of offshore patrol boats was also signed by the two sides, signalling a step to give concrete shape to defence engagement between the two nations.

The range of agreements signed just a while ago point to the diversity and depth of our cooperation, Modi said, adding that the agreement on construction of offshore patrol boats is one of the steps to give concrete shape to bilateral defence ties.

He said as the two important countries in this region, India and Vietnam feel it necessary to further their ties on regional and international issues of common concern.

Modi also announced a grant of $5 million for the establishment of a Software Park at the Telecommunications University in Nha Trang.

We agreed to tap into the growing economic opportunities in the region, said Modi, the first Indian premier to visit the country in 15 years.

Noting that enhancing bilateral commercial engagement is the strategic objective of the two nations, he said, For this, new trade and business opportunities will be tapped to achieve the trade target of $15 billion by 2020.

Besides seeking facilitation of ongoing Indian projects and investments in Vietnam, Modi said he has invited Vietnamese companies to take advantage of the various schemes and flagship programmes of the Indian government.

As Vietnam seeks to empower and enrich its people, Modernise its agriculture; Encourage entrepreneurship and innovation; Strengthen its Science and Technology base; Create new institutional capacities for faster economic development; and Take steps to build a modern nation, India and its 1.25 billion people stand ready to be Vietnams partner and a friend in this journey, Modi told his Vietnamese counterpart.

Speaking about the framework agreement on Space Cooperation, he said it would allow Vietnam to join hands with Indian Space Research Organisation to meet its national development objectives.

Hoping for an early establishment and opening of the Indian Cultural Centre in Hanoi, he said, The Archaeological Survey of India could soon start the conservation and restoration work of the Cham monuments at My Son in Vietnam. He also thanked Vietnams leadership in facilitating inscription of Nalanda Mahavihara as a UNESCO World Heritage site earlier this year.

Noting that ASEAN is important to India in terms of historical links, geographical proximity, cultural ties and the strategic space that the two sides share, he said, It is central to our Act East policy. Under Vietnams leadership as ASEAN Coordinator for India, we will work towards a strengthened India-ASEAN partnership across all areas. Modi also expressed the need to stay focused to keep up the momentum in bilateral ties and invited the Vietnamese leadership to India.  PTI
Hanoi, September 3

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday left Vietnam for China to attend the G20 summit beginning on Sunday after wrapping up his two-day maiden visit to the country that witnessed the signing of 12 agreements.

A packed day of diplomacy in Vietnam ends as PM @narendramodi emplanes for Hangzhou to attend G20 Summit, External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Vikas Swarup tweeted along with a photo showing a red carpet goodbye for Modi.

The first leg of his two-nation tour saw India extending a USD 500 million line of credit to Vietnam to deepen their defence cooperation, amid Chinas claims in the disputed South China Sea.

Bilateral ties were also upgraded to Comprehensive Strategic Partnership besides inking of 12 agreements, including in defence, trade and sharing white shipping information. Vietnam currently has Comprehensive Strategic Partnership only with Russia and China.

I thank the people and government of Vietnam for the very good hospitality during my visit, Modi said.

Thank you Vietnam. I will remember this visit as a memorable and productive one, that laid the ground for even better India-Vietnam ties, he said in another tweet.

The Prime Ministers final engagement during the visit was a call on Nguyen Phu Trong, general secretary of the Communist Party.

The two-day G20 summit in Chinas picturesque city of Hangzhou will see Modi join US President Barack Obama, Chinese President Xi Jinping along with other top world leaders to discuss global efforts needed to boost economic growth and trade. PTI
Hangzhou, September 3

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday flew into this Chinese city for the crucial G20 summit and talks with top world leaders, including Chinese President Xi Jinping on irritants in bilateral ties like India's NSG bid and the CPEC, which runs through PoK.

"Hello Hangzhou! PM lands in China to attend the G20 Summit," Modi tweeted, along with a photo showing Modi shaking hands with officials after landing.

External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Vikas Swarup also tweeted about the Prime Minister's arrival in China, saying: "Morning in Hanoi, night in Hangzhou."

Modi, who reached here after a two-day maiden visit to Hanoi, begins his programme tomorrow morning by holding talks with Xi, in their second meeting in less than three months.

The two leaders had last met on the sidelines of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Summit in June in Tashkent.

Tomorrow's meeting is viewed as important in the backdrop of steady decline in the bilateral relations over a raft of issues, including the $46 billion China-Pakistan Economic Corridor which runs through Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK).

The two leaders, who enjoy a good rapport, would discuss contentious issues, which will also include listing of Pakistan-based terrorist organisations in the UN and China stalling India's membership at the elite Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG).

This would be followed by a meeting of the BRICS (Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa) leaders ahead of the G20 summit, which would begin later in the day.

Modi will also hold bilateral meetings with Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull and Saudi Arabia's Deputy Crown Prince Mohammad bin Salman.

He will attend the G20 summit that begins tomorrow with this year's theme of "Strengthening Policy coordination and Breaking a new path for growth" followed by a number of cultural programmes organised by the Chinese government.

On Monday, he will take part in the second and concluding session of the G20 and hold bilateral meetings with British Prime Minister Theresa May and Argentinian President Mauricio Macri before returning to Delhi.

In all, he would reside in this picturesque city for about 48 hours, officials said.

A meeting between Modi and US President Barack Obama is, however, not on the cards during this trip, they said.  PTI
Hyderabad, September 3

Information and Broadcasting Minister M Venkaiah Naidu on Saturday said that had Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel been given a free hand, Kashmir would have completely become an integral part of India.

If the then Home Minister had been allowed to tackle the issue, Kashmir Valley would not have been witnessing the current unrest, he said.

Unfortunately, he was not allowed to handle the issue. Had he been allowed, Kashmir would have been totally a part of India by thought, speech and action, Naidu said.

The minister was speaking in Hyderabad at Tiranga Yatra as a part of Aazadi 70 Saal, Yaad Karo Qurbani.

Naidu described Patel as the iron man and the unifier of India and recalled the role played by him in ensuring the accession of the princely states to India.

Naidu said though the Tiranga Yatra campaign concluded in other parts of the country, as per the call given by Prime Minister Narendra Modi it would continue till September 17 here, the Liberation Day of Hyderabad state.

He noted that though people all over India celebrated freedom from British rule on August 15 in 1947, those living in the erstwhile princely state of Hyderabad had to wait till September 17, 1948.

Naidu said the region was finally liberated from the tyrannical Nizams rule and integrated with the rest of India in 1948, thanks to the steely and firm resolve of Vallabhbhai Patel.

The obduracy of the Nizam to retain Hyderabad as an independent state left Patel with no other option but to send the Army and liberate it, he said.

The swift and clinical operation by the Indian Army put paid to the Nizams plans and forced him to surrender. It also ended the violence unleashed by Razaakars, the private militia of the Nizam which was led by Qasim Razvi, who later fled to Pakistan, Naidu added.

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He urged the Telangana government to officially celebrate Hyderabad Liberation Day as was being done in some districts of Maharashtra and Karnataka, which were then part of the Hyderabad state.

It is unfortunate that some political parties are viewing from the prism of vote-bank politics, even in matters related to the nations integrity. There should not be any kind of politics, leave alone vote-bank politics, when it comes to unity and integrity of the nation and all Indians should speak in one voice, he added.

Union Labour and Employment Minister Bandaru Dattatreya, the BJP leaders of Telangana, party activists and schoolchildren participated in the Tiranga Yatra.--IANS
A woman who came forth complained to the Delhi Police alleging that she was drugged on pretext of help with a ration card.

By Anindya Banerjee: For Aam Aadmi Party and Women and Child Development Minister Sandeep Kumar who was sacked from his ministry, it was an eventful day.

A woman who claims to be the one in the video that has rocked the AAP came forth and complained to the Delhi Police alleging that she was drugged on pretext of help with a ration card.

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Delhi Police quickly sprung into action and filed a strong FIR against Kumar. But what are the charges and if convicted what does it mean for the former AAP minister?

Also read: Sex CD case: Had gone to Sandeep Kumar for ration card, says woman in video; BJP seeks apology from Kejriwal



FIR CHARGES

376 of IPC: He has been charged with IPC 376 which is rape, a very grave charge which is non-bailable. If proven in the court of law, this may attract

rigorous imprisonment for not less than seven years, but which may extend to imprisonment for life also. Additionally, Kumar shall also be liable to fine.

328 of IPC: This section relates to poisoning. Since the complainant alleged she was served spiked drink, this section is added. Again a non-bailable section. This attracts a punishment of maximum ten years and fine if the judge deems it fit.

Also read: Sex CD case: Sandeep Kumar surrenders after woman lodges rape complaint

67A of IT Act: This is for publishing or transmitting of material containing sexually explicit act in electronic form. Clearly, the section was added because the former AAP minister allegedly made a video of their sexual conduct and shared it widely. On first conviction, punishment with imprisonment for a term which may extend to five years and with fine which may extend to a whopping ten lakh rupees.

7 of PoCA: If a a public servant which Sandeep Kumar was takes a bribe which is not in form of money, this section of prevention of corruption act is used. Here he allegedly took sexual favours in promise to get the complainant a ration card. If proven in court of law, a minimum punishment of six months and a maximum punishment of five years can be his way. Fine can also be asked to shell out if the judge thinks it is needed.

Though all charges against Kumar are allegations at this point and will go through legal scrutiny. But if convicted the charges will attract some serious punishments.







--- ENDS ---
Tribune News Service

Amritsar, September 3

Former AAP Punjab convener Sucha Singh Chhotepur today said he would begin his statewide tour from September 6 to gather the viewpoint of his supporters before taking a decision on aligning with any political party.

He was here to pay obeisance at the Golden Temple today. He admired the proposed Navjot Singh Sidhu-led front, but refrained from commenting on his plans to join it. I will decide my next course of action only after consulting my well-wishers. If they agree, I will join a party or even float a new outfit, he said.

He said he was in utter shock when his own party workers conspired against him and tarnished his image on frivolous grounds. For the last more than two years, I travelled across the state to establish AAPs base in Punjab, but it was shocking that my own party tried to ruin my political career. Party workers in substantial numbers still stand by my 40 years of selfless work, he said.

Chhottepur was accompanied by seven of the AAPs 12 active zonal heads. They had served an ultimatum on the party high command to reinstate Chhotepur till September 3, but failed to get a response.

Earlier, there were reports that after snapping ties with AAP, Chhotepur was planning to launch his own regional party. But following the formation of Sidhu-led front tentatively christened as "Awaaz-e-Punjab", which will officially be launched on September 8, speculations were rife that the former AAP convener would join the new front.

Visits Khatkar Kalan

Jalandhar: Before his Amritsar visit, Chhotepur made a brief halt at Khatkar Kalan, the ancestral place of Shaheed Bhagat Singh on Saturday morning. Claiming that he was not exhibiting any show of strength, Chhotepur said he wanted to pay obeisance at sacred places before making up his mind about his next political plan.
I have always enjoyed looking at pictures, and my many hours and days poring over these (Indian miniatures) enhanced my enjoyment of them  and with it, may be even imperceptibly, my intelligence both about filming and collecting.

 James Ivory

Ive always said that Merchant- Ivory is a bit like the U. S. Government; I'm the President, Ismail is the Congress, and Ruth (Prawer Jhabvala) is the Supreme Court. Though Ismail and I disagree sometimes, Ruth acts as a referee, or she and I may gang up on him, or vice versa. The main thing is, no one ever truly interferes in the area of work of the other.

 James Ivory

Who, among those who see any films at all, does not know James Ivorys luminous work? Beginning with his short, intensely poetic film based on Indian paintings, The Sword and the Flute, which Jean Bhownagary produced, as far back as 1959, he went on to make one film after another with India as the background: The Householder, Shakespearewallah, The Guru, Bombay Talkie, Heat and Dust, Hullabaloo over Georgie and Bonnies Pictures, In Custody. Almost always it was a Merchant-Ivory production, and almost always the story and screenplay was by Ruth Prawer Jhabvala, who wrote for as many as 21 of his films. It is a staggering body of work, catching the spirit of India and Indian life, now fragmented, now whole, images bathed in warmth, characters seen with unbelievable sympathy. All these Indian works apart, in which one has also to count his documentaries like Helen, Queen of the Natuch Girls or the Courtesans of Bombay, there have been films which can only be described as iconic in the context of audiences in the western world: Howards End, Room with a View, Remains of the Day, The Bostonians, Mr and Mrs Bridge. The finest actors of the day, the most perceptive of writers, worked with him. Recognition came, awards came crowding to his door-step.

This, however, is only a part of the story. For, Jim Ivory was also a serious collector of Indian paintings, a man with a fine and discerning eye. In the beginning he knew nothing about the Indian painting, never having seen even one. However, once he got into this subtle and layered world, he was, as it were, entranced. How his first encounter with these paintings took place is something best told in his own words, filled as they are with wit and a sense of wonder. He was looking, as he wrote in the Foreword to Francesca Galloways publication, Indian Miniatures from the James Ivory Collection, for some etchings by the 18th century Venetian painter, Canaletto, on whom he had made a short film, his very first. It was to the art dealer, Ray Lewis of San Francisco, therefore, that he made his way. Whether he found a Canaletto with Ray Lewis we do not know, but  serendipity at its most exciting  he found something else. I had not been told that he (Ray) also dealt in Indian miniature paintings, he writes. On the day we met, Lewis had been showing his stock of Indian pictures to a buyer; they were still spread around his gallery when I came in. Years later when I thought back on that afternoon I would wonder; what if I had turned up slightly later and he had had time to put his pictures away? Had I even passed the unknown buyer on the stairs as I went up? Everyones life history is made up of such possibilities, for better or worse. Love, murder, passions like collecting, start in this way. I had never seen an Indian miniature painting before: I knew very little about India apart from the intoxicating memory of the country I had taken away after seeing Jean Renoirs film The River two or three years before. Some of the radiant scenes from the world created by Renoir, starting with a jewel-like dancing Krishna and Radha, now seemed to be lying in front of me in Ray Lewis show-room, and could be picked up and held in my hand. As I moved, he continues, from picture to picture I forgot that other eighteenth century world of Canaletto and entered the one of Indian miniature painting .

From this enchanted world, Jim Ivory never came out after that. He began to collect in earnest, seeking advice from those who knew, at least initially, more than he, keeping the company of other collectors, going to auctions, meeting art dealers and bargaining with them as was the established practice. Friendship with scholars in the field  Stuart Cary Welch, Robert Skelton, among them  formed. And he loved what he was collecting.

I remember my own meeting, the only one, with Jim Ivory. In New York, Cary Welch introduced me to him and in the course of our conversation the name of Nainsukh, the Pahari painter whom I was researching then, came up. I had heard from Cary that he had a work by him in his collection, and when we met, Jim Ivory was graciousness itself. When out of obvious interest I wanted to see some part of his collection, he readily took me to his bank in the vault of which he kept his most precious or favoured works. Nainsukh was there. We looked at it together, for a long time.

The Ivory collection was large and very varied, richer in Rajput and Company painting than in the generally favoured Mughal works. In Jims own words, there were many moods, some inexplicable  in these paintings. Even now, when we see it, it is a world inhabited by an incredible range of characters: lissom maidens languishing on marble terraces, couples sharing a swing even as the skies have opened up, proud nobles astride still prouder looking steeds, rulers submitting to overlords, faqirs dressed in bizarre apparels, whole families seated together embroidering shawls. It is as if one were in the presence of a great floral carpet that lies rolled up but can be spread out endlessly, revealing new things with each mellow unfurling.
M.G. Devasahayam

World is celebrating the sainthood of Mother Teresa. This is in recognition of her love, compassion and service to the lesser children of God, regardless of caste, creed, community, nationality or race thereby enriching Indias ancient culture of dharma (right way of living) and vasudeva kudumbam (universal family). Conversion has never been part of her agenda.

Mothers formal association with Chandigarh began with this letter addressed to me, the then Deputy Commissioner-cum-Estate Officer with the hope of doing something beautiful. The hope was not belied and therein lays a tale.

The problem of destitute, unwed mothers, orphans, mentally challenged and abandoned children stared at me when I took over as Deputy Commissioner, Chandigarh, in mid-1974. Those afflicted by these tragedies lacked everything that makes a decent and dignified life. Loving care besides physical support only could take care of these unfortunate ones. Despite best intentions, State welfare apparatus, as structured in India, was just incapable of understanding and handling this intensely human and humane issue.

My visits to the slums of Chandigarh euphemistically called labour colonies revealed the misery in which the poor lived which contrasted sharply with the clean living and comfort of most citizens. Diseases were common. Government efforts and schemes were only touching their body, not their soul. Distressed as it was by their deplorable state of affairs, I had been receiving regular reports of abandoned children born to unwed mothers causing consternation to the authorities of the Government Hospital and the PGI. Some of the children were physically as well as mentally challenged. There were reports also of dying destitutes in the corridor of the PGI. Added to this was the leper menace, very unusual for a city like Chandigarh.

Chandigarh has no parallel in India. The city was almost everything anyone can think of. It is the City Beautiful, the city of the future, a town planners paradise. It is a city of picturesque graces  a tourist attraction. It is a city described by no less a person than Jawaharlal Nehru as Symbolic of the freedom of India unfettered by the tradition of the past. an expression of the nations faith in the future. The city had the distinction of having excellent medical and education facilities. With its vast vistas and wide avenues it is virtually a dream come true. It was indeed a privilege to live in a city with such openness and facilities one could ask for. The city of Chandigarh could rightly be proud of its manifold achievements.

But in the midst of it all, the city has been yearning for something missing. Something without which no city or society can be complete. It was for a soul that would give meaning and content to the very existence of the city. Numerous people and organisations had set out in their efforts to identify and organise activities which they thought would put the soul in to the city. Some sought to achieve it through theatre, some others through art, yet others through music. Each had its place and they filled the void in their own way.

My search was different and it concerned the lesser children of God who should have some dignity in their despair with the better-of sections of society playing a part in providing it. This search led us to Mother Teresa and her Missionaries of Charity in distant Kolkata. Initial feelers sent by way of exploratory letters brought the response that Mother, accustomed to the poverty-stricken and dirty slums of Kolkata and elsewhere in the world, was not keen on Chandigarh, perceived as affluent and beautiful.

Nevertheless we decided to persist and succeeded in persuading Mother to visit Chandigarh towards the end of 1975. We took her around the slums of the city and explained to her that Chandigarh and its surrounding areas had large number of suffering poor. We impressed upon the Mother that poverty and squalor in the city in the midst of apparent affluence resulted in sharp disparity. We pleaded that the poorest of the poor in this part of the country also needed the soothing and tender touch of love and compassion.

Once the Mother was convinced, things moved fast. In May 1976 she sent a band of nuns under Sister Joya to work among the poor and wretched in the slums of the city. The St. John Ambulance Association, of which I was the president, hired a house in Sector 34 to temporarily accommodate the Sisters and the Home.

Within a year of commencing work the Sisters made such an impact as to motivate the Chandigarh Administration to find a permanent place for them. It was then the Mother formulated her first project and wrote to the Administration for allotment of land. Phase-I would have a Home for the dying destitutes, mentally/physically challenged children, abandoned/unwanted infants and rescue abode for women in despair. The land requirement was because the building has to be only single-floor. We soon located a plot of around two acres in Sector 23 and allotted the same at a nominal annual lease. It was the core objectives of the Missionaries of Charity that prompted the Administration in doing this:

The society and all its branches, throughout India and outside India, work and serve the poorest of the poor, irrespective of all castes and creed, nationality, race or place-giving the individual person whole-hearted and free service. The poorest of the poor are the hungry, the thirsty, the naked, the homeless, the ignorant, the captives, the crippled, the leprosy sufferers, the unloved, the alcoholics, the dying and the sick destitutes, the abandoned, the outcastes, all those who are a burden to human society, who have lost all hope and faith in life.

For this noble deed, credit must go to TN Chaturvedi, former Chief Commissioner, MS Chahal, former Finance Secretary and Aditya Prakash, former Chief Architect.

On October 3, 1977, Mother came to Chandigarh and laid the foundation stone of the Home, Shanti Dan that was to cost Rs 4 lakh. In 1980, through a Chandigarh Atlas project sponsored by Bharat Petroleum, we raised Rs 1.5 lakh. Mother, in the meantime, had received the Nobel Peace Prize and had become a world celebrity. She had issued an appeal not to offer any cash donations to her society. Yet, when we made the request she promptly responded and sometime in mid-1980, came all the way from Kolkata to accept our felicitations, prayers and the small donation.

Shanti Dan has indeed become a soul to the city of Chandigarh. This is evidenced from the kind of peoples participation in providing for the upkeep and feeding of all the inmates. Worthy of note is the gesture of local hoteliers and restaurateurs supplying fresh food specially cooked for the inmates on a daily basis. It is a new experiment in voluntary effort and peoples participation in helping the poor, disadvantaged and the needy. Through this citizens of Chandigarh are finding an expression of their own inner need for sharing and giving which in essence is the soul that the City has been searching for. Because, as the wise one said, it is in giving that we receive.

There has been a saint in our midst. Shanti Dan represents the something beautiful that she promised. It is a drop of love, which is the elixir that makes life human and humane. And little drops make the mighty ocean!
Sarika Sharma

A newborn needs no one else as much as it needs its mother. The longer a working mother takes leave, the better it is. With the Rajya Sabha passing the Maternity Benefits Bill, 2016, maternity leave is one step closer to being extended from 12 to 26 weeks in the organised sector. However, how many days do the mother-baby really need together?

The ideal period

The baby has just turned a month old. The mothers body starts to feel better. The 24-hour sleeplessness ceases to be a shocker and becomes a reality she has to live with for at least one year. That little hand might be curled around your finger, but has the young one cracked that smile when looking at you? And then that first turn, that urge to crawl The first step is months away No amount of time with the baby is enough, any mother would say. But, on a practical note, how much is too much. Stressing on the mother-baby bond, Dr Mandar V. Bichu, paediatrician and author of the book Right Parenting: New Age Parenting and Child Health Handbook, says maternity leave of 26 weeks (6 1/2 months) is almost ideal. These six months of mothers uninterrupted presence with the baby are important to establish a good breastfeeding pattern and establish a strong mother-child emotional bond.

He says it usually takes six months for a baby to settle down into some sort of a routine as far as feeding and sleeping pattern go. That makes it easier for the person who is going to take care of the baby when the mother joins the office, Dr Mandar says.

How it helps

A research undertaken by Katharina Staehelin from the University of Basel, Switzerland, showed a positive association between the length of maternity leave and mothers mental health and duration of breastfeeding. Extended maternity leaves were also associated with lower peri-natal, neonatal and post-neonatal mortality rates as well as lower child mortality.

Researchers have also found that when it comes to maternal employment, there are mostly positive effects such as the higher academic outcomes for children, benefits in their behavioural conduct and social adjustment.

Finally

Software engineers Sakshi Wadhawan and Nidhi, mother to a two-year-old boy and three-year-old girl, respectively, have been home for just too long. They left jobs, which earned them as much as their husbands, to look after babies. There was no question of choice. We know men cant look after babies, says Nidhi, who was working with a multinational in Delhi, before she shifted base to Mohali after her husbands transfer.

Sakshi feels the pinch. My company has told me to join anytime. However, it has been two years and I would have to pick the threads from where I left them. Had I not left job, I would have been the team leader, she rues and adds, This field changes so fast. I have been away for almost two years and I was certainly not brushing up my skills at home, she says.

This is what concerns Deepak Kumar, assistant professor in sociology at Punjabi University, Patiala. He says the Bill fails to depart from the stereotypical notion that babies are womens responsibilities. Also, it is important that when a mother is on leave, her promotion and salary are protected. Unless you do that, women start lagging behind and feel demoralised, he says.

Back to work

Time flies when kids are young. Reorienting is a tough task. Anjana Bhandari, who worked with a newspaper when her second kid was born, shifted gears pretty easily. It is tough, but, at the end of the day, it is for your kids that you are working, she says. Her mantra: Try to keep the thoughts about the child away when at work.

Dr Mandar understands. Pangs of separation are natural and the only way to deal with it is through patience. A good support system will help to overcome these pangs. What the mother must understand is that her decision to go to work is not detrimental or heartless in any way, he says.

What next?

For Sakshi, going back to work is also about earning her self-respect again. I am a 24-hour mom, but it pains to see that I am looked down upon as a stay-at-home mother even in my own family. She hopes to join soon. I am waiting for my son to join school and then I can get back to work, she smiles, her two-year-old grinning with his bunny teeth. Nidhi, too, is now looking for a job in Delhi, where her family is from, so that she can get going too, before it is too late.

Around the world

Though the International Labour Organisation recommends at least 14-weeks of paid maternal leave, rules worldwide are different. Sweden and the US are two extremes on this tangent. While the former gives year-long shared parental leave to a couple, worlds most developed economy doesnt guarantee any. Women rejoin work as early as two weeks after delivery.

Paternity leave debate

There has been a lot of uproar over Woman And Child Welfare Minster Maneka Gandhis remark on paternity leave. She said the leave would be a sort of picnic for men. Deepak Kumar, a sociologist from Punjabi University, says it is unfortunate the Bill keeps men out. They should have been made responsible. The fathers could have been given some time off for child care, not corresponding with the mothers leave, he says.
Pushpa Girimaji

A couple of months ago, I bought a box of mangoes from a wholesaler. When I came home and opened the packet, I was surprised to find that inside of the box was very hot and there was a pungent smell as well. I thought it was because of the summer heat. And then I found in both the layers of the box where the raw mangoes were stacked, a paper packet containing a white powder. When I asked the wholesaler, he said I should just keep the packet as it will help the mangoes ripen well. But recently a friend told me that the use of the powder is harmful as it is a chemical and I should not have kept it. Is this true?

The white powder in the packet was obviously calcium carbide, kept to artificially ripen the mangoes. The use of this chemical for such ripening was banned way back in 1979, under the Prevention of Food Adulteration Act, taking into consideration the harmful effects of consumption of such fruits ripened with acetylene gas on human health. The Food Safety and Standards Act, which replaced the PFA Act, also prohibits the sale of fruits ripened artificially with this chemical (Food Safety and Standards ((Prohibition and Restrictions on Sales) Regulations, 2011). Yet, there is rampant violation of the law and food safety departments have failed to check the menace. And its not just mangoes, even bananas, papayas and tomatoes are ripened with this chemical.

In fact, extensive checks conducted by food safety officials in Telangana and Andhra Pradesh, in response to directions from the Hyderabad High court, showed use of this harmful chemical to ripen a wide range of fruits, including oranges, sweet lime and chickoo. The high court, which took suo motu notice of newspaper reports on the issue, ordered regular checks on fruit markets to end the menace. It also directed extensive consumer education on the issue and establishment of ethylene chambers in markets to ripen fruits in a safe manner. Those who use the chemical for artificially ripening the fruits, the court observed, are worse than terrorists, for killing generations of people with slow poison.

In fact, if you go on the website of the central food regulator, the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India, you will find an article there titled Consuming fruits ripened artificially by calcium carbide may pose health problems. It gives you complete information on the effects of calcium carbide on fruit quality and the attendant health risks. And how such fruits affect the neurological system by inducing prolonged hypoxia (low oxygen reaching the blood and tissues), which causes headache, dizziness, mood disturbances, sleepiness, mental confusion, memory loss, cerebral oedema (swelling in brain caused by excessive fluids) and seizures.

It is really unfortunate that despite the deleterious effects of such ripening on the human health, not enough efforts have been made to put an end to this practice in the last 36 years since the ban first came into effect. In fact, it seems like the usage has only increased over the years and while initially it was just mango that was subjected to such ripening, it has now spread to almost all fruits.

If I want to complain about the chemical, how do I do it?

If you have the receipt, the box and the packet, you could not only complain to the food safety officer in your state, but also lodge a complaint before the consumer court against the wholesaler from whom you bought the mangoes, for selling prohibited food and causing you harm. The immediate effect of consuming such artificially ripened fruit is gastric irritation and may be mouth ulcers, but the long term, more serious effect is not immediately discernable, but is serious. The court has to take cognizance of that while awarding compensation and punitive damages. You can also seek a direction to the state government to take immediate steps to stop this practice.

If you do not have the evidence, you can still complain to the food safety officer and ask them to investigate the wholesaler from whom you bought the fruit. The mango season is over, but I am sure he would be ripening other fruits using the banned chemical, and they can stop that. But it is absolutely essential that you bring it to the notice of the food safety authorities so that they can prosecute the vendor for violation of the Food Safety and Standards Act and prevent such practices.
Preeti Verma Lal

Imagine a tiny town named after a tall, bearded, drop-dead handsome man. An American scout. A bison hunter. A trapper. A bull whacker. A showman. A man so famous that at the turn of the 20th century, historians dubbed him the most recognisable celebrity on earth. The town: Cody, in Wyoming, USA. The man: Buffalo Bill. In history and popular culture, he is known as Buffalo Bill; his real name: William Frederick Cody (1846-1917)  the surname lending the name to the town that he helped create.

Yellowstone National Park, the worlds first national park, is Codys neighbour, but in the town there are more stories about Buffalo Bill, cowboys and rodeo than about the Old Faithful, the famous geyser. Bill killed 4,282 American bisons (commonly, buffalo) in 18 months. His Wild West show, a circus-like show about cowboys, horses and the American West, toured Europe, Great Britain and the US. Such was the popularity of Bill that even Queen Victoria attended the show in London. If you walk into Codys Irma Hotel, named after his daughter, theres a redwood bar back that was gifted by Queen Victoria to the master showman. Kings, queens and royalty attended his performances across the world. Mark Twain wrote of him, It is often said on the other side of the water that none of the exhibitions which we send to England are purely and distinctly American. If you will take the Wild West show over there, you can remove that reproach.

The Buffalo Bill Centre of the West is everyones first stop in Cody. Tepees and a chuck wagon stand outside the Centre which houses five museums: Draper Natural History Museum, the Plains Indian Museum, the Cody Firearms Museum, the Whitney Western Art Museum and the Buffalo Bill Museum that chronicles the life of the man and the American West shows that took the world by storm.

In a town that is still cowboy-ish in its character, the Old Trail Town brings alive the days of the yore. The town is a restoration of more than 25 historic Western buildings, 100 horse-drawn carriages and artefacts. Desperadoes Kid Curry and Sundance Kid used a hideout (now in Trail Town) before they robbed a bank in Montana. Another 1,883 cabins hark back to a meeting of Butch Cassidy and Sundance Kid.

During the summer months, Cody gets horsy. Literally. Calling itself the Rodeo Capital of the World, Cody gets crowded with cowboys, bulls, horses and loads of spectators who gather for the daily rodeo. The Cody Nite Rodeo is an amateur rodeo, but the annual Cody Stampede brings the best cowboys into town. Held between July 1 and 4 every year since 1919, the Stampede is called Cowboy Christmas where the best cowboys and cowgirls ride the best stock and win fat purses.

Millions recognised Buffalo Bill in his showmans boots and Stetson hats. He had performed for kings, princes, presidents and queens. He even met the Pope. In a hotel register in 1892, he gave his address as The World. After 20 years as a showman, he retired. He is buried at the top of Lookout Mountain. But in Cody, Buffalo Bill will never die. He lives in every corner. In every crossroad. In Codys blue sky, theres a hint of Buffalo Bill. Cody will never forget Buffalo Bill.
Harish Khare

EVER wondered why none of the Indian universities makes it to the top hundred in the world? The blunt answer has to be that almost every other university in India has been reduced to a den of factionalism and intrigue.

Look no further than what is going on in Panjab University, Chandigarh. An archaic governing structure renders the Vice-Chancellor, Professor Arun Kumar Grover, hostage to factions and factionalists in the senate.

The PU should have been a central university long ago. Both during the Vajpayee years and the UPA days, serious efforts were made to make it a central university. But Punjabs politicians would not let go of it  nor, would they find funds for it. Consequently, the university is often dependent on handouts from the UGC.

This dependence gives the senate factionalists a handle. Some of the senate intriguers have developed links of collusion with low-level UGC functionaries. They combine forces to give pinpricks to the Vice-Chancellor. Recently, there were unsavoury media reports that the UGC had chastised the PU for making some irregular payments to the Vice-Chancellor.

Interestingly enough, even before the UGC letter landed in Chandigarh, it had already been leaked to senate factionalists, who, in turn, fed it to a gullible media. And, the media, in its turn, had a field day at the expense of the Vice-Chancellor.

The vice-chancellorship of Panjab Univesity is not a job for a sensitive person. A thick hide should be made an essential qualification for future applicants.

Not only is Professor Grover a very sensitive a man, he also seems to have not understood what is involved in changing an old place, especially a place which has its own cherished culture, which often is an excuse for complacency, second-ratedness, low-level intrigue and zero accountability. And Panjab University is indeed a very old institution, in desperate need of renewal and revival.

There is no doubt that Professor Grover is trying to raise PUs profile. He does things differently. Professor Grover fails to appreciate that anyone who tries to be innovative, or imaginative or just different will face resistance, even challenge and conspiracy from the established interests. The trick is not to let the conspirators rattle you.

Unfortunately, Professor Grover has petulantly involved himself in a daily battle of wits against the media  he feels he is entitled to the benefit of the doubt. Consequently, he feels righteously offended that the media lends an ear to his tormenters in the senate.

I wish someone could advise Professor Grover that it is not enough to have reason, facts, truth behind you. You still do not necessarily win the argument. Creating controversy has, unfortunately, become a cultivated habit with the media. Perhaps, a national addiction, as well.

Otherwise, very reasonable men and women would not be sitting every night in front of the television and soaking in the utter distortions and paid news being palmed off as the truth. Prejudices and passions are hawked as reason and lapped up. Professor Grover has to understand the nature of the beast that is the media. But more importantly, he needs to be able to distinguish between friends and foes. In a good fight, victory goes to the one who chooses ones enemies wisely. Unbridled righteousness ends up uniting all enemies, even converting potential allies into antagonists.

Above all, anyone who is trying to shake an old rusted system will need to have a robust intellectual fortitude  a rare quality  to stay the course, in the face of opposition. And, you need moral sturdiness to not get distracted by pinpricks.

Professor Grover has my empathy and sympathy.

FOREIGN policy scholars and security experts are busy analysing the importance and implications of the agreement our Defence Minister has signed with the Americans. On my part, I was rather relieved to see that the honourable Manohar Parrikar chose to dress up in a bandgala suit for the occasion.

This act of dressing up was an important concession. The honourable Raksha Mantri, who heads probably the most disciplined and ceremonially-inclined establishment, has a preference for informal, too casual, attires. Some even accuse him of being unkempt. His taste for crumpled half-sleeved shirts reflects a certain clumsiness which finds its way into his performance.

How one chooses to dress in public matters. A dress imposes its own discipline of the organisation. For example, the Army uniform denotes dignity and discipline. A school uniform induces a sense of belonging, a feeling of unconscious but comfortable equality.

I am inclined to believe that the personality of a public figure can be discerned, in part, from the way he dresses. Sobriety in dress is often reflective of sobriety in thinking. Take Atal Bihari Vajpayee. Except when he was on a vacation, Vajpayee was impeccably dressed in Indian dhoti and kurta. There was an understated elegance about how he appeared in public. The same goes for Manmohan Singh, except that he never went on a holiday.

Some scholar may be able to discover a correlation between Prime Minister Modis dress and his rhetorical performance. For instance, in half sleeves, he tends to be wild, accusatory, rough and unrefined.

Those who want to be taken up seriously in public life need to dress up soberly and elegantly.

I was sad to learn of the demise of Raj Kumar Aggarwal. He was 92 and probably the oldest advocate in the high court in Chandigarh. His son Kapil Dev, who was kind enough to inform me of his fathers passing away, believes Raj Kumar Aggarwal represented the oldest advocate office of the high courts in the states of Punjab, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh or Delhi and probably also West Pakistan.

I never met Raj Kumar Aggarwal, but corresponded with him. Early this year, I had received a very angry letter from him. He was very, very annoyed with The Tribunes coverage of the JNU affairs. He suspected that The Tribune had become a mouthpiece of the Marxists and their brand of violent, destructive agenda.

The communication was full of passion and anger. He reminded me of a recent history of Punjab: how in 1978, the then SGPC chief, GS Tohra, and Marxists had joined hands to help send Harkishan Singh Surjeet to the Rajya Sabha with the help of the Akali MLAs, and how this alliance wreaked havoc on Punjab. He warned me that The Tribunes continued support to the Marxist brand of violence and death will plunge Punjab into another reign of terror. The Press can push any nation into chaos by false reporting as is being done by The Tribune.

He had concluded his letter on an ominous note: I will shortly be approaching my newspaper agent to discontinue The Tribune with a heavy heart for ending the 100-plus-year-old relationship with The Tribune. I wrote back to him, as soon as I could, expressing my surprise and anguish. I offered him to come and have a cup of coffee with him. He graciously called back to say that we would meet as soon as he felt a little better. Unfortunately, that did not come about.

Raj Kumar Aggarwals communication was an elegantly drafted letter. I was struck by the mental agility and intellectual clarity that Raj Kumar Aggarwal could command at the age of 92. Though it was not so gentle a rap on the knuckles, I felt deeply impressed that someone could feel so strongly at that age.

THOUGH I think of myself as a non-sectarian and non-practising Kayasth, I remain religiously fond of what is called the Kayasth cooking. It is in this spirit of partisanship that I recommend a very, very readable book, Mrs LCs Table  Stories about Kayasth food and culture by Anoothi Vishal.

During my student days in America, I got initiated into the art and joys of cooking. What began as a bare necessity became a source of enjoyment when I got access to Madhur Jafferys first book, An Invitation to Indian Cooking.

Madhur belongs to one of the oldest Kayasth families of Delhi. Like a good Kayasth, she too was sent to vilaayat for studies. Away from home, she pined for the family food. It seems that her mother was periodically writing to her  that was the age of letters, before the Internet  recipes for this or that dish. And Madhur would try to carry out  clumsily and laboriously  her mothers instructions. And, then, she had a brilliant idea. She put together all those recipe-letters into a book, making it the first Indian cook book to capture the imagination of the West.

From Madhurs book, I developed an appreciation for the nuances of the food one had eaten all ones life. That book became a Bible.

Anoothi Vishals book has the same flavour, the same sense of exquisiteness as Madhurs book. It has the imprint of her very impressive and imperious grandmother, Mrs LC. And, more than a collection of some very khandaani recipes, it is a racy introduction to the refined world of the Kayasthas.

I look forward to trying out some of these recipes. Cooking is good for the soul.

And, what else is cooking? It is time to brew some coffee. Please join me.

kaffeeklatsch@tribuneindia.com
Vijay C Roy in Chandigarh

HEARD of ethanol? The next time you go to a filling station, do read up about what you are tanking up with: traces of ethanol or other similar chemicals may make your fuel worth the money you might save. As you drive on, you may also realize that after decades of research, why we are taking a relook at sugarcane fields, bamboo plantation, jute, cotton and whatnot. And why over the years, we adopted and then rejected jathropa plant, researched widely to have contributed to reducing our gargantuan appetite for imported crude. Think of it: Indias fuel bill was Rs 4,18,931 crore in 2015-16, which is way above Latin American country Chiles GDP of Rs 27, 700 crore. And this is despite the fact that global crude prices tanked last year, resulting in saving of over Rs 2 lakh crore in comparison with the previous year.

On World Bio-fuel Day last month, Minister of State for Petroleum & Natural Gas, Dharmendra Pradhan talked of potential of bio-fuel business in India to grow from present Rs 6,500 crore to Rs. 1 lakh crore in the next decade. A few days back, Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar exempted biodiesel from 5% Value Added Tax (VAT). Haryana will be the first state in North India where biodiesel will be sold through a private company based in Fatehabad. The government talks about Rs 2 per litre saving on diesel. But vehicle owners are yet to be convinced.

Coming back to ethanol: It is commonly called alcohol, ethyl alcohol, and drinking alcohol, produced by the sugar industry from fermentation by yeast. Ethanol is a volatile, flammable, colourless liquid with a slight chemical odour. It is also used as an antiseptic, a solvent, and a fuel. The ethanol molecule contains oxygen, so it allows the engine to more completely combust the fuel, resulting in less emission. Also since ethanol is produced from plants that harness solar energy, it is considered a renewable fuel.

Blending in Petrol

The Centre announced Ethanol-Blending Programme (EBP) in 2002. Initially, the mandate was for 5% blending of ethanol in petrol. It was revised to go up to 10% in 2013. The chemical is produced in India mainly from molasses and food grains. But out of the total ethanol produced from molasses, only one-third is available for the EBP and the rest is consumed by potable liquor and chemical industries. Government figures suggest that only 3.2% ethanol blending could be achieved during 2015-16.

To meet the 20% blending target by 2017, as indicated by National Policy on Biofuels (2009), it is estimated that about 6000 TKL (thousand kilo litres) ethanol will be required by oil marketing companies (OMCs) for EBP. To raise ethanols output, research labs are also looking at all kinds of agricultural trash: sugarcane trash, paddy straw, corn cob, cotton stalks etc to form lignocellulosic biomass. This can also enhance farmers participation and incomes. IndianOil is planning to set up at least three ligno-cellulosic ethanol plants each with 100 KL per day capacity in Uttar Pradesh, Punjab, Haryana, Rajasthan, Gujarat, Andhra Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh and Maharashtra. It will be based on availability of different feedstock and technology. The oil marketing company is seeking expression of interests from potential project co-developers.

The question is

There are two major reasons why blending programme has not been fully realized: sugar mills blamed low profit margins for supplying molasses for ethanol, while oil marketing companies maintained that since crude oil prices were already down, why blend ethanol?

The investment in biofuel doesnt make good business sense at present. A biofuel manufacturer will have to compete with established oil refiners. Thats why biofuel manufacturers demand attractive price and assured pick-up, which might bring us back to square one: the fuel prices remain the same.

Biodiesel Association of India president Sandeep Chaturvedi says there's a yawning demand-supply gap. We depend heavily on palm stearin (solid part of palm oil produced by crystallization at controlled temperature) despite the fact that used cooking oil is a great source of biodiesel. India generates around 3-4 million tonnes of used cooking oil annually. A policy is needed so that used cooking oil can be sold only to authorised aggregators to manufacture biodiesel. The policy guidelines become significant because there are around 400 species of plants from which biodiesel can be extracted, he said. This can also generate millions of jobs for the locals.

There are at least a dozen research institutes in the country engaged in developing alternative fuels. Take a look at field reports.
Shubhadeep Choudhury in Kolkata

HAS Mother Teresas death left a vacuum in the order of the Missionaries of Charity? The question surprises Sister Deena, a nun, at the Missionaries of Charity House at the Mallik Bazar area of AJC Bose Road in Kolkata. Vacuum? Mother has left so much for us, she answered spontaneously.

As you look at the pictures of Mother Teresa, several thoughts would puzzle you: are mothers saints? Can the inward journey be an honest path defined by external influences? Is life a celebration or grieving over what must happen as against what actually exists?

Mother Teresa had emptied herself of arguments. Her only karma was: serve the poor, the unwanted, the uncared for, the sufferers. Regardless of the manner her order, the Missionaries of Charity, or the highest Catholic Church in Rome, deifies her, she is already a saint: a frail, 5-foot tall woman, nearly bent over double because of osteoporosis, smiling, her face aglow.

Thousands of people are expected for the canonization ceremony Sunday for the Mother nun who was fast-tracked for sainthood just a year after she died in 1997. St. John Paul II, who was Mother Teresas greatest champion, beatified her before a crowd of 300,000 in St. Peters Square in 2003.

In Kolkata, the Missionaries of Charity House is abuzz with activity, something not very unusual: several bare-footed nuns emerge from a hall after a session of prayer. They put on their sandals and quietly walk in their living quarters. After a meal, they will get busy, as always, in various works. An ecclesiastical life is a demanding one and entails hard work. This must be all the more true for the members of the Missionaries of Charity whose founder Mother Teresa scripted an exemplary success story in her line of work.

Teresa, who was of Albanian origin, was a member of the Loreto Convent when she first came to India in 1929. In August 1948 at the age of 38, she left Loreto to found her own order. By end December 1948, she managed to open a dispensary and start a school at the Motijheel area of Kolkata with the help of volunteers.

In March 1949, Subhashini Das, a girl who had been Teresas student at the St. Marys School in Kolkata, joined her. Then came Magdalene Polton who took the name of Sister Gertrude. On October 7, 1950, the then Archbishop formally established the Missionaries of Charity as a religious congregation in the archdiocese of Kolkata. Next year Teresa took Indian citizenship, 22 years after she had landed in the country.

The following year (1952), Teresa opened her first home for the dying in Kalighat area of Kolkata. The first Missionaries of Charity house outside Kolkata was in Ranchi, opened in May 1959. This was followed by opening of house in Delhi, Mumbai, Jhansi and other Indian cities. In February 1965 the congregation came directly under the authority of the Pope. This meant the Missionaries of Charity could open missions in other countries and the first mission was opened in Venezuela four months later in July 1965.

By 1970, twenty years after it came into existence, the Missionaries of Charity was having branches in 120 countries of the world. Nuns at the Mothers House at AJC Bose Road in Kolkata will tell you about how Teresa (after leaving Loreto) went to Patna to stay with the Medical Mission of Sisters there to learn nursing and how to give injections. out to do.

Teresas popularity in the West is traced to Malcolm Muggeridges 1971 film on her (Something Beautiful for God). However, in India she was given recognition much before that. Teresa was awarded Padma Shri in 1962, the Bharat Ratna in 1980 which followed her being awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 1979. She received about 700 awards in her lifetime. She is one of only two people  the other was Winston Churchill  to have received honorary US citizenship during their lifetimes.
Jupinderjit Singh in Chandigarh

COME elections, and governments and ruling parties, rewarded electorally for reviving religious malnourishment, become hyperactive in going back in time, as memorials are lined up with a huge cost. By the end of this year, Punjab may have 16 memorials and museums built at a cost of over Rs 1,500 crore. The memorializing includes independence movement, wars, the last Sikh ruler Maharaj Ranjit Singh, and even cows.

This is in a state that may not have funds to give full salary to newly recruited employees, and where government land is being sold to keep the administration running. These memorials will open fully or in part for public by November this year, before the code of conduct for the 2017 Assembly elections is enforced.

Earlier this year, the SAD-BJP government led by Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal had started special pilgrimage trains to revered places for Hindus and Sikhs across the country. The political scene is similar to the one prevailing before the 2012 elections, when the same similar exercise was taken up. Sources say the Chief Minister regularly supervises the progress in the construction work. It is wrong to say that construction of memorials is all about vote-politics. No other government in the state has thought about preserving our rich history in such a manner, says Akali Dal spokesperson and Education Minister Daljit Singh Cheema.

Porf. Manjit Singh, president of the Swaraj Party and a well-known political scientist, says the memorials are built in a way that they can easily catch the attention of the voters.

A memorial is coming up at Khuralgarh Sahib, Hoshiarpur, in memory of Guru Ravi Dass, a saint-poet. His followers form the Ravidassia community. The Rs 110-crore memorial is being constructed on 14.5 acres. Apart from auditoriums, halls, parks, rest rooms, it will have a 151-ft high Minar in the shape of the meditating fourth Sikh guru. The deadline is 15 months but there is a mad rush to finish the work. Reason: the Minar and the Sangat Hall which will have the capacity to accommodate 10,000 persons has to be completed by December, a month before the elections.

The Ravidasia community forms a major chunk of vote bank. Two Akali MLAs, including Tourism Minister Sohan Singh Thandal, are hoping the memorial will please the community.

Kanwar Kumar, a small trader in readymade clothes, in Khuralgarh Sahib, is excited about the project, Of course, it will bring more visitors and business opportunities. Whatever the government does is seen as vote-politics, but it is a fact that for the region, it offers a chance to earn livelihood, says Kanwar.

For Jhugiian village, building memorials is fine but the area needs water and better amenities. The water level is below 1000 ft in this belt. I wish the money was spent on that. The government can still dedicate all the earning from tourism to the development of the region, says Suresh Kumar, a farmer. We hope the narrow roads leading to this village would be widened because the memorial has the capacity of hosting nearly 10,000 persons daily.

In Amritsar, most construction work for the Punjab War Heroes Memorials is complete. The work on a 130-ft high sword near the Wagah border is going on at a feverish pitch. The deadline for the sword memorial is October 23, while the museums and others can be built by next year. Col Harvinder Singh (retd.), general manager of the research project, says the sharp edge of the sword is facing Pakistan, The memorial will carry names of all martyr-soldiers from Punjab. The sword with brass coating is embellished with gold work.

In Bassian, on Raikot-Jagraon road, one such memorial, promised in the last election, is fully functional now. An investment of Rs 5 crore has resulted in a beautiful memorial of prince Duleep Singh, the heir to the throne of Maharaja Ranjit Singh. The employees at the memorial dont forget to mention the name of Akali MLA Ranjit Singh Talwandi and the Badals for making it possible.

Coming up

Cow Memorial (Mansa)

cost: Rs 5 crore

Guru Ravidass Memorial (Khuralgarh/Hoshiarpur. Coming up in 17 acres

cost: Rs 110 crore

Baba Jeevan Singh Memorial (Anandpur Sahib)

cost: Rs 25 crore

Ram Tirath Memorial dedicated to the sage Valmiki (Amritsar)

cost: Rs 200 crore

Punjab War Heroes Memorial & Museum (Amritsar)

cost: Rs 100 crore
By PTI: Srinagar, Sep 3 (PTI) Police today arrested Syed Taha Andrabi, a government official and younger brother of Dukhtaran-e-Millat chief Asiya Andrabi, from his residence in Chanapora locality here.

Taha Andrabi, joint director in the Technical Education Department, was arrested from his house this morning, a police official said.

He was taken to Rajbagh police station for questioning, police said.

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The reason behind the arrest was not immediately known.

Separatist leader Asiya Andrabi, who heads the radical all-women group, has courted controversy several times in the past for hoisting the Pakistani flag. PTI MIJ MNG SK MNG

--- ENDS ---
Bhanu P Lohumi in Shimla

JUNE 14, 2014: A rainy, lazy evening in Shimla. Like kids his age, Yug Gupta (4) joyously, cheekily strolls out into a courtyard of his fourth floor home, one among many in a 7-floor old building at Dwarka Garh (Ram Bazar), the heart of the state capital. A neighbour, Chander Sharma, smiles at the kid and offers him a chocolate. Holding Yugs hand softly, Chander walks into his friends storehouse, a floor above Yugs.

That was where Yug was seen last.

August 21-22, 2016: A police investigation team sends a strange request to the Shimla Municipal Corporation in Kelston area of Bharari: open the tank and empty it. Shimla town had reported dozens of jaundice cases early this year. The civic agency had then got the tank thoroughly cleaned up. A lot of dirt was removed, then. One of the objects of disinterest was a skeleton, which the cleaners had presumed was that of an animal. It was left to rot further nearby.

The investigators carry a confessional statement. They recover a few more bones and a large stone from the tank. They conclude: Yug was drowned and murdered brutally. Chander and his friend Tejender were arrested along with their associate Vikrant Bakshi, who had confessed. Police sources say Yugs clothes were burnt to destroy evidence. The kid was tortured, kept naked, forced to drink liquor and dumped in the water tank tied with a stone on June 21, 2014, seven days after the abduction, even before the demand for ransom was made. It was a cold blooded murder, said an investigator.

Yugs murder has shaken a close-knit society of Shimla. The residents have organized several protests, beaten up the accused and demanded death for Yugs killers. The Shimla Bar Council has decided not to defend the accused. The parents of the three are facing social infamy. Justice is awaited.

Why murder?

This is perhaps the most complicated question for not only the investigators but also the parents of the accused. Chander Sharma (24), the key accused, was a ninth semester law student whose father runs a grocery store in Ram Bazaar. Tajender is a plus-two pass-out and loved to sit in his fathers two cosmetics outlets, and Vikrant, son of a CPWD steno, is an engineering student based in Kharar (near Chandigarh). Police investigations dont go beyond the comfortable social status of the accused.

Friends and locality residents talk of Chanders overweening confidence to get things done, Tejenders big talk of parties and Vikrants ambition to get admission somehow somewhere preferably in Shimla or not-too-distant a place. They also drank heavily, investigators said. Their credulous parents were taken aback when their names cropped up. When the police came looking for Chander, his father (name withheld on police request) reportedly said: I asked him what was going on. He told me everything was OK and that I should keep faith in him. Tejenders mother said: Throw my son into the same tank alive and let him pay for his deeds. And Vikrants mother says her son should be punished even though he was misguided and used.

Ransom letters & a theft

Thirteen days after Yugs disappearance, his father, Vinod Gupta on June 27 (Yugs birthday) found a 3-page ransom letter on a tracing paper demanding Rs 3.6 crore. Tagged with the letter was a silver chain that Yug wore around his waist. The letter threatening to kill Yug contained details that only a person close to the family could have known. The kidnappers demanded that if the family was willing to pay up, they should put up a piece of cloth on the rooftop before 12 noon. Yugs family was out at Theog, around 32km off Shimla. The piece of cloth was put up around 4 pm. Their servant followed by police went to Ambala as per the demand. But no one came to pick money. The next letter posted from Shimla contained Yugs locket; this time it threatened to kidnap his elder sisters. Two more letters were received. The case was transferred to the state CID on August 14, 2014.

The Guptas then came to know that the police had on March 26, 2015 arrested the three in a Rs 6.6 lakh theft case reported by a Shimla-based courier company. Yugs father was at his wits end about the motive of Chander whose mother did tuitions for Guptas two daughters. Also, since the day Yug disappeared, Chander had shown extraordinary interest in helping the Guptas.

The clincher

The police rounded up the three first in the theft case and then in the disappearance of Yug. The three managed to bail themselves out and refused a narco-analysis test in the Yug case. However, Guptas servant went through the test, and it was from here the police started joining the dots.

Chander had rented a house at Ram Chander Chowk through online classified portal OLX.

DSP Bhupinder Bragta, who took the additional charge of CID crime branch, also took a diversionary tactic: he let the accused believe that Yugs father, too, was a suspect.

Then, a police raid was ordered at Ram Chander Chowks accommodation. It resulted in recovery of tracing papers similar to the one on which the first ransom letter was written. A few mobile phones were also recovered from where many pictures were deleted. The police team had to recover those pictures. It was to be a clincher. The CID team received the evidence from Vikrants mobile phone: a picture showed a kid tied with a rope and a video clip of the child. Meanwhile, the CID team also found Yugs slippers from Chanders rented accommodation.

On August 22, the confessional statements led the CID team to locate the remains of the child from the water tank. Investigations reveal that Tajender and Vikrant were against killing the child, but Chander insisted, as he feared that if the child was allowed to go, he would spill the beans. The three accused are booked under IPC sections 302 (murder), 201 (disappearance of evidence/false information), 342 (wrongful confinement), 364A (kidnapping for ransom) and 120B (criminal conspiracy).
Manju Gupta

IN the thirty years of my practice, their number has decreased and I used to think that there will come a time when none will be left. Fresh out of medical school, brimming with bookish knowledge, more idealistic than worldly wise, it bothered me no end. Back then, it was common for my elderly patients to calculate their age from the riots of the partition, as in Maar kaat ke waqt mein dus saal ki thi. Being a border state it was expected that it bore the brunt of the violence surrounding our independence. But I still found it disconcerting that it was all they remembered of that time.

And then one day a patient asked me how it mattered, Raja kaun hai kya farak padta hai, hum toh rank hi rahenge, khet tab jot te the, khet ab jot te hain. Although he had a point, I still found it unsettling that for many people in this part of the country the year 1947, is called maar kaat and brought only tragic memories. It is sad that the birth of independent India was overshadowed by labour pains of such magnitude that the baby itself lay ignored.

As I mentioned, the number of people who remember the Partition has declined over the years. But recently, quite unexpectedly, a Sikh patient told me that he was about 12 years old at the time of the riots. I looked at him with surprise. He seemed around 40, maybe a well preserved 50 but not a day older. And then it dawned on me. He was talking about 1984 riots, which followed Indira Gandhis assassination. With mob violence becoming a recurring theme, our society will always have people fighting the demons of the past: people who were caught in the crossfire and scarred for life.

I am not a social scientist but interact with enough people to understand that such incidents have ramifications beyond the individual. This is a social trauma and affects the way we think and function. The hurt lingers on and becomes the victims identity. The thread of trust is broken, irreparably, in most cases. Victims feel betrayed and have difficulty in trusting friends and neighbours.

The repercussions dont end here. It affects economic growth too. People avoid places associated with unpleasant memories for education or livelihood. The worst fallout is the creation of ghettos. Victims start believing in the safety of numbers and gravitate towards their own kind. In rural Haryana, it is common to have whole villages dominated by one caste. Even in urban India such separation exists with entire colonies inhabited by a particular sect. The segregation of society on the lines of religion and caste is never good.

These incidents of violence, communal or otherwise, are on the rise. With prejudice and preconceived notions deeply etched in our intellect, distrust and suspicion in our hearts, discontent and resentment brewing in our minds and our blood simmering with contempt, it is not surprising that we boil over at the smallest provocation.

Till the time we fully understand and eradicate this mindset the only solution is to forgive, forget and move on. Resilience, the ability to bounce back is our only saviour. Personal resilience is more common than perceived and almost half of the subjects in a study conducted by George Bonanno had it. It is not a lack of emotion but the ability to function despite the grief, a quality which needs to be bolstered.

Social order thus falls on the shoulders of the common man who is able to see the futility of communalism and understands Gandhi;s words: This lawlessness is a monster with many faces. It hurts all in the end, including those who are primarily responsible for it.

 dr_manjugupta@icloud.com
By Dr RK Malhotra

IN the passing of Kashmiri Lal Zakir, a recipient of Padma Shri, the Urdu-loving fraternity has lost a grand old man of fiction. As a witness to almost a century, he touched almost every problem of significance. Beginning his writing career in the 1940s with Alag Alag Raste, he remained in the literary saddle till the end. He gave us Katha Damini Ki and Tumhein To Koi Rone Wala hi Nahin and much more.

Alag Alag Raste brought the budding artist in him to the fore. It first appeared in Humaiyoon in October, 1943 (then edited by Miyan Bashir Ahmed). And his little classic, Woh Subha Zinda Rahe Gi, is a kind of travelogue, based exclusively on Zakirs goodwill visit to Pakistan. Zakir remained free from any signs of exhaustion. With the possible exception of Quarratulain Hyder, another contemporary novelist of exceptional merit, Zakir is perhaps the only novelist who worked with tirelessness and perfection through his 60-year literary career. Rajinder Singh Bedi gave us Ek Chadar Meli Si, Krishan Chander Jab Khet Jage, Khwaja Ahmed Abbas Inqalab and Rama Nand Sagar Aur Insan Mar Gaya. But Zakir came out with novel after novel in a quick succession: Angoothe Ka Nishan (1978), Dharti Sada Suhagan (1980), Karman Wali (1980), Teen Chehre Ek Sawal (1981), Lamhon Mein Bikhri Zindagi (1982), Doobte Suraj Ki Katha (1985) and Mera Shahr Adhoora Sa (1991).

A novelist who wants to be seriously involved in his art requires, in Zakirs own words, at least six hours a day. In India, creative writing has failed to grow into a full-fledged profession. Those who try to live by pen alone are generally left to starve.

Born on April 7, 1919 at Kunjah in district Gujrat (now in Pakistan) where his father owned plenty of land. In college, Zakir represented the nationalist movement of the time and was, as such, mostly at war with people like Triloki Nath (principal of DAV College, Chandigarh), who had a different philosophy. Zakir was hardly 20 when he came in contact with Upendra Nath Ashk, a noted Urdu writer. Young Zakir enthusiastically requested Ashk to take a look at his work. Ashk wanted to test Zakirs patience. So, he asked him to revise his works. Zakir revised and revised. At last, in a fit of excitement, he threw them all into fire!

The 1947 riots left an indelible impression on him. Zakir came up with Karman Wali (1980). In those days of horror and blood-bath, Zakir had his well-wishers to support him. He got his Masters in English in 1954 and, encouraged by well-wishers, Zakir joined Education Department as Circle Social Education Officer.

The themes that Zakir sought to project are based mostly on his practical experiences as they can easily be disengaged from the chain of events that bring them out.

(The writer is founder head (retd), Post-Graduate Department of English, SD (PG) College, Panipat)
Tribune News Service

Haridwar, September 3

Pt Govind Ballabh Pant National Institute of Himalayan Environment and Sustainable Development, Kosi Katarmal, Almora, and Gurukul Kangri University, Haridwar, signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) on collaboration of scientific facilities, equipment, laboratories and joint researches.

Dr Peetambar Prasad Dhyani from Govind Ballabh Pant Institute and Gurukul Kangri University Vice-Chancellor Prof Surendra Kumar signed the MoU here yesterday.

Both institutes will publish joint research papers-journals.

Dr Dhyani said the institute was involved in works related to Himalayan study, environment, bio-technology, glacier-water conservation, global warming and biodiversity.

Gurukul Kangri University Vice-Chancellor Prof Surendra Kumar expressed happiness over the MoU accord saying that vedic, yoga, physical education, environment science, zoology, biology and engineering expertise of the university would get a major boost with the expertise of Govind Ballabh Pant Institute.
Dehradun, September 3

Uttarakhand Chief Minister Harish Rawat has ordered an administrative inquiry into allotments of land to social organisations in the state from its creation in 2000 to 2012 and from 2014 to 2016.

A one-member committee is being constituted to look into land allotments made to social organisations in Uttarakhand since its creation in 2000 to 2012 and during my tenure from 2014 to 2016, Rawat told reporters here last night.

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Chief Secretary Shatrughna Singh will soon decide who will head the probe panel, he said.

The panel will submit its report within two months of its formation.

Successive governments in Uttarakhand alloted land to 52 social organisations in Garhwal region and to five in Kumaon region between 2000 and 2012.

The probe committee is being set up following allegations of irregularities in these allotments.

"As it is not fair to jump to conclusions without an inquiry, a panel is being constituted to look into these land allocations," Rawat said.

When asked why land allotments made between 2012 to 2014 were being left out of the ambit of the probe, he said those were being studied.

Details of some small land allotments made during the period are being ascertained and studied before being subjected to probe, he said.

Vijay Bahuguna was heading the Congress government in Uttarakhand from March, 2012 to January, 2014. He later rebelled against the party and joined BJP. PTI
Dhaka, September 3

Bangladesh hanged a top Islamist party figure on Saturday for atrocities committed during the 1971 war of independence from Pakistan, the law minister said, a move that could draw an angry reaction from his supporters.

Mir Quasem Ali, 63, a key financier of the Jamaat-e-Islami party, was executed at Kashimpur Central Jail on the outskirts of the capital, for murder, confinement, torture and incitement to religious hatred during the war fought to break away from Pakistan.

Ali was hanged at 10.35 pm local time, Law Minister Anisul Haq told Reuters.

The execution took place amid a spate of militant attacks in the Muslim-majority nation, the most serious on July 1, when gunmen stormed a cafe in Dhaka's diplomatic quarter and killed 20 hostages, most of them foreigners.  Reuters
New York, September 3

Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton will finally allow journalists on her campaign plane as she has gone 272 days without holding a press conference.

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Starting September 5, Clinton's travelling press corps will be allowed on board her plane, the New York Post reported on Friday.

The campaign, therefore, was upsizing its aircraft to accommodate the candidate, her advisers, Secret Service agents and reporters.

Clinton has a busy September 5 with campaigns in Ohio and Illinois.

"I would go all the way to the end and not do a press conference," the New York Post reported Dan Pfeiffer, a former White House senior adviser to President Barack Obama as saying.

However, there was still no news of any press conference by the former secretary of state.

IANS
Washington, September 3

US President Barack Obama will meet the new British Prime Minister Theresa May on the sidelines of the G-20 summit in Hangzhou, China, a White House official has said.

This will be the first formal meeting between the two leaders since Prime Minister May took the office in July, the official said.

In Hangzhou, the President and the Prime Minister will discuss a range of bilateral and global issues, and as close friends and steadfast allies, the United States and United Kingdom continue to enjoy an enduring special relationship, he said.

Obama is also scheduled to have a bilateral meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping during the G20 meeting.

He will also meet his Turkish counterpart Recep Tayyip.  PTI
Islamabad, September 3

Pakistan's Interior Minister Nisar Ali Khan said on Saturday that four suicide bombers killed by security forces while attempting to storm a Christian colony in Peshawar were "foreigners".

"We know that they (Christian colony attackers) were not Pakistani and we are tried to evaluate which country they belonged," Khan told media in Mardan after meeting with victims of a suicide bombing at a court complex, also on Friday.

Khan said Pakistans war against terrorism was a fight for its own survival.

"Pakistan's security forces have won a difficult war but there is still more to be done to eradicate terrorism entirely," he said.

At least 13 people were killed and over 50 injured in a Taliban suicide bombing at the Mardan sessions court. The attack occurred within minutes of the Christian colony strike.

Pakistan has accused Afghan nationals for several attacks in the past.  PTI
Davao, September 3

Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte declared a state of lawlessness on Saturday after suspected Abu Sayyaf extremists detonated a bomb that killed 14 persons and injured about 70 in his southern hometown.

Duterte, who inspected the scene of last nights attack at a night market in downtown Davao city, said his declaration that covers the southern Mindanao region did not amount to an imposition of martial law.

It would allow troops to be deployed in urban centers to back up the police in setting up checkpoints and increasing patrols, he said.

An Abu Sayyaf spokesman, Abu Rami, claimed responsibility for the blast near the Jesuit-run Ateneo de Davao University and a five-star hotel, but Duterte said investigators were looking at other possible suspects, including drug syndicates, which he has targeted in a bloody crackdown.

These are extraordinary times and I supposed that Im authorised to allow the security forces of this country to do searches, Duterte told reporters at the scene of the attack, asking the public to cooperate and be vigilant.

Were trying to cope up with a crisis now. There is a crisis in this country involving drugs, extrajudicial killings and there seems to be an environment of lawless violence, said Duterte, who served as mayor of Davao for years before elected to the presidency in June.

The attack came as Philippine forces were on alert amid an ongoing military offensive against Abu Sayyaf extremists in southern Sulu province, which intensified last week after the militants beheaded a kidnapped villager.

The militants threatened to launch an unspecified attack after the military said 30 of the gunmen were killed in the weeklong offensive.

Some commanders of the Abu Sayyaf, which is blacklisted by the United States and the Philippines as a terrorist organisation for deadly bombings, ransom kidnappings and beheadings, have pledged allegiance to the Islamic State group.

The military, however, says there has been no evidence of a direct collaboration and militant action may have been aimed at bolstering their image after years of combat setbacks.

Communications Secretary Martin Andanar said the bomb appeared to have been made from a mortar round and doctors reported many of the victims had shrapnel wounds.

Despite the emergency, Duterte said he would proceed with a trip to Brunei, Laos and Indonesia starting tomorrow. At an Asian summit in the Laotian capital of Vientiane, Duterte said in jest that most of the leaders he would meet, including President Barack Obama and Russian leader Vladimir Putin, have had a taste of terrorist attacks.  AP
Trouble continued to brew for sacked Delhi social welfare minister Sandeep Kumar as the Aam Aadmi Party suspended him from the primary membership of the party on Saturday.

By India Today Web Desk: Aam Aadmi Party on Saturday suspended former Delhi minister Sandeep Kumar from party's primary membership. The action came days after Kumar was removed as the women and child development minister following sex CD scandal.

Earlier, Delhi Police Crime Branch constituted a special team on Friday to probe the 'objectionable' CD of Kumar which led to his sacking from the Kejriwal cabinet.

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READ: How deep in trouble with the law is sacked AAP minister Sandeep Kumar?





BJP TEAM LODGES COMPLAINT

Delhi Police's action followed a meeting between a delegation of Delhi BJP leaders and Police Commissioner Alok Kumar Verma on Thursday. The BJP delegation lodged a complaint against the sacked AAP minister and also sought inclusion of Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal and Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia's names in the FIR.

BJP accused the AAP leaders of 'misusing their public authority against women'. The complaint was later handed over to the Crime Branch for further investigation.

"A team lead by DCP (Crime) Bhishma Singh will probe into all aspects of the case. We will take action as per law," special commissioner of police (crime) Taj Hassan about the sex CD case.

READ: Sex CD case: Sandeep Kumar rubbishes Kejriwal's claims, says he resigned instead





SANDEEP KUMAR IN SEX CD

Earlier this week a CD appeared in public in which Sandeep Kumar was seen with a woman in compromising situation. The CD was apparently shot by Kumar himself. Taking note of the CD, Kejriwal removed him from the government on August 31.

Kumar later claimed that it was not him in the controversial CD. He alleged that he was being framed because he was Dalit and demanded probe into the entire episode. The police will now send the CD for forensic tests to verify its authenticity. The Delhi Police team is trying establish the source of the CD and how it was circulated.





ALSO READ:



AAP minister sacked for sex scandal had said he touches his wife's feet every morning

Sandeep Kumar sexcapade video: Crime branch to probe authenticity

--- ENDS ---
Washington, September 3

Pakistan released two daughters of Al-Qaeda chief Ayman al-Zawahiri and another woman in exchange for former army chief Gen Ashfaq Pervez Kayani's abducted son, a media report has claimed throwing new light on the terrorist outfit's disturbingly long reach inside the country.

The Long War Journal, a project of the Foundation for Defence of Democracies, has based its report on the 20th edition of Al-Masra magazine  affiliated with the Al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP)  published in late August, which said the prisoners' swap took place weeks ago.

(Follow The Tribune on Facebook; and Twitter @thetribunechd)

However, the news could not be independently verified since there were no reports on the abduction of Kayani's son, who was not named in the report.

"If the jihadist organisation is merely boasting, then that is noteworthy. But if al Qaeda did manage to kidnap Kayani's son and force the Pakistani government's hand, then this indicates Zawahiri's men have a disturbingly long reach inside of Pakistan," the report said.

"Although retired, Kayani is one of the most powerful figures in the Pakistani military and intelligence establishment, which has long sponsored jihadis, including the al Qaeda-allied Taliban," the report alleged.

It said the editors of the Al-Masra magazine included a box highlighting the story on the front page saying "detaining" the "son of the Pakistani Army Commander" led to the release.

The newsletter's authors claimed a series of tweets posted online in mid-August provided the insider details of the story.

In a tweet, a jihadist accused the Pakistan Army of detaining Zawahiri's daughters, as well as the daughter of Sheikh Murjan Salem al Jawhari, as part of its "infidel" war on the mujahideen.

The Twitter account has now been suspended.

"The Twitter user, who is likely an al Qaeda media operative, further claimed that al-Qaeda was left with two ways to deal with the situation. First, al-Qaeda needed to take 'revenge' on the supposed spy. Second, Allah 'enabled the mujahideen' to detain the son of the Pakistan Army commander in order to exchange him 'for the sisters'.

"He included a picture of Kayani to emphasize that this is the Pakistani leader he meant. al Qaeda's account referred to Kayani as if he is active, even though he has been retired for nearly three years," the report said.

According to the media account, the army initially "refused" the proposed exchange, but eventually agreed after lengthy negotiations.

Zawahiri's daughters and the other woman, along with their children, were reportedly returned to Egypt.

"It isn't clear if the purported exchange took place in late July or early August," the report said.  PTI
Sacked Delhi minister Sandeep Kumar is in bigger trouble as the woman seen in CD has lodged complaint with Delhi Police. BJP has sought an apology from Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal for misleading people on the matter.

By Himanshu Mishra: The woman, who was seen with the sacked Delhi Minister Sandeep Kumar, told India Today on Saturday that she had gone to the disgraced AAP leader for a ration card. She lodged a complaint with the Delhi Police.



In her complaint the woman said that Kumar promised her a ration card. She said that was offered a cold drink at Kumar's place.



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READ: How deep in trouble with the law is sacked AAP minister Sandeep Kumar?



BJP ATTACKS AAP



As the woman lodged a complaint against Sandeep Kumar, the BJP launched a scathing attack on the Aam Aadmi Party. BJP spokesperson Sambit Patra said that the true face of AAP was exposed by the woman.



Patra accused AAP of shielding Sandeep Kumar by camouflaging it by sacking the former Delhi minister.



READ: Sandeep Kumar sexcapade video: Crime branch to probe authenticity

'AAP INSULTED MAHATMA GANDHI'



The BJP spokesperson said, "AAP insulted Mahatma Gandhi on its blog. AAP leader Ashutosh tried to compare Sandeep Kumar with Gandhiji, Pandit Nehru and Atal Bihari Vajpayee. This was not an attack on Mahatma Gandhi only but on the 125 crore people of the country."



"AAP leader said that whatever happened between the sacked minister and the woman happened with mutual consent. Now that the woman has lodged a complaint with police, the truth has come out. Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal should apologise for misleading people," Patra said.

KEJRIWAL DEMANDS PUNISHMENT



Meanwhile, Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal has tweeted demanding exemplary punishment for Kumar. His tweet said, "If woman's allegations are correct, this is v serious. Strongest exemplary punishment shud be given to Sandeep."





If woman's allegations are correct, this is v serious. Strongest exemplary punishment shud be given to Sandeep https://t.co/P9TZuxJf1I; Arvind Kejriwal (@ArvindKejriwal) September 3, 2016

Sex CD case: Sandeep Kumar rubbishes Kejriwal's claims, says he resigned instead

Arvind Kejriwal's video message on Sandeep Kumar sex scandal: Took instant action





--- ENDS ---
BROKEN ARROW  A few traffic cones were battered Friday in a parking lot in the pursuit of vehicular safety.

Motorists pulled into the parking lot of First United Methodist Church to go through a 12-point inspection by certified technicians to ensure they fit properly inside their vehicles. The checklist included mirror angles, steering wheel and seat positions, and safety belt and head restraint placements.

But it was the use of shorter road cones that werent as easy to see from a large vehicle that tripped up at least one SUV driver.

Organizers emphasized that the CarFit event isnt about trying to take licenses away, but ensuring drivers become safer with adjustments to their vehicles. Then they can more easily see obstacles such as road cones.

Were here to make sure their car fits them, said Lisa Ford, crime prevention specialist for the Broken Arrow Police Department. I think sometimes people think, Oh, Im going to come up and that police officers going to take my car, but weve never had that situation in Broken Arrow.

The way we look at it, that positive interaction with the police department and these seniors  if theres needs they may have, we can give them resources.

The two-hour event, which was geared toward older drivers, featured technicians trained by AAA. An extra resource that could be recommended by a technician is an occupational therapist to help improve neck mobility for looking over a shoulder at a blind spot.

Danial Karnes, AAA Oklahoma spokesman, said the most common inspection items motorists are unaware of are how to adjust their safety belts, where their emergency flasher is located and how to properly use a parking brake.

A lot of cars have a lot of safety features on them this day and age, and those safety features are great but are pointless if you dont know how to use them, Karnes said.

As far as driver positioning, Karnes noted a good rule of thumb is to sit at least 10 inches away from the steering wheel. That can be checked by holding a piece of paper length-wise between it and yourself. Allowing enough space for an airbag to deploy will help prevent injury because the driver wont impede the bag from what it was designed to do, he said.

A steering wheel should be tilted toward a persons chest and not their face, also helping to protect them, Karnes explained.

Karnes acknowledged properly positioning someone with short arms and legs can be a challenge because a driver still needs to be able to reach the pedals easily.

One of the 16 participants Friday was Linda Brentlinger. The 73-year-old navigated her 2012 Chevrolet Equinox into a testing spot, but not before running over two road cones. Embarrassed, the Tulsa resident laughed it off with others.

They were jumping in front of me, stupid cones, Brentlinger quipped.

She went through the 12-point inspection and felt more secure knowing her SUV now fits her just right, especially her side-view mirrors. She also said she didnt realize her steering wheel tilt was too steep.

That was nice; I dont want that airbag to crush my face, Brentlinger said.
TAHLEQUAH  For most of the thousands of visitors attending the Cherokee National Holiday, this weekend was like a homecoming.

This feels like home, even though I have never lived here, said Ruth Laws McLain, who came from Memphis, Tennessee, to attend the 64th annual holiday, which honors the signing of the Cherokee Nation Constitution in 1839.

Although McLain did not grow up in Oklahoma, her fathers side of the family lived in the Jay area prior to the Great Depression.

I just feel at home here, McLain said, referring to northeast Oklahomas streams and wooded landscape.

McLain, a summa cum laude graduate from Haskell Indian Nations University and a graduate of the University of Arkansas Law School, said she always looks forward to the powwow.

The mile-long parade route from Northeastern State University down Muskogee Avenue and past the Cherokee Nation Courthouse square was lined with a crowd ranging from parents pushing small children in strollers to get a better look to teens using iPhones to snap photographs or record video of the floats.

Nine-month-old Aidann Scott was content to nestle in his mothers arms with his dad looking on as candy, toys and trinkets were passed out along the parade route

He really likes the music, said his mom, Christy Scott, as dad Brian nodded.

Some of the most sought-after toys were small red and green balls that were tossed to the children as floats went along the route.

The young royalty princesses timidly waved to the crowd, while older princesses and queens wholeheartedly displayed their royalty honors. Besides Cherokee Nation queens and princesses, royalty from area schools and other tribes took part.

A group from the Trail of Tears Bike Riders received some of the loudest applause.

Most of the people on the floats wore traditional frontier clothing and Cherokee Nation regalia. But members of one group of young women were wearing poodle skirts, bobby socks and ponytails as they swayed along to Motown-type tunes as they walked the parade route.

Nine sets of drums kept the Tahlequah High School Band marching to a perfect drum cadence and the crowd cheering and clapping.

Shouts of good job where heard by the parade spectators as band members started dancing while a drone flew overhead.

The (Tahlequah High School) band was good, said Susan Haraughty of Oklahoma City, who brings her grandchildren from Overland Park, Kansas, to the festival.

Haraughty pointed out to her grandchildren that other children in the parade route were carrying sticks used to play stickball, a traditional Cherokee game.

Cherokee Nation Principal Chief Bill John Baker gave his State of the Nation address after the parade.

This years holiday theme is Stewards of Our Land, but its not just a theme. Its a call to action for all of us to fulfill our obligation to protect the earth and preserve our resources for future generations, Baker said.

Baker touted several of the tribes accomplishments, including:

 A comprehensive plan to work with private industry and federal, state and local agencies to lower, reduce and eliminate air and water pollution within Cherokee Nation boundaries.

 The installation of eight electric supercharging stations at Hard Rock Hotel and Casino Tulsa for recharging electric vehicles. It will be the first supercharging station in northeast Oklahoma, and the only station between Oklahoma City and St. Louis.

 The creation of the Cherokee Nation Fish and Wildlife Association.
In 2009 Hugh Jackman and Deborra-lee Furness travelled to Ethiopia as World Vision Australia ambassadors to see how rural communities were being empowered to eradicate poverty.

Dukales Dream is a story about Jackmans unlikely friendship with an Ethiopian coffee farmer, named Dukale -which was a life-changing moment for both.

While in the Yirgacheffe region, Hugh met a 27-year-old coffee farmer, named Dukale, working to lift his family out of poverty. Spending time on Dukales farm, Hugh learned first-hand about the value of fair trade coffee and clean cookstove technology. By utilising shade grown farming practices and limiting reliance on fossil fuels, Dukale was able to create a bio-farm with a zero carbon footprint and resounding health implications for his family. Additionally, his wife Adanesh, who traditionally collected firewood for the familys energy needs, now had time to focus on other income generating opportunities while their children pursued an education.

Hugh came to understand something as simple as a cup of coffee had the potential to reduce global poverty through the choices consumers make. In 2011, he launched Laughing Man Coffee & Tea to provide a market for farmers like Dukale and he contributes 100 % of his profits to the Laughing Man Foundation to support educational programs, community development and social entrepreneurs around the world.

Sunday, September 11 at 9.30pm on Showcase.
Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Chouhan returned from his US trip today. He had gone there to hold discussions with companies to invest in his state.

By Rahul Noronha: Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Chouhan today returned from his six-day US tour.

Chouhan said that the Madhya Pradesh was now taken seriously as a potential investment destination. He said even though there has been an economic slowdown, there has been an investment of Rs 2,50,000 crore in the state in the last two years.

Earlier it was difficult finding a country to partner with Madhya Pradesh for the Investor Summit. Now we have Japan, UAE and Singapore partnering with us,?? he said as an indicator of the change that has come about in the state.

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Chouhan said that during his US tour, one to one discussions were held with 25 companies while nearly 100 companies were invited for the investor seminar. He said that the companies were also asked to participate in the upcoming Global Investor Meet to be held at Indore in October.

The chief minister said that during his US tour, IT companies evinced a lot of interest to invest in Madhya Pradesh. He said the investments would generate more than 10,000 jobs in the state.

When asked if companies were showing interest in investment to grab land, the chief minister said that companies who are allotted land are given a time frame to commence the project. In case they dont execute the project within the time frame, the land allotment is cancelled.

He said MP has power, simplified rules for investment, a single table system for clearance because of which companies should invest here. He said that the passage of GST in Parliament would help enhance investment as it simplifies things for investors.

--- ENDS ---
No Ukrainian servicemen were killed, but one soldier was wounded in ATO area in eastern Ukraine over the past day.

Spokesman for the Presidential Administration on the ATO, Colonel Andriy Lysenko said this at a briefing in Kyiv, an Ukrinform correspondent reports.

No Ukrainian servicemen were killed, but one soldier was wounded as a result of military operations over the past day, Lysenko said.

He added that two militants had been wounded

ol
The illegal armed formations launched 11attacks on positions of the Armed Forces of Ukraine in last day.

This is reported by the ATO Headquarters press center.

As noted, in Donetsk direction the militants used heavy machine antitank grenade launchers to shell Troitske (69km west of Luhansk). Ukrainian servicemen in Avdiyivka (18km north of Donetsk) came under grenade launcher, heavy machine gun and small arm fire.

In addition, the illegal armed groups used small arms to fire at Luhanske (59km north-east of Donetsk) and Verkhniotoretske (22km north-east of Donetsk).

In Mariupol direction, the militants used small arms to shell Marinka (35 km south-west of Donetsk) and Hranitne (57km south of Donetsk).

ish
The European Commission is ready to support the setting up of an Energy Efficiency Fund before the end of year.

Vice-President of the European Commission for Energy Union Maros Sefcovic announced this during his meeting with the Prime Minister of Ukraine at the House of Government on Friday, September 2, the Governments portal reported.

Ukraine's potential in the field of energy efficiency and renewable energy is huge. Ukraine would manage to increase its energy efficiency levels to the EU average level; the savings achieved would be greater than the energy consumption of Spain over a whole year. Ukraine could even become an exporter of energy".

The European Commission is ready to support the establishment of the corresponding Energy Efficiency Fund before the end of this year, he added.

ish
President Petro Poroshenko met with Vice President of the European Commission for Energy Union Maros Sefcovic.

This has been reported by the press service of the Head of State.

The Head of State thanked the EU and the European Commissioner personally for the constant support for Ukraine and stressed the importance of energy independence from Russia.

According to the President, Ukraine stays committed to further introduction of reforms in the energy sphere under its obligations within the Energy Community Treaty and the Association Agreement with EU.

The Vice President of the European Commission noted Ukraines work in the introduction of the energy reform and stressed the importance of its implementation. Maros Sefcovic assured that the EU would further support Ukraine in its European integration.

The parties agreed to complete approval of the Memorandum on strategic partnership in the energy sphere between Ukraine and the European Union that would open opportunities for the participation of Ukraine in the Energy Union of the EU.

ish
By PTI: Chennai, Sep 2 (PTI) The Tamil Nadu Assembly today unanimously passed a resolution urging the Centre not to accept an Environment Ministry committees recommendation allowing Kerala to conduct an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) for the Attappady Valley Irrigation project.

The resolution, moved by Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa, also urged the Centre not to grant clearance to Kerala and Karnataka to take up any project in the Cauvery basin till the Cauvery Management Board and Cauvery Water Regulation Committee came into force and court cases in this regard were settled.

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Following reports in 2012 about Keralas attempts to build a dam on the Siruvani river as part of the project, the Chief Minister had taken it up with the then Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, urging that Kerala be advised not to proceed with any project till the 2007 final award of the Cauvery Tribunal was published in a Central gazette and cases filed by the respective states were settled.

The resolution said the Siruvani was an inter-state river and a "sub-tributary" of the Cauvery.

Therefore, the Cauvery River Water Tribunal, while delivering its final verdict in 2007 on river water sharing, had included the Siruvani and Bhavani basins also to calculate the quantum of sharing, it said.

The state government was then in constant communication with the Centre, arguing against granting any technical approval to Kerala on the issue, it said.

The Central Water Resources Ministry had, in March 2013, informed Tamil Nadu that Kerala had been asked to get the consent of the Cauvery Tribunal and the river basin states concerned on the matter, it said.

Further, the Expert Appraisal Committee (EAC) of the Union Environment, Forest and Climate Change Ministry had, in March this year, asked Kerala to get Tamil Nadus opinion on its plea for granting of Standard Terms of Reference for the EIA, saying it will consider the states plea after it had got Tamil Nadus viewpoint, the resolution said.

However, the EAC had recommended to the Environment Ministry in August this year that Kerala be granted approval for conducting the EIA.

"This is in contradiction to the March 2013 letter of the Central Water Resources Ministry. It is regrettable that the EAC had granted approval in haste," it said.

Further, the EAC had reported that the state government had not responded to its communications, which was "contradictory to truth", it said, while expressing "deep regret" over it. (MORE) PTI SA VGN BN RC

--- ENDS ---
The Foreign Ministers of the EU member states will discuss the issues of implementation of the Minsk agreements.

High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Federica Mogherini said this before the informal meeting of the EU Council on Foreign Affairs in Bratislava on Friday, an Ukrinform correspondent reported.

"Our agenda also includes Ukraine, and we will discuss a proposal, which I will submit, on what the European Union could do for the full implementation of the Minsk agreements," Mogherini said.

She added that the foreign ministers of France and Germany would inform about the situation with Minsk agreements.

ish
British Foreign Minister Boris Johnson emphasizes the need to continue putting pressure on Russia until there is progress in the implementation of the Minsk agreements.

The British minister said this before the meeting of the informal meeting of the EU Council on Foreign Affairs in Bratislava on Friday, an Ukrinform correspondent reported.

"The situation in Ukraine arouses concern. I believe that we must continue putting pressure on Russia," Johnson said.

He expressed confidence that this pressure must continue until there is substantial progress in the implementation of the Minsk agreements.

ish
Today, September 3, Foreign Minister of Ukraine Pavlo Klimkin will take part in an informal meeting of the foreign ministers of the EU member states and the "Eastern Partnership" states in Bratislava.

This has been reported by the press service of the Foreign Ministry.

"The participants of the meeting will discuss the prospects for development of relations between the EU and the "Eastern Partnership" member-states, in particular further development of multilateral cooperation format," the report says.

ish
Owais Geelani, a sub-inspector with Jammu and Kashmir Police, married Faiza Geelani, a resident of Muzaffarabad in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) at a time when the cops have borne the brunt of protestors' ire in the Valley.

By PTI: A young police officer from Kashmir has tied the knot with a girl from PoK as cross-LoC bonds blossomed at a time when the state Police grappled with pro- Pakistan protests in the Valley.

KASHMIR POLICE OFFICER MARRIES PoK GIRL

Owais Geelani, a sub-inspector with Jammu and Kashmir Police, married Faiza Geelani, a resident of Muzaffarabad in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir(PoK), at a function here where only the grooms close relatives and friends were in attendance due to the ongoing unrest. The marriage was solemnised in a hotel here at a time when the cops have borne the brunt of protesters ire in the Valley that has been rocked by nearly two-month-long unrest.

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FAMILIES SEPARATED AT PARTITION



The two families are related to each other but were separated during the Partition. The Nikkah was performed in Muzaffarabad in 2014 when Shabir Geelani, father of the groom, had travelled to PoK to visit his divided family on the Karavan-e-Aman (the Peace Caravan) bus service between Srinagar and Muzaffarabad. "The wedding ceremony had to be cancelled several times due to the prevailing situation during which the cross-LoC bus service was suspended for many days. Finally, when the bus service resumed, the bride and her close family members arrived here on Monday for the function," Geelani senior, who himself retired from Police department as SSP in 2014, told PTI here today.

Owais marriage with Faiza, a post-graduate in education, planning and management from National University of Modern Languages, Islamabad was solemnised on Tuesday.

LOCAL COPS THREATENED BY MILITANTS



The wedding comes at a time when the local cops, who are battling the protesters across the Valley, have been threatened by militants to stay away from their duties. Houses of some cops have been ransacked by mobs since the current unrest began in Kashmir on July 9, a day after Hizbul Mujahideen commander Burhan Wani was killed in an encounter with security forces.

Also Read:

52-day curfew in Kashmir lifted except in parts of Srinagar

Kashmir unrest: All eyes on all-party delegation after Hurriyat's plan to boycott meet

--- ENDS ---
IOCL to start carrying fuel, cooking gas via Bangladesh to Tripura

Agartala, Sep 3 (UNI) The Indian Oil Corporation Limited (IOCL) is all set to start transportation of fuel tankers carrying petroleum products to Tripura from Guwahati via Bangladesh from September 7, official sources here today said.

Following signing of Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between IOCL and the Roads and Highways Department of Bangladesh at Dhaka on July 18, Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas last week has approved the final clearance to carry fuel and cooking gas via Bangladesh.

IOCL is ready with all formalities, including issuance of passport and Visa of Bangladesh to the drivers and accompanying persons of the tankers. IOCL officials have also inspected the entire stretches of the road in both India and Bangladesh and issued green signal for movement, said a senior official of the Tripura government.
Man arrested for carrying out a suicide pact resulting in the death of his 53-year-old wife.

By Chirag Gothi: A month after an elderly couple were brutally attacked in outer Delhi's Prashant Vihar area resulting in the death of a 56-year-old woman, the husband of the deceased admitted that the attack was a result of their suicide pact.

The police said that the duo decided to kill themselves as they were unable to repay a loan of Rs nine crore.

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Kulbhushan Bhutani (63) and his wife Kanchan Bhutani were sitting in the park when they were attacked with sharp-edged weapons by unidentified persons.

"We have arrested the husband Kulbushan on charges of killing his wife and trying to kill himself," said JCP (northern range) Sanjay Singh.

HUSBAND ADMITS CRIME

Singh added that Bhutani has confessed his crime. He told investigators that he and his wife decided to commit suicide as he was facing a financial crisis.

Following the incident the couple were rushed to hospital after the attack on August 8. While Kanchan was declared brought dead, Kulbhushan sustained grievous injuries

The couple lived with their married son at the Laxmi Kunj apartment, police said. Their daughter, also married, and Kulbhushan's brother also live in an apartment in the same society apartment.

Kulbhushan is a businessman who has a cable manufacturing factory in Prahladpur area, besides other ventures.



Also read:

Three siblings found dead in suicide pact



--- ENDS ---
Apple Inc. is indeed approaching one of the biggest device releases of its entire history. As the revolutionary MacBook Pro 2016 will be released by the tech company in just a few weeks.

MacBook Pro 2016 is revolutionary due to the influx of the latest distinctive attributes that are never featured on previous laptops or other brands.

One of the prominent aspect that will make the new MacBook Pro an instant hit is a new touchscreen OLED bar that will give users more functionality and aesthetic purposes to the upcoming Apple device.

When it comes to the design and ease of use for the user, the MacBook Pro 2016 will surely be considered as one of the best laptops there is to date, thanks to the well-done upgrade that is undertaken by the Cupertino based company, according to The Week.

Aside from the new touchscreen OLED bar, MacBook Pro 2016 is expected to have a sleeker design, improved battery life and computing speed, as well as an improved Touch ID, based on the report of iTech Post.

The latest laptop from Apple will also be coming with a slim and light body, and will run a Skylake processor.

However, Apple Inc. may announce the upcoming MacBook Pro 2016 on its official website, but it is more likely that the tech company will make a special announcement for the upcoming laptop.

Most people believe that the tech giant won't like to divert the attention for its upcoming iPhone 7 event to be held at the Bill Graham Civic Auditorium in San Francisco, News Maritime reported.

So, the big event that will be hosted by Apple on September 7 would most likely be for the new iPhone 7. Based on the trend of the tech company's gadget release dates, the iPhones and the MacBooks are not released together, which brings people close to expecting the laptop to a much later date, which is October.

Watch The Video Here:
Google is said to drop off the Nexus brand for its smartphones, as the highly anticipated Marlin and Sailfish smartphones to be dubbed as the Pixel and the Pixel XL, respectively.

The company's upcoming Android-powered Nexus smartphones will be the successors to the Nexus 5X and Nexus 6P that were unleashed in 2015. The upcoming devices, for which Google has tapped the mobile phone network company HTC as its manufacturing partner, will be breaking Google's six-year tradition of naming the handsets with the Nexus brand, according to Android Police.

The odd part at this point is the fact that people knew HTC is making these smartphones, for the reason that there are two FCC filings for the devices that showed HTC as the maker.

So, as HTC is manufacturing the devices and Google supposedly giving them the Pixel name while dropping HTC branding, the confusion has reached the highest point of confusion, Droid Life reported.

As for the reason behind the name change, given that these new Nexus smartphones will have the most cohesive and Google-influenced design on devices to date, to the extent that the handsets will be all but identical in everything but size, display resolution as well as battery capacity, maybe this was the time to become different.

However, it's also immediately unclear whether these Pixel handsets will just be a rebranded version of its existing Nexus range, even though people believe this is the case. But, HTC is still expected to continue doing the manufacturing, based on the report of Business Insider.

Anyway, the prices of the Nexus smartphones, now called as the Pixels, have been leaked in advance of Google's official announcement. The 32 gigabyte Pixel will be sold for $449, while the 32 gigabyte Pixel XL will be sold for $599.

Google is expected to announce its latest smartphones over the next few weeks. By then, people can confirm all the official details of the upcoming smartphones.

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Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa announced that the maternity leave will be increased from the present six months to nine months for the state government woman employees.

By Akshaya Nath: Government employees in Tamil Nadu have something to rejoice.

While the entire country has companies providing just 90 days maternity leave for women, and with the Maternity Benefit (Amendment) Bill that proposes to give working women six months maternity yet to be passed in the Lok Sabha, the Tamil Nadu government is way ahead in setting the lead.

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9 MONTHS MATERNITY LEAVE

"In 2011, my government increased the maternity leave from 90 days to six months. Now, the government is increasing the maternity leave from six months to nine months," said Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa, while announcing the scheme in the State Assembly fulfilling their election promise.

For providing better facilities to the public, the state government has proposed to improve facilities in government hospitals and plans worth Rs 131.43 crore have been announced.

While the Central government is only thinking about bringing in a six month break period for women, the Tamil Nadu government had successfully implemented this for the state employees.

Also Read: Good news: Women to get 26 weeks maternity leave soon after RS green light

WHAT CHENNAI THINKS ABOUT THIS

Although this step by the government has been appreciated, many worry about the work imbalance it will cause.

"It is a great move, but there is all will this concern about the work imbalance it will cause. Employers might think of it as a draw back," said Yogita Shah, Director Be Positive.

"I think men will have an edge over women when it comes to interviews because of this. It is hard to find a replacement for nine months," said a creative artist James.

While few think this would provide men an edge over the women, there are some who are campaigning for a similar set up for men.

"A mother needs to spend time with her new born baby to nourish the child, but the child needs equal presence of the father as well. So, there should be a short period given for the father as well. Not six or nine months but a short period and a flexible one too," said Nikhil another professional.

Also Read:

From 'holiday' to 'ideal': Maneka Gandhi's U-turn on paternity leave

Jabong extends maternity leave to 6 months



--- ENDS ---
By Ashish Pandey: Union Minister Venkaiah Naidu today during the TirangaYatra organized in Hyderabad by Bhartiya Janta Party suggested the ruling TRS Government to officially celebrate the "Liberation of Hyderabad State" on September 17.

Participating in BJP's Tiranga Yatra organized as a part of Aazadi 70 Saal ,Yaad Karo Qurabani in Hyderabad, Naidu pointed out that on September 17 Hyderabad Liberation Day is being celebrated officially in some of the districts of Maharashtra and Karnataka States and Telangana Government should also follow the celebration.

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ALSO READ: Venkaiah Naidu felicitates municipality workers, launches Swachh Survekshan for 500 cities



CELEBRATING UNIFICATION

Addressing the gathering the central minister said, "Even though the people all over country celebrated and rejoiced over the hard won freedom from the British on August 15, 1947, those living in the erstwhile Hyderabad State had to wait till September 17, 1948 when the region was finally liberated from the tyrannical Nizam's rule and integrated with the rest of India, thanks to the steely and firm resolve of the then Home Minister, Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel."

Naidu called for viewing the day when Hyderabad was acceded into Indian union as historical and magnificent event.

"The heart of every Indian fills up with pride when one looks back at the historical and magnificent manner in which the erstwhile Hyderabad State was merged with the rest of India on September 17, 1948." said Naidu.

"Unfortunately, the parties that ruled this region for long have done great injustice by not bringing to fore the heroic struggle and sacrifices made by many of the leaders who worked for liberation of Hyderabad," added Naidu.

Union Minister for Urban development and Information & Broadcasting further claimed that while the BJP has been demanding for the past many years for official celebration of the Liberation of Hyderabad State, some political parties have been linking the issue to vote-bank politics.

He also noted that Prime Minister Narendra Modi has taken up the Tiranga Yatra to undo the injustice done to forgotten heroes of the freedom movement.

--- ENDS ---


Scottish actor Gerard Butler and friends were seen celebrating the opening weekend of his film London Has Fallen at Planet Hollywood Resort & Casino in Las Vegas on March 4, 2016 (Photo credit: Jeff Ragazzo / www.KabikPhotoGroup.com).

Photo credit: Jeff Ragazzo / www.KabikPhotoGroup.com.

Photo credit: Jeff Ragazzo / www.KabikPhotoGroup.com.

Photo credit: Jeff Ragazzo / www.KabikPhotoGroup.com.


On Wednesday, August 31, the world-famous Cirque du Soleil launched Arts Nomades, an exciting new learning arts program created to promote creativity, perseverance, academic success and the development and integration of children through arts and culture here in Las Vegas (Pictured: The beloved clown from O welcomes guests  Photo credit: Cashman Photo).

Photo credit: Cashman Photo.

In partnership with The Public Education Foundation, Arts Nomades will give elementary school teachers the opportunity to provide an extraordinary learning experience through customized workshops, shows, exhibitions, showcases and more.

Photo credit: Cashman Photo.

After 10 successful years in Montreal, Las Vegas will become the first U.S. site to offer this unique program. The first two schools implementing the program will be Quannah McCall Elementary School and Gilbert Magnet School for Communications and Creative Arts.

Photo credit: Cashman Photo.

Photo credit: Cashman Photo.
Philippine police officers look at dead victims after an explosion at a night market that has left about 10 people dead and wounded several others in southern Davao city. (Photo source: AP/Manman Dejeto)

The blast occurred just before 11.00pm, leaving bodies strewn amid the wreckage of plastic tables and chairs on a road that had been closed to traffic for the market in the heart of Davao city.

An improvised explosive device caused the explosion, presidential spokesman Martin Andanar said, adding drug traffickers opposed to Duterte's war on crime or Islamic militants may have been responsible.

"There are many elements who are angry at our president and our government," Andanar told DZMM radio, after referring to the drug traffickers and the militants. "We are not ruling out the possibility that they might be responsible for this but it is too early to speculate."

Twelve people were confirmed killed and more than 30 others injured, according to Ernesto Abella, another presidential spokesman.

Davao is the biggest city in the southern Philippines, with a population of about two million people. It is about 1,500 kilometres from the capital of Manila.

The blast occurred in the centre of Davao, close to one of the city's top hotels that Duterte sometimes holds meetings in, as well as a major university.

"The force just hurled me. I practically flew in the air," Adrian Abilanosa, who said his cousin was among those killed, told AFP shortly afterwards.

Duterte was in Davao on Friday but was not near the market when the explosion occurred, according to his aides. They said he went straight into meetings with security chiefs following the blast.

VIOLENCE-PLAGUED REGION

Davao is part of the southern region of Mindanao, where Islamic militants have waged a decades-long separatist insurgency that has claimed more than 120,000 lives.

Communist rebels, who have been waging an armed struggle since 1968, also maintain a presence in rural areas neighbouring Davao.

Duterte had been mayor of Davao for most of the past two decades, before winning national elections in a landslide this year and being sworn in as president on Jun 30.

Duterte became well known for bringing relative peace and order to Davao with hardline security policies, while also brokering local deals with Muslim and communist rebels.

However in 2003, two bomb attacks blamed on Muslim rebels at Davao's airport and the city's port within a month of each other killed about 40 people.

Duterte has in recent weeks pursued peace talks with the two main Muslim rebel groups. Its leaders have said they want to broker a lasting peace.

ABU SAYYAF THREAT

However Duterte also ordered a military offensive against the Abu Sayyaf, a small but extremely dangerous group of militants that has declared allegiance to Islamic State and vowed to continue fighting.

Fifteen soldiers died on Monday in clashes with the Abu Sayyaf on Jolo island, one of the Abu Sayyaf's main strongholds about 900 kilometres from Davao.

Presidential spokesman Andanar referred to the fighting on Jolo when he speculated on who may have been behind Friday's bomb attack.

The Abu Sayyaf claimed responsibility for three bomb attacks in 2005 - one in Davao, one in a nearby city and a third in Manila - that killed eight people.

The Abu Sayyaf, notorious for kidnapping foreigners to extract ransoms, said it conducted the 2005 attacks in response to an offensive against it at that time.

Andanar on Friday also raised the possibility of drug lords carrying out the attack as a way of fighting back against Duterte's war on crime. Duterte has made eradicating illegal drugs the top priority of the beginning of his presidency.

Security forces have conducted raids in communities throughout the country to arrest or kill drug traffickers. More than 2,000 people have died in the war on crime.

The United States, the United Nations and rights groups have expressed concern about an apparent wave of extrajudicial killings. But the United States quickly released a statement expressing deep condolences for Friday's blast.
Russia's Federal Agency for Tourism (Rosturism) on September 1 proposed a mutual visa-free group tourist exchange mechanism with India, Iran and Viet nam, ahead of the Eastern Economic Forum in Vladivostok.

Head of the agency Oleg Safonov said that such a mechanism has been implemented between Russia and China since 2000 and has proved effective.



He expressed his belief that if the agreements are signed with India, Iran and Viet Nam, they will also produce positive results.



Statistics from the Association of Tour Operators of Russia (ATOR) showed that Southeast Asia is currently an attractive destination for Russian tourists.



In the first half of this year, the number of Russian tourists to the region increased by 17 percent against the same period last year.



A total of 204,400 Russians visited Viet Nam in the period, up 21 percent year-on-year.
Representatives in Ha Noi attend the online meeting.- Photo vncdc.gov.vn

The Zika virus is caused by a virus transmitted primarily by Aedes mosquitoes. People with Zika virus disease often display symptoms including mild fever, skin rash, conjunctivitis, muscle and joint pain, malaise or headache. These symptoms normally last from 2 to 7 days. There is a scientific consensus that Zika virus is a cause of microcephaly in newborn babies and Guillain-Barre syndrome. Links to other neurological complications are also being investigated, according to the World Health Organisation (WHO).

By the end of last month, Singapore had 115 cases of Zika. Since the first case was discovered on August 27, new cases have been continuously reported. At present, 70 countries and territories around the world report people with the disease.

Further, the WHO has announced that transmission of the Zika virus has slowed, but the risk remains significant.

During the online meeting, representatives discussed actions to assure the early diagnosis of patients suspected of having contracted the Zika virus. Representatives agreed that the supervision would be expanded to outpatient medical stations, where patients with early symptoms often arrive to seek health care. Further, the process of collecting, maintaining and transporting the disease samples for testing is to be carried out based upon the Ministry of Healths regulations.

The US Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (US CDC) highly praised Viet Nams quick response to the Zika virus risks, as well as the countrys efforts in reducing the spread of dengue fever.

Also, the US CDC announced it is prepared to support Viet Nam in supervising and controlling these diseases.

Meanwhile, associate professor Tran ac Phu, director of the department, said that institutes should set up plans to keep close watch on the use of Test Trioplex in the early diagnosis of Zika virus cases.

The use of the test began in September.

Additionally, the National Institute of Hygiene and Epidemiology will organise training courses for medical workers across the country to learn to correctly test patients.
This is the fourth warrant against Mallya, the first being issued by the special Prevention of Money Laundering Act court in April.

By Vidya : The metropolitan court of Esplanade today issued a non-bailable warrant (NBW) against the defunct Kingfisher Airlines owner Vijay Mallya in connection with a case filed by service tax department. This will be the fourth NBW that has been issued across various courts of the country against Mallya.

The department had moved application for issuance of summons as well as NBW against Mallya under criminal procedure code.

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Mallya, who allegedly duped the service tax department of Rs 32,68,00,000, in spite of several chances given to him had refused to appear before the court.



REPEAT OFFENDER

Beleaguered liquor baron and his then CEO Sanjay Aggarwal had told the court through their lawyers that the property of Kingfisher Airline seized by various entities across the country is valued much more than the dues of service tax department, so the recovery can easily be made.



ALSO READ: Vijay Mallya's properties, shares worth over Rs 6,000 crore attached



The duo also claimed that they did not have travel documents due to which they were unable to visit India.

Additional chief metropolitan magistrate, RN Jadhav had felt that though the department might have the seized the properties, it "will not exonerate the criminal liability of the accused unless and until the prosecution compounds the present proceedings and withdraws the same after satisfaction of service tax liability. Thus granting Mallya more time. The magistrate had however felt that it was first necessary to secure the presence of Mallya before the court.

Consequently, he was granted time to get his travel documents in place and appear today.

However, with his non appearance today as well, the court complied and issued the warrant. This is the fourth warrant against Mallya, the first being issued by the special Prevention of Money Laundering Act court in April.

ALSO READ:

Fraud investigation body summons bank officials who approved loans to Mallya



--- ENDS ---
Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc (centre) today attended the ground-breaking ceremony of the Kim Quy cultural, tourism and amusement park in Vinh Ngoc Commune, Ha Nois suburban district of ong Anh. -- VNA/VNS Photo Thong Nhat

The US$209 million park features both the traditional culture of Ha Noi and the modern design of Universal Studios and Disneyland.

Addressing the event, the Prime Minister said the project is expected to become a highlight of the citys tourism and an attractive destination for domestic and foreign tourists in the future, contributing to making tourism a spearhead sector of the city.

He expressed the hope that the first phase of the project would be completed as per schedule in 18 months, ensuring international standards in quality. He also asked investors to support locals who had to move out to provide space for the project.

The project is part of Ha Nois plan to build 25 new parks, 3 to 5 of which meet international and regional standards, and plant one million trees until 2030.

Covering more than 100 hectares, the project has an initial investment of VN4.6 trillion (US$209 million) by Sun Group. Designed by ITEC Group from the United States, the Kim Quy (Golden Turtle) Park is inspired by the story of the Co Loa spiral-shaped citadel (located in ong Anh District of Ha Noi now) which was built by King An Duong Vuong in the third century BC with the help of the legendary Golden Turtle God.

Most of the park will be covered by trees and lakes, making space for visitors to enjoy nature.

Together with modern games and applying world cutting edge of technology, the park also comprises an art enclave and a Kim Quy cultural village to host large-scale art shows.
With world leaders en route to China's Hangzhou city for Sunday's opening of the G20 summit, a senior Chinese diplomat announced that Russian President Vladimir Putin would be the number one guest. However Putin is already signaling that he plans to discuss geopolitical issues at the summit, possibly spoiling Beijing's preference for keeping talks mainly focused on the economy and the environment.

Russian media have reported the president is planning on meeting several world leaders which may include U.S. President Barack Obama, German Chancellor Angela Merkel, and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi besides Chinese President Xi Jinping.

These moves could undermine China's efforts to project Russia as a close friend and its efforts to reduce what Beijing considers to be too much western influence over the G20. Putin's purpose in meeting world leaders is to soften western wrath over its military intervention in Ukraine, analysts said.

Skin deep relationship

Analysts say Beijing has basically believed that Russia has become seriously dependent on China's support because of its economic problems, exacerbated by falling energy prices, and isolation by the west since the Ukraine crisis. But Putin is now showing that he can widen his circle of influence to connect with countries like Japan that Beijing sees as rivals.

"There is a particular game involving the Russians, which is that the Chinese know that the Russians are in difficult straits economically, and they have been kind of isolated by the west, and they need some friends," Arthur R. Kroeber, Founding Partner of consulting firm, Gavekal Dragonomics told VOA.

"I think it (the relationship) is definitely skin deep. There is very little trust, and there are actually very little interests in common other than the fact that authoritarian regimes have some difficulty convincing the democratic powers about their legitimacy. I think it (the relationship) is highly tactical, and i don't think strategically very meaningful," he said.

Ties with Japan

On Friday, Putin met with Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe in the eastern Russian city Vladivostok, where the two discussed some economic proposals and the fate of four islands in Japan's far north that Russia seized near the end of World War II and has since refused to return. Ahead of the talks, Abe said he thought Russia is focused intently on developing its "Far East" region, and that the two would be able to more fully cooperate on issues.

Expressing its dissatisfaction over the moves, China's government-controlled Global Times said, "Japan's moves can easily be viewed as imposing geopolitical pressure on China through improving ties with Russia."

"The U.S. and Japan have the motivations to initiate a geopolitical competition with China, but China will not be made to give in," it said.

Obama is expected to raise the controversial issue of South China Sea in his talks with the Chinese president. China has been keen to ensure that the issue is not raised after an international tribunal rejected Beijing's claims over most of the sea area.

"China's overall ambition is to gradually overtime erode the influence of United States, and increase its own influence and do this under the guise of multilateral or multipolar approach," Kroeber said adding, "China conceives itself as a great power and one that rightfully must exercise much greater influence than what it has today."
Bangladesh on Saturday executed a senior Islamist leader who was found guilty of war crimes during the 1971 war in which Bangladesh broke away from Pakistan.

Mir Quasem Ali was hanged at a jail near Dhaka, the capital, after a final meeting with family members. The country's highest court had rejected his final appeal Tuesday, and Ali subsequently said he would not seek presidential clemency, thus assuring his execution.

Bangladesh has seen an increase in militant attacks in recent weeks. The most serious violence in the Muslim-majority nation occurred in July, when gunmen stormed a cafe in Dhaka's diplomatic quarter and killed 20 hostages, most of them foreigners.

News reports said a close aide to former Prime Minister Khaleda Zia from the main opposition Bangladesh Nationalist Party also was executed Saturday.

Jamaat-e-Islami leader

Ali, 63, was a leader and financial backer of the opposition Jamaat-e-Islami party, which has called for a half-day general strike on Monday to protest the execution. He was the fifth Jamaat-e-Islami leader executed since 2010, when the secular government led by Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina established a war crimes tribunal to examine the 1971 war.

Ali was convicted on eight charges that included the abduction of a young man and his killing in a torture cell during the conflict, during which the Bangladesh government says 3 million people died.

Jamaat-e-Islami opposed the war, which began in what was then known as East Pakistan as a revolution by Bengali nationalists opposed to the military junta then in control in Pakistan (known at the time as West Pakistan).

Jamaat-e-Islami denounced the charges against Ali as baseless and said its followers were not involved in war crimes.

India joined the war on the side of Bangladesh late in 1971, and after two weeks of intense fighting, Pakistan surrendered and accepted Bangladesh's independence.

Prosecutors contended that Ali commanded a notorious pro-Pakistan militia in the southern port city of Chittagong during the war. Hundreds of people in Dhaka and Chittagong celebrated in the streets Saturday night after Ali's execution was announced on television.

Prepared for protests

Anticipating possible protests, the government deployed thousands of extra police and border guards this week in major cities. Previous convictions by the war crimes tribunal and executions have triggered violence in which about 200 people, many of them members of the Islamist party, were killed.

After the 1971 war, Ali worked in shipping, banking and real estate and became wealthy. He is said to have spent millions of dollars on legal fees and international lobbying efforts to rebut the allegations against him.

Human rights monitors have challenged the objectivity of the Bangladesh tribunal, and a group of U.N. rights experts appealed to the high court last month to give Ali a new trial "in compliance with international standards."

Jamaat-e-Islami and the Bangladesh Nationalist Party both have criticized the war crimes cases as politically motivated efforts to eliminate their leadership.

U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry referenced human rights issues in Bangladesh on Monday during a speech in Dhaka in which he said "we have to uphold and not betray" democratic principles in the fight against extremism.
Driven away from a lucrative border crossing in Syria and from oil-rich land in Iraq, Islamic State fighters are seeing their economic spigot going dry.

In recent weeks, IS has lost strategic towns in Syria and Iraq that used to generate enormous profits. Analysts say this has caused economic frenzy in areas the extremists still hold.

IS territorial losses lead to a decrease of political power, said Khorshid Alika, a Syrian researcher who follows the country's war dynamics. This subsequently leads to a severe economic decline.

Syrian rebels backed by Turkey recently drove IS fighters out of Jarablus, a major border crossing with Turkey that IS had held for more than two years. IS used the town to move foreign fighters, supplies and crude oil into and out of Syria.

Currently, IS controls only about a 40-kilometer stretch of the Syrian-Turkish border, which has limited the group's ability to continue cross-border black-market activities.

Iraq regains Qayyarah

In addition, Iraqi armed forces forced IS fighters to pull back from the oil-rich town of Qayyarah. IS fighters set oil fields ablaze as they fled, but the loss of Qayyarah was a major blow to the extremists' income, said Bewar Khansi, an economic adviser to the Kurdistan Regional Government in northern Iraq.

IS was pulling 10,000 barrels of oil a day from Qayyarah's wells, so that loss has cost the extremists millions of dollars, Khansi told an Iraqi newspaper.

The economic fallout from its battlefield losses is being felt throughout Islamic State's self-styled "caliphate."

In Raqqa, its self-proclaimed capital in Syria, IS has been suffering from a massive labor shortage. A group that reports on IS abuses in Syria, known as Raqqa Is Being Slaughtered Silently, said many of the city's professionals who had been forced to work with IS are finding their way out of IS-controlled territories. The result is an awkward administrative crisis for Islamic State, the Syrian group said.

IS salaries are cut

In a desperate move to stretch its declining income, IS recently reduced salaries of public servants in the areas of Syria it controls by 50 percent, local news reports said. Extremist fighters had their pay cut by 20 percent.

Compounding the situation is the damage from U.S.-led coalition airstrikes on oil fields that IS still controls, such as in the eastern Syrian province of Deir Ezzor. Syrian economist Jowan Hemo estimated that coalition airstrikes have cut overall production by nearly 90 percent.

IS is resorting to desperate measures to keep some cash flowing, according to reports from the area  increasing its extortion activities and "taxation" of locals and stepping up black-market trade with shady businessmen abroad.

Economically, IS cooperates with nearly all parties involved in the conflicts of Syria and Iraq, economist Hemo told VOA. This is natural, especially since they all follow a middleman strategy in conducting their dealings.

IS also is hoarding its economic reserves  "a lot of cash and gold"  as its future grows bleaker, according to Syrian researcher Alika.

As long as major areas such as Mosul in Iraq and Deir Ezzor in Syria are still under IS control, analysts say, it is difficult to predict when the IS economy will collapse.
Dilma Rousseff, ousted this past week as Brazil's president, says she has not elaborated on future projects but confirmed she has political plans.

Speaking to the international media Friday in Brasilia, Rousseff decried the process that led to her impeachment.

Im going to oppose this government regardless of where I might be.  Our role, the role of those that did not support the coup is to keep an eye on the Brazilian institutions and respect them. I will appeal in all instances because this is the right way to fight, she said.

The Brazilian Senate voted Wednesday to remove Rousseff from the presidency for practicing pedaladas fiscais - the practice of using public money to fund state or federal social programs without the approval of Congress.

According to various reports, independent auditors did not find Rousseff involved in breaking fiscal responsibility laws. But many of those who voted for her impeachment are being investigated. Those senators deny any wrongdoing.

Michel Temer, the conservative vice president, was confirmed as president for the remainder of Rousseff's term through 2018.

Two days after Rousseffs impeachment, the new vice president, Rodrigo Maia, signed legislation allowing for the amendment of an existing law addressing new rules for credit without Congress' approval.

Maia is the acting president since Temer is attending the G-20 Summit in China.

News websites such as O Estadao and G1 reported that the amendment introduces flexibility on using public money to fund programs without Congress' approval.

The executive can now use up to 20 percent as credit for necessary adjustments in the federal budget. Before the amendment, this number was 10 percent.

The change, reports say, was proposed under the argument that 20 percent allows public officials more flexibility to make necessary alterations in the budget, especially in years of income restriction.

According to officials from the Joint Budget Committee, this change would have no effect in the process that resulted in Rousseffs dismissal.

"Dilma's case was not about the percentage, but the lack of authorization. I understand the law does not impact our case," Janaina Paschoal, lawyer and author of the impeachment request, told G1.

These same changes were proposed by Rousseff in April. It was approved by Congress on Aug. 23 and signed on Sept. 1.

Rousseff has also filed an appeal with the country's highest court to challenge the Senate's decision to remove her from office for breaking budgetary rules.

The appeal before Brazil's Supreme Federal Court, filed by Rousseff's attorney, Jose Eduardo Cardozo, demands "the immediate suspension of the effects of the senate decision."

Cardozo's appeal accused the opposition attorneys of violating her right to due process. If the court grants the injunction, Temer would return to being interim president while the Senate trial is repeated.

So far, all requests made by Rousseff's defense on the merits of the impeachment process against her have been rejected by the high court, whose chief justice, Ricardo Lewandowski, presided over her impeachment trial.

Millions took to the streets across Brazil this year to demand Rousseff's removal less than two years after she was re-elected, as Brazil slid into its deepest recession in decades and a graft scandal at state oil company Petrobras tarnished her coalition.
Her labour pain started and she called an ambulance, after the service backfired, she started for the hospital on foot. She delivered the baby on her way to the hospital when a tractor driver came to her rescue.

By India Today Web Desk:

A woman in Rajasthan on Friday started to feel immense labour pain when people called for an ambulance. After the ambulance service backfired, people from the family along with the pregnant woman started for the hospital on foot, when she finally delivered the baby in the middle of the road, according to a Dainik Bhaskar report.

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She was exhausted and had no medical care around her when a tractor driver came to the rescue. He carried the woman in his tractor and covered the newborn in a sack before they reached the hospital.



HERE'S WHAT HAPPENED

In Dhoplur, Rajasthan, the pregnant woman Usha Inder Singh Prajapati started to feel labour pain when the family called 108 to bring in the ambulance. Being a remote village, the ambulance service confirmed that they'd reach in 30 minutes.

However, even after waiting for an hour when the ambulance did not arrive, the family members of Usha started on foot rushing towards their local hospital.

After walking for nearly 30 minutes, Usha could not bear the pain and she finally delivered the baby in the middle of the road.

Women from the family helped Usha deliver the baby when they saw a tractor passing them by and asked for help from the tractor driver.

The tractor driver had a sack in which he covered the newborn and took them to the hospital.



BAD NEWS

After the ailing mother with her new born child reached the hospital, the doctors refused to admit them, vaguely giving random excuses.



GOOD NEWS

Post media intervention, the authorities immediately admitted the mother and the newborn and the medical care was instantly provided.

After the normal rounds of checkups, doctor confirmed that both the mother and the child are absolutely fine and are in good health.

--- ENDS ---
Residents of Chinas historic city of Hangzhou are glad their hometown is getting attention on the worlds stage as it plays host to the Group of 20 Nations (G-20) leaders summit this weekend. They are also looking forward to the meeting's quick conclusion and a return to normalcy after months of preparations and extra tight security measures.

Hangzhou has become a city with a dizzying array of security measures, including the deployment of tens of thousands of police as well as young and old red armbanded street patrol volunteers.

The shuttering of businesses and the prodded exodus of most of the citys nine million residents is not surprising. Chinese society is tightly controlled and the event is hugely important for Beijing.

But that doesnt mean people are not complaining. Online, pictures of the ubiquitous security measures have been a constant topic for many to vent about.

There are pluses and minuses. Were proud the meeting is being held in Hangzhou, but its also come with inconveniences. Some measures are too harsh, and even if there is some plot you may not uncover it, said Wang, an IT worker.

Adam Levin owns three steak and burger restaurants in Hangzhou. Two of his stores are not open because of the meetings. And while the past six months have been chaotic, he says he understands the pressure security officials are under.

It [China] wants to put on the best show with the least amount of trouble, and recent world events, I think, have added to the anxiety of the government. The terrorist attacks in Europe, the lone wolf attacks in America have added to their trepidations, said Levin.

Many have left town and the government has given residents a seven-day paid holiday. How they will be compensated is not as clear, residents say. Li, a Hangzhou resident, said the city is now only a shell of its former self.

Many of the citys scenic spots, the places you pass by everyday are now completely empty. And we jokingly say to one another that this is the first time that Hangzhou residents (who love their city) are willing to get out of town, said Li.

Those who are still here have little choice but to stay at home, as most shops are closed. Security guards have been heard complaining that all they have to eat is instant noodles.

Still, while many hope Hangzhous hosting of the G-20 will raise the citys profile beyond that of tourist destination, the tight security may have robbed the historic capital of a chance to highlight one of its biggest assets: its people.
In the Democratic Republic of Congo, a political dialogue that started Thursday has been suspended over the weekend in the hope that more of the opposition will attend. But the main opposition bloc, known as the Rassemblement, has set pre-conditions for attending, which are some way from being met.

The blocs pre-conditions for participating in the dialogue include freeing political prisoners, lifting bans on several TV stations and the resignation of the dialogue's current facilitator, Edem Kodjo, a former chairman of the Organization of African Unity.

Tensions have been on the rise in the DRC amid controversy over a court ruling that would allow President Joseph Kabila to stay in power beyond the two consecutive terms permitted by the constitution.



Key issues in the political turmoil have been a timetable for holding free and fair national elections and what should be done if a solution is not reached by the end of Kabila's mandate in December. Government authorities have said the elections, scheduled for November, must be delayed until next year to allow time to register millions of new voters.

Timing of poll at issue

Kabila's opponents accuse him of stalling the poll to hold on to power, a charge the president denies.

The United States and the European Union have encouraged Congo's politicians to take part in a dialogue so as to reach an agreement on holding elections.

So far, few opposition parties have agreed to take part. Leading the opposition group in the dialogue is Vital Kamehre, a former president of the National Assembly.



Speaking at the opening session Thursday he insisted the group would not accept a third term for Kabila.

Everyone knows, he said, that the country is about to enter a crisis, if it's not already in one. That's why we must have these talks, he added, so that when they are over we can tell the Congolese people clearly when the presidential election will be held and when power will be transferred.

He noted the government has gone some way to meeting opposition demands, saying some prisoners of war and political prisoners have been released, and two TV stations have been reopened in Kinshasa. But five remain closed in Katanga province. He called on the government to go all the way with freeing prisoners and reopening media.

Eight pro-democracy activists, most of whom had been in jail since early last year, were freed this week.

Some positive steps

Human Rights Watch researcher Ida Sawyer said this was a positive step but stressed that others remain to be freed.

Human Rights Watch has documented at least 20 other political prisoners who remain in detention. These people were arrested after speaking out against attempts to extend president Kabila's stay in power beyond the end of his mandate or after participating in peaceful political activities, Sawyer said

Several of these prisoners are leaders of opposition parties and most have been held for long periods.

Another 170 prisoners were also released from two of the country's jails this week but Sawyer said it is not known how many of them might have been held for political offences.

Meanwhile 85 opposition demonstrators were arrested in Kinshasa on Thursday.

The U.S. government, in its latest statement on the DRC dialogue, welcomed the release of the pro-democracy activists this week but said others also need to be freed and some lawsuits against opposition leaders dropped.

The dialogue facilitator agreed to Vital Kamehre's suggestion that the talks should be suspended over the weekend while he tries to persuade the Rassemblement to take part.
Debates are always a big part of any U.S. presidential campaign, but with Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump both having unusually low favorability ratings, this year's debates could be more influential than usual.

"Because the electorate is so volatile this year, it doesn't take nearly as much to get a loosely aligned voter to switch his allegiance," Dan Schnur, director of the University of Southern California's political institute, told The Associated Press.

In a Washington Post-ABC News poll released this week, 41 percent of Americans have a favorable impression of Clinton, while 56 percent have an unfavorable one.

It is the lowest rating Clinton has had in her quarter-century in national public life, the Post reported.

Trump fares worse in the new poll. Thirty-five percent of Americans have a favorable impression of him, compared with 63 percent unfavorable, the Post reported.

4 debates before November vote

The first of three presidential debates will be held September 26 at Hofstra University in Hempstead, New York. NBC News anchor Lester Holt will moderate the event.

The second debate will be held October 9 at Washington University in St. Louis, Missouri. The event  to be co-moderated by CNN anchor Anderson Cooper and ABC global affairs correspondent Martha Raddatz  will be a town hall-style meeting, with questions coming from audience members and from people following the debate via social media.

The third debate, with Fox News anchor Chris Wallace as moderator, will be held October 19 at the University of Nevada in Las Vegas.

CBS journalist Elaine Quijano will moderate the lone vice presidential debate between Democrat Tim Kaine and Republican Mike Pence. It will be held October 4 at Longwood University in Farmville, Virginia.

Trump wants to 'negotiate'

Steve Scully of the cable news network C-SPAN will be a backup moderator for all four debates, according to the Commission on Presidential Debates, a nonpartisan group that organizes the events.

Clinton has said she will take part in all three debates.

Trump also has agreed to participate, but says he wants to negotiate the debate conditions. His campaign did not immediately respond to a request for comment Friday.

With Trump in the mix, there's also plenty of potential for shock value.

Maybe a smackdown?

"Mass audiences are going to be tuning in to look for a smackdown," Eric Dezenhall, a Washington crisis management consultant, told the AP.

In the primaries, Trump grabbed the spotlight in the opening minutes of the first of a dozen GOP debates, when he was the only candidate to refuse to rule out a third-party run for president. The Republican primary debates were often raucous affairs, with name-calling and candidates talking over each other. Moderators often had trouble keeping the debate on track.

The nine Democratic debates showcased Clinton as an experienced debater, although the highlight may have been Bernie Sanders' curt dismissal of all the attention being paid to Clinton's "damn emails."

Knockout unlikely

Over the past half-century, general election debates have offered plenty of moments of televised high drama, but knockouts are rare.

In 1980, Ronald Reagan shone in his debate against then-President Jimmy Carter, scolding him with a gentle "there you go again," and posing a pointed closing question: "Are you better off than you were four years ago?" Pollsters reported a resulting sharp shift in public opinion, said Alan Schroeder, author of Presidential Debates: Forty Years of High-Risk TV.

Two decades earlier, in the first televised debates, Richard Nixon, appearing sickly and unprepared, never recovered from his disastrous performance in the first of three 1960 debates with then-Senator John F. Kennedy, who would win the presidency.

This year, given Trump's unpredictability, "You've got a recipe for a highly combustible situation," Schroeder said of the debates. "For viewers, it creates a scenario that virtually compels them to watch.

"Anything that happens on that stage will therefore be magnified exponentially," he added.
The Group of 20 nations, which meets in the Chinese city of Hangzhou Sunday, is expected to take a formal stand on curbing the growing trend of trade and industrial protectionism around the world, two sources connected to negotiations told VOA.

Leaders of the world's largest economies are convinced that "trade and investment openness" are essential to stop an economic decline, and competitive protectionism would further damage the global economy, sources said. But there are serious questions about whether they would take steps to implement the joint position because it would mean short term economic sacrifices.

China is spearheading the campaign for openness because it fears that Chinese exporters would face stiffer resistance in Western countries due to of the rise of protectionist sentiments. Support for protectionism was evident during the Brexit debate in Britain, and in the ongoing presidential race in the United States. Parts of Europe, including Germany, have seen protests by jobless steel workers, blaming China for their plight.

"China is worried about growing resistance to its goods in foreign markets. But its own protectionism is politically too costly for President Xi Jinping to alter," David Kelly, head of consulting firm China Policy told VOA.



China is anxious to strengthen its image as a fair trader because of accusations that the government subsidies local industries to give Chinese exporters a price advantage on international markets. It is this impression that leads to many countries imposing anti-dumping sanctions on Chinese goods, which is a major hurdle for exporters in China.

"Chinese leaders are more interested in consolidating Chinas image as a country which is credible, stable and well-resourced financially," Kelly said.

Beijing wants Western nations to lift anti-dumping sanctions against Chinese goods but would do little to create a level playing field for foreign investors, analysts said.

Change of climate



U.S. President Barack Obama and the Chinese president have both committed the world's two biggest economies to the Paris climate agreement on Saturday.



Despite our differences on other issues, we hope our willingness to work together on this issue will inspire further ambition and further action around the world, Obama said soon after he arrived in Hangzhou to attend the meeting. It was under Chinese leadership that much of this progress was made, he added.



Some analysts believe that the joint ratification was part of a deal reached by envoys working in the background. Washington may have agreed to back China's proposal against trade protectionism in return for the climate change deal. Whatever the reasons, China's acceptance of the Paris agreement will be seen as a result of Obama's persuasive powers, and enhance his legacy, they said.

The agreement is being seen as a major milestone which will have a positive effect on discussions over trade and other issues at the two-day G-20 meeting.

The joint move should be seen as a case of "concrete cooperation on an issue where China and the U.S. used to be captains of opposing teams and now are working together for the benefit of the international community," said Paul Haenle, director of the Beijing-based Carnegie-Tsinghua Center for Global Policy.

Fear of dumping

Haenle thinks the G-20, which is being held for the first time under the presidency of a major non-Western nation, provides a rare opportunity for the Chinese president to counter protectionism as well as enhance his own world image.

"Many major industrialized nations around the world are now experiencing strong anti-globalization and protectionist sentiments, as we saw with the British vote to leave the EU and the success of Republican candidate Donald Trump and Democratic candidate Bernie Sanders in the U.S. presidential campaign," Haenle said. "This context provides a leadership opportunity for China and for Xi Jinping, now nearing the end of his first 5-year term."

Political observers believe Xi, like his predecessors, would opt for a second 5-year term.

As this year's president, China is also pushing the G-20 to reach a broad agreement on global trade and reducing the dependence on bilateral agreements between countries. There is a confusing array of hundreds of agreements between different countries, which is believed to divide the world of trade.

"In principle, most trade economists agree that multilateral agreements are much more beneficial than bilateral agreements. I don't expect opposition to the idea," CEIBS Professor of Strategy & International Business Klaus Meyer told VOA.

"The problem is to get everyone to agree on the content of those rules. As the World Trade Organization has been demonstrating over the past two decades, that is easier said than done," he said.
On September 4, the world will watch as Mother Teresa - a woman whom the world has come to know as a humanitarian and founder of the Missionaries of Charity, will be canonized by the Catholic Church. As VOAs Besim Abazi reports, a small community in Kosovo, where she spent time in her youth, is celebrating this momentous occasion and remembering the role their congregation played in inspiring the young woman to a life of devotion. Ardita Dunellari narrates.
On September 4, the world will watch as Mother Teresa - a woman whom the world has come to know as a humanitarian and founder of the Missionaries of Charity, will be canonized by the Catholic Church. A small community in Kosovo, where she spent time in her youth, is celebrating this momentous occasion and remembering the role their congregation played in inspiring the young woman to a life of devotion.

To the world, Mother Teresa came to be known as the mother of the poor and the needy, a symbol of a life of service to mankind. She began her charity work in India, where she was sent in 1929 by her religious congregation, the Loreto Sisters of Dublin. But she embraced her calling in the small Kosovo village of Letnica. Then a young woman of 18, she lived in Kosovo, where her family had resettled from her native Macedonia.

A devout Catholic from an early age, she would later reveal that it was in the Church of the Blessed Lady in Letnica that she decided to adopt a life of religious devotion.

The church today serves a community of 500 Catholics, in a village populated mostly by Albanians, with a small Croatian minority. The congregation is headed by Father Marjan Lorenci.

"This is where Mother Teresa felt the holy calling, after she arrived here from Macedonia, from Skopje. She came here because God brought her here with her family, and it is here that she heard Gods word. This is where she took her steps on the path to serve God, and whats more important, to serve her fellow man, Lorenci said.

For the local community, the canonization is a source of pride and a chance to share the famous missionary of Albanian origin with the world. Kosovare Xhoni, a member of the congregation, feels privileged.

I was born and raised here, and I am very proud to have received my religious teachings at the same church where Mother Teresa first felt her calling, Xhoni said.

Father Lush Gjergji, who first met Mother Teresa in 1968 and has written extensively on the Nobel laureate, says Letnica was always in her itinerary every time she visited Kosovo.

"The one place which she always visited was Letnica; it was her spiritual sanctuary, said Gjergji, who serves as vicar of the Kosovo Archbishopric.

Mother Teresa visited Kosovo five times after she became a nun. But it is her charitable work around the world that garnered her international fame and the adoration of millions.

On September 4, the Catholic Church will formally declare her a saint, immortalizing a life of dedication that got its first inspiration in a church in a small Kosovo village.
A pair of nuclear tests, progress on submarine-based attack missiles, and two satellites launched into space are the highlights of North Korean leader Kim Jong Uns nearly four years in power.



Despite what the United Nations says are the strongest sanctions against the repressive regime, why hasnt Kim curtailed his provocative behavior?



Speaking on VOAs Asia Weekly podcast, Daniel Pinkston, a lecturer on International Relations at Troy University in Seoul, says North Korea is motivated and those [nuclear and ballistic missile] programs are extremely important to the regime.



Joshua Stanton, a Washington-based attorney and editor at the website One Free Korea feels that when individuals criticize the effectiveness of sanctions to date, theyre "raising the goalposts to an unrealistic position."



In Stantons view, until recently, the sanctions against North Korea have been relatively weak and feels there is still room to make the existing sanctions stronger by enforcing them fully.



Stanton also says it will take time and political will to make the sanctions currently in place effective. However, Kim continues to carry out provocative actions and in recent months, some have asked if it is time to revisit the strategy of relying only on sanctions to change North Koreas behavior.



I think that we need to combine them with international pressure on human rights and information operations to reach directly to engage with the people of North Korea as opposed to the state, he says.





Daniel Pinkston says there are limited options when dealing with North Korea. Sure, nations could choose to disarm North Korea by force, but that would "unleash us so much death and destruction it would be an intense conflict that would lead to many deaths and the cure would be worse than the disease."



With Kim not showing any indications of altering his plans, what should the international community do to steer North Korea towards behavior in line with what it desires?



Joshua Stanton says western countries need to "present the government of North Korea, not necessarily Kim Jong Un personally, but the government of North Korea with an existential choice: Will they pursue nuclear weapons, will they reform, will they make changes in their humanitarian policies to their own people... or will they simply perish" by denying them access to the money that funds the government.



Future interactions



Is that something that realistically can be done? Stanton feels thats one of the most important and difficult questions right now, given that the United States is in the middle of a presidential election. He also says that the outcome of the South Korean presidential election could also have influence on the international communitys approach on North Korea.



Daniel Pinkston says that the international community can always strive to do better.



Whatever measures the international community takes I think the regime is so committed and that we have to remind ourselves remember that this is a case of strategic interaction, says Pinkston, adding, North Korea has a vote... They have some say in the outcome it's not based 100 percent on our behavior or counter measures or activities.



North Korea continues to develop technology to further its weapons capabilities, including submarines capable of launching ballistic missiles.



In response to the DPRKs actions, South Korea will deploy THAAD, a U.S. high altitude missile defense shield - a measure thats garnered criticism from China. The U.S. has said the system is aimed at protecting South Korea from attacks by the North, and should not threaten China.



Japan has also announced greater vigilance after North Korean rockets landed in its waters and will update its Patriot missile defenses ahead of the 2020 Olympics.
In this weeks address, President Obama commemorated Labor Day by highlighting the economic progress weve made over the course of his administration. Over the past seven and a half years, we've rescued our economy from another depression, cut our unemployment rate in half, and unleashed the longest string total job growth on record. The President said that although the country has made significant progress, theres still work to do in the years to come. He emphasized that despite the boisterous political season, we must not lose sight of the policies that will actually help working families get ahead. President Obama said if we are going to restore the sense that hard work is rewarded with a fair shot to get ahead, we must build on the legacy of those who came before us  that means exercising our right to speak up in the workplace, to join a union, and to vote.

President Barack Obama:

Hi everybody. Before you fire up the barbecue for the long weekend, I want to talk a little bit about the reason we get to celebrate Labor Day  and thats the labor movement that helped build this country and our middle class.

For generations, every time the economy changed, hardworking Americans marched and organized and joined unions to demand not simply a bigger paycheck for themselves, but better conditions and more security for the folks working next to them, too. Their efforts are why we can enjoy things like the 40-hour workweek, overtime pay, and a minimum wage. Their efforts are why we can depend on health insurance, Social Security, Medicare, and retirement plans.

All of that progress is stamped with the union label. All of that progress was fueled with a simple belief: that our economy works better when it works for everybody.

Thats the spirit thats made the progress of these past seven and a half years possible. Weve rescued our economy from another depression, cut our unemployment rate in half, and unleashed the longest string total job growth on record. And weve focused on making sure that the gains of a growing economy dont just flow to a few at the top, but to everybody.

Its why we took action to help millions of workers finally collect the overtime pay theyve earned. Its why I issued a call to raise the minimum wage, and when Congress ignored that call, 18 states and the District of Columbia, plus another 51 cities and counties went ahead and gave their workers a raise. Its why the very first bill I signed was the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act; why we gave paid sick days to federal contractors; why weve fought for worker safety and the right to organize.

And weve made good progress. For a few years after the recession, the top one percent did capture almost all income gains. But that share has been cut by almost half. Last year, income for everybody else grew at the fastest pace since the 1990s. And another 20 million Americans know the financial security of health insurance.

Ill be the first to say weve got more work to do in the years ahead. Now, I know were in the heat of a more raucous political season than usual. But we cant get so distracted by the latest bluster that we lose sight of the policies that will actually help working families get ahead. Because the truth is, thats whats caused some of the frustration thats roiling our politics right now  too many working folks still feel left behind by an economy thats constantly changing.

So as a country, weve got some choices to make. Do we want to be a country where the typical woman working full-time earns 79 cents for every dollar a man makes  or one where they earn equal pay for equal work? Do we want a future where inequality rises as union membership keeps falling  or one where wages are rising for everybody and workers have a say in their prospects? Are we a people who just talk about family values while remaining the only developed nation that doesnt offer its workers paid maternity leave  or are we a people who actually value families, and make paid family leave an economic priority for working parents?

These are the kinds of choices in front of us. And if were going to restore the sense that hard work is rewarded with a fair shot to get ahead, were going to have to follow the lead of all those who came before us. That means standing up not just for ourselves, but for the father clocking into the plant, the sales clerk working long and unpredictable hours, or the mother riding the bus to work across town, even on Labor Day  folks who work as hard as we do. And it means exercising our rights to speak up in the workplace, to join a union, and above all, to vote.

Thats the legacy we celebrate on Labor Day. And Im confident that thats the legacy that well build upon in the years ahead.

Thanks everybody. Happy Labor Day. Enjoy the long weekend.
President Barack Obama arrived Saturday afternoon in Hangzhou, China, where he will join other world leaders for the Group of 20 (G-20) summit.

He will meet with Chinese President Xi Jinping ahead of the summit.

After the G-20 summit Sunday and Monday, the U.S. leader will travel to Vientiane, Laos, for the Association of Southeast Asian Nations and East Asia summits Tuesday through Thursday.

Obama, on his 11th trip to Asia as president, faces a long list of tough issues during the G-20 summit, where leaders of the worlds 20 largest economies are expected to have a robust debate about how best to stimulate the sluggish global economy and push ahead against climate change.

Obama spoke Thursday in Honolulu to a group that included the Pacific Island Conference of Leaders, telling them, No nation, not even one as powerful as the United States, is immune from a changing climate."

Strategic rebalance

Obama has worked throughout his two four-year terms to bolster America's power and influence in Asia. The future of his strategic rebalance to the Asia-Pacific region and his legacy there are still uncertain, however.

Obama has said the foreign policy rebalance is critical to Americas future security and prosperity.

Key meetings at the G-20 meeting will include talks between Obama and Xi, as well as between the U.S. leader and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Ergodan. Obama also most likely will speak on the sidelines with Russian President Vladimir Putin.

Obama will meet with British Prime Minister Theresa May on Sunday, a White House official said. It will be their first official meeting since May took office in July, following David Cameron's resignation after the British vote to leave the European Union.

TPP 'a litmus test' for U.S.

White House officials said that while in Asia, Obama will repeatedly make a forceful case for ratification of the Trans-Pacific Partnership. The trade deal, signed by 12 Pacific Rim nations, is the economic foundation of the so-called pivot.

TPP is a litmus test for U.S. leadership, said Ben Rhodes, deputy national security adviser. Without ratification, the U.S. would be ceding the region to countries like China, who do not set the same types of high standards for trade agreements, he argued.

But whether the U.S. Congress will ratify the deal is very much in doubt during a presidential election year in which trade has been blamed for lost jobs. Both major party candidates, Republican nominee Donald Trump and Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton, have spoken against it.

Obama is expected to make a final push for ratification after the presidential election in November.

The chances of [ratification] are growing slimmer by the day, said Douglas Paal, vice president for studies at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace. If we dont have that, the rest of the rebalance to Asia looks hollow.

On the agenda

The U.S.-China talks will cover American officials' concerns about Beijings cyber activities, economic practices and aggressive actions in the South China Sea, where it has claimed disputed territory, raising tensions with its Southeast Asian neighbors.

With leadership changes set for next year, it is critical to stabilize the U.S. relationship with China as they go through simultaneous political transitions in both countries, Paal said.

I think the important thing for Obama during his meeting with Xi Jinping is to establish some red lines, things that we will not tolerate, he added.

White House officials said it would be the last such meeting between Obama and Xi.

Obama and Erdogan will discuss Turkeys crackdown since a failed coup attempt, which the Turkish president has blamed on elements within the U.S. Also on the agenda will be the fight against Islamic State, instability in Syria and the refugee crisis.

Possible talks between Obama and Putin are expected to focus on the conflict in eastern Ukraine and Moscows role in Syria. The U.S. has urged Russia to persuade Syrian President Bashar al-Assad to abide by a cessation-of-hostilities agreement and allow the flow of humanitarian aid.

First visit to Laos

Obama will be the first U.S. president to visit Laos when he travels to Vientiane for the ASEAN and East Asia summits. He will hold talks with that countrys leaders as part of the ongoing effort to build ties with people and develop more trade and investment.

After the meeting, the U.S. leader will deliver a speech on his Asia policy and his vision for Americas future in the Asia-Pacific region.

I think he'll speak to the fact that we've significantly upgraded our commercial and economic diplomacy in the region [and] our security presence in the partnerships that we're building, both with allies but also with emerging partners, on issues like maritime security and disaster response, said Rhodes.

He again will press for U.S. ratification of TPP during the remarks.

Obama also is scheduled to meet with the Philippines' new president, Rodrigo Duterte, to discuss an international court ruling at The Hague against Chinas territorial claims in the South China Sea.

The president will also seek to reassure Southeast Asian nations about the U.S. commitment to the rebalance.

But progress on the security and diplomatic fronts are not enough, said Matthew Goodman of the Center for Strategic and International Studies in Washington, where he holds the William E. Simon Chair in political economy and is senior adviser for Asian economics.

The future of the rebalance and Obamas legacy rest on TPP, Goodman said, and if it doesnt get ratified, then I think his legacy will be seen as mixed, at best, in Asia.
President Barack Obama, who arrived in China for the G-20 summit Saturday, plans to tell Beijing that "there will be consequences" for its territorial moves in contested areas of the South China Sea, he said in an exclusive interview with CNN to be aired Sunday.

"If you sign a treaty that calls for international arbitration around maritime issues, the fact that you're bigger than the Philippines or Vietnam or other countries... is not a reason for you to go around and flex your muscles. You've got to abide by international law," Obama said.

Obama said China needs to be responsible, and that he plans to tell President Xi Jinping that he should look to the U.S. as an example of a country that maintains its power, in part, by restraining itself.

"When we bind ourselves to a bunch of international norms and rules it's not because we have to, it's because we recognize that over the long term, building a strong international order is in our interests," he said.

Obama also mentioned fair and free trade and economic policies as areas in which China must improve.

China was angered by a July decision by The Hague-based Permanent Court of Arbitration dismissing Beijing's territorial claims in the South China Sea.
Pope Francis declared Mother Teresa a saint in highlight of his Holy Year of Mercy on Sunday during a canonization ceremony in front of tens of thousands of people at St. Peter's Square.

"For the honor of the Blessed Trinity... we declare and define Blessed Teresa of Calcutta (Kolkata) to be a saint and we enroll her among the saints, decreeing that she is to be venerated as such by the whole Church," the pontiff said in Latin.

Mother Teresa, a Nobel Peace Prize winner, was known during her lifetime as the "saint of the gutters" for her work among the poorest of the poor in India, arriving in Calcutta on January 6, 1929.

Small of stature, the Albanian nun opened missionaries of charity in over 120 countries aided by several thousand nuns and over one million volunteers, and led an austere life of her own.

When she died on September 5, 1997 at 87, her only possessions were her Bible, her prayer beads and her sari, but she left a huge legacy.

WATCH: Mother Teresa's Road to Sainthood Started in Small Kosovo Church

Mother Teresas canonization Sunday is very special for many people around the globe, but for Paris-based Albanian composer and pianist Genc Tukici, its even more meaningful. Hes the composer of Valse Celeste, a hymn dedicated to Mother Teresa, which was performed at the Vatican on the eve of the official event.

In an interview with VOAs Mariama Diallo, Tukici said hearing that Mother Teresa was going to be a saint was a very special moment for him.

My first reaction was very physical. I had goose bumps; my hair was standing up on my head. I had a very proud feeling of being Albanian. I also thought that an Albanian did it, he said. She dedicated her life to loving others, so why not me, why not us? So [much] pride but also the duty of giving a little for the good of humanity. In that context, the watchword for me, I hope it will be felt in the music, is loving others.

Truthful to her saying: By blood, I am Albanian. By citizenship, an Indian. By faith, I am a Catholic nun. As to my calling, I belong to the world. As to my heart, I belong entirely to the heart of Jesus, St. Teresa devoted her entire adult life to helping the destitute and dying.

WATCH: How to become a saint

The Roman Catholic Church has more than 10,000 saints, many of whom were not elevated to sainthood until centuries after their deaths.

The case for canonization is usually initiated five years after the candidate's death, but Pope John Paul II waived that requirement for Mother Teresa, putting her on a fast track to sainthood.
The United States and China have both formalized their ratification of the Paris Agreement, a key step by the worlds two biggest polluters that aims to help bring the climate change accord into force this year.

U.S. President Barack Obama and Chinese President Xi Jinping announced the deal during a meeting in Hangzhou, which is hosting this year's G-20 summit.

This is not a fight that any one country no matter how powerful can take alone," Obama said. "Someday we may see this as the moment that we finally decided to save our planet."

WATCH: US President Obama, Chinese President Xi meet

Xi said he hoped the announcement would benefit everyone. "Our response to climate change bears on the future of our people and the well-being of mankind," he said.

Chinas state media announced early Saturday that its National Peoples Congress had approved the decision at the closing of a week-long meeting. A report by the state-run Xinhua news agency highlighted Chinas commitment to confront global warming and play a bigger role in global climate change governance.

Brian Deese, senior advisor to President Obama, said the announcement by Beijing and Washington sets a very clear path to help the Paris Agreement come into effect this year.

The signal of two largest emitters and two largest economies taking this step together and taking it early  far earlier than many had anticipated a year ago - should give confidence to the global community and to other countries that are working on their climate change plans that they too can move quickly, Deese said.

In December of last year, negotiators from 179 countries and the European Union hashed out the final details of the Paris Agreement, but so far only 23 have ratified the accord. To go into effect, at least 55 countries, or those accounting for 55 percent of greenhouse gas emissions, need to ratify the agreement.

The ratification by two of the worlds biggest emitters is a big step in the right direction as China accounts for 25 percent of the worlds emissions and the United States 15 percent.

The Paris Agreement sets aspirational post-2020 goals for countries that aim to cap global warming below two degrees Celsius and calls on signatories to set goals for peaking their carbon emissions. Once the deal has been ratified, countries have to wait a minimum of three years to exit.

Deese said that in addition to submitting their ratified agreements to U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon Saturday, Beijing and Washington also plan to release a document that outlines how the two countries will continue to make efforts to implement the deal beyond Paris.

China is expected to announce for the first time a mid-century long-term strategy for low carbon emissions.
Russian President Vladimir Putin has agreed with Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe to draw up proposals this year to end a row over the disputed islands Kurile Islands.

Tokyo-Moscow relations have been hampered for decades by a dispute over the islands, which Soviet troops seized at the end of World War Two.

Lingering tensions over the islands have prevented Japan and Russia from signing a peace treaty to formally end the war, hindering trade and investment ties.

"Particularly regarding a peace treaty, the two of us alone had quite an in-depth discussion, Abe said Friday after meeting Putin in Vladivostok. "It is now clearer how to proceed in talks based on the 'new approach.' 

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said Putin and Abe agreed that officials on both sides would keep working on a draft deal that the two leaders would consider when the Putin visits Japan in December.
The remnants of Hurricane Hermine were regaining strength Saturday off the Atlantic coast of the United States, triggering renewed safety warnings along large swaths of coastal lands as it stalked vulnerable Mid-Atlantic resort areas.

At 2 p.m. local time, the National Hurricane Center placed the storm center about 93 miles (150 kilometers) east of the Outer Banks of North Carolina. A bulletin warned that it most likely would gain strength over the next 36 hours, returning to hurricane strength by Monday as it tracked slowly to the northeast toward coastal Delaware and beyond.

Storm surge warnings were issued for coastal New Jersey, with surge watches reaching New York City and coastal Connecticut.

The slow-moving tropical storm was expected to wreak havoc on resort areas of Virginia, Maryland, Delaware and beyond, closing beaches as Americans celebrate Labor Day, the last of three annual major U.S. holidays of the summer season.

Hermine rose up over the Gulf of Mexico and pounded the Gulf Coast of Florida on Friday as a Category 1 hurricane, then weakened over land as it roared northeastward across Georgia and into the Atlantic.

Some 300,000 Florida homes remained without power Saturday as residents surveyed damage from the first hurricane to strike the state in more than a decade. Authorities in the city of Tallahassee said it could take almost a week for power to be fully restored.
Classes are now under way on state university campuses in Texas, where a new law went into effect last month allowing anyone with a concealed weapon license to bring a handgun on to campus, as long as it remains concealed. Since January, the same law has allowed open carry of handguns in most other public places, with little noticeable impact. As VOAs Greg Flakus reports from Houston, most students have expressed little concern, but some professors are worried.
Donald Trump was met with tears and gratitude as he sat with African-American supporters Friday, including the mother of a slain young woman who was killed by a man who entered the U.S. illegally.

The back-to-back meetings, held in a ballroom in Northwest Philadelphia, underscored the balancing act the Republican nominee is playing as he tries to expand his support in the race against Democrat Hillary Clinton.

While Trump works to broaden his appeal among more moderate and minority voters, he's also working to maintain his popularity with his core GOP base by pressing his hard-line views on immigration.

At the invite-only roundtable discussion, Trump met with a dozen local business, civic and religious leaders who praised him for coming to "the hood" as part of his outreach efforts.

'My vote is going to count'

Trump was warmly received by the group, including Daphne Goggins, a local Republican official, who wiped away tears as she introduced herself to Trump, saying she's been a Republican most her life, but, "for the first time in my life, I feel like my vote is going to count."

Renee Amoore, a local business leader, assured Trump that he has support in the black community, despite his low standing in public opinion surveys.

"People say, Mr. Trump, that you have no African-American support. We want you to know that you do," she said, adding, "We appreciate you and what you've done, coming to the hood, as people call it. That's a big deal."

But Trump's meeting also highlighted the challenges he faces making inroads with African-Americans and Latinos. Protesters gathered in front of the building where Trump appeared, and a coalition of labor leaders met nearby to denounce Trump's outreach to black voters as disingenuous and insulting.

Ryan Boyer of the Labor District Council said Trump "has no prescription to help inner-city America."

"The best predictor of future behavior is past behavior," said Boyer, speaking at the council's headquarters. "He did nothing for African-Americans in 30 years of public life. We reject his notion that we have nothing to lose by supporting him."

Detroit meeting

Next stop for Trump is Detroit on Saturday, where blacks make up some 83 percent of the population. He's expected to visit a church with a predominantly black congregation while there.

In addition to planning trips to urban centers, Trump has re-vamped his campaign pitch to include a direct appeal to African-Americans and Hispanics, making the case that decades of Democratic policies have failed them. "You live in your poverty, your schools are no good, you have no jobs," he recently argued.

But so far, Trump's outreach has largely fallen flat. Many minority voters have found Trump's dire description of their lives to be condescending -- and African American community leaders have dismissed Trump's message -- delivered largely in front of predominantly white rally audiences -- as more intended to reassure undecided white voters that he's not racist than actually help communities of color.

Public opinion surveys show Clinton polling far ahead of Trump with minority voters.

Immigration stance

Trump also continued to take a hard-line stance on immigration, which he highlighted once again on Friday. The New York billionaire met with Shagla Hightower, whose daughter, Iofemi, was killed along with two friends in a 2007 attack in a Newark, New Jersey school yard.

In an emotional exchange, Shalga Hightower said her daughters' killers "should have never been here" and praised Trump for giving her daughter recognition. "I truly, truly thank you from the bottom of my heart," she said.

Trump has been featuring parents whose children have been killed by people living in the U.S. illegally at his events to try to underscore the risk they pose.

Hightower's story is "a horrible story," Trump said, "but it's a story a lot of people are going through." He added that Clinton "has no clue and doesn't care."
Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump said Saturday at a predominantly black church in Detroit that he wanted to help rebuild the city and that there are many wrongs that should be made right in the United States.

Two months before the election, Trump is trying to attract the votes of African-Americans, who have traditionally voted overwhelmingly for Democratic candidates. Blacks make up 83 percent of Detroit's population.

I am here to listen to you, Trump told the congregation at the Great Faith Ministries International. As I prepare to campaign all across the nation, I will have the chance to lay out my economic plans, which will be so good for Detroit.

He said the nation needs a civil rights agenda of our time, with better education and good jobs.

Accompanying Trump was Omarosa Manigault, a former contestant on his reality television series who has been helping his campaign reach out to blacks. In the audience at the church was Detroit native Ben Carson, the retired neurosurgeon who ran against Trump in the primaries and is now advising the campaign. Trump also visited Carsons childhood house in the city.

Many minority voters have found Trump's description of their lives to be condescending. African-American community leaders have dismissed his message, which has mainly been delivered in front of predominantly white audiences.

Public opinion surveys show support for Trump among black voters to be in the low single digits, far behind the figures for his Democratic rival, Hillary Clinton.

August visit

Ahead of the candidate's trip, Toni McIlwain, who formerly ran a community center that offered education and drug abuse prevention programs in one of Detroit's most distressed neighborhoods, said it took a lot of nerve for Trump to visit her city.

Many black residents, she said, haven't forgotten his visit to Michigan in August, in which he directed a message to blacks while speaking to a mostly white audience: "You live in your poverty, your schools are no good, you have no jobs, 58 percent of your youth is unemployed.''

He asked rhetorically what blacks had to lose by voting for him instead of Clinton.

"People picked up on'' Trump saying "you're all just crap,'' said McIlwain. "He generalized the total black community. How dare you talk to us like that and talk about us like that?''

Many Detroit residents are struggling, however. Nearly 40 percent are impoverished, compared with about 15 percent of Americans overall. Detroit's median household income, at $26,000, is less than half the median for the nation, census figures show.

The city's jobless rate is among the highest in the U.S., and public school students have trailed their peers on statewide standardized tests.
Turkey has sent more tanks into the northern Syrian village of al-Rai from Kilis province to support Syrian rebels fight Islamic State, Turkish media reported.

At least 20 tanks, five armored personnel carriers, trucks and other armored vehicles crossed the border, marking Turkeys second incursion since it launched the so-called "Euphrates Shield" operation along with Free Syrian Army units on August 24.

Since then, rebels have been seizing villages along the Turkish border near Jarablus and the western Cobanbey district from IS, the reports said.



The Turkey-backed Free Syrian Army units have also been fighting U.S.-backed Kurdish People's Protection Units (YPG).

Meanwhile, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said Saturday that terrorism is a long-term issue for discussion by members of the Group of 20 nations gathering in China's Hangzhou coastal city for their 2016 summit.



Turkey's top priorities since the G-20 summit in Turkey last year have been the refugee crisis and counterterrorism, Erdogan said in an interview with the Chinese broadcaster CCTV, adding that a principled stance against all terrorist groups is needed.



Erdogan arrived Saturday in Hangzhou for the G-20 summit and was greeted by Chinese President Xi Jinping.

He also had a closed-door meeting with U.N. Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon.

His trip comes after he defeated an attempted coup by members of the Turkish military on July 15.



Erdogan did not directly address the failed coup, saying that he welcomed the summit's focus on investment and innovation. China is Turkey's third-largest trading partner.



Erdogan is expected to meet with President Barack Obama and Russian President Vladimir Putin on the sidelines of the gathering.
Clashes broke out Friday between Turkish security forces and Syrian Kurds near the border town of Kobani, Syria.

Turkish security forces used tear gas and water cannons to disperse a stone-throwing crowd protesting Turkeys construction of a wall on the border.

Kurdish officials told VOA that Turkish security forces also opened fire on the protesters, killing at least one person and injuring tens of others. The Turkish forces denied the accusations.

Ibrahim Kurdo, the foreign minister of Kurdish self-declared Kobani Canton, said two people had died of gunshot wounds and many others were wounded" and were being treated at hospitals in Qamishli and Kobani.

When asked about the reports, Turkish military sources told Reuters, "A group approached the border and attacked construction machinery, workers and soldiers on the border with stones. Tear gas and water cannon were used against them. There has been no incident of opening fire."

The Turkish government began placing concrete barriers along its border with Kobani four days ago. The government looks at the town with unease because of its control by the Syrian Kurdish militia known as the People's Protection Units (YPG).

Turkey is trying to build a wall of shame and is trying to divide homes, Kurdo said, Because of this, people reacted and protested today. As Turkish forces pulled back during the night, tensions subsided.

Turkey considers the YPG a terrorist group, while Washington sees it as the most effective Syrian ally in the fight against the Islamic State group.
Answering a U.S. teenager's question about vacationing safely in Somalia, President Hassan Sheikh Mohamoud said, "You can come back to Mogadishu  nothing will happen to you."

Mohamoud answered questions about terrorism and the Somali diaspora in a town hall hosted by VOA's Somali service Saturday.

The program is the first of its kind to connect Mogadishu, the capital of Somalia, with St. Paul, Minnesota, home to the largest Somali community in the United States.

Extremism, unemployment, education

Both venues hosted crowds of Somali youth who asked the president questions on extremism, unemployment and education. The town hall was streamed live over the VOA Somali Facebook page.

Ayduruus Ahmed Abdirahman, a teenager starting high school this fall in Minneapolis, asked the president in English how he would make the country safer so that kids such as himself would be able to return to their parents' homeland for vacations.

"Were tired of going to Ohio or Seattle for vacations when we have so many beautiful cities back home. But we hear about things blowing up there every day," Ahmed said. "How can you convince our parents that want to bring us home for vacations that safety isnt a concern?"

The boy's question was met with applause.

"I assure for all Somalis that the insecurity will be handled soon. We are after the terrorists. We are in war with terrorists, but you can back to Mogadishu and nothing will happen to you," Mohamoud said.

Terrorism around the world

Another participant asked if the government's policies have failed to protect Somalis.

The president staunchly said no, citing terrorist attacks around the world to prove that such violence can happen anywhere.

"I do not believe that our policy has failed," Mohamoud said, referencing "an extraordinary level of insecurity" around the world.

"Things that are happening in Mogadishu happen in Paris, Turkey and other major cities in the world. ... We did our best," he added.

Somalia's ongoing civil war has displaced thousands of people and crippled its economy.

The government continues to struggle to end attacks by the al-Qaida-affiliated terrorist group al-Shabab.

Some observers have said Somalis turn to extremist groups because they face difficulties in finding jobs.

In Minnesota, men and women with ties to the Twin Cities, as Minneapolis and nearby St. Paul are referred to, have traveled to Syria to fight for the Islamic State terror group.

Travel to Syria

More than a dozen others have attempted to travel to Syria before authorities intercepted them. Since 2007, at least 23 young men from the Twin Cities have left for Somalia, allegedly to take up arms and join al-Shabab, a ruthless and radical Islamic militia vying to topple Somalia's U.S.-recognized government.

Mohamed Dahir in Mogadishu said young people are joining terrorists because Mohamoud "does not give them a chance to represent themselves in the government institutions." He asked if the president took responsibility for failing Somali youth.

I take the responsibility of whatever relates to my responsibility, but I have also got the credit of what I did," the president said. "Four years ago, when I was coming to office, the terrorists were threatening the government, and now you see our army is hunting [them] down in their remote hideouts.

"I know they keep carrying out attacks, but that is because of the good security job we did. They are desperate and they want to show the world that they are alive," he said.

Abdiwahid Qalinle, a lawyer and member of Somali community in Minneapolis, said, "Extremism and recruiting is not a Somali community problem, it is a Muslim and minority problem.

"And the young people are recruited from the internet by extremists who want to reach the young Muslims in the West," Qalinle said. "Mosques play a role in saving the young Somalis in Minnesota. They help them stay away from crime" and help keep them in schools.

Most of those recruited were not exactly connected to the mosques. They were either ignorant of the religion or had little knowledge," he added.

Positive things in community

However, Hodan Hello, a psychotherapist in St. Paul and a panelist at the town hall, stressed that many positive things are happening in the community as well.

"We do not have only negative things," Hello said. "We have successful young people who are lawyers, doctors and some who joined politicians. Extremism and crime are only a tiny part of our major challenges as a community."

The town hall meeting was being aired live on Somali National Television and broadcast on Radio Mogadishu, Kulmiye Radio, and other stations throughout the region.

In addition to hosting such town halls, VOA Somali produces programming for Somalias youth.

Just recently, the service began a 30-minute daily radio program for young listeners, providing a new platform for exploring social issues and getting the latest news along with music and technology features.

IN PHOTOS: VOA's Somali service hosts town hall in Mogadishu and Minnesota
Zimbabwe's 92-year-old leader has returned home amid rumors his health is failing.

Robert Mugabe's plane touched down at the main airport in the capital, Harare, on Saturday.

Reports say Mugabe, Africa's oldest leader, went to Dubai to seek medical attention.

Zimbabweans are growing increasingly frustrated with Mugabe and his failure to fix the economy.

He is dealing with a wave of opposition to his 36-year rule in the form of public protests. Zimbabwe's chronic economic woes have intensified following a drought and a severe cash shortage that has held up salaries for civil servants.

"The people's desperation is very deep," says former prime minister Morgan Tsvangirai.

Reuters reports that on Saturday Mr. Mugabe poured scorn on rumors on some online news websites - partly fed by his early departure from a regional summit - that he had been rushed for medical treatment in Dubai.

Mr. Mugabe told journalists at Harare international airport he had gone to Dubai on a family matter concerning one of his children.

"Yes, I was dead, it's true I was dead. I resurrected as I always do. Once I get back to my country I am real," he quipped.

But Mr. Mugabe showed some signs of frailty, walking slowly from the plane and only chatting briefly with officials before being whisked away in a motorcade.

President Mugabe rejects the blame for a crisis currently manifesting itself in acute cash shortages and high unemployment, and last week warned protesters there would be no "Arab Spring" in Zimbabwe, referring to the uprisings that toppled several Arab leaders.

He routinely blames Zimbabwe's economic problems on sabotage by Western opponents of his policies, such as the seizure of white-owned commercial farms for black people.

Last week Mr. Mugabe accused Western countries, including the United States, of sponsoring recent anti-government protests.

But even some of his once stalwart supporters, including Zimbabwe's war veterans who invaded white commercial farms in support of President Mugabe's land seizures, have turned their backs on him, saying he has "devoured" the values of the liberation struggle.

Zimbabwe, which has also been hit by drought and weak commodity prices, is struggling to pay salaries to soldiers, police and other public workers, fuelling political tensions, including within the ruling ZANU-PF.

Divisions have emerged inside the party as senior officials position themselves for power after the veteran leader is gone, with one faction said to be supporting Vice President Emmerson Mnangagwa while another backs first lady Grace Mugabe. (VOA, REUTERS)
Marion Louise Dahlke, 86, died on October 23rd at Grace Pointe Crossing in Cambridge, MN. Visitation will be held from 5:00 to 7:00 PM on Friday, October 28th at Anderson Funeral Home.
Randy Reid and Jim Peevey have joined forces to form Reid Peevey Commercial.

The longtime friends will combine the manpower and assets of The Reid Co. and Central Texas Commercial Real Estate Services to better serve their hundreds of clients, they said in a conference call Friday. The merger has been in the works for about six months, they said.

Reid Peevey Commercial will occupy a 3,000-square-foot office building Reid has acquired at 2420 Wycon Drive in Wycon Crossing Office Park.

Agents Pat Farrar; Kenny Stevens, formerly with The Reid Co.; and Raynor Campbell with Central Texas Commercial will join the new company.

Signs bearing the new Reid Peevey Commercial logo will go up as early as this week.

Reid, 62, has been in the real estate business since 1984, having worked at Coldwell Banker Jim Stewart Realtors before starting his own company. Peevey, 52, began his career in 1993 and was employed for a time at Coldwell Banker and at Kelly Realtors, two of the larger agencies in Greater Waco.

Combined, Peevey, Reid and the agents who work in their offices have decades of experience filling shopping centers, office space and warehouses. They have compiled data that will allow them to determine the prevailing and historic lease and sales prices on commercial properties, and contacts such as bankers, retailers, attorneys and tenants.

Weve been having company meetings for about a month and a half, and were already producing sales we may not have had due to the synergy in those meetings, Peevey said. Now we have more people thinking about properties and driving by them. Were reaping results by having a meeting of the minds on how to proceed.

Reid said the concentration of experience and expertise will allow Reid Peevey Commercial to collaborate on larger and more complex projects.

Besides the Waco market, The Reid Co. has done business in about 50 other communities in Texas, Reid said.

Pat has a huge database, Peevey said. He can fill our plate with information and probably has the most market knowledge in Waco.

Peevey, who lists commercial property, recently found a buyer for the vacant H-E-B building at Valley Mills Drive and Dutton Avenue: Harmony Science Academy.

Peevey and Reid both said Waco has gone through an unprecedented boom in restaurant and retail development. They do not think it has run its course.

I know of four different groups looking at sites for a restaurant in Waco, Peevey said. You think things are slowing down, and they pick back up.

He recently put his home on the market, and six of the 10 potential buyers who visited it the first month were from outside Waco, Peevey said.

There is a lot of energy going on here, and I dont see it as a bubble thats about to burst, Reid said.

Abbott at chamber

Gov. Greg Abbott will speak at a State of the State luncheon the Greater Waco Chamber of Commerce will host Sept. 15.

It starts at noon in the Baylor Club at McLane Stadium, and tickets are available for $50 to chamber members or $100 for nonmembers.

I look forward to meeting with members of the Greater Waco Chamber of Commerce to share my thoughts on how we can continue to work together to build upon Texas economic success, Abbott said in a statement the chamber released. Waco is quickly becoming an industry hot spot for startups as well as corporate relocations and expansions, and I fully expect the local Chamber of Commerce to play a key role in further advancing Texas standing as a global economic powerhouse.

Tickets are available at WacoChamber.com.

New wedding venue

A new wedding venue is taking shape at 900 Spring Lake Road, near Connally High School, where Brazos Barns Ltd. has raised a building whose materials date back to the 1840s. Katelyn Lakey, 26, will manage and promote the site, and she said she hopes to start scheduling weddings there beginning in March.

Lakey grew up in Belton, graduated from Texas State University in San Marcos with a degree in fashion merchandising and has been planning weddings from Waco to Austin for six years. She operates a wedding and event planning service called Kate Rose Creative Group and also offers flower arranging.

Waco-based Brazos Barns Ltd. works with a company called Heritage Restorations, which restores and re-erects historic timber-frame buildings to create barn homes or unique structures for events such as weddings, according to the companys website. Sometimes it will disassemble a barn in one part of the country and rebuild it in another.

Andrew Taylor, one of five partners in the company, said the barn it erected Friday for a wedding site to be called Deerfield Estates was created from materials brought to Central Texas by a crew that dismantled a barn in northeastern Pennsylvania that had been built before the Civil War.

Taylor said about a dozen people showed up to help raise the barn, which Brazos Barns Ltd. will own. The company hired Lakey to operate it as a wedding site, he said.

Just the frame of a small barn can cost $50,000 to $125,000, and finish-out work can push the price into the millions of dollars, depending on what the client wants, Taylor said. He said Brazos Barns Ltd. wanted to erect a place it could call its own, and we thought we would start in Waco.

Brazos Barns Ltd. also has built a pavilion at Magnolia Market at the Silos, Sixth Street and Webster Avenue.

Lakey said the wedding barn she will manage will accommodate up to 300 people and will have cabins nearby for use by wedding parties or corporate groups.
The owners of Makers Edge say their do-it-yourself workshop has been successful in its run of nearly two years, enough so that they were recently invited to the White House for a summit on the makers movement.

But in their philosophy, failure is just as important as success.

We have a motto around here: Fail fast, fail often, then get it right, said Melissa Pardun, executive director of the workshop at 1800 Austin Ave. The more opportunities you have to try, your project just gets better and better.

Makerspaces  community workshops where anyone can use high-tech tools to invent, tinker and socialize  have been popping up around the country in the past decade. At Makers Edge, monthly subscribers have access to more than $100,000 of equipment, including a plasma etcher, CNC routers, 3-D printers and a laser etcher, as well as saws, drill presses, soldering irons and leather-working equipment.

But Pardun said the movement remains amorphous and dimly understood by the public.

Its the same concern with other makerspaces. How do we define and separate ourselves from low-entry, small-scale, high school library makerspaces? she said. A lot of people when I tell them that, they say, Oh, Ive heard of that. Our school has a makerspace. They dont get it until they come in here and see.

Pardun and about 120 other makerspace representatives met Aug. 24 with White House officials, including U.S. Chief Technology Officer Megan Smith, about how to expand the movement without diluting it. Pardun said the attendees are in the process of forming a trade organization to set standards for makerspaces and expand their use in education and industry.

Honestly, this is the best way to encourage manufacturing in the U.S., Pardun said. If we can encourage nondiscriminatory access to tools and machines, then the little guy who doesnt have access to these tools has the opportunity to innovate. Its the democratization of tools and space.

Since opening at the beginning of 2015, membership has grown to about 90 people, who pay anywhere from $30 a month for youth to $125 a month for businesses.

Pardun and her husband and business partner, Rick Pardun, have seen it become a community where people swap skills and mentor each other and get tool training.

All of us have a little maker inside waiting to be set free, Melissa Pardun said. Most of us just dont know where to start.

The Parduns have seen projects ranging from a bicycle-powered pontoon boat to bronze-and-wood iPad holders to theater costumes for McLennan Community College.

Teenagers have learned to design objects on computers, then turn them into three-dimensional plastic prototypes with 3-D printers.

A local hydroponics greenhouse cut thousands of tiny planters out of styrene foam using the CNC router, an 8-foot-wide computer-aided carving machine. An artisan who is starting his own fine furniture business uses it for his main work space.

Brian Ginsburg, owner of W Promotions, uses the makerspace regularly to make custom projects he cant produce at his downtown merchandise design shop. Those include engraved mugs and precision cutout signs.

Its like having a co-op, like having a pool of tools you can use, Ginsburg said.

On a quiet Thursday afternoon at the shop, members Will Barley and Jordan Blair walked with large boxes and plopped them down on a table. What emerged was a styrene foam model airplane they were modifying with cameras and GPS sensors.

Barley, a mission trainee at Antioch Training School, described the project as an airplane drone they were developing to help farmers photograph their fields.

I didnt have a work space at home, and I dont have access to all the tools we need, he said. Here we can get ideas from other people who know how to build things I dont know how to build.

Barley said he worked for years in high-tech jobs in Silicon Valley and has lived in Dubai and London, but now he is looking for a more simple life. Going to Makers Edge means he doesnt have to buy his own equipment.

Its a totally different way of doing it, he said. I could be off by myself plugging away in my garage, having no community or support. The thing Im most excited about is that this could be the thing that awakens a generation to building things and seeing that its not that hard.

Jessica Attas, director of public policy for the Greater Waco Chamber of Commerce, said makerspaces like Makers Edge have great promise for the 21st-century economy.

Providing people the opportunity to develop new products or new processes, that could be transformational not only for individuals but for small to midsized manufacturers, Attas said. I think its really an exciting entryway.
Labor Day this year is different from those of years past. This Labor Day marks the 50th anniversary of the historic 490-mile march by South Texas farm workers from Rio Grande City to the State Capitol in Austin.

The workers went on strike in the cantaloupe fields of Starr County  Texas version of plantations  demanding a minimum wage of $1.25 an hour. They were only averaging 40 cents an hour  60 cents on a good day. They began on the Fourth of July and marched throughout the Valley, to Kingsville, Corpus Christi, San Antonio and on to Austin under the blistering summer sun and in torrents of rain. People put cardboard in their shoes as the soles wore down.

As they marched, more and more people joined them. Some walked all the way; some, only part. But they wanted to honor and support these workers  mothers and fathers, grandmothers and grandfathers  whose backbreaking work put food on the tables of Texans but at a pittance.

People along the way gave the marchers food and drink. Even cowboys from the famous King Ranch helped out with tacos. The dignity of the farm laborers and the justice of their cause moved their supporters.

These were people marching for a better life for their kids and grandkids and for their communities. Their message was that the injustice and indignity they, their parents and grandparents had long suffered and endured had to stop.

Then-Gov. John Connally, on his way to do some white-wing dove hunting, met the marchers in New Braunfels. He stopped his limousine long enough to tell them they should turn around and he would not lend the dignity of his office to a Capitol rally. Nor would he support their demand for $1.25 an hour. He drove off. And the workers kept marching.

They spent their last night at St. Edwards University. On Sept. 5, 1966, Labor Day, joined by 15,000 supporters from across Texas, they marched onward to the Capitol.

They did not win the $1.25 an hour in 1966, but they did three years later. It was not an easy struggle. Nor was the march their hardest test. After returning home, they had to endure horrific brutality from the Texas Rangers in 1966 and 1967. The Rangers, led by the notorious Captain A.Y. Allee, crushed the strike.

Magdaleno Dimas was beaten so severely that he suffered a concussion and spinal curvature. Alejandro Moreno, who later became a state legislator, was beaten in a strikers home. The Rangers held the faces of Rev. Ed Krueger and Dimas within inches of a passing train in Mission. When arrested strikers shouted Viva la Huelga (Long live the strike), a deputy sheriff, in cahoots with the Rangers, slugged the local union president and pressed a gun to his forehead.

Farm laborers filed a civil rights case and, in 1974, the U.S. Supreme Court issued a scathing denunciation of the Rangers in Allee v. Medrano.

The 1966 march was the beginning of the Hispanic movement in Texas. It galvanized Mexican Americans and their supporters. The time had come to end the states sordid and violent century-long history of oppression. The march was to the Hispanic community in Texas what Rosa Parks was to African Americans.

This year on Sunday, Sept. 11, there will be a commemorative march, again from St. Edwards to the Capitol. Some of the surviving 1966 marchers will be present.

Farm workers still have much to march for: better wages and working conditions. That will be a goal of this years march, to be sure. But it will also be an opportunity for us to honor the dignity and struggle of those courageous Starr County workers who made all our lives better when they set out for Austin in 1966. This years march is our pledge to continue that struggle.

James C. Harrington, a human rights lawyer, is founder and director emeritus of the Austin-based Texas Civil Rights Project.
On Labor Day, millions of Americans will celebrate the contributions of working men and women. Now a grand occasion for backyard barbecues, the holiday was dreamed up in the late 19th century by Americas labor movement to honor the social and economic achievements of American workers.

But that same labor movement is now turning its back on employees.

According to a recent Rasmussen poll of likely U.S. voters, only 20 percent of Americans believe that labor leaders do a good job representing union members. (Roughly the same percentage approves of Congress.) Almost 60 percent of voters also claim that most union bosses are out of touch with most of their members.

Current and former union employees are not much more optimistic. Only 25 percent report that union bosses do a good job representing their membership. Well over 50 percent of these voters argue that union bosses are out of touch, while about half of them agree that labor unions generally have too much political influence.

Money to Democrats

They have a strong point there. From 2012 to 2014, labor organizers sent nearly $420 million to the Democratic Party and closely aligned liberal special-interest groups. Almost $150 million ended up with left-leaning think tanks including the Economic Policy Institute and National Employment Law Project, which lobby for a $15 minimum wage among other job-killing proposals. The Democratic Governors Association received about $7.8 million, while Catalist  a leading Democratic data firm  made off with more than $5 million in a span of three years.

Over the years, unions have devolved from worker advocacy organizations to become the personal ATM of the Democratic Party, using member dues  still mandatory in many states  for political activities and lobbying. From 2012 to 2014, roughly 99 percent of union political contributions supported Democratic candidates and left-wing causes  even though about 40 percent of union members vote Republican.

This will only continue in 2016, as the AFL-CIO and other labor unions recently teamed up with environmentalist billionaire Tom Steyer to form a major anti-Republican super PAC. The new organization  named For Our Future PAC  is expected to raise $50 million to elect Democrats to the White House and Congress this year.

Our labor laws currently facilitate such blatant politicking on the backs of everyday employees. While union members can technically opt out of funding union political donations, many of them arent even aware that doing so is an option. And the system is not designed to easily get your dues dollars back.

Take the powerful Service Employees International Union (SEIU), whose political giving goes almost entirely to Democrats and liberal organizations. In 2015, the union oversaw 2 million employees, only about 120,000 of whom are agency fee payers  meaning that they conscientiously object to the SEIUs political agenda. In other words, less than 10 percent of SEIU employees have gone so far as to opt out of the unions political budget.

Yet SEIU President Mary Kay Henry has acknowledged that as many as 64 percent of [SEIU] members identify as conservative.

Update labor laws

If the opt-out process was clear and straightforward, then why would these conservative SEIU members act so blindly against their conscience?

Fortunately, U.S. legislators are rallying behind an effort to substantially update American labor law for the first time since the 1940s. More than 165 members of Congress have voiced support for the Employee Rights Act, legislation which would protect employees from out-of-touch union bosses. The ERA guarantees secret-ballot union elections; provides union members an opportunity to re-assess their union representation; and requires labor organizers to obtain prior approval before spending member dues on politicking. This would enable employees to definitively say yes or no to funding a unions political agenda  democratizing workplaces that have become left-wing piggy banks over time.

Its no wonder that the bills pro-employee provisions are supported by 80 percent of Americans, including those in union households. They also transcend party lines, polling equally well among Democrats, Republicans, and independent voters.

This Labor Day, the Employee Rights Act is an idea whose time has come.

Richard Berman is the executive director of the Center for Union Facts, a nonprofit organization fighting for transparency and accountability in Americas labor movement.
In August, evidence in the form of an audio file was made public.

In it, Hossein-Ali Montazeri chastises those responsible for the largest massacre of political prisoners since World War II.

Far from being a liberal, Grand Ayatollah Hossein-Ali Montazeri detested democracy, and was once slated to succeed Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini. Montazeri was an ideologue of the rigid Shia dogma that would lead to the massacre of 30,000 innocent men, women (even if pregnant) and children. claims Shelton, adding, Yet, as the newly released audio recordings clearly indicate, even Montazeri felt compelled to speak out against the bloodbath.

Montazeris warning can be heard on the recording, This sort of mass executions without trials, particularly as it relates to prisoners and captives  they are your captives, after all  definitely over time will favor them, and the world will condemn us and they will be even more encouraged in their resistance. Killing is the wrong way to resist against a thought, an idea . They have one thought, one idea. Responding to a process, a logic, even a faulty logic, with killing will solve nothing. It will make it worse. We will not be in power forever. In the future, history will judge us .

He was speaking about the mass killing of targeted dissidents who were already sentenced and imprisoned, activists of the Peoples Mojahedin Organization of Iran (PMOI or MEK).

Montazeri paid a high price for following his conscience. He was sacked and put under house arrest, while those who remained complicit in the murders were promoted. Those members of the death commission remain in senior positions within the moderate government of Hassan Rouhani.

Irans moderate regime is still run by the same officials whose brutal, radical ideology guided that mass execution. Shelton points out that, Mostafa Pourmohammadi is the justice minister in Mr. Rouhanis Cabinet. Hossein-Ali Nayyeri is the current head of the Supreme Disciplinary Court for Judges. Ebrahim Raeesi was the clerical regimes prosecutor general until several months ago and has recently been appointed by Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei as the head of the Astan Quds-e Razavi foundation, which is a multibillion-dollar religious, political and economic conglomerate and one of the most important political and economic powerhouses in the clerical regime.

Shelton says, Just ask the people of Iran itself, as well as those of Syria, Iraq and elsewhere. How is it that this historic leak has, with few exceptions, been met with indifference? Not only does it present an opportunity for justice for the 30,000 victims and their families, but it could and should also shape some of the most important debates in foreign policy today. Shelton calls this an insult to those Iranians who paid the ultimate price in 1988 and a death sentence for innocent Iranians today.

The truth of his statement is clear, as under Rouhanis moderate leadership, come 2,600 people have been executed. Additionally, in Syria, Iranian meddling and support Bashar Assad has led to suffering and death on a massive scale.

Just a few days ago, a five-year-old Syrian child named Omran Daqneesh became the face of the latest round of suffering and death in Syria, in a campaign made possible by the Iranian government, says Shelton.

There was no such thing as social media in 1988, but todays victims will have a human faces, like Omrans. Their despair will be captured and displayed to the world, hopefully acting as a wake-up call. It is time for us to raise our voices in the name of the victims of Iranian terror who cannot, either because they are being suppressed or already dead, declares Shelton, and asks, Isnt it time to call for justice for the victims of the 1988 massacre and hold the perpetrators accountable?
A 97-year-old victim of banned Commonwealth Bank star financial planner "dodgy" Don Nguyen is fighting the bank for compensation after hundreds of thousands of dollars of her retirement savings were destroyed.

Mrs K, who asked her full name not be used for privacy reasons, lodged a claim with the bank's compensation program more than 18 months ago.

A long-time friend, who recently became her adviser, told Fairfax Media the claim should have been made a priority given she was almost 100 and her case had formed the centrepiece of a banning order of Nguyen by the corporate regulator ASIC in 2011.

"Given that, in 18 months, very little progress has happened and the only update received on progress is when I email or call, I find it very disappointing and would not have believed it based on the bank's press releases on how they value customers," her adviser said.
There were umbrellas and gumboots galore and even a possible flood warning, but Canberra's rainfall only just reached the minimum forecast for Friday.

It had been predicted a third of spring's average rainfall could bucket down in Canberra on Friday.

Pedestrians with umbrellas at the ANU avoiding the rain on Friday, when The Bureau of Meteorology estimated between 40 and 60 millimetres would fall in Canberra. Credit:Rohan Thomson

The Bureau of Meteorology forecast a near 100 per cent chance of rain and estimated between 40 and 60 millimetres could fall on Friday.

The rain was expected to start falling from late morning and was tipped to continue overnight.
Meanwhile, PS was told Kruger had been "given a lot of support" from management and colleagues at Channel Nine. However, PS has heard from several others who have expressed their disbelief that such comments would come from such a seasoned media player. "I think that sort of thing can end your career, you are alienating an awful lot of people ... people don't expect that sort of thing from Sonia ... suddenly she's in the same category as Pauline Hanson," one of them discreetly told PS. Super maxi Comanche owners Kristy Hinze and Jim Clark beat a Sydney to Hobart retreat Kristy Hinze-Clark and Jim Clark on board Comanche. Credit:Sarah Thomas

It was only a few months ago that Australian-born glamazon Kristy Hinze and her billionaire American husband Jim Clark were basking in the glory of their super maxi Comanche's Sydney to Hobart win, feted across Australia as the new king and queen of the sailing world. However it appears their reign will be short-lived, with word from the sailing community that Clark will not be bringing his wife or his high-tech multi-million-dollar yacht back to Sydney to defend the title. Indeed 2016 has been an interesting year for the couple, who PS first revealed were dating nearly a decade ago and tied the knot in 2009, with a few eyebrows being raised at their age difference: Clark is 36 years older than his former model wife, Kristy, who turns 37 next month. Kristy Hinze in Sportscraft Credit:KHush@smh.com.au It is barely five months since Clark went public to debunk reports claiming his Australian model wife was at the centre of a stoush he reportedly had with his best friend and the captain of his Sydney to Hobart-winning super maxi Comanche, Ken Read.

The reports claimed Clark and Read came to blows amid claims they "got into it" at a bar in the Caribbean back in April. But when the story became public, Clark and Read posed in several happy snaps together which they shared on various social media platforms, suggesting they were as friendly as ever. However during last week's Audi Hamilton Island Race Week, several witnesses to the Caribbean fracas recounted what they had seen, backing up the initial reports despite Clark's later reassurances that he remains good friends with Read. Now it appears Clark and his fourth wife will not be returning to Australia to defend his title at this year's Sydney to Hobart, with part of the reason rumoured to be a desire to avoid any further media scrutiny following the sensational claims published nationally back in April. Earlier this year Hinze and Clark offloaded their Point Piper home, and this week listed their vast Palm Beach, Florida, estate for sale with an equally vast price tag for the Ill Palmetto mansion, a whopping $181 million. Neither Clark nor Hinze responded to PS' queries this week.

Senators Derryn Hinch and Jacqui Lambie enjoy star feeling at ball Senator Jacqui Lambie, with her "Kardashian hair", and Senator Derryn Hinch arrive for the Midwinter Ball. Credit:Alex Ellinghausen According to freshly-minted Senator Derryn Hinch, descending the grand marble staircase at Parliament House with a radiant Jacqui Lambie on his arm, complete with false eye-lashes and hair extensions, was "just like" Scarlett and Rhett coming down the stairs at Tara "in Gone With The Wind". A wide-awake Hinch informed PS he and his fellow senator had been hatching plans for their "date night" for some time, but even he was surprised at the speed in which the pair managed to create a media frisson, out-sparkling the likes of Julie Bishop. Indeed they had already earned the portmanteau "Jerryn" by the time they reached the bottom the stairs, which Hinch admitted sounded better than other potentials: "Dacquie" and (gulp) "Lynch".

"I had been meeting a lot of backbenchers and front benchers before I arrived in Canberra and Jacqui and I have been getting along very well. There are a lot of things we agree on and a lot of work we can help each other with... things like war veterans. When I asked if she was going to the Mid Winter Ball she said she had no one to go with ... which is when I asked her to be my date. I enjoyed her company very much," Hinch told PS. "And yes, we got a laugh out of all those flashes going off as the photographers realised we were arriving together ... we both like to stir things up a bit." Meanwhile, Hinch has been settling in quite nicely in the nation's capital, staying in some rather grandly named digs  The Menzies Suite at the Canberra Hyatt, until more permanent lodgings are found. "I'm probably the only person in Parliament House today that actually met Menzies," Hinch speculated. "I was just a young reporter in the '60s ... I remember Menzies being a terribly imperious man who had no time for the 'riff raff' of the press like me ... and now I'm sleeping in his suite!"

Who's who set to show wild side Headpiece by Hamish Elliot for Dance Noir. Credit:PeterGreig.com It's shaping up to be one of the wildest parties of the year, with the Sydney Dance Company hosting its annual Dance Noir event next Saturday night. SDC chairman Andrew Messenger along with David and Alexa Haslingden, Ally Considine, Nicky Oatley, Carla Zampatti, Richard and Jade Coppleson, Richard and Jane Freudenstein, Monika Tu, Deborah Thomas, Beau, Paris and Judith Neilson, Jan Logan and Rafael Bonachela among the guest list for the annual fundraiser. The company's dancers have embraced the theme, exploring their "Wild" in all its possible manifestations, creating five exclusive performances especially for the night.

There will also be a guest appearance from Australian screen and stage star Tim Draxl, while costume designer Aleisa Jelbert, regular collaborator of Sydney Dance Company, has curated a series of spectacular costumes for the evening. Jelbert has also commissioned the students of Enmore School of Design to create "Wild" inspired head-dresses for the dancers to wear, including this jaunty little number by Hamish Elliot. Bob Irwin's book won't focus on family rift Bob Irwin at Wildlife HQ. Credit:Bob Irwin Wildlife Foundation Don't expect too much dirty laundry to be aired in Bob Irwin's yet to be published book.

PS hear's Irwin, the father of the late Crocodile Hunter Steve, who has been estranged from Steve's widow Terri and has not spoken to his grandchildren Bindi and Bob in years, is still working on the book despite it due to hit shelves in a matter of weeks. Rather than dredging up the family fallout, Irwin's book is focusing on his time with Steve and their shared love of wildlife. Birthday bash to rival Met Gala Ball When your parents' house is one of the most expensive and extravagant in the country, it would make sense that your birthday party would be equally grand.

Joshua Penn, the son of dentist David Penn and his wife, Linda, the heiress of the Lowes, ahem, fashion empire, are the owners of Point Piper's huge Villa Veneto, which they bought a few years back for about $54 million. Their son Joshua is having his 30th birthday at the home next weekend and is planning an event, he hopes, will rival New York's famed Met Gala Ball (his words). Joshua Penn. Indeed Villa Veneto has enough epic staircases to recreate those famous red-carpet images. Loading
Rather than trying to win over the masses, Sony's new Hi-Res Audio range features a gold plated Walkman sporting a new headphone jack vying to become an industry standard.

Unveiled at the IFA technology show overnight in Berlin, Sony's Signature Series range includes two new Hi-Res Audio Walkmans, compatible headphones and a standalone headphone amplifier all designed to work in unison.

High end: Sony's new NW-WM1Z Walkman, TA-ZH1ES headphone amplifier and MDR-Z1R Hi-Res Audio headphones. Credit:Sony

The flagship is the NW-WM1Z Walkman, expected to sell in Australia for $4299, which features an oxygen-free unibody copper design with gold plating.

Meanwhile the $1349 NW-WM1A Walkman features an aluminium body and half the storage at 128GB. Both support expanded storage via microSD cards.
The sunlight glints on the cherry-red strands of Beth Barnard's hair as she laughs.

The colour is new. Her clothes are new. Even the laugh feels new.

Beth Barnard: "This is for all the other disabled people who can't communicate easily or talk." Credit:Jason South

Before, when she wanted to dye her hair, go to movies, or get a massage, Beth was told she couldn't afford it, that she didn't have money, she says.

But actually, she did.
Concern over the welfare of missing father Mark Tromp has heightened overnight, with nearly 20 millimetres of rain dumped on the Wangaratta area - the last place he was seen.

But with the search for Mr Tromp entering its fifth day, the active effort to find him is now being primarily conducted by his family rather than Victoria Police or the SES.

Waterways around Wangaratta are noticeably swollen after 19.2 millimetres of rain fell on the region since 6pm on Friday night. The deluge has also closed off some roads in bushland where Mr Tromp may be missing.

Police said on Saturday that there had been no confirmed sightings of Mr Tromp since he was seen running from a car in Wangaratta on Wednesday night, despite a number of reports from the public.
Police have resumed their search for missing Clarkson man Steven Allison.

The 43-year-old's Nissan X-Trail was found on Thursday on the Coolcalalya Road in Ajana, east of Kalbarri, but there was no sign of the missing man.

Police search bush east of Kalbarri looking for missing Clarkson man Steven Allison. Credit:WA Police

Mr Allison left his Clarkson home on Tuesday and has not made contact with any of his family or friends.

When he was last seen he was wearing a white t-shirt, a dark coloured jumper, denim jeans and dark shoes.
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Winnipeggers can hear a minor musical miracle next weekend during a performance of works by a long-forgotten female composer and hymn writer.

Although a published hymn tune writer in her native Norway, composer Theodora Cormontans music was largely unknown in North America until five boxes of unpublished compositions were discovered in an attic nearly 90 years after her death.

Its beyond my understanding, but it feels to me theres something remarkable here, says music professor Michael Jorgensen, who was given the Norwegian-Americans 150 manuscripts of vocal music, hymns and piano compositions by a friend in 2011.

SUPPLIED Michael and Bonnie Jorgensen will perform music by Theodora Cormontan on Sept. 10, billed as Norway's forgotten composer and hymn writer.

I believe theres some divine intention.

Jorgensen, a voice teacher at Gustavus Adolphus College in St. Peter, Minn., and his wife Bonnie perform several of Cormontans compositions for voice and piano, next Saturday at 7:30 p.m. at Gloria Dei Lutheran Church, 637 Buckingham Rd. Tickets are available at the door for $15.

The compositions reflect musical tastes of the 19th and early 20th centuries, says Jorgensen, but they are remarkable for their lovely melodies.

Although several of Cormontans hymns were published in Norwegian religious periodicals and hymnals, none were ever printed in North America after she immigrated to Minnesota in 1887 at age 47 with her sister and father, a Lutheran pastor, looking for a new life after a house fire and bank failure left them in poverty.

In Norway, she had managed her own publishing house, an unusual occupation for a 19th-century woman, as well as performing and composing her own music, mostly piano compositions and vocal solos and duets, says Jorgensen, who has dedicated the last five years to researching Cormontans life and work.

What he discovered is both remarkable and ordinary: the story of a Norwegian Lutheran woman who emigrated to Minnesota in search of a better life and had to fight hard just to survive, but who kept on composing despite obstacles and barriers. Women of Cormontans time usually studied voice and piano, but very few were published composers or hymn writers, says Jorgensen.

I think its important to know women have been composing a lot longer than theyve been given credit, he says.

SUPPLIED The Cormontan scores about to be donated to the National Library of Norway.

It would have been more acceptable for her to write vocal music like hymns.

In Minnesota, she worked as a music teacher, church organist, performer and composer, despite suffering a paralyzing injury after falling off a train. Before her 1922 death at an Iowa seniors home, she passed on her boxes of music and personal effects to Mollie Helgerson Schmidt, wife of the homes superintendent.

Those boxes remained in family attics for nearly nine decades, passed from one Schmidt generation to another and unopened until granddaughter Barb Schmidt Nelson gave them to Jorgensen five years ago.

Thats where the Winnipeg connection comes in. Nelsons Winnipeg cousin Martha Helgerson and the Norwegian Canadian Club invited Michael and Bonnie Jorgensen to perform Cormontans music in its Canadian premiere.

Its nice to think that today, nearly 100 years after her death, through a series of happy coincidences, that her music is being played and her story is being told. Its like her life did matter, says Helgerson, part of a choral group that travelled with Jorgensen to Norway in 2015 to perform Cormontans music.

While in Norway, Jorgensen donated the original manuscripts to the National Library of Norway, which scanned the well-preserved compositions and made them available online at http://www.nb.no/English.

Not only did her life matter, Cormontans music stands as a testament to her Lutheran faith and her belief in her abilities as a composer, says Jorgensen, who has performed it dozens of times.

SUPPLIED Michael Jorgensen, with copy of newspaper featuring Theodora Cormontan. In 2015, he donated 150 lost compositions of the Norwegian-born composer to the National Library of Norway.

She kept writing consistently year after year regardless of what was happening in her life, he says.

I believe she felt God created her as a composer and that was her calling.

brenda@suderman.com

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This article was published 03/09/2016 (2247 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

When the SpaceX rocket exploded on a Florida launchpad Thursday, the first thought that probably came to mind was thank heavens there werent any astronauts on board.

The second may have been: whos going to pay for all this?

The concept of insuring an expensive payload situated atop a big bomb wasnt the foremost concern when Mercury, Gemini, and Apollo astronauts were hurtled into space in the heyday of Americas space adventure.

Even during the years of the lumbering space shuttle, and the subsequent tragedies that befell the Challenger and Columbia, it was lives lost rather than the cost to taxpayers that occupied the public consciousness.

But now that the United States has taken a backseat to commercial interests and entrepreneurs on forays into the final frontier, the more mundane matter of insurance has become a central issue when disaster strikes.

As it turns out, there is a way to get a policy. Some of the largest firms, including American International Group, Munich Re, Swiss Re and Allianz, have units that offer space insurance. AIG says its one of the few insurers able to offer a policy spanning as long as five years, as well as one that begins two years prior to launch. The New York-based firm took part in a policy for Richard Bransons Virgin Galactic spaceship, which crashed in 2014.

Space risks present a new generation of challenges, according to an Allianz presentation in December. In 2012, the German insurer cited data showing insurance premiums on space shots were close to US$800 million, with total losses at about US$600 million the previous year.

The company said a future challenge for insurers includes rising launch values, a decreasing premium pool and increasing risk exposures. This means it takes just a few botched launches to hurt an insurer thats taking in premiums for only a handful of missions every year.

SpaceX (Space Exploration Technologies Corp.) co-founder Elon Musk of Tesla Motors Inc. fame didnt buy an insurance policy for the Falcon 9 rocket that exploded at Cape Canaveral, said to a person familiar with the matter. The billionaire sought to launch a satellite named Amos 6, built by Israel Aerospace Industries, a privately held defence company, and operated by Israeli firm Space Communications Ltd.

The satellite was backed by a policy worth almost US$300 million, said the person, who requested anonymity because they werent authorized to speak publicly. SpaceX declined to comment.

The blast, which occurred shortly after 9 a.m. local time before a test firing of the Falcon 9s engines, left a plume of thick black smoke and triggered a shock wave felt miles around. The failure occurred as fuel was loaded onto the rocket, Musk said in a tweet, adding the problem originated around upper-stage oxygen tank.

The Federal Aviation Administrations Office of Commercial Space Transportation, which licenses launches, will oversee the companys investigation into the mishap.

The SpaceX accident is a blow to Musks firm because of immediate financial costs and since it may delay future launches, said Elson. This was an unusual loss that weve seen for SpaceX. Launches over the last 50 years have frequently gone wrong, but weve seen very few rockets blow up during routine pre-launch operations.

An explosion occurring pre-launch is an extremely rare event, agreed Teal Groups Marco Caceres, an analyst of space studies.

 Bloomberg News
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OTTAWA  On March 29, 2007, 17-year-old Owen Michael Hart was driving his pickup truck on Heatherdale Road South of Oakbank, when he collided with a freight train.

The aspiring diesel mechanic and avid saxophonist was rushed to hospital but died of his injuries.

PHIL HOSSACK / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS CN mainline crossing at Millbrook Road in the RM of Springfield. There have been three deaths in the area since 2004.

Almost four years later, and about 17 km east at a nearly identical crossing on Millbrook Road in the RM of Springfield, a 77-year-old man from Anola was killed when a freight train struck his Ford Taurus. His name wasnt publicly released.

And, almost 18 months after that, and less than two km west along the same rail line on Edgewood Road, 36-year-old Marko Kordic died when the pickup truck he was a passenger in collided with a freight train. The driver, who was also injured along with another passenger, was eventually convicted of drunk driving.

25 deaths since 2004

They are just three of the 225 train collisions with vehicles and pedestrians at rail crossings in Manitoba over the last 12 years, killing 25 people and injuring 43 others.

They all occurred in the RM of Springfield, along a 75-km stretch of CN rail line between the Perimeter and Highway 11 known as the Redditt subdivision, which carries an average of 18 freight trains a day along CN Rails main line in eastern Manitoba. There are more than three dozen rail crossings on this stretch, most of which are on gravel roads that run between farm fields, vast expanses of prairie stretching out in every direction.

Since 2004, there have been a dozen crashes at crossings on this stretch.

A Free Press analysis of collision data and rail-crossing inventories provided by Transport Canada and the Transportation Safety Board, shows four of the locations are among the 100 highest-risk crossings  out of more than 21,000  in Canada. And 13 of them are in a group of the worst 500 in the country.

Collisions at rail crossings

Provincewide there are nine crossings in the group of 100 and 42 in the high-risk 500.

"Theres no doubt every one of our crossings is a concern," Springfield Reeve Bob Bodnaruk says. "We are definitely looking at it and trying to do what we can."

Springfield is not alone. Across Manitoba, and across the country, municipalities and railways are working to comply with new crossing regulations introduced by Transport Canada in 2014. Hundreds of crossings will require various safety upgrades under the new rules. In Manitoba, there are at least 48 that fall into that category.

Number of accidents too high

Owen Michael Hart was killed in a train collision in 2007.

Every day in the province, trains pass approximately 2,100 grade or level crossings  where a rail line intersects directly with a roadway more than 15,000 times; some 2.5 million vehicles cross those tracks daily. In general terms, safety isnt an issue.

Yet the crossings do present a significant risk when it comes to fatalities and injuries. In 2014, the TSB said the risk of accidents between trains and vehicles at rail crossings "remains too high." It noted there had not been any real improvement in the number of incidents in the previous decade.

Although crossings account for just 13 per cent of all accidents and incidents involving trains in Manitoba, (track derailments account for more than half of them), they are responsible for 50 per cent of the fatalities and 63 per cent of injuries since 2004.

The vast majority of crossings in Manitoba  77 per cent  are passive, meaning they have no automated warning systems in place, and more than 95 per cent of them are in rural areas. Some have stop signs, but at others there is only a road sign warning of train tracks ahead. Because of limited train and vehicle traffic, many of the intersections  a few of which are on private roads or farms  are fairly low-risk.

The rest are active: 14 per cent have automated warning bells and flashing lights, and nine per cent are equipped with lights, bells and gates. Under the new Transport Canada regulations, some crossings require all three safety elements.

Until 2014, the safety standards were industry-led, says Jay Rieger, Transport Canadas chief engineer of rail safety operations.

"By bringing them into the grade-crossing regulations in 2014, these standards became law," he says.

The regulations are being phased in over seven years; municipalities and railways have until 2021 to become fully compliant. The next phase, ending at the end of November, requires municipalities and rail companies to share information about every crossing so both are on the same page about required upgrades.

TC doesnt know how many crossings comply with legislation

Determining what, if any, type of active warning system is required involves a simple math equation to come up with what is known as the "cross product"  the daily number of trains passing an intersection multiplied by the number of vehicles that cross it.

The new regulations require lights and bells where the cross product is above 2,000. Gates must be added when the number exceeds 50,000.

Transport Canada doesnt currently know how many crossings are in compliance with the new regulations, because while it monitors railways for safety, the rail lines are not owned or operated by the federal government, Determining says.

"I wouldnt want to speculate on the specificity of the compliance," he says. "The grade crossing standards are specific to the environment of that grade crossing, of the use of that grade crossing."

PHIL HOSSACK / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS There has been one accident at Shaftesbury Boulevard, near Wilkes Avenue since 2004.

However, using the cross product criteria alone, the Free Press analysis shows there are 42 passive crossings in Manitoba that will need to have automated bells and lights installed. Six of them are in Winnipeg, and there are two each in Brandon and Dauphin, leaving 32 in rural areas.

Five locations along the Redditt line will need lights and bells, including two of the three crossings where the fatal accidents mentioned earlier occurred.

It generally costs upwards of $150,000 to add lights and bells to a crossing, and more than $200,000 to add lights, bells and gates. With at least 48 crossings needing some sort of upgrade, the cost of meeting the new regulations could near $100 million in Manitoba alone.

Transport Canada is spending about $11 million to assist with crossing improvements nationally this year under its grade crossing improvement program.

Bodnaruk said his municipality is already working with Transport Canada and both CN and CP to look at what upgrades and improvements need to be made. The Heatherdale Road crossing where Hart was killed will be getting lights and bells this year. The crossing at Millbrook Road is also on the list for upgrades.

"Weve got a plan in place," he says. "This is being addressed."

The cost for the upgrades will be shared with the rail companies, he says. Springfield is going to pay between $60,000 and $70,000 for the first one.

The new regulations do not address whether a crossing can simply be too busy to be considered safe. The TSBs report on a fatal bus-train accident in Ottawa in 2013 says although its not known how it was derived "historically, a cross-product of 200,000 was the accepted benchmark used by (Transport Canada) and industry for a grade separation project to be considered."

The report urged Transport Canada to develop guidelines for the point at which a grade separation should be studied, if not for when it should be required.

"The only way to ensure that similar accidents do not occur at such high-traffic locations is to physically separate the roadway from the railway though grade separation," the report notes.

In Manitoba, six crossings, all of them in Winnipeg, have a cross product above 200,000. The busiest crossing in Manitoba is on Waverley Street near Taylor Avenue, where more than 35 trains pass each day and nearly 34,000 vehicles drive over it. It has the fifth-highest cross product of any rail crossing in Canada and is one of only nine where the cross product exceeds one million.

The good news is that Waverley is getting an underpass. First announced a year ago by Stephen Harpers Conservative government, work is underway to build the $155-million structure.

There have been no announcements of upgrades to other Winnipeg crossings. A spokeswoman for the city says a risk analysis and prioritization plan for every rail-road intersection has to be in Transport Canadas hands by December.

"We are on track to meet this deadline," she says.

mia.rabson@freepress.mb.ca
Opinion

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This article was published 03/09/2016 (2247 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Its a few minutes after 6 p.m. Thursday, and about 60 people have assembled inside Union Station, underneath the ornate dome.

By 7:30 p.m., they will be performing a choir concert. Most of these people have never met before, let alone sang together. They get one rehearsal, and then its showtime. One night only.

This is the first concert in the Winnipeg Arts Councils Mass Appeal series. Inspired by a similar project in New York City, these free concerts take place in accessible, public spaces and are performed by anyone who wants to participate, regardless of skill or training.

photos by PHIL HOSSACK / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS Members of a volunteer choir gather Thursday under the dome at Union Station for at the first concert of the Mass Appeal four-part series of events around Winnipeg. Horns take centre stage Sept. 8, fiddles are the spotlight Sept. 10 and ukuleles are the stars Sept. 15.

Thursdays concert was devoted to voice; Horns at the Cube happens Sept. 8; Fiddles at the St. Norbert Farmers Market takes place Sept. 10 and the series concludes Sept. 15 with Ukuleles at Oodena Celebration Circle. Each concert is lead by a musician.

Thursday, the impromptu choir is directed by Ben Campbell, with accompaniment by Carey Denby on piano and Andrew Erickson on the bass and guitar. Campbell, 28, is a high school music teacher, but you might know him better as a member of the beloved Winnipeg a capella group Those Guys.

Dominic Lloyd, the program and arts development manager at the WAC, approached Those Guys looking for someone who would be able to arrange music for and lead a choir. As the groups resident music teacher and therefore a person who wrangles choirs regularly, Campbell was the most qualified Guy for the job  whether he believed it at the time or not.

I thought, Oh my God, can I do this? he says. This is the first time that Ive ever considered starting to rehearse a choir on the same day as a performance. And, Ill be honest, I was nervous about it. Usually, it takes weeks and weeks of rehearsals with a choir to get the sound that you want.

During rehearsal, though, he seems cool and in control, betrayed only by the fine mist of sweat forming on his brow. The choir will be performing a genre-spanning five-song set that includes folk (Stan Rogers Barretts Privateers), indie rock (the Weakerthans One Great City), chorale (Immortal Bach), pop (Pharell Williams Happy) and the Beatles, which really is a genre unto itself (Blackbird).

I wanted to choose music that would be interesting and would get people down there, Campbell says. And I wanted to choose music that fit the space and had some repetition in it so we could maximize our rehearsal time. I thought about having a bit of soft and sweet and a little bit of dancey and fun  something that would work for everyone.

Its an ambitious repertoire, but even in the first few minutes of the hour-long rehearsal, the group sounds great. Thats not a happy accident; participants are required to do a little homework and learn their parts beforehand. (The songs and their sheet music are available at massappealwinnipeg.ca.)

Any skill level will be able to survive, Campbell says.

Campbells trepidation at the outset is not about peoples singing chops, however. He is worried no one will show.

I knew if you had gone on the website, you would have done the amount of homework that you needed to feel comfortable. My fear was that I would have five people show up. Thats really hard to make a choir happen.

Tim Kelly, 56, is standing in the front row during rehearsal, singing clear and strong. His wife volunteers at the West End Cultural Centre, which is where she heard about Mass Appeal.

Neither of us are in choirs or have training, but we love singing, he says during the 10-minute break before showtime. Ive seen lots of videos of pop-up flash mob things in airports  youve seen them on YouTube  and I thought, Thats great, lets try it out.

Kelly says the experience has been even more fun than he expected. I get a little lost when they talk about sharps and that stuff so I just move my lips, he says with a laugh. You can tell, I think, that the vast majority of people have a lot training, so that really helps your ear. Theres four or five tenors behind me that push me along.

There are a few ringers in the crowd. Elizabeth LaRue, 29, attended the Faculty of Music at the University of Manitoba with Campbell. I didnt know there would be so many people of so many different ages, she says, surveying the scene. I recognize a couple people, but mostly theyre strangers who just decided to come and sing.

Murray Wichart, 30, teaches in the same school division as Campbell. He wanted to participate in Mass Appeal the moment he heard about it. Make music with strangers? Heck yes! Its so great to see people having fun and singing.

Shawna Perron, 53, her daughter, Felicia Buhler, 30, and her three-month-old grandson J.J. are also participating. (Well, J.J. is sleeping.)

Perron sings around the city at 55-plus communities, while Buhler has a background in musical theatre. Their smiles light up the station. I havent sung in a choir for a while and thought it would be fun, Perron says.

No one sounds bad, Buhler says. And this place sounds amazing.

Shes not wrong. Hearing 60-strong voices rise up together in Union Station for that famous refrain in One Great City  I hate Winnipeg  is powerful. The group nails the challenging Immortal Bach, and nearly everyone in the audience  which included every demographic from toddler to senior  was clapping their hands during Happy. A few people were even dancing. The concert is pure joy, and the applause is that of an audience twice as large.

Later, after the choir disbands and hes shaken pretty much every hand in the place, Campbell reflects on what made the night a success. The fact everyone showed up prepared was part of it, sure, but there was something else, too.

We go through our lives, and we run into the same people all the time, he says. We select activities we want to be involved in, and we have jobs where we go and see the same people every day. A chance to go out and make new friends and meet new people  that doesnt come around that often.

For Lloyd, the brains behind Mass Appeal, the inaugural experiment was a success.

I really didnt know what to expect going in, whether anyone would, in fact, show up, but I was beyond happy with the turnout  both the people who showed up to sing and the ones who came to listen, he says. Im really excited for the rest of the concerts.

jen.zoratti@freepress.mb.caTwitter: @JenZoratti
Hey there, time traveller!

This article was published 03/09/2016 (2247 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

In a kayak, carrying all his worldly possessions in a backpack, Jayson Ambrose will take the leap to paddle the Great Loop this fall.

The 12,000-kilometre trip will begin and end in the Gulf of Mexico. The Great Loop will take Ambrose, a born-and-raised Winnipegger who calls himself a minimalist, on an epic journey for 15 months.

The Great Loop, a famous route among paddling, sailing and boating enthusiasts, is a multitude of connecting waterways through which Ambrose will paddle his kayak. The first part of the journey will be through the American states of Alabama, Mississippi, Tennessee, Kentucky, Illinois and then into Wisconsin and Southern Ontario along the Great Lakes and then back into the USA through New York and New Jersey, and along the eastern coast of Maryland, Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia and Florida.

With no support crew or assistants, the 45-year-old will camp in a tent along the way and replenish his supplies at shops in the many harbours he will encounter as he travels. He will take time to connect with people in those stops, visit historic sights or just sleep on a beach.

Theres so many reasons why I want to do this. Its not just one reason. I love travelling, I love meeting people and I love adventure. I want to see so much and do so much and I had to figure out how can I do this the cheapest way possible, the 5-foot-11, 200-pound Ambrose said, noting a kayak is a dirt cheap mode of travel and efficient to manoeuvre. This is more than your average two-week vacation. Fifteen months is what its going to end up being.

Ambrose said lengthy stretches of being alone, especially at night, will be the biggest challenge but hes up for it. He said the longest leg of the journey will be when he reaches Canada and travels along Lake Erie where there will be few places to stop and possibly no people.

Night time is going to be the loneliest time so emotionally, thats going to be the hardest time, Ambrose said. Ill have these wonderful memories, all these amazing adventures of meeting people throughout the day but at night time I will have nobody to share it with. But, Ive experienced that in the past so Im expecting it.

A few years ago, Ambrose said he decided to change his life so he retired early after 22 years in a high stress and often dangerous career. He moved just over two years ago to B.C. where hes been working as a motorcycle mechanic in the Greater Vancouver area and taking himself on motorcycle and kayak adventures.

My mom passed away when she was only 54 years old. She never got to enjoy the fruits of her labour. She worked so hard. She was trying to save up. She and my dad raised four boys. Over the years, thats affected me, Ambrose said. I was working but I was doing the same thing my mom did. I wanted to live life. I wanted to go exploring, so I took early retirement.

This will be his biggest and longest paddling adventure.

There was a quote I heard many years ago and it goes like this, Live for today because you were never promised tomorrow. I have to do this kind of thing because I was never promised tomorrow, Ambrose said. I want to live for today and do what I can.

His goal is to become the first Canadian to complete the Great Loop in a kayak.

Paddle Canada, the sports Canadian governing body, told him its records show no Canadian paddling a kayak has even attempted the Great Loop.

This is a big surprise to me, I had no idea I would be the first, said Ambrose, who has booked his flight. Hell fly from Vancouver to Mobile, Ala where he will launch his journey on Oct. 1 from the 5 Rivers Delta Resource Centre. Im excited to get started.

His research found other Canadians and Americans who have attempted and completed the Great Loop by canoe, power boats and sailboats, and an American kayaker who is in the midst of the journey right now.

Ambrose said he plans to move back to Winnipeg after he completes this kayak adventure.

He invited everyone to follow him on his website www.onecanadiansjourney.com and on Facebook at onecanadiansjourney.

ashley.prest@freepress.mb.ca
MATTOON -- During a ceremony on Friday, Mattoon native Kyle Browning was officially sworn in as the new postmaster for his hometown.

Browning previously served as Effingham's postmaster for three years after having begun his U.S. Postal Service career as a letter carrier in 1999 and then as a supervisor in 2005 in Mattoon.

Michele Martens, a manager of post office operations in the region, said during the installation service in front of the Mattoon Post Office that Browning is known for being enthusiastic, innovative and proactive on the job.

Martens said he takes the time to mentor employees interested in professional advancement and to show his staff that he appreciates their efforts. For example, she said Browning recently held a barbecue for the Mattoon staff.

"I can't think of a better postmaster for your community," Martens said just before administering the oath of office to Browning.

Mayor Tim Gover said during the ceremony that he looks forward to having a long association with Browning in his new position as Mattoon postmaster. He noted that Browning served as a Mattoon police officer prior to joining the Postal Service. Browning also served as a Coles County sheriff's deputy.

During the ceremony, Browning said the Postal Service has changed tremendously during its long history, from using the Pony Express to deliver mail to now using GPS to track priority packages. He said they will soon offer "predictive delivery windows" to estimate within the hour when a package will arrive on a customer's doorstep.

Browning said the Postal Service strives to be competitive at a time when customers have multiple choices for package shipping and he will strive to provide good customer service in Mattoon.

Martens noted that the program for the installation service included a Journal Gazette photo of then 5-year-old Browning dressing as a postman to deliver Valentines to his kindergarten classmates at Lincoln School in Mattoon.

"It seems to me that he was predestined to be a postal employee from very early on," Martens said.

The ceremony, led by Mattoon customer service supervisor Sheila Figgins, also included the presentation of the colors by the Mattoon VFW and performances of the national anthem and "God Bless America" by Jeremy Doughty. Prayers were led by Bishop Derold Doughty and Pastor Shine Doughty of the Apostolic Center, where Browning is a parishioner.
Hey there, time traveller!

This article was published 02/09/2016 (2248 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Manitobans favourite place to visit in Canada is. Saskatchewan?

But that might be just because we have to pass through Rider-ville to get to Alberta and B.C.

This, according to a surprising Angus Reid poll released Friday called The Ties that Bind: Canadian Connections Across a Country are Strong.

CLIFF SPEER PHOTO Canoes are seen emtpy on Kingsmere Lake as paddlers make their way to Grey Owl's cabin in Prince Albert National Park in northern Saskatchewan.

The poll surveyed 5,249 Canadians on their family ties, visits and previous places of residence in other provinces from May 6 to May 16 as part of the pollsters quarterly national polling. The randomized, representative sample had a margin of accuracy of plus or minus two per cent, 19 times out of 20.

Eighty per cent of Manitobans said theyd visited Saskatchewan over the course of their lifetimes, more than any other province in Canada, including Ontario. Thats despite the fact that 93 per cent of Manitobans also claimed a personal connection to Ontario. A personal connection included visits, previous places of residence and family ties.

The other key findings were that the vast majority of Canadians, 86 per cent, had visited at least one other province and two per cent said theyd been to every province and the north.

Eight in 10 Canadians who live outside Ontario have lived there in the past, visited or have friends or family still living there.

The prominent role for Ontario was no surprise, Angus Reid research associate Ian Holliday said by phone from British Columbia.

You know we jokingly call Ontario the centre of the universe in the release. Because people like to make fun of it for that, the sense of self importance that Ontarians are sometimes characterized as having . . .

At the same time, when you have roughly 40 per cent of the country living within your borders, youre going to be important to the lives of other people in the country whether they like it or not, Holliday said.

Some 69 per cent of those polled claimed ties to Quebec.

Again no surprise. These two regions, the historical Upper and Lower Canada, are responsible for much of the foundation of Canadian society and their high levels of connectedness with the rest of the country follow logically from this position, the poll found.

Manitobas ties to Saskatchewan came as a surprise to pollsters who wonder if the finding says more about how the question was asked than anything else.

The percentage of Manitobans who said theyd visited Saskatchewan over the course of their lifetimes was 80 per cent. After that, visits to Alberta come in second at 78 per cent and Ontario was in third place with 77 per cent. British Columbia came in fourth at 75 per cent.

It could be that Manitobans checked off Saskatchewan even if theyd merely driven through it on the way to somewhere else, Holliday said.

So for instance have you ever gone on vacation to Banff and drove there, youve been to Saskatchewan, Holliday said.

Better not say that to a Bomber fan.

Blue Bomber fans are headed out on their annual migration to Saskatchewan for Sundays annual Labour Day Classic with the Roughriders and for at least one fan, the poll finding made perfect sense.

Its the Labour Day Game. So many people go to that, said wrestler and sport league operator Bobby St. Laurent whos gone the last seven years even though the Bombers have not done well against their fiercest rivals.

The other finding in the poll about prairie residents is how interconnected they are.

The other thing I would say about Manitoba and Saskatchewan is that folks from those two provinces tend to be pretty well connected.

If you look at the number of provinces people have visited, Quebec is very low (but Saskatchewan and Manitoba) are the highest outside Atlantic Canada, Holliday said.

Atlantic Canada is kind of skewed because its very easy to visit another province from Atlantic Canada. Its another challenge if youre out there on the prairies, Holliday said.

Canadas north, in contrast, is the least connected region of the country with only one in seven Canadians saying they had visited there, lived there or have friends or family there.

The poll found older Canadians had travelled the most. Income and education were also related to greater rates of domestic travel. Canadians with lower levels of each travelled less while those with university degrees and household incomes of $100,000 or more tended to score higher.

alexandra.paul@freepress.mb.ca

2016.09.01-Canada-places
Hey there, time traveller!

This article was published 03/09/2016 (2247 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

THICKET PORTAGE  Kevin Brightnose is only 35, but hes been a hunting, fishing and polar bear guide half his life.

On this day, he was on the Hudson Bay Railway going to work, travelling to Thompson from the Metis village of Thicket Portage. From there, hell fly to an outfitters lodge three kilometres south of the Nunavut border.

The rail portion of his trek takes 2 hours and costs $14 one way. (Thats with the one-third discount indigenous people receive.)

Photos by BILL REDEKOP / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS Kevin Brightnose, a hunting and trapping guide from Thicket Portage on the Hudson Bay rail line, displays some of his soapstone carvings.

Rail transportation is part of Brightnoses everyday life. In Thicket Portage, you can do without a car but not a train. The train is important to be able to get to work, but its also to get to Thompson to shop, said Brightnose, who makes a grocery run for his family about once a week.

Residents of Thicket Portage, which has fairly high employment, say they cant afford to lose the rail line. But thats certainly the fear with Omnitrax suspending operations at the Port of Churchill and cutting its freight service in half on the Hudson Bay Railway.

There are about 180 people in Thicket Portage, west of Thompson, but maybe six vehicles. Some of those vehicles have specific functions, such as one for the medical centre and one for public works.

Theres little need for more. Until freeze-up, that is, when the winter roads come into play.

Many people own vehicles but leave them in Thompson so they have a vehicle when they visit the northern city. When the winter roads are ready, they drive their vehicles home.

There is another way to get to Thompson, the hub city of the North, but it costs more. People can take a 20-minute boat ride across a lake for $30 and arrange for someone to pick them up on a road there. The drive is about an hour, and drivers charge $100 a ride. (People try to go five at a time to cut the cost to $20 each.) Its not as reliable, however, and not suitable for older people, Brightnose said.

A lot of times you cant get out on the lake because of rough water, said Brightnose, who also makes soapstone carvings that fetch upward of $700 and works on Bipole III in winter.

Another group that needs the train is the 26 commercial fishers in Thicket Portage. Their catch from Wintering and Landing lakes is loaded onto the train in large, red tubs up to three times a week and shipped to Wabowden for processing.

Most of the (town) income comes from fish. If we lose the trains, we wont be able to ship fish, said Mayor Marcel Brightnose.

Thicket Portage Mayor Marcel Brightnose and community health worker Mabel Pronteau.

Local trappers use trains to get to trap lines, where theyll stay in their cabins for two months in spring and two months in fall, he said.

Then theres just the mundane chore of travelling to Thompson for groceries (Thicket Portage doesnt have a store). School trips and sporting competitions also use the train.

Mabel Pronteau, a community health worker, said rail service is vital in getting to medical appointments and is also used in urgent health matters.

Three passenger trains run per week along the Hudson Bay line. Two other communities use the local service to Thompson as much as Thicket Portage: Pikwitonei (with about 800 people) and Ilford (about 250).

Ilford resident Burman Kennedy said his community members would have to pay up to $400 for one-way air travel, like residents of York Factory First Nation, if there wasnt rail service. People at Ilford now pay $28 one-way to Thompson.

bill.redekop@freepress.mb.ca
Hey there, time traveller!

This article was published 03/09/2016 (2247 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Police are asking targets of a taxation scam to not call 911 after complaints continue to flood into the emergency service.

Police said in a statement Saturday that people targeted in the scam should be contacting the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre.

The scam and the complaints about it were the focus of an police notice early this summer, too.

Police issued a statement on July 9 to say the calls were jamming up 911. Nearly two months later, the calls keep coming.

They also reminded people that the Canadian Revenue Agency, the only legitimate authority in Canada for filing income taxes and paying them, has Canadians identity information on file and wouldnt use the phone or email to solicit it.

Police also summed up the fraud scam Saturday saying what typically happens is fraud artists use the phone and email to target prospective marks. They claim to be agents of the tax agency and tell people they owe outstanding taxes. Victims are told police are on their way to arrest them if they dont pay up immediately by purchasing a prepaid credit or gift card or by getting a money transfer.

New Canadians who are unfamiliar with the countrys tax system seem to be targeted the most, police said Saturday.

Panicked targets have been calling 911 in response but some are also paying up.

Once the fraud artists have an individuals credit card number, or theyre talked into making a money transfer, its hard to recover it, police said.

The Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre can be reached at www.antifraudcentre-centreantifraude.ca

alexandra.paul@freepress.mb.ca
Winona police arrested four men after a pair of armed robberies in the city late Friday night.

Just after 10 p.m. Friday, the Winona Police Department responded to Broadway and Johnson streets for a complaint by two people claiming to having been robbed at gunpoint by a group of men, according to the department. The victims said the men pointed guns at them and demanded their belongings. The victims were able to describe the men and their vehicle.

Then at 10:22 p.m., officers responded to anther complaint of an armed robbery, this time near Lake Boulevard and Clarks Lane. This victim said they were walking when they were approached by two men. The victim said one of the men was holding an object the victim thought was a gun, according to the department.

Just after 11 p.m., working off the witness descriptions, officers found the vehicle matching the description and pulled it over near West Sarnia Street west of Huff Street. Four men inside were arrested without incident, and a handgun and items belonging to the first victims were found, according to the department.

Several law-enforcement agencies assisted in the search and arrest, including the Winona County Sheriffs Department, Goodview Police Department, and Minnesota State Patrol, with the Winona Area Ambulance Service and Winona Fire Department standing by.

Winona police on Saturday did not formally release the names of the men arrested.

Xzaviar Dominique Rian Aune, 18, and Alex Boyd, 37, were both arrested and booked in the Winona County Jail early Saturday morning, each on first-degree aggravated robbery charges, according to online jail records.

Two other men were booked on third-degree drug charges Saturday morning, according to the records.

Winona police said they believe there is no threat to public safety at this time.

The investigation into the incidents is ongoing.
Sauk Prairie will get a glimpse of one of the two eclipses that will occur over the next thirty days. The total solar eclipse is only visible over the Atlantic Ocean ending toward the North Pole on March 20, and the total lunar eclipse is best seen in western North America on April 4. However, the partial phase of the lunar eclipse will greet those who rise before the sun on the morning of April 4.

The Full Moon occurs on April 4 at 7:05 a.m., but the moon sets just before this, around 6:40 a.m., as the partial eclipse is ongoing. The partial phase begins around 5:17 a.m., as the moon slips into the deeper part of Earths shadow and begins to turn a bit red. The moon will become close to completely eclipsed around 6:34 a.m., just as it is setting. This will make for a strange and wondrous view for those awaking to the day to find a blood red moon setting in the west.

At the same time that the moon is setting, the sun is rising in the east. Sunrise will continue to arrive earlier every morning and sunset later every evening from the spring equinox on March 20 through June. Spring arrives precisely on March 20 at 5:45 p.m.

Spring planets and constellations

On March 21, a day after the new moon and eclipse graces the far north, a crescent moon returns to the sky just after sunset. The moon will be right beside Mars, and the next night the moon rises a bit higher to float beside Venus. On March 29 the moon will be high in the sky and not far from Jupiter. The moon and Saturn keep close quarters around April 8, but they dont rise until after midnight.

Back in the west, Venus draws attention as it shines at magnitude -4 and stays above the horizon for three hours. In early April, Venus closes in on the star cluster the Pleiades in the constellation Taurus. This grouping of stars is setting in the west while the spring constellations rise in the east. Leo, Virgo, and Libra rise up from the horizon, carrying along a slew of distant galaxies that can be viewed through large telescopes. Ursa Major, the Big Dipper, is taking on its spring look, with the bowl of the dipper turning upside down as it sends spring showers to Earth.
Republicans

are pro life

No good reason to vote for Trump and To stop the bloodshed vote democratic recent titles from Letters to the Editor.

There are many good reasons to vote Republican.

A year ago Donald Trump stated that our present leadership in Washington was stupid. I think he was being politically correct. We need a big change. I could fill this whole paper with reasons to vote republican but I will mention just one, the right to life.

The right to life is number one of all the issues to be concerned about. Without that right none of the others matter.

Abortion, the willful killing of the child in the womb, is supported by Democrats. This is ignorant of the scientific facts that our life begins at conception, and Gods sixth commandment, dont kill each other.

Secular Humanists, promote an anti-Christian moral agenda that legitimizes abortion, euthanasia, and most kinds of sexual liberty. They have taken over the Democratic Party and four years ago at their convention kicked God out of their party platforms. President Obama stated that we are no longer a Christian nation.

The Republican Party has a very strong pro-life plank in their platform.

In the Dred Scott decision of 1857, unjust judges of the Supreme Court said slavery was OK. They were wrong then and they are wrong now.

The Democratic Party defended and supported both of these terrible decisions that split the country and cost millions of humans their lives, including President Abraham Lincoln.

The Republican Party came into existence in 1854 here in Ripon, Wisconsin, to bring an end to slavery.

Today the Republican Party is passing laws in many states and chipping away at Roe v Wade and educating people to restore the right to life for all conception to natural death.

The reason it has taken more than 40 years to stop this evil of abortion is because the liberal mainstream media is controlled by big money Democrats who are abortion supporters.

Good people all over this country have started pregnancy resource centers to give women the support they need to continue their pregnancy. In Wisconsin these centers outnumber abortion facilities 48 to 1, nationally it is 5 to 1. Currently, the Wisconsin Knights of Columbus are in the process of purchasing their 18th, 19th and 20th ultrasound machines for three local clinics this summer.

These pro-life people are working to make their centers the pregnant womens choice, their first choice.

Support these pregnancy centers and vote pro-life.

Breaking news: The Planned Parenthood abortion clinic in Appleton, Wisconsin, which was supposed to reopen last spring has now been closed for good.

Abortion is child abuse. Hillary Clinton and her party platform want to keep legalized abortion the law of the land, and want to force you to pay for it.

Wisconsins former Senator Russ Feingold voted against a bill to ban partial birth abortion. He should be locked up with Hillary, not re-elected.

Be a voice for the voiceless.

Herb Lehner, Beaver Dam
Students werent exactly running blind when they returned to Reedsburg schools on Sept. 1.

Grade schools held open houses on the afternoon of Aug. 31 to give children a chance to find their classrooms, meet the teachers, stock up their desks and locate their lockers.

At Pineview Elementary School fifth-graders led guided tours, which included the new fountain in the courtyard. The space previously had a small pond.

Freshmen also returned to Reedsburg Area High School, although the full high school student body didnt go back until Sept. 2. A half day was held on Sept. 2.

The students will be off on Labor Day.

Visit www.reedsburgtimespress.com for photo galleries and more coverage of the start of school.
Items are listed under the day of the event only, running as space permits prior to the event. To submit items, call 745-3511, email jcutsforth@capitalnewspapers.com or visit www.portagedailyregister.com. Include name and phone number.

TODAY

Festival: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Baraboo River Rendezvous, near Circus World Museum. Follow the signs. Admission is $1 and children under age 5 are free. Come visit a pre-1840 encampment. Watch and see period games and food.

Brat Fry: 10 a.m. Portage Presbyterian Church fundraiser, Pierces Marketplace Brat Hut, New Pinery Road, Portage. All proceeds will go toward the general operating budget of the church.

Museum: 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Portage World War II Museum, 119 E. Cook St., Portage. Free tours for veterans every Thursday, Friday and Saturday. For information, call 608-697-3690.

Unique Singles: Monthly Breakfast, 8:30 a.m. Dinos Restaurant, 2900 New Pinery Road, Portage. All single men and women older than age 50 welcome. The group is strictly social with no dues or officers.

Barbecue: 3 p.m. Village of Westfield Fire Department annual chicken barbecue, Westfield Pioneer Park. Carry-out meals available. Cost is $9 for adults and $8 for children younger than 12. Softball tournament at 10 a.m., Westfield Conservation Trap Shooting Club open shoot, bean bag toss tournament at 3 p.m. Beer and soda served all day, with hot dogs and burgers. Live country music by Starfire from 4 to 9 p.m. Cash prize raffle with tickets for $5 each or five for $20. 50/50 raffles offered throughout the day.

SUNDAY, SEPT. 4

Festival: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Baraboo River Rendezvous, near Circus World Museum. Follow the signs. Admission is $1 and children under age 5 are free. Come visit a pre-1840 encampment. Watch and see period games and food.

MONDAY, SEPT. 5

Card Party: 6:30 p.m. Euchre card party, Bethlehem Lutheran Church, W8267 Highway 33 East, Portage. Public welcome. Contact: Cloe, 429-2363.

Biking: Register for the Portage Pedalers Sept. 10 Calumet County Overnight Ride. Call Pat or Doug Cook at 608-587-2229 by Sept. 8 to register. Meet Sept. 10 at Calumet County Park on the east shore of Lake Winnebago. Bring money, helmet and water bottle. Riders younger than 18 must ride with a parent.

TUESDAY, SEPT. 6

Prayer Time: 4:30 to 5 p.m. First Presbyterian Church, 105 S. Main St., Pardeeville. The church will be open for quiet, personal time for reflection, thought and prayer. For more information, call 608-429-2646.

Photography Interest Group: 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Northwoods Inc., Highway 51 South, Portage. Meet with fellow photographers to share photos and tips, explore new ideas and inspire creativity for upcoming events. Call Fred Baewer with questions at 608-742-4691.

Portage Family Skate Park Public Meeting: 5 to 6:30 p.m. Gerstenkorn Administration Building, 305 E. Slifer St., Portage. All interested people are welcome to attend. If the Portage Schools are closed or released early the PFSP meeting will be canceled and announced on our Facebook page with a new meeting location as soon as possible.

Library Event: Register for Preschool Story Time and Pre-K Klub, Portage Public Library, 253 W. Edgewater St., Portage. Register by calling 742-4959, ext. 211, stop at the library or visit www.portagelibrary.usonline.

Library Event: 9 to 11 a.m. Back-to-School Coffee for parents, Portage Public Library, 253 W. Edgewater St., Portage. Parents and guardians are welcome to join the Childrens Department staff for coffee, muffins, a coloring activity and prize drawings. Younger children are welcome. No registration needed. For more information, call 742-4959, ext. 211.

WEDNESDAY, SEPT. 7

Free clinic: 9 a.m. to noon, St. Vincent de Paul free medical clinic, Wilz Drugs lower level, 140 E. Cook St., Portage. No appointments needed. Information needed is name, date of birth and a contact number. A chiropractor is available from 10 a.m. to noon Wednesdays. A foot clinic is available every week. The clinic can do exams and prescribe medications. Physical therapist available. Discounted medications are available at Wilz and Wal-Mart. Call Bonny Oestreich, RN, at 608-234-0159 for information.

Card party: 6:30 p.m. Texas Hold em card tournament, VFW Hall, 215 W. Collins St., Portage. Register at 6 p.m. Entry fee is $20. One hundred percent payout. Open to the public. For information, call the VFW Hall at 742-5350.

AMPI retired employees breakfast: 8:30 a.m. Dinos Restaurant, 2900 New Pinery Road, Portage.

Biking: 6 p.m. Portage Pedalers Wednesday night ride, meet at Pat and Dougs house, W7956 Douglas Center Road (East of Briggsville on Highway 23 North via 3rd Avenue). Wear a helmet and bikers under 18 must ride with a parent.

Senior group: 11:30 a.m. Portage Area Senior Citizens Group, Municipal Building, 115 W. Pleasant St., Portage. The meal will be provided by the Columbia County Nutrition Center. If you wish to have a meal, call Lois Williams at 608-697-5800 by noon Tuesday to register. The cost is a cash donation which will be directly put back into the nutrition program. The meeting will start at noon with cards to follow.

Screening: 1 to 5 p.m. free blood pressure screenings, Divine Savior Healthcare, 2817 New Pinery Road, Portage. No appointment necessary. Call 745-6405 for more information. Do not eat, smoke, drink caffeine or exercise for 30 minutes prior.

Senior meal: 11:30 a.m. Wednesday Soup, Salad and Sandwich Bar, Portage Senior Dining Site, lower level of the Portage Municipal Building, 115 W. Pleasant St., Portage. For seniors age 60 and older; suggested donation $4. Order by noon the day before by calling 608-742-8726.

Swan Lake Association, Inc.: annual meeting, 6:30 p.m. Portage Public Library, 253 W. Edgewater St., Portage. In addition to the regular business meeting, Paul Nadolski, DNR Warden, will attend to share information and answer questions.

Zumba: 5:30 p.m. 1208 Northport Road (the former Freedom Carpeting building). This is a $5 drop-in class. For more information, contact Deb at DJMACK00001@yahoo.com or Rena at 697-6713.
No one is kidding themselves at the Portage Police Department about who the public thinks is the most popular member of the force. Now they have hundreds of tiny surrogates for when he cant be there.

On Sunday we received 500 miniature look-alikes of Ares, said Lt. Keith Klafke, referring to K-9 officer and fan favorite Ares the German shepherd. They first rolled out the plush dogs at a meeting this week for the Volunteers in Police Service group.

They fell in love with them and said they were adorable and I think they all walked out with one, said Klafke. So were going to offer them at the open house (Oct. 8) and other events going on in order to support the K-9 program and to keep it successful.

Since joining the force in the spring of 2015, Ares has made himself invaluable to the department. Paired with Sgt. Ben Neumann, Ares is regularly called on to sniff out narcotics, while at times tracking suspects, bringing a time-intensive task to mere minutes as well has helping to find lost and hurt individuals, at times potentially saving lives.

The department is selling the little officers for $20, with proceeds going to the fund that pays for medical costs, food, and equipment for Ares and for finding a new K-9 officer when Ares retires.

Each dog carries a tiny, though detailed, Portage Police badge, with a patch on the back of his vest, the same as the patches each Portage Police Department officer wears on his or her uniform shoulder and the real Ares carries on his vest.

Though Ares will still make public appearances, the department had taken note that when kids want to line up around a gym to meet an officer, it might be worth the effort to take a next step.
Rep. Mark Pocan visited the area Aug. 31 to tour businesses and campaign for the fall election.

Pocan, a Democrat, represents Wisconsins 2nd District, which includes Dane, Iowa, Lafayette and Sauk counties and parts of Richland and Rock counties. Pocan is being challenged by Republican Peter Theron.

During his trek to the area, Pocan stopped by Teel Plastics and the McArthur business incubator program through the Sauk County Development Corp. He also met with Art Shrader, Democratic candidate for the 50th Assembly District, to knock on doors in Reedsburg. Shrader is running against Republican incumbent Ed Brooks for an area that encompasses Juneau County and parts of Richland, Monroe and Sauk counties.

Pocan said he tries to return to Wisconsin for at least one week a month and on most weekends. He took some time on his latest trip to sit down with the Times-Press to answer questions.

Top issues

Finding skilled workers is one of the biggest obstacles facing area employers, Pocan said. He said he lives in the western part of Dane County with many rural workplaces. He said its challenging to recruit qualified employees in those areas so job training is essential.

Broadband Internet is another hurdle for rural regions. High-speed Internet is integral in todays world for both entrepreneurship and residential living. Urban neighborhoods usually dont have an issue with access to the Internet but the same cant be said for Wisconsins more outlying areas. Pocan said having access to broadband would be a bonus for smaller towns and farming communities.

Pocan added that he doesnt want to see the region neglected in any way. Many parts of his district rely heavily on skilled manufacturing and farming jobs. He said there seems to be more emphasis on bigger cities so he tries to spend more time outside of Madison whenever he visits his home state.

Pocan said he sees similar needs across all the counties in his district.

Education

Back-to-school season puts education back in the public eye and Pocan said its been a trying issue. He said the state still is reeling from Gov. Scott Walkers Act 10, which stripped collective bargaining rights from government employees, including teachers and staff.

Staffing shortages were perhaps an unintended consequence of Act 10, as Pocan said he has witnessed larger, wealthy school districts recruiting educators from smaller districts with less money. Schools are seeing higher turnover rates as a result.

He added that fewer high school graduates are enrolling in college to become teachers, which may be another effect of Act 10.

Were seeing some struggles in keeping good, quality staff and were hoping that doesnt have a negative effect on test scores or student performance, he said.

Heroin

Pocan said he has worked to pass a package of bills aimed at tackling heroin and prescription drug abuse. Rising heroin rates have been attributed to the misuse of prescription painkillers. Pocan said the problem is funding; there hasnt been enough money dedicated to combating the problem.

Heroin is worrisome everywhere, from big cities to rural communities. He said he has worked with the VA system in Tomah to curb the excessive prescribing of opiates. He noted that medicines become a problem when users become addicted and turn to buying pills on the street. Addicts quickly learn that heroin is cheaper than illegal pills but also far more dangerous.

He said medical systems need to get smarter with pain management and shouldnt prescribe pain medications when they arent warranted.

EpiPen debate

The cost of prescription drugs has become one of the largest trouble spots in modern health care. Pocan said thats likely due to medications receiving minimal attention in the Affordable Care Act. He said the act helped make care more accessible to people but it didnt do enough to curtail rising drug costs.

He cited the latest talking point: The price spike in the EpiPen, an injection that delivers a dose of epinephrine to combat allergic reactions. The medicine comes in other forms but the EpiPen is patented and has been frequently prescribed for people with life-threatening allergies. It used to cost around $100 but has risen to more than $600 in recent years. The EpiPen has made news across the country and has legislators wondering if its time to step in to regulate costs.

Pocan said hes part of an informal working group to hold prescription drug companies accountable for their prices. He cited one company that tried to merge with another overseas so it would no longer need to pay U.S. taxes. However, this company wanted to keep the benefits of a U.S. corporation, including the right to set high prices. He said leaders held a press conference and demanded that the company charge overseas prices since it technically wanted to be a non-U.S. business.

He said it might help to shame them into doing the right thing.

Pocan said prescription drugs need a legislative fix because they are driving up the cost of insurance and bankrupting people who dont have coverage.

Tax equality

Pocan added that corporate tax evaders, or companies that go elsewhere to avoid paying U.S. taxes, need to be called out for their actions. He said its not fair for small businesses and others who pay taxes to pay their share while corporations find loopholes.

Pocan has been a small business owner since 1988 and believes most businesses pay their taxes. Its only a small but harmful percentage that tries to dodge paying its share. Its even more frustrating when those companies give large salaries or bonuses to their CEOs.

Immigration

The U.S. needs an effective process to protect its borders while allowing legal immigration, Pocan said. He added that the country also must consider how it handles young illegal aliens. Many children who were brought to the U.S. as infants speak English and have only known the American way of life. It would be detrimental to deport them, Pocan said. Some dont even speak the language of their birthplace.

He added that financial aid is out of reach for these prospective students because they arent citizens. Hed like to see a path to citizenship for these illegal immigrants.

Presidential election

Pocan favors Democratic candidate Hillary Clinton in this falls presidential election.

In many ways Donald Trumps approach to this race has scared me, he said.

Trump doesnt have the tact and forethought to serve as president, Pocan said. He worries that Trump, a Republican, may further agitate terrorist groups who detest his rhetoric on Islam.

Clinton has more experience as well, Pocan said. She is married to former president Bill Clinton, has served as a senator and also worked as secretary of state.

Future

Whether or not Democrats take the majority in the fall election Pocan said hed like to see less influence by tea party members. He said about 50 people in Congress identify with the tea party and have been quick to veto numerous pieces of proposed legislation. He said they set the agendas, even though they are a relatively small group compared to the rest of Congress.

Pocan said the tea party has impeded budget discussions and the appropriations process.

Its been very difficult to get bills through, he said.

He added that he spent 14 years in the Wisconisn Legislature and remembers when representatives could compromise, even when they disagreed with one another. He said there seems to be less willingness to work together in todays political climate.

Democrats and republicans may occasionally fight but (we) also move something forward and unfortunately thats something that just hasnt existed in the current Congress since 2011, he said.
Assisting an early arrival student move into Greek housing, I found the facility to be a huge disappointment: carpet uncleaned, no air-conditioning on a hot humid day, promised up-date not accomplished. Who's to blame? Illinois, EIU administration, housing, campus workers....Whoever--how can EIU encourage new students to attend when the campus looks unkempt (grass only mowed occasionally and no trimming), rooms unprepared, hot dorms? Why would upperclassmen even want to remain in a dorm? It is a sad commentary on EASTERN. Sad alumna and former professor




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University to Research Impact of ICT on Health

This article is old - Published: Saturday, Sep 3rd, 2016

Computer scientists at Wrexham Glyndwr University are to play a key role in developing a new eHealth curriculum for European students.

Together with partners in France, Spain, Germany and Cyprus, Professor Rich Picking and the team in north east Wales were awarded an EU Erasmus+ grant of over 440,000 Euros.

Over the next three years they will study the impact of information and communications technology (ICT) on health in a bid to improve the job prospects and entrepreneurial skills of future graduates.

Wrexham Glyndwr University, which is celebrating an employability figure of 92.1%  will work alongside other stakeholders, including schools, hospitals, businesses and research centres.

Speaking of the project, Professor Picking said: The general objectives of the project will see us look to improve the relevance of higher education in the field of ICT for health, and enhance the quality of eHealth education.

We also want to foster employability via the academic curriculum, providing entrepreneurship skills to health students.

He added: The project is complementary to many activities that are engaged by the partners at national or European levels.

The transnational dimension will bring added value to the end product; participating organisations will be able to achieve results that could not be achieved by those from a single country.

Among the modules to be explored are: Innovation and entrepreneurship in eHealth; IT for a longer independent life; applications and tools in eHealth.

The course will also look at how robotics can help in healthcare, such as robotic companion cats (pictured) that can help boost the wellbeing of people with dementia.

Completion of the initiative will culminate in a seminar to be held in Barcelona in 2019, following intensive programmes in the form of Summer Schools in the Spanish city, as well as Wrexham and Castres, France.

The project team has a historic core around the Eurocampus Pyrenees Mediterranean, created in 2009, which has already developed joint studies.

The report from Erasmus+, which approved the idea, said: The group of partners is balanced and includes all the skills required for the project: a cross-border cooperation organization, seven universities with IT departments, a hospital which is a research centre, and an innovation centre.

The quality of the impact analysis and the dissemination of proposals, in particular, must be emphasised. We encourage the proponent to continue its efforts towards excellence.

More on Wrexham Glyndwr University, including its open day on Saturday, September 10, can be found here.
More than three years after Bangladeshs worst-ever industrial disaster, which killed hundreds of apparel workers, a Dhaka court has postponed by two months the trial of 18 people facing charges over the catastrophe. The delay further underscores the indifference of all sections of the Bangladeshi ruling elite towards the plight of garment workers who continue to toil under unsafe and slave labour conditions.

More than 1,135 workers were killed in Dhaka on April 24, 2013, when the Rana Plaza building, which housed five apparel factories, collapsed. Despite cracks being discovered in the building the previous day, building owner Sohel Rana ordered reluctant workers to return to their jobs. Three extra storeys had been added to the structure, making it more vulnerable.

The judge last month adjourned until October 26 the trial of Rana and 17 others for allegedly violating building construction codes, after the defendants filed a petition to the high court challenging the charges. Some 130 witnesses were due to testify in the case, which was to focus on design flaws, unapproved extensions and use of substandard building materials.

Government prosecutors also failed to present the plaintiff, Helal Uddin, an official of RAJUK, the capital development agency, which filed the case. This points to a move by the Awami League government to delay the hearing.

The legal cases are in order to quell widespread anger among workers in Bangladesh and internationally. The government, however, is also anxious to assure foreign and local investors that they will be protected against being held legally responsible for unsafe working conditions.

In another case, scheduled for September, 41 defendants, including Rana Plaza factory owners, the local mayor and 14 government officials, will face murder charges.

From the beginning, the government tried to cover up the tragedy. It took three years to file charges. Rana was an Awami League regional leader and there are close connections between the entire political establishment and the apparel industry. Around 30 past and present members of parliament from both main parties, the Awami League and the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), are apparel factory owners.

The Rana Plaza disaster highlighted the deadly conditions facing approximately 4.5 million workers in nearly 7,000 garment factories in Bangladesh. Other workers face similar situations. A gas leak in a fertiliser factory last month left at least 25 workers ill, with one suffering respiratory problems.

The government, its local officials and the ruling establishment as a whole are fully complicit in policing these conditions in order to attract foreign investment. Global retail giants that reap super-profits from workers in countries like Bangladesh are equally responsible, but they too are being legally protected.

In May, a US judge in Delaware dismissed a law suit filed by a garment factory worker injured in the Rana Plaza disaster, and the husband of another worker who was killed, accusing three garment retailers, Wal-Mart, JC Penney and Childrens Place, of being responsible for the unsafe conditions in the Bangladeshi garment factories making clothing for them. The judge ruled that the companies had no duty of care to the workers, not being their employers.

As a public relations exercise, 30 major European retailers, including H & M, Marks & Spencer, Carrefour, Inditex, Tesco and Premark, signed an Accord on Fire and Building Safety in Bangladesh with two global trade union federations in May 2013. This accord was actually about shielding the retailers and their contractors from any legal liability for similar disasters, and ensuring the continuation of the low-wage regime.

Promises by the retailers and the government to remedy the situation have not been carried out. According to a report last May by the Wage Alliance, a research group, 78,842 garment workers in Bangladesh continue to produce garments for H&M in buildings without fire exits.

There is concern in Western capitals about growing militancy among Bangladeshi garment workers. Five ambassadors, from the European Union, US, UK, Canada and the Netherlands recently urged the government to allow more trade unions, and safety and participatory committees in the garment sector. The unions are regarded in these circles as a valuable means of containing workers struggles and ensuring the continuous extraction of profits.

Highlighting the importance of the Bangladeshi garment sector for global retailers, Hasnain Malik, regional head of frontier markets equity strategy at Exotix Partners, an investment bank, recently pointed to the countrys low tariffs, experienced supply chain and low costs, with factory wages well below those in other South and South East Asian countries.

In fact, the countrys garment sector wages are the lowest in the world. The average wage in Indias apparel sector is $US112 per month, and in China $280, compared to just $68 in Bangladesh. As a result, the countrys garment companies generated its highest-ever export earnings in 2015, accounting for 80 percent of Bangladeshs exports. Some $5.4 billion worth of exports went to the US, an increase from $3.9 billion in 2010.

China remains the worlds leading apparel exporter, with $186.61 billion worth of exports in 2014, but it is shifting away from the industry due to its higher production costs. Bangladesh is competing with its rivals in the region to gain the bulk of the market and seeks to maintain its competitive cutting edge through poor wages, oppressive working conditions and cheaply-erected factories.
In a speech to the NZ Institute of International Affairs on August 25, New Zealands Defence Minister Gerry Brownlee discussed the rising tension in the South China Sea, which he attributed to Chinas land reclamation activities.

While we take no position on the various claims in the South China Sea, New Zealand opposes actions that undermine peace and erode trust, Brownlee declared.

During a visit to Beijing last October, Brownlee raised concerns with Central Military Commission Vice-Chairman, General Fan Changlong, over the reclamation of 2,500 hectares in the South China Sea.

In last months speech, Brownlee asserted that the reclamations would be a considerably greater area now. He claimed Fan had accepted the scale of all this was bound to cause some excitement. Brownlee added: Another word for it is tension, which these developments continue to cause.

Brownlees comments indicate a shift by a section of the government and ruling elite closer to Washingtons belligerent anti-China position. In an attempt to maintain a balance between China, its second most important trading partner and the US, its major strategic ally, the New Zealand government has insisted that it did not take sides over the South China Sea.

In mid-July, the Permanent Court of Arbitration in The Hague backed the Philippines in a legal case over the disputed waters, ruling that reefs and atolls controlled by China could not be used as the basis of territorial claims. China rejected the courts jurisdiction, but Brownlee explicitly endorsed it, saying: We support the right of states to access dispute settlement mechanisms in managing complex issues.

The Hague case was orchestrated by the US as a pretext to extend its military build-up and preparations for war with China. Condemning Chinas illegal activities, the US is preparing further provocative freedom of navigation operations, including by its allies, into Chinese-claimed territorial waters. These operations have nothing to do with protecting regional trade, but seek to ensure access for US warships and aircraft in the strategically sensitive waters.

Noting the growing economic might of China and its emergence as a military big power, Brownlee said we are seeing increasing challenges to the international rules-based order, which New Zealand had a strong interest in supporting. He said this was the prime reason NZ had sought a seat on the UN Security Council. The call for a rules-based order echoes US demands for a global order in which Washington sets and enforces the rules.

Following The Hague ruling, US Vice President Joe Biden visited Australia and New Zealand. NZ Foreign Minister Murray McCully had earlier given what the Dominion Post described as a nuanced response to the ruling. Ostensibly leaving the door open for limited concessions to China, he said it provided a platform for resolving the longstanding and complex issues in the South China Sea.

Before flying into Wellington, however, Biden delivered a menacing speech in Sydney. He laid down the law to Australia and other regional allies, making it clear that Washington expects their unequivocal support in its deepening confrontation with China. Biden said the US would use its unparalleled military strength to maintain its dominant position in the Asia-Pacific.

In New Zealand, Biden formally accepted an invitation from Prime Minister John Key for the US Navy to send a warship to the NZ Navys 75th anniversary celebrations in November. This will be the first visit by a US warship since the New Zealands anti-nuclear legislation was enacted in 1984. Key said it would be a further demonstration of the strength of our close relationship, our friendship and our shared values. Brownlee repeated Keys enthusiasm for the US response.

While criticising China, Brownlee used his speech to emphasise New Zealands deep historical ties with the US. Our relationship, which dates back almost 180 years, has seen us work together in two world wars and in all the major conflicts in between and thereafter, he said. Brownlee highlighted our shared experience in Afghanistana country where we both still deploy troops.

The New Zealand Defence White Paper, released on June 8, marked a major step in the countrys integration into US war plans, which has proceeded behind the backs of the population and in defiance of widespread anti-war sentiment. Brownlee stated at the time that $NZ20 billion worth of planned upgrades to frigates, planes and land vehicles would make NZ forces interoperable ... with our close partners, particularly the US and Australia.

In line with the White Paper, Brownlee last week announced the signing of a $NZ36 million contract with Boeing to upgrade the air forces underwater intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance capability, and tenders for a new naval ship to support littoral operations. These measures are directly related to the escalating arms race between Beijing and Washington and its allies, in which naval supremacy is a central focus.

Every party in the New Zealand parliament supports the alliance with US imperialism. Labour Party leader Andrew Little told the Institute of International Affairs in July it was strongly in New Zealands interests that we have deep, friendly military co-operation with the US. The forthcoming US naval visit has been welcomed by the Greens and Greenpeace, highlighting the further shift to the right by former anti-war protest leaders, who have embraced imperialist war.

Labour and the Maori nationalist Mana Partywhich includes the pseudo-left groups Fightback and Socialist Aotearoahave joined the anti-immigrant NZ First Party in seeking to whip up anti-Chinese xenophobia. Their scapegoating of China for the NZs speculative housing bubble, unemployment and underfunded public services, along with trade union allegations of Chinese steel dumping, dovetails with New Zealands growing integration into Washingtons military build-up against China.

Brownlee concluded his speech by noting that New Zealand was acutely aware of the dynamic between China and the United States, and insisted yet again that we do not see our defence relationships as mutually exclusive.

New Zealands increasingly explicit orientation toward Washington has not gone unnoticed in Beijing. On the eve of Keys official visit there in April, Chinas state news agency Xinhua warned New Zealand to take an independent stance on the South China Sea, rather than be hijacked by the ambitions of its military allies.

New Zealand is an absolute outsider in the dispute and not a concerned party, Xinhua declared. It warned that any attempt by Wellington to break its promise not to take sides would risk complicating the flourishing trade ties between China and New Zealand.
On Monday, the California legislature passed Assembly Bill 2888 by a unanimous 66-0 vote. If signed into law by Governor Jerry Brown, the bill would increase prison sentences for individuals convicted of certain types of sexual assault by restricting the power of judges to grant probation or suspended sentences.

Assembly Bill 2888, introduced by Democratic assembly members Bill Dodd and Evan Low, is being presented as a response to the case of Stanford freshman Brock Allen Turner, who was sentenced in June to six months in jail for the sexual assault of a young woman following a fraternity party (he was released this week on probation after serving three months of the sentence). The Turner case has been the subject of a relentless political and media campaign, in which the sentence has been labeled lenient and an example of white male privilege.

The bill would extend mandatory minimum sentenceswhich currently apply to rape by force, pandering, aggravated sexual assault of a child, and other crimesto all cases of rape, sodomy, penetration with a foreign object, or oral copulation if the victim was either unconscious or incapable of giving consent due to intoxication.

Stanford law professor Michele Dauber praised the bill as common sense. Dauber, a Hillblazer and member of Hillary Clintons National Finance Committee, is leading the campaign to recall Santa Clara Superior Court Judge Aaron Persky, who decided the sentence in the Turner case.

The past several months have witnessed the introduction of a host of reactionary laws purporting to target sexual violence, with California legislators trampling each other for a chance to extend the powers of the state.

The so-called Justice for Victims Act (Senate Bill 813), passed by the California Senate on Tuesday, would abrogate the statute of limitations in cases of rape and felonious sexual assault. A statute of limitations prohibits the authorities from prosecuting a crime after the passage of a certain amount of time.

If Senate Bill 813 were passed, this would mean that the authorities could arrest and prosecute a person years, even decades, after the event was alleged to have taken place.

The statute of limitations is there for a reason, Natasha Minsker, director of the ACLU of California Center for Advocacy and Policy, told the Los Angeles Times. When a case is prosecuted literally decades after the event, it becomes much more...difficult to prove that you are wrongfully accused. In other words, in a case of protracted delay, it would be almost impossible for the accused person to gather evidence, investigate or identify witnesses.

Another bill, passed August 24, would redefine all forms of nonconsensual sexual assault as rape. (In the Turner case, notwithstanding the ubiquitous media description of the student as a rapist, all rape charges were dropped because Turners conduct did not meet the legal criteria.)

These bills and others would only increase the populations of Californias dangerous, filthy and overcrowded prisons. California currently incarcerates approximately 160,000 individuals, out of around 2.2 million individuals behind bars in the US as a whole.

Californias barrage of law-and-order legislation further underscores the reactionary content of the ongoing campaign over sexual violence, promoted by the Democratic Party and its allies.

The purpose of this campaign, like all law-and-order campaigns orchestrated by the political establishment, is to whip up confused moral sentiments and direct them behind a reactionary social agenda. Campaigns over sexual crimes in particular have long been the province of the extreme right. The furor over sexual violence also contributes to the broader efforts to present every social, historical and political question in terms of race, gender or sex.

The political interests behind the campaign were revealed by the unprecedented intervention of Vice President Joe Biden in the Turner case. In an open letter to the victim, one of the leading representatives of the American ruling class attempted to present himself as a crusader for moral virtue. (See: The right-wing campaign over the Stanford University sexual assault case)

Whatever happened between Turner and the woman he was convicted of assaulting, it is now even clearer that the campaign over the sentencing was aimed at creating the environment for undermining democratic rights and expanding the power of prosecutors and the state.

The imposition of mandatory sentencing will increase the pressure on accused individuals to plead guilty to lesser offenses even if they are innocent, while eliminating the ability of judges to take account of broader circumstances in handing out an appropriate sentenceas Persky did in the Turner case.

On August 25, Judge Persky was voluntarily reassigned to a civil docket. He will no longer preside over criminal cases. In a statement published on his recently launched website this week, Persky made his first public reference to the intense campaign of vilification against him. Without referring to the Turner case in particular, the judge called attention to the antidemocratic implications of the campaign.

I believe strongly in judicial independence, Persky wrote. I took an oath to uphold the Constitution, not to appease politicians or ideologues. When your own rights and property are at stake, you want the judge to make a fair and lawful decision, free from political influence. Persky also published letters of support from retired judges, from California law professors, from Stanford law school alumnae, and from professional organizations of attorneys.

Campaigns against judges who are allegedly soft on crime or otherwise insufficiently reactionary belong to a right-wing tradition. In 1986, three California Supreme Court justices were ousted as a result of a campaign based on their categorical opposition to the death penalty. In Iowa in 2010, three Iowa Supreme Court justices that endorsed same-sex marriage were targeted by recall campaigns orchestrated by Christian fundamentalist groups.

Indeed, the campaign against Persky brought Hillary Clinton supporters like Dauber together with figures from the far right. [Persky] got it wrong, Texas Republican legislator and Christian fundamentalist Ted Poe declared on the floor of Congress in June. Theres an archaic philosophy in some courts that sin aint sin as long as good folk do it. In this case, the court and the defendants father wanted a pass for the rapist because he was a big shot swimmer. The judge should be removed.

For all the furious denunciations of Persky, the sentence imposed against Turner cannot be described as lenient. Under Americas draconian sex offender registration system, Turner will be on a sex offender registry for the rest of his life. He will have to notify his neighbors that he was convicted of a sexual crime; he will be prohibited from living within a certain distance of schools, malls, churches and other buildings; and he will be barred from certain jobs and face other restrictions. Turner was also expelled from Stanford University.

There are signs of a reaction against the law-and-order campaign over sexual violence on campuses. The Washington Post reported earlier this week on the formation of two organizations of mothers of individuals accused of sexual assault on campuses. It cited the cases of several students who were expelled from their schools after being denied the most elementary forms of due process and the presumption of innocence.
Temperature records from ice cores and sediments analyzed by NASA show that the current rate of global warming is increasing and is more rapid than at any point in the past millennium. This trend makes it very unlikely that the average global temperature will stay within 2 degrees Celsius above the 19th century average.

One of the main reasons global warming is accelerating is that the whole system suffers from positive feedbackfor example, as warming occurs, Arctic ice melts, causing more sunlight and heat to be absorbed by the Arctic ocean, since water is less reflective than ice, meaning more warming, ad infinitum.

Another potential positive feedback mechanism is the melting of permafrost (ground frozen throughout the year) in places like Siberia, where it is estimated that a global temperature rise of 1.5 degrees Celsius could release 1 trillion tons of carbon dioxide and methane into the atmosphere over a span of years, something which takes industrial activity decades to do.

Gavin Schmidt, director of NASAs Goddard Institute for Space Studies and one of its leading climate scientists, commented, In the last 30 years weve really moved into exceptional territory. Its unprecedented in 1,000 years. Theres no period that has the trend seen in the 20th century in terms of the inclination (of temperatures).

One can also compare the last few decades of global warming to the most recent years. When the first indications of global warming were detected in 1977, it was predicted that average global temperatures would rise 2 degrees Celsius per century. In the past five years, the rate of global warming has been about five times that amount.

These rates are also much higher than what has occurred in Earths past when the planet has moved out of ice ages. During those periods, average temperatures typically rose 4-7 degrees Celsius over a span of 5,000 years. The past centurys rise in global temperatures has been 10 times faster than the most recent exit from an ice age. Current data suggests that the coming centurys rate of warming will be at least 20 times this rate.

Such estimates are in line with the latest month-by-month temperature data from both NASA and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. The thousands of worldwide meteorological stations, ship- and buoy-based instruments and Antarctic research stations all show that July 2016 was the hottest month ever in the 136 years of modern temperature recordings. It is also the tenth consecutive month of monthly high-temperature records (i.e., the hottest January ever, followed by the hottest February, etc.), the first of which was October 2015. If this trend continues, which it likely will, 2016 will be the hottest year yet recorded.

Some of these measurements are the effect of an abnormally long El Nino, a periodic warming of the Pacific Ocean that has taken place for at least 100,000 years. However, climate models of the most recent El Nino, which ended in May, show that even without the increase of temperatures caused, 2015 and 2016 would still be among the hottest years ever recorded.

Other metrics are available to provide insight into what Earth will look like if global temperatures continue current trends. Research done by the National Science Foundation from 2012 looked at the late Pliocene epoch, 2.7 million to 3.2 million years ago, the last time the carbon dioxide levels and global temperatures were as high as they will soon be. It was an attempt to understand the sensitivity of Earths glaciers to even small changes in global temperatures.

The research found that over the course of that period, sea levels were raised by 12 to 21 meters as a result of melted land ice from areas such as Antarctica. That is, Earths natural state with carbon dioxide at modern levels is one with sea levels possibly 21 meters higher than they are now and we are living through the process of the ecosystem approaching that state.

A primary difference, however, is the rate of change of temperatures between the two periods. The Pilocene epoch was one that lasted half a million years. The current era of increasing global temperatures and carbon dioxide levels has lasted half a century, raising the probability of a much quicker, more major shift in the worlds ecosystem.

Most of these potential shifts are potentially catastrophic: oceanic acidification leading to the mass death of coral and plankton, the basis of the Earths food chain; the total collapse of the tropical rainforests; an ice sheet the size of Greenland or Antarctica falling into the ocean, causing a near instantaneous rise in worldwide sea levels of at least five meters and flooding one third of the worlds population.

Coral reefs are already suffering the longest global die-off on record, which has so far lasted 28 months and is not expected to end until at least 2017. It is estimated that at least 16 percent of the worlds reefs will die as a result.

Short-term effects of climate change have already been felt. Droughts in 1982 and 1997 were more intense than they would have been without climate change. Dry, hot weather in 1998, 2005 and 2007 almost set fire to the Amazon rainforests on a massive scale. This year, global warming has contributed to record flooding in South America, flooding and fatal landslides in Ethiopia, wildfires in Canada, droughts in Africa, Thailand and Venezuela, and a general increase in the intensity and destructiveness of this years Pacific tropical cyclones and Atlantic hurricanes. These are only a handful of the challenges to human well-being and even survival that have occurred in the past several years, attributable to global warming.
The city of Flint will receive 14.4 million dollars in state revenue-sharing payments this year, about $50,000 less than it received last year and $10 million less than it received in 2001, according to estimates from the Michigan Senate Fiscal Agency. The reduced revenue sharing comes as the city continues to suffer the effects of its widespread lead-in-water crisis, which has wreaked havoc on the lives of city residents for over two years.

The state of Michigans revenue sharing program, whereby a portion of the states collected sales taxes is distributed to local cities, villages, and townships, has been under sustained attack for decades. A 2014 report by the Michigan Municipal League found that, between 2003 and 2013, cuts in revenue sharing have robbed Michigan cities of some $6.2 billion in funds. The city of Flint alone was stripped of an estimated $54.9 million during that time.

The funding reductions have coincided with an explosion in the citys poverty rate, which increased by 57 percent between 2000 and 2013. At the same time, revenue sharing reductions have been used to create phony financial emergencies in cities throughout the state, which in turn have been utilized as pretexts for gutting workers wages and benefits, as well as the raiding of pensions and the dismantling of social services.

In the city of Detroit, which was robbed of $732 million by revenue sharing cuts between 2003 and 2013, the resulting financial crisis was utilized (with the blessing and assistance of the Obama administration) to force through the largest municipal bankruptcy in US history. The resulting selloff of public assets and slashing of workers wages and benefits amounted to one of the most reactionary frontal assaults on working class living standards in history. The severing of the drinking water connection between the city of Flint and the Detroit Water and Sewerage Department under the Karegnondi Water Authority (KWA) plan, was part of an overarching plot to seize control of Detroits water system for eventual privatization. This nefarious operation ultimately led government officials to switch Flints drinking water source to the Flint River, causing the water crisis.

Meanwhile, as municipal treasuries have been starved of funding, corporate entities have been posting record profits. General Motors, whose plant closures ravaged Flints economy and whose operations polluted the Flint River for decades, posted a $2.9 billion profit in the second quarter of 2016, a post-bankruptcy record.

Flint residents are still unable to safely drink their tap water more than two years into the crisis, which resulted in the poisoning of a city of 100,000 people. Though corrosion control efforts have reduced lead levels in recent months, the most recent round of state testing has found that 10 percent of homes still have lead levels above the federal Environmental Protection Agencys action level of 15 parts per billion (ppb). It is widely understood by scientists that there is no safe level of lead exposure.

In one home, the lead level measured 2000 ppb, confirming what researchers have termed a Russian roulette situation, where any glass of water could potentially contain dangerous levels of lead.

Despite the widespread and devastating nature of this public health disaster, officials at all levels of governmentincluding Obama himselfhave made clear that the state will not provide resources to deal with the crisis. Federal emergency funding ended this month, leaving the funding for water filters and bottled water to the state and private charities. The state of Michigan has appropriated $162 million over two years to address the crisis, which is a pittance compared with the $1.6 billion estimated cost of removing lead pipes from the city, and the much greater cost of caring for an entire population including a generation of children who face permanent neurological damage.

Additionally, the state funding will not go toward any of the costs of running the normal functions of the city. City officials will continue to slash services, cut wages and benefits, and attack pensions to make up for the artificially-created shortfall resulting from the reduction in revenue sharing.

The situation is further exacerbated by the costs of funding for the KWA scheme, which amounts to $7 million per year for the next 28 years. This figure doesnt even include the unspecified millions of dollars in costs to be incurred in improvements needed for its water treatment plant and for testing.

Though calls for austerity from government officials are inevitably justified with the claim that there is no money to fund social services, the ruling elite will use every method at its disposal to keep the money flowing to the powerful financial interests who have a stake in the KWA. This is to be achieved by the doubling of residents water ratesalready the highest in the countryas well as an increase in homeowners property taxes despite a precipitous decline in property values.

Flint is not an aberration. All over the country, workers are seeing their health, wages, and living standards under attack. Residents at an Indiana housing complex were recently informed that the soil around their homes is contaminated with dangerously high levels of lead, and they are being forced to relocate. Only a small amount of the cost of relocation is being covered by government vouchers, leaving many residents unable to pay for a move.

The callous attitude of the state toward the health and well-being of workers, whether in Flint, Indiana, or flood-devastated Louisiana, is not a result of mere incompetence, maliciousness, or, as pseudo-left groups insist, racism. It is the inevitable outcome of the capitalist mode of production, which subordinates all social organization to the drive for profit.

The ruling class gorges itself on the wealth created by the toil of the working masses, and when their recklessness inevitably leads to social and public health disasters, they turn around and claim that there is no money to address the problems. In order to secure the most basic elementary rights needed to live and thrive in society, including the right to clean drinking water, jobs, quality housing, and a clean environment, the working class must mobilize independently of the capitalist big business parties and unite in a fight for socialism.
Early Friday morning, a category 1 hurricane named Hermine made landfall in northwestern Florida, marking the first time in 11 years that the state has had such a storm. At least 150,000 people in the area lost electricity, and many communities along the central gulf coast have seen severe coastal and rainfall flooding after the storm passed up the Gulf of Mexico. Governor Rick Scott has stated ominously that he has 8,000 National Guard troops on standby.

The storm first made landfall in the Big Bend area, where peninsular Florida meets the panhandle, with maximum sustained winds of 80 mph. Hermine then weakened into a tropical storm after moving over Florida, but as of this writing was still moving toward Georgia and North Carolina. The storm is expected to then move up the Atlantic coast reaching as far as New Jersey. Newscasters are predicting as much as 10 inches of rain in many locations across the Southeast.

Much of the flood damage that has occurred came before the storm even hit land. The storm sent strong winds and rains and storm surge across central Florida as it moved through the Gulf of Mexico. The National Hurricane Center (NOAA) warned earlier in the week that much of the flooding that would result from the storm on the gulf coast of Florida could be life-threatening. Several counties in that area have issued mandatory evacuation notices for communities on the water or in other low-lying areas. In some places, storm surge was predicted to rise six to nine feet.

For residents in the Tampa Bay area, the flooding started long before the hurricane hit land, as early as Wednesday. Swaths of rain fell across the area, flooding roads and forcing schools to close. Wastewater workers in St. Petersburg, who have previously spoken to the World Socialist Web Site about horrific work conditions during such storms, are again being forced to work 35-hour shifts in order to keep the sewage system in operation. Reports were already emerging on Wednesday of manholes spewing sewage in Largo, Florida.

Thousands of pictures have been shared by people across social media of flooding in various regions. Many places appear to be sitting in 10 inches or more of water.

It was initially reported that in Tallahassee, Floridas capital, 100,000 utility customers lost power as strong winds and rain fell upon the city. Ominous photographs of the city, including of the campus of Florida State University, have appeared on Twitter, showing complete darkness where the sky is usually brightly lit.

Another 100,000 have reportedly lost power across Florida, Georgia and South Carolina. Some customers have been told that they may be without power for multiple days.

Another concern in northern Florida and southern Georgia is the possibility that Hermine will create tornadoes. Tornado watches came into effect as the storm hit land in several counties in both states. There have already been dozens if not hundreds of instances of trees crashing down onto houses and cars across peninsular Florida as well as where the storm has passed in northern Florida.

As the storm approached, Governor Scott declared a state of emergency for 51 of the states 67 counties, ordering state offices in those counties to close. Most school districts and universities were also closed on Thursday and Friday. Georgia Governor Nathan Deal and North Carolina Governor Pat McCrory similarly declared states of emergency in 56 and 33 of their states counties, respectively.

A major concern of some Florida residents is the spread of Zika in the wake of the storm, which may leave behind large areas of standing water. However, an official from the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) has stated that the type of mosquito that potentially carries Zika is negatively affected by heavy rain and floodingits larvae and small breeding sites are typically washed away.

Since the last hurricane that hit Florida, Wilma in 2005, the states population has risen by about 2 million people. According to census data, the population has grown by 7.8 percent since 2010. This means that there are many new residents who have never endured a hurricane before. Georgia began opening emergency shelters on Thursday for residents in areas where the storm is predicted to pass.

The Big Bend area, where Hermine made landfall, is characterized by coastal lowlands that are not densely populated but are extremely poor. There are probably less than 100,000 people living those countiesTaylor, Dixie, Levy, Lafayette and Gilchristthat were directly hit. Even in the states capital, Tallahassee, where incomes are a little higher, the official poverty rate is more than 30 percent.

Per capita incomes in the currently flooded counties are about the lowest in the country, especially given the low official unemployment numbers, which are in reality more than 10 percent. The average income is between $13,000 and $18,000, and the poverty rate reaches between 20 and 35 percent.
Tens of millions of workers throughout India participated in a strike yesterday against austerity measures and pro-corporate economic reforms implemented by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) government of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

The strike is an expression of mounting opposition in the working class in India and internationally. It follows significant strikes and demonstrations in the US, Europe, China and other countries against assaults by governments and corporations on jobs and working and living conditions.

However, the aim of the unions that called the strike, particularly those affiliated with Indias main Stalinist parliamentary partiesthe Communist Party of India (Marxist) (CPM) and the Communist Party of India (CPI)is to defuse growing opposition and harness it to the establishment parties. This means above all tying the mounting social opposition to the Congress Party, the traditional ruling party of the Indian bourgeoisie.

Support for the strike on Friday varied by sector and state. Those participating included workers in government banks, insurance, telecom and postal services, along with central government-owned companies in the coal, gas and oil sectors. Workers are demanding higher wages, job and social security, and an end to privatization and pro-investor changes to labor laws.

The southern Indian states of Kerala and Karnataka, the eastern state of Odisha and the northern states of Haryana and Punjab were mostly shut down. Workers joined protest demonstrations and rallies in various cities in those states. Demonstrations were also held in Chennai and Visakhapatnam in southern India, in the capital New Delhi and in the eastern state of West Bengal. In Kerala, the newly elected CPM-led Left Democratic Front (LDF) government supported the strike in an effort to cover up its own pro-corporate economic policies.

In West Bengal, workers employed by central government institutions joined the strike despite threats by the right-wing Trinamool Congress (TMC) state government. With workers facing significant penalties if they participated, public transport and state government offices were functioning. However, significantly fewer people were seen on roads. Nearly 200 were arrested by state police in an effort to suppress the strike and protests. In the state capital Kolkata and other cities, TMC-organized thugs held counterrallies against the strike and came close to physical violence against strikers.

Under conditions of growing working-class opposition, the Stalinists are deepening their political collaboration with Congress, including through their first-ever electoral alliance forged during the April-May state assembly elections in West Bengal. They have also lined up with Congress in the name of fighting for democracy against violent attacks by the TMC state government in West Bengal.

In fact, Congress is responsible for initiating the policies that Modi is now expanding and for creating the conditions for the Hindu chauvinist BJPs rise to national power. In 1991, Congress initiated the Indian bourgeoisies economic reforms aimed at transforming the country into a cheap labor platform for global capital. It has also played a central role in forging a global-strategic partnership with American imperialism.

In May 2014, Modi, the chief minister of Gujarat at the time of the anti-Muslim pogrom in 2002, was brought to power by the Indian ruling elite to ruthlessly push ahead with pro-investor economic reforms and more aggressively pursue the Indian elites reactionary great power ambitions.

Modis government has cut subsidies and social spending and sped up disinvestment, the partial privatization of public-sector companies and the further opening up of sectors like insurance and finance to foreign capital. In the latest move, it has pushed through a constitutional change to implement a Goods and Service Tax (GST) to further place the tax burden on working people and rural toilers.

Hand-in-hand with these austerity measures, Modi, through developing Indias military-strategic ties with the US, has brought the country closer in line with Washingtons war drive against China. On Monday, India signed a Logistic Exchange Memorandum of Agreement (LEMOA) with the US, allowing US warships and combat planes to access Indian bases.

Despite boasting by Modi and his Finance Minister Arun Jaitley that economic growth is at more than 7 percent, workers throughout the country face rising food prices, growing unemployment and poverty. According to a recent report, during a recent 12-month period, little more than a hundred thousand out of some 10 million youth entering the labor force could find employment in eight key, labor-intensive sectors. Seventy percent of the total population is forced to live on less than $2 a day.

At the same time, the right-wing economic policies pursued by both Congress and the BJP have led to soaring wealth for a small fraction of the population. India is home to more multimillionaires than any Asian country outside of Japan and China, along with 84 billionaires (placing it fourth in the world after the United States, China and Germany).

Under such socially polarized conditions, the Modi government has reacted by whipping up Hindu communalism to divide the working class and create the framework for a massive assault on democratic rights. Any opposition to the policies of the Indian bourgeoisie is labeled antinational.

The Stalinists, meanwhile, have responded to growing social opposition by redoubling their efforts to politically subordinate the working class to the parties of the bourgeois establishment, mainly the Congress Party and also to various caste-based and regional parties like the Janata Dal (United), the Biju Janata Dal and the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam, in the name of defending secularism and democracy. All those regional parties have enthusiastically supported neoliberal economic reforms and Indias closer lineup with the US war drive. They have also been part of BJP-led governments.
On Thursday, the British Medical Association announced an additional 15 days of strike action by junior doctors to follow five days announced Wednesday.

A first strike is set for September 12-16, with additional five-day strikes on October 5, 6, 7, 10 and 11, November 14-18 and December 5-9. The BMA said the strikes will involve a "full withdrawal of labour" by doctorsmeaning they will be held without the provision of any emergency cover.

This scale of industrial action is without precedent in modern times. It speaks to the anger and determination among 50,000 doctors to oppose the Conservative governments imposition of a new contract that undermines their conditions and threatens the well-being and safety of patients.

The new contract, which the government intends to impose next month, includes the reduction of unsocial payments for weekend working, with Saturday and Sunday between 9 a.m. and 9 p.m. reclassified as normal working days and nightshift rates reduced, along with the elimination of automatic pay progression.

While the government claims it wants to make NHS services fully available, seven days a week, this is only a pretext for the destruction of living standards and working conditions for doctors and other NHS staff, who will be required to work nights and weekends without overtime pay.

In July, junior doctors defied the government and BMA by throwing out the agreement the two had reached on a revised contract. This followed five rounds of nationwide strikes that started in January and culminated, in April, in the first ever all-out strike in the nearly 70-year history of the NHS.

A ballot on the agreement recorded a 58 percent majority against acceptance, with over two thirds of those eligible to vote taking partapproximately 37,000 doctors. This led to the resignation of Dr. Johann Malawana, chair of the BMA's junior doctors committee (JDC), who had recommended the inferior deal.

It is reported that the BMA council voted by 16 to 12 or an even narrower 16 to 14 in support of further industrial action. Dr. Mark Porter, chair of the BMA council, said the BMA only authorised the first set of strikes after long and difficult debates.

Even as it announced the new strike dates, the BMA stressed its willingness to call them off if the government returned to negotiations. Malawanas interim replacement, Dr. Ellen McCourt, stated, We have a simple ask of the government: stop the imposition. If it agrees to do this, junior doctors will call off industrial action.

The strike announcement met with a vitriolic response from the government and media. Prime Minister Theresa May denounced the strikes and backed health secretary Jeremy Hunt, who has advocated the NHSs privatisation.

The Tory-supporting Daily Telegraph editorialised, The BMAs frightening militancy is reckless, adding, We urge the junior doctors to test their consciencesacknowledge the danger to patient safetyand cross the picket line.

A leader column in the Daily Mail, How dare the doctors barter lives for cash, continued the onslaught: For make no mistake. If these stoppages go ahead, causing the cancellation of some 125,000 operations and 1 million outpatient appointments, it will be only a matter of time before the body-count begins.

It added, Why dont they come straight out with it and say: Give us more moneyor else well let people suffer and die?

The strikes are also opposed by the Academy of Medical Royal Colleges, which brings together doctors professional bodies. This group stated Thursday, Five days of strike action, particularly at such short notice, will cause real problems for patients, the service and the profession.

To blame doctors for endangering patient safety is a vicious slander. The governments provocative efforts to impose an inferior contract on junior doctors are integral to its plans to further privatise the NHS.

Last week it was revealed that under new Sustainability and Transformation Plans, the Tories plan to close down a raft of hospitals and health units, and re-provide health units deemed not clinically and financially sustainable to the private sector. This is part of a drive to cut 22 billion in efficiency savings from the NHS budget in the current parliament, and is on top of the 15 billion in cuts made between 2010 and 2015.

Earlier this year the Guardian gave a flavour of the discussions underway in ruling circles. It noted, Some ministers are privately describing the bust-up with doctors in training as a miners momenta dispute we cannot lose.

An article on the leading ConservativeHome blog called for the junior doctors to be given their 1984. This is in a reference to Tory Prime Minister Margaret Thatchers struggle with the National Union of Mineworkers in 1984-85, in which the entire force of the state was hurled against striking miners, and whose defeat led to the loss of more than 100,000 jobs. The defeat of the miners was pivotal to the unrelenting assault on the jobs and conditions of the working class over the subsequent three decades.

In taking a stand in defence of publicly funded, free, well-resourced health care, the junior doctors have the support of the majority of the population, despite the massive barrage of right-wing propaganda denouncing their struggle. An online poll conducted Friday by ITV of a large dataset of over 42,000 people recorded 85 percent of people in favour of their action. Another poll taken Friday by the Rupert Murdoch-owned Sky News found that 57 percent supported the strikes.

In the face of the onslaught against the junior doctors, Labour Party leader Jeremy Corbyn has yet to speak in their defence, no doubt in deference to the right-wing putsch attempt against him by a majority of the Parliamentary Labour Party. There was just one solitary tweet from the Labour leader praising a Guardian article written by Labours Shadow Health Secretary Diane Abbott.

The tweet said only Government must engage collaboratively and constructively with junior doctors. Abbotts article likewise did not make any call for support of the strikes. Blaming the Conservative government for having potentially caused the very first five-day strike in the NHS, Abbott lamented, All of this is avoidable. The BMA junior doctors committee is willing to enter talks about the contract. The government could approach the aim of creating a seven-day NHS in a collaborative way.

Such statements can only blind junior doctors and the working class overall as to the real intention of the ruling elite and the need to launch a political struggle against the government and its apologists in the Labour Party based on a socialist perspective.

The junior doctors dispute confirms the analysis of the Socialist Equality Party and its NHS Fightback initiative that the defence of health care as a social right means breaking the domination of the financial and corporate elite over economic and political life.

The strike must be taken out of the hands of the BMA bureaucracy, with doctors forming committees independent of the unions and turning to staff throughout the NHS and the entire working class and young people for support. The Socialist Equality Party and the NHS Fightback campaign pledge their support in building this necessary solidarity in defence of the junior doctors and the defence of free and universal health care.

The author also recommends:

UK junior doctors defiance of government contract curtailed by BMA

[24 August 2016]

UK Junior doctors dispute at a crossroads

[29 March 2016]

For further information visit nhsfightback.org
Asia

South Korea: Hyundai Motor workers reject union deal

An overwhelming majority of Hyundai Motor workers this week rejected a new pay deal organised by their union and company on August 24. The 78 percent no vote followed 14 partial walkouts since July and 19 rounds of negotiations.

The union-company deal offered a monthly pay increase of 58,000 won ($52), a one-off payment of 3.3 million won to each worker, bonuses and incentive payments worth 3 times their basic monthly wage and 10 Hyundai shares. Workers complained that the offer was less than last year, which gave an 85,000 won monthly pay increase and 20 company shares to each employee.

Hyundai Motor workers were also concerned about plans to cut the salaries of employees nearing retirement age. The company wants to slash the wages of workers aged 59 and 60 by 10 percent.

The union has called for retention of current wage peak system arrangements, which impose a wage freeze on 59-year-olds and a 10 percent pay cut for 60-year-olds. A union representative claimed that the lower wage deal was a compromise in exchange for the company maintaining the existing wage-peak system.

Cambodia: Garment workers in Takeo province strike

Following a week of strike action, 1,000 workers from the Garbotex Trading Company factory in Takeo provinces Daun Keo town moved their protest into the town centre and blockaded a street demanding that the town authorities assist in their dispute for better conditions. While factory management have accepted eight of the workers ten demands they rejected the main demandthat a supervisor who workers say is unnecessarily cruel be dismissed.

The garment workers claim that the supervisor looks down on us like dogs and fires employees she does not like, without any purpose or reason. The provincial governor called on the workers to end their protests and wait for a decision from the arbitration council.

Sacked garment workers in Phnom Penh demonstrate

Hundreds of sacked workers from the Dongdu Textile factory in Phnom Penhs Dangkor district are protesting outside the labour ministry office demanding that the government intervene and secure the reinstatement of 800 sacked employees. The workers were terminated over a month ago for demanding better working conditions.

The garment workers claim the factory owner has ignored an arbitration council directive ordering reinstatement. Workers handed a petition to a labour ministry official who told them that their protest was illegal and ordered them to leave. Workers refused saying they had already been fired and did not fear arrest.

Philippines: Manila light rail workers protest

Sacked Manila light rail workers and supporters demonstrated outside the Department of Transportation (DOT) in Ortigas on August 25 to demand reinstatement of 41 workers by the Light Rail Manila Corporation.

The workers allege that they were dismissed in June to make up for the government-run companys losses. Light rail tickets sales are managed by a private company. The protesters also demanded that the government rescind all onerous contracts with private businesses in the countrys railway system.

India: Gurgaon auto-rickshaw workers end strike

Gurgaon auto-rickshaw drivers called off a two-day strike on August 30 after police accepted some of their demands. Close to 40,000 drivers struck on August 29 in protest against a police enforcement drive. Since the enforcement drive began on August 17 over 1,800 auto-rickshaws have been impounded for various traffic rule violations and not carrying valid documents. The strike ended after police agreed to give the drivers five days to get their documents in order and resolve other traffic violations.

Tamil Nadu non-teaching staff protest

Non-teaching staff of Anna University Constituent Engineering College in Konam protested inside the principals chamber on Tuesday over the non-payment of allowances and benefits.

Workers recruited after 2007 said they had never received allowances, monetary benefits and privileges given to other government employees. Though the university principal held talks with the workers, they were not prepared to accept any compromise and the protest continued into the evening.

Tamil Nadu noon meal workers protest

Tamil Nadu Noon Meal Employees Association members in Ramanathapuram and Dindigul held street demonstrations on Tuesday over a series of demands.

These include the filling of existing vacancies, time-scale pay, a 3,500-rupee ($US52.3) pension and termination payment of 300,000 rupees for organisers and 200,000 for assistants. The majority of noon-meal workers are women on very low wages who provide meals for impoverished children at government schools.

Tamil Nadu agricultural workers demonstrate

All India Agriculture Workers Union members protested on August 26 in Erode to demand the eradication of poverty and longer work contracts under the Mahatma Gandhi Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MNREGS). The workers want their employment extended from 100 to 200 days a year. The employment scheme is supposed to guarantee landless labourers and middle farmers 100 days work a year for a minimum wage. The workers insist that 100 days of work is not long enough.

Their other demands include provision of new family cards, increased membership of the Farmers Protection Scheme, housing plots for poor farmers, an increase in the daily wage to 400 rupees and guaranteed weekly payments.

While the Indian government claims that the meagre assistance provided by MNREGS helps the rural poor, the scheme lacks funding. MNREGS workers from three villages in Tamil Nadu demonstrated in Thiruvannamalai in July after not being paid their wages for six weeks.

Punjab university contract workers on strike

Around 750 contract workers from the Guru Angad Dev Veterinary and Animal Sciences University (GADVASU) in Ludhiana, Punjab have been on strike since August 22 to demand permanency and paid full entitlements. They are currently holding a hunger strike and picket at the universitys main gate.

The contract workers also want provision of a Provident Fund, Employee State Insurance and compensation for the family of a deceased worker who died on June 26 during duty hours. They are also protesting the transfer of two union office bearers after they led a protest demanding compensation for the family of the deceased worker.

Bangladeshi petrol pump operators and tanker drivers strike

At least 5,600 petrol filling stations throughout Bangladesh closed for nine hours on Sunday after a strike by Bangladesh Petrol Pump and Tank-Lorry Owners-Workers Unity Council members. They have issued a 12-point charter of demands, including an increase in sales commission and a rollback of increased leasing charges.

Union representatives allege that although the authorities had promised to fulfil their demands within three months, nothing had been done in the past six months. They said that commission rates had not been updated since 2011.

Union reduces Bangladeshi water transport workers pay claim

Water transport workers ended a four-day national strike on August 26 after the union made a deal with the government and vessel owners. Over 200,000 passenger and cargo vessel workers struck demanding a minimum monthly wage of 10,000 taka ($US127.5), increased compensation for workers killed in accidents, higher overtime pay, festival bonuses and other benefits. The minimum wage was last increased in 2013, from 3,000 to 4,100 taka. The Bangladesh Water Transport Workers Federation reduced their minimum wage claim to 9,000 taka ($114) per month.

A six-day strike in April was cancelled by the union after accepting the vessel owners same offer of a 9,000-taka minimum monthly wage and revision of the salary structure. The employers never honoured the agreement.

Pakistan: Peshawar teaching hospital doctors walk out

Doctors at the Mardan Medical Complex (MMC) in Peshawar, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa boycotted duties on August 25 in protest against the withdrawal of their Health Professional Allowance (HPA). The out patients department was closed and scheduled bedside visits were cancelled. The doctors said they would maintain their boycott and other protests but would exempt emergency services.

The protests began after certain hospitals were reclassified as Medical Teaching Institutions and doctors HPA payments stopped. The doctors were also directed to return previous HPA payments. Paramedics, nurses and doctors in all other government hospitals facilities receive the allowance.

Khyber Pakhtunkhwa power utility workers protest

Peshawar Electric Supply Company workers in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province demonstrated outside the companys headquarters in Peshawar on August 25. They were demanding increased basic pay scales for technical staff, meter readers, linemen and inventory control workers.

Punjab brick kiln workers on strike

Brick kiln workers in Toba Tek Singh district, Punjab province began a hunger strike on Monday to demand minimum wage payments. Under the current law kiln owners are supposed to pay 1,036 rupees ($US9.89) per 1,000 bricks made by a worker. Toba Tek kiln owners, however, are paying just 600 to 700 rupees per 1,000 bricks.

The strike is part of a long running campaign for better working conditions for kiln workers, who are organised by the Pakistan Bhatta Mazdoor Union.

Brick-kiln workers are one of the most exploited sections of the Pakistani working class and subjected to bonded labour and police and thug attacks. Kiln owners have said that they will not pay the minimum legal pay, claiming that they are already paying the highest rates within the region.

Sindh province university workers strike

Academic and non-academic staff of major universities in Sindh province held a one-day strike on Wednesday. They are demanding payment of overdue wages, a halt to continued government interference in the universities and the proper allocation of funds. The Federation of All Pakistan Universities Academic Staff Association has also called for payment of bonuses and better and equal facilities for all universities.

The Karachi University Teachers Society also joined the strike demanding unpaid wages and leave payments. The government was given until September 9 to meet their demands.

Frequent delays in wage payments and increasing cuts to tertiary institutions are part of escalating attacks by the Pakistan federal government and provincial administrations in line austerity measures and privatisation demands from the International Monetary Fund.

Australia and the Pacific

Australia: Bureau of Meteorology workers implement bans

Following three years of failed negotiations with the federal Liberal-National government for a new work agreement, Bureau of Meteorology (BoM) staff across the country have begun a fortnight of industrial action. This includes bans on responding to media requests or updating the BoM Twitter feed, with the exception of severe weather events. Internal phone calls and responses to emails will also be affected.

BoM staff walked out in March, along with tens of thousands of other federal government workers in their long-running dispute. After two-and-a-half years of negotiations, almost 75 percent of the total federal public sector workforce of 160,000 still do not have a new enterprise agreement (EA). At least 100,000 government employees have not had a pay increase for three years.

The Turnbull government has ordered that all federal public sector EAs must cap annual wage increases at 2 percent and be combined with cuts in current conditions. There will be no back pay from when the last EA ended, the equivalent of a three-year pay freeze.

Workers in over 100 federal departments have rejected government offers that eliminate existing rights, including family-friendly conditions. The Community and Public Sector Union (CPSU) and other unions have reduced their original pay demand from 4 percent annual pay increases for three years to between 2.5 and 3 percent with no loss of conditions.

Queensland coal miners on strike

Construction Forestry Mining and Energy Union (CFMEU) members at Anglo Americans German Creek coal mine in the Bowen Basin, Central Queensland walked off the job on August 29 in a dispute over a proposed enterprise bargaining agreement (EBA). The previous EBA, covering 140 workers, expired in early April, 2014. The union has held 16 meetings with the company since then.

The union wants an end to casualisation of the permanent workforce, improved redundancy processes, accident pay consistent with the coal industry standard, and maintenance of the current rate of remuneration. The union claimed that members have already suffered a considerable reduction in income with roster changes implemented last year.

In a move to break the strike, the mine operator Capcoal has engaged labour hire company WorkPac to advertise for excavator operators. According to the union, they are being offered $60 an hour, plus an extra $2 per hour back-paid if they stay on for three months, along with free accommodation and meals.

New South Wales bus drivers continue strike action

Transport Workers Union (TWU) members of the privately owned commuter transport company Busways have called a 24-hour strike for Monday September 5. The planned action follows four-hour stoppages last week and on Monday in Sydneys western suburbs and on the Central Coast. Drivers did not turn on the automatic ticket registering machines on Friday allowing passengers free travel.

The TWU and Busways have been negotiating a new enterprise agreement since March to replace the previous agreement which expired on June 30.

A TWU representative said a Busways pay offer was not in line with current industry standards. It gives no guarantee of permanent work, provides no company pay rise until 2018, forces drivers to answer anonymous complaints with no representation allowed at disciplinary meetings. Busways wants to be the sole appointer of workplace representatives for drivers to take their leave when it suits the company.

Papua New Guinea: Mt Hagen doctors on strike

Doctors at the Western Highlands Mt Hagen hospital walked out on August 24 in an extended dispute over alleged mismanagement and corrupt practices at the hospital and the provincial health authority. Doctors, nurses and senior staff stopped work in March and again in in June with a list of claims.

A petition to PNG in March revealed a range of major problems. These included no microbiology unit in the hospital for 13 years; closure of the operating theatre for eight months; no blood test department for six months; and the blood bank crippled for a year.

The government has suspended the Western Highlands Provincial Health Authority and appointed an interim hospital board and administration. The health minister has ordered doctors to return to work under the threat of dismissal and legal action. Meanwhile patients have been transferred to other Western Highlands hospitals.
With a 61 to 20 vote in the Brazilian Senate Wednesday, the protracted drive to impeach Workers Party (PT) President Dilma Rousseff has culminated in her removal from power and the installation of an unelected president, Michel Temer of the Brazilian Democratic Movement Party (PMDB), along with the countrys most right-wing government since the end of the US-backed military dictatorship three decades ago.

In his first public statement after being sworn in, Temer, formerly Rousseffs vice president and close political ally, declared that he would no longer tolerate being called a golpista (putschist) and insisted that the government would have to be very firm with its critics.

This directive was swiftly put into practice in the repression unleashed by military police and shock troops against the scattered protests held in repudiation of the impeachment. In Sao Paulo police violently attacked demonstrators, using tear gas and stun grenades that left several people wounded, including a 19-year-old university student blinded by an explosion that pierced her eye.

The countrys leading daily newspaper Folha de S.P. responded to these events by demanding an even harsher crackdown and warning darkly in an editorial: Democracies incapable of repressing the fanatics of violence are candidates for repeating the [experience of] Germanys Weimar Republic of the 1930s, engulfed by street violence until giving way to the worst dictatorship there ever was.

This is the language of a capitalist ruling class that is determined to utilize the change in government to impose a sweeping program of austerity measures aimed at placing the full burden of Brazils deepest economic crisis in a century onto the backs of the working class. It is demanding a vast transfer of wealth from the income of the broad masses of the population and from spending on vital social services to bolster the profits of both Brazilian and international capital.

As the Folha editorial indicates, to achieve these aims Brazils financial oligarchy is prepared to go well beyond the crimes committed by the military juntas that ruled the country following the CIA-backed coup of 1964.

Temer has already spelled out the first steps in his reactionary agenda, which include drastic cuts to social security pension benefits; a 20-year freeze on spending for healthcare, education and other vital social services; the gutting of labor laws; and the wholesale privatization of state enterprises and infrastructure. Proposals are in the works to, for the first time, allow foreign corporations to buy Brazilian land and for foreign oil conglomerates to begin the direct exploitation of the vast pre-salt underwater oil fields off the countrys southeast coast.

Rousseff, the PT and their supporters have denounced the installation of Temer as a coup. In terms of the change of governments implications for the working class, there is no question that the use of such dramatic terms is justified. But if it were to be called a coup, it would be necessary to add that the PT was a direct and indispensable co-conspirator.

Rousseffs popularity collapsed to single digits before her ouster. The objective basis for her vast unpopularity was the crisis of Brazilian capitalism, which is now deeper than that of the 1930s, with nearly 12 million unemployed, falling real wages and poverty and social inequality once again on the rise.

Within the working class, the anger against Rousseff mounted steadily in the wake of her presidential campaign in 2014. She campaigned vowing to take measures to assure jobs and improve conditions for working people, only to embark, once reelected, on the kind of fiscal adjustment program that she claimed to oppose, and which is now being accelerated under Temer.

Among more privileged sections of the middle class, the anger against Rousseff was whipped up into a right-wing frenzy based on conceptions that the Workers Party was responsible for halting Brazils rise to first world status and for diverting wealth into minimal social assistance programs for the poor that these egotistical layers believe is rightfully theirs.

Among all layers of the population, disgust for the entire political setup has been fueled by the continuing revelations of the Operation Car Wash (Lava Jato) investigation into the multi-billion-dollar bribes for contracts scandal at Petrobras, the state-run energy giant. While virtually every political party has been implicated, the scandal unfolded under the presidencies of Rousseff, who had chaired the firm, and her predecessor, former metalworkers union leader Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, who is himself charged with obstruction of justice in relation to the kickbacks scandal.

Rousseff and the PT were neither able nor willing to appeal to the working class against the impeachment drive. The Workers Party, its name notwithstanding, is not based upon the working class. It is a bourgeois party with its principal base among upper middle class elements, including academics, union bureaucrats and political and state functionaries.

It sought to remain in power by appeals to its erstwhile political allies, the collection of corrupt and right-wing bourgeois politicians who organized the impeachment. It argued that by virtue of its connections to the PT-affiliated CUT union federation and the state-sponsored social movements it would be in a better position to contain the class struggle as draconian austerity measures were imposed. In the end both the Brazilian ruling establishment and Wall Street decided that a more dramatic change in regime was required.

If the PT has paved the way to the present situation, it must also be said that the collection of pseudo-left organizations that played a pivotal role in founding and promoting the PT themselves bear political responsibility for the sharp dangers now confronting the Brazilian working class.

The leading role in this political project was played by organizations that had broken with the Trotskyist movement, the International Committee of the Fourth International. In the 1960s, these groups based themselves on the theory that Castroism and petty-bourgeois guerrillaism had presented a new road to socialism that rendered unnecessary the struggle to build revolutionary Marxist parties in the working class. Throughout Latin America, this theory contributed to disastrous defeats for the working class, culminating in decades of military dictatorship.

In the waning days of the Brazilian military regime, under conditions of massive strikes and militant struggles by students, these same elements joined with sections of the union leadership, the Catholic church and left academics to found the Workers Party. Once again, they had found a substitute for the building of a revolutionary party and the fight for socialist consciousness in the working class. The PT was to provide a unique Brazilian parliamentary road to socialism. The dead end of that road has now been reached.

None of these organizations have even sought to draw the lessons of this strategic political experience, much less offer a revolutionary alternative today. Instead, they are all being driven to the right and into crisis by the shipwreck of the PT.

The Morenoite PSTU (Unified Socialist Workers Party) has lost half of its members in a split over the groups reactionary political line of throw them all out, which effectively supported the impeachment drive and adapted to the right-wing middle class protests. Those who split are seeking a unity of the left based on the subordination of the working class to the PT and its allies.

The Pabloite revisionists are split between those who remained within the PT and those who followed a parliamentary faction in forming the PSOL (Socialism and Liberty Party) based on the bankrupt perspective of returning to PTs original principles. Also joining this party are the Brazilian followers of the Argentine Morenoites of the PTS (Socialist Workers Party). Oblivious to the implications of the coup, these elements are dedicating themselves to campaigning for municipal elections next month in which PSOLs leading candidate is Luiza Erundina, a former mayor of Sao Paulo who has passed through a series of right-wing bourgeois parties before agreeing to join the PSOL slate.

With the thorough discrediting of the Workers Party, all of these groups are dedicated to erecting a new political trap for the working class along the lines of such left bourgeois parties as Syriza in Greece or Podemos in Spain.

Their efforts notwithstanding, an explosive development of the class struggle is on the agenda. The confrontation that is emerging pits finance capital against the working class not only in Brazil, but throughout Latin America. As the regions largest economy, with extensive investments and trade links with every neighboring country, the policies pursued in Brazil will rapidly spill over its borders and accelerate the ongoing shift to the right and assault on the working class across the continent.

Just as the assault on Brazilian workers is part of a continent-wide and, indeed, global attack, so too a successful struggle against this attack requires the independent political mobilization of the working class throughout Latin America and internationally.

The Brazilian working class can defend itself only by fighting for the building of a unified mass movement of the Latin American working class together with the workers of North America in a common struggle against finance capital and the transnational corporations that exploit them all.

The fight for such a program requires a definitive political break with the Workers Party and all of its pseudo-left satellites that have propped up bourgeois rule in Brazil and throughout Latin America. The urgent question remains that of developing revolutionary leadership and political perspective. This requires the assimilation of the long history of struggle for Trotskyism embodied in the International Committee of the Fourth International.
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 ...
Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders will carry out his first official activity as a drum major in the Hillary Clinton marching band Monday, when he takes part in Labor Day events in Lebanon, New Hampshire in support of the Democratic presidential nominee. It will be Sanders first campaign appearance on behalf of Clinton since his dismal unity rally, also in New Hampshire, on July 12.

According to the press release issued by the Clinton campaign, Sanders will discuss Hillary Clintons plan to building [sic] an economy that works for everyone, not just those at the top, and Donald Trumps plan, which would benefit himself and other millionaires and billionaires.

Sanders campaign appearance for Clinton comes as the Democratic Party is seeking to transform the elections into a mandate for war and aggression. In a speech to the American Legion on Wednesday, Clinton threatened to respond militarily to accusations of Russian cyberwar and hacking, pledged to carry out a nuclear posture review as her first act as president and called for an increase in military spending to ensure US domination of the world. (See, Clintons American Exceptionalism speech: A bipartisan policy of militarism and war)

Sanders has maintained a complete silence on these war plans, which is in line with his role throughout the Democratic Party primary. He kept the issue of war largely out of the campaign, and when he spoke on foreign policy it was generally to endorse the Obama administrations escalation of war in the Middle East, its drone assassination program and its threats against Russia.

The web site of Our Revolution, the vehicle set up by the Sanders campaign to continue to channel opposition behind the Democratic Party after his endorsement of Clinton, initially made no mention of foreign policy at all. A section has recently been added which, while including various gestures toward antiwar sentiment, insists: We should protect America, defend our interests and values, embrace our commitments to defend freedom and support human rights, and be relentless in combatting terrorists who would do us harm.

In other words, this revolution fully supports the propaganda justifications for American military aggression all over the world, from the war on terror to human rights imperialism.

Sanders appearance for Clinton also follows a week that put to the test Sanders claims that his supporters can carry forward a political revolution by working within the Democratic Party to elect progressive Democratic candidates.

Our Revolutions campaign to support various local Democrats throughout the country fell flat on its first effort. Sanders-backed challenger Tim Canova was defeated in the Democratic primary for the south Florida congressional seat held by Representative Debbie Wasserman Schultz, who won renomination with 57 percent of the vote. Schultz resigned her position as chairman of the Democratic National Committee last month after the release of emails showing the DNC had intervened in the primary contest on behalf of Clinton, despite its official posture of neutrality.

Our Revolution tried to make the best of the results of Tuesdays primaries in Arizona and Florida, claiming in an email message a tremendous night for our political revolution. Out of the five progressive primary campaigns we supported, three were victorious. Two of the three, however, were incumbent Democratic Party officeholders, a further demonstration of Sanders integration with the Democratic Party establishment.

The email message reiterated the perspective that as Bernie said, our job is to transform the Democratic Party and this country. It claimed that the Canova campaign, while unsuccessful, had pushed Debbie Wasserman Schultz to shift her position on a number of important issues, including fracking.

In actual practice, however, the Canova-Schultz contest, in a heavily Jewish district centered on Ft. Lauderdale, devolved into a vulgar competition between the two candidates on who could best posture as a defender of Israel. Canova initially entered the race attacking Schultz ferociously from the right for her public support of the Iran nuclear deal, which he said endangered Israels security.

He repeated the charge during an August debate, only to have Schultz attack him for supporting disarmament in the Middle East, which she claimed would apply to Israel as well as Iran and the Arab states.

The email from Our Revolution also declared, referring to Schultz, that because of the challenge we gave her, you can expect a more fair and impartial Democratic National Committee in the next presidential primary.

This underscores the real purpose of the Sanders campaign from its inception: to foster illusions in the Democratic Party and block any movement against it. Sanders sought to capture youth and working people who are moving to the left, and to divert them back within the blind alley of the oldest US capitalist party.

It is noteworthy that while endorsing Canova, and helping raise an estimated $3 million for his campaign, Sanders held back from actually going to south Florida and making a public appeal to voters there to defeat the incumbent representative, who was endorsed by Hillary Clinton, President Obama, Vice President Biden and a host of other top Democrats. It was a tacit message to the Democratic Party establishment that there are lines Sanders agrees not to cross.

Only days after the primary, Sanders sent out a message to his database of small contributors, some four million people, appealing to them to send money to four Democratic candidates in close contests for US Senate seats, in New Hampshire, Pennsylvania, Ohio and Nevada.

He claimed, The Democratic Party passed an extremely progressive agenda at the convention. Our job is to make sure that platform is implemented. That will not happen without Democratic control of the Senate. A spokeswoman for the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee gushed in response, We are excited to have Senator Sanders help and support as we work to win back the majority.

The big lie about the supposedly progressive Democratic platform was the basis of Sanders endorsement of Clinton in July. This platform, however, for all its small-bore pledges of modest improvements in domestic policy, is a full-throated defense of American imperialism, declaring that the United States must have the most powerful military apparatus in the world.

Sanders attracted the support of millions of youth and workers because of his claim to be a democratic socialist and his denunciations of economic inequality and the political influence of the billionaire class. But he never voiced the slightest opposition to a foreign policy based on the defense of the worldwide interests of that billionaire class.

The ignominious fate of the Sanders campaign is a demonstration of the political fact that there can be no struggle against Wall Street at home without an open repudiation of American imperialism abroad, and the struggle to build an international movement of the working class against imperialist war, based on a socialist program.

The author also recommends:

Nothing revolutionary about Sanders Our Revolution

[29 August 2016]

The predictable and pathetic end of Sanders political revolution

[13 July 2016]
In the run-up to announced meetings between Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan with both US President Barack Obama and Russian President Vladimir Putin at the G-20 summit in China, the NATO intervention in Syria continues to escalate.

Turkish fighters bombed three sites around the Syrian villages of Arab Ezza and al-Ghundura yesterday. These are west of the strategic town of Jarabulus, which was captured by Western-supported militia fighters backed by Turkish armor, artillery and jets on August 24. Turkish forces are now operating roughly in the center of the 90-km stretch of territory that Ankara says it wants to clear from Islamic State (IS) fighters as well as from Kurdish Peoples Protection Units (YPG).

Turkish forces also stepped up operations in Kurdish regions of Turkey itself. The army announced that 27 militants of the banned Kurdistans Workers Party (PKK) were killed in the Cukurca district of the southeastern province of Hakkari on Friday.

Speaking ahead of his departure to the G-20 summit, Erdogan vowed that Ankara would never permit the establishment of a terror corridor along our southern border in northern Syria. He stressed that the international community did not have to choose between Daesh [the Islamic State, IS], the YPG, or the PYD [the Syrian Kurdish Democratic Union Party] terrorist organizations.

There are no differences between these terrorist organizations in terms of method, targets and points of view regarding human life, Erdogan said, adding that his government viewed statements from some circles from the West with astonishment. He dismissed claims by US officials that the US-backed YPG militias and the PYD have returned east of the Euphrates River: They are saying the YPG has crossed back. We are saying, no, they havent, based on our own observations.

While the NATO powers are all pressing for escalation in Syria, deep divisions persist between Ankara, whose main aim is to prevent the formation of a Kurdish state in northern Syria, and Washington, which wants to maintain its YPG/PYD proxies as tools against IS. Erdogan said, Those who act with the logic of the enemy of Daesh is our friend are deluded and in a position of being a friend to other terror organizations.

Turkish Prime Minister Binali Yldrm, speaking at a celebration of his first 100 days in office, also said that the Turkish government will not make concessions to Kurdish forces inside Turkey. Instead, he reiterated that Turkey, which recently improved its diplomatic ties with Israel and Russia, aims to normalize relations with Egypt and even Syria.

Turkey has started a serious attempt for normalization of relations with Syria and Egypt. In foreign policy, our principle is to increase our friendships while reducing hostilities, Yldrm stated.

Putin is still exploiting Ankaras attempts to improve its relationship with Moscow after the aborted US-backed coup against Erdogan in July. In an interview in the Pacific port city of Vladivostok on Thursday, Putin said he valued the Turkish apology for shooting down a Russian bomber deployed to Syria last year. We see a clear interest on the part of Turkeys president in restoring full-scale relations with Russia, he said.

Asked about Ankaras offensive in Syria, Putin said both countries have a mutual desire to come to an agreement about the regions problems, including the Syrian one.

The Russian president also signaled that he is in principle open to a deal with the imperialist powers over Syria: Were gradually, gradually heading in the right direction. I dont rule out that well be able to agree on something in the near future and present our agreements to the international community.

According to Bloomberg News, Putin warned other powers to accept gradual change in Syria rather than pushing for the overthrow of the countrys leader. He cited the examples of Libya and Iraq, where US-led regime change led to the collapse of the state and the spread of terrorism. He described talks between Moscow and Washington as very difficult due to continuing differences over US support for Islamist militias in Syria.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov complained that Washington is backing forces tied to Al Nusra, the Al Qaeda affiliate in Syria: Many groups that Americans consider acceptable for negotiations have in fact allied with Al Nusra. Al Nusra, meanwhile, uses them to escape attacks. This is a situation that cannot continue indefinitely.

Despite attempts by Turkish and Russian officials to work out an arrangement with Washington, conflicts between the major powers intervening in Syria are intensifying. Washington and its European allies aim principally to topple Syrian President Bashar al-Assads regime and deal a humiliating blow to Russia. This agenda is still being actively pursued, even as Washington engages in talks at the G20.

Britain and France called for aggressive action against the Syrian regime after the UN Joint Investigative Mechanism (JIM) issued its report on alleged chemical weapons use in Syria, on Tuesday.

To be blunt, such allegations of Syrian chemical weapons use, at this point, have no credibility whatsoever. The NATO powers have repeatedly used fabricated reports of Syrian poison gas attacks, like at Houla in 2012 and Ghouta in 2013, to concoct a case for a US-led war against Syria based on lies, presenting war as an act of conscience to halt attacks on civilians. They exploited the Houla massacre to withdraw their ambassadors from Syria; Washington and Paris nearly used the Ghouta attack as a casus belli to bomb Damascus in September 2013.

Both massacres, it turned out, were carried out by the US-backed opposition, according to detailed reports by the Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung and investigative reporter Seymour Hersh, respectively. After the FAZ report on the Houla massacre, the BBC admitted that its reporting had been based purely on opposition statements.

The JIM report appears to have similarly been concocted with the aim of providing fuel to the imperialist war drive against Syria.

While the JIM issued its report to the public with great fanfare last week and presented it to the UN Security Council this week, it had little concrete evidence. Citing nine alleged chemical attacks in Syria, it declared that there was sufficient evidence to conclude that poison gas was used in three of the nine cases. It attributed two to the Assad regime using chlorine, a 21 April 2014 attack in Talmenes and a 16 March 2015 attack in Sarmin involving primitive barrel bombs dropped from helicopters, and one, a 16 March 2015 mustard gas attack in Marea, to ISIS.

Even though the JIM report presented no significant evidence to support its claims, London and Paris demanded that the UN Security Council respond by imposing new sanctions on Syria. British Ambassador to the UN Matthew Rycroft said the UN Security Council would be looking at the imposition of sanctions and some form of accountability within international legal mechanisms, while French Ambassador to the UN Francois Delattre called for a quick and strong Security Council response, such as sanctions on those who are responsible for these acts.

Insofar as the JIM report did not name anyone responsible for ordering the attacks, or prove that the oppositionwhich has previously overrun Syrian airfieldswas not using helicopters and barrel bombs, however, its conclusions are worthless.

After listening to the presentation of the JIM report, Russian Ambassador to the UN Vitaly Churkin charged that evidence in the report could have been fabricated by the forces opposed to Damascus and terrorist groups, perhaps not without outside help. He added, There is nobody to sanction in the report which has been issued. It has no names, it contains no specifics If we are to be professional, we need to question all the conclusions.

Syrian Ambassador Bashar Jaafari objected that the JIMs conclusions lack any physical evidence, whether by samples or medical reports that chlorine was used.
SOUTHWEST RANCHES, Fla. (AP) - Authorities say a South Florida man who is a former police officer drew a gun on a driver when he pulled into the man's driveway to play "Pokemon Go."

Citing a police report, The SunSentinel (http://bit.ly/2bY2y0M ) reports that 26-year-old Jawad Awan was playing the popular smartphone game Aug. 12 in Geoffrey Goldstein's Southwest Ranches driveway when Goldstein pulled a handgun from his waistband.

Goldstein says there had been a series of break-ins next door and Awan hadn't explained why he was trespassing. Goldstein, who used to be a police officer in California, searched Awan's pockets for weapons before calling police.

When officers arrived, they found Awan on the ground. Davie Police Sgt. Mark Leone says the misunderstanding could have gone much worse.

Awan says he didn't realize he was on private property. No charges have been filed.

___

Information from: Sun Sentinel , http://www.sun-sentinel.com/

(Copyright 2016 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.)
ORLANDO, Fla. (AP) - The U.S. Department of Justice is appealing a ruling that sent back to state court the fight over whether 911 calls from the Pulse nightclub massacre in June can be released.

The Justice Department said Friday it was appealing U.S. District Judge Paul Byron's ruling last week that the federal court lacks jurisdiction over claims in the case.

Two dozen media groups, including The Associated Press, sued the city of Orlando for their release, saying they will help the public evaluate the police response.

The city claims the recordings are exempt under Florida's public records law, and that the FBI insists releasing them may disrupt the investigation

In June, gunman Omar Mateen killed 49 people and left hospitalized 53 others during the worst mass shooting in modern U.S. history.

(Copyright 2016 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.)
Several local areas are opening their doors Saturday and Sunday for residents after Hurricane Hermine leaves thousands without power.

Here is a list of places people can go to cool off, get a drink of water, or catch a bite to eat.

Comfort Shelters / Cooling Centers

With electricity still out for many and temperatures rising, staying cool and safe is important. Also, locations like the County library offer public use computers, nonprofit services, and other ways to pass the time.

Leon County Main Library, downtown at 200 West Park Avenue (open from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.)

air conditioning, water, restrooms, and with staffing complemented by American Red Cross volunteers

public use computers available for those without electricity to connect with loved ones and search for assistance and other services

snacks and bottled water provided by America's Second Harvest of the Big Bend

other nonprofits onsite to provide information and services--updates to be provided as nonprofits are confirmed.

Jack L. McLean Community Center at 700 Paul Russell Road (open from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m.)

air conditioning, water, and restrooms

Sue Herndon McCollum Community Center at 501 Ingleside Avenue (open from noon to 9 p.m.)

air conditioning, water, and restrooms

Other Comfort Stations include.

Sue McCollum Community Center, 501 Ingleside Avenue, noon to 9 p.m.

Palmer Munroe Teen Center, 1900 Jackson Bluff Road, noon to 9 p.m.

Bottled Water Distribution Site

In some rural areas without power, wells may not have operating pumps. Therefore bottled water is critical as temperatures continue to rise.

Staffed by teams of County employees, these sites will offer cases of bottled water.

Sites will operate on Saturday, September 3 and Sunday, September 4 from noon to 6 p.m.

Lake Jackson Library, 3840-300 N. Monroe Street

Woodville Library, 8000 Old Woodville Road

Ft. Braden Community Center, 16387 Blountstown Hwy

Chaires Community Center, 4768 Chaires Cross Road

Miccosukee Community Center, 13887 Moccasin Gap Roar

**Citizens need not leave their car; a County employee will carry and load the water.

Hot Meal Service

While power is restored, residents may not be able to prepare a hot meal, or maybe the food they had spoiled. Hot meal service at certain sites will be offered to keep those in need fed.

At the following County sites, The Salvation Army will offer canteen food service that is able to feed 1,500 people a day.

Lake Jackson Library, 3840-300 N. Monroe Street

Ft. Braden Community Center, 16387 Blountstown Hwy

Chaires Community Center, 4768 Chaires Cross Road

Canteens will serve food at 12:30 p.m. and 5:30 p.m.

Woodville Library, 8000 Old Woodville Road at 12:30 p.m. and 5:30 p.m.

We will keep this list updated throughout the day as information becomes available.
TALLAHASSEE, FL (WTXL) - Florida Governor Rick Scott held a press conference Friday morning to discuss the aftermath of Hurricane Hermine.

Governor Scott said officials began assessing damage earlier this morning and warned residents to avoid standing water and stay away from downed power lines. Many areas have been experiencing a lot of debris from trees and fallen limbs.

The governor is asking everyone to stay indoors until it's all clear.

"I know there is a lot of work to do following the storm. We will spend the coming days assessing the damage and responding to the needs of our communities and Florida families, but the number one thing is to stay safe," said Governor Scott.

Dozens of cities have been dealing with power outages, including Tallahassee where officials said it could take days to get power fully restored.
TALLAHASSEE, FL (WTXL) - Leon County and Tallahassee city officials met Friday morning to discuss plans moving forward after 80 percent of the city lost power Thursday night.

Officials reported no fatalities after the touch down of Hurricane Hermine, though they are asking people to have patience while waiting for electricity to be restored.

"We are happy to report that there were no fatalities, none reported up to this point through last night's and today's storm," said Mayor Andrew Gillum. "The bad news is that our electric utility system took a pretty substantial hit. With over 80% of our system having been effected by last night's storm."

What that means for capitol city residents is that it will take time to restore power and clean up debris.

"We want to warn that this may take a few days for our various members of our community," continued Mayor Gillum.

Officials are asking citizens to avoid fallen power lines and stay inside if possible.

"You understand that when trees fall, often times electric lines come down. And when electric lines are on the ground that makes for a dangerous situation. So we are asking that if you can stay in and keep your children in, that this is not a piece of string jumping around in the ground, this is hot electricity," said Leon County Commissioner Bill Proctor.

Governor Rick Scott has offered his support in connecting Tallahassee's electric utility system to private electric utilities throughout the state. While Florida has not seen a hurricane in eleven years, Tallahassee has not experienced a storm in about 30 years.
VALDSOTA, GA (WTXL) - Troopers have released the identities of the children involved in a fatal school bus crash on I-75 in Lowndes County.

One person died and several others were taken to a hospital with injuries after the crash occurred. The bus was transporting Lowndes County High School students when the bus collided Aug. 29th with a tractor-trailer on I-75.

Georgia State Patrol said the school bus, driven by 62-year-old Aline Thomas of Valdosta, was transporting around 30 students when it was hit in the back by a tractor trailer and its load of metal beams it was carrying.

Troopers said Life Flight responded to the scene of the crash in an attempt to transport a critically injured child, identified as 15-year-old Rebecca Hall of Tallahassee. She was transported to South Georgia Medical Center ambulance where she later died.

The uninjured children involved in the collision were taken to Lowndes Middle School to be picked up by parents. Thirteen children were transported by ambulance to South Georgia Medical Center for treatment of injuries sustained in the crash. An additional six children were transported by private vehicles to South Georgia Medical Center for treatment.

The trailer-tractor was driven by 58-year-old Michael Scarpaci of Lockport, Illinois. Scarpaci was not injured though Thomas suffered a leg injury. Troopers do not suspect alcohol or drugs to be a factor in the collision but are pending toxicology reports.

The occupants of the school bus are as follows:

Transported by Ambulance to South Georgia Medical Center

Rebecca Hall, 15 years old of Valdosta  fatal injury

15 years old of Valdosta  incapacitating injury, currently admitted to ICU at SGMC

18 years old of Valdosta

16 years old of Valdosta

15 years old of Valdosta

15 years old of Lake Park

15 years old of Lake Park

18 years old of Valdosta

13 years old of Valdosta

15 years old of Lake Park

15 years old of Valdosta

16 years old of Lake Park

16 years old of Valdosta

Transported by private vehicles to SGMC

14 years old of Valdosta

15 years old of Valdosta

14 years old of Valdosta

16 years old of Valdosta

16 years old of Lake Park

15 years old of Valdosta

17 years old of Lake Park

14 years old of Lake Park

Not Transported or Transported to Other Medical Clinics with Complaint of Injury

16 years old of Valdosta

14 years old of Valdosta

16 years old of Lake Park

17 years old of Lake Park

16 years old of Lake Park

No reported injury
The Israeli Supreme Court issued a decision on Thursday ordering the demolition of Way of the Patriarchs, an outpost built on private Palestinian land located in the Gush Etzion cluster within the Judean Mountains. In her ruling, Supreme Court President Miriam Naor stated that it be demolished by March 2018.

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Naors decision, however, was met by Justice Minister Ayelet Shaked (Bayit Yehudi), who has already vowed to work with the Defense Ministry to bring about a change in the political process that would protect the outposts such as the one in Way of the Patriarchs from being dismantled. The petition for the demolition was submitted by left-identified organization Peace Now.

L to R: Supreme Court President Miriam Naor and Minister of Justice Ayelet Shaked (Photo: Gil Yohanan)

Naors ruling made it clear that No one is disputing that all the structures were built illegally, without getting the necessary approvals for planning and setting up the outpost. She added that There is indeed considerable difficulty in a forced evacuation of residents from the homes they have been living in for many years: in addition to the social ramifications of leaving a person without a roof over their heads, severe damage is also caused due to the special connection to this specific residence.

But while she acknowledged the sensitivity of the case, Naor said that All this is not enough to authorize that which is unlawful. The legal proceedings regarding Way of the Patriarchs have been going on for many years, during which more structures were erected illegally, despite court orders stating that all building be stopped. Under these circumstances, the damage that will be caused to the citizens cannot be the deciding factor.

The Way of the Patriarchs was set up in 2001 on non-regulated land. The first petitions demanding that the law be enforced were submitted in 2002, and in 2014 a petition was submitted against the 17 structures erected on the site, which the petitioners claimed were all built on private property.

The State requested to postpone the court proceedings to review the lands status by the Knesset. Naor, however, rejected it. As for the States request: with all due respect, the political echelon has no standing here, she said in her ruling. The State must abide by the law, just like everyone else. Its request is not sufficient to authorize a situation of continued unlawfulness and the breach of commitments made during this legal proceeding. We must remember that we are dealing with the authorities obligation to enforce construction and building laws. And in this context, political considerations have no place.

The political right reacted with severe criticism to the Supreme Court decision. Minister of Tourism Yarin Levin (Likud) said that This is an outrageous and illogical decision made by the Supreme Court to halt and interfere with political decisions. The Supreme Courts actions cause hurtful and unbalanced enforcement of the law against Jews alone, which delegitimizes (the Supreme Court) in the eyes of the Israeli public.

Minister of Jerusalem Affairs and of Environmental Protection Zeev Elkin (Likud), who resides in Gush Etzion, also came out against the ruling. The Supreme Courts outrageous decision to destroy part of the Way of the Patriarchs settlement is crossing a red line and shows a complete disconnect of the Supreme Court from common sense and the history and heritage of the Jewish people. Once again we are faced with the urgent need to fundamentally reform the Israeli Justice System. I call on Justice Minister Shaked to lead such a wide-ranging reform to return the publics trust in the Supreme Court.

Minster of Education and Chairperson of the Bayit Yehudi party Naftali Bennett similarly criticized the decision. The ruling that ordered the demolition of 17 houses in Gush Etzion is very serious. Extreme left-wing organizations have given up on convincing the people of the need to establish a Palestinian state in Judea and Samaria and are instead trying to bypass the public by exploiting the Justice System and having the will of a minority imposed upon the majority.

Chairperson of Hatnuah faction Tzipi Livni responded to Bennetts statement with criticism of her own. I suggest the minister of education sit in on a Citizenship lesson to understand the meaning of democracy. The Supreme Courts decision regarding the Way of the Patriarchs has nothing to do with our conflict with the Palestinians, but rather with who we are and what values we hold. The minister of education needs to understand once and for all that a democracy does not mean a majority-led tyranny without limitations, but a system of values and the rule of law, which the Supreme Court safeguards. Its shameful that this is what the minister of education chooses to say on the first day of school.

In her response to the decision, Minister of Justice Ayelet Shaked (Bayit Yehudi) also stressed the role that she believes political officials should take in the matter. Over the last year and a half, the Ministries of Defense and Justice have been working to settle any disputes regarding the settlements that they could, with the State finding that in the matter of Way of the Patriarchs, it is indeed possible (to settle it). The Supreme Courts decision came after a change in State policy, led by the political echelon. Its decision prefers procedure over substance, while ignoring the complex reality of the area. I will work with the Ministry of defense so that it allocates all available resources to promote an initial registration process that should allow the houses to be registered. Initial registration may be the circumstantial change that would allow the State to file a request to stop the houses from being demolished.
Despite leading a massacre of his own people, over the last five years, Syrian President Bashar al-Assad has made it a point to present a business as usual front while the Syrian civil war continues on. And so, while close to half a million people have been killed in the conflict and five million have been displaced, Assads regime persists in publishing propaganda, as an attempt to divert the worlds attention from the crisis. An extreme example of this was recently issued by the Syrian Ministry of Tourism, which put out a video presenting Syria as a prime tourist destination.

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Syria  Always Beautiful is the tagline for the video, which spans close to two minutes and features an aerial shot of Syrias beaches while soothing techno music pierces the listeners ears. The coastline shot in the video is under the control of the Alawites, an ethnic group that Assads family belongs to. The beaches featured appear to be the Latakia and Tartus beaches.

The Syrian Tourism Ministry's video

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The video was greeted with ridicule by the rest of the Arab world. Who is the Syrian Tourism Ministry laughing at?! read the headline of Kuwaiti newspaper Al Qabas, which wondered why the ministry chose not to show photos from other, less scenic regions of the country.





A still from the video

Syria's coastline as featured in the video

The video's tagline





Footage from the destruction caused by an attack in Aleppo, earlier this month (Photo: AFP)

An injured man from an attack in Aleppo (Photo: Reuters)

Over the past few months, the Syrian Tourism Ministry has begun to upload similar videos to its Facebook page. Another such video features a race car driving through the streets of Damascus, as the tagline read that the wheel of life continues moving.
Settlers from the Way of the Patriarchs outpost in the Gush Etzion cluster are speaking out against Thursdays Supreme Court President Miriam Naor's decision to demolish the settlement, built illegally on private Palestinian land. There is no justification for destroying the neighborhood, said a resident in regard to the ruling. Immediately following the decision, officials from the rightincluding Justice Minister Ayelet Shaked (Bayit Yehudi)came out against it and vowed to try and stop the demolition.

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We came here for no other reason than to settle the land, said resident Gil Bar Lev, whose house is among those scheduled to be demolished. This is a very diverse religious neighborhood. Were going to fight this, and hopefully the State will be able to rectify matters, perhaps through the solutions that Justice Minister Ayelet Shaked will come up with.

The Way of the Patriarchs oupost in the cluster of Gush Etzion

We have families and children here, said another resident, who acknowledged that since the private lands belonging to Palestinians run directly through the illegally built outpost, it will need to be completely torn down. This is truly a travesty. Its the sort of thing that can scar you for life.

A children's playground in the Way of the Patriarchs outpost

Gush Etzion Regional Council Head Davidi Pearl emphasized that the Way of the Patriarchs has already taken root in its current location. This neighborhood has existed here for more than 15 years, and is considered an outpost whose existence should already have been settled, he said. Destroying the Way of the Patriarchs is akin to destroying any other neighborhood in Israel without justification. It is a miserable ruling. For reasons that are unclear, the Supreme Court is bypassing the Knesset and government, despite the fact that the (compromise) proposals that have been suggested have garnered legal support. The Supreme Court is taking a blatant political stance here. Im not giving up, but unfortunately, the prime minister lacks the spine and the courage to stand up to the Supreme Court and say, Were going to bypass you in cases like this. I call on the government to come to its senses and find a solution to this great struggle that is before us.

Many of the outposts residents, who preferred to remain anonymous, described the impending demolition as a travesty that can be avoided without an evacuation. Almost all of them recalled the story of Amonas violent forced evacuation and the possible evacuation of nine houses in the settlement of Ofra . When you string all of these evacuations together, its as if those of us living in the settlements are waiting to hear on whose door the Supreme Court will knock next. This has to stop.
BEIRUT -- Turkish-backed Syrian rebels seized several villages from Islamic State on Saturday near Turkey's border with Syria, in further advances against the jihadist group, the insurgents and monitors said.

The Hamza Brigade, a group fighting under the banner of the Free Syrian Army, said it had taken control of Arab Ezza, a village near which Turkish warplanes carried out air strikes on Friday.

A source in the Failaq al-Sham rebel group said FSA factions had also captured the villages of Fursan, Lilawa, Kino and Najma just south of Arab Ezza.

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights monitoring group confirmed that the rebels had taken several villages.
The flow of Israelis vacationing abroad is set to continue, and preparations are being made for September 29, which is set to be the most crowded day at Ben Gurion Airport ever.

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Over the record-breaking summer, over 4 million passengers have passed through the airport on international flights. According to the Israel Airports Authority's (IAA) forecast, September should see 1.73 million passengers, an increase of 6% from September 2015.

September 29 is expected to be the busiest day in the airport's history in part because that is the date that flights will begin to transport Breslover Hassidim on their annual pilgrimage to his grave in Uman, Ukraine. That is also the date of a rush of holidaymakers who will be leaving the country for the Rosh Hashanah holiday.

Crowds this summer at Ben Gurion Airport (Photo: Lior Paz)

The IAA expects some 90,000 passengers on 540 international flights that day. The busiest day thus far this summer saw 87,000 passengers.

In preparation for the crowds, the IAA recommends that passengers check in online before coming to the airport and to arrive three hours before the scheduled flight departure. Ben Gurion provides automated border checks, which passengers can go through on exiting the plane.
DETROIT  Donald Trump swayed to songs of prayer, read scripture, and wore a traditional prayer shawl Saturday on a visit to a predominantly black church in Detroit, as he called for a "civil rights agenda of our time" and vowed to fix the "many wrongs" facing black Americans.

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"I am here to listen to you," Trump told the congregation at the Great Faith Ministries International. "I am here to learn."

Trump has stepped up his appeals to minority voters in recent weeks, but the visit was the first time Trump has addressed a largely black audience since winning the Republican nomination.

Trump was introduced by Bishop Wayne T. Jackson, who wrapped a tallit, a traditional Jewish prayer shawl, around Trump and told his congregation that, "This is the first African-American church he's been in, y'all! Now it's a little different from a Presbyterian church!"

Seated next to him in the front row was Omarosa Manigault, a former contestant on Trump's reality television series, who has helped to guide his outreach to the black community. Also accompanying him was Detroit native Ben Carson, the retired neurosurgeon who ran against Trump in the primaries and is now advising the campaign.

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While protesters were a vocal presence outside, Trump made a pitch inside for support from an electorate strongly aligned with Democrat Hillary Clinton.

"I want to help you build and rebuild Detroit," he said. "I fully understand that the African-American community has suffered from discrimination and there are many wrongs that should be made right."

He also said the nation needs "a civil rights agenda of our time," with better education and good jobs.

Unlike his usual campaign stops where he confidently has addressed mostly white crowds that supported him and his plans for the country, Trump's visit to Detroit on Saturday was intended to be more intimate.

Some protesters tried to push through a barrier to the parking lot but were stopped by church security and police.

Rev. Horace Sheffield who led a march from his church blocks away said: "I walked up to the gate and said I was going to church. I was immediately confronted and was told I needed a ticket. You need a ticket to get in church? Anybody who is in this church should be appalled."

Ahead of his trip, Toni McIlwain said she believes that as a candidate, Trump has a right to go anywhere he wants. But, she said, it takes a lot of nerve for him to visit Detroit.

Many black people in the city, she said, are still stung by his stop in Michigan last month, when he went before a mostly white audience and declared, "You live in your poverty, your schools are no good, you have no jobs, 58 percent of your youth is unemployed." He asked, rhetorically, what blacks had to lose by voting for him instead of Clinton.

"People picked up on" Trump saying "you're all just crap," said McIlwain, who for years ran a community center that offered education and drug prevention programs in one of Detroit's most distressed neighborhoods.

"He generalized the total black community. How dare you talk to us like that and talk about us like that?" she said.

But the risky nature of the visit was underscored by what appeared to be unusually cautious planning by the Trump campaign.

On Thursday, The New York Times published what it said was a script of pre-approved questions Trump would be asked in his interview with Jackson, along with prepared answers.

Jackson told CNN on Friday that he "didn't see anything wrong" with clearing his questions with the campaign and hadn't offered softballs. Trump's intention was to meet and speak with local residents while he's in town "because he's been criticized," Jackson said, "for preaching to African-Americans from a backdrop of white people."

Among the members of the clergy denouncing Trump's visit was the Rev. Lawrence Glass, who said Trump's heart was not into helping blacks.

Glass said Trump represents "politics of fear and hate" and that "minorities of all kinds have much to lose taking a chance on someone like" Trump.

After the church visit, Trump made a brief stop at Carson's childhood home in southwest Detroit. Surrounded by security and a swarm of reporters, Trump spoke briefly with the home's current owner, Felicia Reese, wishing her luck.

"Your house is worth a lot of money." he told her, thanks to the Carson connection.

For Trump, courting black voters is a challenge. Most polls show his support among black voters is in the low single digits. Many blacks view some of his campaign rhetoric as insulting, and racist.

Detroit is about 80 percent black, and many are struggling. Nearly 40 percent of residents are impoverished, compared with about 15 percent of Americans overall. Detroit's median household income is just over $26,000not even half the median for the nation, according to the census.

The city's unemployment rate has dropped, but is still among the highest in the nation. And public school students have lagged behind their peers on statewide standardized tests.
UPDATED, Sept. 6: The following information about the candidates for sheriff in the state primary -- set for Thursday, Sept. 8, from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. -- was provided by Lori Kenschaft, coordinator, Mass Incarceration Working Group, First Parish Unitarian Universalist of Arlington. In photo, Kelleher is at left:

Sheriffs are elected officials whose philosophies and everyday decisions have enormous impact on how jails and houses of correction operate, how well or poorly people are treated within those walls and how prepared people are to return to the community afterward. Most citizens, though, pay very little attention to these elections.

The Criminal Justice Policy Coalition has county-by-county information about sheriff candidates >>

Facing off in Middlesex County are incumbent Peter J. Koutoujian of Waltham and Barry S. Kelleher of Wilmington, both Democrats. There are no Republican candidates.

Some candidates filled out a questionnaire for sheriff candidates. If a candidates name has a link, click on it to see their answers.

In the long run, I believe that creating good alternatives to mass incarceration will require more attention to who we elect as district attorneys (whose decisions determine who gets prosecuted for what-- which can affect the rest of people's lives, whether or not they are found guilty) and members of the Governor's Council (which selects members of the Parole Board), as well as sheriffs. This year the Criminal Justice Policy Coalition is focusing on the sheriff races, and I hope you'll take advantage of the resources theyve created.

The League of Women Voters of Newton filmed candidates' forums for the sheriff and Governors Council races. NewTV is showing these forums, and I believe they will eventually become available as video-on-demand. To see them, look for "Decision 2016" >>

Also, while I cannot publicly support or oppose any candidate, I can share information about them. The completed questionnaire from Peter Koutoujian (the current sheriff) is below and his campaign website is here >>

Barry Kelleher, the other Middlesex candidate, said he would fill out the questionnaire and added, "My only question for your group would be if you support black lives matter?

I happened to be the liaison for the Middlesex County questionnaires, and in my reply I explained that I was representing a coalition of groups and could not speak for them, but my personal belief is: "I believe that black people are equally children of God and have an equal right to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness, so yes, I believe that black lives matter.

"I also firmly believe that no one should be subjected to violence because of the group they belong to, and that includes police officers as well as groups defined by race, ethnicity, gender, etc. As a white person myself, I believe there is no contradiction between wanting justice for black people and wanting justice for everyone."

We have not heard from Kelleher since then, despite several attempts to reach him, so no questionnaire from him is available. If you would like more information about Kellehers campaign, check out his website >>

Questionnaire for 2016 Middlesex County Candidates for Sheriff

Dear Candidates for Sheriff of Middlesex County,

Please answer these questions in whatever format is most convenient for you.

Thank you for participating in the democratic process by running for office and sharing your thoughts and opinions with the public!



1. How would you describe your corrections philosophy?

I believe there is a window of opportunity to address the factors that led to an individual's incarceration. I have focused my efforts on preparing this population to return to their communities better than when they entered the Middlesex House of Correction.



2. What are the three experiences or qualities that you believe most qualify you for being Sheriff of Middlesex County?

 I have held the position of Sheriff of Middlesex County for the past five years.

 An overwhelming percentage of those serving sentences at the Middlesex House of Correction suffer from mental health and substance use issues. My experience in the Legislature where I served in leadership including as Chairman of the Health Care Committee, the Public Health Committee and the Financial Services Committee has been an invaluable resource in this position.

 During my first term, the Middlesex Sheriff's Office gained accreditation from the American Correctional Association, a recognition that is bestowed upon the "best of the best" in the field of corrections. This was a major undertaking and an important recognition for the office.



3. [For Barry Kelleher] What policies of the current Sheriff would you change and why?



4. Do you believe the current Middlesex County House of Correction (HOC) and jail are sufficient for the needs of the county? If not, why not? How would you recommend changing or expanding the existing facilities? Would you recommend building new facilities?

Yes. As buildings are aging some structural improvements may be necessary in order to maintain constitutionally required standards of living.



5. Your views on transparency: If elected/re-elected, will you issue annual reports that include information on public accreditation findings, Prison Rape Elimination Act audits, suicides, and lawsuits against the Sheriff's Department (whether filed by prisoners, employees, attorneys or family members)?

After my first year at the Middlesex Sheriff's Office, I published an inaugural year in review which is available on the Middlesex Sheriff's Office website. I am also in the midst of drafting a first term review, which we plan to release at the end of my first term.

Last summer, for the first time in the history of the Middlesex Sheriff's Office we were accredited by the American Correctional Association, receiving 100% on 400 mandatory and non-mandatory criteria. We have also begun the accreditation process for the National Commission on Correctional Health Care.

The Middlesex Sheriff's Office website also contains PREA audits and all in custody deaths are reported to the US Department of Justice.

6. Impact of legislation or statewide administrative policies:

a. Do you support legislation or policy changes that could result in fewer people sentenced to incarceration in the Middlesex County HOC? If so, please give examples.

Yes. I am a founding member of Law Enforcement Leaders to Reduce Crime and Incarceration, a national organization comprised of leaders dedicated to this mission.

I also served as a member of the bipartisan Council of State Governments Justice Center Working Group, which was formed by Governor Baker, Senate President Rosenberg and Speaker DeLeo to make recommendations on ways to improve our criminal justice laws to lower incarceration rates.

I have frequently expressed support for initiatives that would lower the incarceration rate in Massachusetts and across the country both at the Massachusetts State House and in Washington, DC.

b. Do you support legislation or policy changes that could result in fewer people held pretrial in the Middlesex County jail? If so, please give examples.

Yes. I believe strongly in pre-arraignment diversion for those suffering from mental illness and pretrial diversion for low risk offenders suffering from substance use disorders. I am also a proponent of using a validated risk assessment tool, which has proven to lower pretrial incarceration rates in many other jurisdictions.

c. Do you support legislation or policy changes that could result in more people sentenced to incarceration in the Middlesex County HOC? If so, please give examples.

No.

d. Do you support legislation or policy changes that could result in more people held pretrial in the Middlesex County jail? If so, please give examples.

No.

6. Do you think it is appropriate to confine people who have not been convicted of any offense for drug or alcohol treatment at a HOC, instead of being sent to a community- based healthcare facility? Why or why not?

No. Please see above

8. Your views on the basics of incarceration:

a. How do you think pre-trial and sentenced prisoners should primarily spend their time?

Aggressive programming. I believe we must use the window of opportunity to address the factors that led to people's criminal behavior. The Middlesex Sheriff's Office offers programs to target what led to individual's crime in an effort to better prepare them for when they return home.

b. What educational opportunities currently exist in the Middlesex County HOC? At the jail? Are there waiting lists to participate? Do you support increasing or decreasing those opportunities?

There are a wide variety of educational opportunities available at the Middlesex Sheriff's Office, from HiSET testing to vocational certifications and training opportunities.

We are also actively engaged with local community colleges as well to develop initiatives to meet the educational needs of offenders looking to obtain college credits. There are no waiting lists to participate in these programs, and I believe they should be increased.

c. What employment/job training opportunities exist in the Middlesex County HOC? At the jail? Are there waiting lists to participate? Do you support increasing or decreasing those opportunities?

The Middlesex Sheriff's Office has robust vocational and job training opportunities developed for CORI friendly industries. These programs include certifications in culinary arts, environmentally friendly custodial work and digital printing. There are no waiting lists to participate in these programs, and I believe they should be increased.

d. What mental health/substance use disorder services exist in the Middlesex County HOC? At the jail? Are there waiting lists to participate? Do you support increasing or decreasing those services?

Given the exceptionally high rates of inmates suffering from mental health and substance use issues at the House of Correction, everyone who enters the facility receives a medical screening. From that day on, case managers and medical staff continually monitor each individual to constantly assess each person's progress. Medical staff is on call 24 hours a day to address the needs of those in custody.

The Middlesex Sheriff's Office offers numerous services to address the issues of mental health and substance use. We have achieved recognition as a national mentoring site by the Bureau of Justice Assistance for their Residential Substance Abuse Treatment for State Prisoners (RSAT) program. We were chosen by the Office of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP) to be a lead presenter at the White House during a national conference to discuss our Medication Assisted Treatment and Directed Opioid Recovery (MATADOR) Program, which focuses on individualized treatment plans for participants utilizing Vivitrol. We utilize evidence based cognitive behavioral therapy throughout our substance use programming.

There are no waiting lists to participate in these programs, and I believe they should be increased.

Recently, we were invited by President Obama's Office of Public Engagement to participant in a panel discussion at the White House led by the Center for American Progress on the issue of mental health in places of incarceration.

The Middlesex Sheriff's Office has a regional Evaluation and Stabilization Unit (ESU), which serves those most in need of mental health treatment.

There are no waiting lists to participate in these programs, and I believe they should be increased.

e. What personal growth programs (parenting, anti-violence, etc.) exist in the Middlesex County HOC? At the jail? Are there waiting lists to participate? Do you support increasing or decreasing these opportunities?

During my tenure as Sheriff we have expanded many of these types of programs including parenting classes with curriculums set by Cornell University, family literacy, as well as anti-violence programs for those convicted of crimes involving domestic violence.

There are no waiting lists to participate in these programs, and I believe they should be increased.

9. What are your views on isolating prisoners (sometimes called segregation or solitary confinement) as punishment for violating HOC/jail rules?

The Middlesex Sheriff's Office does not utilize solitary confinement or isolation. The restrictive housing unit protocol has strict policies in place which include being evaluated daily by staff, constant assessments by the Superintendent to determine their ability to leave the unit, daily access to caseworkers and medical professionals and recreation time. All programs and services available to inmates in general population are available to those in restrictive housing.

Our philosophy is to move those in this unit back into general population as quickly as possible.

10. Your views on re-entry and recidivism:

a. If elected/re-elected, how would you ensure that prisoners leaving in the Middlesex County HOC have the best chance for successfully returning to their communities? By addressing the factors that led to their incarceration?

For the majority of these individuals, their crime was fueled by an addiction to drugs or alcohol. During my tenure, the Middlesex Sheriff's Office has dramatically expanded its approach to drug treatment. Examples include:

 Expanding vendor services for the drug treatment pod;

 Enrolling inmates in MassHealth pre-release to ensure continuity of care;

 Implementing a medication assisted treatment program with a treatment recovery navigator who remains in contact with participants for six months post release; and

 Establishing a speaker's series that focuses on recovery and the real life impacts of addiction and the power of recovery.

b. What is the current rate of recidivism for prisoners leaving in the Middlesex County HOC? What would you do to reduce that rate?

28.5%

While I am extremely proud of the efficacious programming we provide to those individuals in our care, custody and control, we only have them for a limited period of time. I believe that society can significantly reduce recidivism by providing more substantial support for those leaving us and reentering their communities.

11. While we understand that women are not currently held in the Middlesex County system, we are interested in your views on incarcerated women:

a. Should gender-specific medical care and education be provided?

Yes.

b. Should women purchase their own feminine hygiene products or should the HOC/jail provide them?

I believe these products should be provided by the HOC/jail.

c. Should the HOC/jail promote or facilitate meaningful contact with a woman's children? If so, how?

I believe that HOC/jail should promote meaningful contact with children. Women are five times more likely to be the primary caregiver of their children then men. As such, the impact of incarceration on these families is much more significant.

Despite the fact that the Middlesex Sheriff's Office does not house incarcerated women we have worked aggressively with MCI-Framingham to provide increased opportunities for this population, never offered before including casework services, opportunities to participate in our Electronic Monitoring Program and targeted counseling for those who have been the victims of domestic violence and human trafficking.

d. Are you familiar with the 2014 legislation on pregnant and post-partum prisoners (M.G.L. chapter 127, section 118)?

Yes.

e. Do you support House bill, H.3679, "An Act to Ensure Compliance with the Anti-Shackling Law for Pregnant Incarcerated Women"?

Yes.

12. What do you think should be the policy on videotaping strip searches of prisoners?

Every effort should made to maintain dignity and privacy while conducting any search. Additionally, the Middlesex Sheriff's Office was successfully audited for federal Prison Rape Elimination Act (PREA) compliance, which reviewed policies regarding strip searches.

13. Has a complaint or lawsuit ever been filed against you for excessive force, a civil rights violation, discrimination, or abuse of your authority? If so, please provide details and the outcome of the complaint/lawsuit.

As with any correctional facility Middlesex Sheriff's Office has pending litigation.

This information, which includes opinion, was published Saturday, Sept. 3, 2016, and updated Sept. 6, to add a video link.
(c) 2016, The Washington Post.

RALEIGH, N.C. - The emails to the North Carolina election board seemed routine at the time.

"Is there any way to get a breakdown of the 2008 voter turnout, by race (white and black) and type of vote (early and Election Day)?" a staffer for the state's Republican-controlled legislature asked in January 2012.

"Is there no category for 'Hispanic' voter?" a GOP lawmaker asked in March 2013 after requesting a range of data, including how many voters cast ballots outside their precinct.

And in April 2013, a top aide to the Republican House speaker asked for "a breakdown, by race, of those registered voters in your database that do not have a driver's license number."

Months later, the North Carolina legislature passed a law that cut a week of early voting, eliminated out-of-precinct voting and required voters to show specific types of photo ID - restrictions that election board data demonstrated would disproportionately affect African Americans and other minorities.

Critics dubbed it the "monster" law - a sprawling measure that stitched together various voting restrictions being tested in other states. As civil rights groups have sued to block the North Carolina law and others like it around the country, several thousand pages of documents have been produced under court order, revealing the details of how Republicans crafted these measures.

A review of these documents shows that North Carolina GOP leaders launched a meticulous and coordinated effort to deter black voters, who overwhelmingly vote for Democrats. The law, created and passed entirely by white legislators, evoked the state's ugly history of blocking African-Americans from voting - practices that had taken a civil rights movement and extensive federal intervention to stop.

Last month, a three-judge federal appeals panel struck down the North Carolina law, calling it "the most restrictive voting law North Carolina has seen since the era of Jim Crow." Drawing from the emails and other evidence, the 83-page ruling charged that Republican lawmakers had targeted "African-Americans with almost surgical precision."

Gov. Pat McCrory (R) filed an emergency petition to restore the law, but a deadlocked Supreme Court on Wednesday refused his stay request, meaning the law will not be in effect for the Nov. 8 election. Because the lower court did not offer specific guidelines for reinstating early voting, however, local election boards run by Republicans are still trying to curb access to the polls.

In lengthy interviews, GOP leaders insisted their law is not racially motivated and their goal was to combat voter fraud. They called their opponents demagogues, who are using the specter of racism to inflame the issue.

The Rev. William Barber II, president of North Carolina's NAACP chapter, said the policies enacted by the law speak for themselves.

"You didn't hear about fraud in North Carolina until blacks started voting in large numbers," said Barber, who has also led a series of large protests against the law. "Then all of a sudden, there's a problem with how people are voting."

Longtime Republican consultant Carter Wrenn, a fixture in North Carolina politics, said the GOP's voter fraud argument is nothing more than an excuse.

"Of course it's political. Why else would you do it?" he said, explaining that Republicans, like any political party, want to protect their majority.
As the food industry continues to consolidate into fewer, bigger players, the price risk it once hedged in Chicago and New York futures markets is being pushed back onto the very farmers and ranchers it buys from.

The reason is simple: the Big Boys have the market power to do it.

After decades of Big Ags talk about how farmers and ranchers needed to become part of an industrial supply chain, so many are, in fact, now linked to that chain that local and regional cash markets  where sellers and buyers meet to establish prices  are becoming extinct.

Thats the problem with chained producers: there just isnt enough un-chained production left to ensure transparent markets.

The Wall Street Journal highlighted this change in an Aug. 16 story titled Welcome to the Meat Casino! The Cattle Futures Market Descends Into Chaos. The key problem, it explained, is that the trading of physical cattle has become so scant that the futures market cant get the signals it needs to set prices.

American cowboys arent the only ones to see their markets shot out from under them. On Aug. 29, the Journal published another eulogy of sorts for orange juice futures, the decades-long poster child for the high-risk world of commodity futures trading.

Todays thin OJ trading  its down by more than two-thirds since 1997  means that there are too few (trades) to be of much use to producers or buyers hoping to hedge their exposure in the market, noted the article.

The same goes for Chicagos famous pork belly futures. As Big Meat extended its reach all the way down to the farm through either direct ownership or contract production, meatpackers stopped trading pork belly futures. They stopped because they didnt need to; they already owned the contracted hog and its price was locked in at birth. Belly futures died shortly thereafter, in July 2011.

A similar change has been underway in the cattle market for more than a decade. In 2005, explained the Journal, about 60 percent of all cattle sold in the U.S. were sold in cash markets. The remainder was sold through either forward contracts, formula prices (with a cash price as the basis of the formula) or a negotiated grid price.

Today, cash markets are less than 25 percent of all sales while formula-priced cattle are now more than 50 percent. The other two sales mechanisms, grid and forward contracts, havent grown as much as formula pricing but continue to be used.

That means over 75 percent of all U.S. cattle sales are now made outside any observable cash market.

That also means that hardly anyone in the marketplace  excluding the big meatpackers who developed and use the formula, grid, and forward contracting methods  has any idea what the value of any animal is because theres no cash market big enough anywhere on any day of any week for anyone to find out.

So how do cattlemen know whats a fair price when they sell cattle?

We call the one or two packers in our region, a South Dakota cattle-feeding friend related in a Tuesday telephone interview, and we take what they give us. Then we start crying.

What else can they do? With no working cash markets anywhere, there can be no workable futures contracts elsewhere. Thus the CME Group Inc.s (the former Chicago Mercantile Exchange) likely exit from the cattle futures business. Its just too risky  too thin  without any cash market underpinning it for even the wildest speculator to trade it.

That departure, however, virtually guarantees that independent cattlemen will be even more at the mercy of Big Meat. How, after all, can the big meatpackers determine what to pay for their formula-, contract- and grid-purchased cattle if theres neither a cash nor futures market to set the price?

Oh, says my South Dakota friend, Theyll do what theyve been doing for the last coupla of years; theyll just make it up.
News

Washington, DC - President Barack Obama: "At this challenging time of President Islom Karimovs passing, the United States reaffirms its support for the people of Uzbekistan. This week, I congratulated President Karimov and the people of Uzbekistan on their countrys 25 years of independence.

"As Uzbekistan begins a new chapter in its history, the United States remains committed to partnership with Uzbekistan, to its sovereignty, security, and to a future based on the rights of all its citizens."
One of Lincoln's most-requested businesses, Costco, has finally found a location in Lincoln it likes after years of searching, but it's not one that the people living in the area like so much.

Based on a Wednesday night neighborhood meeting, I anticipate heavy resistance to Costco's plans to put a store near the corner of 14th Street and Pine Lake Road.

And to be honest, it seems like a strange spot for a big-box store. On one side, you have cemetery, and the site is basically two blocks from two schools.

Costco officials explained Wednesday night why they like the site. It is close to SouthPointe Pavilions, meaning people are already in the area to shop -- not that Costco wouldn't be able to draw people on its own.

It also wants to be on the south side of town because, as one official put it, "Costco merchandise appeals to a more affluent shopper." You can't get much more affluent than the 68512 zip code, which is one of the top 10 wealthiest in Nebraska.

Rumors have had Costco looking at 84th and Nebraska 2, 84th and Van Dorn, 40th and Yankee Hill Road, 52nd and O streets and even 10th and Pioneers, next door to the state penitentiary.

It's obvious the company wants to put one of its warehouse stores in Lincoln.

Brian Whelan, who helps Costco with site selection, told neighbors at Wednesday night's meeting that the company has looked at "many different sites over the years" in Lincoln.

"It's a great market," Whelan said. "The fact that we're just showing up now is not for lack of trying."

Whether Costco finally gets its Lincoln site or has to go back to the drawing board will be determined in the coming months.

The economics of beer distribution

The popular thing these days for industries that want to promote themselves and show people how important they are to the economy is to hire an economist to do a study.

The latest group to do that is the National Beer Wholesalers Association, which is releasing its report just in time for Labor Day (which I'm assuming is a major beer-drinking holiday).

According to the report, titled, "America's Beer Distributors: Fueling Jobs, Generating Economic Growth & Delivering Value to Local Communities, more than 3,000 beer distribution facilities directly employ 135,000 men and women in communities across the country.

In Nebraska, according to the report, beer distribution facilities employ 838 people and pay more than $61 million annually in wages.

The state's beer distributors add $366.3 million to the nation's gross domestic product, according to the report, and pay $63.2 million to the federal, state and local tax bases, a number that does not include an added $83 million in federal, state and local alcohol excise and consumption taxes on beer sold in Nebraska.

So if you are cracking open a cold one this weekend, remember that you are helping the economy.

A listing of lists

I've taken to using this column to chronicle "best of" lists that include Lincoln or Nebraska, and even though I usually write about one Biz Bits column every couple of months, it seems lately I always have at least a couple of lists to mention, and this time is no different.

Among the latest rankings:

* One of the 15 best cities in the U.S. for apartment living, according to Apartment Advisor (https://www.apartmentadvisor.com/blog/15-best-cities-in-the-us-for-apartment-living/)

* Fifteenth best city for renters, according to WalletHub (https://wallethub.com/edu/best-cities-for-renters/23010/)

Best of the Buzz

Excerpts from recent Biz Buzz posts:

* Phat Jack's BBQ is opening a second location at 101 S.W. 14th St. (essentially 14th and West O). According to Phat Jack's Facebook page, the new location will have a liquor license and serve beer and wine.

* Which Wich, a Dallas-based sandwich chain, opened its first Lincoln location at Sixth and P streets earlier this week.

* Jake's Cigars & Spirits has been working since early August on remodeling the former Doozy's space next door. Jake's says on its Facebook page that the space will have a second bar with more taps as well as a non-smoking section. No word on when it will be open.
Latest News

Washington, DC - Today, President Barack Obama met with President Xi Jinping of China for a bilateral meeting on the margins of the G20 Leaders Summit in Hangzhou, China. The two heads of state exchanged views on a range of global, regional, and bilateral subjects. President Obama and President Xi affirmed their commitment to work together to constructively manage differences and decided to expand and deepen cooperation in the following areas.

Addressing Global and Regional Challenges

Peacekeeping  Recognizing the critical role UN-mandated peacekeepers serve in maintaining international peace and security, the United States and China decided to collaborate in building the peacekeeping capacity of third-country partners and committed to work jointly with the UN to ensure that appropriate arrangements are in place to effectuate rapid deployment of such forces. The United States reaffirmed its commitment to provide engineering support and access to U.S. airlift, sealift, and other logistics support to UN peacekeeping operations where there is an urgent need that the United States is uniquely positioned to address. China announced its intention, in conjunction with the establishment of its 8000-person standby peacekeeping force, to make certain units deployable within 60 days. Both sides look forward to a detailed discussion before the end of 2016 to build peacekeeping capacity with African regional partners.

Refugees  The United States and China expressed grave concern over the increasing numbers of refugees globally. China appreciates the U.S. hosting of a Summit on Refugees and commends the new contributions to be announced by the United States to protect and assist refugees. The United States welcomes the new contributions to be announced by China to support UN refugee efforts.

Maritime Risk Reduction and Cooperation  In support of the 2015 Presidential-level commitment to establish rules of behavior between the U.S. Coast Guard and China Coast Guard, both sides decided to reference the rules of behavior confidence building measures annex on surface-to-surface encounters in the November 2014 Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between the U.S. Department of Defense and Chinese Ministry of Defense when developing the U.S. Coast Guard-China Coast Guard rules of behavior MOU. Recognizing the importance of reducing the risk of accidents, improving navigational safety, and promoting professional standards of behavior, the two sides committed to finalize the U.S. Coast Guard-China Coast Guard rules of behavior MOU as soon as possible. The United States and China decided to host the negotiation meetings in rotation and to hold the third experts meeting between the U.S. Coast Guard and China Coast Guard in late September 2016. Both sides commended cooperation to date and reached consensus to finalize an MOU on maritime law enforcement cooperation between Coast Guards at an early date.

Iraq  The United States and China reaffirmed their shared interest in a stable Iraq and expressed support for the Iraqi Governments efforts to implement reforms and combat terrorism. The two sides expressed deep concern over the humanitarian situation, and are willing to provide increased assistance to Iraq and improve coordination.

Space Cooperation  The United States and China recognized that space debris can be catastrophic to satellite and human spaceflight, and that, due to the global dependence on space-based capabilities, the creation of space debris can seriously affect all nations. Therefore, as two Permanent Members of the UN Security Council with major space programs, the United States and China committed to intensify cooperation to address the common challenge of the creation of space debris and to promote cooperation on this issue in the international community. Both sides decided to work further on the basis of their inaugural Space Security Exchange held in May 2016 to expand consensus and to hold the second round of the Space Security Exchange before the end of 2016.

Afghanistan  The United States and China reaffirmed their commitment to a peaceful, stable, and prosperous Afghanistan and decided to expand their areas of cooperation in support of the Afghan government. The two sides will continue to work together, including in the Quadrilateral Coordination Group, to support an Afghan-led, Afghan-owned peace process. The two sides expressed their intent to participate in and support the EU-hosted Brussels Conference on Afghanistan on October 5, 2016. The United States and China are willing to communicate on counterterrorism assistance according to the willingness and needs of the Afghan government. The two sides decided to enhance existing U.S.-China capacity-building programs for the Afghan government by extending cooperation to the disaster management sector.

Nuclear Security and Liability  The United States and China decided to continue to deepen their cooperation on issues related to nuclear security and liability. Both sides committed to reach consensus on the arrangements necessary to implement fully the provisions of the U.S.-China Agreement for Cooperation Concerning Peaceful Uses of Nuclear Energy. Both sides committed to work with Ghana and the International Atomic Energy Agency to complete the conversion of the miniature neutron source reactor in Ghana from highly enriched uranium to low enriched uranium fuel as soon as possible. The United States and China jointly committed to support Nigerian efforts to convert its miniature neutron source reactor as early as possible and to convert the remaining highly enriched uranium-fueled miniature neutron source reactor located in China. The two sides concur on the importance of establishing a global nuclear liability regime, and commit to strengthening communication and exchanges on the regime. The United States and China decided to hold a dialogue on deepening cooperation on countering nuclear smuggling in Beijing in October 2016.

Combating Wildlife Trafficking  The United States and China underscored the importance and urgency of combating wildlife trafficking and are taking actions to protect the African elephant, including by imposing nearly complete bans on the commercial trade in elephant ivory. The United States implemented its commitments on nearly complete bans on the import, export, and domestic commercial trade in ivory in July 2016. China enacted bans on import of ivory and its products in March 2016 and committed to publish a timetable to halt its domestic commercial trade of ivory by the end of 2016.

Oceans Cooperation  The United States and China affirmed their commitment to work with other relevant governments toward reaching an instrument to prevent unregulated commercial fishing in the high seas of the Central Arctic Ocean by the end of 2016. To further cooperation between the United States and China on polar and ocean matters, both sides decided to facilitate cooperative and mutually beneficial science-related activities in both the Arctic and Antarctic. The two sides pledged to hold the Eighth Annual Dialogue on the Law of the Sea and Polar Issues in the United States in 2017.

Strengthening Development Cooperation: In 2016, the United States and China have worked under the cooperative principle raised, agreed and led by recipient countries to strengthen our development cooperation, following the signing in 2015 of a Memorandum of Understanding. The MOU provides a framework for better communication and cooperation to help achieve our shared development objectives, including ending poverty and hunger, promoting sustainable development, and implementing the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. In April 2016, the United States and China held the first ever U.S.-China Development Cooperation Annual Meeting.

Africa Center for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC): The United States and China reaffirmed a commitment to work with the African Union and its member states to advance the Africa CDC and sustain support for the Africa CDC. Both sides committed to finalize a memorandum of understanding by the end of 2016 among relevant government partners that further promotes the success of U.S.-China cooperation to support the Africa CDC. The two sides also intend to cooperate with the African Union to support the planning and operations of the Africa CDC; in collaboration with Africa CDC plan the implementation of activities; strengthen technical capacity; jointly implement public health trainings; and accelerate the capacity of African public health experts. The two sides are committed to strengthen exchanges and cooperation among Chinese, African, and American health experts in disease control and prevention and share respective experiences.

Global Health and Global Health Security: The United States and China reaffirmed their decision to enhance concrete cooperation in public health and global health security. The two sides decided to continue to make contributions and strengthen their support to the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis, and Malaria, and participate in the fifth replenishment conference on September 16, 2016. Both sides reaffirmed their support to advance the implementation of the World Health Organization (WHO) International Health Regulations. They also encouraged voluntary participation in WHO Joint External Evaluation. The two sides reaffirmed their commitment to support the goals and objectives of the Global Health Security Agenda (GHSA) under the framework of WHO International Health Regulations. Both countries intend to enhance cooperation on anti-microbial resistance and other concerns. The two countries decided to strengthen African countries public health capacity, including continuing post-Ebola cooperation in Sierra Leone and Liberia through training in areas including field epidemiology and laboratory systems and responding to health emergencies such as the Yellow Fever outbreak.

Food Security and Nutrition: The United States and China reaffirmed their support for the African Unions Comprehensive African Agriculture Development Program (CAADP) to meet its goals to promote food security across the continent. The two countries also decided to explore cooperation on climate smart agriculture in Africa. The two sides committed to finalize plans for trilateral cooperation on aquaculture with the government of Timor-Leste in the fall.

Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Response: The United States and China reaffirmed their commitment to support nations affected by El Nino and La Nina-related climate disasters. Both sides decided to increase their resource contributions to mechanisms supporting drought-affected countries in the Horn of Africa, including through the World Food Program. The two sides also reaffirmed their commitment to continue cooperating on search and rescue capacity-building via the International Search and Rescue Advisory Group.

Multilateral Institutions: The United States and China intend to continue their cooperation with international institutions to tackle key global development challenges.

Clean Energy Cooperation : Under the framework of the Development Cooperation Annual Meeting between the United States Agency for International Development and the Ministry of Commerce of China, the two sides intend to explore clean energy cooperation in third countries.

Strengthening Bilateral Relations
Latest News

Washington, DC - Assistant Secretary of State for Arms Control, Verification, and Compliance Frank A. Rose will visit Norway, Switzerland, Germany, Belgium, the United Kingdom, and France from September 4 to 13 for events and bilateral meetings on international security and arms control.

On September 5-6, Assistant Secretary Rose will meet in Oslo with senior officials in the Ministries of Defense and Foreign Affairs to discuss international security and arms control, among other issues. He will deliver remarks on strategic stability and regional security at the Norwegian Institute for Defense Studies.

On September 7, Assistant Secretary Rose will be in Geneva for meetings with delegations at the Conference on Disarmament. While there, he will also provide an update on the International Partnership for Nuclear Disarmament Verification (IPNDV).

In Berlin, on September 8, Assistant Secretary Rose will meet with senior officials in the Chancellery, Ministries of Defense and Foreign Affairs, and members of parliament to discuss arms control and strategic stability issues.

Assistant Secretary Rose will then travel to Brussels on September 9 for meetings on regional security and arms control with NATO Allies and officials. He will also meet with European Union officials to discuss space security issues.

From September 10 to 12, Assistant Secretary Rose will travel to London for meetings with senior officials at the British Foreign and Commonwealth Office, the Ministry of Defense, and the Cabinet Office to discuss arms control, strategic stability, and other security matters. On September 12, he will participate in a roundtable discussion on deterrence at the Royal United Services Institute.

On September 13, Assistant Secretary Rose will travel to Paris for meetings with officials at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Ministry of Defense on arms control and international security.
Islamabad: Pakistan tonight said it was "deeply saddened" by Bangladesh's execution of Jamaat-e-Islami leader Mir Quasem Ali and alleged that he was hanged after a conviction "through a flawed judicial process".

Pakistan's reaction came just an hour after the hanging of 63-year-old media tycoon, the sixth Islamist to be executed for war crimes committed during Bangladesh's 1971 Liberation War.

"Pakistan is deeply saddened over the execution of the prominent leader of Jamat-e-Islami, Bangladesh, Mir Quasem Ali, for the alleged crimes committed before December 1971, through a flawed judicial process," a Pakistan Foreign Office statement said.

"The act of suppressing the Opposition, through flawed trials, is completely against the spirit of democracy. Ever since the beginning of the trials, several international organisations, human rights groups, and international legal figures have raised objections to the court proceedings, especially regarding fairness and transparency, as well as harassment of lawyers and witnesses representing the accused," it said.

Pakistan also called upon the Bangladeshi government to uphold its commitment, as per the Tripartite Agreement of 1974, wherein it was "decided not to proceed with the trials as an act of clemency".

"Recriminations for political gains are counter productive. Pakistan believes that matters should be addressed with a forward looking approach in the noble spirit of reconciliation," the statement said.

It said Pakistan offers deepest condolences to the bereaved family members.
New Delhi: The Aam Aadmi Party on Saturday suspended the primary membership of Sandeep Kumar, who was sacked over an alleged "sex video".

"The party is taking action. What Kumar has done is completely wrong and he has been suspended from primary membership of the party. Disciplinary committee has been handed over the matter and whatever its decision, the party will abide by it," Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia said.

"In a high-level meeting held on Saturday morning, the party suspended the primary membership of Sandeep Kumar," AAP`s Delhi convenor Dilip Pandey told IANS.

A further decision on terminating him from the party will be taken later, he added.

Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal had on Thursday said he was "very pained" by what Kumar did which led to his sacking on morality grounds even as the dropped minister alleged a conspiracy against him because he was a Dalit.

The AAP national convenor had on Wednesday night sacked Sandeep Kumar as Social Welfare and Women and Child Development Minister.

On Thursday, Sandeep Kumar defended himself, saying he had resigned on his own and that he had been targeted because he was a "Dalit".

Yesterday, AAP's spokesperson Ashutosh stirred up controversy by saying that Kumar's "consensual act" was not wrong and his sacking from the Cabinet was aimed at "perception management".

Ashutosh, in a blog, said that leaders including Jawaharlal Nehru and Mahatma Gandhi had "lived with their desires beyond social boundaries".

In his blog on NDTV, Ashutosh also said that the row over Kumar's "objectionable" video exposes the "hypocrisy of the society and hollowness of the media" and wondered why the seemingly obvious "consensual act" should create ripples in the media and politics.

Asked about party leader Ashutosh's tweets defending Kumar, Sisodia said, "These are his personal views but the party is clear. In AAP, any charges on character, corruption, and crime wouldn't be tolerated. If there are such charges against me, the same action will be taken as has been taken against Kumar," he said.

Sources said the decision to sack Kumar was taken before Kejriwal left for the Vatican City yesterday to attend the canonization of Mother Teresa.
New Delhi: Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Saturday recommended "exemplary" punishment to former minister Sandeep Kumar who was sacked after a video showing him in an objectionable position with a woman emerged.

Kejriwal`s remarks came after reports that the woman being shown in the video has allegedly lodged a complaint against Kumar.

"If the woman`s allegations are correct, this is very serious. Strongest exemplary punishment should be given to Sandeep," Kejriwal tweeted while quoting a tweet from a news channel which said that the woman shown in the sex video lodged a complaint against Kumar at Sultanpuri police station.

Police sources said that the woman reached at Sultanpuri police station with an NGO to register a complaint against Kumar for sexually harassing her earlier and making an objectionable video of the incident.

The woman reportedly alleged in her complaint that she was sexually harassed by Kumar at his office where she had gone to get her ration card made. She also alleged that Kumar had offered her a spiked cold drink following which she could not recall what exactly happened with her and how she had acted.

Senior police officers however refused to comment on the issue saying, "it cannot be revealed right now."

Kejriwal on Wednesday had sacked former Social Welfare and Women and Child Development Minister Sandeep Kumar after a video emerged showing him in an "objectionable position" with a woman.

The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) on Saturday suspended the primary membership of Kumar. The decision was take at a high-level meeting held in the morning.

A day after his removal from the cabinet Kumar defended himself, saying he had resigned on his own and that he had been targeted because he was a Dalit.
Before some cutting-edge online retailer can use a drone to drop granola bars on your doorstep, a railroad born when Abe Lincoln was in Congress will first have to iron out the kinks.

BNSF Railway Co. is flying drones as far as 150 miles along the New Mexico desert to inspect tracks, helping the Federal Aviation Administration develop rules for operating unmanned aircraft beyond the pilot's line of sight. That's an essential step for expanding use to such commercial endeavors as deliveries by Amazon.com and other companies.

"We had to invent a lot of what we're doing from scratch," said Todd Graetz, head of the drone team at Fort Worth, Texas-based BNSF, which traces its roots back to the Aurora Branch Railroad's founding in 1849 and is currently controlled by billionaire Warren Buffett. "It sets the stage for a number of other users."

The "Holy Grail" is flying drones beyond what ground-based operators can see, said John Walker, co-founder of the Padina Group aerospace consulting firm. The potential uses -- from track inspections, to spotting criminals on the lam, to organ deliveries for hospitals -- will rival what happened a century ago, when airplanes became indispensable tools instead of stunt machines at county fairs, he said.

"It's been barnstorming," said Walker, a former FAA program director. "Now we're getting into what is the commercial market."

The FAA is eager to expand rules for long-distance drone flights, said Earl Lawrence, the agency's director of the office of Unmanned Aircraft Systems Integration. The agency missed a congressional mandate to allow full integration of drones into U.S. airspace by last year, citing safety concerns.

Until recently, the FAA had allowed commercial drone flights only under a cumbersome, case-by-case application process. Last week, the agency began permitting daytime flights within line of sight, no higher than 400 feet, no faster than 100 miles per hour and, generally, not above people. Those interim rules set a framework eventually to allow night flights, operations over populated areas and service beyond line of sight. The agency expects to introduce those rules next year, Lawrence said.

"How do you eat the elephant? One bite at a time," he said. "We're taking it in bites. We're going from the less complex to the more complex."

The agency has enlisted assistance from BNSF and other companies to tackle the challenges in an airspace crowded with the most private planes in the world.

"The FAA itself can't really move this forward on its own. It needs industry," said Joanna Simon, an associate at Morrison & Foerster. The San Francisco-based law firm's clients include Facebook Inc., which wants to use drones to provide internet service.

BNSF, owned by Buffett's Berkshire Hathaway, is particularly suited for the task. The railroad operates 32,500 miles of track crisscrossing sparsely populated areas along a well-defined right of way, which eases planning. Communications towers that are part of a safety system for trains can be used to help guide drones.

The railroad also has a compelling business case. The Latitude HQ-40 drone that Graetz supervises has a six-foot wingspan and is equipped with cameras that when paired with special software can potentially detect track anomalies more quickly, possibly preventing derailments. The flights, from just outside of Playas, New Mexico, lay the groundwork for drone inspections of other fixed infrastructure, such as pipelines and power lines.

"The more we fly, the more imagery we collect, the more we run it through the analytics, the better things get," Graetz said.

Another company, PrecisionHawk Inc., is working with partners to use satellite data to build three-dimensional maps so drones by themselves can avoid objects such as grain silos and tall trees, says Tyler Collins, the director of business development. PrecisionHawk has developed drones and software to monitor the health of crop fields.

"One of the most exciting things is that the FAA is fully invested in figuring out how to do this," he said.

Harris Corp., which operates a network that helps the agency monitor manned aircraft, is developing systems that would extend the coverage to below 500 feet for drones, including through use of the cellular telephone network.

"The challenges of moving beyond visual line of sight shouldn't be underestimated," said Carl D'Alessandro, president of critical networks at Harris, which is assisting PrecisionHawk.

Companies including Google and Amazon, which have received permission to test flights beyond line of sight in the U.K., have pushed the FAA to move more quickly. Domino's Pizza Enterprises last week said it teamed up with drone operator Flirtey to deliver a pizza in New Zealand and plans to test the service there later this year.

"We work with regulators and policy makers in many countries and will continue to do so," Kristen Kish, a spokeswoman for Amazon, said by e-mail. "We look forward to using drones to safely deliver parcels in 30 minutes to customers around the world."

The risks of flying autonomous planes long distance are substantial. The drones must be able to detect other aircraft and objects, such as crop dusters or hot-air balloons, and then take action to avoid them. Operators also have to determine how drones can land safely if they lose communications with people on the ground.

BNSF isn't ready to reveal how it plans to overcome these challenges, said Graetz, an airplane pilot. The company and its partners are working on the final proposal to the FAA for full operation beyond line of sight, he says. Today, some of the railroad's methods are low tech, such as e-mails, phone calls and visits to small airports along the rail route to warn people of drone flights.

"There's the process of good old shoe leather to get to know the airport managers and spreading the news about what we're doing," he said.
New Delhi: Sacked Aam Admi Party (AAP) minister Sandeep Kumar, who has been accused of sexual assault, surrendered at the office of the Deputy Commissioner of Police here on Saturday evening.

Kumar, who was the former Social Welfare and Women and Child Development Minister, was seen in a compromising position with a woman in a video.

The woman seen in the video had lodged a complaint against Kumar, alleging that she had been given a drink laced with drugs by the minister.

She alleged that she had gone to meet him to take his help for a ration card.

The woman filed the complaint against Kumar at Sultanpuri police station alleging that she was raped by him after being offered a spiked drink.

After she lost consciousness, she was allegedly raped. The woman claimed she did not know a CD had been made, PTI quoted official sources as saying.

The victim also alleged in her complaint that the CD was made after Kumar became a minister.

Meanwhile, the police have booked Kumar under rape charges while the woman has been taken for a medical examination for investigation.

Sanjay Singh, Joint Commissioner (Northern range), said that the victim's statement was being recorded.

A case under IPC section 376 (rape) has been registered, he said.

Earlier in the day, AAP had suspended Kumar from primary membership of the party, which came four days after AAP removed the 36-year-old minister.

AAP on Wednesday night sacked Kumar after a video emerged showing him in an "objectionable position" with a woman.

However Kumar defended himself, saying he had resigned on his own and that he had been targeted because he was a Dalit.

"Someone is saying the video is two months old and others are saying it is three months old. There is no authentication. Dalits have been exploited always. I belong to a poor family, so I know the facts are distorted. I have been framed because I am a Dalit," TOI quoted him as saying.

On Saturday, Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal recommended "exemplary" punishment to Kumar.

His remarks came after reports that the woman being shown in the video has lodged a complaint against Kumar.

"If the woman's allegations are correct, this is very serious. Strongest exemplary punishment should be given to Sandeep," Kejriwal tweeted.
New Delhi: Spelling fresh trouble for Sandeep Kumar, who was sacked by the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) on Wednesday night, the lady in the `sex CD` on Saturday filed a case against the ex-legislator at a Delhi police station.

She claimed that Kumar had given her a 'cold drink spiked with drugs' and after drinking it, she lost her consciousness. The CD was made after Kumar was appointed as the minister, said the lady.

She alleged that she had gone to meet Kumar to take his help for a ration card.

Reacting to the claims, Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal tweeted:

If woman's allegations are correct, this is v serious. Strongest exemplary punishment shud be given to Sandeep https://t.co/P9TZuxJf1I  Arvind Kejriwal (@ArvindKejriwal) September 3, 2016

Her claims came hours after the Aam Aadmi Party suspended the primary membership of Sandeep Kumar.

The AAP on Wednesday night sacked former Social Welfare and Women and Child Development Minister Sandeep Kumar after a video emerged showing him in an "objectionable position" with a woman.

On Thursday, Sandeep Kumar defended himself, saying he had resigned on his own and that he had been targeted because he was a Dalit.

In a bid to rebut the charge and accusations from elsewhere, Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Thursday said he was "very pained" by what Sandeep Kumar did, which led to his sacking on grounds of morality even as the dropped minister alleged a conspiracy against him because he was a Dalit.

However, later yesterday, AAP spokesperson Ashutosh said Kumar's "consensual act" was not wrong and his sacking from the Cabinet was aimed at "perception management".

Ashutosh, in a blog on NDTV, wrote that leaders including Jawaharlal Nehru and Mahatma Gandhi had "lived with their desires beyond social boundaries".
New Delhi: The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) on Saturday morning conducted raids at the residences and offices of former Haryana chief minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda and a sitting UPSC member in connection with the alleged irregularities in the allotment of land in Manesar.

According to reports, 18 other locations were also raided.

CBI sources said besides Hooda's residence, premises of the then Principal Secretary ML Tayal, UPSC member Chattar Singh, both former IAS officers, and a serving IAS SS Dhillon were also searched by the team.

"In an ongoing investigation, CBI carried out searches at 20 locations in Rohtak, Gurgaon, Panchkula and Delhi in connection with alleged irregularities in the purchase of land from farmers in Gurgaon," CBI spokesperson RK Gaur said.

The agency had registered the case last year in September on allegations that private builders in conspiracy with unknown public servants of the Haryana government had purchased around 400 acres of land from farmers and land owners of village Manesar, Naurangpur and Lakhnoula, District Gurgaon at throw away prices, showing the threat of acquisition by the government, during the period August 27, 2004, to August 24, 2007.

It is alleged that in this process, initially, the Haryana government had issued a notification under the Land Acquisition Act for acquisition of land measuring about 912 acres for setting up an Industrial Model Township at villages Manesar, Naurangpur and Lakhnoula in Gurgaon.

After that, all the land had allegedly been grabbed from the land owners by private builders under the threat of acquisition at meagre rates, the CBI had said after registration of the case.

It is alleged that an order was also passed by the competent authority i.e. the Director of Industries on August 24, 2007, releasing this land from the acquisition process and the land was released in violation of the government policy, in favour of the builders, their companies and agents, instead of the original land owners.

The CBI has alleged in its FIR that in the said manner, land measuring about 400 acres whose market value at that time was above Rs 4 crore per acre approximately totalling about Rs 1,600 crore approximately was allegedly purchased by the private builders and others from the innocent land owners for only about Rs 100 crore.

It was alleged that a loss of Rs 1,500 crore was caused to the land owners of village Manesar, Naurangpur and Lakhnoula of Gurgaon.

(With PTI inputs)
Lucknow: Bharatiya Janata Party MP Varun Gandhi on Friday praised India's first prime minister Jawaharlal Nehru, saying it was the responsibility of the youth to understand that the Congress member sacrificed his life.

Addressing participants at a youth conclave here, the MP from Sultanpur talked about his great grandfather: "People think that Nehru became the first prime minister and lived a lavish life like a king, full of comfort and luxury. What they do not know is Nehru spent 15 and half years in jail to achieve that.

"If today someone puts me in jail and says that after 15 years we will make you the PM, I will say, 'pardon me; it is too taxing','' The Times of India quoted Gandhi as saying.

He further said that the youth has the responsibility to understand that Nehru sacrificed his life, family and "bore wounds on his body'' to free India.

The son of Union Cabinet Minister for Women and Child Development Maneka Gandhi also raised the issue of the threat to freedom of speech.

"One of the biggest newspapers is without advertisements for past one year because a particular state government did not want to give ads to it. I do not want to name anyone. And remember, this newspaper is the biggest in the state," he said.

He further said that it was because of his Gandhi surname that he could rise in politics. "My name is Feroze Varun Gandhi, if my name would have been Feroze Varun Ahmed, or Tiwari, or Singh, or Prasad, I would have also been an audience like you,'' he said.

He further underlined the need to have fresh faces in politics.
Hangzhou: Prime Minister Narendra Modi will on Sunday meet Chinese President Xi Jinping on the sidelines of the G20 Summit in Hangzhou.

India is set to push for structural reforms to shore up the flagging global economy, poverty, and green finance among others in the forum of the world`s largest 20 economies.

India`s entry into the 48-member Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG) and its concern over the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) are also expected to be raised by the PM.

In June, Modi had, during a meeting with Xi in Tashkent on the sidelines of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation summit, asked for China`s backing for India`s NSG membership.

But China, leading a group of 10 countries, blocked India`s entry at the plenary of the NSG in Seoul in June, citing New Delhi`s non-signatory status to the Nuclear Proliferation Treaty. Beijing has, however, been a keen backer of Islamabad`s entry to the bloc.

Intransigent then, Beijing now looks amenable to India`s admission into the elite grouping.

Modi is to reach Hangzhou, the capital and most populous city of Zhejiang Province in east China, on Saturday evening to attend the two-day summit that begins on Sunday.

Chinese experts hope the meeting between the two leaders would be "good".

"We are not against India`s entry into the NSG. After the Chinese Foreign Minister`s (Wang Yi) visit to India (in August), the two sides have agreed to establish a new channel to touch upon all these kind of issues," Hu Shisheng, director, Institute of South and Southeast Asian and Oceanian Studies at the China Institute of Contemporary International Relations, a government think tank, told IANS.

He was referring to the new "mechanism" between India and China under which Joint Secretary of Disarmament Division Amandeep Singh Gill and Ambassador Wang Qun, Director-General of the Arms Control Division of the Chinese Foreign Ministry, will discuss the NSG issue.

"It`s because not to let these issues bother the top leaders (Modi and Xi). Earlier, they could not reach understanding because of lack of information. I hope the meeting would be good," he added.

Asked if China would be more open to India`s admission to the NSG, Hu said: "Of course".

The change in Beijing`s stance may also have to do with a UN court ruling on the South China Sea dispute in July. The rejection of Beijing`s claims over the so-called Nine Dash line -- almost 90 percent of the disputed South China Sea -- was a blow to China in its dispute with the Philippines, as also Vietnam, Malaysia, Taiwan and Brunei. China has rejected The Hague Court`s ruling.

India asking the "parties concerned to show utmost respect to the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) has sort of miffed China", which is worried about its image being sullied in the world.

It has been suggested that Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi`s visit to India last month was to ensure that New Delhi does not raise the South China Sea issue at the G20, in a sort of quid pro quo deal -- which could see Beijing giving its backing for the NSG membership.

However, even if India keeps quiet on the issue, the US and Japan are highly likely to bring it up, much to the embarrassment of China which has said an emphatic no to "political discussion" at the G20.

The $46 billion China-Pakistan Economic Corridor is also likely to figure in the meeting between the two leaders.

India has strongly opposed the proposed economic corridor which will pass through Pakistan-held Kashmir and Gilgit-Baltistan, which New Delhi claims as its own.

Modi`s reference to the two regions, as well as Balochistan, in his Independence Day speech has Beijing worried. Beijing fears New Delhi`s tacit support to the separatist sentiment in the region -- a charged levelled by Islamabad and denied by New Delhi -- may hit the already-delayed project.

Chinese experts have warned that China may come to Pakistan`s aid if India creates trouble in these regions.

Besides, global structural reforms, inclusive growth and climate financing will be the major issues to be brought up by India at the summit.

"There will be an emphasis on appealing to the countries to carry forward the commitment to the issue of climate change and climate change finance. There was a USD 100 billion commitment which has been made by developed countries -- that USD 100 billion is nowhere near sight. We would like to again stress the importance of developed nations making available that USD 100 billion," Shaktikanta Das, Economic Affairs Secretary told IANS earlier.

(With IANS inputs)
Hanoi: India on Saturday extended a USD 500 million line of credit to Vietnam to deepen their defence cooperation and signed 12 agreements including a deal to construct offshore patrol boats, amid China's muscle flexing in the disputed South China Sea and "emerging regional challenges".

Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who held wide-ranging talks with his Vietnamese counterpart Nguyen Xuan Phuc here, said the two countries have decided to elevate their strategic ties to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership to provide it a new momentum.

"Our decision to upgrade our Strategic Partnership to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership captures the intent and path of our future cooperation. It will provide a new direction, momentum and substance to our bilateral cooperation," said Modi, who arrived here yesterday on his maiden visit to this key south east Asian nation.

Vietnam had earlier Comprehensive Strategic Partnership only with Russia and China.

"I am also happy to announce a new Defence Line of Credit for Vietnam of USD 500 million for facilitating deeper defence cooperation," Modi said after the signing of the agreements.

The 12 agreements were signed in a wide range of areas covering defence, IT, space, cyber security and sharing white shipping information in presence of Modi and Phuc.

"The range of agreements signed just a while ago point to the diversity and depth of our cooperation," he said, adding the agreement on construction of offshore patrol boats is one of the steps to give concrete shape to the bilateral defence engagement.

Later in a joint statement, both India and Vietnam also called for "peaceful" resolution of the South China Sea issue and "exercise self-restraint". They also urged all parties to show "utmost respect" for the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS).

Both sides called on "all states to resolve disputes through peaceful means without threat or use of force and exercise self-restraint in the conduct of activities that could complicate or escalate disputes affecting peace and stability, respect the diplomatic and legal processes, fully observe the Declaration on the conduct of parties in the South China Sea (DOC) and soon finalise the Code of Conduct," the joint statement said.

"They also recognised that the sea lanes of communication passing through the South China Sea are critical for peace, stability, prosperity and development. Vietnam and India, as State Parties to the UNCLOS, urged all parties to show utmost respect for the UNCLOS, which establishes the international legal order of the seas and oceans," it said.

China is involved in a raging dispute with the Philippines, Vietnam, Taiwan, Malaysia and Brunei over ownership of territory in the South China Sea (SCS), a busy waterway through which India's 50 per cent trade passes.

India and the US have been calling for freedom of passage

in the international waters, much to the discomfort to Beijing, whose claim over SCS was recently struck down by an international tribunal in favour of the Philippines.

China has also objected in the past to India's Oil and Natural Gas Commission (ONGC) undertaking exploration at the invitation of Vietnam in the SCS, which is believed to be rich in undersea deposits of oil and gas.

"Our common efforts will also contribute to stability, security and prosperity in this region," Modi said.

He described his talks with Vietnamese counterpart as "extensive and very productive" and said they covered the full range of bilateral and multilateral cooperation.

"We have agreed to scale up and strengthen our bilateral engagement. As two important countries in this region, we also feel it necessary to further our ties on regional and international issues of common concern," said Modi, who is here on a day-long visit.

"We also recognised the need to cooperate in responding to emerging regional challenges," the Prime Minister said, without naming any country.

Vietnam has shown a keen interest cooperating with India in air and defense production. India's L&T will build offshore high speed patrol boats for Vietnamese Coast Guards, while a pact was signed on cooperation in UN peacekeeping matters.

Indian Navy and Vietnam Navy will cooperate in sharing of white shipping information.

Modi said as the two important countries in this region, India and Vietnam feel it necessary to further their ties on regional and international issues of common concern.

The Prime Minister also announced a grant of USD 5 million for the establishment of a Software Park in the Telecommunications University in Nha Trang.

"We agreed to tap into the growing economic opportunities in the region," said Modi, the first Indian premier to visit the Communist country in 15 years.

Noting that enhancing bilateral commercial engagement is the strategic objective of the two nations, he said: "For this, new trade and business opportunities will be tapped to achieve the trade target of USD 15 billion by 2020."

Besides seeking facilitation of ongoing Indian projects and investments in Vietnam, Prime Minister Modi said he has invited Vietnamese companies to take advantage of the various schemes and flagship programmes of the Indian government.

"As Vietnam seeks to empower and enrich its people, Modernise its agriculture; Encourage entrepreneurship and innovation; Strengthen its Science and Technology base; Create new institutional capacities for faster economic development; and Take steps to build a modern nation, India and its 1.25 billion people stand ready to be Vietnam's partner and a friend in this journey," Modi said.

Noting that ASEAN is important to India in terms of historical links, geographical proximity, cultural ties and the strategic space that the two sides share, he said, "It is central to our 'Act East' policy. Under Vietnam's leadership as ASEAN Coordinator for India, we will work towards a strengthened India-ASEAN partnership across all areas."
Hanoi: India and Vietnam on Saturday stressed the need to reform the United Nations and expansion of its Security Council, with "enhanced representation" from developing countries, a joint statement issued by the two countries said.

According to the statement issued after a meeting between visiting Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Vietnam Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc, Modi reaffirmed India's interest in promoting defence industry cooperation between the two sides.

He also committed to provide a new Line of Credit for Vietnam in this area.

Modi announced a grant of $5 million for the construction of an Army Software Park at the Telecommunications University in Nha Trang.

"Both Vietnam and India stressed the need for reform of the United Nations and expansion of the UN Security Council in both the permanent and the non-permanent categories of membership, with enhanced representation from developing countries," the joint statement said.

The statement said Prime Minister Modi has expressed gratitude for Vietnam's consistent support to India's candidature for permanent membership in a reformed and expanded UNSC.

"The Prime Ministers reaffirmed support for each other's candidature for non-permanent membership of the UNSC -- Vietnam for the term 2020-21 and India for the term 2021-22".

Modi also reaffirmed India's significant interest in promoting defence industry cooperation between the two sides and committed to provide a new Line of Credit for Vietnam in this area.

Both sides welcomed the signing of the contract for Offshore High-speed Patrol Boats between Larsen & Toubro and Vietnam Border Guards utilizing the $100 million Line of Credit for defence procurement extended by India to Vietnam.

The two countries also expressed the desire to work together to maintain peace, stability, growth and prosperity "in Asia and beyond".
Washington: The Indian administrative service, which is hamstrung by political interference and outdated personnel procedures, need urgent reform or risk institutional decline, according to a top US-based think tank.

"Unfortunately, the IAS is hamstrung by political interference, outdated personnel procedures, and a mixed record on policy implementation, and it is in need of urgent reform," the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace said in its report on 'The Indian Administration Service Meets Big Data' released yesterday.

"The Indian government should reshape recruitment and promotion processes, improve performance-based assessment of individual officers, and adopt safeguards that promote accountability while protecting bureaucrats from political meddling," said the report authored by Milan Vaishnav and Saksham Khosla.

In the report running into 50 pages, Carnegie said political interference generates substantial inefficiency: the best officers do not always occupy important positions, while political loyalty offers bureaucrats an alternative path to career success.

"Counter-intuitively, greater political competition does not necessarily lead to better bureaucratic performance," it said.

Noting that individual bureaucrats can have strong, direct, and measurable impacts on tangible health, education, and poverty outcomes, the report said surprisingly, officers with strong local ties - thought to be vulnerable to corruption - are often linked to improved public service delivery.

Calling for a reform agenda for the civil services, the US think tank said the central and state governments should pass and implement pending legislation that protects bureaucrats against politically motivated transfers and postings.

Despite judicial prodding, most states have stalled on such moves, it said.

The government should consider the proposal that officers deemed unfit for further service at certain career benchmarks be compulsorily retired through a transparent and uniform system of performance review, it said.

"While the present government has moved in this direction, this procedure should be institutionalised," it recommended.

State and central governments should discuss whether state cadres should be given greater latitude to experiment with increasing the proportion of local IAS officers and track their relative performance.

"Further research is needed to better understand the impact of local officers on development outcomes, to develop data on bureaucratic efficiency among officers in senior posts, and to systematically examine the workings of state-level bureaucracies," the report said.

According to the report, the IAS faces a number of serious challenges - from diminishing human capital to political interference - that, if left unaddressed, will lead to further institutional decline.
Kolkata: Mother Teresa will be declared a saint by Pope Francis of the Roman Catholic Church in a canonization ceremony in Vatican City on Sunday.

More than a lakh of her followers from all over the world will be present during the event.

A string of top Indian politicians are heading to the Vatican to witness her canonization.

A 12-member central delegation led by External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj has arrived in Rome.

Two state government-level delegations from Delhi and West Bengal led by Chief Ministers Arvind Kejriwal and Mamata Banerjee, respectively, will be in attendance during the function.

Nuns at the Missionaries of Charity, founded by the late Nobel laureate nun, said the canonization in Rome will have a special universal significance because of the Mother's popularity.

A group of around 40-50 nuns from different parts of the country will be present at the ceremony led by Missionaries of Charity Superior General Sister Mary Prema.

Besides Archbishop of Kolkata Thomas D'Souza, about 45 bishops from all over India are now in Vatican.

In March, Pope Francis had announced that the Mother, who spent 45 years serving the poor and sick on the streets in Kolkata, will be elevated to sainthood after the Church recognised two miracles attributed to her after her death.

To mark the occasion a series of events are being held in the city where the Mother lived and worked all her life.

At the Mother House here tomorrow, a special mass will be organised and the nuns have promised to celebrate the occasion with the poorest of the poor.

In 2003, Teresa was beatified by then Pope John Paul II in a fast-tracked process which is the first step to gaining Sainthood.

In 2002, the Vatican officially recognised a miracle she was said to have carried out after her death, namely the 1998 healing of a Bengali tribal woman, Monika Besra, who was suffering from an abdominal tumour.

The traditional canonization procedure requires at least two miracles.

The second miracle was from Brazil, where a person had been healed miraculously as a result of her earlier prayers.

(With PTI inputs)
Kolkata: As the Vatican prepares to declare Mother Teresa a saint this Sunday, in the Indian city where she rose to fame, claims of medical negligence and financial mismanagement at her care homes threaten to cloud her legacy.

Pope Francis approved the canonisation of the widely beloved Roman Catholic nun last December, nearly two decades after she died in Kolkata, in whose teeming slums she devoted her life to helping the destitute and the sick.

Yet criticisms of the soon-to-be Saint Teresa of Kolkata abound, with doctors and former volunteers recounting grim tales of poor sanitation, medical neglect and forced conversions of the dying.

Born Agnes Gonxha Bojaxhiu to Albanian parents in what is now Macedonia, her Missionaries of Charity homes for the dying earned her a Nobel Peace Prize and the sobriquet Saint of the Gutters.

"We feel that Mother Teresa`s elevation to sainthood would be a renewed thrust to (her) charitable works," Thomas D`Souza, the Archbishop of Kolkata, told AFP.

Like millions of Catholics worldwide, Gautam Lewis is excited to celebrate the canonisation of the woman he calls his "second mother", who rescued the orphan after he was struck with polio aged two.

"Mother Teresa used to carry me to church every Sunday and she personally supervised my treatment when I underwent surgeries and rehabilitation to get rid of polio," Lewis, now a pilot in London, told AFP.

"I remember feeling very safe and secure in her presence," said the 39-year-old, in Kolkata for celebrations of the nun.

Already considered a living saint by many, the humanitarian`s path to canonisation was sealed after the Vatican last year recognised the second of the two required miracles, following her death.

A critically ill Bengali tribal woman and a Brazilian man suffering from multiple brain tumours both credited prayers to the deceased nun with saving their lives.

But Aroup Chatterjee, a British doctor born in the city formerly known as Calcutta, said that "her whole emphasis was propagation of her faith at any cost."

"To convert a dying, unconscious person is very, very low behaviour, very disgusting," the 58-year-old author of a controversial 2003 book on the nun said.

"Mother Teresa did that on an industrial basis."

One of Mother Teresa`s most vocal critics, the late British-born author Christopher Hitchens, accused her of exacerbating the plight of the poor with her staunch opposition to contraception and abortion.

The famous atheist, who made a provocative film about the nun called Hell`s Angel in 1994, said she denied basic care to patients out of a belief that suffering brought them closer to God.

"I think it is very beautiful for the poor to accept their lot, to share it with the passion of Christ," Hitchens quoted her as saying in 1981, in his book The Missionary Position.

Some former volunteers say her order glorifies pain and poverty and accuse it of delivering bare-bones care, despite receiving millions of dollars in donations.

Hemley Gonzalez, who started his own NGO in Kolkata as a response to the alleged deficiencies he witnessed when volunteering at Missionaries of Charity eight years ago, calls it "a modern-day cult".

Nuns washed needles with tap water before reusing them, he said, and scolded him for giving terminal patients haircuts because they were going to die anyway.

"Right under the eyes of everyone... they`re getting away with medical negligence," Gonzalez said.

S Bedford, a journalist who spent two months volunteering at the home in Kolkata, recalled grim sanitary conditions.

"The squat-style toilets were in a narrow room slick with water, urine and faeces... (many had) to crawl through the mess," she wrote in a 2014 article.

Missionaries of Charity has vastly expanded since Mother Teresa`s death, and now has 758 centres in 139 countries staffed by more than 5,000 nuns.

Yet the order remains opaque, declining to publish its funding sources or accounts, a stance which has elicited suspicion over its management of allegedly vast sums.

In her lifetime, Mother Teresa was criticised for accepting funds from corrupt financiers including former Haitian dictator Francois "Papa Doc" Duvalier and a California banker jailed for swindling investors.

The order, however, roundly rejects its detractors.

Sunita Kumar, a spokeswoman for Missionaries, refuted all the allegations as "rubbish".

"What business is it of anybody`s what we do with the money? Why should we expose our own accounts to others? Mother Teresa`s focus was not to build five-star hospitals, it was to provide for the poor," she said.

While she remains a polarising figure, the nuns carrying on her life`s work in Kolkata believe the flow of donations and volunteers is proof of higher assent.

"Mother Teresa believed that it is God`s work and God will take care of everything," Sister Mary Lysa told AFP.

"Until today, God has never failed us."
Arden Riley was a typical 7-month old, scooting, babbling, laughing, zooming around in her baby walker and getting into everything within her reach.

Then on May 3, when her mother Jocelyn Riley went to get her out of her crib, Arden just stared at her.

She didnt cry.

She didnt smile.

She didnt reach out for her mommy.

Her eyes were moving and that was it, Riley recalled. She could not hold her head up.  She was totally paralyzed.

Riley and her husband, Michael, rushed their baby to the hospital in their hometown of Harlan, Iowa. Blood tests found nothing amiss. The Rileys were sent straight to Omahas Childrens Hospital and Medical Center.

Doctors suggested three possibilities: botulism, meningitis or Guillain-Barre syndrome (GBS).

No one suspected GBS; Arden was too young, the onset was too fast and too severe.

But while hospital staff ran their tests, Riley consulted the Internet.

To her, Guillain-Barre was the only thing that made sense. Arden had just had a flu shot five days before. GBS is one of first complications listed by the Centers for Disease Control -- occurring in fewer than one or two cases  per 1 million people vaccinated.

And Arden was one of them.

She is one of the youngest -- and possibly the youngest -- person to ever be diagnosed with GBS in Nebraska and maybe in the United States, Riley said.

Saturday, nearly four months to the day of that devastating diagnosis, Arden and her dad will take part in the annual Running Down GBS 5k Walk/Run at Holmes Lake Park. Dad will push Arden in her stroller. Jocelyn Riley, who is eight months' pregnant with Ardens baby brother, will cheer from the sidelines.

The event begins at 9 a.m.

Walk/run organizers have dedicated the event -- and the money raised -- to Arden and her family to help with ongoing medical expenses.

Arden, while not walking, is crawling, pulling herself up to stand and even trying to take a few steps, her mother said in a phone interview.

It has been an incredible four months.

Guillain-Barre syndrome is a neurological disorder in which the bodys immune system attacks part of the peripheral nervous system. The onset can develop over several days or weeks -- typically it begins in the feet or legs with unexplained tingling and weakness and then moves upward. As the syndrome progresses, it destroys the myelin sheath surrounding the axons of nerve cells and sometimes even the axons -- preventing the nerves from sending signals from the brain.

Eventually the patient will lose the ability to move, speak, close their eyelids, swallow and breathe.

Although GBS is life-threatening without medical intervention, nearly full recovery is possible with intensive therapies.

With the benefit of hindsight, Riley said there were signs Arden was not quite right after she got her final immunization shot and the recommended flu shot on April 29.

She was crabby. But she also was teething and just had been poked with two needles, Riley said.

By May 2, the daycare provider noticed Arden was somewhat lethargic and not herself." When placed in her walker, she just sat there instead of zooming around like normal. Yet Arden was eating, going to the bathroom and didnt have a temperature.

Twenty-four hours later, Arden was paralyzed.

She was not only diagnosed with GBS, but with the Miller-Fisher variant of the syndrome, which paralyzes the eye muscles and prevents tendon reflexes. Miller-Fisher is extremely rare -- affecting only 1 to 5 percent of all GBS sufferers, according to the National Institutes of Health.

Arden spent two weeks at Childrens Hospital. She was placed on a feeding tube.

Her vocal cords were paralyzed and all of her thoracic muscles," Riley said. "They put a feeding tube directly into her intestine. She came extremely close to needing a ventilator, but staff kept suctioning her constantly. They kept preparing us for it.

The saving grace was intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG), a blood product that helps people with antibody deficiencies.

On May 13, Arden was moved to Madonna Rehabilitation Hospital in Lincoln.

She had physical, occupational and speech therapy twice a day.

They were moving her all the time, Riley said.

Ever so slowly, Arden started moving on her own.

First she was able to move her head a little," Riley said. "Then her facial expressions started to come back. She was able to raise her eyebrows and her face came  it was no longer distorted when she smiled."

Her right arm and left leg were the first limbs to move. Then she started moving her torso.

When GBS leaves, it starts at the top and moves down, Riley said.

Which is why Arden is still having some issues with her feet and ankles. High-top shoes and ongoing therapy are helping with that.

Arden was released from Madonna just before the Fourth of July. She continues to receive therapy three to four days a week back home in Harlan.

On Sept. 10, Arden will turn 1.

And what a celebration it will be, Riley said.
New Delhi: Two nurses were arrested in Delhi as hospital services in the national capital and other cities continued to suffer on the second day of the nationwide indefinite strike by nurses today, even as the Centre and the nursing federation held talks to seek a way out of the crisis.

The national capital seems to have been hit the hardest by the stir as patients suffered in the absence of adequate staff at hospitals, which are managing with contractual nurses and interns.

The strike has been called by the All India Government Nurses Federation (AIGNF) and supported by the Delhi Nurses Federation seeking redressal of issues related to pay and allowances.

"We are having talks with the government at the moment. Members of the nursing federations are currently discussing the issue with the Joint Secretary at Nirman Bhawan, after talks with the nursing advisor earlier in the day," AIGNF spokesperson Liladhar Ramchandani told PTI.

Soon after the strike began yesterday, Delhi government had invoked the stringent ESMA declaring the stir as illegal.

Meanwhile, Delhi Chief Secretary K K Sharma held a meeting with Principal Secretary (Home), Commissioner of Police and Health Department officials to take stock of the situation.

"The Chief Secretary was informed that two members of the nurses' union have already been arrested," Delhi government said in a statement, quoting a press release by the city's Health Department.

The agitation has come at a time when Delhi and several other cities are battling rising cases of dengue and chikungunya.

Several routine operations in hospitals have been cancelled, scheduled surgeries postponed, OPD timings curtailed and emergency services affected too.

During the meeting, medical superintends of hospitals reported that there is an increased rush of patients in fever clinics and the OPDs, on account of the upsurge in dengue and chikunguniya cases.

The city government in a statement said the Health Department has issued "public notice" asking striking staff to resume duty "immediately".

Sharma was also informed about the shortage of nursing staff at city hospitals.

"Major hospitals are having only one-third of the staff strength. The situation has become critical on account of the strike," it said.

Government hospitals in Delhi, including those run by the Centre, the city government or civic bodies employ about 20,000 nurses.
Hangzhou (China): Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday arrived here in China to attend the Summit of the group of 20 major economies (G20).

He is also expected to hold a one-to-one meeting with President Xi Jinping on the sidelines of the Summit, starting Sunday.

"Hello Hangzhou! PM lands in China to attend the G20 Summit," Modi tweeted, along with a photo showing Modi shaking hands with officials after landing.

External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Vikas Swarup also tweeted about the Prime Minister's arrival in China, saying: "Morning in Hanoi, night in Hangzhou."

India is set to push for reforms to shore up the flagging global economy, poverty, green finance, among others, at the Summit of 20 major economies.

India's entry into the 48-member Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG) and its concern over the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) are also expected to be raised by the PM during his meeting with Xi Jinping.

Tomorrow's meeting is viewed as important in the backdrop of steady decline in the bilateral relations over a raft of issues including the USD 46 billion China-Pakistan Economic Corridor which runs through Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK).

The two leaders, who enjoy a good rapport, would discuss contentious issues, which will also include listing of Pakistan-based terrorist organisations in the UN and China stalling India's membership at the elite Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG).

This would be followed by a meeting of the BRICS (Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa) leaders ahead of the G20 summit, which would begin later in the day.

Modi reached Hangzhou, the capital and most populous city of Zhejiang Province in east China, to attend the two-day summit that begins on Sunday. Earlier in the day, he was in Vietnam, where both sides have inked a dozen of agreements to beef up bilateral engagements.

Modi will also hold bilateral meetings with Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull and Saudi Arabia's Deputy Crown Prince Mohammad bin Salman.

He will attend the G20 summit that begins tomorrow with this year's theme of "Strengthening Policy coordination and Breaking a new path for growth" followed by a number of cultural programmes organised by the Chinese government.

On Monday, he will take part in the second and concluding session of the G20 and hold bilateral meetings with British Prime Minister Theresa May and Argentinian President Mauricio Macri before returning to Delhi.

In all, he would reside in this picturesque city for about 48 hours, officials said.

A meeting between Modi and US President Barack Obama is, however, not on the cards during this trip, they said.

(With PTI inputs)
Hanoi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi has emplaned for Hangzhou to attend the G20 Summit in China after completing a two-day visit to Vietnam.

During his visit to Vietnam, the two countries inked a dozen of agreements, including protocol on double taxation avoidance agreement, to foster better ties between the two sides.

The other agreements signed include cooperation in exploration and use of outer space for peaceful purposes, MoU between BIS and STAMEQ for mutual recognition of standards, contact with L&T for utilization of USD 100 million LoC for offshore Patrol boats, cooperation in the field of health, celebrating 2017 as Year of Friendship.

Prime Minister Modi earlier held delegation-level talks with his Vietnamese counterpart, Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc.

Prime Minister Modi also invited the Buddhist monks and nuns present at the Quan Su Pagoda to visit the land of Buddha India and his parliamentary constituency Varanasi.

Quan Su Pagoda is the headquarters of the Buddhist Sangha of Vietnam.

Stating that Buddhism, which took the sea route, travelled to Vietnam in its purest form from India, Prime Minister Modi said that world should walk on the path of peace that brings happiness and prosperity.

Later he called on Vietnam President Tran Dai Quang at the Presidential Palace here on Saturday.

Prime Minister Modi lauded the foundation laid for security and defence ties between the two countries and said Vietnam is a priority in India's Act East Policy.

During the meeting, President Quang said that Vietnam fully supports Act East Policy of India and thanked the Indian Government for consistent support to socio-economic development of the country.

He called for frequent high-level exchanges to further strengthen political trust between the two countries and sought further support from India in investment, education, training and science and technology.

Prime Minister Modi arrived in Vietnamese capital Hanoi last night which was the first visit by an Indian Prime Minister in 15 years. Former prime minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee had visited the country in 2001.
Hanoi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi completed his visit to Vietnam on Saturday in what was the first bilateral prime ministerial visit from India to the southeast Asian nation in 15 years.

Here are the key takeaways from the visit:

* The India-Vietnam relationship was upgraded to Comprehensive Strategic Partnership which Hanoi only has with Moscow and Beijing.

* A new defence credit line of $500 million from India was announced.

* Signing of contract for fast offshore patrol vessels by L&T with Vietnam Border Guards under $100 million from the defence credit line given.

* Agreement on cooperation in outer space for peaceful purposes.

* Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on cyber security.

* Navy-to-navy agreement on White Shipping information sharing.

* India to assist Vietnam to participate in UN peace keeping

* Grant of $5 million for software park.

* MoU on cooperation in the IT sector.

* MoU on setting up Centre for Excellence in software development.

* Postgraduate and doctoral scholarships for Buddhist and Sanskrit studies in India.

* Protocol on double taxation avoidance agreement.

* MoU for mutual recognition of standards.

* MoU on cooperation in health and medicine.

* MoU between Indian Council for World Affairs and Vietnamese Academy of Social Sciences.

* Protocol on celebration of 45th anniversary of diplomatic relations.
Hanoi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi was accorded a ceremonial welcome in front of the majestic Presidential palace here on Saturday morning.

Modi, the first Indian prime minister to visit the communist nation in 15 years, was welcomed by Vietnamese President Tran Dai Quant.

Modi flew in here last night for a day long packed visit to Vietnam. He leaves this evening for the G20 talks in China.

After national anthems of both India and Vietnam were played by the armed forces band, dressed in sharp white with gold tassels and black gum boots, the prime minister inspected a guard of honour by the three armed forces of the host country.

Immediately afterwards Modi, in white churidar kurta with grey jacket, was taken to the humble traditional stilt house near the palace where Vietnam's beloved leader Ho Chi Minh lived intermittently between 1958-1969. He was shown the place by the Vietnamese president.

Later, he will hold talks with his Vietnamese counterpart Nguyen Xuan Phuc.
Vatican City: Pope Francis today denounced what he called the modern-day sin of indifference to hunger, exploitation and other suffering, while commending the example of Mother Teresa on the eve of a sainthood ceremony for the nun who cared for India's destitute.

Choosing "to not see hunger, disease, exploited persons, this is a grave sin. It's also a modern sin, a sin of today," Francis told thousands of lay volunteers in St Peter's Square at a special gathering to stress the need for more mercy and caring in the world.

Francis will lead a canonisation ceremony tomorrow morning in the square which is expected to draw huge crowds of faithful and other admirers of Mother Teresa, who founded an order of nuns devoted like her to giving tenderness and assistance to the poor who were sick and dying in the streets of Kolkata.

Cheering the pontiff in today's crowd were many nuns from her Missionaries of Charity order, each wearing the characteristic white sari trimmed in blue that makes them easily identifiable worldwide where they care for the needy. Francis greeted a group of these nuns as he was driven through the square in his popemobile, and one of the nuns put a blue-and-white garland around his neck.

"Tomorrow, we'll have the joy of seeing Mother Teresa proclaimed a saint," he said. "She deserves it!"

In his speech to the volunteers, including some who helped rescue survivors of the Aug 24 earthquake in central Italy, he decried those who "turn the other way not to see the many forms of poverty that begs out for mercy."

Francis hailed volunteers as "artisans of mercy," whose hands, voices, closeness and caresses help people who suffer feel loved. While in the square, he petted Leo, the Labrador which pinpointed a 4-year-old child who had survived in a pile of quake rubble. The dog raised a paw, which Francis grasped.

Since becoming pope in 2013, Francis has been encouraging Catholic faithful and institutions to tend to the needs of marginalised people.

He said the credibility of the church to a large extent depends on the service of Catholics to the poor, the homeless, prisoners, immigrants, refugees and others in need.

"The world needs concrete signs of solidarity, above all when faced with the temptation toward indifference," he said.

In a shop in Kolkata which sells snacks and rosaries, Muslim shopkeeper Tanveer Ahmed recalled seeing Mother Teresa and other nuns take in a leprosy patient who lay bleeding in the street while others passed by, unmoved.

"We are fighting with each other. We are killing each other. But, if you want to see love, please look at Mother Teresa," Ahmed said. He added: "I believe Mother is next to God."
New Delhi: The All India Muslim Personal Law Board (AIMPLB) on Friday defended the practice of triple talaq and polygamy, professing that polygamy is a social need and a blessing and not a curse for women.

The AIMPLB, in its counter affidavit filed in the Supreme Court, said the contentious issue relating to Muslim practices of polygamy, triple talaq (talaq-e-bidat) and nikah halala are matters of "legislative policy" and cannot be interfered with.

The board said that practices provided by Muslim Personal Law on the issues of marriage, divorce and maintenance were based on holy scripture Al-Quran and "courts cannot supplant its own interpretations over the text of scriptures".

Saying that "polygamy is a blessing, not a curse for women", the AIMPLB said that if the option of polygamy was not available to a husband, then he may divorce his existing wife or indulge in illicit affairs.

"An unlawful mistress is more harmful for social fabric than a lawful second wife," the AIMPLB said in its repose to suo motu petition on the rights of Muslim women concerning marriage, divorce and maintenance and whether the current practices under Muslim Personal Law was violative of the fundamental rights guaranteed under the Constitution.

Defending the Shariah granting right to divorce to the husband, the AIMPLB said that "men have greater power of decision making. They are more likely to control emotions and not to take a hasty decision. Men are expected to behave thus on the following grounds".

In a shocking argument, the All India Muslim Personal Law Board said that if the practice of triple talaq is stopped, a man can go on to murder or burn his wife.

If there develops serious discord between the couple, and the husband does not at all want to live with her, legal compulsions of time-consuming separation proceedings and expenses may deter him from taking the legal course. In such instances, he may resort to illegal, criminal ways of murdering or burning her alive.

Terming a "common misperception" spread by communal outfits that the incidence of polygamy is higher among Muslims, the AIMPLB, referred to several surveys since 1931, to drive stress that Muslims have the lowest rate of polygamy in India.

It, however, defended polygamy saying that the institution is not considered immoral in Sharia Law, which proceeds on the principle that the "institution of monogamy is most desirable but cannot be made mandatory".

"In the Indian context it should be remembered that polygamy was widely prevalent amongst many non-Muslim communities as per their respective personal laws. However with passage of time some of those communities were subject to compulsory rule of monogamy," AIMPLB said in its reply.
New Delhi: One of the five senior-most judges of the Supreme Court, Justice Jasti Chelameswar, has stopped attending meetings of the collegium headed by the Chief Justice of India.

Justice Chelameswar did not participate in collegium's meeting on Thursday to discuss various issues including the Memorandum of Procedure (MoP).

Notably, he had earlier written a dissenting verdict with regard to non-transparency in the collegium system of appointment.

News agency PTI has quoted a highly-placed source as saying that Justice Chelameswar has written a letter to Chief Justice TS Thakur, expressing his inability to take part in the future meetings of the collegium. He has not, however, recused from the collegium.

The collegium comprises CJI TS Thakur and Justices AR Dave, JS Khehar, Dipak Misra and Chelameswar.

The Indian Express has said that in the letter, Justice J Chelameswar has sought that the SC collegium record minutes of the confidential meetings which take place to discuss appointments and transfers of judges.



It has come to light that except Justice Chelameswar, all other judges, including Justice Thakur, had assembled for the meeting on Thursday which ultimately got postponed.

The apex court judiciary and the government have been at loggerheads on the finalisation of the MoP which will deal with the procedures to be followed in the appointment of judges in High Courts and the Supreme Court.

Recently the Supreme Court, while hearing a PIL, had sent out a stern message to the government over non-execution of the collegium's decision to transfer and appoint Chief Justices and judges of High Courts.

It had warned the Centre that the court would not tolerate "logjam in judges' appointment" and would intervene to "fasten accountability" as the justice delivery system is "collapsing".

In his dissenting judgement, which had quashed the National Judicial Appointments Commission (NJAC) Act and the 99th constitutional amendment, Justice Chelameswar had said that the collegium system of judges' appointment was "opaque and inaccessible" to the people at large and it needed "transparency".

He had said the assumption that "primacy of the judiciary" in the appointment of judges was a basic feature of the Constitution "is empirically flawed."

The Supreme Court judge had said that in the last 20 years, after the advent of collegium system, a number of recommendations made by the collegia of High Courts were rejected by the collegium of the Supreme Court.

(With Agency inputs)
Hanoi: Vietnam's top leaders on Saturday lauded India's position on the disputed South China Sea (SCS) and sought its participation in oil and gas sectors of the Communist nation, as they hailed the upgradation of bilateral ties to Comprehensive Strategic Partnership.

Vietnam appreciates India's principled position on the South China Sea issue, Communist Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong told Prime Minister Narendra Modi when the latter called on him, sources said.

"We must also intensify our coordination in regional and multilateral fora," he told Modi, who reiterated that India always stood as a friend with Vietnam throughout history.

"It would be rare to find such a relationship which has lasted 2,000 years," he told Trong and recalled the Vietnamese leader's visit to India in 2013.

China is involved in a raging dispute with the Philippines, Vietnam, Taiwan, Malaysia and Brunei over ownership of territory in the SCS, a busy waterway through which India's 50 per cent trade passes.

India supports freedom of navigation and over flight, and unimpeded commerce, based on the principles of international law, as reflected notably in the UNCLOS (United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea).

India believes that states should resolve disputes through peaceful means without threat or use of force and exercise self-restraint in the conduct of activities that could complicate or escalate disputes affecting peace and stability.

The Prime Minister said areas such as cyber security and information technology would benefit from the creation of a task force and help the two sides solve future problems.

Trong agreed that India-Vietnam relations were time tested and very durable. He said he had visited India twice in 2010 and 2013 and both visits had left very good impressions.

Noting that India is a major country with unique and age old civilisation and culture, he said Vietnamese people had never forgotten India's strong support during Vietnam's struggle for independence, sources said.

"The upgradation of relationship to Comprehensive Strategic Partnership was an indicator of the importance Vietnam attaches to India. It has strategic partnerships only with two other countries, Russia and China," he said.

He also thanked Modi for India's support to Vietnam's armed forces and agreed with the Prime Minister that cooperation in cyber security was very important.

Prime Minister Modi also called on Vietnamese President Tran Dai Quang at the Presidential Palace today.

"Our partnership will strengthen peace, development and security in the region," President Quang told Modi.
Srinagar: Curfew continued in parts of Srinagar on Saturday in view of the separatists' call for occupying Lal Chowk and Airport Road here while curfew-like restrictions remained in force in rest of Kashmir even as normal life remained paralysed for the 57th day.

"Curfew remains in force in five police station areas of downtown Srinagar and Batamaloo and Maisuma areas in uptown city," a police official said.

He said curfew in these areas of the summer capital continued as a precautionary measure in view of the call given by separatists asking people to occupy Airport Road, city centre Lal Chowk and district headquarters today and tomorrow to protest the visit of Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh-led all-party delegation to the Valley.

However, the official said, curfew has been lifted from the towns where it was imposed yesterday. Curfew has been lifted from other areas of the Valley in view of the improving situation, the official said.

Authorities had yesterday reimposed curfew in Pulwama, Kulgam, Shopian, Baramulla and Pattan towns apart from some areas of Srinagar in view of apprehensions of violence after Friday prayers.

Curfew-like restrictions on the movement of people were in place in the rest of the Valley, official sources said.

Meanwhile, normal life remained affected due to the separatist-sponsored strike on 57th day as educational institutions and private offices were closed, while public transport continued to be off the roads.

The separatists have extended the shutdown programme till September 8.

As many as 70 persons, including two police personnel, have been killed and several thousand others injured in the clashes between protesters and security forces in the Valley since Hizbul Mujahideen militant Burhan Wani was killed in an encounter in south Kashmir on July 8.
Death-row inmate Jeffrey Hessler's attorney Friday made his case to the Nebraska Supreme Court for why he should get a new trial on a prior sex assault involving another victim.

Omaha attorney Alan Stoler is asking the high court to find that a Scotts Bluff County judge erred by denying Hessler post-conviction relief in the case, later used as one of three aggravators to make him eligible for the death penalty.

"What's the overall strategy here?" Justice John Wright asked Stoler, cutting to the point

Is it that if Hessler's attorneys were ineffective in allowing him to enter a no-contest plea that he's entitled to a new trial, and therefore, a new sentencing in the capital case, the justice asked.

Stoler acknowledged that would be his argument down the road.

Hessler is on death row for raping and killing Heather Guerrero, a 15-year-old Gering newspaper carrier, in 2003.

Friday's arguments involved the sexual assault of another girl in August 2002.

Stoler said the state filed the cases at the same time and, he argued, Hessler's trial attorneys were ineffective for advising him that if he entered a no-contest plea it may be double jeopardy for the state to use it against him as an aggravator at the trial for the killing.

James Smith of the Nebraska Attorney General's office defended the actions of Hessler's attorneys, saying the law was in flux at the time following a U.S. Supreme Court ruling, Ring v. Arizona. The double-jeopardy argument, he said, was an extremely creative strategy to try to keep Hessler off death row.

"It didn't work. But that's not the test," he argued.

Smith said Hessler didn't want a trial and there was overwhelming evidence of his guilt.

Stoler countered that what Hessler wanted wasn't relevant if he wasn't competent. He said while his attorneys raised the issue and Hessler had been found competent, they should have raised it again when he entered his plea.

After hearing evidence from a doctor and nurse who treated Hessler around the time of his plea, Scotts Bluff County District Judge Randall Lippstreu rejected the motion to find he was incompetent to enter his plea.

Hessler was sentenced to 30 to 42 years in that case.

Last month, Stoler filed another motion challenging Hessler's death penalty conviction, arguing that the state's procedures for imposing a death sentence violate a U.S. Supreme Court holding earlier this year.

In that filing, he is asking Lippstreu to declare the states death penalty laws unconstitutional and vacate Hesslers sentence.
New Delhi: Ahead of the visit of an all-party delegation to Jammu and Kashmir, political parties on Saturday pitched for holding dialogue with "all stakeholders", including Hurriyat, to douse the unrest and banning the use of pellet guns by security forces.

After a meeting held by the government to brief the MPs who are part of the 30-member delegation, leaders from Congress and CPI(M) said all stakeholders should be approached during the two-day visit of the delegation to Jammu and Kashmir beginning tomorrow.

"Government should invite Hurriyat for talks with the all-party delegation.... The invitation extended to others should be given to Hurriyat also. It is up to them whether they want to meet the delegation," CPI(M) general secretary Sitaram Yechury said.

Yechury said government should make "tangible" announcement like a ban on pellet guns, withdrawal of AFSPA from civilian areas and rehabilitation and compensation package for those who lost their lives in recent violence as a follow-up of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's statement of taking peace initiative on the basis of 'Insaniyat, Jamuriyat and Kashmiriyat'.

The delegation will interact with individuals and groups aiming to bring peace in the Valley, which has been facing unrest following the killing of Hizbul Mujahideen militant Burhan Wani in an encounter on July 8.

Leader of the Opposition in the Rajya Sabha and Congress leader Ghulam Nabi Azad said the UPA is open to holding dialogue with all stakeholders.

"We have said that the option of dialogue should be open to all stakeholders. The government should open the dialogue with all stakeholders. The Centre and the state government know who the stake holders are. They have to identify the stakeholders and invite," he said in the presence of Tariq Anwar of NCP, a UPA constituent.

Azad said the pellet guns should be replaced with less lethal options to control protesters in Kashmir Valley.

Prem Singh Chandumajra of Shiromani Akali Dal said the secular face of Jammu and Kashmir is being lost due to violence. "It needs a political framework. It is not merely a law and order issue."

After the meeting, Home Minister Rajnath Singh, who is leading the delegation, said all members gave suggestions on the proposed visit.

He said the delegation will meet all representatives in Jammu and Kashmir.

After returning to Delhi on Monday night, the delegation would meet once again "and the government will take action based on their suggestions," he said.

After the meeting, Yechury said that confidence building measures should be announced during the visit of the delegation.

An interactive session to brief MPs who will be part of the 30-member all-party delegation was held today to make them aware of the prevailing situation in Jammu and Kashmir and contours of the tour during which they will hold talks with a cross-section of people.

The prevailing ground situation in Jammu and Kashmir and positions and views of different stakeholders, individuals and groups were conveyed to the parliamentarians.

Apart from the Home Minister and Minister of State in PMO Jitendra Singh, those who will be part of the all-party delegation include Finance Minister Arun Jaitley, leader of opposition in Rajya Sabha Ghulam Nabi Azad, his Lok Sabha colleague Mallikarjun Kharge, senior Congress leader Ambika Soni, Union Minister Ram Vilas Paswan (LJP), JD-U leader Sharad Yadav, CPI-M general secretary Sitaram Yechury and CPI leader D Raja.

NCP's Tariq Anwar and Trinamool Congress' Saugata Roy, Shiv Sena's Sanjay Raut and Anandrao Adsul, TDP's Thota Narasimham, Shiromani Akali Dal's Prem Singh Chandumajra, BJD's Dilip Tirkey, AIMIM's Asaduddin Owaisi, AIUDF's Badaruddin Ajmal and Muslim League's E Ahamed will be a party of the delegation.

TRS' Jitendra Reddy, NK Premchandran (RSP), P Venugopal (AIADMK), Tiruchi Siva (DMK), YB Subba (YSR-Cong), Jaiprakash Yadav (RJD), Dharamveer Gandhi (AAP) and Dushyant Chautala (RLD) are also in the team.

BSP and Samajwadi Party have extended their support but have not been able to nominate any of their members.
New Delhi: The CPI(M) on Saturday said that the government should invite Hurriyat Conference for talks with the all-party delegation and announce confidence building measure during its visit to Kashmir.

Coming out of a briefing held by the government for members of the delegation, CPI(M) general secretary Sitaram Yechury said, "Government should invite Hurriyat for talks with the all-party delegation" when it visits Kashmir from tomorrow.

He also suggested that confidence building measures should be announced during the visit of the delegation.

An interactive session to brief MPs who will be part of the 30-member all-party delegation was held today to make them aware of the prevailing situation in Jammu and Kashmir and contours of the tour during which they will hold talks with a cross-section of people.

The prevailing ground situation in Jammu and Kashmir and positions and views of different stake holders, individuals and groups were conveyed to the parliamentarians.

The exercise was undertaken to ensure that all MPs speak in tandem and there is consensus among the lawmakers while speaking to a cross-section of people, aiming to bring peace in the state, sources said.

The CPI(M) and CPI will also hold consultations with civil society members and intellectuals to seek their views over the issue today.

"...We should address the trust deficit among people of Kashmir and, therefore, we should meet all the stakeholders without any pre-condition and hear them and then try to find solution," Yechury had said yesterday.

The delegation, to be led by Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh, will visit the Valley on September 4-5.

During the visit, it will hold discussions with Jammu and Kashmir Governor NN Vohra, Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti and representatives of all political parties in the state.

The source said the members of the delegation are free to meet anyone, including separatists.

However, Home Minister Rajnath Singh or any other central minister will meet only those who are ready to resolve all issues within the framework of the Constitution.

The Kashmir Valley has seen possibly the longest spell of protests for over 50 days in which 70 people have lost their lives so far.
Srinagar: A youth was on Saturday killed in clashes between protesters and security forces in Qazigund area of South Kashmir taking the death toll in the ongoing unrest to 71 even as curfew continued in parts of Srinagar in view of the separatists' call for occupying Lal Chowk and Airport Road here.

Curfew-like restrictions remained in force in rest of Kashmir even as normal life remained paralysed for the 57th day.

24-year old Basit Ahmed Ahanger was brought to the district hospital in Anantnag here with pellet injuries sustained during clashes, a police official said, adding he was declared brought dead by the doctors.

"Curfew remains in force in five police station areas of downtown Srinagar and Batamaloo and Maisuma areas in uptown city," a police official said.

He said curfew in these areas of the summer capital continued as a precautionary measure in view of the call given by separatists asking people to occupy Airport Road, city centre Lal Chowk and district headquarters today and tomorrow to protest the visit of Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh-led all-party delegation to the Valley.

However, the official said, curfew has been lifted from the towns where it was imposed yesterday. Curfew has been lifted from other areas of the Valley in view of the improving situation, the official said.

Authorities had yesterday reimposed curfew in Pulwama, Kulgam, Shopian, Baramulla and Pattan towns apart from some areas of Srinagar in view of apprehensions of violence after Friday prayers.

Curfew-like restrictions on the movement of people were in place in the rest of the Valley, official sources said.

Meanwhile, normal life remained affected due to the separatist sponsored strike on 57th day as educational institutions and private offices were closed, while public transport continued to be off the roads.

The separatists have extended the shutdown programme till September 8.

Two police personnel are among those killed while several thousand others have been injured in the clashes between protesters and security forces in the Valley since Hizbul Mujahideen militant Burhan Wani was killed in an encounter in south Kashmir on July 8.
Srinagar: On the eve of the visit of an all-party delegation to Jammu and Kashmir, Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti on Saturday called for engaging all sections of the society, including Hurriyat Conference, in a credible and meaningful political dialogue for resolution of the problems in the Valley.

The country's political leadership must, without any further delay, reach out to and engage all sections of the society, including leaders of the Hurriyat Conference, in a productive dialogue process to resolve the issue and make peace a reality in Jammu and Kashmir, she said while visiting the family of a person killed in firing by security forces.

Seventy people have been killed and thousands injured in violence in Kashmir Valley following the killing of Hizbul Mujahideen militant Burhan Wani in an encounter on July 8.

"Visited the family of late Mashooq Ahmed, firing victim of Kund, Kulgam and offered heartfelt condolences to the bereaved family... The loss of human lives is a colossal tragedy and every one should strive for peace in J&K," she posted on Facebook.

The Chief Minister said it is perhaps for the first time that the Kashmir issue has been, during the past two months, discussed in so many forums and at so many levels including Parliament and at all-party meetings where judicious views were put across by all shades of the country's political opinion on how to end the stalemate.

The need of the hour is to build on this larger political consensus within the country and initiate tangible measures to address the issue, she said.

Mehbooba said the present situation in Kashmir calls for every right thinking party, group or individual to rise to the occasion and strive for finding ways and avenues for the restoration of peace and resolution of the problem.

"Right now Kashmir is again embroiled in a burning situation and we have hope that all sides will pick up elements of sanity and pragmatism and strike a new benchmark towards the resolution of the problem in light of the global and sub-continental realities," she said.

While the separatist leadership shall also have to take a step forward, the Centre on its part shall have to put off the fire on internal discontent, Mehbooba said.

Congress, CPI(M) and many other parties pitched for holding dialogue with "all stakeholders", including Hurriyat, to douse the unrest in Kashmir, at a meeting held by the government in New Delhi today to brief the MPs who are part of the 30-member delegation about the visit to the state on September 4-5.
New Delhi: Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh on Saturday approved the use of PAVA shells, a chilli-based non-lethal munition, to control violent protesters, PTI reported citing official sources.

The development comes ahead of an all-party delegation's visit to Kashmir for peace talks with all stakeholders in the Valley.

The non-lethal PAVA shells can temporarily incapacitate the targets and render them immobile for several minutes.

The option has been suggested by an expert committee after the widespread protests in the Valley following the death of militant commander Burhan Wani.

The seven-member panel included officers from the Home Ministry, Border Security Force (BSF), Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF), Jammu and Kashmir Police, IIT-Delhi and Ordnance Factory Board.

Early this week, a full-fledged demonstration of the shells was held at a test field of the Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) in the national capital.

After conducting the test, the panel gave its nod for use by security forces in crowd control and protest-like situations in the Kashmir Valley.

These shells are to be used in place of pellet guns which has led to wide-scale criticism as their usage led to cases of severe blindness and injuries to people.

The committee has reportedly recommended that the Tear Smoke Unit (TSU) of the BSF in Gwalior should be tasked with the bulk production of the shells.

It is reported that in the first lot not less than 50,000 rounds will be produced.

PAVA stands for Pelargonic Acid Vanillyl Amide, also called Nonivamide, and is an organic compound found characteristically in natural chilli pepper.
Kochi: The Vigilance and Anti-Corruption Bureau on Saturday conducted raids at the residences of former Kerala excise minister K Babu and his two daughters in connection with a disproportionate assets case against the Congress leader.

Vigilance officials said raids are also being conducted at the residences of two of his friends -- Baburam and Mohanan -- at Vyttila and Kumbalam in Ernakulam district.

Babu, who had a controversial stint as the state Excise Minister in the previous Oommen Chandy-led UDF government, had resigned after a Thrissur court ordered the Vigilance department to register an FIR against him in the bar bribery scam. He was later reinstated in the post.

The searches are being conducted at Babu's residence in Thrippunithura and his daughters' residences in Palarivattam in Ernakulam district and Thodupuzha in Idukki district, officials said.

Five teams of the Vigilance officials, headed by two Deputy SPs, from Vigilance special cell, Ernakulam began the searches at 8 am, they said.

Officials said the raids were being conducted after an FIR was registered based on a complaint filed by an Thrippunithura-based anti-corruption organisation against the former minister.

Babu had lost the Thrippunithura Assembly seat to M Swaraj of CPI(M) in the elections held in May this year.
Mumbai: In a veiled attack at the Home Department which is headed by Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, Shiv Sena on Saturday said the job of police is "much more than just keeping political rivals and one's own people under surveillance".

"The job of police extends beyond surveillance of political rivals and one's own people (those within BJP)," an editorial in Sena mouthpiece 'Saamana' said.

BJP's bickering ally cited the case of policeman Vilas Shinde who died when he was assaulted while on duty.

"If such attacks on policemen continue, then police will have to be provided an armour instead of helmets," it added.

"The dent to the image of khaki uniform won't stop merely by according deceased policemen the status of martyrs. The moral of police force is down and political interference has increased," the editorial said.

"After seeing all this, one remembers late Balasaheb Desai's work as Home minister," the Sena said.

"In the last few years, the work of the Home Department is only recruitment and promotion of the chosen few," the party said.

Sena's attack comes against the backdrop of a demand by Leader of Opposition in State Assembly Radhakrishna Vikhe Patil that the state needs a full time Home Minister.

"Law and order is not an issue to be dealt weekly or fortnightly. Fadnavis is not able to spare time to deal with the Home issues. He should hand over the work to a full time minister for the sake of the state," he had said.

6,226 rapes, 17,234 molestation and 3,771 murder cases were registered between January, 2015 and June, 2016. Fadnavis, who took reigns of the state in October 2014, is being dubbed by his opponents as a "failed Home Minister".

Former CM and senior Congress leader Narayan Rane had also said Fadnavis has left the law and order situation at the police officers' mercy.

"Brutal crimes like the Kopardi gang-rape and murder can't take place without political patronage. The CM is more interested in delivering speeches, inaugurating seminars and clearing files at the behest of his bosses in Delhi," he had said.
Mumbai: Reaching out to North Indians ahead of the BMC polls next year, Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis today said people from that region and other parts of the country, who reside in the state have not only imbibed Maharashtra's culture, but have also enriched it.

"Whenever a north Indian asks me where his place was in the state, I reply to him with a song - 'Najar ke samne, jigar ke pass koi rahta hai wo tum'...," Fadnavis said to a round of applause.

The Chief Minister, who started off his speech in Bhojpuri, said, "Maharashtra shares a very old and lasting bond with the Uttar Pradesh and this is the reason Maharashtra has always given due respect to all the North Indians, as it has given to the people belonging to rest of the country."

Fadnavi was speaking at 'Baati-Chokha', a public dinner programme with traditional north Indian menu, organised by BJP at suburban Goregaon.

"Uttar Pradesh is the land of Lord Ram and Krishna. Wherever Lord Ram visited in the Maharashtra during his exile, it became places of worship and we all have maintained our immense respect and faith to those places," he said. Not only this, centuries ago at the time of Shivaji Maharaj's coronation, a brahmin from Uttar Pradesh was called in and he completed all the rituals, he added.

"People coming in from all the states, including UP, have not only adopted Maharashtra's culture, but also enriched it," he said.

Taking potshots at Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav, Fadnavis said, "Those who made tall promises about transforming Uttar Pradesh into 'Uttam Pradesh' have miserably failed to do so. But now it would be done only under the able leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modiji."

The BJP's event is being seen as an aggressive way to woo 'Uttar Bhartiyas' as they form 28 per cent vote share in Mumbai.

The outreach has another objective with forthcoming Assembly elections in Uttar Pradesh, due next year.

BMC has been ruled by Shiv Sena, which plays its agenda of 'sons-of-soil' vs 'outsiders', with the BJP as a junior partner for over two decades.

Baati-Chokha is a traditional north Indian dish. While 'baati' consists of wheat and sattu (powdered roasted blackgrams) formed into balls with spices, and then dipped in ghee (clarified butter) 'chokha' is a dip prepared by mashing boiled potatoes, tomatoes and eggplant together with some spices.

City BJP chief Ashish Shelar, senior leader of Mumbai BJP and general secretary Amarjeet Mishra, Vice president of Mumbai BJP Sanjay Upadhyay along with other leaders were present.

Mumbai BJP general secretary Amarjeet Mishra, who often organises such events for North Indians, said, "The work that chief minister of Uttar Pradesh didn't and couldn't do here in Mumbai (to connect with the North Indians), is being done by Devendraji."
Washington: Scientists are set to name a new fish after US President Barack Obama honouring his decision to create a new protected area off the Hawaiian coast.

The National Geographic reported on Friday that the maroon and gold creature, which was discovered 300 feet deep in the waters off Kure Atoll, is the only known fish to live within Papahanaumokuakea, an expanse of coral reefs and seamounts home to more than 7,000 species, CNN reported on Saturday.

Last week, Obama established the largest protected marine sanctuary in the world when he more than quadrupled the size of the Papahanaumokuakea Marine National Monument to protect reefs, marine life habitats and other resources.

The expansion will add 442,781 sq.miles to the monument, making it now a total of 582,578 sq.miles.

The dorsal fin coloration of the male is a circular red spot ringed with blue which scientists said reminded them of Obama's campaign logo, CNN reported.

"It's very reminiscent of Obama's (campaign) logo," Richard Pyle, a marine biologist, told the magazine.

"How appropriate that a fish we were thinking about naming after him anyway, just to say thank you for expanding the national monument, happens to have a feature that ties it to the President."

The species was discovered this past June during a research trip to Kure, the world's northernmost atoll, CNN reported citing the National Geographic.

This is not the first time Obama has had a fish named after him.

Scientists named an aqua and orange speckled freshwater darter found in the Tennessee River Etheostoma Obama in 2012, CNN added.
All of Nebraska's high school juniors will take the ACT this year instead of state tests.

On Friday, the Nebraska State Board of Education approved a one-year, $1.034 million contract with ACT to provide the standardized college entrance exam beginning this spring.

In April 2016, the Nebraska Legislature passed a bill requiring that public school students in the 11th grade take a college admission test by 2017.

State Education Department officials decided to begin a year earlier in part because of recurring problems with the online state writing exam. The ACT will include a writing test.

The writing test for fourth- and eighth-graders will be replaced with a new statewide reading English Language Arts assessment that includes a writing component.

Juniors will get the results of the ACT exam to use for college admissions or scholarships.

State Education Commissioner Matthew Blomstedt said the exam will also provide a clearer picture of how prepared Nebraska students are for college or to begin a career.
Coimbatore: DMK treasurer and Opposition leader in Tamil Nadu Assembly M K Stalin on Saturday said Chief Minister Jayalalithaa should move the Supreme Court to prevent the proposal by Kerala government to construct a dam across Siruvani river.

Addressing party workers here, he said Jayalalithaa should have moved the Supreme Court and obtained a stay on the proposal to construct the dam.

The AIADMK MPs also failed to raise the issue in the Parliament, he said, adding construction of dam would affect the supply of drinking water in Coimbatore, Erode and Tirupur districts.

The government should also immediately convene an all party meeting and take steps to meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi to stop the move, he said.
Davao: The Abu Sayyaf Islamic militant group carried out a bomb attack in Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte`s home town that killed at least 14 people, the city`s mayor said Saturday.

"The office of the president texted and confirmed that was an Abu Sayyaf retaliation. For the city government side, we are working on that it is an Abu Sayyaf retaliation," Davao city mayor Sara Duterte, who is also the president`s daughter, told CNN Philippines.

National Defence Secretary Delfin Lorenzana also released a statement saying he believed the Abu Sayyaf, which in recent years has declared allegiance to the Islamic State group, carried out Friday`s bombing on a bustling night market.

"While nobody has come up to own the act we can only assume that this was perpetrated by the terrorist group Abu Sayyaf that has suffered heavy casualties in Jolo in the past weeks," Lorenzana said.

"We have predicted this and has warned our troops accordingly but the enemy is also adept at using the democratic space granted by our constitution to move around freely and unimpeded to sow terror."

Duterte last week ordered a major assault against the Abu Sayyaf on its stronghold of Jolo island, about 900 kilometres from Davao. Fifteen soldiers died in clashes with the Abu Sayyaf on Monday.

National police chief Ronald dela Rosa told a briefing in Manila that the Abu Sayyaf was a top focus of investigations, although he did not definitively lay the blame on the group, saying other leads were also being followed.

ajm-kma/jah
Zhejiang: US President Barack Obama arrived in China on Saturday for his final visit as president, intent on cementing the "pivot" to Asia undertaken during his administration.

Obama was welcomed by an honour guard as Air Force One landed in the eastern city of Hangzhou, which is hosting the G20 summit of global economic powers.

But there was also tension on the tarmac, with angry words exchanged when a Chinese official remonstrated with National Security Advisor Susan Rice about where she could stand.

Hangzhou is under ultra-tight security, with a quarter of its residents encouraged to leave and potential troublemakers detained as the ruling Communist Party takes every measure to prevent any possible wrinkles.

Later on Saturday, Obama will hold private talks with Chinese President Xi Jinping at the city`s picturesque West Lake, dotted with islands and a favoured subject for Chinese artists.

The meeting is expected to focus on the fight against global warming, after China on Saturday ratified the Paris climate accord and with the US tipped to follow suit, taking the pact a giant step forward.

Tackling climate change has become a bright spot in often difficult relations between the two powers.

But Xi and Obama will also discuss tensions in the South China Sea, where Beijing`s territorial claims, and its construction of artificial islands in disputed waters, have set the region on edge.

On Sunday, Obama is to hold talks with Theresa May for the first time since she became British prime minister in the wake of the landmark vote to leave the European Union.

Syria will shift into focus when Obama meets his Turkish counterpart Recep Tayyip Erdogan on the sidelines of the summit.

Relations between Washington and Ankara have soured following an attempted coup against Erdogan and Kurdish advances along Turkey`s southern border.

Erdogan has accused the United States of harbouring a Turkish cleric he accuses of plotting the coup.

US officials insist they will extradite Fethullah Gulen if Turkey can present proof he was actually involved.

The spat has soured public perceptions of the United States in Turkey and risks undermining a deep security relationship between the NATO allies.

Tensions have been further strained by Turkey`s bombing of Kurdish positions in northern Syria.

The targets included Kurdish groups that are backed by Washington and seen as integral to the fight against the Islamic State group.

Ankara accuses them of being in league with the Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK), a group which has claimed responsibility for deadly attacks inside Turkey.

Obama could also take the opportunity to meet with Russian President Vladimir Putin, as their foreign ministers work to reach a deal that would ease fighting around Aleppo.

After the G20 talks conclude Monday, Obama will travel to Laos which is hosting the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) summit.
Haute-Savoie: The leaders of EU heavyweights Germany and France on Friday called for a new push to invigorate the bloc after Britain`s shock Brexit vote.

Twenty-seven EU leaders will meeting without Britain in Slovakia on September 16 and France`s Francois Hollande and German Chancellor Angela Merkel said in a joint statement that a "new impulse" was required .

"With Brexit and the rise of populism and even questions on the very idea of Europe, a new impulse is needed for the European Union," they said.

"France and Germany will assume their responsibilities" to do this, they added.

British Prime Minister Theresa May has said she will not trigger Article 50 -- the formal notification which starts a two-year negotiating period before Britain leaves the EU -- until next year at the earliest.

Speaking two days ahead of a G20 summit in Hangzhou in China, Hollande and Merkel underscored Europe`s role in trying to spur growth and international trade.

"We will do our level best in China to see that the most important countries can give a new push to growth and global commerce," Hollande said.

Merkel on the other hand said that European countries "will do all they can to fight protectionism."
Vladivostok: Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe called on Russian President Vladimir Putin on Saturday to work together to resolve once and for all an island row that has marred ties for more than seven decades.

Abe made the appeal in a speech delivered at a business conference in the Russian port city of Vladivostok, with Putin in attendance.

"As the leader of Japan, I am firmly convinced of the correctness of the Japanese position, while you, Vladimir, as the leader of Russia, are entirely confident of the correctness of the Russian position," Abe said.

"Yet, if we continue on like this, this very same discussion will continue for yet more decades to come. By leaving the situation as it is, neither you nor I will be able to leave better possibilities to future generations."

Japan claims a string of Russia-controlled western Pacific islands, called the Northern Territories in Japan and Southern Kuriles in Russia.

The territorial row over the island chain, seized by Soviet troops at the end of World War Two, has upset diplomatic relations ever since, precluding a formal peace treaty between the two countries.

Abe`s father, Shintaro Abe, worked to resolve the dispute in the 1980s as foreign minister.

The speech comes one day after he held talks with Putin and agreed to have two more summit meetings by the end of the year to accelerate peace treaty negotiations.

"Vladimir, in order to carve out towards the future bilateral relations overflowing with unlimited potential, I am resolved to putting forth all my strength to advance the relationship between Japan and Russia, together with you," Abe said.

Concessions over the islands would carry risks for Putin but could boost Japanese investment in Russia at a time when Moscow, battered by low global oil prices and Western sanctions, badly needs an injection of cash.

"The economies of Russia and Japan are not in a rivalry. I am fully confident that ours is a relationship in which each complements the other in a magnificent way," Abe said.
Aankara: More than 100 Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) militants were either killed or wounded in clashes with Turkish security forces on Saturday, the military said,

It was one of the highest casualty tolls in a single day of the conflict in recent years.

The military said in a statement that more than 100 PKK militants had been "neutralised" in clashes, without specifying how many were killed and how many wounded. Most had been taken back to northern Iraq, where the PKK has mountain camps.
Zhejiang: Russian President Vladimir Putin and his Turkish counterpart Recep Tayyip Erdogan backed on Saturday the healing of relations between their nations, damaged by Ankara`s shooting down of a Russian war plane last year.

"There is still a lot to do in order to completely re-establish cooperation in all areas," said Putin, after the bilateral meeting in Guangzhou on the eve of a G20 summit in the southern Chinese city.

"Turkey is going through a difficult period, fighting against terrorism in the face of serious terrorist crimes," he said.

Putin added "I am sure that... we can go forward on our path of cooperation" once the situation in Turkey is "completely normalised".

Turkey and Russia normalised ties in June after Erdogan sent a letter to Putin expressing regret over the shooting down of a Russian war plane on the Syrian border last November which had caused an unprecedented crisis in their relations.

The following month Erdogan survived a coup attempt by a rogue military faction and in August the Turkish leader met Putin during a highly symbolic visit to Russia, his first foreign trip since the failed coup.

On Saturday the Turkish leader said he and Putin would take "certain measures" to move bilateral ties forward, notably on thir joint TurkStream project, to pipe gas to Turkey and southern Europe, which was stalled by the diplomatic freeze.TurkStream project, to pipe gas to Turkey and southern Europe, which was stalled by the diplomatic freeze.

The shooting down of a Russian fighter jet by a Turkish F-16 on the Syrian border last November saw Putin slap sanctions on Turkey and launch a blistering war of words that dealt serious damage to burgeoning ties.

The first Russian charter plane carrying tourists to Turkey since Moscow lifted its travel sanctions landed in the Mediterranean resort of Antalya on Friday.Antalya on Friday.
Hangzhou: US President Barack Obama on Saturday urged China to abide by its obligations under an international treaty in its activities in the South China Sea.

He made the comments during a "candid exchange" with his Chinese counterpart, Xi Jinping, here in China before the G20 summit, the BBC quoted the White House as saying.

In July, an international tribunal ruled against Chinese claims to rights in the South China Sea.

China dismissed the ruling and said it would not be bound by it.

The ruling was made by an arbitration tribunal under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), which both China and the country that brought the case -- the Philippines -- have signed.

The White House said Obama emphasised "the importance for China, as a signatory to UNCLOS, to abide by its obligations under that treaty, which the United States views as critical to maintaining the rules-based international order".

China claims almost all of the South China Sea, including reefs and islands also claimed by other nations, and has caused dismay in the region by building artificial islands and restricting access.

Earlier on Saturday, the US and China -- together responsible for 40 per cent of the world`s carbon emissions -- formally joined the Paris global climate agreement.

"History will judge today`s effort as pivotal," Obama said.

In December, 2015, countries agreed to cut emissions in an attempt to keep the global average rise in temperatures below two degrees.
Zhejiang: The United States and China on Saturday formally joined the Paris climate deal, with President Barack Obama hailing the accord as the "moment we finally decided to save our planet".

The move by the world`s two biggest polluters is a major step forward for the 180-nation accord, which sets ambitious goals for capping global warming and funnelling trillions of dollars to poor countries facing climate catastrophe.

Obama and his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping handed ratification documents to UN chief Ban Ki-moon, who said he was now optimistic the agreement will be in force by the end of this year.

At the ceremony in the Chinese city of Hangzhou, Obama said climate change would "define the contours of this century more dramatically than any other challenge".

History would show that the Paris deal would "ultimately prove to be a turning point", he said, "the moment we finally decided to save our planet".

"There`s an American saying, You need to put your money where your mouth is. That`s what we`re doing."

The Paris agreement aims to limit global temperature increases to two degrees centigrade, and will be triggered after at least 55 countries, accounting for 55 percent of global greenhouse gas emissions, ratify it.

China is responsible for almost a quarter of the world`s emissions, with the US in second place on around 15 percent, so their participation is crucial.

China`s Communist-controlled parliament ratified the agreement earlier Saturday, and President Xi said the Asian giant was "solemnly" committed to the issue.

"Hopefully this will encourage other countries to take similar efforts," he said in Hangzhou, where he is to host the G20 summit of the world`s leading developed and emerging economies.

Until Saturday only 24 of the signatories had ratified the accord, including France and many island states threatened by rising sea levels but who only produce a tiny proportion of the world`s emissions.

Ban said there would be a "high level" meeting in New York later this month to push more countries do so, and told the two leaders that they had "added powerful momentum" to efforts to bring the accord into force.

"I am optimistic we can do it before the end of this year."Climate is one of the few areas where the world`s two most powerful countries -- who are at loggerheads on issues ranging from trade disputes, cyberspying and the South China Sea -- are able to find common cause.

Campaigners welcomed the move, with WWF saying the two giants economies had sent "a very powerful signal that there will be real global action on climate change".

But some environmental groups say that the Paris pledges by China, the US and other fall far short of what is needed to meet the goal of less than two degrees of warming.

"This moment should be seen as a starting point, not the finale, of global action on climate," said Greenpeace policy adviser Li Shuo.

The Paris pact calls for capping global warming at well below two degrees Celsius (3.6 degrees Fahrenheit), and 1.5 C (2.7 F) if possible, compared with pre-industrial levels.

For China, ratifying the agreement fits with Beijing`s domestic political agenda of being seen to make efforts to clean up the environment, after years of breakneck industrial development led to soaring air, water and ground pollution.

The scourge is estimated to have caused hundreds of thousands of early deaths, and is the source of mounting public anger.

Under the Paris accord, China has pledged to cut its carbon emissions per unit of GDP by 60-65 percent from 2005 levels by 2030 and increase non-fossil fuel sources in primary energy consumption to about 20 percent.

Neither of those requirements implies a commitment to cut absolute levels of emissions, although China is also obliged to have them peak by "around 2030".

In its Paris commitment, the US promised to cut its own emissions 26-28 percent below 2005 levels by 2025.

During the negotiations over the Paris deal Beijing stressed the concept of "differentiated responsibilities" -- the idea that developed countries should shoulder the lion`s share of the burden as they have polluted most since the Industrial Revolution.

For its part the White House is looking for the Paris accord to come into force during Obama`s tenure, in part to burnish his climate legacy, but also to ensure the forthcoming US election does not obstruct US participation.

The administration is arguing that the deal does not need Congressional approval for ratification, which can be done by executive order.

Policymakers from Tokyo to Stockholm have bitter memories of George W. Bush and his Republican Party refusing to ratify the Kyoto Protocol after it was agreed by Bill Clinton`s adminstration.
Samarkand: Uzbekistan bade farewell to President Islam Karimov at a high-security funeral on Saturday, after his death plunged the country into the greatest period of uncertainty in its post-Soviet history with no clear successor to the iron-fisted ruler.

Karimov, 78, was pronounced dead late Friday after he suffered a stroke last weekend and fell into a coma, authorities said, following days of speculation that officials were delaying making his death public.

The Islamic funeral for the strongman -- who dominated the ex-Soviet nation for some 27 years -- was being held in his home city of Samarkand, southwestern Uzbekistan, on Saturday and the country will begin three days of mourning.

An AFP journalist in the famed Silk Road city -- which houses the mausoleum of feared 14th century warlord Tamerlane -- said police had cordoned off the centre and were not letting ordinary citizens or cars through.

Despite his brutal quarter-century rule, which earned him a reputation abroad as one of the region`s most savage despots who ruthlessly stamped out opposition, people in Karimov`s hometown mourned his passing and some youths wore black clothes."When we found out about his death, all my family -- by wife, my son`s wife, the children -- we were all crying, we couldn`t believe it," one local man, 58, told AFP, refusing to give his name.

"It is a great loss for every Uzbek. He made out country free and developed."

State television in the tightly-controlled nation earlier reported the coffin had arrived by plane in Samarkand accompanied by Karimov`s widow and younger daughter.

Crowds of people had earlier reportedly lined the road to watch and throw flowers at the cortege as it drove through the capital Tashkent.

Authorities said Karimov`s coffin would be displayed in a city square for people to pay their last respects before he is buried in a nearby cemetery later Saturday next to other family members.

Eyewitnesses told AFP that they had seen the vehicles carrying the coffin head towards Samarkand`s UNESCO World Heritage site centre but that the event was open only to guests with official invitations.

Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev flew in for the funeral, along with leaders from former Soviet republics including Tajik President Emomali Rakhmon, Turkmen President Gurbanguly Berdymukhamedov and the prime ministers of Kyrgyzstan, Belarus and Kazakhstan.

Loyalist Prime Minister Shavkat Mirziyoyev heads the organising committee for the funeral, in a sign that he could be the frontrunner to take over long-term from Karimov.

Under Uzbek law, senate head Nigmatulla Yuldashev has now become acting president until early elections are held.Karimov was one of a handful of Soviet strongmen who clung to power after their homelands gained independence from Moscow in 1991, and he played Russia, the West and China off against each other.

The most serious challenge to his rule came from his eldest daughter, once seen as a possible heir, whom he put under house arrest in 2014 after a family power struggle erupted publicly.

Uzbekistan has never held elections deemed free and fair by international monitors, and Karimov won his fifth terms in office last March with 90 percent of the vote.

His death pushes the strategically located landlocked country into a "phase of uncertainty", the head of the Russian lower house of parliament`s international affairs committee, Alexei Pushkov, said Friday.

Rights groups -- which have long accused Karimov`s regime of the most serious abuses including torture and forced labour in the lucrative cotton industry -- have slammed his time in power as a catastrophe for Uzbekistan.

But Karimov portrayed himself as guarantor of stability and bulwark against radical Islam on the borders of Afghanistan, crushing fundamentalist groups in the majority Muslim republic."Islam Karimov leaves a legacy of a quarter century of ruthless repression," said Steve Swerdlow, Central Asia researcher at Human Rights Watch.

"Karimov ruled through fear to erect a system synonymous with the worst human rights abuses: torture, disappearances, forced labour, and the systematic crushing of dissent."

Despite Karimov`s brutal record, Uzbekistan still receives US aid and both Secretary of State John Kerry and Russian leader Vladimir Putin have jetted in for talks over the past year.

As world powers continue to vie for influence, activists question how the nation`s rights record can ever improve.
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Vladivostok: Russian President Vladimir Putin on Saturday urged both sides on the Korean peninsula to calm tensions after meeting South Korean leader Park Geun-hye.

"Obviously, we need to avoid any provocations or enflaming the situation," Putin said in a statement to the press in the far eastern city of Vladivostok.

"It is necessary to lower the level of military confrontation to form the basis for mutual trust among all the countries in the region."

Park, whose country is a stalwart US ally, said she had agreed with Putin "to further strengthen our strategic contacts aimed at resolving the North Korean nuclear problem."

North Korea in August test-fired a submarine-launched missile towards Japan, marking what weapons analysts called a clear step forward for its nuclear strike ambitions.

Current UN resolutions prohibit North Korea from any use of ballistic missile technology, but Pyongyang has continued to carry out numerous launches following its fourth nuclear test in January.

South Korea has responded to Pyongyang`s continued launches by agreeing to deploy a sophisticated US anti-missile system -- known as THAAD -- a move that has seriously strained relations with North Korea`s main diplomatic ally, China.

Russia has also slammed the deployment as destabilising for the recent, with Moscow angered by what it sees as Washington flexing its military muscle.
Caracas: A day after Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro`s opponents staged a mass demonstration calling for a referendum on removing him from office, their victory still looked far from certain on Friday.

Here is how Venezuelan analysts and key players see the next few weeks developing as the opposition presses for a referendum before the crucial turning point of January 10.The head of the opposition Democratic Unity Roundtable (MUD), Jesus Torrealba, told AFP that around a million people joined in Thursday`s march.

The coalition vowed to take to the streets again on September 7 and 14.

"The toughest challenge for the opposition is converting their potential energy into kinetic energy. This protest march has not changed who is in charge of the institutions," said Luis Vicente Leon, head of polling firm Datanalisis.

"Once they are in the street, a winning strategy for the opposition would be to stay there, to show that they are in the majority and remind people what the majority wants and that they will not be quiet until they get it."Maduro has vowed to resist, branding the opposition "fascist right-wing" stooges of US "imperialism."

He staged his own rally in defiance of the opposition`s gathering on Thursday. He threatened to strip opposition lawmakers of their immunity to go after them in the courts.

His Foreign Minister Delcy Rodriguez said she had proof that opposition protesters had plotted violence.

Interior Minister Nestor Reverol said security forces had detained various opposition leaders over recent days and had "frustrated a coup d`etat and defeated violence."

The government had already launched court appeals against the MUD, accusing its members of electoral fraud in the referendum petitions.

Maduro wrote off Thursday`s opposition demo, claiming: "The victory is ours."The opposition wants to hold the referendum by January 10.

If it takes place before that date and Maduro loses, new elections must be held. If he loses in a recall after that date, he would simply hand power to his hand-picked vice president.

But the National Electoral Board has scheduled the next stage of the process for late October, putting a January 10 referendum virtually out of reach.

The opposition says the electoral authorities are controlled by Maduro.

For the next stage in the referendum process, the opposition needs to gather four million signatures to back its call for a plebiscite.

The electoral board says it will announce on September 13 the exact date when it will let the opposition gather those signatures.

The opposition has vowed to rally the next day.

On its own, "that march will not make the board change its schedule," said Eugenio Martinez, an electoral analyst.

"If the opposition settles for one demonstration it loses. That is why they have announced more protests that will grow in intensity," he added.

"All these protests added together could succeed in pushing the electoral authorities to speed up the process."

mis/rlp/acb


S&P 500 3,901.06 DOW 32,861.80 QQQ 281.22 Elon Musk takes over Twitter but where will he go from here? The Safest Option in Trades! (Ad) Shopify Stock Price Surges as Losses Narrow, Investments Pay Off When Will This "Suckers Rally" End? The Safest Option in Trades! (Ad) Poland chooses US to build its first nuclear power plant Will Demand from EV Makers Drive Up Freeport-McMoRan stock? Under $5 a Share (Ad) MarketBeat: Week in Review 10/24-10/28 Ahead of harsh winter, tourism roars back in Mediterranean

S&P 500 3,901.06 DOW 32,861.80 QQQ 281.22 Elon Musk takes over Twitter but where will he go from here? The Safest Option in Trades! (Ad) Shopify Stock Price Surges as Losses Narrow, Investments Pay Off When Will This "Suckers Rally" End? The Safest Option in Trades! (Ad) Poland chooses US to build its first nuclear power plant Will Demand from EV Makers Drive Up Freeport-McMoRan stock? Under $5 a Share (Ad) MarketBeat: Week in Review 10/24-10/28 Ahead of harsh winter, tourism roars back in Mediterranean

S&P 500 3,901.06 DOW 32,861.80 QQQ 281.22 Elon Musk takes over Twitter but where will he go from here? The Safest Option in Trades! (Ad) Shopify Stock Price Surges as Losses Narrow, Investments Pay Off When Will This "Suckers Rally" End? The Safest Option in Trades! (Ad) Poland chooses US to build its first nuclear power plant Will Demand from EV Makers Drive Up Freeport-McMoRan stock? Under $5 a Share (Ad) MarketBeat: Week in Review 10/24-10/28 Ahead of harsh winter, tourism roars back in Mediterranean
An intoxicated and shirtless man in Westerly, RI opened fire on his neighbor's home using corncobs he shot with his homemade PVC potato gun. Drunk Rhode Island Man, while we do not condone your actions, we salute you for Making America Potato Gun Again.

Jeffrey M. Osella, who is 50 and totally knows better, has been fighting with the very same neighbor for more than 13 years, police told a reporter.

On Tuesday night, after the two men yelled at each other for a while about oh whatever does it really matter anyway, Mr. Osella loaded some corncobs into a potato gun he'd fashioned from PVC. He then shot the corncobs in the general direction of his neighbor's home, according to the cops. These DIY weapons typically use a propellant such as hair spray for combustion.

"This particular incident did not stem from a new argument," Captain Shawn Lacey of the Westerly Police Department told USA TODAY.

Lacey said the daughter of Mr. Osella's sworn foe was riding her bicycle nearby and had to dodge one of the corncob, but no one was hit or otherwise physically harmed. That's pretty creepy and not funny though, shooting things at a child.

It is possible to make a spud gun from open source plans, and you can also buy such a thing on Amazon. We do not recommending getting drunk and shooting in the general direction of your neighbor, or any other person or living thing with it. Spud guns are only for funs.

From the Westerly Sun:

The police said he used a potato gun, a PVC pipe that propels objects with a light accelerant, such as hair spray, that can be ignited by a grill lighter. Another witness told officers that Osella's daughter was nearly hit by one of the corncobs while she was walking home. Interim Westerly Police Chief Shawn Lacey said the two men have had disputes regularly over the course of the past 13 years. Osella's neighbor recently listed his home for sale, according to a police report, and said he was concerned that Osella's behavior would cause damage and reduce the value of his property or hinder a sale. After speaking with the neighbor, police reported that they went to Osella's home, and that he came to the door shirtless with multiple corn kernels stuck to his chest. Osella denied shooting at the neighbor, but admitted firing the potato gun toward the neighbor's home, the police said.



(Thanks, Gina Loukareas!)
ALPBACH, Austria (Reuters) - Multinationals like coffee chain Starbucks and online retailer Amazon pay less tax in Austria than one of the country's tiny sausage stands, the republic's center-left chancellor lamented in an interview published on Friday. Chancellor Christian Kern, head of the Social Democrats and of the centrist coalition government, also criticized internet giants Google and Facebook , saying that if they paid more tax subsidies for print media could increase. "Every Viennese cafe, every sausage stand pays more tax in Austria than a multinational corporation," Kern was quoted as saying in an interview with newspaper Der Standard, invoking two potent symbols of the Austrian capital's food culture. "That goes for Starbucks, Amazon and other companies," he said, praising the European Commission's ruling this week that Apple should pay up to 13 billion euros ($14.5 billion) in taxes plus interest to Ireland because a special scheme to route profits through that country was illegal state aid. Apple has said it will appeal the ruling, which Chief Executive Tim Cook described as "total political crap". Google, Facebook and other multinational companies say they follow all tax rules. Kern criticized EU states with low-tax regimes that have lured multinationals - and come under scrutiny from Brussels. "What Ireland, the Netherlands, Luxembourg or Malta are doing here lacks solidarity towards the rest of the European economy," he said. He stopped short of saying that Facebook and Google would have to pay more tax but underlined their significant sales in Austria, which he estimated at more than 100 million euros each, and their relatively small numbers of employees - a "good dozen" for Google and "allegedly even fewer" for Facebook. "They massively suck up the advertising volume that comes out of the economy but pay neither corporation tax nor advertising duty in Austria," said Kern, who became chancellor in May. ($1 = 0.8965 euros) (Reporting by Francois Murphy; Editing by Dominic Evans)
My 2 1/2-year-old grandson recently stayed at our family farm in North Dakota while his parents enjoyed a few days away.

One morning, he and I got up early. Everyone else remained asleep.

What would you like for breakfast? I asked.

Cereal, he said.

So I put a bowl on the counter and poured from a box of Cinnamon Toast Crunch. Then I waited for him to reach for it. But he didnt make a move.

Grandpa Terry? he said. At our house, we put milk in it.

I had assumed he was still eating cereal as a finger food. It goes to show how our grandkids grow up quickly  and how childhood might be described as a journey to always be better.

That happens to be the motto of the maker of Cinnamon Toast Crunch: General Mills cereal is on a journey to always be better.

That could be the motto of our farm, too.

It explains why we started to plant genetically modified corn and soybeans many years ago: They allow us to grow more food on less land than ever before. This is the very definition of sustainable agriculture  good for the Earth and for the future of our family farm, too.

Yet thats not the only way weve used technology on our journey to always be better. If my farming ancestors could see what weve done with data, the dramatic changes would astonish them.

When I was young, we managed our farm field by field, which is to say that we treated each field as a single unit for the purpose of seeds, fertilizer and herbicides. It didnt matter if the fields were big (a hundred acres or more) or small (just a few acres).

Today, we manage our farm with much more precision, using GPS technology and individual recipes of nutrient, seed and pesticide rates. When we plant and protect crops, we consider soil, topography and historical yield data. We even study infrared images on maps made by NASA. These tools allow us to see tremendous variation not just from field to field, but down to nearly the square foot.

For an area with rich soil and a history of excellent production, for example, we might add extra nitrogen and seed so that it matches yield potential, allowing the crops to attain as much protein as possible. On a hilltop with sandy soil, we might apply less.

Were also exacting with the sprays that protect our crops against weeds, pests and disease. Although we have never drenched our fields with them, we apply just the right amounts, measuring everything to the drop. Our sprayers even are programmed to shut off when they go over ground theyve already covered.

We aspire to operate an economically and environmentally sustainable business because we believe its the responsible approach. In this era of increased scrutiny of agriculture, however, we really have no choice. Consumers demand it.

Like most farms, after harvest we send our crops to grain merchants instead of directly to food companies. Yet its more than likely that weve supplied a company like General Mills indirectly  and that our high-quality wheat is being used in their products.

To borrow from their company motto, were partners on a journey to always be better.

Im excited about how well keep on being better in the future.

On our family farm, were on the verge of using drones for additional data collection. Several research projects are now underway in North Dakota. My neighbors and I are watching them with great interest.

Well continue to innovate with our crops as well. Advances in seed technology may allow us to grow gluten-free wheat for people who suffer from celiac disease.

Our goal is to help Americans to put the best food possible on their dinner tables  and also on their breakfast counters, where they can fill bowls with cereal made from the crops on my farm.

By the time my grandson grows up, farming will be a lot different and almost certainly better, probably in ways we cannot anticipate. If he takes up a life in agriculture, hell continue on the journey, aiming to always be better.
A duo of gorgeous Canadian gals documented their $20,000 worldwide cruise like any 20-something would.

But authorities in Australia say Isabelle Lagace, 28, and Melina Roberce, 22, had more in their luggage than string bikinis.

They also allegedly had $23 million worth of cocaine  the most ever seized from cruise or airline passengers.

Coconut water detox  A photo posted by @melinar___ on Aug 18, 2016 at 7:33pm PDT

Along with Andre Tamine, 63, the women  all Canadian nationals  were arrested and charged Sunday with attempting to smuggle 200 pounds of the drug into Australia as part of a major international drug syndicate.

Read: The Ridiculous Ways People Have Tried to Smuggle Stuff Past the TSA

But before they were hauled off to jail, these women had the time of their lives.

That is, if the trail of Instagram posts from exotic locales that span the continents are any indication.

French Polynesia got us like ...  #dumbanddumber A photo posted by @melinar___ on Aug 17, 2016 at 8:07pm PDT

Let's do it again ...  #london A photo posted by @melinar___ on Jul 8, 2016 at 1:54pm PDT

From Southhampton in the U.K. to Sydney, Lagace and Roberce appear on Roberce's colorful Instagram feed posing in Times Square, wearing bikinis on beaches in countries down the coast of South America, and getting tattoos in Tahiti aboard the MS Sea Princess.

The world cruise likely cost the girls about $20,000.

The many glamorous stops actually may have contributed to suspicion of the women, officials said.

"Sydney is highly attractive for cruise ships... so we're continually risk assessing the cruise ships and the passengers that come by air. This particular cruise ship  because of the nature and the amount of ports it had been to  was considered quite high risk in itself," Australian Border Force Commander Tim Fitzgerald told reporters Monday.

Story continues

 #peru2k16 A photo posted by @melinar___ on Aug 5, 2016 at 1:15pm PDT

And the sheer bulk of cocaine allegedly seized in locked luggage from Tamine and the women makes authorities suspect this was more than just a three-person job.

Read: Flight Attendant Flees After TSA Finds 60 Pounds of Cocaine in Her Carry-On Bags: Cops

"I can't go into specifics about the background of this particular syndicate, but you have to be a very organized to get your hands on 95 kilograms of cocaine," Fitzgerald said.

The maximum penalty for this offense is life in prison.

Gone to a place very peaceful  leave a message after the tone  A photo posted by @melinar___ on Jul 24, 2016 at 7:45am PDT

In a statement, the Australian Border Force said they have not ruled out the possibility of additional arrests. They also called the historic bust a warning for drug pushers around the world.

"These syndicates should be on notice that the Australian Border Force is aware of all of the different ways they attempt to smuggle drugs into our country and we are working with a range of international agencies to stop them," ABF Assistant Commissioner Clive Murray said in a statement.

Watch: $900 Million Worth of Meth Found Hidden Inside Thousands of Bras

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By Padraic Halpin and Conor Humphries DUBLIN (Reuters) - Ireland's cabinet agreed on Friday to join Apple in appealing against a multi-billion-euro back tax demand that the European Commission has imposed on the iPhone maker, despite misgivings among independents who back the fragile coalition. The Commission's ruling this week that the U.S. tech giant must pay up to 13 billion euros ($14.5 billion) to Dublin has angered Washington, which accuses the EU of trying to grab tax revenue that should go to the U.S. government. With transatlantic tensions rising, the White House said President Barack Obama would raise the issue of tax avoidance by some multinational corporations at a summit of the G20 leading economies in China this weekend. Paradoxically, Ireland is determined not to accept the tax windfall, which would be equivalent to what it spent last year on funding its struggling health service. Finance Minister Michael Noonan has insisted Dublin would fight any adverse ruling ever since the European Union began investigating Apple's Irish tax affairs in 2014, arguing that it had to protect a tax regime that has attracted large numbers of multinational employers. On Wednesday, he failed to persuade a group of independent lawmakers, whose support is vital for the minority government, to agree to fight the ruling by European Competition Commissioner Margrethe Vestager that Apple's low tax arrangements in Ireland constitute illegal state aid. However, he won them over when the cabinet met again on Friday. Noonan said the retroactive nature of the EU ruling was "little short of bizarre and outrageous". "How could any foreign direct investor come into Europe if they thought the valid arrangements they made under law could be overturned a generation later and they be liable to pay back money," he said at a news conference. Public Expenditure Minister Paschal Donohoe said Dublin stood behind its corporate tax regime as a means of creating jobs. "This ruling has seismic and entirely negative consequences for job creation in the future," he said. Apple, keen to defend its own interests, has already said it will lodge an appeal. For Fine Gael, the main Irish coalition party, a broader principle is at stake. It wants to take on Brussels to safeguard Ireland's decades-old low corporate tax policy that has drawn in multinationals such as Apple, creating one in 10 jobs in what was once an impoverished country. A FAIR RATE OF TAX The Independent Alliance, a group of five lawmakers, fell in line after the coalition agreed to conduct a review of what tax multinationals pay and what should they pay. Transport Minister Shane Ross, an Alliance member, defended Apple up to a point. "I think they were acting legally. What they were doing was making use of extraordinary loopholes that existed there," he told reporters. "Multinationals provide absolutely vital jobs to the economy ... (but) multinationals should pay a fair rate of tax in Ireland." A failure of the Alliance to come on board would have cast doubt on the government's survival prospects. Dublin has just over two months to lodge an appeal to the EU's General Court. If that fails, Dublin has said it plans to take the case to the European Court of Justice. The issue goes to parliament on Wednesday next week, when lawmakers will be recalled from their summer break. The main opposition party, Fianna Fail, also favours challenging Brussels, so the government should easily win the Dail's backing to fight what is by far the largest anti-competition measure imposed on a company by the EU. Some Irish voters are astounded that the government might turn down the money, and the left-wing Sinn Fein party has led attacks from the opposition. Apple was found to be holding over $181 billion in accumulated profits offshore, more than any U.S. company, in a study published last year by two left-leaning nonprofit groups, a policy critics say is designed to avoid paying U.S taxes. But Apple chief executive Tim Cook has said part of the company's 2014 tax bill would be paid next year when the company repatriates offshore profits to the United States. OBAMA TO TAKE THE LEAD The U.S. government is keen to ensure that it, and not Ireland, gets the revenue. White House spokesman Josh Earnest said leaders of the G20 developed and emerging economies would tackle the wider issue when they meet in the Chinese city of Hangzhou on Sept. 4-5. "The president will ... lead the discussion at the G20 about combating tax avoidance strategies that are implemented by some multinational corporations," Earnest said. "We need to find a way to make the global system of taxation more fair - more fair to countries around the world, particularly countries like the United States." A number of G20 governments are worried about how multinationals move profits around so they end up getting taxed in a country that has very low corporate rates. Last year the Organisation for Economic Co Operation and Development unveiled new measures to tackle corporate tax avoidance. A number of countries have moved to implement some of them measures, but the United States has not. It needs to change its own tax rules which, for example, allow companies to build up tax-free profits offshore. However, Congress has struggled for years to agree such reforms. ($1 = 0.8937 euros) (Additional reporting by Roberta Rampton and Tom Bergin; writing by David Stamp; editing by Giles Elgood)
HANGZHOU, China (Reuters) - A Chinese official confronted U.S. President Barack Obama's national security adviser on the tarmac on Saturday prompting the Secret Service to intervene, an unusual altercation as China implements strict controls ahead of a big summit. The stakes are high for China to pull off a trouble-free G20 summit of the world's top economies, its highest profile event of the year, as it looks to cement its global standing and avoid acrimony over a long list of tensions with Washington. Shortly after Obama's plane landed in the eastern city of Hangzhou, a Chinese official attempted to prevent his national security adviser Susan Rice from walking to the motorcade as she crossed a media rope line, speaking angrily to her before a Secret Service agent stepped between the two. Rice responded but her comments were inaudible to reporters standing underneath the wing of Air Force One. It was unclear if the official, whose name was not immediately clear, knew that Rice was a senior official and not a reporter. The same official shouted at a White House press aide who was instructing foreign reporters on where to stand as they recorded Obama disembarking from the plane. "This is our country. This is our airport," the official said in English, pointing and speaking angrily with the aide. The U.S. aide insisted that the journalists be allowed to stand behind a rope line, and they were able to record the interaction and Obama's arrival uninterrupted, typical practice for U.S. press travelling with the president. A White House spokesman and China's Foreign Ministry both did not respond immediately to requests for comment. The altercation occurred out of sight of Obama, who greeted ambassadors and other officials before the presidential motorcade pulled away with Rice. The incident is an illustration of the image-conscious ruling Communist Party's efforts to control the media as its seeks to orchestrate what it hopes will be a flawless event. China has taken extensive security measures in preparation for the G20 summit opening on Sunday. On Saturday, many roads and shops in Hangzhou were deserted and shuttered in the usually bustling city with a population of 9 million. The Chinese government has broad control over domestic media and prevents many foreign media outlets from publishing in the country, including by blocking their websites. Obama has raised issues of freedom of the press on previous visits to China, which insists that media must follow the party line and promote "positive propaganda". Foreign reporters are often physically prevented from covering sensitive stories, but altercations involving foreign government officials are rare. Rice met Chinese dissidents before her last trip to China in late July, when she held talks with President Xi Jinping and other senior officials. (Reporting by Roberta Rampton; Writing by Michael Martina; Editing by Robert Birsel)
By Umit Ozdal and John Davison ELBEYLI, Turkey/BEIRUT (Reuters) - Turkey and its rebel allies opened a new line of attack in northern Syria on Saturday, as Turkish tanks rolled across the border and Syrian fighters swept in from the west to take villages held by Islamic State. The incursion was launched by Turkey from Kilis province - an area frequently targeted by Islamic State rockets - and coincided with a separate push by the Turkish-backed Syrian rebels, who seized several villages further to the east. By supporting the rebels, mainly Arabs and Turkmen fighting under the loose banner of the Free Syrian Army, Turkey is hoping to drive out Islamic State militants and check the advance of U.S.-backed Syrian Kurdish fighters. The rebels last week took the frontier town of Jarablus with Turkish support. The operation, called Euphrates Shield, is Ankara's first full-scale Syrian incursion since the start of the five-year-old war. On Saturday the tanks crossed the frontier and entered the Syrian rebel-controlled town of al-Rai to support the new offensive, a rebel spokesman and monitors said. Al-Rai is about 55 km (34 miles) west of Jarablus, and part of a 90-km corridor near the Turkish border that Ankara says it is clearing of jihadists and protecting from Kurdish militia expansion. The rebels then seized villages to the east and the south of al-Rai, according to one rebel official. "They took several villages, about eight villages. At first they took two and withdrew from them, but then reinforcements came and there was an advance," Zakaria Malahifji of the Aleppo-based Fastaqim group told Reuters. The Turkish-backed operation was putting pressure on Islamic State from both east and west of a stretch of territory it controls along the border between the towns. "The operations are to work from al-Rai towards the villages that were liberated to the west of Jarablus," Colonel Ahmed Osman of the Sultan Murad rebel group told Reuters. EASTERN PUSH The Hamza Brigade, also part of the Free Syrian Army, said it had taken control of Arab Ezza, a village about 30 km west of Jarablus and near where Turkish warplanes carried out air strikes on Friday. FSA factions had also captured the villages of Fursan, Lilawa, Kino and Najma just south of Arab Ezza, according to a source in another rebel group, the Failaq al-Sham. The United States said it hit Islamic State targets in the region overnight, although it did not say where. "U.S. forces struck ISIL targets near Turkey's border in Syria last night via newly deployed HIMARS system," Brett McGurk, the special presidential envoy for the coalition fighting Islamic State, said on his Twitter account. HIMARS refers to a High Mobility Artillery Rocket System. Turkey has struggled to protect the area around Kilis from Islamic State rocket fire. Three rockets fired from northern Syria hit the region on Saturday, Dogan news agency reported, adding there were no casualties. Turkey's pro-government Daily Sabah newspaper said Turkish air strikes in support of the rebels continued on Saturday. FOCUS ON KURDISH MILITIA While Euphrates Shield initially targeted Islamic State in Jarablus, most of the focus since has been on checking the advance of U.S.-backed Syrian Kurdish fighters, to the alarm of NATO ally Washington. Turkey disagrees with its ally's support for the Syrian Kurdish YPG militia, which it considers a terrorist group. The YPG has been among the most effective partners on the ground in the U.S.-led fight against IS. Turkey is worried that advances by Syrian Kurdish fighters will embolden Kurdish militants in its southeast, where it has been fighting an insurgency for three decades led by the outlawed Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK). In China, to attend the G20 meeting of world leaders, President Tayyip Erdogan said there should be no support for any terrorist organisation - a reference to the United States' backing of the Syrian Kurdish fighters. "There is no good terrorist. All terrorists are bad. All organisations involved in terrorism are cursed. This is how we see things and how we put up our struggle," he said, according to a transcript of an interview with China's CCTV released by Erdogan's office. The United States has voiced concerns about Turkish strikes on Kurdish-aligned groups that Washington supports. Germany said it did not want to see a lasting Turkish presence in an already tangled conflict. Turkey has said it has no plans to stay in Syria and simply aims to protect its frontier from the militant group and the Kurdish YPG militia. Turkish security forces used tear gas and water cannon to disperse protesters along the border on Friday. The demonstrators were protesting against Turkey building a concrete wall on the border with Syria. (Additional reporting by Yesim Dikmen and Asli Kandemir in Istanbul, Tom Perry in Beirut and Suleiman Al-Khalidi in Amman, Writing by David Dolan, Editing by Andrew Bolton and Angus MacSwan)
By Roberta Rampton and Nathaniel Taplin HANGZHOU, China (Reuters) - China and the United States ratified the Paris agreement to cut climate-warming emissions on Saturday, marking a major step toward the enactment of the pact as early as the end of the year and setting the stage for other countries to follow suit. The world's two biggest emitters of greenhouse gases made the landmark announcement as heads of state from the Group of 20 biggest economies, or G20, arrived for a summit in the city of Hangzhou, parts of which resembled a ghost town as Chinese security locked down the area. U.S. President Barack Obama's last scheduled trip to Asia before leaving office however got off to an awkward start. Soon after Air Force One landed, a Chinese security official blocked National Security Adviser Susan Rice on the tarmac, speaking angrily to her before a Secret Service agent stepped between the two. China has gone to great lengths to try to make the Sept 4-5 G20 summit a success, hoping to cement its standing as a global power, but a range of thorny diplomatic topics could overshadow the agenda. G20 leaders are likely to renew their promises to use tax and spending policies to invigorate the sluggish world economy, although a new pro-growth push was unlikely. Overcapacity in the global steel industry, a sore point for China as the world's largest producer of the metal, barriers to foreign investment and the risk of currency devaluations to protect export markets will also figure in the discussions. Beyond economics, there may be friction over territorial disputes in the South China Sea and a U.S.-South Korea decision to deploy a missile defence system in South Korea to counter missile and nuclear threats from North Korea. When Obama met Chinese President Xi Jinping, he told him they would have candid talks on cyber, human rights and maritime issues. Nevertheless, the climate deal set a positive tone.. "Just as I believe the Paris agreement will ultimately prove to be a turning point for our planet, I believe that history will judge today's efforts as pivotal," Obama said after he and Xi handed ratified documents to UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon. "We have a saying in America that you need to put your money where your mouth is. And when it comes to combating climate change, that's what we're doing. Both the United States and China, we're leading by example." At a joint ceremony, Xi said it "speaks to the shared ambition and resolve of China and the United States in addressing global issues". French President Francois Hollande said it was an important step that would pave the way for the implementaton of the Paris agreement at the end of the year. RESIDENTS LEAVE IN DROVES The stakes are high for China to pull off a trouble-free G20 summit, its highest profile event of the year, and security in Hangzhou was intense. Volunteer security agents prevented journalists from filming in deserted parts of the normally bustling city of 9 million people. Residents left in droves after authorities declared a week-long holiday for the summit, shut down the city's famous West Lake beauty spot and offered free travel vouchers worth up to 10 billion yuan ($1.5 billion) to encourage people to visit out-of-town attractions. More than 200 steel mills in surrounding districts were shut as part of a bid to limit pollution. With the summit wedged in between the Brexit vote and the U.S. presidential election, G20 leaders will be keen to mount a defence of free trade and globalisation. Concerns about subduded growth will be a major concern. The world's biggest economies have pulled out the monetary policy stops to promote growth, but central banks are now "pretty close" to the limits of their ability to stimulate economies, said Angel Gurria, head of the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD). In the absence of "breakthrough, collective" policies, global growth was likely to remain weak, he told Reuters. "We have left our good central bankers to do all the heavy lifting." In separate remarks to Reuters, Pascal Saint-Amans, the director of the OECD's Centre for Tax Policy and Administration, addressed the thorny issue of multinational corporate tax liability, which the European Commission's recent decision against Apple Inc has brought into sharp relief. The European Commission said this week that Apple owed up to 13 billion euros ($14.50 billion) in back taxes to Ireland, based on existing regulations, a decision that both Apple and Ireland, which relies on low taxes to attract investment, have vowed to fight. China is using the G20 to push its diplomatic agenda with a raft of bilateral meetings. China and Turkey pledged earlier in the day to boost counter-terrorism ties, setting aside previous disagreements over China's treatment of a Turkic-speaking Muslim minority. (Reporting by Kevin Yao, Sue-Lin Wong, Michael Martina, Roberta Rampton, Engen Tham, Ruby Lian and Ben Blanchard; Additional reporting by Dominique Vidalon in Paris; Writing by John Ruwitch; Editing by Raju Gopalakrishnan)
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Nebraskans deserve significant property tax relief next legislative session! By significant, I mean a property tax relief bill of more than $150 million dollars. The past few years our politicians have promised property tax relief, but so far we have only seen token success that saves the average Nebraska taxpayer the equivalent of less than a tank of gas. Policymakers keep pointing out other states with lower property taxes, but fail to recognize why Nebraska is so reliant on property taxes to fund education.

Nebraska relies too much on property taxes mainly because we have given away too many sales tax exemptions to special interests and failed to keep pace with other states on our excise taxes on cigarettes. Just two simple corrections would provide more than $150 million in funding to lower our schools dependence on local property taxes. Doing this would protect funding for education and provide significant property tax relief, especially for farmers who desperately need it due to falling income from lower commodity prices and retirees on a fixed income.

The first change is adjusting our excise tax on tobacco to keep pace with other states. Last year, Sen. Mike Gloor introduced LB1013, which would have increased our excise tax on cigarettes to $2.14 per pack. This is closer to other states across the country and would have provided more than $135 million a year in revenue, most of which would have been earmarked for property tax relief. It was supported by education associations, the Farm Bureau and all of the states health associations. Despite Senator Gloor prioritizing the bill, the session ended before it came to a vote.

The second change is removing the sales tax exemption on soda, energy drinks and junk food. Several years ago, former Sen. Bill Avery proposed removing the sales tax exemption for soda and energy drinks, which would have raised more than $12 million a year in revenue. The funding in that bill would have gone to school health projects across the state. The bill never made it out of committee due to intense beverage industry lobbying.

The reason for this exemption is an oversight in Nebraska law, which includes soda and energy drinks under the definition of food, which is exempt from sales taxes in Nebraska. No health professional would consider soda to be food and neither do most other states. The state of Colorado fixed this misclassification several years ago, and also took junk food and candy out of its definition of food. Following Colorados lead would push the amount to over $15 million a year.

Readjusting our excise taxes on tobacco and removing soda, energy drinks, candy and junk food from the definition of food would raise more than $150 million a year to give Nebraskans significant property tax relief. If we want to go really big, we could even consider a 1.5 cent an ounce tax on soda and energy drinks like the city of Philadelphia just passed. That would add another $150 million a year, raising more than $300 million annually for property tax relief. Just imagine how much that would do to correct our states imbalance between sales and property taxes! Instead of tax relief amounting to half a tank of gas, that would be tax relief of hundreds of dollars per household.

Enacting these policies in next years legislative session would protect education funding for a generation, provide direly needed property tax relief for our farmers struggling with declining commodity prices and help our seniors on a fixed income.

If this proposal makes sense to you, contact your state senator or the candidates running in your district. They set their priorities based on what they hear from you, the states voters. Send them an email, give them a call or ask them about it when they come knocking on your door in the next few months.
Madison County investigators now know whose body was found in February -- but they dont know how 24-year-old Jacob John Henningsen died, or what led him to a stand of trees in the countryside near Tilden.

And they might not ever know.

Theres really no way to determine what happened to him unless some new information comes up, said Investigator Jon Downey. But quite honestly, we dont anticipate any new information.

Henningsen was originally from Sioux Falls, South Dakota, but had traveled to Norfolk with friends the weekend of July 4, 2015. He was last seen alive two days later.

His sister said he had been addicted to meth, was clean for five years but had relapsed and was facing prison time.

When he went to Nebraska we thought he was on the run, Andrea Thornton said in an email. We hoped that was the case but when he didnt call or message anyone for four months, we knew something was wrong. He could never not talk to anyone; thats just not who he was.

His family reported him missing Nov. 20, 2015.

In late February, a pair of antler hunters found a partially clothed body in a shelter belt east of Tilden, about 100 yards from the highway. Investigators asked for the publics help and sought an anthropological study by forensic science faculty at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, which determined the body had belonged to a young white male with sandy brown hair.

The Nebraska State Patrol was unable to gather cellular DNA from the remains, so a lab at the University of North Texas retrieved mitochondrial DNA from a piece of bone and Madison County last month found a match in a database.

Investigators believe Henningsen died not long after he was last seen in early July 2015, but they havent determined how, or why. They havent ruled out foul play but they found no signs of it, Downey said.

Thornton believes her brother was killed by the men he traveled with to Nebraska. She questioned how her brother, who didnt drive, ended up more than 20 miles out of town, and what happened to his wallet and money. He had a lot of it, she said, from a recent insurance settlement.

Her brother Jake always saw the good in people, she said, and she fears that could have got him killed.

People see an addict and stop caring. Yes, he's done some bad things as in getting in trouble, but he really was a good-hearted person.

Downey couldnt say how Henningsen had ended up out of town, or what happened to his wallet. But two men who came to Nebraska with Henningsen were interviewed by Sioux Falls police when they returned, he said, and there was no indication they had anything to do with his disappearance.
Easily one of Lincolns most interesting addresses revolves around much of a square block in the citys original plat which was perhaps, or perhaps not, first owned by Nebraskas first state governor and today is the address of the current governor.

The site also figured into the impeachment of Gov. David Butler, was described in detail in Bess Streeter Aldrichs novel "Spring Came On Forever," was home to a Lincoln mayor, a state senator, the chancellor of the University of Nebraska, a city councilman, a state representative, several governors and three fraternities.

All of that and only two houses have occupied 1421 H St.

Andrew Jackson Cropsey was born in New York in 1823 and as a young boy was noted as being extremely studious and, though willing to do any assigned task on his fathers farm, set aside evenings and weekends for reading. At 16 he began teaching to earn tuition money for admission to an academy. After graduating he studied law and was admitted to the bar in Cincinnati before enlisting in the Union Army at the inception of the Civil War. In 1864, having risen to the rank of colonel, Cropsey settled in Illinois in what became the village of Cropsey in Cropsey Township, both named in his honor.

After visiting Nebraska in 1867 he moved to Lincoln the following year, living on the west side of 11th just north of O Street, while establishing himself in a real estate business and later a grain exchange. He later claimed he made an astonishing $20,000 his first year in the capital city. Also during his first year in Lincoln, Cropseys son Luke was hired to help move the capitol from Omaha to Lincoln.

Although always a Republican from the origin of the party, he was termed an ultra-Democratic man. In 1870, he so strongly disagreed with the Republicans on a Gage/Lancaster County question that he chose to run for the Nebraska Senate as an Independent. He not only won the upper house seat but received a majority of both Republican and Democrat voters. The same year Cropsey bought several lots on the south side of H Street between 14th and 15th streets from Secretary of State T.P. Kennard or possibly Gov. Butler, as it is unclear if Butler ever actually had good title to the land.

The following year he completed construction of a two-story brick home at 1421 H St.

After being an active participant in Gov. Butlers impeachment and removal from office, Cropsey suffered considerable loses in real estate during the panic of 1873 and left Nebraska for Texas and later Illinois before returning to Lincoln in 1886 where he was actively involved in the creation of Nebraska Wesleyan and real estate in the new village of University Place. Another series of economic losses drove him to Utah where he died in 1889, but his body was subsequently returned and was buried in Lincoln.

When Congregational minister, U.S. Senator and Lt. Governor of Michigan Edmund B. Fairfield was named chancellor of the University of Nebraska in 1876, 1421 H St. became his home, where he remained until replaced in 1882.

John B. Wright was born in Rochester, New York, in 1845, and moved to Lincoln as a grain dealer in 1874 after living in Montana with interests in mining and ranching. His first home was at about 11th and K streets, but in the 1880s he moved from 1810 M St. when he acquired 1421 H St.

After serving on the city council in 1879, he was elected mayor in 1880 where he gained prominence as being responsible for developing Lincolns water system. In 1883 Wright was elected to serve one term in the Nebraska House then a term in the State Senate. During most of this time his business interests included real estate development in College View, establishing the Columbia National Bank in 1890, building a $17,000 grain elevator at 805 M St. and, with interest in 42 Nebraska and Kansas grain businesses, was noted a being one of the largest grain dealers in the state. A spectacular fire destroyed the M Street elevator in 1917 and in 1925 Wright died in the H Street house.

This brought a string of fraternities to the house beginning with Delta Chi, then Theta Xi and ending with Phi Sigma Kappa after which the house sat empty and began to look a bit forlorn.

In the mid-1950s the house, just west of the then Governors Mansion, was purchased by the State of Nebraska, razed and in 1957 was replaced by the current Governors Mansion. Thus the property which Gov. Butler considered building on has come full circle; again the residence of Nebraskas governors since Victor E. Anderson became the mansions first official resident.
The Convoy of Hope is scheduled to roll into Racine in mid September, bringing with it free groceries, health services, haircuts, family portraits, job services, veterans services, a hot meal and more, to those in need.

A faith-based, nonprofit organization based in Springfield, Mo., Convoy of Hope will host a community event on Saturday, Sept. 17, at Walden Middle and High School, 1012 Center St., that aims to bring help and hope to those who are impoverished, hungry and hurting. All are welcome to attend the event, which begins at 10 a.m., and no identification or preregistration is required to receive the free goods and services provided.

Convoys Racine event is being made possible through partnerships with local churches, businesses, government agencies and community organizations, led by Grace Church, 3626 Highway 31. Members of Grace, along with those from 18 other area churches, are volunteering their time to help with the event.

This is a community-wide effort, said Chris Amundson, director of student ministry at Grace, and communications director for Racines Convoy event. There are a lot of people working together to make this happen.

Each guest of honor on Sept. 17 will receive free groceries, as well as the opportunity to access various health services, Amundson said. Wheaton Franciscan Healthcare, for example, will do blood pressure screenings on site, and the National Breast Cancer Foundation will provide educational services. Dental screenings will also be available, he said.

Convoy will bring a semi truck filled with 35,000-40,000 pounds of non-perishable groceries  ranging from soup and spaghetti sauce to granola bars  and the organization hopes to provide two bags of groceries to each guest, according to Jason Bachman, outreach director with Convoy of Hope. The grocery giveaway will continue until supplies run out, and adjustments to the amount of food a person receives may be made on event day, according to need, Bachman said.

We encourage people to get there early, if they can, as people will be lining up, Bachman said. If we can, we may open early.

Some services will be located inside Walden school, while others will be provided in the parking lot and the park space behind the school, Amundson said. There will be a tent for job and career services, as well as a kids zone, with activities including inflatable play areas, he said.

It will be a place for kids to go and be safe, while their parents can access other services. Adult volunteers will be there watching the kids.

For the community

While this will be Convoys first event in Racine, the organization has been to Wisconsin before, having hosted community events in Kenosha in 2013 and in the Fox Cities in 2012. Graces congregation sparked the organizations visit here after one of its members, who had been involved in the Kenosha event, brought the idea to his pastors attention, Amundson said.

We love our community and want to be involved in it, he said. And we saw Convoy as a way to bring the community together in a positive way.

Convoy of Hope event locations are determined by the strength of the need in that area, as well as the local support system available to help, Bachman said.

Grace Church, for instance, is a strong point church with relationships throughout the community, he said.

These events are locally led and locally funded, Bachman said. Without those relationships and people in the community working together, there is no way we could do an event like this.

Organizers are estimating attendance at the Racine event to be 3,000 to 4,000 guests, although such numbers are sometimes difficult to predict, Bachman said. A recent Convoy community event in Cookeville, Tennessee (population 31,000), drew 4,500 guests and was run by 1,200 volunteers, he said.

A lot will depend on the poverty rate in the community, he said.

Helping those in need

Guests attending a community event dont need to meet specific income requirements, Bachman said. We target people who are in need, and that can include the working poor or a dual-income family, in which one person just lost their job, he said.

Convoy of Hope understands the limits that this one day of help can provide, but also knows that the community relationships built at such events can lead to long-term transformation in someones life, Bachman said.

We hope that by working together, we can make a difference, he said. We simply want this to be a day of hope for people.

For more information about Convoy of Hopes Racine event, go to www.convoyofhope.org/racine. Anyone interested in volunteering with the event can register on that website or send an email to convoy@graceinracine.com.
Racine Public Library

RACINE  The Racine Public Library, 75 Seventh St., is offering these free events:

The Old Fashioned Fun of Canning Fruits and Vegetables, 6 p.m. Monday, Sept. 12. Colleen Paterson and Jessica True of Permaculture Designs leads a program on old fashioned canning of fruits and vegetables. Sponsored by Greening Greater Racine.

Storytime for Adults, 2 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 6. Sessions feature stories, poems or excerpts from books around a chosen subject. Septembers theme: Funny Girls: Humorous Memoirs.

For more information, call 262-636-9217 or go to www.racinelibrary.info.

Waterford Public Library

WATERFORD  The Waterford Public Library, 101 N. River St., will hold an event entitled College: Getting There from Here at 6 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 6. Ron Knaflick of Edward Jones will discuss establishing a college savings goal, strategies to help achieve the goal, and features and benefits of a 529 savings plan. Registration is required by calling the library at 262-534-3988 or go to www.waterford.lib.wi.us.

Burlington Public Library

BURLINGTON  Burlington Public Library, 166 E. Jefferson St., is offering these free events:

Story Time, 10 a.m. Tuesdays. Books, finger plays, rhymes and music for children 5 and younger and their caretakers.

Teen Advisory Board, 4-5 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 7. Teens ages 12 and older are invited to join. Teens will help with library programs and projects around the library.

For more information, call 262-342-1130 or go to www.burlingtonlibrary.org.
LIVE MUSIC TONIGHT: 89 Mojo at Beachside Oasis at North Beach, 100 Kewaunee St., 3-7 p.m., no cover; Jimmy LeRose Band at Henry & Wandas, 501 Sixth St., 8 p.m.-midnight, no cover; Lillian at the Piano at Hobnob Restaurant, 277 Sheridan Road, Somers, 7-10 p.m., no cover; Mike DeRose at Malickis Piggly Wiggly, 5201 Washington Ave., noon-3 p.m., no cover; Stu the Piano Man at Reefpoint Brew House, 2 Christopher Columbus Causeway, 8 p.m.-midnight, no cover; Transistor Radio at Smoked on the Water, 3 Fifth St. (near the Pershing Park boat launch), 2-5 p.m., no cover; Test 1.2. Band at The Waterfront on Browns Lake patio, 31100 Weiler Road, Burlington, 6-10 p.m., no cover; The Blues Disciples at Yardarm Bar & Grill, 920 Erie St., 6:30-10:30 p.m., no cover;
Happy Friday! We made it!

This has been a very good week for me personally because I got the chance to launch a brand new podcast!

It's called Ciquizza -- because it's a quiz show and my last name is "Cillizza." It's a portmanteau word!

You can -- and should -- subscribe to Ciquizza on iTunes and Stitcher. I hope you like it and share it with your friends. It's a ton of fun to do!

Ok. To the chat!
Before you engage any financial advisor in Singapore, you must complete a number of important checks. Below we go through them, and at the end we have added a financial health warning!



1. The very first thing you must do before you even approach any financial adviser (FA) in Singapore (or they approach you!) is to ensure that he or she, and his or her firm, is properly licensed by the Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS). The Financial Advisers Act (FAA) sets down rules and guidelines for the conduct of business activities of regulated FAs. These rules, to which advisors are obliged to strictly adhere, are designed specifically to protect you, the customer, in the event of any problem arising in your dealings with the advisor. There is a complete list of regulated FAs, and the type of service that each FA is authorized to offer, on the MAS website (www.mas.gov.sg).



2. It is always preferable to engage an advisor who has relevant qualifications, experience, and a proven track record. This means that you need to research and reference both the firm and the individual before commencing a business relationship. A quick and easy method is to simply google search the company name and the word complaint. If something comes up, you should proceed no further with the individual or firm.



3. After you have selected a regulated FA, and have completed your research on him or her and the firm, the initial in-depth conversation with the FA representative should be about your personal financial situation and your long term targets. The FA should be aiming to build up a complete understanding so that he or she can ensure you receive expert tailored advice. The recommended products should be suitable for you, taking into account your appetite for risk, your depth of knowledge of financial products, and other criteria. You must be completely satisfied with the FAs explanation for the recommended actions, and the characteristics of the recommended financial products. You, too, have a responsibility to tell the advisor as much and as accurately as possible about your financial background and goals.



4. Under the FAA rules, the key features of any recommended product must be disclosed. This includes the nature and aim of the product, the benefits and inherent risks, details of the product provider, any fees and charges, as well as warnings, exclusions and disclaimers. You should also be informed of how often you can expect to receive reports and where and how you can obtain the reports.



5. The FA should supply you with written documents about the firm and the type of financial advisory services for which the representative is licensed. The advisor should also give you written documents about any of the financial products he or she is recommending, and the reasons for the recommendations. These documents will be necessary should you raise a complaint at a later point. For any product, you must receive a summary of the information obtained from you regarding your objectives, financial situation and personal needs. For funds or unit trust products, you should also receive a copy of the prospectus or profile statement, and for insurance, a copy of the product summary and benefit illustration.



6. In respect to unit trusts, licensed FAs can offer advice, but are not allowed to handle clients money. If you buy a unit trust, the cheque must be made out to the name of the product provider and never in favour of the licensed FA. Remember to ask for a proof of payment from the product provider.



And here is the financial health warning: Do not be shy to ask lots of questions at any time, and especially prior to investing any money through the FA. If the FA cannot answer your questions, do not buy the product. And do not buy any investment product unless you are absolutely confident that you understand exactly what you are buying. Read the fine print carefully. Do not sign blank forms. Verbal promises or guarantees of a high return are the hallmarks of a scam. If you have to ask for written confirmation of the terms and conditions of the product, then it is probably a scam. Remember that if something sounds too good to be true, is probably is.



(By Sarah Thorp)



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- There are three Kenyan tribes that are known internationally for what people from these communities do

- They are the Luo, Maasai and Kalenjin communities

The world, no doubt, knows about Kenya. Kenya has been known for its vibrant tourism sector, its elite athletes and its strong economy against other East African countries.

READ ALSO: Nairobi coffin maker explains the tribes that buy expensive coffins (photos)

Well, aside from the country being the pride of East Africa, there are three tribes that are internationally known on their own merit.

No, its not because the second president of Kenya was from this tribe or that he ruled for 24 years.

Former president Daniel Moi celebrates his 92d birthday today, Friday, September 2, 2016.

It is because of our elite athletes. Many of those who represented Kenya at the 2016 Rio Olympics in Brazil came from the Kalenjin community.

READ ALSO: List: Reasons men from one Kenyan community are refusing marriage

Rudisha celebrates his gold medal at the 2016 Rio Olympics

Their constant wins at international meets have not only brought glory to Kenya but given the Kalenjin community a stereotype.

If you come from here, you are expected to be an athlete who wins mega bucks just for running.

Some of the athletes whove put Kenya on the map are David Lekuta Rudisha, Vivian Cheruiyot, Eliud Kipchoge, Catherine Ndereba and Pamela Jelimo just to name a few.

Shall we not forget silver medalist Julius Yego who also comes from this community?

READ ALSO: Did Raila call Luyhas "wajinga"? He issues a lengthy response to Mudavadi

Julius Yego at the 2016 Rio Olympics. He won a silver medal. He lost out on the gold after suffering a foot injury.

His start in the sport- learning how to throw the Javelin by watching videos on Youtube- definitely made for a great Kenyan success story.

Maasai

The Kenyan tourism sector continues to put the Maasai community on the international map because they use many people draped in Maasai apparel to welcome tourists in airports as well as hotels around the country.

READ ALSO: Jubilee is a party of two communities

President Uhuru Kenyatta with Maasai Moran in Kajiado County.

The Maasai people themselves market themselves by getting involved with tourists as is seen in Narok county at the Maasai Mara National Park.

A tourist performs with Maasai men. Image: Magical Kenya

They make Maasai ornaments and sell them to tourists who then market Kenya in their home countries.

READ ALSO: Video: Kenyan girl teaches Kikuyu men how to ask for sex from ladies

Luo

The minute Americas President Barack Obama announced his plans to vie for president in 2004 on the Democratic ticket, the world stopped and knew who the Luo community are.

US President Barack Obama and President Uhuru Kenyatta share a light moment as Obama signs the visitors' book at JKIA.

This is because Obama has Kenyan blood. His father is from the Luo community who come from the western parts of Kenya.

Obamas father hails from KOgello, Siaya county and travelled to the United States for further education. It was while he was there that he met and married Baracks mother.

President Uhuru Kenyatta with US President Barack Obama during his state visit in Kenya

Source: Facebook

READ ALSO: Raila Odinga: How Uhuru Kenyatta resurrected ethnicity

His detractors went into a furor, claiming Obama was a Luo man and not an American citizen. They said he was not qualified to vie for president but his campaign managed to prove them wrong.

His trip to Kenya in 2015 also shined a light on Kenya again. His 'Luo origins' were spoken off again across the globe.

US President Barack Obama, CORD leader Raila Odinga with their wives at the White House. Image: Facebook/Raila Odinga

CORD leader Raila Odinga's claim to be related to Obama (because they both have Luo roots) also gained worldwide attention when an al-Jazeera journalist called him out on his lie on live television.

Source: TUKO.co.ke
- Kenyans have been known to behave like sycophants to show their support for politicians

- Politicians incite them to fight against each other or an institution while they themselves sit back and watch everything unfold

- Here are some instances of politicians who are friends but behave like rivals in the eyes of the public

In public, Kenyan politicians talk a big game to show they are rivals. They rally the electorate to vote for them while badmouthing their counterparts.

But, away from the public eye, these rivals are friends. They dine together, they do business with each other and their families hang out together.

READ ALSO: The day President Uhuru publicly defended Raila Odinga's sister

At this point, the electorate is left fighting, acting like sycophants- fighting each other for the sake of a politician's career while the politicians themselves are safe and only care about themselves.

Here are the instances Kenyan politicians set aside their rivalry for 'friendship' as Kenyans fought their street battles:

Raila Odinga with a section of Jubilee politicians at State House for an honourary luncheon for South Korea's President President Uhuru introduces CORD leaders Raila Odinga and Wetangula to South Korea's PresidentPark Geun-hye

Raila vs Duale

These two have been rivals over who would win the presidency in the 2017 General Election. In August 2016, Duale was quoted saying that Jubilee will win the election, telling Raila that  If God has not decided for him to be Kenyas president, then he cannot force himself on Kenyans.

READ ALSO: Photos of 7 politicians who have worked and fell out bitterly with Raila Odinga

CORD leader Raila Odinga shares a light moment with Deputy President William Ruto

Raila vs Ruto

Raila has always sought to know the source of DP William Rutos wealth, claiming that Ruto was the godfather of corruption in the government.

Raila has also been known to support Governor Isaac Ruto in his fight against DP Ruto, therefore, cementing the enmity between the two of them

READ ALSO: Veteran ODM legislator announces bid to challenge Kidero

Cord leader Raila Odinga with Justin Muturi and Aden Duale at the National Assembly buildings on Tuesday, March 15. Raila will sit in on the historic vote on the Gender Bill

Raila vs Muturi

Three months ago, Raila expressed anger at how National Assembly Speaker Justin Muturi failed to recognize his presence when he and his daughter Rosemary visited Parliament buildings.

At the same time, Muturi recognized visiting Ugandan parliamentarians in the public gallery.

The second time these two have gone head to head was when Muturi snubbed orders to allow Ugunja MP Opiyo Wandayi back to the house. Raila threatened to demonstrate against Parliament and Muturi relented.

READ ALSO: IEBC has given Jubilee license to spend Eurobond and NYS money in 2017 -Raila

Evans Kidero na Mike Sonko

Sonko vs Kidero

Nairobi Senator Mike Sonko is planning to unseat Governor Evans Kidero from his seat. On numerous occasions, the two have clashed over matters concerning the Sonko Rescue Team project.

The two have, however, come together to mourn each others relatives including Sonkos father.

READ ALSO: Respect me William, angry Moi tells DP Ruto

CORD co-principal Moses Wetangula with DP William Ruto

Ruto vs Wetangula

By virtue of being in opposing coalitions, the two are separated by a political divide. Ruto has, however, been known to attempt to extend an olive branch to CORD co-principal Moses Wetangula to join the Jubilee government, and at all times, Wetangula refused.

Wetangula has also been known to touch on corruption scandals that DP Ruto was alleged to be a part of.

Governor William Kabogo and DP William Ruto hugging each other at a function in Kuresoi. Ruto said Kabogo only advised him to look for votes all over Kenya. Image: DPPS

Ruto vs Kabogo

Kiambu Governor William Kabogo at one time went on record telling the deputy president not to campaign in Mount Kenya regions because people would not automatically vote for him just because he is a Jubilee leader.

Kabogo drew ire on himself from leaders in the same region.

READ ALSO: CORD and Jubilee agree on 2017's General Election date

Bomet Governor Isaac Ruto and Deputy President William Ruto meet at a past event. Image: PSCU

Ruto vs Ruto

DP Ruto and Bomet Governor Isaac Ruto started out as close friends but their political rivalry sent their friendship to the pit.

Governor Ruto has been known to block Rutos projects from being implemented in the Rift Valley region including a KSh 800 million university.

DP Ruto is greeted by Baringo Senator Gideon Moi.

Ruto vs Moi

These two have been battling it out to be the renowned Kalenjin kingpin. DP Ruto and Gideon Moi have been battling it out for over 15 years to inherit the political mantle left behind by former president Daniel Moi, Gideons father.

READ ALSO: Cabinet Secretary makes fun of how Wetangula was battered by his wife

Jubilee leaders Uhuru Kenyatta and William Ruto with CORD leaders Raila Odinga and Kalonzo Musyoka at State House Nairobi

Cord vs Jubilee

The two coalitions have been battling it out in the run up to the 207 General Election.

CORD is of the opinion that Jubilee rigged himself into power in 2013 and are aiming to remove them from power in 2017.

CORD and Jubilee members mingle at a State House luncheon hosted by President Uhuru Kenyatta.

The political divide between the two has left government-appointed leaders clashing with legislators from the opposition coalition.

READ ALSO: I have no apologies for calling Kidero a thief and a murderer -Sonko

At times, Joseph Nkaissery, the Cabinet Secretary for Interior, has clashed with CORD legislators on matters security especially during the anti-Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission boundaries demonstrations.

Source: TUKO.co.ke
Sept 2 (Reuters) - Segro Plc (Frankfurt: S4VC.F - news) , Britain's largest listed industrial property developer, said on Friday it would raise 340 million pounds ($451 million) to fund development projects by placing new shares.

Segro, which operates mainly in the UK, France, Germany and Poland, said that Britain's vote to leave the European Union in June had not yet had a material impact on its operating business.

The company, whose property portfolio was worth 5.7 billion pounds at the end of 2015, would place 74.8 million shares, or 9.9 percent of its issued share capital at a price of 10 pence each, to fund an identified pipeline of mainly pre-let developments, it said.

Segro's chief executive David Sleath told Reuters in February that the company expected to nearly double its development budget this year to 300 million pounds, as a shift towards e-retailing across Europe boosts demand for logistics warehouses. He reiterated this view following the Brexit vote. ($1 = 0.7532 pounds) (Reporting by Noor Zainab Hussain in Bengaluru; Editing by Alexander Smith)
PARIS (Reuters) - Foreign minister Jean-Marc Ayrault said on Friday that France's days of meddling in African countries' politics were over, as former colony Gabon counted the cost of riots that followed a disputed election. The foreign ministry in Paris, along with the United States and the European Union, on Wednesday urged Gabonese authorities to release election results from individual polling stations for greater transparency. The spokesman for the winner, President Ali Bongo, rejected that request on Thursday. Interviewed on France 2 television on Friday, Ayrault said: "We are Africa's partners but we do not want in any case to intervene in countries' internal affairs. That would be disrespectful of Africans, they don't ask for it". France acted only when countries requested Paris' help, he added. On Sunday, Bongo's allies had expressed anger over a French Socialist Party statement declaring that early results showed challenger Jean Ping to be the winner. They accused it of failing to respect the sovereignty of a country where 14,000 French citizens live, and which hosts a French military base with 450 troops. They said it harked back to the era of La Francafrique, when Paris played puppet-master in African countries decades after post-colonial independence, propping up leaders like Bongo's father in exchange for pushing business to French firms. Following Wednesday's announcement of Bongo's narrow victory, Ping accused authorities of rigging the ballot There are recent precedents of France becoming involved in African countries such as in the Ivory Coast in 2011. After Ivory Coast's former president Laurent Gbagbo refused to step down following a disputed election, France went to the United Nation's Security Council to get a mandate to send troops and help swing a civil war in favour of Bagbo's rival Alassane Ouattara. Gabonese government spokesman Alain-Claude Nze told French television BFM TV that the government expected France to help ease tensions and bring both sides to a peaceful resolution. (This version of the story corrects the spelling of Gbagbo and Ouattara in paragraph 11) (Reporting by Marine Pennetier; writing by Leigh Thomas; editing by John Stonestreet)
Crazy Eights: Eight Random Questions With Kara Scott

September 03 2016 Jason Glatzer

888poker ambassador Kara Scott is one of the most recognizable names in poker as both a player and hostess. She has $658,222 in live tournament earnings and is the face of poker at the World Series of Poker for ESPN. She's an ambassador for 888poker.

In 1999, the dual Canadian and British citizen moved to London to teach at an inner city school. These days she lives in Ljubljana, Slovenia, with her husband Giovanni Rizzo.

PokerNews recently sat down with Scott while she was playing in the 888Live Tallinn $30,000 Guaranteed Main Event to discuss eight crazy and random lifestyle questions.

1) What is the craziest thing that happened while you were a teacher?

A kid tried to light me on fire during a lesson once.

It was a computer lesson and I somehow ended up in charge of an entire room with nearly 60 kids, on my own as a first-year teacher, in what was considered the worst school in England at the time. It was chaos in the room and I couldn't find anyone to come and help me sort it out. One teenager was wandering around using a lighter to set paper on fire at the various printers dotted around, and when I went to stop him, he looked me straight in the eyes with a blank face and tried to set my sleeve on fire. Yeah. That was... interesting. I wasn't cut out for teaching.

2) What is the wildest thing to happen while you were playing poker?

Coming second in the Irish Open. I still can't believe that actually happened and wasn't just a dream. Surreal!

3) What's your favorite movie?

Rocky I. Rocky II is a close second.

4) What is your favorite drink?

Coffee. I have given up all kinds of bad habits in my life in a quest to be more healthy, but nobody better ever try to take my coffee away from me. I will fight you.

If we're talking alcohol, then it would have to be (don't laugh) sparkling rose wine. I know, embarrassing.

5) Where would be your favorite place to live?

Don't hate me, but I'm lucky enough to live here right now. Ljubljana in Slovenia is a really wonderful city. We've been here over a year and my love affair with this town hasn't slowed down even a bit. It's close enough to Italy so we can drive over and visit family whenever we want, but meanwhile, we actually get to live in the most fantastic place in the world. It's the 10th safest country and the 'Green Capital' of Europe. It's a marvel.

6) What's your favorite place to visit?

Calabria, Italy. My in-laws have a huge farm there and we spend a few weeks with them every summer, just eating the most amazing food and being in the fields or out on the beach all day. Every evening is about making huge amounts of food and sitting outside in the courtyard until the wee hours drinking wine and telling stories. Magic.

7) Dogs or cats?

I love animals in general but I'm more of a dog person. Once I stop traveling so much, I'm definitely going to adopt a dog. There are so many older dogs living out the last years of their lives in shelters and I'd love to be able to give them all homes.

8) Where was the last place you paid too much for a meal but it was worth it?

There's a restaurant on top of the castle in Ljubljana called Strelec. We had a big meal there with some family and although it's pricey for Slovenia, it's not really too expensive until you add in all of the many bottles of wine we drank. Totally worth it.

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Sharelines 888poker's Kara Scott speaks up about teaching in London, "A kid tried to light me on fire.."

888poker's Kara Scott opens up in a random Q&A about wine, dogs, fire and Rocky movies.
We cant tell precisely what it is that former Minnesota congresswoman and current Donald Trump evangelical adviser Michele Bachmann is predicting would follow a Hillary Clinton win: The end of the Republican Party? American democracy? The country itself?

Whatever it is, it sounds pretty bad.

Bachmann told the Christian Broadcasting Networks David Brody in an interview published Thursday that if Clinton becomes president, the nation is in for a rough ride:

Well, I dont want to be melodramatic, but I do want to be truthful. I believe without a shadow of a doubt this is the last election. This is it. This is the last election. And the reason why I say that, David, is because its a math problem. Its a math problem of demographics and a changing United States. If you look at the numbers of people who vote and who live in the country and who Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton want to bring into the country, this is the last election when we even have a chance to vote for somebody who will stand up for godly moral principles. This is it.

Its a good thing she didnt want to get melodramatic.

Bachmanns analysis is likely rooted in the already changing demographics of the nation. Republicans have an electoral map problem that has nothing to do with Trumps unpopularity, wrote The Washington Posts Chris Cillizza recently. And the self-segregation of people into communities that agree with them politically has made it easier for Democrats to win the White House and Republicans to win Congress.

Bachmann isnt the first, nor will she be the last, Republican to predict some kind of apocalyptic result to the 2016 presidential election. But most other Republicans are predicting doom and gloom if the opposite outcome occurs  especially if Trump wins.

House Speaker Paul Ryan, R-Wis., has suggested Republicans could lose their historic majority in the House of Representatives in November.

Sen. Jeff Flake, R-Ariz., recently said the Trump drag on Republicans will last decades.

Longtime Iowa state Sen. David Johnson, who suspended his party registration in June over concerns about Trump, said: If Mr. Trump is the nominee, he becomes the standard-bearer for a party thats on the verge of breaking apart.

And Georgia state Rep. Allen Peake, a Republican leader, wrote a manifesto in which he said: As a party, we are basically working ourselves toward extinction.

bachmann
SANTA FE  Former Los Alamos pastor Paul Cunningham faced 4 years in jail on charges of possessing and distributing child pornography. But at his sentencing Friday, prosecutors asked that he spend just a single year behind bars, citing Cunninghams lack of a prior criminal history.

After he pleaded guilty to two charges in Santa Fe District Court, Judge Mary Marlowe Sommer agreed with a recommendation from the District Attorneys Office, and Cunningham was sentenced to one year in the Los Alamos County jail followed by two years of supervised probation.

He is also required to register as a sex offender upon his release and will not get credit for time he already served in jail.

Cunningham kept his head down and was crying when he was waiting for his case to be heard.

Im sorry to the court and to the investigators for having to go through this, Cunningham said through deep sobs during his hearing. Ive hurt my community, my family and my wife. I am guilty.

Marlowe Sommer applauded the remorse he showed during the hearing, but she declined a defense request for a conditional discharge, under which his conviction would be dropped after successful completion of terms of probation. The judge noted graphic content of the photos and videos found on a computer device at Cunninghams home.

Cunningham, 54, who served 14 years at Los Alamos First Baptist Church, was charged in June after an investigation of a child porn case in Colorado brought Los Alamos police to his doorstep.

According to an arrest warrant affidavit, a detective with the Westminster, Colo., Police Department called Los Alamos County Sheriff Marco Lucero in Feburary and said he came across a computer IP address belonging to Cunningham that was sending explicit material to another suspect. Los Alamos police took over the case and seized several electronic devices from Cunninghams home in March, including an Apple MacBook with more than 400 images and several videos depicting children and adults engaging in sexual acts, according to the affidavit.

Cunningham was charged with one count of distributing visual media depicting sexual exploitation of children and one count of possessing media depicting sexual exploitation of children after investigators found hundreds of photos and several videos with children and adults taking part in sexual acts together. Hes been in jail since his arrest.

Assistant District Attorney Kent Wahlquist said that maximum of 4 years behind bars might be a bit much for Cunningham because he has no prior convictions. I think its important that he serve some jail time, but I think 4 years may be slightly harsh, Wahlquist said. I think one year in county jail is deserved.

Cunninghams attorney, Steve Aarons, argued for a conditional discharge instead of jail time. He said Cunningham immediately resigned as pastor after hearing of the investigation as to not harm to the churchs reputation and has not tried to pay the $2,000 bail to get out of the jail pending resolution of the case. He lived with this sickness or illness, as I like to think of it, without anybody knowing, and now the whole world knows, Aarons said.

Cunninghams sentence in his state court case is much more lenient than child pornography offenders have faced in federal court. In 2011, for instance, a 71-year-old retired attorney from Santa Fe was sentenced to five years in prison on federal child porn charges and given a $50,000 fine.

Also in 2011, a former youth minister for another Los Alamos church got a federal sentence of 18 years on child porn counts, but he had prior convictions in Pennsylvania for corruption of minors and criminal solicitation.

First Baptist Church issued a statement after Cunninghams arrest saying his criminal activities were part of his life outside the church and that he was placed on leave when the church learned of the investigation.
SANTA FE  Gov. Susana Martinez has yet to set a date for a special legislative session to deal with a $589 million budget shortfall for the current and just-ended fiscal years, but political barbs are being sharpened.

One left-leaning nonprofit organization, the Center for Civic Policy, recently launched radio ads that urge lawmakers to roll back 2013 corporate income tax cuts to help balance the budget, while a pro-Republican political committee, Advance New Mexico Now, warned in a social media posting that Democrats are in a precarious political position heading into a possible special session.

Amid the knife sharpening, majority Senate Democrats have called on Martinez in recent days to come forward with a budget-balancing blueprint, with Senate Finance Committee Chairman John Arthur Smith, D-Deming, saying, I think from a leadership standpoint, they have a responsibility to come up with a plan.

We are anxious to hear the governors suggestion on how to resolve this matter  and we have heard nothing, Senate Majority Whip Michael Padilla, D-Albuquerque, told the Journal this week.

The two-term Republican governor has urged lawmakers to come up with a proposal before any special session, one that can be acted on quickly once a session starts.

The Governors Office did not respond directly to a question about whether she intends to release a deficit-reduction plan but cautioned lawmakers not to wait until after the November general election to take action on the 2016 and 2017 budget gaps.

Senate Finance Committee Chairman Smith has also said it would be more responsible for lawmakers to address both years budget problems in special session, but he acknowledged that some might prefer to deal only with last years deficit and wait until the 2017 regular session to tackle this years projected budget shortfall of $458 million.

That would avoid potentially uncomfortable budget votes before the Nov. 8 election  all 112 House and Senate seats are up for election  but could also make it tougher to solve the budget crunch by delaying action until more than halfway through the states fiscal year.

We have to address both years, Martinez spokesman Michael Lonergan said. It would be irresponsible and nothing more than Washington-style politics to simply ignore the serious budget challenge we face. Legislators shouldnt delay doing what New Mexicans expect us to do just because theyre up for re-election.

Martinez and top Governors Office staffers have been meeting with leading legislators in recent weeks to discuss the states budget problems, which are largely the result of plummeting oil and natural gas prices.

Broadly put, New Mexico over-budgeted by more than $1 billion in the just-completed and current budget years, as falling energy prices caused state tax collections to end up falling far short of what had been expected. As a result, the state has spent all the money in its primary reserve fund, and its remaining reserve accounts could be drained in a special session.

For the special session thats expected to be called sometime this month, both sides have said theyd prefer it to be a short affair  largely because a special session would cost an estimated $50,000 per day.

Rep. Larry Larranaga, R-Albuquerque, chairman of the House Appropriations and Finance Committee, said this week that the responsibility to fix the states budget problems should be a shared one.

We all have to come up with a plan, Larranaga told the Journal. The governor has to come up with a plan, and we have to come up with a plan.

He cited spending cuts, possible narrowing of existing tax breaks and taking money from various state government accounts as ways to deal with the states budget crunch but said no agreement has been struck.
Racheal Gonzales started out like any concerned citizen wanting to change the world  or at least the dark corner of it where rapists dwell.

She had no idea what the first step was. That didnt stop her.

Its embarrassing for me to admit that after I realized I needed to do something, I didnt have a clue how to start, where to start, she says. Most people dont have the information they need to change things.

But Gonzales, a human resources director and mom, believes in the old adage, where theres a will, theres a way. And that way, she quickly learned, is through the state Legislature, where laws are made.

Her efforts are the reason that New Mexico now has Racheals Law, which allows no-contact orders to be granted for any length of time, including permanently, as part of a rapists sentencing or after the offenders release from prison. It also keeps survivors from having to face their abusers again by permitting them to be represented by attorneys rather than be present themselves at hearings on the orders.

Last week, Gonzales found a new corner of the world to change. In many ways, it is the same dark corner she knows.

She read about Victoria Martens.

Ive just been reeling with sorrow and pain and hurt over that precious baby, and Im screaming inside wanting to do something, Gonzales says about the Albuquerque girl found dead  sexually assaulted, strangled, stabbed and dismembered  hours before she was to have celebrated her 10th birthday. Victorias mother, her mothers new boyfriend and his cousin are charged in the Aug. 24 death.

Ive cried every day for that child, Gonzales says.

She cries now as we talk. Victorias story hits her especially hard, she says, because she was also 10 when her father began raping her at knifepoint.

Her torment went on silently for years, until finally she spoke up. At age 17, she testified against her father, leading to his conviction and sentencing, in 1987, to 45 years in prison. But under the state good time laws in effect then, he served about half that sentence and was out of prison by 2010. Then, he came looking for her.

So she went looking to improve the way a victim files a restraining order against her convicted rapist once he is released from prison.

She became a frequent visitor at the Roundhouse, shaking hands, making calls, sending emails, telling her story to senators and representatives and anybody with power and pull.

After three legislative sessions, her bill passed unanimously. Gov. Susana Martinez signed it into law this year.

Last year, Racheals Law made the national stage through a resolution introduced by U.S. Rep. Michelle Lujan Grisham, D-N.M., that supports the adoption of similar laws by each state. Since July 2015, however, the resolution, known as H.Res 331, had languished in the Subcommittee on Crime, Terrorism, Homeland Security and Investigations.

Not one to give up, Gonzales began soliciting support two weeks ago from local lawmakers, asking them to send letters to the ranking subcommittee members seeking a hearing on Racheals Law.

So far, she has received a letter from House Speaker Don Tripp, R-Socorro, but dont think shes done trying.

This week, her urgent emails have gone to legislators, the governor and members of the media with her plea for them to do something to protect children like Victoria.

We MUST implement change immediately! she wrote. How many more children need to be raped, abused and murdered before we change our laws to protect our children?

Gonzales says shed like to see those who harm or kill children remain behind bars for the rest of their lives. She supports the governors push to reinstate the death penalty, particularly for those who murder children. She is murky about the details, but she is clear that some law is needed.

I dont know many people who dont want something to change. We cry, we rage, we take teddy bears and balloons to vigils, we light candles. We say to our lawmakers: Do something.

But what is that something? Much like the way we have wrestled for years over our gun violence problem, it seems we cannot agree on a law or penalty or program that satisfies all and stems the bleeding.

Still, Gonzales says its important to keep talking, keep searching for that something. She intends to.

I am alive to tell my story, she says. Victoria isnt. These kids will continue to be abused and raped and killed until people realize that the legislators are the ones who have the power. This is not about politics; this is about protecting out children.

And so she keeps working to change the world, one dark corner at a time. That is her power, and shes not afraid to use it.

UpFront is a daily front-page news and opinion column. Comment directly to Joline at 823-3603, jkrueger@abqjournal.com or follow her on Twitter @jolinegkg. Go to ABQjournal.com/letters/new to submit a letter to the editor.
Copyright  2016 Albuquerque Journal

Jessica Kelley, who is charged in the death and alleged rape of 10-year-old Victoria Martens of Albuquerque, didnt have to register as a sex offender for her conviction in 2013 for conspiracy to rape another jail inmate.

Thats because state law doesnt require registration for conspiracy to commit criminal sexual penetration, and legislation to require registration for that crime died in the 2015 Legislature.

Kelley was accused of acting as a lookout while a fellow female jail inmate used an object to rape a third woman held at the Metropolitan Detention Center. She was charged with criminal sexual penetration, conspiracy to commit criminal sexual penetration, kidnapping, conspiracy to commit kidnapping and battery.

In an agreement with the District Attorneys Office, Kelley pleaded no contest to conspiracy to commit criminal sexual penetration, and the rest of the charges were dismissed.

District Judge Brett Loveless sentenced Kelley to three years in the custody of the Department of Corrections, with credit for one year spent in jail before sentencing and the other two years to be spent on probation. The sentence was the same and ran concurrently with a sentence Kelley received from another judge for drug trafficking and drunken driving.

Under the state Sex Offender Registration and Notification Act, Kelley would have been required to register as a sex offender if she had been convicted of either of the two most serious charges filed against her  criminal sexual penetration and kidnapping.

Sex offenders required to register must provide county sheriffs with their home addresses, places of employment, telephone numbers, motor vehicle license plate numbers and other information.

The state Department of Public Safety makes the information available on a website. Also, sheriffs are required to notify schools within one mile of the homes of registered sex offenders.

The Sex Offender Registration and Notification Act doesnt require law enforcement or other supervision of registered sex offenders after they have served their sentences.

In March 2015, the state House of Representatives unanimously approved a bill to require registration for those convicted of conspiracy to commit criminal sexual penetration and conspiracy to commit certain other sex offenses. The House vote came with nine days left in the Legislatures regular annual session, and the Senate didnt act on it. The bill died in the Senate Public Affairs Committee.

The legislation would also have required registration for convictions for some prostitution and human trafficking crimes when the victims are under age 16. Requiring registration for those offenses would have brought state law into compliance with the federal Adam Walsh Child Protection and Safety Act, according to an analysis by legislative staff.

The state loses some of its federal Justice Assistance Grant money each year because of noncompliance with the Adam Walsh act. The penalty for the 2014 grant was $107,000, according to the analysis.

The bill to amend the states sex offender registration law wasnt reintroduced during the 2016 session.

The measures sponsor, Rep. Yvette Herrell, R-Alamogordo, declined to comment on the failed legislation until she had a chance to review it.

Kelley, 31, Michelle Martens, 35, the mother of Victoria Martens, and the mothers boyfriend, Fabian Gonzales, 31, face multiple charges, including child abuse resulting in death, in the killing of the 10-year-old. Gonzales and Kelley, who has been identified as a cousin of Gonzales, allegedly drugged, raped, stabbed and strangled the girl.

Kelley has a criminal history dating back to at least 2003. In addition to conspiracy to commit rape, drug trafficking and DWI, she has been convicted of assault on a peace officer, battery and shoplifting. She has been repeatedly convicted of failing to appear for court hearings and pay fines, and she has been found numerous times to have violated probation.
The New Mexico Supreme Court has upheld the double murder convictions and related charges against Rigoberto Dragon Rodriguez, who was convicted in August 2013 in the 2nd Judicial District Court.

In January 2010, Rodriguez and his co-conspirators robbed and shot David Maldonado to death, then stabbed Connie Maldonado with a knife, causing her to bleed to death, Attorney General Hector Balderas said in a news release Friday.

The Supreme Court ruled Thursday, in upholding the convictions, that the cellphone evidence that showed calls between the defendant and his co-conspirators, and between the defendant and the victims shortly before the murders, was properly admitted. The Supreme Court also found there was sufficient evidence to support the murder and armed robbery convictions.

Rodriguez, nicknamed Dragon, was reportedly tired of David and Connie Maldonados selling him undersized quantities of heroin, according to a criminal complaint in February 2010. On Jan. 27, 2010, Rodriguez, 34, had his girlfriend, Cassandra Kelso, call the Maldonados and set up another drug deal at their home on Keswick NW, police said.

Dragon and 26-year-old Jaime Rodriguez, who is not related to him, went inside the Maldonados home and killed them while Kelso waited in a car outside, according to the complaint.

After two weeks of investigation, APD homicide detectives executed two warrants with help from the SWAT team, and arrested Kelso, 20, and the two Rodriguezes.

The Office of the Medical Investigator later determined that David Maldonado had been shot in the head, while Connie Maldonados throat was slashed, according to the District Attorneys Office.

After roughly a weeklong jury trial in 2013, Rigoberto Rodriguez was found guilty on two counts of first-degree murder, two counts of felony murder, two counts of conspiracy to commit first-degree murder, armed robbery, two counts of tampering with evidence and conspiracy to commit tampering with evidence, according to the DAs Office.

The case was tried by Greer Rose and Jason Yamato of the Gang Crimes Division of the 2nd Judicial District Attorneys Office.
WASHINGTON  Dont expect a second War on Poverty, regardless of who wins the election.

Picking up where Lyndon Johnson left off in the 1960s would seem a logical response to the campaigns relentless criticism of economic inequality. But appearances are deceiving. Most proposals to reduce inequality  conspicuously from Hillary Clinton  are aimed at the middle class. Spillovers for the very poor would be mostly incidental.

These proposals include: raising Social Security payments; increasing subsidies for early childhood care; reducing  or eliminating  college tuition at state colleges and universities; boosting the minimum wage.

For his part, Donald Trump has pledged not to trim Social Security benefits and to cut taxes across the board. That automatically favors the rich and middle class because they pay most of the taxes.

There are two powerful reasons for slighting the poor. First, the poor are not where the votes are. Almost half of non-voters (46 percent) have family incomes less than $30,000 a year, according to the Pew Research Center. Many of them are beneath the official government poverty line. (In 2014, the poverty line for a family of four was $24,230. The poverty rate  the share of Americans below the poverty line  was 14.8 percent in 2014, up from a recent low of 11.3 percent in 2000.)

The second reason is less recognized: Theres no consensus in public opinion for launching a second War on Poverty. But neither is there a consensus for shrinking existing anti-poverty programs.

Indeed, the only real consensus rests on a contradiction. Americans support continuing todays anti-poverty programs, even though they doubt these programs will succeed.

The latest evidence of this comes from a fascinating public opinion survey by The Los Angeles Times and the American Enterprise Institute, a right-of-center think tank. They repeated a poll of attitudes toward poverty that they first conducted in 1985. What they found was astonishing continuity.

The 1985 survey asked whether the poor are lazy or hardworking. The nationwide response was 50 percent hardworking, 25 percent lazy and 25 percent dont know or failed to answer. The responses to a similar question this year reflected the same pattern: 65 percent hardworking, 21 percent lazy and 13 percent dont know or failed to answer.

In both years, the survey asked who has the greatest responsibility for helping the poor. Despite the passage of time, the responses were virtually identical. Government was cited by 34 percent of respondents in 1985 and 35 percent today, followed by the poor themselves (21 percent and 18 percent) and churches (17 percent and 13 percent). The remainder was spread between families, charities and non-responses.

But heres the contradiction: Government isnt judged up to the job.

Both surveys asked whether government knew enough to eliminate poverty even if it could spend whatever is necessary. In 1985, 70 percent said no. In 2016, the negative response was 73 percent.

What emerges is an ambiguous consensus. Government can and should help, but it can do only so much. The poor themselves  along with their families, churches and charities  must play the starring role. None of this constitutes a powerful mandate for a vast new anti-poverty program.

We know more now than we did in the 1960s. We are no longer so optimistic and confident of success. To many Americans, eliminating poverty has become a mission impossible.

Copyright, The Washington Post Writers Group.
WASHINGTON  Because truth in labeling laws are among the laws from which Washington feels exempt, the titles of congressional legislation often take liberties with the facts (e.g., the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act). The Stop Settlement Slush Funds Act, however, precisely names the ailment for which it is the remedy.

The Justice Department has negotiated bank settlement agreements whereby banks make restitution to the government for the damage they allegedly did in connection with the creation and sale of residential mortgage-backed securities in the subprime mortgage crisis.

Our subject here is not, however, whether the sums extracted from the banks (e.g., Citigroup $7 billion, Bank of America $16.65 billion, JPMorgan $13 billion) are proportionate to their alleged culpabilities. Rather, our subject is what Justice does with millions of these dollars.

Justice allows banks to meet some of their settlement obligations by directing donations to various nongovernmental advocacy organizations that serve Democratic constituencies and objectives  organizations that were neither parties to the case nor victims of the banks behaviors.

These donations are from money owed to the government, money that otherwise would go to the U.S. Treasury, money the disposition of which is properly Congress responsibility.

So the donations are, in effect, appropriations of public money.

The pesky Constitution, however, says: No money shall be drawn from the Treasury, but in consequence of appropriations made by law. As a congressman allied with Grover Cleveland once said to a fellow legislator who considered one of his initiatives unconstitutional, Whats the Constitution between friends?

Progressives, who favor expansive notions of executive discretion, and hence the marginalization of Congress, regard the donations as just another anodyne manifestation of inherent presidential discretion in enforcing laws.

At a May congressional hearing, three constitutional scholars  Georgetown University law professor Nicholas Quinn Rosenkranz, The Heritage Foundations Paul Larkin, and Boyden Gray, White House counsel to George H.W. Bush  disagreed.

Because everything government does costs money, the appropriation power, Rosenkranz testified, is Congress most potent check on executive overreach  the ultimate backstop against a willful president.

If presidents could disburse money without an appropriation, the careful constitutional separation of powers would be thrown into disequilibrium.

The current president relies on disbursements that circumvent the Appropriations Clause: The U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia has held that his administration has, in supposedly enforcing the ACA, illegally disbursed billions of dollars to insurance companies without a congressional appropriation.

Congress, Larkin reminded Congress, does not give the president a credit card or a cashbox that he can use to purchase goods and services or disburse appropriations as he sees fit. Congress identifies precisely who may receive federal funds.

With the donations, Justice rewards congenial groups without any direction from Congress or judicial oversight. Although it is, Larkin said, a federal offense for a government officer to spend money in excess of the sum that Congress has appropriated, he noted that the donations represent executive lawlessness known at the state level: When Chris Christie headed the U.S. Attorneys Office for the District of New Jersey, he negotiated a nonprosecution agreement with Bristol-Myers Squibb in which the company agreed, among other things, to make a $5 million gift to Seton Hall Universitys law school  Christies alma mater  in order to avoid prosecution for securities fraud.

Woodrow Wilson, a former New Jersey governor and the Democrats first progressive president, was the first president to criticize the American Founding. He was particularly hostile to the separation of powers, which he considered an anachronistic impediment to executive efficiency.

The bank settlement donations are another step nullifying the Appropriations Clauses 16 words, which buttress the separation of powers.

In the end, Gray testified, every other constitutional power runs into the appropriations power. This is why presidents have consistently endeavored to seize the appropriations power from Congress.

The Constitution was just 20 years old when, in 1809, Congress felt the need to enact legislation designed to prevent the president from repurposing appropriated funds from one object to another. Subsequent presidents have obligated funds in excess of appropriations, thereby forcing Congress to choose between appropriating the funds or impairing the countrys credit.

Congress often has been complicit in its own diminution, as when it empowered the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau to commandeer funding from the Federal Reserve System.

Base motives of self-aggrandizement have impelled many presidents to disregard the separation of powers. Progressive presidents do this as a matter of principle, which is worse.

Copyright, Washington Post Writers Group.
Jerry Schalow has been named president and chief executive officer of the Rio Rancho Regional Chamber of Commerce, the chamber board of directors announced Wednesday.

Schalow comes to Rio Rancho with more than two decades of experience in collaborating with businesses and consumers throughout New Mexico and the Southwest, most recently as president of First Santa Fe Insurance Services, an affiliate of First National Bank of Santa Fe.

He worked closely with Isleta Pueblo to develop Native American Insurance Group, which is now one of the largest insurance agencies of its kind, focusing on the needs of tribal entities.

Erin Hagenow, who has served as the chambers interim executive director since June, will continue to work with RRRCC through Sept. 30 to coordinate the transition to Schalow.

Longtime RRRCC President and CEO Debbi Moore stepped down in April to take a similar position with the Greater Las Cruces Chamber of Commerce.

I am delighted to welcome Jerry as the president and chief executive officer of the Rio Rancho regional chamber, chamber board Chair Lisa Contreras said Wednesday. Jerry has a passion for our mission of providing leadership, education and value to our members. He has the vision and knowledge to build upon and grow the chamber.

Prior to FSFIS, Schalow was vice president for HSBC Bank in New Mexico, Arizona, California and Texas. He worked with many industries, but has particular expertise with financial services, nonprofits, real estate development, retailing and service-based companies.

Schalow is a graduate of Texas Tech University, and has served on numerous boards and commissions. He most recently served as a board member for the Albuquerque Hispano Chamber of Commerce, New Mexico Connections Academy Charter School and St. Felix Pantry in Rio Rancho.

He is married to Valerie (Pacheco) and they are the parents of three children: Alexandria, Jordan and Isabella.

I am excited about working with Rio Rancho, its surrounding communities, Sandoval County and Albuquerques West Side to continue building upon the foundation already in place at the chamber, Schalow said. Our efforts will focus on collaborating with businesses and area leaders on economic growth and on building partnerships that support those efforts.
BERNALILLO  A county grand jury on Friday indicted Sandoval County Commissioner James Dominguez on multiple charges stemming from a November incident involving him and his now-estranged wife.

Dominguez, 56, is charged with two counts of false imprisonment, three counts of battery against a household member, interference with communications, assault against a household member, reckless driving and violation of a restraining order, according to the state District Court office in Sandoval County.

The two counts of false imprisonment are felonies; the other charges are misdemeanors.

Dominguez and Guadalupe Lulu Reyes, 37, were married for about five months from summer to fall 2015.

The two described a disagreement that turned physical, with discrepancies in the details. The incident allegedly occurred on or about Nov. 10. Reyes filed a complaint with police and Dominguez filed for divorce immediately afterward.

Reyes accused Dominguez of pushing her and attempting to violently attack her, according to news reports. She also alleged he took her phone and keys to prevent her from calling for help or leaving.

She reported the incident to Bernalillo police. Reports allege she had scrapes on her nose, cheeks and forehead.

Dominguez admitted to police that he took Reyess phone and keys in an attempt to mediate at home, and alleged that she bit and scratched him.

Im sort of surprised that both parties did not have criminal complaints filed against them, Dominguezs attorney Robert Aragon told the Observer. The injuries that James (Dominguez) sustained were far more visible and apparent than any allegedly sustained by the alleged victim in this case.

The attorney stated Dominguez had scratches on his forearms and hands, which Aragon described as defensive type of injuries and said Dominguez sustained a bite injury that was readily observable days afterwards.

Dominguez did not press charges against Reyes.

Its our contention that the only contact that was made by Mr. Dominguez was in self-defense and that is how we will be proceeding, Aragon said.

County spokesman Sidney Hill said that, prior to the incident, Reyes was employed by the Sandoval County Sheriffs Office in Bernalillo for two years. She worked there from April 2013 until late June 2015, Hill told the Observer. She then transferred to the office of the county probate judge, who holds jurisdiction over estates and inheritances.

Aragon told the Observer that the disagreement happened when Dominguez was allegedly being asked by Reyes to, frankly, abuse his position as an elected official by being asked to excuse her from work.

Hes a county commissioner. He is not her supervisor, Aragon said. The county manager is the only employee that the county commission has direct control over.

The 13th Judicial District Attorneys Office in Sandoval County declined to prosecute Dominguez on grounds of conflict of interest and asked David Foster, a private attorney in Albuquerque, to prosecute on its behalf. Several judges also recused themselves from the case.

Dominguez was arrested for violating a restraining order after Reyes reported to a sheriffs detective on Feb. 12 that he appeared in her office, allegedly to return a photograph and a piece of mail.

A preliminary hearing about the violated restraining order is expected to take place this month.
Rio Rancho Public Schools $60 million bond election received resounding support Tuesday, with 75 percent of voters backing the plan.

The canvassed results show 2,567 votes for and 831 against the general obligation bond sale, which will fund technology infrastructure, security upgrades, real estate purchases and a new elementary school.

Superintendent Sue Cleveland thanked the community for its strong endorsement in an emailed statement.

The $60 million bond will allow Rio Rancho Public Schools to continue to build for the future and ensure we have safe, well-maintained buildings for generations to come, she said. In addition, it will allow us to provide our students with access to state-of-the-art technology.

The funds approved by voters in this election will become available to the district in increments over the next four years. They will go toward a variety of projects:

$24.5 million: Joe Harris Elementary School. The new school is designed to alleviate overcrowded classrooms. It will likely be constructed west of Unser Boulevard and south of Northern Boulevard.

$15.5 million: New Shining Stars Preschool Building. An upgraded preschool will replace an aging facility made up of portables that were never intended for long-term use, according to district officials.

$9 million: General building upgrades and renovation. New playgrounds, gym floor upgrades, parking lot expansions and landscaping and various other capital projects are included.

$7 million: Technology improvements. RRPS plans to upgrade phone systems, servers, wireless internet access and other infrastructure.

$3 million: Real estate purchases. Administrators are looking at land near the end of Unser Boulevard for future schools.

$1 million: Security up-grades and improvements. All schools will receive video surveillance, better doors, radio communications equipment, and other safety enhancements.

Turnout for school bond elections tend to be very low, and this was no exception. A total of 3,398 people voted Tuesday, 5.7 percent of those eligible.

To date, RRPS has held eight successful bond elections since the district was formed in 1994, collecting almost $360 million in total. Bond sales do not raise property taxes, though the rate declines if they fail.
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.
Islamabad : Balochistans representative at UNHRC has accused Pakistan of committing war crimes against Baloch people and urged the international community to penalise Islamabad for its alleged human rights violations in the Baloch and Sindh regions.

The Pakistani establishment is committing war crimes in Balochistan and Sindh. We appeal to Interpol to issue Red notices for Raheel Sharif, Nawaz Sharif, DG ISI and heads of FC and Rangers, Mehran Mari, Balochistans representative at UNHRC was quoted as saying by ANI.

Mari said that its not the first time that Pakistan has resorted to misinforming international community, the European Union and Interpol.

PM Nawaz Sharif, Army Chief Raheel Sharif, ISI DG and others are war criminals and they must be arrested whenever they leave Pakistan, Mari said.

The remarks from Mari comes at a time when Pakistan has been cracking down on Baloch activists since they lauded Prime Minister Narendra Modis call for action against Pakistan for its atrocities against the Baloch people in Pakistan.

Several top Baloch leaders have accused that Pakistan of using chemical weapon against the Baloch people to suppress their voices.

Sher Mohammad Bugti, a spokesman of the Baloch Republican Party (BRP), has warned Islamabad about any action it is planning against other prominent Baloch activists who protest Pakistans atrocities in Balochistan.

Before issuing a red corner notice against Brahamdagh Bugti, Pakistan should think what its global image is, Sher Mohammad Bugti said, referring to Brahamdagh, the founder of the BRP.

Pakistani authorities have decided to speed up the process to bring back Baloch separatist leader and Nawaz Akbar Khan Bugtis grandson Brahamdagh Bugti, who is currently living in self-exile in Switzerland, PTI reported.

Two weeks ago, in what is being seen a big strategic shift, PM Modi began to call out Pakistan for its so-called hypocrisy in commenting about Kashmir even as it continues to oppress people within its borders.

And now, Baloch activists in Pakistan and those forced into exile abroad are rallying around Modis stirring speeches against Pakistans atrocities in the Balochistan province and in Pakistan-occupied-Kashmir (PoK).

Last week, even as Pakistan has begun to internationalize its Kashmir campaign, the country was hugely embarrassed after dozens of exiled Baloch activists in Germany came out on Saturday to chant anti-Pakistan protests and to laud Modi for his stand.

Many of the Baloch activists were flying the Indian flag and shouting pro-Modi slogans at a rally they held in the town of Leipzig, media reports said. This protest came even as Nawaz Sharif announced that he has appointed a 22 MP K squad to tour the world with a Kashmir agenda.

Source : Zee News
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32 accident-prone spots along Narayangadh-Muglin road stretch identified

The Central Regional Police in Hetauda has declared 32 places along the Narayangadh-Muglin road section as the most accident prone.
- The budget padding scandal rocking the House of Representatives is yet to die down

- Report has it that the EFCC has begun secretly investigating Yakubu Dogara

- The agency has invited some finance directors of federal ministries and agencies for interrogation

There are indications that the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has commenced discreet investigation into allegations of budget padding levelled against the speaker of the House of Representatives, Yakubu Dogara, and other principal officers.

The Cable reports that finance directors of federal ministries and agencies have been invited by the anti-graft agency as part of the investigation.

Speaker of the House of Representatives Yakubu Dogara

They are to appear before the agency with the details of their draft budgets and what was finally approved by the national assembly.

READ ALSO: Budget padding: EFCC vows to deal with Dogara, others

According to one of those invited, they will be appearing before the agency on different days of the week.

The House of Representatives has been enmeshed in a budget padding scandal after Abdulmumin Jibrin, former chairman of the house committee on appropriation raised the alarm in July.

Jibrin was sacked on July 20, and after his removal, he began to accuse Dogara and other principal officers of the house of padding the budget by illegally inserting about N450bn into the 2016 budget.

On August 1, he submitted petitions to the EFCC, the Independent Corrupt Practices and other related Offences Commission (ICPC) and the Department of State Services (DSS), calling on them to investigate the speaker.

READ ALSO: Budget padding: Civil societies protest in Lagos

On Friday, August 5, Dogara met with President Muhammadu Buhari over the budget padding scandal.

Speaking after the meeting, he told newsmen that budget padding is not an offence, vowing not to resign from office despite growing calls on him to do so.

Jibrin has vowed to not to give up his cause until justice is served. On Wednesday, August 31, he met with the presidential advisory committee on anti-corruption for more than three hours.

Source: Legit.ng
A house of cards

Nepals citizenship laws, on paper, provide a Nepali mother the same privilege as a father when passing on citizenship to their children. But ground realities say otherwise
Just In: APC suspends famous southeast bigwigs from party, gives strong reason

The ruling APC has announced the suspension of a former House of Representatives member and a former commissioner for Finance in Abia state, from the party.
- Most money deposit banks and insurance firms have slashed their workers salaries by between 20 and 50 per cent

- This is due to the economic recession Nigeria is currently going through

- This development has been confirmed by management sources and workers in some of the organisations

A report by The Punch indicates that Diamond Bank Plc, Heritage Bank Plc, Zenith Bank Plc, First Bank Plc and Wema Bank Plc have all reduced their workers salaries as of August 31.

Nigerian banks are one of the hardest hit in the recession ravaging the country

While Diamond Bank and Heritage Bank were said to have slashed salaries by 30 per cent, First Bank and Wema Bank reportedly slashed workers salaries were by 20 per cent each.

The banks' decision were made in order to meet deposit targets, which have become high in recent time. Hence, workers who failed to meet their targets had their salaries slashed.

The report also revealed that the same decision has been taken in some insurance companies.

Before now, the marketing departments of the underwriting firms and insurance agents were responsible for generating premium for the companies, but it has been extended to all employees.

Sources quoted said insurance workers in the marketing department who failed to meet their premium targets also had their salaries slashed.

Before, it was only the marketers that they used to give targets to. Now, some of us also have targets ranging between N40, 000 and N100, 000 monthly and our promotion and salaries are tied to our performance, an insurance worker squealed.

A worker in one of the new generation banks also said she resumed work after her annual vacation only to discover that she didnt get the same salary that she had always received.

There is perpetual fear in all banks. Every category of workers in the banks is affected by the economic crisis, another bank employee noted.

READ ALSO: Nigeria not a good destination for investment  Gas suppliers

He also revealed that some bank workers had been resigning and travelling abroad, especially the United States and Canada, to avoid being sacked.

One of my colleagues just resigned last month because of the fear of losing his job and travelled to the U.S to seek greener pastures.

But those who are not interested in leaving Nigeria have devised many means to survive the harsh economy should their letters of sacking come anytime. They are setting up small scale businesses.

The most common ones are laundry services and restaurants which require capital outlay of N500, 000.

The academically-sound ones among them have been moving to private universities to take appointments there.

The problem is on the high side now. There is perpetual fear among bank workers that they can be fired at anytime, he said.

The National Union of Banks, Insurance and Financial Institutions Employees (NUBIFIE) also confirmed the development in the banks.

NUBIFIE Secretary General, Mohammad Sheick, said the issue had become a serious concern to the union.

His words: There is apprehension in the banking sector. Recently, there was mass sacking by banks and the Federal Government directed that those who were sacked during that period should be recalled.

We have had about two meetings with the Federal Ministry of Labour on the issue and we are hopefully looking at the possibility of the ministry calling us to another meeting so that we can have an understanding on how to respond to the emerging issues like economic recession and other factors that are affecting the operations of banks.

Even before the economic recession, the banks have always responded to any policy of the government negatively. The first thing that came to the mind of the banks management, which the union has always disagreed with, is to lay off workers.

They (banks) have to think outside the box and objectively. If they want to cut cost or reduce certain expenditure because of certain governments policy, then the reality is that they should know where they should direct their attention.

I can volunteer to say that the thing that eats deep into banks profit and loss is nothing other than the kind of lifestyle of the management staff of the banks. For example, the monthly salary of one executive director is more than the salaries of 100 workers. This is apart from other privileges and perks attached to him as an executive director.

READ ALSO: Nigeria loses N1.1trillion oil revenue due to Niger Delta militant attacks

Figures released by the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) on Wednesday, August 31, showed that Nigeria had officially gone into recession.

The NBS figures showed that in the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) for the second quarter of 2016, Nigerias economy contracted by 2.06 percent.

The countrys economy shrank by 0.36 percent to hit its lowest point in 25 years. The second quarter report makes Nigerias economy the worst in three decades.

Meanwhile, the manufacturing sector is getting bleaker by the day as their earnings dim amidst the biting economic crunch.

Recently, four major blue-chip Nigerian companies lost as much as N51.86 billion in the first half of 2016 as the economy continues to take a dip.

Nestle Nigeria Plc, Nigerian Breweries Plc, Dangote Cement Plc and Lafarge Africa all suffered combined profit losses to the tune of N51.86 billion in the first half of the year.

In a related development, renowned economist and businessman, Mr Atedo Peterside has predicted that the recession currently experienced in Nigeria will last for a long time.

READ ALSO: CBN under pressure as dollars remains scarce after naira devaluation

Peterside who is also the President & Founder of Anap Foundation said business confidence is low and investors are holding back on investing in Nigeria.

Source: Legit.ng
Ahead of Suu Kyi visit, Obama weighs Myanmar sanctions relief - sources

The United States is considering further easing or lifting sanctions against Myanmar around the time of a White House visit this month by the country's new leader, Aung San Suu Kyi, U.S. officials told Reuters.
Do you remember that kid who always boasted he had a shiny Charizard card at home, but never brought it to school? And when you finally visited his place for a sleepover, he said he could show it to you  but he just didnt want to?

Well, Nauru is that kid, Australia is his boofhead, bullying sidekick, while poor little Denmark is the exchange student who just wants proof that our Pokem err, offshore detention regime operates as well as our government claims.

We know this much because two members of a Danish delegation, whose Nauruan visa applications were cancelled out of the blue earlier this week, have spoken to the Guardian about the surprise end to their investigative trip.

According to MPs Johanne Schmidt-Nielsen and Jacob Mark, their fact-finding journey to the Pacific island to research our immigration system was actually halted due to negative comments regarding Nauru they made in the past.

Schmidt-Nielsen claims Nauruan authorities explicitly told the Danish embassy their visas had been revoked simply because we had been saying critical things about what was going on They didnt want that in Nauru.

She said the turnaround was unacceptable and anti-democratic, before questioning why the decision was made when the group had already touched down in Australia. Mark corroborated that viewpoint, adding I thought that it must be a lie. It was crazy.

A third member of the group, MP Naser Khader, also had his visa revoked; earlier this week, Syrian-born Khader mused to Fairfax that because he hadnt made any negative remarks about Nauru prior to the ban, I cant conclude anything else except maybe its [due to] my background. So thats just ace, too.

Australia and Naurus take on the actual business of operating the facilities was also questioned by the Danes. While they mightnt have made it to the island, they still received a candid insight into the system.

Mark said the group asked how many people had been prosecuted in the aftermath of recent revelations of mass abuse. Our nations response? The government in Australia just says oh we dont know, Mark said.

Schmidt-Nielsen said the Australian government replied all of the cases are being looked into and this is just a symptom of us having a really good reporting system. Right. Yes. Of course.

After commenting on the baffling nature of who actually runs the show  us or Nauru  she managed to sum the entire situation in one withering statement, saying in a country where critical eyes and ears are not allowed, its obvious that something is being hidden.

On the plus side: at least one nation wont be emulating our system any time soon.

Source: The Guardian / Sydney Morning Herald.

Photo: Free The Children NAURU / Facebook.
The next young tailor I wanted to highlight on Permanent Style is Ayres Goncalo, a Portuguese who worked at Gieves & Hawkes in London for four years, before returning to Porto to set up his own shop in 2011.

I met Ayres over the summer while in Portugal with my family. My wife is half Portuguese, and her language skills were useful in translating the odd technical word - although otherwise Ayress time in London means his English is fluent.

Ayress grandfather was a tailor, and quite famous in his day, with his own shop and a client list that included ministers and celebrities. As a boy, Ayres would work in the shop after class.

His uncle and mother ran the shop, rather than being tailors. Like many of his generation, Ayress grandfather saw no future in tailoring, and didnt want his children to take up the trade.

Ayres, however, developed a passion for it, and studied at the tailoring school La Confianza in Madrid, finishing in 2005. He also made an initial trip to Savile Row that year, just to look around, and remembers Dege & Skinner being particularly welcoming.

Six months later, he travelled to London with the aim of finding a job, and was lucky to meet Gievess general manager at the time, Andrew Goldberg (now at Scabal).

Andrew gave him a three-month placement in the workrooms downstairs and - in a further stroke of luck - Ayres was placed under Spanish tailor Andrew Gomez, who also spoke Portuguese.

I remember those days very well, says Ayres. It was just after Jose Mourinho had moved to Chelsea from Porto, and it felt like that was another sign - that everyone was in London!"

Work was very hard to start with. Getting up to the level of the London tailors was not easy, and everyone worked long hours, often 7am to 7pm, Ayres remembers.

Some also worked seven days a week, but at the weekend you were allowed to make your own things too, so I made a few pieces for friends.

After four years, he took the opportunity to move to New York and help set up Michael Andrews Bespoke - but that only lasted for a year before he returned to Portugal.

Today, Ayres has a top-floor studio overlooking one of Portos beautiful squares. His grandfather (now 86) works there one day a week, and there are two tailors in-house, plus one outside.

His style is Savile Row influenced, but definitely made for a southern European audience. The chest canvas is lighter, without any domette, and the pre-made shoulder pads are chopped down to give a softer shoulder.

Clients come from business and politics (he travels regularly to Lisbon) but also a lot of groups. Things are very busy at the moment with wedding requests - they often want pretty bright materials or linings, Ayres says, showing me a lary lady-covered example.

There is very little understanding of bespoke in Portugal, and a lot of made to measure - something exacerbated by the number of fused-tailoring factories around here, he says.

Indeed, there has never been much of a tailoring heritage in the country, with Ayress grandfather immigrating from Italy, having trained in Rome. There are a few old tailors left in Porto and Lisbon (such as Saldana), but no young ones.

All the more welcome, then, that Ayres is fighting the good fight - explaining patiently to people why branded MTM is not the same as bespoke. And then, the next day, explaining it all over again.

Suits start at 2000 euros. Contact details on the Ayres website
RE/MAX Alliance Group Agents and Staff Attend 100th Annual Florida Realtors Convention & Trade Expo

By: RE/MAX Alliance Group

RE/MAX Alliance Group

Contact

Media Contact: Thomas & Brannan Communications

***@thomasbrannan.com Media Contact: Thomas & Brannan Communications

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-- Representatives from RE/MAX Alliance Group recently attended the 100th annual Florida Realtors Convention & Trade Expo held August 24th to 28th, 2016, at Rosen Shingle Creek resort in Orlando, Florida.RE/MAX Alliance Group attendees included David Clapp, Roger Piro, Adam Chicoine, Wendy Ross, Kari Battaglia, Sandra Newell, Lisa Gillaspy, Stafford Starcher, Linda Starcher, Helen Carlsen, Marie Avery and Carol VanDoren.A centennial in the making, this year's Celebration100 brought Realtors from around the state together to discuss key issues that shape their profession and the state association. Members attended more than 35 education sessions on topics such as new trends in real estate, building successful teams and converting leads into business.The 100th anniversary convention featured Jay Leno, former "Tonight Show" host and world-famous stand-up comedian, who spoke to a packed audience. Convention-goers also enjoyed a "Party on the Moon" dance concert to celebrate 100 years of making a difference to their profession and their communities. Meanwhile, keynote speaker Dan Thurmon demonstrated the value of staying "Off Balance On Purpose!" during the Keynote Awards Luncheon. Real estate professionals also visited this year's Trade Expo, featuring more than 170 exhibitors with the latest products, technology and other business tools.Sponsors for the 2016 convention included: Listing Power Tools; Miami Association of Realtors; Northeast Florida Association of Realtors, Metro Market Trends; RealtyWEB.Net;Royal Palm Coast Realtor Association;My Florida Regional MLS; Minto Communities;Orlando Regional Realtor Association;Century21 LLC; Emerald Coast Association of Realtors; Realtor Association of Sarasota and Manatee; Realtors Association of the Palm Beaches; Absolute Home Mortgage Corp.; Florida Realtors PAC; and Citibank.Florida Realtors serves as the voice for real estate in Florida and provides programs, services, ongoing education, research and legislative representation to its 155,000 members in 55 local boards/associations throughout Florida.RE/MAX Alliance Group is the #1 RE/MAX franchise in Florida for both transactions and sales volume. The company ranks #7 in the country and #15 in the world among RE/MAX offices, both based on transactions. With more than 300 agents and staff, RE/MAX Alliance Group offers residential and commercial real estate solutions throughout Sarasota, Manatee and Charlotte counties, with offices in Sarasota, Bradenton, Anna Maria Island, University Park, Venice, Siesta Key and Englewood. For more information, please visit http://www.alliancegroupfl.com
Dr. Jeannine L. Scherenberg to Oversee Academic Units and Research Programs

By: Saint Monica University

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-- Saint Monica University (SMU): The American International University today announced that Dr. Jeannine L. Scherenberg has been named the Provost and Vice President of Academic Affairs (VPAA). In this position, she will serve as the second-ranking administrative officer and chief administrative officer, reporting to the President and Chief Executive Officer."I am pleased that President Asongu has entrusted me with the responsibility of leading the academic activities of Saint Monica University,"said Dr. Jeannine L. Scherenberg, the new Provost and VPAA at SMU. "We were colleagues many years ago when he shared with me his vision of starting an American-style university in Africa. I am convinced that SMU is a force for immense rectitude and I will continue to support the President to bring his vision into reality."As Provost and VPAA, Dr. Scherenberg will be assisted by the Associate Provost of Academic Affairs. She will also supervise three other Associate Vice Presidents in charge of Research and Sponsored Programs; Registrar; and Distance Learning and Learning Resources."Dr. Scherenberg is a visionary, integrative thinker dedicated to academic values, teaching, service, scholarly research activities, and collaboration,"said Professor Januarius Jingwa (JJ) Asongu, President and Chief Executive Officer of SMU. "She is an accomplished scholar with a record of excellence in teaching, research, and administrative leadership gained in a student-centered academic environment. She is also deeply committed to intellectual engagement and the creation of a compelling academic environment;has respect for shared governance and has the ability to work collaboratively, yet decisively, which is an important requirements for success in this role. I want to thank her for accepting to help us out again."Dr. Scherenberg has been volunteering for Saint Monica University since the inception of the University, where she has held many positions on abasis. She began serving SMU as Associate Professor of Business, where she taught many courses and was voted the best faculty in 2013. She was later named the Dean of the School of Business and Public Policy. She holds a Doctor of Education in Organizational Leadership from Benedictine University, Chicago, and a Master of Business Administration from the National Louis University, Lisle, and the Bachelor of Science from the same university, Wheaton campus. She has taught at many universities including Rockford University, where she was a colleague of the SMU President.Saint Monica University (SMU) is an American-style non-ecclesiastical Catholic institution, offering career-focused programs that are at the intersection of the liberal arts, science and technology. With headquarters in the United States, it is dedicated to providing educational opportunities for the intellectual, social, entrepreneurial and professional development of a diverse student population. Saint Monica University Institute of Cameroon is a leading private university in Cameroon. SMU is focused on the student experience and helping our students achieve their educational and career goals, and contributing to a more sustainable society. We offer various certificates and diplomas as well as undergraduate and graduate degrees through the School of Arts, Education, & Humanities (SAEH); School of Business & Public Policy (SBPP); School of Health & Human Services (SHHS); and School of Science, Engineering & Technology (SSET). SMU is accredited in the United Kingdom by the Accreditation Service for International Schools, Colleges, and Universities (ASIC) with Accreditation No: AS22357/0614 and is listed on the UK Register of Learning Providers (UKRLP) with the UK Provider Reference Number (UKPRN): 10048183. SMU is also fully accredited in Cameroon by the National Commission on Private Higher Education at the Ministry of Higher Education (MINESUP) as "Saint Monica University Institute of Cameroon" with the Ordinance of Creation No: E14/0028/MINESUP/SG/DDES and the Ministerial Letter No: 15-09643/L/MINESUP/SG/DDES/ESUP/SDA/MM authorizing SMU to offer over 50 undergraduate and graduate diploma and degree programs. SMU is a member of many international academic organizations including the Council of Independent Colleges (CIC), Global Universities In Distance Education (GUIDE), and the Talloires Network. For more information about SMU, visit our website: http://www.smuedu.org or write to us at admissions@smuedu.org.
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SGCookingLessons

***@sgcookinglessons.com SGCookingLessons

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-- SGCookingLessons has announced today the official launch of their cooking and baking lessons. Their website which was launched just recently in June, has quickly gained traction in a few short weeks, having received a steady inflow of queries since its inception."We are thrilled to have the opportunity to reach out to the greater community, especially those who are interesting in learning the finer arts of Halal culinary," says Isaac Gideon, president and co-founder of SGCookingLessons. "We seek to constantly improve ourselves on what we can offer and look forward to bringing in a series of exciting lessons conducted in a fun, interactive and stress-free environment."Primarily serving the Muslim community, the firm's core business centers around conducting of both Halal cooking and baking classes for food enthusiasts. The idea was borne from the recognition of the dearth of Halal food and bakery lessons scene in the country. It was difficult for keen learners to seek accredited Halal chefs for their wisdom and expertise in this field, and many food enthusiasts were denied the chance to undergo proper training and guidance in coming up with creative Halal delicacies.With this new venture, SGCookingLessons aims to provide the necessary infrastructure to close the current gap between the lessons the public demands and what is offered in the Singapore culinary scene.To learn more about the variety of menus, programs or classes, contact Yi Tian at (+65) 8501 2911, or email admin@sgcookinglessons.com or visit the website http://www.sgcookinglessons.com for more information.
Flakes of graphene welded together into solid materials may be suitable for bone implants, according to a study led by Rice University scientists.

The Rice lab of materials scientist Pulickel Ajayan and colleagues in Texas, Brazil and India used spark plasma sintering to weld flakes of graphene oxide into porous solids that compare favorably with the mechanical properties and biocompatibility of titanium, a standard bone-replacement material.

The discovery is the subject of a paper in Advanced Materials.

The researchers believe their technique will give them the ability to create highly complex shapes out of graphene in minutes using graphite molds, which they believe would be easier to process than specialty metals.

"We started thinking about this for bone implants because graphene is one of the most intriguing materials with many possibilities and it's generally biocompatible," said Rice postdoctoral research associate Chandra Sekhar Tiwary, co-lead author of the paper with Dibyendu Chakravarty of the International Advanced Research Center for Powder Metallurgy and New Materials in Hyderabad, India. "Four things are important: its mechanical properties, density, porosity and biocompatibility."

Tiwary said spark plasma sintering is being used in industry to make complex parts, generally with ceramics. "The technique uses a high pulse current that welds the flakes together instantly. You only need high voltage, not high pressure or temperatures," he said. The material they made is nearly 50 percent porous, with a density half that of graphite and a quarter of titanium metal. But it has enough compressive strength -- 40 megapascals -- to qualify it for bone implants, he said. The strength of the bonds between sheets keeps it from disintegrating in water.

The researchers controlled the density of the material by altering the voltage that delivers the highly localized blast of heat that makes the nanoscale welds. Though the experiments were carried out at room temperature, the researchers made graphene solids of various density by raising these sintering temperatures from 200 to 400 degrees Celsius. Samples made at local temperatures of 300 C proved best, Tiwary said. "The nice thing about two-dimensional materials is that they give you a lot of surface area to connect. With graphene, you just need to overcome a small activation barrier to make very strong welds," he said.

With the help of colleagues at Hysitron in Minnesota, the researchers measured the load-bearing capacity of thin sheets of two- to five-layer bonded graphene by repeatedly stressing them with a picoindenter attached to a scanning electron microscope and found they were stable up to 70 micronewtons. Colleagues at the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center successfully cultured cells on the material to show its biocompatibility. As a bonus, the researchers also discovered the sintering process has the ability to reduce graphene oxide flakes to pure bilayer graphene, which makes them stronger and more stable than graphene monolayers or graphene oxide.

"This example demonstrates the possible use of unconventional materials in conventional technologies," Ajayan said. "But these transitions can only be made if materials such as 2-D graphene layers can be scalably made into 3-D solids with appropriate density and strength.

"Engineering junctions and strong interfaces between nanoscale building blocks is the biggest challenge in achieving such goals, but in this case, spark plasma sintering seems to be effective in joining graphene sheets to produce strong 3-D solids," he said.
It was already known that genes inherited from ancient retroviruses[1] are essential to the placenta in mammals, a finding to which scientists in the Laboratoire Physiologie et Pathologie Moleculaires des Retrovirus Endogenes et Infectieux (CNRS/Universite Paris-Sud) contributed. Today, the same scientists[2] have revealed a new chapter in this astonishing story: these genes of viral origin may also be responsible for the more developed muscle mass seen in males! Their findings are published on 2 September 2016 in PLOS Genetics.

Retroviruses carry proteins on their surface that are able to mediate fusion of their envelope with the membrane of a target cell. Once released inside that cell, their genetic material becomes integrated in the host's chromosomes. In the rare cases where the infected cell is involved in reproduction, the viral genes may be transmitted to progeny. Thus nearly 8% of the mammalian genome is made up of vestiges of retroviruses, or "endogenous" retroviruses. Most of them are inactive, but some remain capable of producing proteins: this is the case of syncytins, proteins that are present in all mammals and encoded by genes inherited from retroviruses "captured" by their ancestors. A little more than five years ago, and thanks to inactivation of these genes in mice, the team led by Thierry Heidmann demonstrated that syncytins contribute to formation of the placenta. Because of their ancestral ability to mediate cell-cell fusion they give rise to the syncytiotrophoblast[3], a tissue formed by the fusion of a large number of cells derived from the embryo, at the fetomaternal interface.

Using the same mice, the team has revealed a "collateral" and unexpected effect of these proteins: they endow males with more muscle mass than females! Like the syncytiotrophoblast, muscle mass develops from fused stem cells. In the genetically-modified male mice, these fibers were 20% smaller and displayed 20% fewer nuclei than in standard males; they were then similar to those seen in females, as was their total muscle mass. It therefore appears that the inactivation of syncytins leads to a fusion deficit during muscle growth, but only in males. The scientists observed the same phenomenon in the case of muscle regeneration following a lesion: the male mice incapable of producing syncytins experienced less effective regeneration than the other males, but it was comparable to that seen in females. Furthermore, the regenerating muscle fibers produced syncytin -- once again, only in males.

If this discovery were to be confirmed in other mammals, it might account for the muscle dimorphism observed between males and females, a difference that is not seen so systematically in egg laying animals. By cultivating muscle stem cells from different mammalian species (mouse, sheep, dog, human), the scientists have advanced some way along the path: they indeed showed that syncytins contributed to the formation of muscle fibers in all the species tested. It is now necessary to demonstrate whether, in these species as well, the action of syncytins is also male-specific.

[1] The particular feature of retroviruses is that they possess an enzyme that permits transcription of their RNA genome in a "complementary" DNA molecule which is able to integrate in the DNA of the host cell. The AIDS virus (HIV) is the best known example of a retrovirus.

[2] In collaboration with colleagues working on muscles: the teams led by Julie Dumonceaux at the Centre de Recherche en Myologie (CNRS/UPMC/Inserm) and Laurent Tiret at the Ecole Nationale Veterinaire d'Alfort and the Institut Mondor de Recherche Biomedicale (Inserm/UPEC).

[3] The syncytiotrophoblast is part of the placenta that permits implantation in the uterus and then constitutes the interface between the maternal bloodstream and that of the embryo, where the exchanges of gases and nutrients necessary for the latter's development occur.
China's Zhangjiajie glass bridge closes after two weeks

A glass-bottomed bridge in China that was heralded as a record-breaker when it opened just 13 days ago has closed.
Luis Meza's coffee shop in Hamilton's historic Lister Block does a brisk weekday trade slaking the caffeine cravings of office workers and the construction crews who are transforming Steeltown's downtown.

But it's the weekends when things get crazy at Mezza Cafe, says the owner.

That's when the Toronto real estate refugees come touring Hamilton's orange brick Victorians and post-and-beam condo conversions in search of an affordable alternative to the bidding wars and million-dollar mortgages in other parts of the region.

They are late to the party, say the pioneers, who beat them to the character homes strolling distance from the newly thriving downtown restaurant scene and an arts community that gets compared to pre-gentrification Queen St. West.

"There's a little bit of a settler mentality,'" says Glen Norton, manager of Urban Renewal.

He is sitting at Lake Road, a bright spot on the food scene. Its name references the original street name of its James North location, where other chefs are gaining strength in numbers along nearby King William St., where the taco trend has customers lining up at The Mule and new restaurants are moving in.

For years, Hamilton's architectural landmarks suffered from the same flight to the suburbs that has afflicted cities like Windsor and London. Norton says the traditionally blue-collar town was knocked on its keister with the exodus of Stelco, Massey Ferguson and Procter and Gamble.

"We did go down. We did suffer. We lost a lot of good jobs," he says.

But Hamilton is on its feet, having re-branded itself "the ambitious city," with health care the leading employment sector.

"Hamilton had massive growth in (neighbouring towns) Ancaster and Dundas, but now it's the historic areas that are growing," says Chris Phillips, a senior advisor to the economic development office.

With the average Hamilton home costing $451,000 compared to $940,000 in Toronto, the prices are still competitive. But costs are rising almost as quickly  13.2 per cent in July compared to the same month last year  about 7 per cent overall this year  said George O'Neill, CEO of the Realtors Association of Hamilton-Burlington.

The biggest jump was in affordable Hamilton East, a neighbourhood enjoying a revival he compares to that of Toronto's Leslieville.

Its popularity is generally driven by price, said O'Neill. The average cost of a home there rose about $73,000 from $244,000 to $317,000 in the last year.

"The average sale price in that area is one of the lowest for all of Hamilton. It's the entrance price. Young families, couples and individuals are looking at the type of property and they can buy in Hamilton East," he said.

Five years ago, Coldwell Banker realtor Jeannie Crawford sold her "shoe-box" condo in Toronto for about $100,000 more than the $188,000 she and her husband paid for a two-storey house in Hamilton North.

They chose Steeltown, she says, because she couldn't live in a suburb. It was also close enough to visit Toronto.

She needn't have worried. Crawford hesitates to use the H word  hipster  but she admits Hamilton has its own vibe.

"I was in Toronto for 18 years and had great friends and had a great life there. But it's very different in terms of feeling connected," she said.

"The days of a cheap, fully renovated two-storey next to the GO station are gone," said Crawford, who estimates there are multiple bids on 75 to 80 per cent of the sales she sees.

One recent sale drew 14 offers and went for $100,000 over the list price.

"But that doesn't mean there isnt tons of affordable real estate. Everyone wants these old character homes, which is great but . . . young first-time buyers need to know they've got an old stone foundation," she said, adding that issues like dated wiring pop up there just as they do in Toronto.

Crawford advises Toronto buyers to try the city, maybe rent an Airbnb for a couple of weeks and ride the GO train. She also suggests they connect with someone who really knows the city.

"Hamilton has been undervalued for so long. You don't just snap your finger and erase some of the challenges that come with that," she said.

In a city where nearly 10 per cent of its 540,000 residents rely on social assistance, there's an obvious flipside to downtown gentrification, said Tom Cooper of the Hamilton Roundtable for Poverty Reduction.

"A significant increase in housing prices is having a trickle-down effect," he said. "We know affordable rental housing becomes even more scarce and it was quite a challenge already.

"We need to do some thinking about zoning changes to ensure when there are new builds there's a percentage of low-income housing made available," said Cooper.

A new LRT will be one more point in downtown Hamilton's favour.

"The last thing we want to do is force people who have lived there for a long time out and prevent low-income Hamiltonians from being able to live in those neighbourhoods," said Cooper.

High Toronto rents drove Lee Chung and his girlfriend to buy their first Hamilton house in 2013. The century home, fully renovated and walking distance to downtown, cost $134,000.

Two-and-a-half years later they rented it out and bought a second home for $195,000 near Gage Park, Hamilton's version of High Park.

Chung runs a DJ school and repairs equipment for Toronto clubs, so he commutes two to three times a week outside rush hours when the drive usually takes only about 45 minutes. That's less time than getting from Front St. to Bloor St. many days, he said.

"Living in Toronto (for 10 years) I wondered what was next  New York, London, Tokyo? But I love the charm and community of a smaller town vibe. People here aren't as rushed, he said. The city's still in transition so there's plenty of room for growth, development and renewal."

He doesn't rule out the bright lights of a bigger city someday, but for now and the foreseeable future, Hamilton is just fine.

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DEARBORN, MICH.-Most people associate Dearborn with Ford Motor Company founder Henry Ford since he was born near here, but food lovers know this Metro Detroit city as a mecca for Arab food.

You can explore Warren and Michigan Aves. on your own or join the Arab American National Museum for its Yalla Eat culinary walking tours in the fall or spring. There are five running from Sept. 17 to Oct. 1.

Dave Serio, a 30-year-old, Detroit-born American of Lebanese descent, takes me on an off-season, personalized tour. Hes an educator and public programming specialist with the museum and curates an Arab film festival.

The museum is the only one dedicated to telling the stories of Americans of Arab descent, from the first wave of immigration in the 1880s through 9/11 to now. Dont miss the sobering stereotypes room.

This is a great starting point for any food tour because a giant map shows all 22 Arab countries. There are 10 in Africa and 12 in Asia with a shared language (Arabic), shared history and culture, and are members of the Arab League.

Religion is not a defining factor, says Serio, and we never use the term Middle Eastern  its inaccurate.

The museum started Yalla Eat (yalla means lets go) food tours three years ago and hosts six in the fall and six in the spring. You can always pick up the free brochure/map at the museum, or find it online at arabamericanmuseum.org/yallaeat .

Obviously the best way to learn about a culture or a people is through food, declares Serio. Its one of the easiest ways. Its one of the most accessible ways. Besides, food tours are trendy.

Dearborn is about 40 per cent Arab with about 40,000 people from a variety of countries such as Lebanon and now Syria.

From the museum, we cross the parking lot to Dearborn Fresh. Its full of Arab food, but also a Tim Hortons and a sushi counter with shawarma beef sushi rolls.

Exploring supermarkets is something food-obsessed travellers always do.

From here, we wander Michigan Ave., stopping at Sheeba Restaurant for Yemeni food thats still rare in Toronto.

Seltah is an assortment of root vegetables served bubbling hot in a clay bowl with whipped fenugreek, tomato-garlic hot sauce (sahawiq) and minced jalapenos to stir in. Its Yemens national dish.

Next we eyeball Lebanese and kafta burgers at the Arab-owned Good Burger, and the traditional Lebanaese offerings at Habibs Cuisine before making a Yemeni sweets pitstop at Mocha Cafe.

Khaltah, explains owner Fawzy Alghazali, is a mix of halvah and harsiah and is the most popular sweet in Yemen. We enjoy it over cardamom-scented Yemeni tea.

Everybody that tries Yemeni food loves it, says Alghazali, pointing out that Mocha is named for a port city in Yemen famous for coffee distribution.

Mochas first branch, it turns out, is Hamtramck, a small city that is (oddly) almost completely within Detroit and has become a multicultural food destination.

Theres no time for Hamtramck. Weve still got to explore Warren Ave. in Dearborn.

At Lebon Sweets, the sweet and sticky Lebanese kanafa on a bun blows my mind. We have a meat feast at Iraqi Kabob, Sudani peanuts at Hashems nuts and coffee gallery, and homemade ice cream at the crazy crowded Shatila Bakery.

Food tours are tougher than you might imagine. Youre usually full after the second stop but keep eating.

We wrap up at Al Chabab Restaurant with a Syrian feast starring kabob karaz. Famous in Aleppo, its a stunning dish of beef in an unusual cherry sauce.

Serio and I have both learned a lot and eaten new things. He actually works in a Coney Island restaurant, serving the citys signature hot dog topped with chili, yellow mustard, raw onions and sometimes cheese.

Thats a whole other food exploration.

Jennifer Bain was hosted by Visit Detroit, which didnt review or approve this story.

When you go

Do this trip: The Arab National Museum in Dearborn (part of Metro Detroit and home to the Henry Ford Museum) is open Wednesday to Sunday. It has fall/spring Yalla Eat $25 (U.S.) culinary walking tours. For fall theyre running Sept. 17, 20, 24, 27 and Oct. 1. For self-guided tours, the museum (13624 Michigan Ave.) has a free map at arabamericanmuseum.org/yallaeat or at its admission desk.

Michigan Ave. eats: Sheeba Restaurant (13919 Michigan Ave., sheebarestaurant.com); Good Burger (14311 Michigan Ave., goodburgerrestaurant.com); Habibs Cuisine (14316 Michigan Ave.); Mocha Cafe (14456 Michigan Ave., mimocha.com).

Warren Ave. eats: Lebon Sweets (13743 W. Warren Ave.); Hashems (13041 W. Warren Ave., hashems.com); Iraqi Kabob (13650 W. Warren Ave.); Shatila Bakery (14300 W. Warren Ave., shatila.com); Al Chabab Restaurant (12930 W. Warren Ave.)

Get there/around: Delta flies direct to Detroit from Toronto, but you can also drive, or take the train from Toronto to Windsor and then grab a cab across the border. Youll need a car to explore Metro Detroit.

Stay: MotorCity Casino Hotel (2901 Grand River Ave., motorcitycasino.com) in downtown Detroit. Its locally owned by Little Caesars Pizza co-founder Marian Ilitch. You can bypass the casino if its not your thing, and just enjoy Iridescence restaurant, Assembly Line Buffet, the food court, spa and fitness centre. I caught Jamey Johnson at the Sound Board concert venue in the hotel. Theres free parking, free Wi-Fi and a taxi stand outside. (Its not easy to simply hail cabs in Detroit.)

Do your research: visitdetroit.com

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Who thought it could be done? Federal Conservative leadership candidate Kellie Leitch has ruined tears and wrecked the apology as a reliable means of flipping the switch in human relations.

She has company. On Tuesday, Albertas Wildrose Party Leader Brian Jean had already damaged artful political apologies by saying he was sorry for joking about beating Alberta Premier Rachel Notley, though the joke effectively retracted his previous admirable stand against social media calls for her assassination. But at least he didnt cry about it.

Then Ontario Conservative Leader Patrick Brown apologized for having said hed scrap the new provincial sex-ed curriculum, but he did it in English only, his party then winning a Scarborough byelection where 90 per cent of residents are visible minority and English is not universal. So not an apology as such then.

Heres some background: last October, when Leitch was minister for the status of women in the Harper government (very low status), she announced in Ajax a snitch line for barbaric cultural practices, without specifying. She now refers to them as an atrocity.

This did not go over well at all, the government went down in defeat a few days later and in April, Leitch got tearful on the CBC, apologizing for caring for women and girls a little too much. Im presuming she meant those in vulnerable minorities, but maybe she just meant Ajax, which I always thought was a nice town.

She ignored Rosemary Bartons excellent question about whether barbarized females couldnt simply call the cops, and said this: Ive had a lot of time to think about this since the campaign took place and if I could go back in time, which I cant, I would change things.

You see what she did there? She was actually regretting not being able to turn back time, which I also regret deeply.

But this week she campaigned for the Conservative leadership by sending out a questionnaire asking extraordinary things. Should we screen potential immigrants for anti-Canadian values? (I say no.) Should we take away their citizenship if they swear an oath to the Queen and then go back on it? (What? That happens?) Should we jail terrorists or give them therapy? (Yes.) Should we scrap egg and dairy supply management? (OMG no.)

The invisible hand of the free market can stay out of my fridge. I am happy to pay two bucks an egg or whatever or $48 for a bag of milk pure and good. I just finished a book on the history of egg science  did you know guillemot eggs have a long axis on which they spin?  called The Most Perfect Thing, and they are. Why did Leitch not base her entire campaign on creating and marketing these exquisite fat pots of yolk and albumen? If she could turn back time ...

On Friday, Leitch hastily claimed she meant screening for things like violent and/or misogynist behaviour. Which is puzzling because according to their Twitter feeds, Leitch spent last Tuesday talking to the Wildrose caucus. That was the day Jean made his violent joke.

So. What do we call it? False Apology Syndrome. Weeps for Peeps. American politicians often apologize but tentatively and in the passive tense  if anyone was offended by what was done but these apologies were purposefully chaotic. Conservative party strategist Chad Rogers even demanded Leitch withdraw.

Browns apology is easier to analyze, emerging from a deep contempt for Scarborough voters. Unless of course it was all a ploy.

But Leitch is a puzzle. Wasnt it already clear to her that racism is not a big seller in Canada? Yes, but she blurted it out. Heres a blurt of mine: I think Lululemon is a barbaric cultural practice and a fashion atrocity. Its when you say what you secretly think and what you think everyone else secretly thinks.

What a shock when you find out they dont, as I will.

But crying on TV about something youre not actually sorry you did, and doubling down later in a grotesque questionnaire about every tiny resentment? I cant imagine that. Im all for Conservatives reinventing themselves into the admirable Red Tories of my youth. But the hard right of the party has cooked itself. Its a boiled egg that went off in 2015. No one wants a leader like Leitch.

And for that, I make no apologies. Except for the Lululemon remark which I deeply regret but not really.

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HANGZHOU, CHINACanadian merchants are hoping a new online storefront via e-commerce giant Alibaba will help them sell more to the rapidly expanding Chinese marketplace.

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and Alibaba founder Jack Ma announced the launch Saturday of a Canadian pavilion on the Tmall platform at the Chinese firms offices in Hangzhou.

There will be a digital hub directly connecting Canadian companies to over 400 million Chinese consumers, said Trudeau, who is on an eight-day official visit to China.

By developing partnerships with industry leaders and companies around the world were ensuring that Canadians have the right connections and the right opportunities to succeed in the fast-changing global economy.

Trudeau says the hub on the worlds largest online shopping site will clearly brand Canadian goods and services for Chinese consumers. He also expects the portal to promote tourism in Canada.

More than 30 Canadian brands have been selling their goods on Alibaba, including Jamieson Vitamins.

Weve been here for about two years now, so it hasnt been a long time, said Gregg Serles, Jamiesons vice-president of worldwide sales.

But it certainly is one of the biggest opportunities in the word for us and our projects and obviously for Canadian products in general.

He said the hub will help Chinese shoppers locate Canadian products.

Ma, the billionaire chairman of Alibaba, said his company has enabled millions of small businesses to succeed in China.

I assure you that we will work hard to make sure that Chinas consumers love the Canadian products, Ma said.

This was Mas second meeting with Trudeau since the prime ministers arrival in China on Tuesday.

The two men, who also met in January in Davos, Switzerland, appear to have developed some chemistry.

Hes a miracle to me, Ma said Tuesday of Trudeau as they shared a stage at an event hosted by the China Entrepreneur Club.

Mr. Trudeau also has a very, very special aura  in him you can see and feel the spark, image and confidence of Canada ... He is the future of Canada.

Ma, one of Chinas best-known entrepreneurs, told the business crowd that Canada offers top-quality and healthy agricultural products and commodities as well as high tech, environmental tech, music, art and culture.

These are exactly the types of products Chinese people want and need, said Ma, who also met with Stephen Harper when he was prime minister.

Experts believe Alibaba has a lot to offer Canadian merchants.

Dominic Barton, the global managing director of consulting company McKinsey & Co., said in a recent interview that Alibaba has done tremendous things for China by allowing small mom-and-pop companies there to do business with the rest of the Asian country.

I think its been revolutionary good, if I could call it that, from that point of view of just allowing small companies to participate in a big market, said Barton, a global expert hand-picked by Ottawa to help lift Canadas lacklustre growth.

And in my view, theres no reason why you cant extend that out to (small and medium-sized enterprises) in other parts of the world.

Alibaba has launched Tmalls in about a dozen countries, including Korea, Australia and the United States.

Other observers are not so sure that it will help Canadian firms.

Alex He, a research fellow at the Centre for International Governance Innovation think tank, said Ma has been very active in trying to sell his business model to the whole world as a way to help mid-sized and small businesses.

And at the same time, he can make money from that, He said.

He noted that Alibaba has come in for criticism in China that the model allows for the sale of fake goods, which can be very difficult to return.

Jack Mas model is very successful, Im just not sure if they can succeed outside of China.

Finance Minister Bill Morneau, who is travelling in China with Trudeau, was asked about Alibabas potential for the struggling Canadian economy.

Our overall goals here are to expand our opportunities together, so were keenly interested in hearing about any business thats looking to expand their footprint, Morneau said Friday in Shanghai.

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HANGZHOU, CHINAIn his first event at the G20 leaders summit, Justin Trudeau urged his peers Saturday to drive away the antiglobalization and protectionist attitudes that have been fuelling divisive, fearful rhetoric in different parts of the world.

The prime minister pointed to slowing global economic growth as a source of the anxiety behind the movements. He noted how it has surfaced in the Brexit debates in the United Kingdom and in election campaigns, an apparent reference to the United States.

Trudeaus message was driven by one of Canadas goals at the gathering in the Chinese city of Hangzhou: encouraging countries to beat back the growing sentiment that trade is bad.

We know that isolationism, that building walls, that closing in on oneself does not create opportunity, it does not create growth, Trudeau said from a stage he shared with the presidents of Argentina and South Africa at a Business 20 meeting, which is part of the G20.

But its very tempting to fall into divisive, fearful rhetoric. And thats one of the things that we have to be very, very strong and compelling in standing against.

Trudeau enters the heavily fortified Hangzhou summit area for his second G20 gathering of major economies  this time with much more experience. His first G20 summit last November came only a couple of weeks after his Liberals took office.

Canadas objectives at this summit are expected to range from promoting trade and investment, encouraging other countries to move forward in the fight against climate change and pressing them to use the necessary policy tools to generate growth.

Some observers expect Trudeau to carry more sway with his counterparts at this years G20, particularly since many of the other leaders have seen their voices diminished. Some face challenges, some carry baggage, some are dealing with both.

This will be the final G20 meeting for outgoing U.S. President Barack Obama, while German Chancellor Angela Merkel and French President Francois Hollande have elections on the horizon.

Meanwhile, new British Prime Minister Teresa May continues to deal with the aftermath of the Brexit vote to leave the European Union. Trudeau will meet May this weekend in person for the first time.

I think that strength in his position in terms of being able to influence the debate  there will be even more eyes on him, said Thomas Bernes of the Centre for International Governance Innovation think tank, based in Waterloo, Ont.

I think Trudeau will be seen even more as both the new force that now has a year under his belt and has not appeared to have made any big mistakes.

Bernes said with the central debate at this years summit on the anemic pace of global growth, he also expects Trudeau to continue to attract attention for his commitments to invest tens of billions of dollars in infrastructure with an aim of boosting the Canadian economy.

That type of fiscal stimulus, Bernes noted, has been advocated by the International Monetary Fund.

Trudeau is also expected to continue efforts at the summit to promote Canada as an international leader in combating climate change.

On Saturday, China and the U.S. held a ceremony in Hangzhou to formally join an ambitious, global treaty on climate change that was negotiated last year.

Trudeau still has work to do at home in bringing provinces on board before Canada can ratify the Paris Agreement.

Its one thing to say, Were going to ratify Paris,  said John Kirton, director of the G8 Research Group at the University of Toronto.

A promise to ratify Paris by the end of the year is not nearly enough.

Asked on Saturday about the Paris Agreement, Trudeau told reporters in Hangzhou that work toward ratification remains a hot item on the Liberal governments agenda.

As well as ongoing discussions with the premiers, who have all demonstrated a desire to be positive actors in reaching our Paris targets and goals associated with it, Trudeau said.

I look forward to continuing to have extremely productive conversations with my provincial counterparts.

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What a week to be Patrick Brown.

Whos that? It matters little that he is leader of Ontarios seemingly resurgent Progressive Conservatives, savouring a byelection triumph in Toronto Thursday.

What matters is that hes not Kathleen Wynne.

A byelection, it bears repeating, means everything and nothing. It is an axiom of politics that byelections serve as a referendum on the sitting premier  an opportunity to kick the bums in the pants, rather than kick the bums out.

Yes, the Tory victors won bragging rights until the next big vote. And the right to boast of a breakthrough in the Liberal stronghold of ScarboroughRouge River, part of the seemingly impregnable electoral fortress of Toronto.

No one can deny that it was a good night for the little-known Brown  better, at least, than his bad days earlier in the week. And an even better night for the better-known Doug Ford, who revelled in his role as co-chair of the campaign.

It was also a memorable night for the winning candidate, Raymond Cho, blessed with the high name recognition that comes with being a longtime municipal councillor. But enough of the good news (if Fords return can be considered a blessing for Brown).

It was an undeniably bad night for the losing Wynne, who undoubtedly rues the unexpectedly early departure of the sitting Liberal MPP Bas Balkissoon in unexplained circumstances. Not just bad luck, but tough luck.

The premier put out a written statement from Mexico, on another of her whirlwind visits around the world pursuing provincial affairs (shouldnt someone in her office take away her passport?). Brimming with contrition and consolation, Wynne promised from afar to heed the harsh lessons of defeat by paying more attention to pocketbook issues.

The victory came just in time for Brown, for whom the rest of the week seemed not to be his finest hour. Days before the vote, 13,000 letters went out under his signature, in English and Chinese  presumably targeting an ethnic group deemed fertile ground by the Tories  claiming hed scrap a controversial update to Ontarios outdated sex-ed curriculum.

After first stoutly defending the letter, he later had second thoughts  denouncing its message and renouncing his previous public musings on the perils of the sex-ed update. (His earnest denials  no one seems able to explain the letters provenance  recalls similar attempts by Wynne to distance herself from her partys antics when they won the Sudbury byelection last year.)

Browns performance, on byelection eve, elicited scorn from his erstwhile supporters among social conservatives. And the conservative media.

Patrick Brown? Hes just not ready, editorialized the Toronto Sun. Recapping his antics, the paper concluded that None of those things say: Premier.

Over at the National Post, a columnist planted further seeds of doubt by suggesting a seedless watermelon would be a safer stand-in as Tory leader to harvest anti-Wynne votes. Against that bittersweet backdrop, Browns byelection victory came just in time to quiet doubters.

It allows him to claim vindication of his stated strategy of ethnic outreach and urban emphasis. Of course, its impossible to know whether the Scarborough result in fact results from Browns personal appeal, or is merely a replay of the localized Ford effect that gave the Tories a brief beachhead in the byelection of 2013 (when another high-profile councillor allied with the Ford brothers, Doug Holyday, won in Etobicoke only to lose in the general election a year later).

Will Cho be able to retain the seat in the next general election? Will the 80-year-old warhorse even want to run again, two years hence? Hard to say, but a better bet is that Brown has not seen the last of Ford, who makes no secret of his ambition to enter the legislature and one day lead the provincial Tories.

What to make of these twists, turns and returns  the return of Doug Ford, the premier twisting in the wind, the Tory leader twisting himself into a pretzel?

Everything and nothing, for now.

At the mid-term point, the Liberals are down if not necessarily out. In her fourth year as premier, after 13 years of Liberal rule, Wynne is so burdened by baggage that she is blamed for everything from the water to the weather  and its starting to stick.

After one year as PC leader, Brown is well positioned to profit from her decline, but it will only take him so far. By 2018, people will want an answer to the question:

Who is Patrick Brown, and what does he stand for?

Martin Regg Cohns political column appears Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday. mcohn@thestar.ca , Twitter: @reggcohn

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A Toronto doctor engaged in sexual impropriety with a teenage patient during a medical appointment, Ontarios medical watchdog has ruled.

The College of Physicians and Surgeons of Ontarios discipline committee found that Dr. Donato Anthony Ruggiero, 70, put his penis in a patients vagina during an exam in or around 1986.

The victim, in her late teens at the time of the incident, told the committee she had three medical appointments with Ruggiero to address abdominal pain.

During her third appointment, Ruggiero had her disrobe from the waist down and lie on an examining table with her feet in the tables stirrups, she told the committee.

Sensing something during the exam that did not feel right, the woman said she looked and saw Ruggiero had his penis halfway into her vagina. She testified the doctor had unzipped his pants, put a condom on and was moaning.

She felt frozen during and wanted to scream, but it just didnt come out, she told the committee.

The woman told her mother about the incident when she got home but did not report it to police or medical authorities because she thought no one would believe her, she said.

In 2013, the woman talked about the incident with her psychotherapist who, with the womans consent, reported it to the College of Physicians and Surgeons.

Ruggiero admitted to performing a pelvic exam on the woman but denied any sexual impropriety.

His defence counsel argued that the woman had merely seen Ruggieros gloved finger and mistaken it for a penis with a condom on due to a sexual trauma she suffered in childhood.

The committee rejected this alternate explanation and said Ruggiero was not a credible witness.

It was not (Ruggieros) intention to perform a medically-indicated pelvic examination, wrote the committee in its Aug. 23 decision. Rather, his true intent was to take advantage and exploit a vulnerable patient by inserting his penis into her vagina for self-gratification.

Ruggiero now faces a penalty hearing.

The committee is part of a regulatory body and its decisions dont require the same level of scrutiny as a criminal court.

Toronto police say no charges have been laid against Ruggiero.

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WASHINGTONFormer secretary of state Hillary Clinton and her staffers used an informal and sometimes haphazard system for exchanging and storing sensitive information and were at times unaware of or unconcerned with State Department policy, documents from an FBI investigation into her private email server system show.

The documents reveal myriad new details about the email setup and show that investigators found multiple attempts by hackers to access Clintons systema series of personal devices and servers that the Democratic presidential candidate told investigators she used as a matter of convenience while she was secretary of state.

The materials, which include a summary of the FBIs entire investigation as well as Clintons hours-long interview with agents in July, contain no major revelations. But they offer fresh details that Clintons political opponents will be able to use in the months leading up to the November election. The summary shows that Clintons account to law enforcement was generally consistent with what she has said about her email situation publicly, but she repeatedly told agents that she could not recall important details or specific emails she was questioned about.

Clinton has been dogged by questions about her use of the private email server since the start of her presidential campaign, and her Republican opponent, Donald Trump, has used the issue to argue that she is untrustworthy.

Clinton campaign spokesman Brian Fallon said, While her use of a single email account was clearly a mistake and she has taken responsibility for it, these materials make clear why the Justice Department believed there was no basis to move forward with this case.

Trump said in a statement: Hillary Clintons answers to the FBI about her private email server defy belief. I was absolutely shocked to see that her answers to the FBI stood in direct contradiction to what she told the American people. After reading these documents, I really dont understand how she was able to get away from prosecution.

FBI Director James Comey announced in July that his agency would not recommend criminal charges against Clinton for her use of a private email server, though he said at the time that she and her staffers were extremely careless in how they treated classified information. He said the decision was based largely on the fact that investigators did not find that Clinton intended to mishandle classified material, though such material did traverse her private server.

Ordinarily, internal documents from FBI investigations are not made public. However, Comey has said the unusually high-profile case warranted more robust public disclosures than is standard.

The FBI found no evidence that anyone penetrated the email of the former secretary of state, although hostile foreign actors successfully gained access to the personal e-mail accounts of individuals with whom Clinton was in regular contact and, in doing so, obtained e-mails sent to or received by Clinton on her personal account, the bureau wrote. Those people included confidant Sidney Blumenthal, whose emails were hacked and publicly revealed by Romanian hacker Marcel Lehel Lazar.

The bureau wrote in its report that it was unable to track down all of Clintons electronic equipment because some of it had been destroyed or lost. One staffer told investigators that he had destroyed two mobile devices by breaking them in half or hitting them with a hammer. The FBI said it had requested 13 devices from the law firm representing Clinton, and the firm replied that it could not produce any.

The FBI wrote that investigative limitations, including the FBIs inability to obtain all mobile devices and various computer components associated with Clintons personal e-mail systems, prevented the FBI from conclusively determining whether the classified information transmitted and stored on Clintons personal server systems was compromised via cyber intrusion or other means.

Clinton told the FBI that she used the private server for convenience, not to evade public-record laws. But the documents show that former Secretary of State Colin Powell appeared to advise her early in her term that private email could give her more control over her communications in the face of public inquiries.

In January 2009, according to the FBI, Clinton contacted Powell, who also used a personal email account during his time in office, to ask about his use of a BlackBerry. According to the FBI, Powell warned Clinton that if it became public that Clinton had a BlackBerry, and she used it to do business, her emails could become official record[s] and subject to the law. 

Be very careful, Powell advised Clinton, according to the FBI. I got around it all by not saying much and not using systems that captured the data.

Clinton told investigators that she understood Powells comments to mean any work-related communications would be government records, and they did not factor into her decision to use personal email. She indicated that she believed her records were being preserved when she emailed other State Department officials at their government addresses.

Powell said he could not recall the details of the years-old exchange, though he said that he used his email system openly for unclassified communication and saw no need for, say, an email to one of my kids or a friend becoming an official record.

The FBIs report traced the history of Clintons private server use, detailing ad hoc efforts to back up data and respond to requests for records. In one instance, after Clinton left office, someone created a personal Gmail account to move an archive of Clintons email from a laptop to a server run by Platte River Networks, a company Clinton had hired. The person then attempted to ship the laptop back to another person connected to Clinton.

According to the FBI report, the laptop, which had not been wiped, got lost in transit. And the bureau would come to find on the Gmail account dozens of classified emails.

Someone, apparently at Platte River, did delete Clinton emails in late March 2015 in what the person described as an oh s--- moment, having been instructed months earlier to permanently destroy the emails of two Clinton aides and change how long emails were retained.

That person, whose name is redacted, had received a request on March 9 from the House Select Committee on Benghazi to preserve emails. Clinton told investigators that she was unaware of the deletions. Andy Boian, a spokesman for Platte River, declined to comment.

Clinton indicated that she never sought nor received permission to use a private server and said she largely turned over the setup of the system to aides. She said she could not remember a cable that was sent to all State Department employees under her name in June 2011, advising them not use to private email for work. She said all cables of a certain policy nature went out under her name.

Clinton told agents that she generally received classified material in personal briefings or on paper, which she read in specially prepared secure facilities, and that she didnt remember ever receiving an email that she thought shouldnt be sent through the unclassified system. The FBIs report says Clinton took her BlackBerry into a Diplomatic Security Service post where other State Department personnel were not allowed to carry mobile devices, though a Clinton aide said Clinton left the secure area before using it.

Much of Clintons interview, which is described in an 11-page summary, appears to have consisted of FBI agents showing her specific email exchanges that they determined included classified content and asking her to comment.

Repeatedly, Clinton said she could not remember the specific exchanges but had trusted at the time that her staff at the State Department knew how to handle classified material and would not email her material they should not. The exact nature of those classified emails is redacted in the version of the summary released by the FBI, but it is clear they included deliberations on drone targets. Shown one July 2012 email she exchanged with President Barack Obama at his own highly secure address, Clinton indicated that she recalled sending the note on an airplane during a trip to Russia.

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Digital Empowerment

In a country where the literacy rate of women, on average, is 57.4 percent, in comparison to that of men with 75.1 percent (as per UNESCO Literacy Status of Nepal report, 2013), digital literacy is still a new frontier for adolescent girls of Nepal. Statistics show that while the emphasis on education for girls has been growing over the years, it remains inaccessible to a large population of girls. In addition to that, the whole idea of digital literacy is still a taboo, in some quarters. With factors like poverty, traditional values and gender inequality still pressing the Nepali society, intervention in regards to information and communication technology literacy for girls seem too costly an affair for many families in the country.
In most countries, 6-year-old Shaima would be in school, frowning through worksheets before scrambling to the playground at recess.

She used to zoom home and do her homework so quickly, I would suspect she was lying, but she really would finish it in no time, said her father, Mahmoud Tafeye.

But without significant luck, the child may never see again, blinded by a snipers bullet that ripped through her familys minibus and sliced through her head and arm last November.

Shaimas childhood, like those of millions of other young Syrians, was shattered by a war that has spurred the gravest displacement crisis since the Second World War. Of the countrys 4.3 million refugees, at least half are children.

Exactly one year ago, the wars toll on children was painfully underscored by the image of a little boy lying facedown on a Turkish beach. In death, Alan Kurdi became a symbol of Syrias lost generation.

Shaimas own escape was a narrow one. She had lived her first five years in the east Aleppo suburb of Sukkari, before the November morning her parents packed their two children into the minibus in a panic as fighting neared. When bullets started to fly, apparently from Kurdish forces, she was hit and blinded in both eyes. Her 12-year-old brother, Abdo, whom Mahmoud described as Shaimas protector, was killed.

Children are thought to account for about 20 per cent of the almost half-million Syrians who have died during the course of the five-year conflict. According to UNICEF, an additional 8.4 million children  more than 80 per cent of the countrys youth population  have been affected in some way, either living with violence in Syria or fleeing abroad.

Across rebel-held parts of the country, repeated strikes on hospitals have severely limited access to health care. As soon as a Syrian becomes a refugee, a host of new problems begin, including the need for new paperwork to access a foreign countrys health-care system as well as the need to endure extensive waiting lists.

After arriving in southern Turkey, Shaima would lie for months in hospitals and clinics, at times curled up so small under a blanket in Mahmouds arms that an observer might have missed her.

What happened next confounded everyone. She fought and she fought, her father said. And she survived.

By her sixth birthday, she could stand tall again. In a photograph from that day, she is wearing a party hat and a quizzical expression, lost in thought as she clutches a bright balloon.

We thought she was going to be paralyzed, but she is a fighter, Mahmoud said in a phone interview from Turkey this week. She keeps telling me: Baba, its OK that the sniper hit me. I am not sad. God meant it to be this way, and I know I will get better.

With the help of specialized medical care abroad, doctors believe, Shaima will see again.

The invisible wounds of war are harder to treat. Aid groups say most Syrian children they encounter show signs of trauma, including severe anxiety, flashbacks and even suicide attempts. Although international and local organizations offer an array of counselling services, they reach only a minority of refugees in Lebanon, Turkey or Jordan, the countries where most Syrians have settled.

Lina Sergie Attar, co-founder of the Karam Foundation, which provides support for Syrian refugees, said the levels of need shocked even experienced trauma professionals.

Its not just the children, its everyone. Its parents, its teachers, she said. Many of these people have traditionally relied on their families, on their neighbours, for support. With the war came a total unravelling of that.

Marking the anniversary of Alan Kurdis death this week, Amnesty International Secretary General Salil Shetty called on wealthier countries to do more to assist Syrian children.

Until wealthy countries take more responsibility for the crisis unfolding before them, and take in a fairer share of the people fleeing war and persecution, they will be condemning thousands more children to risk their lives in desperate journeys or being trapped in refugee camps with no hope for the future.

Photographs of the child were shared millions of times, prompting fierce debate over global responsibility for Syrias refugee crisis. But in the year that followed, a powerful wave of right-wing populism across Europe and the United States, as well as repeated Daesh-linked attacks across both continents, appear to have reversed what small concessions the little boys death inspired.

Politicians said after the death of my family: never again, Abdullah Kurdi told Germanys Bild newspaper this week. Everyone allegedly wanted to do something after the photos that had so moved them. But what is happening now? The dying goes on and nobodys doing anything.

The United States admitted its 10,000th Syrian refugee this week in a resettlement program announced by President Obama last fall, reaching a target set under pressure from European and other countries struggling to cope with the crisis. But the United States, like Britain, has been criticized for focusing most of its humanitarian aid on improving services for refugees who remain in the Middle East instead of sharing a burden by accepting more refugees.

In Turkey, the school system is struggling to accommodate 330,000 Syrian children. About 500,000 have no access to education at all, a fate that increases their risk of exploitation through early marriage or child labour.

Until he raises enough money for Shaimas eye operation, Mahmoud said, he is teaching her what he can at home. And then, reaching for the phone, the young girl chimed in, her voice strong and mirthful. I just want to go back to school, she said. I know I will be there soon.

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RIMINI, ITALYMother Teresa is known for having loved beggars, prostitutes and street children without discrimination or distinction. Marcilio Andrino is convinced she also loved him  and interceded with God to cure him of a viral brain infection when doctors had given him little chance of survival.

Andrinos cure, declared a miracle by Pope Francis earlier this year, was the final step needed to declare Mother Teresa a saint. She will be canonized by Francis on Sunday in St. Peters Square in the highlight of his Holy Year of Mercy, a yearlong emphasis on the merciful side of the Catholic Church.

The Brazilian mechanical engineer and his wife, Fernanda, said Mother Teresas message, conveyed through a lifetime of working for the poorest of the poor in Indias slums, is that Gods mercy is for everyone.

Fernanda and I are just normal people within Gods people, Andrino said on the sidelines of a Catholic meeting before the canonization. God didnt choose who to send down his mercy to, just like Mother Teresa, who cared for everybody without any distinction.

According to the official account, Andrino was in a coma and dying on Dec. 9, 2008 from a viral brain infection that had resulted in multiple abscesses and an accumulation of fluid around the brain.

Surgery was scheduled for 6:10 p.m. but the anesthesiologist couldnt immediately intubate him. When the surgeon arrived a half-hour later, he found the patient inexplicably awake and without pain, according to the postulator of Mother Teresas cause, the Rev. Brian Kolodiejchuk.

The patient asked the doctor, What I am doing here? The next morning . . . the patient was fully awake and without any headache; he was asymptomatic with normal cognition, Kolodiejchuk said in a statement earlier this year.

Kolodiejchuk said Fernanda had been praying for Mother Teresas intercession specifically during the half-hour when her husband was supposed to be in surgery.

Marcilio was fine. He was sitting up. He was talking in intensive care (at the hospital) and I realized that he was cured, that Mother Teresa had interceded on our behalf and cured Marcilio, Fernanda said. This was confirmed by the exams which proved the reduction of the abscesses and the disappearance of the hydrocephaly, making us sure that operations and drainage were no longer needed.

Andrino has since resumed working and is in good health  and despite tests showing he had become sterile, has had two children since.

Every time I look at Marcilio and our children, I feel very grateful, Fernanda said. I am very grateful to God and Mother Teresa.

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Huge vertical rulers are sprouting beside low spots in the streets here, so people can judge if the tidal floods that increasingly inundate their roads are too deep to drive through.

Five hundred miles down the Atlantic Coast, the only road to Tybee Island, Ga., is disappearing beneath the sea several times a year, cutting the town off from the mainland.

And another 800 kilometres on, in Fort Lauderdale, Fla., increased tidal flooding is forcing the city to spend millions fixing battered roads and drains  and, at times, to send out giant vacuum trucks to suck saltwater off the streets.

For decades, as the global warming created by human emissions caused land ice to melt and ocean water to expand, scientists warned that the accelerating rise of the sea would eventually imperil the United States coastline.

Now, those warnings are no longer theoretical: The inundation of the coast has begun. The sea has crept up to the point that a high tide and a brisk wind are all it takes to send water pouring into streets and homes.

Federal scientists have documented a sharp jump in this nuisance flooding  often called sunny-day flooding  along both the East Coast and the Gulf Coast in recent years. The sea is now so near the brim in many places that they believe the problem is likely to worsen quickly.

These tidal floods are often just a foot or two deep, but they can stop traffic, swamp basements, damage cars, kill lawns and forests, and poison wells with salt. Moreover, the high seas interfere with the drainage of stormwater.

Once impacts become noticeable, theyre going to be upon you quickly, said William V. Sweet, a scientist with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration in Silver Spring, Md., who is among the leaders in research on coastal inundation. Its not a hundred years off  its now.

Local governments, under pressure from annoyed citizens, are beginning to act. Elections are being won on promises to invest money to protect against flooding. Miami Beach is leading the way, increasing local fees to finance a $400-million (U.S.) plan that includes raising streets, installing pumps and elevating seawalls.

In many of the worst-hit cities, mayors of both parties are sounding an alarm.

Im a Republican, but I also realize, by any objective analysis, the sea level is rising, said Jason Buelterman, the mayor of tiny Tybee Island, one of the first Georgia communities to adopt a detailed climate plan.

But the local leaders say they cannot tackle this problem alone. They are pleading with state and federal governments for guidance and help, including billions to pay for flood walls, pumps and road improvements that would buy them time.

Yet Congress has largely ignored these pleas, and has even tried to block plans by the military to head off future problems at the numerous bases imperiled by a rising sea. A Republican congressman from Colorado, Ken Buck, recently called one military proposal part of a radical climate change agenda.

As the problem worsens, experts are warning that national security is on the line. Naval bases, in particular, are threatened; they can hardly be moved away from the ocean, yet much of their land is at risk of disappearing within this century.

Its as if the country was being attacked along every border, simultaneously, said Andrea Dutton, a climate scientist at the University of Florida and one of the worlds leading experts on rising seas. Its a slow, gradual attack, but it threatens the safety and security of the United States.

One night eight years ago, Karen Speights, a Norfolk resident, was sitting at the dinner table with her mother, eating crab legs dipped in butter and a tangy sauce. She felt a tingle.

Ma! she cried. My feet are wet!

Her mother laughed, but then she felt it, too: a house that had not flooded since the family moved there in 1964 was soon awash in saltwater. Speights initially hoped that flood was a fluke. Instead, it turned out to be the first of three to hit their home in less than a decade.

Nowadays, Speights, an administrative worker at a utility company, is wondering how to get her and her mother out of the neighbourhood before the water comes again, without taking too much of a financial hit. And she pays more attention to problems that once seemed remote, like warnings from scientists about the rising sea.

I believe it because were living it, Speights said as she sat on her sofa, nodding toward the nearby tidal marsh that sent water into her living room. The water has to be rising if we never flooded, and all of a sudden weve flooded three times in eight years.

Because the land is sinking as the ocean rises, Norfolk and the metropolitan region surrounding it, known as Hampton Roads, are among the worst-hit parts of the United States. That local factor means, in essence, that the region is a few decades ahead in feeling the effects of sea-level rise, and illustrates what people along the rest of the coast can expect.

The biggest problems involve frequent flooding of homes and roads. As the sea rises, hundreds of tidal creeks and marshes that thread through the region are bringing saltwater to peoples doorsteps.

This summer, on a driving tour of Norfolk and nearby towns, William A. Stiles Jr. pointed to the telltale signs that the ocean is gradually invading the region.

He spotted crusts of dried salt in the streets, and salt-loving marsh grasses that are taking over suburban yards. He pointed out trees killed by seawater. He stood next to one of the road signs that Norfolk has been forced to install in recent years, essentially huge vertical rulers so people know the depth of floodwaters at low-lying intersections.

Theres just more and more visible impacts: water on the street, water that wont clear from the ditch, these intense rain events, higher tides, Stiles said.

Its beginning to catch the attention of citizens, restaurant owners, business people, politicians. Theres just much more of a conversation, and its not just in the politically safe places. Its everywhere.

The Obama administration has been pushing federal agencies, including the Pentagon, to take more aggressive steps. But without action in Congress, experts say these efforts fall far short of what is required.

In South Florida, among the worst-hit parts of the country for sunny-day flooding, people are not waiting for state or federal help. Those who can afford it are starting to act on their own. A company, Coastal Risk Consulting, has cropped up to advise them, and is offering its services nationally.

In Miami Beach and Fort Lauderdale, as well as in older Northern cities like Boston and New York, tidal marshes and creeks were filled in a century or more ago to make new land, and it is in these areas  back bays, as some of these spots are called  where the flooding is happening first.

That is because they remain the lowest spots in the landscape, vulnerable to the rising water nearby. Old drain pipes empty into the tidal creeks, and at high tide the water can back up through these pipes, bubbling into the streets seemingly from nowhere.

In Miami Beach, city engineer Bruce A. Mowry has come up with a plan for combating the flooding. He rips up problematic streets, raises them with extra dirt and repaves them, installing new drains and giant pumps that can push water back into the bay. The approach has already been shown to work in several neighbourhoods.

A controversy has erupted about whether Miami Beach is polluting Biscayne Bay with the water, but the city is pushing ahead. Miami Beach plans to spend at least $400 million on its plan by 2018.

The huge county government for the region, Miami-Dade County, is developing its own resilience strategy, one likely to cost billions. It has committed to rebuilding some of its decaying infrastructure, like a sewage plant, in a way that safeguards against sea-level rise and storm surges.

I dont see doom and gloom here; I see opportunity, said Harvey Ruvin, the clerk of courts for Miami-Dade County, who has been a leading voice on the environment in Florida for a half-century, and who recently led a county task force on sea-level rise. Were talking about the most robust possible jobs program you can think of, and one that cant be outsourced.

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Pope Francis canonizes Mother Teresa on Sunday, declaring the sainthood of a 20th-century figure renowned for her ministry to the poor and dying. Yet as the Pope celebrates her sanctity, he will also be furthering a boom in the business of minting saints during his papacy.

Theologians and papal watchers say Francis is proclaiming new saints at a rate not seen since the heady days of John Paul II, the churchs canonization champion. In his 3  years as pope, Francis has presided over 29 canonizations  11 more than Benedict XVI, his predecessor, at the same point in his papacy. If you consider that one of Franciss canonizations involved 813 15th-century Italian martyrs, he may even hold the record  a record the Pope is said to have jokingly embraced.

It is not just the number that is notable but, in some cases, the speed and manner of canonizations, as well as Franciss willingness to bless the causes of candidates touched by controversy. By doing so, he has sparked a measure of controversy himself.

When John Paul II died, there was a very strong feeling that there had simply been too many saints made, that the process was being cheapened, said Austen Ivereigh, author of The Great Reformer: Francis and the Making of a Radical Pope.

I think theres a feeling that Benedict deliberately slowed the whole thing down, Ivereigh said. He canonized fewer. I suppose whats happening with Francis is that the pace we saw before Benedict is being resumed.

In the Roman Catholic Church, the path to sainthood can take decades, frequently centuries. Yet Mother Teresa, who will now be officially known as Saint Teresa of Calcutta, reached the threshold of sainthood a relatively quick 19 years after death.

Francis, in fact, has now presided over three of the fastest canonizations in modern church history  those of Mother Teresa, John Paul II and a Spanish nun who died in 1998 and was declared a saint last year. The blessing of such rapid sainthoods has irked critics who argue that the Vatican is in danger of becoming an assembly line of saints.

A certain historical distance is required in order to properly examine the holiness of a persons life, said Edmund Arens, professor of fundamental theology at the University of Lucerne in Switzerland. If a person led an exemplary life, why not take time to analyze it properly?

Some also say that Francis may be favouring candidates who reflect his personal focus on inequality, mercy and the plight of the poor. They cite, for instance, last years beatification  an intermediary step to sainthood  of Rev. Oscar Romero, a Salvadoran bishop assassinated in 1980.

Romero is seen by some as a leftist symbol in his native El Salvador, and his cause had been stalled for years. But in 2013, only a month after Francis assumed office, a senior Vatican official announced that the Pope had unblocked Romeros path to sainthood.

This is very important, to do it quickly, Francis said of Romeros cause a year later.

Some Vatican officials privately concede that the Pope is playing pastoral politics  utilizing the saint system to leave his mark. Yet others strongly counter that the Pope is not cherry-picking saints, adding that the system simply does not work that way.

Yes, the Pope gives the ultimate up or down on candidates he is presented with. But, they say, he does not select his own.

The final word is the Popes, but the Pope does not act in a vacuum, said Rev. Robert Sarno, a senior official in the Vaticans Congregation for the Causes of Saints. He does not just reach back in time and look for saints.

Many Catholic scholars see an added benefit in faster canonizations, especially for contemporary figures such as Mother Teresa and John Paul II who can seem more relevant to the lives of modern Catholics.

Rather than study her life through arcane texts, the student of Mother Teresa can simply watch reruns of her television interviews on YouTube. Many Catholics still vividly recall the electric, stadium-size Masses of John Paul II.

They lived under the same circumstances as we do, therefore theyre much closer to us, said Manfred Becker-Huberti, a Catholic theologian at the Philosophical-Theological University of Vallendar in Germany. They serve as role models. Someone like Mother Teresa can inspire people not just to worship her but to change their own lives.

Like John Paul II, Francis has not shied away from candidates considered relatively controversial, including Mother Teresa, who laboured for most of her life in the slums of the Indian city now known Kolkata. She became perhaps best known for her hospices, where the poor and dying could pass with dignity.

The biggest disease today is not leprosy or tuberculosis but rather the feeling of being unwanted, she is quoted as saying in a 1971 biography.

Yet if her lifes work generated admirers and earned her a Nobel Prize, it also spawned critics who charged her missions with failing to embrace modern medicine to treat and ease the suffering of patients.

The people she saved were people in a graveyard waiting to be buried, people who were not given the right medications. People who suffered, said Tariq Ali, a British journalist who co-produced a critical documentary on Mother Teresa in 1994. That Francis is doing this is a regression in the sense that you just make all these people saints with dodgy records.

Many theologians and Vatican watchers say Mother Teresa, a woman who often seemed to be canonized by public opinion while she lived, would have been on the fast track to sainthood regardless of who was pope.

Saints are lofty figures seen by practising Catholics as figures who can intercede with God on their behalf. Typically a cause, or case, for sainthood can start only five years after death. Candidates are generally forwarded to Vatican City from the diocese where they died, with postulators in Rome compiling reports to submit to a panel of Vatican authorities. Most candidates generally require two proven miracles, though figures who died for the faith need only one. Such claims are verified through exhaustive, if secretive, reviews.

In the case of Mother Teresa, John Paul II initially lifted the five-year rule, allowing her process to start early. Although the second miracle attributed to her intervention, a Brazilian man who recovered from a brain infection after praying to her, is alleged to have occurred in 2008, Vatican officials say they were not made aware of it until 2013, following Franciss official trip to Brazil.

All Francis did to further her cause, officials suggest, was sign on the dotted line.

Yet, in other instances, Francis has effectively waived the two-miracle rule, accepting only one, or even none, no fewer than eight times. In select cases, that has served to speed up sainthood.

They include the case of Peter Faber, one of the founders of Franciss own Jesuit order and a figure viewed as a personal hero of the Pope. Francis, on his own birthday, canonized Faber, earlier telling the Catholic magazine America the reasons he found him so worthy.

It was, the Pope said, because of Fabers dialogue with all, even the most remote and even with his opponents, his simple piety, a certain naivete perhaps, his being available straightaway, his careful interior discernment, the fact that he was a man capable of great and strong decisions but also capable of being so gentle and loving.

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If Donald Trump wins the American election, if a Trump administration pursues the lunatic idea of building a wall on the Mexican border and if Mexico is pressured to pay for it, I have a suggestion for our Mexican friends.

They should frogmarch their stunningly inept president, Enrique Pena Nieto, to the U.S.-Mexican border and force him to put the first shovel in the ground. In addition to Trump himself, hes the one who should pay for this wall.

For at least one day this week, Mexicos president served as an unwitting dupe of the Trump campaign.

In a surreal U.S. presidential race that appears to be tightening, there was something very clarifying about Wednesdays dramatic events in the campaign.

We learned two important things.

First of all, the Trump campaign knows it is desperately behind in those crucial swing states that will ultimately decide the election, and it will increasingly resort to flashy political theatrics to attract attention. God help anyone who stands in its way.

This weeks victim was the Mexican president, a deeply unpopular figure in his own country, who inexplicably invited the reviled Trump for a high-profile meeting in Mexico City. The invitation enraged Mexicans, already offended by Trumps inflammatory statements in recent months that Mexicans are rapists and the enemy of Americans.

At a news conference in Mexico after their meeting, Trump was strikingly polite and civil, terming it an excellent occasion. He wasnt aggressive with his Mexican host because he didnt have to be. Trump got what he wanted: pictures of him standing shoulder to shoulder, in a presidential setting, with Mexicos head of state.

As for President Pena Nieto, it turned out to be a disastrous occasion. At their news conference, Trump claimed there was no discussion of whether Mexico will pay for the wall. Pena Nieto remained silent and let that Trump statement stand, although later that day he sent out a message stating that he in fact opened up their private meeting by indicating Mexico will not pay for the wall.

But it was too late. The Mexican president had an opportunity to challenge Trump publicly at that moment  and defend his countrys dignity in front of Mexicans desperately hoping for that  but he said nothing. I suspect the sound we heard after that meeting was a political future coming apart.

Shortly after that encounter, Trump moved on to Arizona for a highly anticipated speech on immigration. It followed days of conflicting Trump statements on what his policy actually is, fuelling intense media speculation that he was about to soften his hardline views in an effort to appeal to more moderate voters.

It was that night we learned the second important thing from this weeks campaign.

Let us stop wondering when Trump will moderate his views to appeal to a wider electorate. We now know there will be no pivot in his campaign playbook. The crude, racist and divisive Donald Trump we saw throughout the Republican primary campaign was not an act. It was a reflection of who the man is, and whom he has around him. That much we certainly learned from his speech in Arizona.

So, ultimately, who will benefit most from this weeks campaign wreckage? Love her or loathe her, the answer is likely to be Hillary Clinton.

Yes, she is a deeply flawed candidate. Yes, Americans largely distrust her. And yes, she has an enduring email problem that is fraught with risk. (Now that we have that out of the way, can I continue?)

In spite of all of that, she is incredibly lucky. Clinton has as her opponent a man who believes that, in this diverse 21st-century America, presidential elections can still be won by denigrating the interests of women, Latinos, African Americans and other groups  and by simply appealing to angry white men.

Those days are over. John Wayne is dead. So is Wyatt Earp.

Clinton also benefits from running against a right-wing echo chamber that lives in its own parallel universe, emboldened by the nonsense they see on Fox News. They keep believing that the broad American electorate can be duped, and will one day drink their Kool-Aid.

This election is not over yet, and more drama is inevitable, but Trumps campaign is turning into a suicide mission.

The good news from this week is that it is becoming more and more evident how this is going to end.

Tony Burman is former head of Al Jazeera English and CBC News. Reach him @TonyBurman or at tony.burman@gmail.com .

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HONG KONGVoters turned out in force Sunday for Hong Kongs most crucial election since the handover from Britain in 1997, the outcome of which could pave the way for a fresh round of political confrontations over Beijings control of the city.

The vote for Legislative Council lawmakers will test the unity of Hong Kongs pro-democracy camp, with a new generation of radical activists joining the race after emerging in the wake of 2014 pro-democracy street protests.

Theyre hoping to ride a rising tide of anti-China sentiment as they challenge formidably resourced pro-Beijing rivals for seats. Many of the newcomers back the previously unthinkable idea of independence for Hong Kong, which has added to divisions with the broader pro-democracy movement and overshadowed the election. Last month, officials disqualified six pro-independence candidates in an attempt to tamp down the debate, though other candidates with similar views made the cut.

Hong Kongers feel they have few other negotiating tactics left in their battle for genuine democracy as Beijing takes an increasingly hard-line stance.

Its bleak, but I think if China doesnt leave us to do what we want, I think the only way is to fight for independence, Aron Yuen, a 34-year-old college lecturer, said as he stood in line with about 100 other people to cast their ballots. You cant negotiate with somebody who doesnt keep their promise.

Yuen planned to vote for 23-year-old Nathan Law, who, along with teen activist Joshua Wong, helped lead the 2014 protests. Their party, Demosisto, advocates a referendum on self-determination of Hong Kongs future.

Voters were choosing from among 84 lists of candidates to fill 35 seats in a complex system of geographic constituencies that makes results, expected Monday, hard to predict.

At stake is the power to keep the citys widely unpopular Beijing-backed leader, Leung Chun-ying, and his government in check. Pan-democrat lawmakers currently control 27 of 70 seats, compared with 43 held by lawmakers friendly to Beijing. The democrats are fighting to keep control of at least a third of the seats, which gives them veto power to block government attempts to enact unpopular legislation, including a renewed attempt to enact Beijings controversial election revamp that triggered the 2014 street protests.

The risk is that the pro-democracy vote will be split, allowing pro-Beijing candidates to take more seats and removing a major hurdle for the governments proposals, which in turn could lead to a new round of political confrontations.

Turnout appeared to be higher than average, with long lines of people still waiting to cast ballots at some polling stations by the time voting was supposed to end. Some 52.6 per cent of nearly 3.8 million registered voters had turned out an hour before polls closed, matching the total turnout for the previous election four years ago. Turnout in the 2008 election was 45.2 per cent, according to the governments website.

Earlier Sunday, a small group of protesters demanded Leung step down outside a polling station where he cast his vote.

Our election is a democratic election, Leung told reporters.

The democracy in the election is reflected by the free choice of voters, they do not need to be told who to vote (for), he said when asked his thoughts on how results would be affected after seven candidates with low support, most of them pro-democracy, suspended their campaigns at the last minute in a bid to consolidate votes for others.

Hong Kong has been the scene of increasingly bitter political turmoil since the last legislative election in 2012. The growing calls for independence highlight frustration among residents, especially young people, who are chafing under Beijings tightening hold. A spate of incidents, including the disappearance of five Hong Kong booksellers who later resurfaced in detention in mainland China, has aroused fears that Beijing is reneging on its promise of wide autonomy for Hong Kong under a one country, two systems framework.

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Challenges remain, no doubt, with a dwindling number of blue collar jobs and unprecedented growth in precarious work, but Canadian unions are set to march with renewed pride this Labour Day weekend.

Theres a broad expectation of sunny days ahead with the ousting of former primer minister Stephen Harpers Conservative government. And Ontario has embarked on a sweeping review of its employment and labour laws with an eye toward bringing both in line with 21st-century needs.

So expect a spring their step, and perhaps a tad more swagger, as union leaders take to the streets on Monday leading their flag-bearing, drum-beating rank-and-file in fresh choruses of Solidarity Forever. Historys tide, at least for now, appears to be flowing in their direction.

Theres a sense of optimism in the movement these days, as opposed to the last 10 years under Harper, Canadian Labour Congress president Hassan Yussuff said in an interview this week. Indeed, the election of a Liberal government last fall has already produced tangible benefits for working people.

At the same time, in Canadas largest province, a simultaneous review of employment standards and labour relations rules presents a fundamental opportunity to right some wrongs, says Yussuff. If we can get this right in Ontario Im certain we can do the same thing at the federal level.

Its worth bearing in mind that these are early days in the federal Liberal mandate. Politicians throughout history have been known to disappoint their supporters. But theres good cause for new optimism in the labour movement.

For a start, union membership appears to have stabilized after years of gradual decline. Canadas percentage of union dues-paying workers ticked upward last year, to 31.8 per cent of all employees, according to federal labour statistics. Thats an increase of 0.3 percentage points, with more than 4.8 million workers paying to support their union.

In addition to this success, theres a palpable change of attitude at the federal level  going from Harpers outright hostility to a more balanced approach toward labour taken by Prime Minister Justin Trudeau. One result of this switch was the reaching of a tentative agreement between Canada Post and its largest union just this week, Yussuff said.

After more than nine months of sometimes bitter bargaining, including threats of a lock-out and job action, management and the Canadian Union of Postal Workers signed a two-year tentative deal on Tuesday. If ratified by the countrys 50,000 postal workers, the agreement will head off a disruptive interruption in mail delivery.

Many businesses, including the online commerce giant eBay, had urged Trudeau to follow Harpers example by introducing back-to-work legislation in the event of a postal strike. But Trudeau signaled earlier this summer that he would not consider such a step.

Instead, his government put renewed emphasis on collective bargaining by appointing a special mediator to help the two sides find common ground. It turned out to be the right way forward.

Sometimes a party needs some guidance and some assistance, not a big stick to beat people over the head and legislate them back to work, Yussuff said. This new government came in and started from the basic principle that it was going to make collective bargaining work.

This approach serves everyone well, not just unions. Also of broad benefit was an agreement this spring by Ottawa and the provinces to expand the Canada Pension Plan  a move especially important given a troubling erosion of workplace pension programs. Yussuff calls this a major victory for working people.

Labour expects more gains after Ontario finishes its massive Changing Workplaces Review. Final recommendations are expected by the end of this year, but a 312-page interim report issued in July has already highlighted major and extensive problems in need of correction.

Authors of the analysis found that there are too many people in too many workplaces who do not receive their basic rights. Lax enforcement of existing rules is a pressing problem. And employee well-being is being eroded as an increasing number of people find temporary and part-time work, without job security or traditional benefits.

In light of very real gaps evident in worker protections, labour quite rightly expects Ontarios government to introduce significant reforms. Were optimistic they will reach the right balance, says Yussuff.

Highly desirable changes that would benefit all working people, not just union members, include:

A new labour code provision establishing a minimum level of paid sick leave for all employees. Right now, most people doing precarious work are simply left to fend for themselves.

Expansion of the legal definition of an employee so that it covers those currently deemed independent contractors  a designation used to deprive them of benefits enjoyed by a companys permanent, full-time staff.

Setting a limit on the length of time an employer can use a temporary worker before giving that person full-time job.

If the promise of lasting reform inherent in Ontarios review of its employment and labour laws comes to fruition, and the Trudeau government continues its co-operative ways, next years Labour Day parade may be even more upbeat than this one. Not bad for a movement that has so frequently been written off as an obsolete relic.

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I was ecstatic when Kathleen Wynne was voted in as Premier of Ontario. How short-lived that feeling turned out to be.

Selling off Hydro One, which belongs to the people of Ontario, was one of the biggest shocks she could have thrown at us. Her intention to make a move such as that should have been clearly set out in her election platform. It would certainly have made a difference in her being voted in. What a betrayal! And not retaining at least a majority ownership?

Now, adding insult to injury, two Americans have been appointed to the executive of Hydro One: Greg Kiraly and Paul Barry. And so begins the Americanization of another of our traditional Canadian assets.

I never thought I would be looking forward to voting a Liberal out of office, but 2018 just seems too far away. And our Premier does not seem to care how Ontario voters feel, which is the equivalent of thumbing her nose at us.

How Ms Wynne has even retained 20 per cent approval is a mystery.

Beverley Murray, Burlington

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"There is a valuable idea inside Twitter. But Twitter won't be the company that realizes it," tweeted venture capitalist Paul Graham a couple weeks ago.

After about two years of executive upheaval and disappointing user and sales growth, it's looking as if Twitter (TWTR) is considering the possibility that selling the company is in its best interests.

During a Bloomberg interview that aired on Tuesday evening, co-founder and board member Ev Williams gave a measured response when asked whether Twitter can remain independent. "We're in a strong position now, and as a board member we have to consider the right options," he said.

That helped Twitter, which has often been the subject of M&A rumors and popped in June after the Microsoft (MSFT) -LinkedIn deal was announced, rise 4.5% on Wednesday. They're up another 1.1% today after CNBC reported a board meeting is set for next Thursday during which the board plans to discuss "the growth rate of the company, and future options if growth continues to be anemic."

CNBC also said Twitter is "attracting activists." Between the constant M&A rumors, the financial underperformance and the presence of a CEO holding down two jobs, that's hardly a surprise.

Aside from activists, Twitter's second-quarter results and third-quarter guidance could be influencing the board's thinking. Annual sales growth slowed to 20% in Q2 from 36% in Q1 and 48% in Q4, and is forecast to drop to a range of 4% to 7% in Q3. Monthly active users (MAUs) rose by just 4% in Q2 to 313 million; for comparison, Facebook's (FB) MAUs rose 15% to 1.71 billion.

Throw in remarks made within Twitter's Q2 shareholder letter about growing competition for social media ad budgets and Twitter's relatively high ad prices being a hindrance -- the latter seems to suggest Twitter needs to grow traffic to increase ad inventory and cut prices -- and the board has plenty of reasons to worry about the company's financial health.

It also has to be concerned that the tremendous amounts of brain drain Twitter has been seeing will stunt its turnaround efforts. And with nearly 15 months having passed since Jack Dorsey returned as CEO, some might now be wondering if Dorsey, who also remains the CEO of Square (SQ) , can right the ship.

And the board has to know that Twitter, for all its failings with regards to attracting new users, keeping existing users engaged and monetizing its base -- is still considered a unique and valuable social media property. Twitter's value as a source of real-time news and commentary, its support among celebrities and other public figures, its video footprint and its live programming efforts could all appeal to a tech giant or two.

I still think Alphabet (GOOGL) makes for the most logical acquirer of Twitter: Twitter is arguably Google's biggest rival as a real-time information source, the company can leverage its huge ad resources and scale to improve Twitter's monetization and there might also be synergies with YouTube and other Google properties.

Alphabet is a holding in Jim Cramer's Action Alerts PLUS Charitable Trust Portfolio. Want to be alerted before Cramer buys or sells GOOGL? Learn more now.

Microsoft (MSFT) is also a possibility: Twitter could be quite helpful to the company's plans to use LinkedIn and its existing assets to create advanced professional content feeds for Windows users. Other tech and media giants such as Facebook, Amazon (AMZN) , Apple (AAPL) and Disney (DIS) could also conceivably bid, though in Facebook's case, it's worth noting regulators could object to a deal.

Dorsey and others on Twitter's board may still be reluctant to sell. But there does appear to be an open-mindedness on the matter that didn't previously exist. Barring a major improvement in the company's financial performance, this week's news might end up being remembered as the beginning of the end for Twitter as an independent company.
Alcoa (AA) and Alumina have dropped legal action against each other after striking new agreements relating to a key joint venture. The peace deal removes a threatened delay to New York-listed Alcoa's plans to split and establishes Australia-based Alumina as a potential takeover target.

Under the terms of the deal, both companies will gain liberty to make strategic decisions within and outside of their Alcoa World Alumina and Chemicals, or Awac, joint venture in the event of a takeover of either JV partner.

Alcoa owns 60% of Awac, which is the world's largest producer of alumina and bauxite. Alumina owns the rest of the JV, which is its main asset.

Crucially for the junior partner, the new deal also removes a handful of poison pills that had made it unlikely that anyone except Alcoa could buy Alumina.

The "provisions have acted as a barrier to strategic interest in Alumina Ltd. in the past," Alumina CEO Peter Wasow told analysts on a call. "We look forward to being more in control of our destiny."

Wasow later told journalists that he was not aware of any interest in the company.

Shares in Alumina closed Friday at A$1.38, up A$0.08, or 5.8%, on their Thursday close, leaving the stock up a slim 2.2% over the past 12 months.

"The AWAC JV reshaping may be a catalyst to address recent underperformance" at Alumina, noted Shaw and Partners analyst Peter O'Connor.

Among the changes to the Awac JV agreement is the removal of a clause requiring that a buyer of either Alumina or Alcoa sell its bauxite and alumina assets to Awac, a rule that served to make an acquisition unpalatable to mining companies.

The new deal also provides a buyer of Alumina the right to its share of production from the JV at a market price, so long as it needs that production to meet its own needs, as well as a further million tons of alumina that it can resell. Previously buyers would have had to buy the output on the open market, leaving potential industrial partners with little reason to pursue a deal for Alumina.

A change of control at either joint venture partner will also now trigger the right for both parties to expand or develop new projects within or outside of Awac, even if the other owner chooses not to participate.

Melbourne-based Alumina had been fighting to stop Alcoa's split since the plan was announced in September last year. In May it said the split amounted to a change of control at Awac, leaving the JV with a financially weakened majority owner. Alumina claimed that the split thus needed its approval, and would trigger a right of first refusal to buy Alcoa out of Awac.

Alcoa refuted those claims and in June filed papers asking a Delaware court to clarify its right to split and "to forestall continuing threats" from Alumina. That case had been due to begin on Sept. 20.

The new agreement clears the way for Alcoa to finalize its split before the end of this year, in line with its timetable. Under the terms of that plan, a company retaining Alcoa's name will operate the upstream bauxite mining and aluminum production businesses, including the Awac JV. A second, to be called Arconic, will house operations that make aerospace and automobile parts.

Shares in Alcoa closed Thursday at $10.13, up $0.05 or 0.5%.

Alcoa is held in Jim Cramer's charitable trust Action Alerts PLUS. See all of his holdings here.
Ex-cantonment sought for estate

Entrepreneurs in Chitwan have urged the government to convert an abandoned cantonment used by former Maoist combatants into an industrial estate. Factories in the district are scattered all over and industrialists want to bring them together in one place for greater efficiency.
When retirees contemplate where they want to live, exotic locales such as Mexico, the Caribbean and the Mediterranean often beckon. But there's a new place to consider: Taiwan.

The small east Asian island nation was voted the top place to live abroad, according to global networking and information provider InterNations this week.

Its third annual survey, which had more than 14,000 respondents representing 174 nationalities living in 191 countries or territories, ranks countries by a variety of factors, including the quality of life, personal finances and ease of settling in.

Taiwan took the top spot from Ecuador, which won the two previous years. The South American country came in third, while Malta in the Mediterranean ranked second.

So how did Taiwan--which China still claims to be its province, despite becoming independent in 1950--become the most-favored nation? Mainly for ex-patriots' financial situations--85% of its respondents said they were satisfied, versus a global average of 64%--along with their quality of life, both of which ranked first in the survey. An even higher percentage of expats in Taiwan praise the quality and affordability of the local healthcare system at 94% and 95%, respectively, a key consideration for retirees, along with quality of life. And nine out of 10 of the respondents give the friendliness of the residents toward foreigners a positive rating.

One of the drawbacks: The language barrier, with only 23% agreeing that learning the local language is easy and about a third saying living in Taiwan without learning at least some of the local tongue is problematic.

Second-ranked Malta is praised for expats' view of their personal finances there, including general cost of living and affordable housing, which both rated very well by 30% of the survey's respondents versus a global average of 14% and 13%, respectively. Ecuador dropped to third mostly because of its struggling economy--oil is its key export--and quality of life issues, including personal security.

InterNations said it's not surprising that Americans, particularly retirees, opt to move to Latin American countries such as Mexico, Costa Rica and Ecuador, considering they rank in the top 10 overall best destinations for expats (Mexico is fourth; Costa Rica is sixth). Indeed, about 20% of American expats are retirees, more than twice the global average of 8%, and the survey found that they are generally happier living abroad, with 85% saying they are happy overall.

Other counties making the top 10 expat list include New Zealand (fifth), Australia (seventh), Austria (eighth), Luxembourg (ninth) and the Czech Republic (10th). The bottom three were Kuwait, Greece and Nigeria.

So how did the U.S. do in the survey? Not very well--it ranked 26th out of 67 countries. InterNations found that despite the friendliness of the American people toward foreign residents, the political stability of the country, along with the high costs of healthcare and education, make it a less-than-perfect choice for moving abroad. Almost six out of 10 thought that healthcare wasn't easy to afford, more than double the global average. No news there.
As EMC (EMC) and Dell get set to tie the knot and create an enterprise hardware giant, HP Enterprise (HPE) is carrying out a radical transformation of its business, morphing from a soup-to-nuts enterprise IT firm in the mold of IBM (IBM) to a company focused on hardware and a small amount of related software and services. There's a good chance additional acquisitions will be part of the effort.

Reuters reported on Thursday that HPE is in talks with private equity firm Thoma Bravo about selling its large Software unit, and hopes it can get $8 billion to $10 billion. The news service added that HPE has, to date, received offers of up to $7.5 billion for the unit, via talks with Thoma Bravo and several other firms.

Reuters and Bloomberg both previously reported HPE's software business is on the block. The company's July quarter earnings report, due after the close on Wednesday, would be a good time to announce a deal.

The reports come after HPE announced it's spinning off its Enterprise Services unit and merging with Computer Sciences. Since last October, the company has also shuttered its Helion public cloud infrastructure (IaaS) business and sold its TippingPoint security appliance unit to Japan's Trend Micro. Both businesses were small players in their core markets.

Meanwhile, ahead of the old Hewlett-Packard's breakup last fall into HPE and a PC/printing unit known as HP Inc., HPE bolstered its hardware business by acquiring Aruba Networks, the No. 2 player in the enterprise Wi-Fi market behind Cisco, for $3 billion. And last month, the company struck a $275 million deal to buy high-performance computing server/storage vendor SGI.

Both a software sale and a services spinoff allow HPE to jettison declining businesses pressured by execution issues--the Software unit hasn't been right since the debacle that was the Autonomy acquisition--as well as industry trends such as cloud services adoption. Software revenue fell 13% annually in the April quarter to $774 million, with license revenue dropping 12% and cloud/SaaS revenue 11%. Enterprise Services revenue fell 2%, to $4.7 billion, after posting larger declines in prior quarters.

By contrast, HPE's Enterprise Group, which provides IT hardware and related services, saw revenue rise 7%, to $7 billion, a big improvement from the January quarter's 1% growth. The Aruba acquisition provided a sales boost, but so did better-than-expected server and storage revenue. IBM's Systems (hardware and operating system software) division revenue fell 23% in the second quarter to $2 billion, and EMC's revenue fell 3% after backing out virtualization software leader VMware's sales.

HPE's hardware operations are clearly performing better since the breakup -- management shakeups appear to be helping -- and for now are bucking conventional wisdom that its hardware sales are set for a long-term decline as IT spend continues shifting toward cloud infrastructures relying on equipment from Asian contract manufacturers.

Of course, it doesn't hurt that HPE has made serious efforts to win the business of cloud providers. The company has struck a hardware supply deal with Dropbox as the cloud storage giant migrates away from Amazon's infrastructure, and has also partnered with Taiwanese contract manufacturers Foxconn and Accton to provide low-cost servers and switches for cloud data centers.

Given HPE's hardware ambitions and the huge windfall it will get from a software sale, odds are high that fresh hardware acquisitions will be made to flesh out the company's product line. Plenty of possibilities exist.

Nutanix, which filed for an IPO last December but hasn't gone public yet, is one that arguably makes a lot of sense. The company is a top provider of "hyperconverged" server/storage systems that can scale to thousands of nodes--its product let enterprises build the kinds of infrastructures cloud giants have created using their own hardware--and has developed management and virtualization software for its hardware that has made it a thorn in VMware's side.

With Nutanix valued at over $2 billion in a 2014 funding round, an acquisition might cost north of $3 billion. One potential roadblock: HPE has been trying to compete with Nutanix by launching its own hyperconverged systems.

Buying F5 Networks (FFIV) , meanwhile, would do much to strengthen HPE's networking push. F5 is the top provider of application delivery controllers (ADCs) that direct web traffic to and offload various functions from servers, and also has a growing security hardware presence. The company has reportedly been working with Goldman to field buyout offers. Given a current market cap of $8.2 billion, it would be relatively costly.

Barracuda Networks (CUDA) , whose product line covers security hardware, storage appliances and ADCs, is another possibility. And if HPE wants to make a strong push into security, it could take a look at FireEye (FEYE) , which has several interesting cybersecurity hardware, software and service assets. Both Barracuda and FireEye were reported earlier this year to have explored sales.

There's no guarantee additional deals will be made. HPE could conceivably use all its software proceeds to pay down debt and buy back stock. But don't bet on it. The company clearly isn't scared of making big moves right now, and the arguments for using M&A to strengthen its hardware lineup remain pretty strong.
Multinational corporations such as Starbucks (SBUX) and Google (GOOG) pay less tax in Austria than one of the country's famous coffee houses or sausage stands yet rake in hundreds of millions from advertising in the small Alpine nation, Austrian chancellor Christian Kern said.

The center-left politician quoted Austrian activist and author Max Schrems, who said Amazon (AMZN) only paid 1,400 ($1,562) in corporate taxes in 2014 during an interview with Der Standard. He also bemoaned outdated Austrian legislation that uses fees on advertisements to fund the country's independent media but exempts online ads.

"Every Vienna cafe, every sausage stand pays more taxes in Austria than a global company. That's true for Starbucks, Amazon and other companies," Kern was quoted by the paper.

The chancellor praised the European Commission for this week demanding 13 billion in back taxes from iPhone giant Apple (AAPL) and criticized fellow EU members that offer tax breaks to foreign companies. Brussels ruled that Ireland had improperly granted tax breaks to the computer company, putting the rest of the European Union at a disadvantage.

Ireland's cabinet agreed Friday to appeal the ruling alongside Apple after Apple CEO Tim Cook labelled the ruling "total political crap."

"What Ireland, the Netherlands, Luxembourg or Malta are doing lacks solidarity with the rest of the European economy," Kern said.

The politician said Google reaps 200 million in sales in Austria, while Facebook makes as much as 120 million with little given back to the country or its media. He indicated that the companies also generate very little in personal income tax since Google only employs about a dozen people in Austria, and Facebook even fewer.

The politician said he was considering changes to Austrian media financing laws that require advertisers to pay a 5% fee for advertisements. The fee is used to finance the country's media but isn't collected on online ads.

Many European countries collect fees from residents to finance broadcasters, such as the British Broadcasting Corporation. Proponents say the fees ensure national media can remain independent watchdogs. Critics say media can finance itself through advertisements.

"The production model and the financing model have changed drastically with digitalization. If you're interested in a broad range of opinions and media, then we'll have to collect it differently. And we're prepared to," Kern said.
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A recent report by NASA's chief watchdog raised new doubts about the readiness of contractors to deliver astronauts to space, even before Thursday's explosion of a SpaceX rocket. Any further delay, NASA's Inspector General found, could mean a continued reliance on Russia to deliver American astronauts to space, a ferry ride that has been growing steadily more expensive.

Since the last shuttle mission blasted off from the Kennedy Space Center in 2011, NASAs astronauts have had to hitch rides to the International Space Station with Russia, the country America bested in the Cold War race to the moon.

That has come with a pricetag that grew precipitously after the shuttle was retired in 2011. A report issued this week by NASAs Inspector General found the cost Russia charged to ferry U.S. astronauts jumped 384 percent over the last decade, growing from $21.3 million in 2006 to $81.9 million last year.

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Before the shuttle was retired, Russia kept its costs relatively consistent, with the prices growing modestly, the report found. But after the U.S. couldnt get to space on its own, the prices jumped from an average of $26.4 million a seat in 2010 to $51 million in 2012. In all, the U.S. has paid Russia $3.4 billion for rides on its Soyuz rocket, and the IG said NASA could have saved $1 billion of that if it had met its original goal of flying human missions in 2015.

The agencys watchdog said that Russia will rake in even more taxpayer money if there are additional delays to NASAs efforts to fly again from U.S. soil. In 2014, NASA awarded contract to Boeing and SpaceX to fly its astronauts to the station. But the so-called commercial crew program is facing delays, the IG found, so that NASA may need to buy additional seats from Russia to ensure a continued U.S. presence" on the space station.

The report was written before SpaceXs Falcon 9 rocket blew up as it sat on the launchpad at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station Thursday. Its unclear whether that failure will contribute to any delays in the commercial crew program. But it was the second time one of SpaceXs rockets has blown up in the last 15 months, raising concerns about its ability to fly people safely and whether it will be able to meet its timeline.

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NASA has stood by SpaceX through both failures, saying it recovered quickly after the first. And on Thursday agency officials said they "remain confident in our commercial partners."

In its report, the IG noted that SpaceX did not think its first failure, which happened in June 2015 on a mission to resupply with space station with $118 million worth of cargo, would cause a delay in the commercial crew program. The company said it had built sufficient margin into the schedule, according to the report.

But it also said SpaceX noted the lack of margin remaining to accommodate any additional unexpected issues that may arise. The report was released on the same day SpaceXs rocket exploded.

Boeing has already said it would have to push back its first crewed flights to early 2018. SpaceX has maintained that it would fly by the end of 2017.

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But the IG investigators werent buying either of those timetables: Notwithstanding the contractors optimism, based on the information we gathered during our audit, we believe it unlikely that either Boeing or SpaceX will achieve certified, crewed flight to the ISS until late 2018.

In the past, funding shortfalls led to the delays, the IG said. But technical challenges with the contractors spacecraft designs are now driving the schedule slippages, it said.

Boeings spacecraft, the Starliner, has had problems with its mass and the effects of vibrations during launch. SpaceXs delays came when it changed its capsule design to land in the water instead of on land, it said.

SpaceX declined comment. In a statement, Boeing said that, "as in any development program, issues can stress the schedule and we are working shoulder-to-shoulder with NASA to overcome them. Boeing has been a partner with NASA on the Starliner system since 2010 and weve made significant progress on the maturity of our design."

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The report also blamed NASA for the delays, saying that in some cases it was taking as long as six months to review reports issued by the contractors when the process should take eight weeks.

If the company's don't launch until late 2018, the hiatus in human space flight would be seven years--even longer than the last of the Apollo-era missions in 1975 to the first space shuttle flight in 1981.

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Jon Polito, a character actor best known for his roles as menacing, gravelly-voiced gangsters, cops and shady businessmen in movies created by the Coen brothers and in the first two seasons of the television crime drama Homicide: Life on the Street, died Sept. 1 at a hospital in Duarte, Calif. He was 65.

His death was announced by his manager, Maryellen Mulcahy. The cause was multiple myeloma.

Stocky, bald and often sweaty, Mr. Polito seldom if ever had a leading role. Yet in a career that included more than 100 films and 50 television shows, he often had many memorable dramatic  and comedic  parts.

He acted on Broadway alongside Dustin Hoffman and John Malkovich in Arthur Millers Death of a Salesman, improvised a comedy scene with Marlon Brando in The Freshman (1990) and appeared in the 1998 cult classic film, The Big Lebowski, created by Joel and Ethan Coen, as a hapless detective in a comically profane encounter with Jeff Bridgess character, the Dude.

Im a brother shamus, Mr. Polito says.

John Polito attends in 2005. (Vince Bucci/Getty Images)

A brother shamus? says the Dude. Like an Irish monk?

Im a private snoop like you, man, Mr. Polito replies.

During the first two seasons of NBCs Homicide: Life on the Street in 1993 and 1994, Mr. Polito played Steve Crosetti, a hardened but haunted Baltimore police officer. He was prominently featured in the first two seasons of Homicide, but when the producers planned to de-emphasize his role in the third season, Mr. Polito voiced his frustration to the media.

It didnt take long before Crosettis body was pulled out of the water, a victim of suicide.

I was totally wrong, Mr. Polito later admitted, because, in fact, the changes they made meant that NBC put it on a better night, and it became a success.

But Mr. Polito became a success in his own right, even if his face was more familiar than his name. Early in his stage career in New York, he won awards for his work in off-Broadway productions, and he appeared opposite Faye Dunaway in a short-lived Broadway drama, The Curse of an Aching Heart, in 1982.

In a Tony Award-winning 1984 revival of Death of a Salesman, he played the callous boss who fired Willy Loman, the central character played by Hoffman.

Mr. Polito portrayed a mob boss in the 1980s TV police drama Crime Story before being cast in his first Coen brothers production, Millers Crossing, in 1990. In the film, set in the 1930s, he plays a mobster, Johnny Caspar, at odds with another gangster played by Albert Finney.

In a riveting scene, Caspar confronts Finneys character, Leo, and says a bookie named Bernie Bernbaum should be killed: Im talkin about friendship. Im talkin about character. Im talkin about  Hell, Leo, I aint embarrassed to use the word  Im talkin ethics. Whereas Bernie Bernbaum is a horse of a different color. Ethics-wise. As in, he aint got any.

Mr. Polito appeared in four other Coen brothers films, Barton Fink (1991), The Hudsucker Proxy (1994), The Big Lebowski and The Man Who Wasnt There (2001), a noirish movie starring Billy Bob Thornton.

Throughout his career, Mr. Polito often took on comic roles, including that of Silvio, a hotheaded landlord in a 1998 episode of Seinfeld. He also played an executive of a low-budget airline in View From the Top (2003), a frothy romantic comedy starring Gwyneth Paltrow.

Interviewing Paltrow for a job as a flight attendant, Mr. Polito had one of movies best lines: Youre gonna love the uniform. Our motto is big hair, short skirts and service with a smile.

John Polito  he later dropped the h from his first name  was born Dec. 29, 1950, in Philadelphia. His father was a factory worker.

Inspired by classic Hollywood character actors such as Sidney Greenstreet and Charles Laughton, Mr. Polito began appearing high school plays before receiving a drama scholarship to Villanova University outside Philadelphia. He graduated with honors.

He landed his first major acting job on Broadway in 1977 as an understudy in the David Mamet drama American Buffalo.

Mr. Polito had been treated for multiple myeloma, a form of blood cancer, for several years but continued to act until shortly before his death. He had recurring roles in several TV series, including Modern Family, Bunheads and Raising the Bar. He played Danny DeVitos brother in the sitcom Its Always Sunny in Philadelphia and appeared in the 2006 World War II film, Flags of Our Fathers, directed by Clint Eastwood.

Mr. Politos survivors include his husband, Darryl Armbruster.

One of Mr. Politos final film roles came in 2013, when he played an unflappable mobster who tells a character played by Sean Penn: Ive seen guys like you before. The Mojave is filled with them. Bright boys that want to shoot their way to the top of the class.

Mr. Polito said it was easy for him to pick a good role.

My theory is there are only gangsters and cops, he said in 2005. There are also fathers, but they are really boring unless some tragedy happens to the father.
Jerry Heller, a once-powerful music executive who helped take gangsta rap mainstream as a record-company founder and the manager of the group N.W.A., but who was later pilloried as a caricature of the greedy, exploitative manager who takes advantage of young music stars, died Sept. 2 at a hospital in Thousand Oaks, Calif. He was 75.

He had a heart attack while driving and was involved in a car crash, his cousin Gary Ballen told the Associated Press. He had a history of heart problems and diabetes.

Mr. Heller had been a manager of musical acts since the 1960s, working with such major performers as Creedence Clearwater Revival, Marvin Gaye, Pink Floyd and Elton John. But he had his greatest impact when he joined forces in the late 1980s with a group of young hip-hop artists in Los Angeles.

The teenage rappers who formed N.W.A.  most notably Eazy-E, Ice Cube and Dr. Dre  became the first major stars of West Coast gangsta rap. Their boastful, intensely profane lyrics depicted a world of sex, violence and racial tension, with frequent references to guns and an overt hatred of the police.

In 1987, Mr. Heller and Eazy-E (Eric Wright) launched Ruthless Records, an independent label devoted to the emerging genre of gangsta rap and, in particular, N.W.A. Eazy-E performed the rap tune that, in some ways, came to define the gangsta culture: Boyz-n-the-Hood, which was adapted as the title of a 1991 movie directed by John Singleton.

The groups anti-establishment point of view was reflected in its defiant name, which stood for Niggaz With Attitude. With the release of the groups first album, Straight Outta Compton in 1988, N.W.A. introduced some of the most grotesquely exciting music ever made, Newsweek reviewer wrote. The recording sold 3 million copies and became immensely popular with young listeners of all backgrounds.

I thought it was the most important rap music I had ever heard, Mr. Heller told Londons Telegraph newspaper. This was music that would change everything.

There were five members of N.W.A. on the debut album: Eazy-E, Ice Cube (OShea Jackson), Dr. Dre (Andre Young), DJ Yella (Antoine Carraby) and MC Ren (Lorenzo Patterson). Mr. Heller considered himself virtually a sixth member of the group, once saying, Eazy conceptualized, Dre musicalized, I financialized and Cube verbalized.

After a second album in 1991, N.W.A. broke up amid an acrimonious dispute. Eazy-E stayed with Mr. Heller as a business partner, but Ice Cube and Dr. Dre went on their own, criticizing Mr. Heller in the harshest terms.

In the often-violent world of gangsta rap, Mr. Heller slept with a gun under his pillow.

Was I scared? he told the Cleveland Plain Dealer in 2006. Not necessarily, but I watched myself. I had Mossad-trained bodyguards. I dealt with it.

Ice Cubes 1991 song No Vaseline left no bridges unburned with its explicit lyrics  condemned by some as anti-Semitic  that appeared to urge the assassination of Mr. Heller: You let a Jew break up my crew. . . . Get rid of that devil real simple, put a bullet in his temple.

Mr. Heller took it in stride and seemed to bear few grudges.

Yeah, it hurt me, he said in a 2015 interview with the online magazine Grantland. But I never believed that just because he wrote one of the most anti-Semitic songs of all time that he was anti-Semitic. It was just a way to sell records. Or maybe he did hate me. I dont know. I could care less.

In a 2015 movie about the rise of N.W.A., Straight Outta Compton, Mr. Heller was portrayed by actor Paul Giamatti. He was depicted as a scheming, devious showbiz character who exploited the naive young rappers, withheld their paychecks and kept much of the money for himself.

Mr. Heller sued the films producers, including Ice Cube and Dr. Dre, for defamation, telling Rolling Stone magazine, Look, I am what I am, but Im not a thief.

In June, a California judge dismissed most of the lawsuit, except for one claim that Mr. Heller had tried to coerce Ice Cube into signing a contract without legal advice.

I dont have anything to say to Jerry, Ice Cube told the New York Times in April. Hes never owned up to his participation in the destruction of the Worlds Most Dangerous Group. So he doesnt deserve to be mentioned. The music that we put together, he had little or nothing to do with.

Gerald E. Heller was born Oct. 6, 1940, in Cleveland. His father was a scrap-metal dealer.

My dad wasnt a gangster and he wasnt a criminal, but he sure liked to rub padded shoulders with them, Mr. Heller wrote in his 2006 memoir, Ruthless. He was a high roller, interested in nightlife, horses, organized athletics, dice, bookies, touts, and card games.

Mr. Heller shared some of the same interests. He graduated from the University of Southern California in 1963 and began working in Los Angeles entertainment circles, managing musical acts that included, at various times, Otis Redding, Van Morrison, Black Sabbath and Ike and Tina Turner. By the early 1970s, his booking agency was earning millions of dollars a year.

He looked the part, wearing tinted glasses and colorful shirts and driving sports cars with customized license plates. He was married and divorced two times.

After the breakup of N.W.A. in 1991, Mr. Heller sought to regain his foothold in the music business, but he had a hard time escaping the reputation, deserved or not, as something of a shakedown artist.

He managed several other groups and moved toward Latino hip-hop without duplicating his earlier success.

In the years since N.W.A. emerged, Ice Cube and Dr. Dre went on to become entertainment moguls, worth hundreds of millions of dollars each. Eazy-E  whom Mr. Heller considered the most talented member of the group  had AIDS and died in 1995.

N.W.A. was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame this year.

Mr. Heller ended up living in a modest prefab housing development in Westlake Village, Calif.

Its perfectly comfortable, if a bit unassuming, reporter Amos Barshad wrote in Grantland last year. The thought does come to mind: If Jerry Heller stole money, perhaps he didnt steal enough.

An earlier version of this story incorrectly stated that Eric Wright (Eazy-E) wrote the song Boyz-n-the-Hood. It was written by OShea Jackson (Ice Cube ) and performed by Wright.
Medical tourism

Our netas seem to be blind because they like bidhesi whiskey more than the usual vitamins you get from saag-sabji
Harper Westover, age 2, had never run afoul of the government before. The Paw Patrol fanatic lives in Northeast Washington with her parents, who insist shes just the tidiest, most polite and well-

behaved toddler in the nations capital. They call her Harpie. Sometimes Lovey.

But to officials at the citys Department of Public Works, Harpie is known by another name, etched in capital letters on D.C. government letterhead: VIOLATOR.

On Thursday, she received in the mail a Notice of Violation reporting she was being fined $75 for allegedly littering at the end of the alley by her home, on 9th Street NE.

Officials included evidence of a discarded envelope a city worker had found with a bag of trash in the alley. Exhibit A against Harpie the Violator was a photograph of that unopened envelope addressed to her from Buckys Buddies, a kids club for fans of the University of Wisconsin at Madison, the alma mater of her mother, Theresa.

Two-year-old Harper Westover received a $75 ticket for littering in Washington. (WUSA9)

A simple clerical error, right? Another tale to add to the citys bulging sack of sad stories about bureaucratic dysfunction?

On Friday, Westover, an attorney for the National Labor Relations Board, called the solid waste inspector who issued the ticket, certain her daughter would be quickly absolved. She argued that her toddler did not haul a trash bag or carry her Buckys Buddies envelope to the end of the alley. Besides, Westover told the inspector, her daughter is 2. Could the Department of Public Works kindly rescind the fine?

The inspectors response was there was a piece of trash in the alley with Harpers name on it. I said, I understand that, but shes only 2 years old. Are you willing to rescind the ticket? She said No,  Westover recalled. They list Harper as a violator. As a mom, it bothered me.

The Westovers were actually given two tickets  one in Harpers name, the other in Theresas, each for $75, because a piece of mail addressed to the mother was also found. Westover said theres no way anyone in her family littered: Every week, she or her husband leave the trash bin outside their home in the alley for garbage pickup. Since a collection truck cant squeeze into the back street, an advance team swings by, pulls out the trash bags from everyones bins, and carries them down the alley to toss them into the waiting truck. Maybe, Westover wondered, a garbage man accidently left the bag behind? Regardless, the Westovers say they arent litterbugs, and there was no proof they were.

They took their protest online. Chuck Westover snapped a picture of his daughters violation notice and sent it to the popular Popville blog, which published it under the headline: Today in Has the World Gone Mad? 2 year old issued littering citation in NE.

Readers came to Harpers defense.

Im glad were not letting these young punks get away with this kind of antisocial behavior, someone wrote. Garnishing her allowance for the next three years will teach her an important lesson!

Another wondered how it was fair for the city to presume someone had littered simply because trash was found with mail addressed to the supposed scofflaw.

This is idiotic. What this is basically saying is that if a USPS worker accidentally dropped or purposely threw your mail on the ground, you are responsible for littering. Or if a thief stole a package and threw the packaging on the ground, or if the trash truck driver dropped some trash containing something with your name on it.

Chuck Westover, the founder of a digital marketing company, tweeted the Popville link and wrote, This is my daughter; not cool @DCDPW, adding: #FreeHarper.

The inspector who issued the ticket, Cheryl Satchell, did not return a phone call left for her Friday. Zy Richardson , director of the departments communications office, said late Friday she had seen the uproar online but needed to investigate the matter more thoroughly. Then, Richardson called Theresa Westover and told her if she submitted proof her child was, in fact, 2 years old, then the $75 violation notice would be rescinded.

I have to send them a birth certificate, Theresa Westover said. I shouldnt have had to wait for someone in the communications department to call me before common sense takes place.

Early Friday evening, a public works official swung by the Westover rowhouse and saw Harper and her mother in the alley, getting ready for an interview with a local news station. The official looked at Harper, jokingly calling her the 2-year-old violator, according to Theresa Westover. Then he said he would waive both Harpers and her mothers violations.

The Making a Litterbug drama was officially over.

In a telephone interview with The Washington Post, Harper, fresh from an afternoon nap, insisted she was innocent.

But when pressed for more details about her whereabouts at the time of the alleged offense on Aug. 24 at 11:06 a.m, the wrongly accused litterbug laughed.

Hide and seek, was all she said.
Children and their caretakers walk by the remains of the Flower Branch Apartments fire that killed 7 and left about 100 homeless last month as they get out of school in Silver Spring, MD on Thursday September 01, 2016. (Jabin Botsford/The Washington Post)

Wendy Lopez started fifth grade Monday. On Tuesday, another nightmare.

The school-loving 11-year-olds days of reading and recess are followed by memories of chaos, screams of despair and the other lingering horrors of having her apartment blown apart by a gas explosion.

She was happy to be with her friends. She feels safer at school than at home, said Wendys mother, Claudia Loayes, whose family lost everything they owned in last months explosion of a Silver Spring apartment complex that killed seven, including one of Wendys friends. But she is still very scared. Any little sound, she says What was that? 

In an interview, Loayes began to cry at the memory of the night she had to drag her daughter to safety through a hellscape of smoky rubble and walls of flame. The catastrophic blast, felt almost two miles away, was only the start of a shock wave that continues to roil the lives of survivors and witnesses, including the youngest ones.

As the start of school introduced a welcome bit of routine almost three weeks after the catastrophe, the signs of trauma are clear in the children involved, both those who fled burning apartments and many more who watched from surrounding buildings as residents jumped from windows and parents dropped children to bystanders below.

A bus drives by the remains of the Flower Branch Apartments fire. (Jabin Botsford/The Washington Post)

[Huge fire and explosion levels Maryland apartment complex]

There is a lot of PTSD stuff coming out, kids who have started wetting their beds, kids fighting, kids afraid to sleep at night, said Elena Reis, the head of Silver Springs YMCA Youth and Family Services, which provides mental health services to low-income residents in the neighborhood. And we know that a lot them who arent showing any symptoms now, well be seeing it over time.

Schools, community groups and county agencies are scrambling to assist the displaced and the traumatized. At New Hampshire Estates Elementary School, administrators provided two dedicated buses to get 15 students to and from their temporary housing. Four extra psychologists, in addition to school counselors, visited the children in classrooms and watched them discreetly at lunch and recess.

One kindergartner built  and then knocked over  a block tower complete with flames and a firefighter, according to Principal Bob Geiger. Another student asked to use the office to call home so he could make sure that his mom was okay.

At nearby Oakview Elementary, the alarms for the usual first-week fire drill were silenced in favor of a pantomime version that wouldnt trigger any panic. No lights, no sounds yet, Principal Jeffrey Cline said. Well work up to that.

An emotional peak came Thursday, when the mother of one of the children who died in the blast showed up at New Hampshire Estates and asked to see her 8-year-old sons classroom, according to Reis, whose agency works with a counseling program in the school.

His teacher was crying, too. It was very sad, she said. This is all going to take a long time.

[Two young fire victims were buddies ]

The explosion, which investigators said was caused by a rapid gas leak in a basement utility room, injured more than 30 people and collapsed four floors of apartments. It took more than 100 firefighters to contain the blaze, and the site remains a scene of stark devastation.

Loayes, a hotel housekeeper, said she, her daughter and a toddler she was watching for a friend were in bed but awake in their second-floor apartment that night when a boom shook the walls. Seconds later, there were cries of Fire! Fire! Get out! Loayes, who thought an earthquake had struck, gathered the children and bolted to the front door.

But the front door was gone. So were the hallway stairs.

Wendy panicked, pulled away and ran back into the apartment. The flames were rising on all sides now. Loayes said she doesnt know if it was the rubble around her legs or terror that paralyzed her.

I couldnt move. I just screamed, Wendy! Wendy!  she said, crying at the memory. I prayed as Ive never prayed before.

The flames were surrounding her when she finally heard Wendy call out that she was with Renaldo, Loayess partner. Loayes, still holding the toddler, scrambled down the debris pile and, finally, into the clear. Wendy and others from the building gathered outside.

But two boys, including the 8-year-old who was Wendys playmate, never made it out of the basement. One of their mothers stood in the light of the fire screaming for her child.

Every time we go by there, I hear those screams, said Loayes. Her family is living in a temporary apartment across the street. Their view of the blast site  where their former home is a gaping crater  is screened by another building.

She is among many residents who walk out of their way to shield their kids from the blackened, jagged ruins. One woman keeps her blinds closed day and night.

Many of those still living in the complex, even in undamaged buildings, remain on edge. Christy Canjura, 16, a junior and cross-country runner at Montgomery Blair High School, said firetrucks have come back three times since the explosion after rumors of another gas leak. She has evacuated each time.

You get anxious all over again, said Canjura, who lives in the complex with her mother. Were still stuck here, basically like were waiting for another explosion.

Randy Carbajal, a painter from El Salvador, said his three children have refused to return to their old apartment, which is adjacent to the building that blew up. The family has been crowded in with Carbajals brother and sister-in-law, returning to their old home only once to retrieve clothes. The children, once avid cooks, are unnerved by the gas stove. They are afraid to go into their own kitchen, he said.

Elba Rivas has been hearing similar stories since the day after the blast. A therapist at the Mary Center, a health nonprofit organization a block from the blast site, Rivas said her first clients were openly traumatized. Lately, parents are bringing children in with upset stomachs, difficulty breathing and other medical complaints. Doctors at the center have quickly referred them to the counseling staff.

Its beginning to show up as physical symptoms, she said.

Maritza Quintanilla, who looked out after the explosion to see clothes flying through the air followed by columns of fire, has been taking her two boys for counseling at the Mary Center once a week since the incident. Although they still struggle at night  Andy, 5, trembles at every siren and wont sleep alone  they have begun to ride their bikes and play outside again.

Still, I would like to move to a house, said Gerardo, 12. I think it will be safer in a house.

Rivas and other counselors lamented that more families arent coming in for therapy. They say mental health services can be a hard sell in immigrant neighborhoods, where counseling may not have been commonly accepted in their home countries. And many are still overwhelmed with putting their daily lives back together.

Right now, they are still in survival mode, figuring out where they are living and getting the kids to school, Reis said. If a mom has an hour to come in, she may need to use it to go through clothes for her children.

Alma Couverthie, director of organizing at CASA de Maryland, said she has been discouraged by the number of victims coming in for other assistance who are clearly in need of emotional help.

My concern is when I ask them, Are you getting any therapy? The answer is No, I dont have anybody,  Couverthie said. The counselors in the schools are great, but that may be one counselor for hundreds of kids.

Loayes, Wendys mom, said she hadnt seen a therapist, nor had her daughter, even though both were still clearly unnerved by the nightmarish events.

I have been asking God to help her, Loayes said of Wendy. I tell her that God has given us another chance and were never going to go through that again.

Luz Lazo contributed to this report.
Kevin Maxwell, chief executive of Prince Georges County Public Schools, speaks at a news conference in February. Prince Georges County Executive Rushern L. Baker III, left, and Prince Georges Board of Education Chairman Segun C. Eubanks stand behind him. (Mark Gail/For The Washington Post)

The unraveling of the Head Start program in Prince Georges County started with a mother trying to report that her 3-year-old sons teacher had forced him to mop up his urine in front of his class as punishment for wetting his pants. LOL, the teacher had texted to the mother, sending a photo. He worked that mop tho!

Upset, the mother approached a Head Start staff member in December and was likely discouraged from making a report, the federal agency that funds Head Start said. In January, the mother persisted, making an official report to the school system and, she says, writing to the school board. The next month, frustrated, she called federal officials directly.

For weeks, nobody would help, she said. I called every number I could call.

The incident would trigger a federal review and ultimately lead to the loss of a federal grant Prince Georges had held for 50 years.

[Feds say Head Start staff humiliated kids, used corporal punishment]

It also would come around the same time the county school system was struggling to explain a separate scandal: the arrest of Deonte Carraway, then 22, a school volunteer accused of video-recording children at a Glenarden, Md., elementary school and other sites as they performed sex acts that he allegedly directed.

The case, which authorities say includes at least 23 victims, spurred months of examining school system policies and safeguards.

In the weeks since federal officials seized control of the countys Head Start program, a second mother has come forward with troubling allegations. School officials have again vowed to do better by the countys children. And some in the community have called for outside investigators to conduct a review.

They all stood up there telling us they were working to protect our children, and they didnt disclose that they were under federal investigation for child abuse in Head Start, said Tonya Wingfield, an education activist.

Caroline Small, a parent in Berwyn Heights, Md., posted a blog item about the need for stronger leadership and more transparency. They treat each incident in an isolated way, Small said. But we in the community see a pattern, and I dont see them addressing the pattern.

Belated action

In mid-August, federal officials revoked the Maryland school systems $6.4 million Head Start grant, saying that a central problem cited during their investigation of the first mothers allegations  ensuring proper treatment of children  was not corrected.

Federal and county officials pledge the early education program  which serves 932 children from low-income families  will go on, with a federally selected nonproft stepping in for now to run it.

On the defense for a second time, less than seven months after the Carraway case, school system chief executive Kevin Maxwell said the problems with Head Start resulted from poor judgment by a handful of people.

Maxwell announced disciplinary action Thursday against six employees directly involved in incidents cited by federal officials and said such misconduct would not be tolerated. Three of the employees were fired and the other three were recommended for dismissal, according to a person who works for the school system and has knowledge of the situation.

These individuals will no longer be in front of any child in Prince Georges County Public Schools, Maxwell said, noting that the district is working to implement task force recommendations aimed at improving reporting practices and transparency.

[Prince Georges takes action against Head Start staff]

School board member Edward Burroughs III called the discipline too little, too late, saying that if the school system had acted more promptly after being notified of the first problem in February, the later incidents might not have happened and the grant might not have been terminated.

Prince Georges County Council Member Mel Franklin (D-Upper Marlboro) said an independent review is needed to restore trust. Clearly, the ball got dropped somewhere, and I think a third-party review would help give the public confidence that the proper individuals are going to be held accountable, he said.

District officials did not comment on the possibility of an investigation into the handling of Head Start.

They said that after the investigation started in February, they came up with a corrective action plan and thought they were on track. Federal officials say Prince Georges corrected deficiencies in reporting abuse and keeping student and family information confidential. The district conducted trainings, revised its cellphone policy and took other steps, and planned additional training for this school year.

[Outside organization to run Pr. Georges troubled Head Start program]

But two additional incidents arose in June, one involving corporal punishment and the other lack of supervision. Federal officials said Prince Georges had not shown it was ensuring that staff would use only positive methods of child guidance and not engage in such actions as corporal punishment, emotional or physical abuse, and humiliation.

In one incident,two children were made to hold heavy boxes over their heads as punishment for misbehaving during nap time, according to federal findings.The teacher added more weight and time to the punishment if the children moved or dropped items.

In the second incident,a child returned to her class from the nurses office when everyone was on the playground  and ultimately walked home, unsupervised for 50 minutes.

Federal officials say the revocation of Prince Georges status as a grantee is relatively uncommon. The county was one of five grantees  among 1,700 nationally  to face such sanctions during the past year.

We dont do many terminations, and theyre done for a serious reason, said Kenneth Wolfe, a spokesman for the Department of Health and Human Services Administration for Children and Families, which funds and oversees Head Start. Theyre not something we do lightly.

The federal agencys review, he said, involved months of contact, an April site visit, a week-long review in June and technical assistance. We are not about playing a gotcha game, he said. Rather, these were serious incidents we investigated and found to be uncorrected. Thats what led to the termination.

New allegations

As recent problems have been spotlighted  sparking wide concern  parent Chamanikia Davis described incidents that arenot captured in the federal findings.

Davis, a mother of two from Suitland, Md., said her 4-year-old son left his Head Start program at Overlook Elementary School last September while children were on the playground and got to a busy intersection at Branch Avenue before a teacher intervened.

I got a call from school saying he almost got into the street, she said. They said he would have gotten hit if the teacher didnt grab him. They definitely should have been watching him more closely.

Davis said her son, who has developmental delays, was later moved to a Head Start program at H. Winship Wheatley Early Childhood Center, where the first mothers child was enrolled. There, one December day, she saw a teacher roughly pull a child down a long hallway and into a dark room where the teacher threatened to leave the child for his misbehavior, she said.

The whole situation was inappropriate, said Davis, who says she reported the incident that day to a school administrator.

She said she had called the school board after the incident involving her son on the playground and did not hear back for about a month. By then, her son had been transferred to Wheatley, she said, so she let it go.

Prince Georges officials did not comment on the alleged incidents.

Federal officials said such incidents should be reported to the agency. Their findings did not mention the incidents, appearing to indicate they were not reported.

We always advise grantees to err on the side of caution and report all allegations and incidents to us, Wolfe said. In cases of alleged neglect and abuse, he added, Child Protective Services should be notified as well.

[Md. county school board members call for leaders ouster after Head Start debacle]

Search for accountability

In the case of the 3-year-old forced to mop up his urine, federal officials found that the teacher had humiliated the child and used a method of discipline that denied his basic needs.

The teacher saw her actions as proper treatment, the report said, to show the child how hard a custodians job might be.

Not only did the teachers actions humiliate the child, the report said, but it was possible children who witnessed the incident were negatively impacted after observing the improper punishment of their peer.

Though federal authorities said Prince Georges had corrected deficiencies in reporting of abuse and neglect, their findings stand out for a string of occasions when personnel in Prince Georges refused to provide information to federal investigators.

The lack of program accountability and quality control related to reporting cases of suspected or known child abuse posed serious potential consequences for children in the classroom, the findings said.

The mother who placed the February phone call that triggered the federal investigation said she has struggled, feeling bullied and harassed by district employees who feel what happened was not that bad and the teacher should not have been removed.

She noted that her son weighed less than 30 pounds at the time, and that he was handed an industrial mop to clean urine on the floor.

When she complained to the teacher, she said she was told: If he wets again, Im going to make him mop it again. And what?

Lynh Bui, Ovetta Wiggins and Jennifer Jenkins contributed to this report.
Kaya Henderson, left, talks about her time as the Districts schools chancellor while visiting Mayor Muriel E. Bowser on June 29, 2016. Henderson is stepping down in October. (Marvin Joseph/The Washington Post)

Mayor Muriel E. Bowser said she will name a new D.C. Public Schools chancellor by mid-October, an unusually short timetable that has the teachers union concerned that the mayor is rushing the national search or has already picked a successor.

When Schools Chancellor Kaya Henderson announced in June that she would be stepping down in October after five years at the helm of the school system, Bowser tapped the systems chief of schools, John Davis, to serve as interim chancellor starting Oct. 1.

Bowser hired a search firm and appointed a committee to receive input from the community and recommend finalists. So her announcement that she would name a new chancellor next month has surprised some observers.

National searches for urban school districts typically take more than six months, according to several national organizations that track superintendent and chancellor appointments.

The Council of the Great City Schools, an organization that represents the countrys largest school systems, including the Districts, said superintendent and chancellor searches typically last from six to nine months.

It does seem to be very quick. It would almost suggest that they already have someone in mind, said Daniel A. Domenech, executive director of the School Superintendents Association, who is a former superintendent of Fairfax County Public Schools in Virginia.

At a community forum this week with Deputy Mayor for Education Jennifer Niles, who is leading the search, the teachers union distributed a flier with a banner reading in bold letters, Dont rush the search.

With great confidence, I can say [the mayor] does not have somebody in mind, Niles said.

Although the search timeline is aggressive, Niles said, she argued that a three-month window is not unheard of for senior positions.

Boston Public Schools, Marylands Montgomery County and Minneapolis Public Schools recently spent more than a year searching for their new leaders.

The Los Angeles Unified School District spent five months scouring the country for a new superintendent before ultimately settling on an internal candidate in January.

Those schools districts all have boards with multiple elected members who have to meet in public to perform their functions, whether voting on a contract for a search firm or publicly interviewing job finalists.

That is why those searches can last more than six months, Domenech said.

Elizabeth Davis, president of the Washington Teachers Union, said that although this search has been the most inclusive, she and other teachers are concerned about its aggressive timeline.

Niles said the mayors office has been working to find a replacement since Henderson announced that she was stepping down.

A 17-member committee was formed to give the mayor recommendations guided by community input. The group is hosting three community forums across the city.

Shaun Johnson is a kindergarten teacher at Malcolm X Elementary School and attended the first forum.

He and about 100 educators, parents and community leaders filled out forms that asked about the biggest issues facing the school district, which qualities the next leader should possess and whether the district is heading in the right direction.

Johnson said he thinks the school district needs to make drastic changes if it wants to close the persistent achievement gap between poor and affluent students.

Niles said she and the committee will convene after the final community forum, on Sept. 14, to review the feedback and relay it to the mayor.

The teachers union has raised questions about the search firm that Bowser hired to conduct the search. This is the first time that the firm, Boyden Global, is conducting a chancellor or superintendent search for a school district, union officials said.

The company would not provide The Washington Post with names of school districts where it has helped to place district leaders. Instead, in a statement, the company said it has done some search work for schools districts as well as a variety of K-12 education-related entities.

More importantly, Boyden has a reputation for finding the right leaders who have lasting impact in public sector roles, regardless of their backgrounds, said Dan Margolis, a company spokesman.

The firm is to receive 30 percent of one year of the next chancellors salary, according to its contract with the city. Henderson currently earns about $300,000 annually, which would amount to about $100,000 for Boyden. Under its contract, Boyden can receive up to $250,000 for its services.

Boyden was most recently hired by the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority to fill several senior positions in that organization.
Chloe Riffle, 7, watches as she is surrounded by water in the Ocean View section of Norfolk, Va. Storm system Hermine spun away from the U.S. East Coast, removing the threat of heavy rain but maintaining enough power to churn dangerous waves and currents.

Sept. 4, 2016 Chloe Riffle, 7, watches as she is surrounded by water in the Ocean View section of Norfolk, Va. Storm system Hermine spun away from the U.S. East Coast, removing the threat of heavy rain but maintaining enough power to churn dangerous waves and currents. Vicki Cronis-Nohe/Virginian-Pilot via Associated Press

The hurricane, downgraded to a tropical storm a few hours after making landfall in Florida, forced evacuations and destroyed homes.

The hurricane, downgraded to a tropical storm a few hours after making landfall in Florida, forced evacuations and destroyed homes.

The hurricane, downgraded to a tropical storm a few hours after making landfall in Florida, forced evacuations and destroyed homes.

 Hermine roared through communities along the Atlantic coast Saturday, battering beaches from the Outer Banks to the Delmarva Peninsula with blustery winds and rain but sparing many areas inland.

Up to seven inches of rain fell and 30-to-60 mph winds blew from North Carolina to the Eastern Shore, chasing vacationers and disrupting Labor Day weekend plans as the country bade farewell to the summer season.

The center of the fast-moving storm, hurrying to the Northeast, was expected to be off Chincoteague Island, Va., on Sunday, and possibly resume hurricane strength in coming days.

The National Weather Service posted storm warnings and watches as far north as Cape Cod, and officials said they were concerned about flooding from Sunday mornings high tide, around 10:30 a.m.

There is still considerable uncertainty as to how many of the characteristics of a tropical cyclone Hermine will have while it is off of the coast of the Mid-Atlantic and New England, the National Hurricane Center said Saturday.

Social video shows Tropical Storm Hermine battering beaches along the Mid-Atlantic as it continues its trek along the East Coast. (Claritza Jimenez/The Washington Post)

The storm has a rather elongated circulation, the hurricane center said: Regardless of its structure, Hermine is expected to be a vigorous storm with a large wind field that will cause wind, storm surge and surf hazards along the coast.

Indeed, Hermine was downgraded from tropical storm status Saturday morning.

By Tuesday, it was forecast to be stalled over warm water in the 80s southeast of Long Island, National Weather Service senior meteorologist Luis Rosa said.

The system will begin to slow down . . . and by Monday, its not going to move much, he said. Its going to be sitting over water temperatures that are supportive of hurricane formation.

Meanwhile, offshore, from the Baltimore Canyon to Cape Charles, Va., waves as high as 37 feet were expected Sunday, with visibility a mile or less, the Weather Service said.

A hurricane warning was issued for the open ocean off southern New Jersey and Delaware, with winds approaching 75 mph Sunday night.

On shore, the threat of storm surge and flooding loomed all along the coast, especially in southeastern Virginia.

One of the biggest concerns . . . is the onshore wind flow that is likely to persist into the coming week, noted Ian Livingston of The Washington Posts Capital Weather Gang.

[Mid-Atlantic beaches are getting battered by Hermine]

As the storm slows down, thanks to a high pressure to the north blocking its path out to sea, winds rotating around it toward shore will continue to pile water into the coast, he reported Saturday. Major beach erosion . . . dangerous surf, torrential rain, and serious coastal flooding are all likely.

Surge levels will be high everywhere but will also vary a bit, he added. In the Hampton Roads area, surge is expected to be between three and five feet. Similar [surge] is anticipated from Chincoteague to Sandy Hook, N.J.

Virginia Gov. Terry McAuliffe (D) issued a state of emergency Friday ahead of the storm. During a news conference Saturday, he said a lot of wind and rain was expected. Already, there was a three-foot surge at the Chesapeake Bay Bridge.

In Maryland, a state of emergency was in effect for Caroline, Cecil, Dorchester, Kent, Queen Annes, Somerset, Talbot, Wicomico, Worcester, Calvert, Charles and St. Marys counties.

Ocean City Emergency Services Director Joe Theobald and state Sen. James N. Mathias Jr. (D-Somerset) said that Sunday morning could see significant flooding if water from high tides is unable to get back out to sea because of strong northeast winds.

Theobald said the flooding this time will fall just short of what the city had four years ago during Hurricane Sandy. He doesnt expect that anyone will need to evacuate. Theres only one restriction currently: The city has ordered everyone to stay out of the ocean.

Meanwhile, gusts on the boardwalk here Saturday were so strong that walking north was difficult, and a southbound stroller was propelled by wind.

Sand blew off the beach, onto the planks and into the teeth of those out and about.

The beach was largely deserted, but dozens of vacationers had ventured onto the boardwalk.

A few shops were open, and old-timey photos, hermit crabs and buckets of Fishers popcorn were available.

At Guidos Burrito, employees shouted at rain-pelted passersby: You guys want burritos? Tequila?

Employee Shelby Gardiner, 22, said the water in the street on her half-mile walk to work was already high enough that she had to roll her leggings up.

Many of the hotels were almost full despite the forecast, and several vacationers said they came in the hope that the storm would miss Ocean City. They also noted that their reservations were nonrefundable.

Susan Lynch Jones, the executive director of the Ocean City Hotel Motel Restaurant Association, said the citys hotels were approximately 85 percent occupied.

Six of the 13 members of the extended Fisher family, here from the Harrisburg, Pa., area for their annual trip, stood huddled in sweatshirts, watching the angry waves of the ocean they had hoped to play in.

Hey, Mommy, 6-year-old Chase Fisher said. We could get the movies out! Weve got a Christmas movie.

It seemed the only way to go.

Thats what Dana Muchmore, from New Jersey, was in for, too. Her 12-year-old son tried fishing but quickly discovered that wasnt going to happen.

Standing in front of a shuttered boardwalk amusement park, where the Ferris wheel was still turning, Muchmore said she was still happy to enjoy the boardwalk restaurants and the time out of town.

Youve got to make the best of it, I guess, she said.

Elsewhere, Diane Steigen, 53, said: I have to go to the shoreline!

And without a moment of hesitation, she and her husband, Jeff, 48, set off down the wooden walkway to the ocean. The wind made it hard to keep a steady footing, but the Baltimore couple hurried unfazed into the water.

Theres that sea foam I wanted to see! Diane said. The windblown froth coating the shoreline felt like whipped cream, she said.

Three women from Delaware and Maryland who all work at a facility for adults with special needs were also having a great time on the beach despite being pelted by the sideways rain.

I am being beat up by my poncho, Patti Roark, 62, laughed as the plastic whipped her face in the wind.

Tish Hall, 49, said the other two had dragged her out there. I think its amazing, she said. Ive never experienced this. Ive always hunkered down somewhere safe and warm.

The women said they would go right into the ocean if it werent for the city employee in an orange jumpsuit with a whistle nearby. His job was to keep people out of the water.

So the three were content to stand on shore, shouting over the wind and crashing waves.

Ruane reported from Washington.
Gov. Larry Hogan (R), right, with Maryland Comptroller Peter Franchot (D) in Frederick, Md., last month. Extending summer vacation may boost Hogans already high popularity, analysts say, given that polls show many Marylanders favor the move. (Danielle E. Gaines/Frederick News-Post)

Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan triggered one of the biggest firestorms of his tenure last week when he ordered schools to start classes after Labor Day beginning next year.

It was at least the third time Hogan has sidestepped the Democratic-controlled legislature to enact a proposal that plays well with the public but could raise challenges down the road.

Extending summer vacation may boost the first-term Republicans already high popularity, analysts say, given that polls show large majorities of Marylanders favor the move. The governors action also gives him a new opportunity to publicly battle with Democratic legislative leaders, who have killed past attempts to mandate a post-Labor Day return to school because of concerns from school officials and teachers unions about test prep, snow days and limiting summer learning loss.

Its vintage Hogan, said Todd Eberly, political science professor at St. Marys College, of the governors habit of enacting popular ideas that leave Democratic leaders angry over his my-way-or-the-highway approach and squirming over the best way to respond.

Last year, Hogan unilaterally reduced tolls on the states highways and closed a troubled jail in Baltimore. On Wednesday, he signed an executive order requiring local districts to start schools after Labor Day and complete the mandated 180-day school year by June 15.

What worked for him as a schoolboy and for many other adults in Maryland, he said, should work for todays youth, too.

[Hogan orders Md. schools to start after Labor Day beginning next year]

Donald Norris, director of the School of Public Policy at the University of Maryland at Baltimore County, said Hogan had little to lose in issuing the directive  especially since concern about testing, summer learning loss and minimizing child-care costs is focused in more urban parts of the state, where the governors support is weakest.

Suburban families are part of his constituency, so I think its probably a calculated risk hes taking that its going to have little political downside, Norris said. Democrats are clearly going to go after him on this, using the rationale that it hurts poor children. But tinkering with the school calendar doesnt strike me as something that is going to make or break anybody, particularly if schools have to maintain 180 days.

Under current law, local school districts set their own calendars. State law mandates certain holidays, including Christmas, Good Friday, Easter Monday, Martin Luther King Day, Presidents Day and Memorial Day.

Although a bipartisan task force appointed by Hogans predecessor, Democrat Martin OMalley, recommended a post-Labor Day start, the only one of the states 24 school districts to structure its calendar that way is Worcester County, home to the beach resort town of Ocean City.

School officials from other districts have warned that they may need to shorten spring break or make other unpopular changes to fulfill Hogans directive, which they say is primarily designed to boost tourism and economic activity.

School districts would be able to apply to the state Board of Education for a waiver from the new calendar requirements if they can prove that complying would be a hardship.

Doug Mayer, a spokesman for Hogan, said the governor took the action because it was the right thing to do for Maryland students, families, teachers and schools. . . . He was tired of watching [the] majority leadership in the General Assembly [fail] to act on something their own task force recommended and that nearly every Marylander wants.

[School systems debate calendar as diversity increases]

Several Democrats have questioned whether the governor has the authority to make the change by executive order and have sought a legal opinion from the attorney generals office, which is expected this week.

Meanwhile, Democrats are trying to figure out how to respond to Hogans effort.

Its certainly something that should have been built through consensus with the individuals that have a stake, meaning school boards, teachers, PTAs and educators, as well as members of the General Assembly, House Speaker Michael E. Busch (D-Anne Arundel) said. There might be a legitimate argument to this, but you dont do it by executive order.

Maryland would join just over a dozen other states where the state government, rather than local officials, sets the calendar, according to information provided by legislative analysts. Local school boards, superintendents and county officials  including two who are weighing a run against Hogan  are in an uproar over the possibility.

Hogans proposal, they said, could affect teacher contracts, disadvantaged students and students overall quality of education. They are vowing to push the legislature to reverse the decision.

He didnt quote any facts or stats that said our kids will be better off in terms of education for a move after Labor Day, said Prince Georges County Executive Rushern L. Baker III (D), who may challenge Hogan for the governorship in 2018. It was based on Ocean City and their revenues. That, to me, is ridiculous.

But Steven Hershowitz, a spokesman for the Maryland State Education Association, which has fought against a post-Labor Day start in the past, said the state teachers union does not plan to make overturning the order a focus of next years legislative agenda.

We would be happy to see this action reversed because its bad policy, Hershowitz said. But when you talk about the biggest problems facing our schools, well be asking lawmakers to deal with overtesting, lack of funding and bridging the opportunity gap between affluent and poor students.

Senate Minority Leader J.B. Jennings (R-Baltimore County), who supports a post-Labor Day start, said he may not agree with the way the governor made the change but he understands why he did it.

I hate the fact that it had to come to this, Jennings said. Weve dealt with this bill many times in the legislature, and the legislature failed to move it. The governor is using the power he has to mandate what he thinks is right.

Hogan is aggressively responding to his critics. His office issued a Mythbusters memo that was posted on social media, and his campaign has launched a petition against the status quo elected officials who want to fight a later school start.

He also challenged those who say public education would be negatively affected, arguing that children will receive the same amount of classroom instructional hours.

A supporter of Hogans action wrote on his Facebook page: I went to school after Labor Day . . . and now Im a doctor.

Hogan replied: Me too and I was able to become governor!

Sen. Paul G. Pinsky (D-Prince Georges), vice chairman of the Senate education committee, said parents may react more negatively about the mandate if districts start slashing holidays, spring breaks and teacher trainings to meet the requirements.

But Mayer said there are other days that school districts can cut. For example, he said Anne Arundel County schools have 14 half-days off designated as union service, and Prince Georges schools close for a day to let teachers attend the state teachers union convention.

Anne Arundel County Executive Steven R. Schuh (R), a Hogan supporter who also supports the later start date, said theres a lot of politics involved in the debate.

The teachers union has immense power in the General Assembly, which may explain why the General Assembly has never moved on this, Schuh said. It took executive action by the governor because hes willing to take the political heat to do whats best for families and the economy.
THE DISTRICT

In SE, no suspects in fatal shooting of man

A Prince Georges County man was found fatally shot Friday night on H Street in Southeast Washington, and D.C. police did not have any suspects in custody Saturday or know why he was killed.

The man was identified as Christopher Redfear, 23, of Capitol Heights, Md.

Officer Hugh Carew said Redfear was found unconscious in the 5100 block of H Street SE, just off Benning Road, about 9:30 p.m. Friday. Redfear was taken to a hospital where he died of his injuries, Carew said.

 Tom Jackman

VIRGINIA

Man found dead in Fairfax County jail

A 53-year-old man died in the Fairfax County jail Saturday morning, apparently of natural causes, Fairfax County police said. He would be the third man to die in the county jail of natural causes in the past year, if an autopsy corroborates initial police suspicions.

The mans name was not released pending notification of his family. Fairfax Officer Don Gotthardt said the man was discovered in his cell, in a direct supervision wing of the jail, around 6:40 a.m. in apparent cardiac arrest. He said that sheriffs deputies immediately started cardiopulmonary resuscitation techniques on him. Paramedics arrived at 6:45 a.m.

The paramedics continued to work on the man until he was pronounced dead in the jail at 7:12 a.m., Gotthardt said. The man had been in the Fairfax jail since September of last year, but the charges he was being held on were not available.

Last November, inmate Monty Roy Saito, 50, collapsed in his cell, struck his head on the floor and died. The Virginia medical examiner ruled that he had died of blunt-force trauma and that the death was an accident.

Last October, inmate Paul Guida, 68, died while in the jail infirmary. His death was determined to be of natural causes linked to a variety of medical conditions.

The Fairfax jail has an inmate population of roughly 1,100 men and women at any one time.

In February 2015, handcuffed and shackled inmate Natasha McKenna, 37, died after being shot with a stun gun four times by deputies while she resisted being transferred to Alexandria. She had a history of mental-health issues. The medical examiner ruled the death accidental, saying that McKenna died of a combination of excited delirium while resisting deputies along with the intense electrical shocks. A wrongful-death suit by her family is pending against Fairfax Sheriff Stacey Kincaid and the deputies involved.

 Tom Jackman

Police ID man killed when truck hit tree

An Annandale, Va., man was identified Saturday as the driver of a vehicle killed Friday night in upper Montgomery County when his truck veered off a road and struck a tree.

Montgomery County police said they did not know why the vehicle left the road.

Leland Thomas, 61, was driving a 2011 Chevrolet Silverado south in the 16000 block of Partnership Road in the Poolesville area when the vehicle left the road about 7:38 p.m. Friday, police said in a news release. The vehicle rolled onto its side and struck a tree, and police said Thomas was pronounced dead at the scene.

Police closed Partnership Road between Whites Ferry Road and Sugarland Road on Friday night while they investigated. Anyone with information about the crash is asked to call the police Collision Reconstruction Unit at 240-773-6620.

 Tom Jackman
A 53-year-old man died in the Fairfax County jail Saturday morning, apparently of natural causes, Fairfax County police said. He would be the third man to die in the county jail of natural causes in the last year, if an autopsy corroborates initial police suspicions.

The mans name was not released pending notification of his family. Fairfax Officer Don Gotthardt said the man was discovered in his cell, in a direct supervision wing of the jail, around 6:40 a.m. in apparent cardiac arrest. He said that sheriffs deputies immediately started cardio-pulmonary resuscitation techniques on him, followed by paramedics who arrived at 6:45 a.m.

The paramedics continued to work on the man until he was pronounced dead in the jail at 7:12 a.m., Gotthardt said. The man had been in the Fairfax jail since September of last year, but his charges were not available.

Last November, inmate Monty Roy Saito, 50, collapsed in his cell, struck his head on the floor and died. The Virginia medical examiner ruled that he had died of blunt force trauma and that the death was an accident.

Last October, inmate Paul Guida, 68, died while in the jail infirmary. His death was determined to be natural causes by a variety of medical conditions.

The Fairfax jail has an inmate population of roughly 1,100 men and women at any one time.

In February 2015, handcuffed and shackled inmate Natasha McKenna, 37, died after being Tasered four times by deputies while she resisted being transferred to Alexandria. She had a history of mental health issues. The medical examiner ruled the death accidental, saying that McKenna died from a combination of excited delirium while resisting deputies along with the intense electrical shocks. A wrongful death suit by her family is pending against Fairfax Sheriff Stacey Kincaid and the deputies involved.
After the victim refused to surrender his cellphone to a would-be robber in Washington early Thursday, what happened later seemed a particularly unwelcome coincidence. D.C. police said the victim encountered the same person again, just blocks away.

The victim had been in the restroom of a 24-hour fast-food restaurant at 13th Street and New York Avenue NW about 3:45 a.m. when he refused to give up the phone, police said.

Police said he was pushed into a wall by the would-be robber, who then fled.

After speaking to police, the victim and a relative began walking home. No more than two hours later and three blocks away, at 13th and L streets NW, the very man who had demanded the cellphone in the restroom suddenly appeared, police said.

Without provocation, police said, the robber struck the relative in the face and took at least one book bag.

The robber again fled, but shortly after 6 a.m. a person was stopped near 13th and I streets NW, police said. The site is near Franklin Square and the McPherson Square Metro rail station.

Police said he was arrested and charged in both the robbery and the attempt.

It could not be learned if the person involved in the incident at the restaurant and the later incident at 13th and L Streets was aware t hat one person was a victim in both incidents.
Myagdi Flood: 11 houses inundated

A person went missing as 11 houses were inundated by a flooded Begh stream in Begh VDC-6 of Myagdi on Friday.
Bladder-control problems are remarkably common, affecting more than half of women and 30 percent of men age 65 and older, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. If you leak unexpectedly or sometimes have such a strong urge to urinate that you fear you wont make it to a bathroom in time, you could use products such as absorbent pads or underwear. Or you might be considering a drug or a procedure youve seen advertised. But whats most effective? Consumer Reports experts weigh in.

Start with your doctor.

If you feel uncomfortable talking about the problem, consider that your primary-care doctor has probably discussed it with many patients. (If he or she hasnt treated bladder conditions, see a doctor who has, such as a gynecologist, urologist or urogynecologist.)

A doctor can determine if a medication side effect or a condition like diabetes or a urinary-tract infection might be causing urine leakage, says Consumer Reports chief medical adviser, Marvin M. Lipman.

Try nondrug therapy.

Exercises or bladder training should be the first treatment tried, says the American College of Physicians.

Kegel exercises (repeatedly tightening and relaxing the muscles that stop urine flow to strengthen them) are especially helpful for women with stress urinary incontinence, which is leaking brought on by laughing, coughing, sneezing, heavy lifting or exercising.

Bladder training involves keeping a diary of urination and accidents, then slowly increasing the time between bathroom visits. Its most effective for men and women with urge incontinence, a sudden, urgent need to urinate.

Kegels havent been proved to be effective for men, but experts say trying them is reasonable. Women with both types of incontinence can try bladder training and Kegels.

Both strategies can help. A small study recently published in the journal Menopause found that a 12-week course of physical therapy, which included Kegels and bladder training, resulted in a 75 percent reduction in the number of leakage episodes, an improvement that was still evident a year later. Study participants who didnt do the physical therapy techniques saw no improvement, and a year later their incontinence had worsened.

Using the correct muscles to do Kegel exercises is key to success, so dont hesitate to ask your doctor for advice. And be patient; it can take several weeks to see a benefit.

Know the pros and cons.

Several drugs are approved for urge incontinence (or overactive bladder), such as prescription mirabegron (Myrbetriq), oxybutynin (Ditropan XL and generic), solifenacin (Vesicare) and tolterodine (Detrol and generic).

The little evidence available suggests they might work as well as nondrug therapy. But according to Consumer Reports Best Buy Drugs experts, more than half of those who take incontinence drugs stop within six months because of such side effects as constipation, drowsiness, dry mouth, blurry vision and dizziness.

Botulinum toxin type A (Botox) injections into the bladder muscle are also approved and may reduce the urge to urinate. But they have been associated with urinary-tract infections and incomplete bladder emptying requiring catheterization.

(Other drugs are available for an enlarged prostate, which can also cause urinary urgency.)

Medications should only be considered for those who continue to have bothersome symptoms despite having tried lifestyle changes and therapy exercises, says Michael Hochman, an assistant professor of clinical medicine at the University of Southern Californias Keck School of Medicine.

Think twice about surgery.

Several surgical procedures are available for stress incontinence. The most common of these is midurethral-sling surgery, where strips of synthetic mesh are implanted to support the urethra. It can be effective. In a 2013 study, 85 percent of those who had the surgery said they no longer leaked. Only 53 percent of those who did physical therapy alone got relief after a year.

But the surgery carries risks including infection, difficulty urinating and an increase in the severity of incontinence. Surgery should only be considered as a last resort, Lipman says.

Copyright 2016. Consumers Union of United States Inc.
HILLARY CLINTON this week told the American Legion that the United States has a unique and unparalleled ability to be a force for peace and progress, a champion for freedom and opportunity, and is therefore not just an exceptional nation but the indispensable nation. For most of the past century  indeed, for most of U.S. history  those would have been unremarkable claims, political boilerplate for a presidential candidate. This year, they make Ms. Clinton herself exceptional.

As the Democratic nominee was quick to point out, Donald Trump has repeatedly objected to the idea of America as exceptional. The term doesnt apply, he says, when countries such as Germany are eating our lunch; for that matter, he said in 2013, Vladimir Putin had a point in rejecting the idea. I can see that being very insulting to the world, said a man who normally doesnt shy from giving offense.

Mr. Trumps position puts him at odds with virtually every Republican president going back to Abraham Lincoln, not to mention every prominent member of the GOPs present foreign policy establishment. But he speaks for what seems to be a growing part of a citizenry disillusioned with foreign adventures. Pew Research Center surveys show that public support for the idea that the United States stands above all other countries has dropped by about a quarter since 2011 and is now a minority view.

President Obama has had his own difficulties coming to terms with American exceptionalism. Much like Mr. Trump, he observed in 2009 that the British and Greeks also think of themselves as exceptional. Pilloried by Mitt Romney, among others, for that diffidence, he eventually embraced the term and, in a speech marking the 50th anniversary of the Selma march last year, found a grounds for it. America was exceptional, he said, because of its ability to face its own demons and change for the better.

Ms. Clinton doubtless does not disagree with that, but her understanding of the American mission is broader; its not enough to offer a moral example. Our power, she said in the American Legion speech, comes with a responsibility to lead . . . because when America fails to lead, we leave a vacuum that either causes chaos or other countries or networks rush in to fill the void. She did not mention Syria, where Mr. Obama rejected her advice to act in 2012, before the rise of the Islamic State, the employment by the Bashar al-Assad regime of chemical weapons against civilians, the destructive intervention by Mr. Putins Russia, and the destabilizing flow of more than 1 million refugees to Europe. But that catastrophe offers compelling support for her point.

Ms. Clinton would not, as president, rush to dispatch U.S. soldiers to Syria, or anywhere else. She said a bedrock principle was that we must only send our troops into harms way as a last resort, not a first choice. But, she added, we must be able to act decisively on our own when we need to. Again, a sentiment that all modern presidents have embraced, with the partial exception of Mr. Obama, who said such action was possible only in a very narrow set of circumstances. And who knows about Mr. Trump? A president who regards himself, but not his country, as exceptional could be expected to be reliable only in the defense of his own self-interest.
PRESIDENT OBAMA began August by commuting the sentences of 214 federal inmates, and he ended the month by commuting 111 more. Generally the pardon and commutation power is used sparingly and gets attention only when presidents use it to help cronies or former staffers. Now it is being used to commute the sentences of people who could not spare a dime to donate to a political campaign. This is a historic milestone  but it is also not nearly enough.

Mr. Obamas August tally is the highest one-month presidential commutation total ever  even including those last-minute flurries of commutations and pardons presidents typically unleash during their final days in office. In a single month, Mr. Obama doubled the number of sentences he has shortened since taking office  to 673. His accelerating pace reflects an initiative to use the commutation power with more ambition than any modern president. His cumulative total is higher than that of the past 10 presidents combined.

The president has the power to shorten sentences in order to compensate for inequities in the justice system, an authority and responsibility that most neglect. Two years ago, the Obama Justice Department announced a program to encourage certain types of federal prisoners to petition for clemency. Mr. Obama chose to target inmates who are serving long sentences for nonviolent crimes, mostly drug-related, and who would be sentenced more leniently under current rules. The White House points out that more than a third of those the president has commuted were serving life sentences, even though they were relatively low-level offenders.

If society has determined that old sentences were too harsh for the crimes they were meant to punish, the interests of justice and good sense are served by reducing the sentences of those who have paid their debt. Over-incarcerating people is not just inhumane; it is also expensive. And, though crime has undoubtedly dropped over the past several decades during which many people were locked up, prioritizing the least threatening of inmates for early release makes the clemency initiative unlikely to harm public safety.

Yet even applying this principle is a massive undertaking. The announcement of the Justice Departments 2014 commutation initiative led to a huge increase in the number of petitions submitted. At the start of fiscal 2016, 9,115 commutation petitions were pending. Since then, 8,843 more have come in. As of the end of August, the Obama administration had closed 5,694 cases this year. Not all  probably not even close to a majority  of the prisoners who apply for clemency will fit the Justice Departments criteria. The Clemency Project, an umbrella organization for nonprofits working to prepare clemency applications, reports that it has submitted about 1,700 petitions that jibe with the Obama administrations criteria.

The Justice Department claims it can review every drug petition that has been submitted before Mr. Obama leaves office. The administration should be held to that promise. It should also remain open to petitions from non-drug offenders who, because of the clemency initiative, sent in applications. There may be some deserving files in that batch, too.
ON HIS way to East Asia this week, President Obama traveled to a secluded Hawaiian atoll far from his home town of Honolulu for a brief and deserved moment of celebration. The president announced last week that he is expanding the Papahanaumokuakea Marine National Monument, making it the largest protected wilderness area in the world. This act follows several other moves the president has taken late in his presidency to preserve wild lands and waters, many of which, including the Papahanaumokuakea expansion, have been controversial.

Balancing human needs with the necessity of conservation is always going to be tricky. But as people consider the costs and benefits, it is important to keep in mind that promoting biodiversity is not important simply because it protects cute mammals or beautiful fish. A study published in Science this summer found that more than half of the planets land has biodiversity levels so low they could endanger the human race.

The study relies on the concept of planetary boundaries  limits on the environmental changes Earth can experience before human safety is at risk. When an ecosystem loses 10 percent or more of its original species abundance, the authors say, it falls below a safe level for biodiversity. Fifty-eight percent of Earths land surface passes  or fails  that test. That poses a global threat to plant and animal life, and it could also jeopardize human development.

Though protecting ecosystems and their flora and fauna is important for its own sake, doing so has utilitarian value as well. The functions unharmed ecosystems perform for humankind  such as detoxifying waste, regulating disease-carrying organisms and supporting medical research  are worth trillions of dollars in global human welfare. Though the study did not cover sea resources, they are also crucial for recreation, regulating global systems, the food supply and many other things.

When ecosystems fail, crucial functions can fail with them: Agriculture, for example, relies on pollination that cannot take place in an unhealthy ecosystem. Biodiversity can also buffer the environment against climate change. The benefit-cost ratio of conserving the wild, scientists estimate, is 100 to 1.

A second study, presented in Nature last month, suggests that the biggest threats to biodiversity are over-exploitation  logging, fishing and hunting too much  as well as agriculture and urban development. Climate change is farther down the list but promises to become an even larger problem as the world warms.

Mr. Obamas second-term efforts highlight the importance of conservation, set a strong example for others and should ensure at least some environments remain pristine. Yet some of the worst practices are in the developing world; it is harder to order poor people to stop exploiting precious resources  and also harder to enforce such orders when they are issued. Part of getting the conservation balance right is considering whether roping off sections of land and water in the United States might simply lead to importing more from countries with worse practices. Encouraging other nations to take conservation seriously is essential, for their own good as well as everyone elses.
The Trump Taj Mahal casino resort, in Atlantic City, which was once owned by Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump and still bears his name, is to close, its current owners announced Aug. 3. (Jewel Samad/Agence France-Presse via Getty Images)

E.J. Dionne Jr.s Aug. 22 op-ed, Trumps sour Virginia cocktail, mentioned Zach Franz, a Republican self-described as a guy in his mid-30s who is pro-business and pro-whats best for our country, who is sticking with Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump. Franz justified his choice by saying, Its either no track record or bad track record, in my opinion. So, Id rather go with zero track record.

Last time I heard, Trump does have a track record  in business, apparently a sector dear to Franz  and that record is far from commendable.

Marilda Averbug, Potomac
Lie down with dogs, get up with fleas, the old saying goes. If so, Donald Trump should be awfully itchy.

Trump has just augmented his ever-changing cast of mostly second-string campaign operatives with a new deputy campaign manager, conservative activist David Bossie. A friend of mine for many years, Trump told my Post colleague Robert Costa. Solid. Smart. Loves politics, knows how to win.

Thats one way to put it. Win at any cost would be another, and thats being polite. If Bossies name doesnt ring a bell, youre lucky, because it means that you havent been immersed for the past two decades-plus in the mucky minutiae of the rights no-holds-barred war against Bill and Hillary Clinton.

This is a war in which Bossie has risen from foot soldier to general, in large part thanks to his willingness to do anything in pursuit of his prey. He is the Captain Ahab of Clinton haters.

Some highlights:

Back in 1992, Bossie was working with Floyd Brown, of Willie Horton 1988 campaign ad fame, on an anti-Clinton effort that included a phone line in which callers could pay $4.99 to hear supposed sex tapes between Bill Clinton and Gennifer Flowers. President George H.W. Bush denounced the tactic as the kind of sleaze that diminishes the political process and filed a Federal Election Commission complaint against the group, the Presidential Victory Commission.

Bossies particular contribution to this effort involved harassing friends and family of a former law student of Clintons, Susan Coleman, who had committed suicide. As reported by CBSs Eric Engberg, Bossies effort involved trying to prove that Coleman shot herself after having a sexual relationship with Clinton and becoming pregnant.

Bossie and another investigator pursued Colemans mother to an Army hospital where her husband was being treated for a stroke. Here the two men burst into the sick mans room, and began questioning the shaken mother about her daughters suicide, Engberg reported.

Five years later, reporter Lloyd Grove recounted in The Post, A chastened Bossie later told friends that the CBS story had made his grandmother cry.

Chastened? Not so much. Grove was writing about Bossie because he had landed himself back in the news, this time as a committee investigator for then-Republican Rep. Dan Burton (of Vince Foster was murdered and shooting a pumpkin, or maybe a melon, to prove it fame).

After working with Bossie for several months on the investigation into Clintons campaign fundraising, the committees chief counsel, John Rowley III, and two other staffers resigned. Rowley issued a public letter denouncing Bossies unrelenting, self-promoting actions.

Not since Roy Cohn  the bare-knuckled chief counsel for Sen. Joe McCarthy in the Red-hunting hearings of the 1950s  has a congressional staffer been so thoroughly demonized by his enemies, Grove wrote. The comparison is particularly striking in retrospect because post-McCarthy Cohn became Trumps lawyer.

Less than a year later, Burton was forced to apologize to his colleagues and Bossie resigned under pressure, after accusations that tapes of former Hillary Clinton law partner Webster Hubbell had been unfairly edited to exclude exculpatory comments about whether Clinton had known of his phony billing. (She had no idea, Hubbell said.)

In a closed-door Republican conference meeting, then-House Speaker Newt Gingrich told Burton he was embarrassed . . . at the circus that went on at your committee, The Post reported.

Since then, of course, Bossie, now at the helm of Citizens United, has continued his pursuit, now focused on Hillary. The Citizens United Supreme Court ruling grew out of his 2008 Hillary: The Movie.

My point is not that the Clintons are blameless  they arent  but that a candidate can be judged by the company he keeps and, especially, the individuals he hires. Trump has shed, sort of, Corey Lewandowski (recommended to him by, yes, Bossie) and Paul Manafort.

Now he has brought on Breitbart News Chairman Steve Bannon (recommended to him by, yes, Bossie) as the campaigns chief executive, and with him questions about Bannons voter registration at a vacant Florida house and charges, ultimately dismissed, of domestic abuse by his then-wife.

The grown-up in the room with Trump  at least the one whos not related to him  is campaign manager Kellyanne Conway, who has a reputation as a capable professional but has been praising her candidate for his supposed pivot . . . to substance and vowing, in regard to Clinton, were going to fight her on substance.

Uh-huh. Now comes Bossie, lauded by Conway as a battle-tested warrior and a brilliant strategist.

Scratch, scratch.

Read more from Ruth Marcuss archive, follow her on Twitter or subscribe to her updates on Facebook.
Farah Pandith was a political appointee in the George H.W. Bush, George W. Bush and Barack Obama administrations. She is an adjunct senior fellow at the Council on Foreign Relations.

While serving under Secretary Hillary Clinton as the State Departments first special representative to Muslim communities, I had a chance to visit with Muslims in almost 100 countries. This summer, as Donald Trumps anti-Muslim rhetoric dominates the headlines, I think back to one encounter, both powerful and troubling, that I had with a community in Cambodia.

We had driven for hours through the jungle on a hard-packed dirt road. Finally we reached a village  just a few modest buildings among the trees, including a simple mosque with whitewashed mud walls and a dirt-pressed floor. Sandals lined the walls, and straw mats served as our seats. Dozens of barefoot residents of this Muslim community crowded around.

I sat down on the floor beside a translator, and our conversation began. Audience members asked questions that, unfortunately, I had often heard in other communities. Are Muslims real U.S. citizens? Do Americans spit on you when they hear youre Muslim? Can Muslims wear headscarves in the United States? Can they pray, and if so, where? Wasnt 9/11 a setup by Jews to frame Muslims? How was I allowed to serve in government if I was a Muslim?

And then came a question I hadnt expected: Does Terry Jones really represent America?

Jones had been an obscure Florida preacher with a flock of fewer than 50. He first gained notoriety in 2010 when he announced his plan to burn Korans on the anniversary of the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks. A year later, he did burn the Muslim holy book, provoking international outrage and unrest that left dozens dead. Most Americans had forgotten all about him, if they had heard of him at all. But here in this remote pocket of Cambodia, the inhabitants had not only heard of him and remembered him by name. They also thought he spoke for America.

Today, instead of an obscure preacher openly disparaging Muslims and Islam, its the leader of one of the two main U.S. political parties, a man supported by about 40 percent of the population. He doesnt burn the Koran. Rather, he accuses a sitting president of having founded the so-called Islamic State terrorist organization. He denigrates the Muslim mother of a fallen U.S. soldier. He proclaims Islam a dire threat to the homeland. He proposes a ban on Muslims entering the United States. And, unlike Joness words, his are endlessly discussed in the mainstream media worldwide, week after painful week.

The United States wont soon repair the damage done by Trump to its image among Muslims. Weve spent billions since 9/11 trying to convey a clear picture of who we are as Americans and to convince Muslims that the United States is not at war with them.

President George W. Bush placed a Koran in the White House Library for the first time in U.S. history and created an envoy to the Organization of Islamic Cooperation. He visited U.S. mosques  right after Sept. 11 and later to rededicate the mosque where Dwight D. Eisenhower had laid the cornerstone . President Obama followed up his 2009 Cairo speech with an array of initiatives to bolster trust and engagement with Muslims. At a local level, our embassies have devoted countless hours to convincing Muslim populations that the United States believes in equality, religious freedom and respect.

Now, thanks to Trump, any goodwill we have generated has been largely diminished. In rural villages such as the one I visited in Cambodia and in large cities around the globe, Muslims will point to Trump as irrefutable evidence that the United States hates them and is at war with Islam.

This impression has real-world consequences that will translate directly into more terrorist attacks globally and more lives lost here at home. After spending more than a decade speaking to tens of thousands of Muslims, I have little doubt that the Islamic State and other groups will recruit more Muslim youths, thanks to Trumps anti-Muslim tirades and the consequent widespread belief that the United States is perpetrating a war against Islam. Indeed, the terrorists explicitly appeal to supporters and potential recruits by touting the war they are fighting against an America resolutely hostile to Muslims.

Trump may lose in November. But his bigoted words about Islam and his mythical narratives about the formation of the Islamic State will require hundreds of millions of dollars and many decades to neutralize.
Nidhi, Rawal trade barbs

Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Home Affairs Bimalendra Nidhi and CPN-UML leader Bhim Rawal, also a former deputy prime minister, were involved in an altercation once again on Friday, as the two senior leaders traded words over Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahals letter to his Indian counterpart Narendra Modi.
A voter casts his presidential ballot at a polling station on Staten Island in 2012. This year, not all political models agree on who the winner will be. (Keith Bedford/Reuters)

For those who wish this long and often dismal presidential campaign were over, help is already here. To the rescue have come the forecasters  political scientists with prediction models that have already called the election, in some cases many months ago.

Their work will soon be published collectively in the upcoming issue of the journal PS: Political Science and Politics. On Friday, a handful of the forecasters appeared in Philadelphia at the annual meeting of the American Political Science Association to offer their thoughts. Some of their analyses have been carried on Larry Sabatos Crystal Ball website at the University of Virginia.

Lost in the extraordinary amount of attention that has been focused on the strengths and weaknesses of Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump is the reality that the outcome of presidential elections often depends as much or more on fundamentals as on candidate performance. Its not that campaigns and candidates dont matter, but events play out against a backdrop of attitudes and conditions that often favors one side over the other from the very start.

[Few signs that Clinton that Clinton is doing well with Latinos  even against Trump]

James E. Campbell of the University at Buffalo offered an analogy of a card game to make this point. Everyone at the table is dealt a hand, he said in a recent phone interview. Some will play those hands better than others. Someone also might get lucky with a draw (the equivalent of a helpful outside event in a campaign). In the end, however, the player who was dealt the best hand has a greater chance of winning.

Sometimes there is unanimity  or close to it  among the political science models. Not this year. Most see Clinton as the winner, but at least two models project that, on Inauguration Day, it will be Trump taking the oath of office. The modelers are standing by their projections, though with varying degrees of confidence because Trump is a wild-card candidate. Two of the political scientists, because of their own political leanings, hope their models turn out to be wrong this year.

Campbell, who wrote the new book Polarized: Making Sense of a Divided America, has prepared the introduction and overview for the individual forecasts that will be published this fall. That introduction provides a quick tour of the kinds of underlying forces shaping this and all presidential campaigns.

This is an open-seat election, making a close outcome more likely than when an incumbent seeks a second term. Another force that suggests the 2016 winners margin should be relatively narrow is the depth of polarization in the country, which seems to have lowered the ceiling and raised the floor for each candidates support level in recent elections. A third factor pointing toward a close election is presidential approval. President Obamas is high enough to give Clinton some help, but not so high as to guarantee victory.

[The Republican National Committee is doubling its field staff. Will it be enough?]

Public opinion polls taken before the two party conventions have been other useful indicators for modelers. This year, they have pointed to a Democratic victory. But pointing in the other direction are indicators, often measured through economic performance, that suggest frustration with the incumbent party. The countrys foul mood and the economys slow growth should help Republicans this year.

The early signs and readings of the context in which the campaigns will be run would suggest that 2016 was shaping up with a tilt to the Republicans until they nominated the bombastic Donald Trump, Campbell writes. It was not a sure thing for the Republicans before their nomination and it . . . does not appear to be a sure thing for the Democrats after the Republicans astonishing nomination. But Campbell calls that conclusion loose conjecture and says that the forecast models  no two alike  offer a more detailed projection of the outcome on Nov. 8.

One model, by Robert Erikson of Columbia University and Chris Wlezien of the University of Texas, points to Clinton winning with 52 percent of the two-party popular vote. (Actual vote percentages for Clinton and Trump will be lower because of the presence of Libertarian Gary Johnson and the Green Partys Jill Stein on the ballot.) That model combines post-convention polls with the results from the index of leading economic indicators.

These 10 states are in play in the 2016 election. Here is where they're polling as of August and how much weight they'll have in November. (Sarah Parnass/The Washington Post)

Michael Lewis-Beck of the University of Iowa and Charles Tien of Hunter College also see a Clinton victory, with just 51 percent of the two-party popular vote. Tien said that translates to a narrow electoral college majority for Clinton of 274 votes.

Andreas Graefe of LMU Munich and J. Scott Armstrong of the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania cite four different models, all of which point to a victory by Clinton larger than some of the other forecasts.

One outlier is Helmut Norpoth of Stony Brook University. His model takes into account sentiment for a change in parties, but most important, and unusual, is his reliance on performance by the major-party candidates during the early presidential primaries, in this case New Hampshire and South Carolina. On that basis, he predicted last spring that Trump would win the election and said the prediction came with an 87 percent certainty.

When I spoke with Norpoth a few days ago, he was admittedly nervous. I do worry. . . . Im clearly sort of the odd man out, he said. But, he added, its not a foregone conclusion that hes [Trump] going down the tubes.

Alan Abramowitz of Emory University uses what he calls a Time for Change Forecasting Model. His model does not rely on polling data but instead takes into account the incumbent presidents approval rating at midyear, the growth rate of real gross domestic product in the second quarter of the election year and whether the incumbent presidents party has held the White House for one term or more than a term.

On that basis, his model predicts a narrow victory for Trump. But Abramowitz also suggests that Trump could underperform. A model like mine that relies entirely on fundamentals is likely to miss the result because Trump is such an atypical candidate, he said.

Abramowitz, who has been openly critical of Trump this year, said he would rather his model be wrong this time. In his paper, he writes: The Time for Change model will most likely make its first incorrect prediction in 2016. I will not be upset.

Campbell has the same mixed emotions about his two forecasts, each of which combines economic data with polling data. One of his forecasts, based in part on the effect of the conventions, projects Clinton as a narrow winner. His second model awaits post-Labor Day polling results but is pointing toward the same outcome.

Frankly, I dont like my forecasts from the standpoint of politics, he said. Im a conservative Republican and Im predicting that Clinton will win the election.

Campbell said that, during most election years, he prepares his own campaign memorabilia to share with friends. This year its a bumper sticker, and it captures the frustrations of an electorate that is not happy with the two major-party candidates. The first line says, My candidate is an idiot,  he said. The second line is, Your candidate is worse. 

There are other predictors of the 2016 election, including those based entirely on polling data, including Nate Silvers FiveThirtyEight.com and the New York Timess Upshot. And then there are some benchmarks that have had a string of successes. As Erikson noted, Since 1952, the person leading two weeks after the second convention has never lost the popular vote.

That group, of course, includes Al Gore. He was the forecasters favorite in 2000, with models predicting a solid Gore victory. Gore did manage to win the popular vote but never made it to the White House. Even the best models cant account for every possibility.
In an effort to flip the script and court African American voters, Republican nominee Donald Trump is trying to broaden his appeal by attending Saturday service at a black church in Detroit. While some welcome his presence, many prominent African American pastors in the community are less enthused and more skeptical of his intentions. (Alice Li/The Washington Post)

In an effort to flip the script and court African American voters, Republican nominee Donald Trump is trying to broaden his appeal by attending Saturday service at a black church in Detroit. While some welcome his presence, many prominent African American pastors in the community are less enthused and more skeptical of his intentions. (Alice Li/The Washington Post)

Donald Trump made a brief visit Saturday morning to a black church in the heart of this majority-black city, the latest step in his faltering and often awkward effort to soften the edges of a candidacy hardened by racially tinged appeals that have resonated primarily with white Republicans.

In what the pastor said was Trumps first visit to an African American church, the GOP presidential nominee swayed to gospel music, held a baby, accepted a prayer shawl and told the congregation he was there to listen to their concerns. Then he left the service before it was half over, and briefly visited the childhood home of former rival Ben Carson before jetting out of town.

Our nation is too divided, Trump said at Great Faith Ministries International Church, reading from a script to a congregation that half-filled the sanctuary but greeted him with polite applause. We talk past each other, not to each other. And those who seek office do not do enough to step into the community and learn whats going on. They dont know. They have no clue.

It was another jarring shift in tone and message for a GOP nominee who has weaved back and forth in recent attempts to appeal to African Americans and other minority groups who overwhelmingly oppose him, while holding fast to sharp criticism of the Black Lives Matter movement, calls for tougher policing tactics and a plan to forcibly eject millions of undocumented immigrants from the country.

[Inside Donald Trumps new strategy to counter the view that he is racist]

1 of 60 Full Screen Autoplay Close Skip Ad  What Donald Trump is doing on the campaign trail View Photos The GOP presidential nominee 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.

While several members of Great Faith Ministries said they were impressed that Trump visited their church and are willing to consider him, others were skeptical of his motives.

When somebody wants something from you, and they say the right words  I would have liked to hear him say those things before he wanted something, said Kim Witten, who has belonged to the church for 20 years and usually votes for Democrats, although she is still praying about this election. It was a very good speech. Whoever helped him did a good job on it. But I know that he wants something, so its hard for me to 100 percent agree.

But Nathan Liverman, 29, a Detroit small-business owner who wore a Hillary for Prison T-shirt under his blazer to the service, said that you could feel it was authentic, that it was to heart.

I think people learned from Trump is that hes a person that has a heart, thats really authentic and is very open, he said. I think it was a learning experience on both sides.

Before the 1930s, most African Americans were registered Republicans and voted that way. But they have voted overwhelmingly for Democratic presidential candidates starting in 1936, when Franklin D. Roosevelt got 71 percent of the black vote, and peaking at 96 percent for Barack Obamas election as the first African American president in 2008.

Republican John McCain received 4 percent of the black vote in 2008 and Mitt Romney won 6 percent in 2012. In an average of Washington Post-ABC News polls for July and August, Trump had the support of 3 percent of black voters, while Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton was at 91 percent.

Outside the church on Saturday, local Democrats and a group of local faith leaders held news conferences to denounce Trump as divisive. A few hundred protesters gathered, with some carrying signs reading: Mr. Hate, Leave My State and Stop the racist! At one point, the crowd chanted, No KKK!

For several weeks, Trump has made an aggressive appeal to black voters  and to moderate white Republicans  by accusing Clinton and her party of pushing policies that have produced only poverty, joblessness, failing schools and broken homes in inner cities. Trump has promised to quickly fix the problems, boasting during one recent rally in a white suburb of Lansing, Mich., At the end of four years, I guarantee you that I will get over 95 percent of the African American vote, I promise you.

[Trump calls Democrats the party of slavery and Jim Crow]

Detroit Mayor Mike Duggan (D) said Saturday he was frustrated by Trumps sweeping promises to instantly end poverty and crime in major cities like his. Such problems cannot be blamed only on Democrats who dominate these cities, he said, but also on Republicans at the state and federal levels who have created policies that are also a factor.

We fight every day to bring down the violence rate, and we are making progress  and when you stand up and say, I and only I can stop crime in cities in America, tell us how you are going to do it, Duggan said at a news conference in a vacant lot near the church Trump visited. Sounds like he has some mystical, magical method that hes going to reveal to America sometime after his election.

As reporters asked Duggan and Rep. Brenda Lawrence (D-Mich.) questions, a local activist jumped in.

How is it that Donald Trump can come up into the city of Detroit today to speak at the church across the street  the streets are blocked off for half a mile that way or half a mile that way? asked Agnes Hitchcock, 70, who lives within walking distance of the church. So how is it that he gets to come up in here, in peace, and walk up to those doors and pretend that hes here to talk to black people?

Great Faith Ministries sits on a busy industrial road lined with abandoned stores and overgrown empty lots dotted with wildflowers and tires. In the surrounding neighborhood, there were a few homes that had been carefully maintained but many more were boarded up, burned out or had more broken windows than intact ones.

Trump arrived at about 10:25 a.m. with a motorcade of more than two dozen motorcycles and 10 black SUVs. Armed law enforcement officers stood on nearby rooftops, and police officers on the ground yelled at curious locals to get back as they tried to get a glimpse of the GOP nominee.

[How Trump got from Point A to Point A on immigration]

Inside the church, Trump met privately with prominent church members and did an interview with Bishop Wayne T. Jackson, the church pastor who also owns a Christian broadcasting network. The interview is expected to air Thursday.

I just wrote this the other day, knowing Id be here, Trump said in his remarks to the congregation, and I mean it from the heart and Id like to just read it and I think maybe youll understand it better than I do.

Trump praised African American churches for being one of Gods greatest gifts to America and to its people and the conscience of our country, especially in leading the civil rights movement.

The remarks were heavy on messages of unity and did not include any direct political attacks. The crowd applauded vigorously several times when Trump praised Jackson and his family, with more scattered clapping at other moments.

Trump called for parents to have more choice in their public schools and promised to create more jobs, the kind that pay well and are enjoyable. He told the crowd that he knows the African American community is suffering, and he pledged to help rebuild Detroit.

I am here to listen to you, and I am doing that, Trump said at one point.

Some black political activists and voters from both parties have long made an argument similar to Trumps: that Democrats have not done enough to help African Americans who loyally give the party their votes.

But Trumps approach in recent weeks has been widely criticized for broadly stereotyping minorities and for suggesting that he could instantly solve generations-old problems of poverty and violence. Until Saturday, Trump had turned down repeated invitations to address African American audiences.

Many black voters are also angry that Trump built his political brand by attacking the qualifications of the countrys first black president. Trump was a leader in the birther movement, accusing President Obama of not being born in the country, demanding to see the presidents birth certificate and academic records and wondering aloud if Obama was qualified to attend the Ivy League schools that accepted him.

The message is legitimate, but the messenger is completely illegitimate  thats the irony, said Van Jones, a political activist and commentator. African Americans have grumbled quietly for decades about our votes being taken for granted by Democrats, with us giving them 90 percent of our votes and getting one percent of the results that we need. But Donald Trump is not the right person to raise it because of his belligerence toward President Obama from Day One and the way hes raising it. If anything, it will take him from 2 percent black support to zero percent black support.

[Clinton, Trump exchange racially charged accusations]

Tristin Wilkerson, co-founder of the nonpartisan Black and Brown People Vote activist group, said Trumps message is hard to receive because he has been so flat-out disrespectful and inconsiderate of African Americans and people of color and their contributions to this country.

But Nina Turner, a former state senator in Ohio who was an outspoken backer of Sen. Bernie Sanders of Vermont during the Democratic primaries, said that although she does not support Trump, he has a point about the Democratic Party and black voters.

Even though its coming from him it doesnt make it wrong, Turner said. He is raising a legitimate concern in the African American community.

After leaving the church here around noon, Trump, Carson and an entourage of black surrogates made a brief stop at a bungalow in southwest Detroit where Carson grew up. Trump briefly spoke with the current owner, Felicia Reese, noting that Carson had made her home famous.

This house is worth a lot of money! Trump exclaimed.

He then hopped into the back seat of a SUV headed to the airport.

Williams reported from Washington.
Indiana Gov. Mike Pence, the Republican vice-presidential nominee, speaks to supporters on Tuesday at the Dalton Convention Center in Dalton, Ga. (Matt Hamilton/AP)

Indiana Gov. Mike Pence, the Republican vice-presidential nominee, said Saturday that he would release his tax returns in the next week, but he was less clear about the timeline for his running mate, Donald Trump.

Donald Trump and I are both going to release our tax returns. Ill release mine in the next week, Pence said in an interview taped for NBCs Meet the Press.

But Pence maintained, as Trump has for months, that a federal audit is responsible for delaying the release of the businessmans documents.

Donald Trump will be releasing his tax returns at the completion of an audit, he said.

When pressed by moderator Chuck Todd, Pence would not specify whether Trump would share his statements with the public before the election.

Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump picked Indiana Gov. Mike Pence (R) as his running mate  but the two have some big differences to work out. (Peter Stevenson/The Washington Post)

Well, well see, Pence said.

Pence has long hinted that voters should expect his returns to be modest, especially compared with his wealthy partner on the GOP ticket.

I promise you, when my [federal financial disclosure] forms are filed and when my tax returns are released, its going to be a quick read, Pence recently told WABCs Rita Cosby. I can assure you and your listeners the Pences have not become more wealthy as a result of 16 years in public service. Theres been a lot of sacrifices. Were a middle-class family.

Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton and her vice-presidential pick, Sen. Tim Kaine (D-Va.), released several years of tax forms last month.

It has been a tradition for more than a half-century for major-party nominees to release their tax returns.

Although Trump is being audited by the Internal Revenue Service, the IRS has not asked the Republican to hold off on disclosure. That decision was made by Trump and his attorneys.

In the NBC interview, Pence took several shots at Clinton, calling her the most dishonest candidate for president of the United States since Richard Nixon.

Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump campaigned in Des Moines on Aug. 5. (The Washington Post)

Pence went on to say that the way Clinton used a private server while serving as secretary of state truly does disqualify her from serving as president of the United States.
In an effort to flip the script and court African American voters, Republican nominee Donald Trump is trying to broaden his appeal by attending Saturday service at a black church in Detroit. While some welcome his presence, many prominent African American pastors in the community are less enthused and more skeptical of his intentions. (Alice Li/The Washington Post)

In an effort to flip the script and court African American voters, Republican nominee Donald Trump is trying to broaden his appeal by attending Saturday service at a black church in Detroit. While some welcome his presence, many prominent African American pastors in the community are less enthused and more skeptical of his intentions. (Alice Li/The Washington Post)

Some black political activists and voters have long made the same argument that Donald Trump and his surrogates have been pushing in recent weeks: that the Democratic Party takes African American support for granted and has not done enough to earn such strong loyalty from black voters.

But the point has not resonated for Trump in part because of the Republican nominees history of racially divisive actions and comments and the caustic tone of his presidential campaign.

Instead, Trumps appeals have ignited anger and outrage, especially because of the bleak portrait of black life in America  desperately poor and violent  that he presents while speaking before predominantly white audiences.

You live in poverty, your schools are no good, you have no jobs, 58 percent of your youth is unemployed  what the hell do you have to lose? Trump said at a recent rally.

The near-universal condemnation of that pitch shows how much his campaign has alienated African Americans and how difficult it will be for him to attract even minimal black support.

Tristan Wilkerson, co-founder of Black and Brown People Vote, a nonpartisan political activism project, said Trumps appeals to voters of color is just a step from mockery.

Even if a candidate like Donald Trump was telling the truth about the conditions in some impoverished communities of color, its hard to receive it because he has been so flat-out disrespectful and inconsiderate of African Americans and people of color and their contributions to this country, Wilkerson said. The truth falls on deaf ears when you lack integrity.

[Inside Donald Trumps new strategy to counter the view that he is racist]

On Saturday, Trump visited a black church in Detroit  his first campaign event that could feature a large audience of African Americans. So far, the business executive has declined invitations to speak for black groups, and his recent appeals to black voters have been made in front of overwhelmingly white audiences.

The candidate was expected to meet with members of the congregation at Great Faith Ministries International and do a one-on-one interview with Bishop Wayne T. Jackson, the pastor of the church. No media was expected to be present for the interview, which will air later on Impact Network, a Christian-oriented cable network owned by Jackson.

Earlier this week, another black minister, Mark Burns, a Trump surrogate from South Carolina, set off a new round of condemnation when he tweeted a cartoon of Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton in blackface with the words: Black Americans, THANK YOU FOR YOUR VOTES and letting me use you again..See you again in four years. After initially resisting calls for an apology, Burns said he regretted using the image but stood by his contention that Clinton and other Democrats take black voters for granted.

1 of 60 Full Screen Autoplay Close Skip Ad  What Donald Trump is doing on the campaign trail View Photos The GOP presidential nominee 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.

The message is legitimate, but the messenger is completely illegitimate  thats the irony, said Van Jones, a political activist and commentator. African Americans have grumbled quietly for decades about our votes being taken for granted by Democrats, with us giving them 90 percent of our votes and getting 1 percent of the results that we need. But Donald Trump is not the right person to raise it because of his belligerence toward President Obama from Day One and the way hes raising it. If anything, it will take him from 2 percent black support to 0 percent black support.

Donna Brazile, interim chair of the Democratic National Committee, has rejected Trumps characterization of the relationship between the party and black voters.

The Democratic Party will never take the votes and concerns of African Americans for granted, she said. We work hard to make sure that all voices are represented. I am proud that our senior leadership at the DNC looks like America and that our outreach to the African American community is a hallmark of our work here.

[Trump calls Democrats the party of slavery and Jim Crow]

Brazile also argued that the party has delivered results for African Americans, pointing to falling unemployment, health insurance overhauls and fights to ensure voter access at the polls.

Ashley Bell, the Republican Partys director of African American political engagement, and Omarosa Manigault, Trumps director of African American outreach, did not respond to requests for comment.

Before the 1930s, most African Americans were registered Republicans and voted that way. But they have voted overwhelmingly for Democratic presidential candidates starting in 1936, when Franklin D. Roosevelt got 71 percent of the black vote, and peaking at 96 percent for then-Sen. Barack Obamas election as the first African American president in 2008.

Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) received 4 percent of the black vote in 2008, and Republican Mitt Romney, former governor of Massachusetts, won 6 percent in 2012.

In recent decades, African Americans have viewed the Republican Party as intolerant toward minorities and the poor. That perception has hardened with the partys criticism of Obama in the past eight years.

But African Americans have voted in significant numbers for Republicans in state and local races. For instance Ohio Gov. John Kasich (R) got the support of 26 percent of black voters when he ran for reelection in 2014.

In an average of Washington Post-ABC News polls for July and August, Trump had the support of 3 percent of black voters, while Clinton had 91 percent.

Marlon Marshall, director of state campaigns and political outreach for the Clinton campaign, said in an interview last week, We do not take African American support for granted. He cited various efforts to engage black voters, such as African American surrogates stumping at barber shops and beauty salons, churches and college campuses as well as Clintons appearances this year in front of the NAACP, the National Urban League and at a joint national meeting of more than 3,000 black and Hispanic journalists.

[Clinton isnt doing better than previous Democrats with Latinos  even against Trump

Trump turned down invitations to speak to each of those groups, which Wilkerson called ridiculous. But he also criticized the Democratic Partys outreach efforts as rather traditional, what you would expect  hit the churches. What about the folks who dont go to church?

Nina Turner, a former state senator in Ohio who was an outspoken surrogate for Sen. Bernie Sanders (Vt.) during the Democratic primaries, said Trump has a point about the Democratic Party and black voters.

Even though its coming from him, it doesnt make it wrong, Turner said. He is raising a legitimate concern in the African American community.

What bothers her most, she said, is that neither party is asking the African American community what we want and what we need. They are telling us what we need, and that goes for both sides.

Wilkerson said he knows some Republican strategists are upset with how Trump has driven away voters of color from the party, which worked to recruit more black and Latino candidates and party leaders after the 2012 election. He also said more young, black voters are registering as independents and showing support for Green Party candidate Jill Stein, whose running mate is African American.

As the percentage of people of color continues to grow and changes the face of the electorate, Wilkerson said, its pivotal that every campaign court black and brown people and every national political party, especially the two major parties, compete for an electorate that is growing too fast to not consider.

Jenna Johnson in Detroit contributed to this report.
NEW JERSEY

1 dead, officer hurt in

shooting near casino

One police officer remains in critical condition and one suspect is dead in an exchange of gunfire outside an Atlantic City casino early Saturday.

The shooting happened around 2:30 a.m. after two officers saw a robbery being committed near a parking garage at Caesars casino. Two suspects were in custody Saturday night.

Authorities said the officers saw three men trying to rob three others. The wounded officer was shot and injured as he left his vehicle. The second officer returned fire and struck one of the suspects, who was found dead a short distance away. He was identified as Jerome Damon, 25, of Camden.

On Saturday night, police arrested Martell Chisholm, 19, of Millville, and Demetrius Cross, 28, of Bridgeton, in connection with the shooting. Acting Atlantic County Prosecutor Diane Ruberton said they are each being held on two counts of attempted murder, three counts of robbery and weapons offenses.

 Associated Press

NORTH CAROLINA

Fate of red wolves

to be decided soon

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service plans to announce this month whether it will maintain, modify or abandon a 30-year effort to return red wolves to the wild in eastern North Carolina.

Meanwhile, conservationists say that the agency is already neglecting its duty and have asked a federal judge to step in. A Sept. 14 hearing is scheduled on their efforts to block what they say are harmful or lethal ways of removing wolves from private land.

Conservationists say that the preliminary injunction is needed to halt population declines that have left between 45 and 60 animals roaming the wild. The wild population peaked at approximately 130 a decade ago and stayed above 100 for years, according to court documents.

Our hope is that the agency will recommit to the population as a whole and the program as a whole. This injunction is really just to stop the bleeding, said Sierra Weaver, a lawyer for the Southern Environmental Law Center. The idea is to make sure we still have a red wolf population to recover by the time we get to the end of this litigation.

Once common around the Southeast, the red wolf had been considered extinct in the wild as of 1980. Releases of red wolves that were bred in captivity started in 1987.

 Associated Press

Dinkins says he didnt know he hit bicyclist: Former New York mayor David Dinkins said he was unaware that he had struck a bicyclist with his car. Dinkins made the claim in response to a lawsuit filed Friday that says he left the scene after striking a bicycle deliveryman June 30. Dinkins said in a statement Saturday that he was driving his wife to the hospital when a man told him that Dinkinss car had been hit by a bicycle. Dinkins said he later returned to the scene but didnt find anyone there. The lawyer for the alleged victim, Rodrigo Garcia, said Dinkinss car clipped Garcias bike, throwing him to the ground and breaking his ankle.

Two officers shot in Calif. jail lobby: Two unarmed officers were critically injured after they were shot by a visitor in the lobby of a jail in central California, authorities said Saturday. Correctional Officers Juanita Davila and Toamalama Scanlan were shot during a struggle with a man who was pacing near a secure area of the Fresno County jail.

Pipeline protest leads to clash: A protest of a four-state oil pipeline Saturday turned violent after tribal officials say construction crews destroyed American Indian burial and cultural sites in southern North Dakota. A sheriffs office spokeswoman said four security guards and two guard dogs were injured in a confrontation outside the Standing Rock Sioux reservation. A tribe spokesman said protesters reported that six people had been bitten by security dogs and that at least 30 people were pepper-sprayed.

More than 1,000 rush stage: Police in Philadelphia said they had to clear an outdoor concert stage after more than 1,000 people rushed it during a Labor Day weekend show, the Budweiser Made in America Festival. There were no arrests.

 From news services
Students at Pretoria High School for Girls in South Africa protested after black students were told to "fix" their hair. Here's what happened. (Victoria Walker/The Washington Post)

Students at Pretoria High School for Girls in South Africa protested after black students were told to "fix" their hair. Here's what happened. (Victoria Walker/The Washington Post)

In recent years, staff members at the prestigious Pretoria High School for Girls in South Africas administrative capital had taken to telling black students to fix their hair, according to some current and former pupils. Exactly what fix meant depended on who was issuing the order, the young women said: Some were told to use chemical straighteners, while others got a reminder about the school rule limiting cornrows, dreadlocks and braids to a centimeter or less in diameter.

To many of them, nothing needed fixing in the first place.

Last month, propelled by the long-simmering belief that such criticisms were discriminatory, a group of current students took action. Protests were staged on the leafy, gated campus over the hair fracas and other incidents reported at the school, including teachers allegedly discouraging students from speaking African languages.

Images of the demonstrations went viral, sparking fresh concerns over lingering discrimination in South Africas classrooms and beyond. As the hashtag #StopRacismAtPretoriaGirlsHigh circulated on social media, reports of a hair crackdown at another school surfaced, this one involving a student in the city of Port Elizabeth who said she was warned she might not be able to sit for exams because of her Afro.

Outrage over the Pretoria girls claims is part of a broader debate that has gained traction in South Africa in the past year. The staff members alleged behavior capped a string of racially charged incidents  including a white woman calling black beachgoers monkeys in a Facebook post  that have raised hard questions about the pace of change in race-related policies and attitudes here more than 20 years after apartheid ended.

After the protests, thousands of people signed an online petition supporting the students, leading to a suspension of the schools hair regulations. (Twitter)

[Death of two black farmers prompts a racial reckoning in South Africa]

They go around posting signs about the ethos of equality for all the girls at the school, but that is not true, said one 15-year-old student. It feels like they dont want to accept the fact that were African.

Its degrading, said a classmate, also 15, noting that the students protests were about much more than rules on hair. If we dont stick up for ourselves, no ones going to.

Both students spoke on the condition of anonymity for fear of reprisals from teachers.

After thousands signed an online petition supporting the Pretoria students, the head of Gauteng provinces education department met with students, parents and staff at the school this week to hear the students claims. The department later ordered the code of conduct clause dealing with hairstyles to be suspended.

The code includes a long list of rules governing students general appearance. Its hairstyle guidelines had stipulated that all hair must be brushed, tied back in a neat ponytail if long enough, and that cornrows, natural dreadlocks, and singles/braids . . . are allowed, provided they are a maximum of 10mm in diameter.

The provincial education department also ordered an inquiry into the students claims of racial discrimination and said the mocking of learners hairstyles and the mocking of African learners usage of their mother tongue must stop.

A girl protesting the hairstyle code at Pretoria High School for Girls last month is shown in this photo posted on Twitter, one of many that went viral on the social media site after black students claimed the rule constituted racial discrimination. (Twitter)

Some see the students allegations as a depressing sign that the promises of the Rainbow Nation  a term coined by Archbishop Desmond Tutu that came to encapsulate the hopes of a post-apartheid South Africa  are going unfulfilled for its youngest citizens.

Its not about just schools, said Yvette Raphael, a human rights advocate for young women and girls who attended one of the protests. The Rainbow Nation is not a true thing. Its not reality. . . . Behind closed doors, some of things of pre-1994 are still happening.

Pretoria High School for Girls, founded in 1902, was an all-white school under apartheid, despite its founding headmistresss vision of it as a place where girls of different races and different denominations might meet in that commonwealth of letters. The school admitted its first black, non-diplomatic pupils in 1991, according to its website.

The school, which said it could not speak to the media when contacted for comment, has said in a statement that it will work closely with the government to resolve the issues which were raised in this weeks meeting.

Nomfundo Parkies, whose daughter is among the schools black students, said she appreciates the institutions disciplined environment but that its rules should be considerate.

Theres a serious need for an attitude change, she said as she waited to pick her daughter up after classes. We see it everywhere. Its not surprising that its coming out here.

South African Basic Education Minister Angie Motshekga said she didnt consider anything in the schools code controversial. Those are standard rules that you find in most codes of conduct, she told the public broadcaster SABC.

They look innocent, she said about the rules. Its perhaps in the implementation where difficulties came.

Other government officials, however, have been less equivocal in their concern.

Schools should not be used as a platform to discourage students from embracing their African Identity. #StopRacismAtPretoriaGirlsHigh, Arts and Culture Minister Nathi Mthethwa tweeted Monday.

He also tweeted: To assert our language & hair, is to assert ones cultural belonging. Schools must embrace cultural diversity #StopRacismAtPretoriaGirlsHigh.

The South African Institute of Race Relations welcomed the governments decision to investigate students claims.

The allegations shouldnt be taken lightly, said Salaminah Kelebogile Leepile, a spokeswoman for the think tank, adding, We need sufficient information from all parties.

The widespread attention that the Pretoria events have generated may prompt other schools to take a closer look at what is happening in their own classrooms, according to Melissa Steyn, chair in Critical Diversity Studies at the University of the Witwatersrand in Johannesburg.

People become complacent with things as they are, until there is a sense of urgency, she said. A lot of schools are doing some very quick footwork to fix up their own policies.

In Johannesburg, Parktown High School for Girls said this week it has decided to amend its rules to ensure that all girls attend school feeling comfortable with what they consider to be their natural hair.

We do not have a problem with hairstyles, Anthea Cereseto, the schools headmistress, said in an email. We believe the hair issue is the superficial manifestation of something deeper in the country which needs to be dealt with.

Read more:

South Africa still struggling to fulfill Mandelas hopes and dreams

Todays coverage from Post correspondents around the world
NT tower construction moving at snails pace

Nepal Telecoms (NT) tower construction works have been moving at snails pace, affecting a large number of consumers.
Migrant women from Nigeria are rescued from a small boat bound for Italy, about 17 miles north of Sabratha, Libya, on Aug. 28. (Emilio Morenatti/AP)

Toward the end of summer, warmer weather and calmer seas have brought a spike in attempted migrant passages across the Mediterranean, many of them life-threatening.

This past week, the Italian coast guard reported rescuing approximately 6,500 migrants off the Libyan coast as part of the summer spike along the central Mediterranean route, from North Africa to the Italian peninsula and its outer islands.

The incident was the latest in a long summer of similar occurrences in which makeshift and ill-equipped boats have frequently capsized in dangerous waters. Drownings have been reported for months off the coasts of Cyprus, Sicily and Libya.

The summer of 2016 has marked a dark new chapter in Europes migrant crisis, the largest in European history since the upheavals of 1945, with more than a million people having arrived on the continent in the past year alone.

The numbers of migrants from the Middle East and Africa who have made these sea crossings to European ports  mostly in Greece and Italy  have gradually declined this year. Despite the lower numbers, fatalities have actually risen.





[More shipwrecks in Mediterranean claim migrants lives, spur recriminations]

According to the International Organization for Migration, nearly 280,000 migrants and refugees entered Europe by sea in the first eight months of 2016, compared with nearly 355,000 in the same period last year.

But through the end of August, more than 3,000 migrants and refugees have drowned in the Mediterranean, at least 500 more than at this point last year, the IOM reports.

In a year that has seen the European Union confronted with some of its greatest challenges since its establishment, many have begun to consider these fatalities as inevitable collateral damage in a continent preoccupied with processing migrants when they arrive and the aftermath of Britains vote to leave the E.U. altogether.

The composition of the Brussels-based bloc often has impeded any comprehensive, unified plan for processing migrants who come by sea. And Frontex, the E.U.s border-control agency, relies on particular member states to provide the equipment and vessels the agency needs in the Mediterranean. As a result, migrant rescues in the Mediterranean have been conducted largely through a combination of governmental and nongovernmental initiatives, with the coast guards of Libya and Italy and organizations such as Doctors Without Borders and Greenpeace carrying out search operations.

According to Marc Pierini, a former E.U. ambassador to Libya and Syria, in theory the E.U. has sought cooperation from African states in curbing the flow of migrants, but certain governments are reluctant to take any actions that curb an emerging people-smuggling trade that has proved lucrative.

A lot of people are making money along the way, he said. Not only in terms of repression costs, but on top of that, the flow of illegal money is huge compared to the national wealth.

You have to compare this phenomenon to growing cocaine in cocaine-producing countries, he said. Theres nothing legal that matches the money that people can make growing illegal stuff. That is the hard reality.

[Migrant exchange: Turkey accepts mass returns but sends Syrians to Europe]

Meanwhile, along the other major migrant sea route into Europe  from the Middle East through the eastern Mediterranean and into the Greek islands  this past week saw more than 460 migrants and refugees arrive on the islands of Lesbos and Kos.

In a landmark deal that the E.U. signed with Turkey in March, this route was supposed to be closed in exchange for the E.U. considering visa liberalization for Turks seeking to live and work in Europe, as well as the prospect of Turkeys admission to the 28-member bloc.

After the attempted coup against the Turkish government in July, the deal may no longer stand. European officials have objected to alleged human rights abuses by the Turkish government, and Turkey is frustrated that visa liberalization, five months after the agreement, has not been granted.

Under the terms of the deal, migrants who crossed from Turkey to Greece without proper documentation are supposed to be returned to Turkey, unless they have successfully applied for asylum in Europe.

An E.U. official involved in migration and counterterrorism talks said that this past weeks spike in migrant arrivals in Greece did not necessarily suggest a Turkish abandonment of the March agreement.

I dont think its an effect of the coup, said the official, who spoke on the condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to speak publicly. I know theyre putting the visa liberalization on the table at the moment, but I havent seen any effect in numbers.

On Friday, E.U. ministers arrived in Bratislava, Slovakia, for informal talks with Turkish officials to discuss the political developments in Turkey as well as the future of the countrys relations with the E.U.

Read more

Europes harsh new message for migrants: Do not come

E.U. may levy heavy fines against member states that defy directives on migrants

Central European countries resist new E.U. refugee quota proposal

Todays coverage from Post correspondents around the world
The problems began as soon as President Obama landed in China.

There were no stairs waiting for him to emerge from his usual door at the front of Air Force One.

On the tarmac, as Obamas staffers scrambled to get lower-level stairs in place for him to disembark, White House press photographers traveling with him tried to get in their usual position to mark his arrival in a foreign country, only to find a member of the Chinese welcoming delegation screaming at them.

He told the White House press corps that they needed to leave.

A White House official tried to intervene, saying, essentially, this is our president and our plane and the media isnt moving.

The man yelled in response, This is our country!

The man then entered into a testy exchange with Obamas national security adviser, Susan E. Rice, and her deputy, Ben Rhodes, while trying to block them from moving toward the front of the plane.

[Obama heads to Asia with his biggest foreign policy push hanging in the balance]

On what is probably his last visit to China, for a Group of 20 summit here, there were flare-ups and simmering tensions throughout  a fitting reflection of how the relationship between these two world powers has become frayed and fraught with frustration. Over the past seven years, strained ties with China have colored and come to define Obamas foreign policy in Asia.

On Saturday, several White House protocol officers and other staff members arriving at a diplomatic compound ahead of Obamas meetings were stopped from entering and had heated arguments with Chinese officials before they could get in.

The president is arriving here in an hour, one White House staffer was overheard saying in exasperation.

A fistfight nearly broke out between a Chinese official trying to help the U.S. diplomats and a Chinese security official trying to keep them out. Calm down, please. Calm down, another White House official pleaded.

Twenty minutes before the arrival of Obama and Chinese President Xi Jinping, the two sides were still arguing in the room where the two leaders would soon be touting their cooperation. The Chinese insisted that there was not enough space for the 12 American journalists traveling with Obama. U.S. officials insisted that there was, pointing to a spacious area sectioned off for the media and citing arrangements negotiated long in advance.

For all the skirmishes, in the days leading up to the trip, White House officials gave a much rosier depiction of the U.S.-China relationship, talking up mutual efforts such as a deal to address climate change.

But in so many other areas, the worlds two largest economic powers have failed to bridge increasing hostilities and intractable disputes over maritime issues, cybersecurity, trade and human rights. The yelling and screaming Saturday in many ways illustrated just how differently both sides view their roles  and how little has changed since Obamas troubled first visit in 2009.

[How Chinas ratifying the Paris climate deal could be bad for Donald Trump]

High hopes turn to pivot

Obama began with high hopes of improving U.S.-China relations. In 2009, he tried reaching out to Chinese leaders with offers of increased engagement. He decided not to meet with the Dalai Lama to avoid angering Beijing, to the disappointment of human rights advocates. Obama became the first U.S. president to visit China during his first year in office. But his administration was taken aback by how completely the Chinese controlled all aspects of that visit.

He wasnt allowed to say much at all, said Orville Schell, a longtime China scholar who was in China during the visit. The Chinese kept him from meeting certain people, from taking questions or even radio broadcasts. He didnt know quite how to respond. He didnt want to be impolite. It took the U.S. a while to understand that this was the direction China and the relationship was headed.

Some have blamed Obama for adopting such an overly optimistic and open stance during those early years. For all his outreach, current and former top U.S. diplomats say, Obama got little in return, except the feeling of being burned by Beijing.

But that could be equally attributed to the simple fact that China itself was undergoing a seismic shift during the early years of Obamas presidency.

When the global recession plunged the world into financial crisis in the late 2000s, China escaped unscathed. Its leaders looked around and realized for the first time just how much power China had achieved in becoming the worlds second-largest economy. Shortly thereafter, they began eagerly throwing that weight around.

No longer were they willing to make concessions or bide their time  on big things, such as territorial claims, and on smaller ones, such as the nitty-gritty of negotiations over who sits where and says what during diplomatic exchanges.

Obamas response to this newfound Chinese assertiveness was largely a response to reality. In a textbook, it would be great to have a strategic vision for how you see things being eight years from now, said Jeffrey A. Bader, Obamas top Asia adviser during those early years. But in this case, I think the word reaction is right. You had a China that was changing in capacity and leadership.

If the carrot of engagement didnt work, Obama administration officials decided, they would try the stick. And they gave this tougher policy a name: the pivot to Asia.

The pivot boiled down to the idea of rebalancing U.S. foreign-policy attention from the Middle East to Asia  an area that will have clear long-term strategic importance in coming years.

Those overseeing the pivot strategy, senior U.S. officials said at the time, had studied examples in history when one power was rising while others were declining: Germanys rise in Europe after World War I; Athens and Sparta; the rise of the United States in the 20th century.

Out of those studies, they developed a belief that China would respond best to a position of strength. To find that leverage, the United States planned to forge stronger ties with its traditional allies in Asia and pick up new allies among neighbors alienated by Chinas new aggression  including Vietnam, Burma and India.

Using that multilateral approach, the thinking went, the United States could offset Chinas rising military power and assertiveness.

Doubts among allies

The main problem with the Asia pivot was one of perception and substance.

European and Middle Eastern leaders expressed concern at the idea of U.S. attention and priorities suddenly shifting from their regions to another. Chinese leaders saw the pivot as a U.S. conspiracy to interfere with Chinas goals and to slow its rise.

Meanwhile, the very Asian allies the pivot was meant to reassure had their doubts as well. Many wondered how much of the pivot was empty rhetoric and how much it would be backed by economic and military substance.

In recent months, those doubts have resurfaced because the Trans-Pacific Partnership  a multinational trade agreement with Asian allies that Obama hopes to enact this year  may die for lack of support in Congress and from presidential candidates Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump.

Meanwhile, in the years since the pivot strategy began, the U.S.-China relationship has soured.

Both countries are trying to avoid open hostility but are increasingly wary and frustrated with each other.

When asked about the skirmishes on this trip on Sunday, Obama said, we dont make apologies for pushing when it comes to press access. But he added, some of the misunderstandings may just be due to the complicated logistics of hosting a G20 summit.

The U.S.-China relationship may be the biggest problem Obamas successor will face in Asia. Other countries in the region continue to fear Chinas rise but are not fully convinced that the United States will be a sufficient counterweight. How the next president deals with China  the exact proportion of carrots and sticks chosen and the Chinese response to that  will probably define the region in the decade to come.

If this visit by Obama is any indication, the situation is unlikely to improve anytime soon.

On Saturday, even as the two presidents finished their talk and prepared for a nighttime stroll toward Obamas motorcade, Chinese officials suddenly cut the number of U.S. journalists who could cover them from six to three, and finally to one.

That is our arrangement, a Chinese official flatly told a White House staffer, looking away.

But your arrangement keeps changing, the White House staffer responded.

In the end, after lengthy and infuriating negotiations, they settled on having just two journalists witness the leaders walk.

Neither side was happy with the compromise.

David Nakamura in Washington contibuted to this report.

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A young lion sits with Nairobis skyline in the background at Nairobi National Park in 2015. (TONY KARUMBA/AFP/Getty Images)

The last time the lions charged through Simon Saigilus village, he was ready. He jumped out of bed with a flashlight and a spear, emitting a high-pitched scream that was the closest thing anyone here had to an alarm.

Hed had time to practice. Every month or two, the lions appeared, after sneaking through the fence that runs between the village and Nairobi National Park, at the edge of this city of 3 million. The barrier was supposed to be electrified, but it wasnt. The animals  including the parks 35 lions  were supposed to remain in the park, but they didnt.

The collision between humans and wildlife is nothing new in much of Africa, where millions of people have flocked to cities in recent decades and skylines rise in places that were once savanna or forest. But Nairobi has come to represent the extreme difficulty inherent in trying to preserve wildlife while an urban population booms. The number of residents on the outskirts of the reserve has grown more than tenfold since it was established in 1946 as the first national park in East Africa.

Saigilus hamlet, called Maasai Village after the tribe that lives there, provides a glimpse into the clash between the human and animal ecosystems. On one side of the smattering of huts and sheet-metal homes is the citys industrial area, a neighborhood of warehouses and factories surrounded by near-endless traffic. On the other side is a 45-square-mile stretch of undisturbed greenery, the worlds only major game reserve within a capital city.





We are caught in between, said Jackson Prisitu, whose 96 sheep were slaughtered by a lion one night in March.

Both wildlife advocates and the Kenyan government see the park as a national treasure, a symbol of coexistence between humans and the big-game animals that have lived here for centuries. The park is also a massive tourist attraction, bringing in more than 100,000 visitors annually.

Urban development makes this city like any other. But the park sets Nairobi apart. It plays a key role in defining the identity of the city, said Paula Kahumbu, the director of WildlifeDirect, an international conservation group based in the Kenyan capital.

For years, the villagers proximity to the parks wildlife was rarely a problem. Then a few things changed. At the southern edge of the park, which is unfenced for 12 miles and once bordered a vast savanna, developers started building houses and shopping centers. Suddenly, when animals moved south, they encountered people, often armed. Their domain had effectively been reduced.

That was a particular blow to the parks lions. Male lions are very territorial, and each requires a swath of land that can be as large as 100 square miles. With less land, the lions began to look elsewhere. One of the places they looked was Maasai Village, where residents had been raising livestock for more than a half-century.

Meanwhile, alongside the village, a Chinese firm had begun to build a 300-mile railway line, one of the biggest infrastructure projects in Kenyas history, that would stretch from Nairobi to the Indian Ocean. When that construction started more than a year ago, the electricity along stretches of the parks fence suddenly disappeared, making it much easier for lions to escape.

And they did, over and over.

Jackson Prisitu walks past sheep in his village at the edge of Nairobi National Park. In March, 96 of his sheep were killed by a lion. (Kevin Sieff/The Washington Post)

When they [lions] figure out how easy it is to kill livestock, theyre going to keep doing it, said Kahumbu, of WildlifeDirect.

Kenyan wildlife officials said the power goes out only for short periods due to the railway construction and vandalism. But during repeated visits by a reporter to the village, the fence always lacked electricity.

Nairobi residents were unnerved by a spate of attacks that galvanized local media attention in the spring. One lion jumped the park fence and killed Prisitus 96 sheep in Maasai Village before running back into the reserve. Another lion, named Mohawk for his distinctive mane, escaped into nearby Kajiado town and was shot dead by Kenyan wildlife officials.

The ease with which the lions are leaving the park is alarming, said an editorial in Kenyan newspaper the Standard.

[Why are Nairobis lions suddenly being killed?]

The media attention soon waned, but residents of Maasai Village watched as the lions kept coming. Kenyan officials distributed lion lights  high-beam lights that could be attached to poles and huts to scare off the animals. But they didnt seem to work.

Lions killed one of Elena Nkulutos cows, she said, and another familys three goats. Other times, residents say, lions got through the fence but didnt attack any animals. No one in the village was hurt, but about 15 miles away, a man was killed by a lion in early August.

In one of the fastest-growing cities in the world, its inevitable that humans and wildlife are going to increasingly come into contact, said Kahumbu, the conservationist.

In 2013, the Kenyan government passed a law guaranteeing compensation for those whose relatives or livestock were killed by wild animals. Sometimes that compensation arrived, but often in Maasai Village, it did not.

A lot of us are still waiting for it, said Nkuluto.

Some officials dispute the number of lion attacks in the village.

Its a rare occurrence, said Alfred Mutua, the governor of Machakos County, where Maasai Village is located. But he said he wasnt sure how often the animals had stolen into the village. Other officials suggested villagers might exaggerate their claims to gain compensation.

Now, Kenyan officials are debating what to do to protect the humans and animals living on both sides of the fence.

Mutua is considering a program that would relocate residents of the villages along the parks periphery.

Were seeing if we can move them to other land, he said.

The residents of Maasai Village are outraged at that prospect.

Weve been here for so many years, said Saigilu. Why should we move?

Other Kenyan officials are looking at possibly relocating at least some of the lions.

There are efforts underway to decide whether lions should be moved to other parts of the country, said Paul Uduto, a spokesman for Kenya Wildlife Service. This frequency of lion attacks cant be sustained.

The Maasai people, who are concentrated in Kenya and Tanzania, have traditionally raised livestock and had a tense relationship with lions. As part of their warrior culture, Maasai boys have long been expected to track and kill a lion with a spear to prove their manhood.

That tradition has evolved as the lion population has diminished. Some Maasai now hunt in groups, killing fewer lions. Others have given up lion-hunting altogether, with some Maasai promoting running as a new way to establish their manhood.

But in Maasai Village, young men appear intent on killing lions to defend their livelihoods.

Each of them keeps a spear ready.

When it becomes necessary, we will use them, Saigilu said.

Rael Ombuor in Nairobi contributed to this article.

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A Turkish army tank at station near the Syrian border, in Suruc, Turkey. Turkish tanks crossed into Syria Saturday to support Syrian rebels against the Islamic State group, according to the Anadolu news agency. (AP)

Turkey launched a new incursion into Syria on Saturday, dispatching additional tanks and troops across the border to support Syrian rebels fighting the Islamic State, expanding the scope and reach of its 10-day-old military intervention.

The additional Turkish forces crossed the border into the rebel-controlled town of Al-Rai, which rebels seized from the Islamic State last week but have since struggled to secure, according to the official Turkish news agency Anadolu.

Al-Rai is 34 miles west of Jarabulus, the border town that was the original target of the initial Aug. 24 intervention, code-named Operation Euphrates Shield. The Islamic State still controls the territory between the two towns, and the extra force, including at least 20 tanks and at least half a dozen armored vehicles, is intended to intensify the Turkish effort to push the Islamic State back from Turkeys border.

The expansion of the intervention will bring additional pressure to bear on the weakening Islamic State but also further complicate the battlefield in northern Syria, where the United States is backing rival efforts by its allies to defeat the militants.

Taking territory from the Islamic State in areas along the Turkish border also prevents Syrias Kurds from controlling them, and Turkey has made no secret of the fact that halting Kurdish expansionism is as much a goal of the intervention as battling the Islamic State.

Turkish-backed rebels have clashed on several occasions with Kurdish and Arab fighters as they press south of Jarabulus toward Manbij, a town liberated by a Kurdish-led force from the Islamic State with U.S. support late last month.

After securing the border area between Jarabulus and Al-Rai, the next target of the Turkish-led operation will be to control Al-Bab, a major Islamic State stronghold farther south, and well away from the border, according to the Daily Sabah, a government-controlled newspaper. The Kurds have also identified Al-Bab as their next target in the Islamic State fight.

Saturdays intervention in Al-Rai was backed by Turkish warplanes and helped rebels affiliated with the Free Syrian Army capture two more villages from the Islamic State, the Anadolu agency said.

The agency used Al-Rais Turkish name, Cobanbey, in its reports on the operation, in a reminder that until the 1920s, Turkey ruled the areas of Syria in which it is now intervening.

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More than 9,500 refugees were rescued earlier this week from the seas off the west coast of Libya within just 48 hours. The number of refugees who have arrived in Italy via the central Mediterranean route from Libya rose as a result to more than 112,000. The dramatic rescue operations retrieved at least two dead bodies from the water.

Last Monday alone, 40 rescue operations saved 6,500 refugees from severely overcrowded boats. Alongside boats from the Italian navy and coastguard, ships from non-governmental organisations participated in the operations.

Around 3,000 refugees were then pulled from the water in 30 rescue missions. Due to good weather and calm sea conditions, an increased number of refugees were attempting the dangerous crossing to Europe.

However, this weeks rescue operations cannot conceal the disastrous consequences of the European Union policy of sealing off its borders to refugees. Investigations by the UN refugee agency (UNHCR) and the International Organisation for Migration (IOM) reveal a sharp increase in the number of refugees who have drowned during the journey to Europe, even though the number arriving on Europes coastlines has declined significantly.

IOM registered 280,000 refugees who had crossed to Europe by the end of August. Between January and December 2015, the figure was over a million.

While in the first three months of the year almost 160,000 crossed the Aegean Sea to Greece, this route is virtually sealed off now because of the closure of the Balkan route and the dirty deal between the European Union (EU) and Turkey.

By contrast, the number of refugees arriving in Italy is almost the same compared to last year, when 116,000 refugees arrived in the first eight months.

More than 3,167 refugees have lost their lives in the first eight months of the year during their journey to Europe.

The central Mediterranean route between Libya and Italy claimed the most fatalities, with 2,728 deaths. In the Aegean, 386 refugees drowned during their crossing, and 53 on the western Mediterranean route from Morocco to Spain. The number of deaths is thus close to equaling the figure for last year as a whole, when 3,673 lost their lives.

This makes the Mediterranean by far the deadliest route for refugees in the world. One out of every 29 refugees setting out from Libya or Egypt to Europe drowns during the crossingan average of 13 refugees each day.

The main responsibility for these deaths lies not with unscrupulous smugglers, who force refugees to board unseaworthy boats, but rather with the European governments who are determined to prevent the influx of any refugees. They are not only showing complete disregard for the numerous victims of their inhumane refugee policy, but also consider them as useful collateral damage in their policy of deterrence.

When the Italian navy mission Mare Nostrum, which had rescued 100,000 refugees from the Mediterranean between Italy and Libya, was halted in November 2014 and replaced by the Frontex mission Triton, the EU border protection agency had already come to the conclusion that the withdrawal of naval units from the sea areas off the coast of Libyawill likely result in a greater number of fatalities. But as a result, according to Frontex at the time, far fewer refugees will risk the crossing during bad weather and the prices for the crossings increase.

European navy units now operate the Eunavformed  Sophia mission in these waters. As they are not performing a rescue mission, but a combat operation against people smugglers, their ships are not part of the Italian coast guards SOS system. The military ships are not even visible to the coast guards radar. The Italian coast guards operations centre always has to contact the office of commander Enrico Credendino to ask if a naval ship is active in the area around a ship in difficulty.

The militarisation of the Mediterranean, with the EU effectively waging war on refugees, is to be expanded further in the future by incorporating the coast guards of North African countries more directly into the EUs policy of sealing off its borders. Marine units involved in the Sophia mission will begin this month to train the Libyan coast guard and navy. The EU has already concluded an agreement on this with Libyas unity government.

What is presented as a struggle against unscrupulous smugglers and the illegal arms trade is in reality aimed above all at the refugees themselves. This is demonstrated by two instances in which the Libyan coast guard fired on two ships operated by non-governmental organisations.

In April, a Libyan speedboat attacked a ship operated by Sea Watch, an NGO that monitors refugee traffic, outside of Libyan territorial waters. Armed personnel stormed the ship under the pretext that it was suspected of illegal fishing, and intimidated the crew by firing shots.

On August 17, the Bourbon Argos, operated by Doctors without Borders, which was sailing in international waters north of Libya as part of a rescue mission, was targeted by the Libyan coast guard. Shots fired from a Libyan speedboat damaged the bridge of the Bourbon Argos, which was subsequently boarded and searched for hours.

Despite this, the EU extended the EUBAN mission, which is aimed at rebuilding the Libyan military and police. EUBAN has the task of planning a possible future EU mission which would offer advice in the areas of criminal justice, migration, border protection and combatting terrorism, and press ahead with capacity building, as an agreement approved by the EU foreign ministers stated.

NATO also intends to participate in the operation. On July 9, NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg announced the transformation of the Active Endeavour naval mission first established in 2001 into Sea Guardian, which operates off the Libyan coast.

One goal is the construction of a presidential guard, which is to enable the EU and US-backed Prime Minister of the unity government, Fayez al-Sarraj, to leave his naval base in Tripoli and bring more territory under his control. In this way it will be possible, among other things, to immediately deport refugees who have arrived in Europe back to the North African country, which the German government in particular is pushing for.

The human rights organisation ProAsyl has justifiably denounced such inhumane actions. Giving the Libyan coast guard the capability of intercepting refugee boats and bringing people seeking protection back to Libya is complicity in serious violations of human rights, ProAsyl wrote. Abuse and torture are daily occurrences in the internment camps in Libya where refugees are being imprisoned.

While the US and its allies are currently escalating the wars in Syria and Libya, thus driving millions more to flee their homes, the European Union is sealing off their escape routes. With boundless cynicism, the western powers are forcing refugees, fleeing the consequences of their own aggressive foreign policy, to attempt ever more dangerous routes, or supporting puppet regimes to intern them in transit states.
New Europe Film Sales has sold French rights to Icelandic suburban satire Under the Tree, directed by Hafsteinn Gunnar Sigurdsson (Paris of the North) to Bac Films Distribution.

New Europe is headed by Jan Naszewski. Under the Tree is produced by Icelands Netop Films, Polands Madants and Denmarks Profile Pictures. Shooting ended Aug. 30 with completion expected in April 2017.

Pic turns on a man forced to move back in in with his parents after his wife kicks him out. While he fights for custody of his 4-year-old daughter, he is gradually sucked into a dispute between his parents and their neighbors regarding an old and beautiful tree, which casts a shadow over the neighbors lawn, according to press notes. It stars Sigurdur Sigurjonsson (Rams), and it will be shot by Polish cinematographer Monika Lenczewska (Difret, Imperial Dreams).

Under the Tree had previously pre-sold the 2 million euro ($2.23 million) film, which is supported by the Icelandic Film Centre, Danish Film Institute, Polish Film Institute, the Nordisk TV & Film Fond and Eurimages, to Sena for Icelandic distribution and to RUV for free TV in Iceland. Scanbox has acquired Scandinavian rights.

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London (AFP) - Up to 2,000 protestors marched through the streets of London Saturday to voice their discontent after June's referendum vote to leave the European Union.

The protestors, some carrying EU flags and others with faces painted in EU colours, carried placards with slogans like "Stop Brexit" and "We Need EU!"

In the June 23 referendum, 51.9 percent of people voted to leave the European Union compared to 48.1 percent who wanted to stay in the 28-nation bloc.

Prime Minister Theresa May says her government will not trigger Article 50, the formal process for leaving the EU, before next year.

"We don't want to leave the European Union," said one protestor, 42-year-old charity director David Hillman, who called for a second referendum.

"I think the people here really hope that it won't happen... we're here to try and overturn this," he added.

Comedian Eddie Izzard, who campaigned to stay in the EU, joined the demonstration sporting a pink beret.

"Is it too late? No, we just keep fighting," he said. "Theresa May said Brexit means Brexit. What does Brexit mean? She doesn't know what it means."

A smaller counter protest also took place featuring people in favour of leaving the EU. They carried banners with slogans like "No More Excuses, We Want Brexit Now".

Organisers of the March for Europe say they want the government to pause the triggering of Article 50.

They are also calling for a greater voice in how the process of Brexit takes place.
Pakistan blast at court leaves several dead in Mardan

A suicide bomber has attacked a court in the northern Pakistani city of Mardan, killing at least 12 people and injuring more than 50, officials say.
Aden (AFP) - Three Yemeni soldiers were killed Saturday when a mine they had "dismantled" and taken away in their vehicle blew up as they stopped in a marketplace, a security official said.

Seven other people including three civilians were wounded in the blast in Huta, capital of the southern province of Lahj, a bastion of Al-Qaeda jihadists, according to the official.

The soldiers had "dismantled" the mine planted by suspected jihadists on a road on the edge of Huta and placed it in the back of their vehicle, he said, declining to be named.

The device exploded when they stopped at a market in the city, he added.

Forces loyal to President Abedrabbo Mansour Hadi, backed by a Saudi-led Arab coalition, are at war on two fronts, against both jihadists and Shiite Huthi rebels who control swathes of northern and central Yemen.

On Friday, the Huthis announced on their sabanews.net website that they had fired a modified Scud missile with an extended range of 800 kilometres (500 miles) at Saudi territory.

The conflict in Yemen has cost more than 6,600 lives and displaced at least three million residents of the impoverished country since the coalition's intervention in March 2015, according to UN figures.
In a mix-up that sounds like a movie plot, two five-year-olds were put on the wrong flights to Boston and New York City.

One of the boys, returning to his family in New York City from the Dominican Republic, was mistakenly put on the flight to Boston, the New York Daily News reported.

Maribel Martinez was waiting for her son at John F. Kennedy Airport, in New York City, when JetBlue staff delivered a different boy. Imagine everyone's surpriseand terrorwhen she told them: This is not my child.

I was freaking out, Martinez told the Daily News. I didnt know if he was alive. I still havent stopped crying.

It took about three hours to locate her 5-year-old son, who had ended up in Boston. In an intriguing detail, the boy who went to New York City had Martinez' son passport, which could have been related to the mix-up.

JetBlue gave Martinez a refund for the flight as well as a $2,100 but she said that the next flight the boy tookwith his fatherwas on Delta.

While the children were always under the care and supervision of JetBlue crewmembers, we realize this situation was distressing for the families, a JetBlue spokesperson said in a statement to Travel + Leisure. In addition to extending our apologies, we refunded the flights and offered the families credit towards future JetBlue flights. We are also reviewing the incident with our leadership and Santiago airport team to prevent similar situations from occurring in the future.

Five years old is the youngest allowed age for unaccompanied minors, per JetBlue's policy. The airline charges an extra $100 fee for unaccompanied minors, and limits the number per flight to three.

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Honolulu (AFP) - Best known for rolling with chimpanzees in the African wild and revealing the apes' true nature as never before, Jane Goodall is now embracing modern technology in her mission to save the planet.

And at 82, the British primatologist said she has more energy than ever, particularly due to her work with young people around the world.

"I do have hope for the future, even though I think I have seen as much as anybody of the harm that we are inflicting on this planet," Goodall told attendees at the International Union for Conservation of Nature's World Conservation Congress in Honolulu.

"We are coming up with new technology all the time that will enable us to get in greater harmony with nature."

Goodall rose to fame for her pioneering, up-close study of the behavior of chimpanzees in the 1960s.

She was the first researcher to give names -- rather than numbers -- to the apes, and was the first to observe them using tools, a capacity that was until then thought to belong only to humans.

Now, her Jane Goodall Institute is using satellite imagery, digital mapping and NASA technology to encourage large-scale conservation projects in the forests of Africa.

The initiative, led by her co-worker Lilian Pintea, has allowed people living in Gombe National Park in Tanzania to see high-resolution digital maps of their forests from above for the first time.

Seeing how these landscapes have changed since the 1970s, with trees dwindling and important chimp habitat lost, has encouraged them to protect their forests, better manage their own resources and replant trees, he said.

"The reason why this change happened was because we merged and integrated this perspective from above with the local understanding about the nature of the ecology in the right context at the community level," Pintea said.

Goodall herself said she is not involved with technical details -- that is all handled by Pintea, an expert in mapping tools who previously worked at the World Bank.

Story continues

But she said she is in awe of the power of US space agency technology to make connections with the most primitive cultures.

"I find this a very fascinating juxtaposition of ideas," she said.

- Inspired by youth -

Goodall said she travels 300 days of the year, and is inspired by meeting young people, particularly through a program she began in 1991 with a dozen students in Tanzania.

Called Roots and Shoots, the program encourages kids to come up with ideas to help people, animals and the environment, and is now a major movement in nearly 100 countries.

"As I travel around the world," she said, "I meet more and more young people who seem to have a new determination that they are going to take over and they are going to make change."

She also touted the power of social media to connect people around environmental causes.

"Social media used in the right way can bring together people around the world in unprecedented numbers," she said.

Goodall spoke at several sessions during the IUCN World Conservation Congress this weekend, opening at least one of them by stepping to the microphone and mimicking the greeting call of a wild chimpanzee.

The packed room cheered and applauded in response, and a few women wiped away tears.

- 'Trump doesn't' -

She is also featured in a new movie about the perils of climate change, called "Time to Choose," written and directed by Academy Award winner Charles Ferguson.

"You can see how far Jane has come out of her comfort zone," said the film's executive director Jeff Horowitz, remarking on Goodall's move from the wilderness to the forefront of modern technology.

Goodall "is generally known to strike up a conversation with everyone around her," he added.

"Jane's calling in her life is to help people understand what is important about our home."

Seated next to Horowitz as he introduced a screening of the film, Goodall, who is a vegetarian, urged people to eat sustainably and consider how much damage meat-eating incurs on the planet.

She also weighed in on the US presidential race.

As Horowitz spoke about his belief that most Americans understand that climate change is a real problem, Goodall interjected, "Trump doesn't."

"Sorry?" he said.

"Trump doesn't," she repeated, drawing more cheers from the crowd.

Soon, she opened the floor to questions. Someone asked if she ever found it difficult to face the enormous task at hand.

"I'm finding it easier to get more passionate," she answered.

"I speak from the point of view of being 82. Each year I live, I am closer to the end," Goodall added.

"There is such a lot to do. I'm absolutely galvanized to use my remaining time."
Wearing a cloak decorated with the goanna lizard, the first Aboriginal woman elected to Australia's lower house took her seat in parliament this week, saying that as a child she was a "non-citizen".

Former teacher Linda Burney made history in July when she was voted into the House of Representatives, joining only a handful of other indigenous lawmakers in Australia's national parliament.

In her maiden speech, she said that her kangaroo skin cloak "tells my story", as another Wiradjuri woman sang to her in traditional language from the public gallery.

"It charts my life, on it is my clan totem the goanna and my personal totem the white cockatoo," she told parliament on Wednesday.

Burney said she would bring the "fighting Wiradjuri spirit" to the capital in Canberra, as she described how far she had come from her childhood in New South Wales.

"I was born at a time when the Australian government knew how many sheep there were but not how many Aboriginal people," Burney, a former New South Wales state government minister, said.

"I was 10 years old before the '67 referendum fixed that. The first decade of my life was spent as a non-citizen," the 59-year-old lawmaker added.

The 1967 referendum changed Australia's constitution to allow Aboriginal people to be counted in the national census.

But indigenous Australians still suffer disproportionate levels of disadvantage and imprisonment and have a much lower life expectancy.

They are also dealing with the legacy of policies under which indigenous children were taken from their mothers to be raised by white families or in institutions.

Burney, who is with the opposition Labor Party, joins the ruling conservative Liberal Party's first Aboriginal MP, Ken Wyatt, who was elected in 2010, and follows in the footsteps of former senator and Olympian Nova Peris, who was the first indigenous woman in the upper house.

"The Aboriginal part of my story is important, it is the core of who I am," Burney said.

"But I will not be stereotyped and I will not be pigeon-holed."
Perpignan (France) (AFP) - Agence France-Presse photographer Aris Messinis was honoured Saturday at photojournalism's biggest annual festival, for moving images of the massive arrival of migrants in Greece last year.

Messinis, 39, won the Visa d'Or for News, the most prestigious award handed out at the "Visa Pour L'Image" festival in Perpignan, southwestern France.

"I documented their struggle for a better life," he said.

This is the second year in a row that an AFP photographer has taken home the coveted prize, with Bulent Kilic winning in 2015 for dramatic images of refugees fleeing across the Turkish border.

"Our photographer Aris Messinis has done outstanding work with this powerful, moving and disturbing series of images," AFP's chief executive and chairman Emmanuel Hoog said in a statement.

"This Visa d'Or also recognises all the AFP teams throughout Europe and the Middle East who are reporting on the migrant crisis," he added.

Messinis' photos rocketed around around the world, showing life jackets as well as boat debris at the foot of a cliff, men crying with joy upon their arrival in Europe and harrowing rescue operations.

Messinis joined AFP in 2003 and has risen to become the head of the agency's photo desk in Athens.

His first major theatre was the Libyan conflict in 2011 when he recorded the battle for Syrte, days before the death of dictator Moamer Kadhafi.

For his courage and coverage of that conflict he was in 2012 awarded the Bayeux-Calvados war correspondents' award for photography.

After Libya he made the world's front pages with images from Syria and from the mass anti-austerity demonstrations in cash-strapped Greece.
Donald Trump's controversial trip to Mexico on Wednesday was met with anger and harsh criticism among both Hollywood and prominent Mexican figures.

Alejandro Inarritu agrees with the critics who argued that President Enrique Pena Nieto should have defended Mexico against Trump's controversial comments and plans to build a border wall, saying that the presidential nominee "should have been declared a 'persona non grata' by our government a long time ago."

In an op-ed for El Pais, the Oscar-winning Mexican filmmaker of The Revenant writes that Trump's meeting with the country's president was a "betrayal" and "lacks dignity."

"Enrique Pena Nieto's invitation to Donald Trump is a betrayal," wrote Inarritu. "It legitimizes someone who has insulted us, spit on us and threatened us for more than a year in front of the entire world."

Read more: Donald Trump Defends U.S. Right to Build a Border Wall During Mexico Visit

"It lacks dignity and further strengthens a political campaign of hatred toward us, toward half of humanity and toward the most vulnerable minorities on the planet," he said, warning that it "puts at risk the future and lives of 16 million Mexicans."

The filmmaker also wrote that the Mexican president "no longer represents me. He is not worthy of representing any country."

Trump defended the right of the U.S. to build a border wall between Mexico and the U.S. during Wednesday's visit, laying out the core of his immigration plan. The GOP presidential nominee said he and Nieto did not, however, discuss who would pay for the wall.

Nieto said Mexicans felt "aggrieved" and were angry that Trump did not apologize or back down from his plan to build a border wall. After Trump and Nieto's meeting, the Mexican president clarified the outcome, tweeting, "At the start of the conversation with Donald Trump, I made it clear that Mexico will not pay for the wall."

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Former Mexican President Vicente Fox told CNN that Trump "is using Mexico, using President Pena Nieto to boost his sinking poll numbers."

Read more: Donald Trump's Mexico Visit Slammed by Hollywood
Perpignan (France) (AFP) - Greek AFP photographer Aris Messinis has covered conflicts in Libya and Syria, but it was for his dramatic images of a migrant crisis on his doorstep that he was honoured Saturday at photojournalism's biggest annual festival.

Messinis won the Visa d'Or for News, the most prestigious award handed out at the "Visa Pour L'Image" festival in Perpignan, southwestern France.

The 39-year-old father of three girls has done more than just provide photographic evidence of the plight of the masses of migrants fleeing to Greek island shores.

He also became part of their story; helping a mother and child clamber out of the sea, carrying a baby to safety and even taking to the morgue the body of a child washed up on a beach.

Last year Messinis set himself up on the island of Lesbos, the epicentre of Europe's biggest migrant crisis since World War II.

The images he captured there have been flashed around the world.

"I never thought I'd be covering this in my own country," he said.

"These are strong emotional moments. I cannot describe them with words. You feel so many emotions at once.

"I tried to be as close to the people as possible, to feel what they were suffering."

As for when to stop being a photographer and start being a rescuer, there was no conflict of interests for Messinis.

It was a "normal human reflex," he explained.

"We try to keep our distance, to be objective. But sometimes it is good to lend a hand to somebody who needs a hand. It is a personal decision."

His work, which radiates that humanity, is currently on display at the "Visa Pour L'Image" festival in Perpignan.

- 'An eye and a heart' -

His work provides an extraordinary record of the humanitarian tragedy played out on a tiny Greek island.

For Messinis, the refugees and migrants aren't just part of a massive problem to be mulled in European capitals.

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In his pictures, eyes stop us in our tracks and we share the joy of a successful arrival after a perilous voyage or the cries of anguish of those coping with death or others who only narrowly escaped with their lives.

Messinis is himself the son of a photojournalist.

He joined Agence France-Presse (AFP) in 2003 and has risen to become the head of the agency's photo desk in Athens.

His first major theatre was the Libyan conflict in 2011 when he recorded the battle for Syrte, days before the death of dictator Moamer Kadhafi.

For his courage and coverage of that conflict he was in 2012 awarded the Bayeux-Calvados war correspondents' award for photography.

After Libya he made the world's front pages with images from Syria and from the mass anti-austerity demonstrations in cash-strapped Greece.

Then last summer, when his third daughter was born, the migrant crisis exploded.

"It appeared as if he never stopped. He was working day and night," said AFP's Athens bureau chief Odile Duperry, describing Messinis as "very courageous" and with a "big heart".

"Aris has a deep sensitivity," explained Stephane Arnaud, chief editor of AFP's photo department. "You see that straight away in his pictures.

"He can capture the headline news, the things that jump out... but also the quiet times when you need both an eye and a heart."

"Yes, I want to shock you," Messinis said in an AFP blog. "Not only so you can understand what is happening here, something dark and terrible. Perhaps if you are shocked, it will stop."
Bamako (AFP) - The Malian army Saturday regained control of a central town briefly held by jihadists, UN and Malian security sources told AFP, but the unnamed armed group allegedly left with a local official they were keeping hostage.

Boni is home to several thousand people and was seized by unidentified jihadists on Friday afternoon until the early hours of Saturday.

The militants fired on administrative buildings and set fire to the mayor's office, leading the army to recall its troops from the vicinity.

"The jihadists left Boni in the night and today around 8am the Malian army came back to take control of the town," a Malian security source told AFP.

A source close to the UN mission in the country, which is known by the acronym MINUSMA, said two helicopters were providing cover over the town, "to support the Malian army, who are now in control."

Meanwhile an administrative source in the town said the jihadists "kidnapped a Boni community official" accused of giving information to the security forces by phone.

Ongoing international military intervention since January 2013 has driven Islamist fighters away from major urban centres which they had briefly controlled, but large tracts of Mali are still not controlled by domestic or foreign troops.

Jihadist groups early last year began to carry out attacks in central Mali as well as the long-troubled north.
Panel to cut power leakage

The Ministry of Energy has formed a committee under Joint Secretary Sandeep Kumar Dev in a bid to control electricity leakage.
(Reuters) - A suspect was shot dead and an Atlantic City, New Jersey, police officer critically wounded on Saturday when police exchanged gunfire with a group of six men allegedly engaged in criminal activity, the county prosecutor's office said.

Authorities asked for the public's help in identifying the remaining suspects, who fled the scene following the shooting, and posted a $20,000 reward for information leading to their arrest and conviction.

According to the Atlantic County Prosecutor's Office, the incident began when two officers left their patrol car to approach the six men shortly after 2:30 a.m. on Saturday.

"One officer was shot and injured as he exited the vehicle. The second officer returned fire and struck at least one of the suspects," the office said in a written statement.

The suspect who was hit by gunfire was found dead about a block and a half away, while the other five men ran off in different directions, according to the statement.

The wounded police officer underwent surgery and was listed in critical condition.

(Reporting by Dan Whitcomb; Editing by Dan Grebler)
When Pope Francis canonises Mother Teresa on Sunday, two Balkan countries will be celebrating the sainthood of a woman they both fiercely claim as their own.

While she is famed for her work with the poor in the Indian city of Kolkata, the late missionary's origins have been hotly disputed in southeastern Europe, where she grew up.

Born Agnes Gonxha Bojaxhiu in 1910 in multi-cultural Skopje -- then part of the Ottoman Empire and now capital of the Republic of Macedonia -- Mother Teresa had an ethnic Albanian mother whose family came from Kosovo.

Her father's roots are more debated: most people, especially in Albania, say he too was ethnically Albanian, although some Macedonians have argued he was a Vlach, another Balkan ethnic group.

The squabble exposes old ethnic rivalries in the Balkans, with neighbours Albania and Macedonia taking competitive pride in the Nobel Peace Prize winner -- both countries have statues, roads, hospitals and other monuments in her name.

"Mother Teresa was born in Skopje but she never declared herself a Macedonian," said Albanian historian Moikom Zeqo, author of a study on the nun's links to Albania.

She "always spoke about her Albanian origins and her universal mission," Zeqo told AFP.

Macedonians, however, suggest her birthplace is all important.

"We call her 'Skopjanka' (citizen of Skopje) because we know she is ours," said Valentina Bozinovska, director of the national commission for relations with religious communities.

- Barred by communists -

The region changed dramatically in Teresa's lifetime, with the end of Turkish rule, two world wars, the rise and fall of communism and Yugoslavia, and the nationalistic Balkan wars of the 1990s.

Teresa was baptised Roman Catholic, a minority religion in Skopje, where she spent her childhood and decided early on she would take up a religious life.

She left home aged 18 for a spell at an Irish abbey before travelling to India in 1929.

Story continues

In the 1930s her mother and sister moved to Tirana in Albania, where communist dictator Enver Hoxha barred Teresa from visiting.

She eventually made her first of three trips to Albania in 1989, after Hoxha's death and a year before communism began to fall, to visit the graves of her family and the house where they lived for many years.

Genc Zajmi, 78, still resides in the building and recalls Teresa's loving letters to her mother, insisting the nun never forgot her Albanian roots.

"It is unacceptable that Macedonia considers Mother Teresa as the symbol of the nation," Zajmi said.

Muslim-majority Albania celebrates a public holiday on the anniversary of Teresa's beatification in 2003.

"Illustrious people belong to all humanity but they also have their origins, a nation to which they are linked by blood," leading Albanian writer Ismail Kadare told AFP.

- Cultural unifier? -

Macedonia displays no less pride in the famed Balkan daughter. The Mother Teresa Memorial House, built on the site where she was christened in Skopje, attracts about 500 visitors a day.

Various celebrations of her sainthood are planned in the mostly Orthodox Christian and Slavic country, including a special mass said by a papal envoy on September 11.

The national bank is issuing a special edition silver coin in her honour.

"She was born here, educated here, lived here, played with friends where we are now, so the fact is that she is from Skopje," said 28-year-old city resident Maja Vaneska.

Teresa made four short visits to her hometown before her death in 1997, and Bozinovska said the nun was a symbol of "cultural unification" in Macedonia, where about a quarter of the population today is ethnic Albanian.

Macedonia's ethnic tensions were highlighted by an Albanian insurgency in 2001, and Albanians complain that monuments to the nun are inscribed in Macedonian and English, ignoring a key part of her identity.

In 2003, reports that Macedonia planned to give Rome a statue of Teresa inscribed as Macedonia's "daughter" in Cyrillic script sparked particular controversy.

As for Teresa, she was quoted describing herself both as a "Skopjanka" and as an Albanian "by blood", but insisting she belonged to the world.

Her adopted home country of India -- which gave her citizenship in 1951 -- flatly refused Albania's request in 2009 to hand over her remains, saying she was "resting in her own country, her own land".

Renata Kutera Zdravkovska, director of Skopje's memorial house, said it was clear nationality meant little to Teresa.

"I really think she would be unhappy to see that this kind of debate is taking place."
Rome (AFP) - Mario Balotelli's agent Mino Raiola has blasted Jurgen Klopp's treatment of the former Liverpool striker, after the Italy international signed for Nice this week.

Balotelli, 26, signed a one-year deal at the Allianz Riviera on Wednesday after being allowed to leave Liverpool on a free transfer.

The forward struggled on loan at former club AC Milan last season having made little impact at Liverpool in the previous campaign, but Raiola was critical of the way Klopp handled Balotelli's departure.

"For me, he didn't take into account that he was talking to a human being," Raiola said, in quotes published Saturday on the Gazzetta dello Sport website.

"Mario has been exemplary, he never complained about training alone. To say that it was wrong of Klopp would be an understatement, he was a piece of shit about it."

The outspoken Raiola, who is also the agent of Manchester United midfielder Paul Pogba, supported Balotelli's earlier assertion that Nice had not taken a risk in signing the striker.

"It's a gamble that'd I'd try for sure," he said, predicting that Balotelli would score 20 goals in Ligue 1 this season should he remain fit.
By Ruma Paul DHAKA (Reuters) - Bangladesh has hanged a top Islamist party figure for atrocities committed during the 1971 war of independence from Pakistan, the law minister said on Saturday. Mir Quasem Ali, 63, a key financier of the Jamaat-e-Islami party, was executed at Kashimpur Central Jail on the outskirts of the capital, for murder, confinement, torture and incitement to religious hatred during the war. Ali was hanged at 10:35 p.m. (1635 GMT), Law Minister Anisul Haq told Reuters, days after Bangladesh's highest court rejected his final appeal against the death sentence. The execution took place amid a spate of militant attacks in the Muslim-majority nation, the most serious on July 1, when gunmen stormed a cafe in Dhaka's diplomatic quarter and killed 20 hostages, most of them foreigners. The war crimes tribunal set up by Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in 2010 has sparked violence and been criticised by opposition politicians, who say it is targeting her political foes. The government denies the accusations. The government has also rejected allegations by human rights groups that the tribunal's proceedings fall short of international standards, and the trials are supported by many Bangladeshis. Hundreds of people flooded the streets of the capital to cheer the execution. "We have waited for this day for a long 45 years," said war veteran Akram Hossain. "Justice has finally been done." Media tycoon Ali is the last of a number of Jamaat leaders to be executed, having been sentenced to death in 2014 by the war crimes tribunal. Jamaat-e-Islami, which said the charges against Ali were baseless, has called for a half-day strike for Monday in protest. It said Ali had been "hanged unjustifiably as part of the governments conspiracy to make Jamaat-e-Islami a leaderless party. Alis family and the party alleged law enforcers abducted his son Mir Ahmed Bin Quasem, a member of his legal defence team, last month. The security forces have said they knew nothing about the matter. Thousands of extra police and border guards were deployed in Dhaka and other major cities. Previous convictions and executions have triggered violence that has killed about 200 people, most of them Islamist party activists, and police. Since December 2013 four other prominent Jamaat members, including former leader Motiur Rahman Nizami, and a leader of the main opposition party, have been executed for war crimes. Official figures show about 3 million people were killed and thousands of women were raped during the war, in which some factions, including the Jamaat-e-Islami, opposed the breakaway. The party denies its leaders committed any atrocities. (Editing by Greg Mahlich)
Dhaka (AFP) - Bangladesh hanged a wealthy tycoon and top financial backer of its largest Islamist party late Saturday for war crimes, the country's law and justice minister said.

Mir Quasem Ali, a key leader of the Jamaat-e-Islami party, was hanged at a high security prison outside the capital Dhaka after he was convicted of offences committed during the 1971 war of independence against Pakistan, Anisul Huq told AFP.

"The execution took pace at 10:35 pm (1635GMT)," he said.
It's not often anymore that a musician holds a press conference, but Bon Iver's Justin Vernon did just that last night, and he did it his way: In Eau Claire, Wisconson, with only 27 journalists in attendance.

After playing 22, A Million in full, which was the debut of the recorded version of it, he then held a question-and-answer session for an hour and 40 minutes. Speaking about his intent for the sound of the album, Vernon said:

I think its that thing of wanting to bash things apart a little bit and break through some stuff. And I needed it to sound a little radical to feel good about putting something out in the world. For me, its not embarrassing, but the old records are of this kind of sad natureI was healing myself through that stuff. Being sad about something is okay. And then wallowing in it, circling though the same cycles emotionally just feels boring. For this one, theres still some dark stuff and whatever, but I think cracking things, making things that are bombastic and exciting and also new, and mashing things together, and explosiveness and shouting more, I think that was the zone. I think shouting.

Vernon also explained why he obscured his face in recent promotional photos (like the one above), saying he doesn't like seeing his face and doesn't want his music to be associated with it: "Really dont like to see pictures of myself. Like when you listen to Pink Floyd you dont think about what David Gilmour looks like. Pictures and music go hand in hand. But I am not trying to do that. I dont really love meeting too many people, because I dont have time to be their friend. Faces are for friends only. Thats what I think."

Read more about the press conference here, via Pitchfork.

Continue Reading On Complex
Police bureau spreading net to nab smugglers

The Wildlife Crime Unit under the Central Investigation Bureau (CIB) of Nepal Police is set to launch four different operations targeting to arrest wildlife poaching kingpins and others engaged in illegal trade of animal body parts.
Box CEO Aaron Levie has a new hat that seems inspired by Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump  and it's already looking like a smash hit among his 450,000 Twitter followers.

On Friday, Levie tweeted a photo of this red hat emblazoned with the phrase "Make Software Great Again," an obvious knock at Trump's campaign slogan, "Make America Great Again." Box is a company that makes software that lets you store files online.

BoxWorks is now 5 days away! Grab a free expo pass to join us for the keynotes here: https://t.co/4Pgi6yBzXa pic.twitter.com/4CtLndUeUz  Aaron Levie (@levie) September 2, 2016

Levie's one of the most vocal critics of Trump, often publicly criticizing him on Twitter. A quick look through Levie's Twitter feed shows his feelings toward the Republican presidential nominee, like this one:

If this person was in your company, you wouldn't let them on the smallest team doing the least important project. https://t.co/2uspP81Lne  Aaron Levie (@levie) July 31, 2016

In any case, Levie's new hat is already drawing a lot of interest from his followers. Many are asking where they can find one, and some are wondering if it'll be made available at BoxWorks, the big annual conference that Box is hosting in San Francisco next week.

@levie how do I get this hat?  Josh Fenster (@jDfenz) September 2, 2016

@levie Promise me youre giving that hat away and I will gladly register  Adrian (@qi) September 2, 2016

@levie please tell me we get that hat for attending??  Blake Brown (@blakebrown333) September 2, 2016

Box's representative wouldn't share any more details around the hat, but sent this rather cryptic message when we asked about it: "They'll have to attend to find out."

NOW WATCH: 'Taco Trucks on every corner': Watch the stunning comments made by the leader of 'Latinos for Trump'





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New York (AFP) - Novak Djokovic reached the US Open last 16 in just 32 minutes Friday when Mikhail Youzhny retired injured before fellow two-time winner Rafael Nadal also made the fourth round for the first time in three years.

Defending champion Djokovic was 4-2 ahead in the first set when Russian 34-year-old Youzhny called it quits suffering from a left hamstring injury.

The outcome completed a bizarre first week for world number one Djokovic.

After labouring over four sets to beat Jerzy Janowicz on Monday, he was handed a walkover into the third round when Czech opponent Jiri Vesely withdrew from their second round clash with an arm injury.

"I have never had this happen before in my Grand Slam career, getting a walkover and the next match lasting just half an hour," said Djokovic.

The top seed next faces Britain's world number 84 Kyle Edmund who stunned John Isner of the United States 6-4, 3-6, 6-2, 7-6 (7/5) to make a Slam fourth round for the first time.

Nadal reached the fourth round for the first time since 2013 -- the year of his last New York title -- with a 6-1, 6-4, 6-2 win over Russia's Andrey Kuznetsov.

"Andrey is always a tough opponent, he returns well and has good shots from the baseline," said fourth seed Nadal who faces France's Lucas Pouille for a quarter-final slot.

"I had a fantastic first set, a little trouble with my serve in the second but the third was key so I'm very happy."

Djokovic's very brief encounter had been preceded on Arthur Ashe Stadium by women's eighth seed Madison Keys pulling off an epic comeback to beat Japan's Naomi Osaka.

Keys won the latest-ever finishing women's match at the tournament on Monday when she completed victory over compatriot Alison Riske at 1:48am.

On Friday, the 21-year-old was involved in more drama when she rallied from 1-5 down in the final set to defeat Osaka 7-5, 4-6, 7-6 (7/3).

- Keys benefits from choke -

Story continues

The 18-year-old Osaka was so traumatised by her failure to convert her dominance into victory that she broke down in tears as she twice tried and failed to serve for the victory.

"This is the greatest comeback of my career, hands down," said Keys who will face two-time runner-up Caroline Wozniacki for a quarter-final spot.

Jack Sock, the American 26th seed, reached the fourth round for the first time by knocking out 2014 champion Marin Cilic 6-4, 6-3, 6-3 in tie where he did not face a single break point.

The 23-year-old Sock, whose last two appearances at the US Open had ended in retirements, goes on to face French ninth seed Jo-Wilfried Tsonga.

Tsonga, a two-time quarter-finalist, made the last 16 with a 6-3, 6-4, 7-6 (7/4) victory over South Africa's Kevin Anderson.

Wozniacki, who knocked out ninth-seeded former champion Svetlana Kuznetsova in the second round, clinched a seventh win in seven meetings over unorthodox Monica Niculescu of Romania.

The Dane's 6-3, 6-1 victory featured eight breaks of serve.

Roberta Vinci, the Italian seventh seed and runner-up to compatriot Flavia Pennetta in 2015, overcame a second set blip to defeat 21-year-old Carina Witthoeft 6-0, 5-7, 6-3.

The 33-year-old Vinci led 5-4, 30-0 in the second set before her 84th-ranked German opponent dug deep to take the tie into a decider.

But Vinci prevailed on the back of 40 winners and will meet Lesia Tsurenko of the Ukraine for a quarter-final place.

Tsurenko, the world 99, made the last 16 at a Slam for the first time by beating 12th seed Dominika Cibulkova 3-6, 6-3, 6-4.

The 27-year-old Tsurenko committed 44 unforced errors. Fortunately for her, newly-married Cibulkova hit 54.

Latvia's Anastasija Sevastova backed up her shock victory over third seed and French Open champion Garbine Muguruza by making the last 16 for the first time with a 6-4, 6-1 win over Kateryna Bondarenko of the Ukraine.

World number 48 Sevastova, who briefly retired in 2013, has matched her best run at a Slam and next faces British 13th seed Johanna Konta who put out Belinda Bencic 6-2, 6-1.

German second seed and Australian Open champion Angelique Kerber closes the night session against American 17-year-old CiCi Bellis.

The winner faces two-time Wimbledon winner Petra Kvitova.
New York (AFP) - Novak Djokovic reached the US Open last 16 in just 32 minutes when Mikhail Youzhny retired injured before fellow two-time winner Rafael Nadal also made the fourth round for the first time in three years.

Defending champion Djokovic was 4-2 ahead in the first set when Russian 34-year-old Youzhny called it quits suffering from a left hamstring injury.

The outcome completed a bizarre first week for world number one Djokovic.

After labouring over four sets to beat Jerzy Janowicz on Monday, he was handed a walkover into the third round when Czech opponent Jiri Vesely withdrew from their second round clash with an arm injury.

"I have never had this happen before in my Grand Slam career, getting a walkover and the next match lasting just half an hour," said Djokovic.

The top seed next faces Britain's world number 84 Kyle Edmund who stunned John Isner of the United States 6-4, 3-6, 6-2, 7-6 (7/5) to make a Slam fourth round for the first time.

Nadal reached the fourth round for the first time since 2013 -- the year of his last New York title -- with a 6-1, 6-4, 6-2 win over Russia's Andrey Kuznetsov.

"Andrey is always a tough opponent, he returns well and has good shots from the baseline," said fourth seed Nadal who faces France's Lucas Pouille for a quarter-final slot.

"I had a fantastic first set, a little trouble with my serve in the second but the third was key so I'm very happy."

Djokovic's very brief encounter had been preceded on Arthur Ashe Stadium by women's eighth seed Madison Keys pulling off an epic comeback to beat Japan's Naomi Osaka.

Keys won the latest-ever finishing women's match at the tournament on Monday when she completed victory over compatriot Alison Riske at 1:48am.

On Friday, the 21-year-old was involved in more drama when she rallied from 1-5 down in the final set to defeat Osaka 7-5, 4-6, 7-6 (7/3).

- Keys benefits from choke -

The 18-year-old Osaka was so traumatised by her failure to convert her dominance into victory that she broke down in tears as she twice tried and failed to serve for the victory.

Story continues

"This is the greatest comeback of my career, hands down," said Keys who will face two-time runner-up Caroline Wozniacki for a quarter-final spot.

In stark contrast, German second seed and Australian Open champion Angelique Kerber closed out the night session with a 6-1, 6-1 win in just 53 minutes against American 17-year-old CiCi Bellis.

Kerber, who claimed her season-leading 50th match win, next faces two-time Wimbledon winner Petra Kvitova.

Jack Sock, the American 26th seed, reached the fourth round for the first time by knocking out 2014 champion Marin Cilic 6-4, 6-3, 6-3 in tie where he did not face a single break point.

The 23-year-old Sock, whose last two appearances at the US Open had ended in retirements, goes on to face French ninth seed Jo-Wilfried Tsonga.

Tsonga, a two-time quarter-finalist, made the last 16 with a 6-3, 6-4, 7-6 (7/4) victory over South Africa's Kevin Anderson.

Wozniacki, who knocked out ninth-seeded former champion Svetlana Kuznetsova in the second round, clinched a seventh win in seven meetings over unorthodox Monica Niculescu of Romania.

The Dane's 6-3, 6-1 victory featured eight breaks of serve.

Roberta Vinci, the Italian seventh seed and runner-up to compatriot Flavia Pennetta in 2015, overcame a second set blip to defeat 21-year-old Carina Witthoeft 6-0, 5-7, 6-3.

The 33-year-old Vinci led 5-4, 30-0 in the second set before her 84th-ranked German opponent dug deep to take the tie into a decider.

But Vinci prevailed on the back of 40 winners and will meet Lesia Tsurenko of the Ukraine for a quarter-final place.

Tsurenko, the world 99, made the last 16 at a Slam for the first time by beating 12th seed Dominika Cibulkova 3-6, 6-3, 6-4.

The 27-year-old Tsurenko committed 44 unforced errors. Fortunately for her, newly-married Cibulkova hit 54.

Latvia's Anastasija Sevastova backed up her shock victory over third seed and French Open champion Garbine Muguruza by making the last 16 for the first time with a 6-4, 6-1 win over Kateryna Bondarenko of the Ukraine.

World number 48 Sevastova, who briefly retired in 2013, has matched her best run at a Slam and next faces British 13th seed Johanna Konta who put out Belinda Bencic 6-2, 6-1.
New York (AFP) - Serena Williams sped past another milestone en route to the US Open fourth round as men's contenders Andy Murray and Stan Wawrinka clawed their way into the last 16.

World number one Williams dominated Sweden's Johanna Larsson 6-2, 6-1 to surpass Martina Navratilova for most Grand Slam wins by a woman with 307.

Not only has she surpassed Navratilova, she matched Roger Federer's mark for men.

"To be up there with both men and women is something that's super-rare, and it actually feels good," said Williams, who said she was "really excited" to reach 307.

"Obviously I want to keep that number going higher," added Williams, who will get her chance when she takes on Kazakhstan's Yaroslava Shvedova for a quarter-final berth.

In the one hour it took to subdue Larsson, Williams again appeared untroubled by the shoulder injury that has slowed her since her Wimbledon triumph.

"It definitely feels solid," she said. "I'm doing a lot of work on it so I can keep it in this position."

While Williams encountered little resistance, it was another story for the top men's seeds in action.

Wawrinka, a two-time Grand Slam winner and twice a semi-finalist in New York, had the closest call, saving a match point in a 4-6, 6-3, 6-7 (6/8), 7-6 (10/8), 6-2 victory over Britain's Dan Evans.

The 31-year-old third seed saved the match point at 5/6 in the fourth set tiebreaker, breaking the will of his 64th-ranked opponent.

"It's always good to win by saving match point. It's always something special, that's for sure," said Wawrinka, who had his left ankle taped after twisting it during the match. "It was a tough battle and I'm happy to get through."

Many of Murray's troubles against Paolo Lorenzi were of his own making as he allowed the energetic Italian journeyman to make him look ordinary through two sets before pulling himself together to win 7-6 (7/4), 5-7, 6-2, 6-3.

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"I had to stop rushing," said Murray, who arrived at the year's final Grand Slam off victories at Wimbledon and the Rio Olympics and may have expected less from Lorenzi, the 34-year-old who only won a first ATP title in July.

"I was making a lot of unforced errors and (Lorenzi) is very solid, and doesn't give you cheap points," Murray said. "I was looking for those cheap points too often."

Murray takes on Bulgarian Grigor Dimitrov, a 6-4, 6-1, 3-6, 6-2 winner over Portugal's Joao Sousa, for a quarter-final berth.

Wawrinka next faces 63rd-ranked Ukrainian Illya Marchenko, who advanced when a hurting Nick Kyrgios, hobbled by a painful right hip, retired while trailing 4-6, 6-4, 6-1.

Kyrgios, the 14th seed from Australia soldiered on after receiving treatment at the end of the second set before opting out at the end of the third.

- Nishikori in four -

Sixth-seeded Kei Nishikori of Japan, two years removed from his run to the final, rallied for a 4-6, 6-1, 6-2, 6-2 win over France's Nicolas Mahut.

Nishikori, who has dropped a set in each of his matches so far, will take on Ivo Karlovic for a quarter-final berth after the towering Croatian defeated 19-year-old American Jared Donaldson 6-4, 7-6 (7/3), 6-3.

Juan Martin del Potro, whose career was nearly derailed by injuries after his 2009 US Open triumph, fired 37 winners in a 7-6 (7/3), 6-2, 6-3 victory over Spanish 11th seed David Ferrer.

He next faces eighth-seeded Austrian Dominic Thiem, who celebrated his 23rd birthday with a 1-6, 6-4, 6-4, 7-5 victory over Pablo Carreno Busta of Spain.

Women's fourth seed Agnieszka Radwanska advanced with ease, dispatching France's Caroline Garcia 6-2, 6-3 to set up a meeting with Croatian Ana Konjuh, a 6-3, 3-6, 6-2 winner over American Varvara Lepchenko.

Hungarian Timea Babos put a scare into Romanian fifth seed Simona Halep, surging back in the second set and taking a 3-1 lead in the third before falling 6-1, 2-6, 6-4.

Halep, who fell in the semi-finals to eventual champion Flavia Pennetta last year, will play Spain's Carla Suarez Navarro for place in the quarter-finals.

Suarez, also celebrating a birthday Saturday as she turned 28, defeated Russian Elena Vesnina 6-4, 6-3.

Sixth seed Venus Williams, whose seven Grand Slam titles include US Open crowns in 2000 and 2001, coasted into the round of 16 with a straightforward 6-1, 6-2 win over German Laura Siegemund, setting up a tough meeting with 10th-seeded Karolina Pliskova.

The hard-hitting Czech, who shocked Angelique Kerber in the final of the US Open tuenup in Cincinnati, defeated Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova 6-2, 6-4.
Bayonne (France) (AFP) - A British mother was arrested Saturday after her five-month-old baby was found dead during a family holiday in southwest France, a judicial official said.

According to preliminary information, the woman in her thirties and her husband were staying with their two children, the baby and a-three-year old, at a holiday home in Saint-Pee-sur-Nivelle, in the Bayonne area.

Saturday was the last day of their week-long holiday and the father woke up early and left the bedroom which all four were apparently sharing, according to the official from the Bayonne prosecutor's office.

The mother only got up later, around 9 am (0700 GMT) and it was then that the father discovered that the baby was dead and alerted the emergency services.

"The suspect death of a baby was discovered at the scene" and police enquiries quickly focussed on the mother, who was arrested, deputy prosecutor Marc Mariee told AFP.

A post-mortem will be carried out next week.
Fox News

Toni Tennille is coming out of retirement to fulfill a lifetime wish. The Grammy-winning singer, known for her bouncy 1975 song "Love Will Keep Us Together" alongside her former husband Daryl Dragon, is set to lead the Yavapai College Performing Arts Center production of "Hello, Dolly!" in Prescott, Arizona.
London (AFP) - A giant replica of 17th-century London will be set ablaze in the city this weekend to mark the 350th anniversary of the devastating Great Fire of London.

The 1666 inferno destroyed most of the walled inner city dating back to Roman times -- a bustling, congested maze of tightly-packed wooden houses.

It forced London to rebuild anew from the ashes.

Now the city is looking back to when it lay in ruins -- with a few shuddering sights to remind Londoners of the peril faced by their predecessors.

The London's Burning programme of events commemorating the disaster culminates in Sunday's torching of a 120-metre (394-foot) long wooden replica of old London -- moored in the River Thames to prevent the fire from spreading again.

"It will look spectacular," said Helen Marriage, director of creative events company Artichoke, which is staging the London's Burning programme.

The recreation was built by US 'burn artist' David Best and can be watched worldwide on a livestream from 8:25pm (1925 GMT) on Sunday.

- City in ashes -

The Great Fire of London broke out in Thomas Farrinor's bakery on Pudding Lane shortly after midnight on September 2, 1666 and gradually spread through the city.

The fire was finally extinguished on September 5, with around 80 percent of the walled city in ruins.

It consumed 13,200 houses, 87 parish churches and Saint Paul's Cathedral.

Only six deaths were officially attributed to the fire, though an estimated 70,000 of the 80,000 residents were forced to flee, most to squalid camps outside the city walls.

Various scapegoats were blamed, chiefly Catholics and foreigners.

Robert Hubert, a French watchmaker, confessed to starting the blaze and was swiftly hanged -- though he was actually at sea when the fire broke out.

The London of today, with its characteristic English Baroque architecture in grey Portland stone, was built from the ashes of the wooden city, though the old street layout was retained to respect property rights.

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The Monument column commemorates the fire near where it started but Pudding Lane itself is now an unremarkable concrete-lined back road.

The new St Paul's Cathedral, still the centrepiece of the city, was completed 44 years after the Great Fire.

Nick Bodger, head of cultural and visitor development for the City of London, said the capital's resilience -- witnessed again during the 1940s Blitz -- helped it rebuild and survive.

"350 years ago, when embers from a baker's oven sparked one of the most catastrophic events the capital has ever witnessed, London's economic prowess almost came to a fiery end," he told reporters.

"A renewed sense of purpose saw the great city we enjoy today rise from those ashes, develop and thrive."

- Charred reminders -

The Museum of London's "Fire! Fire!" exhibition contains scorched possessions only just saved from the fire, leather buckets used to fight it and letters telling of the inferno written by people who fled.

It also has burnt items excavated from a Pudding Lane shop, including charred bricks, melted tile fragments and scorched wooden barrels, still black from the blaze.

"It was hugely devastating. It's the heart of London where most of the major cultural and commercial buildings were," curator Meriel Jeater told AFP.

"People lost their homes, belongings and businesses."

During London's Burning festival flames will be projected onto the dome of St Paul's Cathedral and 23,000 breeze blocks arranged as a domino run will be felled to show how the fire spread through the city.

In London's Inner Temple hall, the scale of events is being visually represented by piles of rice -- one grain for each person.

Visitors can compare the numbers of those living in London now and then, and those evacuated from the city with the global number of refugees today.
Islam Karimov Uzbekistan Vladimir Putin

Uzbekistan has long been the most stable country in a region that has struggled to establish itself on solid ground in the decades after the collapse of the Soviet Union.

But that stability could be fragile in the coming months as the country wrangles with its first transfer of power since it gained independence in 1991.

Uzbekistan announced on Friday that its longtime president, Islam Karimov, was dead at 78 years old. His health had been declining in recent years and his daughter announced earlier this week that he had suffered a brain hemorrhage.

Karimov was an authoritarian ruler who kept tight control over Uzbekistan's population, crushing any dissent and preventing extreme Islamists from gaining too much power in the country. Uzbekistan's location near Afghanistan and other, less-stable countries in central Asia makes it a potential target for radical jihadists in the region.

It's not immediately clear who will take over for him, but if the transition isn't smooth, the country could see a vacuum open up.

"It's certainly something to be concerned about, and if there's no easy and quick consensus on who's going to be leading Uzbekistan, that means the transition might not go as smoothly as hoped," Paul Stronski, a senior associate in the Russia and Eurasia Program at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, told Business Insider.

"This has all been happening behind the scenes."

Stronski wrote earlier this year that Uzbekistan's "political system, security apparatus, and economy will be put to the test in the coming years."

"The countrys ability to weather that test will have implications for the rest of the region," he wrote.

Stronski added: "Its success will make it possible for Uzbekistan's neighbors to continue along their current trajectories. However, if it stumbles and creates any sort of instability in the heart of Central Asia, the consequences for the entire region  and, perhaps, even for key outside players like Russia and China  could be dire."

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Uzbekistan

But so far, all signs point to as smooth a transition as could be expected.

"The less we know about whats going on behind the scenes the smoother it is," Stronski said. And so far, the political transition "seems to be going on behind the scenes."

"My sense is this is more of a long-term problem more of a short-term problem," he added.

Geopolitical expert and Eurasia Group President Ian Bremmer agreed.

"It's probably a smooth transition near-term because all the likely would-be successors want to protect their power," Bremmer told Business Insider in an email.

The most likely successors are Prime Minister Shavkat Mirziyoyev or the head of the country's national security service, which Bremmer compared to Russia's FSB.

"If either come to power the key elites will get behind them, at least for the near term," Bremmer said. "If it's somebody else, they'll need the security services behind them. There's little likelihood of popular dissent in that scenario, and any demonstrations would be suppressed quickly (and brutally)."

Still, because it's unclear who will take over and how they will rule, there's uncertainty.

"We're in unknown territory," Stronski said. "This is a very repressive state.  This is a state that knows how to use its power." But, Stronski added, "anybody stepping in is not going to be the same father and grandfather of the country" that Karimov was.

"So it needs maneuvering to figure out who is acceptable and can pass the legitimacy test with the population," he said.

Uzbekistan

Bremmer also said he's concerned for the long-term situation in Uzbekistan.

"Longer term is a different story; Karimov's rule has been unquestioned for decades," he said. "Managing intra-regime conflicts as they emerge will be an open question for whoever his successor is."

And with the new ruler, Russia is likely to attempt to bring Uzbekistan "closer to its orbit," Stronski said.

"I think the Russians are watching carefully," he said. "Their first interest is stability and their second interest is to make sure it doesn't move too far from them, particularly toward the West."

Uzbekistan hasn't been oriented as closely to Russia as some other post-Soviet republics, but that could start to change.

"Russia will see upside from a transition," Bremmer said. "Uzbekistan [was] kept arm's length from most Russia-led regional institutions under Karimov; the post-Karimov Uzbekistan will be warmer (particularly if the pro-Moscow prime minister takes over)."

In any case, Uzbekistan is a notoriously opaque country  so it might be a while before we see how the transition of power plays out.

NOW WATCH: 'I don't even really know where to start on answering this question': Watch President Obama respond to Trump's claim that the election will be rigged





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Johannesburg (AFP) - Title-holders Ivory Coast cleared a header off their goal-line in stoppage time to hang on to a 1-1 draw with Sierra Leone on Saturday to squeeze into the 2017 Africa Cup of Nations finals.

Jonathan Kodjia scored via a bicycle kick after 35 minutes for the Ivorians before a sell-out 25,000 crowd in Bouake but Kei Kamara equalised on 67 minutes with a glancing header following a free-kick.

It was Kamara, back after a self-imposed one-year exile having accused Sierra Leone officials of disrespecting him, who almost took his country to the finals after a 20-year absence.

Sierra Leone were awarded a corner five minutes into stoppage time but a far-post Kamara header was cleared off the line.

Ivory Coast qualified for a seventh straight Cup of Nations by winning Group I with six points after drawing twice against Sierra Leone and taking four points off Sudan.

Sierra Leone finished with five points and Sudan with four.

Algeria, Cameroon, Egypt, Ghana, Guinea-Bissau, Mali, Morocco, Senegal and Zimbabwe secured places ahead of the final round and hosts Gabon are automatic participants as hosts.

Another 14 matches are scheduled for Sunday with the remaining five places up for grabs.

Ethiopia fell behind against Seychelles in Hawassa before goals from Getaneh Kebede and Saladin Said either side of half-time brought a 2-1 win and hope of qualification as one of the best two runners-up.

It was the sixth goal of the qualifying campaign for Kebede in Group J and moved him to the top of the scorers charts.

Fouad Al Triki scored a late goal as Libya shocked Cape Verde 1-0 in a Group F match interrupted when a dog wandered onto the pitch in Praia.

Defeat eliminated Cape Verde, who were briefly ranked No.1 in Africa this year and had been seeking a third consecutive Cup of Nations appearance.

A brilliant goal from Manchester City teenager Kelechi Iheanacho on 78 minutes earned already-eliminated Nigeria a 1-0 Group G win over Tanzania in Uyo.

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The Super Eagles took a short corner and the striker moved across the edge of the penalty area before unleashing a left-foot thunderbolt into the roof of the net.

Group H winners Ghana lacked numerous first choices, including Andre 'Dede' Ayew and Asamoah Gyan, and were held 1-1 in Accra by Rwanda.

Samuel Tettah put the Black Stars ahead midway through the opening half with a low shot and Muhadjir Hakizimana levelled off a free-kick seven minutes from time.

Mozambique jumped from fourth to second in the same mini-league after a last-gasp goal earned a 1-0 win over Mauritius in Maputo.

Cameroon cruised to a 2-0 victory over bottom-of-the-table Group M team Gambia in Limbe.

Benjamin Moukandjo converted a first-half penalty for a foul on Karl Toko Ekambi, who scored the second goal soon after half-time.

A dismal run by Angola in Group B extended to five matches without a win when they were held 1-1 by Madagascar in Luanda.

Bapasy put the visitors ahead during the opening half with a glancing header off a corner and Gelson levelled nine minutes into the second half.

Senegal finished with a perfect Group K record thanks to a predictable 2-0 win over Namibia in Dakar through goals from Balde Keita and Famara Diedhiou.
Tika R Pradhan is a senior political correspondent for the Post, covering politics, parliament, judiciary and social affairs. Pradhan joined the Post in 2016 after working at The Himalayan Times for more than a decade.
By Alexandra Harney SHANGHAI (Reuters) - China's national legislature on Saturday approved a pilot program to allow plea bargaining in its some of its courts. The Standing Committee of the National People's Congress passed a proposal to allow defendants in minor criminal cases to plead guilty and avoid trial in exchange for a lighter sentence. Plea bargaining could help lighten the load on China's busy courts. China's courts heard more than one million criminal cases a year, Shen Liang of the Supreme People's Court told a news briefing in Beijing on Saturday, according to a record of the briefing posted on a government website. The plea bargaining pilot would take place in 18 cities including Beijing, Shen said. Chinese state media earlier reported the other cities include Shanghai, Guangzhou and Chongqing. Plea bargaining is widely used in criminal cases in the United States, but it remains controversial there. (Reporting By Alexandra Harney; Editing by Kim Coghill)
By Engen Tham HANGZHOU, China (Reuters) - Chinese President Xi Jinping and his Turkish counterpart Tayyip Erdogan agreed on Saturday to deepen counter-terror cooperation, as the two set aside previous disagreements over China's treatment of a Turkic-speaking Muslim minority. Hundreds, possibly thousands, of Uighurs keen to escape unrest in China's western Xinjiang region have traveled clandestinely via Southeast Asia to Turkey, where many see themselves as sharing religious and cultural ties. Beijing says some Uighurs then end up fighting with militants in Iraq and Syria. But Ankara vowed last year to keep its doors open to Uighur migrants fleeing what rights activists have called religious persecution in China. Beijing denies accusations that it restricts the Uighurs' religious freedoms. Meeting on the sidelines of the G20 summit in the eastern Chinese city of Hangzhou, Xi told Erdogan he appreciated Turkey stressing that it would not allow its territory to be used for acts that harmed China's security. China "hopes both sides can achieve even more substantive results in counter-terrorism cooperation", China's state-run Xinhua news agency cited Xi as saying. Erdogan, in comments before reporters translated from Turkish into Chinese, said the emphasis should be on strengthening their ties. "Fighting terrorism is a long-term issue, and is also a long-term topic discussed by the G20," he said. Xinhua also quoted Erdogan as thanking China for its help in maintaining Turkey's security and stability, and that he hoped for greater counter-terrorism cooperation. Turkey, a NATO member and part of the U.S.-led coalition against Islamic State, has seen a series of deadly bombings this year blamed on the radical Islamists. But it also fears Kurdish militias in Syria will seize a swathe of border territory and embolden Kurdish insurgents on its own soil. Beijing blames Islamist militants, including those it says come from a group called the East Turkestan Islamic Movement (ETIM), for a rise in violence in Xinjiang in recent years in which hundreds have died. Rights groups say the unrest there is more a reaction to repressive government policies, and experts have questioned whether ETIM exists as a cohesive militant group. Officials in Xinjiang have stepped up regulations banning overt signs of religious observance, like veils or beards. Turkey angered China by expressing concern about reports of restrictions on Uighurs worshipping and fasting during the holy month of Ramadan last year, and Turkish protesters have marched on China's embassy and consulate in Turkey over Beijing's treatment of Uighurs. The two countries have also jousted over Thailand's deportation of Uighur migrants back to China. (Writing by Ben Blanchard; Editing by Kim Coghill)
By Joseph Campbell HANGZHOU, China (Reuters) - The Chinese city of Hangzhou felt like a ghost town on Saturday ahead of the arrival of leaders from the world's 20 biggest economies, after the government encouraged residents to clear out and cranked up security for the summit. On the eve of the Group of 20 summit, roads and malls around the main venue in the center of Hangzhou, usually a bustling city of 9 million, were largely deserted, with just a smattering of cars and people around while shops were shut and locked. Construction sites also whirred to a stop, uncommon in a country where laborers often work around-the-clock. More than 200 steel mills in surrounding districts were shut as part of a government bid to limit pollution during the two-day summit which begins on Sunday. "Things are now a little bit inconvenient. But you can understand why," said Hangzhou real estate agent Liu Wenchao. "Leaders from the world's most important 20 countries are coming for this big summit, and we all need to guarantee security for foreigners." The stakes are high for China to pull off a trouble-free summit, its highest profile event of the year, as it looks to cement its standing as a global power and avoid acrimony over issues like the South China Sea territorial dispute. The city, a tourist hot spot, is home to Chinese e-commerce giant Alibaba Group Holdings and to textile factories as well as steel. Hangzhou's residents left in droves after authorities declared a week-long holiday for the summit, shut down the city's famous West Lake beauty spot and offered free travel vouchers worth up to 10 billion yuan ($1.5 billion) to encourage people to visit out-of-town attractions. Some residents, such as chefs from the western Xinjiang region, were also sent home over the period, restaurants told Reuters. The government has blamed Islamist militants for carrying out attacks in that region. Over the weekend, policemen conducted security checks on streets while men identifying themselves as volunteer security guards patrolled. Two volunteers told Reuters journalists they were not allowed to film in residential areas. Chinese industry consultant Mysteel said more steel mills in the neighboring provinces of Jiangsu, Anhui, Shandong and Zhejiang had been ordered to curb or suspend production because the air quality was deemed not good enough. On Saturday, the air quality index for Hangzhou was 76, a level classed as "good" but far worse than Beijing which had an "excellent" level of 25. "We need put on our best face, Hangzhou's most beautiful face, for the entire world," said Liu. (Additional Reporting by Ruby Lian, Kevin Yao and Wong Sue-Lin; Writing by Brenda Goh; Editing by Robert Birsel)
Chinese actress Zhang Yuqi just channeled our favorite Disney princess dress and we want to be her guest!

Chinese actress Zhang Yuqi just channeled our favorite Disney princess dress and we want to be her guest!

The 73rd annual Venice Film Festival is already giving us major Oscar vibes with its widespread mix of films and, more importantly, its red carpet fashion. Chinese actress Zhang Yuqi dazzled in a yellow dress that would make our favorite Disney princess proud.

Zhang Yuqis dress was fit for a princess.

The Chinese actress stole the spotlight from Ryan Gosling and Emma Stone at the La La Land premiere at the film festival on Wednesday. Zhang looked enchanting in a golden strapless Alexis Mabille Haute Couture gown.

Look at the bows on her dress and the ribbon in her hair. Were dying!

Opening Ceremony And 'La La Land' Premiere - 73rd Venice Film Festival

And that train. She looks like a true Disney princess.

unnamed

This golden gown is everything and more.

Zhangs dress is giving us major Beauty and the Beast vibes. We cant wait to see the liveaction movie starring Emma Watson as Belle (because obvi) and Dan Stevens as the Beast. The beloved Disney movie will hit theaters next March.

beauty and the beast

Disney recently released a sneak peek showing the films stars, Emma and Dan, at a live table reading. The short clip was pure magic, but then again the Harry Potter superstar IS the definition of magic.

The film has an allstar cast that includes Luke Evans as Gaston, Emma Thompson as Mrs. Potts, Ewan McGregor as Lumiere, Ian McKellen as Cogsworth and Josh Gad as Le Fou. The Hollywood blockbuster is directed by Bill Condon.

beauty and the beast

With Disney celebrating the 25th anniversary of the iconic animated tale, theres no doubt in our mind that the live-action movie will be everything we ever dreamed of.

The post Chinese actress Zhang Yuqi just channeled our favorite Disney princess dress and we want to be her guest! appeared first on HelloGiggles.
Chloe Grace Moretz is taking her breakup with Brooklyn Beckham in stride  and with a new award under her belt.



The 19-year-old actress received the Young Hollywood Award, and was honored with a tribute to kick off the Deauville American Film Festival in Deauville, France on Friday night.



Moretz wore a floor-length, flowy floral Erdem gown and shared her look (and happiness!) on Instagram.



"Thank you so much for this immense honor #deauville2016 :) #RisingStarAward," Moretz wrote in the post.









Thank you so much for this immense honor #deauville2016 :) #RisingStarAward A photo posted by Chloe Grace Moretz (@chloegmoretz) on Sep 2, 2016 at 1:02pm PDT





During her acceptance speech, she talked about the "humble" and "responsible" previous Deauville honorees who inspire her, including Julianne Moore, Denzel Washington, Jessica Chastain and more.



"People who have received this prize before me have gone to accomplish astounding things in their careers so I definitely feel the weight of this prize," she said.



For the remainder of the festival, Daniel Radcliffe is set to be awarded with the Young Hollywood Award as well, and Stanley Tucci and James Franco will receive career tributes.





WATCH: Chloe Grace Moretz Confirms She Is Dating Brooklyn Beckham





This award comes just one day after PEOPLE confirmed that Moretz and her former boyfriend Brooklyn Beckham had called it quits. The couple spent a romantic summer in Los Angeles together, but Beckham, 17, recently returned to London.



Moretz officially confirmed they were a couple on Watch What Happens Live! with Andy Cohen in May after two years of flirty friendship.
When she was questioned by the FBI on July 2, Hillary Clinton did not recall any conversations she had about setting up her controversial private email server after becoming secretary of state.

She could not recall anybody raising any concerns with her about it.

Shown a cable that went out under her name, warning all State Department employees about security threats to their personal email accounts  and advising them not to use them for official business  Clinton drew a blank. She replied that all policy cables carried her name and she did not recall this specific cable.

So it went during her three-and-a-half-hour grilling, according to an official FBI report on Clintons interview that was made public by the bureau on Friday. During the course of her interview, Clinton was repeatedly unable to respond to many questions about her use of the private email server and the classified emails she sent on it. She said she could not recall, did not recall and did not remember 38 times, according to a Yahoo News tally of her responses recorded in the 11-page FBI report.

FBI director James Comey has told Congress that the bureau found no evidence that Clinton lied during the interview. Her responses for the most part track explanations she has given publicly.

But the language in the FBI report is a reminder of two crucial chapters in Clintons biography: She is a trained litigator who knows well the risks of testifying to answers about which she might not be certain. And, equally relevant, she is a veteran witness in multiple federal investigations, having been subpoenaed before a grand jury and questioned under oath on multiple occasions on everything from her Rose Law Firm billing records (which appeared mysteriously in her living quarters in the White House two years after they had been subpoenaed) to the firing of employees in the White House travel office and her long ago Whitewater real estate investment.

Still, some of her responses, especially those in which she appeared to be parrying her FBI interrogators, may not help her efforts to impress voters with her mastery of details. Questioned about State Department involvement in Obama administration drone strikes  a subject discussed in some of her classified emails on the private server  Clinton replied at one point that she could not recall the process for nominating a target for a drone strike and did not recall whether there was a State Department policy on whether to confirm classified information contained in media reports about the strikes.

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Hillary Clinton was repeatedly unable to respond to questions about her use of the private email server. (Photo: Carolyn Kaster/AP)

Confronted by the FBI about one of her emails that was marked C for Confidential, the lowest level of classification, Clinton replied she did not know what the marking meant. She could only speculate as to its meaning, she said. Her speculation: The C may have been referencing paragraphs marked in alphabetical order.

Another part of the interview could prove political fodder for her critics, especially for the Trump campaign and its allies who have sought to raise questions about her health. The FBI questioned Clinton about what instructions she might have received about preserving federal records contained on her private email server when she was preparing to leave the State Department in early 2013. Clinton told the bureau she received no such instructions. But the FBI report notes that in December 2012 Clinton suffered a concussion, and then around the New Year had a blood clot. Based on her doctors advice, the report adds, she could not work at State for a few hours a day and could not recall every briefing she received. As a result, Clinton was unaware of the government requirement  embodied in a law known as the Federal Records Act  to turn over her printed records to the department when she left office.

Given the more than 30,000 work-related emails she sent and received during her tenure as secretary, it may not surprise voters that Clinton was unable to respond to the FBIs questions about some of the emails the bureau considered problematic. Asked about an August 25, 2010, email about a New York Times report that a top aide to then Afghan President Hamid Karzai was on the CIAs payroll, Clinton replied she did not remember the email specifically.

When questioned about a June 4, 2011, email with the subject line RE: Google email hacking and woeful state of civilian technology, a topic of arguable relevance to her private email server, Clinton stated she did not recall the compromise of State employees Gmail accounts. However, Clinton added, she did recall the frustration over States informational technology systems.

Yet another of her memory lapses is likely to fuel suspicions that there was more to her decision to use a private email server than convenience, as she has publicly explained it. It involved the handling of responses to the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA), which would have potentially covered any email she sent that was government-related. Because she used a private server, those emails were never searched in response to FOIA requests. Shown a December 11, 2012, email with the subject line, FW: Significant FOIA Report, Clintons reply was that she did not recall the specific request and was not aware of receiving any FOIA requests for information related to her email during her tenure as Secretary of State. (In fact, a FOIA request seeking information on all her email accounts had been made by a liberal watchdog group in December 2012 and her top aide, Cheryl Mills, was alerted about it.)

But for all that she couldnt remember, Clinton did remember and was emphatic on one point, according to the FBI report. She never deleted, nor did she instruct anyone to delete, her email to avoid complying with the Federal Records Act, FOIA, or State or FBI requests for information.
By Julia Edwards and Jonathan Allen WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Hillary Clinton, under questioning by federal investigators over whether she had been briefed on how to preserve government records as she was about to leave the State Department, said she had suffered a concussion, was working part-time and could not recall every briefing she received. Clinton, the Democratic Party's presidential candidate, raised the health scare during her 3-1/2-hour interview with the Federal Bureau of Investigation and Justice Department prosecutors on July 2, according to an FBI summary released on Friday. Besides the 11-page interview summary, the FBI also released other details of its investigation into her use of an unauthorized private email system while running the State Department, in which it concluded she mishandled classified information but not in a way that warranted a criminal prosecution. Clinton told investigators she could not recall getting any briefings on how to handle classified information or comply with laws governing the preservation of federal records, the summary of her interview shows. "However, in December of 2012, Clinton suffered a concussion and then around the New Year had a blood clot," the FBI's summary said. "Based on her doctor's advice, she could only work at State for a few hours a day and could not recall every briefing she received." A Clinton campaign aide said Clinton only referenced her concussion to explain she was not at work but for a few hours a day at that time, not that she did not remember things from that period. The concussion was widely reported then, and Republicans have since used it to attack the 68-year-old candidate's health in a way her staff have said is unfounded. The FBI report, which does not quote Clinton directly, is ambiguous about whether it was her concussion that affected her ability to recall briefings. The FBI declined to provide further comment on the report. Clinton, who is challenging Republican Donald Trump for the White House in the Nov. 8 election, has been dogged for more than a year by the fallout from her decision to use an unauthorized private email account run from the basement of her Chappaqua, New York, home. Republicans have repeatedly attacked Clinton over the issue, helping drive opinion polls that show many U.S. voters doubt her trustworthiness. Trump's campaign issued a statement immediately following the FBI report's release saying the notes from the interview "reinforce her tremendously bad judgment and dishonesty." Clinton has said that in hindsight she regretted using a private email system while secretary of state. According to the report, Clinton told the FBI that she did not set up a private email server to sidestep the law requiring her to keep her business communications a matter of public record. At least one federal judge is examining whether this was the case as part of a lawsuit against the State Department concerning public access to Clinton's government records, which the U.S. government said it had no access to in response to requests from members of the public. The documents also show that Clinton contacted former Secretary of State Colin Powell in 2009 to ask about his use of a personal BlackBerry phone. In his reply to Clinton via email, Powell told Clinton to "be very careful" because the work-related emails she sent on her BlackBerry could become public record. "I got around it all by not saying much and not using systems that captured the data," Powell said, according to the summary. After her use of a private email system became public knowledge in March 2015, Clinton repeatedly said she did not use it to send or receive classified information. The government forbids handling such information outside secure channels. The FBI has since concluded Clinton was wrong to say that: At least 81 email threads contained information that was classified at the time, although the final number may be more than 2,000, the report said. Some of the emails appear to include discussion of planned future attacks by unmanned U.S. military drones, the FBI report showed. "CLINTON believed the classification level of future drone strikes depended on the context," the FBI's interview summary said. The U.S. government requires that military plans be classified. The FBI released its report on Friday afternoon before the Labor Day holiday weekend, a time many Americans are preparing to travel. State Department spokesman John Kirby said he would not comment on the FBI's findings because the department "does not have full insight into the FBI's investigation." He declined to say whether State Department officials still discussed the planning of future attacks using drones in unclassified emails. "I'm not going to speak to past email practices," he said. "We trust State Department employees to use their best judgment when conveying sensitive information, taking into account a range of factors." The Clinton campaign released a statement welcoming the report's release. "While her use of a single email account was clearly a mistake and she has taken responsibility for it, these materials make clear why the Justice Department believed there was no basis to move forward with this case," Brian Fallon, a campaign spokesman, said in a statement. Some Republicans saw the files as confirming their belief that the Department of Justice should have prosecuted Clinton. "These documents demonstrate Hillary Clinton's reckless and downright dangerous handling of classified information during her tenure as secretary of state," Paul Ryan, the Republican speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives, said in a statement. "This is exactly why I have called for her to be denied access to classified information." (Reporting by Eric Beech, Jonathan Allen, Ginger Gibson and Julia Edwards; Editing by Jonathan Oatis and Leslie Adler)
By Frank McGurty and Chris Prentice

(Reuters) - One clown showed up on a roadside in a rain poncho, another waved money at children near woods.

The reported sightings of silent, menacing clowns in northeastern South Carolina may be part of a horror movie publicity stunt or an elaborate hoax, but they are no laughing matter for parents and police.

Over the past two weeks, residents have told authorities they have spotted clowns, or people who looked like clowns, on at least eight occasions.

Investigators have failed to confirm a single sighting and the descriptions have varied in detail. But police are nevertheless urging parents to be cautious.

"I will usually let my son play in our backyard where I can see him from the kitchen, but now I won't let him go outside the house without me," said Jessie Owen, a 29-year-old Greenville mother of two.

"All it would take is one second. One promise of candy and he would be gone," she said.

One theory is that the clowns are connected to the release of the independent horror movie "31," by director Rob Zombie. A preview of the movie, which features a gang of sadistic clowns, screened on Thursday evening at a theater in Greenville, population 61,000.

Greenville Police Chief Ken Miller told reporters that investigators do not know if the sightings had any connection with the movie, whether it was one or more people looking for "kicks" or something more sinister.

Representatives of the movie could not be reached for comment.

One motorist in Greenville called 911 to say he caught a fleeting glimpse of a figure standing by the side of the road wearing a "clown mask" and a clear rain poncho, according to Master Deputy Ryan Flood of the Greenville County Sheriff's Office. The caller said the clown then disappeared into a woods.

The officer who investigated the alleged sighting was unable to find anything suspicious, Flood said, just as with the previous reports from in and around Greenville.

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Two days earlier, a women said she saw a middle-aged man with white facial makeup and flaming red hair standing silently outside a laundromat. Police fielded two reports of clown sightings on Thursday from an apartment complex in town.

Sightings have spread to a neighboring county, where a woman in Spartanburg reported seeing a person dressed as a clown in her backyard on Wednesday night.

Several people reported seeing a man dressed as a clown outside Greenville trying to lure the children into the woods by waving a wad of cash and a green laser light.

"This is something we are taking very seriously, especially because of the allegations of the people dressed at clowns attempting to lure children into the woods," Flood said.

The restiveness in Greenville was enough for police to warn that South Carolina law prohibits anyone over age 18 from dressing up as a clown. Chief Miller said a city ordinance related to "molesting or disturbing the public" could also lead to prosecution of clowns taken into custody.

(This story has been refiled to insert dropped word in paragraph tenth.)

(Editing by Mary Milliken)
Return to sender

Of the thousands of Nepalis leaving the country each year, the handful of those returning are invariably asked: Why?
Ankara (AFP) - The wife of the former editor-in-chief of Turkey's top opposition daily Cumhuriyet was banned on Saturday from flying to Germany and her passport seized, her husband said on Twitter.

Less than three weeks after Can Dundar stepped down from the paper, Dilek Dundar was told she could not fly to Berlin at Istanbul's Ataturk airport, the state-run news agency Anadolu said.

Her passport had been cancelled last month, Cumhuriyet added.

The agency said Dundar's passport was seized and she left after being told she could not leave the country.

Dundar was defiant on Twitter, saying he and his wife would not be intimidated.

"They took my wife hostage. Law of the jungle. But in vain. Neither I nor a woman who jumped on top of a gun can be frightened of this," he said, referring to an incident in May when his wife grappled with a gunman who tried to shoot her husband outside an Istanbul court.

Dundar was sentenced by the court in May to five years and 10 months in prison for allegedly revealing state secrets in a story that infuriated Turkey's authoritarian president Recep Tayyip Erdogan.

Cumhuriyet's report on a shipment of arms intercepted at the Syrian border in January 2014 sparked a furore when it was published in May 2015, with Erdogan warning Dundar himself he would "pay a heavy price".

Dundar is believed to be in Germany after he was freed earlier this year pending an appeal following his trial.

Last month, he said he would not surrender himself to the Turkish courts because he had lost faith in the judiciary after the failed July 15 coup and the three-month state of emergency imposed in the days after.

"To trust such a judiciary would be like putting one's head under the guillotine," he wrote in a Cumhuriyet column entitled "time to say farewell".

"Therefore, I've decided not to surrender to this judiciary at least until the state of emergency is lifted."
Campuses across the country are taking the storied youthful idealism of college students more seriously by creating accommodations and safe spaces for activism and social justice projects.

The University of North Dakotas new Social Justice Living-Learning Community, called an LLC, houses a dozen students this year. UND is the latest university to provide a dorm option for students who want to organize service projects and have a supportive place to discuss pressing social justice issues.

We were dealing with things like conversations about race, gender-inclusive housing, and access to locally sourced foods, said Connie Frazier, executive director of housing and dining at UND. All these threads were happening, and groups of students got together and decided we need a larger community where we can talk about this kind of stuff.

Frazier and her department responded by carving out half a floor in one of the schools residence halls for the LLC, home to about 35 beds, and invited students to apply for the program. The Social Justice LLC joins living communities at the school dedicated to wellness, engineering, and aviation.

During the LLCs first semester, students will focus on how were going to define social justice for our community and how to have conversations about complicated social issues, Frazier said.

The new community in North Dakota is one of many similar programs available to students throughout the U.S.

At Georgetown University in Washington, D.C., students have the option to join a Justice and Diversity in Action living program that got its start roughly 14 years ago. The university announced this week that it will be renaming buildings and offering descendants of slaves special consideration in admissionsan attempt to reconcile the schools slave-trading past.

Marilyn McMorrow, director of undergraduate studies in Georgetowns government department, acts as an adviser and a faculty member in residence for students in the program.

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The school wanted to link its mission of education toward justice to [the LLC], so they asked if I would start one for social justice and service, McMorrow told TakePart. I said of course.

The program occupies one floor of a residence hall and has space for 45 students. Each year, the floor comes up with a social service project to collectively take on.

The issues we deal with take the coloration of the students who are in the community at any given time, said McMorrow.

In their application to live on the floor, students are asked to explain which social justice issues they are passionate about and how they hope to become actively involved in working for change. This year McMorrow noticed a large number of applications that addressed an interest in working on police brutality and inequality in the criminal justice system as well as immigration. The floor has often housed undocumented students, some of whom have firsthand experience with the deportation of a parent or a family member.

We have had an amazing mix of students, said McMorrow. The work for social justice has to include respect for authentic diversity.

Take the Pledge: Dont Be Silent: Take the Pledge to Be an Ally for Racial Justice

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Original article from TakePart
A centuries-old stone crocodile carving used in Mesoamerican rituals was recently discovered in Mexico, offering clues about an ancient city's ceremonial practices, and its relationship with a larger city nearby.

Archaeologists found the slab of carved rock in what is now Oaxaca, near a temple in the ruins of the city Lambityeco, which archaeologists first uncovered in the 1960s and dates back between 500 and A.D. 850. Early excavations at the site decades ago had revealed two palaces; frescoes in one of them hinted at close ties with a larger city in the area called Monte Albon, researchers from the Field Museum in Chicago, who investigated Lambityeco for the past four years, said in a statement.

Their work yielded hints that Lambityeco may have begun distancing itself from its more powerful neighbor at one point, with scientists unearthing evidence of changes to important structures and their access routes. [The 7 Most Mysterious Archaeological Finds on Earth]

Buried and barricaded

The crocodile carving was found after clearing and following a hidden path that had been deliberately barricaded, perhaps as Lambityeco's inhabitants sought to reshape their city to reflect and celebrate their own power and influence rather than Monte Alban's, according to Gary Feinman, one of the team's lead archaeologists and a curator of Mesoamerican anthropology at the Field Museum.

Feinman told Live Science that the group was looking closely at parts of the site related to civic and ritual uses. They were especially interested in the pre-Hispanic ball court, a type of space that was both recreational and ceremonial, and which is recognized to have particular significance in Mesoamerican society.





During the last season's work, in 2015, when the archaeologists excavated the first part of the ball court, they noticed something peculiar  access to the court and its overall layout appeared to have been changed from its original construction and while it was still in use.

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"The stairway leading out of the ball court was destroyed, and there was river gravel piled to block access to the stairway," Feinman said.

Clearing a path

Intrigued, the researchers investigated and found a path with large jars arranged along it. When they returned in 2016 to see what else they could find along this path, they discovered the crocodile carving, up against a building on the east side of a plaza.

Artifacts near the carving showed that it served a ritual purpose, Feinman explained. "In front of it was charcoal, pieces of burnt human skull, broken ceramics used as incense burning vessels," he said.

Clearly it was being used  but the archaeologists doubted that it was in its original position, as the stone was upside down and wasn't well-attached to the building next to it, he said. [In Photos: Amazing Ruins of the Ancient World]

"I suspect that because the stone was carved on three sides that it was a balustrade marking the beginning of one side of a stairway," Feinman said, adding it was a stairway that was later destroyed.

"It looked like they flipped the crocodile stone and reversed it, and left it leaning against the platform, which they then remodeled without a stairway," he said.

The blocked entrance, the path, the jars and the crocodile stone may have once been part of a ceremony that began at the ball court and ended at the temple building where the carved crocodile was found, Feinman told Live Science.

Breaking away"We think that when the ball court was first constructed, some kind of ritual procession went out past the jars, into the plaza, and up to the building where we found the crocodile stone," Feinman said. "The ball court was seen as access to the underworld. You'd come out of the underworld, get food from the jars, go up to the plaza  the level of earth  and up to the temple, where you accessed the supernatural world. That clearly changed when they remodeled," he added.

Lambityeco's ball court was originally a near-perfect copy of Monte Alban's. But the archaeologists found that about 150 years after the ball court was built, it was modified to shorten it and to change the entrance from the north to the northeast corner  which altered the former processional path to the temple. According to Feinman, this may have reflected Lambityeco's leaders' attempts to declare their own importance.

"We think that when the civic-ceremonial core of the site was laid out [in] about 500 A.D., there were strong connections between the people who were in charge in Lambityeco and the people who ruled the valley's largest city, Monte Alban," Feinman said.

But after 100 to 150 years, that relationship may have changed, according to Feinman. "Possibly the changes that took place in Lambityeco were not only to differentiate it, but also may have given more attention or focus or power to local rulers," he said.

Interestingly, while crocodiles were widely associated with the Mesoamerican calendar and held an important role in creation myths, Feinman pointed out that it's unlikely that people living in Oaxaca would ever have seen a living crocodile. As the valley was landlocked, this stone carving of the toothsome river beast was likely the closest that many of Lambityeco's inhabitants ever came to the seeing the real thing.

Original article on Live Science.

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Philippine authorities on Saturday blamed a notorious group of Islamic militants for the bombing of a night market in President Rodrigo Duterte's home town that killed at least 14 people.

An improvised explosive device tore through the bustling market in the heart of Davao city and close to one of its top hotels just before 11:00pm (1500 GMT) on Friday.

Authorities said the Abu Sayyaf, a small band of militants that has declared allegiance to the Islamic State group, most likely carried out the attack in response to a military offensive launched against it last week.

The president's spokesman, Martin Andanar, said Duterte believed the militants were behind the blast.

"The office of the president texted and confirmed that was an Abu Sayyaf retaliation. For the city government side, we are working on that it is an Abu Sayyaf retaliation," Davao mayor Sara Duterte, who is also the president's daughter, told CNN Philippines.

National Defence Secretary Delfin Lorenzana said the Abu Sayyaf had struck back after suffering heavy casualties on its stronghold of Jolo island about 900 kilometres (550 miles) from Davao.

"We have predicted this and warned our troops accordingly but the enemy is also adept at using the democratic space granted by our constitution to move around freely and unimpeded to sow terror," Lorenzana said in a statement.

Duterte, who was in Davao at the time of the attack but not near the market, told reporters before dawn Saturday that it was an act of terrorism, as he announced extra powers for the military.

At least 14 people were killed and another 67 were wounded in the explosion, police said. Sixteen of the injured were in critical condition, a local hospital director told reporters.

- Pregnant woman dies -

Durian vendor Maribel Tabalwon, 34, told AFP chaos broke out after the blast. She helped rescue three victims but one of them, a woman seven months pregnant, eventually died.

"The blast was so loud the ground shook. She was crawling but she was lucky enough no one trampled her during the stampede. She was shaking and bleeding."

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Davao is the biggest city in the southern region of Mindanao, with a population of about two million people. It is about 1,500 kilometres from the capital of Manila.

The city is part of the southern region of Mindanao, where Islamic militants have waged a decades-long separatist insurgency that has claimed more than 120,000 lives.

Duterte had been mayor of Davao for most of the past two decades, before winning presidential elections in a landslide in May and being sworn in on June 30.

Duterte became well known for bringing relative peace and order to Davao with hardline security policies, while also brokering deals with local Muslim and communist rebels.

Duterte has in recent weeks pursued peace talks with the two main Muslim rebel groups, which each has thousands of armed followers. Their leaders have said they want to broker a lasting peace.

However the Abu Sayyaf, a much smaller and hardline group infamous for kidnapping foreigners to extract ransoms, has rejected Duterte's peace overtures.

In response, Duterte deployed thousands of troops onto the small and remote island of Jolo to "destroy" the group.

The military reported 15 soldiers died in clashes on Monday, but also claimed killing dozens of Abu Sayyaf gunmen.

On Saturday, Duterte declared a national "state of lawlessness", which his security adviser said gave the military extra powers to conduct law enforcement operations normally done only by the police.

While Davao has been regarded as relatively safer than the rest of Mindanao, the Abu Sayyaf and other Islamic militant groups have carried out deadly attacks there in the past.

In 2003, two bomb attacks blamed on Muslim rebels at Davao's airport and the city's port within a month of each other killed about 40 people.

Duterte initially raised the possibility of drug lords carrying out Friday's attack as a way of fighting back against his crime war.

More than 2,000 people have died in his unprecedented anti-crime crackdown, drawing widespread international condemnation over an apparent wave of extrajudicial killings.
Honolulu (AFP) - A decade ago, there were just 115 western gray whales left in the world, and their feeding grounds near Russia's Sakhalin Island, north of Japan, were being drilled for oil.

These massive whales, known as Esrichtiius robustus, faced a host of deadly threats, from underwater noise to collisions with ships and entanglements in fishing gear, and were listed as critically endangered in 2003.

Soon after, a deal was struck, whereby loans to Russia's Sakhalin Energy were restricted unless the oil company paid for a panel of marine scientists to advise its offshore operations.

The process "began as a 'David versus Goliath' and wound up as a 'David and Goliath story,'" said Azzedine Downes, president and CEO of the International Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW).

This accord has allowed the whales to bounce back, boosting their numbers by about half since 2004, to about 174 today, experts said Saturday at the International Union for Conservation of Nature world meeting in Honolulu.

The current deal between scientists and Sakhalin drillers -- known as the Western Gray Advisory Panel -- will be extended another five years, until 2021.

The partnership has helped the western gray whale's numbers rise by three to four percent per year, said a joint report issued at the International Union for Conservation for Nature World Conservation Congress.

But environmental advocates warn that expanded oil exploration in the area by companies that are not part of the agreement mean that the western gray whale's survival is still tenuous.

"Success is also very fragile when you are talking about a population that is this small," the World Wildlife Fund's Wendy Elliott told reporters.

Sakhalin Energy -- an oil and gas company with Gazprom, Shell, Mitsui and Mitsubishi as shareholders -- is currently the only company involved in the agreement.

Other companies operating in the region include Exxon Neftegas Limited (ENL), Gazprom, and Rosneft, according to the IUCN.

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Elliott said Exxon has started building a pier in an important lagoon area.

"The panel has expressed extreme concern about this development. That has unfortunately fallen on completely deaf ears," she said.

If more oil companies followed suit, protection for key creatures could be vastly expanded, she said, calling on Exxon to join the panel "and make sure this success is not destroyed."

Exxon said it did consider NGOs' concerns, and "has co-sponsored a successful western whale monitoring program conducted annually offshore Sakhalin since 1997, and has invested over $40 million in the program to date," according to spokesman Todd Spitler.

- 'Mistrust' was overcome -

Experts say Sakhalin Energy has followed 90 percent of the Western Gray Whale Advisory panel's recommendations, and has altered the route of its pipeline to avoid disrupting the whales' feeding grounds.

The scientific focus has also yielded new discoveries.

A satellite-tagging program advocated by the panel has led to the discovery that western gray whales are the longest migrating mammal known today, with one whale traveling 6,760 miles (10,880 kilometers) from Sakhalin to its wintering calving grounds in Mexico's Baja California peninsula.

And with 43 breeding females in the group in 2015, up from 27 in 2004, the whales have a fighting chance.

"The annual increase of Sakhalin whales is encouraging but their recovery in the long-term will depend on more companies in the region joining this effort," said Doug Nowacek, a whale behavior and member of the scientific advisory panel.

"Other companies in Sakhalin need to take similar measures to address the problem of cumulative impacts of industry on the marine environment."

When first announced, the plans for Sakhalin-2 -- Russia's first offshore gas project -- drew outcry from environmental groups.

Non-governmental organizations put pressure on banks not to lend any money to Sakhalin Energy unless certain conditions were met -- including a deal that the oil giant would have to finance an independent panel managed by IUCN to offer recommendations on their operations.

Shell spokesman Deric Quaile said there was "a lot of mistrust" early on in the partnership.

But the process "played an important role in improving environmental performance," he said.
It was a big night for Stanley Tucci, as he received a career tribute at the Deauville Film Festival.

It was the Oscar nominee's fourth time at the French festival, which he called "one of his favorite places ever and one of my favorite festivals ever."

In a contentious election year, Tucci said cinema can lead by example.

"Cinema is a collaborative art form," he said, noting how teams bring the finished product together, not individual directors. "That collaboration is one that has brought us so many great films, but it's in that spirit of collaboration that we hope we can all move forward and I think in this way, politicians might have something to learn from artists."

Tucci was introduced by jury president and former French culture minister Frederic Mitterrand, who cited his Emmy and Golden Globe wins.

"I don't feel like I've achieved enough to warrant this, but I'm glad of it," he told The Hollywood Reporter of the lifetime achievement honor.

Tucci will head to Los Angeles next week as shooting starts on the upcoming Ryan Murphy series Feud, in which he plays studio bigwig Jack Warner, alongside Susan Sarandon's Bette Davis and Jessica Lange's Joan Crawford. The show focuses on the rivalry between the two legendary actresses during the shooting of 1962's What Ever Happened to Baby Jane?

"It's very funny and a fascinating story," he said. "I had no idea that this had happened. [Warner] is horrible, but he's really funny. It's very satisfying to play the mean, funny guy." He would not, however, divulge which studio heads he would use as inspiration.

He has yet to meet director Murphy, but said he is a big admirer of his work.

As for a possible follow-up to 2006's The Devil Wears Prada based on author Lauren Weisberger's new book Revenge Wears Prada, Tucci outright dismisses it.

"That's never going to happen," he said.

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Though costars Anne Hathaway and Emily Blunt have expressed interest in a sequel, Tucci has no interest in reprising what he says is the favorite role of his career.

"That role was so great because it was so beautifully written and he was incredibly funny and there was a real substance to it. It was a truly great American studio movie in every way," he said. "Perfect in every way."

He then added: "Sometimes it's best just to leave things. If you try to redo it, let's face it, there are very few sequels that actually work."

Read more: Ryan Murphy Anthology 'Feud,' Starring Jessica Lange and Susan Sarandon, Set at FX
Donald Trump and Abraham Lincoln. (Photos: Evan Vucci/AP; Alexander Gardner/U.S. Library of Congress via Getty Images)

In his appeal to the black community, Donald Trump invoked Abraham Lincolns party affiliation during a highly anticipated but brief speech at Great Faith Ministries International in Detroit.

Becoming the nominee of the party of Abraham Lincoln  a lot of people dont realize that Abraham Lincoln, the great Abraham Lincoln, was a Republican  has been the greatest honor of my life, he told the congregation.

The Republican presidential candidate promised to use the United States widely celebrated 16th president as a guiding light in working toward a civil rights agenda for the 21st century.

It is on his legacy that I hope to build the future of the party, but more important the future of the country and the community, Trump said during an uncharacteristically calm and mild-mannered speech. I believe we need a civil rights agenda for our time, one that ensures the rights to a great education  so important  and the right to live in safety and in peace to have a really, really great job, a good-paying job and one that you love to go to every morning.

Along with Franklin D. Roosevelt and George Washington, Lincoln routinely appears at the top of historical rankings of the nations greatest presidents. Lincoln, in particular, resonates in black history because of his successful efforts to end slavery. He liberated more than 3 million slaves by signing the Emancipation Proclamation of 1863 and ultimately abolished slavery by pushing the 13th Amendment through Congress two years later.

Lincoln is also renowned for preserving the Union through the American Civil War. Though the country does not face the same sort of existential threat from within as it had in the 1860s, its political discourse has become more cantankerous in recent years  with the right and left becoming increasingly polarized.

Trumps brash rhetoric highlights and likely contributes to the widening chasm. His base loves the way he speaks off the cuff, while his ensuing politically incorrect statements further alienate more moderate voters. On Saturday, however, Trump stuck mainly to the prepared script and presented himself as a candidate of unity.

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Our nation is too divided. We talk past each other, not too each other, and those who seek office do not do enough to step into the community and learn what is going on. They dont know. They have no clue. Im here today to learn so that we can together remedy injustice in any form.

Unlike his professed hero, Trump does not enjoy large approval ratings from within the African-American community. A recent NBC-Wall Street Journal poll found that only 1 percent of black Americans support Trump, while 91 percent support his opponent, Democratic candidate Hillary Clinton.

In fact, up until this point, Trump has faced heated criticism for addressing mostly white audiences without reaching out to black voters. Protesters gathered outside the church argued that the candidates recent appeal to African-American voters  just two months before the general election  comes a little too late to demonstrate that he actually cares about issues in their community.

At times, the histories of both major parties concerning race have been the subject of intense debates. Liberals tend to say that the Republican Party was once the more progressive organization but that there had been tremendous changes and that it no longer reflects the party of Lincoln. Conservatives, on the other hand, often argue that the Democratic Party has and continues to separate people by race.

Clinton and Trump have repeatedly accused each other of bigotry.
Donald Trump gives a thumbs-up during a church service in Detroit. (Photo: Evan Vucci/AP)

DETROIT  Donald Trump was in Detroit on Saturday morning to make his first visit to a black church and his first ever campaign stop in an African-American community. His host was the prosperity preacher Bishop Wayne Jackson, who welcomed the GOP presidential nominee for part of a service, and spoke with Trump for an interview that was closed to media but is scheduled to be broadcast later in the month.

Inside Great Faith Ministries, on the citys west side, the reception for Trump was warm, if restrained. But a crowd of some hundred protesters outside was skeptical about the motivations of Trumps stated outreach to African-Americans, a community that overwhelmingly opposes his candidacy, polls show.

Hes not talking to us, said the Rev. Lawrence Glass, senior pastor of El Bethel Church in Detroit. Hes just trying to get those swing voters. But we know who he is. Too little, too late.

He was part of a group of interfaith clergy  including an imam from Dearborn Heights, Mich.  who gathered outside the church to register their objections to Trumps rhetoric and fear-mongering, said Glass.

Great Faith Ministries is in the part of Detroit that doesnt show up in glowing profiles of the citys economic revitalization. Its several miles from downtown, from the Fox Theater, Comerica Park and the exposed-brick coffeehouses and doggy daycares of Midtown. This is where manufacturing left decades ago and isnt coming back.

In remarks that were slotted into the mornings schedule at the last minute, Trump recalled driving through the neighborhood on his way to the church. We see all those closed stores, and people sitting down on the sidewalk, and no jobs and no activity, said Trump. Well get it turned around, Pastor. Believe me. I want to work with you to renew the bonds of trust between citizens, and the bonds of faith that make our nation strong.

But its those bold promises with few specifics that bother Detroiters like the Rev. James Perkins, who leads Greater Christ Baptist church and founded a housing nonprofit that builds low-income single-family homes in the city. What is his track record? Perkins asked while Trump spoke inside. What is his urban revitalization plan? How would he address economic injustice? He talks about militarizing the police. Does he understand how that endangers our lives?

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Other protesters expressed a similar concern in more stark language on a large white banner they unfurled. Referencing the pitch Trump has made to black voters over the past month, the banner read: What do you have to lose? Everything.

Inside the church, Trump spoke of the need for a civil rights agenda for our time. He said that he understood the African-American community has suffered from discrimination, and he read a Bible verse, boasting, Most groups I speak to dont know [1 John 4:12]. But we know it.

Neighborhood resident Felicia Reese, left, talks with Donald Trump and Ben Carson in Detroit. (Photo: Evan Vucci/AP)

After Trump finished speaking, Bishop Jackson presented the candidate with a tallit (Jewish prayer shawl), draping it over his shoulders, and two copies of the Jewish Heritage Study Bible (one copy for Melania).

Like many of Trumps high-profile evangelical supporters and nearly all of his African-American sympathizers, Jackson is from the prosperity gospel wing of evangelical Christianity, which teaches that God rewards faithful believers with material wealth and good health. Jackson himself owns a 39,000-square-foot home with 10 marble fireplaces that was once owned by the Catholic Archdiocese of Detroit. He also identifies with a philo-Semitic strand of evangelicalism that incorporates some elements of Judaism, such as the tallit (over which Jackson said he had prayed and fasted) and the shofar-like horn that sounded before Trump entered the main hall.

In other words, Trumps first visit to a black church wasnt to one of the more traditional social- justice-oriented, theologically orthodox congregations that politicians of both parties often favor. Commenting on that distinction outside Great Faith Ministries, the Rev. Steve Bland Jr. of Liberty Temple Baptist noted, Trump said he wanted to go to a black church. Well, he went to a black church. But we are a diverse people. If you really want to know who we are, here we are.

Bland continued: Is he coming to worship or to address issues? He should be engaging people in a dialogue if he really wants to get some answers.

Before the morning service, Trump did reportedly have an opportunity to speak briefly with selected members of the congregation, although no members of the press were allowed to observe the meeting. The campaign had hinted that Trumps real opportunity to engage Detroits black residents would happen during a walking tour of Detroit. In the end, the walking tour was replaced by a stop at the childhood home of Ben Carson, Trumps former GOP rival turned supporter.

The two men spent five minutes at Carsons former house before getting back in their cars, but they did have time to meet the homes current occupant. Shes voting for Hillary Clinton.
Taplejung landslides in pictures

Multiple landslides have occurred at Dokhu in Taplejung district due to incessant rainfall since Friday night.
Donald Trump ISIS video

Donald Trump has said that "no one will be tougher" on terrorism than him, but new analysis from Foreign Affairs magazine shows that ISIS  the terror group Trump has pledged to eradicate  is actually hoping for the Republican nominee to win the US presidency.

Foreign Affairs analyzed ISIS' online channels and interviewed a dozen supporters and defectors to reach its conclusion.

The magazine found that "jihadists are rooting for a Trump presidency because they believe that he will lead the United States on a path to self-destruction."

Malcolm Nance, a terrorism expert and veteran military-intelligence officer, offered a similar assessment after a terrorism debate at the Comedy Cellar in New York City last month.

"Donald Trump is ISIS' preferred candidate and anything that he does is going to be done to the detriment of the United States," Nance told Business Insider, adding, "Donald Trump is unstable."

It's unclear whether ISIS leadership openly advocates for a Trump presidency. Experts have expressed skepticism about this and noted that the group seems to talk about President Barack Obama more often than they talk about Trump.

And despite Hillary Clinton's assertion that Trump is "ISIS' best recruiter," it seems that most of the pro-Trump propaganda comes from supporters of the group rather than top-tier members themselves.

Still, Foreign Affairs found that ISIS chatter on social media and messaging apps like Telegram seemed to favor getting Trump to the White House. And some verified members of the group told the magazine that they think Trump could lead the world into the apocalyptic final battle that is the ultimate endgame for ISIS.

What jihadis are saying about Trump

One defector, named Tarek, told Foreign Affairs that ISIS sees Trump as "the perfect enemy." Tarek cited Trump's rhetoric, which critics have described as anti-Muslim, as good material for ISIS propaganda that pushes an "us vs. them" narrative to further its strategy of dragging the West into a war with them.

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And Trump's rhetoric about radical Islam coupled with his proposal to ban immigration from "terror countries" until "extreme vetting" processes can be put into place could anger some Muslims already in America. This could then work to ISIS' advantage.

"We were happy when Trump said bad things about Muslims because he makes it very clear that there are two teams in this battle: the Islamic team and the anti-Islamic team," Samer, another recent defector from ISIS, told Foreign Affairs.

"When Trump says hateful things about Muslims, it proves that jihadists are right to fight against the West, because the West is against Islam."

Ironically, as Trump insists that he'd keep ISIS out of America, one defector told Foreign Affairs that his stated policies could end up having the opposite effect.

"We don't need to convince Muslims in the Middle East that the West is against them. They already know," a former ISIS fighter named Maher said. "The next step for the Islamic State is to reach Muslims in America and Europe."

What ISIS propaganda says about Trump

The world of ISIS propaganda is complex  there are official media outlets that publish videos created internally and approved by ISIS leaders, and there are outlets that have close ties to the group, but are run by supporters rather than official ISIS members.

Political observers took note in March when Trump appeared in a propaganda video which celebrated the terrorist attacks in Brussels, Belgium. But experts were quick to point out that the video was produced by the Al-Battar Media Foundation, a pro-ISIS organization that isn't officially affiliated with the group.

Still, videos like these are viewed by supporters who might eventually feel compelled to act on these calls to terror from their home countries.

"Anything with Trump is going to attract attention and provoke controversy," Alberto Fernandez, a former US ambassador who led the State Department's Center for Strategic Counterterrorism Communications, told Business Insider in March. "It's going to get clicks, which is of course what they want," he continued. "They are in the media business."

ISIS supporters have also used social-media platforms and messaging apps to highlight Trump.

Foreign Affairs looked at Arabic-language propaganda and found that ISIS spokesmen and supporters have used Telegram, an encrypted-messaging app ISIS uses to spread propaganda, to encourage support for a Trump presidency.

"Trump's reign in America will unsettle [Gulf] rulers and make them vulnerable," one message read. "The religious clerics of these rulers will not be able to defend them, and large numbers of people will join jihad."

Another message on the app read: "I ask Allah to deliver America to Trump." Yet another said: "The 'facilitation' of Trump's arrival in the White House must be a priority for jihadists at any cost!!!"

Twitter is also a popular platform for ISIS supporters.

Foreign Affairs noted some of these pro-Trump tweets. One said, "This is the time of Trump. ... They see it as Armageddon and we see it as Dabiq." Another said, "Congratulations to us on the victory of Trump! Sit back and relax and watch the end of America at his hands. Dabiq is waiting."

A December report from the SITE Intelligence Group, which monitors jihadist activity online, found similar tweets.

After Trump's statement proposing the ban on Muslims entering the US, jihadists on Twitter reportedly expressed a "lack of surprise" and characterized the proposal as "Western oppression against Muslims," according to SITE.

One tweet from an ISIS supporter said: "Why are people shocked with Trump he only said what most kufar [disbelievers] are afraid of saying."

Another ISIS supporter tweeted, "The actions of Trump are just a trailer of what is awaiting Muslims in future in" Western countries. And yet another ISIS sympathizer said, "I wonder if President Trump will allow Muslims to leave the US for Dawlah [ISIS territory]. He hates Muslims so much, allow those that want to leave and live with other committed brothers and sisters without kuffar oppression."

Nance said Trump lacks the temperament to be president.

ISIS "already been recruiting off of him," he said. "He is the ISIS candidate."

NOW WATCH: JAMES CARVILLE: This is what scares me the most about a Trump presidency





More From Business Insider


Drake Bell was sentenced to serve 96 hours in jail and was placed on four years probation for his second DUI conviction on Friday, according to several reports.



The former Nickelodeon star, 30, reportedly accepted a plea deal and received four days in Los Angeles County Jail, according to TMZ. This sentencing comes after his 2015 DUI arrest, which occurred after the actor was pulled over at 2:18 a.m. by Glendale police for straddling a lane, traveling at an unsafe speed and abruptly stopping at a red light.



Officers "smelled an odor of alcohol" and administered a sobriety test, which Bell "did not satisfactorily complete," Tahnee Lightfoot, a Glendale Police spokeswoman, told PEOPLE last year.



Bell was arrested and later released with a citation after posting $20,000 in bail. But because he was also arrested for a DUI charge in San Diego in 2009, California state law demands that a second conviction within a 10-year time span requires a minimum sentence of four days in county jail, according to E!.







The Glendale police said they wouldn't be able to respond to PEOPLE's request for comment until after Labor Day. Bell's rep did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
By Neil Jerome Morales DAVAO, Philippines (Reuters) - Philippine police blamed Islamic State-linked rebels on Saturday for a bombing that killed 14 people in President Rodrigo Duterte's hometown and dealt a blow to the firebrand leader's bloody crackdown on narcotics and militancy. Investigators said Abu Sayyaf, a southern Philippine group notorious for acts of piracy, kidnappings and beheadings, had claimed responsibility for Friday's night bombing at a Davao street market, although police said they were still trying to authenticate the claim. The attack rattled the normally peaceful home city of Duterte, who typically spends his weekends there, some 980 kilometers away from the capital Manila. He was in Davao at the time of the bombing but far from the site of the blast outside a hotel where he often holds meetings. National police chief Ronald Dela Rosa said the bomb was home-made and fragments of mortar were found at the site, where two "persons of interest" had been caught on camera. The bomb was likely to have been planted by Abu Sayyaf, he said, to divert the military's attention from its operations to flush them out of their strongholds on the islands of Basilan and Jolo. The military on Tuesday agreed to deploy a further 2,500 troops to carry out Duterte's order to "destroy" Abu Sayyaf. "From being offensive, they want us to be defensive," Dela Rosa told a news conference late on Saturday. Duterte canceled what would have been his first overseas visit on Saturday, to Brunei, and declared a nationwide "state of lawlessness" to deal with what he called an extraordinary security situation. "I must declare a state of lawless violence in this country," Duterte told reporters after visiting the blast site, where he assured the public that martial law had not been imposed. "I have this duty to protect this country," he said. POWERFUL ENEMIES Police and military promised to act in accordance with his "state of lawlessness", although there was some confusion about what that actually entailed. Duterte's office said it referred to a constitutional clause that states the president has full power over the armed forces. The bombing came as the abrasive former prosecutor wages war on narcotics kingpins and street dealers, Islamist rebels and corrupt bureaucrats, scoring big points in opinion polls but at a risk of making powerful enemies. Rumors have swirled of a plot to assassinate Duterte, 71, which he has shrugged off as part of his job. The talk has been fueled by his controversial crackdown on drugs that saw him elected by a huge margin, but condemned by human rights groups and the United Nations. More than 2,000 alleged drug pushers and users have been killed since Duterte's June 30 inauguration. Critics are alarmed at the sheer number whose deaths have been attributed to vigilantes, and the president and police chief's apparent support for it. Duterte's tough stance on crime has ensured Davao has been spared the kind of violence that has dogged other parts of Mindanao, a large island province where several Islamist militant groups operate, including Abu Sayyaf. Abu Sayyaf, which means "bearer of the sword", has previously used an Islamic State flag in some of its propaganda videos and runs what is among Asia's most lucrative kidnap rackets. It has this year decapitated two Canadian hostages and held Norwegian, Indonesian, Malaysian and Japanese citizens. The group has long been a thorn in the side for the military and has used its ransom earnings to entrench its network and invest in modern weapons, boats and radar technology. The White House offered condolences and assistance to the Philippines, a key regional ally. Duterte is expected to meet U.S. President Barack Obama in Laos next week, when he attends a the Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN) and East Asia Summits. (Additional reporting by Manuel Mogato and Enrico Dela Cruz; Writing by Martin Petty; Editing by Gareth Jones and Greg Mahlich)
BERLIN (Reuters) - European Central Bank President Mario Draghi will address a German parliamentary committee on Sept. 28 to discuss monetary policy, a spokeswoman for the bank said on Saturday.

Draghi will give a short speech to the European committee of the German Bundestag, followed by questions, the Frankfurter Allgemeinen Sonntagszeitung reported in its Sunday issue, quoting the head of the committee, Gunther Krichbaum.

Krichbaum told the paper, which first reported the date for the meeting, that the finance and budget committees would also take part, but Finance Minister Wolfgang Schaeuble would not attend.

Relations between Europe's largest economy and the ECB have been tense due to criticisms made by German government officials, who argue that the ECB's ultra easy monetary policy is eroding the savings of thrifty Germans and eroding profit margins for banks.

Schaeuble has also blamed the ECB's policies for the recent rise of a right-wing anti-immigration party, Alternative for Germany, which is poised to make huge gains in Sunday's election in the northern state of Mecklenburg-Vorpommern.

The ECB's spokeswoman said Draghi had last spoken in the German parliament in 2012. He has also spoken to the Spanish, French, Italian and Finnish national parliaments, she said.

German lawmakers had invited Draghi in the spring after he responded sharply to their criticism of monetary policy, and he quickly accepted the invitation.

(Reporting by Andrea Shalal)
By Susan Rinkunas



Why on earth would you put sunscreen directly on your skin when you could take supplements in liquid or pill form and cross your fingers that their active ingredients make it to your epidermis?



A young woman in Houston told the New York Times that she likes the supplement Heliocare because its a pill, its easy to take, there are no side effects, its safe. So why not? She works as a physicians assistant (oy) and has recommended the pills to many patients.



(Photo: Uvo, Heliocare)



Related: Is There Natural Sunscreen in Carrots?



Why not? Because it isnt entirely clear whether products like Heliocare and drinkable Uvo are safe and effective. Since theyre both marketed as supplements, their manufacturers dont need approval from the Food and Drug Administration in order to make health claims like offers 3 to 5 hours of sun protection and helps protect against the aging effects of free radicals. Dermatologists basically called them bullshit.



Just take a look at the disclaimer on Heliocares site: These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease. Contrast that with the labels on FDA-approved sunscreen; under the uses section, it reads helps prevent sunburn and if used as directed with other sun protection measures (see Directions) decreases the risk of skin cancer and early skin aging caused by the sun. They could not be more different.



Its unclear whether the people in the Times story use these products in place of or in addition to sunscreen, but there are folks who would rather drink woo juice than use sunscreen because the latter is too taxing, or theyre concerned about chemicals. Sunscreen is safe, but if you still dont trust it for whatever reason, get formulas with the active ingredients zinc oxide and/or titanium dioxide. These are physical blockers that are proven to help prevent damaging sunburns  you know, the things that cause wrinkles, brown spots, and skin cancer.



Story continues





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Ankara (AFP) - Turkish security forces suffered a bloody 24 hours after 13 soldiers and a village guardsman were killed in three separate incidents in the country's east and southeast, blamed on Kurdish militants.

Three Turkish soldiers were killed during an operation against rebels from the outlawed Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) in the southeastern province of Hakkari on Saturday morning, state-run news agency Anadolu reported.

Another 20 soldiers were wounded, three of whom seriously injured in the incident close to the border with northern Iraq, the agency said.

Another eight soldiers were killed during clashes with the "separatist terror organisation", which authorities use to refer to the PKK, in the eastern province of Van on Friday, the governor's office said.

Eight soldiers were also injured in the same operation, the office said in a statement.

And late on Friday, two soldiers and a village guard were killed in an attack on a checkpoint in Mardin in the restive southeast blamed on the PKK, the agency reported.

The guard killed was part of a group of local residents who cooperate with Turkish security forces against the PKK, listed as a terror group by Ankara and its Western allies. Three security guards were also wounded.

In a statement, the Van governor's office said the condition of those in hospital was "good", although their treatment continued.

Thirteen PKK fighters were killed by Turkish jets around the Tendurek mountains in Van province, the office said, while Anadolu reported that the operation supported by the air force continued.

Attacks against Turkish military have continued with almost daily attacks since the July 15 failed coup which tried to oust President Recep Tayyip Erdogan from power.

Since the collapse of a two-year ceasefire in July, Anadolu reported over 600 Turkish security force members have been killed by the PKK in renewed fighting.

The government has responded with military operations against the group, killing more than 7,000 militants in Turkey and northern Iraq, the agency said. It is not possible to independently verify the toll.

Activists claim innocent civilians have also been killed in the offensives.

More than 40,000 people have been killed since the PKK first took up arms in 1984.
TELLURIDE, Colo.  Director Damien Chazelle and actress Emma Stone are fresh off a trip to the Venice Film Festival, where La La Land opened the 73rd annual event last week. Oxygen containers in hand (the altitude can be a killer here), theyre soaking up the Telluride mountain air promoting the film as it continues to dazzle audiences here.

The two sat down with Variety to discuss the tricky tone of the film, the logistics of pulling it off and the alchemy of finding the right pair of actors to sell the experience.

***

Damien, it seems like only a few filmmakers each year are brave enough to travel from Venice to Telluride to Toronto during this stretch. I heard you were very excited about having that experience, though.

Damien Chazelle: Yeah, and its also that selfish thing of, Well, Ive never been to the Venice Film Festival or the Telluride Film Festival. And I loved Toronto with the one movie I had there. So it was like, yeah, I want to do all three. Now Im suddenly realizing why they warned me Id be exhausted, but Im really happy. Its a dream.

Speaking of dreams, one of the things I love about the movie is that its very much about shrugging off pragmatism and stability and realizing its OK, even vital, to keep chasing your passion.

Emma Stone: What he wrote is so inspiring, and then by the time I got to the end, it was just  I really wish you could watch the ending with the screen directions he wrote, because its so transporting.

Whats an example?

Stone: What was it? Its a love more beautiful than real love can ever be?

Chazelle: God, that makes me sound like a pretentious nihilist.

Stone: No, its beautiful. No it doesnt! Pretentious nihilist, wow!

Chazelle: [Laughs.]

Stone: But yeah, it was transporting.

Ive heard a few people throwing around comparisons to things like New York, New York, but I think this is very much its own thing. And obviously you had your inspirations, but was there anything you were really interested in doing within the genre that was new and wanted to explore?

Chazelle: The big thing to me that had been toyed with a bit but I felt hadnt been really done-done  in a way its trying to have your cake and eat it, too. Its trying to have high moments of fantasy, as the genre allows you to do, like float up to the stars, and at the same time have as raw and intimate stuff between actors as you could. And to not try to curb one, but to basically go to both extremes and see if they can possibly coexist in a movie and how. And fully knowing that they might not be able to. It could just be an experiment that goes awry. Bit thats where it kind of comes on the shoulders of Emma and Ryan [Gosling] and everyone, J.K. [Simmons] and John Legend and Finn Wittrock and Rosemarie DeWitt, the entire cast finding this tone that is going to bridge these total extreme poles.

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Stone: Which was our constant question to you.

Chazelle: It was the question, so I totally get it. It was the most discussed thing through prep and all the way through shooting and even when editing. Its what Tom [Cross] and I were grappling with the most, was just the balance, and its a very precarious balance.

Emma, was that something you tried to nail down ahead of time and then go in with a game plan, or were you just trying different things?

Stone: I think both. Beforehand I was Damiens  worst nightmare? Was I your worst nightmare or your second worst nightmare?

Chazelle: No, no, worst, worst. Dont sell yourself short.

Stone: [Laughs.] I was trying to, I think, nail it down beforehand and understand how it all would tie together. Like, Is all of this in Cinemascope? Are just the musical numbers this wide and colorful and then we move back? I was just trying to understand and nail it down. But once we started shooting, I gave that up a bit. Because actually being in the process of it is so different than the three months you spend in rehearsal analyzing it and learning to do all the technical things that youre doing, like learning to tap dance or ballroom dance for the first time or sing notes that Ive never sung before. So yeah, I think both happened and it just gave way to trusting the process eventually.

This feels like a cliche question but Im going to ask it anyway. Was it easy to see something of yourself in the role of a struggling actress chasing your dreams?

Stone: I definitely understood the feeling of moving to Los Angeles and having a dream to be an actor in films and to get to be a part of things that I loved and inspire people in some way. Its pretty insane that were talking about this movie and its something that Im so proud and excited to be a part of, when that is the goal of the character, is to be a part of something like this.

Quite meta.

Stone: Its a little meta in that way, yeah. And I felt differences with Mia, too. Like, Im not a writer. I havent written anything. But I think a big part of her and what I love about the way that Mia is eventually discovered is she puts it all on the line and she writes something that is about her life, which is more Damien, and really puts it out there. And when the casting director calls her, its because of who Mia was and thats what earns her that success.

Damien, how about the alchemy of finding the right pair? From the perspective of casting, looking for the right ingredients in your prospective Mia and Sebastian and how they would feed off of each other, tell me about that.

Chazelle: Ryan was a total discovery. Had you heard about him about this movie before? Hed done some summer stock theater.

Hes finally going to finally break out in this one, I think!

Chazelle: [Laughs.] You know, even just getting the movie off the ground at all took many, many years, so through that, casting took a very circuitous route. Emma laughs when I say this because she thinks Im lying, but I do remember thinking of them even back when I was writing the script in 2010. I think its because, you know, we were talking about this bridge between the two poles, and I think they individually can live in both worlds in a way that few actors can. They can be timeless, old-school movie stars, and yet still very, like  I mean look at her now. What is that face youre making.

Stone: [Laughs, mouth full with Caesar salad.] Im just, like, shoveling food in my mouth.

Chazelle: Youre making my point. Exactly. She can be a pig at the table, too. She can be both.

Stone: Totally!

Chazelle: Obviously the chemistry between the two was important. But also, I like that we had seen them before [in Gangster Squad] in a way that kind of made them feel like an old Hollywood pairing where William Powell and Myrna Loy would do those movies together; Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers, obviously; Katherine Hepburn and Spencer Tracy  there would be these pairs that you would expect to see in cinema and you kind of felt that you knew them. I liked that because it gave us a starting point to begin to unravel it a little bit and maybe show new sides to it.

I understand the movie originally opened with an overture rather than the musical number.

Chazelle: Yeah, originally. Three minutes. It opened with the overture and then went into the freeway. So it was basically realizing in editing, Oh, we did two overtures. We werent smart enough to realize that until we were in the cut. If you can believe it there was a world for about three months where we cut out the traffic number.

Oh God, no.

Stone: That was the first version I saw.

Tell me about the logistics of that. It looked to me like  well, now Im going to sound like the Californians sketch on Saturday Night Live.

Chazelle: Which I love so much!

Stone: [The Californians accent.] It was the 105 to the 110.

Chazelle: Its the E-Z Pass lane. Which I learned about because I once got a ticket because Waze told me to take it.

Stone: Waze is supposed to be honest with you.

You could probably sue Waze.

Chazelle: You think Ive got a case?

You could own Waze at the end of the day. Damien Chazelles Waze.

Stone: [Laughs.]

Chazelle: We chose that because it was shut-downable, in a way other parts of L.A. werent, but we basically had one weekend to shoot it. And everything was conspiring, in a way, to go wrong, I remember. It was a heat wave, the hottest two days of the year. The car tops are boiling, that the people have to dance on. The truck door that the guy opens decides to stop opening before we do that take, so we have our producer and three crew members with a makeshift pulley system behind it to open it because it wouldnt open on its own. And then half of one of the days, there decided to be giant, thunderous cloud over L.A. when were singing about how its just another day of sun. So we had to wait for the clouds to break. All those things happen, but in a way thats part of the exhilaration of it, to do the kind of thing that in the old days youd do on a studio backlot, but to do it on a real location, so that when youre on that wide shot seeing all the dancers, you see three lanes of traffic underneath. And thats a documentary. Thats just real traffic flowing.

Finally, I wonder how you perceive this relationship on the screen. For me  SLIGHT SPOILERS  I didnt see it as a grand love story as much as a key relationship in two peoples lives, and that they represented for each other the drive and passion of chasing their dreams. They enter each others lives at that key moment, help each other grab that next rung, and take their exit from one anothers paths. So Im not necessarily sad at the end of the movie.

Stone: It resonates in that way for me, too, except the ending does break my heart, because of what different choices might have led to. But I agree with you. In a sense it can be about someone who inspired you to do what you need to do, and you inspired them to follow what they needed to do. But I think theres something amazing about that ending, that everyone can relate to that in some way. I just think its beautiful that people are having different versions of that.

Chazelle: They can take ownership of it, which is what you hope.

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NEWS BRIEF The Food and Drug Administration on Friday banned soap companies from using more than a dozen chemicals in antibacterial soaps, citing the possibility they could have harmful side effects.

Regulators also say there is a lack of evidence that soaps with antibacterial chemicals are more effective than soaps without them. The FDA, in a statement, said:

Companies will no longer be able to market antibacterial washes with these ingredients because manufacturers did not demonstrate that the ingredients are both safe for long-term daily use and more effective than plain soap and water in preventing illness and the spread of certain infections.

The new FDA mandate targets two ingredients that are widely used: triclosan and triclocarban, reports the Associated Press. Previous animal research has shown those chemicals can encourage drug-resistant bacteria and affect hormone levels.

The FDA has scrutinized the soaps for years. In December 2013, the FDA proposed that companies prove their soap products were safe and more effective than plain soap. A study in November 2014 linked the chemical triclosan to tumor growth.

According to the FDA, some companies are already removing the chemicals from their products. The FDA has not yet ruled on hand sanitizers. While some use antibacterial chemicals, many of them use alcohol instead.

Read more from The Atlantic:

This article was originally published on The Atlantic.
Dipesh Khatiwada is Deputy Coordinator at National Desk. Before joining the Post in 2015, he spent four years at News 24 Television as a news reporter, primarily covering the security and crime.
Police in Pakistan charged the ex-husband and father of a British woman believed to have been the victim of an "honour killing" with her murder on Saturday.

Samia Shahid, a dual national, died in July during a visit to her family village in Punjab province. Her second husband, Mukhtar Kazam, claims she was murdered for bringing "dishonour" on her family.

Kazam has said his wife had angered her parents by converting to Shia Islam, his sect, before their wedding.

"We have completed our investigation and concluded that her ex-husband Muhammad Shakeel and father Muhammad Shahid were involved in her killing," said Abubakar Buksh, deputy inspector general of police in the region.

"Her ex-husband has also been charged with raping her," he told AFP.

"The abetment of Samia's mother and sister in the crime has also been proved but they have fled to the UK. We have also arrested the chief of the local police station for helping them escape."

Kazam and Shahid, both dual British-Pakistani citizens, had been married for two years and were living in Dubai.

Shahid's father has denied the charges, claiming his daughter died of natural causes.

Hundreds of women are murdered by relatives in the conservative Muslim nation each year on the pretext of defending what is seen as family honour.

Rights groups and politicians have for years called for tougher laws to tackle perpetrators of violence against women in Pakistan.
By Patricia Zengerle, Matt Spetalnick, David Brunnstrom and Antoni Slodkowski WASHINGTON/YANGON (Reuters) - The United States is considering further easing or lifting sanctions against Myanmar around the time of a White House visit this month by the country's new leader, Aung San Suu Kyi, U.S. officials told Reuters. President Barack Obama is expected to decide on the extent of the sanctions relief after consultations between Suu Kyi and his administration to gauge how far she wants Washington to go in loosening the screws on Myanmar's still-powerful military. Obama will attend a Group of 20 leaders' summit this weekend in China followed by an East Asia summit in Laos, where Suu Kyi may also be present. She will visit Washington on Sept. 14-15 for meetings with Obama, Vice President Joe Biden, members of the U.S. Congress and business leaders. Suu Kyi, a Nobel Peace Prize laureate and democracy icon, helped persuade the West to impose sanctions during her years as a jailed opposition leader. She is now trying to strike a balance between showing her people the economic rewards of a democratic transition while keeping pressure on the country's generals for further reforms. Obama's historic opening to Myanmar followed by its peaceful transition to an elected civilian-led government is seen as one of his foreign policy achievements. But with less than five months left in office, his administration remains wary of giving up leverage for removing the vestiges of military rule. Suu Kyi's Washington visit would be her first since her National League for Democracy (NLD) party swept into power after November 2015 elections. Ben Rhodes, Obama's deputy national security adviser, met this week with congressional staffers and told them the president was considering reducing sanctions or removing them altogether, several U.S. officials said. The U.S. officials spoke to Reuters this week on condition of anonymity. The White House declined comment. Washington is eager to expand relations with Myanmar to help counteract China's rise in Asia and let U.S. businesses take advantage of the opening of one of the world's last "frontier markets" - fast-growing but less developed emerging economies. MILITARY-RUN ENTERPRISES Most of the remaining U.S. measures restrict business with military-run enterprises, including bans on imports of Myanmar's jade and gemstones, and with black-listed individuals. Obama has already eased some sanctions on Myanmar, formerly known as Burma, several times. This included the removal in May of state-owned banks from the U.S. blacklist and of measures against seven key state-owned timber and mining firms. But many restrictions were renewed for another year. "We're looking at things related to trade, investment and commerce, and trying to see what can be done to improve the investment environment in Myanmar," a U.S. government source said of the changes being weighed. These could include adding Myanmar to the Generalized System of Preferences program, which provides duty-free treatment for goods from many poor and developing countries, the sources said. A key question is how far Suu Kyi wants Washington to go in relaxing pressure on the military, which has a strong hand in politics through a military-drafted constitution as well as an economic powerbase. "If our bosses are in the room with Aung San Suu Kyi and she says 'I want you to lift all the sanctions,' it is hard to imagine them saying no," a congressional source said, when asked whether members of Congress would go along with lifting U.S. sanctions. Suu Kyi is barred from the presidency by the constitution drafted by the former junta because her two sons are British citizens. She holds the title of foreign minister, but is Myanmar's de facto government leader. She and the NLD have been criticized for not doing enough to help Myanmar's oppressed Rohingya Muslim minority. Some backers of removing sanctions argue that easing Myanmar's international isolation could help improve human rights by boosting the economy. However, Human Rights Watch called on Friday for the U.S. government to keep sanctions in place to deter the military from derailing democratic reforms. (Reporting by Matt Spetalnick, editing by G Crosse)
Travel over Labor Day weekend is expected to be up 10 percent compared to last year, according to TripAdvisor.

Sixty percent of people traveling for the holiday will be driving, while airports and airlines are preparing for 15.6 million passengers, according to Airlines for America.

FlightAware showed some delays already accumulating in New York City, Atlanta, Chicago, and Washington D.C. before noon on Friday.

U.S. Customs and Border Protection is expecting increased traffic along the U.S.-Canada border, and is warning drivers to plan for additional travel time.

Meanwhile Hurricane Hermine's lingering effects will impact millions of people's plans: This storm presents challenges for travel and tourism along coastal areas, but if you're aware of it, you can put a plan in action, Mary Glackin, head of Science and Forecast Operation at The Weather Company, told Travel + Leisure.

Here is the info you need to be prepared as you head into a hopefully relaxing Labor Day weekend.

Weather

If you're on the East Coast, expect a stormy, wet weekend. Hurricane Hermine hit Florida early Friday, and although the storm weakened upon making landfall, it will bring rain and winds up the coast over the weekend.

The storm is projected to track up through Georgia and the Carolinas, then into Virginia and Delaware, said Glackin. Finally it will move offshore and linger to bring impact will the northeastern coastal regions.

By Monday, the storm should be winding down off shore, but could make for rough surf and windy conditions for beachgoers.

For people going to the beach, even if it's not raining, you won't be able to get in the water, she said.

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Latest track: Tropical storm conditions possible Sunday/Monday in the NYC region https://t.co/PB3oYLlEOo pic.twitter.com/pheFmefhla NY1 Weather (@NY1weather) September 1, 2016

Road conditions

AAA has decided Labor Day does not warrant a driving forecast the way other holidayslike Thanksgiving and July Fourthdo. But the organization did release a notice about gas prices, which are expected to rise.

Motorists headed to areas with heavy rains should remember to drive cautiouslygetting to your Labor Day party late is better than getting in an accident.

And if you don't already have a map app, Google Maps or Waze could be your best friend this weekend.

Airlines

Several airlines have issued fee waivers for travel this weekend. A bummer if you were really looking forward to that Labor Day getaway, but good news if your plans are flexible and staying where you are sounds preferable to facing potential delays.

Check with your airline for the updated status of your flights before you head to the airport (downloading the airline's app is often the best way to get an alert on delays and cancelations), and for travel notices for fee waivers check the airlines' websites:

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TURIN (Reuters) - Fiat Chrysler Automobiles <FCHA.MI> <FCAU.N> is in talks with several parties, including South Korea's Samsung Electronics Co Ltd <005930.KS>, over the future of its components business Magneti Marelli, the carmaker's chairman John Elkann said.

"There are ongoing talks, but nothing formal," Elkann said on Saturday during a meeting of shareholders in his family's EXOR holding company <EXOR.MI>.

Talks with officials from the Korean group had taken place on the sidelines of EXOR board meeting earlier this week, he added.

Samsung Electronics's vice chairman Jae Yong Lee is an independent board member of EXOR.

"We have talked about Magneti Marelli and also other issues, including the insurance sector ... as we own PartnerRE," Elkann told journalists.

The components unit is attracting interest because it could have an important role in car development in the coming decades, Elkann said, adding FCA was keen to strengthen the business.

Last month FCA CEO Sergio Marchionne said Magneti Marelli's future would be outside the Fiat group in the medium- or long-term, but for now it was essential to its parent company.

Samsung has identified automotive components as a growth driver as sales in its existing businesses, including smartphones, slowed. Acquiring a proven supplier such as Magneti Marelli could help it overcome the high entry barrier in an industry known for conservatism and an emphasis on track record.

(Reporting By Gianni Montani; writing by Francesca Landini; Editing by Jon Boyle)
The persistence of memory

Gairimudi and the pieces created by the artists involved showcase just how resolute memory is. Nothing is ever lost, simply transmuted into something else. Memory is never recalled, it is always rewritten
How my first boyfriend has helped me get over my obsession with cleanliness

How my first boyfriend has helped me get over my obsession with cleanliness

My childhood friends have always warned me that my obsessive desire to live a good, dirt-free life would be impossible to maintain once I had a partner.

Welp, my first boyfriend has arrived (thank you Tinder!). And though I feel loved, I also feel not so clean.

To be honest, Im not sure where I fit on the continuum from clean freak to full-on OCD, and I should note that I have never been diagnosed with an actual disorder.

I just know that, for most people, using public restrooms isnt accompanied by a weird routine of steps that involves lots of toilet paper. And yeah, I know that its not normal to clean every inch of every surface of my apartment that a handyman touched when he installed light fittings.

sink

I know that most people dont wash their hands so often that their skin starts to fall apart. I quietly know all these things, but my first boyfriend has forced me to give up some of these darned exhausting habits.

Post-single life, as my friends warned, has proven that its impossible to maintain my regimen of weird habits.

coupleneck

Lets talk about all of things in the the back of my mind when his fingers danced upon my neck for the first time: What things has he touched today? Did he hold the germ-ridden banister while he bolted up the stairs? Did he press the gross bell with the same hand holding my cheek?

I wanted to ask him all those things, but instead, I closed my eyes and leaned in for another kiss  cognizant that if I asked those questions, Id reveal myself as somehow broken, somehow abnormal, and resolutely not ready for my first boyfriend.

My boyfriend, bless his heart, has tried to meet me halfway.

Hes proved himself to be a quick learner. When we arrive at my flat together, he follows me into the bathroom to wash his hands first thing, just like I do  soap and all.

He tries to use that one kitchen towel to dry the dishes, and use the other to dry his hands  not always successfully, but its the thought that counts. He doesnt place anything that hasnt just come out of a washer on my bed.

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sink2

He doesnt meet my every whim, and thats something that I both resent and am grateful for. When, after two weeks of dating, I told him that the madness had to stop, no more shoes inside the apartment, he started taking his shoes off. However, he does refuse to wear the sleek black slippers I bought him, shuffling around in his socks instead.

Of course, I still struggle sometimes. When he recently sat his naked, albeit freshly showered butt cheeks on my couch, I almost let out a yelp. Instead, I bit my lip and repeated the self-devised, laissez-faire mantra I recently came up with  Love trumps dirt.

Linda A. Thompson is a Belgium-based writer who went to grad school in New York City. She misses her U.S. friends, but she misses burritos and cream cheese bagels just a little more. She is a proud lisper and can wiggle both ears upon request. Her other talents include reciting entire scenes from the movie Save the Last Dance.

The post How my first boyfriend has helped me get over my obsession with cleanliness appeared first on HelloGiggles.
Moscow (AFP) - Central Asian Uzbekistan has been plunged into its greatest moment of uncertainty since the end of the Soviet Union by the death of veteran leader Islam Karimov, who dominated the country for 27 years.

It appears that Karimov has left no designated successor to take over from him but analysts agree the next president looks certain to come from the small group of loyalists around the strongman.

Here are some key players to watch now:

- Technocrat prime minister -

Viewed as a tough-guy enforcer, Shavkat Mirziyoyev, 58, appears to be the front-runner to take over long term after he was named head of the committee organising Karimov's funeral.

Technocrat Mirziyoyev, who has served as prime minister since 2003, is reported to have close ties to the former president's family and to key security bosses.

According to rights activists the former governor of Karimov's home region of Samarkand has been in charge of making sure the country fulfils its annual cotton quotas.

That places him at the heart of a industry that is crucial to the Uzbek economy -- it is one of the world's leading cotton producers -- but is accused of forcing over a million citizens, including children, to pick the cotton each year.

- Finance chief -

Deputy premier and finance minister Rustam Azimov, 57, is reportedly viewed by foreign diplomats as more friendly to West, although he is still a key member of Karimov's inner circle.

The former banker -- in place since 2005 -- has been touted as a possible replacement after apparently weathering power struggles.

After years at the heart of the Uzbek elite Azimov is implicated in the vast web of corruption that has purportedly seen those close to Karimov amass vast fortunes.

After news emerged that Karimov was in hospital rumours flew that Azimov had been placed under house arrest, but they were quickly denied and he has been named as part of Karimov's funeral committee.

- Veteran security boss -

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The country's powerful security chief Rustam Inoyatov, who has held the post since 1995, has long been seen as the key power behind the throne.

At 72 the former KGB officer may not take the top job himself but the long-time Karimov ally looks likely to have a decisive say in who does.

Inoyatov's reputation is seriously tarnished for his alleged role in the bloody suppression of protests in the eastern city of Andijan in 2005 -- when hundreds of demonstrators are believed to have been gunned down in a massacre.

While officially he controls Uzbekistan's security service he also effectively exerts control over the army and other law enforcement agencies.

- Stand-in leader -

According to Uzbekistan's constitution, senate leader Nigmatulla Yuldashev takes over temporarily until early elections are held within three months.

But commentators describe Yuldashev as a little-known "non-entity" who is unlikely to have the clout to impose himself in the long run.

- The Karimovs -

Still likely to play a big role are Karimov's widow Tatyana and his younger daughter Lola Karimova-Tillyaeva.

Karimova-Tillyaeva, Uzbekistan's ambassador to UNESCO in Paris, took to social media during her father's illness to confirm he had suffered a brain haemorrhage.

She told the BBC in rare comments in 2013 that she did not foresee a career in politics for herself, insisting she was focused on her young family.

She also said that she had not spoken to her older sister Gulnara for 12 years.

Once seen as a potential heir to her father's throne one-time socialite, pop star and business magnate Gulnara, 44, spectacularly fell from grace in a bitter family feud and was placed under house arrest in 2014.

Gulnara, a former ambassador to the UN in Geneva, is being probed in Europe over a $330 million telecoms corruption scandal.
A former Royal Marine is aiming for a world record as he and a fellow ex-marine prepare to cross the worlds five largest islands in a mammoth year-long challenge.



Louis Nethercott and Anthony Lambert will trek through desert, jungle and mountains as they endeavour to become the first people in history to trek through Borneo, Papua New Guinea, Madagascar, Greenland and Baffin Island using just their survival skills.

Mr Nethercott, who suffers from post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is hoping that the challenge will inspire other people battling the same challenges as him.

The 27-year-old was medically discharged from the military earlier this year after a decades service, including deployment to Afghanistan in 2011 during which he saw comrades killed and injured.

He said: I saw some pretty bad stuff, some hairy situations. On coming home from that particular tour, things didnt quite add up for me. Something had changed, and changed dramatically. It was a different world when I came back.

Ambassador - Louis at the Invictus Games in Orlando, where he was a mental health ambassador (Picture: Getty)

Mr Nethercott, who was a mental health ambassador for the Invictus Games in Orlando earlier this year, said he is taking on the Expedition Five challenge to raise awareness of how PTSD can affect members of the military.

The Bristolian, who now lives in Wiltshire, said: It is so important to me to inspire other guys who have battled similar problems to me. I want to show everybody that despite experiencing a setback, life is not over if you dont want it to be.

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"It is about looking the dark days in the eye and saying youve come out the other end stronger.

The challenge is being supported by military charity Help for Heroes, which has grant funded 10,000 for the expedition.

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Support - military charity Help For Heroes is supporting the expedition (Picture: Getty)

Mr Nethercott added: I am most excited about exploring parts of the world people may never have been to before.

Also, just getting back to the simple things in life; appreciating water when youre thirsty, food when youre hungry and a bed when youre tired.



(Top picture: PA)
(Yen Siow, a former refugee from Vietnam, with an old photograph of her family taken near the Hawkins Road camp in Sembawang in 1980. Photo: Yahoo Singapore)

Yen Siow remembers being three years old and sitting on her mothers shoulders in a boat that was full of water and floating on a stormy sea.

Adrift for five days and four nights in the South China Sea, she also recalls being hoisted onto her uncles back as he climbed a ladder to board a large ship, whose crew rescued the 82 Vietnamese refugees and transported them to Singapore.

Siow is a Vietnamese-Australian and a former refugee  one of the thousands of boat people who fled their home country amid the Vietnam War.



A significant chapter of Siows life began in October 1980, when she and her family were temporarily housed at 25 Hawkins Road, a refugee camp in Sembawang. She spent four months there with her parents, two siblings and some extended family members before they were sponsored to move to Australia in March 1981. Her parents and siblings still reside in Australia.

Now 39, Siow lives in Singapore and is searching for individuals and organisations that contributed to both her familys welfare as well as that of thousands of Vietnamese refugees who passed through Singapore at one point or another.

Born Nguyen Thuy Hoang Yen, she tells Yahoo Singapore that her boat was rescued by a Norwegian oil tanker on 20 October 1980.

Im not here by accident. I wasnt saved from this ship for no reason. I felt a compelling desire to go and find the rescuers and be thankful to them for steering the ship around and saving our lives, she says.

Siow put out an appeal on a Facebook group for expatriate wives in Singapore seeking information on the ship.

With the help of some Norwegian expatriates in Singapore, she was able to locate the company that owned the ship which rescued her family, as well as the names of seven crew members who were on the ship  all within three days.

This is really quite unique. There were hundreds of ships and this was 36 years ago. It was like finding a needle in a haystack, she says.

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She has been corresponding with two crew members from the ship, and hopes to meet them in Norway at the end of the year.

Now that Im back, Im so grateful I have the chance to honour this country because Singapore took us in for four to five months as refugees I was told that many ships passed us by.

Tears welled in her eyes as she talked about the rescue.

How did this one ship and the captain on the ship make such a big decision to turn around and reach out to us and say,  You guys matter. You might be Vietnamese boat people but you matter to us and were going to rescue you.

She added that the ships crew also gave each of the 82 refugees on the boat a small $3 allowance per day while they lived at the refugee centre in Singapore.

I dont know how I could live if I could not pay respects to such people who saved my family like that, she says.

I want to tell the story that we are not here by accident. Our lives have purpose to it I would love to share that story with other people  that Im a product of someones kindness and generosity.

Her own parents never talked about fleeing Vietnam, or their time at the Sembawang refugee camp.

My parents have been silent about the boat experience and the war because it was too traumatic, so they never talked about it, she explains.

Siow discovered pieces of her past only after she met her Singaporean husband, who often asked her father about how he escaped the war.

(A photo belonging to Yen Siow showing the Norwegian oil tanker that rescued her family)



Life at Hawkins Road

The Hawkins Road refugee camp was a former British military barracks that was left unused until it was repurposed in 1978 to host the incoming boat people.

Managed by the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), the camp offered shelter to thousands of refugees. It was closed in 1996, with the premises demolished and the road name removed.

As of August 2016, a Facebook group connecting former refugees who passed through the Hawkins Road refugee camp is still active, with former refugees posting photos and videos of the site where the camp once stood. The area is now mostly covered in jungle vegetation.

A photo of Yen Siow (centre) together with her family. The photo was taken near the Hawkins Road refugee camp. Siow said all the clothes they were wearing were donated to them. Photo courtesy of Yen Siow.

Siow has only vague recollections of the life in the camp. I remember a hill, lots of grass and thats it, she admits.

Most of what Siow knows about the camp comes from the stories told by an older cousin who was also there. Families lived in shelters and slept on the floor, while others slept in tents at the camp.

Organisations, including churches and temples, donated items such as second-hand clothes for the refugees.

She hopes to connect with individuals  the volunteers and those from local organisations who helped the refugees  to thank them. This is a sentiment not shared by other former Vietnamese refugees she knows of.

Even today, I feel that Vietnamese people dont want to go and meet their rescuers because it is too painful its a part of history they dont want to remember. But I want to because its a significant part of my life I want to be grateful for, not ashamed of, she asserted.

I want to honour the countries who helped us  Norway, Singapore, Australia. Three nations came together to save us and give us a future.

Siow, who is a Singapore permanent resident and runs a social enterprise, also makes it a point to regularly tell her own children about her past. She has three sons aged five, eight and 10.

I remind them that our life is really precious. Some peoples lives start out very difficult. I explain to them that we always should be thankful and I remind them that if their grandfather didnt take that risk to leave Vietnam with 82 people, including your mother, we wouldnt be here today.

If you remember helping the refugees at 25 Hawkins Road, Yen Siow would like to get in contact with you via her Facebook page.
PARIS (Reuters) - France said on Friday it was working with all sides in Gabon to find a quick solution to the crisis and urged the Gabonese authorities to release opposition members to help ease the situation. "The French authorities are in contact with all parties, including our African and international partners, to find a quick solution to this crisis," Foreign Minister Jean-Marc Ayrault said in a statement. He said that opposition members surrounded at the headquarters of their leader Jean Ping should be released for health reasons, but also because it was against all legal frameworks. "We ask the Gabonese authorities to resolve this immediately by restoring the freedom of movement to the people concerned. This gesture would help restore calm," he said. (Reporting By John Irish; Editing by Dominic Evans)
Fred Hellerman, the last surviving member of the influential Fifties folk group the Weavers, died Thursday at his home in Weston, Connecticut. He was 89. Hellerman's son Caleb confirmed his father's death to the New York Times. No cause of death was provided.

Hellerman, along with the Weavers' Ronnie Gilbert, Lee Hays and Pete Seeger, helped spark the folk revolution of the 1960s thanks to their renditions of standards like "Kisses Sweeter than Wine," Woody Guthrie's "So Long, It's Been Good to Know Yuh" and Lead Belly's "Goodnight Irene."



Weavers songs penned by Hellerman include "The Honey Wind Blows," "Walkin' on the Green Grass" and the antiwar song "Come Away Melinda." Hellerman also often employed aliases to write tracks for other artists: His "Just a Country Boy," co-written under the pseudonym "Fred Brooks," would become a hit for Harry Belafonte and Don Williams.

The politically active group's early concerts were free performances set up at union meetings and picket lines. After nearly breaking up in 1949, the Weavers secured a two-week residency at New York's Village Vanguard; that run ended up being so successful that the Weavers spent six months at the Village Vanguard, which resulted in a Decca Records contract. The band's first Decca single, "Tzena, Tzana, Tzena," climbed to Number Two on the Billboard charts, and with its flip side "Goodnight Irene" sold over 2 million copies.

However, despite their popularity, the Weavers' political leanings  at various points during the height of McCarthyism era, Seeger, Hays and Hellerman were all investigated for their Communist ties  resulted in the group's blacklisting from performing and recordings. On one occasion, after Seeger refused to "name names" to an anti-Communism committee, Hellerman bailed his band mate out of prison. As a result of the blacklist, the Weavers broke up in 1952, with Seeger embarking on a solo career.

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In 1955, as the "Second Red Scare" dissipated, the Weavers reunited and remained together until 1964, when the next generation of folk artists the Weavers inspired  Joan Baez, Bob Dylan, Peter, Paul and May, the Kingston Trio and many more  began shaping the face of pop music in the early Sixties.

Despite the Weavers' impact on folk, Hellerman was initially derisive of the artists the folk troupe influenced. "How on earth can you say that he is such a great this-and-that?," Hellerman once said of Dylan to author Robert Shelton, as documented in the book No Direction Home. "He can't sing, and he can barely play, and he doesn't know much about music at all."

However, Hellerman would eventually contribute guitar on albums by both Joan Baez and Judy Collins' debut albums and, in 1967, served as producer on Arlo Guthrie's classic Alice's Restaurant. The Weavers reunited once more in 1980 before Hays' death in 1981.

Hellerman's death comes follows the January 2014 passing of Pete Seeger at 94 and the June 2015 death of fellow Weavers singer Ronnie Gilbert at the age of 88.













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Calais (France) (AFP) - France will dismantle the sprawling "Jungle" migrant camp in the northern port of Calais "as rapidly as possible", the interior minister said after visiting the site.

Authorities must work "methodically and with perseverance... to definitively close the camp", Bernard Cazeneuve told security forces in the city.

The minister said the dismantling would be "gradual and controlled" but that its closure should be achieved "as rapidly as possible".

Calais mayor Natacha Bouchart had earlier said that Cazeneuve assured her that the complex would be dismantled in a single operation, adding later that he had said it would happen before the end of the year.

France has made repeated efforts to shut down the camp of tents and temporary shelters, which authorities say is currently home to nearly 7,000 migrants following a surge of new arrivals in recent months.

Charities helping the migrants in the camp say the real figure is as high as 10,000.

The migrants gather in Calais hoping to smuggle themselves aboard lorries crossing the Channel to Britain either through the Channel Tunnel or on ferries.

Earlier this year, authorities cleared shelters in parts of the site in a bid to persuade migrants to move into more permanent accommodation or camps elsewhere on the northern coast.

Bouchart, who has often clashed with the government over the camp, claims it could soon contain as many as 15,000 migrants if authorities take several months to dismantle it.

Calais residents are due to stage a protest on Monday over the effect the presence of thousands of migrants has had on their livelihoods.

"I am in Calais today fully aware of the serious difficulties you face each day," Cazeneuve said Friday.

Crowding at the camp is causing fresh tensions.

Two migrants were seriously hurt on Tuesday in what appears to have been a fight between Sudanese and Afghan residents.

The Jungle's population also includes large numbers of Somalis, Kurds and Syrians.

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Cazeneuve has announced that 200 more armed police will be deployed to the site to prevent near-daily attempts to stow away on lorries heading for the ferry port, bringing the total number of police in Calais to 2,100.

Since last October, more than 5,500 asylum seekers have left Calais for 161 special accommodation centres set up around France.

- Political hot potato -

Franck Esnee, head of the Medecins Sans Frontieres (Doctors Without Borders) branch working at the camp, agreed that the Jungle should be dismantled but said the proposed alternatives were "insufficient".

Additional permanent accommodation is needed, he said, adding: "The government needs to encourage initiatives by local mayors who are proposing to take in migrants in their towns."

The government should also encourage the requisitioning of public buildings to house migrants, he said.

Cazeneuve told the regional paper Nord-Littoral that accommodation for thousands of migrants would be created elsewhere in France in an attempt "to unblock Calais".

The fate of the camp is already featuring prominently in campaigns for next year's presidential election.

Former president Nicolas Sarkozy has called for Britain -- the country the migrants want to reach -- to take responsibility for migrants wanting to cross the Channel.

"The English should examine the requests of all those who want to go to England and they should do it in England," he told a rally last Saturday in the nearby coastal resort of Le Touquet.

Meanwhile the British government has dismissed as a "complete non-starter" a proposal by Xavier Bertrand, the president of the region including Calais, to allow migrants to lodge British asylum claims on French soil.

After Cazeneuve met British counterpart Amber Rudd in Paris on Tuesday, the ministers presented a united front.

"We are committed to working together to strengthen the security of our shared border (and) to strongly diminish the migratory pressure in Calais," they said in a joint statement.
GaneshaSpeaks

Katrina Kaif  the goddess of beauty has been in the clouds from quite some time now, and it appeared as if, she was on a deliberate sabbatical to get over her the emotional stress following the unfortunate heartbreak from the charming Ranbir Kapoor. But, we are almost proved wrong, as Lady Kaif is back with a bang and how! Her upcoming venture  Baar Baar Dekho, in which she will be co-starring with the dashing Sidharth Malhotra has been generating a lot of interest and especially the song  Kaala Chashma from the film has been setting the social media platforms on fire. What picture do the planets present about the fortunes of the charismatic actresss in the times to come. Lets find out!



1) Why has the gorgeous Katrina been out of action from quite some time now?

Ganesha notes that Saturns transit over Natal Ketu through the 5th House from Natal Sun and Venus in her Chart has pulled her back to the background, and has subdued her splendour. This adverse transit of Saturn may have also reduced the flow of opportunities coming her way. Saturns transit through the 5th House, can be a very difficult one to deal with, as there may be creative blocks, emotional stress and problems in love life.



But, Ganesha seems confident that she will be able to bounce back with full force, once Saturn moves from Scorpio to Sagittarius on the 26th January, 2017.



2) Will she come back with a bang in the coming days and what sort of a turn will her career take?

Ganesha says that the year 2017 will be far better than 2016 for Katrina Kaif. She is most likely to come across magnificent opportunities and avenues in 2K17 and things will be working more strongly in her favour. However, a drastic jump is not expected. Career progress would happen at a comparatively slow but steady pace. She will have to put in hard efforts to maintain her position as one of the top actresses of Bollywood, feels Ganesha.



3) What do the stars indicate about the relationships sphere in her life?

Katrina may not take major decisions about her relationship currently. However, there are chances that she may make some surprising revelations regarding her love life in the first half of 2017. Though she may put up a bold face on most occasions in general, the planets currently signify that she would like to play safe and the emotional wounds of the past may take some more time to heal completely. The transiting planets in 2017, will provide her the required boost, to take significant decisions regarding her personal life.



With Ganeshas Grace,

Bhavesh N. Pattni

(Special Inputs: Aaditya Sain)

The GaneshaSpeaks.com Team
Transitional justice: CIEDP demands legal reforms, logistical help

The Commission of Investigation on Enforced Disappeared Persons (CIEDP) has demanded legal reforms and logistical support for speeding up the transitional justice process.
How does a New York hot dog institution celebrate its 100th anniversary? By breaking a world record, which is what Nathans Famous hot dogs did on Friday by notching a Guinness World Record for the worlds longest line of hot dogs. The record saw 1,916 hot dogs, in honor of the year Nathans Famous hot dogs was founded, prepared in buns, wrapped in foil and assembled in a continuous line. A small crowd cheered on the workers as they assembled the hot dogs at the Grand Central Terminal in Manhattan. "There are certain brands, certain things that say really New York, the Empire State Building is one, the Brooklyn Bridge. Nathan's hot dogs stands beside them," said George Shea, Chairman of Major League Eating and host Nathan's Famous International Hot Dog Eating Contest. Guinness World Record adjudicator Kimberly Partrick said in order to achieve a world record, the hot dogs had to be placed in a continuous line and each one had to be assembled in a bun and touching the next one. At the end of all the hard work, the Nathan's staff created a hot dog line 958 feet long (292 meters), shattering the previous record of 846 feet (258 meters) set in Tokyo in 2014. Nine-time Nathan's Famous hot dog eating champion, Joey Chestnut, who recently regained his Mustard Yellow International Belt during the July 4th hot dog eating contest, said Nathan's hot dogs are among the best. "They really are amazing. If they weren't amazing, I wouldn't be able to eat 70 in 10 minutes. Nathan's hot dogs is a 100-year-old recipe," he said.
By Letitia Stein TAMPA, Fla. (Reuters) - Hurricane Hermine wreaked havoc across Florida on Friday, causing widespread power outages and flooding before diminishing into a tropical storm and plowing up the Atlantic Coast into the Carolinas with a still-potent mix of high winds and heavy rains. The first hurricane to make landfall in Florida in 11 years, Hermine swept ashore early on Friday near the Gulf shore town of St. Marks, 20 miles (30 km) south of the capital of Tallahassee, packing winds of 80 mph (130 kph) and churning up a devastating storm surge in coastal areas. Torrential downpours and high surf left parts of some communities under water early Friday, with mandatory evacuations ordered in parts of five northwestern Florida counties. State officials said electricity had been knocked out to nearly 300,000 homes and businesses by afternoon. One storm-related death was reported by authorities in the northern Florida town of Ocala, where a fallen tree killed a homeless man sleeping in his tent. Hermine was expected to snarl Labor Day holiday travel as it churned northeast for several more days after battering Florida's $89 billion tourism industry. While maximum sustained winds had weakened to 50 mph (80 kph), the tempest headed to the Atlantic seaboard along a path inhabited by tens of millions of Americans, prompting storm watches and warnings as far north as Rhode Island. As of 9 p.m. EDT (0100 GMT), the fourth named storm of the 2016 Atlantic hurricane season was passing near Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, leaving some 51,000 power outages across the state, said state emergency management spokesman Derrec Becker. Becker said localized flooding hit low-lying areas across the state, and there were widespread reports of "downed power lines, downed trees, trees on cars and some flooded cars," along with isolated incidents of tree-damaged homes. One mobile home was virtually sliced in two by a fallen tree, but authorities had no reports of serious storm-related injuries or fatalities, Becker added. Likewise, emergency officials reported no storm deaths in Georgia, which Hermine swept through on its way to South Carolina, but said at least 100,000 utility customers were without power at one point. Emergency declarations remained in effect for all or parts of Florida, Georgia, North Carolina, Virginia and Maryland. LIKELY TO REGAIN STRENGTH The storm was projected to creep north along the Carolina coast Friday night, then gather strength after moving offshore into the Atlantic on Saturday morning, possibly reaching near-hurricane intensity by late Sunday, according to the National Hurricane Center. In addition to powerful winds extending up to 185 miles (295 km) from its center, Hermine was expected to unleash a dangerous storm surge in the Hampton Roads area of tidewater Virginia, where flooding could become 3 to 5 feet deep, the NHC warned. The storm also could douse several southeastern and mid-Atlantic states with up to 15 inches (38 cm) of rain through Sunday, the agency said. New Jersey, still mindful of devastation from superstorm Sandy in 2012, was on high alert as emergency officials advised residents to prepare for flooding, high winds and a surge of seawater. New York Governor Andrew Cuomo on Friday activated his state's emergency operations center and ordered officials to stockpile resources, including sandbags and generators. New York City Mayor Bill De Blasio said residents should avoid beach waters for fear of life-threatening riptides. "I say that to people who go the beach, I say that to surfers: Don't even think about it," De Blasio told reporters. In Florida, concerns over the standing water in which mosquitoes breed intensified as the state battled an outbreak of the Zika virus. "It is incredibly important that everyone does their part to combat the Zika virus by dumping standing water, no matter how small," Florida Governor Rick Scott told a news conference. Overnight, crews in Pasco County, Florida, rescued more than a dozen people after their homes were flooded. Richard Jewett, 68, was rescued from his home in New Port Richey, just north of Tampa, as emergency teams carried out a mandatory evacuation. "The canal started creeping up toward the house, and even though it wasn't high tide it looked like it was coming inside," Jewett said. (Additional reporting by Zachary Fagenson in Hudson Beach, Fla., Steve Gorman in Los Angeles, Brendan O'Brien in Milwaukee, Laila Kearney in New York and Jon Herskovitz in Austin; Editing by Daniel Trotta and Cynthia Osterman)
A Georgia stray pit bull that made headlines after rescuing a woman from being stabbed and nearly dying in the process has found a forever home.

He was a street dog who became known as "Hero" after saving the woman and getting stabbed himself before undergoing emergency surgery during which he died twice.

Hero pulled through despite tough odds after the attack early this summer. On Thursday, his bravery helped earn him a new home.

Read: 'Hero ' Dog Saves Owner From Bear Attack on Trail: 'I Never Run Without Him'

Hero's new doggy parents, Sara and David Simpson, say he's getting along just fine in his new home in Tennessee with two canine friends.

"We are really blessed to be taking this baby and making him family. Adjustments are going well," Sara Simpson wrote in a Facebook post.

Simpson also recounted Hero's amazing tale and said it is a lesson in why rescues are often the best choice when searching for an animal companion.

"Adopt. Don't buy from breeders or shops. So so so many animals out there need loving homes," she wrote.

Hero was stabbed five times and was left for dead until two kind officers came to his rescue.

Officers Timothy Clay and Daniel Seeley brought the courageous pooch to a local vet where he died twice during surgery.

Read: Golden Retriever Named Romeo Miraculously Survives 9 Days in Flattened Home After Italy Earthquake

He collapsed several times, said Carla Welch, founder and director of Fighting for the Bullys Pit Bull Rescue in Tennessee. His gums were white, which meant that almost all of his blood was gone.

According to Welch, Hero was a well-known stray in the neighborhood and knew the victim well.

The pit bull lived most of his life on the streets but may have had owners in the past due to a microchip found inside of him.

"Most pit bulls are really protective," said Welch. "They can sense danger and when someone gets loud, it perks their attention."

Story continues

Watch: Watch This Brave Dog Save Store Owner from Armed Robber

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IRVINE, CA / ACCESSWIRE / September 2, 2016 / Khang & Khang LLP (the "Firm") announces a class action lawsuit has been filed against Tokai Pharmaceuticals, Inc. ("Tokai" or the "Company") (TKAI). Investors who purchased or otherwise acquired shares between June 24, 2015 and July 25, 2016 inclusive (the "Class Period"), are encouraged to contact the Firm prior to the September 30, 2016 lead plaintiff motion deadline.

If you purchased shares of Tokai during the Class Period, please contact Joon M. Khang, Esquire, of Khang & Khang, 18101 Von Karman Avenue, 3rd Floor, Irvine, CA 92612, by telephone: (949) 419-3834, or by e-mail at joon@khanglaw.com.

There has been no class certification in this case. Until certification occurs, you are not represented by an attorney. You may choose to take no action and remain a passive class member.

The complaint alleges that during the Class Period, Tokai made false and misleading statements and/or failed to disclose that: there were significant structural problems with the trial design for its Phase 3 galeterone study, ARMOR3-SV; that ARMOR3-SV was unlikely to succeed in meeting its primary endpoint; the commercialization of galeterone was less likely than investors were led to believe; and as a result of the above, Tokai's statements about its business, operations, and prospects were false and misleading at all relevant times.

If you want to learn more about this lawsuit, or if you have any questions concerning this notice or your rights, please contact Joon M. Khang, a prominent litigator for almost two decades, by telephone: (949) 419-3834, or via e-mail at joon@khanglaw.com.

This press release may constitute Attorney Advertising in certain jurisdictions.

Contacts

Joon M. Khang, Esq.

Telephone: 949-419-3834

Facsimile: 949-225-4474

joon@khanglaw.com

SOURCE: Khang & Khang LLP
By Ho Binh Minh HANOI (Reuters) - Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi offered Vietnam a credit line on Saturday of half a billion dollars for defense cooperation, giving a lift to a country rapidly pursing a military deterrent as discord festers in the South China Sea. The deal was among a dozen cooperation agreements Modi signed in Hanoi alongside his Vietnamese counterpart, Nguyen Xuan Phuc, on the first visit to the country by an Indian prime minister in 15 years. India and Vietnam share borders and large trade volumes with China and have repeatedly locked horns with Beijing, over the territorial disputes in the Himalayas and the South China Sea, respectively. Both are also beefing-up of their defenses and in India's case, its defense industry, promoting heavily its supersonic BrahMos missile. India is keen to sell the missile to Vietnam and four other countries, according to a government note seen by Reuters in June. It was unclear if the latest loan included the $100 million India had previously made available to Vietnam for four yet-to-be-built patrol vessels in a deal agreed in late 2014. In an address to media, Modi said the credit was for "facilitating mutual defense cooperation" and the relationship between the two countries would "contribute to stability, securities and prosperity in this region". Modi, who was en-route to a G20 Summit in China, made no mention of the patrol vessels, nor BrahMos missiles, and did not elaborate on what Vietnam would use the $500 million credit for. The offer comes after a surge of almost 700 percent in Vietnam's defense procurements as of 2015, according to the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute think-tank, which tracks the arm trade over five-year periods. Vietnam is in the midst of a quiet military buildup analysts say is designed as a deterrent, to secure its 200 nautical mile Exclusive Economic Zone as China grows more assertive in staking its claims in the South China Sea. Experts say Vietnam is in the market for fighter jets and more advanced missile systems, in addition to its six kilo-class submarines it has bought from Russia, the last of which it will receive late this year. The 12 agreements signed on Saturday covered areas like health, cyber security, ship-building, U.N. peace-keeping operations and naval information sharing. Both leaders said ties would be upgraded to the level of "comprehensive strategic relationship" and bilateral trade would be almost doubled to $15 billion by 2020. (Writing by Martin Petty; editing by Robert Birsel)
By Sanjeev Miglani NEW DELHI (Reuters) - India is unlikely to give French naval contractor DCNS a proposed order for three new submarines, in addition to the six it is already building in the country, following the leak of secret data about its capabilities, Indian defense officials said. Details of the Scorpene submarine were published in the Australian newspaper last month, triggering concerns that it had become vulnerable even before it was ready to enter service. DCNS had offered to build three more submarines to help India replace its aging Soviet-era fleet, and had held talks over the past year, two Indian sources said. That offer will not now be taken up, according to the officials. "We had an agreement for six, and six it will remain," a defense ministry official briefed on the navy's plans told Reuters, speaking on condition of anonymity. A spokesman of the Indian Navy confirmed that the orders would not be placed for three more submarines. "Indian has ordered only six Scorpene submarines and orders have not been placed for three more as reported by some media. Therefore question of cancellation does not arise," the spokesman said A navy officer said there had been a serious breach of data and the navy's efforts were focused on determining the damage done to the existing submarines. "No order will be signed, nothing is going to happen now," the officer, who is also been briefed on the submarine data leak, said when asked if the government planned to enlarge the order. India's defense ministry has written to DCNS asking for details about the extent of the leak and how data relating to the Scorpene's intelligence gathering frequencies, diving depth, endurance and weapons specifications had ended up in the public domain, both officials said. A naval group headed by a three-star admiral is looking at altering some features of the submarine, the first of which began sea trials in May for induction later this year, to minimize any damage. The remaining five are in various stages of production at state-run Mazgaon Docks shipyard in Mumbai and they were all due to enter service by 2020. INVESTIGATION An official at Mazgaon Docks said the firm was focused on completing the original order of six Scorpenes and that he was not aware of any plan to build more. A DCNS spokesman said the firm was in close touch with "our key customers like India to keep them informed of the development of our investigation, respond to their questions and mitigate their legitimate worries". "The investigation is still ongoing and one of its objectives is to determine the potential prejudice and minimize its potential consequences," the spokesman said. DCNS is preparing to build a new fleet of submarines in Australia for A$50 billion ($38.13 billion). Australian defense officials have warned the firm to beef up security in the wake of the leak. DCNS has said that the leak, which covered details of the Scorpene-class model and not the vessel currently being designed for the Australian fleet, bore the hallmarks of "economic warfare" carried out by frustrated competitors. Indian officials have pointed to a "non-disclosure of information" clause that was written into the 2005 contract at French insistence, the first defense ministry official briefed on the communication with the DCNS, said. But the official said the government could only invoke that clause if it was established that the data was leaked and not stolen. A French government source has said the firm had apparently been robbed, and it was not a leak, adding it was unlikely classified data was stolen. NOISE SIGNATURE Indian submarine experts say that, while the breach in information security was serious, it does not make the Scorpenes immediately vulnerable to detection. The most vital data about a submarine is its unique "signature" of noise, heat and electro-magnetic emissions, and it is the combination of such signatures that determines the ability to detect them. "If that is gone, then you might as well say goodbye to the submarine. You are exposed," said former vice admiral and submariner A.K.Singh. Such signatures are assembled in the course of the sea trials of a submarine, and in the case of the Scorpenes that has yet to happen, he said. India's submarine arm is down to 13 vessels, only half of which are operational at any time, and is falling rapidly behind China, which is expanding its maritime presence in the Indian Ocean. Even Pakistan, which operates Agosta submarines also built by DCNS and is in talks with China for a new set of submarines, is drawing close to the operational strength of the Indian navy. The Indian government has approved the acquisition of the next generation of submarines beyond the Scorpene, in an project estimated at $8 billion. DCNS has expressed an interest in that project, as has Russia and Germany's ThyssenKrupp Marine Systems. The first defense official said he did not expect any movement on that project until the investigation into the Scorpene leak was completed and new security measures put in place. (Additional reporting by Tim Hepher in PARIS; Editing by Alex Richardson)
Police rescued 22 Nepali women from a hotel in New Delhi who were allegedly being trafficked from the impoverished Himalayan nation to the Middle East, and are searching for two suspects, officers said Saturday.

Officers from the force's serious crimes branch raided a hotel near the capital's international airport on Thursday morning after receiving a tip-off from the Nepali embassy.

One of the trafficked women had earlier escaped from the hotel and reached the embassy, leading to the police raid.

"Twenty-two women were rescued in the raid. We have identified two accused who are evading arrest," Ravindra Yadav, Joint Commissioner of Police (Crime) in New Delhi told AFP.

"The women will give their testimonies before a court today. The visas indicate most of them were flying to Qatar and other Middle Eastern countries," he said.

The trafficked women were desperately looking for work in the aftermath of a devastating earthquake in April 2015 and were lured with the promise of jobs in the Middle East, another officer said.

Their traffickers took away their passports and documents after they arrived in Delhi a week ago.

Nepal has seen an upswing in the number of cases of trafficking since last year's earthquake killed nearly 9,000 and left thousands homeless.

Many of them are trafficked to India and Gulf countries and forced into slavery and prostitution.

Campaigners have warned that gangs are targeting vulnerable women and children and traffic through the porous border with India.

A 2013 report by Nepal's human rights commission recorded 29,000 incidences of trafficking or attempted trafficking in the country.
By Alastair Macdonald and Foo Yun Chee

BRUSSELS (Reuters) - The European Commission denies that its shock demand that Apple Inc. hand 13 billion euros (11 billion) in back taxes to Ireland is, in the pungent phrase of Apple CEO Tim Cook, "total political crap".

But, say senior EU officials involved, the decision certainly has a strong political element, even if Competition Commissioner Margrethe Vestager says she is confident her case will stand up to Cook's appeal on its legal merits alone.

Brussels' political target is less corporate America than eurosceptics at home who threaten to pull the EU apart if it fails to show alienated voters it can act in their interests.

"Being political should not be confused with politicised," said a spokeswoman for Commission chief Jean-Claude Juncker. For him, fighting tax avoidance had been a "top priority" since before he took over the EU executive two years ago, she said.

"The drive towards fairer taxation is in President Juncker's political guidelines," she said. At the same time, Vestager is an "entirely independent" enforcer of EU competition law, she added.

Efforts under way, including in the United States, to clamp down on tax avoidance are political in the sense that all states, with budgets under strain, face pressure from voters to claw back cash from other people, preferably wealthy companies, tax experts and government officials say.

For European Union institutions, the struggle is less for money -- Apple's cash will go to Ireland if Vestager wins her case.

What Brussels is fighting for is the EU's very survival against eurosceptics like the Brexiteers who persuaded Britons to quit the bloc in June.

Those populists, on left and right, from the UK Independence Party to France's National Front or 5-Star in Italy, have scored with voters by accusing the EU and the executive Commission of cosying up to big, global business against the little people.

"Apple shows how you fight against populism," a senior EU official familiar with the Commission chief's thinking told Reuters, describing a two-pronged strategy directed by Juncker.

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One part of the strategy is a push for new global tax rules, led by EU Commissioner for Economic Affairs Pierre Moscovici, a French Socialist former finance minister. The other part rests on punishing the worst past abusers to deter others.

Vestager says the goal is to change corporate culture so that businesses anxious for their reputation stop trying to pay as little tax as possible and choose to pay "the right amount".

On Juncker's political goal, he won government backing in Paris and Berlin. And many European media also welcomed the Apple move. Le Monde, leftish voice of establishment France and critic of Juncker's low-tax policies when he was premier of Luxembourg, said he had shown "the zeal of the newly converted".

"Europe is changing," it wrote. "Bravo, Monsieur Juncker."

SHOWING VOTERS EU CARES

"The EUs message is clear," Juncker wrote for a G20 meeting in China this weekend. "All companies must pay their fair share.

"This is first and foremost a question of fairness. It has urgent practical implications as well. We cannot let down our schools, hospitals and public services that need this money."

The $14.5-billion demand which angered the United States and worried Apple's peers was engineered for shock and awe, the EU official said. Juncker sees Vestager as what the EU president calls his "Rottweiler", he added.

Apple and the Irish government say Vestager is rewriting the iPhone maker's quarter-century of history in Ireland. Apple denies that Dublin gave it tax breaks amounting to illegal state aid.

What has changed is the politics. The financial crisis has impoverished Western governments just as footloose young tech firms became hugely rich without paying much tax anywhere.

U.S. Senate revelations about Apple in 2013 fuelled public anger and, with some irony, prompted the EU to start inquiries.

Juncker's own history has also played a part. A conservative prime minister of Luxembourg for 19 years, he helped transform it from industrial rustbowl to a financial hub its bigger neighbours saw as helping businesses deprive them of revenues.

Weeks after taking over the Commission in late 2014, he faced calls to resign when deals between Luxembourg and global corporates were splashed in world media as the LuxLeaks affair.

He denied involvement but, aides say, the uproar helped galvanise Juncker for a tax crackdown he had already promised.

Driving his pledge to run a "political Commission" to reconnect with voters alienated by out-of-touch, technocratic elites in Brussels was a fear that his five-year term was, in his words, the "last chance" to save the Union from break-up.

LEGAL UNDERPINNINGS

"It's political in the sense that, if the Commission is prioritising the allocation of its resources, then clearly tax evasion and tax avoidance are very high on the political agenda everywhere," said Sophie in 't Veld, deputy leader of the centrist group in the European Parliament. "This is something that citizens are rightly and understandably concerned about."

That political approach, Brussels officials stress, does not mean capricious or lacking legal basis. Vestager is clear she must win in court on some untested points of law against the best tax attorneys Silicon Valley and Washington can buy, and against EU member state Ireland.

Asked about Cook's comments to an Irish newspaper about the EU's "political" motives, she said: "I dont think the courts will hear any kind of political opinions or feelings or whats in your stomach or whatever. They want the facts of the case."

LISTEN, THEN BITE

Some EU officials think the anger of Cook and U.S. officials at the historic scale of the tax demand may partly stem from underestimating Vestager's uncompromising character.

Tall, courteous and soft-spoken, she is a woman who takes trouble to greet captains of industry by the lift and escort them back to her office, often then serving them coffee herself. It may wrong-foot those used to more confrontational politicians and executives. She is a listener rather than a talker.

"There are some people who are very loud ... but ... it is very important to have a very, very, very open ear to those who are not loud," the former economy minister and liberal party leader told Reuters on taking office two years ago.

People who work with her say she listens closely to career officials on her staff -- much more than did her Spanish predecessor Joaquin Almunia, a professional economist.

One U.S. tech giant to feel a change of approach after 2014 was Google, with whom Almunia worked for years to reach a compromise over concerns about its market dominance. Since last year, Vestager has hit Google with three separate charges.

She also put an end to hesitation in Brussels by launching a price fixing case against Russian gas giant Gazprom last year.

Most current state aid tax cases, including Apple, were launched by Almunia but competition experts question whether he would have come to Vestager's radical conclusion. Almunia's own predecessor Neelie Kroes, now at another Silicon Valley darling Uber, said this week the Dane had gone too far against Apple.

Some observers believe Vestager, a professional politician since her student days, may be tempted to use cases to raise her profile and further greater ambitions. She says not.

Predecessors have also taken on Washington, among them Mario Monti, later Italy's prime minister, who blocked a mega-merger between GE and Honeywell in 2001 despite U.S. support for it, and Kroes, who slapped heavy fines on Microsoft in 2008.

There may be more to come, Vestager says. Her 800 staff are looking at about 1,000 inquiries where firms may have gained an edge by cutting tax deals with governments seeking investment.

A pastor's daughter, Vestager summed up her political credo in the 2014 interview with Reuters: "I was brought up with a very strong value," she said. "That you should always protect the few and the small against those who want to misuse their muscle."

(Writing by Alastair Macdonald; Editing by Jon Boyle)
Earlier this week, the European Commission concluded an enquiry into Apple's European tax situation, concluding that the company owes Ireland $13.5 billion in unpaid taxes. But the case is anything but closed, as both Apple and Ireland have decided to appeal the ruling.

Why doesn't Ireland want Apple to give it about $3,000 per person? Because Ireland thinks that Apple paid all the taxes it owes.

DON'T MISS: Everything you need to know about Samsungs unprecedented Galaxy Note 7 recall

It was always expected that Ireland would appeal the decision. The European Commission contends that Ireland gave Apple preferential treatment, breaking European rules. But Ireland is keen to maintain its reputation as a business-friendly country with low tax rates, and getting this decision overturned is a crucial part of that.

After a meeting on Friday morning, the Irish cabinet agreed to join Apple and legally challenge the EC's ruling. A government spokesperson told Reuters that the Irish Parliament would be asked to endorse the decision next week.

Apple CEO Tim Cook has already described the EC's ruling as "total political crap," and that the decision would almost certainly be reversed on appeal. In any case, the ruling seems to be prompting some changes to Apple's tax systems. Cook has already hinted that the company may bring some of its "war chest" cash back to the US next year, allowing the company to spend more on R&D, but also meaning that money will be taxed by the US government.

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Dhaka (AFP) - Bangladesh hanged a wealthy tycoon and top financial backer of its largest Islamist party late Saturday for war crimes, dealing a massive blow to the group's ambitions in the Muslim-majority nation.

Mir Quasem Ali, a key leader of the Jamaat-e-Islami party, was executed after being convicted by a controversial war crimes tribunal for offences committed during the 1971 independence conflict with Pakistan.

The 63-year-old was hanged at the Kashimpur high security jail in Gazipur, some 40 kilometres (25 miles) north of Dhaka, amid stepped-up security outside the prison and in the capital.

"The execution took place at 10:35 pm (1635 GMT)," law and justice minister Anisul Huq told AFP.

Six opposition leaders have now been executed for war crimes after the secular government led by Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina set up a domestic war crimes tribunal in 2010.

Five were top leaders of the Jamaat party -- a massive setback for the Islamists in the world's third largest Muslim nation, which has been reeling from a wave of deadly extremist attacks claimed by the Islamic State group.

After the Supreme Court rejected his final appeal against the penalty on Tuesday, Ali declined to seek a presidential pardon, which would require an admission of guilt, paving the way for his execution.

Prosecutors said Ali was a key commander of the notorious pro-Pakistan militia in the southern port city of Chittagong during the war, and later became a shipping, banking and real estate tycoon.

They said he spent millions of dollars of his fortune to hire international lobbyists to derail the war crime trials.

Hundreds of people in Dhaka and Chittagong held impromptu street celebrations as news of the execution was broadcast live on television.

But more than 1,000 police were deployed in Gazipur and hundreds of paramilitary border guards were outside the prison and in Dhaka, as authorities feared violence by his Islamist supporters, officials said.

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Home minister Asaduzzaman Khan warned Islamists against any "unruly" activities.

The war crimes trials have divided the country, with supporters of Jamaat and the main opposition Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) branding them a sham aimed at eliminating their leaders.

The executions and convictions of Jamaat officials plunged Bangladesh into one of its worst crises in 2013 when tens of thousands of Islamist activists clashed with police in protests that left some 500 people dead.

- Killing "to stop Islam" -

Jamaat, which is banned from contesting elections, has called a nationwide strike for Monday to protest the hanging, saying Ali was "murdered" for playing a "key role in the Islamic movement" in Bangladesh.

Ali had helped revive Jamaat and made it a potent force in Bangladesh politics by setting up charities, businesses and trusts linked to it after it was allowed to operate in the late 1970s.

Before he was arrested in 2012, Ali headed the Diganta Media Corporation, which owns a pro-Jamaat daily and a television station that was shut down in 2013 for stoking religious tensions.

He was convicted in November 2014 of a series of war crimes including the abduction and murder of a young independence fighter.

Defence lawyers have said the charges against him were baseless.

"All along he said he was innocent. He said he is being killed unjustifiably," said Tahera Tasnim, one of Ali's daughters. She was among 23 family members who met him for the last time in the prison just hours before he went to the gallows.

"He said this repressive government is killing them (Islamist leaders) to stop Islam being established in the society and the country."

His son Mir Ahmed Bin Quasem, who was part of his legal defence team, was allegedly abducted by security forces earlier in August, which critics say was an attempt to sow fear and prevent protests against the imminent execution.

Hasina's government has defended the trials, saying they are needed to heal the wounds of the conflict, which it says left three million people dead.

A group of United Nations human rights experts last week urged Dhaka to annul Ali's death sentence.

The execution of Mir Quasem Ali, following a trial whose fairness was questioned by the UN, will not deliver justice to the people of Bangladesh," said Champa Patel, Amnesty Internationals South Asia Director.
Rome (AFP) - Italian Interior Minister Angelino Alfano weighed into the row over Charlie Hebdo's earthquake cartoons Saturday with an unusually undiplomatic outburst against the French satirical weekly.

The cartoons, including one portraying quake victims crushed under layers of lasagne, have caused an outcry in Italy, where emotions are still raw after the August 24 quake killed nearly 300 people.

In his response, Alfano recalled how Italy had stood behind Charlie after its headquarters were subjected to a deadly attack by jihadist militants in January 2015.

"Using their own satire, I'd offer a suggestion as to where they can stick their pencil," Alfano told journalists on the sidelines of the Ambrosetti Forum, a kind of Italian mini-Davos held this weekend in Cernobbio, on Lake Como.

"We cried over their dead, they mocked ours," Alfano added.

The Charlie Hebdo cartoons have been branded disgusting by the mayor of Amatrice, the town worst hit by the quake, and repugnant, by Italy's Justice Minister, Andrea Orlando.

Fury on social media reached such a pitch the French embassy in Rome was moved to issue a statement emphasing that the government did not share the magazine's sentiments and could not be held responsible for them.
By Kiyoshi Takenaka and Denis Pinchuk VLADIVOSTOK, Russia (Reuters) - Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and Russian President Vladimir Putin on Saturday spoke of their joint resolve to settle once and for all a territorial row over a string of tiny islands that has marred ties for more than seven decades. In a speech delivered at a business conference in the Russian port city of Vladivostok, with Putin in attendance, Abe urged Putin to work with him to solve the dispute. "As the leader of Japan, I am firmly convinced of the correctness of the Japanese position, while you, Vladimir, as the leader of Russia, are entirely confident of the correctness of the Russian position," Abe said. "Yet, if we continue on like this, this very same discussion will continue for yet more decades to come. By leaving the situation as it is, neither you nor I will be able to leave better possibilities to future generations." Japan claims a string of Russia-controlled western Pacific islands, called the Northern Territories in Japan and Southern Kuriles in Russia. The territorial row over the island chain, seized by Soviet troops at the end of World War Two, has upset diplomatic relations ever since, precluding a formal peace treaty between the two countries. Putin said he was ready to take decisive steps to settle the dispute, though he cautioned that those steps could only be taken after careful preparation. "The past should not be an obstacle to moving forward," Putin said during a question-and-answer session at the forum, where he shared the stage with Abe. "We have to think how to get rid of problems which do not allow us to move forward." "I hope that we can solve these problems. In order to solve them we of course need a level of trust. It's a tricky solution but we can achieve it." On Friday, the Japanese prime minister held talks with Putin and agreed to have two more summit meetings by the end of the year to accelerate peace treaty negotiations. "Vladimir, in order to carve out towards the future bilateral relations overflowing with unlimited potential, I am resolved to putting forth all my strength to advance the relationship between Japan and Russia, together with you," Abe said. Abe's father, Shintaro Abe, worked to resolve the dispute in the 1980s as foreign minister. Concessions over the islands would carry risks for Putin but could boost Japanese investment in Russia at a time when Moscow, battered by low global oil prices and Western sanctions, badly needs an injection of cash. "The economies of Russia and Japan are not in rivalry. I am fully confident that ours is a relationship in which each complements the other in a magnificent way," Abe said. (Reporting by Kiyoshi Takenaka and Denis Pinchuk; Editing by Kim Coghill, Robert Birsel)
Jerry Heller, N.W.A's controversial original manager and a music industry veteran, died of a heart attack Friday evening at Los Robles Hospital in Thousand Oaks, Calif., his cousin Gary Ballen confirmed to Billboard. He was 75.

Former N.W.A Manager Jerry Heller's Death: The Music Industry Reacts

Heller was already in his mid-40s when he paired with aspiring rap mogul, N.W.A's Eazy-E, and Eazy's label Ruthless Records. An unlikely booster of gangsta rap, Heller's efforts helped N.W.A make hardcore hip-hop popular around the world. Outspoken and litigious, he sued the makers of the 2015 hit biopic Straight Outta Compton and was the subject of numerous dis songs and videos. After rapper Ice Cube left N.W.A he famously suggested in his 1991 track "No Vaseline" that the remaining group members, "Get rid of that devil real simple / Put a bullet in his temple."

Billboard Cover: Kendrick Lamar Interviews N.W.A About Coming 'Straight Outta Compton' and Changing the World

Raised in Shaker Heights, Cleveland, Heller said he faced strong anti-Semitism growing up, and that his father, the owner of a scrap metal business, spent time with the Jewish mob. Heller enlisted in the Army and after being discharged earned a business degree from the University of Southern California. During the '60s and '70s, he served as an agent for artists including Creedence Clearwater Revival and Marvin Gaye, and promoted Pink Floyd, Elton John, and Kraftwerk on their first U.S. tours. His fortunes later declined, however, and by the mid-'80s he was living with his parents in Encino, California.

Heller's second act came by way of the emerging L.A. hip-hop scene, then largely based around a Hollywood record plant and label called Macola. Tipped off by his friend Morey Alexander, a music manager, Heller began hanging out at Macola and introducing himself to the artists. He became the manager of acts including World Class Wreckin' Cru and C.I.A., the first groups of Dr. Dre and Ice Cube, respectively. But his greatest pairing was with Eazy-E, aka Eric Wright, a diminutive Compton drug dealer looking to go straight. Wright famously paid World Class Wreckin' Cru leader Alonzo Williams for an introduction to Heller, who he believed could take Ruthless Records to the next level.

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Heller invested money in Ruthless and became the manager of many of the label's rap and R&B acts, and in the wake of N.W.A's unprecedented success with gangsta rap -- driven by singles like "F--- Tha Police" and vividly portrayed in the Straight Outta Compton film - the label had a long hot streak from the late '80s to the mid-'90s. Ruthless artists J.J. Fad, Michel'le, the D.O.C., and Bone Thugs-n-Harmony all went gold or platinum -- as did solo efforts from Eazy-E -- and by 1995 Ruthless "was bringing in millions per month," Heller claimed in his 2006 memoir Ruthless. He also had a personal relationship with his artists, acting as a father figure to Eazy and others. "Eazy loved his dad, but they didn't communicate a lot," said Eazy's assistant Charis Henry. "[Eazy] would say, 'Jerry's like a dad to me.'"

'Straight Outta Compton' & Into the Rock Hall: N.W.A's 10 Best Songs, Ranked

"Jerry had the undeniable gift of gab," said rapper CPO Boss Hogg, who was managed by Heller and N.W.A member MC Ren. "Whenever I had a problem with something relating to this business, he was lickety split with the perfect words to set my mind at ease."

"I learned a lot about the business of music from him," said Ruthless producer Rhythm D. "Every bank, restaurant, and studio respected me when I walked in because they saw me with him."

Heller nonetheless clashed with many of his artists. N.W.A's iconoclastic lyricist Ice Cube left the group following their seismic 1988 debut, claiming that he hadn't been paid properly. The group's main producer Dr. Dre left after their 1991 follow-up Efil4zaggin, amid similar complaints. Neither sued, Heller was never found guilty of financial impropriety, and he was strongly backed during these years by Eazy-E. "People callin' me, askin' me, 'Why you got a white man as your manager?' " Eazy told Rap Pages at the time. "It's like, when I was lookin' for a manager, I closed my fuckin' eyes and I said, 'I want the best.' Jerry happened to be the best."

'Straight Outta Compton' Becomes Highest-Grossing Movie From African-American Director

Heller and Eazy later weathered an uneasy dispute with Dre's new label Death Row Records and its notoriously violent co-founder Suge Knight. Eazy claimed that Knight and other men threatened him with baseball bats, and Heller said he installed a new security system and bought guns out of fear of attack from Knight.

Eazy-E passed in 1995 from AIDS. Not long before his death, after about eight years of partnership, he fired Heller. "I don't believe he was in his right mind when he did that," Heller said in 2014 for this writer's book Original Gangstas: The Untold Story of Dr. Dre, Eazy-E, Ice Cube, Tupac Shakur, and the Birth of West Coast Rap, due out Sept. 13. Some Ruthless artists believed Eazy fired him because he'd misappropriated label funds. "What I was told from Eazy -- from his mouth -- is that Jerry Heller put him $2 million into debt, and that's why he was done," said a ghostwriter for Eazy named Dirty Red. Others close to the situation strongly disagreed. "He never told me Jerry was stealing from him. He always told me he knew where his money was," said Eazy's assistant Charis Henry.

Heller himself denied all wrongdoing. Following Eazy's death, his widow Tomica Woods-Wright and Heller sued each other over financial matters surrounding Ruthless, finally settling out of court in 1999 and agreeing to a non-disparagement clause. In October 2015, shortly after Straight Outta Compton was released, Heller filed a defamation lawsuit based on what he fel was an unfair portrayal in the film, which depicts Woods-Wright going through Ruthless documents and searching for evidence of wrongdoing by Heller, who was played by Paul Giamatti. He also claimed he was not compensated for the use of his likeness. In June 2016 a U.S. District judge dismissed all of Heller's lawsuit except for one claim, which was allowed to continue.

In April 2016, N.W.A were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

In the years following his departure from Ruthless, Heller was involved with a number of ventures, including co-founding a label called Hit a Lick Records, which featured Latino rap acts. He married and got divorced from a much-younger woman named Gayle Steiner -- a real estate agent in Calabasas, Calif. -- and said he was talking with director Jim Sheridan (8 Mile) about adapting his memoir for film.

He still occupied the mansion in Calabasas he bought in the early 1990s, two doors down Eazy-E's own. Parked in his driveway during this time was a white BMW, which Eazy bought for him. The license plate read "RTHLSS2," and it matched the same car Eazy bought for himself, whose license plate read "RTHLSS1."
Jerry Heller, Former N.W.A Manager, Dies at 75

Jerry Heller, the veteran music manager who helped launch the music group N.W.A, has died. He was 75.

His cousin, Gary Ballen, confirmed to Billboard that Heller died of a heart attack on Friday.

Heller was born in Ohio, and following his service in the U.S. Army, he would go on to attend University of Southern California.

In the 60s and 70s he represented Marvin Gaye, and promoted the first U.S. tours for Pink Floyd, Elton John and Kraftwerk. He eventually start the Heller-Fischel Agency, which would represent rock stars like The Who and Black Sabbath as well as Carly Simon, Van Morrison and Cat Stevens.

In the mid-80s he started representing rap musicians, co-founding Ruthless Records with Eazy-E, and managing acts in the L.A. hip-hop scene.

Paul Giamatti portrayed Heller in the 2015 N.W.A biopic Straight Outta Compton. In October 2015 Heller filed a defamation lawsuit against the films producers, who included Dr. Dre and Ice Cube. Heller claimed that the film was littered with false statements that intended to smear his reputation. The producers countersued and almost all parts of Hellers original suit were dropped.

His memoir, which he wrote with Gil Reavill, was published in 2006 titled Ruthless: A Memoir. N.W.A was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in April.

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A journalist let strangers take over his Twitter account, and the hilarity escalated pretty quickly

A journalist let strangers take over his Twitter account, and the hilarity escalated pretty quickly

It all started with a simple tweet and an idea. Yuri Victors going on a trip for a week, so he decided to give us  yep, all of us  access to his Twitter account. Craaaaazy, right? Or perhaps genius?!

Im on vacation for the next week so Im outsourcing my tweets to you. Feel free to tweet as @yurivictor https://t.co/qibdCc8icv   (@yurivictor) September 2, 2016

Even he knows its a risky move to make.

I'm prepared to be pleasantly surprised by the overwhelming benevolence of Internet Randoms.   (@yurivictor) September 2, 2016

ICYMI, Yuris not just any old guy. He not only works for Vox Media, but is also an award winning designer, developer, and journalist, that has a history of creating ground-breaking news technologies, states his LinkedIn account.

Wed agree that handing over his Twitter account to Internet strangers is def a ground-breaking technology, to say the least. I mean, would you do it?!

After all, not all of us can be Katy Perry and have the most followers ever (at least, as of two months ago). Nor can we be Martha Stewart and post funny-without-knowing-it tweets.

As Yuri stated, maybe hes onto something here.

Collaborative tweets are the ~future~ of journalism   (@yurivictor) September 2, 2016

Now, its hard to tell if Yuri posted that, or one of his Twitter doppelgangers did. Also, apparently, according to Twitter, some results have been filtered.

So, pressures on  nows your chance to tweet as @yurivictor.

Stumped with what to write?

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Here are some ideas of what others have posted and were still in disbelief at all the randomness.

Once he gets a look at these tweets, Yuri will be in a real *yuri* to get back! #puns   (@yurivictor) September 2, 2016

Help, I am trapped in the body of @yurivictor! :-(   (@yurivictor) September 2, 2016

This is an interesting idea.

We could start a conversation about a topic?!   (@yurivictor) September 2, 2016

And others are using it for self-promotion. (Btw, @CaseyNewton has 32.4K followers and is a Silicon Valley editor @ verge.)

Follow @CaseyNewton, arguably the best Twitter account   (@yurivictor) September 2, 2016

Some people seem a bit concerned

hey yuri it's winston are you sure this is a good idea   (@yurivictor) September 2, 2016

Personally, we think its fab-u-lous. After all, everyone out there knows Yuris doing this, so anything written cant really be held against him, right?!

And even Yuri may be a bit paranoid about losing followers (unless a doppleganger wrote this one, too?).

oh shit, i just realized i'm going to have no followers left when i get back from vacation.   (@yurivictor) September 2, 2016

Agreed!

To get your Yuri on, you can tweet as him here.

And, you may know that Yuris no stranger to Internet fame.

A couple years ago, Yuri tweeted about Netflix crashing and blaming Verizon for it.

Now, Yuris experiment may cause Twitter to crash. Okay, we hope not, but you know what we mean.

Which tweets are real? Which are not? We may never know until Yuri resurfaces from his trip, at least. So, in the meantime, #TweetAsYuriVictor. Well be watching you

The post A journalist let strangers take over his Twitter account, and the hilarity escalated pretty quickly appeared first on HelloGiggles.
By Agnieszka Flak VENICE (Reuters) - Jude Law was thrilled to be given the opportunity to work with Italian director Paolo Sorrentino, until it became clear that the character he was being asked to portray was that of a conservative, chain-smoking American pope named Pius XIII. "Like a ton of bricks it landed on me that I had to play a pope and I didn't quite know where to go or what work to do to offer it some weight and believability," Law told a press conference at the Venice film festival on Saturday. "But Paolo constantly reminded me that it was a piece about a man who happened to be the pope. Once I started approaching it from that point of view ... it started to come together." The first two episodes of Sorrentino's hotly-anticipated mini TV-series "The Young Pope" screen at the Venice film festival in the out-of-competition section. The series tells the story of orphan Lenny Belardo who becomes the first American pope in history and turns out to be a man who shocks and surprises. It opens with the newly appointed pope crawling out from under a pile of sleeping babies, only to reveal that the image was a dream. On his first day in the job, the new pontiff demands Cherry Coke Zero at breakfast, scolds an elderly nun for kissing his forehead, bans the use of his image on merchandise and refuses to be properly seen or photographed in public, even when he delivers his inaugural homily. Diane Keaton plays a nun who had raised Lenny in an orphanage and becomes the pope's private secretary. Sorrentino said doing a mini-TV series gave him greater opportunity to delve deeper into the characters, but he also sought to bring in some cinematic elements. He agreed that his pope was a stark contrast to the approach of the Vatican's current pontiff, Pope Francis, but said there was no reason the Catholic church could not have his type of leader in future. "It's possible that after a more liberal pope there may be one that has different ideas," the Oscar-winning director said. "It would be quite naive to believe that the Church has embarked on a long path towards liberalism." He said he wasn't worried about a reaction from the Vatican, adding that if they are patient enough to see the work in its entirety, they will understand it as a piece of art "that examines the contradictions and the difficulties as well as the fascinating aspects of the clergy, the priests and the nuns". The festival ends on Sept. 10. (Additional reporting by Sarah Mills; Editing by Andrew Bolton)
Aubrey and Avery Lumpkins are finally under the same roof again!



The twins were living in a Chinese orphanage in Shenzhen when Aubrey was adopted by Gene and Lisa Lumpkins, an American couple from Kentucky, six years ago. At the time, neither Aubrey nor Avery knew they were sisters, according to Inside Edition. But after finding a picture of Avery on Facebook last year, adoptive mom Lisa Lumpkins made the connection.



"My jaw dropped, they looked just so, so similar," Lisa, 43, told PEOPLE in May. "My motherly instincts kicked in, I knew they had to be sisters or maybe even non-identical twins."



And after finally making their way through the adoption process again, the Lumpkins flew Avery to the U.S. last week.







Lisa told Inside Edition it's as if no time has passed for the now-13-year-olds. However, there is a language barrier for the sisters as Avery has not yet learned English, and Aubrey does not know how to speak Mandarin or Cantonese.





Kentucky Family Reunites Long-Lost Twins After Adopting Their Daughter's Sister in China: 'They Had No Clue They Were Sisters'| Kids & Family Life, Twins

"They're loving being together," Lisa told Inside Edition. "They remembered being [at the orphanage in China] together, but they had no clue they were sisters."









The Lumpkins requested a DNA test, which showed the two girls are related. Both Avery and Aubrey have cerebral palsy, but Aubrey has more trouble walking, according to the report.



"She's so protective," Lumpkins said about Avery. "Aubrey likes being really independent ... [Avery] knows Aubrey won't ask for help, but she was afraid Aubrey was going to fall."
President Barack Obama heads to China and Laos this weekend for his final visit to Asia. The administration will portray this as a victory lap, asserting that Obama is Americas first Pacific president (in fact, Richard Nixon made a similar claim in 1969, while William H. Taft, Herbert Hoover, John F. Kennedy, and George H.W. Bush also spent formative years in the region). The administration will also claim credit for a wave of initiatives that actually started in the George W. Bush administration (the G-20, the Trans-Pacific Partnership, the strategic partnership with India, the Pacific Command force posture changes, etc.). The fact is that there is not all that much new in the pivot. On the other hand, Obamas most vociferous critics will be wrong to argue that the pivot is completely devoid of content. Since 2009, American strategic partnerships have generally expanded in the region, as they did from 2001 to 2008. Any historically informed assessment of Obamas legacy in Asia should therefore begin by acknowledging that there is more continuity and bipartisan consensus around Asia policy than not.

A more detailed breakdown of Obamas Asia legacy highlights one significant achievement, one sub-par performance, one lost opportunity, and one dangerous incomplete.

The Obama administrations significant achievement in Asia has been to establish an enduring framework for engagement with Southeast Asia. Since the Vietnam War, American diplomacy in Southeast Asia has been episodic, often buffeted by more pressing challenges such as human rights or terrorism. Obamas real rebalance is between Northeast Asia and Southeast Asia. He joined the East Asia Summit, which is hosted by the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, and he established his own U.S.-ASEAN summit. Since 2009, U.S. relations have improved with every country in ASEAN other than Thailand (because of the coup there). Yes  much of this was possible because China scared everybody into our arms, and it is also true that the vigor of the policy waned in the State Departments transition from Hillary Clinton to John Kerry. Nevertheless, the administration deserves credit for putting in place a long overdue framework for engagement with this increasingly important sub-region.

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In the management of great power relations in North Asia, the administration has delivered a sub-par performance. The George W. Bush administration handed off strong and generally trusting relationships with all the major powers  China, India, and Japan. Obama will be handing his successor a very tense relationship with Beijing and continuing uncertainty in the Japanese government about U.S. reliability, despite some important developments on security cooperation with Tokyo and a very successful presidential visit to Hiroshima this spring. Exogenous factors contributed heavily to the current problems with China to be sure: The 2008 financial crisis looked to Beijing like the beginning of secular American decline and Chinese President Xi Jinping turned out to be a far tougher counterpart than the mild-mannered Hu Jintao was. But the administration compounded these problems by failing to articulate its bottom line in Asia. In 2009, the president emphasized his intention to respect Chinas core interests in Asia, to the alarm of American allies. Then, in 2011, after an emboldened China began throwing its weight around, the administration announced its rebalance to Asia with new military deployments to Australia, to the alarm of China. Then, in 2013, the administration shook American allies again by walking away from the red line on Syria and announcing support for Xi Jinpings New Model of Great Power Relations  a proposed condominium of the United States and China in Asia that looked very much like the earlier pledge to respect Chinas core interests.

Obama came into office with a team that thought cooperation on climate change would minimize geopolitical competition, that strategy is about choosing diplomacy and reassurance over war, and that reputational risk would be a deterrent for China. Those assumptions all ignored the fundamental geopolitics of Asia. Fortunately, the story did not end there, and the administration has begun taking some steps to stand up to Chinas increasing coercion in the South China Sea. Still, the reactive and constantly changing articulation of American strategic coordinates has weakened the most fundamental pillar of U.S. statecraft in Asia  the steady management of great power relations.

The lost opportunity, it appears, will be on trade. The president will tell his counterparts that he is determined to pass the TPP in the lame duck session, but members of Congress and former U.S. trade representatives (Republican and Democratic) whom I have asked say it will be a longshot. It was bad luck that both the major Republican and Democratic candidates came out against the deal, but it is the administrations fault that this did not get ratified years earlier. Obama basically campaigned against free trade in 2008 and then delayed moving on the TPP in office because the unions were unhappy he would not support them on card check (a pretty egregious proposal for near automatic unionization). I suspect that Clinton will eventually get back to the TPP if she is elected, but the failure to get this done now will be a big blemish for Obamas Asia legacy and headache for members of Clintons incoming team as they reintroduce themselves to the region.

The dangerous incomplete is North Korea. And here some humility is in order. No administration since the Cold War has handed off the North Korean situation in better shape than they found it, largely because development of nuclear weapons capability has always been completely non-negotiable for Pyongyang. The Obama administration realized the futility of diplomatic deals early on, though it never came up with a policy to replace the previous approach.

This is not the worst Asia legacy or the best in recent history. There are elements to build on but also areas that need to be fixed. Understanding that will help the next administration.

Photo credit: FENG LI/Getty Images
Sirte (Libya) (AFP) - Forces loyal to Libya's unity government launched a new attack Saturday on diehards of the Islamic State jihadist group pinned down in the coastal city of Sirte.

Backed by weeks of US air strikes, fighters loyal to the Government of National Accord (GNA) have recaptured nearly all of what had been the jihadists' main stronghold in North Africa.

The city's fall would be a huge setback to IS's efforts to expand its self-proclaimed "caliphate" beyond Syria and Iraq where the jihadists have also suffered losses.

"The fighting has begun. We are attacking the last Daesh positions in district three" where the jihadists are cornered, a GNA fighter told AFP, using an Arabic acronym for IS.

The GNA forces media centre said the new push had begun to retake Sirte, located 450 kilometres (280 miles) east of the capital Tripoli.

"Our forces are advancing inside the areas where Daesh is, in district three, and so far have taken control of" two banks and a hotel, the media centre said on its Facebook page.

It also said they had thwarted an attempted suicide bombing.

Ten members of the GNA forces were killed and 60 wounded in Saturday's clashes, said a doctor at hospital in Misrata, a city half-way between the Sirte and Tripoli where the casualties are taken.

The loyalists used tanks and heavy artillery to dislodge snipers posted in apartment blocks before troops advanced on foot, said an AFP journalist in the city.

Ambulances earlier streamed out of Sirte -- hometown of dead dictator Moamer Kadhafi -- headed for Misrata.

The fighting eased after sunset, the journalist said, with sporadic gunfire on the ground and military aircraft heard overhead.

Since the offensive against Sirte began on May 12, more than 400 fighters loyal to the government have been killed and about 2,500 wounded.

It is not yet known how many IS militants have been killed, but the GNA media centre said the bodies of 10 jihadists had been found in a school in district one, which was being combed after being retaken on Monday.

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The forces loyal to the UN-backed GNA had said last weekend they were preparing to "liberate" the entire city after seizing several IS positions, including its headquarters.

On Wednesday, GNA head Fayez al-Sarraj visited Sirte for the first time since loyalist forces launched their offensive more than three months ago.

- US air raids -

Sarraj and some of his ministers toured former front lines as well as the Ouagadougou conference centre which IS had used as its base.

"We will continue to chase, with the help of God, the Daesh remnants and strike them wherever they may be in our country," Sarraj said this week.

The capture of Sirte by IS last year sparked fears the jihadists would use it as a springboard for attacks on Europe.

The Sunni extremists took advantage of the chaos in oil-rich Libya after the 2011 uprising to seize Sirte in June 2015, hoisting their black flag above the city.

The offensive on the ground has been backed by US air power.

On Friday, the United States Africa Command said that since the US campaign began on August 1, US drones, helicopters and bombers had carried out a total of 108 air strikes against the jihadists in Sirte.

It said that on August 31, targets including five "enemy fighting positions" and a vehicle bomb were hit.

Fewer than 200 IS jihadists remain in Sirte, Pentagon spokesman Captain Jeff Davis said on Thursday, and they are essentially surrounded by GNA forces and the sea.

The GNA has been struggling to assert its control over all of Libya.

France on Friday urged Sarraj to find a compromise with the Tobruk-based parliament in the far east of the country, which does not recognise the unity government.

"He must find a compromise with the Tobruk parliament and General (Khalifa) Haftar," who controls the armed forces in the east, Foreign Minister Jean-Marc Ayrault said in Paris.
Apples European headquarters sit in an industrial park just outside the southern city of Cork. The sprawling campus of brick and glass seems real enough. So do the people who work there: Apple is a major employer in the area, with 6,000 employees. From here, Apple almost seems like a normal, if very large, company  not the sprawling, tax-evading corporation of subsidiaries, holding companies, and affiliates weve heard about this week.

Apple is just one of many multinationals based in Ireland  a result of the countrys deliberately low corporate tax rate, a propensity for making special tax arrangements with the right businesses, and an English-speaking, well-educated workforce. These companies have brought with them very real benefits: Apple, in addition to the people it employs directly, has helped attract other multinational tech giants since it first set itself up there in the 1980s; Facebook and Google both have large offices in Ireland. In total, foreign multinationals now employ one out of every five Irish workers.

But these companies have also created a sort of strange duality in the Irish economy, as outspoken former Greek Finance Minister Yanis Varoufakis put it in an interview in March. Theres the Apple/Facebook Ireland, and then theres the Ireland of everyone else, he said. Those who lost young people to emigration, who are not coming back because their jobs are not there.

The last time the strangeness of this dual Ireland was thrown into relief was in July, when the countrys GDP growth numbers were adjusted, and we learned that Ireland had grown a remarkable 26.3 percent in 2015. The number was staggering: Less than a decade after 2008, when Ireland became the first eurozone country to enter a recession, the Celtic Tiger was seemingly bounding back, with nearly four times the GDP growth recorded in China for the same period. This summer we learned that, on paper at least, the Irish are living in boom times.

But if these are boom times, why does it still feel like so little has changed? The austerity measures imposed after the bailout of the countrys banks in 2010 are still in place; the countrys national debt stands at over $200 billion. According to polls carried out ahead of Irelands last general election, held in February, 50 percent of the population said it wasnt feeling any recovery at all. Voters were, in fact, so unimpressed that they ousted the Fine Gael-Labour Party coalition, though they werent exactly inspired by the opposition Fianna Fail either: Fine Gael now governs in an unstable minority coalition.

The 26 percent growth figure was, of course, misleading, the result of what economists like Paul Krugman have dubbed leprechaun economics. It came about as a result of multinationals like Apple engaging in corporate restructuring to take advantage of low Irish tax rates: transferring into the country things like intellectual property, patents, and other assets that have little impact on the real-world economy but nonetheless showed up in the countrys GDP figures. The unlikely figure was played down by many politicians at the time, who worried that it was a bit unseemly for a country fighting against its reputation as a tax haven and with large amounts of debt to pay down. Irelands prime minister, Enda Kenny, has said the Celtic Tigers real growth figure is probably closer to 4 percent  not quite a whimper but not exactly a 26.3 percent roar either.

Four percent growth is nothing to sneeze at in Europe these days, and there are some signs that this on-paper recovery has made it to the real world. In Dublins city center, for instance, bars and restaurants are once again heaving. The party atmosphere is back. But in the shadow of those venues and on street corners is evidence of those whove been left behind. Ireland is facing a homelessness crisis on a scale never seen before since the foundation of the state. The numbers of people sleeping rough have risen dramatically; one of Irelands leading homelessness charities said this week that the problem is now out of control. Families unable to pay soaring rent prices have been forced into emergency accommodation, and waiting lists for social housing have been growing longer and longer.

Outside the main cities, signs of recovery are even fewer and farther between. Small towns around the country are pockmarked with shuttered small businesses. In one such town, Longford, located in Irelands midlands, population 40,000, the construction industry was one of the main employers; when Irelands housing bubble burst in 2008, the construction industry was hit especially hard. Those businesses that are still open are struggling. One resident who owns a small shop described his city to me as a ghost town. Longfords young people have fled to Dublin and abroad in search of work. A large shopping center built just before the recession remains empty, unable to attract tenants.

Across the country, public services remain crippled by cuts in public spending as a result of the recession. Health care is underfunded, with long waiting lists and a shortage of hospital beds. Schools are overcrowded, said Siobhan ODonoghue, the founding director at Uplift, a nonprofit campaigning on social justice, quality, and sustainability issues. She mentioned her local school, where two classes have begun sharing a single room.

In the wake of the 2010 IMF/EU bailout, Irish citizens suffered through years of austerity measures  punishing tax increases and cuts in public spending  while multinational corporations enjoyed low taxes. For the most part, this was endured without complaint: The Irish public protested over the introduction of water charges but has remained relatively quiet on the question of minuscule corporate taxes, seemingly accepting them as a necessary trade-off for clambering out of recession.

The European Commission ruled this week that Apple  the most prominent multinational to make its home in Ireland  must repay the Irish state 13 billion euros in back taxes, deeming Dublins deal with the megacompany illegal state aid. On Friday, the Irish government officially agreed to appeal the commissions ruling on Apples back tax. The optics, as they say, of such a move are not good: The Irish government is effectively turning down a tax windfall. The European Commission has said Ireland doesnt have to use Apples back tax to service its debt; 19 billion euros (what Ireland would receive, as Apple is also supposed to include interest in its payments) would make a substantial contribution to the country. It would cover the entire cost of running the beleaguered health system, for instance, for a year and a half.

Almost 11,000 people have already signed a petition organized by Uplift calling on the minister of finance not to appeal the tax ruling. They want our government to stand up for the people of Ireland and not side with one of the wealthiest corporations in the world, ODonoghue said.

Ironically, the Apple issue may be coming to a head just as Ireland is beginning to shift away from the development strategy that has brought about all this furor. In the 1980s and early 1990s, Ireland had to rely on low corporate taxes and special tax arrangements to attract multinational firms. Back then, the country was a poor peripheral European state. In the years since, however, Ireland has come a long way  due in part to the multinationals. Its home to a well-educated, skilled workforce and has developed a reputation as a global hub for technology, finance, and manufacturing. Many of the tax loopholes once available, including the dubiously named double Irish, have been closed off. Ireland today, while still in recovery from recession, is a lot more than just an address for companies to avoid paying their taxes. And so maybe the European Commissions decision will simply spur a transition that is somewhat overdue.

Its not clear that, even then, well begin to feel the two Irelands  the Ireland of shiny multinational tech companies and the one of recession-battered small towns  have reconciled. But at least everyone will be paying their taxes.

Photo credit: Aidan Crawley/Bloomberg via Getty Images
VILNIUS (Reuters) - Lithuania says it has supplied lethal weaponry to Ukraine for the first time since 2014. About 150 tonnes of ammunition were handed over to Ukraine on Friday, mostly 5.45 caliber cartridges for various modifications of Kalashnikov AK-47 rifle which the Lithuanian army no longer uses, a spokesman for country's Joint Chiefs of Staff told Reuters. Lithuania, a member of NATO and neighbor of Russia, has welcomed increasing deployments of American and allied soldiers since the Ukrainian conflict started in 2014, as a means of deterring any aggression on its own soil. "We are sending a message to Ukraine that it is not alone," Lithuanian Defence Minister Juozas Olekas told Reuters. "Lithuania has consistently helped Ukraine in its fight for territorial integrity and the defence of its values, and we would like to keep helping as much as we can," he said. Western governments and Ukraine say Russia has armed and supported separatist rebels in eastern Ukraine in a conflict in which more than 9,000 people have died since 2014. Lithuania's Foreign Minister Linas Linkevicius called on Monday for EU sanctions on Russia over the conflict in Ukraine to stay in place as long the situation on the ground does not improve, dismissing calls from the EU's rotating president Slovakia for them to be lifted. In 2015 Lithuania rejected Russian complains that its previous supply of lethal weaponry to Ukraine violated international arms trade commitments. Lithuania invited wounded Ukrainian soldiers for treatment in its hospitals and sent military instructors to the country. (Reporting by Andrius Sytas; Editing by Andrew Bolton)
LONDON (Reuters) - British retailer Marks & Spencer (MKS.L) will cut 500 jobs at its head office next week as its new chief executive Steve Rowe tries to halt a slump in sales, Sky News reported on Saturday.

It said M&S is to axe around 15 percent of the roles at its headquarters in Paddington, London, with more than half of the cuts affecting contractors.

Quoting sources, Sky said the cuts are likely to be announced next Thursday.

An M&S spokeswoman declined to comment on the report but added: "We said in May that organisation was an area of the business that needed further consideration and that we would update on this in the autumn."

Rowe, a 26-year M&S veteran, replaced Marc Bolland as CEO of the 132-year-old retailer in April with a remit to revive clothing and homeware, which contributes about 60 percent of profit but has seen five years of falling sales.

Long Britain's biggest clothing retailer, M&S has seen its market share eroded by rivals like Next and a push from supermarkets into clothing, while younger shoppers favour Primark and H&M's cheaper prices.

(Reporting by Stephen Addison; Editing by Jon Boyle)
Malaysia reported its first locally transmitted case of the mosquito-borne Zika virus on Saturday, news likely to add to fears of a full-blown outbreak in the tropical nation.

The patient was a 61-year-old male resident of the eastern Malaysian state of Sabah, the Ministry of Health said.

It said local transmission was highly likely because the man had no recent history of travelling outside Malaysia.

The statement came just two days after Malaysia reported the first Zika case on its soil -- a 58-year-old woman who is believed to have contracted it on a visit to neighbouring Singapore, where 150 cases have been confirmed.

A study published Friday in The Lancet Infectious Diseases journal said at least 2.6 billion people could be at risk from the virus in mosquito-ridden parts of Africa, Asia and the Pacific.

Zika, which is spread mainly by the Aedes mosquito, has been detected in 67 countries and territories including hard-hit Brazil.

It causes only mild symptoms for most people such as fever and a rash.

But pregnant women who catch it can give birth to babies with microcephaly, a deformation marked by abnormally small brains and heads.

Malaysia already has struggled in recent years to control the spread of Aedes-borne dengue fever, and has been bracing for Zika after Singapore reported a surge in cases beginning a week ago.

"Zika cases are expected to increase further (in Malaysia), especially if prevention activities for Aedes are not seriously taken up by the community, individuals and other relevant agencies," the health ministry statement said.

Malaysia has stepped up screening of travellers from abroad, particularly Singapore, and fogging with mosquito-killing chemicals while urging the public to eliminate mosquito breeding sites such as stagnant water.
Bamako (AFP) - Mali's defence minister Tieman Hubert Coulibaly was fired Saturday, officials told AFP, a day after jihadists briefly took control of a town in the country's centre.

A decree released by the government stated his post had been revoked after militants stepped up attacks in the country's centre in recent months, targeting government and military installations.

A senior official in the Malian defence ministry told AFP it came following "the latest waves of insecurity in central Mali," referring to jihadists' seizure of the town of Boni on Friday and an attack on a central Mali military base in Nampala that killed several soldiers in July.

The Malian army on Saturday regained control of Boni, which is home to several thousand people, from the jihadists who had escaped with a local official as a hostage.

The militants fired on administrative buildings and set fire to the mayor's office, leading the army to recall its troops from the vicinity.

"The jihadists left Boni in the night and today around 8am (0800 GMT) the Malian army came back to take control of the town," a Malian security source told AFP.

A source close to the UN mission in the country, which is known by the acronym MINUSMA, said two helicopters were providing cover over the town, "to support the Malian army, who are now in control."

However, an administrative source in the town said the jihadists "kidnapped a Boni community official" whom they accused of giving information to the security forces.

Ongoing international military intervention since January 2013 has driven Islamist fighters away from major urban centres which they had briefly controlled, but large tracts of Mali are still not controlled by domestic or foreign troops.

Jihadist groups early last year began to carry out attacks in central Mali as well as the long-troubled north.

Ansar Dine claimed responsibility for the July 19 attack on Nampala, in which 17 soldiers were killed, 37 were wounded and six were reported missing, according to the official toll.

Abdoulaye Idrissa Maiga, formerly land minister, was named to replace Coulibaly, according to the government statement.
LONDON (Reuters) - British Prime Minister Theresa May said on Saturday Sino-British relations were in a golden era but made no mention of a looming row with Beijing over her suspension of a partly Chinese-funded nuclear power station deal. The issue will be high on the agenda of her meeting on Monday at a G20 meeting in China with President Xi Jinping. In July, May suddenly postponed plans for the building of the first new British nuclear plant in 20 years, saying she wanted to review the 18-billion pound ($24 billion) project, one-third of which was being financed by Chinese investors. Newspapers said she was concerned over possible security implications of the deal although no official specific reason has been given. Speaking as she left for the G20 meeting, May said: "This is a golden era for UK-China relations and one of the things I will be doing at the G20 is obviously talking to President Xi about how we can develop the strategic partnership that we have between the UK and China." British officials said on Friday May would not be making a decision on the Hinkley Point plant in southwest England in the next few days. Hinkley Point is seen as the frontrunner to closer ties with China on nuclear issues, paving the way for tens of billions of dollars of investment and another two nuclear power plants with Chinese involvement. The G20 will be May's international summit debut after Britain's shock vote in June to leave the European Union led to the resignation of her predecessor, David Cameron. She will meet U.S. President Barack Obama on Sunday and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday, as well as addressing all G20 nations during a trade-focused summit session. "The message for the G20 is that Britain is open for business as a bold, confident, outward-looking country and we will be playing a key role on the world stage," she said in a statement. "My ambition is that Britain will be a global leader in free trade." (Reporting by William James, writing by Stephen Addison, editing by Angus MacSwan)
London (AFP) - Prime Minister Theresa May wants Britain to be a "global leader in free trade" after Brexit, she said Saturday, hailing a "golden era" in ties with China before travelling to a G20 summit.

The prime minister spoke before boarding a plane to China, where she will hold her first meeting as leader with President Xi Jinping amid speculation she could cancel construction of a new nuclear plant with huge Chinese investment.

May, who took office in July after Britain voted to leave the European Union in June's referendum, will also meet a string of world leaders including US President Barack Obama on Sunday.

Her government is still working on its vision for how Britain's relationship with the EU should look post-Brexit.

Downing Street said after a meeting of ministers this week that it wants immigration controls while retaining strong trading ties.

May says she will not trigger the formal process for leaving the EU before the end of this year.

"This is a golden era for UK-China relations and one of the things I'll be doing at the G20 is obviously talking to President Xi about how we can develop the strategic partnership that we have between the UK and China," May said in a pooled television interview.

"But I'll also be talking to other world leaders about how we can develop free trade around the globe and how Britain wants to seize those opportunities.

"My ambition is that Britain will be a global leader in free trade."

May meets Xi on Monday and her government is expected to make an announcement on whether the Hinkley Point nuclear development will go ahead later this month.

A review of the project, a flagship deal building ties with China agreed under her predecessor David Cameron, was announced shortly after she took office.
ANKARA (Reuters) - More than 100 Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) militants were either killed or wounded in clashes with Turkish security forces on Saturday, the military said. It was one of the highest casualty tolls in a single day of the conflict in recent years. Turkey's largely Kurdish southeast has been rocked by waves of violence following the collapse of a 2-1/2-year ceasefire between the state and the PKK last year. The military said in a statement that more than 100 PKK militants had been "neutralised" in clashes, without specifying how many were killed and how many wounded. It said most had been taken back to northern Iraq, where the PKK has mountain camps. Turkey's southeast has seen heavy fighting in recent days in Hakkari province, near the border with Iraq, and in Van province, near the border with Iran. Five Turkish security force members were killed and six more were wounded in clashes in Hakkari, security sources told Reuters. Eight more security force members were killed overnight in Van, the sources said. More than 40,000 people, most of them Kurds, have died since autonomy-seeking PKK launched its insurgency against the Turkish state more than 30 years ago. The PKK is regarded as a terrorist organization by Turkey, the United States and the European Union. (Reporting by Tulay Karadeniz, Orhan Coskun, Asli Kandemir and Humeyra Pamuk; Writing by David Dolan; Editing by Greg Mahlich)
Ankara (AFP) - Turkey on Saturday sent more tanks into the northern Syrian village of al-Rai to fight Islamic State extremists, opening a new front after its intervention last month against the group, state media reported.

The tanks crossed into the village from the Turkish province of Kilis to provide military support to Syrian opposition fighters as part of Turkey's "Euphrates Shield", state-run Anadolu news agency said.

At least 20 tanks, five armoured personnel carriers, trucks and other armoured vehicles crossed the border after noon, Dogan news agency said.

Turkish Firtina howitzers fired on IS targets as the contingent advanced, Dogan said.

Euphrates Shield is Ankara's most ambitious operation during the five-and-a-half-year Syria conflict, backed by the tanks as well as war planes and special forces providing support to rebels.

The goal is to remove IS from its border and to halt the westward advance of the Kurdish People's Protection Militia (YPG).

US President Barack Obama's anti-Islamic State envoy Brett McGurk said on Twitter US forces hit jihadist targets overnight on Friday with a "newly deployed" mobile rocket system close to the Turkish border with Syria.

The US embassy in Ankara said on the social media website it was the "latest step in US-Turkey cooperation in the fight against ISIL (IS)".

Meanwhile, Turkish war planes destroyed two IS targets in Wuguf in southern al-Rai between 10:00 GMT and 10:24 GMT, the Chief of Staff said, quoted by NTV television.

The statement also said two villages were captured by rebels on Saturday in the al-Rai region. In the last few months, al-Rai has repeatedly changed hands between rebels and IS.

Ahmed Othman, a commander in pro-Turkey rebel group Sultan Murad, told AFP in Beirut that his group was now "working on two fronts in al-Rai, south and east, in order to advance towards the villages recently liberated from IS west of Jarabulus".

Story continues

Othman said it was the first phase of their plans. "We want to clear the border area between al-Rai and Jarabulus from IS, before advancing south towards al-Bab (the last IS bastion in Aleppo) and Manbij (controlled by pro Kurdish forces)."

After the Kurds' success in Manbij, they said they wanted to advance and link their other two "cantons" in northern Syria, Kobane and Afrin.

But Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said on Friday that Turkey would not allow the group to create a "terror corridor".

- Syrian rebels retake villages -

Ankara sees the Kurdish Democratic Union Party (PYD) and the YPG as terror groups acting as the Syrian branch of separatist rebels in Turkey's restive southeast.

Militants from the outlawed Kurdistan Workers' Party were blamed on Saturday for the deaths of 20 Turkish soldiers and a village guardsman after three separate clashes and an attack in a violent 48 hours in the country's east and southeast.

The guard killed was part of a group of local residents who cooperate with Turkish security forces against the PKK, listed as a terror group by Ankara and its Western allies.

In Cologne meanwhile, up to 30,000 people took part in a protest against the Turkish offensive in Syria, German news agency DPA reported, while calling for the PKK leader and one of its founders Abdullah Ocalan to be released from jail.

The intervention into Syria last month caused another complication in what was already a tangled five-year civil war, with Ankara and Washington supporting different proxy groups seeking to retake territory from IS.

The United States has provided training and equipment to the YPG, much to Ankara's chagrin.

Within 14 hours on August 24, Turkish-backed Syrian rebels recaptured the border town of Jarabulus from IS and continued to make gains in villages nearby.

According to the Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, Turkey-backed rebels also took control of eight villages and two farms on both the Jarabulus front and new al-Rai front.

But Othman said the rebels had taken control of nine villages on the newest front and four on the Jarabulus front.

Observatory head Rami Abdel Rahman said that only "25 kilometres was left for the pro Turkey rebels to control the border area between al-Rai and Jarabulus".

Turkey has also carried out strikes against the YPG north of the town of Manbij, which the Kurds seized last month.
* Button to step down from race line-up in 2017 * Belgian Vandoorne to replace him at McLaren * The 2009 champion could still race in 2018 (Adds detail, quotes) By Alan Baldwin MONZA, Italy, Sept 3 (Reuters) - Belgian Stoffel Vandoorne will replace Jenson Button in McLaren's race driver line-up next year with the 2009 Formula One world champion still available if needed and under contract for 2018, the team said on Saturday. Vandoorne is to partner Spain's double world champion Fernando Alonso. "Forget the word 'retirement'," team head Ron Dennis said of the 36-year-old Button, who won his title with Brawn GP, at the Italian Grand Prix. "That is not in the vocabulary, that is not what we are saying. "Jenson is one of the team's drivers for the next two years and if Jenson is needed to drive next year for any reason, he will drive." Button, the most experienced performer on the starting grid who made his debut with Williams in 2000, told reporters he decided over the August break he wanted a change. He said he started negotiations with Dennis at last weekend's Belgian Grand Prix and agreed a two-year deal that would see him step back in 2017 and possibly return the following season. "Next year I will be an ambassador for this team," explained Button. "I will work with this team in every way I can to make it a better team for the future...I will also be doing a lot of stuff I haven't done for 17 years. FAMILY AND FRIENDS "I'll be living on my schedule, I'll get up when I want, I'll do what I want for a lot of the days of the year, spend more time with my friends and family...there are many things I want to do. "And in 2018 the team have an option on me to race for McLaren-Honda. Which is pretty awesome," said Button. Whether he returns is likely to depend on Alonso's desire to continue with a team that has not won a race since 2012 and has under-performed since they started a new partnership with Honda last season. By retaining Button, McLaren also have insurance in case Alonso decides to quit before the end of next season. Vandoorne is a rising talent in the sport, a GP2 title winner who McLaren have invested in and did not want to let slip through their fingers. He has scored a point already on a one-off appearance in Bahrain, after Alonso was injured in the Australian season-opener, and has been chafing at having to watch from the sidelines. "It's something I have been dreaming about since I was a kid," said Vandoorne. (Editing by Tony Jimenez)
A manhunt is on for a Nevada murder suspect who managed to flee custody while being questioned by detectives Friday.

Alonso Perez, 25, was being questioned about the Aug. 27 shooting 31-year-old Mohammad Robinson when investigators stepped out of the room.

"After the detective stepped out of the room, Perez turned the handcuffs until he broke free and escaped the building," North Las Vegas police spokesman Aaron Patty said in a statement.

Read: Teenage Fugitive Politely Offers New Photo on Facebook Instead Police Mugshot

Patty said police don't know how much time elapsed before they realized the suspect was gone, the Las Vegas Review-Journal.

Cops say Perez stole a Ford F-250 pickup truck from a local business after he fled. That truck has since been recovered and returned to the owner.

As of Saturday morning, however, Perez had not been found.

Police hope one distinctive feature might help bring Perez into custody sooner rather than later: his tattoo.

Read: Drug Trafficking Suspect, 31, Disguises Himself as Elderly Man in Attempt to Evade Arrest: Cops

The fugitive has the iconic Air Jordan logo etched into his neck.

Cops say Perez is Hispanic, about 6-foot-3 and 200 pounds. He has black hair, brown eyes and a goatee.

Anyone who sees Perez is urged not to approach him and contact authorities. Anyone with information about where Perez may be is urged to call the North Las Vegas police.

Watch: This Man is Behind Bars After Sending Selfie to Police for Better Mugshot

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UFC lightweight Nik Lentz has a new UFC 203 opponent after Mairbek Taisumov was pulled from the card due to visa issues.

UFC officials confirmed to MMAWeekly.com on Friday that Taisumov, who hails from Russia, was denied a visa to the United States for the second time this year, forcing him out of the bout with Lentz. They later announced that promotional newcomer Michael McBride would step up on short notice to keep Lentz on the Cleveland fight card, slated for next Saturday.

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Though he's spent much of his career in the midwest circuit, McBride (8-1) is on a four-fight winning streak that includes a fight under the Bellator banner.

Following some ups and downs at featherweight, Lentz (26-7-2) recently returned to the lightweight division with a victory over Danny Castillo.

Hometown hero Stipe Miocic defends his UFC heavyweight title for the first time against Alistair Overeem in the UFC 203 main event, which takes place at Quicken Loans Arena in Cleveland.

Follow MMAWeekly.com on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram
By William James LONDON (Reuters) - Prime Minister Theresa May will not announce her keenly awaited decision on a partly-Chinese funded nuclear power project in the coming days, a British official said on Saturday as May flew to China to meet President Xi Jinping at her first G20 summit. May will make her major international summit debut on Sunday after Britain's shock vote in June to leave the European Union ousted her predecessor David Cameron and thrust her into control of the world's fifth-largest economy. She will use the meeting to try to persuade international partners that post-Brexit Britain will remain "open for business" and a champion of global free trade, the official said, in a bid to allay concerns of a more isolationist outlook. But despite scheduling a 30-minute meeting with Xi on Monday to discuss the two countries' future ties, May will stop short of sanctioning a Chinese-backed $24-billion (18 billion pounds) plan for French firm EDF to build a nuclear power plant in southern England. "We have said we'll make a decision this month, that remains the plan. I don't expect one in the next few days," the official told reporters ahead of the visit. The project is seen as a key test of May's attitude to Chinese investment in Britain after she upset Beijing by putting the deal on hold in July amid reports she was concerned the plan could harm national security. Before May became prime minister in July, Britain had expended huge diplomatic energy courting Chinese investors to finance billions of pounds of infrastructure projects, described by Xi as a "Golden Era" of relations between the two countries. The Hinkley Point project is seen as the frontrunner to closer ties with China on nuclear issues, paving the way for tens of billions of dollars of investment and another two nuclear power plants with Chinese involvement. The official said whatever the final decision on Hinkley was, it should not be over-interpreted as a guide to May's future trade and investment decisions. "I'm not sure that when you look around the world at all the UK's partners that we are defined solely by one energy project," the official said. OBAMA, PUTIN British ministers have spent the months following the surprise 52-48 percent vote to leave the 28-country EU scrambling to work out an exit strategy that will avoid long term damage to the economy and the country's global influence. Rather than meet the European leaders with whom she will lock horns with over the coming years to define Britain's future ties to the EU, May will focus her attention in Hangzhou on courting non-EU countries with an eye on future trade deals. She will meet U.S. President Barack Obama on Sunday and India's Narendra Modi on Monday, as well as making a lengthy address to all G20 nations during a trade-focused summit session, stating that Britain remains outward looking and economically strong. "The prime minister will want to look at how we look to the future and now start planning for those relationships once the UK has left the European Union," the official said, adding that May would reiterate her intention not to trigger the formal 'Article 50' EU exit process this year. May will also use the summit, including a one-to-one meeting with Russian leader Vladimir Putin, to stress that Brexit does not mean Britain will withdraw from its role in world affairs. "It's a real opportunity for the prime minister to send a clear message to the world's largest economies that Britain will continue to play a bold, confident and outward looking role," the official said. "We will continue to be a strong and dependable partner working with others to tackle the issues and challenges that countries around the world face." ($1 = 0.7505 pounds) (Editing by Toby Chopra)
By William James LONDON (Reuters) - Prime Minister Theresa May will not announce her keenly awaited decision on a partly-Chinese funded nuclear power project in the coming days, a British official said on Saturday as May flew to China to meet President Xi Jinping at her first G20 summit. May will make her major international summit debut on Sunday after Britain's shock vote in June to leave the European Union ousted her predecessor David Cameron and thrust her into control of the world's fifth-largest economy. She will use the meeting to try to persuade international partners that post-Brexit Britain will remain "open for business" and a champion of global free trade, the official said, in a bid to allay concerns of a more isolationist outlook. But despite scheduling a 30-minute meeting with Xi on Monday to discuss the two countries' future ties, May will stop short of sanctioning a Chinese-backed $24-billion plan for French firm EDF to build a nuclear power plant in southern England. "We have said we'll make a decision this month, that remains the plan. I don't expect one in the next few days," the official told reporters ahead of the visit. The project is seen as a key test of May's attitude to Chinese investment in Britain after she upset Beijing by putting the deal on hold in July amid reports she was concerned the plan could harm national security. Before May became prime minister in July, Britain had expended huge diplomatic energy courting Chinese investors to finance billions of pounds of infrastructure projects, described by Xi as a "Golden Era" of relations between the two countries. The Hinkley Point project is seen as the frontrunner to closer ties with China on nuclear issues, paving the way for tens of billions of dollars of investment and another two nuclear power plants with Chinese involvement. The official said whatever the final decision on Hinkley was, it should not be over-interpreted as a guide to May's future trade and investment decisions. "I'm not sure that when you look around the world at all the UK's partners that we are defined solely by one energy project," the official said. OBAMA, PUTIN British ministers have spent the months following the surprise 52-48 percent vote to leave the 28-country EU scrambling to work out an exit strategy that will avoid long term damage to the economy and the country's global influence. Rather than meet the European leaders with whom she will lock horns with over the coming years to define Britain's future ties to the EU, May will focus her attention in Hangzhou on courting non-EU countries with an eye on future trade deals. She will meet U.S. President Barack Obama on Sunday and India's Narendra Modi on Monday, as well as making a lengthy address to all G20 nations during a trade-focused summit session, stating that Britain remains outward looking and economically strong. "The prime minister will want to look at how we look to the future and now start planning for those relationships once the UK has left the European Union," the official said, adding that May would reiterate her intention not to trigger the formal 'Article 50' EU exit process this year. May will also use the summit, including a one-to-one meeting with Russian leader Vladimir Putin, to stress that Brexit does not mean Britain will withdraw from its role in world affairs. "It's a real opportunity for the prime minister to send a clear message to the world's largest economies that Britain will continue to play a bold, confident and outward looking role," the official said. "We will continue to be a strong and dependable partner working with others to tackle the issues and challenges that countries around the world face." ($1 = 0.7505 pounds) (Editing by Toby Chopra)
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HONOLULU (Reuters) - U.S. President Barack Obama will hold a formal meeting with Prime Minister Theresa May during the G20 summit in China on Sunday, a White House official said. The meeting is their first since May took office in July. "The president and the prime minister will discuss a range of bilateral and global issues, and, as close friends and steadfast allies, the United States and United Kingdom continue to enjoy an enduring special relationship," the official said. (Reporting by Roberta Rampton, writing by Jeff Mason; Editing by Chris Reese)
HANGZHOU, China (Reuters) - U.S. President Barack Obama held "candid" discussions with Chinese President Xi Jinping on the thorniest issues in the relationship between the world's two largest economies, the White House said in a statement on Saturday. Obama emphasized to Xi that China should abide by a recent arbitration ruling against its claims in the South China Sea, live up to a bilateral deal on hacking and cybersecurity issues, and uphold human rights including religious freedom. "The president reaffirmed that the United States will work with all countries in the region to uphold the principles of international law, unimpeded lawful commerce, and freedom of navigation and overflight," the White House said in a lengthy statement after the meeting. (Reporting by Roberta Rampton; Editing by James Dalgleish)
Once Upon a Time actress speaks out about being assaulted in an airport and were listening

Once Upon a Time actress speaks out about being assaulted in an airport and were listening

Emilie de Ravin is speaking out about an incident that took place on American Airlines on Thursday where a female employee assaulted her.

The Once Upon a Time actress explained what happened via Twitter, and people are definitely listening  including American Airlines.

Ravin wrote that she was grabbed forcefully by a flight attendant while bringing a carry-on bag with a breast pump on board her flight from LAX. According to Ravin, the female employee ripped the bag out of her hand and the captain had to get involved.

She tweeted the incident in its entirety:

Dear @AmericanAir I was grabbed forcefully,my carry on bag ripped out of my hand @ lax this morning by AA employee A. 3 witnesses.(cont...  Emilie de Ravin (@emiliederavin) September 1, 2016

By and @AmericanAir female employee Autonette Please kindly dismiss this woman from @americanair employment. Luckily our pilot was (cont...  Emilie de Ravin (@emiliederavin) September 1, 2016

very kind and helpful & apologetic on woman's behalf & assisted in getting her name & instructions on who to contact to report her.(Cont...  Emilie de Ravin (@emiliederavin) September 1, 2016

However ther is NO excuse 4 physical force being used on someone trying to take her breast pump carry on.NOT OK @AmericanAir #accountability  Emilie de Ravin (@emiliederavin) September 1, 2016

Apart from this incident and DISCUSTING woman, thank you for a smooth and safe flight @AmericanAir  Emilie de Ravin (@emiliederavin) September 1, 2016

Heres the summary all in once place:

Dear @AmericanAir I was grabbed forcefully, my carry on bag ripped out of my hand @ lax this morning by AA employee A. 3 witnesses. By an @AmericanAir female employee Autonette. Please kindly dismiss this woman from @americanair employment. Luckily our pilot was very kind and helpful & apologetic on womans behalf & assisted in getting her name & instructions on who to contact to report her. However there is NO excuse 4 physical force being used on someone trying to take her breast pump carry on. NOT OK @AmericanAir #accountability. Apart from this incident and DISCUSTING woman, thank you for a smooth and safe flight @AmericanAir 



After she told her story, American Airlines was quick to respond, and requested more information to look into the incident.

Story continues

@emiliederavin This is very concerning to us, Emilie. Please follow us with more details so we can take a closer look.  American Airlines (@AmericanAir) September 1, 2016

The airline also issued a statement to E! News: American Airlines is looking into the situation and apologizes to the customer for the inconvenience. Passengers are allowed to have two carry-on items. A breast pump is considered a medical device and shouldve been allowed on the plane, which eventually it was.

We get that tensions can be high when trying to get passengers safely on board a flight in a timely manner, but physical aggression is never the answer. We hope the incident is properly looked into and Ravin is offered a serious apology.

The post Once Upon a Time actress speaks out about being assaulted in an airport and were listening appeared first on HelloGiggles.
Anti-mosquito fogging being conducted at Bedok North Avenue 3. (Photo: Yahoo Newsroom)



The divisive stories appearing online saying that the National Environment Agency (NEA) has not been assisting the Aljunied-Hougang Town Council (AHTC) in its fight against Zika are untrue, says the Workers Party (WP).

A post on the Aljunied GRC Facebook page on Saturday (3 September) said that the AHTC and NEA are working closely to implement various control measures at the Bedok North Ave 3 cluster.



The Ministry of Health (MOH) announced on Wednesday (31 August) that three Zika cases had been discovered at Bedok North Avenue 3, which led to vector control operations in the area.

Help with informational flyers



One main allegation is about NEA not giving MP Faisal informational brochures for Operation Kaki Bukit on Thursday, 1st September. This is not true. Town Council ran out of NEA brochures on mosquito-control and the 5-step Mozzie Wipeout for HDB flats, and only had brochures for private properties, the post said, referring to Muhamad Faisal Manap  one of the five WP Members of Parliament (MP) in charge of the ward.



One of our volunteers contacted NEA for urgent assistance and, despite being stretched by the situation, NEA specially delivered 500 copies of the HDB brochures to the Kaki Bukit Town Council office in the afternoon for the outreach operation.

The post clarified that AHTC volunteers had to print their own flyers as they were afraid of not having enough copies and were only planning to distribute them if they ran out of NEA brochures.

In closing, the post added: Mosquitoes dont differentiate between blue and white; we all bleed red. We fight Zika together as on Singapore.


Venice (AFP) - Acclaimed French director Francois Ozon brought a pacifist tale of reconciliation to the Venice film festival Saturday with his new melodrama "Frantz", a love story for an uneasy post-Brexit Europe.

A take on German-American master Ernst Lubitsch's 1931 film "Broken Lullaby", itself an adaption of a Maurice Rostand novel, "Frantz" is shot mostly in black and white and set in the aftermath of World War I.

It is not the only film in competition to be rooted in this period: like Derek Cianfrance's "The Light Between Oceans", the story is one of traumatised people on the move -- recalling those uprooted by wars and heading for Europe's shores today.

"Frantz" opens in a small German town -- the film is shot largely in German -- where Anna (played by sweet-faced Paula Beer) mourns daily at the grave of her fiance Frantz, killed in battle in France.

One day a mysterious young Frenchman, Adrien (Pierre Niney) also visits the grave. While Anna believes she has found a friend of Frantz's, he is spat at by the locals, hostile so soon after the German defeat.

Among the scenes of "Broken Lullaby" replicated by Ozon is the speech by Frantz's father in which he admonishes his compatriots, reminding them of France's two million dead, each of whom was also someone's son.

The film, premiering on the anniversary of the outbreak of World War II and as pro-Europe protesters organise anti-Brexit rallies, warns of the dangers of nationalism and closing the door on neighbours or migrants.

- Colour of mourning -

Ozon, who shot to fame with "8 femmes" (2002) and "Swimming Pool" (2003), told journalists in Venice it had been "important for me to tell the point of view of the Germans, who had lost the war".

He chose to shoot largely in black and white because it brought a greater level of realism to the period drama.

"All our references from the period, all our cultural images of it are in black and white. I love colour though, and thought it could be a useful device in scenes where life interrupts the period of mourning," he said.

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The film differs sharply from Lubitsch's offering, not only because the second half of the work is invented, but because Ozon -- known for complex female heroines -- shifts the perspective to tell the story through Anna.

Adrien's story of how he knew Frantz is pictured in a series of flashbacks imagined by Anna -- flashbacks which, however, reduced the emotional tension rather than increasing it, particularly in the weak violin scenes.

And there is a homoerotic connection between the two men which screams from the screen but is never outwardly acknowledged.

It is Ozon's love for Germany, the first foreign country he visited as a child, which shines through as he takes the viewer from squares to beer taverns in his exploration of melodrama's classic themes of guilt and forgiveness.
Will there be a Vatican backlash against Paolo Sorrentinos TV series The Young Pope?

That was the first question at the Venice Film Festival presser following the world premiere of the first two episodes of the show toplining Jude Law as conservative American Cardinal Lenny Belardo, who becomes Pius XIII, the first American pope in history.

Hes a rather mean, morally torn pontiff who drinks cherry Coke Zero at breakfast, smokes, and makes the most of his papal wardrobe, including red leather loafers.

Its the Vaticans problem; not mine, the Oscar-winning Italian director replied. But its not even a problem. If they watch it to the end, they will see that its a piece that tackles their world with curiosity, honesty, and no desire to provoke.

It doesnt want to display any form of prejudice or intolerance, Sorrentino added. Rather it probes with honesty and curiosity within the constraints of 10 episodes, the contradictions and the difficulties, and also the fascinating aspects, of the clergy.

For Law, playing Pius XIII, one his meatiest roles in years, was an opportunity to work with Paolo, and an opportunity to play a character with plenty of contradiction and contrast, Law said.

The joy was to be able to play a complicated multi-layered character; and on top of that play a character playing a character, because in a way, like me playing Lenny, Lenny was playing the pope, he added.

Sorrentino revealed that Pius XIII smokes because I knew that [Joseph] Ratzinger smoked. Ratzinger also wore red shoes when he was Pope Benedict XVI.

That is not the current pontiffs style, which is much more proletarian.

The pope we depicted is diametrically opposed to the existing pope, said Sorrentino. But after a progressive pope its in the order of things that you could get a pope with different ideas. Our pope is not unlikely; in a not too distant future a similar pope could be possible, he added.

Both Sorrentino and Law were asked if they believed in God, but the question got lost in the shuffle and they did not reply.

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The 10-episode Sky, HBO, and Canal Plus original production will roll out on Sky in Italy on Oct. 21. It will air at the end of October on Sky in the U.K., Germany, Ireland and Austria, and on Canal Plus in France.

Watch the trailer below:

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Paolo Sorrentino's 'The Young Pope' TV Series to World Premiere at Venice Film Festival
The German brand famous for premium pens, watches and leather goods is showing off an augmented notebook and pen set at IFA 2016 that automatically digitizes handwritten notes.

Real-world pens that can capture real-world notes and send them to a computer, tablet or smartphone screen are nothing new -- LiveScribe has been successfully cultivating a loyal following of journalists and college students for many years with its clever pens that can save doodles and even simultaneously record sound.

But what about those who put as great an onus on individual style and traditional craftsmanship as on digitizing, classifying and saving notes and ideas, wherever inspiration strikes?

Enter Montblanc and its Augmented Paper, as the company is calling it. It's essentially a modified Montblanc StarWalker ballpoint pen and an Italian leather bound notebook that come in their own folio, also in leather.

The company is calling the system Augmented Paper rather than a smart pen because it's the smart leather folio -- which is essentially a cunningly disguised graphics tablet -- where most of the tech is hidden.

As long as you write with the pen, on the notepaper, while it's on this folio, it can, according to the company, accurately recognize handwriting (in 12 different languages) and convert it into an on-screen font.

The system doesn't need to be connected to a computer or other device to work. Simply start jotting and it can save up to 100 pages of notes internally. When it is time to empty the memory to start jotting again, there's an app -- the Montblanc Hub app -- that can be used simply for storing and cataloguing or for sharing notes with others.

The batteries will last for up to eight hours and everything can be recharged via the bundled USB cables. The gadget will cost $725 when it goes on sale, exclusively at Harrods in London from mid-September. But for that fee, Montblanc is throwing in three ballpoint pen refills.

And for those that don't live in Knightsbridge that are taken by Montblanc's marriage of analogue luxury and digital practicality, the Augmented Paper will be going on sale globally via Montblanc boutiques and concessions, from October.
By Ho Binh Minh

HANOI (Reuters) - Prime Minister Narendra Modi offered Vietnam a credit line on Saturday of half a billion dollars for defence cooperation, giving a lift to a country rapidly pursing a military deterrent as discord festers in the South China Sea.

The deal was among a dozen cooperation agreements Modi signed in Hanoi alongside his Vietnamese counterpart, Nguyen Xuan Phuc, on the first visit to the country by an Indian prime minister in 15 years.

India and Vietnam share borders and large trade volumes with China and have repeatedly locked horns with Beijing, over the territorial disputes in the Himalayas and the South China Sea, respectively.

Both are also beefing-up of their defences and in India's case, its defence industry, promoting heavily its supersonic BrahMos missile. India is keen to sell the missile to Vietnam and four other countries, according to a government note seen by Reuters in June.

It was unclear if the latest loan included the $100 million India had previously made available to Vietnam for four yet-to-be-built patrol vessels in a deal agreed in late 2014.

In an address to media, Modi said the credit was for "facilitating mutual defence cooperation" and the relationship between the two countries would "contribute to stability, securities and prosperity in this region".

Modi, who was en-route to a G20 Summit in China, made no mention of the patrol vessels, nor BrahMos missiles, and did not elaborate on what Vietnam would use the $500 million credit for.

The offer comes after a surge of almost 700 percent in Vietnam's defence procurements as of 2015, according to the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute think-tank, which tracks the arm trade over five-year periods.

Vietnam is in the midst of a quiet military buildup analysts say is designed as a deterrent, to secure its 200 nautical mile Exclusive Economic Zone as China grows more assertive in staking its claims in the South China Sea.

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Experts say Vietnam is in the market for fighter jets and more advanced missile systems, in addition to its six kilo-class submarines it has bought from Russia, the last of which it will receive late this year.

The 12 agreements signed on Saturday covered areas like health, cyber security, ship-building, U.N. peace-keeping operations and naval information sharing.

Both leaders said ties would be upgraded to the level of "comprehensive strategic relationship" and bilateral trade would be almost doubled to $15 billion by 2020.

(Writing by Martin Petty; editing by Robert Birsel)
Warsaw (AFP) - Poland on Saturday urged Britain to keep its residents safe from xenophobia as British police probed the murder of a Pole they believe could be the victim of a hate crime.

"We're counting on the British government and authorities responsible for the safety of British and European citizens, including Poles, to prevent the kind of xenophobic acts we've seen recently," Polish Foreign Minister Witold Waszczykowski said in Warsaw following talks with British counterpart Boris Johnson.

Six teenagers were arrested on suspicion of involvement in the murder of 40-year-old factory worker Arek Jozwik in Harlow, northeast of London, last Saturday. The youths are out of police custody on bail.

Investigators say they are looking into whether the killing was a hate crime, but stress the motive is still unclear.

There was an upsurge in the number of reported hate crimes around the period of the June 23 referendum in which Britons voted to leave the European Union.

Hundreds of people, many of them Poles, gathered in Harlow Saturday for a vigil to remember Jozwik, an AFP photographer at the scene said.

Many waved Polish flags and scarves and laid flowers at the scene of the killing, while the Polish national anthem was sung and a minute's silence held.

"We all agree that there is absolutely no place for xenophobia in our society," said Johnson, de facto leader of the "Leave" camp during the referendum campaign, in Warsaw.

The National Police Chiefs' Council said more than than 3,000 incidents were reported to police in England, Wales and Northern Ireland between June 16 and 30 -- an increase of 42 percent from the same period last year.

But Poland's ambassador to Britain, Arkady Rzegocki, said this week he had hoped that the situation was stabilising.

Some 800,000 Poles are thought to live in Britain, one of its biggest minority groups, under EU rules allowing freedom of movement between member states. Poland joined in 2004.

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Many Brexit supporters want to close Britain's borders to migrants from elsewhere in the EU while Prime Minister Theresa May has promised that immigration controls will be imposed.

"The Polish contribution to our society and our culture, and above all to our economy, is absolutely immense," Johnson added.

Waszczykowski insisted that "the huge number of Poles living in Britain constitutes an important area of our cooperation."

Britain will have to stick to the EU's freedom of movement rules until it officially leaves the bloc.
By Alastair Macdonald and Foo Yun Chee BRUSSELS (Reuters) - The European Commission denies that its shock demand that Apple Inc. hand 13 billion euros in back taxes to Ireland is, in the pungent phrase of Apple CEO Tim Cook, "total political crap". But, say senior EU officials involved, the decision certainly has a strong political element, even if Competition Commissioner Margrethe Vestager says she is confident her case will stand up to Cook's appeal on its legal merits alone. Brussels' political target is less corporate America than eurosceptics at home who threaten to pull the EU apart if it fails to show alienated voters it can act in their interests. "Being political should not be confused with politicized," said a spokeswoman for Commission chief Jean-Claude Juncker. For him, fighting tax avoidance had been a "top priority" since before he took over the EU executive two years ago, she said. "The drive towards fairer taxation is in President Juncker's political guidelines," she said. At the same time, Vestager is an "entirely independent" enforcer of EU competition law, she added. Efforts under way, including in the United States, to clamp down on tax avoidance are political in the sense that all states, with budgets under strain, face pressure from voters to claw back cash from other people, preferably wealthy companies, tax experts and government officials say. For European Union institutions, the struggle is less for money -- Apple's cash will go to Ireland if Vestager wins her case. What Brussels is fighting for is the EU's very survival against eurosceptics like the Brexiteers who persuaded Britons to quit the bloc in June. Those populists, on left and right, from the UK Independence Party to France's National Front or 5-Star in Italy, have scored with voters by accusing the EU and the executive Commission of cosying up to big, global business against the little people. "Apple shows how you fight against populism," a senior EU official familiar with the Commission chief's thinking told Reuters, describing a two-pronged strategy directed by Juncker. One part of the strategy is a push for new global tax rules, led by EU Commissioner for Economic Affairs Pierre Moscovici, a French Socialist former finance minister. The other part rests on punishing the worst past abusers to deter others. Vestager says the goal is to change corporate culture so that businesses anxious for their reputation stop trying to pay as little tax as possible and choose to pay "the right amount". On Juncker's political goal, he won government backing in Paris and Berlin. And many European media also welcomed the Apple move. Le Monde, leftish voice of establishment France and critic of Juncker's low-tax policies when he was premier of Luxembourg, said he had shown "the zeal of the newly converted". "Europe is changing," it wrote. "Bravo, Monsieur Juncker." SHOWING VOTERS EU CARES "The EUs message is clear," Juncker wrote for a G20 meeting in China this weekend. "All companies must pay their fair share. "This is first and foremost a question of fairness. It has urgent practical implications as well. We cannot let down our schools, hospitals and public services that need this money." The $14.5-billion demand which angered the United States and worried Apple's peers was engineered for shock and awe, the EU official said. Juncker sees Vestager as what the EU president calls his "Rottweiler", he added. Apple and the Irish government say Vestager is rewriting the iPhone maker's quarter-century of history in Ireland. Apple denies that Dublin gave it tax breaks amounting to illegal state aid. What has changed is the politics. The financial crisis has impoverished Western governments just as footloose young tech firms became hugely rich without paying much tax anywhere. U.S. Senate revelations about Apple in 2013 fueled public anger and, with some irony, prompted the EU to start inquiries. Juncker's own history has also played a part. A conservative prime minister of Luxembourg for 19 years, he helped transform it from industrial rustbowl to a financial hub its bigger neighbors saw as helping businesses deprive them of revenues. Weeks after taking over the Commission in late 2014, he faced calls to resign when deals between Luxembourg and global corporates were splashed in world media as the LuxLeaks affair. He denied involvement but, aides say, the uproar helped galvanize Juncker for a tax crackdown he had already promised. Driving his pledge to run a "political Commission" to reconnect with voters alienated by out-of-touch, technocratic elites in Brussels was a fear that his five-year term was, in his words, the "last chance" to save the Union from break-up. LEGAL UNDERPINNINGS "It's political in the sense that, if the Commission is prioritizing the allocation of its resources, then clearly tax evasion and tax avoidance are very high on the political agenda everywhere," said Sophie in 't Veld, deputy leader of the centrist group in the European Parliament. "This is something that citizens are rightly and understandably concerned about." That political approach, Brussels officials stress, does not mean capricious or lacking legal basis. Vestager is clear she must win in court on some untested points of law against the best tax attorneys Silicon Valley and Washington can buy, and against EU member state Ireland. Asked about Cook's comments to an Irish newspaper about the EU's "political" motives, she said: "I dont think the courts will hear any kind of political opinions or feelings or whats in your stomach or whatever. They want the facts of the case." LISTEN, THEN BITE Some EU officials think the anger of Cook and U.S. officials at the historic scale of the tax demand may partly stem from underestimating Vestager's uncompromising character. Tall, courteous and soft-spoken, she is a woman who takes trouble to greet captains of industry by the lift and escort them back to her office, often then serving them coffee herself. It may wrong-foot those used to more confrontational politicians and executives. She is a listener rather than a talker. "There are some people who are very loud ... but ... it is very important to have a very, very, very open ear to those who are not loud," the former economy minister and liberal party leader told Reuters on taking office two years ago. People who work with her say she listens closely to career officials on her staff -- much more than did her Spanish predecessor Joaquin Almunia, a professional economist. One U.S. tech giant to feel a change of approach after 2014 was Google, with whom Almunia worked for years to reach a compromise over concerns about its market dominance. Since last year, Vestager has hit Google with three separate charges. She also put an end to hesitation in Brussels by launching a price fixing case against Russian gas giant Gazprom last year. Most current state aid tax cases, including Apple, were launched by Almunia but competition experts question whether he would have come to Vestager's radical conclusion. Almunia's own predecessor Neelie Kroes, now at another Silicon Valley darling Uber, said this week the Dane had gone too far against Apple. Some observers believe Vestager, a professional politician since her student days, may be tempted to use cases to raise her profile and further greater ambitions. She says not. Predecessors have also taken on Washington, among them Mario Monti, later Italy's prime minister, who blocked a mega-merger between GE and Honeywell in 2001 despite U.S. support for it, and Kroes, who slapped heavy fines on Microsoft in 2008. There may be more to come, Vestager says. Her 800 staff are looking at about 1,000 inquiries where firms may have gained an edge by cutting tax deals with governments seeking investment. A pastor's daughter, Vestager summed up her political credo in the 2014 interview with Reuters: "I was brought up with a very strong value," she said. "That you should always protect the few and the small against those who want to misuse their muscle." (Writing by Alastair Macdonald; Editing by Jon Boyle)
Gone are the days (well, mostly gone) when summer vacations meant drinking as many frozen drinks as possible. These days, a successful week in the Hamptons not only includes a green juice (or ten) and some time on the beach, but it also includes a yoga retreat, meditation class, dance-off, and microcurrent facial. Oh, and a great shopping session. Read on for our list of the best of health and wellness in the Hamptons this summer, from special pop-ups to local mainstays.

For Charlottes Book

1. SB Skin  East Hampton Pop-Up

Shamara Bondaroff is the new it girl for microcurrent, and shes invading the Hamptons this August with a pop-up in East Hampton. Give your skin a break from the sun and refresh with a microcurrent facial treatment at SB Skin. Referred to as pilates for your face, the treatment involves a mild electrical current to stimulate skin and facial muscles, promote healing and increase collagen and elastin production. We suggest a series, but even just one treatment with Shamara is going to leave you glowing and looking 5-7 years younger. Sign me up, please! Mention Charlottes Book for priority booking.

Image via @SBSKIN instagram

Hamptons Pop-up location: August 1-15 in East Hampton. Exact address revealed upon booking. Appointments can be booked via this link.

New York City Location: 24-32 Union Square East, Suite 1115, New York, NY 10003,info@sbskin-nyc.com.

2. AKT InMotion  Hamptons Intensive

From Friday, July 22 to Monday, July 25, reboot your summer with Anna Kaisers East Hampton Intensive. When Anna Kaiser says intensive, you better believe her. The week will include a 90 minute workout each day, a 30 minute group consultation with Anna, and some seriously amazing gift bags. Email laura@aktinmotion.com to sign up.

Cant make it? Close out July with a weekend of fitness at the beach in Montauk with AKT. This Wellthily Event at Gurneys has Anna Kaiser herself teaching on Saturday, July 30 for an AKTEASE class at 10:00am and then come back Sunday, July 31 for an AKTone at 10:00am.

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Cant make the intensive or the July weekend? Visit Annas studio in East Hampton.

AKT InMotion, 3 Railroad Avenue, East Hampton, NY 11937, 631-527-5447

3. Montauk Magic Retreat  Yoga + Meditation Weekend

While this retreat is sold out already (after we alerted our CB readers via newsletter), you can still buy day passes. Nurture and align mind, body, and spirit in a peaceful oceanside setting with yoga and meditation, chakra and aura cleansings, farm-to-table food and drink, and not to mention, amazing company. The retreat takes place between July 20  July 25. Its hosted by shaman Alyson Charles and yogi Fern Olivia.

Email alycharles@gmail.com for more information.

4. Knockout Beauty  Non-Toxic, Ethically-Sourced Beauty Pop-Up

After a long day in the sun or a good sweat sesh, its important to pamper your body and skin. And what better way to do that than replenishing it with clean, natural, nutrient-rich ingredients? Stock up on all kinds of body- and skin-care goodies at Knockout Beauty, a pop-up boutique featuring non-toxic, ethically-sourced beauty products from brands such as Vintners Daughter, Lake and Skye, and Kahina Giving Beauty.

Knockout Beauty, 2400 Montauk Highway, Bridgehampton, NY 11932. Open June 11  Labor Day.

5. Sweaty Betty  Activewear Pop-Up

In pursuit of workout-minded Hamptonites, the British activewear brand Sweaty Betty will open its first pop-up store July 14 in East Hampton. Located in the heart of East Hampton, Sweaty Bettys first pop-up shop in the Hamptons will be open until early September. Of course it will feature active wear, but there will also be a lounge area to recharge. Its also across the street from Soul Cycle and a block away from Tracy Anderson so you can work out literally right after you buy your new gear. In addition to workout gear they will have swimsuits, wetsuits, summer sneakers, and weekend tote bags.

Sweaty Betty Pop-Up, 51 Newtown Lane, East Hampton, NY, 11937. Open July 14  September 5, M-W, 10 a.m.-6 p.m., TH-SA 10 a.m.-7 p.m., and Sunday 10 a.m.-5 p.m.

Image via @sweatybetty instagram

6. Erika Bloom Pilates Plus  Perennial Pilates Favorite

This is one of our favorite, well-established pilates studios (pictured in our feature image). Erika Bloom takes a holistic approach to health with her pilates method, which features custom sequences tailored to your specific goal and focused more on correcting imbalances and less on strengthening already dominate muscle groups. If youre looking for highly personalized training that will yield body-changing results, Erika Bloom is worth a visit. Services also include on-site private pilates, yoga, rolfing, and acupuncture in the comforts of your own home.

Erika Bloom Pilates, 66 Newtown Lane, Suite 7, East Hampton, New York 11937,info@erikabloom.com.

Image Erika Bloom Pilates

READ MORE

Were unabashed Anna Kaiser fans. Read CB Founder Robin Shobins interview with her here. We also <3 yogi Fern Langham  heres why she thinks Kundalini is taking over.

FIND BEAUTY AND WELLNESS EXPERTS

Read client reviews, book appointments, and get expert advice. Only the best cosmetic doctors, skincare gurus, nutritionists, fitness and wellness professionals make it into our book.
For over 60 years, the U.S. Navy used the small island of Vieques, Puerto Rico, as a bombing range and site for military-training exercises. Then the island got sick. Thousands of residents have alleged that the militarys activities caused illnesses. With a population around 9,000, Vieques is home to some of the highest sickness rates in the Caribbean. According to Cruz Maria Nazario, an epidemiologist at the University of Puerto Ricos Graduate School of Public Health, people who live in Vieques are eight times more likely to die of cardiovascular disease and seven times more likely to die of diabetes than others in Puerto Rico, where the prevalence of those diseases rivals U.S. rates. Cancer rates on the island are higher than those in any other Puerto Rican municipality.

The Navy eventually conceded to using heavy metals and toxic chemicals like depleted uranium and Agent Orange on the island, but denied any link between their presence and the health conditions of the people who live there. To this day, it is unclear what exactly caused the current conditions in Vieques. Its a health crisis with a cause thats almost impossible to prove: The government requires a particular standard of causal evidence before it will administer relief. Yet independent groups cannot necessarily provide that proof because the federal government still owns the land previously occupied by the military and controls access to it.

Conflicting studies by local scientists and the U.S. government have offered different explanations for Viequess sickness. Until 1997, data on the matter was scarce. That year, Nazario and a nonprofit civic organization noticed a high incidence of cancer cases in Vieques and filed a public grievance against the Department of Health. Soon after, the agency published a study showing that the prevalence of cancer in Vieques was 27 percent higher than in the rest of Puerto Rico. For the first time, the excess of cancer in Vieques was acknowledged, said Jorge Colon, a chemistry professor at the University of Puerto Rico known for his work advising several grassroots organizations in Vieques. The study recommended that the Department of Health carry out a public-health assessment of environmental conditions on the island.

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The report went essentially unrecognized until waves of protests pressured the Clinton and Bush administrations to withdraw military presence from the island. While the Navy left Vieques from 2001 to 2003, the federal Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry, or ATSDR, released reports that found no causal link between the high rates of sickness and decades of weapons use on the island. The government sought proof of cause as its evidentiary standard. In their evaluations, the ATSDR looked at four exposure pathwaysair, seafood, soil, and waterand found them to have no apparent public-health hazard.

Nazario and other local scientists questioned these findings. In particular, she criticized the agency for not conducting any direct epidemiological studies on Viequess population, relying on soil samples collected by the U.S. Navy, and barring scientists from conducting independent research. This sentiment was shared beyond the borders of Puerto Rico. At a congressional hearing in May 2010, the Yale University environmental-health professor John Wargo said the agencys public-health assessments contain serious flaws in scientific methods and added that, in Vieques, ATSDR found that an absence of evidence of contamination is sufficient to conclude the absence of significant health threat. In other words, he argued, the federal agency used a lack of evidencealso known as negative datato support its hypothesis.

The logical reasoning for all of us scientists was that ... there was no other possible source of contamination in Vieques.

Congress also condemned the agency for failing to protect public health. In 2009, it issued a report, saying, In many instances, ATSDR seems to represent a clear and present danger to the publics health rather than a strong advocate and sound scientific body that endeavors to protect it. The former director of ATSDR, Howard Frumkin, recognized the agencys need for ongoing performance evaluation and constant improvement.

ATSDR declined to respond to any particular scientists critiques, including the allegations of Nazario and Wargo. In an email, a representative of the agency explained that it listened to [scientists] concerns about Vieques over a two-day meeting at an unspecified date. It additionally sent its 2013 report to six peer reviewers who generally or overall agreed with ATSDRs conclusions and recommendations. The agency could not divulge their names, consistent with the typical practice of peer-review journals to maintain the integrity of the peer-review process. The agency has not redone or corrected any of its previous research.

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Since the government still oversees the former military base on Vieques, some scientists have resorted to deductive logic to provide possible explanations for the state of health on the island. Colon noted that neither he nor his colleagues have been able to identify an alternate source of pollution there. The logical reasoning for all of us scientists was that if there was no other possible source of contamination in Vieques outside of the Navys military practices, the excess of deaths or incidence of cancer in Vieques came from the military practices, he said.

Arturo Massol Deya, a professor of microbiology and ecology at the University of Puerto Rico at Mayaguez, has spent 17 years conducting research on Viequesthe only independent scientist to do so. Through his research, Massol Deya has analyzed vegetation, forage samples, crabs, lagoons, and other food sources on Vieques, finding high concentrations of heavy metals throughout the island.

In one of his most recent studies, Massol Deya discovered that lead levels in manatee grassthe most abundant plant in affected areas of Viequeswere severely toxic in 2001, when the Navy began downscaling its operations on the island, but had returned to levels found in other Puerto Rican beaches by 2015. Nevertheless, he noticed a sustained increase of lead in the regions plants, indicating the ecological impoverishment of the area.

Back on the island, residents have virtually no access to health services. There is one hospital on Vieques, which has one emergency room, no pharmacy, and one birthing room with spotty air conditioning. Myrna Pagan, a cancer survivor from Vieques, said there are a handful of primary doctors on the island, but no specialists who can treat the growing number of patients undergoing dialysis. To receive chemotherapy, cancer patients have to travel to San Juanan 80-mile trip over sea and land. The small, comparatively sparsely populated island is simply not equipped to keep up with the increased demand for specialized medical service.

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Every time I go, people continue to die, said Natasha Bannan, an associate counsel at LatinoJustice PRLDEF, formerly known as the Puerto Rican Legal Defense and Education Fund. She is part of a group that filed a petition with the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights against the U.S. government, alleging human rights abuses. I hear stories of new people who died of cancer, of cirrhosis, of hypertension. Two of my petitionerstheyre childrenwere born with severe asthma, she said.

Since we dont know everything that was thrown there, the quantity, or the places, you cant define what you should fear, what you should clean.

Many activists would like to hold someone accountable for the island's health problems, but without a clear causal link to military activity, thats proven unattainable. Bannan believes the people of Vieques have been kept in the dark about whats happening, and theres no legitimate civilian input or mechanism to hold the agencies responsible. She notes that the U.S. military is often protected under the notion of sovereign immunity, a legal doctrine that protects the government from lawsuits or other legal actions. This was why a district court and then the U.S. Court of Appeals for the First Circuit dismissed Sanchez et al. v. United States, a case filed against the U.S. in 2007 by more than 7,000 Vieques residents. The Supreme Court declined to hear the case in 2013.

The mayor of Vieques, Victor Emeric, the resident commissioner of Puerto Rico and former gubernatorial candidate, Pedro Pierluisi, the Department of Health of Puerto Rico, and the Department of Natural and Environmental Resources of Puerto Rico did not respond to multiple requests for comment on the state of public health and the clean-up process in Vieques.

With legal recourse and government-sponsored research providing no clear path to action, identifying how to restore the islands environmental health has proven more complicated. Since 2005, the U.S. Navy has managed the munitions removal and chemical clean-up processwhich, they estimate, will take 10 more years on land and 15 to 20 years under water. Scientists like Nazario and Massol Deya, along with residents, expressed concern in interviews about the Navys clean-up tacticssuch as detonating bombs without sealed chambers and the open burning of vegetationfor their potential to exacerbate the already delicate health conditions on the island.

In an email, Dan Waddill, the Navy representative who heads the Vieques clean-up process, said the Environmental Protection Agency, the Department of Defense, and governmental agencies overseas have studied the environmental and health effects of open detonations, and concluded that open detonations can be conducted in a manner that is protective of human health and the environment. He added that although the Navy had used closed detonation chambers in the past, the practice is not common and that exposure to the large, unstable munitions in Vieques could put site workers at undue risk.

Massol Deya thinks the clean-up can be done differently, but is more concerned about what he sees as the Navys lack of transparency. Since we dont know everything that was thrown there, the quantity, or the places, you cant define what you should fear, what you should clean, he said. You dont know what the problem is, and thats what complicates the matter of clean-up.

We need help. Were not enough people to really matter, I guess, on somebodys scale.

While he recognizes that Vieques cannot be returned to the way it was before the Navy came to the island, hes interested in stabilizing the islands environment to prevent further ecological damage. Its a huge environmental challenge, he said. I believe that Vieques could be a model, but what you have here is the anti-model. He added that mismanagement of the clean-up process has aggravated the mitigation efforts. Ive come to think that its better for [the Navy] not to do anything.

In the meantime, Viequess residents are trying to take care of themselves. Pagan, the cancer survivor, is now collaborating with an organization called Vidas Viequenses Valen, or Viequense Lives Matter in English, to address the detonations and ask research groups and federal agencies to focus attention on the islands public-health crisis.

The crisis lies in the hands of the president, Pagan said. Neglect at both the local and federal levels has denied peoples dignity, their right to health, their right to happinessand thats not what true government should be, she said, adding, We need help. We are in the situation again because apparently our voices  Were not enough people to really matter, I guess, on somebodys scale. But, on my scale, we are very important, you know?

Bannan, the lawyer, said theres been no redress or accountability in Vieques because the issue is largely invisible in Puerto Ricoparticularly compared to the islands financial crisis, which gets much greater attention. People arent hearing bombing every day, but the health consequences are still felt, she said. The narrative that people in Vieques will tell you is, Puerto Rico is a colony of the United States. Were a colony of Puerto Rico.

Yet, no matter how bad the quality of health might be on Vieques, the crisis effectively cant be proven to the satisfaction of both government officials and scientists. Unless their approaches change, Vieques cant be helpedleaving thousands of sick residents at an impasse.

Read more from The Atlantic:

This article was originally published on The Atlantic.
Russian President Vladimir Putin on Saturday urged both sides on the Korean peninsula to calm tensions after meeting South Korean leader Park Geun-hye.

"Obviously we need to avoid any provocations or enflaming the situation," Putin said at a statement to the press in the far eastern city of Vladivostok.

"It is necessary to lower the level of military confrontation to form the basis for mutual trust among all the countries in the region."

Park, whose country is a stalwart US ally, said she had agreed with Putin "to further strengthen our strategic contacts aimed at resolving the North Korean nuclear problem."

North Korea in August test-fired a submarine-launched missile towards Japan, marking what weapons analysts called a clear step forward for its nuclear strike ambitions.

Current UN resolutions prohibit North Korea from any use of ballistic missile technology, but Pyongyang has continued to carry out numerous launches following its fourth nuclear test in January.

South Korea has responded to Pyongyang's continued launches by agreeing to deploy a sophisticated US anti-missile system -- known as THAAD -- a move that has seriously strained relations with North Korea's main diplomatic ally, China.

Russia has also slammed the deployment as destabilising for the recent, with Moscow angered by what it sees as Washington flexing its military muscle.
Hangzhou (China) (AFP) - Russian President Vladimir Putin and his Turkish counterpart Recep Tayyip Erdogan backed on Saturday the healing of relations between their nations, damaged by Ankara's shooting down of a Russian war plane last year.

"There is still a lot to do in order to completely re-establish cooperation in all areas," said Putin, after the bilateral meeting in Hangzhou on the eve of a G20 summit in the eastern Chinese city.

"Turkey is going through a difficult period, fighting against terrorism in the face of serious terrorist crimes," he said.

Putin added: "I am sure that... we can go forward on our path of cooperation" once the situation in Turkey is "completely normalised".

Turkey and Russia normalised ties in June after Erdogan sent a letter to Putin expressing regret over the shooting down of a Russian war plane on the Syrian border last November which had caused an unprecedented crisis in their relations.

The following month Erdogan survived a coup attempt by a rogue military faction and in August the Turkish leader met Putin during a highly symbolic visit to Russia, his first foreign trip since the failed coup.

On Saturday the Turkish leader said he and Putin would take "certain measures" to move bilateral ties forward, notably on thir joint TurkStream project, to pipe gas to Turkey and southern Europe, which was stalled by the diplomatic freeze.

The shooting down of a Russian fighter jet by a Turkish F-16 on the Syrian border last November saw Putin slap sanctions on Turkey and launch a blistering war of words that dealt serious damage to burgeoning ties.

The first Russian charter plane carrying tourists to Turkey since Moscow lifted its travel sanctions landed in the Mediterranean resort of Antalya on Friday.
Frederick Douglass escaped from slavery on September 3, 1838, aided by a disguise and job skills he had learned while forced to work in Baltimores shipyards.

frederickdouglass

Douglass posed as a sailor when he grabbed a train in Baltimore that was headed to Philadelphia. He was also given papers from a freed black sailor to help in the journey.

My knowledge of ships and sailors talk came much to my assistance, for I knew a ship from stem to stern, and from keelson to cross-trees, and could talk sailor like an old salt, he later said in his autobiography.

Link: Read Quotes From Douglass about his escape

Once Douglass made the harrowing train trip to Philadelphia he was able to move on to New York City.

My free life began on the third of September, 1838. On the morning of the fourth of that month, after an anxious and most perilous but safe journey, I found myself in the big city of New York, a a free man  one more added to the mighty throng which, like the confused waves of the troubled sea, surged to and fro between the lofty walls of Broadway, he said.

The anniversary is also an occasion to note the publication this summer of TransAtlantic by Colum McCann, who won the National Book Award for his previous novel Let The Great World Spin.

TransAtlantic is a lyrical novel about stories cutting across time, in Canada, Ireland, and the United Statesand about how, as McCanns website describes, the most unassuming moments of grace have a way of rippling through time, space, and memory.

National Public Radio reported that TransAtlantic was inspired by McCann learning that, in 1845, when Douglass was only 27 and still a slave, he went to Ireland to raise money for his anti-slavery campaign and to stir support for abolition. (This 1988 senior thesis at Yale tells more about that history.)

McCann told the NewsHour: The real is imagined, in the sense that we shape our stories, so anything that even happens on the news gets shaped in a certain way and gets a texture  He went on, what Im interested in is how the small anonymous moments, they can enter into the large narrative of the bigger, more public moments, including when Frederick Douglass went to Ireland.
After seven seasons on the air, Rizzoli and Isles will come to an end on Monday with a series finale that star Sasha Alexander says will be emotional yet hopeful.

Seven years is a long time, so its kind of a mixed bag of emotions, Alexander, who co-stars on the series with Angie Harmon, told TheWraps Stuart Brazell in the latest Drinking With the Stars. Im so proud of the work we did for so many years, but then on the other hand Im ready to move on.

The finale is going to be sad, promised Alexander, who has played Maura Isles, the brilliant medical examiner partnered with Harmons character, the Boston homicide detective Jane Rizzoli. Its going to be emotional yet hopeful. And positive in many ways, because all the families and the friendships sort of come to a nice little end.

Also Read: 'Rizzoli and Isles' to End After Season 7

Asked if shes kept any mementos from the set, Alexander revealed that in addition to some clothes and a tea set, she decided to keep a photo from Mauras office of women in the early 1900s performing an autopsy.

Something left an impression with me the first time I saw it in that office, and its been there for years, she said. And when I was leaving, I just felt like that embodied the character to me.

Im not going to keep it in childrens room, but Ill find a place, she joked.

Check out everything Alexander has to say in the above exclusive video.

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Before NASA launched men to walk on the moon, the space agency almost turned to a human-like robot to test its astronauts' prototype spacesuits.

The hydraulic-powered android might have worked, too  had it not been for its tendency to leak oil when used.

Now, 50 years after its rejection, one of the robot dummies is set to be sold among 100 "Remarkable Rarities" offered by RR Auction. The 10-day online auction will begin Sept. 15 and culminate in a live sale at Royal Sonesta Boston on Sept. 26.

"Only two of the test robots were produced  the other is on display and owned by the Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum," Robert Livingston, RR Auction executive vice president, in a statement. "This [robot] was purchased as surplus from the University of Maryland." [Meet Valkyrie: NASA's Humanoid Robot in Photos]

The so-called "Power Driven Articulated Dummy" project ran from May 22, 1963 through July 31, 1965. Produced by the IIT Research Institute in Chicago, the robot could be used to simulate 35 basic human motions. It was equipped with sensors at each joint to measure the forces imposed on the human body by a pressurized spacesuit.

"It was impressive on the motions it could make," said Joe Kosmo, a retired NASA suit engineer, in an interview with space historian Andrew Chaikin for Smithsonian magazine in May, describing the robot on display at the institution's Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center in Chantilly, Virginia.

Though a person could climb into a spacesuit and describe how it felt, the articulated dummy was designed to provide quantitative data for a more scientific approach to refining the suit's design.

That is, if it didn't destroy the spacesuit in the process.

The robot dummy's movements were enabled by hydraulic actuators powered by oil that flowed through a nylon-tube circulatory system. The design allowed for the android to swivel its hips, raise and lower its arms and legs, shrug its shoulders, clench its fists, and even shake hands  but it could not handle the pressure needed to move the robot's extremities without leaking. [The Evolution of NASA Spacesuits (Photos)]

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"Leaking oil would contaminate the suit. We didn't want to risk ruining a suit," stated Kosmo. "You couldn't place the dummy inside a one-of-a-kind spacesuit."

Despite trying some creative solutions, including outfitting the robot in a scuba diving wetsuit, the problem was never solved. NASA dropped the project and directed its funding elsewhere.

"This remarkable robot [dummy] stands as a testament to the innovative creativity NASA inspired," Livingston said.

Weighing 230 lbs. (104 kg), the android's height could be adjusted from 5 feet, 5 inches to 6 feet, 2 inches (1.5 to 1.8 m) to represent the average American male from the 5th to 95th percentile. The robot's exterior was covered with an aluminum skin and topped with a fiberglass head. Its "face" could be removed to access interior connections.

The dummy up for auction is missing a forearm and hand, has various scuffs and dings to its body, and some of its wiring is frayed or damaged, according to RR Auction. It is estimated to sell for more than $80,000.

The spacesuit test robot is included among a dozen other aviation and space exploration artifacts being auctioned as part of RR's Remarkable Rarities sale.

Other auction highlights include a nearly 2-foot-long (61 cm) exterior panel fragment from NASA's Mercury 1 space capsule and a 1969-1970 guest book from Richard Nixon's Air Force One signed by Apollo 11's Neil Armstrong, Buzz Aldrin and Michael Collins, the wives of the Apollo 13 crew and President Lyndon B. Johnson, among other historical NASA leaders.

See NASA's spacesuit test robot in action in a Smithsonian video at collectSPACE.com.

Follow collectSPACE.com on Facebook and on Twitter at @collectSPACE. Copyright 2016 collectSPACE.com. All rights reserved.

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Copyright 2016 SPACE.com, a Purch company. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
Samsung issued a global recall Friday for its Galaxy Note 7, a large-screen smartphone, after dozens of consumers reported that the device exploded or caught fire.

The company released a statement on Samsungs U.S. website, saying the problem is with the phones battery. It said that 35 cases have been reported globally and that the company is halting all sales of the device.

According to the Associated Press, Samsung is pulling the phones in 10 countries, including South Korea and the U.S.

Customers who already bought Note 7s will be able to swap them for new smartphones in about two weeks, the AP reported. Samsung said it has not found a way to tell exactly which phones may endanger users out of the 2.5 million Note 7s already sold globally, but estimates about 1 in 42,000 units may have a faulty battery, according to the AP.

The recall comes just two weeks after the 5.7-inch waterproof smartphone was launched.

Read more from The Atlantic:

This article was originally published on The Atlantic.
saudi arabia yemen

Last week, a rocket originating from Yemen hit a power-relay facility in southern Saudi Arabia, the state-run Saudi Press Agency reported, as was cited by Bloomberg.

Yemeni rebels said they hit Saudi Aramco facilities, but the kingdom's state-run oil company announced that "all of its oil, gas, and refining plants were operating as normal" in the aftermath, according to Bloomberg.

Still, some analysts argued that the episode shows that the Saudis' campaign in Yemen could pose a risk to its oil sector.

"The recent cross-border rocket attacks originating from Yemen are an ominous reminder of the dangers posed by Saudi Arabias 18-month military intervention in Yemen," argued Helima Croft, the head of commodity strategy at RBC Capital Markets, in a note to clients.

"Although no ARAMCO facility in the southern region has yet to be hit, the fact that a rocket did strike a power station in Najran last week demonstrates that critical local infrastructure indeed remains vulnerable."

Notably, the RBC Capital Markets team also argued last year that the Saudi campaign in Yemen could also add additional pressures on its finances as it increases security spending.

Screen Shot 2016 09 02 at 12.52.18 PM

"The military campaign in Yemen, more assertive efforts to roll back Iranian regional influence, and more muscular counter-terrorism efforts will put further pressure on Saudi government finances as they ratchet up security spending," the team wrote back in June 2015.

Since then, the kingdom, the largest military spender in the Middle East, has increased defense spending to record levels.

Data from from the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI), which tracks global arms expenditures, reported that in 2015 Saudi Arabia registered its highest level of military expenditure as a share of GDP since 1990, at 13.7%.

Moreover, SIPRI noted that there were reports that 17% of total government overspending in 2015 was attributed to a $5.3 billion increase in military and security spending due to the campaign in Yemen.

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And in her latest note, Croft argued that "continuing in Yemen will make it difficult for the Kingdom to achieve its belt tightening goals."

Notably, the 2016 defense and security budget has been reduced amid the drop in oil prices, according to SIPRI  although, a provision for "substantial budget support has been made to allow flexibility in the overall budget; some of this support may be used for military spending."

But the bottom line is that Saudi Arabia's campaign in Yemen comes with certain overlooked risks to its oil sector, including the vulnerability of its oil infrastructure and pressures on its finances.

Screen Shot 2016 09 02 at 2.00.04 PM

NOW WATCH: These are the biggest risks facing the world in 2016





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NEW YORK, NY / ACCESSWIRE / September 2, 2016 / Pomerantz LLP announces that a class action lawsuit has been filed against Tokai Pharmaceuticals, Inc. ("Tokai" or the "Company") (TKAI) and certain of its officers. The class action, filed in United States District Court, Southern District of New York, and docketed under 16-cv-06106, is on behalf of a class consisting of all persons or entities who purchased or otherwise acquired Tokai securities between June 24, 2015 and July 25, 2016 inclusive (the "Class Period"). This class action seeks to recover damages against Defendants for alleged violations of the federal securities laws under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the "Exchange Act").

If you are a shareholder who purchased Tokai securities during the Class Period, you have until September 30, 2016 to ask the Court to appoint you as Lead Plaintiff for the class. A copy of the Complaint can be obtained at www.pomerantzlaw.com. To discuss this action, contact Robert S. Willoughby at rswilloughby@pomlaw.com or 888.476.6529 (or 888.4-POMLAW), toll free, ext. 9980. Those who inquire by e-mail are encouraged to include their mailing address, telephone number, and number of shares purchased.

[Click here to join this class action]

Tokai is a biopharmaceutical company focused on developing and commercializing innovative therapies for prostate cancer and other hormonally-driven diseases. The Company's lead drug candidate is galeterone, an oral small molecule that was, at all relevant times, in various clinical trials for the treatment of patients with metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer.

The Complaint alleges that throughout the Class Period, Defendants made materially false and misleading statements regarding the Company's business, operational and compliance policies. Specifically, Defendants made false and/or misleading statements and/or failed to disclose that: (i) there were significant structural problems with the trial design for Tokai's pivotal Phase 3 galeterone study, ARMOR3-SV; (ii) consequently, ARMOR3-SV was unlikely to succeed in meeting its primary endpoint; (iii) as a result, commercialization of galeterone was less likely and/or imminent than Tokai had led investors to believe; and (iv) as a result of the foregoing, the Company's financial statements, as well as Defendants' statements about Tokai's business, operations, and prospects, were false and misleading and/or lacked a reasonable basis.

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On November 2, 2015, Richard Pearson published an article on the investment website Seeking Alpha, entitled "What's Wrong With Tokai Pharmaceuticals?" (the "Pearson Report"). The Pearson Report described structural problems with the design of the Company's ARMOR3-SV trial.

On this news, Tokai's share price fell $0.07, or 0.63%, to close at $10.98 on November 2, 2015.

On July 26, 2016, Tokai announced plans "to discontinue the ARMOR3-SV clinical trial, our pivotal Phase 3 study" of galeterone.

On this news, Tokai's share price plummeted by $4.10, or nearly 79%, to close at $1.10 on July 26, 2016.

The Pomerantz Firm, with offices in New York, Chicago, Florida, and Los Angeles, is acknowledged as one of the premier firms in the areas of corporate, securities, and antitrust class litigation. Founded by the late Abraham L. Pomerantz, known as the dean of the class action bar, the Pomerantz Firm pioneered the field of securities class actions. Today, more than 80 years later, the Pomerantz Firm continues in the tradition he established, fighting for the rights of the victims of securities fraud, breaches of fiduciary duty, and corporate misconduct. The Firm has recovered numerous multimillion-dollar damages awards on behalf of class members. See www.pomerantzlaw.com.

SOURCE: Pomerantz LLP
A New York community is mourning the death of an award-winning equestrian who was crushed to death by her horse during a competition on Wednesday, reports say.



Rebecca Weissbard, 22, of Long Island, was thrown from her horse when the animal hit a cross pole during the second hurdle in a 10-hurdle course at the Horse Shows in the Sun (HITS) competition in Saugerties, according to the Daily Freeman. The horse then fell on Weissbard, she was pronounced dead at the scene.



"Rebecca rode with passion. She spoke with passion about horses and she competed at the highest level and did it with grace and polish," Weissbard's mother, Lynn, told Newsday.



HITS announced Weissbard's death in a statement posted to their Facebook page, writing that the 22-year-old suffered "a fatal fall."









"HITS extends its deepest sympathy to the athlete's family and to the entire horse sport community who feels the impact of this significant loss," officials wrote in the statement.



A candlelight vigil for Weissbard was expected to take place at 8 p.m. on Saturday, according to a Facebook page. And many social users remembered the woman on a memorial page.





Bella Hadid Shares Her Passion for Horse Back Riding



"Becca touched everyone she knew," one person wrote in a post on the memorial page. We are all thankful Becca was part of the horse world and everyone's world."



Another Facebook user wrote that Weissbard challenged her to "be the best horseback rider I could possibly be."



"I'll always remember her as a witty and a competitive girl who loved animals with all her heart," the user continued.
By Vladimir Soldatkin VLADIVOSTOK, Russia (Reuters) - South Korean President Park Geun-hye called on Russia and other major global players on Saturday to increase pressure on North Korea to abandon its nuclear program which could open the road for cooperation with Pyongyang. "If we cannot prevent (North Korea's) development of nuclear weapons, the nuclear threat will become a reality soon," Park told a business forum attended by Russian President Vladimir Putin and Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe in the Russian Far East city of Vladivostok. "In order for Pyongyang to take the decision to abandon its nuclear program, it is important to give it a strong unified message." Concerns about the threat posed by North Korea have spiralled since it conducted its fourth nuclear explosion in January and followed it up with a series of missile tests despite severe United Nations sanctions, which Pyongyang rejects as an infringement of its sovereignty. In June, North Korea test-fired what appeared to be two mobile Musudan rockets, one of which climbed to 1,000 km (600 miles), or enough to fly more than 3,000 km (1,800 miles) down range. On Aug. 24, Pyongyang also fired a submarine-launched ballistic missile (SLBM) toward Japan that traveled 500 km (311 miles). "If North Korea abandons its nuclear program and chooses the path to openness, we, together with the international community, will be ready to actively support it," Park said. (Writing in Moscow by Lidia Kelly; Editing by Kim Coghill)
elon musk falcon 9 rocket launchpad explosion getty uslaunchreport 4x3

More than a day after the fiery explosion of a Falcon 9 rocket on a launchpad in Cape Canaveral, Florida, both SpaceX and NASA have issued full statements.

The rocket catastrophically blew up at a launchpad called Space Launch Center 40 (SLC-40) at 9:07 a.m. on September 1, right before a routine engine-firing test.

Although no one was hurt during the blast, Facebook's $200 million Amos-6 satellite  bound to provide internet service to the developing world  was utterly destroyed.

The blast reportedly shattered windows nearby, knocked sliding doors off peoples' homes farther away, and was heard as far as 30 miles from SLC-40, according to local Florida TV stations.

The cause of the mishap isn't known at this time, and experts say it will hamper the ambitious launch schedule planned by aerospace company, which is owned by entrepreneur Elon Musk.

SpaceX's statement

launch pad 39a spacex florida

Business Insider contacted representatives at SpaceX about the nature of the explosion, damage to SLC-40, and the event's potential impact to the company's launch plans.

After issuing brief statements through Twitter, they provided us with the full statement below on Friday evening, more than 33 hours after the blast.

We've replaced instances of "anomaly" with "explosion" for easier reading and emphasized certain parts in bold:

"SpaceX has begun the careful and deliberate process of understanding the causes and fixes for yesterday's incident. We will continue to provide regular updates on our progress and findings, to the fullest extent we can share publicly.



"We deeply regret the loss of AMOS-6, and safely and reliably returning to flight to meet the demands of our customers is our chief priority. SpaceX's business is robust, with approximately 70 missions on our manifest worth over $10 billion. In the aftermath of yesterday's events, we are grateful for the continued support and unwavering confidence that our commercial customers as well as NASA and the United States Air Force have placed in us.



"Overview of the incident:

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Yesterday, at SpaceX's Launch Complex 40 at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, an [explosion] took place about eight minutes in advance of a scheduled test firing of a Falcon 9 rocket.

The [explosion] on the pad resulted in the loss of the vehicle.

This was part of a standard pre-launch static fire to demonstrate the health of the vehicle prior to an eventual launch.

At the time of the loss, the launch vehicle was vertical and in the process of being fueled for the test. At this time, the data indicates the [explosion] originated around the upper stage liquid oxygen tank. Per standard operating procedure, all personnel were clear of the pad. There were no injuries.

"To identify the root cause of the [explosion], SpaceX began its investigation immediately after the loss, consistent with accident investigation plans prepared for such a contingency. These plans include the preservation of all possible evidence and the assembly of an Accident Investigation Team, with oversight by the Federal Aviation Administration and participation by NASA, the United States Air Force and other industry experts. We are currently in the early process of reviewing approximately 3000 channels of telemetry and video data covering a time period of just 35-55 milliseconds.



"As for the Launch Pad itself, our teams are now investigating the status of SLC-40. The pad clearly incurred damage, but the scope has yet to be fully determined. We will share more data as it becomes available. SpaceX currently operates 3 launch pads  2 in Florida and 1 in California at Vandenberg Air Force Base. SpaceX's other launch sites were not affected by yesterday's events. Space Launch Complex 4E at Vandenberg Air Force Base is in the final stages of an operational upgrade and Launch Complex 39A at Kennedy Space Center remains on schedule to be operational in November. Both pads are capable of supporting Falcon 9 and Falcon Heavy launches. We are confident the two launch pads can support our return to flight and fulfill our upcoming manifest needs.



"Again, our number one priority is to safely and reliably return to flight for our customers, as well as to take all the necessary steps to ensure the highest possible levels of safety for future crewed missions with the Falcon 9. We will carefully and thoroughly investigate and address this issue."

NASA's statement

spacex dragon spacecraft GettyImages 494548549

We also contacted NASA about any potential disruptions to its Commercial Crew Program (CCP) through which SpaceX and Boeing are designing, building, and testing spacecraft to launch astronauts to the International Space Station.

The ultimate goal of CCP is to replace the astronaut-launching ability of the Space Shuttle program, lost in mid-2011  and prevent the space agency from having to pay Russia billions of dollars for the privilege.

NASA spokesperson Tabatha Thompson told Business Insider on Friday evening (our emphasis added):

"NASA remains confident in our commercial partners and in the goals of the Commercial Crew Program to take astronauts to and from low-Earth orbit. It is too early to know whether Thursday's incident will impact their development schedules. Spacecraft and launch vehicles designed for the Commercial Crew Program must meet NASA's stringent safety criteria before being certified to launch crews into space. Successfully meeting those requirements has always taken precedence over schedule.



"Both companies working with the Commercial Crew Program are required to carry numerous additional safeguards including a launch abort system that can be activated while the rocket is still on the launch pad. Those systems must be proven in flight tests before NASA will certify them for missions carrying astronauts. SpaceX tested its launch abort system from the pad successfully in May 2015. Both SpaceX and Boeing plan to further test launch abort systems in 2017.



"NASA and our partners remain committed to meeting the goals of the Commercial Crew Program."

' This will definitely affect their business '

Spacex Launch Complex 40 Cape Canaveral

Although SpaceX is bullish about getting back to launching Falcon 9 rockets and its $10 billion worth of payloads, John M. Logsdon, a space-policy expert and historian at George Washington University's Space Policy Institute, said there will be some kind of disruption.

"This will definitely affect their business," Logsdon told Business Insider. "SpaceX had six more launches from [SLC-40] scheduled between now and January. They were going to launch one basically once a month, one every three and a half weeks."

Beyond any deviations from its previous launch plans, Logsdon said Musk may have more immediate concerns.

"You have to put this into the context of Mr. Musk's plans in about three weeks to announce his long-term strategy and approach to colonizing Mars," Logsdon said. "This is going to put a little tweak in the excitement surrounding that."

Then again, says Logsdon, "we didn't stop going to the moon when we had early problems with Apollo."

NOW WATCH: Watch the dramatic moment SpaceX rocket explodes





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Photo: Netflix

This week Netflix granted 100 million wishes by finally announcing a second season of its summer water-cooler hit Stranger Things. While the official announcements inexplicable delay was easily as shady and mysterious as anything the Department of Energy officials did in the show, it was hard not to feel outright joy at the promised return of Mikey, Dustin, Winona Ryders wig, Steve, the Demogorgon, and (fingers crossed!) Eleven herself. Next year well have nine more episodes of TVs spookiest nostalgia-palooza to look forward to, and the excitement is enough to set a ham radio on fire!

Related: Six Stranger Things Characters and Their Modern-Day Doppelgangers

To help deal with our unbridled enthusiasm for Season 2, we spoke with Stranger Things exec producer Dan Cohen about the renewal and what to expect next year. For obvious reasons, he couldnt divulge too many specifics about whats in store for Hawkins, Ind., but his personal enthusiasm should bring comfort to anyone nervous about the prospect of a bad sequel.

Well be doing more than just a rehash of Season 1. Were coming back with a few new characters, expanding storylines and mythologies, so itll feel like the stakes are raised and more is going on and really delivering on the promise and pushing for more, says Cohen. We want a sequel that feels like its bigger and badder and darker while answering more of the questions and getting deeper into whats going on. [The Duffer Brothers] want it to be that great sequel that is satisfying and yet expands the world.

Cohen compares Season 2 to great second films of the era, such as Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom, Aliens, and Terminator 2: Judgment Day. But while the sequels of James Cameron will be a huge homage target in Season 2, dont think Stranger Things is finished paying homage to the things that inspired Season 1. Youre still going to feel the Spielberg, Carpenter, Stephen King references given that so many of these characters they inspired are still in the story.

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For those of us whod fallen in love with the show immediately upon its release, it felt nothing short of maddening that Netflix didnt announce a renewal right away, especially when things like House of Cards were getting those announcements prior to season premieres. But in an era where binge-able shows are forgotten by the press only days after their releases, perhaps Netflix wanted to try something different? I think its cool Netflix waited so long, Cohen explains. The attention is even more on the show now than when it came out. They like to take their time and do it their own way, and they certainly have a method to their actions, and once again, it proved effective.

One burning question viewers had was whether Stranger Things would continue its Season 1 storyline or would it follow the trend of American Horror Story, Fargo, and American Crime Story by presenting unrelated tales each season. Though that option has apparently never once been in the cards, they did consider the idea of setting each new season in a different decade. At one point, there was this idea of doing 80s, 90s, 2000s, and then Season 5 would be 2020, and it would catch up to present-day. But I think, at the end of the day, there was this world that we really loved and in making it, and we didnt want to move away from these kids. Theres so many cool dynamics and mythologies. This world the Duffer brothers created was so awesome, and theres still so much unanswered that its impossible to not want to continue into the next year.

When asked why an essentially eight-hour-long weird movie became the pop culture sensation of the summer, Cohen puts it simply: It just felt like this thing had the kind of unique world that could be explored for a long time. We knew it was great, and it was coming out in a summer where I think people were really disappointed in a lot of the big blockbusters, and this just seemed like the blockbuster that people wanted to see.



And because were legally obligated to ask  Is there life after the Upside-Down for Barb, particularly now that actress Shannon Purser has booked a role on the CWs upcoming dark Archie Comics adaptation Riverdale?

Shannons an amazing actress. She was a local actress that they hired and did such a great job with this very unique role, and Im just so thrilled that she got the recognition for it and is now building a very deserved career, says Cohen.



When informed that his answer wasnt really an answer, Cohen chooses his words carefully: I think the Duffer brothers have been very open about Barbs fate and whats happened to her, as is the public in mourning her, but all Ill say is its hard not to hear how much love there was for this very organically created, unique, relatable outsider and  [long pause] All Ill say is, were very aware of how much shes loved, and its not lost on us. Thats how Ill leave it.

Stranger Things Season 2 starts in 2017.
Juba (AFP) - The UN Security Council on Saturday urged South Sudan to drop its opposition to the deployment of a regional protection force to beef up a large UN peacekeeping mission in the war-scarred country.

Echoing a call made earlier Saturday by South Sudanese religious leaders, ambassadors from the council's 15 member states met with senior government ministers in Juba and all spoke in favour of sending an additional 4,000 troops to the 13,000-strong mission, known as UNMISS.

One of the ambassadors, who asked not to be named, told AFP he thought the South Sudanese ministers "were surprised to see that the Security Council spoke with one voice.

"They were surprised by the tone of Russia, and also of China, which acted like someone who lost two peacekeepers."

Two Chinese peacekeepers were killed in an attack on a UN base during July clashes between forces loyal to President Salva Kiir and those of rebel leader Riek Machar.

The upsurge threatened a fragile peace accord signed last year to end a devastating 18-month civil war which left tens of thousands dead.

China and Russia abstained from an August 12 Security Council vote on the resolution that authorised deploying a protection force with a more robust mandate than that of UNMISS.

UNMISS faced considerable criticism over its failure to protect civilians during the July fighting.

So far Kiir's government had rejected the idea of a new force, saying it would violate national sovereignty.

Those at Saturday's meeting emerged on a conciliatory note.

"I want to assure the people of South Sudan that the rumour that the UN has come to impose on us and bring in foreign forces to take the freedom of our country is not there," said Government Affairs Minister Martin Elia Lomoro.

Lomoro said the "modalities" of deploying the new force were being discussed but he did not state that his government had dropped its opposition.

US Ambassador Samantha Power said the meeting was "useful" because "we got to debunk, as the Security Council, some of the myths that have existed about what the Security Council has intended.

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She added that proponents of the force had "one constituency in mind, and that is the people of South Sudan... with an eye to protecting them, to ensuring they get the humanitarian assistance they need. Some are facing famine-like conditions."

- Force needed 'now' -

Earlier Saturday, Catholic Archbishop Paulino Lukudu Loro told AFP: "This force should come, and it should come now. I think this force will help us to further implement this (peace) agreement."

"As a country, we cannot address this mess alone, we cannot put the country back on track alone. And there is no humiliation in this need to be assisted," he said.

The Security Council delegation visited a camp housing people, mostly of Machar's Nuer ethnicity, who fled the bloody fighting.

"These people here did not come because they were given food and shelter, they are here because they don't have any alternative," Peter Wilson of the British delegation told reporters.

"They want to go out," he said, adding a protection force would restore security and allow people to go home.

South Sudan descended into war in December 2013 after Kiir accused his former deputy Machar of plotting a coup.

Anglican Archbishop Daniel Deng Bul backed the intervention call, saying "the UN is momentarily the father of the people of South Sudan".

Church leaders -- both Catholic and Protestant -- carry strong moral authority in Christian-majority South Sudan and bishops have played an important role in brokering past peace deals.

During the fighting in July, Machar, who had been persuaded to return to Juba as part of the national unity government agreed under the peace deal, fled the country and is now in Khartoum, having been replaced by Taban Deng Gai in Juba.

Aside from the tens of thousands of people killed, the United Nations has reported shocking levels of brutality including gang-rapes and the wholesale burning of villages.

An estimated 16,000 children have been recruited by armed groups and the national army in the conflict and 2.5 million people have been driven from their homes.
By Todd McCarthy, The Hollywood Reporter



A vigorous and involving salute to professionalism and being good at your job, Sully vividly portrays the physical realities and human elements in the dramatic safe landing of a crippled US Airways jet on the Hudson River on January 15, 2009. An elegant and eloquent docudrama, Clint Eastwoods 35th feature as a director is also, at 96 minutes, the shortest of all his films, which well serves this to-the-point account of a potential tragedy with a happy ending. With a white-haired and mustachioed Tom Hanks in the title role, this taut, upbeat drama looks to play well with a wide general audience.

Its been a while since New York had news this good, especially with an airplane in it, one character remarks, which neatly sums up the appeal of a yarn that offered all the seeds of tragedy. When a freak encounter with a large flock of birds shut down both engines of an A320 with 155 people on board two minutes after taking off from La Guardia Airport, pilot Chesley Sully Sullenberger quickly decided that the now-descending plane didnt have the power to make it back to La Guardia or another airport. He therefore determined to make a water landing, which happened less than four minutes later.

The incident is repeated, in variations, several times over the course of the time-jumping script by Todd Komarnicki, because what looked like an act of logic, wisdom and heroism to those whose lives were saved instead was severely questioned by the National Transportation Safety Board, which initially argued that the plane could have turned back. This results in some tense and sleepless nights for Sully but, dramatically speaking, the story is the inverse of that of the 2012 aviation drama Flight, in which Denzel Washingtons pilot may have saved the day but had some personal issues eminently worthy of the inquiry boards attention.

Related: Telluride: Sully Lands as Tom Hanks Makes a Bid for an Oscar Nomination (Analysis)

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An alarming opening sequence illustrates what probably would have happened had Sully and his co-pilot, Jeff Skiles (Aaron Eckhart), decided to try to make it back to where they took off  a fiery crash into Manhattan buildings. Such images haunt Sully and send him out to jog through the nocturnal city streets and along the river where his plane came to rest. Reporters hound him, his wife (Laura Linney) remains in high-stress mode back home and Sully, notwithstanding all the personal and public adulation hes received, cant help rethinking the whole incident and fearing that the investigators will somehow show that one of the engines retained sufficient thrust to allow the jet to keep flying. Some TV commentators are already suggesting that Sully is a fraud who made a blundering decision that could result in his suspension and no pension.

A 42-year veteran, Sully is the kind of decent, upright, right-minded fellow who used to figure in movies all the time from the 1930s-1950s, a reliable Jimmy Stewart, Henry Fonda or Gregory Peck type of guy you could always count on to do the right thing. The last man like this to anchor a film onscreen was probably in Steven Spielbergs Bridge of Spies, in which the character was played by  who else?  Hanks. When Sully says, I dont feel like a hero. I was just a man doing a job, you might feel like youre watching a Howard Hawks film of more than half a century ago.

But while this feels like an old-fashioned sentiment, perhaps it shouldnt, and its easy to surmise that it also fits squarely with Eastwoods philosophical view of things. Even now, in his mid-80s, hes a man who, like Spielberg, rarely lets a year go by without making a new film and does it his own way, with little fuss. He is, at his core, a professional, and its clearly on this basis that he strongly connects with Sully, a man whose character is defined by how he does his job.

When you get right down to it, theres not a whole lot of story in Komarnickis screenplay, only a central incident that can be examined from multiple perspectives and a main character whose core values are put to the test and found valid. A half-hour in, the film serves up a comprehensive account of the flight up to the point of impact then, a bit later, reveals the rather more complex details of what happened when the passengers had to be quickly evacuated in winter conditions.

A couple of panicky passengers end up in the 36-degree water; most of them tensely don life-jackets, file out the emergency exits and stand on the two main wings. Of course, the crew and captain are the last to leave, although Sully has no way to know at this point whether everyone made it out or not.

Related: Critics Notebook: Toronto, Telluride and Venice Film Fests Promise Riches After Cruel Summer

Crisply shot by Tom Stern in great part with IMAX cameras and seen to impressive advantage in this format, the film is distinguished by essentially seamless visual effects that make all aspects of the highly photogenic near-catastrophe riveting to watch; the film is supremely well-crafted in all regards.

One striking difference between this and most of Eastwoods previous work, however, is the pacing. After working for four decades with master editor Joel Cox and making very few films that came in at under two hours, Eastwood took this occasion to promote Blu Murray from assistant editor, a position she had filled under Cox since 2006. The result is swift, fleet-footed cutting that imparts a noticeably different feel from most of the directors more measured work, a snappy momentum that perfectly suits the nature of the material.

Made up to look older than his years, Hanks confidently carries the film as a man of undoubted decency and judgment who is nonetheless made to question, however incorrectly and briefly, actions prudently made under conditions of great stress. Secondary characters are strictly one-dimensional, with Eckharts less experienced co-pilot staunchly backing the old pro in the left-hand seat and Linney confined to pouring out concern long-distance over the phone.

Related: Read complete Telluride Film Festival coverage

Venue: Telluride Film Festival

Warner Bros.

Production: Malpaso, Flashlight Films, Kennedy/Marshall

Director: Clint Eastwood

Screenwriter: Todd Komarnicki, based on the book Highest Duty by Capt. Chesley 'Sully Sullenberger with Jeffrey Zaslow

Cast: Tom Hanks, Aaron Eckhart, Laura Linney, Mike O'Malley, Anna Gunn, Jamey Sheridan, Ann Cusack, Jane Gabbert, Molly Hagan, Holt McCallany, Chris Bauer, Patch Darragh

Producers: Clint Eastwood, Frank Marshall, Allyn Stewart, Tim Moore

Executive producers: Steve Mnuchin, Kipp Nelson, Bruce Berman

Director of photography: Tom Stern

Production designer: James J. Murakami

Costume designer: Deborah Hopper

Editor: Blu Murray

Music: Christian Jacob and the Tierney Sutton Band

Visual effects: Michael Owens

Casting: Geoffrey Miclat

PG-13, 96 minutes
Five years ago, a 9.0 magnitude earthquake hit Japans Fukushima Prefecture, triggering a tsunami and leading to a nuclear disaster.

Towns and beaches in close proximity to the plant were affected as toxic water made its way through drainage ditches and into the soil. Though there have been extensive clean-up efforts, some beaches still have signs of radiation in their sand and waters.

Despite this, surfers have continued to come to these beaches to brace the waves, with some even returning on a daily basis.

Of course we may seem a little crazy, but for us, the important thing is the waves, surfer Yuichiro Koboyashi said in an interview with the Japan Times.

two surfers in fukushima

When journalist Kimball Taylor traveled to the city of Sendai near the nuclear plant to speak to surfers in the area, he found that an estimated 50 percent returned a year or two after the disaster to start surfing again.

Many of the surfers told Taylor they simply dont think about the potential radioactive dangers lurking in the waves.

We will only know the true consequences of our time in the water 20 years from now, a surfer told Al Jazeera.

Many of the beaches have been classified as safe by the government, but there are still concerns about radiation levels.

And even though the surfing community has still come to this region, the majority of the surfers are older. Children are more often kept away.

I worry about the youngsters because if they are exposed to radiation now, it might affect them when they grow up, surfer Toshihisa Mishina told the Japan Times.

Though Mishina returned to Toyoma beach, he said he would never allow his 12-year-old to join him.

According to Taylor, those who did stop surfing after the disaster did so to honor the thousands who were killed by the tsunami that hit the beaches, with remnants like socks, family photos, and childrens toys still visible on the shores.

The government keeps telling us that things are back to normal in the region, but we can see that few people have come back, one surfer told Al Jazeera.

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Talia Avakian is a digital reporter at Travel + Leisure. Follow her on Twitter at @TaliaAvak.

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San Diego (AFP) - On a warm afternoon in June, Ammar Kawkab and his family joined the trickle of Syrian refugees arriving in the United States to escape the devastating war in their country.

There were no crowds, television cameras or politicians to greet them at the airport in San Diego, their new home.

But that was of no concern to Kawkab, who hails from the predominantly Kurdish city of Qamishli in northeast Syria, a frequent target of attacks by the radical Islamic State (IS) group.

All that mattered was that he, his wife and their four children were finally safe after a more than two-year journey that took them from their homeland to Lebanon and finally America.

"On that day, I felt that finally I had a flag that could protect me," the 52-year-old telecom technician told AFP, fighting back tears as he pointed to an American flag hanging on a wall in the family's modest two-bedroom apartment in a suburb of San Diego.

"The day I set foot here, I felt as much American as Obama," he added. "As soon as I saw the flag, I felt safe."

Kawkab is among the 10,000 Syrian refugees the United States has taken in this year as part of a resettlement program that has emerged as a hot-button issue in the White House campaign.

While local communities across the country have offered support to the refugees, there has also been a wave of opposition, with 31 governors calling for a ban on Syrian refugees entering the country in the wake of last November's jihadist attacks in Paris.

Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump has also seized on the issue, vowing to block refugees fleeing the violence in Syria from entering the US on grounds they were not being properly screened and posed a threat.

- 'Starting to get scared' -

Such rhetoric baffles aid officials and refugees like Sowsan Al-Zait, 45, who arrived in San Diego a year ago, fleeing the violence in her hometown of Homs, a key battleground in the uprising against the regime of Bashar al-Assad.

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"After everything we went through, to have someone speak of us like this is incomprehensible," sighed Al-Zeit as she took a break on a recent morning from her English language class.

"I initially felt safe here but in recent months, to be honest, we have started getting scared."

David Murphy, head of the International Rescue Committee's branch in San Diego, where some 372 Syrians have been resettled, said the xenophobic backlash was surprising given the extensive background checks -- usually lasting two years -- the refugees undergo.

"The rhetoric is horrific, it's embarrassing," Murphy said. "These refugees are fleeing the horrors of war. They are fleeing ISIS, they are fleeing terrorists. They are not terrorists themselves."

"In many countries around the world, when you invite someone in, they are a guest. You help them. You don't bring them in to a hostile environment," he added.

- 'Shame and embarrassment' -

According to the UN refugee agency (UNHCR) and other aid groups, nearly five million Syrians have fled their country since the conflict broke out in 2011 and some eight million have been internally displaced. The figures represent more than half of the country's pre-war population of about 23 million.

The influx of refugees has severely stretched the resources of neighboring countries such as Turkey, Lebanon and Jordan, which have borne the brunt of the crisis, and pressure has been building for the US and other countries to step up and take in more Syrians.

"The world looks to the United States for leadership on refugees and we are not providing it," said Mark Hetfield, who runs HIAS, which helps resettle refugees.

"The message that we should be giving to the world today is that this country was built on refugees ... and that every time this country has put limits on the number of refugees we accept, we have looked back on it with shame and embarrassment."

Aid officials said that while the 10,000 mark -- reached this week -- was positive, at least 10 times that number of refugees should be admitted in the coming year if the United States is to do its part.

"We have this very different juxtaposition here in the US where you have people all over the country responding with a welcome, and members of Congress and presidential candidates very much trying to close the doors," said Jennifer Quigley, a strategist for refugee protection with Human Rights First.

Kawkab said he hopes that with time, Americans will look upon refugees like him as individuals, each with a story to tell.

"We are neither terrorists nor criminals," he said. "And we are not here to be a burden on America. We want to give back to this country."
More than 100,000 people, mostly civil servants, took to Taipei's streets Saturday in protest over planned reforms to the island's struggling pension system, for which they say they are unfairly blamed.

The massive demonstration was the latest challenge to President Tsai Ing-wen's new government, which has seen its popularity ratings fall rapidly since taking the helm in May.

Taiwan's pension schemes vary for different occupations and public sector retirees typically receive more generous packages than workers from other sectors which fall under a different labour pension system.

The government has warned that various pension funds are estimated to go bankrupt from as early as 2020 if the system is not overhauled.

Retired civil servants, teachers, servicemen and firefighters shouted "oppose stigmatisation" and "demand dignity" as they gathered in a square near the presidential office in downtown Taipei. Police estimated a turnout of around 117,000 for the rally, the biggest public protest since Tsai took office.

"We are accused of stealing and robbing the country. Our dignity is hurt and we are very angry. Enough is enough," rally organiser Peng Ju-yu told AFP.

Public sector employees do not oppose reforms but they are angry they are being unfairly blamed for bankrupting the pension system, Peng explained.

In the past the government had to offer generous incentives to public sector employees as the starting salaries were low. But public sector jobs have become popular in the past decade amid economic slowdowns.

Tsai has said pension reform is "an unavoidable responsibility of our generation" to protect retirees.

"I support pension reforms but they should be reasonable and transparent. It's not fair to just blame public sector workers for dragging down the country's finances," said 35-year-old policeman Levi Lee.

The opposition Kuomintang (KMT) party warned the government against "stirring up hatred and confrontation."

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"We support pension reforms but they should be gradual and with supporting measures. The DPP has caused many problems with its rough methods," said KMT spokesman Chou Chih-wei.

Tsai has seen her support ratings slide to 41 percent from a high of 70 percent following a string of controversies, including the pension reform plans.

"The government should work harder to improve the economy and prevent big corporations from evading taxes instead of going after people who worked all their lives in public services," said protester Kao Shu-rong, a 82-year-old retired civil servant.
It was a very good morning for producer/director Clint Eastwoods Sully at todays 10AM Telluride Film Festival screening. The true story of heroic airline pilot Chesley Sully Sullenbergers 2009 crash landing into the Hudson River is having its World Premiere this weekend in advance of its U.S. release next Friday (my full video and print review will appear on Tuesday). The Palm Theatre, the Festivals largest with 650 seats, was packed and folding chairs had to be brought in to accommodate some of those turned away.

Eastwood and cast members Tom Hanks, Laura Linney and Aaron Eckhart received a standing ovation when they entered to introduce the film, but you could hear a pin drop as the gripping film was playing. There was prolonged applause once the end credits began and a second standing ovation when the group took the stage for a post-screening Q&A.

The crowd, which included Academy President Cheryl Boone Isaacs and CEO Dawn Hudson sitting directly in front of me, clearly loved the movie which takes a completely different angle that you might expect if you think you already know the Sully story. I would say based on the kind of response the film is getting here you can add it instantly to the list of Best Picture contenders, with Sully kicking off the Fall awards season on September 9. Certainly I hope it puts Tom Hanks name seriously in Best Actor contention.

It is true he already has two Oscars with back to back wins in 1993 and 1994 for Philadelphia and Forrest Gump, but as I mentioned in my Actor piece earlier today he has been unfairly passed over in recent years for his brilliantly understated but powerful roles in Captain Phillips and last years Bridge Of Spies (my favorite movie of 2015). Both those portrayals were, like Sully Sullenberger, quiet heroes, the kind of America and American movies we need more of now. Hanks is just superb here and it would be simple to overlook him because he just makes this all look so easy. Lets hope the actors branch doesnt do that again.

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Eastwood said the movie was turned down three or four times before he got involved with it and could finally get it made. I remember he had similar problems getting his Oscar winning Million Dollar Baby going too and that worked out well. Hopefully this does as well for the four time Academy Award winner. Eastwood almost didnt want to make it though, thinking the Sullenberger story was known and had already been told. I didnt know where the conflict was. So I read it and of course you get into it with the transportation board hearings and everything, but I realized that his career as he wanted to end it was suddenly put in the balance, Eastwood said later, telling me when I ran into him in my hotel lobby that it was also the battle between humanity and technology that interested him greatly. The story has been turned into a fascinating film detailing the conflict between Sully and the NTSBs suggestions that he may have put those 155 lives, including his own, in danger.

Hanks told of his own research with Sully: He had a copy of the script that I had read, and it was dog-eared, notated, highlighted, paper clipped, with stuff written in his wifes lipstick, and he walked me through every single page of the screenplay to tell me what was either incorrect, or bad assumptions, or what he felt cut corners in terms of what the truth is. And screenplays are very malleable things. They are not set in stone and quite a lot he was bringing up was a very simple alteration.

But Hanks said that the screenplay (by Todd Komarnicki based on Sullenbergers book) always included the emotional, unspoken burden Sully placed on himself that he might have done something to cause the emergency. Eastwood said he wished he had been in on that conversation with Sully, as his own meeting was much less detailed. Still, the director did discuss casting with Sully  asking if the pilot approved of Tom Hanks. He did.

Eastwood also noted that he used actual first responders rather than actors to recreate the rescue once the plane was in the river. It seemed like the right thing to do. First they know how to operate boats, he quipped.

Of course, the story happened at the beginning of 2009, less than a decade after 9/11.People in Manhattan looked out their windows, Hanks said, and saw an aircraft flying very low over the Hudson River. Thats a very evocative image and it produces a sense of dread that we do not want to experience again ever in our lifetime. If (co-pilot) Jeff and Sully had not been able to maneuver that plane as perfectly as they did, if they had cut a wing, or it cartwheeled, or if 154 people had died that day, the last thing Manhattan and America needed to see was more dead bodies washing ashore, much less because of a crashed airliner. Laura Linney, working for the third time with Eastwood, added that, oddly, the whole experience has made her feel better about flying because of the caliber of pilots like Sullenberger. It was incredibly life affirming because the right person was doing what he should be doing, she said.

Asked about the process of making movies today, Eastwood said he steers his own course. Just dont pay any attention to the trends and just go your own way. To me, story is the king and everything revolves around that. Unfortunately in the movie industry everybody likes to copy whatever is the latest thing. Whatever opened well last weekend is the one, they want to make ten of those. I was lucky enough to be able to avoid that. Its great if you are in a position to do the things you want to, he said.

Fortunately Sully is one of those things he wanted to do.

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Like many a North American folk artist, Maud Lewis oeuvre  which consists of countless paintings of fuzzy cats, crude-looking flowers, and flat country landscapes  could easily be dismissed as being no better than the work of a child. The difference is that most children dont have to contend with rheumatoid arthritis, which left Lewis partly crippled from an early age, and required her to work far harder than other untrained artists to bring beauty and color to her grim existence.

Though such characters offer obvious appeal to actors, Maudie isnt nearly as preoccupied with its subjects physical impairment as, say, a movie like My Left Foot or Frida. If anything, director Aisling Walsh downplays Lewis arthritis to such a degree that she seems almost able-bodied at times. What interests Walsh and screenwriter Sherry White isnt Lewis disability, but the other obstacles that stood between her and the unlikely success she found as a painter.

As played by Sally Hawkins, who taps into the same kind of upbeat energy she brought to her career-launching turn as Poppy in Mike Leighs Happy-Go-Lucky, Maud impresses not so much for her perseverance  the opening scene demonstrates the enormous effort she must summon to lift brush to canvas  but for her indefatigable optimism. Cut out of her family inheritance by a no-good brother (Zachary Bennett), she went to live with her spinster aunt Ida (Gabrielle Rose) in Nova Scotia, who treats her like a feeble-brained burden, forbidding her from partaking in any form of amusement. Seeking a degree of independence, Maud replies to a help-wanted ad posted by local fish seller Everett Lewis (Ethan Hawke) for a live-in housekeeper, though the working conditions are hardly better than indentured servitude.

And yet, stuck living with this brusque, grunting ogre of a man (whom Hawke plays with an affected surliness that sounds like Harrison Ford, had he been raised by bears), and all but confined to the tiniest house youve ever seen, Maud manages to find happiness. In real life, she had learned to paint as a child, rendering small watercolor scenes on greeting cards which she later sold for money. In the film, where its more dramatically expedient to invent a eureka moment, she discovers a small pot of house paint among Everetts things and takes the initiative of sprucing up an old shelf with a fresh coat of spring green, running her fingers through the liquid in a state of mild artistic ecstasy.

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Once started, Maud cant help herself, and before long, shes painting everything in sight with those primitive-looking tulips and birds and things  the walls, the windows, small scraps of wood that Everett had salvaged from his work at the orphanage and local fish-peddling rounds. She almost immediately begins signing her work with Everetts last name, and after a short period of living under this Neanderthals roof, convinces him that they ought to get married. Meanwhile, Everett, who doesnt have a romantic bone in his body (defining the hierarchy around his house, he snorts, Theres me, them dogs, them chickens, then you), mostly treats her work as invisible, indulging her hobby so long as the house is clean, and yet, theres a strange tenderness that emerges in their caveman chemistry.

And then an amazing thing happens: A woman from Noo Yawk City (Kari Matchett, all hoity-toity with her fine leather shoes and fancy East Coast accent) offers to buy one of Mauds paintings, and suddenly, this lonely little woman isnt just a naive dabbler, but a bona-fide artist. This, too, is almost certainly an invention, since Lewis had long earned pocket change selling her greeting-card paintings, but it suits the movies simplistic version of things. And yet theres something in the way Matchett looks at Maud that suggests pity, or else some sort of private communion between these two women, in which the well-to-do outsiders simple act of encouragement has the capacity to transform a life of loneliness and pain.

In addition to capturing local expressions and color, Whites script ever-so-gradually reveals facets of Mauds past that dont make it to her Wikipedia listing or the short museum biographies that accompany her work, the most heartbreaking of which involves the fate of an early pregnancy (inspiring the most touching act of tenderness on Everetts part). And yet, there remains something in the films approach  or perhaps its Walshs background as a television director  that flattens much of the resulting portrait. The overall effect isnt nearly so rudimentary as one of Lewis paintings might have been, though what little dimension Maudie offers is a direct result of Hawkins contributions, which draw from her characters past to add texture to her performance.

While Hawkins could hardly be described as a big woman, shes a giant compared with the real Maud, a broken, bird-like creature with stooped shoulders, a crooked spine, and tiny, twisted hands. It would be easy  and to many audiences, laughable, given fast-changing standards of performance  for the actress to get lost in trying to replicate Mauds condition. Instead, Hawkins tries to convey her soul, and a short clip from Diane Beaudrys National Film Board doc Maud Lewis: A World Without Shadows, seen at the end of the narrative, suggests that the actress has captured more in her subjects eyes than she might have accomplished in her physique.

If it werent for Hawkins, there would be little to distinguish Maudie from the sort of 16mm filmstrip made for schoolchildren back in the day  not even the films charming folk-music score, by Cowboy Junkies guitarist Michael Timmins, is quite enough to set it apart. Cinematographer Guy Godfree incorporates lovely Nova Scotia landscapes, in which gorgeous skies loom large over darker, more monochromatic foregrounds, a la Andrew Wyeth, while production designer John Hand meticulously recreates Mauds magnum opus  the little 1012-foot cottage that served as her ever-evolving canvas  both inside and out. Today, the original sits in the Art Gallery of Nova Scotia. Lets see your kid do that.

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If theres one Hollywood star you would trust to crash-land a commercial airliner without injuring a soul on board, it would surely be Tom Hanks. After risking his life in order to save his crew in Captain Phillips, the two-time Oscar-winner takes to the skies  and mere moments later, to the chilly waters of the Hudson River, after a flock of birds blows out both engines of US Airways Flight 1549  in a remarkable true story that inspires confidence not only in its leading man, but in honest, hard-working Americans everywhere.

Directed by Clint Eastwood with the same kind of unpretentious professionalism the film makes a point of celebrating in its protagonist, Sully retells the so-called Miracle on the Hudson through the eyes of Capt. Chesley Sullenberger, who pulled off the incredible landing  if landing is indeed the right word when a plane touches down on open water  based on his book, Highest Duty. For audiences, getting to witness the feat in question is far and away the films biggest selling point (and no doubt the reason why it will be opening simultaneously on Imax screens Sept. 9), but Eastwood and screenwriter Todd Komarnicki have opted for a counterintuitive approach, withholding the flight itself for as long as possible and focusing primarily on the aftermath of the accident, as Sully tortures himself with questions of what he might have done differently, and as a team of National Transportation Safety Board investigators attempt to ask him the same thing.

While that means more of the film is set in the hot seat of inquest chambers and courtrooms than in the cockpit itself, starting after the plane has safely landed is a shrewd storytelling strategy for multiple reasons. Not least of these is that it allows Eastwood to parcel out multiple impressions of the incident  from extended flashbacks to crude simulations  over the course of movie, effectively offering audiences six plane-crashes for the price of one.

In fact, the film, which runs an efficient 96 minutes, in Eastwoods typical no-fat style, holds back on what really happened until more than an hour in, and instead opens with a vivid nightmare in which Sully imagines a far different outcome had he followed through on his initial strategy of returning to LaGuardia Airport with practically no thrust in either engine, culminating in a fiery demise for all aboard as Flight 1549 crashes into a skyscraper. And then he wakes up.

The unsettling dream sequence is strangely less exciting than such airline-disaster openings as those in Flight and Alive. And yet, distasteful as it may be to watch a plane smash into the New York skyline, conjuring images of 9/11, its a reminder that Sullenbergers actions potentially saved more than the lives of his 155 airline passengers.

This isnt the first time Eastwood has opened a film with a major CG cataclysm: In the relatively heavy-handed Hereafter, he kicked off proceedings by demolishing the coast of Thailand with a dramatic recreation of the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami. While only a dream sequence, Sullys opening feels less like a stunt from a director who alternates between sober, seemingly timeless portraits of exceptional personalities (American Sniper, Million Dollar Baby), and corny, cardboard melodramas too old-fashioned in their approach (Jersey Boys, Changeling), occasionally landing somewhere in the middle (a la Flags of Our Fathers). Sully is an example of the last done right: a straightforward tribute to the extraordinary actions taken by an irreproachable character who refuses to see himself as a hero. Its not a particularly great Clint Eastwood movie  it ranks perhaps ninth or 10th on a resume of 35 features, two of them best picture winners  but its one that promises to resonate in a big way with Americans at this moment in time.

Ripped from the headlines, Sully offers a rare example of a movie inspired by good news  the best news, as one character points out, that New York has heard in a long time, especially with an airplane in it. And because most Americans already know the outcome, it makes sense to focus on the less-known what happened next of it all, after Flight 1549 had faded from the TV news cycle. (In the film, whenever theres a television in a scene  whether in a bar or a hotel or back home at the Sullenberger residence  its covering the story.) What most people dont know is the cruel irony that despite saving everyones lives, Sully still had to answer to the NTSB, which felt that his decision to effect a forced water landing had actually endangered everyone aboard. According to protocol, Sully should have returned to LaGuardia, or else tried to land at nearby Teterboro Airport, and both the airlines insurance company and Sully himself are faced with the consequences of his decision  one thats informed by the pilot having delivered nearly a million passengers over some 40 years.

Sullenberger may be haunted (visions of crashing planes become a recurring motif), but hes not alone. His co-pilot, Jeff Skiles (Aaron Eckhart), sticks to Sullys side like a faithful collie, while his wife Lorrie (Laura Linney) offers encouragement from home via phone. But Sullys network of support extends far beyond that, relying on all the other professionals who played a role that day, from the air-traffic controllers to the flight attendants to the emergency-response crew, and though viewers will shake their heads at the injustice of the fact that the authorities held Sullys feet to the fire for what happened, Eastwoods message is one of appreciation for those who responded to a crisis in which everyone survived, where the pilot did his job, and where people acted admirably across the board. As Skiles tells the NTSB investigating committee, Youre not used to having answers to your guesses. (He also gets the movies last laugh, an odd, OK, I guess we can all go home now chuckle.)

In terms of acting, theres not a whole lot for the supporting cast to do other than support, and some of the extras (most notably the passengers) can be distractingly amateurish at times. This is Hanks show, and he delivers a typically strong performance, quickly allowing us to forget that were watching an actor. With his snowy white hair and moustache to match, Hanks conveys a man confident in his abilities, yet humble in his actions, which could also be said of Eastwood as a director. As unfussy as ever, Eastwood juggles the scripts odd chronology-bending structure, steering by his central characters conscience throughout, while supplying another of his simple piano scores, which doubles as the melody for end-credits song Were All Flying Home  though if ever there was a film that called for The Wind Beneath My Wings, this is it.

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Telluride Film Review: 'Una'

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The first-anywhere screening of Sully - Clint Eastwood's drama starring Tom Hanks as US Airways pilot Chesley "Sully" Sullenberger - was the marquee attraction of night one of the 43rd Telluride Film Festival. The reaction of festgoers (polite applause and respectful post-screening chatter) wasn't as exuberant as the reaction earlier in the day to fest-opener La La Land, but then again, Sully's story is quite different, to say the least.

Read more: 'Sully' Premiere: Clint Eastwood Defends Scenes of Planes Crashing Into Manhattan Skyscrapers

One might assume that Sully - like many other recent movies, from 2012's Argo and Zero Dark Thirty to another film about a flight gone wrong, 2006's United 93 - is a film where audiences know the ending before it begins. However, it turns out that it does not belong in that category at all. In fact, the story we all know - "The Miracle on the Hudson," wherein a plane lost both of its engines to a bird strike but none of the 155 souls on board died thanks to the brilliance of its experienced pilot - is just the beginning of the tale.

Instead, the film focuses on the aftermath of the near-crash - the successful water landing - which left Sully feeling less like the hero he was portrayed as in the media than maybe the cause of the crash itself. The pic itself feels like a nightmare, from a powerful first scene through numerous revisitations of the flight itself (which will give anyone pause before flying again). In that sense, it evokes 2012's Flight, but unlike the character that Denzel Washington played in that film en route to a best actor Oscar nom, Hanks' Sully ultimately doesn't believe he did anything wrong.

Read more: 'Sully': Telluride Review

What makes this somber film palatable is Hanks' deeply moving performance. We're used to seeing the actor play either an all-American everyman or a hero. In this case, he plays someone who is both - like the main characters in many of Howard Hawks' films, and many of Eastwood's, too, Hanks' Sully is just a man committed to doing his job well and getting home to his family. Grey-haired and mustached, with little dialogue apart from some monologues at the end, the actor is anything but showy. But it's hard to imagine anyone playing the part better.

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It's been 16 years since Hanks, a two-time Academy Award winner, was last nominated for an Oscar. Partly, that's because he often has played understated parts, and partly, it's because many audiences take him for granted. For those same reasons, I'm afraid he may be left out again this year. But if, like Meryl Streep in the year of The Iron Lady, he offers indications that the recognition of the Hollywood community still means something to him, he might just get it.
London (AFP) - Bradley Wiggins will be the star attraction as the Olympic champion enjoys a prolonged farewell ride in the Tour of Britain.

Britain's Wiggins won an eighth Olympic medal and fifth gold as part of the team pursuit squad in Rio last month.

The 36-year-old is set to end his glittering 14-year career at the Ghent Six in November, making the Tour of Britain, which begins on Sunday, his final race on home roads.

Wiggins won the British race in 2013 and his presence among eight Rio medallists is the headline act as he says an emotional goodbye to his adoring fans.

Owain Doull, who was also in Britain's team pursuit squad, will line up alongside him in the Team Wiggins squad.

Mark Cavendish will be back in Team Dimension Data colours after taking silver in the men's omnium on the track in Brazil while the man who beat him to gold, Italian Elia Viviani, will race for Team Sky.

Holland's Olympic time trial silver medallist Tom Dumoulin will race for Giant-Alpecin while three members of Australia's silver-winning team pursuit squad - Jack Bobridge (Trek-Segafredo), Alex Edmondon and Michael Hepburn (both Orica-BikeExchange) - will also ride.

They are just part of a strong field which should set up an intriguing battle over eight stages which take the riders from Glasgow to London via Wales and Devon.

The Tour starts with Sunday's stage from Glasgow to Castle Douglas, the opening 161.6 kilometres of a 1281.6km route which finishes on Regent Street in London on September 11.
In his latest effort to win over minority voters, Donald Trump on Saturday addressed a largely African-American audience in Detroit, delivering a message of unity in a speech out of character for the opinionated, outspoken candidate.



The 70-year-old GOP nominee spoke softly as he addressed members of the Great Faith Ministries, focusing on economic hardship and praising the African-American church for being the "conscience of this country."



"The African-American faith community has been one of God's greatest gifts to America and its people," he said.



"I'm here today to learn, so that we can together remedy injustice in any form, and so that we can also remedy economics so that the African-American community can benefit economically through jobs and income and so many other different ways."









Thank you Great Faith Ministries International, Bishop Wayne T. Jackson, and Detroit! https://t.co/4Ucx678ZCC a Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) September 3, 2016





He added: "I believe we need a civil rights agenda for our time."



He concluded his speech with a scripture from the Bible.





Donald Trump inside Detroit's Great Faith Ministries church. pic.twitter.com/tGwxT2cGkR a Jacob Rascon (@Jacobnbc) September 3, 2016





His visit to the church was met with protests, according to NBC News, with demonstrators outside the building shouting "No Trump!" and holding signs that read "No hate in the White House."



After his speech, the presidential hopeful toured Detroit neighborhoods with Ben Carson and Omarosa Manigault, who was recently appointed as Trump's director of African-American outreach for his campaign.





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Bishop Jackson just gifted Trump a prayer shaw, draping it over his shoulders. pic.twitter.com/QkWpC5c4vN a Trymaine Lee (@trymainelee) September 3, 2016





The Detroit church visit is just Trump's latest effort to woo minorities  specifically African-American and Hispanic voters. He recently visited Mexico to meet with the country's president Enrique Pena Nieto.



Last month, Trump spoke at a Minnesota rally asking what African-Americans "have to lose" by voting for him as he spoke to the majority white crowd.





Donald Trump slams Morning Joe hosts as 'two clowns'



"You're living in poverty. Your schools are no good. You have no jobs. Fifty-eight percent of your youth is unemployed. What the hell do you have to lose?"



Ahead of his recent efforts, Trump's campaign has been marred by controversial remarks from the candidate about minorities, women and immigrants, including a call to ban all Muslims from entering the United States and implying that Mexican immigrants are rapists. (He later backed down on his Muslim ban and clarified that he didn't mean to imply that all Mexican immigrants are rapists.)



A recent NBC News poll showed that only 8 percent of African-American voters support Trump while 87 percent favor his opponent Hillary Clinton.
Washington (AFP) - A black televangelist who has been a campaign surrogate for Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump has admitted he "overstated" his accomplishments in a biography posted on his church's website.

Mark Burns walked off the set of a CNN interview that aired Saturday after being confronted with questions about claims made on the website about his educational background and military service.

The website page has since been pulled down.

Burns issued a statement Friday declaring he was being attacked "because I am a black man supporting Donald Trump for president."

He admitted, however, that "as a young man starting my church in Greenville, South Carolina, I overstated several details of my biography because I was worried I wouldn't be taken seriously as a new pastor."

In the CNN interview, Burns acknowledged he had not graduated from North Greenville University as stated on the church website page nor was he admitted to a historically black fraternity, Kappa Alpha Psi, as claimed.

Other discrepancies raised in the CNN interview were that Burns served in the South Carolina National Guard, not in the army reserves as the website said, and that he had enrolled but never advanced in a master's program at Anderson Theological Seminary.

Burns spoke at the Republican National Convention in July on behalf of Trump, and has since made appearances as a surrogate for the New York billionaire, who is currently on a charm offensive to win over black voters.

Burns had to apologize last week after posting a cartoon of Trump's Democratic rival, Hillary Clinton, in blackface, offending African American voters.
Washington (AFP) - If the United States fails to crack down on immigration, according to the Donald Trump camp, the nation will be inundated with criminals, illicit drugs and job-stealers.

And tacos.

The popular Mexican dish that includes a tortilla shell filled with meat, vegetables and cheese is the latest threat facing Americans if the Republican presidential candidate loses, the co-founder of Latinos for Trump told MSNBC.

"My culture is a very dominant culture. It is imposing and it's causing problems," Marco Gutierrez said Thursday.

"If you don't do something about it, you're going to have taco trucks (on) every corner."

The earnest warning unleashed a flurry of social media activity, with many Americans relishing in the idea of life in a country where taco trucks rule the streets.

"A chicken in every pot, a car in every garage, & #TacoTrucksOnEveryCorner," comedian and actor Orlando Jones tweeted, using a hashtag that quickly went viral.

"If this is wrong. Then I don't want to be right. #ImWithHer," tweeted another user, using Clinton's campaign slogan.

The post included an image of breakfast tacos, a Texas morning staple that often includes eggs and chorizo sausage.

Gutierrez's alert came the night after Trump delivered a fiery speech outlining his harsh immigration plan, which would include stepping up deportations, cancelling President Barack Obama's executive orders protecting millions of undocumented migrants, and blocking federal funding to so-called "sanctuary cities" that bar discrimination against the undocumented.

His rival Hillary Clinton has expressed support for a pathway to citizenship for most of America's undocumented.

Her campaign called Trump's plan part of his "campaign of hate."

"In his darkest speech yet, Donald Trump doubled down on his anti-immigrant rhetoric and attempted to divide communities by pitting people against each other and demonizing immigrants," it said in a statement.

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#TacoTrucksOnEveryCorner is not the first time the internet has had a field day with taco symbolism this campaign season.

On May 5 -- the Cinco de Mayo holiday that commemorates Mexican resistance -- Trump posted a photograph of himself tucking into a taco salad, a dish of American origin.

Under the picture the billionaire wrote: "Happy #CincoDeMayo! The best taco bowls are made in Trump Tower Grill. I love Hispanics!"

Many considered the tweet a weak attempt at wooing the important Hispanic-American voting bloc, which Trump has largely alienated.

The billionaire candidate launched his campaign last year by declaring that Mexico was sending "rapists" and other criminals across the border.
Ankara (AFP) - Turkish aid for the Gaza Strip has been sent from the country's southern coast for the second time since relations were normalised between Israel and Ankara in June, a Turkish official said Saturday.

A humanitarian aid ship bound for southern Israel's Ashdod port left Mersin on Friday, the official said, "the second major shipment of humanitarian aid to Gaza since an agreement was reached".

The shipment is the first since Turkish lawmakers ratified the deal to normalise ties between the two countries last month.

Under the deal, Israel will pay Turkey $20 million (17.7 million euros) in compensation for a botched Israeli commando raid on a Gaza-bound Turkish aid ship in 2010 that left 10 Turks dead.

The official, who did not wish to be named, said Ankara had sent 100 wheelchairs, 1,000 bicycles, 100,000 backpacks and stationery kits, 300,000 pieces of clothing and 350,000 nappies.

The shipment also contained 1,288 tons of flour, 170 tons of rice, 64 tons of sugar, 95 tons of vegetable oil, the official said.

"We expect the items to be distributed to the people of Gaza before the upcoming Islamic holiday," the official said, referring to the Eid al-Adha holiday, around September 12.

The first shipment reached Gaza on July 4 just in time for the Muslim Eid celebrations marking the end of Ramadan fasting.

Turkey's ruling Islamic-rooted Justice and Development Party has friendly ties with Gaza's Hamas rulers, and President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has been a vocal supporter of the Palestinian cause.
BEIRUT (Reuters) - Turkish-backed Syrian rebels seized several villages from Islamic State on Saturday near Turkey's border with Syria, in further advances against the jihadist group, the insurgents and monitors said. The Hamza Brigade, a group fighting under the banner of the Free Syrian Army, said it had taken control of Arab Ezza, a village near which Turkish warplanes carried out air strikes on Friday. A source in the Failaq al-Sham rebel group said FSA factions had also captured the villages of Fursan, Lilawa, Kino and Najma just south of Arab Ezza. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights monitoring group confirmed that the rebels had taken several villages. Turkey last week launched its first major incursion into Syria since the civil war began five years ago. Its tanks and warplanes are backing rebels who are fighting separately against both Islamic State and the Kurdish YPG militia. Ankara's offensive has alarmed the West, with Washington saying that action aimed at the YPG, part of a U.S.-backed coalition also fighting against Islamic State, risks undermining the broader goal of ridding Syria of the jihadist group. Turkish forces and their Syrian rebel allies began the Aug. 24 offensive by seizing Jarablus, a Syrian frontier town, from Islamic State, before turning their sights on what the army said were YPG positions. The YPG denied they were there. Arab Ezza is about 30 km (20 miles) west of Jarablus. (Reporting by John Davison and Tom Perry; Editing by Andrew Bolton)
(ISTANBUL)  Turkish tanks crossed into Syria to the west of a frontier town seized from ISIS last week, in a new phase of an operation aimed at sealing off the last stretch of border controlled by the extremists.

By nightfall, Syrian rebels backed by the Turkish forces seized seven villages from ISIS, according to local journalist Ahmad al-Khatib.

The private Dogan news agency reported at least 20 tanks and five armored personnel carriers crossed at the Turkish border town of Elbeyli, across from the Syrian rebel-held town of al-Rai. The new incursion is unfolding about 55 kilometers (34 miles) west of Jarablus, where Turkish forces first crossed into Syria 10 days ago.

A spokesman for one of Turkish-backed Syrian factions said 100 Turkish troops accompanied 30 tanks across the border, linking up with the rebels at al-Rai. He spoke on the condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to talk about the Turkish troops.

Rebels and Turkish forces are now advancing in two directions, to the east from al-Rai and to the west from Jarablus, to seal the border. The rebels advancing from Jarablus say they captured three more villages from the extremists on Saturday.

ISIS, which once controlled hundreds of miles of territory along the Turkish border and used it to bring in foreign fighters and supplies, now only rules a 21-kilometer (13-mile) stretch of the frontier. The group has suffered a string of defeats in recent months in both Syria and Iraq.

Some 5,000 U.S. and Turkish-backed Syrian rebels have crossed into northern Syria from Turkey to participate in the so-called Euphrates Shield operation, according to local journalist Adnan al-Hussein, who is embedded with the groups.

Three rockets fired from ISIS-held territory in Syria meanwhile struck the Turkish border town of Kilis, some 30 kilometers (19 miles) from Elbeyli, according to the Turkish governors office, which said one person was lightly wounded. Dogan says rockets have killed 21 Kilis residents and wounded scores since January.

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The Turkish military responded to the rockets on Saturday with howitzers, striking two weapons depots and bunkers, and destroying the locations and the Daesh terrorists there, the state-run Anadolu news agency said, referring to ISIS by an Arabic acronym.

Turkeys military says its right to self-defense as well as U.N. resolutions to combat the ISIS group justify its Syria incursions.

Turkey and allied Syrian rebels have also fought U.S.-backed Kurdish forces known as the Peoples Protection Units, or YPG, around Jarablus. Turkey views the YPG as an extension of the Kurdistan Workers Party, or PKK, which Turkey and its allies consider a terrorist organization.

The U.S. has provided extensive aid and airstrikes to the YPG-led Syria Democratic Forces, which have proven to be highly effective against ISIS. The Syria Democratic Forces, which also includes Arab fighters, has taking a large swath of territory from the extremists along the border with Turkey and closed in on Raqqa, the de facto capital of the extremist groups self-styled caliphate.

___

Associated Press writer Philip Issa in Beirut contributed to this report.
BEIRUT (Reuters) - Turkish tanks entered the Syrian town of al-Rai near the border on Saturday in support of a new insurgent attack against Islamic State, a rebel spokesman said. "They (the tanks) entered the attack now," said Mohammed Rasheed of the Jaish al-Nasr rebel group, which operates under the banner of the Free Syrian Army. The wider offensive against Islamic State along the Syria-Turkey border is being waged by Turkish-backed FSA factions and has been supported by Turkish tanks and warplanes. (Reporting by John Davison; Editing by Jon Boyle)
By Roberta Rampton and Nathaniel Taplin HANGZHOU, China (Reuters) - China and the United States ratified the Paris agreement to cut climate-warming emissions on Saturday, marking a major step toward the enactment of the pact as early as the end of the year and setting the stage for other countries to follow suit. The world's two biggest emitters of greenhouse gases made the landmark announcement as heads of state from the Group of 20 biggest economies, or G20, arrived for a summit in the city of Hangzhou, parts of which resembled a ghost town as Chinese security locked down the area. U.S. President Barack Obama's last scheduled trip to Asia before leaving office however got off to an awkward start. Soon after Air Force One landed, a Chinese security official blocked National Security Adviser Susan Rice on the tarmac, speaking angrily to her before a Secret Service agent stepped between the two. China has gone to great lengths to try to make the Sept 4-5 G20 summit a success, hoping to cement its standing as a global power, but a range of thorny diplomatic topics could overshadow the agenda. G20 leaders are likely to renew their promises to use tax and spending policies to invigorate the sluggish world economy, although a new pro-growth push was unlikely. Overcapacity in the global steel industry, a sore point for China as the world's largest producer of the metal, barriers to foreign investment and the risk of currency devaluations to protect export markets will also figure in the discussions. Beyond economics, there may be friction over territorial disputes in the South China Sea and a U.S.-South Korea decision to deploy a missile defense system in South Korea to counter missile and nuclear threats from North Korea. When Obama met Chinese President Xi Jinping, he told him they would have candid talks on cyber, human rights and maritime issues. Nevertheless, the climate deal set a positive tone.. "Just as I believe the Paris agreement will ultimately prove to be a turning point for our planet, I believe that history will judge today's efforts as pivotal," Obama said after he and Xi handed ratified documents to UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon. "We have a saying in America that you need to put your money where your mouth is. And when it comes to combating climate change, that's what we're doing. Both the United States and China, we're leading by example." At a joint ceremony, Xi said it "speaks to the shared ambition and resolve of China and the United States in addressing global issues". French President Francois Hollande said it was an important step that would pave the way for the implementation of the Paris agreement at the end of the year. RESIDENTS LEAVE IN DROVES The stakes are high for China to pull off a trouble-free G20 summit, its highest profile event of the year, and security in Hangzhou was intense. Volunteer security agents prevented journalists from filming in deserted parts of the normally bustling city of 9 million people. Residents left in droves after authorities declared a week-long holiday for the summit, shut down the city's famous West Lake beauty spot and offered free travel vouchers worth up to 10 billion yuan ($1.5 billion) to encourage people to visit out-of-town attractions. More than 200 steel mills in surrounding districts were shut as part of a bid to limit pollution. With the summit wedged in between the Brexit vote and the U.S. presidential election, G20 leaders will be keen to mount a defense of free trade and globalization. Concerns about subdued growth will be a major concern. The world's biggest economies have pulled out the monetary policy stops to promote growth, but central banks are now "pretty close" to the limits of their ability to stimulate economies, said Angel Gurria, head of the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD). In the absence of "breakthrough, collective" policies, global growth was likely to remain weak, he told Reuters. "We have left our good central bankers to do all the heavy lifting." In separate remarks to Reuters, Pascal Saint-Amans, the director of the OECD's Centre for Tax Policy and Administration, addressed the thorny issue of multinational corporate tax liability, which the European Commission's recent decision against Apple Inc has brought into sharp relief. The European Commission said this week that Apple owed up to 13 billion euros ($14.50 billion) in back taxes to Ireland, based on existing regulations, a decision that both Apple and Ireland, which relies on low taxes to attract investment, have vowed to fight. China is using the G20 to push its diplomatic agenda with a raft of bilateral meetings. China and Turkey pledged earlier in the day to boost counter-terrorism ties, setting aside previous disagreements over China's treatment of a Turkic-speaking Muslim minority. (Reporting by Kevin Yao, Sue-Lin Wong, Michael Martina, Roberta Rampton, Engen Tham, Ruby Lian and Ben Blanchard; Additional reporting by Dominique Vidalon in Paris; Writing by John Ruwitch; Editing by Raju Gopalakrishnan)
By Michelle Nichols JUBA (Reuters) - The United Nations Security Council, acting on concerns South Sudan could again fall back into full-scale civil war, arrived in the country on Friday to demand that President Salva Kiir's government stop obstructing U.N. peacekeepers and cooperate on the deployment of 4,000 more foreign troops or possibly face an arms embargo. The 15-member council agreed last month to consider an arms embargo on South Sudan, the world's newest nation, if U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon reports next Thursday that Kiir's government has not stepped up its efforts to work with the world body. "It would be premature to assess whether the level of cooperation is sufficient, but ... it is extremely important for us to convey to the government of South Sudan that time is of the essence," U.S. Ambassador Samantha Power told reporters. The council is due to meet with Kiir and his ministers over the weekend. "The international community is extremely frustrated with the obstruction of U.N. peacekeeping operations that has gone on for too long," said Power, who, along with Senegal, is co-leading the three-day Security Council visit. Fierce fighting in mid-July between troops loyal to Kiir and those backing former Vice President Riek Machar raised fears the five-year old state could slide back into full civil war, prompting the Security Council to approve a regional protection force to ensure peace in Juba. East African regional trade bloc IGAD pushed for the protection force, which will fall under the command of the U.N peacekeeping force known as UNMISS. "This regional protection force can be very important in enhancing the sense of security and building confidence and in allowing UNMISS to have capacity to go out and about and go beyond the protection of civilian sites," Power said. Since civil war erupted in South Sudan in December 2013, sparked by a longtime political rivalry between Kiir and Machar, U.N. peacekeepers have been protecting tens of thousands of civilians sheltering at several U.N. bases around the country. Thousands of people have been killed and millions displaced by the conflict. Kiir and Machar signed a peace deal a year ago, but fighting has persisted and Machar has now fled the country and is in Sudan. "We should send a very strong signal that there is unity in the council that the current state of a affairs is a no-go," said Russian Deputy U.N. Ambassador Petr Iliichev. A senior council diplomat, speaking on condition of anonymity ahead of the trip, said the levels of cooperation needed from the South Sudan to avoid an arms embargo are "nowhere near being met." Iliichev said, however, that Russia - a council veto power - was not comfortable with the idea of imposing an arms embargo. "The main problem is not with new weapons coming in. The country is inundated with weapons and nothing is being done on disarmament, demobilization and reintegration," he said. The council will also assess the "ability and willingness" of peacekeepers to protect civilians and aid workers in danger, according to the terms for the trip, seen by Reuters, following accusations that U.N. troops failed to respond properly to deadly attacks and rapes, most recently in Juba. The United Nations is investigating the accusations. "We have a lot of questions about how those attacks can have occurred and why there has been no visible accountability for the perpetrators of those attacks," Power said. (Editing by Steve Orlofsky)
UFC

Hello, fight fans! UFCs freight train of events continues as heavyweights thunder into Hamburg, Germany with Fight Night 93. The bouts kick off with 11:30 a.m. ET on Fight Pass. The main card begins at 3 p.m. ET and will also be on Fight Pass, so make sure those subscriptions are up to date.

2016 Important Results:

Jessica: 143-119-4 (55 percent)

Burnsy: 104-105-3 (49 percent)

Ryan: 5-1 (83 percent)

Jason: 55-46-1 (54 percent)

Bill: 33-22 (60 percent)

Jared: 24-21 (53 percent)

Jackman: 7-5 (58 percent)

Enrique: 7-5 (58 percent)

Jamie: 16-13-1 (55 percent)

Justin: 13-4 (76 percent)

Marty: 20-12-1 (62 percent)

Parker: 3-4 (43 percent)

Team Davis: 75-58-3 (56 percent)

Dan: 4-1 (80 percent)

Lightweight: Nick The Sergeant Hein vs. Tae Hyun Supernatural Bang

Jessica: My Dude Tae Hyun finished on top of that epic KUNTZ N BANG N BANG N KUNTZ clash last year, so hes riding high off that victory. Heins done okay for himself, but the Large Sarge is no match for a frontal assault by BANG. Tae Hyun wins by second round TKO.

Burnsy: I feel like I always pick Hein and he always lets me down, even though my picks are at 100 percent all-time. Ill stick with the Sarge here because my guts telling me that hes gonna light it up.

Jason: You would think that after all this time, The Sergeant would get promoted, but no. NO! Have to go Supernatural on this one.

Jared: Its a battle as old as time itself: South Korean slugger vs. German television star. The odds seem to be leaning in Heins favor, but Bang has a serious power advantage here and I like him to score the upset via TKO.

Bill: Its really hard to pick against Bang here. I think hes going to have a spectacular knockout and get himself one of those nice bonus checks.

Light Heavyweight: Ryan Darth Bader vs. Ilir The Sledgehammer Latifi

Jessica: While there is a chance that Bader uses wrestling or his admittedly heavy hands to ruin my night, I have to, HAVE TO, go with My Main Man Ilir and his nuclear punches to put Bader to rest. Latifi wins by first round KO.

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Burnsy: I cant pick against Latifi, just because I know that hell punch a hole through the space-time continuum and Ill regret doubting him as Im sucked into another dimension.

Jason: There is nothing I want more than for Latifi to win this fight and go on to not only Anthony Johnson and Daniel Cormier, but also Jon Jones. This is the first step, you glorious rider of horses. Latifi via 1.5-second KO.

Jared: Given the rate at which massive upsets have been happening this year, his is the kind of fight that seems primed for Latifi to catch Bader with one of his sledgehammer overhand rights early and finish him. That said, Bader has looked pretty incredible against anyone not named Anthony Johnson lately, and Im just not sure that Latifi is at his level yet. Bader.

Bill: Bader is one of those guys you always root for, but I think hes going to get wrecked here.

Light Heavyweight: Alexander The Mauler Gustafsson vs. Jan Blachowicz

Jessica: Seriously? This is the co-main? A gimme fight for Swede Man to get back into the title picture? Sure, okay. Gustafsson is going to kickbox Jan a whole lot and rip him to bits. Gustafsson wins by second round TKO.

Burnsy: Gustafsson needs a gimme after losing three of his last four, and especially since those were all fights that mattered. Maybe a quick, painful thrashing of whoever Blachowicz is will be just what the doctor ordered for the big Swede who cant seem to seal the deal when it matters most.

Jason: Burnsy is right, this is Gus getting back on track and he should do it handily.

Jared: Cmon, guys. Lusty Gusty has this one.

Bill: Easiest fight weve had to pick in a while. Gustafsson.

Heavyweight: Andrei Pitbull Arlovski vs. Josh The Warmaster Barnett

Jessica: Oh heck yeah! Two big ol Beef Boyz throwing down! Both dudes are coming off a loss, which has got to be a rarity for main events. Arlovski is always dangerous to knock a fool cold, but hes also more than capable of taking an early nap. Barnetts got a solid chin, but hey, so did Robert Glenn Lawler (Im still crying and barfing over UFC 201). Im going to give the edge to Barnetts grappling. Josh wins this by second round submission. (Probably an arm triangle, all things considered.)

Burnsy: Buzz, your heavyweight division, woof! Well, this is a card that exists and its free, so I guess I shouldnt complain. Ill take Barnett to end what was sort of like a comeback run for Arlovski, even though he lost his last fight, too. Somewhere out there, a big beefy baby was just born and one day he will save this sad division.

Jason: This is an amazing fight in like, four different eras of MMA. The super early years, Pride-era, maybe Dream-era or Strikeforce era, and now the post-Zuffa era. I dont know who to pick  Argh! Barnett via decision.

Jared: This is going to be another one of these cards where I go 2-2 at best, huh? I make it a habit to never bet on heavyweight fights, because any sense of strategy or analysis tends to go out the window after the first round, but when you factor in that this heavyweight fight in particular is between two aging legends who have been splitting wins and losses lately? I might as well flip a coin.

Barnett is undoubtedly the tougher of the two, but he doesnt have the kind of power or even proficiency that could test Arlovskis cracked chin. He could outwrestle him, maybe, but Barnett has also not looked that great physically in his past couple fights (even for Barnett) and I dont see him being able to hold Arlovski down for five rounds. Barnett has solid submissionsbut Arlovski has never been submitted. Its really hard to make a definitive prediction either way, but Im going to take Arlovski based on the fact that he just seems to have more left in the tank (and KO power to boot). Heck, less than a year ago we were talking about giving Arlovski a title shot, which is way more than what can be said for Barnett.

Bill: Im excited as hell for this fight and Ill never pick against my boy Josh Barnett. Just not gonna happen.

Performance of the Night

Jessica: Latifi, Macedo

Burnsy: Gustafsson, Latifi

Jason: Gustafsson, Latifi

Jared: Gustafsson, Bang

Bill: Gustafsson, Barnett

Fight of the Night

Jessica: Lapilus vs. Issa

Burnsy: Latifi vs. Bader

Jason: Arlovski vs. Barnett

Jared: Askham vs. Hermansson

Bill: Arlovski vs. Barnett
Longtime MMA fans were left drooling by UFC: Hamburgs main event. Two old-school UFC heavyweight champions, finally meeting after nearly coming to blows for over a decade, and it lived up to the hype.

Josh Barnett def. Andrei Arlovski via rear-naked choke submission (round 3). The fight started fast with both men throwing down hard. Each man was rocked with heavy hands then the combat sambo vs catch wrestling fight began in earnest. Arlovski was busted open early, and he would chip away at Barnett on the ground as the blood leaked. When it went to the feet, Andrei would throw heat while Barnett would look to employ his clinch game in order to wear down Arlovski.

Round 2 saw twists and turns with both men landing shots and takedowns. The second round ended with Barnett in mount, landing shots, but the bell saved AA. In round 3, Arlovski pushed Barnett back, and the fight was nearly over after an eye poke, but Barnett recovered, reveresed a takedown then made Arlovski tap. Brilliant fight from the old guys.

Arlovski w/ the takedown but Barnett reverses and gets full mount! #UFCHamburg https://t.co/nTTYVtf2kK  #UFCHamburg (@ufc) September 3, 2016

Alexander Gustafsson def. Jan Bachowicz via unanimous decision. Gus got off to a shaky start and took some hits to the chin, but he began working his takedowns and ground away at Bachowicz with sharp elbows. Despite these highlights, most of the fight took place on the ground, with Gus dominating. This was surprisingly Gus first win since March of 2014.

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Ryan Bader def. Ilir Latifi via KO (round 2). Latifi sent Bader to the mat with a heavy right hand, but both men struggled to get anything going in the first. In the second, Latifi continued to overpower Bader, and even led to Bader shooting for a takedown, then OH MY GOD (check out the replay here).

Nick Hein def. Tae Hyun Bang via unanimous decision.

Prelims



Jessin Ayari def. Jim Wallhead via split-decision.

Two biggest shots of the fight landed by @JudoJimmy here in the second! #UFCHamburg https://t.co/rPMKNA1mP1  #UFCHamburg (@ufc) September 3, 2016

Peter Sobotta def. Nicolas Dalby via lopsided unanimous decision. There were 10-8 rounds on every judges scorecard.

Ashlee Evans-Smith def. Veronica Macedo via TKO (round 3).

Taylor Lapilus def. Leandro Issa via unanimous decision.

Christian Colombo vs. Jarjis Danho ends in a majority draw.

Jack Hermansson def. Scott Askham via unanimous decision.

Rustam Khabilov def. Leandro Silva via unanimous decision.
Second-ranked light heavyweight Alexander Gustafsson snapped a two-fight losing streak in the UFC Fight Night 93 co-main event on Saturday, defeating up-and-comer Jan Blachowicz by unanimous decision.

Heading into the fight, Blachowicz believed the key to defeating Gustafsson was pressure. His game plan was to take the fight to the Swede, and he employed that strategy in the octagon. Blachowicz' right hand landed early and regularly. He opened up a cut un der Gustafsson's right eye with a left hook. After absorbing shots, Gustafsson decided to get the fight to the ground.

Late in the opening frame, Gustafsson secured a trip takedown and delivered a steady dose of short elbows. One caused a laceration on the forehead of Blachowicz.

RELATED > UFC Fight Night 93: Arlovski vs. Barnett Full Live Results and Fight Stats

Blachowicz landed a right hand followed by a combination to start the second frame. Gustafsson changed levels and put his Polish opponent on his back. From there, The Mauler mauled Blachowicz with elbows and hammer fists. Blachowicz was unable to get back to his feet and spent the remainder of the round being peppered with strikes.

The final framed looked a lot like the second round. Blachowicz came out aggressive, landing his right hand. After taking a kick to the body, Gustafsson took Blachowcz down and delivered more punches and elbows. After fifteen minutes, all three judges scored the fight unanimously for Gustafsson.

I was surprised. I knew that he wanted to finish it in the first round, said Gustafsson following the fight. I knew that hes a very powerful puncher. Hes a well-rounded guy, but I knew he wanted to finish me in the first couple of rounds. I knew he would come out hard, so I took the opportunity to take him down.

It was a much needed victory for Gustafsson, who entered the fight having lost three of his last four outings. Back in the win column, Gustafsson set himself up for another run at the title.

I have some things I have to work on. I have to improve everything all the time, but it was a great fight, a great opportunity fight, he said.

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Josh Barnett used size to his advantage, getting the better of Andrei Arlovski in a battle of former UFC heavyweight champions on Saturday at UFC Fight Night 93 in Hamburg, Germany.

With close to 100 fights and four decades of experience between them, its amazing that Arlovski and Barnett havent ever fought before. They nearly fought for Affliction in 2008, but the fight came apart, finally coming back together in Germany all these years later.

After waiting so long for the fight to happen, neither man wasted any time before engaging. In the first 30 seconds of the fight, Barnett landed a right hand that wobbled Arlovski, but the Belarusian returned fire, wobbling Barnett. They werent done yet, though, as Barnett again hit Arlovski, who staggered backward.

Without a finish coming from that opening exchange, Barnett began to employ a strategy of continually clinching Arlovski and pressing him to the fence, using a 20-pound advantage to make Arlovski carry his weight.

RELATED > UFC Fight Night 93: Arlovski vs. Barnett Full Live Results and Fight Stats

Although Arlovski made the first round a close one with some sharp punch combinations, Barnett's clinch work laid the foundation for the rest of the fight.

In round two, Barnett ate a few more punches in the exchanges with Arlovski, but again employed his clinching strategy. Arlovski tripped Barnett to the canvas late in the round, but Barnett reversed position as they hit the canvas, immediately moving into full mount, landing numerous punches and elbows, continuing to wear on his opponent.

The two had some entertaining exchanges to begin round three, but an eye poke that went unnoticed by the referee sent Barnett turning away, and he ate a hard right hand. Not giving up, Barnett locked up with Arlovski, grabbing his left arm in a Kimura hold, and took him to the canvas.

Barnett went to work from half guard, continuing to attack the left arm, and eventually moved to full mount. Arlovski turned to all fours to try and escape, but Barnett immediately took his back and sunk a rear-naked choke for the tap.

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It was a hard-fought battle between two of the sports pioneers, but Barnett would come out on top.

Andrei and I came here to give you guys a great fight. We went for the finish every time. Please give it up for Anrei Arlovski, Barnett said after the fight, sharing the center of the Octagon with his opponent.

Barnett looked as good as he has in recent memory in the victory, but as he well admits, it wasnt as easy as the finish made it look.

The main thing was getting past the physical level. Andrei was strong. He was making me work harder than I wanted to.

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The UN Security Council has met with ministers in South Sudan to convince them of the need for 4,000 additional peacekeepers. The South Sudan government opposes the proposed additional peacekeepers on the grounds that their mandate violates national sovereignty. US ambassador to the UN Samantha Power says she hopes the meeting has "bridged some divides", and insists that peace in the country must go "hand in hand" with justice.
(ANCHORAGE, Alaska)  A rash of unsolved outdoor homicides in Alaskas largest city is putting residents on edge.

Altogether, the deaths of nine people who were killed on Anchorage trails, parks and isolated streets since January remain unsolved  among them three cases involving two victims each.

Its terrifying, said Jennifer Hazen, a longtime resident who lives near Valley of the Moon Park, where two people were found dead early Sunday, one of them on a park bike trail. Hazen walks in the park regularly, and finds some comfort in knowing the unsolved homicides occurred in the middle of the night when she wouldnt be out there anyway.

Im just really shocked about all this happening, said another resident, Yegor Christman as he walked his dog on the bike trail. I thought I lived in a pretty safe area.

Adding to the feeling of vulnerability, Anchorage has had 25 homicides this year. Thats the same number the city had for the entire year in 2015. Even though the number is high, police point out that 1995, with 29 homicides, had the highest numbers in the last two decades.

With 15 homicides since late June, police issued an unusual public advisory this week urging residents to be extra aware of their surroundings, noting that crimes often increase at night and early in the morning.

APD wants to remind our citizens to be cautious when they are out during these hours, especially if they are in isolated areas like our parks, bike trails or unoccupied streets, the police department wrote. If you plan to be out late at night, make sure you travel with several friends and not alone.

Police Chief Chris Tolley downplayed the significance of the advisory, saying police often remind the public to be safe, sometimes through a text messaging system. Earlier this year, police issued a similar safety alert after a series of car break-ins and thefts, Tolley said. The goal was the same in this weeks advisory, to inform the public.

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This is no different, he said. We want our public to be proactive. So this is really a plea to them in their personal safety.

Three of the victims were found alone. Two of those victims had been shot, according to police, who will not say how the other seven died. They wont say what details have been shared with the families of the victims. Relatives could not immediately be reached for comment Friday.

Police have released few details on any of the cases, saying investigators havent made any clear connections between the victims. Asked if police believe a serial killer could be on the loose, police spokeswoman Jennifer Castro said police always try to determine if unsolved crimes are related.

The only common denominators found among the victims are that the deaths occurred outdoors, in the early hours and in isolated places such as trails and unoccupied streets.

John McCleary is a longtime volunteer with the citys Trail Watch program, which was started in 2006 after a string of assaults, mostly against women, on local trails. Trail Watch volunteers serve two purposes, to be the eyes for the police department, reporting any problems, and to create safer conditions on 300 miles of trails with such efforts as cutting down vegetation.

But McCleary, the former director of the program for the city, said hes never seen a situation with so many unsolved killings  and hes been connected with city trails since the late 1970s. He says he feels angry and frustrated that people cant enjoy the trails like they could a decade ago.

This is  so abnormal, he said. It doesnt seem like Im in the same city.

Randall Alcala walks almost daily along the downtown Ship Creek Trail, where two homicide victims were found dead in July. But those deaths, even though unsolved, dont make him feel unsafe.

He just saw a black bear on the trail about a week ago, and is more leery of run-ins with one of the citys hundreds of bears.
BEIJING (Reuters) - China has lost a "true friend" with the death of Uzbekistan President Islam Karimov, Chinese President Xi Jinping said on Saturday in a message of condolence to a country Beijing considers an important partner in its war on terror. Karimov, 78, had served as authoritarian president of ex-Soviet Uzbekistan from the moment it became independent from the Soviet Union. He had been in hospital after suffering a stroke. He will be buried on Saturday in his home city of Samarkand. China has long been concerned at links between Islamist militants in Central Asia and those Beijing accuses of promoting separatism in the violence-prone far western region of Xinjiang. Xi, in a message sent to acting President Nigmatilla Yuldoshev and carried by China's Foreign Ministry, said Karimov had made "historic contributions" to the country's development and prosperity. "President Karimov dedicated himself over a long period to friendly Sino-Uzbek cooperation and put painstaking efforts into developing an all-round, strategic partnership and increasing the traditional friendship between the two peoples," Xi said. "Karimov's unfortunate passing is not only a huge loss to the Uzbek people, but also means the Chinese people have lost a true friend," he added. China wants to continue working hard to consolidate and deepen the two countries' cooperation and friendly relations, Xi said in the brief message. Xi visited Uzbekistan in June, where state media said both nations agreed to deepen their counter-terrorism cooperation, and ensure the safety of pipelines into China from Central Asia which are vital for Chinese energy security. Hundreds of people have been killed over the past few years in resource-rich Xinjiang, strategically located on the borders of central Asia, in unrest between the Muslim Uighur people who call the region home and ethnic majority Han Chinese. The government has blamed the violence on Islamist militants, though rights groups and exiles say anger at Chinese controls on the religion and culture of Uighurs is more to blame for the unrest. China denies any repression in Xinjiang. Uzbekistan is a member of the Chinese and Russia-lead Shanghai Cooperation Organization security bloc, one of whose key roles is to tackle Islamist violence. Uzbekistan shares a border with Afghanistan and has become a target for Islamist militants. It is also a major cotton exporter and is rich in gold and natural gas. Long criticized by the West and human rights groups, Karimov ruled Uzbekistan from 1989, first as the head of the local Communist Party and then as president of the newly independent republic from 1991 when the Soviet Union collapsed. (Reporting by Ben Blanchard; Editing by Kim Coghill)
By Olzhas Auyezov ALMATY (Reuters) - Islam Karimov, authoritarian president of ex-Soviet Uzbekistan for more than 25 years, has died, officials confirmed on Friday, and in an early sign of who might succeed him, his prime minister was designated mourner-in-chief at his funeral. Karimov, who was 78 and served as Uzbekistan's president from the moment it became independent from the Soviet Union, had been in hospital after suffering a stroke. He will be buried on Saturday in his home city of Samarkand. "He has left us," Karimov's younger daughter Lola Karimova-Tillyaeva wrote on Instagram. "God bless him." He did not designate a political heir, and analysts say the transition of power is likely to be decided behind closed doors by a small group of senior officials and family members. That would preserve the system of rule Karimov established. If they fail to agree on a compromise, however, open confrontation could destabilize the mainly Muslim state of 32 million people, which shares a border with Afghanistan and has become a target for Islamist militants. The country is a major cotton exporter and is also rich in gold and natural gas. Unrest there would have repercussions for Russia, the regional power and home to hundreds of thousands of Uzbek migrant workers, and for the U.S.-allied government in Afghanistan which is fighting its own Islamist insurgency. POSSIBLE SUCCESSOR Diplomatic sources told Reuters earlier on Friday that Karimov was dead, but it took several hours before an official announcement was made, in a statement issued by the Uzbek government and parliament. That statement described Karimov as "truly great". It said Prime Minister Shavkat Mirziyoyev was appointed head of the commission organizing his burial. Mirziyoyev was one of the people named by Central Asia analysts as a possible successor. A 59-year-old former regional governor, he has been prime minister since 2003 and is personally in charge of agriculture, a major sector of the economy. Opposition media reports say that in dealings with his own subordinates, Mirziyoyev can fly into a temper and will resort to swearing and curses to make his point. Russian President Vladimir Putin expressed condolences to acting President Nigmatilla Yuldoshev. The Kremlin quoted Putin as saying his death was a "heavy loss for Uzbekistan". Long criticized by the West and human rights groups, Karimov ruled Uzbekistan from 1989, first as the head of the local Communist Party and then as president of the newly independent republic from 1991 when the Soviet Union collapsed. FUNERAL PREPARATIONS In Samarkand, where Karimov's mother and two brothers are also buried, public workers were already out on Thursday cleaning the streets, prompting speculation about an imminent state funeral. Samarkand airport was declared closed on Saturday for arriving and departing aircraft except those with a special permission, indicating that the government was making way for official foreign delegations to arrive. Apart from Mirziyoyev, his deputy, Rustam Azimov, has also been seen as a possible successor. Security service chief Rustam Inoyatov and Karimova-Tillyaeva, the younger of Karimov's two daughters, could become kingmakers. According to the constitution, Yuldoshev is supposed to take over and elections must take place within three months. However, analysts do not consider Yuldoshev a serious player. Whoever succeeds Karimov will need to perform a careful balancing act between the West, Russia and China, which all vie for influence in the resource-rich Central Asian region. Another task for the new leader will be resolving tensions with ex-Soviet bloc neighbors Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan over disputed borders and the use of common resources such as water. (Reporting by Olzhas Auyezov in Almaty, Lidia Kelly, Alexander Winning and Maria Kiselyova in Moscow; Editing by Christian Lowe and Louise Ireland)
Burning Man

One of Burning Man's luxury camps was ransacked by vandals on Wednesday night, according to a post on the camp's Facebook page.

The White Ocean camp hosts dozens of free techno-music concerts at its stage on the outskirts of the playa, while also providing lodging and food for its star-studded lineup of DJs.

Sometime during or after another camp's famous "white party," where ravers dress in all white, vandals entered the camp. They allegedly pulled and cut electric lines, causing food to spoil, stole personal belongings, glued trailer doors shut, and flooded the camp with 200 gallons of potable water, the Facebook post from Thursday reported.

"We have felt like we've been sabotaged from every angle, but last night's chain of events, while we were all out enjoying our beautiful home, was an absolute and definitive confirmation that some feel we are not deserving of Burning Man," the post read.

Take me back to this lounge  #weekendlounge #weekendvibes #whiteocean A photo posted by White Ocean (@whiteocean_bm) on Apr 2, 2016 at 12:33pm PDT on Apr 2, 2016 at 12:33pm PDT

White Ocean was founded in 2013 by DJ Paul Oakenfold and funded by entrepreneurs Timur Sardarov (the son of Russian billionaire and oil magnate Rashid Sardarov) and Oliver Ripley. The pair also launched a New York-based private holding company called Ocean Group.

The camp has drawn criticism over the years for engaging in behavior counter to the "self-reliance" spirit of Burning Man. It's considered a "plug-and-play" camp, where burners from London, New York, Los Angeles, and San Francisco drop in and enjoy luxury accommodations, rather than rough it in a tent on the desert floor.

The Reno Gazette Journal reports that hired help assist the camp with production and concierge services around the cafeteria and lounge space.

#whiteocean #2&G A photo posted by White Ocean (@whiteocean_bm) on Aug 29, 2016 at 11:51am PDT on Aug 29, 2016 at 11:51am PDT

White Ocean wrote on Facebook that after notifying Burning Man organizers of the incident, they were told, "it makes sense that you have been sabotaged as you are a closed camp and not welcoming." Burning Man has a contentious relationship with these plug-and-play camps, as they create an unwanted atmosphere of exclusivity, while also bringing top artists to the desert.

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The music-lovers over at White Ocean don't see it that way.

"We provide one of the most state of the art stages on the playa and feed hundreds of non white ocean [sic] burners a day. Does this qualify as a non welcoming camp with no contribution to Burning Man?" Thursday's post read.

The group has contacted local authorities to investigate.

Read the full post below:

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By Andrew Cawthorne CARACAS (Reuters) - Venezuelan authorities briefly rounded up more than 30 people on Margarita island for heckling President Nicolas Maduro, activists said on Saturday, in what appeared to be a rare public confrontation with the unpopular leader. Videos published by activists, purportedly from the Margarita locality of Villa Rosa on Friday night, show scores of people banging pots and pans and jeering their president during a visit to inspect state housing projects. The display of anger followed a vast march in Caracas on Thursday that opposition leaders say has emboldened Maduro's foes after 17 years of socialist rule in the OPEC nation of 30 million people. After Maduro left Villa Rosa, a rundown area known in the past as a pro-government stronghold, intelligence agents moved in, opposition and rights campaigners said. More than 30 people were detained, but all except Braulio Jatar, a local pro-opposition lawyer and journalist, had been released by Saturday afternoon, according to the Penal Forum rights group. The government did not comment on the incident in detail, but Information Minister Luis Marcano published a video on Twitter showing Maduro blowing kisses, pumping his fist and being cheered in Margarita. "What you didn't see in the videos manipulated by the right wing," Marcano wrote. 'PEOPLE LOATHE HIM' Since narrowly winning an election to replace Hugo Chavez in 2013, Maduro's popularity has plummeted due to an economic crisis. The opposition say this week's protest drew more than a million people in what appeared to be the biggest such demonstration in more than a decade. Even so, it is extremely unusual to see Maduro openly booed. His public appearances are normally carefully choreographed to show only cheering supporters wearing red shirts. "The people loathe him and last night they made that very clear with the pots-and-pans protest," said opposition leader Henrique Capriles, who published three videos of the incident on his Twitter feed. The images could not be independently verified by Reuters. Buoyed by Thursday's self-styled "Takeover of Caracas," the opposition are planning further street actions to demand a recall referendum against Maduro this year. But with the election board dragging out the process and Maduro vowing there will be no such vote in 2016, it is hard to see how the opposition can force it. If a referendum is held next year instead of this year, and Maduro loses, it would be a Pyrrhic victory for the opposition as his handpicked vice president would take over for the ruling Socialist Party for the remainder of his six-year rule which ends in 2019. The president, whose poll ratings have dropped to just over 20 percent, says the opposition is seeking a coup against him with the connivance of the United States. "We defeated hatred, fascism and coup mongers," Maduro said this week, adding that arrests of activists and captures of weapons and explosions show his foes' violent intentions. According to Penal Forum, more than 90 other people were still in custody after round-ups nationwide this week related to Thursday's protest. The government has not confirmed numbers. (Editing by Mary Milliken and Sandra Maler)
Islam Karimov, Uzbekistans first and only president, is dead. After six days of official silence following a stroke on Aug. 28, the death of the 78-year-old Central Asian leader was confirmed by the Uzbek government; he will be enshrined in history and buried in the ancient Silk Road city of Samarkand as the founding father of independent Uzbekistan. The former Soviet apparatchik will also be remembered as one of the most brutal dictators of the 21st century, whose regime became synonymous with authoritarian excesses like massacres, the arrest of his own daughter, and boiling dissidents alive. But perhaps Karimovs greatest legacy is his outsized role in the global fight against terrorism and the abuses that the Uzbek president carried out in its name.

In October 2001, several weeks after the 9/11 terrorist attacks, the U.S.-led war in Afghanistan was in full swing and President George W. Bushs war on terror had finally come to Central Asia. But Karimov had already been waging his own war against Islamic extremists in Uzbekistan for nearly a decade. By the end of the 1990s, he had mostly succeeded in driving a melange of Islamist rebel groups out of his country while consolidating his hold on power with an invasive, and often brutal, state security apparatus led by a clique of former Soviet KGB officers. In his wake, Karimov left a bloody trail of torture, extrajudicial killings, and the mass incarceration of thousands of Uzbeks  many of whose only crime was being a practicing Muslim.

Before 9/11, Karimov was an international pariah, decried by human rights groups and routinely criticized by Western governments. But after the attack on the World Trade Center, a new paradigm took shape. Bush welcomed Karimov at the White House in September 2001, arranging a package of security assistance for Uzbekistan and finalizing plans for a U.S. airbase in the Central Asian country. In exchange for leasing rights on an airbase in Uzbekistan to aid the U.S. war effort in Afghanistan, Karimov gained the backing of a superpower in his longstanding fight against Islamists at home.

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Islamic militants posed a major threat to the corrupt and often-divided regime, but it was also a useful tool to consolidate power. Anyone who resisted or had grievances against the regime was branded a terrorist, a policy that alienated and traumatized huge portions of the population. The U.S. war on terror gave Karimov an entree to the West, but in the process tolerated the creation of an environment devoid of moderate voices where only extremes flourished  an ominous legacy that will define Central Asia for years to come. But to understand how this came about, one needs to look back to the uncertain days of newly independent Uzbekistan.

The Rise of Islam

Karimov rose to the top of the Communist Party ranks in Soviet Uzbekistan around the time that the Islamic revival in Soviet Central Asia began to bloom. The people of Central Asia are predominantly Sunni Muslims and have a storied Islamic heritage dating back a millennium. But under nearly 70 years of secular Soviet rule, the region was cut off from contact with the Islamic world that it bordered. After decades of Moscows heavy-handed policies clamping down on religion, Soviet authorities eventually settled on a policy known as official Islam, whereby registered mullahs, trained in Soviet ideology, were allowed to preach the faith. Unofficial mosques and unregistered mullahs who called for Islam untainted by Communist Party doctrine continued to operate during this period, but were forced to do so underground.

By the late 1980s, however, that began to change. The social opening advocated by General Secretary Mikhail Gorbachevs perestroika policy took hold across the Soviet Union, and interest in the Islamic faith came back into the daylight in Central Asia. Religious texts, and later funds, poured in from Saudi Arabia and Pakistan as Islamic figures retook public leadership roles in communities across the region in the dying days of the Soviet empire. In Uzbekistan, the Islamic revival took a hard-line turn in the city of Namangan after a group of men attacked and seized the local Communist Party headquarters after the mayor had refused to allow them to build a Wahhabi mosque and madrassa. The group was led by Tohir Yuldashev, a 24-year-old underground mullah, and Jumaboi Khodjiyev, better known by his nom de guerre Juma Namangani, a former Red Army paratrooper who had fought against the mujahedeen during the Soviet war in Afghanistan. The two men would later go on to found the Islamic Movement of Uzbekistan (IMU) in 1998 and declare jihad against Karimov with the aim of creating a caliphate in Central Asia, marking Namangan as the birthplace of Islamic militancy in Uzbekistan, but also a symbol of the regimes repression.

Karimov, the former head of the Uzbek Communist Party, originally embraced the appeal of Islam in independent Uzbekistans early days. On his inauguration day in September 1991, he made reference to Islam in his speech and even held a Quran in one hand and the countrys newly inked constitution in the other, recognizing the political usefulness of religion to solidify a country now absent of an ideology to hold it together. Meanwhile, Yuldashev, Khodjiyev, and their followers in Namangan were founding the Adolat, a political party that called for an Islamic revolution in Central Asia. In March 1992, Karimov declared war on Islamic extremism and finally cracked down on the group, arresting 27 followers and sending Yuldashev and Khodjiyev fleeing across the snaking borders of the Ferghana Valley into neighboring Tajikistan. In late 1994, the government crackdown expanded, rounding up extremist sympathizers and independent Muslims alike, branding anyone who held Islamic beliefs and anti-regime views as a Wahhabi  a foreign-influenced, hard-line Saudi strain of the religion.

At the same time, Karimov was erasing any threats to his rule across the country, shutting down newspapers, attacking independent lawyers, and jailing human rights activists. But the states paranoia centered on political Islam. A brutal wave of repression followed in 1997, after a series of beheadings of police officers and a collective farm boss and a shootout with police in Namangan. No one claimed the attacks, but holdovers associated with the now-banned Adolat were suspected by the government. A sweeping series of arrests followed. Human Rights Watch reported widespread arbitrary imprisonment, torture, and the fabrication of evidence at the time.

Yuldashev and Khodjiyev were staying busy in Tajikistan, where a civil war broke out between the former Soviet government and a disparate opposition of democrats, nationalists, and Islamists in May 1992, a few months after they arrived. Yuldashev soon left for Afghanistan, where he would build ties with extremists from across the region, allegedly including Osama bin Laden. Eventually, Yuldashev would forge an alliance with the Taliban, which was emerging from a brutal civil war of its own. Khodjiyev, however, stayed in Tajikistan and joined the bloody fray of the five-year war, fighting alongside the United Tajik Opposition, which was at odds with the Emomali Rahmon government. A peace deal in 1997 brought the war to a formal end, but Khodjiyev remained in Tajikistan where he became a player in the regional heroin trade. In August 1998, the two men formally founded the IMU and conducted their first large-scale attack six months later in Tashkent: six car bombs, the largest of which was intended for Karimov, left 16 dead and 120 wounded. The IMU launched another series of attacks in August 1999, this time into neighboring Kyrgyzstan, where they occupied villages and took several hostages, including a major general in the Kyrgyz Interior Ministry and four Japanese geologists working in the area.

The hostages were eventually released, but more skirmishes followed in 2000 and into 2001. Karimovs reaction was vicious: Khodjiyev and Yuldashev were sentenced to death in absentia and he accused the Tajik and Kyrgyz governments of harboring the militants  placing land mines along Uzbekistans borders with the two countries and cutting off gas supplies in retaliation. Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan would soon launch offensives of their own; by the summer of 2001, the IMU was mostly concentrated in Afghanistan. In the aftermath, Uzbek prisons swelled with thousands of new inmates, many of whom were not connected to any radical group. Tashkent continued with Soviet-style heavy-handedness, with the government overseeing the Islamic hierarchy, imams sermons, and the contents of religious texts. Those who practiced Islam outside this state-controlled system were seen as terrorists or extremist sympathizers. By 2004, Human Rights Watch reported that more than 6,000 people were imprisoned for practicing their faith.

402194 04: U.S. President George W. Bush (R) shakes hands with Uzbek President Islam Karimov March 12, 2002 during their meeting at the Oval Office of the White House in Washington, DC. Bush invited Karimov to the White House to discuss a long-term military partnership. (Photo by Alex Wong/Getty Images)

The War on Terror

Before Sept. 11, 2001, Karimov had been attempting to mend fraught ties with Washington. A decade of iron-fisted rule had left the Uzbek president isolated and his countrys economy ailing. In an overture to the West, Tashkent announced an amnesty program to release some of the prisoners accumulated over Karimovs 10 years as president. It looked as if Uzbekistan was about to become an example of the benefits of sustained human-rights pressure on authoritarian leaders, but Karimov instead became a case study of what happens when U.S. foreign policy values military cooperation above all else.

Within days of the terrorist attacks, Karimov was being wooed by Washington. In an address to Congress, Bush linked the IMU to al Qaeda and said the group could be a target for U.S. counterterrorism efforts. Cooperation was formalized between Washington and Tashkent in a March 2002 Oval Office meeting. For the Uzbek president, it was a win-win agreement: Washington desperately needed supply routes for personnel and equipment into Afghanistan. In return, he had the backing of a superpower against the IMU, as well as leverage against Western interference in Uzbekistans domestic affairs.

As the fight against the Taliban ramped up, the IMUs ranks were thinned: Khodjiyev was killed in November 2001 by a U.S. airstrike, and Yuldashev fled to Pakistan with other members of the Taliban. The death of Khodjiyev helped transform Karimov into a self-styled bulwark against Islamic extremism. This hard-fought victory against the IMU was won in large part thanks to his status as a U.S. ally in the global fight against terrorism, which emboldened the Uzbek leader to eliminate any remaining threat to his hold on power  secular or religious, real or perceived  with brutal and indiscriminate means. In the years that followed, Karimov made no gesture toward any semblance of reform and Uzbekistans notorious prisons were reportedly used in the CIAs rendition program.

Uzbekistan was not immune to terrorism during this period, however. In March 2004, a series of bombings hit Tashkent and the old Silk Road city of Bukhara. They were claimed by the Islamic Jihad Union, an offshoot of the IMU. In July of the same year, bombings hit the U.S. and Israeli embassies in Tashkent in attacks again claimed by the Islamic Jihad Union. Despite counterterrorism cooperation, ties between Washington and Tashkent never truly warmed, with Karimov increasingly suspicious of American intentions. Western support for the so-called color revolutions in Georgia in 2003, Ukraine in 2004, and neighboring Kyrgyzstan in 2005 inflamed Tashkents paranoia that Washington was actively seeking regime change in former Soviet countries.

Moscow, RUSSIAN FEDERATION: Russian President Vladimir Putin (R) and his Uzbek counterpart Islam Karimov discuss during their meeting in the Kremlin in Moscow, 14 November 2005. Russia and Uzbekistan signed a political-military pact Monday stating that an attack on either country would be considered as aggression against both. AFP PHOTO POOL / YURI KADOBNOV (Photo credit should read YURI KADOBNOV/AFP/Getty Images)

The Andijan Massacre

With an ailing economy and governments tumbling around him, Karimovs abuses only grew worse. On May 13, 2005, after months of protests against the government over corruption and mass arrests, a group of men launched a prison break to free a group of influential local businessmen who had recently been jailed in the eastern city of Andijan. Exactly what happened next remains disputed, but what is known is that the Uzbek military sent in troops and opened fire on protesters, killing hundreds of civilians, including women and children. Washington remained hesitant at first to press the issue with Tashkent, issuing some cautious statements about the incident while stymying attempts at a probe (including one particularly cynical effort by Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld). Eventually, the Bush administration called for an independent international investigation into the crackdown. Furious over American interference in Uzbekistans internal affairs, Karimov evicted the United States from its military base in Karshi-Khanabad.

Almost immediately, Uzbekistan began taking steps closer to Russia, which had also begun to grow weary of the U.S. military presence in its Central Asian backyard (Washington also maintained a base in Kyrgyzstan). Karimovs relationship with Moscow has long been chilly, but Russian President Vladimir Putin offered support to the Uzbek leader on the Andijan massacre and Tashkent responded in kind. Despite this amity between the two men, the Uzbek president did his best to remain fiercely independent from external players, baiting membership in Russian-led alliances like the Collective Security Treaty Organization and later, the Eurasian Economic Union to secure weapons deals and write off debt owed to the Kremlin. Karimov was an erratic ally for everyone, but if he earned any sort of praise for his 25 years as president, its that he wasnt willing to be anyones puppet.

But it wasnt long before Washingtons priorities got in the way of its morals. Due to difficulties moving supplies to the Afghan front through Pakistan, NATO needed a new transit point along the so-called Northern Distribution Network. Overtures were made in the lead-up to the April 2008 NATO heads-of-state summit in Bucharest, Romania. Karimov refused to host U.S. troops, but opened the door to providing a supply route into Afghanistan. Soon thereafter, senior U.S. military and political officials resumed visiting Tashkent, including then-Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, who visited in 2011. In echoes of the early days of the war in Afghanistan, the West re-established a working relationship with Karimov, but this time on more transactional terms.

By 2009, the European Union had removed sanctions on arms sales to Uzbekistan that were imposed in the aftermath of the Andijan massacre. In March 2015, Germany strengthened its ties to Uzbekistan, signing a 2.8 billion euro trade package. And despite the drawdown in Afghanistan, Washington provided Tashkent with 308 mine-resistant, ambush-protected vehicles and 20 armored recovery vehicles in January 2015.

Uzbek Foreign Minister Abdulaziz Kamilov (L) looks on while Uzbek President Islam Karimov (C) and US Secretary of State John Kerry (R) shake hands at Samarkand Airport on November 1, 2015 in Samarkand. Kerry is in the region as he visits 5 Central Asian nations. AFP PHOTO/POOL/BRENDAN SMIALOWSKI (Photo credit should read BRENDAN SMIALOWSKI/AFP/Getty Images)

Coming Full Circle

The threat of radical extremism in Central Asia was Karimovs ticket to international relevance, catapulting Uzbekistan to outsized strategic importance, even allowing the regime to play larger powers like China, Russia, and the United States off one another. With the United States current downsized operations in Afghanistan, Uzbekistan and its role in Western counterterrorism have subsided, but the death of Karimov should be a reminder of its lasting significance.

The IMU has fractured and morphed since its years in exile, and its ranks are now largely made up of a variety of nationalities across Central and South Asia. The group may no longer be the same threat it was during the late 1990s, but it still has its sights set on the region. The IMU pledged allegiance to the Islamic State following Abu Bakr al-Baghdadis declaration of a caliphate in June 2014. The Soufan Group, a security consultancy, estimates 2,000 Islamic State volunteers in Iraq and Syria are from the Central Asian states of Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan. Some 500 of those volunteers are from Uzbekistan, which has become an increasingly fertile recruiting ground for the group. Uzbekistan has a population of 31 million, 40 percent of which is under the age of 25, and there are few work opportunities to go around. Aware of growing disaffection with the regime, the Islamic State has focused its propaganda efforts of late in the Uzbek language, in hopes of tapping into even more recruits.

For the past 25 years, Central Asia watchers have been sounding the alarm about a new era of Islamist militants in the region. This prophecy has so far failed to fully materialize, and even Karimovs death is unlikely to herald a new dawn for jihadis. But the seeds have been sown for a far greater type of instability in Central Asia, one where the only options are autocracy or Islamic militancy. The United States, Russia, and China were all willing to forgive Karimovs abuses against his own people in hopes that it meant less terrorism and more stability in a strategically vital region. But in allowing economic stagnation and widespread human rights abuses to fester in the long term, the dream of a stable Central Asia looks more unattainable than ever.

Today in Uzbekistan, dissent has been driven underground, with even moderate opposition voices jailed, killed, or sent into exile. Karimov may have officially joined the war on terror in 2001, but in reality he was waging that battle from the day he became president in 1991. He may be remembered at home as the countrys founding president, but what he leaves behind is a legacy for Uzbekistan where only the extremists willing to pick up a gun are left to oppose the governments injustices.

Photo Credit: NATALIA KOLESNIKOVA/AFP/Getty Images; Getty Images/FP; Alex Wong/Getty Images; YURI KADOBNOV/AFP/Getty Images; BRENDAN SMIALOWSKI/AFP/Getty Images
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Denver educator Kyle Schwartz is peering into the inner lives of her third-grade students  by asking them to write down what they wish she knew.

Schwartz's new book, I Wish My Teacher Knew, compiles those often heartbreaking responses in an effort to help readers understand the obstacles students face outside the classroom.

SEE ALSO: Teacher absolutely nails it with new homework policy

The book comes after #IWishMyTeacherKnew went viral on Twitter last year, with teachers all over the world sharing their students' responses.

Now, Schwartz hopes it will illuminate schools  and parents  as they prepare for the school year. "I really want families to know how intentional teachers are about creating a sense of community and creating relationships with kids, Schwartz told the New York Times.

Not all educators are pleased with the book, saying it's irresponsible for young students' personal information to be published in a volume available for purchase.

Other teachers are praising the volume. Some are even repeating Schwartz's exercise in their own classrooms.

Read a few students' responses, from Schwartz's class and others, below.
A New York State equestrian was tragically killed Wednesday when she was killed by her horse during a show this week.

Becca Weissbard, 22, was thrown from her horse and the animal fell on top of her during a show in Saugerties on Wednesday.

The crowd, including Weissbard's mother, watched in horror as the young gold medalist was crushed to death.

Read: Dad Accused of Intentionally Crashing Car Allegedly Hit Child After Wreck, 911 Call Reveals

Saugerties Police Chief Joseph Sinagra Weissbard's mother was the first person to run to her daughter's aid, reports the Daily Freeman

Paramedics responded to the scene but were unable to revive Weissbard.

The Manorville equestrian was on her second run through a 10-hurdle course when the horse struck a cross pole.

Read: Mom Drowns Holding Son Above Water After He Fell in Lake: 'She Was An Amazing Mother'

The Hampton's Classic Horse Show issued the following statement on its website on Thursday:

"The Long Island equestrian community is heartbroken that Becca Weissbard died in a riding accident yesterday. Our deepest condolences to her parents, Eric and Lynn, her family, and her many friends."

Officials with Horse Shows in the Sun said this is the first death in the event's history.

Watch: Disabled Miniature Horse Living In Tiny Muddy Pen Gets Rescued

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The Young Pope, a miniseries about the Vatican intrigue following the election of a sexy young American pontiff, seems like an idea that would be pitched by Faye Dunaways rapacious TV exec in Network. But here it is, directed by Paolo Sorrentino (The Great Beauty, Youth) and headed for HBO in the United States.

Its next to impossible to judge an entire limited series based on its first two episodes, which premiered at the Venice Film Festival, but those early chapters reveal a show thats either searching for a tone or perhaps creating it as it goes along. In any event, for all its narrative vacillations, the cliffhanger ending of these segments has me planning to tune in to find out what happens next.

Jude Law stars as Lenny Belardo, or rather, Pope Pius XIII, the youngest (at 47) pope ever elected, and the first American as well. (More on that in a moment.) His ascendancy promises anything but business as usual in Vatican City, from his choice of breakfast (Cherry Coke Zero) to his choice of personal right-hand (Diane Keaton as Sister Mary, the nun who raised the abandoned Lenny) to his determination to oversee the political and financial machinations of the Vaticans slippery Secretary of State, Cardinal Voiello (Silvio Orlando).

Pius XIII  historians will make what they will over his choosing of this name as opposed to, say, John XXIV  even wants to change the image of the papacy itself, telling the Vaticans Harvard-educated director of marketing (Cecile de France) that he wants to keep his visage hidden (citing J.D. Salinger, Stanley Kubrick, Daft Punk and Banksy as precedents) rather than stamp it on a million souvenirs. Over the course of the first two hours, we meet many of the papal players, from duplicitous cardinals to the genuinely faithful, like the devout Monsignor Gutierrez (Javier Camara).

Theres also the implication that Lennys former mentor, Cardinal Spencer (James Cromwell), embittered over not having been elected pope himself, will be making trouble behind the scenes, as well as a suggestion that Lennys doubt in the existence of god will make him all the more judgmental and harsh with the questioning members of his worldwide flock.

Story continues

Writer-director-creator Sorrentino has certainly laid out a number of interesting paths for The Young Pope to follow, and one hopes that subsequent episodes bring the shows intent into clearer focus. There are moments that seem to suggest satire (Lenny dreams of giving a papal address that stuns the crowd into silence with an endorsement of abortion, contraceptives, gay marriage and nuns conducting mass) and others that play more like political machinations out of House of Cards or even Empire.

The international cast delivers fine performances, although the casting of Law and Keaton in tandem is somewhat bothersome. Why cast Law as an American (his accent is passable, if generic) when a UK-born pope would have been as much of an outsider? Either putting an American actor (say, Matt Damon) opposite Keaton or a British actress (say, Imelda Staunton) opposite Law might have made for a better match-up.

Still, 20 percent of the way into The Young Pope, we have a series that asks provocative questions about the nature of power and faith, not to mention the role of the Catholic Church in the 21st century, even if theyre couched in soapy serialization. Lets see how the rest of the mass plays out.
By MacDonald Dzirutwe HARARE (Reuters) - Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe returned home from abroad in a jovial mood on Saturday, poking fun at the latest online media speculation that he was gravely ill and had sought medical help in Dubai. Mugabe, 92, came back to the grim reality of rising public anger over an economic meltdown widely blamed on his misrule, with violence erupting a week ago when police fired teargas at opposition leaders and protesters. Reports that Mugabe's health is declining have become common in recent years, but the veteran politician, in power since independence from Britain in 1980, often refers to himself as "fit as a fiddle". On Saturday Mugabe poured scorn on rumours on some online news websites - partly fed by his early departure from a regional summit - that he had been rushed for medical treatment in Dubai. Mugabe told journalists at Harare international airport he had gone to Dubai on a family matter concerning one of his children. "Yes, I was dead, it's true I was dead. I resurrected as I always do. Once I get back to my country I am real," he quipped. But Mugabe showed some signs of frailty, walking slowly from the plane and only chatting briefly with officials before being whisked away in a motorcade. Mugabe rejects the blame for a crisis currently manifesting itself in acute cash shortages and high unemployment, and last week warned protesters there would be no "Arab Spring" in Zimbabwe, referring to the uprisings that toppled several Arab leaders. He routinely blames Zimbabwe's economic problems on sabotage by Western opponents of his policies, such as the seizure of white-owned commercial farms for black people. Last week Mugabe accused Western countries, including the United States, of sponsoring recent anti-government protests. But even some of his once stalwart supporters, including Zimbabwe's war veterans who invaded white commercial farms in support of Mugabe's land seizures, have turned their backs on him, saying he has "devoured" the values of the liberation struggle. Zimbabwe, which has also been hit by drought and weak commodity prices, is struggling to pay salaries to soldiers, police and other public workers, fuelling political tensions, including within the ruling ZANU-PF. Divisions have emerged inside the party as senior officials position themselves for power after the veteran leader is gone, with one faction supporting Vice President Emmerson Mnangagwa while another backs first lady Grace Mugabe. (Reporting by MacDonald Dzirutwe; Writing by Stella Mapenzauswa; Editing by Andrew Bolton)
By MacDonald Dzirutwe HARARE (Reuters) - Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe returned home from abroad in a jovial mood on Saturday, poking fun at the latest online media speculation that he was gravely ill and had sought medical help in Dubai. Mugabe, 92, came back to the grim reality of rising public anger over an economic meltdown widely blamed on his misrule, with violence erupting a week ago when police fired teargas at opposition leaders and protesters. Reports that Mugabe's health is declining have become common in recent years, but the veteran politician, in power since independence from Britain in 1980, often refers to himself as "fit as a fiddle". On Saturday Mugabe poured scorn on rumors on some online news websites - partly fed by his early departure from a regional summit - that he had been rushed for medical treatment in Dubai. Mugabe told journalists at Harare international airport he had gone to Dubai on a family matter concerning one of his children. "Yes, I was dead, it's true I was dead. I resurrected as I always do. Once I get back to my country I am real," he quipped. But Mugabe showed some signs of frailty, walking slowly from the plane and only chatting briefly with officials before being whisked away in a motorcade. Mugabe rejects the blame for a crisis currently manifesting itself in acute cash shortages and high unemployment, and last week warned protesters there would be no "Arab Spring" in Zimbabwe, referring to the uprisings that toppled several Arab leaders. He routinely blames Zimbabwe's economic problems on sabotage by Western opponents of his policies, such as the seizure of white-owned commercial farms for black people. Last week Mugabe accused Western countries, including the United States, of sponsoring recent anti-government protests. But even some of his once stalwart supporters, including Zimbabwe's war veterans who invaded white commercial farms in support of Mugabe's land seizures, have turned their backs on him, saying he has "devoured" the values of the liberation struggle. Zimbabwe, which has also been hit by drought and weak commodity prices, is struggling to pay salaries to soldiers, police and other public workers, fuelling political tensions, including within the ruling ZANU-PF. Divisions have emerged inside the party as senior officials position themselves for power after the veteran leader is gone, with one faction supporting Vice President Emmerson Mnangagwa while another backs first lady Grace Mugabe. (Reporting by MacDonald Dzirutwe; Writing by Stella Mapenzauswa; Editing by Andrew Bolton)
Amy Schumer slams sexist heckler at her stand up show in Sweden

Amy Schumer slams sexist heckler at her stand up show in Sweden

We all know that Amy Schumer is an absolute comedy *queen* and with that being said, if someone is brave enough to try to heckle the woman at her own stand up show, they should know that theyre gonna get burned.

Case in point: Some dude who thought it would be a good idea to catcall the Inside Amy Schumer comedian a few minutes into her set by screaming, Show us your t*ts!

Not one to back down from a mere commoner trying to get some attention, Schumer called the guy out from the audience.

Everyone point at him so I know which one! she exclaimed.

Without missing a beat, the Girl with the Lower Back Tattoo author completely shuts the guy down: What do you do for a living? Sales? Hows that working out? Is it going well? Because were not buying it. Thats really cute, but if you yell out again, youre going to be yelling Show your t*ts to people in the parking lot, because youre going to get thrown out.

The man then yells out again because of course he does, and staying true to her word, Schumer has security toss the guy out.

One of the things I absolutely LOVE about Amy Schumer is that she doesnt take crap from anyone and isnt afraid to call out people who are rude to her or others. Her quick-witted humor and responses always make for the best comebacks!

Keep it up, Amy! Dont let anyone try to bring you down!

The post Amy Schumer slams sexist heckler at her stand up show in Sweden appeared first on HelloGiggles.
FRANKFURT (Reuters) - German carmaker Daimler plans to roll out at least six, and possibly as many as nine, electric car models as part of its push to compete with Tesla and Volkswagen's Audi, a person familiar with Daimler's plans told Reuters. The maker of Mercedes-Benz cars remains on track to unveil a new electric car at the Paris motor show next month. In July, the German carmaker said it had accelerated development of premium electric cars, a segment currently dominated by United States-based rival Tesla. German trade magazine Automobilwoche earlier cited company sources as saying Daimler would bring to market more than six electric car models between 2018 and 2024. German firms are investing heavily in electric cars, a segment once neglected by the industry as customers shunned their limited operating range and high cost. But a growing political backlash against diesel fumes and recent advances in battery technology to increase the reach of an electric car by up to 50 percent have spurred major investments by Volkswagen, Daimler and suppliers such as Bosch [ROBG.UL] and Continental . Reuters' source said Mercedes would also make an SUV model with a plug-in hybrid engine powered by fuel cells, which would have a range of up to 50 km (30 miles) on battery power and would then run on electricity generated by hydrogen. (Reporting by Edward Taylor; Writing by Maria Sheahan; Editing by Jon Boyle)
Hunting Pokemon at a park in Russia, where a blogger is on trial for posting a video of him playing the game in a church (AFP Photo/VASILY MAXIMOV ) (AFP/File)

Moscow (AFP) - A young Russian blogger has been charged with inciting hatred and offending religious sensibilities after filming himself playing Pokemon Go in a Yekaterinberg cathedral.

Ruslan Sokolovski is in detention for two months, a statement by the investigative committee said Saturday, and could face a five-year jail term if convicted.

On August 11, Sokolovski published a video on his YouTube channel showing him entering the Church of All Saints in Yekaterinburg and playing Pokemon Go on his iPhone throughout the cathedral.

"How can one offend by entering a church with a smartphone?" he said.

But investigators said searches on his home had shown evidence of incitement to hatred and attacks on the liberty of faith.

Authorities worldwide have issued a slew of warnings since the hugely popular smartphone app was launched in July.

It has already been blamed for a wave of crimes, traffic violations and complaints in cities around the globe.

The free app uses satellite locations, graphics and camera capabilities to overlay cartoon monsters on real-world settings, challenging players to capture and train the creatures for battles.

Pokemon has been popular in Japan since first being launched as software in 1996 for Nintendo's iconic Game Boy console.
BALTIMORE (TNS)  Gordon McGlothlin, who took his first puff at age 12 behind his familys garage, tried to quit smoking for years, but no cessation technique worked until he used a psychedelic drug.

Researchers with the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine gave the 69-year-old a derivative of psychedelic mushrooms similar to LSD, or acid, and watched him trip in a therapy room during six-hour sessions.

McGlothlin experienced wild hallucinations, including watching his body slowly unraveling until it disappeared into a puff of smoke. After researchers took his blood pressure, he imagined a red bloodlike fluid covering him from head to toe.

After the third session, the 69-year-old artist had lost his urge to smoke.

McGlothlin was part of a group study on the effects of psilocybin, the active hallucinogenic ingredient in magic mushrooms, on smoking cessation. The study represents a resurgence in research at Johns Hopkins, New York University and other academic institutions looking at whether mind-altering psychedelics, such as LSD, mushrooms and ecstasy, can be effective in treating a variety of emotional and addictive disorders.

Scientists have discovered that psychedelic drugs have the potential to relieve clinical depression, anxiety in cancer patients, depression in hospice patients, post-traumatic stress disorder and obsessive-compulsive disorder.

McGlothlin, who was one of the studys early participants three years ago, had gone cold-turkey, attended smoking cessation classes and practiced behavioral modification. He said psychedelics gave him a sense of peace and clarity that enabled him to give up cigarettes.

Its not just that it makes you quit smoking, but it changes your mind, he said. Smoking has just become a nonissue.  It is no longer important. It is no longer a factor in my life.

In recent years, researchers have investigated a number of possible ways that psychedelics could be used therapeutically.

Last year, Johns Hopkins completed a study of individuals suffering from a life-threatening cancer diagnosis. The patients were administered psilocybin for end-of-life anxiety and depression symptoms. The findings have not yet been released.

Hopkins also studied how the drugs, combined with meditation, can enhance psychological well-being and spirituality in healthy people. Those finding also have not been released.

Psilocybin is being studied as a treatment for alcoholism at the University of New Mexico and New York University, as a treatment for cocaine dependence at University of Alabama at Birmingham, and as a novel antidepressant at Johns Hopkins and at Imperial College London.

Psilocybin has also been studied as a treatment for obsessive-compulsive disorder at the University of Arizona.

Psychedelics were more widely studied in the 1950s and 1960s, until people began abusing the drugs and their use was stigmatized. The federal government made possession and distribution of the drugs illegal, and scientists and government funders shied away from research.

The drugs were listed in the federal Controlled Substances Act as a Schedule 1 substance, the most dangerous designation. Researchers wanting to use the drugs in experiments had to get extra layers of approval from the Drug Enforcement Agency, which made the process more time-consuming and expensive.

Some researchers in the 1990s became interested in the drugs again and were helped by private funders, such as the Beckley Foundation and the Heffter Research Institute.

Even with the renewed interest in researching the drugs, scientists say it remains difficult to get funding because of the decades-old stigma of psychedelics and their association with American counterculture.

Pharmaceutical companies do not have an interest in developing psychedelic drugs because they cant be patented, and drug makers havent determined how to make them profitable, said Brad Burge of the Multidisciplinary Association for Psychedelic Studies. The nonprofit promotes the medical use of psychedelic drugs and marijuana.

But those attitudes may be shifting as more people seek holistic and alternative treatment options for mental health, he said.

Researchers say they havent seen any dangerous side effects. The most recent studies, like the one at Johns Hopkins, are small.

It is early in the research, so none of us know if this will pan out to be a broadly used treatment, but certainly from where we sit it is promising enough to be rigorously examined and to be taken seriously, said Albert Garcia-Romeu, a research associate in the department of psychiatry and behavioral sciences at Johns Hopkins, who is working on the smoking studies.

For the drugs to be approved for widespread use, laws would have to be changed, at least on the state level.

McGlothlin was one of 15 people who took part in the smoking cessation study in which patients underwent cognitive behavioral therapy, where they reflected on their attitude toward smoking before receiving doses of psilocybin. They also were given one last cigarette before the session began.

Twelve of them quit smoking  a much higher success rate than the 35 percent who quit after taking the widely used smoking cessation drug varenicline, or Chantix, or the 30 percent who quit after using nicotine replacement.

The Hopkins scientists are now building off of this research. This time, researchers also are looking at brain imaging to see what happens during a psychedelic high.

Psychedelics are believed to cause people to deeply reflect on their lives and unearth motivation to make changes, said Matthew W. Johnson, an associate professor of psychiatry and behavioral sciences at Johns Hopkins and the studys lead author.

People tend to experience very personally meaningful experiences under the influence, and it helps reconnect them with important parts of their life, he said.

Johnson, along with researchers from the University of Alabama, looked at whether prolonged use of psychedelics could help people suffering with depression or who are suicidal.

Critics say that extreme caution should be taken when using illicit drugs to treat illness. Scott Chipman, with the group Citizens Against the Legalization of Marijuana, said more research of psychedelics is needed and that the Food and Drug Administration  not lawmakers  should approve their use.

If the FDA approves LSD or some other drug for treatment, that means they have done the testing, Chipman said. Any medicine should be approved through the FDA process, not through voters, not through legislation.

Psilocybin, the active ingredient in magic mushrooms, is being studied as a treatment for alcoholism, cocaine dependence and depression.
MINNEAPOLIS (AP)  Minnesota remains among the top states for refugee resettlement, new figures from the U.S. State Department show.

In the past year, Minnesota took in nearly 1,100 Somalis, 166 Ethiopians and 66 Congolese. Thats a large increase from last year through August.

Twenty-five Syrian refugees also resettled in Minnesota in the past year, mostly in Rochester and Minneapolis.

Last year, President Barack Obama launched a Syrian resettlement program as millions fled to escape the countrys civil war and persecution. The U.S. recently reached its goal of resettling 10,000 Syrian refugees.

Concerned that government screenings did not have enough safeguards to stop Islamic State terrorists from entering the U.S. as refugees, some governors resisted letting Syrian refugees settle in their states. But some members of Congress wanted the U.S. to take in even more Syrians to help ease the flow of refugees into Europe.

Ben Walen, of the Minnesota Council of Churches, said the debate over Syrian refugees has made more people want to help them.

The sentiment, the public sphere, social media, all of that which was very negative about refugees has more than been countered with positive reactions, Walen said. He said he has more than enough volunteers to help drive the new arrivals to English classes or job interviews.

A total of 2,335 refugees have settled in Minnesota since last year, the most since 2007. Minnesota ranks 13th nationally for the number of refugees living in the state.

In the past year, Minnesota took in nearly 1,100 Somalis, 166 Ethiopians, 66 Congolese and 25 Syrians.
Ride to Recovery has its money back.

With the assistance of the Lewiston Police Department, the California-based charity that assists disabled veterans has received a check for $25,006.02  money the group had never planned to see again.

In February, Ride to Recovery was the victim of a wire-transfer scam, Lewiston Police Chief Scott Yeiter said; $25,000 from an uninsured account vanished into cyberspace, with little hope of recovery.

Meanwhile, a Lewiston man had struck up an online acquaintance, Yeiter said. In the course of exchanging messages, the person he was corresponding with managed to obtain sufficient personal information to gain access to a bank account that would receive the charitys cash.

However, the scam began to fall apart in March, when the mans bank, noticing unusual and suspicious activity, closed the account and sent the man a check for the balance  $25,000 more than he knew was rightfully his. About that time he was contacted by his online friend, who said the money was theirs and he or she would be driving to Lewiston from Michigan to pick it up.

The man instead took the check to the police, believing it was fraudulent, and an investigation was begun.

Much to the mans surprise, however, the check was good  but the money still couldnt have been his.

Somehow alerted to the investigation, the friend never showed and, through the use of phony online accounts was untraceable, Yeiter said.

But the money was still in the bank ... and it had to belong to someone.

Five months of work with bank security investigators ultimately located and verified the source of the money.

Theyre awfully happy to be getting that check, Yeiter said.
PRAIRIE DU CHIEN  The fourth in a series of round-table discussions about opioid and illegal drug abuse has been announced by state Sen. Jennifer Shilling, D-La Crosse, for Friday, Sept. 9, in Prairie du Chien.

The event will be from 1:30 to 2:30 p.m. in Suite 240 of the Crawford County Administrative Building, 225 N. Beaumont Road.

Area health officials, law enforcement, local elected officials and members of addiction recovery organizations will be in attendance to discuss community challenges and solutions to the increasing rates of methamphetamine, heroin and opioid addiction in western Wisconsin.

The events is open to the public, and no RSVP is required. For more information, contact Shillings district office at 608-782-2785 or Sen.Shilling@legis.wi.gov.
Former Mindoro-area resident Gerry Barker served in the U.S. Army from 1962 to 1984. For 16 of those years, he was in the Special Forces and served 72 months of combat duty in Southeast Asia.

Special Forces  also known as the Green Berets for their distinctive headgear  played a significant role in undercover and dangerous operations in Vietnam, often sending out small groups of soldiers into remote areas controlled by enemy forces. They also trained and assisted indigenous forces.

One of Barkers missions found him parachuting into Laos, and he also served as a reconnaissance team leader.

This jungle fatigue uniform was worn by Barker as a member of the Special Forces. Barker described this uniform as having been modified for conditions encountered in Vietnam, Cambodia and Laos. He said the jacket always was worn tucked in to reduce noise while he moved through the countryside. Pockets were moved up from the lower jacket or pants to the shoulders.

Barker explained that wounded soldiers never land on their shoulders, and morphine stored in a shoulder pocket was more easily accessible than in a front pocket. The camouflage was created by using black spray paint on the clothing. In addition, an A+ was painted on the fatigue jacket to indicate his blood type should he be wounded.

Special Forces teams wore no dog tags or anything else to identify them as Americans when they were on classified missions, such as the ones Barker took into Laos.

After Barker retired from the service in 1984, he earned a degree in history and for a few years was employed by the La Crosse County Historical Society as curator. It was during this time that he donated this jungle fatigue uniform as well as his master sergeant Special Forces dress uniform with his Special Forces Airborne patch, service bars and combat service bars. Gerry Barker also donated the distinctive green beret he wore with that uniform.
Using veterans nursing homes as million-dollar moneymakers for the state has been a longstanding practice in Wisconsin, endorsed by both political parties over the past decade.

Under Democratic Gov. Jim Doyle, the state transferred $8.9 million from its two nursing homes at King and Union Grove. Under Republican Gov. Scott Walker, the state transferred $12 million from its nursing homes and says it plans to transfer another $18.6 million over the next two fiscal years.

Its a practice researchers say is highly unusual, as nursing homes nationwide struggle with low Medicaid reimbursement rates and high health care costs. But Wisconsins veterans nursing homes are financially booming, making more money every year. As theyve brought in more money, more has been diverted to pay for other state veterans programs and salaries.

In light of concerns about neglect, medical errors and staffing shortages at the Wisconsin Veterans Home at King, the process raises questions about whether the state should be reallocating federal money intended for veteran care.

Its all for the cash register, not the veterans. There is a difference, said Jim ODonahue, an Army veteran and a former resident at the Wisconsin Veterans Home at King, who lived there for 18 years with his wife before moving out last month to a private nursing home. ODonahue said health care and quality of life has suffered at King. The state has cut activities and struggles to fully staff the facility.

The King veterans home, with its 721 beds, has been a primary revenue generator for veterans benefits. It has remained relatively full since at least 2005 with over 95 percent capacity and continues to bring in more revenue. Its excess revenues currently sit at $38.9 million, according to the Legislative Fiscal Bureau.

Of the nearly $9 million transferred during the Doyle administration, $891,000 was put into the state's general fund, not the Veterans Trust Fund for other veteran benefits. The Veterans Trust Fund is a fund managed by Department of Veterans Affairs. It is where agency salaries and money for other veterans programs is drawn. It has faced deficits and has been on the brink of insolvency for years.

Doyle also transferred $21.2 million from the King nursing home to subsidize the Wisconsin Veterans Home at Union Grove.

During the Doyle administration, the Department of Veterans Affairs was governed by the Board of Veterans Affairs, an oversight board made up of representatives from the veterans community.

When Walker took office, he made the Department of Veterans Affairs a cabinet agency, reducing the oversight of the Board of Veterans Affairs. It is now an advisory board only.

In his 2014-15 budget, Walker gave the agency the power to unilaterally transfer money from the homes. Approval from the Joint Finance Committee was previously required for any transfers.

Nursing home transfers are necessary to fund other veterans benefits, said Jim Parker, the administrator of the division of enterprise services at WDVA, who oversees the agencys budget, IT and human resources.

Unless you have a better idea, we are all ears and would love to hear it, Parker said in an interview. When that decision was made and that legislation was passed, everybody had a chance to weigh in all of our stakeholders, nobody came up with an idea.

As a result, elderly veterans living in state-run nursing homes will be the Veterans Trust Funds sole source of income.

In order to maintain a positive balance, the Veterans Trust Fund has relied on transfers from outside sources, according to the Legislative Fiscal Bureau. Interest from a state-run home and personal loan program for veterans was the trust funds major source of ongoing revenue, but the Department of Veterans Affairs put a moratorium on the programs in 2011, citing the poor economy. Since then, aside from the nursing homes, revenues tanked.

When Walker took office, he authorized $10.3 million in state tax dollars into the Veterans Trust Fund across his 2011-12 and 2013-14 budgets.

The trust fund is insolvent so eventually the homes will be the only source of revenue for the Veterans Trust Fund, Parker said. Weve been to the Legislature, weve been to multiple governors at this point and this is what was determined to be the best option.

Parker disputes critics, including former and current employees, nursing home residents and state lawmakers who say the Department of Veterans Affairs shouldnt be making so much excess revenue from veterans. State Senate and Assembly Democrats have decried the practice of making transfers and have called on Walker to halt them.

The biggest problem there is the obvious one, Parker said. Youre speaking to people who dont see the big picture.

But advocates for the elderly disagree.

As an elected official, it seems like irresponsible budgeting, said John Hendrick, chief legal counsel for the Coalition of Wisconsin Aging Groups, a lobbying and advocacy group for the elderly. As an advocate for the elderly, I disagree with the policy of making a profit off disabled veterans."

The policy is troubling for some and rare for an industry where public nursing homes rarely have surplus money, said David Grabowski, a professor at Harvard Medical School who tracks nursing home policy and financing.

Its really uncommon to see a nursing home serving as a revenue center for the state, he said. If you had told me the opposite story, I would find that more believable, that they would have to bring in dollars to a nursing home to keep it running.

Surplus revenue for King hit $31.2 million at the close of the 2013-14 fiscal year. It was anticipated to increase to $41 million in 2014-15, to $46 million in 2015-16 and hit $51.1 million in the current fiscal year, according to an April 2015 Legislative Fiscal Bureau report. Updated revenue projections are not yet available. The agencys latest budget request is set to be complete by Sept. 15.

Kings excess dollars are an anomaly for publicly run nursing homes struggling to keep up, said Grabowski.

Most of the discussions I have are really about shortfalls in nursing homes. They cant get things to add up and claim they have to cut staff because they cant pay them and so theyre underfunded and Medicaid doesnt pay them enough and theres some real tension there, Grabowski said.

In light of concerns about care, the degree of surplus money at King is worrisome, said Charlene Harrington, a professor emeritus at the University of California, San Francisco, who has studied nursing home policy since 1980.

I have never heard of a (veterans) home making a surplus, she said. Lots of private, for-profit homes make surpluses, but I have never heard of (public home surpluses), so I think its quite rare. ... Ive just never heard of one making money. Usually theyre always losing money.

King receives payment for its residents from several streams of federal tax money.

King was certified last year to begin billing Medicare in addition to Medicaid, which means it can take in more money for the care than it offers. Medicare offers a significantly higher reimbursement rate, but for services that last for a shorter period of time, usually 90 days.

The veterans home gets money from Medicaid, the health care program for low-income individuals jointly funded by the federal government and the state, and Medicare, the national health insurance program for those 65 and over. The daily Medicaid reimbursement rate at King is $254, according to the Legislative Audit Bureau.

The home also receives two forms of payment from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs: A per diem payment per person, per day, and payments for veterans with service-related disabilities. The federal per diem paid to the state veterans home is $103.61 per person, per day, on top of the Medicaid payment. And because it cares for veterans, the state pays King more money than a private nursing home. That per diem rate is up from $77.53 per person, per day King received in 2010, according to the Legislative Audit Bureau.

King also receives money from a residents pension or Social Security payments to pay for care, along with private, out-of-pocket payments from residents.

Kings excess revenue is possible, in part, because the state keeps the home full.

Officials at the Department of Veterans Affairs have lauded their high enrollment rate for their homes, saying that it is a sign they offer superb care.

Facilities like ours need to keep our beds full to pay all the bills, said Jim Knight, the commandant at the King veterans home, at a Board of Veterans Affairs meeting in July. The top official at King said he was happy with its enrollment numbers.

But researchers said Kings capacity is about 15 percent higher than the national average, which is about 80 percent.

Its very rare to have a nursing home running at that capacity, said Grabowski.

Thats so much higher than everybody else, said John Bowblis, a researcher at Miami University of Ohio, who tracks the economics and staffing of nursing homes.

In a few weeks, the Legislative Joint Audit Committee will again meet to discuss a new review, looking at capacity and how money is generated and spent at King. The committee called a meeting following the Cap Times investigation.

In the 2010 rate setting report, the Legislative Audit Bureau ultimately recommended more legislative oversight of the WDVAs financial management of the homes, as it did in a 2011 audit.

Legislative oversight will help ensure that DVA develops realistic, timely and appropriate plans for achieving long term financial solvency at all of its veterans homes while continuing to ensure that the homes effectively serve Wisconsin veterans, according to the auditors.
A 29-year-old Tomah man has been referred to the Monroe County District Attorney for physical abuse of a child. Robert A. Noggle Jr. was referred for alleged acts of severe corporal punishment.

Police were called to the 700 block of W. Jackson St. Aug. 13 to investigate a report of an unaccompanied seven-year-old boy who knocked on the door of a residence. The boy told the person who answered the door that he was following another person home from the skate park but got lost. The boy had a tent and backpack, and police later confirmed the boy left his residence by crawling through a window and had made at least one previous attempt to run away.

The report says when police arrived, the boy began to cry, and police observed multiple injuries to the boys face, including a two-inch bruise on his temple and a half-inch diameter scab on his forehead. During the interview, the boy told police about instances of harsh corporal punishment and getting sent to bed without dinner.

Police determined that the boy lived at a Hollister Avenue residence. When police arrived, the residence was occupied by two 10-year-olds, a two-year-old and a five-month-old infant. A 10-year-old girl said she was babysitting while the mother was working and the father was at a softball game.

The report says Noggle returned to the residence after receiving a phone call from the mother. Noggle acknowledged spanking the boy but denied any physical abuse. He told police the boys visible head wounds were sustained during a fall from a bunk bed.

Anne Marie Thundercloud, 44, Tomah, was referred to the district attorney for fourth-offense drunk driving, obstructing an officer, failure to install an ignition interlock device and bail jumping after being pulled over shortly before 3 a.m. Aug. 18.

Police observed a vehicle proceeding at a slow rate of speed through the intersection at Superior Avenue. Police ran the license plate, which was registered to an owner with a suspended drivers license. Police followed the vehicle and pulled it over on Sime Avenue.

The woman, who police later identified as Thundercloud, said she wasnt the owner of the vehicle, which police later confirmed. She told police she her name was Ann L. Lincoln and that she had no identification in the vehicle. The report says police confronted her about a purse that was in the vehicle and that Thundercloud then produced her Wisconsin identification card.

A preliminary breath test registered a blood-alcohol count of .125, which is over the legal limit of .08. She had an active warrant from Juneau County, which triggered the bail jumping referral.

Julia A. Hopinka, 40, Tomah, was referred to the district attorney for disorderly conduct after an Aug. 22 incident shortly before 3 a.m. in downtown Tomah.

Police responded to a call of someone hiding inside the callers residence. Hopinka was found inside the residence wrapped in a blanket, reportedly passed out from intoxication. Police escorted her from the residence. She refused to unwind herself from the blanket, at which point police decided to make the disorderly conduct referral.

Blair K. Kosa, 29, Tomah, was referred to the district attorney on multiple counts after an Aug. 16 incident at a Murdock Street residence.

A woman told police she and Kosa got into argument and that she told him several times to leave the residence. She said Kosa slammed her hand in a drawer, broke a paper towel holder and grabbed her by her upper arms and restrained her. She said Kosa seized a cell phone and threw it across a parking lot outside into the weeds. The report says the woman fled to a next-door residence and Kosa left the scene.

Kosa told police that the woman was freaking out and was the one who broke the paper towel holder. He denied touching hitting her. The report says Kosa later acknowledged seizing the cell phone to prevent the woman from calling police.

Kosa was referred for disorderly conduct, battery, theft, intimidation of a victim and false imprisonment.
Anyone driving through the city of Elroy recently may have noticed construction taking place on the new Welcome to Elroy signs.

Last autumn the Elroy Womans Club began a fundraising drive to replace the old signs which had stood on state highways passing through the city for almost 50 years.

From the beginning, Womans Club members said they were impressed with the enthusiastic response of area businesses, civic organizations, and individuals in moving the project forward.

An additional goal of the new signage is to formally recognize Elroy as the home of Wisconsins longest serving governor, Tommy Thompson, who held office from 1987 to 2001 before joining the cabinet of President George W. Bush.

It was during his term that he guided the construction of both the Sand Ridge Treatment facility and the New Lisbon Correctional facility, major sources of employment in the area.

As a state Legislator, he sponsored the development of the Elroy Sparta Bike Trail and the Omaha Trail.

Recently, the Thompson family donated funds to complete the physical fitness room at Royall High School for use by students and the public.

All area residents are invited to join the celebration on Saturday, Sept. 10 at noon at the Elroy Public Library as the new signs are dedicated, donors are honored and the history of the Elroy area is explored.

Governor Thompson will be the featured speaker. A reception and light luncheon will be served at noon, followed by a short program at 12:30 p.m.

The event is free and is hosted by the Elroy Womans Club.
Bernie Sanders and Donald Trump supporters have one thing in common: theyre angry.

They know theyre working as hard as they can but, instead of getting ahead, theyre frantically treading water just to stay afloat. They feel voiceless when it comes to government and believe few elected officials actually represent them. They heard all the promises, but now realize they were just words to get someone elected. Theyre fed up with the monopolistic, two-party system and believe neither party is working for their interests. They have a point.

Nothing Ive read shows more evidence of all this than Mike Lofgrens 2012 book, The Party is Over: How Republicans Went CRAZY, Democrats Became USELESS, and the Middle Class got SHAFTED.

Lofgren should know. He spent 28 years in Congress as a senior analyst on House and Senate budget committees and also with the House Armed Services Committee, where his main focus was on national security. He worked closely with influential Republican lawmakers, including 12 years with Rep. John Kasich whos the current governor of Ohio and one of the early GOP contenders in the 2016 presidential race.

Lofgren said he left Congress in 2011 because he became alarmed by the trends I was seeing. In particular, my own party, the Republican Party, began to scare me. He witnessed how Republicans seemed to want to comfort the comfortable and afflict the afflicted in the middle of the worst economic meltdown in 80 years.

It got even worse, he said, as the party took on a nasty, bullying, crazy edge and turned their supporters attention to crazy conspiracy theories like the one that swore Barack Obama is a Muslim and encouraged unfounded fears of gays, immigrants and the imaginary war on Christianity.

But his most revealing evidence shows that Republican lawmakers are far from being fiscally conservative. In fact, they approve almost unlimited spending on unneeded defense projects, subsidies to the wealthiest corporations and major tax breaks that reward companies that ship jobs overseas. As a senior budget analyst, he saw it all.

He doesnt spare Democrats, either. He saw the party go from making the protection of workers a top priority to one that often mirrored the Republicans slavery to big business. One possible reason, he believes, is they need to cater to huge corporations just to raise the massive amounts of money it now takes to win elections.

He notes that President Barack Obama went along with Republicans by rewarding big pharma when the Affordable Care Act was designed. And the president also let the big banks off easy, even though their policies caused the Great Recession. Sens. Bernie Sanders and Elizabeth Warren are right in saying the system is rigged.

Lofgren blames the slow-growing economy, lack of social mobility, high medical costs, off-shoring of jobs and stagnant wages to union busting, leveraged buyouts, unfair taxation and corporatized medicine. Again, he should know. He witnessed it as it happened.

He saw that corporate America became the only voice lawmakers hear. He saw how, thanks to George W. Bushs tax policies and wars, businesses and defense contractors enjoyed historic profits while the deficit spiraled upward. He saw first-hand how big banks, oil, gas and pharmaceuticals call the shots while the rest of us pay for it. As to Republican threats to cut Medicare and Social Security benefits (to which weve all contributed), he says, Cuts in your earned benefits will pay for the banks bad loans. Beautiful!

Despite all that, hes hopeful. He notes we have the same assets that allowed this country to recover from the devastating Great Depression. But he believes we cant make changes until we get all private money out of our public elections and federally fund them.

We also need a much shorter campaign season. Those two changes would allow legislators to do their jobs instead of spending half their time raising money. It also would give each of us the same influence that billionaires and huge corporations enjoy now.

He says we need fair elections where neither party is favored by skewed voting districts. That requires a federal law to mandate district lines are drawn in a non-partisan manner that considers only natural borders and population, not voting habits.

I dog-eared more than 30 pages of this book and have underlined hundreds of paragraphs of information many Americans would be surprised to learn. If you want to see how the current political system works, how to discourage corruption, how to guarantee fair elections and elect honest lawmakers, read The Party is Over by Mike Lofgren. There never has been a better time for all of us to work together and create a truly representative government. Lofgrens book shows us where to start.

Pat Nash is a resident of Baraboo.
August 26 was celebrated as Womens Equality Day, commemorating the day in 1920 when the 19th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution gave women the right to vote. As with so many other groundbreaking ideas, Wisconsin led the way, becoming the first state in the union to ratify the amendment. That victory, however, was the culmination of a long struggle to win the vote for women, one that was marked by many setbacks in Wisconsin.

Various womens rights groups in Wisconsin began organizing in the late 1860s. There was little popular support for womens suffrage at the time; although bills to grant women voting rights were introduced in the State Legislature in 1855 and 1867, both of them failed. The Wisconsin Womens Suffrage Association was formed in 1869, and began pushing to get women the vote. By 1884, they had succeeded in convincing the Legislature to grant women the right to vote in school board elections and other education-related issues. It was a step forward, but because school board races were on the same ballot as other races, some feared that women would be prevented from casting ballots at all.

WWSA leader Olympia Brown took advantage of this situation in the spring of 1887. Along with school elections, she marked her ballot for other municipal races as well, with the justification that all of local government had an impact on schools and education. Racine election officials refused to accept her ballot, and Brown sued. By 1888 the issue reached the state Supreme Court, which ruled that allowing Browns ballot to be counted would violate the will of the Legislature, which had not given women unlimited voting rights. The court ruled that the only way women could vote was if school issues were placed on a separate ballot. The Legislature did not give municipalities the ability to do this, however, which meant women lost even the limited voting rights they had won.

But while womens fight for the vote proceeded slowly, womens rights groups gained valuable political experience by organizing around issues like school improvement, temperance and other womens concerns. Groups like the Wisconsin Federation of Womens Clubs worked with local womens groups to work for a variety of civic reforms, all the while continuing to give women more political power. By 1911, they convinced the State Legislature to authorize a statewide referendum on womens suffrage. However, the referendum went down to defeat by nearly a two-to-one margin, and a subsequent bill for another suffrage referendum was vetoed by the governor.

At that point, Wisconsins womens rights leaders gave up on making a change at the state level, and lent their efforts to the national campaign for a Constitutional amendment giving women the right to vote. Finally, in 1919, the amendment was approved by Congress, with the support of most of the Wisconsin delegation. Wisconsin ratified the Nineteenth Amendment on June 10th, 1919, and when it became law the next year, women were allowed to vote in federal elections. Wisconsins constitution, however, was not amended to give women full voting rights until 1934.

The womens rights groups that fought for suffrage formed the basis for the League of Women Voters, which continues to this day to empower women politically and to support freer, fairer elections for everyone. Today, 96 years after women won the vote, attempts to limit who can vote and when continue to threaten our hard-won voting rights. Womens Equality Day is an important reminder to each of us that the struggle for all Americans to exercise their Constitutional right to self-govern is far from over.

Democrat Julie Lassa, Stevens Point, represents the 24th state Senate District.
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15 (5) Aug 14 (3) Aug 13 (5) Aug 12 (10) Aug 11 (5) Aug 10 (4) Aug 09 (5) Aug 08 (3) Aug 07 (4) Aug 06 (6) Aug 05 (5) Aug 04 (5) Aug 03 (3) Aug 02 (5) Aug 01 (7) Jul 31 (5) Jul 30 (4) Jul 29 (4) Jul 28 (3) Jul 27 (3) Jul 26 (5) Jul 25 (4) Jul 24 (5) Jul 23 (5) Jul 22 (7) Jul 21 (5) Jul 20 (4) Jul 19 (5) Jul 18 (6) Jul 17 (5) Jul 16 (5) Jul 15 (6) Jul 14 (4) Jul 13 (3) Jul 12 (2) Jul 11 (2) Jul 10 (2) Jul 09 (2) Jul 08 (2) Jul 07 (3) Jul 06 (2) Jul 05 (2) Jul 04 (4) Jul 03 (3) Jul 02 (2) Jul 01 (8) Jun 30 (6) Jun 29 (4) Jun 28 (6) Jun 27 (6) Jun 26 (6) Jun 25 (6) Jun 24 (6) Jun 23 (4) Jun 22 (4) Jun 21 (5) Jun 20 (4) Jun 19 (5) Jun 18 (8) Jun 17 (6) Jun 16 (5) Jun 15 (5) Jun 14 (5) Jun 13 (4) Jun 12 (4) Jun 11 (6) Jun 10 (4) Jun 09 (3) Jun 08 (5) Jun 07 (4) Jun 06 (3) Jun 05 (3) Jun 04 (3) Jun 03 (3) Jun 02 (3) Jun 01 (4) May 31 (2) May 30 (2) May 29 (2) May 28 (2) May 27 (4) May 26 (4) May 25 (3) May 24 (2) May 23 (2) May 22 (3) May 21 (5) May 20 (4) May 19 (2) May 18 (3) May 17 (3) May 16 (3) May 15 (4) May 14 (5) May 13 (3) May 12 (4) May 11 (3) May 10 (4) May 09 (4) May 08 (4) May 07 (3) May 06 (2) May 05 (3) May 04 (4) May 03 (2) May 02 (3) May 01 (3) Apr 30 (3) Apr 29 (4) Apr 28 (2) Apr 27 (3) Apr 26 (4) Apr 25 (2) Apr 24 (3) Apr 23 (2) Apr 22 (2) Apr 21 (4) Apr 20 (4) Apr 19 (5) Apr 18 (7) Apr 17 (6) Apr 16 (10) Apr 15 (5) Apr 14 (3) Apr 13 (4) Apr 12 (5) Apr 11 (4) Apr 10 (4) Apr 09 (7) Apr 08 (4) Apr 07 (7) Apr 06 (4) Apr 05 (7) Apr 04 (5) Apr 03 (4) Apr 02 (5) Apr 01 (5) Mar 31 (5) Mar 30 (5) Mar 29 (7) Mar 28 (6) Mar 27 (5) Mar 26 (5) Mar 25 (6) Mar 24 (5) Mar 23 (5) Mar 22 (5) Mar 21 (4) Mar 20 (3) Mar 19 (6) Mar 18 (6) Mar 17 (2) Mar 16 (4) Mar 15 (5) Mar 14 (4) Mar 13 (5) Mar 12 (5) Mar 11 (4) Mar 10 (4) Mar 09 (2) Mar 08 (5) Mar 07 (4) Mar 06 (3) Mar 05 (4) Mar 04 (6) Mar 03 (4) Mar 02 (4) Mar 01 (5) Feb 28 (6) Feb 27 (4) Feb 26 (4) Feb 25 (6) Feb 24 (2) Feb 23 (3) Feb 22 (4) Feb 21 (6) Feb 20 (2) Feb 19 (6) Feb 18 (4) Feb 17 (2) Feb 16 (3) Feb 15 (6) Feb 14 (6) Feb 13 (6) Feb 12 (9) Feb 11 (5) Feb 10 (3) Feb 09 (4) Feb 08 (4) Feb 07 (7) Feb 06 (3) Feb 05 (4) Feb 04 (5) Feb 03 (4) Feb 02 (3) Feb 01 (3) Jan 31 (4) Jan 30 (4) Jan 29 (3) Jan 28 (2) Jan 27 (2) Jan 26 (3) Jan 25 (4) Jan 24 (4) Jan 23 (2) Jan 22 (2) Jan 21 (5) Jan 20 (4) Jan 19 (5) Jan 18 (4) Jan 17 (4) Jan 16 (3) Jan 15 (4) Jan 14 (3) Jan 13 (3) Jan 12 (3) Jan 11 (2) Jan 10 (8) Jan 09 (6) Jan 08 (2) Jan 07 (2) Jan 06 (3) Jan 05 (2) Jan 04 (2) Jan 03 (2) Jan 02 (2) Jan 01 (2) Dec 31 (2) Dec 30 (3) Dec 29 (3) Dec 28 (3) Dec 27 (2) Dec 26 (2) Dec 25 (2) Dec 24 (2) Dec 23 (2) Dec 22 (2) Dec 21 (2) Dec 20 (3) Dec 19 (2) Dec 18 (3) Dec 17 (2) Dec 16 (2) Dec 15 (3) Dec 14 (2) Dec 13 (3) Dec 12 (3) Dec 11 (3) Dec 10 (5) Dec 09 (3) Dec 08 (3) Dec 07 (2) Dec 06 (3) Dec 05 (3) Dec 04 (5) Dec 03 (4) Dec 02 (3) Dec 01 (3) Nov 30 (4) Nov 29 (4) Nov 28 (2) Nov 27 (2) Nov 26 (2) Nov 25 (3) Nov 24 (2) Nov 23 (2) Nov 22 (2) Nov 21 (2) Nov 20 (3) Nov 19 (3) Nov 18 (2) Nov 17 (2) Nov 16 (5) Nov 15 (5) Nov 14 (4) Nov 13 (2) Nov 12 (2) Nov 11 (2) Nov 10 (2) Nov 09 (2) Nov 08 (2) Nov 07 (3) Nov 06 (6) Nov 05 (4) Nov 04 (5) Nov 03 (5) Nov 02 (3) Nov 01 (5) Oct 31 (7) Oct 30 (5) Oct 29 (4) Oct 28 (3) Oct 27 (2) Oct 26 (4) Oct 25 (4) Oct 24 (4) Oct 23 (4) Oct 22 (3) Oct 21 (2) Oct 20 (3) Oct 19 (2) Oct 18 (2) Oct 17 (3) Oct 16 (5) Oct 15 (4) Oct 14 (2) Oct 13 (2) Oct 12 (4) Oct 11 (5) Oct 10 (4) Oct 09 (3) Oct 08 (3) Oct 07 (3) Oct 06 (2) Oct 05 (5) Oct 04 (5) Oct 03 (4) Oct 02 (4) Oct 01 (5) Sep 30 (2) Sep 29 (2) Sep 28 (3) Sep 27 (6) Sep 26 (2) Sep 25 (3) Sep 24 (3) Sep 23 (2) Sep 22 (2) Sep 21 (2) Sep 20 (2) Sep 19 (3) Sep 18 (3) Sep 17 (3) Sep 16 (2) Sep 15 (4) Sep 14 (3) Sep 13 (5) Sep 12 (4) Sep 11 (6) Sep 10 (2) Sep 09 (5) Sep 08 (5) Sep 07 (5) Sep 06 (4) Sep 05 (4) Sep 04 (3) Sep 03 (2) Sep 02 (3) Sep 01 (3) Aug 31 (2) Aug 30 (2) Aug 29 (3) Aug 28 (6) Aug 27 (3) Aug 26 (2) Aug 25 (2) Aug 24 (3) Aug 23 (2) Aug 22 (3) Aug 21 (5) Aug 20 (4) Aug 19 (3) Aug 18 (2) Aug 17 (5) Aug 16 (3) Aug 15 (4) Aug 14 (5) Aug 13 (2) Aug 12 (2) Aug 11 (2) Aug 10 (2) Aug 09 (2) Aug 08 (5) Aug 07 (5) Aug 06 (6) Aug 05 (2) Aug 04 (5) Aug 03 (2) Aug 02 (3) Aug 01 (2) Jul 31 (4) Jul 30 (2) Jul 29 (2) Jul 28 (2) Jul 27 (2) Jul 26 (3) Jul 25 (4) Jul 24 (2) Jul 23 (3) Jul 22 (2) Jul 21 (3) Jul 20 (4) Jul 19 (2) Jul 18 (3) Jul 17 (4) Jul 16 (5) Jul 15 (2) Jul 14 (3) Jul 13 (2) Jul 12 (3) Jul 11 (2) Jul 10 (2) Jul 09 (2) Jul 08 (2) Jul 07 (2) Jul 06 (2) Jul 05 (2) Jul 04 (2) Jul 03 (2) Jul 02 (2) Jul 01 (3) Jun 30 (3) Jun 29 (7) Jun 28 (3) Jun 27 (2) Jun 26 (3) Jun 25 (1) Jun 24 (2) Jun 23 (3) Jun 22 (5) Jun 21 (3) Jun 20 (2) Jun 19 (2) Jun 18 (2) Jun 17 (2) Jun 16 (2) Jun 15 (2) Jun 14 (2) Jun 13 (3) Jun 12 (3) Jun 11 (3) Jun 10 (2) Jun 09 (4) Jun 08 (2) Jun 07 (4) Jun 06 (5) Jun 05 (3) Jun 04 (3) Jun 03 (2) Jun 02 (2) Jun 01 (4) May 31 (2) May 30 (3) May 29 (3) May 28 (3) May 27 (2) May 26 (2) May 25 (2) May 24 (2) May 23 (2) May 22 (3) May 21 (3) May 20 (2) May 19 (2) May 18 (4) May 17 (7) May 16 (2) May 15 (2) May 14 (4) May 13 (3) May 12 (4) May 11 (4) May 10 (4) May 09 (3) May 08 (2) May 07 (2) May 06 (2) May 05 (1) May 04 (2) May 03 (4) May 02 (3) May 01 (4) Apr 30 (1) Apr 29 (3) Apr 28 (2) Apr 27 (3) Apr 26 (2) Apr 25 (2) Apr 24 (4) Apr 23 (2) Apr 22 (2) Apr 21 (2) Apr 20 (3) Apr 19 (3) Apr 18 (4) Apr 17 (5) Apr 16 (4) Apr 15 (4) Apr 14 (3) Apr 13 (3) Apr 12 (3) Apr 11 (3) Apr 10 (4) Apr 09 (4) Apr 08 (3) Apr 07 (2) Apr 06 (3) Apr 05 (3) Apr 04 (1) Apr 03 (1) Apr 02 (1) Apr 01 (2) Mar 31 (2) Mar 30 (3) Mar 29 (2) Mar 28 (3) Mar 27 (3) Mar 26 (3) Mar 25 (3) Mar 24 (2) Mar 23 (3) Mar 22 (3) Mar 21 (4) Mar 20 (2) Mar 19 (3) Mar 18 (1) Mar 17 (2) Mar 16 (2) Mar 15 (1) Mar 14 (3) Mar 13 (1) Mar 12 (2) Mar 11 (1) Mar 10 (3) Mar 09 (2) Mar 08 (1) Mar 07 (1) Mar 04 (2) Mar 02 (2) Feb 28 (1) Feb 24 (1) Dec 31 (4) Dec 30 (4) Dec 29 (4) Dec 28 (5) Dec 27 (3) Dec 26 (3) Dec 25 (4) Dec 24 (3) Dec 23 (3) Dec 22 (4) Dec 21 (3) Dec 20 (3) Dec 19 (3) Dec 18 (3) Dec 17 (3) Dec 16 (3) Dec 15 (3) Dec 14 (3) Dec 13 (3) Dec 12 (3) Dec 11 (3) Dec 10 (3) Dec 09 (3) Dec 08 (3) Dec 07 (3) Dec 06 (3) Dec 05 (3) Dec 04 (3) Dec 03 (4) Dec 02 (3) Dec 01 (3) Nov 30 (3) Nov 29 (3) Nov 28 (3) Nov 27 (3) Nov 26 (3) Nov 25 (3) Nov 24 (3) Nov 23 (3) Nov 22 (3) Nov 21 (3) Nov 20 (3) Nov 19 (3) Nov 18 (3) Nov 17 (3) Nov 16 (2) Nov 15 (3) Nov 14 (3) Nov 13 (3) Nov 12 (4) Nov 11 (3) Nov 10 (4) Nov 09 (4) Nov 08 (4) Nov 07 (3) Nov 06 (3) Nov 05 (5) Nov 04 (4) Nov 03 (3) Nov 02 (4) Nov 01 (4) Oct 31 (4) Oct 30 (3) Oct 29 (3) Oct 28 (2) Oct 27 (4) Oct 26 (4) Oct 25 (4) Oct 24 (3) Oct 23 (3) Oct 22 (3) Oct 21 (4) Oct 20 (4) Oct 19 (3) Oct 18 (4) Oct 17 (4) Oct 16 (3) Oct 15 (3) Oct 14 (3) Oct 13 (3) Oct 12 (3) Oct 11 (3) Oct 10 (4) Oct 09 (3) Oct 08 (3) Oct 07 (4) Oct 06 (3) Oct 05 (4) Oct 04 (3) Oct 03 (4) Oct 02 (5) Oct 01 (3) Sep 30 (4) Sep 29 (3) Sep 28 (3) Sep 27 (4) Sep 26 (3) Sep 25 (3) Sep 24 (3) Sep 23 (3) Sep 22 (3) Sep 21 (3) Sep 20 (3) Sep 19 (4) Sep 18 (3) Sep 17 (3) Sep 16 (4) Sep 15 (3) Sep 14 (3) Sep 13 (3) Sep 12 (4) Sep 11 (4) Sep 10 (4) Sep 09 (4) Sep 08 (4) Sep 07 (3) Sep 06 (3) Sep 05 (3) Sep 04 (3) Sep 03 (3) Sep 02 (4) Sep 01 (3) Aug 31 (3) Aug 30 (4) Aug 29 (3) Aug 28 (3) Aug 27 (3) Aug 26 (3) Aug 25 (4) Aug 24 (4) Aug 23 (5) Aug 22 (3) Aug 21 (3) Aug 20 (3) Aug 19 (3) Aug 18 (3) Aug 17 (3) Aug 16 (3) Aug 15 (3) Aug 14 (3) Aug 13 (3) Aug 12 (3) Aug 11 (4) Aug 10 (5) Aug 09 (3) Aug 08 (3) Aug 07 (4) Aug 06 (5) Aug 05 (4) Aug 04 (3) Aug 03 (3) Aug 02 (3) Aug 01 (3) Jul 31 (3) Jul 30 (4) Jul 29 (3) Jul 28 (5) Jul 27 (3) Jul 26 (3) Jul 25 (3) Jul 24 (3) Jul 23 (4) Jul 22 (3) Jul 21 (4) Jul 20 (3) Jul 19 (3) Jul 18 (4) Jul 17 (4) Jul 16 (4) Jul 15 (3) Jul 14 (3) Jul 13 (4) Jul 12 (5) Jul 11 (4) Jul 10 (4) Jul 09 (3) Jul 08 (3) Jul 07 (3) Jul 06 (5) Jul 05 (3) Jul 04 (3) Jul 03 (4) Jul 02 (3) Jul 01 (6) Jun 30 (4) Jun 29 (4) Jun 28 (3) Jun 27 (4) Jun 26 (4) Jun 25 (5) Jun 24 (4) Jun 23 (3) Jun 22 (5) Jun 21 (5) Jun 20 (4) Jun 19 (4) Jun 18 (5) Jun 17 (4) Jun 16 (5) Jun 15 (5) Jun 14 (3) Jun 13 (3) Jun 12 (3) Jun 11 (3) Jun 10 (5) Jun 09 (3) Jun 08 (4) Jun 07 (4) Jun 06 (5) Jun 05 (4) Jun 04 (3) Jun 03 (4) Jun 02 (5) Jun 01 (3) May 31 (4) May 30 (3) May 29 (3) May 28 (3) May 27 (3) May 26 (4) May 25 (4) May 24 (4) May 23 (4) May 22 (3) May 21 (3) May 20 (4) May 19 (3) May 18 (3) May 17 (4) May 16 (3) May 15 (4) May 14 (3) May 13 (4) May 12 (1) May 11 (3) May 10 (3) May 09 (3) May 08 (3) May 07 (4) May 06 (3) May 05 (4) May 04 (4) May 03 (3) May 02 (3) May 01 (6) Apr 30 (3) Apr 29 (3) Apr 28 (3) Apr 27 (5) Apr 26 (3) Apr 25 (3) Apr 24 (3) Apr 23 (3) Apr 22 (3) Apr 21 (3) Apr 20 (3) Apr 19 (3) Apr 18 (3) Apr 17 (4) Apr 16 (3) Apr 15 (4) Apr 14 (3) Apr 13 (3) Apr 12 (3) Apr 11 (3) Apr 10 (3) Apr 09 (3) Apr 08 (3) Apr 07 (3) Apr 06 (3) Apr 05 (3) Apr 04 (3) Apr 03 (3) Apr 02 (3) Apr 01 (3) Mar 31 (3) Mar 30 (3) Mar 29 (3) Mar 28 (4) Mar 27 (3) Mar 26 (3) Mar 25 (3) Mar 24 (3) Mar 23 (3) Mar 22 (3) Mar 21 (3) Mar 20 (3) Mar 19 (3) Mar 18 (3) Mar 17 (3) Mar 16 (4) Mar 15 (3) Mar 14 (3) Mar 13 (3) Mar 12 (4) Mar 11 (3) Mar 10 (4) Mar 09 (4) Mar 08 (3) Mar 07 (3) Mar 06 (4) Mar 05 (4) Mar 04 (3) Mar 03 (3) Mar 02 (3) Mar 01 (3) Feb 28 (3) Feb 27 (3) Feb 26 (3) Feb 25 (3) Feb 24 (2) Feb 23 (3) Feb 22 (3) Feb 21 (3) Feb 20 (3) Feb 19 (3) Feb 18 (3) Feb 17 (3) Feb 16 (3) Feb 15 (3) Feb 14 (3) Feb 13 (3) Feb 12 (3) Feb 11 (4) Feb 10 (3) Feb 09 (3) Feb 08 (3) Feb 07 (4) Feb 06 (3) Feb 05 (3) Feb 04 (4) Feb 03 (4) Feb 02 (4) Feb 01 (4) Jan 31 (3) Jan 30 (3) Jan 29 (3) Jan 28 (5) Jan 27 (4) Jan 26 (5) Jan 25 (5) Jan 24 (5) Jan 23 (4) Jan 22 (3) Jan 21 (4) Jan 20 (3) Jan 19 (5) Jan 18 (5) Jan 17 (4) Jan 16 (3) Jan 15 (4) Jan 14 (3) Jan 13 (5) Jan 12 (5) Jan 11 (4) Jan 10 (4) Jan 09 (3) Jan 08 (3) Jan 07 (3) Jan 06 (3) Jan 05 (3) Jan 04 (4) Jan 03 (3) Jan 02 (3) Jan 01 (4) Dec 31 (3) Dec 30 (3) Dec 29 (3) Dec 28 (3) Dec 27 (3) Dec 26 (3) Dec 25 (3) Dec 24 (3) Dec 23 (4) Dec 22 (3) Dec 21 (3) Dec 20 (3) Dec 19 (3) Dec 18 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African-American voters in the U.S. are concentrated, but key in the Trump-Clinton matchup. Here's a look at how African-Americans will help d
Windows 10 has been available for more than a year, so its not surprising that most new PCs ship with the operating system. But if you really want Windows 7 or Windows 8.1 you can always install it yourself. A handful of PC vendors will even offer to load an older version of Windows for you.

But that may change with the launch of Intels 7th-gen Core/Kaby Lake chips and AMDs new Bristol Ridge processors. Thats because Microsoft and the chip makers are only officially supporting Windows 10 and not earlier versions of Microsofts operating system.

Earlier this year Microsoft published a blog post on the topic, basically saying that it wanted to embrace silicon innovation by stating that Windows 10 would be the only supported Windows platform for upcoming chips including Kaby Lake and Bristol Ridge. PC World recently received confirmation from Microsoft that the company hasnt backed down: dont expect Windows 7 drivers for new chipsets from Microsoft, Intel, or AMD.

That doesnt mean you cant try to install Windows 7 on a brand new PC with a Kaby Lake or Bristol Ridge CPU. But without proper drivers, you may experience some glitches.

Of course, Windows isnt the only game in town: if you really dont want to use Windows 10, theres nothing stopping you from installing a GNU/Linux distribution such as Ubuntu or Fedora on a new PC.
Residents in the Clair Mel community protested -- for a third straight night -- over the shooting death of an unarmed black man by a sheriff's deputy.

5 people were arrested during demonstrations Thursday

Lavonia Riggins was shot, killed Tuesday

Pastors, community leaders say protests must be peaceful



The sheriff has started meeting with community leaders, trying to assure them the investigation will be transparent. But some residents aren't buying it.

"(The) only thing we asking the sheriff's department to do is to come forward and talk to us," one protester said. "To let us know, why?"

Lavonia Riggins was killed Tuesday when a SWAT team was serving a drug-related search warrant at his house. A deputy fired one shot, and investigators later found that Riggins was unarmed.

Friday's protests saw residents blocking roads, and at least one crash was caused. This followed Thursday night, when rocks were thrown, street signs were knocked down and trash was set on fire.

Five people were arrested Thursday.



You perceived him as an immediate threat, one of the protesters said. "If you perceive me as an immediate threat right now, is it my clothes, the color of my skin, my hat? I don't understand this, and until we get some kind of answers, I don't know what to tell you."

The Hillsborough County sheriff's office is still investigating.

Levonia Riggins, seen here from an April 2015 arrest, was shot once by Deputy Caleb Johnson during an attempt to serve a search warrant Tuesday morning. (Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office)





"The decision is going to be a difficult one to be made, Col. Donna Lusczynski said. "The deputy's perception of his threat and what was made in a split second."

The deputy is on administrative leave, which is standard practice in an officer-involved shooting. The sheriffs office said deputies had seen weapons in the house before and that Riggins made sudden movements before the deputy shot.

Riggins' friends feel like he was targeted and that there is a strong lack of trust.

"Everybody wants answers," Jermunte Harvey said. "If you hide stuff in the dirt, it's going to come to light eventually. Always, with anybody, it's going to come up."

Black pastors and community leaders are urging people to be patient. They said violence isn't the answer.

"It does not serve anyone good when you go out and you destroy property, especially in your own neighborhood," said pastor Thomas Scott.

Protesters don't plan to stop. Some said they'll try to keep it peaceful but they're also determined to speak their peace.

The people arrested Thursday were charged with inciting a riot.
For a little more than a year now, Bollywood on social media has been a very cozy family.

If one was to scroll through anyones TL, youll come away with a warm and fuzzy feeling that comes with all the love everyone showering over each other. Everyone constantly loves everything everyone is doing.

Actors are tweeting praise, dub-smashing and making videos to promote each other's works. And, why not? Digital publicity is like instant noodle  its quick, cheap and get a lot of mileage.

Someone like Ranveer Singh goes out of his way to dance on a street corner (for Hrithik Roshans Bang Bang) or dress up in a Naval Officers uniform (for Akshay Kumars Rustom).

Tere liye Jaan hazir hai! Dil jeetliya duniya ka! RT @RanveerOfficial: My #bangbangdare ! Just for you @iHrithik :)) http://t.co/MHGSigwJYh  Hrithik Roshan (@iHrithik) September 25, 2014

Agreed everyone is not as exuberant as Ranveer, but today it is expected that from the first poster launch to finally when the film releases, friends and contemporaries will at least tweet if not do more to promote it.

More so if its someone an actor or director hopes to work with someday. These tweets are either sycophantic or favours doled out by those at the top of the food chain. (Notice the sly plug of one's own film)

Last month, Ranbir Kapoor, in an interview with Rajeev Masand, was talking about social media and how proficient his Ae Dil Hai Mushkil director Karan Johar is on various mediums.

Karan is the mother of social media...like it all stems from him," Ranbir joked, before adding, I see that he's taken up a lot of responsibility and it's become a headache. He has to tweet about this one and some sporting event that he doesn't even know of; about somebody's trailer; about a film that he hasn't even liked.

Around a film release actors call in all favours they can.

Recently, I was interviewing a newbie who midway through the interview realized that he has forgotten to schedule a tweet for a particular time to promote a trailer. He couldnt decide where he wanted to describe the trailer as explosive or kickass. After much mulling, he picked an adjective and his manager posted the tweet for him. Had he seen the promo? No. But I was asked and she has promised to tweet about my films so, he said with a shrug.

Before the advent of social media, the only time industrywallahs had to lie to each other was if they met at a social do or for a film screening. At the end of any screening, the films cast and crew would stand at the exit and the audience was expected to walk out complimenting the film even if they hated it.

Lines like picture/jodi hit hai or kya screen presence hai would get tossed around if the film was a turkey. On the face of it, Ajay Deygn's tweet on Thursday night took on only Kamaal R Khan, but it also exposed the industry's fault lines once again.

Roughly eight years ago, Karan Johar had written a post on his blog mynameiskaran.com. The site doesnt exist anymore but heres what he had written about the premiere of the Saawariya.

The lights came up at the premiere of the highly anticipated Saawariya. The creme de la creme of the film fraternity walked out in silence. The customary praise and calculated adulation was shared with the cast and crew of the film. Everyone got into their cars and left the venue. And thenthe mobiles came out. The real reviews came crackling through Nokia Communicators and bejeweled Motorolas. Opinions from the color palette to the pace of the film were animatedly discussed. The fraternity was happy. The fraternity was celebrating. Celebrating the failure of a film. Celebrating the failure of a filmmaker."

This is the true nature of showbiz.

Everyone in the industry is in competition with each other. Egos are fragile, reputations even more so. And, everyone lies. Social media has just made it easier for them to pretend that they are one big happy family.

But every once in a while that mask slips a tiny bit.
Ford Motor Co has shelved plans to produce a new compact car family designed mainly for emerging markets like India and China, industry sources said, reflecting disappointing sales of mainstream models in the world's fastest growing car markets.

India and China were expected to be the main manufacturing hubs for the new B500 range, slated to begin production in 2018 and to include a premium sedan, hatchback and sport utility vehicle (SUV), two sources with direct knowledge of Ford's plans told Reuters.

The automaker had also planned to build its new models in Brazil, Russia and Thailand, one of the sources said.

Ford's decision, communicated to its suppliers in July, follows a similar move by General Motors to postpone the launch in India of a new $5 billion family of compact vehicles.

Ford is now planning to redesign the EcoSport, Figo and Figo Aspire in India in 2020-2021, according to two separate U.S. sources familiar with Ford's plans.

Its more ambitious B500 programme, though, is on ice because of muted demand for some small and mid-sized hatchbacks and sedans in India and China, where SUVs and "crossovers" combining the hatchback and SUV have proved increasingly popular.

The cost of upgrading plants to produce the new cars would also be prohibitively high, the first sources said.

All of the sources declined to be named as they have not been cleared to discuss the plans publicly.

Ford declined to comment on the development.

"We are constantly evaluating opportunities to better meet the needs of consumers and do not comment on speculation about future product programmes," a Ford spokesman said in a statement.

Shift to SUVs

That said, Ford has invested over $2 billion in India and plans to spend more to set up a global engineering centre in the southern city of Chennai that will help tweak products for the local market and more swiftly adapt to changing consumer trends.

The carmaker is also ramping up exports, including to Europe, to maximise usage of its two plants in India.

"India is a key market for us in Asia Pacific," said the spokesman, adding that the carmaker is committed to introducing new products and technologies in the South Asian nation.

But instead of the bigger plan for the key markets of India and China, Ford will focus on updating existing models and develop and build more SUVs and crossovers, moving away from sedans and hatchbacks, the U.S. sources said.

That would allow the carmaker to boost profit margins.

"The global shift to crossovers makes competing in small cars a tough proposition for GM and Ford," said Sam Fiorani, vice president of global vehicle forecasting at U.S.-based AutoForecast Solutions.

"It makes more sense for them to refresh older products now, harness lower development costs in China in the mid-term, and move toward small crossovers over the long haul."

Chinese buyers have flocked to SUVs, as they grow wealthier and are often restricted to one vehicle in major cities, at the expense of contracting sedan sales.

SUV sales rose 52 percent last year, although a glut of new model launches in the segment is already leading to discounts and lower margins.

Growing competition in the small SUV segment from local Chinese carmakers is also putting more pressure on pricing.

Setback for "Make in India"

The retreat by Ford and GM is a setback for India's "Make in India" push to become a global manufacturing powerhouse, including in the auto sector.

Retooling the assembly line to build the B500 vehicles at Ford's plant in Gujarat, Prime Minister Narendra Modi's home state, would have meant an investment of more than $100 million and created manufacturing jobs as it cranked out more cars.

Ford and GM have struggled to crack emerging markets in Asia, where competition from Japanese, South Korean and now Chinese automakers is fierce.

GM shut production in Indonesia owing to its modest market share, and Ford also plans to close its operations in the Southeast Asian nation, as well as in Japan and Australia.

Dearborn-based Ford is now looking at each country in the region in terms of long-term profitability opportunities, said another source familiar with Ford's plans, while noting India remains a tough place to make money.

India's passenger car market, where sales rose 7 percent last fiscal year to 2.8 million units, is dominated by Maruti Suzuki and Hyundai Motor Co with their extensive line-up of cars and vast dealer networks.

Maruti and Hyundai control two-thirds of the market whereas Ford's share in India, set to be the world's third-largest car market by 2020, has stagnated at about 3 percent.

Until Ford finalises an alternative plan, the shift in strategy could leave gaps in its car portfolio in India, that today sits at the two ends of the price and size spectrum.

In the meantime, Ford is increasing its focus on driving down costs by sourcing more parts locally and using more common features across models to achieve economies of scale.
New Delhi: The Supreme Court judgement that struck down the National Judicial Appointments Commission (NJAC) meant to put a new system of appointment of judges to higher judiciary in place, had some very important observations regarding the collegium system.

According to The New Indian Express, Justice Kurian Joseph, who seconded Justice J Chelameswar scathing criticism of the collegium system noted that the present collegium system lacks transparency, accountability and objectivity.

Stressing how trust deficit has affected the credibility of the collegium system and how quite often, very serious allegations and many a time not unfounded too, have been raised that its approach has been highly subjective.

The New Indian Express reported that asking for a deep introspection as to whether the institutional trusteeship has kept up the expectations of the framers of the Constitution Justice Joseph wrote in his judgment that that collegium system needs to be improved requiring a glasnost and a perestroika'".

While NJAC act was struck down by the apex court, it was, nevertheless, seen as an opportunity of reforming the current system of appointment of judges to higher judiciary, which has faced severe criticism for its lack of transparency. But the tussle that ensued between judiciary and executive over the Memorandum of Procedure (MoP), which would guide appointments to the higher judiciary, has dashed all hopes of amicable reform.

Now with the reports of apex court judge Justice Chelameswar deciding not to participate in the collegium meetings, the crisis is deepening. According to the report published in The Hindu, Justice J Chelameswar has communicated to the Chief Justice of India TS Thakur, his disinclination to participate in the powerful Supreme Court collegium meetings.

Mincing no words Justice Chelameswar had criticised collegium in his judgment. Justice Chelameswar who was the lone dissenting judge in NJAC case observed, Transparency is an aspect of rationality. The need for transparency is more in the case of appointment process. Proceedings of the collegium were absolutely opaque and inaccessible both to public and history, barring occasional leaks.

He had also talked about the desirability of allowing representatives from civil society in the appointment process.

Justice Joseph, who also felt the need of transparency, observed that the allegations of lack of transparency and opaque functioning of the collegiums certainly call for a deep introspection as to whether the institutional trusteeship has kept up the expectations of the framers of the Constitution. But in a ray of hope, Justice Joseph called it "a curable situation yet."

While there is no denying that the present system can be reformed and can be cured of its deficiency, it is only possible when there is acceptance of the problem.

According to The New Indian Express report Justice Chelameswar has asked the Supreme Court collegium for recording the "minutes of the confidential meetings held to discuss appointments and transfers of judges. If accepted this would be a big reform".

Till now the functioning of the collegium has been marred with several controversies, with allegations of nepotism and undeserving appointments being the most prominent one. Many constitutional experts feel that the power of appointment should solely rest with judiciary, essential for judicial independence. However, at the same time they agree that collegium needs to be reformed to make it more transparent and accountable.

Through three cases (between 1981 and 1998), a new system of the appointment of judges, called collegium, came into place. In 1981, the Supreme Court declared that the primacy of the CJIs recommendation to the president can be refused for cogent reasons. The judgment also stated that the word consultation was not to be taken to concurrence. This tilted the balance of power in favour of the executive, which got primacy over the judiciary in judicial appointments for the next 12 years. However, in 1993 in the second judges case the apex court while reversing its 1981 judgment changed the meaning of the word consultation to imply concurrence. It ruled that the advice tendered by the CJI is binding on the president. However, the same judgment also made it mandatory for the CJI to consult two of his senior-most judges while making the recommendations, paving the way for the collegium system.

Later in 1998, the apex court ruled that the consultation process to be adopted by the CJI required consultation of plurality of judges and the sole opinion of the CJI did not constitute consultation process and he should consult collegium of four senior-most judges of the Supreme Court. If any two judges dissent, the CJI should not refer the name for appointment. Through the last two cases, the Supreme Court in some way democratised the appointment procedure by allowing a voice of dissent, but at the same time monopolised the power of appointment in its own hand.

With Justice Chelameswar raising this issue once again, it is a moment for the judiciary to bring transparency in its appointment process. Needless to say, it will be a reform that judiciary needs in order to preserve itself.
Srinagar: On the eve of the visit of an all-party delegation to Jammu and Kashmir, Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti on Saturday called for engaging all sections of the society, including Hurriyat Conference, in a credible and meaningful political dialogue for resolution of the problems in the Valley.

The country's political leadership must, without any further delay, reach out to and engage all sections of the society, including leaders of the Hurriyat Conference, in a productive dialogue process to resolve the issue and make peace a reality in Jammu and Kashmir, she said while visiting the family of a person killed in firing by security forces.

Seventy people have been killed and thousands injured in violence in Kashmir Valley following the killing of Hizbul Mujahideen militant Burhan Wani in an encounter on 8 July.

"Visited the family of late Mashooq Ahmed, firing victim of Kund, Kulgam and offered heartfelt condolences to the bereaved family... The loss of human lives is a colossal tragedy and every one should strive for peace in J&K," she posted on Facebook.

The Chief Minister said it is perhaps for the first time that the Kashmir issue has been, during the past two months, discussed in so many forums and at so many levels including Parliament and at all-party meetings where judicious views were put across by all shades of the country's political opinion on how to end the stalemate.

The need of the hour is to build on this larger political consensus within the country and initiate tangible measures to address the issue, she said.

Mehbooba said the present situation in Kashmir calls for every right thinking party, group or individual to rise to the occasion and strive for finding ways and avenues for the restoration of peace and resolution of the problem.

"Right now Kashmir is again embroiled in a burning situation and we have hope that all sides will pick up elements of sanity and pragmatism and strike a new benchmark towards the resolution of the problem in light of the global and sub-continental realities," she said.

While the separatist leadership shall also have to take a step forward, the Centre on its part shall have to put off the fire on internal discontent, Mehbooba said.

Congress, CPM and many other parties pitched for holding dialogue with "all stakeholders", including Hurriyat, to douse the unrest in Kashmir, at a meeting held by the government in New Delhi today to brief the MPs who are part of the 30-member delegation about the visit to the state on from 4 September to 5 September.
New Delhi: Use of chilli-filled grenades as an alternative to pellet guns, which will be used in rarest of rare cases, was cleared on Saturday by Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh for crowd control ahead of the visit of an all-party delegation led by him to restive Kashmir on Sunday.

The Home Minister cleared the file for use of Pelargonic Acid Vanillyl Amide (PAVA) also called Nonivamide as an alternative to the pellet guns, official sources said.

They said as many as 1000 shells would be reaching the Kashmir Valley tomorrow.

During his two-day visit to Kashmir from 24 August to 25 August, Singh had said an alternative to pellet guns will be given to security forces in the coming days.

Pellet guns are, however, unlikely to be banned completely but will be used in "rarest of rare cases", they said.

The use of PAVA was recommended by a seven-member expert committee, headed by Joint Secretary in the Home Ministry T V S N Prasad, in its report submitted on August 29.

The panel was constituted after scores of protesters were blinded by the use of pellet guns in the Valley.

The Kashmir Valley is witnessing unrest following the killing of Hizbul Mujahideen militant Burhan Wani on 8 July.

'PAVA shells', a chilli-based ammunition, is less lethal and immobilises the target temporarily.

The 'PAVA shells' were under trial for over a year at the Indian Institute of Toxicology Research, a Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) laboratory in Lucknow, and its development has come at a time when Kashmir is on the boil.
New Delhi: Ahead of the all-party delegation's visit to Kashmir in the wake of ongoing unrest, Left parties on Saturday asked the Centre to bring Pakistan to the discussion table, besides holding talks with other stakeholders including Hurriyat leaders to find a "final solution" to the problem.

Speaking to mediapersons after a consultation meeting with intellectuals here on the Kashmir issue, CPM general secretary Sitaram Yechury and his CPI counterpart Sudhakar Reddy also urged Hurriyat leaders to discuss their positions with the delegation to find a solution to the problem.

"A final solution to this (problem) cannot happen without engaging with Pakistan. Yes, Pakistan's involvement in cross-border infiltration, terrorism...on that all of us have said unitedly that the country as a whole will face it.

"But at the same time, the engagement with Pakistan is also important," Yechury, who is part of the 30-member delegation, said.

On asked whether inviting Pakistan to come to discussion table will mean converting the issue as one associated with Pakistan and not India's internal matter, Yechury said "the Kashmir dispute is between Pakistan and India".

"(However) there is no scope for third party involvement nor there is a requirement. This is an Indo-Pak dispute," he said.

To a question, Yechury said the NDA government itself had taken this position of holding dialogue with Pakistan "embracing all issues including that of Kashmir".

Speaking further, Yechury reiterated he had raised the issue of inviting Hurriyat leaders for discussion during all-party members' meeting with the government earlier in the day. He though said the government remained "non-committal" over the demand.

"It is up to the government to invite them (Hurriyat leaders). We want to meet them. JD(U), RJD and DMK leaders supported the demand during the meeting," he added.

Referring to media reports claiming hardline Hurriyat Conference leader Syed Ali Shah Geelani's opposition to holding talks with the delegation, Yechury said, "I don't know (about the reports)...we are only telling them you talk to us, tell us your conditions. Without discussions there can't be a solution."

"This morning they heard us, they did not say no, did not say yes. As has been happening in this government, the yes or no can come only after the Prime Minister's approval or disapproval," said Yechury.

"Come and speak. We believe these (discussions) are being held late. Had this been held earlier, such a situation would not have arisen. But the delegation's visit should not go futile," he said, echoing Yechury.
The line between political vendetta and the assertion that law will take its own course is often non-existent. The person at the receiving end will cry vendetta while law takes its own course, with or without a little push from political rivals. So when Prime Minister Narendra Modi mentions both in one breath it calls for critical consideration.

...History is testimony to the fact that I have never opened any file due to political considerations. The government has given no instruction to open any file. The law will take its own course... said Prime Minister Narendra Modi in an interview with Rahul Joshi, group editor of Network18. Watch the full interview here.

Now, are the probes in Robert Vadras land deal in Haryana, CBI raids on Virbhadra Singh and the Enforcement Directorate case against Shankersinh Vaghela examples of political vendetta? It depends which side of the fence you are on. Our political class has endowed itself with a sense of immunity. The unwritten arrangement is that all acts of omission and commission of predecessors will be swept under the carpet. This is cynical politics at its worst. Modi, in the run-up to the 2014 elections, had promised to change the obnoxious arrangement.

It takes some courage to open old files. One risks creating enemies and losing friends in political and other circles. If Narendra Modis government has decided to take the risk, then he has no reason to be defensive about it. Dealing with corruption cannot be a matter of political convenience and expediency. The prime minister has the unique advantage of being an outsider in Delhis political equations; if he cannot bring in the change nobody can.

However, law taking its own course assumes the look of vendetta when cases are milked for political purpose. For example, if the Robert Vadra matter is allowed to linger just to gain political brownie points, then it becomes vendetta. There is growing suspicion that this is the case here. In the high profile defence deals such as AgustaWestland not much progress has been made despite the massive political noise. In fact, we have not seen much progress beyond the media noise in most of such cases. Modi would be doing a great service to the nation if he helped early conclusion in such cases through institutional efficiency.

Theres an impression that under the current dispensation the fight against corruption is selective, the targets mostly being those not in the good books of the BJP leadership. The Congress, in particular, has been crying foul since it has been at the receiving end. The party would like to link it to the BJPs call for a Congress-mukt Bharat. Theres could be some truth in Congresss allegation. There has been no headway in the big-ticket scams such as Vyapam in Madhya Pradesh and everyone has gone silent about the Lalit Modi matter. One does not hear of CBI and ED raids on those close to the BJP.

If that really is the case then the prime minister must give it a closer look. He could be inadvertently replacing one kind of cynical politics with another. It never hurts if the corrupt are brought to book, but if it means punishing one set and sparing the other then it becomes morally untenable.
The Dalit Asmita Yatra  Azadi Kooch  organised by the Una Dalit Atyachar Ladat Samiti (Una Dalit Committee to Fight Atrocity) in Gujarat, began in Ahmedabad on 5 August and completed 400 kms when it reached Una on 15 August, Independence Day. This assertion of Dalit communities for their rights is also a struggle for their dignity and self-respect, free from the shackles of casteist hegemony.

In this context, a Tamil novel Vallisai (heavy music) by Azhagiya Periyavan draws our attention towards understanding the marginalised people's struggle for human dignity and social justice in the northern region of Tamil Nadu  a stretch spanning Tiruvananmalai, Thiruppattur, Vellore and Chennai. The entire novel revolves around violence against the Dalits, struggles against untouchability as well as progressive transformative aspirations towards annihilation of caste. This is done through narrating contestation and contradiction of three generations from the early 1900s to the late 1990s. It focuses around the boycotting of the Parai/Thappu (a drum used in Tamil Nadu) thereby reaffirming and redefining the notion around this ancient art and music traditionally associated with a particular community.

Ravaneshan, a leather factory worker is a member of the Scheduled Caste Federation (SCF), led by a local leader Sivamalai. Ravaneshan lives with his wife Thavamani and son Thiruvenkadam in Poongkulam, near Ambur in the erstwhile North Arcot district (Ambur is now in Vellore district). He dreams of providing good education for his son education and to work towards emancipation of the Dalit community across the district.

Ravaneshan divides his time and resources for both personal and public activities. He has earned the goodwill and respect of his factory owner Khadar Bhai and among the people around Poongkulam village through his political activism. As a responsible father and committed progressive political activist, he takes care of family and provides education to his son up to Intermediate Level at Madras Pachaiyappan College with the financial support of Khadar Bhai and the recommendation of other SCF leaders like M Shivaraja.

The Second Generation

Thiruvenkadam, son of the politically assertive and socially committed activist learns and experiences caste intricacies from his childhood to college days and until his death in diverse forms and challenges. His friendship with Ponnarasu, a hostel-mate, who hails from Chennai and studied at Loyola College having extraordinary artistic skills and close association with SCF, enhances his understanding and courage to face the world. As Thiruvenkadam plans to continue his education, fulfilling his father's and his own renewed aspirations for higher education, he returns to his village with an intermediate degree. All of a sudden, his father Ravaneshan dies, a victim of caste violence, when he and his leader Sivamalai went to express solidarity and support to fellow Dalits in a nearby village, where caste Hindus perpetrated atrocities.

Thiruvenkadam steps into his fathers shoes, in order to organise the community and to fight for self respect, dignity. He advocates boycotting or compulsory banning of caste specific labor, such as performing Parai in funerals of members of the dominant caste, removing the carcasses of dead animals amongst others. Thiruvenkadam also initiates many development programs such as night school and play ground and is instrumental in bringing a community centre and a library to his village, where he himself teaches children. This is reminiscent of Vasant Moons autobiography in which he narrates similar activities of the Saink Sakthi Dal of Maharashtras Ambedkarite movement in the early 20th century.

The Third Generation

Thiruvenkadams youngest son Samaneedhiarasus bicycle bears a No God sticker like his father had inscribed at the entrance of their new house. Sivalingams (a close friend of Thiruvenkadam) sudden political attraction towards the depoliticised MGR Fan Club on one hand and the new generation's assertions about not boycotting Parai music engages the reader in well rounded arguments. The new generation of Dalits ask why they should reject age old indigenous music, instead of celebrating it.

The novel narrates diverse forms of resistance, struggles and strategies of the oppressed including sensitive romances such as between Thiruvendakam-Manga and Sivalingam-Kuppy. The novelist portrays well the significant role of Thotti  the village police  as a medium of public communication. He also explains legendary folklore forms Veerasampoogan and Nadukkattu kathai which are oral traditions in the region.

Making Sense of Tamil Nadus Dalit Movement

There is a shocking disclosure in the novel that until 1927, Pachaiyappan College in Chennai did not admit Dalits. In 1912, a Non-Brahmin Association was formed and in 1925 the Self-Respect Movement began. An institution of higher learning, owned by a non-Brahmin dominant caste group denying admission to Dalits, shows how the explicit anti-Brahmin politics of Tamil Nadu has also been implicitly anti-Dalit.

The depiction of the organic link between Ambedkar's movements and progressive politics during the mid-1900s are quite impressive in the novel. The Mahad Revolt, conversion to Buddhism as well as the narrative of Ambedkar's visits to Chennai and other parts of Tamil Nadu are powerful. How the colonial state forcefully exploited Dalits during the Second World War and its impact on Dalits is a revelation to readers and students of Tamil Nadus political history.

Throughout the novel one finds many nuanced details of resistance  indirect attack on the oppressors, arguments about Buddhism, violence versus non-violence and the Buddhist construction of Mariamman (a local deity). Numerous atrocities on Dalits, particularly in the 1990s and how Tamil Nadu politics normalises such violence against the Dalits in the name of peace meetings have been detailed well.

The novels also delves into the compromises made by political movements when they become political parties and how some of the current educated Dalits have become selfish and blind towards understanding realities. All these depictions are evidence of Azhagiya Periyavans grasp over contemporary Dalit politics and the impact of Panchayati Raj in rural Tamil Nadu.

This novel provides a comprehensive overview of the critical questions and debates in contemporary understanding of Dalits struggle by tracing its root causes. As an insightful writer, Azhagiya Periyavan has an engaging relation with socio-political history. Detailed research seems to have gone into the writers effort to portray the process of structural deprivation in the pre-colonial, colonial and post-colonial period of the northern region of Tamil Nadu. Vallisai traces the continuation and reinforcement of the old caste-feudal tendency to exploit, oppress, extend and impose a hegemonic feudal order which has been resisted by Dalit movements.

Azhagiya Periyavans literary aesthetic skills and erudition in dealing with the social history of people at the grassroots stands out not only in the way he analyses the myths, texts and historical evidences, but also in indicating the need to reconcile them with social science theory or vice versa. It gives us a glimpse of what can happen when social history is ignored in social science research.

The narrative of the region helps explain the feudal relations in terms of land holdings and exchange relations, which has led to increasing alienation from land, alienation of labour and particularly of this class, caste, group or a community over the years. Azhagiya Periyavan helps us to read social history in a new way by placing it in the context of contemporary debates, which in turn offers an effective theoretical challenge to mainstream doctrines.

The writer is an expert in Dalit studies and is currently an Associate Professor at the Madras Institute of Development Studies in Chennai
The Opposition said that the government should invite Hurriyat Conference for talks, announce confidence building measure during its Kashmir visit and keep open channels of dialogue after the all-party meet ended in New Delhi on Saturday.

Coming out of a briefing held by the government for members of the delegation, CPM general secretary Sitaram Yechury said, "Government should invite Hurriyat for talks with the all-party delegation" when it visits Kashmir from Sunday.

He also suggested that confidence building measures should be announced during the visit of the delegation.

Channels of dialogue should be always open, GoI needs to decide who the stakeholders are: GN Azad #KashmirDelegation pic.twitter.com/YWZOzkAAWI  ANI (@ANI_news) September 3, 2016

Everyone gave their suggestions. When we return from Kashmir this delegation will meet here again: HM Rajnath Singh pic.twitter.com/mOYXaUK2Z7  ANI (@ANI_news) September 3, 2016

An interactive session to brief MPs who will be part of an all-party delegation to Jammu and Kashmir was held today to make them aware of the prevailing situation in the state and contours of the tour during which they will hold talks with a cross-section of people.

Home Minister Rajnath Singh, Parliamentary Affairs Minister Ananth Kumar, Minister of State in PMO Jitendra Singh and top officials were to make presentations at the meeting.

The prevailing ground situation in Jammu and Kashmir, positions, and views of different stakeholders, individuals and groups were conveyed to the parliamentarians.

The exercise was undertaken to ensure that all MPs speak in tandem and there is consensus among the lawmakers while speaking to a cross-section of people, aiming to bring peace

in the state, sources said.

The meeting is expected to take note about possible individuals and groups with whom the delegation may interact during its two-day tour beginning tomorrow.

The source said the members of the delegation are free to meet anyone, including separatists.

However, Home Minister Rajnath Singh or any other central minister will meet only those who are ready to resolve all issues within the framework of the Constitution.

The delegation will interact with individuals and groups aiming to bring peace in the Valley, which has been facing unrest following the killing of Hizbul Mujahideen militant Burhan Wani on 8 July.

Apart from the Home Minister and Jitendra Singh, those who will be part of the all-party delegation include Finance Minister Arun Jaitley, leader of opposition in Rajya Sabha Ghulam Nabi Azad, his Lok Sabha colleague Mallikarjun Kharge, senior Congress leader Ambika Soni, Union Minister Ram Vilas Paswan (LJP), JD-U leader Sharad Yadav, CPM general secretary Sitaram Yechury and CPI leader D Raja.

NCP's Tariq Anwar and Trinamool Congress' Saugata Roy, Shiv Sena's Sanjay Raut and Anandrao Adsul, TDP's Thota Narasimham, Shiromani Akali Dal's Prem Singh Chandumajra,

BJD's Dilip Tirkey, AIMIM's Asaduddin Owaisi, AIUDF's Badaruddin Ajmal and Muslim League's E Ahamed will be party of the delegation.

TRS' Jitendra Reddy, N K Premchandran (RSP), P Venugopal (AIADMK), Tiruchi Siva (DMK), Y B Subba (YSR-Cong), Jaiprakash Yadav (RJD), Dharamveer Gandhi (AAP) and Dushyant Chautala (RLD) are also in the team.

BSP and Samajwadi Party have extended their support but have not been able to nominate any of their members.

With inputs from PTI
Chandigarh: Former Haryana Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda on Saturday termed the CBI searches at his residences and other places as "political vendetta" unleashed by the BJP government against its opponents.

The senior Congress leader said the CBI searches "were not a court verdict against him" and that he will present his side of the story at an appropriate platform.

"Let the government conduct investigations to its full satisfaction. I will fully cooperate in the investigations and not create any obstacle so that truth comes out before the people soon," the two-time former CM said in a statement here.

Hitting out at the BJP-led Haryana government, Hooda said, "To cover its failures, they are adopting tactics to divert people's attention by trying to defame the Congress leadership."

"If Congress has seen good days, it has also passed through difficult days, but the party even in difficult days has bravely faced conspiracy of its opponents," he said.

"BJP should understand this. They cannot browbeat me and keep me down with such actions," the Congress leader added.

CBI on Saturday carried out searches at 20 locations including the residences of the former Haryana chief minister and a sitting UPSC member in a case of alleged irregularities in acquisition of land in Gurgaon in which farmers were cheated to the tune of Rs 1,500 crore.
New Delhi: Chief Justice of India T S Thakur on Saturday expressed hope that the controversy arising out of the refusal of Justice J Chelameswar to take part in Collegium meetings would be sorted out.

"We will sort it out," the CJI told PTI in a brief response when asked about his first reaction on the recent development centred around the functioning of the Collegium.

The CJI did not elaborate further on the issue.

Justice Chelameswar, the fifth senior-most judge who is part of the five-member Collegium headed by CJI and Justices A R Dave, J S Khehar and Dipak Misra as other members, did not attend the Collegium meet scheduled on Thursday.

He also shot off a letter to the Justice Thakur expressing unwillingness to take part in Collegium meetings on several grounds including that it has been functioning in an "opaque" and "non-transparent" manner.

The meeting of the Collegium was called off due to the development.

The CJI, who was delivering the convocation address at the National Law University (NLU) here, also raised the issue of lack of adequate number of judges at the level of trial and appellate courts.

The fundamental right of speedy trial is not being delivered at all levels in the criminal justice system due to the lack of right number of judges, he said.

"Speedy trial is a fundamental right and its a part of right to life. But unfortunately, for a variety of reasons, and a major reason is, as we all know, the lack of proper number of judges that are required. This is not happening at the trial level or at the appellate level. This needs to be addressed," he said.

He urged young lawyers to face the challenges posed in today's world for the "downtrodden" and steer the dynamics of change by being an instrument of constitutional values.

"I feel that reforms and especially rejuvenation of the system by additional vacancies being created, appointments being made, infrastructure being provided is the need of the hour," the CJI said.
Panaji: Goa Congress on Saturday demanded the resignation of Tourism Minister Dilip Parulekar accusing him of being involved in the beach cleaning scam.

"Parulekar has his hands dirty in the beach cleaning scam. He should be divested of his portfolio," Congress Goa spokesperson Yatish Naik told a press conference here. Congress leader Trajano D'Mello was also present.

Congress' demand comes in the wake of a complaint by Independent legislator Rohan Khaunte to Lokayukta alleging Parulekar's involvement in the scam pertaining to beach-cleaning contract awarded to certain private companies.

Following the complaint, state tourism ministry had announced that the contract with the beach cleaning firm in question would be discontinued.

Raising another issue, D'Mello alleged that the Tourism Master Plan being pushed in haste is another scam in the offing.

Tourism Department had recently invited suggestions and objections for the tourism master plan which would give direction to the future of the industry in the state.

"The Detailed Project Report (of tourism master plan) has been kept open from 26 August for a period of 15 days for suggestions/objections of people after which it will be finalised. And it is the peak important Hindu festival of the year," he said referring to onset of 10-day long Ganesh Chaturthi celebrations across the state.

"What is the justification of this urgency? Tourism Master Plan has to be looked into thoroughly," he added.

He said Congress demands the time period for suggestions/objections for the master plan to be extended. When contacted, Parulekar rubbished the allegations.

"We have already discontinued the contract with the beach cleaning firm, where is the question of anyone being involved in the scam," he asked.

The minister said enough time is given to people to raise their objections or suggestions on tourism master plan.
A day ahead of All Party Delegations visit, Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti appealed to the centre to initiate unconditional dialogue with Hurriyat leaders and other stakeholders for resolving Kashmir issue once and for all.

Mehboobas proposal comes at a time when separatists and militants have asked people to stay away from meeting with the delegation.

Chief Minister Mehbooba said on Saturday that the parliamentarian delegation should engage with all sections of the society in a credible and meaningful political process for the resolution of the issue.

The countrys political leadership must, without any further delay, reach out and engage all sections of the society including the leaders of the Hurriyat Conference in a productive dialogue process to resolve the issue and make peace a reality in Jammu and Kashmir, Mehbooba Mufti, said.

An All Parliamentary Party Delegation visiting Kashmir on Sunday to find an end to the two-month long uprising in Kashmir is likely to achieve precious little as the separatists have decided not to meet the delegation and asked others to stay away from them.

Separatist Syed Ali Geelani, who is spearheading the present uprising along with Mirwaiz Umar Farooq and Yasin Malik, on Friday said the Parliamentary delegation has no mandate for talks on Kashmir because of a Parliament resolution that Kashmir was an integral part of India. The Indian parliamentary delegation is coming to Kashmir after passing a resolution that Kashmir an integral part of India, Geelani said in a statement, therefore this delegation neither has mandate nor the intention to resolve the dispute of Jammu and Kashmir.

We suggest to all stakeholders to refrain from engaging in this meaningless exercise of meeting this delegation, Geelani said.

He has urged people no to stay away from meeting the 30-member team led by Home Minister Rajnath Singh, that is scheduled to arrive in Srinagar on Sunday.

The delegation of 30-member parliamentarians, includes former Home and Finance minister P Chidambaram, Communist party leader Sitaram Yechurey, AIMMA Asaduddin Owaisi, among others.

This will be the second time after the 2010 uprising, that a high-powered delegation is reaching Kashmir for talks with stakeholders. But the decision to boycott by separatists has put a big question mark on the usefulness of the visit. The Kashmir Inc. also held a meeting of its various constituencies and decided to boycott the meeting.

It would be prudent if the delegation talks to the resistance leadership rather than coming here for photo-sessions to show the world that India is talking to stakeholders in Kashmir, chairman of Kashmir Economic Alliance (KEA), Muhammad Yaseen Khan.

Meeting the visiting delegation would be nothing but a foolish exercise.

Leader of the Opposition in the Rajya Sabha and Congress leader Ghulam Nabi Azad said the UPA is open to holding dialogue with all stakeholders.

We have said that the option of dialogue should be open to all stakeholders. Government should open the dialogue with all stakeholders. The Centre and the state government know who the stake holders are. They have to identify the stakeholders and invite, Azad said.

Ruling PDP, however, said the delegation would be an opportunity for the separatists to make a way forward in resolving Kashmir issue.

Form last two months there had been unrest and people are on the streets I think this an opportunity for the people and the separatists to grab the opportunity and hold talks with the all party delegation, PDP Spokesperson, Waheed ur Rehmna Para, said.
Washington: Hillary Clinton told the FBI she relied on her staff not to send emails containing classified information to the private email server she used as secretary of state.

The revelation came Friday as the FBI, in a rare step, published scores of pages summarising interviews with Clinton and her top aides from the recently closed criminal investigation into her use of a private email server in the basement of her Chappaqua, New York, home.

The Democratic presidential nominee told the FBI she never sought or asked permission to use a private server or email address during her tenure as the nation's top diplomat from 2009 to 2013. A prior review by the State Department's internal watchdog concluded the practice violated several polices for the safekeeping and preservation of federal records.

The latest developments highlight competing liabilities for Clinton. Either she made a conscious effort to prevent a full public accounting of her tenure at State or she was nonchalant about decisions with national security consequences and risks. The first scenario plays into Republican arguments and voter concerns about her trustworthiness and transparency, while the second casts doubt on her pitch as a hyper-competent, detail-driven executive.

Clinton campaign spokesman Brian Fallon said Friday the campaign was pleased the FBI had released the documents.

"While her use of a single email account was clearly a mistake and she has taken responsibility for it, these materials make clear why the Justice Department believed there was no basis to move forward with this case," Fallon said.

GOP presidential nominee Donald Trump countered that Clinton's "answers to the FBI about her private email server defy belief."

"After reading these documents, I really don't understand how she was able to get away from prosecution," Trump said in a statement.

Clinton has repeatedly said her use of private email was allowed. But over a 3-hour interview in July, she told investigators she "did not explicitly request permission to use a private server or email address," the FBI wrote. Clinton said no one at the State Department raised concerns during her tenure, and she said everyone with whom she exchanged emails knew she was using a private email address.

The documents also include technical details about how the private server was set up. It is the first disclosure of details provided by Bryan Pagliano, the technology staffer who set up and maintained Clinton's IT infrastructure. Pagliano secured an immunity agreement from the Justice Department after previously refusing to testify before Congress, invoking his constitutional right against self-incrimination.

Large portions of the FBI documents were censored. The FBI cited exemptions protecting national security and investigative techniques. Previous government reviews of the 55,000 pages of emails Clinton returned to the State Department found that about 110 contained classified information.

Clinton and her legal team deleted thousands more emails she claimed were personal and private. The FBI report details steps taken by Clinton's staff that appear intended to hamper the recovery of deleted data, including smashing her old Blackberry smartphones with a hammer and using special software to wipe the hard drive of a server she had used.

Friday's release of internal investigative documents by the FBI was a highly unusual step, but one that reflects extraordinary public interest in the investigation into Clinton's server.

The FBI focused on whether Clinton sent or received classified information using the private server, which was not authorized for such messages. Clinton told the FBI she relied on others with knowledge about handling classified files not to send her emails inappropriately.

Clinton said she was unfamiliar with the meaning of the letter "c'' next to a paragraph and speculated that it might be "referencing paragraphs marked in alphabetical order." That particular email had been marked as classified at the confidential level, the lowest level of classification. Clinton said she did not pay attention to the level of classification "and took all classified information seriously," according to the FBI.

After a yearlong investigation, the FBI recommended against prosecution in July, and the Justice Department then closed the case. FBI Director James Comey said that while Clinton and her aides had been "extremely careless" in dealing with sensitive materials, there was no evidence they intentionally mishandled classified information.

The FBI's review also found no direct evidence that Clinton's server was hacked but said her system would be a high-value target for foreign intelligence agencies and a sophisticated attacker would have been unlikely to leave behind evidence of a breach. Clinton told the FBI she was unaware of specific details about the security, software or hardware used on her server.

Clinton also told the FBI she never deleted emails, nor instructed anyone else to do so, to avoid their potential release under the Freedom of Information Act.

However, the FBI report says Clinton contacted her predecessor, former Secretary Colin Powell, in January 2009 to inquire about his use of a BlackBerry. Powell, who also used a private email account, warned Clinton that if it became "public" that she used a smartphone to "do business," her emails could become official government records subject to disclosure.

"Be very careful," Powell cautioned Clinton in an email. "I got around it all by not saying much and not using systems that captured the data."

Clinton said she later directed her aides to create a private email account and said it was "a matter of convenience" to use the home server shared with her husband, former President Bill Clinton.

She added that "everyone at State knew she had a private email address," though in separate interviews several on her team told agents they had no idea she was using a private account.
United Nations: India has asked the world community to "redouble" the efforts to fight the growing threat of terrorism by expediting the adoption of an international convention on terrorism, saying the UN members must recognise the "graveness" of its threat.

"As one of the oldest victims of terrorism in the world, India urges the UN and Members of the UN to recognise the graveness of this threat and commit to redouble our efforts in a practical and sustained manner to fight this scourge of world peace," senior official in the Indian Mission to the UN Srinivas Prasad said.

"A commitment to the signing of the proposed and much discussed Comprehensive Convention on International Terrorism (CCIT) - a global compact on terrorism - would be an important step forward," he said, according to prepared remarks, posted on the mission's website.

Addressing a high-level forum on 'Culture of Peace' yesterday, Prasad said terrorism and extremism constitute the biggest threats to world peace today and "destabilises" societies and global order.

"This threat cannot be contained in one corner of the world and it will spill over to all parts of the world, as recent terrorist attacks in Europe, Africa, Turkey, Bangladesh and Afghanistan have demonstrated," he said.

Noting that while India aims to not only lift its population out of poverty but also build a peaceful and just society, Prasad said that the country "recognises" that "its economic development is contingent on a peaceful neighborhood and global order".

"We have, therefore, stressed on regional interconnectivity with our neighbors in South Asia and sharing of developmental efforts," he said adding that India also recognises the importance of supporting the UN in dealing with instability and violence and bringing peace in various parts of the world.

Invoking the legacy of Mahatma Gandhi, Prasad said the Indian leader's "powerful message" of peace and non-violence resonates even more strongly today "in a world in which we are faced with terrorism against innocent civilians and vulnerable members of society."

He said Gandhi's message is "deeply relevant" at a time when terrorism is used as "state policy" with no thought to the consequences to peaceful citizens and groups of women and children.

Voicing concern over the consequences of terrorism on the world's children, Prasad said conflict and violence impacting the stability of State structures, from Africa to Afghanistan, has "tragically" fuelled a mass refugee influx with children constituting a large section of this influx.

"While the world has striven to address this global refugee influx, we need to pay greater attention to ending terrorist violence which brings about this influx. A Culture of Peace and security is a prerequisite for economic development and the eradication of poverty, which ultimately is a safeguard against instability and mass violence," he said.
Hanoi: India on Saturday extended $500 million Line of Credit to Vietnam for facilitating deeper defence cooperation with the south east Asian nation, as the two countries elevated their ties to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership to respond to emerging regional challenges.

"Our decision to upgrade our Strategic Partnership to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership captures the intent and path of our future cooperation. It will provide a new direction, momentum and substance to our bilateral cooperation," Prime Minister Narendra Modi said after talks with his Vietnamese counterpart Nguyen Xuan Phuc here.

He said the two sides recognised the need to cooperate in responding to emerging regional challenges.

Vietnam had earlier Strategic Partnership only with Russia and China.

Modi, who arrived here on Friday on his maiden visit to the country, described his talks with Vietnamese counterpart as "extensive and very productive" and said they covered the full range of bilateral and multilateral cooperation.

"I am also happy to announce a new Defence Line of Credit for Vietnam of USD 500 million for facilitating deeper defence cooperation," he said.

"Our common efforts will also contribute to stability, security and prosperity in this region," he said.

The two countries signed 12 agreements in a wide range of areas covering IT, space, double taxation and sharing white shipping information.

An agreement on construction of offshore patrol boats was also signed by the two sides, signalling a step to give concrete shape to defence engagement between the two nations.

"The range of agreements signed just a while ago point to the diversity and depth of our cooperation," Modi said, adding the agreement on construction of offshore patrol boats is one of the steps to give concrete shape to bilateral defence ties.

He said as the two important countries in this region, India and Vietnam feel it necessary to further their ties on regional and international issues of common concern.

Modi also announced a grant of $5 million for the establishment of a Software Park in the Telecommunications University in Nha Trang.

"We agreed to tap into the growing economic opportunities in the region," said Modi, the first Indian premier to visit the country in 15 years.

Noting that enhancing bilateral commercial engagement is the strategic objective of the two nations, he said, "For this, new trade and business opportunities will be tapped to achieve the trade target of $15 billion by 2020."

Besides seeking facilitation of ongoing Indian projects and investments in Vietnam, Prime Minister Modi said he has invited Vietnamese companies to take advantage of the various schemes and flagship programmes of the Indian government.

"As Vietnam seeks to empower and enrich its people, Modernise its agriculture; Encourage entrepreneurship and innovation; Strengthen its Science and Technology base; Create new institutional capacities for faster economic development; and Take steps to build a modern nation, India and its 1.25 billion people stand ready to be Vietnam's partner and a friend in this journey," Modi told his Vietnamese counterpart.

Speaking about the framework agreement on Space Cooperation, he said it would allow Vietnam to join hands with Indian Space Research Organisation to meet its national development objectives.

Hoping for an early establishment and opening of the Indian Cultural Centre in Hanoi, he said, "The Archaeological Survey of India could soon start the conservation and estoration work of the Cham monuments at My Son in Vietnam."

He also thanked Vietnam's leadership in facilitating inscription of Nalanda Mahavihara as a Unesco World Heritage site earlier this year.

Noting that Asean is important to India in terms of historical links, geographical proximity, cultural ties and the strategic space that the two sides share, he said, "It is central to our 'Act East' policy. Under Vietnam's leadership as Asean Coordinator for India, we will work towards a strengthened India-Asean partnership across all areas."

Modi also expressed the need to "stay focussed to keep up the momentum" in bilateral ties and invited the Vietnamese leadership to India.
Atlantic City: New Jersey police said a suspect was fatally shot in an exchange of gunfire outside an Atlantic City casino on Saturday and one police officer was seriously wounded.

Atlantic City police Chief Henry White said the shooting happened around 4 am after officers stopped a car with three men near a parking garage of Caesars casino.

White said at least one of the men in the car opened fire. Police were still looking for two other suspects and closed streets in the area.

"At this point I don't know what the reason for the initial stop was," White said at an early-morning news conference. "But as the officers were getting out of the car, the males opened fire on our officers, striking one."

The officer, whose name was not released, was taken to AtlantiCare Regional Medical Center a few blocks from the shooting. He underwent surgery Saturday morning.

The New Jersey State Policemen's Benevolent Association offered a USD 20,000 reward for information on the remaining suspects in the shooting.

"It's a sad commentary on society," Atlantic City Mayor Don Guardian said. "These are good examples of what happens when too many of these assault weapons are in the wrong hands."

The shooting happened during the final big summer weekend for the shore resort and two days after a man fatally shot a store manager and then shot himself at a popular outlet shopping mall near where Saturday morning's shooting occurred.

The shooting also happened as the resort town prepared for the effects of Tropical Storm Hermine, which was expected to start bringing wind and rain on Saturday.
Twin Falls First Methodist Church

The Reverend Michael Holloman will return to the pulpit of Twin Falls First United Methodist Church, 360 Shoshone Street East, at 9:30 a.m. Sunday. He will also preside over the Sacrament of Holy Communion.

The First Sunday Food Drive donations will be taken to the Twin Falls School District food pantries.

The chancel choir will be singing at worship each Sunday morning beginning Sept. 11. Rehearsals will be held at 8:30 am in the music room. Anyone who enjoys singing and the fellowship of the choir is urged to contact the music director, Brenda Manning, at 302-363-4226, or the church office at 208-733-5872.

School supplies gathered for students who are unable to purchase them and for teachers will be blessed at worship Sunday, Sept. 11, before being delivered to Harrison School.

Please bring gently used items to the church basement for the rummage sale on Saturday, Sept. 17, from 8 am to 2 pm.

All churches of the United Methodist Churches of Magic Valley will celebrate baptism and welcome new members Sunday, Sept. 11, at each church. Anyone who is interested in becoming a church member or being baptized, please visit with one of the pastors or call the MVM office at 208-733-5872.

The MVM Charge Conference and the quarterly leadership meeting will be held at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, at Filer UMC, Fifth and Union Streets. All members of the MVM are welcome to attend.

During September, MVM churches will collect items for layette kits which will be sent to UMCOR West Depot in Salt Lake City. Bring items to any of the churches, where they will be gathered at Jerome UMC and then taken to the depot to be assembled into kits ready for emergencies. Needed supplies are cloth diapers, undershirts or onesies, infant-size washcloths, sleepers, nightgowns, diaper pins, sweaters, infant jackets, and receiving blankets. A special offering for the depot will be collected Jan. 1.

Ascension Ingathering

for pet food

During the month of September, Ascension Episcopal Church is gathering donations of pet food, to be donated to the Twin Falls Animal Shelter. The ingathering will conclude in early October with the Blessing of the Animals. A collection area is designated in the gathering area of the church.

Services of Morning Prayer will be held at 8 and 10 am Sunday morning, the first Sunday of the month. Stations for healing prayer will be available during both services.

Ascension Cafe, the adult discussion group, meets from 9-9:55 a.m. in the Memorial Room. Led by Tim Dodds, the group will focus on the scripture readings of the day. Youth Sunday school is on summer break. A fellowship coffee hour will be held after the 10 am worship service.

Ascension Episcopal Church is handicapped accessible and is located at 371 Eastland Dr. North, Twin Falls. More information about Ascension can be found at www.episcopaltwinfalls.org .

One pathway to happiness

One pathway to happiness isnt an expressway or a ride down a water slide... but it is rewarding. It like a water slidethe first ride takes a bit of commitment to jump in and see what its like... same thing with happiness. Wanna ride?

Unitarian Universalism honors the differing paths we each travel. Our congregations are places where we celebrate, support, and challenge one another as we continue on our spiritual journeys.

Unitarian Universalists covenant to affirm and promote the inherent worth and dignity of every person; justice, equality and compassion in human relations; and acceptance of one another

Newcomers of all religious paths or none at all are always welcome. We are handicapped accessible. Please park in the rear of the building. Child care is available.

Please visit the Magic Valley Unitarian Universalist Fellowship Sunday at the Vendor Blender and Event Center, 588 Addison Avenue West in Twin Falls at 10:30 a.m.

The Vendor Blender is located near the old hospital near the intersection of Martin St. and Addison Avenue West.

St. Nicholas Catholic Church classes

St. Nicholas Catholic Church in Rupert will begin classes in September for those interested in learning more about the Roman Catholic faith and Church. We invite any adult to join us each Thursday evening beginning September 8th at 6:30 p.m. at the St. Nicholas Rectory located at 802 F Street in Rupert. For more information contact Monica Jones at 436-3781 x 112.

Craguns Southern Gospel concert

PAUL  The Craguns will perform a southern gospel concert at 7 p.m. Sept. 7 at Hope Community Church, 25 N. Fourth E., in Paul.

There will be a freewill offering.

To submit information about church events and news. Contact Matt Gooch at mgooch@magicvalley.com. Deadline is 5 p.m. Wednesday for publication on the Saturday religion page. Please insert Church News in the email subject line.
JEROME  A U.S. district judge on Thursday sentenced a Jerome man to more than five years in prison for possession of child pornography.

Patrick Lee Jewell pleaded guilty in April to one count of possession of child pornography and admitted to possessing 66 child pornography images on his laptop and cellphone.

U.S. District Judge B. Lynn Winmill sentenced Jewell to 63 months in a federal penitentiary followed by five years of supervised release. Jewell must also register as a sex offender.

The 63-month sentence was the lowest available sentence pursuant to federal sentencing guidelines, based on a presentence report, that suggested Jewell be sentenced between 63 and 78 months.

The sentence also stipulates that once Jewell is released, he not be allowed to own or use a computer without permission from his probation officer; that probation officers be allowed to search any computers and electronics he is allowed to own; that he doesnt live or loiter within 500 feet of schools; and that he not have unsupervised contact with minors.

In information filed in January, federal prosecutors accused Jewell of possessing one or more images showing a prepubescent minor under 12 years old engaged in sexual acts, court documents said.

According to admissions made in the plea agreement, Jewell communicated with someone on Craigslist in late 2013 about child pornography, U.S. Attorney Wendy J. Olson said in a statement. Two months later, agents from the Department of Homeland Security searched his home and email accounts.

Investigators found 61 child pornography images on an email account and five more images on an iPhone, Olson said. Jewell agreed to forfeit the iPhone and a Samsung laptop as part of his plea agreement.

The Jerome County Sheriffs Office and Jerome Police Department helped investigate the case along with the U.S. Immigration and Custom Enforcements Homeland Security Investigations unit. The case was investigated as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched by the Department of Justice in 2006 to combat child sexual exploitation and abuse.
BURLEY  Three men have been arrested after police said they beat up a teen in the Sublett area, stole his rifle and threatened to kill and bury him.

Jeff Owen Smith, 48, of Eagle, Grant Edward Horne, 42, of Bellevue and Rodger V. Powell, 48, of Sandy, Utah, are each charged with felony counts of aggravated battery, injury to a child, burglary and grand theft. They have not entered a plea.

A 16-year-old boy and his parents told Cassia County Sheriff deputies he was hunting Wednesday at 3175 E. 500 S. in Cassia County. As he stopped to spot deer, three men approached in an all-terrain vehicle. The larger man, later identified as Powell, approached and grabbed the boy by the throat and began punching him, police said.

The teen told police he stayed down and pretended he was unconscious after the men beat him and searched his pickup. He also said men started calling him a stupid poacher and said the deer were theirs.

Police say they took the boys .308 caliber Remington rifle, and Powell told the boy they were going to shoot him with his own gun, kill him and bury him.

The men offered a different story to police. They said they spotted the teens pickup where they were hunting and the boy was in a field shooting at three bucks. The boy was stumbling and mumbling and was asking what he did wrong. Powell told police he called the poachers hotline and said he had a picture of the boy and his truck.

Police recovered the boys rifle leaning against a tree, where Powell said they could find it.

Preliminary hearings are set for all three men Friday in Cassia County Magistrate Court. If convicted, they face maximum penalties of 15 years in prison for aggravated battery, 10 years for injury to a child, 10 years for grand theft and one year for burglary.

They are being held at the Mini-Cassia Criminal Justice Center on $250,000 bonds with special conditions that they turn over all firearms to a third party while the case is pending.
Cassia County

Felony sentencings

James M. Aaron; felony possession of controlled substance, guilty, $535.50 costs, two years determinate time, two years indeterminate time, retained jurisdiction, penitentiary suspended; misdemeanor drug paraphernaliause or possess with intent to use, dismissed on motion of prosecutor.

Felony dismissals

Gerardo Gonzalez-Martinez; felony assault aggravated with a deadly weapon without the intent to kill, dismissed on motion of prosecutor; felony attempted strangulation, dismissed on motion of prosecutor.

Driving under the influence sentencings

Autumn Kristel D. Bresnak; misdemeanor driving under the influence, guilty, $250 fine, $202.50 costs, 180 days drivers license suspended, 18 months probation, 180 days jail, 174 days suspended, six days credited.

Derek Gibson Kostman; misdemeanor driving under the influence, guilty, $300 fine, $202.50 costs, 180 days drivers license suspended, 18 months probation, 180 days jail, 178 days suspended, two days credited.
MOUNTAIN HOME  A Twin Falls man awaiting a federal trial on a charge of conspiring to traffic methamphetamine as part of a Magic Valley drug ring was arrested last month in Elmore County with methamphetamine in his car, police said.

William Lavelle Walker, 52, is one of four men facing a federal indictment charging them with conspiring to traffic methamphetamine between February and April in Idaho and elsewhere. Walker and another Twin Falls man were arrested April 20 during a raid of a home near the Twin Falls airport.

The men named in the indictment are Walker and 62-year-old James David Jones, the other man arrested at the home near the airport, as well as Miguel Angel Otaegui, 37, of Filer and Jose Luis Hernandez.

Police reports showed Otaegui was under surveillance by the DEA and the Mini-Cassia Drug Task Force when he inadvertently led authorities to the home near the airport where Walker and Jones lived. Twin Falls police officers served a warrant at that home April 20, where they seized small amounts of methamphetamine and more than $3,000 cash.

The next week, the three men were indicted by a federal grand jury and their local charges were dismissed.

Walker was released from custody in May, and his trial, initially scheduled for August, was moved back to November. But last month, while out of federal custody, Walker was pulled over in Mountain Home and arrested after an officer reported finding methamphetamine in the center console of his 2008 Dodge Charger.

Upon running Mr. Walkers information it showed that he was on federal pre-trial release and had a probation officer for narcotic related charges, an officer wrote in a sworn affidavit.

Inside the car, the officer found a flask of liquor and a small bag of methamphetamine, court documents said. He was charged in Elmore County Magistrate Court with a felony count of possession of a controlled substance and misdemeanor count of possession of an open container of alcohol.

A preliminary hearing for Walkers new case in Elmore County is set for Sept. 12. Its unclear how the arrest and drug charge will affect his release from federal custody. The trial for all four men facing the federal indictment is set for Nov. 7.
FILER  Filer 14-year-old Macy Erickson stroked her sheeps ears Friday as it nuzzled its face into her side.

On a breezy morning, she was preparing for the 4-H/FFA sheep show at the Twin Falls County Fairgrounds in Filer.

After washing her animal, she put a blue protective shirt over its body to keep it clean.

To prepare, we have to wash them and make their legs look all fluffy, she said. There was still a couple of hours to go until the competition began.

Its the fourth year Macy has raised sheep. She also has a goat shes showing this week.

She tries not to get too attached to her animals, but inevitably, its always hard to say goodbye. Shell sell her animals during the 4-H/FFA junior market sale Monday.

Every year, its just horrible, she said.

And no two sheep are exactly alike. Theyre kind of like dogs, her mother Stephanie Erickson said. They each have their own personality.

In theory, the money Macy makes from the animal sale will go into a college fund. But its expensive to complete an animal project every year.

Theres a lot more going out than coming in, Erickson said.

Friday was a full day at the Twin Falls County Fair for children in 4-H and FFA.

The schedule for the day included a horse show, market swine, beef showmanship, dairy pee wee show and open dairy, swine and sheep shows.

Outside the sheep barn, there was a hum of electric razors as children sheered their sheep before the show. Inside the barn, sheep occasionally made loud bah noises.

For the sheep quality show Friday, theyre judged on how well their animal is built, Erickson said.

Castleford High School senior Jade Etelu, 17, was sheering a sheep for someone else Friday morning.

It just shows off their muscles for the judges, she said. Her own sheep was in its pen.

Its Jades 10th year of raising sheep. During fair week, she typically gets up about 5:45 or 6 a.m., and doesnt get to bed until 2 a.m.

Her experiences have shaped her plans for the future. Shes the south Magic Valley district president for FFA and hopes to attend the University of Idaho to become an agriculture teacher or veterinarian.

The sheep barn was decorated with cartoon-looking pictures of sheep, strings of white lights, pictures of club members, paper streamers and balloons. Banners displayed club names, including Oinkers Amore, Pork Bellies and Heavenly Hogs.

Inside the swine show ring, teenagers prodded their pigs with long poles to keep them moving in the correct direction. It was quiet, with silence broken occasionally by a pigs grunt or squeal.

A judge spoke into a microphone after one class of students competed, saying it was a good group of animals.

You saw my hesitation with the top three, he said. But the black-haired pig, he noted, stands above the rest.

The second-place pig doesnt move as comfortably, he said, but is eye appealing.

Judges handed out ribbons, which some teens tucked into a back pocket of their jeans.

Inside the swine barn, 16-year-old Kimberly High School student Zackery Schrenk used a spray bottle full of water to clean his pig.

Zackery was preparing for the swine quality show, where judges examine a pigs muscle and lean mass.

He has been showing pigs for six years. He described his pig this year as very lazy.

It doesnt like standing up, he said.

Zackery started working with the animal in March. He plans to put whatever money he makes during the market animal sale into his college fund.

And hell use some of the proceeds to buy his animal for next year, when the process starts all over again.
ELBA  Fire crews are busy trying to contain a wildfire that broke out Thursday evening in the Grape Creek Drainage about five miles southwest of Elba.

The Grape Creek Fire spread quickly and was burning 800 acres as of mid-afternoon Friday, said Sawtooth National Forest spokeswoman Julie Thomas.

The Forest Service has closed all Forest Service lands, including roads and trails within the Albion Division south of National Forest Service Road 548, which is the area north of City of Rocks and Castle Rocks State Park up to Cold Spring Creek and a little bit south of Cassia Creek. The Independence Lake Trail has been closed, as has Logger Springs Road right after the last campground, the Forest Service posted on Facebook. The closures were announced Friday and will be in effect until further notice.

Firefighters from the Forest Service, the Ace Fire Protection Unit and the Bureau of Land Management are battling the blaze, including a joint Forest Service-BLM Native American fire crew from Alaska, Thomas said.

The fire is being managed as a Type 3 incident; Type 5 is the least complex type of wildland fire, Type 1 the most. Helping to fight the fire, Thomas said, are two Type 2 crews, two engines, two water tenders, and aircraft that have been dropping retardant and water, including two Modular Airborne Firefighting Systems and two Canadian super scoopers that have been scooping water out of Goose Creek.

Thomas said the fire has been challenging to fight because of steep terrain and dead fir trees.

Its a gnarly piece of ground, she said.

Thomas said there is no estimate yet as to when the fire will be controlled.

Its just going to be sort of weather-dependent, she said.

Meanwhile, the more than 3,000-acre Paddleford Fire, which was started by lightning near Carey on Wednesday evening, had been contained as of Thursday and was expected to be controlled Friday evening, the BLM said.
This appeared in Fridays Washington Post:

Its useful that Donald Trump has clarified his plans for Larissa Martinez, who started classes this week as a freshman at Yale University, having graduated in the spring as class valedictorian at her Texas high school. After weeks of waffling, and suggestions that his views on immigration might be softening, Trump has set the record straight: Martinez has no future in America.

The recipient of a full scholarship to Yale, Martinez is hoping for a career as a neurosurgeon. As it happens, shes also a top-notch student, a compelling public speaker and, according to Trumps policy, a high priority for deportation.

Discarding his dalliance with fairness and compassion, the Republican presidential nominee this week tossed red meat to the xenophobes in his base by reaffirming his intention to launch a crusade of mass deportations that would target, according to an analysis by The Washington Post, at least 6 million people. Among them, he said, would be immigrants who have overstayed their visas. That category would sweep up Martinez, who, at age 11, accompanied her mother and sister to the United States on a tourist visa; they stayed after the visa expired, having fled an abusive home in Mexico.

Of course, there is no place in Trumps cramped mental universe for someone like Martinez. To Trump and the crowds who egg him on, undocumented immigrants are criminals, murderers, rapists, carriers of diseaseand drug smugglers, fit to be rounded up by deportation agents and shipped far, far away.

Just why Trump would prioritize visa- overstayers for deportation, and not those who entered the country illegally in the first place, is unexplained. Logic is hardly the point of his policy. He asserts that illegal immigrants have stolen jobs from Americans and triggered a crime wave. In fact, they have met a labor market demand for low-wage workers and been a catalyst for economic growth.

While there are undoubtedly instances of terrible crimes committed by unauthorized immigrantsas there are by authorized immigrants, and green card holders, and, it goes without saying, citizensthey are hardly the rule. In fact, young immigrant males are incarcerated at roughly half the rate of native-born Americans. Illegal immigrants, like legal ones, are generally law-abiding and extremely hard- working.

To the GOP nominee, illegal immigrants are a useful instrument with which to whip his supporters into a froth of nativist agitation. He would hire thousands more immigration and Border Patrol agents; he would create a special deportation task force; he would round up the criminals whose countries refuse to accept them. He would do it all on Day One, in the first hour, the first minute, in the first fleeting seconds of his administrationby fiat, presumably, because he makes no reference to Congress or legality or judicial precedent. It will all be so fast, so beautiful, so efficient. Believe him.

The self-contained imposter who called briefly on Mexican President Enrique Pena Nietoon Wednesday was masquerading as Donald Trump. In fact, the real Trump is the man who has been on television all these months, playing on hatred and fear, threatening people such as Martinez, who represent American values more truly than Trump ever could.
Tunisian Prime Minister Thursday declared the state is at war against terrorism and vowed that the state will mobilize all means to win the battle.

During a visit to Kasserine, near the Libyan border where security forces are fighting the Islamic State group militants, the newly appointed Prime Minister hailed the courage and strength of the security forces which, he said, are ready to take up the fight.

We are convinced today that our security forces are ready, we came here to cheer them up. They are here at Kasserine, the first frontline of our countrys defense. They are the pride of the country, our pride, Chahed said.

The town siting at the border with Libya was in March theatre of several days of confrontation between security forces and IS militants who mounted coordinated attacks against the army and National Guards positions. Dozens of terrorists were killed in the armys push-back. Most of the terrorists were Tunisian citizens.

On Wednesday, security forces locked horns with militants in Kasserine.

The Wednesday fighting co-occurred with the death of 16 people in an accident in the same city. The two incidents have been qualified by many critics as a first test for Chahed and his government.

Chahed pledged, after he was sworn in, to improve the economy and fight terrorism.

Tunisia has been confronted since 2011 with a surge in terror acts. Three major terrorist attacks hit the country last year, killing 71 people most of whom were foreign tourists.

Thousands of Tunisians have left the country to join terrorist organizations in hotbed conflict zones, in Libya, Syria, Iraq.
Speaker of the Liberian Parliament Alex Tyler on Thursday stepped down to face bribery charges in a case involving London AIM-listed Sable Mining, which attempted to acquire an iron ore concession in the West African nation.

A grand jury in Liberia indicted Sable Mining and four Liberians, including Tyler, in May on charges including bribery. The defendants deny the charges.

Tyler is accused of taking a bribe worth $75,000 to facilitate the passage of a legislation favorable to the British mining firm.

The Speaker of the lower house Alex Tyler, who has been out on bail since May, told journalists on Thursday, If my recusal is the ultimate sacrifice that will move our country forward and end this current quagmire, I am herewith recusing myself from presiding over the plenary of the House of Representatives.

The people of Liberia whom we serve, are looking to us for leadership and their interest and welfare should reign supreme above any individual or personal consideration, Tyler said

Tyler added, The decision we seek to make here today, should not be mistaken as a sign of weakness, as it will be a matter of foolish pride, to sit idly and see our nation and the institutions of governance disintegrate and descend into chaos and/or anarchy. There are no winners when the nations pride is at stake.

Tyler is member of the ruling Unity Party of President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf. Although he was investigated by a taskforce convened by President Sirleaf herself the speaker had until now refused to leave his post.
A womens rights activist and real estates mogul in Gambia will face Gambias long-time leader Yahya Jammeh in December, during the countrys presidential election, it was announced on Thursday.

The businessman Adama Barrow from the Fula tribe, the second biggest ethnic group in Gambia will represent the main opposition party, the United Democratic Party (UDP,) as flagbearer after he was selected on Thursday.

According to the UDP press release, the 51-year-old man reached out to other opposition parties to join hands to save the country from Jammeh.

Several of the partys leading figures are currently serving jail time for holding public protests, catapulting the UDP acting treasurer into the spotlight.

I wish to appeal to all Gambians, particularly leaders and members of other sister parties, to get together and unite around the common cause remove this government in the polls and create a government truly of the people and by the people, he said.

Gender activist Dr. Isatou Touray who is the Executive Director of The Gambia Committee against Traditional Practices (GAMCOTRAP) has also expressed interest in joining the race, making her the first woman to run for presidency in the country.

She played a pivotal role in the banning of Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) in the country.

Since independence from Britain in 1965, Gambia has had just one other leader: Dawda Jawara, who served until the current president toppled him in a 1994 coup.
Three people were killed in the Gabonese capital, Libreville, and over 1000 arrested after a second day of rioting in the central African nation.

According to Interior Minister Pacome Moubelet Boubeya, 800 people had been arrested in Libreville and 400 in other areas of the country.

Protests began after the announcement that President Ali Bongo had been narrowly re-elected.

In a televised address to the nation on Thursday, Ali Bongo said he respected democracy and rejected calls to step down.

In his words, democracy is hard. Many work hard at it for hundreds of years and are still working on it. Democracy is demanding. Democracy does not sit well with self-proclaimed successes by small groups intent on destruction, democracy does not sit well with the siege of a parliament and of national television. Democracy is hard. But democracy is worth dedicating ones life to and I have decided to dedicate mine to it.

Opposition challenger Jean Ping accused the elections commission of inflating Bongos score to hand him a slim victory and extend his familys nearly half-century rule in the oil-producing Central African country for another seven years

On Friday, Police used tear gas to prevent crowds from gathering as they emerged from their houses.

There were reports on Thursday that the government had blocked access to social media and other forms of communication.

The results of the election, which gave Bongo 49.8 percent to Pings 48.23 percent, a gap of less than 6,000 votes, remain provisional until they are approved by the constitutional court.
A court in Harare has granted bail to 10 people charged for their role in an opposition protest a week ago in the Southern African nation.

Zimbabweans took to the streets to demand electoral reforms ahead of the 2018 polls in the country rocked by an economic crisis.

A group, called the Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights, which has been representing some of the accused confirmed the bail via their twitter handle.

Local media reports that lawyers of those who were denied bail are heading to the High Court to try and secure bail for their clients.

Police has announced a two-week ban of all demonstrations in the capital Harare.

In a public notice issued on Thursday, the police said they lack the capacity to contain any public disorder during public demonstrations.

The capacity of the police will not be sufficient to avoid any public disorder caused during public demonstrations in the center of Harare, police chief Newbert Saunyama said.

The ban starts on Friday, September 2 to Friday, September 16, 2016.

Social media activists on Wednesday called for a shutdown to protest against police brutality, yet the call did not gather momentum as people went about their normal duties.
Proud smiles and quiet tears marked the deployment ceremony Saturday of 17 Afghanistan-bound soldiers at the Missoula Armed Forces Reserve Center.

Family and friends of the Army Reserves 823rd Movement Control Team took photos, smiled and cried as special guests thanked the soldiers for their service at the Labor Day weekend event.

U.S. Rep. Ryan Zinke, R-Mont., was less exuberant than usual as he stood in front of the soldiers and said, You have my deepest respect and I look forward to seeing you here when you return. My prayers are always with you.

Although this deployment is a first for many, Maj. Nicole Kessler said she has been through it all before.

Last time I was deployed was in 2004 to Iraq, Kessler said. My husband and I were deployed together before we had kids. Now hes staying, so this time its very different.

Although Kessler, 34, now has three young children she wont see during her year-long mission in Afghanistan, she said her family has been preparing since the team started training in January.

Its emotional for sure, Kessler said as her eyes welled up, But theyll be OK.

For Kessler, Saturdays ceremony wasnt just about saying goodbye. She was also promoted from captain to major.

As Kessler stood, saluting in front of the audience and her fellow soldiers, Col. Jon Solem told Kessler he was proud of her and put a new pin on her uniform.

Capt. Kessler was selected because she was the absolute best we had, Solem said when he turned back to the audience. I cannot tell you how much she deserves this.

Kesslers parents, Doug and Rebecca Havens, said they were more prepared for their daughter to be deployed the second time around. The Havens have been making a lot of time for family lately, Doug said looking over at his grandchildren, who were running and laughing during the lunch break.

Were trusting God will bring her back, Rebecca said with tears in her eyes.

The kids were having a good time after the ceremony. The red, white and blue napkins and table decorations seemed to remind them of the Fourth of July.

Although many family members were sitting, quietly watching, the general emotion among the soldiers also was excitement.

Lt. Michael Samdahl, 26, said he has been training for nearly nine years and this is his first deployment.

It can be emotional but its more of a proud send-off, Samdahl said. I could not be more excited. I finally feel like my training is worthwhile.

Samdahl said this is the fourth time the 823rd Movement Control Team has been deployed. The team specializes in tracking the movement of soldiers and equipment, Samdahl said.

The team uses software similar to the kind UPS uses when tracking customers' personal shipments.

During the ceremony, Brig. Gen. Gregory Mosser told the soldiers how proud he was that they were taking on the responsibility of deployment on a weekend when most of the nation is on holiday.

A military life brings unique challenges, Mosser said to the soldiers. I wish you Godspeed and God bless America.
President Donald Trump has signed a proclamation to scale back two sprawling national monuments in Utah, pledging to "reverse federal overreach and restore the rights of this land to your citizens." Trump made his plans official during a speech at the state Capitol, where he was cheered by Republican leaders who lobbied him to undo protections they contend are overly broad and close off the area to energy development. Environmental and tribal groups plan to sue to preserve the monuments.
Life is about the journey, not just the destination  especially when youre traveling through Montana. As much as there is to see and do at Glacier National Park, the area surrounding it also has some pretty amazing attractions. The next time you visit Montanas crown jewel, consider extending your trip long enough to explore a couple of these spots.

The Museum of the Plains Indian and Blackfeet Heritage Center in Browning

These two buildings are right next to each other, so you can see them both on your way to Glacier. The Museum of the Plain Indian has a permanent exhibit showcasing the rich diversity of several of the Plains tribes, while the Blackfeet Heritage Center features work from hundreds of Native American artists. Browning is only about 29 miles from the park, so you can enjoy a history lesson in the morning and be at Lake McDonald by l! ate afternoon.

The Huckleberry Patch in Hungry Horse

Located just nine miles from the west entrance of Glacier National Park, The Huckleberry Patch is a mecca for anyone who enjoys our unofficial state fruit. Not only will you be able to buy all the jams, candy, pancake mix and other huckleberry treats youll ever need, but you can have some freshly baked pie or an ice cream cone while youre there.

The Hungry Horse Reservoir

As spacious as it is, Glacier can get crowded. Get away from it all at the Hungry Horse Reservoir, which is a short drive from Hungry Horse and offers fishing, swimming, hiking and camping.

The Polebridge Mercantile

Just a few miles from the border of the park lies the town of Polebridge, where the Polebridge Mercantile set up shop in 1914. Its still a local favorite, and the tourists love to stop by and pick up pre-park necessities and treats from the bakery.

The Crown of the Continent Discovery Center

Stretch your legs, have a coffee or a cocktail, buy some Montana-made memorabilia and get information on Glacier activities at the discovery center, which is located less than two miles from the west entrance to the park.
Police reports

SHE SAID, SHE SAID

Gizelle Lund, 47, of Butte was arrested after a 37-year-old woman reported she shoved her face, bending her eye glasses, about 8:30 p.m. Thursday on the 600 row of Silver Bow Homes. Police say the suspect told a group of kids to go inside because it was past curfew.

The victim told her to refrain from reprimanding the kids, some of which were hers. Police say the suspect admitted arguing with the woman but denied shoving her. She was arrested for misdemeanor simple assault.

SORDID TALE

A homeless man reported to police dispatch that he found womens underwear in a dumpster at the Race Track Fire Hall, 2344 Grand Ave., about 7:30 p.m. Thursday. Police say the man, who listed his hometown as The Dalles, Oregon, said he was worried there were more. Its unclear if the man meant more panties or evidence indicating a possible crime. Police responded and determined the item was garbage.

DUI

Denis Lund, 31, of Butte possibly faces a fourth DUI offense after a report he allegedly had an open beer can in his Chevy Blazer at a Glacier Bank branch, 3701 Harrison Ave., on Thursday. Police caught him in the area of Hancock Avenue and Quincy Street.

He allegedly wouldnt comply with police and failed sobriety tests. A Breathalyzer test showed his blood alcohol content was over the legal limit. Lund was booked on a felony DUI and misdemeanor counts of driving with a suspended or revoked license, no liability insurance, and displaying plates assigned to another vehicle.

ANIMAL COMPLAINT

A deceased deer was removed by police from Interstate 15 between Iron and Montana streets early Friday. The Montana Highway Patrol advised it was a hazard.
HELENA  A group of state lawmakers is still asking if having a contractor form a strategic plan to address the high rate of suicides among Montanas American Indian children is the best way to fix the problem.

On Wednesday a member of the State-Tribal Relations Interim Committee questioned why a company contracted to create an American Indian youth suicide prevention plan left elders out of the process. This spring the same group of lawmakers urged the state Department of Health and Human Services to look at ways to send money to the tribes and local programs instead of hiring a company to form a plan.

The state hired Kauffman & Associates Inc. to develop the plan. In a letter asking for nominations for people to serve on a coalition, Kauffman asked people to submit the names of elected leaders, health directors, or community members with experience in the area of youth suicide as well as a youth representative. The letter encouraged diverse nominations including women, veterans, and LGBT tribal members.

The elders, however, were left out, said state Rep. George Kipp III, D-Heart Butte.

The letter went to tribal chairmen and health facility leadership from Montanas eight tribes and five urban areas with American Indian populations.

The contractor did not identify our main counselor, educator, adviser, Kipp told the committee. In this foremost issue, in order to resolve issues and plan things out, (one of the things) Native communities take into great consideration is elders.

Kipp told Richard Opper, director of the state Department of Health and Human Services, this was a critical oversight. Kauffman was hired by the state with $100,000 set aside from the $250,000 written into the states main budget bill last session to address Indian youth suicides. The funding lasts until 2017.

In our Native community, these are individuals that have the most weight, the most influence, the most knowledge, Kipp said. The definition of elders is not old person. Elder is a person that has previously experienced certain items.

Iris Heavy Runner Pretty Paint, who is a project liaison for Kauffman, said Thursday that tribes should and are encouraged to have elders participate on the coalition. The letter, she said, just didnt use the word elders when listing examples of people to nominate.

There are so many different titles and roles that everyone can play, Pretty Paint said. So many of these individuals serve multiple roles in the community. Elders are a key element of our resilience.

This year Montana retook the title of the state with the highest suicide rate in the nation, Karl Rosston, the states suicide prevention coordinator, said last week.

Native Americans to keep that tile for the state of Montana contribute quite a few lives, Kipp said.

A report produced by a team that reviews every suicide in the state showed that the rate of suicide among American Indian children ages 11 to 17 is 26 percent. Its 7 percent for white children in the same age group.

Lawmakers on Wednesday also rehashed why DPHHS brought in an outside company at all.

WHY OUTSIDE COMPANY?

This past spring, the interim committee sent a letter to Opper asking him to strongly consider hiring a contractor. The committee's letter said it believed money would be better spent if given directly to tribes to support programs at the local level.

State Rep. Alan Doane, R-Bloomfield, revisited the issue Wednesday, asking if any Montana companies submitted bids.

We have double-digit unemployment on many reservations, Doane said. Sending 40 percent of this money to Washington state to study the problem  Im just curious why that money couldnt have stayed in-state and created jobs here if were going to create jobs with this money.

The selection of a contractor went through the states standard process, said DPHHS spokesman Jon Ebelt. Only one other company applied, B. Kuzmic Consulting in Kalispell. Kauffman's bid was $99,235.

Opper told the committee that the state has to pick a contractor based on several factors, including experience and the cost plan they submit.

Kauffman has been working on youth suicide and substance abuse prevention since 2000 and has worked with Montana tribes in the past, including a year-long intensive model on suicide prevention on the Blackfeet reservation, where Pretty Paint grew up and is an enrolled tribal member.

A plan is critical to any success, Pretty Paint said. Without a strategic plan, without an inventory, we continue to be fragmented. We do good work when we have plans.

Pretty Paint said nominations for committee members are starting to come in from the tribes. By late October or November, Kauffman will hold a two-day training. The company is required to submit the stragetic plan to DPHHS by February 2017.

State Rep. Edward Greef, R-Florence, questioned the need for a contractor at all. Opper said the tribes were more comfortable working with a contractor instead of DPHHS.

STATE'S EFFORTS

Kipp said the states efforts to combat suicide can often fall flat on the reservation. He used a billboard on his reservation that advertises the number for the states suicide hotline as an example

I looked at that and thought, 'In my community, theres all sorts of dead spots out there,' he said. Families often cant afford cellphones for their children. Thats a major thing you have to take into consideration.

Kipp also questioned state agencies previous efforts on the reservations. For three or four decades now agencies are involved in our issues, and theyre not having any effect, he said.
WEST GLACIER  An Indiana man has been identified as the hiker who lost his life earlier this week when he and his son fell off a trail on the east face of Mount Jackson in Glacier National Park.

Danny R. Pilipow of Portage, Indiana, was killed in the Tuesday incident, the Glacier County Sheriffs office said Friday.

Pilipow was 56. Glacier Park spokesman Tim Rains said Pilipow fell 80 to 100 feet.

His 27-year-old son was able to self-arrest on the snowfield, a mountaineering term for using a combination of the climbers boots; hands; feet; knees; elbows; and, if available, ice axe to stop a fall down a snowfield, ice field, or glacier.

Pilipows son was unable to locate his father and hiked to a backcountry campground at Gunsight Lake. The incident was reported to Park Dispatch at 11:08 p.m. Tuesday.

The son, who suffered what Rains described as minor injuries, was taken by helicopter from the backcountry to West Glacier and transported by ambulance to North Valley Hospital in Whitefish.

Two Bear Air and Minuteman Aviation helped park rangers locate Pilipows body on Wednesday, and a technical rescue team worked with Minuteman Aviation to recover it on Thursday.

Mount Jackson is one of half a dozen of the approximately 175 mountain peaks in Glacier that are 10,000 feet or higher. At 10,039 feet, it ranks fourth on the list.

Rains said Mount Jacksons climbing routes are considered arduous, with an approximate elevation gain of 4,800 vertical feet, high amounts of loose scree, (and) a significant amount of exposure on narrow ledges with steep drop-offs.

Pilipow appears to have hiked other Glacier peaks in the past. In a photograph at the Glacier Mountaineering Society website, Dan Pilipow and Chris Pilipow are identified as two of nine hikers pictured making their way along a very narrow trail on a cliff face on Mount Clements during a different hike.
NATIONSTAR MORTGAGE LLC,

PLAINTIFF

vs

KATHRYN K. WIEGAND, CAPITAL ONE BANK, QUAD CORPORATION AND ERIN CAPITAL MANAGEMENT LLC, DEFENDANTS

TO THE ABOVE NAMED DEFENDANTS:

You are hereby notified that there is a petition on file in the office of the clerk of the above court which petition prays for a judgment in rem against the property involved in this action for the sum of $58,759.86 with interest at 4.000% per annum from and including January 1, 2016, on the promissory note executed by Jerry Wiegand, a married person and mortgage executed by Jerry Wiegand aka Jerry L. Wiegand and Kathryn K. Wiegand, husband and wife to Mortgage Electronic Registration Systems, Inc., as nominee for Great Midwest Mortgage Corporation, its successors and assigns and assigned to Plaintiff, who is the sole and absolute owner thereof.

Said note, together with the mortgage given to secure the same are due and payable by reason of the failure of the Defendants Jerry Wiegand aka Jerry L. Wiegand and Kathryn K. Wiegand, husband and wife to pay the installments of principal when due. Plaintiff also prays in said Petition for the foreclosure of said mortgage dated March 17, 2005 recorded in Document 2005-02140 in the Recorder's Office of Muscatine County, Iowa, with said note dated March 17, 2005 on the following described property, to-wit:

Lot Eighteen (18) of Keyes` Subdivision of Out Lot Four (4), in the Subdivision of Sections Two (2) and Three (3) Township Seventy-six (76) Range Two (2) West of the Fifth (5th) Principal Meridian, according to the recorded plat thereof, and within the corporate limits of the City of Muscatine, Iowa. Situated in Muscatine County, Iowa AKA Lot 18 of Keyes` Subdivision in the City of Muscatine, in Muscatine County, Iowa

and also asking that said mortgage be declared a prior and superior lien to that of each of the above named Defendants; for appointment of a receiver; for the amount paid by Plaintiff for attorneys' fees, abstract expense, costs and accruing costs of this action; that special execution issue for the sale of said real estate to satisfy said judgment, interest, attorneys' fees and costs and for such other and further relief as may be just and equitable.

FOR FURTHER PARTICULARS, SEE COPY OF PETITION NOW ON FILE.

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 SIX MONTHS FROM 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 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.

The Plaintiff's attorneys are Petosa Law LLP by Benjamin W. Hopkins, whose address is 1350 NW 138th Street, Suite 100, Clive, IA 50325, telephone number 515-222-9400, facsimile number 515-222-9121.

You must serve a motion or answer on or before the 7th day of October, 2016 and within a reasonable time thereafter file your motion or answer in the Iowa District Court of Muscatine County, at the 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 assistance of auxiliary aids or services to participate in court because of a disability, immediately call your district ADA coordinator at (563) 328-4145. (If you are hearing impaired, call Relay Iowa TTY at 1-800-735-2942).

YOU ARE ADVISED TO SEEK LEGAL ADVICE AT ONCE TO PROTECT YOUR INTERESTS.
The Muscatine County Board of Supervisors met in regular session at 7:00 P.M. with Howard, Kelly, Sorensen, Sauer and Bonebrake present. Chairperson Sorensen presiding.

On a motion by Kelly, second by Sauer, the agenda was approved as presented. Ayes: All.

On a motion by Kelly, second by Bonebrake, the Board accepted the resignation of Dr. Odell as Muscatine County Medical Examiner effective September 2, 2016. Ayes: All. Chief Medical Examiner Investigator Tom Summitt presented Dr. Odell with a plaque in recognition of his commitment to excellence and 33 years of dedicated service as the Muscatine County Medical Examiner.

On a motion by Kelly, second by Sauer, the Board approved Ordinance #08-22-16-01 Amending the Muscatine County Zoning Ordinance Relating to Commercial Wind Energy Conversion Systems on the third and final reading. Roll call vote: Ayes: All.

On a motion by Bonebrake, second by Kelly, the Board approved Ordinance #08-22-16-02 Amending the Muscatine County Floodplain Management Ordinance on the third and final reading. Roll call vote: Ayes: All.

On a motion by Howard, second by Sauer, minutes of the August 15, 2016 regular meeting were approved as written. Ayes: All.

Correspondence:

Kelly reported an inquiry asking whether or not there is a gun range in Muscatine County.

Committee Reports:

Howard attended a Milestones Area on Aging meeting August 16th.

Howard attended an Emergency Management Association Commission meeting August 17th.

Kelly attended an Eastern Iowa Mental Health Region meeting August 15th.

Sorensen attended a Wilton Development Corporation meeting August 17th.

Sauer and Kelly attended a Muscatine Levee Stakeholders meeting August 18th.

Sauer attended a Muscatine County Conservation Board meeting August 15th.

Sauer and Bonebrake attended a Muscatine County Joint Communications Meeting August 17th.

Sauer attended a Riverbend Transit meeting August 17th.

Discussion was held with Administrative Services Director Nancy Schreiber regarding a change order for the Community Services/DHS remodel project in order to reverse the swing of the east fire exit door in compliance with the fire code and repair an air handling unit in a ceiling. On a motion by Kelly, second by Bonebrake, the Board approved Change Order #1 from Paragon for the Community Services/DHS building remodel project in the amount of $1,891.00. Ayes: All.

Administrative Services Director Nancy Schreiber presented bids for the Community Services/DHS I.T. Closet Project as follows: Hometown Plumbing and Heating - $44,775.00; Rivo, Inc. - $28,307.00; and Crawford Company - $28,250.00. Board consensus was to table action until next week in order to acquire more information from AJ and Associates regarding the bidders.

On a motion by Kelly, second by Sauer, the Board authorized the Chair to execute the FY 16/17 Iowa/Byrne Justice Assistance Grant (JAG) Program Contract in the amount of $44,482.00. Ayes: All.

On a motion by Bonebrake, second by Kelly, the Board authorized the Chair to execute the FY 16/17 Methamphetamine Drug Hot Spots Grant Program Contract in the amount of $5,830.00. Ayes: All.

On a motion by Bonebrake, second by Sauer, a fireworks permit for Jacob Swift was approved. Ayes: All

On a motion by Kelly, second by Sauer, the Board approved Resolution #08-22-16-01 Transferring $500,000 from the Debt Service Fund to the Capital Projects Fund. Roll Call vote: Ayes: All.

On a motion by Howard, second by Kelly, the Board approved Resolution #08-22-16-02 Transferring $40,000 from the General Basic Fund to the Conservation Equipment Reserve Fund. Roll Call vote: Ayes: All.

On a motion by Kelly, second by Sauer, the Board approved Resolution #08-22-16-03 Suspending the Collection of Taxes. Roll call vote: Ayes: All.

On a motion by Kelly, second by Bonebrake, the Board accepted a resignation of Helen Thompson from the Muscatine County Historical Preservation Commission. The Board thanked Thompson for her participation on the commission.

On a motion by Bonebrake, second by Kelly, the Board accepted the July 2016 payroll claims. Ayes: All.

The meeting was adjourned at 7:48 P.M.

ATTEST:

Leslie A. Soule, County Auditor Jeff Sorensen, Chairperson

Board of Supervisors
You are notified that there is now on file in the office of the Clerk of Court for Muscatine County, a petition to terminate parental rights in case number JVJV006080 which asks that your parental rights be terminated as it relates to your child born on the 14th day of February, 2013, in the State of Iowa. For further details contact the clerk's office. The petitioner's attorney is Joan M. Black, Assistant Muscatine County Attorney, Muscatine County Attorney's Office, 420 East Third Street, Muscatine, IA 52761, 563-263-0382.

You are notified that there will be a hearing on the petition to terminate parental rights before the Iowa Juvenile Court for Muscatine County, at the Courthouse in Muscatine, IA on the 10th day of October, 2016, at 9:30 o'clock a.m.

You are further notified that unless on or before this time and date of hearing, you appear, or, you serve, and within a reasonable time thereafter file, a written special appearance, motion or answer, in the above-named Court at the Courthouse in Muscatine, IA, judgment by default will be rendered finding your parental rights to be terminated as demanded in the Petition.

You are further notified that you are entitled to be represented by an attorney. If you are unable to employ counsel, you may apply to have counsel appointed by filling out an affidavit of your financial situation. You should do this immediately.

Jeff Tollenaer

Clerk of the Juvenile Court

Muscatine County Courthouse

Muscatine, Iowa 52761

Dates of Publication:

September 3, 2016

September 10, 2016

September 17, 2016
DES MOINES, Iowa  State officials covered more than 6,000 miles of county roads counting upland game during the first two weeks of August and after all the species were counted, data compiled and numbers crunched, what can Iowa pheasant hunters expect to find this fall?

A repeat of last year.

The good news is pheasant hunters had their best season in five years last year and they should expect to have pretty good hunting again this year, said Todd Bogenschutz, upland wildlife biologist for the Iowa Department of Natural Resources (DNR) who coordinates the August roadside survey.

The survey found an average of 21 pheasants per 30 mile route statewide, with higher counts coming from counties crossing the state diagonally from northwest to southeast. The statewide average in 2015 was 24 pheasants per route.

To put it in perspective, our population is similar to 2007 when we harvested 630,000 roosters. Last year we harvested 270,000 roosters. The difference is, we had twice the hunters in 07, Bogenschutz said. If we had 100,000 hunters last year we would have doubled the harvest. The birds are here, we need hunters to return.

Population patterns tracked the weather. Parts of northwest Iowa had declines due to heavy snowfall which likely reducing pheasant survival. Parts of southwest Iowa had declines due to heavy spring rains likely reducing nesting success. Other regions had more favorable weather and saw similar or slightly higher numbers.

Hunters can expect bird numbers similar to last year statewide, where the right habitat exists, Bogenschutz said. We need hunters to come back if we are going to see the harvest increase. If nothing else, they should come back for the quail.

Iowas quail population index has been increasing recently and is now at its highest since 1989 after experiencing increases again across south central and southwest Iowa this year.

To put it in perspective, in 1989, we had 80,000 hunters harvest 400,000 quail. With todays modern agriculture and landscapes, this is likely the best quail numbers we can hope for, Bogenschutz said.

In 2014, 6,500 hunters shot 10,000 quail. In 2015, 10,000 hunters shot 28,000 quail.

This is the best opportunity weve had to hunt quail in 27 years, he said. For anyone who has ever had an interest in quail or who hasnt hunted quail recently, this is the year to go.

Surveyors also record the numbers of cottontail rabbits and Hungarian partridge.

Rabbit numbers were down some from their record level of the past two years but remain above their ten year average, with better numbers in southern and eastern Iowa. Partridge were unchanged with their best numbers in northern Iowa, he said.

The August roadside survey is available at www.iowadnr.gov/pheasantsurvey

Season Dates

Pheasant Oct. 29-Jan. 10, 2017.

Quail Oct. 29-Jan. 31, 2017.

Rabbit Sept. 3-Feb. 28, 2017.

Partridge Oct. 8-Jan. 31, 2017.
DES MOINES, Iowa  Bur oaks are native to all 99 counties in Iowa and are arguably one of Iowas toughest native trees. However, this year, many of these trees are showing signs of bur oak blight.

Bur oak blight is a leaf fungus that causes severe defoliation. While the effects of the blight have been recognized more recently, the fungus that causes the disease has been around for a long time. Shifts in the amount of precipitation, changes in temperatures and increased humidity levels seem to have elevated the effects of the fungi from harmless to fatal.

Although the fungal infection occurs in May, the browning leaves do not show up until late July, says Tivon Feeley, DNR forest health program leader. The leaves on the lower branches are the first to turn brown and after several years of repeated infection the whole canopy.

Symptoms of bur oak blight include browning leaves during late summer, black fungal structures grown along the leafs veins in August, and sickly looking leaves that remain on the tree during winter months.

According to Feeley, the DNR is beginning to receive calls about bur oak blight damage, and he expects the calls will increase as the damage will become more apparent through September.

There is no way to prevent bur oak blight. Some bur oaks are more tolerant of the blight and do not show any symptoms at all.

We have had some success controlling bur oak blight with a chemical called propiconazole , says Feeley.

Feeley suggests contacting the Iowa State University Plant Diagnostic Clinic to make sure the tree has bur oak blight. For information on submitting a sample visit http://www.ent.iastate.edu/pidc/

If it has bur oak blight, says Feeley, be sure to contact a qualified arborist to inject the chemical into the tree in the spring.

For more information about bur oak blight, contact a DNR district forester in your area. A list of DNR staff by county is available at www.iowadnr.gov/contact. More information is available under forest health at www.iowadnr.gov/Conservation/Forestry/
As'ad's Bio

As'ad AbuKhalil, born March 16, 1960. From Tyre, Lebanon, grew up in Beirut. Received his BA and MA from American University of Beirut in pol sc. Came to US in 1983 and received his PhD in comparative government from Georgetown University. Taught at Tufts University, Georgetown University, George Washington University, Colorado College, and Randolph-Macon Woman's College. Served as a Scholar-in-Residence at Middle East Institute in Washington DC. He served as free-lance Middle East consultant for NBC News and ABC News, an experience that only served to increase his disdain for maintream US media. He is now professor of political science at California State University, Stanislaus. His favorite food is fried eggplants.
MUSCATINE, Iowa  Muscatine Community College will receive a donation of $150,000 from Kent Corporation for its Loper Hall renovation project.

Kent Corporation recognizes that Muscatine Community College (MCC) is a tremendous resource for our community, said Gage Kent, CEO and Chairman of Kent Corporation. For more than 50 years, Kent Corporation and the MCC Agriculture program have shared a mission of success.

Built in 1977, Loper Hall houses the college library and student success center along with classrooms and some faculty offices.

Planning for the $1 million renovation project has been underway for at least two years. When completed, the buildings lower level will include new student-oriented and flexible learning spaces, collaborative work areas and quiet study rooms. In addition, electrical, technology and other key infrastructure pieces of the building will be updated and prepared for the century ahead.

We cant thank Kent Corporation enough for their support of this project, said MCC President Naomi DeWinter. Our entire campus is excited about what is happening with Loper Hall. When completed, it will be a real jewel for the college and a tremendous asset in the education of our students.

Kent Corporation contribution follows the announcement earlier this year of a significant donation from the Carver Trust. The donations are part of the colleges ongoing fundraising campaign for the renovation.

Kent Corporations operating subsidiaries include Grain Processing Corporation, Kent Nutrition Group, Kent Pet Group, all headquartered in Muscatine, Iowa, and Kent Precision Foods Group, St. Louis, Missouri. Kent Corporations family of companies employs more than 2,000 people and does business throughout the US, Canada, and the world. www.kentww.com

Muscatine Community College is one of the Eastern Iowa Community Colleges that also includes Clinton and Scott Community Colleges. For more information contact the college at 1-888-336-3907.
The Muscatine County Parkinsons Support Group will hold their first meeting of the 2016-17 year on Thursday, Sept. 8 at the Muscatine County Extension Office, 1514 Isett. Muscatine County Extension Director Krista Regenitter will present the program "ISU Extension and Outreach - How We Are Working Towards a Strong Iowa" at 4:00 p.m., preceded by social time from 3:30-4 p.m.
DES MOINES, Iowa - The annual meeting of the Older Iowans Legislature (OIL) will offer Iowas seniors and those interested in senior issues to have a direct impact on their future and their quality of life.

The OIL annual meeting is a grassroots example of democracy in action as attendees at the Monday, Sept. 26 and 27 meeting will have the opportunity to explore issues affecting their lives, find consensus and then vote for three proposals which will become the issues the Older Iowans Legislature will advocate to the Governor and the State Legislature during its next session.

Participants will gather at noon in the Iowa House Chamber on September, sit at a legislators desk and have the opportunity to participate at their level of comfort. Governor Terry Branstad and Senate President Pam Jochum will address the delegates. Experts from various fields will present information on Senior Rights, Workforce and Access to Care and Services, Navigating and Improving the System (Information and Resources) and Quality Care.

The Senior Rights Committee will explore elder abuse as it relates to both physical and financial in an institutional and family setting and then identifying possible areas that need to be corrected through legislation or regulation. Other committees will (1) explore the current environment for the direct care workforce and recruitment and retention challenges; (2) look at information and resources that support aging in Iowa and how the system can be improved; and (3) survey the nursing home and home and community-based services landscape in Iowa regarding current problems and follow up with ideas on improving quality care.

OIL members and Associate Members are asked to select a committee in which they would like to participate when they register for the annual meeting on-line at www.olderiowans.org website. A seat in the House Chamber will be reserved for you.

OIL has reserved a special-rated block of rooms at the Downtown Holiday Inn and the Econo lodge on Merle Hay Road. The Older Iowans Legislature and the six Area Agencies on Aging have scholarships and resources available to help cover expenses.

During the recent legislative session Oil advocated successfully for one million dollars in funding for LifeLong Links, $61,334.00 for aging specialist and $100,000 for a managed care ombudsman.

The Older Iowans Legislature is encouraging seniors and other to help make a difference by becoming an OIL member for $25.00 and by attending OILs annual meeting September 26 and 27 in Des Moines. Contact OIL President, Helene Magee for more information: 563-580-9758 or email helene400@msn.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 []
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Ed and Lorraine Warren Biography: Cases, Kids, and Family Life Have you ever woken up with fear you could not explain, or felt a strange presence that made the hair at your nape rise or even experienced strange occurrences around you? Well, these were some of the promptings that made the well-known paranormal investigators Ed and Lorraine Warren delve into trying to explain the ideas ...

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. He boasts a wealth of experience that has helped him in growing his business from one level of greatness to another. Like most successful people, MatPat started out small but today, he makes millions of dollars from his ...

Facts About Ricegum  His Girlfriend, Real Name & Net Worth Ricegum is an online gamer and YouTube sensation who ditched college; took advantage of the digital era, and made a name for himself on the internet. Though he began as a gaming YouTuber, Ricegum soon gained recognition as a controversial internet star following his many diss tracks. Here is everything you need to know about the youngster ...

Joy Taylor Once Married MLBs Richard Giannotti  Inside Look At Her Love Life and Family The erosion of the sexist idea that women have no business in sports broadcasting created a host of women celebrities who attained fame outside of modeling and acting. One of them, Joy Taylor, a radio personality and TV host for Fox Sports 1, has been in the industry since 2009, becoming one of the most ...

What To Know About Conan OBriens Wife, Kids & Family Today The name Conan OBrien is one that jumps right at you almost immediately you start talking about the most popular television hosts in the USA and this is no surprise because the man behind that name has risen to become one of the most admired men in the business. Known for hosting the late-night talk ...

David Letterman  Net Worth, Wife & Son In all of American, one man whose face has been seen frequently by late night TV talk show lovers is none but David Letterman. The comedian and TV show veteran has been hosting late night talk shows for more than three decades. His Late Night with David Letterman show began on February 1st, 1982 aired ...

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. For all the complexities that go into making a successful career in comedy, Louis C.K, the Washington D.C-born comedian, did it. For years, he was at the ...

The Progression of Hoda Kotbs Career, Her Ancestry and Family Life Hoda Kotb gained fame as a television host and news anchor for NBC. She anchors the shows signature show Today, and it has been an excellent vehicle for her skills in front of a camera. Kotb has won several awards, including Daytime Emmys and Peabody Awards. Simply put, she is one of the most successful ...

Jerry Seinfelds Family: All About The Amazing Comedians Wife and Kids Apparently one of the highly important entertainers in America, Jerry Seinfeld is a man of many talents. A very funny man, he is considered to be one of the most successful comedians in the USA who has been in the business as a professional rib-cracker for more than 40 years. As an actor, he has ...

The Rigors Of Sarah Silvermans Rise To Prominence And Rundown Of The Men She Has Dated A comedian, writer, and actress, Sarah Silvermans art and craft is as unique as you would ever find. Her poignant use of comedy to discuss social issues such as race, sexism, politics, and religion has gained her an impressive following. As unorthodox as her style is, so is her life experiences. She previously suffered from epiglottitis ...

Who Is Hannibal Buress, Does He Have A Wife or Girlfriend & Why Was He Arrested? Making people laugh when they are tense or not in the mood is a tough order and to ply the trade, it must indeed take some guts and expertise, this is what the humor maker, Hannibal Buress has been able to achieve and sustain after his inital teething process. The African-American is a screen writer, stand-up ...

The Success of John Mulaneys Career Efforts Since His Work On Saturday Night Live and Facts About His Wife John Mulaney had been working as a professional comedian for years before Saturday Night Live changed his status for life and like many who are now his fans, you probably did not know of him then. However, that changed when he joined the sketch comedy show in 2008. Since then, he has been one of ...

Jeff Dunham  Wife, Children and Net Worth Ventriloquism is a very subtle method of making an inanimate object (like a puppet, doll or dummy) appear to be saying words which are actually coming from the person (holding the inanimate object). In effect, the individual throws his/her voice to the puppet and can even appear to be having a conversation with it. Not ...

Ellen DeGeneres  Net Worth, Wife  Portia de Rossi & Parents Ellen DeGeneres is an American female standup comedian who has proven that whatever a man can do, a woman can also do. Since her journey as a standup comedian started in 1981, she has held swirl as one of the finest comedians America and the world at large has seen. She is often referred to ...

Revisiting Joan Rivers Death  The Daughter, Husband & Net Worth She Left Behind Joan Rivers was a renowned American comedian, TV host, writer, and actress. Her brand of comedy consisted of scathing one-liners and no individual or topic is spared. She hosted her own talk shows in the 80s and 90s and was a pioneer for women in stand up comedy. She was the first woman to host a late night ...

The Struggles of Margaret Chos Childhood, How It Influenced Her Career Growth and Love Life Margaret Cho is best described as a comic star who knows how to maneuver everything related to life into a rib-cracking joke. She is also known to criticize every social and political problem, especially those involving race and sexuality. Apart from her talents as a comic actress, she does amazingly well as a singer and ...

Where Is Eric Bolling Today? Who Is His Son & What Is His Net Worth? Eric Bolling who was once a notable figure on Fox News, is an American TV personality, an author, and versatile Journalist. As a political and financial analyst/commentator, he anchored discussions bothering on finance for Fox Business Channel. Here is everything there is to know about his career, family, and allegations that led to his exit ...

Who Is Chelsea Handler and Does She Have A Husband or Boyfriend? Chelsea Handler is one of Americas top female comedians. She is also an actress, writer, television host, producer, and activist. She is known to be very outspoken even with things that are very personal. In separate interviews with The New York Times, Handler revealed that she had an abortion twice when she was 16. She has authored five books ...

How Did Laura Lee Achieve Fame, How Much is She Worth and Who is Her Husband? Laura Lee is a popular American YouTuber, make-up artist and beauty blogger. From posting videos of her makeup routines on Instagram, Lee has transformed into a beauty influencer and a YouTube sensation. Today, her YouTube Channel has over 630 million views and 4.5 million subscribers. Asides having millions of followers across all social media platforms, ...

Madison Gesiotto Bio  Ethnicity, Parents & Measurements Madison Gesiotto is no ordinary woman; although she excelled in quite a number of pageants and competitions while she was in school, it is her views on politics and issues in America that has made her name known to most people. She possesses beauty and intelligence in a seemingly equal measure and has been able ...

Who Is Lil Tay? Parents, Brother, Sister, Age, Net Worth, Ethnicity Child stardom is nothing new in the entertainment world. With the advent of social media, we have seen more stars made from the internet than ever before, and Lil Tay is one of them. Her uploaded rap videos trademark is cursing, swearing, cash-throwing, and use of obscene languages. Her fame went wild after she dropped ...

What To Know About Tig Notaros Wife, Kids and Family Today Tig Notaro is an American stand-up comic star, writer, actress, and radio analyst. Since she started her career in 2001, she has become one of Americas best comedians, particularly when it comes to observational comedy. One prominent aspect of her routine involves her family, which includes a wife and two children. Interestingly, Tig Notaro is part ...

Who Is Chantel Jeffries? What To Know About Her Age, Ethnicity & Net Worth Chantel Jeffries is a lady of many talents. Beyond being celebrated as a DJ, she has fared well as a model, an actress, musician, and as an artist. She first rose to fame on Instagram where she has a large following. However, in recent times, she has hit the spotlight for her rumored relationships with some ...

Is Ellen DeGeneres Married, Who Is The Brother  Vance DeGeneres and Family Members? Ellen DeGeneres is one of a kind celebrity in todays world as she has used her wealth for the greater good for many people. She has served a host of famous awards shows like the Grammy, Primetime Emmy and Academy Awards. Moreso, she is probably one of the most decorated entertainment personalities around the world and ...

Carli Bybel Bio  Height, Boyfriend & Net Worth Video blogging is now on the rise and YouTube is the place where most of it happens. If you are a lady who cares about her looks or a guy who likes to help his woman out with her looks, then one person whose name rings a bell when it comes to giving beauty tips ...

Who Is Lexy Panterra? What To Know About Her Ethnicity, Boyfriend & Net Worth Lexy Panterra is one of the YouTube personalities whose breakout came through the Twerk dance videos she posted on her social media handles and YouTube which has so far generated over 13 million views for her. From there on, she created her LexTwerkOut workout program in 2014. She is sure very talented as she as moved ...

Who Is AnneMunition? What Is Her Ethnicity & Does She Have A Girlfriend or Boyfriend? AnneMunition is a professional gamer and content creator of American origin. She is one of the most sought-after streamers on Twitch  a popular online platform for watching and streaming videos, especially video games. AnneMunition has almost half a million followers on Twitch and her channel has accumulated at least 13 million views. Her favorite games ...

Norm MacDonald  Former Wife, Son & Net Worth Recently, 59-year-old former Saturday Night Live stand-up comic Norm MacDonald caused a not-so-funny stir when he expressed his personal opinion about the #MeToo movement speaking in defense of Louis CK and Roseanne Barr. Following the backlash of his actions, he is diligently doing damage control for his questionable opinion by posting a public apology on ...

Inside Iliza Shlesingers Life With Husband and How Much She is Worth Now Witty, spontaneous, and truly humorous, Iliza Shlesinger is an American comedian who is clearly proving that the stereotypical claim that women are not really funny is not only incredibly wrong but completely outrageous. Having been in the game for more than 10 years, Shlesinger has grown bigger with each step, stunning fans with her incredible ...

Who Is Nessa Diab? Details of her Parents, Ethnicity & Relationship With Colin Kaepernick Nessa Diab has gained more fame as the girlfriend of different footballers than in her career. She is currently with the popular National Football League (NFL) player, Colin Kaepernick, and has stood by his side during his most trying times. Also known for her mononym, Nessa, she recently engaged in a tweet battle with the ...

Samantha Bee  Inside the Life of Full Frontal Comedian and Presenter We have over the decades seen various brands of humor and personalities who have walked the ropes. One of the formidable forces in the world of comedy is no other than the iconic Samantha Bee of the Daily Show who now runs her own television show on TBS channel. She is a Canadian-American political commentator, ...

What Happened To Jessica Williamss Boyfriend And Which Are Her Best Works? Jessica Williams is a woman who has a lot of feathers in her cap  and keeps acquiring more. The former senior political correspondent of the comic Daily Show, who is also a comedian and actress whose recent movie appearance include starring as a playwright just recovering from a recent split with her boyfriend, Damon, and ...

Who is Nicole Byer? Here are 5 Facts You Need To Know About The Comedian Nicole Byer, an American comedian, actress, and writer, made a name for herself after she played supporting roles on MTVs prank show Ladylike and the reality show Girl Code. The latter was a series that featured comedians who analyzed in minute details, all the issues that young women deal with daily, from period to dating, to weird friendship dynamics and questions about sex. Currently, ...

A Closer Look At Bart Kwans Ethnicity, Height & Personal Life Bart Kwan is one of few Asians who is known for being successful in the comic industry at an international level. His fame broke out after the YouTube channel which he created with his close pal Joe Jo garnered up massive followings. The talented duo has been running the channel since 2007 and their success ...

Heres How VanossGaming Achieved Fame Online, His Worth and Other Facts About The Gamer For many years, the decision to drop out of college to pursue an online career was considered to be foolish and self-destructive by conventional wisdom. It was no different when Evan Fong, popularly known as VanossGaming, dropped out of college to pursue a YouTube career. However, that radical move paid off, and he stands shoulder to ...

Desi Perkins  Ethnicity, Net Worth & Husband YouTube is littered with videos of makeup tutorials by different people but if you are interested in learning how to do your makeup like a pro, there is just one person on that platform who you must follow. She is none other than Desi Perkins! She is a popular make-up artist, Instagram star, and vlogger. Desi, ...

The Phases of Casey Neistats Pursuits and His Love Story With Candice Pool YouTuber, vlogger, filmmaker, and creator extraordinaire; these are just a few hats that Casey Neistat wears and the story of how he got here is incredible. A native of Connecticut, Neistat started out by making refreshingly-authentic short films and videos that featured content that was based on everyday life and called attention to serious issues. He ...

Connor Franta  Inside The Life of American YouTuber YouTube has produced a lot of young celebrities in modern times and Connor Franta happens to be one of them. Apart from being a YouTuber, the young American is also an entrepreneur, entertainer, and writer. His journey to fame began almost a decade ago when he started a self-named YouTube channel where he uploads content ranging ...

Rhett and Link  Bio, Who are Their Wives, Net Worth and Family Facts Rhett and Link refer to an American comedy duo who are very popular on YouTube. They are known for their comic songs, viral commercials, skits and the daily show, Good Mythical Morning. Good Mythical Morning is the most watched daily show online, averaging 100 million views in a month. The show has featured guests such ...

A Walk Through The Maze of Ryan Higas Career Pursuits And Relationship With Arden Cho Ryan Higa is not only celebrated as a YouTube star, but he is also famed for appearing on television screens as an actor and comedian. Nigahiga, his Youtube channel, has gathered over 20 million subscribers and billions of views with his different comic acts, short films, and music videos uploads. With the rise in his career, ...

What to Know About The Shows That Made Craig Ferguson a Star and His Family Ties Rising to the top of your profession can sometimes be a hard and difficult process. It requires days and nights of working consistently hard to be better than what you were yesterday. It requires not giving up when all of your experiences seem to be pushing you to quit. It is because of these challenges ...

David Dobrik Married Liza Koshy for One Month  Inside His Family and Relationships David Dobrik is a YouTube sensation who has garnered fame not just for his vlogs but his love life too. Given his career as a YouTuber, his channel is one place where he shares his romantic escapades. With a cute boyish look like his, this Slovakian young man is definitely a good catch, and not ...

Merrell Twins Bio  Ethnicity, Parents & Boyfriend One of the beautiful things about modern life is social media. As rudimentary as it might seem, it could turn out to be the greatest thing that would be invented in the next 50 years because of its impact on human life. Very few tools have revolutionized human behavior and culture as much as social ...

Who Is Bunny Meyer, Is She Married & What Is Her Net Worth? Bunny Meyer is a YouTube celebrity who has amassed over 8.8 million subscribers with 1.5 million viewers on her channel. She is popularly known as Grav3yardgirl and is one of the highest-paid YouTubers in the world. She initially started out as a fashion designer and later chose the path of a YouTuber. Grav3yardgirl has used her knowledge on fashion, makeup, ...

Ninja  Inside The Life of The American YouTuber and Internet Personality Ninja is a talented video game player known for his mastery of Fortnite and other seemingly difficult games he plays with ease. The video gamer made a career out of what is ordinarily the hobby of many people and has since then amassed a huge online following. Find out about him here, including the controversies that ...

What Is Eva Gutowskis True Sexuality and How Did She Rise So Fast As an Influencer? Ever since Eva Gutowski joined YouTube in 2011, it has been an interesting journey for her, moving from one milestone to the other. Backed by an army of young women and teenage girl fans known as Evanators, she has risen to become one of the most-talked-about personalities in the digital stratosphere. She has also leveraged ...

Emma Chamberlain Biography  Age, Height & Net Worth Before now, people in the entertainment industry could only achieve popularity after many years of dedication and hard work but since social media came into the scene, massive success and overnight popularity became possible. That is the story of Emma Chamberlain who encountered fame as a fifteen-year-old. Emma is one of the many young people who became ...

Anna Akana  Ethnicity, Boyfriend & Net Worth There is a new crop of YouTubers known by their different contents with a very strong uniqueness that stands every one of them out, some upload video games, some fashion while some others have comedy video contents to showcase on their channels. Anna Akana has used her platform to showcase her comedy contents to the ...

Revealing Truths About Lilly Singhs Ethnic Background, Family and Her Relationship With Yousef Erakat Lilly Singh is an Indian-Canadian YouTube personality, actress, and comedian also known as Superwoman. She kicked off her YouTube career in 2010 with the launch of her channel IISuperwomanII and followed it up with a vlog channel in 2011. This paved the way for her fame and success which led to a world tour. The ...

Who Is Andrea Constand, Is She Married and What Is Her Connection With Bill Cosby? Many people got sexually molested but could not voice out due to the stigma victims suffer and what will become of them thereafter. Very few of the victims danm every consequence to seek justice and bring the perpetrator to the book, like Andrea Constand. She never got any media buzz, not until her friend cum molester; ...

Who Is Lazarbeam (Lannan Eacott)? Here Are Facts You Need To Know Lannan Eacott became a person of interest after his YouTube channel, LazarBeam pulled him to the limelight. Initially, he started with uploads of Madden Challenge videos before deciding to build his own channel in January 2015. Within the space of three years, his YouTube channel had gathered over 7 million loyal subscribers. Today, he has not ...

Puzzling Facts About Wengies YouTube Success and More About Her Fiance Among the many YouTubers who have succeeded in winning the hearts of millions of people is Wengie. She is a Chinese-Australian YouTube personality, vlogger, singer, and voice actress. Wengie is famous for a lot of things, from her simple life hacks, DIYs, craft ideas to fun experiments, tricks and pranks. Her content portfolio also includes hair tutorials, diet & fitness tips, lookbooks, ...

Is Jeffree Star A Billionaire and How Much Does He Make On YouTube? If looks can be deceptive then theres no other person who proves this maxim better than Jeffree Star. A quick look at Stars pictures would likely leave you wondering whether or not to tag him a male or female. But who says being controversial has to be a curse? For Star, his looks have caught ...

The Place of Rosanna Pansinos Career Hats In Her Rise To Fame and Facts About Her Personal Life There are a few phrases that could summarize Rosanna Pansinos rise to fame. None of them can do it better than the famous axiom, no knowledge is lost. Her popularity YouTube comes out of her foray into other professions, specifically acting. Although acting now occupies one of the major professional hats in Rosannas resume, it was ...

Muselk (Elliott Watkins) Biography  Age, Girlfriend and Net Worth The new and best in-thing in terms of career is video gaming and we have over time seen young men and women make massive income from an activity that was purportedly designed to serve as a hobby or a relaxation activity. One of such individuals is the Australian-born YouTube Celebrity and Twitch streamer, Muselk, whose ...

PopularMMOs Biography: 5 Interesting Facts You Need To Know We have over the years seen social media millionaires, especially on the YouTube social platform. These celebrities cum millionaires have made names for themselves after carving out niches on the internet, and a typical example of one of such exciting media personality on the YouTube is American Minecraft gamer and YouTube star, PopularMMOs whose channel ...

Jason Nash Once Married Marney Hochman  What To Know About His Ex-Wife and Kids The now-defunct video-sharing app Vine was the path that led Jason Nash to fame. With it, he built an audience of over two million followers, which he parlayed into a significant YouTube career. That move has seen him become one of the most popular personalities on the internet, with the cash income to go with ...

Where Does Dantdm Live? What Do We Know About His Net Worth, Wife and Brother? Most parents buy video games for their kids to occupy their time leisure, while other parents frown at their kids when they play video games. Despite the disparity, every parent would be proud of their child if he/she eventually turns a celebrity or millionaire through playing video games like Dantdm. Biography of Dantdm Dantdm was born Daniel ...

LaurDIY  Biography: 5 Facts You Need To Know About The YouTuber LaurDIY is the YouTube channel of Lauren Riihimaki which she created on December 1, 2011, when she was still a college undergrad with the sole aim of giving Do It Yourself (DIY) as well as practical fashion and beauty tips to her followers. She has used the channel to establish herself as a YouTube personality ...

Lachlan Ross Power  Bio And Family Life Of Australian The YouTube Star It is amazing the varied sources of income that the internet has made possible in this day and age. Internet fame can get its holder a whole lot of monetary and social benefits, but it must be noted that it does not come easy or cheap. For those who desire fame, content is the sacrifice ...

Alfie Deyes  Bio and Net Worth: Everything You Need To Know Alfie Deyes is one internet personality you definitely would like to know about. He boasts of over 10 million subscribers on three of his YouTube channels and has three bestseller books to his name. He is probably the most renowned young personality on YouTube today and his vlogging empire continues to grow by the day. ...

Colleen Ballingers Love Story With Husband Erik Stocklin and How Much She Is Worth Now Colleen Ballinger is an American comedian and YouTuber who is a very funny, adventurous, and highly talented woman. She is also an actress, singer, and writer. Collen is widely known for her work on YouTube where she posts content on her channel, Miranda Sings. The comedian has gained many subscribers over the years and has ...

Who Are The Dude Perfect Members and How Much Are They Worth? Entertainment in the 21st century can be digested in many forms and with platforms like YouTube, the creators and purveyors of entertainment have been democratized. Today, one of the most popular platforms to exhibit ones creative talents is YouTube, even though there are other platforms like Twitter, Facebook, who suffer in comparison to YouTube because ...

Who Is Rudy Mancuso, What Is His Earning Power and What Do We Know About His Girlfriend? Rudy Mancuso started his internet journey on Vine. He would later transition to YouTube where he solidified his place among the internets most beloved comedic creators. He is now regarded as one of the renowned internet personalities in the world, with a presence in mainstream TV and film projects like Comedy Centrals Drunk History and ...

Vsauce (Michael Stevens) Biography and Net Worth: All You Need To Know The advent of YouTube and the internet as a whole revolutionized how human beings consume information. With each passing year, the percentage of learning that is done in a traditional classroom decrease as a seismic shift to internet-based learning happens in our education industry. From open courses online to YouTube classes and videos, there are ...

How did Jake Paul Make His YouTube Big Break and Who is His Wife? One of the most interesting Social Media personalities of the 21st century is the young and popular Jake Paul whose elder brother is the famed Vine star, Logan Paul. Jake has utilized the power of the internet to bring himself to the limelight with a channel named JakePaulProductions that has amassed up to six billion ...

5 Facts You Need To Know About Reaction Time (Tal Fishman)  The American YouTuber Before 2015, the leading meaning of reaction time was the amount of time it takes to respond to a stimulus, until Tal Fishman started his channel, Reaction Time on YouTube and the dominant meaning changed. Today, a google search of Reaction Time would deliver Tal Fishmans videos and YouTube channel link with a few physics ...

Grace Helbig  Net Worth, Boyfriend and Family Life of The YouTuber Grace Helbig is an American internet personality, comedian, actress, and writer. She became popular due to her daily vlog series, DailyGrace, which ran on My Damn Channel from 2008 to 2013. Helbig is also popular for her own indie series on YouTube, ItsGrace, which she launched in 2014. Her vlogs which feature random stuff such as ...

Mark Wiens Bio  Ethnicity, Wife and Parents Food is a great way to connect with people. We all love to eat, if not for the pleasure of food, the satisfaction of quenching hunger, and the very process of providing and sharing that food is part of the strongest bonds that bind humanity together. Maybe it is our historical connection to food, where ...

Is Filthy Frank Dead, What Happened To Him and How Much Is He Worth? As George Kusunoki Miller, he was a nobody. However, as Filthy Frank, George was one of the most famous internet personalities on the planet. The Filthy Frank Show, a sketch series on his YouTube channel, TVFilthyFrank, was one of the platforms most influential creations. He is the reason a crazy dance song, Harlem Shake, made it ...

CaptainSparklez Bio  Net Worth, House and Cars of The Famous YouTuber Sometimes, what society wants from its citizens is quite different from what the citizens want for themselves. This is evident in the life and career of video blogger and American YouTube personality, Jordan Maron famous for his YouTube channel CaptainSparklez. He dropped out of school after discovering his talent in playing an online game called Minecraft. ...

Who is Simply Nailogical (Cristine Rotenberg)? Here are Facts You Must Know Canadian Youtube personality, Simply Nailogical (Cristine Rotenberg) originally started out polishing and designing nails even before it became a trendy culture in the social media. Simply Nailogica started out her showbiz career in her early days as a child actress, acting in commercials for game and toy companies. Aside from acting, she is blogger, vlogger, specializing ...

5 Interesting Facts You Need To Know About Huda Beauty In the world of entrepreneurship, it is interesting when an individual has a mentor who he/she looks up to, this yield more productivity on the part of the individual. The iconic and rich American beautician and makeup artist Huda Kattan nicknamed Heida is the founder of the Huda Beauty blog which is number one Instagram beauty blog ...

Is Dino MasterChef Gay? Details About His Ethnicity, Girlfriend, Where He Is Now Food, for the better part of the early years of human life, was nothing more than what we needed for survival. There was no artistry or curation to the method of cooking. The scarcity of food left no room for artistic expression until we figured out agriculture and we could make as much as we ...

Who Is Gabbie Hanna And How Did She Become Famous? As the world shifts to digital media and depends more and more on streaming services for its news and entertainment content, YouTubers have become one of the leading creators in the new media world. Their understanding of the online audience: how to create, maintain, and increase followers, are all handy skills that have primed them ...

Jacksepticeye  Height, Girlfriend & Net Worth Jacksepticeye is a YouTuber and actor who gained popularity with a series of gaming videos he uploads on his channel to the delight of millions of his subscribers. He is Known primarily for his comic video game series titled Lets Play and his vlogs. His channel was formerly ranked 46th in the list of most subscribed ...

Chris Heria Personal Details: About His Wife, Height & Ethnicity Background In this generation, keeping fit has become one of the major criteria for being hale and hearty. In fact, most occupations these days are majorly concerned with ones body mass, weight and looks. Unlike the past where most people have to register in a gym to keep fit, social media has made it quite easy ...

Everything You Need To Know About Game Grumps Gaming is becoming incredibly popular on YouTube these days with game vloggers make millions of dollars out of them yearly. One of the most popular up-coming gaming YouTube channels is Game Grumps. The Lets Play series was created in 2012 and celebrated its fifth anniversary on July 18th, 2017. In six years of its existence, the ...

Daithi De Nogla Biography, Girlfriend and Net Worth YouTube has created an avenue for many to make wealth and become famous from the comfort of their homes while having fun. Many have built a career out of the platform, uploading numerous videos that have earned them the admiration of viewers across the globe. For Daithi De Nogla, he is loved for his humorous commentary on ...

Does Phoebe Robinson Have A Boyfriend or Husband and What Do We Know About Her Family? Phoebe Robinson is a New York-based comedian, writer, and actress. She is best known as the co-creator and co-host of the WNYC Studios podcast 2 Dope Queens. Just like some other female comedians, she never had any original plans of becoming a stand-up comedian even though, according to her, she took a class on a whim at Carolines on Broadway. After ...

Who Are Lex and Alana from Listed Sisters? What Is Their Ethnicity & Is the Show Cancelled? America is a country built on diversity. Everywhere you look all over the country, a countless number of immigrants or children of immigrants have become an integral part of the fabric of the country. From entertainment to business, immigrants are creating a niche for themselves and climbing to the summit of their respective professions. One ...

Riveting Facts About Danielle Lombard And What She Is Best Known For The American entertainment industry is one that provides many avenues for aspiring hopefuls to express their talents and become famous. From films to television shows and game shows, there is no shortage of ways for men and women who desire fame to pursue and earn it in the United States of America. Another tested medium ...

Unearthing New Details About The YouTube Success And Personal Life of Alex Burriss of Wassabi Productions Wildly hilarious and truly audacious, Alex Wassabi is an American YouTuber who has become a very popular face on the video-sharing platform after having garnered millions of subscribers over the years by keeping people glued to his channel with his witty parody video releases. If you have always loved parody videos, there is every chance ...

Everything You Need To Know About H2O Delirious H2O Delirious whose full birth name is reported to be Jonathan Gormon Dennis has successfully kept himself mystified by hiding his face behind the masks leaving his loyal fans speculating who he really is for many years. The American YouTube star is easily identified by the Jason Mask Style with make-up which he wears on his ...

Who Is HolaSoyGerman and What Happened To Him? German Garmendia has certainly seen it all when it comes to internet success. His channels, HolaSoyGerman and JuegaGerman are in the top twenty most subscribed channel on YouTube. The Chilean YouTuber found a way to tap into one of the worlds greatest inventions and make a living from it. He has been able to build ...

Who Are Glenn Becks Family, What Is His Net Worth And What Happened To Him? The American political commentary space is filled with different personalities. A few of them, through their rhetoric, charisma, and resources have been able to build a large following of men and women who listen to them for insight and direction for various political and social issues in the United States. For Conservatives, the story is ...

Following Charissa Thompsons Rise Through The Ranks Of Sports Casting and All About Her Boyfriend Superstar TV host and sportscaster, Charissa Thompson, has been hailed as one of the highest-profile women journalists in America, and the reason is there for all to see. She has worked for popular establishments such as Versus, Yahoo! Sports, ESPN, GSN, and Big Ten Network. She currently hosts the popular pre-game show, Fox NFL Kickoff, ...

Is Chris Kattan Gay or Does He Have A Wife? What Is His Net Worth? Chris Kattan is a popular American comedian and actor. He has appeared in several comic movies and TV series such as The Middle, A Night at the Roxbury and Bunnicula. Kattan is, however, most popular for his six-year stint as a cast member of Saturday Night Live. During his time on the legendary show, he ...

Everything You Should Know About the Rise of Insta Star Claire Abbott and Why She Gave It All Up A lot of young Americans have shot into the limelight for uploading different kinds of videos on YouTube. Some of these young stars include Connor Franta, Desi Perkins, Emma Chamberlain, the Dolan Twins (Ethan and Grayson), and Claire Abbott. The latter became a social media celebrity for uploading sexy bikini pictures of herself on social media. Apart from ...

5 Facts You Need To Know About The YouTube Channel  h3h3Productions H3h3Productions is a YouTube channel that specializes on Comic responses or reactions of other contents or trendy stories. The celebrity couple that created the channel has over time racked up sizable views for their commentaries and contents. Even though they had their own fair share of copyright cases, thankfully they scored an unprecedented victory in all ...

Lilypichu Bio  Height, Brother and Love Story With Albert SleightlyMusical Chang Like most popular internet celebrities, Lilypichu is one of those Twitch streamers who spend their lives on camera. From daydreaming about the possibility of becoming a full-time professional streamer, she grew to live out her dreams on the popular live streaming platform where people play games, make crafts, and showcase their day-to-day activities. Given the rise of ...

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The Interesting Progression and Highlights of Carrie Keagans Career as a Host and Actress Carrie Keagan has garnered huge fame through her various stints on television. She is not just your regular TV host but one with a difference. Keagan has hosted several high profile events and TV shows, including VH1s Big Morning Buzz Live and Fox News Channels Red Eye with Greg Gutfeld. However, not many know she ...

The Gist On Elise Jordans Marriages And Her Rise To Prominence Political commentaries tend to be boring when it is handled by someone who does not have a knack for it. However, when you see the likes of Elise Jordan run the same commentary, you will have a lot of reasons to look forward to watching her again as the journalist is well-versed in the field ...

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What Does Heather Storm Do For a Living and Who Is She Dating? Reality Television is a great way to make a name for oneself as well as amass a fortune. Heather Storm can attest to this as she is one of those who have made a name and earned a lot from reality TV. She made her name appearing on shows like Car Fanatics, Awesome Autos, and, ...

Matt Carriker Biography  Net Worth, Wife & Height Unlike your regular veterinary doctor next door, Matt Carriker chose to spice up his noble profession with the unusual. Though he is known to many as a medical practitioner, Carriker is better renowned as a YouTube star and an animal lover. Having recorded huge successes on his various YouTube channels, the vet doctors name and ...

Jillian Mele of Fox News Career Achievements, Husband & Measurements There are quite a good number of presenters on radio and television who listeners and viewers may never wish to miss any of their shows because of their sensational golden voice, beauty or the special way or artistry they anchor their shows. Jillian Mele is one of such. She has been at the top of ...

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Dog The Bounty Hunters Family Including Details of His Late Wife and Kids Popularly known as Dog, a name which he got from the television series, Dog The Bounty Hunter, Duane Chapman, an American bounty hunter, and one-time bail bondsman, went from being convicted for a felony to being a reality TV star. He was brought to the limelight following the capture of the convicted criminal, Andrew Luster in 2003 and this eventually made ...

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Joe Rogan Has A Step-Daughter and 2 Other Kids With Wife Jessica Ditzel  Meet His Family Joe Rogan is a popular American stand-up comedian and TV host. His journey to stardom began in the late 80s and has seen him host several shows, the most popular is the game show titled Fear Factor. The exciting show dares contestants to face some of their greatest fears and embark on challenging stunts. The ...

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Nadeska Alexis Bio  Age, Boyfriend & Net Worth Journalism is one diverse profession that allows the practitioners to choose their area of specialty, build a career on it by reporting the truth and facts which in the long run will distinguish them as deserving commendation and recognition among their peers. Some choose to specialize in political journalism, while to others it is sports ...

Media Platforms Charlamagne Tha God Has Explored and All The Controversies He Has Courted Charlamagne Tha God is an American on-air personality, radio presenter, and more recently, author. He is popularly known as a co-host on New York radios nationally syndicated show, The Breakfast Club, a program he has been hosting alongside DJ Envy and Angela Yee since 2010. However, his early years had no connection to his current career ...

A Look At Jimmy Fallons Net Worth and Family Including His Wife & Kids Sometimes, a childs passion for something is a pointer to what he/she would become in the future. As a child, Jimmy Fallon was literally obsessed with watching the late-night comedy program, Saturday Night Live (SNL). Then, his parents would tape the clean parts for him to watch and later, he and his sister would re-enact sketches from the ...

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Is Jordan Schlansky Just A Character or a Real Life Person and What Does He Do? The world of late-night television is an interesting one. Shows during that time are geared towards giving viewers comedic relief from a long day at work through interviews and comedy sketches. The often charismatic host of this show requires the balancing talent of a producer whose primary job is to deliver great episodes. It is ...

Heres How Wealthy Jimmy Kimmel Is From All The Phases of His Career, Marriages and Sons Health Jimmy Kimmel is a renowned late-night talk show host known for his charm, wit, and the A-list guests he features on his show. As the host of Jimmy Kimmel Live! On ABC, Jimmy has been serving comedy to television viewers for years which played a pivotal role in launching him into mainstream fame and enabled ...

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What Happened to Shane Kilcher? His Injury Update, Net Worth and More Shane Kilcher is well-known thanks to the Discovery Channel series Alaska: The Last Frontier. It is a show that documents the daily lives of the extended Kilcher family, people who live without plumbing or modern heating. The episodes follow their routines as they rely on hunting and farming for their nutritional needs as well as ...

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5 Interesting Things You Need To Know About Kelly Nash Ever heard of the lady who gained national prominence for taking a selfie with a dangerous ball just a few inches away from hitting her? Its no other person than Kelly Nash, an American sports broadcaster currently working as host of The Rundown show which airs on MLB Network every weekday at 2 pm ET. ...

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Who is Josina Anderson of ESPN? 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, ...

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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, ...

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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 ...

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YEREVAN, SEPTEMBER 3, ARMENPRESS. Overnight September 2-3 the Azerbaijani side violated the ceasefire regime 30 times by firing more than 600 shots from various caliber weapons at the Armenian positions across Nagorno Karabakh-Azerbaijan line of contact, the press service of the NKR Defense Army told Armenpress.

As a result of the ceasefire violation by the Azerbaijani forces, on September 2 at 23:30, soldier Arayik S. Ordubekyan (born in 1997) was mortally wounded in one of the military units of the southern direction of the NKR Defense Army.

Investigation is underway to clarify the details of the case.

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.

The NKR Defense Ministry announces that the Azerbaijani side must bear the whole responsibility of their attacks and its consequences.
YEREVAN, SEPTEMBER 3, ARMENPRESS. Prime Minister of Armenia Hovik Abrahamyan sent a letter of condolences on the death of Hrachya Tamrazyan - Director of Matenadaran Institute of Ancient Manuscripts after Mesrop Mashtots, corresponding member of the National Academy of Sciences, press service of the Government informed Armenpress.

The PMs letter reads:

Hrachya Tamrazyan was one of popular intellectuals of our days, a famous scientist, poet and translator. He has left a significant input on the examination of the Armenian medieval philosophical studies and especially the development of Narekatsi studies, as well as he was well-known for his rich literary-translation activities.

As a Director of Matenadaran, he had a significant input on the development of this valuable scientific-cultural center.

I extend my deepest condolences to the famous intellectuals family members, relatives and colleagues.
STEPANAKERT, SEPTEMBER 3, ARTSAKHPRESS: The letter was signed by US Congressmen Frank Pallone, Robert Dold, Jackie Speier, David Valadao, Adam Schiff, David Trott.

On behalf of the Congressional Caucus on Armenian Issues, we are wilting to congratulate you and the people of the Nagorno Karabakh Republic, Artsakh, as you celebrate the 25th anniversary of your independence on September 2. This historic day represents an important milestone in Artsakh's struggle to defend its right to sell-determination and liberty.

A quarter of a century ago, your people raised their voice for freedom and dignity declaring their intention to build a sovereign and independent state. While overcoming Soviet oppression and Azerbaijan's military aggression, the formation of the Republic in 1991 became a testament to fundamental principles of liberty, democracy, and peace.

Over the years, despite continued violence and threats, the Nagorno Karabalkh Republic has continued to prove its strong dedication to these universal values. We commend your nation for consistently holding free and fair elections and your commitment to advance democratic governance and rule of law.

We remain committed to the continued development of Artsakhs economy and its democracy. We also condemn Azerbaijan's most recent aggression in early April against the people of Artsakh that led to hundreds of military and civilian casualties. We remain hopeful that a peaceful resolution to the Karabakh conflict will be found, and appreciate your unwavering pursuit of regional security and stability.

We will continue out support of the Nagorno Karabakh Republic and call for the formal recognition of Artsakhs independence.
Dr. Anthony LuPriore, co-owner of Frati Gelato at 670 Main St. in the Riverfront building, is arguably one of the two or three best gelato makers in the country.

LuPriore would probably cringe at the accolade, but his business partner and brother-in-law, Ron DeLay, says LuPriore comes by it honestly.

Anthony is a trained gelato master from the only gelato school recognized by the Italian government, the Accademia della Gelateria Italiana, DeLay said. There are maybe three individuals in the States who have that distinction.

One expert in the dairy business has knocked on LuPriores door numerous times over the years on behalf of other gelato makers across the country, who ask if LuPriore will work for them as a consultant. While this is flattering, LuPriore is not interested  he just wants to make gelato for his customers.

LuPriore makes his gelato daily from 350 recipes he has developed. Chocolate and Frati, a mascarpone-based flavor, are customer favorites, and are available all of the time. The other 10 gelato and six sorbetti flavors are different every day.

He searches the world for ingredients, using Belgian chocolate, and vanillas from Madagascar and Tahiti. The toasted almond gelato is made using a toasted almond paste he sources from Italy, made by the only people who really understand how to toast almonds, he said.

The first taste of the gelato releases a strong burst of almonds that is both surprising in its intensity and clarity, as well as being delicious. His latest concoction is coconut-nectar pecan, which LuPriore describes as having a maple syrup with pecans flavor, all of which can be tasted with the first bite.

The burst of flavors is a characteristic of all LuPriores creations, partially the result of using organic whole milk instead of cream.

Cream coats your tongue, and it takes a moment for the true flavors to get through to your taste buds, he explained.

Using milk is also one of the reasons why gelato has about two-thirds the calories of ice cream and one-third the fat.

LuPriore was born in Rhode Island. He earned an undergraduate degree in zoology, in preparation for medical school. He was on a waiting list for U.S. medical schools when he heard about six U.S. students who were heading to Italy to study the language, culture and to attend medical school there, and he applied.

A month later, he was living in a monastery in Umbria, Italy. After two years of 14-hour days studying everything from Latin, architecture, art to Italian, he began medical school. After graduation, he practiced medicine there for more than 20 years.

Throughout his career, his love of food, which he gained at his mothers knees, never left him. He opened a restaurant in his Perugia, Italy with other Italian physicians.

Along the way, he befriended Luca Cavieziel, the man responsible for perfecting the gelato that was first made by monks near Mt. Vesuvius hundreds of years ago. LuPriore applied to the Accademia della Gelateria Italiana established by Cavieziel, and began an intense six months of training. After becoming certified, he moved back to the U.S., where he and his brother-in-law, DeLay, decided to open a gelateria in Fullerton, Calif.

DeLay spent 40 years at IBM before retiring in 2008. Traveling to Italy on business afforded DeLay the opportunity to visit LuPriore numerous times. He could see that his brother-in-law was well respected in the culinary world.

Going into business with Anthony was a no-brainer, he said.

The men closed their successful Fullerton gelateria and moved to Napa, opening in their current location four years ago. They moved all their equipment with them, most of which was purchased in Italy. The shop is immaculate, so much so that many customers assume they have just opened.

LuPriore estimates that half of their customers come into Frati not knowing anything about gelato. The other half are looking for Frati, based on their reputation.

We get folks from all over the world, including Italy, who say they havent eaten real gelato in this country until Frati, said LuPriore.

Many loyal customers from Fullerton come just for the gelato.

That happens all the time, said DeLay, laughing.

People say, Oh, we were in San Francisco, and figured as long as we were this close that wed drive over for a gelato. That is a huge accolade for us.

The Cafe is also a full-service coffee shop, serving coffees that are as authentic as those found in Italy. Frati also serves eight different Panini, as well as a hot entree every day. On one recent day, the special was a Fiocchetti, which LuPriore describes as a little pasta sack stuffed with gorgonzola cheese and pear with an arugula pesto sauce.
Artist, author and widow of internationally renowned wine world icon Robert Mondavi, Margrit Biever Mondavi died at her hillside Coombsville home Friday. She was 91.

Margrit Mondavi had been battling stomach cancer for more than two years.

Considered the first lady of the Napa Valley by friends and associates from all walks of life, the Switzerland native  who reminded us often she was American by choice  had served for many years as vice president of cultural affairs at the winery her late husband founded in 1966. She joined the staff of the Robert Mondavi Winery in 1967, filling the role of public relations director until she married the boss.

The first female tour guide in the Napa Valley, Margrit Biever Mondavi was respected, like her second husband, for helping put the Napa Valley on the world stage.

While her husband insisted Napa Valley wines belong in the company of the worlds best, Margrit, in efforts based at the Robert Mondavi Winery, focused on wine country cuisine and culture.

Through culinary programs featuring the worlds great chefs, with art exhibits and programs that spotlighted the nations leading contemporary artists and an enduring summer concert series, Margrit complemented Bob Mondavis remarkable wines with great food and art.

Together, they helped spread the gospel of the cultured good life. They helped endow the Napa Valley Opera House, a new enology and viticulture school at UC Davis and a performing arts center there.

Their biggest local project, Copia, the ambitious American Center for Wine, Food and the Arts ultimately failed.

Her marriages

While a student at a Swiss teachers college for young women at the end of World War II, Margrit Kellenberger met an Army captain from the United States. Following a brief courtship that included prolific letter writing, she and Capt. Philip Biever were married in the Church of Madonna del Sasso on a wooded hillside above the city of Locarno.

Reflecting on that special day just prior to the publication of Margrit Mondavis Sketchbook in 2012, she recalled she had packed a valise so she and her new husband could leave on a honeymoon shortly after the ceremony. It was on the train to Lugano that the newlyweds had a moment to take stock of the situation.

I can see his face as clearly today as I did then, sitting across from him in the compartment of the train, she said during an interview at her home. We had both turned white as a sheet, both of us thinking, What have we done?

Phil leaned across to me and when he got close he said: Its gonna be alright. And it was.

The newlyweds settled in her husbands new duty station, North Dakota, and started a family that includes three children  Philip Jr., Annie and Phoebe.

Also with the publication of the 2012 book  co-written with Janet Fletcher  Margrit acknowledged that Robert G. Mondavi was the love of her life.

Bob and I fell in love  we were attracted to one another, Margrit wrote in the collection of memories from her personal diary. But I was not going to be his mistress. He was already famous, with a wife and three kids. My marriage was falling apart, and maybe Bob was part of the reason for it. He and I couldnt live together in Napa Valley without marrying  no way. I was not a personality but I had a profile. It would be impossible.

I could have let him go, but he didnt want me to let him go. He said, Ill take care of it, dont you worry. You had to be optimistic around Bob; he didnt have a negative bone in his body. Any obstacle was temporary as far as he was concerned.

Margrits divorce was accomplished without issue, she said. Such wasnt the case with vintner Mondavi. His lawyers advised against it and his calls from San Francisco made Margrit ill at ease, and, at one point, physically ill. She wondered if shed have to start her life anew somewhere else, perhaps returning to Switzerland.

Bob Mondavi wound up firing both of his lawyers and getting the divorce he wanted. Two months later, in May of 1980, Bob and Margrit were married in Palm Springs.

I really did not marry Bob for his money, she wrote in the sketchbook, but its what came along. I always told him that I would go with him to the end of the world. We could grow grapes and start over again. Bob was very conscious of time, that life is not forever. When I would ask him what he wanted for his birthday, he would say, I want nothing to change.

They resided in their home on Wappo Hill until his death in 2008.

The tributes

The philanthropic work she and her late husband accomplished will resonate for years to come.

One who knew her best is daughter Annie Biever Roberts, with whom Margrit published a cookbook more than a decade ago. Commenting in the sketchbook, Annie said her mother could have been an incredible actress. She loves to be in front of people. If you watch her at the concerts at the winery, when she comes on stage, her presence is wonderful. You want to look at her. Shes always wearing something flowing and has that accent, and people are attracted to her. She was meant for something grand, and it just took her a while to find it.

World-renowned chef Jacques Pepin wrote to the Register, I met Margrit in 1976. It was my first visit to Napa and I came to conduct cooking classes at High Tree farm. Margrit synchronized the wines for the classes. Charming, knowledgeable, helpful and generous, she introduced me to Napa and to the wine industry. She became a friend. Throughout the next 40 years, it would be my privilege and delight to to teach at the extraordinary Mondavi Great Chefs Cooking program that she had created. Her sense of style and superb knowledge of arts made her an asset and an icon of not only the wine world but the social life of Napa, California and America as well. I will miss her as a friend, an artist and a great humanitarian.

Margrit was my friend  the dearest friend a person could have  for 55 years, said Thomas Bartlett, who was Mrs. Mondavis frequent escort after the death of her husband. We traveled together in California and Europe, and our conversation never lagged. She was a total Renaissance woman who lived more than most people would in two lifetimes. Her zest for life never waned. In my last conversation with her she said, Thomas, if I could have one last wish, it would be to go one more time to your home in Mexico where we could paint and draw  and go out dancing, preferably to a Cuban band. This is a great loss.

Napa Valley vintner Miljenko Mike Grgich, who worked for Robert Mondavi early in his career and became a lifelong friend of the Mondavis, wrote,

I met Margrit when I started working at Robert Mondavi Winery in 1968. My laboratory was in the winery tower, and when I told her that it was modern, practical and scientific but certainly not interesting, she understood. She delivered a huge flowering plant, which transformed it into an inviting, living place.

Years later when we were designing the label for my winery, Grgich Hills Cellar, our artist created a beautiful cluster of Chardonnay grapes. I liked it but felt something was missing. I asked my friend Margrit to help me. She immediately knew what to do. Mike, you should make the grape clusters a little longer so the grapes form a triangle, she said. We incorporated her suggestion and have used the same label throughout the years.Margrit Mondavi, the First Lady of American wine, was a living example of how wine, food and the arts are an essential part of daily life, Grgich added. Her passion for life was infectious, and her influence wide-reaching. She brought great joy to everyone she touched and inspired in others the desire to live life well and to the fullest. I was proud to call her my friend. Another longtime friend, Beth Nickel, of Far Niente Winery, said, We have just lost one of the most beloved and iconic figures that Napa Valley will ever know. Margrit was an inspiration and a joy to the legions of people she came in contact with. She made gigantic contributions in so many areas of wine, food, arts, education and community service.When my late husband, Gil, and I arrived in the valley almost 40 years ago, she and Robert were among the first to welcome us. They were always very complimentary and encouraging about all of our efforts at Far Niente and our ventures that came along after that. They set an extremely high standard of excellence for all of us to look up to and elevated all of us in the process.Margrits friendship to me will be something that Ill treasure all of my life. There has never been another one like her.

Vintners Shari and Garen Staglin, owners of Staglin Family Vineyards in the Napa Valley, sent this comment to the Register: Margrit was the architect of Napas culture of glorious entertaining. She had this amazing ability to match and describe the perfect dish with the perfect wine, and she propelled Napa to the international map of fine wine and cuisine. Her grace, combined with unending energy, made her the perfect hostess or guest at any event. The never-ending passion she had for art led to a transformation of music and visual arts in the Napa Valley. Her warmth and wonderful smile made you feel great at every interaction you had with her. These memories will live with us forever and we believe for anyone who was fortunate to know her. Her favorite toast, centanni, or 100 years is a wish she leaves with us all.

Clay Gregory, who also worked for the Robert Mondavi Winery and went on to become president and CEO of Visit Napa Valley commented:

There is no way to overstate Margrits enormous impact on Robert Mondavi Winery and the Napa Valley itself. The programs she started at the winery were groundbreaking, from the Summer Music Festival and Winter Concert series to the Great Chefs program, to the rotating and permanent art installations (and, of course, she was a great artist in her own right). She brought an international flare and awareness that raised the cultural level of the winery to heights that would never have been reached without her.

She was generous with her time and gracious with everyone she met. Her contributions to charities both in the valley and beyond are wonderful examples of the person she was. She had a brilliant mind as well as a wickedly funny sense of humor. Margrit has left an indelible and charming mark on the Napa Valley, and she will be greatly missed for decades to come.

Ralph J. Hexter, acting chancellor UC Davis, called Mrs. Mondavi one of the universitys most generous and visionary supporters, an incredible champion of our campus and our students. Her commitment to fostering the arts and furthering our research in food science helped UC Davis achieve yet greater heights and greater recognition in these areas.

The Mondavis $35 million gift million led to the creation of the Robert and Margrit Mondavi Center for the Performing Arts, which opened in 2002, he noted, and they also helped establish the Robert Mondavi Institute for Wine and Food Science.

Margrit Mondavi made a $2 million gift to the new university art museum scheduled to open in November and funded scholarships, he said.

Rick Walker, CEO and president of Festival Napa Valley, which marked its 11th season in July with a tribute to Mrs. Mondavi, told the Register, Margrits humanity, warmth and graciousness were matched by her force of will  able to move mountains and achieve what others could not. She inspired me to dream big and to act on those dreams. She was the guiding light in creating Festival Napa Valley, nurturing it to become a celebration of all that she stood for  joyful living, generosity, bringing people together through food, wine and culture. She brought out the very best in everyone lucky enough to know her.

Sasha Paulsen, Register features editor, contributed to this story.
Artist, author and widow of internationally renowned wine world icon Robert Mondavi, Margrit Biever Mondavi died at her hillside Coombsville home Friday. She was 91.

Margrit Mondavi had been battling stomach cancer for more than two years.

Considered the first lady of the Napa Valley by friends and associates from all walks of life, the Switzerland native  who reminded us often she was American by choice  had served for many years as vice president of cultural affairs at the winery her late husband founded in 1966. She joined the staff of the Robert Mondavi Winery in 1967, filling the role of public relations director until she married the boss.

The first female tour guide in the Napa Valley, Margrit Biever Mondavi was respected, like her second husband, for helping put the Napa Valley on the world stage.

While her husband insisted Napa Valley wines belong in the company of the worlds best, Margrit, in efforts based at the Robert Mondavi Winery, focused on wine country cuisine and culture.

Through culinary programs featuring the worlds great chefs, with art exhibits and programs that spotlighted the nations leading contemporary artists and an enduring summer concert series, Margrit complemented Bob Mondavis remarkable wines with great food and art.

Together, they helped spread the gospel of the cultured good life. They helped endow the Napa Valley Opera House, a new enology and viticulture school at UC Davis and a performing arts center there.

Their biggest local project, Copia, the ambitious American Center for Wine, Food and the Arts ultimately failed.

Her marriages

While a student at a Swiss teachers college for young women at the end of World War II, Margrit Kellenberger met an Army captain from the United States. Following a brief courtship that included prolific letter writing, she and Capt. Philip Biever were married in the Church of Madonna del Sasso on a wooded hillside above the city of Locarno.

Reflecting on that special day just prior to the publication of Margrit Mondavis Sketchbook in 2012, she recalled she had packed a valise so she and her new husband could leave on a honeymoon shortly after the ceremony. It was on the train to Lugano that the newlyweds had a moment to take stock of the situation.

I can see his face as clearly today as I did then, sitting across from him in the compartment of the train, she said during an interview at her home. We had both turned white as a sheet, both of us thinking, What have we done?

Phil leaned across to me and when he got close he said: Its gonna be alright. And it was.

The newlyweds settled in her husbands new duty station, North Dakota, and started a family that includes three children  Philip Jr., Annie and Phoebe.

Also with the publication of the 2012 book  co-written with Janet Fletcher  Margrit acknowledged that Robert G. Mondavi was the love of her life.

Bob and I fell in love  we were attracted to one another, Margrit wrote in the collection of memories from her personal diary. But I was not going to be his mistress. He was already famous, with a wife and three kids. My marriage was falling apart, and maybe Bob was part of the reason for it. He and I couldnt live together in Napa Valley without marrying  no way. I was not a personality but I had a profile. It would be impossible.

I could have let him go, but he didnt want me to let him go. He said, Ill take care of it, dont you worry. You had to be optimistic around Bob; he didnt have a negative bone in his body. Any obstacle was temporary as far as he was concerned.

Margrits divorce was accomplished without issue, she said. Such wasnt the case with vintner Mondavi. His lawyers advised against it and his calls from San Francisco made Margrit ill at ease, and, at one point, physically ill. She wondered if shed have to start her life anew somewhere else, perhaps returning to Switzerland.

Bob Mondavi wound up firing both of his lawyers and getting the divorce he wanted. Two months later, in May of 1980, Bob and Margrit were married in Palm Springs.

I really did not marry Bob for his money, she wrote in the sketchbook, but its what came along. I always told him that I would go with him to the end of the world. We could grow grapes and start over again. Bob was very conscious of time, that life is not forever. When I would ask him what he wanted for his birthday, he would say, I want nothing to change.

They resided in their home on Wappo Hill until his death in 2008.

The tributes

The philanthropic work she and her late husband accomplished will resonate for years to come.

One who knew her best is daughter Annie Biever Roberts, with whom Margrit published a cookbook more than a decade ago. Commenting in the sketchbook, Annie said her mother could have been an incredible actress. She loves to be in front of people. If you watch her at the concerts at the winery, when she comes on stage, her presence is wonderful. You want to look at her. Shes always wearing something flowing and has that accent, and people are attracted to her. She was meant for something grand, and it just took her a while to find it.

World-renowned chef Jacques Pepin wrote to the Register, I met Margrit in 1976. It was my first visit to Napa and I came to conduct cooking classes at High Tree farm. Margrit synchronized the wines for the classes. Charming, knowledgeable, helpful and generous, she introduced me to Napa and to the wine industry. She became a friend. Throughout the next 40 years, it would be my privilege and delight to to teach at the extraordinary Mondavi Great Chefs Cooking program that she had created. Her sense of style and superb knowledge of arts made her an asset and an icon of not only the wine world but the social life of Napa, California and America as well. I will miss her as a friend, an artist and a great humanitarian.

Margrit was my friend  the dearest friend a person could have  for 55 years, said Thomas Bartlett, who was Mrs. Mondavis frequent escort after the death of her husband. We traveled together in California and Europe, and our conversation never lagged. She was a total Renaissance woman who lived more than most people would in two lifetimes. Her zest for life never waned. In my last conversation with her she said, Thomas, if I could have one last wish, it would be to go one more time to your home in Mexico where we could paint and draw  and go out dancing, preferably to a Cuban band. This is a great loss.

Napa Valley vintner Miljenko Mike Grgich, who worked for Robert Mondavi early in his career and became a lifelong friend of the Mondavis, wrote,

I met Margrit when I started working at Robert Mondavi Winery in 1968. My laboratory was in the winery tower, and when I told her that it was modern, practical and scientific but certainly not interesting, she understood. She delivered a huge flowering plant, which transformed it into an inviting, living place.

Years later when we were designing the label for my winery, Grgich Hills Cellar, our artist created a beautiful cluster of Chardonnay grapes. I liked it but felt something was missing. I asked my friend Margrit to help me. She immediately knew what to do. Mike, you should make the grape clusters a little longer so the grapes form a triangle, she said. We incorporated her suggestion and have used the same label throughout the years.Margrit Mondavi, the First Lady of American wine, was a living example of how wine, food and the arts are an essential part of daily life, Grgich added. Her passion for life was infectious, and her influence wide-reaching. She brought great joy to everyone she touched and inspired in others the desire to live life well and to the fullest. I was proud to call her my friend. Another longtime friend, Beth Nickel, of Far Niente Winery, said, We have just lost one of the most beloved and iconic figures that Napa Valley will ever know. Margrit was an inspiration and a joy to the legions of people she came in contact with. She made gigantic contributions in so many areas of wine, food, arts, education and community service.When my late husband, Gil, and I arrived in the valley almost 40 years ago, she and Robert were among the first to welcome us. They were always very complimentary and encouraging about all of our efforts at Far Niente and our ventures that came along after that. They set an extremely high standard of excellence for all of us to look up to and elevated all of us in the process.Margrits friendship to me will be something that Ill treasure all of my life. There has never been another one like her.

Vintners Shari and Garen Staglin, owners of Staglin Family Vineyards in the Napa Valley, sent this comment to the Register: Margrit was the architect of Napas culture of glorious entertaining. She had this amazing ability to match and describe the perfect dish with the perfect wine, and she propelled Napa to the international map of fine wine and cuisine. Her grace, combined with unending energy, made her the perfect hostess or guest at any event. The never-ending passion she had for art led to a transformation of music and visual arts in the Napa Valley. Her warmth and wonderful smile made you feel great at every interaction you had with her. These memories will live with us forever and we believe for anyone who was fortunate to know her. Her favorite toast, centanni, or 100 years is a wish she leaves with us all.

Clay Gregory, who also worked for the Robert Mondavi Winery and went on to become president and CEO of Visit Napa Valley commented:

There is no way to overstate Margrits enormous impact on Robert Mondavi Winery and the Napa Valley itself. The programs she started at the winery were groundbreaking, from the Summer Music Festival and Winter Concert series to the Great Chefs program, to the rotating and permanent art installations (and, of course, she was a great artist in her own right). She brought an international flare and awareness that raised the cultural level of the winery to heights that would never have been reached without her.

She was generous with her time and gracious with everyone she met. Her contributions to charities both in the valley and beyond are wonderful examples of the person she was. She had a brilliant mind as well as a wickedly funny sense of humor. Margrit has left an indelible and charming mark on the Napa Valley, and she will be greatly missed for decades to come.

Ralph J. Hexter, acting chancellor UC Davis, called Mrs. Mondavi one of the universitys most generous and visionary supporters, an incredible champion of our campus and our students. Her commitment to fostering the arts and furthering our research in food science helped UC Davis achieve yet greater heights and greater recognition in these areas.

The Mondavis $35 million gift million led to the creation of the Robert and Margrit Mondavi Center for the Performing Arts, which opened in 2002, he noted, and they also helped establish the Robert Mondavi Institute for Wine and Food Science.

Margrit Mondavi made a $2 million gift to the new university art museum scheduled to open in November and funded scholarships, he said.

Rick Walker, CEO and president of Festival Napa Valley, which marked its 11th season in July with a tribute to Mrs. Mondavi, told the Register, Margrits humanity, warmth and graciousness were matched by her force of will  able to move mountains and achieve what others could not. She inspired me to dream big and to act on those dreams. She was the guiding light in creating Festival Napa Valley, nurturing it to become a celebration of all that she stood for  joyful living, generosity, bringing people together through food, wine and culture. She brought out the very best in everyone lucky enough to know her.
In the span of less than a month, the Napa County Sheriffs bomb squad was called to two Solano County cities to investigate suspected explosives tied to a man first arrested in Napa for attempted fraud at Kohls.

On July 18, Robert Louis Feagins, 33, was arrested in Napa along with two others after attempting to buy merchandise from Kohls with a fraudulent check, police reported. Police said that Feagins had a Sleep Train credit card on him which was not his, and that he admitted to trying to use the fake check. He was arrested on suspicion of identity theft and burglary and booked into the Napa County jail.

Other evidence of identity theft was located in a vehicle, including mail, a United States Postal Service jacket, and a door to a post office box, which led investigators to search Feagins residence in Vallejo on July 29, said Napa Police Sgt. Amy Hunter.

Weapons  including machetes, handguns, and knives  were found on display and hidden in bookshelves and under couches, Hunter said. Firearms parts were located, she said. Investigators also found a large storage container full of stolen mail, a stolen USPS employee ID, as well as blank credit cards and a credit card printing machine.

Bomb squads with the Napa County Sheriffs Office and Travis Air Force Base were called to the Vallejo house when a hand grenade was found, Hunter said. The grenade was collected and examined by the Travis team and did not appear to be a live grenade, she said.

Feagins, who had been released from the Napa jail following the Kohls incident, was not located during the search, but was arrested last week by Fairfield Police after he and the man he was with were reportedly found with stolen property, burglary tools and homemade improvised explosive devices.

The Napa County Sheriffs Office Explosive Ordinance Disposal Team was again called out to assist with the improvised explosive devices in Fairfield, which were rendered safe and disposed of, police said.

Feagins was arrested on suspicion of forgery, possessing fraudulent checks, false imprisonment, identity theft and on an outstanding warrant, while his companion, Eric Warren, 37, of Benicia was arrested on suspicion of possession of burglary tools, possession of an illegal explosive device and for parole violation.

Feagins, who had two prior felony drug convictions in Solano County, pleaded no contest to theft of personal property in 2015 after he was arrested on suspicion of making purchases with altered gift cards at Walmart. He was sentenced to three years of probation.

Feagins is scheduled to appear in Napa County Superior Court on Sept. 9 for charges related to the Kohls incident.
Colin Kaepernick has taken a stand to sit on the bench during the national anthem in protest of what in his perception have been wrongs against people of color in America.

The United States of America has done more for and given more opportunities to people of color than any other nation in the history of this planet. I wonder just how many multi-millions of dollars does he, as a person of color, earn every year?

What he has done is choose to disrespect all of the millions of men and women who have served our great nation over the centuries. And disrespect all that they believed in, fought for, and in some cases, died for.

As a veteran myself, I too have served to guarantee his right of free speech, to share his opinion. What he may be recognized for is a fool  an outraged fool, to be certain.

His rage is based in real events that have occurred in some very questionable actions by a few people in positions of authority. It pisses me off, too. But those people have their rights to a day in court, too. They have been removed from their positions and await the determination of guilt or innocence. As there has been no condition of guilt established, they are not being penalized.

We must not let media sensationalism dictate our reactions. Gun laws have been forced to passage in error after school shootings. The National Rifle Association gets vilified, names get called, fingers get pointed at others, and then the cycle repeats. If one looks into history a bit, the NRA in the 1870s, helped secure voting rights to people (at the time, male people) of color in the Old South.

Mr. Kaepernick needs to find a better way to express his protest other than disrespect for all that America stands for and for what America has accomplished so far.

I would in closing, like to quote the opening dedication from the movie Rough Riders:

To the American citizen-soldiers who answered the call, climbed the hill, paid the price, and never let us down.

Please, Mr. Kaepernick: wise up and fly right.

Clark A. Brandt

Napa
Anna Beanie Little Eric Michelle Nicholas Sisters Anna and Michelle , and their brothers Beanie , Little Eric , and Nicholas , are very affectionate babies who love giving you kisses. We rescued their pregnant mother, a Cocker Spaniel named Mary Poppins from a government-funded shelter. She had reportedly been bred with a Scottish Terrier. We placed Mary Poppins in a loving foster home and she gave birth to these five angels and raised them there. Mary Poppins is going to be adopted by her foster family. Her puppies are now 3 months of age, spayed/neutered, and ready for adoption. Please carefully puppy-proof your home and yard for their safety and protection.
President discusses latest foreign political developments around Artsakh

Azerbaijan officials considering opening embassy in Israel

Armenia PM, EU Special Representative for South Caucasus discuss regional security and peace

Nikol Pashinyan, Garo Paylan exchange views on Armenia-Turkey normalization process

Quake hits Armenia-Turkey border zone

Armenia ruling party adopting new vision regarding Karabakh conflict settlement

Russia MOD: Ukraine carried out terrorist attack on Black Sea Fleet ships, civilian ships in Sevastopol

Premier: CSTO should plan force operation, restore Armenias territorial integrity

Armenia PM: All countries consider Karabakh to be part of Azerbaijan

Armenias Pashinyan: CSTO does not exist

Kremlin responds to question on extending mandate of Russian peacekeepers in Karabakh

Armenia premier: We need to know, ultimately, what Russian peacekeepers are doing in Nagorno-Karabakh

Armenia PM: Im ready to sign document, accept that Russian peacekeepers term in Karabakh be extended 10-20 years

Armenias Pashinyan: We are ready to delegate border guard service operation to Russian border guards

Finland, Sweden promise to join NATO together

European Parliament calls on Armenia to consider diversifying its security partnerships

Visiting Armenia MPs brief Canada lawmaker on recent Azerbaijan military aggression

Armenia PM at ruling party congress: We declared repairing states foundation our primary task

Karabakh President: Russia leaders statement inspires certain hopes

Armenia ruling party congress kicks off

Man breaks into US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi's home, demands to speak with her, beats husband with hammer

EU-Armenia Joint Committee on Research and Innovation first meeting to be held in November

Provincial governor of Armenias Gegharkunik: EU monitoring mission already started

US accuses Russia of disinformation regarding Washington intentions towards Armenia, Azerbaijan

Mexico fully legalizes gay marriage

Newspaper: Azerbaijan not inclined to sign anything with Armenia in Russias Sochi

Armenia ruling party convening closed convention

Italian prime minister demands that she be addressed as prime minister in masculine form

Pentagon to send Ukraine new aid package worth $275 million

Europe will ban sale of one type of car

European Commission head announces new aid and investments for Serbia

Biden calls Putin's rhetoric on nuclear weapons 'dangerous'

Lukashenko on Armenian-Azerbaijani conflict: What are you fighting for in these mountains, where not even goats walk?

Swedish authorities offer to create united northern army

Lukashenko: Conflict issue between Armenia and Azerbaijan must be resolved now - with Ilham Aliyev

Lukashenko about situation on Armenian-Azerbaijani border: Where are we racing horses, where are we rushing to?

Pashinyan: Armenia-Diaspora relations undergo profound substantive changes

Lukashenko to Pashinyan: Sit down with Aliyev and make a decision, if you don't make it today, it will be worse

Bulgarian interim government urges to speed up transition to euro zone

President of Karabakh: It is necessary to unite all national potential and efforts

IMF: China's sharp and uncharacteristic economic slowdown will stall growth in Asia by the end of 2023

Iran: Riots in country were planned by the intelligence services of the USA, England, Israel and the KSA

Steinmeier: Ukraine war caused 'epochal break' in Germany's relations with Russia

Gas prices in Europe remain high in coming years

Ararat Mirzoyan and Toivo Klaar stress importance of hosting EU civilian mission in Armenia

Armenia's ambassador-at-large: Daily false propaganda can't cover up Azerbaijani war crimes

Taiwan MFA outraged by Putin's speech on his status and Pelosi's visit

Armenia gives no response to peace treaty proposals, Bayramov says

Netanyahu expects return to power after 5th Israeli election in 4 years

Armenian gravestone found in Trabzon, Turkey neighborhood

Pashinyan: CSTO Secretary General's report mainly reflects existing realities

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

Pelosi's house attacked, her husband injured

Russias Putin to have private talks with Armenias Pashinyan, Azerbaijans Aliyev

Mher Grigoryan: CIS needs a new scientific and technical agreement

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
Chancellor Angela Merkel stated that the German government does not distance itself from the Bundestag resolution on Armenian Genocide recognition.

Merkel noted this on Friday, speaking with the German RTL Television. She categorically denies all other allegations, reported the German Deutsche Welle (DW) TV and radio company.

But moreover, according to the Chancellor, no resolution should be considered legally binding, as they are solely political positions.

Samwel Lulukyan, a representative of the Central Council of Armenians in Germany, however, harshly criticized this stance of Berlin.

This is even beyond refusal, Lulukyan told the Rheinische Post newspaper. This is disgraceful and chaotic.

He also asked how can an Armenian Genocide resolution not be legally binding, and he called this wordplay.

Raffi Kantian, Chairman of the German-Armenian Society, also expressed a similar view. Among other things, he expressed concern that, now, German schools will have less chance to discuss the Armenian Genocide, whereas the said Bundestag resolution advises the contrary.

This view of Berlin, however, has received a positive reaction within the Turkish government circles.
President discusses latest foreign political developments around Artsakh

Azerbaijan officials considering opening embassy in Israel

Armenia PM, EU Special Representative for South Caucasus discuss regional security and peace

Nikol Pashinyan, Garo Paylan exchange views on Armenia-Turkey normalization process

Quake hits Armenia-Turkey border zone

Armenia ruling party adopting new vision regarding Karabakh conflict settlement

Russia MOD: Ukraine carried out terrorist attack on Black Sea Fleet ships, civilian ships in Sevastopol

Premier: CSTO should plan force operation, restore Armenias territorial integrity

Armenia PM: All countries consider Karabakh to be part of Azerbaijan

Armenias Pashinyan: CSTO does not exist

Kremlin responds to question on extending mandate of Russian peacekeepers in Karabakh

Armenia premier: We need to know, ultimately, what Russian peacekeepers are doing in Nagorno-Karabakh

Armenia PM: Im ready to sign document, accept that Russian peacekeepers term in Karabakh be extended 10-20 years

Armenias Pashinyan: We are ready to delegate border guard service operation to Russian border guards

Finland, Sweden promise to join NATO together

European Parliament calls on Armenia to consider diversifying its security partnerships

Visiting Armenia MPs brief Canada lawmaker on recent Azerbaijan military aggression

Armenia PM at ruling party congress: We declared repairing states foundation our primary task

Karabakh President: Russia leaders statement inspires certain hopes

Armenia ruling party congress kicks off

Man breaks into US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi's home, demands to speak with her, beats husband with hammer

EU-Armenia Joint Committee on Research and Innovation first meeting to be held in November

Provincial governor of Armenias Gegharkunik: EU monitoring mission already started

US accuses Russia of disinformation regarding Washington intentions towards Armenia, Azerbaijan

Mexico fully legalizes gay marriage

Newspaper: Azerbaijan not inclined to sign anything with Armenia in Russias Sochi

Armenia ruling party convening closed convention

Italian prime minister demands that she be addressed as prime minister in masculine form

Pentagon to send Ukraine new aid package worth $275 million

Europe will ban sale of one type of car

European Commission head announces new aid and investments for Serbia

Biden calls Putin's rhetoric on nuclear weapons 'dangerous'

Lukashenko on Armenian-Azerbaijani conflict: What are you fighting for in these mountains, where not even goats walk?

Swedish authorities offer to create united northern army

Lukashenko: Conflict issue between Armenia and Azerbaijan must be resolved now - with Ilham Aliyev

Lukashenko about situation on Armenian-Azerbaijani border: Where are we racing horses, where are we rushing to?

Pashinyan: Armenia-Diaspora relations undergo profound substantive changes

Lukashenko to Pashinyan: Sit down with Aliyev and make a decision, if you don't make it today, it will be worse

Bulgarian interim government urges to speed up transition to euro zone

President of Karabakh: It is necessary to unite all national potential and efforts

IMF: China's sharp and uncharacteristic economic slowdown will stall growth in Asia by the end of 2023

Iran: Riots in country were planned by the intelligence services of the USA, England, Israel and the KSA

Steinmeier: Ukraine war caused 'epochal break' in Germany's relations with Russia

Gas prices in Europe remain high in coming years

Ararat Mirzoyan and Toivo Klaar stress importance of hosting EU civilian mission in Armenia

Armenia's ambassador-at-large: Daily false propaganda can't cover up Azerbaijani war crimes

Taiwan MFA outraged by Putin's speech on his status and Pelosi's visit

Armenia gives no response to peace treaty proposals, Bayramov says

Netanyahu expects return to power after 5th Israeli election in 4 years

Armenian gravestone found in Trabzon, Turkey neighborhood

Pashinyan: CSTO Secretary General's report mainly reflects existing realities

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

Pelosi's house attacked, her husband injured

Russias Putin to have private talks with Armenias Pashinyan, Azerbaijans Aliyev

Mher Grigoryan: CIS needs a new scientific and technical agreement

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
While it is good to know that Gov. Andrew Cuomo can land the big fish in his personal life  note the 150-pound thresher shark he caught off Long Island this weekend  it is obvious the whale that is ethics reform has been far more elusive.

We are referring to the package of vanilla-milkshake reforms Gov. Cuomo signed into law last week.

But before we get to that, we want to remind readers that back in February, as the legislative session was getting underway, the governor endorsed five key reforms for state government:

 Total disclosure of outside income for legislators, including who is paying the legislators, what the payments are and what connections they have to legislature/government business.

 Constitutional amendment that forfeits public pensions to public officials convicted of corruption.

 Requiring legislative expense money to only be used for actual or necessary costs.

 Requiring campaign funds to be used only for campaigning and not for personal use.

 Update campaign finance laws to include the strongest campaign finance disclosure requirements in the nation  including public financing of elections  and closing the LLC loophole through which millions of dollars are funneled into legislators' campaign accounts.

Fast-forward to June when the Legislature passed what the Gotham Gazette  a New York City news outlet  called "a toothless, sure-to-fix-nothing ethics reform bill."

In grand Albany tradition, it was passed in the middle of the night and with a message of necessity so that any review of the details by the public  or legislators, for that matter  was unavailable.

Gov. Cuomo's office sent out a press release bragging of a five-point agreement meant to curb the power of dark money unleashed by the Citizens United Supreme Court case.

The final bill included:

 Independent expenditure reforms

 Pension forfeiture

 First-time disclosure requirements for political consultants

 Lobby disclosure reforms

 Issue advocacy reforms.

Unfortunately, it solved nothing and condoned the ongoing culture of corruption. What was missing from this appetizer-laden legislation was the main course. There was no limit on outside income for lawmakers and no closure of the LLC loophole.

If you are wondering why that is important, you haven't followed the political corruption trials of both Dean Skelos and Sheldon Silver.

This latest legislation fails to fix any of the abuses that led to their fall, especially their ability to rake in millions in outside income without reporting what it was for.

The LLC loophole is just as problematic. Currently, corporations can only contribute $5,000 to a political candidate, but if you form a Limited Liability Company  which is done all the time  you are classified as an individual and can contribute up to $150,000. That kind of money will give you influence.

Not surprisingly, Gov. Cuomo has taken in millions for his own campaign war chest through this loophole.

But here is the real backbreaker: When the details were scrutinized further, it was discovered that the new contribution reporting details not only included political donations, but those to other nonprofits as well.

Common Cause, Citizens Union and the New York Public Research Group all contended that the new law placed "onerous" reporting requirements on nonprofits and charitable organizations instead of focusing on political corruption.

Five of the good government groups wrote the governor and asked him not to sign the bill.

But he did anyway.

Only in New York can an attempt to end corruption end in making it more difficult for nonprofits.

The ethics reform signed into law last week by the governor is not much different than the shark the governor reeled in over the weekend  it's a lifeless trophy with no real benefit to anyone.

 Glens Falls Post-Star

 How many amendments does the Constitution have?

 The House of Representatives has how many voting members?

 If both the President and Vice President can no longer serve, who becomes President?

 What is ONE responsibility of a U.S. citizen?

 When was the Constitution written?

On Thursday, Aug. 18, the United States of America welcomed 31 new citizens during a naturalization ceremony conducted by U.S. District Court Judge David N. Hurd at the federal courthouse in Utica.

Everyone should witness such an event  if for no other reason than to renew their own commitment to America.

The five not-necessarily-so-simple questions above are among 100 civics questions that could be asked on a naturalization test candidates must take and pass before being granted citizenship. Many native-born Americans would probably struggle with it.

Our citizenship is precious and most of us came by it quite easily. All we had to do is be born here.

Immigrants and refugees must follow a tougher road.

Often that road began in a place far, far away. For centuries, people came to these shores in search of a better life  driven from their homelands by political, ethnic, racial or religious persecution. America was their sanctuary.

Here they found something very special  freedom.

Many of those who came here were our ancestors. They came from places like Italy, Poland, Ireland, Lebanon, Germany ... with little more than the clothes on their backs and dreams for a better life. The sacrifices they made were more than we can imagine.

Many were children, separated  forever, in some cases  from their parents and other family members.

Many came during difficult times  world war, famine, depression  but they endured because the freedom they found here was the catalyst that drove them toward success. Generations that followed became stronger for it, and they built our communities into what they are today.

Now history repeats itself.

Today's immigrants and refugees come from other places  Bosnia-Herzegovina, Burma, Haiti, Yemen, Pakistan  but they share the same dreams of yesterday. Their stories are not unlike those we see in the faces of faded photographs of our own ancestors. Their skin color, ethnicity and faith may vary, but America is their common denominator, providing a melting pot for a cultural stew that continues to feed and nourish a nation like no other on earth.

They are the faces of our grandparents and great-grandparents, with fears and frustrations tempered by newfound freedom. They wear smiles of hope  for themselves, for their children and for future generations.

The diversity is a gift because in our differences we find a commonality that is the foundation for America.

 Utica Observer-Dispatch
The main part of the repair operations at Yerevan-1 Hydroelectric Power Plant is planned to be completed by the end of 2016.

General Director of International Energy Corporation CJSC Arsen Grigoryan, who is also the head of the Sevan-Hrazdan Cascade HPP, told the aforementioned to Armenian News  NEWS.am.

Before the repair at the plant, two 22.5 MW aggregates were installed there, one of which was broken. Now we will install two new European aggregates, the most modern ones, 24 MW each, Grigoryan said.

Yerevan 1 HPP provides services to the center of the city, as well as metro. The repair operations became one of the key ones in the $66 mln USD investment program of Sevan-Hrazdan Cascade HPP, $50 mln of being the loans of the European Bank for Development and Reconstruction (EBRD) and Asian Bank of Development (ADB) ($25 UDS each).

The parent MEK CJSC company and Russian RusHydro OJSC became the guarantors of loan programs.

We want to install both aggregates by the end of the year. The work with the interior decoration may remain but as they say, the lamp will be on. And we will finish the rest of the work later, we wont linger, Grigoryan said.

The company has already built a new substation for the restored HPP, which already functions now. It has also renovated and cleared the reservoir.

Sevan-Hrazdan Cascade consists of seven HPPs with an overall capacity of 565 MW. The HPPs were built in 1930-65. In 2015, the cascade produced nearly 7 percent of the power consumed in Armenia.
The launch of the Nagorno-Karabakh Forum was held in Montevideo, Uruguay on Friday September 2 with a team of social activists, academics and lawmakers whose task will enrich and promote the country's position of support for a peaceful position in the conflict between the Republic of Nagorno-Karabakh and Azerbaijan.

The Forum is composed of Senators Ruben Martinez and Rafael Michelini Huelmo, Deputies Pablo Abdala, Susana Pereyra and Daniel Radio, as well as the lawyer Oscar Lopez Goldaracena, historian Gerardo Caetano and former Vice Foreign Minister Belela Herrera. The latter two co-chair the group.

The members of the Forum signed of a manifesto which, among other things, confirms the work of the participants in favor of a peaceful settlement of the question of Nagorno-Karabakh and defending the right of its population to develop a free and sovereign in their ancestral homeland, without threats or violence.

The document also endorses "the mediation efforts by the Minsk Group of the Organization for Cooperation and Security in Europe" and urges the international community to continue its efforts to "ensure respect for the agreements reached, put a stop on war rhetoric and discourage the parties to further deepen the wounds that the conflict has caused with new armed clashes."

We want them to know that in Uruguay, thousands of kilometers away from Karabakh, there are other people who are not indifferent, said Deputy Radio after reading the manifesto. "What we are doing is an act of justice," added Senator Michelini. Lopez Goldaracena, meanwhile, spoke from the perspective of law: The people of Nagorno-Karabakh have already 'self-determined', because they chose their model of a free sovereign state.

"We are launching an initiative that we hope will be replicated throughout the world," said former Vice Foreign Minister Herrera. Caetano warned that Uruguay is "not for sale" and that while "Azerbaijan is powerful and knows how to buy wills" they firmly believe in the independence of Nagorno-Karabakh.

Senator Ruben Martinez Huelmo said that the Forum is called to overcome the threats, while Deputy Susana Pereyra stressed the commitment of the people of Nagorno-Karabakh to democracy from her experience as an election observer in 2012. Deputy Abdala remarked that the path that starts today will sooner or later lead to the independence, freedom and self-determination of Nagorno Karabakh.

The event was inaugurated by Viken Boyadjian, member of the Armenian National Committe of Uruguay, who thanked the members of the Forum and recalled the commitment that keeps Uruguay with the Armenian people, Mario Nalpatian, member of the International Armenian National Committe and vice president of the Socialist International, and Robert Avedisyan, Permanent Representative of the Nagorno Karabakh Republic to the United States.

Avedisyan brought the message of President Bako Sahakyan, who thanked Uruguay for being a "leading democracy" and encouraged Forum members to remain independent in its decisions and attached to the values of human rights and justice, despite the possible opposition from oppressive and oil-rich regimes and its allies.
First Things First recently added new members Beth Frost, Kelly McCue and Steve Peru to the First Things First Coconino Regional Partnership Council. Council members work to improve the lives of Arizona's youngest children so they arrive at school healthy and ready to succeed.

We are very excited to have the expertise and energy of these new council members helping guide our mission to partner with the community in creating a high quality early childhood system for all children birth to five, said Peter Van Wyck, regional director for the FTF Coconino region.

Frost fills the Child Care Provider seat. She is the director and owner of Foresight Learning Center in Doney Park. She has worked in early childhood education for more than 23 years. Frost has dedicated herself to creating an early learning experience that focuses on family involvement, community outreach and resources that focus on qualified teachers and support staff, effective curriculum and successful financial budgeting and planning.

McCue joins as the Health Service Provider representative. She is the Diabetes Program Coordinator for North Country Healthcare. McCue manages diabetes grants, programs and services among 13 North Country HealthCare clinics in four northern Arizona counties. McCue also serves on the Girls on the Run of Northern Arizona Advisory Board.

Peru joins to serve as the Philanthropy representative. He is president/CEO of United Way of Northern Arizona, where he oversees their community impact and investment strategy for Coconino, Navajo and Apache counties. He formerly served a 32-year career with Coconino County in a variety of positions including county manager and W.L. Gore & Associates.

First Things First Coconino Regional Partnership Council meetings are held monthly in the Coconino region and are open to the public. For more information, visit FirstThingsFirst.org.
During a Sept. 2 reception, College of Education faculty members John Hoffman, second from left seated, Dean Lisa Kirtman and Ding-Jo H. Currie welcomed 16 visiting scholars from China. Also pictured are Yan Jin, group leader for the visiting Chinese scholars, far left seated, and Sharon Selnick, far right seated, a lecturer in human communication studies who will teach cross-culture communications.

Cal State Fullertons College of Education is hosting 16 faculty members from colleges and universities in Shanghai, China, who will be mentored by CSUF faculty members. The visiting scholars, sponsored by Shanghai Normal University, will be on campus for six months to learn teaching strategies and American culture, as well as conduct research and engage in discipline exchanges.

These global exchanges are important to enhance and broaden cultural understanding for our students, and faculty and staff members, said Ding-Jo H. Currie, lecturer in educational leadership, who is directing the scholar exchange.

The Chinese faculty members  from a variety of disciplines, such as computer science, engineering, English and social sciences disciplines  also will participate in workshops, observe classes and deliver guest lectures. The college also has a partnership with Shanghai Normal University to prepare its students in graduate-level training in CSUFs masters degree program in education-higher education.
22:12

US President Barack Obama said that American voters will say 'no' to Donald Trump in the November election.





Trump has embraced a hard-line policy against illegal immigration but has said he favours the legal entry of immigrants with job skills needed in US industry.





Still, Obama blasted the Republican presidential nominee for promoting 'intolerance' and government policies 'that are contrary to our values, banning certain classes of people because of who they are or what they look like, what faith they practice.'





"We have to be pretty hard about saying no to that," the US president said. 'And I think that America will do that this time as well."





Trump last year advocated a total ban on Muslims entering the United States, in reaction to a series of deadly Islamist terror attacks around the world.





Since then he has amended that proposal to focus on nation-specific immigration bans on terror-rife countries where it's impossible to vet incoming people.